Council Member Mike Knox July Newsletter

Greetings from

Council Member Mike Knox

July Newsletter

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It’s that time of year again! The City’s official Fourth of July celebration, US Family Health Plan® Freedom Over Texas is happening Monday, July 4, 2016 from 4:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. Please see details below for street closures during the Fourth of July weekend.

EVENT STREET CLOSURES

Friday, July 1, 6:00 p.m. to Tuesday, July 5, 7:00 a.m.

Allen Parkway north and southbound exit ramps from Interstate 45 (Gulf and North Freeways)
Allen Parkway outbound at Bagby
Sabine Street at Memorial Drive
Walker access blocked to Allen Parkway and Sabine Street. I-45 North on-ramp and the loop to McKinney remains open
Crosby Street at W. Dallas Street
Gillette Street at W. Dallas Street
Heiner Street at W. Dallas Street

NOTE: The on-ramp to I-45 South from Allen Parkway inbound will remain closed post-event per TXDOT construction project through November.

Friday, July 1, 6:00 p.m. to Tuesday, July 5, 10:00 a.m.

Allen Parkway inbound at Taft

Monday, July 4, 8:00 a.m. to 11:00 p.m.

Bagby northbound at Dallas
Bagby southbound at McKinney
Lamar between Smith and Bagby

Monday, July 4, 5:00 p.m. to 10:30 p.m.

Silver Street at Memorial Drive
Sawyer Street at Washington Avenue
Allen Parkway inbound at Waugh
Allen Parkway Service Road at Montrose Boulevard (access to residents at all times)

Monday, July 4, 5:30 p.m. to 10:30 p.m.

Memorial Drive inbound at Waugh Drive
Memorial Drive outbound at Bagby

Monday, July 4, 9:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. (Citgo Fireworks Display)

Sabine Street between Allen Parkway and Memorial Drive

***The Buffalo Bayou Waterway will be closed on Monday, July 4, from 4:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. between the Capitol Street Bridge and Montrose Boulevard / Studemont Street.

Welcome Deparis Hall-Weaver!

I would like to welcome DeParis Hall Weaver to my office. DeParis began working as an intern in my office earlier this month as part of the Mayor’s Hire Houston Youth Program. DeParis is originally from St. Louis, Missouri and subsequently moved to Houston five years ago. He is a graduate of Cy-Falls High School and is now attending Lone Star College studying to become a Physical Therapist. DeParis, I hope you gain some insight into how Houston City government works during your tenure here this summer!

METRO Releases

METRO Police Department Connect App

Get Connected with METRO Police. MPD Connect gives you the power to report suspicious activity and other unexpected incidents across the METRO transit system using your smartphone.

Someone acting suspicious? Experience an accident on the system? Witness a crime in progress? MPD Connect lets you submit a report directly to METRO Police. You can even chat LIVE - all from the palm of your hand.0

http://www.ridemetro.org/Pages/MPDConnect.aspx

What you need to know about the Zika Virus

For more informmation and for updates, please visit:

http://www.houstontx.gov/health/Epidemiology/Zika_Virus.html

Houston Ave. Reconstruction: MAJOR Road Closures

Please see below for details of MAJOR closures that will facilitate the start of the partial reconstruction of the Houston Ave. Bridge near Allen Parkway. This work is required to facilitate the construction of the new Allen Parkway Entrance Ramp to IH 45 Southbound.
These closures will be input into the TxDOT PIO system on Monday, 06.27.16.
The contact for these closures is Jessica Kephart at 281.220.7064.

IH 45 Southbound Mainlanes between the North Main Entrance Ramp and IH 10: Alternate, (Inside), Lanes closed continuously between 9:00 PM on Friday, 07.08.16 and 5:00 AM on Monday, 07.11.16. At least two mainlanes will remain open.
IH 45 Southbound Mainlanes at IH 10: Total Closure continuously between 9:00 PM on Friday, 07.08.16 and 5:00 AM on Monday, 07.11.16. Detour: IH 10 Eastbound to US 59 Southbound; Follow US 59 Southbound to IH 45.
IH 10 Westbound Exit to IH 45 Southbound: Total Closure continuously between 8:30 PM on Friday, 07.08.16 and 5:00 AM on Monday, 07.11.16. Detour: IH 10 Westbound to the Taylor Exit; Left, (South) on Taylor; Left, (East) onto the IH 10 Eastbound Entrance Ramp. Follow the IH 10 Eastbound Mainlanes to the exit to IH 45 Southbound.
IH 10 Eastbound Exit to IH 45 Southbound: Total Closure continuously between 8:30 PM on Friday, 07.08.16 and 5:00 AM on Monday, 07.11.16. Detour: IH 10 Eastbound to US 59 Southbound; Follow US 59 Southbound to IH 45.
IH 45 Southbound Mainlanes between IH 10 (Dart St.) and Walker: 1 Right, (Outside), Lane closed continuously between 5:00 AM on Monday, 07.11.16 and 5:00 AM on Wednesday, 09.07.16.
IH 45 Southbound Exit to Dallas St./Pierce St.: Total Closure Continuously between 9:00 PM on Friday, 07.08.16 and 5:00 AM on Wednesday, 09.07.16. Detour Southbound on IH 45 to the IH 45 Southbound Exit to McKinney; Right, (West) on Smith, Left on Pierce St.
Allen Parkway Eastbound Entrance Ramp to IH 45 Southbound: Total Closure Continuously between 5:00 AM on Tuesday, 07.05.16 and 5:00 AM on Monday, 11.14.16. Detour: Eastbound on Allen Parkway/Dallas; Right, (West) on Smith, Left, (East) on Jefferson; Follow Jefferson to the IH 45 Southbound Entrance Ramp.
Houston Ave. Southbound between Washington Ave. and Rusk: 1 Alternate Lane closed continuously between 7:30 PM on Friday, 07.08.16 and 5:00 AM on Wednesday, 09.07.16.
Houston Ave. Southbound at Lubbock and at Rusk: Total Closure Continuously between 7:30 PM on Friday, 07.08.16 and 5:00 AM on Wednesday, 09.07.16. Detour: Right, (Eastbound) on Rusk; Right, (South) on Smith; Left, (East) on Jefferson; Follow Jefferson to the IH 45 Southbound Entrance Ramp.
Houston Ave. Southbound Entrance Ramp to IH 45 Southbound: Total Closure Continuously between 9:00 PM on Friday, 07.08.16 and 5:00 AM on Monday, 11.14.16. Detour: None since Houston Ave. Southbound is totally closed at Lubbock and at Rusk.
Houston Ave. Southbound Exit to Heiner: Total Closure Continuously between 9:00 PM on Friday, 07.08.16 and 5:00 AM on Wednesday, 09.07.16. Detour: None since Houston Ave. Southbound is totally closed at Lubbock and at Rusk.
Rusk at Houston Ave.: 1 Right, (Outside), Lane closed continuously between 7:30 PM on Friday, 07.08.16 and 5:00 AM on Wednesday, 09.07.16.

Multiple Off Duty Police Officers will be on site to assist.
Placement of Portable Changeable Message Signs will begin on Monday, 06.27.16.
These closures are weather permitting.

Hobby Livable Center Study

The City has partnered with the Houston-Galveston Area Council (H-GAC) to facilitate the Hobby Livable Center Study. We are currently seeking public comment.

Citizen input sought on the Hobby Livable Center Study

Please join us on July 13 for a public workshop! Contribute your ideas to a common future vision for the Hobby area. The purpose of the meeting is to present the planning process, identify opportunities and constraints, develop a common vision, encourage participation in future tasks and conceptualize community spaces.

Wednesday, July 13th

6 p.m. to 8.p.m.

Double Tree Hotel Houston Hobby Airport

(8181 Airport Blvd)

If you were unable to attend the first public workshop in May, there is still an opportunity to provide feedback. Please take our online survey by July 1, 2016. Follow this link to participate: Take the Survey.

The goal of H-GAC's Livable Centers Program is to facilitate the creation of walkable, mixed-use places that provide multi-modal transportation options, improve environmental quality, and promote economic development.

For questions or comments, please email Emily Risinger with Design Workshop at [email protected].

Summer Meals Program

Free, nutritious meals are available for youth between the ages of 1 and 18. No registration is required. You merely need to present to a participating location near you! The lunches are prepared and delivered daily (while supplies last) based on USDA standards.

To locate summer meal locations in your council district via zip code, please visit: http://www.squaremeals.org/Programs/SummerFeedingPrograms/SummerFeedingInteractiveMap.aspx

If you do not have access to a computer, youcan locate a site by texting 877877. The text will prompt a response that will ask for a zip code that will provide specific locations.

Additionally, the Houston Public Library system is a part of the summer meals program, and the following link provides the participating libraries: http://houstonlibrary.org/learn-explore/library-events/lunch-library-53.

CLICK HERE to view participating city park locations.

For more information on the Texas Hunger Initiative, please visit: http://www.baylor.edu/texashunger/index.php?id=85316.

Sign-Up for Power Alert Service

Get free email, text and phone call notifications when your power goes out

receive a notification if you have a power outage lasting several minutes or more that cannot be resolved quickly by our smart grid technology
get an estimated time for repairs and a new estimate if repairs take longer than expected
get a notification when the problem has been resolved and the causes of the problem have been identified

Enrollment is easy! Call us at 713-207-2222 or fill out the form below.

To sign up for CenterPoint's Power Alert Service, please click on the link below:
http://www.centerpointenergy.com/en-us/residential/customer-service/electric-outage-center/power-alert-service?sa=ho

Scholarship for Latino High School Students

The Youth Awards program is presented by the Hispanic Heritage Foundation (HHF) and its sponsors. Celebrating its 18th year the Youth Awards honors Latino high school students across the nation, we believe the talented Youth Awardees we honor each year are the leaders of today, not tomorrow and their impact will be felt in the classrooms, communities and the workforce. Join us as we identify, inspire and prepare our students to meet America’s priorities.

Scholarship Categories & Sponsors are:

Business & Entrepreneurship: sponsored by BBVA Compass
Community Service: sponsored by Colgate Palmolive.
Education: sponsored by Southwest Airlines
Engineering: sponsored by ExxonMobil
Health & Science: sponsored by CVS Health
Mathematical Sciences: sponsored by PricewaterhouseCoopers (PWC)

To access the application click here: https://app.reviewr.com/hispanicheritage/site//hispanicheritage

To find out more about Hispanic Heritage Foundation click here: http://www.hispanicheritage.org/programs/youth-awards/

Minor Critical Emergency

Home Repair Program

The Minor Critical Emergency Home Repair Program (MCEHRP) is open! Please call the Housing and Community Development Department (832.394.6161) for more information. Please see requirements:

Minor critical emergency home repairs are those repairs critically needed to alleviate life, health or safety hazards
Applicants must be qualified to participate in the program; applying does not guarantee approval for or acceptance into the program
Rebuilding Together Houston will provide critical repairs UP TO $10,000 per home to qualified applicants
Specific repair services are determined based on condition of home, cost of repairs and availability of funds

For more information, please contact the MCEHRP at 832.394.6161, or the Department at 832.394.6200.

New Partnership Increases Glass Recycling Drop Off Locations

Through a new partnership with Strategic Materials Inc., North America’s largest glass recycler, the City of Houston is able to offer residents a more convenient way to recycle glass.

“Since the removal of glass from the City’s single stream recycling program earlier this year, we have been working to find ways for residents to conveniently continue to recycle glass,” said Mayor Sylvester Turner. “I want to thank Strategic Materials for stepping up to plate to provide a workable solution.”

Strategic Materials is working with industry partners and local communities to cover the cost of glass recycling drop off boxes at a total of ten locations throughout Houston with the goal of continuing to expand the program. The first two locations will open this weekend at:

Sharpstown Park - 6600 Harbor Town Drive, accessible during park hours
Salvation Army Family Store & Donation Center - 2208 Washington Ave, accessible 24 hours

“We are fortunate to be supported by the Mayor and the City in the pursuit to further support glass recycling,”
said Strategic Materials, Inc. CEO Denis Suggs. “We hope to identify additional partners within the community and our customer base to grow the recycling locations in the upcoming weeks and months. Our innate desire to preserve our environment and keep our city clean brings us together in a meaningful way to support glass recycling in Houston.”

The City of Houston Solid Waste Management Department will send out notices as the other eight locations are added to this pilot program. The locations and progress of the program will also be available on the Strategic Materials company website. These new drop off locations sponsored by SMI and partners are in addition to the nine existing City of Houston neighborhood depositories where residents are able to recycle glass and other items.

Due to cost concerns, glass was removed from the City’s curbside recycling program last March. Information about this pilot project, curbside recycling and other topics is available at www.houstonsolidwaste.org.

Please remember to empty and rinse all glass containers, and remove all corks, caps and lids before dropping them off.

Turnaround Houston

JuneEvents

KIPP Baseball Tomorrow Fund

Built with financial support from the Baseball Tomorrow Fund (BTF), we celebrated the opening of a new baseball field at KIPP Explore in Houston’s East End. The Houston Astros, Orbit, family, and students were all in attendance. BTF is a joint initiative between the Major League Baseball Players Association and Major League Baseball designed to promote the growth of youth baseball and softball throughout the world by awarding grants to support field renovation and construction projects, equipment and uniform purchases, coaches training material and other selected program expenses.

Rotary International

I attended the induction of the district governor for district 5890 of Rotary International where I saw many old friends and made some new ones. I want to thank my Rotarian host, Amir Khan, and congratulate the new district governor, Eric Liu, from the Memorial Spring Branch Rotary Club.

Acres Homes Juneteenth Parade

I was honored to participate in the Acres Homes Juneteenth Parade. Thanks to HPD Patrol for letting me ride Little Pappas in the parade. I saw many familiar faces at the parade and enjoyed meeting the hundreds of participants and volunteers.

South Vietnamese Armed Forces Day

I participated in the South Vietnamese Armed Forces Memorial Day. It was an impressive event. As some of you might remember, it has been 41 years since the Fall of Saigon. Many of these refugees arrived in Houston and have prospered and contributed significantly to the diversity of Houston.

Comicpalooza

Comicpalooza is the largest annual, multi-genre , comic book , science fiction , anime , gaming , and pop culture convention in Southern United States and is held in Houston . My family and I thoroughly enjoyed Comicpalooza last Saturday. The creativity of Houstonians continues to astound.

Kashmere Gardens Senior Visit

I was glad to meet many new faces while I visited with the Kashmere Gardens Seniors. They hosted me at the Kashmere Gardens Multi-Service Center on Houston Northeast side. I look forward to working with community leaders to solve critical issues facing their neighborhood.

Wayne Schaper, Sr.

The Houston area is wonderfully enriched by its most vital resource – inspired individuals like Mr. Wayne Schaper, Sr., who are willing to serve the public in all sectors. Through tireless personal service and leadership, professionals and community volunteers alike work daily to improve the quality of life for all. Wayne Schaper, Sr. has earned the respect, recognition and gratitude of his peers, and on June 27, 2016, he was honored for his many achievements., including his work as a member of the Board of Trustees with the Spring Branch Independent School District.

Vietnam War 50th Anniversary Commemoration

I was honored to join the City of Houston Office of Veterans Affairs for a hometown event to thank and honor veterans of the Vietnam War, including personnel who were held as prisoners of war, or listed as missing in action, for their service and sacrifice on behalf of the United States and to thank and honor the families of these veterans.

Near Northside Volunteer Appreciation BBQ

I was happy to join volunteers, community, and business leaders from the Near Northside for a Volunteer Appreciation BBQ. I ate some great BBQ and celebrated all the wonderful accomplishments of this community, including their beautification efforts like the Fulton Pocket Park.