Spotlight On: John Whitmire, Mayor, City of Houston

John Whitmire on quality of life July 2024 — Mayor of Houston John Whitmire sat down with Invest: to discuss the city’s commitment to diversity, balancing old and new, and public safety. “You can come to Houston and be someone,” he said. “So many have come to Houston with nothing and are now very, very successful.”

What are your immediate priorities for Houston, and how is the city working to balance quality of life with growth? 

Public safety is my immediate priority. It’s important to recognize that there are some communities that have been underserved for years. At the same time, we have communities that are new developments. It’s important to balance the old with the new. I assume most major cities have the same challenge. You can’t ignore the people who have been here because you are so concerned about attracting others, but at the same time you have to have a lifeline of new people. The bottom line is that Houston has been discovered. We have to be prepared. We haven’t been, so that is a challenge ahead of us. Infrastructure is another top priority of mine, as well as affordable housing.

What initiatives are in place to support efforts in education and workforce development?

It’s interesting that this is brought up, as I believe our school district will grow as Houston grows. Our main and largest public school is experiencing some challenges. The state put a temporary conservator here. Our schools are under review as we speak, but I am a big supporter of public education, and we need to do better. Public education, workforce training and community colleges are all important. You need an education to work at our refineries and energy plants. You need to know how to use a computer. 

What specific infrastructure projects would you like to begin tackling first? 

Streets, drainage, streets, drainage, and streets and drainage. Our water treatment plants need work, too. Many areas have been neglected. I stay up at night worrying about our fragile infrastructure in wastewater and our water supply. Our streets and drainage have been neglected for years, as well. Because of our location, we get large amounts of rain, and we have not maintained our drainage system. Many parts of it are clogged. We have such a great city with great people, but a lot of our housekeeping and deferred maintenance have caught up with us. We are going to do something about it, although it is expensive. 

How is the city continuing to support residents and small businesses amid growth? 

We are working to make the city government more user-friendly. People need permits for construction and improvements, and we are trying to streamline this better. We don’t want to allow the economics of city government to get in the way. It should be an affordable process. We are a very diverse city, so we are trying to make certain that everyone is treated equally and that there is a level playing field. Our Office of Business Opportunity assists startups, minority-owned and women-owned businesses, as well. 

How are you approaching improving residents’ quality of life? 

You can come to Houston and be someone. So many have come to Houston with nothing and are now very, very successful. This is in part due to our friendly people. We respect diversity, inclusion and equity. We try to help you. No one is as friendly as we are. When storms or other crises happen, we all come together. There is a lot of good DNA here. 

What is on the docket for mass transit improvements?

The key word is “improvement.” We want to make it safe, reliable and clean. It needs to go somewhere and we want to build something people will actually use. We have a new METRO board chair, and she and her colleagues are doing a good job of prioritizing mass transit and getting ridership. Since COVID, ridership has been severely depressed. If we improve services, safety and cleanliness while making certain it is on time, we will improve our transit system. We are looking at general mobility all the time. I want people to be able to get to work and to school as best they can. It’s very hot and humid here, so there will likely not be a lot of bike riders or walkers. We still need to be able to get around in our cars in Houston, Texas, while improving our transit system. 

We are reviewing bus routes and connectivity to riders. We may expand and/or adjust routes to ensure Houstonians can get to a bus station and their destination safely, quickly, and reliably. We are also looking at options for different mobility while prioritizing infrastructure improvements. Significant upgrades to our transit system are underway, which include modernizing our shelters to ensure they are clean and safe. We want to improve accessibility for people with disabilities and enhance safety features across all transit systems. 

What has been the biggest challenge since beginning your term?

Balancing my time is the real challenge. Being able to perform the duties of mayor and still have an opportunity to meet and visit with Houstonians. I still go to the grocery stores as a citizen and I want to maintain that schedule so I can have regular contact with everyday Houstonians. Additionally, I want to maintain our diversity while bringing Houstonians together. You can’t have distinct communities staying separated from the rest of us. I’m working on bringing people together. 

What is your outlook for Houston and its residents in the near term?

We will be the safest, most affordable city in the nation. I find this to be very achievable. 

For more information, please visit:

https://www.houstontx.gov/