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Vol. 3, Issue 14- 06.10.22
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| I declare this will be a summer of safety. As we move into hurricane season, heatwaves, and potentially heavy rains, I want to remind you that my office has a limited number of hurricane preparedness checklist packets to help you organize the essential items during a declared disaster. Please click the form here to sign up for a packet. You can pick it up at the 2nd Annual District F HPD Town Hall on June 22nd at Tracey Gee Community Center. Below is information on area cooling centers in preparation for the weekend heatwave.
Special news I want to share with you about the city council agenda from this week; we unanimously passed a Tax Exemption ordinance for the Tax Year 2022 on residence homesteads owned by persons 65 years of age or older or by certain persons with disabilities will increase from $160,000 to $260,000.
You may often hear me talk about the quality of life, but I want to reassure you that it is more than a talking point – we are doing it together – from sidewalks, streets, illegal dumping, and parks. On June 9th, many of you joined me, the Houston Parks Board, and other public officials at the groundbreaking of the Bayou Greenways at Arthur Storey Park. It was good to see residents from Shadow Lake, Huntington Village, Brays Village, and Brookfield in attendance – it means so much more when residents show up to support our collective efforts. Once the trails are complete we might need to organize a District F bike team. Learn more about the project and how you can get involved here.
In the same vein of quality of life, I am excited to share that in partnership with METRO, District F will have 15 additional bus shelters at locations throughout the district. Public transit is important to our city and especially our district. We have several major bus lines Richmond (25), Bellaire (2), Beechnut (4) Westheimer (82) and others that are important to our economy and city. This partnership will directly benefit riders and those who might choose to use public transit as we experience high gas prices.
Thanks to the Alief Super Neighborhood, my office was made aware of the unauthorized soccer and baseball games at Harwin Park. The Houston Parks department is well aware and is working with the sport groups to get them in compliance with city guidelines.
Parking violations by 18 wheelers, tow trucks and abandoned cars has reached a peak in our office. My office has worked hand in hand with Park Houston to educate, cite and enforce city ordinances. For example in Westchase at 3600 Woodchase, Park Houston as recorded close to 300 citations. Stay tuned for updates and information on this at the next Neighborhood and Regulatory Affairs committee. If you are interested in serving as a stakeholder to provide comments on the impact of parking violations in your community. Feel free to email me at [email protected] so we can include you in the future.
Lastly, a couple of important events are listed below, and I would like to see you there. The 2nd Annual District F Public Safety Town Hall at Tracey Gee on June 22nd, and in honor of International Yoga Day, I am hosting District F Yoga Day at Woodchase Park on June 25th.
I hope to see you there. Enjoy your weekend, and remember to be kind to each other and yourself.
Councilmember Tiffany D. Thomas |
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CITY OF HOUSTON ACTIVATES HEAT EMERGENCY PLAN
Cooling Centers Available Over The Weekend At Certain Libraries, Community Centers, Multi-Service Center
The National Weather Service is predicting heat index values will surpass 105 through the duration of the weekend.
Anyone without air-conditioning can seek shelter at any of the following city buildings designated as cooling centers:
Saturday (6/11/22)
Houston Public Libraries (All locations):
Normal operating hours
https://houstonlibrary.org/all-locations
Houston Parks & Recreation Department- Community Centers
Normal operating hours
https://www.houstontx.gov/parks/communitycenters/
Tidwell Community Center (with extended hours)
9720 Spaulding St., Houston, TX 77016
Hours: 2 p.m. – 6 p.m.
Hartman Community Center (with extended hours)
9311 E Avenue P, Houston, TX 77012
Hours: 2 p.m. – 6 p.m.
Sunday (6/12/22)
Houston Public Library- Downtown
500 McKinney St., Houston, TX 77002
Hours: 12 p.m. – 6 p.m.
Tidwell Community Center
9720 Spaulding St., Houston, TX 77016
Hours: 2 p.m. – 6 p.m.
Hartman Community Center
9311 E Avenue P, Houston, TX 77012
Hours: 2 p.m. – 6 p.m.
Acres Home Multi Service Center
6719 W Montgomery Rd., Houston, TX 77091
Hours: 2 p.m. – 6 p.m.
Southwest Multi Service Center
6400 High Star Dr., Houston, TX 77074
Hours: 2 p.m. – 6 p.m.
People without adequate transportation to a designated cooling center can call 3-1-1 to request a free ride from METRO. Transportation is only to and from the cooling centers; transportation to other locations is unavailable.
The Houston Health Department encourages people to take extra precautions to protect themselves from heat-related illness and death. High-risk groups such as adults age 55 and older, children under the age of 4, and people with chronic illness or who are either overweight or on certain medications should stay inside air-conditioned buildings between 1 p.m. and 5 p.m., the hottest part of the day.
The department recommends people protect themselves and their families from potentially deadly heat-related illness. It recommends people:
- Increase water consumption. Drink lots of liquids even before getting thirsty, but avoid beverages with caffeine, alcohol, or large amounts of sugar because these can result in the loss of body fluid.
- Conduct outdoor work or exercise in the early morning or evening when temperatures are not as high. Outdoor workers should drink plenty of water or electrolyte replacement beverages and take frequent breaks in the shade or in an air-conditioned facility. People unaccustomed to working or exercising in a hot environment need to start slowly and gradually increase heat exposure over several weeks.
- Wear light-colored, loose-fitting clothing that permits the evaporation of perspiration.
- Do not leave infants, children, senior citizens, or pets unattended in a parked vehicle, even if the windows are cracked open. Check to make sure everyone is out of the car and don’t overlook children who may have fallen asleep.
- Wear a wide-brimmed hat to help prevent sunburn as well as heat-related illness. Apply sunscreen, which protects from the sun’s harmful rays and reduces the risk of sunburn.
- Seek accommodations in air-conditioned facilities during the heat of the day if the house is not air-conditioned: a relative’s home, multi-service centers, malls, movie theaters, libraries, etc.
- Take frequent cool baths or showers if your home is not air-conditioned.
Symptoms of heat exhaustion include weakness, dizziness, excessive sweating, cool or moist skin, nausea or vomiting, muscle cramps, and a fast and weak pulse. People experiencing these symptoms should lower their body temperature by getting to a cooler place, drinking water, taking a cool shower or bath, and resting.
A throbbing headache, red, hot, and dry skin (no longer sweating), extremely high body temperature (above 103°), nausea or vomiting, confusion, loss of consciousness, and a rapid, strong pulse are signs of heat stroke. If these symptoms occur, call 9-1-1 immediately and try to lower the person’s body temperature until help arrives.
People may seek air-conditioning in city multi-service centers, libraries, and recreation centers during normal business hours, even when the Public Health Heat Emergency Plan is not activated.
To find the nearest cooling center location or an air-conditioned city facility, people can call 3-1-1 for more information. |
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WEEK OF MAY 27th
HOT SPOT TEAM HIGHLIGHT
- Total Work Orders Completed: 43
- Hotspot of the Week: South Drive @ South Course
- Total Man Hours Worked: 72
- Tree Waste: 270 lbs.
- Mattresses: 4
- Furniture Waste: 19 pieces
- Tires: 15
- Trash Debris: 600 lbs.
- Shopping Carts: 5
- Bandit Signs: 276
- Landscaping: none
- Update: none
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SOLID WASTE MANAGEMENT DEPARTMENT UPDATE
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| Congratulations to Pat Davis on her decades of service to the Alief ISD Education Foundation. By proclamation from Mayor Turner and Councilmember Thomas, April 28, 2022 is now known as Pat Davis Day in Houston. |
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| Rejoice! The trailer located on Westpark Tollway and Alief Clodine has been removed. This example of community blight creates a dangerous environment for all. Special thanks to the residents who stayed vigilant for over 10 months to get this trailer removed. |
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District F is excited to announce the expansion of Bayou Greenways at Arthur Storey Park. Notable new features of Brays Bayou Greenway include:
- Connection into City of Houston’s Braeburn Glen Park and three Harris. County Precinct 4 parks: Arthur Storey Park, Mike Driscoll Park, and Archbishop Fiorenza Park.
- Street-level connections to Braeburn Glen Boulevard, Boone Road, Belle Park Drive, High Star Drive, S. Dairy Ashford Road, and Synott Road.
- A trail connection to the Club Creek Detention Basin trails and new Club Creek Park, funded and built by the Southwest Redevelopment Authority/TIRZ 20.
- Five acres of newly acquired greenspace, including 1.46 acres adjacent to Wilcrest Drive and 3.6 acres adjacent to Ashford Point Drive.
- Safety lights under Highway 59.
- Native trees were procured from Trees for Houston.
- Interpretive and directional signage.
- Benches, trash cans, and recycling containers.
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| After much anticipation, District F will be home to 15 new bus stops and shelters. Temporary shelters were erected this week and new, replacement shelters will be installed in Spring 2023. Drive by a location and send us a picture at the new stop! |
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DISTRICT F COUNCIL ITEMS
June 8th
Item #11 Ordinance relating to the amount of the Tax Exemption for the Tax Year 2022 and each year thereafter on residence homesteads owned by persons 65 years of age or older or by certain persons with disabilities.
Item #37 Ordinance appropriating $10,183,375.50 out of Water & Sewer System Consolidated Construction Fund, for Well Sites and Re-Pump Stations.
Learn more here. |
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| COUNCIL MEMBER THOMAS JUNE 7TH COUNCIL SESSION POP-OFF |
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| SUBSCRIBE TO NEIGHBORHOOD UPDATES
Phone messages in English and Spanish
notify residents about city services,
new programs & civic engagement opportunities
Voice/text messages a convenient service
for residents without easy access to internet sources
The Department of Neighborhoods (DON) invites residents to subscribe to Neighborhood Updates to receive brief voice or text messages in Spanish or English about essential services and resources.
The messaging service is for everyone, especially for seniors and others who may not have easy access to online information, persons with disabilities who need information in audio or written format, and residents who prefer notices in Spanish.
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| Learn more about the lifeguard shortage here. |
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Backpacks, school supplies, school vaccinations, and COVID-19 testing and vaccines will be available for Alief residents at the Alief Community Health Fair that will be held at Bush Elementary School on Saturday, July 30.
Visit www.aliefisd.net/healthfair for more information. |
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HOUSTON PUBLIC LIBRARY EVENTS
Houston In Harmony: Houston Pride BandSaturday, June 18, 2022
1:00pm – 2:00pm
Central Library – Downtown
Enjoy the sounds of Houston Pride Band’s ensembles BrassTax and SaxWorx during an afternoon concert for Pride Month!
Meet the Artist: Charles Washington of Harambee Gallery
Saturday, June 11, 2022
12:00pm – 1:00pm
Central Library – Downtown
Connect with Houston Artist, Master Framer, and owner of the Harambee Art Gallery, Charles Washington. In Celebration of Juneteenth, All Real Radio Personality and poet, Deniz Lopez, will exchange commentary on the evolution of African American culture in the arts, as well as addressing the need for sustainability through upcycling..
Star Party
Thursday, July 7, 2022
6:00pm – 7:30pm
Barbara Bush Literacy Plaza at the Houston Public Library
Explore the solar system at HPL’s Star Party! We’ve got telescopes, HPL’s new Astronomy Dome, NASA, and our first ever “Space Story Walk”! Also featuring out-of-this-world activities, snacks, and crafts. All ages welcome. |
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