Join Mayor Whitmire at the Deck the Hall Holiday Celebration
JOHN WHITMIRE
NEWSLETTER
Hello and Happy Holidays,
Join me on Saturday, December 6, starting at 4 p.m. in front of City Hall for a night of live music and holiday magic. Deck the Hall 2025, sponsored by Reliant, is the most festive night of the season and will fill downtown Houston with holiday cheer, spectacular entertainment, and fun for the whole family.
– John Whitmire
MAYOR’S HOLIDAY TREE LIGHTING AND CONCERT
The evening begins at 4 p.m., 901 Bagby, with uplifting, high-energy entertainment and special live performances. The city will come together for a cherished tradition: the Mayor’s Holiday Tree Lighting. There will be a Winter Wonderland Kids Activity Zone on the library plaza and a delicious lineup of food trucks. The evening concludes with a grand fireworks finale launched from the rooftop of City Hall.
NEWS FROM CITY HALL
HEAVY TRASH HELP IS ON THE WAY
Equipment and personnel started rolling this week after Houston hired a national debris-hauling contractor to help clear months-long heavy trash delays. Mayor Whitmire is committed to tackling the trash issue to respond to Houstonians who say their pickup has been missed in recent weeks. The contractor, Ashbritt, hauled away more than 1m cubic yards following the Derecho and 1.2m cubic yards after Hurricane Beryl. Crews have started in Southwest Houston and will move north while they supplement the work of 27 heavy trash crews in the City’s Solid Waste Management Department. The crews will do a couple of sweeps in the next month.
Click the image above to watch a video message from Mayor Whitmire
GETTING READY FOR FIFA WORLD CUP 26™
Mayor Whitmire joined the FIFA World Cup 26™ Houston Host City Committee at a community celebration to watch the Final Draw for the FIFA World Cup 26™ – the moment the world learned the matchups that will shape the tournament. Soccer fans, community members and partners came together to celebrate Houston’s role as a Host City and the global spirt of the beautiful game. It was a time to celebrate together and show the world that Houston is ready to welcome the world.
The City of Houston is an international city. We are ready for FIFA, and we are ready for the World Cup! Houston Stadium will host seven matches at the FIFA World Cup 26™, including two games in the knockout phase. The full match schedule for the biggest-ever FIFA World Cup has now been unveiled, giving the framework for the 104-game tournament featuring 48 teams across 16 host cities in three countries – Canada, Mexico and the United States.
Read more: Houston Welcomes the World for FIFA World Cup 2026™
HUD APPROVES CITY’S DR24 ACTION PLAN
This week, U.S. Housing and Urban Development informed Mayor Whitmire that it approved the City’s proposed $314 million DR 24 Action Plan to help Houston with unmet needs following the devastating impacts of Hurricane Beryl and the May 2024 Derecho. Moving forward, a grant agreement will be established to enable the City to proceed with implementing its action plan. Earlier this year, Mayor Whitmire welcomed Secretary Scott Turner to hear the City’s plans for the use of disaster recovery funding and to announce the Power Protection Initiative. The PPI will install generators at critical city facilities, including water and sewar plans, public safety sites, shelters and distribution hubs.
E-SCOOTER ORDINACE MAKES HOUSTON STREETS SAFER
Riding e-scooters or off-highway vehicles in Houston is no longer an option during certain hours of the day to improve safety and walkability. On Wednesday, November 19, 2025, the Houston City Council approved an ordinance prohibiting the rental and operation of micromobility devices and off-highway vehicles between the hours of 8 p.m. and 4 a.m. within the Houston city limits. The ordinance also includes a provision to prohibit the rental of micromobility devices from temporary structures, such as tents and pop-up structures.
SUPPORTING POLICE AND FIREFIGHTERS INJURED IN THE LINE OF DUTY
We are reminded daily about the dangers faced by Houston police and firefighters. Recently, a Houston police officer was shot and another was injured in a crash. Mayor Whitmire joined Houston Fire Chief Munoz to visit firefighters Ben Abbott and Colbey Bailey, along with Engineer Operator Jason Thompson, dedicated members of HFD who were injured in an accident while on duty. While they continue to recover, please keep them and their families in your thoughts and prayers and continue to lift up all of Houston’s first responders who put their lives on the line for us every day.
IN THE COMMUNITY
This week, Mayor Whitmire was honored to recognize brothers – Robert, Rick, Rudy, Ruben, Ray, and Rene Calderon. They have collectively dedicated an extraordinary 212 years of service to the Houston Police Department. Their commitment, professionalism, and integrity have strengthened and protected the Houston community. We extend our deepest gratitude for their exemplary service. Houston is a better city because of the Calderon family.
Annual HEB Thanksgiving Day Parade and
Annual Super Feast
The City came together to celebrate Thanksgiving Day as we honored the professional sports team mascots as the grand marshals. As one of the oldest Thanksgiving Day Parades in the nation, this beloved tradition draws hundreds of thousands of Houstonians together. This year’s parade was bigger and better than ever, with more elaborate floats, dazzling performances, and non-stop energy and fun for the entire family
Following the parade, Mayor Whitmire served meals and greeted families at the 47th SUPER FEAST, which is recognized as the nation’s largest single-day feeding program, serving over 30,000 families, seniors, and veterans with hot, nutritious meals, food baskets lasting several days, medical examinations, clothing, access to employment opportunities, and additional essential services.
This week, U.S. Housing and Urban Development informed Mayor Whitmire that it approved the City’s proposed $314 million DR 24 Action Plan to help Houston with unmet needs following the devastating impacts of Hurricane Beryl and the May 2024 Derecho. Moving forward, a grant agreement will be established to enable the City to proceed with implementing its action plan. Earlier this year, Mayor Whitmire welcomed Secretary Scott Turner to hear the City’s plans for the use of disaster recovery funding and to announce the Power Protection Initiative. The PPI will install generators at critical city facilities, including water and sewar plans, public safety sites, shelters and distribution hubs.
Riding e-scooters or off-highway vehicles in Houston is no longer an option during certain hours of the day to improve safety and walkability. On Wednesday, November 19, 2025, the Houston City Council approved an ordinance prohibiting the rental and operation of micromobility devices and off-highway vehicles between the hours of 8 p.m. and 4 a.m. within the Houston city limits. The ordinance also includes a provision to prohibit the rental of micromobility devices from temporary structures, such as tents and pop-up structures.
We are reminded daily about the dangers faced by Houston police and firefighters. Recently, a Houston police officer was shot and another was injured in a crash. Mayor Whitmire joined Houston Fire Chief Munoz to visit firefighters Ben Abbott and Colbey Bailey, along with Engineer Operator Jason Thompson, dedicated members of HFD who were injured in an accident while on duty. While they continue to recover, please keep them and their families in your thoughts and prayers and continue to lift up all of Houston’s first responders who put their lives on the line for us every day.
