Sighting on Westheimer - One Activist, One Mission (original posting, 6.30.02) : Houston Indymedia

On the evening of June 29, 2002, the WestFest
Purists Organization had an entry in this
year's Pride Parade, which is deemed the last of the
Montrose-area community events held on Westheimer.
Out of the 134 entries for this year's Pride Parade,
this was the first time that the two-year old
WestFest Purists Organization had an official entry - the WFPO Cruiser.

The WFPO Cruiser, a 1981 Chevrolet Blazer 4 x 4, was
fitted with a mirror ball and DJ lights; however,
plans to have a subwoofer box had to be scrapped
before the parade commenced due to heavy rains
throughout Pride Week. To Montrose-area activists, the cruiser has been spotted throughout the streets of Houston, TX ever since the Queermobile (a rainbow-painted Ford Econoline van owned by Rick "Rainbodeklown" Hurt).

The WestFest Purists Organization, which was
established in October 2000, was originally a fan club
to preserve the remains of a former Montrose event
known as the Westheimer Street Festival, which was
moved out of its beloved Montrose location in January
2000. To date, the cyberorganization has evolved,
where it has evolved into community outreach, as well
as focus on the issues concerning affordable housing
inside Loop 610 and institutional abuse.

In Montrose, since 1990, toney townhome developments
have displaced long-time renters, and one turning
point for the Inner Loop - the
demolition/redevelopment of Allen Parkway Village, has
spread into other Inner Loop neighborhoods like
Montrose and the Heights. What has occured to Allen
Parkway Village has affected Fourth Ward's history,
and what is deemed yuppification of the Inner Loop has
claimed 2 casualities - the Westheimer Street Festival
and Festa Italiana from their respective communities.

Since emphasizing on affordable housing issues, the
WFPO has forged an alliance with the Inner Loop
Affordable Housing Coalition (formerly known as the
Friends in Defense of Allen Parkway Village) since
February 2002. The presence of the WFPO Cruiser was
only the beginning; events like the Pride Parade and
Heights Festival should remain in their respective
communities, and there have been rumors where both
remaining events will be forced out in response to the
middle class displacing renters from the Inner Loop.

Currently, the meetings for the ILAHC, often held at
First Unitarian Church on the second and fourth
Wednesdays of every month, has been on hiatus for over
2 months because of reorganization efforts.

Between now and October 19/20, $2500 will have to be
raised for another cause - the completion of the
WFPO's art car project, which will debut at the
Heights Festival and upcoming Westheimer Street
Festival in Exile. The art car project has been on
hold for three months due to lack of funding. Future
plans will include curbside collections, where a
percentage of the proceeds will go to the AIDS
Foundation of Houston for the AIDS Walk, which will be
held in March 2003.

For more information, go to the following websites
and/or contact the following:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/westfestpuristsorganization
http://seributra_d.tripod.com/WSF2002.html

WFPO Hotline
(832) 493-5945

Inner Loop Affordable Housing Coalition contacts:

Lenwood E. Johnson
apv1@ev1.net
(713) 228-2109

DON "The Emissary" SERIBUTRA
seributra_d@yahoo.com
(832) 493-5945

Don Cook
zenblews@hotmail.com
(713) 649-4258