Kevin O’Connor Kommentary May 15

Proposed Voluntary Rental Inspection Ordinance In College Station Is Discussed By The City Council Before Delaying A Vote

The city of College Station has 32,000 rental housing units. The last couple of years, the College Station city council has received multiple complaints from Texas A&M students about the condition of rental housing. Monday night’s council meeting (October 7) included 90 minutes of comments about a proposed voluntary rental housing inspection ordinance. On a four to two vote, the council delayed action until their next meeting on October 24th. That would allow A&M students another opportunity to speak and the council to get a report from Texas A&M’s off campus housing office…both in an effort for the council to gauge if improvements in the city’s See, Click, and Fix reporting app is enough that a voluntary inspection ordinance is not needed. Joining Elizabeth Cunha, who made the motion to delay a vote, were Bob Yancy, Mark Smith, and Linda Harvell. Opposed to delaying the vote were John Nichols and Dennis Maloney. William Wright was absent from the meeting. Click HERE to read and download College Station’s proposed voluntary rental inspection ordinance. Click HERE to read and download presentation materials from the October 8, 2024 College Station city council meeting. Click below to hear comments during the October 7, 2024 College Station city council meeting from members Mark Smith, Elizabeth Cunha, Dennis Maloney, Bob Yancy, and John Nichols, along with the director of College Station’s community services office Debbie Eller. Listen to “Proposed voluntary rental inspection ordinance in College Station is discussed by the city council before delaying a vote” on Spreaker.

College Station Man Heading To Prison After Admitting To Entering A Texas A&M Dorm Room And Threatening A Female Student

In April 2024, a Texas A&M female student fought off a stranger who got into her dorm room by kicking the man in the groin. On Monday (October 7), the Brazos County district attorney’s office announced the man admitted to burglary and aggravated assault with a deadly weapon. A plea agreement reached September 24th between 21 year old Christian Young of college Station and the district attorney’s office includes a 15 year prison sentence. Prosecutors say Young was able to get into the room by following unsuspecting students inside and grabbing the door just before it closed. The victim kicked Young after she was threatened with a pair of scissors. Young was identified in part from security video from the dorm and from the hat he was wearing from a fast food restaurant. A news release from the DA’s office thanked the victim “most of all” “for the courage she displayed in this awful event.” News release from the Brazos County district attorney’s office: Christian Young has been sentenced to 15 years in prison on multiple charges including bur-glary and aggravated assault which occurred on April 14, 2024 in a Texas A&M University residence hall. Young entered the residence hall by following behind unsuspecting students and grabbing the door just before it closed. Young then made his way into the room of the victim, a stranger, and threatened her with a pair of scissors. Young then got into bed with the victim and tried to muffle the victim’s scream by holding his hand over her mouth. The victim fought back and kicked Young in the groin which caused Young to flee the scene. The victim then started screaming as she ran into the room of her suite mates. The investigation revealed that the victim and her suite mates were also missing money out of their wallets. Because Young was captured on video entering the residence hall, the Texas A&M University Police Department was able to circulate Young’s image to surrounding agencies. The Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office assisted by running Young’s image through facial recognition software which produced a match. Young was also wearing a hat from a local fast food restaurant where he worked. Management at the fast food restaurant also assisted in identifying the Young whose time sheets also matched the timeline of this criminal episode. Young confessed to the crimes after he was arrested by police. The District Attorney’s Office would like to thank the Texas A&M University Police Department for their excellent work in this investigation as well, the Montgomery Sheriff’s Office for the assistance they provided, and most of all the victim for the courage she displayed in this awful event. Statement from Brazos County assistant district attorney Kevin Capps: “The victim awoke to a nightmare but responded with courage. We all have the right to be safe in our homes, and certainly while asleep in our beds. Christian Young destroyed that safety, and he is now headed to prison where he belongs.”

Bryan ISD School Board Members Remember Merrill Green

Monday’s (October 7) Bryan ISD school board meeting began with memories of the late Bryan High School head football coach and school board member Merrill Green. Ruthie Waller said she attended schools with Green’s three daughters, was hired by Merrill for her first coaching job, and he was the first person she sought for advice when she ran for school board. David Stasny recalled the more than 12 years he served with Merrill on the school board. It was also announced that this Friday’s (October 11) Rudder High football game will include a tribute to Merrill Green, similar to what was done at last Friday’s Bryan High football game at Merrill Green stadium. Tuesday (October 8) is Merrill Green’s celebration of life service. Click HERE to be directed to the Hillier Funeral Home website obituary and link to the live stream of the service. Click below to hear comments from Ruthie Waller and David Stasny during the October 7, 2024 Bryan ISD school board meeeting.