The District J Journal – January 26, 2015

Sharpstown High School Groundbreaking

As has been previously announced, Sharpstown High School is scheduled to be entirely rebuilt! The bond program passed by HISD in 2012 allocated $55 million towards this effort. Construction will not actually begin until mid-to-late 2015.

I hope that you will join me in attending the Sharpstown High School Groundbreaking Ceremony on Saturday, February 7th at 10am. The ceremony will take place at the Spark Park on campus, which fronts Bissonnet. The event will be attended by former alumni, community members, and elected officials.

The rebuilt school will be an exciting addition to the Sharpstown community, and will provide a new and positive educational environment for children in the area. I hope you are able to attend this important groundbreaking with me. And as always…Go Apollos!

Thank You,

-Mike Laster, Council Member – District J

Gulfton Skatepark Launch Event

Please save the date for Tuesday, January 27th, 2015 at 4:30pm as your District J office will be hosting the Gulfton Skatepark Launch Event at Burnett Bayland Park (6026 Chimney Rock 77081, enter off Gulfton St.)

Please join us along with Mayor Parker; Joe Turner, Director, Houston Parks and Recreation Department; Angela Blanchard, President & CEO, Neighborhood Centers, Inc.; Lee Vela, Vice President of Public Affairs, Clear Channel Outdoor; the Gulfton Youth, and other residents of the Gulfton community.

At this event, we will be announcing plans for the skatepark, monies already secured for the project, and the initiation of a community wide fundraising effort.

Single Stream Recycling Expanding City-Wide

Almost 105,000 homes city-wide

will be receiving “big green bins” by mid-March. This will constitute the final roll-out of the City’s Single-Stream Recycling Program! In District J, Braeburn Valley West is scheduled to receive single-stream recycling as a part of this roll-out.

First delivery of the bins will begin Monday, January 26th, 2015, with delivery scheduled to be completed over a six week period. Initial collections for new bin recipients will begin on either March 2nd  (“Week A”) or March 9th (“Week B”) depending on what collection schedule you are assigned to. All new homes will also be receiving their schedule by mail, as well as attached to the inside of the bins upon delivery.

To accommodate for new routes required by the expansion, there will also be collection schedule changes for about 69,000 homes, from “Week A” to “Week B” pickup or vice-versa. Garbage pickup days will not change for anyone. All residents who are subject to this change will receive a letter in the mail detailing their new schedule. Your District J office will broadcast this information as soon as it is made available.

Police Chief Hosting Town Hall 

Houston Police Chief Charles A. McClelland, Jr. is asking you to mark your calendars for an HPD Town Hall Meeting on Saturday, February 7. 

The Chief is inviting you and your neighbors to meet with him and top HPD commanders at the HPD Citywide Town Hall Meeting, from 10 a.m. to Noon on Saturday, February 7, at the Granville M. Sawyer Auditorium, Texas Southern University Campus, 3100 Cleburne Street. Free parking will be provided on the TSU campus.

HPD will take questions one-on-one and in group settings to find out what issues are of most importance to you and your neighbors.  Everyone is encouraged to attend and to voice concerns and ask questions.

Please be sure to attend this event as you will be able to break into smaller groups to meet with HPD patrol captains who oversee your neighborhoods, at the end of the event.