Guiding Lights

Saba Abashawl
Aviation
A delegation from the Abu Dhabi National Oil Company was visiting Houston to assess ExxonMobil as a potential investor, wrote John Harrington, ExxonMobil’s public affairs manager.

The oil company was hesitant to work with ExxonMobil because of stringent U.S.visa and immigration policies and the difficulty of entering Houston, Harrington wrote.

But Saba Abashawl provided an escorted entry into Houston that greatly reduced waiting time and made an impression on the delegation, Harrington wrote.

“We understand that the International Economic Development office is not staffed to provide service like this,” he wrote. “We applaud the professional and diplomatic way this was handled.”

Mario De Los Santos
Municipal Courts Administration
A time limit didn’t stop Mario De Los Santos from giving helpful career advice, wrote Texas A&M University student Nathan Lammert.

Lammert visited De Los Santos for a career counseling session. Their one-hour appointment stretched an extra 15 minutes.

“I can imagine how busy your days must be,” Lammert wrote, “yet you took the time to give me a very thorough session, full of helpful advice. Thank you especially for the pointers on enhancing my resume.”

Jonathan Michaels
Legal
Jonathan Michaels’ presentation at the Citizen/City Cooperation Forum was excellent, wrote Frank Silcock, president of the Westbury Civic Club.
“Your comments were very informative and will be quite valuable to citizens pursuing correction of neighborhood problems,” Silcock said.

Roseanna Ruiz
Mayor’s Office
After Peggy Walker’s son went to prison, she didn’t know where to turn for support, information, or hope. Then Walker found Roseanna Ruiz, who referred the family to the Texas Inmate Families Association.

During a time of family hardship, Ruiz also helped get Walker’s son moved to a prison closer to the family, Walker wrote. Then she helped him get the training he will need to become a productive citizen when he gets out of prison.

“‘Rosey’ has become a friend,” Walker wrote. “I don’t know how I could have made it without her mental and spiritual support. I hope her tenure with the city will offer longevity so that she can continue to help other sons and daughters who get in trouble with the law.”

Samuel Watkins
Public Works & Engineering
During a summer weekend, the air conditioner broke at the home of Mary Mechler’s parents. The 82-year-old couple called the repairman they’ve used for more than 20 years, who told them they’d need a new, $1,800 unit, Mechler wrote.

When the repairman arrived with the new unit, a city inspector pulled up right behind him, Mechler wrote. The repairman then told her parents he couldn’t install the unit until he got a permit. He told them this was one of Mayor Bill White’s “excuses to raise taxes.”

Her parents were confused. They’d never needed a permit before, Mechler wrote.

They waited for the repairman until her father became ill due to the stress and heat.

Then her mother called the city to expedite the permit, Mechler wrote. She was put in touch with Samuel Watkins, who explained that the repairman didn’t need a permit but must be licensed to install the air conditioner.
Their repairman had not been licensed for years.

Her mother then contacted a licensed installer, who immediately came out to the house, Mechler wrote. He told them they didn’t need a new unit. They simply needed a $90 part.

Within an hour, the air conditioner was running.

“If the city inspector had not followed the repairman to their house, my parents probably would have been charged more than $1,500 for a new unit that wasn’t needed,” Mechler wrote. “Their finances would have been severely abused if it weren’t for Mr. Watkins and his department.

“Mr. Watkins then came to speak to my father and clear up any questions that remained. He went out of his way to make sure they were taken care of properly.”

Leroy Sykes
Parks and Recreation
When a vehicle sitting at a red light caught fire during rush hour, Leroy Sykes grabbed the fire extinguisher from his city vehicle and put out the fire, according to Parks Director Joe Turner.

“His quick thinking reduced the amount of damage to the citizen’s vehicle and allowed rush hour traffic to continue flowing,” Turner said.

Benito Juarez
Mayor’s Office
Benito Juarez visited the Korean Christian Church to speak to the Kyongno Daehak organization, a group dedicated to helping immigrant Koreans become good U.S. citizens.

“It was a wonderful speech and really enlightened us as to the services and projects available from the Mayor’s Office,” wrote David Kim, the organization’s director.

Glenn Hill, Susan Luycx, Robert Williams
Public Works & Engineering
Glenn Hill, Susan Luycx, and Robert Williams picked up signs and trash around the Andover, Southview and Fairlawn neighborhoods, wrote D. Jenkins, president of the Andover-Southview-Fairlawn Civic Association Inc.

“It is so nice and refreshing to know that city employees provide excellent service to the public,” Jenkins wrote. “Hats off to you and your staff for the excellent service you all provided to our neighborhood cleanup.”

Jesse Tamayo, Kelvin Williams
Parks and Recreation
Jennifer Roberts is an exercise instructor for Team Chase, a program that provides free nutrition and exercise classes to at-risk children. Roberts wanted a bicycle police officer to greet the children when they toured Hermann Park.

When HPD couldn’t spare an officer, park rangers Jesse Tamayo and Kelvin Williams spoke to the children about bike safety and the rules of the road. They gave the children safety stickers and took them on a bike ride through the park.

“Because of these rangers, the outing was a smashing success,” Roberts wrote. “I could not have asked for more.”

Debbie Dillard
Mayor’s Office
Patsy Panek
Public Works and Engineering
For seven weeks, Joanie Schaatt had been calling 311 about a water leak in the street in front of her home. As time passed the small leak grew into a lagoon in the middle of the road. Schaatt was concerned about the water becoming a breeding ground for mosquitoes and an attraction for other critters.

Finally, she called the Mayor’s Office. Debbie Dillard, with help from Patsy Panek, made sure the leak was repaired.

“Were it not for the swift, courteous, and professional work of Debbie Dillard, I’d probably be sending digital pictures to the television stations. Instead, I’m a satisfied citizen,” Schaatt wrote.