Scenic Houston today joined Mayor Bill White in marking the removal of one of 821 billboards scheduled to be taken down from Houston streets. This was the 100th billboard removed as part of an agreement that Scenic Houston helped negotiate between the City and Clear Channel Outdoor.

Downtown boosters want the city to relax its sign rules for the Houston Pavilions, a $170 million retail and entertainment complex set to open in the fall.

When Houston Mayor Bill White proposed an agreement with the major billboard operator in the city to speed up the removal of hundreds of signs along city streets, urban beautification advocates protested.

Richard Florida, author of the new book “Who’s Your City?,” explains what makes a region desirable, or rated as “one of the best places to live”. Through survey information collected with the Gallup Organization, Florida found that along with job and personal life, the place where a person lives is one of the most important factors in determining happiness. The survey identified five key factors closely associated with happiness across many communities: strong infrastructure basics like great schools, good roads and public transportation; physical and economic security; high quality of civic and business leadership; openness to many types of people; and beauty of the community.

Mayor Bill White said Thursday he would delay a council vote on a controversial billboard plan, in order to work out a consensus with beautification groups.