Page 4A • Saturday, October 5, 2019 • The Leader
NNO, from P. 1A
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want to make it a better place.” Hoge said the lodge invited the constable’s office, Houston Police Department, Houston Fire Department and the Heights’ two Harris County Commissioners, Jack Cagle and Rodney Ellis. During the first hour of Tuesday’s event, about 15 members of Rosen’s office were in attendance to mingle with community members and share a meal with them. Rosen, who visited multiple National Night Out events, said visiting with citizens is his “favorite thing to do.” He said he requires his patrolling deputies to stop and talk to community members at least twice per hour during their shifts, with the idea of building relationships and promoting cooperation. Sgt. Ken Wenzel, who joined the constable’s office after spending more than 25 years with HPD, said he’s experienced instances in which engaged community members provided leads and helped officers solve crimes. “I think it’s got a great impact on the safety of the community,” Wenzel said of National Night Out. “It’s people getting to talk to people and realizing that we’re not just some dark blue uniform in a car. We’re real-life people.” Rosen said it’s difficult for law enforcement to address problems in a community without input and cooperation from residents. So he encouraged members of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows to reach out and tell him how his office could better serve the Heights, which he called the “coolest neighborhood.” He also said initiatives such as National Night Out should be regular occurrences and not just once per year. “We cannot be everywhere. We can’t do everything,” Rosen said. “We need the public’s help to solve crimes. We need the public’s help to solve issues in neighborhoods, and working collaboratively to make that happen is the most important thing.”
Cohen said. Padilla said the Supreme Court mural was designed by a different artist. But after that artist became unavailable, UP Art Studio – which coordinated the mural project – gave the job to Padilla. “I basically followed through with (the artist’s) plan of painting all of the female Supreme Court Justices, seated on a blue couch,” Padilla said. “Because only one side of the box isn’t hidden by the bushes, all of the attention is on the front side.” While Padilla usually freehands her art, she used a grid process this time because the mini mural contains four different portraits. “Having a grid on a photograph and on the surface to be painted, takes all of the guess work out of it,” she said. “I’m able to draw the facial features in the accurate place.” Padilla worked alone and
in the afternoons when she got off work. She completed the mural before Tropical Storm Imelda caused flooding in the area. “I think the box took me a little over a week,” Padilla said. “I didn’t have too many daylight hours left after work, so I had to work quickly.” Because she worked in such a high-traffic area, Padilla got a lot of attention while the mural was in process. “I had so many people offer encouragement and kind words,” she said. “I was told it was great to have some artwork to make people’s drive home more interesting. Some of the middle school students enjoyed watching me paint on their walk home, too.” Other murals Padilla has recently completed are the River Oaks Chamber Orchestra mini mural located at Westheimer Road and Drexel Drive as well as a portrait of Lady Bird John-
son that is located at South Braeswood Boulevard and South Rice Avenue. “Artist Charlotte Blanford painted the background,” Padilla said. “I also painted the mini mural located at T.C. Jester and West Little York (Road).” Soon Padilla will begin another mural near White Oak Bayou at Antoine Drive at West Little York, featuring the bayou and bike trails in Houston.
Imelda last month. Ellis also said the time is now to increase property taxes, because starting next year, a law passed by the Texas Legislature will limit city and county revenue growth to 3.5 percent from year to year, down from a previous cap of 8 percent. “Commissioners Court is making up for lost time and decades of neglect,” Ellis said. “If we don’t take action now to make sure we can fairly invest in things like health care, flood control, public safety and environmental protection, it will be more difficult to do once the anti-local control bill goes into effect.” Cagle, whose home flooded during Harvey, said in a voicemail that it would be unfair to ask more from taxpayers at a time when appraisal values are increasing and many are still burdened by the cost of flood recovery. He also said the Democratcontrolled commissioners court wants to replenish the county’s reserve fund after spending it unwisely. Stinebaker said expected increases in appraisal values will result in more tax revenue for the county, even without a rate increase. He said Cagle also opposes the proposed increase because it has not been vetted enough by the community. Public hearings about the rate increase were held Sept. 20 and Sept. 24. The final hearing is slated for Oct. 8 before the final
school year were categorized as economically disadvantaged. Fewer than half of this year’s Blue Ribbon recipients have student populations that are at least 40 percent disadvantaged, and only 23 percent of the recipients are campuses in large cities or urban areas. “Our campus could not
vote. “I feel that our priorities perhaps have been a little bit misaligned,” Cagle said. “And for us to now come back and ask for an increase, on top of the increase of the appraisals, for a tax rate hike to the maximum allowable, this is not the right time to do it. “I believe the average homeowner in our county feels the same way,” he added. Ultimately, whether to increase the tax rate will be decided by the county commissioners. And the Democrats in favor of it hold a majority. The Republicans still hold power, though, because they can hold off a vote by not showing up Tuesday. If that happens, and a quorum does not meet the Oct. 11 deadline to set county tax rates, Stinebaker said the county would revert to the effective tax rate, which is about 3 percent lower than the current tax rate. “I’d be deeply concerned for Harris County’s future if that were to happen – it would continue the pattern of neglect we’re trying to interrupt,” Ellis said. “Whoever chooses to not show up for the people of Harris County needs to be prepared to take responsibility for the grave consequences that can come with reducing funding for core services like flood control, health care, public safety, roads and other services people rely on in their daily lives.”
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FREE DOZEN DONUT HOLES Photo from Facebook Shown here is the broken front door to Hartz Krispy Chicken on Pinemont Drive, which was burglarized early Wednesday.
Junior’s Produce closing at Houston Farmers Market
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HAVE YOU HAD THE BEST LATELY? - ATTENTION -
Baylor College of Medicine
By Adam Zuvanich azuvanich@theleadernews.com
Less than a year after the closure of an iconic produce stand at the Houston Farmers Market, its successor is leaving as well. Owner Junior Saldana said Wednesday that Junior’s Produce, which in February replaced Canino Produce at 2520 Airline Dr., planned to close Thursday and reopen at a yet-to-be determined location. Saldana said he could not afford to pay rent admidst dwindling sales during the last two months, which he attributed to ongoing construction at the Heights farmers market. Saldana said parking for his produce business, situated at the front of the market, has been limited and made his store less accessible. “It’s too chaotic there at the market with all the construction going on,” he said. “We’re just trying to get our customers back and to another location.” MLB Capital Partners, which purchased the 18-acre market in 2017, broke ground in early August on a major renovation project at the 77-year-old community staple. Managing principal Todd Mason said at the time that the developer wanted to maintain the market’s affordability, Hispanic culture and historic charm while modernizing its amenities, increasing its offerings and adding chef-driven restaurant concepts. Mason has enlisted award-winning chef Chris Shepherd to help revitalize the market. Mason said in August that the renovation project, which he estimated will cost at least $35 million, was expected to be com-
have earned this distinction without the support of the district, our staff and the community,” Hendrickson said in a statement released by HISD. “Receiving this award exemplifies our belief that if you give students proper opportunities to succeed, they will achieve great things.”
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Hartz Krispy Chicken burglarized Whoever broke into Hartz Krispy Chicken on Pinemont made out with nothing more than some old chicken. Owner Naro Mak said the company’s alarm system alerted him of a burglary shortly before 2 a.m. Wednesday. The restaurant at Ella Boulevard and Pinemont Drive had its glass front door smashed. According to Mak, all the burglar found was some old chicken in the trash as the restaurant does not keep money on the premises overnight. “Whomever it was, I hope you find peace,” Mak wrote on Facebook. “I am not mad at you, I really hope you find peace, ‘cause all you found here was chicken.” Having already paid $275 to have the door fixed, Mak said no other action is necessary. He asked the community to pray for whoever was involved in the incident. “If they can pray for that individual, that’ll be more help than anything,” he said.
“I’m super grateful for the opportunity UP Art Studio has given me to put more art out there,” Padilla said. “The last time I was interviewed, I had just completed my first mini mural and was still figuring out how to get things done efficiently. I have accomplished so much since then and will be having my first solo art show at the University of Houston Clear Lake on Oct. 17.”
Field, from P. 1A
Taxes, from P. 1A “We are declining to answer that,” said Joe Stinebaker, Cagle’s director of communications. “Let’s just say he is well aware of all the state laws pertaining to these tax increases, but he is not prepared to divulge his strategy.” Voting along party lines at the Sept. 10 meeting, Ellis, Garcia and Hidalgo proposed to increase the county’s overall property tax rate by 2.262 cents per $100 in assessed value, a bump of 3.59 percent compared to the 2018 rate of 62.998 cents per $100 valuation. The proposed rate for 2019 is 65.260 cents per $100 valuation. According to Stinebaker, and factoring in the 20 percent homestead exemption, the proposed increase would raise the annual tax bill by $54.29 for a home valued at $300,000. County property taxes go toward the county itself, the Harris County Flood Control District, the Harris Health System and the Port of Houston. The overall proposed increase would come with a rate increase for each entity except the Port of Houston. Ellis, the Precinct 1 commissioner who also represents part of the area, said in an email that the need for increased tax revenue “is great across the board” because of the county’s continued growth as well as widespread flooding caused by Hurricane Harvey in 2017 and Tropical Storm
Photo by Betsy Denson Shown is a mural including retired Supreme Court Justice Sandra Day O’Connor and current Justices Sonia Sotomayor, Ruth Bader Ginsburg and Elena Kagan on a utility box on Heights Boulevard.
If you currently participate in the Baylor College of Medicine Retirement Plan or the Baylor College of Medicine 403(b) Plan, we would like to speak with you about our investigation of fees and investment options in those Plans. Contributed photo Junior’s Produce, which opened in February at 2520 Airline Dr., planned to close Thursday.
pleted by the end of 2020. Mason said the market, which has more than 80 vendors, would remain open during construction. “While we cannot comment on the state of Junior’s business or the terms of his lease, many of our tenants continue to thrive and have expressed interest in growing their presence at the market,” Mason said in an emailed statement Wednesday. Saldana thanked Mason for giving him the opportunity to operate at the market, where Canino Produce was in business for 60 years, and for supporting him during his eight-month tenure. He also said he plans to reopen the business, although he didn’t know exactly when or where on Wednesday. “I want to continue this,” he said. “I love doing it and working with the farms.”
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