The Thomas Telegraph | Upcoming Budget Vote, Ebola monitoring and Jadarius ‘Jade’ Roberts | Vol. 8, Issue 12 – May. 29, 2026

I hope each of you enjoyed Memorial Weekend and took time to honor those who deserve to live on in our history books and in our memory forever.

This newsletter is full of updates, post-event links, and resources for you and your neighbors. I want to focus my remarks on the city’s upcoming budget vote and public safety.

FY27 City of Houston Budget

As you all are aware, the city’s proposed budget includes an administrative (trash) fee of $5.00 for the first two years, increasing to $25.00 by 2029. I have raised several concerns about the budget structure, including the implementation of this fee and the decision not to allow the City Council to vote on the increase separately before budget hearings. You have heard from me—now I need to hear from you. Click here. The vote is scheduled for Wednesday, June 3, at 9:00 AM. The item is expected to be tagged (delayed one week) and will reappear on the agenda on Wednesday, June 10.

Homicide at Old Wells Fargo on Hillcroft

On Thursday, May 28, I joined the family of Jadarius Roberts (also known as Jade), alongside KHOU’s Orko Manna, to encourage the public to come forward with any information related to the homicide that occurred on January 2, 2026. As we arrived, the building was in the process of demolition—a significant step forward in addressing long-standing blight—but also a bittersweet moment, as it was the last known location of Jadarius/Jade. It is reported that approximately 15–25 individuals were living at the site. If you know anything, please contact HPD at 713-308-3600 or Crime Stoppers at 713-222-TIPS. Watch the clip here.

Vice Raid on Richmond at Jeanetta

A SWAT raid took place on May 27 in the Midwest near Tanglewildge/Westmont and Carver Crest subdivisions. Illegal gambling activities are no secret on this side of the district. I want to applaud HPD for their continued efforts, including the after-hours task force we stood up in 2022 after the closing of Chemistry Lounge. A shooting took place in the same parking lot, maybe 24 hours before the raid. $350K in cash was recovered during the raid. For those of you who have worked with my office and have been vocal in helping us identify suspicious activity – thank you. Your efforts are working. Please continue tethering to Midwest HPD and let us continue working together to create safer communities.

Ebola Update
On Wednesday, May 27, Dr. Tran, with the Houston Health Department, provided City Council with an update on protocols in place following IAH being designated as an entry site for individuals potentially affected by Ebola. As someone who served during the COVID-19 pandemic, I can say that we are in a much stronger position, and there is no immediate cause for alarm regarding the spread of the virus. That said, I have requested formal communication from HHD so we can share clear guidance with the public. In the meantime, you can watch her report here.

Container Replacement Requests

As of May 28, District F has 78 active requests in 311. The Hot Spot team successfully reduced a backlog of over 300 requests that had accumulated due to delays within Solid Waste during the department’s restructuring. At this time, the Hot Spot team will no longer handle container replacements. Requests will now be managed directly through Solid Waste following standard 311 protocols. I want to extend my deep appreciation to the District F Hot Spot team for their flexibility and willingness to support broader office needs—especially in addressing ongoing quality-of-life concerns.

Unhoused Clinic with West Houston Assistance Ministries

Our work to address homelessness on the Westside continues. Starting on Monday, June 1^st, from 8-11 a.m. at West Houston Assistance Ministries, 10501 Meadowglen Ln, Houston, TX, 77042. At the same time, our partners at Agape Christian Fellowship have continued to assist those we serve with their Texas identification and personal documents, such as birth certificates, which can be a barrier to employment. We have secured/sponsored 7 IDs and around 5 birth certificates. One step closer to restoring people’s dignity. I have a major announcement coming soon in collaboration with SD 13 State Senator Borris Miles. I am proud of our effort and, more importantly, the results. If you are interested in joining our infrastructure on the west, reach out to [email protected].

Condolences

My sincere condolences to the family of Bill Jameson. I could always count on Bill and his wife to attend community meetings and stay engaged through their work with the Catalina Square HOA. The last time I saw Bill was at Jason’s Deli on Wilcrest last September. He was holding court—sitting with another gentleman, planning how to save the world, in true Bill fashion. He emailed me in January about meeting for coffee, and we never aligned our schedules. I was unaware of his passing until I ran into his wife at the TCEQ public meeting last week and noticed he was not by her side. Time is swift. Make the time. Take the time.

• Houston Defender: Houston apartment inspection ordinance will ‘tackle the worst first’
• Houston Chronicle: Houston honors Sheila Jackson Lee with Terminal E dedication at George Bush Intercontinental Airport

Budget workshops for the City of Houston are coming to a close as the council prepares for a vote on Wednesday, June 10.

There will be a public hearing ahead of the vote at 9 a.m. in the Anna Russell Council Chamber at City Hall.

Additionally, take Council Member Thomas’ budget survey here or via the QR code below.

Progress on Huntington Village Sewer Repair

Residents are encouraged to report all non-emergency concerns, including trash, recycling, heavy trash delays, potholes, and drainage, through the City’s 311 system by calling 3-1-1, submitting online, or using the app. After submission, a case number will be provided and should be saved for reference.

To receive assistance from the District F office, constituents should submit a 311 request, keep their case number, and email it to Sarai Robinson, Public Service and Community Engagement Specialist, at [email protected] or [email protected] for follow-up and escalation.

Additional Guidance

• Trash, recycling, or heavy trash delays: Email the case number and photos of the issue to assist with follow-up
• Requesting a new trash or recycling bin: Submit a 311 request first, then send the case number to the District F office
• Parking violations: Provide the vehicle’s make, model, color, and license plate number when filing with 311

Important
311 cases may show as “closed” while departments continue working internally. Constituents are still encouraged to send their case number to the District F office so staff can provide accurate updates and timelines. We cannot escalate or address concerns without a valid and recent 311 case number.

Sidewalk Requests
Sidewalk maintenance and repair requests fall under the purview of the neighborhood and are typically initiated through the City’s 311 system. The District F office does not process individual sidewalk requests directly.

For neighborhood-wide or HOA-led requests, it is recommended that the HOA submit a single, coordinated application to the District F office, along with the associated 311 case number. This ensures the request is properly documented and can be reviewed for potential next steps.

Depending on the scope of the project, the District F office may be able to explore funding options through Council District Service Funds (CDSF). If the request involves ADA compliance concerns or required accessibility upgrades, the office may also coordinate with the Mayor’s Office and appropriate city departments to pursue additional funding opportunities. As with all service requests, a valid 311 case number is required for follow-up and escalation assistance.

Our team had the honor of presenting Bob Nowak with a certificate of appreciation on May 21st, for his 32 years of exemplary service to the City of Houston. Most recently, Bob served as the City’s trusted Webmaster—the person we could always count on to complete any update within six minutes.

Happy retirement, Bob. Thank you for helping us tell the story of District F on our website. Our team will truly miss you.

Recognizing Hastings High School JROTC Graduating Cadets

Our team presented a certificate recognizing the graduating senior JROTC cadets at Hastings High School during a small ceremony held on Friday, May 15. Staff member LG attended on behalf of our office to honor the students’ commitment, leadership, and service.

A new scholarship opportunity is available for graduating male seniors in the Houston area through the Alpha Merit Group Educational Foundation, Inc. The deadline to apply is May 31. Community members are encouraged to share this opportunity with eligible students to support their academic goals.

Obtain additional information about permits by contacting Houston Public Works (HPW) via 311, or by visiting their Permitting Center website at www.houstonpermittingcenter.org. If you have further questions about any permits, please contact the Code Enforcement Group at 832-394-9494.

Additionally, the Plat Activity Report contains biweekly information from PlatTracker about plats, replats, public hearings, variances, and special exceptions to plats that will be considered at the upcoming Planning Commission meeting.

The report provides application information for each agenda item; compiled by the City of Houston Planning and Development Department. The excel format can be sorted based on particular data, such as location or council district.

The new PlatTracker is now available online. To access the portal, please visit https://plattracker.powerappsportals.us

For questions or additional information contact the Development Services Planner of the Day at (832) 393-6624.