Houston Woman Demands Answers as Solid Waste Removes Stones

URGENT UPDATE: A Houston homeowner is demanding answers after the city’s Solid Waste department allegedly removed large landscaping stones from her property, leaving her feeling unsafe. Maria Trevino reached out to ABC13 after being left in the dark by the city’s 3-1-1 service regarding the incident that occurred on September 18, 2023.

Trevino returned home on that date to discover that the stones, which she had placed strategically to prevent cars from driving onto her yard, were missing. “Where are the rocks? Where are the stones?” she exclaimed. She had installed these stones about a year and a half ago after experiencing repeated issues with drivers missing the curve in front of her house.

According to Trevino, the rocks effectively solved her problem until their recent disappearance. “Ever since I had put them in that design, I never had that problem again,” she said, expressing her growing concern for her safety.

Surveillance footage from her property shows two critical timestamps: at 10:03 a.m., the stones were visible, and just three minutes later, at 10:06 a.m., a large piece of machinery was seen removing them. Trevino believes the city’s heavy trash team mistakenly picked up her stones during a scheduled yard waste collection on September 16.

Trevino has tried to contact 3-1-1 multiple times since the incident, following up on September 26 and again on October 23, but reports no follow-up from city officials. “The stones weren’t trash; they were there for a reason,” she stated, emphasizing her frustration with the lack of communication.

She is now requesting that the city replace the stones to restore her property’s protection. “I would like for them to bring me some stones to put there to replenish the ones that were taken,” she urged, fearing that without the stones, cars could again encroach on her yard.

As weekends approach, Trevino dreads the potential for further incidents, recalling that previous problems typically occurred between Thursday and Monday. “Here comes the weekend, and I dread it every weekend that passes,” she said.

In an attempt to assist Trevino, ABC13 reached out to the city’s 3-1-1 service for clarity on the situation. Although she was advised to file a claim with the city, statistics reveal that only 17% of such claims were approved between 2022 and 2024, raising doubts about her chances of compensation.

The community watches closely as Trevino seeks answers, highlighting the urgent need for accountability and better communication from city services. For ongoing updates, follow Lileana Pearson on social media platforms.