LAWMAKERS, POLICE SUPERVISORS & CHINATOWN COMMUNITY MEMBERS CELEBRATE REBIRTH OF HPD STOREFRONT
In partnership with the Southwest Management District
State Rep. Gene Wu
HOUSTON — The Houston Police Department has re-opened its Chinatown storefront office in response to feedback from a worried community, leading to an on-site celebration Friday that united leaders, business owners and residents.
State Rep. Gene Wu said that since the start of the world-wide coronavirus pandemic in China 10 months ago, Houston restaurants and businesses owned by Chinese-Americans unjustly suffered loss of trade and threats of physical harm. Re-opening the storefront staffed by officers at 9160 Bellaire Blvd., Suite F, gives the community an increased sense of security, he said.
“I want to thank the men and women of HPD and everyone who has been involved for making sure the Asian community can feel safe, can feel that the city of Houston stands with them and stands for them,” Wu said.
Officers staffing the storefront will be available during limited weekday hours to discuss non-emergency neighborhood safety issues with community members in one of the city’s most dynamic and diverse sectors.
US Rep. Al Green
“We now have this storefront right here right now, ready to serve the people,” U.S. Rep. Al Green said.The neighborhood’s new HPD commander, Jennifer Read, said the rebirth of the storefront is among several community policing approaches used by HPD in such neighborhoods.
“We want to thank this community for continuing to work with us in these challenging times,” Read said.
Robert Lo, director general of the Taipei Economic & Cultural Office (TECO) in Houston, and Chinatown bankers donated 3,000 protective masks to HPD and $2,000 to support the public safety initiatives of the Southwest Management District.
The District projects include funding additional HPD patrols and private security force patrols in the neighborhood as well as placing security video cameras in strategic locations.
Robert Lo of the Taiwanese office
“I would like to express my great appreciation for the dedication and contributions of the Houston Police Department to keep our community safe and sound,” Lo said. “The Southwest Management District, home to many in Taiwan’s overseas community, playing an active role to contribute to the local community is a great source of pride for all Taiwanese, and shows the spirit of how Taiwan can help build a better world.”TECO’s service area includes Texas, Arkansas, Oklahoma, Louisiana and Mississippi.
Businessman Kenneth Li, board chairman of the Southwest Management District, spurred discussions with HPD and Mayor Sylvester Turner aimed at returning the storefront operation to service.
SWMD board chair Kenneth Li
“I want to thank the Houston Police Department for showing their love, their compassion, for this community,” Li said.For more information contact:
713-503-9421
