The Importance of Bail Reform

In Texas, we respect the rule of law because we know it is the foundation of a thriving society. Without it, citizens cannot feel safe, businesses cannot invest with certainty, and law enforcement lacks the tools to bring criminals to justice. The only winners, in this scenario, are criminals. While the state legislature, governor’s office, and attorney general’s department have done their parts, there are still cracks in our current system. That is because there are too many district judges who refuse to get tough on crime while pushing lax bail standards. The results are catastrophic. In Harris County alone, the Houston Police Officers Union reports that there have been over 160 homicides, just since 2021, in which the suspect was roaming free on bond when the murder happened. Not long after Harris County Deputy Fernando Esqueda was murdered in the line of duty last year, a radical local judge released the suspected killer out on bond. Fortunately, Governor Abbott is fighting back. During his State of the State address this year, Abbott listed bail reform as an emergency item for this legislative session to claw back some of the discretion judges have when it comes to suspects charged with violent crimes.

Houston Powering the Texas Miracle
The Texas economy continues to lead the nation. This month, the state reported a variety of record-breaking jobs numbers, in addition to earning, for the thirteenth year in a row, recognition as the number one state for job-creating business relocations and expansions. Greater Houston has played an instrumental role in Texas’ economic success. In addition to Houston’s position as the energy capital of the world, it has also emerged as a major manufacturing hub with over 7,000 manufacturers. This number is only set to increase over the coming years. Apple just announced it has chosen Houston as part of a $500 billion initiative to reshore production of servers critical to the company’s artificial intelligence business. FoxConn, known for its production of Apple’s iphones, has also selected Houston as a site to expand its high-tech manufacturing capabilities.

The Road Ahead
In order for Houston to continue leading the way, local leaders must ensure our infrastructure is built for the 21st Century. Currently, however, the region is falling short here with one of the most pressing needs being developments in the Houston Water System (HWS).
HWS serves over five million people across seven counties, as well as the Port of Houston, the Texas Medical Center, and businesses responsible for 44% of the nation’s petrochemical production. Aging pipes and deteriorating water treatment facilities threaten livelihoods and basic water access all across the Greater Houston area. For instance, leaky pipes cause more than 32 billion gallons of water to be lost annually – that’s enough for the entire city of Fort Worth. The problems have been clearly identified by local leaders and now a number of our elected officials, including multiple “C” Club candidates, are fighting to get state funding to make the requisite improvements.

Onward and upward,
The “C” Club of Houston