On May 21 –  The city council rushed to pass a police union contract that forces the city to increase the Houston police budget by $832 million over the next five years.

Meanwhile, the same budget defies court orders and voter mandates by denying and delaying almost $100 million of drainage funding that Houstonians were counting on. For key drainage infrastructure, it shouldn’t be this hard to ask for basic safety during heavy rain. The police raise is just another example of the way the Whitmire administration—with the full support of city councilmembers who say they’re pro-democracy—has turned its back on the democratic process and the rule of law.

 As we enter another active hurricane season without the flood protection we need, we’re going to make sure City Council hears that this budget is bad. They can still vote “no” on June 4th.

They’re accountable to us and we demand better.