Officials Unite to Overturn GLO Decision When it comes to protecting the citizens of Houston, there are key times when sides of the political divide gather to unite. To show a complete sign of solidarity, Republican and Democratic leaders in Houston and Harris County sent a joint letter to the Texas General Land Office requesting federal Hurricane Harvey relief funds after the state agency rejected a billion-dollar aid request from the local governments. In August 2017, Hurricane Harvey hit the Texas coast with over 60 inches of rain, causing $125 billion in total damage. The bipartisan letter signed by the entire Harris County Commissioners Court, Mayor Sylvester Turner and eight city council members expressed dissatisfaction with the land office’s decision, requesting GLO to reconsider. Potential next steps include lobbying in Austin and Washington to overturn the GLO's decision and legal action.

Expanding Support for Gulfton Residents There is much work that goes into supporting vulnerable communities and improving the lives of the people there. During a virtual council session, council members approved the appointment of board members to the Gulfton Area Municipal Management District. This management district that was created over 10 years ago needed further support. Gulfton area residents, commercial businesses, and community stakeholders continued to share their views and push for the activation of this board. Management Districts are funded by assessments of commercial property owners (including apartment complexes) within the boundary lines that goes towards amenities and services such as: Enhance and promote the image of the District. Create a desirable area to attract more businesses, investments, and residents. Provide services and information that will stimulate business growth in the District. Provide for easy access to, from, and through the District. Create a safe environment for businesses and residents in the District in order to increase revitalization. A very special thank you to Tom Einhorn, Azeb Yusuf, Tammy Rodriguez, Wilfredo Velasquez, and Preeti Sharma for their willingness to serve.

50 Cent Donates $600K to HISD It's always an exceptional act of service when performing artists give their time and resources to support education. Entertainment Icon and newest Houston resident, Curtis 50 Cent Jackson, has partnered with Houston ISD to donate a match with the school district totaling $600,000.00 to launch a new entrepreneurship program for high school students. Wheatley, Kashmere, and Worthing are the first three schools to receive the program. A special thank you to Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee, city of Houston, HISD Interim Superintendent Dr. Grenita Lathan, and Horizon United Group for collaborating with 50 Cent to make it happen.

SAVE THE DATE: District J Jobs Many Houstonian's are looking for employment, and we want to help. Council Member Edward Pollard's office is hosting District J Jobs, an in-person job fair, where attendees can interview for available jobs with a variety of employers and get tips on resume writing, interviewing and other information on employment. Stay tuned for more details in future editions of The Pollard Press.

Alice Cheng Lee Day Proclaimed in the City of Houston Volunteers are the core of what makes communities not only survive, but thrive. Council Member Pollard presented Alice Lee with a proclamation recognizing May 12, 2021, as Alice Cheng Lee Day in the City of Houston. Lee has been a true servant to the people of District J in her role as Executive Director of the SW Management District and volunteering countless hours to initiatives and efforts to improve our city. As we celebrated Asian American and Pacific Islander Month in May, this recognition was even more befitting.

Suited for Success It is imperative that we realize the significance of first impressions and the general perception of well-dressed and competent young men. Several initiatives are underway to enhance their confidence and success through mentoring and nurture relationships.   Suits for Success – 4th Down Foundation Suits for Success collaborated with Mike West and the 4th Down Foundation to host a dinner for some of the top ranked high school football players in the Houston area at the Houston Club. The dinner focused on becoming P.R.O.S. (Professionals Regardless of Sports) with a focus on the message that our young men are more than athletes and encouraging them to focus on sports as a springboard to success and a wide range of opportunities. A special thank you to NFL player Trey Williams and NBA player Gerald Green for being our guest speakers. Promoting Confidence Through Mentorship As we prepare our young men for a successful future, it is critical to ensure they have the necessary tools and resources to achieve their dreams. The mission of Suits for Success is to teach, motivate, encourage, and mentor young men by instilling fundamental core principals on expectations in the collegiate and professional world—a young man is more “suited” for success when he has an essential wardrobe. For more information, visit www.suitsforsuccesshouston.org.

District J Receives Top Ranking The ultimate job of elected officials is to keep promises to the people within the communities they serve. The District J office staff is pleased to have been recognized as the most responsive office of all city council members county commissioners by KPRC Channel 2. The Office remains committed to great customer service and being results driven as they work to build and nurture communities for unlimited potential. See the story here on Click2Houston.

Honoring Heroes Sacrificing one’s own life is the daily reality for police officers. More than 22,000 U.S. law enforcement officers have made the ultimate sacrifice since the first line-of-duty death in 1786. During National Police week, the City of Houston held a memorial service to honor and remember the 119 men and women who lost their lives serving within the Houston Police Department.

Building Bipartisanship The need to work together and advance toward a common goal surpasses either side of the political realm It is essential to approach issues with an open mind and lead with a broad perspective. Council Member Pollard attended the Harris County Young Republicans annual crawfish boil. During the event, Pollard spoke on bridging the political divide and ways to connect and collaborate. May thanks to Harris County Young Republicans for the invitation to this worthwhile event.

Supporting Our Local Fire Fighters Like law officers, fire fighters are heroes in their own right, sacrificing themselves for the safety and well-being of others. These first responders are truly worthy of unyielding support. Council Member Pollard partnered with Gopuff to contribute $20,000 to the Houston Professional Fire Fighters Association Charitable Foundation. The donation was in appreciation to the fire fighters for their extraordinary service and sacrifice during the pandemic. Additionally, as an extended show of appreciation, Pollard co-sponsored a barbecue at the Gulfton storefront police station for an appreciation luncheon for HPD and Houston Fire Department.   Many thanks to Gopuff, the Police and Clergy Team, Gulfton Citizens Advisory Council, and the Mayor’s Assistance Office - Department of Neighborhoods for organizing and coordinating.

Day of Service – India Culture Center Council Member Pollard joined the Consulate General of India, Shri Aseem Mahajan, and Mayor Sylvester Turner in District J for a day of service. During the event, hosts of Indo-American organizations and community leaders led a drive-thru food distribution and vaccine site at the GSH Event Center. A very special thank you to everyone who supported this community effort.

Fostering Community Relationships Connecting with local business to hear their needs is the bedrock of a stable and prosperous community. Council Member Pollard visited local businesses in District J to review ways to improve their areas as well as collaborate on more community initiatives. Pollard toured the Ibn Sina Foundation, which is the 4th largest medical clinic in Houston, with their founder Nasruddin Rupani. Their community clinic provides a one-stop shop for all primary care needs for adults and children as well as dental services. As this is a high-traffic area, discussions around ways to prevent pedestrian accidents on Wilcrest were a top priority. Pollard also met with Sterling McCall Ford General Manager Rodney Crow, and former Harris County Tax Assessor Mike Sullivan, to explore ways on which to increase revitalization efforts off the US59 south corridor as well as partnering to provide more resources to elementary schools in the area.

Food Distribution – SW District & SEWA International Servicing the community whether discussing improvement projects or food distribution is key. Council Member Pollard recently spoke to residents in Braeburn Valley at their HOA meeting about new improvement projects in their area as well as answer questions regarding neighborhood issues and concerns. The District J office also hosted a free food distribution that included boxes of produce, milk and cheese in Westwood this morning concentrating on families in Alief.   Special thanks to HPD District J Patrol officers for attending the event, Alief ISD Trustee Natasha Butler for co-sponsoring, SW Management District and Sewa International for coordinating, and Best Elementary for hosting.

SPARK Park Upgrades at Landis Elementary In every neighborhood parks are a major aspect of community living. To enhance this reality, the District J office allocated $10,000 towards park upgrades for the new SPARK Park at Landis Elementary in Alief. The upgrades include 25 newly planted trees, 4 soccer goals, playground equipment, sidewalk/walking trail, fresh paint on the basketball goals and surface games. This is substantial improvement as this particular area of the district is known as a park desert, lacking parks or green space within a 10-minute walk of the school. SPARK Parks are designed to stay open after school hours and on the weekends to also serve as a community park for kids and families to enjoy.  A special thank you to Kathleen Ownby, Superintendent Chambers, Principal Upshaw, all the school board trustees, teachers, donors, and volunteers who made this project a success.

Food Distribution and More Council Members Pollard and Tiffany Thomas, joined community partners for a produce box distribution at Al Noor Masjid. For residents needing to pay back rent and utilities, attorneys and facilitators were on hand to offer additional support to offer guidance relative to the declaration form for the CDC eviction moratorium. Many thanks to all the community partners for their time and efforts in supporting the community residents.

Drive-thru Diaper Distribution As many Houston families have endured hardships due to the pandemic, getting access to necessary supplies has been a challenge. The District J office hosted a free diaper distribution at Benavidez Elementary School in partnership with the Texas Diaper Bank, Gulfton Citizen’s Advisory Council and Bee Busy Wellness. Watch the video below.

Road Closures In an effort to greatly enhance safety and improve mobility for motorists, the Texas department of Transportation has closed two connection ramps. Part of the I-610 West Loop/I-69 Southwest Freeway interchange project, the closures will allow for demolishing of the current ramps and reconstructing new and improved ones. Closures: I-69 Southwest Freeway northbound connector ramp to I-610 West Loop northbound I-69 Southwest Freeway southbound connector ramp to I-610 West Loop northbound Motorists should expect delays and may want to consider an alternate route. Police officers will be onsite to assist with traffic control.

Reopening Houston Parks With the Covid-19 vaccine rollout and cases on the decline, plans are underway for reopening Houston parks along with community centers and other facilities for neighborhood residents. The Houston Parks and Recreation Department, will implement a standard set of operational guidelines to minimize risk associated with Covid-19. Visit https://www.houstontx.gov/parks/ to learn more.

Meeting with Sharpstown Civic Association   Council Member Pollard met with constituents at the monthly Sharpstown Civic Association meeting. The meeting allowed attendees to voice local needs and issues to help strengthen the community.

Africa Day in Houston Showcasing the diversity of Houston highlights the inclusivity of the city. Recently, the city recently celebrated its 4th annual Houston Africa Day celebration at the George R Brown Convention Center by hosting the African Union Ambassador to the United States, Her Excellency Ambassador Hilda Suka-Mafudze, and 13 Ambassadors from African nations to Houston.   Africa Day, also known as African Unity Day, is celebrated annually on May 25. It commemorates the founding of the Organization of African Unity. Houston Africa Day, held annually by Mayor Sylvester Turner, showcases the diversity of the nation's 4th most populous city and its global presence. People from all backgrounds were invited to join in the celebration with the African community to commemorate the business and cultural contributions of the African diaspora in Houston.

Neighborhood Project Updates Concrete Sidewalk and Ramp Repair - Albacore Drive Crews successfully repaved sidewalks and ramps on Albacore Drive, replacing old, worn concrete with new concrete panels and paving. This project encompassed the repairs of sidewalks to address safety concerns for residents and pedestrians in the area.

Concrete Sidewalk Repair - 7260 Bissonnet The concrete panels on 7260 Bissonnet had completely deteriorated and caused large areas for pooling water after rain and safety hazards for pedestrians and bike riders. Crews repaired and resurface sidewalks and repaved the ramp.

Roadway Rehabilitation - Bissonnet The concrete panels on Bissonnet Street to S. Gessner Drive to Braeburn Valley Drive were worn from weather and high traffic and in need of repair. Crews worked to rehabilitate the area and repave the road, preventing safety hazards for drivers and area residents.

District J Patrol Update 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. 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.  The Disrict J office is dedicated to putting "community" back in community policing, and the District J Patrol program continues to do just that. Council Member Pollard recently went on a ride-along with Mariana Oyanguren and Bert Ruiz, the chair of the District J Patrol Community Task Force The group rode in the Polaris vehicles to patrol the neighborhood. By design, Polaris vehicles have an "open" concept to be more approachable than the typical police cruiser. Additionally, the Polaris vehicles also provide access to areas that regular police patrol cars do not, such as parks, vacant lots, and bayous.

HOT Team 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 Programs There are many organizations in District J that are beneficial to our community. Each month, we will include some of those events in this newsletter. India House hosts the following events. Each event takes place at: 8888 West Bellfort, Houston, TX 77031

Council Member Edward Pollard City Hall Annex, 900 Bagby, First Floor, Houston, TX 77002 Phone: (832) 393-3015