Houston Mayor Whitmire criticizes Dallas, Austin leaders in city address

HOUSTON - Houston Mayor John Whitmire delivered the State of the City Address Thursday afternoon. In praising his and the city's efforts to improve key areas of public interest, the former state legislator added a few critical remarks about other major Texas cities.

According to Whitmire, Houston excels in addressing taxes and homelessness; two areas in which Dallas and Austin are, in the mayor's eyes, falling behind. 

Whitmire takes digs at Dallas and Austin

Whitmire, a Democrat, served 10 years in the Texas House and 40 in the state Senate before taking his position as mayor in 2024. He drew on this experience in the legislature, in which he noted that he served alongside the Austin and Dallas mayors, when questioning those leaders' tactics. 

To start, Whitmire said that Austin Mayor Kirk Watson pursued a property tax increase without first conducting an efficiency audit. He said Houston's method of auditing, avoiding a tax bump and cutting waste ultimately saved $100 million.

What they're saying:

"There’s no way Kirk Watson in Austin should have asked for a 20 percent increase in property taxes without doing an Ernst & Young study," Whitmire said. "Demonstrate to the people that you've saved money every possible way before you ask for a 20 percent property tax increase."

Whitmire went on to say Dallas Mayor Eric Johnson's apparent disregard for addressing public safety and homelessness has affected business partnerships in the city. By comparison, he said, Houston has prioritized its downtown and avoided urban disorder. 

""Eric in Dallas just lost their largest downtown tenant, AT&T, because of the homeless conditions and public safety," said Whitmire. "Happens to be two of our highest priorities, and we're making a difference."

Austin tax bump attempt

Whitmire's criticism of Austin's attempt to raise property taxes is a reference to Prop Q, which was on the November ballot last year. The proposal would have created an increase of 5 cents per $100 of taxable property value, or about $300 annually for the average Austin resident, and was intended to cover a $33 million deficit in the $6.3 billion budget passed over the summer.  

Over 30 organizations expressed their support for Prop Q before the November election. Several unions, first responders, and social workers campaigned for "care not cuts," urging people to support the proposal. They said the proposed property tax rate increase would protect vital services like public safety and housing.

Ultimately, the proposal failed in November, and the city council instead approved an amended city budget later in the month. 

Dallas public safety

AT&T announced early last month that they planned to moved their global headquarters from their Downtown Dallas campus to a 54-acre plot of land in Plano, just north of the city. According to a report commissioned by Downtown Dallas Inc, public safety was a concern for AT&T. The same report showed AT&T's relocation could cause a 30 percent decrease in property values.

Whitmire's comments on the matter reflect similar remarks by Gov. Greg Abbott, who blamed Dallas leaders for the company's move shortly after the announcement. Dallas Police Chief Daniel Comeaux fired back, saying his officers have decreased response times, increased arrests downtown, and continue to reduce crime in the area. 

As the 2026 FIFA World Cup approaches, Dallas has funneled another $10 million into housing for the homeless downtown. This has drawn concerns over whether the city is more concerned over a temporary fix for the expected influx of tourists rather than long-term solutions to an ongoing crisis. 

READ MORE: Dallas homeless encampment complaints up 45% over last 3 years