Autumn is here, and I hope you enjoy the beautiful weather this weekend. I want to underscore several local and statewide opportunities that impact our quality of life and call for action.

As you know, the Texas General Land Office (GLO) posted Amendment 1 to the Mitigation State Action Plan for $4.3 billion in Community Development Block Grants for Mitigation (CDBG-MIT) without projects that directly benefit our district (Huntington Village). I want to encourage residents in this subdivision to submit public comments during the public comment section.

Alternatively, individuals may also submit public comments via USPS mail, fax, email, or through the GLO’s website at any time before 5 p.m. on September 29, 2021:

Texas General Land Office Community Development and Revitalization
P.O. Box 12873 Austin, TX 78711-2873
Fax: 512-475-5150
[email protected]
recovery.texas.gov/public-notices

Secondly, Alief ISD has a bond referendum where a combined total of the four propositions is $541,700,00. The referendum is on the November 2021 election ballot and includes the following:

Proposition A (General Construction) = $482,585,000
Proposition B (Other Recreational Facilities) = $9,095,000
Proposition C (Crump Stadium Upgrades and Maintenance) = $19,430,000
Proposition D (Technology Equipment) = $30,590,000

Would you please make this a priority and learn more about your role in the bond referendum? Click here to learn more https://www.aliefisd.net/Page/15291

Community residents often approach me with ideas to financially support projects; however, they do not apply through the funding channels we have available in the city. I want to encourage those interested in submitting a qualifying project to complete a neighborhood grant application. I have designated a portion of our council district service funds to match the awarded amount once approved through the department of neighborhoods. Details to apply are below.

Lastly, I want to address the statements made by the former housing director during the housing and community affairs committee meeting this past Tuesday (9/21/21). Like many of you, I was shocked and taken aback by his comments and was unprepared to respond without having information in front of me. Moving forward, I have requested long-term solutions to communicate transparency in the city to the general public. For example, 1/ disclosing all prime and sub-partners on NOFA applications requesting supplemental funding from community development block grants (CDBG-DR17), 2/ providing the council with scoring metrics on staff recommendations on approved projects in briefing documents before the council votes. As chair of the committee, it is my responsibility to ensure we have specific controls in place. I will keep you all updated on the status of the internal investigation regarding the statements reported.

Enjoy this weather, and I hope to see you all next month as we celebrate National Night Out on October 5, 2021.

Council Member Tiffany D. Thomas
Houston City Council District F

The FY 2022 Neighborhood Matching Grant Program application period is open! The program supports neighborhood improvement and beautification projects by providing dollar-for-dollar matching grant reimbursements ranging from $500 to $5,000. The application deadline is November 5, 2021, 5 p.m. The program is administered by the Department of Neighborhoods (DON) in partnership with participating Houston City Council offices.

For the program guidelines and application form, go to www.houstontx.gov/neighborhoods and click on “Neighborhood Matching Grants.”