At-Large Position 5
Press and Media
Houston will have to set aside much more tax money for drainage, court rules, dealing blow to city budget
April 23, 2024 | Houston Chronicle
Houston City Hall will have to use significantly more tax money to fight flooding with street and drainage projects after an appeals court sided Tuesday with engineers in a years long lawsuit over how much funding the city devotes to that purpose.
KPRC2 Investigates Houston's water bill hike
April 10, 2024 | KPRC2
After nearly two years of KPRC 2 Investigates DRAINED series exposing failures at the Houston Water Department, Mayor John Whitmire announces major changes
It's time for Houston to crack down on short-term rentals
April 2, 2024 | Houston Chronicle
When it comes to short-term rental properties, Mayor John Whitmire is right. Something needs to be done. Other major cities already regulate them, and we can learn from their experience.
Houston will likely need tax and fee hikes to pay for firefighters' contract, city's financial leaders say
March 28, 2024 | Houston Public Media
Houston’s firefighters and paramedics have gone eight years without a new contract, leading hundreds to transfer out or quit. A $650-million proposed settlement could reverse the exodus, but it comes as Houston faces a brewing financial crisis that’s been years in the making.
Hollins, Alcorn: Tax hikes and a trash fee will likely be needed to stave off fiscal crisis
March 27, 2024 | Houston Public Media
City Controller Chris Hollins and City Council Member Sallie Alcorn, who chairs the Budget and Fiscal Affairs Committee, said trying to fix Houston’s budget with cuts alone would require steep layoffs and crippling cuts to city services.
Some Houston residents question why city does not have short-term rental regulations
Houston Public Media | March 20, 2024
Residents and council members alike are raising concerns about residential homes and apartments used as short-term rentals, which are still unregulated in Houston.
Whitmire creates new Houston City Council committees to address union activities, disaster resilience
Houston Chronicle | March 15, 2024
Two and a half months into his tenure, Mayor John Whitmire announced he has reshaped Houston City Council’s committee structure, creating new groups to focus on issues such as union activities, disaster resilience and constituent services.
Houston council members suggest noise ordinance tweaks in new memo to Mayor Whitmire.
February 23, 2024 | Community Impact
Four Houston City Council members sent a memo to Mayor John Whitmire on Feb. 22 detailing concerns about recent violations of the city's noise ordinance along with potential solutions to the problem.
Houston City Council Moves to quickly replace port commissioner as environmental coalition pushes back
February 21, 2024 | Houston Chronicle
Houston City Council on Wednesday chose Thomas Jones, president of the Houston Fund for Social Justice and Economic Equity, for one of two seats it controls on the Port Commission, which runs Port Houston.
Houston street sign quickly fixed after "Madonna" typo
February 14, 2024 | KHOU 11
While Houston Public Works manages over a million street signs within the city, Madonna Ln was quickly adjusted to its original name, Maconda Ln, after Council Member Sallie Alcorn noted the incorrect spelling.
River Oaks' Maconda Lane appears to be inadvertently named after Madonna
February 9, 2024 | Chron
Amid numerous traffic project reversals initiated by the city of Houston, a street in River Oaks has been seemingly unintentionally renamed after the Material Girl, Madonna.
City of Houston launches free composting program through February
February 1, 2024 | Houston Public Media
The City of Houston has launched a free composting pilot program to reduce food waste in its municipal landfill. The program kicked off in late January in collaboration with the Solid Waste Management Department, Council Member Sallie Alcorn, and Zero Waste Houston.
Houston doesn't want a veto on H-GAC regional planning decisions. Only a fair say (editorial)
January 31, 2023| Houston Chronicle
The editorial board of Houston Chronicle has championed a grassroots effort to shake things up among the powers that be, endorsing a charter amendment that would force the city to go to the Houston-Galveston Area Council, which includes the metropolitan planning organization that oversees the region’s transportation dollars, and renegotiate what we consider to be an unfair voting structure.
City of Houston launching new compost waste drop off program
January 30, 2024 | CW 39 Houston
The city’s Solid Waste Management Department is teaming up with At-Large, Position 5 Council Member Sallie Alcorn and Zero Waste Houston to begin a six-week food waste drop-off pilot program, which now has new disposal locations.
Houston-area transportation council rejects proposal to give city more proportional representation
January 29, 2024 | Houston Public Media
Prop B, passed by Houston voters in November, compels the city to leave a regional council of governments and metropolitan planning organization if it cannot negotiate for more proportional representation based on its population.
Regional transportation board drops proportional voting talks, jeopardizing Houston participation
January 26, 2024 | Houston Chronicle
The Houston region’s transportation board stepped into uncharted territory Friday, with suburban members of the board nixing consideration of proportional voting to satisfy a Houston ballot measure.
Solid Waste Management Department launches 6-week food waste drop-off program
January 25, 2024 | The Leader
The City of Houston Solid Waste Management Department, in collaboration with Council Member Sallie Alcorn, and Zero Waste Houston is poised to launch a 6-week Food Waste Drop-Off pilot program.
Houston missed 60-day deadline to negotiate with H-GAC. What happens now?
January 24, 2024 | Houston Chronicle
Despite a deadline set by Houston voters for early January, the process to increase Houston's role in regional planning will take at least another month, as concerns from other local governments complicate negotiations.
Houston's pilot composting pilot program kicks off at four community centers
January 22, 2024 | Houston Chronicle
Houston kicked off its newest composting drop-off program Monday, an effort city leaders would like to see contribute to a reduction in food waste in municipal landfills.
Will Prop B bring mayhem to highway planning? So far, no. (Editorial)
January 4, 2024 | Houston Chronicle
Here’s the setup: Proposition B, a city of Houston ballot item, threatened that Houston would secede from our area’s regional planning council unless our behemoth urban municipality got more say.
Houston City Council approves contentious change to $1B airport contracts at Turner’s last meeting
December 20, 2023 | Houston Chronicle
Houston City Council, in a 9-7 vote, approved a divisive proposal to make it harder to terminate several lucrative airport concession agreements, including a controversial deal that ousted Pappas Restaurants from William P. Hobby Airport earlier this year.
Houston parks report unveils disparities in low-income, predominantly minority areas
December 14, 2023 | Houston Chronicle
In Houston, neighborhood parks in poor condition are disproportionately concentrated in low-income, predominantly minority areas, a new city report reveals.
Houston ramps up efforts to introduce composting for city residents
December 1, 2023 | Houston Chronicle
The city’s Solid Waste Management Department is applying for U.S. Department of Agriculture funds to kick-start a two-year composting pilot program, and plans to run a separate six-week composting trial at four community centers.
Houston voters passed Proposition B. But questions remain about city’s ability to leave H-GAC
November 13, 2023 | Houston Landing
Houston voters approved Proposition B with high hopes of increasing the city’s voting power on a regional planning organization called the Houston-Galveston Area Council, yet exactly how officials will carry out the wishes of voters remains unclear.
Houston residents encouraged to drop off old pumpkins at composting locations throughout the city
November 1, 2023 | Houston Public Media
The composted pumpkins will be distributed across the city in public parks and other greenways.
Next City Council will navigate a mayoral transition, possible changes from Prop A
October 25, 2023 | Houston Chronicle
Sylvester Turner’s eight-year tenure as mayor of Houston is coming to an end and a city council of newly elected and current members will serve under a new administration after the Nov. 7 elections.
A Regional Government Faces Calls for Reform in Houston
October 26, 2023 | Bloomberg
Voters are weighing changes to the Houston-Galveston Area Council, a planning organization that’s been at odds with the city over freeway and flood recovery funds.
Houston approves $48M in emergency orders for water line repairs
October 4, 2023 | Community Impact News
Houston City Council unanimously approved 11 emergency water line repair contracts totaling roughly $48 million at an Oct. 4 meeting as city officials try to keep up with a growing demand for repairs amid an ongoing drought.
“The data was staggering:” Public officials react to Hot Stops investigation
September 28, 2023 | Houston Public Media
An investigation by Houston Public Media found that bus shelters inconsistently provided protection against the heat during some of the hottest months of the summer.
Houston grants $500,000 lifeline to BCycle to keep bike share service available
September 27, 2023 | Houston Public Media
The decision to help the sputtering BCycle program comes as METRO, the Houston region’s transit provider, considers creating its own bike-sharing operation.
'Who let the dogs out': Houston's stray problem is a growing issue ahead of local elections
September 25, 2023 | Houston Chronicle
Melissa Melvin has rescued abandoned dogs dumped at Melrose Park since 2011, and what started with 13 pups soon ballooned into thousands.
‘It’s a real issue’: Firefighters share concerns over water supply across city of Houston
September 22, 2023 | KPRC
A Houston Fire Department District Chief is sharing concerns about water supply across the city following a fire in east Downtown Friday.
Metro board to vote on $10.5 million bike share system contract next week
September 21, 2023 | Houston Public Media
A Metropolitan Transit Authority committee Thursday introduced a $10.5 million plan for a bike share system, just days after BCycle announced it would shut down operations because of high operational costs.
How METRO officials could plant a tree at every bus stop in Houston
September 21, 2023 | Houston Public Media
A pilot study from Houston Public Media found that bus shelter shade was on average half as effective at cooling riders as tree shade -- a potential solution for METRO and the City of Houston as climate change makes the heat worse for transit riders.
Vote ‘For’ on Prop B to give Houston, Harris County more say in region’s growth (Editorial)
September 13, 2023 | Houston Chronicle
Floodwaters, as we know, don’t care about arbitrary county lines.
For first time, Houston adopts policy regulating tax zone creation, termination
August 31, 2023 | Community Impact News
Members of the Houston City Council approved new regulations Aug. 30 related to how the city regulates the creation and termination of tax increment reinvestment zones, or TIRZs.
Houston clamps down on noisy nightclub
August 28, 2023 | Axios
Houston's new and improved noise ordinance appears to be doing its job.
Houston City Council delays vote on first-ever TIRZ policy for a second time due to missing document
August 9, 2023 | Axios
City Council has delayed for a second time a vote on Houston’s first-ever framework on Tax Increment Reinvestment Zones because Mayor Sylvester Turner’s staff declined to release a white paper explaining the new rules in detail, saying the document is incomplete.
Houston City Hall weighs tighter security after belligerent man berates workers on two floors
July 12, 2023 | Houston Chronicle
Houston City Hall is weighing measures to bolster security at the facility after an audit identified lapses in procedures and an elected official said a belligerent man with a criminal past berated city workers last week.
Houston considers regulating short-term rentals as tensions grow among neighbors
July 10, 2023 | Community Impact News
Short-term rental properties, or STRs, found on platforms such as Airbnb, are in a legal gray area; they are unregulated by local law in the city of Houston, raising concerns among some residents.
Proposed charter amendment aims to give city greater representation on Houston-Galveston Area Council
July 6, 2023 | Houston Public Media
Houston has by far the largest population in the Southeast Texas region, but it holds only a small number of votes on the 37-member board of directors for the Houston-Galveston Area Council – two to be exact.
Houston only has 2 seats on the H-GAC regional planning body. This November, voters can change that.
July 5, 2023 | Houston Chronicle
This November, Houstonians are expected to vote on whether the city should hold more sway in the Houston-Galveston Area Council, after more than 23,000 residents signed a petition to address what they consider unfair distributions of federal funds by the regional planning body.
Houston gives $45M, eco-friendly Memorial City tower project second-ever green building tax break
June 29, 2023 | Houston Chronicle
Houston granted a green design tax break to a nine-story office tower under construction in the Memorial City area, the second such incentive given by the city after revamping an unused program two years ago.
Houston City Council approves 6 amendments to FY 2023-24 budget, refers 9 more back to committees
June 7, 2023 | Community Impact News
At a weekly meeting of the Houston City Council on June 7, nine of the 16 council members shared amendments they wish to add to the city's budget for fiscal year 2023-24, which begins in July.
New Houston Area Women’s Center facility will address ‘alarming rates of violence’
May 18, 2023 | Community Impact News
An official groundbreaking ceremony was held May 17 for the Houston Area Women’s Center’s new Emergency Supportive Housing Facility. The new facility will triple the capacity from 120 to 360 units for individuals seeking housing, CEO Emilee Whitehurst said.
The Standard Bar loses noise permit, continues playing loud music in Fourth Ward neighborhood
May 17, 2023 | ABC13
The city of Houston's new noise ordinance implemented last September has led to a neighborhood bar losing permission to play loud music late at night.
City of Houston approves $5 million for Houston’s arts sector to help recover from pandemic
May 10, 2023 | Houston Public Media
The City of Houston approved $5 million in the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funding on Wednesday to help the city's arts community continue a slow recovery.
Proposed Houston ordinance could regulate large vehicles parked in neighborhoods
May 5, 2023 | Houston Public Media
The City of Houston’s rules on large vehicles are not clear when it comes to enforcement on street parking and residential neighborhoods, but that could change with a new proposal.
Turner wants to fight Houston gentrification with conservation districts. Critics say it won't work.
March 13, 2023 | Houston Chronicle
Mayor Sylvester Turner is seeking City Council support for a conservation district program he and city planners say could help lower-income neighborhoods preserve their character and fend off gentrification.
Advocates say Houston is underrepresented on regional council. They have a petition to change that.
March 3, 2023 | Houston Chronicle
Local advocates have launched a petition drive aimed at increasing the city's voice on the Houston-Galveston Area Council, a 13-county regional planning council that has been criticized by Houston leaders for what they consider unfair federal fund allocation.
Houston’s Solid Waste Department to hire contractors to help with bulk waste, illegal dumping
February 9, 2023 | Houston Public Media
The city's Solid Waste Management Department is getting some help after city council approved on Wednesday, an $8 million contract to hire additional resources for the department.
Houston's plan to avoid orphan sidewalks would let developers opt out of building them
January 24, 2023 | Houston Chronicle
Some homeowners and developers soon may be able to opt out of requirements to build sidewalks and instead pay a fee into a new fund the city would use to build sidewalks across Houston.
Metro could take over Houston's BCycle, spending $500K to help people get to bus and train stops
January 20, 2023 | Houston Chronicle
The Houston area’s biggest bus operator is considering getting in the bike business, infusing up to $500,000 into the city’s network of docked two-wheelers ...
Houston spent $1.3M on the largest moving sculpture in the world. Why doesn't it move?
December 20, 2022 | Houston Chronicle
The sprawling, $1.34 million "Wings Over Water" sculpture outside the city’s convention center was designed to be a draw to a newly renovated downtown plaza, unveiled shortly before Houston welcomed an estimated 150,000 visitors to Super Bowl LI in 2017 ...
Houston road striping backlog details over 350 requests
December 19, 2022 | Community Impact News
Blank roads without adequate striping to identify lanes are raising concerns about safety for several members of Houston City Council ...
Houston will compost your pumpkins for free
November 1, 2022 | Axios
The city's Solid Waste Management Department will accept rotten jack-o'-lantern carcasses and other pumpkin remnants today through Friday ...
City of Houston collecting Halloween pumpkins for composting
October 31, 2022 | Houston Public Media
Used pumpkins were among the most popular items last fall when Houstonians were invited to drop off their food waste as part of a citywide pilot program for composting ...
Smashing pumpkins coming to Houston: Sorry, folks -- pumpkin composting, not the band
October 28, 2022 | KPRC2
Bad news and good news, friends: The beloved band is not coming to Houston, but the green effort designed to create nutrient-rich compost with your discarded gourds is most definitely coming to H-Town this fall ...
Only a few tickets written in Houston noise ordinance's first month, HPD data shows
October 10, 2022 | ABC13
The City of Houston's new noise ordinance went into effect on Sept. 6, so how do residents of the often-noisy Washington Corridor feel about the job it's doing? ...
The future of Houston airports, and how cities take shape
September 13, 2022 | Houston Public Media
Houston City Council Member Sallie Alcorn answers your questions about issues facing the city ...
New nighttime noise rules take effect in Houston, doubling fine for rowdy bars
September 7, 2022 | Houston Chronicle
New rules regulating nighttime noise in Houston took effect Tuesday, aiming to limit the volume of music coming from bars and clubs in residential neighborhoods ...
Houston's new noise ordinance is now in effect
September 7, 2022 | Axios
Bars and venues that play amplified sound within 300 feet of a residence are now required to obtain a special permit ...
HPD's 'loud-noise unit' now enforcing ordinance to stem Washington Corridor nuisance
September 6, 2022 | ABC13
Officials from the City of Houston held a press conference to discuss the new noise ordinance that went into effect Tuesday. The ordinance was passed in May and is a welcome relief for residents of the Washington Corridor who have been urging officials for years that something needed to be done about the noisy bars in the neighborhood ...
Houston violent crime down 10% so far in 2022 compared to same time in 2021, HPD data shows
August 31, 2022 | ABC13
In a presentation to the Houston City Council on Wednesday morning, the Houston Police Department went council district by district, reporting a 10% overall drop in violent crime citywide compared to this time in 2021 ...
City approves $3 million in ARPA funds for Houston Forensic Science Center
July 28, 2022 | Community Impact News
On July 27, Houston City Council members approved $3 million in American Rescue Plan Act funds in an agreement between the city and the Houston Forensic Science Center for partnership in forensic lab enhancements ...
Facing pushback from residents and council, Turner adds $20M for neighborhood drainage projects
June 22, 2022 | Houston Chronicle
With meteorologists predicting another busy hurricane season, Mayor Sylvester Turner committed an additional $20 million Wednesday to fixing neighborhood drainage problems across the city as climate change threatens to further strengthen storms in the years to come ...