Business

It’s Official: H-E-B MacGregor Market Breaks Ground

HOUSTON FORWARD TIMES — Council Member Boykins took a major step forward to addressing food deserts in the Third Ward.

Published

7 years ago

February 19, 2019

By Jeffery L. Boney

When Council Member Dwight Boykins was sworn in to the Houston City Council in 2014 to represent District D, one of his primary goals was to help eradicate food deserts across the district, particularly in areas that were underserved like Houston’s Third Ward community.

After a five-year journey of hard and relentless work, and through the formation of a unique public-private sector partnership with H-E-B, this past Saturday, February 9, Council Member Boykins took a major step forward to addressing food deserts in the Third Ward, as they officially broke ground on a brand new grocery store in an area that has long suffered from limited access to healthy and affordable food options.

The new H-E-B MacGregor Market will be located at the intersection of N. MacGregor Way and State Highway 288. The new 90,000 sq. ft. store will feature expansive shopping options and added services for convenience, quality selection and unsurpassed freshness.

Council Member Boykins was joined by Mayor Sylvester Turner, H-E-B Houston President Scott McClelland, other H-E-B executives, the new MacGregor Market H-E-B leadership and other city leaders to help celebrate this momentous groundbreaking occasion, marking a milestone in District D.

“I am so excited to be able to bring a quality, upscale grocery store to our community,” said Boykins. “Shortly after I was sworn into office, I contacted and asked several retailers to take a tour of our District and the only retailer that responded was H-E-B. I shared that this store could become a sustainable solution for our community and catalyst for economic development, as well as a nationally recognized best practice for public-private partnerships. Clearly, H-E-B got it. The H-E-B MacGregor Market belongs to all of us and should be a hallmark in this city for many years to come.”

Boykins tells the Forward Times that this is the only public/private partnership store in H-E-B’s inventory and that it will create 400 jobs and bring a diversity of products to the area.

“Thanks to the work of officials with H-E-B, the administration of former Mayor Annise Parker, Mayor Sylvester Turner and his team, Houston Community College, the Houston Department of Housing and Community Development, the Houston Housing Finance Corporation, Ms. Licia Green with Waterman Steele, past and current members of my staff, community stakeholders and so many countless others, we are finally crossing the finish line,” said Boykins. “Our community overwhelmingly supported the concept of bringing a grocery store to this site.”

The leadership of H-E-B states that they have been committed to providing a larger store for the Third Ward community for some time.

“This parcel of land affords H-E-B the space needed to build a new, replacement store for our neighbors with expanded offerings and a state-of-the-art design,” said Winell Herron, H-E-B’s Group VP for Public Affairs, Diversity and Environmental Affairs. “We have thoughtfully designed a store the community will be proud of when we open at the end of this year. We respect this community’s deep culture and commitment to maintaining its residential character while supporting a revitalization of local business. We are confident this store will add to the vibrant commerce in this historic area.”

According to H-E-B leadership, H-E-B MacGregor Market shoppers will enjoy their traditional selections of local favorites, as well as fresh Produce, Dairy, H-E-B Organics, full-service scratch Bakery Department with artisan breads and self-serve pastry items, an expansive Deli featuring in-house roasted meats, full-service Seafood Department, Wine Department with a variety of local, national and international labels to choose from, Healthy Living, a Floral Department offering online ordering, a full-service Meat Market, a full line of Meal Simple items, an in-house Pharmacy with dedicated pick-up and drop-off counters as well as a drive-thru window, and one of H-E-B’s newest features – a dedicated Curbside pick-up area.

Boykins states that he is confident this store will serve as the catalyst for more economic development and revitalization in the Third Ward area, and will be heralded as a national model for public/private partnerships. The store will take nine months to construct and will replace the neighborhood’s current H-E-B on Old Spanish Trail and Scott Street.

Construction on the H-E-B MacGregor Market will begin soon with a completion date scheduled for late 2019 and will replace the current H-E-B in Third Ward, located on Old Spanish Trail and Scott Street. H-E-B leadership states that the new store will be the first of its kind and it is expected to be three times the size of the Old Spanish Trail location. The Old Spanish Trail location will close a day prior to the new store opening, according to H-E-B.

This article originally appeared in the Houston Forward Times.

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Activism

Post Newspaper Invites NNPA to Join Nationwide Probate Reform Initiative

The Post’s Probate Reform Group meets the first Thursday of every month via Zoom and invites the public to attend. The Post is making the initiative national and will submit information from its monthly meeting to the NNPA to educate, advocate, and inform its readers.

Published

2 days ago

February 10, 2026

Oakland Post

iStock.

By Tanya Dennis

The National Newspaper Publishers Association (NNPA) represents the Black press with over 200 newspapers nationwide.

Last night the Post announced that it is actively recruiting the Black press to inform the public that there is a probate “five-alarm fire” occurring in Black communities and invited every Black newspaper starting from the Birmingham Times in Alabama to the Milwaukee Times Weekly in Wisconsin, to join the Post in our “Year of Action” for probate reform.

Reporter Tanya Dennis says, “The adage that ‘When America catches a cold, Black folks catch the flu” is too true in practice; that’s why we’re engaging the Black Press to not only warn, but educate the Black community regarding the criminal actions we see in probate court: Thousands are losing generational wealth to strangers. It’s a travesty that happens daily.”

Venus Gist, a co-host of the reform group, states, “ Unfortunately, people are their own worst enemy when it comes to speaking with loved ones regarding their demise. It’s an uncomfortable subject that most avoid, but they do so at their peril. The courts rely on dissention between family members, so I encourage not only a will and trust [be created] but also videotape the reading of your documents so you can show you’re of sound mind.”

In better times, drafting a will was enough; then a trust was an added requirement to ‘iron-clad’ documents and to assure easy transference of wealth.

No longer.

As the courts became underfunded in the last 20 years, predatory behavior emerged to the extent that criminality is now occurring at alarming rates with no oversight, with courts isolating the conserved, and, I’ve heard, many times killing conservatees for profit. Plundering the assets of estates until beneficiaries are penniless is also common.”

Post Newspaper Publisher Paul Cobb says, “The simple solution is to avoid probate at all costs. If beneficiaries can’t agree, hire a private mediator and attorney to work things out. The moment you walk into court, you are vulnerable to the whims of the court. Your will and trust mean nothing.”

Zakiya Jendayi, a co-host of the Probate Reform Group and a victim herself, says, “In my case, the will and trust were clear that I am the beneficiary of the estate, but the opposing attorney said I used undue influence to make myself beneficiary. He said that without proof, and the judge upheld the attorney’s baseless assertion. In court, the will and trust is easily discounted.”

The Black press reaches out to 47 million Black Americans with one voice. The power of the press has never been so important as it is now in this national movement to save Black generational wealth from predatory attorneys, guardians and judges.

The next probate reform meeting is on March 5, from 7 – 9 p.m. PST. Zoom Details:
Meeting ID: 825 0367 1750
Passcode: 475480

All are welcome.

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Activism

Community Celebrates Turner Group Construction Company as Collins Drive Becomes Turner Group Drive

The event drew family, friends, and longtime supporters of Turner Group Construction, along with a host of dignitaries. The mood was joyful and warm, filled with hugs, handshakes and belated New Year’s greetings. Guests enjoyed hors d’oeuvres and a festive display of gourmet cupcakes as they conversed about the street sign reveal.

Published

2 days ago

February 10, 2026

Oakland Post

The Turner Construction group members.

By Carla Thomas

It was a family affair on Friday, Jan. 23, at the corner of Hegenberger Road and Collins Drive in East Oakland as community members, local leaders, and elected officials gathered to celebrate the renaming of Collins Drive to Turner Group Drive. The renaming saluted the Turner Group’s 45-plus years of economic development and community investment.

Special guests included former Alameda County Supervisor Keith Carson, veteran broadcaster Valerie Coleman-Morris, Chevron Senior Public Affairs Representative Andrea Bailey, community leaders Cephus “Uncle Bobby” Johnson and Beatrice “Aunt Bea” Johnson of the Oscar Grant Foundation, and Oakland City Councilmembers Ken Houston, Carroll Fife, and Kevin Jenkins. Members of WEBCORE, the Nor Cal Carpenters Union, the National Association of Minority Contractors (NAMC), Swinerton and Alten construction companies, activists Elaine Brown and David Newton, and many others joined the celebration.

Inside the event tent, an emotional Oakland City Councilmember Ken Houston spoke of his deep connection to the Turner family.

“I grew up on the same street with the Turners,” he said. “When my father passed away, their parents and siblings embraced me like family. This is our city, and it’s an honor to name this street Turner Group Drive because of the love and effort this company and family have given. Many dreams came out of this building. I wouldn’t be where I am today without the Turners.”

Councilmember Kevin Jenkins, whose father once taught the Turner brothers, added, “Len Turner is an amazing person. He’ll help anyone.”

Oakland Mayor Barbara Lee praised the company’s legacy, noting its creation of the Construction Resource Center, which trains and mentors the next generation of builders and developers through partnerships across the region. “This is a great day for Oakland and a profound acknowledgment of the Turner Group’s contribution to our community,” she said.

Fife echoed that sentiment: “This is a day for celebrating Black excellence. The Turner Group has poured into people and the community, showing us what’s possible.”

Among the many family members in attendance was the Turners’ 92-year-old patriarch, whose presence underscored the strength of the family’s legacy.

A touching highlight of the event came when Coleman-Morris was honored for her lasting mentorship of LaTanya Hawkins, now program manager of the Construction Resource Center. In 1979, Hawkins, then a fourth-grader, wrote Coleman-Morris a letter seeking advice. Coleman responded with words of encouragement that inspired Hawkins to pursue her dreams. The two stayed in touch for decades. On stage, they embraced as Coleman reflected on “the power of small acts of kindness to change a life.”

Coleman-Morris also shared reflections on leadership and community spirit, saying, “If we change the way we look at things, the things we see will change.” She then recited the Serenity Prayer, reminding the crowd, “We are a powerful community, we just need to believe it.”

Company leaders Len and Lance Turner closed the ceremony with words of gratitude and humor. Len thanked his mother, wife, family, legal team, and longtime supporters including Carson, Geoffrey Pete, and the late Dorothy King of Everett & Jones Barbecue. He also acknowledged the challenges the company had overcome, saying, “Without all of this support, I wouldn’t be here today.”

Through Turner Group Construction and the Construction Resource Center, the Turners have created new opportunities for underrepresented groups in the construction industry and continue to inspire the next generation of builders.

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Activism

New Bill, the RIDER Safety Act, Would Support Transit Ambassadors and Safety on Public Transit

The RIDER Safety Act would allow public transit agencies to hire transit ambassadors trained in de-escalation, crisis response, and rider education and engagement. Acting as a visible, non-enforcement presence to deter low-level incidents and reduce conflict, transit ambassadors would ease the burden from law enforcement and enhance public safety.

Published

2 days ago

February 10, 2026

Oakland Post

BART train. Photo courtesy of ABC7.

By Post Staff

A new federal bill would support transit ambassador, or transit support specialist, programs at public transit agencies across the country.

The bill, (D-CA-12), H.R. 6069, the Rapid Intervention and Deterrence for Enhanced Rider Safety Act, or the RIDER Safety Act, was introduced Jan. 30 by Congresswoman Lateefah Simon. (D-CA-12), H.R. 6069, the Rapid Intervention and Deterrence for Enhanced Rider Safety Act, or the RIDER Safety Act.

This legislation is based on Congresswoman Simon’s work at Bay Area Rapid Transit (BART) to create a first-in-the-nation Transit Ambassador Program, which previously earned a prestigious nationwide award for “Innovation in Public Safety.”

She announced the bill at a press conference at the 19th Street BART Station alongside BART leaders and other supporters.

The RIDER Safety Act would allow public transit agencies to hire transit ambassadors trained in de-escalation, crisis response, and rider education and engagement. Acting as a visible, non-enforcement presence to deter low-level incidents and reduce conflict, transit ambassadors would ease the burden from law enforcement and enhance public safety.

This bill would also create jobs provide meaningful work, training opportunities, and a pathway for career growth in local communities. In the House of Representatives, the bill is also co-led by Representatives Shomari Figures (AL-02), Nellie Pou (NJ-09), Mark DeSaulnier (CA-10), and John Garamendi (CA-08).

“I am incredibly proud to champion the RIDER Safety Act in Congress and continue my work to ensure transit is safe, accessible, and affordable to everyone. We have seen the success of the transit ambassador programs here in the East Bay, and I am dedicated to bringing this proven public safety model to the rest of the country,” said Congresswoman Simon.

“These are strong local jobs for people who want to support public safety on transit and serve as a resource to individuals who may be in crisis or in need of services,” she continued. “Strengthening safety on transit benefits us all and helps ensure our public transportation systems remain places of opportunity, dignity, and trust.”

“This bill is critical to ensure the safety of every passenger who relies on public transportation across the country,” said Congresswoman Nellie Pou. “The RIDER Safety Act builds on successful transit models already implemented in communities, including the Bay Area Rapid Transit (BART) through the leadership of Congresswoman Lateefah Simon during her time as BART President. By providing transit stations with medically trained, unarmed personnel, we can strengthen safety standards, reduce fare evasion, and give riders a greater peace of mind when getting from one place to the next.”