I don’t live near a small neighborhood park but I’m very near the huge White Oak park that runs along the bayou from Studewood. It is well used by all kinds of folks, young and old. Places where you can get in a good walk, like linear parks, are always popular but I see many of our other parks are underutilized and frankly a little run down. Don’t get me wrong, green space for the sake of green space is very important to me but I’d like to see more of our parks be centers of activity for neighborhoods. They are very important to our seniors and youths’ quality of life. They should provide not only a place to admire nature but also the space for activities that need a little more room. Dog parks are an easy way the city can provide outdoor space without a lot of expense and concrete. And concessions. It’s hot here but a cool drink or snow cone might entice me to get my exercise in. As I visit Super Neighborhoods around Houston I hope to talk more about neighborhood parks. I have a friend who just boils when he sees another expensive city park open while we have so many pressing city issues unsolved and unfunded. I agree with him. This is no time for unbridled spending but making sure the parks we already have are beautiful assets to neighborhoods,not deserted and litter strewn, is a good way to increase quality of life without spending a lot I think.
Unfortunately fund raising is a large part of a candidate’s job. But we try to make it fun for you. Or at least convenient. You’re always just a click away on this site to easy, secure giving. If you’d like to be on the Host Committee of my upcoming fund raising event, please let me know as soon as you can. It will be at the end of April and the invitations are going to print soon. Most of the invitations will be e-mailed of course, a very casual way to ask for a $1000 or more, but I think fiscal responsibility is high on everyone’s list right now and one hates to think that their donation is going towards sending more invitations for more donations. If you are reading this and want to be invited drop me an e-mail at Karen@KarenDerr.com that says “save the stamp and e-mail my invitation.”
My favorite use of campaign funds is to participate in charitable causes and events where I get my message out to voters and do some good too.
I’m told by campaign consultants that getting candidates to call to ask for donations is the hardest thing to get candidates to do. I have to say that I enjoy it on some levels because I’m asking for help and a commitment. Everyone realizes no one gets elected without help and committed voters. As I became more accomplished in my own career, I was always proud to be able to donate to candidates that I admired. A donation is a vote ahead of election day. And any amount is always welcome with the candidates I’ve supported, just as it is with me today. If finance or fund raising is your forte’, please consider joining my finance committee.
Last week I announced my candidacy for At Large 1 and as a popular late night comedienne likes to say, “what a whirl wind.” With a few switches in team responsibilities, we’re now ready for a citywide race. Everyone on the original campaign staff is on board and I’m proud to announce that Marisol Rodriguez will head up the campaign team as manager. The website is being revamped, and will be rolled out in the next days, complete with video. The support and excitement from friends who can now support me all over the city has been great.
Many of you know educaiton is my passion and has been the focus of my work in my own neighborhood. Whether it has been on my own as a good business neighbor or on committees with others, I’ve seen good things happen from just a little focus, a little money, and a little effort. Just think of all good city government should be able to do to make sure parents can keep their kids in school. My step-kids are grown and my grandkids live in Austin. I don’t get to mother them much but I’ve always been very close to my only nephew who lives here in Houston. You might say the poor thing is the focus of a lot of my attention - good at Christmas and Birthdays, maybe not so good at report card time. I remember his mom and I were interrogating him one evening late when he was about 9 years old about grades or something and he got exasperated and cried to me, “What are you doing here? You’re not even suppose to be here!” Maybe that’s how I want Houston children to feel when I’m in office. I’m not a teacher. I have no desire to run for school board. But I know keeping youth in school is just as much a community issue as a school issue. This past week I attended a LULAC gala at Brady’s Landing, saw my friend Irene Nava win a much deserved Marcella Perry prize in the Heights for her work in schools (she’s not a teacher,) helped friends raise over $3000 that night for classroom grants, gathered with friends at my office and planned a Youth Art Show with the HHA Education Committee and toured Helms Elementary with three wonderful ladies from Chicago and the National PTA who were interested in Helms’ dual language program. I make schools and youth in my oommunity my business. My nephew Jonathan goes to St. Ambrose Catholic School. His grades are no better than they were in public school but they are o.k. However, he loves his middle school. You know why? Friends and dances mainly. I want kids all over Houston to love going to their schools. If teachers can make sure learning is happening in the schools, the community should be able to make sure movies and dances are happening outside the schools, close to home, with neighborhood kids connected by safe sidewalks. I believe our teachers cannot do it all and parents need community support too. I guess I want to be a nosy aunt at city hall for Houston kids. I’m asking you to vote for me in November.
Next Saturday, February 28, from 2 to 4, we’ll be having an old fashioned patriotic grand opening of our headquarters at my house in the Heights. We’ll have a gourmet hot dog bar and chili pie, suds and soda AND apple pie, of course. The campaign has it’s own space over the garage but I have to say my house has a revolving door these days with all the volunteers coming and going. I actually love it. I encourage neighborhood guests to walk or ride bikes and we’ll have some give aways for everyone who attends. (Do yard signs count as a giveaway?) The whole campaign team will be on hand to tell you about volunteer opportunities and I will be there, of course, to visit and discuss city concerns. Stop by if you can. I’d love to see you and celebrate the campaign process with some old fashioned patiotic fun. 448 Columbia is the addres. Time: 2pm to 4pm
I’m finding out in politics that the term block walking can accomplish many things. Tomorrow we will block walk for the third weekend. What a strange and wonderfully American course of action…walking door to door to remind voters that a special election is now officially called. It is more fun than you’d think and I have not experienced anything but kind words to date while walking for votes. It may seem like an inefficient way to communicate but really it is not. With one door knock I can inform, compel, poll and just connect with a neighbor I may need to know in the future. In my real estate business we had an ad which stated “People Love Porches.” When you are knocking on doors for your cause or your canditate those porches are a good place to come together. I invite you to try it with us one weekend.
Last Thursday I turned 50 years old. I have to say that in looking back on accomplishments as we tend to do at times like this, this race for public office is already a proud accomplishment for me. It is a wonderful time indeed to be seeking to serve. And through hard work by me, my family and friends, I seem to be doing well in this race which will hopefully be official on Wednesday of next week. Of course I won’t be happy “just to be nominated” and nothing in politics is a sure thing so I’m ready to quadruple my efforts and energies as the election really begins. I hope you’ll join me in this exciting time for Houston neighborhoods. Not just exciting because of my campaign but because of the new energy for neighborhood quality of life improvement and atmosphere of innovation regarding urban living that I’m seeing everywhere I go. Yes, we can, indeed.
It has been a real pleasure getting out and about in the city to answer President Obama’s call to service. I’m delighted with the general mood of Houstonians these days, at least where I’ve been hanging out. This weekend I joined the Heights Democrats and the Tejano Democrats to pick up trash along White Oak Bayou. It was a great time of camaraderie for all that attended, even among political opponents. And we picked up some interesting items. Yes we wore gloves. One volunteer found a real message in a bottle washed up during the hurricane. Today myself and some of our volunteers attended an event in Independence Heights, the first incorporated Black city in Texas. I highly recommend you visit http://indepheights.rice.edu (no www) to learn more about the facinating history of this sister city to the Houston Heights. The event was the community painting of a wonderful mural depicting Dr. King and President Obama and their famous quotes “I have a dream…” and “Yes we can…” Orgainizers say the turn out far surpassed their expectations. There was a food drive for their pantry, a bazzar, games and food. The mural painting brought together people from the neighborhood and people from all over looking for a project to get involved in to answer our new president’s call to give of yourself. With kids out of school, everyone was included, both young and old. I’d love to hear about how you answered the call to service.
Voluntary HOA’s and Civic Associations are on my agenda almost every night of the week now. Houston’s strongest and most successful neighborhoods have one thing in common….an organized and vital HOA or civic club. For the historic and older neighborhoods, most of the HOA’s are voluntary but that is o.k. Some meet quarterly but the most successful meet monthly, even if the meeting content is sometimes just social in nature. The key is to stay connected and know your neighbors and business owners. When serious issues do arise, you’ll know each others talents and concerns. A functioning HOA also makes it easier for your elected officials to address you and reach out to a neighborhood. As a Realtor for over 18 years, I appreciate neighborhood associations and the services they provide. If your neighborhood decides to organize a constable program or neighborhood watch, the HOA’s role will be invaluable, especially when it comes to communication. If I can help you with your HOA or your community in forming a neighborhood association please contact me. I’d be glad to help.
I’m not one for anticipation. I like to live in the moment. Enjoy today. But I have to say I’m looking forward to the new year ahead of us. It will bring much change both personally and hopefully for our country. And the City of Houston has some changes to look forward to also. If things go as planned I’ll be able to officially designate my campaign treasurer early in January and start doing all the things we need to do to reach as many voters as possible in a very short time. I love a challenge and well planned hard work. No, I”m not a glutton for punishment but winning in November’s special election will be just the beginning of the achievements we’ll accomplish on City Council. I’m getting more excited by the moment, not about the election but about the job I’ll be able to do for the neighborhoods I’ll serve when elected.