Posts published in June 2018
most of whom crossed into the U.S. without their parents. The building was formerly the
Kindred Hospital, and before that the East Department of the East Houston Hospital. It has been run by Southwest Key Programs as a shelter for undocumented children for several years.
Southwest Key plans to add 5th site
By Gilbert Hoffman
As debate rages endlessly in the nation about the federal government policy of separating children from their parents who entered the county illegally, the debate has now moved to the Houston political stage because the state’s largest provider of these services has requested a permit to use a building at 419 Emancipation Avenue on Houston’s east side. Southwest Key Programs is the largest provider in Texas, now housing 2,725 unaccompanied children in 16 locations.
This includes 4 facilities in the greater Houston area that are virtually unknown and unnoticed, including one that dates back to 1991. Two of these are in the North Channel/Northeast circulation area. Casa Montezuma is on the I-10 Feeder road in the Channelview area. Neighbors had suspected that the facility was a federal children’s shelter, but weren’t sure, they told this newspaper. Records from the Texas Health and Human Services show that the facility is currently housing 191 children, and recently had its license increased to 210, an increase of 11% similar to figures statewide. This shelter is licensed to provide child care services only, since May 2017. Children housed are from 10 to 17 years of age.
The other facility in our area is at 7900 Mesa Drive, in Northeast Houston. It houses 54 children, ages 10 to 17, and is licensed for multiple services, including Emotional Disorders. It has had a license from the state since 1991. Most of the Texas shelters are run by two nonprofits: Southwest Key Programs and BCFS Health and Human Services. The latter is a church sponsored group, based in Dallas.
increasing the opening for ships to pass through from the existing 750 feet to 1,320 feet.
By Allan Jamail
East Harris County – June 26, 2018 — Harris County’s largest-costing single project in history is underway along the Sam Houston Tollway, between Highway 225 in Pasadena and I-10 in the North Channel area. The Harris County Toll Road Authority (HCTRA) is overseeing the project, with a cost of $1 billon.
The massive project, which began in April, will be paid for from toll revenues and without an increase in the $1.50 toll bridge fee county officials said. The new bridge, projected to open in 2024, will have 8 lanes (4 in each direction), full shoulders, no bridge supports in the water, and no reduction of lanes during construction.
The Port of Houston has been working to widen and deepen the navigation channel for several years. The new cable-stayed bridge will look similar to the Fred Hartman Bridge. HCTRA says the addition of inside and outside shoulder lanes and a gentler slope will make the new bridge safer.
By Lewis Spearman
NORTH SHORE, Texas – Last Thursday, Rotary Club of North Shore welcomed Country Commissioner Jack Morman as guest speaker at their noon luncheon. Comm. Morman talked to the Rotarians about the proposed bond to deal with flooding issues.
A $2.5 billion dollar bond is proposed by the Commissioner’s Court and this meeting was to help convince locals that there is a need in the Jackson Bayou vicinity, that is to get some flood control measures and addressed the down stream of the San Jacinto River Watershed.
The bond election is to be held August 25 – the one year anniversary of Hurricane Harvey’s landfall. Early voting is to begin August 8th. It is to address Harris County’s most prevalent natural disaster. The total need in the county for flood risk reduction is about $25 billion, and the $2.5 billion of this bond will provide matching funds to enable the H.C. Flood Control District to leverage the federal Harvey-related disaster funding that is on its way to Harris County. The cost to taxpayers would be spread over 10 to 15 years for an estimated 2-3 cents per $100 valuation. An over-65 or disabled exemption and a home worth $200,000 or less would not pay any additional taxes.
Morman said, “In addition to the local Watersheds, this is an interconnective system. The water flow upstream will impact in a positive way those folks that flood downstream. This is the most important election in my lifetime, it will be the most we can do to combat flooding for generations to come.”
By Allan Jamail
Houston, TX. – Monday, June 11, 2018 — Congressman Gene Green brought governmental agency representatives together to give the preparedness advice to citizens since we’re now in the hurricane season from June 1 through November 30th.
Misty Gunn, Harris County’s Emergency Operations Center Manager said, this is the time citizens should make an Emergency Essentials Kit. The contents needed for the kit can be located at, WWW.READYHARRIS.ORG.
“In addition to your kits contents, if you’re evacuating from high water, put inside a water proof container or plastic bag your prescription drugs, a printed list of all relatives, doctors and insurance agents phone numbers, cell phone and cell phone charger, credit cards and checkbook, important family documents (birth certificates, insurance/ bank account information, etc.),” Guinn said.
Harris County Flood Control Precinct 2 Coordinator Jeremy Ratcliff, and Communications Officers Robert Lazaro, said Commissioners Court plans to call a bond election for August 25, 2018, for the Harris County Flood Control District. Voters will be asked to vote on what could be $2.5 billion in bonds for flood risk reduction projects throughout the county. To learn more about the flood bonds visit, WWW.HCFCD.ORG/ BOND-PROGRAM.
Judge Joe Stephens, Justice of the Peace, said, “East Houston has been impacted tremendously by Hurricane Harvey. Not only have we lost property and life, we have lost our only Hospital (East Houston Regional). In the past we have put our lives back together one piece of sheetrock at a time with little to no governmental help. Unlike Kingwood, Bellaire, River Oaks and the more affluent areas of town where they could probably do a neighborhood fundraiser and fix their flooding problems, we are a working class side of town. We need and deserve a comprehensive plan going forward for how the flooding and Bayous that run through this area (Greens, Carpenter, and Huntington) will be remediated and mitigated to prevent future catastrophes like Allison and Harvey. My ultimate concern is that the east side gets help from the $2.5 billion flood control bond program and we need a hospital immediately.”
By Allan Jamail
Galena Park, TX. – Friday, June 15, 2018 — Mayor Esmeralda Moya and Police Commissioner Rodney Chersky presented 26 year retired Police Captain Ken Ponder a gold retirement badge and a proclamation signed by the mayor commending him for his honorable service to the city.
Chersky said before his and Moya’s time in office, the city failed to present retiring Captain Ken Ponder and Detective Tim D’Antonio their retirement badges.
“When I learned of it, I made Mayor Moya aware of it too. Mayor Moya adamantly agreed with me and told me to make sure this happened and that it happened soon! A retirement badge is something a police officer cherishes. This is a symbol from the department in which they’ve served and a keepsake for their own memories in their retirement years.
HOUSTON – In a wide ranging talk before the Rotary Club of Houston, Harris County Judge Ed Emmett spoke about a number of topics of interest. He started by talking about his appreciation for the work that Rotary does in the community, and across the world. He gave examples from his own experience of how he has been touched by and involved in this work.
Then he spoke about the upcoming $2.5 billion bond issue that will be on the ballot in a special election on August 25th. He explained that the date is the one year anniversary of the devastation when Hurricane Harvey hit the Texas coast, causing flooding throughout Harris County and other parts of the state.
“Harvey changed a lot of lives,” he said. He noted that 154,000 homes in Harris County and Houston flooded. The Hurricane dropped 51” of rain in a four day period. Many homes were destroyed or made unlivable, and there were many deaths in the flood waters.
The North Channel Little League 9 Year Old Live Arm team went undefeated to take the District 17 All Star Tournament. Players: from bottom left to right Daniel Correa, Kevin Guerra, Daniel Olivas, Ivan Espino, Juan Sias, Josue Rebollar, Adrian Olivas, Ethan Bonilla, Damian Correa, Athan Castillo, Fabian Beltran and Alex Rodriguez. Coaches: from top left to right Robert Rodriguez, David Rodriguez and Roland Rodriguez.
By Allan Jamail
Galena Park, TX. — June 12, 2018 — The City of Galena Park has hired their 3rd Chief of Police in two years. Hiring a 30 year Galena Park police veteran, Sergeant James Michael Knox was sworn in Friday, June 8th.
After serving only 4 months, retired 30 year Houston Police Officer Richard “Rick” Gonzales was asked to resign. Gonzales said, “In February I got a call from former Sheriff Adrian Garcia who asked me for my resume. When I asked him what for, he replied, ‘The mayor of Galena Park is looking for a Police Chief and I need your resume immediately.’ Mayor Esmeralda Moya called me on February 22, 2018 and asked me to come to city hall the next day so she could swear me in as Interim Chief.
“I wasted no time meeting citizens, school administrators, heads of different departments, and business owners. The mayor said she was receiving good responses from the citizens regarding my presence in the community, and asked me to be the Chief as long as she was Mayor,” Gonzales said.
“I was under the impression I was to reduce crime and enhance the quality of life in the neighborhoods, I was doing that until the Mayor said for me to stop. I found the community tremendously divided, and my addressing issues of the community are not what the Mayor seems to want,” Gonzales said. Gonzales posted his resignation letter on his Facebook page.
Mayor Moya when asked about Gonzales’ short 4 month stint as chief, she said, “I was getting lots of complaints from officers in the police department about the way Gonzales was supervising and other issues we heard were going on. If true, this wasn’t what we wanted. I had to make a change for the betterment of the department and the city. I was going to ask him to resign because I didn’t want to fire him, and I think it’s best he resigned. I wish it hadn’t come to this but it did and we must learn from it and move on.”
New Interim Chief James Michael Knox is 57 years old. This will be his third time to serve as Interim Chief, having previously served as Interim Chief under Mayors James Havard and Bobby Barrett.
Supporting First Responders
East Harris County Emergency Service recognized Rep. Ana Hernandez as Legislator of the Year during the North Channel Area Chamber of Commerce June Luncheon.
“When minutes count, our first responders go into harm’s way to get the job done. From tackling wildfires to providing on-site medical care when the unthinkable happens, their services can often mean the difference between life and death,” said Rep. Hernandez. “Supporting firefighters, peace officers, and ambulatory personnel in their mission to keep our communities safe is one of the most solemn responsibilities we have as state lawmakers.”
“I was incredibly humbled to have been honored as Legislator of the Year by the East Harris County emergency service districts while recognizing first responders,” Rep. Hernandez said.
Wednesday, June 6, 2018, the San Jacinto Pilot Club installed their new officers for the 2018-2019 Pilot year. Pilot International’s Texas District Governor-Elect Gail Wilson was the installing officer for the evening’s banquet, held at the home of Jerry and Julie Fallin. Guests enjoyed a steak dinner while watching the sun set on Burnet Bay overlooking the historic San Jacinto Monument.
Officers for the 2018-2019 year, which begins July 1 are: Julie Fallin, President; Joan Van Fleet and Carolyn Roberts, Co-Secretary; and Karen Westbrooks, Treasurer. We wish all these officers the very best of luck this Pilot year.