I could not help but notice that the “Democratic” Mayor of the largest city in Texas was not invited to speak at the Democratic National Convention. Could it be that they have realized that he is a MAGA who has masqueraded as a Democrat?
John Whitmire made it to the Washington Post for his views on transportation.
HOUSTON — This epicenter of the oil and gas industry was ready to shed its reputation of being a car-centric city. Bicycle infrastructure projects were underway and the city had secured federal funding to expand public transit. Voters in Harris County, home to Houston, had approved billions of dollars to improve public transportation.
But after Mayor John Whitmire took office in January, everything changed. The city’s chief transportation planner left, bike infrastructure projects were stalled, and the region’s transit authority — largely appointed by the mayor — delayed parts of a $7.5 billion public transit expansion.
… Whitmire, an attorney and former Democratic Party state lawmaker, did not respond to several requests for comment. But in past speeches and statements, Whitmire has dismissed bicycle lanes as “recreation projects” and said he wants to prioritize spending on road repairs. In the 2023 election, he receivedhundreds of thousands of dollars from energy companies, construction firms, real estate and big-ticket donors, andhe vastly outspent his opponent, the late Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee (D-Tex.).
Leaders of the mayor-controlled regional transit board, known as Metro, say they want to focus on bolstering the current rail and bus system, rather than expanding it.
Whitmires’ administration is also beginning to look like the past, lily-white at the top. Whitmire knows that most of the present leadership in the Latino community is either stupid or easily bought. Knowing the above, he easily deceived them into endorsing him. Some will be appointed or hired, but not the decision-making positions. Here is a link to an article I wrote some time ago.