From: CNL District G [mailto:DistrictG@cityofhouston.net]
Sent: Thursday, August
10, 2006 3:32 PM
Subject: West Houston
Public Meeting on Crime
Dear District G Concerned Citizen,
Over the past few weeks
the District G office coordinated five community
meetings to share information with the community
about the current status of the Houston Police
Department as well as giving me the opportunity to
listen to constituent concerns. I appreciated
meeting with you and your neighbors as the District
G office moves forward to address the District's
serious crime issues.
Let me assure you and
your neighbors, I have heard your message, share
your anger and frustration, and believe the crime in
District G is unacceptable. As the last meeting
wrapped, I called a special meeting with Houston
Police Chief Harold Hurtt to call for answers to
your concerns. The District G staff also continues
to work to follow up on the issues brought forward
from the meetings, phone calls, and emails we have
received across the District.
This morning in the
meeting with Chief Hurtt, I adamantly expressed the
need for action, not excuses. Westside Command is
in need of more manpower and resources to address
the rise in crime near our homes, schools, and
businesses. As a result of the meeting and in
addition to overtime efforts that are already in
place, Chief Hurtt and Westside Command Captain
Richard Gerstner have committed the following
immediate solutions to address Westside crime:
* Additional
tactical teams and gang task force units assigned to
Westside
* Retired
officers moving into administrative positions to
allow more active duty officers on the beat
* Multiple
undercover operations focusing on apartments are
currently in effect
*
Investigative efforts are being redirected
specifically to District 20 within Westside Command
* Eleven new
officers from the recent cadet class have been
assigned to Westside
* In total,
all of these new efforts add up to 34 additional
officers on the street
Adding to police
efforts, the District G staff and I will be meeting
in the coming days with the Houston Apartment
Association, as well as owners and management teams
of area apartments identified as hotspots to address
these locations' responsibilities to securing their
properties.
As we
also discussed in the meetings, my office has
followed up with Mayor Bill White and set a public
meeting in the District at Grace Presbyterian Church
located at 10221 Ella Lee Lane for Wednesday, August
30, 2006 at 7:30 p.m. Citizens will have an
opportunity to address the Mayor as well as Chief
Hurtt.
The District G staff
and I wanted to send information as soon as we were
able to confirm details so citizens can make plans
to attend this public meeting scheduled for August
30. As we are able to gather more information
regarding various crime related issues, additional
emails will be sent to those of you who posed
specific questions not answered in this email.
I have heard your
needs, listened to your phone calls, read your
emails, and will use whatever resources necessary to
bring results to District G crime issues. Thank you
again for the opportunity to represent you within
the City of Houston.
Sincerely,
Council Member Pam Holm
Houston
City Council District G
