All things considered, 2025 was a solid year for many Houstonians. We didn’t have a single hurricane (yay!), and the city continued to show signs of momentum. The Michelin Guide returned with its second Texas-wide list, bringing fresh attention to local dining institutions. Houston’s art scene also had a moment, with new installations and performances, including the highly anticipated return of the Black opera Porgy and Bess and Beautiful Princess Disorder, which reminded us of just how culturally rich this city can be. Politically, there were real wins in the form of new ordinances and policies, even as city council meetings remained a weekly exercise in drama, delays, and public comment sessions. TL;DR: Houston is thriving, but there’s still plenty of work to do.
As tradition goes, each New Year ushers in a wave of fresh starts—new workout routines, deep cleans, decluttering projects, and pivots toward becoming a better “you.” But who says the resolutions must stop at the individual? Houston, with its boundary-pushing sprawl and big-city ambitions, could use a few of its own. From public transportation woes to hot food-scene opinions, these are the resolutions Houstonians would love to see the city take on next.
Fix our roads and add more food options.
Better roads and more Southeast Asian restaurants! —Lisa Hadi, local food influencer (@thefoodiepatootie)
Ride more METRO.
Houstonians should commit to learning the bus routes near them. They can use the train lines for Astros, Dynamo, or Rockets games, or Bus 82 for a fun day down Westheimer. —Valeria Alvarado, community member
Vote for what and who you believe in.
Houston will have had one election every month, from October to April, but even beyond that, people will have to figure out who they want to have in their statehouses, going to Congress, working on the county level, and I think really being able to find the right individual for whatever you believe in, to move Houston and Harris County forward. —Shea Jordan Smith, political strategist
Spend money where it counts.
Well, from my perspective, as a council member, I think the first thing that we have to be able to do is have a sustainable city budget. We really have to start thinking about some of the commitments from a mass public transportation standpoint…. We’re going to have to look at more affordable housing. We’re going to have to find ways in which to utilize state dollars, federal dollars, and grant dollars to be able to put more money into affordable single-family homes. —Edward Pollard, city councilmember and Houstonia’s Houstonian of the Year
Enjoy the beauty of being IRL.
Get. Out. There. Stop scrolling and go do something new. That’s my personal resolution. Unplug from the chaos of *waves at everything* and try a new-to-you cuisine on the other side of town, go to a weird art show, see a local band at Dan Electro’s, take a cool class at Rice (I’m taking a writing class in the spring and I didn’t know this was an option for non–Rice students—it is!). Just shake up your routine and get out there. There’s so much to love about Houston and you just can’t enjoy it if you don’t get out there. —Isabel Protomartir, community manager and cofounder of Have A Nice Day HTX
Support local music.
There’s not enough love for our local musicians. There aren’t enough incredible musicians taking Houston seriously because we don’t show up as a city. Need somewhere to start? Dan Electro’s always has something amazing happening, and Axelrad never stops featuring great artists. Jazz night at Neighbors? Do it. —IP
Try new things.
Houston has so [many] incredible things to offer, whether it’s [the] museum, whether it’s going to look at art, whether it’s finding yourself at Bald Kitty on a Saturday, which is nightlife, but nightlife that’s different, right? We’re not just in a section. You’re up and dancing and meeting people and having fun…that starts with us going out of our comfort zones. —SJS
Embrace being the fourth-largest city (and possibly the coolest?).
Houston needs to adopt a resolution to embrace being a world-class city. Big events and major celebrities want to be here, which means out-of-towners want to be here, too. Yes, that means worse traffic and slightly higher cost of living, but that’s part of the cool tax of being the place people want to be. I’m sorry, Houston, but you’re a cool ass city, and the more you embrace it, the more control of the cool you’ll continue to own. Signed, an Oklahoma native who relocated from Los Angeles to Houston and loves it here. —Eddie Maisonet, III, sports editor at Chron.com
Only claim Houston if you actually live here.
First off, if you live in a greater part of Houston, stop claiming Houston as your city! Just say you live on the outskirts! Stop inviting all your people down here for the rodeo. Stop it! It’s for the people [who] grew up here, not flew here. We completely understand [but] the prices go up the more y’all out-of-towners want to come here. —KB Brown, local business owner and podcast host
Drive better.
We should absolutely have something where we hold these people accountable because the drivers are horrible… We should absolutely re-evaluate everybody…if you done had any type of road rage incident, it should be mandatory that you go to therapy because we don’t have time for this drama! —KB
Balance rest, action, and relishing in everyday joys.
So much is happening in our country. It’s easy to doomscroll and feel discouraged. It’s easy to treat all our goals as sprints rather than marathons. One of the most inspiring and comforting things I’ve read, probably in my life, is that rest is a part of the resistance, and so is joy. For those of us striving to do our best for ourselves, our families, our work, and our community, remember that rest and recharging are essential. Finding the daily joys in life is essential, just as essential as the important and meaningful actions we’re striving for. Make sure you fill your own cup. —Brittany Britto Garley, editor-in-chief of Houstonia