Medical professionals and advocates want the city to direct more money to treatment and to improve transparency on how the funding is spent.
José Luis Martínez
José worked as a data reporter at the Connecticut Mirror. Prior to that, he’s held internships or fellowships at the Wall Street Journal, Texas Tribune, American Public Media Group, ProPublica, Bloomberg and the Knight Center for Journalism in the Americas. A native of Houston, he graduated from the University of Texas at Austin with a degree in journalism. He is fluent in Spanish.
Posted inPolitics & Government
Houston passed an ordinance to combat wage theft 12 years ago. How is it working?
The city’s wage theft ordinance was intended to supplement state and federal labor law, but its lack of enforcement authority has blunted its effect.
Posted inPolitics & Government
Galena Park has a budget. Good luck finding it as city ignores state transparency rules.
With few records online and minimal meeting minutes, it is unlikely many of the more than 10,000 residents know how their taxes are being used.
Posted inPolitics & Government
Receipts: Houston is a frequent target of lawsuits. They cost taxpayers millions every year.
Houston’s legal bills shot to more than $670 million in fiscal 2024, most of which went toward the backpay settlement with city firefighters.
Posted inPolitics & Government
Receipts: Like everyone else these days, the city of Houston is hooked on online shopping
Houston City Council in January approved another $8.2 million in spending via the Amazon Business Prime account through mid-2027.
Posted inPolitics & Government
Receipts: The city of Houston buys a lot of stuff. The cost goes beyond the price tag.
The city must adhere to more than a dozen purchasing policies that vary by the amount and type of materials and services it is seeking.
Posted inPolitics & Government
Houston employees spent millions via credit cards, but it’s hard to tell what they bought
The lack of transparency prompted the city to roll out a series of changes over the next year to improve oversight of its purchase card rules.
Posted inPolitics & Government
Receipts: How your toll road fees pay to ferry cars across the Houston Ship Channel
The annual price tag has varied the last few years, with higher costs attributed to equipment upgrades and changes in fuel and staffing costs.
Posted inPolitics & Government
Receipts: It takes a lot of green – and a lot of sweat – to keep Houston’s parks green
Greenspace Management is the largest division in the Houston Parks and Recreation Department, consuming nearly a quarter of its $108 million budget.
Posted inPolitics & Government
Receipts: What it costs to fully outfit a Houston firefighter (it’s more than you think)
The cost of the more than two dozen pieces of protective gear worn or carried by firefighters is about the same as a new subcompact car.