Council Member Kamin’s top priority remains public safety. That includes implementing holistic approaches to reducing violent crime, tackling domestic abuse and gun violence, ushering in modern efficient technology systems, and supporting the needs of our first responders.

Tackling Gun Violence & Domestic Violence

Firearms are the leading cause of death for children in the United States, and when it comes to domestic violence, a firearm makes this terrible abuse five times more lethal. Oftentimes these tragedies are preventable, and we can each take meaningful steps to help.

That is why we continued District C's $75,000 Lock It Up Safe initiative. This safe storage initiative, which started through a partnership with Council Member Kamin and Chief Satterwhite, distributes free gun locks and safes to residents while providing life-saving education on how to keep firearms out of the hands of those who should not have them: children and criminals.

Some highlights include continued partnerships through our schools with HPD and BeSMART, like at Garden Oaks Montessori’s Spring Festival and Field Elementary’s Fall Open House. We also joined forces again with HPD for Houston’s Fourth of July Freedom Over Texas festival this summer, where we gave out over 600 locks and safes throughout the day.

While our efforts continue to keep children safe, Council Member Kamin has worked to bring more resources forward for our veteran (and active service) community. Council Member Kamin brought together key stakeholders for Suicide Prevention Day to raise awareness for Veteran mental health and suicide. Thanks to the partnership with organizations including our City and County Veteran offices, the VA, UT Health, and more, we were able to share resources and strengthen efforts to save the lives of those who have given everything in service to our nation.

Progress is continuing with the first-of-its-kind firearm injury data integration dashboard that Council Member Kamin championed and secured funding for in 2023. When you’re able to put all the statistics together in one place (when the right hand is talking to the left, so-to-speak), from first responders, health departments, and trauma centers, we will finally have an informed picture when it comes to gun violence in Houston. While it’s not ready just yet, great progress is being made that will enable health experts to determine health-based interventions to prevent gun violence. Big thanks to the Houston Health Department who has teamed up with the Council Member and trauma specialists from The Medical Center on this.

Tragically, we continue to see the dangers of firearms in domestic violence situations (a firearm makes a DV situation five times more lethal). The Council Member has been a stalwart advocate for survivors and their families, through continued support for critical organizations like Houston Area Women’s Center and Aid to Victims of Domestic Abuse (AVDA) and efforts to overturn a dangerous Fifth Circuit decision that prevented courts from prohibiting someone who was under a domestic violence restraining order possessing firearms (leaving a firearm in the hands of known domestic abusers). The case (Rahimi) was overturned by the Supreme Court, and those protections are back in place for the safety of families and law enforcement.

Council Member Kamin joined community leaders for the opening of the new Houston Area Women's Center (HAWC), which triples the center's capacity and expands access to resources for survivors of domestic abuse.

Supporting Our First Responders

Council Member Kamin continues to support local public safety efforts, investing hundreds of thousands of dollars into critical public safety resources. Keeping communities safe and supporting our first responders go hand-in-hand. That’s why as an office we also fund critical equipment needs for Police, Fire, and other public safety entities.

Here’s a few examples of where your dollars are going:

• $75,000 for HPD overtime to address hot spot crime areas and bar, nightclub, and after-hour nuisances
• $5,000 for HPD equipment, sound meters, and calibrators
• $18,000 for security cameras in Memorial Park for the safety of runners, families, and all visitors
• Advocated for $3.5M in funding for mental health services expansions, including resources for underserved populations in District C
• Approved $930,000 for final HFD Vehicle Exhaust removal systems for fire stations, further protecting firefighters from emissions exposure, including Station 37 in District C. Resources for HPD’s online crime reporting system improvements
• Approved $88,000 for HFD Water Rescue Equipment
• $2.5 million allocated to the Emergency Telehealth and Navigation (ETHAN) system, a program dedicated to reducing unnecessary ambulance transportation. This translates into over $22 million in ambulance system savings in the last 10 years

We’re not only investing in equipment and services – we also fund critical resources for our first responders. Every day, our 911 call takers are here for all of us at times when we may be at our worst. On a visit to the Houston Emergency Center and after speaking with 9-1-1 call takers and veteran suicide HOPE Local 123, Council Member Kamin was made aware that the space originally intended for call takers to decompress had fallen into disrepair and was being used as storage.

Our office funded $8,000 worth of upgrades for these rooms, creating two “Quiet Rooms” for our 911 call takers, supporting these critical responders so they can continue to support our city. We thank the General Services Department, Office of Emergency Management, and HOPE Local 123 members for working with us to bring much needed relief and support for our frontline employees.

In the Council Member’s first term, as Chair Public Safety & Homeland Security, she championed and drove forward the upgrade of the HPD Records Management System (RMS) and 911 Computer Aided Dispatch (CAD), not only bringing our city into the modern age, but improving first responder response times, create greater efficiencies, provide critical improvements in record and data keeping, and make a direct impact on public safety in our city. Both are on track, with RMS (a $30 million investment) coming online this spring. With it, we will see significant operation improvements for our first responders.

Protecting Our Neighborhoods

The Council Member has continued to sound the alarm for our neighborhoods on localized public safety concerns, quality of life issues like illegal reckless car rallies, bad-actor bars, dilapidated buildings, and increasing challenges with some short term rentals (“party houses”). In addition to funding more equipment, from publicly accessible air monitors in neighborhoods to security equipment for users at Memorial Park, to equipment for officers responding to these issues, we’ve made strides towards holding bad actors accountable. As these issues cause additional strain on our law enforcement that’s already stretched thin, Council Member Kamin continues to call for additional measures and exploration of partnership opportunities in enforcing noise violations (for example, partnering with the Harris County Constables). From having some of the first noise violation hearings that came from Council Member Kamin’s and Council Member Alcorn’s efforts to revise the Sound Ordinance, to new ordinances that are on the horizon, Council Member Kamin continues to work towards more solutions.

Short term rentals can be an economic driver for our city, but it also comes with a need for safety. Our office has continued to hear from concerned residents on this matter, and last year, meaningful steps were taken to create a regulatory framework to address these challenges. Draft language of the ordinance was heard at committee in December and we expect consideration of the item at council next month. While the Council Member is working to incorporate resident feedback and additional safety measures (including stemming the tide of sex-trafficking), and is thrilled to see this resident-driven effort come to fruition!

Our team has also been putting a stop to illegal developments that are putting neighborhoods, like Shepherd Forest, at risk. In one instance, an apartment-complex was being built with no permits, no authorization by the city, and illegal in-fill (where you bring in outside dirt to elevate the property, which creates a flood risk for surrounding homes). Residents and the Council Member are keeping a close eye as we work with city departments to issue citations and penalties on this case and many others.

Council Member Kamin is working with every level of government to draw down dollars to support our neighborhood streets and sidewalks (while getting our money’s worth).

Shovels are always in the ground throughout the District, and we’re sharing a few of the highlights of the ongoing improvements for our city. We secured Phase 2 of Durham/Shephered, a major economic corridor revitalization project that was jeopardized by the Mayor’s administration–a $100 million investment utilizing unprecedented first-of-their-kind federal grants to bring critical stormwater drainage, safer driving lanes, a shared-use path, accessible sidewalks, and more. We appreciate all the residents, neighborhood leaders, and community members who shared their voice to ensure this project could be completed (it was halfway done when the pause happened)!

In Fiscal Year 2024, over $6 million was invested in District C improvements in partnership with Houston Public Works Transportation & Drainage:

• Traffic Signals - $1.39 million
• Intersection Safety - $274,000
• Street Rehabilitation - $3.72 million
• Sidewalks Improvements - $691,000

Progress in many of our district’s large-scale Capital Projects, totaling over $130 million:

• $12 million: Heights, Brashear, Memorial Heights Paving & Drainage CIP - Construction Complete
• $21 million: Garden Oaks & Shepherd Park West Paving & Drainage CIP - Construction Complete
• $1.5 million: Cottage Grove East Phase 1 - Construction Complete
• $32 million: Cottage Grove East Phase 2 - Design Complete
• $15 million: Chateau Forest Area Paving & Drainage - Design Complete
• $10 million: Roseland Area Paving & Drainage CIP - Design Complete
• $42 million: 72-in Waterline from Crawford to Mt. Vernon - Construction Complete

Council Member Kamin continues to collaborate with neighborhood groups and city experts to put forward the most equitable, efficient projects forward for District C through our Council District Service Funds Program and Stormwater Action Team Programs (more on our drainage investments in our next section).

Some highlights include:

• Additional $100,000 earmarked for intersection safety and crossing improvements at key locations with a focus on neighborhood access to schools, community centers, and greenspace/trails.
• Over $300,000 allocated to support inlet upsizing to help mitigate neighborhood drainage coupled with mobility improvements as needed in those areas.
• Securing new street-lighting on neighborhood streets, like Minimax in Lazybrook/Timbergrove, previously left in the dark.

A few examples of projects in the pipeline:

• MKT & Waverly Intersection Safety Improvement in partnership with Memorial Heights TIRZ ($25,000)
• Atwell & Queensloch Crosswalk & Intersection Safety Improvement in partnership with ERJCC ($60,000)
• Flashing Beacon at 13th & Yale ($30,000)
• TC Jester & Stonewood Intersection Safety Improvement ($70,000)
• Harvard Elementary/Heights Area Sidewalk Improvement Package ($100,000)
• Crossing improvements for children near Poe Elementary, Stevens Elementary, and Gregory Lincoln
• Street Rehabilitation along Kelvin from Bissonnet to Quenby ($195,000)

We cannot talk about infrastructure without addressing flood prevention. Council Member Kamin’s priority has been, and continues to be, advocating for flood mitigation projects and resilient infrastructure upgrades. As we enter the second year of Council Member Kamin’s term, many shovel-ready projects in District C remain paused under the new administration, and it’s taking too long to move on drainage initiatives. Council Member Kamin will not stop sounding the alarm that these projects must move forward.

Flood mitigation projects that have already broken-ground are working – during Hurricane Beryl, the still in-progress Meyerland Detention Basin held water, and federally-funded Project Brays saved countless homes from flood risk during the storm (thank you to Rep. Lizzie Fletcher for her partnership and Commissioner Ellis for providing trails and greenspace beautification). Council approved multiple packages and funding for areas impacted by flooding from previous years.

• Continuation of Home Elevation Program -- District C had the majority of homes in this FEMA package.
• Funding for neighborhoods impacted by past flooding, including Meyerland and Braeswood.
• Approved federal stormwater drainage grants benefiting District C neighborhoods, including Montrose.
• Supported federal funding to support District C's stormwater drainage repair projects.

This year, Harris County greenlit additional flood detention to go hand-in-hand with the flood mitigation efforts along Turkey Gully – this $14 million project, advocated for and secured by Council Member Kamin, will protect hundreds of homes and businesses from flood risk in the nearby area. Houston Public Works hosted community engagement meetings in December, with construction slated to begin in 2026.

Another promise kept – Council Member Kamin’s advocacy for investment in flood-prevention infrastructure came to fruition with $9 million in stormwater drainage projects (SWAT) in the works:

• $1.4 million: Beechnut St Storm Improvements – Construction Completed
• $2 million: Shady Acres Roadside Ditch Construction – Construction Completed
• $1.7 million: Woodcrest Subdivision Phase 1 Construction – Construction Commenced
• $500,000 Cottage Grove Roadside Ditch Rehab – Construction Pending
• $800,000: Kingston Terrace Stormwater Sewer Improvements – In-Design
• $740,000: Blue Bonnet Blvd Stormwater Drainage Improvements – Funding Allocated
• $1.9 million: Ella Lee Forest Stormwater Drainage Improvements – Funding Allocated

We will continue to push for this kind of infrastructure, protecting more homes, businesses, and District C families. That includes advocating for the City taking on more ditch maintenance and providing Council Members a pathway to help support the maintenance needed in our communities.

Additionally, Council Member Kamin was appointed Vice Chair of the Resilience Committee, furthering her leadership in advocating for flood protection, climate adaptation, and critical infrastructure investments to safeguard our city’s future.

On the national stage, the Council Member was also appointed Vice Chair of the Energy, Environment and Natural Resources (EENR) Federal Advocacy Committee for the National League of Cities to provide strategic direction and guidance for NLC’s federal advocacy agenda and policy priorities on sustainability, climate change, community resilience, water infrastructure, solid waste management, and more.

Our city has experienced 11 federally declared disasters in nine years (three in 2024 alone). We know that with climate change, extreme weather events are becoming stronger and more frequent. Council Member Kamin is not letting up on the call for critical drainage and grid resiliency here in Texas.

District C was one of the areas hardest hit by both the Derecho and Hurricane Beryl, leaving thousands of residents without power for over a week, and some for nearly two weeks. Our office activated for emergency response – spanning out across all areas of the district to identify areas of need, coordinate debris removal, set up generators and cooling units at senior centers, organize meals for our most vulnerable, and escalate outages to CenterPoint.

In the aftermath of these storms, Council Member Kamin advocated tirelessly for our residents, both at Council and nationally. At the National League of Cities, Council Member Kamin was featured on a panel related to grid resiliency, taking this opportunity to raise awareness on the critical vulnerabilities of our power grid and the state’s malfeasance when it comes to utility oversight. She continues to call on CenterPoint to invest in more resilient utility infrastructure, she has consistently voted down utility rate hikes at Council, and she even asked for a refund for Houstonians impacted by the storms last year.

The office continues to focus on what we can do to help residents prepare, ensure access to lifesaving information, and have a line of communication for those in need. Council Member Kamin has funded an innovative partnership with Houston ToolBank to ensure supplies are on hand when the need arises.

Here are some of the ways District C has responded to severe weather and power failures in 2024:

Constituent Services

• Daily alerts with resources and updates, starting before storms hit.
• Direct communication with civic association and neighborhood leaders in advance of expected weather events.
• Staff members monitored inbound calls/emails to our office 7 days a week until power was restored to all.

In-action in the field:

• Stood up cooling centers for three senior homes without power or working generators to power fans/AC units (we also contacted more and made in-person checks to make sure everyone was alright).
• Provided cooling equipment to the West Gray Multi-Service CenterSC for vulnerable residents seeking shelter
• Provided tarps and supplies for senior housing in Freedmen’s Town to stop a leaking roof during a storm
• Delivered cases of water to veterans housing complexes, senior centers, apartment complexes with vulnerable populations, and West Gray Multi- Service Center
• Provided snacks and water to houses of worship for distribution to underserved communities without power and in need
• Recruited volunteers to deploy in district neighborhoods hardest hit to help clear debris from homes
• Worked with HFD Wildland Division and Public Works to clear streets blocked by downed trees Joined residents to hand out water and snacks to line-workers
• Worked with critical community and social service centers to escalate and re-establish power
• Secured temporary housing for families with disabilities impacted by the storm

The Derecho and Hurricane Beryl were so devastating because of how many trees and power lines were downed. While the Council Member continues to fight for a modern, more resilient grid, there are ways that each one of us can do our part in our own backyards. Council Member Kamin hosted two “Tree Care and Maintenance” town halls with Trees for Houston (big thanks to Heights Association and Brays Bayou Association for their partnership). You can find helpful tips for caring for your trees and storm preparation here.

District C is always preparing for the next storm. We are coordinating with Houston’s Office of Emergency Management to pre-screen locations for disaster response and recovery centers.

The Council Member also allocated $47,000 in partnership with the Houston ToolBank to utilize storm recovery equipment (including muck-and-gut supplies, debris clearing tools, generators, and more) so that volunteers will have access to the tools we need to help residents within the district following a weather disaster.

Libraries and Community Center Investments

December marked the official grand opening of the new Montrose Library location at the Montrose Collective! Lines wrapped around the block as we cut the ribbon, a clear message of the community’s excitement for this new space that blends cutting-edge facilities with the unique and vibrant spirit of Montrose. There are specialized youth, teen and adult spaces in addition to an outdoor patio right in the heart of the Montrose Collective. Normally, a brand-new library can cost upwards of $10 million (and it would have cost the city $14 million, to renovate and rehab the old facility for safety reasons). This new state-of-the-art building is an example of fiscally sound ways forward thanks to public private partnerships, like this one with Radom Capital, and an example of how this model of development can transform our neighborhoods in a fiscally responsible manner to the benefit of all.

Thank you to the HPL leadership and staff who worked tirelessly to open this critical resource, the neighborhood leaders and community members who worked hard to ensure the relocation was a success (including residents who helped pick the artwork), and to everyone who came out to join us for the grand opening.

Council Member Kamin also partnered with the Library Department to fund a BookLINK “book vending machine” at the African American History Research Center in historic Freedmen’s Town. Now in addition to the research center children and families in the neighborhood will have access to library books.

District C’s Metropolitan Multi-Service Center (often referred to as the “West Gray Multi-Service Center”), the only facility of its kind in the nation, serves countless District C families as well as our disability community.

Council Member Kamin received the Champion of Inclusion Award from the Mayor’s Office for People with Disabilities (MOPD) during the community driven Disability Celebration for her advocacy and work to support the families and residents that use West Gray every day. Our office worked to put on a Visual Fire Alarms Distribution with MOPD and Houston Fire Department, distributing this critical resource to those in need.

West Gray MSC, a critical resource for many, is in dire need of improvements. Council Member Kamin continues to find solutions to transform the facility to meet the growing needs.

• Secured $1 million in federal dollars in partnership with Congresswoman Lizzie Fletcher (and has advocated for millions more).
• City-funded repairs to HVAC system underway.

Stay-tuned for more exciting news and progress!

Improving City Services

Basic city services are the cornerstone of local government, and Council Member Kamin continues to advocate to ensure the needs of our residents are being met.

Inaccurate water billing was significantly impacting many Houstonians. Council Member Kamin advocated for several water bill relief ordinance changes that passed back in December 2023, fighting to keep money in residents’ wallets. Departments introduced a new water billing system to prevent inaccurate billing, and they are replacing over 125,000 nonfunctioning remote water meter reading devices across Houston.

Under the weight of multiple federally-declared disasters in a single year, Solid Waste crews worked diligently for months to get storm debris under control, with many working 6 days a week and into the evenings. Council Member Kamin has raised the concern that storm debris pickup should not have taken so long and continues to push for additional resources to ensure the department can function properly.

• Additional $200k for emergency purchase of parts and services for Solid Waste service vehicles to assist with collection delays
• Additional funding for Solid Waste Management technology, improving route efficiency and service productivity
• Passed operations assessment for improved service delivery
• Approved additional contractors for storm debris pickup and disposal services during Hurricane Season

Keeping Pets in Homes and Strays Off the Streets

Council Member Kamin partnered with BARC again this year to sponsor additional Rescue Rallies, waiving adoption fees for local foster organizations rescue partners. This incentive, funded by district service dollars, helps mitigate the cost of transferring animals on Code Orange or Red lists to rescue organizations.

Other ways we’re taking care of our four-legged friends:

• District Funding for “Ani-meals” Interfaith Ministries pet food delivery to residents in District C (this keeps pets in homes and off our streets).
• Additional funding for BARC spay/neuter initiatives and adoption outreach campaigns.
• Major funding boost for BARC animal adoption programs.
• Issued proclamation to organizations that are raising awareness to end puppy mills and other threats to animal well-being.

Supporting the Arts

Houston’s vibrant and diverse art community reflects the beauty of our city. Council Member Kamin was proud to support multiple grant applications, funding allocations, and local neighborhood endeavors to bring more art and culture into our neighborhoods.

• Supported grant applications for Art League Houston.
• Advocated for permit approval for the annual TRUE NORTH Heights Blvd Sculpture installation. District funded mini-murals throughout District C.
• Co-sponsored funding at Council for public art installations highlighting Houston’s diversity.
• Recognizing historical arts institutions, including District C’s Museum of Fine Arts Houston for their 100th Anniversary of bringing art and culture to our entire region.

Each year, Council passes the City’s annual budget – FY25’s budget, totaling over $6.7 billion, includes allocations over $1B for Police, $636M for Fire, $99M for Solid Waste, and more. At a time when there is uncertainty in the markets and the costs of goods and services are on the rise, every dollar counts when it comes to your family and your wallet.

Council Member Kamin is watching the bottom line when it comes to innovative service delivery, finding ways to move the ball without creating additional fiscal implications. For example, she’s leading the way on sustainable choices that ultimately save dollars – Council approved one of the first Green Stormwater Infrastructure tax abatement applications, a program introduced by Council Member Kamin’s FY21 budget amendment (more on that below).

We haven’t lost focus on ensuring tax relief and assistance for those who need it most, including investments in affordable housing, tax credits for community facilities, and more:

• No tax rate increases (the Council Member has voted to prevent tax increases every year she has served);
• Allocated $10,000 of district service dollars for Interfaith Ministries Meals-on-Wheels program for district seniors in need;
• Passed a 100% tax credit for critical childcare facilities, bringing relief thanks to a state constitutional amendment passed by Texas voters;
• Passed $100M in federal funding allocated to Housing and Community Development Department (HCDD) for affordable housing construction; and
• Passed grant funding for Infant/Early Childhood Development Enrichment Program for low to moderate income families in need.

The Council Member has raised concerns that we entered FY25 with a lower projected fund balance of $274 million (versus $401 million in FY24) with reserves rapidly at risk of depletion by future (but expected and anticipated) big-ticket items. She will continue to shine a light on fiscal irresponsible spending while, at the same time, pushing for improved service delivery. The City is facing an over $300M budget shortfall while Houstonians bear the brunt of failing city services and projected cuts.

The FY 2025 Budget included:

• $11.7M in General Fund budget reductions to achieve cost savings and efficiencies
• $25M set aside in the budget stabilization fund to address natural disasters and emergencies
• $135M transferred from property tax revenue to street and drainage projects, plus $8 million more via a council-led amendment

Council Members have never before had a designated attorney to support the policy work they do on behalf of Houstonians. Council Member Kamin successfully introduced a budget amendment, proposing the assignment of a city attorney from the City’s Legal Department to handle “Prop. A” council-led agenda items. She was able to secure a designated counsel position within the city’s legal department to assist and aid council members in their legislative duties. This was an important step for improved governance on council and a win-win for everyone: Houstonians get improved representation at no increased cost or hit to the city budget.

With 2025 well underway, this year officially marks the 10-year countdown for the goals of Houston’s Climate Action Plan to be achieved - including sustainable endeavors, a cleaner vehicle fleet, and expanding investments in alternative energy.

Much more is needed to protect Houston from extreme weather, and the Council Member is not letting up. She continues to warn that we are on borrowed time as we continue to see intensifying storms, increasing drought, and, yes, dangerous freezes. She continues to advocate for a stronger and more resilient grid, access to recycling for residential apartments (reducing waste will save millions in taxpayer dollars), and significantly more investment to protect residents from flooding. In 2024, progress towards sustainability continued:

• Approved purchase of hundreds of hybrid City fleet vehicles, reducing emissions;
• Finalized funding for electric vehicle charging stations at 5 new citywide locations, including one in District C;
• Passed COH's first-ever "Zero Emissions Public Transit Strategy" in partnership with METRO;
• Secured agreements for electric bus pilot programs in partnership with METRO;
• Approved purchase of new energy-efficient equipment for City buildings;
• Finalized plans for eco-friendly stormwater drainage upgrades benefitting District C;
• Approved investments for expanding solar power installations at municipal facilities; and
• Approved for water conservation technology for COH parks and public facilities.

Several years ago, Council Member Kamin worked to create the first tax abatement program for green stormwater infrastructure for developers (things like green roofs, green walls, bio swells...things that not only improve drainage but clean our air, cool down streets, and improve our quality of life). The program was strengthened, and the first successful incentives were approved under the new program!

Houston’s Infrastructure Design Manual (a tool utilized by developers and engineers when designing new buildings in Houston) is undergoing its annual update-- offering an important opportunity to expand and incentivize sustainable and resilient development. Council Member Kamin allocated $2,500 in partnership with local engineers and Rice University for a Green Stormwater Infrastructure study: graduate students and professors identified drainage calculations for green roofs that can then be used to incentivize the use of greenroofs as a way to increase drainage, cool buildings off, and extend the life of those very buildings. Those changers are undergoing final review and we expect them any week now!

Improving our Greenspaces and Parks

District C is home to dozens of city parks and greenspaces that are nationally recognized. Whether it’s partnering to continue nationally recognized improvements at the emerald of our city, Memorial Park, or bringing improvements to pocket and neighborhood parks, Council Member Kamin knows that our greenspaces matter.

Cottage Grove recently had a ribbon cutting for the new Cottage Grove Playground, and more pickle ball courts funded by our office are coming online.

When Mangum Manor’s playground was removed due to safety concerns without a timeline for replacement, Council Member Kamin worked alongside the neighborhood and will now be getting a new playground -- design is underway!

Other greenspace improvements:

• Continued district funding for public air monitors
• Allocated $10,000 of district service dollars for Lawrence and Milroy Parks
• Allocated $36,000 for tennis court/pickleball court resurfacing – 2024 marked the completion of construction at Halbert Park and Cleveland Park in District C!
• Ribbon cutting for the new playground at Baker SPARK Park - $5,000 of district service dollars contributed to the construction!
• Escalated and resolved park lighting issues at Halbert Park, Mangum Manor Park, Nellie Keyes Park, Lawrence Park, and Bell Park
• Park cleanups and tree plantings in District C, including Watonga Park, Bell Park and TC Jester Park
• Approved funding for new grounds maintenance equipment for HPARD.
• Finalized new guidelines for COH's Urban Forestry Program to preserve and expand tree canopies in underserved areas.
• Supported funding for street tree planting programs across District C neighborhoods.

At a time when women’s health and wellbeing is constantly being jeopardized for the sake of politics, 2024 brought forward critical efforts to support women and families in our community. From bringing greater attention to issues involving domestic violence, to securing funding for critical health programming, women’s health remains a priority for our office.

Lifting Up Survivors and Supporting Women's Health

In addition to the ongoing financial support the Council Member has voted on to fund life-saving organizations and programming (and the $10 Million allocated in 2022 for HAWCs new shelter), Council Member Kamin partnered with Planned Parenthood Gulf Coast to contribute $25,000 of district service dollars for the critical and life saving health services and screenings. In 2023, Council Member Kamin was proud to introduce a budget amendment to provide free period products in all City health facilities to help address period poverty; this protocol was officially instituted in 2024.

October is globally recognized as Domestic Violence Awareness Month – in Houston alone, 1 in 5 homicides in 2024 were a case of domestic violence by an intimate partner. Council Member Kamin came together with Aid to Victims of Domestic Abuse (AVDA) and Clear Channel Outdoor to announce the launch of their annual billboard campaign, sharing domestic violence resources and raising awareness to save lives. This is just one example of many as we strive to lift-up the work across our city:

• Approved funding for domestic violence shelter services citywide;
• Presented proclamations to both AVDA and the Houston Area Women’s Center for their tireless efforts to end domestic violence; and
• Invited United Against Human Trafficking to Council to spotlight the work they do each day to protect survivors and advocate for additional response.

Family Programming and Resources Despite the unpredictable weather in the summer of 2024, Council Member Kamin was proud to bring District C’s annual Families with Pride event back in October! We were so excited to bring this exciting event to its new home at Discovery Green, in partnership with the Greater Houston LGBTQIA+ Chamber of Commerce and the Mayor’s Office of Special Events. Thank you to the hundreds of families that joined us, the extremely generous sponsors, and countless community partners and organizations that supported the festival, and to everyone who made this event possible!

Council Member Kamin continued our partnership with CASE for Kids, allocating $70,000 to distribute to after school and summer programs benefiting over 700 students in the district!

Programs included:

• Girls on the Run at Herod Elementary
• Helms Elementary PTA programming
• HITS Theatre
• National Collegiate Readiness Institute at St. Ambrose
• Sisters Empowering S.I.S.T.A.S at the Girl Scouts of San Jacinto
• The Wood Project at Heights High School
• Evelyn Rubenstein Jewish Community Center programming

We also supported community initiatives for our unhoused/low-income youth and families:

• Approved grant funding for District C’s Covenant House Texas, an emergency shelter for youth experiencing homelessness;
• Approved grant funding for the Health Department's Congenital STI Prenatal Care campaign to raise awareness for moms and doctors;
• Approved $500K allocation for workforce development programs benefiting underserved youth; and
• Secured grants for post-secondary education access initiatives for low-income students.

The holiday season is a time when all Houstonians demonstrate our unity, strength, and sense of community. Our office partnered with local houses of worship and community organizations, donating zoo tickets for toy drives, partnering with Sysco to donate hams for meal distributions, and working with Union Pacific to distribute donated grocery store gift cards to families in the neighborhood.

Supporting our Students

Since 2023, our schools have been subject to sudden changes in administration, new policies, and other concerning changes in the wake of the hostile HISD state takeover. Council Member Kamin has remained committed to supporting our students, parents, and teachers in every possible way. This back-to-school season, Council Member Kamin worked with our faith-based community partners to distribute over 500 backpacks and hundreds of zoo tickets to children in underserved communities, in partnership with Shell and the Mayor’s Office. We also joined Tony’s Place, a non-profit organization in Montrose dedicated to assisting unhoused LGBTQ+ youth, for their “Back to School with Pride” drive, giving out gun safes and backpacks!

Constituents have also reached out to our office, seeking assistance for concerns related to school conditions, safety, and local infrastructure surrounding our schools. From school zone and signage upgrades to escalating hazardous conditions, our office has been hard at work protecting students and families.

• Allocated $100,000 of district service dollars for safe school crossing sidewalk package near Harvard Elementary
• Escalated concerns of mold, HVAC issues, crumbling facades, and more to HISD
• Approved $3.2 million for school safety crossing guards, including HISD
• Escalated need for updated parking signage around F.M. Black Middle School
• Advocated for speed limit change along Heights Blvd for students walking to school, successfully reduced to 30 mph
• Secured extension of school zone from 21st St to north of 22nd St, improving safety conditions for students attending Hamilton Middle School

From championing pre-natal wellness and paid parental leave for all city employees in her first term, to funding a new rest center this past year for our 911 call takers, when city workers have the support they need, we all benefit.

After serving for four years as Chair of Public Safety & Homeland Security and Vice-Chair of Quality of Life, Council Member Kamin was appointed as Chair of the Labor Committee, a critical opportunity to lift up the voices of those unsung heroes, often on the frontlines in communities such as ours. She is also Vice-Chair of Houston’s Resiliency Committee.

Council Member Kamin was proud to support the City Municipal Employees Union, HOPE AFSCME Local 123, in their new contract, securing critical protections for our hard-working city employees - including mandatory rest periods for those working long hours and pay increase that will make the biggest difference for some of the lowest paid. We cannot thank HOPE leadership and members enough for their voice in this effort.

This year also saw the adoption of the Houston Fire Department’s agreement. Council Member Kamin worked with Council Member Alcorn and the Budget & Fiscal Affairs Committee to host two joint-committee sessions to dive into the proposed agreement, supporting transparency and ensuring Houstonians understood the terms of the agreement. She also secured a provision that would maintain random drug testing practices in the department to ensure everyone’s safety.

Council Member Kamin moderated an HISD Bond Roundtable ahead of November's election to share critical bond information with voters and parents.

Finally, as mentioned previously, our office has heard from countless parents and families regarding the hostile state takeover of HISD. This includes significant facilities issues children have faced today. From heaters breaking during freezing temperatures to AC units failing in Houston’s heat, the Council Member rapidly responded to bring attention to inhabitable classrooms, as well as the inexcusable repair delays to schools damaged in the Derecho and Hurricane Beryl. The Council Member also identified a significant gap where teachers’ voices were being silenced and sprung into action, inviting the Houston Federation of Teachers to present at Labor Committee, offering them a platform to detail the changes under Superintendent Miles, the conditions both teachers and students are forced to endure daily, and share critical data on the impact of the takeover.

Council Member Kamin remains extremely concerned at the string of decisions negatively impacting our students, teachers, and families throughout Houston, and will continue to advocate for local control for our local schools.