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Last Wednesday, Harris County Sheriff Adrian Garcia announced his candidacy for Houston Mayor. He joins an increasingly crowded race with: former Congressman and former Council Member Chris Bell, Council Member Stephen Costello, 2013 mayoral candidate Ben Hall, former two term mayor of Kemah and Houston Chronicle columnist Bill King, businessman Marty McVey, and State Representative Sylvester Turner.
With the election now six months away, we discuss how it’s shaping up, and what issues may come to the forefront, on this edition of Houston Matters. We welcome your questions for Richard Murray, Professor of Political Science at the University of Houston.
Also this hour: Tired of the dome debate? Feel like we’ve been talking about what to do with the Astrodome for too long? Urban Land Institute CEO Patrick Phillips says the length of this sort of debate over the fate of a major city landmark is actually fairly typical. ULI was tapped to examine the Astrodome and make a recommendation, which it did in March. Folding in the interests of the Texans, the Rodeo, OTC, and the general public, the Urban Land Institute proposes keeping the Dome and turning it into a multi-use facility. In advance of ULI’s annual meeting Wednesday in Houston, Michael Hagerty will ask Phillips whether trying to please so many different parties helps or hurts the cause of preserving the dome.
Then: Apartment living is an attractive choice for many Houstonians. If you can’t afford to buy a place, or don’t want the hassle of exterior upkeep, it can be the way to go. It can also bring its share of complications — from leases and rules to disputes with neighbors. We discuss the rights renters have with Rick McElvaney, head of the Center for Consumer Law at the University of Houston Law Center.
Plus: The Pachanga Latino Music Festival celebrates Latin-themed music, cultural arts and food. What began eight years ago in Austin is now expanding to other Texas cities, including Houston. Maggie Martin will talk with festival founder Rich Garza.
