Happy New Year from Mike Knox
At Large Council Member Pos 1. Looking back at 2018.
As we begin 2019, I wanted to take a moment to reflect on the events of last year. We reached some new milestones but still have a ways to go. Thank you all for your feedback and support.
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The Houston Police Department Southwest Houston Division dedicated their long overdue brand new police station combination community room and park. The $20 million station, located near Allum Road and Player Street, replaces HPD's decades-old, twice-flooded substation on Beechnut. It serves police districts 15 and 16.
Houston City Council approved an agreement with the Houston SaberCats professional rugby team. The SaberCats will be contributing $5 million to build the stadium and the required infrastructure. The stadium will be on Kirby Drive south of Airport Blvd. adjacent to US 288.
The  $90 billion disaster relief funding legislation  passed by Congress and signed by the President marked another crucial step forward as Texans continue to recover and rebuild in the aftermath of Hurricane Harvey. Funds to Houstonians who were affected by Harvey should be delivered in January and February 2019.  While Texans continue to struggle in Harvey’s wake, long after this vote, our resilient spirit remains strong. We will continue working at the federal, state and local levels to ensure we emerge from this disaster stronger than ever.
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On November 6, 2018, Houstonians voted to ensure that their Drainage Utility Charge on their monthly water bills will continue to be designated for street and drainage purposes only. I will stay vigilant and scrutinize projects which utilize drainage fees so that Houstonians are safeguarded from these resources being raided.
 
According to the Administration for calendar year 2018, there were 33 street and flooding capital projects using $75.8 million dollars of the drainage fee.
In addition, $5.5 million of the drainage fee was used for cleaning out ditches and operations and maintenance.

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One lesson learned quickly and permanently is Houston does not have enough boats to rescue stranded folks. Thanks to the 100 Club, we now have 14 high water rescue boats for our fire and police department.
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Unfortunately, we lost Council Member Larry Green in 2018. He was so proud of his district and fought hard for everyone in District K. He is sorely missed on Council.
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I was honored to attend the grand re-opening of Fire Station #32 which received a makeover after having been out of commission for quite some time. 
I am proud of my record of operating the At-Large 1 Council Office as efficiently as possible, thus producing a budget surplus during the 2017 budget year.
 
With this budget surplus, it was my pleasure to provide unused Council Office budget funds to the HPD Mounted Patrol for the purchase of this new truck. They now have a reliable and safe vehicle to transport officers and horses to where they need to be throughout Houston.
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Houston First Corporation (HFC) announced the redevelopment plans for Jones Plaza, located in the heart of downtown’s Theater District. The project is slated for completion in November 2020.
The redevelopment of Jones Plaza is a result of a partnership between the City of Houston, HFC, and the Downtown Redevelopment Authority. The team is invaluably joined by Jim Crane and the 2017 World Champion Astros’ Foundation with a commitment to lead a $20 million fundraising campaign.
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The Kinder Foundation graciously provided a grant of $70 million to fast-track Memorial Park’s Master Plan, one of the nation’s largest and most visionary urban park restorations.
Congressman Ted Poe's Annual Honoring Houston Heroes in Spring Branch brought out a surprise guest, Vice President Mike Pence. The Vice President thanked Houston area veterans for their service and sacrifices.  
Andy Kahan, thank you for your 26 years of dedicated advocacy to crime victims and their families.  Andy is now with Crime Stoppers.
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The Reed multifamily housing development offers 187 units of 2 and 3-bedroom apartments with access to more than 18,000 square feet of community space for family engagement and robust educational programming. Across the street from NNH Reed is Star of Hope’s Women and Family Development Center and Buckner International Family Hope Center. Three strong non-profits having joined forces to form Cornerstone Community, a 50-acre transformational campus that optimizes resources to help homeless and at-risk families transition to an independent life full of hope. NNH Reed is the critical permanent housing component.
Gus Wortham Golf Course. Council Member Robert Gallegos hosted an  open house for the community to check out the restored golf course on Saturday, October 6.
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The ground breaking of the Housing and Community Development Department (HCDD) New Home Development Program will provide newly constructed, affordable single-family homes for qualified low- and moderate-income homebuyers. For homes funded by Community Development Block Grant (CDBG), qualified homebuyers must have household incomes that do not exceed 80% of the area median income (AMI).
The annual National Day of Remembrance for Murder Victims pays tribute and honors murder victims and their surviving family members.
2018 LEGISLATIVE HIGHLIGHTS
 
SUPPORTED the Administration :
 
  • Confirmed new leadership at Houston First Corporation
to bring more transparency and efficiency.

  • Supported My Brother’s Keeper and provided Freedom School Sites at Wheatley and Kashmere High Schools. 

  • Supported the Social Justice Learning Institute for My Brother’s Keeper Initiative.

  • Supported free Safe Clear vehicle tows using grant dollars to clear the highways after an accident.

  • Supported changes to regulate and restrict group homes in neighborhoods.

  • Supported the City’s tourism efforts to attract the 2020 Democratic National Convention and the 2024 Republican National Convention.

  • Supported applying for federal resources for HISD after school programs.

  • Supported purchasing 8 boats for the Fire Department.

  • Supported reorganizing the Houston Land Bank to attract and bolster home ownership.

  • Supported adoption of Heights Historic District guidelines to bring more transparency to homeowners.

  • Supported moving forward with the citizen petition election date of November 6, 2018 for fire fighters pay parity.

  • Supported using grant funds for Community Re-Entry Network Program to promote persons returning to work.

  • Supported spending $3.8 million over 5 years for Spay and Neutering programs.

  • Supported purchase of in-car video cameras for the Police Department.

  • Supported purchase of 385 vehicles for the Police Department.

  • Prohibited the “try before you buy” sex dolls businesses.

  • Supported purchase of 69 garbage trucks to replace the aging fleet.

  • Supported the City’s grant application for the Hermann Park, Memorial, and Heights bike paths projects.

  • Supported installation of Christmas lights around City Hall.

  • Supported spending funds for safe sidewalk projects.

  • Supported spending funds for fire fighter safety equipment.

  • Supported contractual agreement with UT Health Science Center for Comprehensive Opioid Abuse Program.

 
OPPOSED The Administration :
 
  • Opposed spending $1,236,941 to hire an outside vendor to administer the Hire Summer Youth program. The City’s Human Resources Department could handle this program.

  • Opposed changes to the Floodplain Ordinance due to the revisions do not reduce flooding and would increase the cost of reconstructing damaged properties throughout the city.

  • Opposed spending $4,327,170 to install tracking and video system for solid waste vehicles when in fact we don't have enough garbage trucks as it is.

  • Opposed spending $10.7 million vehicle purchase due to lack of alternative cleaner burning fuel engines as required by ordinance.

  • Opposed spending $875,000 for airport mystery shoppers.

  • Opposed spending $3 million for live music at the airports.

  • Opposed the structurally unbalanced annual City budget.

  • Opposed spending $460,768 for unnecessary applicant tracking software for the Human Resources Department.

  • Opposed increasing the property tax rate.

  • Successfully amended the Mayor’s legislative principles to include support for reducing all violence, including bullying, and not just “gun violence.”

  • Opposed the $35 million contract to ICF for Harvey Case Management which included $6.7 million for the Mayor's former law partner.

  • Opposed spending $500,000 to hire lawyers to fight the will of the voters on the Proposition B fire fighter parity. 

 


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Hail and farewell to George and Barbara Bush, former President and First Lady who may be gone but never forgotten. Her work on literacy will last a lifetime, and his "thousand points of light" has spurred countless millions to roll up their sleeves and volunteer for America.
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John Moss
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Administrative Coordinator
Sheena Childs
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Lanny Griffith
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Kathy Rembert
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