Houston mayor denounces state's plan to control Harvey aid

[TexasTowelie]

HOUSTON — Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner said Thursday that he's offended by the state's plan to take control of more than $1 billion in federal funds allocated to the city for Hurricane Harvey housing relief as America grapples with the coronavirus pandemic.

Texas General Land Commissioner George P. Bush sent Turner a letter on Wednesday announcing the agency's plan to partly strip the city's power over the Harvey recovery money. The move awaits approval from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, which originally dispersed the subsidies to the state and Bush's office.

For previous natural disasters, the office spearheaded recovery efforts, but after Harvey, Houston and Harris County were granted authority to control their own programs. Houston officials said 16,291 people expressed interest in the city's Homeowner Assistance Program. Yet, Houston has only distributed 44 reimbursement checks, completed 17 home reconstructions and completed 19 home overhauls, according to a city report released last month.

The Texas General Land Office, managing its own Harvey recovery aid program, had completed construction on 1,039 homes as of April 17. The agency said it has already called thousands of Houston residents who applied for aid through the city's program to start moving their applications forward.

Read more: https://www.texarkanagazette.com/news/texas/story/2020/apr/24/houston-mayor-denounces-states-plan-control-harvey-aid/825310/

[duforsure]

1. Abbott using aid as a weapon

Just like trump and other republicans are now trying to do with this virus, but they want all aid controlled so they can demand what they want , or else.