The Leader • Saturday, January 18, 2020 • Page 1B
Steep into the world of tea Zarah Parker Managing Editor
Tea has been a hot commodity for centuries and has been popularized by different cultures throughout time. It’s also long been believed that drinking tea offers health benefits other drinks do not. While science has flip-flopped over whether coffee is good for you or not, Jessica Boyd, founder and CEO of Tea Sip, a Heights shop with a mission to make tea approachable, says tea is a better alternative to coffee. “Tea also gives you a more calming awakeness for those looking to move away from the coffee jitters,” Boyd said. She also mentioned that caffeine-free tisanes, herbal infusions, were popular options for people cutting out caffeine and that they come with a variety of health benefits depending on the herb. All true teas are also packed full of antioxidants, which are substances that can prevent or slow damage to cells caused by unstable molecules. Green tea is most often associated with antioxidants, but white tea contains more. Coffee also contains antioxidants, just a much lower amount than white tea. According to a study published in the European Journal of Preventive Cardiology, people who drink tea at least three times a week have a higher chance of living longer and have a lower risk of cardiovascular disease. “We believe all tea is good for you, so we encour-
age new tea drinkers to find something they love,” Boyd said. “The more you enjoy drinking your tea, the more you will drink it, and the more you will enjoy the health benefits.” At Tea Sip, 321 W. 19th St., the teas are blended primarily on flavor and not necessarily on specific health benefits. However, Boyd recommends Tea Sip’s Soothe Tisane for a sore throat. What some people may not realize about the six types of tea -- white, green, oolong, black, dark and yel-
low -- is that they all come from the same plant. The difference in the teas is how the leaves are processed. Oxidation also plays a large part in distinguishing the different categories. “There are several different steps a tea can go through (and) not all teas go through all steps -- plucking, withering, rolling, oxidation, firing, sorting, sweltering, fermentation,” Boyd said. “Outside these six different tea categories, you also have tisanes, or herbal infusions, which can be caffeinated or
Americans consumed more than 3.8 billion gallons of tea in 2018
About 84 percent of all tea consumed was black tea, 15 percent was green tea and 1 percent was oolong, white or dark tea
Approximately 75-80 percent of all tea consumed was iced Source:
teausa.com
REVIEW:
Tropics meet tea at Teaspresso by Zarah Parker zarah@theleadernews.com
The shelves stuffed with various board games was an invitation to stay and enjoy a just-brewed tea at Teaspresso Bar in the Heights. I thought it was a nice touch because most similar tea concepts have a grab-and-go vibe. The space at Teapresso also had plenty of seating, including two hanging wicker egg chairs paired with comfy cushions, that added to the inviting atmosphere. When it comes to iced tea, I’m a sucker for sweet. Under the signature tea menu options is the Tropic Osmanthus, which was a perfect fit for my sweet tooth. It also happens to be the second-most popular drink at Teaspresso. While there is the option to change the sweetness of any drink on the menu, I kept mine at the regular level. The Tropic Osmanthus is osmanthus tea with guava and lychee. I could have added boba or other add-ons, but the cashier suggested I go without for this drink option. Guava fruit is something I can really only describe by
Photo by Zarah Parker Shown here is the Tropic Osmanthus at Teaspresso Bar.
comparing it to other fruit. Its flavor is a combination of different fruits, like strawberry, pear and maybe a hint of mango. Lychee reminds me of grapes but with a subtle floral aftertaste. Guava and lychee both make this a very fruity, tropical drink that I can see myself enjoying many times in the future. I also sampled the Mango Kumquat Green Tea and the Trespresso Milk Tea. The first is a blend of the fruity mango with citrus,
which hid the typical bitterness of green tea. It’s pretty much purely mango in taste. The milk tea is Teaspresso’s top drink and is made with non-dairy creamer with assam tea and hajicha tea. The menu at Teaspresso has a little bit of everything, since it serves both tea and coffee. There’s even a selection of smoothies. The menu also boasts of non-powder, non-GMO, gluten-free and vegan options. For 25 percent off all beverages, you can visit the tea bar during its happy hour from 5–8 p.m. Monday–Thursday. The Hawaii-based tea bar will probably see me often. I’m glad the Heights was the first to get this concept on the mainland United states. Teaspresso Bar Address: 718 W 18th St. Hours: 10 a.m.–10 p.m. Monday–Thursday, 10 a.m.–11 p.m. Friday–Saturday, 9 a.m.– 10 p.m. Sunday Pricing: $2.99-$5.59 Kid-friendly: Yes Alcohol: No Healthy options: Yes Star of the show: Tropic Osmanthus
Take tea while making conversation at Alice Blue By Zarah Parker zarah@theleadernews.com
There’s nothing like taking time in the middle of your day to push pause and have tea. Done thoughtfully, it’s like a reset button that gets the mind ready for the rest of the day. This is the realization I came to when I recently took part in a tea service at Alice Blue, 250 W. 19th St. It involves much more than simply steeping tea, including delicious snacks, and I appreciated how peaceful it was to take that time to sip tea. What I loved more than anything is that it was the perfect setting to catch up with someone. Lunch and dinner meetings tend to be quicker and there’s more time with food stuffed in my mouth. I was joined at the tea service by my sister-in-law, who has young children, including
caffeine free.” There’s various ways to prepare tea and different cultures do it differently. The western way is one hot steep for a few minutes, plus iced tea. Cold brewing, nitro and kombucha have also become popular in America. “Chai wallahs in India make spiced milk teas, which have also become quite popular in the U.S., and Morocco loves strong mint teas,” Boyd said. “China, the birthplace of tea and the only place where every tea type is made, has developed
an infant. I see her at least twice a week, yet that time at tea allowed us to have a much more in-depth conversation than when we had lunch together. Aside from good conversation, the experience of the tea service was all around a fun time. We each chose one of six teas, all of which are curated from Tea Sip, 321 W. 19th St. The server gave us insight into each tea selection and even played along when my sisterin-law jokingly asked him to tell us “snobby” facts about the teas. The server explained how the spiced peaches blend was made with peaches that were dried on the trees in South America. He said this so seriously that I wanted to believe him before I realized how ridiculous it sounded. Point is, I
think it’s great when servers aren’t afraid to be humorous. I ended up choosing the spiced peaches blended black tea, which was described as a southern classic with hints of ginger, cinnamon, clove and allspice. My sister-in-law chose the chai masala blended black tea, which featured cinnamon, ginger, aromatic clove and cardamom. A cute little glass bottle of honey was set on the table along with glasses of creamer. I usually drink tea with nothing added, but decided to pour some honey in with a splash of creamer. The honey gave it a sweet tinge, while the creamer gave it a milky layer that didn’t dilute the peach. The various tea snacks were small, but with so many, I was glad that I arrived hungry. The snacks included tomaSee Tea P. 2B
a variety of ways to make tea throughout the ages.” Boyd added that every tea drinker has their own individual ways and rituals around tea making and drinking, and that there’s no wrong way as long as the sipper loves it. For new “sipsters,” as
Boyd calls people new to the wide world of tea, she recommends smelling different teas to narrow down what smells good to them, and then testing it out before buying it just to make sure the drinker will love it steeped in a cup.
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Page 2B • Saturday, January 18, 2020 • The Leader
FOOD BRIEFS:
New patio bar headed to Heights By Zarah Parker zarah@theleadernews.com
In a woodsy area overlooking White Oak Bayou, the plan is for Patterson Park to be a kitchen-less bar modeled after an ice house concept. With indoor and outdoor space, the bar will focus on beverages and have food trucks outside. The bar will boast of bartender-curated drinks along with a classic selection. One of those curated drinks is the RDG Margarita, an authentic margarita created by James Beard Award-winning chef Robert Del Grande. There will also be six specialty taps with organic wines, sparkling cocktails and nitro brew coffee on tap. At the helm of the project is Lonnie Schiller, managing partner of Schiller Del Grande Restaurant Group and owner of The Grove at Discovery Green. To be located at 2205 Patterson St., Patterson Park will be a 4,000-square foot building featuring skylights, large garage doors and a 5,000-square foot deck. The concept is seeking investors through NextSeed, a crowd-sourcing platform, and has raised $158,000 of its $350,000 goal.
Contributed photo Patterson Park is laying groundwork for operation in the Heights.
Beachy bar now open The Heights gained a new bar this week as Drift opened its doors at 1207 W. 20th St. Described on its website as a local taste of paradise serving good vibrations and chill libations, Drift is offering up classic beach cocktails. The bar also features weekly rotating food trucks for hungry customers. Mutiny’s grand opening Mutiny Wine Room, 1124 Usener St., is a wine bar with Napa Valley ties that will have its grand opening on Saturday, Jan. 18 in the Heights. The wine room will feature bottles from boutique and small wineries. The small wineries will produce between 500-5,000 cases of each wine per year. The space has a vineyard
barn vibe, which was created by Mark Atkins of MASA Studio Architects, and includes exposed beams, reclaimed wood and an open patio. Mutiny Wine Room will serve wine as well as a winefriendly menu and have retail wine available for purchase. Monthly BBQ series at Superica Superica, 1801 N. Shepherd Dr., is teaming up with local barbeque hot spots to launch Texas Ta”que”ro, a monthly barbecue-focused series. The restaurant will host pit masters from Roegels BBQ on Jan. 22, Truth BBQ on Feb. 26 and Blood Bros BBQ on March 25. They will create a taco to be featured on the Superica menu. Each day of the series, 150 tacos will be prepared and will be available for $4 each.
Tea, from P. 1B to butter sandwiches, shrimp sandwiches, beef and horseradish sandwiches, chicken salad, deviled eggs, assorted breads with butter, French onion dip and a type of lemon jelly. The dessert portion included blueberry muffins, lemon madeleines and chocolate cake, all sprinkled with powdered sugar. My favorite options were the beef and horseradish sandwich and the chocolate cake. The atmosphere inside Alice Blue also made the time taking tea a comfortable one. It’s not exactly high tea, but it’s a nice introduction to having a specific time set aside to enjoy the popular drink. Tea service at Alice Blue is available only on weekdays from 2–5 p.m., and you must make a reservation at least 24 hours in advance.
Aladdin
is open in your neighborhood! Stop in for: • Kabobs • Salads • Hummus • Lamb Shanks • Fresh Juices • Baklava B.Y.O.B. Service available with no corking fee
Teachers receive 10% discount during lunch M-F
Online ordering at
aladdinshouston.com Located at Ella & 34th 1737 W 34th St
713-681-6257
The Leader • Saturday, January 18, 2020 • Page 3B
Resolving to camp more in 2020? MHGH earns national Should you take your dog along? heart care recognition
Dear Tabby, We are planning to do some camping this winter with our dog. What should we consider before taking the dog camping with us? Craving a Campfire in The Heights Dear Craving a Campfire, While camping with your furry friends can be fun, it’s not without some risk and better enjoyed if you’ve prepared well. Our friends at Texas A&M College of Veterinary Medicine have some advice on making the most out of camping with your canine.
well. Some items you’ll need to bring are plenty of food, a pet first-aid kit, a harness and a leash. Even if the campsite has natural water resources, such as streams or lakes, you must still bring plenty of water for your pet to drink throughout your stay. “Your pets will want to drink out of any pond and lake in sight, but there are many different diseases they can catch by doing that,” Stickney said. “So you don’t want that to be their primary source of water.” Keep your pet close to camp and on leash Coming into contact with
wild animals is a definite risk when you are out in a national forest or grassland. Although most of the wildlife you run into want to keep away from you as well, you should have a way of containing your pet just in case. “If your pet does get into a tussle with a wild animal, you do not want to get into the middle of it,” Stickney said. “There is a very good chance you will be bitten or harmed.” Your best method of action is calling off your pet or to try scaring away the wild animal. In order to prevent such situations in the first place, it is a good idea to keep your pets
close to you throughout your camping expedition and to have a leash or harness available at all times. Before setting off on your camping adventure, make sure your pets are up-to-date on all of their vaccinations, especially rabies. Depending on the campsite’s location, you may consult with your veterinarian about any other vaccinations that your pet may need as well as discuss appropriate flea and tick control.
From Staff Reports Memorial Hermann Greater Heights Hospital recently received recognition for its dedication to patient care. The area hospital, located at 1635 N Loop W, announced last week that it had earned accreditation as a Center of Excellence in Vascular and Endovascular Surgery by the Surgical Review Corporation (SRC) for advancing heart and vascular health and patient safety. In order to earn the accreditation, MHGH underwent a top-to-bottom on-site evaluation by an independent inspector. SRC also recognized vascular surgeon Dr. Kourosh Keyhani as an accredited Surgeon of Excellence for his expertise in vascular surgery.
Do you have a question for Tabby? If so, email her at dear tabbyquestions@gmail.com.
Pet of the Week
“We are thrilled to be recognized by SRC,” Memorial Hermann Greater Heights Hospital CEO Paul O’Sullivan said in a statement. “I am extremely proud of our exceptional medical team who made this accreditation possible. We are here to improve the health of our community by enhancing our high level of quality care.”
Dog Rabies Vaccination
Make sure campground allows pets First of all, make sure that you choose a campground that will work for you and your dog. “Many campgrounds allow pets, with certain rules and regulations,” said Dr. Mark Stickney, clinical associate professor at the Texas A&M College of Veterinary Medicine & Biomedical Sciences. Often, the rules regarding pets can be seen posted on their website or answered over the phone. “Most rules will include things such as having your pet on a leash, making sure they are supervised at all times and requiring proof of vaccinations,” Stickney said. “Even if they don’t require health records or vaccination certificates, it’s a good idea to bring them along just in case.”
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Pack essentials for your pup Just as you need to pack food and other essentials for yourself, don’t forget to pack necessities for your pets as
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THE PUBLIC. The Leader • Saturday, January 18, 2020 • Page 4B
County launches reporting system aimed at accountability By Adam Zuvanich azuvanich@theleadernews.com
Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo has received her share of criticism since unseating Ed Emmett in the 2018 election. There have been critiques about her age, political experience and even her use of the Spanish language while addressing some of her constituents. The 28-year-old Colombia native – the first woman and first Latina to be elected as the county’s top executive – does not shy away from it. She welcomes feedback and even is soliciting it. Hidalgo announced last week that Harris County has launched an anonymous reporting system aimed at holding it accountable. Citizens, along with the county’s 20,000 or so employees, are encouraged to report suspected instances of fraud, abuse or wasteful spending in county government through a telephone hotline or the county website. If Harris County residents want to tell Hidalgo how she can do a better job, that’s OK, too. “We welcome it,” she said. “Part of what we’ve done this past year is what we’re trying to call co-governance. It’s not making policy without consulting folks that are most affected.” Suspicious activity such as forgery and excessive or improper use of county assets can be reported by phone at 866-556-8181 or through an online form at harriscountytx.gov. The hotline will be available in English, Spanish, Mandarin and Vietnamese and managed by a third party to ensure confidentiality. The Harris County Auditor’s Office will review tips within 72 hours. Credible cases will be reviewed by the
Hidalgo
auditor’s office, referred to the appropriate internal division or escalated to the Harris County Attorney’s Office. Hidalgo said the idea for the reporting system, which cost about $30,000 to launch and will cost about $30,000 annually to operate, came from the auditor’s office and was not in response to a particular incident. The Houston Chronicle reported that the county was nearly defrauded for $888,000 in 2017, when it initially sent the money to someone who claimed to represent a contractor that had made repairs in the aftermath of Hurricane Harvey. “In recent years, we’ve focused on cybersecurity and heavily scrutinizing and verifying every payment that goes out,” Harris County Auditor Mike Post said in a statement released by the county. “But we recognize the potential for fraud, waste or abuse is significant for a county our size. We want to make sure every employee, vendor and community member is safely empowered to say something if they see something.” Hidalgo said the reporting system is modeled after the one in Los Angeles County, the most populous county in the United States. She said Harris County is the third-
largest, with nearly 5 million people, and conducts more than 10,000 monthly transactions totaling more than $140 million. Launching such a reporting system is a matter of due diligence and bringing the county up to speed with similar governmental agencies, Hidalgo said. It’s also part of her commitment to transparency and being a responsible steward of the county’s resources as she and the four county commissioners oversee an annual operating budget of about $5 billion. Hidalgo said budgeting has become a more extensive process under her watch, and commissioners court meetings have become longer with more involvement from citizens. She has other outreach initiatives in the works, including a 3-1-1 system for county services. “We truly believe that as we develop our programs, we need the input of the community,” Hidalgo said. “To the extent that they’re watching and holding us accountable, we’ll do a better job.”
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Page 2B • Saturday, January 18, 2020 • The Leader
FOOD BRIEFS:
New patio bar headed to Heights By Zarah Parker zarah@theleadernews.com
In a woodsy area overlooking White Oak Bayou, the plan is for Patterson Park to be a kitchen-less bar modeled after an ice house concept. With indoor and outdoor space, the bar will focus on beverages and have food trucks outside. The bar will boast of bartender-curated drinks along with a classic selection. One of those curated drinks is the RDG Margarita, an authentic margarita created by James Beard Award-winning chef Robert Del Grande. There will also be six specialty taps with organic wines, sparkling cocktails and nitro brew coffee on tap. At the helm of the project is Lonnie Schiller, managing partner of Schiller Del Grande Restaurant Group and owner of The Grove at Discovery Green. To be located at 2205 Patterson St., Patterson Park will be a 4,000-square foot building featuring skylights, large garage doors and a 5,000-square foot deck. The concept is seeking investors through NextSeed, a crowd-sourcing platform, and has raised $158,000 of its $350,000 goal.
Contributed photo Patterson Park is laying groundwork for operation in the Heights.
Beachy bar now open The Heights gained a new bar this week as Drift opened its doors at 1207 W. 20th St. Described on its website as a local taste of paradise serving good vibrations and chill libations, Drift is offering up classic beach cocktails. The bar also features weekly rotating food trucks for hungry customers. Mutiny’s grand opening Mutiny Wine Room, 1124 Usener St., is a wine bar with Napa Valley ties that will have its grand opening on Saturday, Jan. 18 in the Heights. The wine room will feature bottles from boutique and small wineries. The small wineries will produce between 500-5,000 cases of each wine per year. The space has a vineyard
barn vibe, which was created by Mark Atkins of MASA Studio Architects, and includes exposed beams, reclaimed wood and an open patio. Mutiny Wine Room will serve wine as well as a winefriendly menu and have retail wine available for purchase. Monthly BBQ series at Superica Superica, 1801 N. Shepherd Dr., is teaming up with local barbeque hot spots to launch Texas Ta”que”ro, a monthly barbecue-focused series. The restaurant will host pit masters from Roegels BBQ on Jan. 22, Truth BBQ on Feb. 26 and Blood Bros BBQ on March 25. They will create a taco to be featured on the Superica menu. Each day of the series, 150 tacos will be prepared and will be available for $4 each.
Tea, from P. 1B to butter sandwiches, shrimp sandwiches, beef and horseradish sandwiches, chicken salad, deviled eggs, assorted breads with butter, French onion dip and a type of lemon jelly. The dessert portion included blueberry muffins, lemon madeleines and chocolate cake, all sprinkled with powdered sugar. My favorite options were the beef and horseradish sandwich and the chocolate cake. The atmosphere inside Alice Blue also made the time taking tea a comfortable one. It’s not exactly high tea, but it’s a nice introduction to having a specific time set aside to enjoy the popular drink. Tea service at Alice Blue is available only on weekdays from 2–5 p.m., and you must make a reservation at least 24 hours in advance.
Aladdin
is open in your neighborhood! Stop in for: • Kabobs • Salads • Hummus • Lamb Shanks • Fresh Juices • Baklava B.Y.O.B. Service available with no corking fee
Teachers receive 10% discount during lunch M-F
Online ordering at
aladdinshouston.com Located at Ella & 34th 1737 W 34th St
713-681-6257
The Leader • Saturday, January 18, 2020 • Page 3B
Resolving to camp more in 2020? MHGH earns national Should you take your dog along? heart care recognition
Dear Tabby, We are planning to do some camping this winter with our dog. What should we consider before taking the dog camping with us? Craving a Campfire in The Heights Dear Craving a Campfire, While camping with your furry friends can be fun, it’s not without some risk and better enjoyed if you’ve prepared well. Our friends at Texas A&M College of Veterinary Medicine have some advice on making the most out of camping with your canine.
well. Some items you’ll need to bring are plenty of food, a pet first-aid kit, a harness and a leash. Even if the campsite has natural water resources, such as streams or lakes, you must still bring plenty of water for your pet to drink throughout your stay. “Your pets will want to drink out of any pond and lake in sight, but there are many different diseases they can catch by doing that,” Stickney said. “So you don’t want that to be their primary source of water.” Keep your pet close to camp and on leash Coming into contact with
wild animals is a definite risk when you are out in a national forest or grassland. Although most of the wildlife you run into want to keep away from you as well, you should have a way of containing your pet just in case. “If your pet does get into a tussle with a wild animal, you do not want to get into the middle of it,” Stickney said. “There is a very good chance you will be bitten or harmed.” Your best method of action is calling off your pet or to try scaring away the wild animal. In order to prevent such situations in the first place, it is a good idea to keep your pets
close to you throughout your camping expedition and to have a leash or harness available at all times. Before setting off on your camping adventure, make sure your pets are up-to-date on all of their vaccinations, especially rabies. Depending on the campsite’s location, you may consult with your veterinarian about any other vaccinations that your pet may need as well as discuss appropriate flea and tick control.
From Staff Reports Memorial Hermann Greater Heights Hospital recently received recognition for its dedication to patient care. The area hospital, located at 1635 N Loop W, announced last week that it had earned accreditation as a Center of Excellence in Vascular and Endovascular Surgery by the Surgical Review Corporation (SRC) for advancing heart and vascular health and patient safety. In order to earn the accreditation, MHGH underwent a top-to-bottom on-site evaluation by an independent inspector. SRC also recognized vascular surgeon Dr. Kourosh Keyhani as an accredited Surgeon of Excellence for his expertise in vascular surgery.
Do you have a question for Tabby? If so, email her at dear tabbyquestions@gmail.com.
Pet of the Week
“We are thrilled to be recognized by SRC,” Memorial Hermann Greater Heights Hospital CEO Paul O’Sullivan said in a statement. “I am extremely proud of our exceptional medical team who made this accreditation possible. We are here to improve the health of our community by enhancing our high level of quality care.”
Dog Rabies Vaccination
Make sure campground allows pets First of all, make sure that you choose a campground that will work for you and your dog. “Many campgrounds allow pets, with certain rules and regulations,” said Dr. Mark Stickney, clinical associate professor at the Texas A&M College of Veterinary Medicine & Biomedical Sciences. Often, the rules regarding pets can be seen posted on their website or answered over the phone. “Most rules will include things such as having your pet on a leash, making sure they are supervised at all times and requiring proof of vaccinations,” Stickney said. “Even if they don’t require health records or vaccination certificates, it’s a good idea to bring them along just in case.”
8
$
75 *
* With Wellness Exam
Call About Cat Vaccines
New Well Puppy & N Kitten Exam
FREE
40
Years
Routine Male Cat Neuters
of quality care for your family pets
$
Meet Carli Much like Mary Poppins, this 2-year-old terrier/Black Mouth Cur mix is “practically perfect in every way!” Carli is about 43 pounds and gets along well with humans and other dogs. She knows commands, is crate trained, social and loves to cuddle. Seriously, though, Carli is the best girl! If you’re looking to add a dog to your family, Carli would fit seamlessly into your home. To learn more, go to www.k-9angelsrescue.org.
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2217 W. 34th St. Suite E 77018 • 713-497-5498 valorbarbershop.com
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WHEN IT COMES TO
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2615 Ella Blvd. @ 27th
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713-868-5232
OPEN Monday - Saturday 8am - 10pm & Sunday 8 am - 4pm
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ESTABLISHED 1936
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3410 Ella Blvd. at 34th St.
(713) 682-4343
THE PUBLIC. The Leader • Saturday, January 18, 2020 • Page 4B
County launches reporting system aimed at accountability By Adam Zuvanich azuvanich@theleadernews.com
Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo has received her share of criticism since unseating Ed Emmett in the 2018 election. There have been critiques about her age, political experience and even her use of the Spanish language while addressing some of her constituents. The 28-year-old Colombia native – the first woman and first Latina to be elected as the county’s top executive – does not shy away from it. She welcomes feedback and even is soliciting it. Hidalgo announced last week that Harris County has launched an anonymous reporting system aimed at holding it accountable. Citizens, along with the county’s 20,000 or so employees, are encouraged to report suspected instances of fraud, abuse or wasteful spending in county government through a telephone hotline or the county website. If Harris County residents want to tell Hidalgo how she can do a better job, that’s OK, too. “We welcome it,” she said. “Part of what we’ve done this past year is what we’re trying to call co-governance. It’s not making policy without consulting folks that are most affected.” Suspicious activity such as forgery and excessive or improper use of county assets can be reported by phone at 866-556-8181 or through an online form at harriscountytx.gov. The hotline will be available in English, Spanish, Mandarin and Vietnamese and managed by a third party to ensure confidentiality. The Harris County Auditor’s Office will review tips within 72 hours. Credible cases will be reviewed by the
Hidalgo
auditor’s office, referred to the appropriate internal division or escalated to the Harris County Attorney’s Office. Hidalgo said the idea for the reporting system, which cost about $30,000 to launch and will cost about $30,000 annually to operate, came from the auditor’s office and was not in response to a particular incident. The Houston Chronicle reported that the county was nearly defrauded for $888,000 in 2017, when it initially sent the money to someone who claimed to represent a contractor that had made repairs in the aftermath of Hurricane Harvey. “In recent years, we’ve focused on cybersecurity and heavily scrutinizing and verifying every payment that goes out,” Harris County Auditor Mike Post said in a statement released by the county. “But we recognize the potential for fraud, waste or abuse is significant for a county our size. We want to make sure every employee, vendor and community member is safely empowered to say something if they see something.” Hidalgo said the reporting system is modeled after the one in Los Angeles County, the most populous county in the United States. She said Harris County is the third-
largest, with nearly 5 million people, and conducts more than 10,000 monthly transactions totaling more than $140 million. Launching such a reporting system is a matter of due diligence and bringing the county up to speed with similar governmental agencies, Hidalgo said. It’s also part of her commitment to transparency and being a responsible steward of the county’s resources as she and the four county commissioners oversee an annual operating budget of about $5 billion. Hidalgo said budgeting has become a more extensive process under her watch, and commissioners court meetings have become longer with more involvement from citizens. She has other outreach initiatives in the works, including a 3-1-1 system for county services. “We truly believe that as we develop our programs, we need the input of the community,” Hidalgo said. “To the extent that they’re watching and holding us accountable, we’ll do a better job.”
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