Latest news with #JohnWhitmire
Axios
22-07-2025
- Business
- Axios
Houston could ban scooters in downtown
Houston could soon ban the use of e-scooters in and around downtown. Why it matters: Transportation advocates argue the move furthers what critics say are Mayor John Whitmire's "cars over people" policies, while proponents say a ban would alleviate public safety concerns. Driving the news: A City Council committee will meet Thursday to discuss creating a "scooter-free zone" that includes downtown, Midtown and East Downtown. The proposal was drafted by Houston police and the city. The big picture: If the measure passes, Houston would likely become the first major U.S. city with an active e-scooter ban in its downtown. It would join international cities like Madrid, Toronto, Paris and Melbourne, Australia. Flashback: In 2021, the city banned scooters on sidewalks and prohibited vendors from using public right-of-way to rent them out. Since then, e-scooter rental companies have proliferated downtown. Zoom in: Whitmire says he is concerned with scooter riders operating dangerously around the city center. Twenty-three Houston crashes involved scooters in 2024, up from 20 in 2023, 10 in 2022 and three in 2021, according to the city. Riders died in three of those crashes, and at least one person died on an e-scooter in 2025. The other side: Michael Moritz, a Houston transportation advocate, says such a ban would limit downtown activity and hinder those who commute to work on e-scooters. "Mayor Whitmire has proven with his policies that he does not believe Houstonians should have the freedom to choose how they move," Moritz tells Axios. Some scooter rental vendors say a ban would be the "worst-case scenario" for business. What they're saying:"The vast majority of individuals using scooters in the area are not Houstonians but instead come here for joyriding, rather than using them for school or work," Whitmire said in a statement to Axios. "Many scooter users disregard traffic laws, putting themselves and others at risk," Whitmire said. "(Thursday's meeting is) part of the process, and I welcome public feedback."
Yahoo
22-07-2025
- Yahoo
Mayor Whitmire teaming up with HPD, others to crack down on bad actors in Houston nightlife
The Brief From July 17 - 19, Houston Mayor John Whitmire, HPD, HFD, HHD, Public Works and others tag along to inspect nightclubs and bars in Houston. 13 inspections were held in the Heights area, most of Washington. City Council and a Washington Avenue business owner responded to city's efforts. HOUSTON - The City of Houston says they are cracking down on nightclubs and bars who are not following compliance and safety requirements. City of Houston cracking down on nightclubs, bars not following compliance rules The Crime Protection Team Club Unit visited multiple clubs and bars in the heights area and along Washington Avenue. A few Heights area clubs and bars got a visit from Mayor Whitmire and the Club Unit over the weekend, each one of them was given more than just a fair warning. By the numbers Bar/Club Stats Inspections: 13 Citations: 115 Warnings: 12 Arrests: 2 Misdemeanor (Failure to Comply with Local Health or Sanitary Laws) Bars/Clubs Closed: 5 DWI Enforcement Stats Traffic Stops: 104 Citations: 91 Warnings: 43 DWI Arrests: 8 Other Arrests: 3 Bar/Club Inspection Details: Zen Lounge – 5316 Washington Ave HPD – Arrest x 2 for Failure to Comply with Local Health or Sanitary Laws Health – Citations x 15 Closed by Health for unauthorized food service Closed by Public Works for invalid Certificate of Occupancy 2 Cana – 5310 Washington Ave No violations noted 3. Bar 5306 – 5306 Washington Ave Ste C Closed by Public Works for invalid Certificate of Occupancy 4. Fuego's – 817 Durham Dr Health – Citations x 15 HPD – Warnings x 3 5. Tokyo Joe's Shot Bar – 2001 Beall St HFD – Citation x 1 HPD – Warnings x 3 Health – Warning x 1 Public Works – follow up investigation required into built out loft and large attached garage 6. BLVD Park – 1119 W 20th St HPD – Citations x 12 Health – Warning x 1 HFD – Citation x 1 7. Say No Mas – 1217 W 20th St HPD – Citations x 9 Health – Warning x 1 HFD – Citations x 3 and closed kitchen due to unpermitted gas Public Works – follow up required into built on mobile chef unit attached to building 8. Austin's Backyard – 1221 W 20th St HPD – Warning x 3 Health – Citations x 9 9. XO – 5023 Washington Ave HPD – Citations x 29 HFD – Citation x 1 Closed by Health for unauthorized food service Closed by Public Works and HFD for invalid Certificate of Occupancy 10. Lincoln Bar – 5110 Washington Ave HPD – Citations x 3 Health – Citation x 1 ARA – Citation x 1 Closed by HFD due to fire at location 11. Bar 5306 – 5306 Washington Ave Ste C HPD – Citation x 3 12. Sidebar – 5317 Washington Ave Health – Citation x 3 ARA – Citation x 3 13. Luxx – 5002 Washington Ave HPD – Citations x 6 Closed by Health for unauthorized food service What they're saying City Councilmember Abbie Kamin and Washington Avenue business owner speak out about the Mayor's efforts "We are not anti-business in Houston. Business is the backbone of our city, but there are a few of these bad actors that are making a big problem for a lot of people and putting a strain specifically on law enforcement resources," said Councilmember Abbie Kamin. "Every time there is an inspection, the health department is involved, the fire department is involved." "When we are talking about a club that has been shut down or a bar that has been shut down, there have been clear issues with safety and health that have been found," said Councilmember Kamin. "There are some clubs and bars that do have valid certificates of occupancy, but they may not be keeping up with safety measures, like sprinkler systems. When you hear about issues, we deal a lot with in District C is loud noise." The owner of Prison Break Tattoos on Washington Avenue says she's happy to see it, because her business relies on foot traffic, but she wants it to be safe. "I mean there is quite a bit of activity here, especially during the midnight hours. People tend to get a little crazy and that part is appreciated, and again we want everyone to enjoy themselves out here and be safe," said Jen Finberg, "Some of the frustrations is when they see these businesses, and they park along the whole street, so people can't get in our place of business, and we can't conduct business, and it plugs up the whole - traffic and things like that so it interferes with our livelihood." The Source FOX 26 Reporter Leslie DelasBour has more on what occurred over the weekend. Solve the daily Crossword
Daily Mail
09-07-2025
- Politics
- Daily Mail
Ex-mayoral aide who mocked flood victims blasted on crowdfunding page
A former mayoral aide who mocked the victims of the deadly Texas floods for being white is now suffering the humiliation of a flop fundraiser to help her. Houston mayoral appointee Sade Perkins went viral over her ballistic TikTok rant that saw her criticize Camp Mystic, where 27 campers and counselors were killed last Friday by the raging Guadalupe River. Perkins, in a series of cruel videos, called Camp Mystic a 'whites only Christian camp' before blaming President Donald Trump , Texas Gov. Greg Abbott and other Republicans for the massive disaster that has now claimed over 100 lives. Houston Mayor John Whitmire vowed to remove Perkins - who has not worked for him since January - from the board and issued a statement apologizing for her horrifying comments. Now, a crowdfunding campaign set up to defend Perkins has been bombarded by critics who contributed minimum donations so they could leave insulting comments directed at the former city employee. It had raised just $40 of its ambitious $20,000 target at 10am ET Wednesday. One donor, who contributed '$5 of shame' to the GiveSendGo campaign, branded her an 'evil' person and vowed a 'reckoning' would soon come. 'Sade, you're an awful human who has been empowered by the last 4 of political hatred & racism to believe you're morally superior based on your vote & now, it's time for reckoning,' the anonymous donor wrote. 'The evil that is within you to say what you did about those poor babies, literal babies, is only something the devil would stand by. You are disgusting & should be embarrassed.' The crowd funding effort was launched by Marian Hills, whose connection to Perkins remains unclear. She argued argued that while Perkins was 'heartbroken' by the flash floods, she had the 'courage' to question what Hills describes as 'racial disparity in emergency response'. The campaign encouraged those who support 'free speech', 'equity' and 'protecting black women from system retaliation' to make a donation. But instead of supporters, contributors to the 'Support for Sade Perkins' fund were critics willing to '[expletive] away $5' - the minimum donation amount. Another contributor echoed the sentiment, saying: 'I'll [expletive]away $5 to tell you that you are the absolute scum of the earth.' The donor promised they, along with the other 'sleuths' who are active online, will 'make it our life's mission to make sure you regret this stupid, bigoted, hateful video every day of the rest of your pathetic life'. 'Buckle up buttercup. We're just getting started,' their post added. Another said Perkins is the 'scum of the earth' and would have faced the same backlash if 'you were white and said these things'. The donor also took aim at Hills, branding her 'scum' as well for 'lying and saying you did not attack the victims'. One donor, who called Perkins a 'trash human', said making the minimum donation was 'worth it' so they could share exactly how they feel about her. 'You are a foul and disgusting piece of trash. You're subhuman. A hateful racist [expletive] You deserve everything you're getting for what you said about those innocent babies,' the donor said. The poster added that they hoped she would develop ALS (Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis) - a rare condition that progressively damages parts of the nervous system - and 'die alone' because that's 'what you deserve'. The crowdfunder received a donation from one apparent supporter. The individual, impersonating President Trump, wrote: 'We are making America great again by protecting free speech.' Perkins vented her frustrations on TikTok after a heavy deluge ripped through Hunt on the Fourth of July, washing away entire cabins at Camp Mystic. 'I know I'm going to get cancelled for this, but Camp Mystic is a white-only girls' Christian camp,' Perkins raged on TikTok while dozens of girls remained missing. 'They don't even have a token Asian. They don't have a token black person. It's an all-white, white-only conservative Christian camp.' She then blamed Trump, Abbott and Lieutenant Governor Dan Patrick for the tragedy, describing it as 'totally preventable.' She complained she had become 'the scapegoat to cover up for the [expletive] of a flood', instead arguing the 'reason' for the natural disaster was 'of course your friendly MAGA Trump up there in the White House .' 'I did not cause the flood, nor did I cause the failure from the National Weather Service and FEMA. Those were done by design, by the Lieutenant, and by the Governor, and your [expletive] President,' she said. Perkins was admonished by Mayor Whitmire, who issued a statement apologizing for the remarks and distancing himself from his former 'The comments shared on social media are deeply inappropriate and have no place in decent society, especially as families grieve the confirmed deaths and the ongoing search for the missing,' Whitmire said. 'The individual who made these statements is not a City of Houston employee. She was appointed to the City's Food Insecurity Board by former Mayor Sylvester Turner in 2024, and her term expired in January 2025.' Whitmire said steps were being taken immediately 'to remove her permanently from the board' and vowed he 'has no plans to reappoint her.' But Perkins had no regrets after being publicly scolded by the mayor on Sunday, instead doubling down on her extraordinary attack on the camp. 'You people are [expletive] crazy, you people are insane,' she said of her critics. 'And the video is still up and I still stand behind - 10 toes down on the [expletive] ground. 'That [expletive] s racism and white supremacy, period. 'If it was Hispanic kids, if it was LGBTQ kids that got swept away y'all wouldnt give a [expletive] and them same MAGA people would be saying they deserve it and that it's God's will, so [expletive] all y'all.' Addressing Mayor Whitmire's comments head-on, Perkins said: 'Mayor Whitmire is a piece of [expletive].' The GiveSendGo campaign alleges that Perkins has been 'stalked, harassed, and flooded with hate messages' since publishing her video. Daily Mail has not able to independently verify those claims. Meanwhile, the search continues Wednesday for more than 160 people believed to be missing days after a destructive wall of water killed over 100 people in Texas. The full extent of the catastrophe has yet to be revealed as officials warn that unaccounted victims could still be found amid the massive piles of debris that stretch for miles. Officials have already confirmed the Texas flash floods are the deadliest from inland flooding in the US since 1976 when Colorado's Big Thompson Canyon flood killed 144 people. Abbott, who vowed rescuers will 'not stop until every missing person is accounted for', says officials are currently seeking more information about those who were in the state's Hill Country during the Fourth of July holiday but did not register at a camp or a hotel and may have been in the area without many people knowing.
Daily Mail
09-07-2025
- Politics
- Daily Mail
Humiliation for woke ex-mayoral aide who mocked floods at 'whites only Christian camp'
A former mayoral aide who mocked the victims of the deadly Texas floods for being white is now suffering the humiliation of a flop fundraiser to help her. Houston mayoral appointee Sade Perkins went viral over her ballistic TikTok rant that saw her criticize Camp Mystic, where 27 campers and counselors were killed last Friday by the raging Guadalupe River. Perkins, in a series of cruel videos, called Camp Mystic a 'whites only Christian camp' before blaming President Donald Trump, Texas Gov. Greg Abbott and other Republicans for the massive disaster that has now claimed over 100 lives. Houston Mayor John Whitmire vowed to remove Perkins - who has not worked for him since January - from the board and issued a statement apologizing for her horrifying comments. Now, a crowdfunding campaign set up to defend Perkins has been bombarded by critics who contributed minimum donations so they could leave insulting comments directed at the former city employee. It had raised just $40 of its ambitious $20,000 target at 10am ET Wednesday. One donor, who contributed '$5 of shame' to the GiveSendGo campaign, branded her an 'evil' person and vowed a 'reckoning' would soon come. 'Sade, you're an awful human who has been empowered by the last 4 of political hatred & racism to believe you're morally superior based on your vote & now, it's time for reckoning,' the anonymous donor wrote. 'The evil that is within you to say what you did about those poor babies, literal babies, is only something the devil would stand by. You are disgusting & should be embarrassed.' The crowd funding effort was launched by Marian Hills, whose connection to Perkins remains unclear. She argued argued that while Perkins was 'heartbroken' by the flash floods, she had the 'courage' to question what Hills describes as 'racial disparity in emergency response'. The campaign encouraged those who support 'free speech', 'equity' and 'protecting black women from system retaliation' to make a donation. But instead of supporters, contributors to the 'Support for Sade Perkins' fund were critics willing to 'p*** away $5' - the minimum donation amount. Another contributor echoed the sentiment, saying: 'I'll p*** away $5 to tell you that you are the absolute scum of the earth.' The donor promised they, along with the other 'sleuths' who are active online, will 'make it our life's mission to make sure you regret this stupid, bigoted, hateful video every day of the rest of your pathetic life'. 'Buckle up buttercup. We're just getting started,' their post added. Another said Perkins is the 'scum of the earth' and would have faced the same backlash if 'you were white and said these things'. The donor also took aim at Hills, branding her 'scum' as well for 'lying and saying you did not attack the victims'. One donor, who called Perkins a 'trash human', said making the minimum donation was 'worth it' so they could share exactly how they feel about her. 'You are a foul and disgusting piece of trash. You're subhuman. A hateful racist c***. You deserve everything you're getting for what you said about those innocent babies,' the donor said. The poster added that they hoped she would develop ALS (Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis) - a rare condition that progressively damages parts of the nervous system - and 'die alone' because that's 'what you deserve'. The crowdfunder received a donation from one apparent supporter. The individual, impersonating President Trump, wrote: 'We are making America great again by protecting free speech.' A supporter, however, has now created a crowdfunding campaign in honor of Perkins, claiming she is being 'publicly targeted for telling the truth' Perkins vented her frustrations on TikTok after a heavy deluge ripped through Hunt on the Fourth of July, washing away entire cabins at Camp Mystic. 'I know I'm going to get cancelled for this, but Camp Mystic is a white-only girls' Christian camp,' Perkins raged on TikTok while dozens of girls remained missing. 'They don't even have a token Asian. They don't have a token black person. It's an all-white, white-only conservative Christian camp.' She then blamed Trump, Abbott and Lieutenant Governor Dan Patrick for the tragedy, describing it as 'totally preventable.' She complained she had become 'the scapegoat to cover up for the f***up of a flood', instead arguing the 'reason' for the natural disaster was 'of course your friendly MAGA Trump up there in the White House.' 'I did not cause the flood, nor did I cause the failure from the National Weather Service and FEMA. Those were done by design, by the Lieutenant, and by the Governor, and your f***ing President,' she said. Perkins was admonished by Mayor Whitmire, who issued a statement apologizing for the remarks and distancing himself from his former But instead of supporters, contributors to the 'Support for Sade Perkins' fund were critics willing to 'piss away $5' - the minimum donation amount - just to publicly air their grievances and condemn the former city employee 'The comments shared on social media are deeply inappropriate and have no place in decent society, especially as families grieve the confirmed deaths and the ongoing search for the missing,' Whitmire said. 'The individual who made these statements is not a City of Houston employee. She was appointed to the City's Food Insecurity Board by former Mayor Sylvester Turner in 2024, and her term expired in January 2025.' Whitmire said steps were being taken immediately 'to remove her permanently from the board' and vowed he 'has no plans to reappoint her.' But Perkins had no regrets after being publicly scolded by the mayor on Sunday, instead doubling down on her extraordinary attack on the camp. 'You people are f**king crazy, you people are insane,' she said of her critics. 'And the video is still up and I still stand behind - 10 toes down on the motherf***ing ground. 'That s**t is racism and white supremacy, period. 'If it was Hispanic kids, if it was LGBTQ kids that got swept away y'all wouldnt give a f**k and them same MAGA people would be saying they deserve it and that it's God's will, so f**k all y'all.' Addressing Mayor Whitmire's comments head-on, Perkins said: 'Mayor Whitmire is a piece of s**t.' The GiveSendGo campaign alleges that Perkins has been 'stalked, harassed, and flooded with hate messages' since publishing her video. Daily Mail has not able to independently verify those claims. Meanwhile, the search continues Wednesday for more than 160 people believed to be missing days after a destructive wall of water killed over 100 people in Texas. The full extent of the catastrophe has yet to be revealed as officials warn that unaccounted victims could still be found amid the massive piles of debris that stretch for miles. Officials have already confirmed the Texas flash floods are the deadliest from inland flooding in the US since 1976 when Colorado's Big Thompson Canyon flood killed 144 people. Abbott, who vowed rescuers will 'not stop until every missing person is accounted for', says officials are currently seeking more information about those who were in the state's Hill Country during the Fourth of July holiday but did not register at a camp or a hotel and may have been in the area without many people knowing.
Daily Mail
07-07-2025
- Politics
- Daily Mail
Houston mayoral appointee melts down over 'whites-only' Camp Mystic while blaming Trump for 'extremely preventable' flood tragedy
A Houston mayoral appointee went ballistic by criticizing a Texas camp site where seven little girls perished in floodwaters - then blaming President Donald Trump for the tragedy. In a series of cruel videos, Sade Perkins vented her frustrations against the 'whites only Christian camp' hours after a heavy deluge ripped through Camp Mystic in Hunt on the Fourth of July. 'I know I'm going to get cancelled for this, but Camp Mystic is a white-only girls' Christian camp,' she raged on TikTok as at least nine girls were still missing. 'They don't even have a token Asian. They don't have a token Black person. It's an all-white, white-only conservative Christian camp.' Perkins was admonished by Houston Mayor John Whitmire, who said he would take steps to remove her from the board. However, she doubled down by blaming Trump, Texas Governor Greg Abbott and Lieutenant Governor Dan Patrick for the tragedy, describing it as 'totally preventable.' She complained she had become 'the scapegoat to cover up for the f***up of a flood', instead arguing the 'reason' for the natural disaster was 'of course your friendly MAGA Trump up there in the White House.' 'I did not cause the flood, nor did I cause the failure from the National Weather Service and FEMA. Those were done by design, by the Lieutenant, and by the Governor, and your f***ing President,' she said. Perkins was admonished by Mayor Whitmire, who issued a statement apologizing for the horrifying comments as the death toll rose to 82, including 23 children and seven girls from the summer camp. Sade Perkins vented her frustrations against the 'whites only Christian camp' hours after a heavy deluge ripped through Camp Mystic in Hunt on the Fourth of July 'The comments shared on social media are deeply inappropriate and have no place in decent society, especially as families grieve the confirmed deaths and the ongoing search for the missing,' Whitmire said. 'The individual who made these statements is not a City of Houston employee. She was appointed to the City's Food Insecurity Board by former Mayor Sylvester Turner in 2024, and her term expired in January 2025.' Whitmire said steps were being taken immediately 'to remove her permanently from the board' and vowed he 'has no plans to reappoint her.' But Perkins had no regrets after being publicly scolded by the mayor on Sunday, instead doubling down on her extraordinary attack on the camp. 'You people are f**king crazy, you people are insane,' she said of her critics. 'And the video is still up and I still stand behind - 10 toes down on the motherf***ing ground. 'That s**t is racism and white supremacy, period. 'If it was Hispanic kids, if it was LGBTQ kids that got swept away y'all wouldnt give a f**k and them same MAGA people would be saying they deserve it and that it's God's will, so f**k all y'all.' Addressing Mayor Whitmire's comments head-on, Perkins said: 'Mayor Whitmire is a piece of s**t.' Her extraordinary comments come as Nim Kidd, Chief of the Texas Division of Emergency Management, advised Kerr County to brace for more of the deadly rains as a 'wall of water' is set to descend upon the flood ravaged region. Locals in central Texas are being urged to scramble to higher ground following further flash flood warnings as a result of further rain falling on saturated ground. Camp Mystic director Richard 'Dick' Eastland, 70, was among the casualties. He died while trying to rescue campers from the biblical rushing waters as they struck his grounds. Renee Smajstrla, eight, Janie Hunt, nine, and Alabama native Sarah Marsh, 8, all perished when the camp was washed away by the flood waters. Best friends Lila Bonner, 9, and Eloise Peck, 8, were also killed in the devastating flooding. The bodies of Anna Margaret Bellows, 8, Lainey Landry, 9, and camp counselor Chloe Childress were recovered on Sunday evening. At least nine girls remain missing after the Guadalupe River flooded and surged by up to 30 feet above its usual water level Friday. The camp director's wife, Tweety, was found safe at their home. The Eastlands have owned and operated Camp Mystic since 1974, and many viewed him as a father figure at the camp. Search and rescue workers dig through debris looking for any survivors or remains of people swept up in the flash flooding 'It doesn't surprise me at all that his last act of kindness and sacrifice was working to save the lives of campers,' The Kerrville Daily Times guest columnist Paige Sumner said in a tribute to Eastland. Governor Abbott said the banks of the Guadalupe River, where some 750 girls had been staying when the floodwaters hit, had been 'horrendously ravaged in ways unlike I've seen in any natural disaster.' 'The height the rushing water reached to the top of the cabins was shocking,' he said on X after visiting the camp on Saturday. Photos show the summer camp was destroyed after the deadly floodwaters wrecked the grounds. Windows in the cabins were shattered and the interiors were completely covered in mud, with campers belongings in disarray. Camp Mystic was due to celebrate its hundredth year, and has a long and illustrious history as the camp of choice for well-off families in Texas. The daughter of multiple governors and former First Lady Laura Bush are just some of the alumni. Nine-year-old Janie Hunt, who perished in the floods, was the great-granddaughter of late billionaire William Herbert Hunt, whose brother was the founder of the Kansas City Chiefs.
