Unless the governor is trying to deflect from the embarrassing failure of the electrical grid, his decision to open the state 100% and revoke the mask mandate does not make sense. This is the third time the governor has stepped in when things are going in the right direction.

🚨 The Houston Harris County Winter Storm Relief Fund has raised $6.5M. Thank you to all of the generous donors.

Today, the Fund is announcing that it will invest $1.65M in emergency grants to support vulnerable families and individuals in critical need of home repairs. 🚨 Given the urgency for assistance, the fund's grants committee quickly approved this initial round of grants less than a week after the fund was launched to help the most vulnerable in our community who are traditionally underserved with emergency repairs.

I want to acknowledge that one year ago, the city of Houston and the surrounding communities dusty began to confront the realities of the #COVID19 pandemic. It started with the cancellation of CERAWeek and several days later, confirmation of positive cases. One positive sign is today's positivity rate of 11.8%.

But we are announcing 914 newly reported cases and 7 new deaths.

Free testing is still available at any of the city affiliated testing sites which you can find at houstonemergency.org

Today, the
@HoustonHealth
Department is operating its first drive-thru vaccination clinic in partnership with @HoustonUmmc.

This site will provide 1,600 doses of the Moderna vaccine this week to people with appointments only. UMMC has been a leader in providing #COVID19 testing and caring for patients with the virus. I thank them for working with the City of Houston to open the drive-thru vaccination site, making it more convenient for people with mobility issues and providing the vaccine services.

Today, @HoustonHealth reports 1,586 new cases of #COVID19, bringing Houston's total to 124,712.

There are also four newly reported deaths, bringing the city's total to 1,580. And today, we are learning about the confirmed case of the new #COVID19 variant B1-17 in Harris County.

I want to stress there are no confirmed cases in the city of Houston. But we don't want to assume that we won't see cases with this "British" variant in Houston.

The last 24 hours have been a rollercoaster of unbelievable emotions as our country witnessed a shocking attack on our democracy as people rioted and committed acts of violence inside the nation's capitol. Like most Americans, I am relieved that the House and Senate did its job to ratify President-elect @JoeBiden's electoral college win. He and Vice President-elect @KamalaHarris will be sworn in to office in less than two weeks.

Yesterday, city council passed two important items funded by the CARES Act to help Houstonians who are facing challenges as a direct result of the pandemic. First, we approved $10 million in additional funding for the City’s Small Business Economic Relief Program (SBERP), bringing the total allocation of CARES Act 2020 dollars used to fund the program to $35 million.

cityofhouston.news/houston-city-c…

Today, is both exciting and bittersweet as I prepare to announce some key changes to my executive level staff and administration positions. When I first took office more than four years ago, one of my first moves was to select a new City Attorney. A volunteer city-attorney search team evaluated candidates and one name quickly rose to the top, Ron Lewis.

The @houstonpolice Department is committed to having the right leadership and officers on the frontline, men and women, to protect and serve our community. Unfortunately, major cities across the nation, including Houston, are experiencing an increase in homicides, shootings and other crimes during the #COVID19 pandemic.

Today’s milestone – students returning to the classroom as we confront a global pandemic - is one of the many steps towards moving into a sense of normalcy. And I’m thrilled to see the children of Highland Heights– on campus today. #ReturnStrong #ReconnectSafely I commend Interim Superintendent Dr. Grenita Lathan for her leadership in navigating this unprecedented challenge in the @HoustonISD.

Today, I want to highlight the @HoustonHealth's wastewater monitoring project, an initiative currently proving itself as a potentially faster method of containing this dreadful disease. #COVID19 The City of Houston and our partners have taken innovative steps to monitor the spread of the coronavirus, so that we are better prepared to provide resources to communities that are vulnerable and high-risk.

Overnight and this morning we are experiencing the last remnants of Tropical Storm #Beta. It has cleared the area & emergency operations for the city have been deactivated.

Some of the bayous are still full & streets are wet. So, I ask people to be careful this morning. 1/5 As of this morning, @houstonpolice have conducted 33 high-water rescues. @HoustonFire responded to 56 water rescues. 164 vehicles were towed as of midnight. Houstonians can find information about their towed vehicles at FindMyTowedCar.com. 2/5

#TSBeta

We are going to be in this weather pattern for the next 24 hours. #Beta is moving very slowly at 2mph. The rain bands are producing 2-3 inches of rain. You can help us out by just staying home. We've had several high water rescues already. Please don't drive into high water. #TurnAroundDontDrown

Today, @HoustonHealth reports 267* cases of #COVID19 today, bringing Houston’s total to 70,064.

We also have seven newly reported deaths, bringing the city’s total to 998. We are only two deaths shy of reaching a grim milestone with 1,000 COVID-19 related deaths in Houston. I also want to share the sad news of another city of Houston employee who passed away of #COVID19. Richard Sable was a City of Houston employee, who started in 2010. Please keep his family and former colleagues in your thoughts and prayers.

🚨 Today, I'm pleased to announce that we're expanding the Mayor's Office of Human Trafficking to include domestic violence. The office, which was created in 2015, will now be called the Mayor's Office of Human Trafficking and Domestic Violence. Recognized as a leader, the office has been asked to train mayors' offices across the U.S. and some international governments on Houston's unique municipal response to human trafficking.

What happened the night of April 12 has dramatically affected many people and this city. Nicholas Chavez' life was taken, and his family must live with their personal lords and anguish fur the rest of their lives. The video is difficult to watch without questioning why the shooting happened and wishing the encounter could have ended differently and knowing that it should have had a different income.

🚨 I am happy to announce today that I have been working with @HoustonHealth and the Mayor's Office of Special Events to formulate health and safety protocols to cautiously restart live special events in Houston. 🚨 We have had multiple inquiries from organizations who have had success with virtual and live events without audiences. There is a desire from the live special events industry to follow safe guidelines and produce events in controlled environments.

I want to remind Houstonians about the #COVID19 Rental Assistance Program administered by @BakerRipley.

Between the City of Houston and Harris County, a combined cash assistance of $60M is now readily available.

Visit bakerripleyrenthelp.org to apply. 8,000 landlords have already agreed to the terms of the program and more than 30,000 tenants have applied.

@BakerRipley is in the process now of sending that cash assistance to the landlords on behalf of those tenants.

Today, @HoustonHealth reports 176 new cases of #COVID19, bringing Houston’s total to 64,137. Sadly, there are 18 newly reported deaths, bringing the city’s total to 841. In order to fight this virus, we need to know where it is in our community.

That is why today, the @HoustonHealth, in partnership with @RiceUniversity, Baylor College of Medicine and CDC, is announcing plans to conduct a #COVID19 antibody testing survey.

Starting tomorrow, you can donate to help our neighbors in East Texas and Louisiana recover from #HurricaneLaura. The Mayor's H.E.R. Task Force is working with @kroger president Joe Kelly, @GFToday's Jim McIngvale and Trae Tha Truth's Relief Gang top coordinate Houston's Paying it Forward hurricane relief response to #HurricaneLaura.

Today, @HoustonHealth reports 158 new cases of #COVID19, bringing Houston's total top 63,834.

There are 8 newly reported deaths, bringing the total of COVID-19 deaths to 820. Please get tested. Please #maskup. Remember, you face a $250 fine if you're not wearing a mask in public.