[{"_1":2,"_87":-5,"_88":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6520563,"mediaKeyId","5322175-e40461d5f9fc4a4eb32180d3af263237","parentId",5322175,"title","Houston officials say city coordinating with federal agencies after Kerrville fatalities; HPD on standby","audioSeconds",609,"startMs",259949,"endMs",869860,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=5322175-e40461d5f9fc4a4eb32180d3af263237&start=259&end=869","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5322175-e40461d5f9fc4a4eb32180d3af263237/thumbnail_259949.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6520563/Houston/Harris-County/Texas/Houston-officials-say-city-coordinating-with-federal-agencies-after-Kerrville-fatalities-HPD-on-standby","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6520563-3ec2e8faf38ff3947ff9f7db75feeda9/orig.mp4?Expires=1771004954&Signature=RfAz0FHQX83-SpWRZHTeq2Q0ZrEdaIwIbXvTyiG-aUAO8rY-rnEhyVIkcNg88fgv4j35OPqkVd1TpOKFj67-ufiopxLNH0GQoEhaANe8qvyk6nl3U2SCSEtB0xRUrMaLdZAdt8lY4nqT8qQdTZlN0Zxl6tvFfczLVmi7gHVyGU9QmpvMT79-UxDHpfe2fb9QqtfSD2gf84~AgTY3oEdTpXc5Ev2vDodaG~dLW-9Oid7eN5WCPBMMbDRspSiRF40lYto~EO6ih9KNeNDuKybMOMEV6iWmg7AaKnlkbHjKA~f5bpAn1D23R0~BaJMR1qPEom7ot-MxHuuH7YcmhJRX7g__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Houston","date","2025-07-07T00:00:00Z","article","The mayor of Houston addressed recent fatalities in Kerrville, offering condolences and saying city agencies are coordinating with federal partners on rescue and recovery efforts.

\"Before we go to work, I wanna speak to the loss of lives in Kerrville, the loss of lives of Houstonians,\" the mayor said. He said officials were \"keeping our eye on weather reports\" and that the city's emergency center and first responders, including public works, were prepared.

City leaders said federal agencies — including the U.S. Coast Guard and National Guard — had substantially taken over the rescue response, and that Houston police had been asked to remain on standby. \"In fact, last night, we sent additional resources. HPD is on call. Largely, we were advised that the federal government is pretty much taken over the rescue with the coast guard, the national guard, and other, agencies,\" the mayor said.

The mayor named several officials and units involved in coordination: Director Ricardo (who led the city's Freedom Over Texas event), Nim Kidd, Freeman Martin (director of DPS), Chief Munoz, Chief Diaz and Ron Mason. He said dive teams and other specialized units had been deployed and that city leaders were in constant contact with federal and state authorities.

The mayor urged unity and compassion while families remained in distress, saying the situation \"is probably as bad a tragedy as I've seen in my 50 plus years of public service\" and calling for Houstonians to come together regardless of partisan or other differences.

Officials did not announce new policy actions, emergency declarations or specific resource counts in the remarks. The mayor said he would consult with counsel and his team on \"other steps we can take to assist the families\" but provided no further specifics during these remarks.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Houston - Press Conference: \"City of Houston Permitting Center Launches 30 Day Permit Program\" - Jul 07, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","The mayor of Houston offered condolences for lives lost in Kerrville, said federal agencies had taken a lead on rescue operations, and described Houston's ongoing readiness and coordination with local and federal responders.","taxTitle","Houston, Harris County, Texas","taxId",2797,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6520568,"Houston launches 30-day residential permit pilot; mayor sets 30-day review",494,19335,513535,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5322175-e40461d5f9fc4a4eb32180d3af263237&start=19&end=513","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5322175-e40461d5f9fc4a4eb32180d3af263237/thumbnail_19335.jpg","/articles/6520568/Houston/Harris-County/Texas/Houston-launches-30-day-residential-permit-pilot-mayor-sets-30-day-review","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6520568-b31251c4aab0c798feb71f8fa4c74df5/orig.mp4?Expires=1771004954&Signature=NMxUTE~TIo-zyErL6~nLaFkQKrZQruaZay7v8xXCHSiPFalUT3eCeK31sRlneJWwXpKicpFuobk181hs2hmRPIeUvvv36BEAl5juHL2ODdABM65G1vmPIZvghgPx05h5Xf2fV8j59k7bn66yahVKe9IBwTrCi8CBOCyAFwohB1L7nZ027eG-wBFwfvA6TxAxeFhK6LUYCQpDcJT9Km~L0fJFDyjvEte2DF2f8edZ6fN4HHdgJf9WCF9ciq0Egpz4pNKaad81-OwKhJGCXqZcSanXaAl5eKmrXWqv4UvmqC3tB3xRNQRXS56M~FOByq93RwoQSpGGayYswYEYn72UMg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The mayor of Houston announced a pilot project intended to complete the residential permitting process within 30 days and said he will return in 30 days for a review and celebration if the target is met.

The pilot aims to shorten permitting times that city leaders said have increased housing costs and discouraged some builders from working inside the city. \"It affects affordability, and it definitely impacts economic development,\" the mayor said. \"I've had numerous home builders tell me in meetings that they will not work inside the city of Houston.\" He added that the shortened time frame is one of his \"major accomplishments as mayor in 18 months.\"

Councilmember Kelsall Alcorn, who the mayor credited with prioritizing permitting reform, said the office has pursued incremental changes and praised the 30-day goal. \"We've been just trying incrementally to make progress in streamlining processes and making that time frame shorter. It saves money. It makes places more affordable. It makes people wanna build in the city,\" Alcorn said. She said the pilot will start with residential permitting and that she hopes it can expand to commercial permitting after the model is proven.

City officials repeatedly thanked department staff for their work. The mayor named Brandy, Rudy, Von, Marlene and others and said employee morale has \"never been higher.\" A member of city management identified in the meeting as the public works director said the residential pilot \"will serve as the model for us across all other disciplines moving forward\" and acknowledged the team expects to \"learn a lot of lessons along the way.\"

Officials said the 30-day target gives staff and applicants a clear goal. Councilmember Alcorn and the mayor credited staff members including Chris Butler for operational work on permitting, and the mayor said the administration will monitor the pilot and remain engaged during the trial.

No formal vote or ordinance was recorded in the remarks. City leaders described the item as a managerial pilot and an administrative priority, not a legislative change.

The mayor framed the pilot as part of a broader push to address quality-of-life and economic issues in Houston, urging departments to apply lessons from the residential pilot to other permitting areas if it succeeds.","The mayor of Houston announced a pilot to complete residential permitting in 30 days, praising staff and naming Councilmember Kelsall Alcorn for helping push the change. City leaders said the effort aims to improve affordability and economic development and could be expanded to commercial permitting.","actionData","errors"]

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Houston officials say city coordinating with federal agencies after Kerrville fatalities; HPD on standby

Houston launches 30-day residential permit pilot; mayor sets 30-day review