February 13, 2008 HOUSTON RANKS TOP CITY IN DISABILITY FRIENDLINESS, OUTREACH AMONG U.S. CITIES
HOUSTON SELECTED AGAIN AMONG 100 BEST COMMUNITIES FOR YOUNG PEOPLE
The competition identifies cities and towns nationwide that have made the well-being of young children and youth a top priority. For more information visit www.americaspromise.org.
FREE TAX EDUCATION AND FREE TAX PREPARATION ASSISTANCE
Additionally, The IRS Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) Program offers free income tax preparation and filing to the approximately 67,000 families in the Houston area who qualify for assistance. Taxpayers can find a listing of the 26 VITA locations by calling 2-1-1 or 713-957-4357 or visiting www.houstonassetbuilding.org. PUBLIC GARAGE OPENS AT NEW DOWNTOWN PARK
The parking garage is located in front of the George R. Brown Convention Center (GRB) at 1002 Avenida de las Americas. The garage is open for business and the new park, Discovery Green, is expected to be finished in April 2008. For more information about the Convention District Parking Garage, visit www.houstonconventionctr.com. For more information about the Convention & Entertainment Facilities Department, please visit www.houstontx.gov/cef/index.html. NEW TOLL ROAD ROUTES HIGHLIGHT 4TH ANNUAL
GUARANTY BANK TOUR DE HOUSTON
The Guaranty Bank Tour de Houston offers a 20 mile, 40 mile and 65 mile route. Proceeds benefit Houston parks. Registration and volunteer information can be found on the www.tourdehouston.org web site. GREEN CONSUMER EXPO AT RELIANT PARK
The Expo will feature vendors with green building, energy efficiency, water efficiency, renewable energy, and green transportation products and services. Enjoy nationally recognized speakers, promotions, and special activities designed for younger Houstonians. Go to www.houstongreenexpo.org for more information. CONNECT WITH YOUR FIRE DEPARTMENT
To find out more about the Houston Fire Department community awareness programs including a complete schedule and locations for FREE childhood immunizations, please visit www.houstonfire.org. If your organization would like to be a part of the HFD Civic Safety Chain and receive notices from HFD regularly via e-mail, please contact Paul Box at the Public Affairs office at 713-495-7916 or e-mail to paul.box@cityofhouston.net. CITY OF HOUSTON MUNICIPAL COURTS PARTNERS WITH HPD IN TEXAS ROUND-UP INITIATIVE
Citizens are encouraged to take advantage of the many avenues available to settle outstanding warrants in order to avoid arrest. For more information about citations, visit the website at www.houstontx.gov/courts, or contact the City’s Help line at 3-1-1, or 713-837-0311 if outside the City of Houston. To register for CitizensNet go to www.houstontx.gov and click on the CitizensNet logo. To change your email address or update your record, Click Here To prevent your email service provider from marking a CitizensNet message as spam, Disclaimer: All information, excluding your e-mail address, is generally subject to public disclosure under the Texas Public Information Act (See Chapter 552 of the Texas Government Code). Thank you for your continued interest in the CitizensNet E-Newsletter. |
The National Organization on Disability has announced Houston as the winner in the seventh annual Accessible America Contest. Houston is being heralded as a national model for its focus on disability issues and successful design of programs, services and facilities that are accessible for citizens and visitors who have disabilities.
The City of Houston is proud to be selected as one of the 100 Best Communities for Young People for the third time by America’s Promise Alliance. 
Houston area families may be leaving much needed money in the hands of the IRS. As a service to low-income Houston residents, Houston Asset Building Coalition (HABC) is offering free tax preparation for families who earned less than $40,000 in 2007. HABC can help families file a basic tax return, claim earned income tax credit and child tax credit if eligible and assist taxpayers with e-file at any of their free income tax preparation sites.
Built beneath Discovery Green Park, the brand-new Convention District Parking garage is ready to accommodate nearly 700 vehicles.
This year’s Guaranty Bank Tour de Houston, which will take place Saturday, March 15, 2008, will offer riders a new, interesting view of Houston from two wheels on the Hardy Toll Road. The Hardy Toll Road northbound lanes will be closed the morning of the Tour de Houston. Commuters to Bush Intercontinental Airport are urged to take IH 45 or U.S. 59 north that morning. 
The weekend of April 5th and 6th, you are invited to the region’s first Green Consumer Expo. There will be many locally available green products and services that will save consumers money and help our environment.
The Houston Fire Department would like to remind you that fire safety begins with fire prevention. Your Fire Department offers a wide variety of fire and life safety awareness programs for every age group. You can schedule a fire truck visit or speaker to your school or neighborhood association or have your group tour a fire station. You can also schedule Captain Elmo, The Fire Safety Robot for your school or event.
The Houston Police Department will be among more than 160 law enforcement jurisdictions across Texas in the “Great Texas Warrant Round-Up,” which begins Saturday, February 16, 2008. This statewide initiative will target people who have outstanding warrants with their respective Municipal Courts.