Like the brightest of stars, the 2010s have (thus far) been a very good decade for Houston. The parade of accolades have been rolling in… best city for this, number 1 at that. In the coming years however, the Space City may be brought back to earth.
Besides a fluctuating oil price market, there’s another important metric where Houston’s big advantages are fading fast: affordable housing. The days of the Bayou City being a place where you could ‘have it all’ on a modest income are just about gone. Paul Takahashi of the Houston Business Journal even goes so far to label our current market in an ‘affordable housing crisis’…
For much of the past half-decade, Houston has been in this envious position where employment and incomes have been growing while housing has remained “remarkably affordable.” However, that has changed amid the recent energy boom, according to Zillow economists.
Houston home prices have climbed to record highs as thousands of new residents moved to the Bayou City, fueling a hot housing market. In addition, growing construction, land and labor costs have forced homebuilders to build ever more expensive homes to hit their profit margins.
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At the same time, rents also have risen to record levels amid Houston’s tight housing market. Houston’s median monthly rent grew 5.4 percent year over year to $1,522 in July 2015, according to the Houston Realtors Information Service Inc.
For many middle-class Houstonians the term crisis may seem a little harsh to describe the area’s housing woes. But one look at the struggles of low-income residents reveals a very tough road ahead. As rent and housing prices continue to ratchet upward, the Republican-dominated state legislature has done everything in its power to restrict a city or county’s ability to raise its minimum wage, even as they simultaneously sue Washington, preaching the “necessity of local control” from the Federal Government. The end result of this political wrangling? Real Houston families making far below the city’s Living Wage, gettingpriced outof their preferred neighborhood and worrying whether they’ll have any place to live tomorrow.
It’s time to shed some light on Houston’s affordable housing crisis. This issue may not garner much press in the current municipal elections, butaffordable housing is likely to be a major challenge for the next Mayor and City Council of Houston. Let’s hope that all of the candidates will see this coming.
All too often when we turn on the news, we hear so much about people doing the bad things– someone who has committed a crime and escaped, another person that is going to jail, murderers, rapists and thieves. Sadly, most media coverage of minority communities is especially guilty of focusing on the negative, while omitting the hard work of those trying to pave a better future.
This continuing imbalance is a huge part of why observations like Hispanic Heritage Month (HHM), which goes from September 15th to October 15th of each year, are not only needed, but very relevant in contemporary American society. It is a time for the nation to shine a light on the boundless contributions of Hispanic and Latino Americans, and celebrate the culture’s place in our diverse society.
One way that the City of Houston celebrates this month is by recognizing outstanding community leaders with the Mayor’s Hispanic Heritage Award. Via the Mayor’s Office of Special Events, here’s information on this year’s honorees…
2015 HISPANIC HERITAGE AWARD RECIPIENTS ANNOUNCED
The 2015 Mayor’s Hispanic Heritage Award recipients are being honored with proclamations from Mayor Annise Parker today and October 6, 2015 at Houston City Hall. Each honoree was selected based on his or her outstanding contributions toward enhancing the quality of life and advancement of Houston’s Hispanic community.
This year’s Mayor’s Hispanic Heritage Award recipients are:
Lifetime Achievement Awards: Josefina Rendon and Jose Adan Trevino Josefina Rendon was one of Harris County’s first Hispanic women attorneys and the first woman and first Hispanic Civic Service Commissioner for the City of Houston. In 1983 she became Houston’s third Latina municipal court judge, where she still presides. Her judicial career also includes becoming the first Latina Civil District Judge in Harris County. Judge Rendon is the immediate past president of the Association for Conflict Resolution – Houston and past president of the Texas Association of Mediators. She is a published author of over 100 articles and the recipient of both the Justice Frank Evans Award from the State Bar of Texas and the Susanne Adams Aware from the Texas Association of Mediators.
Jose Adan Trevino is founder and former President/CEO of Univision 45, Houston’s first Spanish language television station. Trevino has also been a strong voice on behalf of the Hispanic community at the local and national levels. He has served on many boards including the Houston Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, U.S. Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, the Chancellor’s Council at the University of Texas-Austin, Houston Community College Foundation, Texas State Securities Board, Baylor College of Medicine, Governor’s Business Council and the Greater Houston Partnership.
Community Activist: Gilbert Garcia Gilbert Garcia has enjoyed much success professionally, but he has also been a dedicated volunteer, leader and activist in the Houston Hispanic community. In 2010, Garcia was appointed as the first Hispanic chairman of METRO. Under his leadership, METRO has restored its public image, repaired its relationship with the Federal Transit Administration, improved customer service, obtained voter approval for more funding, expanded light rail service to the Hispanic community and received the Gold Leadership Circle Award for transparency from the Texas State Comptroller. His volunteer work includes countless hours of service on difference nonprofit boards and fundraising for community improvement efforts and organizations that benefit the Hispanic community.
Education in the Community: Gloria Zenteno Gloria Zenteno founded Barrio Dogs in 2010 after she moved back to the East End and witnessed homeless, neglected and mistreated animals seemingly everywhere. The organization stresses the importance of spaying and neutering pets and encourages residents to report animal abuse or neglect to authorities. By working in community centers and schools and holding events at civic association meetings and parks, Barrio Dogs spreads its message to the larger community. Zenteno’s hard work and commitment to her East End community and to its animals are obvious and serve as a great example for others to follow.
Youth Activist: James Lee James Lee is the public affairs field specialist for Legacy Community Health. While a student at the University of Houston (UH), he founded LGBT Advocates, the first undergraduate political organization for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender students. As the leader of the organization, he worked to expand UH’s nondiscrimination policy to include protections for all LGBT students. As a member of the UH Student Government Association, Lee also advocated on behalf of undocumented students and for revisions to academic policy regarding mental health. His work in the area of healthcare policy advocacy has been recognized by the Texas Freedom Network, which honored Lee with the 2012 Samantha Smoot Activist Award.
Art in the Community: Daniel Bustamante Daniel Bustamante is Executive Director of the Greater Houston Fair Housing Center and a founding member of the Multicultural Arts Cooperative of Houston. He is an experienced producer, director and administrator of festivals, tours, television, community programs and special events. Bustamante’s record of community service spans nearly 40 years and includes being a founding member of the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo’s Go Tejano Committee, membership in the Houston Association of Hispanic Media Professionals and serving as chair of the Casa de Amigos Health Clinic Advisory Council. He has been founded, produced or directed a dozen local shows and festivals.
2015 marks the 10th year of this prestigious group of awards. Here’s the list of past honorees.
These citizens are working everyday to improve the lives of Houstonians, and it is great to see them recognized for all that they do. A special congratulations to Josefina Rendon, Jose Adam Trevino, Daniel Bustamante, Gloria Zenteno, Gilbert Garcia and James Lee.
Beyond these awards, there are lots of special events happening throughout Houston for Hispanic Heritage Month. For more information, check out this great calendar compiled by Hispanic Houston.
2015 Hispanic Heritage Honorees pose with City Council Members, and citizens on the Mayor’s Hispanic Advisory Board. Photo credit: Victoria Lara via Facebook.
With a quiet confidence and an audience of of the world’s best and brightest, the Commander-in-Chief of the United States made history earlier this year in the bustling city of Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. Barack Obama became the first sitting US President to address the African Union. Here’s more from The Africa Report…
US President Barack Obama advised African leaders to respect their constitutions and condemned those who refuse to step down when their terms end, in an historic address to the African Union, in Addis Ababa, on Tuesday.
Obama’s speech, the first by a sitting President of the United States at the AU, acknowledged progress Africa has made, ranging from a decline in HIV case to attracting increased foreign direct investment to the continent.
But he told the African Union that these gains rest “on a fragile foundation”.
“Africa’s progress will also depend on democracy, because Africans, like people everywhere, deserve the dignity of being in control of their own lives,” he said.
The remarks were the culmination of a landmark visit which also brought the President back to his father’s homeland of Kenya, and several meetings with leaders from across the continent.
His speech to the African Union may have leaned towards governance, but while in Kenya, Obama made some significant progress towards economic ties with the rapidly-rising nation and it’s neighboring economies. As Jake Bright of Fortune magazine reports, new business opportunities are literally booming across the continent…
After a decade of rapid economic growth, a fast-rising African consumer class is expected to wield over $1 trillion in annual spending power by 2020. Foreign aid in Africa is being overshadowed by record increases in foreign direct investment, up 42% between 2008 and 2014, to $55 billion. Over the last two years, countries such as Nigeria, Kenya, and Ethiopia have gained sovereign credit ratings and issued global government bonds now included in the portfolios of funds like PIMCO. And Africa’s stock markets are capitalizing and digitizing, as many of them partner with exchanges such as NASDAQ to adopt the latest trading platforms.
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A major area attracting talent and U.S. investment is Africa’s emerging tech sector, which is most strongly associated with Kenya. The East African nation of 44 million has become the continent’s unofficial tech capital, dubbed “Silicon Savannah” for its advances inmobile money, tech incubators such as iHub, and local IT innovations such as the Ushahidi crowdsourcing platform and solar powered BRCK mobile Wi-Fi device that are finding applications in the U.S.
Kenya’s tech status has inspired a startup boom across the continent, led by many young African entrepreneurs with strong U.S. ties who are connecting ventures to American investment.
So what could all of these new inroads to the African continent mean for Texas metros like Houston?
Two words… trade missions.
As Houston Mayor Annise Parker has shown during her time in office, following Obama’s lead on international opportunities can have positive reverberations in the local economy. The new economic ties with African nations can be utilized with all of the other important connections shared between the vast, diverse continent and the rapidly diversifying Lone Star State. With its plethora of international flights, huge energy and medical research sectors, and established African immigrant communities, Houston seems a natural fit for these routes of growth. But booming Tech sectors and an expanding need for digital expansion stands to benefit cities like Tech-savvy Austin as well.
Whether they agree with his politics or not, cities across Texas would be wise to follow this segment of Obama’s legacy. It’s an important message for the next Mayor of Houston, and other state metros.
Let’s hope that state leaders see the growing potential that lies with the people of Africa.
It’s American tradition that Labor Day marks the unofficial “end” of summer (if such a thing can exist in Houston) and the start of high campaign season. Though there’s not a Presidential or Gubernatorial race on the ballot this year, this holds true for residents of the Bayou City.
But municipal leaders are not the only question facing area voters this November. Last Saturday over 150 volunteers gathered at The Montrose Center to launch the field campaign to protect the Houston Equal Rights Ordinance, formally known as Houston Unites. The group is an unprecedented partnership among the ACLU of Texas, Equality Texas, Freedom for All Americans, the Human Rights Campaign, NAACP Houston Branch, the Texas Freedom Network and a bevy of political activists, public servants and volunteers. Here’s more from the group’s website…
DISCRIMINATION HAS NO PLACE IN HOUSTON
Houston Unites is the coalition working to elevate the diversity of voices supporting HERO. No Houstonian should be discriminated against based on race, age, military status, sexual orientation or gender identity. That’s a core value Houstonians share, and that’s why HERO’s passage a year ago was supported by more than 80 current and former elected officials, community and non-profit organizations, major corporations, and more than 70 local faith leaders.
In the most diverse city in America, we believe that everyone should be treated fairly, no matter who they are. That’s a core value Houstonians share.
Facing a mountain of money from the opposition, it’s going to take lots of hard work and dedication to energize and turn out voters who will support Proposition 1… the ballot measure which will either uphold or defeat the Houston Equal Rights Ordinance. But if the first field event was any indication, the Houston Unites group is up to the challenge. In just a few hours, ‘HOUniters’ knocked over 1,200 doors and placed 6,000 phone calls all encouraging voters to show up on Election Day and vote Yes on Prop 1. Even with the money disadvantage, commitment like theirs is going to be tough to beat.
This Election Day, be sure to Vote Yes on Proposition 1. And if you’re like me and prefer to do your voting ahead of the longer lines, check out this year’s Harris County Early Voting information. Early voting for the 2015 Elections runs from October 19th through October 30th.
But before you hit the voting booth, consider volunteering with the Houston Unites campaign. Every hour that you can commit to knocking doors or making phone calls will bring Houston closer to having needed local protections from discrimination, and truly being the city that all Houstonians deserve.
On September 5th, over 150 volunteers gathered to campaign for Houston Unites and encourage voters to vote yes on City of Houston Proposition 1.
As many working adults in the city of Houston prepared for a lovely and well-earned weekend, one Deputy in the Harris County Sheriff’s Department left his family and hit the streets to keep all of us safe.
But sadly for Deputy Darren Goforth, he would never return home. As NBC News reports, the officer was tragically slain Friday night not in a dangerous crime scene, but simply while pumping gas in his uniform…
Hundreds of people showed up at a Texas gas station Saturday to pay tribute to a sheriff’s deputy who was gunned down from behind after filling up his patrol car the night before.
Many who attended the vigil for Harris County sheriff’s deputy Darren H. Goforth said they were there to support the police, and some said they were frustrated with the “black lives matter” movement and what they said was an increased hostility against all police.
Those who knew Goforth said he was “just a really nice guy.”
“It’s not fair,” said Simone Langland, whose family were friends with Goforth’s. “When we were younger and we were home alone, he would always drive by just to make sure we were OK,” she said through tears.
Goforth, 47, a father of two, was ambushed by a gunman who shot him from behind at the gas station at around 8:20 p.m. (9:20 p.m. ET) Friday, police said. The gunman then shot the 10-year veteran again as he was on the ground.
On Saturday, suspect Shannon Miles, 30, was arrested and charged with capital murder. A motive has not been determined. Miles is black. Goforth is white.
As stated above, the killing left the Houston Area, the whole state of Texas and many across the country in complete shock. No one deserves what happened to officer Goforth, and the killer, now in custody stands to face the full weight of the justice system for what he has (allegedly) done.
At this point, no one really knows why the killer did what he did. Whether this murder was racially-motivated, violence directed at the police, a combination of the two or neither, no one can say. But no matter the motivation, it was heinous and wrong. Texas Leftist sends prayers to the officer’s family, the Harris County Sheriff’s Department, and all those affected by this tragedy. Texas Leftist also continues to support all of our local law enforcement and the great work that they do every day to keep us safe.
The Texas Progressive Alliance wishes former President Carter all the best for a full and fast recovery as it brings you this week’s roundup.
Off the Kuff reports on another Voting Rights Act lawsuit, this one filed on behalf of low English proficiency voters who have been denied the ability to bring a translator of their choice to the ballot box with them.
For a time, many Houstonians considered it a point of pride that the city repealed the use of Red Light Cameras in 2010. But as Texas Leftist has recently discovered, a Houston without camera accountability has become much more dangerous for all transit users…Even deadly.
Related to transit, Texas Leftist was on the ground for the historic debut of Houston METRO’s New Bus Network on August 16th, and even took one new route for a test drive. Or to be technical, “test ride” since THEY did the driving.
Not a trace of irony has been found to be present in the recent pronouncements of a certain Democratic so-called frontrunner for the 2016 presidential nomination. PDiddie at Brains and Eggs — with an assist from the biting cartoons of Ted Rall — illustrates some of the things making Clintonites so nervous of late, none of which have anything to do with e-mail servers or sagging poll numbers.
From WCNews at Eye on Williamson. There is so much Texas could do for those in need, but our GOP state leaders choose to do nothing. As a consequence Only Texas Remains above the 20% uninsured rate.
Neil at All People Have Value asserted that the nine bikers shot dead in Waco this past May may have been wrongly killed. APHV is part of NeilAquino.com.
Nancy Sims considers the value of the Houston GLBT Political Caucus’ Mayoral endorsement.
The Houston Justice Coalition calls for an investigation into the actions of three sheriff’s deputies who forcibly conducted an illegal body cavity search publicly on a woman in Harris County.
Scott Braddock knows the real reason why Ken Paxton is still in office.
The Texas Living Waters Project reminds us that the best time to plan for a drought is when you’re not in one.
Today’s feature photo is of the Wharton County Courthouse in Wharton, Texas. Credit: L. Wayne Ashley
The Texas Progressive Alliance thinks that big GOP candidate debate needed more balloon animals and seltzer bottles as it brings you this week’s roundup.
Off the Kuff gives his campaign strategy for defending Houston’s Equal Rights Ordinance.
Harold Cook presents the GOP Presidential Debate Drinking Game, which will come in handy for the next debate, if you ever recover from the first one.
A blogger started a petition to have the NFL relocate the 2017 Super Bowl away from Houston if the HERO is defeated by the voters in November. And then a Houston television station picked up the story. PDiddie at Brains and Eggs is in wonderment at how things can snowball — or go viral, as the kids say these days — so quickly.
