The Votes Are Still Being Cast. Here's What's Next.

This is issue #10 — ten weeks of showing up, and today I'm a day late. Sunday slipped; Monday still counts. Early voting ends Friday, Feb 27; the March 3 primary is eight days out. If you haven't voted, you've got five days — any Harris County location, 7 AM–7 PM. But the primary is only one piece. The May 2 elections — city council seats, school board, the La Porte street tax, and the historic La Porte/Shoreacres consolidation vote — are where your single vote carries the most weight of anything you'll do in 2026. Those are decided by hundreds of votes, not thousands. And this week, while you watched the news, the Port Commission met in Houston: appointed officials, not elected by you, approving decisions worth hundreds of millions that will shape the Ship Channel corridor for a decade. We're going to start paying attention to that.

Come prepared: harrisvotes.com → Polling Locations → your address. Early voting through Feb 27, 7 AM–7 PM, any Harris County site. Bring valid photo ID.

Watch on YouTube →

Liberty Watch — Your Government, This Week

Early voting through Feb 27; March 3 primary; and the May 2 local elections (council, school board, La Porte street tax, the La Porte/Shoreacres consolidation). New beat opening: the Port of Houston Authority — appointed commissioners with taxing authority, approving Ship Channel decisions worth hundreds of millions.

Prosperity Spotlight

Sassy Sisters — custom shirts and decals, hundreds of sublimation and DTF transfers, plus supplies for DIY crafters. 7407 Spencer Hwy, Pasadena.

The Sauce Pot — Cajun food truck; shrimp taquitos, Auntie's shrimp and grits. 6335 Spencer Hwy, Pasadena.

Mi Bendicion Bakery — Artisanal pastries and custom cakes. 3952 Spencer Hwy, Pasadena.

Andy's Hawg Wild Bar-B-Que — Ribs, brisket, pulled pork. 2826 Dedman St, Pasadena.

Growth & Learning

Tuttle Twins — illustrated books teaching kids 5–11 about free markets, personal responsibility, and individual liberty; a natural complement to "Know Your Schools."

Check out the Tuttle Twins →

Affiliate link — David uses these with his own kids.

The Treasurer's Report (Week of Feb 17) — a transparent weekly log of my own systematic options income. This week: $382.41 net options income plus $37.79 in MSTY dividends ($420.20 total); 31 consecutive profitable weeks; roughly $24,500 all-time; accounts around $82,000; long-term target $200,000/year (salary replacement) on roughly $400,000 deployed. A Rumble put assigned Feb 13 (100 shares at $6.00) was immediately put back to work writing covered calls. "Stack pebbles." Not investment advice.

My own documented numbers; the framework is the same one in Growth & Learning. Follow along at isdavecrazy.com.

We spend a lot of ink holding government accountable for financial sustainability. Fair question back at us: how sustainable are your own finances? Since last August I've run a simple, almost boring options framework — target around 1% a week, an hour or two to manage, none of the day-trading drama. It runs on the philosophy we preach here: systems over speculation, consistency over chaos, control what you can actually control. (It's the framework I use personally; the founder goes by Troy.)

Check out Low Stress Options →

Sponsors support the mission, never influence the message — I don't recommend anything I don't use.

Service Spotlight — CrowdHealth

My family of four has never carried traditional health insurance. We used a health-sharing ministry for years and recently switched to CrowdHealth. The model: a per-person monthly subscription for the platform and advocacy team, then each month you contribute toward another member's bills — never more than your set max. When you have an event, you pay a $500 commitment and the community covers the rest. We're testing it live right now on a $6,000 ER visit — CrowdHealth negotiates it down, I pay $500, the crowd covers the rest. No claims department, no denial letters. Our family runs roughly $400–660/month versus $1,500–2,500 for traditional Texas family coverage. What sold me: unlike an insurer, CrowdHealth doesn't profit from sickness — it's members helping members.

Learn how CrowdHealth works →

Referral link; paying member since January.

Service Opportunities

Trash Bash 2026 — the 32nd annual River, Lakes, Bays 'N Bayous cleanup of the Galveston Bay watershed, Sat March 28; Texas's largest single-day waterway cleanup. trashbash.org.

Your School District Needs You — campus volunteer programs across all three districts, La Porte ISD HELPS Mentoring, the education foundations, and CTE career-day speakers. You don't need a child in school to help.

Loving La Porte — Michael and Kristy Hanks joined Joseph Daughtery, who feeds 80–150 kids at the La Porte Library after school, 3–4 times a week, out of his own pocket. They're building toward a community center (food pantry, clothing, life skills, laundry, tutoring). 84% of La Porte Elementary students live below the poverty line. Volunteer: setup 2:15 PM weekdays, Harris County Library, La Porte. Donate: Michael Hanks, 832-867-3499, mhanks11@hotmail.com. LovingLaPorte.org.

Blue Santa milestone — La Porte PD served nearly 1,000 children this season (up from 600–700). Registration reopens October 2026.

Pet of the Week

Free adoptions for all animals one year and older at the City of La Porte Adoption Center & Animal Shelter, 10901 Spencer Hwy. The seasoned pros — past the puppy stage, full of personality — waiting for a couch to claim.

Community Calendar

HOA drama in Deer Park — featured this week. Homeowners-association governance — who sits on the board, how dues are set, how rules get enforced — is local government too. If your neighborhood has an HOA, read your bylaws and find out when the board meets.

Trash Bash 2026 — Sat March 28; register at trashbash.org.

Mark your calendar — May 2: city council, school board, La Porte street tax, and the Shoreacres consolidation vote.

From Local Theory

New music from Local Theory — the full catalog is at localtheorymusic.com.

Take Action This Week

Vote before Feb 27 · mark May 2 on your calendar · look up who sits on the Port Commission — and who elected them.

Value for Value

TAAL provides value freely; you give back based on the value you receive. No paywalls, no required subscriptions. We feature paid local sponsorships — but their support never influences our message. Three ways to give: Time (share it, show up, report back), Talent (submit stories, photos, expertise), and Treasure (support the mission when you receive value).

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