Houston Photo Series #9

Houston's Underground Cistern is Now Open to the Public.

After being out of commission for 46 years, an underground cistern is now open to the public in Houston.

Houston’s underground cistern is now the city’s newest tourist attraction.

The underground cistern was opened in 1927 and was a storage system for Houston’s drinking water. In 1970 it was closed down as it had sprung a leak. In 2010 workers discovered the cistern while constructing Buffalo Bayou Park, a project that I have referenced in past blogs. The city took the opportunity to turn it into a tourist attraction and it is now open to the public. The cistern is a beautiful space and will do a lot for Houston.

City of Houston Speed Bump Policy

The City of Houston has loosened their process for the construction of speed bumps. Declaring they will no longer investigate applications for new speed bumps but simply build one whenever there is a request for one.

The city has made a mistake by implementing a policy allowing any speed bump to be built without review. It seems that removing red tape on road construction is a step in the right direction. However, I do believe that we need to keep in place, a policy for investigating whether or not a speed bump is necessary for the area designated. If we build a speed bump every time it is requested, we will end up with too many speed bumps in the area.

I am afraid this will lead us down a bad path of too many speed bumps in the city. I hope this city will reverse this policy, which, while having good intention, will be bad for the city.

Mayor Sylvester Turner and Transparency

Five months into his first Mayoral term, Sylvester Turner has shown a pattern of not displaying transparency during his time as Mayor.

I believe that the issue of transparency is starting to haunt Sylvester Turner’s time as Mayor. Soon after becoming Mayor, Sylvester Turner was under fire when he approved plans to renovate the entranceway into Hermann Park, including renovating the landmark Mecom Fountain. The head of the Hermann Park Conservancy, knew nothing about the project until she saw construction beginning when she passed by The Mecom Fountain. Although the project was not Sylvester Turner’s idea, he approved it without making this project public. Recently, the Houston Chronicle published an article, investigating Mayor Sylvester Turner’s secrecy in nominating a new police chief.

Transparency is becoming an issue in the way Mayor Sylvester Turner operates and I hope he changes his ways soon.

Several Tax Reinvestment Zones Cancelled

In handling the deficit, Mayor Sylvester Turner has canceled several Tax Reinvestment Zones and redirected their funds to the city’s general fund. Here are my thoughts on the issue. I think redirecting the tax reinvestment zone funds is necessary to tackle the deficit.

Tax reinvestment zones do a great job of accelerating neighborhood improvement when implemented. However, when facing deficits, you have to cut these things back. It is all a part of the process of living within your means.

I think the city had to cut these things back when there are more important services such as police and fire, which you don’t want to cut back.

Houston's Mayor Sylvester Turner

Mayor Sylvester Turner has been Mayor of Houston for five months now. I am going to give a review of the job he has done. Mayor Sylvester Turner has done a good job as Mayor. What impresses me about Mayor Sylvester Turner the most, is his focus on cutting the deficit. Although a deficit still exists in the city budget, he has cut into the deficit by $82 Million out of the $160 Million deficit. Mayor Sylvester Turner has done a good job handling the flood disasters. He opened a fund up to donations that will help victims of the flood. Everywhere from helping pay for hotel rooms to helping pay for furniture. Mayor Sylvester Turner has made the deficit a priority and has my support so far.