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How cities can drive opportunity for the bulk of their citizens
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Urban Reform Institute
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Houston, Texas 77027
Urban Reform Institute is a 501c3 Non-Profit organization
that exists to promote approaches that enable cities to
drive opportunity for the bulk of their citizens.
Lina Hidalgo Pays Big for High-Profile Criminal Defense
in Politics & Policy/by Charles BlainNewly released campaign finance reports from the waning days of the November 2022 election show Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo spent more than $300,000 on high-powered Houston-based criminal defense attorneys Gerger Hennessy & Martin LLP.
The Woke Era is Over. Can Policy Makers talk about the Real Problems?
in Politics & Policy/by Cruz GarcíaPost-Pandemic rates of drug overdoses, homicide, and suicide are too severe to ignore. People are desperate for answers that are not influenced by ideology or political extremities; the simplification of these phenomena will further exacerbate the problem.
The Future of Cities
in Urban Issues/by COUWhatever the future holds for humanity, it is likely to take place in an urban context. Yet, there are many, and sometimes divergent, urban futures. This book is being published as a series, with permission of the American Enterprise Institute. Please return weekly to read each chapter as it is published.
Empty Downtowns, Blue-state Exodus Continues, and HTX Port Expansion
in Economics, Planning/by Tory GattisEmpty downtowns persist as data shows strong economic incentives to continue the work-from-home revolution if jobs allow it, plus Houston port expansion seems to be paying off.
2022 Highlights
in Planning, Urban Issues/by Tory GattisTime for our annual round-up of 2022 highlights — the best posts from the year, with this year featuring many great posts from Oscar Slotboom.
TxDOT Highway Construction Inflation
in Politics & Policy, Urban Issues/by Tory GattisTxDOT highway construction inflation is consistent with infrastructure cost increases nationwide, showing a sharp upward trend in project costs from 2021 to 2022.
LULAC Sues Houston Over At-Large Seats
in Demographics, Politics & Policy/by Charles BlainLULAC sues Houston, contending that the city’s at-large elections dilute the Latino’s community’s voting strength and deny them fair representation on city council.
Should METRO Reconsider Eliminating Transit Fares?
in Urban Issues/by Tory GattisHouston’s METRO could reconsider eliminating transit fares – and save the cost of an upcoming huge contract to upgrade their payment system. METRO would have to be willing to be bold, to innovate and experiment in order to maximize the benefits and minimize downsides.
Latest Transit Ridership Data for Houston and Dallas
in Urban Issues/by Tory GattisAverage transit ridership nationwide remains down 33.4% in September compared to pre-Covid levels, but Houston Metro is doing better.
The Impact of Young Voters on Midterm Elections 2022
in Politics & Policy/by Cruz Garcíaby Cruz Garcia — There were reasons to believe a red wave was going to sweep the midterms—but, once again, a silent majority prevailed and this time it was amongst Zoomers and Millennials. Young adults between the ages of 18 and 29 made up 12% of the voter electorate this November.