District and civic club shine more light on public safety

Salazar, Flores

The East Aldine Management District’s latest way of stepping up to improve public safety is by funding a second set of streetlights, and an estimated $150,000 in electricity costs this year, in areas that sorely needed the service.

The District had an important partner. The “Light Up East Aldine” project is due in large part to the efforts of the Green Forest Civic Club and its youthful president Ruben Salazar. He is a soft-spoken, 21-year-old political science major at the University of Houston Downtown and a lifelong resident of East Aldine.

Salazar, who said he was “almost too shy” to make class presentations while attending MacArthur High School, was recently elected County Precinct 2 chair of the Harris County Democratic Party. By going door-to-door to talk to his neighbors in the Oakwilde subdivision, Salazar has overcome his fear of public speaking and helped the civic club add new members. He was one of many East Aldine residents who recently testified in Austin to the Sunset Advisory Commission about the need to toughen Texas Commission on Environmental Quality regulations.

The Green Forest Civic Club represents Oakwilde, Eastex Freeway Forest and Fairgreen 1, 2, 3 and 4 subdivisions. But all residents of the East Aldine area are welcome to attend its meetings.

Salazar credits Club Secretary Marina Flores for sparking his interest in the organization because she started a community survey about residents’ concerns and desires for their neighborhoods.

“Streetlights were the number one concern, followed closely by sidewalks,” Salazar said.

Many residents concerned about crime in their neighborhoods consider streetlights a way to reduce lawlessness because they make it harder for potential crooks to hide, Salazar said.

Northeast Houston neighborhoods inside city limits routinely get streetlights. But East Aldine is outside city boundaries.

Salazar has met with many elderly residents in the unlit sections who are repeat victims of crime.

“We are here for those residents,” Salazar said. “So, we decided to approach the East Aldine Management District for some help.”

The District approved funding for 105 streetlights in October 2021. But CenterPoint, which installs them, was able to find only 68 suitable locations.

Now the District has dedicated more money — about $110,000 — for as many as 223 more lights.

“We are very grateful to the District for funding these streetlights,” Salazar said.

Streetlights and other safety programs enhance the District’s anti-crime efforts, which include hiring patrol deputies to work overtime shifts in the neighborhood.

“This is something the District can do to make the streets safer,” District Executive Director Richard Cantú said of the streetlights.

In a posting on the civic club’s Facebook page, Salazar explained: “This new round of streetlights will be focused towards lighting up the southern portions of the district, especially those neighborhoods around Worsham Elementary and Orange Grove Elementary Schools.”

“We have been conducting surveys and collecting letters of concern to raise awareness about the need for an increase in streetlights.”