Coined by Commissioner Garcia, Revive2Thrive, is all about making strategic investments in infrastructure, economic opportunity, and support services. The work is already underway. Watch to see what inspired Commissioner Garcia on his journey to make Precinct 2 the best place to live, work, and play for all.

July is Parks and Recreation Month! Precinct 2 takes pride in our parks and recreational amenities for people of all ages and abilities. Check out this video to get to know some of the team that keeps our parks beautiful.

A new public safety pilot project is getting off the ground for the Cloverleaf area.

Flock Safety’s license plate reading cameras and gun sound detection system is a $160K investment to provide valuable data and surveillance for the Sheriff’s Office to combat major violent crimes. It’s a one-year pilot project and will be compared to the ShotSpotter pilot project in East Aldine in reducing violent crimes.

This month, Commissioner Adrian Garcia joined more than 70 other leaders from across Texas at the White House. The meeting focused on spotlighting how the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds are having a transformational impact on Precinct 2 and across Harris County. Here are some examples of ARPA-funded programs:

Employ2Empower

Violent Persons Warrant

Task Force

UT Health Trauma and Resilience Center

This week, we broke ground on another Revive2Thrive drainage improvement project in Precinct 2!

The High Meadows and Fairgreen subdivision will see improvements to their drainage infrastructure, which will help reduce the risk of flooding. 

The $3.4 million improvements include:

• New, larger storm sewer pipes and inlets
• Installation of additional drainage systems
• Installation of an additional outfall
• Removal and replacement of half of roadway and associated driveways

Construction is scheduled to begin this month.

Thank you to our dedicated partners at Harris County Engineering Department, Harris County Community Services Department and Harris County Flood Control district.

This month in Commissioners Court, the following Precinct 2 infrastructure projects were approved: 

Cloverleaf and East Aldine Crime Prevention Through Environment Design (CPTED) Projects: Two CPTED projects were brought forward by Commissioner Garcia and approved unanimously. The funding allocations are for the Barbara Mae St. Sidewalks in Cloverleaf and Lauder Basin Trail in East Aldine.

Both projects were identified in their respective community plans as top priorities after extensive community engagement. Both are key examples of Commissioner Garcia’s Revive2Thrive initiative and will help make Cloverleaf and East Aldine safer and better connected.

Barbara Mae St. is a key Galena Park ISD bus route where pickup/drop-off of students currently happens in the ditch. This item allocated $1.7 million to our sidewalk project which includes over 1 mile of 6 ft. sidewalks, landscaping, and pedestrian-scale solar lights.

Lauder Basin will be a central destination in the upcoming Greens-to-Halls Trails and will connect to the upcoming Greens Bayou Greenway, Mead Middle School, Aldine Town Center, and the existing Halls Bayou Trail. This item allocated $1.8 million to our trail project which includes over 1.5 miles of 12-ft trail, landscaping, and pedestrian-scale solar lights.

Ashton Bailey Sanchez, left, and Irene Rodriguez, right, participated in

Precinct 2's first-ever Student2Government Teen Leadership Academy this summer.

Q: Describe the most interesting thing you learn during the Student2Government program?

Ashton: One of the most interesting things I discovered during my time at the Student2Government Leadership Academy was the significant disparities in voting turnout numbers among different age groups and minority communities. It was a truly eye-opening experience...READ MORE

Irene: The most interesting thing I learned in the Student2Government Leadership Academy was during the Local Arts and Culture session. It amazes me how art can bring so many benefits to individuals and communities. Art can be defined in various ways, but ultimately, it is a form of expression that can unite people, regardless of their backgrounds. Learning about local art and culture has been fascinating...READ MORE

This month, Commissioner Garcia led or voted in favor of the following items:

Justice Data System: JWEB is the web-based justice data system used by Harris County law enforcement agencies. Commissioner Garcia voted to approve the formation of the Integrated Justice Technology Committee with a board and director. The board will remain charged with the duty of creating and approving policies related to the access and sharing of justice data.

Community Housing and Development Organizations Tax Policy: Following Commissioner Garcia's vision for an innovative county policy and budget to increase affordability for nonprofit-owned multifamily rental units via property tax exemptions, Commissioners Court unanimously approved the policy and budget. This significant milestone will enable Harris County to begin the process of identifying and recommending eligible properties to receive said property tax exemption from the Harris Central Appraisal District (HCAD), thus increasing the preservation of affordable rental units at approved CHDO and non-profit-owned multifamily rental units throughout Precinct 2 and Harris County.

UT Health Trauma Resilience Center: Commissioner Garcia renewed his commitment to assisting Harris County residents impacted by trauma by providing the UT Health Trauma Resilience Center (TRC) with an additional $100,000 in funding. This investment helps accommodate the growing demand for counseling for Harris County residents and first responders.

Resolutions

Commissioner Garcia presented a resolution recognizing Chef Benchawan Jabthong Painter to celebrate her James Beard Foundation Award for Best Chef Texas. She and her husband own the Thai restaurant “Street to Kitchen” located at 6501 Harrisburg Boulevard, in Houston’s East End. She won the award in June of 2023 over competitors from Dallas, El Paso, and San Antonio, and made history as the first Houstonian woman to win this award. From the age of 6, her grandmother taught her to make curries and other Thai specialties from scratch, with ingredients sourced from the field and rivers in front of her grandmother’s house in Central Thailand. In 2015, Chef Benchawan moved to Houston, and five years later, she opened her own Thai restaurant, Street to Kitchen. It was named Culture Map Tastemaker’s “Restaurant of the Year 2022” and Chef Benchawan was awarded “Rising Star Chef of the Year 2022.”

KPRC: Disaster recovery, hurricane preparedness at center of Harris County authorities’ presentation

Houston Chronicle: Lina Hidalgo, other Harris County officials to meet with Biden administration on federal recovery funds

Community Impact: Harris County moves forward with affordable housing tax exemption policy