In 2020, Covid-19 took our entire world by storm. The panic of uncertainty and the pain of loss, fear, injustice, and political turmoil suffocated our peace all at once. We faced a global lockdown, mask mandates, calls to social distance, and to limit contact with other people.
In 2021, we went through it all over again with the confusion of constantly changing mandates, and threats to our livelihoods.
Through all of the uproar happening in the world during this time, our small neighborhood would experience even more turmoil as Houston energy company, CenterPoint Energy Inc. began to prepare and construct a 300,000 gallon propane facility behind our homes.
Members of our community received letters from CenterPoint postmarked May 21, 2021 with information about the propane facility and a form to object the building of the facility. The Texas Railroad Commission, who issues the permits for the operation of these types of facilities, allows an 18-day objection response period from the date posted on the letter you receive, but some neighbors did not receive the CenterPoint letter until a week after the postmarked date, and there was no extension given to submit objections.
Covid-19 protocols were still in place during this time and the mailing systems were impacted and not running under normal operations. Mailing times were slower, and certified mail did not take signatures. Everyone was required to limit contact. Not to mention, the CenterPoint letters and responses were sent during the weeks of the Memorial Holiday (May 31) and offices were closed the following Monday, giving us even less time to respond within the 18-day period.
All objection letters that our neighbors sent were rejected on two accounts: 1) The objection arrived after the 18-day period, and 2) The objection did not meet the RRC qualifications.
Straightaway, we contacted our city officials. Our City Councilwoman Martha Castex - Tatum claimed that she did not know about the facility until one of our neighbors called. The District K Office pointed their finger at the Texas Railroad Commission. Tatum sent a letter to the Railroad Commission to request a hearing, but the request was denied because our letter "was not received within the 18 day objection period".
Getting any further help from our city proved difficult because they said their hands were tied and the Railroad Commission had approved the facility. In turn, we conducted our own meetings and planned our first peaceful protest with our Protest Committee Lead, the Late Eugene Pack. We took a day to meet together to make our protest signs and prepare for our peaceful protest.
On Wednesday, August 18th, 2021, we made our way to the CenterPoint propane facility, set up our tent and passed out our picket signs. It was raining that morning, but we didn't let it run us away. We gathered together in prayer, then began our peaceful protest of the facility.
KPRC2 News and KHOU11 soon came to cover our story. Shortly after, Councilwoman Martha Castex- Tatum, HFD Chief Samuel Pena, and HPD would arrive at the protest as well.
Photos by Toluwa Sikuade.
This day marked our community's first bold stand against CenterPoint and to this day, we continue to fight.
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