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Million‑Dollar Mealer

1) The Million‑Dollar Vote

June 2024 approval of $1.05M for an equity‑and‑sustainability program administered through Evolve Houston; May 2025 backed an extension and increase to about $1.9M.

2) DEI Research Handouts

Up to $1,000,000 for university “mobility” research at institutes that push equity‑first transportation agendas.

3) Six‑Figure Lobbyists

Voted to spend $660,000 of taxpayer money on federal lobbyists to kill President Trump’s Big Beautiful Bill.

WHO IS MILLION-DOLLAR MEARLER?

Alex Mealer spent and prioritized your money for left wing groups.

THE MILLION-DOLLAR VOTE

In June 2024, Mealer voted to approve $1.05 million in METRO funds for a City of Houston agreement administered through Evolve Houston, an equity-and-sustainability outfit that distributes microgrants and runs free EV rides in “underserved” zones. Those microgrants bankroll organizations steeped in climate justice, DEI, and racial equity.

In May 2025, she backed an extension and increase that lifted the total to about $1.9 million, including a METRO-controlled contingency for “community awareness activities.”

What your money supported:
• Equity-branded EV microtransit and microgrants
• Groups centered on environmental justice, DEI causes, and “at‑promise” youth activism
• Programs explicitly framed around climate justice, racial equity, and social inclusion

Bottom line: Mealer’s “pilot” turned into a million‑dollar+ pipeline to progressive priorities.

Evidence: METRO Minutes — Jun. 27, 2024 • Meeting Packet — Jun. 27, 2024 • METRO Minutes & Packet — May 29, 2025 • Evolve Houston Equity Program (2025)

Bottom line: Mealer’s “pilot” turned into a million‑dollar+ pipeline to progressive priorities.

DEI HANDOUTS: MEALER’S “RESEARCH” SPENDING

In August 2024, Mealer voted for up to $1,000,000 in contracts with four universities—Rice’s Kinder Institute, Texas A&M’s TTI, Texas Southern, and UH—for mobility “research.” These institutions and their affiliated centers promote equity-first narratives in transportation; their own materials argue that systemic racism is embedded in transit and call for radical, costly redesigns of highways and systems.

Translation: Taxpayer dollars to think‑tanks of the left that push “equity” policies conservatives reject.

Evidence: METRO Minutes & Packet — Aug. 22, 2024 • Kinder Institute equity series example • TSU CTTR pages

TAXPAYER-FUNDED LOBBYISTS TO KILL TRUMP’S BIG BEAUTIFUL BILL

In January 2025, Mealer voted to hire Cline Strategic Consulting for $660,000 in federal lobbying. Disclosures show Cline worked Congress and DOT to kill Trump’s Big Beautiful Bill—the Trump‑backed package that zeroed out equity and sustainability pots. Whatever METRO’s position, Mealer’s vote meant six‑figure lobbyist fees while riders and taxpayers foot the bill.

Why it matters: Houstonians paid D.C. lobbyists big money while Mealer had already steered millions into equity-and-sustainability schemes at home.

Evidence: METRO Minutes — Jan. 30, 2025 • Cline Q2 Lobbying Disclosure (U.S. Senate) • NACTO summary of Trump’s Big Beautiful Bill impacts

WHO BENEFITED FROM MEALER’S MILLIONS

Evolve Houston microgrant ecosystem includes:
• Environmental/climate‑justice outfits
• DEI‑focused STEM and youth groups
• Equity‑branded housing, transit, and “community resilience” activists

University “research” partners include:
• Kinder Institute content arguing transit systems reflect systemic racism, urging expensive “rethink” agendas
• TSU centers emphasizing equity in transportation, with METRO as a partner
• TTI and UH projects aligned with “equity-first” frameworks

Result: A web of woke grantees and academics—funded by your taxes because Alex Mealer voted yes.

Evidence: Evolve Houston Equity Program (2025)

FAQ / QUICK HITS

Did Mealer really vote for the million-dollar equity plan?

Yes, she voted for the interlocal agreement that routed $1.05M to Evolve Houston, then supported an extension and increase to about $1.9M with added “awareness” funds.

Are these microgrants ideological?

The listed recipients and program language are explicitly framed around equity, climate justice, racial justice, and similar left-wing priorities.

What’s the story on the $660K lobbyists?

She voted to award $660,000 for federal lobbying. The firm reported lobbying to kill Trump’s Big Beautiful Bill.

Why highlight the university contracts?

Because Mealer voted to funnel $1,000,000 into research at institutions whose own publications and centers advocate equity‑first transportation agendas conservatives reject.