Mayoral candidate Brown plans to strengthen neighborhood council

The Tribune - Saturday, May 23, 2009

The decentralization of the City of Houston could be advantageous to Kingwood residents, according to mayoral candidate Peter Brown. Brown met with members of the Kingwood Super Neighborhood Council on May 18, and expressed the need for a stronger local group.

“We need to empower and fund SNC like in other cities,” said Brown.

Further enhancements of SNC might include the assignment of a small staff, and the development of a neighborhood plan that would be more than a “wish list.”

Brown also discussed the possibility of City Hall satellite locations, and said that they would work well with the current City Council system.  He said he supports a decentralized, restructured police department, saying that with centralized systems, “there is no accountability.” Brown called the situation a “leadership opportunity for the next mayor to plow new ground.”

Brown also outlined four concerns for the city: strengthening the Houston economy; making neighborhoods safer; doing a better job at protecting neighborhoods; and creating a plan for the city’s future. SNC member Robert Westover questioned a lack of sewage lift station generators that have been expected in the Kingwood area since Hurricane Ike. “It’s one month before hurricane season,” said Westover, “and still no generators.”

Brown explained that although there have been discussions regarding raising energy rates to cover costs from the storm, he does not support the plan. He was critical of CenterPoint’s efforts, saying that they do not have a plan, and there are no maps of critical information. Brown said that he is in support of smart electrical grids. SNC President Bob Rehak asked Brown to comment on the lack of access to Lake Houston Park from Kingwood. Rehak was active in advocating for a failed plan for the entrance to the city’s newest asset.

“There is not an entrance inside the city,” said Rehak.

Brown said that based on his understating of the issue, he is in support of creating an entrance, and affirmed that it is “not too late.”

“It seems to me you want to interconnect all of the trails and greenbelts,” said Brown. He continued by saying that the park should be “directly connected from where the people are to Lake Houston Park.”

Brown also said that there needs to be community support in order to change the plan.

Brown finalized his comments by asking, “What can the City of Houston do for Kingwood? I’m interested in knowing the answer to that question.”

The Kingwood SNC meets on the third Monday of the month at the Woodland Hills community room.

The public is encouraged to attend.