Discover video-sourced quotes by politicians

John Whitmire: “Juneteenth is now a nationally recognized holiday.”

Featuring: John Whitmire, Nonpartisan | Mayor of Houston | Texas

Mayor Whitmire on FIFA, Budget Vote, And Plant Fire | 901 Bagby: Inside the Mayor's Office | Ep. 12

Published June 26, 2026 | Video Starts at 09:36

Well, I was very honored to be the honorary chair, and I told him I would agree to do that only if I could share that honor with everyone that was there in heat and humidity and really … Juneteenth is now a nationally recognized holiday. … to meeting as a senator Opal Lee, little old lady from Fort Worth that led the effort to make it a national recognized holiday. So I think about her a lot. (09:36–09:45)

CLAIM

Asserts that Juneteenth has been recognized as a national holiday.

This is an excerpt from a raw transcript. The assertions have not been audited or verified. Tap the video to view the source footage and understand the context.

Discover more from

John Whitmire

“We created the opportunity through hotel occupancy tax again to double the size, spend $2 billion on the George Brown.”
Mayor Whitmire on FIFA, Budget Vote, And Plant Fire | 901 Bagby: Inside the Mayor's Office | Ep. 12 | Uploaded June 26, 2026 | 14:59-15:08
“We've had the busiest spring in our history. Starting early in the spring with the national cheerleaders competition. 70,000 young…”
Mayor Whitmire on FIFA, Budget Vote, And Plant Fire | 901 Bagby: Inside the Mayor's Office | Ep. 12 | Uploaded June 26, 2026 | 15:14-15:26
“We've got more police officers after graduating 800 since I was sworn in. Largest police department ever.”
Mayor Whitmire on FIFA, Budget Vote, And Plant Fire | 901 Bagby: Inside the Mayor's Office | Ep. 12 | Uploaded June 26, 2026 | 21:10-21:18
“July 4th, we start out with our neighborhood parades. Noon on July 4th, there will be a FIFA game at NRG.”
Mayor Whitmire on FIFA, Budget Vote, And Plant Fire | 901 Bagby: Inside the Mayor's Office | Ep. 12 | Uploaded June 26, 2026 | 22:02-22:11
“The previous administration was blessed with federal Covid ARPA money that they used for ongoing expenses.”
Mayor Whitmire on FIFA, Budget Vote, And Plant Fire | 901 Bagby: Inside the Mayor's Office | Ep. 12 | Uploaded June 26, 2026 | 01:31-01:40
“We have a pay as you go [budget].”
Mayor Whitmire on FIFA, Budget Vote, And Plant Fire | 901 Bagby: Inside the Mayor's Office | Ep. 12 | Uploaded June 26, 2026 | 01:42-01:46
“We did [implement a right away fee to our utilities].”
Mayor Whitmire on FIFA, Budget Vote, And Plant Fire | 901 Bagby: Inside the Mayor's Office | Ep. 12 | Uploaded June 26, 2026 | 01:46-02:04
“Yes, we have a $5 administration fee for solid waste.”
Mayor Whitmire on FIFA, Budget Vote, And Plant Fire | 901 Bagby: Inside the Mayor's Office | Ep. 12 | Uploaded June 26, 2026 | 02:17-02:23
“Studies have shown the real cost of the administration of solid waste is like six and a half dollars.”
Mayor Whitmire on FIFA, Budget Vote, And Plant Fire | 901 Bagby: Inside the Mayor's Office | Ep. 12 | Uploaded June 26, 2026 | 02:31-02:37
“We had over 30 letters from interest groups as diverse as Acres, Home Chamber, Commerce and the west side Business association, the Houston…”
Mayor Whitmire on FIFA, Budget Vote, And Plant Fire | 901 Bagby: Inside the Mayor's Office | Ep. 12 | Uploaded June 26, 2026 | 03:51-04:03
“We gave like 90 briefings across Houston.”
Mayor Whitmire on FIFA, Budget Vote, And Plant Fire | 901 Bagby: Inside the Mayor's Office | Ep. 12 | Uploaded June 26, 2026 | 04:08-04:12
“No one in recent history, no one can recall that [a budget passed 15 to 1] in recent history.”
Mayor Whitmire on FIFA, Budget Vote, And Plant Fire | 901 Bagby: Inside the Mayor's Office | Ep. 12 | Uploaded June 26, 2026 | 04:24-04:26
“Metro improved the train schedule from every six minutes to every three minutes [at NRG].”
Mayor Whitmire on FIFA, Budget Vote, And Plant Fire | 901 Bagby: Inside the Mayor's Office | Ep. 12 | Uploaded June 26, 2026 | 08:08-08:14
“We didn't reduce our fan fest like other major cities did to save money.”
Mayor Whitmire on FIFA, Budget Vote, And Plant Fire | 901 Bagby: Inside the Mayor's Office | Ep. 12 | Uploaded June 26, 2026 | 08:30-08:37
“We didn't raise the cost [of the Fan fest].”
Mayor Whitmire on FIFA, Budget Vote, And Plant Fire | 901 Bagby: Inside the Mayor's Office | Ep. 12 | Uploaded June 26, 2026 | 08:30-08:37
“The Fan fest under Chris Canetti's direction and the sports authority got corporate sponsors, used city services to make things safe, clean…”
Mayor Whitmire on FIFA, Budget Vote, And Plant Fire | 901 Bagby: Inside the Mayor's Office | Ep. 12 | Uploaded June 26, 2026 | 08:41-08:55
“The Bethune Empowerment Center was an old elementary school in the Aldine school district.”
Mayor Whitmire on FIFA, Budget Vote, And Plant Fire | 901 Bagby: Inside the Mayor's Office | Ep. 12 | Uploaded June 26, 2026 | 11:56-12:07
“Freedmanstown was established by freed slaves.”
Mayor Whitmire on FIFA, Budget Vote, And Plant Fire | 901 Bagby: Inside the Mayor's Office | Ep. 12 | Uploaded June 26, 2026 | 12:34-12:43
“The original bricks [in Freedmanstown] have been protected.”
Mayor Whitmire on FIFA, Budget Vote, And Plant Fire | 901 Bagby: Inside the Mayor's Office | Ep. 12 | Uploaded June 26, 2026 | 12:59-13:03
“Row houses [in Freedmanstown] are going to be refurbished.”
Mayor Whitmire on FIFA, Budget Vote, And Plant Fire | 901 Bagby: Inside the Mayor's Office | Ep. 12 | Uploaded June 26, 2026 | 13:02-13:06
“I created a sports authority and a revenue stream wouldn't cost Houstonians any property tax or any local taxes.”
Mayor Whitmire on FIFA, Budget Vote, And Plant Fire | 901 Bagby: Inside the Mayor's Office | Ep. 12 | Uploaded June 26, 2026 | 14:26-14:35
“Centerpoints agreed to relocate [the old power plant]... So that's going to be a green space that'll enhance the entertainment district.”
Mayor Whitmire on FIFA, Budget Vote, And Plant Fire | 901 Bagby: Inside the Mayor's Office | Ep. 12 | Uploaded June 26, 2026 | 16:44-16:51
“This morning the rodeo announced that they're going to go just south on 288, spend 300 million for a new arena, new exhibit hall.”
Mayor Whitmire on FIFA, Budget Vote, And Plant Fire | 901 Bagby: Inside the Mayor's Office | Ep. 12 | Uploaded June 26, 2026 | 17:11-17:21
“This last budget, we refuse to raise property taxes.”
Mayor Whitmire on FIFA, Budget Vote, And Plant Fire | 901 Bagby: Inside the Mayor's Office | Ep. 12 | Uploaded June 26, 2026 | 17:35-17:40
“When I was sworn in, they were making $14 an hour. Now they're at 20. They'll get to 22.”
Mayor Whitmire on FIFA, Budget Vote, And Plant Fire | 901 Bagby: Inside the Mayor's Office | Ep. 12 | Uploaded June 26, 2026 | 17:55-18:02
“The health department said it did not reach the level that the federal EPA calls a dangerous zone.”
Mayor Whitmire on FIFA, Budget Vote, And Plant Fire | 901 Bagby: Inside the Mayor's Office | Ep. 12 | Uploaded June 26, 2026 | 19:17-19:24
“The owner did not have the proper insurance and wasn't properly prepared for a loss.”
Mayor Whitmire on FIFA, Budget Vote, And Plant Fire | 901 Bagby: Inside the Mayor's Office | Ep. 12 | Uploaded June 26, 2026 | 20:13-20:20
“The morale has never been higher. And we're starting, we started this week, the largest fire cadet class we've had in our history.”
Mayor Whitmire on FIFA, Budget Vote, And Plant Fire | 901 Bagby: Inside the Mayor's Office | Ep. 12 | Uploaded June 26, 2026 | 21:02-21:11
“Solid waste is improving and it's only going to get better.”
Mayor Whitmire on FIFA, Budget Vote, And Plant Fire | 901 Bagby: Inside the Mayor's Office | Ep. 12 | Uploaded June 26, 2026 | 21:38-21:43
“We've reached capacity every day. It's been operating. Had to shut down a time or two because of lightning.”
Mayor Whitmire on FIFA, Budget Vote, And Plant Fire | 901 Bagby: Inside the Mayor's Office | Ep. 12 | Uploaded June 26, 2026 | 22:20-22:27
“We'll have the largest fireworks display ever.”
Mayor Whitmire on FIFA, Budget Vote, And Plant Fire | 901 Bagby: Inside the Mayor's Office | Ep. 12 | Uploaded June 26, 2026 | 22:46-22:50
“I have not traveled out of the country, really out of state, just twice since being elected.”
Mayor Whitmire on FIFA, Budget Vote, And Plant Fire | 901 Bagby: Inside the Mayor's Office | Ep. 12 | Uploaded June 26, 2026 | 23:41-23:47