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Citgo 6 execs released from Venezuela By Landan Kuhlmann LKUHLMANN@FORTBENDSTAR.COM
Carlos Anez, left, the stepson of recently-released Citgo executive Jorge Toledo of Sugar Land, speaks before a march for the Citgo 6 last October in Houston. (Staff file photo)
Families of five oil executives, including several Fort Bend County residents, have been reunited with their families after being imprisoned abroad for nearly five years. On Oct. 1, President
Joe Biden announced that five Citgo executives, and two other men were on their way home after being jailed in Venezuela since shortly before Thanksgiving 2017. Katy resident Jose Luis Zambrano, Sugar Land rsident Jorge Toledo, Zambrano's brother Alirio, Tomeu Vadell,
and Katy resident Jose Pereira are the Citgo executives who have come home, while former U.S. Marine Corporal Matthew Heath and Florida man Osman Khan were also released. Several families were reunited at an air force
SEE CITGO 6 PAGE 7
A bridge too far
City of Sugar Land working on sugar plant development By Matt deGrood MDEGROOD@FORTBENDSTAR.COM
Surrounded by the bustling city and shiny new developments, the Imperial Sugar plant stands out today as a relic of the Sugar Land that once was. Sugar Land claims its name from its history as a sugar production center, and some residents have long called on the city to preserve the derelict plant. But the city doesn’t own the site, said Doug Adolph, a spokesperson for Sugar Land. City leaders, however, are working with the owners of the property to find a developer who could help turn the site into something impressive for Sugar Land, Adolph said. “Community concerns related to the future of the Imperial Sugar site are well known and shared by city leadership,” Adolph wrote. “However, this is a delicate situation, and the city is doing everything possible to support the owner in attracting the right developer to the site and will continue to do so.” The owner and city have kept the site as it is because any changes could affect the ability to secure historic preservation money, Adolph said. The site is tentatively identified as one of five future activity centers for Sugar Land, Adolph said. The hope is that a new developer can turn the site into a mixed-use, dense and walkable area, complete with housing, dining, retail, amenities and more, Adolph said. “Our vision is to preserve and reuse the historic buildings while developing a mixed-used, walkable destination,” he said. COMFORTABLE
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Pictured are the campaign signs of Juli Mathew and Toni Smith that have been vandalized. Candidates on both sides of the aisle have spoken out about the rash of incidents that have taken place on the campaign trail. (Contributed photo)
Campaign season sees uptick in sign vandalism By Matt deGrood MDEGROOD@FORTBENDSTAR.COM
It’s almost election season and campaign signs have become the latest battleground for residents and candidates across the county, though not for the reason you may expect. More and more people have posted photos and videos online in recent weeks showing unnamed people making off with political signs in the middle of the night, shredded campaign signs littered on the ground and more. Candidates on both sides of the political aisle have spoken out against the trend in recent weeks, with some Republicans blaming the matter on rising crime while County Judge KP George said partisanship was to blame.
Ultimately, the matter has gotten so bad that District Attorney Brian Middleton earlier this month cautioned residents against vandalizing political campaign signs, reminding them they could be charged with a crime. “It is unfortunate that these crimes have occurred and they must stop,” Middleton wrote in a press release decrying an atypically high number of vandalism Campaign signs of both Robin Elackatt and KP George calls. “Destruction of have been among those torn down or vandalized. political campaign signs (Contributed photo) is not likely to affect the of both parties asoutcome of the election; deal with. George, for instance, sert they’re victims of however, the lack of civility and disrespect told the Star he’d per- vandalism, their explainvolved in these crimes sonally lost between 20 nations differed. “This is largely a oneis a degradation of our to 25 signs because of vandalism and theft. sided effort,” George community values.” The signs cost him said. Both Republicans and If a democrat was Democrats running for about $106 apiece, he Republican office told the Fort Bend said. That would be stealing Star that the trend was about $2,332 for 22 signs, George would be mad at that person and costly for candidates signs. and bad for the races to While members call it out, he said. But
most of the vandalism has happened to Democratic candidates, he said. Several Republicans disagreed. Trever Nehls, who is running against George for county judge, has posted videos on social media showing instances where he asserts his campaign signs were stolen. Representatives for Nehls did not respond to a request for comment as of Monday afternoon. But Bobby Eberle, Chairman of the Fort Bend County Republican Party, argued it was happening to all candidates and that a general rise in crime is to blame. “It’s a big deal and, to me, it ref lects rising from in Fort Bend County,” he said. SEE SIGNS PAGE 7
Fort Bend County names new director of development By Matt deGrood MDEGROOD@FORTBENDSTAR.COM
Fort Bend County has named a new director of economic opportunity and development. Carlos Guzman, the former director of the Pasadena Economic Development Corp.,
Guzman
began his job in Fort Bend County on Oct. 4, according to a news release. “Carlos has an understanding of the economic development opportunities and challenges facing Fort Bend County, he can advise our team on emerging FREE and existing economic ESTIMATES!
development issues, work with the economic development council and city economic development departments, support policy and reach out to diverse businesses,” County Judge KP George said. Guzman will oversee the county’s efforts to build development and
economic opportunities in diverse industries, according to the release. He has 16 years experience working for economic development organizations, including Dallas and the Greater Houston Partnership, according to the release.
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