| Dear District F(amily):
Let me be the last person to wish you and your family a Happy New Year. I pray that each of you experiences prosperity, good health, laughs, and memorable moments.
I want to keep a few meaningful highlights on your radar.
YOU’RE INVITED: The long-awaited Alief Community Center will open onSaturday, January 14, at 11 AM. While this is located in Alief, this is open and a win for the entire city. Mayor Turner and my city council colleagues throughout the city will join me as we cut the ribbon and celebrate a 30-year vision and $60M investment in the community. Bring your family and walking shoes as you tour the state-of-the-art facility, including a NEW library and programming from Houston Health Department and Houston Parks. Invitations in Spanish, Vietnamese, andUrdu are below for your sharing pleasure.
Public Safety: Finally, as of November, the 50 LPR cameras have been installed in District F. The cameras’ installation has already benefited and complemented our safety efforts. I hope to give you more details in the coming weeks. Over the last two years, many of you have requested this technology, and finally, we have it.
Permitting and Deed Restrictions: REMINDER, please only build, renovate or alter the structure of your home/property after doing a couple of things 1) consult your HOAs and 2) apply for a permit. Last year, my office dealt with 130 building code violations.
No. You cannot pour concrete over your grass to expand your driveway.
No. You cannot add a ramp to your home without meeting ADA guidelines.
No. You cannot renovate a single-family dwelling into an apartment.
No. You cannot have chickens in your backyard without the proper protections.
In the wake of the trend of increased violations, I am working on hosting a deed restriction workshop in April 2023, so we can start on the same page, especially with the latest changes from the 2021 Texas Legislative Session. More on this later.
As you know, I have invested funding to advance adult literacy throughout our District to prepare Houstonians to return to the workforce post-pandemic. I am happy to announce I am extending this initiative to our future workforce – public schools. In partnership with Houston and Alief ISD, Houston Public Library, and Legends Do Live, my office proudly announces Reading With A Rapper in District F at Piney Point Elementary and Holub Middle School. Students will focus on ELA obstacles through lyrical content and will focus on TEKS to enhance learning readiness. As a proud public school graduate and former ISD Trustee, I am tremendously excited about this initiative. Formal announcement to follow.
In closing, District F is the cultural currency of the city, and I encourage you to actively participate in the many heritage events in your community. The 2023 Lunar New Year Festival: The Year of the Rabbit will be held on January 21, 2023, at 10 AM at 9800 Town Park Drive, Houston, TX, 77036. I will be there ready to receive my blessings this year – I hope to see you there!
P. S. The 2022 Annual Report should hit your mailboxes in January, where you will see a snapshot of the work we created together. I am very proud of the funding, projects, programs, intention, and outcomes.
P. S. S. Thank you for each shared photo of you and your loved ones enjoying Houston’s main attraction, the Houston Zoo, during the holiday season. Check out a few moments of some of your neighbors and their families below. Remember, my office receives 500 zoo tickets each cycle for residents to enjoy — money is tight in many households, and cost should not be the barrier that stops you from enjoying what belongs to you.
Let’s keep the westside the best side in 2023!
Councilmember Tiffany D. Thomas
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