While we expect a little attrition from the Constrable Patrol due to the new price, we will work to ensure that neighbors are aware of the program's existence and how it helps make the neighborhood safer.
Of around 2000 homes in the neighborhood, only 475 support the WHCA Constable Patrol program. This falls short of covering the entire cost of the constable's contract. The remaining cost is covered by funds WHCA raises through events like the Home Tour and LITH. Clearly, the numbers show there's room to grow the program, so the WHCA is embarking on a renewed effort to promote it to all Woodland Heights neighbors.
We're seeking volunteers to help with our promotional efforts. We're already producing fliers, door hangers, and other signage to promote the program. We need a team of committed neighbors to help see these goods distributed.
Word of mouth works, too! Talk to your neighbors! Encourage them to support the program. If just one in three existing constable patrol supporters could sign up one new member, we'd not have to raise the price at all.
Security
Announcing the February 2025 WHCA Member's Meeting /
Tuesday, Feb 18, 2025 at 7:00 p.m
Zion Lutheran Church
3606 Beauchamp St,
Houston, TX 77009
With Guests:
Precinct One Constable Allen Rosen
COH District H Council Member Mario Castillo
Precinct One Deputy Constable Jacob Lemmons
Precinct One Deputy Constable Amanda Suggs
HPD Representative
Thank you for your patience as we worked through the rescheduling of the February Members Meeting. As previously indicated, the topic of the meeting is the WHCA Constable Patrol and issues of neighborhood security.
About the Constable Patrol Program
The WHCA Constable Patrol was established in 2011. The program provides two Precinct One Constables dedicated to Woodland Heights, to supplement existing law enforcement services. It is a supplemental patrol that is paid for through subscriptions by residents.
For some years the revenue raised by Constable Patrol supporters has not fully covered the cost of contract. WHCA subsidized the program with funds raised by the association's special events (the bi-annual Home Tour and Lights in the Heights). This has become unsustainable. We currently have no choice but to increase the price of subscriptions to meet the escalating cost of the program. This is the first price increase since 2019!
This member's meeting is firstly to explain the current status of the program, it's cost and benefits, and chart a path forward. We'll be announcing a new price for Constable Patrol subscriptions effective April 1, 2025.
At present, only 472 of 2000 homes in Woodland Heights support the Constable Patrol Program. Given this fact, we are also be seeking community support to grow the number of Constable Patrol subscribers. With more homes supporting the program, it can be expanded, and additional measures considered to enhance neighborhood security.
Neighborhood Security More Broadly
Some weeks ago there was an incident that has alarmed and upset many neighbors. This warrants a more general discussion of neighborhood security. With this in mind, we have invited an array of guests from law enforcement and local government to inform our discussion. We anticipate an animated, respectful, and informative Q&A session.
Please note: While this is a officially WHCA Member's Meeting, all Woodland Heights residents are welcome.
Have you seen this man? /
UPDATE/WANTED: Photo of Carlos Jose Ayala Morales, 43, now charged with felony attempted indecency with a child in an incident in the 800 block of Omar St. on Jan. 27
Tips about his whereabouts? Call Crime Stoppers of Houston at 713-222-TIPS for a reward up to $5K.
Help detectives ID this suspect wanted for inappropriately grabbing & touching a female, 7, in the 800 block of Omar St. just after 3 p.m. on Monday (Jan. 27).
The male was also seen on foot on Reagan and Watson Streets nearby. Any residents who have any video, please contact our detectives at 713-986-3300.
Know his ID? Call Crime Stoppers of Houston 713-222-TIPS for a reward up to $5K.
WHCA Constable Patrol Activity Report - December 2024 /
By Beth Sorenson
If you are already registered as a WHCA Constable Patrol member, thank you for supporting this service. If you are not, we invite you to join by clicking the button below and help make Woodland Heights a safer community.
For December 2024, the Constable Patrol reported the following activity.
Have you had a positive experience with our Constable that made a difference in your life or the safety of our community? We want to hear about it! Whether it was help during an emergency, assistance with a concern, or simply their presence making you feel secure, your stories matter.
Please share your story with us by emailing security@woodland-heights.org. Your experiences help highlight the important role the Constable plays in keeping Woodland Heights safe and thriving.
Thank you for taking the time to share your gratitude and support!
National Night Out - October 1st /
"Won't you be my neighbor?" Neighborhoods mean many different things to a lot of different people…ranging from a place denoted by boundary lines to a group of homes that are close to each other with people who may or may not know each other. The Woodland Heights, a neighborhood with a rich history dating back to 1907, like Houston has evolved over the years. With many neighbors working from home or choosing to live in the Woodland Heights for the schools and amenities offered by living inside the loop there are neighbors who may not have a moment to take advantage of their front porches or chat across their fences to meet their neighbors.
Today, we're inviting you to come out and meet some of your neighbors, friends, and future friends on Tuesday, October 1, 2024, for the WHCA National Night Out from 5:30 pm to 7:30 pm on the Norhill Esplanade.
Thanks to Joann Lammons with Sotheby's Realty, a fellow Woodland Heights resident and realtor, for generously sponsoring Dippin' Dots as a sweet treat for the kids! When asked why she contributes to the WHCA National Night Out event, Joann responded,
"I am proud to be a member of the Woodland Heights Community. It brings me back to my roots of uptown New Orleans with like architectural styles, legendary live oaks, walk-ability and wonderful neighbors. I love to support NNO as it honors our brave law enforcers and offers joint community programs for safety awareness. Not to mention a fun excuse for gathering our community!"
Parents be sure to come early to National Night Out as Dippin' Dots are available while supplies last.
In addition, the It's a Wrap food truck will be on site with its popular wraps ready for purchase. Guli Essa. The owner of It's a Wrap began her food truck career in 2011 when the retail store she was managing decided to close and gave her two days' notice. Instead of wondering what her next step would be, Guli followed her dream of owning her own business. Since then, she's been rolling out healthy food varieties that reflect what she likes to eat. The name of the truck is a nod to her LA roots and the movie business where "when you finish a movie, you say, 'it's a wrap." She's also carried the theme a little further by naming all her wraps after movies or something related to movies.
So, bring your lawn chairs, get your kids a Dippin' Dot, buy a wrap from It's a Wrap food truck, and enjoy a fun-filled night out with your neighbors while celebrating National Night Out.
What is National Night Out?
National Night Out was the brainchild of Matt A. Peskin from Philadelphia, but its success is a testament to the power of community. In 1970, Mr. Peskin was a volunteer working with the Lower Merion Community Watch program in cooperation with the Lower Merion Police Department. He patrolled his neighborhood, assisted in patrol dispatch, and ran the program's newsletter. In search of new content for the newsletter, he went to surrounding neighborhoods for assistance and noticed the need for a shared platform to connect citizens interested in safer neighborhoods. This was the seed for the next step in the development of the program that would become National Night Out.
In 1970, he established the National Association of Town Watch to provide community watch groups with information, resources, and assets to stay informed, interested, involved, and motivated within the community. Then, three years later, in 1984, the NATW organization held the first National Night Out with the simple goal of increasing participation in local crime prevention efforts by uniting entire communities for a single night. That first night, 2.5 million neighbors across 400 communities in 23 states participated. Today, communities celebrate National Night Out events on either the first Tuesday in August or the first Tuesday in October to take into account the difference in weather temperatures across the entire country. We opt for the first Tuesday in October here in Houston due to our weather temps!
What is the goal?
At the National Night Out program's core is the goal of connecting neighbors, promoting community, and raising awareness about police-community partnerships. For us, it's a chance to strengthen the bonds within our Woodland Heights neighborhood and show our support for local law enforcement by uniting our community on this one night in the hopes of uniting it for the future.