This Week: Houston Will Vote on “Pay Parity” Proposal; Seeking After-School Program Organizations; Harvey Relief Legal Clinics Available.
Houston Will Vote on “Pay Parity” Proposal
Council unanimously voted to add a proposed amendment to the Houston City Charter to the November 2018 ballot. The initiative, proposed by the Houston Professional Fire Fighter’s Union (HPFFU), would mandate “pay parity” between Houston’s fire and police department employees on the basis of job classification and seniority. Job duties, work schedule, education, training, and market average pay are not considered by the petition. On July 26th, Finance Department Director Tantri Emo and Houston Fire Chief Sam Pena shared a presentation at the Budget and Fiscal Affairs Committee to discuss the financial implications of this proposal. They noted that, in the first year, the impact is projected to be $98 million, and $296 million in the first three years, depending on whether the police department’s current ongoing salary negotiations result in additional raises. Former Mayor Annise Parker offered firefighters a 4% raise in 2014 and Mayor Turner has offered a 9.5% raise, both of which the HPFFU have rejected. Mayor Turner has expressed that, should the “pay parity” measure pass, extensive layoffs and cuts to city services would be needed to cover the cost. He plans to host town hall meetings in each Council District to educate residents on the proposal in advance of election day, November 6th..
Seeking After-School Program Organizations
CASE for Kids City Connections is seeking local non-profit organizations with which they might partner to provide community-based enrichment after-school programs for students throughout Harris County. With an allocation from her Council District Service Fund, Mayor Pro Tem Cohen was able to sponsor twelve after-school programs serving 566 District C students in 2017. Past participating programs include K.I.N.D. Girls Mentoring at Stevens Elementary, the Ensemble Theatre at Gregory Lincoln Elementary, HITS Theatre, programs at the Evelyn Rubenstein Jewish Community Center, and more. Applications must be submitted by no later than Friday, August 31st at 2PM. Awards will be announced on September 28th, and the grant period will cover October 8, 2018 – April 26, 2019.
View RFP here »
Harvey Relief Legal Clinics Available
To recognize the impact of Hurricane Harvey nearly one year later, the Houston Bar Foundation and Houston Volunteer Lawyers, in conjunction with the Houston Bar Association, Houston Health Department and Precinct 4 Commissioner, will hold four free legal clinics for Houstonians affected by the storm on Saturday, August 18. All clinics will be held from 9:00 a.m. until 1:00 p.m.at the following locations:
- Magnolia Multi-Service Center
- Northeast Multi-Service Center
- Southwest Multi-Service Center
- Mangum-Howell Center
The clinics are free and open to all, and no appointment is needed. Participants will receive one-on-one legal advice from volunteer attorneys and may apply for legal representation through the Houston Volunteer Lawyers Hurricane Harvey Relief Project.