Public safety remains at the forefront of Council Member Kamin’s priorities. 2025 was one for the record books, from working with critical partners aiding survivors of domestic violence, launching the first-of-its-kind firearm injury dashboard in the nation, continuing to support our first responders, and so much more.

Tackling Gun Violence
Firearms remain the leading cause of death in children, but until now, Houston did not have an accurate picture of what this meant and how to address this epidemic. Council Member Kamin spearheaded the creation of SAFEWATCH Houston, securing $300,000 to fund this first-of-its-kind in the nation firearm injury dashboard. Developed in partnership with the Houston Health Department, this dashboard compiles data at a level of detail that has never been achieved before.

The dashboard features data from our three Level I Trauma Centers in the Texas Medical Center, HPD non-fatal injuries, EMS/911 calls, hospital room visits, and medical examiner fatality data. In 2024 alone, over 200 trauma center visits were for unintentional firearm injuries, and half of those cases were children.

The work doesn’t stop here – Council Member Kamin is partnering with trauma center professionals and experts in the field to improve pediatric screenings for firearms, distribute gun safes across the City, and hold regular meetings to review the latest dashboard data and improve intervention strategy.

Each one of us can make a difference in ending the gun violence epidemic. We continued our $75,000 #LockItUpSafe safe firearm storage partnership with HPD and BeSMART, bringing free gun locks and gun safes to schools and PTOs throughout the district, including:

• Baker Montessori for Coffee with the Principal
• Waltrip High School PTO meeting
• Garden Oaks Montessori's Spring and Fall Festivals
• Field Elementary’s Back to School Fair

Council Member Kamin also partnered with the Communications Workers of America (CWA) to raise awareness.

Supporting our Veterans
Continuing her efforts to support our veterans and reduce gun violence, Council Member Kamin worked closely with veterans advocacy groups, city departments, and county level agencies to tackle mental health needs for our veterans. In pushing for the passage of HB 865, she testified alongside veterans, field experts, and TX VFW before the State Legislature in support of legislation to enable licensed firearms stores and shooting ranges to participate in temporary secure firearm storage programs - giving veterans, active duty members, and their families a safe and trusted place should they need to store their firearm while addressing a mental health crisis.

Domestic Violence: Raising Awareness and Supporting Critical Partners
1 in 3 Texans will experience domestic violence during their lifetime. Council Member Kamin has continued her advocacy and support for survivors and local organizations to raise awareness and bring resources to those in need.

Council Member Kamin was recognized by Aid to Victims of Domestic Abuse (AVDA) as the 2025 “Ambassador of Advocacy” for her steadfast commitment to raising awareness of domestic violence and advocating for survivors of abuse. 2025 also marked AVDA’s 45th year of serving the Houston community and supporting survivors, as Council Member Kamin recognized the organization at Council to commemorate decades of life-saving efforts.

Each October, Council Member Kamin brings advocacy organizations, businesses, and agencies at every level to raise awareness for domestic violence, including awareness campaigns led by AVDA and Clear Channel billboard campaign. This partnership, held annually for Domestic Violence Awareness Month, helps ensure resources are available throughout the City.

Houston Area Women Center’s (HAWC) new expanded facility, One Safe Place Houston, officially opened its doors this year! Supporting hundreds of residents and non-residential clients, this new space was funded in part by a $15M+ grant from the City of Houston in 2022. Council Member Kamin spearheaded multiple initiatives with HAWC this year, including:

• $15,000 district dollars for HAWC’s critical services.
• Sponsoring Mother’s Day Brunch for the moms at HAWC, including activities for mothers and their kids.
• Partnering with the Fire Department to supply HAWC’s annual Toy Shop, hosted for moms to “shop” for toys for their kids so they can be the hero each holiday season.

Supporting our First Responders
Council Member Kamin works closely with HPD and HFD each year to ensure they have the resources they need –– from allocating district dollars to further support our first responders, to launching safety programs and partnering to keep our communities safe:

• Increased annual allocation for HPD Central Division overtime to $75,000 annually.
• Increased annual allocation for HPD Southwest Division overtime to $30,000.
• NEW pilot program with HFD, allocating $60,000 for drones with speakers to utilize during emergencies when cell service is down to communicate with residents and assist in search and rescue operations.

Council Member Kamin supported HPD’s new contract this year, raising police officer pay by 36.5% over the next five years, starting with 10% in the first year.

The Council Member also raised concerns about the elimination of HPD’s Community Affairs Division and is pushing to ensure the work of this division continues--it's vital to building relationships in the community.

Prioritizing Public Safety in our Neighborhoods
Public Safety doesn’t stop there. Council Member Kamin is partnering with departments to ensure safety for every neighborhood - from pushing for enforcement for noise concerns, to fighting for habitability standards for our most vulnerable, and more.

Filing charges against dangerous multi-family slumlords
Council Member Kamin worked extensively with the City Attorney’s office to address multiple properties in the district that were uninhabitable and had extremely unsafe conditions. She helped secure Chapter 125 lawsuits against two properties with long histories of criminal activity (the basis of that type of action).  Recently, one of these properties, Life at Jackson Square, had multiple fires within a two-month period, with nearly 40 residents, including small children and seniors, displaced in December.  Council Member Kamin was immediately onsite, working with the Office of Emergency Management and Red Cross to set up an emergency shelter and provide displaced families with immediate necessities, including support for children. She also teamed up with HFD to make sure families that lost everything had holiday gifts to give their children. We will continue to do all we can to hold this property owner accountable.

Keeping the pressure on bad-actor bars for noises and nuisance
Council Member Kamin continues to emphasize the impact of loud noise and bad-actor establishments on District C residents. Funding for HPD Overtime has helped give law enforcement the resources they need to tackle these problems at late hours – our office attended numerous administrative hearings for bars with several noise complaints/concerns where the City sought to revoke sound permits. Our office has worked on hundreds of cases related to noise. Thanks in part to these escalations, HPD Central has created a “hot-spot unit” to tackle recurring noise on certain days of the week. Council office advocacy also helped support enforcement protocol improvements to allow Permitting Center officials to work overtime/at night when violations are more prevalent.

Putting an end to dangerous car meets ups
Council Member Kamin also put an end to a dangerous car-meet-up location at Restaurant Depot, and worked closely with HPD and Memorial Park Conservancy to mitigate meet-ups in the Park.

Working collaboratively to address nuisance properties
Our office created an interdepartmental enforcement task force with HPD, HFD, City Legal, HPW, and Health Department, meeting monthly to analyze repeat-offender properties and enforcement efforts. Together, this team is inspecting problem properties in a more cohesive and collaborative effort than ever before.

Tackling dangerous house parties with new ordinance
District C has the highest amount of short-term rentals (STRs) in the City – most of our STR owners are great community partners, offering welcoming homes and spaces for our city’s visitors while supporting our local economy.  Council Member Kamin teamed up with Council Members Ramirez and Alcorn to bring forward a Short-Term Rental Ordinance, placing regulations on STRs that require these properties to register with the City in response to safety issues seen in some bad-actor STRs.

Council Member Kamin passed an amendment that now requires STR owners/operators/property managers to take a human and sex trafficking awareness course, similar to what our Hotel Ordinance requires.

The STR registration platform went live in October, and ordinance enforcement began on January 1, 2026.  You can find more information here: https://www.houstontx.gov/ara/str.html.

Protecting our most vulnerable
Under the Trump Administration, District C and Houston have seen a drastic increase in reports of ICE arrests, stories of individuals being detained, families being separated, and people - including those who aided our troops overseas and have legal status - are being deported without due process. Council Member Kamin remains vocal, calling for everyone to stand up and protect our neighbors who may not be able to safely speak out for themselves.

Council Member Kamin has made it clear: if someone poses a public safety risk to our community, she trusts local law enforcement to do their job and enforce our laws, regardless of immigration status. She remains concerned that this type of unchecked behavior by ICE (acting outside the bounds of the law) is forcing victims of crimes into the shadows and creating a greater public safety risk, as well as a strain on local law enforcement and our economy.

She remains in communication with local advocacy groups, legal organizations, businesses, and families impacted; she recently worked with a local pastor to help get a congregant’s family member in contact with an attorney.

The Council Member has remained firm in her commitment to due process and protecting the fundamental rights of all Houstonians. She continues to urge the City to stand against intimidation. You can read her full statement here: https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1GhZfs9qSd/

You can find more resources below:

Resources

• American Civil Liberties Union - Texas
• Immigrant Legal Resource Center
• For Families and Their Education (F.I.E.L)
• League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC) - Immigrant Rights and Resources Toolkit

Prioritizing public safety means helping children get to school safely, ensuring seniors and residents of all abilities can navigate their neighborhoods, and creating a better-connected community. In 2025, Council Member Kamin continued to prioritize long-overdue investments in streets, sidewalks, utilities, and traffic safety, while pushing City departments to deliver projects that reflect community input and real neighborhood needs.

Council Member Kamin advanced a robust pipeline of capital projects - improving mobility, accessibility, and neighborhood safety throughout District C:
Major Capital Projects in Design

• University Boulevard Paving & Drainage Project: Kirby to Morningside
• Dunlavy Paving & Drainage Project: West Dallas to Peden
• Antoine Paving & Drainage: Acorn to US 290 & Acorn to Cole Creek (Segment II)
• Bissonnet Corridor Safe Streets Project: Dairy Ashford to Hillcroft
• Gray and Taft Area Paving and Drainage Project
• Pedestrian Bridge Replacement over Poor Farm Ditch on Sewanee St
• Westchester and Westpark Safety Improvement Package
• Freedmen’s Town Brick Street Improvement Project
• Cottage Grove East Paving and Drainage Improvement Project (Phase II)
• Turkey Gully Paving & Drainage Project
• North Canal High Flow Diversion Channel

Under Construction/Construction Coming Soon

• Shepherd and Durham Reconstruction: 15th Street to IH 10
• Roseland Area Paving and Drainage
• Waugh Safety Improvements

FY26 Houston Public Works Delivery Program Highlights

• Traffic Signals: Planning at 3 locations; 10 locations moving into design; 5 advancing to construction to improve traffic flow and safety.
• Intersection Safety: Design to begin on 1 high-priority location.
• Street Rehabilitation: Planning at 4 locations (9.1 lane-miles); design at 2 locations (3.1 lane-miles); $4.6 million in construction funding.
• Sidewalk Program: Planning at 10 locations; design at 37 locations; 9 projects moving to construction to strengthen walkability and accessibility.
• Over 32 lane-miles were planned for rehabilitation across District C through one program alone.

Council Member Kamin continues collaborating with neighborhood leaders and City experts to deliver equitable, high-impact projects utilizing District Service Funds and Stormwater Action Team (SWAT) funding. Read more in the next section for additional information!

A few project highlights:

• Flashing Beacon at 13th & Yale – $40,000
• Intersection Improvements at 13th & Columbia – $13,000
• TC Jester & White Oak Bayou Crossing – Intersection Safety – $70,000
• Atwell & Queensloch Crosswalk & Intersection Safety (in partnership with ERJCC) – $60,000
• Central Northwest Sidewalk Package (Woodcrest Dr. to Nina Lee Ln) – $100,000
• Kelvin St Street Rehabilitation (Bissonnet to Quenby) – $195,000
• Mill and overlay project completed in late Spring 2025
• Heights Sidewalk Package (near Harvard Elementary School) – $100,000
• S Rice Paving and Drainage Project (N Braeswood to Beechnut)
• CM Kamin used Lane Mile funding to address critical street and drainage needs
• Houston Public Works upgraded and repaired drainage components along the corridor
• Project currently under construction; expected completion in 5–6 months
• Chimney Rock Paving & Drainage Project (N Braeswood to Beechnut)
• CM Kamin used Lane Mile funding to improve street conditions and upsize inlets
• Construction to begin after S Rice project is completed to minimize neighborhood disruption
• MKT Trail and Waverly Crossing Safety Upgrades (partnership with Memorial Heights TIRZ) – $25,000

Our office prioritized responsive, on-the-ground projects directly addressing resident concerns. Here’s a few examples of how your feedback led to direct results in your neighborhoods:

• 20th Street Reconstruction
• After concerns from Heights Association and local seniors, Council Member Kamin hosted on-site walkthroughs with residents, Public Works, and the Mayor’s Office for People with Disabilities to identify safety issues.
• Community input helped shape a full street reconstruction project now underway, including new ADA ramps, sidewalks, and accessibility upgrades.
• Safe Access to Schools
• Partnered with Baker Montessori PTO and Houston Public Works to improve sidewalks and drainage
• Coordinated crosswalk striping at HISD Poe Elementary to increase visibility and safety
• Quick-Response Quality-of-Life Fixes
• Addressed resident concern about lighting outages under the Studemont Street bridge
• Installed new fixtures and cleaned pedestrian paths to restore safety for walkers and cyclists

Council Member Kamin continues to prioritize flood mitigation and resilient infrastructure across District C, ensuring neighborhoods, homes, and businesses are protected from flooding while improving everyday access and mobility. In 2025, her office focused on both major projects and targeted, community-driven interventions to make an immediate difference for residents.

Stormwater Action Team Investments

These investments will protect homes and businesses while improving stormwater flow in high-priority areas across the district.

New SWAT projects are coming to reduce neighborhood flooding and improve drainage:

• Milwee and Zoch (design + construction): $445,500
• E 8th and Oxford (design + construction): $950,000
• Woodhead and Portsmouth (design + construction): $829,620
• W 31st and Yale (design): $270,000

Progress on Ongoing SWAT Projects
Several projects moved forward through design and construction phases in 2025:

• Cottage Grove ($525,024): Construction nearly complete
• Ella Lee Forest ($1,925,000): Design in progress
• Blue Bonnet near Greenbriar ($739,240): Design in progress
• Kingston Terrace, Braesmont from Jackwood to Ariel ($847,137): Design in progress
• Woodcrest ($1,790,800): Construction complete

Ditch Maintenance & Resident-Flagged Needs
Council Member Kamin’s #DistC Ditch Team survey identified critical maintenance needs thanks to resident-submitted photos and reports. Crews have begun 8 miles of ditch rehabilitation in neighborhoods including Magnolia Grove, Rice Military, and Woodcrest, totaling more than $438,000 in improvements!

To support this work, Council Member Kamin allocated $125,000 in District Dollars in partnership with Houston Public Works, ensuring crews could begin maintenance promptly and residents see immediate results.

MORE Drainage Improvements

• Haddon St Local Drainage Project
• District C raised flooding concerns from McDuffie to Morse, including on-site meetings with residents and Houston Public Works
• Houston Public Works completed upgrades to local drainage in late 2025
• Taft St Local Drainage Project
• District C flagged multiple drainage concerns near 2415 Taft St
• Houston Public Works has secured a contract; construction start date to be announced
• Maplewood North Drainage Study (partnership with SW TIRZ) – $40,000
• Study completed to address drainage needs along the Pontiac corridor in Maplewood following SW TIRZ study. Total project cost expected to exceed $5,000,000

Green Stormwater Infrastructure & Resiliency

• CM Kamin worked with Rice University, Walter P Moore, and HPW to add in new language to Houston’s Infrastructure Manual to incentivize and utilize Green Stormwater Infrastructure. This means more green options for developers building in Houston (think green roofs, bioswells, and other green infrastructure that supports drainage, clean air, and cooling temperatures).
• She proudly supported efforts to install generators at the City’s most vital facilities, ensuring they can continue to serve residents during power outages .

Preparing and  Responding to Natural Disasters
The office remains focused on proactive emergency planning, keeping residents informed, and maintaining clear communication during emergencies. To strengthen disaster response, the Council Member has partnered with the Houston ToolBank to stock generators, debris-clearing tools, and other essential recovery supplies, ensuring residents have access to the resources they need to recover quickly from a freeze, fire, or flood.

Ahead of the January 2025 winter storm, she coordinated with the West Gray MSC team, HPD, METRO PD, HPARD, and other partners to ensure the warming center was secure and fully staffed for hundreds of residents. During the freeze, she worked around the clock to connect families with critical resources. At the West Gray warming center, she created a dedicated sleeping space for families with children. In one particularly challenging case, she partnered with Alexander JFS, the Homeless Initiative Office, the Salvation Army, and The Beacon to secure temporary housing, transportation, phones, clothing, and long-term support, including rent assistance and job search resources for these families.

The ERJCC is a critical hub for many in times of need – from standing up resource distributions during floods, to opening their doors to countless community organizations and civic clubs for meeting spaces, and so much more. Council Member Kamin spearheaded a first-of-its-kind MOU agreement between the City and the JCC, streamlining communications and ensuring speedy deployment of resources in the event of a disaster.

Through these efforts, we’re ensuring residents are prepared, supported, and able to recover quickly no matter what comes our way.

City Services
Council Member Kamin has been outspoken on impacts and delays residents experienced this year which were unacceptable, emphasizing support for our frontline municipal employees who are working round-the-clock.

After some District C families remained without a trash can for several months, Council Member Kamin took matters into her own hands, commandeered a City van, and personally delivered numerous trash and recycling bins across the district. Our office closed over 500 solid waste cases alone this year.

In the heart of the district, illegal dumping of tree debris at Rose of Sharon Baptist Church had remained for weeks without resolve – when the problem remained after escalating, Council Member Kamin drove out to pick up the debris and drive it to a City depository to make sure the Church could serve the community again.

Council Member Kamin continues to support City’s crews working with incredible dedication despite the hurdles they face. Make sure to thank your neighborhood Solid Waste crew next time you see them!

From Books to Barks - Supporting City Programs
Located at historic Gregory School in Fourth Ward/Freedmen’s Town, the AAHRC contains decades of literature, artifacts, art, and documents sharing the history of our local Black and African American community. Council Member Kamin continues to closely partner to support the library and its history:

• BookLINK “Vending Machine” to increase access to library books - $28,000
• Installation of ADA accessible doorways - $40,000
• Fire suppression design study to utilize technology for suppressing fires while protecting the historic materials there - $16,000

West Gray MSC

The Metropolitan (West Gray) Multi-Service Center in the heart of the district plays a vital role—it's the only one of its kind in the nation offering public adaptive programming and is essential hub for residents with disabilities, it’s Harris County’s most popular polling location, it’s home to non-profits and civic clubs, and one of the City’s largest warming/cooling centers during extreme weather.

Council Member Kamin has championed significant steps forward in the Metropolitan (“West Gray”) Multi-Service Center Master Plan project. In addition to allocating $100,000 in district dollars to create a special fund for future improvements, she secured $11.5M in partnership with the Mayor’s Administration and Montrose Tax-Reinvestment Zone (TIRZ 27). This funding is earmarked as “seed money” for the West Gray Master Plan to be allocated over the next 5 fiscal years, and will be held in a special fund created by Council Member Kamin in partnership with the City’s Financial Department to keep those dollars safe until they’re ready to be used. Renovations to bathrooms are also underway thanks to federal dollars Congresswoman Fletcher secured.

The Master Plan is making significant headway. Council Member Kamin championed a robust five-month community engagement series in partnership with Parks Department, General Services Department, and the Mayor’s Office for People with Disabilities. This series, featuring in-person and online public engagement meetings, individual focus group sessions with stakeholders, and an online comment form, informs the future of the West Gray Master Plan and identified priorities to consider as the project moves forward. You can read the Engagement Report, published in October, and find future updates on the project’s progress here: https://www.houstontx.gov/parks/adaptivesports-recreation.html.

Supporting our Four-legged Friends
Council Member Kamin continues to support our city’s fury companions through partnerships with BARC and other local organizations:

• District Funding for “Ani-meals” Interfaith Ministries pet food delivery to residents in District C (this keeps pets in homes and off our streets).
• Hosted annual “Rescue Rallies”, waiving adoption fees for local foster organizations rescue partners to help mitigate the cost of transferring animals scheduled to be euthanized to rescue organizations.
• Additional funding for BARC spay/neuter initiatives and adoption outreach campaigns.
• Spotlighting “Wild Tunes,” an organization founded by 10-year-old Yuvi Argwal, at Council – Wild Tunes raised over $50K over the last two years to support local shelters through concerts put on by young musicians.

Supporting the Arts and our Local Artists
Houston’s vibrant arts scene is part of who we are: from museums to neighborhood mini murals, from the Houston Symphony to the River Oaks Community Orchestra, investing in the arts benefits our City and our local economy.

Cou ncil Member Kamin has been a champion of the arts. She fought for arts funding at West End Multi-Service Center after it was challenged at Council, pointing to data showing how art improves our health and wellbeing. After the iconic “Women of SCOTUS” mini mural was defaced in the Heights, Council Member Kamin sprung into action and funded the restoration.

Years in the making, District C is now officially home to Houston’s Design District! This exciting designation supports local businesses and highlights the character of the area. More than 60 custom banners slated for installation in 2026 to beautify the area.

Council Member Kamin has also allocated $35K in district funds for nine (9) new Mini Murals currently underway across the district. Our office has submitted numerous letters of support on behalf of City departments and partner agencies to champion public art installations and creative initiatives that reflect and enrich our neighborhoods.

Supporting our Interfaith Community

District C is home to a diverse fabric of faith communities, organizations, and leaders. Council Member Kamin continues to uplift these organizations and partner together to bring resources to those in need.

Council Member Kamin ensured the diversity of Houston’s faith community was represented at Council this year. During invocation, a time for reflection prior to Council being called to order, Council Member Kamin invited numerous community leaders to lead these moments of peace and unity:

• Patita-Pāvana Das, a resident monk with the International Society of Krishna Consciousness of Houston, sharing a message of peace and goodwill.
• Pastor Tiffany Tarrant, senior Pastor at St. John's Downtown, known for her inclusive spirit and passionate preaching.
• Rabbi Sarah Fort, Associate Rabbi at Congregation Beth Yeshurun, sharing inspiring messages uniting our community.

Council Member Kamin worked with residents to fund safety and crosswalk improvements at Atwell and Queensloch to ensure accessibility for the thousands of families walking to the JCC each day.

After years of design, collaboration, and construction, the Ismaili Center, the first in the nation, opened its doors right in the heart of District C! Featuring breathtaking architecture and flourishing greenspace it is a welcoming space for all to utilize. The Council Member is grateful for the investment, work, and dedication of so many to see this day come to fruition.

Council Member Kamin teamed up with countless community faith leaders to support their efforts this year:

• Worked alongside Deacon David Allen of Damascus Baptist Church to commemorate their late pastor, Dr. L. F. Chaney, Sr., through an honorary street marker.
• Partnered with Sysco and H-E-B to donate Thanksgiving meals to families alongside Mt. Horeb Church and Antioch Church Downtown for their holiday meal distributions.
• Distributed hundreds of zoo tickets to families and children who may not otherwise be able to go, partnering with Rose of Sharon Church, Damascus Baptist Church, Mt. Horeb, and more.
• Celebrated the anniversaries of dozens of churches.
• Worked closely to deliver resources and support following the roof cave in at the historic Macedonia Church.
• Distributed backpacks and back to school supply support with the help of:
• Conservancy and St. James
• Mt. Sinai Missionary Baptist Church
• Community of Faith Church
• Rose of Sharon Church
• Bibleway Church
• Mt. Horeb Church
• Brown Chapel AME Church
• Antioch Missionary Baptist Church
• HPL Love Community Center
• District funding support for Interfaith Ministries of Greater Houston critical senior programs.

While recognizing no budget is ever perfect, Council Member Kamin made the difficult decision (for the first time in her tenure on City Council) to vote no to the FY26 budget due to the C ity’s failure to account and budget for disaster response, which is necessary to protect our long-term financial future.

Throughout the process, Council Member Kamin sounded the alarm about the City’s underfunded disaster preparedness strategy. Financial planning has grown more complex, with rising costs tied to tariffs, cuts to lifesaving Health Department services, and unrealistic budgetary projections, all of which underscore the need for strong emergency preparedness safeguards.

What concerned her most was the City’s continued over-reliance on federal disaster reimbursements. This strategy leaves Houston vulnerable, especially in the face of federal budget cuts and the instability and mismanagement of FEMA under the Trump administration.

To strengthen Houston’s financial resilience, Council Member Kamin introduced a budget amendment aimed at reinforcing the Budget Stabilization Fund (aka “rainy day fund”). Her amendment would require the City to replenish the fund every year instead of every two years and raise the amount in the fund from $20 million to $25 million. While this increase won’t solve everything, it’s a meaningful step toward greater preparedness and long-term stability.

Since 2019, Houston has also been embroiled in a lawsuit over its alleged failure to fully fund a voter-approved streets and drainage fund. A recent settlement allows the City to pay what is owed over time, avoiding a $180 million payment in a single year and the budget crisis that would have followed. Council Member Kamin continues to caution against the type of financial missteps that led to the lawsuit, most recently raising concerns about the misuse of stormwater drainage funds.

She remains laser-focused on keeping dollars in taxpayer pockets with her votes on council and stewardship of District funds.
In addition to supporting the denial of a CenterPoint rate increase, stating residents should not bear the burden of any company’s m istakes, the Council Member strongly objected to the allocation of $30M of designated Stormwater Funds for building demolition . She raised concerns about the legality of diverting these funds but her broader concern was that we cannot kick the can down the road on drainage. While blighted properties are absolutely a concern both in District C and across the city, if we fail to invest in drainage, we will see more abandoned homes as neighborhoods flood and families are displaced.

Savings must be reinvested in protecting our most vulnerable neighbors, especially seniors who are increasingly squeezed by today’s economic pressures:

• Allocated $10k in District funds to support Interfaith Ministries’ Meals on Wheels program, providing hot meals to local seniors.
• Provided an additional $5K interfaith ministries to help supply pet food for seniors that need additional support caring for their pets.

From extreme heat and snowstorms to derechos and other natural disasters—Council Member Kamin continues to lead efforts to address climate change, reduce environmental harm, and promote sustainability across Houston. Her focus remains on giving residents simple, responsible tools to lower their environmental impact while building a city that is greener, healthier, and more resilient for all.

That includes working with Rice University, engineers, and City departments to include in the City’s engineering manuals more options for green building (Green Stormwater Infrastructure or “GSI”)--green roofs, bio-swales, and innovative infrastructure that prevents flooding, clean our air, keep temperatures cool, and help save on electricity bills. Those drafts are currently in review, and we hope will be official soon!

Multi-Family Recycling
Council Member Kamin launched Houston’s first-ever multi-family recycling pilot program to ensure residents in apartments and condos have access to recycling services. Initiated as a 2021 budget amendment, the program has now reached a major milestone with the pilot program officially underway. Developed with Solid Waste Management and funded by The Recycling Partnership, with grant support from the Alliance to End Plastic Waste, this initiative is expected to save taxpayers hundreds of millions of dollars by extending the lifespan of our landfills - it's good for our environment too!

In 2025, Council Member Kamin continued hands-on programs and major investments:

• Annual District E-Recycling Drive, giving residents a safe, accessible way to dispose of old electronics that would otherwise generate toxic waste (diverting waste also saves taxpayers millions by extending the lifespan of landfills).
• Annual Rain Barrel Sale, subsidizing the cost of 150 rain barrels from nearly $100 to just $10 each for residents to promote water conservation and flood resiliency (and reduce water bills!).
• Installation of the first public-facing EV charging stations on City property, located at Buffalo Bayou Park, one of the City’s most frequented parks. Council Member Kamin dedicated $100K in District C funds toward this milestone in partnership with Downtown Houston+.
• Challenging the City to do better and not accept the status-quo of gas-powered cars that cost more in the long-run, Council has approved the purchase of hundreds of new EVs and Hybrid vehicles.
• Continued our air quality monitoring program, servicing 10 neighborhood locations near parks and public spaces. You can check air quality near you at: Clarity

Council Member Kamin has long championed neighborhood park investments. In 2025, she doubled down on that commitment:

• Little Thicket Park Grand Reopening: in partnership with the Memorial Heights TIRZ and based on feedback from nearly 8K residents, we have a transformative playscape featuring flood mitigation, accessible trails, and more
• Jaycee Park: Restored and repainted local tennis and pickleball courts to ensure residents have safe access to neighborhood recreation. Commissioner Briones stepped up to deliver additional maintenance through a new partnership.
• Council Member Kamin partnered with SPARK Park to enhance District C’s school-based greenspaces, allocating:
• $1K for tennis court improvements at Waltrip High School
• $5K for a new playground at Harvard Elementary

Council Member Kamin also prioritized growing Houston’s tree canopy—an essential tool for absorbing stormwater, cooling City streets, and improving air quality:

• Distributed and planted hundreds of free trees at District C events in collaboration with Trees for Houston.
• Supported tree plantings across District C, including at Little Thicket Park and Cottage Grove Park, and funded a matching grant for additional trees along the MKT Trail in partnership with A Tale of Two Bridges. 

Council Member Kamin continues to support and advocate for our children and families. 

She was the only elected official – from the federal level to the city – to dedicate funds to Planned Parenthood, allocating $25K for women and families who need it most, protecting reproductive freedom and access to healthcare for residents.

Following the opening of the new One Safe Place Houston Area Women’s Center (HAWC) housing complex (which stemmed from $15 million+ in City funding in 2022), Council Member Kamin partnered with HAWC to sponsor a Mother’s Day Brunch for the moms. She’s also provided additional resources for domestic violence survivors which is mentioned throughout this report.

Whether it's pushing for improved safety around schools, funding improved sidewalks and crosswalks in neighborhoods, allocating grant dollars for after school programs, or making sure students have school supplies, Council Member Kamin is keeping kids and families front and center - especially when it comes to their safety.

• 13th and Yale St. flashing beacon to make it safer for students walking to Love Elementary, Heights High School, and the International Preschool.
• Baker Montessori sidewalk improvements.
• Poe Elementary crosswalk restriping.
• ERJCC safe crossings just in time for summer programs.

Families with Pride
We had our Fourth Annual Families with Pride Festival this October at Discovery Green! It was the most successful (and fun) year yet!! Thank you to all of our sponsors and volunteer organizations who made this possible, to our fabulous partners at Greater Houston LGBTQ+ Chamber and the Mayor’s Office of Special Events, and law enforcement teams out there making sure this year’s celebration was safe for all.

More Investments for Houston’s families:

• $40,000 district funds for afterschool, summer, and enrichment programs for kids (CASE for Kids).
• $8,000 for Freedmen’s Town Conservancy’s free summer youth camp, including “Reading with a Rapper.”
• Thanksgiving storytime at African American History Research Library for kids to connect them with the district funded BookLINK vending machine--$28,000 to bring book access for children in Fourth Ward/Freedmens’ Town.

Joy for the Holidays
Each year, the holiday season brings the community together to ensure everyone has a joyful and special time with family. Council Member Kamin partnered with the Houston Fire Department for their annual Operation: Stocking Stuffer event, bringing in District C families who otherwise may not have been able to participate.

When Council Member Kamin heard from the Houston Area Women’s Center that they were in need of toys for their annual holiday toy drive after funding plans fell through, the Council Member sprung into action and joined forces with HFD to bring over 100 stockings full of toys for all of the kids at HAWC. This initiative allows moms to “shop” for toys to later wrap for Christmas day, helping make sure their kids see them as the heroes we know they are.

As Chair of Houston's Labor Committee, Council Member Kamin remains a tireless advocate for working families, organized labor, and fair workplace policies across our city. She ensured labor voices had a seat at the table, standing beside workers on the frontlines. As a past recipient of their Working Families Award, CM Kamin knows what it means to fight for labor rights firsthand.

In 2025, Council Member Kamin:

• Chaired committee hearings focused on worker issues, including:
• City’s municipal employee retirement options and termination pay working group findings
• HPD's five-year contract
• Texas Gulf Coast Area Labor Federation apprenticeship programs
• Stood at the picket line with UNITE HERE Local 23 during first-ever hotel workers’ strike in Texas history.
• Partnered with unions for District’s annual rain barrel distribution event, including IBEW Local 716 and HOPE Local 123.
• Joined Texas Gulf Coast AFL-CIO Working Families celebration, recognizing the contributions of working families to our region’s economy.
• Recognized Worker’s Memorial Day alongside AFL-CIO, and other labor leaders, to honor those who have lost their lives on the job and recommit to the fight for safe working conditions.
• Kicked off Houston City Hall’s first-ever evening public session honoring 40+ union members in attendance to recognize working families that can now engage directly with their local government outside of traditional business hours.

Whether it’s safer street crossings, improved drainage, or support for local educational programs, investing in our neighborhoods is how we build a stronger, more resilient future. These efforts are at the heart of Council Member Kamin’s work.
Thank you to the neighbors who share ideas, flag issues, and stay engaged—and to our partners in City departments and community organizations who help turn those ideas into action. Below is just a snapshot of some of what we accomplished together across District C in 2025:

Braeswood/Greater Meyerland

• Advanced capital improvement project to replace pedestrian bridges over Harris County Flood Control District channels in Braeswood
• Delivered pedestrian safety crossing improvements near at Atwell & Queensloch
• Secured major street and drainage improvements along South Rice and Chimney Rock
• Kingston Terrace Stormwater Action Project
• Partnered with Southwest TIRZ for Maplewood drainage study
• Second phase of the Meyergrove Detention Basin
• Provided constituent service support, including water leak repairs, park fencing and improvements, and escalated solid waste pickups
• Established first-of-its-kind MOU with the JCC to serve as a disaster resource hub, strengthening neighborhood preparedness for future storms

Central Northwest

• Continued progress on Antoine Paving & Drainage (Segment II)
• Funded sidewalk package along White Oak from Woodcrest Drive to Nina Lee Lane
• Secured Stormwater Action Team project in Ella Lee Forest to address repetitive flooding.
• Escalated water leaks, sinkholes, and street needs
• Resolved long-standing issues related to standing water and nuisance lighting
• Community meeting to provide residents information on development and permitting requirements, and consistently pushing back against developments that lack proper permits
• Neighborhood Matching Grant for Garden Oaks Civic Club
• Funded resurfacing of tennis court at Graham Park
• Established partnership with ISKCON to serve as potential neighborhood disaster hub in event of an emergency.

Fourth Ward

• Protected historic bricks when a construction crew was causing damage, while continuing to support community engagement to inform future major street improvements preserving historic bricks
• Funded design of upgraded fire suppression system at African American History Research Center and supporting ADA accessibility renovations for all visitors
• Funded summer enrichment program for students with the Houston Freedmen’s Town Conservancy
• Worked alongside faith communities and local organizations to distribute resources, backpacks, and holiday support, including toy drives and community events
• Responded swiftly to constituent concerns, including clearing illegal dumping, addressing public safety issues, and coordinating rapid responses with CenterPoint on suspected gas leaks and other urgent neighborhood needs

Greater Heights

• Advanced Turkey Gully flood prevention project secured by Council Member Kamin to deliver much-needed drainage solutions and reduce flood risk for nearby homes and businesses
• Funded pedestrian safety crossing improvements at 13th & Yale and 13th & Columbia
• $100,000 sidewalk package near Harvard Elementary
• Secured street resurfacing of 20th Street, while working with seniors to add additional ADA improvements to improve overall accessibility
• Community listening session for 11th Street, creating space for residents to share feedback directly and inform future decisions
• Escalated chronic noise and safety concerns, supported HPD enforcement efforts, and attended noise permit revocation hearings for problem locations in Shady Acres
• Responded to constituent service requests—escalating water leaks, addressing damage to bike lanes, pushing for action to address nuisance properties, protect neighborhood safety, and more

Lazybrook/Timbergrove

• Funded crossing improvements at TC Jester & White Oak Bayou Trail to safety and neighborhood connectivity
• Upgraded tennis courts and pickleball courts at Jaycee Park
• Partnered with Memorial Heights TIRZ to improve access to Lorraine Cherry Nature Preserve at two crossing locations
• Co-funding shade structure for Sinclair Elementary’s Spark Park
• Collaborating with Harris County to fund mobility-focused safety upgrades at Ella/Grovewood to improve access and safety for families going to school
• Installing monitoring and direct neighborhood contacts with departments for Bryce St Lift Station odor complaints, addressing issues impacting Timbergrove and surrounding areas
• Responded to constituent concerns, including solid waste, nuisance properties, and neighborhood maintenance issues, helping maintain livability and quality of life

Neartown/Montrose

• Advanced West Gray Multi-Service Center Master Plan, securing $11.5M from Montrose TIRZ and $100K in district funds, and hosted multiple community engagement events
• Opening of Ismaili Community Center, expanding community and cultural resources, and greenspaces.
• Responded to constituent needs, including water leaks and storm sewer maintenance at Haddon Street.
• Improved neighborhood parks, installing a basketball goal at Ervan Chew and resurfacing tennis courts at Cherryhurst.
• Addressed public safety, including securing a Ch. 125 lawsuit against 1901 Richmond.
• Fought the state’s attack on the historic Rainbow Crosswalk at Westheimer & Taft. CM Kamin is working with the Super Neighborhood on new ways to honor and recognize this historic neighborhood.

University Place/Upper Kirby

• Advocating for safety improvements in University Blvd Paving & Drainage Phase 1 improvements.
• Funded street rehabilitation on Kelvin, and advocating for additional neighborhood infrastructure
• Partnered with Rice University as a disaster resource hub, supporting tool deployment and potential partnerships during emergencies
• Worked with neighborhood groups to identify improvements and maintain park access at Fleming Park
• Supported neighborhoods in addressing deed restriction violations at the Planning Commission
• Addressing nuisance issues and water leaks, helping protect neighborhood safety and livability
• Partnered with Lakewood Church as potential disaster resource hub, strengthening community preparedness and emergency response.

Washington Avenue Coalition/Memorial Park

• Advanced Cottage Grove East construction and advocated for unmet drainage needs in Cottage Grove West.
• North Canal CIP moving forward
• Worked with neighborhoods and civic club leaders to advocate for Patterson St Bikeway
• Funded Woodcrest and Cottage Grove Stormwater Action Team projects, and secured 8 miles of ditch maintenance through the District C Ditch Team survey.
• Elevated need for incorporation of HGAC’s short-term improvements into Washington Ave rehab, continuing to push for safer, smarter street design
• Partnered with HPD to address nightclub activity, street racing, and other public safety concerns along Memorial Drive and in Memorial Park
• Coordinated with neighborhood groups in advance of Houston Open to ensure smooth operations and minimize disruption
• Advanced plans for a monument honoring the 24th Infantry in Memorial Park, preserving and celebrating Black history in our city
• Responded to constituent concerns, including nuisance properties, parking, bar noise, public safety, and park improvements, helping maintain livability and quality of life