Houston Mayor John Whitmire vows compassionate crackdown on homeless
Mayor John Whitmire addresses homeless situation
In the cusp of his second year leading the City of Houston, Mayor John Whitmire issued a hard promise to regain control of streets and public spaces from the homeless. FOX 26 Political Reporter Greg Groogan spoke one on one with the mayor with details on his campaign.
HOUSTON - On the cusp of his second year leading the City of Houston, Mayor John Whitmire has issued a hard promise to regain control of streets and public places from the homeless.
PREVIOUS COVERAGE: Houston mayor announces plan to address homelessness
"I want to get the homeless out of the public space. It's not fair to them to be living on the street. It's not fair to the public to have to engage them," said Whitmire.
Get news, weather and so much more on the new FOX LOCAL app
Empowered by a recent U.S. Supreme Court ruling granting municipalities additional authority over public spaces, Houston's new policy will offer the homeless extensive resources while also banning encampments and sleeping in parks and on sidewalks.
"We will be compassionate, but firm. We are not going to allow people to say no, I don't want to leave the streets. Yes, you are going to leave the streets and we will get you some help. It might be mental health or it could be drug or alcohol treatment. We are in this to win our streets back and our public space and make things safe for the homeless. It's a sin to make people sleep in their own waste and not have anything to turn to, day and night," said Whitmire.
The Source: FOX 26 Political Reporter Greg Groogan spoke with Houston Mayor John Whitmire.