2023
READERS’ CHOICE
Space Cowboys fall to Sacramento on Sunday - Page 3
GET SEEN CALL 713-371-3600
ADVERTISE HERE! WEDNESDAY • AUGUST 13, 2025
Fort Bend / Southwest • Volume 50 • No. 33 • $1.00 Visit www.FortBendStar.com
Fort Bend residents denounce proposed PJ’s Coffee Texas redistricting maps at town hall opens second Missouri City location in Lake Olympia area By Juhi Varma SPECIAL TO THE STAR
Dozens of Fort Bend County residents came to the Mission Bend Branch Library last week to speak out against the proposed Texas congressional redistricting maps they say would weaken minority voting power. The town hall was organized by the office of Rep. Suleman Lalani of Fort Bend County and led by his staff, as Lalani was one of the several Democratic House members who left the state to break quorum. The town hall was held on August 6, coinciding with the 60th anniversary of President Lyndon B. Johnson signing the landmark Voting Rights Act into law.
The standoff is ongoing as dozens of Texas House Democrats remain out of the state for a second week, preventing any potential votes on the map, which has been approved by the Texas Senate. Last week, Gov. Greg Abbott and Attorney General Ken Paxton separately stepped up legal efforts to compel their return. Abbott has sharply criticized the Democrats’ actions, calling them cowardly in public statements and on social media, and has vowed to hold them accountable for what he describes as abandoning their responsibilities. At press time, Lalani remained out of the state. “Gov. Abbott is busy giving Texas on a silver platter to President
Trump,” Lalani said in a pre- recorded message played at the meeting. “We didn’t have any other option but to deny quorum. Breaking quorum is not running away from the responsibilities… it is one of the tools put in Texas legislation by our forefathers. We are accused of running away, walking out. You know what? We are not walking out. We are standing up.” At last week’s town hall, residents, local leaders and activists took turns at the microphone, many calling the maps a blatant attempt at partisan gerrymandering. “Tonight, the order of business is to talk about the maps that were created for the congressional districts,” said Lydia Ozuna, president of the
nonprofit Texas Against Gerrymandering (TAG). “This is clearly not a fight about political parties. It is a fight about whose voice is going to be heard. These new maps would send 21% of the people of color to Congress…if my husband were only giving me the opportunity to do something 21% of the time, I would be a very unhappy wife, all right? And so that is what this is all about. My voice would not be heard.” Texas Republicans’ push to redraw congressional maps aims to safeguard the party[‘s majority in Congress, which Ozuna said would
SEE REDISTRICT PAGE 2
‘WE ARE FORT BEND’
PHOTO CONTEST AWARD WINNERS
Franchise owner Zachary Patterson and family members open the new Missouri City location of PJ’s Coffee of New Orleans in the Lake Olympia area last week. Photo by Juhi Varma
By Juhi Varma SPECIAL TO THE STAR
Louisiana-based coffee franchise PJ’s Coffee of New Orleans is continuing its rapid growth in Fort Bend County with a second Missouri City location. The new PJ’s held its ribboncutting ceremony on Friday, August 8, and has been wellreceived by coffee lovers in the Lake Olympia area, said owner Zachary Patterson. “We live in this area,” said Patterson. “We wanted to offer something premium so people wouldn’t have to drive to Highway 6 for a good cup of coffee.” PJ’s offers a wide selection of hot, iced, and frozen coffee drinks, along with organic teas, fresh breakfast pastries and lunch sandwiches. Patterson said they were also drawn to the franchise for its history and the story of its founder, Phyllis Jordan, who opened the first coffeehouse in New Orleans in 1978. “We wanted to get back to the roots of PJs, bringing the people in the neighborhood together, creating a gathering spot where people can share ideas about your community,” he said. According to the chain’s website, PJ’s brews its iced coffee using a special colddrip process that reduces acidity while preserving flavor. Beignets are among its most popular menu items,
SEE BUSINESS PAGE 2
Kenny Hu won the 1st Place Judges’ Choice award for “Green Herons and Ham!” in Fort Bend County Libraries’ “We Are Fort Bend” amateur photography contest on Saturday in the Bohachevsky Gallery at the George Memorial Library. This year’s theme is “Vibrant Colors of Fort Bend.” See more photos from the event on Page 5. Photo by Ken Fountain
New high school vendors market gives students a taste of entrepreneurship By Juhi Varma SPECIAL TO THE STAR
Missouri City Parks and Recreation hosted its first High School Vendors Market on Saturday, drawing a steady crowd of locals and interested peers. Around ten student-run booths were set up in the parking lot of the Missouri City Recreation and Tennis Center, selling handmade goods, art, treats, produce, and other curios. “Our first High School Vendors Market is a back-to-school event,” said Cristina Escamos, of Missouri
City Parks and Recreation. “We invited all the high school kids before school starts.” The goal was to support local high school students and their entrepreneurial efforts, she said. “We love making bracelets and stuff and we love making food,” said Sofia Guerrero, a student at George Bush High School, who was encouraged to set up with stall by her mother. “I really wanted them to learn what
SEE ENTREPRENEUR PAGE 4
Samantha Vu, 16, a student at Stafford Stem Magnet Academy, sells handmade jewelry and crochet scarves during the inaugural High School Vendors market at the Missouri City Parks and Recreation Center on Saturday. About ten student-run booths were at the market. Photo by Juhi Varma