New year, new to-do lists! Is it just me that likes a fresh start and clear calendar to fill it?
We are doing that at the station too. Those of us who are back from vacation are planning out what we will work on next for KPRC 2 Investigates. [We love hearing your ideas too!]
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Along with a new year you probably know the city of Houston also has a new mayor, John Whitmire.
“It’s time to get to work.”
Just hours after officially winning the election Mayor Whitmire sat down with Investigator Mario Diaz. Whitmire says it’s time to get to work.
Mayor Whitmire is about to undergo a career change at an age when most individuals are enjoying retirement. Whitmire’s reasoning? This is a calling for him and the Houstonians who requested he come home to fix the city.
Whitmire discussed a variety of topics that he will now be responsible for addressing. Whitmire’s message to us is similar to what was echoed on the campaign trail. His focus will be on making Houston streets safer, as well as improving its infrastructure.
RELATED: ‘I will speak out’: Houston’s mayor-elect John Whitmire says public safety will be highest priority
Regarding public safety, Whitmire says this initiative is tops on his list, “Public safety will be our highest priority,” said Whitmire. He’s also vowing to get to the bottom of the water billing crisis draining Houstonians.
Check out Mario’s interview here.
‘DRAINED’ Houston water bills
Our team is not slowing down the ‘DRAINED’ Investigation into Houston water bill issues. As we enter a new year Houston water customers are hoping for change, after months of dealing with erratic, surging, and unexplained water bills.
Retired Kingwood homeowner Mary Gilmore is hoping he keeps that promise.
“I don’t use the dishwasher,” Gilmore told investigative reporter Amy Davis. “If I take a shower, it’s a quick in and out shower because I don’t want that bill to add up.”
Gilmore’s water bill for the home she’s lived in more than 10 years is now more than $3,600.
“I’ve never had these problems,” she told Davis. “I use to pay $35 to $40 a month; and now it’s $570 to $1000.”
Her bills started spiking last summer. Amy Davis gets to the bottom of this big bill issue.
Where are robberies happening in the Houston area?
KPRC 2 Investigates analyzed nearly 25,000 robberies reported in Houston, Harris, Fort Bend and Montgomery counties over the last two years. While robberies are trending down, hundreds of these crimes occur every day in our region.
Below is a map of 17,901 robberies reported to the city of Houston in 2019-2020. The crimes are broken down by zip code. The darker the color on the map, the higher the number of robberies reported in the area.
Check out your neighborhood. Here’s Robert Arnold’s report.
Mail theft frustration!
Check out this from Investigator Bill Spencer: Bay Oaks homeowners frustrated with mail theft response
Bill also gave us an inside look at Texas’ first Seafood City Supermarket!
We would love to hear from you! Email us at Investigates@kprc.com.
And, Yay for Friday after a week back from vacation!
Best,
Andrea Slaydon, Investigates Producer