Hondo, Texas is a small town about 60 miles west of San Antonio. The rural community faces systemic racial discrimination, low-wage jobs, a contaminated environment, old industrial facilities and a lack of infrastructure. HEC, the oldest local of SWU, unites community residents to raise their voices, demand accountability and work towards a clean, revitalized neighborhood. HEC is working towards the cleanup of currently contaminated sites, including a former air force base (currently the Hondo Airport), and removal industrial facilities from our neighborhoods.
Working for a Better Hondo
Through the Nuestra Voz (Our Voice) campaign, HEC is demanding real accountability from its elected officials and public institutions. It is making sure that we vote and that our voice is heard. The community has these priorities:
Revitalize our neighborhoods: Water sits stagnant in the Elm Slough for months and sewage overflows from several manholes, where residents are forced to walk through. Drainage, sewer, street & sidewalk conditions need to be improved throughout our neighborhoods to improve our quality of life. The Panther Hollow grain silos should be retired and developed into a community park.
Bring good jobs: 250 families will lose their livelihood with the closure of Crane Plumbing. We need an economic development plan that will bring good paying, non-polluting, and sustainable businesses to Hondo.
Support our families: Hondo needs more low-income housing and affordable day care in order to help young families.
Prioritize education: Hondo’s dropout rate is too high. We need to find ways for school to better serve our young people and keep them interested in learning.
Create alternatives to suspension: Peer counseling, mediation, and dispute resolution methods are needed to lower the suspension rate and criminalization of youth.
Hold public officials accountable: Reports of police brutality and racial profiling need to be addressed in the open. We need a government that is transparent, accountable, and accessible to the community.
Victories
- Worked for accountability through marches, actions and meetings with city officials
- Conducted Environmental Justice Tours with state and local officials
- Won the removal of grain silos that created dust, noise, and rat problems
- Facilitated a low-income housing project, La Lomita
- Achieved sewer, sidewalk and street improvements in the barrio
- Held accountability sessions with teachers and police officers
- Exposed patterns of racial profiling in the criminal justice system
- Achieved the reduction of utility rates for residents
- Secured raises for City employees
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