Precinct 4 Your Information 2024 Issue II

strong families,

STRONG COMMUNITIES

“This year, we are building on our progress from 2023 to continue creating opportunities for all families in Harris County.”

A MESSAGE FROM COMMISSIONER LESLEY BRIONES

Ihope you and your family have been able to spend quality time together making memories and enjoying the summer!

Families are the core of strong communities, and creating a community where all families can thrive is what drives me and my Precinct 4 team.

First and foremost, public safety remains our top priority. My team and I are committed to improving safety for all people in Precinct 4 and Harris County. I am always thinking of the safety of my three daughters—and all children. In this issue of Precinct 4 Your Information, you will find a snapshot of the progress we have made in justice and safety since taking office in January 2023.

When disaster strikes, Precinct 4 steps up to keep you and your family safe. In the wake of the destructive windstorm on May 16, my Precinct 4 team and I worked day and night to lead in the recovery efforts and get our community back on its feet. Our Road & Bridge crews mobilized within minutes after the storm blew through the County to move fallen trees and clear debris, even extending their massive cleanup efforts into the City of Houston. Our team also swiftly opened distribution and cooling centers throughout our Precinct.

And we have been hard at work expanding programming for all ages at our community centers and parks. This summer, and throughout the year, we want these spaces—your spaces—to be like a second home for your family. Be sure to visit Precinct 4’s events and programs page (cp4.harriscountytx.gov/events) to see free recurring classes and special events happening at a community center near you.

It is an honor to serve the 1.2 million people of Precinct 4. I look forward to seeing you and your families at our community events, listening tour stops, and other exciting festivities across our vibrant County. Together, our strong families will keep building an even stronger community!

All my best,

SOLUTIONS FOR SAFE COMMUNITIES

As a mother, lawyer, and former judge, Commissioner Briones is dedicated to addressing the entirety of the criminal justice system to create a safe and secure environment where children, families, and communities can grow and thrive.

To improve the quality of justice and to help further reduce the court backlog, Commissioner Briones championed the addition of six new criminal district courts and one additional probate court in Harris County last year. Three of those criminal courts opened in fall of 2023, and the other three are scheduled to launch in October 2024.

Here are other updates to Precinct 4’s justice and safety initiatives:

RAISED LAW ENFORCEMENT PAY

Commissioners Court increased law enforcement officer pay with 7% raises in 2022 and 2023. Plus, Commissioners approved a 12% raise to detention officers in 2023 to improve the safety of all within the Harris County jail. Commissioner Briones is continuing to partner with law enforcement to find ways to increase officer recruitment and retention rates.

STRATEGIC ASSIGNMENT OF 911 CALLS

Since the start of the TeleDeputy program, Precinct 4 has helped triple the capacity for Harris County Sheriff’s Office (HCSO) officers to take virtual and desk calls, freeing patrol officers to respond to more urgent calls.

SUPPORTED INCARCERATED WOMEN RE-ENTERING SOCIETY

As of June 2024, 615 women have been enrolled in services through the re-entry program at the Women’s Empowerment Center, and over 395 women have been connected to financial assistance, transitional housing, food resources, and more.

NON-VIOLENT CALLS DIVERTED FROM LAW ENFORCEMENT

Since HART’s expansion into HCSO District IV, which includes Precinct 4, in 2023, there have been over 11,000 HART responses; HART has also conducted over 6,000 needs assessments to connect residents to services that address mental health and substance use, housing and shelter, and food assistance.

REDUCTION IN COURT BACKLOG

$64 million in federal American Rescue Plan Act funding has been invested to reduce the court case backlog, which has decreased nearly 60% for felony cases and 66% for misdemeanor cases.

THIS PAGE Commissioner Briones addresses the aftermath of the tornado along South Mason Road in May 2024.

Saturday, July 20, 10 a.m. – Noon Workshop at Radack Community Center 18650 Clay Road, Houston, TX 77084

Saturday, July 27, 2 – 4 p.m. Workshop at Kendall Library 609 N. Eldridge Parkway, Houston, TX 77079

Saturday, August 10 Noon – 2 p.m. Spanish Language Workshop at Burnett Bayland Community Center 6026 Chimney Rock Road, Houston, TX 77081

ENGAGING COMMUNITIES Each Step of the Way

Commissioner Briones is working hard to ensure the community is involved in every step of the government process.

Last year, she hosted 12 listening sessions throughout Precinct 4. Attendees shared their concerns and ideas about their communities, including adding usable greenspace, increasing transportation options, and addressing public safety. This year, Commissioner Briones will host quarterly inperson listening sessions and two virtual sessions.

Scan the QR code or visit bit.ly/24sepltnews for upcoming listening sessions.

COMMUNITY BUDGET MEETINGS

To ensure government is transparent and accountable to the people it serves, she will also host two budget town halls this summer to learn more about residents’ priorities and give insight into how the county leverages taxpayer dollars.

Scan the QR code or visit bit.ly/24q2newsbudget for upcoming dates.

The Harris County Apprenticeship Advantage program is expanding access to meaningful job opportunities in Harris County.

The program aims to connect approximately 1,000 residents who are traditionally underrepresented in apprenticeships with highpaying apprenticeships in construction, public transportation, and liveentertainment industries. In addition to training, high wages, and access to jobs,

Advancing Economic Opportunities

the program also provides tuition assistance and behavioral healthcare.

In October 2023, the Apprenticeship Advantage program was recognized by the White House in its “Playbook: Workforce Investments That Work” as an example of a high-quality investment.

Harris County has allocated $10.9 million in federal American Rescue Plan Act funding to the initiative. Over 550 people have signed up as of June 2024.

HARRIS COUNTY AND COMMISSIONER BRIONES ARE SUPPORTING MINORITY- AND WOMEN-OWNED BUSINESSES THROUGH WORKSHOPS THAT

CONNECT THEM WITH THE TOOLS TO BECOME AND SUCCEED AS HARRIS

COUNTY VENDORS.

SPOTS ARE STILL AVAILABLE!

Apply at npower.org/apply/program-application and hgcbctc.org/apprenticeship-readiness-program

If you are interested in attending a workshop, stay up to date on the Precinct 4 website and social media for upcoming dates, times, and locations.

@hcprecinct4

Harris County and Precinct 4 have hosted 13 workshops for current and future business owners. These meetings have helped inform attendees about the incentives of hiring interns, how to engage with government contracting opportunities, and more.

The next workshop is on:

Tuesday, August 20 from 11 a.m. to 12 p.m. Precinct 4 Hockley Community Center

ON THE GROUND

RESPONSE & RECOVERY EFFORTS AFTER HISTORIC WINDSTORM

On May 16, Harris County experienced one of its worst wind events in more than four decades. The storm, known as a derecho, brought winds estimated at 100 mph to the area, knocking down tree branches, breaking windows, and crumpling powerlines. The storm left almost 1 million homes and businesses without power, costing more than $160 million in damages and causing eight people to lose their lives.

Within minutes after the storm cleared, Precinct 4 Road & Bridge crews mobilized to move fallen trees and debris, as well as assist residents. The crews even extended their massive cleanup efforts into the City of Houston.

Since May 16, Precinct 4 has helped clear more than 138,000 cubic yards of debris (as of June 17, 2024) — that is more than 9,860 dump trucks worth of material off the streets.

In the following days, Precinct 4 also provided supplies for people in need. In partnership with the City of Houston, the Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Houston, the Houston Food Bank, the Gulf Coast AFL-CIO, various private partners, Harris County entities, Texas Department of Emergency Management, and other emergency personnel, Precinct 4 provided supplies to more than 10,000 households in the five days following the storm. The Precinct’s Community Assistance Division also delivered pallets of water, ready-to-eat meals, and battery-powered fans to two mobile home communities hit especially hard by the storm.

RECOVERY RESOURCES:

Federal Emergency Management Agency

800-621-3362 • fema.gov

Small Business Administration

800-659-2955 • SBA.gov/disaster disastercustomerservice@sba.gov

As recovery continues, FEMA individual assistance may be available to all who experienced damage or loss. The Precinct 4 website has compiled a list of resources for residents and their businesses, including support from the SBA.

Temporary Disaster Exemption

713-957-7800 • hcad.org • Help@hcad.org

Property owners who suffered damages to their homes due to the windstorm can apply for a temporary disaster exemption from the Harris Central Appraisal District, which could exempt them from a certain percentage of their property taxes. The deadline for filing is September 3, 2024. For more information, visit hcad.org.

100 MPH WINDS

$160 MILLION IN DAMAGES

138,000 CUBIC YARDS OF DEBRIS CLEARED AS OF JUNE 17, 2024

10,000+ HOUSEHOLDS RECEIVED SUPPLIES DISTRIBUTED AT FOUR SITES

SOLAR FOR ALL

DELIVERING LOWER UTILITY COSTS, GOOD JOBS, AND ENERGY INDEPENDENCE FOR HARRIS COUNTY RESIDENTS

With the Solar for All grant, Harris County will build local infrastructure as part of the broader energy transition for a new and sustainable power hub to:

Lower Utility Costs

Increased energy costs impact all residents, and locally-generated solar power through this program will reduce the cost burden on many families.

Create Good Jobs

Local union jobs will create workforce training opportunities and ensure residents benefit from the energy transition.

Build Grid Reliability

Recent power blackouts have left Texas residents fearing future outages and power grid failure. Solar for All will generate local solar power and add resilience to the local grid.

Harris County Leading

Harris County led the Texas Solar for All Coalition – a coalition of partners from 14 cities and counties – and was awarded $249.7M from the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) Solar for All program. This is a transformative, once-in-ageneration, renewable energy opportunity, and the Countyled Coalition is the only local government-led coalition to receive a grant of this size.

Coalition Members

• Harris County

• Dallas County/City of Dallas/ Tarrant County

• City of Houston

• City of San Antonio

• Opportunity Home/Housing Authority in San Antonio

• City of Austin/Austin Energy/ Travis County

• City of Waco

• Texas Energy Poverty Research Institute (TEPRI)/ Cameron County/ Willacy County/ Brownsville/ Laredo/ El Paso

• Clean Energy Fund of Texas (TxCEF)

• Houston Advanced Research Center (HARC)/Port Arthur and El Paso (outside of ERCOT)

Happier, Healthier Communities

Providing easy access to quality health services is one of Commissioner Briones’ top priorities. She is utilizing Precinct 4 community centers to bring services to those who need them most.

DENTAL SERVICES

The Harris County Public Health Mobile Dental Services Unit provides free dental checkups for both adults and children at Bayland Community Center every first and third Thursday of the month. If interested, call Bayland Community Center or HCPH Mobile Dental Services at 832-927-7373 to make an appointment.

PRODUCE DISTRIBUTION

In partnership with Common Market, Precinct 4 brings 140 boxes of free, fresh, locally sourced produce biweekly to Bayland Community Center, Burnett Bayland Community Center, and Steve Radack Community Center. Learn more by calling your closest participating community center.

HEALTH PROGRAMMING

Precinct 4 community centers provide a wide array of regularlyscheduled health programming, including a diabetes prevention program. Learn more at cp4.harriscountytx.gov/events.

YOUNG ARTIST ON THE MOVE

Commissioner Briones called on emerging artists from Alief ISD, Houston ISD, Katy ISD, Spring Branch ISD, Waller ISD, Tomball ISD and Cypress-Fairbanks ISD to help redesign the Precinct 4 bus fleet with artwork that reflects the cultural perspectives and experiences of the community. This contest will beautify Precinct 4 buses while empowering students’ voices and connecting them to local government. All seven school districts have submitted artwork. The first winner is Emma Cardenas, a Cypress-Fairbanks ISD student. Upcoming winners will be announced at the beginning of the 2024-2025 school year!

No-Cost Child Care for Precinct 4 Families

In 2022, the average cost for child care in Texas was more than $700 per month per child. Commissioner Briones knows many cannot afford these high costs, which is why she and her Commissioners Court colleagues approved over $26 million in federal American Rescue Plan Act funds for Harris County’s Early REACH program.

Early REACH connects families in need with high-quality child care at no cost to them, allowing parents to stay in the workforce.

Precinct 4 has five child care centers and more than 160 children enrolled in Early REACH. The daycare with the highest number of Early REACH spots in Precinct 4 is Grandma’s House, located in the Energy Corridor.

Resident Ashley Mallory’s two children have both been enrolled at Grandma’s House. She said she could not be more thankful for Early REACH.

“We are so grateful that the program became available,” Mallory said. “It helped my family in a time of need, financially. I love Grandma’s House, so this was just the perfect opportunity.”

In 2022, the average cost for child care in Texas was

$700 PER MONTH PER CHILD

THIS SECTION The first winner is Emma Cardenas, a Cypress-Fairbanks ISD student.

FFREE PROGRAMS

all year long!

rom educational workshops, to family-friendly events, to fitness classes, Commissioner Lesley Briones offers year-round free programming across Precinct 4’s 10 community centers and 55 parks.

The summer 2024 calendar has opportunities for everyone to learn, connect, and grow, with events that include:

• Nature Programs

• Family Fun Afternoons

• Summer Fest Game Day

• Father’s Day Celebration

• Juneteenth Event

• Harris County Public Library’s Curiosity Cruiser

• Music Classes and Live Performances

• Movie Nights

• Children’s Immunizations

• Young Audiences of Houston Arts Workshop Series

• Fitness Classes

• Open Gym Time

- COMMISSIONER LESLEY BRIONES