Inside District I
October 2019 Newsletter
Greetings!

I want to inform you of two major projects that we recently adopted in the city's approved 2020-2024 Capital Improvement Plan. These two new projects will not only benefit District I residents, but all Houstonians.

The first involves the restoration of the historic Rufus Cage building on Telephone Road. The 5-year CIP includes funding in fiscal year 2020 and 2021 that will enable needed repairs to stabilize the historic structure, a Protected Landmark built in 1910. This has been an important mission for many in the community who worked to preserve the building from the wrecking ball. Like many, my vision is to restore the historic school building, and work with the community and interested partners to activate the site.

Additionally, I want to thank the administration for working with me to program future dollars to initiate plans in 2024 for a new special collections facility to preserve, promote, and showcase the rich history and culture of Hispanics in Houston. Like the city's African American Library at the Gregory School , the new facility, when completed, could be a special, one-of-a-kind research and cultural center providing valuable programs and information to the Houston community and the nation.

I'm tremendously excited about these two projects. They will be transformative facilities for our community and the entire city. I look forward to visiting with you and all interested residents as we move forward.

Respectfully,
Robert Gallegos
Houston Council Member
District I
Police Continue to Target Criminal Activity on Gulf Freeway
This past summer, Councilman Gallegos partnered again with the Houston Police Department to fund more police overtime aimed at reducing drug and prostitution activity along the Gulf Freeway. This was the third overtime initiative funded with the District I Service Dollars. In the last three years, over $100,000 have been committed for police overtime across the district.

The three-month summer initiative resulted in the arrest of 71 suspects for various crimes including prostitution and open warrants. Dozens of citations and warnings were also issued for several other violations. While the overtime aimed at cracking down on criminal activity, officers made contact with individuals in transient camps under our freeways and issued warnings for aggressive panhandling. TxDOT has continued to clean up encampments at several of our underpasses on a regular basis.

"The summer initiative was effective, and so we will be allocating more funding to continue police overtime through the fall months," said Councilman Gallegos. "I'm also thankful to the Hobby Management District for joining our efforts and committing an additional $30,000 to pay for even more overtime in the southeast part of the district."

Residents are reminded to always remain vigilant and to report suspicious activity to HPD’s non-emergency line by calling 713-884-3131.
Park Place Boulevard Set for Major Roadway Improvement
Park Place Boulevard will soon undergo a major improvement effort thanks to a partnership Councilman Robert Gallegos facilitated between the City of Houston and the Gulfgate Redevelopment Authority (TIRZ 8).

The $4.5 million project will deliver a better driving surface as well as wider sidewalks on Park Place between the Gulf Freeway and old Galveston Road. The project will repair base failures, add new subgrade and pavement, repair the gutter line, and add new 8-foot-wide sidewalks on both sides of Park Place. New decorative lighting and pedestrian signals will also be included to make the thoroughfare more pedestrian-friendly.

"I'm grateful to TIRZ 8 for their financial commitment and leadership on this project," said Councilman Gallegos. "It's another excellent example of how we can address important infrastructure needs when we work together."

The roadway improvement project is slated to begin in November 2019 and should be completed by the end of 2020. A community groundbreaking ceremony is tentatively scheduled for Monday, November 18 at 9 a.m.
Botanic Garden Reaches $35 Million Capital Campaign
The Houston Botanic Garden announced today that it has achieved its $35 million goal for the Grow Houston’s Garden capital campaign by meeting the deadline for a $750,000 challenge grant from the J.E. and L.E. Mabee Foundation.

“We are extremely grateful for the generous individuals and foundations who responded so enthusiastically to the vision for a magnificent botanic garden in the Houston city limits,” said Claudia Gee Vassar, president and general counsel of the Houston Botanic Garden. “We believe history will hold in high esteem all of those who worked tirelessly to realize this dream. Establishing a botanic garden rivalling the best in the nation will have significant cultural, educational, and scientific benefits for our great city.”

Phase I of the master plan for the Garden, developed by renowned landscape architecture firm West 8, includes elements essential to welcoming visitors to a beautiful space that celebrates the ecoregions and unique identity of the Bayou City, while also laying down critical infrastructure to support future growth.

In anticipation of this important milestone, the following are currently under construction on the Houston Botanic Garden site: 
  • The Susan Garver Family Discovery Garden, centered around a lagoon, which will present opportunities for families to engage with nature in hands-on, direct ways.
  • The Global Collection Garden, which will demonstrate the wide variety of plants from across the globe that flourish in Houston’s climate.
  • The Edible Garden, which will showcase Houston’s culinary diversity through fruits, vegetables, herbs, and flowers, many of which visitors could grow in their own backyard.
  • Stormwater Wetlands and Coastal Prairie natural ecosystem areas, which will highlight the region’s immense biodiversity and help with flood mitigation and water purification.

Neighbors who travel Park Place Boulevard regularly will also notice significant progress on the Entrance Bridge over the Sims Bayou meander that will serve to connect visitors with the oak tree-lined Botanic Boulevard and direct them toward the Welcome Pavilion and adjacent Parking Forest.

“The Garden will truly be an oasis of learning, discovery, and horticultural beauty, showcasing Houston’s biodiversity in a serene setting only minutes from downtown,” said Nancy O’Connor Abendshein, chair of the Garden’s board of directors. “Visitors will be able to explore all the wonders of nature, participate in informative classes and festivals, and celebrate a variety of life events. This is absolutely a dream come true.”

Formed in 2002, Houston Botanic Garden is a nonprofit organization whose mission is to enrich lives through discovery, education, and the conservation of plants and the natural environment.  

The Garden broke ground in 2019 on a 132-acre site located a short distance from downtown Houston. The first of several planned phases over the next 30 years is expected to open in fall 2020 as a major addition to Houston’s cultural landscape and growing list of greenspaces. The Garden will provide a place for visitors to learn about plants, conservation, and nature; connect Houstonians across different cultures and ethnicities; and close an existing gap in our world-class city’s collection of amenities for residents and tourists. For more information, visit hbg.org .
Tree Planting at Fonde Park - Oct. 19
Voting Information for Harris County Voters
This November, you can vote at any location in Harris County during Early Voting and on Election Day thanks to the new Countywide Voting program. Similar to Early Voting, the Countywide Voting program allows any voter to vote at ANY county polling place on Election Day and does NOT eliminate your voter registration precincts. Prioritization is on convenience for the voter which means all locations are open to all eligible voters in Harris County. Voters can vote near where they work, live, or go to school.

What you’ll need to vote
Make sure you bring one of these accepted forms of identification:
  • Texas Driver License
  • U.S. Passport
  • U.S. Military Identification Card containing the person’s photograph
  • U.S. Citizenship Certificate containing the person’s photograph
  • Texas Handgun License
  • Texas Election Identification Certificate
  • Texas Personal Identification Card

Dates to know
Last day to apply for ballot by mail: October 25

Early Voting:
October 21–26 | 7am–7pm
October 27 | 1pm–6pm
October 28 - November 1 | 7am–7pm

Election Day:
November 5 | 7am–7pm

Find a location near you at HarrisVotes.com or text VOTE to 1-833-937-0700.
Tournament Raises funds for First Tee, Phase II Restoration
The East End Community Coalition is hosting a charity golf tournament benefiting the First Tee of Greater Houston and the restoration of historic Gus Wortham Park Golf Course. Register or donate online by visiting www.GusWortham.org

The second annual Historic Gus Wortham golf tournament will help raise funds for the First Tee of Greater Houston, a non-profit dedicated to impacting the lives of young people in the Greater Houston area by teaching life skills and core values through the game of golf.

The golf tournament will also help raise funds to complete Phase II of the restoration of Gus Wortham. Phase II includes a new club house with a reception hall, dedicated First Tee space, redesigned entry and parking lot, dedicated short game area and cart barn.
Master Plan Meeting for Charlton park - Oct. 29
Pilot Program Collects Nearly 3,000 Abandoned Carts
In February 2017, Councilman Gallegos launched a pilot initiative to pick up abandoned shopping carts from public property in District I. The program, conducted in partnership with the Solid Waste Department, collected the carts Monday through Friday on a twice-monthly basis.

"Abandoned shopping carts are not only unsightly, but they can create road hazards and even lead to drainage issues if they end up in our ditches or waterways," said Councilman Gallegos, who committed District I Service Dollars to fund the pilot program. In just over two years the pilot was operational, crews picked up 2,821 shopping carts from roadways, sidewalks, esplanades, ditches, and parks in District I. This is in addition to the shopping carts picked up by retailers like Fiesta, Walmart, and others during the same time frame. 

"The pilot program proved we had a problem that needed to to be addressed, and thankfully, in the last year of collections we have seen a steady decline in the number of carts being collected," noted Councilman Gallegos. While some of the larger retailers have implemented measures to keep carts on their property, such as through the use of magnetic perimeter barricades or through regular collection, many smaller and mid-size retailers do not.

"But it isn't just about retailers," added Councilman Gallegos. "Carts leave the property because many of our neighbors lack transportation, and so we must work collectively to develop a solution that helps our neighbors get their groceries home, while keeping our roadways and ditches clear of obstacles created by abandoned shopping carts."
FREE! 2019 Magnolia Park Dia de los Muertos - Nov. 2
In it’s 6th year, the Magnolia Park Dia de los Muertos event returns with even more family-friendly fun celebrating the historic Latinx neighborhood of Magnolia Park and the Dia de los Muertos holiday. This year the celebration is moving to the historic Hidalgo Park⁠—one of the first parks in the city built by and to affirm the Mexican and Mexican-American community.

2019 Magnolia Park Dia de los Muertos
November 2 | 12 to 7 p.m.
Hidalgo Park 
7000 Avenue Q
Houston, TX 77011

Magnolia Park Dia de los Muertos is a FREE, community-driven, grassroots event organized by and for the neighborhood. For more information visit: www.MagnoliaParkDiaDeLosMuertos.com
Complete Community Kick Off - Nov. 7
Mark your calendars! Join Mayor Sylvester Turner, Councilman Robert Gallegos, City staff and community representatives to kick off the Magnolia Park – Manchester initiative .

Magnolia Park – Manchester meeting
Thursday, November 7, 2019
Location: TBA Check back at houstontx.gov/completecommunities

The Complete Communities initiative aims to improve neighborhoods so that all residents and business owners can have access to quality services and amenities. Alief, Fort Bend Houston, Kashmere Gardens, Magnolia Park – Manchester, and Sunnyside are the second round of neighborhoods selected under this initiative.

Attend your neighborhood meeting to share the vision of what you want to see in your community! Your input and plans will help define what makes your neighborhood a Complete Community.
Sewer System Improvements in Eastwood
Houston Public Works will soon begin a project that will improve the sanitary sewer system, drainage, roadway and sidewalks in the Eastwood neighborhood.

The work will consist of the installation of new storm sewers, new water lines, street pavement reconstruction and sidewalks along the alignment of the proposed sanitary sewer system in the area. The streets involved in this project are: Harby, Coyle, Jefferson, Ernestine, Eastwood and Sidney.

Work is slated to begin this month and scheduled to be completed by the end of 2020.
Helpful Numbers
District I Office
832-393-3011

Houston Help & Info 
3-1-1 or 713-837-0311

Air Quality Concerns 
832-393-5730

BARC
713-837-0311

Citizens' Assistance
832-393-0955

Dept. of Neighborhoods 
832-393-1038
HPD (non-emergency)
713-884-3131

Report Dumped Tires
832-393-0460

Solid Waste Department
713-837-0311

Report trains blocking intersections
Union Pacific: 800-848-8715
BNSF: 800-832-5452

Utility Customer Service 
713-371-1400