Hope all are well during this unsettling time in our community and in the world. Many of us are sheltering in place/working from home/balancing home schooling. Please use practices that will keep you and others safe. And reach out to info@museumparkna.org if you have needs that we might assist you with, suggestions, or questions we can answer.

While MPNA General Meetings are cancelled until further notice, the MPNA Board continues to hold monthly virtual meetings to discuss issues impacting the neighborhood and to plan/implement activities that can be accomplished while social distancing. Below are updates to keep you informed.

End Cap Installations
Green Team members (just a few, in order to observe social distancing) have been planting the north Crawford Street (between Wentworth and Wheeler) end caps over the last month. Thanks goes to Cynthia Tang, Jill Miller, Cathy Ehlinger, Bobby Davis, and life-long Museum Park resident, Victor Blanchard for installing the new end caps. It has long been a Museum Park goal to connect the neighborhood through the end cap plantings and with Green Team efforts and the support of the Department of Neighborhoods Grant, Museum Park end caps now extend Crawford Street from Binz to Wheeler.

An additional improvement is the restoration of an art piece first installed years ago on the Crawford/Ruth esplanade. With painstaking work by long-time MPNA supporter, Bobby Davis, the piece has taken on a new life. 

City Council to Vote on Bin Leases City Council is scheduled to vote on a proposed lease fee for garbage and recycling containers, Wednesday, May 6. The proposed per-bin lease is $1.14 per household will appear on monthly water bills. The Solid Waste Management Department proposed the lease fee to remove delays in ordering replacement containers for customers, provide enough staff and maintenance equipment to meet the demand for service, as well as address the backlog of customer service requests created by under-funding of supplies and staff. Although Houston is the only major city that does not currently charge a garbage fee, this proposed lease charge is not a garbage fee--it will only go to cover the costs of carts, spare parts, and cart support personnel and equipment.  Town homes, condos, etc. with private agreements with the city will not have to pay the fee for bins. HPD—South Central Division Captain Caroleta Johnson, South Central Division Commander, invites community members to nominate Officers for recognition in the Officer of the Month program. Supervisors will also be recognized quarterly. If you have interacted with a South Central officer or supervisor, who deserves recognition, please email Captain Johnson with your nomination. Please include the officer’s name and reasons for your nomination.  Sargent Weiche of South Central Division provided a summary of crime statistics for Museum Park comparing the March 2019 figures to March 2020.  Overall there has been a slight uptick in crime. Most areas, including murder, sexual assault, robbery, and auto theft remain unchanged from a year ago.  Burglary has decreased.  Areas experiencing an increase are theft and aggravated assault.  Traffic Interruptions/No Parking along 5300 Crawford Construction of a new storm water collection system associated with the Boone Manor project begins this week along 5300 Crawford. The construction work will require temporary No Parking signs to go up along Crawford in front of the Boone Manor site and possible closures of the street will occur at times during this phase. Please be especially attentive as you drive or park in this area. Transit Oriented Development and Walkable Places The Planning Department is currently revising the ordinances that will establish TOD and Walkable Places. Ordinances will likely not come before city council until mid to late summer. Face Masks Need:  If you or a neighbor needs masks, please contact us at info@museumparkna.org.  Commissioner Rodney Ellis will provide masks to those who need them. Donate:  Several Museum Park residents are providing hand-made masks to emergency rooms in the Texas Medical Center and surrounding area hospitals. If you are using your skills to make masks and would like to donate them to emergency workers for additional protection over their surgical masks, please contact us. Several patterns to make masks are available online including this one from the CDC.  Precinct 1 Precinct 1 Commissioner Rodney Ellis is  offering a COVID Resource Guide. Check it out along with additional information located on the Precinct 1 Website. District D To keep abreast of what’s happening in District D, sign up for Dr. Carolyn Evans-Shabazz’s monthly newsletter.

 The City of Houston Planning Department is proposing Transit Oriented Development (TOD) and Walkable Places (WP) ordinances aimed at increasing residential density along transit corridors, reducing automobile traffic on Houston streets, and creating more pedestrian friendly areas. WP ordinances will include an application/approval process for property owners to request block(s) to be so designated and will allow for public comment and objection. WP is currently being piloted on the Near Northside & in Midtown.

 Museum Park will be significantly impacted by the proposed TOD changes since the designation for primary and secondary TOD streets includes many streets in our neighborhood (See map here).

 Please review the attached draft copy of the Users’ Guide regarding the TOD and send your comments to the Planning Department here. The comment period closes February 20.

 Among the issues impacting Museum Park (MP):

• Residential Buffering (including light-reduction from parking garages, sheathed lighting, and noise baffling) is essential to the quality of life of our residents and visitors.  Current protections afforded residents under residential buffering ordinances are removed for developments locating along TOD streets.  Allowing developers to forgo these standards in a TOD is unacceptable to those who already live in the impacted areas.
• TOD developments will qualify for reduced parking requirements—market-based parking along primary TOD streets, and 50% reduction along secondary streets. As a destination district (14 museums and cultural institutions) MP regularly experiences parking stress.  The newly activated (February 11) Community Parking Plan (CPP) prohibits residential parking permits for developments of 125 units or more.  Museum Park stands firmly behind this component of the CPP.
• With its backdrop of Museums and Cultural Institutions, MP seeks to partner with Planning to recognize this unique neighborhood as a Design District, in alignment with  already being a State designated Cultural District  https://www.arts.texas.gov/initiatives/cultural-districts/.   Such recognition will better address one of the Design Prinaciples set out in the TOD Users’ Guide to be sensitive to local context, set forth in the H-GAC Museum Park Livable Center Study, crafted as a guiding document for Museum Park.
  

 MPNA, in collaboration with Museum Park Super Neighborhood earlier requested to be omitted from the initial TOD implementation until further review of the impact of this ordinance on our neighborhood, and to better tailor ordinance that fits Museum Park realities of real estate proximal to light rail.  Please take time to send your comments to the Planning Department by the February 20 deadline.  Together our voices make a difference.

 

 

 

 

Welcome Dr. Carolyn Evans-Shabazz
Museum Park residents welcomed District D’s new Council Member, Dr. Carolyn Evans-Shabazz, who stopped by the January 8 meeting to introduce herself.  Dr. Evans-Shabazz expressed her eagerness to hear the concerns of Museum-Park, while at the same time asking for a bit of patience during this start-up period.  She acknowledged the diversity of District D and the range of issues within the district.   If you have questions or concerns for our new CM, please contact her at carolyn.evans-shabazz@houstontx.gov

Community Parking Program
Museum Park residents recently received a letter from Parking Management regarding the rollout of the new Community Parking Plan, which will take effect February 11.  Attached you will find an amended copy of the original letter which clarifies the CPP boundaries and updates the list of affected streets.  You can find a map of the affected streets (including both metered and timed parking) on page 3 of the Community Parking Plan Presentation.  Page 11 of the CPP Presentation also includes a timeline showing the rollout of the plan.  As a resident within the CPP boundaries, you may purchase parking permits to exempt your vehicles or those of your guests from the meters/timed parking areas.  An application for the permits was included in the initial letter mailed to residents.  Permit applications will be mailed to residents again in March per the presentation.  The CPP Presentation and additional information is available at https://www.houstontx.gov/parking/museum-park.html

Museum Park Super Neighborhood TOD Letter to Planning    
     The City of Houston Planning Department hosted a November 6 meeting at Covenant Church to introduce the proposed Transit Oriented Development Ordinance and the Walkable Places Ordinance, both of which will impact future development in Museum Park.  Additional details can be found at
 https://www.houstontx.gov/planning/Commissions/committee_walkable-places.html
     Based on the goals of the Museum Park Livable Centers Study and the concerns expressed at the meeting, the MPSN Council unanimously approved a letter to the Planning Department requesting that Museum Park not initially be included in the ordinances.
     Museum Park Super Neighborhood Council members from the Museum District Assn., Hermann Park Conservancy, the High Rises, and MPNA followed up at the January 9 Planning Commission meeting (II).  Focusing on the goals of the Livable Centers Study to realize multi-modal, transit oriented development as demonstrated by the Caroline Promenade Design, the speakers referenced several concerns including a reduction of green space, a lack of residential buffering, the impact of reduced parking in a destination district, and the goal of fulfilling the state-designated cultural district that encompasses Museum Park as a design district attracting 9-12 million visitors a year. 

Security Patrol
Bob Cavnar, who headed an effort to establish an independent organization providing security patrol for Museum Park several years ago, has agreed to update his research and report his findings at the February 4 MPNA meeting. Based on his 2017 research, Bob found that contracting with Harris County Constables is likely the most effective and cost-efficient option. Bob estimates that 500 households paying $500/year is necessary to start up the patrol in 2020.  Several individuals offered to assist in this effort and their contact info will be passed onto Bob.  If you would like to volunteer, please email info@museumparkna.org.  

TXDoT Cleanup under US 59
TXDoT will begin providing weekly cleanups under US 59. Thanks goes to HPD’s DRT team headed by Sgt. Chris Weiche who worked with TXDoT to arrange the cleanups.  Please report trash issues with photos directly to TxDot’s Twitter account as 311 reporting may not be routed to TXDoT.  Complaints/trash photos can also be submitted on the TXDoT website, https://www.txdot.gov/contact-us/form.html?id=

MPNA Green Team Receives Department of Neighborhoods Grant
MPNA has been awarded a Department of Neighborhoods matching grant of $4000, matching dollars will be provided through MPNA funds. The $8000 total will be applied toward six proposed end caps on the north end of the neighborhood and a pilot wildflower installation on the 4600 Crawford esplanade.  Look for updates as this project moves ahead.

The Museum Park Neighborhood Association is committed to maintaining the goals of our Mission Statement including the Promotion of safety, security, and well being of residents and property within our neighborhood.  With this goal in mind, we have sought to work with area agencies and businesses to ensure the safety of all residents within the neighborhood. 

MPNA reached out to the owners of the Turkey Leg Hut to engage in a neighbor-to-neighbor discussion regarding the impacts of this very successful business on the surrounding neighbors. In preceding months we have sought a meeting with the owners through direct contact, with the assistance of HPD officers, through our District D Council Member Dwight Boykins, and through the Houston Southeast Management District Public Safety Committee. The owners have not been available to meet, but we are aware they are taking steps to address some of the concerns.

Successful businesses are crucial to the vitality of this neighborhood, but not to the detriment of the health of residents.  We urge the Turkey Leg Hut to immediately fix the problem of unfiltered smoke negatively impacting the health and safety of nearby residents as well as TLH employees.

Museum Park is a mixed-use neighborhood that includes a diverse group of residents, as well as numerous restaurants and businesses, museums, churches, healthcare providers, and other public spaces.  Being a good neighbor is essential to everyone’s quality of life.  We seek only that.

For details, see:
Turkey Leg Hut Press Conference
Plaintiffs' Original Petition

Candidates for District D Council Member participated in a Forum, September 25, to introduce themselves and discuss issues. Sponsored by the Museum Park Super Neighborhood and the Midtown Super Neighborhood with meeting space provided by Asia Society, the candidates had the opportunity to focus on issues specific to Museum Park and Midtown.

A video of the Forum is available here.

To Keep You Informed, June 5, 2019 Meeting

 Welcome to Officers Collin Rapp and Stephen Dominguez

Museum Park welcomes Officers Collin Rapp (L) and Stephen Dominguez to South Central’s Differential Response Team, a group specially trained to holistically address specific problems.  They join Sgt. Eric Flores’ team, which has worked closely with Museum Park to make our neighborhood a safer place to live.

• Officer Rapp reported that crime in our area is down 9% overall, May 2018 to May 2019. 
• Announced Coffee With A Cop event to be held June 21, 9:00-11:00 a.m. at McDonalds, 4005 Elgin.  Stop by for coffee and a chat with the officers from South Central Command Station.
• Reminded everyone to attend PIP (Positive Interaction Program) the second Tuesday of the month at the South Central Command Station, 2202 St. Emanuel.  The meetings provide an opportunity to hear from different divisions within the department (burglary, theft, etc.) as well as giving citizens a chance to express their own concerns regarding safety in our neighborhood.

MPNA Green Team:  Esplanade Enhancement

• Green Team Member Andrew Gladden presented plans for new end cap plantings along with a pilot pocket prairie project based on the Museum Park Livable Centers Study. See Green Team presentation here.
  
• The Green Team is consulting with Hermann Park Conservancy and Katy Prairie Conservancy to ensure the best possible outcomes for the pilot project.
• Green Team will apply for a Department of Neighborhoods Grant that should be available after July 1.   Overall cost of the project is approximately $7,700, 50% of which could be funded by the DON grant.  Also offsetting the cost of the project is the $1,200 raised at the Green Team Garage Sale held last March as well as the savings to MPNA afforded by volunteers, who maintain our current end caps.
• Look for your opportunity to give input in upcoming electronic poll.

Council Member Dwight Boykins

• CM Boykins expressed his support of neighbors dealing with the negative impacts of the overwhelming success of The Turkey Leg Hut.  He is working with the owners and residents to craft solutions.
• Encouraged residents to note that the walls of the new MacGregor HEB are going up. 
• Encouraged continued patience with homeless issues in our area as HPD and the Mayor’s Office on Homeless Initiatives continue to work toward solutions.

 Caroline Promenade

Sandy Stevens reported that Museum Park Super Neighborhood continues to work with Houston Southeast Management District toward a design for the Caroline Promenade, first envisioned in the MP Livable Centers Study.  SWA, responsible for the LCS, heads up the Caroline Promenade design team.  Funded through a District D Grant matched by the Management District, the design will give Museum Park a plan necessary to seek additional grants for implementation. 

VP Pam Campbell

•  Reminder:  Trespass Affidavits must be filed annually with HPD.  Copies are available here.
• Recent census of Houston homeless is approximately 4,000.
• Neighborhood Task Force, including MPNA representatives Pam Campbell & Barbara McGuffey, is slated to meet with Coalition for the Homeless Interim President Mike Nichols, June 18.
• Turkey Leg Hut owners are scheduled to meet with neighborhood representatives in June.
• MPNA is reaching out to Fiesta management regarding continued feeding of homeless in their parking lot.  Fiesta policy does not allow for such activity.

Treasurer’s Report

Members can access Treasurer’s Report on MPNA Member’s Page.

Green Team Update

• End cap clean-up was held June 2.  Nine volunteers weeded and trimmed end caps throughout the neighborhood.
• The Little Library, recently purchased with Constellation Grant money secured by Jill Miller, will be installed soon at Rosedale near Austin on Covenant Church grounds.  Thanks again to Covenant for continuing to support MPNA.

 Community Engagement

• Meet and Greet after the meeting at Spanish Village
• National Night Out scheduled for October 1.  Volunteers are needed to make this annual event a success.  Please email info@museumparkna.org to offer your time for this import outreach.
• July 3 meeting will include our annual ice cream social.  Enjoy a cool treat after the meeting.

Announcements

• Holocaust Grand Opening is slated for June 22; Black Tie event scheduled for June 15.  Increased traffic in the area is likely on those dates.
• AsiaFest:  Saturday, June 29, 10:00 am – 5:00 pm, Asia Society Texas Center. Enjoy free gallery access.  Eat, shop, and play at Asia Society’s annual festival.  Find additional details here. 
  

 

 

To Keep You Informed - May 1, 2019 Meeting

Sgt. Eric Flores, South Central Division HPD

• Introduced two new DRT officers (Differential Response Team*), Officer LeeVan Lewis and Officer Andrew Valadez.  An additional DRT officer will join the team next week, bringing the total number of DRT officers working out of the South Central Substation to seven, up from the previous four.
• Officer Lewis, responding to a report of illegal dumping from Pam Campbell (MPNA VP), contacted the owner of the property at Caroline @ Barbee.  Within a week the property was cleaned-up and the owner will be installing fencing in the near future.
• Members of the DRT team were working a 2:00 p.m.-2:00 a. m. shift on Wednesday (May 1) evening specifically to conduct inspections in EADO (East of Downtown) and address parking issues in Museum Park.

Sgt. Flores reported overall crime in Museum Park was down 48% over the same period in 2018.

• Important to report package theft through HPD’s non-emergency number, 713-884-3131 or file an online police report.  Include complete information in the summary report with ‘ring’ doorbell video if possible.
• Safety brochures were made available including one regarding Nuisance Bars.

• Rice Management Company's Ceci Arreola  presented current plans for the Ion, formerly the Sears Building.  She also outlined possible future development on the remaining Rice acreage to become part of the Innovation District.  See presentation here.

• Marie Hoke, Central Houston, presented plans for TXDoT’s North Highway Improvement Project including bridges and cap parks for streets connecting Museum Park with Midtown.  Caps included in the project are the Fannin Cap, Caroline/Wheeler Cap, and Almeda Cap.  See presentation here.

MPNA Committee Reports were not presented at the April meeting because of time constraints.  Below are a few updates:

• Vice President's Report:
  Neighborhood Task Force, including Museum Park representatives Pam Campbell and Barbara McGuffey along with representatives from Midtown Super Neighborhood and EADO, met March 21 with Mike Nichols, Interim President/CEO at Coalition for the Homeless. While the Wheeler Encampment has been closed, the NTF will continue to engage and assist where possible in the ongoing process to address homeless issues. See notes from that meeting.

• Treasurer’s Report:  Current Balance, $25,280.

•  Green Team Report:

            Green Team Garage Sale on March 23 was a success and netted $1067. 
            Proceeds will be used to offset costs of enhancing neighborhood green space.

            Greeen Team was recently awarded a $485 grant from Constellation Energy's
            Community Champions program to install a Little Library in the neighborhood.
            Look for details in the near future.

• Community Engagement:  MPNA in partnership with Covenant Church will host an Easter Egg Hunt on the lawn of the church, 4949 Caroline, Saturday, April 20, 10:00 a.m.  Bring your children, your grandchildren, or just stop by to have a cup of coffee and watch the fun.
  
  
• Quality of Life & Infrastructure.  QoL Committee needs volunteers to help plan community meetings to identify top priorities and progress following guidelines of the Livable Centers Study. If you are interested, contact Kim Mickelson at info@museumpark.org.
  
  
• Preservation Committee continues their work developing Main Street Memories, a retrospective exhibit opening at the Lawndale Art Center this fall. Volunteers are still needed.  Contact Lynn Dahlberg to express your interest.
  

 Announcements:

• 288 Sound Barrier Meeting, Thursday, April 11, 2019, Energy Institute High School, 3501 Southmore.

• Hermann Park will host a meeting for public input on the development of the upcoming Dog Park on Tuesday, April 9, 6:00 p.m. at the Cherie Flores Pavilion at Centennial Gardens.

To Keep You Informed, March 6 Meeting update located here.

TO KEEP YOU INFORMED - MARCH 6, 2019 MPNA Meeting

Sgt. Flores, South Central Division HPD DRT*

HPD is selecting a special focus each month:

• February was the Bars Education Initiative - HPD initiated visits with bars to educate the owners on over-serving alcoholic beverages to patrons, noise ordinance, and the After Hours Task Force.
• March is designated MARCH ON CRIME and all convenience stores will be inspected for compliance with Robbery Ordinance Enforcement that requires public safety items, e.g., drop safe, digital cameras, panic alarms, height strip (to help assess height of robbery suspects) etc.
• Each inspection takes 1-2 hours and can be a tool for monitoring and closing down problem stores. Please email Sgt. Flores (eric.flores@houstonpolice.org) with concerns about any specific convenience stores.

Sgt. Flores encouraged all to attend the March 19 PIP meeting at 7pm at HPD Station, 2202 St. Emanuel, 77003. Guest speaker is Harris County District Attorney Investigator, Chuck Cornelius, with the After-Hours Task Force who will be discussing the topic of bars/clubs over-serving alcoholic beverages to their patrons. Museum Park Crime Statistics – Overall crime is up 2%:  The biggest increase is in Auto Theft, up from 3 in Feb 2018 to 13 in Feb 2019.

           *DRT: Differential Response Team members receive specialized training using non-traditional methods of police work.

METRO NEXT: Moving Forward

Metro’s Chena Karega detailed expansion plans to be funded by $7.5 Billion Bond Issue, which will appear on the November 2019 Ballot. These meetings are held to give the public an opportunity for input before plans are finalized.

Introduction of Justice of the Peace (JP), Judge Jeremy Brown

Judge Jeremy L. Brown was sworn in as Presiding Judge of Harris County Justice of the Peace Court (Precinct 7-1) on November 16, 2018. Judge Brown encouraged all to utilize the Justice of the Peace Court. For more information about Judge Brown, visit http://www.jp.hctx.net/7-1/judge.htm or to learn more about JP Court, visit http://www.jp.hctx.ne/info/TEXAS%20RULES%20OF%20CIVIL%20PROCEDURE.pdf

 Museum Park Community Parking Ordinance and Parking Benefit District Ordinance Update

Attached is MPNA letter of support to MPSN comments for proposed ordinances.  To review the current proposed ordinances along with public comments/responses from Parking Management, see PM website.

Welcome Brittani Flowers as new MPNA Safety and Security Chair

Sandy Stevens announced that Brittani Flowers has volunteered to serve as MPNA Safety and Security Chair. The MPNA Board has unanimously approved Brittani to fill the unexpired term of this open position. Brittani has a Masters degree in Urban Planning from Texas State University (TSU) and we are fortunate to have her expertise on our MPNA Board.

Brittani will initially focus on Almeda Corridor issues, as she lives adjacent to Almeda; while VP Pam Campbell will continue her focus on the Coalition for the Homeless, Neighborhood Task Force, and other Wheeler Corridor and Museum Park issues.

Caroline Promenade

Pre-design for the Caroline Promenade, a project outlined in Museum Park's Livable Centers Study, is currently underway.  SWA, landscape architects for the project, will hold public meetings in the spring to gather input.  Although the Caroline Promenade project did not receive implementation funding in the 2018 H-GAC grant awards, completion of the design will better position the project for future grants.

Variance Request – Calumet @ Chenevert

Kim Mickelson (QoL Chair) recently reviewed variance request on the south side of Calumet@Chenevert with input from neighboring MPNA member.  Because the variance request aligned with the goals of the Livable Centers Study and supported preservation efforts, MPNA did not protest the request, which was subsequently approved by the Planning Commission.

Please email info@museumparkna.org if you see any variance signs in Museum Park, so that we can assist in getting information and evaluating for possible further action.  Also, please email if you see development in the neighborhood and have other concerns

April 3, MPNA Meeting

Rice Management Team will present plans for the ION (former Sears Building) & the Innovation District.

 

TO KEEP YOU INFORMED – FEB 6, 2019 MPNA MEETING

HPD Community Service Award Presented to MPNA

                                         

Captain Salim Zia, Sgt. Eric Flores, Sgt. Johnnie McGee, and Officer Nicole Simmons Tosh acknowledged MPNA’s support for the HPD South Central Division Community Service programs during 2018.  MPNA Safety and Security Chair, Pam Campbell, accepted HPD’s plaque honoring MPNA. City of Houston Homeless Initiative Update - Marc Eichenbaum Marc Eichenbaum opened his comments by stating the reality that “homelessness, as an issue, is not going anywhere, but the City of Houston wants to reduce it”. The City has set a realistic goal to reduce homelessness as much as possible, even as more are falling into homelessness every day. Read more about Marc’s discussion here including: ·       Housing Statistics for the Wheeler Encampment closed on Nov 2, 2018 ·       Plans for a Navigation Center to serve as a low barrier shelter/bridge to housing ·       ACLU Lawsuit Status ·       Mental Health Challenges ·       Interim Incremental Steps President’s Report - Sandy Stevens Our thanks and congratulations to Greg Quintero (MPNA Past President 2016) for volunteering to serve on the 2019 MPNA Board in the open position of Immediate Past President. Per the bylaws, MPNA members at the meeting unanimously elected Greg. MPNA participated in a Feb 4, 2019 meeting, organized by the Riverside Civic Association, to reopen the discussion with TXDOT regarding 288 Sound Barrier placement on both the east and west sides of the freeway. MPNA will continue to participate as these discussions move forward and the MPNA Board may be asked to evaluate, propose, and support new solutions requested. Update, Austin/LaBranch/Crawford Bikeway Project: Bikeways will slow traffic on affected Museum Park streets according to Geoff Carlton of Traffic Engineers Inc. Plans for safe crossing measures at Hermann Dr./Crawford are under discussion. Parking in Museum Park will not be impacted. Bicycles and vehicles will share the road using signage to indicate a bikeway. Details here. Update, Museum Park Community Parking Plan and Parking Benefit District ordinances will open for public comment on Feb 11 for a 30 Day period. For more details and to add your input, see ParkHouston.  Safety and Security – Pam Campbell Pam Campbell and Barbara McGuffey, will continue to participate as MPNA representatives on the Neighborhood Task Force (NTF) with the Coalition for the Homeless. While the Wheeler Encampment has been closed, the NTF will engage and assist where possible in the ongoing process to address homeless issues.  Although Marilyn Brown is no longer with the Coalition, the NTF has been invited to meet with the newly announced Coalition Interim President/CEO, Mike Nichols.