The Sharpener News Roundups: June 9, 2023

Demystifying SW Houston's Government

If you don't know what a TIRZ is, you're like I was—until recently. It's high time to learn. TIRZ #20 repairs and builds a lot of things in and near Sharpstown, including the new Houston Vietnam Veterans Memorial and Club Creek Park. And they might use your money to do it.

Local government can be complicated, but I think I managed to explain TIRZ #20 in plain English. You can read the article below and let me know how I did:

Demystifying SW Houston’s Government: How TIRZ #20 Spends Local Property Taxes

If you’re like me, you probably read the eight-foot-wide sign at Club Creek Park and think, “Okay, so what?” It says that something called TIRZ #20 contributed $1.3 million to the new Houston Vietnam Veterans Memorial. At this point, your eyes are probably glazing over—or you’re

The SharpenerTyess Korsmo, Editor-in-Chief

You can also read a short piece on their latest board meeting here.

Dinner on the Bissonnet Track, Part 1

The Bissonnet Track, a short drive down 59 from Sharpstown, has been the local buzz ever since HPD started blockading two streets after 10 PM to stop prostitution.

I wanted to investigate. So, like any sensible journalist, I decided to take my girlfriend out to dinner on the Bissonnet Track. You can read the first part of the story below:

Dinner on the Bissonnet Track, Part 1

The Bissonnet Track, a short drive down 59 from Sharpstown, has been the local buzz ever since HPD started blockading two streets after 10 PM to stop prostitution. I wanted to investigate. So, like any sensible journalist, I decided to take my girlfriend out to dinner on the Bissonnet Track.

The SharpenerTyess Korsmo, Editor-in-Chief

A Controversial New Bus Line May Be Coming to Hillcroft

In potentially happier news, a high-speed bus line may be coming to the east side of Sharpstown. But not everyone is happy about it. Read about it and let us know what you think:

A Controversial New Bus Line May Be Coming to Hillcroft

Don’t let the name “Gulfton Corridor Project” fool you. The latest proposed route for METRO’s new high-speed bus line runs on Hillcroft, right between Gulfton and Sharpstown. As a METRORapid line, it would have its own dedicated lanes. In other words, unlike typical METRO buses, METRORapid buses do

The SharpenerTyess Korsmo, Editor-in-Chief

Another Startup News Website Just Came to Houston

Another Houston news website officially launched this Wednesday: the Houston Landing. (I said "officially." They've been trickling out articles at least since February 8.) They’re not hyperlocal like the Sharpener, so I don't see them as competition. They’re trying to cover all of Houston, just like almost every other news source in the city.

I suspect they’ll find it difficult to wrap their arms around a metro area of 7.3 million people. I’m finding it difficult enough to cover Sharpstown’s population of ~79,000 (the Houston Chronicle just released updated population and demographic estimates for all Houston Super Neighborhoods).

But there's at least one good thing about the Landing. Like the Sharpener, it’s free. So if you’re sick of paywalls, you can subscribe to the Landing here.

While you're at it, please tell your friends and neighbors about the Sharpener. We provide this news for free as a community service, so we want the community to know about it.

Reruns

In case you missed them, our most popular articles last week covered summer children's activities in Sharpstown and stories from two Vietnam veterans.