Let us know what you think by clicking here to send us a text.

We invited Patrick Oathout, a born-and-raised Houstonian, Army armor officer veteran, and technologist working in AI safety, to make it concrete. He breaks down how a council member can actually change daily life in District C without grandstanding: organize neighbors before storms hit, clean up illegal dumping quickly, and push 311 from “addressed” to “resolved” with real-time dashboards and human accountability.

Patrick’s story powers his approach. Fired as a teen for being gay, he learned early what it means to be shut out—and how to fight back with purpose. Years later he led a tank platoon in NATO’s battlegroup in Poland, where clarity under pressure wasn’t optional. Back home, he maps those lessons onto Houston’s needs: designate nonpartisan block captains, stock storm toolboxes, identify who has generators, and give each block a direct line to utilities. None of it requires waiting on a budget cycle; all of it builds trust neighbors can feel.

We also dig into public safety that’s measurable, not theatrical. Think smarter camera placement that actually catches plates, noise meters that help triage, and town halls that teach residents how to collect usable evidence. Pair that with a simple, public tracker for reports—so people can see where a case sits and who owns it. On city services, he argues for a customer-service mindset: auto-updates for common trash delays, human escalation when tickets stall, and a clear standard of “resolved,” not “closed.”

Because District C touches every other district, coalition-building matters. Patrick lays out how to work with fellow council members and the mayor to defend local control when the state tries to strip it, especially around flood control funds. He’s not promising to “fix flooding” in a year; he’s promising visible progress that earns trust today, while we build long-term infrastructure tomorrow. Along the way, he commits to inclusive town halls across the district, diverse staffing, and clear communication that meets people where they are.

If you care about pragmatic fixes, neighbor-to-neighbor resilience, and using data without losing the human touch, you’ll find a roadmap here. Listen, share with a Houston friend, and if it resonates, subscribe and leave a review so more neighbors can find us.

For more on Patrick Oathout for Houston City Council District C click here for more information:  https://patrickforhouston.com/

Support the show

We hope you will listen often.

For more information, visit our website 22sides.com