Podcast

Episode 1: Mayor Sylvester Turner

Mark43 podcast episode 30 and headshot of Nick Ashton

Stephanie Rawlings talks with Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner about the challenges he faces as Mayor of the nation’s fourth-largest city. Now serving his 2nd term, Mayor Turner has managed significant challenges, including leading Houston’s response to the COVID-19 global pandemic and responding to national unrest and calls for improving community/police relations. 
Mayor Sylvester discusses these challenges, how being smart on crime does not mean being soft on crime, how he’s on a mission to enact such smart-on-crime policies as Mayor, and answers the question: What keeps him up at night?

powered by Sounder
An cybersecurity illustration. On the left, a man sits at his desk while working on a monitor and desktop computer. He is connected by a cord to a server. The cord has a cloud with a lock on it. On the right, a woman sits at her desk while working on a monitor and desktop computer. She is also connected by a cord to a server. The cord has a cloud with a lock on it.

Topics discussed: 

  • Increase in the crime rate and what’s under those numbers
  • Police reforms, including the “eight that can’t wait”
  • The Mayor’s Task Force on Policing Reform  
  • Responding to people in crisis
  • Relational Policing – building trust with the community  
  • Safe Harbor Court