Houston City Council issues proclamations for Houston Restaurant Week and Gun Safety Awareness Month

Mayor Pro Tem Martha Castex Tatum on behalf of Mayor John Whitmire proclaimed August 1 through Sept. 1, 2025, as Houston Restaurant Week and designated August 2025 as Gun Safety Awareness Month.

Houston Restaurant Week, which was described during the proclamation as the city’s largest annual fundraiser for the Houston Food Bank, began in 2003 and expanded to a month in 2012. Craig Howard, identified as a downtown business owner and incoming chair of the Eastern Restaurant Association, said the event “drives the economy” and thanked council members for assistance on permitting and other restaurant issues. “Restaurants … make people come, come back here, and move here because of our restaurants,” Howard said.

Bill O’Dell, board treasurer of Lock Arms for Life, accepted the gun-safety proclamation and described the nonprofit’s focus on safe firearm storage and education. O’Dell said the organization distributes gun locks and has produced a bilingual graphic novel for third- through fifth-graders to teach children to “stop, don’t touch, walk away, and get an adult.” “Every gun needs to be locked when not in use,” he said.

The proclamations were ceremonial presentations; council members offered brief remarks supporting the events. Councilmember Alcorn described Houston Restaurant Week as historically important to local restaurants and thanked organizers; Councilmember Davis expressed support for gun-safety efforts and noted connections between youth crime reduction and safe storage advocacy.

The presentations did not record formal council votes; proclamations were presented by the mayor pro tem and accepted by representatives of the restaurant community and Lock Arms for Life.

The council scheduled public-comment items and routine agenda business to follow the proclamations.