Houston's city-wide hiring freeze goes into effect today

Houston's city-wide hiring freeze is now in effect, a decision made by Mayor John Whitmire to address the city's financial challenges. This follows reports of credit card misuse, redundant staffing, and a concentration of contracts with a few vendors. Mayor Whitmire emphasized that the freeze applies to most departments, excluding public safety positions like first responders, as the city works to ensure taxpayer dollars are spent more wisely.