Houston's leading political figures, Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo and Mayor John Whitmire, remain at odds, having not yet met face to face, even with the threat of hurricane season on the horizon. Tensions are growing as concerns arise about their ability to jointly handle a crisis. In what former Harris County Judge Ed Emmett calls an "odd fight," the lack of communication between these two officials strays from the pattern of collaboration seen in past administrations, according to KHOU 11 News.
Despite the struggle, Hidalgo expressed her concern during a Houston Public Media's Houston Matters interview, "We can't to allow have the relationship between two people imperil the safety of all the other millions." Her urging for cooperation comes as the region needs to be unified in its emergency preparations, and she hopes to break the ice with Whitmire to ensure effective governance. The political impasse has been ongoing since March, with Hidalgo's attempts to establish a meeting continually rebuffed by Whitmire, even after his refusal to get on the books during President Joe Biden's visit last month, as the Chron reported.
Amidst the political friction at the local level, Hidalgo's office faces scrutiny on another front from Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton who has ongoing legal action against the county's guaranteed income pilot program, "Uplift Harris." While a Texas judge and a federal appeals court have thwarted Paxton's suit so far, he plans to appeal to the Texas Supreme Court. Hidalgo criticized Paxton's timing, noting the legal challenges were raised just weeks before the program was to begin funding to impoverished families. "It's very performative," Hidalgo said, as quoted by the Chron.
While the local leadership gridlock captures headlines, Emmett reassures that city and county staff continue to communicate effectively behind the scenes. He believes, ultimately, professionalism will prevail between Hidalgo and Whitmire. "Mayor Whitmire is a professional. He'll do what needs to be done," Emmett told KHOU 11 News. Meanwhile, Houstonians anxiously wait to see if their top officials will find a way to work together, with the well-being of millions hanging in the balance as the storm season approaches.
