Core services are the City of Houston's business
http://www.aframnews.com/html/interspire/articles/1386/1/Core-services-are-the-City-of-Houstons-business/Page1.html
C.O. Bradford
C.O. “Brad” Bradford is a member of Houston City Council elected citywide. He is an attorney, public safety consultant, and former Houston Chief of Police.By C.O. Bradford
Published on 02/15/2010
The City of Houston tends to over regulate. Understandably, the city must regulate from time to time for health and safety reasons.
Even these interventions should be a limited, measured approach with broad substantive input from the citizens and businesses being impacted.
Today, businesses and citizens are strapped with too many taxes, fees, and permitting requirements.
Why is this so? Well, the answer can be found in one word – “spending.” Spending is the single part of the city’s financial equation that is almost exclusively controlled by the city. We try to do a number of wonderful things in our great city which are good.
Even these interventions should be a limited, measured approach with broad substantive input from the citizens and businesses being impacted.
Today, businesses and citizens are strapped with too many taxes, fees, and permitting requirements.
Why is this so? Well, the answer can be found in one word – “spending.” Spending is the single part of the city’s financial equation that is almost exclusively controlled by the city. We try to do a number of wonderful things in our great city which are good.
The City of Houston tends to over regulate. Understandably, the city must regulate from time to time for health and safety reasons.
Even these interventions should be a limited, measured approach with broad substantive input from the citizens and businesses being impacted. Today, businesses and citizens are strapped with too many taxes, fees, and permitting requirements.
Why is this so? Well, the answer can be found in one word – “spending.” Spending is the single part of the city’s financial equation that is almost exclusively controlled by the city. We try to do a number of wonderful things in our great city which are good.
However, we must face reality during these tough economic times and place these “like-to-do” engagements on the back seat. Sure, we have a responsibility to ensure that Houston is beautiful, environmentally friendly, and sparkles.
But let’s face the reality and history that have made our city a great success story. Houston is about business!
Few people come to Houston just to take a family vacation. It is hoped that at some point in the future our local economy and other conditions will change, making Houston what could be a “hot vacation” site.
But for now, as it has always been, Houston is about BUSINESS! A great number of people come here to start businesses, invest in businesses, and advance their careers.
What can and should the city be doing now? Tightening its belt, reducing spending, and providing relief for businesses and citizens. Businesses tend to flourish and citizens do better when they have as much free reign to operate legally and ethically as possible.
Reducing some of the business burdens, especially while our local economy is sagging, is an incentive to reinvest, expand, and grow businesses when possible. This is how we help create more jobs, boost our local economy, and increase revenues.
How do we reduce spending? Acknowledge and operate under the model that the City of Houston’s business is the delivery of core services. Let’s get back to a commitment to basic sanitation (garbage & water), infrastructure, police and fire issues. Core services are the City of Houston’s business!
Even these interventions should be a limited, measured approach with broad substantive input from the citizens and businesses being impacted. Today, businesses and citizens are strapped with too many taxes, fees, and permitting requirements.
Why is this so? Well, the answer can be found in one word – “spending.” Spending is the single part of the city’s financial equation that is almost exclusively controlled by the city. We try to do a number of wonderful things in our great city which are good.
However, we must face reality during these tough economic times and place these “like-to-do” engagements on the back seat. Sure, we have a responsibility to ensure that Houston is beautiful, environmentally friendly, and sparkles.
But let’s face the reality and history that have made our city a great success story. Houston is about business!
Few people come to Houston just to take a family vacation. It is hoped that at some point in the future our local economy and other conditions will change, making Houston what could be a “hot vacation” site.
But for now, as it has always been, Houston is about BUSINESS! A great number of people come here to start businesses, invest in businesses, and advance their careers.
What can and should the city be doing now? Tightening its belt, reducing spending, and providing relief for businesses and citizens. Businesses tend to flourish and citizens do better when they have as much free reign to operate legally and ethically as possible.
Reducing some of the business burdens, especially while our local economy is sagging, is an incentive to reinvest, expand, and grow businesses when possible. This is how we help create more jobs, boost our local economy, and increase revenues.
How do we reduce spending? Acknowledge and operate under the model that the City of Houston’s business is the delivery of core services. Let’s get back to a commitment to basic sanitation (garbage & water), infrastructure, police and fire issues. Core services are the City of Houston’s business!