It's been a busy Valentine's week! We got some good media coverage drawing more attention to this tree-razing project from our "Show Some Love for the Trees" yarn-bombing protest and candy heart signs.
- https://www.fox26houston.com/video/1409297
- https://www.houstonpublicmedia.org/articles/infrastructure/development/2024/02/08/476983/construction-for-montrose-boulevard-improvement-project-delayed-likely-until-april/
- https://www.houstonchronicle.com/news/houston-texas/environment/article/montrose-boulevard-live-oaks-tirz-project-protest-18656452.php
This week's actions to help save the trees:
* Come to the next TIRZ public board meeting, Monday 2/19 at 6:30pm at St. Stephens Havens Center on W Alabama. The special-interest proponents of the TIRZ plan always show up, so we need LOTS of regular citizens who want to see tree-saving changes made to this plan to show up. Please come if you possibly can, even just for awhile, and please WEAR RED. If you want to attend via Zoom, register here ttp://tinyurl.com/22jmn3se. You can sign up to speak at the door or raise your hand on Zoom. If you need help with what to say, email us at SaveMontroseLiveOaks@gmail.com
* Attend/speak at City Council on Tuesday 2/20, public speakers start at 2pm. Any citizen can speak to city council for 1-3 mins on any Tuesday. It's a very simple process to sign up. Send email before 3pm on any Monday to speakers@houstontx.gov. Then show up on Tuesday at 2pm at the main City Hall building, get a badge (you need an ID) and go up to the 2nd floor. Public speakers start at 2pm, but it can run late. The earlier you sign up the better. If you need more info or help with speaking at city council, email us at SaveMontroseLiveOaks@gmail.com
*. Check out our new social media presence on TikTok @save.montrose.liveoaks and Facebook @save.montrose.live.oaks. Follow, like, repost, copy link.. to help us start trending. Use the hashtag #savemontroseliveoaks on all of your own social media posts.
* Later in the week, we will release an extensive report that highlights every claim the TIRZ has made about the benefits of this project and our counterpoints, along with detailed evidence. Watch our website for pointer to the full report www.SaveMontroseLiveOaks.com
We keep getting accused of spreading misinformation, but the other side doesn't get specific about what they think we've got wrong, nor bring evidence to support their accusations. We've got ALL the receipts and will be publicly releasing the full report after we ensure the mayor's office and critical city council members have the info in hand. Why wait? We have learned that once the TIRZ sees anything we write or post, their taxpayer-funded PR firm (Holloway Environmental & Communication Services) gets involved and the media spin begins. It's exhausting.
We are a handful of ordinary, volunteer citizens from all walks of life. We've never fund-raised, we are not a 501.3c, we have no big donors, no paid staff... It is hard work to keep up with all the consulting firms the TIRZ has working to try to push this project through, all of whom are paid for with our tax dollars and who can work on this like a full time job, because for them, it is! Not to mention the special interest groups with paid executive directors and other staff, who are working to advocate for the project. And the SuperNeighborhood and civic club leaders who profess to speak on behalf of all of Montrose citizens! They say most of you in Montrose fully support taking down all these trees. Do they speak for YOU?
We are fighting against many well-funded, well-organized, well-connected, long-entrenched groups.
So please HELP US! We need more ordinary people to help spread the word, show up at the TIRZ mtgs, write the mayor and your city council person. etc. Email us and volunteer to help. There are many things we could be doing that we just don't have enough bodies to get done. Your body could make all the difference in saving these trees and ensuring we have a mature tree-lined, smart-designed Montrose Blvd that meets the needs of all its users.
EMAIL US at SaveMontroseLiveOaks@gmail.com if you want to help.