Crime Free Housing and Nuisance Ordinance Information Request

Dear Jenny Wadhwa:
Thank you for your interest in public records of Houston Police Department. Your request has been received and is being processed in accordance with Chapter 552 of Texas Government Code, the Public Information Act. Your request was received in this office on 8/10/2023 and given the reference number P055324-081023 for tracking purposes. Records Requested: To Whom It May Concern:

Pursuant to the Texas Public Information Act, I hereby request the following records:

Any and all records from the past two years (July 2021-July 2023) regarding "Blue Star" housing and nuisance property ordinances that will be referred to as “program” and "ordinance" respectively, in this request but could be known (but not limited to) as “Blue Star Multi-Housing Program” and "EXCESSIVE CRIMINAL ACTIVITY AT CERTAIN APARTMENT COMMUNITIES" as described in Houston's Code of Ordinances Sec. 28-281.

Please provide any and all written records (including but not limited to hard-copy documents, memos, emails, word processor documents, PDF documents, PowerPoint files, images files, video files etc.) regarding the Program and Ordinance including but not limited to:

• any training/presentation materials used in communication, promotions, workshops, seminars, etc

• criminal background checks performed on prospective tenants

• evictions filed by property owners and number of tenants evicted as a result of the program and ordinance

• suspensions or revocation of a residential rental license, against property owners who fail to comply with the requirements of the ordinance or program

• police calls, reports, citations, or arrests, collected by the municipality police department for the purpose of enforcing the ordinance and program

• meeting minutes and correspondence between municipality officials, regarding the implementation and enforcement of the program and ordinance

• all documents concerning the passage of the nuisance ordinance and any amendments to it, including communications with City elected officials, city staff, and others, and any data relied upon or reviewed as a part of the passage or amendments to the nuisance ordinance since July 2021 to present.

The requested documents will be made available to the general public, and this request is not being made for commercial purposes.

In the event that there are fees, I would be grateful if you would inform me of the total charges in advance of fulfilling my request. I would prefer the request filled electronically, by e-mail attachment if available or CD-ROM if not.

Thank you in advance for your anticipated cooperation in this matter. I look forward to receiving your response to this request within 10 business days, as the statute requires.

Sincerely,

Jenny Wadhwa

Upload documents directly: https://www.muckrock.com/
Your request will be forwarded to the relevant Houston Police Department department(s) to locate the information you seek and to determine the volume and any costs associated with satisfying your request. You will be contacted about the availability and/or provided with copies of the records in question. PLEASE NOTE: The Chapter 552 of Texas Government Code, the Public Information Act does not require a governmental body to create new information, to do legal research, or to answer questions.

You can monitor the progress of your request at the link below and you'll receive an email when your request has been completed. Again, thank you for using the Houston Public Information Request Center.
Houston Police Department

--- Please respond above this line ---
RE: PUBLIC RECORDS REQUEST of August 10, 2023, Reference # P055324-081023. Dear Jenny Wadhwa, The Houston Police Department received a public information request from you on August 10, 2023. Your request mentioned: “To Whom It May Concern:

Pursuant to the Texas Public Information Act, I hereby request the following records:

Any and all records from the past two years (July 2021-July 2023) regarding "Blue Star" housing and nuisance property ordinances that will be referred to as “program” and "ordinance" respectively, in this request but could be known (but not limited to) as “Blue Star Multi-Housing Program” and "EXCESSIVE CRIMINAL ACTIVITY AT CERTAIN APARTMENT COMMUNITIES" as described in Houston's Code of Ordinances Sec. 28-281.

Please provide any and all written records (including but not limited to hard-copy documents, memos, emails, word processor documents, PDF documents, PowerPoint files, images files, video files etc.) regarding the Program and Ordinance including but not limited to:

• any training/presentation materials used in communication, promotions, workshops, seminars, etc

• criminal background checks performed on prospective tenants

• evictions filed by property owners and number of tenants evicted as a result of the program and ordinance

• suspensions or revocation of a residential rental license, against property owners who fail to comply with the requirements of the ordinance or program

• police calls, reports, citations, or arrests, collected by the municipality police department for the purpose of enforcing the ordinance and program

• meeting minutes and correspondence between municipality officials, regarding the implementation and enforcement of the program and ordinance

• all documents concerning the passage of the nuisance ordinance and any amendments to it, including communications with City elected officials, city staff, and others, and any data relied upon or reviewed as a part of the passage or amendments to the nuisance ordinance since July 2021 to present.

The requested documents will be made available to the general public, and this request is not being made for commercial purposes.

In the event that there are fees, I would be grateful if you would inform me of the total charges in advance of fulfilling my request. I would prefer the request filled electronically, by e-mail attachment if available or CD-ROM if not.

Thank you in advance for your anticipated cooperation in this matter. I look forward to receiving your response to this request within 10 business days, as the statute requires.

Sincerely,

Jenny Wadhwa

Upload documents directly: https://www.muckrock.com/ The Houston Police Department has reviewed its files and has located responsive records to your request.  Please log in to the Houston Public Information Request Center at the following link to retrieve the appropriate responsive documents. Please note the information you've requested is done at living community level. HPD does not maintain those records. We have attached the presentation given to communities. Police Department Public Information - P055324-081023 If you have any questions, or wish to discuss this further, please contact my office at . Sincerely, Kimberly Coyle Administrative Supervisor Houston Police Department (HPD)