Greater Northside Management District
September 21, 2020
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Dear GNMD Friend,
Hello fall!
As we look forward, the District recently held a Virtual Town Hall Meeting and surveyed GNMD residents and business owners to review the last 10 years of the District and our services. The results indicate that while public safety is still the most important item for all, our constituents are also looking towards the future and how the District will look and continue to be developed.
From this feedback, we developed a petition requesting that the District provide the services outlined in the 2021-2030 Service Plan and an Executive Summary of the projects implemented from 2011-2020.
We know that there is still more to accomplish, and we hope that you will continue to work with us to improve the Greater Northside. If you are a commercial property owner in the District and are interested in supporting the District’s Service Plan and our much-needed services and programs, please call or email us.
If you have not heard from us or had a personal visit by one of our Patrol Officers, please let us know by calling (713) 229-0900. We look forward to visiting you soon.
Please contact me at (281) 914-0652 to discuss any questions, concerns or comments you have in further detail.
Sincerely,
Rebecca Reyna
Executive Director
#NorthsideStrong
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Tropical Storm Beta Update |
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A Flash Flood Watch has been extended for Houston through Wednesday morning. A Tropical Storm Warning is no longer in effect for inland Harris County.
Moderate to heavy rain associated with Beta continues to push into the region. Possible Impacts/Hazards are:
- Minor street flooding.
- Minor coastal flooding.
- Strong wind gusts.
- Isolated tornadoes.
Excessive rain could develop with the threat continuing into Wednesday. Rainfall amounts remain a very uncertain part of this storm's forecast.
There are currently no evacuation orders in place for Houston.
What the City is Doing:
The City is preparing emergency response resources to be able to meet the public safety needs of residents during the storm:
- Most Houston Health Department-affiliated COVID-19 testing sites are closed due to Tropical Storm Beta. The following sites are OPEN Tuesday, September 22:
- Ibn Sina North Shepherd Community Clinic, 5012 N Shepherd Drive: Appointment required by calling 832-426-3760.
- Ibn Sina Wilcrest Community Clinic,11226 S Wilcrest Drive: Appointment required by calling 281-495-7462.
- Houston Public Works (HPW) will temporarily lower Lake Houston to 41.5 feet in anticipation of Tropical Storm Beta. Property owners should secure property along the shoreline.
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HPW has also deployed barricades at flood-prone locations. View our maps of these locations here.
- HPW, the Houston Fire Department, and the Houston Police Department are preparing staff, facilities, and equipment for any response needs. HPW staff are also preparing debris removal equipment.
- The Fleet Management Division is pre-staging vehicles and equipment to to assist with fueling response vehicles and are preparing facility generators.
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Houston Airports is currently reviewing its hurricane plans and checklists, which includes coordinating with all stakeholders and airlines at IAH and HOU. Passengers who are flying out in the coming days need to check with their airline for delays or cancellations. Fly2Houston.com will also include important information for passengers.
Take Steps to Prepare:
Prepare your home and review your plans before a storm impacts the area.
Steps to Take Now:
- Ensure your family has 5-7 days of food, water and necessary supplies.
- This includes enough prescription medication for at least this duration, in case pharmacies and doctor's offices are closed.
- Consider the unique needs of small children, seniors, special needs family members and pets.
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Decide what you and your family will do if the storm impacts your area. Most City of Houston residents are not vulnerable to storm surge and do not need to evacuate before a hurricane or tropical storm. Vulnerable residents who require electricity may also consider evacuation in advance of a major storm. For a map of hurricane evacuation zones and mandatory evacuation areas, visit: houstonoem.org/hurricanes
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Develop a family communication plan, so that you know who to check in with after a storm. Visit readyhoustontx.gov for more information on developing a plan.
- Know how to turn off your utilities. This includes electricity, water and gas. Only turn off gas if instructed by local officials or by CenterPoint Energy.
Houston residents who might need additional assistance in evacuating during a disaster can register for the State of Texas Emergency Assistance Registry (STEAR). STEAR allows residents to provide information on their specific situation to emergency management officials who will work to help them evacuate safely or provide them with the appropriate life-sustaining help they need in a disaster. Call 2-1-1 or visit https://bit.ly/HOUSTEAR for more information.
Monitor Official Sources for Current Information: Rumors and misinformation can be common before and during major storms. It is important to seek out official information from trusted sources.
Official sources include:
Acciones de Protección
Pasos para tomar ahora:
- Asegure comida, agua, y provisones necesarios para 7 días.
- Esto incluye suficiente medicamentos con receta durante este tiempo en caso que las farmacias y las oficinas de medicos estén cerradas.
- Considera necesidades unicas para niños pequeños, personas mayores, miembros de familia con necesidades especiales, y mascotas.
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Decide que va hacer su familia si la tormenta impacta a su área. La mayoria de los residentes en la Ciudad de Houston no son vulnerables a oleadas de tormentas y no necesitan evacuar antes de un huracán o una tormenta tropical. Residentes vulnerables quienes requieren eléctricidad quisas también pueden consideren evacuar antes de una gran tormenta. Para un mapa de zonas de evacuación durante huracánes y zonas de evacuación obligatorias, visite: houstonoem.org/hurricanes
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Desarolla un plan de comunicación familiar para saber con quien comunicarse después de una tormenta. Visite readyhoustontx.gov para más información sobre cómo desarollar un plan.
- Sepa cómo apagar sus servicios públicos. Esto incluye eléctricidad, agua, y gas. Solamente apague la línea de gas si es dicho por oficiales locales o por CenterPoint Energy.
Algunos residentes tal vez requieren asistencia adicional para dejar sus hogares o si responden a una emergencia solo/a. El programa de STEAR le da la oportunidad a residentes para registrarse para asistencia en caso de un desastre. Resgístrase a sí mismo o a alguien más hoy por marcando al 2-1-1 o por visitando a www.TexasSTEAR.org.
Registrese para mensajes basados en ubicación por AlertHouston, el sistema oficial de notificaciones de emergencias de la Ciudad de Houston: www.AlertHouston.org.
Monitorea fuentes oficiales de información: Rumores y información falsa pueden ser común antes y durante tormentas. Es importante buscar información de fuentes confiadas.
Fuentes confiadas incluyen:
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Virtual Positive Interaction Program
being held Thursday, September 24
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Mayor Turner announces
Anti-Litter Campaign to properly dispose
of face masks, gloves and sanitizer wipes
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Mayor Sylvester Turner joined several city council members and community and neighborhood groups to announce an anti-litter campaign to encourage Houstonians to properly dispose of face masks, gloves, sanitizer wipes and other trash.
"Don't Let Houston Go to Waste" and "Litter is Trashy" are two of the slogans that will remind people to keep Houston clean by throwing all used items in trash cans and dumpsters. The signs also encourage everyone to do the 'PPE123."
- Wear Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) and social distance.
- Dispose of your PPE appropriately.
- STOP THE SPREAD.
"The use of proper personal protective equipment, like masks, gloves and hand sanitizer, is critically important in the fight against the spread of COVID-19," Mayor Turner said. "But we have a PPE litter problem."
The mayor named Vice Mayor Pro-Tem Martha Castex Tatum to lead the citywide anti-litter campaign. "We have all noticed the significant increase in litter around our city," said Castex-Tatum. "We must address the uptick in illegal dumping in our parks and streets because COVID waste is being washed into our storm drains and waterways."
"Litter is 100 percent preventable," said Amy Reed, executive director of Keep Houston Beautiful. "It might seem like only one glove that hit the ground or one mask that flew away. Don't trash our city. This is our home, and we want to keep it the cleanest and greenest."
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Rental Assistance Program |
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UPDATE: Landlord Enrollments & Tenant Applications
Still Being Accepted!
The BakerRipley COVID-19 Rental Assistance Program, funded by Harris County and the City of Houston, is providing rental assistance to residential tenants who live within the City of Houston and/or Harris County and are experiencing an economic hardship as a result of COVID-19.
The program will continue to accept tenant applications and landlord enrollments until all funds have been awarded.
Landlord Enrollment
Landlords can sign up as Participating Landlord once they agree to the terms and conditions of the program. Landlords will be paid directly by BakerRipley on behalf of eligible Tenants. Landlord enrollment is intended for residential rental properties located within Harris County and/or the City of Houston.
Tenant Applications
Tenants whose landlords are enrolled in the program as Participating Landlords may apply for rental assistance for past due rent. If a tenant is approved for assistance, the landlord will be paid directly by BakerRipley.
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Free COVID-19 testing is available to everyone at Houston Health Department testing sites and numerous sites operated by agency partners. Anyone can get free testing regardless of symptoms.
Proof of citizenship or insurance is not required.
To register for testing at a site operated by the Houston Health Department or inquire about a testing site nearest you, call the COVID-19 Call Center at 832-393-4220 between 7 a.m. to 4 p.m.
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The Harris County Area Agency On Aging is offering COVID19 in-home health testing to eligible adults.
To qualify, you must be an older adult 60 years or over, a person with disabilities and/or a veteran; all must be home bound.
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Free estate planning,
child custody and support classes
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During September, the City of Houston Department of Neighborhoods Programs & Services is offering free, virtual classes that focus on legal issues in the pandemic. Upcoming classes are:
- Tuesday, September 22, 1 - 3 p.m. - Create Your Own Estate Plan in a Time of COVID-19.
- Thursday, September 24, 1 - 3 p.m. - Child Custody and Divorce During COVID-19.
Click here to register for the classes. If you do not have access to the internet, call 346-339-1088 to register. You will be able to listen to the presentation by phone.
All classes are recorded, and links to the recorded sessions may be viewed here. Previous session topics were:
- How to Handle Inherited Property and Clearing Title.
- Working During COVID-19, Know Your Rights.
The classes are part of a "Month of Service" between NRCDC Houston, the City of Houston Department of Neighborhoods, Houston Volunteer Lawyers, Harris County Appraisal District, Harris County Tax Assessor-Collector’s Office, TSU Earl Carl Institute and Lone Star Legal Aid Pro.
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The Houston Food Bank is transitioning away from their large-scale Neighborhood Super Site distributions but continues to support its many partners across the region.
The food bank supports food and produce distributions, senior boxes, meal sites and more!
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Click here for a map of food distribution locations.
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Click here for a list of organizations offering food assistance.
Northside High School is providing free curbside breakfast/lunch for students K-12 weekdays from 10a.m. to 1 p.m.
If the student is not with you, please provide the student's age identification and HISD food service personnel will give you the meal. Students do not need to be enrolled in HISD. Please use the bus ramp on Morris Street.
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Help with electricity bills |
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Do you need help with your energy bill? The Community Assistance from Reliant Energy (CARE) program helps qualifying Reliant customers with their electricity bill. To find out if you qualify for assistance, call 2-1-1.
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Free, professional financial counseling |
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The Financial Empowerment Centers (FECs) provide one-to-one, professional financial counseling to Houstonians at no cost. The service is an initiative of the Mayor’s Office of Complete Communities supported by Cities for Financial Empowerment Fund and Regions Bank.
FEC counselors provide guidance to how to manage your money, pay down debt, increase saving, establish and build credit, and access safe and affordable mainstream banking products.
All services are free and available to all residents regardless of income. Counseling assistance is available in English and Spanish.
Click here for more information and to make an appointment.
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Local legal groups are working together to help Houston area residents fight evictions.
Go to www.hba.org/evictions for information on free legal representation. The site includes a self-representation kit, mediation and lawyer referrals. Anyone who has received an eviction notice should act as soon as possible!
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Free legal advice for veterans |
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Legal clinics offer free advice by phone to low-income, U.S. military veterans every Friday, 2 to 5 p.m.
The clinic is open to all low-income veterans and spouses of deceased veterans in the Houston area.
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Consejos Legales is a service of the Mexican American Bar Association and the Hispanic Bar Association that offers legal consultations by phone to residents of Houston and Harris County on the first Thursday of every month from 6 to 8 p.m. To confirm the date and time of the next Consejos Legales, check the website calendar or call the Houston Bar Association at 713-759-1133.
Consejos Legales es un programa de la Asociación Mexicana de Abogados y la Asociación Hispana de Abogados. El programa ofrece asesoría legal gratuita en español por teléfono para los residentes de Houston y el Condado de Harris el primer jueves de cada mes, entre las 6 y las 8 p.m. Para confirmar la fecha y hora de los siguientes Consejos Legales, consulte el calendario del sitio web o llame a la oficina de Houston Bar Association al (713) 759-1133.
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Domestic violence assistance |
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If you are experiencing violence because you are forced to stay with an abusive partner, call the Houston Area Women’s Center 24-hour hotline for free-and-confidential assistance.
Houston Area Women's Center
Domestic Violence Hotline
713-528-2121 TTY- 713-528-3625
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Text "food" to 877877 to find
the nearest curbside food
for children and youth up to age 18
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Register to vote!
Voter Registration Deadline: October 5, 2020
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Election officials are expecting a record turnout this year and, due to COVID-19 concerns, the early voting period will extend for an additional six days.
Make sure you are registered to vote. If possible, cast your ballot during early voting.
On Tuesday, September 22, the League of Women's Voters will host voter registration events from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. at two drive-by locations: Moody Park and Denver Harbor Park.
Early Voting: Tuesday, October 13 – 30, 2020
Last Day to Apply for Ballot by Mail: Friday, October 23, 2020 (received, not postmarked)
General & Special Elections: Tuesday, November 3, 2020
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The Ryon Civic Association is hosting a literacy event to promote reading to children.
Read Me A Story will take place at 6 p.m. on Sundays from September 27 through October 11.
Children will get to hear and participate in story time with energetic and theatrical guest readers.
Contact Monique Howard at ryoncivic@gmail.com for any questions about this event or to be a reader.
Zoom link
Topic: Ryon's Virtual Read Me A Story
Time: 6 p.m. on Sunday, September 27, October 4, October 11
Join Zoom Meeting:
Meeting ID: 730 7137 6418
Passcode: 5L6vcq
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Juice Caboose and Paint Beyond Expression are teaming up for a Fall Craft Event with the Art Bus at 3804 Elysian Street on September 26 from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. A $10 craft donation will be appreciated. |
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Receive a free certification
in IT, healthcare, finance and more
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Workforce Solutions has partnered with Coursera and Google to offer an educational opportunity for the residents in our region.
Anyone looking to receive FREE certifications in IT, healthcare, finance and more from some of the top-ranked universities can apply by October 31!
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SERJobs offers free training
for unemployed or underemployed
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SERJobs is offering FREE training to help prepare unemployed or underemployed clients for greater earning potential.
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Sign up today and start learning!
The City of Houston is now part of Microsoft’s Global Initiative that is offering free online training for high demand tech-jobs to 25 million people across the world.
You can develop a new skill or sharpen your skills for your next job with LinkedIn Learning and Microsoft Learn. Certification tests are offered at discounted rates and job-seeking tools are free.
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Spanish-speaking small business owners:
Get paid for participating in a
Small Business Administration research study
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The SBA is conducting a research study to assess its Spanish-language outreach efforts, including how to best communicate with Spanish-speaking business owners. The study is now in its third phase, which involves interviewing Spanish-dominant small business owners in 16 cities, including Houston.
Telephone interviews in Houston will take place from September 28 to October 2. Most interviews will be web-enabled, using the GoToMeeting platform. Each interview will include either two or three participants and the interviewer. Discussions will be segmented by startup and established business phases and are expected to run approximately 45 minutes.
Participants will be paid $75 for their time, and the discussions will take place entirely in Spanish.
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BID OPPORTUNITY
PRIME COMPANY: Houston Community College
PRIME PROJECT: West Houston Campus Expansion
SCOPE OF WORK:
The project consists of constructing a new 70,000 square foot, three-story tilt wall building for the HCC Northwest College. The building will include Student Services, Testing Center, Classrooms, Science Labs, Learning Commons,Administration, Building Support Services and all necessary infrastructure and MEP.
The scope of work will include:
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Detention Pond
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Utility Services
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Surface Parking
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Landscaping
BID DUE DATE: WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 14, AT 2 p.m.
The bid package must be delivered at the proposer’s expense to:
Attn: Arturo Lopez- Sr. Buyer
Houston Community College
Administration Building
3100 Main (deliver to the loading dock located in the rear of building on Rosalie Street)
Houston, Texas 77002
FOR MORE INFORMATION PLEASE CONTACT
ARTURO LOPEZ, SENIOR BUYER
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GNMD Deputy Director Anibeth Turcios
stars in Houston Community College video
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Houston Community College Online President Dr. Margaret Ford Fisher recently interviewed Anibeth Turcios, deputy director of GNMD. During the interview, Anibeth spoke about resiliency and how the GNMD partners with others to support our neighborhoods, businesses and high-level education.
Anibeth recently graduated from University of Houston-Downtown with a Master of Business Administration degree. We thought you would enjoy seeing this interview.
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Thank you, Sergeant Ortiz |
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Kudos to Sergeant Francisco "Frank" Ortiz, who recently retired after 36 years with the Houston Police Department. Sergeant Ortiz has been a valuable member of the GNMD security patrol team, and we wish him best of luck and much happiness in the future. |
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Northline Transit Center relocation meeting |
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A virtual meeting for the Northline Transit Center relocation is being held on Tuesday, September 22, from 7 to 8 p.m.
Click here for more information about the meeting.
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Learn about the Harris County Transportation Plan on October 7 at 6 p.m. |
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Vision Zero is a national initiative to eliminate traffic fatalities and severe injuries among all road users and to ensure safe, healthy, equitable mobility for all.
The Harris County Vision Zero initiative is an integrated part of the Harris County Transportation Planning, which also
includes the Multimodal Thoroughfare Plan and the Equity in Transportation Plan.
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On September 15, Mayor Turner and Houston Public Works announced a new program designed to improve streets, curbs and gutters throughout the city.
The street rehab initiative will focus on extending the life of existing infrastructure by rehabilitating street surfaces, fixing curbs, storm drains, sidewalks and bringing ramps up to accessibility standards. You can find the press release here.
Access the District H website to view the current schedule of work to be completed in District H in Year 1.
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Applications are being accepted for the Neighborhood Matching Grant Program |
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The 2020 application period for the Neighborhood Matching Grant Program is open! The program supports neighborhood beautification and improvement projects by providing dollar-for-dollar matching grant reimbursements ranging from $500 to $5,000. The application deadline is November 6, 2020.
Eligibility Requirements
Neighborhood-based organizations and civic clubs with State of Texas 501(c)(3) or 501(c)(4) non-profit certification are eligible to apply.
Neighborhood-based organizations without official nonprofit status may apply in partnership with a 501(c)(3) or 501(c)(4) organization as co-applicant.
Grant projects must represent a specific geographic area located within the Houston city limits.
The Neighborhood Matching Grant Program is administered by the Department of Neighborhoods in partnership with participating Houston City Council offices.
The program is designed to encourage civic activity among neighbors, promote volunteerism and support projects that contribute towards building stronger communities.
Click here for the application form and guidelines.
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Have you responded to the census? |
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September 30th is the Last Day!
A complete and accurate Census supports better funding for disaster and healthcare services.
Complete the survey in the safety of your home by calling 844-330-2020 or fill it out online at www.my2020census.gov.
Remember Undercounted = Underfunded.
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Greater Northside restaurant news |
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Alain, Marie Lenotre and the students of Culinary Institute Lenotre invite you to join them for their next event. |
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September 24th – 6:30 - 9:30 p.m.
at Le Bistro Houston
7070 Allensby St, Houston, TX 77022
713.358.5079
Seating is limited and our last event sold out.
Reserve your seat today for only $75 per person.
This all-inclusive fee includes five wines, a special five-course dinner
and a special presentation by a guest speaker.
First Course: Avocado & Baby Zucchini Carpaccio
Thinly sliced avocado and zucchini, served zesty dressing and horseradish cream
Gloria Ferrer Sonoma Brut
Second Course: Vanilla-Infused Scallop Tartare
Citrus and vanilla-infused, extra virgin olive oil marinated scallops
Ram’s Gate Winery Chardonnay 2013
Third Course: Honey and Black Pepper Duck
Roasted duck breast, honey and black pepper sticky sauce
Bouchaine Pinot Noir Carneros 2012
Fourth Course: Cabernet Sauvignon Braised Beef Cheek
Red wine-marinated beef cheek, slow cooked for 12 hours, served with buttery fingerling purée
Press Run Cabernet Sauvignon 2017
Fifth Course: Raspberry and Pistachio Tart
Textured fresh raspberry tart served with pistachio ice cream
Ballatore Moscato Rosé Sparkling
Please note that tickets for this event are non-refundable.
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Houston Restaurant Weeks extended |
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Houston Restaurant Weeks has been extended to September 30!
The event raises funds for the Houston Food Bank and honors founder Cleverly Stone’s incredible legacy. This fun event has raised over $16.6 million to date.
Local restaurants are serving specially priced multi-course prix fixe menus for brunch, lunch and/or dinner, many of which will include takeout.
Click here to view the list of participating restaurants.
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Celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month |
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Nuestra Palabra's Ultimate Hispanic Heritage Month showcases Latino art and culture events throughout Houston during Hispanic Heritage Month, September 15 - October 15.
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13th Annual Oktoberfest Celebration
Thursday, October 22, at 7 p.m. CST
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On Thursday, October 22, Comp-U-Dopt’s Annual Oktoberfest celebration is going virtual! Join us for a fun-filled, live-streamed event featuring a Talent Show Competition, Silent Auction and much more! Each ticket comes with an At-Home Oktoberfest Kit that will be shipped right to your door.
Thirteen million households across the U.S. still lack access to their own computer at home. Because of the generous support of individuals like you, we have provided nearly 15,000 computers into the homes of underserved children throughout the nation since the outbreak of COVID-19.
Every dollar raised from our virtual event will allow us to continue to tackle the divide in technology access and education experienced by children in our most vulnerable communities.
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