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THE CITY OF HOUSTON PROUDLY CONTRIBUTED $3.4 MILLION IN HOME AND CBDG FUNDS TO THE RECONSTRUCTION COST OF THIS MUCH NEEDED FACILITY.
AND WE ARE PROUD TO HAVE BEEN ABLE TO CONTRIBUTE THOSE 3.4 MILLION.
THE 2020 SYSTEMS ESTIMATES THAT CITY HAS 69,000 VETERANS.
UH, BUT THERE ARE SO MANY MORE WITHIN OUR HOUSTON HARRIS COUNTY AREA.
SOON THESE 56 UNITS WILL BE AVAILABLE TO VETERANS NEEDING ASSISTANCE BECAUSE THE MEN AND WOMEN WHO SERVE AND PROTECTED OUR COUNTRY NOT ONLY DESERVE OUR THANKS, BUT THEY ALSO DESERVE A SAFE PLACE TO CALL HOME AND HAVE DIRECT ACCESS ACCESS TO SUPPORT SERVICES THAT WILL HELP THEM FOR MANY YEARS INTO THE FUTURE.
MORE THAN HALF OF THE UNITS HERE WILL PROVIDE PERMANENT SUPPORTIVE HOUSING.
THE LIGHT RAIL LOSS WILL HELP VETERANS AT RISK OF EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS BY OFFERING TRANSITIONAL HOUSING, COUNSELING AND CAREER SERVICES UNDER ONE ROOF AND WITHIN WALKING DISTANCE OF OF OTHER RESOURCES.
IT IS JUST THREE MILES FROM THE MICROBE VA VETERAN MEDICAL CENTER AND THE TEXAS MEDICAL CENTER LAST.
IT IS THIS HOLISTIC APPROACH THAT INCLUDES WRAPAROUND SERVICES THAT I FEEL MAKE HOUSTON'S APPROACH TO ENDING HOMELESSNESS.
THE NATIONAL EXAMPLE OF THE NATIONAL MOTTO, IT HAS BECOME TO KEEP THE MOMENTUM THAT WE HAVE BUILT WHEN IT COMES TO ENDING HOMELESSNESS.
HOUSTON MUST CONTINUE INVESTING IN QUALITY, SAFE AND STABLE HOUSING FOR VETERANS AND ALL IN NEED OF A ROOF OVER THEIR HEADS HOUSING, JUST LIKE WE ARE SEEING TODAY AT THE LIGHT RAIL LOSS.
THIS DEVELOPMENT IS YET ANOTHER GREAT EXAMPLE OF THE CITY AND THE COUNTY WORKING COLLABORATIVELY TO MEET THE NEEDS OF THE PEOPLE IN OUR AREA.
AND I WANT TO THANK OUR PARTNER ORGANIZATIONS AND THOSE THAT EVERY DAY DEDICATE THEIR LIVES TO PROVIDING RESOURCES THAT KEEP VETERANS THRIVING.
THE VA, THE US BETS THE CONTINUUM OF CARE THE WAY HOME.
AND I CERTAINLY WANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE CLOUD GREAT COMMUNITIES FOR THEIR LEADERSHIP AND VITAL SUPPORT.
CLOUD GREAT COMMUNITIES HAS SIMPLY BEEN EXCEPTIONAL AND I DO WANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE THEM.
AND LASTLY, LET ME JUST SAY THIS, FOR ALL THE VETERANS THAT ARE IN THE ROOM, IF YOU'LL PUT YOUR HAND UP OR STAND UP FOR ALL THE VETERANS.
IF YOU ARE A VETERAN IN THIS ROOM, I WANT YOU TO STAND UP IF YOU CAN, AND I WANT YOU TO COME THIS WAY ALL BECAUSE QUITE FRANKLY, THIS IS THE GROUP THAT WE ARE FOCUSED ON.
AND COMMISSIONER OTHERS AND DR. HOLLOWAY AND TO OUR CONGRESSIONAL REPS, IF YOU, YOU'LL JUST COME AND STAND IF YOU ALL WILL COME UP HERE.
COMMISSIONER ELLIS, CONGRESSMAN GREEN, CONGRESSWOMAN SHOOTER, JACKSON LEE, DR. HOLLOWAY, COUNCIL MEMBER AZZ.
WHERE'S KEITH BY DIRECTOR BYNUM AND THE VETERANS IN THE GREEN CHURCH.
WHY DON'T Y'ALL COME UP HERE? AND THE REASON WHY I ASK THEM TO COME AND STAND, THIS IS THE GROUP.
THIS IS THE GROUP THAT WE ARE WANTING TO SHOW LOVE TO.
THIS IS THE GROUP THAT DESERVES ALL THE RESOURCES THAT WE CAN MUSTER.
AND THIS IS THE GROUP THAT WE WANNA MAKE SURE THAT WHEN THEY SERVE OUR COUNTRY, THEY DON'T FIND THEMSELVES ON THE STREETS IN HOUSTON, PARIS COUNTY.
THEY'RE ENTITLED TO MORE THAN THAT.
AND TODAY, HARRIS COUNTY AND HOUSTON IS DOING OUR BEST, ALONG WITH THE FEDERAL SUPPORT AND DOLLARS AND THE STATE TO MAKE IT HAPPEN.
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UP HERE BECAUSE YOU'RE MY MC.THIS IS OUR NEW MC, MR. ELLIS.
SO HE IS GOING TO BE HIRED NEXT TIME WE HAVE AN EVENT,
I WANTED TO TAKE A MINUTE TO THANK HIM FOR BEING HERE.
HE'S, HE'S ALWAYS BEEN A VETERAN OF CIVIL RIGHTS, UH, ADVOCATE AND HIS FOUGHT FOR THOSE WHO NEED IT THE MOST.
UM, THROUGHOUT HIS CAREER, CONGRESSMAN GREEN HAS ENJOYED THE RESPECT OF HIS COLLEAGUES AND COMMUNITY LEADERS, AND WE PRAISE HIM FOR HIS IMPECCABLE CHARACTER AND HIS ABILITY TO WORK WITH VERY DIVERSE POPULATION.
WILL YOU GIVE THE, UH, MC A GREAT EXPRESSION OF APPRECIATION FOR ME? PLEASE? UH, THAT IS NOT QUITE A GREAT EXPRESSION OF APPRECIATION.
A GREAT EXPRESSION OF APPRECIATION FOR OUR MISTRESS AND CEREMONIES.
PLEASE LET ME THANK THE MAYOR FOR THE OUTSTANDING JOB THAT HE DOES DAY IN AND DAY OUT.
HE HAS BEEN A MAYOR WHO HAS BET MANY CHALLENGES.
UH, HE HAS HAD TO DEAL WITH PANDEMICS INFLATION STORMS, BUT STILL HE RISES TO THE OCCASION.
WOULD YOU GIVE MAYOR ANOTHER HAND, PLEASE? MAYOR TURNER AND I HAVE TO ACKNOWLEDGE, UH, THE COMMISSIONER ELLIS, WHO IS A FORMER STATE SENATOR, FORMER CITY COUNCIL PERSON, WORKED IN A CONGRESSIONAL OFFICE WITH CONGRESSMAN NICK LELAND HAS DEMONSTRATED OVER THE YEARS THAT HE WILL BE A PART OF THE AVANT GUARD WHEN IT COMES TO MAKING CHANGE.
WOULD YOU PLEASE GIVE OUR COUNTY COMMISSIONER ELLIS A BIG EXPRESSION FOR ME, PLEASE.
FOR ME, PLEASE ME AND, UH, MY COLLEAGUE IS HERE A CONGRESSWOMAN, SHEILA JACKSON LEE.
UH, SHE AND I WORK TOGETHER IN CONGRESS.
IF YOU CHECK OUR VOTING RECORDS, YOU PROBABLY WON'T FIND A SCINTILLA OF A DIFFERENCE IN OUR VOTING RECORDS.
UH, SO WHENEVER YOU SALUTE HER, YOU'RE SALUTING ME.
AND WHENEVER YOU SALUTE ME, YOU'RE SALUTING HER.
SO TODAY, SALUTE HER, PLEASE FOR ME.
AND I'M NOT GOING TO OVERLOOK THE COUNCILWOMAN FROM, UH, THE SOUTH SIDE.
UH, SHE IS A PARTNER OF MINE AGAINST CRIME.
UH, COUNCILWOMAN EVAN SHABAZZ.
WOULD YOU GIVE HER A HAND FOR ME, PLEASE? NOW LEMME DO WHAT I CAME TO DO AND I LIKE THE MAYOR.
I HAVE A FEW NOTES THAT I WANT TO READ BECAUSE I WANT TO START BY GIVING YOU 9,546,947 REASONS WHY YOU OUGHT TO BE PROUD OF THIS PROJECT.
YOU OUGHT TO BE PROUD OF IT BECAUSE THAT NUMBER 9 MILLION PLUS, THAT'S TAX DOLLARS THAT YOU SENT TO WASHINGTON DC THAT'S TAX DOLLARS THAT'S BEING RETURNED TO THIS COMMUNITY UNDER THE COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT BLOCK GRANT PROGRAM.
I THINK YOU OUGHT TO GIVE A CONGRESS CONGRESSIONAL DELEGATION A HAND, PLEASE.
BUT WHEN YOU BRINGING MONEY HOME AT THIS PLACE, I THINK THE CONGRESSIONAL DELEGATION DESERVES A HAND.
AND THERE'S ALSO FROM THE CITY OF CDBG $1,964,143 AND THE HOUSTON HOME PROGRAM, $1,500,000 PRIVATE FUNDS ARE IN THIS DEAL, 3,000,327 $915.
THIS IS THE BEST EXAMPLE THAT I CAN GIVE YOU OF HOW A COLLABORATIVE EFFORT BETWEEN THE PUBLIC AND THE PRIVATE CAN SUCCESSFULLY BRING ABOUT A PROGRAM THAT IS GOING TO BENEFIT PEOPLE WHO HAVE DONE GREAT THINGS FOR THIS COUNTRY JUST BY SIGNING UP AND SAYING, I'M WILLING TO GO WHEREVER YOU SEND ME.
I'LL DO WHATEVER YOU TELL ME, I AM YOURS.
THESE PEOPLE ARE CALLED VETERANS AND WE OUGHT TO GIVE THEM A HAND KNOWING THAT THEY GOT A COLLABORATIVE EFFORT TO PROTECT THEM.
FINALLY, THIS I WAS, UH, LOST A FEW YEARS AGO, LOST, LITERALLY LOOKING FOR A CERTAIN VENUE, COULDN'T FIND IT, AND I LOOKED OVER MY RIGHT SHOULDER AND I SAW A SIGN THAT SAID, COME IN AND SEE THE PRICE OF FREEDOM.
COME IN AND SEE THE PRICE OF FREEDOM.
IT WAS NOT A BANK, UH, IT WAS NOT SOME PLACE
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WHERE YOU WOULD FIND GOLD, BULLION, RICHES, SILVER.IF YOU WANNA SEE THE PRICE OF FREEDOM, VISIT A VA HOSPITAL.
AND FOR THOSE VETERANS WHO ARE NOT HERE TODAY, THE MANY WHO GO TO DISTANT PLACES AND DON'T ALWAYS RETURN THE SAME WAY THEY LEFT, WE OWE THEM AN EXPRESSION OF APPRECIATION FOR WHAT THEY DO.
WOULD YOU GIVE A HAND? PLEASE GIVE THEM A HAND IN THAT PREACHER FOR WHAT THEY DO AND BECAUSE WE LOVE THEM AND WE ARE GRATEFUL FOR WHAT'S HAPPENING WITH THIS ORGANIZATION.
AS YOUR MEMBER OF CONGRESS, I AM PROUD TO PRESENT A FLAG.
I DIDN'T KNOW UNTIL I GOT TO CONGRESS MAYOR THAT CONGRESS PEOPLE COULD HAVE FLAGS FLOWN OVER THE CAPITOL.
I DIDN'T KNOW IT AND I DIDN'T KNOW, UH, COMMISSIONER THAT WE WERE FLYING THESE FLAGS FOR PEOPLE LIKE PRESIDENTS OF THE UNITED STATES.
DR. KING HAD A FLAG FLOWN OVER THE, FOR HIM.
I DIDN'T KNOW THIS, BUT WHEN I FOUND OUT, I FOUND OUT THAT THERE WERE SOME WHO WERE BEING LEFT OUT WHO DESERVED TO HAVE FLAGS FLOWN OVER THE CAPITAL OF THE UNITED STATES.
WELL, I WANT YOU TO KNOW THAT THE ENTITY THAT HELPED US PUT THIS TOGETHER IS NOT GOING TO BE LEFT OUT.
I'M PROUD TO TELL YOU I HAVE WITHIN MY HAND A FLAG THAT WAS FLOWN OVER THE CAPITAL OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA TO BE PRESENTED TO THE PERSONS WHO HAD A HANDS-ON EXPERIENCE WITH THIS PROJECT.
I'M PROUD TO PRESENT IT TO THEM.
WOULD YOU GIVE 'EM A HAND FOR WHAT THEY'VE DONE AS WE PRESENT THE FLAG TO THEM COME FORWARD.
AND I'D LIKE IF I MAY IMPOSE UPON YOU, MAYOR, UH, AND COMMISSIONER AND, UH, CONGRESSWOMAN AND COUNCILWOMAN, LET'S ALL MOVE OVER THIS WAY.
WE WANT EVERYBODY TO SEE ALL OF YOU.
YOU'LL COME CLOSER, CONGRESSWOMAN, BECAUSE OKAY.
AH, ON BEHALF OF CLOUDBREAK COMMUNITIES, THANK YOU FOR REMINDING
NO MORE VETERANS ON THE CORNERS WITH 10 CUPS.
THIS IS NOT THE END, BUT IT IS ALSO NOT THE BEGINNING.
THE MAYOR HAS DONE GREAT THINGS BEFORE THIS, AS HAS BEEN THE CASE WITH THE COMMISSIONER AND THE COUNTY.
BUT WE WANNA MAKE SURE THAT WE CONTINUE SO WE PRESENT IT THROUGH YOU.
CONGRESSMAN AL GREEN WOULD LIKE TO INTRODUCE, UH, CON CONGRESSWOMAN SHEILA JACKSON LEE.
WE ALL KNOW SHE'S SUCH AN IN INFLUENTIAL AND FORCEFUL, UH, VOICE IN WASHINGTON, UH, SERVING HER 11TH TERM AS MEMBER OF THE UNITED STATES HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.
SHE REPRESENTS THE 18TH CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT, UH, CENTERED IN HOUSTON, UH, CONSIDERED BY MANY THE VOICE OF REASON.
AND, UM, SHE'S DEDICATED TO UPHOLDING THE CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHTS OF ALL PEOPLE.
CONGRESSWOMAN LEE HAS A LONG HISTORY OF SUPPORTING VETERANS, ESPECIALLY THE MOST VULNERABLE.
AND, UH, SHE HAS BEEN AN AMAZING ASSET TO THE DEVELOPMENT OF THIS CAMPUS.
PLEASE HELP ME IN WELCOMING, UM, CONGRESSWOMAN LEE.
LET ME THANK MR. CEREMONIES FOR JUGGLING AND, UH, WORKING TO GET ALL OF US WHO LOVE YOU VETERANS, UH, TO BE ABLE TO SAY WE LOVE YOU.
IS THAT OKAY? CAN I SAY WE LOVE YOU VETERANS? WE LOVE YOUR SERVICE.
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DARN MAD THAT IT TOOK SO LONG TO PASS THE BURN PIT LEGISLATION, BUT WE FINALLY PASSED IT.AND NO ONE SHOULD SUFFER ANYMORE.
LET ME ACKNOWLEDGE THE MAYOR FOR BEING CITED AS A CITY THAT ADDRESSES THE QUESTION OF HOMELESSNESS WITH A HUNDRED MILLION DOLLARS PLUS.
LET ME ALSO ACKNOWLEDGED OUR COMMISSIONER, UH, RODNEY ELLIS, UH, WHO WITH HIS FELLOW COMMISSIONERS AND JUDGE GOGO, COMMISSIONER GARCIA, WORKING WITH THE OTHER COMMISSIONERS, UNDERSTAND THE IMPORTANCE OF SOCIAL SERVICES AND AS WELL THE IMPORTANCE OF VETERANS.
ISN'T IT INTERESTING AS I SPEAK TO THE VETERANS, THAT EVERY LEVEL OF GOVERNMENT IS HERE? I NEED TO HEAR YOU.
ISN'T IT INTERESTING? I NEED TO HEAR YOU.
THAT MEANS YOUR LOCAL GOVERNMENT, COUNTY GOVERNMENT AND YOUR FEDERAL GOVERNMENT ARE ON THE SAME PAGE.
BUT I REALLY WANT YOU TO CARRY THE MESSAGE TO THOSE WHO ARE NOT IN THIS ROOM.
AND MANY OF THE FRIENDS THAT I HAVE HERE, VALERIE, YOU UNDERSTAND THAT THERE ARE VETERANS WHO ARE IN THIS ROOM STAND UP, VALERIE, WHO ARE, WHO ARE IN THIS ROOM, WHO NEED TO HELP THOSE WHO WON'T COME IN, THEY WON'T COME IN, YOU PASS 'EM BY.
THEY THINK I'M INDEPENDENT, MY CONDITIONS ARE GOOD, I'VE GOT A BRAND NEW TENT.
I'LL CHANGE IT OUT WHEN I MASTER COBBLE TOGETHER SOME FUNDS AND I'M GONNA STAY ON THE STREET.
I'M SPEAKING TO THEM, I'M SPEAKING TO THEM.
I'M GONNA PICK A TIME WHEN I WILL GO WITH A FEW OF YOU AND SPEAK TO THEM BECAUSE LOOK WHAT WE ARE DOING.
NEXT DOOR IS THE OLD HOLIDAY INN.
I HAVE BEEN TO THAT HOLIDAY INN YEAR AFTER YEAR AFTER YEAR.
ANY HOLIDAY INN FOLK IN THE ROOM, ANY FOLK THAT LIVE NEXT DOOR IN THE ROOM.
WE HAVE BEEN OVER AND OVER AGAIN TO ACKNOWLEDGE THE IMPORTANCE OF OUR VETERANS TODAY WITH $9 MILLION AND WITH THIS OUTSTANDING PROJECT BETWEEN THE MAYOR, THE COMMISSIONER, MY GOOD FRIEND AND COLLEAGUE, CONGRESSMAN AL GREEN, BOTH OF US HAVE WORKED WITHOUT CEASING ON HOMELESSNESS.
BUT WHAT I WILL SAY, ACKNOWLEDGING A COUNCIL MEMBER, ABBY CAYMAN AS WELL, AND OUR OWN COUNCIL MEMBER, CAROLYN CHAZ, WHO YOU HAVE SEEN, BUT I REALLY WANT HER TO STAND AGAIN SO THAT SHE CAN BE SEEN AS A FIGHTER.
AND SHE STANDS ALONGSIDE OF ALL OF US.
THAT'S THANK YOU TO SARAH HALE WITH AMEE BANK.
AND OF COURSE, I'M GOING TO THANK MY DEAR FRIEND TIM CANTWELL, WHO IS SO EXCITED ABOUT WHAT THESE APARTMENTS LOOK LIKE, WHAT THESE PLACES LOOK LIKE FOR OUR VETERANS.
SO LET ME JUST SAY THIS, IN EVERY CITY, A LARGE PERCENTAGE OF THE HOMELESS ARE VETERANS.
IN EVERY CITY WHERE CRITICISM RISES ABOUT TENTS AND HOMELESS CAMPS, THEY ARE VETERANS.
RATHER THAN CRITICIZE, LET US WORK MORE STRATEGICALLY WITH THE TEXAS LAND OFFICE WITHOUT FUNDS TO ENSURE THAT DOLLARS CAN GET TO LOCAL GOVERNMENT BECAUSE THAT IS WHERE THE RUBBER HITS THE ROAD.
IF THEY GET THEIR DOLLARS, THESE ARE DRC DOLLARS DISASTER RECOVERY DOLLARS.
IT SHOULD BE KNOWN THAT A BILLION DOLLARS IS OWED TO US.
WE CAN BUILD BILL, BUILD, BUILD, WORKING WITH THOSE WHO KNOW HOW TO BUILD HOUSING FOR HOMELESS PERSONS AND FOR VETERANS.
SO MY COMMITMENT TO YOU TODAY IS TO CONTINUE TO WORK WITH THE TEXAS LAND OFFICE.
AND I UNDERSTAND THAT, UH, REGINA RECINOS IS HERE, AND I THANK HER FOR HER PRESENCE.
AND I KNOW THAT WE CAN COLLABORATE BECAUSE WHEN YOU LOOK AT THESE MEN AND WOMEN AND YOU LOOK AT THEIR SERVICE, YOU KNOW THAT WE ARE LONG OVERDUE TO BE ABLE TO NOT CRITICIZE THE HOMELESS CAMPS, BUT TO FIND A WAY TO TALK THEM IN TO THE KIND OF HOUSING THAT WE HAVE HERE TODAY.
WE WILL TALK YOU IN, IF YOU'RE ON THE STREETS, WE WILL TALK YOU IN TO FINDING THE KIND OF COMFORTABLE AND GOOD HOUSING HERE FOR ALL OF YOU.
WE OWE THAT TO THE UNITED STATES MILITARY.
AND I ALWAYS SAY YOU PUT ON THE UNIFORM UNSELFISHLY AND WE SHOULD SERVE YOU UNSELFISHLY.
IT IS MY PRIVILEGE TO BE ABLE TO CONGRATULATE ALL OF YOU FOR THE WORK YOU'VE DONE, UH, AND
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TO THANK YOU FOR ALLOWING US TO GATHER HERE TODAY TO SALUTE EACH AND EVERY ONE OF YOU ON THIS STUPENDOUS OCCASION.MY FINAL WORDS ARE TO THE VETERANS WHO ARE HERE, UH, AS YOU WELL KNOW, WE ALL HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO BE ABLE TO CELEBRATE YOU.
MY PLEASURE TO NOT ONLY GIVE YOU, UH, THIS ACKNOWLEDGEMENT, UH, BUT IT IS ALSO TO GIVE TOM CAMWELL MY GOOD FRIEND.
WE HAVE INTERACTED WITH EACH OTHER SINCE THE NINETIES.
UH, WE HAVE WATCHED HIS WORK, HIS HEART IS COMMITTED.
WE DON'T BUILD ANY KINDA OLD VETERANS HOUSING.
AND SO YOU'LL HAVE A PLACE WHERE YOU'RE GONNA PUT YOUR FEET UP AND CALL IT HOME, PUT YOUR FEET UP AND CALL IT HOME.
PUT YOUR FEET UP AND CALL YOUR FRIEND.
PUT YOUR FEET UP AND CALL YOUR RELATIVE AND SAY, COME TO MY HOME TOM CAMP.
WELL, CAN YOU COME RIGHT NOW JUST TO RECEIVE, UH, NOT ONLY, UH, THE RECOGNITION, BUT AS WELL, THIS IS A CONGRESSIONAL RECOGNITION HONORING YOU THAT MYSELF AND CONGRESSMAN GREED ARE ABLE TO DO.
AND I'M GOING TO ASK, UH, THE VETERANS TO COME THROUGH AGAIN.
JUST COME THROUGH AGAIN, VALERIE, YOU COME UP HERE AND GIVE THIS, UH, TAKE.
ACCEPT THIS FLAG AND YOUR OTHER VETERANS.
IF Y'ALL COULD COME OVER HERE THIS WAY WHILE WE GET THIS RECOGNITION AND MANY OF MY FRIENDS FROM THE NEXT DOOR FACILITY, I'M JUST VERY GLAD TO SEE YOU ONE VETERAN TO PRESENT THIS.
AND THE WOMEN VETERANS ARE GROWING IN NUMBERS.
SO VETERANS ON THE FRONT ROW, THE REST OF YOU DON'T WANT TO COME, JUST COME ON UP PLEASE.
THOSE OF YOU DON'T WANNA MOVE.
I NEED A FEW MORE OF YOU VETERANS COMING ON UP.
YOU GONNA PRESENT THIS? PLAN THAT TO BROTHER CAMP.
AND I KNOW THE MAYOR AND COMMISSIONER ARE GETTING SOME BUSINESS DONE, BUT THEY NEED TO COME WITH MY GOOD FRIEND AND COLLEAGUE, CONGRESSMAN GREEN.
AND, UH, I WOULD LIKE, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER, ALL OF YOU JUST TO COME ON UP, PLEASE.
AND NOW IT IS OUR PRIVILEGE TO HAVE A VETERAN OF SERVICE IN THE UNITED STATES ARMY.
ARMY TO PRESENT THIS FLAG TO OUR GOOD FRIEND, IF HE WOULD DO IT NOW AND PRESENT IT AS THE ONE HAND OVER THE ALRIGHT.
IT IS MY PLEASURE TO PRESENT THIS TO THE GENTLEMAN WHO HELPED BUILD A, THE FACILITY THAT TOOK ME OFF THE STREETS 12 YEARS AGO.
WHAT A TESTIMONY, WHAT A PICTURES.
AND GOD BLESS THESE VETERANS AND GOD BLESS THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA.
UM, UP NEXT WEEK, WE WOULD LIKE TO BRING UP MS. SHARON FLETCHER.
UH, SHE CURRENTLY SERVES AS A DEPUTY CHIEF OF STAFF FOR DISTRICT C COUNCIL MEMBER, UM, PAMAN, MS. SHABBAT IS GONNA SPEAK IN HER STEP.
UM, THANK YOU MS. SHABBAT FOR, UH, FOR JOINING US HERE TODAY.
THANK YOU SO VERY MUCH, AND GOOD MORNING TO EVERYONE.
I AM TRULY HONORED AND FIRST AND FOREMOST, I HAVE TO SAY I HAVE THE PRIVILEGE OF HAVING THE TWO BEST CONGRESSPEOPLE IN THE UNITED STATES IN THE, IN THE FORM OF CONGRESSWOMAN SHEILA JACKSON LEE, AS WELL AS CONGRESSMAN AL GREEN.
THEY SHARE MY DISTRICT D AND THEY ARE TREMENDOUS PARTNERS.
CERTAINLY ANOTHER PARTNER IS THE COMMISSIONER.
HE HAS FIXED SO MANY STREETS AND DONE SO MANY PHENOMENAL THINGS IN THE DISTRICT THAT I TRULY APPRECIATE.
AND CERTAINLY MY MAYOR, WHO HAS CERTAINLY BEEN A GREAT PARTNER, UH, FOR DISTRICT D AND FOR THE ENTIRE CITY.
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AND SO I'M VERY, VERY HONORED TO STAND WITH THEM.I CERTAINLY HAVE TO RECOGNIZE DIRECTOR BYNUM, WHO HAS DONE A TREMENDOUS JOB FOR MANY, MANY YEARS.
BUT AS DIRECTOR MOST RECENTLY, AND OUR DIRECTOR OF MILITARY, OF VETS AND MILITARY AFFAIRS, MR. DEMBO, WHO IS ALWAYS PRESENT REPRESENTING OUR WONDERFUL VETERANS.
IF NOTHING IS BETTER FOR A PERSON'S MENTAL STATE THAN TO HAVE STABLE, SAFE HOUSING, THIS IS A TREMENDOUS UNDERTAKING.
I HAVE LIVED IN THIS AREA ALL OF MY LIFE, AND CERTAINLY I REMEMBER THAT BEING A HOLIDAY INN.
THERE WAS A PRINCESS HAMBURGERS ACROSS THE STREET.
THIS HAS SERVED, I THINK, AS A SHOE STORE AND A RESTAURANT, AND CERTAINLY NOW ITS MOST IMPORTANT FUNCTION IS TO HOUSE OUR VETERANS.
AND SO MY DAD WAS A VETERAN, SO THIS IS PARTICULARLY AN HONOR FOR ME TO STAND HERE.
I CERTAINLY BELIEVE THAT AFFORDABLE HOUSING IS SO VERY IMPORTANT AND I, AS A COUNCIL MEMBER, WILL DO EVERYTHING THAT I CAN TO BE ABLE TO PROVIDE THAT.
AND I WANT TO ALSO ACKNOWLEDGE MY PARTNER, COUNCIL MEMBER, ABBY CAYMAN, WHO IS ACTUALLY CHAIRING A MEETING RIGHT NOW, OR SHE WOULD BE HERE.
AND SHE SENT IN THE, IN HER PRESENCE, HER DEPUTY CHIEF OF, OF STAFF, MS. FLETCHER.
AND SO I THANK YOU SO VERY MUCH.
AND IN CLOTHING, THIS IS NOT MY FIRST TIME IN THIS SPACE.
CERTAINLY, OF COURSE, I DID COME TO THE SHOE STORE, BUT I MEAN, IN, IN A RECENT TIME, I WAS ACTUALLY HERE DURING CHRISTMAS WITH AN ENGAGEMENT WHERE WE GAVE GIFTS AND CERTAIN THINGS OUT TO THE VETERANS.
AND SO CERTAINLY I CAN COME NOW AND I'M SURE SOME OF YOU CAN COOK.
UH, I'M, I'M NOT ONE OF THOSE, BUT CERTAINLY, UH, I WOULD LOVE TO COME BACK AND VISIT WITH YOU ON ANOTHER OCCASION.
AND CERTAINLY THERE'S NOTHING THAT WE CAN DO MORE THAN WHAT YOU HAVE DONE FOR US.
AND SO THANK YOU FOR THIS OPPORTUNITY.
UH, WE JUST LOOK FOR SOMETHING TREMENDOUS TO GO IN THIS SPACE AND WE ARE GONNA MOVE FORWARD BECAUSE THIS IS WHAT WE DO IN THE CITY OF HOUSTON.
WE TRY TO HELP EVERYONE BECAUSE EVERYONE IS IMPORTANT IN THIS CITY.
AND SO THANK YOU SO VERY MUCH FOR THIS OPPORTUNITY.
UM, BANKS CAN BE INTIMIDATING TO WORK WITH, UH, BUT NO ONE HAS BEEN A BETTER PARTNER TO US THAN SARAH HALE VICE PRESIDENT AT AM BANK.
ALMOST 40 YEARS OF HER CAREER HAVE BEEN DEDICATED TO AFFORDABLE HOUSING DEVELOPMENT AND LENDING.
HER HUSBAND JIM IS A RETIRED 20 YEAR VETERAN NAVY.
UM, SARAH'S FATHER ALSO SERVED IN WORLD WAR II AND TWO OF HER BROTHERS, UH, IN VIETNAM.
IT IS CLEAR THAT VETERANS ARE NEAR AND DEAR TO BOTH OF OUR COMMUNITIES.
I AM SO EXCITED TO BE HERE WITH ALL OF YOU.
UH, ENERGY BANK HAS ALMOST A 20 YEAR HISTORY WITH THE CLOUDBREAK COMMUNITY ORGANIZATION, TIM CANTWELL, UH, ON THIS CAMPUS HERE, AS WELL AS OUT IN PHOENIX AND LAS VEGAS.
AMEE BANK HAS FOLLOWED THEM TO THOSE AREAS BECAUSE WE SAW WHAT THEY DID HERE.
UH, IN 2003, WE FINANCED THE ACQUISITION AND REHABILITATION OF THE DAYS INN MOTEL NEXT DOOR, AND THAT BROUGHT 286 UNITS TO SERVE VETERANS.
UH, WE ALSO FINANCED TRAVIS STREET PLAZA, WHICH IS RIGHT HERE ON THE CAMPUS.
UH, THAT WAS A NEWLY BUILT STRUCTURE AND THAT ADDED 192 UNITS.
SO IN MARCH OF 2020, WHEN TIM CANTWELL CALLED ME, HE SAID, SARAH, WOULD ENERGY BANK LIKE TO FINANCE LIGHT RAIL LOSS? THAT WAS AN EASY ANSWER.
LET'S, LET'S START TALKING ABOUT THE NUMBERS.
SO IN LATE 2020, WE CLOSED ON THIS LIGHT RAIL LOFTS PROJECT.
HERE WE ARE, ALMOST TWO YEARS LATER, WE HAD BEEN THROUGH COVID SUPPLY CHAIN ISSUES AND LABOR ISSUES.
BUT TODAY WE'RE CELEBRATING A RIBBON CUTTING FOR THIS BEAUTIFUL BUILDING THAT PROVIDES 56 HOUSING UNITS.
AMIE BANK IS EXCITED TO BE HERE WITH OUR OTHER LENDING PARTNERS, HARRIS COUNTY,
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THE CITY OF HOUSTON.TOGETHER WE HAVE ACCOMPLISHED A LOT AND BROUGHT MANY MORE AFFORDABLE HOUSING UNITS TO THE CITY AND TO THE COUNTY.
AS HURRICANE DISASTER FUNDS HAVE BEEN DEPLOYED, WE, WE HAVE MANY MORE THAT ARE IN THE WORKS AND SOME THAT HAVEN'T EVEN CLOSED.
AMEE BANK IS VERY SUPPORTIVE OF AFFORDABLE HOUSING HERE AND ACROSS THE STATE OF TEXAS.
WE ARE VERY PROUD TO BE INCLUDED AMONGST THE MANY PEOPLE AND ORGANIZATIONS, UH, THAT ARE HERE TODAY AND THAT HAVE MADE THIS PROJECT POSSIBLE.
I WANT TO CLOSE WITH THE SHORT STORY.
I KNOW YOU HAVE HEARD ALL THESE SPEECHES, BUT, UM, I HEARD A PREACHER MAKE THIS COMMENT IN A SERMON, AND I'VE NEVER FORGOTTEN IT.
AND IT RELATES SO WELL TO WHAT WE ALL DO EVERY DAY TO SERVE OUR COMMUNITIES.
A LOT OF US CAN SYMPATHIZE WITH THE TROUBLES OF OTHERS, AND HE CALLED THAT LOVE AND HOUSE SHOES.
WE SIT IN THE COMFORT OF OUR HOMES AND WE HAVE A SOFT, FUZZY FEELING TOWARD THOSE PEOPLE.
BUT HE SAID, THOSE THAT SYMPATHIZE AND MOVE TO DO SOMETHING ABOUT THE TROUBLES THAT OTHER PEOPLE FACE AND REACH OUT A HELPING HAND, HE CALLED 'EM LOVE AND WORK BOOTS CAN'T.
WELL, ANDERSON CLOUDBREAK COMMUNITIES AND THEIR STAFF TRULY EXHIBIT LOVE AND WORK BOOTS.
CONGRATULATIONS ON YOUR PROJECT.
UH, WE'D LIKE TO BRING REGINA RECINOS OUT FOR A COUPLE OF WORDS.
UM, SHE IS WITH THE GLO OFFICE.
UM, IN HER ROLE, SHE WORKS DIRECTLY WITH ELECTED OFFICIALS, THEIR STAFF AND STRATEGIC PARTNERS, UH, BUSINESS ORGANIZATIONS, COALITIONS, AND OTHER STAKEHOLDERS.
REGINA, UH, THANK YOU FOR JOINING US TODAY.
UM, IT'S A PLEASURE TO BE HERE ON BEHALF OF THE GENERAL LAND OFFICE, UH, DISASTER RECOVERY, IT'S ALWAYS A, UM, IT'S ALWAYS A PLEASURE TO WORK WITH THE COUNTY IN THE CITY TO GET, UM, RESILIENCY DONE HERE IN THE, IN THE CITY AND THEN COUNTY.
AND, UM, LOCALLY, THE GLO OFFICE APPRECIATES WORKING WITH, UM, THE HONORABLE MS. SHEILA JACKSON LEE.
UM, WE HAVE A GOOD, UH, RELATIONSHIP WORKING ON HER CASE WORK AND ALSO WITH, UM, CONGRESSMAN AL GREEN.
AND WE, UH, WE'RE HERE FOR YOU GUYS IF YOU NEED ANYTHING.
AND FINALLY, OUR FEARLESS LEADER, TIM CANTWELL.
UM, I DON'T THINK THIS MAN'S COMBINATION OF SKILL, VISION, AND LONG-TERM COMMITMENT CAN BE OVERSTATED.
UM, PLEASE, TIM, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR WELL, THANK YOU ELLI, THANK YOU FOR WORKING TO PUT THIS TOGETHER ALONG WITH DE DESI CAN, ALONG WITH DESI, UH, GREAT TURNOUT.
UM, I, I, SHEILA JACKSON LEE AND I GO WAY BACK, LIKE 95.
UM, AND WE ARE, WE'RE BLESSED IN OUR OPERATION TO HAVE ANOTHER CONGRESSWOMAN THAT WE'RE DEEPLY INVOLVED WITH FROM LOS ANGELES.
UM, AND I, WHEN I HEAR SHEILA DELIVER, IT REMINDS ME OF MAXINE WATERS HONORS, WHO'S OUR CONGRESSWOMAN IN LOS ANGELES.
UM, BEEN WORKING ON THIS ISSUE NOW, COMING ON ALMOST 30 YEARS.
UM, IT HAS BEEN A BLESSING FOR ALL OF US INVOLVED.
IT HAS CHANGED ALL OF OUR LIVES, NO DOUBT.
AND, UH, WANT TO GIVE SOME SHOUT OUTS TO THE STAFF HERE AT CLOUDBREAK.
UM, PLEASE, THE, THE TRIALS OF COVID, UH, I JUST CAN'T TELL YOU HOW MUCH STRESS THAT PUT ON OUR MANAGEMENT AND MAINTENANCE TEAMS DURING THAT PERIOD OF TIME.
UH, EVERYONE WORKED ON IT HARD, VA WORKED ON IT HARD.
US VETS WORKED ON IT HARD AND, AND, AND OUR TEAMS WERE HERE AND THEY NEVER, THEY NEVER LEFT.
AND, UM, MOST ALL OF THEM HAVE HAD, HAVE HAD COVID AT LEAST ONCE.
I THINK WE ONLY HAVE THREE PEOPLE OUT OF 20 THAT DIDN'T, UH, ENGAGE, AS YOU MIGHT IMAGINE COULD HAPPEN.
[00:35:01]
THANK THEM.PATRICIA AND ANNA KUNA HAVE BEEN HERE FOR A VERY LONG TIME.
UH, THEIR KIDS GREW UP HERE AND ANNA'S SON WAS HERE YESTERDAY, SO THEY'RE, IT'S ALL FROM A FAMILY AFFAIR AND REALLY, REALLY APPRECIATE YOU ALL.
HOW MANY YEARS HAS IT BEEN? YEAH, FIRST MET HER, SHE JUST HAD A LITTLE ONE WITH HER.
UH, THANKS TO, UH, ELL, UH, HARRY AND HIS SON AND, UH, KEN HUMPHREY'S, GENERAL CONTRACTOR AND HIS SON.
UH, THANKS TO DONALD SLY, WHO'S ACTUALLY A PARTNER IN THIS.
WHERE ARE YOU, DONALD? I DON'T SEE YOU OVER THERE.
UH, BEFORE I FORGET ANYTHING HERE, WHICH I'LL FORGET PLENTY.
UM, THE UNITS ARE FINISHED, SO YOU ABSOLUTELY NEED TO TAKE THE MOMENT OF TIME TO GET UP TO THE SECOND FLOOR.
AT LEAST THAT'S THE RENOVATED FLOOR.
AND THEN WE ACTUALLY ADDED A FLOOR ON HERE.
I DON'T THINK OF ANY SAID THAT THAT'S WHAT ALL THESE NEW STEEL COLUMNS ARE.
THAT'S A STEEL INFRASTRUCTURE THAT GOES UP THROUGH THE ROOF OF THE OLD SECOND FLOOR STORY AND THAT THERE'S A THIRD LEVEL UP THERE.
THAT'S HOW WE YIELDED THE 56 UNITS.
UM, NOT AN EASY EXECUTION IN CONSTRUCTION AT ALL.
UM, AM ENERGY'S BEEN TERRIFIC, BEEN WITH US FROM DAY ONE WHEN IT WAS SOUTHWEST BANK OF TEXAS, ACTUALLY.
UM, THE GUY THAT PUT THAT TOGETHER FOR US IS, IS NOT HERE.
HE'S FROM CALIFORNIA, WHERE OUR HOME OFFICE IS.
RANDY BISHOP AND I, UM, I CAN'T UNDER, UNDER STATE THE IMPORTANCE OF THE CAPITALIST STACK, THAT'S WHAT WE CALL IT.
AND WORKING WITH THE CITY OF THE COUNTY AND, AND TO A LESSER EXTENT THE GLO WHO'S A LARGE PART OF INFLUENCE ON ANYTHING THAT HAPPENS.
UM, UH, SO I'M DELIGHTED TO MEET REGINA.
UM, OH, WHEN SHEILA WAS TALKING ABOUT THIS BEING A SHOE STORE, IT MADE ME THINK OF SOMEBODY WE FORGOT MEYER FALLAS.
I MEAN, IT WAS A RETAIL FACILITY AND I FORGOT TO INVITE HIM.
HE WOULD'VE COME, I WANT TO BE LIKE HIM WHEN HE GREW UP.
WHEN I GROW UP, HE'S LIKE 90 AND JUST FRY AS YOU CAN BLE AND HELPED US LEVERAGE INTO THIS TRANSACTION.
IN 2004, I THINK WE BOUGHT THIS BUILDING.
STEVE WELLNESS IS OUR PROJECT MANAGER.
HE'S BEEN ON SITE DAY TO DAY NOW FOR 18 MONTHS, AND WE'LL BE REMAINING ON SITE AS WE, UM, WE'RE WELL UNDERWAY AT THE ST.
ELIZABETH'S, UH, ADAPTIVE REUSE PROJECT UP ON LYONS WITH THE FIFTH WARD.
UM, AGAIN, MANY THANKS TO, UH, THE CITY ON THAT.
AND, UM, AND HE DOESN'T GET THE STANDUP, BUT RAY MILLER IS, IS A GENIUS, AS IS KEITH BYNUM.
AND WE GO WAY, WAY, WAY BACK AGAIN.
UM, IT'S GREAT TO BE ABLE TO PICK UP THE PHONE AND, AND GET SOMEBODY.
SAME THING WITH ANDY ENS, UM, WHO KNEW BACK WHEN HE, I THINK HE WAS WITH BAYLOR ORIGINALLY.
BUT THAT'S, THAT'S WHAT YOU HAVE IN THE CITY.
I'M SURE YOU ALL KNOW THAT YOU HAVE OUTSTANDING STAFF IN THE CITY AND THE COUNTY, AND WE THANK YOU FOR ALL OF THAT.
OKAY, THE PETER MEYER, WOULD YOU PLEASE RAISE YOUR HAND? UH, OKAY, LET'S PUT THIS IN PERSPECTIVE.
PATRICIA'S BEEN WITH US FOR 17 YEARS.
AND PETER, HOW MANY YEARS? 38.
SO THAT IS, UH, THAT'S LOYALTY, THAT'S ENERGY, THAT'S LOVE.
AND WE DON'T DO THIS EXCEPT FOR THE LOVE OF WHAT THE MISSION IS.
THAT'S THE ONLY REASON WHY WE DO IT A LOT EASIER WAYS TO, TO MAKE MONEY IF YOU WERE JUST MANAGING FOR A RATE OF RETURN, WHICH WE DON'T.
UH, LET'S SEE, WHO ELSE? OKAY, THEN, THEN I WOULD LIKE TO ADD ONE.
OH, NEIL REIFF IS HERE AND, AND WE DID BUSINESS WHEN HE WAS AT THE CITY AND HAD OPPORTUNITY TO ENGAGE WHEN HE WAS AT HUD AND HE'S BACK AND WE'RE SO GLAD.
UM, AND THEN LASTLY, THE FAMILY MEMBERS OF THE STAFFS WANT TO THANK THEM BECAUSE THEY HAVE TO SUPPORT AND, AND PUT UP AND SUFFER WITH ALL THE TIME OUR STAFF PUTS
[00:40:01]
IN.THAT SAID, PLEASE MAKE YOUR WAY.
BRAD, ARE YOU GOING TO DIRECT TRAFFIC? HOW ARE WE HANDLING THIS? WE'RE WE'RE GOING TO DO THE RIBBON CUTTING.
I WOULD LIKE TO, UM, ALLOW THE ELECTED OFFICIALS TO PLEASE, UH, JOIN US FOR THE RIBBON CUTTING.
UM, THE SCISSORS ARE RIGHT HERE.
THE RIBBON IS OVER HERE TO THE BACK.