Think government is lousy? Do something about it.
With Mayor John Whitmire’s swearing-in came his first mayoral address. Much of it mirrored what we’ve heard during his campaign and in post-election interviews: Public safety is a top priority, with on-time trash pickup, flooding, infrastructure and finances following suit.
To me, a line that flew under the radar was the most important because it encapsulates the spirit of the city. “We’re all public servants,” Whitmire said. “Each and every one of you and every Houstonian that can hear my voice, you’re a public servant, whether you’re ever on the ballot or not.”
It shares the sentiment of one of my favorite quotes: “The misgovernment of the American people is the misgovernment by the American people.” Lincoln Steffens wrote this in his 1904 book, “The Shame of the Cities,” a compilation of essays chronicling municipal corruption in American cities. This quote would have rung true in the hundreds of years before it was written, and it still rings true today.
Steffens believed that no one group — elites, electeds or otherwise — was solely responsible for the corruption in municipal government, but that the responsibility is also shared by the citizens. This is because our system of government, from the federal to the local, cannot function effectively without citizen participation.
And that, sadly, is sorely lacking today. One of the easiest ways to participate is to vote. But in the most recent city election, only 17% of Harris County’s electorate did that.
It’s easy to blame elected officials, their appointees and public employees for the problems that Houston faces and, to be fair, they sign up to take on that responsibility. But when citizens don’t participate, we are complicit.
Often people believe that putting their name on the ballot is the only way to serve, but that’s not the case. If anything, holding office is one of the more self-serving areas of public service. And yes, participation can mean that you show up to weekly council or monthly commissioners court meetings, testify, or sift through hundreds of pages of agendas in preparation. But there are other ways, too.
Consider just a few of the ways that people across our city contribute. My friend and well-known activist Tomaro Bell has been involved in the Houston Super Neighborhood Alliance for years, and she also helps put on the Super Feast to feed families in need every Thanksgiving and Christmas.
Doug Smith, an Alief community member, misses city council committee and budget hearings only in case of sickness or natural disaster. He’s always on hand to question department and division directors when something doesn’t smell right.
Third Ward activist Travis McGee spends his time encouraging his community to hold elected officials accountable. When he’s not doing that, he’s paying out of pocket to feed the homeless.
April Aguirre, who lost her niece to gun violence, is relentless in her pursuit of keeping public safety as the top priority for local officials.
Other local heroes report every issue they see to 311. Or they’ve mastered the Texas Public Information Act, despite its barely being effective, to try to increase local transparency. Many are quick to lend a hand when their neighbors are in trouble.
When a disaster hits, Houstonians don’t hesitate to show up en masse. It’s in our DNA. Images of lines of volunteers following Hurricane Harvey and Winter Storm Uri come to mind, but that determination to help our city needs extend beyond disasters.
There’s no best way to participate in the governance of our city, but we should all find a way we can contribute — lest we be complicit in our city’s misgovernment.
Charles Blain, a frequent contributor to the Houston Chronicle, is president of the Urban Reform Institute, a think tank that promotes opportunity and social mobility.
