New Orleans’ first Hispanic mayor tied to Houston

Joy Sewing, Columnist joy.sewing@houstonchronicle.com

Houston and New Orleans share a vibrant cultural heartbeat, from the delicious cuisine to the rhythms of their music.  But their connection is more than that. It’s the people who move between the two cities and the experiences they bring with them.  

So it’s no surprise that New Orleans’ first Hispanic mayor Helena Moreno has strong Houston roots. Born in Mexico, Moreno moved to Houston when she was 8 and graduated from Episcopal High School in 1995. She even started in journalism, interning at ABC 13 and KHOU 11 stations. She worked as a TV reporter in Savannah, Georgia, and an anchor in New Orleans.  

In 2008, she turned to politics and public service and served as a state representative for eight years. 

Moreno faces some of the many issues that plague Houston – lack of affordable housing, sky-high insurance rates, gentrification of historic neighborhoods, poverty and infrastructure woes. According to the New York Times, she won the race with the support of Black politicians and pastors in the majority-Black city. 

An immigrant who was once considered an outsider in a city with a deeply rooted cultural identity, Moreno represents a new generation of leaders who hopefully can bridge and unite diverse communities.

What Else I'm Writing

When floods come, Houston rallies. But when elections come, we vanish Too many Houstonians have tuned out. Yet when disasters strike, Houston rallies. Why can't we summon the same urgency for a political storm? Read More

✔️ The Good:

HISD expands free food program

For a school district frequently under fire, Houston ISD is doing the right thing by expanding its free breakfast and after-school meal program. This move comes as SNAP benefits are being slashed and the federal shutdown continues. HISD will expand its after-school supper program to 99 additional campuses. The district already serves free supper at 132 of its 274 schools. Nearly every HISD campus currently offers free breakfast and lunch to all of its students, and this latest expansion reinforces the district’s commitment to feeding its students so they don’t go hungry as families feel the economic squeeze. 

❌ The Bad:

Brian McKnight at Mayor's Holiday event? 

What Houston doesn’t need this holiday season is a celebrity steeped in controversy serenading us with Christmas cheer. But that’s what's happening: R&B legend Brian McKnight, known for his silky ballads, will headline “Deck the Hall: The Mayor’s Holiday Tree Lighting & Concert” at City Hall Dec. 6.  McKnight has made news in recent years for his family drama, more than his music. He has publicly disowned his four older biological children, including the late Niko McKnight, who died of cancer in May 2025, in favor of his family with second wife Leilani Mendoza.

On Instagram, he has referred to his estranged biological children as "products of sin" and "evil." He also legally changed his name to Brian Kainoa Makoa McKnight Sr. to match his newborn son’s name, despite already having an older son named Brian McKnight Jr. Houstonians have taken to social media to slam the McKnight choice. This holiday season, we need peace and happiness, not controversy and drama.  Read more in music critic Joey Guerra’s piece. 
 

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