The Third Option and Sunnyside, Houston: Difference between pages
(Difference between pages)
Content deleted Content added
Mdriver1981 (talk | contribs) No edit summary |
WhisperToMe (talk | contribs) |
||
| Line 1: | Line 1: | ||
[[Image:SunnysideSignNumber2.JPG|thumb||A sign indicating Sunnyside's location]] |
|||
'''''The Third Option''''' is [[Vince Flynn]]'s third novel, and the second to feature [[Mitch Rapp]], an [[United States|American]] agent that works for the CIA as an operative for a covert counterterrorism unit called the "Orion Team." |
|||
[[Image:SunnysideSigninHouston.JPG|thumb|A sign indicating Sunnyside's location]] |
|||
'''Sunnyside''' is a community in south [[Houston, Texas|Houston]], [[Texas]], [[United States]]. |
|||
Sunnyside is outside of the [[610 Loop]] and inside [[Beltway 8]] off [[State Highway 288 (Texas)|State Highway 288]] south of [[Downtown Houston]] and is predominantly [[African American]]. The community's slogan is "Sunnyside Pride." |
|||
==Plot summary== |
|||
A large [[landfill]] is located in the center of the community.<ref name="HoustonHope">"[http://www.houstonhope.org/sunnyside.html Sunnyside]." ''Houston HOPE''.</ref> |
|||
Mitch Rapp is sent on a highly sensitive mission in northern [[Germany]] to [[assassinate]] [[Count]] Heinrich Hagenmiller V, a powerful [[arms dealer]] that has been selling weapons to [[Saddam Hussein]] and other enemies of the [[United States]]. Rapp successfully slays Hagenmiller, only to be betrayed by his companions "Jane and Tom Hoffman", who attempt to kill Rapp by shooting him in the chest, not knowing he was wearing a [[bulletproof vest]]. Jane (the one that shot him) quickly flees the scene with Tom. A shocked Rapp eventually awakes and quickly realizes that his blood and [[finger prints]] are scattered around the room. He responds to the situation by setting the room on fire and quickly escaping. |
|||
==History== |
|||
Back in [[Washington D.C.]], the situation in Germany quickly becomes known to politicians and officials, whom many try to use the situation to their advantage. [[Democratic Party (United States)|Democratic]] [[Congressman]] Albert Rudin is not fooled by the CIA's denial of involvement, and argues that it is further proof that the CIA is bad for America and the world, and should be shut down. [[Republican Party (United States)|Republican]] Senator Henry Clark, who is a licentious, self-absorbed and manipulative schemer, is the one that ordered the hit on Rapp, hoping that his dead body would embarrass [[President of the United States|President]] Robert Xavier, and ruin the career of CIA Assistant Director Dr. Irene Kennedy. Clark, along with Rudin and [[Secretary of State]] Charles Middleton, are in an alliance to stop Dr. Kennedy from succeeding the dying Thomas Stansfield as [[Director of the Central Intelligence Agency|Director]]. Unbeknown to Rudin and Middleton, Clark dispatches a group of [[contract killers]] lead by Professor Scott Coleman, to initiate a widespread blood-purge that will eliminate any person that can leave paper trailer back to him. |
|||
When the community opened in the 1910s, H. H. Holmes, the founder, gave the land the name Sunny Side.<ref name="SchoolHistoriesHoustonISD">"[http://www.houstonisd.org/HISDConnectDS/v/index.jsp?vgnextoid=0afe09c28afc3110VgnVCM10000028147fa6RCRD&vgnextchannel=2e2b2f796138c010VgnVCM10000052147fa6RCRD School Histories: the Stories Behind the Names]." ''[[Houston Independent School District]]''. Accessed [[September 24]], [[2008]].</ref> |
|||
From the 1980 U.S. Census to the 1990 Census, many African-Americans left traditional African-American neighborhoods like Sunnyside and entered parts of [[Southwest Houston]].<ref>Rodriguez, Lori. "[http://www.chron.com/CDA/archives/archive.mpl?id=1991_768298 Census tracks rapid growth of suburbia]." ''[[Houston Chronicle]]''. Sunday [[March 10]], [[1991]]. Section A, Page 1.</ref> Sunnyside lost 30% of its population in the decade prior to August 20, 1992.<ref name="Littlewarmth">Roth, Bennett. "[http://www.chron.com/CDA/archives/archive.mpl?id=1992_1075646 Convention '92/Sunnyside feels little warmth from GOP]." ''[[Houston Chronicle]]''. Thursday August 20, 1992. B10.</ref> |
|||
Rapp hides in France and gathers his thoughts. He believes it is possible that Dr. Kennedy, a "friend" of his, ordered the Hoffmans to assassinate him in order to cover the situation up. Rapp eventually returns to Washington and confronts her and counterterrorism agent Scott Coleman. With gun drawn, Rapp demands answers; after a brief discourse between the three, Rapp comes to realize that they had nothing to do with the attempt on his life. |
|||
As of January 2007, according to a ''[[Houston Chronicle]]'' article, Sunnyside has many issues with [[recreational drug]] use. [[PCP]] is cited by the article as a drug popular in Sunnyside.<ref>Crowe, Robert. "[http://www.chron.com/CDA/archives/archive.mpl?id=2007_4274295 Destructive force mars Sunnyside's rebirth]," ''[[Houston Chronicle]]'', [[January 27]], [[2007]]. A1.</ref> |
|||
Rapp learns that many of his colleagues are being killed and that his girlfriend Anna Reilly has been kidnapped by the assassins. They kidnapped her in order to set a death trap for Rapp. The Hoffmans, (AKA The Jansens) are assassinated outside their home by Cameron's men. Rapp, along with Coleman and a few other agents, eventually rescue Anna, killing all of Cameron's men in the process. Cameron, who was talking to one of his men on the phone while the assault was executed, quickly learns that all has failed. Rapp contacts Cameron and pledges to kill him unless he confess the identity of his employer. Cameron refuses to answer and quickly makes plans to leave the country. However, only moments before Rapp reaches Cameron, he is killed by an [[Italian]] assassin named Donatella Rahn, who was hired by Clark. |
|||
On [[August 30]], [[2007]], the ''Houston Chronicle'' published an article about a [[syphilis]] outbreak in Houston. Marlene McNeese-Ward, the Houston Health Department chief of HIV/STD and Viral Hepatitis Prevention, stated "We're really looking at [[Acres Homes, Houston, Texas|Acres Homes]] especially, and Sunnyside, but there's not too many ZIP codes ... where we're not seeing any (cases)."<ref>Grant, Alexis. "[http://www.chron.com/CDA/archives/archive.mpl?id=2007_4414099 Houston targets syphilis increase]," ''[[Houston Chronicle]]'', [[August 29]], [[2007]]. B1 MetFront.</ref> |
|||
The president soon learns about the coup d’état against him, and summons two of the the main movers of the conspiracy, Rudin and Middleton. The president lambastes them in two separate meetings for betraying their party. He then demands them to tell him everything they know, so he may find out who ordered the hit on Rapp. Both of the men do not give the president any useful answers. Shortly afterwards Middleton is found dead in his apartment, ruled a suicide. It was Clark that ordered the hit, but pretends to know now nothing about it, even to his close friend Jonathan Brown, the Deputy Director of the CIA who hates both Sansfield and Dr. Kennedy. Clark announces to a shocked Brown that he is backing Dr. Kennedy's nomination, but assures him that Kennedy "will never make it through the confirmation process." |
|||
==Demographics== |
|||
According to the 1990 Census Sunnyside had 3,484 residents. 93.8% of them were African-American, 4.2% were Hispanic, and 2% were White, Asian, or other. The median household income was $12,477, compared to the City of Houston median of $26,621. 38.6% of Sunnyside residents lived below the poverty line.<ref name="Littlewarmth"/> |
|||
==Government and Infrastructure== |
|||
[[Image:HoustonPoliceDepartmentSunnysideStorefront.JPG|thumb|[[Houston Police Department]] Sunnyside Storefront]] |
|||
The neighborhood is within the [[Houston Police Department]]'s Southeast Patrol Division <ref>"[http://www.houstontx.gov/police/cs/beatpages/southeast.htm Crime Statistics for Southeast Patrol Division]." ''City of Houston''.</ref>, headquartered at 8300 Mykawa.<ref name="VIPCops">"[http://www.houstontx.gov/police/vip/vip_cops.htm VOLUNTEER INITIATIVES PROGRAM - Citizens Offering Police Support]." ''City of Houston''.</ref> |
|||
The Sunnyside Storefront Station is located at 3511 Reed Road.<ref name="VIPCops"/> |
|||
The [[Houston Fire Department]] Station 55 Sunnyside is near Sunnyside at 11212 Cullen Boulevard at Selinski [http://www.houstontx.gov/fire/firestations/index.html]. |
|||
Sunnyside residents expressed apathy towards the 1992 Republican Party Convention, which was held in the [[Houston Astrodome]]. Despite the neighborhood's proximity to the Astrodome, traffic from the convention did not lead to increase of patronage of area businesses.<ref name="Littlewarmth"/> |
|||
The closest [[United States Postal Service]] post office is the Martin Luther King Post Office at 9444 Cullen Boulevard, 77051-9998. |
|||
==Education== |
|||
===Primary and secondary schools=== |
|||
====Public schools==== |
|||
[[Image:WorthingHighSchoolHouston.JPG|thumb|[[Worthing High School (Houston)|Worthing High School]]]] |
|||
The community is zoned to [[Houston Independent School District]] schools. |
|||
The schools serving Sunnyside proper include [http://es.houstonisd.org/younges Young Elementary School]<ref>"[http://dept.houstonisd.org/ab/schoolboundarymaps/YoungES.pdf Young Elementary Attendance Zone]." ''[[Houston Independent School District]]''.</ref>, [http://ms.houstonisd.org/attucksms Attucks Middle School]<ref>"[http://dept.houstonisd.org/ab/schoolboundarymaps/AttucksMS.pdf Attucks Middle Attendance Zone]." ''[[Houston Independent School District]]''.</ref>, and [[Worthing High School (Houston)|Worthing High School]].<ref>"[http://dept.houstonisd.org/ab/schoolboundarymaps/WorthingHS.pdf Worthing High School Attendance Zone]." ''[[Houston Independent School District]]''.</ref> |
|||
Young Elementary opened as Sunny Side Elementary School in 1918; HISD renamed the school in June 1999 after Sunnyside residents petitioned for a renaming of the school. Young shares its campus with South Administrative Alternative Elementary and Drug-Free School. Attucks and Worthing opened in 1958.<ref name="SchoolHistoriesHoustonISD"/> |
|||
[[Carnegie Vanguard High School]], an HISD [[magnet school]], is near Sunnyside. |
|||
[[KIPP: the Knowledge Is Power Program]] operates the [http://www.kipphouston.org/kipp/KIPP_Spirit_College_Prep_EN.asp KIPP Spirit College Preparatory School], a 5th Grade [[charter school]], near Sunnyside. |
|||
=====Gallery of public schools===== |
|||
<gallery> |
|||
Image:YoungElementarySchoolHouston.JPG|Young Elementary School |
|||
Image:AttucksMiddleSchoolHouston.JPG|Attucks Middle School |
|||
Image:CarnegieVanguardHighSchool.jpg|[[Carnegie Vanguard High School]], a magnet school located near Sunnyside. |
|||
</gallery> |
|||
===Public libraries=== |
|||
[[Image:WLDJohnsonLibraryHouston.JPG|thumb|W. L. D. Johnson Branch]] |
|||
Sunnyside is served by W. L. D. Johnson Branch of [[Houston Public Library]]. |
|||
== Parks and recreation== |
|||
The city operates the [http://www.houstontx.gov/parks/cc-sunnyside.html Sunnyside Community Center]. |
|||
== Community services == |
|||
The [[American Red Cross]] operates the Southeast (Sunnyside) Houston-Harris County Branch Office at 4605 Wilmington.<ref>"[http://www.houstonredcross.org/chapterlocations/sehouston/ Southeast (Sunnyside) Houston-Harris County Branch Office]." ''[[American Red Cross]] Greater Houston''.</ref> |
|||
== Gallery== |
|||
<gallery> |
|||
Image:HoustonFireStation55.JPG|Fire Station 55 Sunnyside |
|||
Image:SunnysideOarkHouston.JPG|Sunnyside Park |
|||
</gallery> |
|||
==See also== |
|||
{{portalpar|Houston|Flag of Houston, Texas.png}} |
|||
{{-}} |
|||
==References== |
|||
{{reflist}} |
|||
==External links== |
|||
* [http://www.houstonhope.org/sunnyside.html Houston HOPE section on Sunnyside] |
|||
* [http://www.neighborhoodlink.com/houston/sssp/ Sunny Side South Park Neighborhood Association] |
|||
{{Houston, Texas}} |
|||
{{coord missing|United States}} |
|||
[[Category:Neighborhoods in Houston, Texas]] |
|||
[[Category:United States communities with African American majority populations]] |
|||
Revision as of 12:03, 13 October 2008
Sunnyside is a community in south Houston, Texas, United States.
Sunnyside is outside of the 610 Loop and inside Beltway 8 off State Highway 288 south of Downtown Houston and is predominantly African American. The community's slogan is "Sunnyside Pride."
A large landfill is located in the center of the community.[1]
History
When the community opened in the 1910s, H. H. Holmes, the founder, gave the land the name Sunny Side.[2]
From the 1980 U.S. Census to the 1990 Census, many African-Americans left traditional African-American neighborhoods like Sunnyside and entered parts of Southwest Houston.[3] Sunnyside lost 30% of its population in the decade prior to August 20, 1992.[4]
As of January 2007, according to a Houston Chronicle article, Sunnyside has many issues with recreational drug use. PCP is cited by the article as a drug popular in Sunnyside.[5]
On August 30, 2007, the Houston Chronicle published an article about a syphilis outbreak in Houston. Marlene McNeese-Ward, the Houston Health Department chief of HIV/STD and Viral Hepatitis Prevention, stated "We're really looking at Acres Homes especially, and Sunnyside, but there's not too many ZIP codes ... where we're not seeing any (cases)."[6]
Demographics
According to the 1990 Census Sunnyside had 3,484 residents. 93.8% of them were African-American, 4.2% were Hispanic, and 2% were White, Asian, or other. The median household income was $12,477, compared to the City of Houston median of $26,621. 38.6% of Sunnyside residents lived below the poverty line.[4]
Government and Infrastructure
The neighborhood is within the Houston Police Department's Southeast Patrol Division [7], headquartered at 8300 Mykawa.[8]
The Sunnyside Storefront Station is located at 3511 Reed Road.[8]
The Houston Fire Department Station 55 Sunnyside is near Sunnyside at 11212 Cullen Boulevard at Selinski [1].
Sunnyside residents expressed apathy towards the 1992 Republican Party Convention, which was held in the Houston Astrodome. Despite the neighborhood's proximity to the Astrodome, traffic from the convention did not lead to increase of patronage of area businesses.[4]
The closest United States Postal Service post office is the Martin Luther King Post Office at 9444 Cullen Boulevard, 77051-9998.
Education
Primary and secondary schools
Public schools
The community is zoned to Houston Independent School District schools.
The schools serving Sunnyside proper include Young Elementary School[9], Attucks Middle School[10], and Worthing High School.[11]
Young Elementary opened as Sunny Side Elementary School in 1918; HISD renamed the school in June 1999 after Sunnyside residents petitioned for a renaming of the school. Young shares its campus with South Administrative Alternative Elementary and Drug-Free School. Attucks and Worthing opened in 1958.[2]
Carnegie Vanguard High School, an HISD magnet school, is near Sunnyside.
KIPP: the Knowledge Is Power Program operates the KIPP Spirit College Preparatory School, a 5th Grade charter school, near Sunnyside.
Gallery of public schools
-
Young Elementary School -
Attucks Middle School -
Carnegie Vanguard High School, a magnet school located near Sunnyside.
Public libraries
Sunnyside is served by W. L. D. Johnson Branch of Houston Public Library.
Parks and recreation
The city operates the Sunnyside Community Center.
Community services
The American Red Cross operates the Southeast (Sunnyside) Houston-Harris County Branch Office at 4605 Wilmington.[12]
Gallery
-
Fire Station 55 Sunnyside -
Sunnyside Park
See also
References
- ^ "Sunnyside." Houston HOPE.
- ^ a b "School Histories: the Stories Behind the Names." Houston Independent School District. Accessed September 24, 2008.
- ^ Rodriguez, Lori. "Census tracks rapid growth of suburbia." Houston Chronicle. Sunday March 10, 1991. Section A, Page 1.
- ^ a b c Roth, Bennett. "Convention '92/Sunnyside feels little warmth from GOP." Houston Chronicle. Thursday August 20, 1992. B10.
- ^ Crowe, Robert. "Destructive force mars Sunnyside's rebirth," Houston Chronicle, January 27, 2007. A1.
- ^ Grant, Alexis. "Houston targets syphilis increase," Houston Chronicle, August 29, 2007. B1 MetFront.
- ^ "Crime Statistics for Southeast Patrol Division." City of Houston.
- ^ a b "VOLUNTEER INITIATIVES PROGRAM - Citizens Offering Police Support." City of Houston.
- ^ "Young Elementary Attendance Zone." Houston Independent School District.
- ^ "Attucks Middle Attendance Zone." Houston Independent School District.
- ^ "Worthing High School Attendance Zone." Houston Independent School District.
- ^ "Southeast (Sunnyside) Houston-Harris County Branch Office." American Red Cross Greater Houston.
External links
