Latest news with #HoustonCityCouncil
Yahoo
5 days ago
- Politics
- Yahoo
State Rep. Jolanda Jones to campaign for seat left vacant by congressman's death
AUSTIN (KXAN)– Texas State Rep. Jolanda Jones announced Monday her campaign for Congress, seeking to fill the seat left vacant by Rep. Sylvester Turner's death earlier this year. The Houston Democrat becomes the latest candidate to enter what has become a competitive race for the 18th Congressional District, joining Harris County Attorney Christian Menefee, former Houston City Council member Amanda Edwards, energy executive Zoe Cadore, realtor Peter Filler, community advocate Robert Slater and independent candidates Reyna Anderson and Chance Davis. Jones emphasized her commitment to protecting federal programs and constitutional freedoms in her campaign launch, positioning herself as an experienced advocate ready to confront Republican policy initiatives in Washington. The Nov. 4 special election will determine Turner's replacement in a district considered safely Democratic. Turner died in March after serving just two months of his first term. Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee previously held the seat before her death in 2024. Gov. Greg Abbott sets Nov. 4 special election to fill U.S. Rep. Sylvester Turner's seat Gov. Greg Abbott faced criticism from Democrats for waiting to schedule the special election until the November uniform election date, leaving the district without representation for nine months. However the extended timeline allowed Jones to complete the legislative session before launching her congressional campaign, as she had pledged to focus on her state house duties until the session concluded. Menefee criticized the governor's decision, stating it was 'unconscionable to leave nearly 800,000 people in this district without representation in Congress for most of the year.' Abbott defended the timeline, citing concerns about Harris County's election administration capabilities, though county officials disputed his characterization of their election operations. Jones brings diverse government experience to the congressional race. She has represented House District 147 at the State Capitol since winning the election in 2022, where she worked on criminal justice, health policy and redistricting issues. Before her legislative service, Jones spent four years on Houston City Council representing an at-large position from 2008-2012. She also served on the Houston Independent School District school board. The veteran attorney waited until the end of the legislative session to announce her congressional campaign, citing her responsibility to current constituents in the state house. Her legal practice spans more than two decades, during which she worked on high-profile cases including efforts to reform Houston's police crime laboratory following evidence handling problems. In Congress, Jones said she would prioritize defending social programs, including Social Security and Medicare from potential reductions. She also plans to advocate for expanded healthcare access and reproductive rights restoration. The candidate emphasized her long-standing advocacy for women's healthcare autonomy and pledged to work toward reversing federal abortion restrictions. Veterans' benefits protection and education funding would also receive focus under her congressional agenda, along with infrastructure investments for the Houston region. Several Democrats have already launched campaigns for the seat: Harris County Attorney Christian Menefee entered the race first, securing support from former congressional candidates Colin Allred and Beto O'Rourke. Lee's daughter, Erica Lee Carter, chairs his campaign organization. Former city council member Amanda Edwards brings municipal government experience and private sector leadership as head of a community solutions consulting firm. She spearheaded Houston's technology innovation initiatives during her council tenure and maintains extensive nonprofit board involvement. Energy industry executive Zoe Cadore is running after serving as a federal affairs director for Calpine Corporation. Her background includes policy work with the American Petroleum Institute and involvement in Turner's mayoral administration. Peter Filler, a real estate professional with environmental science training, offers urban forestry expertise and Texas teaching credentials to the race. Robert Slater campaigns on economic revitalization and public safety improvements, drawing from personal experiences growing up in underserved Houston communities. Independent candidates Chance Davis and Reyna Anderson, running under the 'Other' party designation, round out the field. The 18th District encompasses some of Houston's most politically active communities and serves as a crucial Democratic stronghold in Texas. With Republicans holding a narrow House majority, maintaining the seat remains important for Democratic legislative priorities. The extended vacancy has left constituents without representation during key congressional debates over federal spending and policy initiatives. Jones' candidacy adds state-level legislative experience to a field dominated by local government veterans and private sector professionals, potentially appealing to voters seeking Austin connections for federal advocacy. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
5 days ago
- Politics
- Yahoo
Texas Rep. Jolanda Jones announces bid to succeed Sylvester Turner in Congress
State Rep. Jolanda Jones, D-Houston, on Monday jumped into the race for the congressional seat left open by the death of U.S. Rep. Sylvester Turner, the former Houston mayor. 'The simple fact is no one will fight harder to stop Republicans from taking away our social security, our public schools, our health care, our constitutional rights and more,' Jones said in a statement announcing her campaign. Jones, an attorney and former Houston City Council member from 2008 to 2012, joins a slate of candidates running in the special election, including Harris County Attorney Christian Menefee and fellow former Houston City Council member Amanda Edwards. 'I am the only candidate in this race who has fought for our families in the Legislature, in the courtroom, on city council and on the school board,' said Jones, who was elected to the Texas House in 2022. 'I helped shut down Houston's corrupt crime lab, helped extend Medicaid coverage for new mothers and their babies and cut taxes for seniors and homeowners.' Turner, who also served in the Texas House before his turn in Congress, died March 5, two months into his first term representing Texas' 18th Congressional District. The district, which contains historically significant neighborhoods for Houston's Black community, had been long represented by former U.S. Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee, who also died in office last year amid a battle with pancreatic cancer. The special election to fill the seat will take place Nov. 4. Gov. Greg Abbott called the election for November a month after Turner's death, leaving a solidly blue seat open for most of 2025 as Republicans work to push through President Donald Trump's agenda in a closely divided House. In Congress, Jones said she would 'fight to stop Trump cuts to healthcare and Medicaid, Social Security, education and veterans,' and work to expand healthcare coverage and affordability. She also emphasized bringing back the right to an abortion. 'I've been fighting my entire career for women's rights, bodies, and voices, and will never stop working to restore abortion rights to make sure women — not politicians — make their own healthcare decisions,' said Jones, a criminal and family lawyer with her own practice. The district is a Democratic stronghold, meaning the Democratic nominee is almost certain to win the election and could hold onto the seat for years. Menefee was the first to launch his campaign, and has secured high-profile endorsements, including former U.S. Reps. Colin Allred and Beto O'Rourke, who both challenged U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz. Jackson Lee's daughter, Erica Lee Carter, is serving as his campaign chair after briefly representing the district after her mother's death. Jones said she 'deferred' her decision to run until the legislative session concluded this week so that she could focus on representing her constituents in the Texas House, where she served on the criminal jurisprudence, public health and redistricting committees. She was also the vice chair of the subcommittee on juvenile justice. 'I promised my constituents I would fight for them every day through the end of the legislative session — and I did exactly that,' she said. During the session, Jones worked closely with both Republicans and Democrats, including on legislation to ensure that certain criminal defendants are not held behind bars pretrial for periods longer than the maximum sentence for the alleged offense. Jones, a four-time national track and field champion, one-time contestant on CBS' Survivor and LGBTQ advocate who often speaks about her upbringing in poverty and familial tragedy, previously served on the Houston ISD Board of Trustees. One of her Republican colleagues, whom she worked with on the criminal jurisprudence committee, quickly gave a word of praise upon her announcement. 'This woman,' Rep. Mitch Little, R-Lewisville, posted on social media, 'is truly a forced to be reckoned with.' Big news: 20 more speakers join the TribFest lineup! New additions include Margaret Spellings, former U.S. secretary of education and CEO of the Bipartisan Policy Center; Michael Curry, former presiding bishop and primate of The Episcopal Church; Beto O'Rourke, former U.S. Representative, D-El Paso; Joe Lonsdale, entrepreneur, founder and managing partner at 8VC; and Katie Phang, journalist and trial lawyer. Get tickets. TribFest 2025 is presented by JPMorganChase.
Yahoo
30-04-2025
- Yahoo
12 Houston Fire Academy Cadets Share Racist Memes, Messed Around and Found Out at the Worst Time
Houston City Council Member Julian Ramirez called the behavior of 12 Houston Fire Training Academy cadets 'regrettable and very disappointing' after they circulated racist content in a private Instagram group chat. They were even bold enough to continue their racist behavior online even after receiving warnings to for that they paid the ultimate price. Once officials confirmed the group resumed sharing 'rude' and 'crass' things anyway, they decided enough was enough. Just six days before their scheduled graduation after an eight-month training program, the cadets were terminated following an internal investigation. HFD sources did not specify the chat's contents, but they said it contained 'inappropriate memes and images.' In a written statement, Chief Thomas Munoz addressed the situation, saying how, 'Racism and hateful behavior have no home in Mayor Whitmire's administration or the Houston Fire Department.' During the first week of the academy, cadets are ordered to undergo anti-discrimination and anti-harassment training. According to reports, the department was tipped off about the racist social media group by a fellow cadet in the most recent graduating class. Afterwards, the cadets were required to complete yet another round of anti-discrimination training. The financial impact of the decision is also significant. The city spends approximately $100K — each — to train individual cadets, KHOU 11 reports. 'The city has invested so much money in these cadets and then they made mistakes, were warned about it and continued on their course of action and had to be fired,' Ramirez said, per ABC 13. '$1.2 million could pay for a lot of things we need,' he added when asked about the city's tight budget. Ramirez wants the city to explore possible legal avenues to reclaim training costs when cases of misconduct arise. 'There should be a mechanism for the city to recoup its investment when the cadet messes up in that fashion,' Ramirez said. HFD said, per KHOU 11, only 27 cadets made it to the graduation swearing-in on April 24. For the latest news, Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
Yahoo
18-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Houston City Council approves short-term rental regulations
The Brief The Houston City Council approved short-term rental regulations on Wednesday. The ordinance approved by the City Council creates a registration-based framework for the regulation of short-term rentals. Short-term rental hosts will have until January 1, 2026, to come into compliance before enforcement of the ordinance begins. Operating without a certificate of registration can result in a fine between $100 - $500 for each day of the violation. HOUSTON - The Houston City Council has approved short-term rental regulations following community complaints and concerns about the rentals. According to the City of Houston, Houstonians will soon have a new tool to track short-term rentals (STRs) and address concerns about properties in their neighborhood. On Wednesday, the Houston City Council approved an ordinance that creates a registration-based framework for the regulation of short-term rentals. According to a release, a short-term rental, as defined by the ordinance, is a dwelling unit or any portion of a dwelling unit that is rented out or offered to be rented out for a period of less than 30 consecutive days, with a few exceptions. The ordinance allows the City to enforce regulations at STRs such as noise and sound regulations, payment of hotel occupancy taxes, building and fire code violations, and criminal offenses. The ordinance also requires registrants to display a 24-hour emergency contact number, prohibits STRs from advertising as event spaces, and requires applicants to submit proof of completion for human trafficking awareness training. What's next Beginning August 1, 2025, the City will begin accepting registration applications online at Until August 1, the City's STR webpage will be under development. Once complete, the webpage will offer a suite of STR modules including a registration portal, interactive map, a list of approved STRs, and a 24-hour hotline to allow the public to report complaints or concerns about a specific STR, or an STR property operating without a City of Houston certificate of registration. In-person assistance with registration will also be available at the Houston Permitting Center. The annual registration fee is $275 per rental property. Public complaints reported to the 24-hour hotline will be routed to the appropriate City of Houston Department for further action or enforcement activity. For example, noise complaints will be routed to the Houston Police Department, trash violations to Solid Waste Management, dangerous building complaints to Houston Public Works, and fire code violations to the Houston Fire Department. The City may revoke a certificate of registration for non-compliance with City code or excessive nuisance violations. Short-term rental hosts will have until January 1, 2026, to come into compliance before enforcement of the ordinance begins. Operating without a certificate of registration can result in a fine between $100 - $500 for each day of the violation. In addition, the ordinance requires STR platforms, such as Airbnb and VRBO, to remove listings for non-compliant STRs within 10 days of notification by the City. Previous Coverage "Parties, prostitution, street takeovers": Will Houston regulate short-term rentals? Houston grapples with short-term rental nuisances Houston Mayor proposes crackdown on short-term rentals amidst safety concerns Short term rental debate Galleria condo owners alarmed by short-term rental issues: Drugs, public sex, and gunfire reported Airbnb removes two Houston properties following reports of wild sex parties, violence, and drug use The Source Information provided by the City of Houston news release.
Yahoo
20-03-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Former Houston City Council member launches House bid to succeed late Sylvester Turner
Former Houston City Council member Amanda Edwards announced her bid for Congress on Wednesday to fill the seat vacated after the death of Rep. Sylvester Turner (D-Texas), saying the Democratic Party needs a different approach that is 'responsive to the moment.' 'We need the next generation of new leaders in Washington to combat [President Trump's attacks on jobs, healthcare, and education,' Edwards, who will run for Texas's 18th Congressional District, said in her campaign announcement. The party should 'assess where to apply pressure,' she said. 'We must collaborate effectively with partner organizations to achieve our goals.' She added that Rep. Al Green's (D-Texas) protest during Trump's recent joint address to Congress was meaningful, and the Democratic Party should engage more in similar actions. 'When Congressman Green stood up and said there is no mandate against Medicaid, it put a clear focus on the fact that Medicaid is on the chopping block,' she said, adding that people are overwhelmed because 'there are so many issues on the chopping block.' 'This sense of chaos is resulting in people becoming disengaged, which means the administration is free to push its agendas forward.' When asked if she agreed with Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer's (D-N.Y.) decision last week to support the GOP-backed stopgap bill that averted a government shutdown, Edwards said Schumer was in a 'difficult position in terms of making that call.' Schumer has had a long legacy of strong service, she said, but the party needs to have a conversation about whether or not the present leadership is 'meeting the moment.' 'We gotta allow new voices and new ideologies to appear, especially when circumstances shift and when we have a president who does not respect the rule of law.' Edwards further said that having a conversation about the party's strategy in Congress and its messaging 'does not mean that you are kicking someone out.' 'It just means as times change, our needs evolve. Are we being responsive to the current moment is the question we need to ask,' she said. Edwards also said the way the administration is approaching the issue of immigration 'is a true disservice to the American public.' 'If we were to be serious about immigration reforms, we really would be taking a very different approach, which would not just be to create sensational headlines and displacing and removing people who have been hardworking and are not harming our country,' she said. Edwards said immigration reforms should be made from a policy perspective, and the impact of these 'harsh immigration policies' creates a climate of fear that prevents families from seeking help or accessing the resources they need. 'Many people hesitate to engage in basic activities, like attending school, out of fear that their family members may be targeted,' she said. 'Even if an individual is documented, the risk facing a parent or sibling can create a ripple effect throughout the family.' Edwards made two unsuccessful attempts to secure the seat last year, competing in the 2024 Democratic primary against Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee, who served as the district's representative from 1995 until her death last year. Though Jackson Lee won, she died before the general election, reopening the party's nomination process. Edwards finished second in that contest to Turner, the former mayor of Houston. After Turner's death earlier this month, the seat is vacant yet again. Texas Gov. Greg Abbott (R) has the authority to call a special election to fill the seat. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
