HOUSTON – "We don’t have the vitriol, at least blatantly that we see in Tennessee, in Florida and other parts of the country," said Mustafaa Carroll, the Executive Director of the Houston office of the Council on American-Islamic Relations.
Carroll is a guest this week on Houston Newsmakers with Khambrel Marshall and describes the Houston environment as good as it relates to the treatment of Muslims. He says he cringed when he heard that the San Bernardino killers were Muslim because of what others are likely to think.
"People have a tendency to conflate what happens with a few folk with the entire Muslim population." Much more with Mustafaa Carroll on this weeks’ Houston Newsmakers.
Also, the race for Houston Mayor is in the final week as State Representative Sylvester Turner and former Kemah Mayor Bill King are in the runoff that concludes on Saturday Dec.12.
Professor Renee Cross is the Associate Director of the University of Houston Hobby Center for Public Policy and says the demographics of the Houston electorate gives Turner the edge but in a local election like this it’s all about which candidate gets their base supporters out to vote.
Both candidates have sought and received endorsements. King by Mattress Mack, Turner by Mayor Parker. Professor Cross says in some cases, who is doing the endorsing does matter.
"Endorsements can matter more because people don’t pay as much attention to say a mayor’s race and certainly not a controllers race or city council race so endorsements may give a shortcut to some voters who aren’t just paying enough attention," Cross said.
It's also open enrollment time for Healthcare plans. Dr. Robert Morrow is President of Blue Cross Blue Shield of Houston and Southeast Texas and says insurance coverage is critical for Texans.
"Sometimes it’s not great to be first," he said. "Texas is first in the rate of uninsured and we don’t like that, as a matter of fact there are over 390-thousand Houstonians who are currently uninsured who could gain insurance coverage through the exchanges."
Dr. Morrow provides important information about how to enroll and the important dates to remember on this week’s Houston Newsmakers with Khambrel Marshall.
Houston Newsmakers with Khambrel Marshall airs Sunday mornings at 10 a.m. right after Meet the Press on KPRC Channel 2.
More Information:
- Mustafaa Carroll, Executive Director Council on American-Islamic Relations, Houston Office, 713-838-2247
- Professor Renee Cross, UH Hobby Center for Public Policy, 713-743-3970
- Dr. Robert Morrow, President Blue Cross Blue Shield, Houston & Southeast Texas, 866-427-7492