City Hall Update for March 18-22, 2024

Mayor Whitmire welcomed President Joe Biden to Houston, stating, "It was an honor to welcome President Biden to Houston, a city full of great people and endless opportunities. My administration is committed to ongoing collaboration with the federal government to ensure Houston's prosperity thrives."

Regarding the historic $650 million agreement reached between the City of Houston and the Houston Professional Fire Fighters Association, Mayor Whitmire emphasized, "A world-class city like Houston deserves a well-funded fire department to attract and retain talented individuals who are willing to risk their safety for us during our times of need."

Mayor Whitmire highlighted the importance of transparency and public trust in the criminal justice system, stating, "Criminal justice is a system; any component that is broken affects the entire system. And we have discovered a broken component in our local criminal justice system."

The Mayor welcomed attendees to CERAWeek 2024 in Houston, including U.S. Energy Secretary Jennifer Granholm, who discussed clean energy investments in the U.S.

Houston City Council passed a tax exemption for child-care facilities, with Mayor Whitmire noting that the exemption is intended to provide vital support to child-care providers and ensure quality care for families across Houston.

The 25th annual Ramadan Dinner in Houston drew hundreds of people, with Mayor Whitmire being warmly greeted and thanked for his support of the Muslim community.

Mayor Whitmire personally congratulated 482 municipal employees for their dedicated careers as public servants, highlighting the diverse range of roles within the City of Houston.

Registration for the 2024 Tour de Houston is now open, with the event raising funds for the city's RE-Plant Houston program dedicated to reforesting Houston parks.

Housing and Community Development (HCD) meetings are scheduled to discuss the 2024 budget and assistance programs offered by the city.

The Office of Emergency Management reminded Houstonians about safety preparedness during the Spring Religious Observance period, emphasizing the unique challenges faced by houses of worship in terms of safety.