Max Beauregard

Profile Updated: September 17, 2019

Residing In	Houston, TX USA

Occupation	retired government professor, Houston Community College

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AC, Univ Texas Austin Bach Architecture, MS UT Austin Community/City Planning.

I have had numerous career paths, each morphing into the other; and some periods of unemplyment when I tried small businesses.

Planning jobs in Houston were difficult to find, but I worked for numerous engineering/planning firms for highway expansion. That evolved into population forecasting, so I morphed that into being a demographer and Census expert. I worked for my State Rep. Jessica Farrar [the most liberal os all] for five years because I saw the deficiencies of state government.

I have been a voter and gay activist since moving to Houston. I have been to most Pride parades across the country and created floats and banners for events here. Pride Parade here is led by the Mayor and other elected officials, so it is nice to be recognized as legitimate members of society. The Arc school graphics background comes through for that! I am currently Precinct Chair and Election Judge at the HS in my historic Heights neighborhood. I plan to register everyone this year, since the County Clerk expanded voting on E Day to include anyone. We did not have this advantage in 1969 because the law was not changed until 1972 during Viet Nam. Texas ranks 51st (behind Puerto Rico) in voter participation which is disgusting.

Observations on Amarillo from a City Planner:
* the idea of garbage pickup twice/week is a complete waste of money when most cities have weekly.
* the sophisticated traffic signals downtown are massive overkill for such a meager traffic volume.
* it is unconscionable not to have a recycling program, although I realize the isolation of the city makes it cost prohibitive. I felt guilty about tossing a cereal box or jar. It is amazing how much we can reuse and how large our carbon footprint really is. Don't get me started on climate change!
* the poverty in Amarillo is staggering! I was there last month and was appalled at the east side of town. State average is 17%, but Amarillo is over 25%. I penned an op-ed a few years ago to dispute a false profile of food stamp recipients by the Globe-News. They consider them to be 'moochers', when the reality is most are elderly, children, and disabled. G-N was ashamed of the poverty, but at least identifying them gets benefits. G-N could also not understand it is not only of a personal value, BUT it is a tremendous economic benefit to the business community, esp. grocery stores who receive millions of extra $$ they otherwise would not get. If food stamp benefits are not claimed by a state, they are passed on to other states who will claim them. It is economically foolish not to identify eligible recipients and help them claim their benefits to improve the community. My largest charitable donation now is to High Plains Food Bank even though I no longer have ties to Amarillo. Trump just cut more food stamp appropriations, exacerbating the problems locally.

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School Story

I really did not have that many friends until AC, so I am not coming to the Reunion. Almost anyone I would want to see died in the plague of 80s&90s or is also not coming. Of course I have survivors guilt about the plague, but you carry on.

Key Club was important to help me to mature, work with others, and give back. The convention one year was i Houston, so I was amazed there were green places in March when Ama remains so brown and dormant.

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