Houston Sidewalk Ordinance Update: Silly, Selfish Process Delayed In Hope Something Useful Can Be Passed

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Here is an update on the revision "process" for the Houston Sidewalk Ordinance using the post I wrote on this topic on back on November 18th as a framework for today's post.  Above is a picture of a Houston sidewalk.

The revision process of Houston's sidewalk ordinance is, with undue haste, ongoing. (Update-The process has been stalled because it was clearly not a solid process.)   

This is a matter for the Houston Democracy Project because Mayor Whitmire recently gutted the existing sidewalk ordinance with a memo rather than by a vote of Council. No democracy involved. 

Three Councilmembers--Tiffany Thomas, Carolyn Evans-Shabazz & Ed Pollard--sought to change a provision in the law that requires developers to either build a sidewalk, or pay a fee to a city sidewalk construction fund when building new homes. They didn't have the votes for this bad idea. Instead, Mayor Whitmire worked it out for them by simply writing a memo allowing exemptions from the requirement to either build the sidewalk or pay up. Not very democratic at all.  (Update-Mayor Whitmire again ignored a council ordinance by shifting funds assigned to light up a bridge in Montrose to his homeless proposals. I don't care about the bridge & I'm wary of his homeless plans. The issue is that King Whitmire has the Trumpian notion that the rules are not for him.)  
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It should be called The Gutting The Fee Ordinance. There is nothing else going on here but gutting the fee. There is no urgency to any of this. No longterm planning for Houston sidewalks is taking place. The process is being rushed along through the distractions of the recent election and the holiday season to make it possible to kill the fee. 

​Here is the Houston Planning Department website about the ordinance.  

​Here are the remaining steps in the process-- 

November 21: Planning Commission recommendation
December 2: Quality of Life Council Committee meeting
December 11: City Council meeting

​(Update-Here is the new timeline as posted by the Houston Planning Commission: 

The previously announced schedule for Planning Commission consideration, the Council Quality of Life Committee presentation, and City Council consideration has been postponed to allow more time for analysis of feedback and data. Please check this page for schedule updates.

Tentative schedule:

November 21: Planning Commission recommendation CANCELLED
TBD: Quality of Life Committee Presentation
TBD: City Council consideration 

The Houston Planning Commission stopped the process because no civic good was being accomplished. It's all just a money grab to stop the fee.        

The Houston Planning Department took public comments on the Gutting The Fee Ordinance. Most all the comments oppose the changes.   

Here is a fine comment from a Houstonian: 

"I oppose these exceptions because it is obvious you are not thinking at all about the children, seniors and handicap in underdeveloped areas where there are no sidewalks. The city was supposed to provide sidewalks in subdivisions as they were created but too many of us received nothing. The City's mobility program for sidewalks is so backed up, most of the residents will be DEAD before they see a sidewalk thru that program. We need sidewalks now and making exceptions would only make things worse for the ones who really need them."

The Houston Planning Commission discussed the sidewalk ordnance on November 14th. The conversation and public testimony starts within a few minutes for the start of the session. Houston City Councilmember Sallie Alcorn spoke against simply removing the fee without a real plan for more sidewalks.  She understood nothing constructive was taking place.  

Here is how you can speak at Council and here is how to contact your councilmember.

​So much of Houston is uninhabitable from heat, bad air, stray dogs, aggressive driving, poor streets and bad or non-existent sidewalks. Do we have to make it worse? When we stick up for public space, we stick up for better lives for ourselves. We stick up for the healthy public sphere that strengthens faith in openness and democracy. Why are we doing the work of Trump and the right by actively diminishing the quality and best uses of public space?   ​

I'm on the Egberto Willies Politics Done Right Show 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 on Egberto's YouTube channel.​​

Here is a fundraising pitch for Houston Democracy Project. I'm doing the work and showing up in many different ways.  Please help the effort. ​​​

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