This Week: Early Voting Underway; Construction Begins on Playground for All Abilities at Oak Forest Park; Deadline Approaching: Neighborhood Matching Grant Program.
Early Voting Underway
Week Two of Early Voting for the 2019 Election is underway. Voters will choose in races for Mayor, City Controller, all Council Members, HISD Trustees, and 10 state propositions. The League of Women Voters – Houston provides a nonpartisan voter’s guide.
Early Voting Locations are open to all voters city-wide and two are located in District C: the W. Gray Metropolitan Multi-Service Center and the Heights SPJST Lodge 88.
Early Voting hours are:
Sunday, October 27th: 1PM – 6PM
Monday, October 28th – Friday, November 1st: 7AM – 7PM
Under a new initiative from Harris County Clerk Diane Trautman, voters may now utilize ANY of the 700+ Voting Locations to cast their ballot on Election Day, which is Tuesday, November 5th.
Please note that the identification requirements to vote HAVE CHANGED in recent years. Voters who do not have a photo ID MAY STILL VOTE if they present an approved supporting document, such as a valid Voter Registration Card, an original Birth Certificate, a copy of or an original bank statement or current utility bill, or other options. Voters who are unable to provide an approved photo ID or supporting document MAY STILL VOTE provisionally. For further information, please review the Harris County Clerk’s guidelines on Identification Required for Voting.
Construction Begins on Playground for All Abilities at Oak Forest Park
Mayor Pro Tem Cohen and her colleagues approved an inter-local agreement between the City of Houston and the Houston Parks Board for the construction of a Playground for All Abilities at Oak Forest Park. The new playground will be specifically built to be fun and inclusive for all children, with and without disabilities. Mayor Pro Tem Cohen was proud to donate $150,000 from her Council District Service Fund for this project. The Houston Parks and Recreation Department allocated $120,000 and the Oak Forest community raised an incredible $500,000, making this the first neighborhood-initiated inclusive playground in Houston. Construction will begin immediately and is expected to be complete in Spring 2020.
Deadline Approaching: Neighborhood Matching Grant Program
The Neighborhood Matching Grant Program was established to help neighborhoods fund community beautification and improvement projects via matching grant reimbursements for up to 50% of project costs.
In past years, Mayor Pro Tem Cohen has allocated $45,000 in Council District Service Fund resources to this program. Example projects have included a new swingset for Nellie Keyes Park in the Washington Corridor, street sign-toppers that identify Yale St as the first Green Corridor, esplanade improvements in the Maplewood South/North communinty, and more.
In partnership with Council Offices, the Department of Neighborhoods will administer grants from $500 – $5000 and will accept applications through Friday, November 1st at 5PM. Interested neighborhood groups and civic clubs that are registered 501(c)3 or 501(c)4 organizations may review the Information Packet and Application and submit as directed.