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Houston: Mayor Whitmire's February 2026 Newsletter

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Dear friends,

The new year kicked off a busy and productive time at City Hall. January brought meaningful progress on key priorities, even as our city faced a winter freeze. During that moment, Houstonians showed the very best of who we are, looking out for neighbors, stepping up to help one another, and demonstrating the resilience and compassion that define our city. As February begins, I am looking forward to delivering the annual State of the City and the annual Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo Parade, one of the cherished traditions in our city. Below is a recap of some of the work my administration did at City Hall and in the community during the month of January.

Let's go to work!

- John Whitmire

Houston faced two consecutive weekends of a hard freeze with temperatures dipping into the low 20's and teens. Mayor Whitmire mobilized city departments to treat critical roads, protect our water plants and other infrastructure. The city also opened 12 warming centers for residents seeking respite from the extreme weather. These facilities operated 24 hours a day, offering blankets, snacks, and water. Pets were welcome. Thanks to the Office of Emergency Management, Police, Fire, the Health and Public Works Departments and all municipal employees who contributed to this work.

HOUSTON LOCKS DOWN ROBOTICS COMPETITION GENERATING $500M ECONOMIC IMPACT

Mayor Whitmire joined Houston First to announce that FIRST®, the world's leading youth robotics community, has selected Houston to host its largest annual competition through 2034. The FIRST Championship draws more than 50,000 attendees to the George R. Brown Convention Center each year with an economic impact of approximately $74 million. Following a 19-month bidding process, Houston beat out three other cities to secure the new seven-year commitment which will start in 2028. The deal is projected to generate a total economic impact of more than $500 million over the contract period.

Click graphic above to watch the exciting announcement

The CEO of FIRST, Chris Moore, credited the GRB transformation as one of the key reasons for the extension since their event will continue to grow. As authorized by Senate Bill 1057, signed into law in 2023 and authored by then-Senator Whitmire, the project will be funded by the state's portion of incremental Hotel Occupancy Tax (HOT) revenue growth within a three-mile radius of the GRB for 30 years, estimated to total nearly $2 billion. This funding mechanism, similar to those benefiting current convention center improvements in Dallas and Fort Worth, ensures no burden on local taxpayers.

AFFORDABLE HOUSING DEVELOPMENT OPENS FOR LEASES

Mayor Whitmire joined the Houston Housing Authority and the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development at The Pointe at Bayou Bend at 800 Middle Street as the property prepared to welcome residents into affordable housing. This development expands access to safe, affordable homes, and the City is continuing to be transparent about environmental questions. After more than a year delay to answer questions about environmental concerns, both the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality and HUD have confirmed the site meets residential land-use standards.

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FIFA WORLD CUP 26™ UPDATE

We are officially four months away from the FIFA World Cup 26™. The City of Houston along with the Houston Host Committee are hard at work preparing for this summer's games. With seven matches in our city and a dynamic Fan Fest in East Downtown, we're getting ready to deliver a world-class experience for Houstonians and visitors alike. Recently, Mayor Whitmire briefed Houston's Consular Corps on what to expect as we welcome the world to our international city.

Downtown Houston+ (DTH+) and its affiliates recently announced that in preparation, they will:
  • Produce and manage safe, clear, and comfortable pedestrian pathways between key World Cup activity centers.
  • Create events and programming aligned with sports mega-events that celebrate Houston's diversity and pride as a host city.
  • Complete the Main Street Promenade and resurface major streets before the FIFA Men's World Cup.

STORMWATER FUNDING TO HELP ABATE DANGEROUS BUILDINGS

Fixing Houston means investing in prevention. This administration has directed hundreds of millions of dollars toward flooding and drainage more than previous administrations. City Council voted recently to allocate $30 million from the Stormwater Fund to address flooding in vulnerable areas and demolish abandoned buildings. This funding was already approved by City Council and certified by the City Controller in the budget, and we are putting it to work for Houstonians. More than 2,000 properties are currently under review, with approximately 343 structures already approved for demolition through the required hearing process.

CITY & COUNTY COLLABORATE, SHARE RESOURCES

The City of Houston is partnering with Harris County Precinct 2 Commissioner Adrian Garcia to support Moody Park and Keith-Wiess Park through a transition of operations and maintenance to Harris County Precinct 2. By sharing resources, the city and county are ensuring stronger stewardship, long-term sustainability, and improved care for these beloved parks, benefiting residents across both jurisdictions. This collaboration also positions Moody Park and Keith-Wiess Park as part of Houston's upcoming World Cup legacy, an exciting designation to be announced, underscoring a shared commitment to high-quality green spaces that will serve communities well into the future.

Mayor Whitmire recently partnered with Harris County Commissioner Lesley Briones to announce a strong city–county collaboration. Precinct 4 recently unveiled a $27.4 million investment in Houston Public Works projects as part of its Places and People program. The work will focus in Alief Forest South, and this funding will modernize nearly 150 acres with reconstructed streets, new detention ponds, and upgraded water and sewer lines. In Walnut Bend, improvements along Lakeside Estates Drive will deliver safer, ADA-compliant streets and sidewalks for students, families, and transit riders.

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KEEPING PUBLIC SAFETY A PRIORITY
  • During the month of January, the Houston Police Department welcomed 83 new cadets. It is a big addition as the mayor continues to strengthen public safety. Over the coming months, they will train to serve and protect the City of Houston.
  • Mayor Whitmire also had an opportunity to join Houston Fire Department cadets to help assemble children's bikes. Whether they are on the front lines or on the assembly line, our police and firefighters are making a difference in the community.
    •    

HISTORIC MLK DAY UNITY PARADE

For the first time in the City's history, two organizations joined together for one MLK Day Unity Parade. More than 300 entries, including marching bands, floats and community groups were in the lineup for this historic event.

Mayor Whitmire was proud to be selected as one of the grand marshals and to receive recognition for his work to unite the Black Heritage Society and the MLK Grande Parade, two organizations that over the years held separate events starting at the same time. This year's Unity Parade honored Dr. King's legacy, while also allowing for better use of city resources including public safety and street closures.

HONORING MELANIE LAWSON

Mayor Whitmire presented a proclamation to Melanie Lawson upon her retirement from ABC13. For 43 years, Melanie Lawson has been a trusted voice for Houston. Her steady presence and deep commitment to our community have left a lasting legacy on our city. While Melanie has covered world leaders and major headline events, her favorite stories have always been those close to home, highlighting Houston's vibrant, multiethnic communities and the everyday heroes working to make a difference in the city.

CROSSING THE FINISH LINE FOR A SAFE AND SUCCESSFUL MARATHON

Another successful Houston Marathon in the books! Thank you to Aramco and Chevron for their continued support of this signature Houston event. Mayor Whitmire was proud to welcome the first place runner at the finish line. A special thank-you to our law enforcement and public safety teams who kept over 30,000 runners safe along the route!

BAY AREA HOUSTON ECONOMIC PARTNERSHIP HONORS MAYOR WHITMIRE WITH QUASAR AWARD

Mayor Whitmire thanks the Bay Area Houston Economic Partnership for honoring him with the Quasar Award, recognizing leadership and service that advance economic growth and opportunity across our region. The mayor is grateful for BAHEP's partnership and the work we're doing together.

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