[00:00:02]
NOVEMBER 7TH, 2018, AS AMENDED BY MOTION 20 21 2 43 PAST MAY 12TH, 2021 AND MOTION 20 22 4 27 PAST APRIL, I MEAN AUGUST 24TH, 2022 TO INCREASE SPENDING AUTHORITY FOR PURCHASE OF MEDICAL, DENTAL, AND AMBULATORY SUPPLIES AND PHARMACEUTICALS FOR THE HOUSTON FIRE DEPARTMENT ON AWARD TO RE MEDICAL LLC FROM 6 MILLION 759 2 24 70 TO 7 MILLION 359 2 24 70, AND LIFE ASSIST INC.FROM 8 MILLION 8 52, 4 74 TO 9 MILLION 2 54, 2 52, 474 IN NO SENSE.
ITEM FIVE DEARING THE COMPANY FOR PURCHASE OF GROUNDSKEEPING EQUIPMENT THROUGH THE INTERLOCAL AGREEMENT FOR COOPERATIVE PURCHASING WITH THE TEXAS LOCAL COOPERATIVE BY BOARD FOR THE FLEET MANAGEMENT DEPARTMENT ON BEHALF OF HOUSTON PUBLIC WORKS.
ITEM SIX, AMEND MOTION 20 19 3 79, UH, JULY 19TH, 2019 TO INCREASE SPENDING AUTHORITY FOR LIQUID CALCIUM NITRATE CHEMICALS FOR HOUSTON PUBLIC WORKS FROM $2,692,800 AND NO CENTS TO 3 MILLION 67 69, 9 20 AND NO CENTS ON AWARD TO EVOQUA WATER TECHNOLOGIES.
LLC ITEM SEVEN, EVANS ENTERPRISES INC.
FOR EMERGENCY REPAIR SERVICES OF GROUNDWATER.
WELL PUMP MOTORS FOR HOUSTON PUBLIC WORKS.
ITEM EIGHT, AMER MIX MOTOR AND CONTROLS LLC FOR EMERGENCY REPAIR SERVICES, A WATER AND WASTEWATER PUMP MOTORS FOR HOUSTON PUBLIC WORKS.
ITEM NINE, ENTERPRISE LLC FOR SOLE SOURCE PURCHASE OF INFO MASTER AND INFO WORKS MODELING SOFTWARE FOR WATER AND WASTEWATER MODELING FOR HOUSTON PUBLIC WORKS.
2019 DASH 51, JANUARY 30TH, 2019 TO INCREASE SPENDING AUTHORITY FOR EQUIPMENT RENTALS AND RELATED PRODUCTS AND SERVICES THROUGH THE PUBLIC SECTOR CORPORATE PURCHASING ORGANIZATION WITH OMNIA PARTNERS, FORMERLY US COMMUNITIES FOR VARIOUS DEPARTMENTS ON WALTER, HER RENTAL, INC.
FROM $5,752,762 AND 35 CENTS TO $7,978,439 AND 51 CENTS.
ITEM 11, RESOLUTION CONSENTED TO FOURTH AMENDMENT OF THE CERTIFICATE OF FORMATION OF HOUSTON FORENSIC SCIENCE CENTER, INC.
A LOCAL GOVERNMENT CORPORATION.
ITEM 12, ORDINANCE AMENDING BUFFERING STANDARDS CONTAINED IN CHAPTER 42 OF THE CODE OF ORDINANCES, HOUSTON, TEXAS, TEXAS.
ITEM 13 ORDINANCE APPROVING AND AUTHORIZING FOURTH AMENDMENT TO CONTRACT BETWEEN CITY OF HOUSTON AND EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS, INSPIRING COMMUNITIES INC.
ITEM 14, ORDINANCE APPROVING AND AUTHORIZING FIRST AMENDMENT TO DEVELOP AN AGREEMENT TO ADD STATE LAW COMPLIANCE PROVISIONS AND EXTEND THE TIME OF PERFORMANCE THERE UNDER FOR THE CITY OF HOUSTON COMMUNITY HOUSING DEVELOPMENT ORGANIZATION.
SINGLE FAMILY HOME DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM TO BE EXECUTED BY THE CITY OF HOUSTON.
AUTHORIZES THE MAYOR TO EXECUTE A FIRST MEMBER TO DEVELOP AN AGREEMENT WITH THE CARING SAFE PLACE INC.
ITEM 15 ORDINANCE APPROVING AND AN AUTHORIZING FIRST AMENDMENT TO DEVELOP A AGREEMENT TO ADD STATE LAW COMPLIANCE PROVISIONS AND EXTEND THE TIME OF PERFORMANCE THERE UNDER FOR THE CITY OF HOUSTON COMMUNITY HOUSING DEVELOPMENT ORGANIZATION.
SINGLE FAMILY HOME DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM TO BE EXECUTED BY THE CITY OF HOUSTON AND CHANGE HAPPENS COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION AUTHORIZING THE MAYOR TO EXECUTE A FIRST AMENDMENT TO DEVELOP AN AGREEMENT WITH CHANGE HAPPENS.
COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION.
ITEM 16, ORDINANCE APPROVING AND AUTHORIZING FIRST AMENDMENT TO CONSTRUCTION CONTRIBUTION AGREEMENT BETWEEN CITY OF HOUSTON AND COALITION FOR THE HOMELESS OF HOUSTON HARRIS COUNTY.
ITEM 17, ORDINANCE AMENDING ORDINANCE NUMBER 2020 DASH 1 39 APPROVED FEBRUARY 19TH, 2020 TO INCREASE THE MAXIMUM CONTRACT AMOUNT IN APPROVING AND AUTHORIZING FIRST AMENDMENT TO AGREEMENT FOR CELLULAR AND WIRELESS MOBILITY DEVICES AND SERVICES AGREEMENT BETWEEN CITY OF HOUSTON AND GTE MOBILE NET OF SOUTH TEXAS LIMITED PARTNERSHIP DBA VERIZON WIRELESS.
ORDINANCE NUMBER 20 21 7 16 PASSED AUGUST 25TH, 2021 TO INCREASE THE MAXIMUM CONTRACT AMOUNT, APPROVE AND AUTHORIZING A FIRST AMENDMENT TO CONTRACT BETWEEN CITY OF HOUSTON AND THE CNA CORPORATION.
ITEM 19 ORDINANCE APPROPRIATING $700,000 IN NO CENTS FROM EQUIPMENT ACQUISITION CONSOLIDATED FUND FOR THE REFRESH OF OPERATIONAL ASSISTANCE FOR THE POLICE DEPARTMENT.
ITEM 20 ORDINANCE APPROPRIATING $200,000 IN NO CENTS FROM EQUIPMENT ACQUISITION CONSOLIDATED FUND FOR RADIO COMMUNICATION DEVICES FOR THE POLICE DEPARTMENT.
ITEM 21 ORDINANCE APPROPRIATING EIGHT $25,000 IN NO CENTS FROM EQUIPMENT ACQUISITION CONSOLIDATED FUND FOR THE REFRESH OF MOBILE TECHNOLOGY DEVICES FOR THE POLICE DEPARTMENT.
ITEM 22 ORDINANCE APPROPRIATED $132,000 AND NO CENTS OUT OF DEDICATED DRAINAGE AND STREET RENEWAL CAPITAL FUND AT VAL TAX AS AN ADDITIONAL APPROPRIATION TO PROFESSIONAL MATERIALS ENGINEERING LABORATORY AGREEMENT BETWEEN CITY OF HOUSTON AND GEO TEST ENGINEERING INC.
ITEM 23, ORDINANCE APPROVING AN AUTHORIZING THIRD AMENDMENT TO PROFESSIONAL ENGINEERING SERVICES CONTRACT BETWEEN CITY OF HOUSTON AND CO CONSULTING INC.
ITEM 24, ORDINANCE OF AUTHORIZING AGREEMENT FOR
[00:05:01]
PROFESSIONAL CONSULTING SERVICES FOR DEVELOPMENT OF THE GALVESTON BAY PARK PLAN BETWEEN CITY OF HOUSTON AND WILLIAM MARSH, MARSH RICE UNIVERSITY.THIS IS THE END OF THE CONSENT AGENDA.
THIS WILL SEE THIS COMPLETES THE READING OF THE AGENDA FOR THE WEEK JANUARY 18TH, 2023.
STAY TUNED FOR THE NEXT SESSION OF CITY COUNCIL.
SCHEDULED TO BEGIN AT 9:00 AM AND THE WORDS OF OUR FORMER CITY SECRETARY, MS. ANNA RUSSELL.
SHE ALWAYS SAID, DRIVE SAFE, DRIVE FRIENDLY, AND HAVE A NICE DAY.
AND THROUGH OUR CURRENT CITY SECRETARY PAT JEFFERSON DANIEL, I'D LIKE TO LEAVE YOU WITH THIS.
ALWAYS, ALWAYS, ALWAYS TREAT EVERYONE THE WAY YOU WOULD LIKE TO BE TREATED.
HAVE A BLESSED AND FANTABULOUS DAY.
MY NUMBER ONE FAN, YOU KNOW, OF HOUSTON CITY COUNCIL TO ORDER.
I'M CHAIRING THE MEETING TODAY AS MAYOR TURNER IS IN WASHINGTON D DC ATTENDING THE 91ST WINTER MEETING OF THE US CONFERENCE OF MAYORS.
SO WE'LL START TODAY WITH INVOCATION AND PLEDGE AND CHAIR RECOGNIZES COUNCIL MEMBER MICHAEL KOSH.
UM, UH, MAYOR PRO TEM, UH, LAST YEAR WE HAD, UH, IN THIS CHAMBER WE HAD, UH, MS. OLA DONAHUE LAWS WHO WAS RECOGNIZED WITH A PROCLAMATION FROM THE MAYOR AND FROM THIS COUNCIL.
AND, UH, SHE WAS 103 YEARS OLD.
SHE PASSED LIKE FOR YOU TO REMEMBER HER FAMILY.
FATHER, WE THANK YOU, UH, FOR THIS COUNCIL.
WE THANK YOU FOR OUR MEETING TODAY.
KEEP THE MAYOR SAFE IN WASHINGTON DC AND HIS TRAVELS.
WE ASK YOU TO, TO HELP US TODAY TO MAKE GOOD DECISIONS THAT HELP OUR CITY.
PLEASE STAND PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE TO FLAG OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA AND TO THE REPUBLIC FOR WHICH IT STANDS, ONE NATION UNDER GOD, INDIVISIBLE, WITH LIBERTY AND JUSTICE FOR ALL.
[9:00 AM - ROLL CALL]
MADAM SECRETARY, IF YOU'LL PLEASE CALL THE ROLE MAYOR TURNER WILL BE ASKING.COUNCIL CAYMAN COUNCIL EVAN SHABAZZ.
COUNCILMAN MARTIN, PRESENT COUNCIL THOMAS PRESENT, COUNCIL HUFFMAN PRESENT.
[ADOPT MINUTES OF PREVIOUS MEETING]
TO DELAY THE MINUTES.ALL THOSE IN FAVOR? MOTION GRANTED.
AL REC CHAIR RECOGNIZES VICE MAYOR PROTE.
MARTHA CASTEX, TAKE TATUM FOR A PROCEDURAL MOTION.
I'D LIKE TO, UM, SUSPEND THE RULES AND MOVE TO TAKE ITEM ONE PRIOR TO THE PUBLIC.
ALL THOSE IN FAVOR OPPOSED? MOTION GRANTED.
ITEM ONE IS A CONFIRMATION FOR THE REAPPOINTMENT OF THE BUILDING AND STANDARDS COMMISSION.
MADAM SECRETARY, IF YOU'LL CALL THE NAMES ON THE PANEL ITEM ONE AND I'LL READ THE NAMES FOR YOU.
ALFONSO DELANEY, JACKSON CHAIN.
ANTHONY FREDDY, PANEL B RAY C JONES, NOLA.
J LUSK, VIRGINIA LEE DUKE ALTERNATES.
JULIA, LYNETTE KE SILAS KEVON CONLEY, HANNAH, MANION AND AUSTIN.
AND A SECOND FOR ITEM NUMBER ONE.
ANY DISCUSSION ON ITEM NUMBER ONE? ALL THOSE IN FAVOR? WE NEED A MOTION.
OH, YOU STILL NEED THE MOTION? MOTION? WE STILL NEED THE MOTION.
A MOTION ON ITEM AND A SECOND ON ITEM NUMBER ONE.
ONCE AGAIN, IT'S A CONFIRMATION AND REAPPOINTMENT OF INDIVIDUALS TO THE BUILDING AND STANDARDS COMMISSION.
DO WE HAVE ANY DISCUSSION ON ITEM NUMBER ONE? SEEING NONE.
AND WE DO HAVE A NUMBER OF THESE FOLKS THAT ARE HERE TODAY.
UH, MS. JULIA LYNETTE KES SALAS.
[00:10:01]
LYNETTE KE SLAS IS NOT HERE.THEY INDICATED THEY WOULD BE HERE.
SO CONGRATULATIONS TO EVERYONE THAT WAS JUST APPOINTED TO THE BUILDING AND STANDARDS COMMISSION.
ANYONE WANNA ASK IF ANYONE IS HERE? IS ANYONE ELSE HERE THAT IS FROM THE BUILDINGS AND STANDARDS COMMISSION? OH, COME FORWARD.
ARE YOU AND MS. JULIA LYNETTE? NO.
IF YOU'D PLEASE INTRODUCE YOURSELF.
HELLO LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, AS WE SAY HERE.
UM, MY NAME IS HANNAH MANIAN, AND I'M MAN ANNA MANIAN.
UH, WE APPRECIATE YOUR VOLUNTEERISM.
I'M GRATEFUL FOR THE HONOR AND VERY MUCH HAPPY TO SERVE MY COMMUNITY IN THE CITY OF HOUSTON.
APPRECIATE YOUR, UH, YOUR HELP.
UH, WE HAVE JACKSON, OH, ONE SECOND.
COUNCIL MEMBER TARSHA JACKSON.
HEY, HANNAH, I JUST WANT TO SAY CONGRATULATIONS ON YOUR APPOINTMENT AND, UM, I LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING WITH YOU.
I KNOW WE JUST HAD A PRESS CONFERENCE ON THURSDAY ANNOUNCING OUR PARTNERSHIP BETWEEN THE BE SUCCESSFUL IN YOUR ORGANIZATION, UM, WORKING WITH HOUSING VOUCHERS, PEOPLE THAT HOLD HOUSING VOUCHERS.
I'M TRYING TO GET THEM INTO SOME HOMES.
SO, YOU KNOW, I KNOW YOU'RE GONNA DO A GREAT JOB.
LOOKING FORWARD TO THE PART PARTNERSHIP.
THANK YOU EVER SO MUCH, COUNCIL MEMBER JACKSON.
I DO APPRECIATE THE SUPPORT OF YOUR COMMUNITY.
[MAYOR'S REPORT]
HAVE THE MAYOR MAYOR'S REPORT.UH, TODAY WE ARE WELCOMING THE NCAA TO HOUSTON FOR THE MEN'S FINAL FOUR COLLEGE PLAYOFFS TIP-OFF CONFERENCE.
IT'LL BE HELD AT 11 O'CLOCK THIS MORNING AT THE BLUE TRIANGLE COMMUNITY CENTER.
SO ALL COUNCIL MEMBERS ARE INVITED.
SO WE HAVE THE BASKETBALL TOURNAMENT THIS YEAR, AND THEN WE'LL FOLLOW THAT UP WITH THE NCAA FOOTBALL FINALS IN 2024.
SO TOGETHER WITH THE LOCAL ORGANIZING COMMITTEE, WE'LL ANNOUNCE THE DETAILS OF THE NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP WEEK THAT WILL TAKE PLACE IN FEBRUARY WHEN THE TOP FOUR COLLEGE MEN'S BASKETBALL TEAMS PLAY AT NRG STADIUM.
WHILE MAYOR TURNER CANNOT BE HERE TODAY, HE DID RECORD A WELCOMING VIDEO THAT WILL BE PLAYED AT THE NEWS CONFERENCE.
THE MOR THIS MORNING'S CONFERENCE WILL INCLUDE MR. DAN GAVITT, SENIOR VICE PRESIDENT OF BASKETBALL FOR THE NCAA, NATIONAL COLLEGIATE ATHLETIC ASSOCIATION, MR. CHRIS REYNOLDS, DIVISION ONE MEN'S BASKETBALL COMMITTEE CHAIRMAN FOR THE NCAA.
AND MS. JOANNE SCOTT, MANAGING DIRECTOR OF THE DIVISION ONE MEN'S BASKETBALL CHAMPIONSHIP, NCAA.
ALSO, MS. PATTY SMITH, THE VICE PRESIDENT OF COMMUNICATIONS FOR THE HARRIS COUNTY HOUSTON SPORTS AUTHORITY.
AND THERE'LL BE OTHER SPECIAL GUESTS THAT THEY ANNOUNCE, THE FAMILY FRIENDLY AND CELERY EVENTS AND PROGRAMS THAT WILL TAKE PLACE IN HOUSTON DURING THE NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP WEEK.
SO ALL THOSE WHO CAN MAKE IT, PLEASE JOIN US.
HOPEFULLY WE WILL HAVE A SHORT COUNCIL MEETING AND HAVE THE ABILITY TO HAVE EVERYONE ATTEND, UH, THE CHINESE LUNAR NEW YEAR.
THIS SATURDAY, THE CHINESE COMMUNITY CENTER WILL HOST THE ANNUAL CHINESE NEW YEAR CELEBRATION.
THE 2023 LUNAR NEW YEAR FESTIVAL WILL TAKE PLACE SATURDAY, JANUARY 21ST AT 10:00 AM IT'LL RUN THROUGH 4:00 PM AT 9 8 0 0 TOWN PARK DRIVE.
ONCE AGAIN, IT'S 9,800 TOWN PARK DRIVE, HOUSTON 7 7 0 3 6.
IT'S A FREE, FUN DAY, FAMILY FRIENDLY OUTDOOR EVENT FEATURING A WIDE VARIETY OF CULTURAL AND FAMILY ACTIVITIES, A NUMBER OF VEN VENDORS, SOME MERCHANDISING, DELICIOUS FOOD AND EXCITING PRO PERFORMANCE TO WELCOME IN THE YEAR OF THE RABBIT, THE YEAR OF THE RABBIT.
AN ANNUAL TRADITION IN HOUSTON, ASIAN TOWN.
SINCE 2003, THE FESTIVAL CELEBRATES BOTH THE LUNAR NEW YEAR AND HOUSTON'S VAST CULTURAL DIVERSITY.
AND, UH, I CAN'T SAY ENOUGH GREAT THINGS ABOUT THIS WEEKEND.
IT'S STARTED SATURDAY AND COUNCIL MEMBER TIFFANY THOMAS' AREA AND THE BEAUTIFUL OPENING OF THE ALE COMMUNITY CENTER MULTI-PURPOSE CENTER.
IT WAS A CROWDED EVENT, HAD A GREAT TIME, A LOT OF GOOD FESTIVITIES.
I LOVED HOW YOU CHARGED THE COMMUNITY WITH KEEPING UP WITH THE FACILITY THAT WERE GIVEN THEM.
SO THAT WAS, THAT WAS SPOT ON AND PERFECT.
SO THANK YOU AND CONGRATULATIONS ON SUNDAY.
WE FOLLOWED UP WITH THE HOUSTON MARATHON AND THE HALF MARATHON.
AND OUR CONGRATULATIONS TO OUR OWN SALLY ALCORN, WHO RAN THE HALF MARATHON AND, AND WORLD RECORD TIME.
SO, AND THEN, UH, MONDAY WE HAD THE MARTIN LUTHER KING FESTIVITY.
SO THANK EVERYBODY FOR ATTENDING
[00:15:01]
A SPECIAL SHOUT OUT TO THE MAYOR'S OFFICE OF SPECIAL EVENTS.AND, UH, SUSAN CHRISTIAN, UH, TO HANDLE THOSE THREE EVENTS BACK TO BACK TO BACK WAS A HECK OF AN ACCOMPLISHMENT.
HER AND HER TEAM DOES A GR DO A GREAT JOB DAY IN AND DAY OUT.
BUT THIS WEEKEND THEY WERE CHALLENGED AND THEY CAME UP AND THEY, THEY DID A BANG UP JOB.
SO, CONGRATULATIONS, DIRECTOR OF SUSAN CHRISTIAN AND ALL OF YOUR STAFF.
[CONSENT AGENDA]
SECRETARY, WE WILL MOVE TO THE AGENDA, NOT TILL NINE 30.WE CAN'T DO THAT TILL NINE 30.
SO WE WILL MOVE TO THE AGENDA AND THEN WE'LL MOVE TO PUBLIC SESSION AT NINE 30 UNDER THE MISCELLANEOUS CATEGORY.
ITEMS TWO AND THREE NEED A MOTION.
ANY DISCUSSIONS? ITEM TWO AND THREE.
ALL THOSE IN FAVOR OPPOSED? MOTION GRANTED.
AND, UH, THE ITEM NUMBER TWO WAS THE CONFIRMATION AND REAPPOINTMENT OF DEAN CORGI TO POSITION ONE OF THE PORT OF HOUSTON AUTHORITY OF HARRIS COUNTY FOR A TWO YEAR TERM.
AS YOU ALL KNOW, DEAN CORGI WAS HERE LAST WEEK.
HE COULDN'T BE HERE FOR BUSINESS REASONS, BUT CONGRATULATIONS TO DEAN AND LOOK FORWARD TO THE NEXT TWO YEARS.
UNDER THE PURCHASING AND TABULATION OF BIDS, CATEGORY ITEM FOUR IS NOT, HAS NOT BEEN RECEIVED AND WILL BE CONSIDERED IF IT IS RECEIVED BEFORE THE END OF THE MEETING.
ITEM SIX HAS BEEN REMOVED FOR SEPARATE CONSIDERATION.
NEED A MOTION FOR THE BALANCE? CASTEX TATUM, MOVE.
ANY DISCUSSION? SEE? AND NONE.
ALL THOSE IN FAVOR? OPPOSED? MOTION GRANTED UNDER THE RESOLUTION CATEGORY, ITEM 11 HAS BEEN REMOVED FOR SEPARATE CONSIDERATION UNDER THE ORDINANCES.
CATEGORY ITEMS REMOVED FOR SEPARATE CONSIDERATION ARE 1214 THROUGH 16 AND 24.
THE, THOSE NUMBERS AGAIN ARE 12, 14, 15, 16, AND 24.
COUNCIL MEMBER ED POLLARD, WHO WANTS TO SQUARE 17 COUNCIL MEMBER POLLARD SQUARES.
ITEM 17 ALSO, WE GONNA START DOING THAT.
THOSE NUMBERS AGAIN ARE 12, 14, 15, 16, 17, AND 24.
NEED A VOTE ON THE BALANCE? VOTE ON THE BALANCE.
MOTION CARRIES FOR PUBLIC SESSION AND WE'LL DO PUBLIC SESSION AGAIN AT NINE 30.
SO HOPEFULLY WE'LL COMPLETE THIS AGENDA.
FINISH THE AGENDA BEFORE NINE 30.
[CONSIDERATION OF MATTERS REMOVED FROM CONSENT AGENDA]
FOR SEPARATE CONSIDERATION.ITEM SIX NEEDS A MOTION AS THE ITEM MOVE.
COUNCIL MEMBER MARY NAN HUFFMAN.
YOU KNOW, WE'RE STILL GETTING A LOT OF CALLS IN DISTRICT G ABOUT THE SMELLS, UM, IN THE NEIGHBORHOODS.
AND SO I'M REALLY EXCITED TO, UM, GET THIS DISTRIBUTED IN OUR AREA.
UM, SO THAT WAY, UM, YOU KNOW, WE CAN TAKE CARE OF THAT ISSUE.
COUNCIL MEMBER HUFFMAN, ANY ADDITIONAL DISCUSSION ON ITEM NUMBER SIX? SEEING NONE.
ANY DISCUSSION ON ITEM 11? ITEM 11 HAS BEEN TAGGED BY COUNCIL MEMBER MICHAEL KOSH.
UM, THERE WAS LENGTHY DISCUSSION DURING THE HEARING LAST WEEK, SO I DON'T WANNA LABOR THE POINT, BUT I DO JUST WANNA EMPHASIZE, UH, THE IMPORTANCE OF THESE CHANGES.
I WANNA EXPRESS MY APPRECIATION NOT ONLY TO THE DEPARTMENT, UM, TO THE COMMISSION AND COMMITTEE, BUT ALSO TO ALL OF THE RESIDENTS WHO PARTICIPATED.
WE HAD A VERY LARGE NUMBER OF DISTRICTS AND NEIGHBORHOODS PARTICIPATING IN THIS.
UM, AND IT REALLY MATTERS AS WE TALK ABOUT NEIGHBORHOOD PROTECTIONS AS WE INCREASE DEVELOPMENT, ESPECIALLY INSIDE THE LOOP.
SO MY, UH, SINCEREST DEPRECIATION TO ALL INVOLVED IN PUSHING THIS THROUGH, ESPECIALLY, AGAIN, WE HAVE RESIDENTIAL BUFFERING, UH, THE GARAGE SCREENING, THE LIGHTING STANDARDS,
[00:20:01]
UH, DUMPSTER SCREENINGS, ALL OF THOSE THINGS.AND I DO WANNA EMPHASIZE AS A COUNCIL, I HOPE WE CAN CONTINUE TO LOOK AT, UH, THE GRANDFATHERING ISSUE OF THIS.
UH, BECAUSE IT IS NOT A FIX ALL.
AND WE DO HAVE A LOT OF PROPERTIES THAT THIS WILL NOT COVER BECAUSE OF GRANDFATHERING.
I KNOW THAT FALLS TO THE STATE, BUT IT'S IMPORTANT THAT WE CONTINUE TO PUSH ON THAT.
I BELIEVE THAT WE'RE GONNA TAG THIS.
THERE'S A LANGUAGE ISSUE, UM, THAT THEY'RE WORKING OUT.
I'VE TALKED TO THE ADMINISTRATION AND SOME OF THE STAKEHOLDERS AND I THINK IT'S JUST A SMALL THING, UM, THAT THEY'RE WORKING OUT ON THE GARAGE SCREENING.
SO, UH, GO AHEAD AND TAG THIS.
SO ITEM NUMBER 12 HAS BEEN TAGGED BY A COUNCIL MEMBER, SALLY ALCORN.
AND COUNCIL MEMBER ROBINSON KOSH.
AM I MISSING ANYONE? AND WE HAVE A COUPLE OF COUNCIL MEMBERS IN Q.
I'M NOT SURE IF YOU WANNA MAKE ANY COMMENTS OR RELEASE YOUR TAG.
OKAY, SO WE HAVE ITEM NUMBER 12 AND TAGGED BY COUNCIL MEMBERS.
ALCORN, ROBINSON, KOSH, AND KNOX.
ANY DISCUSSION ON ITEM 14? ALL THOSE IN FAVOR, OPPOSE.
ANY DISCUSSION ON 16? ALL THOSE IN FAVOR, OPPOSE.
ANY DISCUSSION ON 17? ALL THOSE IN FAVOR, OPPOSE.
ITEM 24, COUNCIL MEMBER DAVID ROBINSON.
I'LL WAIT TILL AFTER THE VOTE.
ANY DISCUSSION ON ITEM FOUR? UH, 24.
ANY DISCUSSION ON 24? ALL THOSE IN FAVOR, OPPOSE.
COUNCIL MEMBER DAVID ROBINSON.
JUST WANTED TO CALL EVERYONE'S ATTENTION TO THIS ITEM.
THIS HAS BEEN A LONG TIME COMING.
I, I WANNA THANK THE ADMINISTRATION FOR, UH, PERSEVERING WITH THIS AND REALLY WORKING TOGETHER WITH ALL THE PARTIES.
IT IS, UH, CRITICAL FOR OUR, UH, REALLY EXISTENTIAL EXISTENCE ON THE COAST OF, UH, UH, THE SOUTHERN COAST OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA.
THIS GOES WITH THE COASTAL SPINE.
THIS IS THE GALVESTON BAY PARK PLAN.
UH, THE SPEED CENTER AT RICE IS THE ONES WHO ARE SPEARHEADING THIS COMPLIMENTARY PROJECT TO THE VERY, UH, FUNDAMENTAL AND ESSENTIAL PROJECT THAT IS NOW, UH, PART OF THE AUTHORIZATION BILL THAT THE PRESIDENT SIGNED, UH, LAST FALL.
AND, UH, WE ARE VERY EXCITED, I THINK, TO BE PURSUING THE AGENDA OF THIS, UM, VERY PROMISING PROJECT FOR NOT ONLY ADDITIONAL FLOOD PROTECTION FOR THE SOUTHERN PART OF THE CITY OF HOUSTON AND OUR COASTAL REGION.
THAT IS DISTRICT E MAYOR, PRO TEM, AS YOU ARE WELL AWARE.
BUT ALSO, UH, IS A PROJECT THAT WILL TOUCH DISTRICTS THAT ARE ALL CLOSE TO THE WATER'S EDGE EVERYWHERE FROM DISTRICT I TO H TO D TO B.
UM, THINK ABOUT OUR REGIONS, OUR NEIGHBORS, OUR PETROCHEMICAL COMPLEXES, ALL THOSE RESIDENCES WHO ARE IN THREAT OF STORM SURGE.
THIS IS AN INCREDIBLE PROJECT WITH GREAT POTENTIAL, AND I AM VERY GRATEFUL FOR ALL THE WORK THAT HAS GOTTEN IT TO THIS POINT.
JUST TO PIGGYBACK ALONG THAT, I ALSO WANNA, UH, SPOTLIGHT, UH, THE PARTNERSHIP WITH RICE UNIVERSITY, OUR APPRECIATION TO THEM, UM, FOR THIS PART OF THE PROJECT.
AND, UH, JUST TO BE A LITTLE NERDY, THE FACT THAT WE'RE ABLE TO USE THE DREDGING MATERIALS, UH, FROM THE SHIP CHANNEL PREVIOUSLY UNDER FEDERAL REGULATIONS WAY BACK WHEN GOING BACK TO KATRINA, UH, WE WERE NOT ABLE TO DO THAT.
SO TO BE ABLE TO USE THOSE RESOURCES, CONTINUE TO BUILD UP OUR PROTECTIONS, THE PARTNERSHIPS THAT WE'RE BRINGING TOGETHER.
UM, AND I KNOW, UH, FOR YOU MAYOR PRO TEM AND COUNCIL MEMBER ROBINSON, YOUR LEADERSHIP ON THIS ALONGSIDE THE MAYOR.
UH, BUT THIS IS A IMPORTANT ITEM AND VERY, VERY EXCITING AND APPRECIATION TO RICE.
AND, AND AS EVERYONE KNOWS, HOPEFULLY EVERYONE KNOWS, UH, THIS IS A COMPLIMENTARY, UH, COMPANION PROJECT TO THE INFAMOUS IKE D**E, THE COASTAL SPINE THAT WE'RE WORKING ON, UH, DOWN IN THE, UH, SOUTHERN PART OF
[00:25:01]
THE CITY.AND I KNOW THAT COUNCIL MEMBER ROBINSON HAS WORKED REALLY HARD ON THIS.
IT'S BEEN, UH, IT'S BEEN A WHILE, IT'S BEEN A NUMBER OF YEARS THAT WE WORKED ON THIS.
AND NOW WE CAN MOVE THIS IN, IN MOTION.
AND THERE IS SOME, UM, NOT ONLY SOME MONEY COMING FROM OTHER ENTITIES, BUT THERE'S SOME PRIVATE DOLLARS THAT ARE COMING AS WELL.
AND THE ADMINISTRATION HAS BEEN VERY SUPPORTIVE OF THIS PROJECT.
AND, UH, THUS THEY'VE BEEN VERY SUPPORTIVE OF THIS ITEM.
SO COUNCIL MEMBER SALLY ALCORN.
IF I COULD ASK MY COLLEAGUE ABOUT TIMING, UM, YOU KNOW, THAT THIS HAS BEEN SO LONG IN THE MAKING WHEN, WITH ALL THE PLANNING WITH THE NEW FEDERAL STUFF, WITH THE STATE STUFF THAT'S BEEN SET UP ON THE IKE D**E WITH THE COMPLIMENTARY PROJECT HERE.
WHEN DOES, WHEN DOES STUFF ACTUALLY GET STARTED CONSTRUCTION, IF ALL THE STARS LINE UP? GREAT, GREAT QUESTION.
WELL, TO, TO WHAT THE MAYOR PRO TEM HAS SAID, UH, THE WORD OF AUTHORIZATION THAT HAS PASSED THROUGH CONGRESS ALREADY HAS AUTHORIZED SOME OF THE DREDGING THAT WE SEE ON AN ONGOING BASIS.
SO AS THOSE DREDGE SPOILS TO COUNCIL MEMBER CAYMAN'S POINT, THOSE THINGS THAT HAVE ALREADY CREATED ISLANDS IN THE MIDDLE OF GALVESTON BAY, THEY WILL CONTINUE TO BUILD.
UM, AND THE CONCEPT OF THE GALVESTON BAY PARK IS TO CONTINUE THAT CONSTRUCTION TOWARDS WHAT WOULD BE A BREAKWATER, A REAL ESSENTIAL COMPONENT OF THE, THE STORMWATER PROTECTIONS.
SO THAT GOES HAND IN HAND AS A COMPLIMENTARY PROJECT, AS THE MAYOR PRO TEM HAS SAID WITH WHAT THE COASTAL SPINE IS CONCEIVING.
THAT'S GOT A REAL LONG AGENDA, RIGHT? 15, 20 YEARS TO COMPLETION.
BUT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT, UM, IN THIS CASE, WHAT WE JUST PASSED IS A ONE YEAR STUDY FOR THE SPEED CENTER AT RICE TO CATCH UP WITH WHAT THE COASTAL SPINE HAS BEEN DOING, AND REALLY HAS TO DO WITH A COMPONENT OF THE IKE D**E THAT IS BEHIND, UH, THE ISLAND OF GALVESTON.
SO THAT HAS TO DEAL, DEAL WITH THE GATES CONCEIVED FOR CLEAR CREEK AND DICKINSON BAYOU.
AND, UM, THE GALVESTON BAY PARK WOULD BE AN ALTERNATIVE TO THOSE THINGS POTENTIALLY SAVING US LOCALLY, REGIONALLY, AND THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT, BILLIONS OF DOLLARS.
SO IT'S A REALLY INGENIOUS IDEA TO TAKE THE DREDGE SPOILS, CREATE A PUBLIC PARK.
AND, UH, FOR ANYONE WHO WOULD LIKE TO SEE IT, I ENCOURAGE YOU TO, TO GOOGLE GALVESTON BAY PARK AND, UH, CHECK OUT THE RENDERINGS.
ROB ROGERS ARCHITECTS IS ANOTHER VERY IMPORTANT, UH, MEMBER OF THE COLLABORATIVE TEAM.
HE'S THE ONE WHO CONCEIVED THIS AS, AGAIN, NOT ONLY A CRITICAL STORM SEARCH PROTECTION, BUT A REAL PUBLIC AMENITY.
SOMETHING THAT WE CAN DO FOR RECREATION AND ALL KINDS OF ECOTOURIST RELATED IDEAS.
SO IT'S, IT'S AN INGENIOUS IDEA.
AND THANK YOU FOR THAT EXPLANATION.
SO WE, MADAM SECRETARY, WE'LL GO TO ITEM NUMBER FOUR.
SO ITEM FOUR HAS BEEN RECEIVED.
SECOND ROBINSON, WE HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND ON ITEM NUMBER FOUR.
ANY DISCUSSION? ALL THOSE IN FAVOR, OPPOSE.
SO AS WE FINISHED IN RECORD TIME, WE WILL RECESS UNTIL NINE 30 BECAUSE WE CANNOT START PUBLIC SESSION UNTIL NINE 30.
SO DON'T GO FAR, BUT WE WILL BE BACK IN, UH, THREE, FIVE MINUTES.
AND I'M ASKING ALL COUNCIL MEMBERS TO COME BACK IN.
ONCE AGAIN, ASK COUNCIL MEMBERS TO RETURN TO CHAMBERS.
CHAIR RECOGNIZES COUNCIL MEMBER MICHAEL KOSH.
I'D LIKE TO REMOVE THE TAG I PLACED ON THE ITEM, UM, NUMBER 11.
SO COUNCIL MEMBER KOSH RELEASES HIS TAG OF ITEM NUMBER 11.
SO MADAM SECRETARY, ITEM 11 IS AN ORDER.
ITEM 11 AND DISCUSSION SAYING NONE.
[9:30 AM - PUBLIC SPEAKERS]
MOVE INTO PUBLIC SESSION.THANK YOU, MADAM SECRETARY, IF YOU'LL CALL THE FIRST SPEAKER, WE WILL HAVE POP OFF AFTER PUBLIC SESSION.
UM, FIRST OF ALL, I WOULD LIKE TO ASK YOU, UM, IT STATES THAT I'M LISTED AS ONE MINUTE.
I HAVE NOT SPOKEN HERE SINCE SEPTEMBER OF 2022.
[00:30:02]
WELL, GO AHEAD.I'M WITH ROOFING DESIGNS BY J-R-L-L-C.
I'M THE OWNER, UM, IN APPROXIMATELY 2020 FEBRUARY, 2020.
A COMPANY CALLED JR JONES ROOFING COMPANY.
THEY ARE ONE OF THE LARGEST ROOFING COMPANIES IN THE STATE OF TEXAS.
UM, CONTACTED ME STATING THAT THEY WERE BIDDING ON A CITY OF HOUSTON PROJECT AND THEY WERE SEEKING THAT, THAT ACTUALLY THEY WERE SEEKING MINORITIES AND WOMEN TO PARTICIPATE BECAUSE THERE WAS A REQUIREMENT FOR MINORITY AND WOMAN PARTICIPATION.
UM, I MET WITH THEM TO SEE IF THERE WAS A POTENTIALLY A FIT.
AND, AND SO I DID SIGN A LETTER OF INTENT.
UM, I EXPECTED TO HEAR BACK FROM THEM ABOUT A COUPLE OF WEEKS LATER.
I WAS TOLD THAT THEY DID NOT WIN THE CITY OF HOUSTON BID, WHICH WAS A $10 MILLION BID.
AND IN ACTUALLY SEVERAL MONTHS LATER, I RECEIVED NOTIFICATION FROM THE CITY OF HOUSTON STATING THAT MY COMPANY WAS ACTIVELY, UM, ON A PROJECT, UH, LISTED ON THAT PARTICULAR PROJECT.
I'LL GIVE YOU SOME OF MY MINUTES TO FINISH.
YOU DID SIGN UP ON THE ONE MINUTE LIST, BUT WE WILL GIVE YOU ADDITIONAL TIME.
SO GO AHEAD AND TAKE SOME OF MY TIME.
UM, SO THIS COMPANY STATED THAT, UM, THEY HAD, I MEAN, BASICALLY, I'M SORRY, I'M A LITTLE BIT OFF CAUGHT OFF GUARD.
BUT, UH, THIS COMPANY TO ME, FRAUDULENTLY HAD IN BAD INTENTIONS.
UM, THEY USED TO, MY NAME, MY COMPANY'S NAME, AND MY MBE CERTIFICATION TO LAND A $10 MILLION CITY OF HOUSTON CONTRACT.
THEY LIED TO ME AND TOLD ME THAT THEY WERE NOT AWARDED THE CONTRACT.
AND THEN I FIND OUT FROM THE CITY OF HOUSTON, MY COMPANY WAS LISTED ON THE CONTRACT AND REGARD TO THE PARTICIPATION GOALS.
THERE WAS A 12% MBE PARTICIPATION GOAL TO DATE, WELL OVER TWO YEARS, THEY HAVE A PARTICIPATED, THEY HAVE ACHIEVED LESS THAN 1% OF THAT GOAL.
UM, AND THE WBE, UH, PORTION OUT OF 3% PARTICIPATION GOAL, THEY HAVE COMPLETED 2.8%, WHICH IS A WHITE-OWNED COMPANY.
IT APPEARS THEY DON'T LIKE TO DO BUSINESS WITH THEM.
UM, I DON'T HAVE, THE ISSUE IS HERE IS THAT, UM, I DON'T LIKE BEING USED.
AND MY COMPANY USED MY CERTIFICATION USED FOR FINANCIAL GAIN.
THEY OBTAIN A $10 MILLION CONTRACT WITH THE CITY OF HOUSTON ON MY BACK.
IF YOU DO NOT WANNA DO BUSINESS WITH MINORITIES, THAT IS YOUR CHOICE.
YOU CAN HAVE ALL ASIANS, ALL WHITES, I DON'T CARE.
BUT WHEN YOU ENTER INTO A CONTRACT WITH THE CITY OF HOUSTON CITY TAXPAYER DOLLARS, AND IT HAS PARTICIPATION GOALS IN A CITY THAT IS OVER 45% HISPANIC, I EXPECT FOR YOU TO ABIDE BY THE CONTRACT.
THEY COMMITTED FRAUD AGAINST THE CITY OF HOUSTON.
THEY COMMITTED FRAUD AGAINST ME AND FRAUD AGAINST CITY TAXPAYERS.
I HAVE FILED COMPLAINTS EVEN WITH THE TEXAS RANGERS, THE CITY OIG.
IT HAS LAUNCHED AN INVESTIGATION.
THERE WILL BE AN AUDIT OF THIS PROJECT.
WE HAVE, WE HAVE A COUPLE OF COUNCIL MEMBERS IN QUEUE THAT'D LIKE TO ADDRESS YOU.
UH, MAYOR, I, I'D LIKE TO ASK THE CITY ATTORNEY A QUESTION.
UH, ATTORNEY, UH, MICHELLE, WHEN A, WHEN A CONTRACTOR, UH, PRESENTS A BID AND THEY, THEY'RE, THEY'RE TRYING TO MEET THEIR, THEIR GOALS ON THE MWBE FOR SURE, UH, IN THIS AREA.
AND THEY LIST CONTRACTORS, ARE THEY REQUIRED TO USE THEM AFTER LISTING THEM IF THEY RECEIVE THE BID? UM, THEY'RE SUPPOSED TO USE THE CONTRACTORS LISTED, ALTHOUGH THEY CAN, UM, THEY CAN, UH, REQUEST FOR OBO, UH, TO CHANGE THEM IF, AND THEY WOULD OFFER A REASON AS TO WHY.
WELL, THEY'D HAVE TO COME BACK TO THE CITY AND TO OBO TO ASK, 'CAUSE I, I'VE HEARD THIS BEFORE WHERE, UH, WHERE CONTRACTORS HAD USED, UH, MINORITY CONTRACTORS ON THEIR BIDDING, BUT THEY DIDN'T USE THEM ONCE THEY RECEIVED THE BID.
IS THAT, IS, UH, MS. CRAIG IS, IS THAT, IS THAT A, A FAIR ASSUMPTION OF WHAT THE ISSUE IS? ABSOLUTELY.
I MEAN, I DID NOT CREATE THIS CONTRACT.
THIS, UM, THE CITY OF HOUSTON CREATED THIS.
THE PROJECT IS CALLED, UH, ROOF REPLACEMENT AND REPAIR.
AND THIS IS FOR WORK, UH, ALL OVER THE CITY OF HOUSTON.
[00:35:01]
ALL TAXPAYER DOLLARS, UM, YOU KNOW, DOLLAR INVESTED PROJECTS.THE CITY DID, AND THE CITY CREATED, HEY, WE WANT 12% MINORITY PARTICIPATION, 3% WOMAN, UH, PARTICIPATION.
THEY USED MY CERTIFICATION AS A MINORITY BUSINESS ENTERPRISE.
THEY USED ME AND DIDN'T ATTEND TO GIVE ME A CONTRACT.
I HAD TO FIGHT TO GET A CONTRACT.
AND THEN THEY, UM, THEY, UH, WE ONLY HAD, WE ONLY RECEIVED ONE JOB FROM THEM, WHICH WAS ACTUALLY WE REROOFED THE WASTE MANAGEMENT BUILDING, UH, WHICH WAS A TOTAL OF $5,700.
LET, LET ME, LET ME ASK YOU THIS.
WERE, WERE YOU EVER, WERE YOU EVER TOLD THAT A, AFTER THEY HAD RECEIVED THE BID, THAT THEY HAD GONE TO OBO TO REMOVE YOU FROM THE BID PROCESS? NO.
UH, ARE YOU IN LITIGATION RIGHT NOW IN REFERENCE TO THIS? NO, I'M NOT.
COUNCIL MEMBER EDWARD POLLARD.
THANK YOU MAYOR PROTO, AND GOOD MORNING TO EVERYONE.
THANK YOU, MA'AM, FOR COMING FORWARD.
UM, TYPICALLY IF YOU'RE LISTED ON A, UH, A CONTRACT AS A SUB, UM, THAT'S TO THE DISCRETION OF THE VENDOR TO BE ABLE TO PICK WHO THEY WANT.
BUT IF THEY WERE TO REMOVE ANY SUB, THEY WOULD HAVE TO GO THROUGH A DEVIATION PROCESS, UH, THROUGH THE OFFICE OF BUSINESS OPPORTUNITY.
AND THEY HAVE TO MEET, UH, CERTAIN CRITERIA FOR THAT DEVIATION, UH, TO BE APPROVED.
WERE YOU NOTIFIED AT ALL ABOUT A DEVIATION? NO.
UM, ACTUALLY, UM, THEY, THERE'S ANOTHER CONTRACTOR, ANOTHER MINORITY CONTRACTOR THAT IS LISTED NOW IN MY REPLACEMENT.
AND THEY'RE NOT USING THEM EITHER.
SO, I MEAN, THEY DON'T USE MINORITIES, THEY DON'T LIKE TO DO BUSINESS WITH MINORITIES.
IT'S CLEAR AND SIMPLE AND THAT'S OKAY.
BUT DON'T BID ON CITY CONTRACT.
THAT'S REQUIRING MINORITY PARTICIPATION.
IF YOU DON'T LIKE US, DON'T DO BUSINESS WITH US.
AND WHAT, WHAT PERCENTAGE WERE YOU, UH, TOLD YOU WERE GOING TO BE? 12%? 12%.
AND YOU SAID YOU DID ONE JOB? YES.
AND THEN AFTER THAT ONE JOB, DID THE VENDOR, UH, DISCUSS WHY YOU WOULDN'T BE GETTING, UH, A SUBSEQUENT JOB? NO, THEY JUST SAID THAT THE CITY IS NOT GIVING THEM WORK.
UM, AND THEY, THEY GAVE US SOME WORK ON SOME OTHER PROJECTS, BUT HONESTLY THEY HAVE THEIR OWN LABOR FORCE AND SO THEY WANTED, YOU KNOW, THEY HAVE THEIR OWN LABOR IN HOUSE.
SO I GUESS IT WAS PROBABLY, YOU KNOW, FINANCIALLY FEASIBLE FOR THEM TO KEEP ALL THE MONEY IN HOUSE.
BUT THEY DID NOT, I MEAN, THEY, THEY DID NOT WANNA USE MINORITIES.
UM, THEY STILL DON'T EVEN WANT TO USE THE MINORITIES AS LISTED.
UH, AND WHAT SERVICES WERE YOUR COMPANY SUPPOSED TO PROVIDE? ROOFING.
ANY, ANY SPECIFIC WITH THE ROOFING? UM, JUST DEPENDS ON, YOU KNOW, THE SCOPE OF WORK.
UM, THE JOB THAT WE DID WITH WASTE MANAGEMENT, WE REPLACED THE ROOF THERE.
UH, WE DID SOME OTHER WORK FOR THEM, UM, BECAUSE THEY WERE NOT TRYING, THEY DID NOT WANT TO GIVE US A CITY OF HOUSTON RELATED CONTRACT REGARDING THIS PIECE.
THEY WANTED US TO DO SIDE JOBS FOR THEM, BUT I WAS DUE A CONTRACT.
MY COMPANY WAS DUE A CONTRACT UNDER THIS JOB.
SO HAD YOU WORKED WITH THIS COMPANY BEFORE THE CITY OF HOUSTON CONTRACT? UH, NO.
AND, AND HOW, HOW MUCH EXPERIENCE DO YOU HAVE IN ROOFING? HOW LONG HAS THE BUSINESS BEEN OPERATING? MY BUSINESS OPENED IN 2016, BUT I'VE BEEN IN THE ROOFING INDUSTRY SINCE 1998.
AND YOUR, YOUR ROLE AT THE BUSINESS, ARE YOU THE, UH, THE PRESIDENT, FOUNDER? YES, I AM.
SO, UH, JUST TO BE CLEAR, WHEN YOU INTERVIEWED WITH THEM TO BE ON THEIR LIST, DID, DID THEY ACTUALLY PUT YOU ON THE LIST? YES, SIR.
I WAS UNCLEAR ABOUT THAT DURING YOUR COMMENTS.
SO YOU WERE ACTUALLY ON THE LIST.
ALL THOSE IN FAVOR? OPPOSED? MOTION GRANTED.
COUNCIL MEMBER, UH, VICE MAYOR PRO TEM.
I GUESS I'M A LITTLE CONFUSED BECAUSE I, I HAVE A NOTE HERE THAT SAYS, UM, THAT THIS IS A JOB ORDER CONTRACT WITH WORK ORDERS ISSUED.
UH, THAT YOU ARE ALLEGING THAT THE PRIME DID NOT INITIALLY TELL YOU THEY WERE AWARDED THE CONTRACT, BUT OBO IS STATING THAT THEY NOTIFIED YOU OF THE AWARD.
UM, IT SAYS OBO SENT MS. GREG A LETTER IN JULY OF 2020 NOTIFYING HER OF THIS CONTRACT.
IN THAT LETTER, SHE WAS ASKED THAT IF SHE WAS NOT AWARE THAT HER FIRM WAS LISTED FOR CREDIT, SHE SHOULD CONTACT US IN SEPTEMBER, 2020
[00:40:02]
WITH THE ASSISTANCE OF OBO MS. GREG AND THE PRIME ENTERED INTO A SUBCONTRACTING AGREEMENT.THE PROJECT FILE CONTAINS A COPY OF A NOTICE OF INTENT AND A COMMITMENT AGREEMENT, EACH SIGNED BY THE PRIME AND MS. GREG IN MARCH OF 2019 AGREEING TO ENGAGE MS. GREG'S COMPANY AS A MBE FOR THE 12% ON THIS PROJECT.
AND THEN IT SAYS THAT YOU WERE MS. GREG INVOICED AND WAS PAID $5,705 ON THIS CONTRACT.
SHE'S SEEKING THE FULL 12% THAT SHE WAS LISTED FOR THE GOAL AS SHE BELIEVES SHE IS OWED THIS AMOUNT, DESPITE NOT HAVING PERFORMED 12% OF THE WORK HAVING BEEN PROPERLY REMOVED VIA THE DEVIATION PROCESS FROM THIS CONTRACT.
SO IT SEEMS THAT THE INFORMATION WE RECEIVE FROM THE OBO OFFICE IS A LITTLE DIFFERENT FROM, UH, WHAT YOU ARE STATING HERE TODAY.
SO I THINK THAT IT WOULD BE PRUDENT FOR US TO MAYBE HAVE A CONVERSATION OFFLINE TO DETERMINE, UM, WHERE WE ARE WITH THIS, WITH THIS PROCESS.
UM, I SPOKE TO, I WAS IN COMMUNICATION AT THAT TIME WITH JOHNNY BURNS AND I WAS PRESSURING HIM TELLING HIM THAT HEY, THEY REFUSED TO GIVE US A CONTRACT.
AND, UM, I WAS NOT IN COMMUNICATION WITH OBO.
WE DID RECEIVE A LETTER, A NOTIFICATION THAT WE WERE ACTIVELY LISTED ON THE PROJECT.
JOHNNY BURNS WAS AWARE IN WRITING THAT, UM, THE CONTRACTOR, THE PRIME JR.
JONES DID NOT NOTIFY US THAT THEY WON THE CONTRACT.
THEY TOLD US NO, THEY DID NOT.
AND I BELIEVE I HAVE THAT IN EMAIL ALSO.
AND I WAS SHOCKED, NEARLY FELL OUT OF MY CHAIR WHEN I RECEIVED THIS COMMUNICATION FROM THE CITY OF HOUSTON STATING THAT WE WERE ACTIVELY ON THE PROJECT.
AND I GUESS BECAUSE I KNOW THAT THERE IS SOME LAG TIME BETWEEN WHEN A CONTRACTOR FINDS OUT IF THEY RECEIVED THE CONTRACT.
SO THEY MAY HAVE ASSUMED THAT THAT, AND I DON'T WANNA PUT WORDS IN ANYBODY'S MOUTH, THAT'S WHY I THINK IT'S PRUDENT FOR US TO TALK OFFLINE, UM, SO THAT WE CAN BE CLEAR IF THEY DIDN'T THINK THEY RECEIVED THE CONTRACT.
BUT THEN YOU RECEIVED A LETTER FROM OBO STATING THAT THEY DID RECEIVE THE CONTRACT AND YOU ARE LISTED AND THEY HAVE YOUR SIGNATURE ON IT.
THERE STILL SEEMS TO BE SOME CONFUSION THERE.
SO I THINK IT WOULD BE PRUDENT FOR US TO GET WITH OBO TO KIND OF CLARIFY WHERE EVERYBODY IS, WHAT IS THE RIGHT, UM, AMOUNT THAT YOU SHOULD BE PAID FOR THE WORK THAT YOU HAVE DONE.
WE WANNA MAKE THIS RIGHT FOR, UM, EVERYONE INVOLVED.
AND I DO KNOW THAT THIS PROJECT IS STILL BEING, UM, MONITORED BY, UM, IMPACT STRATEGIES THIS COUNCIL APPROVED, UM, A VENDOR TO MONITOR THESE CONTRACTS MM-HMM
AND IT, THIS, THIS, UM, ACTUAL CONTRACT IS STILL BEING MONITORED BY IMPACT STRATEGIES.
SO IF THERE WAS SOME WORK THAT YOU DID AND YOU, UM, DESERVE TO BE PAID FOR IT, I THINK WE CAN PROBABLY WORK THAT OUT, UM, OUTSIDE OF, UH, THE COUNCIL, UH, MEETING TODAY BASED ON ALL OF THE FACTS THAT OBO HAS AND WHAT YOU HAVE AS WELL.
UM, LASTLY, I WOULD LIKE TO SAY, REGARDLESS OF WHAT HAPPENS, IT HAS BEEN OVER TWO YEARS, THIS CONTRACTOR, JR JONES, DID NOT FULFILL THEIR OBLIGATIONS WITH THE CITY OF HOUSTON, WITH THEIR CONTRACT WITH THE CITY OF HOUSTON.
IT DOESN'T TAKE THIS LONG TO HAVE SOME ACTIVITY, UM, TO GIVE JOBS TO MINORITY CONTRACTORS IN WHICH THEY WERE AWARDED.
THEY HAVE, THEY HAVE AWARDED LESS THAN 1%, UH, GIVEN LESS THAN 1% OF WORK TO MINORITY BUSINESS ENTERPRISE WORKERS.
SO THEY'RE IN VIOLATION AND HONESTLY, THEIR CONTRACT SHOULD BE TERMINATED WITH THE CITY.
YOU CAN'T REWARD BAD BEHAVIOR.
AND THAT'S WHAT THE CITY IS CONSTANTLY DOING ON THE BACKS OF MINORITIES LIKE ME.
AND I'M, I'M REALLY SICK OF IT.
THIS IS THE SECOND TIME I'VE BEEN HERE.
I'VE SEEN OTHER MINORITIES COME HERE.
IT AFFECTS EVERYBODY, ALL RACES BECAUSE I MEAN, WE HAVE JOBS, WE DO BUSINESS, WE HAVE EMPLOYEES THAT ARE WHITE, WE HAVE SUPPLIERS THAT ARE WHITE.
IT'S JUST LIKE A, A JUST A CHAIN EFFECT, A SNOWBALL EFFECT.
AND IT'S LIKE, YOU KNOW, I EXPECT THE CITY TO DO THE RIGHT THING.
IT'S YOUR LEGACY TO WRITE HERE.
NOW, CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS, EVERYONE SHOULD HAVE RECEIVED A THREE PAGE MEMO FROM OBO THAT OUTLINES SOME OF THE THINGS THAT WERE DISCUSSED.
SO I WOULD INVITE YOU TO READ WHILE WE HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO MEET WITH OBO AND UM, AND SEE EXACTLY WHAT WE CAN DO.
BUT IN THE LETTER IT WAS STATED THAT, UM, THAT ROOFING DESIGNS FAILED TO PERFORM WORK IN A WAY THAT IS ACCEPTABLE TO THE CONTRACTING DEPARTMENT AT ROYAL AMERICAN, THE PRIME OF PROPOSED TO REPLACE ROOFING DESIGNS WITH A SBE CERTIFIED COMPANY AND ANOTHER WBE CERTIFIED COMPANY.
AND ON JUNE 7TH, 2021, THE PRIME PROVIDED ROOF AND DESIGNS WITH A 72 HOUR NOTICE
[00:45:01]
TO PERFORM TO ADDRESS THESE ALLEGED NON-PERFORMANCE ISSUES AND MEET WITH ROOF AND DESIGNS.TO ADDRESS THE ISSUES ON JUNE 14TH, THE PRIME PROVIDED ROOFING DESIGNS WITH A TERMINATION NOTICE DATED THE 16TH OF JUNE, WHICH STATED THAT EFFECTIVELY IMMEDIATELY, CERTAIN CONTRACTS BETWEEN RAW AMERICAN AND ROOFING DESIGNS ARE TERMINATED.
NOW AS VICE MAYOR PRO TEM MENTIONED, THIS IS A JOB OR A CONTRACT, MEANING THAT A LOT OF THE WORK IS STILL AHEAD OF US.
SO THEY WILL HAVE THE ABILITY TO COMPLY WITH THE PERCENTAGES, UH, THAT WERE OUTLINED IN THE ORIGINAL COMMENT.
SO, UM, I WILL GIVE YOU 30 SECONDS OF MY TIME AND THEN WE NEED TO GO TO THE NEXT SPEAKER.
SIR, YOU JUST MENTIONED THE WRONG COMPANY.
RURAL AMERICAN CONSTRUCTION IS THE COMPANY THAT WE'RE IN FEDERAL LITIGATION.
THIS HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH JR JONES.
UM, ON THIS PROJECT, THERE'S TWO DIFFERENT CONTRACTS WITH THE CITY OF HOUSTON.
I MEAN, SO I CAN'T SPEAK ON THE FEDERAL LITIGATION EXCEPT THAT WE'RE GOING TO TRIAL.
'CAUSE THE NOTICE THAT WE HAVE IS A PUBLIC SESSION APPEARANCE BY CHINA GREG, UH, REGARDING THE CITY OF HOUSTON AND HOUSING.
SO LET, LET US DIG INTO IT AND WE WILL GET BACK TO YOU.
THANK YOU MS. GREG CHAIR RECOGNIZED AS COUNCIL MEMBER ED POLLARD, I'M SORRY, COUNCIL MEMBER KOSH.
I'D LIKE TO SUSPEND THE RULES, UH, MAYOR AND, UH, ASK THAT WE MOVE EARL THOMAS, WHO'S THE LAST SPEAKER ON THE LIST WITH JR ROOFING TO COME AND, AND ADDRESS COUNCIL IN REFERENCE TO THIS SAME MATTER.
MOTION TO MOVE MR. EARL THOMAS IMMEDIATELY TO PUBLIC SESSION.
ALL THOSE IN FAVOR OPPOSED? MOTION GRANTED.
MADAM SECRETARY EARL THOMAS, UH, THANK YOU FOR MOVING ME UP.
UM, I HAVE A STATEMENT, IT'S PROBABLY GONNA BE LONGER THAN A MINUTE.
MAY I, MAY I START? IT, IT ADDRESSES A LOT OF THESE.
MR. RUIZ, IF YOU WOULD GIVE IT TO THE GENTLEMAN, MR. RUIZ, YOU GONNA READ IT? YOU HAVE TO READ IT.
SO, OH, NO, IT'S GONNA BE LENGTHY.
SO IF YOU READ WHAT YOU CAN IN YOUR TIME ALLOTTED AND THEN GIVE THE REMAINING COPY TO MR. RUIZ AND HE'LL CIRCULATE THAT TO COUNCIL MEMBERS.
UM, WELL, I'M HERE TO RESPOND TO MS. GREG'S COMMENT IN, IN VERY SHORT, UH, NONE OF WHAT SHE HAS CLAIMED HERE TODAY IS TRUE.
NONE OF THE INSTANCES ARE TRUE, UH, EITHER ABOUT OUR PERFORMANCE, OUR TREATMENT OF HER, HOW WE TREAT OUR SUBCONTRACTORS, OR HOW THE CITY HAS DEALT WITH US.
I CAN'T COMPLETELY EXONERATE THE CITY FROM ANY CORRUPTION EVER IN THE HISTORY OF THE CITY.
AND I CAN'T SAY THAT EVERY PRIME CONTRACTOR IS COMPLETELY BLAMELESS, BUT I DO KNOW THAT WE ARE AND WE DID EVERYTHING RIGHT.
AND PERSONALLY, I DEALT WITH THE PEOPLE AT THE CITY HAVE BEEN GRACIOUS, HELPFUL, AND STRICTLY BY THE BOOKS.
UM, IN JUNE OF 2020, AT THE END OF 2020 IS WHEN I RECEIVED MY CONTRACT WITH THE CITY OF HOUSTON.
THAT CONTRACT IS A FIVE YEAR CONTRACT.
EVERY SINGLE ITEM ASSOCIATED WITH THAT CONTRACT IS ESTIMATES.
ESTIMATED TERMS. THE $10 MILLION WAS AN ESTIMATED VALUATION OFF OF A TOTAL FIVE YEARS OF WORK.
UM, I'LL GIVE YOU A COUPLE OF A MINUTE OF MY TIME IF YOU'D GO FAST, SIR.
AND THEN WE'LL READ YOUR STATEMENT AND GET TO YOUR SALIENT POINTS.
AND TODAY, WE'RE NOT EVEN HALFWAY THROUGH THE CONTRACT.
UH, I THINK AS YOU MENTIONED, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER, UM, WE'RE NOT EVEN HALFWAY THROUGH THE CONTRACT.
SO WE STILL HAVE MORE THAN ENOUGH TIME TO MEET ALL OF OUR GOALS.
UH, THIS IS A JOB ORDER CONTRACT.
AS HAS BEEN MENTIONED, OPPORTUNITIES MUST BE PRESENTED BY THE CITIES.
THOSE OPPORTUNITIES MUST BE BID AND ONE AGAINST TWO OTHER CONTRACTORS THAT WE'RE BIDDING AGAINST AND THEN AWARDED TO US BEFORE ANY WORK CAN BE PERFORMED OR PAYMENT CAN BE RECEIVED.
WE'VE FOLLOWED ALL PROCEDURE LAW PROTOCOL IN CONJUNCTION WITH THE CONTRACT WITH THE CITY.
IN SHORT, WE FULFILLED EVERY OBLIGATION WE'VE HAD WITH OUR CONTRACT WITH THE CITY AND OUR SUBCONTRACT WITH MS. GREGG IN 2021, JUST ONE YEAR INTO THE FIVE YEAR CONTRACT, SHE FIRST THREATENED LEGAL ACTION AGAINST US BECAUSE SHE CLAIMED WE OWED HER THE TOTAL 12% OFF OF THE TOTAL FIVE YEAR AMOUNT.
HER AND HER ATTORNEYS WALKED AWAY IN MEDIATION BECAUSE AS THE MEDIATOR TOLD US, THEIR CLAIMS WERE TOTALLY BASELESS.
SO THEY WERE ASKED TO WALK AWAY.
IN NOVEMBER OF 2021, MS. GRAD CONTACTED ME AND REQUESTED TO BE REMOVED FROM THE CONTRACT.
SHE SAID SHE WAS SICK OF THE CORRUPTION WITHIN THE CITY AND SHE WANTED TO PERFORM NO MORE WORK UNDER THIS CONTRACT.
I HAVE THIS IN WRITING FROM HER.
EVERYTHING I'VE STATED TODAY IS DOCUMENTED IN WRITING.
WE ACCEPTED THAT TERMINATION OF HER AGREEMENT.
WE SUBMITTED IT TO THE, UH, OBO ON A DEVIATION FORM.
[00:50:01]
UNTIL WE HAD A REPLACEMENT, SO WE HAD TO INTERVIEW.ONCE WE WERE FOUND HER REPLACEMENT, THEN WE SUBMITTED THE DEVIATION FORM.
IN DECEMBER OF 22, SHE DECIDED TO REVIVE HER UNTRUE CLAIMS. SHE HIRED A DEBT COLLECTOR TO DEMAND $71,000 FROM US THAT SHE BELIEVES SHE IS OWED FROM WORK.
SHE DID NOT PERFORM DURING THAT TIMEFRAME AFTER SHE REQUESTED TO BE REMOVED FROM THE CONTRACT.
THIS CONTRACT HAS BEEN EXPLAINED TO MS. GREG.
IT WAS EXPLAINED BY YOU TODAY.
IT'S BEEN EXPLAINED BY US, MY ATTORNEYS, HER ATTORNEYS, THE MEDIATOR, THE CITY OF HOUSTON, THE OBO.
BUT ALL OF HER CLAIMS SHOW A FUNDAMENTAL LACK OF UNDERSTANDING OF WHAT THE CONTRACT IS AND THE TERMS OF THE CONTRACT.
I DON'T THINK SHE UNDERSTANDS THE CONTRACT.
WE'VE REPEATEDLY ASKED HER TO FOLLOW THE TERMS OF THE SUBCONTRACT FOUR TIMES OVER THE PAST TWO MONTHS.
SHE'S THREATENED LEGAL ACTION AGAINST US IF WE DIDN'T PAY HER THIS MONEY.
WE REMINDED HER THAT SHE DOES HAVE A LEGAL REMEDY TO, TO FOLLOW FOR THESE CLAIMS. SHE HAS ARBITRATION CONTRACTUALLY.
WE ARE TO GO TO ARBITRATION WITH HER.
WE SAID, LET'S GO TO ARBITRATION.
IF THESE ARE THE CLAIMS THAT YOU HAVE, LET'S GO.
ONCE WE SAID WE WERE WILLING TO GO TO ARBITRATION, SHE STARTED TO REFUSE TO GO TO ARBITRATION INSTEAD, OPTING TO COME BEFORE YOU ALL TODAY AND, AND CARELESSLY SAY THINGS ABOUT MY COMPANY AND MYSELF THAT ARE INSENSITIVE AND UNFAIR.
AND INTERESTINGLY ENOUGH, INSENSITIVE AND UNFAIR ARE THOSE IDEALS THAT SHE CLAIMS TO BE FIGHTING FOR, UH, HERE TODAY.
BUT YET SHE WOULD SO WILLINGLY COME HERE AND SAY THOSE KIND OF THINGS ABOUT OTHER, ANOTHER COMPANY, OTHER HUMAN BEINGS THAT THANK YOU MR. THOMAS.
AND, UH, THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE.
UM, YOU SAID YOU HAD WORKED OVER A PERIOD OF MONTHS TO FIND HER REPLACEMENT.
DO YOU HAVE ANY MBES ON THE CONTRACT AT THE MOMENT? YES.
WHAT'S THEIR PERCENTAGE? UH, THEY'RE SUPPOSED TO GET, UH, 12% OF THE TOTAL FIVE YEAR CUMULATIVE CONTRACT.
BUT I WAS JUST INFORMED THAT THEY'RE GONNA BE CLOSING THEIR DOORS.
SO I HAVE TO START THE INTERVIEW PROCESS AGAIN.
SO THE BILLING IS NOT IN THERE YET.
AND THOSE TWO OR THREE PROJECTS WOULD ADD UP TO WHAT, WHAT PERCENTAGE DO YOU KNOW? THAT I DON'T HAVE OFF THE TOP OF MY HEAD.
AND WBE? UH, THAT'S, UH, I'M SORRY.
AND YOUR CONTRACTOR FOR HOW LONG? WE HAVE BEEN CONTRACTORS SINCE 1980.
HOW LONG IS YOUR CONTRACT WITH THE CITY? OH MY FIVE YEARS.
AND IT STARTED IN JUNE OF 2020.
AND WHAT'S YOUR OVERALL, UH, IS IT A 15% GOAL OVERALL? 15% FOR MBE AND WBE.
AND WHAT'S YOUR PARTICIPATION RIGHT NOW? WHAT ARE YOU ACHIEVING? UH, WE ARE AT LIKE TWO POINT A HALF PERCENT I THINK ON THE, UH, UH, I CAN, I CAN LOOK IT UP IF YOU WANT.
UM, YEAH, TWO AND A HALF PERCENT, UH, 2.1% ON THE, UH, WBE AND ONE AND A HALF PERCENT ON THE, WELL, ONE AND A HALF PERCENT ON RECORD, BUT THERE'S STILL SOME YET TO BE BILLED.
BUT ONE POINT A HALF PERCENT ON THE MBE.
SO THE MBE HAS ONLY DONE TWO OR THREE JOBS.
UH, THEY HAVE NOT BILLED YOU FOR IT, BUT ON RECORD YOU'RE, OF THE 12%, THEY'RE AT 1.2%.
AND THE REASON THAT YOU DEVIATED, UH, MS. GREG'S COMPANY IS WHAT SHE REQUESTED IT.
SHE REQUESTED THE DEVIATION? MM-HMM
AND HOW DID SHE REQUEST THAT DEVIATION VERBALLY OR IN WRITING? UH, SHE CALLED ME AND SO VERBALLY OR IN WRITING? VERBALLY.
'CAUSE I FOLLOWED UP THE PHONE CONVERSATION WITH, I SAID, AS PER OUR PHONE CONVERSATION, THIS IS, I CAN READ IT TO YOU IF YOU LIKE.
AND THEN SHE WROTE BACK AND SAID, YES, THIS IS WHAT I SAID.
AND HOW LONG, HOW LONG WAS THIS TIMEFRAME FROM THE TIME THAT SHE GOT THE CONTRACT TO Y'ALL HAVING THAT CONVERSATION? HOW MANY MONTHS? IT WAS FROM JUNE 20.
BUT REMEMBER IN JULY OF 21 IS WHEN WE WENT TO MEDIATION.
SO ONE YEAR AFTER THE CONTRACT IS WHEN SHE, UH, FIRST THREATENED LEGAL ACTION.
BUT AT THE MOMENT RIGHT NOW, YOU'RE ACHIEVING 1.2% WITH YOUR MBE AND 2% WITH YOUR WBE
[00:55:01]
OF, OF A 15% GOAL CONTRACT.COUNCIL MEMBER MICHAEL KOSH, UH, I'LL ASK YOU THE SAME QUESTION I ASKED HER, ARE Y'ALL IN LITIGATION AT THIS TIME? YEAH, THAT WAS GONNA BE THE END OF MY STATEMENT.
SHE REFUSED TO FILE ARBITRATION, SO WE DID IT FOR HER AND WE ARE APPROVED TO GO TO ARBITRATION.
AND SHE'S BEEN NOTIFIED OF THAT.
UM, I JUST WANTED, FIRST THANK YOU FOR COMING.
THANKS TO MS. GREGG FOR COMING.
GIVEN IN LIGHT OF THE FACT THAT THERE IS ONGOING LITIGATION, UM, I WOULD DEFER TO, UH, YOU KNOW, VICE MAYOR PROM CASTEX TATUM'S PREVIOUS COMMENTS THAT I THINK THIS IS BEST SUITED GIVEN THE LITIGATION, UH, GIVEN THE LITIGATION, GIVEN THE CONTRACTUAL OBLIGATIONS WITH OBO THAT THIS IS WORKED OUT WITH OBO.
AND I WOULD RESPECTFULLY REQUEST THAT WE HAVE A REPORT FROM OBO FOLLOWING, UM, AS AN UPDATE ON HOW THIS IS PROCEEDING.
BUT AGAIN, TO HASH OUT WHAT IS HAPPENING IN A CONTRACTUAL OBLIGATION, WE DON'T HAVE ALL THE FACTS.
I I'LL LEAN ON, UH, VICE MAYOR PROM'S, WERE PRUDENT AT THIS TIME, SO I WOULD RESPECTFULLY ASK THAT WE LEAN ON OBO TO GET THAT UPDATE LATER.
AND WE MAY HAVE NO OTHER COMMENTS.
AND THE ADMINISTRATION HAS ALREADY SET THE BALL IN MOTION WHERE THEY HAVE REQUESTED ADDITIONAL INFORMATION FROM BOTH OBO AND MRS. UH, GREG.
SO, UH, THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME.
NEXT SPEAKER, CHRISTINA GONZALEZ.
NEXT SPEAKER MARINA TO BE FOLLOWED BY LINDSAY BURLESON.
GOOD MORNING MAYOR PRO TEM AND HONORABLE COUNCIL MEMBERS.
I'M THE OWNER OPERATOR OF STAR SAILOR.
WE ARE LOCATED AT 1710 WEST 18TH STREET IN THE GREATER HEIGHTS AREA OF DISTRICT C.
LAST YEAR ON MAY 20TH, STAR SAILOR WAS BURGLARIZED.
THE FRONT DOOR WAS SMASHED AND THE CASH DOOR WAS STOLEN.
IN ADDITION TO OTHER SMALL BUSINESSES IN THE CENTER, A HAIR SALON AND A NAIL SALON WERE BURGLARIZED AT NIGHT WITH SIMILAR DAMAGES.
LESS THAN 48 HOURS LATER, MAY 22ND STAR SAILOR AND THE OTHER TWO BUSINESSES WERE BURGLARIZED AGAIN, ALONG WITH TWO MORE RESTAURANTS IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD.
THAT IS EIGHT BREAK-INS IN LESS THAN TWO DAYS.
WHILE THE CASH STOLEN FROM STAR SAILOR MAY NOT BE CONSIDERED A LARGE AMOUNT BY SOME, ANY AMOUNT OF LOSS IS TOO MUCH FOR A SMALL BUSINESS.
OUR FIVE BUSINESSES WERE GREATLY IMPACTED, NOT ONLY BY THE LOSS OF CASH, BUT BY THE COST OF REPAIRS TO THE DAMAGES, THE EXPENSES OF ADDED SECURITY, AND THE EQUIPMENT AND INCREASES OF OUR INSURANCE PREMIUMS. SO SAILOR IS NOW A CASHLESS BUSINESS AND HAS INCREASED OUR SECURITY SYSTEMS, WHICH COST US MONEY.
MOREOVER, THE EMOTIONAL DISTRESS OF THEIR OWNERS, OUR TEAMMATES, AND OUR CUSTOMERS THAT WE SERVE IS VERY SIGNIFICANT.
EVERY DAY I WORRY THAT ANOTHER BURGLARY WILL OCCUR AND MAY COST ME MY BUSINESS.
I AM RELIEVED THAT THESE BURGLARIES OCCURRED AFTER CLOSING AND AFTER CLOSING HOURS INSTEAD OF ROBBERIES OR AGGREGATE AGGREGATED ROBBERIES DURING OUR OPEN HOURS WITH DEADLY WEAPONS.
I APPRECIATE THE POLICE OFFICERS THAT RESPONDED TO TAKE OUR REPORTS OF THE CRIMES.
THEY WERE VERY PROFESSIONAL AND EMPATHETIC.
HOWEVER, THERE HAS NOT BEEN ANY FOLLOW-UPS UPDATE, NOR HAVE WE SEEN AN INCREASE OF POLICE PATROLS IN RESPONSE TO THESE CRIMES.
I ATTRIBUTE THIS LACK OF LAW ENFORCEMENT RESPONSE TO THE INCREASE IN CRIME THROUGHOUT THE CITY.
AND I ATTRIBUTE AND THE RESULTING NEED FOR MORE POLICE OFFICERS ON PATROL.
I HIGHLY RESPECT CHIEF THINNER AND HIS ENTIRE TEAM, BUT I KNOW HIS DEPARTMENT IS STRETCHED QUITE THIN AND HIS RESOURCES ARE SPARE COMPARED TO THE NEED.
BUT WE NEED MORE POLICE PRESENCE AND PROFESSIONAL CITY HELP AND DETERRING CRIME IN OUR NEIGHBORHOOD.
MR. MAYOR AND COUNCIL MEMBERS, I ASK FOR YOUR HELP TO STOP THESE CRIMES AGAINST SMALL BUSINESSES AND INCREASE YOUR SUPPORT FOR POLICE DE DEPARTMENT AND SMALL BUSINESSES THROUGHOUT THE GREAT THANK TIME YOU, COUNCIL MEMBER ABBY CAYMAN.
I DIDN'T WANNA MISPRONOUNCE HER NAME FIRST OFF.
THANK YOU FOR COMING AND THANK YOU FOR WORKING WITH MY OFFICE.
UM, AS A SMALL BUSINESS OWNER AND COLLEAGUES, JUST SO YOU KNOW, WE'VE HAD MULTIPLE BREAK-INS.
WHERE HER SHOP IS LOCATED IS ACTUALLY ON THE, UH, WEST SIDE, UM, OF WHITE OAK BAYOU.
THERE'S SOME, UH, COMMERCIAL BUSINESSES THAT ABUT THE NEIGHBORHOOD OF LAZY BROOK.
WE ALSO HAVE A LOT OF COMMERCIAL BUSINESSES IN THE GREATER HEIGHTS, RIGHT? CORRECT.
THE OLD 19TH STRAND THINGS OF THAT NATURE THAT HAVE ALSO BEEN EXPERIENCING BREAK-INS RIGHT NOW.
UH, WE ARE IN TOUCH WITH CENTRAL PATROL AND I'VE EXPRESSED MY APPRECIATION.
I HEAR YOU LOUD AND CLEAR THAT MORE FOLLOW UP IS NEEDED.
YOU WANNA KNOW WHAT'S HAPPENING.
I DO WANNA MAKE SURE THAT WE GET YOU THE INFORMATION AS WELL ON WHAT, UH, MAYOR TURNER AND US AS COUNCIL ARE DOING IN SUPPORT OF LAW ENFORCEMENT, UM, INVESTING MILLIONS AND MILLIONS OF DOLLARS.
NEW CADETS ARE, UH, WE WERE JUST AT A RECENT
[01:00:01]
CADET GRADUATION.WE'RE DOING $10,000 SIGNING BONUSES.
SO I DON'T WANNA DIMINISH YOUR CALL FOR ASSISTANCE.
I DO WANT TO REITERATE HOW IMPORTANT WHAT YOU'RE SAYING IS, AND WE ARE ALL ALIGNED WITH YOU THAT MORE IS NEEDED.
UH, LAW ENFORCEMENT IS STRETCHED IN.
WE HAVE OVER 600 SQUARE MILES THAT WE HAVE TO PATROL MM-HMM
FEWER OFFICERS THAN WE DID 20 YEARS AGO.
THERE ARE THINGS THAT I HOPE WILL BE HELPING, INCLUDING THE LIGHTING ORDINANCES, THE CAMERA ORDINANCES.
UH, WE DO HAVE, UH, LICENSE PLATE READERS THAT ARE GOING UP IN CERTAIN AREAS.
SO THAT IS ASSISTING WITH LAW ENFORCEMENT.
I CAN GET YOU SOME OF THAT INFORMATION THAT WOULD BE HELPFUL.
BUT I WILL ALSO PERSONALLY FOLLOW UP AGAIN WITH CENTRAL PATROL WHEN WE HEAR ABOUT A BUSINESS BROKEN INTO, WE DO FOLLOW UP TO SEE WHAT YOU KNOW IS COMING OF THAT.
SO THANK YOU AGAIN FOR BEING HERE TODAY.
UM, MY DAD'S A SMALL BUSINESS OWNER.
I UNDERSTAND THAT YOU KNOW, THAT YOU DON'T HAVE A LOT OF WIGGLE ROOM WHEN IT COMES TO YOUR BUDGET AND YOU'RE TRYING TO, UM, SUPPORT YOUR EMPLOYEES, YOURSELF AND THE COMMUNITY.
I KNOW EXACTLY WHAT YOU'RE GOING THROUGH.
I, I REMEMBER, UH, DURING THE THANKSGIVING HOLIDAYS ABOUT 15 YEARS AGO, OUR OFFICE WAS BURGLARIZED STOLE A SMALL SAFE.
AND, UH, I REMEMBER HOW IT MADE US FEEL, YOU KNOW, IT, UH, AND MY OFFICE ISN'T, UH, IN AN OBSCURE LOCATION.
IT'S ON LUBBOCK STREET, A BLOCK, UH, FROM 61 RIESNER, THE THE POLICE STATION MUNICIPAL COURTS.
AND NEXT DOOR IS THE HOUSTON POLICE OFFICERS UNION, WHERE THERE'S LOTS OF OFFICERS COMING IN AND OUT.
I, I FOUND IT, UM, UH, JUST REMARKABLE THAT THESE PEOPLE ARE STILL DOING THIS.
THEY, THEY CAME BACK A FEW YEARS AGO BECAUSE THEY GOT SOME MONEY AND THEY, THEY, THEY BROKE IN ANOTHER AREA WHERE WE DIDN'T THINK THEY WOULD KNOW WHERE IT IS.
I SOMETIMES THINK THESE THINGS ARE INSIDE JOBS.
BUT WHAT'S REALLY SAD IS WHEN THEY DO FINALLY CATCH THEM, YOU, YOU HAVE TO UNDERSTAND, THIS ISN'T A, IT'S A PROPERTY CRIME.
IT'S NOT A, IT'S NOT AN ARMED ROBBERY.
EVEN THOUGH THEY MAY HAVE BEEN, AND EVEN THOUGH WE HAD 'EM ON VIDEO, UH, THE, THE, UH, THE JUDGES ARE, WILL, WILL LET THEM BACK OUT ON EITHER REAL LOW OR NO BOND, AND THEY'RE BACK OUT.
SO IF THERE'S NO CONSEQUENCES, THE, TO THEIR ACTIONS, JUST LIKE, UH, UH, I UNDERSTAND MY, MY FELLOW, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER HAD HIS VEHICLE STOLEN.
UH, I, I, YOU KNOW, IT'S, UH, IT, IT IS JUST SO FRUSTRATING, YOU KNOW, THAT, THAT THIS IS GOING ON.
BUT THIS IS, THIS IS HUMAN NATURE.
IT'S BEEN GOING ON FOR MANY MILLENNIALS.
IN FACT, I THINK THAT'S ONE OF THE 10 COMMANDMENTS I SHALL NOT STEAL.
SO I, UH, I DO EMPATHIZE WITH YOU.
I WISH THERE WAS SOME WAY THAT WE COULD, UH, YOU KNOW, HONE IN ON THIS, UH, AND, UH, AND FIGURE IT OUT BETTER.
BECAUSE, UH, I'VE HAD BURGLARIES WHERE WE'VE HAD, UH, GOOD PICTURES OF THE PEOPLE.
BUT, YOU KNOW, EVEN THEN YOU, IF YOU CATCH 'EM, YOU'RE NOT MADE WHOLE.
YOU KNOW, YOU'RE NOT MADE WHOLE.
YOU KNOW, THEY MAY NOT BE DOING IT AGAIN, AGAIN, MAYBE.
IT'S VERY FRUSTRATING 'CAUSE YOU FEEL SO VIOLATED THAT YOUR STUFF, UH, WAS, WAS, WAS, UH, WAS TAKEN ADVANTAGE OF.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR COMING AND I APPRECIATE YOUR STORY.
NEXT SPEAKER, LINDSEY BURLESON TO BE FOLLOWED BY BRENDA MURSON HAWKINS.
I'M THE OWNER OPERATOR OF TWO-HEADED DOG.
WE'RE LOCATED, LOCATED AT 3,100 FANIN STREET, ONE BLOCK AWAY FROM THE CRIME STOP BUILDING.
I HAVE BEEN BURGLARIZED 15 TIMES IN THE LAST YEAR.
IN 2022 ALONE, I MADE SURE TO CALL PROBABLY 10 OF THOSE TIMES 'CAUSE THERE WAS DAMAGES AND OVER $5,000 WORTH OF INVENTORY OR DAMAGE DONE.
SO I COULD PRESS CHARGES AT THIS POINT, THEY COME IN AND I JUST SIGN THE RECEIPT AND I SAY, HERE'S MY NUMBER.
AND THERE'S BEEN NO INVESTIGATOR ASSIGNED TO THAT.
UM, I COME TO YOU SPEAKING ALSO AS THE HEAD OF THE TEXAS NEIGHBORHOOD BAR COALITION.
WE'RE, UM, A COALITION OF SMALL BARNERS THAT WHAT HAS HAPPENED TO US.
WE'RE SEEING THAT THE SAME MAN HAS BROKEN INTO SEVEN OF OUR SMALL BUSINESSES LOCATED IN MIDTOWN, DOWNTOWN, AND EAST SIDE.
THIS MAN WAS ACTUALLY ARRESTED, HAS BEEN BROKEN INTO A BAR, GLITTER RESTED THE DOOR GUY CAUGHT HIM, BEAT HIM UP.
HE WENT, WAS RELEASED THE NEXT DAY AND ROBBED ANOTHER BAR 24 HOURS AFTER THAT.
HE'S ONE OF FOUR CREWS OF ME TALKING TO OVER 25 DIFFERENT
[01:05:01]
BAR OWNERS AND OPERATORS.WE ALL TALK TOGETHER BECAUSE WE FIGURED OUT WE'RE NOT GETTING THE FOLLOW UP WE NEED.
ONE, WE'RE PLAYING CITY ALARM FEES.
AND WITH THESE CITY ALARM FEES, THEY'RE ACTUALLY NOT REGISTERING THEM.
SO THE POLICE DEPARTMENT'S NOT GETTING CALLED.
THE RESPONSE TIMES TO THE ALARMS ARE USUALLY ANYWHERE FROM AN HOUR TO FOUR HOURS.
THEN WHAT WE'RE SEEING ON TOP OF THAT IS NO INVESTIGATOR IS BEING ASSIGNED TO ONCE HOUR.
THESE BREAK-INS ARE OCCURRING.
AND THEN AFTER THAT, WE'RE SEEING IF THEY ARE GETTING CAUGHT, THEY'RE GETTING RERELEASED, AND KNOW THAT BECAUSE OF THE CASH BOND ISSUE THAT WE'RE HAVING, THEY CAN COME BACK AND ROB US AGAIN.
AND SO THEN ON TOP OF ALL OF THAT, US SMALL BUSINESSES, WE DON'T KNOW WHO TO CONTACT TO TALK TO.
'CAUSE NOW WE'RE ABOUT TO HAVE THE CAMERA ORDINANCE.
I HAD TO CHOOSE THIS MONTH WHETHER TO DO PAYROLL, REPLACE MY WINDOW, OR HOW AM I GONNA PAY FOR THESE CAMERAS? HOW AM I GONNA PAY FOR MY ALARM FEE? BUT IF WE'RE NOT GETTING A RESPONSE IN THE SUPPORT WE NEED, AND YOU, YOU GUYS, AS CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS, EVERYBODY GOES, DON'T GO TO THEM.
AND I SAID, NO, I WANNA ORGANIZE MY FRIENDS, BECAUSE IF YOU GUYS AREN'T AWARE OF THE PROBLEM, HOW CAN YOU HELP US? AND SO I'M HERE TODAY SAYING, ONE, HOW CAN YOU HELP US? HOW CAN YOU HELP US SMALL BUSINESS OWNERS TO MAKE SURE WE CAN KEEP PAYING OUR EMPLOYEES? AND ALSO, AS A BAR OWNER, WE PAY A LOT OF TAXES UPWARDS TO 30% OF OUR PROFITS GO TO TAXES.
I LOVE, I WAS AN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL TEACHER.
IT WAS A NATURAL TRANSITION FOR ME TO BECOME A BAR OWNER.
BUT IT'S HEARTBREAKING BECAUSE AT SOME POINT, YEAH, I'M AT SOME POINT THOUGH, I'M GONNA HAVE TO MAKE THE CHOICE.
CAN I KEEP OPERATING THIS BUSINESS 15 TIMES IN ONE YEAR? AND I'M NOT THE ONLY ONE.
I WAS LITERALLY FOUR INCH ROOFING NAILS.
I'M PUTTING UP A GUARD BECAUSE I CAN'T AFFORD AN EXTRA SIGN PERMIT TO MAKE SURE NO ONE CAN BREAK IN.
I'M THE ONE DOING THAT BECAUSE I'M A WOMAN ON THE EDGE.
YOU KNOW, BECAUSE IT'S THE SECOND TWO TIMES IN DECEMBER.
AND SO WE JUST, I DON'T KNOW WHAT TO DO FOR HELP.
UH, MS. BARON, WE HAVE A COUPLE OF COUNCIL MEMBERS IN QUEUE BEFORE, UH, JUST WANTED TO MAKE SURE THAT, UH, WE HAVE YOUR CORRECT INFORMATION BECAUSE ON JANUARY 13TH AND JANUARY 17TH, UH, SERGEANT HERNDON FROM HPD TRIED TO CONTACT YOU, BUT WAS UNSUCCESSFUL.
OH, I, SO, SO I WANNA MAKE SURE, IS THE NUMBER THAT HE'S USING THAT ENDS IN FOUR FIVE, THE APPROPRIATE NUMBER? YES.
WE'LL MAKE SURE THAT HE REACHES OUT AGAIN.
MEANWHILE, 'CAUSE I WOULD LOVE TO COUNCIL MEMBER MICHAEL KOSH.
WELL, UH, I JUST, WHAT I SAID TO THE PREVIOUS SPEAKER GOES TO YOU AS WELL.
LOOKS LIKE YOU CAME UP HERE JUST TO VALIDATE WHAT I SAID.
THAT THEY JUST, THEY JUST GET RIGHT BACK OUT AND, AND THEY'RE DOING IT AGAIN.
I'VE SEEN THIS ON TELEVISION, UH, ON, ON SOME OF THE NEWS SHOWS ABOUT THESE BREAK-INS.
AND I'M, I, I'M, I'M VERY SORRY.
I CAN ASSURE YOU OUR POLICE DEPARTMENT WANTS TO CATCH 'EM.
I CANNOT ASSURE YOU THAT OUR, OUR JUDICIAL WANTS TO KEEP 'EM OR TO, TO PROPERLY, UH, MAKE SURE THEY DON'T CONTINUE DOING THIS, YOU KNOW, SO THANK YOU FOR COMING.
COUNCIL MEMBER ROBERT GALLEGOS.
THANK YOU, UH, MS. BURLESON FOR COMING TODAY.
UH, SORRY FOR THE, UH, ISSUES AND PROBLEMS YOU'VE BEEN EXPERIENCING.
I KNOW THAT, UH, IN REGARDS TO THE, UH, IDO, UH, I KNOW THAT, UH, WE WERE CONTACTED MY OFFICE IN REGARDS TO SOME, AND IT WAS ON THE NEWS AS WELL IN REGARDS TO BARS BEING, UM, UH, YOU KNOW, BROKEN INTO.
AND, UM, I REACHED OUT, JUST TO LET YOU KNOW THAT, UM, I REACHED OUT TO, UH, COMMANDER REED FROM THE DOWNTOWN DIVISION.
I ALSO REACHED OUT TO COMMANDER JOHNSON FROM THE SOUTH CENTRAL DIVISION.
UH, AND THEY ASSURED ME THAT THEY'RE IN ANALY ANALYZING BASICALLY WHEN THESE BREAK-INS ARE HAPPENING.
UH, LIKE IT WAS STATED EARLIER, UH, WE HAVE 5,100 OFFICERS SERVING 600 SOME ODD SQUARE MILES, UH, BUT WITH THE, UH, $10,000 SIGN-ON BONUS.
UM, I ALSO ATTENDED THE, UH, ACADEMY CADETS, UH, GRADUATION CLASS A COUPLE OF WEEKS AGO.
UH, AND, UH, WHEN THEY CALL OUT THEIR NAMES, YOU, YOU, YOU, I WAS REALLY SURPRISED TO HEAR THE, THE, UH, DIFFERENT CITIES AND STATES THAT THEY'RE COMING FROM.
UH, SO THE 10, $10,000 SIGN-ON BONUSES WORKING IN REGARDS TO, UH, HIRING GOOD QUALIFIED, UH, CADETS THAT ARE GOING TO BE HOUSTON POLICE OFFICERS.
UH, BUT IN REGARDS TO THE BREAK-INS ON THE EAST SIDE, UH, THE COMMANDER REED AND COMMANDER JOHNSON BOTH ASSURED ME THAT THEY'RE LOOKING AT WHEN THESE BREAK-INS ARE HAPPENING.
UH, AND THAT WAY THEY WILL ADD RESOURCES AT, AT THOSE TIMES, UH, TO TRY TO PATROL AND, AND, AND TARGET AND, AND, AND TO, TO ARREST THOSE THAT ARE BREAKING INTO THESE BUSINESSES.
SO I JUST WANTED TO LET YOU KNOW THAT, YOU KNOW, THAT GOING TO DEAF BEERS, UH, YOU KNOW, WORKING WITH THE COMMANDERS, WE'RE TRYING TO GET THESE, UH, TAKEN CARE OF IN REGARDS TO CATCHING THOSE THAT ARE BREAKING INTO THESE BUSINESSES.
COUNCIL MEMBER SALLY ALCORN, I JUST WANNA THANK YOU FOR COMING.
YOU SAID SOMETHING THAT REALLY STRUCK ME.
YOU SAID, AH, NOBODY'S GONNA CARE.
YOU KNOW, DON'T GO DOWN THERE, BUT YOU'VE
[01:10:01]
GOT ORGANIZED.AND THAT'S EXACTLY WHAT WE WANT PEOPLE TO DO.
THAT'S, WE, WE, YOU KNOW, WE HEAR ABOUT CRIME.
WE HEARD ABOUT A RISE IN NONVIOLENT CRIME AND THESE THEFTS LAST WEEK FROM THE CHIEF.
BUT IT, IT HELPS US SO MUCH TO PUT A FACE TO IT AND REALLY UNDERSTAND THAT THE PROBLEMS THAT YOU AND THE PREVIOUS SPEAKER HAVE AS A RESULT OF THESE CRIMES HAPPENING OVER AND OVER.
AND YOU'VE GOT OUR COMMITMENT THAT WE'RE GONNA, WE'RE GONNA LOOK OUT FOR THIS, AND WE'RE GONNA DO EVERYTHING WE CAN AS A BODY TO SUPPORT OUR POLICE AND GET, GET TO THE BOTTOM OF THESE AND, AND TRY TO TRY TO REDUCE 'EM.
AND MS. BURLESON, AGAIN, ECHOING EVERYONE, THANK YOU FOR COMING.
UM, ONE THING I'D ASK, 'CAUSE WE ALSO TRIED TO REACH OUT TO YOUR OFFICE, UH, TO YOU, EXCUSE ME.
UM, IS TO GIVE US A CALL BACK OR EMAIL ME SO WE CAN CONNECT, UH, AS A LEADER OF AN ENTITY THAT, UH, IS A REALLY IMPORTANT COMMUNITY PARTNER, RIGHT? YOU ALL DO A LOT OF GREAT WORK, NOT JUST IN, UH, PROVIDING A GREAT SPACE FOR RESIDENTS AND PATRONS, BUT ALSO THE WORK YOU DO IN AND AROUND THE NEIGHBORHOOD IS IMPORTANT.
UM, WE WANNA MAKE SURE THAT YOU'RE SUPPORTED.
SO IF YOU COULD REACH OUT TO MY OFFICE, WE DID LEAVE YOU A VOICEMAIL.
UH, AND THANK YOU ALSO FOR RAISING, UH, SOME OF THE MORE NUANCED THINGS THAT, THAT BUSINESSES ARE DEALING WITH, INCLUDING SOME OF THE FEES THAT WE SHOULD BE TAKING A LOOK AT, UM, TO MAKE SURE THAT YOU KNOW IT, YOU KNOW, THAT LAW ENFORCEMENT IS GETTING THOSE ALERTS IF ALARMS ARE GOING OFF AND THINGS OF THAT NATURE.
SO, UH, WOULD LOVE TO CONTINUE TO WORK WITH YOU.
BUT AGAIN, I APPRECIATE THE UPDATE.
UM, BECAUSE WHEN I HEARD HPD NEVER FOLLOWED UP, THAT DOESN'T SOUND LIKE HPD TO ME.
NO, I LOVE, BECAUSE IN JANUARY I LOVE THAT, BUT IN NO TIME IN 2022, I KNOW WHEN THEY REACHED OUT, THEY DEFINITELY REACHED OUT BECAUSE THE NEW CA NEWSCAST THAT HAPPENED.
AND I'LL BE HONEST, I'VE BEEN VERY MUCH, I DON'T WANNA SPEAK TO THE NEWS UNTIL I HAVE SPOKEN TO YOU GUYS, BECAUSE I THINK IT'S VERY FAIR TO SAY, HEY, LET ME SPEAK TO YOU BEFORE I MAKE IT BIGGER.
WELL, A AGAIN, I KNOW THAT HPD WILL CONTINUE TO TRY TO FOLLOW UP WITH YOU, BUT ALSO IF YOU COULD, UH, YEAH, ABSOLUTELY.
I KNOW WE TRIED CALLING, SO WOULD LOVE TO TALK MORE SO WE CAN SEE WHAT ELSE WE CAN DO TO SUPPORT BEFORE WE GO TO COUNCIL MEMBER THOMAS.
UM, MR. RUIZ, I WROTE DOWN YOUR PHONE NUMBER, GAVE IT TO HIM TO RESPECT YOUR PRIVACY AND NOT ANNOUNCE IT OVER THE YEAH.
COUNCIL MEMBER TIFFANY THOMAS.
UM, THE CHRONICLE DID AN ARTICLE NOT TOO LONG AGO ABOUT THE REPEATED BREAK-INS, UM, IN MIDTOWN IN THE AREA, AND YEAH.
AND THAT'S WHEN I FIRST READ ABOUT IT.
AND SO, UM, YOU KNOW, SMALL BUSINESSES LIKE YOUR OWN, INDIVIDUALS LIKE YOU OR THE BEDROCK OF THE CITY, UH, BEDROCK OF OUR NEIGHBORHOODS.
AND THEN ALSO IN YOUR CAPACITY AS PRESIDENT OF THIS ASSOCIATION, I DEFINITELY WANT LEARN MORE ABOUT WHAT Y'ALL ARE ADVOCATING.
I REPRESENT MIDWEST HOUSTON, AND WE ARE, WE HAVE A LOT OF BARS, A LOT OF OTHER THINGS, BUT, AND IN BOTH, AND I'M ALSO INTERESTED, AND I THINK MADAM CHAIR, UM, CAME AND CAN TALK ABOUT THOSE CITY ALARM FEES AND REALLY THAT DISCONNECT WITH THAT.
AND I THINK THAT WILL BE HELPFUL IN PUBLIC SAFETY COMMITTEE TO HAVE A BETTER UNDERSTANDING OF THAT AND, AND WHAT OUR INFLUENCE IS AROUND THAT.
SO THANK YOU FOR BRINGING THAT.
JUST AS AN INFORMATION THING, UM, I WAS A POLICEMAN IN HOUSTON FOR MANY YEARS, AND I CAN TELL YOU THAT LAW ENFORCEMENT, UM, IS ONE LEG OF A THREE LEG CRIMINAL JUSTICE STOOL.
AND I'M SAYING JUST, IT'S MOSTLY FOR THE PUBLIC AT LARGE WHO MIGHT BE LISTENING.
THE POLICE RESPONSIBILITY IS TO TRY TO CAPTURE PEOPLE THAT THEY SUSPECT IF COMMITTED A CRIME, THE COURTS ARE SUPPOSED TO DETERMINE THEIR INNOCENCE OR GUILT.
AND THE THIRD LEG OF THAT STOOL IS THE PRISON SYSTEM.
WHEN ANY ONE OF THOSE THREE LEGS FAIL, THE STOOL CAN'T STAND.
AND THAT CREATES PROBLEMS IN THE COMMUNITY.
UH, THE OTHER THING IS THAT A LOT OF TIMES BURGLARY IS A REPETITIVE CRIME.
SO ONE BURGLAR IN A NEIGHBORHOOD CAN CONSTITUTE AN ENTIRE CRIME WAVE.
UNFORTUNATELY, STATISTICALLY, WHEN I WAS, WAS A POLICEMAN BACK IN THE NINETIES, UH, THE STATISTICS WERE THAT FIRST A A, A BURGLAR THAT GETS CAUGHT THE FIRST TIME IS PROBABLY COMMITTED AROUND A HUNDRED BURGLARIES BEFORE HE GETS CAUGHT THE FIRST TIME.
SO I, EVEN THOUGH YOU MAY NOT HEAR THAT, UH, POLICE OFFICERS ARE INVESTIGATING, THEY ARE, BUT THEY'RE, THEY HAVE TO ACCUMULATE ENOUGH DATA TO BE ABLE TO FIGURE OUT WHO'S DOING THE CRIME WAY.
IT MAY BE ONE OR TWO PEOPLE DOING THESE BURGLARIES IN YOUR, IN YOUR COMMUNITY.
UH, AND AS SOON AS WE CATCH THEM, IT'LL GO AWAY FOR A WHILE UNTIL THE NEXT GROUP OF BURGLARS POPS UP.
SO, JUST BE CONFIDENT THAT YOUR POLICE DEPARTMENT IS INVESTIGATING THOSE CASES.
UH, THEY MAY NOT HAVE ENOUGH ACTIONABLE INFORMATION TO MAKE AN ARREST AT THE MOMENT, BUT EVENTUALLY OVER TIME, THEY WILL CATCH 'EM.
[01:15:01]
TO TIE THE BURGLARY THAT THEY CATCH THIS BURGLAR ONTO YOUR CASE.BUT, UH, YOU KNOW, I I LIKE TO THINK THAT WHAT GOES AROUND COMES AROUND.
AND WHEN YOU'RE A CRIMINAL, YOU, YOU'RE GONNA GET WHAT'S COMING TO YOU EVENTUALLY.
HOWEVER, WE DO HAVE A PROBLEM.
UM, OUR POLICEMEN ARE, YOU KNOW, I I HAPPEN TO KNOW THEY, THEY LOVE ARRESTING BAD GUYS.
UH, I I KNOW THAT, THAT THEY, THEY LIVE FOR THAT.
UM, BUT IT IS DISHEARTENING WHEN THEY PUT SOMEONE IN JAIL AND THEY'RE BACK OUT THE NEXT DAY MM.
BECAUSE OF THE BAIL REFORM ISSUE OR BECAUSE OF A COURT, UH, THAT RELEASES THEM ON THEIR PERSONAL RECOGNIZANCE OR ANY OF THE, THOSE KINDS OF THINGS.
UH, AND SO I'M EMPATHETIC WITH YOU.
I JUST WANT YOU TO UNDERSTAND THAT THERE ARE LIMITATIONS IN WHAT THE CITY CAN DO.
WE CAN'T FORCE JUDGES TO HOLD PEOPLE IN JAIL.
WE CAN'T MAKE THEM DO HIGHER BONDS.
THERE'S A LOT OF THINGS WE CANNOT DO.
BUT JUST KNOW THAT YOUR POLICE OFFICERS ARE DOING THEIR BEST EVERY SINGLE DAY.
AND I SEE THAT, AND I'VE, I'VE FEEL FOR THEM.
'CAUSE THEY KNOW THEY'RE GONNA GET RELEASED.
WHAT I AM SCARED ABOUT, BECAUSE ANOTHER PART OF THIS THAT I'VE, I GOT KIND OF NERVOUS AND LEFT OFF IS THAT I KNOW THERE ARE ACTUAL BUSINESS OWNER OPERATORS THAT ARE SLEEPING ARMED IN THEIR BARS.
SO THIS IS GONNA BECOME AN ESCALATION BECAUSE IF YOU'RE ROBBED FIVE TIMES IN FIVE WEEKS, YOU KNOW, BETWEEN THE HOURS OF 4:00 AM AND 6:30 AM THEY'RE COMING THROUGH.
THE POLICE DON'T RESPOND FOR AN HOUR BECAUSE THEY'RE CAUGHT UP.
BECAUSE WE DON'T KNOW THE DIFFERENCE IN THE VERBIAGE.
IF I SAY I'M BEING ROBBED, YOU'LL BE THERE IN FIVE MINUTES.
IF I SAY THERE'S A BREAK-IN, IN PROGRESS, WE'RE NOT PRIORITY ONE.
IT'S SUCH, IT'S SUCH AN OVERWHELMED SYSTEM.
BUT WHAT I'M SCARED IS SOMETHING'S GONNA HAPPEN AGAIN, LIKE IT DID IN THAT RESTAURANT, THAT SOMEONE'S GONNA TAKE JUSTICE IN THEIR OWN HANDS.
AND LIKE I SAID, I'M A KINDERGARTEN TEACH.
I USED TO BE A KINDERGARTEN TEACHER.
I DON'T WANNA SLEEP IN MY BAR WITH A WEAPON.
ALL THOSE IN FAVOR OPPOSED? MOTION GRANTED.
ALL THOSE IN FAVOR OPPOSED? MOTION GRANTED.
AND JUST VERY QUICKLY, 'CAUSE AGAIN, GIVEN YOUR ORGANIZATION, I WOULD ALSO STRONGLY ENCOURAGE, IT'S GREAT THAT YOU'RE HERE TODAY.
WHEN WE WE'RE THROWING THE NAME, THE WORD COURTS AROUND A LOT, UH, OUR STATE LEGISLATURE IS IN SESSION RIGHT NOW, AND IT'S VOICES LIKE YOURS AND ENTITIES.
LAST SESSION, OUR, UH, OUR STATE REPRESENTATIVES TRIED TO EXPAND THE COURTS.
THEY HAVEN'T BEEN EXPANDED IN DECADES.
WE NEED MORE CAPACITY IN OUR COURTS.
THE LEGISLATURE HASN'T PASSED IT OR FUNDED IT.
SO I WOULD ENCOURAGE YOU ALL AS AN ORGANIZING ENTITY TO ALSO GEAR UP AND RAMP UP FOR SESSION BECAUSE A LOT OF THOSE STATE LAWS HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO MAKE WHAT HAPPENS HERE LOCALLY A LOT BETTER FOR BUSINESS.
AND, AND MS. BURSON, UH, PLEASE VERIFY THE PHONE NUMBER THAT WE HAVE ON RECORD, MR. RUIZ.
AND I'M SURE SERGEANT HERNDON WILL GIVE YOU A CALL.
NEXT SPEAKER, BRENDA MURSON HAWKINS.
NEXT SPEAKER, THE BOY ELAINE ALLEN.
MR. SMITH SURPRISED HE'S NOT HERE.
GOOD MORNING STILL, MR. MCGUIRE BE FOLLOWED BY STEVE WILLIAMS. YES, SIR.
OH, I BELIEVE THIS IS ON RIGHT.
I'M A FILM AND TV PRODUCER AND A NATIVE HOUSTONIAN.
I LIVED IN LOS ANGELES FOR ABOUT A DECADE, AND I MOVED BACK TO HOUSTON IN 2022, UH, 2020 WHEN THE PANDEMIC HAPPENED.
I SEE A GREAT OPPORTUNITY FOR THE CITY OF HOUSTON WHEN IT COMES TO FILM AND TV AND ENTERTAINMENT.
BEING IN LOS ANGELES FOR OVER A DECADE.
WE HAVE THE CITY, WE HAVE THE TALENT, WE HAVE THE BUSINESSES TO REALLY DRIVE THIS ECONOMY.
AND I WOULD LOVE TO WORK AND PARTNER WITH THE CITY AND LOCAL BUSINESSES AND LOCAL CREATIVE ORGANIZATIONS TO BE THE CONNECTIVE TISSUE IN REGARDS TO TELLING OUR STORIES.
PEOPLE OF COLOR, FILMMAKERS OF COLOR.
SO I'VE CURATED A PROGRAM THAT ASSISTS WITH, UH, DEVELOPING A PIPELINE THAT TRAINS THE NEXT GENERATION OF FILMMAKERS AND CREATE A SPACE FOR FILMMAKERS OF COLOR AND IRRIGATE AN ECOSYSTEM THAT HOUSTON CAN REALLY BENEFIT FROM.
BY THE YEAR OF 2024, AFRICAN AMERICANS IS ON TREND TO SPEND $1.8 TRILLION.
SO THAT'S A HUGE OPPORTUNITY WHEN IT COMES TO THE ENTERTAINMENT INDUSTRY AND OUR MARKET AND TELLING OUR STORIES.
[01:20:01]
MYSELF AND HOPEFULLY I CAN SHARE THE PROGRAM WITH YOU GUYS, UM, AND, AND CONTINUE THIS CONVERSATION.I APPRECIATE YOUR TIME, AND I LOOK FORWARD TO CONTINUING THE CONVERSATION IF POSSIBLE.
THANK YOU MR. MCGUIRE FOR COMING TODAY.
UM, PART OF OUR WORK, UH, WHEN WE ARE PARTNERING WITH THE LEGISLATIVE SESSION IS TO ENCOURAGE, UH, THE GOVERNOR FOR MORE DOLLARS FOR INCENTIVES, UM, FOR FILMMAKING, UH, IN THE STATE OF TEXAS.
AND IT'S MY UNDERSTANDING THAT HE'S VERY SUPPORTIVE OF IT.
BUT I WILL, UM, TAKE THIS OPPORTUNITY TO TELL YOU TO, UM, ALSO, UH, HELP US TO ADVOCATE FOR MORE INCENTIVES, UM, FROM THE STATE OF TEXAS, UM, PARTICULARLY, UM, OUR GOVERNOR OF TEXAS, SO THAT WE CAN PROVIDE, UM, COMPETITIVE INCENTIVES TO OTHER STATES, UH, FOR FILMMAKING.
UH, THE CITY OF HOUSTON WANTS MORE FILMMAKING IN, IN THE CITY OF HOUSTON.
OUR ORGANIZATIONS ARE, UM, I, I THINK HOUSTON IS A GREAT BACKDROP FOR, FOR FILMING.
UH, AND WE ARE CONSTANTLY ADVOCATING FOR PEOPLE TO COME TO HOUSTON, BUT WE HAVE TO HAVE THE DOLLARS TO COMPETE WITH THE INCENTIVES LIKE ATLANTA MM-HMM
AND SOME OF THOSE OTHER PLACES THAT CONSTANTLY GET THE MOVIE BACKDROP.
SO, UH, WE'D LOVE TO HAVE YOU BE AN ADDITIONAL VOICE FOR US, UM, YOU KNOW, WITH YOUR EXPERTISE AND WHAT IT TAKES TO ATTRACT THESE FILMS, UM, TO THE CITY OF HOUSTON AND IN THE STATE OF TEXAS.
AND I WOULD ALSO LOVE TO USE MY RESOURCES AND NETWORK OVER THE COURSE IN LOS ANGELES, IN ATLANTA.
I, UH, WORKING WITH CITY MEMBERS OF ATLANTA AS WELL, THAT HELP BRING A CITY OF ATLANTA TO WHERE IT IS.
AND I KNOW WE CAN DO THE SAME.
WE HAVE TOP TIER TALENT COUNCIL MEMBERS, PEOPLE THAT WORK FOR THE CITY AND THE GREAT STATE, AND ALSO THE COMMUNITY AND FILMMAKERS.
SO I'LL BE, UH, HONORED TO DO SO AND WORK WITH YOU GUYS TO, TO ACCOMPLISH.
AND ALSO, MAY I SUGGEST THAT YOU MEET TRACY PRINCE, WHO'S SITTING IN THE AUDIENCE, UM, WITH, UH, HOUSTON FIRST.
UH, THAT ALSO WILL BE A, A GOOD RESOURCE FOR YOU.
WE APPRECIATE YOU BEING HERE TODAY.
COUNCIL MEMBER DAVID ROBINSON.
MR. TARANTINO, I, I MEAN, MR. MCGUIRE.
THANK, I'M JUST THE AFRICAN AMERICAN VERSION.
TRACY IS VERY MUCH THE PERSON YOU SHOULD MEET.
HOUSTON FIRST IS THE ORGANIZATION THAT HAS SORT OF THE, UH, RESPONSIBILITY TO THE HOUSTON FILM COMMISSION.
AND I COMMEND YOU NOT ONLY TO MS. PRINCE, BUT ALSO TO OUR MAYOR PRO TEM AND MY COLLEAGUE ROBERT GALLEGOS, WHO ARE OUR TWO COUNCIL MEMBER REPRESENTATIVES ON THE HOUSTON FIRST BOARD.
WE ARE, AS THE VICE MAYOR PRO TEM, SAID SO ELOQUENTLY.
WE'RE REALLY WORKING WITH THE STATE TO TRY TO UP OUR GAME.
WE NEED THE INCENTIVES THAT OTHER CITIES HAVE.
BUT AS STATED, HOUSTON IS A GREAT BACKDROP.
WE ARE THE INTERNATIONAL CITY IN, IN THE STATE OF TEXAS AND ON THE SOUTH COAST.
THERE'S WAYS THAT WE CAN HELP AND WE NEED YOUR HELP.
UH, MARKETING THE CITY OF HOUSTON, HOUSTON FIRST IS THE WAY TO GO.
AND, UH, THERE'S LOTS OF FOLKS THAT MS. PRINCE CAN HELP TOO.
AND TO THAT, THE FILMMAKER COMMUNITY, WE'RE ECSTATIC TO HELP.
SO WE ARE GALVANIZED AND READY TO HELP.
UM, AND, AND THANK YOU FOR THAT.
COUNCIL MEMBER ROBERT GALLEGOS.
UH, AND THANK YOU MR. MCGUIRE FOR, UH, TAKING TIME TO COME HERE THIS MORNING.
UM, AND YES, UH, THE, THE STATE, AS YOU KNOW, UH, RIGHT NOW, DEPENDING ON WHO YOU TALK TO, UH, THE LAST I HEARD, THEY HAVE ABOUT 35, 30 $7 BILLION OF SURPLUS MONIES.
UH, SO THIS IS, UH, SOMETHING THAT I'M HOPING THAT OUR GOVERNMENTAL AFFAIRS, UH, LIAISON, UH, BILL KELLY, UH, IS WORKING ON IN AUSTIN.
I KNOW THE MAYOR HAS MENTIONED IT, UH, IN THE PAST IN REGARDS TO WE NEED TO DO A BETTER JOB IN REGARDS TO FILM, UH, MAKING HERE IN THE CITY OF HOUSTON.
UH, MY MY QUESTION TO YOU IS, IS THERE AN ORGANIZATION HERE IN THE CITY OF HOUSTON MADE UP OF, OF, UH, PRODUCERS AND DIRECTORS FOR FILMS? AND SO THIS IS WHAT I HAVE FOUND.
I HAVE TALKED WITH, UH, MR. CERVANTES AT THE FILM, HOUSTON COMMISSION THERE, UM, AND OTHER MEMBERS IN THE CITY WHEN IT COMES TO FILMMAKERS OF COLOR.
AND PARTICULARLY, THERE'S NO SPACES, EVERYBODY, THERE'S, I I SHOULD SAY THERE'S NO CONNECTIVE TISSUE.
THERE'S A LOT OF ORGANIZATIONS DOING THE INDIVIDUAL THING.
UM, BUT THERE IS NO ORGANIZATION THAT'S THE CONNECTIVE TISSUE, THAT'S BOOTS ON THE GROUND, THAT'S WORKING WITH THE ORGANIZATION, THAT'S WORKING WITH THE CITY AND THE COMMUNITY TO CREATE SUCH SPACE.
AND THAT'S WHY I FOUND THE NEED TO CURATE THIS PROGRAM THROUGH, THROUGH MY EFFORTS AS A PRODUCER AND WHAT I DO IN MY CAREER HERE.
SO INDEED, UM, TO, YEAH, BECAUSE I KNOW, UH, DR.
LIRA FORMER, UH, HISD TRUSTEE, HE HAS A SON THAT'S IN MAKE MAKING FILMS. ACTUALLY, HE'S HERE IN HOUSTON.
[01:25:01]
HE'S HERE IN HOUSTON MAKING A FILM.UH, I DUNNO IF IF IT'S DONE YET.
HE TOLD ME ABOUT THIS ABOUT A MONTH AGO.
UH, BUT HE TOLD ME THAT HIS SON FROM LA WAS HERE, UH, PRODUCING A FILM.
UH, SO, UH, SO THERE'S OTHERS NO, THERE'S, THERE'S A LOT OF OTHERS.
THERE'S A LOT OF FILMMAKERS THAT'S PRODUCING GREAT STORIES.
HOWEVER, WHAT HAPPENS IS WITH PEOPLE OF COLOR, WE GET LOST IN THE CRACKS.
'CAUSE THERE'S NO SPACES RIGHT.
UM, AND, AND WHAT HAPPENS IS THERE'S NO GLUE FOR ALL OF THOSE FILMMAKERS TO COME MM-HMM
AND TO BE THE FACE, ONE FACE FOR HOUSTON.
AND THAT, THAT'S WHAT GET LOST.
THERE'S NO COHESIVENESS AND MEANING.
AND, AND THEREFORE I MOTION TO EXTEND THOMAS SECOND.
ALL THOSE IN FAVOR OPPOSED? MOTION GRANTED.
AND, AND LIKE COUNCIL MEMBER ROBINSON STATED THAT, UH, UH, VICE MAYOR TIM, UH, MARTIN AND MYSELF, WE SIT ON THE HOUSTON FIRST BOARD.
UM, UM, UH, I WOULD ENCOURAGE YOU TO PLEASE COME TO ONE OF THE HOUSTON FIRST BOARD MEETINGS.
AND MAYBE BRING OTHERS THAT YOU KNOW OF THAT ARE, ARE PRODUCERS AND DIRECTORS.
BRING THEM AND SAY, HEY, WE NEED HELP.
WE, WE WOULD LIKE TO START AN ORGANIZATION SO THAT WAY WE CAN BENEFIT THE CITY OF HOUSTON.
UH, YOU KNOW, SO, UH, YOU HAVE OUR COMMITMENT.
COUNCIL MEMBER TIFFANY D. THOMAS.
'CAUSE I KNOW WE HAVE TO, UH, MOVE ON.
I JUST WANNA ENCOURAGE YOU TO ALSO ENGAGE WITH THE MAYOR'S DIRECTOR OF, OF CULTURAL ARTS.
SHE'S A WONDERFUL ASSET, HER AND HER TEAM.
AND I THINK IN, YOU KNOW, YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT THAT CONNECTIVE TISSUE.
SHE REALLY ALSO HAS, NOT JUST IN HER SCOPE, BUT A HAND ON THAT, UH, OUR CREATIVE ECONOMY IN THE CITY.
AND SO ALSO STAY ENGAGED WITH HER AS WELL.
STEVE WILLIAMS. MR. WILLIAMS, STEVE WILLIAMS. NEXT SPEAKER LORENZO BUTLER IS NOT PRESENT.
ELLIE MONTOYA RES IS HERE, IS PRESENT.
UM, I HAD A COURT YESTERDAY AND THE CITY, UH, IN CYPRUS.
I GUESS THEY DIDN'T WANT TO GO AGAINST ME.
AND, UM, THIS IS MY FOUNDINGS WHERE PEOPLE WERE ACTUALLY, UH, HELPING ME TO MOVE.
SOMEONE INSTALLED THESE CAMERAS.
AND YESTERDAY I SPOKE TO, UH, HPD AND THE CONSTABLE DEPARTMENT AND BASICALLY TOLD 'EM THAT I, UM, ASKED FOR NOBODY TO PUT SURVEILLANCE IN MY, UH, IN MY APARTMENT.
SO IF ANY IMAGES OF ME BEING NAKED OR IN UNDERWEAR OR, UM, OUT THERE
THESE ARE, UH, BETWEEN 300 AND 500 EACH.
I HAVE FOUR OF THEM IN MY VEHICLE.
AND I MOVE, UH, UH, TO A TASK CA, UH, BY YOUR DISTRICT, BUT BY FEW STREETS.
SPEAKER SPALDING BE FOLLOWED BY KATHY GANTER.
HOW ARE YOU ALL? THANK YOU FOR LETTING ME SPEAK TODAY.
UM, SO I REALLY WANTED TO SPEAK TO YOU ALL REGARDING RESOURCES.
UM, I WANNA TRY TO MAKE THIS AS QUICK AS POSSIBLE.
UM, I AM IN NEED OF A LOT OF HELP.
I ORIGINALLY CAME HERE AFTER, UM, GETTING AWAY FROM FAMILY AND DOMESTIC VIOLENCE WITH MY CHILDREN.
UM, I WENT TO SCHOOL IN FLORIDA AND GRADUATED AND CAME HERE BECAUSE YOU ALL HAVE A REALLY BIG CITY FULL OF OPPORTUNITIES, ESPECIALLY FOR THE AFRICAN AMERICAN DESCENT.
UM, I HAVE SPOKE TO YOU ALL WITHIN THE LAST FEW WEEKS AND TOLD YOU ALL THAT I WAS ABLE TO FIND A HOME AFTER MY DOMESTIC FAMILY VIOLENCE SITUATION.
SO AFTER SPEAKING TO YOU ALL, HEARING SOME OF THE RESOURCES THAT YOU ALL THREW OUT, I DECIDED TO LOOK INTO SOME OF THOSE TO SEE IF THOSE COULD HELP ME BECAUSE MY HOME IS NOT YET STABLE.
UM, I WENT TO TRY TO GO GET FOOD BECAUSE MY CHILDREN ARE NOT WITH ME DUE TO THE CIRCUMSTANCE.
I PLACED THEM WITH THEIR, UM, FATHER.
UM, SO BASICALLY I'M TRYING TO SEE WHAT YOU ALL WOULD REFER FOR PEOPLE LIKE ME TO DO.
UM, I REALLY NEED TO GET MY KIDS BACK HERE BECAUSE WHAT WE DON'T WANT IS A REPEATED CYCLE OF WHAT I HAVE JUST OVERCOME.
UM, THEY NEED TO BE ABLE TO BE WITH ME AND
[01:30:01]
BE ABLE TO LEARN FROM ME AND ME NURTURE THEM THE WAY THAT THEY SHOULD BE.YOUR TIME HAS EXPIRED AND THANK YOU MS. BALD.
AND IT SOUNDS LIKE THINGS MAY HAVE STABILIZED A LITTLE BIT SINCE YOUR LAST APPEARED IN FRONT OF US.
YOU TALKED TO MR. MARK EICHENBAUM, WHO WE GAVE YOU HIS NAME TO.
HE'S IN CHARGE OF OUR HOMELESS INITIATIVES RELATED TO THE CITY OF HOUSTON.
BUT I'VE ALREADY NEEDS WRAPAROUND SERVICES.
I NEED TO BE ABLE TO HAVE UTILITIES.
UM, I AM CURRENTLY, I DON'T EVEN KNOW IF I SHOULD SAY THIS, BUT MY APARTMENT PEOPLE ARE JUST ALLOWING ME TO STAY THERE.
THERE'S THE, THE INSURANCE THAT HAS TO BE PLACED BECAUSE YOU ALL HAVE GOTTEN THIS INITIATIVE TOGETHER TO BE ABLE TO PUT US IN BETTER HOUSING, WHICH WAS GREAT.
NE QUEST HAS BEEN SO HELPFUL WITH ME WITH THAT.
BUT IT'S LIKE NOW I, I'M 10 DAYS LOSING MY PLACE BECAUSE I CAN'T SUSTAIN LIGHTS TRYING TO WORK, TRYING TO GET TO INTERVIEWS, TRYING TO GET THE FOOD, TRYING TO GET TO YES MA'AM.
YOU KNOW WHAT I MEAN? SO YES MA'AM.
THAT'S WHY I CAME HERE TO SEE IF MAYBE YOU SMART, INTELLIGENT PEOPLE COULD
AND I, AND I RE I REMEMBER WHEN YOU, YOU VISITED US, UM, YOU'RE A LITTLE NORTH OF MY DISTRICT, BUT YOU'RE IN G AND COUNCIL MEMBER, UH, HUFFMAN'S DISTRICT.
HOWEVER, THERE'S A COUPLE OF THINGS THAT WE CAN DO.
DO YOU HAVE AN ASSIGNED CASE MANAGER WHEN YOU WERE, UM, HOUSED THROUGH NEST NEST QUEST? YES MA'AM.
DID THEY ASSIGN YOU A CASE MANAGER? YES, MA'AM.
AND ARE YOU WORKING WITH THEIR CASE MANAGER FOR THOSE UTILITIES? YES MA'AM.
SHE HAS, WE HAVE WORKED TOGETHER THE, OVER THE LAST ALMOST MONTH NOW DILIGENTLY TRYING TO FIND, THERE ARE NO RESOURCES FOR PEOPLE WHO EITHER DON'T HAVE THEIR CHILDREN WITH THEM TO START UTILITIES DO NOT HAVE A ODOR BILL THAT'S OLDER THAN THREE MONTHS OR OLDER.
SO THE FACT THAT MY UTILITY SITUATION IS A WHOLE NOTHER SITUATION.
THE YOUNG LADY THAT WAS HERE SPEAKING ABOUT THE WEATHERIZATION PROGRAM YEP.
THAT I CAN DEFINITELY VOUCH FOR BECAUSE A LOT OF THESE APARTMENTS, THE METERS ARE NOT WORKING PROPERLY.
SO I HAD A OLD BILL THAT STILL IS WITH CENTER POINT TRYING TO INVESTIGATE.
SO I JUST WANNA MAKE SURE THAT I'M CLEAR ABOUT YOUR ASK 'CAUSE WE KNOW WE HAVE LIMITED TIME.
SO YOU NEED ASSISTANCE WITH GETTING YOUR UTILITIES CONNECTED.
YOU NUMBER TWO, YOU NEED ACCESS TO FOOD YES.
SO THERE'S AN AGENCY I'M MEETING WITH THE CEO TODAY AT TWO O'CLOCK WEST HOUSTON'S ASSISTANCE MINISTRY.
THEY'RE FUNDED, THEY'RE READY TO GO, THEY'RE ABLE TO ASSIST YOU.
I'M GONNA GET YOUR CONTACT INFORMATION, WE'RE GONNA GET YOU KEYED IN, BUT I WANNA MAKE SURE THAT YOUR CASE MANAGER IS ALSO WORKING TO MAKE SURE YOU HAVE YES.
SHE'S EVERYTHING THAT SHE'S ASKED ME TO DO OR I ASKED HER, WE WORKED TOGETHER VERY DILIGENTLY.
SO, BUT THAT UTILITY PIECE IS VERY CRITICAL.
UH, AND THEN ALSO YOU HAVING ACCESS TO FRUIT FOOD TO MAINTAIN FOR YOURSELF.
'CAUSE YOU, ONCE YOU'RE HOUSED, YOU STILL HAVE TO STABILIZE YES MA'AM.
SO THEN YOU CAN DO ON YOUR OWN, RIGHT? YES MA'AM.
SO YOU'RE KIND OF CAUGHT IN THAT MIDDLE.
UM, I'M GONNA VERIF, IS THIS YOUR, UM, INFORMATION? CAN YOU LEAVE YOUR CONTACT PHONE NUMBER WITH MR. RENEE? SO I HAVE AN INTERNET PHONE NUMBER.
SO WE SO VERIFY YOUR INTERNET, WHATEVER YOUR NUMBER IS.
WE'LL GET TO YOU TODAY AND WE'RE GONNA FOLLOW UP.
AND THEN I ALSO WANT THE INFORMATION TO YOUR CASE MANAGER.
I DIDN'T EVEN KNOW THEY WERE GONNA BE HERE.
I JUST NEED YOUR CASE MANAGER.
AND I JUST WANTED TO THANK YOU FOR SPEAKING 'CAUSE YOU'RE NOT ONLY SPEAKING FOR YOU, YOU ARE TALKING ABOUT WHAT THOUSANDS OF WOMEN AND FAMILIES GO THROUGH.
THEY MAY HAVE SECURED THAT HOUSING, BUT AS COUNCIL MEMBER THOMAS SAID, YOU'RE NOW STUCK IN THE MIDDLE.
YOU HAVE THE UTILITIES, YOU HAVE THE FOOD.
YOU'RE TRYING TO TAKE CARE OF YOUR CHILDREN AND GET THEM BACK BECAUSE YOU KNOW THAT'S THE RIGHT PLACE FOR THEM IS WITH YOU SAFE AND SOUND.
UM, ONE THING, I KNOW WE KEEP TALKING ABOUT THE GREAT WORK OF MARK EICHENBAUM, UH, BUT WE'RE PAST THAT STAGE OF IT.
I DO WANNA POINT OUT THOUGH, IN MY HOPE IS THAT, UM, MENAL PATEL DAVIS WITH THE MAYOR'S OFFICE OF NOT ONLY HUMAN TRAFFICKING, BUT NOW DOMESTIC VIOLENCE, UH, IS ALSO LISTENING AND CAN OFFER RESOURCES.
BECAUSE ONE OF THE FOCUSES AND WHEN WE TALK ABOUT DOMESTIC VIOLENCE IS THE JOB SECURITY AND THE FUNDING AND THE PROGRAMMING THAT'S SUPPOSED TO BE TAKING PLACE TO ASSIST INDIVIDUALS LIKE YOU.
SO, UH, YOU GOT A TEAM HERE THAT'S ROOTING FOR YOU, AND NOT JUST YOU, BUT OTHERS IN YOUR POSITION.
BUT I DO HOPE, I KNOW THE MAYOR IS NOT PRESENT TODAY, BUT THAT HIS TEAM IS LISTENING, UH, BECAUSE THAT IS SOMETHING THAT, UH, ONE OF THE MAYOR'S OFFICES IS ALSO SUPPOSED TO BE
[01:35:01]
HELPING WITH.AND, UM, WE'LL ASK MR. RUIZ TO GET YOU CONNECTED WITH MS. MANNE PATEL DAVIS.
AND ALSO, YOU'RE IN GREAT HANDS WITH CHAIRWOMAN TIFFANY THOMAS.
WE HAVE THE RESOURCES TO HELP.
KATHY GUNTER, NEXT SPEAKER, SARAH BELL EDWARDS.
SARAH BELL EDWARDS NEXT SPEAKER.
THAT COMPLETES THE LIST OF SPEAKERS.
[NON CONSENT - MATTERS TO BE PRESENTED BY COUNCIL MEMBERS]
MOVE INTO POPOFF AND WE'LL START TODAY WITH COUNCIL MEMBER MARY NAN HUFFMAN PASS, COUNCIL MEMBER CISNEROS.I JUST WANNA MAKE AN ANNOUNCEMENT, UM, NEXT FEBRUARY, THIS COMING FEBRUARY, JUST A COUPLE WEEKS, IS, UH, LOVE YOUR PET MONTH.
AND, UM, THERE WILL BE SO MANY THINGS GOING ON AND OPPORTUNITIES FOR, UH, FREE SPAY NEUTER SURGERIES, BUT THERE ARE ALREADY SIGNUPS THAT ARE, ARE POSSIBLE TO SIGN UP FOR SOME EVENTS THAT HAPPEN IN EARLY FEBRUARY.
SO I JUST WANTED TO DRAW ATTENTION TO THAT.
ON FEBRUARY 4TH, THERE WILL BE AN EMPTY SHELTER PROJECT FOR QUALIFYING ZIP CODES AROUND, IN AND AROUND DENVER HARBOR.
SO IF YOU GO TO THE, UM, LOVE YOUR PET MONTH WEBSITE, JUST, UM, TYPE INTO GOOGLE LOVE YOUR PET MONTH, THERE WILL BE, UM, OPPORTUNITIES TO, TO SIGN UP RIGHT THERE.
AND, UM, AND, AND REGISTER FOR, FOR FREE, UH, A A LOT OF FREE THINGS INCLUDING, UM, SPAY NEUTER SURGERIES, MICRO CHIPPING, AND VACCINATIONS.
DAVE MARTIN PASS, VICE MAYOR PRO TEM.
THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE MEETING WILL, UM, TAKE PLACE TODAY AT 2:00 PM AND WE WILL HAVE A REPORT FROM THE HOUSTON AIRPORT SYSTEM DIRECTOR, UH, DIAZ ON, UH, SPACEPORT LAND USE PLAN, AND AN UPDATE ON THE I TRIP PROGRAM.
AND THEN ALSO WANT TO CONGRATULATE UNITED ON THE OPENING OF THEIR NEW $32 MILLION IN-FLIGHT TRAINING CENTER.
ON YESTERDAY, UH, A COUPLE OF THE COUNCIL MEMBERS JOINED THE MAYOR AND OTHER ELECTED OFFICIALS FOR THIS GRAND OPENING.
UH, IN 2023 ALONE, UNITED IS LOOKING TO HIRE AN ADDITIONAL, I MEAN, TO TRAIN AND HIRE AN ADDITIONAL 4,000 NEW FLIGHT ATTENDANTS.
SO THE ECONOMIC IMPACT, UH, THAT THIS NEW FACILITY WILL HAVE IS GONNA BE TREMENDOUS IN THE CITY OF HOUSTON.
UH, TONIGHT THERE, UH, TOMORROW JANUARY 19TH, THERE IS A DEVELOPER'S NETWORKING RECEPTION AT THE COLLECTIVE, WHICH IS FORMERLY THE POWER CENTER.
UH, DEVELOPERS ARE ENCOURAGED TO COME OUT AND NETWORK EXCHANGE INFORMATION AND RESOURCES.
DEPUTY DIRECTOR WYNN TILLESON BELL FROM THE OFFICE OF ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT WILL BE OUR SPEAKER, AND WE LOOK FORWARD TO ENGAGING WITH DEVELOPERS WHO ARE LOOKING TO, UM, DO BUSINESS IN, IN THE IN DISTRICT A AND AROUND THE CITY OF HOUSTON.
DUE TO THE IMPEDING RAIN, THE ARBOR DAY TREE PLANTING CELEBRATION AT GLENS SHIRE PARK THAT WAS SCHEDULED FOR, UH, THIS SATURDAY IS POSTPONED.
UH, THE PARKS DEPARTMENT IS WORKING ON A A, A RESCHEDULED DATE, UH, RAIN OR SHINE, THOUGH WE WILL BE SHREDDING DOCUMENTS.
SO IF, UH, COMMUNITY MEMBERS HAVE BEEN SAVING AND PACKED UP THEIR ITEMS TO SHRED, UH, TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY ARE DISPOSING OF THEIR ITEMS PROPERLY.
UH, WE WILL HAVE OUR SHRED DAY ON SATURDAY AT WESTBURY UNITED METHODIST CHURCH, AND ALSO ON, UH, WEST F WAY AT NEW FAITH CHURCH.
ALSO AT NEW FAITH CHURCH, YOU CAN BRING, UH, PAPER AND SMALL ELECTRONICS.
AND THEN ON THE 28TH, WE WILL BE SHREDDING AGAIN.
IF YOU CAN'T DO IT ON THIS SATURDAY, ON THE 28TH, WE'LL BE IN FORT BEND, HOUSTON FOR OUR SHRED DAY AT.
I AM HAVING A BRAIN FREEZE, UH, ON THE 28TH.
WE WILL HAVE IT IN FORT BEND, HOUSTON AT THE CLUBHOUSE.
I'M TALKING ABOUT
WE HAVE OUR SPECIAL PIP MEETING.
WE WILL DO BE DOING A BRIEF STATE OF THE COMMUNITY.
AND, UM, COMMANDER HASSIG WILL TALK ABOUT OUR, OUR STATISTICS IN DISTRICT A.
UH, IF YOU ARE NOT RECEIVING OUR DISTRICT A NEWSLETTER, PLEASE UH, SIGN UP AT DISTRICT A@HOUSTONTX.GOV, BE KIND TO EACH OTHER AND MAKE IT A GREAT DAY.
UH, FIRST OF ALL, I WANNA START OFF BY CONGRATULATING COUNCIL MEMBER TIFFANY THOMAS.
I ATTENDED THE, UH, THE, UH, RIBBON CUTTING OF THE ALE COMMUNITY CENTER.
UH, THIS IS A COMMUNITY CENTER THAT I'M HOPING THE, UH, REST OF THE CITY IN TIME, UH, WILL FOLLOW.
UH, I MEAN, IT, IT WAS INCREDIBLE.
UH, IT WAS INCREDIBLE IN REGARDS TO THE, UH, NUMBER OF OFFICES THAT ARE ALL UNDER ONE ROOF.
UH, FOR EXAMPLE, A PASSPORT OFFICE, UH,
[01:40:01]
NEIGHBORHOOD CENTERS IS OFFERING PROGRAMMING AND LUNCH FOR SENIORS.UM, THE, UH, WIC OFFICE, A, UH, LIBRARY, A TECH, A TECH LINK CENTER, UH, A GYM GYMNASIUM, UH, WITH A, UH, TRACK.
UH, AND THEN, UH, YOU'VE GOT A SWIMMING, A BEAUTIFUL SWIMMING POOL.
UH, YOU HAVE A BEAUTIFUL PLAYGROUND.
UH, I MEAN THIS, THIS WAS INCREDIBLE.
UH, I, I SAW THE MAYOR, I SAW COUNCIL MEMBER TIFFANY THOMAS, ALL PROUD, UH, AND HAPPY.
UH, AND, UH, YOU KNOW, THIS IS SOMETHING THAT I WISH THE CITY, UH, WOULD'VE UNDERTAKEN YEARS AND YEARS AND YEARS AGO.
UH, I MEAN, TO KNOW THAT ALL THESE OFFICES ARE UNDER ONE ROOF.
SO I'M HOPING THIS IS SOMETHING THAT THE CITY WILL CONTINUE DOING IN THE FUTURE.
UH, LAST WEEKEND I ALSO ATTENDED, UH, I WANT TO THANK, UH, REPRESENTATIVE JEAN WU AND MAYA SHEA, UH, CELEBRATING THE LU LUNAR NEW YEAR IN THEIR BEAUTIFUL HOME.
UH, SO THANK YOU FOR THE INVITATION.
THERE WAS A LOT OF PEOPLE THERE.
UH, AND IT WAS, IT WAS A, AN EVENING OF A, OF A LOT OF FUN.
UH, AND THEN, UH, YESTERDAY, UM, I JOINED, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER ROBINSON, UH, CHIEF, UH, PENA.
UH, WE ONCE AGAIN, UH, WENT TO, UH, UNION PACIFIC'S DISPATCH, UH, IN, IN, IN SPRING.
UM, DID THIS, UH, BACK IN 2019, RIGHT BEFORE COVID, UH, CONGRESSWOMAN GARCIA AND MYSELF AND REPRESENTATIVES FROM OUR STATE LEGISLATURES, UH, WERE THERE, UH, IN, IN, IN REGARDS TO A TOUR OF THEIR DISPATCH.
UM, BACK THEN, UH, THEY GAVE US A TOUR OF THEIR DISPATCH.
THEY TOOK US INTO A CONFERENCE ROOM, AND THEY JUST HEARD US COMPLAIN ABOUT THE, THE TRAINS BLOCKING INTERSECTIONS AND, AND, AND SAFETY ISSUES IN REGARDS TO THE TRAINS BLOCKING CROSSINGS.
AND, UH, BUT THERE WAS NO ANSWERS.
UH, BUT YESTERDAY, YESTERDAY WAS DIFFERENT.
YESTERDAY THERE WAS A DANIEL JAIS SUPERINTENDENT OF TRAIN OPERATIONS FOR THE SOUTHERN REGION.
UH, WE HAD TYSON O MOYER, UH, GENERAL DIRECTOR OF NETWORK PLANNING AND OPERATIONS.
UH, WE HAD SEVERAL OTHER INDIVIDUALS THERE FROM UNION PACIFIC IN THE MEETING, AFTER WE DID THE TOUR OF THEIR DISPATCH, UH, UH, CHIEF BEYA WAS ABLE TO, UH, HAVE TIME TO DISCUSS THE ISSUES AND CONCERNS IN REGARDS TO EMERGENCY EQUIPMENT BE INSTALLED BECAUSE OF THESE TRAINS BLOCKING OUR CROSSINGS.
UH, AND, UH, THAT THEY ARE ALSO, UH, MENTIONED THAT THEY ARE GETTING EMAILS FROM THE FRA, UH, IN REGARDS TO BLOCK CROSSING.
SO I KNOW THAT IN OUR SOCIAL MEDIA, WE ARE CONSTANTLY PLACING IT OUT THERE, ASKING PEOPLE TO PLEASE NOTIFY BY CALLING 8 8 8 8 7 7 7 2 6 7 TO REPORT A CROSSING BLOCKED, OR GO ONLINE AND, UH, TO WWW.FDOT.DO GO GOV, UH, SLASH BLOCKED CROSSINGS.
UH, WE WERE INFORMED THAT THEY GET THESE EMAILS, UNION PACIFIC DOES, AND THEN THEY HAVE TO JUMP ON IT.
THEY HAVE TO GO FIGURE OUT WHY WAS A TRAIN BLOCKING A CROSSING.
UH, AND THEN THEY HAVE TO REPORT BACK TO THE FRA.
I KNOW WE HAVE A LOT OF RESIDENTS THAT ARE CONCERNED CLAIMING THAT THEY DO CALL, THEY DO GO ONLINE, THEY DO REPORT, BUT THEY NEVER HEAR ANYTHING.
WELL, IT DOES WORK BECAUSE THEY TOLD US YESTERDAY, THEY GET THESE EMAILS FROM THE FRA AND THEY HAVE TO REPORT BACK TO THE FR.
SO I'M ENCOURAGING EVERYONE TO POLICE, AGAIN, WHEN YOU'RE SITTING THERE BECAUSE OF A BLOCK TRAIN.
CALL 8 8 8 8 7 7 7 2 6 7 TO REPORT THE, THE, UH, BLOCK CROSSING OR GO TO F DO.DO GOV SLASH BLOCK CROSSINGS TO REPORT THE BLOCK TRAIN.
UH, WE DIS WE DISCUSSED THE EAST END, UH, QUIET ZONE, EAST END ONE QUIET ZONE.
UH, AND WHEN WILL THAT BE COMPLETED? UH, AND WE ALSO DISCUSSED EAST END QUIET ZONE THREE, WHICH RUNS PARALLEL TO HARRISBURG IN REGARDS TO WHEN THAT WILL START.
UH, UH, AND, UH, THEY'RE SUPPOSED TO BE REPORTING BACK TO US, SO THEN WE CAN GET WITH PUBLIC WORKS AND WE CAN HOPEFULLY FINALIZE THESE QUIET ZONES IN THE EAST END.
SO, WITH ALL THAT SAID, NOW I WANT TO END IN A SAD NOTE.
UH, YESTERDAY, I MAY HAVE A MOVE EXTEND.
UH, YESTERDAY, UH, I WENT TO A VIEWING, UH, YIA MARIA GARCIA.
I KNOW, UH, COUNCIL MEMBERS, UH, BACK ON MARCH 11TH, 2018.
UH, HER FAMILY BROUGHT HER HERE.
UH, MAYOR PRESENTED TO HER A PROCLAMATION TO CELEBRATE HER 104TH
[01:45:01]
BIRTHDAY BACK ON MARCH 11TH, 2018.UH, SHE PASSED AWAY AND SHE PASSED AWAY AT 108 YEARS OLD.
UM, HER, UH, BIRTHDAY WOULD'VE BEEN ON MARCH 11TH.
UM, BUT WHAT WAS AMAZING WAS, UH, THEY HAD THE, UH, PROCLAMATION THERE AT THE FUNERAL HOME.
UH, THEY ALSO ON THE, UH, PHOTOS, UM, SHOWING HER LIFE, UH, IT, IT, IT, IT, IT, IT, IT, IT WAS AMAZING TO SEE THAT, UH, THERE WERE, THEY SHOWED PICTURES OF HER CELEBRATING WHERE HER 100TH, HER 101, HER 102.
UH, AND THAT WAS JUST AMAZING TO SEE THOSE PHOTOS WITH HER AND HER SMILE.
UH, SO AGAIN, I WANNA WISH THE FAMILY, HER SON, JUAN GARCIA, HER DAUGHTER-IN-LAW, HER LINDA GARCIA AND FAMILY, UH, MY CONDOLENCES ONCE, ONCE AGAIN, AND YOU'RE IN OUR PRAYERS.
COUNCIL MEMBER DAVID ROBINSON.
I WANNA FOLLOW UP ON A COUPLE OF MY COLLEAGUES, JUST FIRST OF ALL, UH, TO COUNCIL MEMBER GALLEGOS WITH THE UNION PACIFIC MEETING YESTERDAY.
I THINK PROMISING, UH, THEY'RE LEARNING TECHNOLOGY, THEY'RE LEARNING ABOUT THE SYSTEM.
UH, SOMETIMES IT IS OF COURSE, FRUSTRATING WHEN YOU HEAR THEM DESCRIBE THE INTRICATE WEB OF, UM, RAILROAD CONNECTIONS AS A SPAGHETTI BOWL.
BUT, UM, NONETHELESS, IT IS CLEAR, I THINK THE COUNCIL MEMBER GALLEGOS AND ME AND CHIEF PENA, THAT THEY ARE WORKING ON OUR INTERESTS ON ALLEVIATING SOME OF THE PROBLEMS AT THE CRITICAL RAIL CROSSINGS AND NEEDING TO WORK WITH OUR FEDERAL GOVERNMENT AND THE STATE, UH, TO GET CRITICAL FUNDS FOR THOSE PROBLEM AREAS.
UH, SO THAT WAS, THAT WAS AN EXCITING MEETING YESTERDAY.
OF COURSE, THE VICE MAYOR, PRO TEM SPOKE OF THE UNITED, UH, FACILITY UP AT INTERCONTINENTAL AIRPORT.
AND, UH, BOY, THAT WAS, UH, SOMETHING TO SEE, AND AGAIN, SPEAKS OF, UH, THE IMPORTANCE OF DESIGN IN OUR COMMUNITY.
WE'VE BEEN HEARING THAT, UH, WITH THE GREAT ACCOLADES OF, UH, THE FACILITY IN ALE FOR COUNCIL MEMBER THOMAS AND HER DISTRICT.
AND, UH, I JUST WANT TO POINT TO THAT RECURRING THEME.
OF COURSE, IT'S ONE THAT MATTERS TO ME.
BUT IN OUR AFFORDABLE, UM, IN OUR HOUSING AND COMMUNITY AFFAIRS WORK, WE'RE TALKING ABOUT AFFORDABLE HOUSING.
AND SO MUCH OF YESTERDAY'S DISCUSSION WAS FOCUSED ON THE IMPORTANCE OF DESIGN AND NOT DEGRADATING THE, YOU KNOW, THE WORK THAT IS GOING ON IN OUR COMMUNITIES, LOOKING AT PLEASANTVILLE AND DISTRICT B, WE'RE LOOKING AT DIFFERENT COMMUNITIES WHERE THE GLO IS PROVIDING SUBSTANDARD HOUSING.
AND THAT IS NOT A TERM THAT I USE LIGHTLY.
IT IS SOMETHING WE NEED TO HIGH TO HOLD TO A HIGHER STANDARD AT THE STATE AND FOR OUR CITY, FOR OUR GREAT COMMUNITIES.
AND IT'S SOMETHING WE NEED TO DO AS A BODY.
AND I FEEL VERY STRONGLY ABOUT THAT.
UM, AND, AND JUST WANT TO WANNA MAKE, MAKE IT AN A SCORE AND EXTRA EMPHASIS ON THAT.
WE HAVE SO MUCH GOOD GOING ON IN THIS CITY BETWEEN OUR COMMUNITY CENTERS.
THE GREAT TURNOUT AT THE MLK FACILITY, YOU KNOW, OUR GRAND MARSHALL THIS YEAR, 45TH IN THE HISTORY OF THE PARADE IN THIS CITY, WAS OUR MAYOR, SYLVESTER TURNER.
UM, THAT WAS A FESTIVAL FOR ALL TO ENJOY.
UH, THERE WAS THE ITEM ON TODAY'S AGENDA FOR THE PROMISING DESIGN OF THE GALVESTON BAY PARK PLAN.
UM, THIS IS A GREAT CITY THAT DESERVES EXCELLENCE IN DESIGN, AND I'M REALLY EXCITED ABOUT THAT.
SO I THINK WITH THAT, UH, MAYOR PRO TEM, I YIELD COMING FROM AN ARCHITECT, THAT MEANS A LOT.
SO, COUNCIL MEMBER AND QUEEN OF A LEAF, TIFFANY D. THOMAS, IT WAS GREAT MEETING YOUR DAD, BY THE WAY.
THANK YOU TO EVERYONE THAT CAME TO SOUTHWEST A LEAVE TEXAS.
SO DISTRICT F IS CLEARLY NO LONGER FORGOTTEN, BUT WE ARE THE FUTURE.
WHEN YOU, WHEN YOU, WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE INVESTMENT IN THE CITY, THAT'S WHAT WE'RE GONNA MODEL IN OTHER PARTS OF THE NEIGHBORHOOD, UH, THROUGHOUT THE CITY.
SO IT WAS A GREAT DAY FOR US, BUT IT WAS A GREAT DAY FOR THE CITY AND THE TYPE OF INNOVATION, UH, YOU MENTIONED DESIGN, BUT JUST, YOU KNOW, TO HAVE THREE DEPARTMENTS IN-HOUSE AS TENANTS, ONE STOP SHOP.
UM, EXCITED FOR WHAT WILL YIELD FROM THAT FOR YEARS TO COME.
UM, WHAT WAS ALSO MENTIONED WAS LUNAR NEW YEAR.
UH, THE CHINESE NEW YEAR IS THIS SATURDAY, AND THAT'S THE YEAR OF THE RABBIT.
THE VIETNAMESE LUNAR NEW YEAR'S, UH, IS ALSO IS THE YEAR OF THE CAT.
SO BE CLEAR ABOUT THAT WHEN Y'ALL ARE GOING THROUGHOUT THESE NEIGHBORHOODS.
UM, UH, AND, AND CONTINUE TO CELEBRATE WITH THEM ALL.
AND WE'LL BE IN DISTRICT F FOR A SERIES OF, UH, EVENTS.
AND SO HERITAGE CELEBRATIONS AND WANNA ENCOURAGE RESIDENTS TO DO THAT.
UH, TODAY, UH, ON WEDNESDAY, I HAVE A SERIES OF MEETINGS IN, IN THE DISTRICT AND, UH, MEETING WITH THE WEST HOUSTON ASSISTANCE MINISTRY, CEO, TO CONTINUE TO TALK ABOUT OUR PARTNERSHIP AND MAKING SURE THAT OUR UNHOUSED RESIDENTS HAVE ACCESS TO THE SERVICES BECAUSE WE APPROVED A QUARTER MILLION DOLLAR ITEM
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FOR THEM A COUPLE OF MONTHS AGO.IN ADDITION TO THAT, I'M MEETING WITH THE FRIENDS OF RASMUS PARK TONIGHT TO LOOK AT HOW WE CONTINUE TO INVEST IN OUR GREEN SPACES.
SO THANK YOU SO MUCH, AND, UM, STAY TUNED TO OUR NEWSLETTER THAT'S COMING OUT TOMORROW.
COUNCIL MEMBER TARSHA JACKSON.
UM, AND, UM, I WANT TOO, WANNA SAY CONGRATULATIONS TO, UM, COUNCIL MEMBER THOMAS ON THE OPENING OF THE A LEAF CENTER.
THAT WAS AMAZING AND TO THE ALE COMMUNITY.
UM, IT WAS JUST A LOT OF ENERGY.
UM, FOLKS WAS EXCITED TO ALL THE, THE CITY DEPARTMENTS WHO PARTICIPATED.
THE MAYOR, YOU KNOW, I WAS GLAD TO PARTICIPATE, SO CONGRATULATIONS.
UM, ALSO WANT TO, UM, INVITE THE DISTRICT, WE, RESIDENTS OR EVERYONE'S WELCOME, UM, TO OUR DISTRICT B BRIEFING THIS SATURDAY ON JANUARY 21ST.
UM, WE WILL HAVE OUR FIRST DISTRICT B BRIEFING IN, IN PERSON.
UM, THIS BRIEFING WILL TAKE PLACE AT THE CASHMERE MULTI-SERVICE CENTER LOCATED AT 48 0 2 LOCKWOOD DRIVE.
UM, STARTS AT 10:00 AM AND WE'LL BE DISCUSSING, YOU KNOW, JUST LOOKING AT OUR ACCOMPLISHMENTS, UM, IN 2022.
AND THEN PLANNING FOR 2023, YOU KNOW, FOCUSING ON OUR MAIN PRIORITIES, WHICH IS ILLEGAL DUMPING, ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, PUBLIC SAFETY, AND MOST IMPORTANTLY, OUR PARKS.
UM, I'LL ALSO OUTLINE THE, UM, DITCH MAINTENANCE PROGRAM THAT WE WILL BE ROLLING OUT.
SO I ENCOURAGE, UM, RESIDENTS TO JOIN US AGAIN AT CATCHMENT GARDEN MULTI SERVICE CENTER AT 10:00 AM UM, THIS SATURDAY.
UM, ALSO, UM, SIGN UP FOR THE NEWSLETTER.
TO SIGN UP FOR THE NEWSLETTER.
YOU CAN CONTACT OUR OFFICE, 8 3 2 3 9 3 3 0 0 9 OR EMAIL US AT DISTRICT B@HOUSTONTX.GOV.
SUPER QUICK 'CAUSE I KNOW, UH, WE GOT A BIG OLD PRESS CONFERENCE.
UM, JUST A QUICK ANNOUNCEMENT.
OUR PUBLIC SAFETY AND HOMELAND SECURITY COMMITTEE WAS SUPPOSED TO TAKE PLACE TOMORROW.
IT HAS BEEN MOVED BECAUSE ONE OF OUR PER UH, PRESENTERS HAD A PERSONAL MATTER THEY NEEDED TO ATTEND TO.
BUT, SO IT WILL BE JANUARY 26TH AT 2:00 PM WE WILL BE HAVING AN UPDATE ON THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE POLICING AND COMMUNITY SAFETY REFORMS THAT, UM, US AS COUNCIL AND MAYOR TURNER HAVE DRIVEN THE PAST FEW YEARS.
UH, SO AGAIN, JANUARY 26TH AT 2:00 PM I ALSO WANTED TO SPOTLIGHT ANOTHER ITEM WE JUST PASSED ON, UM, AGENDA, WHICH WAS, UM, ADDITIONAL FUNDING AND SUPPORT FOR THE HEART PROGRAM IN DISTRICT C, WHICH IS, UM, JOB TRAINING FOR 35 INDIVIDUALS THAT, UM, HAVE DISABILITIES IN OUR COMMUNITY.
AND WISHING EVERYONE, UH, CELEBRATING A VERY HAPPY LUNAR NEW YEAR COUNCIL MEMBER, CAROLYN, EVAN SHABAZZ BATTING IN THE NINTH HOLE.
UH, I ALSO WANNA CONGRATULATE COUNCIL MEMBER THOMAS.
IT WAS A WONDERFUL EVENT AND, UH, THERE WERE SO MANY PEOPLE AND I LOOK FORWARD TO OUR OWN, UH, OPENING OF OUR MULTI-SERVICE CENTER AND SUNNYSIDE ON, UH, SATURDAY, JANUARY THE 28TH FROM 11 TO TWO.
AND HOPEFULLY, UM, WE CAN ALL MOVE FORWARD AND, AND PROVIDE THE SERVICES THAT, UH, THE CITY NEEDS.
UH, ON LAST NIGHT, THE HPD PIP MEETING, UH, WITH COMMANDER, UH, CAROL ETTA JOHNSON, WHO IS AWESOME, BY THE WAY, WAS VERY PRODUCTIVE.
AND WE HAD THE, UM, THE THEME.
THE THEME WAS WORKING TOGETHER TO COMBAT THE NOISE NUISANCE.
AND I ALWAYS HAVE TO THANK MY CO CRUSADERS, UM, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER ALCORN WHO HAD REPRESENTATION THERE, AND COUNCIL MEMBER CAMAN.
UH, BUT WE ARE CONTINUING TO FIGHT THIS FIGHT.
UH, WE DID HAVE A, A SPECIAL GUEST, UH, ASSISTANT DIRECTOR OF ADMINISTRATION AND REGULATORY AFFAIRS, KATHERINE BRUNING.
AND I THINK, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER GALLEGOS HAD A REPRESENTATIVE AT THE MEETING AS WELL.
AND SO WE REALLY HAVE TO COMBAT THIS.
PEOPLE ARE NOT HAVING QUALITY OF LIFE, UH, WITH THESE ISSUES WITH THE CLUB NOISE, BUT WE ARE DOING THE BEST THAT WE CAN AT THIS TIME.
I ALSO WANT TO SAY ON LAST WEEK, UH, THE BLUE TRIANGLE, UH, MULTICULTURAL CENTER HAD THEIR, UH, OPEN HOUSE, BEAUTIFUL BUILDING.
IT'S BEEN IN THE COMMUNITY FOR MANY, MANY YEARS.
AND I WANT THANK, UH, THE FOUNDER AND EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR CHARLOTTE KELLY BRYANT AND LUCY BREMAN, THE FOUNDING CHAIR OF THE BLUE TRIANGLE.
FRIENDS, A BEAUTIFUL EVENT, BEAUTIFUL SWIMMING POOL.
I LOOK FORWARD TO ENGAGING AT SOME POINT IN THE SUMMER, UM, ON ALSO THE TEXAS SOUTHERN UNIVERSITY AND THE DEPARTMENT OF ATHLETICS HELD A GROUNDBREAKING CEREMONY FOR ITS NEW ATHLETIC STRENGTH AND CONDITIONING FACILITY.
THE GROUNDBREAKING, UH, CEREMONY CERTAINLY WAS A AUSPICIOUS OCCASION.
IT'S THE 6,600 SQUARE FOOT, MULTIMILLION DOLLAR FACILITY WHERE WE BUILT ON THE FORMER BASKETBALL COURT DIRECTLY BEHIND THE CURRENT TEXAS SOUTHERN UNIVERSITY FOOTBALL FIELD, WHICH IS LOCATED NEAR ALEXANDER
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DURLEY STADIUM.SO THERE WILL BE A LOT MORE ACTIVITY AT TEXAS SOUTHERN UNIVERSITY ON USING BLO STREET AS A SIDEBAR.
THE FACILITY WILL INCLUDE NEW WEIGHTS, OFFICES FOR STRENGTH AND CONDITIONING, SPACE FOR PHYSICAL THERAPY, AND AN AREA FOR STUDENTS TO RECEIVE COUNSELING SERVICES.
ALSO, AS WE SPEAK, UM, THE NCAA EVENT IS ALSO AT THE BLUE TRIANGLE, UH, AS, EXCUSE ME, AT THE BLUE TRIANGLE, UH, UH, MULTI-SERVICE CENTER, A MULTICULTURAL CENTER.
AND SO WE LOOK FORWARD TO THAT AS WELL.
UH, ALSO, UH, TODAY THERE WILL BE A HOUSTON AND FORMER FOUNDATION PUBLISHER, LORENZA BUTLER WILL HAVE A KICKOFF RECEPTION FOR STEPPING, STEPPING BACK IN TIME, A HISTORICAL PHOTO EXHIBIT, CELEBRATING MLK DAY AND BLACK HISTORY MONTH.
UH, THE EXHIBIT IS JANUARY THE 18TH THROUGH FEBRUARY THE 28TH.
THE KICKOFF WILL BE AT 12 NOON IN THE ROTUNDA.
UM, THEN I WANNA SAY, UH, I WANNA GIVE MY CONDOLENCES, UH, TO THE FAMILY AND FRIENDS OF CAROLYN PARKER BERRY, WHO IS THE FORMER PRESIDENT OF THE NAACP HOUSTON BRANCH.
SHE WAS AN AWESOME PERSON, A LONG TIME FRIEND, AND HER SERVICES ARE PENDING, BUT CERTAINLY SHE WILL BE SORELY MISSED.
I THINK THAT CONCLUDES WHAT I WANTED TO SAVE, UH, MAYOR PRO, TIM
BUT ANYWAY, THANK YOU SO MUCH.
AND THAT CONCLUDES, UH, FROM THE DISTRICT OF DESTINATION.
AND THE ONLY THING STANDING BETWEEN ME AND A GOOD LUNCH IS YOUR POPOFF COMMENTS.
SO EVERYBODY ENJOY THE 11 O'CLOCK.
IT WAS SEVERAL BEFORE SPORTS AUTHORITY, BEFORE WE WERE ALL STANDING IN THE WAY OF YOU EATING.
THANK YOU AND HAVE A BLESSED DAY.