Greetings!
The City of Houston is in the process of adopting new City Council district boundaries using the information from the 2020 US Census. This process, called redistricting, is important to ensure that each city council member represents about the same number of constituents. Additionally, the redrawn districts will aim to:
- Maintain communities of interest/neighborhoods
- Be compact and contiguous
- Avoid packing or cracking
- Packing – diminishing voting power by calculated demographic concentration
- Cracking - diminishing voting power by calculated demographic dilution
- Preserve incumbent-constituency relations
We urge all Houstonians to participate in the redistricting process by reviewing the Proposed City Council Redistricting Plan, providing feedback, and voicing concerns or preferences during the upcoming public hearings. The hearings will be held:
- Wednesday, July 13, 2022 at 9:00 a.m.
- Wednesday, July 13, 2022 at 7:00 p.m.
- Wednesday, July 20, 2022 at 9:00 a.m.
You can sign up to speak by calling the City Secretary's Office at 832-393-1100. To review the Proposed Redistricting Plan or for more information, visit the City’s website at: www.letstalkhouston.org/redistricting
|
|
Residents are encouraged to participate in the upcoming community meetings regarding Houston METRO's proposed "University Corridor" Bus Rapid Transit Project. The University Corridor begins at the Westchase Park & Ride and ends at the Tidwell Transit Center. The proposed bus rapid route passes through multiple communities, including the East End through the Eastwood Transit Center and Lockwood under the proposed Segment 4. Upcoming meetings in our area:
Wednesday, July 13, 2022
BakerRipley (Gymnasium)
4410 Navigation Blvd., 77011
6 p.m. to 8 p.m.
Thursday, July 14, 2022
Houston Community College - Felix Fraga Academic Campus
(Facilitated in Spanish / facilitado en español.)
301 N Drennan St., 77003
6 p.m. to 8 p.m.
|
|
Big news from City Council: we are doubling funding for the City's SWAT (Stormwater Action Team) Drainage Program! This critical maintenance program reduces localized drainage problems throughout the City by focusing on repairing and maintaining storm sewers and outlets, roadside and off-road ditches, and upgrading the existing drainage system to improve water conveyance.
A big thank you to Mayor Turner for the additional funding, which will allow us to accelerate even more local drainage projects throughout the City. These before and after photos are from one of several projects completed in District I through SWAT.
|
|
We want your input! The East End District, Traffic Injury Research Foundation (TIRF), and the FIA Foundation will be hosting two online workshops to assess and address needs related to road safety within the East End. Outcomes will be used to better understand road safety priorities and mobility needs. The virtual workshops are scheduled for July 14th at 10:00 a.m. and 6:30 p.m. Alternatively, you can take an online survey anytime.
Please register with Jack Hanagriff by contacting the East End District at Jack@EastEndDistrict.com or calling 713-928-9916. A link will be provided upon registration.
|
|
The Oates Road rehabilitation project in the northeast of District I is underway! Work crews have added a temporary driving lane on the northbound shoulder and shifted traffic there, which is enabling crews to work on the southbound lane. Crews have already excavated the old driving lane to the base and will soon begin repairing the base and pouring the new surface. Once that is done, crews will begin work on the northbound lanes.
The project provides for major work, including road milling, base repairs, and improving the shoulders. This type of work is never easy, and minor disruptions and inconveniences are to be expected, but our office will monitor the progress and communicate regularly with Houston Public Works and the contractor to minimize impacts to the neighborhood and businesses.
We remind drivers to reduce speed, travel slowly, and be mindful of work crews during construction.
|
|
Now that Houston Public Works has completed repairs and an overlay on Dumble, crews will be installing new speed cushions requested by Eastwood/Jackson Court residents through a 2017 application.
Installation should be completed before the end of July. We ask motorists to drive slowly and be aware of work crews in the area.
|
|
The greenway begins at Stuart Park, where the existing Sims Bayou Greenway currently ends, and travels along the north side of Sims Bayou adjacent to Reed Road. At Reed Road, the greenway splits into a 5-foot wide concrete walking path on the top of the bank and a dedicated bike lane on the road utilizing the lane closest to the bayou.
The walking path and bike lane merge together again at Stewart Park to continue as a 10-foot wide concrete trail along the bayou. The greenway makes an undercrossing at Mykawa Road and its adjacent railroad, then continues along the top of the bank connecting to an interior road of FM Law Park. Several hundred feet down that road the trail begins again and connects to the existing pedestrian bridge, traveling over Sims Bayou, and ends at FM Law Park on the south side.
Residents should be mindful of the active construction sites along Sims Bayou and should not enter areas surrounded by construction fencing. Special thanks to Bayou Oaks Civic Club, Garden Villas Community Association, and all residents who provided input on this project.
|
|
The Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) is conducting the Gulf Freeway Planning & Environmental Linkages (PEL) Study that covers Interstate 45 (I-45) South from I-69/US 59 (Downtown) to Beltway 8 South in Harris County. TxDOT is using this study to identify existing and projected transportation issues within the corridor and to work with stakeholders and the community to identify solutions.
TxDOT will post a pre-recorded presentation on their website on Tuesday, July 12, 2022, at 5 p.m., and host two in-person meetings to gather public feedback on the study. The in-person meeting will be held on:
- Tuesday, July 12, 2022 - 5 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. - Houston Texans YMCA, 5202 Griggs Rd., Houston, TX 77021
- Thursday, July 14, 2022 - 5 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. - Sagemont Church, Annex Bldg., 11600 Hughes Rd., Houston, TX 77089
We encourage residents along the corridor to participate and submit comments or concerns on the record through TxDOT's email: HOU-PIOwebmail@txdot.gov. All comments must be received on or before Friday, July 29, 2022. Please reference the "Gulf Freeway PEL Study"
|
|
Back to School Bash in partnership with the ROCK Church! Join us on Saturday, August 6th beginning at 9 a.m. for the distribution of school supplies, music and entertainment for the whole family! |
|
COVID-19 testing and vaccination at Houston Health Department-operated sites remain free, do not require insurance or proof of citizenship. Make sure you are up to date on your COVID-19 vaccines by getting all recommended doses, including a booster when eligible. Vaccination helps protect you from serious illness, hospitalization, and death; it also helps reduce spread. The CDC recommends COVID-19 vaccines for everyone 6 months and older and boosters for everyone 5 years and older, if eligible.
|
|
Recycling right is just as important as recycling more! Contamination harms the program by making it hard to recover clean recyclables at the sorting center. To help protect the curbside recycling program, remember to keep it clean, and when in doubt, throw it out. Most recyclables are packaging items from products found in the kitchen, bath and laundry of your home. All recycling items must be empty and clean before placing in the recycling bin. Place items loose into the cart - do not bag recycling.
|
|
We continue to urge residents to help us report stopped trains and blocked crossings to the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) as well as to Union Pacific (UP) Railroad. Our office has created a quick reference sheet with reporting information for a few of our most problematic crossings: Lawndale, S. Lockwood, Telephone, and Lawndale/Griggs.
Please file complaints each time you encounter blocked crossings so that federal regulators know how widespread and problematic this has become.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
