Government
BY MELISSA ENAJE & CASSANDRA JENKINS
Thomas Muñoz named new Houston Fire Chief Houston Mayor John Whitmire announced the replacement of former Houston Fire Department Chief Samuel Peña on July 26. Thomas Muñoz, the city’s former coordinator for the O ce of Emergency Management, will succeed Peña. What happened Peña has served as chief of the Houston Fire Department since 2016. During his tenure, he assisted Houstonians during Hurricane Harvey, Tropical Storm Imelda and Winter Storm Uri. He was also the acting chief during the 8-year legal battle between the city of Houston and the Houston Professional Fire Fighters Association, which led to a nalized agreement in early June. A closer look Muñoz most recently served as the city’s emergency management coordinator and the
City eyes land for convention center
$1.27M approved in public safety projects Harris County commissioners approved allocating $1.27 million in public safety bond funding June 25 for seven projects within the county sheri and re marshal o ces. Tommy Diaz, law enforcement command assistant chief, said further planning meet- ings with county engineering o cials will take place by June 2025 for these “long-term investments.” The details Projects being funded include: • Active shooter training facility: $110,000 • Swift-water rescue operations training facility: $100,000 • Academy rearms complex: $30,000 • Training academy expansion project: $280,000
Texas Supreme Court halts income program Harris County o cials were ordered by the Supreme Court of Texas on June 14 to prohibit payments for Uplift Harris, the county’s rst guaranteed income program. Breaking it down Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton led the original lawsuit against Uplift Harris on April 9, seeking a temporary injunction. A state district judge ruled against Paxton April 18, prompting him to le an emergency order with the Supreme Court of Texas. The state’s appeal of the denial of a temporary injunction remains pending in the court of appeals. More than 1,900 quali ed families living below 200% of the poverty line will not be given $500 per month for 18 consecutive months as part of the program, pending the outcome of the appeals court lawsuit.
“Local governments exist in part to help the less fortunate among us, and the Supreme Court’s ruling e ectively ends
a program that has proven to be highly successful at allowing lower-income folks to lift themselves out of poverty.” CHRISTIAN MENEFEE, HARRIS COUNTY ATTORNEY
Houston City Council approved an ordi- nance July 24 to authorize the acquisition of a plot of land in downtown Houston—currently the location of two privately-owned parking lots—to expand the George R. Brown Conven- tion Center. A building would be built on the land that could include parking, exhibition halls and meeting spaces. O cials hope to negotiate the price with owners, but can use eminent domain if needed.
Samuel Peña
Thomas Muñoz
acting director for the Mayor’s O ce of Public Safety and Homeland Security. He also served the Houston Fire Department for 24 years, earning the title of assistant chief of homeland security and planning in 2017. Whitmire said he is con dent that Muñoz is the best person to lead the city’s re department at this time. “I believe he is the best emergency manage- ment coordinator in the country,” Whitmire said. Whitmire also named Brian Mason, former executive director of Houston TranStar, to head the O ce of Emergency Management.
“[Texas Supreme Court] has stepped in and put a stop to this abuse of power and unlawful use of taxpayer money while the case continues.” TEXAS ATTORNEY GENERAL KEN PAXTON
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