01.12.08
Posted in Events, GHDC Blog at 1:32 pm by M Beauregard
Metro to launch North Corridor office
Open house set Saturday at regional ’store’
When: 1-4 p.m. Saturday
• Where: 2613 Fulton St.
For more information, call 713-739-4000 or visit www.metrosolutions.org
Not content to wait around for Federal Transit Administration approval of light rail for the North Corridor, Metro will hold a party to launch its newest regional office.
The community open house is from 1-4 p.m. Saturday at Metro Solutions’ newest office, or "store" near three of the five proposed rail lines the Metro board approved last October.
The ribbon-cutting ceremony is at 2 p.m. at the North Corridor Office, 2613 Fulton St. There also will be informational activities, refreshments and goody bags for guests.
The event is part of the liaison effort between Metro and ridership of the proposed 5.4-mile North Corridor.
When completed in 2012, the corridor will run on an aerial pathway from North Main at the University of Houston-Downtown to south of Hogan Street, then by ground from Quitman to East Boundary to Fulton and Northline Mall.
Stops will include Catherine Station near Fulton and Irvington; Cavalcade Station at Cavalcade and Fulton; Graceland Station at Fulton and Graceland; Melbourne Station north of the Fulton and Loop 610 intersection; and the Northline Station at Northline Mall, near Fulton and Crosstimbers.
Feedback and information
Visitors to the office opening can voice their ideas or concerns and receive information about construction schedules, maps of the proposed corridor, how to receive updates about utility interruptions and resumptions, paving schedules, detours and alternate routes.
Business owners who fear a disruption of their operations can also learn how to participate in the Small/Disadvantaged business program.
Corridor offices were opened Dec. 1 for the proposed Southeast Corridor, Palm Center Shopping Center, Suite A-104, 5330 Griggs, and East End Corridor at Las Palmas Shopping Center, 6215 Harrisburg.
Also planned are similar offices that will accommodate riders of the Uptown Corridor in the Galleria area and the University Corridor along Richmond Avenue.
"These (offices) have been in the works for some time because it’s critical for people to get correct information, visit our stores and talk to human beings, people with faces," said Raequel Roberts, Metro’s senior director of media relations and corporate communications. "We’re taking the answers to the streets."
Linda Trevino, a Metro stakeholder affairs representative, said the event will be a chance for the 15,000-square-foot office’s five-member staff to meet the residents it will serve by answering questions and providing information in English and in Spanish.
Residents are being sent a welcome letter to the event "that explains our mission," Trevino said.
Maps of the proposed rail line will be set up in the office’s conference room.
Guests also can take home a small map along with Metro safety information.
The North Line was one of Metro’s corridors that was originally scheduled to be Bus Rapid Transit, but Metro approved switching it to light rail.
The FTA, however, asked Metro to submit further information and hold additional public meetings for the North Corridor because of the change.
Working together
Wes Irvin, administrator of communications and congressional affairs for the FTA in Washington, D.C., which helps fund Metro’s expansion projects, said the FTA and Metro have been working together to get requested paperwork filed and reviewed so the North Corridor will be built on time.
"From the FTA’s point of view, this line is very meritorious and we are working well with Houston Metro," Irvin said. "We are committed."
He said that because of the change to light rail, Metro’s original proposal was not ready for approval without being vetted through another process to get the grant agreement signed that allows the FTA to commit money.
That process, Irvin said, appears to be going smoothly.
"We’ve been given good information from them in the last couple of weeks," Irvin said. "We’re getting everything from them that they need and we’re working expeditiously from our end. In everything we have asked them for, they have been very responsive.
"Our goal is to keep these projects moving forward."
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Posted in Events, GHDC Blog at 2:33 am by M Beauregard
Fundraiser & Paint drive
9am-noon
Saturday January 12th.
Heights Blvd at 13th, just outside the historic library
We will be collecting latex paint, spray paints, and empty 5 gallon buckets. Monetary donations can be made in cash or by check to the Heights Association. This is our second annual paint drive as we enter the third year of service. The area protected by "The Squad" covers 13 square miles of the city; 610 to the north, I-10 to the south, 45 to the east and Durham to the west.
Paul Luccia
Heights Anti-Graffiti Squad
1237 Oxford
713-459-6215
Paper: Houston Chronicle
Date: Thu 08/10/2006
HEIGHTS ANTI-GRAFFITI SQUAD
Resident takes initiative against tags
Paul Luccia uses time, funds to clean up area
By TOM MANNING, Houston Chronicle Correspondent
ON Sunday mornings, when most people are relaxing and enjoying the weekend, Paul Luccia is hard at work.
Armed with an industrial-sized sprayer, a generator and about 40 gallons of paint, the Heights resident is out on the street, covering every piece of graffiti he can find.
It’s something Luccia, 43, has been doing since May, when he finally got fed up enough with the increase in graffiti he’d seen in the Heights to do something about it.
"I just got tired of looking at graffiti in my neighborhood all the time," said Luccia, a contractor and seven-year Heights resident. "I noticed a sharp increase last fall in the Heights. I had always seen it in Montrose and it had been a problem there for years, but it was starting to spread into our neighborhood."
So Luccia made a few phone calls, first to Keep Houston Beautiful, which gave him a power generator for his cleanup efforts.
He then contacted the Houston Police Department’s Neighborhood Protection Corps, which gave him the green light to abate graffiti in his neighborhood.
Luccia has since gone on 10 missions on Sundays to remove graffiti, about every other week since his first trip on May 5.
During the course of the last few months, Luccia has received increasing support from members of the Heights community.
A group of about a dozen members of St. Andrew’s Episcopal Church joined his Clean Heights Team last month, covering up graffiti around Heights Boulevard and Yale Street. It was the largest anti-graffiti gathering to date.
Luccia covers up graffiti on businesses, public property and private homes. He said the key is not being afraid to approach people about vandalism on their property.
"When I see it on somebody’s home I make a note, wait about a month and then just knock on the door," he said. "Ninety-nine times out of a hundred, they say OK. It comes down to them either letting me do it for free, or eventually having the city come do it and charging them."
Another benefit to Luccia painting over graffiti is that while the city uses standard gray paint for its abatement, Luccia brings a number of different colors and can mix paint on the spot to try to match the building’s aesthetics.
"I pick colors that fit more with the Heights," he said.
While Luccia has been fighting graffiti in the Heights, City Council members Adrian Garcia and Sue Lovell have been steering a strengthened graffiti ordinance through the council.
Along with other items, the ordinance will reduce the amount of time people will be allowed to have graffiti on their property before the city removes it.
The city also appropriated more than $2 million in the recently passed budget for graffiti abatement and prevention.
Dean Swanson - a Heights resident who also has been at the forefront of the community’s fight against graffiti - said individual efforts such as Luccia’s remain crucial in the battle against taggers.
"What he’s doing is very important," Swanson said. "The city is slow and meticulous. He’s fast. He can also focus specifically on this neighborhood because he knows where the problem areas are.
"Paul can literally do in a couple of hours what it would take the city weeks to do. It’s much more efficient with him at the forefront."
Said Luccia, "The city just put $2.2 million in the budget for it and that’s great, but I’m not holding my breath. The most effective thing to do is for the community to just get rid of it immediately."
Luccia said most graffiti artists, or taggers, hit the Heights on Sundays between 2-5 a.m. So he goes out later in the morning and immediately removes any new graffiti he sees, spending between six to eight hours in the area each time.
It’s been effective so far, he said.
"The No. 1 place is abandoned properties that don’t look like they’re in good shape but that face a street or will give them a lot of visibility," he said. "We’ve had places that were getting hit every week that have now been clean for a month or two.
"It’s a war of attrition, and eventually we win if they know that whatever they do isn’t going to stay up."
He said that since he’s become a fixture in the area on Sunday mornings, people have begun to take notice.
"People stop me and ask me how they can help and what they can do in their own neighborhoods," he said. "If people want to help, the first thing is to report graffiti to 3-1-1. Don’t be afraid to knock on doors, and when you walk or bike or are just around the neighborhood, carry a can and cover what you can. Those are three pretty simple ways to contribute."
He hopes to get some financial help for his cause. Each excursion costs Luccia about $50, mostly for gasoline.
He estimates his expenses for a year of graffiti abatement will be about $5,000. Businesses have contributed, such as Spanish Flower Mexican Restaurant, which purchased a new sprayer for Luccia.
"We’d been wanting to be more aggressive in fighting (graffiti) in the North Main area," said Eli Rodriguez, owner of Spanish Flower. "This became the ideal thing and we saw this as a way to do our part. When we heard about what Paul was doing, it was something we wanted to help with."
Luccia said while he expects that with time his graffiti-fighting excursions in the neighborhood will decline, he hopes other neighborhoods will form similar groups.
"What it’s done is raise awareness in the area," he said. "I want to encourage neighborhoods to do the same thing I’m doing. If anyone wants to talk to me, I’ll tell them everything I know. My goal is that my neighborhood and the surrounding area is completely free of graffiti and that other neighborhoods will do the same thing."
…
FIGHTING GRAFFITI
To learn more about Paul Luccia’s efforts to rid the Heights of graffiti, send e-mail to CleanHeights@aol.com.
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Posted in Events, GHDC Blog at 1:38 am by M Beauregard
Swearing-in of officers by Justice of the Peace, David Patronella
President Kevin Hoffman
Vice-Pres Max Beauregard
Treasurer Vicki Bellow
Secretary Henry Weisborn
Webmaster Scott Bruns
Judge David Patronella
Judge David Patronella took the bench as presiding judge of Harris County Justice of the Peace Court (Precinct 1, Place 2) in 1989.
Judge Patronella serves as Justice of the Peace for Precinct One, Place Two, supervising a staff of forty clerks and presiding over one of the busiest courts in the state. He brings to the job four terms of experience in the Texas House of Representatives where he authored over sixty pieces of legislation and was Chairman of Harris County’s Legislative Delegation. Prior to assuming the bench, Judge Patronella was a civil attorney in private practice. He has also completed two terms as chairman of the Justice of the Peace Section for the State Bar of Texas.
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General discussion of this weeks campaign events, including City Council Inaugeration, Iowa Caucus, and New Hampshire Primary.
Update on Harris Co Primary events and candidates.
Special Guest Speaker: Diane Trautman (running against Republican Paul Bettencourt)
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01.10.08
Posted in Events, GHDC Blog at 1:14 am by M Beauregard
County Executive Committee Meeting ( Precinct Chairs Meeting)
| Date: |
Thursday January 10, 2008 |
| Time: |
6:30 pm - 8:30 pm |
| Location: |
Harris County Jury Assembly Room, 1019 Congress (Downtown Houston) |
The Harris County Democratic Party will be holding a County Executive Meeting (or Meeting of Precinct Chairs), Thursday, January 10th, 6:30 pm at the Harris County Jury Assembly Room, 1019 Congress (Downtown Houston). The drawing for ballot position on the Primary Election ballot will be conducted together with other important Party business. For more info contact j.smith@hcdp.org.
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01.09.08
Posted in Events, GHDC Blog at 1:13 am by M Beauregard
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Harold Landreneau New Year Campaign Fundraiser & Party
| Date: |
Wednesday January 9, 2008 |
| Time: |
6:00 pm - 8:00 pm |
| Type: |
Appointment (Public) |
| Location: |
Carter & Cooley Delicatessen 375 West 19th Street Houston, Texas 77008 |
| Please join the friends, family and supporters of former Precinct Chair of Pct. 59, Harold J. Landreneau, candidate for Harris County Justice of the Peace Precinct 1, Place 1, on Wednesday January 9, 2008, for a New Year Campaign Fundraiser & Party. It will be held at Carter & Cooley Delicatessen at 375 W. 19th Street (at the corner of 19th and Ashland Streets) in the Historic Houston Heights from 6:00pm - 8:00pm.
Please RSVP by Monday, January 7, 2008, to harold@HJLforJudge.com or 281-312-9452.
Hope to see you there. |
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01.08.08
Posted in Events, GHDC Blog at 1:11 am by M Beauregard
HCDP Brown Bag Lunch
| Date: |
Tuesday January 8, 2008 |
| Time: |
12:00 pm - 1:00 pm |
| Repeat: |
This event repeats every month on the second Tuesday. |
| Location: |
HCDP Offices, 1445 North Loop West, #110 (exit Ella Blvd. southside of 610, free parking in garage at rear)
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Several local folks went to Iowa to help the campaigns, so hear the outcomes first-hand from our people who were on site (and I’m sure freezing their ____ TOO!!!
On Tuesday, January 8, 2008, the Harris County Democratic Party will hold what promises to be a super Brown Bag Lunch: Three of our local Democrats who have spent the holiday season in Iowa stumping for their favorite Democratic presidential candidates (one for Clinton, one for Obama, and one for Edwards) will be back in Houston and give us a first hand report on what went on there..
Learn how Clinton, Obama, or Edwards scored a win on January 1 from folks who were actually on the ground there at the time, what those results mean for the remainder of the primary/caucus season, what it was really like out there in the first-in-the-nation presidential caucus campaigns, what real grassroots organizing is all about, and everything else you always wanted to know about the Iowa caucuses but didn’t know who to ask.
Tuesday, January 8 – the same day as the New Hampshire, first in the nation primary election – 12:00 noon – Harris County Democratic Party headquarters, 1445 N. Loop W., Suite 110 (IH 610 @ Ella Blvd., just east of the IBEW hall). See you there.
Brown Bag Lunch is a monthly event of the
Bring your lunch, we provide the soft drinks.
Contact HCDP at 713-802-0085 or hcdp@hcdp.org for further information.
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01.06.08
Posted in Events, GHDC Blog at 1:09 am by M Beauregard
Rosca de Reyes/Three Kings Celebration
| Date: |
Sunday January 6, 2008 |
| Time: |
2:00 pm - 5:00 pm |
| Location: |
204 Graceland at Fulton St, home of State Rep. Jessica Farrar and Marco Sanchez |
for an Epiphany Celebration of Dia de los Reyes. Enjoy traditional dishes and drinks while in good company of friends and family.
Please RSVP to marisol181@gmail.com
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01.01.08
Posted in Events, GHDC Blog at 1:54 am by M Beauregard
George Lakoff Thursday, Feb. 28, 7:30 pm Wortham Center, Cullen Theater
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 Print tickets from your computer
For phone purchases,
call 832-251-0706,
9 to 9 seven days a week. For assistance with buying tickets online, call the help desk at 888-695-0888.
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George Lakoff, a world renowned pioneer in lingiustics and cognitive science, is co-founder of the Rockridge Institute and a professor at the University of California at Berkeley. He’s probably best known in political circles for his book,
Don’t Think of An Elephant: Know Your Values and Frame the Debate: The Essential Guide for Progressives (2004).
He’s lectured at hundreds of seminars for Democratic congressional groups, think tanks, pollsters, and ad agencies.
Event Sponsors:
Melanie Gray and Mark Wawro.
Val Perkins
Program at 7:30 p.m. in the Wortham Center, Cullen Theater, 501 Texas Avenue. Parking is available under the Wortham, entrances on Texas Avenue or Prairie Street. / Private patron reception with the speaker at 6:15 in the green room. / Book signing after the program in the grand foyer. Books will be on sale throughout the evening by Brazos Bookstore / A limited number of patron seats at $109 and $114 include private patron reception with the speaker, an autographed book, commemorative bookplate, and center-front seating.
Regular tickets from $14 to $54. Discounts of 10% are available at all price levels except patron for students; educators including teachers and administrators at all levels; seniors 65 and older; and groups of 10 or more; valid ID required at the door. Tickets are available at the door on event night. Prior to event night, there are no tickets sold at the Wortham box office, or any other physical box office. Tickets are sold only through this website, our email blasts, and by phone. Tickets are sold by independent box office, ClicknPrint, if you are having trouble with your tickets, first call the ClicknPrint help number at 832-251-0706, then The Progressive Forum at 713-664-0020, or email us. / For the hearing impaired, free headsets are available from the ushers.
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Posted in Events, GHDC Blog at 1:51 am by M Beauregard
Elizabeth Edwards
Wednesday, May 21 at 7:30
Wortham Center, Cullen Theater
A breast cancer survivor, Elizabeth Edwards talks openly about overcoming life obstacles in a nonpolitical event. Wife of Presidential hopeful, John Edwards, she is the author of Saving Graces[Questions for Elizabeth Edwards] (2007). She’s an accomplished attorney, law school professor, and a passionate advocate for children. She’s the proud mother of four children, the first of whom, Wade Edwards, died in 1996. In his memory, she and John established the Wade Edwards Foundation which provides scholarships.
Program at 7:30 p.m. in the Wortham Center, Cullen Theater, 501 Texas Avenue. Parking is available under the Wortham, entrances on Texas Avenue or Prairie Street. / Private patron reception with the speaker at 6:45 in the green room, a half hour later than usual. / There will be no book signing after the program in the grand foyer. Books will be on sale throughout the evening by Brazos Bookstore. / A limited number of patron seats at $144 to $149 includes private patron reception with the speaker, an autographed book, commemorative bookplate, and center-front seating. Regular tickets from $14 to $54. Discounts of 10% are available at all nonsubscription price levels except patron for students; educators including teachers and administrators at all levels; seniors 65 and older; and groups of 10 or more; valid ID required at the door. Tickets are available at the door on event night. Prior to event night, there are no tickets sold at the Wortham box office, or any other physical box office. Tickets are sold only through this website, our email blasts, and by phone. Tickets are sold by independent box office, ClicknPrint, if you are having trouble with your tickets, first call the ClicknPrint help number at 832-251-0706, then The Progressive Forum at 713-664-0020, or email us. / For the hearing impaired, free headsets are available from the ushers.
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Posted in Events, GHDC Blog at 1:50 am by M Beauregard
Bill McKibben
Monday, April 28 at 7:30
Wortham Center, Cullen Theater
Bill McKibben is one of the most important writers on business and the environment. He’s author of the environmental classic, End of Nature. He created a national movement called Step it Up 2007, resulting in a day of hundreds of rallies in all fifty states for climate stability on Nov. 3. His most recent book is Deep Economy: The Wealth of Communities and the Durable Future (2007). [Questions for Bill McKibben]
Event Sponsor: Terry Hershey
Program at 7:30 p.m. in the Wortham Center, Cullen Theater, 501 Texas Avenue. Parking is available under the Wortham, entrances on Texas Avenue or Prairie Street. / Private patron reception with the speaker at 6:15 in the green room. / Book signing after the program in the grand foyer. Books will be on sale throughout the evening by Brazos Bookstore. / A limited number of patron seats at $109 and $114 includes private patron reception with the speaker, an autographed book, commemorative bookplate, and center-front seating. Regular tickets from $14 to $54. Discounts of 10% are available at all price levels except patron for students; educators including teachers and administrators at all levels; seniors 65 and older; and groups of 10 or more; valid ID required at the door. Tickets are available at the door on event night. Prior to event night, there are no tickets sold at the Wortham box office, or any other physical box office. Tickets are sold only through this website, our email blasts, and by phone. Tickets are sold by independent box office, ClicknPrint, if you are having trouble with your tickets, first call the ClicknPrint help number at 832-251-0706, then The Progressive Forum at 713-664-0020, or email us. / For the hearing impaired, free headsets are available from the ushers.
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