John Whitmire used Leslie Briones as a cover for his decision. I live in her precinct and closely monitor her constant support of the MAGA mayor.
The source for all the quotes below is the Houston Chronicle.
Whitmire noted others, including Harris County Precinct 4 Commissioner Lesley Briones, also supported improvements at the crossing.
Public works has rushed to add a light near the mayor’s home. Over $300,000 to make the mayor’s exit and entrance to his home easier?
Critics have questioned if this project’s prioritization has anything to do with its proximity to the mayor’s home. In a text message response, Whitmire said that criticism is “total BS,” adding he ran “to fix Houston.”
Whether it is total bullshit or not, the facts don’t seem to support Whitmire.
Three years ago, public works officials nixed the idea of traffic signals at Blossom and Westcott, according to emails at the time, citing concerns they would fail to stop drivers and give pedestrians a false sense of security.
Traffic volumes are not high enough to demand a typical traffic light, and crash data — especially with no pedestrian incidents — did not meet the typical city standards to address safety. City officials have repeatedly said that crash data should determine where they spend safety money, though all mayors have used their discretion to direct fixes where they desire.
“We would get constant requests for full-blown traffic signals in a lot of places, where the volume or the data just didn’t meet the standard,” said Jeff Weatherford, the city’s former director of transportation and drainage operations, who retired in mid-2020.
For over twenty years, our neighborhood has requested a light at an intersection with Bissonnet. Numerous accidents have occurred there, but the city keeps saying no.
The Westcott work also comes while many other intersections that haven’t had a single upgrade await repairs.
“I am not going to oppose something that improves safety,” said Kamin, who was not involved in the traffic signal installation decision. “I hope the same time and attention and resources will be given for safety in neighborhoods that have yet to see the same caliber of investments.”