Turner 'looks forward to highlighting Houston's goals, achievements' in State of the City Address in October

Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner is scheduled to deliver his State of the City Address on Oct. 13.

".@houmayor Turner will deliver his sixth annual State of the City address on Wednesday, Oct. 13, 2021, before an audience of Houston’s business and community leaders,” the City of Houston tweeted on Aug. 10. “This year's event will be hosted by @HoustonFirst Corporation."

Turner, who has served as mayor of the state's largest city and the nation’s fourth-largest since 2015, praised the partnership with Houston First, a local government corporation responsible for promoting Houston as a destination rich with cultural experiences and economic opportunities, a press release issued by the mayor’s office on Aug. 10 said.

“I am pleased to partner with Houston First this year, and I am looking forward to highlighting the city’s goals and achievements,” Turner said in the release. “We have proven time and again that by working together, Houston can turn obstacles into opportunities, and this year’s theme, ’We Always Rise,’ celebrates the city’s resiliency and strength during challenging times.”

Turner will also use the address as an opportunity to outline his priorities to keep Houston on the leading edge of technology, innovation, and health, as well as tout the city’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

The mayor initially cancelled the State of the City Address earlier this year in response to what he claimed was the Greater Houston Partnership’s silence on proposed Texas voting legislation during the regular session of the 87th state Legislature.

Turner was joined by Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo, who pulled her State of the County Address on the same grounds.

Hidalgo and Turner have been at odds with the state’s Republican leadership over Senate Bill 7 and House Bill 6.

The Texas GOP asserts the bills are necessary to preserve election integrity while Hidalgo, Turner and their fellow Lone Star Democrats counter that SB 7 and HB 6 aim to suppress minority voting rights.

The Democratic leaders continue to oppose any GOP-backed election measures and are also sparring with Texas Republican leadership over COVID restrictions, ABC13 reported.