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PRESS RELEASE
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
MAY 19, 2009
“MATTRESS MACK,” WIFE LINDA ANNOUNCE CITIZEN-LED GROUP
TO HELP HPD STRENGTHEN PUBLIC SAFETY IN WEST HOUSTON
Grassroots Effort, “Operation Westside Success,” to Raise Private Funds, Awareness;
Place Security Cameras in City-Approved Public Areas
HOUSTON — Houston business icon Jim “Mattress Mack” McIngvale and his wife, Linda, today announced the first steps taken by Operation Westside Success to raise private funds and place security cameras and signage in public areas of West Houston as approved by the City of Houston and the Houston Police Department.
At a press conference held at Westside Tennis and Fitness Center, McIngvale signed the group’s first application to the City of Houston to place a camera at the intersection of Briar Forest Road and Wilcrest Drive. McIngvale also asked local citizens and business owners to go to www.westsidesuccess.org to learn how they can show their public and financial support for the cause.
“Linda and I moved into this neighborhood over a year ago, and promised we weren’t leaving until we had helped change this community for the better,” McIngvale said. “After over a year of consulting with HPD as well as numerous business, citizen and civic groups, we believe this camera program is the most cost-effective way we can have a direct impact and help HPD strengthen public safety in West Houston.”
McIngvale added: “Every single citizen can play a role in making this amazing city an even better, and safer, place to live; so join Operation Westside Success TODAY.”
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Jim McIngvale
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According to Houston’s city code, Operation Westside Success must apply to the HPD chief, the city attorney, and the city engineer for permission to place their privately-funded cameras in the city’s right-of-way. Once the city approves the deployment of cameras, HPD controls all phases of operation — such as where the cameras are pointed, and how long records are kept.
McIngvale’s announcement follows over a year of consultations with HPD, County law enforcement, the Westchase District, the Houston West Chamber of Commerce, various churches and homeowners groups, and more. McIngvale has also personally pledged to support another group, Making It Better, that targets at-risk kids in the area for academic intervention and mentoring.
Operation Westside Success plans to place as many cameras in the community as its grassroots fundraising efforts will allow. Where those cameras will be placed in the community will be in direct consultation with HPD.
ABOUT OPERATION WESTSIDE SUCCESS
Operation Westside Success is a donor-directed 501c3 charitable organization founded in 2008 to help the citizens of West Houston improve the security environment. It maintains its funds with the Greater Houston Community Foundation in strict compliance with all applicable rules governing 501c3 funds.
For more information, please go to www.westsidesuccess.org.
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