The Thomas Telegraph Vol. 6, Issue 12 – July 3, 2024

This summer is coming in hot with an active hurricane season and heat advisories. As a reminder, our office created a District F Disaster Plan with the Houston ToolBank, Church Without Walls – Eldridge, West Houston Assistance Ministries, and Piney Point Elementary.

As we prepare for the worst, we want you to be in the best position to protect yourself and your assets. Office of Emergency Management has a template for you to create your own plan. Click here to get started (in various languages). Stay tuned for a joint billboard powered by Clear Channel in District F to remind you of the importance of having a plan.

PUBLIC INFRASTRUCTURE:

This week, the city council voted to approve the recommended capital improvement projects for the 2025-2029 cycle. Please see a detailed list of all city projects, including parks, streets, fire, and police. Below is a snapshot of District F:

Continuing with the theme of public infrastructure, here are a few updates related to pending drainage projects in District F.

Boone/Hackberry Park Drainage: Funded by disaster relief funding, these detention projects are in design and are slated for construction towards the end of the calendar year in 2025.

Ashton Village: This is an extensive project ($2.3M+); therefore, we will have to bid this project out to an outside contractor. We anticipate a notice to proceed at the top of 2025. Once complete, we install a series of concrete panel replacements and speed cushions. At the same time, my office is working to replace concrete panels along Ashton Park Drive. Stay tuned; my office will provide official notices and meaningful updates as they become available.

PUBLIC SAFETY:

The HPD-Westside Command Station has a new Commander. Please meet Commander Mario Clinton; he is a new commander and new to the west side. My office will host a Meet the Commander later this summer. Stay tuned for details. Ensure you introduce yourself and tell him why the west side is the best.

Our Summer of Safety continues at the Alief Aquatic Center for the second free swim training in partnership with Houston Waves Swim, Houston Parks Department and Walmart (S. Kirkwood) on Saturday, July 13th.  We have a waiting list, so if you have a change of plans, please notify Stephani-Nicole.Leota@houstontx.gov so we can adjust the registration list. If you are registered, look for a reminder email or phone call from my office.

Our ongoing street light initiative is in progress. Several applications were submitted on behalf of three neighborhoods for a total of 10 streetlights in Park Glen (Dunfield Ln, Vanderford, Lansbury, Longcommon, and Oxford Glen); Park Hollow (Skymeadow Dr between Meadway and Ashfield Dr.); and in Brays Village (Bandlon between Wilcrest and Boone, near Chancellor Elementary). This process takes between 10-12 weeks for complete installation. My office is working with Houston Public Works to track this project and will do our best to communicate as much as possible in advance. Here’s to a safer, lighter neighborhood. Cheers! If you want to submit for a streetlight, please click here.

A summer job is a public safety strategy. As mentioned in the last newsletter and featured by ABC13 News, the City of Houston cut the summer jobs program to less than 500 jobs. In response, I contacted Alief ISD, Workforce Solutions, Houston Police Department, and a few area churches for a targeted summer enrichment program. If you are an employer interested in summer hiring, please get in touch with [email protected]. We are actively working on hosting an onsite registration at the Alief Neighborhood Center to sign young people up for professional and personal development programs. This is very important to me; I hope it is to you. This summer let’s look at creative ways to keep our young people focused and involved.

QUALITY OF LIFE: 

In partnership with BARC, District F initiated a stray animal sweep in requested neighborhoods. As of July 2, BARC secured 11 dogs and issued four citations. We have received several inquiries about the Trapping, Neutering, and Returning (TNR program) to address community cats in your neighborhood. Colony managers can assist with stopping the overpopulation of cats in our District. If you are interested in learning more, click here.

The Houston Zoo is the hottest ticket in town, at least in District F! Residents secured the 500 tickets within two hours, with over 250 residents still on the waiting list. I made a personal call to our friends at the Houston Zoo, and they are willing to accommodate residents on the waitlist. We will drop them in the mail as soon as we receive the next batch. Send us a photo of you and your family at the zoo so we can feature it in our following newsletter. Remember to tag @HoustonZoo in your social media posts and tell them we LOVE the Houston Zoo on the west side.

July 1st is the beginning of our fiscal year, which means the council district budget starts again. The good news is we have initiated 85% of the requested funded projects. My office will return shortly with an opportunity for you to submit qualifying projects.

In closing, please continue to reflect on July 4th and let it remind you to always protect freedom, justice, and liberty for ALL. Please enjoy Freedom Over Texas with Russell Dickerson to headline. See details and map here – a great opportunity to celebrate with fellow Houstonians and your family.

For more information on Smoke Detectors: https://houstontx.gov/fire/community_interaction

For more information on Disaster Preparedness: https://www.houstonoem.org/pages/plans-and-programs

6/25 – Agenda Item #18 – RESOLUTION authorizing Houston Public Works Department to submit Project Applications to HARRIS COUNTY PRECINCT 4 for Various Projects – DISTRICTS A – PECK; C – KAMIN; F – THOMAS; G – HUFFMAN and J – POLLARD