Annise Parker in 2008-2011 Mayoral State of the City addresses
On Energy & Oil:
We are the #1 municipal purchaser of renewable energy
Our new office of sustainability will have impacts long beyond my time in the mayor's office. Per the EPA's ranking, we are the #1 municipal purchaser of renewable energy. We are eighth in the nation in the number of LEED certified buildings, with a goal
of being number one. The recent launch of our Green Office Challenge and Energy Efficiency Incentive Program, to help green our commercial building stock, will help get us there. If your companies are not participating in these programs, get on board.
Source: 2011 State of the City Speech
Apr 15, 2011
On Environment:
Inner city should have necklace of parks and greenbelts
We see an inner city with a necklace of parks and greenbelts and hike and bike trails along our bayous, most of it privately funded, including a stunning rebirth of Buffalo Bayou. Our historic neighborhoods are stabilized and experiencing enhanced value.
A new cultural tourism center dedicated to the appreciation and preservation of our history stands in our sports district, near the familiar Dynamo Stadium.
Source: 2011 State of the City Speech
Apr 15, 2011
On Environment:
Rebuild Houston: tackle crumbling streets and drainage
Rebuild Houston is the voter-approved Prop. 1 ballot initiative aimed at tackling our crumbling streets and drainage problems. This is about saving lives and neighborhoods. No one should have to worry about being able to get home to loved ones
or about water in their home just because it rains. When our work is done the risk of flooding will have been reduced and our streets will be safer for the driving public. Thanks to Rebuild Houston's mandatory pay-as-you-go funding requirement,
these accomplishments will be based on fiscal best practices.We will have completed and see the fruits of the upgrades in the water and sewer system and will be able to measure it in gallons of water saved and improvements in distribution.
We will have implemented Rebuild Houston and see the first new drainage and street improvement projects under construction.
Source: 2011 State of the City Speech
Apr 15, 2011
On Jobs:
Hire Houston First: local workers from local companies
I promised a Hire Houston First policy to encourage the use of local companies and the hiring of local workers on taxpayer-funded projects so that more of our city government tax dollars stay in our local economy.
To that end, an executive order awaiting my signature would mandate the selection of the local business when all else in a competitive bid process is equal.
If the contract cannot be awarded to a local business, the City shall, to the extent legally permissible, give consideration to the contractor or vendor demonstrating the ability to achieve the highest use of local resources.
We are also pursuing legislation in Austin that would take this executive order a step further toward an even stronger local preference policy.
Source: 2011 State of the City Speech
Apr 15, 2011
Page last updated: Jun 01, 2021