Happy Holidays and Cheers to 2023!

Happy Holidays and Cheers to 2023!

This holiday season, I am so grateful for all of the people and hard work that made everything we accomplished in 2022 possible. This was a milestone year for Harris County – we launched multiple policies that are going to improve the lives of our residents, from early childhood to clean energy, from lowering crime rates to improving housing. As the year comes to a close and we enter the next chapter of my Administration, I’d like to highlight a few of the historic, cutting-edge initiatives and programs we’ve been working on:

Reducing Crime: We have reduced violent crime rates through smart and tough investments in research-based public safety programs like the Holistic Assistance Response Team, the Gun Violence Interruption Program, and the VIPER Warrants Task Force, as well as by cutting the felony court case backlog by 23.4%.

Turning Harris County Green: This year, the Environmental Protection Agency recognized Harris County as a member of the Green Power Partnership for our use of green energy. Around 90% of Harris County facilities’ electricity use is either solar-generated right here in Harris County, or has all emissions offset through Renewable Energy Credits.

Boosting Mental Health Support: We have dedicated $23 million in American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funding to behavioral and mental health programs that provide counseling for youth and families, substance use treatment and overdose prevention, and behavioral health workforce development.

Flood Mitigation and Infrastructure: We completed the historic $480 million Brays Bayou project, 30 years in the making, which will provide flood mitigation benefits to infrastructure in the Texas Medical Center and remove 15,000 homes from the 100 year flood plain. We also won a long fight with the Texas General Land Office for $750 million in funding for post-Harvey flood control infrastructure and mitigation.

Alleviating Homelessness: We have invested over $100 million in collaboration with the City of Houston and the Coalition for the Homeless to reduce homelessness by over 21% since January 2020, providing stable housing and assistance to over 11,000 people so far.

Caring for Harris County’s Kids: Our historic $84 million “Brighter Futures for Harris County Kids” initiative is the largest allocation of funding for children in Harris County history and the largest known investment of ARPA dollars for early childhood education, childcare, and maternal health by any county or city in the nation.

We ended the year strong and have accomplished so much, and we aren’t slowing down. Our momentum will launch us into 2023 ready to tackle the most challenging issues.

On a more personal note, I would like to thank you for the opportunity to lead Harris County for four more years. I ended the year accomplishing two things I could not have done without so much support. First and most importantly, winning your confidence and, second, competing and completing my first IRONMAN. Both pushed me to be stronger, work harder, and to never give-up. I’m grateful to have had the opportunity to serve you and I can’t wait to take on 2023!