The Thomas Telegraph Vol. 5, Issue 5 – September 1, 2023

As you know, the City of Houston is under a water restriction that started on August 27. The City is experiencing an extensive demand for our repair services; major water leaks have led to lower water pressure in many areas. As of September 1 in District F, we have 209 reported water leaks, with the 77072, 77099, and 77063 zip codes with the most calls for service. Last week, during city council, Mayor Turner announced ten additional vendors to assist with repairs. A typical water leak takes 10-14 days – this may change depending on supply chain delays, utility underground, and the severity of the leak.

As an aside, leaks on private property such as multi-family, townhomes, single-family, or commercial properties are not the responsibility of the City of Houston. Please get in touch with your HOA or Property Management company to address any pending leaks.

Please be patient, do your part, and help us document water leaks by calling 311 and sharing the SR# with the District F office ([email protected]).

Here are the following updates per community:

One Orleans Place:
According to the Permitting Center, the final permits with corrections were approved in July, now allowing the completion of the building reconstruction. My office will continue to monitor progress, and I look forward to welcoming residents back home after a tragic fire during the 2021 freeze.

Briarmeadow:
I received a note regarding the homes that face Richmond in anticipation of the reconstruction of Richmond Ave scheduled for early fall. I will work with HPW to ensure the contractor has ample signage to mitigate speeding and notify drivers of the construction to minimize accidents.

Westhollow Village Townhomes:
Please submit the speed bump application so we can proceed with public comments, an official cost estimate, and an installation timeline for FY 24. P.S. Happy belated 75th birthday to Mr. John Rouse.

Brookfield (West and East):
I requested a sidewalk audit of Brookfield (both sections), and the total cost to replace the 4ft sidewalk to 5ft, add ADA-compliant ramps, and remove trip hazards is $1.3M. I am in open talks with the Planning Department to include this project in the master plan list. Mayor Turner recently approved an additional $5M to address sidewalks throughout the City. Stay tuned and see the image of the proposed reconstruction.

To date, District F has ten neighborhoods with approved yard parking restrictions:

Briarmeadow | Catalina Square | Huntington Village | Brays Village | Bellaire West | Kirkwood Country | Leawood | Leawood West | Parkglen | Parkglen West | Westmont (IN PROGRESS)

Learn more about the approved Yard Parking Ordinance and how to protect your neighborhood from front yard parking.

On Wednesday, the Economic Development Committee hosted its monthly meeting to provide an update on 380 agreements, tax abatement projects, and the TIRZ budget schedule. Please watch my comments below to hear how District F benefits from various economic tools to enhance economic growth, infrastructure, jobs, and quality of life in our communities. Don’t hesitate to contact my office with questions regarding the TIRZ 20 projects or the 380 agreement with the Westchase Management Company.

Lastly, I want to bring your attention to a long-standing issue that borders District F and J. On Town Park, near Gessner, there is a culture of street vendors taking over the street and sidewalk selling unpermitted food. I have authorized overtime pay to HPD to address this issue, and they have repeatedly provided education and verbal reprimands. As of late, they have issued over 50 citations, and yet the vendors refuse to comply. Here is my ask — do not purchase food from the street vendors as they are not permitted to sell food by the Houston Health Department. I raised this issue to Mayor Turner and others this week during City Council and hope to return to you with an escalated action plan.

This weekend will be another hot one. Please stay hydrated and wear sunblock.Sincerely,

Councilmember Tiffany D. Thomas

No INTERRUPTION in collection services on Tuesday, September 5, 2023. All Solid Waste facilities re-open, including all drop-off facilities and administrative offices.

Click here for more information.

What does DRT mean and why have they been assigned to address this situation? DRT is the acronym for Differential Response Team.  DRT are a specially trained group of officers practicing problem-oriented policing utilizing non-traditional police methods. They are called into action when the quality of life in neighborhoods is threatened. Law enforcement changes the environment of these properties/locations, which makes them less desirable for criminals trying to make a quick buck. The HPD DRT unit is committed to increasing the quality of life in all of our communities–which will in turn–reduce the need for additional policing and police services. But it takes time.

Click here for more information on HPD DRT.

Houston, joined by San Antonio and El Paso and supported by dozens of large and small Texas cities, had sued the State of Texas to declare the statute unconstitutional because it was too vague for cities to enforce it, too lacking in standards to ask a court to enforce it, and too contrary to the Texas Constitution’s grant of “the full power of self-government” to home rule cities to survive constitutional scrutiny. Although the Court did not rule on all of the claims Houston raised, the Court primarily focused on HB 2127’s vagueness.

Click here to register your event so Councilmember Thomas can make a plan to visit.

In the aftermath of Katrina, the uprooted culture of New Orleans was re-concentrated in places like Southwest Houston. Juvenile found inspiration in H-town and filmed a video here—sending a message of resilience and unity to his scattered fellow residents, many of whom had resettled in District F.

The renowned rapper was in Houston Friday to headline the F.O.R.C.E. Tour with LL Cool J at the Toyota Center and introduce fans in Texas to his new beverage brand. Juvenile made his first stop at H-E-B for a pop-up meet-and-greet, where he interacted with fans, signed autographs, took pictures, and officially started selling his new “Juvie Juice.”

Click here to check out his viral performance on the “NPR Tiny Desk Concert.”

Click here for information on where you can get “Juvie Juice.”

THA is a statewide non-profit organization dedicated to meeting the education and information needs of the 400+ public housing authorities/agencies (PHAs) in Texas. Its members are agencies that administer the Low Rent Public Housing Program and the Section 8 Housing Choice Voucher Program.

Click here for more information on the Texas Housing Association.

Houston libraries and multi-service centers will function as cooling centers during normal business hours on weekdays and Saturdays. The Central Library downtown is unavailable as a cooling center.

The following locations will open from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m. on Sunday, September 3, and Monday, September 4:

• Acres Homes Multi-Service Center, 6719 W. Montgomery Rd. 
• Sunnyside Multi-Service Center, 4410 Reed Rd.
• Moody Community Center, 3725 Fulton St.

Community centers operated by the Houston Parks and Recreation Department will open to the public after the conclusion of daily programming for enrolled participants.

• Increase water consumption. Drink lots of liquids even before getting thirsty.
• Conduct outdoor work or exercise in the early morning or eveningwhen temperatures are not as high.
• Wear light-colored, loose-fitting clothing that permits the evaporation of perspiration.