I don't know how many of you are aware of the Houston Super Neighborhood program, but I attended the Greater Heights, Washington Avenue, Memorial Park Super Neighborhood meeting last night with Mayor Brown, our city councilman (Gabe Vasquez) and a number of other heads of city departments like Public Waste, Planning & Development, Parks, etc. I have to admit that I was impressed with the efficiency and tenor of the meeting. The city has been very responsive to issues and this meeting really re-inforced that. If you live in Houston and haven't heard of the Super Neighborhoods, it is a way of grouping various neighborhoods together into Super Neighborhoods to develop better relationships with city government. Mayor Brown formed the groups and, at least for the Heights area, it has been a tremendous success. Basically, instead of maybe 100 families in a neighborhood trying to deal with the city, you forge alliances with other neighborhoods in your area to create a group of 1000 or more families. As you can imagine, this carries a lot more political clout than just a couple hundred disorganized people. Check out http://www.cityofhouston.gov/mayoroffice/snc.html for more info and get involved if you are in Houston. My wife and I have decided to get involved in our local group because we want to better our neighborhood. ------------------ The internet is about the free exchange and sale of other people's ideas. - Futurama
Glad you posted this Jeff...I give Mayor Brown credit here (something I don't do often) for implementing a really promising program that encourages civic contributions. I'm all for localism!!! Good for you for getting involoved...I expected nothing less from you! ------------------
Yep. Next thing you know, they'll be taking some old lady's house over $14. ------------------ Houston Sports Board Film Dallas.com AntiBud.com
Hardy har har. The key to this is that it is government centered. They set it up. They helped organize it. However, it is neighborhood run. The only problem is if your neighborhoods don't get involved. My grandparents live in Timbergrove Manor, literally 4 blocks west of me. They chose to go with Timbergrove and Lazybrook because they are a more conservative, primarily white group of neighborhoods while the Heights, Washington and Memorial Park are predominantly Hispanic and liberal. Their councilman is Tatro (republican) and ours is Vasquez (democrat). The problem is that the Timbergrove group hasn't done anything. They are disorganized and don't communicate well with one another. Personally, I would have fought to get in with the Heights. Despite the "liberal" tag, it is a VERY effective community at taking care of itself. The Heights Association, West Heights Association, Heights Community Development Corporation, West End District and Washington Avenue Coalition are all very active in the community and are terrific at getting things done. ------------------ The internet is about the free exchange and sale of other people's ideas. - Futurama
Ha ha Jeff, You can look after my house while I am in the ATL since we are the same Super Neighborhood! Take care of it! ------------------ "You sanctimonious philistines, who scoff at me!"
It's at least somewhat ironic to me that Kingwood is its own Super Neighborhood. Given the definition of the SNs: ...a way of grouping various neighborhoods together into Super Neighborhoods to develop better relationships with city government. It's just funny to me since a) Kingwood's not grouped with anyone and b) Kingwood fought so vigorously against annexation. Doesn't seem like Kingwood would be all that interested in establishing a better relationship with the Houston City Council, unless it's to work on de-annexation laws. ------------------ "It's a funny thing, 'friends' You got beginnings and you got ends I guess I'll see you when we're ashes again-- Chris Robinson [This message has been edited by BrianKagy (edited June 06, 2001).]
I've found this website which describes the Super Neighborhoods and provides socio-economic data. I've been using it to help me find a neighborhood to buy a house in. Great resource. http://www.ci.houston.tx.us/pd/superNeigh.htm ------------------ RealGM Gafford Art Artisan Cakes
I'm sure Kingwood wanted NO part of any other neighborhood. Besides, there aren't any other close geographic locations to pair with. The next closest area for them would be south of the Beltway which is predominantly African American and Hispanic. I don't see THAT happening. ------------------ The internet is about the free exchange and sale of other people's ideas. - Futurama
Yeah, Kingwood may have accepted its fate regarding annexation, but it will be a generation or more before it is truly of Houston. My ex-roommate's father led the fight against annexation, and while I can't claim to know him particularly well I can tell you that he struck me as a man of principle. So I highly doubt he's shrugged his shoulders and said "Well, tough loss, but let's welcome Houston with open arms". The bullcrap with the fleet of Houston PD squad cars on the day of annexation did not help, either. Anway, Jeff, you're right. Geographically speaking, there's no community to link Kingwood with. Politically speaking, there's no way a representative of a minority community would agree to water-down his or her district by adding 30,000-plus conservative white voters to it (and the converse is true). And emotionally speaking, I doubt Kingwood wants any reminders that it's nothing more than part of a collection of communities anyway. ------------------ "It's a funny thing, 'friends' You got beginnings and you got ends I guess I'll see you when we're ashes again-- Chris Robinson
Actually, Atascocita is right next to Kingwood and would have been a great match for Kingwood considering it is made up of mostly white middle to upper middle class people. You are probably right however about their reluctance to pair with ANY neighborhood. I live in Atascocita and some people from Kingwood treat people from my community like redheaded stepchildren. Not that there is anything wrong with redheaded stepchildren. ------------------
I thought Atascocita was in the county, not the city. ------------------ The internet is about the free exchange and sale of other people's ideas. - Futurama
If you'll look here http://www.ci.houston.tx.us/pd/map.htm you'll see that the only Super Neighborhood that would make geographic sense to link up with Kingwood is the Lake Houston area. And really, given that Kingwood is like 10 times the size of Super Neighborhoods in the loop, it makes sense to not make it any bigger. ------------------ RealGM Gafford Art Artisan Cakes
You're right, Jeff, that completely slipped my mind. I always seem to forget that we're not part of Houston eventhough it nearly surrounds us. ------------------
