To Keep Houston From Becoming Chicago, Next Mayor Must Be Serious About Tackling Crime

At the end of May, two women were robbed within 10 days of one another after criminals followed them from the bank as they were running errands. One of the women remarked “If somebody followed me that far, then no telling what else would have happened to me.”

In April, a mother of a disabled son was ambushed and robbed at gunpoint in front of her home after cashing her tax refund check. Shaken by the violent robbery, she said she learned a valuable lesson: “Keep your mouth closed, keep your business to yourself. You don’t know who your friends are, who is around your surroundings.”

You might be forgiven for assuming that these stories are coming from a city like Chicago, but unfortunately, they are happening right here in Houston. Sadly, the voices of these victims are only a small portion of the growing chorus of Houstonians who say they are living in an environment of fear due to rising crime across the Bayou City.

A poll of Houston voters conducted by Protect and Serve Texas PAC earlier this year found that rising crime was by far the most important issue on their minds, with 63 percent saying they are afraid to walk at night and 61 percent believing they are less safe in Houston than they were four years ago. What’s more, one in four Houston voters polled said they have personally been victims of crime while living in Houston, and more than 40 percent say that a friend or member of their family has been a victim of crime.

As we approach this year’s Houston mayoral election, it is crucial that the candidates listen to the voices of Houston crime victims who do not want to see the city become another cautionary tale of disastrous public safety policies causing residents to fear for their safety on a daily basis.

This is not just impacting traditionally high-crime areas in Houston. As a Texas Southern University professor recently noted, “We know that crime is a problem. It’s something, regardless of party affiliation, if you live in the city, there are no safe zones whether you live in a gated community or live in one of the wards.”

Nevertheless, in recent years, there have been repeated attempts by some politicians to demonize and isolate law enforcement.

Mayoral candidates who are truly listening to the voices of Houstonians right now must think carefully before throwing their weight behind misguided movements to “reprogram” funds for law enforcement or “defund the police” – a rallying cry of some activists who believe that less resources for law enforcement will somehow address rising violent crime. Such a stance is wildly out-of-step with Houston voters who, in the same poll, overwhelmingly indicated they trust police officers serving on the front lines to keep our communities safe.

Mayoral candidates who want to demonstrate their commitment to a safer Houston should reject harmful and divisive calls to defund police departments. While Houston may be close to surpassing Chicago as the nation’s third most populous metro area, Houstonians must make sure that the city’s violent crime rate does not even come close to what we are seeing in the Windy City.

To make sure Houston is an attractive city for growing a business, increasing economic prosperity, and raising families in a safe environment where they do not fear for their lives and property, voters must choose a mayor who is committed to supporting the brave men and women of law enforcement who work every day to protect our communities.

Donald Baker is a former police officer and commander with 35 years of experience in law enforcement.

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