Judge Hidalgo announces $2.6 million program to fight crime in unincorporated areas of Harris County (Houston: crime rate, how much)

[utche96]

Andrew Williams has been arrested and charged with capital murder in Martha Medina's case. The Medinas were shocked when they found out Williams was already out on bond for another capital murder charge when Martha was killed.

“This data-driven initiative is good, but at the same time, playing devil’s advocate, ... What are we doing to hold the judges accountable?” Adrian Medina said. "Let’s make this a multiple approach effort and one that matters. One where everyone is accountable, not just a few."

Good comment from the mother of the victim.

[DabOnEm]

Originally Posted by WRM20

There cannot be any incorporations without approval from the City of Houston, and that's not going to happen. Besides, I doubt any of the areas would vote to incorporate, because they don't want the potential of higher taxes. Look at the recent vote in The Woodlands.

I won't vote for a County tax increase for more Sheriff's deputies unless they patrol in teh City of Houston as well. If I call HCSO now for service, they will tell me to call HPD, which is ridicukous given I pay the same County taxes as someone in an unincorporated area.

Yes everyone knows they need CoH approval, but it'd also have to be put up for a vote and the split of the etj determined by the county as well.

The potential in higher taxes is going to go away once people check the facts. The Woodlands not becoming a city was more the developer still having a strong hold over the community and residents ignorant on what the changes would do. MUDs historically have high taxes and the etjs are developing into a huge mess right now too which harms resale value.

Originally Posted by WRM20

The positive side is that Houston is not trapped like Dallas is, unable to grow or increase the tax base.

This is a very old false narrative. Dallas has increased it's tax base significantly over the last 20 years and is again not hemmed in completely. There has been significsnt investment into the city. Houston does not need to be 600+ square miles. At 400 square miles Houston would be just fine.

[WRM20]

Originally Posted by escanlan

Houston is not unlike any other city in that they need to learn fiscal responsibility instead of constantly taxing, taxing, taxing. The property taxes are already way to high as it is. IMO the caps should be way lower and that can help our Gubberments learn to properly manage what they have.

Feel free to peruse the City of Houston budget and tell us what you think needs to be cut from General Fund expenditures, which is the costs funded by property taxes, sales taxes, and miscellaneous revenues like franchise fees from utilities. For reference, the police and fire budget is several hundred million more than the property taxes the city collects. Also keep in mind that the revenues collected by the airport system and the water/sewer system cannot be used for any other purposes, ie the City cannot use profits, if any, from the airports to supplement property taxes.

Here's a link to the City budget page https://www.houstontx.gov/budget/

[WRM20]

Originally Posted by NigerianNightmare

Dallas is physically one of the biggest cities in the U.S calling it trapped, is an overstatement. New York is only 60 miles bigger. Not to mention Staten Island is roughly 60 square miles, and is basically the opposite of the rest of the city.

Dallas is neither struggling, as a city and in fact most metrics show it and Houston as very similar cities. Houston doesn't annex actual neighborhoods anymore. By leaving a growing 2 million in Harris, and 100,000-200,000 in Southern Montgomery, not to mention over 300,000 in Northern Fort Bend in limbo; Houston's doing itself a disservice. If the Harris County areas continue their streak, it won't just be unincorporated Harris County is dangerous. But it will become a narrative of don't move to Houston, it's under-policed. Don't move to Houston, middle class neighborhoods can't keep their value. Don't move to Houston, it's ugly and unorganized.

Dallas grew- 8.9% this decade ("landlocked", Dallas). Not to mention the growth in cities like Boston, Washington D.C, NYC (3x as many people moved to NYC as Houston city). roughly 107,000.

Houston grew- 9.8%
roughly 205,000.

San Antonio- 8.0%, The city most similar to Houston: 107,000 people. It passed, Dallas up now it can't even grow as fast as it. It's estimates were off by over 110,000 people, it grew half of what it was, while being on the forefront of suburban development on 3 sides (S/E/W).

Fort Worth grew- 24%, more than any major city in Texas. It grew 177,000.

Austin grew- 21.7%, it gained 172,000 people.

As you can see what Dallas is doing in less than half the land. Fort Worth which has Arlington in the same County, and is roughly as crowded out but smaller than Houston is doing more per capita to bring in residents. Houston and San Antonio even with their ginormous size are just as dangerous as Dallas and just as poor as Dallas.

The City of Dallas is number 21 on the list of US cities by size. Ft Worth is number 20, Houston is 9. Dallas hasn't grown in size in decades. Any increase in tax revenue is constrained by that fact.

[usc619]

Originally Posted by NigerianNightmare

Dallas is physically one of the biggest cities in the U.S calling it trapped, is an overstatement. New York is only 60 miles bigger. Not to mention Staten Island is roughly 60 square miles, and is basically the opposite of the rest of the city.

Dallas is neither struggling, as a city and in fact most metrics show it and Houston as very similar cities. Houston doesn't annex actual neighborhoods anymore. By leaving a growing 2 million in Harris, and 100,000-200,000 in Southern Montgomery, not to mention over 300,000 in Northern Fort Bend in limbo; Houston's doing itself a disservice. If the Harris County areas continue their streak, it won't just be unincorporated Harris County is dangerous. But it will become a narrative of don't move to Houston, it's under-policed. Don't move to Houston, middle class neighborhoods can't keep their value. Don't move to Houston, it's ugly and unorganized.

Dallas grew- 8.9% this decade ("landlocked", Dallas). Not to mention the growth in cities like Boston, Washington D.C, NYC (3x as many people moved to NYC as Houston city). roughly 107,000.

Houston grew- 9.8%
roughly 205,000.

San Antonio- 8.0%, The city most similar to Houston: 107,000 people. It passed, Dallas up now it can't even grow as fast as it. It's estimates were off by over 110,000 people, it grew half of what it was, while being on the forefront of suburban development on 3 sides (S/E/W).

Fort Worth grew- 24%, more than any major city in Texas. It grew 177,000.

Austin grew- 21.7%, it gained 172,000 people.

As you can see what Dallas is doing in less than half the land. Fort Worth which has Arlington in the same County, and is roughly as crowded out but smaller than Houston is doing more per capita to bring in residents. Houston and San Antonio even with their ginormous size are just as dangerous as Dallas and just as poor as Dallas.

Agree. It doesn’t take a Nero surgeon to see that incorporated counties in the Houston area are a mess, but yet some folks will still try to spin it.

[a_guerrajr]

Originally Posted by WRM20

The law enforcement on the Hardy is one of the Constable precincts, not HCSO.

Yea, more of rant.

[LocalPlanner]

Originally Posted by WRM20

The City of Dallas is number 21 on the list of US cities by size. Ft Worth is number 20, Houston is 9. Dallas hasn't grown in size in decades. Any increase in tax revenue is constrained by that fact.

I disagree. If the region is growing economically, each central city ought to be able to increase tax revenue by attracting investment / redevelopment and properties just generally getting more valuable. This is basic urban economic theory.

[LocalPlanner]

Originally Posted by usc619

Agree. It doesn’t take a Nero surgeon to see that incorporated counties in the Houston area are a mess, but yet some folks will still try to spin it.

Again, baseless accusations that Houston's suburbs are worse than other Texas metros'.

[ParaguaneroSwag]

Originally Posted by LocalPlanner

Again, baseless accusations that Houston's suburbs are worse than other Texas metros'.

Not sure about comparing to other TX metros but USC did make the claim a while back they Chiraq’s suburbs are more dangerous than Houston’s which is hilarious considering Gary, Indiana alone.

[usc619]

Originally Posted by ParaguaneroSwag

Not sure about comparing to other TX metros but USC did make the claim a while back they Chiraq’s suburbs are more dangerous than Houston’s which is hilarious considering Gary, Indiana alone.

??? When did I make this claim, I think you’re confused lol