Annise Parker

Housing Closely review outcome data and strengthen coordination across county departments and partners, scale programs that successfully move people into stable housing, and focus on prevention strategies that reduce the number of families and individuals entering homelessness in the first place. Criminal Justice / Public Safety Coordinate with local hospitals, shelters, and non-profits to ensure community preparation and provide robust/ timely disaster relief. Economy Work to implement a Hire Harris County First program to give preferences to local firms who hire locally or participate in certified apprenticeship programs for local residents. Economy Partner with labor and employers on apprenticeship programs, protecting disaster recovery dollars, and ensuring public projects create good local jobs. Guns Support proven public health strategies to reduce gun violence –– now the number one cause of death in children in America –– including investing in prevention, mental health services, safe storage education, data-driven violence intervention programs, and trauma-informed care. Criminal Justice / Public Safety Get to the bottom of and fix problems in the county flood control department—around procurement, implementation and prioritization of projects. Social Services Prioritize treatment over incarceration, supporting diversion programs like the County’s HART program or the City of Houston’s Sobering Center, which Annise helped start when she was mayor. Infrastructure / Transportation Work with our federal partners to expedite action by the Army Corps of Engineers on longer term solutions such as the Ike Dike and Addicks and Barker Reservoirs mitigation. Criminal Justice / Public Safety Ensure that all the 34 cities in Harris County are included in emergency preparation and response efforts. Healthcare Continue to push the state to accept Medicaid expansion – the fastest way to get health insurance coverage for millions of Texans, many right here at home in Harris County. Abortion / Contraception Continue fiercely opposing any limits on contraception. Criminal Justice / Public Safety Support further investments to modernize the county jail and improve jail safety, and to expand jail-based programs that promote rehabilitation and decrease recidivism. Economy Fight for greater opportunities to help our families thrive, such as concentrating on jobs and the economy, standing up for public schools and safer streets, lowering housing and childcare costs, and making affordable, accessible health care for all a county priority. Criminal Justice / Public Safety Work with our federal and state delegations to fight for Harris County’s fair share of federal and state funding for flood prevention and other infrastructure projects. Economy Protect local economic stability by investing in infrastructure, supporting workforce development, and defending local authority when federal or state actions threaten funding or jobs. Healthcare Ensure better coordination, including interlocal agreements, between the county and the City of Houston health departments, to further reduce existing duplication of services and costs. Criminal Justice / Public Safety Stay in regular communication with our regional partners and enter into interlocal agreements that will take the guesswork out when a disaster happens. Wages / Job Benefits Support a living wage of at least 20 per hour (and advocate for local authority to implement it) and policies that raise pay through county contracting standards, workforce programs, and advocacy for higher state and federal minimum wages. Housing Implement policies to lower the cost of housing by removing unnecessary barriers to responsible housing development (e.g., safe housing that does not contribute to flooding and has the infrastructure to support it), supporting reforms to the permitting process, and incentivizing smaller, neighborhood-scale homes such as garage apartments, courtyard style developments and other developments of eight units or less. Criminal Justice / Public Safety Maintain strong safety protocols in county facilities and continue to support training, accountability, and partnerships that improve public safety while respecting constitutional limits. Housing Continue working with nonprofits and community partners to provide wraparound services to prevent and reduce cyclical homelessness. Abortion / Contraception Continue advocating for a full repeal of Texas’ abortion ban. Housing Build on important steps already begun by the County to address homelessness, such investing in prevention, housing stability, and coordinated services as part of a broader regional strategy to reduce homelessness through coordination with nonprofit and community partners. Criminal Justice / Public Safety Work with her colleagues on the court to encourage basic hurricane preparedness actions such as upgraded drainage and maintenance of roads, ditches, and storm sewers – both ongoing and especially in advance of oncoming storms. Taxes / Budget Improve transparency and to make county finances more accessible and understandable to the public. Healthcare Strengthen Harris Health, expand preventive and mental health services, and ensure county resources address chronic health inequities rather than only crisis care.