[Press Conference: "Fourth of July Safety and Freedom Over Texas"]
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YOU GOT EVERYBODY.GOOD AFTERNOON, EVERYONE, AND LET ME THANK YOU FOR JOINING US TODAY.
UH, AS YOU ARE AWARE, WE ARE RETURNING TO AN IN-PERSON EVENT ON THIS COMING MONDAY, JULY THE FOURTH, FREEDOM OF TEXAS.
THE LAST TIME WE HAD AN IN-PERSON EVENT WAS IN JULY 4TH, 2019.
YEAH, WE DID NOT HAVE ONE IN 2020.
WE REIMAGINED IN 20, UH, 19 IN 2020 AS WELL AS IN 2021.
I MEAN, UM, THE INDEPENDENCE OF OUR GREAT COUNTRY DOESN'T STOP BECAUSE OF COVID.
WE SIMPLY PIVOTED AND REIMAGINED THANKS TO, UM, SUSAN CHRISTIAN AND SPECIAL EVENTS AND ALL OF OUR PARTNERS AND SPONSORS.
UH, BUT THIS YEAR WE, UH, WE COME BACK FULLY.
SO THAT WILL BE THIS COMING MONDAY, UH, JULY THE FOURTH.
UM, AND SO THE SHELL FREEDOM OVER TEXAS WILL BE HELD IN ELEANOR TINSLEY AND SAM HOUSTON PARKS AND ALONG ALLEN PARKWAY.
WE ARE COMMITTED TO PROVIDE A FUN AND PATRIOTIC CELEBRATION, REFLECTIVE OF THE DIVERSITY AND STRENGTH OF OUR GREAT CITY, AND ONE THAT CELEBRATES THE IDEAS OF OUR FOUNDING FATHERS.
UH, THE PURPOSE OF THIS PRESS CONFERENCE IS TO HIGHLIGHT THE HEALTH AND SAFETY, UH, ENHANCEMENTS THAT WE HAVE INCLUDED IN OUR EVENT THIS YEAR.
UH, AND ALSO THOSE HEALTHY REMINDERS THAT YOU MUST DO WHAT YOU MUST DO TO, TO, UH, UH, PREPARE FOR THE ANTICIPATED HEAT.
NOW, WE, YOU KNOW, WE, HOPEFULLY WE'LL BE GETTING SOME RAIN, MORE RAIN THIS EVENING, TOMORROW, FRIDAY, UH, MAYBE A LITTLE BIT ON SATURDAY.
BUT THEN THEY'RE SAYING BY THE TIME WE GET TO SUNDAY AND MONDAY, UH, WE ARE BACK TO THE HEAT AGAIN.
SO, UH, UH, JUST, UH, BE PREPARED, UH, FOR THE HEAT ON MONDAY, THE 4TH OF JULY.
BUT FIRST, AND THIS IS VERY IMPORTANT, UH, SHELL FREEDOM OVER TEXAS IS THE ONLY ONLY PUBLIC PROFESSIONAL FIREWORK DISPLAY IN HOUSTON.
AND WHAT I MEAN BY THAT, UH, I KNOW THAT TRADITIONALLY MANY HOUSTONIANS VIEW THE FIREWORKS FROM HERMAN PARK AND MILLER OUTDOOR THEATER.
IN FACT, THERE ARE THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE EVERY YEAR THEY GO OUT TO HERMAN PARK AND MILLER OUTDOOR THEATER, AS MANY AS 30,000 PEOPLE FOR THESE EVENTS.
UH, BUT THIS YEAR, UH, HERMAN PARK AND MILLER OUTDOOR, THEY'RE NOT HAVING THEIR EVENT.
SO THE ONLY, UH, UH, PUBLIC EVENT, UH, CELEBRATING IN CITY OF HOUSTON, UH, WILL BE FREEDOM OVER TEXAS.
SO LET ME JUST ASK, YOU KNOW, THOSE PERSONS WHO WOULD NORMALLY GO TO MILL OUTDOOR, GO TO HERMAN.
UH, PLEASE JOIN, UH, AT THE SHELL FREEDOM OVER TEXAS, UH, IN ELLENOR TINSLEY PARK.
UM, AND, AND THEN BEAR IN MIND THAT THE GATES WILL OPEN AT 4:00 PM UH, THE COST IS $10, AND THE CHILDREN FIVE AND UNDER GET IN FREE.
UM, THE FIREWORKS, UH, SHOW BEGINS AT 9:35 PM AND THE CELEBRATION ENDS IMMEDIATELY AFTER THE FIREWORKS FINALE.
UM, AND THEN LEMME JUST ADD THIS NOTE, AND I'M GOING TO, UM, UM, TURN IT OVER TO CHIEF SLINKER, FOLLOWED BY CHIEF PHAM, AND I KNOW THEY WILL UNDERSCORE THIS.
UH, THIS IS THE FIREWORKS SHOW, FREEDOM OF, YOU KNOW, SHELL FREEDOM OVER TEXAS.
UH, BUT IN TERMS OF GOING AND PURCHASING FIREWORKS, UH, THE CELEBRATORY GUNFIRE, UH, IN THE CITY OF HOUSTON, THAT IS NOT ALLOWED.
SO, LEMME JUST, LEMME UNDERSCORE THAT, UH, LET ME UNDERSCORE THE FACT THAT IT'S BEEN SO HOT AND DRY, EVEN WITH THE RAIN THAT'S COMING IN.
SO THE COME AND SEE THE FIREWORKS PUT ON BY THE PROFESSIONALS, YOU KNOW, COME TO AN INTENSITY PARK AND SEE THAT IF WE, WE RETURN IN PERSON.
AND, YOU KNOW, YOU KNOW, HOPEFULLY WE'LL SEE JUST THOUSANDS AND THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE OUT THERE, BIGGER THAN WE'VE SEEN IN THE PAST AS WE COME TO CELEBRATE, UH, THE, UH, THE, UH, INDEPENDENCE OF OUR GREAT COUNTRY.
NOW, LET ME, UH, YIELD AND LET ME BRING UP CHIEF SLINKER OF HPD.
THANK YOU, MAYOR, AND, UH, TO ALL OF OUR COLLEAGUES OUT THERE, THANK YOU FOR ALL OF YOUR WORK GETTING US READY FOR THIS EVENT.
ON BEHALF OF CHIEF OF POLICE, TROY FINNER, IT'S, UH, MY HONOR TO SAY THE HOUSTON POLICE DEPARTMENT HAS BEEN WORKING DILIGENTLY ON STAFFING PLANS TO ENSURE THE SAFETY OF THOSE ENJOYING THE SHELL FREEDOM OVER TEXAS 4TH OF JULY FESTIVITIES.
NOW WE'RE EXCITED AS WELL, MAYOR, THAT THIS EVENT IS RETURNING TO AN IN-PERSON CELEBRATION THIS YEAR, NOW TO MITIGATE SOME MOBILITY ISSUES AND TO PROPERLY MANAGE LARGE CROWDS.
AS I'VE TOLD YOU MANY TIMES IN PRESS CONFERENCES FOR LARGE EVENTS, WE ARE INVOLVED WITH ALL OF OUR PUBLIC
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SAFETY PARTNERS IN ALL ASPECTS OF THE PLANNING AND THE RESPONSE TO AN EVENT THIS SIZE.WE WORK CLOSELY WITH MAYOR TURNER'S OFFICE OF SPECIAL EVENTS AND DIRECTOR SUSAN CHRISTIAN, UH, TO PREPARE FOR ALL CONTINGENCIES AND WE'RE WELL POSITIONED AND PREPARED TO BE GREAT PUBLIC SAFETY PARTNERS AND HOST, ALONG WITH THE MAYOR FOR FREEDOM OVER TEXAS THIS YEAR.
NOW, REGARDING PUBLIC SAFETY PERSONNEL THAT WILL BE ON HAND, WE WILL HAVE PLENTY OF RESOURCES WORKING THE EVENT TO ENSURE A SAFE ENVIRONMENT, AND WE WILL HAVE RESOURCES, BOTH SEEN AND UNSEEN TO ENSURE SECURITY, UH, FOR THE PUBLIC.
NOW, EACH 4TH OF JULY HOLIDAY, WE AS A POLICE DEPARTMENT, SADLY, HAVE TO COME BEFORE OUR COMMUNITY TO REMIND EVERYONE THAT THERE IS NO SUCH THING AS CELEBRATORY GUNFIRE.
IT IS DANGEROUS, IT IS RECKLESS, AND QUITE FRANKLY, PEOPLE CAN BE INJURED OR KILLED.
I WILL REMIND YOU TO HELP THE HOUSTON POLICE DEPARTMENT DISCHARGING FIREARMS IN THE CITY OF HOUSTON IS A CLASS A MISDEMEANOR, WHICH IS PUNISHABLE BY UP TO A YEAR IN JAIL, AND $4,000 FINE OR BOTH.
AND ENGAGING IN THIS BEHAVIOR PUTS EVERYONE AT RISK.
DO NOT ENGAGE IN WHAT PEOPLE CALL CELEBRATORY GUNFIRE.
IT'S ALSO CRITICAL THAT THE PUBLIC, REMEMBER, IF YOU SEE SOMETHING, SAY SOMETHING, WE CANNOT EMPHASIZE THAT ENOUGH.
YOU ARE A FORCE MULTIPLIER FOR LAW ENFORCEMENT, AND SAFETY IS THE RESPONSIBILITY OF ALL OF US IN THE CITY OF HOUSTON.
NOW, WE WOULD ASK YOU TO REMEMBER TO PACK TWO THINGS.
I'VE SAID THIS MANY TIMES, WHETHER IT'S FOR SUPER BOWL OR WORLD SERIES, OR MANY EVENTS.
I'VE ASKED YOU AS A CITIZENRY AND AS A COMMUNITY TO PACK TWO THINGS.
WHEN YOU COME TO THIS EVENT, PACK YOUR PRIDE AND PACK YOUR PATIENCE.
PLEASE UNDERSTAND THAT IT MIGHT TAKE A LITTLE BIT LONGER TO GET WHERE YOU'RE GOING MOBILITY WISE IF YOU'RE AROUND THE FESTIVAL AREA.
SO PLEASE PACK YOUR PATIENTS AND LET'S CELEBRATE RESPONSIBLY.
MAKE SURE ALARMS ARE ACTIVATED.
MAKE SURE ANY PERSONAL ITEMS ARE NOT LEFT IN YOUR VEHICLE, OR THEY ARE FREE FROM VIEW.
AS THE MAYOR MENTIONED, GATES WILL OPEN AT 4:00 PM SECURITY SCREENING AND WANDING WILL BE IN EFFECT AT ENTRY GATES AND CLEAR BAGS ARE ENCOURAGED.
NO WEAPONS OR BACKPACKS ARE ALLOWED INTO THE FOOTPRINT OF THE FREEDOM FESTIVAL.
NO COOLERS OR ALCOHOLIC DRINKS ARE ALLOWED TO BE BROUGHT INSIDE OF THE FESTIVAL, BUT WATER WILL BE AVAILABLE INSIDE THE FESTIVAL AREA.
IN ADDITION, BEVERAGES AND FOOD SERVICES FOR PURCHASE ARE AVAILABLE TO THE PUBLIC.
THIS EVENT IS A FAMILY FRIENDLY EVENT WITH LIVE ENTERTAINMENT.
AND ALSO REGARDING THE CONTINUATION OF OUR ONE SAFE HOUSTON INITIATIVES.
WE WILL HAVE TWO BOOTHS AVAILABLE TO THE PUBLIC TO PASS OUT 400 GUN LOCKS AND PROVIDE GUN SAFETY BROCHURES AND EDUCATION TO CONTINUE OUR PUBLIC EDUCATION AROUND ONE SAFE HOUSTON.
AGAIN, REMEMBER, THE FIREWORKS BEGIN AT 9:35 PM AND THEN THE EVENT CLOSURE IS SCHEDULED RIGHT AFTER AROUND 10:00 PM SO, MAYOR, WE STAND READY AT THE HOUSTON POLICE DEPARTMENT TO SUPPORT YOU AND YOUR TEAM IN BEING GREAT HOSTS THIS YEAR FOR SHELL FREEDOM OVER TEXAS.
AND WITH THAT CHIEF PENA, THANK YOU.
UH, WELL, GOOD AFTERNOON EVERYONE.
WE, UM, AS WE MOVE INTO THIS WEEKEND TO CELEBRATE THE BIRTH OF OUR NATION, UM, THERE ARE A NUMBER OF THINGS THAT I WOULD LIKE TO COVER REGARDING THE 4TH OF JULY AS IT RELATES TO FIRE DANGER, UH, AND UPFRONT.
I'D LIKE TO FIRST THANK THE MEMBERS OF OUR, OUR DEPARTMENT.
I DO HAVE SOME MEMBERS FROM OUR FIRE MARSHAL'S OFFICE HERE THAT ARE, THAT ARE BEEN WORKING DILIGENTLY IN PREPARATION, UH, ALONG WITH THE MAYOR'S OFFICE OF SPECIAL EVENTS POLICE DEPARTMENT, UH, AND ALL OUR COLLEAGUES TO ENSURE A SAFE EVENT THIS, UH, THIS 4TH OF JULY.
I ALSO WANT TO THANK OUR COUNTY PARTNERS, UH, AS WE WORK TOGETHER TO ADDRESS THESE ISSUES.
CHIEFS LINKARD MENTIONED THE, UH, PREPARATIONS THAT, UH, HAVE GONE INTO, UM, IN, IN ANTICIPATION OF THIS, OF THIS EVENT.
IT'S GONNA BE HOT THIS WEEKEND.
IT'S GONNA BE HUMID THIS WEEKEND.
AND IF YOU'RE GONNA BE OUTDOORS OR ATTENDING THESE EVENTS, UH, IT'S A REMINDER THAT EXTREME HEAT AND HUMIDITY CAN BE DANGEROUS AND LIFE THREATENING IN CERTAIN, IN CERTAIN RESPECTS.
WE NEED TO DO TO ENSURE THAT WE'RE TAKING THE PROPER PRECAUTIONS WHEN WE ATTEND THESE, THESE EVENTS.
AND AS WE WORK OUTSIDE OR PLAY OUTSIDE, REMINDER, NEVER LEAVE YOUR CHILDREN, DISABLED PERSONS OR YOUR PETS LOCKED INSIDE YOUR VEHICLES, EVEN IF IT'S OVERCAST, EVEN IF IT'S MILD TEMPERATURE, THE HEAT IN THAT, IN THAT, UH, IN THAT VEHICLE CAN RISE TO THE LEVEL WHERE IT CAN BE LIFE THREATENING.
UM, WE'RE GONNA ASK YOU TO MAINTAIN YOURSELF HYDRATED AS YOU COME TO THESE EVENTS.
OKAY? UH, YOU CAN'T PLAY CATCH UP WITH HYDRATION, MAINTAIN, UH, YOURSELF HYDRATED, ESPECIALLY KIDS
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AND THE ELDERLY.THEY, UH, THEY'RE LESS ABLE TO COMPENSATE FOR, FOR DEHYDRATION.
SO IT'S IN, IT'S IMPORTANT THAT WE MAINTAIN HYDRATION AND WE MAINTAIN DILIGENCE AND, AND, UH, AND WE'RE LOOKING AFTER THESE, UH, THESE, THESE GROUPS.
UM, WEAR YOUR SUNBLOCK, WEAR A, A WIDE BRIM HAT, WEAR LOOSE CLOTHING.
STAY UNDER THE SHADE AS MUCH AS YOU CAN.
TAKE AS MANY BREAKS AS YOU CAN.
AGAIN, IT'S THE, THE GOAL IS TO LIMIT YOUR ACTIVITY, ESPECIALLY WHEN WE'RE OUTSIDE IN THIS HEAT.
UM, LAST WEEKEND, THE FESTIVITIES THAT WE HAD FOR PRIDE WERE, UM, THERE'S VERY WELL ATTENDED.
WE ANTICIPATE THE SAME THING FOR, FOR THIS 4TH OF JULY EVENT FOR THE FREE MOR TEXAS EVENT.
UM, WE HAD OVER A HUNDRED INSTANCES OF MEDICAL EMERGENCIES, HEAT RELATED EMERGENCIES, UH, THAT WE ATTENDED TO OVER, OVER THE WEEKEND.
IT'S GONNA BE THE SAME ENVIRONMENT.
SO WE ARE PREPARED, WE HAVE RESOURCES, WE HAVE MEDICAL PERSONNEL, WE HAVE, UH, FIRE PERSONNEL THAT ARE GONNA BE PRESENT.
BUT A LOT OF IT IS GONNA DEPEND ON, ON OUR ACTIONS AND OUR ACTIVITIES IN PREPARATION FOR THIS EVENT.
AND WHILE WE'RE OUTSIDE, UM, AGAIN, ON HOT DAYS, WHAT WE DO, AND I'M GONNA DIGRESS A LITTLE BIT FROM THE, UH, FROM THE FREEDOM OVER TEXAS EVENT ON HOT DAYS, WE SEEK REFUGE IN POOLS OR OTHER AREAS WHERE THERE'S WATER.
UM, JUST A REMINDER, PLEASE BE CAUTIOUS THAT IT DOESN'T TAKE BUT A SECOND FOR A DROWNING TO OCCUR, UH, IF WE'RE GONNA BE IN THE POOL, IF WE'RE, UH, IF WE HAVE SMALL CHILDREN, BE ESPECIALLY CAUTIOUS ABOUT THOSE SMALL CHILDREN IN AAN BODIES OF WATER, BECAUSE IT DOESN'T TAKE MUCH FOR A DROWNING TO OCCUR.
AND WE, WE WANT US TO HAVE A GOOD HAPPY 4TH OF JULY AND AVOID ANY TRAGEDIES.
UM, ONE OF THE DANGERS THAT WE DO, AND I'M, I'M GONNA TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT FIREWORKS BECAUSE IT IS ONE OF THE DANGERS THAT WE SEE DURING THE 4TH OF JULY.
AND AS A REMINDER, IN THE CITY OF HOUSTON, FIREWORKS ARE ILLEGAL.
FINES CAN RANGE FROM FIF, UH, $500 UP TO $2,000 IF YOU'RE CAUGHT IGNITING FIREWORKS WITHIN THE CITY LIMITS, BUT BEYOND THE FINES, UM, THE REAL ISSUE IS THE INJURIES AND THE FIRE DANGER THAT, THAT COME WITH THE IMPROPER USE OF FIREWORKS.
EVERY YEAR, WE HAVE PEOPLE THAT END UP IN THE, IN THE HOSPITAL, IN THE ER AS A RESULT OF INJURIES OR WORSE, THAT, UH, THAT RESULT FROM IMPROPER USE OF FIREWORKS.
IN 20 20 18, PEOPLE DIED, AND OVER 15,000 PEOPLE REQUIRED EMERGENCY ROOM TREATMENT FOR NON-OCCUPATIONAL FIREWORK ACCIDENTS ACROSS THE UNITED STATES, MAINLY, UH, INJURIES TO THE HANDS AND THE FINGERS, FOLLOWED BY THE HEAD AND FACE.
UM, SO AGAIN, LET'S AVOID THIS FREQUENT.
WE STRONGLY ENCOURAGE ALL OUR RESIDENTS TO ATTEND THESE, THESE PROFESSIONAL FIREWORKS DISPLAYS LIKE THE FREEDOM OVER TEXAS EVENT.
THIS IS, IT'S, IT'S A SAFE EVENT.
IT'S, UM, IT'S A PLACE WHERE YOU CAN GO AS A FAMILY AND ENJOY THE CELEBRATION OF THE 4TH OF JULY.
UM, ONE OF THE, UM, THINGS THAT I ALSO WANNA MENTION IS THAT THE HARRIS COUNTY COMMISSIONER'S COURT APPROVED A BURN BAN FOR THE UNINCORPORATED AREAS OF HARRIS COUNTY DUE TO THE INCREASE, UH, IN WILDFIRES.
OKAY? THE, THE LACK OF RAIN HAS REALLY CAUSED AN ISSUE WITH GRASS AND BRUSH IN OUR CITY.
IT'S JUST WAITING FOR A SPARK.
SO, AGAIN, THERE ARE SOME IMPLICATIONS, UH, WITH, WITH THIS BURN BAND.
WHAT IT MEANS, AND I'M GONNA GO THROUGH SOME OF THESE, IS NO OUTDOOR BURNING IS ALLOWED EXCEPT AN ENCLOSURE AND ENCLOSURES THAT CONTAIN THE FLAMES IN THE SPARKS, OKAY? WE STILL ALLOW OUTDOOR BARBECUE AND THOSE, UH, BURNS THAT ARE AUTHORIZED BY THE TCEQ, UM, WELDING AND OTHER HOT WORK PERMITS THAT ARE IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE FIRE CODE REQUIREMENTS.
BUT THERE IS A FINE ASSOCIATED WITH THIS BURN BAN IF YOU'RE NOT IN COMPLIANCE WITH THE BURN BAN AS IS OUTLINED.
IT'S A CLASS C MISDEMEANOR PUNISHABLE BY UP TO $500 IN FINES.
SO FOR MORE INFORMATION ON THE BURN BAN ITSELF, UM, WE URGE YOU TO GO TO THE HARRIS COUNTY FIRE MARSHALS WEBSITE.
THAT WAY THEY CAN GET ALL THE INFORMATION.
AND WE WANT TO HAVE A SAFE 4TH OF JULY AND A SAFE AND HAPPY SUMMER.
I'M SUSAN CHRISTIAN, DIRECTOR OF THE MAYOR'S OFFICE OF SPECIAL EVENTS, AND, UH, PRODUCER FOR SHELL FREEDOM OVER TEXAS.
UH, I WANNA THANK, UH, MY BROTHERS, UH, CHIEF MATT SLINKER AND CHIEF SAMUEL PENA, AND ALSO THEIR STAFF.
LET ME TELL YOU HOW CONFIDENT IT IS FOR A PRODUCER WHEN YOU WORK WITH SUCH AN INCREDIBLE TEAM AND MAYOR.
UH, THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT OF EVENTS, BUT, UH, IT, UH, WE COULD TRULY NOT PUT ON SUCH GRAND EVENTS IN THE CITY OF HOUSTON WITHOUT THE
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COHESIVE EFFORTS OF ALL OF OUR CITY DEPARTMENTS.SO, FIRST, THANK YOU, UH, TO THESE TWO CHIEFS, UH, AND THEIR ENTIRE TEAMS FOR MAKING THIS A SUCCESSFUL AND SAFE EVENT.
UM, LOOK, JULY 4TH IS ABOUT MAKING MEMORIES, RIGHT? YOU KNOW, IN, IN MY GROWING UP, IT WAS ON MY GRANDFATHER'S PEANUT FARM.
WE HAD A FISH FRY, WE HAD WATERMELON.
WE WERE ALWAYS SHOOTING FIREWORKS IN THE PEANUT FARM, RIGHT? SO, UM, OR IN THE, UH, THE PEANUT PASTURE.
SO, UH, THESE ARE FOND MEMORIES THAT WE WANT ALL HOUSTONIANS TO HAVE.
SO COME DOWN TO SHELL FREEDOM OVER TEXAS, BE A PART OF THIS GRAND COMMUNITY CELEBRATION THAT WE HAVE, PLAN, BEEN PLANNING FOR QUITE SOME TIME.
WE HAVE GREAT SUCCESS, UH, WITH AN ENTERTAINING EVENT, BUT ALSO A VERY SAFE EVENT, A PROFESSIONALLY RUN FIREWORK SHOW COMPLETE WITH ALL OF OUR, UH, PYRO TEAM.
UH, OUR, UH, PYRO PERMITS, UH, THAT HFD HAS APPROVED.
AND IT IS, UH, JUST GOING TO BE, I THINK, ANOTHER MEMORY MAKING OPPORTUNITY.
LOOK, WE, UH, HIGHLIGHT, UH, THE DIVERSITY THAT IS HOUSTON.
WE HAVE ROCK AND ROLL, WE HAVE HIP HOP, WE HAVE LATIN MUSIC, AND WE HAVE CHILDREN PERFORMING TO CHILDREN ON THE WALMART, ALL AMERICAN KIDS STAGE.
WE ALSO HAVE INCLUDED A SKY STAGE MAYOR SINCE OUR PRESS CONFERENCE.
WE HAVE A B 17 FLYING FORTRESS, TEXAS RANGERS, UH, AIRCRAFT FLYING OVER.
WE HAVE SIX A T SIX TYPE SINGLE ENGINE, UH, ADVANCED TRAINING, UH, FLYOVERS.
WE HAVE, UH, A BEACH 18 TRANSPORT, LITTLE RAIDER.
WE HAVE SEVERAL OF THOSE FLYING, FLYING OVER.
AND THEN WE ALSO HAVE, UH, UH, HELICOPTER FLIGHTS AS WELL.
SO, LOOK, UH, THREE ENTERTAINING, UH, STAGES, ONE SKY STAGE AND A WHOLE LOT OF PATRIOTISM ARE BUILT IN THIS SHOW, UH, THAT WE WANT YOU TO BE A PART OF AND HELP US CELEBRATE AND SHOW THE TRUE SPIRIT OF HOUSTONIANS.
LOOK, ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE TALKED ABOUT CHIEF, UH, AT THE PRIDE EVENT LAST WEEK, AND IT'S, IT JUST RINGS TRUE TODAY AS WE'RE TALKING ABOUT, UH, UH, HOUSTONIANS AND PATRIOTISM MAYOR.
AND THAT IS THE HEART OF A HOUSTONIAN.
LIKE THE CHIEF SAID, LIKE THE MAYOR SAID, COME PREPARED.
YOU KNOW WHAT NOT TO BRING, BUT JUST BRIEFLY MAKE SURE THOSE, UH, YOU HAVE SUNSCREEN, THAT YOU HAVE MOSQUITO SPRAY.
MAKE SURE THOSE KIDS ARE LATHERED UP, HYDRATE.
NOW WEAR LIGHT COLORED CLOTHING, WEAR A HAT, BRING YOUR SUNSHADES.
THOSE ARE THE THINGS TO BRING.
WE WANT YOU TO BRING THAT GREAT HOUSTON SPIRIT.
WHAT WE DON'T WANT YOU TO BRING ARE COOLERS.
THERE'S PLENTY OF BEVERAGES TO BUY AND FOOD TO BUY ONSITE.
WE ALSO HAVE, UH, WATER OUTSIDE, FREE, WATER OUTSIDE AND FREE WATER INSIDE FOR THOSE OF YOU, UH, WHO ARE LOOKING FOR FREE WATER.
BUT WE ALSO HAVE, UH, ALL OF THE THINGS THAT YOU CAN BUY THAT WILL MAKE YOUR, UM, YOUR 4TH OF JULY CELEBRATION COMPLETE.
UH, THE OTHER THINGS WE DON'T WANT YOU TO BRING ARE LASERS.
WE HAVE DRONES, BUT THEY'RE PERMITTED THROUGH MY OFFICE THAT WE WILL USE TO ENHANCE OUR SHOW.
UH, LEAVE YOUR DRONES AT HOME.
AND I KNOW THAT'S VERY TEMPTING FOR A LOT OF, A LOT OF THOSE, UH, YOUNG PEOPLE AND OLD PEOPLE, OLD PEOPLE ALIKE.
BUT, UH, BUT ALSO, UH, FIREARMS DON'T BRING THEM.
WE'LL TELL, TELL YOU TO TAKE 'EM BACK TO THE CAR.
YOU KNOW HOW TO CELEBRATE BECAUSE YOU ARE HOUSTONIANS AND WE LOOK SO FORWARD TO PUTTING TOGETHER A GREAT SHOW FOR YOU, AND WE LOOK FORWARD FOR YOU TO BE A PART OF IT.
SO, MAYOR, WITH THAT, I'LL TURN IT BACK OVER TO YOU FOR Q AND A.
ARE THERE ANY, ANY QUESTIONS TO, TO ANY OF THESE, UH, PERSONS THAT ARE HERE TO THIS TOPIC? YEAH, I GUESS I JUST HAVE A QUESTION RELATING TO COVID AS YOU KNOW, YOU MENTIONED THIS IS THE FIRST YEAR OR THE RETURN OF THIS EVENT IN FULL IN PERSON.
SO ANY COVID RESTRICTIONS OR SAFETY MEASURES THAT YOU GUYS ARE TAKING CARE OF FOR THIS EVENT? NO, JUST, WE JUST CONTINUE TO ENCOURAGE PEOPLE IF THEY HADN'T GOTTEN VACCINATED AND FULLY BOOSTED TO DO THAT, UH, THAT DOES WORK.
UH, EVEN THOUGH THERE'S A LOT OF COVID OUT THERE, POSITIVITY RATE IS MUCH HIGHER THAN IT WAS A MONTH AGO.
UM, BUT NONETHELESS, THE HOSPITAL ADMISSIONS HAVE BEEN RELATIVELY, UH, ON THE LOW END.
SO WE ARE NOT SEEING THE SPIKE IN TERMS OF HOSPITALIZATION THAT WE'VE SEEN IN THE PREVIOUS SURGES, WHICH IS GOOD NEWS.
AND I THINK THAT'S BECAUSE SO MANY PEOPLE HAVE TAKEN ADVANTAGE AND GOTTEN VACCINATED AND GOTTEN A BOOSTER.
SO THAT IS WHAT WE WOULD ENCOURAGE.
IF PEOPLE FEEL COMFORTABLE PUTTING ON THEIR MASK,
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THEY CAN DO THAT.UH, BUT IF THEY FEEL COMFORTABLE, PLEASE, PLEASE DO THAT.
UH, BUT OTHER THAN THAT, COME OUT AND ENJOY AND HAVE A WONDERFUL TIME.
ANY, ANYTHING ELSE? ALRIGHT, WE'LL SEE YOU ON MONDAY.
IS CHIEF DOING SPANISH? OH, OH, CHIEF, I'M SORRY.
UM, WHAT TIME DOES IT START? FOUR, UM, ADDITIONAL QUESTIONS? MM-HMM