UPDATE: A Houston homeowner is urgently seeking answers after the city’s Solid Waste department removed landscaping stones from her property, leaving her feeling vulnerable. Maria Trevino, a resident of Houston, contacted ABC13 for assistance, expressing frustration over her unanswered inquiries to the city’s 3-1-1 service.
On September 18, 2023, Trevino returned home to discover that the decorative stones she had strategically placed to prevent cars from driving onto her yard were missing. “Where are the rocks? Where are the stones?” Trevino exclaimed, recalling her shock upon discovering the empty space where the stones once stood.
For over a year, those stones had served as a crucial barrier, keeping vehicles from veering off the road and onto her property. “Ever since I put them in that design, I never had that problem again,” Trevino said, highlighting the safety concerns that now plague her since their removal.
Surveillance footage from her property shows a vehicle passing by at 10:03 a.m. on September 18, with the stones visibly in place. Just three minutes later, at 10:06 a.m., the footage captures a large piece of machinery taking the stones away. Trevino suspects this occurred during the city’s yard waste pickup, which had been scheduled for September 16.
“I assumed they were doing their pickup a few days late and mistakenly took my stones,” Trevino said, emphasizing that the stones were not trash, but rather a vital part of her property’s safety. Since the incident, she has made multiple attempts to contact 3-1-1, following up on her initial report on September 18 with calls on September 26 and again on October 23. Despite receiving report numbers, Trevino has yet to receive any follow-up or resolution.
“I would like for them to bring me some stones to put there to replenish the ones that were taken,” she said, expressing her desire for some form of protection. While no incidents have occurred since the removal, Trevino worries that it’s only a matter of time before cars again threaten her yard, especially as weekends approach, a time when she typically sees increased traffic.
In response to Trevino’s situation, Eyewitness News reached out to 3-1-1 for clarification on the matter. Trevino was advised to file a claim with the city, but historical data suggests that such claims are rarely approved—only 17% of claims were paid out by the city between 2022 and 2024.
As her plea for help continues to go unanswered, Trevino’s story highlights the urgent need for clarity and accountability from local authorities. Residents are urged to stay informed about developments as this situation unfolds.
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