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/.
Here are my notes for this week :) in which the council approved a curfew on "micromobility devices" but did not really define what a "micromobility device" is.
emilytakesnotes.com/2025/11/20/1...
emilytakesnotes.com/2025/11/20/1...
Houston City Council Meeting notes for November 19, 2025
notes on the Houston City Council Meeting on November 19, including discussions on a scooter ban
emilytakesnotes.com
November 20, 2025 at 7:33 PM
Here are my notes for this week :) in which the council approved a curfew on "micromobility devices" but did not really define what a "micromobility device" is.
emilytakesnotes.com/2025/11/20/1...
emilytakesnotes.com/2025/11/20/1...
one of my go-to texts to express comfort is "sending big love" and my phone always wants to autocorrect it to "sending bog love" should I roll with it?
November 20, 2025 at 7:32 PM
one of my go-to texts to express comfort is "sending big love" and my phone always wants to autocorrect it to "sending bog love" should I roll with it?
!!!!
This Thanksgiving I'll be thankful for @embaleez.bsky.social regularly documenting Houston City Council meetings.
Read her exclusive op-ed in the @houstonchronicle.com about what she's learned over the past five years of watching local government.
www.houstonchronicle.com/opinion/outl...
Read her exclusive op-ed in the @houstonchronicle.com about what she's learned over the past five years of watching local government.
www.houstonchronicle.com/opinion/outl...
The stuff normal people don’t know about Houston City Council
Councilmembers don’t have that much power. A new mayor alters the vibe. And other stuff most Houstonians don’t realize.
www.houstonchronicle.com
November 19, 2025 at 1:00 AM
!!!!
here are my notes for the Houston city council meeting on November 12, 2025, in which the mayor responds to backlash over ICE
emilytakesnotes.com/2025/11/13/1...
emilytakesnotes.com/2025/11/13/1...
Houston City Council Meeting notes for November 12, 2025
notes on the Houston City Council Meeting on November 12, 2025, including statements on ICE, immigration, and a civility ordinance
emilytakesnotes.com
November 14, 2025 at 4:43 PM
here are my notes for the Houston city council meeting on November 12, 2025, in which the mayor responds to backlash over ICE
emilytakesnotes.com/2025/11/13/1...
emilytakesnotes.com/2025/11/13/1...
Former barista here (2002-2011) and I urge you to find somewhere else to buy your coffee. I believe in you.
As of this morning, Starbucks workers across the country are officially ON STRIKE. And we're prepared for this to become the biggest and longest ULP strike in Starbucks history.
Say #NoContractNoCoffee with us: DON'T BUY STARBUCKS for the duration of our open-ended ULP strike! $SBUX
Say #NoContractNoCoffee with us: DON'T BUY STARBUCKS for the duration of our open-ended ULP strike! $SBUX
November 13, 2025 at 3:29 PM
Former barista here (2002-2011) and I urge you to find somewhere else to buy your coffee. I believe in you.
I don't think we use "betwixt" enough.
November 13, 2025 at 3:21 PM
I don't think we use "betwixt" enough.
"government response to homelessness is genuinely diabolical." — me, a person who must read and digest news about government response to homelessness on a weekly basis, at least.
am i an expert? no. do I have empathy and opinions? yes.
am i an expert? no. do I have empathy and opinions? yes.
November 13, 2025 at 1:33 AM
"government response to homelessness is genuinely diabolical." — me, a person who must read and digest news about government response to homelessness on a weekly basis, at least.
am i an expert? no. do I have empathy and opinions? yes.
am i an expert? no. do I have empathy and opinions? yes.
Here are my notes for the Houston city council meeting this week. Highlight for me was Mayor Whitmire saying HPD definitely is not ticketing homeless people even though they definitely are doing that.
Also CM Plummer cursed and cried. We were on a rollercoaster.
emilytakesnotes.com/2025/11/07/1...
Also CM Plummer cursed and cried. We were on a rollercoaster.
emilytakesnotes.com/2025/11/07/1...
Notes on the Houston City Council Meeting on November 2025
Notes on the Houston City Council meeting on Nov 5, 2025, including financial reports, apartment inspection reform, and housing debate
emilytakesnotes.com
November 7, 2025 at 7:21 PM
Here are my notes for the Houston city council meeting this week. Highlight for me was Mayor Whitmire saying HPD definitely is not ticketing homeless people even though they definitely are doing that.
Also CM Plummer cursed and cried. We were on a rollercoaster.
emilytakesnotes.com/2025/11/07/1...
Also CM Plummer cursed and cried. We were on a rollercoaster.
emilytakesnotes.com/2025/11/07/1...
Mayor Whitmire on airport delays: "let me just thank the airport system for dealing with unbearable conditions due to TSA employees not coming to work" - that's a funny way to avoid saying federal government shutdown
November 7, 2025 at 3:06 PM
Mayor Whitmire on airport delays: "let me just thank the airport system for dealing with unbearable conditions due to TSA employees not coming to work" - that's a funny way to avoid saying federal government shutdown
Joe upon discovering he accidentally left his starter out for four days: "It's not covered in mold, so that's good."
November 6, 2025 at 4:37 PM
Joe upon discovering he accidentally left his starter out for four days: "It's not covered in mold, so that's good."
Here are my notes for this week. My favorite part was CM Pollard calling out ICE.
emilytakesnotes.com/2025/10/30/1...
emilytakesnotes.com/2025/10/30/1...
Houston City Council Meeting notes for October 29, 2025
notes on the Houston City Council meeting on October 29, 2025, including discussion on an upcoming homeless resource center
emilytakesnotes.com
October 30, 2025 at 4:11 PM
Here are my notes for this week. My favorite part was CM Pollard calling out ICE.
emilytakesnotes.com/2025/10/30/1...
emilytakesnotes.com/2025/10/30/1...
my notes for this week are ready - my favorite part was when CM Thomas called out license plate camera's for having crappy (zero) data.
emilytakesnotes.com/2025/10/23/1...
emilytakesnotes.com/2025/10/23/1...
emilytakesnotes.com
October 23, 2025 at 3:19 PM
my notes for this week are ready - my favorite part was when CM Thomas called out license plate camera's for having crappy (zero) data.
emilytakesnotes.com/2025/10/23/1...
emilytakesnotes.com/2025/10/23/1...
I'd like the opportunity to vote for a woman candidate who isn't wearing a full face of makeup. Can we get one of those? Look I know it doesn't really affect policy but also ... it kinda does??
October 20, 2025 at 4:13 PM
I'd like the opportunity to vote for a woman candidate who isn't wearing a full face of makeup. Can we get one of those? Look I know it doesn't really affect policy but also ... it kinda does??
my notes for this week are ready! much discussion on the tax rate (they didn't raise it), polk st closure, rainbow crosswalk, and Emmanuel Gonzalez Garcia's case.
emilytakesnotes.com/2025/10/19/1...
emilytakesnotes.com/2025/10/19/1...
Houston City Council Meeting notes for October 15, 2025
notes on the Houston City Council meeting on October 15, 2025, including talk on the rainbow crosswalk, polk street closure, and tax rate
emilytakesnotes.com
October 20, 2025 at 1:51 AM
my notes for this week are ready! much discussion on the tax rate (they didn't raise it), polk st closure, rainbow crosswalk, and Emmanuel Gonzalez Garcia's case.
emilytakesnotes.com/2025/10/19/1...
emilytakesnotes.com/2025/10/19/1...
Reposted by Emily Takes Notes
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October 9, 2025 at 3:35 PM
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Reposted by Emily Takes Notes
Pronouncing “discount” like “viscount” until someone poisons my food
October 8, 2025 at 11:42 PM
Pronouncing “discount” like “viscount” until someone poisons my food
whoops kinda forgot about bsky there for a minute but here are my notes for this week ... highlights are some riveting (actually riveting, I promise) discussion on tax rates and at least one sassy Whitmire clapback.
emilytakesnotes.com/2025/10/09/1...
emilytakesnotes.com/2025/10/09/1...
Houston City Council Meeting Notes: tax rate and other general spending
notes on the Houston City Council meeting on October 8, 2025, including tax rate increase discussions
emilytakesnotes.com
October 9, 2025 at 3:40 PM
whoops kinda forgot about bsky there for a minute but here are my notes for this week ... highlights are some riveting (actually riveting, I promise) discussion on tax rates and at least one sassy Whitmire clapback.
emilytakesnotes.com/2025/10/09/1...
emilytakesnotes.com/2025/10/09/1...
my notes for this week are ready. read all about how they're making it even more illegal to be a pedestrian in Houston.
emilytakesnotes.com/2025/08/28/8...
emilytakesnotes.com/2025/08/28/8...
notes on the Houston City Council Meeting: spending decisions and pedestrian safety
notes on the Houston City Council meeting on August 27, 2025, including spending decisions, public safety, and protecting pedestrians
emilytakesnotes.com
August 29, 2025 at 1:19 AM
my notes for this week are ready. read all about how they're making it even more illegal to be a pedestrian in Houston.
emilytakesnotes.com/2025/08/28/8...
emilytakesnotes.com/2025/08/28/8...
Just because instagram tells you that you could add audio to your post doesn't mean you have to, or that you should. Whatever happened to people instinctively gut-reactively wanting to say NO ⚔️ whenever authority told them to do something??? Let's bring that back.
August 29, 2025 at 12:50 AM
Just because instagram tells you that you could add audio to your post doesn't mean you have to, or that you should. Whatever happened to people instinctively gut-reactively wanting to say NO ⚔️ whenever authority told them to do something??? Let's bring that back.
I was promised rain (by the thunder rolling through a few minutes ago) but it did not rain. With what department do I file my complaint?
August 21, 2025 at 7:58 PM
I was promised rain (by the thunder rolling through a few minutes ago) but it did not rain. With what department do I file my complaint?
My notes are ready. Highlights include Mayor Whitmire being Solid Waste Director Hassan's #1 hype man. Also it was a blessedly short meeting, for which I am thankful.
emilytakesnotes.wpcomstaging.com/2025/08/21/8...
emilytakesnotes.wpcomstaging.com/2025/08/21/8...
Houston City Council Meeting notes: August 20, 2025
notes on the August 20, 2025 Houston City Council meeting, including a solid waste update, general spending, and council member remarks
emilytakesnotes.wpcomstaging.com
August 21, 2025 at 4:15 PM
My notes are ready. Highlights include Mayor Whitmire being Solid Waste Director Hassan's #1 hype man. Also it was a blessedly short meeting, for which I am thankful.
emilytakesnotes.wpcomstaging.com/2025/08/21/8...
emilytakesnotes.wpcomstaging.com/2025/08/21/8...
"human resources" has become a really abstract phrase but it's very bizarre when you really think about it. and so far reaching. and yet what do human resources departments do? very baffling.
August 14, 2025 at 8:29 PM
"human resources" has become a really abstract phrase but it's very bizarre when you really think about it. and so far reaching. and yet what do human resources departments do? very baffling.
it's so important to share resources because corporations are the modern day robber barons
August 10, 2025 at 5:55 PM
it's so important to share resources because corporations are the modern day robber barons
I, a 41 year old person, have successfully made a new friend in the past year. It's early days, of course, as the friendship goes, but just wanted to let you all know that it *is* possible.
August 5, 2025 at 6:50 PM
I, a 41 year old person, have successfully made a new friend in the past year. It's early days, of course, as the friendship goes, but just wanted to let you all know that it *is* possible.
my main mode of posture: SSOTC. Shrimp style, on the couch.
August 1, 2025 at 6:25 PM
my main mode of posture: SSOTC. Shrimp style, on the couch.