The Thomas Telegraph | Vol. 7, Issue 10 – June 6, 2025

I have not shared a newsletter in the last few weeks so this one is a full recap includes the most recent council actions and updates.

FY26 Budget Vote
After 8.5 hours of deliberation, amendments, and community protests, I voted NO on the FY26 proposed budget. While I acknowledge the department directors’ good faith efforts to do more with less, the reduction of over 1,000 employees and deep cuts to already lean departments left no room to address the critical services we all rely on—neighborhood wellness, parks, public health, and more. I could not, in good conscience, support a budget that compromises our quality of life. This is not the economy to be without employment.

View my full statement below.
Learn more about the FY26 budget.
Read news on the FY26 budget here.

Victory for Piney Point
Congratulations, Piney Point! On Wednesday, City Council unanimously approved accepting a $573,300 federal earmark to rebuild the Walter J. Rasmus Heritage House at Rasmus Park. This project, initiated by descendants and advanced by the Friends of Rasmus Park, former CM Mike Laster, CM Edward Pollard, and now myself, is a true community win.

I worked with Rep. Lizzie Fletcher (TX-07) to secure the federal funds, and she happily accepted—her office will soon announce the groundbreaking. We’ll celebrate this together.

Bellaire/Dairy Ashford
I’m not sure if you’ve noticed, but the old storage unit at the intersection near Alief Elsik High School has been torn down—in fact, the entire intersection has been cleared. While I don’t yet have confirmed details on future development, this is a major win for blight removal in our community. As many of you know, this structure had become a serious safety concern in recent years, with multiple fires set by unhoused individuals, putting both themselves and nearby residents at risk. Its removal marks a significant step forward in improving safety and the visual integrity of our neighborhood—especially being directly across from one of our largest high schools. As soon as more information becomes available regarding what’s next for this site, I’ll be sure to share. But for now—hooray for progress.

Solid Waste Transition Update
The Solid Waste Department (SWD) is transitioning from four to two service quadrants to improve service delivery. This shift will take 4–6 months to fully implement. Please continue to leave bins out until service is complete. My office is in regular contact with SWD to monitor progress. I have heard from Huntington Village; Imperial Point and a host of other neighborhoods experience similar delays. I appreciate your patience and understand your frustration but trust me we are working to clear the delays.

Updated holiday schedule included below as we prepare for Juneteenth (June 19) and Independence Day (July 4).

CDBG-24 Disaster Recovery Funds
The City of Houston has been awarded $314M in CDBG-24 funds by the Biden-Harris Administration to address damage from the Derecho (April) and Hurricane Beryl (July). On Monday, June 3rd the Housing and Community Development Department shared its proposal at the Budget and Finance Committee.

Despite $299M earmarked for unmet housing needs, the current proposal includes:

$0.00 for housing
$0.00 for economic development

The proposal does include:
Purchase of police cars, ambulances, lift stations, homelessness, and land for debris removal.

As Chair of Housing and Affordability, I strongly oppose this plan. But you don’t have to take my word for it—make your voice heard during the two public hearings. Keep in mind, in District F alone, 32,000 residents received $20.8M in FEMA assistance due to housing damage from both Derecho and Beryl.

Details on hearings and how to comment.
Watch my ABC 13 interview on CDBG DR24.

New Down Payment Assistance – Up to $120K
June 30: The city will launch a new down payment assistance program for those impacted by Hurricane Harvey, with support ranging from $50,000 to $120,000. This opportunity, made possible through negotiations with the Texas General Land Office, can help more Houstonians become homeowners.

Learn more and prepare to apply with your realtor

Air Quality Monitoring in 77072
There is a concrete batch plant near residential and commercial properties on Wilcrest/Westpark. To ensure community safety, my office has purchased three air monitors through the Houston Health Department. We will provide regular updates once installed.

Summer of Safety – Get Involved
June is Public Safety Month.
We are working with the Houston Parks Department to host our annual Swim Safety Day at the Alief Aquatic Center. Stay tuned for details and RSVP information.
We’re also partnering with Houston Fire to canvas apartment complexes recently impacted by 3-alarm fires.

Want to help? Join our volunteer team:
Register here.

Hurricane Season is HERE! Prepare for Hurricane Season:
•    Review your insurance policy
•    Check your disaster kit
•    Update your evacuation plan
•    Follow READYHOUSTONTX.GOV

With reduced federal support this season, self-preparation is essential. Please don’t wait.

Starting next week, the District F Dream Team Interns will return to the Westside, Tommy Wan, Julian Nguyen and Rosa Cruz, will join us through October. When you see them in the community, show them some love and cheer them on.

Best Regards,

We are committed to helping you stay ready and resilient. For comprehensive guidance on how to prepare yourself, your family, and your neighborhood, please visit READYHOUSTONTX.GOV.

Stay informed. Stay prepared. Stay safe.

 Watch the PSA here!

The PSA aims to educate residents on when to call 9-1-1 versus 3-1-1, helping ensure emergency lines remain clear for true emergencies. Council Member Thomas continues to advocate for public safety, education, and community awareness across District F.

Stay tuned for the full PSA release!

Take a short survey to share what makes Piney Point special to you. Your ideas will help guide the murals design — from local landmarks and nature to everyday life and public safety.

Click here to take the survey or scan the QR code on the flyer below.
Deadline to participate: June 15

Council Member Tiffany Thomas, in partnership with UP Art Studio, is looking forward to bringing this to the community.

Construction is scheduled to begin in Spring 2027 and conclude by Spring 2028. For more details, contact Cuong Nguyen, Project Manager, at [email protected].

The roundtable featured participation from 10+ local organizations, including SAiD Institute, Houston Haitians United, Leonet Community of Greater Houston, Texas Africa Chamber of Commerce, Houston Caribbean Professional Association, Nigerian American Multi-Cultural Council, Nigerian Center, Houston – Luanda Sister Cities, and Shrine of the Black Madonna. These groups, representing a wide range of diasporas, contributed valuable insights and perspectives on the challenges and opportunities facing black immigrant communities in Houston.

The event also welcomed the participation of immigration attorneys and featured keynote remarks from The Honorable Clarease Yates.

Council Member Thomas reaffirmed her commitment to supporting immigrant families in District F by fostering collaboration, increasing access to legal resources, and amplifying the voices of underrepresented communities. The Immigration Roundtable stands as a testament to the district’s dedication to being a welcoming, inclusive, and empowered community for all.

 Watch the recap & testimonials here!

In her remarks, Council Member Thomas reflected on her deep roots in the Alief community—as a graduate, resident, and public servant—and reaffirmed her commitment to partnering with the district to support students and families. She acknowledged the collective strength of the Alief community through challenges like the pandemic, housing instability, and natural disasters, emphasizing that the award is a shared recognition of their collective resilience and care.

“This award may have my name on it,” she said, “but it belongs to all of us.”

Attendees heard directly from a robust panel of City of Houston departments, including the Department of Neighborhoods, Solid Waste Management, Houston Public Works, Houston Police Department, Administrative and Regulatory Affairs (ARA), Houston Health Department, the City Legal Department, and Houston 311.

Thank you to all who participated and helped strengthen community connections through transparent dialogue and collaboration.

This special occasion recognized the profound contributions of Filipino nurses to Houston’s healthcare system and honored their dedication, compassion, and resilience—especially in the face of global health challenges. Council Member Thomas expressed her deep gratitude for their service and emphasized the importance of supporting and uplifting immigrant communities who are essential to the city’s well-being.

It was a powerful moment of appreciation, cultural pride, and recognition of the vital role Filipino nurses play in caring for our community.

The conversation highlighted Council Member Thomas’ legislative priorities, including infrastructure investment, the future of the Minority, Women, and Small Business Enterprises (MWSBE) ordinance, and fiscal challenges facing the City of Houston.

The discussion also covered topics such as improving city contracting processes, updates on Houston Public Works, permitting reforms, and the importance of regional collaboration on mobility and federal funding. Council Member Thomas emphasized the value of continued engagement with industry leaders and welcomed ACEC’s collaboration.

The meeting offered a meaningful opportunity for dialogue and partnership between the public and private sectors to help shape Houston’s future.

“I joined my name with Council Members Pollard and Jackson to place an ordinance on the Wednesday, May 28, 2025 City Council agenda to end the Houston Police Department’s mandatory traffic stops for minor equipment violations – such as cracked windshields and non-functioning taillights—following months of collaborative dialogue with community advocacy groups, civil rights attorneys, and the Police Officers’ Union. This proposal, which builds on last week’s vote to increase officer pay in recognition of the daily risks they face, redirects patrol time and attention toward violent and property crimes where it’s needed most. As a council member, I regularly hear from residents requesting HPD’s help with noise disturbances, property crimes, and domestic violence—not their neighbor’s expired inspection sticker—underscoring the need to continue to align policing with community priorities. The ordinance does not prohibit officers from using minor equipment violations as a lawful basis to stop individuals already identified or reasonably suspected of involvement in criminal activity to further an investigation. If adopted, it will spare honest drivers the anxiety of being pulled over for unavoidable vehicle defects, demonstrate a policy shaped by community input, and strengthen trust between law enforcement and the neighborhoods they serve.” 

Services will resume the day following each holiday, and customers are urged to review the information below to ensure they are prepared for the holiday schedule.

• Juneteenth Day – Thursday, June 19, 2025
• Independence Day – Friday, July 4, 2025

Please review the chart below for changes to the residential collection schedule for each holiday week:

Sign up here for general Volunteer Team opportunities.

Sign up here for our Volunteer Translation Team to assist with outreach and ensure all voices in our diverse district are heard.

Together, we can strengthen and support District F!