The Brief
- Houston Mayor John Whitmire praised his city’s handling of taxes and homelessness in his State of the City.
- He criticized Austin’s failed property tax proposal and Dallas’ public safety challenges.
- Whitmire said Houston’s focus on efficiency and downtown safety sets it apart from other Texas cities.
HOUSTON – Houston Mayor John Whitmire delivered the State of the City Address Thursday afternoon. In praising his and the city’s efforts to improve key areas of public interest, the former state legislator added a few critical remarks about other major Texas cities.
According to Whitmire, Houston excels in addressing taxes and homelessness; two areas in which Dallas and Austin are, in the mayor’s eyes, falling behind.
Whitmire takes digs at Dallas and Austin
Whitmire, a Democrat, served 10 years in the Texas House and 40 in the state Senate before taking his position as mayor in 2024. He drew on this experience in the legislature, in which he noted that he served alongside the Austin and Dallas mayors, when questioning those leaders’ tactics.
To start, Whitmire said that Austin Mayor Kirk Watson pursued a property tax increase without first conducting an efficiency audit. He said Houston’s method of auditing, avoiding a tax bump and cutting waste ultimately saved $100 million.…