A recent University of Houston poll indicates that most residents of Houston are generally satisfied with the leadership of Mayor John Whitmire. However, when it comes to day-to-day city issues such as crime, traffic, and the condition of local streets, many residents express significant dissatisfaction.
The survey reveals some stark contradictions in public sentiment. More than half of Houstonians believe that the city—and the United States as a whole—is heading in the wrong direction. In contrast, 59% of respondents approve of the job Mayor Whitmire is doing, while 41% disapprove.
Conducted by UH’s Hobby School of Public Affairs, the survey shows that while 59% of registered Houston voters approve of Whitmire’s performance at City Hall, there exists a clear undercurrent of dissatisfaction regarding the city’s trajectory.
Key concerns highlighted in the survey include quality of life and infrastructure. Despite 58% of residents rating Houston’s quality of life as “good,” nearly the same percentage feel the city is going in the wrong direction. Citizens pointed to rising housing costs, worsening traffic, and crumbling roadways as primary concerns.
“The city has its work cut out for it,” remarked Renée Cross, senior executive director of the Hobby School.
Streets emerged as a significant issue for residents. Close to half of those surveyed identified poor road conditions as one of Houston’s top three challenges. For many, this goes beyond simple potholes: 60% of Black voters reported that street conditions negatively affect their neighborhoods, compared to 55% of Latino residents and 44% of white voters.
Demographically, Mayor Whitmire, who is a longtime Democratic lawmaker elected in 2023, enjoys strong bipartisan support. Among respondents, 71% of Republicans and 56% of Democrats approve of his performance.
Other vital findings from the survey include an 81% approval rating for Fire and EMS services, a 28% approval rating for Public Works, and a 50% overall approval rating for city services such as trash collection and police protection. Notably, only 39% of respondents support raising the city’s revenue cap to help fund additional resources for fire and police services.
The survey results emerge during a tense climate for transportation infrastructure in Houston, a city that has faced criticism for recent decisions regarding protected bike lanes. Mayor Whitmire has drawn backlash for removing such lanes from Heights Boulevard and Austin Street. Critics argue that this compromises cyclist safety, while supporters contend that the removal prioritizes traffic flow and public safety.
Jones noted that while the cycling community is vocal and influential, their views may not reflect the priorities of the majority of Houstonians. “The majority of people in this city care more about getting to work on time and public safety,” he said. “They’re not as focused on recreational bike lanes.”
Advocates for cycling stress that many individuals relying on bikes or motorcycles for commuting are low-income workers. A 2015 Rice University Kinder Institute report indicated that 42% of Houstonians who bike, ride motorcycles, or take taxis to work earn less than $25,000 a year.
County Attorney Lina Hidalgo has a more divided approval rating along partisan lines, receiving high marks from 80% of Democrats but only 13% of Republicans. Mark Jones, a senior research fellow with the Hobby School, explains that Houston’s demographic makeup—largely Democratic—likely boosts Hidalgo’s ratings citywide.
“She’s underwater with independents and overwhelmingly disliked by Republicans,” Jones added. “That skews her favorability upward when looking only at Houston, which doesn’t reflect the broader political landscape of Harris County.”
In the bigger picture, even with a moderate satisfaction level at the city level, Houstonians remain skeptical about the country’s overall direction. Only 26% of residents believe the United States is headed in the right direction, while a significant 74% contend it is not.
The UH Hobby School survey provides a snapshot of a city striving to move forward while grappling with issues of equity, infrastructure, and livability.
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