Pushback persists as Houston City Council takes step toward closing Polk Street
The city council took the first of two votes to finalize the sale of the street to the Houston First Corporation. The city also attached strings to the plan, which is tied to the expansion of the George R. Brown Convention Center.
Houston police remove leader of immigrant rights group from city council meeting following outburst
FIEL Houston executive director Cesar Espinosa criticized the city's mayor and police chief more than a week after Emmanuel Gonzalez Garcia, a 15-year-old boy with autism, reportedly went missing while he was selling fruit with his mother. The boy ended up in federal custody.
Houston city leaders vote against raising property tax rate despite unclear plan for ballooning deficit
At the urging of Mayor John Whitmire, the city council voted to not increase property taxes. The move comes as the city faces a $128 million deficit, projected to increase to more than $220 million next year.
Houston’s East Downtown homeless ‘superhub’ delayed amid community pushback
The proposed $16 million purchase of a 150 to 225-bed facility was delayed on Wednesday after community pushback on the “superhub” intensified.
Alejandra Salinas, Dwight Boykins lead Houston City Council candidate field in fundraising, endorsements
Two of the 15 candidates are pulling ahead in fundraising and political endorsements with less than a month until the special election to fill an open at-large seat on the Houston City Council.
Exclusive: Houston ramps up citations of homeless after July civility ordinance expansion
The Houston Police Department ramped up its enforcement of rules intended to keep homeless people off sidewalks after the city council expanded the so-called civility ordinance. The typical fine was about $200.
Houston councilmembers call for more details about bodies recently recovered from bayous
The calls for additional details come after six bodies were discovered in Houston bayous within the span of two weeks, stirring unsubstantiated theories online that drew the ire of Mayor John Whitmire and police department leaders.
Houston leaders indicate they won’t implement new safety measures around bayous following string of deaths
Mayor John Whitmire said there’s no “failsafe” solution, “other than everyone should be smart.” City officials cited homelessness, alcohol and mental health as potential contributing factors in the recent deaths.
Union workers at Houston’s George R. Brown Convention Center to take strike vote
Convention center workers are considering labor action as hundreds of employees at the nearby Hilton Americas-Houston are in their third week of a strike. Both facilities are owned by a local government corporation.
Hilton union workers blast hotel owner Houston First amid stalled negotiations
The city’s local government corporation for tourism and conventions, Houston First, has mostly stayed behind the scenes amid the ongoing labor dispute. UNITE HERE Local 23 workers are trying to change that.
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