Houston Livestock Show & Rodeo boycotts
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Johnny Mata is an organizer for AGIF - the American GI Forum that called for a boycott in 2008 of the HLSR for not having any hispanics on the 17 member board of directors.  The same month LULAC called for a boycott for not having any Tejano musicians on "Go Tejano" Day. 

Harris Co. Sheriff Adrian Garcia declined to co-marshall the 2009 rodeo parade in consideration of the protests concerning unfair distribution of non-profit revenues raised at the annual events inside the publicly funded Reliant Center that is supported by the Harris County Sports Association.

With others calling for better distribution of funds raised by the non-profit HLSR,  scholarships were distributed amounting $3 million to some fortunate few.  The cost to local families that spent their capital resources on raising animal projects was nearly $9 million.  70% were disqualified before auction.

Annette Hanson of Oregon is a member of the PRCA -Professional Rodeo Cowboy's Association in Oregon. Greg Warden is a member of the PRBA - Professional Bull Rider's Association in Texas. They are also in a group of rodeo association members calling for a boycott of the HLSR events due to unsafe construction.  Event floors filled with sand  give out from underneath timed rodeo competition.

Hanson explained to me about unsafe conditions in the arena for barrel racing contestants, many that scratched their races after watching others slide into concrete walls, pull tendons, and endanger valuable trained animals.

"The hard floors are sand filled, and give out a cloud of dust giving way on tight corners, starts, and stops."

Previous years contestants are encouraging other members to avoid entry into any of the HLSRodeo events.  There are plenty of opportunities at other local surrounding rodeos.

Media Center Director Suzanne Brack said that bad publicity would not be a factor for the show.  Large news gathering agencies seeking perks for free media credentials, complementary tickets, and HLSR advertising dollars are reluctant to cover bad or negative media.   Other organizations, in her opinion aren't large enough to be approved for media perks.  Even Houston Community Newspapers won't write about the cons. Houston Police Officers working events at Reliant Park regularly earn in excess of $20.00/hr, with events often lasting over eight hours through their employment with the Harris County Sports Association.  During the 3 weeks of rodeo events, they earn more than many of the rodeo contestants.   The type of perks now being singularly controlled by Suzanne Brack at the Reliant Media Center seems to insure that news organizations are syndicated with the Harris County government, and obviously above reproach, or media scrutiny.   And as far as Reliant Energy goes, the Texas Representative that introduced the bill to deregulate utilities is now a lobbyist for the energy company.

When the new grounds were renamed Reliant Center after the enormous bid made by Reliant Energy, a Texas utility provider in the Houston area, the Astrohall was demolished, and the Astrodome is no longer in use, but sits vacant for further development leaving administrators of the rodeo to use ill designed flooring for events. Concrete floors adding strength to the superstructure of Reliant Park, and Reliant Center make a hazard when filled with sand for rodeo events. The dirt gives out from underneath the animals, and no floor stability is even considered when accepting entry fees from contestants.

Sitting with Annette during the last barrel racing event, I witnessed a horse pull a groin when Annette who is a seasoned barrel racer jumped up and yelled, "Get off, get off, get off of your horse, now!" The announcer called the run scratched, and suggested that the horse would be OK, since the animal was able to limp out of the arena on it’s own. Not good.

I’ve witnessed Bull Riders catch a horn in the face, and needing to be removed from the stadium by stretcher when the announcer asks that we pray.  Contestants of rodeo events know about the hazards of the sport.   It’s hazardous.

But, the Houston Livestock Show & Rodeo has made concious decisions about the arrangements they have with their big political connections, and the Harris County Sports Association that now supercedes the former Houston Sports Association, when the Astrodome was home of the Houston Astros.

It's ironic that Oil & Gas, Land & Cattle are a cornerstone of the Texas wealth.  How does high electrical rates in Texas from de-regulation of utility companies fare so well for Reliant Energy?  Oil exploration and agricultural productivity for local ranchers isn't that profitable.  And yet despite the cornerstone industries of their state, Texans pay one of the highest KiloWattHour rates in the country, currently exceeding 16 cents/ KWH.  Remember Houston’s based Enron Energy? 

   The Houston Chronicle ran the stories in 2008 about LULAC urging members of the hispanic community to boycott the Houston Livestock Show & Rodeo after the committees failed to include any Tejano musicians in the 3 weeks rodeo events.
    After the scandalous death of Selena, the Latino community in Houston was grieving.  To add insult to injury, grammy award winning singer Emilio crashed his tour bus, sustaining a severe concusion the end of March, 2008, a week after the rodeo concluded.  The Harris County District Attorney's office waited  to file DWI charges, until an ability to prosecute was established due to the singers devastating head injuries.  Black awareness day, the Buffalo Riders, & other historical societies displayed frontier memorabilia about the role of the pioneers in Texas cattle country. 
    Now, due to faulty flooring in the immense Reliant Center where concrete makes for a great superstructure, but easily sloughs off the filling for the rodeo topping, the contestants are beginning to scratch their rides to prevent injury to valuable trained horses & themselves.
    PRCA & PBRA members are now creating their own boycott statements to address the fautly flooring.
    Media Center Director Suzanne Brack with the Houston Livestock Show & Rodeo implied that the AVFW, LULAC, PRCA, WRCA, and PBRA organization were not big enough to make any difference in the million plus attendance of the annual 3 week rodeo events.  Thus, the Houston Livestock Show & Rodeo committees support their favorite charities, but have forgotten about the hard working unfortunate cowboys that risk their lives on the floor.
 
For more information and news releases on boycotts of the Houston Livestock Show & Rodeo visit the following websites online of archived broadcasts and publications at . . .