Weekly Newsletter April 14, 2025

Dear Democrats,

Two bills, one in Washington (the SAVE Act) and one in Austin (Senate Bill 16) would require voters to show proof of citizenship to register to vote. These would create new barriers for voters and new burdens for our Election Office. Here in Nacogdoches these bills will not only hurt married women and the elderly but also our 12,000 SFA students. If a Volunteer Deputy Registrar registers a student on campus that student will have to go to the elections office with their birth certificate or passport (not a drivers license) to prove their citizenship. This is a direct attack on voting rights by Republicans. As we shouted at the rally on Saturday night, “Defend Democracy. Speak up.” Tell your US and Texas representatives to vote against these bills.

Another lengthy newsletter this week since there will not be one next week – off to our help our son and daughter-in-law move out of snowy New York!

Upcoming events in the next few weeks 

Events flagged with an * have  more information below.

1. The Nacogdoches County Democratic Party will meet on Monday, April 14, in the Courthouse Annex, 203 West Main Street. The Executive Committee will meet at 5:30pm. This will be followed at about 6:00pm by the general monthly meeting

2. *The Planning & Zoning Commission will meet on Monday, April 14.

3. CORRECTION The Nacogdoches NAACP unit met on Tuesday, April 8. Apologies for the error.

4. *The Nacogdoches County Commissioners Court will meet on Tuesday, April 15.

5. *The Nacogdoches City Council will hold their regular meeting on Tuesday, April 15.

7. *The Zoning Board of Adjustment will meet on Thursday, April 17.

8. * On April 18 there will be a second national Economic Blackout #2 (no shopping!)

9. Weekly Dem social Friday, April 18 at 5:00pm at the Fredonia Brewery, 138 N Mound Street. Come vent, plan, or just hang out with friends.

10. * From April 21 to April 28 we will boycott General Mills.

11. The Nacogdoches Community Coalition will meet at 5:30pm on Monday, April 21. Contact Celena Garrett (936) 615-2797 or Joyce Mills (936)-552-9324. This month we will be meeting in the historic E.J. Campbell school building, hosted by the Alumni Association (President Helena Abdullah). There is only one entrance, through the cafeteria door on the parking lot. The address is 417 Shawnee Street (up the small alley beside the school).

12. Tuesday, April 22, is the first day of Early voting in the City of Nacogdoches and Nacogdoches ISD joint election. The only polling place will be the Nacogdoches County Courthouse Annex, 203 West Main Street. Polls will be open from 8:00am to 5:00pm Tuesday through Friday this week and 7:00am to 7:00pm Monday and Tuesday, April 28 and 29.

13. The 21/7 Association will have their monthly meeting on Tuesday, April 22, at noon at Cypress Ridge, 2701 Logan Circle. Contact Nancy Niehaus for more information.

14. *The Zoning Ordnance Subcommittee will meet on Tuesday, April 22.

15. *Nacogdoches County Hospital District Board of Directors should meet on Tuesday, April 22.

16. There will be a protest rally on Saturday, April 26, starting at 2:00pm on North Street across from the entrance to SFA. The theme will be announced before the event.

17. Sacred Heart's annual Multicultural Festival will take place from 10:00am until 5:00pm on April 26-27 at 2508 Appleby Sand Rd. Celebrate over 30 years of food, music and dance.

18. The Nacogdoches County Democrats will hold their traditional Beans and Jeans fundraiser/supper on Tuesday, April 29, starting at 5:00pm in the Old Tyler Road Café, 603 Old Tyler Road. Our guest speaker will be Kendall Scudder, the new Chair of the Texas Democratic Party! Music, silent auction, cash bar. For tickets contact Anna Kay Johnson at (303) 204-7373 or email johnwattnacdems@gmail.com.

Fight the Bluebonnet Curriculum!

The Bluebonnet Curriculum is a Christian-based curriculum for grades K-5 with violates the Establishment Clause in the First Amendment of the United States Constitution. It violates the separation of church and state, requiring teachers to become untrained and unwilling preachers. It is not inclusive for students who practice other religions. It was passed by the School Board without public or parent input. The decision needs to be reversed immediately.

Sign the petition demanding this reversal here: https://chng.it/T2VNkpnTZJ

Boycott Dates

As part of the national protest against Trump and Musk we will be boycotting companies that are supporting these two. Vote with your wallet by boycotting these:

o   April 18 - Economic Blackout #2 (no shopping!)

o   April 21-28 – General Mills

Nacogdoches City Council

The Nacogdoches City Council will hold their regular meeting at 5:30pm on Tuesday, April 15, in the City Hall, 202 East Pilar Street. See the City’s “Friday Update” for more information about meeting and more on their Facebook site https://www.facebook.com/CityofNacogdoches. Agendas for city meetings can be found at https://www.nactx.us/agendas. Meetings are streamed at www.nactx.us/1198/Channel-21.

The City of Nacogdoches received $8,162,558 from the American Rescue Plan Act (thank you, Joe Biden) and $1,511,000 of that is budgeted toward sanitary sewer improvements. The Council will consider a contract for this work at their meeting.

Commissions and Committees

The Planning & Zoning Commission will meet at 5:00pm on Monday, April 14, in City Hall. Several zoning changes will be discussed.

The Zoning Board of Adjustment will meet at 4:00pm on Thursday, April 17 in City Hall

The Zoning Ordnance Subcommittee will meet at 4:00pm on Tuesday, April 22.

Nacogdoches County Commissioners

The Nacogdoches County Commissioners Court will meet on Tuesday, April 15, at 9:00am in the Commissioners’ Courtroom, Suite 170 of the Nacogdoches County Courthouse, 101 West Main Street. Recordings of meetings are posted on the county website.  

NISD School Board meetings

The NISD School Board will have a regular meeting on Thursday, April 17, at 5:00pm in the E.J. Campbell District Support Center Annex, 420 South Shawnee Street. Go to their website for more information.

Nacogdoches County Hospital District

Nacogdoches County Hospital District Board of Directors meets on the fourth Tuesday of every month at 5:15pm in Memorial Hospital’s Auxiliary Conference Center, 1204 North Mound Street. For information about the Hospital District go to their website https://nachd.org.

Major holidays and events in Nacogdoches and elsewhere in the near future

14 April           Executive Committee and Nac Dems monthly meetings

20 April           Easter

22 April           First day of early voting in Local Election

29 April           Nac Dems “Beans & Jeans” fundraiser

29 April           Last day of early voting in Local Election

3 May             Local Election

3 May              Ability Strong festival

See you in a week!

Mike Strong

Nac Dems