Supporting our Men and Women in Blue... 

This past Tuesday, I and your District J staff had the great pleasure of attending over a dozen National Night Out (NNO) Events in District J. The National Night Out program provides neighbors and communities an evening to come together, get to know each other and their local police officers with the combined goal of fighting crime.

This year the number of District J neighbors hosting an NNO event seemed to double. Virtually every neighborhood hosted at least one event with some offering multiple events. To be sure, the party atmosphere at these local gatherings put a fun face on a serious effort - fighting crime. Folks gather with good food, entertainment, lively conversation. By getting to know each other better, we form a goodwill covenant to be better neighbors, to watch out for each other, to help protect our homes, properties and communities from crime. Add to the mix the fact that when District J hosts a party, we do it with an international flair.

I had the pleasure of starting my NNO journey from the Houston Police Department Storefront Office located in Diho Square at Ranchester on Bellaire Boulevard. This location has a colorful history in hosting NNO events. There local residents, merchants and shoppers enjoy the Asian flavor of this gathering. Just down the street the Conquistador high-rise gathering hosted dancers from Central America. At the Baker-Ripley campus near Hillcroft neighbors from Africa, Southeast Asia, Europe and Latin America shared a good time together. Though we speak many different native languages, our smiles, laughter, warm handshakes and hugs are universal.

The Ranchester HPD Storefront is one of four storefronts that serve the people of District J. Three other storefronts can be found in the Westwood Technology Center, in the Gulfton community at Gulfton at Renwick, and on Richmond Avenue between Hillcroft and Fountainview. Each of these locations offers our HPD officers a local facility from which to coordinate patrol activities, complete reports and paperwork, take crime and accident reports and meet with area neighbors in the ongoing battle against crime. These locations have become community beacons and play a significant public safety role. Keeping them open, funded, staffed and supplied can be a challenge in tough budgetary times.

I am pleased to report that your District J office has stepped up to support our storefront offices. A unique, one time fiscal year surplus in the District J office operating budget has given us a chance to give significant help to our District J storefronts. In July, at the close of the FY 2012-13 City Budget, I asked that all of District J's unused office operating funds be directed to the Houston Police Department for use in the District J storefronts. As a result of this request, each of the four storefronts will receive a onetime grant of just over $15,000.00 to help defray their operating expenses. Your District J office is honored to be able to support our HPD Officers with these dollars.

I know that the good people of District J will continue to support our HPD officers. Volunteer when you can. Write a check if you are able. Cover a badge with your prayers. At every turn, make a point to thank our women and men in blue for their service.

Crosswalk at Legacy

 

 
Readers who frequent the corridor of High Star and Rookin off of Hilcroft will soon see an addition in front of the Legacy Community Health Services at 6441 High Star. 

The City of Houston Public Works & Engineering Department is installing a "HAWK signal" to assist pedestrians to safely cross High Star. A HAWK signal, High-Intensity Activated crossWalK signal, is a pedestrian activated traffic signal designed to stop traffic to allow a pedestrian to safely cross the road. The pedestrian pushes a button at one side of the signal, and the traffic lights direct vehicles to stop. The pedestrian can then walk to the other side of the signal once traffic has stopped. When there are no pedestrians who need to cross, traffic travels normally on the road.

You may already be familiar with this type of signal. There are several in Houston already:

• Addison at Greenbriar (5400 Greenbriar)
• Bay Area at Moon Rock (2500 Bay Area Blvd.)
• 2300 Block of Berry Rd.
• Tidwell at Montgomery (6000 W. Montgomery)
• Hidalgo at Nordstrom's (5190 Hidalgo St.)

Libro Fest - Celebrating Latino Literature and Culture in the Bayou City

National Fire Prevention Week:

October 6-12 

Precious Metals Unit Keeps You Golden

 
The Houston Police Department's Burglary and Theft Division's Precious Metals Unit (PMU) aims to reduce the potential for businesses to purchase stolen crafted precious metals and jewelry.

Most people are familiar with gold, silver, and platinum - all popular for jewelry. Other precious metals that the PMU covers are palladium (used for jewelry and in making white gold), iridium (used in electronics), osmium (used in electronics), rhodium (used in catalytic converters in the auto industry), and ruthenium (used in water-resistant electronics and in oil refining). 

The values of these precious metals have greatly increased in the last ten years - 674% increase in gold and 1,000% increase in silver. Additionally, there are many new gold and second hand precious metal dealers in the Houston area. This makes precious metals prime targets for theft.  

Fortunately, there are state and local laws that pertain to these dealers. Dealers are required to have a State of Texas Certificate of Registration as a Precious Metals Dealer. The City of Houston also requires an Occupational License for dealers to operate legally. The PMU is charged with ensuring dealers are operating legally and with educating the public about precious metals. 

The Precious Metals Unit recommends the following to protect your jewelry and precious metal investments:

• Get your jewelry appraised. 
• Etch your jewelry with an identifier. 
• Take photos of your jewelry as a record. 
• Have a list of your jewelry and all other high dollar valuables in your home. (www.leadsonline.com) 
• Timely reporting. 

Bayou City Art Festival is back!

Fall in Houston - The weather cools and Houstonians celebrate at the Bayou City Art Festival Downtown! Our urban festival, set against the dramatic skyline of the nation's fourth largest city, was ranked in the top 20 in Sunshine Artists 200 Best Art Festivals in September 2012 and has been consistently in the 200 Best's Top 10. The festival is showcased in front of City Hall and around Hermann Square on the streets of Walker, Bagby,and McKinney, as well as Sam Houston Park, on October 12 and 13.

This year's featured artist is Syd Moen, a lifelong Houston resident. Her signature series of "Little Planets" feature Houston and Galveston's iconic locations, skillfully transformed into spherical panorama. Her artwork has featured such locations as The Kemah Boardwalk, The Heights District, The River Oaks Theater, and Hermann Park. You can find Syd and her work locally at the "Proximity" exhibit at Houston City Hall, the "Art." exhibit at Spring Street Studios, and of course, Bayou City Art Festival Downtown 2013. 

For more information on the festival, please visit bayoucityartfestival.com.