Inside District I Newsletter

Inside District I

November 2014 Newsletter

Greetings!

Houston City Council unanimously supported (17-0) a resolution today to preserve and renovate Gus Wortham Golf Course. Council is also committed to work with the Houston Botanic Garden Board and facilitate the development of a botanic garden at Glenbrook.

The unanimous decision demonstrated that city council is fully supportive of our effort to renovate Gus Wortham and develop Glenbrook into an exceptional botanic garden. As I have said before, both projects could pump approximately $55 million in private dollars to improve these green spaces.

Moving forward, the administration will work to finalize an agreement with the Houston Golf Association to restore and operate Wortham.

I want to thank the mayor and all council members who voted in favor of this resolution. After years of debate, it's time for us to reunite and help make these projects successful for the betterment of our community and our city.

Thank you,

Robert Gallegos

Houston Council Member

District I

You're Invited to BARC's First Fundraiser - Nov. 6th

BARC is holding a fundraiser to help raise money for the Fixin' Houston Clinic on Thursday, November 6, 2014, at Saint Arnold's Brewery from 6pm to 7:30pm.

Tickets for the event are $50 and can be purchased at www.barchoustonblog.com/fixin-houston-fundraiser.

Cine at the Park FREE Family Movie Night - Nov. 7th

Get your blankets and lawn chairs ready for the first Cine at the Park FREE family movie night!

Friday, Nov. 7, 6-9pm

Movie: 7pm

Mason Park, 541 S. 75th St

Come early, we'll have food and refreshments for sale, entertainment for the whole family, and free snacks as well. The movie "Radio" will begin at 7pm!

Dangerous Building, Community Nuisance Secured

Council Member Robert Gallegos led a ride along in the Clinton Park/Fidelity area at the end of October with the Department of Neighborhoods (DON), HPD DRT officers, and deputies with Constable Chris Diaz's office. The group met with concerned residents and drove around the neighborhood with them to record some of the worst nuisances so that the city could begin taking action to address those issues.

Just last week, Councilman Gallegos joined DON to clean and board up a dangerous building on the 400 block of Fidelity that had been a safe haven for criminal activity for years. This was one of the most egregious nuisances noted on the community ride along last month.

The cleanup would not have been possible without the work of DON Chief Inspector Ed Robinson, Mayra Hypolite, and their entire team. HPD and DON will continue to monitor the property to ensure it remains clean and secure. The group will continue to work on other community nuisances noted on the community ride along in October.

To report a dangerous open building please contact 3-1-1.

City Opens Low Cost Spay/Neuter Clinic

BARC Animal Shelter and Adoptions has announced the grand opening of the first in-house, low-cost dog and cat municipal spay/neuter clinic in the State of Texas: BARC's Fixin' Houston clinic.

Hundreds of thousands of animals walk Houston's streets each day, and many end up at BARC. The City's municipal animal shelter is required to take in every animal that comes through its doors. It's not uncommon for up to 150 animals to come in on a single day, and more than 25,000 in one year. BARC, more than any other animal organization in the City, sees the result of decades of out-of-control breeding.

The solution to reducing animal overpopulation is far broader than picking up loose dogs and cats from the streets. BARC's new Fixin' Houston spay/neuter clinic gets at the root of the problem. The key to having fewer animals on the streets in the long run is spaying and neutering.

As BARC developed the Healthy Pets Healthy Streets targeted spay/neuter program over the last year, it has become clear that Houstonians want to be responsible pet owners. By opening this low-cost spay/neuter clinic, BARC is granting access to this normally high-priced service to Houstonians that may otherwise not be able to afford it.

Pricing for the spay/neuter services will range from $29 to $65 depending on the gender, size and medical condition of the dog or cat. The entire surgery process will only take one day. Pet parents can drop off their pet at around 7:30 a.m. and then pick them up between 4 p.m. and 5:30 p.m., Monday through Friday.

BARC's staff has spent the past several months working to ensure that this new system is as efficient and effective for their customers as possible. Most of all, it is important for customers to understand that their pets are in safe and caring hands. BARC's goal is to provide these services to thousands of owned pets annually. In addition to spay/neuter services, BARC also has a wellness clinic that offers annual vaccinations and monthly preventatives for pets.

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. To donate to BARC online or for more information, visit www.houstonbarcfoundation.org.

Veterans Day Celebration & Job Fair - Nov. 11th

Join us Tuesday, November 11, 2014 at the City of Houston's annual Veterans Day celebration.

The City of Houston will show support for our Armed Forces and celebrate the annual "Houston Salutes American Heroes" Veterans Day Celebration.

Festivities will begin at 9 a.m. in Hermann Square with the fifth annual AT&T Veterans Job & Resource Fair and the fourth annual Walgreens Veterans Health Fair. The ceremony will take place at 10 a.m. on the steps of City Hall. A moment of silence will be observed at 11 a.m., in memory of the WWI signing of the Armistice.

Tuesday, November 11, 2014:

9 a.m. - 1 p.m. AT&T Veterans Job & Resource Fair
9 a.m. - 1 p.m. Walgreens Veterans Health Fair
10 a.m. - 11 a.m. Ceremony
11:30 a.m. American Heroes Parade

Parking is free and will be available from 9 a.m. - 12:30 p.m. in the Theater District Parking, entrances #2 and #5 only.

H-E-B Thanksgiving Day Parade - Nov. 27th

The 65th Annual H-E-B Thanksgiving Day Parade will welcome the holiday season by celebrating all things Houston, including a salute to the world-acclaimed Texas Medical Center. Presiding over the Parade as Grand Marshals will be the stars from TLC's television series The Little Couple, Bill Klein and Dr. Jennifer Arnold along with their children, Will and Zoey.

The fun begins at 9 a.m. on Thanksgiving Day when the downtown business district streets will come alive with zesty marching bands, imaginative floats and colorful balloons. Bring the family and celebrate our theme, Houston on Parade, with a stellar showcase of the city's finest attributes - from the arts, sustainability, and the world famous Houston Medical Center.

Parking is available for a fee at multiple locations so be sure to check the link below for the parade route and street closures. METRO buses will be running on holiday schedule - click the METRO link for information. Bleacher and specialty seating will not be available however; spectator access along the parade route is free and open to the public. Be sure to bring lawn chairs and blankets so you can enjoy the parade in comfort. Food trucks and vendors will be available along the parade route.

The 65th Annual H-E-B Thanksgiving Day Parade is produced by the Mayor's Office of Special Events. For more information visit, www.houstontx.gov/thanksgivingparade.