Flood fighting

Westheimer to be cut down to two lanes for construction as it becomes morepedestrian friendly

Good news for Upper Kirby residents: The portion of Westheimer Road between Shepherd Drive and Buffalo Speedway is due to receive a much-needed re-paving as part of the last phase of drainage work in the area.

Travis Younkin, deputy director of the Upper Kirby District, tells CultureMap that Richmond and its environs has been prone to "perpetual flooding," a problem that has been mitigated by drainage projects along Kirby from Westheimer to Richmond (completed in 2008) and from Richmond to Highway 59 (completed in 2010).

Younkin says that area pedestrians will be able to see a drastic improvement in its walkability.

The district worked with METRO on a reimbursement agreement for construction on Richmond, so that underground improvements will not have to be re-implemented when (or if) the transit authority sets a timeline for the University light rail line along that thoroughfare. Substantial completion for road construction is expected to be met before the holidays.

That's just in time for the Westheimer improvements, which are anticipated to begin in Jan. 2013. Younkin warns that the work — which entails burying utilities and telecommunication lines — will cut the traffic down to two lanes between Shepherd and Kirby first, then Kirby to Buffalo Speedway in the second phase.

Younkin says that area pedestrians will be able to see a drastic improvement in the street's walkability: Widened sidewalks without utility poles blocking the way, ADA-approved ramps, pedestrian lighting, benches, trash receptacles and street trees.

"There will be lots of the same elements of Kirby, but with different features . . . that relate to the context of how the street is used," he explains.

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Thanks, Queen Bey

Pop icon Beyoncé donates $100,000 to University of Houston Law School

Photo by Erza Shaw Getty Images

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Pop megastar Beyoncé Knowles-Carter has donated $100,000 to the University of Houston Law Center Criminal Justice Clinic through her BeyGOOD Foundation. The gift will allow the clinic to hire fill-time faculty to head it, benefiting the students who study there.

“I am delighted that the BeyGOOD Foundation has made this very generous gift to the UH Law Center,” said Leonard Baynes, dean of the UH Law Center. “Not only will this funding help establish a full-time criminal justice clinic that provides pro bono legal services in our community, but it will also supercharge our already excellent criminal law and justice programming.”

The clinic is one of nine at UHLC. It helps students learn to navigate the criminal justice system, especially on behalf of clients that are underserved by skilled attorneys. People of color are affected disproportionately by a lack of good, ethical representation.

Beyoncé, the most decorated artist in Grammy history and easily the biggest musical star native to Houston, has a long history of advocating for criminal justice reform. She was a staunch supporter of the police reform following the deaths of Alton Sterling and Philando Castile, asking law enforcement to “stop killing us” in a web post. In 2020, she penned an open letter to the Kentucky attorney general asking for justice in the death of Breonna Taylor.

Through her BeyGOOD Foundation, established in 2013, Beyoncé has focused mostly on expanding the prospects of Black-owned business and offering education opportunities to students. Forwarding the cause of legal representation in Texas while also helping out marginalized communities compliments her other philanthropic work.

“At UH Law, we envision a legal profession where ‘everyone has the opportunity to prosper,’ as BeyGOOD envisions, and we will achieve this vision by providing access to strong and effective legal representation in criminal proceedings,” Baynes said. “And together, through this gift, the BeyGOOD Foundation and UHLC will shepherd the next generation of criminal justice attorneys in the city of Houston, the state of Texas and the nation.”