This Week at City Hall

Aug. 31, 2019 • Office of Council Member Ellen Cohen

This Week: Labor Day Observance; Labor Spotlight: Dolores Huerta; District C Service Fund Project Spotlight: McGovern Stella Link Library

Labor Day Observance

On Monday, September 2nd, we celebrate Labor Day, which honors the American labor movement. Our country’s Industrial Revolution in the 1800s spurred workers to organize and act together to demand better working conditions from their employers. Through their sacrifices, today we enjoy rights like the standardization of the 8 hour work day, paid sick leave, a ban on child labor, and many other vital protections.

In recognition of all American workers, the District C office will be closed on Monday, September 2nd. There will be no Solid Waste pickup on that day and collection schedules will be altered on Tuesday, September 3rd and Wednesday, September 4th.

Labor Spotlight: Dolores Huerta

Prominent labor leader and civil rights activist Dolores Huerta (right) co-founded with Cesar Chavez the National Farm Workers Association in 1962. Their efforts allowed farm workers to effectively bargain with the agricultural industry for the first time. She is the originator of the phrase, “Si, se puede.” Huerta’s advocacy led to the creation of the 1975 California Agricultural Labor Relations Act and many other protections and improved conditions for farm workers, particularly women and the Latinx community.

District C Service Fund Project Spotlight: McGovern Stella Link Library

Mayor Pro Tem Cohen allocated $11,100from her Council District Service Fund for new equipment for McGovern Stella Link Neighborhood Library. Flooded during Hurricane Harvey, the library re-opened in May 2019 with the following donations from District C:

  • a new AED-Defribillater Unit
  • Portable speakers for Movie Time programming
  • educational toys and a new carpet for the Children’s Area
  • a Nintendo Switch and games for the Teen Area and use in out of school programming

The Mayor Pro Tem’s allocations focus on increasing technology assets for the library in keeping with Mayor Turner’s goal of “building forward,” so that Houston not only recovers from Hurricane Harvey but is stronger than before the storm.

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