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DEFENDER | WEEK OF AUGUST 18 | 2011
‘The Point’...
Continued from page 9 for the greater good.” “I am extremely excited about the ‘Men’s Room.’ The show provides an unfiltered look at what’s really going on in the mind of today’s Black male,” said Clyde Jiles. “Expect to laugh, learn and think. Considering the state of Black males in America, it is necessary that we voice our thoughts and opinions on certain issues to reach common ground, take action and initiate change.” Minister Aswad Walker will handle the religion aspect, tackling an array of issues. “We’ll deal with any issue that affects our quality of life,” Walker said. “No issue is too controversial or too challenging for us to discuss and figure out how we are supposed to respond to as women and men of faith. “We’ll tackle issues dealing with the economy, with the culture of ignorance and apathy that has engulfed so many of our youth, with the Black church’s feelings on a woman’s place – is it in the pulpit or not. These issues are relevant because they deal with life on this side of the grave,” Walker said. “I want listeners to be challenged to think. I want listeners to be challenged to act. From each conversation we have on Wednesdays, I want listeners to leave with a specific action they can incorporate into their faith walk so that they are always in the process of becoming better people of faith. “I also want listeners to move beyond the spiritual bigotry that plagues too many of us. I want listeners to be open to respecting the God in themselves and their neighbor – no matter that neighbor’s race, gender, sexual preference or faith tradition,” Walker added. “The Point” already has given listeners a taste of what’s to be expected. “We work tirelessly to educate, inform, entertain, empower and engage our listeners,” said Messiah Jiles. “The show will position the station as the best radio source of community information and news and more importantly will share the knowledge and expertise of Texas Southern University.”
Metro begins southeast rail line By Aswad Walker Defender
Metro officials celebrated as workers recently poured concrete for a new section of light-rail track for the first time in 10 years. The portion of rail under construction is an 80-foot section of steel rail that will serve as part of the Southeast Line that will stretch over six and one-half miles. “This is an exciting day for all of us,” said Metro Board Chairman Gilbert Garcia. Scheduled for completion in 2014, the Southeast Line will extend from its northern terminus at Smith Street downtown to the Palm Center in southeast Houston at Griggs and Beekman Roads. The Southeast Line will have split tracks on Capital and Rusk Streets. The northbound track will run along Capital Street in downtown, while its southbound counterpart will run down Rusk Street. Four of the line’s stations will be in downtown with stops at Smith, Main, Fannin, and Crawford. Transfers to the Red Line will occur at the Fannin Station. Before crossing US 59 the two tracks will converge to run together on Texas into the East End where it and the East End/Green Line diverge after Bastrop Station. From there, the line continues southward towards the next stop at Leeland. Travelling south on Scott Street leads to the next stop, which will be at the intersection with Elgin Street, on the northwest corner of the campus of the University of Houston, providing both access to the university and transfers to the University/Blue Line.
The next stop at Cleburne will also provide access to UH. The route then takes a southeastern turn onto Wheeler to the Wheeler/MLK Station. Turning onto Martin Luther King Blvd., the route will head to the MacGregor Park Station. Another southeastern turn onto Griggs will lead to the line’s southern terminus, the Palm Center Station. From here the tracks continue a short distance further into a planned storage facility for the rail. Bishop Djenaba Akida, associate pastor of the Shrine Christian Center, located on MLK Blvd., is excited to see the rail coming. “Nationally, where rail lines come, major investment dollars come with it on both sides of the tracks,” said Akida. “With the number of seniors that live in this area, the rail will make it easier for many of them to get to the medical center and other destinations critical to their health, while also bringing visitor traffic to our neighborhood. This means potentially stronger schools, more housing development, and more families.” The area has undergone a major renovation with the opening of the Houston Texans YMCA at the corner of MLK and Griggs, the opening of KIPP Liberation Academy across the street from the Shrine, and the rebuilding of Peck Elementary School on MLK closer to OST. “The rail coming down MLK makes perfect sense, and it’s right on time,” added Akida.
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The line expansion event, attended by members of the Metropolitan Transit Authority board and administration as well as dignitaries including U.S. Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee, D-Houston, took place about half a mile east of downtown just north of Rusk Street. Houston is set to receive $900 million in light-rail funding from the Federal Transit Administration, according to Lee. The grant has been delayed for almost a year because of problems with the process used by previous Metro leaders to purchase new rail cars. According to Lee, the money will not only improve Houston’s transportation system but will help create thousands of jobs through related projects and the growth of small businesses. “If you look at the landscape of the community, you will see housing that is coming because people know rail is coming to Houston,” she said. Although Metro has not yet received the $900 million grant, agency President and CEO George Greanias said the steps toward completion are moving on schedule. “We’re building the funds into our budget for next year,” said Greanias. Part of the funding will go for the Southeast Line and part for the North Line, also under construction and scheduled for completion in 2014. The third line under construction, the East End line, is being built with local money.