Rafael Anchia

Fort Worth Representative Matt Krause Named Texas' Most Homophobic Legislator

The advocacy group Equality Texas has put out its first legislative report card in several sessions, ranking Texas state legislators' records on working for LGBT rights. The factors Equality Texas took into account include public votes, authorship (both pro- and anti-), resolutions and committee vo ... More >>

The State Legislature Just Killed the Texas Lottery Commission (UPDATED)

The House just voted 64-82 against reauthorizing the Texas Lottery Commission.— Dave Montgomery (@daveymontgomery) April 23, 2013 Big news coming out of the Texas House this afternoon. Lawmakers there were considering HB 2197, which would tweak the structure of the Texas Lottery Commission. M ... More >>

Vouchers Suffered a Blow in the Texas House, but "Vouchers" Definitely Are Still in Play

Yesterday the State House of Representatives passed Senate Bill 1, a new state budget of $193.8 billion, by a lop-sided vote of 135-12. One of the more surprising parts of the bill's passage is the approval of an anti-private school voucher amendment, passed by a vote of 103-43. The amendment, spo ... More >>

Rafael Anchia Files a Bill to Help Texas Export its Natural Gas

State Representative Rafael Anchia of Dallas filed legislation Friday that he hopes will position Texas to lead the sustainable age. He describes it as a launching point for a dialogue in the Legislature, a "shell" of a bill that will eventually drive workforce development for the next generation of ... More >>

The Legislature is Considering Letting Cities Sue Homeowners For Overwatering Their Lawns

As it stands, anyone caught watering their lawns more than twice a week and/or during daytime hours and/or outside the official watering days ordained by City Hall faces a fine of between $250 and $2,000. As of last summer, the city had handed down slightly more than a handful. But this is Texas, w ... More >>

Mayor Mike Rawlings Wants 10,000 Men to Rally Against Domestic Abuse, Isn't Entirely Sure What Will Happen After That

This morning at the Dallas Museum of Art, Mayor Mike Rawlings, along with about 1,000 other men in suits sharing the stage, announced a new campaign dubbed "Men Against Abuse." The next stop on this tour of well-meaning gestures will be a celebrity-packed rally on March 23, which the mayor wants 10, ... More >>

State Rep. Rafael Anchia Hopes to Repeal Texas' Gay Marriage Ban

In 2005, Texas voters considered adding an amendment to the state constitution declaring that marriage "shall consist only of the union of one man and one woman" and forbidding any formal recognition of same-sex unions ratified elsewhere. The measure, controversial only insomuch as some conservativ ... More >>

Rawlings Unveils Plan to Curb Violence, Says Dallas "Cannot Tolerate" Troubling Trend

Domestic violence killings were on the rise in Dallas last year, which might be one reason why Mayor Mike Rawlings called a presser Monday afternoon. Another could be the fact that exactly a month has passed since a deeply troubled young man slaughtered 26 people in Newtown, Connecticut, most of the ... More >>

Rafael Anchia Wants to Send Pet Thieves to Prison

Brad Kirby has been pushing for tougher penalties for pet thieves for a while now, ever since two of his Huskies were stolen from in front of the Design District warehouse where he lives and works. He reported the thefts to the police, even told them who stole the dogs and where the man lived, but ... More >>

Texas Railroad Commission Still Needs to Work on Holding Oil and Gas Producers Accountable

Once again, the Railroad Commission of Texas' raison d'être has been evaluated by a commission comprising state legislators and two regular citizens. Once again, it was given a reprieve from being abolished, given the gang-busting pace of oil and gas development over the last several years. But not ... More >>

Electricity Prices Have Nowhere to Go But Up

On June 28, the Texas Public Utility Commission, the state agency that regulates energy, will likely vote on whether to sharply increase the top amount that electricity generators can charge retail providers such as Reliant and TXU for power when supplies run short. In other words, when we're all wh ... More >>

Domingo Garcia Calls Opponent "Errand Boy." Was That a Slur or Just Typical Garcia?

Domingo, Domingo, Domingo. You were named after the day of worship. Why do you always wind up using names against other people? Yesterday, state Representative Rafael Anchia jumped on Dallas congressional candidate Domingo Garcia for calling a black opponent an "errand boy." In a press release, A ... More >>

State Rep. Rafael Anchia: Republicans Vulnerable as the Face of Texas Changes

Unfair Park dropped by the Democratic New Leaders Texas PAC meeting at The Kessler last night. The group is billed as a statewide network of Dems "nurturing and promoting the next generation of principled, capable Texas leaders" -- like, for example, the affable and polished state Rep. Rafael Anchia ... More >>

Get This Fiesta Started

CNN Pits Dallas Versus Dallas

​Julia Barton, with an assist from Schutze, covered much the same territory earlier this year in her American Icons piece about Dallas for Studio 360. But now that TNT's given the green light to that next-gen Dallas, CNN, as part of its Defining America series, takes a look at how the city stacks ... More >>

Texas' Innocent Prisoners Are Getting Compensated, and Their Lawyers Want in On the Deal

John Wiley Price Manages to Upstage Mayor Mike Rawlings's "Time to Go to Work" Speech

Photos by Mark GrahamState Rep. Rafael Anchía with Mike Rawlings at this morning's ceremony​It was only after Mike Rawlings became the new mayor of Dallas, only after council members new and old and in-between (in the case of Sandy Greyson) were sworn in at the Morton H. Meyerson Symphony Center ... More >>

Anchía Takes TJ Yearbook to House Floor When Arguing Against "Sanctuary Cities" Bill

Many good Friends of Unfair Park have forwarded me the clip you see above, which District 103's state rep, Rafael Anchía, posted to YouTube last night. In it, the Haynes and Boone attorney and former Dallas ISD school board trustee argues against the passage of Carrollton state Rep. Burt Solomons's ... More >>

New York Times on Legal Battles Between Wrongfully Imprisoned and Their Attorney

Kevin Glasheen​We first met Lubbock attorney Kevin Glasheen back in August 2007, when his client, Billy James Smith, became the first man exonerated through DNA evidence to file a federal civil rights and malicious prosecution lawsuit against the Dallas Police Department. Glasheen would go on to ... More >>

A Peek at the Rancorous Fight Over the Voter ID Bill, Which Passed the Texas House Last Night

Above is a few minutes' worth of the lengthy back-and-forth that took place down in Austin yesterday (and last night), as D's and R's fought over SB 14 -- which, of course, demands that a voter present photo identification before being allowed to cast a ballot. Among the most vocal opponents of the ... More >>

In Texas, "The American Dream is Distant."

​A certain chief arborist for the city reminds: We've yet to mention today's Official Release of the Texas Legislative Study Group's annual Texas on the Brink report, which offers a harsh look at the state of the state. Emily Ramshaw sums up (and mentions the House of Representatives' caucus, of w ... More >>

Jason Roberts's Thoughts on Last Night's Streetcar Town Hall at Methodist

​The city, North Central Texas Council of Governments and Dallas Area Rapid Transit held that streetcar town hall last night. Among those in attendance was Jason Roberts -- who, in addition to his myriad other titles and endeavors, is an Oak Cliff Transit Authority board member and the former head ... More >>

Ain't No Party Like an Election Night Watching Party, So Here's Where to Find Your Peeps

Sam MertenDespite lots of enthusiasm from Dallas County Commissioner Maurine Dickey, the Republicans didn't do so hot two years ago. Could they turn the tables this year? Find out at Hotel Palomar. Or Victory Park.​If you've spent the last few nights out and about watching Your Texas Rangers g ... More >>

Fixing the Schools, One Screening at a Time, with CDM's Waiting for Superman Soiree

​As the education policy call-to-arms doc Waiting for Superman has been released across the country, educators and would-be reformers everywhere have been doing the thing you do when a Davis Guggenheim documentary (or a Mel Gibson film in the original Aramaic) comes out: special screenings and pos ... More >>

While We're on the Subject of Dallas County District Attorney's Race, Let's Look at Watkins', Clancy's Campaign Finance Reports

Sam MertenCraig Watkins​Dallas County District Attorney Craig Watkins outraised Republican challenger Danny Clancy by more than $50,000 during the latest three-month fund-raising period, while Clancy outspent his Democratic counterpart by more than $20,000, according to campaign finance report ... More >>

Under Madrid With Mayor Tom, or: How a Tunnel in Spain May Hint at Dallas's Rail Future

Chris HeinbaughA postcard from Mayor Tom and the Dallas delegation from the tunnel in which they spent part of their first day in Madrid​Funny thing: Yesterday, in the comments below, longtime Friend of Unfair Park Montemalone asked this about the Dallas delegation's trade mission to Europe: "I wo ... More >>

So, You Want to Know Who's Paying for The Mayor's European Vacation? Well, Then ...

Remember when I said you'd never see this picture again? Apparently, I was wrong.​Right about now, Mayor Tom Leppert, council member Ron Natinsky, state Rep. Rafael Anchia, Office of Economic Development head Karl Zavikovsky and a few other folks on the Dallas trade mission to Europe are probably ... More >>

Some Days You Gotta Sit Through Council Meetings. Some Days You Go To France, Spain.

Last November, Mayor Tom and the missus went to Korea. This fall: Europe. I formally announce my candidacy for Dallas mayor.​I hope you don't need a face-to-face with Mayor Tom Leppert, council member Ron Natinsky, state Rep. Rafael Anchia or Karl Zavikovsky, head of the Office of Economic Develop ... More >>

Bill White Rips Perry For Not Finding Dough to Fund Border Security, Likes Parades

Photos by Sam MertenBill White, Rafael Anchía and Lupe Valdez meet after Valdez and White addressed the media.​Democratic gubernatorial candidate Bill White criticized Gov. Rick Perry for failing to find the funds to pay for an additional 1,000 local law enforcement officers and 250 state tro ... More >>

Terror Babies III: Shout It Out Loud! Starring Louie Gohmert and Anderson Cooper

​Anderson Cooper can't get enough of Texas Republicans' claims that women are coming to the United States illegally to give birth to future terrorists -- ya know, "terror babies," as state Rep. Debbie Riddle called 'em during her debate with a clearly bemused Rafael Anchía Tuesday night. Wednesda ... More >>

Rafael Anchía, Anderson Cooper Amused By Houston Rep. Riddle's "Terror Baby" Claim

​A Friend of Unfair Park directs our attention to this Texas-sized showdown last night on CNN's Anderson Cooper 360 concerning "anchor babies" -- or, as Houston's Rep. Debbie Riddle calls 'em, "little terrorists." Offered on the other side without comment except to say it takes a good four minutes ... More >>

With City's First Municipal Management District Official, Let the Self-Taxing Begin!

Sam MertenThe board of directors of the Cypress Waters Municipal Management District take their oaths today at One Arts Plaza.​The Cypress Waters Municipal Management District officially became the city's first such district -- that is, one with the power to levy taxes and issue bonds -- this ... More >>

More Ammo for Eric Johnson in Primary Battle Against Terri Hodge, But Will it Matter?

​For reasons we can't explain, politicos are sticking by state Representative Terri Hodge in her bid for an eighth term in office despite the pending March 8 trial for her role in the federal corruption case involving affordable-housing developer Brian Potashnik. Her host committee includes lo ... More >>

At City Hall, Politicians Gather to Raise Awareness About Human Trafficking in DFW

​At a press conference at Dallas City Hall this morning, Dr. Bob Sanborn, president and CEO of the Houston-based Children at Risk, ticked off the tragic statistics: Of the reported cases of human trafficking in the U.S., 25 percent of victims were from Texas. During the final few months 2007 alone ... More >>

Former Texas Prisoners Offer Their Support to State Legislators Trying to Help Them Out

State Rep. Rafael AnchiaToday down in Austin, more than a dozen former Texas prisoners freed using DNA testing made their case in front of Texas legislators concerning myriad related bills sitting before lawmakers, among them fixing the way victims ID would-be offenders using photos of a live lineup ... More >>

Two Pieces of Proposed Legislation Could Finally Make Folks Want to Film in Texas

At the end of January, state Sen. Bob Deuell of Greenville introduced S.B.No. 605, which would dramatically alter the Texas Moving Image Industry Incentive Program -- by, well, actually offering incentives. Right now, the state has but $22 million to give to folks looking to shoot their movies or TV ... More >>

Easier Being Green

Despite tough times, energy conservation bills gain traction in Legislature

Bill Clinton Stops By Thomas Jefferson for Democratic Party Pep Rally

Latino Vote Is No Slam Dunk for Hillary Clinton, Not in Texas

Rafael Anchía's Crystal Balls

Fight! Fight! Fight! Tonight!

Institutional Change

Putting Some Bite Into the Law

A Blog Item Sure to Drive Sharon Boyd Crazy

Rafael Anchia Wants to Kill Anti-Immigration Legislation Dead. Good Luck With All That.

Anchia to Tackle "Divisive and Misguided" Anti-Immigration Legislation

Mitchell Says No

So what about the dogfight on the Trinity River Project?

"Un-American, un-Texan and un-Christian"

The Next Mayor of the City of Dallas Will Be...

Rock Star

The smart money wants a mayor with sex appeal