November 2 Section A

as m t s i r Ch iving!

Inside Today: Voter’s Guide for two city council races • Page 4A

r is Ar Come See

What is New

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Saturday, November 2, 2019 • Vol. 64 • No. 44

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Bike shop thefts part of larger problem

By Betsy Denson betsy@theleadernews.com It is the middle-of-the-night call that no business owner wants to get.

Matt Wurth, the owner of I Cycle Bike Shop at 2040 E. T.C. Jester Blvd., was roused from sleep at 2 a.m. Oct. 23 because the alarm at his bike store was going off. Wurth said he got there three minutes after the police and 10 minutes after two men had gotten away with 11 bi-

cycles Wurth more than $20,000.

“They used a pry bar and bolt cutters to bust the lock,” Wurth said.

Houston Police Department spokesperson Kese Smith said that when police arrived, they found the door open and after a search, no one on the premises.

“The owner did provide security footage,” Smith said. “Two males entered, took (the) bikes and fled.”

Wurth said although the faces of the burglars was obscured on

the video footage, the vehicle they were driving, a 1994 Chevy truck with a fiberglass wrap and pinstripe pattern, was more distinctive. He said he thinks the thieves might be the same men who had come by the shop earlier that week inquiring about the value of the various bikes the store carried.

“We’re looking through the footage,” Wurth said.

According to Wurth, the stoSee Theft P. 10A

On course

Blue Line Bike Lab, at 1504 Yale St., is one of multiple bicycle stores to be burglarized in recent months.

Transit authority’s grand vision for future depends on county voters

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INSIDE.

Photo by Adam Zuvanich General contractor Don Mahaffey of Greenscape Methods supervises the renovation project at Memorial Park Golf Course.

Retooled Memorial Park course set to reopen

By Adam Zuvanich azuvanich@theleadernews.com

Girl power. The women business owners on 19th Street recently celebrated their impact.

Page 1B

Ramen done right. We review JINYA, which makes ramen dishes along with potstickers.

Page 3B

Familiar face. Former TV news anchor Dan Rather visited his alma mater in the Heights.

Page 5A

THE INDEX. Calendar/Church. ............................. 5A Classifieds.............................................. 7A Coupons. ................................................. 6A Food/Drink/Art................................... 3B Obituaries.............................................. 5A Opinion. ................................................... 3A Public Information......................... 9A Puzzles...................................................... 3A

Don Mahaffey has long been a fan of the way the Houston Astros play baseball.

During the last 10 months, he’s come to appreciate the way they do business as well.

Mahaffey, of Texas-based Greenscape Methods, has been the general contractor for the renovation project at Memorial Park Golf Course. The Astros Golf Foundation has spent millions of dollars retooling the 83-year-old public course, with the plan to have it host the PGA Tour’s Houston Open beginning in 2020.

Mahaffey, who said his company has worked on courses all over the United States, was wearing an Astros cap Monday while he and his crew worked on the finishing touches of the course and adjacent practice range, which are scheduled to reopen to the public on Wednesday, Nov. 6. And it wasn’t just because the team was playing in the World Series.

“Of all the projects we’ve ever done, the best ones are always because you have the best clients,” Mahaffey said. “You can have a good architect, you can have good people, you can have enough money and all of that. But when you have good clients, it goes better. And the Astros are a phenomenal client.

“I’m an Astros fan,” he added, “but it’s true.”

The Astros Golf Foundation, which has underwritten the Houston Open since Shell dropped its longtime sponsorship in 2017, pitched a plan to upgrade the popular city-owned course and bring the tournament back inside the city limits for the first time in

The Houston area is growing, and so are its problems with flooding, infrastructure and traffic congestion.

The Metropolitan Transit Authority of Harris County (METRO) wants to help alleviate at least one of those issues, and it’s asking for assistance from the public.

METRO is seeking authority from Harris County voters to issue $3.5 billion in bonds, which it intends to supplement with federal matching grants, to execute its METRONext Moving Forward Plan.

It’s a 20-year vision to expand a range of transit services across the region, including the addition of 16 miles of light rail, two-way high-occupancy vehicle lanes on freeways, new park-and-ride locations and 75 miles of bus rapid transit, which would utilize dedicated bus lanes, platform-level boarding and off-board fare collection.

Early voting ended Friday, and Election Day is Tuesday, Nov. 5.

“It’s a huge deal for the region,” METSee METRO P. 10A

Guide upcoming From Staff Reports

Photo by Adam Zuvanich Construction workers continue preparing Memorial Park Golf Course for its reopening, scheduled for Wednesday, Nov. 6.

nearly 40 years. The Houston City Council approved the plan in early January, and construction began shortly thereafter with world-renowned golf course architect Tom Doak leading the redesign.

An overhaul that typically would take 18 months, according to Mahaffey, has been done in about half that time in order for the course to be ready for a PGA Tour event by next fall. Mahaffey said his crew of up to 60 workers has spent nearly every day on See Golf P. 10A

Northwest Houston, much like the city as a whole, features a wide range of people and places. And there’s plenty of fun things to do both for residents of the area as well as visitors.

There also are important issues and initiatives that are unique to the part of Houston served by The Leader.

We’ll cover all those topics and more in The Guide, our annual publication that serves as a roadmap for the area and helps newcomers acquaint themselves to the community. It will be published Nov. 9.

This year’s edition of The Guide will cover subjects such as infrastructure improvements, healthcare trends, residential and commercial real estate, education, religion, recreation, the area’s bustling food and drink scene and its artwork.

If it’s important to the people of Northwest Houston, it will be in The Guide. So look for it next weekend.

Leader set to unveil book honoring area’s veterans From Staff Reports Over the last several months, residents of the Greater Heights, Oak Forest, Garden Oaks and the surrounding neighborhoods have shuffled through boxes, drawers and attics for photos, documents and medals.

The artifacts are from local veterans who have served in the United States Armed Forces. And they were brought to light as part of a project The Leader has undertaken to remember and honor those who have served.

“Our Veterans” is a hardbound book that features numerous photos and stories about veterans with ties to the area. Copies will be in The Leader office in just a few days.

“The concept for this book began last spring. We felt like there was a treasure of

information in this area and many would be able to contribute photos,” said The Leader’s Robb Reeves, who helped coordinate the project. “They did contribute and we have been able to bring the community a beautiful book that captures patriotism and service to country. We also received support from Allegiance Bank on this project and we have enjoyed a great relationship with them for several years now.”

All of the photos included in this book were submitted by veterans or their family or friends, either by email or in person.

“It’s such a humbling experience to meet some of the veterans who came in with their photos,” said Zarah Parker, editor of the book. “I was able to shake hands with at least See Veterans P. 3A

Contributed photo Zarah Parker promotes The Leader’s upcoming book, “Our Veterans,” at the Thrive Over 55 Senior Expo last month at SPJST Lodge 88 in the Heights.

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Page 2A • Saturday, November 2, 2019 • The Leader

DISTRICT 148

AS YOUR NEXT STATE REPRESENTATIVE

Chris will work tirelessly to: Improve public education for our kids.

Enact common sense gun policy.

Increase access to affordable healthcare.

Ensure equality for all Texans.

Fight to end partisan gerrymandering.

A native Texan, Chris and his wife Susannah have called District 148 home for the past 17 years.

Chris serves on the Houston Leadership Committee for Lambda Legal, an organization committed to achieving full civil rights for the LGBT community through impact litigation, education, and public policy work. Chris has also served on the Board of Children at Risk for the past 5 years, most recently as Chairman of the Board. This service has taken Chris to Austin on multiple occasions to advocate for legislation that improves the lives of Texas women and children. Now it’s time for Chris to put his passion and experience to work in Austin for the residents of District 148.

Election Day is November 5 th Find Polling Locations at Harrisvotes.com WWW. WATTFO RTEXAS .CO M POL. ADV. PAID FOR BY THE CHRIS WATT CAMPAIGN

THE TOPICS. The Leader • Saturday, November 2, 2019 • Page 3A

So far, voters seem worn thin on politics I t’s not often a columnist will admit that everything I’m about to write may be completely wrong.

Then again, who’s really keeping track – this is a newspaper, after all.

My deadline requires I write today what you will read in two or three days from now, which means a lot of things can change. Let’s roll the political dice anyway.

Early voting for this year’s municipal elections started on Oct. 21, and will end Friday, Nov. 1. Based on the numbers from election officials, people aren’t going to the polls like they did four years ago when about 15 candidates sought to fill the seat of departing mayor Annise Parker.

The numbers aren’t staggering, but they are germane. As of Tuesday, early voting and absentee ballots were down from the last mayoral election by 22 percent. What’s more meaningful is the change election officials made to the process of early voting. This year, for the first time, voters can cast ballots at any polling location in Harris County as long as they’re registered to vote.

The fascinating part to the apparent decrease in voting numbers – so far, at least – is the tone and tenor of this year’s campaign, where Sylvester Turner, Tony Buzbee and, more recently, Bill King, have poured millions into advertising campaigns, all of them slinging mud like drunk pigs. You would think, with all that

Jonathan McElvy Publisher

advertising, voters would have more interest in the election. Maybe not.

Consider the amount of money spent on this year’s general municipal election. As of Oct. 28, King has spent a total of $1.3 million on his campaign. Turner, the incumbent, has dropped $4.9 million on re-election efforts. And Buzbee, whose cash flows like a tank down River Oaks Boulevard, had dumped a whopping $8.2 million on his pursuit of the corner office in a self-proclaimed “filthy” building.

Just those three candidates have spent $14.4 million to win your support.

Compare that to the last mayoral election in 2015. In that race, with no incumbent on the ballot, Turner and King found themselves in a runoff, where Turner eventually won by a slim 600-vote margin. In his bid to make the run-off, Turner spent $1.9 million. King, consistent as ever, spent $1.2 million.

If polls are correct, that means the two leading candidates of this year’s mayoral race have spent $13.1 million, where the two leading candidates of the 2015 race spent $3.1 million. If you lost your calculator, it means $10 million more has been spent between two people in this election cycle, which just about makes you want to spew your Shipley’s donut.

Before offering a hypothesis for an apparent disinterest from voters, let me tell you what a professional political observer said.

Dr. Robert Stein, the Lena Gohlman Fox Professor of Political Science at Rice University, happens to be a Heights resident who understands local political trends better than anyone in the city. For his part, Stein said there could be a number of reasons for the decrease in early voter turnout.

For starters, Tropical Storm Imelda shut down two post offices, and mail was severely impacted coming and going from Houston. We may find that a number of absentee ballots come in later than usual, he said.

There’s also a local pro baseball team that apparently has everyone’s interest, according to Stein. Rather than heading to a polling place right after work, a number of voters have likely stopped by the store for a 6-pack and some burgers in order to

Words about the Kurds THE DRY CLEANERS -“No starch on the shirts,” I say to the clerk. She smiles and says, “No scratch from de sheets.” I shake my head. “No, no starch on the shirts.” She nods. I have no idea what will happen to my shirts, although my sheets may come back on hangers and button-downed. This is because I don’t speak Vietnamese. I also have a failure to communicate with TexMex and Chinese waiters, Uber drivers from Algeria and talking on the phone to “LeRoy” in Pakistan who’s trying to fix my computer. Now I must prepare to speak Kurdish. As you know, President Trump is pulling out most U.S. troops from the Kurdish-Turkish border, allowing the Turks to invade the Kurds’ territory. Trump is abandoning them despite the fact that the Kurds have been doing most of the fighting against ISIS. And we promised those allies we would stand by them “as long as the rivers flow and the desert bloom in the spring.”

(Translated from the Kiowa, Comanche and Cleveland Indians.) Of course, today the rivers flow with coal sludge and the desert is blooming with fracking, but it’s the promise that counts.

We know what happens next: Kurds who face torture and death, because they fought alongside the Americans, will come here – along with their immediate families and their cousins, in-laws, next-door neighbors, the guys who translated, drove for us or have a good immigration lawyer. (Texas has more refugees than any other state, and most of them come to Houston.) Then they go through the usual red tape for asylum seekers, giving us the quote, thanks to Miss Muffet: “Kurds and wait.”

Earlier were the Haitians from the poorest country in the Western Hemisphere.

After the devastating 2010 earthquake hit Haiti, the U.S. added Haitians to the Temporary Protected Status designation that allowed them to stay in the U.S. for up to three years. They are still here, although the Trump administration is trying to move them home, with much protestation.

It all began with the Battle of Culloden of 1746, when the English beat the Scots and the losers came to America. Then the FrenchCanadians came after the British beat the French – who hasn’t? Today we call them Cajuns. Through the years immigrants left their teeming shores following defeats. German wars and the military draft sent millions of German refugees to the U.S. in the 1840s and 50s. Today, Texas is loaded with their descendants.

Lynn Ashby Columnist

Texas got lots of Czechs, too, as the Hapsburgs kept going to war. In the 1840s the Irish Potato Famine sent the peasants here. After our own Civil War, thousands of defeated Southerners followed the GTT rule – Gone To Texas. The Yankee invasion began about 1970.

If God hands you a lemon, make a margarita out of it. The Mexican Revolution of 1910 sent numbers of Mexicans to Texas. Both preceding and following World War II we received lots of refugees. Following the rise of Castro, hundreds of thousands of anti-Castro Cubans came to the U.S. and are now a major political force in Florida. And when the Hungarian Revolution of 1956 collapsed, we received many Magyars (that’s “Hungarian” in Hungarian). Behind them were the Serbs and Croatians who stopped fighting each other so they could move here and fight each other.

Newcomers joined us in 1979 when the Shah of Iran was overthrown. The South Vietnamese, defeated by the North Vietnamese, arrived. In more recent times, Texas has hosted refugees from Katrina, perhaps a quarter of a million. One estimate found that 40,000 stayed in Texas, giving us a lot of good half-backs and chefs. We still don’t know how to handle the hundreds of thousands of Central American peasants seeking asylum. Maybe we should be named “America -- land of losers.” But we did say give us your tired, your poor, your huddled masses yearning for a pizza franchise.

As for the Kurds, we need to bone up on them because they may be your next valet parker. “Don’t scratch my Maserati Quattroporte” doesn’t translate. They are an ethnic and language group living in countries like Iraq, Syria, Iran and – currently – anywhere around the region that’s not exploding. Like the FrenchCanadians, Gypsies, Palestinians and Texas Democrats, Kurds don’t have their own country, but for decades they have been trying to establish Kurdistan. This no-country problem means no one knows how many Kurds there are, but estimates run between 25 and 30 million, minus the 14,000 Kurds who were killed fighting ISIS, (which means

there were 14,000 American military who weren’t killed). Over the years, the Kurds’ reputation for military courage and fighting ability has made them in high demand as mercenaries in many armies, but in this case they are fighting for their freedom.

No one else speaks Kurdish but the Kurds, and in Houston they will fit right in. Houstonians speak at least 145 languages at home, according to a new analysis of U.S. Census data. More than a third of Houston residents who are older than 5 speak a language other than English at home. In Harris County, 2.2 million residents speak only English at home while 1.6 million people also speak another language. Of those, 1.3 million residents speak Spanish. We have thousands who speak Vietnamese, Chinese and Indian languages.

and the only option he has is to play good-guy while airing the fallacies of Turner and Buzbee.

This campaign, lacking sorely on debate issues, has been turned into a slew of accusations about briberies and buddies, and it’s everywhere we turn.

Even worse, our municipal campaign season has become nationalized, where the tactics used

by Democrats and Republicans in D.C. have filtered down to the most basic, local and important bodies of government – our own.

We can toss as much blame around as we like, and we should.

Buzbee has absolutely infiltrated our lives with the amount of money he has spent on TV and social media.

Unfortunately for us, he said he’d figure out the issues after he got Turner out of office. Meanwhile, Turner (and maybe rightfully) has turned around and become an equal cohort in the attacks, steering all conversation away from topics that matter.

The worst part of it all, in my opinion, is no matter how many voters end up casting ballots, we’re probably in for another entire month of this in a run-off. And if you think the past 60 days have been ugly, you just wait. We’ll all feel like slimy, if not drunk, pigs.

see Simone Biles flip off a first pitch, which would have been much cooler if she would have flipped with a glove and ball in each hand.

Stein also said there may be an issue with voters losing interest in the mayoral race. For those new to the area, Turner is the first mayor who served a 4-year term. In the past, those races were every two years, which kept people more engaged and local politics top of mind.

For example, Stein said King’s name recognition is particularly weak in two separate surveys – hovering around the 50-percent mark – even though King only lost the last election by 600 votes. That seems odd to me, but I have a hard time arguing with Stein.

I’ll add one more nugget to the conversation, though. If you and I were sitting at a table watching drunk pigs, we’d eventually get tired of the charade, go grab some fried candy bars and play a different carnival game.

In the same way, I have a strong suspicion a whole lot of us (me, admittedly, included) are just about worn thin of this whole mayoral campaign. For every accusation Buzbee makes toward Turner, Turner has an equally effective retort. For every shot Turner takes at Buzbee, Buzbee just drops another million confronting Turner. Meanwhile, King is left fighting for a seat at the table,

More than 15,500 people speak French at home and 8,915 speak German. Just 2,202 Houstonians speak Italian. More than 19,700 speak a variety of African languages at home, but only 445 people speak Afrikaans.

Slightly more people, 460, speak Danish. Just 60 people speak Slovak. The Welsh must feel lonely. Only 25 among us speak Welsh.

So get ready for the next wave of foreign newcomers, and more ethnic restaurants. You want your sheep with or without fleece? Or try our take-out mutton, Ewe-Haul-It. We have Sniper’s Surprise washed down with a Molotov cocktail.

But don’t order the Trump’s Rump Roast Revenge. Oh, and check your sheets for buttons.

Ashby migrates at ashby2@comcast

Email jonathan@mcelvymedia.com

Veterans, from P. 1A one World War II vet and many Korean War vets. The pride they had for their service was evident when they shared with me their stories.”

The photo submissions included men and women who served in the U.S. military from World War I to present time, both in war and in peacetime.

While the book is primarily a pictorial publication, “Our Veterans” includes full stories on select veterans.

One story tells the tale of a boy who got drafted during World War II and fought in the Pacific Theater. Bullets came close to hitting him many times, but he survived and was shipped back home in the winter of 1945.

Another story centers on a Korean War veteran who joined the military at just 16 years old so he could follow in the footsteps of his older brothers who served in World War II. Veterans who did not serve during wartimes also were spotlighted in “Our Veterans.”

“One of my favorite sub-

missions came from a man who went into the service right after the Korean War,” Parker said. “He came in and told me that even though he didn’t go to war, he was still extremely proud of his service.”

“Our Veterans” gave residents a reason to break out photos of themselves -- or their sons, daughters or parents -- in uniform. The experience gave them the chance to remember and appreciate their service or that of a loved one.

“Our Veterans” will provide a similar, lasting opportunity for the whole community.

“Our Leader staff did tremendous work,” Reeves said. “Their work combined with the contributions of our readers has resulted in ‘Our Veterans.’ ” You can get your own copy of “Our Veterans” by going online at http://theleadernews.com/our-veterans, by calling 713-686-8494 or by stopping at The Leader office at 2020 N. Loop W. Ste. 220.

the leader Puzzlers.

Answers found in this week’s Classified section

SUDOKU

aCrOss 1. LA team member 6. Young Fr. woman (abbr.)

10. Per __, each 11. Foots 13. Veggie toy 17. Overdose 18. US, Latin America, Canada belong to 19. So. Am. plain (Span.)

20. Point midway between N and NE 21. Single 22. Inactive 23. Mother of Hermes 24. Gives a new meaning 28. Silent players 29. One who adds Cluny trim 30. Men or boys 31. God of War 32. Self-immolation by fire ritual 33. Inevitable events 35. Add piquancy 36. Skin lesions 37. Cannabis 41. River of NE Turkey 42. 2 family struggle 43. A young swine

44. __ student, learns healing 45. 55300 MN 46. Opie actor Howard 47. World’s oldest news gathering organization (abbr.)

48. Luke’s Jedi mentor 52. Japan’s knife & scissor city 54. Medical antiseptic & dye 55. Early female flyers 56. Loses heat

dOwn 1. No longer practicing 2. Military mailbox 3. Cowboy Carson 4. 7th Greek letter 5. Nautical ladder rungs 6. Hmong 7. Fellow 8. Maltese pound 9. Coal blacks 10. Japan Airlines bird 12. Different concepts 13. Secure a ship with ropes 14. Elder 15. Belongs to famous computer 16. Point midway

between NE and E 20. Moniker 23. Environment 25. Fills with joy 26. Transportation charges 27. Frosts 28. Counterpart 30. 2nd largest Hawaiian island 32. Grimly humorous 33. A dog’s front foot 34. Mures River city 35. Steam bath 36. South African Music Awards 37. Sound made by a cat 38. Clothing protectors 39. Wife of Amphion 40. God of fire (Hindu) 42. Favorite weekday (abbr.)

45. Japanese sashes 48. Klutz 49. “__ Koo,” Debbie Harry debut album 50. Tokyo 51. Hardly any 53. Cathode

WORD SCRAMBLE

Page 4A • Saturday, November 2, 2019 • The Leader

Houston City Council District A and H Voter’s Guide To help readers prepare for the Nov. 5 municipal election and make their votes count, we posed key questions to the candidates for Houston City Council District A and District H. Their answers, which have not been edited for accuracy, spelling, grammar or punctuation, are below, with the candidates listed in the order in which they will appear on the ballot.

District A candidates Mehdi Cherkaoui, Lois Myers and George Harry Zoes, along with District H candidate Gaby Salcedo, did not respond.

DISTRICT A AMY PECK What is your background and how has it prepared you to serve District A? I have been the chief of staff for our current District A Council Member Brenda Stardig since 2014.

This has given me a unique opportunity to learn the needs of the district and how to serve those needs. I know our community and will continue fighting for our district from day one. District A has great momentum, and we cannot afford to lose any time for infrastructure projects. I will make sure that the projects that we have been working so hard for will get done. Behind the scenes, I have advocated for so many projects for the Greater Inwood Area, and I will continue to do so as your next council member.

What are the most pressing needs for citizens in your district?

1.Flooding - As your City Council Member, I will do everything I can to make sure that your money is spent on your priorities, like public safety, basic services, and infrastructure projects. To that end, we must change the way projects are funded.

Drainage projects are currently funded through a convoluted process that does not benefit District A. There is nothing fair about this process. District A has the highest population of any district and is one of the largest districts based on square miles. It would stand to reason under these circumstances alone that District A should be one of the districts with the most money for infrastructure projects; however, in Fiscal Year 2019, District A received only .59% of the available infrastructure funding.

My proposal to transform the system is this: The available infrastructure money should be split in half. 50% should go towards a worst-first list of projects Citywide so that we address the worst issues first no matter where they are in the City. Cost should be a factor, but it needs to consider other things like population, drainage opportunities, etc. The other 50% should be split evenly among each council district. We all pay our taxes and deserve to get that money back to us in services.

2. Public Safety - District A needs more police officers. While crime in our area continues to remain low compared to other areas of town, it will not stay that way if we do not have the resources we need. I have worked with HPD on numerous crime-fighting initiatives and will continue to support HPD through funding overtime programs and will support more cadet classes to increase the number of officers in our neighborhoods.

HFD has an ongoing need for new equipment. Far too many of our fire trucks and ambulances break down far too often. I listened to HFD’s needs and worked with them to identify funding to support their upgrades, and I will continue to do so as the council member.

I have been endorsed by both the Police Officer’s Union and the Fire Fighter’s Union.

3. Reduce Wasteful Spending my plan is to institute a program similar to the State’s Sunset Review Program. Every program and department must go through an audit that includes input from citizens and stakeholders. I would require the audit to automatically go to Council for a vote so that a mayor could not hold it up if he/ she did not want Council to vote on a particular project. Every department must justify their performance and their existence. This is important because not only will we be able to streamline departments and find wasteful spending, but it will allow council members to have a little more say in what happens in each department. This will give council members more power to make decisions and properly represent their constituents.

How would you address the need for affordable housing in your district?

The City needs to make it a better business proposition for developers to be interested in affordable housing and hopefully tearing down dangerous/blighted buildings in the process. In order to do this, we need to streamline the permitting process. The Sunset Review Program I proposed will help the City figure out how to streamline this process.

How would you work to improve infrastructure and city services in your district?

Changing the way projects are funded (as explained in my proposal to split the funds evenly) and implementing Sunset Review Program. These plans will help to allocate more resources back to our core services.

What will you do to reduce flooding risks for property owners?

The current Floodplain Ordinance that regulates new construction in the floodplain is not sufficient. It does not address the real issues we see in our community. It does not address flood-prone areas outside the floodplain. I support responsible development, but the City needs to get the ordinances right.

I will also advocate to the federal government and Harris County Flood Control to provide funding to add more capacity in the ditches maintained by the County. Right now, the water has no where to go because there is no more room in these creeks. By adding more capacity, we can do more projects to reduce flooding.

MARINA ANGELICA CORYAT What is your background and how has it prepared you to serve District A? It has often been said that times of preparation are never wasted. The majority of my adult life has prepared me to serve District A on the Houston City Council. I graduated from Cornell University, an Ivy League school with Bachelors of Art having majored in Government. After graduating from college, I worked for the City of Houston for 21 years. I worked in the Mayor’s Citizen’s Assistance Office, the Housing and Community Development Department and the Solid Waste Management Department (SWMD).

In the Mayor’s office, I learned how to address constituent concerns and get resolution. I spent the bulk of my career (18 years) in the SWMD, where I served as the Chief Spokesperson and the Public Information Manager for all external communications, requests for City Council Action, Open Records requests, media interviews, website and social media. Serving as the Council Liaison for the department helped me to understand city government better. It was my role to watch council sessions and report on anything that affected our department. I currently serve as the Communications Director for State Representative Senfronia Thompson, the longest serving woman in Texas legislative history. From working here, I have a greater understanding of how the state works, as well as I have gained from Rep. Thompson’s mentorship.

To complement my public sector background, I also worked in the private sector for two national brands, McDonald’s franchise owners and Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Texas. In 2017 right before Hurricane Harvey, I began my own Public Relations business.

Additionally, I serve as an Ambassador and Lifetime Member for the Greater Houston Partnership; serve on the Advisory Board for Career and Recovery Resources, Inc.; and on the Board of Directors for the Houston Area Urban League where I chair the Fund Development committee. On a monthly basis as part of the Finance and Fund Development committee, we review HAUL’s budget and cash flow, etc. All of the skills that I acquired will be utilized. My communication and negotiation skills will be used greatly while in Council. My broad experience is an asset to the District A when elected to the position.

What are the most pressing needs for citizens in your district?

1. Flooding 2. Public Safety 3. Efficient and timely city services such as garbage/recycling services.

How would you address the need for affordable housing in your district?

I would work with the Mayor and the Housing & Community Development Department to obtain Community Development Block Grants. I would also partner with organizations such as the Houston Area Urban League to advocate for affordable housing. One area of focus would be more affordable housing for senior citizens in our district.

How would you work to improve infrastructure and city services in your district?

I would work with the mayor and city departments to improve drainage, repair potholes, etc. I would work with the SuperNeighborhoods and civic associations to provide a priority list of projects to be considered for Capital improvements and for service enhancements. I will utilize a portion of the dedicated District A-Council budget on some of these smaller priority matters. Additionally, I will meet with City department heads to establish relationships and discuss how we can best work together for a smooth transition for city service delivery.

What will you do to reduce flooding risks for property owners?

I will become involved with the Flood Mitigation task force. I will push to make sure that the drainage fee is used fo that purpose.

I will advocate for ditches to be clear of debris. I will request and fight for money so that additional detention areas are constructed to minimize flash flooding. Also, I would work with the mayor for new regulations and building standards that protect the people and property of District A.I am

requesting that more transparency happens in our government.

IESHEIA AYERS-WILSON What is your background and how has it prepared you to serve District A? My life experiences have taught me how to deal with people in the community. My family currently owns a small trucking business so commitment is something we pride our self with. I am a former Bus Driver where I drove for several years where it allowed me to have personal relationships with students, parents and school administration. I am also an Office Manager and I have several technicians that report to me so I know how to manage people. I recently graduated with my Accounting degree in Business so I am very business savvy.

What are the most pressing needs for citizens in your district?

Flooding How would you address the need for affordable housing in your district?

In my district in certain areas we need to bring affordable housing to it. I would like to work closely with Build Houston Forward to see how we can bring it to District A in all areas.

How would you work to improve infrastructure and city services in your district?

We first have to make sure our city worker have the proper equipment needed to do their job.

Before we work on infrastructure we have to make sure we vet these developers to make sure the are not building to flood out our communities. If they are not building to more than minimal standards then they need to be held accountable.

What will you do to reduce flooding risks for property owners?

It first starts with these developers. Developers don’t build to standard so it causes communities to flood and council members keep allowing them these contracts and this has to stop.

DISTRICT H CYNTHIA REYES-REVILLA What is your background and how has it prepared you to serve District H? I have been a resident of district age for 45 years I may be new to politics but I am not new to community service. I have worked with the community for many years dedicating thousands of hours and creating community groups to address issues around safety, education, workforce, housing, parks, crosswalks, food distributions, animal welfare and spay and neuter efforts, bringing awareness around environmental issues that are affecting District H and so much more. I have also held many leadership roles in the community such as PTO, SDMC committees, Super Neighborhood Leadership team and am a part of many boards.

What are the most pressing needs for citizens in your district?

Safety and flooding are the most pressing needs in my future district. Safety has always been an issue for most of District H. The area needs more patrol and working to convey this message for more patrol is one way this can be addressed. Another is increasing the amount of neighborhood patrol and increasing the community involvement to use the “See Something Say Something” initiative.

Funding for more officers on the streets is needed.

Addressing Flooding will take effort from everyone on the new council and working with other entities such as County Commissioner to create a plan and see how all involved can craft an updated efficient flood mitigation plan.

How would you address the need for affordable housing in your district?

Having a real estate background and being a broker for many years has given me much knowledge to understand the impact of affordable housing. There are many approaches that we can take to address and increase affordable housing such as working with local organizations, utilizing state funding to create more affordable housing through local partnerships. I have also utilize local city programs such as the lead program that secures affordable rents for those tenants and homes that qualify. This under utilized program not only promotes healthy, lead free homes but it creates a safe environment for everyone living in the community.

How would you work to improve infrastructure and city services in your district?

There are so many services within the city of Houston that are underutilized. I have worked with many of these programs to provide additional services to District H over the past several years. As for infrastructure I understand the city is limited in what they can provide so seeking funding from other partners is vital to continue the work of addressing infrastructure. Continue to promote city services is something that is needed desperately. Working with

local schools, churches, civic clubs and local community groups to conduct walk audits to help identify areas in need. Working with the same group to also encourage 311 reports so that these areas can be documented and reported.

This helps increase the awareness of the concerned areas especially when CIP projects are being prioritized.

What will you do to reduce flooding risks for property owners?

There are many ways of homeowners can reduce the risk of flooding at or around their property. One thing I would like to start promoting is adopt a drain program. This program will get residents involved to do their part and work with the city to ensure that drains are cleared of debris and free from improper use. By involving and engaging residents this gives them an opportunity to be accountable for what happens in their community. Other ideas: -prioritize areas that are more at risk - seek other funding form state and federal grants that are available to bring in more support to address more areas in need.

- work with local partners to do their part to address issues that are in line with their work and responsibility to improving communities.

KARLA CISNEROS What is your background and how has it prepared you to serve District H? I have a BA in Environment Science from the University of Virginia and a Master of Architecture from Rice University. I have devoted my entire adult life to serving my community and supporting educational opportunities for young people. As a community activist, I led the effort to turn around our neighborhood elementary school. I have served in leadership capacity on non-profits whose focus is to help children develop their full potential.

I served as an HISD School Trustee from 2000 – 2005 during which time I also served one year as School Board President. Afterwards, I went on to become a certified elementary school teacher for six years for HISD, prior to my running for Houston City Council.

All of my experience has led me to my current role on City Council, where I am a strong advocate for children and the education pipeline to the Houston’s workforce. As the Chair of the Economic Development Sub-Committee on Education, my goal is to be a catalyst for increasing the city’s commitment to investing in the success of our children and Houston’s future prosperity.

What are the most pressing needs for citizens in your district?

Poverty and the I-45 expansion.

Poverty and the effects it has on the success of our children and what that means for Houston’s future. We must have an educated workforce to have a prosperous and vibrant economy. I am working to correct the disparity present in many of my neighborhoods by providing young people with opportunities to grow and develop their full potential. I support and fund after school, out of school, and summer programs. I have expanded high quality early childcare centers, built partnerships that bring a wide variety of resources to families in need, and invested in neighborhood parks and libraries.

The proposed project will primarily have negative impacts on residents in my district north of I-10, and I do not support the project “as is”. I am concerned that problems that were originally created by the highway construction of IH-45, IH-10 and Loop 610 more than 50 years ago, will actually worsen the quality of life for adjacent neighborhoods today. The current plans simply do not reflect enough consideration to the impact on adjoining neighborhoods, or incorporate “lessons learned” from the negative consequences on the lives of the people who live there.

Just as they did in the 50’s and 60’s, the new expanded highways will further divide established District H neighborhoods, limiting mobility, accessibility, and intensifying areas of concentrated poverty and wealth. The detrimental effect on air quality will continue to elevate rates of asthma and cardiac arrest in neighborhood residents. The routine and severe flooding in Independence Heights and in the Warehouse Artist District that was created by the construction of the original highways, must be addressed and corrected.

There is no question that the existing highway infrastructure is ageing and needs to be rebuilt.

Decisions being made today about how best to do that will define and affect the quality of life in District H neighborhoods for the next half-century. This is a tremendous opportunity to get it right. We have a chance at this moment in time to shift from strictly carcentric values, to values that say, neighborhoods matter. Lessons learned from problems created by the original highway construction projects in the 50’s and 60’s must be reflected in TXDOT’s plan.

As the Council Member for the District that will be most impacted by all three segments of the TXDOT

project, I am vocal and present in speaking out and advocating for my constituents. I actively support the grassroots organizations that have emerged to counter TXDOT’s proposal and have worked to promote awareness of the issues and opportunities to gather input from constituents that are hard to reach.

How would you address the need for affordable housing in your district?

Affordable housing is one of our best tools to fight gentrification and protect neighborhoods. In Houston’s market-driven economy, a huge challenge for affordable housing in inner city neighborhoods is that land is becoming increasingly more expensive. This underscores the importance and value of the State’s 9% tax credit program that allows affordable housing developers to create housing stock for workforce families in desirable areas. As an elected official, it is important to communicate accurate and complete information about affordable housing and the important role it plays in a healthy, well-functioning city.

There is a lot of misinformation and lack of understanding about what affordable housing actually is, that leads to “NIMBYism”.

How would you work to improve infrastructure and city services in your district?

District H represents some of the oldest parts of Houston, and therefore some of the oldest and most outdated infrastructure. With input from constituents, I have documented requested infrastructure projects into a compilation that has become a very valuable and effective communication tool with various city departments and other partners. These identified projects are not currently adopted as part of the City’s Capital Improvement Plan, but my document establishes a record of the requests and has also resulted in some of the projects being addressed by other means. See the “Wishlist” here: http://www.houstontx.gov/ council/h/infrastructure.html .

Additionally, I invest Council District Service funds into infrastructure projects like sidewalk repair, speed cushions, bike lane installation, B-Cycle stations, and parks improvements. I have improved city services in District H by funding and partnering with the Solid Waste Department and my management districts to provide additional illegal dumping and tire removal services. I have purchased seven discrete hidden video cameras that are moved around the district by Constable Rosen’s Office, to catch and prosecute illegal dumpers. I have tackled animal welfare issues at BARC and Harris County and have led initiatives that raised awareness and accessibility of free spay/neuter surgeries to address the overpopulation of animals on our streets.

What will you do to reduce flooding risks for property owners?

First of all, it is important to reach out to constituents to identify who may have experienced structural flooding. Documenting and communicating that information with the appropriate city departments and other government entities is key to addressing neighborhood flooding issues. The infrastructure identification document that I referenced in one of the above questions, has resulted in the resolution of several flooding problems in the district.

Most of District H was designed to use open ditch systems to move water, which means that those ditches need to be maintained and kept clear. I have several projects underway right now to remove encumbrances, re-set flow lines and re-size culverts in neighborhood ditches. Keeping the ditches clear also relates to the removal of illegal dumping.

Some of the District H neighborhoods flood because water is trapped by adjacent highways, so water backs up and repeatedly gets into homes. This will only be resolved through TXDOT’s reconstruction of highways IH-45 and IH-10. I am activley engaged with residents, communicating, advocating and representing neighborhood interests.

For new construction, I support the new elevation requirements in the floodplain ordinance that allow new construction to be built above the inundation level plus two feet.

The ordinance also requires zero net fill, meaning that additional fill may not be brought in to elevate a site at the expense of neighboring sites. That being said, as new flood maps are released incorporating the most up-to-date data, identified floodplain areas may grow and include additional properties.

ISABEL LONGORIA What is your background and how has it prepared you to serve District H? Born and raised in Houston, the daughter of immigrants, I am a Latina, LGBTQ, Progressive Democrat who has dedicated my life to public service. Having worked in this district for over eight years for Rep. Jessica Farrar and Sen. Sylvia Garcia, I have personal relationship with many of the grassroots, civic, union, and political leaders in the community which gives me a strategic advantage in quickly scaling and implementing civic projects in the district. My experience in government policy means I have a wealth of knowledge of local issues, can absorb new information quickly, and am uniquely poised to understand the spectrum of municipal issues and move quickly

to resolve them at the local level.

My previous position with AARP centered on advocacy at the city and county levels, and provided me with the hands-on experience of advocating effectively for policies that protected seniors. I also served as a Houston Planning Commissioner which strengthened my knowledge of city development issues and my ability to work in a municipal environment. In short, I have the experience and relationships in District H to be a proactive, creative, and community-based leader on Houston City Council.

What are the most pressing needs for citizens in your district?

1. Affordable Housing: The City struggles to provide adequate affordable housing for residents.

Some of this is due natural disasters, like Harvey, that continue to erode our residential housing while diminishing the property available for building new housing. Therefore, I want to increase affordable housing in Houston by expanding the efforts of the Houston Land Bank and Houston Land Trust to house families in affordable homes, raise funds for efforts like Rebuilding Together Houston to rehabilitate our current housing stock, and revised the Chapter 42 Development codes to incentivize affordable housing and higher flood mitigation standards.

2. I45 Expansion Project: I-45, which bisects District H, is an incredibly dangerous freeway that needs repairs, better maintenance, and revisions both for greater traffic safety and for flood mitigation.

The current plan that TXDOT has proposed, however, fails to address residents’ concerns that have been raised from the start of this process while not doing enough to mitigate the impact of pollution, traffic congestion, and dangers created by speeding. The plan also fails to address the lack of access residents of the Near Northside, Greater Heights, and Independence Heights, while putting the burden on their homes and businesses to solve larger problems. We cannot move forward with a $7 billion project that will have such a serious impact on our district, and the generations who will follow us, without a more sustainable and less disruptive plan that, among other things, involves greater coordination with mass transit planning.

3. Revenue: As a City we are working on a bare bones budget.

We’re in the middle of a hiring freeze and every department is currently understaffed and under resourced. If we cannot find more revenue to invest in basic city services and infrastructure, we will continue to lose our residents to the ETJ or surrounding counties, further eroding our tax base and ability to fund basic city services.

I propose bold action to attract people back into the city by investing heavily in affordable housing projects and incentivizing medium density, walkable neighborhoods; looking to growing industries like home health care and renewable energy; and evaluating a responsible removal of the revenue cap as an option. We get the City we invest in, and its time to properly invest in Houstonians.

How would you address the need for affordable housing in your district?

We need to clean up the development codes to fit with modern standards, be clear and accessible to developers, and prioritize affordable housing. Construction techniques, urban development philosophies, and the physical parameters of the City have greatly changed since the last time Chapters 42 and 19 were revisited in a meaningful or holistic way. I am interested in revising the codes to allow the Planning Commission to take into consideration affordability and flood risk when making decisions, to close loopholes allowing individuals to resubmit plats that are not significantly different than a previously declined plat, and to further regulate the use of fill, detention, or other construction techniques for flood mitigation.

How would you work to improve infrastructure and city services in your district?

I believe a City is only as good as the resources we invest in it. I believe repealing the local revenue cap, which would put us under the much higher state revenue cap, would bring in significant revenue for the city as a whole with negligible average impact on Houston property owners. It would allow us to pay fair wages and health benefits for City employees, invest in flood mitigation and infrastructure projects, and invest in community safety initiatives. To improve city services, we first have to make sure there are city services still available to improve upon.

What will you do to reduce flooding risks for property owners?

I believe our next step should be: (1) Update building development codes to increase our standards for flood mitigation and water detention and close loopholes that incentivize unsustainable construction practices; (2) Prioritize bayou modifications and other flood projects; and (3) Implement Houston’s 100 Resilient Cities Plan. Combined, these efforts will help make Houston resilient in the short and long term.

The Leader • Saturday, November 2, 2019 • Page 5A

THINGS TO DO.

The Arts

Moses Guest Friday, Nov. 1 7 p.m.

The Heights Theater – 339 W. 19th St. Moses Guest is performing at The Heights Theater with Sarah Grace.

Blue Water Highway Saturday, Nov. 2 7 p.m.

The Heights Theater – 339 W. 19th St. Blue Water Highway is performing at The Heights Theater with Grady Spencer & the Work.

Tunes in the Tap Room Tuesday, Nov. 5 6:30 – 9:30 p.m.

Harold’s Restaurant & Tap Room – 350 W. 19th St. Enjoy live music in Harold’s Tap Room every Tuesday night.

Deva Mahal Friday, Nov. 1 8 p.m.

White Oak Music Hall – 2915 N. Main St. Deva Mahal is performing at White Oak Music Hall.

Frank Turner Saturday, Nov. 2 6 p.m.

White Oak Music Hall – 2915 N. Main St. Frank Turner is performing at White Oak Music Hall.

9 a.m. – 1 p.m.

Cavatore – 2120 Ella Blvd.

There will be local growers, makers, designers, artisans and food producers.

Little White Oak Night Market Saturday, Nov. 2 4 – 8 p.m.

Sideout Volleybar – 2623 Keene St. The Little White Oak Night Market brings together local farmers, craft merchandisers, and artists.

The Farm Stand at Petrol Station Saturday, Nov. 2 9 a.m. – 1 p.m.

948 Wakefield Dr. The Farm Stand at Petrol Station features goods from local vendors.

Heights Morning Market Sunday, Nov. 3 10 a.m. – 2 p.m.

3106 White Oak Dr. Heights Morning Market gathers local talented artisans, farmers, and entrepreneurs to bring you closer to the goods you need. Stop by to shop and stay to brunch, drink mimosas, and listen to live music at Onion Creek.

First Saturday Arts Market Saturday, Nov. 2 11 a.m. – 6 p.m.

540 W. 19th St. Since 2004, First Saturday Arts Market has been bringing Houston art lovers the best artists from all over the greater metropolitan area. First Saturday Arts Market represents the many diverse and popular mediums all in a festive, outdoor market.

Khruangbin Saturday, Nov. 2 7 p.m.

White Oak Music Hall – 2915 N. Main St. Khruangbin is performing at White Oak Music Hall.

So Soon Sunday, Nov. 3 7 p.m.

White Oak Music Hall – 2915 N. Main St. So Soon is performing at White Oak Music Hall with The Truth and An Author, A Poet and more.

Cat Clyde Wednesday, Nov. 6 7 p.m.

White Oak Music Hall – 2915 N. Main St. Cat Clyde is performing at White Oak Music Hall.

The Markets Eleanora’s Market Saturday, Nov. 2

The Pews Women’s Bible Study Group Monday, Nov. 4 5:30 p.m.

YMCA –1234 W. 34th St. The Women’s Bible Study meets every Monday at the Harriet and Joe Foster YMCA. The study is called The Faithful, which explores crucial moments in the lives of five Old Testament figures--Queen Esther, Gideon, Hosea, Malachi, and Nehemiah.

Guests and new members are welcome to attend this non-denominational Bible study. Email scripturesharing@earthlink.net for information.

Men’s Scripture Sharing Group

Thursday, Nov. 7 7 a.m.

YMCA –1234 W. 34th St. The Men’s Scripture Sharing Group meets every Thursday at the Harriet and Joe Foster YMCA. There will be music, Bible study and fellowship. Guests and new members are welcome to attend this non-denominational Bible study. Email scripturesharing@ earthlink.net for information.

dance will be recognized and will receive a free hot lunch a guests of TALC. Other attendees may purchase lunch for $2.00.

Everyone attending is requested to make their lunch reservation

by Thursday, Nov. 7. For information on events hosted by All Saints TALC or to make a lunch reservation, call 713-248-1277.

Fun & Games

St. Stephen Event Saturday, Nov. 2 5 p.m.

8502 Rio Grande St. All are welcome to attend a concert with Deux Voix featuring a variety of works from the Baroque to the present time, along with jazz standards Nov. 2 in the sanctuary. A special GriefShare session, “Surviving the Holidays�, will be held Tuesday, Nov. 12, from 6-8 p.m. in Room 201.

There is no charge and participants will receive a free Holiday Survival Guide. For more information, call the office at 713-6868241, or visit www.stshtx.org and the church’s Facebook page.

Open Mic Night Tuesday, Nov. 5 9 p.m.

Heights Vinyl – 3301 Cline St. This is a free flowing, “tap in,� share the mic event where everyone is welcome.

Thursday Night Bingo Thursday, Nov. 7 5:15 p.m.

SPJST Lodge 88 - 1435 Beall St. Bingo at SPJST Lodge 88 is held every Thursday night. Bingo pads are $10 each. Doors open at 5:15 p.m. Bingo begins at 7:00 p.m.

American Legion Chili Cook-off Saturday, Nov. 9 American Legion Post 560 – 3720 Alba Rd. The Sons of the American Legion Squadron 560 are hosting their 28th annual chili cook-off.

All cooking must take place at the legion. The cook-off categories are chili, beans, bloody Mary and open.

Pancake Breakfast Saturday, Nov. 2 8:30 – 10 a.m.

St. Matthews UMC – 4300 N. Shepherd Join friends of the community and enjoy the free pancake breakfast at St. Matthews. All the goodies include pancakes, sausage, eggs, and breakfast drinks. Visit the church’s Facebook page or web site at www. stmatthewsmethodist.org.

Waltrip Novemberfest Saturday, Nov. 9 10 a.m. – 6 p.m.

Waltrip HS – 1900 W. 34th St. Join Waltrip High School for Novemberfest, featuring good, drinks, entertainment, games and raffles.

Mural unveiling Saturday, Nov. 9 11 a.m. – 2 p.m.

The Vineyard Church – 1135 E. 11th The Vineyard Church of Houston commissioned a mural painted on the Michaux side of its building. On Nov. 9 the church will have a block party to celebrate the grand opening of the mural.

10, died on Oct. 27 in Houston, Texas.

Sylvia Garza, 66, born

June 29, died on Oct. 25. She is survived by her husband, Ramiro Garza; daughter Veronica Garza and her husband Anthony Galan; and son Alexander Garza and his wife Andrea; sister Dianna Lopez, brothers; Enrique Lopez and Ernesto Lopez; grandchildren, Isaiah Garza-Galan, Anaya GarzaGalan, Aiden Garza-Galan, Evan Garza-Galan and James Garza.

Sylvia was preceded in death by; brother Daniel Lopez.

Donald Ray Harding,

grandchildren Aaron Harding & wife Magan, Taryn Day & husband Justin, Brandon Harding, Kandis Harding, Lindsey Harding, Kelsie Thompson, Kylie Thompson, Kalyn Fuentes & husband Miquel, Shelbi Thompson-Riley, Shaylea Thompson-Riley along with great grandchildren Jaxon Harding, Blaise Harding, Lucas Day, Vivian Day, Parker Harding, brother Newt Harding & wife Vikki, sisters in law Lea Vonne Wetuski, Geneva Harding, Edith Harding and numerous nieces & nephews.

Jo Ann Hughes, 73, born July 26, died on Oct. 28.

Josephene Gullo Lester,

78, born Dec. 11, died on Oct. 17. He is survived by his loving wife of 60 years LaJuan, sons Keith Harding & wife Alison, Kevin Harding & wife April, Kyle Harding & wife Sandy, daughter Kim Thompson and David Noker,

91, born Oct. 14, died on Oct. 12. She is survived by her three children, their spouses, and all her grandchildren, and her sister Carrie Gullo Virgadamo.

Rebecca Lacy Neale, 73,

PROPOSED METHOD OF ASSESSMENT: The District proposes to levy the assessment on properties added to the District’s assessment roll in the amount of $0.139 per $100 of assessed valuation as shown in the appraisal rolls of HCAD for the year 2019 to finance the cost of services and improvements.

All property owners within the District and all other interested persons are hereby invited to appear in person, or by their attorney, and contend for or contest the amendment/supplement and/or correction to the District’s assessment roll, each proposed assessment and the change in the assessment rate and to offer testimony pertinent to any issue presented on the amount, purpose and special benefits of the assessments and the penalties and interest on delinquent assessments. Oral or written support of or objections to the District's amendment/supplement to its assessment roll, change in the assessment rate and the levy of assessments as to any parcel in the District contained on the amended/supplemented District assessment roll will be considered at the hearing. For information, please call or write the Near Northwest Management District – Legal Counsel, HUSCH BLACKWELL LLP, 600 Travis Street, Suite 2350, Houston, Texas 77002, at (713)5256266. For information on the amount of your assessment, please call the District’s Assessment Consultant, Interstate Tax Management Services, Ltd., at (281)873-5000 (8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., Monday through Friday).

Carlos Eduardo Sampaio,

57, born Oct. 7, died on Oct. 29 in Houston, Texas.

Ada Lee Wamble, 94, born Sept. 2, died on Oct. 13. She is survived by her three daughters, Phyllis Love and husband Wendell, Debbie Sterle, and Patti Giannone. Grandsons, Evan Sterle and wife Amanda, Adam Sterle, and Geoffrey Giannone.

/s/Wayne Norden _________________________________ Wayne Norden, President Near Northwest Management District

I DON’T DESERVE GET WHAT I HAVE

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Sunday

•Wednesday Worship (English) ..... 10:00 am -Children 11:00am Bible Studies For Youth, • Learning Hour ...........

11:00am 12:00pm and Adults............................ 6:15pm • Worship (Spanish) .... 12:30 pm - 1:30pm

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1602 West 43rd St. • Houston, Tx 77018 • 713-686-1577

Weekly Sunday SundayServices Services Weekly Bible Study r #JCMF 4UVEZ B N •9:15 Bible Study: a.m.p.m. & 10:30 a.m.9:15 and 4:15 • r .PSOJOH B N Morning:10:30 a.m.Fair Market Mingle Craft • r &WFOJOH Q N Evening: 4:15 p.m.

Nov. 9th at 10 a.m.

4040 Watonga 713-688-5227 Pastor Jerry•McNamara We invite you to worship with us!

4040 Watonga • 713-688-5227

We Sunday inviteSchool you&toBible worship with Classes 10:30 am us!

Weekly Worship Services 9:00 a.m.

8FTU BU 3PTTMZO 1700 West 43 rdSEat at Rosslyn 1700 West 43rd Rosslyn

713-682-4942 713-682-4942 Pastor Dr. Richard Walters Pastor Dr. Richard Walters Pastor– -– Dr. Richard Walters

Preschool Program • Mon. - Fri. 9-2 p.m.

Weekly Worship Services 9:00 a.m. www.gethsemanelutheran.org Sunday School & Bible Classes 10:30 a.m.

Preschool Program • Mon. - Fri. 9-2 p.m. www.gethsemanelutheran.org

Sunday Morning Worship 8:30 and 11:00 Sunday School for Children, Youth and Adults 9:40

Ministries for All Ages Home of Johnson Memorial School for Little Children Sunday Morning Worship 8:30 and 11:00 Rev. Nathan Lonsdale Bledsoe, Pastor for Children, Youth â—† s tand 2003 Sunday W. 43rdSchool St. â—† 713-686-8241 s u mAdults c . o r g9:40 Ministries for All Ages Home of Johnson Memorial School for Little Children Rev. Nathan Lonsdale Bledsoe, Pastor

2003 W. 43rd St. X 713-686-8241 X s t s u m c . o r g

Bible Studies For All Ages ... 9:30am

St. James Lutheran Church, Morning Worship ...............ELCA 10:45am

Gethsemane Lutheran Church Gethsemane Lutheran Church

DEBBIE ourrealtordebbie@aol.com ELLIOTT

ESTIMATED COST OF THE PROPOSED SERVICES AND IMPROVEMENTS: The cost of the services to be provided is estimated to be $1,587,815 annually over the remaining five years of the fifteen-year life of the Service Plan.

DIRECTORY 1822 W. 18th • 713-864-1470

713-906-5481 Realty Associates

The District, in accordance with the service, improvement and assessment plan approved by its Board of Directors in 2009 (the “Service Plan�), has provided and will to continue to provide services and improvements in the near northwest area of the City as authorized by the statutes listed above. Such services include: (a) security and public safety; (b) marketing and perception enhancement; (c) planning and urban design; and (d) administration of the District.

born Sept. 27, died on Oct. 17.

She is survived by her husband, Peter Neale; daughter, Michelle Pierce; son, Weldon Pierce (Heather); grandchildren, Allison Economes (Ricky II), Thomas “Cole� Schmidt (Aneli), and Taylor Wright; great-grandchildren, Gabriella Economes, and Remiegh Economes; sister-in-law, Terri Neale; brother-in-law, Joseph Hofer; siblings, Larry Lacy (Sephanie), and Edie Buffington (Andy).

MANNA Sponsor

Experience and Knowledge...

A Powerful Combination

GENERAL NATURE OF THE PROPOSED IMPROVEMENTS AND SERVICES: The Near Northwest Management District (the “District�) was created to provide services and improvements in the near northwest area of the City of Houston, Texas (the “City�), as authorized by Chapter 3811, Vernon’s Texas Special District Local Laws Code, and by Chapter 375, Vernon's Texas Local Government Code. The District proposes to add to its assessment roll all new development, redevelopment, or new construction or property annexed into the District since the District’s last public hearing on December 3, 2018, and any nonexempt real property in the District that was omitted from the District’s assessment roll at the last certified value set by the Harris County Appraisal District (“HCAD�).

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QN QN 4QPOTPS and Adults............................ 6:15pm 8FTU SE 4U t )PVTUPO 5Y t

For Dan Rather, there’s nothing like coming home. “I always feel at home when I’m here,� he said Tuesday afternoon at Heights High School. “There’s never a sense of strangeness for me at all.�

Rather, a former TV news anchor for CBS, was back at 413 E. 13th St., where he graduated from what was then called Reagan High School in 1950. He returned to film a promotional video in conjunction with Raise Your Hand Texas to promote the importance and impact of public education as well as spread the word to Heights students and staff about entering the competition for the Rather Prize. “I feel honored to come back, especially with the kind of work we’re centering around the school today,� he said. “There’s always some heavy nostalgia and echoes and memories in every nook and cranny of this school.�

The Rather Prize is an annual competition awarding $10,000 to a student, teacher or administrator who formulates the best idea to improve public education in Texas.

Rather said the idea first

gained traction three years ago at the suggestion of his now 21-year-old grandson, Martin Rather.

Now in its fourth year, Martin Rather said the contest receives thousands of entries each year – and even those that don’t win create lasting impressions. “It’s really about ideas that can make an impact,� he said. “Students can tell a teacher, but as it gets passed up the chain, ideas can eventually die out. What we want to do is bring great attention to those ideas.�

Dan Rather, 88, also expanded on what he’s done to remain in touch with current events, including his foray into social media. He has more than 800,000 followers on Twitter and more than 2.5 million followers on Facebook.

He also has his own website, newsandguts.com, where he continues to provide historical and personal perspective on current events.

TIME: December 2, 2019, 8:00 a.m.

PLACE: 7603 Antoine, Houston, Texas 77088

Veterans Day Celebration Friday, Nov. 8 10:30 a.m.

TALC - 215 E. 10th St. All Saints Third Age Learning Center (TALC) will host its annual Veterans Day Celebration on in the church parish hall. Festivities will begin with a Military Color Guard, music by Big Ed and the Happy Band, patriotic music, singing, refreshments and door prizes. All Veterans in atten-

St. James Lutheran Church, ELCA

By Landan Kuhlmann landan@theleadernews.com

NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING OF THE NEAR NORTHWEST MANAGEMENT DISTRICT TO CONSIDER THE ADVISABILITY OF AMENDING/SUPPLEMENTING THE DISTRICT’S ASSESSMENT ROLL, CHANGING THE ASSESSMENT RATE, AND LEVYING ASSESSMENTS ON PROPERTY WITHIN THE DISTRICT

THE OBITUARIES. Teresa Flores, 80, born Oct.

Rather pays visit to Heights school

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By Pastor Willit Cover t goes without saying, but I’ll say anyway: “we have all Arise Baptist Church made mistakes.� As Alexander Pope so aptly put it: “To 803 Houston 77018 err is human, to Curtin forgive,St. divine.�

WeTX should remember 713-659-9697 • www.arisebaptistchurch.org this the next time we make a mistake. Most certainly, we must learn from our mistakes, and hopefully not continue to repeat them, but we should also forgive ourselves. While diedto on the others cross and thenmistakes, three days it canWhen be hardJesus enough forgive for their it rose again from the grave, He did something for canlater sometimes feel almost impossible to forgive ourselves. that I could never doourselves for myself.

He paid the penWeme sometimes cannot bring to forgive something alty done, for my sin. forgiveness for we’ve and we God may offers punish everyone and harangue ourselves sinorbased the payment that Jesus Christ made. fortheir years, even on decades, over youthful indiscretions.

In By accepting giftnot of be salvation, I am demonstrataddition, some ofGod’s us may able to forget the sins of thatAnd there is nothing that Iprevent could do earn or merit ouring past. although that may us to from repeating thiswe gift.must Even in the Old Testament the children them, be charitable and forgive ourselves, just asof their relyaon grace weIsrael shoulddemonstrated forgive others. So, weneed shouldtomake realthe effort in God. days Oneand example is forgive found in the theofcoming weeks to theNehemiah offenses of9:31 others who were leading the children Israel in a as Levites well as our own.

Sometimes, it helps to justof forget about timethat of is, prayer toout Godof said, “ Nevertheless them; to tryintoworship put them our mind and stop for thy great mercies’ sakeOne thouofdidst not utterly conrepeatedly mulling over them. the reasons we use norand forsake for thou art a gracious thesume phrasethem, “forgive forget�them; is because sometimes that is God.� i.e., They declared But thatfarGod hadand not theand onlymerciful way to forgive, by forgetting. better, consumed people they demore divine, isor to forsaken be able toHis forgive eveneven whilethough remembering it because he was let gracious merciful. theserved offense.

So, we should go of and those unforgiving, Graceshameful and mercy are about two sides of the coin. vindictive, feelings the past, andsame get over God gives me that I don’t deserve, and it! Grace Corrie is tenwhat Boom, who survived incarceration in a Nazi mercy is God giving meiswhat deserve.free, I am prison camp said,not “Forgiveness to setI do a prisoner andso thankful forthe God’s gracewas andyou.� mercy. People desperately to realize that prisoner

need to understand that they don’t deserve what they

Judge and by you notand be mercy judged; have. not, It is only thewill grace of condemn God that we not,not and you will not be condemned; are consumed.

Acknowledging that weforgive, deserve to andand youforsaken will be forgiven... be consumed

by God should give us a

very different attitude toward the things of God. 6:37 Be thankful forR.S.V. what Luke God has given you. Having a personal relationship with God is the most wonderful thing you could ever experience in your life. We don’t deserve it, but God is still gracious and merciful!

Page 6A • Saturday, November 2, 2019 • The Leader

Don’t forget pets when planning holiday travels to your home to care for your pet.

A good pet sitter will be bonded and insured and come over before your trip to meet the pets that he or she will be caring for during your absence. You can have the pet sitter come as many times a day as you’d like--however many pet sitters have a strict rule to come at least once a day, in order to make sure that everyone is healthy and happy at all times--so keep that in mind when planning your pet sitter budget. Many pet sitters will bring in your mail, open and close your blinds and alternate lights, in order to give the appearance of someone being at home while you’re away. Visit www.petsit.com to locate a pet sitter in your area.

Boarding is better for some pets If your pet would prefer to go somewhere else and hang out while you’re away, look into pet boarding facilities. Here in Houston, the options range from serene, cat-only boarding all the way to ranch-style fun for critters of all shapes and sizes. Plan to book early and have your pet’s vaccination records on hand if you plan to board. Your vet might be able to recommend a boarding

Dear Tabby, We have pets this year for the first time ever and we’re also traveling for the holidays. What should we do to make sure they’re taken care of while we’re away from home?

Traveling in Timbergrove Dear Traveling, From now until the New Year, time seems to go into fastforward mode. We’re all busy prepping for the holidays and the end of the year. I’m sure you’ve already made your holiday travel plans, but have you made plans for your pet? The clock is ticking, but there’s still time to make sure that everyone is happy, healthy and well-cared for this holiday season.

Pet sitters are best for homebodies If your pet is more of a homebody (like, yours truly), I’d recommend finding a pet sitter to come

facility that will suit your pet’s needs.

Let Rover ride ‘shotgun’ on a road trip Perhaps your pets would enjoy traveling with you this holiday season. If you prefer not to burden your hosts with the addition of your precious pet, look into hotels that are pet friendly. Many of the large hotel chains are pet friendly. Go to www.tripswithpets.com to see a comprehensive listing of all pet-friendly hotels.

No matter which route you take, by ensuring that your

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pets are cared for while you’re traveling, you’ll both rest easy knowing that they are in the best of care. Many boarding facilities and pet sitters will send photos, email updates and sometimes even facilitate a Facetime session between you and your pet. The best news is that you’ll be able to enjoy your time away from home this holiday, knowing that your favorite animal companion is happy and content as well.

Have a question for Tabby? Email her at deartabbyquestions@gmail. com.

This 1-year-old Lab/Pointermix never stops smiling despite spending some time in a kill shelter in Baytown. Luckily, Dottie was a favorite at the shelter and when the rescue group came calling, Dottie was smiling. Dottie is the best girl, who gets along with everyone and is just ready to find her family...maybe with you?

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THE CLASSIFIEDS.

The Leader • Saturday, November 2, 2019 • Page 7A

Wanting to run a classified ad? CALL 713-686-8494 Monday - Friday. We accept credit cards.

GARAGE/ESTATE SALE

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Free estate sale evaluations KAM Endeavors, LLC Call or text Kevin @ 713-416-5872

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Too much to list!

Friday, Nov. 1st, 8am-6pm 531 W. 30th St. Tools, clothing - baby, women’s & men’s, home decor & much more!

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Page 8A • Saturday, November 2, 2019 • The Leader

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THE PUBLIC. The Leader • Saturday, November 2, 2019 • Page 9A

Security guard killed during area armored truck robbery From Staff Reports Houston police are searching for three men involved in the fatal robbery of an armored truck Oct. 24 outside an area fast-food restaurant.

Houston Police Department Assistant Chief Pedro Lopez told reporters at the scene that the male passenger of a Loomis armored truck, identified Oct. 25 as 68-year-old Francis Hazzard, was shot in the face and killed after walking out of the Popeyes Louisiana Kitchen at 5026 Antoine Dr. at about 1:40 p.m. Lopez said the Loomis security guard, who was bringing a bag of money from the restaurant to the truck, was approached by three black males who had their faces covered and were carrying guns. Hazzard was subsequently shot during their encounter.

Lopez said the three suspects took the bag of money and fled in a gold-colored Chevrolet Tahoe that had

Photo from HPD This photo from surveillance video shows two of the suspects in the shooting death of a Loomis security guard.

been reported stolen from Harris County. Lopez said the SUV was later abandoned in the 5100 block of Viking Drive, where neighborhood video surveillance showed the suspects getting into a black Chevrolet Impala and driving away.

“Who commits a robbery at 1:30 in the afternoon in the daylight with all these witnesses around?” Lopez said. “So it was very brazen. These individuals are very dangerous, but we’re working on a few

leads. I’m pretty sure, I’m confident, we can capture these guys.”

Lopez said the driver of Loomis truck remained inside the vehicle and was unharmed.

He also said the surveillance video from outside the restaurant was “very good,” showing the suspects approaching the security guard from behind the building.

Lopez said two of the suspects were wearing black hoodies, and the third had a gray or light-colored hoodie.

They were armed with two pistols and a rifle, Lopez said.

“Our prayers go out to the family of this victim,” Lopez said.

Any witnesses who saw the black Impala leaving the 5100 block of Viking Drive, or anyone with information about the suspects or their whereabouts, in encouraged to call HPD’s Homicide Division at 713-308-3600 or Crime Stoppers at 713-222-8477.

One dead in Heights-area shooting From Staff Reports Houston police are investigating a shooting that left a man dead in the Heights last Saturday night.

The victim, 36-year-old William Thomas, was transported to Ben Taub General Hospital, where he was pronounced dead, according to the Hous-

ton Police Department.

HPD said officers responded to a shooting call at a music studio at 2701 N. Durham Dr. just before 7 p.m. Oct. 26 to find Thomas lying on the ground with multiple gunshot wounds. Police say witnesses overheard a verbal altercation before shots were fired,

then witnessed multiple black males estimated to be in their early 30s fleeing the scene in a dark-colored sedan.

Anyone with information on the suspects or the incident is encouraged to call HPD’s homicide division at 713-3083600 or the Houston Crime Stoppers at 713-222-8477.

Driver charged in area crash that killed young girl From Staff Reports

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Houston police arrested a man in connection with an area car crash last weekend that resulted in the death of a young girl.

The Houston Police Department said 37-year-old Felix Marcelino Vega has been charged with intoxication manslaughter in the 174th State District Court as a result of the Sunday afternoon crash at 2200 Katy Fwy. He was determined to be intoxicated and taken into custody at the scene, according to HPD. HPD said the collision left the victim, identified as 10-year-old Dalilah Gonzales by the Harris County Institute

terstate 10 at around 3:30 p.m. Sunday when Vega’s car struck the Honda from behind, shoving it forward into the Nissan. Gonzales was a passenger in the Honda.

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Page 10A • Saturday, November 2, 2019 • The Leader

Golf from P. 1A the property while collaborating with Doak’s Renaissance Golf Design and the Houston Parks and Recreation Department, which manages Memorial Park Golf Course.

“We’re very excited about the Grand Opening and couldn’t be happier about the work that Tom Doak did in designing this golf course,” Giles Kibbe, the Astros’ senior vice president and general counsel, said in an email. “We worked very hard to get the course, maintenance facility and driving range built in nine-and-a-half months.”

Pricey project Jason Harsh, director of golf operations for the city, said the Astros have poured about $18 million into the project. He said several bunkers have been removed and the ravines on the course will come into play more, which will make it more difficult while also improving drainage and wa-

ter conversation.

On Sept. 20, the day after Tropical Storm Imelda dumped several inches of rain on the Houston area and caused significant flooding, the sand-capped fairways on the revamped golf course were dry enough to be mowed.

While the course layout hasn’t changed much in terms of the progression of holes and overall length, Harsh said every hole but the par-4 fifth has been significantly modified. No. 3 has been lengthened from a par 4 to a par 5 and the par-5 eighth hole has been extended into the former fairway of No. 9, which has been shortened into a par 3.

No. 13 has gone from a par 5 to a drivable par 4, while No. 14 has been stretched from a par 4 to a par 5. The green for No. 17 is now fewer than 300 yards from the tee box, but it’s fronted by water.

“It’s always been the crown jewel of Houston golf,” Harsh said. “It’s even

better now.”

Wayne Vuskov, a 73-yearold golfer who has played at Memorial Park since the early 1980s, stopped by Monday to check on the progress of the course. He said he’s anxious to see the new design as well as the two-tiered driving range, but he’s concerned the improvements will come at a cost to amateur players who will be using the course for most of the calendar year.

Vuskov noticed the parking lot for the course now contains meters, with Harsh confirming that visitors will no longer be able to park there for free. Vuskov also said securing a weekend tee time was difficult before the course closed for renovation, so he worries it will be even harder to get on the remodeled course.

“It was affordable before,” Vuskov said. “It’s going to turn into a place for the rich.”

Harsh challenged that assertion, saying the city’s mission is to keep Memorial

METRO from P. 1A RO board chair Carrin Patman said. “We’re going from 7 million (in population) to 10 million by 2040. When you consider the number of folks that METRO carries now and the importance of the services it provides, we really have no choice but to build out our system.”

One of the proposed bus rapid transit lines would connect downtown to the site of the former Northwest Mall, where a proposed high-speed rail project between Houston and Dallas calls for a station. METRO’s route would run along Interstate 10 in the southern portion of the Heights.

Another proposed bus rapid transit line, along with a proposed light rail line, would extend to the North Shepherd Park & Ride.

METRO’s bond referendum appears to have widespread support across the region, but not everyone is in favor. Houston accountant Bill Frazer, one of the organizers of the Responsible Houston political action committee, said ad-

Photo by Adam Zuvanich The view from the second level of the new two-tiered practice range at Memorial Park Golf Course, which is being renovated by the Astros Golf Foundation. The course and range are set to reopen Nov. 6.

Park “affordable and accessible” to the general public.

He said the previous weekend price of about $50, which includes green and cart fees, will not increase.

Harsh also said the course is eliminating its lottery system and early morning walkups. He said golfers can secure tee times

three days in advance, on a first-come, first-served basis, beginning at 6 a.m. online at houstonmunigolf. com/book-tee-time and 9 a.m. by phone at 866-2566688.

The only limitation for players, Harsh said, is that carts must stay on the concrete paths while the

course’s new grass matures.

“We’re not changing the green fee at this time,” Harsh said. “I don’t think we’ll change it anytime soon.”

Mahaffey said the retooled Memorial Park course will be the “best golf value in the country” because it will combine a tour-worthy layout with an urban setting. Only one other municipal course in the U.S., Torrey Pines Golf Course near San Diego, is a regular host of a PGA Tour event.

Even though Memorial Park is being added to the list of tour stops, Mahaffey said he has felt a responsibility to keep the course catered to everyday players and especially juniors.

According to Harsh and Mahaffey, so do the Astros.

“This is a huge gift, in my opinion, to the golfers and the city of Houston,” Harsh said. “To have somebody come in and put this kind of money into the golf course, it’s amazing.”

Theft from P. 1A dressing the area’s flooding and infrastructure problems should be more of a priority than expanding public transit.

Frazer said METRO’s ridership statistics show a decrease in passenger miles over the last 10 years, so he does not think an expansion of services is warranted. He also said METRO should focus more on regular bus services as opposed to more costly light rail and bus rapid transit.

“We are not against public transportation,” Frazer said. “We think that better bus transportation will provide better transportation for people that need public transportation. Light rail and bus rapid transit aren’t the answer.

It doesn’t match the density requirements.”

But Frazer conceded that he’s fighting an uphill battle, saying there is “no well-funded organized effort” against the bond referendum. Responsible Houston had a remaining fund balance of fewer than $600 according to its latest campaign finance report filed with the state of Texas, while the

Moving To The Future PAC in favor of the bond item had more than $192,000 in cash on hand.

Patman said she has not encountered much criticism of METRO’s plan, which was devised with community input and will continue to be fine-tuned with community input. There are many details, including route specifics, to be determined.

The overall idea, Patman said, is to reduce congestion and pollution by encouraging Houston-area travelers to take more cars off the road and make greater use of mass transit. She said the plan calls for doubling ridership over the next 20 years and eliminating 1.4 billion pounds of greenhouse gases now emanated by automobiles.

“It is imperative that it be passed so we can prepare for our regional growth,” Patman said of the bond referendum.

“There is no sound basis on which to oppose this, which is why I think it’s garnered such widespread support.”

len bikes were distinctive and also identifiable by their serial numbers. He’s been looking at various local online sales sites but nothing has turned up yet.

“Maybe (they’ll) take them to another city,” he said.

The theft at I Cycle is part of an ongoing problem that Corporal Joe Bowden of the Harris County Precinct 1 Constable’s Office said he first became aware of when he was a contract deputy in the Heights and saw how many bikes were being stolen from people’s homes.

“It became a hobby of mine, tracking bikes,” Bowden said. “I work hand in hand with (HPD) in city limits.”

His skills were spotlighted last year in a KPRC story about Bowden recovering 64 stolen bikes at a Midtown house after some of the bikes had been advertised for sale.

Last spring, The Leader also highlighted Bowden in

a story about the arrest of a man who was subsequently convicted of stealing two bicycles from the backyard of a residence in the 2000 block of Arlington Street.

The man, Michael Derouselle, was suspected of similar thefts and burglaries in the Garden Oaks, Shepherd Park and Candlelight Park areas.

The staff at Blue Line Bike Lab, at 1504 Yale St., said Bowden helped them after the store was hit by thieves a little more than two months ago. In that case, intruders took 20 bikes valued at $30,000.

Blue Line Bike Lab manager Hunter Wendt said they had tracked some of the bikes to a garage. But by the time authorities got there, all the bikes were already gone.

Both I Cycle and Blue Line have implemented more stringent protections and security measures. But thefts elsewhere will likely continue, Bowden said.

“These are repeat of-

fenders,” Bowden said. “A lot of the time these guys scope out the (store) before. (During the theft) they are covered from head to toe and driving a stolen or borrowed vehicle.”

Bowden also notes the use of bikes as currency in the drug trade, which is not just an issue in Houston.

There are so many thefts in Portland, Oregon, that the city has a Police Bike Theft Task Force. Bike Theft Task Force Officer Dave Sanders told bikeportland.org that bicycles are good “street currency” because they’re ubiquitous as well as being easy to steal and sell.

“A lot of the new ones are being shipped out of state,” Bowden said.

That being said, Bowden said there are a number of bikes he’s got an eye out for, both online and in pawn shops, including Wurth’s stolen ones.

“If they (turn up), I’ll know,” Bowden said.

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