The Pollard Press, April 2022

 

The New York Weekly publication featured Council Member Edward Pollard in an article for their online edition. The article details Pollard’s creative approach to city government and his views on having a centrist style of leadership as opposed to partisan. Visit this link to read the article in its entirety.

 

In an effort to continue meeting the needs of District J residents, the second Private Trash Day was held at the end of April. Residents within the district were able to have heavy trash and tree waste removed from the curb in front of their homes, and two large dumpsters were also made available for residents to discard their items. This private service is to supplement the regular trash schedule by the city’s Solid Waste Department, and District J is the only district in the city providing this service. Special thanks to Nexus for their hard work in helping to make this possible.

 

District J residents are encouraged to attend the Redistricting and CIP Town Hall meeting taking place Monday, May 2, from 6-8 p.m. at the Sharpstown Park Community Center. Leaders will provide updates about capital improvement projects and discuss the redistricting process. For a schedule of all redistricting meetings taking place throughout the city, visit https://www.letstalkhouston.org/redistricting.

 

Houston City Council Members approved a measure to require convenience stores, bars, nightclubs, sexually-oriented businesses and game rooms to install outdoor security cameras as an effort to help combat crime in the city. These businesses must provide 24-hour surveillance and turn over footage to police within 72 hours of a request. Council Member Pollard voted in favor of the measure. Below are comments he made during the City Council session when the vote took place.

 

Council Member Pollard was invited to attend the African American Mayor’s Conference in Washington, D.C., where he spoke on a panel and shared the many initiatives he has spearheaded to address public safety in District J and throughout Houston. Those programs include District J Patrol, District J Jobs, new license plate readers, the Police Transparency Dashboard, and Police Enlightenment and Collection Education (PEACE). Council Member Pollard believes many of these programs can be replicated in other cities. Special thanks to Mayor Sylvester Turner, who serves as president of AAMA.

 

Rising Lonestars has named Council Member Pollard to its list of Top 10 Texas Local Officials for the month of March. The organization recognizes the council member’s efforts regarding public safety, specifically his license plate reader and District J Jobs initiatives. Rising Lonestars is a nonpartisan group that tracks elected officials as they rise through the ranks.

 

Council Member Pollard was fortunate to attend the Pakistan Heritage Foundation Community Iftar Dinner at the Marquee Center located in District J. An Iftar is a meal eaten after sunset during Ramadan by those of the Muslim faith.

 

Tonight, I attended the Pakistan Heritage Foundation Community Iftar Dinner at the Marquee Center in #DistrictJ. Special shout out to president, Dr. Salman Razzaqi, and the entire board for coordinating the event that had a line out of the building. In all we do, let’s strive to put unity in community.

 

The Houston Raindrop Foundation invited Council Member Pollard to give remarks at its Neighborhood Iftar Dinner at the Turkish House. The Raindrop Foundation’s mission is to establish bridges between the Turkic and American cultures and communities by providing easily accessible educational, social, and cultural services.

 

Another pet food distribution event took place at the end of last month, thanks to a partnership between District J, BARC and the Houston Humane Society. Hundreds of families came out to get food for their cats and dogs. Many of them also received vouchers for spay and neuter services, rabies vaccinations and pet licenses. Stay tuned to this newsletter, email and social media for dates and times of future Pet Pantry events.

 

Everyone is feeling the pinch at the grocery store as price increases appear to be here for awhile. Council Member Pollard partnered with Council Member Tiffany Thomas to organize a food distribution event that provided healthy produce options for residents. A hearty thanks to Al-Noor Society of Greater Houston for hosting the event as well as Olive Branch Muslim Family Services and Better Project for helping coordinate, HPD for traffic control, various vendors for providing food, and all the volunteers that helped make the event a success.

 

Many families fleeing violence in their homelands have been able to resettle in District J. Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of Houston-Galveston is instrumental in helping those families with resources to become more stable. The organization offers support in the areas of food sources, job opportunities, legal assistance and more. Catholic Charities also serves anyone in the greater Houston area who needs support regardless of religious background and from all walks of life. If you or someone you know needs assistance, visit https://catholiccharities.org.

 

John Henry Smith who was a decorated and well respected officer of the Houston Police Department for over 30 years. The John Henry Smith Foundation (JHSF) was started by his daughter, Lauren Harris, to honor his passion for education, archery and shooting sports. Council Member Pollard was honored to take part in a celebration of his life with his family, former colleagues and other members of the community.

 

The District J Office contributed $70,000.00 to a dozen after school programs that do outstanding work within the district as part of the Center for After School and Enrichment (CASE) for Kids program. Congratulations to the following organizations:

* Partnership for the Advancement of Immersion of Refugees

*Alliance for Multicultural Community Services

* American Festival for the Arts

* Bridging the Digital Divide

* Culture of Health – Advancing Together

* Girls on the Run Greater Houston

* Good News Church

* Houston Marathon Foundation

* Houston Tennis Association

* Social Motion, Inc.

* Houston reVision

* Sewa International

* 4th Downtown Foundation

 

Special thanks to Harris County Department of Education for partnering with the City though federal grants and contributions of our Council District Service Dollars.

 

Several concerned constituents reported a homeless encampment at Highway 59 and Gessner. Work crews cleared the area of debris, and one person was referred for mental health assistance. Thanks to HPD DRT officers at the South Gessner station and Solid Waste employees for taking care of this issue.

 

A concerned resident reported the prevalence of a pigeon and duck encampment in the backyard of a private residence, which was a violation. Thanks to the City of Houston Animal Enforcement officers for handling this issue.

 

DistrictJJobs.com is an online portal for employment opportunities located throughout the greater Houston area. The website was created with District J residents in mind, however, every Houstonian is welcome to explore the site and take advantage of job opportunities. The site has listings from companies of all sizes, operating in a variety of industries. DistrictJJobs.com will be updated on a regular basis, with new postings added each month. Residents may visit the website directly or scan the corresponding QR code located at each sheltered METRO bus stop within District J.

 

The HOT Team assists with picking up scattered debris, removing heavy trash, tree waste and illegal dumping, and handling specific landscaping issues. All requests for assistance from the HOT Team should be submitted via 311. The HOT Team makes pickups according to the following schedule:

 

1st Thursday – Sharpstown

2nd Thursday – St. George, Gulfton and Richmond Plaza South

3rd Thursday – Braeburn Area

4th Thursday – Alief/Westwood

 

 

District J Patrol is a three-pronged approach to public safety bridging the gap between the law enforcement officers in District J and the communities they serve. Sponsored by the District J office, this pilot initiative includes community patrolling by Houston Police Department’s Differential Response Team (DRT), the use of two Polaris vehicles and the District J Patrol Task Force. Residents may report small neighborhood violations and infringements, such as panhandling, loitering, overgrown lots, graffiti, homeless encampments and other public nuisances. To file a report, visit the online portal at www.DistrictJPatrol.com. 

 

To learn more about our new modern approach to community policing, or to file a report regarding a quality of life issue, please visit www.districtjpatrol.com. To retrieve data, research policy, or to file a complaint online, visit houstontx.gov/policetransparency.