MORALITY OR MONEY???

We are at war in Houston, Texas.  There are those among us who through circumstances, resort to "financial quick fixes" via payday loans.  These are super-high interest loans, and payments are automatically deducted from a borrower's bank account.  The loan terms are oppressive and sometimes impossible to meet.  Or worse, the quick fix adds a greater burden on the borrower who will, until the loan is paid in full, still have too much month at the end of the money.

So, why are we at war?  It is because there are those in Houston who would rather continue the abusive, oppressive practices of payday lenders rather than support a proposed ordinance to limit their hold on the borrowers.  A particular councilmember, James Rodriguez (Disrict I), has "tagged" the proposed ordinance.  If the tag is not removed, council will not vote on this issue and it will die.

Why would Mr. Rodriguez want to have this issue tagged for a second time?  What does he hope to gain? Since he is term-limited, that is a good question to ask him.  And here is another:  What will he do when he leaves office?  Will he then work for the billion dollar payday lending consortium alongside the highly paid lobbyists the payday lenders brought in to defeat this ordinance?

This is not Washington, D.C.  This is local.  Our councilmembers are not hundreds of miles away making policies that affect triple-digit millions of people; they live in our neighborhoods.  Their children go to our schools.  They attend our churches (hopefully) and shop in our stores.  We see them out and about ... in our parks, on our streets.  So why would they NOT support an ordinance that would be good for other Houstonians who find themselves in dire financial distress that would compel them to resort to a high-interest loan ... perhaps to get a car repaired so they can go to work, or get a diagnostic test or medicine they need for their health?

I urge you, beg you, to contact your councilmember NOW, and compel him/her to REMOVE THE TAG AND VOTE FOR THE ORDINANCE!  And contact every at large member.  And, even if you don't live in his district, but especially if you do, contact Mr. Rodriguez and ask him to answer this question:  Will you choose morality and vote FOR the ordinance?  And if his answer is no, ask him this:  How much money will YOU get for selling us out?

If you are not a resident of Houston, but know someone who is, urge that person to take action NOW!