Greetings from
Council Member Mike Knox
February 2017 Newsletter
Parking Game Plan: Super Bowl LI
The Houston Super Bowl Host Committee have been working diligently to create a safe and enjoyable experience for Houstonians and football fans visiting from across the country. Downtown traffic will be affected by event-related street closures and we encourage you to Know Before You Go .

Super Bowl LIVE Maps and Resources: 
Super Bowl LIVE Downtown Recommended Driving Routes
Super Bowl LIVE Street Closure Map
Super Bowl LIVE Event Map
Super Bowl LI Downtown Transportation Map
Super Bowl LI Comprehensive Transportation Information
Know Before You Go Complete Transportation Guide

Super Bowl LIVE
Super Bowl LIVE is a free-to-the-public fan festival that will be held in and around Discovery Green for nine days leading up to Super Bowl LI. There will be interactive games and exhibits, live music, food and fun for the entire family. There will also be Future Flight, the signature attraction of the event, a combination of virtual reality and a drop tower that takes riders on a trip to Mars and back. New events are added regularly - keep track of them here!

Ride METRORail and Enjoy Four Nights, Four Districts, for Free

Start your Super Bowl celebrations right now as Game City Showcase kicked off on Jan. 30, offering four nights of free entertainment in four city districts. METRORail is the easiest way to reach the events scheduled each night from 6 pm -9 pm, starting Monday, Jan. 30 through Thursday, Feb. 2.  

There will be a METRO information booth on hand each night. Visitors can enter to win prizes by sharing their experiences on social media using #metroloveshou.

BBVA Compass Free Rides Program and Crawford Island Ribbon Cutting

Houston Bike Share along with City of Houston’s Mayor Sylvester Turner, BBVA Compass, the Houston Downtown Management District and Visit Houston, celebrated the opening of the new “Crawford Island” Bcycle station and the launch of the “BBVA Compass Free Rides” program.

Through the BBVA Compass Free Rides program, Houston Bcycle 24 hour memberships will be FREE from January 27th - February 5th at all Bcycle stations across Houston, courtesy of BBVA Compass!  We know traffic will be crazy with the big game in town, and hope to alleviate some congestion by offering this transportation alternative to Houstonians and visitors alike. After the Super Bowl, BBVA Compass and Houston Bcycle will continue to promote healthy living with "Bike Share Free Fridays" from February 10th - March 31st. 

The “Crawford Island” Bcycle station — Houston Bike Share’s 14th downtown location — is situated between Discovery Green and the new Marriott Marquis, offering easy access to Super Bowl Live events and the NFL Experience at the George R. Brown Convention Center. Visit Houston and the Downtown District provided match funding and site construction for the expansion. The Bcycle kiosk at this location will feature work by local graffiti artist w3r3on3 (Gelson Danilo Lemos). 

For more information: https://houston.bcycle.com

It's Rodeo Time!
It's Rodeo time -- the 2017 Rodeo Houston lineup is here! Get ready to Rodeo, March 7 – 26! Visit http://www.rodeohouston.com/ for more info. 
HPD Auto Burglary Prevention Tips
Follow these safety tips to help avoid becoming an auto burglary victim:  
  1. REMOVE all valuables in your vehicle from plain view

  2. LOCK all doors and roll up your windows

  3. REPORT any suspicious activity or persons

For additional auto burglary prevention tips, click here. This information is also available in SpanishVietnameseChinese and Korean.

To report suspicious activity or an auto burglary, call 311 or the non-emergency line of the Houston Police Department at 713-884-3131.

Stop! Trains Can't.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration and Federal Railroad Administration have launched a new railroad crossing safety ad campaign. Although accidents at railroad crossings are an old problem, the problem can be solved. This ad is the latest in a two-year, focused effort to reverse the uptick in railroad crossing fatalities. Its message is simple: Stop. Trains can’t.

For more information, please visit: http://www.fra.dot.gov/eLib/details/L18522#p1_z10_gD_lPR.

Are You Houston's Next Poet Laureate?

Mayor Sylvester Turner and Houston Public Library (HPL) Director Dr. Rhea Brown Lawson announce that the City of Houston is seeking its next Poet Laureate. The Houston Poet Laureate Program celebrates Houston's rich culture and diversity by creating excitement about poetry through outreach, programs, teaching and written work.


The Houston Poet Laureate Program is coordinated by the Houston Public Library and Mayor's Office of Cultural Affairs. The new Poet Laureate will serve for two years starting in April 2017.  There is an annual honorarium of $5,000 provided through the City's Arts Initiative Grant Program.  Submissions are welcome from individual poets, authors, writers and spoken word artists. The guidelines and term requirements can be found at http://www.houstontx.gov/poetlaureate.html. Complete applications and documents need to be submitted online by midnight on February 5th, 2017, at www.houstontx.gov/PoetLaureateApplication.html.


Mayor Turner has appointed the Houston Poet Laureate Selection Committee - a diverse group of poets, scholars and literary experts - to assist in the nomination and selection process. The group includes: Ashley Turner, First Daughter of Houston; Robin Davidson, current Houston Poet Laureate; Marina Tristan, Arte Publico Press; Reyes Ramirez, DiverseWorks; Jack McBride, Writers in the Schools; Sally Connoll, UH Director of Graduate Studies, and Martha Serpas, UH Professor and Author. Non-voting members include: Jennifer Schwartz, Houston Public Library, and Radu Barbuceanu, Mayor's Office of Cultural Affairs.


Finalists will be interviewed in person by the selection committee in March, and the final selection will be made by the Mayor. The Poet Laureate will be announced in April 2017 in celebration of National Poetry Month.


For further information, visit the Houston Public Library at www.houstonlibrary.org, on Twitter @houstonlibrary or call 832-393-1313.


For further information about the City's Cultural Programs, go to www.houstontx.gov/culturalaffairs/ or follow the Mayor's office of Cultural Affairs on Facebook @HoustonMOCA.

HCC Stafford Campus offering Welding classes 
Everywhere you look, buildings are being constructed in the Houston area. Welders are in high demand and HCC Stafford Campus is here to help you get started in this growing field.  

Welders make an average annual salary of $39,000. 

Register for welding classes today, graduate in 14 weeks with a welding certificate and get started earning a competitive salary by this summer. 
To apply, go to: hccs.edu/apply.

For more information on welding classes at the new Stafford Workforce Building located at 13622 Stafford Road, Stafford, TX 77477, click on the attached poster or visit: hccs.edu/welding.

HPD "OffersUp" Safety Tips for
Mobile Buy/Sell App Use  

If you are one of the thousands of Houstonians using mobile buy/sell apps, the Houston Police Department wants you to be safe when making arrangements to purchase or sell items on mobile buy/sell websites or cell phone apps.  


Items are posted for sale on popular websites or social media apps, such as LetGo or OfferUp, and persons interested in making purchases communicate through the website.  Persons then arrange to meet to exchange money for the items sold.  


If you are going to make purchases or sell items using these apps or websites, follow these robbery prevention safety tips:   

  • If you are going to exchange money for property, do it in a public place (police station, public parking lot). 
  • If possible, have someone accompany you to the location.  
  • Don't invite strangers to your home or go to their residences.  
  • Perform transactions during daylight hours.  
  • Avoid displaying large amounts of cash. Take only the amount needed for the purchase.  
  • Utilize a proxy email rather than your regular email address to avoid revealing personal information.  
  • Trust your instincts and avoid uncomfortable situations. If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is.   

Hear HPD Robbery Division Senior Police Officer J. Brieden speak about safe ways to conduct transactions on the HPD YouTube channel at https://youtu.be/Ei2cvlDQeYg


If you are the victim of a robbery, remain calm and DO NOT resist. Take no action that would jeopardize your safety. Follow the robber's directions, but do not volunteer more than asked for.  Make mental notes of anything unusual about the suspect, such as appearance, scars, tattoos or type of weapon used.  After the robbery, go to a safe location near the robbery scene and call police immediately.

 
Anyone who has been a victim in these types of cases is urged to contact the HPD Robbery Division at 713-308-0700 or Crime Stoppers at 713-222-TIPS.  


Remember that robbery is a crime of violence that threatens the safety and quality of life of a community.  It is a crime of opportunity that can be reduced through awareness and prevention.  For more information on robbery prevention and personal safety tips, visit http://www.houstontx.gov/police/keep_houston_safe/index.htm

Houston Parks and Recreation Department Summer
Food Service Program Request to Participate

The purpose of the Summer Food Service Program is to ensure youth ages 1- 18 years old continue to receive nutritious meals when school is not in session. Free lunches and snacks that meet Federal nutrition guidelines are served at Texas Department of Agriculture (TDA) approved sites such as community centers, churches, apartment complexes, public libraries, YMCAs and Boys and Girls Clubs as long as State funding is available, and HPARD continues to be an eligible entity to manage such funds. The program is also offered at HPARD’s 52 Community Centers in conjunction with the Summer Enrichment Program for youth. To be eligible to participate, the site must be zoned to a school that has 51% or more of students receiving free or reduced lunch.


Attached is a list of the 2016 Summer Food Service Program sites for reference only. All sites must reapply every year for review by TDA. Eligible sites must complete the following steps for TDA approval to participate in the program:
 

  • The site must complete a request to participate which includes the site eligibility and participation information.
  • The site returns the completed request to participate to the SFSP staff.
  • The qualifying school that the site is zoned to must be verified through the school district website or district office, and the Texas Education Agency (TEA) Public Education Information Management System (PEIMS) report printed for submission with the site application.
  • SFSP staff submit the site application to the TDA Texas Unified Nutrition Programs System (TX-UNPS) website.
  • TDA reviews site application and approves site, typically within 2 weeks.

SFSP Sites By District

SFSP 2017 Request to Participate

METRO Adds New Features to Q Mobile Ticketing App
More METRO riders are now able to pay for their transit with their mobile phones thanks to some new Q Mobile ticketing features including:
  • Park & Ride tickets
  • Free Rider Rewards
Park & Ride customers will be prompted to choose a ticket from one of four zones in METRO's Park & Ride system. Park & Ride fare zones are found under the "Rider Tools" section of the Q Mobile ticketing app. METRO encourages riders to familiarize themselves with their Park & Ride zone before purchasing fares.

METRO's Rider Rewards program now also credits Q Mobile ticketing users five FREE tickets for every 50 single-ride tickets bought and activated.  


Single-ride tickets and METRO Day passes are also available through the app. All mobile tickets include FREE three-hour transfers to METRO services with fares of equal or lesser value traveling in any direction. 


Riders transferring to a higher fare service - from local bus or light-rail to a Park & Ride, for example - are encouraged to buy Park & Ride tickets at the start of a trip to save additional charges.
In February METRO introduced Q Mobile Ticketing, which allows customers the convenience of purchasing and presenting fares securely - from a mobile phone - 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.  

New Free Service for METROLift Patrons

METRO is making it easier for METROLift patrons to use its local buses and trains with a new pilot program that gives free rides to Park & Ride lots, transit centers and rail stations.

The new METROLift Feeder Service began on New Year’s Day and will continue for six months. This new service is one of nine areas of the METROLift Moving Forward initiative that has worked to improve service quality and the sustainability of the METROLift program, said Michael Andrade, director of Paratransit Services for METROLift.

“METROLift Feeder Service offers customers a more direct trip to their destination by utilizing a portion of their trip from a fixed-route transit center, rail station or Park & Ride service,” said Andrade. “This service is completely free.”

Customers can book a trip seven days a week, from 6 a.m. to 9 p.m., by calling: 713-615-6241.

They can also book same-day Feeder Service trips. When scheduling a trip, riders can book both legs of their trip at the same time with a Feeder Service reservationist.

By increasing access to its local buses and trains, METRO hopes more METROLift customers will enjoy the benefits of more direct trips. Still have questions on how this works? Come to an informational session scheduled throughout the city this month. 

Click here to see locations, dates and times.

HPD to Pedestrians and Motorists:  Watch Out for One Another

With pedestrian and bicycle-related fatalities on the rise this year, HPD is offering tips to keep pedestrians and motorists safe.  In addition, pedestrian safety brochures, in six languages, may be found on the department's website at http://www.houstontx.gov/police/keep_houston_safe/index.htm

Pedestrians are reminded:

  • Do not walk across the street unless at a crosswalk
  • Take the extra minute or two to walk to a crosswalk
  • Obey "Walk/Don't Walk" traffic signals
  • Stop and look both ways before stepping into the street
  • Make eye contact with a driver; don't just look at a vehicle
  • Wear light colored and/or reflective clothing if walking at night and carry a flashlight
  • Do not wear headphones or talk/text on a cell phone while walking across the street
  • Be extra careful in construction zones
Motorists are reminded:
  • Be cautious, alert and aware of your surroundings
  • Avoid distractions (like talking and texting on cell phones)
  • Always be on the lookout for pedestrians and bicyclists
  • Stop and render aid if you strike a pedestrian or vehicle

  • Stop and render aid even if you do not have a driver's license or insurance
Minor Critical Emergency
Home Repair Program
The Minor Critical Emergency Home Repair Program (MCEHRP) is open!  Please call the Housing and Community Development Department (832.394.6161) for more information. Please see requirements: 
  • Minor critical emergency home repairs are those repairs critically needed to alleviate life, health or safety hazards
  • Applicants must be qualified to participate in the program; applying does not guarantee approval for or acceptance into the program
  • Rebuilding Together Houston will provide critical repairs UP TO $10,000 per home to qualified applicants
  • Specific repair services are determined based on condition of home, cost of repairs and availability of funds
For more information, please contact the MCEHRP at 832.394.6161 , or the Department at 832.394.6200 .
January 2017 Events
Gessner Road Drainage and Paving Project Ground Breaking
Gessner Road from Long Point to Neuens is undergoing a new project that provides for the design and construction of a six-lane divided concrete roadway with storm drainage, curbs, driveways, street lighting, traffic control, and necessary underground utilities. The street has deteriorated beyond normal maintenance. In addition to the street improvements, the project will also help to improve traffic circulation, mobility, and drainage.
ESCAPE Family Resource Center Tour

ESCAPE Family Resource Center helps prevent child abuse and neglect before a child is harmed by providing intervention, education and support programs to families in crisis.

http://www.learntoparent.org/

Habitat for Humanity SuperBUILD LI at Mason Park
SuperBUILD LI, will make a great impact by creating and transforming neighborhoods. The builds will impact the children of Habitat Homeowners by affording them the stability of home and community. SuperBUILD LI is an exciting opportunity to leave a lasting legacy by building affordable homes for purchase by low- to moderate-income Houstonians during the period leading up to Super Bowl LI. By supporting Houston Habitat and SuperBUILD LI, participants will help build up Houston neighborhoods, empower our youth, and strengthen our City.
METRO Inaugural Train Ride over the Harrisburg Overpass
METRO is celebrating the completion of the Green Line that now connects to the Magnolia Park Transit Center via the Harrisburg Overpass. Elected officials, business and community leaders joined METRO leaders in a ribbon-cutting and inaugural train ride over the Harrisburg bridge, a beautifully designed bridge featuring historic panels of the East End’s past from 1826 to 1926, decorative columns with magnolias etched on them and special LED lighting.  The Green Line now offers nine stops, linking downtown Houston to the Magnolia Park Transit Center in the East End. 
Proclamation Presentation Honoring Steve Seelig 
I had the privilege to join Mayor Sylvester Turner in presenting Pastor Steve Seelig with a city proclamation in recognition for a lifetime of preaching the Gospel. Pastor Seelig and his wife, Bonita Seelig, have inspired countless thousands by their thoughts, words, and deeds.
Retirement Celebration for Joe Fenninger
I was happy to honor my old friend, Joe Fenninger, with a certificate of appreciation for his many years of service with HPD and on his retirement.  
North Houston Frontiers Club MLK, Jr. Memorial Breakfast

The Greater Houston Frontiers Club, Inc. (GHFC) is a non-profit, 501(c) (3), service organization, dedicated to providing educational and monetary assistance to talented, deserving high school seniors in the greater Houston area. This year I was glad to celebrate  the 29th Annual Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial Scholarship Breakfast at the George R Brown Convention Center. The Scholarship Breakfast is the largest and most popular annual MLK event in Greater Houston. It is also an opportunity to celebrate Dr. King's legacy of service and be inspired to live out his dream today in our homes, the community and throughout the world. 

www.greaterhoustonfrontiers.com

Original 39th Annual MLK, Jr. Birthday Parade 

Following a great breakfast, I had the privilege of riding in the MLK Day parade and shared a car with the "Mayor of Sunnyside," Ms. Sandra Massie Hines. We had plenty of sun, a slight breeze and warm temperatures. A perfect day for a parade.

Kashmere Gardens Town Hall Meeting
I joined several city departments to discuss a number of neighborhood issues in the Kashmere Gardens area. From illegal dumping to improvements in infrastructure, we answered questions and made a plan for the future. Thank you to Pastor Lillie Ferrell of Calvary UMC for hosting the town hall. 
2017 Distrct K Arbor Day Tree Planting Event

I worked alongside Council Member Larry Green planting trees along Simms Bayou in District K in recognition of Arbor Day. Many thanks to Trees for Houston for their donation. We had a lot of volunteers for Arbor Day! 

www.treesforhouston.org

Bcycle Ribbon Cutting at Crawford and McKinney
Houston Bike Share along with City of Houston’s Mayor Sylvester Turner, BBVA Compass, the Houston Downtown Management District and Visit Houston, celebrated the opening of the new “Crawford Island” Bcycle station and the launch of the “BBVA Compass Free Rides” program.
Tour de Houston Press Conference

Tour de Houston Presented by Apache Corporation is a fundraising bike ride that benefits Houston's Reforestation Program. The ride will take place Sunday, March 19, 2017. This annual event offers Houstonians and visitors a unique way to view the city with bike routes winding through Houston’s historic neighborhoods, scenic districts and parks.  With three ride length options, the Tour de Houston is the perfect event for leisure riders or cycling enthusiasts.

http://www.houstontx.gov/tourdehouston/

Combined Arms Grand Opening

Combined Arms opened in January 2017 at 2929 McKinney. A one stop shop for our veterans providing a variety of services and resources. No other facility like it in the United States. It is another example of Houston honoring and serving our veterans.

http://www.combinedarms.us/

Ribbon Cutting of the first-ever Crime Stoppers HQ

Alongside 250+ community leaders, partners and supporters, Crime Stoppers officially cut the ribbon and opened the doors to The Dave Ward Building. 

crime-stoppers.org/

Lunar New Year at Chinese Community Center
The Chinese Community Center hosted its 2017 Lunar New Year festival on Saturday, January 28, 2017. At the festival, an Asian bazaar was set up with varieties of Asian foods, arts, crafts, cultural activities etc. to entertain and educate all the festival goers. As one of the largest cultural festivals in Houston, each CCC Lunar New Year festival attracts more than 10,000 attendees.
Hope Farmer Training Scholarships for Veterans 

Hope Farms is a program of Recipe for Success, a nonprofit dedicated to combating childhood obesity by changing children’s relationships with food. They also offer Farmer Training Scholarships for veterans interested in becoming professional urban farmers. And with the help of The Mission Continues volunteers, they’re working to build Hope Farms:  a 7-acre property with 4.5 acres devoted to growing produce, with the capacity to generate over 100,000 pounds of produce annually for families within the community. Hope Farms will help empower South Houston families to make healthy choices through nutrition classes, meal prep and interaction with their local veteran farmers. 

www.hopefarmshtx.org 

Service Requests:
Important Information:
(832) 393-3014

311 or (713) 837-0311

Emergency
911

HPD Non-Emergency 
(713) 884-3131

(832) 393-0955

(832) 393-1100

Mayor Sylvester Turner
City of Houston
P.O. Box 1562
Houston, TX 77251
311 or 713.837.0311 


Staff Information:
John Moss
Chief of Staff

Carla Hulsey
Deputy Chief of Staff

Lanny Griffith
Communications Director
City Council Member Mike Knox, At-Large Position 1 | 900 Bagby St., First Floor | Houston, TX 77002 | (832) 393-3014 | Atlarge1@houstontx.gov
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