Summerwood News

 

Dear Friends,

As we wrap up this year and prepare for 2022, I want to take a moment to recognize all that we have accomplished together this year. It has not been the easiest year for many of us, our communities, or our country. And yet, we have so much to be proud of and to be inspired by as we look to the year ahead.

Thanks to the American Rescue Plan Act passed in March, we have an opportunity to make transformational investments in housing, community health, childcare, and our local economy. Harris County will receive over $900 million in federal funding. These funds represent a unique opportunity to ensure that those hit hardest by the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic can continue to recover, and we can address other long-standing disparities.

We are also advocating for all Harris County residents to get our fair share of resources—and make sure that the people most affected by flooding and highways have a say in how projects are developed. Our flood equity prioritization framework ensures that historically neglected communities are no longer discriminated against, and that our community’s future will not hinge on outdated federal formulas.

To strengthen that process, Commissioners Court recently voted to send a modified Harris County Flood Control District’s Prioritization Framework for the 2018 bond program to the Community Flood Resilience Task Force for review and input.

When approved by Commissioners, the refined guidelines will protect those hardest hit and least resilient to frequent flooding events. While this would not correct all the inequities and discrimination in disaster protection and recovery, it’s another significant step toward addressing them.

Thank you all for sharing our vision of a county that cares for everyone by protecting health and safety and providing equity for all our communities.

I hope you are taking the time to rest and recharge when possible. With COVID-19 rates surging again because of the Omicron variant, I want to urge you to protect your friends and family by getting vaccinated. And if you are vaccinated, take time to get a booster shot. Visit http://vacstrac.hctx.net or call 832-927-8787 to find the vaccine center nearest to you.

We can’t wait to see what 2022 brings.

Sincerely,