John, The Heights

Favorite Thing about Houston:
"Houstonians! The best people you'd ever want as your neighbors."

One thing I would change about Houston:
"The lack of attention to public spaces. People don't seem to value our parks, public squares, and pedestrian areas, or even their neighborhood streets. We have a huge problem with litter and debris on the side of the road, and it feels like people view the city as something to drive through, not experience. I have lived in Boston and Washington DC, two cities with phenomenal public spaces that are beautiful, well maintained, and where people gather because it's just nice to be in them. I do miss that here."

My idea to change it:
"I'd like to see a focus on keeping the spaces where we walk and live better maintained and built for human beings, not just cars (the two can coexist!). Here in the Heights - which is a bright spot in the city - I'm amazed to see sidewalks just stop mid-block, people running across busy streets because pedestrian crossings are so far apart, sidewalks in horrible shape - a real mobility issue for people who have trouble walking, like many of the residents of senior housing complexes nearby. This really prevents people from getting around and being part of the neighborhood -and it's a safety issue also. Houston is a major city - central city neighborhoods should provide the basic amenities for people who are walking and using transit - level sidewalks, safe places to cross the street, and streets that aren't covered in trash. This is an area where we can do much better and which will pay off for us all in our daily lives."