In one of her final actions on Houston City Council, Council Member Letitia Plummer delayed a vote on her long-awaited apartment inspection ordinance — but this time, the decision came after Mayor John Whitmire pushed for the measure to be sent back for review.
A Signature Proposal Years in the Making
Plummer has worked on the ordinance since the start of her first term in 2020. The measure would create a “high-risk rental building” registry for complexes with at least ten health and safety citations within six months, triggering increased inspections and fines for ongoing violations.
“Obviously, from a selfish perspective, I wanted to vote on this today,” Plummer said. “But it’s about people, and it’s about us doing the right thing.”
Pushback, Revisions, and a Revised Ordinance
She previously postponed the ordinance in October after the Houston Apartment Association argued that using 311 complaint volume would unfairly target large complexes. Tenant advocates, meanwhile, said the proposal was too limited because it capped the registry at five properties.
The revised version sought to resolve both concerns. It removed 311 complaints from the criteria, eliminated the cap on the registry, added an appeals process for complexes designated as high-risk, and strengthened penalties for noncompliance. Tenant advocates, including Texas Housers’ Julia Orduña, praised the changes as “significantly better.”
Mayor Whitmire Calls for More Review
Going into Tuesday’s meeting, Plummer believed the proposal was ready for a vote. But during discussion, Whitmire said he preferred the ordinance be reviewed again by council committees.
“This is a long time overdue,” he said, adding, “We’ll do it as quickly as possible.”
Plummer pushed back, asking for a firm timeline. Whitmire responded, “I think you just have to trust.” Plummer replied, “I don’t think that’s good enough, to be honest with you.”
Tense Exchange Leads to a Deadline
The discussion escalated when Whitmire suggested Plummer was distracted by her campaign for Harris County Judge. Plummer objected and demanded an apology. Ultimately, the council approved a 30-day deadline for the ordinance to return to the full body after committee consideration in 2026.
Plummer said afterward she felt optimistic: “Ideally, I would like to see the committee meeting happen in mid-January, if possible, and then mid-February have a vote, and then we go into execution.”
Plummer’s Departure Nears
Her final council meeting is scheduled for Dec. 17, shortly after the runoff election to fill her seat between Alejandra Salinas and Dwight Boykins.
For more on Houston City Council, stay tuned to Que Onda Magazine.