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Heights River Oaks
Montrose Edition VOLUME 5, ISSUE 11 FEB. 7 MARCH 7, 2024
2024 Voter Guide
A Houston ISD teacher leads a class at Forest Brook Middle School. District board managers voted to become a District of Innovation in January, a process that will entail creating a local system to appraise teachers.
COURTESY HOUSTON ISD Houston ISD approves District of Innovation plan
important ways.” Leaders with the Houston Federation of Teachers and some community members have expressed concerns about elements of the plan that involve developing a local teacher appraisal system and hiring uncerti ed teachers without waivers.
Texas public school districts in becoming a DOI, including Austin, Dallas and Fort Bend ISDs. “We are making the bold changes required to improve instruction and help students develop the competencies they will need to succeed in the future,” HISD Superintendent Mike Miles said in a statement. “Having the DOI designation is long overdue and will allow us to accelerate our work in
BY SHAWN ARRAJJ
The state-appointed Houston ISD board of man- agers voted to become a District of Innovation at its Dec. 14 meeting, setting the stage for several changes that o cials said could help improve student outcomes and navigate a teacher shortage. With the approval, HISD joins roughly 80% of
CONTINUED ON 14
Also in this issue
Impacts: Brewery seeks to reopen after lockout (Page 6)
Transportation: TxDOT tweaks I 10 elevation plans (Page 8)
Election: March primary election guide (Page 12)
Events: Local center hosts Black history series (Page 15)
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HEIGHTS - RIVER OAKS - MONTROSE EDITION
Impacts
W. 34TH ST.
• Opened Dec. 11 • 210 W. Clay St., Houston • www.loylysaunalounge.com
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3 The Us Space Designed for women of color and women-led organizations, the collective provides flexible workspaces, a digital platform to foster collaboration and a community of other business owners. • Opened Feb. 2 • 808 Travis St., Ste. 400, Houston • www.theusspace.com 4 Saige & Rose Boutique The Houston-based boutique offers clothing that is meant to be affordable and fashion-forward. • Opened in early December • 600 N. Shepherd Drive, Bldg. 1, Houston • www.saigeandrose.com 5 Space Cadet The eatery offers a selection of Cajun, American, Tex- Mex and barbecue dishes. Space Cadet offers draft beer options as well as Houston-themed cocktails, including the William P. Hobby, billed as an Irish version of the Paper Plane. • Opened Jan. 26 6 Tavola Menu options at the upscale Italian eatery from Berg Hospitality Group include pork and beef meatballs with piennolo tomato and mozzarella; pappardelle al cinghiale; and beef tagliata. The restaurant accommodates 118 guests in a gallery, enclosed patio and brasserie-style bar. • Opened Dec. 13 • 1800 Post Oak Blvd., Ste. 100, Houston • www.tavolahouston.com • 4002 N. Main St., Houston • www.spacecadethtx.com
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288 MAP NOT TO SCALE TM; © 2024 COMMUNITY IMPACT CO. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.
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• Opened Jan. 19 • 600 N. Shepherd Drive, Ste. 128, Houston • www.hushhushtan.com
Now open
1 Hush Hush Tan The upscale spray tan salon features six private tanning areas where customers can receive consultations to develop a personalized plan. The store also offers tan extender, body scrub, body wash and moisturizer.
Coming soon
2 Loyly Sauna Lounge The contrast therapy center has customers cycling from a 38-degree cold water immersion to a 104-degree hot tub soak to a 170-degree sauna.
7 PostScript HTX Diners can enjoy brunch, lunch and dinner, as well as an
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COMMUNITYIMPACT.COM
BY ASIA ARMOUR & SHAWN ARRAJJ
space. The center also features an archives room, maps of the region, burial records and familial information of the interred.
expansive cocktail menu and champagne program. The venue will feature a 26-seat garden patio as well as a private dining room with its own bar and patio space. • Opening in early 2024 • 2800 Kirby Drive, Houston • www.postscripthtx.com 8 Onesweat Pilates A new location of Onesweat, which offers high-intensity interval training, will focus on Pilates. • Opening this spring • 730 W. 18th St., Houston • www.onesweat.com
Now open
• 2525 Washington Ave., Houston • www.glenwoodcemetery.org
11 Novel Office The Dallas-based commercial real estate firm acquired a 15-story, Class A office building with plans to renovate the lobby, and provide move-in allowances and space
planning services to tenants. • 3555 Timmons Lane, Houston • www.noveloffice.com
12 Buffalo Bayou Brewing Co. The Houston craft brewery was locked out of its premises by its landlord, Silver Street Holding, on Jan. 26 due to delinquent rent payments, according to a notice posted to entrances at the site. In a Jan. 30 Instagram post, CEO William McLucas called it a temporary closure and said he is working to reopen. • 2101 Summer St., Houston • www.buffbrew.com
In the news
9 Thirteen The restaurant and lounge reopened Feb. 1 after a three-month redesign that included new decor, an expanded dining room and changes to the food and cocktail menu. • 1911 Bagby St., Houston • www.13htx.com 10 Glenwood Cemetery A new visitor’s center serves as a community gathering
13 Maine-ly Sandwiches The eatery is known for its authentic lobster roll sandwiches made with Maine lobster. Other offerings include clam strips and clam chowder, and the store operates on a bring-your-own-beer basis. • Opened Jan. 27 • 2313 Edwards St., Ste. 190, Houston • www.mainelysandwiches.com
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HEIGHTS - RIVER OAKS - MONTROSE EDITION
Transportation
BY SHAWN ARRAJJ
Montrose safe street project funded A project to improve safety near several Montrose schools was approved for $8 mil- lion in December by the Houston-Galveston Area Council. It involves replacing sidewalks and improving access to transit.
TxDOT tweaks proposed I-10 elevation plans The Texas Department of Transportation has tweaked its plans for an I-10 elevation project that officials said will address flooding issues that have left the highway impassable 10 times since 1992. The overview Currently, two I-10 high occupancy vehicle lanes are elevated in the project area, a 1.8-mile stretch between Heights Boulevard and I-45. The TxDOT plan calls for elevating high occupancy vehicle lanes slightly and bringing main lanes above the White Oak Bayou flood plain. TxDOT would also build a 26-acre detention pond beneath the elevated main lanes between Studemont Street and Houston Avenue. The latest At a Jan. 17 public meeting, officials announced updates meant to lessen noise and effects on
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nearby green spaces. Main lanes will be lower throughout the project than when it was originally proposed in 2022, and the detention basin was moved under the highway. Six-foot railings will be added on the outside of main lanes and HOV lanes. What’s next The public comment period on the project closed Feb. 1. Next steps include a detailed design and right of way acquisition. Construction is expected to begin on the $347 million project in 2025 and last for roughly four years.
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GET TICKETS TODAY!
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Real estate
Four of five local ZIP codes saw drops in the average number of days a home spends on the market before selling when comparing data from December 2023 with December 2022. The trend was flat in the fifth ZIP code, 77008. Residential market data
Number of homes sold
December 2022
December 2023
-34.78%
-7.41%
+8.2%
-19.35%
+77.78%
77006
77007
77008
77019
77098
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Median home sales price
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77007
December
2022
2023
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77019
$595,000 $525,000 $567,500 $835,000 $1,100,000
$550,000 $538,250 $570,000 $685,000 $910,000
77006
77006
77098
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Homes sold by price point
77098
December 2023
25
$1M+
22
$750,00-$999,999
Average Days on Market
December 2022
December 2023
-14.29%
-35.71%
0%
-37.29%
-8.89%
69
$500,000-$749,999
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$250,000-$499,999
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<$250,000
MARKET DATA PROVIDED BY VICTORIA HAWES DEVENNEY JAMESTOWN ESTATE HOMES 832-296-1663 VICTORIA.HAWES@JAMESTOWNESTATEHOMES.COM WWW.JAMESTOWNESTATEHOMES.COM
77006
77007
77008
77019
77098
In-house custom home design In-house interior design center in The Heights Available homes in Oak Forest and The Heights
JamestownEstateHomes.com Victoria Hawes vh@jamestownestatehomes.com
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HEIGHTS - RIVER OAKS - MONTROSE EDITION
Government
BY SHAWN ARRAJJ & MELISSA ENAJE
HPD adjusts policies for body-worn cameras The Houston Police Department is making a policy change for body-worn cameras meant to help recover footage after critical incidents. The overview Body-worn cameras are used by the HPD to increase transparency and assist in situations where police o cers interact with the public, HPD Chief Troy Finner said at a Jan. 25 news confer- ence. The department will now require o cers to activate a feature called “record-after-the-fact,” which allows the department to retrieve videos in situations where an o cer is not able to or fails to activate the camera. The details Existing HPD policy requires the release of footage within 30 days of a “critical inci- dent,” including o cer-involved shootings.
Harris County to pilot solar energy hubs O cials with Harris County’s O ce of Sustainability are anticipating breaking ground by the end of 2024 on a couple of locations, including community centers and libraries across the county, that will serve as a pilot program for solar and alternative energy hubs. The big picture Jesse Dickerman, O ce of County Administration chief of sta , said one of Harris County’s clean energy strategies is to decrease its reliance on the energy grid and increase its use of alternative energy. Once the pilot program is complete, it will encompass at least 12-15 chosen sites across the county that will be installed with solar, battery storage and electric vehicle charging stations, o cials said.
Whitmire orders withdrawal from re ghter lawsuit
‘Food Farmacies’ are coming to more Harris County health centers Harris Health System o cials are expanding the Food Farmacy intervention program to at least three additional sites after Harris County commis- sioners approved allocating close to $500,000 in federal American Rescue Plan Act funding Dec. 19. Food Farmacies serve all adult patients experi- encing food insecurity by connecting them with healthy foods, dietitian support, bene ts enroll- ment navigators and other community resources, according to the program’s website. What happened Before the commissioners’ approval to allocate the funds, Harris Health’s Food Farmacies existed at Acres Home Health Center and Strawberry Health Center, as well as Lyndon B. Johnson Hospital. The services have been expanded to:
Existing food farmacies
Pending food farmacies
“It’s not perfect. There will still probably be incidents where we don’t capture [footage], but we certainly, by introducing record-after-the-fact, are going to increase the likelihood we capture what we need.” TROY FINNER, CHIEF, HOUSTON POLICE DEPARTMENT
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Following talks with re ghter union leadership in early January, newly elected Houston Mayor John Whitmire said he directed City Attorney Arturo Michel to have the city withdraw an appeal from a lawsuit related to contract negotiations. The context The city and the Houston Professional Fire ghters Association have been at odds since 2017, when the two groups were unable to reach an agreement in contract negotiations. Whitmire and union leader- ship both directed attorneys to begin meet- ing immediately until there is agreement on a path forward.
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Record-after-the-fact has been in use since Dec. 21, but Finner said the department is working on new policy details that will explain when footage can be retrieved, taking o cer privacy into account. For now, Finner said he is the only one who can decide when a video needs to be retrieved. In terms of how far back in the past HPD can go to retrieve a video, Finner said he couldn’t give a number of hours, but said they are working to determine those details.
SOURCE: HARRIS HEALTH SYSTEM COMMUNITY IMPACT
• Precinct 1 : Martin Luther King, Jr. Health Center • Precinct 2 : Gulfgate Health Center • Precinct 4 : El Franco Lee Health Center The date for service expansion in Precinct 3 was not set as of press time, but Cypress Health Center and Squatty Lyons Health Center were being considered.
HOUSTON SUPERSTORE 2410 Smith Street (713) 526-8787
WESTCOTT AND MEMORIAL 5818 Memorial Dr (713) 861-4161
SHEPHERD 1900 S Shepherd (713) 529-4849
Election
BY SHAWN ARRAJJ
Voter Guide
2024
To view the full list of all contested state and national candidates, visit www.communityimpact.com/voter-guide. Due to space limitations, not all races on the ballot are listed here. Only candidates in contested elections are included. Visit county election websites for information on uncontested races.
KEY
R Republican
D Democrat
*Incumbent
Court of Criminal Appeals judge, Place 7 R Gina Parker R Barbara Parker Hervey* Court of Criminal Appeals judge, Place 8 R Michelle Slaughter* R Lee Finley Senate, District 15 D Michelle Anderson Bonton D Jarvis D. Johnson D Alberto “Beto” Cardenas Jr. D Karthik Soora
D Heli Rodriguez Prilliman D Steven J. Keough U.S. House, District 7 R Tina Blum Cohen R Carolyn B. Bryant R Kenneth Omoruyi R Caroline Kane D Lizzie Fletcher* D Pervez Agwan U.S. House, District 18 R Lana Centonze R Aaron Ray Hermes D Robert Slater D Sheila Jackson Lee* D Amanda Edwards U.S. House, District 38 D Melissa McDonough D Gion Christopher Thomas
Dates to know
Feb. 5: Last day to register to vote Feb. 20: First day of early voting March 1: Last day of early voting March 5: Election day
Where to vote
Any voter can cast a ballot in the Republican or Democratic primary, but not both. Harris County residents can cast their ballots at any polling location during early voting or on election day. Visit www.harrisvotes.com for polling locations.
D Todd Litton D Molly Cook
Sample ballot
Local elections Harris County attorney D Umeka “UA” Lewis D Christian D. Menefee* Harris County district attorney
Federal election U.S. President R Ryan L. Binkley R Vivek Ramaswamy R Asa Hutchinson R Nikki Haley R Chris Christie R David Stuckenberg R Donald J. Trump R Ron DeSantis D Joseph R. Biden, Jr.* D Cenk Uygur D Marianne Williamson D Gabriel A. Cornejo D Dean Phillips D Armando “Mando” Perez-Serrato D Frankie Lozada D Star Locke U.S. Senator R Ted Cruz* R Holland “Redd” Gibson R R.E. “Rufus” Lopez D Mark Gonzalez D Carl Oscar Sherman D Meri Gomez D Roland Gutierrez D Colin Allred D A. “Robert” Hassan D Thierry Tchenko
State elections Railroad commissioner R Corey Howell R Petra Reyes R Christie Clark R Christi Craddick* R James “Jim” Matlock D Katherine Culbert D Bill Burch Texas Supreme Court justice, Place 2 D Randy Sarosdy D DaSean Jones Texas Supreme Court justice, Place 4 R John Devine* R Brian Walker Texas Supreme Court justice, Place 6 D Joe Pool D Bonnie Lee Goldstein Presiding judge, Court of Criminal Appeals R David J. Schenck R Sharon Keller*
D Kim Ogg* D Sean Teare Harris County sheriff
R Mike Knox R Joe Danna R Paul Day R Glenn Cowan D Vergil Rochelle Ratliff
D Joe Inocencio D Dana M. Wolfe D Ed Gonzalez* Harris County tax assessor-collector D Desiree Broadnax D Annette Ramirez D Claude Cummings III D Jerry Davis D Danielle Keys Bess Harris County constable, Precinct 1 D Alan Rosen* D Gilberto “Gil” Reyna
SOURCE: TEXAS SECRETARY OF STATE/COMMUNITY IMPACT
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COMMUNITYIMPACT.COM
BY HANNAH BROL
Texas Senate, District 15, Democratic candidates
What is your top priority if elected?
Michelle Anderson Bonton Occupation: social entrepreneur, business woman, retired educator Experience: 15 years as a founder and leader of a 180-employee, $14 million budget organization www.votemichellebonton.com
Alberto “Beto” Cardenas Jr. Occupation: attorney Experience: cleaning up the Housing Authority, millions raised for charity and local infrastructure improvements www.texansforbeto.com
Molly Cook Occupation: ER nurse Experience: ER nurse, public health expert, policy advocate and community organizer www.mollyfortexas.com
Women’s rights. I want to enshrine women’s control over their bodies in the Texas Constitution. Voters have a right not only [to] decide this issue but to stand up for women and stand up to the special interests that politically blackmail the “conservative” Legislature into endangering Texas women. Ridiculous.
Increasing voter turnout. After two years of talking to voters, high-priority issues include: fully funding public schools, reducing gun violence, abortion access, secure housing, environmental justice, public safety and rejecting extremism. I will co-govern with the constituency to develop a long-term strategy to achieve these goals.
Mitigating voter suppression. The vote is the only way that citizens can make their voices heard. Laws that make it more di cult to vote—i.e., restricting the number of polling places in certain communities, or making it illegal to pass out food or water—are detrimental to the democratic process.
Jarvis Johnson Occupation: business owner
Todd Litton Occupation: attorney-mediator Experience: father and husband; attorney-mediator, former candidate for [U.S. House, District 2]; education nonpro t leader www.toddlitton.com
Karthik Soora Occupation: former award- winning [Houston] ISD teacher and renewable energy developer Experience: Rice University graduate; nonpro t leader www.karthikfortexas.com
Experience: state representative for HD 139 since 2016; Houston City Council member for District B, three terms www.jarvisfortexas.com
Our rights are under attack from Republican leadership—from voting rights, attacks on public education, reproductive rights, local control and LGBTQ rights, to name a few. [Senate District] 15 needs a proven leader and someone who has fought against Republicans to stand up for them in the Texas Senate.
I’m running to stand up to Greg Abbott and Dan Patrick and ght against their politics of fear and hate. We must put an end to their extremist agenda and move Texas forward by expanding access to abortion, making health care more a ordable and protecting our public schools and local control.
In every conversation, political reform is the top priority. I will introduce legislation to legalize citizen- led ballot initiatives, so Texans can put reproductive freedom, universal gun background checks, Medicaid expansion, campaign nance limits, ranked choice voting, connecting ERCOT to other states, and more on the ballot like folks in other states.
Candidates were asked to keep responses under 50 words, answer the questions provided and avoid attacking opponents. Answers may have been edited or cut to adhere to those guidelines, or for style and clarity. For more election coverage, go to www.communityimpact.com/voter-guide.
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HEIGHTS RIVER OAKS MONTROSE EDITION
From the cover
BY SHAWN ARRAJJ CONTRIBUTIONS BY WESLEY GARDNER
Houston ISD approves District of Innovation plan
What will change
Two-minute Impact
Current system: To become a certi ed teacher in Texas, one must: • Obtain a bachelor’s degree • Complete an educator preparation program 3 Teacher certi cation New system: HISD would be able to hire uncerti ed teachers without needing a waiver from the TEA with several caveats: • Uncertiied teachers only hired in high schools • Uncertiied teachers required to be certiied within two years • Pass a certiication exam • Submit a state application • Complete ingerprinting
Teacher appraisal system Current system: The Texas Teacher Evaluation and Support System appraises teachers using four rubrics: • Planning, including data assessments • Instruction, including achieving expectations • Learning environment, including managing student behavior • Professional practices, including school community involvement New system: Details are to be determined. 1 HISD Superintendent Mike Miles proposed a local system in 2023, but it was not implemented after being halted by a Harris County judge. That system would have focused on:
HISD’s District of Innovation plan seeks exibility in seven key areas to bypass requirements in the Texas Education Code, including the exibility to create a local teacher appraisal system, to start the school day earlier and to hire uncerti ed teachers without a waiver from the Texas Education Agency. All exemptions included in the plan are e ective for ve years from the date of its adoption, according to the TEA. If the district receives unacceptable academic or nancial performance ratings for two consecutive years, the TEA commissioner may terminate the innovation plan or require the district to amend its plan. Details will be determined on what the new teacher appraisal system will be based on, and o cials said it will leverage elements of the current system and community input. After a parent and sta input period, o cials released a proposed academic calendar Jan. 31 for the 2024-25 school year with Aug. 12 serving as the rst day of classes. O cials plan to present a nal academic calendar to board managers at a Feb. 8 meeting. As of press time Feb. 1, HISD o cials did not respond to requests for comment related to the need to hire uncerti ed teachers and the process of developing a teacher appraisal system.
40% principal classroom observation 25% student performance outcomes 15% accomplishment of speci c and measurable goals 10% student results from standardized tests 10% student survey 1 2 3 4 5
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Other changes
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More sta development events Flexibility on attendance requirements to graduate Can opt out of sending students to disciplinary program for possession or sale of e-cigarettes, marijuana Expanding number of excused absences for students visiting higher education institutions
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Current system • School starts no earlier than the fourth Monday in August • 172-day schedule 2 District calendar
New start date • School start date TBD, but would be no earlier than irst Monday in August • Could have 180 school days in 2024-25 school year
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SOURCES: TEXAS EDUCATION AGENCY, HOUSTON ISDCOMMUNITY IMPACT
What’s next?
A closer look
Another perspective
Moving forward, various elements of the DOI plan will be implemented along di erent timelines. March 2021: HISD advisory committee refuses to endorse DOI plan the district was exploring
There are 976 DOIs in Texas. Other DOIs have sought similar exibility within the Texas Educa- tion Code that HISD has also sought.
Jackie Anderson, president of the Houston Federation of Teachers, is among those who are critical of HISD’s plans to hire uncerti- ed teachers and develop a local teacher appraisal system. The HFT sued Miles for his previous attempt to create his own appraisal system, arguing he did not ask for teacher and sta member opinions as legally required. Anderson said she is worried the new plan in the DOI will resemble the one the federation helped halt.
June 2023: Mike Miles takes over as HISD superintendent after being appointed by the state December 2023: State-appointed board of managers adopts new DOI plan Start of 2024-25 school year • First day potentially moved earlier Start of 2025-26 school year • New teacher appraisal system in effect Timeline not speci ed (some elements implemented by campus principals) • Customized staff development opportunities • Minimum attendance for class credit • More excused absences for college visits • Opt out of marijuana discipline programs • Uncerti ied teachers hired without waivers
Hiring uncerti ed teachers Examples: Austin ISD, El Paso ISD, Dallas ISD
DOIs to seek waiver 96.3%
Local teacher appraisal systems Examples: Aldine ISD, Fort Worth ISD, Tomball ISD
DOIs to seek waiver 22.2%
“[Miles] has shown us he’s the kind of leader where he
wants things his way, or it’s the highway.” JACKIE ANDERSON, PRESIDENT OF THE HOUSTON FEDERATION OF TEACHERS
Adjust district calendar Examples: Austin ISD, Dallas ISD, Fort Bend ISD
DOIs to seek waiver 99.3%
SOURCE: HOUSTON ISD COMMUNITY IMPACT
SOURCE: TEXAS EDUCATION AGENCY COMMUNITY IMPACT
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COMMUNITYIMPACT.COM
Events
BY ASIA ARMOUR
ZiegFest Karbach Brewing Co. brings back this country music festival after a five-year hiatus. Partnering with radio station 100.3 The Bull, the festival features acts such as Muscadine Bloodline, Treaty Oak Revival and Grant Gilbert. The event also marks the brewery officially bringing ZiegenBock, a Texas twist on a classic German lager, into its portfolio. • Feb. 18, 4-10 p.m. • $45 (general admission), $125 (VIP)
February
February
Black History Month series The African American History Research Center is hosting a series of events throughout Black History month, including an art exhibition with the Timekeepers Resource Awardable Coalition; a discussion with jazz artist Reggie Quinerly and composer Joel Thompson; and a presentation on African American theater with playwright Thomas Meloncon. • Feb. 8, noon (art exhibition); Feb. 17, 2 p.m. (music discussion); Feb. 24, 2 p.m. (theater discussion) • Free ‘The House’ The immersive dance piece by the Houston Contemporary Dance Company juxtaposes two iconic figures: Barbara Jordan, the first African American woman from the South to be elected to the U.S. Congress, and Harper Lee, who wrote “To Kill A Mockingbird.” This production is choreographed by former Houston Ballet soloist Nao Kusuzaki. • Feb. 9, 5 p.m., 7 p.m. and 9 p.m.; Feb. 10, 5 p.m., 7 p.m. and 9 p.m. • $35 • 201 W. 15th St., Houston • www.houstoncontemporary.org • 1300 Victor St., Houston • www.houstonlibrary.org
• 2032 Karbach St., Houston • www.karbachbrewing.com
March
Garage and bake sale The Houston Heights Woman’s Club is hosting a joint garage sale and bake sale fundraiser featuring tools, electronics, vintage goods, decor, books, furniture and baked goods. The event raises funds for the club’s community outreach programs, which include school uniform drives and a Women’s Studies library initiative. • March 2, 8 a.m.-noon • Free (admission) • 1846 Harvard St., Houston • www.houstonheightswomansclub.org
The Wonder Ball Fresh Arts, a nonprofit that supports local artists, will host a benefit gala. Guests can expect an immersive atmosphere with costumes, themed cocktails, interactive games and a dance party. The event also features performances and a silent art auction showcasing more than 40 Houston artists, and a themed, seated dinner catered by Hungry’s. • Feb. 17, 6:30-11:30 p.m. • Tickets start at $200 • Silver Street Studios, 2000 Edwards St., Houston • https://fresharts.org/wonder-ball
512-232-5000 EdServices@austin.utexas.edu highschool.utexas.edu
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