Located thirty miles southeast of Houston, the city of Dickinson is just seven miles from the Galveston Bay which connects to the Gulf of Mexico. The city and surrounding area have been some of the hardest hit by Hurricane Harvey.

“Dickinson’s requirement is an egregious violation of the First Amendment” said Andre Segura, Legal Director of the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) of Texas. Segura called the stipulation “reminiscent of McCarthy-era loyalty oaths requiring Americans to disavow membership in the Communist party and other forms of ‘subversive’ activity.”

Galveston County — where Dickinson is located — has already received $44.7 million in federal FEMA aid, the second highest among eligible counties in Texas. The FEMA Disaster Recovery Center which serves all of Galveston County is located in Dickinson.

Dickinson has just begun accepting applications from individuals and businesses for hurricane relief grants to be paid out from the Dickinson Harvey Relief Fund. The fund appears to consist of a single, but large, $1 million donation from Bill and Amy Gurley, according to the city’s website.

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