Emily Takes Notes
@embaleez.bsky.social
I am a writer and artist in Houston, TX. I attend Houston City Council and take notes, available on www.emilytakesnotes.com + my IG www.instagram.com/embaleez. I write periodically via substack at https://emilyjhynds.substack.com/.
Reposted by Emily Takes Notes
this week has gone on long enough tbh
September 17, 2026 at 2:26 PM
this week has gone on long enough tbh
is there a way to share photos with your friends on the internet that isn't evil?
September 17, 2026 at 3:24 PM
is there a way to share photos with your friends on the internet that isn't evil?
Here are my notes for the Houston city council meeting on September 16, 2026. Highlights include an update on the HISD takeover of Grimes Park and budget woes at the parks department.
emilytakesnotes.com/2026/09/10/s...
emilytakesnotes.com/2026/09/10/s...
Houston City Council Meeting Notes: September 9, 2026
Notes on the Houston City Council meeting on September 9, 2026, including public comment, council member comments, and spending.
emilytakesnotes.com
September 17, 2026 at 3:14 PM
Here are my notes for the Houston city council meeting on September 16, 2026. Highlights include an update on the HISD takeover of Grimes Park and budget woes at the parks department.
emilytakesnotes.com/2026/09/10/s...
emilytakesnotes.com/2026/09/10/s...
reading another incredible newsletter from West Street Recovery please go get on their mailing list if you're not already
www.weststreetrecovery.org
www.weststreetrecovery.org
West Street Recovery - West Street Recovery
WESTSTREETRECOVERY West Street Recovery was formed during Hurricane Harvey by a group of people who came together to perform rescues, distribute food and water, and meet the needs of flood survivors. ...
www.weststreetrecovery.org
September 17, 2026 at 1:39 PM
reading another incredible newsletter from West Street Recovery please go get on their mailing list if you're not already
www.weststreetrecovery.org
www.weststreetrecovery.org
love these opening lines: "The Southeast Lions little league football team know how to take hits on the field. One hit they didn’t see coming was the closure of Grimes Park in Sunnyside, where the team has practiced for nearly 30 years."
spectrumlocalnews.com/tx/austin/ne...
spectrumlocalnews.com/tx/austin/ne...
Houston-area little league team responds to Grimes Park closing
Members of the Southeast Lions little league football team know how to take hits on the field. One hit they didn’t see coming is the closure of Grimes Park.
spectrumlocalnews.com
September 16, 2026 at 6:31 PM
love these opening lines: "The Southeast Lions little league football team know how to take hits on the field. One hit they didn’t see coming was the closure of Grimes Park in Sunnyside, where the team has practiced for nearly 30 years."
spectrumlocalnews.com/tx/austin/ne...
spectrumlocalnews.com/tx/austin/ne...
Reposted by Emily Takes Notes
Back in July I spoke before Houston City Council. Now @embaleez.bsky.social has done a story for Houstonia Magazine about what it likes to speak before Council, and I'm quoted in the story. I think it's an interesting read, and not just because I'm in it. www.houstoniamag.com/news-and-cit...
Anyone Can Speak at Public Comment Meetings, But Are Houston Councilmembers Actually Listening?
Some residents don’t feel heard, but that’s exactly what public comment meetings are for.
www.houstoniamag.com
September 14, 2026 at 5:01 PM
Back in July I spoke before Houston City Council. Now @embaleez.bsky.social has done a story for Houstonia Magazine about what it likes to speak before Council, and I'm quoted in the story. I think it's an interesting read, and not just because I'm in it. www.houstoniamag.com/news-and-cit...
it's pretty crazy that you can find anyone's address just by seeing if they're registered to vote, right?
September 11, 2026 at 3:18 PM
it's pretty crazy that you can find anyone's address just by seeing if they're registered to vote, right?
Here are my notes for the Houston city council meeting on September 9, 2026. Highlights include 9/11 reflections and new HFD appointments.
emilytakesnotes.com/2026/09/10/s...
emilytakesnotes.com/2026/09/10/s...
Houston City Council Meeting Notes: September 9, 2026
Notes on the Houston City Council meeting on September 9, 2026, including public comment, council member comments, and spending.
emilytakesnotes.com
September 10, 2026 at 3:26 PM
Here are my notes for the Houston city council meeting on September 9, 2026. Highlights include 9/11 reflections and new HFD appointments.
emilytakesnotes.com/2026/09/10/s...
emilytakesnotes.com/2026/09/10/s...
Here are my notes for the Houston city council meeting on September 2, 2026. Highlights include The Great Woodlands Debate™️ and the current Controller investigating the former Controller.
emilytakesnotes.com/2026/09/03/s...
emilytakesnotes.com/2026/09/03/s...
Houston City Council Meeting Notes for September 2, 2026
Notes on the Houston City Council meeting on September 2, 2026, including debate on The Woodlands funding and annexation
emilytakesnotes.com
September 3, 2026 at 7:36 PM
Here are my notes for the Houston city council meeting on September 2, 2026. Highlights include The Great Woodlands Debate™️ and the current Controller investigating the former Controller.
emilytakesnotes.com/2026/09/03/s...
emilytakesnotes.com/2026/09/03/s...
it's pretty shitty that "working across the aisle" means voting against what you believe to be in your voters best interests, and maybe even against your own conscious, for a weak verbal promise that you might get helped out in the future
September 3, 2026 at 4:17 PM
it's pretty shitty that "working across the aisle" means voting against what you believe to be in your voters best interests, and maybe even against your own conscious, for a weak verbal promise that you might get helped out in the future
Who do I know that monitored / watched / attended public comment during Mayor Turner's time? Need to verify something real quick.
August 24, 2026 at 1:48 PM
Who do I know that monitored / watched / attended public comment during Mayor Turner's time? Need to verify something real quick.
I am teaching an Inprint non-fiction writing workshop with my GUST pals in September! This is a pretty big deal for me. I hope you'll consider signing up if creative non-fiction is your thing!
inprinthouston.org/event/nonfic...
inprinthouston.org/event/nonfic...
Nonfiction/In-Person 2627-211
inprinthouston.org
August 21, 2026 at 8:35 PM
I am teaching an Inprint non-fiction writing workshop with my GUST pals in September! This is a pretty big deal for me. I hope you'll consider signing up if creative non-fiction is your thing!
inprinthouston.org/event/nonfic...
inprinthouston.org/event/nonfic...
Reposted by Emily Takes Notes
There’s no real consensus on what distinguishes suicides by cop from other police shootings. Some critics have dubbed it “junk science” and compared it to debunked concepts like “excited delirium,” the purported spontaneous death of people being restrained by police.
'Suicide by Cop': How a Poorly Defined Term Shifts Accountability for Lost Lives
Austin officers killed an unarmed 17-year-old at a park last month in what the chief swiftly deemed "suicide by police." Some call the concept a type of "junk science."
www.texasobserver.org
August 20, 2026 at 6:30 PM
There’s no real consensus on what distinguishes suicides by cop from other police shootings. Some critics have dubbed it “junk science” and compared it to debunked concepts like “excited delirium,” the purported spontaneous death of people being restrained by police.
Here are my notes for the Houston city council meeting on August 19, 2026, including much of the discussion on the new AC ordinance. CMs Flickinger and Carter voted against it.
emilytakesnotes.com/2026/08/20/a...
emilytakesnotes.com/2026/08/20/a...
Notes on the Houston City Council Meeting on August 2026
Notes on the Houston City Council meeting on August 19, 2026, including the new air conditioning ordinance.
emilytakesnotes.com
August 20, 2026 at 3:52 PM
Here are my notes for the Houston city council meeting on August 19, 2026, including much of the discussion on the new AC ordinance. CMs Flickinger and Carter voted against it.
emilytakesnotes.com/2026/08/20/a...
emilytakesnotes.com/2026/08/20/a...
Here are my notes for the Houston city council meeting on August 12, 2026. Highlights include a World Cup report, two public hearings, and and update from Controller Hollins on his investigation into Chris Brown.
emilytakesnotes.com/2026/08/13/a...
emilytakesnotes.com/2026/08/13/a...
Houston City Council Meeting notes for August 12, 2026
Notes on the Houston City Council meeting on August 12, 2026, covering public hearings, the monthly financial report, and the World Cup.
emilytakesnotes.com
August 13, 2026 at 10:16 PM
Here are my notes for the Houston city council meeting on August 12, 2026. Highlights include a World Cup report, two public hearings, and and update from Controller Hollins on his investigation into Chris Brown.
emilytakesnotes.com/2026/08/13/a...
emilytakesnotes.com/2026/08/13/a...
hi houston I have a new play to show you, we open August 27 and run for two weekends!
buytickets.at/emilyhynds/2...
buytickets.at/emilyhynds/2...
Buy tickets – No Kiss, a new play by Emily Hynds – Alabama Song
No Kiss, a new play by Emily Hynds – Alabama Song, Multiple dates and times - No Kiss, a new play by Emily Hynds, in August at Alabama Song in Houston
No Kiss is a darkly comedic play that starts mid-...
buytickets.at
August 13, 2026 at 3:24 AM
hi houston I have a new play to show you, we open August 27 and run for two weekends!
buytickets.at/emilyhynds/2...
buytickets.at/emilyhynds/2...
u know it's hot when it's 94 and u go ah not so bad
August 7, 2026 at 3:14 AM
u know it's hot when it's 94 and u go ah not so bad
Here's my wrap up of July for Houstonia. I cover the city's response to Lorenzo Salgado Araujo's death, the current controller investigating the former controller, and more.
www.houstoniamag.com/news-and-cit...
www.houstoniamag.com/news-and-cit...
Houston City Council News, July 2026: ICE Murder, Investigations, and Heat
Plus, more money for parks, and the investigation into the murder of Lorenzo Salgado Araujo.
www.houstoniamag.com
August 3, 2026 at 8:44 PM
Here's my wrap up of July for Houstonia. I cover the city's response to Lorenzo Salgado Araujo's death, the current controller investigating the former controller, and more.
www.houstoniamag.com/news-and-cit...
www.houstoniamag.com/news-and-cit...
Here are my notes for this week. CM Salinas called out Mayor Whitmire on spreading incorrect ICE information. Much dismay over court ruling Houston's MWBE program unconstitutional. And more!
emilytakesnotes.com/2026/07/30/j...
emilytakesnotes.com/2026/07/30/j...
Houston City Council Meeting notes for July 29, 2026
Houston City Council meeting notes for July 29, 2026, including MWBE updates, ICE and HPD debate, and back-to-school events
emilytakesnotes.com
July 30, 2026 at 2:36 PM
Here are my notes for this week. CM Salinas called out Mayor Whitmire on spreading incorrect ICE information. Much dismay over court ruling Houston's MWBE program unconstitutional. And more!
emilytakesnotes.com/2026/07/30/j...
emilytakesnotes.com/2026/07/30/j...
"We’re told to show up and make our voices heard because that’s how our representatives know what we desire. But if our representative don’t care what we’re saying, or consider us unworthy, then why bother showing up, why bother making the effort?"
Hey @kissphoria.bsky.social @jenrice.bsky.social @embaleez.bsky.social @saracress.bsky.social @neilaquino.bsky.social I wrote about speaking to City Council and how depressing it is and how hostile Council seems to treat speakers. open.substack.com/pub/johnroya...
So I Spoke Before Houston City Council (And I Have Some Thoughts)
Please Excuse All of the Footnotes
open.substack.com
July 24, 2026 at 7:29 PM
"We’re told to show up and make our voices heard because that’s how our representatives know what we desire. But if our representative don’t care what we’re saying, or consider us unworthy, then why bother showing up, why bother making the effort?"
nothing like making up a budget for a grant application to really drive home how much work you do for free -_-
July 23, 2026 at 9:15 PM
nothing like making up a budget for a grant application to really drive home how much work you do for free -_-
Here are my notes for the Houston city council meeting on July 22, 2026. There is a congressional hearing in Houston on Friday regarding the death of Lorenzo Salgado Araujo, who was killed by ICE. Also, everyone please be careful in this heat.
emilytakesnotes.com/2026/07/23/7...
emilytakesnotes.com/2026/07/23/7...
notes on the Houston city council meeting on July 22, 2026
Notes on the Houston city council meeting on July 22, 2026, including information about Lorenzo Salgado Araujo, the heat wave, and general spending.
emilytakesnotes.com
July 23, 2026 at 3:35 PM
Here are my notes for the Houston city council meeting on July 22, 2026. There is a congressional hearing in Houston on Friday regarding the death of Lorenzo Salgado Araujo, who was killed by ICE. Also, everyone please be careful in this heat.
emilytakesnotes.com/2026/07/23/7...
emilytakesnotes.com/2026/07/23/7...
seeing the places you lived in and loved in when you were younger get torn down is a special kind of sad
July 21, 2026 at 2:22 AM
seeing the places you lived in and loved in when you were younger get torn down is a special kind of sad