Garbage

The Chron put out this exclusive yesterday:

Houston Mayor John Whitmire is expected to propose a monthly fee for trash services as part of a plan to close a $174 million deficit in the budget he will present Tuesday, Council Member Tiffany D. Thomas confirmed Thursday. 

The new fee would start at $5 per month for the first two years, then increase annually by $5 until it reaches $25 per month, she said. Five other sources briefed on the plan said they were given the same information.

The proposal would be a significant shift in how Houston funds one of its most visible and troubled services, and would make the city the last major Texas city to adopt a garbage fee. It also underscores the scale of the city’s financial strain, as officials consider a rare step – new revenue – to stabilize a budget that pays for police, fire and other core services.

Houston’s Solid Waste Management Department has been a problem area for city leaders and residents for years. Missed garbage pickups were the top complaint to the city’s 311 help line last year, with missed recycling pickups not far behind.

Houston has long been the only big Texas city without a garbage fee, though some of the sources said administration officials referred to the proposal as an “administrative fee” in their briefings. 

Austin, San Antonio, Dallas and Fort Worth charge residents $25.75 to $64.10 per month for 96-gallon trash bins, the size Houston uses.

Here is the entire Chron read: John Whitmire to propose new Houston trash fee to close $174M deficit.

I have said before that in my neighborhood trash and recycling pickup has improved. Yesterday, my trash bin was picked up before 8 am. I am sure there will be a robust debate on this proposal over the coming weeks.

The featured photo is one I snapped on my street in 2019. If you look closely, there are three solid waste garbage trucks on my street. If you continue to look closely, there are only black bins on the street. There was something seriously messed up with having three trucks on the same street and block on black bin pickup day. Clearly there were issues on how Solid Waste was being run back then.

Mayor Whitmire made it one of his priorities to fix Solid Waste.

The Noah fella tweeted this after the Chron story came out:

Wokemire raising taxes

Woke folks are supposed to be Dems.

From USA Today three years ago:

Among conservative lawmakers and activists “woke” tends to be an across-the-board denunciation of progressive values and liberal initiatives.

Some have used it to attack trans and gay rights while others apply it to critical race theory – a legal theory that examines systemic racism as a part of American institutions – and the teachings of the New York Times’ 1619 project in public schools. 

Back to trash talking. We know there are a lot of Mayor Whitmire haters in H-Town. It will be interesting to see if they weigh in on this proposal.

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The hard copy Chron opinion page covers local government employees getting organized. The pro piece is written by Harris County Commissioner Rodney Ellis. The anti-piece is written by Charles Blain, the Urban Reform fella who is also a regular panelist on “What’s Your Point.” Here is part of what he wrote:

While the unions fight for their members, taxpayers rarely have anyone in their corner to fight with a similar passion. 

Duh. Taxpayers have their elected officials who they get to vote on every two or four years.

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We lost the first game of the doubleheader in Baltimore yesterday 10-3.   We won the second game 11-5. We are at Fenway for three this weekend.