[{"_1":2,"_123":-5,"_124":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87,99,111],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6668660,"mediaKeyId","2220211-7302b0f0ee4e2ae5c541d8d06a8abe08","parentId",2220211,"title","Private ambulance chief says Houston permit rules prevent out-of-state paramedics from transporting patients","audioSeconds",178,"startMs",4166000,"endMs",4344000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2220211-7302b0f0ee4e2ae5c541d8d06a8abe08&start=4166&end=4344","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2220211-7302b0f0ee4e2ae5c541d8d06a8abe08/thumbnail_4166000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6668660/Houston/Harris-County/Texas/Private-ambulance-chief-says-Houston-permit-rules-prevent-out-of-state-paramedics-from-transporting-patients","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6668660-d8b359eb8ec5f092e82cbe43b8456ced/orig.mp4?Expires=1775800154&Signature=AVvg7qsjBD7dZPKRA3EJ~ysFxXUrtBxtrO13xSsTXxnOZgvF3tyFIVOs196DjctOHkzid1FUNk91OJvUzQ~ENnlWCOoqER6EmztAD9bNYZV9LjINLAtvF1uWauobd~oCThSjUuE2X4cctaBzhzvvMIFqpnmINvCbqA63NS-1y0ugMXz9JkmMCSNhK3OtWxEykXUGDGhhjKIKBaauXx8wgctcmSC-pyi6HAqgDi6t9Of7ItBH-sTfEAnov3hu~i2OcyB7iEAslZtvGtRt8BobFIXjeNhwshRdGVnNN8tTkwpIKCCH2-uORbaCBy7N~bQrNhrBSD8TO5xgicepeRDfmQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Houston","date","2025-02-04T00:00:00Z","article","A private ambulance chief told the City Council on Feb. 4 that a city ordinance dating from 2011 restricts paramedics and EMTs who hold out-of-state licenses from driving ambulances in Houston and is creating delays for critically ill patients.

Andre Ruby, who identified himself as chief of a large private ambulance service operating in the Houston area, said the ordinance requires paramedics and EMTs to obtain a City of Houston driver permit and, practically, a Texas driver's license. He said the rule led to tickets of $385 for crews who lack the city permit and that roughly 30% of his staffing comes from out of state.

Ruby described an incident in which a 28-year-old cardiac-arrest patient, intubated and being moved to a facility, was delayed while crews were stopped at a receiving facility and an inspector questioned the credentials of a paramedic holding a non-Texas driver's license. He asked councilmembers either to waive the local permit requirement for out-of-state workers or to allow out-of-state licenses to qualify based on certified driving records.

Councilmember Kamen and Mayor Pro Tem said they would follow up with the bureau chief of the health department and have staff contact Ruby to discuss the ordinance and possible administrative fixes. Kamen clarified that the matter concerns private hospital-to-hospital transports and other permitted private transports rather than 911 response by the Houston Fire Department.

Ending

Council members asked the health department bureau chief to review the ordinance's operational impact and directed staff to follow up with the company to explore options for permitting that do not impede patient transfers.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Houston - Council Meeting (February 4, 2025 & February 5, 2025) - Feb 04, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","A private ambulance operator told the council that a city ordinance requiring a Houston permit (and effectively a Texas driver's license) for ambulance crew drivers is preventing out-of-state paramedics and EMTs from transporting patients and is delaying care.","taxTitle","Houston, Harris County, Texas","taxId",2797,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6668664,"Community calls for renewed city backing to complete Sunnyside landfill solar project",208,3872000,4080000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2220211-7302b0f0ee4e2ae5c541d8d06a8abe08&start=3872&end=4080","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2220211-7302b0f0ee4e2ae5c541d8d06a8abe08/thumbnail_3872000.jpg","/articles/6668664/Houston/Harris-County/Texas/Community-calls-for-renewed-city-backing-to-complete-Sunnyside-landfill-solar-project","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6668664-07e2c756fb7e0751e251eaa55be8a28c/orig.mp4?Expires=1775800154&Signature=JKdQMCk1YDglqwrDSRI1LbW~ZMJUVpml9x0h7zCuOaVfeWZpeNBSloTjM0P5PxCJx4T8cd3hBkYuUpVMjbbvZg1EAID6x3h1~4oU-rexoPzvzwT1duIynfv4bh0CWG7YleIDqLxoGkTOV0FJm1-Nd6IZdTLvMNkGIcDRVxQ7gfLLQSivhMupXXAmXjRRO5gdnScEGE4XDcSA9AETzLEqMMy1ihIXz1r9dena0PRYz5FrP1gqGVLZ9lVZ7fETrJLcV5x~rGVecKb8HGkfcMZi4rMcUW01AYb~3xMK53IhX9Rc5YrhDxaiOpz9RW-J3ojeTbgcSDxQENXZ9C4i4lnH0g__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Speakers urged the council on Feb. 4 to renew support for plans to build a community- and commercial-scale solar installation on a closed landfill in Sunnyside and to help secure energy buyers that would enable full site restoration and construction.

Dori Wolf, who described herself as a volunteer with Solar United Neighbors and a Sunnyside native, recalled community leader Ephraim Jernigan, who helped organize local students and residents around a plan for a solar farm on a 240-acre closed landfill bisected by Incinerator Road. Wolf said permits are in place for a 2-megawatt community solar farm and a 50-megawatt commercial solar farm with battery storage, and she said the project could generate enough power to serve \"up to 10,000 homes, according to ERCOT, at no cost to the taxpayer.\" She asked the council to help find offtakers and to \"double down\" on support to finish the project in Jernigan's memory.

Councilmembers Evan Shabazz and Carter told the audience they had met with community representatives and supported seeking ways to move the project forward. Shabazz said the community was \"still supporting this\" and that Jernigan's contributions had drawn a large turnout at his service; Carter said he would work with council colleagues to resolve outstanding hurdles around energy procurement, storage and financing.

Speakers asked the council to help find commercial energy buyers and to prioritize a final agreement that would include site restoration, maintenance funded by energy revenues, and community benefits such as local jobs and clean-energy access for Sunnyside residents.

Ending

Councilmembers acknowledged the project's long history and said they would coordinate with community groups and city staff to address the remaining financing and procurement questions that are delaying construction.","Community members and Solar United Neighbors appealed to council to accelerate permitting and find energy purchasers (offtakers) to complete a solar farm project planned for a closed Sunnyside landfill, honoring a late local leader who helped advance the proposal.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6668669,"Independence Heights residents, leaders urge housing authority not to terminate Columbia Residential MOU",1092,5589000,6681000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2220211-7302b0f0ee4e2ae5c541d8d06a8abe08&start=5589&end=6681","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2220211-7302b0f0ee4e2ae5c541d8d06a8abe08/thumbnail_5589000.jpg","/articles/6668669/Houston/Harris-County/Texas/Independence-Heights-residents-leaders-urge-housing-authority-not-to-terminate-Columbia-Residential-MOU","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6668669-bb5f010f1804e62e6d4257f5a52e067b/orig.mp4?Expires=1775800154&Signature=kaZMCH8YxKHDd-imqRzB4zK8A-z8KkW84brBDyq9IPvR6F-PuqnAzOVKn8frvcXTqYQrZf0dV4k62h52UrQ7EmXhF-8SPp-Anlcy05xE6~LRUa12f3NcQ8uvrLokrhdIw0XOQCsfaEu-PApwTZBI0INv28SJlu963DA4Te~0SH5UuvBjC574kxSyMoOGKhGIWtXPQfcuxfv8B7Pw6GcS11hqexnWxxDS244ZEzIvhdp-K4AvaOErhNcUAFxyb9k-~ksf6NnUZJDeS3gnIhMaEhCMJquYjakFhg7y~DuGO7ESvC8lRYaLASb0cjQe3-uGIN0yAtsckzrKqlYf~kN3hQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Community leaders and residents of Independence Heights urged Houston officials on Feb. 4 not to terminate an agreement with Columbia Residential for an affordable housing project, saying the project honors a late community leader's work and that switching developers would delay construction and risk tax-credit financing.

Natasha Johnson, who said she has lived in Independent Heights 67 years, told the council the community opposes the housing authority resolution (identified in public remarks as Resolution 3858) and asked why the item was placed on the agenda without more notice. \"None of us were nobody responded to us, nobody gave us a letter, nobody gave us a head up,\" she said.

Several speakers, including Danny Asbury, Jerome Nickerson and Fred Woods, asked the council to preserve the existing plan and to honor Tanya DuBose, a local leader who recently died and who they said had helped advance the project. Asbury urged the housing authority to vote no on the resolution to terminate the MOU with Columbia Residential, saying termination would \"disrupt years of careful planning.\" Nickerson, a longtime resident and pastor, called the neighborhood \"historic\" and urged officials to protect its continuity.

Councilmember Castillo said the item had been discussed at a separate meeting and that a one-week delay had occurred while questions were being resolved. He said he was \"very committed to seeing that this development is built\" and that he had received a commitment from the housing authority that \"this project will be built.\" Councilmember Plummer provided background on inspections and tax-credit mechanics and warned that replacing the developer could eliminate previously awarded 4% tax credits and that Columbia had already invested about $2 million in predevelopment costs.

Plummer said the health department inspections of a separate Columbia property, 2100 Memorial, had found no systemic violations and characterized the reported rat issue as an isolated, remediated incident in two units. Plummer and others emphasized that switching developers could require new requests for proposals, new plans and delays that could make the project financially unworkable for affordable units.

Councilmember Thomas urged the community to remain engaged and promised continued support for keeping housing affordable in the neighborhood. Council members said they would collect factual questions and suggested drafting a joint letter to the housing authority to request information and assurances about the project's timeline, financing and developer qualifications.

Ending

Council members urged residents to stay involved during the coming week while they and housing authority staff answered outstanding questions; several members offered to sign a letter requesting clarity from the housing authority.","Dozens of residents and community leaders urged the council and housing authority to preserve a planned affordable housing development in Independence Heights and to keep Columbia Residential as developer after the housing authority agenda placed a Memorandum of Understanding under review.",{"_33":100,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":101,"_41":102,"_43":103,"_45":104,"_47":105,"_49":106,"_51":107,"_53":108,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":109,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":110,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6668674,"Families and program leaders ask Houston to boost security at West Gray Multi-Service Center",1041,1399000,2440000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2220211-7302b0f0ee4e2ae5c541d8d06a8abe08&start=1399&end=2440","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2220211-7302b0f0ee4e2ae5c541d8d06a8abe08/thumbnail_1399000.jpg","/articles/6668674/Houston/Harris-County/Texas/Families-and-program-leaders-ask-Houston-to-boost-security-at-West-Gray-Multi-Service-Center","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6668674-2221d4cdbf41216f45bd77c8db37e570/orig.mp4?Expires=1775800154&Signature=LcwZWkIo9tLaNDO4ur285KA~yEDxvI2D5XcfEjIbjsEx0yitvuKWkyi8YpcNhANQfr07PCAXXJ50wMYOb3o5kCFtCz3oOt-cBBVihlMW9sXKy0dw1niWBCxx7xHrWeqfQ6FsNXtw2jHeVaPLGU9wLLSnbG6xznffz2Uh9-FqxHJXtCIFaaYFXVvI-JoNWQy-t7H~GY0ijyDoyuIZQ0jgqz9bKbMtZtX6OAh~b19IScTEEa2aIPWZhGdsTWq3ONirdvgF4SiKPIDb5oJZ~UVwlBoHrO-m9tuyvbbfZhaSKREfDtVaNQGMw4z6CVzG7k642PVnxLrv2jTQWIa3RwIRBA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Parents, program staff and council members urged the city on Feb. 4 to add security and staffing at the West Gray Multi-Service Center after multiple speakers said recent incidents outside the facility had raised safety concerns for program participants.

Eileen Edmonds, associate director of education for Theatre Under The Stars, said the River program and other activities for students with disabilities meet at West Gray and that \"it's reached a tipping point\" because people she described as unhoused and possibly mentally ill now regularly reside on nearby grounds. Edmonds said park rangers once contacted an individual and convinced him to leave, but that similar incidents have continued through the last 8 to 12 months.

James Blair, a nearby resident, said he had seen a \"mentally disturbed individual\" sleeping on the grounds and that the presence of people using drugs and refusing to leave had left neighbors and parents feeling unsafe. \"I don't feel safe personally,\" he said, recounting his own experience being assaulted in public and noting the proximity of a playground to the center.

Deborah Quintero, whose son has attended the River program for 15 years, said parents rely on West Gray as a safe, accessible place that their children can reach by Metro Lift. She asked the council to consider enhanced security measures including locking gates at night, fortifying existing gates and assigning park rangers at opening and closing times. \"I want West Gray to be a safe space for everyone,\" Quintero said.

Councilmember Kamen said he had begun calls after hearing community concerns and asked the parks director and other departments to help identify security options. Kamen said ideas included stationing a park ranger during key hours, improving gate security and coordinating with other city departments; he committed to working with Director Ponce and staff to evaluate solutions.

Speakers emphasized that West Gray provides unique services—often for elderly participants and people with disabilities who arrive early by specialized transit—and that any security changes should preserve a welcoming environment while improving safety. City council members said they would work with parks, police and the mayor's office to identify feasible, short-term steps and follow-up measures.

Ending

Council members asked staff to follow up with the community and to report back on options, including increased ranger presence, gate security and other measures to protect program participants.","Parents, program staff and council members raised safety concerns about the West Gray Multi-Service Center, saying increasing numbers of unhoused individuals and disruptive behavior outside the facility have created a potential risk to children and people with disabilities who use programs there.",{"_33":112,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":113,"_41":114,"_43":115,"_45":116,"_47":117,"_49":118,"_51":119,"_53":120,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":121,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":122,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6668678,"Houston rescuers and residents press council to advance plan to convert BARC to local government corporation",961,2694000,3655000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2220211-7302b0f0ee4e2ae5c541d8d06a8abe08&start=2694&end=3655","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2220211-7302b0f0ee4e2ae5c541d8d06a8abe08/thumbnail_2694000.jpg","/articles/6668678/Houston/Harris-County/Texas/Houston-rescuers-and-residents-press-council-to-advance-plan-to-convert-BARC-to-local-government-corporation","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6668678-94d059f8c5f825313699090b7d1062e6/orig.mp4?Expires=1775800154&Signature=JHLA6Yoxis32rA08h1r5y5WD069kQ6luWmEh6ou5fwMSPVyP26soaCGSKQL0Fc0EmT7ef4Lu60ED9YN~kk83jghyVDQ0jcaah176oI5Eds7vS455li25JkZhHVWOIjS0qsx3crqeK8hxG7iKceUCtmd1Hrit8P74nB5~IuNUQDre50qKRiUK3g22JSFt747~uGrFSz1bV-rX2MmHVtwyerybsJ3pL3Nipne7Nba0ubDOKFCXeE1EhMYqEC25bmPlC-Ot8WPPlcVzo0xhL2CgmoUS3SOJu-yj4rc~UXGLglm9WnG2NkeiHJQqM4NqBsx43vp67YM3V8GpgoZavgWH1g__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Advocates pressed the Houston City Council on Feb. 4 for faster action on a proposal to study converting BARC, the city animal control agency, into a local government corporation that could raise funds outside standard city channels.

Marissa Doherty, an independent rescuer and North Shepherd resident, told the council that \"a mandatory sterilization law enforced by the city's animal control would go a long way\" and said BARC's current budget \"is insufficient to meet Houston's needs.\" She called the LGC proposal a way for the agency to fundraise and open new avenues including satellite adoption centers and additional shelter space.

Brooke Jackson, who described herself as a third-generation Oak Forest resident and neighbor to North Shepherd, recommended against a strict \"no-kill\" policy for a city the size of Houston and urged the council to ensure the proposed LGC board includes members with street-level experience. Jackson said BARC took in \"over 2,000 more animals\" in 2024 compared with recent years and that the agency performed \"923 more adoptions and 1,304–1,340 more sterilization services\" under the current director.

Sandy Francis, a longtime volunteer trapper and rescuer, told the council she has trapped \"well into the hundreds\" of animals and called the city's stray population \"a citywide crisis.\" She and other speakers named independent rescuers and nonprofit groups that already collaborate with BARC and urged the city to allow those groups to work with an LGC to expand services.

Councilmember Mario Castillo said he and Councilmember Sally Alcorn had worked on an amendment to study the conversion and that he was \"pushing for this\" because it could enable hiring more enforcement officers and securing funding to meet demand. Alcorn said she expected a public presentation to Budget and Fiscal Affairs Committee in March and urged residents to submit names for the planned board the mayor's offices will appoint.

Speakers from underserved neighborhoods and independent rescuers emphasized spay-and-neuter outreach, school-based education and better funding for enforcement as critical to lowering intake at the shelter. Several asked for clarity on how an LGC would affect relationships with rescues, foster networks and volunteer groups; council members said those details needed public committee review.

Council members and speakers repeatedly framed the change as a study request rather than a final decision: they urged that the proposal be scheduled for the joint Budget and Fiscal Affairs and Service Delivery committee so that the public can ask questions and officials can present detailed options.

Proponents asked the council to move the item forward quickly so the city can better coordinate funding, adopt workable operational policies and bring in outside philanthropy and partnerships that currently are limited by BARC's status as a city department.

Ending

Speakers and council members said they would continue outreach and urged residents with suggestions about board candidates and operational priorities to contact their council offices so that the committee presentation can reflect community input.","Multiple residents, rescuers and council members urged the City Council to move forward with a study and public discussion of converting BARC (the city's animal control and shelter) into a local government corporation to expand funding, staffing and spay/neuter services amid persistent animal overpopulation.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Private ambulance chief says Houston permit rules prevent out-of-state paramedics from transporting patients

Community calls for renewed city backing to complete Sunnyside landfill solar project

Independence Heights residents, leaders urge housing authority not to terminate Columbia Residential MOU

Families and program leaders ask Houston to boost security at West Gray Multi-Service Center

Houston rescuers and residents press council to advance plan to convert BARC to local government corporation