Commerce, Justice and Science Requests
Control, Command and Interoperability Laboratory and Test Bed Facility - The University of Houston System: I am requesting $2 million dollars for this project. The Southwest Public Safety Technology Center (SWTC) proposes the creation of a Control, Command and Interoperability Laboratory and Test Bed. Founded in 2005 by the University of Houston in partnership with the Sheriffs’ Association of Texas (SAT), SWTC conducts the full range of research, development, testing, and evaluation activities in an effort to provide state-of-the-art solutions to the law enforcement, public safety, and homeland security communities. SWTC is a multi-disciplinary center designed to serve the entire public safety and emergency management workforce – from law enforcement and fire services to emergency medical and emergency management services. SWTC operates through a unique test bed environment, one that is geographically dispersed in order to effectively address both rural and urban public safety/homeland security issues and to integrate strategies and resources for maximum impact.
Gang Identification and Enforcement Unit – Harris County Constable Precinct 6: Funds will be used to provide a uniform manner of gang identification, gang prevention and gang crime enforcement within the Harris County Precinct 6 by hiring a deputy and giving them the tools and training to decrease crime in the precinct area. The area has a very high gang influence on the communities of precinct six (6). Because the precinct communities are approximately in the middle of the Houston metropolitan area it is a transit corridor for other gangs in the Houston area. This makes it a high area for gang activities. There are approximately fifteen (15) to twenty (20) gangs in the precinct (6) area; the two largest are Houston and Texas Syndicate. These two gangs control all gang actives in the precinct and the Houston area. I will be requesting$114,000 for this project.
Houston Interoperability Initiative - City of Houston: The City of Houston is seeking funding to acquire interoperable communications equipment for its first responders. The City is implementing a new, 700MHz, P25-compliant trunked public safety radio system that will provide full and continuous interoperability with the 800MHz regional radio system owned and operated by Harris County. I am requesting $3.71 million for this project.
The Juvenile Justice Initiative - HoustonWorks USA: HoustonWorks USA is committed to reclaiming our juveniles through preventive programs, educational and rehabilitative services. Many youth are lost in the cracks in the educational systems which sometimes lead to misappropriated behavior, lagging behind in school and even dropping out of school. Studies show that detention has a profoundly negative impact on young people. Economists have shown that the process of incarcerating a young person reduces their future earnings and ability to remain in the workforce.
HoustonWorks USA objective is to serves youth that are in the Juvenile Justice system or has been a part of the system in the past. The program will provide the necessary tools for youth to identify their weak areas, address them, and get back on track towards graduation. The program will also serve as a bridge to a higher education or employment. The program will take a holistic approach by working with the youth, the family, the school and the community to address the needs of youth. I am requesting $2 million for this project.
Preventing Violence Against Women – Harris County Constable Precinct 6: Funding will used to provide a uniform manner of handling violent crimes against woman with-in this precinct by supporting an investigating deputy for the precinct. This way cases will be worked on 24 hours a day and have a faster completion time. The investigating deputy shall make the scene when a incident is reported and interview all victim(s), suspects(s), and witness(s) while at the scene. Collect all evidence at scene and provide the victim(s) with a written notification of their “Victim Rights" found in the departmental issued Victim Assistance pamphlet. The investigator shall initiate a case report and post the case on the office information board so that all patrol deputies may be informed of the case. I am requesting $105,000 for this project.
Public Safety Institute - Houston Community College: The Public Safety Institute (“PSI”) is a high tech facility designed to train fire fighters, law enforcement, medical technicians and other first responders. HCC is presently providing training for local and federal law enforcement officers within the confines of 10,000 square foot burn building, (2) a state-of-the art training facility that includes a 10,000 square foot tower for fire and rescue training, and a 25,000 square foot firing range. This project DOES NOT require brick and mortar funding; rather, funding support would help with equipment acquisitions and programs related to safety training initiatives. I am requesting $247,000 for this project.
School Resource Officer Program – Harris County Constable Precinct 6: Funds will be used to establish a Truancy Prevention and Enforcement unit, provide a uniform fashion of truancy prevention, truancy enforcement within the Harris County Precinct Six 6 jurisdiction and to reduce juvenile (and future adult) crime by targeting truancy. Houston Independent School District (HISD) has one of the highest dropout rates in the state of Texas, and been increasing steadily over the past ten years, with only a 73.8% graduation rate, according to HISD. It is well documented that truancy leads to increased crime rates, dropout rates, and lower economic opportunities. Constable Precinct Six(6) is home to several schools where there is a large amount of truancy, crime, gang violence, and dropout rates. The precinct therefore seeks to employ two Truancy/School Resource Officer to combat these problems. I am requesting $120,000 for this project.
Texas Traffic Safety Program – Harris County Constable Precinct 6: To increase effective enforcement and adjudication of traffic safety-related laws to reduce fatal and serious injury crashes; Increase enforcement of traffic safety-related laws; Increase public education and information campaigns; To reduce the number of DWI-related crashes, injuries, and fatalities; Increase enforcement of DWI laws; To increase occupant restraint use in all passenger vehicles and trucks; Increase enforcement of occupant protection laws. I am requesting $315,706 for this project.
VIVA Texas: An Adult Volunteer Latina/Hispanic Outreach Program - Girl Scouts of the USA: Studies have found that one in six Latina/Hispanic teenagers has attempted suicide, one in four becomes a mother before the age of 20, and about one-quarter do not complete high school. To engage more Latina/Hispanic girls and their families, Girl Scouts of the USA (GSUSA) created VIVA, an adult volunteer Latina/Hispanic outreach program. VIVA is a culturally-sensitive, comprehensive volunteer training program and model. A team of highly-skilled, bilingual Girl Scout volunteers are trained to understand the needs of girls in the community, to build partnerships with key Latino/Hispanic community leaders and organizations, and to recruit and train additional bilingual volunteers through a specially-developed curriculum that prepares them to lead a Girl Scout troop. I am requesting $400,000 for this project.
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