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Staying Calm, Cool, and Collected During Tough Economic Times |
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Many of you have likely heard that the City of Houston is currently suffering from a budget shortfall.
Whether you believe that shortfall is $103 million, $35 million, or somewhere in between,
it exists and is evidence that we, too, have been hit by the national economic downturn. Moreover,
it underscores the City of Houston’s continuing need for financial leadership that is qualified,
experienced, and steady during uncertain times.
An important element of strong leadership is being proactive instead of reactive.
Proactive leadership at City Hall in recent years put the City on solid financial footing to
weather the current economic difficulties. We streamlined city departments and created a rainy day
fund to plan for the tough times we are experiencing now. Consequently, the City of Houston is in
better fiscal shape than any major city in America, and is strongly positioned to bounce back from
the current recession.
Despite Houston’s strong financial position, the prevailing and reactive sentiment of some of my colleagues
at City Hall is fear -- fear that the proverbial sky is falling on Houston, much as it has in California and in parts of the Midwest.
Some say these current challenges signal cataclysmic, unforeseen events which may devastate the City’s budget and
its ability to deliver services to its residents. Given the real economic pain being felt across the country today,
one might easily imagine such a scenario.
The sky is not falling on Houston, TX. We do face fiscal challenges, but those challenges can be met with calm,
wise leadership that resists the temptation to indulge our worst doomsday fears The current downturn offers us
an opportunity to continue to improve City processes to maximize taxpayers’ return on their investment and deliver low-cost,
high-quality services, while planning for the City of Houston’s long term financial health..
To meet the City’s current shortfall, reserve funds are available. These reserve funds are there to balance the budget
during times like these, but sometimes this is not enough. We must look at creative, sustainable, improvements that
streamline City operations without compromising City services or increasing taxes.
Over the last week I have been part of the discussion on how to attack the current shortfall.
The City of Houston is looking at cutting every department’s budget by 1%, selling surplus real estate,
renegotiating city contracts, and delaying large purchases of new equipment. We will meet the shortfall,
likely through some combination of these proposed actions, and continue to move our city forward.
Times are tough, no doubt. But sound financial leadership at City Hall has prepared us to get through this downturn,
and we will. During my three terms on City Council and as Chair of the Budget and Fiscal Affairs Committee,
I am proud to have been part of that fiscal leadership that has madeCity programs more cost effective,
better managed the City’s enterprise funds, and safeguarded vital public services. I look forward to continuing
to use my experience and training to serve the citizens of Houston and move our great city forward.
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50 Million Pound Challenge – Sept 12 |
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50 Million Pound Challenge is a national wellness program sponsored by State Farm.
Registered participants on the 'Get Moving Houston' team gains access to free online
resources such as a weight and exercise tracker, health journal, 30 meal planner,
healthy shopping lists and recipes to assist in their health goals. For more information
about how to join please visit www.getmovinghouston.com.
Please join us at the 50 Million Pound Challenge Walk & Wellness Festival, Saturday, September 12 from 5-7pm
at the Emancipation Park Community Center located at 3018 Dowling. If you would like to attend please RSVP
to tenille.cleaves@cityofhouston.net or call 713-794-9388.
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HFD & More than 50 Volunteers Install Several Hundred Smoke Detectors |
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Members of the Houston Fire Department and more than 40 volunteers from Wal-Mart and ten Community Emergency
Response Team members knocked on more than 500 doors and helped to install several hundred smoke alarms during
a massive installation effort on Saturday, August 29, 2009. This installation event was part of the fire department's
"Get Alarmed Houston!" program which not only helps those who would not otherwise have a working smoke detector in their home,
but also seeks assistance through smoke alarm donations. If a citizen needs a smoke detector (some restrictions apply) or if a
company or entity is interested in helping with this on-going effort, they may call the HFD Public Affairs Office at 713-495-7900.
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Beyond Careers Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) site |
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Beyond Careers’ Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) site will be available in January 2010 for the 2009 tax season.
The VITA site will provide free tax preparation for low-to-moderate income tax payers making less than $50,000 annually.
Beyond Careers will provide financial literacy in conjunction with the free tax preparation services.
This will include Earned Income Tax Credit Assistance (EITC), Child Tax Credit (CTC), Making Work Pay Tax Credit information,
and promotion of the self-employment tax strategy. These services will take place for the 2009 tax season at the Tejano Center
for Community Concerns, Raul Yzaguirre School for Success, 2950 Broadway St., Houston, TX 77017. Please review the website at:
www.beyondcareers.org for upcoming details about these services and the hours
of operation for the VITA site.
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Grandparent Caregiver Service Expo |
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On Saturday September 12, 2009, from 9am-2pm United Way of Greater Houston will be hosting an
event for grandparents and other caregivers. The expo will feature a continental breakfast and lunch, on-site childcare,
door prizes, and valuable access to needed information. Make sure that you register early by contacting Roy Villarreal
at 713-794-9351 or roy.villarreal@cityofhouston.net
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Join The "REACH OUT TO DROPOUTS" Walk – Sept 12th |
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Mayor Bill and Andrea White invite you to participate in the 6th annual "Reach Out to Dropouts" walk.
The event is part of the citywide initiative "Expectation Graduation," a collaborative effort founded
by Houston Independent School District, Houston A+ Challenge, and the City of Houston.
The walk has brought thousands of students back to class to continue their educations and now is being replicated
in districts and cities across Texas.
This year, participating Houston-area school districts include: Aldine, Alief, Channelview, Cleveland, Dickinson,
Fort Bend, Galena Park, Goose Creek Consolidated, Houston, Klein, La Marque, Lamar Consolidated, North Forest,
Sheldon, Spring, Spring Branch and Stafford.
To volunteer for the Walk in your community visit the expectation graduation
website at www.expectationgraduation.org
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Free Immunizations for Children |
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Throughout the year, The BlueCross BlueShield Care Van is giving free childhood vaccinations to children,
birth to 18 years at select Houston Fire Stations. Since 2005, more than 3,500 children have been vaccinated
through this program in participation with HFD. The parent or guardian will need to provide all prior
immunization shots records. These are the stations that the Care Van and HFD selected for the second half of 2009.
For more information about the Care Van, please visit
http://www.houstontx.gov/fire/links/redirectcarevan.html.
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Museum District Day |
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Get ready to enjoy a free day in the Houston Museum District on Saturday, September 12 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Board a free shuttle bus at any participating museum and spend the entire day exploring favorite museums and
discovering new destinations. Museum District Day will feature fascinating exhibitions, hands-on activities,
demonstrations, and performances throughout the day. Seventeen museums will waive their general admission
fees to offer the community opportunities to enjoy the District's diverse displays of art, science, nature,
and history. For more information please visit
http://www.houstonmuseumdistrict.org/default.asp?id=1.
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Lawndale Art Center 30th Anniversary Exhibition |
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Clint Willour takes a look at the last five years, since Lawndale’s 25th Anniversary Show and gathers new
work from artists who have shown in each of Lawndale’s four galleries, as well as from The Big Show and the
Artist Studio Program. The exhibition will take place September 14-26 at Lawndale Art Center located on 4912 Main,
Houston, TX 77002. For more information please call 713-528-5858.
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Once More, With Feeling: A "Buffy the Vampire Slayer" Musical Sing-a-Long |
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On September 19th Discover Green Park is hosting a special sing-a-long screening of Buffy the Vampire Slayer episode
"Once More, With Feeling" featuring Buffy trivia contest, costume contest and "Buffy-oke." A special appearance
by cast member Amber Benson ("Tara") will also be something to remember. The event is free and located at 1500
McKinney in Downtown.
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Ace Skates on Thursdays |
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Menil Park will be hosting a traveling play by BooTown. It follows the day of a 12-year-old boy as he skateboards through scenes and locations.
The audience will follow along on a three-block walk. The play starts at Catastrophic Theater Company office is located at 1515 Sul Ross in Houston.
The play will run through September 24.
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Der Rosenkavalier - Jones Hall Center for the Performing Arts |
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On September 25, 8pm a classic film shown with an accompanying opera from Richard Strauss will be performing for your entertainment.
For more information visit 615 Louisiana or call 713-227-3974.
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Miller Outdoor Theatre presents “How Nanita Learned to Make Flan” |
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A bilingual telling of the story of a girl who makes magic shoes for herself, and the lessons she learns when using them.
The play will run from September 29-October 1 at 11 am. Miller Outdoor Theatre is fee to the public and located on 100 Concert Dr.,
in Houston. For more information please call 713-533-3285.
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Tips for a Cleaner Environment |
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There are several free ways that you can benefit the environment and your yard at the same time.
Follow these simple steps and you will be on your way to making a “Green”er Houston. (1) Leave lawn clippings on the lawn (2)
Water your plants during the morning or evening hours (3) Do not sweep any grass clippings into the storm drain (4)
Turn your yard waste into compost (5) Avoid cutting your grass too short
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Recent State Law Changes Affecting Licensed Plumber Registration and Permit Sales |
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The City of Houston Code Enforcement Office will no longer charge a fee for Licensed Plumber registration as
per SB 1364 recently approved in the State of Texas Legislature which became effective on September 1, 2009.
Additionally, the following administrative procedures will be required when registering a Plumbing License or
applying for a Plumbing Permit. The registration procedures for a Plumbing License will remain the same to
ensure that credentials are verified for purchasing plumbing permits and the maintenance of records,
but without the collection of a plumbing license registration fee. The procedure for processing a plumbing permit
application will change slightly due to the new state law requirements for insurance verification.
Before processing an application for a plumbing permit, the City will be required to verify insurance coverage
on the State of Texas website for each purchase. This process may cause delays in the normal processing of permits.
In the event the state website is down, the City will be required to verify the insurance by telephone.
For more information, please contact Plumbing Inspections at 713-535-7700 or contact the Customer Assistance and Code
Development Office at 713-535-7733 for information on the other permit service.
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