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.
Why am I running? I’ve worked very hard and have had a great 15 year career. I own the home of my dreams, adore my husband, have diverse interests and although I don’t have kids of my own, I enjoy my small but loving family and close friends. My only sister in Houston works at Karen Derr and Associates Realty and is devoted to her job as operations manager there. We have lunch together at least a couple times a week and go for power dog walks on Saturday and Sunday mornings to catch up. I don’t have many worries. So why am I running? Two reasons really. First I got the bug for public service early on. I come from a family of policemen. My father worked for the City of Houston most of his life and involved me and my two sisters in various local campaigns. My mother retired from the phone company and was a CWA member. My father, who worked at everything from police officer to Assistant Airport Manager, would drop me off as a kid at polls at elementary schools to push cards for his favorite candidates. I was raised to believe the process and the offices are important. In other words, serving in public office has been a lifelong dream, postponed until now due to work and family obligations. I’ve worked diligently in a family business which is in the top 25 residential real estate firms in the Houston area, with lots of responsibilities until precisely this point in 2008. Now, with the help of my family and friends, I’m ready to pursue my unfulfilled dream to serve in public office. The second reason I decided to run is that despite a busy job in my own business which promotes neighborhoods and their best qualities, I have found time to work in neighborhoods on various committees and quality of life improvement projects. I’ve tasted success in neighborhood committees and seen what consistent hard work can achieve for neighborhoods. I’ve actually been part of solutions and innovations in our community and there’s no bigger rush for me. I want to do this full time.
Just because it is the Holidays doesn’t mean I’m not our in force with supporters, meeting and greeting voters. Here’s a rundown of where myself or volunteers have be spreading the news about my candidacy for City Council…. block walking for Chris Bell, the Harris County Democrats Brown Bag Lunch to hear John Whitmire, the Brookswoods Estates Civic club monthly meeting, the Stonewall Democrats general meeting, Impact Houston mixer and strategic planning meeting, Lights in the Heights and the Tejano Democrats Holiday Party, fund raiser for Judge Steve Kirkland, Loren Jackson, Judge Kathy Stone, congratulated Adrian Garcia at the Artful Corner in the Heights, the Old Sixth Ward Holiday Party and the Lindale Park Holiday Party…whew! I think you know why I’m going to neighborhood meetings to meet you and hear your concerns but meeting and congratulating our elected officials is important too. I’m eager to network and build support for my candidacy and I want those in the political know to realize we’re running to win and out in force.
All done up for Dickens in front of our beautiful Galveston 1900 storm survivor home.
My assistant Lance Marshall, Diane Mosier and myself have been out and about making sure as many people as possible know about my campaign. And it is a great time to visit clubs and associations since it is also time for Holiday parties. Tonight Diane and I visited the Brook Woods Estates civic association and had a great time. While we were there Lance was covering for me at the Stonewall Democrats holiday party at Salud in the Montrose. He said it was absolutely a charming venue and he was met with lots of encouragement for my campaign. Over the weekend we caroled in the Heights for Mistletoe Madness among the shops and pedestrians on 19th. Karen Derr and Associates sponsors each year a caroling contest during this event in which shoppers “tip” the caroling groups with Mistletoe Mad Money. The group to collect the most wins a real cash prize. There’s nothing like live music to make an event special. I was so sorry to have to miss the Greater Heights Democrats Christmas party on Saturday but Diane Mosier, one of the clubs founders, said it was very nice in a beautiful home on Tulane in the Heights. On Sunday I volunteered to work at Dickens on the Strand and took the opportunity to get a beautiful costume from Frankel’s. I’m happy to report that Dickens was a huge success this year for Galveston. What a recovery and I’ve never been to a street festival with such fantastic food. Shrimp and chunks of onion skewered, battered and deep fried —unbelievable. I’m sure the residents who have experienced a shortage of restaurants to reopen thus far were happy to have so much good food back in the historic downtown area. Don’t worry, it will all be back before you know it.
In 2005 I had the pleasure of going to Kenya with a local charity called Starfish Kenya. The experience changed my life and my perspective. The home and school that I went to work on with Houston architect Ken Newberry and his father and step-mom and about 20 others offers a home and care to orphans with HIV or AIDS. If you have a special place in your heart, as I do for Africa, you should research this wonderful charity but did you know that Houston has many children who are orphans or who need foster care who are HIV positive? These children are served by a wonderful organization called Casa de Esperanza. This evening my friend and associate Richard Buentello invited me to sit at his sister, Esther Flores’ table at Casa’s Season of Hope Gala. It really was a pleasure to hear one couple’s story of adopting a child and the other work that is done for needy Houston children. People were certainly touched and the auction reflected it. You’d never know from the bidding that we were in a recession in Houston.
Delivering toys to LULAC
Today I attended a press conference at city hall which was arranged by City Council Member Sue Lovell for State Senator Rodney Ellis. At the end of this post I will attach the press release. Many familiar faces stepped up to the podium, including Council Members Sue Lovell, Wanda Adams, former Council Member Ada Edwards and our Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee. The statistics that were presented were shocking, especially as they related to women in Houston. In some zip codes as many as 1 in 3 are HIV positive. The point that I don’t believe was driven home hard enough is that mandatory offering of testing is important in that it prevents HIV infection and Aids. How does it prevent HIV you might ask? Because once tested positive, a patient can take precautions to not infect their sexual partners. Please read the press release about the proposed bill attached. Senator Ellis is enlisting the help at all levels of government to fight this pandemic and he assured me after his presentation that if I am elected city council, he will be looking to me for support.
PRESS RELEASE
At a press conference at City Hall, State Senator Rodney Ellis announced plans to file a bill in the upcoming session that will implement the Center for Disease Control’s 2006 recommendations for HIV testing. He was joined by Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee, Councilmembers Wanda Adams and Sue Lovell, former Councilmember Ada Edwards, Stephen L. Williams - Director of the Houston Dept. of Health and Human Services, Pastor Robert Jefferson - Cullen Baptist Church, Dena Gray and Amber David- Bread of Life, Inc., and Jeffrey Campbell - St. Hope Foundation.
The bill will require health care providers to offer HIV tests for a blood samples taken in the course of routine medical screening. The patient will maintain the option to decline. The bill also provides for reimbursement from Medicaid and private insurance plans.
The announcement comes on the 20th anniversary of World AIDS Day. This year’s theme is “leadership,” and the slogan from 2005-2010 is “Stop AIDS. Keep the Promise.”
“Two years ago the CDC gave us their recommendations on how to reduce the rate of infection for a destructive and costly disease. Last year alone there were 1,700 new HIV infections in Houston. How many of those could have been prevented if we had listened to the CDC two years ago? We need to listen now. We have to keep our promise,” said Senator Ellis.
It costs approximately $303,000 to treat each new HIV infection. If treated, 1,700 infections will take more than $500 million. An HIV test costs about $35.
Look what we found as we biked under 59 near G. R. Brown! Getting ready for the parade.
I’m a little sore today after bicycling from my office in the Heights to the East End and down the wonderful hike and bike trail that runs more or less east and west just off Harrisburg from near the Ballpark almost to Wayside. I had seen the trail many times as I trade often at Hendricks Feed on Harrisburg and had always wanted to ride it, but didn’t understand quite where it started. Monday, my assistant Lance Marshall was surprised when he arrived to work and had to change into biking clothes. It had been a long time since he had bicycled and he was a little rusty but he only ran into one post (tee hee, he wasn’t hurt.) We had a handy map published by the city of all the bike trails but going long distances in the city is still pretty tricky if you don’t like sharing lanes with cars. The parts of the trip that were on linear parks either along the bayou or converted rails were the most pleasant for riders of the caliber of Lance and me and you can really make good time if you’re not worrying about traffic or road hazards. The trip, even with all our backtracking took only about two hours. A great way to see the city. Next week kayaking? There really are many ways our neighborhoods are connected.
Because my career has been as a Realtor and because Realtors traditionally champion property rights, some folks might assume I’m not a preservationist. In fact, I am a strong supporter of preserving historically significant structures, both homes and commercial structures and have traveled widely to study other historic cities around the country. I’ve been very clear with builders that my company has represented that we would have no part in projects which violate the laws that are in place. The neighborhood I live in has struggled and has in fact lost historic homes which we all mourn. I myself own a 2nd home in Galveston built in 1876 which is very dear to me. Of course Galveston has very strong city ordinances that have been in place for many years. As a business owner, I actively support the Galveston East End Historic District. I was elected to and served on the board of directors for the Houston Heights Association. To enact measures that please a majority of us who are concerned about preserving our city’s historic structures and still respect the rights of property owners is a difficult task but it is a cause we must persevere to solve. Some neighborhoods like the Old Sixth Ward, the City’s oldest protected historic district, seem to have found viable solutions that suit the majority of property owners and protect significant structures that enrich our entire city. Other neighborhoods have not been so successful. We still have work to do. I’m told by one successful activist that building consensus is key to success. How many structures will we lose before that consensus is achieved? This is not an easy issue but I am committed to working for better solutions for our historic neighborhoods.
