The above is a quote from Texas Monthly, which refers to Whitmire as a 20th-century Mayor in the 21st Century.
Whitmire’s solution for bicycle accidents on the streets? Bicyclists stay the F*** off the roads.
Whitmire called for better enforcement of traffic laws and urged bicyclists to stay off the roads. “I think the bikers need to be protected from the traffic, and they need to do that on bike paths that are recreational and not try to compete with people going to work and school,” he told a local TV station. He has blamed “anti-car activists” for the backlash to his decisions. Source
F***ing Surrender
But given Whitmire’s longstanding ties to the firefighters’ union, for which he once worked as a lobbyist and which endorsed his mayoral campaign, many see the settlement as a quid pro quo. Whitmire has yet to explain how he intends to pay for the billion-dollar deal. For perspective, the fire department’s entire 2024 budget is $593 million. “This wasn’t a negotiation,” said one former city hall employee who requested anonymity. “This was a complete f—ing surrender. He basically gave them a blank check.”
6% raise per year for the next five years for firefighters
I am almost certain that the municipal employees union and the police union will demand the same for the next five years. Police union is worried that the Whitmire may bankrupt the City.
The Houston Police Officers’ Union, which also enjoys close ties to Whitmire and endorsed him in the mayoral campaign, was less than thrilled with the deal he made with the firefighters. “If [the mayor] wants to make that agreement and put the city in thirty years’ worth of debt, that’s his prerogative,” HPOU president Douglas Griffith told me. “We just want to make sure we’re not going to bankrupt our city.”
Which council members will support the bankrupting of our city? Or Higher Taxes?
Based on the comments by some of the council members from last week’s agenda, Meme thinks who some of them may be. Some will have to run again; some will seek other posts. Let us see which ones want to go down, as we have voted to increase taxes and place hundreds of dollars in fees on the backs of some of the least able to pay in our city.
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What Houston may look like after John Whitmire bankrupts the city.
Image is AI generated