BY SHAWN ARRAJJ
Also of note
What they’re saying
What's next?
Turner, elected in 2015, will see his second and nal term as Houston mayor end in December because of term limits. Seventeen candidates have led to run for mayor in the Nov. 7 election. Although crime rates may be dropping in Houston, crime remains a top concern among residents, according to a survey conducted in July by the University of Houston Hobby School of Public A airs. The survey was conducted from July 12-20 and included responses from 800 people whom UH deemed likely voters. What likely voters think should be a “top priority” for Houston’s next mayor Crime Flooding Road and street construction
Meanwhile, the city is also working on completing a series of police department reforms aimed at improving accountabil- ity. The city released the 104 reforms in a September 2020 report from the Mayor’s O ce of Policing Reform and Accountabil- ity, which was formed after the murder of George Floyd in May 2020. Stephen Ives, board chair for the city’s Independent Police Oversight Board, said a culture change is underway in HPD under the leadership of Finner and with increased oversight from the IPOB, which monitors cases where an o cer discharges a weapon or uses force. Howard Henderson, a criminal justice research expert with Texas Southern University, said he has noted progress as well when it comes to both accountability and transparency. Remaining reforms Of the 104 recommended police reform items released by the city of Houston in September 2020, around 90% had been completed as of July. Some items that remain to be completed include: • Crisis intervention: Lobby lawmakers to amend state law to allow a physician or health care professional to issue notice of detention. • Independent oversight: Bring on a convicted felon, who has completed terms of punishment, to serve on police oversight board. • Power dynamics: Invest in dashboard cameras for all police cars. SOURCE: CITY OF HOUSTON COMMUNITY IMPACT
“There is a culture change e ort underway inside the police department. I think in any system, accountability matters. … [Citizens] knowing [we] are paying attention
and will speak up.” STEPHEN IVES, BOARD
CHAIR OF THE INDEPENDENT POLICE OVERSIGHT BOARD
“Public safety will always be the city of Houston’s No. 1 priority, and that is re ected in the over $1 billion that we allocated through council for this year’s budget toward the Houston Police Department.” DAVE MARTIN,
83% 72% 65% 65% 44% 34% 16% 12%
Economy and jobs A ordable housing Trash collection and recycling Parks and recreation Animal adoption/control
HOUSTON MAYOR PRO TEM, SPEAKING AT AN AUG. 10 HOUSTON POLICE ACADEMY GRADUATION
What likely voters said has a “major negative” impact on the quality of life in their neighborhood Violent crime
“Community members need to be engaged in what the justice system
48% 45% 39% 28%
looks like. The question that is important is will the next mayor continue this?” HOWARD HENDERSON, CRIMINAL JUSTICE RESEARCH EXPERT AT TEXAS SOUTHERN UNIVERSITY
Home and car break-ins Illegal drug sale and use Illegal dumping
SOURCE: UNIVERSITY OF HOUSTON HOBBY SCHOOL OF PUBLIC AFFAIRS COMMUNITY IMPACT
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BELLAIRE MEYERLAND WEST UNIVERSITY EDITION
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