April 1 Vigil

This Friday, April 1, please make time to attend a vigil to preserve our state as the Texas House of Representatives debates the budget (House Bill 1).  House Bill 1 includes provisions that could profoundly affect education and lead to drastic changes such as:

• Closing schools
• Hiking college tuition
• Eliminating Pre-K programs

Attendance at the vigil is expected from all over the state, from noon Friday until the final vote is taken (which could be as late as midnight and maybe beyond)! Organizers are hoping for a Wisconsin-style atmosphere, with citizens packing the House Gallery, the Rotunda, and the South Steps.  Everyone is encouraged to wear black.

Come rally with your fellow Texans for:

• Regular updates from the House floor on which Texas priorities survived the cuts
• Teach-ins explaining how the budget will wreck Texas’ future
• Prayer vigil in the House Chapel, and Nightlight Vigil on the South Steps
• Musical performances by local artists
• Funeral for all the programs and services the budget would cut

Join the vigil with other grown-ups before school lets out for the day, bring the children after school to see citizen turnout firsthand, or even come by in the evening before heading out for a night on the town. It’s easy to show your support, and any amount of time you can spare will make a difference!  Find more information at http://www.texasimpact.org and in the attached flyer.

Meeting Place at the Capitol

While the Vigil is taking place throughout the Capitol, many people have asked if we could set up a location at the Capitol for folks to meet. Great news!  Our Representative Elliott Naishtat has reserved a conference room from noon until midnight where you can go to meet up with friends and neighbors, or maybe take a quiet break if needed.  The conference room is located within the historic Agricultural Museum (Room 1W.14 on the first floor, which is directly under the House Chamber).  When you arrive at the Capitol, we suggest that you first go to the Ag Museum conference room and sign in on one of our clipboards.  We will have fliers with suggested activities for kids and grown-ups.  Please, no food or drink in this historic space.

To help you locate the Agricultural Museum conference room, find a floorplan of the Capitol at:

http://www.tspb.state.tx.us/SPB/Plan/FloorPlan/pdf/cap%20guide1.PDF

Transportation Options for the April 1 Vigil at the Capitol

1. Interested in carpooling?  BHE parent Sharon Peurrung has offered to coordinate carpools for Barton Hills.  Contact Sharon at skdprocks@aol.com Volunteer to Coordinate carpools for your school!
2. Take a City Bus to the Rally!
3. Public Visitor Parking at the Capitol
   Parking is available in the Capitol Visitors Parking Garage at 1201 San Jacinto located between Trinity and San Jacinto Streets at 12th and 13th streets. Parking is free for the first two hours and $1.00 for each half hour thereafter (maximum daily charge: $8.00); accessible parking is available with accessible routes to the Capitol. Metered spaces are available throughout the complex.  Find more info and a map of the Capitol Complex at: http://www.tspb.state.tx.us/spb/plan/parking.htm
4. On-street Metered Parking
   Metered parking spaces are available throughout the Capitol Complex.  Metered spaces are free after 5:30 p.m.

Click here for a flier for this event.