Despite Whitmire Assurances, Civility Ordinance Means More Tickets For Homeless-He Is Hard To Trust

​Houston NPR KUHF has reported that since expansion of the so-called Civility Ordinance this past July, tickets to homeless people for violating the ordinance have gone up substantially. (Graphic above from KUHF.)

From KUHF about the ordinance: 

"...prohibits sitting, lying down or placing personal possessions on sidewalks in 12 parts of the city from 7 a.m.-11 p.m. In downtown Houston and East Downtown, the rules will now apply 24/7, effectively banning the presence of homeless people in those areas." 

From KUHF about the ticketing:
​
"In the two months following the Houston City Council's vote to expand the so-called civility ordinance, the Houston Police Department issued more than 500 tickets to homeless people — marking the highest two-month rate of citations since Mayor John Whitmire took office last year....Before the city council voted to expand the civility ordinance, enforcement of the rules under Mayor John Whitmire was less stringent than under Mayor Sylvester Turner. During Turner's time in office, from 2016 through 2023, HPD issued an average of 257 tickets per month. Prior to the ordinance expansion in mid-July, HPD under Whitmire issued an average of 188 tickets per month....Mayor John Whitmire's office and the Houston Police Department did not comment on the recent uptick in citations." 

I watch each session of the Tuesday public comment session and the Wednesday session of Council. A big part of the debate over the so-called Civility Ordinance was that this would not lead to increased ticketing of homeless people. But it seems that was the plan right from the start. 

​I remember Mayor Pro-Tem Martha Castex-Tatum specifically saying that people in her district were open to the ordinance being expanded, but were wary of the homeless being ticketed. 

​From KUHF back in July when the ordinance was passed: 

"No one is criminalizing the civility ordinance allowing people to be taken off the streets like a crime," Mayor John Whitmire said before the vote. "They’re being handled compassionately."....."No one likes to issue the citation and bring them to court. No one likes to make an arrest," Satterwhite said. "But I say again, it does give us another opportunity to try to get them help, and some of them take it."...Council member Mario Castillo said his conversations with the court "did ease my concerns" about homeless people receiving citation...The ordinance passed in a 14-2 vote, with council members Tarsha Jackson and Abbie Kamin voting against the change. ...."I don’t believe people should be penalized, especially our most vulnerable community, because they’re homeless," Jackson told Houston Public Media after the vote. "Ticketing — it can grow into something bigger. Once you get caught in the criminal justice system, it’s hard to come out. So I just didn’t like that approach."

Mayor Whitmire says one thing and then just does what he wants.

This is why his assurances or assurances from the city are not worth much when it is claimed--

* HPD and ICE are not working together.
* Unsual joint military/law enforcement exercises over Houston are routine. 
* Greg Abbott sending more DPS troops here is just about crime. 
* All the bodies turning up in the bayous are just the way it is and we should look the other way. 

Below is information about following and interacting with Houston City Council. They need to hear from all of us. There is not much chance they will be straight with the facts if we don't demand that they do so. It's difficult enough to get the facts when they do hear from us. 

Public comment time at Houston City Council is each Tuesday at 2 PM with the exception of the last Friday of each month when it is at 5:30 PM. Here is how you can speak at Council and here is how to contact your councilmember.  The earlier before the session you sign up, the higher up on the speaker's list you'll be. The agenda session to conduct Council business is each Wednesday at 9 AM. The agenda is posted in advance. Council can be watched live on HTV Houston Television and the most recent session is available at any time on the HTV feed on Facebook. Here is the link to past sessions of Council. Here are maps of Council districts so you can see who represents you. 

Here is contact information for Mayor Whitmire & Council. 

Mayor Whitmire—713-837-0311 [email protected] 

Democrats: 
At-Large-Letitia Plummer 832-393-3012  [email protected]
At-Large-Sallie Alcorn 832-393-3017  [email protected]
District B-Tarsha Jackson 832-393-3009  [email protected]
District C-Abbie Kamin 832-393-3004  [email protected]
District D-Carolyn Evans-Shabazz 832-393-3001 [email protected]
District F-Tiffany Thomas 832-393-3002  [email protected]
District H-Mario Castillo 832-393-3002  [email protected]
District I-Joaquin Martinez 832-393-3011 [email protected]
District J-Edward Pollard 832-393-3015  [email protected]
District K-Martha Castex-Tatum 832-393-3016  [email protected]

Republicans: 
At-Large-Julian Ramirez 832-393-3014 [email protected]
At-Large-Willie Davis 832-393-3013 [email protected] 
At-Large-Twila Carter 832-393-3005 [email protected]
District A-Amy Peck 832-393-3010 [email protected]
District E-Fred Flickinger 832-393-3008 [email protected] 
District G-Mary Nan Huffman 832-393-3007 [email protected] ​​

I'm on the Egberto Willies Politics Done Right Show every Thursday from 6 AM to 7 AM for the Houston Democracy Project segment. You can hear the show on the radio, stream it on KPFT or watch later Egberto's YouTube channel.​​​​

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