* This transcript was created by voice-to-text technology. The transcript has not been edited for errors or omissions, it is for reference only and is not the official minutes of the meeting. GOOD AFTERNOON [00:00:01] EVERYONE, [Press Conference: "Public Safety and Security Plan for NRA Convention in Houston"] AND I'M HERE THIS, UH, THIS NOON OF ICE MAYOR PRO, TIM MARTHA CAST, AND WITH COUNCIL MEMBER ABBY HAMAN, CHAIRPERSON OF PUBLIC SAFETY AND HOMELAND SECURITY AS CITY, UH, CITY COUNCIL. UH, I'M ALSO JOINED TODAY BY CHIEF TROY CENTER, UH, CHIEF FIRE, CHIEF AMP, PENA THOMAS MUNOZ OF THE OFFICE OF HOMELAND SECURITY AND EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT, UH, MICHAEL HECK, HECKMAN, UH, THE CEO OF FIRST. UM, LEMME JUST MAKE A, A FEW COMMENTS AND THEN I'M GONNA TURN FIRST OVER TO KEITH CENTER TO JUST TALK ABOUT SECURITY MEASURES THAT WE'LL BE TAKING FOR THIS WEEKEND. UH, TONIGHT, THE, THE LIGHTS AT CITY HALL WILL BE TURNED ON. UH, THEY WILL BE PINK AND BLUE. PINK AND BLUE, AND THERE'LL BE PINK AND BLUE, UH, FOR THE 21. WERE TAKEN SEE, A COUPLE DAYS AGO, AND ESPECIALLY FOR, UH, THE 19 WHOSE LIVES WERE TAKEN TONIGHT, UH, LIGHTS AT CITY HALL, UH, WILL BE PINK AND BLUE, AND THEY WILL REMAIN PINK AND BLUE COURSE DURING THE COURSE OF GO THROUGH THIS WEEKEND. AND NOW, I WANT US, UH, EVEN AS WE PREPARE FOR THE EVENTS THAT WILL BE TAKEN TO OUR CITY OVER THE WEEKEND, I WANT US ALL TO, TO REMEMBER THE, THE 21 PERSONS WHO WILL TAKE IT, UH, AND ESPECIALLY THE CHILDREN, AND THE FACT THAT FOR ALL OF THEIR, THESE FAMILIES, UH, THEY, UH, THEY'LL BE DEALING, UH, WITH BURYING THEIR LOVED ONES, TELLING THEIR FAMILY MATTERS, UH, AND THE PAIN THAT THEY ARE CURRENTLY EXPER, UH, THEY WILL BE EXPERIENCING, UH, FOR A LIFE. SO WHATEVER TAKES PLACE, AND I WANNA SAY FOR THIS WEEKEND, ESPECIALLY IN, IN HOUSTON, I WANT US TO BEAR THAT IN MIND. IT'S NOT SO MUCH ABOUT US, IT IS ABOUT THOSE POTENTIAL. SO AS WE MOVE FORWARD, UH, WITH THE EVENTS IN OUR CITY, UH, I WANT US TO DO THINGS, UH, PEACEFULLY, DECENTLY, THANKFULLY, AND NOT ADD TO THE STRESS AND THESE FAMILIES. UM, THEY IN ALREADY CONVENTION, UM, THEY HAVE CHANGED. WE PROCEED, UH, IN CITY OF HOUSTON. AND, AND AT THE SAME TIME, UH, THERE WILL BE A, A NUMBER OF PEOPLE WHO WILL BE PROTESTING AND VOICING THEIR VIEWS FOR THOSE PERSONS WHO WILL BE ATTENDING THE NRA, UH, WHETHER WE AGREE WITH THEIR PHYSICIANS THAT THEY TAKE ON GUNS, UH, WE CERTAINLY WILL BE PROVIDING NECESSARILY SECURITY, UH, FOR THOSE INDIVIDUALS WHO WILL BE ATTENDING THE NO. I'VE GOTTEN SEVERAL, UM, E EMAILS AND CALLS ABOUT MAYOR AND I JUST CANCELED THIS. WELL, WE JUST DON'T HAVE THAT LUXURY OR THAT OPTION JUST TO CANCEL, BEEN ON THE BOOKS FOR TWO YEARS, UH, WHERE WE ARE CONTRACTUALLY OBLIGATED, UH, WHERE PLANS HAVE ALREADY BEEN MADE, YOU JUST CAN'T CANCEL. AND NEITHER DO WE HAVE THE LEGAL RIGHT COUNSEL CONFERENCES ARE BECAUSE WE DON'T LIKE, UH, THE SUBJECT MATTER THAT WILL BE DISCUSSED. SO WE JUST, WE JUST CAN'T DO, CERTAINLY THE NRA HAVE THE OPTION OF THE DELAYING THE START OF THEIR CONVENTION, UH, FOR A WEEK OR TWO TO ALLOW THE FAMILIES, UH, TO PLAN AND HAVE THE FUNERAL ARRANGEMENTS. UH, BUT FROM ALL INDICATION, WE JUST MOVE FORWARD. SO WE WILL DO EVERYTHING AS WE WOULD DO FOR ANY CONVENTION, ANY CONFERENCE, IS TO MAKE SURE THAT IT GOES AS SMOOTHLY AS POSSIBLE, AND THAT WE, UH, PROVIDE THE NECESSARY SECURITY FOR PEOPLE WHO WILL BE, UH, VISITING OUR CITY. AT THE SAME TIME, PEOPLE DO HAVE THE RIGHT TO EXPRESS THEIR, THEIR POINTS OF VIEW, UH, AND WE WILL BE PROVIDING VARIOUS STAGE IN THEIR AREAS, UH, FOR PEOPLE TO EXPRESS THEIR POINT OF VIEW, UH, WHETHER THEY ARE PRO, UH, POSITIONS, UH, BEING TAKEN BY THE NRA OR UH, AGAINST COUNTRY, UH, HAVE CONTRARY OPINIONS, [00:05:01] PEOPLE BEING PRESENTED BY WHO WILL BE PROVIDED THE NECESSARY STAGING GROUNDS FOR THEM, BUT FOR EVERYONE INVOLVED WHO ARE IN OUR CITY, UH, WHETHER LIVING IN OUR CITY OR VISITING OUR CITY FOR THIS PARTICULAR EVENT, UH, ANY OF THE EVENTS SURROUNDING IT, UH, WE WILL, UH, PROVIDE AND RAMP UP AND PROVIDE THE, THEIR SECURITY BECAUSE WE WANT EVERYONE TO BE SAFE, UM, IN OUR CITY. SO THOSE ARE THOSE INITIALLY OF THE PLANS. I'M GONNA ALLOW, I HAVE A CHIEF NER AND THEN CHIEF PENHAM, UH, TO FURTHER, UH, LAY OUT WHAT THESE, WHAT THESE PLANS ARE. BUT I WANT TO UNDERSCORE, I WANT TO UNDERSCORE AND ASK EVERYONE INVOLVED NOT TO DO ANYTHING, UH, THAT WOULD FURTHER ADD TO THE ANGUISH AND DRESSED IN EXOTIC FAMILIES WHO ARE HAVING TO JUDGE COPE. NOW, HAVING, HAVING SAID THAT, UH, LET ME, LET ME, UH, YIELD TO, UH, CHIEF. THANK YOU. UH, GOOD AFTERNOON, EVERYONE. UH, BEFORE, AND LIKE THE MAYOR SAID, BEFORE WE DISCUSS, UH, PUBLIC SAFETY, JUST WANT TO SAY THE FOCUS SHOULD BE SUFFERING FAMILIES ABOUT IT. LET'S REMEMBER THAT, UH, WE REMEMBER NOTHING ELSE FROM THIS PRESS CONFERENCE. REMEMBER THAT PEOPLE HAVE THE TENDENCY TO PUSH THEIR OWN AGENDAS. ASK THAT YOU DON'T DO THAT HERE IN HOUSTON. AND I KNOW EMOTIONS ARE HIGH. UM, IT'S NOT GOING TO CHANGE ANYTHING, BUT WE CAN BE RESPECTFUL. WE, THESE EVENTS LIKE THIS, OR PROTESTS, ASSEMBLIES, WHATEVER YOU WANT TO CALL THEM, IT'S NOTHING NEW TO US. BUT I JUST WANT US AS A CITY TO DO WHAT WE NEED TO DO. UH, YOU WILL HAVE OUR, OUR PLAN IS, AS WE ALWAYS DO, YOU HAVE A PROTEST ZONE AND YOU HAVE A COUNTER-PROTEST ZONE. I WANT EVERYBODY TO COME OUT TO RESPECT THAT. UH, WE HAD A MOUTH, BUT I UNDERSTAND THAT WE'RE HAVING SOME TECHNICAL DIFFICULTIES. WE'RE GONNA SEND THAT OUT, RESPECT THAT COMING AND GOING. AND YOU WILL SEE OFFICERS EVERYWHERE, PARKING LOTS COMMON AREAS TO DIRECT YOU TO WHERE YOU NEED TO BE. REMEMBER, JUST RESPECT ONE ANOTHER. ONE THING THAT WE WILL NOT TOLERATE. WE WILL RESPECT EVERYBODY'S RIGHT TO PROTEST, SPEAK THEIR CONCERNS, AND THEIR VOICE. WE WILL NOT TOLERATE DESTRUCTION OF PROPERTY, NOR WILL WE TOLERATE PEOPLE ASSAULTING INDIVIDUALS. I WANT TO MAKE A CALL TO OUR COMMUNITY JUST AS WE ALWAYS DO. IT'S NOT PUBLIC SAFETY. IT'S NOT THE RESPONSIBILITY OF POLICE AND FIRE ALONE. WE NEED OUR COMMUNITY. IF YOU SEE SOMETHING, SAY SOMETHING. IF YOU SEE A DISTURBANCE STARTING, PLEASE SAY SOMETHING TO US. I KNOW THAT THERE ARE OTHER EVENTS OUT THERE. I WANT TO SPEAK TO FORT BEND, UM, SCHOOL DISTRICT, ISD. THEY'RE HAVING THEIR GRADUATIONS, I THINK ON SATURDAY. WE HAVE IT PROPERLY STAFFED SO THAT WE CAN KEEP THOSE INDIVIDUALS SEPARATE FROM YOU GUYS, AND YOU CAN ENJOY YOUR CHILDREN'S GRADUATIONS. SO, UM, WE'VE TAKEN CARE OF THAT. I ALSO WANT TO SAY IN THIS PLAN, ALL OF OUR LOCAL PARTNERS, LAW ENFORCEMENT, FIRE, ALL OF OUR FEDERAL AGENCIES, OUR DPS, OUR STATE AGENCIES, EVERYBODY IS INTO THE PLAN. WE'RE GONNA HAVE ENOUGH OFFICERS TO DEAL WITH WHATEVER WE NEED TO DEAL WITH IMMEDIATELY. ALSO, UH, I JUST WANT TO SAY THAT, UH, WE, WE ALL NEED TO JUST BE THOUGHTFUL, BE THOUGHTFUL OF ONE ANOTHER. WE HAVE PROPER STAFFING OPERATIONS STILL GOING. THIS IS MEMORIAL WEEKEND, BUT WE WANNA MAKE SURE THAT EVERYBODY'S SAFE OUT IN PATROL, BUT WE HAVE PROPERLY STAFFED AND, UH, WANT EVERYBODY TO KNOW THAT. THANK YOU, MAYOR. THANK YOU, MAYOR. GOOD AFTERNOON, EVERYONE. UH, BEFORE I BEGIN, I WOULD FIRST LIKE TO EXPRESS MY CONDOLENCES FOR THE FAMILIES OF THE 21 INNOCENT LIVES THAT WERE LOST IN VALDI, NOT ONLY FOR THEM, BUT UH, CERTAINLY FOR ALL THE LIVES THAT HAVE BEEN LOST THROUGHOUT OUR COUNTRY TO ACTS OF VIOLENCE. UM, WE PRAY FOR THEM AND, AND WE HOLD THEM UP IN, IN, IN PRAYER, AND WE ASK THAT WE DO SOMETHING DIFFERENT AS, AS A COMMUNITY, UM, AND LOOK AFTER EACH OTHER'S HEALTH AND SAFETY. SO, AS, UH, CHIEF FINN AND THE MAYOR HAVE MENTIONED, UH, THERE'S GONNA BE A LOT OF ACTIVITY DOWNTOWN IN THE DOWNTOWN FOOTPRINT THIS [00:10:01] WEEKEND. IF YOU PLAN TO GO OUT AND EXERCISE YOUR FIRST AMENDMENT RIGHTS, UH, WE ASK THAT YOU PLEASE DO SO SAFELY AND RESPONSIBLY. WE DO KNOW THAT IT'S GONNA BE HOT THIS WEEKEND. UM, BE PREPARED FOR THAT WEATHER. IT'S, UH, WE DO HAVE PLANS TO HAVE LIMITED POOLING STATIONS OR LOCATIONS FOR THE PUBLIC, BUT AGAIN, THOSE ARE GONNA BE LIMITED. UM, DEPENDING ON THE, ON THE AMOUNT OF CROWD THAT WE GET, THEY MAY NOT BE ENOUGH TO ACCOMMODATE LARGE PEOPLE FALLING OUT. SO WE ASK THE PUBLIC THAT IF YOU'RE GONNA ATTEND THESE, UH, THESE RALLIES, UM, OR PROTESTS THAT YOU DO SO RESPONSIBLY, LOOK AFTER YOUR HEALTH, PHYSICALLY AND MENTALLY, HYDRATE APPROPRIATELY, NOURISH YOURSELF APPROPRIATELY, UH, LOOK AFTER ONE ANOTHER. KEEP, UH, SITUATIONAL AWARENESS. LOOK, LOOK FOR THINGS THAT ARE GOING ON AROUND YOU. WE IMPLORE YOU THAT WE'RE GONNA ASK THEM SOME FOR SOME SAFETY CONSIDERATIONS. OKAY? THERE ARE GONNA BE BARRICADES OUT THERE. HOUSTON POLICE DEPARTMENT HAS DONE AN EXCELLENT JOB OF TRYING TO, TO PROVIDE SAFE, UH, LOCATIONS FOR PEOPLE TO GO AND EXERCISE THE FIRST AMENDMENT RIGHTS. THAT MEANS BARRICADES, THAT MEANS HARD, UH, UH, UH, LOCATIONS TO BE ABLE TO CONTROL THE CROWD. WE ASK THAT YOU NOT, THAT YOU KNOW WHERE THE EXITS ARE AND THAT YOU NOT PRESS AGAINST THESE BARRICADES, OKAY? AGAIN, THIS IS ABOUT PERSONAL RESPONSIBILITY. WE ASK YOU TO COMMIT TO BE SAFE AND TO BE NONVIOLENT. THOSE ARE THE BIGGEST MESSAGES THAT, UH, WE WANT TO OFFER FROM THE HOUSTON FIRE DEPARTMENT. DON'T RISK YOUR SAFETY OR THE SAFETY OF OTHERS BY COMMITTING ACTS THAT ARE GOING TO EL ELEVATE AND ESCALATE ANY CONFLICT, DO SO RESPONSIBLY. THE HOUSTON FIRE DEPARTMENT IS GONNA BRING IN ADDITIONAL RESOURCES TO BE ABLE TO DEDICATE SPECIFICALLY FOR THE ACTIVITIES THAT ARE GOING ON THIS WEEKEND. BUT AGAIN, A LOT OF THE ASK IS GONNA BE ON THE PEOPLE ATTENDING. WE NEED TO DO SO RESPONSIBLY. LOOK AFTER FOR YOUR, UH, YOUR OWN HEALTH AND SAFETY. BE AWARE OF YOUR SURROUNDINGS. AS CHIEF FINN HAS MENTIONED, IF YOU SEE SOMETHING, SAY SOMETHING. IT IS AS A COMMUNITY THAT WE'RE GONNA BE ABLE TO GET THROUGH THESE HARD TIMES TOGETHER. THIS IS THE MOST DIVERSE CITY IN THE COUNTRY. CERTAINLY, WE CAN GET TOGETHER IN A CROWD, EXERCISE OUR FIRST, UH, AMENDMENT, UH, UH, RIGHTS, AND DO SO RESPECTING EACH OTHER'S VIEWS. WE'RE PREPARED TO ENSURE A SAFE ENVIRONMENT, BUT A LOT OF THE ASK IS GONNA BE ON THE PUBLIC AS WELL. UM, AGAIN, WE'RE GONNA HAVE RESOURCES AVAILABLE. WE ARE PARTICIPATING IN THE UNIFIED COMMAND, ALONG WITH OUR LOCAL, OUR STATE, AND OUR FEDERAL PARTNERS. WE'RE GONNA HAVE ADDITIONAL, UH, RESCUE TEAMS. UM, OUR OFFICE OF EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT IS COORDINATING THESE EVENTS. TOM, THANK YOU FOR, FOR BEING HERE AND COORDINATING THESE, UH, ALL THESE AGENCIES. WE ARE GONNA BE PREPARED TO ENSURE, UH, AS SAFE AN ENVIRONMENT AS WE CAN IN THIS, UH, DURING THIS WEEKEND. WE HAVE A LOT OF ACTIVITIES. WE HAVE GRADUATIONS ALSO IN THE SAME, UH, FOOTPRINT AS WELL AS THE CONVENTION. SO AGAIN, WE ASK FOR YOUR PATIENCE. WE ASK FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION, AND WE ASK THAT YOU EXERCISE YOUR RIGHTS IN A SAFE AND RESPONSIBLE MANNER. THANK YOU. THANK YOU, MAYOR. THANK YOU, CHIEFS. UM, AS I JUST WANNA REITERATE AND ECHO LOUDLY WHAT OUR, OUR TEAM HAS MENTIONED, AND THE CHIEFS AND THE MAYOR, OUR CONDOLENCES OR PRAYERS ARE ALWAYS WITH THE FAMILIES THAT'S INVOLVED IN EVERY WEALTH THROUGH THE COUNTRY. AS CHIEF MENTIONED, WE ARE GONNA BE HAVING UNIFIED COMMAND WORKING WITH STAKEHOLDERS THROUGHOUT ALL THE AGENCIES, STATE, LOCAL, AND FEDERAL, TO ENSURE A SAFE ENVIRONMENT TO ENSURE SAFETY. BUT WE ARE GONNA BE MONITORING AND ENSURING THAT EVERYONE, UM, IS, IS LOOKED OVER. AND, AND AS THE MAYOR HAS MENTIONED, UH, WE ARE A CITY WITH COMPASSION, AND WE TAKE THAT VERY SERIOUSLY. SO, ONCE AGAIN, WE ARE GONNA BE WORKING TOGETHER. AND, UH, CHIEFS, MAYOR, THANK YOU FOR ALL SUPPORT, MAYOR. THANK YOU. UM, AGAIN, REITERATING FROM, FROM OUR POINT OF VIEW AT HOUSTON. FIRST, UM, THE UNSPEAKABLE TRAGEDY AND EVIL THAT WE SAW THIS WEEK IS DIFFICULT FOR ANY OF US TO, TO, TO TRULY WRAP OUR HEADS AROUND. UM, OUR FOCUS NOW IS, AS THE MAYOR AND THE CHIEFS HAVE, HAVE MENTIONED, IS, IS SAFETY, SECURITY, UM, AND HAVING A PEACEFUL WEEKEND. UM, WE ARE WELL COORDINATED, UM, WITH ALL THE APPROPRIATE AGENCIES AND AUTHORITIES, UH, TO BE ABLE TO DO THAT. UM, UH, OUR STAFF HAS BEEN WORKING, UH, AT THE GEORGE R. BROWN, UH, REALLY AROUND THE CLOCK, UH, TO MAKE SURE THAT WE CAN SUPPORT THE PLAN THAT YOU HEARD, UM, UH, JUST A FEW MINUTES AGO. UH, AND ENSURE THAT WE HAVE, UM, UM, A SAFE EXPERIENCE, WHETHER IT BE FOR FOLKS THAT ARE VISITING HOUSTON FROM OUT OF TOWN, OR FOR HOUSTONIANS, UH, THAT MAY BE COMING DOWN EITHER TO THE CONVENTION OR MAYBE, [00:15:01] UH, DEMONSTRATING USING THEIR, THEIR FIRST AMENDMENT RIGHTS TO, TO, TO LET THEIR VOICE BE HEARD. UH, I, I WOULD ECHO WHAT WAS SAID EARLIER. UH, HOUSTON IS A VERY WELCOMING, UH, PLACE, UH, IN AN INCLUSIVE CITY. WE CAN DO THIS THE RIGHT WAY. UM, WE CAN, WE CAN ALLOW PEOPLE TO BE HEARD, HAVE THEIR VOICE BE HEARD, UM, WHILE STILL, UH, ALLOWING TO HAVE A, A, A PEACEFUL CONVENTION AT THE CONVENTION CENTER. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. AS YOU CAN IMAGINE, SINCE, UH, TUESDAY, UH, WE HAVE RAMPED UP OUR SECURITY MEASURES. QUITE A BIT MORE RESOURCES ON FEDERAL, UH, STATE, LOCAL LEVEL, WORKING WITH ALL OF OUR PARTNERS. WE'VE DONE THAT. UM, UM, AND WE KNOW EMOTIONS ARE RUNNING, ARE RUNNING HIGH, UH, BUT WE WANT TO BRING THINGS DOWN. OKAY? UH, SO LEMME JUST SAY THIS. UM, I KNOW THERE ARE A LOT OF PEOPLE WHO BELIEVE THAT, UH, THERE ARE JUST TOO MANY GUNS OUT THERE. I AGREE WITH YOU. UM, THERE ARE A LOT OF PEOPLE WHO BELIEVE THAT THERE SHOULD BE A BAN ON ASSAULT BUTTONS. I AGREE WITH YOU. UM, THERE ARE A LOT OF PEOPLE WHO BELIEVE, UM, UH, THAT, YOU KNOW, 18 YEAR OLDS, UH, SHOULDN'T BE ALLOWED TO BE ABLE TO PURCHASE GUNS AND ASSAULT WEAPONS. I AGREE WITH YOU. UM, AND PEOPLE OUGHT TO HAVE THEIR RIGHT TO VOICE THEIR, THEIR VIEWS. I AGREE WITH YOU ON THAT, BUT I ALSO WANNA ASK THAT, UM, YOU FEEL THAT WAY. THEN JOIN ME AT THE BALLOT BOX. OKAY? JOIN ME AT THE BALLOT BOX. AND IF YOU FEEL THAT WAY, UH, LET'S MAKE SURE THAT OUR VOICE IS, UH, HEARD IN OUR PRESENCE FELT, UH, AT THE LEGISLATURE, IN FACT, LEGISLATURES ALL OVER THE STATE, AND THAT OUR VOICES ARE HEARD, PRESIDENT FELT, UH, BEFORE THE HOUSE OF CONGRESS, LEGISLATORS AND SENATORS JOIN ME AT THAT. UH, BECAUSE IN THE END, THAT'S WHERE THE REAL CHANGES WILL TAKE PLACE. AND, UH, BUT WHAT WE DON'T WANT TO DO, WHAT WE DON'T WANT TO DO, WE DON'T WANT ANOTHER PERSON'S LIFE, LIFE TAKEN OR INJURIES OCCURRING. THAT DEFEATS PURPOSE. OKAY? SO LET'S, LET'S, LET'S BE VERY FOCUSED AND VERY INTENTIONAL, UM, AND LET'S MAKE SURE, UH, THAT, UH, IN OUR CITY, THAT WE CONDUCT OURSELVES, UH, WITH THE DIGNITY AND THE RESPECT, UH, THAT IS DESERVING OF THIS CITY, AND QUITE FRANKLY, ANY CITY. NOW, HAVING SAID THAT, IF YOU HAVE ANY, ANY QUESTIONS FOR ANYBODY, HAVE ANY QUESTIONS THAT COMMENCE TO ANYONE? ALL STAR. YEP. I'M SORRY. THAT WAS THE, THE, UH, THE, UH, UH, DOCUMENT WE WANTED TO PUT UP. SO, I JUST WANNA SAY REALLY QUICKLY, UM, THE, THE, UH, PROTESTING ZONE. IT'S GONNA BE IN DISCOVERY GREEN ON THE STAGE AREA. UM, SO JUST, JUST NOTE THAT, AND WE'RE GONNA TWEAK THIS OUT TO EVERYBODY SO THAT THEY'LL HAVE IT. BUT I DID WANT TO SAY THAT BECAUSE WE WILL SEPARATE PEOPLE, UM, TO KEEP THINGS AS PEACEFUL AS WE CAN. SO, LIKE I SAID BEFORE, EVERYBODY DO THE PART. THANK YOU. DISCOVERY GREEN, GEORGE R. BROWN. [00:20:38] UM, THANK YOU. AND IF YOU WANNA ADD, UH, AS WELL, I CAN DO IT. BUT, UM, IF YOU WANNA START THIS, MADAM. OKAY. ARE THERE ANY, ANY QUESTIONS TO ANYONE UP HERE? I, AS WE WOULD PERCEIVE ANYTHING DOES CHANGE WITH GUN LEGISLATION. UH, THERE ARE SOME PEOPLE WHO THINK THAT SCHOOLS ACROSS AMERICA SHOULD BE SAFER IN TERMS OF, UH, MORE DIFFICULTY FOR PEOPLE TO JUST WALK IN. DO YOU SUPPORT ANY NOTICE HERE IN HOUSTON TO MAKE SCHOOLS HARDER TO ENTER IF YOU'RE NOT A PARENT OR IF YOU DON'T HAVE AN EMPLOYMENT? YEAH, I MEAN, I'M, I'M ALWAYS SUPPORTIVE OF, OF HARDENING, UH, SCHOOLS TO PREVENT OR TO, UH, EVENTS FROM WHAT TOOK PLACE IN YOUR VALLEY FROM TAKING PLACE. SO I'M VERY SUPPORTIVE OF THAT. UM, BUT THAT'S AT THE END OF THE PROCESS. UM, THE BEST WAY TO PREVENT THESE TYPE OF SHOOTINGS IS TO, UM, REDUCE THE MARKETPLACE FOR GUNS, UM, TO BAN ASSAULT WEAPONS. THEY'VE DONE IT. BUT THIS IS AN, THIS IS AN AMERICAN PROBLEM, OKAY? IT'S NOT HAPPENING IN OTHER COUNTRIES. IT'S NOT HAPPENING IN OTHER COUNTRIES. SO THE BEST THING IS TO, UH, REDUCE THE ASSAULT WEAPONS. AND WHEN THE BAN ON ASSAULT WEAPONS WAS IN PLACE IN THE, IN THE 1990S, THE NUMBER OF INCIDENTS WENT DOWN. IT WAS ONLY AFTER IT EXPIRED, THE NUMBERS STARTED TO GO UP, NOT ALLOWING PEOPLE WITH 18 TO BUY TO, UH, TO BE ABLE TO PURCHASE GUNS. THE LEGISLATURE CHANGED THAT THE TEXAS LEGISLATURE IN, IN 2021. BUT IN 2019, THEY MADE IT WAY HAD TO BE 21 TO PURCHASE CIGARETTES. SO SOMETHING'S WRONG WITH THAT. REPEALING HOUSE BILL, 1927 OUS CARRY. OKAY? UM, NO LICENSE, NO PERMIT, NO TRAINING. SO NOW THERE ARE A NUMBER OF THINGS THAT WE NEED TO DO. UH, UNIVERSAL BACKGROUND CHECKS, RED FLAG LAWS LIST GOES ON AND ON. SO YES, YOU ARE ALWAYS GOING TO BE ABLE TO HARDEN, UM, UM, SCHOOLS TO MAKE IT MORE DIFFICULT. BUT REALLY THE BEST WAY TO REDUCE THIS TYPE OF VIOLENCE WITHIN OUR SCHOOLS THAT'S KILLING TOO [00:25:01] MANY OF OUR CHILDREN IS TO REDUCE THE ACCESS TO GOD. UM, CAN YOU TALK ABOUT HOW MANY PEOPLE YOU ARE EXPECTING AND EXPECTING 5,000 PEOPLE THIS WEEKEND? 10,000 PEOPLE. 20,000 PEOPLE. AND HOW ARE YOU GETTING THE OFFICERS, UH, FOR THAT? DID YOU CANCEL PATIENTS TRIPS? YES. WE, UM, UM, JUST SOMETHING SHORT OF FULL MOBILIZATION. UM, SO WE'RE ADJUSTING SHIFTS AND, UM, MAKING SURE THAT WE HAVE THE NUMBER THAT WE HAVE. SO WE'RE LOOKING AT, UH, I THINK ABOUT 80,000, UH, OVER THE THREE DAY PERIOD. UM, AND LIKE I SAID A LITTLE BIT EARLIER, UM, I THINK WE HAVE PROPER STAFF AND TO DEAL WITH WHATEVER WE NEED TO DEAL WITH. AND, UH, THANK YOU. IN TERMS OF PEOPLE ATTENDING ATTENDED THE NRA, I'M NOT SURE ON THE PROTEST. I, I, I CAN TELL YOU, AND YOU CAN IMAGINE, UH, WE'VE BEEN GETTING CHATTER FROM EVERYWHERE AND, UH, I ALWAYS SAY THAT WE, UH, PRAY FOR THE BEST AND WE PREPARE FOR THE WORST. SO, UM, WE, WE DON'T KNOW. AND, UH, UNTIL THEY SHOW UP, BUT, UH, WE'LL BE PREPARED. MAYOR, CAN YOU ELABORATE ON THE LENGTHS THAT THE CITY LINK TO EITHER DELAY OR CANCEL THAT NO CAN, WELL, THE DIMENSION HAS BEEN ON THE BOOKS FOR TWO YEARS MM-HMM . UM, SO IT'S A CONTRACTUAL OBLIGATION AND YOU CAN'T, YOU CAN'T CANCEL A CONTRACT JUST BECAUSE YOU DON'T AGREE ON, UH, WITH THE CONTENT. SO THAT'S, THAT WAS PRETTY, THAT'S PRETTY CLEAR WHERE THE COMMUNICATIONS ARE. RECESS AND THEN AS AN ATTEMPT TO DO WHAT, AN ATTEMPT WITH A CAN BE ORGANIZED TO EITHER DELAY OR CAN'T DO ANYTHING, THAT IS THEIR, THAT IS THEIR CHOICE. THEY CERTAINLY CAN DELAY, THEY COULD DELAY THIS COMMISSION IF THEY WANTED TO. THAT IS, THAT IS THEIR CHOICE. OKAY. BUT IN TERMS OF US HAVING THE ABILITY TO CANCEL, TO CANCEL THE CONTRACT WITHOUT EXPOSING THE CITY, UH, TO LIABILITY, THAT, UH, THAT WOULD OPPOSE A VERY, VERY HIGH RISK. AND WHAT WOULD THE LIABILITY BEEN WHEN YOU'RE, WHEN YOU'RE A CONVENTION OF 50,000, I SAY 50,000 PEOPLE IN TERMS OF THEIR COSTS, IN TERMS OF AIRLINE TICKETS, IN TERMS OF HOTEL COSTS, OTHER COSTS THAT THEY HAVE INCURRED A COST TO THE HOUSTON FIRST, UH, COST TO OTHER ORGANIZATIONS, THAT COULD HAVE BEEN A HUGE COST. SO, UH, I'VE BEEN A LAWYER FOR 40 YEARS. YOU DON'T HAVE THE LUXURY OF COUNSELING SOMETHING BECAUSE YOU DO NOT LIKE THE CONTENT NOW WITHOUT EXPOSING THE CITY, UH, TO LIABILITY. SO THAT'S CLEAR. I GUESS FOCUS ON AN EFFORT TO, DID SOMEONE ASK THEM, COULD YOU PLEASE DELAY THAT HAPPEN? WELL, YOU CERTAINLY COULD GO AND ASK THEM, OKAY, CAN YOU BREAK DOWN THE UNIFIED, WHICH, HOW MANY OFFICES ARE YOU, EVERY, EVERY AGENCY THAT YOU CAN THINK ABOUT? I'VE NEVER TALKED IN TERMS OF NUMBERS, UH, SPECIFIC NUMBERS, BUT, UH, ALL OUR LOCAL AGENCIES, UH, UM, METRO, HPD, UH, SOME OF THE CONSTABLE'S OFFICE, UH, DTS, EVERY FEDERAL AGENCY THAT WE WORK WITH ON, ON A DAILY BASIS, EVERYBODY. AND I WANT TO TELL YOU, UH, IN TERMS OF INTEL AND IN TERMS OF OPERATIONS, STRONG TEAM AND THE MAYOR, I GUESS THE CITY WILL BEGIN INCURRING THE COST FOR THE INCREASED PRESENCE IN SECURITY. YES, WE'RE GONNA DO, UH, TAKE WHATEVER STEPS WE NEED TO TAKE TO MAKE SURE THAT WE PROTECT, UM, EVERYONE CENTERED AROUND THIS WEEK PARTICULAR EVENT. UH, AND LEMME JUST GO BACK TO THE PREVIOUS QUESTION TOO THAT I, I WANT TO SAY, UH, YOU HAD ONE OF THE KEY ENTERTAINERS, FOR EXAMPLE, WHO DECIDED TO CANCEL, NOT TO COME BECAUSE THEY FELT IT WAS, WOULD BE DISRESPECTFUL, THAT ENTERTAINER DID IT WITHOUT ANYONE ON OUR PART, ASKING THEM NOT TO. SO THERE COMES A POINT IN TIME WHEN PEOPLE HAVE TO RECOGNIZE THAT IT'S DISRESPECTFUL TO BE TALKING ABOUT GUNS. WHEN 19 KIDS HAVE BEEN KILLED. IT WOULD BE DISRESPECTFUL, UH, FOR THE GOVERNOR, FORMER PRESIDENTS, ELECTED OFFICIALS TO SHOW UP. AND NO ONE SHOULD HAVE TO TELL THEM NOT TO. IT WOULD BE DISRESPECTFUL FOR THAT TO OCCUR. UM, SO LET'S, I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT TO KEEP THE FOCUS WHERE THE FOCUS SHOULD BE, OKAY. AND NOT TRY TO FIND, UH, WHERE SOMEBODY ELSE COULD ELIMINATE SOMETHING THAT MAKE IT EASY FOR EVERYBODY. OKAY? THERE'S SOME PERSONAL RESPONSIBILITY HERE. THERE'S SOME PERSONAL RESPONSIBILITY HERE. 19 KIDS HAVE BEEN KILLED, TWO ADULTS. AND JUST LIKE THAT ENTERTAINER MADE THE DECISION, I CANNOT PERFORM [00:30:01] AT THE NRA BECAUSE IT WOULD BE DISRESPECTFUL. OTHERS CAN MAKE THAT SAME DECISION AS WELL. AND QUITE FRANKLY, THEY SHOULD. ANYONE ELSE? THANK YOU, MR. THANK, UH, EVERYONE. AND, UM, LET'S HAVE A, LET'S HAVE A SAFE AND PEACEFUL WEEKEND. THANKS. THANK YOU. * This transcript was created by voice-to-text technology. The transcript has not been edited for errors or omissions, it is for reference only and is not the official minutes of the meeting.