REGULATE HOUSTON'S PORT
STOP HOUSTON'S PORT FROM BEING A WEAPONS PIPELINE
The Port of Houston is one of the busiest and most powerful waterways in the entire country, moving more waterborne tonnage than any other port in the nation, and that power should never be quietly used to move weapons of war. Houstonians have raised serious, documented concerns that military cargo, including components for F-35 fighter jets, moves through the Port of Houston aboard commercial container ships before being trucked to assembly facilities elsewhere in Texas. These are the same weapons systems implicated in the devastation of Gaza and genocide of the Palestinian people. Residents, dockworkers, students, and faith leaders have organized for over a year through the Houston Arms Embargo campaign to demand transparency about what is moving through our port and in whose name.
As mayor, Neeloy will not look away from this.
TRANSPARENCY OVER WHAT MOVES THROUGH OUR PORT
The Port of Houston Authority is governed jointly by the City and Harris County, and the Mayor sits at that table, appointing the Port Commission's chair alongside City Council and holding real say over who represents Houston's interests on that board. Neeloy will use that seat to demand full public accountability: requiring the Port Commissioners appointed by the City to disclose, to the fullest extent the law allows, what categories of military and dual-use cargo move through publicly regulated terminals, and pushing for an independent audit of city resources, contracts, and personnel connected to that cargo.
HOLDING CITY-APPOINTED COMMISSIONERS ACCOUNTABLE
Neeloy will direct the City Attorney's office to formally investigate whether any city funds, city police resources, or city contracts are being used to facilitate the movement of weapons cargo, and to report findings publicly. He will introduce a City Council resolution calling on Congress and the federal government to halt weapons transfers implicated in violations of international law, and will ensure city-appointed Port Commissioners are held accountable, including removal for cause, if they act against the values and safety of Houston residents.
PROTECTING HOUSTONIANS' RIGHT TO ORGANIZE
Neeloy will also protect the right of Houstonians, including port workers, students, and faith communities to organize and protest peacefully, without HPD resources being diverted to suppress lawful dissent.
BEING HONEST ABOUT THE LIMITS, AND USING EVERY TOOL WE HAVE
Neeloy is clear-eyed that arms exports are ultimately regulated at the federal level, and that no mayor can unilaterally rewrite that authority. But Houston does not have to be a passive bystander in decisions made in its own backyard. A city that claims to stand for human rights and diversity cannot quietly host the machinery of war without asking hard questions. Under Neeloy's leadership, Houston will use every legal tool available to demand transparency, protect its residents' right to organize, and make clear that our port belongs to the people of this city, not to unaccountable interests who profit from conflict.