Whitmire's Transparency Is Threatening Press & Hiding Data

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Mayor John Whitmire never stops talking about "transparency", but the City of Houston seems headed in a very different direction under his leadership. 

Above is a Tweet from Houston Chronicle Latino Communities reporter Jhair Romero. He was threatened with arrest by Houston Police at an event where folks opposed to the War in Gaza were protesting Mayor Whitmire. Mr. Romero's offense was asking questions of the protestors.

Threatening to arrest members of the press is not transparency. Nor is it a good use of resources when we are told over and over that there are not enough police. 

The failures of transparency and disregard for the press under Mayor Whitmire go further.

The Houston Landing asked the City of Houston to provide details regarding traffic congestion as   

From The Landing: 

"The Houston Landing submitted a Texas Public Information Act request for “any data, studies, plans, communications (both internal and external), and any other records” related to both the installation and removal of the median....In response, the city sent a letter to the Texas attorney general’s office requesting an opinion on whether some of that information could be withheld, citing terrorism...The contention from the city is that the requested information includes discussions among city employees about vulnerable intersections and traffic routes most at risk for congestion or collisions. Using that information, terrorists could plan an attack that could target travelers, first responders and public transit, the city’s letter said." 

What? 

Maybe the Whitmire team thinks it's funny. They may enjoy referring the matter to Ken Paxton to stifle the press & take another punch at the "anti-car activists" as the Mayor has termed people who don't support red light running and endless aggressive driving.    

​Or maybe they really think members of the press and activists are in fact dangerous. They clearly thought that a Houston Chronicle reporter needed to be threatened with arrest for just doing his job.

In any case, Mayor Whitmire does not appear to care much about transparency & is the wrong leader as we confront clear authoritarian threats in Texas and the nation.  

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