Metropolis council was full of controversy over Montrose’s rainbow crosswalk, the GRB growth, and extra.
Emily Hynds has been independently masking Houston Metropolis Council conferences since June 2020. In her month-to-month Houstonia column, she shares all the newest intel about what’s occurring at metropolis corridor. Wish to examine the conferences out for your self? Learn this companion information.
IN THIS MONTH’S DISPATCH: The mayor flip-flops on a tax charge promise, town tears out Montrose’s iconic rainbow crosswalk, the GRB growth ruffles feathers, and—don’t overlook—we’re in the course of an election.
Mayor Whitmire goes again on his tax charge guarantees. Right here’s why you must care.
Each Houston’s state and voter-approved metropolis mandates restrict how a lot town can accumulate from property taxes, colloquially referred to as “income caps.” These dictate town’s property tax charge. Generally, however not typically, all this revenue-cap math permits town to boost the tax charge, as occurred earlier this yr in Could, when Mayor John Whitmire proposed a price range that included a tax charge enhance. Regardless of the deliberate enhance, the price range nonetheless projected a deficit that may require drawing $70 million from town’s fund stability (a.ok.a. town’s financial savings account) to cowl prices, based on the controller’s month-to-month monetary report.
On the October deadline to set town’s tax charge, the mayor shockingly determined to not increase it. Gasp!
Mayor Whitmire reasoned {that a} tax enhance ought to by no means be step one, including that he isn’t completed overhauling town’s paperwork but, vowing once more to eliminate “waste, duplication, and conflicts of curiosity.”
Whitmire’s determination drew backlash. In disagreement, councilmember Sallie Alcorn, chair of the Funds and Finance Committee, warned of dire penalties down the road. Alcorn has constantly advocated for elevating the tax charge: On October 15, Alcorn stated that she had “[grown] somewhat weary as a result of it has been three mayors now which have stated comparable issues, and no one’s actually completed something.” Alcorn additionally supported the mayor’s price range plans, which included important contract will increase for police, fireplace, and, to a lesser extent, municipal staff, “with a clear-eyed understanding that we must increase revenues to afford them.”
Councilmember Abbie Kamin argued that the rise to the common taxpayer’s burden can be comparatively low, particularly in comparison with the thousands and thousands extra town would accumulate. Councilmembers Alcorn, Kamin, and Edward Pollard voted towards the mayor in assist of accelerating taxes, however the charge stays the identical. Town will now want to attract an extra $53 million from its fund stability to cowl this yr’s prices, except the mayor has one other plan to create income.
Montrose’s Rainbow Crosswalk, a logo and a security measure, is gone
Montrose’s iconic rainbow crosswalk at Westheimer and Taft has been torn up and paved over. On the October 15 council assembly, Mayor Whitmire defined that Texas Governor Greg Abbott and the US Secretary of Transportation, Sean Duffy, directed him to take away the crosswalk or threat shedding federal funding on which town closely depends. Initiatives just like the HIV prevention and remedy packages are led by town’s well being division, which may’t operate with out the $98 million it receives from the federal authorities.
At that very same assembly, councilmember Kamin challenged the governor’s authority and known as it “inappropriate state overreach into native management.” The crosswalk, Kamin stated, is a logo for the LGBTQ+ neighborhood, however additionally it is a security measure: Brighter crosswalks are extra seen to drivers and subsequently, safer for pedestrians. “The state doesn’t have a proper to say we can not do one thing on our personal property… We ought to be legally difficult that,” Kamin argued.
Mayor Whitmire replied, “That’s a battle we might lose.”
The crosswalk was eliminated within the late hours of the evening on Sunday, October 19. 4 protesters have been arrested. On the October 22 council assembly, councilmember Kamin requested why the Houston Police Division’s LGBTQ+ liaison was not on the scene and even knowledgeable of the scenario, though they have been on obligation. She recommended they might have helped with de-escalation and prevented arrests. Mayor Whitmire didn’t reply.
Polk Road closure and the GRB Growth transfer ahead
There’s quite a bit occurring across the George R. Brown Conference Middle (GRB), and it’s not going to be over anytime quickly. The foremost rebuild of Freeway 59 and I-45 and the GRB growth, the newest initiatives by the Texas Division of Transportation (TxDOT), will transform the Downtown space over the following 15 years. On the October 15 assembly, Michael Heckman, CEO of Houston First Company, which owns and operates the GRB, addressed issues concerning the growth and sudden closure of components of Polk Road. Individuals for Polk, a neighborhood advocacy group, says the road is among the few protected methods for pedestrians and cyclists to achieve Downtown from the East Finish.
Councilmember Martinez added that opponents don’t characterize the bulk and that longtime East Finish residents, together with folks he is aware of, assist the event. Councilmember Carolyn Evans-Shabazz stated she would withhold her “no” vote to see the results of future public engagement and compromise. Mayor Whitmire implied he’s wanting ahead to working along with her on eradicating the Blodgett bike lanes close to Texas Southern College, an initiative that is an everlasting peeve of Evans-Shabazz. They have been obscure sufficient that it wasn’t truly quid professional quo, nevertheless it positive smelled prefer it. Council voted to promote the contested components of Polk Road to Houston First, however there are extra votes to come back, which suggests extra time for advocacy.
Developing: Get on the market and vote
Election Day is Tuesday, November 4, however early voting is underway and lasts via Friday, October 31. Go to harrisvotes.org to view your poll and discover a polling place close to you. The poll features a particular election for the Congressional District 18 seat, which has been empty since Sylvester Turner died in March. Extra poll points embrace many state propositions, in addition to seats for trustees for Houston Metropolis Faculty (previously Houston Group Faculty), HISD, and Cy-Truthful-ISD, and one Houston Metropolis Council place: At-Giant 4. (Earlier this yr, former councilmember Leticia Plummer resigned her seat to run for Harris County decide.) A number of persons are working for this seat, together with Alejandra Salinas, Dwight Boykins, and Jordan Thomas. Whoever is elected will fulfill the rest of this time period and, if historical past goes to indicate, could possibly be favored closely to win a second time period. Incumbents at all times have a bonus.
Houston Metropolis Council conferences happen nearly each week on Tuesdays and Wednesdays at 901 Bagby Road or on-line by way of HTV.
