As you know today the Houston City Council rejected a resolution to lend support to HB40, which would have established a commission to study the effects of slavery on America and African Americans. Unfortunately we fell short by one vote. I voted for the resolution because I felt it was the right thing to do.
Whether you agree or disagree with the issue of reparations, we ought to at least allow dialogue and discussion about this issue. City Council has voted in the past to support state and federal legislation that we had no jurisdiction on, but felt it was important enough to send a message. I felt this was a message that needed to be heard. Other major cities have already passed resolutions supporting HB40. Unfortunately, Houston may be the lone city to reject such a proposal.
It’s a shame that in such a diverse city, we couldn’t even allow for the issue to be studied. Regardless of the outcome of today’s vote, I will be sending a letter in support of HB40. I also urge my colleagues who voted for the resolution to do the same. Although we are far from it, I look forward to a day when we no longer have to study, discuss, or debate reparations.

-Sincerely, Carol Alvarado Houston City Council Member, District I