Proposal to build YMCA in Acres Home area presented to Houston City Council

A proposal to build a YMCA facility in Stuebner-Airline Park in northwest Houston was made to City Council on December 29 by Mary Taylor of the Acres Home area and Jack Christie, businessman and former State Board of Education member. Mr. Christie says he recently learned of the efforts to get a YMCA at that location and supports that effort.

“The property was given to the area under the Whitmire administration,” Christie said, “and if there is any place in this city that needs after school programs, programs for the elderly, programs for the handicapped, it would be in this Acres Home-Stuebner Airline area. It’s a worthy project. It’s a win win situation.”

He says he knows that he will be told there is no money because of the economy and the budget. But he says the government has found billions of dollars for emergencies like security, the swine flu and the anthrax scare. He believes money can be found to build a YMCA.

“This area, you would see crime reduced because when children have after school programs, when they have activities that encourage their education, you’re going to have good self esteem, you’re going to have good jobs, you’re going to have less crime.” Christie urged City Council to find the funding from either the City or County.

Council Member Jarvis Johnson, who represents the Acres Home area, responded that he believes that every area of the city needs after school programs. He said, “It is going to take an infusion of energy from not only this body but from the people. It’s the priority of the people as to how we spend our money. Unfortunately, I don’t know if there has been enough push from the people to have said to all the council members here that it is an imperative that we spend the money on children. In my district we will do all we can. I will work with you in the Acres Home area as we try to raise the money and increase our budget there.”

At large Council Member Melissa Noriega recognized the efforts of Mr. Christie and Ms. Taylor to explain the need for a YMCA. “We need to have a collaboration before anything can happen,” she said. She pointed out that there are all kinds of persons who come before Council, people who can raise funds and have the relationships to do so, but “there are some folks who have no avenue but us. Figuring it out to move forward is the challenge.”

Ms. Taylor, president of the Beautification and Restoration Committee in Acres Home and Willow Run, has been working on the project to get a YMCA for the Stuebner-Airline Park for several years. She has appealed for help from the City, County, area businesses and residents to raise money to have it built. Her committee is active in beautification projects in the Stuebner-Airline Park area.

(The Banner, January 12, 2010)