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Posts published in February 2021

AOC raises $5 million in Storm Relief

Feb 25, 2021
At a press conference at the Food Bank L-R: Congresswomen Sheila Jackson Lee, Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (AOC) & Sylvia Garcia (Allan Jamail photo)

Historic Texas Ice Storm Victims Receive Aid From New York Congresswoman Ocasio-Cortez

By Allan Jamail

Houston, TX. – Saturday, February 20, 2021 – Houston’s Food Bank (HFB) President and CEO, Brian Greene welcomed and introduced Congresswomen Sylvia Garcia, New York’s Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (AOC), and Sheila Jackson Lee to the facility. He said the HFB is a non-profit organization and the nation’s largest food bank in the United States by size and distribution; providing access to 159 million nutritious meals in 18 counties in southeast Texas.

Congresswoman Sylvia Garcia told how New York’s 14th Congressional District Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (AOC) contacted her and said she’d like to help Texas’ ice storm victims. Garcia invited AOC to Houston so she could visit the HFB and see how they provide meals year-round to the needed. She said about one in four children in our area are at-risk of hunger. Kids must have consistent nutritious food for the body, mind, and spirit in order to be successful. Garcia told of how AOC began raising funds to aid the ice storm victims. The first day, AOC quickly raised over a million dollars, so she then decided to continue raising donations. On the second day, the day before her trip to Houston, AOC had raised over two million, and Saturday, on the day she arrived here, AOC had raised 3.2 million dollars. After leaving the HFB, Garcia’s took AOC out to some Houston communities to visit and see first-hand how devastating the brutal storm struck millions of people.

192 new housing units for Channelview

Feb 11, 2021
The Hollows on Dell Dale will house 192 new apartment units. It will open in 2022, and include 1, 2, and 3 bedroom units.

The Hollows, a Multifamily Housing Community, to Replace Housing Lost During Hurricane Harvey

HOUSTON, TX (Wednesday, February 3, 2021) – The Harris County Housing Authority (HCHA), Harris County – Community Services Department (HCCSD), Harris County Precinct Two Commissioner Adrian Garcia, the Texas General Land Office (GLO), and development partner LDG Development (LDG) celebrate the groundbreaking of The Hollows, a multi-family development to replace housing lost during Hurricane Harvey. The development will be financed with Harris County’s Community Development Block Grant – Disaster Recovery (CDBG-DR) funds in conjunction with construction and private permanent financing from Citi Community Capital and tax credit equity from Hunt Capital Partners.

This $39.35 million community’s groundbreaking will create 192 beautiful new apartment homes for families seeking quality housing in the Channelview area. A virtual groundbreaking ceremony was held on Wednesday, February 3, 2021.

“We are pleased to partner with LDG. Development to provide much-needed quality housing for Harris County families,” said Horace Allison, AIA., Executive Director and CEO of Harris County Housing Authority. “This multi-family housing community will replace housing resources lost during Hurricane Harvey while adding an attractive, viable, and valuable asset to the neighborhood.”

The Hollows will provide a wide array of amenities to the families it serves, including a fully equipped clubhouse, business center, fitness center, laundry facilities, a swimming pool with a sun deck, and a playground.

“The Hollows project is one of sixteen the Harris County Community Services Department is supporting with the use of HUD CDBG Disaster Recovery funds in the effort to replenish housing stock lost from several past disasters,” said CSD Director Dr. Adrienne Holloway. “These developments provide a significant investment in the effort to provide affordable housing for all who live and work in Harris County.”

Ley YMCA continues to serve NC Community

Feb 11, 2021
Wendell Ley Family YMCA at Wallisville and N. Castlegory

By Jada Mier

The community for many years has depended upon and supported the Wendel Ley Family YMCA on Wallisville Rd. for athletic programs and social activities. Now with the pandemic limiting personal interaction, the YMCA must find new ways to offer services, such as virtual classes and reservations to use facilities within the building.

The current pandemic has exposed critical issues that require more action from the Y than ever before. The organization’s new direction for 2021 will highlight the Y’s community impact beyond its buildings and provide opportunities such as its new Impact Membership, giving Houstonians a chance to make a difference with the Y.

On the COVID front Jessica Bains, Director of Operations, chimed in on how the services have changed in the wake of the ongoing pandemic.

Jacinto City recognizes its K-9 Police program

Feb 11, 2021
Northshore Animal Hospital Veterinarian Francis “Frank” Martin (holding award at left) receives Outstanding Service Award from Jacinto City Police Chief Joe Ayala for K9 dog Kyra’s care. L-R: Northshore Animal Hospital staffers Allen Driver, Vet. Frank Martin, Chief Joe Ayala and Joan Barnes.

North Channel Animal Doctor Frank Martin receives award

By Allan Jamail

Jacinto City, TX. — Thursday, January 28, 2021, at the Jacinto City council meeting, Police Chief Joe Ayala presented an Outstanding Service Award to Doctor of Veterinary Medicine (DVM) Veterinarian Francis “Frank” Martin for his services, because for the past 11 years he has donated the treatment and facility when needed to care for the department’s K9 officer Kyra.

Chief Ayala said, “I’m thankful to DVM Martin and his staff for they took excellent care day and night of K9 Kyra when it had some serious health issues before its passing away.”

“Police Corporal A. J. Seydler was K9’s Kyra’a handler. We now have ‘Fly,’ a new K9 to assist us with narcotic investigations,” Ayala said.

KYRA with Cpl. Albert Seydler

Concerns raised about new Construction near Waste Pits

Feb 11, 2021
Construction activity along River Road includes piles about to be driven into the water to support a new set of berths for barges. To the left is Meadowbrook Park, and to the right the old Riverside Inn.

CHANNELVIEW – Residents of the area near the San Jacinto River Waste Pits Superfund Site have become concerned with evidence of new construction that might threaten the neighborhood along River Road, and the waste pits themselves.

The investigation is being headed by Carolyn Stone, who lives in Channelview not far from I-10 and the Waste Pits, and is the director of an environmental action group know as C.H.I.P., or Channelview Health & Improvement Coalition. The group is monitoring progress at the Waste Pits, as well as water and air quality in the Channelview area.

Stone says in a letter widely distributed to government bodies and other interested persons, that the construction that can be observed along river road and on the east bank of the river is proceeding without any evidence of permits from the County engineering Department or the Corps of Engineers, each of which has jurisdiction of this type.

Stone says that she learned that a company known as TimTom Land Holdings LLC is building the barge facility, and plans a restaurant/bar adjacent. She says in her letter, “These two projects lay in a very vulnerable and low land area which is the first area to flood.”