This is Joseph Panzarella speaking to host Celeste Diaz Shurman on Houston Public Media’s program, Hello Houston, on April 13, 2026 (around minute 1:34:40):

Celeste Diaz Shurman -

I did have a follow up in regards to the TIRZ. I know that the Montrose

TIRZ 27…there was some real controversy around this in 2024 and I believe it was about the redevelopment that Mayor Whitmire was going to move forward with and the trees. A lot of people were very upset that the trees were going to be taken out. What is your response to that?

Joseph Panzanella -

Yeah, that was a difficult process to go thru and as an organizer I was there on the front lines going to TIRZ meetings and I remember when the public speakers would be two to one, three to one in favor of the original plan that would put forward a nice 10 foot wide shared use path that would connect Montrose all the way to Buffalo Bayou. It was going to reimagine the neighborhood in my mind. I think what we saw there was a lack of transparency and we saw the administration change the TIRZ board without really taking into consideration the community’s voices, but I think more so listening to just kind of one subset….

Joe Panzanella is closely associated with those who promoted the road diet and protected bike lane on 11th Street. People such as Emmanuel Nunez, Kevin Strickland, Ian Hvlacek, and others would put them on other major arteries inside the Loop. One of those streets talked about is Yale Street. 

If you have a chance and are so inclined, ask Joe what infrastructure improvements he thinks should be done on Yale Street, W. Alabama, Montrose Boulevard, Main Street, Telephone Road, Blodgett Street, Washington Avenue, Austin Street, Houston Street and others. Should streets have reduced lane widths? What does he think about cutting down mature shade trees to install bike lanes. If money has to be portioned out due to budget constraints, what should take priority, road diets and bike lanes or flood abatement projects. It’s all just timing anyway, isn't it, so why not do road diets first?

Vote May 16 for Nick Hellyar. He’ll serve his constituents.