[{"_1":2,"_99":-5,"_100":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6526853,"mediaKeyId","3684379-f5c5833434efa35fc4c8599ec28ac179","parentId",3684379,"title","Advocates press committee on light pollution and efficient lighting as public-safety and grid-resilience measures","audioSeconds",366,"startMs",4557000,"endMs",4923000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3684379-f5c5833434efa35fc4c8599ec28ac179&start=4557&end=4923","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3684379-f5c5833434efa35fc4c8599ec28ac179/thumbnail_4557000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6526853/Houston/Harris-County/Texas/Advocates-press-committee-on-light-pollution-and-efficient-lighting-as-public-safety-and-grid-resilience-measures","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6526853-17645491067e7e178c64cb59aa51f19e/orig.mp4?Expires=1770494557&Signature=oHQHK2nHKoF6eH8-1Shl0PvkEuHdgsi22v4sebcgVtCbFoKLSX6Cp~sEyY0owjHdwbuf~qUmUsraplW8jrsTBMpvINc8R0crClAgprxZPYPV5yYR7Waz5nGJVBGul2FovB6~uBTqw9hpO3Rj5g2JZZsre1XpMnN-CicIUwX~-yq8yiTxZiVg9Hqhk3TT-~jwtD2xNdEhJfU1IbH1B0Ni5jnjeWV~dCIqD0SKIwqYg1FHu1CRCiZ6rT9A5PL5CZYNl-RZ6tLmls6CVXEIdIAogMrrtFuUy206NgRRQroIdiVNg9BLyHkQzUtbueVTjmW~aDODiVWz2IfVmVHTcf25Gw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Houston","date","2025-06-05T00:00:00Z","article","Debbie Moran, a light-pollution advocate, and Steve Goldberg, a Westbury Community Garden volunteer, urged the Resilience Committee to consider light pollution as a public-health and grid-resilience issue and to schedule a fuller demonstration of proper lighting for committee members.

Moran described light pollution as “misused lighting, not all lighting” and linked excessive nighttime lighting to sleep disruption and health consequences. She asked the committee to allow a full presentation and demonstration; chair Twila Carter and council members agreed to schedule a follow-up so members could see live examples and the committee could better evaluate enforcement and design options.

Why it matters: Advocates told the committee that properly directed, lower-wattage fixtures can improve pedestrian visibility at crosswalks, reduce glare for drivers and pilots, limit health harms from nocturnal light exposure and lower electricity consumption. Steve Goldberg showed before-and-after photographs from a site near the Westbury Community Garden, noting a switch from an 80-watt fixture to a 32-watt fixture reduced light trespass and lowered electrical load.

Moran described health research linking nighttime light exposure to suppressed melatonin and downstream health risks, and she provided the committee with a packet of accident-site photos and references. “When we put daylight outside our bedrooms at night, it suppresses the hormone melatonin and that both interrupts sleep,” she said. Moran asked the committee to invite her group back for a demonstration and a fuller briefing; council members agreed that a presentation would be useful and that staff would coordinate scheduling and logistics.

Goldberg highlighted an example where the community garden purchased and installed lower-wattage fixtures for a neighboring commercial development and reported better pedestrian visibility and reduced electrical demand after the change. Multiple council members and mayoral-office staff expressed interest in a joint demonstration and in identifying opportunities to promote efficient, properly shielded fixtures across the city.

Committee directions: staff agreed to follow up with Moran and Goldberg to schedule a demonstration and to explore education and enforcement gaps around the city’s lighting ordinance. No formal vote or policy change occurred at this meeting.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Houston - Resilience Committee - Jun 05, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","Light-pollution advocates and a community garden volunteer told the Resilience Committee that properly designed, lower-wattage, targeted lighting improves safety, reduces health harms and can decrease electrical load.","taxTitle","Houston, Harris County, Texas","taxId",2797,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6526858,"Houston Shade Brigade urges stronger tree-planting rules, watering support to recover canopy",1190,3346000,4536000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3684379-f5c5833434efa35fc4c8599ec28ac179&start=3346&end=4536","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3684379-f5c5833434efa35fc4c8599ec28ac179/thumbnail_3346000.jpg","/articles/6526858/Houston/Harris-County/Texas/Houston-Shade-Brigade-urges-stronger-tree-planting-rules-watering-support-to-recover-canopy","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6526858-674ce5e9e0e97252e3138f0aecd64efd/orig.mp4?Expires=1770494557&Signature=WyioUtWS-ttMXk6oV66cQ6APTvbN~HHaBSV3zPLD3E1x~kMSJMZ9BsCeXQAIrubONBQWyhH0xzcg95kDMcPrpbRWbTh~gsx-tgVTtGBIUZyAAPOGFk86b0S~C3VPtmtSmd1G6qWeg3SYhhGR2H~-AAPM-bJt7UwdupOSPa7uzdbxLVeqeScM3dcGRAr34FpoAFOauFVoWMznWqB58iWW6JTsh13WvJ~6PMbuP2S-y8dWedIlYfNHcytePLP1fxqlf9xCg11A~KoOyJ5Z0unvbiCuscxFu3r5-ZrL0xJ3ndAiPrB0lgnDwnsCes3q9i8UN7lI43IaLJWFiXa3XTzH1g__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Hermann Ebenez, representing the Houston Shade Brigade, told the Resilience Committee that recent storms have reduced Houston’s tree canopy and urged the city to strengthen planting requirements, improve maintenance and use major events as planting catalysts.

The group’s pitch: tighten the city’s tree-planting ordinance, reduce permitting friction, ensure planted trees are watered and maintained, and coordinate planting where it will increase equity and heat relief. “Our vision is, Houston, we're a thriving tree canopy, native plants, and sustainable infrastructure protecting our neighborhoods, foster health, promoting environmental justice, and uphold environmental accountability,” Ebenez said.

Why it matters: Tree canopy reduces urban heat, improves air quality and can buffer storm impacts. The Shade Brigade said canopy deficits have become more visible after 2024 storms and recommended policy and operational changes to accelerate recovery and future resilience.

Ebenez summarized the group’s policy priorities: change the city’s current tree-planting requirement for small lots from two trees to four trees (the presentation described the present requirement as two trees for 500-square-foot lots), streamline permitting so parks and public-works processes do not create contradictory requirements, and fund maintenance — especially first-year watering — including acquiring water trucks to keep newly planted trees alive. He also urged city leaders to audit the tree-planting portal, increase accountability on plantings, and leverage federal and philanthropic grants for neighborhood plantings in priority areas.

Committee members discussed practical steps. Council member Sally Alcorn asked how the current right-of-way and private-lot rules work; Ebenez confirmed the two-tree minimum applies to many new-lot situations and said interdepartmental alignment is required to raise the requirement. Members asked staff to compile cost information for mobile water trucks; Council members and the presenter noted at least one neighborhood and several nonprofit partners are already performing planting and mulching work.

The Shade Brigade listed active partnerships and funding sources in the presentation, including collaboration with HARC, Friends of Columbia Tap and Trees for Houston, and referenced neighborhood-allocated funds and EPA grants for specific planting programs. Ebenez said the group is prepared to assist with plans and oversight to ensure new plantings are appropriate for microclimates and maintained after installation.

Committee directions taken at the meeting included a staff homework request for a budget estimate for water-truck procurement and a consolidated list of approved/recommended tree species (the chair summarized: “All right. So my homework assignment is a budget on the Water truck pricing and a list of trees.”). No ordinance changes were voted on at the meeting.

The Shade Brigade asked the committee to prioritize maintenance funding and simpler permitting to prevent newly planted trees from failing in their first year and to restore canopy lost during the 2024 storms.","The Houston Shade Brigade asked the Resilience Committee to tighten tree-planting requirements, invest in post-planting maintenance (water trucks) and use upcoming events as catalysts for canopy recovery after 2024 storm losses.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6526863,"Kinder Institute survey: Houston residents report widespread storm impacts, mixed confidence in recovery",1958,126000,2084000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3684379-f5c5833434efa35fc4c8599ec28ac179&start=126&end=2084","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3684379-f5c5833434efa35fc4c8599ec28ac179/thumbnail_126000.jpg","/articles/6526863/Houston/Harris-County/Texas/Kinder-Institute-survey-Houston-residents-report-widespread-storm-impacts-mixed-confidence-in-recovery","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6526863-7fcdfbd43192fe3b1a8d86ddb9a25ec8/orig.mp4?Expires=1770494557&Signature=AYTfl47Zc02LVaB5itTjV2J2DvxDAISW1bdOAhN9KoRZpYLcG5nIiCXwnLzxnK66v7Xj8ZoZHEVMH2MXabJzDsvstNppYTmb8KdC1IsNxiMnCkh7x30txfKcOz9lEJErxlq6CFyLI2kbYzzC6WQkqecwfU9lTVoZEmbTgot8KtkJTgUamdZVTQC-V4ajIx0KWylPFl0a7hjdHq~kRPlLHStvGE6fiU0vyqdxvo6J5QrYFmzhxIl66dS1R95jiTJajjB~vJ9752RMBjAWqJJmHKrqhZEJQJpx25ZV7jN5CnermYZZWqTZuWNOLIX7a-jsRfkIWWO-QCRfs~-C~CXSJw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Dr. Dan Potter, director of the Houston Population Research Center at the Kinder Institute for Urban Research at Rice University, told the Resilience Committee that a rolling survey of more than 10,000 Houston-area residents found broad concern about climate change and extensive personal and neighborhood impacts from 2024 severe-weather events.

The Kinder Institute’s Greater Houston Community Panel tracked residents across Houston, Harris, Fort Bend and Montgomery counties and asked about preparation, immediate impacts and early recovery after storms in 2024. “60% of Houston area residents are worried about the impacts of climate change,” Potter said, and he summarized several findings about preparation, health, finances and community response.

Why it matters: The survey ties residents’ perceptions and experiences to measurable outcomes — power loss, food spoilage, lost work and mental-health impacts — that city and county planners use when prioritizing preparedness, recovery resources and community supports.

Potter told the committee the panel is longitudinal, administered in English and Spanish (with plans to add Mandarin, Vietnamese and Arabic), and uses an address-based sample to follow the same respondents over time. Key findings Potter highlighted include: on average residents experienced four direct storm-related impacts in 2024; only 3% reported zero direct effects; more than nine in 10 residents lost electricity for at least four hours during 2024 storms and four in 10 lost power for four or more days; nearly eight in 10 residents reported throwing away food because of prolonged outages, with the most common valuation between $100 and $249 and more than half of those reporting losses above $250.

The survey also recorded nonphysical harms. Potter said “6 in 10 residents reported that their sleep was impacted” and that 36% reported worsened mental health following 2024 events. On household economics, Potter said “over half of Houston area workers lost wages due to the severe weather events.”

Residents reported differing levels of confidence in recovery depending on scale: Potter said more than 70% were very confident their household would recover from Hurricane Beryl, about 62% felt the same about their neighborhood, and roughly 40% were very or extremely confident the greater Houston area would fully recover. Confidence declined when respondents were asked about the prospect of an additional storm: fewer than half felt very or extremely confident their household could recover from another storm in the same year. Potter emphasized that recovery timelines varied substantially by income: about one-third of households making less than $25,000 had not bounced back two weeks after Hurricane Beryl, compared with about one in 10 households making more than $100,000.

Committee members asked about survey design and follow-up. Potter described the address-based sampling and oversampling of areas with larger nonwhite populations to ensure representativeness. He said the panel administers surveys three to five times annually and that researchers use incentives to sustain response. Potter confirmed the survey did not explicitly ask about homeowners insurance in the sessions reported to the committee, but he told members that insurance affordability and availability are a rising concern for housing stability and warrant further study.

Committee directions and next steps recorded during the meeting included staff interest in sharing survey findings more broadly and exploring partnerships to expand response coverage — ideas mentioned included outreach through 311, cell providers or media partners to increase participation among underrepresented groups. Potter made his contact information available and directed committee members to the Institute’s online materials at kinder.rice.edu for full reports and methods documentation.

A copy of the Kinder Institute’s slides and the underlying survey methodology are available on the Institute’s website; Potter invited follow-up questions and said the team will continue tracking attitudes and impacts as recovery and future storms unfold.","A Kinder Institute panel of 10,000+ Houston-area residents found large shares worried about climate change, widespread power outages and food loss during 2024 storms, and uneven confidence in recovery — especially among lower-income households.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Advocates press committee on light pollution and efficient lighting as public-safety and grid-resilience measures

Houston Shade Brigade urges stronger tree-planting rules, watering support to recover canopy

Kinder Institute survey: Houston residents report widespread storm impacts, mixed confidence in recovery