The gist
Houston Mayor John Whitmire announced in a news release March 1 that the United Airlines proposal would return to the council agenda March 6 in hopes of moving the project past its current delayed status.
However, the item was not given to the council in time for a vote.
Whitmire said the delay came from the Houston city controller's office, where it originally hit a delay in November after former Controller Chris Brown declined to approve the agreement due to various concerns.
"The controller has a job to do, and I respect that," Whitmire said in a March 6 press conference. "We felt like—and I still am confident—that it was time to put it on the agenda and get it passed, and the alternative started a discussion. So I will be in touch, as we have been, with the controller, but the finance department, the new aviation director and my office reviewed it and I believe it's time to certify it and move forward."
Whitmire said he respects the controller's responsibility in the process, but is confident the deal will be completed.
