Sunday, June 12, 2016
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.
Friday, June 3, 2016
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.
Thursday, June 2, 2016
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.
Wednesday, June 1, 2016
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.
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