Greetings!
As we settle into the new school year and await fall weather, I am honored to celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month with you and the Precinct 4 community. For my family and the approximately 500,000 Latinos across Precinct 4, Hispanic Heritage Month is not only a time of celebration, but also an opportunity to deepen our connections, understand each other's stories, and listen with openness.
Our Latino communities in Precinct 4 and Harris County are incredibly diverse. From the Panamanian neighborhoods in Brays Oaks and Mission Bend; to the thriving Columbian, Afro-Latino, and Garifuna communities in Alief; to the Mexican and Salvadoran communities in Gulfton; to our Venezuelan neighbors in Cypress and Katy; we are blessed with a rich tapestry of cultures that rivals any major city in the world.
This month is also another opportunity for me and my team to listen to you — our residents. I invite you to our Hispanic Heritage Month Kickoff celebration on September 9 at Burnett Bayland Park in Gulfton. In addition to music, face painting, and family activities, we will be seeking your input on our master plan to re-imagine Burnett Bayland Park. We want to partner with you to transform this area to truly make it of, by, and for the people of Gulfton and the greater community.
Continuing our town halls from earlier this year, our next round of listening tours will begin soon. My team and I will be in Meyerland on September 13, before we head to Spring Branch and Tomball on September 30, to hear your ideas. Your insights guide our actions, shape our policies, and help us become more responsive to your needs.
Our Precinct 4 team is grounded in one purpose: to serve you and make an impact that leads to lasting change. You, as a member of our community, are our “why.”
This Hispanic Heritage Month, join us at our community events, share your stories, and let us know how we can better serve you. Together, we can make Precinct 4 an even better place to live, work, and thrive.
All my best,
Lesley Briones
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Moving Precinct 4 Forward |
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September 9, 2023: Burnett Bayland Kickoff
and Community Planning Workshop
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Harris County Precinct 4 will be kicking off Hispanic Heritage Month on Saturday, September 9th at Burnett Bayland Park in Gulfton. We are excited to celebrate the history and culture of Latino and Hispanic communities with activities for the whole family.
At the event, Commissioner Briones will also be hosting a community workshop welcoming Gulfton residents to share their input on our master plan to re-imagine Burnett Bayland Park.
The event is free and open to the entire community. For more information, click here.
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Harris County Commissioner Lesley Briones leverages $170 million for sustainable infrastructure projects |
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Through her Precinct’s Places 4 People initiative, Commissioner Lesley Briones will invest $88 million in Precinct funding and will leverage $82 million in partners’ funding. By forging partnerships with organizations such as METRO, Houston Parks Board, Energy Corridor District, Westchase District, various MUDs, and other entities, Precinct 4 is multiplying the infusion of capital to more rapidly drive progress.
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Climate Justice Action Plan Community Discussion Meeting |
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It is essential that we work closely with our community and welcome all voices and perspectives to create a stronger and more resilient future.
The community discussion meeting is part of the pre-planning process to begin to build the foundation for the first Climate Justice Action Plan for Harris County, co-created with Harris County residents.
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- Honored Nuestra Palabra for 25 years of promoting Latino literacy, literature, and culture in Harris County.
- Approved request to develop a community and mobility plan that will examine existing land use with an in-depth review of transportation and mobility needs in the growing east Katy area.
- Approved a new master plan in connection with the 2023 Healthy Parks Plan. This plan will create a healthier and more equitable Harris County Precinct 4 and Harris County.
- Moved forward with the applications for three Community Development Block Grant-Mitigation projects to improve infrastructure and address flooding in Precinct 4. These projects are crucial for the safety of our region and are a prime example of how collaboration with our partners can bring better results for our residents.
- Approved nomination of Brad Pritchett and Dr. Maria Gonzalez to LGBTQIA+ Commission. The LGBTQIA+ Commission will provide actionable recommendations on how we can improve outcomes for our LGBTQIA+ community.
- Appointed Afsheen Davis to the Hospital District Board. She comes to this position with extensive knowledge in the health care field. Together with Sima Ladjevardian, they will be the first Asian American trustees ever to serve on the board.
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COMMUNITY IMPACT: How to attend Harris County Precinct 4 community listening tour. The office of Harris County Precinct 4 Commissioner Lesley Briones announced the dates and locations for four upcoming listening sessions as part of its 2023 Listening Tour. Briones will be joined by other subject matter experts to hear community concerns, answer questions, and come up with solutions, according to the event website.
AXIOS HOUSTON: Examining Greater Houston's heat islands. About 73% of Houston-area residents live in an area where the ‘urban heat island’ effect raises temperatures by 8° or more, per a new analysis by nonprofit climate research group Climate Central, Axios' Alex Fitzpatrick reports… Harris County Precinct 4 Commissioner Lesley Briones is working to plant 1,200 new trees in the underserved Alief community to help combat the high heat. “Alief on average is 10° hotter than other parts of Harris County," Briones said when announcing the initiative in April. "This investment will help address the heat island that we are experiencing here in Alief.”
COMMUNITY IMPACT: New Precinct 4 nonprofit seeks to advance quality of life for residents. Improving the quality of life for more than 1 million residents within Precinct 4 will be the initiative behind a newly established nonprofit, Precinct4Forward. Harris County commissioners unanimously approved the creation of Precinct4Forward on Aug. 8. The nonprofit organization aims to bring community partners together to work alongside the governmental work of Precinct 4 officials, according to a news release… Precinct 4 Commissioner Lesley Briones said in a news release that she is energized by the outreach coming from community member support.
HOUSTON STYLE MAGAZINE: Harris County Unveils PROSPERS: A Visionary Roadmap to Prosperity. “In an inspiring leap forward, Harris County Commissioners Rodney Ellis and Lesley Briones have taken a remarkable step towards realizing the American dream for every citizen. This Thursday, they will proudly launch Harris PROSPERS, an ambitious and comprehensive roadmap designed to make sure everyone in the county has a home, a stable job, and the essential pillars to create a fulfilling life.
KATY TIMES: Harris County Women’s Commission Presents First Report to Harris County Commissioners. During their July 18 meeting, Harris County commissioners discussed a report from the Harris County Women’s Commission outlining its future goals and issued new directives for the nine-member group… “We must attain true equality for all women in Harris County,” said Commissioner Lesley Briones. “I am energized by the diverse perspectives and expertise of the Commission’s members and am confident they will bring recommendations to address critical issues, including lowering the maternal mortality rate, eliminating pay disparities, and preventing domestic violence.”
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Hispanic Heritage Month Kickoff/Burnett Bayland Masterplan
Burnett Bayland Park
Join Harris County Precinct 4 as we kick off Hispanic Heritage Month with a fantastic morning of family-friendly activities. Come enjoy mariachis, food trucks, face painting, and a special community workshop for the Burnett Bayland Master Plan. This is an opportunity to reimagine this area into a signature park in Southwest Houston! The park will undergo a master plan process over the next year, and Precinct 4 is inviting community members to participate by sharing your ideas to shape the future of this vital greenspace. For more information, click here.
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15th Hummingbird Festival
Kleb Woods Nature Center
Saturday, September 9, 2023 | 9 a.m. - 3 p.m.
Join us to celebrate hummingbird migration at Kleb Woods Nature Center. Enjoy games and activities for the whole family. View hummingbird banding, see live raptors from Houston Audubon, take a guided nature walk, tour the 1896 Kleb house, and more! This event is free and open to the public. No reservation required. For more information, click here.
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The Big Read – A Hispanic Heritage Month event
Houston Community College - Eastside Campus,
Monday, September 25, 2023 | 6:30 - 8 p.m.
As part of our celebration of Hispanic Heritage Month, Commissioner Lesley Briones will participate in a book reading with Colombian American author Patricia Engel for her book Infinite Country. Nuestra Palabra will give away 400 copies of the book. Register here.
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Hispanic Heritage Month Movie Nights
Join Harris County Precinct 4 for a free movie night featuring Disney/Pixar's Coco. Come early to join us for free snacks, crafts, and activities for the whole family. Bring your blankets and chairs to enjoy a movie under the stars.
“Encanto”
George Bush Park Pavilion # 3
Friday, September 22, 2023 | 6 - 9 p.m.
For more information, click here.
“Coco”
Monsignor Bill Pickard Park
October 6, 2023 | 6 - 9 p.m.
For more information, click here.
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People of Precinct 4 - Adopt a Mile |
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Logan Young is passionate about volunteering and giving back to his community. The incoming Tomball Memorial High School senior enjoys volunteering to improve the planet. Through #HCPrecinct4 's Adopt A County Mile program, Young is responsible for cleaning and maintaining Cobbs Road.
The Harris County Precinct 4 Adopt A County Mile Program prevents litter from flowing into area storm sewer systems and discharging into receiving waters.
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“[This program is] really, really important because it helps keep the roadways clean, [and] it helps keep trash out of the roads [and] waterways,” said Young.
Commissioner Lesley Briones believes in service that embodies heart, hustle, and higher standards and it is clear Logan Young is a true embodiment of the Precinct 4 values.
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Precinct 4 in the Community |
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From computers to immunizations: How Commissioner Lesley Briones is helping families get ready for Back to School |
It has been one of Commissioner Briones’ top priorities to ensure we live in a community where everyone can excel. Throughout the summer, the Precinct 4 team organized health fairs and laptop giveaways to reduce barriers that may hinder students from reaching their fullest potential.
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Binglewood Civic Club Meeting |
Commissioner Lesley Briones and the Harris County Precinct 4 infrastructure team joined the Binglewood Civic Club and Council Member Amy Peck to discuss flood mitigation in the Spring Branch area.
Since her first day in office, Commissioner Briones and the Harris County Precinct 4 infrastructure team have been hard at work investing in major flood mitigation projects to keep residents safe and improve our infrastructure.
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In collaboration with Office of Management and Budget, Commissioner Briones and the Harris County Precinct 4 team held a community budget meeting on Thursday, August 10 for Precinct 4 residents to encourage local involvement in the county budget process.
With the help of the Balancing Act tool, community members were able to breakdown the County’s $2.2B budget and simulate the decision points in developing a balanced budget that meets the needs of Harris County.
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