Smoke-Shop Shuttered

Council Member Steve Le worked with the Houston Police Department and the Harris County Attorney’s Office to obtain a restraining order against Smoke & Tote Shop located at 12127 Bissonnet. The effective raid on Smoke & Tote by HPD produced a sawed-off shotgun, a revolver, and 280 grams of synthetic marijuana otherwise known as Kush. This drug disguises itself as a safe and legal alternative to marijuana, however, the leafy substances are sprayed with powerful hallucinogenic chemicals which can result in individuals becoming either catatonic or crazed. The suspicious activities of Smoke & Tote as well as the individuals suffering the effects of Kush in the surrounding areas were thankfully reported to our office. Thanks to the brave HPD officers, County Attorney Ryan, and to the citizens who worked with our office, this illicit operation has completely ceased.

Safe Sidewalk Program

The Safe Sidewalk Program is part of the continuing efforts by the City of Houston to repair and replace sidewalks and ramps for disabled residents. The program is administered through the Mayor’s Office for People with Disabilities (MOPD). In District F we have assisted several constituents begin the process to obtaining safer sidewalks. The improvements in mobility and access are extremely beneficial when attempting to access schools, medical facilities, or simply take a stroll down your street. Please do not hesitate to contact our office if you or a family member is disabled and seek more accessible sidewalks or visit the link below.
**Only eligible to apply if disabled with mobility related impairments.

If you are handicapped and you see that your sidewalk is in need of repairs, requests will be approved as soon as possible. To make it happen, fill out the online application https://services.publicworks.houstontx.gov/safe-sidewalk-application.htm. Provide as much information as possible and be sure to select “pedestrian accessibility review” under program.

Alief ISD Back to School Drive

Join our Council Office along with Alief ISD in their Back to School drive on August 5th! Held at the Hastings 9th grade center from 9 am – 12 pm, there will be free school supplies, vaccinations, and health screenings for the start of school, which will just be three weeks away from the event. Council Member Steve Le believes in the promise of education and that every backpack given away is a great start to the coming school year. Our sincerest thanks to the Superintendent, the volunteers, educators, and everyone in between who make this tremendous event possible every year. Please contact our office if interested in becoming a vendor. Save the date!

Chromium 6

Public health is no joke. When it was reported that the Alief area has potentially harmful levels of chromium 6 Council member Steve Le immediately requested the EPA to investigate. All reports received from the EPA stated that the water is indeed safe to drink. Nevertheless, our office has requested that Public Works and the Houston Health Department work in tandem to conduct comprehensive testing of all water aquifers that supply the zip code 77099. Testing for chromium 6 in drinking water will be built into the rotation beginning July 17, 2017. The Public Utilities Division of the Department of Public Works & Engineering will duplicate the EPA standard for monitoring inorganic chemicals and collecting quarterly samples. Fortunately, the city is continuously making the effort to keep you and your family healthy and safe.

Neighborhood Traffic Management Program

The Neighborhood Traffic Management Program implements traffic calming devices, such as speed cushions, traffic circles, median islands, curb extensions, diversion techniques, etc., and is aimed to ensure safety for pedestrians and cyclists. Applications for NTMP intervention may be made by one or more residents and are reviewed by the Department to determine eligibility. Last fiscal year our office happily funded the requests to be expedited in neighborhoods where cut through traffic was a severe problem. If your subdivision is experiencing sever cut through traffic please contact our office.
For more information, go to https://www.publicworks.houstontx.gov/traffic/programs.html.

METRO Summer of Fun Pass/QR Card for K-12 Students

Get ready for a summer of fun! METRO is taking students to all the fun for FREE with the Student Summer of Fun Pass. It gives K- 12 students free rides on METRORail, local buses and Park & Ride services June 1, 2017 through Sept.1, 2017.

The fun continues even when students head back to class. After September 1, 2017, the Summer of Fun Pass automatically converts to a discounted METRO Student QR Fare card which is coded with a 50 percent student discount. When students reload the card with money, they will automatically get half off the full fare, which means the savings continue!

There are three ways to apply for the pass:

1. Online at RideMETRO.org under the “Summer of Fun Link.”
2. In person at the METRO RideStore located at 1900 Main or 1001 Travis St.
3. Call 713-635-4000 to request a mail-in application.

Summer fun is waiting and METRO can get you there!
For more information on the program visit RideMETRO.org or call 713-635-4000.