HOUSTON \u2013 Mayor John Whitmire told KPRC 2\u2019s Re\u2019Chelle Turner in a one-on-one interview that the lawsuit filed by Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton against the city is political and that he will not pursue an expensive court fight.<\/p>\n
Whitmire said the city\u2019s priority is protecting public safety and the municipal budget, not getting pulled into what he called a \u201cpolitical tug of war.\u201d <\/p>\n
\u201cMy job is to continue to push toward language that will protect our residents and the city\u2019s finances,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
The mayor said the state has frozen $114 million that the city draws from an account in Austin. <\/p>\n
\u201cThe governor said he\u2019s gonna freeze that. No, he has frozen it,\u201d Whitmire said. <\/p>\n
He warned the funding suspension is already affecting Houston Police Department overtime and other services.<\/p>\n
Whitmire listed services that could be curtailed if the funding is not restored, including homicide and domestic violence investigations, juvenile justice, human trafficking cases, traffic enforcement and other public-safety programs. He said police resources also are being diverted to respond to pop-up protests and large events.<\/p>\n
\u201cFewer investigators, fewer investigators to go take murderers and killers off the street,\u201d Whitmire said. He said the city is adjusting HPD overtime and that the loss of funds will interfere with preparation for the FIFA World Cup, noting that about $64 million of the money was to support FIFA-related needs.<\/p>\n
On the immigration ordinance that prompted the dispute, Whitmire said he voted for the revised measure and wants to keep working with stakeholders to find language that complies with state law and protects residents. <\/p>\n
He said the ordinance will be changed to remove a 30-minute reporting requirement and replace it with what he described as a \u201creasonable amount of time,\u201d and that supervisors would be present to ensure consistency in Houston Police Department procedures.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019m saying we\u2019re broke,\u201d Whitmire said, adding that city leaders will unveil a budget proposal in May that he said will balance the budget without raising property taxes. <\/p>\n
He said the city will pursue efficiencies and department consolidations.<\/p>\n
Whitmire said he would not support costly litigation because it would be expensive and slow. <\/p>\n
\u201cWe would lose at court. It\u2019s a diversion. It\u2019s a delay,\u201d he said, and emphasized his preference for negotiation with state officials to restore funds.<\/p>\n
He urged elected officials to \u201cquit playing politics\u201d and work together. He also addressed immigrants directly, saying Houston police are \u201cyour friend\u201d and that victims of crimes should report offenses regardless of immigration status.<\/p>\n
Whitmire said he has worked with groups over the weekend and was \u201cvery encouraged\u201d that council members who helped craft the ordinance were meeting and could support changes when the council considers revisions on Wednesday.<\/p>\n
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