CITY& COUNTY
COMPILED BY SOFIA GONZALEZ & EMILY LINCKE
News from the city of Houston & Harris County
NUMBER TOKNOW The number of homeless individuals housed under the rst phase of Houston’s Community COVID Housing Program between Oct. 1, 2020 and Jan. 11, 2022 7,040 OTHER HIGHLIGHTS HOUSTON The city announced Jan. 20 the deployment of its second Mobile Ambient Air Monitoring Laboratory to give residents, emergency responders and regulators real-time air quality data. The lab responds to reports of unusual smells, airborne particles, smoke, fumes, outdoor pollutants and emergency situations, such as the 2019 chemical plant re in Deer Park. HOUSTON In a Jan. 6 vote, the city approved the expansion of a pilot program designed to provide instant alerts to police o cers when gunshots are red. The $3.5 million contract with ShotSpotter will run for ve years. The technology works by using acoustic sensing to identify and report gunshots. The contract covers 10 square miles, including parts of South Houston under the pilot program and a second location that has not been announced. HOUSTON Mary Nan Hu man was sworn into Houston City Council as the representative of District G after winning a special election in January. Hu man replaced Greg Travis, who left the council to run for Texas House District 133. Houston City Council will meet at 1:30 p.m. Feb. 8 for public comment and 9 a.m. Feb. 9 for regular business at 901 Bagby St., Houston. MEETINGSWE COVER QUOTEOFNOTE “DEFINITIVELY, THE INCREASE IN FLAGGED REGISTRATIONS WE ARE SEEING IS THE DIRECT RESULT AND CONSEQUENCE OF THE PASSAGE OF SENATE BILL 1.” EVA LONGORIA, HARRIS COUNTY ELECTIONS ADMINISTRATOR, ON THE REJECTION OF MAIL IN BALLOT APPLICATIONS AHEAD OF THE MARCH 1 PRIMARY ELECTION, WHERE AN ESTIMATED 35% OF APPLICATIONS WERE FLAGGED FOR REJECTION AS OF JAN. 19.
Houston approves plans for homelessness center HOUSTON Two ordinances were passed by Houston City Council on Jan. 26 pertaining to the reconstruction and leasing of a navigation center in the Fifth Ward that proponents said will help people citywide transition out of homelessness. The ordinances—both of which passed with a 12-4 610 FLORIDA ST. N
vote—approved the funding for the city’s portion of the reconstruction and the leasing agreement between the city of Houston—the landlord—and The Coalition for the Homeless of Houston/Harris County, which is the tenant. The navigation center, which will be located in a 27,000-square-foot building at 2903 Jensen Drive, will host temporary housing for individuals who qualify, who will have the opportunity to stay for 30 to 60 days before moving on to permanent housing, Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner said. During this time, those who go will also receive employment and medical assistance, he said. Those who oppose the center, including some speakers at a Jan. 25 public hearing, said they felt the area is already burdened with issues and the funding for the project should be spent elsewhere, such as either on a recreational center for the children or on addressing a previously identi ed cancer cluster in the area tied to railyard site previously operated by Southern Paci c Railroad.
A building on Jensen Drive will be turned into a homeless services center. (George Wiebe/Community Impact Newspaper)
Others expressed concerns that the navigation center would cause residential property values to go down and have e ects on surrounding businesses and infrastructure services. Turner said he plans to meet with the community to monitor the navigation center once it opens. The center is part of the city’s second phase of the Community COVID Housing Program, which will help fund a $100 million initiative to house 7,000 individuals. The city’s portion of the cost is roughly $4.2 million, according to information submitted to the council.
Harris County commissioners name new ood control director, county engineer
Brunner-Harmonium historic district approved by council HOUSTON The Houston City Council approved the creation of the new Brunner-Harmonium historic district during its meeting on Jan. 26, making it the 23rd historic district to be approved in the city since 2011. The district is made up of six struc- tures and two vacant green spaces that stretch across from Blossom Street to Fowler Street near the Rice Military area. The town was annexed by the city of Houston in 1913, which was rare for that time period, said Minnette Boesel, chair of the Houston Archae- ological and Historical Commission. The area has turned into artist Salle Vaughn’s canvas. The new district displays a tree canopy, yardscapes and art installations from Vaughn.
HARRIS COUNTY Five new directors were pointed to lead Harris County departments at a Jan. 25 meeting. Harris County commissioners named Christina Petersen as Harris County Flood Control District’s executive director. In the last three years, Petersen served as deputy general manager for the Harris-Galveston Subsidence District. Matthew Zeve, who served as deputy executive director for the district, con rmed in a Jan. 26 email to Community Impact
Newspaper that he resigned from his position, e ective Jan. 28. Milton Rahman—who previously served as the deputy chief of sta for Precinct 2 Commission Adrian Garcia—was unanimously approved for the position of county engineer. The county administrator’s o ce also announced on Jan. 25 other county director positions that were lled: Daniel Ramos will lead the o ce of management and budget; Lisa Lin will pilot the o ce of sus- tainability; and Sara Mickelson will head early childhood initiatives.
NEW H I RES Harris County hired ve new department directors in January.
Lisa Lin Director, o ce of sustainability
Christina Petersen Director, ood control district
Milton Rahman County engineer
Sara Mickelson Director, early childhood initiatives
Daniel Ramos
FLOYD ST.
Director, o ce of management and budget
Meetings are streamed at www.houstontx.gov/htv.
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SOURCE: HARRIS COUNTY COMMUNITY IMPACT NEWSPAPER
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HEIGHTS RIVER OAKS MONTROSE EDITION • FEBRUARY 2022
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