Inside Today: Photos from local youth baseball games • Page 3B
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Saturday, June 11, 2022 • Vol. 67 • No.24
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INSIDE.
Calling it a career. Laura Alaniz is retiring from Harvard Elementary, which has a new principal.
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Need a hug? Follow the rainbow paintings on West 19th Street to a “Hug Here” box.
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Worthy cause. An Oak Forest resident is co-chairing a fundraiser for cancer research.
City considers changes to sidewalk ordinance By Adam Zuvanich azuvanich@theleadernews.com Houston’s Planning & Development Department wants to offer an out for property owners who do not buy in to the city’s vision for a network of sidewalks, while still pushing the initiative forward. A city ordinance that took effect in October 2020 requires sidewalks to be constructed in front of new single-family homes and other buildings within the city limits – even on streets where there is no existing sidewalk, which is the case throughout much of Garden Oaks.
The spirit of the law is to promote walkability and increase pedestrian access and safety, but it’s resulted in a few disjointed sidewalk pieces cropping up in the neighborhood, which have become known as “sidewalks to nowhere.” In response to the latter issue, which was highlighted by The Leader in April, the planning department has proposed a series of amendments to the sidewalk ordinance that in many cases would allow property owners to pay a fee to the city instead of installing a piece of sidewalk. Such fees would go into a fund earmarked for future city sidewalk projects, with See Sidewalk P. 6A
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Local man arrested, charged with murder in February shooting death
Heights’ first digital kiosk met with mixed reviews
By Adam Zuvanich azuvanich@theleadernews.com
By Adam Zuvanich azuvanich@theleadernews.com
West 19th Street has long been a hub of the Heights – a place to shop, eat a meal, watch people and enjoy architecture and artful expressions. It also has evolved over the years, with some of its antique shops and mom-and-pop businesses giving way to regional or national chains. The street honors its storied past but continues to move forward, and the latest sign of that comes in the form of an 8-foot tall, two-sided, touchscreen computer that stands at the southeast corner of its intersection with Ashland Street – directly in front of Torchy’s Tacos and the neighboring Emerson Rose boutique. “What else would be here other than a giant smartphone?” Benjamin Spencer said during a recent visit to West 19th. “The future’s here.” The digital, wayfinding kiosk was installed April 28 and is the first of four planned for the Heights, according to Mary Benton, a spokesperson for Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner. She said the kiosk at Yale and West 7th streets, near the Heights Mercantile, was expected to go live by the end of this week, and kiosks also are planned for the intersections of West 11th Street and Heights Boulevard as well as 7th and Heights Boulevard. At least 75 kiosks will be installed across Houston as part of an agreement between the city and Ohio-based digital media company IKE Smart
Photo by Adam Zuvanich Heights resident Megan O’Sullivan interacts with the digital, wayfinding kiosk at the southeast corner of Ashland and West 19th streets. More kiosks are planned for the Heights as part of an agreement between the City of Houston and Ohio-based digital media company IKE Smart City.
City, which targets commercial corridors with high pedestrian traffic. The kiosks provide free Wi-Fi within a radius of 75 feet and serve as maps, tour guides, public information hubs and electronic billboards that generate revenue for the city. Alli Jarrett, who owns Harold’s Restaurant, Bar & Rooftop Terrace along with the buildings that house adjacent 19th See Kiosk P. 6A
Photo by Adam Zuvanich IKE Smart City’s digital, wayfinding kiosks, such as the one at Ashland and West 19th streets in the Heights, create revenue for the City of Houston through advertising.
A 31-year-old area man has been arrested and charged with murder in the February death of another man whose body was dumped in a residential driveway in Shepherd Park Plaza. Gregory Pellum was charged with murder in March and arrested June 1, according to the Houston Police Department. He is accused of killing 39-year-old Oscar Smith III, who was found dead early Feb. 5 at 1174 Chamboard Ln. Pellum is accused of shooting Smith with Pellum a rifle from the second-f loor balcony of a nearby apartment complex at 838 Oak St., according to Harris County court documents, which show that Pellum lives at that address. Pellum also has been charged with tampering with evidence, another felony, and was being held in jail on a total bond amount of $300,000, court records show. Smith is suspected to have been involved in the fatal shooting of two other men - Cris Cavazos, 26, and William Omar Franco, 27 - earlier Feb. 5 at the same apartment complex on Oak Street, according to HPD. Police said Smith was shot while fleeing the scene of the apartment, where HPD said the shootings are “believed to be drug-related.” Cavazos, Franco and Smith all died from multiple gunshot wounds, according to the Harris County medical examiner. In February, HPD announced that Shannon Washington, 42, had been arrested and charged with tampering with evidence-human corpse after allegedly leaving Smith’s body outside the Chamboard Lane home while driving by in a green Toyota Highlander. Washington allegedly told police investigators that he and Smith had gone to the Oak Street apartment complex to purchase drugs, court documents show.
Pomp and security: HISD graduations set for this weekend By Charlotte Aguilar caguilar@mcelvypartners.com
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THE INDEX.
Photo by Adam Zuvanich Houston’s Planning & Development Department has proposed amendments to the city’s 2020 sidewalk ordinance, which requires owners of new single-family homes to construct pieces of sidewalk in front of their properties, even if there is not an existing sidewalk on their street.
Heights High School Julian Seghers Joseph Maddux
Waltrip High School Jorge Garcia Christopher Luce
Scarborough High School Jackelyn Hernandez Yuliana RoaBernabe
Washington High School Daniel Bouffard Diego Delgado
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Their high school years have been defined by disruption, but this weekend, hundreds of members of the Class of 2022 from four local Houston ISD campuses are set to march across stages to collect their diplomas in ceremonies full of predictable and traditional touches. Part of that predictability, though, involves tight security, according to district officials, with HISD Police teaming up with other law enforcement agencies to control traffic, provide screening and other services. Even in the largest venues, grads will be issued a limited number of tickets for guests, and everyone will be required to pass through metal detectors, with security wands for more thorough checks, and bag inspections mandatory. No weapons will be allowed, including
pocket knives. Students will not be permitted to have cell phones or other electronics on the floor, and no one will be allowed to bring in flowers, balloons, banners, signs, noisemakers, food or drinks, except for a clear water bottle for health considerations. Friends and family who can’t attend will be able to livestream the ceremonies through a dropdown menu of schools on the HISD website at HoustonISD.org, with the feeds activated 10 minutes before the start time of each event. Security considerations aside, attendees can expect to be awash in a sea of caps and gowns in school colors, processions to the strains of “Pomp and Circumstance,” remarks from administrators, valedictorians and salutatorians, See Graduation P. 6A
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