Drug-Addicted Rats are Having a Feast on Evidence, Apparently
As the winter weather finally hit Houston, things got frosty at city hall, too. Local media reported on the city’s lack of official warming centers during the first bouts of freezing weather in early January, and Mayor John Whitmire fired back and doubled down, claiming the city has an extensive outreach program to get unhoused people into a shelter, but that some just don’t want to go.
Down Payment Assistance is Coming
Affordable housing is always on the agenda in some form or another, and in early January the city announced an $18 million grant to fund a down payment assistance program using federal Hurricane Harvey dollars. The mayor, Houston’s housing director, and many council members praised this program, saying it will help keep Houston affordable for working-class people. Here’s what you need to know:
- The grant funding will be available for low- to moderate-income Houstonians who were here during Hurricane Harvey.
- The grant amounts range from $50,000 to $125,000 and can be used for down payment assistance.
- There are some restrictions: Participants must already be approved for a mortgage, they must remain in the home for up to 10 years (to prevent flipping), and funds can’t be used to rebuild a Harvey-damaged home, among other stipulations.
Meanwhile, at HPD…
If you haven’t heard about the drug-addicted rats in the Houston Police Department’s evidence storage room, I am delighted to bring this to your attention. Do yourself a favor and watch this press conference, which feels straight out of a Parks and Recreation episode. TL;DR: Rodents have been snacking on drugs in the evidence room for decades.
State of the State
It is lege season, that special time every two years when the Texas State Legislature meets. City council recently approved the guiding principles for Houston’s agenda during this legislative session. They include to-be-expected goals like pursuing funding for flood mitigation and housing, but also some interesting items. Perhaps related to the aforementioned viral "rats in the marijuana" news, there is a commitment to try to improve the processing and storage of evidence. And relevant to recent discourse on how to get unhoused people into shelters ahead of bad weather (when they don’t want to go), Houston hopes to pursue legislation "that supports reasonable enforcement of emergency detention orders and involuntary commitment for the safety of those in need of mental health services," according to the council agenda. Several goals address energy resiliency, like strengthening local governments’ regulatory authority over energy companies, supporting innovative grid solutions, and requiring senior living facilities to have backup power during disasters.
Some Bright Spots
Did you know that the Houston Marathon started in 1972 with just 113 runners? Councilmember Sallie Alcorn, who ran a half on January 19 along with fellow councilmember Amy Peck, shared an impromptu history lesson at a recent council meeting. This year, the marathon hosted just over 35,000 runners.
Coming Up
At the January 15 meeting, one item proposed spending $8.2 million through 2027 on "various goods and products" from Amazon, but it was tagged by councilmembers Abbie Kamin and Amy Peck, which means it’s on hold for at least a week. They didn’t discuss their reasons for tagging, but maybe we’ll find out more the next time it shows up.
Conclusion
As we move forward, I’ll be keeping an eye on cold weather policies, affordable housing, and the rats in the evidence storage rooms. And, of course, I’ll take notes on all of it to share with you next month. Houston City Council meetings take place almost every week on Tuesdays and Wednesdays at 901 Bagby Street or online via HTV.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: What is the down payment assistance program?
A: The program provides grants ranging from $50,000 to $125,000 for low- to moderate-income Houstonians who were here during Hurricane Harvey. The funds can be used for down payment assistance and must be used to purchase a primary residence.
Q: What are the restrictions on the down payment assistance program?
A: There are several restrictions, including the requirement that participants must already be approved for a mortgage, remain in the home for up to 10 years, and not use the funds to rebuild a Harvey-damaged home, among other stipulations.
Q: What is the purpose of the Houston Police Department’s evidence storage room?
A: The evidence storage room is used to store evidence collected by the Houston Police Department, including drugs, weapons, and other items related to crimes. However, it has been reported that drug-addicted rats have been snacking on drugs in the evidence room for decades.
