When I ran for mayor, I had a single purpose: to fix Houston. Like all major cities, we face challenges, but we fix our problems in Houston. Houston has suffered from neglect for too long, with aging infrastructure, poor finances, fraud, waste, and a lack of accountability.
As we begin a new year, I want to reflect on what we accomplished in 2024.
Hitting the Ground Running
Leading a $6 billion organization with 22,000 employees isn’t easy, but my goal has always been clear: to rebuild trust, accountability, and transparency in city government. We’ve replaced ineffective programs, put strong leaders in important positions, and created solutions that work for Houstonians.
I’m proud to have appointed leaders like Police Chief Noe Diaz, Fire Chief Thomas Muñoz, METRO Chair Elizabeth Gonzalez Brock, the first Latina to lead the transit agency, and Vonn Tran to head the Planning Department. I want a team that looks like Houston and believes in public service.
Weathering the Storms
Houston endured multiple weather emergencies in 2024, starting with a historic winter freeze in January. Then came severe flooding in Kingwood, the Derecho windstorm, and Hurricane Beryl. These events tested our resilience, leaving debris equal to fill the Astrodome three times.
I worked with state leaders to secure $32 million in state funding for storm debris removal, sparing Houstonians from a potential property tax increase proposed by several council members.
Tackling High Water Bills
One of the biggest complaints I heard during my campaign was outrageous water bills. In April, we launched the Water Bill Improvement Plan to address inaccuracies. Since then, we’ve replaced over 100,000 remote water meter readers, helping families with reliable and accurate bills.
Supporting Firefighters and Families
The City Council unanimously approved a historic labor contract with our firefighters. This agreement ended nearly a decade of deadlock, providing $650 million in back pay and raises. It is a win for firefighters, their families, and the future of public safety in Houston.
Building Momentum for the Future
We’re working with Ernst & Young to review city spending and operations, ensuring transparency and accountability.
We launched the Let’s Play Parks Program, which will renovate 25 neighborhood parks in under served communities.
In November, we took a major step by announcing a comprehensive plan to end street homelessness while ensuring public spaces are safe and accessible.
Looking Ahead
I remain committed to tackling the issues we face, creating growth opportunities, and ensuring every Houstonian benefits from the progress we make.
We are building a city for everyone.
Let’s go to work!