Greetings!
I enjoyed visiting with many residents yesterday evening at the various National Night Out (NNO) festivities around District I. As a community leader and past president of my civic association, I'm always encouraged and pleased to see so many residents out visiting with other neighbors and enjoying their neighborhood. For over 30 years, NNO has brought together residents, law enforcement, and local officials as a way to strengthen community-police partnerships and reduce crime. It provides the perfect opportunity to see old friends and meet new neighbors. I was personally able to visit with residents at Villas on Winkler, Villas on Woodforest, ETCP Civic Club, Clinton Park, Smith Addition, Tropicana Village, and Fonde. Along with the District I team, we attended over 25 NNO events throughout the entire district.
Special thanks to the neighborhood groups that hosted events and to all the residents who participated in National Night Out. UPDATE: Gus Wortham Renovation The mayor's office continues to negotiate with the Houston Golf Association (HGA) for the renovation and operation of Gus Wortham Golf Course. The administration has indicated that negotiations are moving in the right direction and that a contract could come to City Council for consideration very soon. The mayor initially intended to have negotiations completed by the end of last August.
I remain committed to plans for renovating Gus Wortham and am confident that the HGA is fully capable of restoring and preserving our historic golf course. Negotiations continue as well between the administration and the Houston Botanic Board for the possible redevelopment of Glenbrook Golf Course as a site for a botanic garden.
Thank you,
Robert Gallegos
Houston Council Member
District I
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Free Spay/Neuter Services Coming to District I
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Click here for full resolution
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BARC is partnering with some of Houston's top pet advocates to reduce pet overpopulation and promote pet wellness in targeted areas of Houston, one neighborhood at a time. Beginning October 25, the effort will move to neighborhoods in District I.
This initiative, named "Healthy Pets, Healthy Streets", offers free spay/neuter and wellness services to pet owners in neighborhoods with a large number of stray animals and dog bite complaints. Each pet that participates will receive free spay/neuter surgery, a rabies vaccination, a one-year city license, a microchip with lifetime registration and flea treatment. More healthy and sterilized pets also mean healthier and safer streets and sidewalks.
"As we all know, we've had a stray dog problem in our community for years in part due to a lack of comprehensive spay/neuter strategy, and limited educational initiatives on responsible pet ownership," said Council Member Robert Gallegos. "Over the past few months, we have focused on a multi-pronged approach to address the issue: increasing funding for BARC enforcement operations, more proactive educational campaigns on responsible pet ownership, and making spay/neuter services more accessible to those pet owners who need them. I'm happy to bring this initiative to our community and encourage District I residents to take advantage of this opportunity."
District I residents must take a current ID or documentation such as a utility bill that has the pet owner's name and current City of Houston address. No appointment necessary. Check in will begin promptly at 6:30 a.m. Residents can bring their pets to the SNAP mobile clinic on the following dates and locations:
Saturday, Oct. 25 - 7am to 4pm
7037 Capitol St, Houston, TX 77011
Monday, Oct. 27 - 7am to 4pm
9311 E. Ave. P, Houston, TX 77012
Clinton Park Community Center
Tuesday, Oct. 28 - 7am to 4pm
200 Mississippi, Houston, TX 77029
Garden Villas Community Center
Thursday, Oct. 30 - 7am to 4pm
6720 S. Haywood, Houston, TX 77061
Ingrando Community Center
Friday, Oct. 31 - 7am to 4pm
7302 Keller, Houston, TX 77012
This initiative is currently funded by generous financial contributions from various community partners, including Valero Houston Refinery, to BARC and the Houston BARC Foundation. Council Member Robert Gallegos also committed surplus funds from his 2014 council budget for this initiative. All cat-related services for this initiative are underwritten by Friends For Life.
The simplest, but most powerful thing you can do to help BARC, and pets throughout our community, is to talk to your friends, neighbors, and family about caring for pets responsibly. For more information on this initiative visit www.houstontx.gov/barc/spay_neuter_beachhead or call the District I office at 832-393-3011.
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Neighborhood Matching Grant Program is Back
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The Neighborhood Matching Grant Program helps neighborhoods fund various beautification and improvement projects by providing a dollar-for-dollar matching grant reimbursement ranging from $500 to $5,000. The program is designed to cultivate the spirit of volunteerism to help neighborhood-based organizations learn the art of planning and community building through neighborhood projects
Who can participate in the program?
Eligible organizations must meet the following criteria:
- A neighborhood-based organization
- Incorporated as a 501(c)(3) or 501(c)(4) non-profit organization through the State of Texas
- Represent a specific geographic area located within the Houston city limits
- Identify how the organization will fund and support the project in the future
What type of project can be funded?
The program helps pay for physical improvements or projects that are accessible and beneficial to the community. The program will not pay for ongoing operation or maintenance such as upkeep of landscaping or a community garden. Funds received through this program may not be used to lobby or participate in political campaigns and/or elections. Completed projects or completed parts of a project are not eligible for reimbursement.
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Community Family Centers' Power Walk - Oct. 25th
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Exploring Houston's Historic East End
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 Council Member Robert Gallegos joined Mayor Annise Parker, the Houston Arts Alliance, and many local artists to kick off Transported + Renewed, a major three-month creative placemaking project that celebrates the centennial of the Port of Houston and the inauguration of the Houston METRO East End Light Rail Line. Running through Nov. 30, 2014, Houston's East End, the city's historic transport hub and neighborhood hugging Buffalo Bayou and the Houston Ship Channel, will be infused with a series of concerts, performances, visual arts installations and more. The theme of Transported + Renewed draws on Houstonians' playful and artful obsession with "keeping things moving" and living in an ever-changing and transforming urban landscape. For October:
East End Street Fest
Saturday, October 25, 2014, 11 a.m. - 8 p.m.
Afoot! A Marching Band Extravaganza
Saturday, October 25, 2014, 11 a.m. - 1 p.m.
Co-sponsored by University of Houston Cynthia Woods Mitchell Center for the Arts
An Evening in the East End
Wednesday, October 29, 2014, 6 p.m.
All Transported + Renewed events are free and open to the public. Visit www.HoustonArtsAlliance.com for a complete list of activities and events.
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Houston's Sunday Streets Returns this Fall
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After a successful pilot project earlier this year, the City of Houston has announced the return of SundayStreetsHTX for October, November and December in The Heights, Third Ward/Museum Park and East End/Fifth Ward areas. Designated streets in these neighborhoods will be open solely to pedestrians and bicyclists from noon to 4 p.m. on designated dates to encourage walking, running, dancing or riding with friends and family.
Open Streets are multi-faceted programs that promote the use of public streets for recreation and physical activity by engaging participants in fun ways along designated routes. Since 2013, more than 90 cities across the nation have hosted Open Streets initiatives with activity hubs ranging from basketball shooting contests to yoga and Zumba lessons.
These events differ from traditional street festivals in that they foster a sense of community and place physical activity and healthier lifestyle choices at the forefront. Participants in the pilot SundayStreetsHTX initiative earlier this year indicated that as a result of their positive experience, they would be more likely to consider walking or biking to destinations within their neighborhoods.
In addition, the success of the program was measured by the increased economic activity in businesses on the route: nearly 70% of participants were introduced to businesses they did not know beforehand and 60% indicated spending 10 dollars or more at the event. City officials will continue to work with community partners and leaders to ensure that Houstonians explore our city's neighborhoods this fall in an enjoyable, engaging environment.
Fall 2014 SundayStreetsHTX Schedule (Noon - 4 pm):
Sunday, October 12 -- The Heights
19th Street from Heights to Shepherd
Sunday, November 2 -- Third Ward/Museum Park
Dowling/Elgin to W. Alabama to Almeda/Arbor Navigation/Jenson to York/Clinton |
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City Hall Annex
900 Bagby, First Floor
Houston, TX 77002
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Discovery Green Park
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Downtown District
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East End Chamber
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East Downtown
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Greater East End
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 | Theater District
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The Orange Show
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