$5.1 Billion Budget Passes For the first time in over a year, City Council Members met in person, voting to pass a $5.1 billion budget for the next fiscal year. This vote will afford firefighters their highest raise in several years. Additionally, Council Member Pollard proposed an amendment, with the support of other council members, to raise the amount of funding district offices receive in a program that lets them spend money on neighborhood priorities. District funds will increase from $750,000 to $1 million. Many thanks to the council members who banded together to get this amendment passed for the benefit of the communities they serve.

Pop-Up Vaccine Clinic While more people are getting vaccinated, it is essential to expand and sustain access to those wanting vaccines. The District J office partnered with the Houston Health Department to provide a free pop-up COVID-19 vaccination clinic at St. Luke’s United Methodist Church Gethsemane Campus. A special thank you to the medical staff and health coordinators for making this possible.

Rise and Shine Breakfast Every day, the Boys and Girls Club of America is helping to make great futures a reality for America’s youth. Due to the efforts required, the District J office is working to support the need for more mentors, enrichment, tutorials, and safe places for kids. Council Member Pollard attended the Rise and Shine Breakfast at the River Oaks Country Club to jumpstart this worthwhile effort. He is currently exploring the possibility of bringing the Boy's and Girl's Club brand of programming to District J.

HEDP Small Business Support For many of Houston’s small businesses, Hurricane Harvey generated long-term impact and financial challenges. To sustain and enhance small businesses, the District J Office has partnered with the Harvey Economic Development Program (HEDP) to provide support to impacted small businesses and communities through small business loans and grants. The program prioritizes microenterprises, which are defined as small businesses consisting of five employees or fewer, including the owner. This program will complement existing projects that focus on providing jobs and housing assistance to communities that are most vulnerable to the long-term impact of Hurricane Harvey. To apply or get more information please visit recovery.houstontx.gov/hedp.

Drive-thru Pet Pantry - July 15th Furry family members will receive free food during the Pet Pantry drive-thru event on July 15th. The District J office is partnering with Sharpstown Baptist Church to support families in need of feeding their pets. The event will take place at Sharpstown Baptist Church, located at 7000 Bellaire Blvd, Houston, TX 77074. This event is first come, first serve. When arriving, look for the signs and pull into the back of the line of cars in the parking lot. Volunteers will bring pet food to your car. Please remain in your car. Arrive early as registration begins at 9 am.

SAVE THE DATE: District J Jobs Many Houstonians 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.

Video: Council Members Discuss MWBE Support Minority and women-owned business enterprises (MWBEs) are sometimes overlooked when it comes to equal opportunities. Every week, council members review how much work the City is approving to ensure there is a fair playing field for economic opportunity for all.

Juneteenth: More Than a Day Off Observed for celebrating African-American culture, Juneteenth is a federal holiday in the United States commemorating the emancipation of enslaved African-American. To get Juneteenth recognized as a federal holiday, many efforts were at play. Specifically, the work of Texas Southern University alumnus and former state representative, the late Al Edwards. Representative Edwards initiated legislation to establish Juneteenth as a holiday in Texas. As a freshman state representative, Edwards, commonly known as "Mr. Juneteenth," introduced the holiday under House Bill 1016. As we recognize this phenomenal accomplishment, we posthumously thank Representative Edwards for his unyielding efforts to bring this reality to fruition. Read Council Member Pollard's op-ed published in the Houston Business Journal on why Juneteenth is more than a day off and a time of reflection here.

METRO to Improve Commutes for District J Residents In every city there are areas for improvement. Within Houston, there exists a need to explore customized approaches to address commuting via public transportation. METRO is partnering with local advocacy groups to take into consideration the unique dynamics of each area in District J. In mid-August, METRO is scheduled to launch a Gulfton circulator to connect transit-dependent riders in the community with quicker trips around the neighborhood and to transit centers for expanded commutes. Circulators are buses that typically operate in a tight circle or neighborhood and can simplify travel and access. We will keep the community informed as METRO prepares to debut this significant effort.

Supporting Our Officers Through PEACE Pilot Program Every day, police officers have a duty to respond to high pressure circumstances, which may negatively affect their behavior, leading to potential mental mistakes, PTSD, home life issues, and problematic situations. While policy and tactical trainings are part of any police officer’s job, it is critical to address the mental effects as well. To provide this support, Council Member Pollard has introduced the new Police Enlightenment and Collective Education (PEACE) pilot program. This initiative aims to reform and enhance the functionality of law enforcement divisions by focusing on the wellness of officers as individuals. Many thanks to Jazmin Porter, an international certified yoga and wellness instructor who will conduct the sessions, as well as the police union for partnering with the District J office to improve the mindfulness and overall wellbeing of our police officers, making our communities even safer. Read more about the PEACE initiative published in the Defender Network newspaper.

Video: Improvements to Water and Waste System Every community needs safe and abundant water resources to meet its needs. For more than a decade, the City of Houston has needed improvements to our water and waste water system. City Council members met to discuss the water rate increase, which would help support our infrastructure. The City has now begun to invest in the needs of the residents. Despite higher fees, this investment promises to improve the lives of our constituents. For more information about the water rate increase, please access the two resources below: One-page Summary FAQ

District J Welcomes Summer Interns When it comes to youth and achievement, one of the main ways students can be adequately prepared to achieve success in their future careers is to get an internship. This summer, the District J office has two young men interning in the council office. Cameron Mudd is a rising sophomore at Vanderbilt University, and Ethan Jett is a rising junior at Kinkaid High School. This opportunity will afford the interns professional work experience and a remarkable network.

Connecting in the Community

Community meetings are a great way to bring together a cross-section of viewpoints, offering residents real opportunities to discuss ideas and ignite change. Council Member Pollard met with residents of the Skyline Court Townhomes during an ice cream social. He also visited with constituents at the Brays Oaks Management District meeting held at the India House, and the monthly Sharpstown Civic Association meeting at Bayland Park.

Building Relationships Building collaborative relationships with community leaders is essential to serve our constituents. Council Member Pollard attended a breakfast meeting with business leaders in our French community and contributed to discussions on engagement within the East and West African communities. Many thanks to Posso Ganame, Mazda Denon, and Azeb Yusuf for organizing and Flo Paris in District J for hosting.

SIMA Meeting Council Member Pollard met with members of the Small Independent Motel Association (SIMA). Formed in 1989, this worthwhile organization allows small motel owners a platform in local affairs that directly affect the motel business. A special thank you to Hasu Patel and Miraj Patel for organizing, and London Sizzler for hosting.

Addressing Homeless Encampments   Homeless encampments exist in several areas of our communities and have become a major issue. The District J office is working to handle the situation, but it requires a collective effort. To address concerns, the District J office partnered with the Mayor’s Office to host a virtual community update meeting to discuss the Homeless Housing Program and to highlight specific initiatives within the District. During the meeting, the Special Assistant to the Mayor for Homeless Initiatives Marc Eichenbaum reviewed homelessness in Houston, how the city is handling issues, initiatives in the District and how constituents can help. Council Member Pollard's office is collaborating with Mayor Turner's office on a specific strategy to address the homeless encampment issue in our district.

Honoring the District J Patrol Team   Improving the community is a partnership between both leaders and constituents. Within every community, there are groups that volunteer to ensure neighborhood progression. Council Member Pollard held an appreciation breakfast, at Prince’s Hamburgers located at the Sharpstown Golf Course, to thank the residents who serve on the District J Patrol Team. It is their consistent dedication and phenomenal efforts to help coordinate neighborhood public safety issues through specific strategy with the HPD District J Patrol. Each team member received a Certificate of Recognition from the District J office for their service.

Road Closures In an effort to greatly enhance safety and improve mobility for motorists, the Texas department of Transportation has closed two connection ramps. As 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 are on site to assist with traffic control.

Asia Tiger Ball Celebrates India Council Member Pollard and his wife Vanessa attended the Asia Tiger Ball, highlighting India. This event raises funds to underwrite more than 150 virtual and in-person programs each year. Programs range from art to policy discussions and an array of engaging education and outreach endeavors for students and families. Special thanks to Mayor of Sugar Land Joe Zimmerman, State Representative Jacey Jetton, Chairman of the Ismaili Center, Dr. Barkat Fazal, Ismali Council for Southwestern U.S., and City Controller Chris Brown.

Strake Send Off It’s always a great opportunity to encourage and support youth whenever possible. Due to hard work and much dedication, the Strake Jesuit High School baseball team made the final 4 of the 6A State Championship. Before heading to Round Rock, TX, Council Member Pollard had a chance to speak to the team for a great send off. Kudos to the team as we are extremely proud of these young men and how they have represented our city and especially SW Houston.

Neighborhood Project Updates Concrete Sidewalk Repair - 7900 Bissonnet The sidewalks along Bissonnet St. on the north side from Braeburn Valley Dr. to 7900 Bissonnet Street were badly in need of repair. There existed significant damage to the sidewalk, potentially causing hazards to pedestrians and residents. Crews successfully filled repaired and repaved the area.

Concrete Sidewalk Repair - 7014 Neff Damaged concrete on 7014 Neff Street extending to Larkwood Drive were in need of repair to mitigate safety hazards for local residents. Crews repaired and resurfaced the sidewalk.

Debris Removal - 6800 Tarneff On 6800 Tarneff, a passerby had dumped an old couch and furniture at this location. Teams removed furniture debris to clear the area.

Trash Removal - 7607 Clarewood The area at 7607 Clarewood had accumulated trash and scattered litter due to people loitering. Teams worked to get rid of all debris to maintain cleanliness in the area.

Debris Removal - 8075 Wednesbury In the area of 8075 Wednesbury, a mattress and other items had been dumped at an overflowing dumpster. Teams worked to remove all unsightly debris and completely clear the area.

Debris Disposal - 8915 Valley View Lane In the area of 8915 Valley View Lane, litterers had illegally dumped construction materials. Crews removed all debris and properly disposed the materials to clear the area.

Debris Removal - Beechnut and Bonhomme After bathroom and other furniture materials had been illegally dumped, crews worked to clear all unsightly materials ensuring cleanliness of the area.

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. 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.  New System Provides Policing Transparency Police officers are a significant part of a great community. However, there are reports, as well as witness accounts where they abuse their authority causing harm to citizens. To combat this issue, last year Council Member Pollard pushed for the creation of a Police Transparency Dashboard, a mechanism for the public to file and track complaints of police misconduct online. This system also stores critical HPD data and policy to ensure the community can hold officers accountable for their actions. The dashboard also allows seamless complaint fillings and access to information on our police department. Many thanks to Mayor Sylvester Turner, members of the Task Force on Police Reform, HITS, HPD, City of Houston Council Members, and stakeholders for helping to bring this vision to life.   District J Patrol in Action Recently, Sheri Cortez, an appointed member of the Brays Oaks Management District who chairs the DJ Patrol, made calls for assistance relative to a fallen barricade. Cortez contacted the District J Patrol and help came immediately to help secure this barricade that prevents people from driving into the bayou, potentially saving lives. “This is why we created the district J Patrol. It has been so very successful at helping the community by filling in the gaps. This community policing program is the best thing our community has ever seen, and we are so grateful to Council Member Pollard for listening to his constituents and those in sister districts. There are no walls between districts; we are all ONE! And we must work together!” said Cortez. In just 6 months the District J Patrol has addressed over 700 quality of life crimes and violations. 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.

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