Attorney Ben Hall (far left) filed a $100 Million Dollar Racial Discrimination Class Action Suit against Houston Community College back on Friday, June 19, 2020. The lawsuit detailed a long list of damning allegations about what he believes has been going on at Houston Community College under the leadership of Houston Community College Chancellor Cesar Maldonado (far right) and Janet May (middle), the Human Resources Director for Houston Community College. Why is this relevant? Well, looking at what many are calling the unfair treatment of Dr. Grenita Lathan, the Black HISD Superintendent a few days ago, coupled with what appears to be the systematic skipping over of down-ballot local Black judicial candidates back on Tuesday, November 3, 2020, is a serious cause for concern – especially when racial tensions in America are at an all-time high. That being said, the biggest question that’s reverberating through Black communities throughout Harris County, Texas is this: “Is there a modern-day purging of African Americans currently underway in favor of Hispanics/Latinos heading into the 2022 Midterm Elections in Harris County, Texas?” In case you don't know, THE DEADLINE to post candidate requirements -- Form 1-15 (PDF) is Monday, March 1, 2021. THE FIRST DAY TO FILE, for a place on the Primary ballot for Precinct Chair Candidates is Tuesday, September 14, 2021. THE FILING DEADLINE for candidates; including independent candidates to file their declaration of intent to run is Monday, December 13, 2021, at 6:00 PM sharp. The last day to register to vote is Monday, January 31, 2022. The first day of Early Voting is Monday, February 14, 2022. The last day to apply for Ballot by Mail (Received, not Postmarked) is Friday, February 18, 2022. The last day of early voting is Friday, February 25, 2022. And believe it or not, "SUPER TUESDAY 2022" is scheduled to take place on Tuesday, March 1, 2020, in the Lone Star State.
Houston Community College Was Hit With a $100 Million Dollar Racial Discrimination Class Action Suit Filed By Attorney Ben Hall A Few Months Ago
A $100 million dollar racial discrimination lawsuit was filed in a Houston, Texas state district court on behalf of hundreds of Black former and present employees of Houston Community College (“HCC”). The suit was filed back on Friday, June 19, 2020 – “Juneteenth — the anniversary date that Black slaves in Texas learned they had been freed from slavery two years earlier by President Abraham Lincoln. The lawsuit details a damning list of allegations about what is going on at Houston Community College under the leadership of Chancellor Cesar Maldonado and the Human Resources Director, Ms. Janet May. According to the lawsuit, Maldonado accepted his position in 2014 with a Hispanic “preferential treatment” agenda. The suit contains an actual email chain created shortly after Maldonado’s appointment stating “Now we [Hispanics] are going to receive preferential treatment.” The suit alleges that since Maldonado’s arrival 90% of the long-time Black professionals at HCC have either been terminated or demoted, while there has been a 50% increase in Hispanic hires and promotions. Shockingly, the suit claims, while 90% of tenured and experienced Black employees have been displaced only 10% of similarly tenured Whites have been displaced.
The lawsuit continues with a disturbing list of tactics used by Maldonado and May to get rid of Blacks, such as telling a Black male that a white woman’s word was more truthful than his word; that if a White person complains believe them, but if a Black person complains doubt them unless corroborated; “padding” Black employee personnel files with false complaints to be used later as pretexts for firing them; if a Black person is accused of sexual harassment, believe the complainant—but if the complaint is made by a Black person corroborate; using the term “transformation” as a cover for getting rid of Black employees, and forcing Black employees to take leaves of absence without cause to later use as grounds to terminate the Black employee. If these allegations are proven in court, HCC is in for a bad day at the courthouse.
The named plaintiff in the lawsuit is a 55-year old Black female, Zelia Brown, who was forced to take a leave of absence when she complained about missing grant money at the College. She reported to the federal government, the suit alleges, that the grant funds had been misused or taken. After the federal investigators notified HCC officials they were going to investigate Ms. Brown’s allegations, she was immediately told not to return to work and to stay on leave of absence. Her locked grant office is said to have been rummaged through while she was on a leave of absence. Although HCC is said to have later asked her back the return was conditioned on her accepting a false complaint that she had created a hostile work environment and presumably remain silent about the missing grant dollars. She refused to remain silent and brought the suit.
Ms. Brown is asking the court to approve a class action against HCC on behalf of all Black employees who have been terminated or demoted since Maldonado became chancellor in 2014. It is estimated the number of class members will be in the hundreds with each member seeking individual damages in the case. Ms. Brown is represented in the lawsuit by Benjamin L. Hall, III, the former Houston City Attorney under Mayor Bob Lanier and former mayoral candidate. Hall stated, “Ms. Brown is one of the more recent casualties of what appears to be a modern-day Jim Crow environment at Houston Community College for Black executives. She is a brave lady to stand up to power and speak the truth. We feel confident there are more victims of HCC’s discriminatory policies that will come forward to tell their stories as well.”
Houston Community College Caught Red-Handed Filing False Racial Data in Federal Racial Discrimination Suit According to Attorney Ben Hall
In a $100 million racial discrimination case pending in Houston, Texas, Houston Community College (“HCC”) has been caught red-handed filing false racial data with the court according to attorney Ben Hall. At the first hearing in the case, U.S. District Court Judge Lynn Hughes ordered HCC to produce employee data showing the number of Black, Hispanic and White hires, demotions, and changes of employment at the College during the last four (4) years. In response, court documents and our research show that HCC submitted (clearly) inaccurate and incomplete racial data with the court regarding the race of Black and other employees.
A review of HCC’s records shows clear errors about the race of multiple employees, and clear omissions of numerous Black employees. For example, HCC’s documents list one of the Black class member plaintiffs as being white when she is Black. When contacted, the Black employee confirmed she is Black and has never identified herself as white. Why HCC “changed” the race of this female is not explained in its filing. Another instance of mislabeling by HCC involves a Black male who is identified as “multiracial.” Such racial mislabeling is particularly troubling given that the Black male employee placed in writing his self-identification as a Black person when he worked at HCC. And, the errors do not stop there. HCC’s filing inexplicably omits the names of numerous Black employees who are in the suggested class of plaintiffs on whose behalf the lawsuit has been filed.
When asked about HCC’s filing, the Plaintiffs’ lead trial counsel, Benjamin Hall, stated “the data HCC has provided to the court is (obviously) false and questionable. It is inexcusable that HCC would present a federal judge with such (obviously) erroneous data. I look forward to hearing their explanations to justify what they filed. Judge Hughes does not tolerate parties making false statements in court.” HCC’s errors are particularly curious given that the suit alleges a pattern and practice of racial discrimination against more than 100 Black HCC employees. By omitting the names of many Black employees, and mislabelling others, HCC appears to be attempting to drive down or obscure the number of potential victims of the discriminatory practices alleged in the lawsuit.
Perhaps one of the most troubling aspects of HCC’s errors is it's mislabeling of a Black employee named Athos Brewer. Recently, community activist Quanel X held a press conference in front of HCC’s administrative building where he distributed copies of a report written by Brewer when Brewer worked directly under Chancellor Maldonado. Brewer’s multipage report repeatedly complains about Maldonado’s preference toward Hispanic hires and derogatory attitude toward Black employees. Brewer recounts a conversation he had with Maldonado during which Maldonado volunteered to Brewer that “we have to take care of our Hispanics” to which Brewer corrected Maldonado and stated he was not Hispanic. Maldonado then said, but your wife is Hispanic. After Brewer told Maldonado he was not Hispanic, Maldonado gave him his first negative job evaluation—an evaluation that Brewer corrected before the HCC Board of Trustees. Additionally, the Brewer document records Maldonado’s discriminatory demotion of a leading and well-respected Black female college president in favor of a Hispanic friend of the chancellor. Brewer details numerous other racially derogatory comments and actions by Maldonado toward Black people, including Maldonado commenting that HCC had lowered its standards by giving a particular award to a Black recipient. A copy of the Brewer memo distributed by Quanel X is attached.
In the filing of (obviously) inaccurate racial data with the court, HCC has opened itself up to even more racial scrutiny. Numerous questions are now appropriately asked: Why would the race of individuals be altered in HCC’s filing? Who is responsible for the erroneous mislabeling of the race of Black employees? What other errors are in the data? Why were known potential Black plaintiffs left off of HCC’s court filing? And, what is it going to take to verify any future racial data submitted by HCC? Put simply, HCC’s filing is a dubious way for it to begin its defense in a suit where it is already under a cloud of racial discrimination.
This case is getting more interesting by the day. We will be following the case closely. Stand by.
Judge Genesis Draper, a Democrat was able to handily defeat former Judge Linda Garcia in the race for Judge, Harris County, Criminal Court at Law No. 12, back on Tuesday, November 3, 2020. But the big question reverberating across Harris County, Texas right now is, "Why did so many Democrats not stick to script of "VOTING-BLUE-NO-MATTER-WHO" when it came to the down-ballot judicial races involving Black judicial candidates?"
Is There a Modern-Day Purging of African Americans Underway in Favor of Hispanics/Latinos in Harris County, Texas
AUBREY R. TAYLOR REPORTS©
What’s going on in Harris County, Texas? Look, let me be the first to say that I am extremely elated by the performance my Hispanic clients put on back on Tuesday, November 3, 2020, in Harris County, Texas. I love Judge Julia Maldonado, who soundly defeated her Republican challenger, Alyssa Lemkuil by garnering 842,681 votes, for 54.48% of the vote. And what can I say about Israel Garcia? This dude’s performance was the highlight of Election Night if you ask me. In case you don’t know, Israel unseated Republican Justice of the Peace Russ Ridgway by garnering 213,317 votes for 51.47% of the vote. All that’s left for Justice of the Peace – Elect Israel Garcia is to take the bench and do a good job. While for the most part, I had a great Election Night, back on Tuesday, November 3, 2020, I was I’m saddened by what I say shake out in the (local) down-ballot judicial races in Harris County, Texas. What Am I talking about? Well, I’m talking about what appears to be the skipping over of (local) Black down-ballot judicial candidates – especially in the race for Judge, County Criminal Court at Law No. 12, between Linda Garcia, the Latino/Hispanic, Republican who was challenging Judge Genesis Draper, a sitting African American Democratic judge. What happened? Well, the election results haven’t been declared official by the Harris County Clerk’s Office just yet. But my initial look at the unofficial returns is damning. Why? Well, it looks like, there were large strongholds of people who broke ranks to cast their ballot for Linda Garcia, the Latino/Hispanic female rather than cast their vote for Judge Genesis Draper in the race for Judge, Harris County Criminal Court at Law No. 12. Why is this significant? Well, this is of the utmost importance because right now, as I’m publishing this report, people are already starting to jockey for positions on the 2022 Midterm Election ballot. That being said, you have to remember that in 2022, there’s going to be a large contingent of African American Democratic judges up for re-election. But that’s a story for another day! However, before moving on to the 2022 Midterm cycle, it is of the utmost importance for us to figure out whether or not there’s a “MODERN-DAY PURGING” of African Americans underway in Harris County, Texas in favor of Hispanics.
AUBREY R. TAYLOR COMMUNICATIONS
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HOUSTON, TEXAS 77058-3039
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(H) Micheal Gomez – 865,723 -- "I'm struggling to understand why/how Judge Michael Gomez, a Hispanic Democrat, finished with 53,404 more votes than Judge Genesis Draper, a Black Democrat who was also a sitting local down-ballot judge who appeared on the ballot in the same (1,012) Harris County, Texas voter precincts as Judge Gomez. What happened down-ballot in Harris County? I'm not sure just yet, but my team and I plan to study the "OFFICIAL CANVASS REPORTS" and find the answer to this question." -- Aubrey R. Taylor
(H) Lesley Briones – 854,247 -- "I really like Judge Briones, but I'm trying really hard to understand why/how Judge Briones, a Hispanic Democrat, finished with 41,928 more votes than Judge Genesis Draper, a Black Democrat who was also a sitting local down-ballot judge who appeared on the ballot in the same (1,012) Harris County, Texas voter precincts as Judge Briones. How do you think this happened? I'm not sure just yet, but my team and I plan to study the "OFFICIAL CANVASS REPORTS" and find the answer to this question." -- Aubrey R. Taylor
(H) Natalia “Nata” Cornelio – 848,213 -- "I know that Judge-Elect Natalia "Nata" Cornelio was helped by Harris County Commissioner Rodney Ellis to unseat Judge George Powell, back in the Democratic Party primary, but how did she finish with 35,894 more votes than Judge Genesis Draper, a sitting Black Democratic judge who appeared on the ballot in all of the same (1,012) Harris County, Texas voter precincts as Judge-Elect Cornelio. Did "Nata" tell her Hispanic supporters to vote down-ballot like the Black candidates were doing? I'm not sure just yet, but my team and I plan to study the "OFFICIAL CANVASS REPORTS" and find the answer to this question." -- Aubrey R. Taylor
(SA) R.K. Sandill – 846,551 -- "I think Judge R.K. Sandill is doing an okay job and has more money in his campaign coffers than all of the other judges, but I'm trying really hard to understand why/how Judge Sandill, a South Asian Democrat, finished with 34,232 more votes than Judge Genesis Draper, a Black Democrat who was also a sitting local down-ballot judge who appeared on the ballot in the same (1,012) Harris County, Texas voter precincts as Judge Sandill. We need to get this figured out? I'm not sure just yet, but my team and I plan to study the "OFFICIAL CANVASS REPORTS" and find the answer to this question." -- Aubrey R. Taylor
(H) Julia Maldonado – 842,681 -- "I am so proud that Judge Julia Maldonado won her bid for re-election, but I am having a very difficult time trying to figure out she and the other down-ballot Hispanic (local down-ballot judicial) nominees performed so my better than the Black judicial nominees. In case you don't know, Judge Maldonado finished with 30,362 more votes than Judge Genesis Draper, a sitting Black Democratic judge who appeared on the ballot in all of the same (1,012) Harris County, Texas voter precincts as Judge Maldonado. What went wrong with the "VOTE-BLUE-NO-MATTER-WHO" mantra? I'm not sure just yet, but my team and I plan to study the "OFFICIAL CANVASS REPORTS" and find the answer to this question." -- Aubrey R. Taylor
(C) Jaclanel McFarland – 842,232 -- "I didn't really see Judge Jaclanel McFarland put forth any considerable effort (whatsoever) to ask for the African American vote. However, she still finished with 29,913 more votes than Judge Genesis Draper, a sitting Black Democratic judge who appeared on the ballot in all of the same (1,012) Harris County, Texas voter precincts as Judge McFarland. What's up with this? Did Judge McFarland tell her supporters to also cast the ballot for the down-ballot African American judicial nominees like the Black candidates were doing? I'm not too sure, but my team and I plan to study the "OFFICIAL CANVASS REPORTS" and find the answer to this question." -- Aubrey R. Taylor
(B) Dawn Deshea Rogers – 837,227 -- "I am so proud of the showing that Judge-Elect Dawn Deshea Rogers put on back on Tuesday, November 3, 2020. She did everything she could (with her limited campaign budget) to convince her supporters to cast their ballot for not only her but for every down-ballot Democrat. That's why it came as such a surprise to see that Judge-Elect Rogers finish with 28,496 fewer votes than Judge Michael Gomez and well behind Judge Briones, Judge-Elect Natalia "Nata" Cornelio, Judge R.K. Sandill, Judge Julia Maldonado, and Judge Jaclanel McFarland. I'm not too sure right now, but it's starting to look as if while African Americans (for the most part) were sticking with the game-plan of "VOTING-BLUE-NO-MATTER-WHO" there were a lot of other Democrats who were doing something altogether different down-ballot in Harris County, Texas." -- Aubrey R. Taylor
(B) Elaine Palmer – 836,053 -- "I can't for the life of me understand why Judge Elaine Palmer received 29,670 fewer votes than Judge Michael Gomez, and 18,194 fewer votes than Judge Lesley Briones. And it certainly doesn't make sense that Judge Palmer received 12,160 few votes than Judge-Elect Natalia "Nata" Cornelio. Why did Judge Elaine Palmer, and the other Black local down-ballot judicial candidates finish so far behind the Hispanic nominees? Could it be that while Black voters were voting as a block for all of the down-ballot Democrats, the Hispanic down-ballot voters were doing something much different? It's a little too early to tell just yet, but my team and I are committed to finding out why this down-ballot voting disparity occurred back on Tuesday, November 3, 2020, in Harris County, Texas." -- Aubrey R. Taylor
(B) Jeralynn Manor – 834,731 -- "Words can't even express how proud I am of Judge-Elect Jeralynn Manor. I mean, she has been dreaming of becoming a judge since she was 7-years old. While her story is compelling, and her victory hard-earned. There were a lot of folks in certain Democratic voter precincts who were casting their vote for Judge Michael Gomez, Judge Lesley Briones, Judge-Elect Natalia "Nata" Cornelio, Judge R.K. Sandill, Judge Julia Maldonado, and Judge Jaclanel McFarland -- but didn't vote for Black local down-ballot judicial candidates like Jeralynn Manor. Why do I care about this? Well, it's vitally important that Democrats (especially Democrats) find out what happened down-ballot prior to the 2022 Democratic Party primaries when a historic number of African American judicial candidates will be on the ballot." -- Aubrey R. Taylor
(B) Cheryl Elliott Thornton – 832,717 -- "I'm so proud of Judge-Elect Cheryl Elliott Thornton. She ran just as hard, if not harder than every other candidate on the November 3rd ballot. That's why I was so surprised to see her get so many fewer votes than Judge Michael Gomez, Judge Lesley Briones, Judge-Elect Natalia "Nata" Cornelio, Judge R.K. Sandill, Judge Julia Maldonado, and Judge Jaclanel McFarland back on Election Day. Why did she receive so many fewer votes than the Hispanic local down-ballot judicial candidates? Well, your guess is as good as mine right now; but I assure you that my team and I plan to search those canvass reports and find the answer to this question over the course of the next few weeks." -- Aubrey R. Taylor
(B) Ursula A. Hall – 831,640 -- "I'm so proud of Judge-Elect Cheryl Elliott Thornton. She ran just as hard as every other candidate on the November 3rd ballot. That's why I was so surprised to see her get so many fewer votes than Judge Michael Gomez, Judge Lesley Briones, Judge-Elect Natalia "Nata" Cornelio, Judge R.K. Sandill, Judge Julia Maldonado, and Judge Jaclanel McFarland back on Election Day. Why did she, and other local Black down-ballot judicial candidates receive so many fewer votes than the Hispanic local down-ballot judicial candidates? Well, your guess is as good as mine right now; but I assure you that my team and I plan to search the canvass reports and find the answer to this question over the course of the next few weeks." -- Aubrey R. Taylor
(B) Fredericka Phillips – 828,770 -- "It's kind of hard to run strong when you have major media outlets attacking you -- but run strong she did. I am so proud of Judge Fredericka Phillips, she ran her race with class, dignity, and grace. And she displayed the judicial temperament that should make everyone who cast their vote for her proud." -- Aubrey R. Taylor
(B) Darrell William Jordan, Jr. – 828,641 -- "I really don't know much about Judge Darrell William Jordan, Jr., other than the fact that he's one of Harris County Commissioner Rodney Ellis' cronies. Anyways, he won his bid for re-election back on Tuesday, November 3, 2020." -- Aubrey R. Taylor
(B) Te'iva Bell – 822,826 -- "I am looking forward to hearing great things about Judge-Elect Te'iva Bell in the years to come. I think that she's going to make a great judge." -- Aubrey R. Taylor
(B) Genesis E. Draper – 812,319 -- "At one point I had really high-hopes for Judge Genesis E. Draper. I wish her the best of luck going forward as the presiding judge for Harris County Criminal Court at Law #12. And don't forget that Judge Genesis E. Draper will be right back on the ballot in 2022. And with that said, the filing deadline for candidates who wish to appear on the ballot for the Tuesday, March 1, 2022, Democratic Party primary in Texas." - Aubrey R. Taylor
AUBREY R. TAYLOR COMMUNICATIONS
957 NASA PARKWAY #251
HOUSTON, TEXAS 77058-3039
PHONE: (832)212-8735
CELL: (281)788-3033
AUBREY R. TAYLOR COMMUNICATIONS
957 NASA PARKWAY #251
HOUSTON, TEXAS 77058-3039
PHONE: (832)212-8735
CELL: (281)788-3033
THE BADASS
Charles (BADASS) Marler worked for the FBI for 16 years learning all facets of the Bureau’s complex operations from evidence collection, radio communications, aviation surveillance, and Forward-Looking Infra-Red (FLIR). Charles was an Investigative Specialist for 12 years as a member of the Special Surveillance Group and conducted, organized, and completed thousands of surveillances on Drugs (as FLIR operator), Intelligence and Terrorism targets. He participated in joint training operations with the DIA, DEA, JCTA, and CIA. Charles was an instructor and evaluator numerous times for the FBI’s surveillance training programs.
Charles managed several FLIR System Operators while coordinating one of the FBI’s prominent FLIR programs. He provided case guidance, became an expert in the operation and maintenance of FLIR equipment, and personally trained or provided training for his operators. Under Charles's leadership and guidance, the FLIR program conducted numerous successful operations against espionage subjects, suspected terrorism subjects, drug shipments, violent crime, and kidnap searches.
Since 2008, Charles has been a co-owner of a private investigative firm based in Houston and has worked as a Private Investigator in Texas for the past four years which specializes in covert physical surveillance operations. As a P.I. he has performed criminal investigations and conducted surveillance operations involving workman’s compensation, child custody, drug use, theft, and the elusive but frequent cheating spouse.
THE BRAINS
I’m the President/CEO of Aubrey R. Taylor Communications, the publisher of Houston Business Connections Newspaper©. In case you don’t know, I have 30-years of experience in marketing, branding, investigative reporting, public relations, opposition research, and political consulting. I’ve assisted in branding Republican and Democratic candidates in statewide elections and local municipalities throughout the State of Texas. Over the years, I’ve also assisted in branding and marketing (through my various publications) such corporations and institutions as Shell Oil, The City of Houston, Texas A&M University, Texas Southern University, Prairie View A&M University, Chevron, Waste Management, Nationwide Insurance, Momentum Jaguar/BMW, Channel 11, Channel 13, State Farm Insurance, and Allstate Insurance to name a few.
EXPERIENCED REPORTER
I would have you to know that not everyone who has been accused of a crime or enters a guilty plea in connection with a crime is guilty of the crime they're accused of committing. Neither is everyone who goes to trial to fight charges that are leveled against them and get's convicted are guilty. Look, over the years, some very bad things have happened to people of color in our criminal justice system. So to this end, please understand, that during my career, I’ve gone into the Harris County Jail and Texas prisons on numerous occasions (on secret assignments) working in conjunction with the owner of one of the largest locally owned private security, and investigations firms. The man who was funding my investigations back then (who mysteriously died) also was the godfather of one of my sons, and the backer of one of my publications. That being said, I can straight-faced assure you that I’ve seen some of the injustices that are occurring in the Texas penal system up close and personal. While on the inside, I interviewed (face-to-face) some of the hardest criminals you can imagine for my research. I also discovered first-hand that many of the people who should be locked up are walking around free, and not all of those who are locked behind bars are guilty of the crimes that they, in some cases pleaded guilty to – for whatever reason. So, let me assure you that I know a criminal when I see one. And we have a handful of local elected officials who are straight-criminals and must be stopped!!!
PEOPLE OVER POLITICS
Based on my direct observations over the years, I can attest to the fact that our current criminal justice system is more about “HAVE’S AND HAVE NOT’S” to a greater degree than most people realize. That being said, sure, in some cases, the skin color of the person being accused of a crime plays a role in who gets indicted and eventually convicted of crimes and those who go free. However, at the end of the day, from observing the system from the inside, and out; having money, good legal representation, and access to influential people are unfortunately key determining factors when it comes to who will spend the rest of their life walking around with an “X” on their back and who doesn’t. So, to this end, we must endeavor to change our criminal justice system and political landscape by “TAKING POLITICS OUT” of the way our judges are selected in the Lone Star State – that’s very important to me!
AUBREY R. TAYLOR COMMUNICATIONS
957 NASA PARKWAY #251
HOUSTON, TEXAS 77058-3039
PHONE: (832)212-8735
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