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Dear Friends,
We are still struggling for answers after a series of mass shootings across our country. From Buffalo to Uvalde and every incomprehensible incident that follows, we are committed to preventing gun violence with
every tool available. We political leaders in Austin and Washington, D.C. to find the moral courage to do what’s right. That means protecting our children and keeping our communities safe from gun violence instead of defending the gun lobby. When we talk about public safety we reflect on what it truly means to be safe and secure and we work together to stop violence in all forms.
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| We also took time this past month to remember George Floyd and the movement for justice he has inspired. We unveiled the sculpture called Conversation with George at Precinct One’s Tom Bass Park that was donated by Dannette K. Davis and the Kay Davis in the Community Foundation. The artwork by renowned sculptress Adrienne Rison-Isom invites a moment of quiet reflection or honest conversation with a seated statue of George Floyd.
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| It’s a powerful piece of public art that unites us around a shared purpose and pushes us forward to action.
Sincerely,
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| Public Safety
On May 24, Commissioners Court passed a resolution recognizing June as Gun Violence Awareness Month.
The 8th National Gun Violence Awareness Day fell on June 3rd this year and kicked off Wear Orange Weekend on June 4th and 5th, which featured virtual and in-person events across the nation to demand change.
During the month of June, Harris County asks the community to stand with law enforcement, public health, and other county and grassroots organizations calling to raise awareness about common sense gun safety and gun violence prevention initiatives necessary to reduce the bloodshed on our streets.
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Key data points:- In the United States, on average, at least one child is shot every hour of every day.
- The gun homicide rate in the U.S. is 25 times higher than that of other developed countries.
- For the year 2020, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reported gun homicides increased by nearly 35%—the highest level in more than 25 years
- Last year,
the Texas Legislature passed HB 1927, which allows Texans to carry handguns without a license or training, despite opposition from law enforcement agencies and police unions.
- In Texas, the rate of gun suicide increased 15%, and gun homicide increased 90% from 2011 to 2020, compared to a 12% increase and 70% increase nationwide.
- Harris County is ranked in the top 20 for the highest number of gun-related deaths in the country.
- Harris County has allocated more funding for justice and safety in the last budget than at any other point in the history of the County.
In Harris County, we take a well-rounded, holistic approach to public safety that incorporates various strategies:- Violence Interruption: Our violence interruption program works with trusted and trained community messengers who have walked the walk. They understand the challenges people face in their community and are connecting them to resources that interrupt cycles of violence to help them, exit gangs, find jobs and receive support for mental health and substance use.
- Holistic Assistance and Response: Instead of criminalizing a person’s crisis, our Holistic Assistance Response Team (HART) initiative sends trained first responders to assist people struggling with issues related to mental health, substance use, or homelessness so they can receive help they need. Importantly, this also eases the burden on law enforcement and allows them to focus on serious crimes.
- Gun Violence Prevention: Despite the challenges we face with lax gun laws that flood our communities with guns, we’re working to get guns off the streets. By addressing gun violence as a public health issue and focusing resources on areas at high-risk for gun violence, we can begin to turn the tide on the gun violence epidemic.
- Clean Streets, Safe Neighborhoods: We are cleaning up areas that have not received the investments they deserve and making them safer by installing streetlights, cleaning up vacant lots, and making common spaces accessible for neighbors. This approach has reduced crime in in other cities, and Harris County is now bringing these strategies to our communites.
- Youth Justice Community Reinvestment Fund: The Youth Justice Community Reinvestment Fund exemplifies the kind of investment we need in Harris County. For too long we’ve unjustly criminalized and incarcerated our young people, especially children of color, and we’re no safer for it. Instead of connecting at-risk kids to the prison pipeline, this Fund will connect them to the community-based resources and services they need to overcome obstacles and succeed.
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Precinct One Summer Programs
Harris County Connections Summer Youth Program (County Connections), a Precinct One developed proposal, is a collaboration between the Harris County Department of Education (HCDE) and Harris County to serve school-aged youth (grades kindergarten through 12th). Commissioners Court approved $1.25 million in American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds for summer 2022, which is double the amount that was available in 2021. HCDE and Harris County have awarded grants to 53 non-profit organizations that will serve over 7,000 youth through enrichment programs to minimize the summer learning gap and provide safe spaces for children. For more info click here
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Spay and Neuter EventThe Empty Shelter Project will conduct its next free Spay and Neuter Event on Saturday, June 18th at the Finnigan Park Community Center - YET Building.
If you are a Precinct One resident living in any of these zip codes, you can sign up!
77002, 77003, 77004, 77009, 77011, 77013, 77016, 77018, 77019, 77020, 77021, 77022, 77023, 77026,
77028, 77029, 77037, 77076, 77078, 77088, 77091, 77092, 77093.
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Mother’s Day Tea Last Month to celebrate Mother’s Day we hosted our annual Tea Party at El Franco Lee Community Center. All had a delightful time as we share some tea and stories. We held a contest for "Most "Unique Tea Cup" and "Most Beautiful Hat."
For more information about other activities, please contact El Franco Lee Community Center at 832-927-2190.
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Harris County Public Library Chromebook Giveaway On Saturday June 4th, we hosted another Harris County Public Library Chromebook Giveaway with Community Partners from Texas Organizing Project, FIEL Houston, the HOME Coalition - Houston Organizing Movement for Equity, and the Hiram Clarke Community Resiliency Project.
We also wanted to
share the following testimonial from Chanel Simpson who received a Chromebook last month at one of our community center distributions:
"To Commissioner Rodney Ellis and Harris County Pubic library, I am truly filled with such gratitude for being one of the recipients to receive one of the Chromebook Laptops.
Receiving this Chromebook and Hotspot will grant me many opportunities to apply for work via submitting my resume for various job roles and positions throughout my job search. I can attend online classes to gain and obtain more education and certifications. I will also be able to pay my utilities online as well, which
will save money on postal stamps.
Having a Chromebook will benefit me tremendously and I am truly filled with such gratitude for being one of the recipients. Thank you all so much and I am ecstatic for my future endeavors."
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 Hurricane Preparedness Month
On May 26, Commissioner Ellis participated in the completion ceremony for Project Brays, the largest flood mitigation project ever undertaken by Harris County Flood Control District. This project has reduced the risk of flooding for 15,000 structures in the watershed. Precinct One has also
completed 20 miles of neighborhood ditching in the past month to help prevent street flooding. As hurricane season begins, you can prepare by helping keep ditches and culverts clear of grass clippings and other debris that might block stormwater flow.
As we embark upon another hurricane season, Harris County residents deserve better flood control and mitigation infrastructure. U.S. Department of Housting and Ubran Development (HUD) recently reprimanded Texas GLO for discriminating against minority residents in Houston and Harris County through its CDBG Mitigation allocation plan. The County remains committed to receiving its fair share of these dollars to protect all Harris County residents.
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Boating and Water Safety
Precinct One is launching a free life jacket sharing program at Deussen Park during the busy summer. Deussen Park is the only free boat launch onto Lake Houston making it a popular summer destination for boaters.
We are
partnering with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers so that boaters can take and return life jackets to a designed bin by the boat launch. Sizes are available for adults and children. Life jackets save lives, for people of all ages. I’m so proud of this partnership and of the work we’re doing to save lives and improve boating safety.
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Blue Ridge Park Soccer Fields
The new soccer fields at Blue Ridge Park will expand access to healthy recreational
opportunities for more kids in southwest Houston. This new soccer complex was made possible through our partnership with the Qatar Harvey Fund, which donated $2 million for construction of the fields. The park was also constructed with an environmentally-sensitive design to maintain the park’s flood mitigation purpose. Families are encouraged to sign up through the Power Football Club, our youth league partner
To learn more, watch our
video about the project.
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