Fair for Houston celebrates the passage of Proposition B!
A scrappy, grassroots campaign has successfully passed the first-of-its-kind ballot reform of regional government. A fairer future for the region is possible! Read our full statement here.
“Rarely do we get a chance to help alter the fundamental levers of power behind big decision-making bodies. This election, you do. Vote “For” Prop B.” - Houston Chronicle Editorial Board (Read here)
City of Houston Proposition B would compel Houston’s regional government, the Houston-Galveston Area Council, to consider population in its voting structure, addressing the severe underrepresentation of more populous members such as Houston and Harris County. If passed, this amendment will add language to the City of Houston charter requiring that any Council of Government or Metropolitan Planning Organization of which Houston is a member adopt a population proportional voting system.
Fair for Houston, a grassroots campaign with over 250 volunteers from Houston and the surrounding region, submitted 23,665 verified signatures from registered Houston voters to the Houston City Secretary for this proposition to be on the ballot this November. Now known as YES on Proposition B, the campaign will be knocking on doors this fall to let every Houstonian know: it’s time for fair representation on the Houston-Galveston Area Council!
City of Houston Proposition B endorsed by:
Elected Officials and Candidates
Commissioner Rodney Ellis (Harris County, Precinct 1)
Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee (TX-18, Candidate - Mayor)
Sen. John Whitmire (SD-15, Candidate - Mayor)
Rep. Jon Rosenthal (HD-135)
Rep. Penny Shaw (HD-148)
Rep. Jolanda Jones (HD-147)
CM Abby Kamin (District C)
Mayor Pro Tem Dave Martin (District E, Candidate - Controller)
CM Karla Cisneros (District H)
CM Robert Gallegos (District I, Candidate - Mayor)
CM Edward Pollard (District J)
CM Letitia Plummer (At-Large Position 4)
Jack Christie (Candidate - Mayor)
Gilbert Garcia (Candidate - Mayor)
Lee Kaplan (Candidate - Mayor)
MJ Khan (Candidate - Mayor)
Chris Hollins (Candidate - Controller)
Kendall Baker (Candidate - CM At-Large 1)
Conchita Reyes (Candidate - CM At-Large 1)
Leah Wolfthal (Candidate - CM At-Large 1)
Melanie Miles (Candidate - CM At-Large 1)
Danielle Keys Bess (Candidate - CM At-Large 2)
Marina Coryat (Candidate - CM At-Large 2)
Willie R. Davis (Candidate - CM At-Large 2)
Holly Flynn Vilaseca (Candidate - CM At-Large 2)
Nick Hellyar (Candidate - CM At-Large 2)
Obes Nwabara (Candidate - CM At-Large 2)
James Joseph (Candidate - CM At-Large 3)
Kendra London (Candidate - CM District B)
Mario Castillo (Candidate - CM District H)
Cynthia Reyes-Revilla (Candidate - CM District H)
Sonia Rivera (Candidate - CM District H)
Michelle Stearns (Candidate - CM District H)
Joaquin Martinez (Candidate - CM District I)
Ivan Sanchez (Candidate - CM District J)
Houston Chronicle Editorial Board: “Vote ‘For’ on Prop B to give Houston, Harris County more say in region’s growth”
Organizations
AFL-CIO, The Texas Gulf Coast Area Labor Federation
Air Alliance Houston
Bike Houston
Coalition for Environment, Equity, and Resilience
DSA - Houston
The Greater Heights Democratic Club
Greater Houston Coalition for Justice
The Houston Black American Democrats
The Houston LGBTQ+ Political Caucus
Laborers International Union of North America, Southwest Laborers District Council
LINK Houston
LIUNA Local 350
Meyerland Democrats
Neighborhoods to Trails Southwest
Southwest Democrats
Stop TxDOT I-45
Woori Juntos
West Street Recovery
Super Neighborhood & Civic Associations
Fonde Civic Club
Northwood Manor Civic Club
Super Neighborhood 31 - Meyerland
Super Neighborhood 55 - Greater Fifth Ward
Disclaimer: Yes on Prop B - Fair for Houston does not endorse any other candidates or campaigns.
The Charter Amendment
CITY OF HOUSTON, PROPOSITION B
That a new section 25 shall be added to Article IX of the City Charter of the City of Houston to read as follows:
“Section 12. – Membership in a Council of Government or Metropolitan Planning Organization.
(a) The City may accept or maintain membership in a Council of Government or Metropolitan Planning Organization only if votes on the governing board are apportioned proportionally on the basis of population notwithstanding statutory voting members. However, members representing local governments shall have at least 90% of total votes.
(b) In the event that a Council of Government or Metropolitan Planning Organization does not comply with section (a) the City shall withdraw its membership from the body if the voting system is not corrected within 60 days of the effective date of adoption of this section.”
The Purpose
If passed, this amendment will add language to the City of Houston charter requiring that any Council of Government (COG) or Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO) of which Houston is a member adopt a population proportional voting system.
By requiring population proportional voting in H-GAC, our regional governing body, the Fair for Houston charter amendment will ensure that everyone in the region has a fair voice and fair representation in important decisions about how billions of dollars are spent for transportation infrastructure, flood control, workforce development, childcare vouchers, and more.
The Problem
Right now, the voting structures of our COG and MPO do not account for population size. This results in a significant underrepresentation of major population centers.
This has created a system that disincentivizes regional cooperation and routinely produces bad outcomes for City of Houston residents and the region at large. Currently, most people in the region elect leaders who do not have the power to decide which projects best serve the needs of the communities they represent.
Houston and Harris County make up 57% of the population represented on the H-GAC’s board of directors, yet the city and county combined only have 11% of the voting power.
Houston and Harris County make up 62.6% of the population represented on the Transportation Policy Council, yet the city and county combined have only 17.9% of the voting power.
Proportional H-GAC voting empowers Houstonians to fund projects and programs that benefit our daily lives. It gives power to our leaders. It gives power to the voters who elect them.
Regional Population Share:
Transportation Policy Council
Voting Share:
Transportation Policy Council
Regional Population Share:
Board of Directors
Voting Share:
Board of Directors
Proportional H-GAC voting empowers Houston leaders to fund projects and programs that benefit the daily lives of Houstonians. It gives power to our leaders and ensures that our tax dollars are spent in our communities in ways that align with the needs, priorities, and values of those communities. We believe in our elected officials, and we want them to have a fair voice on H-GAC.
The H-GAC isn’t working for Houston.
Here are some examples:
“Houston set to get just 2% of $488M in federal flood funds from regional council”
““Turner said last week, when Alcorn broached the issue at City Council. ‘If they’re going to operate at the exclusion of the city of Houston, then the city of Houston needs to reevaluate its relationship with H-GAC going forward.’”
“Massive I-45 rebuild receives regional support, over objections of Houston, Harris County”
"Regional transportation officials on Friday reaffirmed their support for a planned $7 billion widening of Interstate 45 in Houston,.... The approval came over objections from all members of the council appointed by Houston and Harris County officials, including those at Metro and Port Houston. It passed solely with support from members representing suburban counties, leading to a 14-11 vote with three absences."
“What's next for Lower Westheimer? Corridor improvements pushed back to 2023”
“Following another strategy in 2018, the city applied for grant funding from the Houston-Galveston Area Council to supplement funding for the entire plan, but was denied because it did not rank high enough among other regional proposals, an H-GAC spokesperson said.”
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