We get the government we deserve

Our two largest local institutions, Harris County and the City of Houston, are under investigation because of actions taken by the county judge and the mayor.

The Texan first reported that the vendor selection process over County Judge Lina Hidalgo's $11 million vaccine outreach program spurred grand jury subpoenas. The grand jury and the District Attorney's office are asking for all documents and communications related to Elevate Strategies being selected as the vendor.

At the same time, the District Attorney's office and the General Land Office have ongoing investigations into the City of Houston over Mayor Turner's selection of an affordable housing project that his former law partner was co-developing.

In a time when trust in institutions is rapidly diminishing, actions like this by your local officials, those who you see regularly, who live and work in your community, and who claim to be closer to the people, further erodes confidence.

The blame falls at their feet, but elected officials are fallible, they don't suddenly become hardened from bad behavior upon election.

It's up to the electorate to set the bar for the behavior we accept from those who work for us. We get the government we deserve and shame on us if we don't demand better.

Charles Blain is the president of Urban Reform and the Urban Reform Institute.