UPDATE: A Houston homeowner is urgently seeking answers after the City of Houston’s Solid Waste Department removed landscaping stones from her property without explanation. Maria Trevino expressed her frustration after discovering the missing stones on September 18, 2023, raising concerns for her safety.
Trevino, who placed the stones strategically to prevent cars from driving into her yard, said, “Where are the rocks? Where are the stones?” She reported that since she installed the stones about a year and a half ago, her property had not experienced any vehicle-related incidents. However, with the stones gone, she fears the return of unsafe driving behavior.
Security footage from Trevino’s property shows the stones in place at 10:03 a.m. on September 18, only to disappear moments later, around 10:06 a.m., when a large piece of machinery was seen loading them into a truck. Trevino speculated that the removal coincided with a scheduled yard waste pickup on September 16, leading her to believe it was a mistake by the city’s heavy trash team.
After the incident, Trevino reached out to the city’s 3-1-1 service multiple times, including follow-ups on September 26 and again on October 23. Despite receiving report numbers, she claims there has been no follow-up communication or solution provided. Trevino stated, “The stones weren’t trash; they were there for a reason.”
Since the stones were removed, Trevino has not experienced any vehicles driving onto her property, but the anxiety remains. “Here comes the weekend, and I dread it every weekend that passes because it usually happens between Thursday and Monday,” she said, emphasizing the emotional toll the situation has taken on her.
In a bid to resolve the issue, Trevino has requested that the city replenish the stones to restore the safety barrier they provided. However, previous reports indicate that claims made to the city are rarely honored, with only 17% of claims being paid out between 2022 and 2024.
Eyewitness News has contacted 3-1-1 to seek a resolution for Trevino, aiming to ensure that her concerns are taken seriously and addressed promptly. As this situation develops, residents and local officials are urged to pay attention to the implications of city services on community safety.
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