Inside District I 
Feb. 2014 Newsletter

I've hit the ground running! It has been a very busy and productive first month at City Hall. Since inauguration on January 2nd, my staff and I have met with city department heads and civic leaders to begin to address challenges in our community. 
 
I sat down with Public Works officials early on to discuss infrastructure improvements and to ensure District I receives its fair share of ReBuild Houston dollars for drainage and street improvements. I also met with HPD about crime concerns and ways we can strengthen police-community partnerships to improve public safety. Over the next few months, I will be focusing on these and other important quality of life matters, including greenspace improvements, and championing initiatives that increase economic development and strengthen our community. I look forward to updating you on our work through this newsletter. 

As a life-long District I resident, I'm keenly aware of the challenges we face, but I also know what we can achieve if we work together for the betterment of our community. I'm deeply honored to serve and represent the vibrant community we all love.

    Thank you,

    Robert Gallegos
    Houston Council Member
    District I

Meet the District I Staff
L to R: Joaquin, Leah, Robert, Diana, Navid and Daniel
Chief of Staff

Leah is a native Houstonian and graduate of Saint Agnes Academy. She received her bachelor's degree in communication from DePaul University in Chicago. Leah has worked for the City of Houston's Public Works & Engineering Department, the Houston Housing Authority, and was Interim Executive Director of the Harris County Democratic Party. Leah was Director of Communication for City Council District J before she joined Council Member Gallegos.


Council Secretary / Scheduler
Diana was raised in District I and is
a product of HISD schools, having attended Dora Lantrip Elementary, Jackson Junior High, and Stephen F. Austin. She is a longtime resident of the Pecan Park neighborhood and has been active in her community for many years. Diana owned a small business in District I for over 10 years before she pursued a career as a paralegal.

Constituent Services Director

Joaquin is a native Houstonian and a proud East End resident. Before he joined the District I team, Joaquin worked for over 10 years at Neighborhood Centers, one of Houston's oldest and largest non-profits. Joaquin is a coach in the East End and Dixie little leagues where his son, Joaquin Jr., plays little league baseball. Joaquin is an active member of Blessed Sacrament Church and a member of the Knights of Columbus Council #7230. 

 
Special Projects / Community Liaison 

Navid was born and raised in Houston and is a proud alumnus of the University of Houston. He gained valuable community outreach experience working for the Democratic Party in the 2008 presidential campaign. Following the election, he took a regional director position with the Democratic National Committee. In 2012, he was named Executive Director of the Harris County Democratic Party. Navid is eager to serve District I as a community liaison.

  
Director of Communications & Administration
Daniel has worked in city council for over seven years, serving under district and at-large council members. He will manage communications, media relations, and assist Leah manage agenda matters and the day-to-day office operations. Daniel has a bachelor's degree in criminal justice.

 

District I CIP Meeting - Feb. 19th
Council Member Robert Gallegos encourages you to attend the annual District I Capital Improvement Plan (CIP) meeting on Wednesday, February 19th from 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. The meeting will be held at the E.B. Cape Center, 4501 Leeland St.

 

The CIP is a forward-looking document outlining infrastructure improvements in District I. This plan organizes projects by priority, project capacity and timing constraints, and identifies funding sources for all anticipated projects. The five-year CIP is revised annually to include new projects, reflect changes in priorities, and extend the plan an additional year. Public meetings are held every year to inform residents about upcoming projects in the community and to gather input on future capital needs. 

  

For additional information, please contact the District I office at 832-393-3011. The City of Houston can provide reasonable accommodations to citizens with disabilities/special needs if requested in advance.

 

 PWE: a 24/7, 365 Operation
Houston's Department of Public Works and Engineering (PWE) is a complex and essential operation. Last month, Councilman Robert Gallegos toured various Public Works facilities and visited crews on the field to gain a first-hand appreciation on the importance of their work. 

PWE manages the planning, construction management, maintenance, and technical engineering of the city's infrastructure. This includes the production and distribution of over 146 billion gallons of water per year and the treatment of over 90 billion gallons per year of wastewater - enough to fill the Astrodome four times per day with fresh water and over twice per day with wastewater.

PWE maintains the city's 16,000 lane miles of streets, 60,000 stormwater manholes, 100,000 stormwater inlets, over 900,000 street name and traffic control signs, over 17,000 freeway and under bridge light fixtures, over 50,000 fire hydrants, and traffic signals at over 2,000 intersections. 

On his day-long tour, Councilman Gallegos witnessed crews filling potholes, overlaying a residential street with asphalt, clearing sewer lines and repairing broken water lines. Special thanks to all the PWE employees for everything they do to keep this city moving forward.
 
February is Spay/Neuter Awareness Month
The Houston Humane Society recognizes the month of February as Spay/Neuter Awareness Month. This year, Councilman Robert Gallegos will partner with Barrio Dogs, BARC, and animal clinics in District I to offer pre-registered residents free and low-cost spay/neuter services for their pets.

To pre-register, stop by the East End Wal-Mart (2391 S. Wayside at I-45) on Saturday, Feb. 22nd between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. Registered residents will be contacted at a later date by an animal clinic in our area to schedule an appointment. We will also be distributing pet ownership information, including pet licensing information
 
For more information on this event, please contact the District I office at 832-393-3011.
In This Issue
Contact District I
Tel: 832-393-3011
 
City Hall Annex
900 Bagby, First Floor
Houston, TX 77002
District I Map
Helpful City Numbers
3-1-1 or 713-837-0311
713-229-7300
Citizens' Assistance
832-393-0955
832-393-1038
HPD (non-emergency)
713-844-3131
713-837-0311
832-395-7000
Solid Waste Department
713-837-0311
Self-Service
Submit Service Requests
View Crime Stats
Pay Utility Bills Online
View Trash Pickup Schedule
Report Gang Activity
Looking for a pet? Search BARC Adoptions

Visit your District I
Discovery Green Park

Downtown District

EaDo

Greater East End
Theater District

The Orange Show
Tel: 832-393-3011 | [email protected]