County pressures complex to clean up or close down

HOUSTON (KTRK) -- It's being called a haven for gang activity -- a condo complex in southwest Houston. The county wants the complex to clean up or get shut down.

They claim the complex is a nuisance. Records show just last year, there were 35 theft- and assault-related calls at the Le Promenade condos off Bissonnet. Investigators say a gang is entrenched there.

Some of the people who call Le Promenade home seem to like living here.

"I don't see no crime lately. Everything is nice in here. We are so happy," resident Ms. Gomez said.

But if you Google 7400 Bissonnet, a darker picture is painted.

"I haven't seen any gangs since I've been here. Little kids, if you are worried about twelve-year-olds, then what you worried about," said a resident who identified herself only as Labresha.

But the police log would tell a different story: 50 calls last year, ranging from assaults to theft and vandalism.

This mother of four says she has seen prostitution outside her door.

"Friday, Saturday, Monday, the night and the morning at 7 o'clock in the morning," said a resident who identified herself only as Laura.

In an unusual move, the state and county attorney filed an injunction to clean the place up, holding all the condo owners accountable and asking them to pay a bond of up to $10,000. Worst case scenario, the owners would be evicted.

"The criminal activity must stop at this location and the owners include the individual condominium owners have to adhere to what the law requires," Harris County Attorney Vince Ryan.

"It's basically housed by a gang," said David Hawes with the Greater Sharpstown Management District

Community leaders say gang members are even recruited from nearby Sharpstown High School and gunfire in the area around the school has interrupted classes on several occasions.

"It's a real detriment to the community and to the safety of everyone who even comes through that area so it has to be dealt with," Hawes said.

Hawes says the last resort is eviction and that's not what they want.

"We are responsible and the county, too but right now everything is fine here," Ms. Gomez said.

"I love it here. I don't want to move. I can't picture myself anywhere else in Houston right now," Labresha said.

(Copyright ©2012 KTRK-TV/DT. All Rights Reserved.)
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Close to 500 positions filled at Galveston job fair

  GALVESTON, TX (KTRK) -- Just in time for summer, some of our area's unemployed workers have found jobs in Galveston.

The line stretched all the way down the street Saturday as people waited patiently for the chance to say these words:

"I got a job!"

Raynesha Guy was among hundreds who walked away with new jobs at a job fair in Galveston for the renovated Pleasure Pier, which will feature rides, games, restaurants and more.

Pleasure Pier is named for the historic Pleasure Pier that was at the same site from 1943 until it was destroyed by Hurricane Carla in 1961. The site more recently was home to the USS Flagship Hotel.

Crews have been hard at work to complete Pleasure Pier by early summer -- the height of Galveston's tourism season.

On Saturday, 350 Pleasure Pier positions were filled, including ride operators, game attendants, food and beverage staff, retail associates, grounds crew and mechanics.

"It's going to be crazy. We're going to be really, really busy, so it's going to a very fun and exciting place to work," said Jill Watson with Pleasure Pier.

Another 120 people were hired Saturday by a restaurant on Pleasure Pier -- Bubba Gump Seafood Company.

"It's keeping people who are from the island on the island. It's bringing not only college kids to the island back to work, but it's bringing good stable jobs back to the island," employer Jonathan Wascon said.

And it comes just in time.

"I've applied everywhere and I never get called back, so I'm hoping to get this one," applicant Ndidi Ibe said.

"The job market is real rough. You have to stay persistent. It's not going to come to you, you got to go out and get it. I got a family and we need it," applicant Elmo Hendon said.

The new jobs are bringing help the island needs as it rebuilds.

"It's time to work. Galveston is ready. We've been down since the storm and were ready to come back," applicant Luquiser Stinson said.

Not everyone who applied at the job fair found out if they got the position Saturday. Those applying for supervisory positions will have to go back for a second interview.

(Copyright ©2012 KTRK-TV/DT. All Rights Reserved.)
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State orders North Forest ISD to close

  HOUSTON (KTRK) -- A state education commissioner has ordered North Forest ISD to close its doors by next year.

Texas Education Agency Commissioner Robert Scott sent the school district a letter on Friday outlining its intent to close the district July 1, 2012. North Forest ISD can still operate for the upcoming school year, and it is being given the option to appeal the state's decision. The district's acting superintendent, Edna Forte, says North Forest ISD is in the process of filing that appeal now. But as of now, the state is planning to annex the district to Houston ISD, which would then determine whether to keep the campuses open or place current North Forest ISD students at HISD schools already open. The state's decision comes after years of financial and academic issues plaguing the school district. The district will have a substandard financial rating statewide for the fourth straight year, and North Forest High School will be given an academically unacceptable rating for the sixth year. Last year, only 31 percent of ninth graders passed the TAKS test. Of the 8,000 public high schools in Texas, North Forest High School is the worst-performing school. "We think it's time to close North Forest and give somebody else a chance to educate these kids because this district has consistently failed the kids," Texas Education Agency Spokeswoman Debbie Ratcliffe said. The TEA says the district has dug itself into a deep financial hole it simply can't dig itself back out of. North Forest ISD released a statement late Tuesday afternoon in response to the TEA's decision, which read in part, "We acknowledge the troubled past of the district and many of the challenges we face to get back on solid footing, but we're also encouraged that the innovative academic opportunities and the 2011-2012 financial forecast provide evidence that our strategic plan is taking us in the right direction. "It took years to get to this point and we will not come out of this overnight; but we will come out of this with the North Forest Independent School District intact and able to provide the quality education our students deserve." Houston ISD also issued a statement late Tuesday stating it did not advocate for this proposal, but it is ready to welcome North Forest ISD's students if the state's order becomes reality. "We know it's going to be a challenge. We believe there should be an effective teacher in every classroom and an effective leader in every school. We are realizing the positive results from those beliefs and we are looking forward to sharing our academic achievement with every student, teacher, and community member joining Team HISD," HISD Board President Paula Harris said in the statement."We look forward to working with Commissioner Scott to ensure that HISD receives adequate financial resources to tackle this unique challenge." Since the closure is being forced by the state, the Department of Justice will have to approve its closure. Meanwhile, residents in the area are heartbroken. "For this area to continue to thrive and to make it better, we have to make sure our children are educated and there are jobs for people in the community," resident Jerry Davis said. "I think this is a wakeup call. I think it's time for the community to get more involved than it has been in the past and truly pull behind North Forest because I don't think it's a truly broken situation," former North Forest ISD student Bryan smart said. While some hope the north forest name still has a future, others side with the state and believe a drastic change is the only solution. "I think it was the best thing they could have ever done," parent Anna Brooks said. "I feel like the children have a better chance of getting a better education, through somebody else."

Sheila Jackson Lee wants to keep district open

Congresswoman Shelia Jackson Lee wants to keep the district open and could ask the federal government to step in.

She released a statement that encourages "parents and community leaders to use all legal action to prevent this school district from being shut down." She calls it "a civil rights issue."

The congresswoman plans to hold an emergency meeting Saturday to discuss the closing.

Past troubles of North Forest ISD In 2009, the state had kicked out all of the school board's elected trustees because of a $12 million budget deficit, academically unacceptable rankings. The Texas Education Agency then took over the entire school district but returned control to a locally elected school board last year. Then in March, North Forest ISD placed its Texas Education Agency-appointed superintendent Dr. Adrain Johnson on administrative leave amid concerns over continued financial issues and the district's graduation rate. A13 Undercover investigation also exposed serious mismanagement in their special education department. The Harris County District Attorney's Office never did anything about it, but hundreds of thousands of dollars meant for special education kids went misused at North Forest until 13 Undercover stopped it. Ruth Watson used to be head of the north forest special education department. In 2008, we exposed hundreds of thousands in state funds wasted on unqualified consultants. As it turned out a lot of folks on the payroll were kin folks or special friends to Watson. She was on the spring school board at the time but was eventually voted out. It's hard to forget Watson. Among her allegations is that 13 Undercover's Wayne Dolcefino sexually harassed her during a spring school board meeting by tickling her hand when he shook it. (Copyright ©2011 KTRK-TV/DT. All Rights Reserved.)
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Group wants close eye kept on incoming Astros owner

HOUSTON (KTRK) -- During Monday afternoon's announcement about the sale of the Astros, Jim Crane, who led a group that purchased the team, addressed questions about a discrimination lawsuit filed against his company, which was settled for $9 million dollars.

Crane could be the newest majority owners of the Houston Astros after reaching a deal with current owner Drayton McLane.

"I believe in running a first class franchise," said Crane during Monday's press conference.

But over the last decade and a half, he was found to be running a less that first class global freight operation. The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission found the multimillionaire complicit in discrimination within his then-company, Eagle Global Logistics. A two-year investigation began in 1997. The EEOC found a number violations against Crane's company, which was fined for:

Failing or refusing to promote African-Americans. Demoting females from managerial positions Maintaining a hostile work environment against African-Americans, Hispanics and females with respect to terms, conditions and privileges of employment. Failing to adequately investigate incidents of sexual and gender harassment.The EEOC also says his company destroyed evidence the company was instructed to maintain as part of the two-year investigation. His company at the time denied any wrongdoing.

"If you've done your homework on that, there really wasn't a problem there," Crane told us. "We can address that later. But I don't think it's going to be a problem whatsoever."

It was enough of a problem for Crane's company to reach a $9 million settlement with the EEOC. And now it's something other Major League team owners will have to consider when they vote to approve or block Crane's offer for the Astros.

"You have issues at times," said McLane. "He said that was a learning experience for him and he has certainly moved well past that and has never had another problem."

If the deal does go through, the NAACP is asking for someone to keep watch.

"We are deeply concerned that someone, that has a broad reach throughout the community and across the country regarding employment ... has such a dismal record in the area of discrimination. As such this is someone that should be monitored very closely in the area of employment discrimination as it relates to minorities and woman," the group said in a statement."

Eight-point-five million dollars of that $9 settlement went to back pay and damages to minorities who worked at Eagle from 1995 to 2000. The remaining $500,000 was to implement a leadership development program to benefit minorities and women for those roles within eagle global logistics.

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HISD votes to close four elementary schools

  HOUSTON (KTRK) -- Houston ISD has decided to close four small elementary schools it has determined to be economically unviable.

The HISD board spent late Thursday evening determining the fate of Grimes, Rhoads, McDade and Stevenson elementary schools. A number of parents and students attended the meeting, hoping their last-minute plea to save their schools would change trustees' mind. It didn't. "Rather than reach for the low-hanging fruit, run into school closure and consolidation, I'd like for them to look substantive cuts, look at some of their administrative costs, look at this building. The cost of this building is phenomenal," parent E. Byron Marbley said. "There are other ways to reach their budgetary goals without closing neighborhood schools." With the closures, the school district will save nearly $1.7 million and shorten the $160 million budgetary gap it's expecting from the state. "It's very inefficient. If you look at the numbers, you realize they have to spend a lot of money just to keep the building open," said Anne Eagleton, who supports the district's decision. "That's not money spend on children's education. That's hiring a custodial crew, that's having the electricity on, cooling, heating. I'd rather the money spent in the classroom on our children." HISD had been weighing options for months now and finally decided it is unable to offer the schools, which host fewer than 400 students each, the same level of programs at larger schools and that keeping them open. "Really these are no longer educationally viable schools," HISD's Jason Spencer said. "We really feel like these students are gonna be better served in schools that are a little bit bigger." The students who attend the small schools closing will now be sent to one of the following other schools: Students currently zoned to McDade would be redistributed among Paige, Cook and Kashmere Gardens elementary schools. Rhoads Elementary and Grimes Elementary students would attend the Woodson pre-kindergarten through 8th grade school. Stevenson Elementary would be redistributed to Memorial and Love elementary schools. Still, a lot of parents maintain all this talk of money is putting at risk the safety and education of their children. "I'm very concerned," parent Logan Poole said. We found a video posted on YouTube of what parents say is a fight at Woodson Middle School, a campus now pre-K through eighth grade. The video was produced by a grassroots group called "Save Our Schools" and civic leader Travis McGee. His point is they don't want the Grimes students exposed to what's seen on the video. "Elementary kids should not be in the same building with middle school kids," McGee said. Poole says she doesn't want her children being moved from grimes to Woodson. Even though it's still a short walk from home, she says its more dangerous and with more traffic, she says, more crime. "It's a lot of crazy things that go on around in this area," Poole said. HISD says any student affected by a closure can choose to attend any other HISD school if they don't want to go to the school where they would then be zoned. But there has to be room at the school they want to attend. The next big question that now remains is the future of the teachers at the four elementary schools. The staff is suggesting they'll be able to save most of the jobs, but it remains to be seen. (Copyright ©2011 KTRK-TV/DT. All Rights Reserved.)
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HISD board to discuss plans to close 17 campuses

  HOUSTON (KTRK) -- Budget cuts in the state's largest school district means some schools may be shutting down. HISD has a big budget shortfall to account for. It's already discussed laying off teachers and today, it will consider a plan to shut down or merge 17 schools.

Initially, HISD said Love, Grimes, McDade, and Rhoads elementaries were at risk of closing down. But now that list has increased to 17 schools across the city. They include both elementary and middle schools. With current budget cuts, the schools may not be able to stay afloat.

Memorial Elementary is one of those schools. A lot of parents don't like the idea, but he superintendent says it has to be considered to meet the budget shortfall.

"I don't believe they should shut down," said concerned grandparent Kathy Howard. "I think there are plenty of children to keep it running. It would just be devastating. These kids have gone here forever."

"If you take two small schools and merge them together, you may end up saving around $600,000 and we need to save $63 million," said HISD Superintendent Dr. Terry Grier.

Just this week, HISD announced their latest numbers for teacher layoffs. Budget cuts mean 567 teacher positions so far have been eliminated. Add to that 163 teachers not renewed because of performance and the number is up to 730 teachers gone starting next year.

Another option for the school district would be raising its tax rate.

If HISD closed every one of those schools, it would save about $10 million, nowhere near what is needed to cover the $63 million budget gap.

HISD's board of trustees can raise property tax up to 7 cents per $100 valuation without voter approval. Each 1-cent raise in tax would equal approximately $9.9 million in revenue. However, the possibility of raising tax is on not any agenda for vote. (Copyright ©2011 KTRK-TV/DT. All Rights Reserved.)

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