Sam Johnson for the People

24/02/2022

Winter Weather Update | 6:30 p.m. 2/23/22

While the City and Plano Municipal Center remain open, weather may impact operations. Please follow the City’s social media channels and website for updates. Below are the latest service changes for Thursday:

Thursday, Feb. 24
Customer & Utility Services – The water payment window is closed Thursday, Feb. 24. Payments, including cash can be placed in the drop box on the east side of the building. Visit a Fidelity Express Location to pay with cash. Payments, inquiries and other in-person assistance can be made by phone at 972-941-7105. You can pay your water bill online. Use the City of Plano's official online water payment portal at plano.gov/Bills.
Day Labor Center – Closed.
Plano Animal Shelter – Closed for adoption services. Open for owners who need to claim lost pets. Staff is on site caring for the animals at the shelter.
Plano Parks & Recreation – Facilities and programs will be closed or cancelled Thursday, Feb. 24.
Plano Municipal Court – All Thursday dockets are being rescheduled. Court Clerks are contacting the parties. If you have an appearance date for a citation or summons due Thursday or Friday, it will be extended until Friday, March 4.
Plano Public Library – Locations are closed Thursday, Feb. 24, but virtual programming will continue. Due dates on items have been adjusted. Please keep any items that do not automatically renew until Sunday, Feb. 27. Any holds set to expire on Thursday will be held until Sunday. Voting at Haggard and Parr Libraries is closed until Friday.
Texas Pure Products – Closed.
Plano Town Hall - Postponed to March 17

Friday, Feb. 25
Plano Municipal Court – A decision on whether to hold court on Friday, Feb. 25 will be made Thursday, Feb. 24.

Plano Public Library – Due dates on items have been adjusted. Please keep any items that do not automatically renew until Sunday, Feb. 27. Any holds set to expire on Friday will be held until Sunday.

*Trash and Recycling Collections
No trash collection on Thursday. These carts will be serviced on Friday. No recycling collection on Thursday. The recycling center remains closed. We will service these carts on Friday, Feb. 25 and possibly into Saturday, Feb. 26. Please leave your carts at your collection point until after we service the cart.

*Fallen Trees in the Roadway
If you see a tree has fallen in the roadway or is blocking a city sidewalk, please call our public works team at 972-769-4140.

*School Closures
Thursday, Feb. 24 - PISD schools and facilities are closed. Read more: https://pisd.edu/Page/25976

*DART
Changes to DART service can be found here: www.dart.org/riding/winterweather

*County Office Closures
Collin County – All county offices are closed through Thursday, Feb. 24. This includes early voting polling locations for the March Primary. Visit the Collin County website for updates on voting availability. https://www.collincountytx.gov/elections/election_information/Pages/early_voting_city_isd.aspx
Denton County – Early voting resumes Friday, Feb. 25. Visit votedenton.gov for updates. https://www.votedenton.gov/upcoming-election-information

30/08/2021

Good morning!! A local organization is looking for volunteers to sign up to work the Plano Overnight Warming Station (POWS) this winter if needed. POWS is the emergency warming station that is activated at Salvation Army in east Plano when overnight temps approach freezing. Many of our neighbors experiencing homelessness stay at the shelters when it gets this cold.

The Salvation Army provides a few hours of training, and in the event that you are asked to volunteer, you are not asked to stay overnight. There are several jobs you might be asked to do, including set up, check-in, kitchen help, or clean-up.

Please message me if you're interested in volunteering.

~ Sam

27/08/2021

COVID-19 Vaccination

There's a lot of talk in the news about COVID vaccine booster shots coming in about a month. Please visit the Texas Health and Human Services FAQs (https://www.dshs.state.tx.us/coronavirus/immunize/vaccine-faqs.aspx#addboost) for more information. Texas HHS also links to information from the CDC (https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/vaccines/booster-shot.html).

Please educate yourself now and get ready to protect yourself and your neighbors by getting your booster once you're eligible.

~ Sam

COVID-19 vaccines protect against COVID-19. Get safety info and more.

27/08/2021

Went on hiatus for a little while but with so much going on, I thought I'd reactivate this page. If it helps even one person in the community, it's worth the time and effort.

PS - No, I'm not running for anything and don't plan to any time soon. :)

01/12/2020

I'm so proud and honored to serve on the board of directors for Grace to Change. We are a beacon of hope to Collin County and other area people doing the hard work of recovering from addiction.

The mental health impact of COVID-19 has been hard on everyone - and presents special challenges to those doing this work. Please add Grace to Change to your list of beneficiaries today and throughout this holiday season.

~ Sam

Black Friday, Cyber Monday NOW it’s !!! Please consider making a donation today to help GTC continue our mission of serving those who strive to learn to live a life of recovery! Every dollar directly helps change a persons life. We appreciate the continued support!!

24/11/2020

The fact that we have a need for the term "affordable housing" is an embarrassment to our society.

12/11/2020

Purple States of America

"Our research has found that red & blue US political maps create increased perceptions of polarization and more political stereotyping, compared to more accurate purple maps." - Social Psychologist Sara Konrath

https://purplestatesofamerica.org

Traditional U.S. electoral maps not only illustrate polarization, they can exacerbate it. No state is strictly red or blue, they are all shades of purple.

11/11/2020

Just keep swimming...

https://www.texastribune.org/2020/11/11/texas-democrats-republicans-suburb/

11/11/2020

Collin County Commissioners Court Guts County's COVID-19 Dashboard — Local Profile

This refusal to provide information to Collin County citizens and visitors is as sad and harmful to public health as the majority of our county commissioners are. We deserve and must demand responsible governance, not mindless pandering to a small political base.

Nearly three months have passed since Collin County Judge Chris Hill began complaining about the accuracy of the county's COVID-19 dashboard. He didn't

07/11/2020

I'm not much for prayer. On Tuesday, I woke up and headed out for what I knew would be a long, long day and probably a long, long week.

As I left the house, I prayed to my mom for Joe and Kamala to win so my boys could see that the good people can win.

Thank you, Mom.

05/11/2020

Democratic leaders focused on gaining or losing “minority” votes are missing the point. First we focus on actually partnering with and helping underrepresented communities; the votes will follow if we earn them.

04/11/2020

My friends - thank you all for your support. Your calls, texts, volunteer hours, donations, and words have all carried me through this campaign. We worked hard under circumstances unfathomable even a year ago, and we did well but still fell short of a win.

I'm so proud to have been one of the first Democrats to run for district court judge in Collin County in almost four decades. Our system of checks and balances depends on participation from both sides, and you have made it possible for me to engage in such participation.

I don't know what tonight or this week hold for our country, but I know that our fight for equality, equity, integrity, and the soul of our nation will continue. I think by now you know me well enough to know I'll still be right by your side.

Until next time, be well, be safe, and remember that it is never the wrong time to do the right thing.

~ Sam

03/11/2020

On November 3rd, the power to change the future rests in YOUR hands.

31/10/2020

3 days until Election day! Let’s work together to restore Collin County’s trust in the judicial system.

30/10/2020

Today is the last day of Early Voting in Texas. GET OUT AND VOTE!! Collin County has record turnout by every measure this year, which only means that YOUR VOTE MATTERS. We need EVERY vote to course-correct for our county, state, and nation.

Polls are open until 7:00 p.m. - you can vote at any polling place in the county: https://www.collincountytx.gov/elections/election_information/Pages/early_voting.aspx

29/10/2020

I am committed to a justice system that is fair and equal for all Texans. Such a system can only exist if we join with others and dedicate ourselves to engage in the hard work required to create it. Together, we can meet this challenge.

28/10/2020

What are my top priorities as district judge? To work with the legislature and county commissioners to bring more courts judges to Collin County to help with the quick and just disposition of cases.

27/10/2020

There is still time to go to the polls before November rolls in. Last week for early voting. Early voting ends October 30th!

26/10/2020

Texas, it’s time to take control. Vote for Sam Johnson, a hard-working, community servant who will develop and implement programs to minimize the impact of implicit bias in the justice system.

25/10/2020

What are my top priorities as district judge? To implement options such as bail reform and diversion programs to promote the productive movement of criminal cases in a way that saves taxpayer dollars.

22/10/2020

Ensuring each citizen of Collin County is afforded fair and equal justice is in keeping with our constitutional traditions. As district judge, I promise to uphold our Constitution so every Collin County voter has balanced and fair treatment in our court system. Your vote matters to help us get there!

20/10/2020

What are my top priorities as district judge? – To educate the public on how the court system works and how it can work for you.

19/10/2020

The power rests in your hands! Sam Johnson for Judge! Visit https://www.samforjudge.com today for more info.

17/10/2020

MATCHING DONOR ALERT: thanks to a group of matching donors your donations will count double until we raise $5,000. Your contributions will be crucial in getting out the vote these last two weeks! https://donorbox.org/samforjudge

16/10/2020

What are my top priorities as district judge? To develop and implement programs and strategies to minimize the impact of implicit bias in our justice system.

14/10/2020

Amber and I voted today with the kids in tow. For me, voting has always been a spiritual act - one that reaffirms my belief in an open, free democracy. It is such a blessing to share that sense of awe and duty with our children.

If you haven’t voted yet, please make a plan to vote during early voting and to vote all the way down the ballot. There are candidates who you may not have heard of before on page 2, but I assure you they and their families have sacrificed and they very much want to be of service to you.

14/10/2020

The justice system in Collin County has been monopolized by one party for decades. It is time for a change. Early Voting has started. Make your voice heard!

13/10/2020

The ball(ot) is in your Court – don’t miss the shot! Early Voting starts tomorrow!

12/10/2020

What are my top priorities as district judge? To establish a system for effective and fair docket management and case disposition.

10/10/2020

Our Courts Need Fairness & Balance

Our Courts Need Fairness & Balance

09/10/2020

Justice becomes fair when everyone is heard. Your vote is your voice. Early voting starts October 13th. Make your voice heard!

08/10/2020

Fairness will ALWAYS come first in my courtroom.

I'm running for District Judge in Collin County, where I grew up, and where I'm raising my family. Nothing matters more when you go to court than a fair judge and fair process. You can count on my courtroom being one where fairness always comes first. Vote early October 13-30. Locations: bit.ly/collincountyearlyvote