Mayor John Whitmire's latest move has city officials buzzing, as he stepped in to halt an unsanctioned meeting about a contentious affordable housing program. The altercation erupted when District F Council Member Tiffany Thomas attempted to call a committee meeting without mayoral authorization. According to a Houston Chronicle report, Mayor Whitmire intervened Monday evening to squash the scheduled Tuesday discussion, emphasizing that this was not the right way to conduct city business.
Apparent from the start, tensions were simmering when the Mayor, who has full authority to reorganize council committees, had not yet made his appointments. On Monday, Whitmire's spokesperson, Mary Benton, told the Houston Chronicle, "He does respect Council Member Thomas and her housing expertise, but this is not the way to do it." As the mayor plans to announce new committee assignments by end of February, Thomas jumped the gun, still unappointed as chair yet listing the meeting on an official city website—a stunt soon rectified as the names vanished shortly after.
Meanwhile, the Housing Authority, defying a halt requested by Whitmire, approved 13 tax-abated affordable housing projects. Whitmire had asked for a pause to allow for review, but instead, the board, alongside CEO David Northern, pushed forward. In response, Fox 26 Houston reported that the mayor plans to take action to ensure "future transparency," seemingly suggesting potential personnel changes on the horizon.
The mayor isn't idly standing by as the development wheels turn without his say. Trying to balance swift action with due process, Whitmire ordered the housing department to publicize initial project recommendations and meet with council members individually to review the list before a formal proposal on February 7. While grappling with these affordable housing snafus, the mayor's office appears eager to reassert control and streamline decision-making, seeming determined to tie up loose ends greeting the new administration.
