Vol. 4, Issue 07 – 04.20.23

District F(amily):

I hope you are enjoying the fantastic weather and remaining safe. Most+ of the highlights are within the body of the newsletter, but I want to provide updates on several priority items I am working on related to your neighborhood.

Alief:
The old Long John Silver’s on Bellaire and Kirkwood is an ongoing illegal dump site and was investigated by Houston Public Works and the Department of Neighborhoods. The owner received a 1st notice citation, and two gentlemen affiliated with ComSystems were caught dumping large trash bags on the site earlier this week. Please continue to help us keep Houston and our communities clean.

Bellaire West should have received a public notice to submit comments regarding additional speed bumps in the subdivision. This is a long-standing request, and please remind your neighbors to participate in the public comment period. You can submit your recommendations online or via snail mail – due April 21.

Based on your feedback, the following homeless encampments were reported and will be addressed soon:

A) Beechnut at Cook Rd.
B) Wilcrest at Westpark
C) Dairy Ashford at Beechnut (near the community garden)
D) 59/ Beltway 8 (detention)
E) Ray Driscoll Park

I received an email regarding the cleanliness of the facilities at Hackberry Park. I escalated the issue to the Houston Parks and Recreation Department and will provide a timeline and resolution once received. Please help us keep our public facilities safe and clean, and feel free to report issues to 311 and share the service number with my office.

18 Wheeler’s are inundating neighborhoods and causing public safety issues, especially near Dairy Ashford, Ashford Point, Overture, and Westchase. Please continue to report the problems to my office via 311 so we can collect the data and respond with a more comprehensive plan.

Wellington Park, Catalina Square, and Briar Point Condos have repeatedly reported abandoned cars parked on the street. Please help us document the repeat offenses so we can direct attention to the appropriate departments. Learn more about parking violations and how you can avoid citations here.

Briarmeadow:
Good news! The long-awaited Richmond reconstruction project design is complete, and construction is anticipated to start in mid-May, weather permitting. Weather permitting, the speeding modifications identified from the 2021 Connectivity Study will begin in May. Please stay tuned for a notice to proceed with construction for both projects, providing a timeline, contractor, and additional details.

Tanglewilde:
Food trucks near Tanglewilde (near 9371 Richmond) continue to violate the noise ordinance and warnings from HPD. I am working with Midwest HPD to increase overnight patrol in the area. I want to offer deep appreciation to the small group of residents that continue to serve as an extra set of eyes and ears in the neighborhood.

Residents at the Tanglewilde Townhomes have reported the excessive parking on Tanglewilde to Park Houston. As a reminder, parking more than 24hr on a public road violates the city ordinance, and your vehicle is subject to a ticket, boot, and possibly being towed.

As of April 17, 68 residents have signed up for the upcoming deed restriction workshop on Saturday, April 29. Please prioritize this meeting to work through some of the most common challenges regarding our deed restrictions.

District F has 14 properties in the abatement process due to homeowners failing to maintain their properties – and I am working with City legal, the Department of Neighborhoods, the Mayor’s Office of Assistance, and the Houston Health Department to make sure we secure a resolution; We are limited by the state code that governs how we (the City) can proceed. If you would like this statute to change, don’t hesitate to contact your state representatives and encourage them to draft a bill to give local municipalities more authority to assume private properties that are in distress.

Mayor Turner announced the City’s 2023 Demolition Initiative last week, which will target dangerous abandoned structures in neighborhoods throughout the City. I have requested a listing from the Department of Neighborhoods related to District F. Hopefully; this initiative will yield good fruit for all of us.

I also want to highlight several significant cultural events happening in our area:

On April 30, 1975, the South Vietnamese capital of Saigon fell to the North Vietnamese Army, effectively ending the Vietnam War. In the spirit of freedom, justice, and liberty for all, I invite you to honor the Vietnam Veterans in District F by attending the following:

Fall of Saigon Exhibit at Alief-David M. Henington Regional Library at 12903 Bellaire Blvd 77072 from 11:00 AM to 5:00 PM hosted by VietTV on April 28 and 29.For those that are in the practice of Ramadan, the fast ends on Thursday, April 20. I wish each of you a Happy Eid Mubarak!

Lastly, SHEIN, the international fast-fashion company, is hosting a SHEIN x ART Discovery Project near our community in honor of Asian American Pacific Islander Month on May 13 from Noon to 8 PM. If you are an interested vendor and would like to participate in the program, please contact Courtney Rockwell at [email protected] by MAY 3.

Be well,

Councilmember Thomas

HOT SPOT TEAM HIGHLIGHT
WEEK OF APRIL 10

Total Work Orders: 31
Hotspot of the Week: 12113 High Star
Total Man Hours Worked: 70
Tree Waste: 570 lbs.
Mattresses: 5
Furniture Waste: 19 pieces
Tires: 21
Trash Debris: 900 lbs
Shopping Carts: 5
Bandit Signs: 214
Landscaping: none

EARTH DAY AT CITY HALL

On April 19, Councilmember Thomas celebrated Earth Day HTX at City Hall by checking out the simulated forest, new electric bus from METRO, and the unique art–created using recycled materials–on display. The largest Earth Day event ever presented by the City of Houston featured a giant earth model, as well as displays on citywide advances in recycling and water conservation.

EYES AND EARS FROM HIGHWAY 6 TO HILCROFT

On April 18, an Alief resident caught two men illegally dumping bags of trash near the Long John Silver on Bellaire and Kirkwood. Councilmember Thomas asked for your help in supporting the Mayor’s One Cean Houston initiative and the community has stepped up. Please call ComSystems at 832-620-3475 and remind them that they are breaking the law. Click here for more information on One Clean Houston.

SUNDAY IN THE PARK WITH CIGNA

On April 16, Councilmember Thomas, Mayor Turner, and hundreds of Alief neighbors enjoyed the beautiful weather for Cigna’s Sunday in the Park. The afternoon was filled with great performances, playtime in the bouncy house, games, dancing on the lawn, and sampling treats. The Houston Health Department was also onsite to administer COVID-19 vaccinations.

SAM HOUSTON STATE UNIVERSITY RECIEVES

CITY PROCLAMATION

On April 11, Councilmember Thomas presented Sam Houston State University with a city proclamation and declared April 11th as Sam Houston State University Day in the City of Houston. The Councilmember, Houston Chief of Police Troy Finner, and many fellow Bearkats joined the celebration downtown.

SHSU President Alisa White accepted the honor and hosted a reception at the Houston Public Library. SHSU is the third-oldest public college or university in Texas and consistently receives high rankings as a ‘Top Performer on Social Mobility.’

AFTERSCHOOL ACTIVITIES HONORED AT CITY HALL

On April 6, Councilmember Thomas partnered with the Harris County Department of Education and The Center for Afterschool, Summer and Enrichment for Kids (CASE for Kids) to award five non-profits from District F with $45,000 in City Connections grants. Awardees included: Spirit of Youth Fencing Foundation, JJ’s I’m Me Foundation, The Alliance (Alliance for Multicultural Community Services), Chinese Community Center, and Girlstart.

The grants provide unique learning opportunities that cater to the district’s out-of-school time needs and help keep children in the community engaged and safe. Click here to learn more about the CASE for Kids’ City Connections grants.

WESTPARK PAVING & DRAINAGE UPDATE

Construction on Westpark Drive (from Wilcrest Drive to South Dairy Ashford) began in the fall of 2022 and is scheduled to be completed in the summer of 2024, weather permitting. This project is designed to improve safety and mobility along Westpark, including: design and construction for concrete paving with storm drainage, curbs, sidewalks, driveways, street lighting, and necessary underground utilities.

The project is approximately 35% completed with the contractor working to install water lines, as well as storm water lines and paving. Click here to read the complete update.