Mayors work for you.
The last 19 months have been nothing short of exhausting for the people of Texas. We have lost more than 65,000 neighbors to COVID-19, endured a harrowing winter storm, and are now managing an economic recovery as the coronavirus’ Delta variant threatens to upend our return to normalcy.
Texans have been forced to decipher ever-changing public health guidelines as we have all refined our understanding of the virus and as multiple layers of government grappled with the necessary policies and unnecessary politics of a global pandemic.
Though many days have been heartbreaking and frustrating, a bipartisan alliance of Texas’ “big city” mayors has been working to face unprecedented challenges as a team — shelving political and personal differences to collaborate on best practices with a singular goal of saving as many lives as possible.
As mayors, we are best positioned to address the unique needs of our cities. Throughout this public health crisis, we have routinely advocated for the authority and flexibility to implement local control measures. Our communities’ economic needs, case positivity rates, hospitalizations, comorbidities and other underlying health issues have differed drastically from one city to the next. Local officials agree — we cannot rely on a one-size-fits-all approach to a once-in-a-lifetime pandemic.
In implementing programs that best suit each locality, city and county governments across Texas have worked together to provide a comprehensive and efficient response. This was a strategy that was discussed among the Big City Mayors coalition to help strategically employ federal aid to yield the maximum impact for our communities.
In San Antonio, I am especially grateful for the partnership of the Bexar County government and the friendship of Judge Nelson Wolff. In a matter of weeks, we established emergency housing assistance, small business and worker relief programs, and digital inclusion initiatives to ease the burdens felt in every corner of our state.
Though we have a shared goal in our recovery, no two regions have implemented identical relief programs, further highlighting the need for a tailored health response across each of our regions.
As the new chair of Big City Mayors, I look forward to leading our advocacy efforts to realize policies and initiatives that affect our everyday lives at every level of government. This summer, Texas mayors led the way in championing the federal administration’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Framework and we are encouraged by the bill’s recent movements in Congress.
Texas’ mayors recognize that with the American Rescue Plan, Bipartisan Infrastructure Framework, and our own innovative local initiatives, we have a once-in-a-generation opportunity to invest in critical infrastructure that is certain to make our communities more resilient, sustainable and equitable.
But the health and economic outcomes of our entire state depend on ending the COVID-19 pandemic as quickly as possible, which is why we came together this summer to encourage all eligible Texans to get their COVID-19 vaccines.
These issues address the basic needs of our neighbors and should be devoid of partisanship and political infighting. While City Halls across the state see their fair share of politics, most mayors would agree that the day-to-day business of a city is rarely preceded by an R or a D.
On a personal note, I would like to thank the local elected officials around Texas for being a constant in a time filled with so many unknowns. I’m especially grateful to work alongside a coalition of mayors who have come together amid unprecedented crises to address our state’s most pressing needs. I’d also be remiss if I didn’t specifically thank Arlington’s former mayor, Jeff Williams, who served as chair of the Big City Mayors at the start of this pandemic and helped strengthen the coalition.
Looking ahead, we’ll continue to advocate for federal and state policies and initiatives that will strengthen our communities and improve the quality of life for all Texans.
Thank you to the residents of Texas for all that you have done and all that you will do to get us through these uncertain times. Your mayors will continue to work for you.
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