Tomorrow Changes Everything — Then the Real Work Begins

This is issue #11. Tomorrow is primary day, March 3. If you haven't voted, early voting is over — this is your last window, at your assigned polling location, 7 AM–7 PM. The SD-11 state senate seat, the HD-128 state house seat, and the Harris County Judge race are decided tomorrow by whoever shows up. Primary turnout runs under 15% of registered voters — a small number of people making the call for everyone. Don't be everyone else.

But the primary is the opening act. The May 2 elections — Deer Park and La Porte city council seats, school board positions, the La Porte street tax reauthorization, and the historic Shoreacres consolidation vote — are decided by hundreds of voters, not thousands. That's where your single vote carries the most weight of anything you'll do in 2026.

— David Campbell

Watch on YouTube →

The Hidden Levy, Part 3 — Why Shell Pays Less Than You

This week the series goes deep on what industrial users along the Ship Channel actually pay versus what you pay. The anchor question: who sets your water rate in Deer Park, La Porte, or Pasadena — and how often can it change? The corridor's largest users negotiate arrangements most residents never see; the bill that lands in your mailbox is the other side of that ledger. We'll keep pulling the thread.

The Hidden Levy series continues toward next week's synthesis.

Liberty Watch — Your Government, This Week

Primary Election Day, Tuesday March 3 — assigned polling location, 7 AM–7 PM, valid photo ID. Find it: harrisvotes.com → Find My Polling Location. Then May 2: council, school board, La Porte street tax, Shoreacres consolidation.

Prosperity Spotlight

Coupland Signs — family-owned in La Porte since 1992 (current Main St location since 2004); signage serving the City of La Porte, the La Porte Police Department, and the area's growing industrial base. 118 South 5th St, La Porte; couplandsigns.com; 281-867-0678.

Shuko's Avenue 502 — 3601 Center St, Deer Park. Mexican, Guatemalan, and Salvadoran dishes.

Deer Park Snack Bar — 2506 A Center St, Deer Park. Snow cones, elotes, mangonadas, shave ice.

The Tamales Spot III — 3501 East Blvd, Deer Park. Breakfast tacos and tamales.

Growth & Learning

Tuttle Twins ("What Are Your Kids Actually Learning About Money?") — 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 32: 32 consecutive profitable weeks; $724.26 net options income on $22,750 deployed (a 3.18% weekly return, triple the 1% target); ~$24,864 all-time. A QUBT put rolled for net credit — no drama, just mechanics. Gold/Silver Challenge, Week 5: gold closed $5,385.99 (up $518 in a week), silver $93.76; physical metals would be worth ~$58,071 versus the gold/silver accounts at ~$49,637 (including $4,637 earned) — metals lead by $8,434. Honest scorecard: sold gold at $4,371 in January (now $5,386, a $6,527 miss); silver sold at $76.58, crashed, now recovering. Not financial advice; figures from verified Schwab records.

Full scorecard on Substack; follow 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

Deer Park Parks & Recreation Committee — opening for a new member: 2-year term from May 2026, meets first Monday at 11:30 AM at the Dow Active Complex, advises on parks/fields/programs (unpaid). Apply by March 31, 5 PM via deerparktx.gov or the City Secretary's Office, 710 E San Augustine (free notary); email notarized forms to amsmith@deerparktx.org; 281-479-2394.

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 — Joseph Daughtery and the Hanks family feed 80–150 kids after school at the La Porte Library and are building toward a community center. Volunteer or donate: LovingLaPorte.org (Michael Hanks, 832-867-3499).

Pet of the Week

Six 3.5-month-old Chihuahua mixes (five boys, one girl) — big personalities, main-character energy — at the Deer Park Animal Shelter, 4221 Luella Ave.

Community Calendar

Tue Mar 3 — Primary Election Day, 7 AM–7 PM, assigned polling location (harrisvotes.com), photo ID.

Sat Mar 7 — Main Street Trade Days, 10 AM–2 PM, 200 block Main St & Five Points Plaza, La Porte. Free, 165-plus vendors.

Sat Mar 7 — Paws & Petals Market, Pasadena.

Tue Mar 17 — Cycle the City with Mayor Helton, 6:30 PM, Brookglen Community Center, 3324 Sommerton Dr, La Porte (ride-out 6:45). First-timers get a custom LP bike bell.

Sat Mar 21 — Pet Palooza & Doggie Dash, 9 AM–12 PM, Little Cedar Bayou Park, La Porte. Free; register at laportetx.gov.

Sat Mar 28 — Trash Bash 2026, registration 8:30 AM, cleanup 9–11 AM, multiple sites. Free; T-shirt and lunch. trashbash.org.

Save the date — Sat Apr 25: Sylvan Beach Festival, 70th annual; kids 12 and under free.

From Local Theory

Just released: Local Theory's "Your Own Bank." And the new track "Rewriting Allegiance: Honoring Freedom, Family, and Community" is up now — watch on YouTube. Full catalog: localtheorymusic.com.

Take Action This Week

Vote tomorrow (Mar 3) at your assigned location · mark May 2 · read Hidden Levy Part 3 and find out who sets your water rate.

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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