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Enhancing Public Safety
Following through on my commitment to improve public safety, this year I
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Offered and passed a budget amendment to create an additional (6th) police cadet class for this fiscal year,
- Helped to redirect funds from the ineffective ShotSpotter program to more important uses of city resources,
- Donated $23,000 from my office budget to continue funding the HPD Crisis Call center to assure that the mental health diversion program remains at full strength following the loss of federal ARPA money, and
- Convened a meeting of HPD and HFD recruiting representatives with HISD’s High School for Law Enforcement Careers to help create a pipeline to carry graduates directly into these critical city departments.
Public Works
Maintaining and improving Houston’s infrastructure is the mission of the Public Works Department. Last week, Mayor Whitmire made it official and appointed Randy Macchi as director, overseeing an annual budget of $1.8 billion and almost 4,000 employees. I have met with Mr. Macchi three times in 2024, as he headed up the department unofficially, to closely follow his progress. Public Works is responsible for our roads, water and sewage pipes, and permitting (a source of many complaints), among other things.
I am pleased to share that stakeholders are reporting significant organizational and operational progress in the department, laying the groundwork for smoother functioning of our city. Along those lines, Randy will soon be joined by a new city engineer, who comes to Houston from the Buffalo Sewer Authority. According to Randy, O. J. McFoy has a reputation for being a change agent, which is just what we need in our Permitting Department, as well as someone who can oversee the most complex water system in the country serving 5.5 million customers. I’ll continue to follow developments closely and pass along suggestions for improvement when I can.
Holding the Housing Authority to Account: PFC deals and a change in leadership
How to best balance Houston’s growing need for affordable housing while also practicing fiscal responsibility is in the news as well as on the City Council’s agenda. Historically, providing housing units for Houston’s most needy has required offering tax credits or abatements to developers to make projects that will rent at lower rates profitable. Since 2015, most abatement deals have come through 100% property tax break vehicles called public facility corporations (PFCs), created by the legislature. Before last year, the Houston Housing Authority (HHA), a federal entity (not to be confused with the city’s Housing and Community Development Department), which is not accountable to the voters or to city council, alone decided which PFCs got approved.
The result has been the creation of more than 100 PFC tax abatements by HHA without any city input, which has taken more than $2.3 billion in property valuation off our (and our school districts’) tax rolls. Critics say the deals have resulted in the creation of too many market rate units, for which no abatement was needed, and few truly affordable ones. Responding to these and other abuses, the legislature last year required some PFCs to be approved by city council.
As your representative on city council, my job on PFCs is to try to make sure that HHA doesn’t “give away the store” to developers and that these deals provide truly affordable housing for Houstonians, in exchange for the full tax abatement. Recently, city council considered three PFCs for the first time. I was frustrated at the lack of transparency and erroneous financial data provided. I voted against one project (Orem Circle) because it will only provide 20% of its units at an affordable level and 80% at the market rate in exchange for a 100% tax abatement. It got approved anyway. We deserve a better deal from HHA. These abatements are sometimes valued at $1 million a year. We ought to be getting more affordable housing for that kind of benefit.
Simultaneously, the president and CEO of HHA came under scrutiny by KPRC Channel 2 reporter Amy Davis relating to some HHA contracts marred by gross waste, inefficiency, and potential outright corruption. Houston Housing Authority CEO placed on administrative leave amid contract scandal uncovered by KPRC 2 Investigates.
When details on the contracts came to light, I contacted HHA’s board and pushed for change. Mayor Whitmire earlier this year replaced a majority of the previous, much-criticized board, a much-needed change. Now the new board, after indefinitely suspending the president and CEO, has reached an agreement for his immediate departure. Bravo! HHA's leadership needs to ensure that its precious resources produce affordable housing--not line pockets. I'll continue to ask pertinent questions, scrutinize the answers, and strive to make wise decisions to assure your affordable housing dollars are spent honestly.
Government Transparency and Ethics
One of my priorities is enhancing transparency and ethical standards for your city government. I will work to speed up response to public information requests and to better monitor the filing of election finance and conflict of interest reports. Too often these reports are filed late or not at all. At present, only the Texas Ethics Commission can enforce campaign reporting violations. Nonetheless, I'm exploring ways in which the city can raise the bar. In addition, I will push to reinvigorate the city’s Ethics Commission so that it can fulfill its mission of ensuring ethical conduct within city government. You deserve no less.
Thanksgiving Message
This is Thanksgiving, and there’s never a better time to talk about practicing gratitude and rendering service. Living amidst the hustle and bustle of the nation’s fourth largest (and greatest!) city and its 2.3 million residents during the holiday season, it’s easy to sometimes feel out of sorts, alone, or sad. If you feel this way, I hope you’ll take five minutes to reflect on the things you are most grateful for. Make this a regular practice, and I think you’ll be happier in general.
Better yet, couple gratitude with finding a way to do good for someone around you. The opportunities to help another are endless and easy to find. You can often find them in your own home or amongst your closest neighbors. Or try volunteering at one of Houston’s many charitable organizations. Make it a habit and I can almost guarantee you will feel more a part of your city and the world around you and be happier.
I want you to know that I’m grateful for the privilege of representing you on Houston City Council and living in this great city. Serving you is its own reward. Best wishes to you and yours for a meaningful and HAPPY Thanksgiving!
City Council Committee Assignments
Quality of Life, Chair
Service Delivery, Vice-Chair
Public Safety, Arts and Culture, Ethics, Prop A, Budget and Finance, Member
Be sure to follow the At Large 1 team on social media for updates and information.
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