Greater Northside Management District
November 19, 2020
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Dear GNMD Friend,
The past month has been extremely busy for Greater Northside Management District. We hosted the Tour de Northside, initiated plans for murals at Granel Spice Company, saw the completion of the Gateway Underpass project at Crosstimbers and I-45, won an award from Houston-Galveston Area Council Parks and Natural Areas for the Butterfly Pocket Park and continued to obtain signatures for our 2021-2030 Service Plan.
Can you help us?
Provide your feedback regarding the North Houston Highway Improvement Project (I-45). The deadline for comments is December 9, 2020.
In addition, we're obtaining signatures for our 2021-2030 Service Plan. If you are a commercial property owner in the District and are interested in supporting the District’s Service Plan and our much-needed services and programs, please call or email us. If you have not heard from us or had a personal visit by one of our Patrol Officers, please let us know by calling (713) 229-0900. We look forward to visiting you soon.
All of this and more is in this newsletter.
Thanksgiving Holiday Closure
Our office will be closed for the Thanksgiving holiday on Thursday, November 26, and Friday, November 27. If you have non-emergency matter, you may reach me at 281-914-0652 and leave a message. Remember if you see something, say something. Please share important numbers.
For All Emergencies, Call
911
For Non-Emergencies, Call
713-884-3131
This comes with best wishes for a happy and safe Thanksgiving. We are thankful to be able to work with such a great community!
Sincerely,
Rebecca Reyna
Executive Director
#NorthsideStrong
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Give blood and get free food!
Friday, November 20, 1:30 - 4:30 p.m.
1320 Quitman, Houston 77009
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The Gulf Coast Regional Blood Center is in dire need of donations. Their donor coach will be at Court Record Research, 1320 Quitman Street, Houston 77009, from 1:30 to 4:30 p.m. on Friday, November 20.
Several appointment slots are still available. To sign up, click here. Christopher Wathen will be grilling for anyone that donates and the patio will be set up for a Social D Blood Buddies Happy Hour. |
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Precinct 2 Turkey Giveaway
Saturday, November 21, 10 a.m. - noon
Irvington Park, 1000 Cavalcade, Houston
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Greater Northside Management District Updates |
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Capital Improvement Program Committee
Monday, December 15 at 6 p.m.
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A virtual meeting of the Greater Northside Management District Capital Improvement Program committee is being held as follows:
Date: Monday, December 15, 2020
Time: 6 p.m.
Join Zoom Meeting
Meeting ID: 835 2978 7025
Passcode: GNMDCIP
One tap mobile:
+13462487799,,83529787025#,,,,,,0#,,0765935# US (Houston)
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Provide input on the North Houston Highway Improvement Project |
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How is the Greater Northside going to be impacted by the North Houston Highway Improvement Project?
The Texas Department of Transportation has completed the Final Environmental Impact Statement and it is available for public review online at www.I45NorthandMore.com.
Review the document and provide your comments and concerns regarding this project. The deadline has been extended to December 9, 2020.
Send your feedback to:
Texas Department of Transportation
Attn: Director of Project Development
PO Box 1386
Houston, TX 77251
OR
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City of Houston Public Works to perform
trial project on Quitman signals
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The City of Houston Public Works is going to test the feasibility of possibly removing the traffic signals at Quitman at South, Fulton and Cochran Streets and replacing them with all-way stop signs to help improve safety and mobility. The following Q&A information sheet gives more details on the project starting in mid-November and expected to last approximately three months. |
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Thank you to our Tour de Northside
participants, volunteers and partners
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The weather for our recent Tour de Northside could not have been better! Thank you to our participants, volunteers and partners -- Saint Arnold Brewing Company and Precinct2gether.
Thank you, Saint Arnold, for letting us use your parking lot to distribute goodies to our riders, including your pint glasses and a coupon for a pint of beer! Thank you also to METRO and Memorial Hermann for the goodies that you donated to the riders.
We thought you would enjoy these pictures from last Saturday!
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Butterfly Pocket Park wins
Houston-Galveston Area Council Parks
and Natural Areas Award
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Greater Northside's Butterfly Pocket Park is the winner from the Houston-Galveston Area Council Parks and Natural Areas Awards in the On-the-Ground Project Under $500k Category! The project serves as a model for other projects in the 13-county region.
GNMD thanks our project partners: Artist Rosalinda Toro, Asakura Robinson, Avenue CDC, the City of Houston’s District H, Harris County Precinct 2 Commissioner Adrian Garcia, Houston Arts Alliance, Houston Parks and Recreation Department, Houston Wilderness, North Central Civic Association, Open Architecture Houston, River Oaks Garden Club, Super Neighborhood 51 and Trees for Houston.
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Gateway Project Completed
on Crosstimbers and I-45 Underpass
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We're thrilled with the results of the Gateway Project on Crosstimbers and the I-45 Underpass. Columns were painted with colors to represent the Independence Heights and Northline neighborhoods.
The project was made possible by Greater Northside Management District, UP Art Studio and the American Planning Association in cooperation with the Texas Department of Transportation.
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Win this giveaway in conjunction with the
Murals at Granel, 2503 Link Road, Houston
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Work is underway on the first mural at Granel, and the owners are deciding on the last loteria card picture. We can't wait to see the final results!
There will be a giveaway soon. Stay tuned for more details!
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Free COVID-19 testing sites |
The Houston Health Department and its agency partners are announcing the schedule for sites offering free COVID-19 tests this week. Getting tested at Houston Health Department-affiliated sites is free and does not require proof of residency, citizenship or insurance.
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Limit your holiday gatherings
to household members
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Mayor Sylvester Turner encourages everyone to limit in-person holiday gatherings to household members to slow the spread of COVID-19 and prevent another surge this winter. People who attend holiday gatherings with others who are not members of their households should consider avoiding non-household members for 14 days before-and-after the event.
Make smart choices!
The Houston Health Department offers the following holiday season health safety advice.
- Consider video calls to interact with family and friends to eliminate the risk associated with in-person gatherings.
- Opt for outdoor gatherings, which are safer than indoor events, and continue to wear a mask and social distance when interacting with people who are not members of your household.
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If you must gather, your group should plan ahead and commit to restricting contact with anyone outside your group for 14 days before and after the gathering.
- Shoppers should avoid crowded stores and consider online shopping, curbside pick-up, and home delivery options.
- Plan your shopping for times when stores are less crowded and always wear a mask, social distance and use hand sanitizer.
- People who are experiencing COVID-19 symptoms or were exposed to someone who tested positive must not spend any time with others nor leave their homes unless it is for the purpose of getting medical care. COVID-19 symptoms include fever, cough, shortness of breath, muscle aches, new loss of taste or smell and diarrhea.
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COVID-19 Rental Assistance Program |
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The BakerRipley COVID-19 Rental Assistance Program, funded by Harris County and the City of Houston, is providing rental assistance to residential tenants who live within the City of Houston and/or Harris County and are experiencing an economic hardship as a result of COVID-19.
Harris County provided $40 million in funding, and the City of Houston provided $20 million, which will be distributed to Participating Landlords on behalf of eligible tenants. Tenants whose landlords agree to the program terms may apply for rental assistance for past due rent.
Applications for rental assistance for past due rent for September and October are being accepted. Applications for the months of April to August are no longer being accepted. NOTE: Rental assistance applications submitted before November 2 requesting past due rent for April to August are being processed, and tenants will be updated on their application status.
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The Houston Food Bank supports food and produce distributions, senior boxes, meal sites and more!
Click here for a map of food distribution locations. Click here for a list of organizations offering food assistance.
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Did you know? SNAP (food stamps) provides $150 a month for food. To find out if you qualify, text SNAP to 74544 |
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Domestic Violence
If you are experiencing violence because you are forced to stay with an abusive partner, call the Houston Area Women’s Center 24-hour hotline for free-and-confidential assistance.
Houston Area Women's Center
Domestic Violence Hotline
713-528-2121
TTY: 713-528-3625
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Free Legal Clinics
for Veterans
Legal clinics offer free advice by phone to low-income, U.S. military veterans every Friday, 2 to 5 p.m.
Veterans may submit applications by phone at 713-228-0735
The clinic is open to all low-income veterans and spouses of deceased veterans in the Houston area.
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Eviction Moratorium
The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) has declared a nationwide temporary eviction moratorium for certain tenants through December 31, 2020, and the Texas Supreme Court issued an order in its support. If you qualify, you may be able to avoid eviction. Click here for details.
If you received an eviction notice, call South Texas College of Law at 346-250-1069 or Lone Star Legal Aid at 800-733-8394.
Legal Assistance
Click here for information on free legal assistance and resources from the Houston Bar Association.
Online Resources
Stop TX Eviction is an online portal that provides free information and guidance to help tenants understand their legal rights and remedies available to keep them housed.
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The Financial Empowerment Centers (FECs) provide one-to-one, professional financial counseling to Houstonians at no cost.
The service is an initiative of the Mayor’s Office of Complete Communities supported by Cities for Financial Empowerment Fund and Regions Bank.
FEC counselors provide guidance to how to manage your money, pay down debt, increase saving, establish and build credit, and access safe-and-affordable mainstream banking products.
All services are free and available to all residents regardless of income. Counseling assistance is available in English and Spanish.
Click here for more information and to make an appointment.
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Consejos Legales is a service of the Mexican American Bar Association and the Hispanic Bar Association that offers legal consultations by phone to residents of Houston and Harris County on the first Thursday of every month from 6 to 8 p.m. To confirm the date and time of the next Consejos Legales, check the website calendar or call the Houston Bar Association at 713-759-1133.
Consejos Legales es un programa de la Asociación Mexicana de Abogados y la Asociación Hispana de Abogados. El programa ofrece asesoría legal gratuita en español por teléfono para los residentes de Houston y el Condado de Harris el primer jueves de cada mes, entre las 6 y las 8 p.m. Para confirmar la fecha y hora de los siguientes Consejos Legales, consulte el calendario del sitio web o llame a la oficina de Houston Bar Association al (713) 759-1133. |
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Are you unable to pay fines due to hardships during the pandemic?
The Houston Municipal Courts Department’s Safe Harbor Court assists citizens facing financial hardships and medical issues due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
After citizens produce evidence of inability to pay fines and fees, the Court will assist with satisfying their judgments to remove or prevent their cases from going into a delinquent status or a capias pro fine warrant status.
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Musicians and Music
Venues Economic Relief Program
This program will provide relief funding of up to $5,000 for musicians and up to $50,000 or $100,000 for music venues, depending on budget size.
For eligibility requirements, visit
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Memorial Assistance Ministries (MAM) has launched the Lost Loved One program to provide financial assistance to families facing the loss of an immediate family member due to COVID-19. Funding was made possible with a grant from the Greater Houston COVID-19 Recovery Fund and led by United Way of Greater Houston and the Greater Houston Community Foundation.
To qualify, applicants must:
- Be a resident of Harris, Fort Bend, Montgomery or Waller County;
- Have experienced the loss of an immediate family member due to COVID-19 since March 1, 2020; and
- Have a household income of less than 80 percent of Area Median Income (AMI).
Qualifying families will be provided $3,500 to address immediate needs such as funeral arrangements or assistance with rent, mortgage or utilities. All individuals will receive information and referrals to grief counseling.
For more information, click here to visit the MAM website at or call the information line at (713) 468-4516 ext. 149.
Applications to the program are available in English and Spanish.
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Eastex Jensen Super Neighborhood Meeting
Thursday, November 19, at 6 p.m.
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The Eastex Jensen Super Neighborhood will hold a virtual meeting on Thursday, November 19, at 6 p.m.
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Houston-Galveston Area Council
Virtual Transportation Update
Thursday, December 3 at 6 p.m.
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Houston- Galveston Area Council is holding their virtual mobility and transportation update on Thursday, December 3, 2020, with this schedule:
- 6 - 6:30 p.m. - Presentations
- 6:30 - 7 p.m. - Audience Q&A and Comments
The meeting will cover these topics:
Click here for more information, to review the meeting documents and to join the update.
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Free help for Medicare Open Enrollment
October 15 - December 7
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Medicare open enrollment began October 15 and runs through December 7. It is a period for beneficiaries to compare all their Medicare options and make changes to their health or prescription drug coverage for the following year.
“There are a few new things this year. Many of the drug plans are offering a 30-day supply of insulin for $35 or less a month. If you have diabetes, take insulin and enroll in one of these plans, you could save almost $500 a year in out-of-pocket costs,” said Rose Ortega, a benefits counselor with the agency.
Face-to-face meetings aren’t feasible this year due to the COVID-19 pandemic, but clients can receive guidance from benefits counselors by scheduling appointments via Zoom or Microsoft Teams. The appointments are available at 832-393-4301 or 800-213-8471.
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Employment opportunities and health |
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SERJobs offers free training
for unemployed or underemployed
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SERJobs is offering FREE training to help prepare unemployed or underemployed clients for greater earning potential.
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Sign up today and start learning!
The City of Houston is now part of Microsoft’s Global Initiative that is offering free online training for high demand tech-jobs to 25 million people across the world.
You can develop a new skill or sharpen your skills for your next job with LinkedIn Learning and Microsoft Learn. Certification tests are offered at discounted rates and job-seeking tools are free.
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Build Up Houston for small businesses:
Apply by November 30
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Free Meet the Buyer Purchasing Forum
Thursday, December 10
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BakerRipley Houston Turkey Trot |
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Every year, BakerRipley spends months preparing for the Houston Turkey Trot, but they cannot have a physical event this year as your safety comes first.
This doesn’t mean their mission stops. In fact, it’s of vital importance for the recovery of communities around Houston. The effects of COVID-19 have been devastating for many families and individuals in our area.
The trot will be virtual, but BakerRipley always makes it fun. And, this year will be no exception.
Trot for Good.
Trot for Houston.
Trot for RECOVERY.
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Air Quality Awareness Fundraiser & Social Ride
Saturday, December 5
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Grab your bicycle and join fellow clean air advocates as the Air Alliance Houston Airhead cruise through Houston-area neighborhoods -- taking air quality samples along the way -- to bring awareness to local air pollution and raise money for Air Alliance Houston.
To support the work of AAH, The Airheads are hosting a series of social bike rides in neighborhoods around Houston, where groups of riders (limited to 12 per route, socially distanced and masked) will use a personal air monitor to collect air quality data that is tracked and mapped by the Plume Flow app.
Event registration includes an AAH-branded reusable aluminum water bottle and requires either a donation of at least $50 or a pledge to raise at least $150.
Route locations and times will be posted next week. Be sure to secure your seat as soon as possible, as registration is limited. For more information, visit www.airalliancehouston.org.
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Drive-in movies at Raven Tower |
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The Best Little Drive-in In HTX is on hiatus for November! Don't worry...they'll be back in mid-December!
Our friends at White Oak Music Hall are putting on a socially distanced concert series and need the space for their shows.
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Houston Masters Sports Association
virtual race schedule
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Would you like to have your business, restaurant or event featured in our newsletter? |
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Send us an update, and we'll gladly feature it in our newsletter!
If you have a picture, that helps to draw the eye to the article. Please give us at least two-weeks notice!
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