* 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. [00:00:01] TWO O'CLOCK ON TUESDAY, JULY 26TH, 2022. AND I'M MAYOR SYLVESTER TURNER. I'M CALLING THIS MEETING OF THE HOUSTON CITY COUNCIL TO WATER AS A HYBRID MEETING WITH SOME COUNCIL MEMBERS JOINING IN PERSON AND SOME USING MICROSOFT TEAMS. THE CHAIR I RECOGNIZES FROM MAYOR PROTE, DAVE MARTIN, FOR THE INVOCATION AND PLEDGE. THANK YOU, MAYOR, AND GOOD AFTERNOON TO EVERYONE. IF YOU PLEASE BOW YOUR HEAD AND JOIN ME IN PRAYER. HEAVENLY FATHER, WE ASK THAT YOU WATCH OVER US TODAY AND OUR FAMILY AND FRIENDS WHO ARE VERY DEAR TO ALL OF US. WATCH OVER US DOING OUR GOOD TIMES, AND ESPECIALLY DURING OUR TIMES OF TRIALS AND TRIBULATION, AS WE DO ALL THINGS IN YOUR NAME. AND TO HONOR YOU, WE ASK FOR YOUR FORGIVENESS. WHEN WE FAIL, WE ASK FOR YOUR BLESSINGS EACH AND EVERY DAY. AND THESE AND OTHERS, WE DO IN YOUR NAME AND IN YOUR GLORY. AMEN. AMEN. BE A PEACE RISE FOR THE PLEDGE. THANK I PLEDGE TO THE FLAG, THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, AND TO THE REPUBLIC FOR WHICH NATION, JUSTICE UP WILL. I DIDN'T TELL YOU. HELLO. HOW YOU DOING BLAKE? IF YOU PREPARE [ROLL CALL AND ADOPT THE MINUTES OF THE PREVIOUS MEETING] YOURSELF FOR THE ROLL CALL, UH, MADAM SECRETARY, YOU PLEASE CALL THE ROLL MAYOR TURNER. HERE. COUNCILMAN P? HERE. COUNCILMAN JACKSON? HERE. COUNCILMAN CAMAN. COUNCILMAN EVAN CHABA. HERE. COUNCILMAN MAR. PRESENT? COUNCIL MEMBER THOMAS. PRESENT. COUNCILMAN HUFFMAN? PRESENT. COUNCILMAN CISNEROS? HERE. COUNCILMAN GALLEGOS. COUNCILOR POLLARD. COUNCIL. CASTEX TATUM. HERE. CONSTABLE KNOX. COUNCIL ROBINSON. HERE. COUNCIL KOSH. HERE. COUNCIL PLUMMER AND COUNCILOR ALCORN. HERE. NEED A MOTION TO THE MINUTES? I'M HERE. NO, HERE. I'M HERE. I JUST MICROPHONE TURNED OFF. SORRY. SECOND. ROBINSON BEEN MOVED. AND SECOND ON THE DELAY OF THE MINUTES. ANY OBJECTION, CHAIR? NONE. THE MOTIONS GRANTED. COUNCILOR MONIA IS HERE. . OKAY. [PUBLIC SPEAKERS] UH, LET'S SEE. LET ME JUST GO OVER A FEW, UH, REMINDERS. UM, TO THE COUNCIL MEMBERS, IF YOU HAVE TO LEAVE THE MEETING, THOSE WHO ARE HERE REMOTELY, PLEASE TYPE THAT IN THE CHAT ONE, AND THEN YOU CAN HANG UP. UH, PLEASE STATE YOUR NAME WHEN MAKING OR SECONDING AN ITEM FOR THOSE JOINING VIRTUALLY IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK, AND THIS IS IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK, PLEASE TYPE THAT IN THE CHAT WINDOW AND THE AGENDA DIRECTOR WILL MONITOR THE CHAT AND WILL CALL ON YOU. UH, PLEASE REMEMBER THAT YOU MUST BE VISIBLE ON CAMERA WHILE YOU'RE SPEAKING. YES. FOR THE PUBLIC SPEAKERS TODAY, FOR THE PUBLIC SPEAKERS TODAY, OR IN ORDER TO BE RECOGNIZED AS THE PUBLIC SPEAKER, YOU HAD TO SIGN UP WITH THE CITY SECRETARY'S OFFICE BY 3:00 PM ON YESTERDAY. AND WE WILL CALL YOUR NAME IN THE ORDER THAT YOU SIGNED UP WHEN YOUR NAME IS CALLED. IF YOU ARE HERE IN PERSON, PLEASE STEP UP TO THE PODIUM. IF YOU ARE CALLING IN, PRESS STAR SIX TO UNMUTE YOURSELF. IF YOU ARE APPEARING ON CAMERA, CLICK ON THE MICROPHONE ICON AND THE CAMERA ICON. YOU WILL THEN HAVE THE ONE, TWO, OR THREE MINUTES TO SPEAK THAT YOU HAVE BEEN DESIGNATED. AFTER YOUR TIME IS, UM, AS EXPIRED, THE BELL WILL RING AND PLEASE BRING YOUR COMMENTS TO AN END. UM, WITH THAT BEING SAID, ARE THERE ANY PROCEDURAL MOTIONS? HEARING IS SEEING NONE. MADAM SECRETARY, IF YOU JUST START BY CALLING THE FIRST SPEAKER, MAYOR OMAR. MAYOR OMAR OMAR OER IS HERE TO BE FOLLOWED BY JENNY ROBLES. MR. OER. HELLO? UH, MY NAME IS MAHER. UH, I'M 18 YEARS OLD AND A CONCERNED CITIZEN WHEN IT COMES TO CRIME. ON FEBRUARY 22ND OF THIS YEAR, A BC NEWS RELEASED A REPORT STATING THERE WERE 50,762 OPEN WARRANTS, ABOUT 25,292 OF THOSE CHARGED WITH FELONIES, OR THE MOST SERIOUS OF CRIMES. MORE THAN 700 PEOPLE CHARGED WITH MURDER HAVE OPEN ARREST WARRANTS AND REMAIN EITHER ON THE STREETS OR OUTSIDE THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM. HERE, UH, I'M JUST CONCERNED BECAUSE LIKE WE SPEND A LOT OF MONEY IN THIS POLICE DEPARTMENT, UH, WE HAVE AN ANNUAL BUDGET OF $965 MILLION. AND, UH, TO SEE THIS NUMBERS SO HIGH IS, UM, VERY CONCERNING AND VERY DISAPPOINTING. THAT'S, THAT'S ALL I HAVE TO SAY. THANKS, UH, MS. DOMER, I APPRECIATE YOU COMING. I KNOW THAT, UH, HPD AS WELL AS OTHER LAW ENFORCEMENT, UM, ORGANIZATIONS [00:05:01] IN THE, IN THE AREA ARE WORKING TO FIND THOSE PEOPLE WHO ARE OUT THERE WITH OPEN WARRANTS AND TO PUT THEM INTO CUSTODY THAT IS A HIGH PRIORITY, UH, OF HPD, THE SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT, AS WELL AS OTHERS. UH, AND THEN AT THE SAME TIME, HPD IS WORKING, UH, WITH THE HARRIS COUNTY DISTRICT ATTORNEY'S OFFICE AND IDENTIFYING THE TOP 200 PRIORITY PERSONS OUT THERE, UH, THAT WE WANT TO GET THROUGH THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM. SO, I SHARE YOUR CONCERN AND, UH, WE DO WANT TO PLACE EMPHASIS AND A PRIORITY ON IT. HOLD ON ONE SECOND. UH, COUNCIL MEMBER EVAN SHABAZZ. THANK YOU, MAYOR. AND I JUST WANNA TELL YOU, YOU, YOU LOOK PRETTY YOUNG, BUT I REALLY COMMEND YOU FOR COMING FORWARD TO EVEN DISCUSS THAT. THAT GIVES ME A LOT OF HOPE AND ENCOURAGEMENT THAT WE MAY BE REACHING ALL AGE GROUPS BECAUSE THIS IS A PHENOMENAL CONCERN OF ALL OF US. BUT I DO WANNA THANK YOU FOR COMING FORWARD TO SPEAK TO US TODAY. MR. THANK YOU. YOU'RE WELCOME. COUNCIL MEMBER KASH. THANK YOU, MAYOR. UH, THANK YOU FOR COMING. IT, IT'S, IT'S ALWAYS, UH, A CONCERN, OMAR, WHERE WHENEVER, UH, CITIZENS DON'T FEEL SAFE IN THEIR OWN HOME OR GOING TO THE STORE, AND, AND, UH, I HEAR YOUR CRY AND, AND THE FIRST DUTY OF GOVERNMENT, THE FIRST DUTY IS, IS FOR THE PROTECTION OF ITS CITIZENS. AND, UH, I THANK YOU FOR, UH, FOR YOUR COMMENTS AND, AND I JUST PRAY THAT, UH, WE'RE ABLE TO DO SOMETHING TO TURN ALL THIS AROUND. GOD BLESS YOU, UH, COUNCIL COUNCILMAN JACKSON. THANK YOU, MAYOR. AND THANK YOU FOR COMING IN TO SHARE YOUR CONCERNS. UM, LIKE MANY OF US, YOU KNOW, CRIME IS, YOU KNOW, SKYROCKETING, BUT THERE ARE SOME COMMUNITY EFFORTS THAT'S HAPPENING. YOU KNOW, WE JUST CAN'T TOTALLY RELY ON POLICE TO ADDRESS THE CRIME. WE AS CITIZENS HAVE RESPONSIBILITIES AS WELL. AND SO I WOULD ENCOURAGE YOU TO PARTICIPATE IN SOME OF THE INITIATIVES WE HAVE, LIKE THE CREDIBLE MESSENGER INITIATIVE. UM, YOU CAN REACH OUT TO MY OFFICE, 8 3 2 3 9 3 3 0 0 9 IF YOU WANT MORE INFORMATION INITIATIVES, COMMUNITY COMING TOGETHER AND COMING UP WITH SOME SMART SOLUTIONS THAT WE CAN GO OUT AND COME BACK AND, AND BASICALLY BRING AWARENESS TO THE NEED OF REDUCING CRIME. OKAY? YES, MA'AM. THANK YOU. THANKS, MR. OMAR. I APPRECIATE YOU. MM-HMM . YOU ARE WELCOME. HAVE A GOOD DAY. NEXT SPEAKER. JENNY ROBLES. JENNY ROBLES. IS JENNY HERE? JENNY ROBLES. SHE'S HER WAY. I'M SORRY, SHE'S ALMOST HERE. SHE'S A LITTLE BIT LATE. OKAY. SHE'S NOT HERE. NEXT SPEAKER. ARIANNE HUBBARD. ANNE HUBBARD IS HERE TO BE FOLLOWED BY CORMAN ESTRADA HERE. ARIAN. HI, MY NAME IS ARIANNE HUBBARD. UM, I AM A RESIDENT OF DISTRICT, DISTRICT. I, UM, I'M ALSO A RESIDENT OF TIMBER RIDGE APARTMENTS. UM, I'M HERE TO SPEAK ABOUT TIMBER RIDGE APARTMENTS. UM, WE NEED SECURITY AND SURVEILLANCE BACK THERE. I'M SORRY, A LITTLE BIT LOUDER. WE NEED SECURITY AND SURVEILLANCE BACK THERE. UM, I'VE, I'VE BEEN THERE FOR ABOUT A YEAR NOW. I HAVE HAD MY PATIO GLASS, HAVE A GUNSHOT COME THROUGH THE WIN THROUGH THE PATIO GLASS. MY SON WAS SLEEPING ON THE SOFA WHILE THIS HAPPENED. UM, ALSO MAIL. WE'RE NOT RECEIVING ANY MAIL. NOTHING IS BEING DONE. I'M NOT SURE WHAT MAKES THIS RIGHT. I'M NOT SURE IF IT'S THE AREA THAT WE'RE IN. UM, BUT NOTHING HAS BEEN DONE ABOUT IT. OBVIOUSLY, THE LANDLORDS OF THE PEOPLE WHO OWN THOSE APARTMENTS, UM, IS OKAY ABOUT THE SITUATION BECAUSE NO ONE IS, THEY'RE NOT BEING TOLD ANYTHING. UM, THAT'S, THAT'S KIND OF ALL I HAVE TO SAY. YEAH. UH, IF I'M FAMILIAR WITH TIMBER RIDGE AND, UH, I KNOW THAT THERE'S ANOTHER MANAGEMENT COMPANY OUT THERE. THE MANAGEMENT COMPANY HAS CHANGED ABOUT FOUR TIMES THIS YEAR. YEAR, RIGHT. YEAH. THERE'S BEEN A LOT OF CHANGES AND, UH, SEAMLESS. SO EVERY TIME THEY CHANGE, UH, THE, THE MANAGEMENT COMPANY DOESN'T KNOW WHAT TO DO. UH, SO, BUT THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT OF THE CITY OF HOUSTON, CITY OF HOUSTON HEALTH DEPARTMENT HAS BEEN OUT THERE. AND I KNOW THEY HAVE ISSUED CITATIONS. THE SOLID WASTE DEPARTMENT HAS BEEN OUT THERE BECAUSE, UH, THIS DEPARTMENT HADN'T HAD DUMPSTERS. WE HAVE MICE ALL IN THE WALLS. RIGHT. SO SITE, SO, SO CITATIONS HAVE BEEN OUT THERE AS WELL. UH, WE WILL CONTINUE TO STAY OUT THERE AND MONITOR THAT SITUATION. UM, AND THE MANAGEMENT COMPANY, UM, THEY REALLY NEED TO GET UP TO SPEED VERY, VERY QUICKLY. BUT WE'LL, WE'LL, WE LOOK FORWARD TO CONTINUING TO WORKING WITH, UH, WITH YOU AND THE TENANTS, UH, TO MAKE SURE THAT, UH, THIS APARTMENT COMPLEX IS TOTALLY COMPLIANT. YES. OKAY. THANK YOU. I APPRECIATE IT. ALRIGHT. YOU'RE MORE THAN WELCOME, COUNCIL. HOLD ON ONE SECOND. ONE SECOND. ONE SECOND. ARIAN COUNCIL MEMBER GALLEGOS. THANK YOU, MAYOR. THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE. I KNOW THAT, UH, THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE. I KNOW THAT, YOU KNOW, IT TAKES [00:10:01] A LOT TO COME HERE AND, AND, AND, AND, AND, AND, AND, AND SPEAK UP. BUT IT'S VERY IMPORTANT THAT YOU AND THE OTHER RESIDENTS THAT ARE HERE ARE SPEAKING UP TO, TO, UH, POINT OUT, UH, LANDLORDS THAT ARE NOT, UH, THERE LISTENING TO THEIR TENANTS AND TRYING TO MAKE SURE THAT THE, UH, PLACE IS SAFE. UH, THAT THE PLACE IS A PLACE THAT, YOU KNOW, YOU CAN RAISE YOUR CHILDREN SAFELY. UH, SO THAT'S CONCERNS. AND I KNOW THE MAYOR POINTED THAT OUT AS TO WHAT THE CITY IS DOING. UH, AND, UH, JUST WANNA, UH, ELABORATE AGAIN AND, AND, AND LET THE, UH, OUR OUR LEGAL DEPARTMENT, OUR PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT, KNOW THAT THIS IS VERY IMPORTANT. THIS IS SOMETHING THAT WE NEED TO STAY ON TOP OF. UH, AND WE'RE HOPING, UH, THAT, THAT THE, UH, LANDLORD WILL DO THE RIGHT THING AND, AND, AND DO THE IMPROVEMENTS. BUT, UH, IF THE CITY CAN JUST STAY ON TOP OF IT, AND THE MAYOR DID SAY THAT THE CITY IS LOOKING INTO IT, UH, THAT WAY WE CAN, UH, MAKE SURE IF THERE ARE ANY VIOLATIONS AND, AND, AND, AND IF THEY'RE NOT FOLLOWING THE PERMITTING AND WHAT HAVE YOU, UH, THAT WE CAN ADDRESS THAT WITH, WITH THE LANDLORD. AND I BELIEVE YOU SAID THAT THEY'VE CHANGED LANDLORDS SEVERAL TIMES WITHIN YES. WHAT, A YEAR, WITHIN FOUR MONTHS, WITHIN MONTHS IN JANUARY. THE MANAGEMENT HAS BEEN CHANGED SINCE FOUR TIMES SINCE JANUARY ALREADY. MM-HMM . YEAH. I, AND, AND AGAIN, WE, WE DO NOT WANT TO TOLERATE IT IN HAVING SLUM LORDS THAT ARE JUST, UH, NOT TAKING CARE OF THEIR PROPERTIES, BUT THEY ARE COLLECTING THE RENT. YES. UH, AND, AND, AND THAT'S SOMETHING AS A CITY WHERE YOU ARE GOING TO, AND WE ARE LOOKING INTO IT, LIKE THE MAYOR STATED, WE HAVE THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT AND, AND PUBLIC WORKS LOOKING INTO IT AS WELL. SO, AND I'M ASKING LEGAL DEPARTMENT TO DO WHATEVER THEY CAN AS WELL, UH, TO MAKE SURE THAT WE CAN HOLD THE, UH, LANDLORDS ACCOUNTABLE. YES. THANK YOU. BACK. HOW MANY UNITS, HOW MANY UNITS ARE AT THIS, AT THIS APARTMENT COMPLEX? IT'S 31 BUILDINGS. IT'S A 30 BIG APARTMENT COMPLEX. YES. I WOULD SAY ABOUT EIGHT TO 10 UNITS IN EACH BUILDING. IT'S 31 BUILDINGS. OKAY. WELL, I WILL TELL YOU, YOU GOT THE HOUSTON HEALTH DEPARTMENT OF SOLID WASTE, UH, HPD AND HOUSTON PUBLIC WORKS, UH, THAT I'VE ALL ASSIGNED TO THIS PARTICULAR, UH, COMPLEX TO MAKE SURE WE GET ON TOP OF IT. BUT THE MANAGEMENT TEAM OUT THERE, UH, OFFICE HOURS ARE NOT EVEN OPEN WHEN THEY'RE SUPPOSED TO BE. RIGHT. SO WE, WE'LL CONTINUE TO, WE'LL WORK WITH THE TENANTS, UH, AND CONTINUE TO STAY ON TO STAY ON TOP. OKAY. OKAY. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. OH, COUNCIL, I'M SORRY. ONE SECOND. ONE SECOND. ONE SECOND. COUNCILMAN PLUMMER. THANK YOU, MAYOR TURNER. AND I WANTED JUST TO THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR BEING HERE, EXPRESSING YOUR CONCERNS. UH, AS THE MAYOR MENTIONED, WE ARE, WE HAVE REALLY SHINED A BRIGHT LIGHT ON LANDLORDS THAT ARE NOT DOING WHAT THEY NEED TO DO. UM, AND MAKING SURE THAT YOU LIVE IN A SAFE SPACE IS IMPORTANT. SO WHAT I WOULD, UH, WANT YOU TO DO IS YOU COULD, I KNOW THAT MY OFFICE HAS ALREADY REACHED OUT TO YOU, I BELIEVE, AND WE'RE ALSO WORKING WITH TOP, UH, WHO IS AN ADVOCACY GROUP THAT'S, UM, THAT SPENDS A LOT OF TIME IN YOUR, IN YOUR, UM, APARTMENT COMPLEX. I BECOME A MEMBER OF THEM AS WELL. PERFECT. YES. SO WE WORK REALLY CLOSELY. WE'RE, WE'RE, WE'RE MOVING FORWARD ON APARTMENT INSPECTION REFORM, REALLY TRYING TO HOLD THOSE ACCOUNTABLE, UM, INCREASE HABITABILITY. SO I WANT YOU TO WORK WITH OUR OFFICE, PLEASE, IF YOU DON'T MIND. AND ALSO ANY TENANTS THAT HAVE, UM, ANY CONCERNS. I REALLY WANNA URGE THEM TO CALL 3 1 1 SO THAT WE HAVE RECORD OF WHAT'S GOING ON SO WE CAN FOLLOW THE PROPER PROTOCOLS WITHIN THE CITY TO GET THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT THERE, UM, OR WHATEVER, OR WHOEVER ELSE NEEDS TO GET THERE TO, UH, TO FIX, UH, THE PROBLEMS. OKAY. BUT THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR COMING AND, UM, WE'RE HERE TO SUPPORT YOU. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. NEXT SPEAKER, HARM ESTRADA, COMMON ESTRADA TO BE FOLLOWED BY ADE HERNANDEZ. HI, GOOD AFTERNOON. MY NAME IS CARMEN. I'M FROM TEXAS ORGANIZING PROJECT. GOOD AFTERNOON. COUNCIL MEMBERS, MAYOR TURNER. UM, WE ARE ORGANIZING ON THAT APARTMENTS IN A FEW OTHER COMPLEX. AND WHO OF YOU ALL LIVE LIKE THAT FIGHT? UH, DURING THE DAY? PEOPLE THAT COUNT EITHER HUNDRED RATS, WHAT THEY CATCH ONE DAY, DAY. AND A LOT OF TIMES ON THE AFTERNOONS DURING THE NIGHT, THEY HAVE TO BUY THEIR FOOD EVERY SINGLE DAY BECAUSE THEY DON'T HAVE PLACE TO HAVE FOOD FOR MORE RATS. AND WE COME TO THE ATTENTION TO ROBERT GALLEGOS, UH, SO THEY CAN TAKE ACTION ON THAT APARTMENTS BECAUSE THEY ARE TAKING THE POWER OFF OUR COMMUNITY. THE PEOPLE THAT ARE PAYING TAXES, THEY'RE PAYING THEIR APARTMENTS, AND THEY DON'T, THE LANDLORDS, THEY DON'T DO NOTHING. NOTHING AT ALL. WE CONTACT, UM, EITHER THE 3 9 1 1, THE 3 1 1, I'M SORRY. AND, UH, I HAVE A LOT OF NUMBERS. WHAT THEY GIVE THE NUMBERS OF REFERENCE [00:15:01] AND THEY DON'T DO NOTHING, YOU KNOW, AND IT'S TIME. SO WE CAN START WORKING ON THAT. POOR PEOPLE, JUST BECAUSE THEY'RE POOR, THAT DON'T MEAN WHAT, THAT THEY HAVE TO LIVE ON THIS LIKE THIS EVERY SINGLE DAY. THEY HAVE KIDS, ALL THE PEOPLE, WHAT THEY HAVE. UH, THEY ALREADY ARE SICK WITH A LOT OF ALLERGIES. AND JUST WANNA SAY, UM, THANK YOU, THANK YOU. PUT ATTENTION ON THE COMMUNITY. THE ONES WHAT THEY PUT YOU ON, THE POWER, AND WE WORK WITH EVERY SINGLE ONE OF YOU. BUT WE NEED THESE PEOPLE TO BE ON THE RIGHT CONDITIONS. LIKE YOU, LIKE YOU, LIKE ME. WE DON'T DESERVE TO BE AND TO BE LIVING LIKE THAT. AND THAT IS ALL THESE PEOPLE AND MORE WHAT ARE COMING LATE BECAUSE THEY LIVE FAR AWAY FROM OVER HERE. BUT WE HAVE RIGHTS. AND WHAT THE PEOPLE, THE OWNERS, THEY ARE DOING, THEY CLOSE THE, UH, THE DOORS ON THE OFFICES. WHEN WE GO AND KNOCK THE DOOR, WE SEND EMAILS. WE HAVE SEND ER CERTIFICATION MAIL, AND THEY DON'T DO NOTHING. PLEASE, PLEASE HELP THESE PEOPLE TO LIVE ON THE RIGHT CONDITIONS, THE CONDITIONS, WHAT THEY DESERVE. THANK YOU SO MUCH. NO, THANK YOU. AND YOU CERTAINLY DON'T NEED, THANK YOU FOR YOUR ATTENTION. THANK YOU. THANK YOU, NATASHA, FOR YOUR GREAT JOB. TO EVERYBODY. THEY'RE DOING A GREAT JOB. AND I KNOW WHAT EVERY SINGLE ONE, THEY WILL BE HELPING OUR PEOPLE, OUR COMMUNITY. THANK YOU. THANK YOU SO MUCH. THANK YOU. AND, UH, IN ADDITION, I KNOW HBWH, HOUSTON PUBLIC WORKS WAS OUT THERE ON YESTERDAY, BUT LET ME ASK, LET ME ASK, UH, UH, LEGAL ARTURO, MICHELLE, IF YOU CAN PASS IT ON AND I'LL TALK TO ARTURO. LET ME ASK LEGAL TO SEND OUT A TEAM JUST TO TAKE A LOOK AT THIS COMPLEX ON TOMORROW, UH, TO SEE WHAT ELSE, WHAT ADDITIONAL LEGAL STEPS WE CAN TAKE. BUT I KNOW WITH THE HOUSTON HEALTH DEPARTMENT, SOLID WASTE PUBLIC WORKS, UH, POLICE HAVE ALL BEEN OUT THERE. YES. AND NO ONE DESERVES TO LIVE IN ANY SUBSTANDARD CONDITIONS. YEAH. SEE THAT THIS MORNING. LET ME ALSO, LET ME, YES. LET ME ALSO ASK, UH, CITY LEGAL TO SEND OUT A TEAM OUT THERE TO SEE WHAT LEGAL ACTION WE CAN ALSO JOIN AND TAKE ON THIS, ON THIS, UH, APARTMENT COMPLEX. OKAY? OKAY. OKAY. HOLD ON ONE SECOND. COUNCILMAN MO GALLEGOS. THANK YOU, MAYOR. AND, AND AGAIN, THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE. IT'S SO IMPORTANT THAT, UH, Y'ALL COME HERE AND, AND, AND, AND Y'ALL, YOU KNOW, SPEAK UP AND LET US KNOW THE, UH, CONCERNS. UH, I, I KNOW THERE WAS SOME HESITATION FROM SOME RESIDENTS WANTING, WANTING TO BE HERE, UH, COMING HERE, UH, DUE TO THE FACT, THE FEAR OF RETALIATION. UH, BUT IT'S SO IMPORTANT TO SHOW US THESE PHOTOS, UH, TO, TO, TO GET TO, TO, TO, UH, TO HAVE OUR DEPARTMENTS GO OUT THERE, UH, AND, AND INVESTIGATE AND, AND, AND SEE WHAT'S GOING ON. I MEAN, THE PHOTO THAT YOU HAVE THERE OF DEAD RODENTS, UH, YOU KNOW, IS, IS, IS SHOCKING. UH, AND, AND LOOKING AT THE PHOTO BACK THERE OF PILES OF TRASH, UH, THAT'S SHOCKING, UH, TO KNOW THAT PEOPLE HAVE TO LIVE LIKE THIS, UH, IN THOSE CONDITIONS. AND, UM, UH, I WANNA THANK THE MAYOR, UH, INSTRUCTING LEGAL TO GO OUT THERE AND SEE, SEE WHAT CAN BE DONE AS WELL AS OUR HEALTH DEPARTMENT AND PUBLIC WORKS, UH, TO ADDRESS THESE CONCERNS AND THESE ISSUES. SO AGAIN, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR BEING OUT HERE. THANK YOU. COUNCIL MEMBER. COUNCIL MEMBER JACKSON. THANK YOU, MAYOR. THANK YOU, MS. CARMEN AND ALL OF THE TOP TEAM FOR COMING DOWN FOR YOUR CONTINUED ADVOCACY AND BEING THE VOICE FOR THE VOICELESS. UM, I KNOW WE'VE BEEN FIGHTING FOR TENANT WHITES FOR QUITE SOME TIME, AND SO SPEAKING UP IS HOW WE CHANGE THESE THINGS. UM, AND SO JUST AGAIN, THANK YOU AND KEEP DOING WHAT YOU DO. THANKS. THANK YOU SO MUCH. THANK YOU SO MUCH. ONE SECOND. OKAY. THANK YOU. UH, MAYOR, I WANTED TO JUST LET EVERYONE KNOW THAT, UM, WE'VE SEEN THIS, THIS STORY ON THE NEWS. UM, WE APPRECIATE YOU BEING HERE. I WANTED TO ASK THE GROUP, HAS THERE BEEN ANY CONTACT WITH THE HOUSTON APARTMENT ASSOCIATION? HAVE WE, HAVE WE FILED ONLINE COMPLAINTS WITH THE HOUSTON APARTMENT ASSOCIATION AS WELL? YES. YOU HAVE. OKAY. I WOULD, I WOULD, UM, UH, ASK THAT EACH PERSON FILE AN, AN ADDITIONAL COMPLAINT WITH THE HOUSTON APARTMENT ASSOCIATION SO THAT THEY CAN SEE THE MAGNITUDE OF THIS ISSUE. UM, BECAUSE THE MORE COMPLAINTS WE HAVE REGISTERED, UM, YOU KNOW, AND I KNOW THAT'S FRUSTRATING AND IT, AND IT SEEMS BUREAUCRATIC, BUT IT IS IMPACTFUL. UM, THE CITY WILL DEFINITELY GET HABITABILITY AND THE MAYORS SENDING A, A LEGAL TEAM OUT THERE, BUT ALSO THE GOVERNING BODY FOR APARTMENTS. THE HOUSTON APARTMENT ASSOCIATION WOULD, CAN BE AN ADVOCATE ON YOUR BEHALF AS WELL. SO LET'S ALL WORK TOGETHER TO MAKE SURE WE'RE USING ALL OF THE AVENUES TO GET THESE LANDLORDS TO MAKE SURE THAT THESE APARTMENTS ARE IN BETTER CONDITION, UM, FOR THE RESIDENTS TO LIVE IN. OKAY. THANK YOU SO MUCH. THANK YOU. THANK [00:20:01] YOU VERY MUCH. THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE, GRACIA. THANK YOU. NEXT SPEAKER, AOL HERNANDEZ. ADOLF HERNANDEZ, R HERNANDEZ. NEXT SPEAKER LINDA PRINCE. LINDA PRINCE. LINDA PRINCE IS HERE TO BE FOLLOWED BY ASHLEY BUTLER. GOOD AFTERNOON. MY NAME IS LINDA PRINCE. I AM CURRENTLY A RESIDENT AT TIMBER RIDGE APARTMENTS. I'VE BEEN THERE FOR SEVEN YEARS. THE LIVING CONDITIONS IS HORRIBLE. MY CONCERNS IS ABOUT THE SAFETY OF THE RATS AND THE ROACHES, AND I THINK SOMETHING NEEDS TO BE DONE. I HAVE SMALL KIDS, THEY USE THE PARKING LOT AS THE STREET FOR, AS THE SAFETY. YOU CAN COME THROUGH THE GATE, DRIVE STRAIGHT THROUGH THE APARTMENTS, AND COME OUT ON THE NEXT STREET WHILE I STAY IN THE FRONT. SO I TRY TO PROTECT IT. THEY EVEN GO OVER THE SP GO AROUND THE SPEED BUMP TO MISS IT, AND I JUST THINK THIS, YOU KNOW, THEY'RE GONNA HURT ONE OF THE KIDS OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT. SO THAT'S REALLY, BASICALLY, WE ALL HAVE THE SAME CONCERNS AT TIMBER RIDGE APARTMENTS. THAT'S WHERE I AM WITH THAT. WELL, LET ME ASSURE YOU, I'VE ALREADY, UM, SENT AN, UH, AN EMAIL TO ARTUR MICHELLE, THE CITY LEGAL DEPARTMENT. I SENT THEM TO SEND A TEAM, A LEGAL TEAM OUT THERE. I KNOW THAT THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT PUBLIC WORKS, UH, SOLID WASTE HAVE ALSO BEEN OUT THERE. AND WE'LL CONTINUE TO BE OUT THERE. UM, BUT WE'LL TAKE WHATEVER ACTION WE NEED TO TAKE, UH, TO MAKE SURE THAT THIS, THAT THE, THAT YOU ALL ARE NOT LIVING IN SUBSTANDARD CONDITIONS. OKAY. THANK YOU. NO, THANK YOU. THANK YOU FOR BEING PRESENT. HOLD ON. OH, HOLD ON ONE SECOND. ONE SECOND. OH, I'M SORRY. MS. PRINCE COUNCILMAN ROBINSON. THANK YOU, MAYOR. MS. PRINCE, I WANNA THANK YOU FOR COMING HERE. AND YOU MENTIONED THAT YOU'VE BEEN IN THOSE APARTMENTS FOR SEVEN YEARS. YES. SO, I JUST WANTED TO GET A LITTLE BIT OF A FLAVOR OF THINGS OVER THE TIME THAT YOU'VE SPENT THERE IN THAT TIME, HAVE YOU SEEN A RAPID DECLINE IN THE CONDITIONS? OR HAS IT YES. BEEN STEADY, OR IF YOU COULD DESCRIBE THAT IN LAST YEAR, I WOULD SAY IT'S, IT'S JUST BEEN HORRIBLE. RIGHT NOW. YOU DON'T KNOW EVEN WHO THE MANAGER IS. EVERY MONTH OR SO, YOU HAVE A NEW MANAGER, GREEN SWIMMING POOLS, AND NOTHING'S BEING DONE. THE POOL IS GREEN BECAUSE THEY SAY THEY HAVE NO MONEY FOR THE CHEMICALS. AND YOU SAY THAT'S MOSTLY OVER THE LAST YEAR OR SO? PRETTY MUCH. OKAY. AND, AND YOU ALSO MENTIONED YOU LIVE UP AT THE FRONT. YES. HAS THAT BEEN THE CASE FOR THE SEVEN YEARS OR NO? I, I JUST WENT TO THE FRONT BECAUSE THE OTHER APARTMENT WAS FLOODED OUT WITH WATER, SO I JUST HAD TO LEAVE. AND I WANTED TO TRANSFER TO A LARGER ONE BECAUSE I GOT CUSTODY OF MY GRANDSONS, AND THEY SAID, I NEED TO PAY 2,500 IF I NEED TO LEAVE MY APARTMENT, I GUESS BREAKING A LEASE OR WHATEVER IT IS TO MOVE TO ANOTHER APARTMENT ON THE, ON THE PROPERTY. AND I'M GUESSING IT'S, IT'S QUITE HARD FOR YOU TO GET THE ATTENTION OF THE MANAGEMENT OR ANY EXACTLY. RESPONSE FROM THEM. EXACTLY. WELL, TO THE MAYOR'S POINT, WE'RE GONNA GET THE LEGAL DEPARTMENT INVOLVED. AND THANKS AGAIN, MS. PRINCE, FOR BEING HERE. THANK YOU SO VERY MUCH. YES, MA'AM. Y'ALL HAVE A BLESSED DAY. THANK YOU. THAT'S ALL. OKAY. NEXT SPEAKER. ASHLEY BUTLER. ASHLEY BUTLER. ASHLEY BUTLER. OKAY. DEPARTMENT CONFERENCE. NEXT SPEAKER. LET ME GO BACK UP TO JENNY ROBLES. I BELIEVE SHE CAME IN. JENNY ROBLES GONNA START THIS WHEN I START THIS ME NUMBER. OKAY. OKAY. MY NAME IS JENNY ROBLES. I'M HERE TO, UM, TO GIVE, UH, NOTICE OF, SORRY, EXCUSE ME. UH, MY NAME IS JENNY ROBLES. I AM HERE TO GIVE, UM, UM, INFORMATION ON THE PROBLEMS THAT WE'VE BEEN HAVING AT THE APARTMENT COMPLEX THAT I'M RESIDING IN. WE HAVE, UH, MANY PROBLEMS, UM, AT THE COMPLEXES, BUT I WANT TO FOCUS ON THREE PARTICULAR PROBLEMS [00:25:01] THAT WE'RE HAVING. UM, I WANNA START WITH THE CONDITIONS OF THE APARTMENTS THEMSELVES. UH, WHEN WE COMPLAIN TO STAFF, NOTHING GETS DONE. UH, IN PARTICULAR TO THINGS LIKE THE RESTROOMS, THE FLOORS, UM, ANY, UH, THE AIR CONDITIONING, ANYTHING THAT WE BRING TO THEM, THEY'RE NOT, THEY'RE NOT RESOLVING FOR US. UM, MY SECOND MAJOR CONCERN IS THE AMOUNT OF RODENTS AND, UH, ROACHES AND PESTS THAT WE HAVE INSIDE OF OUR COMP COMPLEXES, AS YOU CAN SEE. AND THE PICTURES. THIS IS WHAT WE'RE TRYING TO DESCRIBE, AND WE'VE BEEN HAVING MANY PROBLEMS WITH THE TRASH. AND, UH, WE JUST WANT TO LET EVERYBODY KNOW THAT THERE ARE MANY, UH, CHILDREN THAT RESIDE THERE, ALONG WITH SENIORS THAT RESIDE AT, AT THE LOCATIONS THAT ARE HAVING THE SAME ISSUES. AND FINALLY, I WANT TO TALK ABOUT THE SAFETY AND SECURITY AT THE APARTMENT COMPLEX. WE HAVE A PROBLEM WITH PEOPLE ENTERING AND EXITING THE COMPLEX AS THEY, AS THEY PLEASE. AND THERE'S LOTS OF VANDALISM THAT HAPPENS TO OUR VEHICLES IN OUR PROPERTY. OKAY? I WANNA, I WANNA POINT OUT THE EXAMPLES OF THE, UH, OF THE GUNSHOTS AND THE BROKEN WINDOWS THAT ARE AT THE COMPLEX. AND WE PAY, WE PAY OUR RENT, AND WE'RE NOT BEING, UM, NONE OF OUR CONCERNS ARE BEING ADDRESSED, UM, AT THE MOMENT. AND SHE WOULD LIKE TO ALSO EXPRESS THAT THERE'S, UH, A LOT OF, UM, CRIME THAT IS HAPPENING ON, ON THE COMPLEX ITSELF. OKAY? PLEASE LET HER KNOW THAT APPOINTMENTS ARE WELL MADE AND HEARD, AND THAT, UH, THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME AND THAT WE ARE SEND, WE ARE SENDING A TEAM OUT THERE. OTHERS HAVE ALREADY BEEN OUT THERE, BUT I AM SENDING A LEGAL TEAM OUT THERE TO TOMORROW. AND IT'S NOT JUST ABOUT HOLDING THE MANAGEMENT COMPANY RESPONSIBLE, BUT IT'S HOLDING THE OWNERS OF THE COMPLEX RESPONSIBLE. NO, IT'S NOT. AND THEN, AND TO EMPHASIZE THE IMPORTANCE, IT IS MY HOPE THAT BETWEEN NOW AND FRIDAY, THAT I'LL GO OUT THERE AND TAKE A LOOK MYSELF. THANK YOU. ONE SECOND. COUNCIL MEMBER JACKSON. THANK YOU. MAYOR, I HAVE A QUESTION. IS THIS A HUD APARTMENT COMPLEX? I, I'M NOT CERTAIN. NO, I DON'T THINK IT IS. NO. HUD OKAY. OKAY. JUST CURIOUS. THANKS. COUNCIL MEMBER GALLEGOS. THANK YOU, MAYOR. [00:30:10] THANK YOU. THANK, ONE SECOND. COUNCILMAN. MAYOR, I'M CALLING. THANK YOU, MAYOR. THANK YOU FOR COMING. AND IF YOU DON'T MIND MY ASKING, ONLY IF YOU'RE COMFORTABLE SAYING, UM, HOW MUCH YOU PAY IN RENT MONTHLY, HUNDRED, $165, AND APART FROM OTHER SERVICES THEY PAY, UM, LEMME MAKE SURE I UNDERSTAND. THEY PAY OVER A THOUSAND DOLLARS A MONTH. YES. YES. 1,165 PLUS, DOES THAT INCLUDE UTILITIES? NO. INCLUDE, NO, NO. THREE BEDROOMS? WELL, IT DOESN'T, IT DOESN'T MATTER THAT I HAVE TWO RESTROOMS IF ONE OF THEM IS BROKEN. SO IF CURRENTLY ONLY HAVE ONE RESTROOM. ALRIGHT. WELL, THE REALITY IS, IS EVEN IF YOU PAID $50 A MONTH, YOU'RE NOT ENTITLED TO LIVE IN FIL AND SUBSTANDING CONDITIONS. AND THIS IS THE REASON WHY WE'RE HERE, IS TO EXPLAIN THE SITUATION THAT WE'RE IN. OKAY. WELL, LET US, LET US, LET US JOIN WITH YOU, UM, IN DEALING WITH THIS APARTMENT COMPLEX. BUT AGAIN, THE FOCUS IS NOT JUST ON THE MANAGEMENT COMPANY. THE FOCUS IS ON THE OWNERS OF THIS, UM, OWNERS OF THIS COMPLEX. OKAY. LET ME, UH, TURN TO COUNCIL MEMBER MC CAYMAN ON THE, ON THE SCREEN. UM, I JUST WANTED TO ADD MY APPRECIATION, UM, TO ALL OF THE SPEAKERS, UH, FOR COMING TODAY FOR YOUR COURAGE, FOR YOUR ADVOCACY. AND I ALSO WANTED TO RECOGNIZE, UM, TOP FOR HELPING TO ORGANIZE AND MAKE SURE THAT, UM, THIS MATTER IS NOT ONLY BROUGHT TO ALL OF OUR ATTENTION, BUT THAT, UH, MEANINGFUL ACTION IS BEING TAKEN. SO THANK YOU ALL SO MUCH FOR COMING IN. MAYOR, THANK YOU FOR THE STEPS THAT THE CITY IS TAKING ON THIS. THANK YOU. MM-HMM . THANK YOU VERY MUCH. NEXT SPEAKER. ASHLEY BUTLER. ASHLEY BUTLER. ASHLEY BUTLER. HERE. NEXT SPEAKER, S NARA. AYE. NARA, AKA NARA. NEXT SPEAKER, STEVE WILLIAMS. STEVE WILLIAMS. PRESS STAR SIX. HER. STEVE WILLIAMS, SIX. STEVE WILLIAMS. SIX. NEXT SPEAKER, UL HERNAND HERE. WELL, YOU'LL GO BACK UP TO IF UL HERNANDEZ. MY NAME IS I HERNANDEZ, AND I'M HERE REPRESENTING, UH, TOP AND THE RESIDENCE OF, OF THE APARTMENT COMPLEX. UH, WE ARE HERE, UM, TO BRING TO YOUR ATTENTION THAT WE HAVE PROBLEMS WITH THE MALE. UH, WE HAVE, UH, UH, ANOTHER PROBLEM WITH THE INFESTATION OF PES AT OUR COMPLEX. [00:35:07] I WOULD LIKE TO, UH, BREAK TO YOUR ATTENTION THE, THE PROBLEMS THAT WE'RE HAVING TO INCLUDE THE, UH, PUBLIC SAFETY THAT WE HAVE WITHIN THE COMPLEX, ALONG WITH THE INFESTATION AND THE, UM, POOLS THAT ARE ON THE, ON THE PROPERTY ITSELF. OKAY. I'VE BEEN RESIDING AT THE APARTMENT COMPLEX FOR ONLY FOUR MONTHS, AND I'VE BEEN HAVING ISSUES WITH RECEIVING MY MAIL AND WITH OTHER SAFETY ISSUES AROUND THE COM, AROUND THE COMPLEX. EVERY SINGLE TIME THAT WE BRING OUR CONCERNS TO THE MANAGEMENT COMPANY, IT SEEMS THE MANAGEMENT COMPANY SEEMS TO CHANGE WITHIN 10 OR 15 DAYS. THERE'S NO SECURITY AT THE COMPLEX. PEOPLE COME AND GO, AND THERE'S LOTS OF VANDALISM THAT OCCURS ON THE PROPERTY. UH, WE DO NOT FEEL SECURE AT THIS, AT THIS TIME. WE'RE COMING TO PLEA, UH, TO BE HEARD AS HUMANS, THAT WE PAY RENT AND WE SHOULD HAVE SECURITY. WE HAVE A TOTAL OF 19 DAYS ON, ON THE PROPERTY WHERE THE TRASH WAS NOT REMOVED. WE, UH, CAN'T EVEN OPEN OUR APARTMENT STORE TO LEAVE THEM OPEN BECAUSE OF THE, OF THE TRASH THAT'S ACCUMULATED. AND SO WE'RE HERE TO ASK THAT WE LIVE LIKE, LIKE PEOPLE ON THE, ON THE COM AT THE COMPLEX BECAUSE OF ALL THE SITUATIONS THAT WE'VE BEEN HAVING. UM, I WOULD LIKE TO REITERATE THE PROBLEMS THAT I'VE HAD WITH, WITH THE MALE AND WITH THE PESTS THAT ARE ON THE PROPERTY AND ALONG WITH THE SECURITY THAT'S ON THE PROPERTY AT THE MOMENT. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. COUNCIL MEMBER THOMAS ON THE SCREEN. THANK YOU. BYEBYE TIME. MAYOR TURNER. UM, JUST, UM, FOR THE RECORD OF THE TIMBER, UM, PROPERTY HAS RECEIVED RENT RELIEF FROM OUR, UM, JOINT PROGRAM WITH THE COUNTY. SO I DO THINK IT'S IMPORTANT TO NOTE THAT THEY HAVE RECEIVED PUBLIC DOLLARS, UM, ON BEHALF OF THE RESIDENTS, UM, THROUGH OUR PROGRAM. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. THANK YOU FOR COMING AND SHARING WITH YOU CONCERNS, AND WE'LL BE FOLLOWING UP ON YOUR BEHALF. THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR YOUR ATTENTION AND TIME. THANK YOU. OKAY. NEXT SPEAKER. RODNEY UNDERWOOD. RODNEY UNDERWOOD, IF YOU'RE, PRESS STARSHIP, MR. UNDERWOOD, IF YOU COME. GOOD AFTERNOON, RIGHT? UNDERWOOD? [00:40:01] I LIVE IN, UH, RIGHT BEHIND THAT MIC STEP. THERE YOU GO. OKAY. I'M AT THE BELFORT AREA BETWEEN MCOW TELEPHONE ROAD. WE HAVE, UH, AFFORDABLE HOUSING. WE'RE ALSO LOOKING AT DOING COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT AND COMMUNITY CLEANUP SERVICES. WE DO, UH, DIFFERENT TYPES OF PLUMBING AND ASSISTANCE TO HELP PEOPLE TO MAINTAIN THEIR PROPERTIES IF ANYONE NEEDS TO HELP ANY TYPE OF ASSISTANCE, SOMETHING LIKE THAT. I LIKE TO LEAVE MY INFORMATION BECAUSE WE'RE ALSO WORKING WITH PROVIDING, UH, HOUSING FOR HOMELESS PEOPLE. AND WE ALSO WOULD LIKE TO KEEP COLLABORATIONS AND MEET THE PEOPLE THAT WE, THAT WE SEE THAT NEED ASSISTANCE. MAYBE IT'S SOMETHING WE COULD DO TO WORK TOGETHER TO KEEP OUR CITY SAFE AND CLEAN THE WAY THAT, UH, WE'RE TALKING ABOUT HERE. THERE'S ANYTHING THAT UP UPLIFT HOUSE CAN DO. I SURE WOULD LIKE TO HELP YOU OUT, THAT I SURE WOULD LIKE TO, UH, I, UH, INVITE ANYBODY WHO'S TRYING TO DO ANYTHING, IMPROVEMENTS IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT TO LET US KNOW. WE ARE WITH THE, UH, ALL THE COLLABORATIONS THAT THE CITY OF HOUSTON HAS REQUESTED OF US. WE HAVE, UH, UH, WORKED WITH THE HOUSTON HIGHER HOUSTON FIRST, AND WE'VE BEEN IN, UH, THE MAINTENANCE BUSINESS FOR 20 TO 25 YEARS AS MAINTENANCE SERVICE. I JUST WANNA COME DOWN HERE AND MEET PEOPLE THAT INTRODUCE MYSELF. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. COUNCILMAN GALLEGOS. THANK YOU. THANK YOU, MAYOR. THANK YOU, MR. UNDERWOOD. I'M GLAD YOU'RE ABLE TO MAKE IT TO, UH, THE COUNCIL SESSION. I KNOW OUR PUBLIC SESSION, I KNOW YOU TRIED THE LAST TWO WEEKS AND YOU WERE, YOU HAD, UH, PROBLEMS, UH, GETTING HERE. UH, BUT I KNOW THAT MY STAFF HAS BEEN WORKING WITH YOU. I, I, I KNOW MY STAFF HAS BEEN WORKING WITH YOU. AND, UH, WE DID ASK TO SEE IF YOU WOULD APPLY TO BE A, A, UH, CERTIFIED VENDOR, UH, FOR THE CITY OF HOUSTON. UH, HAVE, HAVE YOU, UH, SUBMITTED YOUR, UH, INFORMATION TO BE A CERTIFIED VENDOR FOR THE CITY? LIKE I SAID, YES, WE HAVE, WE'VE BEEN CERTIFIED FOR OVER 10 YEARS, PROBABLY MM-HMM . AND WE ARE WITH THE, UH, HIGHER HOUSTON FIRST, AND WE ARE WITH THE CERTIFIED VENDORS LIST. OH, OKAY. GREAT. AND WE ARE, LIKE I SAID, WE ARE, WE DO, WE COULD DO LOT CLEANS UP, UH, PROPERTY, CLEAN UP. THERE'S ANYTHING THAT WE COULD DO TO ASSIST OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT. LIKE YOU SAID, YOU HAVE BEEN WORKING WITH US. I WOULD LIKE TO WORK WITH YOU AS CLOSELY AS POSSIBLE TO SEE WHAT WE COULD DO. 'CAUSE WE DO HAVE, UH, PEOPLE THAT ARE COMPETENT WORKERS THAT CAN, UH, HELP KEEP OUR NEIGHBORHOOD CLEAN. MM-HMM . AND DEVELOP ANYTHING. UH, I KNOW I SAW ABOUT A WEEK AGO WHERE THERE WAS PEOPLE TALKING ABOUT THEY, THEY NEEDED PLUMBING SERVICES, ET CETERA, ET CETERA. I AM A MASTER PLUMBER AND I DO HAVE PLUMBING EQUIPMENT TO, TO HELP THEM. IF, IF THEY HAVE ANY THING THAT WE COULD DO, LET US KNOW. OKAY. THANK YOU. COUNCIL MEMBER EVAN SHABAZZ. THANK YOU, MAYOR. UH, THANK YOU MR. UNDERWOOD. I THINK YOU SPOKE WITH STEVEN IN MY OFFICE EARLIER TODAY. UH, 'CAUSE I SEE YOU LIVE ON WENTWORTH, WHICH IS RIGHT IN, IN MY NEIGHBORHOOD, SO TO SPEAK. AND SO DID HE GIVE YOU ANY DIRECTION ABOUT WHAT YOU NEEDED TO DO? WELL, MOST OF MY DIRECTIONS IS KIND OF LIKE, COME TO THE COUNCIL, UH, INTRODUCE MYSELF, UH, LET PEOPLE KNOW WHAT WE ARE DOING. WE TRY, UH, WE HAVE AFFILIATION WITH THE COALITION FOR THE HOMELESS. WE TRY TO, UH, UH, WORK WITH THEM. ALSO. WE HAVE WORKED WITH LOW INCOME PEOPLE, AND WE ALSO ARE VERY MUCH AWARE OF WHAT'S GOING ON IN OUR COMMUNITY. IF THERE'S ANY AREAS THAT WE COULD DO TO WORK WITH YOU, SOMETHING LIKE THAT. THAT'S WHY I WAS TALKING TO HIM. AND I WAS TALKING TO OTHER PEOPLE BECAUSE I WOULD LIKE TO WORK TOGETHER, FIND OUT WHAT FUNDING SOURCES CAN WE DO TO HELP OUR PEOPLE THAT'S IN OUR COMMUNITY OR IN THE CITY OF HOUSTON, ACTUALLY. BUT WE DO HAVE QUALIFIED PEOPLE TO DO THE WORK. OKAY. WELL, STEVEN CAN WORK WITH YOU TO HELP YOU TO ACCESS, UM, THE OPPORTUNITY. AND SO, UH, I BELIEVE YOU SPOKE WITH HIM EARLIER, AND I'LL ASK HIM TO REACH BACK TO YOU TO SEE IF HE CAN GIVE YOU SOME ASSISTANCE. BUT THANK YOU SO VERY MUCH FOR OFFERING YOUR SERVICES. THANK YOU. VERY EVERYBODY'S. THANK YOU. THANK YOU ALL. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. NEXT SPEAKER. BRUCE BAILEY. BRUCE BAILEY. BRUCE BAILEY. BRUCE BAILEY, NEXT SPEAKER. OSCAR PEREZ. OSCAR PEREZ [00:45:06] TO BE FOLLOWED BY TO ONE OF BRIAN WHEN I STARTED THIS ONE SECOND, RICK RENEE. WHEN I STARTED, I APOLOGIZE FOR BEING SO EMOTIONAL, BUT I WANT TO GIVE MY STORY THAT HAPPENED TO ME THREE YEARS AGO. ACCIDENT. I WAS INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT AT WORK. I'VE BEEN, I'VE BEEN INJURED AND DISABLED, DISABLED AT THIS POINT. THESE ARE ALL THE MEDICATIONS THAT I HAVE TO TAKE EVERY DAY, AND MORE THAN HALF OF THEM I HAVE TO TAKE FOR, FOR LIFE. I'M IN A SITUATION WHERE I'VE HAD TO REACH OUT IN ANY CORNER THAT I COULD, THAT I COULD REACH OUT TO. I'M HAVING DIFFICULTIES WITH, WITH THE INSURANCE. I'VE HAD PROBLEMS WITH MY HEART, WITH MY SPINE, AND THE PROBLEMS KEEP ACCUMULATING. I DON'T KNOW WHAT ELSE TO DO. COULD YOU PLEASE HELP ME? AND I, I, I KNOW YOU'VE BEEN VISITING WITH, UH, WITH ANGEL PONCY, WHO'S THE DIRECTOR OF THE MAYOR'S OFFICE WITH PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES. LET ME ASK THAT YOU CONTINUE TO WORK WITH THAT OFFICE AND THEY MAY BE ABLE TO, UM, GET SOME ASSISTANCE, UH, FOR YOU FROM THE TEXAS WORKFORCE COMMISSION, TEXAS WORKFORCE COMMISSION, WHATEVER HELP I CAN, I CAN HAVE, BECAUSE I HAVE A FAMILY TO SUPPORT. AND THERE'S SOME DAYS THAT I, THAT I, WE GO WITHOUT BECAUSE I JUST DON'T HAVE ANY HELP. AND I BELIEVE THAT, AND IT'S BEEN THREE YEARS SINCE I'VE BEEN ABLE TO WORK BECAUSE OF MY CONDITION. I BELIEVE THE INJURIES THAT YOU RECEIVED WAS, UH, ON THE JOB INJURIES. IS THAT CORRECT? YES. THE INJURIES WERE ON THE, ON, ON DUTY. AND LEMME JUST ASK, DID YOU, DID, UH, DID YOU SEEK ANY SORT OF LEGAL COUNSEL? NO. UH, I CONTACTED A LAWYER, BUT I DIDN'T, UH, SIGN THE, THE DOCUMENTS THAT HE ASKED ME TO SIGN. LET ME ASK THAT YOU CONTINUE TO WORK WITH, UH, DIRECTOR ANGEL PONZI TO SEE WHAT ASSISTANCE WE MAY BE ABLE TO OFFER. I I'LL CONTINUE TO WORK WITH ANGEL TO, TO SEEK HELP. THANK YOU. THANK YOU FOR HELPING ME. AND I APOLOGIZE FOR MY STATE. YOU'RE QUITE OKAY. WE WISH. WE WISH YOU THE VERY BEST. OKAY. UH, TAWANA BRYANT [00:50:02] BRYANT, JESUS SISTERS, SISTERS, FIRST GIVEN HONOR TO MY LORD AND SAVIOR JESUS CHRIST, TO AGAIN APPROACH THIS DISTINGUISHED CHAMBER. FIRST, THE IMPARTIAL HEARING, WHICH WAS FINALLY HELD JULY 7TH AND CONCLUDED JULY 12TH AT THE OFFICES OF JAMS, A PRIVATE AGENCY WHICH SPECIALIZES IN ARBITRATIONS AND MEDIATIONS. THIS WAS AFTER SO MUCH MANIPULATION AND TRIFLES BY THE MAYOR'S ADMINISTRATION, THE OBO, AS WELL AS HOUSTON PUBLIC WORKS IN THEIR USUAL FASHION. THE MAYOR, IN CONJUNCTION WITH OBO APPOINTED ONE, NEWLY RETIRED JUDGE VANESSA GILMORE, JUDGE GILMORE, WHO HAS A HISTORY OF FAILED CASES, BECAME A WILLING TOOL FOR THE MAYOR AND MARSHA MURRAY, DIRECTOR OF OBO AND THEIR QUEST TO ENSURE THAT MY FIRM IS SUBJUGATED SUBJUGATED BY THE PRIME CONTRACTOR POLYGON ON THE CITY'S POLYMER CONTRACT IN WHICH MY FIRM HAS SERVED WELL FOR THE PAST 10 PLUS YEARS. I'M SURE YOU CAN RECALL HOW THE MAYOR IN THIS CHAMBER TRIED TO REVISE THE FACT THAT MR. ISAIAH ALLEN, THE FIRST APPOINTED HEARING OFFICER RECUSED HIMSELF BACK IN MARCH OF THIS YEAR. PLEASE REFERENCE THE ATTACHED JANUARY 14TH EMAIL EXCHANGE BETWEEN DIRECTOR MURRAY AND MR. ANDY EKIN OF THE MAYOR'S OFFICE RECOMMENDING MR. ALLEN, WHICH IN ITSELF POSES A TOTAL CONFLICT OF INTEREST. IT WAS NO SURPRISE THAT MR. ALLEN SUBSEQUENTLY RECUSED HIMSELF FROM THE HEARING. JUDGE GILMORE'S HANDLING OF THE HEARING PROCESS WAS AGAIN, BUT PROFESSIONAL OR PERCEPTIVE AS ONE WOULD EXPECT OF A HIGHLY PLACED JUDICIAL OFFICER. THE HEARING WAS CHARACTERIZED BY SO MUCH DRAMA, UNSERIOUSNESS, AS WELL AS OTHER UNETHICAL ANSYS ALL EXHIBITED BY THE JUDGE HERSELF. THE RECOMMENDATION REACHED BY THE JUDGE WAS CLEARLY PREMEDITATED, CONSISTED OF A RECAP OF TESTIMONY BY DIRECTOR MURRAY, ASSISTANT DIRECTOR LALA MORRIS, AND MR. KEN LUKE OF INE, WHICH JUDGE GILMORE RUBBER STAMPED HER NAME AND SIGNATURE TO, BUT SUSPICIOUSLY EXCLUDED ANY JAMS CORPORATE LETTER HEADING. IT SHOULD BE NOTED THAT JUDGE GILMORE'S RECOMMENDATION IS A COMPLETE TRAVESTY OF JUSTICE WITH TOTAL DISREGARD FOR LEGAL STANDARDS OF THIS LAND. THE ENTIRE HEARING, WHICH WAS MEANT TO BE IMPARTIAL, WHICH RIDDLED WITH INJECTIONS OF BIAS AND SILLINESS, SILLINESS BY THE RETIRED JUDGE. JUST LIKE IN THE BIBLE, GOD HARDENED THE HEART OF PHARAOH SO THAT HE REFUSED TO LISTEN TO MOSES AND AARON TO LET THE ISRAELITES GO. SO IT SEEMS THAT THE HEARTS OF A FEW IN THIS CHAMBER IS, I HAVE BEEN APPROACHING HERE SINCE 2020, YET IT HAS BEEN THE SAME. YOUR TIME HAS EXPIRED. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. BUT WE ALL KNOW HOW IT ENDED. THANK YOU. BETWEEN THE ISRAELITES AND PHARAOH. THANK YOU. THANK YOU VERY MUCH, MR. BRYAN. IT WON'T BE DIFFERENT THIS TIME, BUT ONCE AGAIN, MAYOR, I HUMBLY REQUEST A REAL IMPARTIAL HEARING. THANK YOU THAT THE STATE OREGON STATES, I AM ENTITLED WITH FULL REIMBURSEMENT. MS. BRIAN, ALL ATTORNEY FEES INCURRED FROM THE THREE DAY CHARADE THAT WAS CARRIED OUT BY THE LATEST APPOINTED HEARING OFFICER JUDGE VANESSA GILMORE. THE NEXT SPEAKER, DALE REHAN. DALE, DALE STRAHAN. DEAR PRESS, STAR SIX DALE STRAHAN, STAR SIX DALE STRAHAN. NEXT SPEAKER THEOR. ELAINE ALLEN THEOR. ELAINE ALLEN, STAR SIX DEBORRA. ELAINE ALLEN, STAR SIX BO ELAINE ALLEN. NEXT SPEAKER, RANDALL CALLANAN. RANDALL CALLANAN. IF YOU'LL PRESS STAR SIX RANDALL CALLANAN. STAR SIX RANDALL CALLANAN. NEXT SPEAKER, ROSALYN AND WAME. ROSALYN AND WAME, N-W-A-E-M-E. ROSALYN AND WAME. NEXT SPEAKER, DR. RAMES KAPO. DR. RAMESH KAPO. YES. BE [00:55:01] FOLLOWED BY JIM TUCKER AND OH, MR. KA. GOOD AFTERNOON ON THERE. MAYOR, I REMEMBER YOU AND MR. I'VE BEEN IN CITY OF HOUSTON SINCE 1983. MY NAME IS DR. KAPO. I OWN A CORPORATION. CORPORATION. PURCHASED A MOBILE OFFICE. WE OWN A TIP OF LEAN, A LEAF CLOUD IN AND WEST HOUSTON CENTER. IT'S A VERY PRIME LOCATION. IT'S A SMALL LAND CITY. CONDEMNED A PORTION OF THE LAND. WE GLADLY GAVE IT. NOW WE PURCHASED A TRAILER TO DEVELOP THE AREA TO MAKE RUN SOME KIND OF BUSINESS THERE. AND I PURCHASED A THOUSAND DOLLARS. NOW, THE TRAILER WAS PLACED UNFORTUNATELY BY THE, UH, COMPANY WHO PLACED THE TRAILER ON METROLAND AND METRO. WE REALIZED THAT IT WAS NOT ON OUR LAND. PARTIALLY IT WAS. WE MOVED THE TRAILER TO OUR PLANE. MRS. THOMAS, UH, GOT MAD THAT IT DOESN'T LOOK GOOD. I UNDERSTAND IT WAS NOT A GREAT TAILOR. I DO UNDERSTAND, BUT I DO NOT KNOW. SOME PEOPLE CAME IN THE RIP ALL DECIDING TO EXPOSE IT, THAT IT'S NOT A GOOD TRAILER. AND I CA THEY CALL CHRONICLE CHRONICLE MADE A BIG COVERAGE. IT WAS THE NEWS ALL OVER. AND I CALLED THE CHRONICLE THAT I'M IN THE PROCESS OF FIXING IT. THEN I GOT A CALL FROM NEIGHBORHOOD PROTECTION THAT WE HAVE NO JURISDICTION UNLESS THE COURT ORDERS IT TO BE REMOVED. BUT I COMMITTED TO MS. THOMAS THAT I AM GOING TO TAKE IT. WE TOOK A PLACE AT RENTED. WE WERE IN THE PROCESS OF REMOVING IT. TIRE RI AND EVERYTHING READY TO GO. NOW, I BELIEVE, I'M NOT GOING TO HAVE ANY ALLEGATION OF MS. THOMAS. THERE WAS A NEWS ON 7TH OF JUNE, THE 6TH OF JUNE. CITY CALLED ME NEIGHBORHOOD PROTECTION. I WENT THERE, THE TRAILER WAS GONE. MY BUSINESS HAS GONE DOWN BECAUSE ALL THE COMPANY FILES AND ALL THE DOCUMENTS WERE INSIDE. ALL THE SUPPLIES WERE INSIDE. AND BEFORE EVEN CHRONICLE CAME IN, I HIRED A CONTRACTOR TEMPORARILY AS A PLACE, ALL THIS HIDING. BUT WE PURCHASED ALL THIS HIDING. AND WE ALSO RENTED A PLACE IN GASNER HAMSTER TO MOVE THE TERRA. THIS IS NOT RIGHT. EVERYBODY TELLS ME THIS WAS NOT GOOD LOOKING. THAT'S UNDERSTANDABLE. IT'S MY PROPERTY. IT'S ON MY LANE. AND I WOULD RIGHT TO HAVE MY TRAILER BACK. MS. THOMAS WAS CALLED AND SHE SAID, EVERYBODY'S CELEBRATING. THAT MEANS THEY WERE ALL THERE ON 6TH OF JUNE WHEN THEY HIRED SOMEBODY TO TAKE MY TRAILER OUT. IT'S A MOBILE ARM, NOT MOBILE OFFICE. YEAH, A MOBILE OFFICE IS NOT PARKED. THANK YOU, MA'AM. I GOT ALL THE PICTURES. MR. KAPO. THANK YOU. I I DON'T KNOW WHERE THE TRAILER IS. UM, SO, UH, BUT COUNCIL MEMBER THOMAS, DO YOU KNOW, DO YOU KNOW WHERE THE , I DON'T KNOW WHERE THE TRAILER IS. MAYOR TURNER. BUT I KNOW THAT NO ONE, UM, TOOK THE TRAILER. AND DR. KAPO, I AM SHOCKED. I THOUGHT WE WERE CELEBRATING TOGETHER. I HAVE TEXTS FROM YOU ON MY CITY PHONE THAT YOU SAID THAT YOU WOULD AGREE TO MOVE THAT TRAILER BECAUSE THE PEOPLE IN A LEAVE, UH, WANTED THAT TRAILER MOVED. NOW, I HAVE THAT FROM YOU. SO I DON'T KNOW WHO TOOK THE TRAILER. I THINK YOU TOOK THE TRAILER BECAUSE THAT'S WHAT WE ASKED YOU TO DO. NOW, I'M CONCERNED THAT YOU WANT TO NOW COME HERE AND THEN MAKE A COMPLAINT AND THEN LODGE AN ACCUSATION. UM, BECAUSE PEOPLE WANT CLEAN STREETS. THEY DON'T WANT TO BE SURROUNDED BY BLIGHT. AND AS A BUSINESS OWNER, YOU SAID THAT YOU WOULD DO YOUR PART. SO I, I THINK WE'RE AT AN IMPASSE. UH, DR. KAPOOR, UH, THAT TRAILER WAS LEANING. THAT TRAILER WAS NOT, UM, THAT WAS NOT A MOBILE OFFICE THAT WAS NOT PREPARED TO DO BUSINESS. IT WAS NOT PREPARED TO OFFER A SERVICE. SO I'M REALLY UNCLEAR AS TO WHAT YOU ARE, UM, WHAT YOU'RE ASKING US TODAY. AND 'CAUSE I WANNA HELP YOU, RIGHT? I WANNA HELP YOU GET WHAT YOU GET. BUT I ALSO WANNA, UH, HELP THE RESIDENTS THAT HAVE, UM, EMAILED MY OFFICE, SEND FACEBOOK MESSAGES, DMS, AND TWITTER, UM, ASKING WHAT'S GONNA HAPPEN WITH THAT TRAILER TO GET IT REMOVED. SO, UM, CAN YOU HELP ME FIGURE OUT WHAT YOU'RE ASKING US TODAY? THE BOTTOM LINE IS I CALLED THE POLICE AND I SAID, THEY ASKED ME, WHAT IS THE WIN NUMBER? I SAID, MOBILE OFFICE DOES NOT HAVE AVIN NUMBER. I SAID, IT'S MY [01:00:01] PROPERTY. EVEN A MURDERER HAS A RIGHT. IF SOMEBODY MURDERED IN DAYLIGHT ROBBERY OR DOES COMMIT ANY KIND OF CRIME, HE HAS TO GO TO THE COURT SYSTEM, EVEN IF IT'S A BAD TRAILER. AND HE SAID, IT'S STILL MY PROPERTY. I SAID, WHAT? $20,000? I DON'T THINK ANYBODY HAS A RIGHT TO TAKE A TEST PARTY TO MY PROPERTY, TAKE MY STUFF. IT'S A MOBILE OFFICE, NOT A, NOT A KIND OF, UH, HOME OR ANYTHING. AND NOW I'M DEPRIVED OF MY INVESTMENT. I'M DEPRIVED OF MY BUSINESS. THAT'S NOT FAIR. AND I TOLD THAT THEY THE DUE PROCESS, RIGHT? EVEN IF SOMEBODY HAS A CRIME COMMITTEE, STILL HAS TO HAVE A COURT ORDER. THEY HAVE NO RIGHT TO GET, ENTER MY PROPERTY LINE AND TAKE MY TRAILER OUT. I NEED MY TRAILER BACK. MS. DR. UH, MR. KAPO, DR. KAPOOR. LEMME JUST SUGGEST, SIR, IT'S YOUR PROPERTY. UH, I WOULD FILE A COMPLAINT. I WOULD FILE, UH, WITH HPD BECAUSE, UM, WE DON'T KNOW WHERE THE, WE DON'T KNOW WHERE THE TRAILER IS. SO, UH, YOU KNOW, SO I WAS SIMPLY FILED, FILED WITH HPD AND LET, AND LET THEM INVESTIGATE. OKAY, YOUR HONOR? MM-HMM . CROSS THE STREET AT THE MOBILE ION MOBILE STATION. THEY DO HAVE A CAMERA. THE TRAILER BEING TOWED BY A RECORD DRIVER CHRONICLE SAID WE CANNOT EXPOSE THE LICENSE PLATE. EXXON. I WENT ACROSS THE STREET. THEY SAID, WE HAVE IT. NOW. THAT GUY GOT TO BE ARRESTED. WHY DID YOU TAKE MY MOBILE HOME FOR MY LAND TRESPASSING? IN ALL I'M SAYING TO YOU, MR. POU. AND NOW AXON IS READY TO GIVE THE TAPE RECORDED. ALL UNDERSTAND, AND NOBODY, POLICE HAVE NOT DONE ANYTHING. I HAVE A REPORT. AGAIN, I WOULD, UH, I WOULD, UH, MAKE YOU A FILE WITH THE, UH, WITH HPD AND THEN STAY, UH, AND THEN MAKE, SEND MAKE YOUR INQUIRIES TO HPD. OKAY? YEAH. THAT'S WHAT I WOULD RECOMMEND TO YOU. AND MAY I TURN MAYOR TURNER? MAY I I DO HAVE A HAND. HOLD ON ONE SECOND. COUNCIL MEMBER THOMAS, UM, MAY TURNER, UM, A RESIDENT ACTUALLY TOOK A PICTURE OF THE TRAILER BEING TOWED ON SITE. THIS HAPPENED DURING THE DAY. IT WAS NOT A WRECK DRIVER, UH, A WRECK TRUCK. IT WAS A GREEN TRUCK. UM, THAT I BELIEVE THAT DR. KAPO SAID HE WAS HAVING HIS PEOPLE CUT HIS GRASS. AND THERE WAS A REGULAR GREEN PICKUP TRUCK THAT WAS MOVING THAT TRAILER. THERE IS NO, THERE WAS NO RECORD TRUCK THAT, THAT MOVED THAT TRAILER. 'CAUSE I POSTED THAT ON FACEBOOK AND TWITTER. POLICE DID NOT REMOVE IT. OKAY, MR. KAPO, WE ARE NOT GONNA BE ABLE TO GO BACK. YOUR NAME WAS ALL OVER IN THE CHRONICLE. YOU CELEBRATED. OKAY. MR. TAYLOR HAVING BEEN REMOVED. PEOPLE, BUT THERE ARE 10 PEOPLE. THEY, THEY HAVE A FIRECRACKERS. OKAY. OKAY. HOLD ON. HOLD ON. NO, THAT'S NOT THE LAW OF THE CITY. OKAY, HOLD ON. IT'S SOMETHING YOU HAVE DONE. IT IS AGAINST LAW. MR. KAPO. MR. KAPO, HOLD ON. I WAS WILLING TO REMOVE EVEN TAYLOR, I OFFER YOU THAT. I'M GOING TO REMOVE, WE ARE GONNA HAVE TO TAKE THIS SHOW ON THE ROAD. OKAY? THANK YOU MS. KAPO. THIS IS LITERALLY, YEAH, MS. KAPO, UH, MAKE YOUR COMPLAINT. UH, FILE YOUR REPORT WITH HPD AND YOU AND HPD WORK IT OUT. OKAY? THANK YOU, YOUR HONOR. BECAUSE WE DON'T, WE DON'T KNOW WHETHER THE TRAILER IS MR. KAPO. SHE HAS TO WORK WITH ME, GET MY STUFF BACK. WELL, IT'S NEVER BE BASED ON THAT. IT'S, IT'S HPD. YOU HAVE TO FILE YOUR REPORT WITH HPD. OKAY. FILE YOUR REPORT WITH HPD. OKAY, YOUR HONOR. BUT I THINK ALL OF US ARE FAMILIAR WITH THIS TRAILER AT THIS POINT. MM-HMM . OKAY. ALRIGHT. GOOD TO SEE YOU MR. KAPO. OKAY, WELL, THAT WAS WORTH COMING FROM THE HOSPITAL TO SIT HERE. THAT WAS GOOD, I TELL YOU. ALRIGHT, NEXT SPEAKER. JIM TUCKER. MR. TUCKER TO BE FOLLOWED BY RALPH FABRIZIO. MR. TUCKER MAYOR AND COUNCIL, INCLUDING, UH, THOSE COUNCIL, UH, PERSONS ATTENDING VERDICT, UH, VIRTUALLY. GOOD AFTERNOON. I HOPE YOU'VE BEEN HAVING A WONDERFUL PLASTIC FREE JULY AND SPENDING LOTS OF TIME IN THE AIR CONDITIONING. RECENTLY, WE HAVE IMPROVED OUR CITY'S RESPONSE TO NOISE POLLUTION. WHEN THE WEATHER'S NICE, I LIKE TO SIT ON THE PORCH AND READ, AND I'M OFTEN CHASED OFF THE PORCH BY LANDSCAPERS A BLOCK AWAY. AND THEIR NOISE GENERATION MOSTLY LEAF BLOWERS. I CANNOT BELIEVE THAT THESE DO NOT EXCEED THE NOISE GUIDELINES, BUT THEY SEEM TOTALLY UN MUFFLED. PERHAPS OBTAINING AN ANNUAL STICKER AT A FIRE STATION ARE WHATEVER INDICATING A NOISE LEVEL CONFORMITY WOULD BE A SOLUTION. A FEW MONTHS AGO, I WAS OBSERVING THIS SESSION ON ANOTHER MATTER, AND THE 2015 BUILDING CODES WERE BEING DISCUSSED. IT WAS ALARMING TO SEE THE PARADE OF BUILDERS REPEATING [01:05:01] THAT WE NEED TO QUOTE, SACRIFICE SAFETY FOR AFFORDABILITY IN QUOTE, SCARY. BUT IT SEEMED TO BE THE BUILDER'S THEME THAT DAY. IT'S GRATIFYING THAT THE 2021 STANDARDS ARE NOW BEING CONSIDERED FOR ADOPTION SINCE THESE INCORPORATE NUMEROUS REQUIREMENTS THAT WILL IMPROVE BUILDING CLIMATE IMPACT AND CLEARLY CONFORM TO THE OBJECTIVES OF THE 2020 CLIMATE ACTION PLAN. IT WAS WONDERFUL TO SEE RECENTLY THE REPORT THAT MUCH OF THE CITY LIGHT VEHICLES FLEET, THAT IN AT LEAST IN RECENT PURCHASES, WILL BE BATTERY ELECTRIC VEHICLES. AND REPORTEDLY ONE WASTE HAULING TRUCK WAS IN THE PURCHASE. YAY. I THOUGHT THAT THIS WOULD BE A LARGER OBSTACLE WHEN WE WERE PUTTING TOGETHER THE CLIMATE ACTION PLAN. SO IT'S GREAT TO SEE THE CITY TAKING LEADERSHIP ON THIS. THIS WILL HELP US PROGRESS ON OUR SCORING CHART ON PAGE 20 OF THE CAP. EXCELLENT. FURTHER TO THE BUILDING CODES, I HAVE NOT FOUND ANYTHING YET IN MY CIVILIAN READING OF THE BUILDING CODES ON GRAY WATER. WE ARE CURRENTLY IN A HEAT STRESS SITUATION, BUT THE OTHER DAY I SAW SOMEONE SPRAYING DOWN THEIR DRIVEWAY TWO WEEKS AGO. SO THE MESSAGES ARE NOT SINKING IN. THERE'S NO REASON TO USE TREATED POTABLE WATER TO IRRIGATE LAWNS. WATER USED FOR SHOWERS, DISH WASHING, CLOTHES WASHING AND BRUSHING TEETH DOES NOT NEED TO BE MANAGED IN THE SANITARY SEWER SYSTEM. WE OUGHT TO BE CONSIDERING HOW WE CAN MORE THOUGHTFULLY HAVE SECOND USE OF THIS HOUSEHOLD WATER TO REPLACE LAWN SPRINKLING WITH, WITH POTABLE WATER. THANK YOU. BE SAFE AND DRINK LOTS OF WATER. THANK YOU VERY, VERY MUCH. APPRECIATE YOUR COMMENTS. THANK YOU. NO SPEAKERS. OKAY, NEXT SPEAKER WRAP. FABRIZIO REIO. RALPH AIO IS HERE TO BE FOLLOWED BY LUCIA MORENO. HI, GOOD AFTERNOON. MY NAME IS RALPH REIO AND I'M, YOU POINT TO ME, YOU, UH, WHEN I, WHEN WANNA I FINISH? SURE. I'M THE OWNER OF THE HOUSE OF EXTRA MEASURES MEN AND CO-OWNER OF THE HOUSE OF EXTRA MEASURES WOMEN. WE ARE RECOVERY RESIDENCES AND WE'RE CURRENTLY PROVIDING SERVICES TO WITH HOMES AND TWO, THREE IN DISTRICT A, ONE IN DISTRICT C, AND ONE IN DISTRICT H. MANY OF Y'ALL HAVE, UH, IN YOUR INBOXES RIGHT NOW FROM ME, A REASONABLE ACCOMMODATION REQUEST THAT I HAVE SUBMITTED TO THE CITY AROUND ALLOWING MY RECOVERY HOME TO OPERATE AS A NAR CERTIFIED RECOVERY HOME. BACK IN THE BEGINNING OF THE WHOLE BOARDING HOME ORDINANCE, WE'RE GOING BACK TO 2010, 2011 WHEN MR. GONZALEZ WAS THE CHAIR OF THE PUBLIC SERVICE COMMITTEE AND, AND THE BOARDING HOME ORDINANCES, OR IT WAS ONE ORDINANCE AT THE TIME, UH, WAS BEING BUILT OUT. EVERYTHING WAS A BOARDING HOME. SINCE THEN, YOU'VE IDENTIFIED, UH, LODGING FACILITIES AS A DISTINCTIVE ENTITY. YOU'VE IDENTIFIED CORRECTIONAL FACILITIES, UH, UH, ALTERNATIVE AND CORRECTIONAL FACILITIES AS A DISTINCT ENTITY. RECOVERY HOMES THAT HOUSE ADDICTS AND ALCOHOLICS THAT ARE IN RECOVERY FROM THE DISEASE OF ADDICTION ARE A DISTINCT CLASS OF HOME WITHIN THE HOUSING SPECTRUM. WE HAVE A NATIONAL ORGANIZATION THAT CERTIFIES RECOVERY HOMES AS HAVING THE KINDS OF ETHICS AND QUALITY OF WHAT THE BOARDING HOME ORDINANCE ORDINANCES ATTEMPT TO ACHIEVE. IT CAN BE DONE RIGHT NOW. THERE IS A NEXUS BETWEEN HEALTH AND SAFETY. MR. KUBOSH, YOU SAID THAT SAFETY IS THE NUMBER ONE PRIORITY FOR, FOR A GOVERNING ENTITY. I THINK WHAT YOU'RE TRYING TO ACHIEVE WITH THE CURRENT ORDINANCES IS SAFETY. RIGHT. HOWEVER, RECOVERY HOMES, WHICH ARE CAUGHT UP IN THE NET AROUND THE WHOLE BOARDING HOME LOGIC FACILITY ISSUE ARE BEING SUPPRESSED. AND THERE'S AN EPIDEMIC RAGING IN THIS COUNTRY AND IN OUR COMMUNITY. WE NEED MORE RECOVERY HOMES. WE NEED MORE QUALITY RECOVERY HOMES. WE NEED MORE QUALITY RECOVERY HOMES THAT CAN BE ACHIEVED SEPARATE FROM THE MANNER IN WHICH THE CITY OF HOUSTON DOES IT WITH ITS ORDINANCES. BY RECOGNIZING RECOVERY HOMES AS A DISTINCT ENTITY OF HOUSING FACILITY AND REQUIRING NA CERTIFICATION AS A CARVE OUT, FOR EXAMPLE, THE SAME WAY THAT FRATERNITY HOMES AND SORORITY HOMES AND FAITH-BASED HOMES ARE CARVED OUT OF THE ORDINANCE. IF A RECOVERY HOME MEETS THE STANDARDS OF EXCELLENCE IN QUALITY THAT THE CITY OF HOUSTON IS LOOKING FOR, THEN THE CITY OF HOUSTON SHOULD STAND BACK AND ALLOW THAT ORGANIZING AGENCY TO MONITOR AND POLICE IT. I KNOW THERE ARE HORRIBLE ORGANIZATIONS OUT THERE THAT ARE NOT TAKING GOOD CARE OF THEIR PEOPLE. SOME OF THEM CLAIM TO BE RECOVERY HOUSING PROVIDERS. SOME OF Y'ALL KNOW WHO I'M TALKING ABOUT. THOSE PEOPLE WOULD NOT GET OUR CERTIFICATION. NA IS A NATIONALLY RECOGNIZED ORGANIZATION THAT DOES CERTIFICATIONS. THANK YOU. MR. CAN I HAVE LEGAL BRIEF TO, TO HAVE WELL, WHAT I'M, WHAT I AM SHOWING HERE [01:10:01] IS THAT, UH, HOUSTON PUBLIC WORKS, RA AND THE LEGAL DEPARTMENT, UH, HAVE NOT ADDRESSED, UH, THE VARIANCE. I THINK THAT YOU HAVE PUT FORTH, YOU HAVE SOUGHT VARIANCE, UH, FROM THIS PARTICULAR ORDINANCE, UH, AND SEE, AND THEN SINCE YOU'VE SOUGHT THE VARIANCE, I BELIEVE, AND YOU ARE OXFORD HOUSE, CORRECT? NO, SIR. UM, WELL, OXFORD HOUSE A SO A SOBER LIVING RESIDENCE FILED A COMPLAINT WITH US DEPARTMENT OF HOUSING AND URBAN DEVELOPMENT TO SPECIFICALLY EXCLUDE SOBERING CENTERS AND DRUG REHAB FACILITIES FROM THE CITY'S REGULATION. UH, AND SHOULD HUD DECIDE IN FAVOR OF, UH, THIS PARTICULAR COMPLAINT IN OXFORD HOUSE, THEN MR. FA FAVOR, SAIO SAIO SAIO VARIANCE REQUEST, UM, WOULD BE MOOT. SO WE ARE SIMPLY WAITING TO SEE WHAT HUD DECIDES ON THIS ISSUE. AND IF HUD RULES IN FAVOR, UH, THEN THERE'S NO NEED FOR US. I MEAN, THE, YOUR VARIANCE WOULD BE MOOT AND WE MOVE FORWARD. UH, ARE, ARE, THERE ARE TWO DIFFERENT ISSUES THOUGH. OXFORD HOUSE IS ITS OWN ORGANIZATION AND I RUN THE HOUSES OF EXTRA MEASURES. OXFORD HOUSE IS A DIFFERENT STYLE OF RECOVERY. HOME AND MINE'S, BUT I, I, I, THE ISSUES AREN'T MIXED. I DON'T HAVE ANYTHING TO DO WITH OXFORD HOUSES. AND THEN, UH, LET ME TAKE A LOOK AT IT. BUT I KNOW THIS IS A MEMO THAT I'M RECEIVING FROM HOUSTON PUBLIC WORKS, A RA AS WELL AS THE CITY'S LEGAL DEPARTMENT. RIGHT. UM, SO YEAH, THAT WAS SUBMITTED ON MAY THE 24TH, AND I HAVEN'T HEARD ANYTHING BACK FROM ANYBODY ABOUT WHETHER IT'S BEEN ACCEPTED OR DENIED OR IF THERE'S A DELAY IF THERE'RE LOOKING INTO IT. RIGHT. WELL, THIS MEMO IS TO ME DATED JULY 26TH OF THIS YEAR. OKAY. SO LEGAL HAS TAKING A LOOK AT IT. SO IS A RA AND PUBLIC WORKS WELL? YEAH. 'CAUSE I, I, I, I DID TURN AROUND AND I EMAILED AGAIN STATING THAT, UH, 'CAUSE I, I'VE, I'VE GOT SOMEBODY IN A LEGAL OFFICE THAT'S WORKING WITH ME. RIGHT. AND YOU ON HIM AS WELL. AND YOU ARE MR. FABRIZIO, CORRECT? I AM MR. FABRIZIO, YES. ALL RIGHT. THAT'S, AND I SPENT A LOT OF TIME WITH MR. ANDREWS ON THIS ISSUE. OKAY. AS YOU CAN IMAGINE, THEN THEY'RE TAKING, THEY'RE TAKING A LOOK AT IT. OKAY. OKAY. VERY MUCH. OKAY. ANYONE ELSE? ALRIGHT. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. NEXT SPEAKER, LUCIA MARINO. LUCIA MARINO, IF YOU PRESSED STAR SIX LUCIA LUCIA MARINO, STAR SIX LUCIA MARINO. NEXT SPEAKER, JULIANNE HUDDLESTON. JULIANNE HU HUDDLESTON STAR SIX. HELLO, MEMBERS OF THE HOUSTON CITY COUNCIL, THANK YOU FOR LETTING US SPEAK TODAY. PLEASE LET ME INTRODUCE MYSELF AND OUR GROUP. WE ARE RESEARCH INTERNS WITH LEX FREE AT THE INDEPENDENT LIVING RESEARCH UTILIZATION PROGRAM THROUGH TIER MEMORIAL HERMANN. TODAY ON THE 32ND ANNIVERSARY OF THE AMERICANS WITH DISABILITIES ACT, WE'LL BE TALKING ABOUT THE ADVANCEMENTS FROM THIS LEGISLATION, THE CHANGES WE STILL NEED TO MAKE, AND HOW THE A DA AFFECTS US. MY NAME IS JULIANNE HUDDLESON AND I'M HERE AS A DISABILITY ALLY TO DISCUSS HOW THE A DA IMPACTS EVERYONE. THERE HAVE BEEN GREAT ACCESSIBILITY IMPROVEMENTS FOR PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES, AS MY PEERS WILL TOUCH ON THROUGH THEIR PERSONAL EXPERIENCES. WHILE THESE CHANGES WERE DESIGNED FOR A SPECIFIC POPULATION, THEY PROVIDE BENEFITS TO EVERYONE. FOR INSTANCE, MANY PEOPLE, INCLUDING MYSELF, AUTOMATICALLY HAVE THEIR CLOSED CAPTIONS TURNED ON WHEN WATCHING THEIR FAVORITE SHOWS OR MOVIES. I ESPECIALLY FOUND THIS FEATURE HELPFUL WHEN ALL OF MY COLLEGE CLASSES WERE TAUGHT THROUGH VIDEOS AND ZOOM SESSIONS. OTHER HELPFUL TOOLS IN MY OWN STUDIES HAVE BEEN TEXT TO SPEECH AND DICTATION, WHICH I USE WHEN READING RESEARCH ARTICLES OR WRITING PAPERS. THESE TOOLS AND SO MANY OTHERS LIKE IT, ARE EASILY ACCESSIBLE BECAUSE OF THE A DA. WE MAY NOT EVEN NOTICE THE BENEFITS OF THE A DA, SUCH AS CURB RAMPS. THESE RAMPS ARE USED BY PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES, PARENTS WITH STROLLERS, TRAVELERS WITH SUITCASES, CYCLISTS AND SHOPPERS TRYING TO GET THEIR GROCERIES HOME. THERE ARE MANY MORE WAYS THAT THE A DA BENEFITS EACH OF US, LIKE HAVING VISUAL AND AUDITORY EMERGENCY BROADCAST SYSTEMS, WIDER DOORS AND ENTRANCES OR ELEVATOR TONES THAT LETS YOU KNOW WHICH FLOOR YOU'RE ON BEYOND THESE TANGIBLE BENEFITS OF THE A DA, THIS ACT ALSO ALLOWS FOR PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES TO BE MORE INVOLVED IN THE COMMUNITY, AND THIS LEADS TO MORE MEANINGFUL AND POSITIVE CONTACT WITH A GROUP OF INDIVIDUALS THAT SOCIETY IGNORED FOR MANY YEARS. THESE INTERACTIONS LET US CHALLENGE OUR PERCEPTIONS AND PREJUDICES ABOUT PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES. SO, AS YOU HEAR THE STORIES ABOUT MY PEERS, I ENCOURAGE YOU TO EXAMINE YOUR OWN PERCEPTIONS [01:15:01] AND RECOGNIZE THE IMPORTANCE OF THE AMERICANS WITH DISABILITIES ACT. THANK YOU ALL FOR YOUR TIME. THANK YOU VERY, VERY MUCH. THANK VERY, VERY MUCH. OKAY. NEXT SPEAKER, JAMES LIFTON. JAMES LIFTON, STAR SIX. THANK YOU, JULIANNE. AND THANK YOU TO MEMBERS OF THE HOUSTON CITY COUNCIL FOR ALLOWING US TO SPEAK TODAY. MY NAME IS JAMES LIFTON. I'M A SENIOR AT TEXAS A AND M, STUDYING POLITICAL SCIENCE. SINCE THE PASSING OF THE A DA HAS IMPACTED THE LIFE OF MANY DISABLED AMERICANS OF ALL AGES AND BACKGROUNDS, ENABLING THEM TO ACCESS THEIR CITY AND THEIR HOMES IN THE SAME WAY THAT NON-DISABLED PEOPLE DO, ESPECIALLY FOR THE 5.5 MILLION DISABLED TEXANS BEING DIAGNOSED WITH AUTISM. I STRUGGLE WITH PROCESSING INFORMATION. IT TAKES ME ADDITIONAL TIME TO UNDERSTAND AND COMMUNICATE MY NEEDS AND THE CONTENT OF MY LECTURERS. THE A DA HAS ALLOWED ME TO HAVE AN EVEN PLAYING FIELD BY REQUESTING EXTRA TIME AT THE STUDENT SERVICES AND TESTING CENTER AT MY COLLEGE WHERE I DON'T HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT RUNNING OUT OF TIME AND DISTRACTIONS THAT CAN THROW ME OFF FROM MY ABILITY TO FOCUS, HAVING ABILITY TO REQUEST THEM, THE CONFIDENCE TO ADVOCATE FOR MYSELF AND NOT CONSTANTLY FEEL LIKE I HAVE TO WORK TWICE AS HARD TO BE ON EQUAL FOOTING WITH MY PEERS. NOT ONLY ARE THESE ACCOMMODATIONS AVAILABLE FOR ALL UNDERGRADUATE INSTITUTIONS, BUT ALSO EXTENDS TO GRADUATE PROGRAMS IN THE UNITED STATES, ALLOWING ME TO CONTINUE THESE ACCOMMODATIONS IF I WISH TO GO INTO GRADUATE SCHOOL. HOUSTON IS AN EXCELLENT EXAMPLE OF HOW TO BE INCLUSIVE OF ALL GROUPS ACROSS THE DISABILITY SPECTRUM. THE HOUSTON MUSEUM OF NATIONAL SCIENCE OFFERED SERVICES FOR BLIND DEAF, AND THOSE WHO ARE AUTISTIC ARE OFFERED SENSORY BACKPACK CONTAINING FIDGETS STEPPED ANIMALS, EAR DEFENDERS, AND SUNGLASSES. THIS IS AN EXCELLENT EXAMPLE OF ACCOMMODATING INDIVIDUALS WITH ALL SORTS OF DISABILITIES. EFFORTS LIKE THIS MAY BE REPLICATED IN BUSINESSES GOVERNING BUILDINGS, ZOOS, AND MORE, NOT JUST IN HOUSTON, BUT ALSO ACROSS TEXAS. WHILE THE A DA HAS MADE TREMENDOUS STRIDES IN MAKING ACCESSIBILITY AT REALITY, WE STILL HAVE A LOT OF WORK AHEAD OF US. FOUR STABLE TECHS ARE MORE LIKELY TO SUFFER FROM DEPRESSION, AND 42 ARE SUFFERING FROM OBESITY. WHILE 32% OF THE STATE'S HEALTHCARE COSTS GO TOWARDS DISABILITY HEALTHCARE, A STACKING 200,000 DISABLED TEXANS ARE STILL WAITING TO RECEIVE SERVICES WITH SOME EVEN WAITING FOR OVER A DECADE. MORE WORK MUST BE DEDICATED TOWARDS ADDRESSING THESE ISSUES THROUGH ACCOMMODATION AND EDUCATION OF THE ISSUES THAT AFFECT THE DISABLED COMMUNITY, AND WE MUST CONTINUE OUR EFFORTS TO TOWARDS CREATING A MORE INCLUSIVE CITY FOR EVERYONE WITH DISABILITIES. WHILE I KNOW THAT MY JOURNEY AS AN INDIVIDUAL WITH A DISABILITY NAVIGATING THE WORLD IS ONLY BEGINNING, I AM THE BYPRODUCT OF THE AMERICAN DISABILITIES ACT, AND WITHOUT IT, I COULD NOT HAVE THE ABILITY TO ADVOCATE NOR ACCESS TO RESOURCES TO GET ME WHERE I NEED TO BE. THANK YOU FOR THE TIME AND PLEASE CONTINUE YOUR EFFORTS TO ENSURE AN INCLUSIVE FUTURE FOR ALL DISABLED TEXANS. THANK YOU VERY, VERY MUCH. APPRECIATE IT. NEXT SPEAKER, MEREDITH TOWNSEND. MEREDITH TOWNSEND. HELLO, INDIVIDUALS OF THE HOUSTON CITY COUNCIL. I AM MEREDITH TOWNSEND, A GRADUATE STUDENT AT RICE UNIVERSITY, WORKING TOWARDS A MASTER'S IN INDUSTRIAL ORGANIZATIONAL PSYCHOLOGY. THE AMERICANS WITH DISABILITIES ACT HAS IMPACTED MY LIFE IN MANY POSITIVE WAYS. LIVING WITH MULTIPLE VISUAL PROCESSING DISORDERS AFFECTS PROCESSING WHAT I SEE QUICKLY AND MY READING SPEED AND COMPREHENSION. TO BE SUCCESSFUL, I REQUIRE ACCOMMODATIONS. AN EXAMPLE OF HOW THE A DA HAS HELPED ME IS AT MY PLACE OF EMPLOYMENT. CURRENTLY AT MY EMPLOY AT MY EMPLOYER, I USE KURZWELL 3000, A TEXT TO SPEECH SOFTWARE. THIS SOFTWARE IS AFFORDED TO ME BECAUSE OF THE A DA HELPS ME READ THE CONTENT THAT IS REQUIRED TO BE SUCCESSFUL. ALSO, BECAUSE OF THE A DA, I HAVE EASY ACCESS TO ELEVATORS. OUR ELEVATORS ARE CRUCIAL BECAUSE OF MY POOR DEPTH PERCEPTION. EVEN THOUGH I'M ABLE TO WALK UP AND DOWN THE STAIRS, I AM OFTEN EXTREMELY SLOW, AND I DO NOT. AND IF I DO NOT KNOW THE STAIRS I AM ON, IT CAN BE EXTREMELY CHALLENGING. WHEN I DO NOT HAVE ACCESS TO ELEVATORS, I OFTEN HAVE TO ASK A FRIEND TO WALK IN FRONT OF ME TO ASSIST FOR SAFETY OF EVERYONE AND MYSELF. LASTLY, BECAUSE OF MY VISUAL PROCESSING DISORDERS, I AM NOT VERY COMFORTABLE DRIVING, ESPECIALLY IN HOUSTON. CONSEQUENTLY, I I'M AN AVID PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION AND RIDESHARE USER OVERALL. HOUSTON DOES A FANTASTIC JOB WITH THEIR PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION AND WALKABILITY, BUT THERE IS ALWAYS ROOM FOR IMPROVEMENT. I'M SPECIFICALLY REFERRING TO THE SIDEWALKS AROUND RICE VILLAGE AND WEST UNIVERSITY. THE SIDEWALKS, IN MY OPINION, ARE NOT ADEQUATELY TAKEN CARE OF TO ASSURE EASY USE FOR PEOPLE WITH MOBILITY ISSUES. A NUMBER OF THEM ARE UNEVEN, AND MANY STREETS DO NOT HAVE EASY ACCESS RAMPS FOR PEOPLE WITH MOBILITY CHALLENGES. THERE IS AN EASY SOLUTION FOR THIS. PLEASE ASSURE THE SIDEWALKS ARE WELL KEPT THROUGH PROPER MAINTENANCE THROUGHOUT THE HOUSTON AREA. I'M NOW GOING TO TURN THE DISCUSSION OVER TO MASON. NEXT SPEAKER. [01:20:03] MASON SMITH. MASON SMITH. UH, ONE SECOND. UM, THANK YOU, MEREDITH. MY NAME IS MASON SMITH, AND I'M A PROUD PSYCHOLOGICAL SCIENTIST GRADUATE OF TEXAS A AND M UNIVERSITY. MY PERSONAL EXPERIENCE WITH DISABILITY BEGAN INCREDIBLY JARRINGLY. AND JANUARY OF 2017, I WOKE UP AND BEGAN THE DAY LIKE ANY NORMAL DAY. I OPENED UP MY PHONE, BROWSE THE NEWS, AND STARTED MENTALLY PLANNING OUT HOW I WOULD COMPLETE MY HOMEWORK FOR THE DAY. 15 MINUTES LATER, I WAS LYING ON THE FLOOR PLEADING WITH GOD TO NOT TAKE MY LEGS AWAY FROM ME. AFTER SPENDING SIX WEEKS IN THE HOSPITAL, THREE OF WHICH WERE IN THE ICUI WAS RELEASED ON MY 17TH BIRTHDAY, I NEWLY DISABLED PARAPLEGIC STILL WITHOUT AN OFFICIAL DIAGNOSIS. THE FOLLOWING MONTH, I WAS FINALLY DIAGNOSED WITH ACUTE FLACID MYELITIS, AN EXTREMELY RARE POLIO LIGHT CONDITION CAUSED BY AN INFECTION FROM A VIRUS THAT CAUSES RAPID AND OFTENTIMES PERMANENT PARALYSIS COUNCIL MEMBERS. I THINK IT'S INCREDIBLY IMPORTANT TO EMPHASIZE, ESPECIALLY ON A DAY LIKE TODAY, THE 32ND ANNIVERSARY OF THE SIGNING OF THE A DA, THAT IF I HAD NOT HAD THE FORTUNE OF BEING BORN INTO A WORLD WHERE THE A A ALREADY EXISTED, I WOULD NOT BE HERE WITH YOU TODAY. I, AS WELL AS MY FELLOW INTERNS HERE WITH YOU TODAY ARE A PRODUCT OF THE A DA FROM THE BUSES WITH RAMPS AND WHEELCHAIR SPACES. I USE TO TRAVEL AROUND CAMPUS TO THE HEIGHT ADJUSTABLE LAB TABLES I USED IN PHYSICS TO THE HANDICAP SPACES I CURRENTLY USE TO PARK AND EXIT MY VEHICLE TO THE RAMPS I USED TO ENTER AND EXIT VARIOUS PUBLIC BUILDINGS AND BUSINESSES, AND EVEN TO JUST CURB CUTS. THE A DA HAS POSITIVELY IMPACTED ME AND MILLIONS OF OTHERS ON A, QUITE LITERALLY A DAILY BASIS. WITHOUT THESE AND MANY OTHER ACCOMMODATIONS AFFORDED TO ME BY THE A DAI WOULD NOT HAVE BEEN ABLE TO GRADUATE HIGH SCHOOL, MAINTAIN SOCIAL RELATIONSHIPS WITH MY FRIENDS AND FAMILY, ATTEND TEXAS A AND M OR GRADUATE SUMMA C*M LAUDE FROM A AND M. SUCCINCTLY PUT THE A DA HAS AND CONTINUES TO ALLOW ME AND OTHERS TO EXPERIENCE THE SAME RIGHTS AND OPPORTUNITIES AS OUR ABLE-BODIED COUNTERPARTS SUFFICES TO SAY, THROUGH THE HARD WORK OF A MYRIAD OF DIFFERENT INDIVIDUALS AND GROUPS FROM LEX FREEDOM AND THE PEOPLE AT THE ILRU TO THE VERY MEMBERS OF THIS COUNCIL, TEXAS HAS TRANSFORMED INTO A MORE INCLUSIVE AND ACCOMMODATING STATE. HOWEVER, THERE IS STILL MORE THAT CAN BE DONE. AS MEREDITH JUST STATED, POOR SIDEWALK MAINTENANCE CONTINUES TO BE A PERSISTENT BUT ADDRESSABLE ISSUE THROUGHOUT BOTH THE HOUSTON AREA AND TEXAS AS A WHOLE. ADDITIONALLY, UNEQUAL LEVELS OF ACCESS INTO AND THROUGHOUT PUBLIC BUILDINGS, COUPLED WITH THE LACK OF A DA COMPLIANCE ENFORCEMENT CONTINUES TO PRESENT INEQUITABLE, BUT ADDRESSABLE CHALLENGES FOR THOSE WITH MOBILITY AND VISUAL DISABILITIES. I WOULD LIKE TO BRIEFLY THANK EVERYONE HERE FOR THEIR TIME AND ATTENTION. ADDITIONALLY, I WOULD LIKE TO ACKNOWLEDGE BOTH FLEX FREEDOM AND THE PEOPLE AT ILRU, BOTH OF WHICH SPONSOR INTERNSHIPS, EDUCATING AIMED AT EDUCATING AND ARMING CURRENT COLLEGE STUDENTS LIKE MYSELF WITH THE INFORMATION, RESOURCES AND SKILLS NEEDED TO FURTHER OUR GOALS AS BOTH RESEARCHERS AND DISABILITY ADVOCATES ALIKE. LASTLY, I WOULD LIKE TO CLOSE MY REMARKS WITH THIS. IF YOU DO NOT HAVE A DISABILITY RIGHT NOW, IT IS VERY LIKELY THAT YOU WILL AT SOME POINT IN YOUR LIFE, WHETHER IT BE FROM AN INFECTION, A BROKEN LEG, OR OLD AGE, AS WE CELEBRATE THE A DA SIGNAGE AND ITS IMPACTS, LET'S BE PROUD OF HOW MUCH PROGRESS HOUSTON AND THE UNITED STATES HAS MADE IN MAKING THE NATION MORE ACCESSIBLE, AND LET'S ADDRESS THE ACCESSIBILITY ABILITY PROBLEMS STILL FACED BY MANY. THANK, THANK YOU VERY MUCH AND LET ME THANK ALL OF YOU, UH, FOR YOUR PRESENTATIONS TODAY WITH REGARDS TO THE A DA, UH, VERY SUBSTANTIVE, AND I APPRECIATE, UH, EACH AND EVERY ONE OF YOU TAKING THE TIME TO PRESENT TO MEMBERS OF CITY COUNCIL. SO THANK YOU. OKAY. UH, VICE MAYOR PROAM, UH, CAST TATUM, THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR YOUR, UH, COMMENTS TODAY, AND THANK YOU TO EACH OF, UH, THE STUDENTS WHO HAVE MADE COMMENTS. TODAY ON THE ANNIVERSARY OF THE SIGNING OF THE A DAI DID WANT TO JUST LET YOU KNOW THAT YOU HAVE A HOST OF A DA ALLIES ON THE HOUSTON CITY COUNCIL, AND WE LOOK FORWARD TO CONTINUING TO WORK ALONGSIDE YOU TO REACHING ALL OF THOSE GOALS. UM, AND WANTED TO JUST AGAIN SAY THANK YOU FOR, UM, COMING AND MAKING THOSE COMMENTS TODAY BECAUSE WE TOO CELEBRATE THE SIGNING OF THE A DA AS WE WORK EVERY DAY TO TRY TO MAKE, UM, HOUSTON MORE ACCESSIBLE FOR EVERYONE. AND COUNCIL MEMBER CISNEROS. THANK YOU, MAYOR. UM, JULIANNE, JAMES MEREDITH MASON, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR COMING TO SPEAK TO US. I, I SEE THAT YOU'RE COMING FROM ALL OVER THE STATE, YOU KNOW, UM, FAIR OAKS, AUSTIN, SAN ANTONIO. UM, I, I REALLY APPRECIATE YOU REACHING OUT TO US AND, AND IT WAS NICE TO HEAR HOUSTON AS AN EXAMPLE. THAT'S DOING A GOOD JOB IN SOME CASES. I KNOW WE HAVE MORE TO DO, BUT I, I, THAT WAS, THAT WAS NICE TO HEAR TOO. UM, ALL OF YOU WERE SUCH, YOU KNOW, GAVE SUCH GOOD TESTIMONY AS TO THE, THE REALLY, VERY POSITIVE IMPACT IT'S HAD ON YOUR LIVES. AND IT'S, AND, AND YOU'RE AN IMPRESSIVE GROUP. LOOK WHAT YOU'RE DOING, AND, YOU KNOW, TO, TO HEAR THAT YOU WOULDN'T BE WHERE YOU ARE NOW. YOU KNOW, UM, WE'RE NOT, YOU KNOW, THE A DA IN PLACE FOR YOU. SO YES, WE WILL CONTINUE TO, TO STRIVE TO DO BETTER, AND THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE TODAY. [01:25:02] THANK YOU VERY MUCH. THANK EACH AND EVERY ONE OF YOU. OKAY, NEXT SPEAKER. SANDRA FRANCIS. SANDRA FRANCIS. GOOD AFTERNOON. OKAY. MY COMPLAINT. WILLOW WATERHOLE GREENWAY ON 5,300 DRYAD. THE HOUSTON PARK AND REC RECREATION DEPARTMENT OVERSEES 366 PARKS, MORE THAN TWO, 200 GREEN SPACES ALONG MORE THAN 125 MILES OF HIKE AND BIKE TRAILS EVERY DAY. APPROXIMATELY 1000 PEOPLE IN THE UNITED STATES REQUIRE EMERGENCY CARE TREATMENT AS A RESULT OF DOG BITE INJURY. 73% OF ALL DEATH ARE CAUSED BY DOGS IN AMERICA DURING THE PAST 10 YEARS. MY FOCUS TODAY IS ON DOG OWNERS ENFORCEMENT OF THE LEASH LAWS, POLICE PRESENCE, AND ENFORCEMENT OF THE LAWS ON OUR BIKES TRAIL. THERE NEEDS TO BE A MUZZLE DOG LAW AND LEGISLATION BILL ALL DOGS WITHIN THE PUBLIC MASSES. WE AS CITIZENS DON'T UNDERSTAND WHY THERE IS A ONE BIKE RULE WHEN CITIZENS DO NOT KNOW IF THE DOG OWNERS HAVE THEIR DOGS UP TO DATE SHOTS WHEN THEY ARE BITTEN ONE TIME OR MULTIPLE TIMES. DOG OWNERS ARE THE PROBLEM BREAKING THE LAWS AT THE WILLOW WATER HOLE. GREENWAY CITIZENS ARE BEING BULLIED, THREATENED, VICTIMIZED BY DOG OWNERS. I PERSONALLY HAVE BEEN PHYSICALLY ASSAULTED, AMBUSH, THREATENED BY DOG OWNERS ON THIS TRAIL. I RUN 10 MILES A DAY, BIKE JOG OR WHATEVER. I DO MY REGIMEN OUT THERE. I KNOW I'M THERE EVERY DAY. I HAVE PERSONALLY BEEN ALMOST SMALL FOUR TIMES. IF I HAD NOT HAD MY PEPPER SPRAY ON ME, I WOULD'VE BEEN THE VICTIM AS IF THAT 71-YEAR-OLD MAN THAT WAS VICTIMIZED THE OTHER WEEK. OKAY. OWNERS NEED TO KNOW TO RESTRAIN OUR DOGS AND RESPECT THE LEASH LAW ON THESE TRAILS. THERE IS NO PRESENCE OF LAW ENFORCEMENT'S, OFFICER PRECINCT, FIVE HPD OR PARK RANGERS ON THIS TRAIL AT ANY TIME. I'M UP THERE SEVEN DAYS A WEEK. I WAS DISTURBED AND DISAPPOINTED TO FIND OUT THERE ARE ONLY FIVE PARK RANGERS TO COVER THE ENTIRE CITY OF 366 PARKS IN THIS HOUSTON AREA. TOLD WHO TOLD YOU THAT? I CALLED THE PARK RANGER AND I WAS TOLD THAT HE DIDN'T HAVE IT. THAT'S NOT TRUE. I WOULD JUST TELL YOU, JUST IN ONE SAFE, HOUSTON, WE ARE HIRING 15 RANGERS AND NINE OF THE 15 HAVE BEEN BROUGHT ON BOARD JUST UNDER ONE SAFE HOUSTON. OKAY. ALRIGHT. OKAY. BUT THAT'S NOT TRUE. OKAY. NOW, I, UH, THIS AND YOU, UH, MAYOR, UH, SAID TO ASSIST HPDI INTERRUPTED YOU, SIR. I'LL, I'LL GIVE YOU MORE TIME. OKAY. TO ASSIST THE, UH, HPD, UH, UNDER THE, UM, UH, THE CITY ALSO INVENTORY $1.9 MILLION TO INCREASE THE NUMBERS OF PARK RANGERS. BY 15, THE PARK RANGERS WILL WORK WITH THE PARTNER WITH THE LOCAL ENFORCEMENT. RIGHT. OKAY. AND THAT'S FOR THE, UH, ONE SAFE HOUSTON CRIME REDUCTION INITIATIVE. AND THE, AND YOU ALSO SAID THAT THE COMMUNITY HAS A ROLE TO PLAY. POLICE CAN'T DO IT ALL ALONE. RIGHT. I CONCUR. AND I'M HERE. I'M READY WHEN THEY READY TO GO. I'M READY. OKAY. I DON'T JUST BRING OR COMPLAINT. I'M READY TO GO AT IT NOW. UM, I HAVE CALLED YOU MY CITY COUNCILWOMAN. I HAVE LEFT MESSAGES AT YOUR OFFICE TO NO AVAIL. NO ONE CALLS BACK SATURDAY, TWO SATURDAYS IN A ROW. I HAD TO CALL. I GOT TWO INCIDENTS REPORT WHERE I WAS AMBUSHED BEHIND BUSHES, KNOCKED OFF MY BIKE BY A MAN. GOOD THING I HAD MY PEPPER SPRAY WITH ME AT THAT TIME. AND THE REASON WHY THIS HAPPENED, BECAUSE THIS DOG ALMOST MAULED ME IN THE PARK ON THE TRAIL I CALLED. I GOT NO RESPONSE, MAYOR. I DID NOT SEE AN OFFICER. I STAYED AT THAT PARK UNTIL NINE 30 THAT NIGHT. THE INCIDENT HAPPENED AT 6:00 PM THAT EVENING. I WAITED BECAUSE I WAS GONNA TAKE THEM TO WHERE HE WAS, BECAUSE I CHASED HIM TO FIND OUT WHERE HE WAS. [01:30:03] I GOT NO RESPONSE UNTIL ALMOST ONE O'CLOCK SUNDAY MORNING. AND I MADE THE POLICE REPORT. THEN I COULD HAVE BEEN ON THAT TRAIL DEAD. I GOT NO HELP. I WAS FAILED AS A CITIZEN. SO THIS IS A PROBLEM BACK THERE. AND I KNOW PEOPLE, I KNOW WE ARE SHORTHANDED. I KNOW HPD IS SHORTHANDED. I KNOW THE PARK RANGER IS SHORT. I KNOW THE CONSTABLES ARE SHORTHANDED, BUT IT, SOMETHING HAS GOT TO BE DONE ON THAT TRAIL BEFORE SOMEBODY DON'T MAKE IT FROM THERE. I HAVE GOTTEN COMPLAINTS FROM MY RESIDENTS. I HAVE GOTTEN COMPLAINTS FROM THE APARTMENT THAT'S RIGHT NEXT TO THE TRAIL. UH, AND THE REASON I DIDN'T SEE HIM BECAUSE HE WAS HIDING BEHIND THE BUSHES ON THAT TRAIL. THE BUSHES NEED TO BE TRIM WHERE WE ARE ABLE TO SEE, AND IT'S, IT'S, IT'S JUST, IT'S TERRIBLE BACK THERE. IF SOMETHING HAS GOT TO BE DONE, LEMME JUST SAY, MS. FRANCIS, NUMBER ONE, I, I, I SHARE YOUR CONCERNS. LET ME ADVISE YOU. DON'T, DON'T, UM, BE CHASING AFTER PEOPLE OUT THERE. NOW, , THAT MEANS SHE SAY SHE WAS CHASING. YEAH. LET ME, LET ME JUST, LEMME JUST, LEMME JUST, THAT'S NOT A GOOD THING TO DO MM-HMM . SO I WOULD, UH, WHEN SOMETHING LIKE THAT HAPPENS, I WOULD JUST GO HOME AND FILE THE REPORT AT THAT POINT IN TIME. UH, BECAUSE YES, I MEAN POLICE OFFICERS ALL OVER THE CITY RIGHT NOW. UH, BUT I WOULD NOT, I WOULD NOT HAVE STAYED THERE AND I CERTAINLY WOULDN'T BE CHASING OR TRYING TO FOLLOW ANYBODY. UH, I WILL TELL YOU. YEAH. A PART OF ONE SAFE HOUSTON IS TO BRING ON 15 ADDITIONAL PARK RANGERS. MM-HMM . AND, UH, UP TO THIS 0.9 OF THE 15 HAVE BEEN HIRED. MM-HMM . UH, WE INCREASED THE PAY FOR PARK RANGERS TO, UH, TO HELPING THE RECRUITMENT OF PEOPLE FOR RANGERS. SO WE HAVE DONE THAT, AND THAT HAS HELPED TO GET US UP TO NINE. AND HOPEFULLY SOON WE'LL BE UP TO 15. GOOD. UM, AND I'M TRYING TO FIND OUT HOW MANY PARTNER NOW, WHAT CAN I DO, MAYOR, TO HELP, UH, TO PARTNER WITH THEM, TO HELP THEM. 'CAUSE LIKE I SAID, I'M NOT A COMPLAINANT. I'M A WORKER. I'M READY TO WORK WITH THEM. AND I CONCUR WITH YOU A HUNDRED PERCENT ON THAT. RIGHT. AND I WILL, I WILL ASK, UH, DIRECTOR ALLEN TO REACH OUT TO YOU. HE'S THE DIRECTOR OF PARKS AND REC. GREAT. TO REACH OUT TO YOU FOR ADDITIONAL, FOR YOUR ADVICE. 'CAUSE SINCE YOU ARE OUT THERE EVERY SINGLE DAY YES, I AM. TO GET YOUR, TO GET YOUR INPUT. UM, THEN AT THE SAME TIME, UH, WE ARE PICKING UP ON A, ON A DAILY BASIS, JUST STRAY ANIMALS. YES. FROM FIVE TO 30 A DAY. YES. OKAY. YES. I'VE SEEN 'EM. UM, SO WE NEED, WE NEED MORE CAPACITY. OKAY. AND, UH, HOPEFULLY, UH, CITY COUNCIL APPROVE. WHAT I'M RECOMMENDING IN THE BOND PROPOSAL FOR NOVEMBER IS ADDED MONEY FOR ANOTHER, FOR ANOTHER SHELTER AT BARK. RIGHT. UH, BECAUSE WE DO NEED MORE CAPACITY. YES. BECAUSE THE CITY OF HOUSTON IS THE ONE ENTITY THAT PICKS UP STRAY ANIMALS. YES. OKAY. NOW, OTHERS, IF THEIR SHELTERS GET FULL, THEY DON'T PICK UP. BUT WE PICK UP STRAY ANIMALS AND THEY CAN BE ANYWHERE FROM FIVE TO 30 A DAY. OKAY. SO WE DO NEED MORE CAPACITY. MM-HMM . WE DO NEED A BIGGER, I MEAN, ANOTHER SHELTER THAT AGAIN MM-HMM . AND I AM RECOMMENDING THAT THAT BE A PART OF THE UPCOMING NOVEMBER BOND ELECTION. UH, AND THEN, UH, NOW WE MAY NEED TO VISIT TO PUT A LITTLE BIT MORE PRESSURE ON PEOPLE TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY KEEP A LEASH ON THEIR DOGS. RIGHT. ABSOLUTELY. SO WE, AND WE MAY NEED TO TAKE A LOOK AT AN ORDINANCE OF SOME KIND TO STRENGTHEN THAT. RIGHT. BECAUSE, UM, YOU KNOW, EVEN TIMES WHEN I'VE GONE TO THE PARK, RIGHT. PEOPLE FEEL SO COMFORTABLE WITH THEIR DOGS, THEY TAKE 'EM OFF THE LEASH AND JUST LET 'EM, AND THAT'S EXACTLY WHAT'S HAPPENING THERE. I, I'VE SEEN, MATTER OF FACT, THE FULL DOGS THAT ALMOST MA ME RIGHT. THE OWNER'S Y'ALL WAS WALKING, I'VE NE THIS, THERE'S NO LOGIC TO THIS WALKING WITH THE LEASHES AROUND THEIR NECKS RIGHT. VISIBLE FOR YOU TO SEE. AND IN THE POCKET, THE DOG, TWO DOGS THAT CAME AFTER ME THAT I WAS ALMOST SMALL, THE OWNER, AFTER I SPRAYED THE DOG, THE OWNER REACHED IN HIS POCKET AND PULLED OUT THE LEASHES. RIGHT. I I, SO I'M WITH YOU ON THAT. AND, UH, BUT WE ARE GOING TO BE RECOMMENDING, AND SINCE YOU BROUGHT UP, I'M JUST GONNA SAY, UH, I AM GOING TO BE SUGGESTING THAT WE DO PULL FROM THE FUND BALANCE TO DO SOME ADDITIONAL THINGS. SO I DO WANT Y'ALL TO KNOW THAT THAT'S, THAT THAT'S COMING. UH, BUT, UM, [01:35:01] WE HAVE TO GET, UM, MORE OF THE STRAY ANIMALS OFF THE STREET. YES, THANK YOU. BUT THAT REQUIRES MORE CAPACITY AND IT DOES REQUIRE, UH, PAYING PEOPLE MORE EVEN IN BARK. RIGHT. TO HANDLE THAT. UH, AND THEN WE'VE GOT TO ENCOURAGE PEOPLE TO KEEP A LEASH. WE'LL, BRINGING ON MORE PARK RANGERS. THAT'S IN PROCESS RIGHT NOW. THERE ARE GOOD 35 GOOD. YEAH. ON BOARD. NOW THREE IN TRAINING AND EIGHT ARE BEING HIRED. RIGHT. SO, UH, THERE ARE 30, WHEN YOU COMBINE THE THREE, THERE ARE 38 PARK RANGERS RIGHT NOW. SO, UH, GOOD. SO THEY ARE NEEDED. THEY ARE NEEDED. SO I HEAR WHAT YOU'RE SAYING, BUT LET ME, LET ME HAVE PARKS TO REACH OUT TO YOU JUST TO GET YOUR INPUT. YES. SINCE YOU'RE OUT THERE. BUT LET ME EMPHASIZE NOT JUST TO YOU, BUT TO OTHERS. DON'T FOLLOW THEM. MS. FRANCIS . I WAS SO, I WAS JUST SO PERTURBED. I I UNDERSTAND. BUT LEMME TELL YOU, PEOPLE, PEOPLE DON'T JUST I KNOW. I KNOW. AND YOU ARE RIGHT. IT'S, IT'S DANGEROUS OUT HERE. YOU ARE. RIGHT. SO, SO DON'T, DON'T DO THAT. I, I, AND MARY, YOU'RE RIGHT. I THOUGHT ABOUT IT LATER, BUT IT WAS TOO LATE. I HAD DONE IT. IT WAS JUST YEAH. REFLEX, YOU KNOW, BUT I, BUT I APPRECIATE YOUR COMMENTS AND WE'LL BE HAVING A, UH, CONVERSATIONS ON, ON THIS PARTICULAR SUBJECT OVER THE NEXT TWO TO THREE WEEKS. RIGHT. AND IT, AND LIKE I SAY, PLEASE HAVE, I, I'M NOT, I'M WILLING TO WORK WITH, RIGHT. WITH WHATEVER THEY NEED TO DO OR WANT TO DO. I'M, I'M THERE, I'M THERE FOR 'EM. HOLD ON ONE SECOND. UH, 'CAUSE I'VE BEEN WORKING VERY CLOSELY WITH YOUR COUNCIL MEMBER, VICE MEMBER FOR JIM CASH. DICTATOR. THANK YOU MS. FRANCIS FOR COMING. I, I DID WANT TO, UM, SAY THAT, UM, ALL, ALL OF YOUR CONCERNS ARE EXTREMELY VALID. THE ONLY ONLY EXCEPTION I'M GONNA TAKE IS THAT, UM, YOU CALLED OUR OFFICE AND WE HAVEN'T CALLED YOU BACK BECAUSE MY STAFF TOLD ME THAT THEY'VE SPENT, UM, LOTS OF TIME TALKING TO YOU ON THE PHONE. BARBARA, JOE, AND DEDE, UM, HAVE SAID THAT THEY HAVE SPOKEN WITH YOU. SO I'M GONNA TAKE A LITTLE EXCEPTION WITH THAT. BUT THEN I'M GONNA TELL YOU THAT, UM, WHEN YOU TALK TO THEM, UM, THAT IS, UH, THEY, THEY WORK IN MY OFFICE. THEY ARE REPRESENTATION OF ME. AND IF YOU SPEAK TO BARBARA, THAT'S VERY SIMILAR TO TALKING TO ME. SHE HAS WORKED FOR FOUR COUNCIL MEMBERS. THERE AREN'T VERY MANY QUESTIONS THAT CAN COME TO THAT OFFICE THAT SHE CAN'T HANDLE. UM, AND THAT'S WHY SHE IS THE DIRECTOR OF CONSTITUENT SERVICES TO HANDLE CONSTITUENT ISSUES. UM, I THINK I SAW YOU AT THE PARK A COUPLE OF WEEKENDS AGO. WE WERE HAVING AN EVENT AT THE WILLOW WATER HALL. MM-HMM. I REMEMBER THAT EVENT. AND I, AND I SAW SOMEBODY WALKING. AND NOW THAT YOU SAID YOU'RE THERE EVERY DAY. YES. I THAT WAS YOU. MM-HMM . UM, BUT I, I THINK THAT WHAT WE CAN DO IS WORK WITH THE CONSERVANCY AT THE WILLOW WATER HOLE, UM, AND MAYBE GET SOME SIGNS UP TO, UM, ENCOURAGE PEOPLE TO KEEP THEIR DOGS ON LEASHES. UM, WELL, YOU HAVE THAT, DID YOU NOT SEE THAT WHEN YOU SIT THERE? NO, BUT WE CAN GET SOME MORE SIGNS FOR PEOPLE TO KEEP THEIR, THEIR DOGS ON LEASHES. 'CAUSE THEY'RE ONLY ON ONE PART OF, ON ONE PART OF THE, OF THE PARK. UM, BUT I DO THINK THE CONSERVANCY CAN HELP US BECAUSE IT IS, THEY ARE VERY ACTIVE AT THE PARK. ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT MR. STACK? AND THEY, THEY DO, I'M SORRY, MR. STACK, HOW STACK? YES. YEAH. HE AND I ARE, WE, WE ARE TOGETHER AND WE ARE ON IT. BUT THIS THE THING, AND UH, HE WALKS THE TRAIL TOO. RIGHT. OKAY. AND, UH, SO HE AND I ARE TOGETHER ON THAT. SO YOU'VE SPOKEN TO, TO MR. SACHS AT THE CONSERVANCY. I THINK THAT THEY CAN HELP US TO MAKE SURE THAT PEOPLE KEEP THEIR, THEIR DOGS ON THE LEASH. UM, AND THEN, UH, WHEN THERE ARE DOGS ON THE TRAIL, WE CAN DEFINITELY CONTACT BARK. MY OFFICE HAS ALREADY, UM, GIVEN OVER $13,000 TO BARK TO PICK UP STRAY DOGS. RIGHT. AND SO WE DEFINITELY CAN CONTINUE THAT EFFORT. UM, AND I WILL MAKE SURE THAT WE CONTACT BARK TO LET THEM KNOW THAT THERE ARE STRAY DOGS TO SEE IF THEY CAN DO A SUITE AT ANY OBJECTION TO EXTENDING AT THE WILLOW WATER HALL. MOVE SECOND. AN OBJECTION TO HEARING GRANTED. THANK YOU. SO, SO WE WANNA WORK ALONGSIDE YOU AND THE CONSERVANCY TO MAKE SURE THAT THAT'S HAPPENING OUT. AND WE'VE CLARIFIED THAT THERE ARE CURRENTLY 38 PARK RANGERS AND WE'VE ALLOCATED $1.9 MILLION FOR THAT ADDITIONAL 15 WITH NINE OF THEM HAVING BEING HIRED. SO LET US PUT OUT AN ALERT SLIP FOR THE STRAY DOGS AT THE WILLOW WATER HOLE. AND DOG OWNERS, THIS IS THE PROBLEM. AND YES. YES, MA'AM. I AGREE. I AGREE. AND, AND THE MAYORS ALREADY SAID, WE'RE GONNA LOOK AT THAT ORDINANCE AND SEE HOW WE CAN STRENGTHEN THAT. RIGHT. BECAUSE IT'S NOT ONLY AN ISSUE IN THE PARK, IT'S AN ISSUE IN THE NEIGHBORHOODS. RIGHT. 'CAUSE IT'S BAD WHEN THE DOGS GOT MORE SENSE THAN THE DOG OWNERS. THAT'S KIND OF BAD. WELL, OFTENTIMES THAT'S THE CASE. IT IS. IT REALLY IS. THANK YOU, MS. FRANCIS. COUNCIL MEMBER JACKSON. THANK YOU, MAYOR. MS. FRANCIS, I JUST WANNA SAY THANK YOU FOR COMING IN TO BRING AWARENESS ABOUT THE LEASHES. I HAVE A ISSUE WITH IT AS WELL. UM, I RIDE MY BIKE OFTEN. IN FACT, I WAS RIDING MY BIKE LAST NIGHT AND A FELLA HAD A PET BULL WITH NO LEASH ON, AND IT'S LIKE, COME ON. RIGHT. I GET CHASED [01:40:01] IN THE NEIGHBORHOODS AND IT'S A LITTLE DISTRACTING. AND IT'S DANGEROUS WHEN YOU TRYING TO RUN FROM THESE LITTLE DOGS THAT'S RUNNING FAST. YOU CAN'T, YOU'RE TRYING TO PEDAL. YEAH. RIGHT. SO I'M WITH YOU. I WILL LIKE, PAY CLOSE ATTENTION TO THE ORDINANCE, UM, AND DO WHAT I CAN TO JUST MAKE SURE THAT IT'S ENFORCED. YOU HAVE A ADVOCATE ON, UM, COUNCIL, BECAUSE AGAIN, IT'S NOT FUN TRYING TO RIDE YOUR BIKE AND PEOPLE WALKING AROUND AND THEY JUST CARELESS WITH IT. AND THE NONCHALANT, LIKE, IT'S OKAY. RIGHT. RIGHT. THEY NEED TO PUT THEIR DOGS ON THE LEASH. RIGHT. SO I'M WITH YOU A HUNDRED PERCENT. EXACTLY. THANK YOU, MAYOR, FOR EVERYTHING THAT YOU'RE DOING WITH THE ONE SAFE HOUSTON AND THE THE, UM YES. YEAH. WITH THE, SO I'M BEHIND YOU. A HUNDRED PERCENT. THANKS. THANK YOU. AND I'M BEHIND YOU ON IN THE MAYOR WITH THAT, BECAUSE LIKE I SAID, PEOPLE COME HERE EVERY DAY AND I KNOW THEY COMPLAINT, COMPLAINT, COMPLAINT TO YOU ALL, BUT THEY'RE NOT WILLING TO PUT IN THE WORK OR THE EFFORT TO HELP YOU WITH THE PROBLEMS THAT THEY'RE HAVING. BUT YOU GOT ONE CONSTITUENT THAT'S WILLING TO WORK. HOLD ON ONE SECOND. COUNCILMAN GALLEGOS. THANK YOU, MAYOR. THANK YOU MS. FRANCIS ALSO FOR COMING IN THIS AFTERNOON. I, I I KNOW THIS IS A, UH, AN ISSUE THAT WE'RE HAVING ACROSS OUR CITY. YES. UH, I, I KNOW THIS IS SOMETHING THAT I'VE BEEN, UH, YOU KNOW, DOING MY BEST TO BRING TO OUR, THE ATTENTION. UH, AND I'M APPRECIATE THE MAYOR AND, UH, YES. A MILLION DOLLARS THAT YOU, UH, UH, GAVE YES. UH, THIS PAST IN THIS BUDGET, UH, FOR, FOR BARKS, UH, TO HELP BARK. UH, AND THEN YES, GOOD NEWS TO HEAR THAT THE MAYOR'S LOOKING AT EXPANDING, UH, THE SHELTER AT BARK. RIGHT. WITH, WITH THE BOND ELECTION, I BELIEVE YOU SAID MAYOR, CORRECT. YES. UH, SO, SO, SO THAT'S GOOD NEWS. THAT'S GOOD NEWS. YES. IT'S, AND, AND I'M HOPING WE WILL ALSO BE ABLE WITH THAT BOND, UH, TO HIRE SOME MORE EMPLOYEES FOR BARK AS WELL, SO THEY CAN ACTUALLY BE GOING OUT AND PATROLLING OUR NEIGHBORHOODS, UH, WITH THE STRAYS. I LIKE COUNT, UH, VICE MAYOR PRO TEM. I TOO HAVE GIVEN MONIES FROM MY DISTRICT SERVICE FUNDS, UH, TO TARGET CERTAIN AREAS WHERE WE ARE HAVING ISSUES WITH STRAY DOGS TO PICK UP STRAY DOGS. BUT UNFORTUNATELY, IT'S A CATCH 22 BECAUSE BARK ONLY HAS LIMITED CAGES TO HOLD THESE DOGS. RIGHT. UH, SO, SO, SO NOW WITH HOPEFULLY THE EXPANSION, UH, OF THE SHELTER AT BARK, THAT WILL HELP. UH, SO, SO THAT'S, THAT'S GOOD NEWS. SO, UH, AGAIN, THANK YOU FOR, FOR YOUR, UH, COMING OUT HERE AND BRINGING ALL THIS TO OUR ATTENTION. THANK YOU. THANK YOU SO MUCH. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME. ONE SECOND. COUNCIL MEMBER CISNEROS. YES, MA'AM. HERE. UM, I JUST WANTED TO ALSO SAY THANK YOU FOR COMING. UM, I'M THE COUNCIL MEMBER FOR DISTRICT H AND WE HAVE THE DUBIOUS REPUTATION OF HAVING THE HIGHEST NUMBER OF DOG BITES IN, IN THE CITY. SO, I MEAN, IT'S, IT'S AN ISSUE NOT JUST WHERE YOU ARE. IT'S ALL OVER. AND I JUST APPLAUD, APPLAUD YOU FOR, FOR GETTING OUT THERE ANYWAY. YOU KNOW, AS I'VE BEEN AN ADVOCATE FOR BIKE LAND, SOME OF THE PUSHBACK I'VE GOTTEN IS YOU'RE JUST PUTTING, YOU KNOW, SOME ENTERTAINMENT FOR DOGS OUT THERE. RIGHT. BUT, UM, BUT IT'S, IT'S IMPORTANT. WE NEED TO BE ABLE TO USE OUR STREETS AND OUR SIDEWALKS AND TO BE OUTSIDE AND BE HEALTHY. AND, AND THAT'S WHAT YOU'RE DOING. EXACTLY. SO, SO THANK YOU FOR COMING AND VOICING THIS MAYOR. I CAN'T TELL YOU HOW EXCITED I AM TO HEAR YOU TALK ABOUT YOUR PLANS, YOU KNOW, FOR THE ORDINANCE AND THE, YOU KNOW, EXPANDING THE SHELTER. A NEW SHELTER. YES. I'M THRILLED ABOUT THAT. YEAH. BECAUSE THESE VIOLATORS HAVE TO BE DEALT WITH AND, AND, YOU KNOW, I'M A BREAST CANCER SURVIVOR, SO, YOU KNOW, I, I'M VERY LIKE WHAT YOU SAID, I'M VERY QUENCHED WITH MY HEALTH. MY HEALTH MATTERS. WELL, EXERCISE IS AN IMPORTANT PART OF HEALTH. EXACTLY. SO KEEP IT, KEEP, KEEP IT GOING. BE SAFE OUT THERE. YEP. I'M 65. I GOTTA KEEP GOING. RIGHT. COUNCILMAN SHA? SHE'S 45. . YES. SHE'S, ISN'T SHE? WHAT? WHAT'D SHE SAY? AT LEAST SHE LOOKS IN. YOU ARE RIGHT. ANYWAY, SHE'S A CHEERLEADER. THANK YOU, MS. FRANCIS. UH, AND CERTAINLY, UH, YOU KNOW, I JUST WANNA THROW IN A PLUG FOR BARK. I HAD A MEETING YESTERDAY AND THERE'S A GREAT NEED FOR, FOR FOSTERING OF THESE ANIMALS BECAUSE THEY'RE SAYING THAT THEY'RE GOING, GOING OUT TO PICK UP THE STRAY ANIMALS. YES. AND THEY DON'T HAVE THE, THE CAPACITY TO KEEP THEM. AND SO THAT'S TRUE. THEY ALSO HAVE NEED FOR VETERINARIANS. UH, ACTUALLY DR. JARMIN, WHO WAS APPOINTED TO THE ANIMAL ADVISORY, HAS OFFERED TO GO AND HELP THEM IN THAT CAPACITY. UH, HE SAYS HE'S NOT A COMPUTER MAN, BUT, BUT HE IS MOST WILLING TO WORK WITH THE ANIMALS. AND SO, UH, HOPEFULLY WE CAN GET THAT DONE AS WELL. AND SO WE ALL HAVE A GREAT LOVE, YOU KNOW, FOR ANIMALS. YES. BUT, BUT WE CERTAINLY HAVE LOVE FOR THE SAFETY OF PEOPLE AS WELL. WELL, OH LORD, YES. AND SO THANK YOU SO VERY MUCH FOR COMING FORWARD. YOU'RE QUITE WELCOME. AND FOR THAT COMPLIMENT. THANK YOU. IT'S TRUE. IT'S GENUINE. . THANK YOU. THANK YOU SO MUCH. THANK YOU, ALL OF YOU FOR YOUR ATTENTION. OKAY, NEXT SPEAKER, ILI MONTOYA. REVIS. GOOD AFTERNOON. HELLO. UH, GOOD AFTERNOON. UM, MAY I SPEAK, UH, CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS? MAYOR TURNER, UH, I'M SORRY I COULDN'T BE, UH, IN CITY HALL TODAY. UM, I HAVE ALLERGIES. [01:45:01] UH, I LISTEN TO ALL THE, UH, CONSTITUENTS, UH, REMARKS. AND I'M IMPRESSED THAT I HAVE, I STILL PROBLEMS WITH HOUSING. I WILL BE REACHING OUT TO, UH, THE OFFICE OF MRS. LETICIA PLUMBER 3 1 1. THANK YOU FOR YOUR COMMENTS. I TOOK A LETTER NOTES, UH, THAT WILL HELP ME TO MOVE FORWARD WITH MY SITUATION. I STILL HAVE PROBLEMS WITH THE LANDLORD, UH, THE SAME SITUATION THAT BEFORE I PRAY FOR THE CITY OF HOUSTON. SO WE CAN MOVE FORWARD WITH SOME, UH, SITUATIONS THAT ARE AFFECTING US. AND, UM, I WILL JUST, UH, APPRECIATE YOU ANSWER YOUR PHONES BECAUSE I HAVEN'T MAKING PHONE CALLS. UH, THERE'S NO ACCOUNTABILITY. UH, THEY HANG UP. UH, I GET DISCONNECTED. UH, AND THEY DON'T ANSWER. UH, I'LL SAY THAT THE START OF THE CASES WILL BE ACCEPTED. NIGHT OR DELAY. I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW MY, YOUR TIME HAS EXPIRED. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. NEXT SPEAKER. JACOB CLEMENTE. JACOB PROVIDED THIS. JACOB, UH, HERE IT IS. OKAY. ME HANSON IS GODSON FOR PEOPLE WHO WON FAIR AND GOOD GOVERNMENT. THIS IS NOW ABOUT ARAMARK. ARAMARK. I'M WORKING MOST OF THE HOME GAME HOMELAND GAMES. I'M IN MAE PARK. MY BOSSES SLASH SUPERVISORS THERE ARE CINDY MOON, THE FACILITIES MANAGER, JUNIOR OR ZKO. UH, HER BOSS, ROSEMARY, NANCY, CINDY MUNIZ, SANDRA ANOTHER HS. CINDY MUNI, UM, CLANCE WALKERS, UH, ALEXIS ANIMAL, LAURA, THE HR MANAGER, JOHN NORTH, THE CONCESSIONS MANAGER. AND JEREMY COSWORTH, NEARLY THE TOP DOG OF, OF AIRMARK DEMARK FACILITIES MANAGER. HE IS. AND THE FACILITIES MANAGER AT NRG PARK THAT HIRED ME IN CHRISTIAN HAM. SHE HAD ME WORK THE 90TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE HOUSTON LIVESTOCK SHOW AND RODEO, THE COACH TO PLAY CONCERT IN THE MANCHESTER. YOUR TIME HAS EXPIRED. A FEW MORE MINUTES. ONE MORE, I'LL GIVE YOU A LITTLE BIT MORE TIME. JACOB FOOTBALL CLUB, SOCCER GAME. AND I WILL WORK THE GAR BUCKS CONCERT ON AUGUST THE SIXTH. AND ABOUT YOU DAVID ROBINSON. I'M GOING TO SEE THE ASTROS TRUMP, BOSTON RED. SO AUGUST 1ST, BECAUSE I'M GONNA BE IN SECTION 3, 2 2, ROW FOUR, C FOUR. SO I WANNA SEE EITHER SO I CAN GRAVEL, UH, WELL, NOT IN GRAVEL, BUT, UH, I'M GO. THANK YOU COUNCIL. COUNCIL ROBINSON. GHOST TROS. GHOST STROSS. JACOB, I'M WITH YOU, MAN. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. APPRECIATE YOU, MAN. OKAY. ALRIGHT. NEXT SPEAKER. EMMANUEL THOMAS. EMMANUEL THOMAS. THAT'S GREAT. YES. I'M HERE. MY NAME IS EMMANUEL THOMAS, AND I'M TALKING TO YOU ABOUT A SUBJECT THAT HITS A LOT OF OUR RESIDENTS. MY GRANDMOTHER PASSED AWAY IN 2005 AS A RESULT OF BREAST CANCER AND, UH, LUNG CANCER FROM INHALING THE MOLD, UH, THAT PEOPLE DEAL WITH TO THE PRESENT DAY IN THE STERLING SHIRE APARTMENTS. MY SON WAS KILLED IN 2017 WITH ONE 50 DOMINION TRAILS BECAUSE THE SECURITY GUARDS WERE NOT AT THE FRONT DESK. THERE WAS A YOUNG MAN NAMED CAMERON, UH, MOORE AND DYLAN DENMAN, WHO ALSO DIED AT A POOL PARTY AT THE KIMBERLY PORN APARTMENTS BECAUSE THEY FAILED TO P PUT THEIR SECURITY WHERE THEY'RE SUPPOSED TO BE. SO, I UNDERSTAND THESE THINGS AND I HOPE THAT Y'ALL HOLD THEM ACCOUNTABLE. AS THE MAYOR SAID MANY YEARS AGO, IF THE APARTMENTS ARE NOT, UH, PERFORMING THE DUTIES FOR THE RESIDENTS, THEN THEY'RE COMMITTING A CRIME. THIS IS WHAT I'M TALKING ABOUT. 'CAUSE BOTH OF THOSE PEOPLE ENDED UP IN THE CEMETERY AT GOLDEN GATE. AND, UH, YOU CAN LOOK AT IT ON HASHTAG COMPLETE DISRESPECT TO THE DEAD AND COMPLETE DISRESPECT OF THE DEAD. BUT I KNOW THOSE ARE PRIVATE ENTITIES. SO I'M COMING TODAY ABOUT THE OAK PARK CEMETERY THAT IS LOCATED AT 8,400 HIRSCH ROAD, RIGHT IN THE FRONT OF GOLDEN GATE. AT ITS OWNED BY THE CITY. RIGHT NOW, THE VETERANS, UH, HOUSTON VETERANS ARE BEING DISRESPECTED BECAUSE THE PARK THAT, THAT YOUR TOWN HAS IT AND CUT'S NOT CUT. MAY I SPEAK A LITTLE LONGER? JUST A LITTLE LONGER. GIVE YOU 30 SECONDS. YES, SIR. THANK YOU. AND, UH, I, I, I LOCATED THE, UH, VETERANS DEPARTMENT AND THEY SAID THAT IT IS YOUR JOB BECAUSE IT IS YOUR PROPERTY THAT YOU OWN THE CITY OF HOUSTON FOR THE REFURBISHMENT AND THE RESTORATION OF THOSE GRAVES OF OUR PAST VETERANS THAT FOUGHT IN THE WORLD WAR ALL THE WAY BACK TO THE SPANISH WAR. THEY WERE RESIDENTS OF THE CITY AS MY SON AND MY GRANDMOTHER WERE RESIDENTS OF THE CITY, WORK FOR THE CITY AS A TRUCK DRIVER AND [01:50:01] AS A STUDENT IN THIS CITY. AND WE DON'T NEED OUR, UH, PAST LOVED ONES. DISRESPECTED. THEY SAID, IT IS YOUR JOB TO, UH, REQUEST THE, UH, UM, NEW GRAVES, UH, THERE. AND COULD YOU DO THE CUT CYCLE TO CLEAN THE AREA? BECAUSE MANY PEOPLE GO TO THAT CEMETERY AND BURY THEIR LOVED ONES. AND WE DON'T WANT TO SEE AS A REFLECTION OF OUR CITY, THAT WE DON'T RESPECT OUR VETERANS. OKAY. AND, UH, JUST HAVING TO SEE HOW HORRIBLE THAT LOOKS. MICKEY LELAND IS BURIED AT THAT SAME CEMETERY. THANK YOU MR. THOMAS. THAT'S COUNCIL MEMBER THERE. GOTCHA. WE'LL TAKE A LOOK AT IT. THANK YOU. MR. THOMAS. COUNCIL MEMBER JACKSON? COUNCIL MEMBER. COUNCIL MEMBER JACKSON? NO. HE STILL THERE? HE'S STILL THERE. UM, MR. THOMAS, HOW ARE YOU? THIS IS COUNCIL MEMBER JACKSON. AND I THINK THE GRAVEYARD THAT YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT IS IN DISTRICT B. RIGHT. UM, HAVE YOU SPOKE WITH OUR OFFICE, THE CHIEF OF STAFF? 'CAUSE I DON'T, I DON'T HAVE THAT. YOU REACHED OUT TO US ABOUT THE GRAVEYARD, BUT ANY CASE, I'LL BE, YOU KNOW, HAPPY TO WORK WITH YOU AND WORK WITH ADMINISTRATION TO ENSURE THAT WHOEVER'S RESPONSIBLE FOR GETTING IT CLEANED UP, GETTING IT CLEANED UP. BUT, UM, PLEASE REACH OUT TO MY OFFICE. THE NUMBER IS 8 3 2 3 9 3 3 0 0 9. AND I HAVE YOUR NUMBER HERE. WE'LL FOLLOW UP WITH YOU AND JUST WORK WITH YOU TO TRY TO GET, YOU KNOW, GET SOMETHING DONE WITH THE GRAVEYARD. OKAY? YES, MA'AM. I CAME ON PRIOR YEARS AGO, AND I SPOKE WITH THE, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER THAT WAS OVER THAT DISTRICT D UH, JERRY DAVIS. AND, UH, HE GOT THE CUT CYCLE, UH, GOT THAT, THAT AREA CUT. BUT THAT AREA IS IN OUR DISTRICT IS IN DISTRICT D, YOUR DISTRICT. AND SO, UH, THAT IS WHAT YOU GUYS CAN CONTROL THE CUT CYCLE, BECAUSE THE GRASS IS UP TO OUR LEGS AND SOME GRASS IS UP TO OUR CHEST BECAUSE IT'S JUST NOT UPKEPT. AND IT, IT JUST GIVES A BAD LOOK ON OUR CITY. AND AS FAR AS THE VETERANS DEPARTMENT, THEY SAY, BECAUSE YOU GUYS OWN, THE CITY OF HOUSTON OWNS THAT CEMETERY. IT'S PRIVATE CEMETERY, UH, OWNED BY YOU GUYS. Y'ALL HAVE TO REQUEST FOR THE, UH, RESTORATION OF THOSE GRAVES. THOSE ARE MILITARY GRAVES. AND THOSE ARE CITIZENS OF OUR CITY, YOU KNOW, THAT, UH, UH, THAT, UH, CHOSE TO ACQUIRE THEIR, UH, PLOTS, UH, UH, BURIAL THERE. AND WE HAD TO, UH, OFF OF MY VIDEOS ON THE HASHTAGS I GAVE YOU, YOU WILL SEE THE DISRESPECT TO THOSE PRIVATE GRAVES. WE HAVE MANY PEOPLE BASED OFF OF MY VIDEOS THAT HAVE FILED LAWSUITS AND ARE HOLDING THEM ACCOUNTABLE. AND THAT'S THE ONLY REASON I'M COMING TO YOU GUYS IS BECAUSE IT'S OWNED BY THE CITY OF HOUSTON. AND ON THE LAST TIME I CAME TO SPEAK ABOUT THAT, UH, WE PROVED THAT IT IS OWNED BY THE CITY OF HOUSTON. SO JUST LETTING YOU KNOW THAT, UH, IT IS OUR PROPERTY AND IT IS OUR RESPONSIBILITY TO SHOW THE WORLD THAT WE DO HONOR OUR VETERANS, ESPECIALLY THOSE THAT, UH, COME FROM THE CITY OF HOUSTON. THANK YOU. OKAY. THANK YOU. WE'LL FOLLOW UP NEXT SPEAKER. KATHY GUNNER. HELLO? CAN Y'ALL HEAR ME? YES, WE CAN HEAR YOU. OKAY. OKAY. I'M, I'M COMING TODAY. THANK YOU, MAYOR. BECAUSE, UH, WHEN YOU GO ON VACATION, THIS SOME STRANGE THINGS HAPPEN IN THE CITY. BUT, UM, THE PLANNING DEPARTMENT, I'M ASKING ONE, DID THEY STOP ISSUING PERMITS WITHOUT THE PROPER REPLANTING? UH, 87 0 5 IS, UH, ONE OF THE ADDRESSES THAT I'M VERY CONCERNED ABOUT THAT WASN'T REPLANTED. THAT THEY PUT IN MULTIPLE STRUCTURES THERE. AND THE SECOND ISSUE IS MY WATER BILL, I PAID IT IN MAY, AND I PAID IT IN JUNE, AND I GET A DELINQUENT BILL. THE UTILITY BILL ACCOUNT ENDING IN, UH, ENDING IN 5 0 1 4 SAYS THAT I'M DELINQUENT BECAUSE FOR SOME REASON, ON THE 22ND, BOTH OF MY PAYMENTS WERE REVERSED. THIS IS NOT THE FIRST TIME, SECOND OR THIRD TIME, BUT THIS IS THE TIME THAT I'M GONNA BRING IT TO YOUR ATTENTION. I DON'T KNOW WHAT UFO IS GOING IN AND PUT IN REVERSE IN MY PAYMENTS, BUT I THINK THAT IT'S SOMETHING THAT NEED TO BE LOOKED AT. AND I HAVE TO PAY ALL THESE DELINQUENT FEES. AND I WENT AHEAD AND PAID THEM. BUT SOMETHING IS GOING ON. THEY'RE REVERSING MY PAYMENTS ON YOUR TIME HAS EXPIRED. UH, COUNSEL, I, NO, NO. OH, SORRY. OKAY. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. HERAND. LET'S TAKE A LOOK. LET US TAKE A LOOK AT, UH, GET, I THINK I GOT A MEMO ON IT SO THAT, UH, LET US TAKE A LOOK AT IT. FOR REAL. FOR REAL, MAYOR. WELL, YES. WELL, I JUST, HEY, . WELL, IT'S JUST IMPORTANT FOR PEOPLE TO WORK WITH ME. MM-HMM . OKAY. YEAH. Y'ALL COME AND Y'ALL SAY THINGS AND THEN, UH, YOU KNOW, AND THEN WHEN I TRY TO WORK WITH YOU, YOU KNOW, SOMEHOW, UH, YOU ALL, Y'ALL DON'T PLAY FAIR WITH ME. WELL, SOMETIME YOU, WITH THE PEOPLE THAT YOU SEND TO HELP US, THEY JUST DON'T HELP. THEY DON'T. I KNOW, BUT THEY DON'T FOLLOW UP. YOU DO YOUR PART. BUT WHEN IT COMES TO YOUR, YOUR, THE PEOPLE THAT YOU SEND, THEY DON'T DO THEY PART, THEY JUST DROP THE BALL WHEN YOU GO ON VACATION. ANY, ANYTIME THAT HAPPENS, YOU COME [01:55:01] DIRECTLY BACK TO ME. I SURE WILL. UM, BUT COUNCIL MEMBER JACKSON, THANK YOU MAYOR. AND, UM, KATHY, I KNOW THAT MARY HAS BEEN IN CONVERSATION WITH YOU AS WELL ABOUT THE PROPERTY AS WELL. AND THE LIGHT BILL MEAN THE, UM, IS IT THE LIGHT BILL OR THE WATER BILL? THE WATER BILL. THE WATER BILL. IT'S THE WATER BILL. YEAH. AND SO THE WATER BILL HAS BEEN TAKEN CARE OF, AND WE WILL CONTINUE TO WORK WITH YOU ON THIS. THE BUILDING CONSTRUCTION THAT YOU WANT. YOU SAID THAT THEY DON'T HAVE A PERMIT OR NEED MORE PLAING. THEY DON'T HAVE A FLAT, THEY DIDN'T REFL NO. AND GIVE US A HEARING. YEAH. SO THEY DIDN'T REFL THE PROPERTY, BUT THE WATER BILL PROBLEM HAS NOT BEEN TAKEN CARE OF. THEY KEEP REVERSING MY PAYMENTS. I DON'T EVEN KNOW WHAT THAT MEANS. WELL, ACCORDING THEY SAY REVERSED. THEY SAY JUST REACH OUT TO THEM IF YOU HAVE ADDITIONAL QUESTIONS. BUT IT'S BEEN TAKEN CARE OF FROM MY UNDERSTANDING. OKAY. I'M GONNA REACH OUT TO YOU. 'CAUSE I DON'T KNOW, THEY DIDN'T TELL ME ANYTHING. I DON'T KNOW WHAT THAT MEANS, AND NOBODY, THAT'S NOT TRUE. I'M GONNA PUT IT OUT, PUT IT OUT THERE. THEY HAVEN'T REACHED OUT TO ME AND, AND GIVEN ME ANY INFORMATION. SO JUST, JUST, JUST FY OKAY. AND JUST KNOW THAT, YOU KNOW, WE WILL CONTINUE TO WORK WITH YOU ON ALL THE ISSUES THAT YOU HAVE. OKAY. AND SOON AS YOU BRING IT TO US, WE TAKE IT TO THE DEPARTMENT AND, YOU KNOW, WE GOT A LINE OF COMMUNICATION OPEN. ALL RIGHT. OKAY. ARE WE STILL MEETING ON THE, OKAY, THANK YOU. YEAH, WE, WE ARE WORKING ON THAT MEETING FOR YOU RIGHT NOW WITH LEGAL. SO WE WAITING ON THEM TO GET BACK WITH US ON THE CON CON TO CONFIRMING A DATE THAT WE CAN MEET. BUT WE ARE, WE ARE TALKING TO LEGAL, TRYING TO GET A MEETING SET UP WITH BETWEEN YOU AND THEM. OKAY. THANK YOU SO MUCH. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. NEXT SPEAKER. THAT COMPLETES THE LIST OF SPEAKERS. WE STAND IN RECESS UNTIL TOMORROW MORNING AT 9:00 AM [RECONVENE] OH FIVE ON WEDNESDAY, JULY 27TH, 2022. OUR MAYOR ATTORNEY, I'M CALLING THIS MEETING OF THE HOUSTON CITY COUNCIL TO ORDER, UM, AND SEE, WE DO HAVE, I THINK ONE COUNCIL MEMBER MM-HMM . COUNCIL MEMBER PACK, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER P JOINING US VIA TEAMS TODAY. UH, LET ME, [MAYOR'S REPORT] LET ME START WITH THE, UH, UM, THE S REPORT. AND AT THE VERY BEGINNING OF THE S REPORT, UH, THIS MORNING, AIRPORT DIRECTOR MARIO DIAZ AND OTHER SENIOR LEADERS FROM THE HOUSTON AIRPORT SYSTEM ARE JOINING US FOR A SPECIAL RECOGNITION. SO, MARIO, IF YOU ARE, COME, COME ON UP. THE HOUSTON AIRPORTS HAVE ALWAYS BEEN AN ASSET TO THIS CITY. UH, FOR YEARS, WE WERE THE ONLY CITY IN THE WESTERN HEMISPHERE TO HAVE TWO FOUR STAR AIRPORTS. AND TODAY OUR BRAGGING RIGHTS ARE EVEN MORE NOTABLE. WILLIAM P. HOBBY AIRPORT IS THE FIRST AND ONLY FIVE STAR RATED AIRPORT IN NORTH AMERICA, AND WAS ALSO RATED AS BEST REGIONAL AIRPORT IN NORTH AMERICA. UH, WE ARE EQUALLY PROUD OF BUSH INTERCONTINENTAL AIRPORT, WHICH CONTINUES TO IMPROVE ITS FOUR STAR RATING YEAR AFTER YEAR. AND I'M CONFIDENT THAT IT WON'T BE LONG BEFORE WE CAN SAY HOUSTON US HOME TO NOT JUST ONE, BUT TWO FIVE STAR RATED AIRPORTS. I KNOW OUR AIRPORTS HAVE ALWAYS DELIVERED EXCELLENT CUSTOMER SERVICE. BUT HAVING THIS INTERNATIONAL CERTIFICATION FROM SKYRA, THE PREMIER INTERNATIONAL AIR TRANSPORT RATING AGENCY, WILL CONFIRM TO THE WORLD THAT WE ARE A TOP TIER CITY AND CAN COMPETE WITH THE BEST OF THE BEST, UH, BEING RECOGNIZED FOR OUR COMMITMENT TO FIRST CLASS SERVICES, THE TREMENDOUS BENEFIT FOR HOUSTON AND THE ENTIRE REGION, AND SPEAKS WELL OF THE LEADERSHIP OF THE HOUSTON AIRPORT SYSTEM. SO CONGRATULATIONS TO EVERYONE OF THE MORE THAN 1100 HOUSTON AIRPORT EMPLOYEES, AS WELL AS OUR PARTNERS, AIRLINES, FEDERAL AGENCIES, CONCESSIONAIRES, AND ALL THE SERVICE PROVIDERS THAT OPERATE IN OUR AIRPORTS. NOW, LET ME RECOGNIZE, UM, AVIATION DIRECTOR MARIO DIAZ, THE CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER, UH, JIM SKA SNIA. OKAY, WELL, I BUTCHERED THAT. AND CHIEF TERMINAL MANAGER, UH, OFFICER LILIANO RUMBO, UH, I, MR. MAYOR, MEMBERS OF COUNCIL, UH, WE ARE JUST SO DELIGHTED TO BE HERE THIS MORNING TO PRESENT TO YOU THE PLAQUE, THE OFFICIAL PLAQUE THAT WAS PICKED UP IN PARIS, FRANCE ABOUT A MONTH AGO, THAT, UM, HAS DETERMINED BY SKY TRACK'S HOBBY, ESTABLISHES HOBBY AS THE ONLY FIVE STAR AIRPORT IN ALL OF NORTH AMERICA. THIS IS NOT JUST A DISTINCTION FOR THE HOUSTON AIRPORT SYSTEM. THIS IS A DISTINCTION FOR THE CITY OF HOUSTON. IT IS THE ONLY CITY THAT HAS A FIVE STAR, UM, AIRPORT IN ANY OF THE 50 STATES OF THE UNITED STATES. AND WE'RE REALLY, REALLY, VERY, VERY PROUD OF THAT. MAYOR, YOU'LL RECALL THAT BACK IN FEBRUARY, UM, YOU CAME DOWN FOR THE PRESS CONFERENCE AND YOU DID SOMETHING [02:00:01] AMAZING. ONE OF THE THINGS THAT YOU DID WAS YOU BROUGHT UP ALL OF THE CUSTODIAL, UM, WORKERS THAT WERE IN THE AUDIENCE AT THE TIME, AND YOU THANKED THEM PERSONALLY. AND WE WANNA RETURN THAT FOR YOU TODAY. AND PERSONALLY, HAND TO YOU, THE PLAQUE SIGNIFYING HOBBY AS THE FIVE STAR, ONLY FIVE STAR AIRPORT, NORTHERN NORTH AMERICA. THANKS, MARIO. MAYOR, WHY DON'T YOU GET INTO THIS INTERVIEW? THERE WE BE. THANK YOU SO MUCH. NO, THANK YOU. AND THEN I THINK I'VE GOT SOMETHING THAT I'M PRESENTING TO YOU ON, UM, WHEREAS THE HOUSTON AIRPORT SYSTEM IS THE CITY OF HOUSTON'S DEPARTMENT OF AVIATION THAT OPERATES GEORGE BUSH IN CONTINENTAL AIRPORT, WILLIAM MP HARVEY AIRPORT AND ELLERTON AIRPORT, HOUSTON SPACEPORT. AND WHEREAS THE HOUSTON AIRPORT SYSTEM IS A VITAL ECONOMIC ENGINE TO THE CITY OF HOUSTON AND SURROUNDING AREAS, AND ITS MISSION IS TO SERVE AS A PREMIER GLOBAL GATEWAY THAT CONNECTS THE PEOPLE, BUSINESS, CULTURES, AND ECONOMIES OF THE WORLD, OR TO HOUSTON. AND WHEREAS AT THE 2022 WORLD AIRPORTS AWARDS PRE PRESENTED BY SKYRA, A LEADING GLOBAL AIR TRANSPORT RATING ORGANIZATION, WILLIAM P. HARVEY AIRPORT WAS OFFICIALLY RECOGNIZED AS THE FIRST AND ONLY FIVE STAR RATED AIRPORT IN NORTH AMERICA AND AS THE BEST REGIONAL AIRPORT IN NORTH AMERICA. WHEREAS GEORGE BUSH IN THE CONTINENTAL AIRPORT WAS RANKED THIRD BEST AIRPORT IN THE WORLD, IN THE 30 TO 40 MILLION PASSENGERS CATEGORY, AND WAS AWARDED SECOND PLACE FOR BEST WEBSITE AND DIGITAL SERVICES. AND WHEREAS HOUSTON WAS THE ONLY US CITY TO HAVE TWO AIRPORTS IN THE BEST AIRPORTS IN NORTH AMERICA, CLEANEST AIRPORTS IN NORTH AMERICA AND BEST AIRPORT STAFF IN NORTH AMERICA CATEGORIES. WHEREAS ON JULY 27TH, 2022, HOUSTON AIRPORTS DAY WILL BE OBSERVED IN RECOGNITION OF THE HOUSTON AIRPORT SYSTEMS. REMARKABLE ACCOMPLISHMENTS AT THE 2022 WORLD AIRPORTS AWARDS. THE CITY OF HOUSTON COMMENDS THE MORE THAN 1100 DEDICATED AIRPORT STAFF MEMBERS OF THE HOUSTON AIRPORT SYSTEM AND EXTENDS BEST WISHES FOR CONTINUED SUCCESS. SO THEREFORE, I, SYLVESTER TURNER, MAYOR OF CITY OF HOUSTON, HEREBY PROUDLY PROCLAIM JUNE, JULY 27TH, 2022, AS HOUSTON AIRPORTS TODAY IN HOUSTON, TEXAS. CONGRATULATIONS, MARIO, INTO YOUR ANTI TEAM. I WOULD, I WOULD JUST LIKE TO CALL UP DAWN HOFFMAN, WHO'S THE TERMINAL MANAGER. DAWN, UH, ANDREW ZOAR AND SAM RAY, THE TERMINAL MANAGERS AT INTERCONTINENTAL. DAWN, WOULD YOU COME UP, SAM, ANDREW? WHERE'S DAWN? YEAH, HERE, HERE. . OH, NO, NO. DON, YOU GOTTA GET, COME IN A LITTLE CLOSE. YES. THERE YOU GO. HERE, STAND NEXT TO THE MAYOR. YEAH, THAT'S YOUR, THERE YOU GO. WE BRING AN ARM. FANTASTIC. WAIT, WAIT A MINUTE. WAIT A MINUTE. TWO AND ONE. OKAY. THANK YOU SO MUCH. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. CONGRATULATIONS, MR. MAYOR. THANK YOU SO MUCH. MAYOR, MAYOR, DIRECTOR DIAZ. WE HAVE A NUMBER OF, UH, FIVE STAR COUNCIL MEMBERS IN THE QUEUE FOR COMMENTS AS WELL. SO, UH, OUR FIRST FIVE STAR COUNCIL MEMBER IS DAVID ROBINSON. THANK YOU, MAYOR PRO TEM. AND, UH, MR. DIAZ, THANK YOU SO MUCH, DIRECTOR FOR, FOR BRINGING THIS TO THE MAYOR, FOR BRINGING THIS TO THE COUNCIL. IT'S, IT'S OBVIOUSLY SOMETHING THAT WE SHARE IN YOUR CELEBRATION. UM, AND MR. SNIA, THANK YOU FOR ALL THAT YOU DO AND WHAT YOU, WHAT THIS DAY MEANS FOR THE CITY OF HOUSTON. UM, I JUST WANNA SALUTE YOU, MAYOR, FOR ALL THE THINGS THAT YOU'VE SAID IN, UH, THE PROCLAMATION THAT YOU'VE JUST READ FROM MR. DIAZ, BUT ALSO FOR WHAT YOU WITH DIRECTOR DIAZ ARE DOING AT THE AIRPORTS. AND I KNOW MARIO, FROM OUR TIME TOGETHER, FROM WHAT WE'VE JUST SPOKEN ABOUT AND THE DIRECTION THAT THE ENTIRE AIRPORT SYSTEM IS HEADED, WE HAVE MORE AWARDS AHEAD OF US. AND, UH, HAVING TRAVELED A FAIR AMOUNT THIS PAST WEEK, IN THE PAST MONTHS, UM, I KNOW THAT WE ARE EXPERIENCING SOME, UH, SOME GROWING PAINS AND INTERCONTINENTAL, BUT IT IS SUCH A GREAT PROMISE FOR WHERE WE'RE GOING, THE COMMITMENT TO EXCELLENCE, WHAT WE'VE ATTAINED AT HOBBY, WHERE WE'RE GOING NOT ONLY AT INTERCONTINENTAL, BUT ELLINGTON AND INTO OUTER SPACE. UM, MY HAT IS OFF, AND, UH, I'M SO PROUD, UH, TO BE A PART OF THIS AND WANT TO THANK YOU FROM, UH, DEEP INSIDE MY HEART. THANK YOU. SO, DIRECTOR, BEFORE WE GO TO COUNCIL MEMBER, UH, CAYMAN FOR COMMENTS, WOULD YOU MIND INTRODUCING YOUR ENTIRE TEAM WHO IS HERE TODAY? SURE, SURE. SO I'VE INTRODUCED JIM AND, AND LILIANA, OF COURSE, UH, THREE TERMINAL MANAGERS. AND THEN OF COURSE WE HAVE, UH, MOLLY, MOLLY WAITS OUR CHIEF, UH, MARKETING OFFICER AND HAVE, OH, I'M SORRY. [02:05:01] I'M SO SORRY. YEAH, SO MOLLY WAITS, OUR CHIEF MARKETING OFFICER, UM, DID A LOT OF THE MARKETING, UM, FOR US, UM, AND SOCIAL MEDIA. AND THEN OF COURSE WE HAVE, UM, TODD AND MAURI, AND WHY, WHY DON'T YOU ALL COME UP AND JUST BE RECOGNIZED BY COUNCIL, COUNCIL MEMBER. THANK YOU FOR, FOR THE, UH, THE QUESTION. COUNCIL MEMBER ABBY CAYMAN, THANK YOU, MAYOR PRO, TEM MAYOR, DIRECTOR, AND TO THE ENTIRE TEAM. UH, CONGRATULATIONS. BUT THANK YOU FOR NOT ONLY THIS ACCOMPLISHMENT THAT, BUT THE SERVICE THAT YOU ARE PROVIDING. I WOULD SAY FOR ALL HOUSTONIANS, UH, THAT INCLUDES BRINGING FOLKS INTO TOWN, BUT ALSO, UH, SERVICING EVERYONE THAT LIVES HERE, THAT'S TRAVELING OUT OF TOWN. AND, UH, MAYOR, I, I WASN'T ABLE, I DIDN'T HAVE TIME TO BRING THIS TO YOUR ATTENTION, UH, TWO WEEKS AGO, BUT, UH, I WAS ACTUALLY TRAVELING FOR THE FIRST TIME WITH MY SON, AND SOME FRIENDS WARNED ME. THEY SAID, MAKE SURE TO PACK A TON OF EXTRA DIAPERS BECAUSE THERE'S NOT A LOT OF ACCESS TO, QUITE FRANKLY, DIAPERS AT THE AIRPORTS. AND I SAID, NO, THAT CAN'T BE. AND THEY SAID, IT'S NOT A HOUSTON THING, IT'S A PROBLEM ALL OVER THE COUNTRY. SO IF YOU GET DELAYED AND YOU RUN OUTTA DIAPERS, YOU'RE IN BIG TROUBLE. UM, SO I STARTED LOOKING AROUND THE AIRPORT AND IT WAS SOMEWHAT OF A CHALLENGE. I EMAILED THE DIRECTOR AND YOUR TEAM, AND WITHIN A DAY, THEY HAD SIGNED NEW AGREEMENTS TO BRING IN WITHIN A WEEK, TWO NEW FAMILY UNITS THROUGH VENDORS, SO THAT OUR AIRPORTS ARE PROVIDING SOMETHING THAT THE REST OF THE COUNTRY IS NOT WITHIN A WEEK. AND, UM, YOU KNOW, LILIANA, LIBBY, UH, JIM, I'M MISSING A WHOLE LOT OF PEOPLE, BUT THE RESPONSIVENESS AND THE LEVEL OF CUSTOMER SERVICE THAT YOU PROVIDE, AND LOOKING OUT FOR WHAT OUR CUSTOMERS THAT COME TO HOUSTON AND LEAVE HOUSTON NEED, UH, IS EXACTLY ONE OF THE REASONS WHY I KNOW WE HAVE THAT FIVE STAR. UH, SO THANK YOU FOR THE ENERGY, THE DEDICATION, THE COMMITMENT THAT YOU ALL PROVIDE, UH, AT ALL OF OUR AIRPORTS. UH, BIG CONGRATULATIONS. THANK YOU. THANK YOU, THANK YOU. THANK YOU, CINCO TRE, COUNCIL MEMBER ROBERTO GUN, UH, GALLEGOS. THANK YOU, VICE MAYOR PROTI, UM, DIRECTOR. THANK, THANK, THANK YOU SO MUCH, UH, FOR, UH, FOR EVERYTHING THAT YOU DO AND TO YOUR TEAM. UH, YOU KNOW, TO KNOW THAT WE HAVE TWO, UH, INTERNATIONAL TERMINALS, I MEAN, TWO INTERNATIONAL AIRPORTS, AND NOW TWO AIRPORTS, UH, WITH A FOUR STAR AND A FIVE STAR RECOGNITION. SO, UH, IT, YOU KNOW, WANNA THANK EVERY, EACH AND EVERY ONE OF YOU. UH, ALSO, MAYOR, I KNOW THAT, UH, WHEN WE DID THE, UH, UH, THE RECOGNITION AT HOBBY IN REGARDS TO THE FIVE STAR YOU, I, I, I, UH, SAW THE MAYOR, UH, GIVE RECOGNITION TO THE CUSTODIANS, THE CUSTODIANS AND EVERYONE ELSE FROM THERE UP TO THE STAFF, UH, FOR, FOR WORKING TOGETHER AND MAKING ALL THIS POSSIBLE. AND IT WAS A STANDING OVATION TO THE CUSTODIANS. SO THANK YOU TO THE CUSTODIANS AND THANK YOU EVERYONE THAT MADE THIS POSSIBLE. THANK YOU. VICE MAYOR, PRO TEM, MARTHA CASTEX TATUM, THANK YOU MAYOR PRO TEM. I WILL TELL YOU THAT THIS IS A WELL-DESERVED HONOR, UH, AND SITTING HERE TODAY AND SEEING THE DIRECTOR, UH, GIVE THE FIVE STAR AWARD AND THE MAYOR GIVE THE PROCLAMATION WAS JUST SYMBOLISM OF HOW WE HAVE WORKED TOGETHER FOR EVERY SINGLE VISITOR THAT COMES THROUGH OUR AIRPORTS INTO OUR GREAT CITY. SO I WANTED TO SAY THANK YOU, AND I WAS THERE WHEN WE GOT THE FIVE. WE HAD THE FIVE STAR CELEBRATION. AND I KNOW THE REASON THAT THE MAYOR CALLED THE CUSTODIAL STAFF UP TO, UM, CELEBRATE WAS BECAUSE IF YOU WERE NOT WEARING SHOES THAT HAD GRIP ON THE BOTTOM, YOU HAD TO BE CAREFUL BECAUSE THE FLOORS WERE SO SHINY, EVERYTHING WAS SPARKLING. THE PLACE WAS ABSOLUTELY, UM, OUTSTANDING. IT WAS SO CLEAN, AND WHEN YOU WALKED IN, IT WAS FRESH, IT WAS AIRY, AND NO ONE, UH, COULD BE MORE PROUD THAN ALL OF US OF THE GREAT WORK THAT THE ENTIRE TEAM DOES. AND DIRECTOR DIAZ, I'M GONNA TELL YOU THAT TODD AND MAYOR ARE ON IT. THEY RESPOND TO US AS COUNCIL MEMBERS, UM, EXPEDITIOUSLY, AND THEY MAKE SURE THAT ANYTIME WE HAVE QUESTIONS ON THE AGENDA, ANYTHING HAPPENING AT THE AIRPORT, THEY ARE ALWAYS AVAILABLE TO US AND GIVING US WHAT WE NEED. SO TO THIS ENTIRE TEAM, I WAS THERE, UH, LAST WEEK, UM, FOR THE, THE LARGE HANGAR OPENING WITH SPIRIT. SO MUCH IS HAPPENING AT OUR AIRPORTS, AND WE'RE SO VERY PROUD TO BE ABLE TO WORK ALONGSIDE EACH OF YOU TO MAKE SURE EVERY VISITOR THAT COMES THROUGH OUR AIRPORTS HAS A WONDERFUL EXPERIENCE. SO KUDOS TO EACH AND EVERY ONE OF YOU. WELL DESERVED PROCLAMATION. AND, UH, LOOKING FORWARD TO BECOMING THE ONLY CITY WITH TWO FIVE [02:10:01] STAR, UH, AIRPORTS IN IT. THANK YOU. CONGRATULATIONS. COUNCIL MEMBER CARLOS CISNEROS. THANK YOU. UM, CONGRATULATIONS, DIRECTOR ON, ON THIS REMARKABLE ACHIEVEMENT AND, UM, AND FOR THE ACKNOWLEDGEMENT OF THE EXCELLENCE OF HOUSTON'S TWO INTERNATIONAL AIRPORTS. UM, I DID HAVE A QUESTION THOUGH. UM, HEARING YOU SAY THAT WE'RE THE ONLY, UM, AIRPORT IN THE NATION THAT HAS THIS RECOGNITION THAT MADE ME WONDER HOW MANY THERE WERE IN THE WORLD AND, AND WHERE THEY ARE. SO I THINK, WELL, UP UNTIL RECENTLY, UM, THERE WERE 10, UM, AND ALL 10 WERE IN EITHER ASIA OR THE MIDDLE EAST. AND A LOT OF PEOPLE BASICALLY SAID, AH, WELL, IT'S OBVIOUS THEY HAVE MONEY. LOTS AND LOTS OF MONEY, AND THAT'S WHY THEY WERE FIVE STARS. BUT THEN SOMETHING INTERESTING HAPPENS ABOUT THREE YEARS AGO, MUNICH IN GERMANY, UM, ACHIEVED FIVE STAR RATING. WE SAID, WAIT A MINUTE. THERE'S SOMETHING MORE TO THIS. SO WE LOOKED INTO A LITTLE BIT, AND WE REALLY CAME TO UNDERSTAND THAT WAS REALLY IMPERATIVE. THE, THE GLITTER AND THE SHINE. YEAH, IT'S, IT'S VERY NICE, BUT YOU HAVE TO HAVE THE HUMAN ELEMENT. YOU HAVE TO HAVE THE SERVICE. THE SERVICE HAS GOT TO COME. AND WE STARTED WORKING ON THAT. WE STARTED CHANGING THE CULTURE OF THE ORGANIZATION TO BECOME AN ORGANIZATION THAT IS CUSTOMER CENTRIC, CUSTOMER FOCUSED, AND, UM, AT THE CENTER OF WHAT WE DO IN MIND WITH EVERYTHING THAT WE DO. NOW, WE SOMETIMES GO THROUGH SOME ROUGH PATCHES, BUT WE ALWAYS COME THROUGH AND THEN WE DELIVER. AND, UH, WE JUST PUSHED AND PUSHED. WE TOOK ALL OF THE, THE SCOTT TRACKS MADE SO MANY RECOMMENDATIONS THAT WE DIDN'T EVEN KNOW WE WE NEEDED TO DO, AND WE GOT STARTED. WE, WE ACCOMPLISHED MANY OF THEM. AND WE FINALLY CONVINCED THEM THAT IT WASN'T JUST A MARKETING, THIS WASN'T ABOUT, YOU KNOW, HEY, LOOK WHAT WE'RE DOING. THIS, THIS IS A REAL COMMITMENT TO CUSTOMER SERVICE. AND THEY UNDERSTOOD IT. THEY ACCEPTED IT, AND THEY GRADED US THE FIVE STARS. THAT'S EXCELLENT. THANK YOU FOR, FOR BEING SO ATTENTIVE TO THAT. I MEAN, IT REALLY SPEAKS TO THE, THE VALUE OF HAVING DIAPERS, THE AIRPORTS. THAT'S EXACTLY WHAT YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT. YOU KNOW, FOCUSING ON THE HUMAN EXPERIENCE. SO, SO CONGRATULATIONS TO THE WHOLE TEAM. THANK YOU. THANK COUNCIL MEMBER MICHAEL KOSH. THANK YOU VERY MUCH, MAYOR FOR THIS, UH, I SEE YOU'RE HOLDING THAT FIVE STAR AIRPORT. I MAYOR, I WOULD LIKE TO SEE THAT. BLOW IT UP ABOUT FIVE TIMES THAT BIG AND PUT ON A WALL THERE IN THE AIRPORT. I MEAN, YOU KNOW, IT NEEDS TO BE WHERE PEOPLE CAN SEE IT. DON'T PUT IT OVER THERE WHERE ALL OF OUR PICTURES ARE. 'CAUSE YOU CAN EVER CAN GO BY THERE AND SEE THAT , YOU KNOW, IT'S WAY OUT OF THE WAY NOW. BUT IT USED TO HAVE TO WALK. EVERYBODY HAD TO WALK BY IT. BUT, BUT PUT IT WHERE PEOPLE CAN SEE IT IN EACH ONE OF THE TERMINALS, THE INTERNATIONAL TERMINAL THERE AT HOBBY, UH, AND, AND THE OTHERS. AND SO, YOU KNOW, I FLY OUT AT LEAST TWICE A MONTH SOMEWHERE AND, AND COMING BACK IN, I'VE BEEN TO SO MANY AIRPORTS IN THE UNITED STATES AND, AND DOWN IN SOUTH AMERICA OVER THE LAST FEW YEARS. THERE'S NO AIRPORT LIKE HOBBY AIRPORT AS FAR AS CONVENIENCE TO GET IN, TO GET OUT, TO KNOW WHERE YOU ARE AND TO BE ABLE TO MOVE AROUND. AND I THANK GOD FOR SOUTHWEST AIRLINES AND ALL THEY'VE DONE THERE. AND I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO YOU GETTING THAT CANOPY PUT ON THERE FOR ME, , BECAUSE THAT'S BEEN A POINT OF CONTENTION, BUT I, WE, WE'LL GET IT DONE. WE, I THINK WE GOT THAT HEALED UP TODAY THAT THAT'S GONNA BE THERE. SO GOD BLESS YOU FOR THAT. THANK YOU. AND I, I'M, I TELL YOU WITH THE LOGISTICS OF RUNNING AN AIRPORT, I DON'T KNOW HOW YOU HAVE TIME TO EVEN BE HERE TODAY. GOD BLESS YOU. THANK YOU. COUNCIL MEMBER SALLY ALCORN. THANK YOU MAYOR POCHE. AND CONGRATULATIONS. WHAT A GREAT DAY. I'M LIKE, KOSH. I, I JUST LOVE HOBBY AIRPORT. I GO OUTTA MY WAY TO FLY SOUTHWEST. I GO TO A WHOLE DIFFERENT TOWN. UM, SO I CAN GO TO HOBBY AIRPORT. IT'S CLOSER TO MY HOUSE. IT'S CONVENIENT, IT'S EASY IN AND OUT, AND IT ALWAYS JUST LOOKS GREAT. IT'S FUN. YOU CAN GET A TACO AND JUST HAVE A GREAT TIME THERE AT THE AIRPORT. UM, I, UH, ALSO THE VICE MAYOR, PRO TEM HIGHLIGHTED MAYOR AND TODD, I, I KNOW I'VE BEEN A THORN IN YOUR SIDE ON THE TRAFFIC SITUATION AT IAH. AND I GOTTA TELL YOU, SINCE MY LAST WHOLE SITUATION, TELLING EVERYBODY TO GO IN A AND B, ALL THAT HAS KIND OF QUIETED DOWN. SO KUDOS TO YOU, WHATEVER YOU'RE DOING OUT THERE. I DID GET ONE NASTY GRAM THIS WEEKEND, BUT I'LL LET THAT ONE SLIDE. BUT, UM, I KNOW THERE ARE GROWING PAINS OUT THERE. I KNOW WE'RE GONNA HAVE ANOTHER FIVE STAR OUT THERE IN A MATTER OF TIME. SO THANK YOU AND CONGRATULATIONS AND, AND JUST JOB WELL DONE. THANK YOU. THANK YOU, THANK YOU. AND, UM, I LIVE IN KINGWOOD AND I WAVE TO MY WEST ME WHEN I DRIVE TO HOBBY AIRPORT TO CON CONTINUE THE HOBBY AIRPORT THEME BECAUSE OF THE, THE CONVENIENCE OF GETTING IN AND GETTING OUT. SO THIS SUNDAY, IT WAS SUNDAY MORNING AT FOUR 30 IN THE MORNING, I FINALLY MADE IT BACK FROM MY DELAYED, DELAYED, DELAYED FLIGHT FROM CHICAGO. AND WHEN YOU WALK THROUGH AN EMPTY AIRPORT, IT REALLY GIVES YOU A GOOD OPPORTUNITY TO LOOK AROUND AND SEE HOW CLEAN EVERYTHING IS AND HOW MODERN THE TECHNOLOGY IS IN, IN AND AROUND OUR AIRPORTS, SPECIFICALLY HOBBY I WAS IN. AND IT REALLY GIVES YOU A GOOD FEELING BECAUSE WHEN YOU GO THROUGH [02:15:01] AT EIGHT O'CLOCK IN THE MORNING, IT'S EXTREMELY CROWDED AND RESTROOMS ARE TOUGH, AND SURE THEY'RE GONNA GET A LITTLE BIT UNC CLEANLY, BUT WHEN YOU'RE WALKING AROUND AND NOBODY'S AT THE AIRPORT AND, UH, IT'S TOTALLY SILENT, YOU REALLY GET A GOOD FEEL FOR WHAT A FIVE STAR AIRPORT SHOULD LOOK LIKE. SO, KUDOS AND CONGRATULATIONS. IT'S A, UH, LONG, WELL DESERVED HONOR AND, UH, KEEP UP THE GOOD WORK. AND WE LOOK FOR INTERCONTINENTAL AND BUSH TO BE, UH, A PART OF THE FIVE STAR TEAM. AND IT'S GOOD TO SEE OUR FIVE STAR MAYOR HOLDING UP THE FIVE STAR AIRPORT SKY TRACK. SO I'LL GIVE YOU THE LAST COMMENTS. THANK YOU. THANK YOU, THANK YOU. AGAIN, I WOULD JUST LIKE TO THANK THE COUNCIL MEMBER FOR THE KIND WORDS, MR. MAYOR, FOR THE PROCLAMATION. AND I'M, WE WILL TAKE THAT BACK TO THE EMPLOYEES, UM, 'CAUSE THEY'RE THE ONES THAT REALLY MAKE IT WORK. YES. AND WHAT WE TRY AND DRIVE WITH THE EMPLOYEES IS, IS THAT OUR AIRPORTS ARE THE FIRST AND OR LAST IMPRESSION OF THIS CITY FOR MOST TRAVELERS. AND SO WE'RE EXTREMELY PROUD TO BE ABLE TO GET THIS RECOGNITION OF THE FIVE STARS. UM, 'CAUSE LEAVING THAT FIVE STAR, UH, IMPRESSION ON THE TRAVELER IS REALLY IMPORTANT FOR THIS CITY. UH, AND OUR STAFF REALLY TAKES PRIDE IN THAT. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. GET HIS BACK. NO, THAT'S YOURS. OKAY. JUST A FEW, FEW OTHER THINGS I WANT TO HIGHLIGHT BEFORE WE, UM, BEFORE WE MOVE ON, ON, UH, YESTERDAY WE HAD A NUMBER OF, OF, UH, SPEAKERS WHO CAME TO TALK ABOUT TIMBER RIDGE APARTMENT COMPLEX. AND THE DEPLORABLE CONDITIONS ARE OUT THERE. UH, THIS MORNING AT ABOUT 10 O'CLOCK, I AM, UM, SENDING A LEGAL TEAM OUT TO TIMBER RICH THIS MORNING. SO, UM, A TOUR OF MICHELLE IS, UH, HAS PUT TOGETHER A TEAM THAT WILL BE OUT THERE AT ABOUT 10, UH, HOUSTON PUBLIC WORKS, SOLID WASTE, AND OTHERS WILL BE OUT THERE AS WELL. UH, TO, TO TAKE, UH, WHATEVER ACTIONS WE NEED TO TAKE, UH, TO, UH, PROTECT THOSE, UH, TENANTS OUT THERE AND TO, UH, FORCE, UH, COMPLIANCE BY THE APARTMENT OWNERS, UH, OUT THERE. UH, I'M ALSO PUTTING TOGETHER KIND OF REVAMPING THINGS A LITTLE BIT, UH, WITH OUR HOUSING HABITABILITY A TEAM. 'CAUSE RIGHT NOW WE GOT PUBLIC WORKS AND THEN YOU GOT HEALTH, YOU GOT DON JUST DIFFERENT UNITS. UH, SO I'M PUTTING TOGETHER A STRIKEFORCE, A STRIKEFORCE TEAM, UH, THAT CAN BE DEPLOYED VERY, VERY QUICKLY IN A VERY COORDINATED FASHION TO DEAL WITH ANY OF THESE PUBLIC COMPLEX ISSUES AS WE MOVE, AS WE MOVE FORWARD. UH, BUT THE LEGAL TEAM WILL BE OUT AT TIMBER RIDGE, UH, AT ABOUT 10 O'CLOCK. 10 O'CLOCK THIS MORNING. UM, SO I WANTED TO, I WANTED TO HIGHLIGHT THAT. UM, I ALSO WANT TO, UM, LAST WEEK FRIDAY, UM, WE RECEIVED NOTICE OF DOJ DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE. UM, WELL, QUITE FRANKLY, OTHER PEOPLE GOT NOTICE BEFORE WE DID. I HEARD ABOUT IT FROM THE HARRIS COUNTY ATTORNEY WHEN I WAS IN MY, UH, DOCTOR'S OFFICE WHO WAS ASKING ME ABOUT IT. AND I DIDN'T KNOW WHAT HE WAS TALKING ABOUT. UM, BUT BE THAT AS IT MAY, UM, INVESTIGATING THE CITY OF HOUSTON ON ILLEGAL DUMPING BY THIRD PARTIES. NOW I WANT YOU TO SINK FOR THAT, TO SINK IN ILLEGAL DUMPING BY THIRD PARTIES. WHEN I CAME INTO OFFICE, I SAID, I DIDN'T WANT TO BE THE MAYOR OF TWO CITIES AND ONE HALF AND HALF NOTS. AND AS A RESULT OF THAT, PUT TOGETHER COMPLETE COMMUNITIES. THAT IS AN INITIATIVE THAT IS FOCUSED DIRECTLY ON COMMUNITIES THAT HAVE BEEN UNDERSERVED AND UNDER RESOURCED 10 OF THEM. AND FOR THOSE OF YOU WHO HAVE BEEN IN MY OFFICE, YOU'VE SEEN A LIST OF THINGS ON, ON THE CHART THAT'S BEEN THERE FOR QUITE SOME TIME. ONE OF THOSE THINGS SAYS ILLEGAL DUMPING. OKAY? SO WE'VE BEEN FOCUSED [02:20:01] ON ILLEGAL DUMPING IN THIS CITY. AND THERE IS NO QUESTION THAT MOST OF YOUR ILLEGAL DUMPING TAKES PLACE IN COMMUNITIES THAT HAVE BEEN UNDERSERVED AND UNDER-RESOURCED. THAT'S A, THAT'S A FACT. OKAY? PEOPLE DO NOT DO, UH, MUCH ILLEGAL DUMPING IN RIVERS OF MEMORIAL ANG. THEY DO THEIR DUMPING PRETTY MUCH IN THOSE 10 COMPLETE COMMUNITIES. UH, AND THERE'S NO QUESTION WE CAN GO PICK IT UP. PEOPLE COME RIGHT BACK. AND SO, CONSEQUENTLY, MANY OF YOU AS DISTRICT COUNCIL MEMBERS AND OTHERS, UH, TAKING STEPS TO PUT UP ADDITIONAL CAMERAS, UM, DOING COORDINATED CAMPAIGNS. WE'VE SPENT A LOT OF MONEY, A LOT OF MONEY, UH, IN ADDRESSING THIS ISSUE. AND WE WILL SPEND A LOT MORE. UM, SO I'M REALLY AGHAST AT, UH, DOJ ON TAKING THE, UM, EVEN SAYING THEY'RE SIMPLY INVESTIGATING WHAT HAVE YOU. UH, I WOULD PREFER FOR THEM TO BE INVESTIGATING AND PARTNERING WITH THE CITY AGAINST UNION SPECIFIC, UH, AND THE CANCER CLUSTER IN CASHIER GARDENS. THAT'S WHAT I THOUGHT THAT DIVISION WAS SET UP TO DO, WAS TO JOIN FORCES WITH MUNICIPALITIES AND GOING AFTER COMPANIES LIKE UNION SPECIFIC, UH, OR THEY COULD BE GOING AFTER THE GLO. WELL, HU HAS SAID THAT THEY HAVE DISCRIMINATED AGAINST COMMUNITIES OF COLOR IN THE CITY OF HOUSTON. YOU WOULD THINK DOJ WILL BE FOLLOWING UP ON THAT, BUT BEAT AS IT, IT MAY, THERE'S NO QUESTION. THERE IS TOO MUCH ILLEGAL DUMPING. AND SO LET ME JUST SAY, UH, TO YOU, WE WILL CONTINUE TO BE FOCUSED, LASER FOCUSED. UM, I HAVE INSTRUCTED, UH, DIRECTOR WILL FAULK, UH, TO, UM, TO SEEK ADDITIONAL SUPPORT, UH, FROM OUTSIDE VENDORS. WE CANNOT TAKE RESOURCES AWAY FROM SOLID WASTE THAT'S NEEDED IN SOLID WASTE RIGHT NOW. OKAY. UH, BUT WE WILL, UH, SEEK TO BRING ON ADDITIONAL OUTSIDE VENDORS, CONTRACTORS, UH, TO ASSIST IN, UH, JUST IN COLLECTING EVEN MORE ILLEGAL DUMPING. UH, SO THAT'S ONE. AND THEN I'VE ALSO, UH, INSTRUCTED DIRECTOR WILL FA, UH, TO TAKE THE STEPS TO, UH, PUT IN, INSTALL EVEN MORE CAMERAS, UH, IN, UM, VARIOUS AREAS WHERE THERE'S REPEATEDLY ILLEGAL DUMPING. AND, UH, JUST ON THOSE TWO INITIATIVES, THEY WILL BE COST MORE MONEY. SO DO ANTICIPATE ME PULLING FROM THE FUND BALANCE IN ORDER TO, UH, UH, PROVIDE FUNDING FOR THESE ADDITIONAL OUTSIDE VENDORS AND FOR THESE ADDITIONAL CAMERAS, UH, TO BE SET UP. UH, BECAUSE THE REALITY IS WE PICK UP, PEOPLE COME RIGHT BACK AND THEY DO IT AGAIN. AND THEN I SAID TO HPD, CHIEF FINN, WHATEVER HIS ENVIRONMENTAL TEAM NEEDS, UH, TO BRING ABOUT EVEN ADDED ENFORCEMENT, UH, IF THEY NEED ADDITIONAL RESOURCES, WE WILL MAKE THOSE RESOURCES AVAILABLE TO HPD AS WELL. SO WHETHER IT'S HPD, WHETHER IT'S BRINGING ON ADDITIONAL CON OUTSIDE CONTRACTORS, UH, THE INSTALLING OF EVEN MORE CAMERAS, UH, WE WILL DO, WE WILL DO THAT. AND THEN THE LAST ELEMENT, BECAUSE EVEN WITH RESPECT TO ILLEGAL DUMPING, THERE'S STILL TOO MUCH LITTER. AND, UH, AND WE'LL LOOK AT WAYS THAT WE CAN BRING IN MAYBE SOME TEMPS OR OTHERS, UH, TO WORK IN VARIOUS DISTRICTS, UH, TO PICK UP A LITTER THAT THAT'S IN OUR CITY. BUT THE FOCUS IS ON ILLEGAL DUMPING. AND, UM, I BELIEVE THE ACTION TAKEN BY DOJ IS BASICALLY SIMPLY WITHOUT MERIT. BUT HAVING SAID THAT, THERE IS NO QUESTION THAT THERE IS TOO MUCH ILLEGAL DUMPING. AND THAT ILLEGAL DUMPING IS PRIMARILY CONCENTRATED IN CERTAIN COMMUNITIES THAT HAVE BEEN UNDERSERVED AND UNDER RESOURCED, BUT IT EXISTS FROM A LEAF ALL THROUGHOUT THE CITY. AND SO, UH, UH, THOSE ARE THE STEPS THAT WE WILL BE TAKING, UH, IN THAT REGARD. UM, LET ME STOP AND TAKE ANY, THERE ARE A FEW OTHER ITEMS, BUT LEMME JUST STOP BEFORE I GO TO THE NEXT ITEM. UH, COUNCIL MEMBER HUFFMAN, I SEE YOU IN THE QUEUE. THANK YOU, MAYOR. YOU KNOW, ON TUESDAY WHEN ASKED IF VIOLENT CRIME WAS A CRISIS IN THE US, THE US ATTORNEY GENERAL, UH, MERRICK GARLAND DECLINED TO ACKNOWLEDGE THE REALITY THAT IT ABSOLUTELY IS. UM, AND INSTEAD OF TACKLING VIOLENCE IN AMERICA, HEAD ON, YOU KNOW, HIS DEPARTMENT IS USING THE FORCE OF THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT TO COME AFTER OUR CITY FOR THESE ENVIRONMENTAL CONCERNS. NOW, I DON'T WANNA MINIMIZE THE ISSUES OF ILLEGAL DUMPING. IT IS A PROBLEM IN OUR CITY. UM, BUT I WANNA THANK YOU, MAYOR, FOR TACKLING THIS ISSUE [02:25:01] PROACTIVELY. UM, AND CITY COUNCIL, EVEN LAST YEAR, I MEAN, Y'ALL VOTED TO DOUBLE THE FINES AND YOU HAVE URGED JUDGES TO AGGRESSIVELY, YOU KNOW, PUNISH VIOLATORS. AND SO, UM, I THANK YOU MAYOR FOR EVERYTHING THAT YOU'VE DONE ON THIS ISSUE. UM, AND I BELIEVE THAT, UM, MOST RESIDENTS IN HOUSTON WOULD APPRECIATE IF THE DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE ADJUSTED ITS PRIORITIES, UM, IN ORDER TO BECOME AN ALLY TO HOUSTON IN OUR FIGHT AGAINST VIOLENT CRIME. THANK YOU. THANK YOU, COUNCIL MEMBER. THAT'S GOOD COMMENT. UM, AND I, AND I, AND I APPRECIATE THAT, UM, BECAUSE WE DO NEED ALLIES, BECAUSE LEMME TELL YOU, AS A CITY, AS MS. POWELL, AND I HAVE TO TELL YOU ALL, WE'LL FIGHT A LOT OF STUFF, OKAY? PUBLIC SAFETY IS OUR NUMBER ONE ISSUE. I MEAN, WE'RE DEALING WITH THAT. WE'RE DEALING WITH COVID AND MONKEYPOX, OKAY? THERE ARE A LOT OF THINGS THAT WE ARE DEALING WITH, AND THERE ARE A LOT OF NEEDS IN OUR RESPECTIVE CITIES TODAY. LATER ON TODAY, AT THREE O'CLOCK, WE GOT A PRESS CONFERENCE ON DEALING WITH UP AND THE CANCER CLUSTER, TAKING LEGAL ACTION AGAINST THEM. WE COULD USE SOME HELP. MM-HMM . ON THAT. THAT'S A HUGE ISSUE. SO, YOU KNOW, OUR HANDS ARE FULL LIMITED RESOURCES. UM, BUT WE ARE COMMITTED, WE'LL HAVE TO PULL DOWN FROM OUR FUND BALANCE TO ADDRESS IT, BECAUSE EVEN IN ORDER TO GET VENDORS OUT ON THE STREET LIKE TOMORROW, YOU CAN'T PULL DOWN THE OPERA DOLLARS BECAUSE YOU GOTTA GO THROUGH AN RFQ, AND THAT TAKES THREE TO FOUR MONTHS. SO YOU HAVE TO PULL DOWN THE FUND BALANCE INITIALLY TO GET THEM OUT ON THE STREET. SO POLICE ARE STRETCHED IN EVERY END, BUT, SO I APPRECIATE THE COUNCILMAN MEMBER BUSH, YOU HAVE TO SAY THANK YOU VERY MUCH. COUNCIL COUNCILMAN PLUMER. THANK YOU, MAYOR TURNER. AND I JUST AM VERY GRATEFUL, UM, THAT YOU'RE TAKING THIS, THIS POSITION ON THE APARTMENT SITUATION. UM, YOU KNOW, WE'VE JUST HEARD FROM PEOPLE FOR ALMOST A YEAR NOW, UM, IN TERMS OF WHAT'S GOING ON. SO THANK YOU FOR CREATING THAT STRIKE TEAM, UH, TO LOOK AT WHAT'S GOING ON AND HOLDING THE LANDLORDS ACCOUNTABLE. UH, WE DO HAVE BIG ISSUES IN THE CITY. UH, AND LIKE YOU MENTIONED, I MEAN, OUR, THE CANCER CLUSTER IS ANOTHER SITUATION THAT'S BEEN GOING ON FOR DECADES, UM, AND NOW AFFECTING, YOU KNOW, CHILDREN, UM, IN, IN SPECIFIC COMMUNITIES. SO, SO YOU'RE RIGHT. WE, WE NEED ALLIES, BUT I DO BELIEVE, AND IN PUBLIC, AND YOU KNOW, WHAT, YOU KNOW, COUNCIL MEMBER HUFFMAN MENTIONED IN TERMS OF PUBLIC SAFETY, IT'S HUGE. ONE THING I DO BELIEVE IS AS A CITY, WE NEED TO UNDERSTAND IS IT'S ALSO ROOT CAUSES. AND WHEN YOU CHANGE HOW PEOPLE LIVE, AND WHEN YOU CLEAN UP NEIGHBORHOODS AND WHEN YOU CLEAN UP, THEY START TO RESPECT THE SPACES THEY LIVE, AND THEY SEE US ON THE HORSESHOE AS RESPECTING THEM AS HUMAN BEINGS AND MAKING SURE THAT THEY, THAT WE SEE 'EM WITH THEM. SO I DO BELIEVE THAT AS WE SLOWLY CLEAN UP THESE COMMUNITIES, WE'RE GONNA WATCH PEOPLE CARE FOR THEIR COMMUNITIES. WE'RE GONNA WATCH THEM NOT DUMP IN THEIR COMMUNITIES. WE'RE GONNA WATCH CHILDREN GO TO SCHOOL AND GET EDUCATIONS AND DO, AND BE REALLY GREAT PEOPLE IN SOCIETY, BECAUSE NOW THEY HAVE OPPORTUNITY. AND SO, ROOT CAUSES IS WHAT WE HAVE TO FOCUS ON. AND NOT BEING SO REACTIVE, BUT LET'S, AND, AND WHAT WE'RE DOING NOW, WHAT YOU DID TODAY, WHAT YOU JUST ANNOUNCED, IT WARMS MY HEART. AND IT LETS HOUSTON KNOW THAT ALTHOUGH YOU SHOW CARE THAT YOU ALL THE TIME, I MEAN, EVERYTHING THAT YOU DO AND, AND COMM COMPLETE COMMUNITIES AND EVERYTHING YOU DO IS CARING. BUT IT SHOWS PEOPLE NOW THAT ARE REALLY UNHEARD THAT YOU'RE HEARING THEM. AND SO I'M GRATEFUL FOR THAT. AND I WA AND THEN WHEN WE CLEAN UP THE CITY, WE'RE GONNA CLEAN UP HOUSTON AND WE'RE GONNA BE ABLE TO CLEAN UP, UH, PEOPLE'S FUTURES. AND, UM, AND I THINK THAT'S REALLY IMPORTANT. SO THANK YOU, THANK YOU. AND ALSO PUT THINGS, LET'S PUT THINGS IN THEIR CONTEXT. WHEN I CAME IN AS MAYOR, WE WERE FACING HUGE FINANCIAL CHALLENGES. OUR UNFUNDED PENSION LIABILITIES WERE HUGE. WHEN I CAME IN AS MAYOR IN THE YEAR ONE, I THINK COUNCIL MEMBER K, WE HAD LIKE $160 MILLION DEFICIT. AND THE SAME THING IN YEAR TWO. IN YEAR THREE, WE DIDN'T HAVE THE, WE DIDN'T HAVE THE RESOURCES. WE DIDN'T HAVE THE, IT'S ONLY RECENTLY, FOR EXAMPLE, AS WE WENT THROUGH COD AND WE PROJECTED VERY LOW SALES TAX RETURNS THAT OUR SALES TAXES ARE NOW COMING IN ABOVE, ABOVE, UM, THE PROJECTIONS. OKAY? SO WE'VE BEEN, WE'VE BEEN STRAPPED ON SO MANY DIFFERENT FRONTS, OKAY? UH, AND LIKE I INDICATED TO THE DEPUTY ASSISTANT ATTORNEY WHEN I TALKED TO HER ON FRIDAY EVENING, YOU'RE NOT, SH Y'ALL NOT TALKING TO SOMEONE WHO'S NOT FAMILIAR. HELL, I STILL LIVE IN THE SAME COMMUNITY THAT THEY ADVOCATE THAT THEY'RE TALKING ABOUT. BUT ANYWAY, THAT AS RESUME, MAY WE GONNA, WE GONNA STAY FOCUSED AND DO OUR PART. COUNCILMAN MELVIN SHABBAT, THANK YOU, MAYOR. AND CERTAINLY, [02:30:01] UH, YOU ARE RIGHT ON POINT WITH THE GLO AND THE CANCER CLUSTERS THAT HAVE BEEN GOING ON FOR QUITE SOME TIME. BUT I WANTED TO SAY THAT I KNOW IN MY DISTRICT, WE ARE IN DISCUSSIONS WITH SOUTHEAST MANAGEMENT TO PROVIDE DUMPSTERS IN DIFFERENT LOCATIONS, BUT WE MAY HAVE TO EVEN LOOK AT CHANGING SOME OF THESE BARRIERS FOR USING THE CITY DUMP. AND, AND ONE OF MY CONCERNS IS PEOPLE THAT LIVE IN APARTMENTS, WHEN THEY GET READY TO MOVE, THEY'RE GOING TO DROP IT ANYWHERE BECAUSE SOME OF THEM DON'T HAVE WATER BILLS. AND SO, YOU KNOW, WE NEED TO LOOK AT THAT BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, IF YOU CAN'T DUMP, THEN YOU ARE NOT GONNA MAKE ANY ATTEMPTS. AND THEN, YOU KNOW, WE HAVE TO BE REALLY HONEST TOO. WE HAVE TO HAVE A MINDSET CHANGE, UH, REGARDING WHERE WE DUMP, BECAUSE WHAT'S HAPPENING, AS YOU SAID, WE CLEAN IT UP. MY HOT TEAM IS JUST INUNDATED WITH TRASH, PICKING UP TRASH AND DUMPING EVERY DAY, WELL THROUGH THE WEEK. AND, BUT THEN FOR PEOPLE TO COME BACK AND PUT IT BACK DOWN THERE, YOU KNOW, AND THEN YOU HAVE TO GO BACK THROUGH THE CYCLE AGAIN OF TRYING TO GET IT UP. SO WE ARE GONNA HAVE TO, YOU KNOW, USED TO BE THAT DON'T MESS WITH TEXAS, DON'T BE A LITTER BUG. AND THOSE THINGS AFFECTED ME AS A CHILD. I REMEMBER THEM. SO WE MAY NEED TO START THESE CAMPAIGNS BECAUSE PEOPLE, IT'S PEOPLE THAT ARE DUMPING, AND IF THEY DON'T CHANGE THEIR MINDSET, THEN WE ARE GONNA CONSTANTLY BE DEALING WITH THIS. AND SO, I, I DO REALLY THINK THAT IT, IT'S SOMETHING, IT'S GONNA ALWAYS BE A CHALLENGE UNTIL WE, UNTIL WE DO THAT. AND SO THANK YOU SO VERY MUCH. YOU ALSO HAVE SUPPORTED MY DISTRICT WITH PUTTING OTHER PEOPLE THERE TO HELP US TO CLEAN UP. I MEAN, YOU'VE PUT SOME TRUCKS OUT THERE AND THEY WENT AND THEY DID IT, BUT HERE AGAIN, IT GETS BACK DOWN THERE. SO IT IS A MAJOR PROBLEM. AND I THANK YOU SO VERY MUCH FOR YOUR SUPPORT IN THIS. WELL, THANK YOU. AND, UM, AND WE ARE GONNA CONTINUE. WE ARE, WE WILL BE PUTTING RESOURCES IN ALL OF YOUR DISTRICTS TO DO EVEN MORE. UM, AS INDICATED TO CHIEF NER, WE'RE GONNA DO EVERYTHING WE CAN TO BEEF UP ENFORCEMENT. AND THAT'S WHY THE CAMERAS ARE COMING INTO PLAY. WE'LL PUT A LOT MORE CAMERAS OUT THERE TO BEEF UP THE ENFORCEMENT BECAUSE YOU'RE EXACTLY CORRECT. LEMME TELL YOU, AS WE ALL DRIVE AROUND THE CITY, IT IS FRUSTRATING. FOR EXAMPLE, WHEN I CALL IN INTO SOLID WASTE, AND I SAY TO SOLID WASTE, LOOK, I'M DRIVING. I SEE THIS DUMP OF TRASH. WILL Y'ALL PLEASE COME OUT? WILL YOU GO OUT AND PICK IT UP? AND THEY GO OUT AND THEY PICK IT UP. AND THEN THE VERY NEXT WEEK WHEN I'M DRIVING THERE, THERE IT IS AGAIN. AND I'M SAYING, YOU KNOW, WHAT THE HECK? YOU KNOW, I HAD A PASTOR WHO WAS, WOULD CALL ME AND SAY, MARY, CAN YOU SEND SOMEONE OUT? I DON'T WANNA SAY, UH, WELL, I'M NOT GONNA SAY THE SECTOR. AND, UH, TO PICK UP THIS HEAVY TRASH, WHATEVER. I CALLED SOLID WASTE, SOLID WASTE, WENT OUT AND DID IT TWO WEEKS AGO. THE SAME PASTOR CALLED ME AGAIN. I SENT SOLID WASTE OUT. THEY PICKED IT UP AGAIN. I KID YOU NOT. TWO WEEKS LATER, HE CALLED ME. I SAID, PASTOR, AND Y'ALL GONNA HAVE TO HELP US OUT. IF Y'ALL KNOW WHO'S DOING IT, LET US KNOW. BUT WE, IT'S A BIG CITY. IT'S A BIG CITY, AND IT'S VERY DIFFICULT TO KEEP SENDING, THIS IS NOT WHAT YOU CALL IT, CONCIERGE SERVICE. SO Y'ALL HAVE TO HELP US OUT. IF YOU KNOW OF PERSONS WHO ARE DOING IT, BUSINESSES, PEOPLE, YOU NAME IT, YOU KNOW, HELP US OUT. BUT THAT'S WHERE I JUST, YOU KNOW, WE'LL PUT IN CAMERAS AND, AND BEEF UP THE ENFORCEMENT. UH, BUT THE POINT THAT I WANTED TO MAKE TO DOJ, IT'S NOT BECAUSE WE DON'T CARE. AND EVEN THE PEOPLE IN THE CITY OF HOUSTON WHO COMPLAINING, IT'S NOT THAT WE DON'T CARE. OKAY? UM, COUNCIL MEMBER JACKSON. THANK YOU, MAYOR. UM, UM, AND HELLO EVERYONE. I MISSED YOU GUYS LAST WEEK. UM, AND YEAH, SO I LEARNED ABOUT THE LAWSUIT WHILE I WAS ON VACATION, UM, THE INVESTIGATION ON FRIDAY. SO IT SURPRISED ME. BUT OF COURSE, I ALWAYS WELCOME, UM, INVESTIGATIONS AND JUST THE OPPORTUNITY TO HAVE A THIRD PARTY COME IN AND JUST LOOK AT PROCESSES. AS YOU GUYS KNOW, IN DISTRICT B. AND OF COURSE IN DISTRICT D, DISTRICT B, UM, THE DUMPING IS REALLY, REALLY BAD. AND IT'S, AND IT'S NOT JUST RESIDENTS, UM, DUMPING IT IS BUSINESS OWNERS. UM, IN FACT, WE WAS CLEANING UP A SITE AND, UM, THE, THE DUMP, THE, THE MAIL THAT WAS AT THE DUMP SITE WAS FROM GREENS POINT, BUT THE DUMP SITE WAS IN FIFTH WARD. AND SO IT'S, IT'S BECOMING A REAL, REAL PROBLEM. UM, IT'S DIFFICULT [02:35:01] FOR OUR HOT TEAM, LIKE ALL OF YOU GUYS. WE HAVE HOT TEAMS, UM, IT'S TOO MUCH FOR THEM. UM, BUT WHEN WE REACH OUT TO YOU, MAYOR AND ASK FOR ADDITIONAL HELP, YOU SEND THE TEAM OUT, UM, TO HELP US. BUT WE NEED TO COME UP WITH A WAY TO, LIKE COUNCIL MEMBER SAID, TO REMOVE THE BARRIERS SO THAT EVERYONE CAN USE OUR DEPOSIT DEPOSITORIES. I KNOW, UM, IN 2001, DURING BUDGET AMENDMENTS, WE WAS ABLE TO EXTEND THE HOURS OF THE, THE, THE, UM, DEPOSITORY. BUT OF COURSE, EVERYONE CAN'T USE THE DEPOSITORY BUSINESSES CAN'T USE IT. SO WHEN THEY GO IN, THEY TURN AROUND, THEY DUMP IT ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD, SO YOU'RE SEEING HOUSES DUMPED ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. UM, SO IT'S, AT SOME POINT WE HAVE TO COME UP WITH ANOTHER, A SYSTEM TO WHERE WE CAN HOLD, HOLD THE BUSINESS OWNERS ACCOUNTABLE AS WELL. AND SO I, YOU KNOW, ENCOURAGE YOU TO, YOU KNOW, JUST, WE MADE RECOMMENDATIONS TO EX, UM, FOR A, WHAT A FEE, A TRASH FEE. WE NEED A TRASH FEE, BECAUSE RIGHT NOW WE ONLY GET TRASH PICKUPS ONCE A WEEK. WE NEED TO INCREASE THE FREQUENCIES OF THAT. SO IT'S A LOT OF THINGS THAT CAN, CAN, CAN BE, THAT CAN BE PUT IN PLACE TO HELP US MITIGATE THIS PROBLEM. AND I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO WORKING WITH ADMINISTRATION TO, TO DO THAT. WELL, I DON'T MIND, UM, THIRD PARTIES COMING IN AND LOOKING, BUT WHEN YOU ARE INVESTIGATING WHETHER OR NOT THE CITY IS DISCRIMINATING AGAINST COMMUNITIES OF COLOR, I CAN USE SOME VERY SHORT WORDS TO RESPOND TO THAT, BECAUSE THAT'S THE INVESTIGATION. WHETHER OR NOT THE CITY OF HOUSTON, THIS ADMINISTRATION ACTIVELY IS ACTIVELY DISCRIMINATING AGAINST COMMUNITIES OF COLOR. KID, ARE YOU KIDDING ME? ARE YOU KIDDING ME? MAYOR, CAN I SAY SOMETHING? AND I'M, I'M, AND WHEN I LOOKED AT IT, I THOUGHT IT WAS TALKING ABOUT JUST THE GENERAL PROCESSES AND POLICIES OF THE CITY OF HOUSTON. IT'S TALKING ABOUT THE ADMINISTRATION, BECAUSE I HAVEN'T READ THE, THE LAWSUIT. IT IS THE INVESTIGATION. THEY'RE INVESTIGATING WHETHER OR NOT THE CITY OF HOUSTON IS DISCRIMINATED AGAINST COMMUNITIES OF COLOR ON ILLEGAL DUMPING. OKAY? WELL, MAYOR, YOUR ADMINISTRATION, I TOTALLY DISAGREE. YOU'RE NOT DISCRIMINATE. YOU WORKED VERY CLOSELY WITH, WELL, LET TELL YOU, YOU PUTTING A LOT OF SYSTEMS IN PLACE, WELL, THEY PUT IT OUT FROM THE WASHINGTON POST, CNN AND EVERYTHING ELSE. AND, AND AGAIN, IT'S NOT, IS THERE LEGAL DUMPING TOO MUCH IN OUR CITY? YES. DOES IT PULL DOWN COMMUNITIES? YES. DO WE NEED TO FIND ALL POSSIBLE WAYS TO REDUCE IT, ELIMINATE IT? YES. DOES IT REQUIRE ADDITIONAL RESOURCES AND ENFORCEMENT? ALL OF THAT? YES. OKAY. BUT IT'S NOT AS EASY AS PEOPLE WOULD LIKE TO THINK IT IS. AND I UNDERSTAND FRUSTRATIONS. IF YOU'VE BEEN LIVING, IF YOU'RE LIVING IN COMMUNITIES THAT HAVE BEEN UNDERSERVED AND YOU'RE CONSTANTLY SEEING ALL THIS TRASH IN YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD, I GET IT. I, I GET THAT. I UNDERSTAND PEOPLE'S FRUSTRATIONS, BUT THAT DOESN'T MEAN THAT THE GOVERNMENT WITH DOJ COMES DOWN AND MAKE OUR JOB HARDER. NOW, IF YOU WANNA PARTNER WITH US TO CATCH THESE THIRD PARTIES, YOU, I WELCOME YOUR SUPPORT. I WELCOME THEIR SUPPORT. IF YOU WANNA BRING RESOURCES DOWN TO JOIN WITH THE CITY, I WELCOME ALL OF THAT. BUT WE ARE GONNA SPEND A LOT OF TIME AND RESOURCES TO SAY THAT WE, TO DEFEND WHETHER OR NOT WE DISCRIMINATE. YEAH. ANYWAY, LET ME, UM, UH, COUNCILMAN MC KAMAN, THANK YOU, MAYOR. AND, UM, I, I APPRECIATED ONE ALL OF WHAT YOU SAID, BUT IN PARTICULAR, UM, I THINK IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT TO NOTE THAT THE ADDITIONAL MEASURES THAT WE'RE TAKING ARE NOT REACTIONARY. UH, MAYOR, YOU COMPLETE COMMUNITIES, RIGHT? UH, THAT, I MEAN, THAT HAS BEEN A HALLMARK OF YOUR ADMINISTRATION FOCUSED ON THIS ISSUE. UH, AND THAT GOES FOR THIS COUNCIL AS WELL, VICE MAYOR, PRO TEM, UH, IN YOUR DISTRICT. THE MODEL, UH, THAT YOU'VE TAKEN UP AND THE WORK THAT YOU ARE DOING, UH, IS EXEMPLARY AND SOMETHING THAT CAN BE REPLICATED THROUGHOUT, RIGHT? AS WE FOCUS ON THIS ISSUE. SO I, I APPRECIATE THE ADDITIONAL INVESTMENTS, BUT I ALSO WANTED TO, UM, EMPHASIZE FOR THE PUBLIC THAT ALL OF THE THINGS THAT AS A COUNCIL AND AS THIS ADMINISTRATION IS DOING, IS NOT REACTIONARY SIMPLY BECAUSE THE DOJ IS MAKING SOME CORRECT WILD ACCUSATIONS. THIS WORK HAS BEEN GOING ON, UH, FOR YEARS TO CLEAN UP DECADES OLD ISSUES, UH, WITH THE FINITE LIMITED RESOURCES THAT WE HAVE, AND THAT WE ARE CONTINUING TO BE CHALLENGED BY. I APPRECIATE YOU RAISING THE ISSUE AND COUNCIL MEMBER ALCORN AS WELL ABOUT GARBAGE FEES. UM, I THAT I DO NOT LIKE SAYING THAT WORD, BUT THERE WE NEED THE MONEY TO BE ABLE TO ADDRESS THE ISSUES THAT THE CITY CONTINUES TO BE FACED [02:40:01] WITH. UM, SO MAYOR, I JUST WANTED TO EMPHASIZE THAT I HAD ACTUALLY GOTTEN IN QUEUE A LITTLE EARLIER, BUT I'LL, I'LL YIELD. UM, I, I HAD SOME QUESTIONS ON MONKEYPOX, SO IF WE'RE, IF WE CAN GO BACK TO THAT TOWARDS THE END, I WOULD APPRECIATE THAT. BUT I DID JUST WANNA EMPHASIZE MAYOR, THAT ESPECIALLY WITH, UM, WHAT'S HAPPENING RIGHT NOW, UH, EVEN WITH HOUSING AND THE APARTMENT ISSUES, UH, THE WORK THAT IS BEING DONE, AND WE'RE CONTINUING TO, UM, INCREASE THOSE EFFORTS, BUT THIS ISN'T NEW WORK. OKAY. COUNCIL MEMBER GALLEGOS. THANK YOU, MAYOR. I, I, I TOOK OFFENSE OF THE DOJS REPORT, UH, USING THE ADMINISTRATION AND US SITTING HERE AT THE HORSESHOE THAT WE ARE DISCRIMINATING AGAINST, UH, COMMUNITIES OF COLOR. UH, THE, THE ISSUE, AS YOU STATED, MARY, IS RESOURCES. UH, UNFORTUNATELY, SOLID WASTE HAS SUFFERED THROUGH THE YEARS IN REGARDS TO NOT HAVING ENOUGH RESOURCES. AND OUR EQUIPMENT'S BREAKING DOWN. UH, YOU KNOW, EMPLOYEES ARE LEAVING, UH, TO OTHER TRUCKING COMPANIES THAT ARE OFFERING BONUSES. UH, SO, UH, I APPRECIATE THE GESTURE MIRROR OF THE FUND BALANCE. UH, THE FUND BALANCE, OF COURSE, IS ALSO USED IN CASE OF EMERGENCIES, LIKE A HURRICANE TO GO OUT THERE AND CLEAN UP OUR NEIGHBORHOODS AFTER A HURRICANE. UH, AND IT, AND IT'S, IT'S CONCERNING TO USE MONIES LIKE THAT FOR THE FUND BALANCE. I KNOW THAT THE, UM, SOLID WASTE HAS BEEN HAVING ISSUES FOR YEARS IN REGARDS TO THE LACK OF RESOURCE. UH, SO FOR THE LONG TERM STABILITY OF THE DEPARTMENT, WE HAVE TO FIGURE OUT WHAT WE CAN DO TO MAKE SURE THAT SOLID WASTE HAS THE RESOURCES INTO THE FUTURE. AND I TOO AGREE, UH, YOU KNOW, IN, IN REGARDS TO THE, UH, THE BROKEN WINDOWS THEORY, UH, A SIGN OF BLIGHT IN OUR NEIGHBORHOODS ONLY BRINGS MORE BLIGHT. AND BLIGHT BRINGS CRIME. SO WE NEED TO MAKE SURE WE GO INTO OUR NEIGHBORHOODS, UH, YOU KNOW, ESPECIALLY OUR NEIGHBORHOODS OF COLOR. 'CAUSE UNFORTUNATELY YOU HAVE THIRD PARTIES THAT COME INTO THESE NEIGHBORHOODS AND, AND DUMP IN THESE NEIGHBORHOODS. AND WE'VE HEARD FROM MANY RESIDENTS THAT HAVE COME HERE AT PUBLIC SESSION, AND THEY ARE TIRED OF SEEING THIS BLIGHT IN THEIR NEIGHBORHOODS, BECAUSE THAT BRINGS CRIME INTO THESE NEIGHBORHOODS. SO WE NEED TO DO THE RIGHT THING. WE NEED TO MAKE SURE, MAYOR, IN REGARDS TO THE FUND BALANCE, IS THERE A OPPORTUNITY TO MAYBE USE SOME OF THAT MONIES TO, TO, UH, UH, BUILD OR CONSTRUCT MORE DEPOSIT DEPOSITORIES? I UNDERSTAND THERE'S A LACK OF FOUR OR FIVE DEPOSITORIES IN OUR CITY. UH, I, I GO OUT TO THE DEPOSITORY THERE ON CENTRAL STREET STREET SEVERAL TIMES A YEAR. UH, AND YOU HAVE TO BE IN LINE, ESPECIALLY IF IT'S IN THE SUMMERTIME, YOU'RE THERE FOR AN HOUR OR AN OVER AN HOUR WAITING TO GO IN. AND BECAUSE OF THE LACK OF RESOURCES WITH THE, THE, UH, UH, SOLID WASTE, YOU HAVE DRIVERS THAT ARE TAKING THE CONTAINERS SO THAT WAY THEY CAN EMPTY THE CONTAINERS. SO YOU'RE WAITING FOR THEM TO BRING YOU IN, BRING A NEW CONTAINER. AND, YOU KNOW, I, AGAIN, I'VE BEEN IN COUNCIL FOR NINE YEARS, I HEAR IT FROM THE DIRECTORS. WE NEED MORE DEPOSIT DEPOSITORIES. SO THAT WAY PEOPLE, WHEN THEY GO AND, AND, AND, AND, AND, AND, UH, DUMP THEIR, THEIR HEAVY TRASH, IT'S AN EASY PROCESS. AND THEREFORE THEY'RE NOT TAKING IT TO A VACANT LOT AND DUMPING IT. SO, SO, SO THAT'S SOMETHING THAT WE NEED TO LOOK AT. WE ALSO NEED TO LOOK AT SOLID WASTE INSPECTORS. SOLID WASTE NEEDS TO HAVE THEIR OWN INSPECTOR SO THEY CAN DRIVE THROUGH OUR NEIGHBORHOODS AND THEY CAN REPORT ILLEGAL DUMPING. THAT WAY SOLID WASTE CAN GO PICK UP THAT ILLEGAL DUMPING IN A TIMELY MANNER. THEY CAN ALSO GIVE WARNINGS TO RESIDENTS THAT ARE PUTTING OUT THEIR HEAVY TRASH TWO WEEKS, THREE WEEKS BEFORE THEIR DAY OF HEAVY TRASH. SO THAT WAY THAT PREVENTS THE BLIGHT IN OUR NEIGHBORHOODS AND IN THE LONG RUN, IN THE LONG RUN ALSO, UH, PREVENTS CRIME IN OUR NEIGHBORHOODS. SO, UH, THOSE ARE MY SUGGESTIONS. MIR. I'M HOPING WE CAN DO MORE, AT LEAST FOUR TO FIVE MORE DEPOSIT DEPOSITORIES, HOPEFULLY WITH THIS FUND BALANCE. AND I THINK THAT WOULD BE BETTER, THE MONEY BETTER SPENT. 'CAUSE NOW YOU'LL HAVE PEOPLE TAKING THEIR HEAVY TRASH, AND IT'LL BE AN EASY PROCESS INSTEAD OF SITTING THERE FOR AN HOUR, AN HOUR AND A HALF IN THE HEAT, UH, AND THEN THEY TAKE OFF AND THEN THEY GO DUMP IT AT A VACANT LOT. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. AND LET ME, LEMME TAKE A LOOK AT BOTH OF THOSE, UH, AND I'LL GET BACK WITH ALL OF YOU ON THAT. UH, COUNCIL MEMBER CISNEROS. THANK YOU, MAYOR. UH, THE DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE ACCUSATION IS OFF BASE AND OUT OF TOUCH, BUT IT [02:45:01] COULD BE AN OPPORTUNITY, OPPORTUNITY TO, TO TURN TO CHANGE THE, THE, THE, THE CONVERSATION AS YOU WERE TALKING ABOUT. I THINK YOU, THAT, THAT WITH THIS ATTENTION ON US, IF WE CAN TURN IT BACK TO WHAT THE REAL ISSUES ARE, YOU KNOW, THAT MAYBE WE CAN REALLY, WE CAN, WE CAN GET THEIR, THEIR HELP WITH THEIR, YOU KNOW, WITH, WITH PUBLIC PRESSURE TO FOCUS ON WHAT WE REALLY NEED HELP WITH. SO I THINK, I THINK WE NEED, WE NEED TO LOOK AT IT THAT WAY TOO. HOW, HOW IS THIS AN OPPORTUNITY TO, TO GET WHERE WE NEED TO BE? UM, THERE WAS ANOTHER THING I WANTED TO MENTION THAT, UM, ABOUT PARTNERSHIPS AND, AND ADDRESSING THIS, YOU KNOW, THE MANAGEMENT DISTRICTS COUNCIL MEMBER, UM, EVAN SHABAZZ YOU MENTIONED. I I ALSO WORK WITH MY MANAGEMENT DISTRICTS. I HAVE A FUND THAT THEY, THEY TAP INTO AND PAY FOR DUMPSTERS AS THEY'RE ABLE TO FILL THEM UP AND, AND PROVIDE ADDITIONAL SERVICES. BUT I THINK, YOU KNOW, LOOKING, LOOKING FOR WHO ELSE MAY BE ABLE TO HELP US THAT WAY IS, IS IMPORTANT. UM, WHEN YOU WERE TALKING ABOUT THE CAMERAS, YOU KNOW, THE HPDI KNOW HAS A SYSTEM OF CAMERAS, SO DOES HARRIS COUNTY, AND THAT'S BEEN A STRONG PARTNER WITH ME, WITH PRECINCT ONE AND I, AND IF WE COULD MAYBE ALIGN EFFORTS SO THAT IT'S NOT TWO SEPARATE SYSTEMS. YOU KNOW, THE, THE, I KNOW I, I'M NOT AS FAMILIAR WITH THE HPD CAMERAS, BUT THE, BUT THE SYSTEMS THAT ARE IN PLACE WITH, WITH HARRIS COUNTY PRECINCT ONE, ARE EXTREMELY IMPRESSIVE AND, AND YIELD RESULTS OF, YOU KNOW, AND, AND, AND IDENTIFYING AND PROSECUTING, UM, THOSE, THOSE CRIMINALS WHO ARE DUMPING ILLEGALLY. SO JUST, UH, YOU KNOW, WORKING TOGETHER AND ALIGNING WITH AS MANY PARTNERS AS WE CAN PULL IN, I THINK WOULD BE HELPFUL. THANK YOU. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. COUNCILMAN KASH. MAYOR, I'VE TRACKED A NUMBER OF, UH, OF THESE ILLEGAL DUMPING DEFENDANTS OVER THE YEARS, UH, EVEN HERE RECENTLY. I'VE WATCHED THE CASES AS THEY GO THROUGH THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM. I SEE THEM BEING DELAYED FOR YEARS, MAYOR. AND, UH, THEN, THEN, UH, MANY TIMES THEY EITHER DISMISSED OR THEY'RE GIVEN, UH, AN OPPORTUNITY TO, TO CLEAN UP THE MESS THEY MADE. UH, IT, IT, YOU KNOW, THERE, THERE'S GOT TO BE SOMETHING MORE THERE. UM, I KNOW THAT A FEW YEARS AGO, A DIRECTOR HAYES CAME TO COUNCIL AT ONE OF OUR COMMITTEE MEETINGS, AND HE TALKED ABOUT THAT IT WAS COSTING HIM ABOUT $20 A TIRE TO PICK THOSE TIRES UP. AND I SAID, WELL, IF YOU'LL DO IT FOR $10 A TIRE, I'LL GET A TRUCK AND I'LL PICK 'EM ALL UP, YOU KNOW, AND OF COURSE I NEVER GOT A BITE ON THAT, BUT MAYOR, WE NEED LEGISLATION THAT PERHAPS JUST LIKE THE BATTERIES HAVE A CORE CHARGE. UH, I I, DID YOU EVER WORK ON, UH, A, A TIRE CHARGE WHERE WE COULD, WHEN YOU WERE IN THE LEGISLATURE, WAS THERE A TIRE CHARGE WHERE WE COULD GET THESE TIRES, GET MONEY FOR THESE TIRE, WE CAN PICK 'EM UP WHEN WE CAN RECYCLE 'EM? I MEAN, THEY, THEY, THEY GRIND 'EM UP AND PUT 'EM IN, UH, IN DIFFERENT PLACES. SO, KNOW COUNCILMAN KOSH. THERE USED TO BE AT, AT THE STATE A A PARTICULAR DEDICATED ACCOUNT FOR TIRES. I DON'T KNOW IF THAT, IF THAT DEDICATED ACCOUNT, WELL, IT'S PROBABLY IN THE RAINY DAY FUND NOW, AND WE'LL NEVER GET IT. WELL, WE, I'LL HAVE BILL KELLY AND THE TEAM CHECKED, BUT THERE USED TO BE A SPECIFIC DEDICATED ACCOUNT FOR, FOR TIRE REMOVAL. WELL, YOU KNOW, THEN WE NEED TO BE ABLE TO TAP INTO THAT THROUGH SOME GRANTS. UH, I, I'VE WONDERED, YOU KNOW, WHAT CAN WE DO TO, TO, TO ENHANCE, UH, UH, THE LIKELIHOOD OF SOMEBODY THAT TO, TO ACTUALLY PICK UP TIRES AND TO TURN 'EM IN WHERE THERE, THERE WOULD BE A BOUNTY FOR THEM OR SOMETHING, SO THAT WE DON'T HAVE TO SPEND ALL OF OUR, OUR RESOURCES IN DOING IT. YOU, YOU AND I, WHEN WE WERE KIDS, YOU KNOW, WE RUN AROUND, LOOKED IN DITCHES FOR COKE BOTTLES, YOU REMEMBER THAT? AND WE GOT 2 CENTS A PIECE, AND IF WE GOT 24 OF 'EM, WE GOT 50 CENTS. AND I WAS SO TICKLED ABOUT THAT. PERHAPS WE CAN COME UP WITH SOMETHING WHERE THESE TIRES, UH, WHICH IS A BIG PART OF THE, THE LANDFILL DUMPING. SO, THANK YOU. THANK YOU. AND YOU DID HIT ON SOMETHING THAT I, I DO WANT TO, UM, ACCENT. AND THAT IS, WHEN THESE VIOLATORS ARE FOUND IN THEY CODE FOR OUR JUDGES, THE JUDGES HAVE TO HOLD THEM ACCOUNTABLE. THEY CANNOT JUST DISMISS THESE, UH, CHARGES AGAINST THEM AND TELL 'EM, GO CLEAN IT UP AND, AND, UH, SEND NO MORE. UM, THAT TOTALLY DEFEATS THE PURPOSE. SO THE JUDGES HAVE TO HOLD THESE VIOLATORS ACCOUNTABLE, UH, TO REMOVE ANY INCENTIVE FROM THEM CONTINUING TO DO IT. BUT IF THEY, IF PEOPLE COME AND THEY, THEY HIT 'EM WITH A LITTLE LIGHT, FINE, OR DISMISS THE CHARGES AGAINST THEM AND TELL 'EM TO GO CLEAN IT UP, THAT DOES NOT, THAT DOESN'T HELP IF IT'S A COST OF THEIR BUSINESS, RIGHT? SO THEY FACTOR, THEY FACTOR THAT IN. SO WE DO REALLY NEED TO AMPLIFY THE MESSAGE ON THAT FRONT. SO THANK YOU SO VERY MUCH. UH, LASTLY, UH, THIS WEEKEND THE CITY WILL HOST A GUN BUYBACK EVENT AND PARTNERSHIP WITH HARRIS [02:50:01] COUNTY PRECINCT. ONE COMMISSIONER RODNEY ELLIS, UH, AND THE HOUSTON POLICE DEPARTMENT. IT WILL TAKE PLACE AT WHEELER AVENUE BAPTIST CHURCH, LOCATED AT 38 26 WHEELER AVENUE. PEOPLE CAN EXCHANGE THEIR GUNS FOR GIFT CARDS, AND THERE WILL BE NO, UH, QUESTIONS ASKED. THE GUN BUYBACK PROGRAM IS PART OF THE ONE SAFE HOUSTON LUNCH. UH, LUNCH IN FEBRUARY, UH, THIS GUN BUYBACK PROGRAM WAS PUT TOGETHER BY THE HOUSTON POLICE DEPARTMENT, SANCTIONED BY THEM, AND PRETTY MUCH WILL BE RUN BY THEM. THE GUN BUYBACK PROGRAM, UH, THIS IS ONLY ONE TOOL, AND I WANT TO EMPHASIZE THIS. IT'S JUST ONE TOOL. THE COST OF ONE, SAY HOUSTON IS ABOUT 52 50 3 MILLION. UM, WE ALLOCATED $1 MILLION FOR THIS THIS WEEKEND. THE PROGRAM WILL PROBABLY BE COSTING ABOUT A HUNDRED THOUSAND DOLLARS. AND THEN, WE'LL, WE'LL SEE HOW IT WORKS AND GO FROM THERE. UM, AND THEN ON MONKEYPOX, I JOINED WITH THE COUNTY JUDGE, UM, UH, THIS WEEK, UH, ASKING THE CDC AND THE STATE TO SEND US MORE VACCINES. UH, JUST LAST FRIDAY, WE RECEIVED A LITTLE BIT MORE THAN 5,000. UH, WE SHARED 30% OF THAT WITH HARRIS COUNTY. UH, WE ALSO SHARED SOME ADDITIONAL VACCINES WITH, UH, LEGACY BE BUSY, AND DR. JOSEPH. AND BEAR IN MIND, THIS IS A TWO DOSE REGIMEN. SO WE, LET'S SAY WE MAINTAINED ABOUT, UH, 1500, UM, AND IF YOU CUT THAT IN HALF, THAT'S FOR LIKE 750 PERSONS BECAUSE YOU GET THE FIRST VACCINE AND THEN ONE MONTH LATER THE FIRST DOSE, THEN ONE MONTH LATER YOU COME AND GET THE SECOND. UM, ON, AS OF MONDAY, WE HAD 47 CASES IN THE CITY OF HOUSTON. I THINK SINCE THEN, THAT NUMBER HAS INCREASED MAYBE BY ABOUT 10 OR 11. AND THEN WHEN YOU FACTOR IN SOME ADDITIONAL CASES IN HARRIS COUNTY, UH, BUT THERE ARE MORE CASES IN HOUSTON NOW IN COMPARISON TO NEW YORK, SAN FRANCISCO, DC CHICAGO, WE DON'T HAVE NEARLY AS MANY AS THEY HAVE. UH, BUT WE ARE ALSO THE FOURTH LARGEST CITY IN THE MOST DIVERSE. SO WE HAVE TO LEARN FROM COVID. YOU DON'T WAIT UNTIL THE FIRE GETS OUTTA HAND, YOU TRY TO GET AHEAD OF IT. AND SO WE NEED MORE VACCINES BECAUSE RIGHT NOW THE FOCUS IS ON THAT TOP PRIORITY, AND THAT'S PEOPLE WHO HAVE BEEN EXPOSED, HIGH RISK EXPOSURE, BEEN IN THE SAME VENUE. UM, BUT THERE'S A, THERE'S A DEMAND FOR IT, LIMITED SUPPLY, BUT WE NEED TO GET IN FRONT. OKAY? SO OUR PUSH IS FOR THE CDC AND THE STATE TO SEND US MORE VACCINES, UH, SO THAT WE CAN, UM, GET AN GET AHEAD OF THIS SITUATION AND IT DOESN'T GET, UH, DONE EXPONENTIALLY EXPLODE, EXPLODE ON US. UM, AND THEN THERE'S TWO QUICK THINGS. WE HAVE OUR LIFTOFF HOUSTON PRESS CONFERENCE THAT WE HAVE EVERY YEAR. THAT'S TODAY AT 1130 IN THE LEGACY ROOM TO KICK OFF THE 10TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE LIFTOFF HOUSTON STARTUP BUSINESS PLAN COMPETITION. UH, MORE THAN 15,000 HOUSTONIANS HAVE PARTICIPATED IN LIFTOFF HOUSTON SINCE WE STARTED THIS COMPETITION, UH, ABOUT 10 YEARS AGO. SO THAT'S TODAY. AND THEN AT 3:00 PM THERE'S ANOTHER, UH, PRESS CONFERENCE IN THE LEGACY ROOM. UM, WE WILL BE JOINED, BUT WITH HARRIS COUNTY ATTORNEY, CHRIS, CHRIS MENIFEE, UH, AND OTHERS TO ANNOUNCE THE NEW DEVELOPMENTS IN THE CASHIER GARDEN FIFTH WARD COMMUNITY, UH, IN THIS BATTLE WITH UP RAILROAD, I WANT THANK, UH, THE CITY ATTORNEY, ART MICHELLE AND HIS TEAM FOR THEIR WORK, THE COUNTY, AND THEN JIM BLACKWELL AS WELL. SO THAT, UH, PRESS COUNCIL WILL BE TODAY AT 3:00 PM AT 3:00 PM UM, AND I THINK THAT'S GOING TO BE IT FOR NOW. UH, THERE'S OTHERS, BUT, UH, I'M GONNA HOLD ON ON THE REST OF THIS. UH, COUNCIL MEMBER KAMAN. THANK YOU, MAYOR. UM, REALLY QUICKLY, JUST GOING BACK TO MONKEYPOX, UH, I'VE HAD MULTIPLE, UH, CONSTITUENTS REACHING OUT ABOUT CONCERNS ABOUT ACCESS TO THE VACCINE. UM, THERE'S ALSO BEEN A LITTLE BIT OF CONFUSION ABOUT WHO RIGHT NOW QUALIFIES FOR THE VACCINE. UH, I DON'T KNOW IF YOU HAVE THOSE UPDATES BEFORE YOU, BUT IF NOT, UM, I CHECKED HOUSTON HEALTH, SOCIAL MEDIA, AND THOSE UPDATES SINCE THE PRESS CONFERENCE. IT COVERED THE PRESS CONFERENCE, BUT IT'S NOT, WE'RE NOT PUSHING OUT WHO QUALIFIES. SO THERE'S A LOT OF MISINFORMATION, THERE'S A LOT OF RUMORS GOING AROUND. UM, AND IT WOULD BE VERY HELPFUL IF WE COULD GET SOME GUIDANCE ON WHO RIGHT NOW QUALIFIES. UH, WE ARE REFERRING THEM TO HOUSTON HEALTH CENTERS, UH, LEGACY, COMMUNITY HEALTH, ET CETERA. BUT, UM, THERE'S JUST A LOT OF CONFUSION RIGHT NOW, AND I APPRECIATE THE NEED, UM, TO NOT GO INTO CRISIS MODE. THAT WE HAVE A LIMITED ACCESS TO THESE VACCINES RIGHT NOW. WE'RE DOING EVERYTHING WE CAN AND WE'RE TRYING TO FOCUS ON THE, THE MOST VULNERABLE POPULATIONS. UM, BUT IF, IF WE COULD HELP STREAMLINE SOME OF THAT INFORMATION, I THINK IT WOULD BE HELPFUL. VERY HELPFUL. PRIORITY ONE IS, UH, [02:55:01] ARE PEOPLE WHO FALL IN THAT HIGH RISK, UH, EXPOSURE CATEGORY. THEY'VE BEEN EXPOSED TO SOMEONE WITH, UH, WITH MONKEYPOX OR, AND OR THEY'VE BEEN IN THE SAME VENUE WITH SOMEONE, UH, WHO HAS HAD MONKEYPOX. THAT IS THAT HIGH RISK EXPOSURE GROUP. THAT IS PRIORITY NUMBER ONE. UH, AND THAT IS THE PRIORITY THAT THE COUNTY'S ALSO USING. THE CITY OF HOUSTON HEALTH DEPARTMENT IS EXPANDING IT TO ANOTHER GROUP. UH, PEOPLE FOR EXAMPLE, WHO, UM, HAVE BEEN EXPOSED OR NOT EXPOSED WITH SEXUAL IN IT, UM, WHAT YOU CALL IT, UM, UM, I'VE GOTTA GET THE CATEGORY. UH, BUT THE MAIN GROUP IS THAT HIGH RISK, UH, GROUP THAT HAS BEEN EXPOSED, WHICH WITH SOMEONE WITH MONKEYPOX HAVE BEEN IN THE SAME VENUE THAT SOMEONE WHERE SOMEONE HAD MONKEYPOX. OKAY. AND I THINK ONE OF THE QUESTIONS THAT WE'VE BEEN GETTING, AND WE CAN TALK OFFLINE AND I CAN HELP PUSH IT OUT, IS, UM, THE CATEGORY FOR IMMUNOCOMPROMISED, UM, INDIVIDUALS, UH, THAT ARE MORE AT RISK RIGHT NOW, UH, THOSE ARE THE FOLKS I'M HEARING FROM. THEY MAY NOT HAVE HAD A DIRECT EXPOSURE, BUT THEY'RE SIGNIFICANTLY IMMUNOCOMPROMISED AND ARE TRYING TO GET ACCESS. AND I, AND I DON'T BELIEVE THE CDC HAS GIVEN US A CLEARANCE TO GO TO THAT GROUP. OKAY? OKAY. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. OKAY. ALRIGHT THEN. MADAM [CONSENT AGENDA] SECRETARY, THAT DOES IT. IF YOU'LL NOW TURN TO THE CONSENT AGENDA UNDER THE MISCELLANEOUS CATEGORY. ITEM ONE NEEDS A MOTION CAST, STATE A MOVE SECOND ROBINSON THEN MOVED. AND SECOND ON ITEM ONE. DISCUSSION ON ITEM ONE, DISCUSSION IN FAVOR, OPPOSED GRANTED UNDER THE PURCHASING AND TABULATION OF BIDS CATEGORY ITEMS TWO AND THREE HAVE BEEN REMOVED FOR SEPARATE CONSIDERATION. NEED A MOTION FOR ITEMS FOUR AND FIVE, CAST STATE MOVE SECOND. ROBINSON. BEEN MOVED ON ITEMS FOUR AND FIVE. DISCUSSION. DISCUSSION IN FAVOR OF HOST GRANTED SINCE YOUR LIST WAS DISTRIBUTED, ITEMS REMOVED FOR SEPARATE CONSIDERATION, 6, 11, 12, 13, 16, AND 17. THOSE NUMBERS AGAIN ARE 6, 11, 12, 13, 16, AND 17. JUST NEED A VOTE ON THE BALANCE. DISCUSSION, DISCUSSION, DISCUSSION IN FAVOR OF POST GRANTED. [CONSIDERATION OF MATTERS REMOVED FROM CONSENT AGENDA] ITEM TWO NEEDS A MOTION. CASTEX, TATUM, MOVE SECOND. ROBINSON MOVED. AND SECOND ON ITEM TWO, DISCUSSION ON TWO. DISCUSSION ON TWO. DISCUSSION IN FAVOR OF OPPOSED GRANT. ITEM THREE NEEDS A MOTION ON ITEM THREE. COUNCIL MEMBER CAYMAN ON ITEM THREE. MAYOR, JUST A QUICK SPOTLIGHT ON THIS, UH, COLLEAGUES. THIS IS A NEW, I'M SORRY, DID YOU SAY A MOTION? YEAH. CASTEX TITLE MOVE SECOND, ROBINSON. OKAY, NOW DISCUSSION. COUNCILMAN CAMERON. THANK YOU, MAYOR. UM, JUST A QUICK SPOTLIGHT ON THIS, UH, NEW HAZMAT ADDITION TO OUR FLEET. SO THIS IS IN A REPLACEMENT ITEM. THIS IS AN ADDITION TO, UH, AS WE CONTINUE TO EXPAND OUR HAZMAT UNITS. AND COUNCIL MEMBER, ALCORN AND I, SINCE, I MEAN, PRETTY MUCH DAY ONE, UH, HAVE BEEN TALKING ABOUT THIS. AND MAYOR, YOU'VE BEEN EXTREMELY SUPPORTIVE, BUT AGAIN, A REALLY IMPORTANT ADD, UH, FOR THE CITY IN TERMS OF SAFETY RIGHT NOW. THANK YOU. ANY, ANY OTHER DISCUSSION ON ITEM THREE, DISCUSSION IN FAVOR OPPOSED GRANTING ON ITEM THREE? ITEM SIX IS AN ORDINANCE. JUST NEED A VOTE. MAYOR PROAM, UH, MARTIN ON SIX. I'LL DO IT AFTER THE VOTE. OKAY. I'M SORRY. THANKS. DISCUSSION ON SIX. DISCUSSION ON SIX IN FAVOR. OPPOSED? GRANTING ON SIX. MAYOR PROAM ON SIX. YES. THANK YOU MAYOR AND THANK COUNCIL AND, UH, ESPECIALLY DIRECTOR KEITH BONUM AND ALL THE FOLKS IN HOUSING FOR THIS FOURTH YEAR FUNDING FOR THE VILLAGE LEARNING CENTER. UH, THE VILLAGE IS MY FAVORITE, NOT-FOR-PROFIT. IT'S, UM, AS WELL AS EVERYONE THAT LIVES IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD THAT I LIVE IN IS FAVORITE NOT-FOR-PROFIT. IT IS FOR LOW TO MODERATE, UM, RESIDENTS WITH INTELLECTUAL AND DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES. AND AS MANY PEOPLE KNOW, THE CHALLENGE WITH SPECIAL NEED ADULTS IS WHEN THEY AGE AND THEIR PARENTS PASS AWAY, AND THEN THEY HAVE TO CHANGE THEIR LIFESTYLE AND BECOME MORE INDEPENDENT THAN THEY EVER WERE. AND THE VILLAGE HELPS 'EM WITH THAT, NOT ONLY IN RESIDENTIAL NEEDS, BUT ALSO IN JOB PLACEMENT AND THINGS LIKE THAT. AND FOR THESE YOUNG MEN AND WOMEN THAT HAVE BEEN WITH THEIR PARENTS FOR MANY TIMES, 40, 50, 60 YEARS, AND ALL OF A SUDDEN THEY DON'T HAVE THEM, AND THEY ARE, THEY'RE ON THEIR OWN, THEY BECOME CHALLENGED. AND THEN THAT'S WHEN YOU HAVE SOME ISSUES, UH, FROM AN EMOTIONAL STANDPOINT. AND THE VILLAGE LEARNING CENTER IS AN [03:00:01] UNBELIEVABLE FACILITY THAT'S HELPS WITH MANY OF THOSE TRANSITION ISSUES. AND IF EVERYONE, IF ANYONE WOULD LOVE TO COME TO KINGWOOD AND, AND MEET SOME OF THESE FOLKS, YOU KNOW, WHEN I MOVED HERE IN 1990, I ALWAYS TELL THIS STORY. THERE WAS A YOUNG LADY BY THE NAME OF JEAN, AND EVERY SATURDAY MORNING, MY WIFE JULIE, WOULD THEY TAKE THE KIDS, GET 'EM OUTTA HERE FOR A COUPLE OF HOURS, GET ME A LITTLE PEACE AND QUIET. SO OUR EVERY SATURDAY ROUTINE WAS TO GO TO RANDALL'S AND GET DONUTS AND CHOCOLATE MILK. AND JEAN WAS A WORKER AT RANDALL'S WHO LIVED AT THE VILLAGE LEARNING CENTER. AND HE BE, SHE BECAME BEST FRIENDS WITH MY KIDS. AND TO THIS DAY, AND MY OLDEST IS 32 NOW, EVERY TIME I SEE HER, SHE ASKS ABOUT DAVID AND MICHAEL AND JENNIFER. AND SHE KNOWS MORE ABOUT MY FAMILY THAN I DO. AND SHE'S INTELLECTUALLY CHALLENGED. WHAT A GREAT INSTITUTION, WHAT A GREAT GROUP OF PEOPLE. AND IT, YOU'VE, IT HITS YOUR HEART WHEN THE CITY OF HOUSTON GIVES THEM $200,000 TO MOVE THIS INITIATIVE. AND I APOLOGIZE FOR TAKING A LOT OF TIME, BUT THIS IS A PLACE THAT'S NEAR AND DEAR TO MY FAMILY, AND IT'S NEAR AND DEAR TO MY HEART. AND THANK YOU, KEITH. AND THANK YOU RAY. AND THANK ALL THE FOLKS IN HOUSING FOR MAKING THIS. AND THANK YOU MAYOR TURNER AND FELLOW COUNCIL MEMBERS. GOD BLESS. COUNCIL MEMBER GALLEGOS. THANK YOU, MAYOR. NO APOLOGIES. NEEDED MAYOR VICES, MAYOR PRO TIMM, YOU KNOW VERY WELL. THIS, THIS IS SOMETHING THAT HITS HOME AS WELL, UH, WITH MY BROTHER BEING 65 YEARS OLD, AND WHEN WE LOST OUR PARENTS, IT WAS VERY DIFFICULT TO EXPLAIN TO HIM WHERE MY MOM AND MY DAD ARE, WHERE MY SISTER IS AND WHERE MY TWO OLDER BROTHERS ARE. WE WERE A CLOSE KNIT FAMILY. AND IT'S VERY DIFFICULT WHEN THESE INDIVIDUALS LOSE THEIR LOVED ONES. WHERE DO THEY GO FROM THERE? SO THANK YOU MAYOR PRO TIM, FOR YOUR COMMENTS. AND I'M MORE THAN HAPPY AND PROUD TO VOTE ON THIS. THANK YOU. AND, AND IF YOU DON'T MIND, AND I'M SO PROUD OF HOW YOU DEAL WITH MICHAEL AND, UM, AND SOME OF THE ISSUES THAT HE HAS, YOU, YOU'RE A EXCEPTIONAL BIG BROTHER. THANK YOU. MM-HMM . THANK YOU. THANK YOU BOTH. UM, ANY OTHER DISCUSSION, UH, ON THIS ITEM? OH, WE'VE ALREADY VOTED ON IT. I'M SORRY. OKAY. WE VOTED ON IT. OKAY. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. ITEM 11, ISN'T ORDINANCE, JUST NEED TO VOTE. COUNCILMAN MCCAIN IN ON ITEM 11. THANK YOU, MAYOR. AND, UH, COLLEAGUES, APOLOGIZE, THERE'S A, A FEW HIGHLIGHTS THROUGHOUT THIS AGENDA. I JUST WANNA MAKE SURE WE DON'T SKIP OVER. UH, MAYOR, YOU HAD INITIALLY ALLOCATED 1.5 MILLION IN ONE SAFE HOUSTON TO THE FORENSIC SCIENCE CENTER, UM, AND IN CONSULTATION WITH THE FORENSIC SCIENCE CENTER, WITH COLLEAGUES, UH, IN ADDRESSING THE ISSUE, NOT OF THE CURRENT COURT BACKLOG, THAT'S OUT OF OUR CONTROL, BUT LOOKING AHEAD AT THE NEEDS THAT WE HAVE AS A CITY, UM, YOU'VE UPPED THAT TO 3 MILLION. UH, SO I, I AGAIN, WANTED TO SPOTLIGHT THIS AS A RESPONSE TO THE NEEDS THAT THE CITY IS CURRENTLY FACING IN ALLOCATING $3 MILLION TO THE HOUSTON FORENSIC SCIENCE CENTER. SO, THANK YOU. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. COUNCIL MEMBER HUFFMAN. THANK YOU, MAYOR. I THINK THIS IS AN EXTREMELY WORTHY CAUSE AND EVERY PENNY IS, UM, WORTH GOING TO THE WORK THAT THEY DO AT THE FORENSIC SCIENCE CENTER. AND SO I, I LOVE THIS AND I JUST WANNA MAKE SURE THAT THE PUBLIC, UM, IS UPDATED ANYTIME THAT WE ADD THINGS LIKE THIS TO, SO THEY KNOW, YOU KNOW, HOW HARD WE'RE WORKING ON THIS ISSUE. UM, WHEN YOU GO TO THE ONE SAFE HOUSTON WEBSITE, UM, IT'S STILL THE ORIGINAL PLAN. AND SO SOME OF THE THINGS THAT WE HAVE UPDATED, UM, I'D LIKE TO SEE, YOU KNOW, UPDATED SO THE PUBLIC CAN SEE. BUT THANK YOU MAYOR. AND, AND THAT'S A, THAT'S A GOOD POINT. I SAID IT IS A PART OF ONE SAFE HOUSTON, BUT THE AMOUNT HAS NOW BEEN DOUBLE. SO, UM, WE WILL, WE WILL UPDATE IT. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. COUNCIL MEMBER ALCO. THANK YOU MAYOR. AND I DEEPLY APPRECIATE THIS, THESE ADDITIONAL FUNDING FOR THE HOUSTON FORENSIC SCIENCE CENTER. UM, DR. STOUT COUNCIL MEMBER CAME IN AND I HAVE WORKED WITH HIM AND, AND WE RECEIVE, AND I THINK EVERYBODY RECEIVES HIS WEEKLY UPDATES. AND HE IS, HE IS NOT SHY ABOUT SOUNDING THE ALARM ABOUT WHAT IS NEEDED AT THE HOUSTON FORENSIC SCIENCE CENTER. AND THIS IS A GOOD START. UM, I'M INTERESTED IN, YOU KNOW, TRANSFERRING MORE OF OUR POLICE EVIDENCE OVER TO THE HOUSTON FORENSIC SCIENCE CENTER PROPERTY, UM, THINGS THAT, DISCUSSIONS FOR A LATER DATE, BUT, YOU KNOW, GET HAVING THE, UM, YOU KNOW, WE, WE TIE UP POLICE OFFICERS WITH PROPERTY ROOM EVIDENCE AND OTHER EVIDENCE THAT I THINK COULD BE, UM, PERHAPS MORE EFFICIENTLY HANDLED BY THE HOUSTON FORENSIC SCIENCE CENTER. SO ANYTHING WE CAN DO TO, TO, UM, MOVE THOSE EFFORTS ALONG TO WOULD BE APPRECIATED. THANK YOU. COUNCILMAN PALER. I JUST WANNA JUMP IN WITH ALL MY COLLEAGUES. THANK YOU. UM, DR. STOUT AND HIS TOLL TEAM IS DOING A PHENOMENAL JOB. AND I THINK THIS ALSO ASSISTS [03:05:01] WITH, YOU KNOW, PROJECTS LIKE THE INNOCENCE PROJECT, MAKING SURE THAT WHATEVER DATA, WHATEVER'S THERE, UM, THAT WE HOLD THE PROPER, THE RIGHT PERSON ACCOUNTABLE FOR THE ACTIONS THAT THEY'VE DONE. SO THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR MAKING THIS HAPPEN. THANK YOU. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. OKAY. UM, ANY OTHER DISCUSSION IN FAVOR OPPOSED? GRANTED ON ITEM 11, ITEM 12 IS AN ORDINANCE. THIS IN VOTE. WE ON ITEM 12, DISCUSSION ON 12. DISCUSSION ON 12 IN FAVOR. OPPOSED GRANTED ON 12. ITEM 13 IS AN ORDINANCE. JUST NEED A VOTE ON ITEM 13. DISCUSSION ON 13, DISCUSSION ON 13 IN FAVOR. OPPOSED GRANTED ON 13 ITEMS. ITEM 16 IS AN ORDINANCE. JUST NEED A VOTE ON ITEM 16. ITEM 16, DISCUSSION ON 16. DISCUSSION ON 16 IN FAVOR OF HOSE GRANTED ON 16. ITEM SEVEN, ITEM 17 IS AN ORDINANCE. JUST NEED A VOTE ON, ON ITEM 17. COUNCIL THE VOTE ON ITEM 17. DISCUSSION ON ITEM 17, DISCUSSION IN FAVOR OF OPPOSED GRANTED ON 17. COUNCIL MEMBER KAMAN ON PROBABLY 16 AND 17. THANK YOU MAYOR. UH, COLLEAGUES, THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT. $40 MILLION. WE JUST, UM, WE JUST VOTED ON TO RECEIVE FROM HGA AS PART OF A GRANT. IT'S ONE OF THE FIRST OF ITS KIND THAT OUR REGION HAS ACCEPTED. UH, WE'VE BEEN WORKING ON THIS SINCE JUNE OF 2020, UH, AND I APPRECIATE MY COLLEAGUES. UH, I SAY CHAIR ROBINSON, CHAIR OF TPC, COUNCILOR, ALCORN, COUNCIL MEMBER EVAN SHABAZZ. UH, YOU RECALL WHEN I CAME BEFORE HAC ADVOCATING FOR THIS IN PARTNERSHIP WITH OUR MEMORIAL HEIGHTS, TURS, OTHER PARTNERS. BUT MAYOR, THIS IS AN, UH, NOT ONLY INSTRUMENTAL FOR THE IMPROVEMENT OF THE ENTIRE CORRIDOR, ADDITIONAL DRAINAGE, SIDEWALKS EXPANDING, PLANTING 600 TREES, PROTECTED BIKE LANES ALL ALONG DURHAM SHEPHERD FROM SIX 10 TO I 10. BUT THE FACT THAT WE WERE ABLE TO GET $40 MILLION FOR THIS TYPE OF GRANT IS SOMETHING WE CAN REPLICATE THROUGHOUT THE CITY. SO AGAIN, IT'S A NEW WAY OF LOOKING AT THIS, A NEW WAY OF GETTING THESE FUNDS IN. UH, WE COULD NOT BE MORE GRATEFUL, UH, THAT THIS IS MOVING FORWARD. AND AGAIN, NOT JUST FOR DISTRICT C, BUT THAT IS A MAJOR CORRIDOR FOR THE ENTIRE CITY. SO 40 MILLION COMING TO DISTRICT C. THANK YOU. THANK YOU, HONOR. CONGRATULATIONS. AND IT, IT IS A, IT IS A BIG DEAL, YOU KNOW, SO THANK YOU ALL VERY MUCH. ALRIGHT. I'M SORRY, COUNCILMAN ROBINSON. THANK YOU, MAYOR. I JUST WANTED TO ADD IN THE ADDITION OF THE WORDS THAT COUNCIL MEMBER CAYMAN HAS SAID. MAYOR, THIS IS AN IMPORTANT, UM, INSTANCE WHERE WE'RE COLLABORATING WITH TDOT. AND I THINK IT'S SIGNIFICANT IN THAT REGARD. THIS IS SOMETHING WITH THE FRONTAGE ROAD AND, AND SHOWS A TRUE COLLABORATION WITH A GROUP THAT WE HAVE NOT ALWAYS AGREED WITH. AND I THINK IT, IT, IT PROVIDES AN EXAMPLE OF HOW WE CAN GET ALONG, HOW WE CAN TRULY ROLL UP OUR SLEEVES AND COME TO SOME DIFFICULT BUT MUTUALLY ADVANTAGEOUS SOLUTIONS. UH, THE DRAINAGE CHALLENGES RIGHT ALONG THAT CORRIDOR. UH, WERE NOT EASY FROM A TECHNOLOGICAL AND ENGINEERING STANDPOINT, YET WE WERE ABLE TO OVERCOME THE CHALLENGES. AND AGAIN, GREAT VICTORY. CONGRATULATIONS. THANK YOU. MAYBE IT CAN CARRY OVER. WE SHALL SEE. UH, [MATTERS HELD] NEXT ITEM, ITEM 21 IS AN ORDINANCE JUSTINA VOTE. LET YOU RECOGNIZE, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER JACKSON TO, FOR A MOTION TO REFER BACK. THANK YOU, MAYOR. UM, I WOULD LIKE TO MOTION TO REFER THIS BACK TO THE ADMINISTRATION. BEEN MOVED TO REFER BACK. IS THERE SECOND? YES, MA'AM. ON ITEM 21. NEED A SECOND? NEED A SECOND. SECOND CAST SIX, SEVEN MOVED. AND SECOND TO REFER BACK. ANY OBJECTION TO REFER BACK IN FAVOR OF POST GRANTED. THANK YOU. OKAY, ITEM IS REFERRED BACK TO THE ADMINISTRATION. THIS COMPLETES THE ITEMS ON THE AGENDA. [NON CONSENT - MATTERS TO BE PRESENTED BY COUNCIL MEMBERS] OKAY. TODAY WE START WITH, UH, COUNCILMAN MCCAIN. THANK YOU, MAYOR. UM, I WOULD RESPECTFULLY YIELD TO COUNCIL MEMBER JACKSON, WHO WAS NOT PRESENT LAST WEEK, GIVEN THE PASSING OF HER BROTHER, EVEN IF THAT MEANS I NEED TO GO LAST TODAY, I'M, I'M GONNA YIELD TO COUNCIL MEMBER JACKSON, IF, EVEN IF I NEED TO GO LAST GIVEN COUNCIL MEMBER JACKSON WASN'T HERE DUE TO THE LOSS OF HER BROTHER. COUNCIL MEMBER JACKSON. WELL, THANK YOU. COUNCIL MEMBER CAYMAN , AND THANK YOU EVERYONE FOR, UM, JUST YOUR WISHES, YOUR THOUGHTS ON YOUR PRAYERS. UM, I DID LOSE MY BROTHER LAST NIGHT. JOEL JACKSON, UM, SENIOR, BETTER KNOWN AS JJ. HE WAS 41 YEARS OLD. UM, JJ WAS THE 11TH CHILD OF 16 CHILDREN. UM, I'M NUMBER FOUR AND HE WAS NUMBER 11. UM, WHEN HE WAS BORN, HE STRUGGLED WITH RENAL FAILURE. UM, HIS KIDNEYS FELL WHEN HE WAS NINE MONTHS OLD, THAT'S WHEN HE HAD HIS [03:10:01] FIRST SURGERY. UM, HE RECEIVED HIS COLOSTOMY BACK WHEN HE WAS TWO YEARS OLD AND HE HAD A KIDNEY TRANSPLANT WHEN HE WAS 18 YEARS OLD. UM, HE, HIS KIDNEY TRANSPLANT, HE, HIS BODY REJECTED THE KIDNEY AFTER SIX YEARS. AND SO, UM, HE HAD TO GO BACK ON DIALYSIS AND SPEND THREE DAYS OUTTA THE WEEK, UM, ON DIALYSIS. HE ACTUALLY RE RECEIVED HIS, UM, AND HE, HIS EDUCATION AT TEXAS CHILDREN'S HOSPITAL. UM, AND HE WAS REAL WELL KNOWN FOR HIS ART. A LOT OF HIS ARTWORK IS IN TEXAS CHILDREN'S HOSPITAL RIGHT NOW. SO HE WAS A VERY BRIGHT, VIBRANT YOUNG MAN. UM, HE TAUGHT ME A LOT ABOUT JUST BEING APPRECIATIVE AND THANKFUL EVERY TIME I WOKE UP. HE NEVER COMPLAINED. HE NEVER CRIED ABOUT HIS CONDITION. IN FACT, YOU DIDN'T MUCH KNOW HE HAD A KIDNEY CONDITION BECAUSE HE WAS ALWAYS IN THE MIDDLE OF EVERY PARTY. SO HE'S GONNA BE DEEPLY MISSED. UM, I'M A LITTLE DISAPPOINTED BECAUSE HE PASSED AWAY ON OUR WATCH. MY MAMA WAS, SHE WAS ABLE TO MANAGE TO KEEP HIM, YOU KNOW, SAFE ALL THESE YEARS. AND OF COURSE YOU GUYS KNOW SHE DIED IN 2020. UM, BUT WE WERE JUST THANKFUL JUST TO HAVE HIM, UM, PART OF OUR FAMILY, YOU KNOW. AND SO NOW IT'S 12 OF US LIVING. UM, BUT WE'RE GETTING THROUGH THIS AND WE WILL GET THROUGH IT, UM, ON FRIDAY. SO HIS SERVICES THIS FRIDAY, UM, AT 11 O'CLOCK, AND I CAN GIVE YOU GUYS MORE INFORMATION. I SEND A FLYER TO YOU IF YOU'RE INTERESTED IN JOINING. SO AGAIN, THANK YOU. UM, LASTLY, I WOULD LIKE TO WELCOME PJ JONES, UM, AS OUR NEW DISTRICT B, CONSTITUENT SERVICE DIRECTOR. UM, PJ JONES IS KNOWN AS THE PRESIDENT OF GLENWOOD FOREST, HE, YOU KNOW, BROUGHT IN SOME COMMUNITY FOLKS. SO IT'S REALLY GREAT THAT I'M, HE'S HERE. I'M EXCITED ABOUT THAT. BUT BEFORE JOINING TOP ME, BEFORE JOINING DISTRICT B, YOU HEAR ME SAY TOP, UM, PJ WORKED AS A REC WRAPAROUND SPECIALIST AT CASHIER GARDENS ELEMENTARY SCHOOL. SO I'M REALLY EXCITED ABOUT HIM BEING HERE AND LOOKING FORWARD TO THE WORK THAT HE'S GONNA DO WITH DISTRICT B. SO, THANK YOU. HAVE A BLESSED DAY NOW COUNCIL, AND THANK YOU, OF COURSE. UM, AND OUR, OUR SINCEREST CONDOLENCES CONTINUE TO BE WITH YOU. UM, I REALLY, I JUST WANTED TO SPOTLIGHT, UM, TWO CHRONICLE ARTICLES. UH, I, I'M NOT SURE IF Y'ALL SAW, UM, DISTRICT C ONCE AGAIN, UH, IS REIGNING SUPREME IN TERMS OF THE NUMBER OF CALLS, UH, TO THE CITY FOR POTHOLES. UH, OUT OF THE TOP 10, UH, AREAS, NEIGHBORHOODS, EXCUSE ME, FOUR ARE IN DISTRICT C. UH, THE CITY, THE TO DATE, HAS FILLED 36,053 POTHOLES. UM, AND I WANTED TO SPOTLIGHT THIS ONE BECAUSE AGAIN, YOU THINK OF DISTRICT C IN THE HEART OF THE CITY. UM, IT HAS SOME OF THE OLDEST INFRASTRUCTURE, UH, IN THE ENTIRE CITY. AND WITH THAT COMES SPECIFIC CHALLENGES. UH, BUT I APPRECIATE EVERYONE'S SUPPORT AS WE FOCUS ON INFRASTRUCTURE, ESPECIALLY IN, EVEN IF YOU DON'T LIVE IN DISTRICT C, THOSE ARE THE ROADS THAT A MAJORITY OF HOUSTONIANS ARE USING EVERY SINGLE DAY TO TRAVERSE THE CITY. SO, UM, NOT THE BEST, NOT THE BEST SPOTLIGHT FOR DISTRICT C, BUT AGAIN, WANTED TO POINT OUT, TOP OUT OF TOP OUT OF 10, TOP NEIGHBORHOODS. FOUR OF THE TOP ARE IN DISTRICT C, NUMBERS ONE THROUGH FOUR. BUT ON A GOOD NOTE, UM, THERE WAS A REALLY BIG VICTORY, UH, JUST A FEW DAYS AGO. UH, OAK FOREST HAS BEEN TRYING FOR OVER TWO YEARS TO LEGALLY REMOVE DISCRIMINATORY LANGUAGE FROM ITS DEED RESTRICTIONS. UH, OF COURSE, THESE TYPES OF, UH, THIS TYPE OF LANGUAGE, UH, ONLY PERMITTING CAUCASIANS TO LIVE IN NEIGHBORHOODS IS NOT ENFORCEABLE. BUT IT REALLY BOTHERED AND WAS NOT OKAY WITH THE RESIDENTS THAT IT EXISTED. UH, STATE LAW, UH, PRECLUDED RESIDENTS FROM EASILY REMOVING IT. UH, WE LOBBIED AT THE LEGISLATURE, THE NEIGHBORHOOD SIGNED PETITIONS, AND WE, UH, GOT THE LAWS CHANGED. UH, AND ALL OF THIS WAS DONE BY THE RESIDENTS. AND AS OF A FEW DAYS AGO, UH, NOW, UH, THE RESIDENTS REAPPLIED TO HAVE THE LANGUAGE REMOVED, AND IT WAS REMOVED THAT DAY. SO IT'S THE FIRST NEIGHBORHOOD THAT IS SUCCESSFULLY IN OUR CITY, REMOVED IT THROUGH THIS NEW PROCESS. OTHER NEIGHBORHOODS ARE IN QUEUE, BUT I WANTED TO SHOUT OUT, UM, ASHLEY CSOS AND ALL OF THE RESIDENTS, UH, AFFILIATED WITH OAK FOREST DEEDS FOR CHANGE. UH, JUST FOR INCREDIBLE WORK TO BRING ATTENTION TO THIS ISSUE. I THINK IT'S A, A BEACON OF HOPE AND LIGHT IN CHALLENGING TIMES, UH, THAT RESIDENTS HAVE COME TOGETHER TO DO THE RIGHT THING AND MAKE SURE THAT, UM, DISCRIMINATORY LANGUAGE NO LONGER EXISTS IN THEIR DEED RESTRICTIONS. SO BIG SHOUT OUT TO THEM, AND A VERY, VERY HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO MY DADDY, UH, WHO, UH, CELEBRATED HIS BIRTHDAY YESTERDAY. THANK YOU. UM, I WANNA FOLLOW UP ON THAT. I, UM, SAW THAT STORY. UH, THE QUESTION IS [03:15:01] ON WHETHER OR NOT THOSE POTHOLES WERE ADDRESSED BY THE NEXT BUSINESS DAY. PUBLIC WORK SAID THAT THEY WERE, UM, SO POTHOLES DO EXIST. THE QUESTION IS WHETHER OR NOT THEY ARE SUPPOSED TO BE ASSESSED AND ADDRESSED BY THE NEXT BUSINESS DAY. AND HOPEFULLY THAT TAKE PLACE. I DON'T KNOW IF, I DON'T KNOW IF YOU, UM, HAVE INFORMATION ON THAT CERTAINLY CAN FOLLOW WITH PUBLIC WORKS. THE OTHER IS THE POTHOLES DEFINED BY FIVE BY FIVE, AND WHETHER OR NOT, UH, WE ARE TALKING ABOUT POTHOLES OR WHETHER OR NOT WE ARE TALKING ABOUT PANEL REPLACEMENTS OR SOMETHING MORE THAN THAT. UM, SO THOSE ARE TWO DEFINING POINTS THAT I THINK ARE, ARE IMPORTANT, UM, BECAUSE PUBLIC WORKS ARE STILL TELLING ME THAT IF YOU, IF THERE'S A POTHOLE, IF IT'S CALLED IN, IT IS ASSESSED 96, 90 7% OF THE TIME BY THE NEXT BUSINESS DAY. SO I REALLY WANNA FOLLOW UP AND SEE IF THAT WAS THE CASE. ABSOLUTELY. MAYOR AND I, I HAVE HEARD NO, UM, CHALLENGES OR CRITICISM OF THE RESPONSE TO FILLING THE POTHOLES. UM, I THINK IT'S JUST OF NOTE THAT AGAIN, SHEPHERD WESTHEIMER, UH, ARE, ARE THE BIGGEST KIND OF REPEAT OFFENDERS IN TERMS OF THOSE CHALLENGES AMONG OTHER AREAS, RIGHT? BUT I COMMEND, UM, YOUR COMMITMENT AND THE EFFORT TO GET THOSE FILLED THOSE FILLED QUICKLY. THANK YOU. GOTCHA. OKAY. UM, COUNCIL MEMBER EVAN SHABAZZ. THANK YOU, MAYOR. UM, UM, AS WE SPEAK, THERE IS A TEXAS FEDERATION OF THE PEOPLE IN HARRIS COUNTY REENTRY PARTNERSHIP COALITION GOING ON AT THE CU AT THE CUNY HOMES, UH, WHICH IS 32 60 TRUCK. IT'S FROM 10:00 AM TO 1:00 PM A CAREER AND RESOURCE FAIR, WHICH IS VERY IMPORTANT FOR THE REENTRY OF PEOPLE TO GET BACK ON THEIR FEET. AND SO IF YOU'RE AVAILABLE AND YOU GET THIS MESSAGE, THEN RUN ON OVER TO MAKE YOURSELF AVAILABLE FOR THAT. UH, ON TOMORROW, THERE WILL BE A PRESS CONFERENCE WHERE DISTRICT D WILL DONATE, UH, 10 NOISE, NEW NOISE METERS, UH, TO THE SOUTHEAST DISTRICT. AND THIS WILL, THEY WILL ALSO GET FOUR NEW COLLAB, UM, COL COL, I CAN'T EVEN SEE IT. I CAN'T GET IT OUT, UH, SO THAT THEY CAN CALIBRATE THE, UH, NOISE AND THEY CAN STAY ON THE STREETS AND ADDRESS THESE ISSUES. AND SO I'M VERY HONORED THAT DISTRICT D IS ABLE TO, I BELIEVE, TRIPLE THE DONATIONS THAT HAVE BEEN GIVEN IN DISTRICT D TO TRY TO MAINTAIN, UM, A QUALITY OF LIFE WHEN IT COMES TO NOISE. UH, YOU GAVE THE DETAILS OF THE GUN BUYBACK PROGRAM, WHICH OF COURSE IS IN THE DISTRICT OF DESTINATION AT WHEELER AVENUE BAPTIST CHURCH ON THE SATURDAY. UH, THE GRIGGS LONG MACAU RAIL SAFETY IMPROVEMENT PROJECT, UH, WILL HAVE ITS NEXT MEETING ON AUGUST THE SECOND FROM 60 8:00 PM IN PERSON AT THE HOUSTON TEXANS, YMCA ON MARTIN LUTHER KING AND GRIGGS ROAD, AGAIN, FROM SIX TO EIGHT. THERE WILL BE A MCGREGOR PARK CLEANUP ON SATURDAY, AUGUST THE SIXTH FROM NINE TO NOON, WHICH IS 52 25 CALHOUN ROAD. AND I WANT TO COMMEND, UH, COMMANDER JOHNSON AND THE SOUTH CENTRAL HPD. THEY MET A CHALLENGE. WE WERE HAVING A SERIOUS PROBLEM, AND PARTICULARLY ON SUNDAYS, UH, WITH THE STREET RACING AND THE VENDORS IN THE PARK, THEY DID A PHENOMENAL JOB. AND IT WAS POSTED ON FACEBOOK THAT IT BASICALLY HAS BEEN SHUT DOWN BECAUSE OF THE PRESENCE OF THE, UM, SOUTH CENTRAL POLICE. AND I REALLY WANT TO THANK THEM AND HIGHLIGHT THAT. AND, UH, THAT'S WHAT IT IS GONNA TAKE FOR US TO HELP TO MAINTAIN THE SAFETY SO THAT PEOPLE CAN ENJOY THE GREEN SPACES. I ALSO WANT TO SAY THAT THERE HAS BEEN A NEW IMPLEMENTATION OF A SUICIDE HOTLINE, AND WHERE YOU CAN DIAL 9 8 8 24 7. WE KNOW THAT PEOPLE ARE CHALLENGED, BUT WE WANNA BE ABLE TO HAVE RESOURCES FOR THEM AT THEIR FINGERTIPS, ESSENTIALLY. SO BY DIALING 9, 8, 8, YOU CAN REACH OUT TO SOMEONE. I ALSO WANT TO SAY THAT I'M THANKFUL THAT, THAT THE CIVIC CLUBS IN DISTRICT D ARE MOVING FORWARD WITH GETTING THEIR DEED RESTRICTIONS. THIS IS SO VITALLY IMPORTANT. I GOT A CALL YESTERDAY ABOUT A, A PARKING LOT THAT MAY GO IN THE MIDDLE OF A NEIGHBORHOOD. THIS IS, THESE ARE THINGS THAT WE HAVE TO LOOK AT WHEN WE LOOK AT OUR DEED RESTRICTIONS SO THAT WE CAN MAINTAIN THE QUALITY OF OUR NEIGHBORHOODS. AND I WANT TO SAY THAT, UM, TODAY IS ACTUALLY THE LAST DAY FOR MY OFFICE MANAGER, D CLEAR, WHO HAS BEEN HERE, UH, PRIOR TO ME. I INHERITED DEE, AND SHE'S BEEN A WONDERFUL ASSET TO DISTRICT D. AND SHE'S MOVING ON TO ANOTHER, UH, CAREER OPPORTUNITY. I ALSO WANNA GIVE HER MY CONDOLENCES. HER HUSBAND'S GRANDFATHER PASSED, SO SHE'LL BE TRAVELING [03:20:01] TO FLORIDA. SO I ASK THAT THEY HAVE TRAVELING GRACE AND ANGELS OF PROTECTION, BUT SHE WILL CERTAINLY BE MISSED. SO, VERY ORGANIZED, AND SO VERY HELPFUL. AND ONE OF THE BEST, UH, YOU KNOW, I INHERITED TWO PEOPLE, UH, DECLARE AND STEPHEN JAMES, AND THEY HAVE BOTH BEEN ASSETS TO ME AND DISTRICT D. SO WE WILL BE LOOKING TO REPLACE HER, IF POSSIBLE, IN SOME CAPACITY, BUT I JUST WANNA WISH HER WELL. AND SO THAT'S WHAT'S GOING ON IN THE DISTRICT OF DESTINATION. THANK YOU. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. COUNCIL MEMBER HOFFMAN. COUNCIL MEMBER CIRO. UH, THANK YOU, MAYOR. I WANTED TO, UM, HIGHLIGHT, UH, SOMETHING THAT, UH, WAS AN ANNOUNCEMENT FROM HR THIS WEEK. IT'S JUST, IT WAS EXCITING TO SEE THAT THEY WERE PUTTING OUT THAT THE PRENATAL PARENTAL AND INFANT WELLNESS PORTAL LEAVE PORTAL WAS NOW ACTIVE. AND SO, UM, CONGRATULATIONS TO THIS COUNCIL FOR, UM, AND, AND THE WORK THAT THE, UM, THE HR DEPARTMENT DID TO MAKE THIS A REALITY. BUT IT'S, IT'S UP IN, IN, IN PUBLIC AND WORKING FOR, YOU KNOW, FOR, FOR CITY EMPLOYEES. UM, ALSO, I WANTED TO SAY THAT THERE WAS, UM, THERE WAS TWO MEETINGS THIS WEEK THAT, THAT ARE REALLY IMPORTANT THAT I WANNA MAKE SURE THAT, UM, UH, WE'RE, WE'RE PAYING ATTENTION TO. ONE OF THEM WAS, UM, UM, A VIRTUAL MEETING THAT METRO HAD TO, UM, UH, EXPLAIN AND, AND SHOW THE PROPOSAL FOR THE METRO RAPID UNIVERSITY CORRIDOR. UM, AS IT PASSES THROUGH SECOND WARD, I'M GETTING SOME INQUIRIES FROM, FROM MY CONSTITUENTS WHO ARE ASKING ABOUT, YOU KNOW, THE PROPOSED ELEVATED PORTION THAT GOES OVER THE RAILROAD TRACKS. UM, THIS IS IMPORTANT TO METRO BECAUSE, UM, THE, THE STOPPED TRAINS THAT THEY GO THROUGH, SECOND WARD WOULD, WOULD PREVENT A BRT, UM, TRANSPORTATION, YOU KNOW, ACROSS THOSE TRACKS. SO THEY'RE ELEVATED. BUT I'M HEARING FROM PEOPLE THAT AS LONG AS THEY'RE TALKING ABOUT THAT, WHY IS IT JUST FOR METRO? YOU KNOW, BECAUSE PEOPLE THAT LIVE THERE, YOU KNOW, THEY'RE, THEY'RE AFFECTED TOO. YOU KNOW, CAN, CAN, CAN DRIVERS ALSO SOMEHOW BE ABLE TO GET OVER THE SAME TRACKS? WHY IS IT JUST METRO THAT GETS TO DO THAT? SO I THOUGHT THAT WAS A REALLY VALID POINT. IF MAYBE THERE'S SOMETHING MORE WE CAN COLLABORATE WITH THAT WOULD BE HELPFUL. UM, UH, SO, SO KEEP, YOU KNOW, PLEASE, PLEASE, AS YOU TUNE IN AND, AND, AND LOOK AND REVIEW THE PROPOSALS, PLEASE, UH, MAKE YOUR COMMENTS KNOWN TO, YOU KNOW, TO ME, I, I WANT TO HEAR ABOUT THAT, ESPECIALLY AS IT RELATES TO DISTRICT H. UM, THERE WAS A MEETING LAST NIGHT, TOO, A VIRTUAL MEETING THAT T DOT HAD. UM, AND, AND THEY HAVE ALSO A PRESENTATION THAT'S, UM, ONLINE IN OUR SEEKING PUBLIC INPUT. AND, UM, THE DEADLINE FOR THE INPUT IS AUGUST 12TH. AND IT, THEY ARE NOW PROPOSING, UM, UH, IMPROVEMENTS ALONG I 10 BETWEEN HEIGHTS BOULEVARD AND I 45. AND BASICALLY, AND THERE'S A, THERE'S A NUMBER OF THINGS THAT THEY'RE TRYING TO ACCOMPLISH, BUT IT, IT ELEVATES THE ENTIRE HIGHWAY UP ABOVE GRADE LEVEL, UH, GROUND LEVEL, UM, SO THAT IT TAKES IT OUT OF, UH, DANGER BEING FLOODED, WHICH I 10 HAS FLOODED BEFORE WHEN WE'VE HAD, UM, HURRICANES. SO, SO THIS, THIS RAISES IT UP. UM, THERE'S A SMALL IMPACT, NOT A VERY BIG IMPACT ON RIGHT AWAY ACQUISITION AND A DETENTION POND, BUT IT SEEMS KIND OF MINIMAL. BUT PLEASE, PLEASE, YOU KNOW, LOOK AT THAT, YOU KNOW, AND, AND WE NEED TO JUST BE HEARING WHAT EVERYONE'S SAYING ABOUT THAT. AND IF YOU HAVE IDEAS OR, OR YOU LIKE IT OR YOU DON'T LIKE IT, PLEASE, I WANNA KNOW. AND, UM, THEIR, THEIR WEBSITE IS WWW.TX.ORTXDOT.GOV. AND THEN IF YOU TYPE IN IEN 10 FROM HEIGHTS BOULEVARD, AND THEN YOU'LL GET TO THE RIGHT PLACE. THAT'S IT FOR ME. THANK YOU, MARY. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. COUNCILMAN KNOX. THANK YOU, MAYOR. WE WERE AT, UH, THIS EVENT YESTERDAY, AND WE SPOKE ABOUT MY ISSUE WITH THE, UH, WITH THE GUN BUYBACK PROGRAM. AND I JUST REALLY WANT TO TRY TO MANAGE THE PUBLIC'S EXPECTATION ABOUT THIS PROGRAM. FIRST OF ALL, THESE PROGRAMS HAVE NEVER, THERE'S NO EMPIRICAL EVIDENCE ANYWHERE IN THE UNITED STATES WHERE A GUN BUY PROGRAM REDUCES VIOLENCE OR, UM, CRIME AT ALL. UH, WE ARE GONNA GIVE $50 AWAY TO PEOPLE WITH, UH, FIREARMS THAT ARE NON-FUNCTIONAL, WHICH MEANS THEY DON'T EVEN MEET THE DEFINITION IN THE CRIMINAL, UH, IN THE, IN THE TEXAS PENAL CODE OF A FIREARM THAT REQUIRES A PROJECTILE BEING, UH, EVICTED FROM THE WEAPON AT THE, AS A RESULT OF EXPLOSIVE FORCE. SO ESSENTIALLY, WE'RE GONNA BE PAYING $50 FOR PAPERWEIGHTS ANCHORS AND REPLICAS, UH, IN THE SHAPE OF FIREARMS. UM, WHICH I DON'T REALLY UNDERSTAND THAT THE, THE OTHER THING IS THAT I THINK WE COULD USE THAT MONEY TO ACTUALLY BUY BACK REAL GUNS, YOU KNOW, UH, THE SAME, THE OTHER THING IS THAT SOME OF THESE FIREARMS ARE GOING TO BE DISCOVERED TO HAVE BEEN STOLEN. UM, THE [03:25:01] STATE, THE GOVERNMENT CAN'T SEIZE PEOPLE'S PROPERTY WITHOUT DUE PROCESS OF LAW, WHICH MEANS THAT WE'LL CHECK THOSE GUNS AND THOSE THAT ARE STOLEN. IF WE CAN FIND THE OWNER, WE'RE GOING TO RETURN THAT GUN TO THE OWNER. AGAIN, WE'RE NOT REMOVING THE FIREARMS FROM CIRCULATION, WE'RE SIMPLY RELOCATING THEM. AND ALL OF THE GUNS COLLECTED ARE GOING TO BE TESTED. I SPOKE WITH CHIEF FINNER THIS MORNING, AND WE'RE GONNA ENGAGE IN A CONVERSATION ABOUT CHANGING THAT POLICY. BUT RIGHT NOW, ALL OF THE GUNS WILL BE TESTED AND COMPARED TO OUTSTANDING CASES, LOOKING FOR EVIDENCE OF CRIME, WELL, THAT'S GREAT. SOUNDS GOOD. BUT THE PROBLEM IS, IT HAS NO EVIDENTIARY VALUE IN THE COURTROOM. WE'RE GOING TO ANONYMOUSLY GATHER THESE WEAPONS, TEST THEM. AND LET'S SAY, FOR EXAMPLE, ONE OF THESE GUNS DISCOVERED TO HAVE BEEN USED IN A MURDER. WELL, THAT EVIDENCE IS NO LONGER AVAILABLE. 'CAUSE WE DON'T KNOW WHERE WE GOT IT FROM. IT CAN'T BE INTRODUCED. ITS EVIDENCE, AND IN FACT, MAY ACTUALLY BE EXCULPATORY FOR A PERSON THAT WE END UP CHARGING WITH THIS. 'CAUSE SAY, WELL, HEY, WASN'T MY GUN. I DIDN'T, YOU CAN'T PUT THAT GUN ON ME. SO THE CITY THEN IS GONNA BE IN THE POSITION OF ENGAGING IN ACTIVITIES THAT ACTUALLY, UH, DESTROY CRIMINAL EVIDENCE, WHICH I'M CONCERNED ABOUT. UM, SO BASICALLY WHAT I'M, WHAT I'M WANT THE, WHAT, WHAT I WANT THE PEOPLE TO UNDERSTAND IS THIS IS A FEEL GOOD OPPORTUNITY. IT'S A GREAT WAY TO GET, UH, PEOPLE WHO HAVE GUNS THAT THEY MAYBE HAVE INHERITED, THAT THEY DON'T WANT TO SAFELY DISPOSE OF THEM. THAT'S A GREAT IDEA. BUT THE EXPECTATION THAT THIS PROGRAM IS GOING TO REDUCE VIOLENCE OR CRIME IN HOUSTON, UH, NEEDS TO BE MANAGED QUITE A BIT. SO, UH, THOSE ARE MY COMMENTS. I WILL CONTINUE TO WORK WITH THE CHIEF ABOUT NOT EXPENDING THE RESOURCES. BY THE WAY, JUST SO YOU KNOW, I CHECKED WITH, UH, WITH HPD AND THERE, THERE'S A NINE MONTH DELAY IN, IN, UH, BALLISTIC EVIDENCE EVALUATION, WHICH MEANS WE HAVE CASES THAT ARE ACTIVE, THEY HAVE, UH, BALLISTIC EVIDENCE AVAILABLE. IT TAKES NINE MONTHS RIGHT NOW. AND WHEN WE START ADDING THIS TO THE PILE, ALTHOUGH I'M TOLD THESE WILL BE AT THE VERY BOTTOM OF THE PRIORITY LIST, THEY'RE STILL GONNA BE ADDED TO. WE ALREADY HAVE A PROBLEM WITH MONEY. RIGHT NOW, I DON'T EVEN SEE WHY WE NEED TO SPEND ANY ENERGY TESTING WEAPONS THAT CAN'T POSSIBLY BE USED IN ANY CRIMINAL, UM, CHARGE IN THE, IN THE NEAR FUTURE. SO I'M GONNA WORK WITH THE CHIEF ON MAYBE CHANGING THAT POLICY TO PERHAPS ONLY TEST FIRE THE ONES THAT, THAT WE IDENTIFY AS STOLEN. UH, AND THAT WOULD BE TO PROTECT THE, THE CURRENT OWNERS FROM BEING LATER CHARGED WITH A CRIME LATER ON FOR POSSESSING A GUN THAT MIGHT BE INVOLVED IN A CRIME. UH, I THINK THAT'LL REDUCE THE CASELOAD AND MAYBE NOT, UH, IMPACT OUR, UH, FORENSIC BALLISTIC LABORATORY AS MUCH. THANK YOU, MAYOR. THANK YOU. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. BUT LET ME, LEMME BE VERY CLEAR, UM, WE ARE NOT GONNA LEAVE ANY STONE LEFT UNTURNED. UM, WHEN YOU LOOK AT ONE SAFE HOUSTON, IT IS HOLISTIC IN ITS APPROACH. WE'RE NOT TAKING ANY MONEY FROM POLICE. IN THE INITIAL PHASE. WE GAVE POLICE $5.7 MILLION JUST ON OVERTIME ALONE. WE CAME BACK, UM, MORE THAN 90 DAYS LATER AND GAVE THEM ANOTHER $5 MILLION JUST ON OVERTIME ALONE. SO WE'VE GIVEN POLICE $10.7 MILLION ON OVERTIME THAT IS OVER AND ABOVE THEIR BUDGET, WHICH WE INCREASE. SO, AND I HAVE GIVEN POLICE, AND LEMME JUST SAY, WE HAVE GIVEN POLICE EVERYTHING THAT THEY HAVE ASKED FOR. IN ADDITION TO THAT, WE'VE PUT OVER, UH, $26 MILLION ON CRISIS INTERVENTION. UM, WE'VE PUT CLOSE TO $10 MILLION ON DOMESTIC ABUSE RESPONSE TEAMS. WE'VE SPENT A MILLION DOLLARS ON, UH, THE REENTRY PROGRAM. AND I WILL ADD THAT OUR REENTRY PROGRAM IS, HAS A BETTER RECIDIVISM RATE THAN THE STATE. WE'VE DONE THAT. WE PLACED $3 MILLION IN OUR COMMUNITY MESSENGERS PROGRAM. UM, AND IN TERMS OF THOSE WHO ARE DRIVING OUR CRIME, THAT GROUP BETWEEN 16 TO 24 AND OUR HIGH HOUSTON YOUTH PROGRAM, WE'VE HIRED OVER 14,000 THIS SUMMER ALONG THE GUN BUYBACK PROGRAM IS 1 MILLION OUT OF A $53 MILLION PROGRAM. WE'VE GIVEN $3 MILLION ON THE FORENSIC, UM, SCIENCE CENTER. SO IT IS NOT INTENDED TO SAY THAT WE ARE GOING TO BE, UH, REDUCING IN ANY BIG NUMBER, BUT THE EMPHASIS DOES NEED TO BE MADE THAT THERE ARE TOO MANY GUNS ON OUR STREET. YOU CAN HAVE A NON-FUNCTIONAL GUN THAT SOMEBODY CAN USE TO GO INTO A MCDONALD'S OR SOME OTHER FAST FOOD PLACE, WHO'S TO KNOW THAT IT'S NOT FUNCTIONAL. YOU THINK THE CRIMINAL'S GONNA WALK IN AND SAY, I [03:30:01] GOT A GUN, BUT IT'S NOT FUNCTIONAL . SO EVEN THOSE GUNS NEED TO BE TAKEN. OKAY? I WANT YOU TO THINK ABOUT THAT. AND, AND TO BE HONEST WITH YOU, I'VE HEARD PEOPLE CRITICIZE, FOR EXAMPLE, LOCAL OFFICIALS, THE CITY, THE COUNTY, UH, FOR ON PUBLIC SAFETY ISSUES. BUT THERE ARE EVEN ORGANIZATIONS, CREDIBLE ORGANIZATIONS IN OUR, IN, UH, THAT HAVE TAKEN THE LEAD ON MANY OF THESE ISSUES. I'VE NEVER HEARD AN ORGANIZATION, THE ORGANIZATION TALK ABOUT GUNS. I WANT YOU TO THINK ABOUT THIS. A CREDIBLE ORGANIZATION CRITICIZING CITY AND COUNTY FOR PUBLIC SAFETY, BUT THAT CREDIBLE ORGANIZATION HAS NEVER CRITICIZED THE STATE OF TEXAS AND HAS NEVER TALKED ABOUT GUNS. EXCUSE ME. WE HAVE MORE GUNS IN THIS COUNTRY THAN WE HAVE PEOPLE. SO THE POINT OF THE GUN BUYBACK PROGRAM IS TO EMPHASIZE THAT THERE ARE TOO MANY GUNS THAT IF WE CAN TAKE, IF WE REMOVE ONE GUN THAT COULD BE USED IN A CRIME OR INJURE OR FATALLY KILLED A PERSON, THEN THAT A HUNDRED THOUSAND DOLLARS THAT WE'LL SPEND THIS WEEKEND HAS BEEN WORTH IT. SO IS COUNCILMAN, I, I UNDERSTAND WHERE YOU'RE COMING FROM. YOU AND I TALKED ABOUT IT, AND I, I APPRECIATE WHAT YOU'RE SAYING. UM, BUT I, I JUST THINK IT'S BETTER FOR US TO DO EVERYTHING WE CAN IN A HOLISTIC WAY TO ADDRESS PUBLIC SAFETY, AND HOPEFULLY WE'LL GET SOME POSITIVE RESULTS. I WILL SAY TO YOU, THOUGH, FROM ONE SAFE HOUSTON, THAT THE HOMICIDE NUMBERS IN COMPARISON TO LAST YEAR, THOSE NUMBERS ARE FLAT. SO WE'VE COME FROM 70% ABOVE LAST YEAR DOWN TO THIS MORNING, I THINK ONE OR 2% ABOVE. SO IT'S RELATIVELY FLAT. AND IN MOST OF THE OTHER CRIMINAL, UH, VIOLENT CRIME CATEGORIES, WE ARE DOWN. SO THE NUMBERS ARE POSITIVE. OKAY. I DON'T SURE. THANK YOU, MAYOR. I APPRECIATE YOU ACKNOWLEDGING THAT THIS IS MORE OF A, A, A PROGRAM TO DRAW ATTENTION TO THE ISSUE AS OPPOSED TO ACTUALLY IMPACTING. THAT WAS MY POINT, THAT WE'RE DOING THIS. A LOT OF PEOPLE OUT THERE BELIEVE THAT THIS PROGRAM IS GOING TO BE RE REDUCING CRIME, BUT IT'S REALLY MORE OF A PUBLICITY TO BRING ATTENTION TO THE PRESENCE OF GUN AND THE COMMUNITY. I APPRECIATE YOU ACKNOWLEDGING THAT. THANK YOU. UM, MAYOR PRO, TIM. I'M MARTIN. THANK YOU MAYOR. UH, YESTERDAY, THE TEXAS DELEGATION IN BOTH THE US SENATE AND THE US HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES INTRODUCED THE TEXAS COASTAL SPINE AUTHORIZATION ACT, WHICH AUTHORIZES A CONSTRUCTION OF THE COASTAL BARRIER PROTECTION SYSTEM KNOWN AS THE COASTAL SPINE. AND WE'VE BEEN WORKING ON THIS COUNCIL MEMBER, ROBINSON MAYOR, EVERYBODY INVOLVED FOR LITERALLY NINE, 10 YEARS FROM NOW. AND IT LOOKS LIKE WE HAVE A GREAT OPPORTUNITY IN FRONT OF US. UH, OUR COASTAL COMMUNITIES ARE HOME TO MILLIONS OF TEXAS AND PIVOTAL INDUSTRIES THAT FUEL OUR ECONOMY AND FUEL OUR COUNTRY. THIS BILL WILL ENSURE THE COASTLINE HAS NECESSARY INFRASTRUCTURE TO HELP PROTECT AGAINST FUTURE STORMS. AND AS ONE OF OUR COLLEAGUES SAID IN THE US HOUSE, THE COASTAL BARRIER IS A MATTER OF NATIONAL SECURITY. THE TEXAS GULF COAST IS HOME TO MILLIONS OF PEOPLE, COUNTLESS HOMES AND JOBS, AND NUMEROUS REFINERIES IN THE TEXAS COASTAL SPINE AUTHORIZATION ACT WILL STRENGTHEN THE RESILIENCY OF THE GULF COAST. AND IT IS IMPERATIVE THAT WE COMPLETE THIS CRITICAL BARRIER PROTECTION AS SOON AS POSSIBLE, SINCE IT'S A QUESTION OF WIND, NOT IF ANOTHER BIG STORM BARRELS UP IN THE UP UPPER TEXAS GULF COAST. AND AS COUNCIL MEMBER ROBINSON CAN TELL YOU, THIS IS A PARTNERSHIP INITIATIVE THAT WORKS VERY CLOSELY WITH THE GALVESTON BAY PROJECT THAT HE'S BEEN VERY INVOLVED IN, UM, OVER THE LAST NUMBER OF YEARS AS WELL. SO A LOT OF GOOD MOMENTUM MOVING IN THAT DIRECTION. WE NEED TO KEEP IT UP. ON ANOTHER NOTE, THERE ARE MANY RESIDENTS EXPERIENCING UNUSUALLY HIGH WATER BILLS. AND WHEN YOU HAVE HOT WEATHER AND DROUGHT CONDITIONS THAT WE HAVEN'T SEEN SINCE 2011, THESE TWO FACTORS CAN CAUSE PIPES TO CRACK AND BURST. AND YOU MAY NOT SEE 'EM IN YOUR LAWN BECAUSE THEY'RE SMALL CRACKS. IT'S IMPORTANT FOR RESIDENTS TO UNDERSTAND THAT THE WATER BILL ISSUES ARE HANDLED ON A CASE BY CASE BASIS, AND NO TWO ADDRESSES ARE THE SAME. AND WATER USAGE CHARGES MONTH TO MONTH ARE VERY DIFFERENT. IF YOU BELIEVE YOUR WATER BILL IS INCORRECT, IT IS IMPORTANT TO CONTACT HOUSTON 3 1 1 AT 7 1 3 8 3 7 0 3 1 1 FIRST, AFTER RESIDENTS HAVE CALLED HOUSTON 3 1 1, [03:35:01] A UNIQUE SERVICE REQUEST NUMBER IS GENERATED, WHICH TRIGGERS AN INVESTIGATION. ONCE YOU RECEIVE YOUR SERVICE REQUEST NUMBER, AFTER CALLING HOUSTON 3 1 1, PLEASE SEND YOUR SERVICE NUMBER REQUEST ALONG WITH YOUR MOST RECENT WATER BILL TO MY DISTRICT OFFICE AT DISTRICT E@HOUSTONTX.GOV FOR ALL THE DISTRICT E OFFICE MEMBERS TO MONITOR EACH WATER BILL IS ASSIGNED A CASE MANAGER WITHIN THE CUSTOMER ACCOUNT SERVICE DIVISION OF WATER DEPARTMENT. AND MEMBERS OF THE DISTRICT E TEAM WORK DIRECTLY WITH THOSE CUSTOMER ACCOUNT SERVICE DIVISION LEADERS AND EMPLOYEES TO GET INFORMATION BACK TO RESIDENTS IN A TIMELY MANNER. SO, ONCE AGAIN, IF YOU HAVE AN UNUSUALLY LARGE WATER BILL, LET'S DO AN INVESTIGATION THAT LOOKS AT THE PROBLEM. MANY TIMES THESE ISSUES ARE ON THE PRIVATE SIDE, WHICH MEANS IT'S ON YOUR HOME SIDE, BUT IF IT IS ON THE CITY SIDE, WE'LL ADDRESS IT, HOPEFULLY IN A TIMELY FASHION. SO, THANK YOU. THANK YOU, UH, VICE MAYOR. THANK YOU MAYOR. UH, WANTED TO JUST LET EVERYONE KNOW THAT YESTERDAY I HAD AN OPPORTUNITY TO, UM, SPEAK BEFORE THE GREATER HOUSTON BUSINESS PROCUREMENT FORUM AT THE ION, AND IT WAS SO GOOD TO BE THERE AND SEE HOW MANY PEOPLE ARE REALLY TAKING ADVANTAGE OF THE OPPORTUNITIES THAT ARE TAKING PLACE AT THE, AT THE ION. UM, COMMONBOND IS NOW OPEN, AND I SAW SOME CHOCOLATE CROISSANTS IN THERE, REMIND ME OF BEING IN PARIS . UH, BUT IT WAS REALLY GOOD TO SEE THE NUMBER OF BUSINESS OWNERS THAT WERE THERE AND THAT WERE LEARNING ABOUT THE OPPORTUNITIES FOR GROWTH FOR THEIR BUSINESSES, THE INNOVATION THAT'S HAPPENING IN THE ION, IT IS A HAPPENING PLACE, AND I WOULD ENCOURAGE ALL HOUSTONIANS TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THE VAST RESOURCES, UM, THAT ARE TAKING PLACE THERE AT THE ION. ON TOMORROW, I WILL AGAIN PARTNER WITH THE HOUSTON FOOD BANK AND NEW FAITH CHURCH, UM, FOR GROCERY DISTRIBUTION, UH, FROM EIGHT TO 10:00 AM UH, WE'RE WORKING TOGETHER TO HELP HOUSTONIANS STRETCH THEIR DOLLARS. I UNDERSTAND THERE'LL BE, UM, DISTRIBUTING, UM, FRUIT, WATERMELON BERRIES, UM, AND SWEET POTATOES. AND IF, UH, YOU KNOW, OF ANYONE THAT IS IN NEED OF, OF SOME ADDITIONAL GROCERIES TO STRETCH THEIR DOLLARS, UH, DRIVE THROUGH NEW FAITH CHURCH AT 43 15 WEST FUQUA ON TOMORROW BETWEEN EIGHT AND 10:00 AM AND THEN SATURDAY ON THE 30TH OF JULY FROM NINE TO 1130, WE WILL HOST OUR THIRD IN A SERIES OF 3D RESTRICTION ROUND TABLE DISCUSSIONS IN PARTNERSHIP WITH RICE AND RICE LAW FIRM AND MARSHALL MANAGEMENT. UM, THESE, UH, D RESTRICTION WORKSHOPS HAVE BEEN EXTREMELY SUCCESSFUL. I MEAN, WE, WE SPENT TWO AND A HALF HOURS TALKING TO OUR NEIGHBORHOOD CIVIC CLUBS AND HOAS ABOUT HOW THEY CAN IMPROVE THEIR D RESTRICTIONS, ANSWERING QUESTIONS ABOUT THEIR D RESTRICTIONS, UM, AND HAVING, UH, RICE AND RICE LAW FIRM. SUSIE RICE WAS ACTUALLY ONE OF THE AUTHORS OF THE PROPERTY CODE. AND SO SHE CAN ANSWER A LOT OF THE QUESTIONS ON THESE D RESTRICTIONS AND HAS BEEN EXTREMELY BENEFICIAL TO OUR, OUR RESIDENTS. SO SATURDAY IS, AGAIN, ANOTHER OPPORTUNITY FOR OUR CIVIC CLUBS AND HOA MEMBERS TO ASK ANY QUESTIONS ABOUT THEIR D RESTRICTIONS, AMENDING THEIR DOCUMENTS, UM, THEIR ARCHITECTURAL GUIDELINES, BOARD MEETINGS, AND ANY OTHER DE RESTRICTION RELATED MATTERS. AND IT WILL BE AT WILLOW MEADOWS BAPTIST CHURCH AT 4,300 WEST BELFORT STREET, AGAIN FROM NINE TO 1130. AND THEN ON AUGUST THE NINTH, I WILL BE JOINING METRO AND WORKFORCE SOLUTIONS IN HOSTING A JOB FAIR, UM, FOR METRO POSITIONS. UM, IT WILL BE AT THE FOUNTAIN LIFE CENTER ON SOUTH MAINE. UH, SPREAD THE WORD. IF YOU KNOW ANYONE SEEKING EMPLOYMENT, UH, YOU DO NOT NEED A CDL LICENSE FOR A LOT OF THOSE POSITIONS TO, UM, DRIVE THE VANS, UH, THAT METRO HAS AVAILABLE, UM, IN THOSE, UH, POSITIONS. SO, HOPE TO SEE ANYONE THAT'S LOOKING FOR EMPLOYMENT AT THE JOB FAIR. AUGUST THE NINTH, FROM 10 TO 1:00 PM THANK YOU, MAYOR. BE SAFE. BE KIND TO EACH OTHER. THANK YOU. COUNCIL MEMBER ROBINSON. THANK YOU, MAYOR. A COUPLE OF, UH, TRANSPORTATION RELATED HIGHLIGHTS IN ADDITION TO THE GREAT, UH, PROGRESS WE'RE MAKING THAT THE MAYOR PRO TEM STATED, I KNOW THAT'S EXCITING FOR, FOR THE COASTAL SPINE AND FOR ALL THE PROTECTION OF, UH, SOUTHEAST TEXAS. BUT, UM, I WANTED TO START AS COUNCIL MEMBER CISNEROS POINTED OUT, WE, IT IS A REALLY IMPORTANT, UM, MEETING ON THURSDAY NIGHT. THAT'S JULY 28TH AT 5:00 PM THE PUBLIC MEETING FOR THE TI 10, UH, FROM HEIGHTS BOULEVARD. UM, UH, COMPONENT AND THE DISCUSSION, THERE IS A MEETING TO TAKE PLACE AT THE TXDOT HEADQUARTERS IN THE HOUSTON DISTRICT. IT'S AN OPPORTUNITY FOR THE PUBLIC TO ASK QUESTIONS AND SUBMIT COMMENTS. [03:40:01] AND THE PROPOSED PROJECT, AS ALREADY MENTIONED, WOULD RAISE THE ELEVATION OF THE EXISTING I 10 MAIN LANES ABOVE THE FLOODPLAIN OF WHITE OAK BAYOU FROM HEIGHTS BOULEVARD TO I 45. AND OF COURSE, THAT'S A REALLY IMPORTANT SEGMENT. UM, NOT UNRELATED AS COUNCIL MEMBER CIRO SAID TO OTHER HURRICANES LIKE TROPICAL STORM ALLISON IN 2001. AND THE PROJECT INCLUDES THE CONSTRUCTION OF A 21.7 ACRE DETENTION POND LOCATED ON THE NORTH SIDE OF I 10 BETWEEN TAYLOR AND HOUSTON AVENUE. SO, IMPORTANT THINGS GOING ON. UM, AND I THINK THAT THAT'S WORTH NOTING. WE DO HAVE OUR TRANSPORTATION POLICY COUNCIL MEETING MAYOR, THIS FRIDAY MORNING, ONGOING DISCUSSION ABOUT, UH, TXDOT RELATED PROJECTS. TOUCHED ON THAT A LITTLE BIT THIS MORNING WITH THE IMPORTANT, UH, PASSAGE OF THE DURHAM AND SHEPHERD CORRIDOR FUNDING. AND, UH, AGAIN, GOOD PROGRESS THERE. HOPEFULLY IT REALLY SPEAKS THE POTENTIAL FOR US TO GET TOGETHER AND GET ONTO THE SAME PAGE, UM, OR BRING TXDOT ONTO OUR PAGE, AS IT WERE. AND THEN FINALLY, SINCE COUNCIL MEMBER POLLARD ISN'T HERE TODAY, I, I WANNA MENTION IN IN DISTRICT F AT, IN GULFTON THIS WEEKEND, THERE IS A COMMUNITY HIGHLIGHT, A SAMPLING THE CITY GULFTON BIKE EVENT AT BURNETT BAYLAND PARK. THAT'S SATURDAY, JULY 30TH FROM 8:00 AM TO 10:00 AM IT'S A SIX MILE FRIENDLY BIKE RIDE THROUGH GULFTON TO COLLECT AIR DATA, AIR QUALITY DATA. AND, UH, ONCE, UM, THE AIR, THE DATA IS GATHERED, AIRLINES, HOUSTON WILL PROVIDE GRAPHS AND MAKE MAPS OF THE LOCALIZED AIR QUALITY AVAILABLE. IT IS AN EVENT THAT'S HOSTED BY AIRLINES, HOUSTON LINK, HOUSTON MARES, , AND SUPER NEIGHBORHOOD, UH, THE GULFTON COUNCIL. SO, GOOD THING, COME OUT AND JOIN US FOR THE RIDE ON SATURDAY MORNING. THANKS, MAYOR. THANK YOU, COUNCILMAN ASH. MAYOR, I DISAGREED WITH THE ARTICLE THAT WAS, UH, RELEASED CONCERNING US BEING DISCRIMINATORY, UH, CONCERNING, UH, ILLEGAL DUMPING, EVEN THOUGH I HAVE SEEN ILLEGAL DUMPING ALL OVER THE CITY, EXCEPT IN THE, THE, UH, LIKE RIVER OAKS TANGLEWOOD IN CERTAIN AREAS. SO I KIND OF UNDERSTAND WHERE THEY GET IT. I GET SO FRUSTRATED OVER THE YEARS WHEN I DRIVE THROUGH SOME OF THESE DISTRICTS AND I SEE THIS DUMPING. I, I JUST WISH SOMEHOW OR ANOTHER I HAD A BIG FART LIFT AND I COULD JUST PICK IT ALL UP. IT JUST, IT'S JUST SO TORMENTING TO SEE IT IN THESE NEIGHBORHOODS, ON THESE VACANT LOTS IN BETWEEN HOMES. AND, AND IT JUST, IT JUST SEEMS TO GROW. AND, UH, UH, MAYOR, I, I AGREE WITH MOST OF WHAT A COUNCIL MEMBER KNOX SAID IN REFERENCE TO THE GUN BUYBACK. HOWEVER, I'VE BEEN ROBBED AT, AT GUNPOINT WITH A SHOTGUN. AND THE TESTIMONY IN THE COURTROOM WAS THAT THE GUN WASN'T OPERABLE AND IT WAS UNLOADED. NOW, YOU KNOW, MAYOR, THAT MADE ME FEEL REAL GOOD. REALLY, IT WASN'T LOADED. I WANTED TO JUMP UP. AND OF COURSE, I'D HAVE BEEN HELD IN CONTEMP TO COURT WHEN I HEARD IT SAID IT WAS JUST INSANE. I MEAN, WHO IS GOING TO DETERMINE AT THE POINT OF SOMEBODY STICKING A SHOTGUN AT YOU THAT IT WASN'T LOADED, RIGHT? OR IT'S NOT OPERABLE. BUT ANYWAY, PEOPLE TESTIFIED TO THAT FACT, AND THE GUY GOT SEVEN YEARS IN THE STATE PENITENTIARY WAS, I DON'T KNOW, I COULDN'T SLEEP FOR DAYS. IT, IT, IT, I, IT, IT'S JUST, UH, I I WANT ALL THESE, UH, IT, IT'S, AND I KNOW THAT IT'S NOT THE GUN ITSELF THAT'S THE PROBLEM. IT'S THE PERSON WITH THE GUN. I GOT IT. I, I UNDERSTAND THAT. BUT SOME OF THESE PEOPLE SHOULDN'T EVEN HAVE ANY ACCESS TO THEM. UM, I'LL GET OFF OF THAT SUBJECT 'CAUSE I'LL GET ANGRY. BUT ONE OF THE THINGS I WOULD LIKE TO SAY IS, IS THAT I, I'VE BEEN A FOSTER PARENT FOR YEARS AND, AND I KNOW THAT THE, UH, CHILD PROTECTIVE SERVICES IS NEEDING, UH, PEOPLE TO, TO, UH, STEP FORWARD TO, TO BE, UH, FOSTER PARENTS. I, I'M IN MY SEVENTIES, AND I'LL BE HONEST WITH YOU, I'VE, I'VE, I'VE, I'M BURNED OUT ON WATCHING KIDS. BUT WHEN I WAS IN MY THIRTIES AND FORTIES AND FIFTIES, I, I, I DID IT. AND, AND I, I, UH, I HAVE SOME GREAT MEMORIES AND, AND I'M GLAD I DID IT, MAYOR. I, I'M REALLY GLAD I DID IT. I, EVERY ONCE IN A WHILE I'LL BE AT A MALL AND SOMEBODY WILL RUN UP AND HUG ME AND, AND, AND SAY MY NAME AND I, I, I DON'T KNOW WHO THEY ARE, AND THEN I PUSH 'EM BACK AND LOOK IN THEIR EYES. AND I SEE THE CHILD IN THIS GROWN ADULT, AND I'M GLAD I HAD A PART OF THAT. AND, UH, I, I KNOW WE TALK ABOUT ADOPTING DOGS AND I, AND I, I'M NOT AGAINST DOING THAT, BUT WHEN YOU ADOPT A DOG, WHY DON'T YOU TRY TO FOSTER A CHILD? 'CAUSE CHILDREN LOVE DOGS. ALRIGHT, WELL, I THINK I'VE SAID THAT BEFORE. AND, UH, SO I, I, I DON'T KNOW IF A GUN IS LOADED OR NOT, AND I DON'T KNOW IF IT'S [03:45:01] A WORKABLE GUN. I JUST DON'T WANT IT POINTED AT ME. GOD BLESS YOU. THANK YOU. UH, COUNCIL MEMBER ALCO. THANK YOU, MAYOR. WELL, THAT'S A SEGUE INTO THE BARK DISCUSSION . UM, MAYOR, I REALLY APPRECIATED YOUR COMMENTS YESTERDAY AND LOOK FORWARD TO HEARING MORE THAT YOU HAVE TO SAY IN THE COMING WEEKS. UH, I THINK A GREAT IDEA TO PUT THE NEW, UH, FACILITY EXPANSION OR NEW FACILITY FOR SHELTER IN THE BOND ELECTION. I THINK TO, UM, COUNCIL MEMBER GALLEGOS POINT ABOUT THE DEPOSIT DEPOSITORIES, THAT'S ANOTHER THING THAT SHOULD POSSIBLY GO ON THE BOND ELECTION. ALSO, UM, WHATEVER OPERATING FUNDS YOU'RE LOOKING AT, DRAWING FROM THE FUND BALANCE TO DEAL WITH, YOU KNOW, KIND OF A CRISIS THAT WE CAN'T TAKE IN A LOT OF ANIMALS NOW BECAUSE WE DON'T HAVE THE STAFFING, WE'RE GONNA HAVE TO, YOU KNOW, JUST NOT, I, I'M GLAD YOUR ATTENTION'S ON THAT. I'VE BEEN HEARING FROM, SEEMS LIKE AN ESCALATING GROUP ABOUT THAT, THAT NEED. SO THANK YOU FOR THAT ON THE ILLEGAL DUMPING. UM, I APPRECIATE YOUR COMMENTS EARLIER. UM, I'M STILL ON BOARD FOR THE FEE MAYOR. UM, YOU KNOW, I, I THINK THAT, THAT THERE WERE A LOT OF GOOD POINTS BROUGHT UP. TODAY. WE HAVE TO GIVE SOLID WASTE THE RESOURCES. THAT'S NOT THE ANSWER TO ILLEGAL DUMPING. THAT'S A COMPLICATED PROBLEM. BUT IF THEY, WITH MORE RESOURCES AT SOLID WASTE, WE CAN DO A WHOLE LOT MORE THINGS, UM, TO ADDRESS THOSE THINGS. AND WE CAN BUILD IN COMPOSTING TOO, SOMEWHERE ALONG THE ROAD WITH THAT, WITH SOLID WASTE FEE. I, I, WE'RE, WE'RE ON BOARD. WE STAND READY TO SUPPORT AND ADVOCATE FOR IT. SO, UH, YOU KNOW, YOU'VE GOT MY 2 CENTS ON THAT. UM, ON, AS I MENTIONED LAST WEEK, WE HAD A GOOD MEETING AT REGULATORY NEIGHBORHOOD AFFAIRS ON, UM, ILLEGAL PARKING COMMERCIAL VEHICLES, 18 WHEELERS AND NEIGHBORHOODS PARKING AND YARDS. UM, MY VICE CHAIR COUNCIL MEMBER PECK AND I WILL BE FORWARDING A MEMO TO YOU THIS WEEK WITH SOME RECOMMENDATIONS THAT SOME, THERE'S SOME EASY THINGS AND SOME HARDER THINGS THAT, THAT CAN POSSIBLY BE DONE. RECOMMENDATIONS THAT CAME FROM COUNCIL MEMBERS AND FROM THE PUBLIC AND FROM HPD. SO, UM, THAT, THAT WILL BE FOR YOUR REVIEW THIS WEEK AND LOOK FORWARD TO, UH, MOVING FORWARD WITH SOME OF THE THINGS WE CAN DO TO STRENGTHEN ENFORCEMENT OF THOSE. THEY REALLY AFFECT THE AESTHETICS AND THE QUALITY OF LIFE IN A LOT OF NEIGHBORHOODS. UM, COUNCIL MEMBER, EVAN, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THE ADDITIONAL NOISE METERS. UM, OUR NEW SOUND ORDINANCE, UH, STRENGTHENED SOUND ORDINANCE COMES INTO EFFECT SEPTEMBER 6TH. SO THOSE WILL BE VERY WELL TIMED, UM, TO ARRIVE ON SCENE. SO THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR THAT. I DID ATTEND THE NEAR TOWN SUPER NEIGHBORHOOD LAST NIGHT WHERE HEATHER COOK DID A GREAT, UH, A GREAT PRESENTATION ON DEED RESTRICTIONS. I KNOW COUNCIL MEMBER EVAN SHAVA ONCE TO, UH, BRING THAT TO RNA AND THAT'LL BE COMING IN THE COMING MONTHS. AND I KNOW, UH, VICE MAYOR PROAM, YOU'RE WORKING A LOT ON DEED RESTRICTIONS. UH, IT'S, IT'S A, YOU KNOW, THINGS ARE HAPPENING IN NEIGHBORHOODS THAT AREN'T QUITE CAUGHT IN TIME. YOU KNOW, THEY, THEY DO A DECLARATION, YOU KNOW, THEY SIGN, THEY CHECK THE BOX. YES, I HAVE, I HAVE INVESTIGATED WHETHER THIS COMPLIES WITH THE NEIGHBORHOOD'S DEED RESTRICTIONS, AND THEN THEY'RE WAY FAR DOWN THE LINE BUILDING SOMETHING THAT DOES NOT AT ALL COMPLY. SO THAT'S JUST ON, KIND OF ON THE RADAR. AND FINALLY, UM, I WANT TO INTRODUCE TALIA MARTIN, STAND UP BACK THERE. SHE IS A RISING SENIOR AT ST. JOHN'S SCHOOL. SHE PLAYS ON THEIR SOCCER TEAM. UM, SHE'S, UH, HAD A BUSY SUMMERING TUTOR, TUTORING REFUGEE STUDENTS, AND A MONTH LONG IMMERSION PROGRAM IN FRANCE. SO SHE'S GONNA SPEAK FRENCH TO THE VICE MAYOR PROTA AND CARLOS CISNEROS AFTER THEIR BIG, AFTER THEIR BIG TRIP. UM, SHE, UH, ST. JOHN'S HAS A PROGRAM WHERE THEY JUST SEND KIDS FOR A COUPLE WEEKS, JUST KIND OF GET A TASTE OF HOW THE SAUSAGE IS MADE UP HERE IN LOCAL GOVERNMENT. SO, WELCOME TALIA. AND, UM, AND THAT'S ALL I HAVE. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. COUNCILMAN PAC. OH, SHE'S PASSING. OH, SHE'S PASSED. OH, I PASSED, MAYOR. THANK YOU. OKAY. OKAY. ALRIGHT. UH, DID I MISS ANYONE? ALRIGHT, UH, THEN THANK YOU ALSO VERY, VERY MUCH. AND WE'LL SEE EACH OTHER, UH, IF NOT LATER ON TODAY, UH, LATER ON THE WEEK OR NEXT WEEK. AND, UH, WE STAND ADJOURNED. HEY, I. * 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.