[PRESENTATIONS]
[00:00:03]
TWO ON TUESDAY, FEBRUARY THE SEVENTH, 2023.I'M MAYOR SYLVESTER TURNER, AND I'M CALLING THIS MEETING OF THE HOUSTON CITY COUNCIL TO WATER.
THE CHAIR RECOGNIZES COUNCIL MEMBER GALLEGOS FOR THE PROCLAMATION TO THE DISTRICT 1D CONTAMINATION UNIT DID UDU, TO RECOGNIZE THEIR WORK VICE MEMBER.
TIM, MAY I HAVE FRANCISCO THERO AND A COUPLE OF REPRESENTATIVES COME UP PLEASE.
HOW YOU DOING? GOOD TO SEE YOU, SIR.
HOW YOU DOING, JOE? HOW YOU DOING? GOOD TO MEET YOU.
GOOD GUY, ROBERT MAYOR AND COUNCIL MEMBERS.
IT IS MY HONOR TO BE STANDING HERE PRESENTING THIS PROCLAMATION.
THE HOUSTON AREA IS WONDERFULLY ENRICHED BY DEDICATED ENTITIES WHOSE COMPASSION AND SELFLESSNESS HAVE IMPROVED THE QUALITY OF LIFE FOR SO MANY PEOPLE.
THE DISTRICT DIED THE CONTAMINATION UNIT, BETTER KNOWN AS DIDU, IS A GROUP OF INDIVIDUALS WHO ARE PASSIONATE ABOUT CLEANING UP LITTER HOUSTON CITY COUNCIL DISTRICT.
I IS THE HOME BASE FOR THE GROUP, BUT THE GROUP WILL GO ANYWHERE.
THERE IS TRASH SINCE MID 2021.
DIDU HAS ORGANIZED OR CONTRIBUTED VOLUNTEERS AND SUPPLIES TO MULTIPLE CLEANUP EVENTS ON THE HOUSTON SHIP CHANNEL, EASTWOOD PARK, GARDEN VILLAS, COLEMAN GULLY, DAWSON LUNAN CEMETERY CITY GAS PARK, GUS WORTHHAM GOLF COURSE, FIRST WARD, LEY PARK, AND LOCAL BEACHES AMONG OTHER LOCATIONS.
IN ADDITION TO DIRECT CLEANUP EVENTS, THE GROUP BRINGS AWARENESS OF TRASH CONCERNS IN OUR CITY AND THE IMPACT LITTER HAS ON OUR ENVIRONMENT.
THEY ARE WORKING TO EDUCATE OTHERS ON HOW THEY CAN REDUCE THEIR TRASH FOOTPRINTS, AS WELL AS CONTRIBUTE TO TRASH CLEANUP ACTIVITIES IN THEIR CITY.
BY ASKING DIDU SPECIFICALLY, THE GROUP ENCOURAGES THE COMMUNITY TO JOIN THEM IN PICKING UP TRASH THROUGH OUTREACH ON FACEBOOK.
DIDU WANTS TO SEE ALL RESIDENTS ENGAGED IN REDUCTION OF TRASH IN THEIR NEIGHBORHOODS, EITHER BY ACTIVELY PARTICIPATING IN CLEANUP EVENTS OR WORKING TO AND LITTER ALTOGETHER THROUGH MAKING THE COMMUNITY AWARE OF THE PROBLEM TO ENCOURAGE THEM TO BE PART OF THE SOLUTION.
THE CITY OF HOUSTON HONORS AND RECOMMENDS THE DISTRICT GUIDE TO CONTAMINATION UNIT FOR THEIR COMMITMENT TO MAKE HOUSTON A CLEANER PLACE TO BE.
AND WITH THAT HAVING BEEN SAID, SO THEREFORE, I, SYLVESTER TURNER, MAYOR OF CITY OF HOUSTON, HEREBY PROBABLY PROCLAIM FEBRUARY 7TH, 2023 AS DISTRICT GUIDE DECONTAMINATION UNIT DAY IN THE CITY OF HOUSTON.
CONGRATULATIONS, DEAN, YOU I WOULD LIKE TO ASK, I I WOULD LIKE TO ASK ALL THE VOLUNTEERS TO PLEASE STAND UP FOR A ROUND OF APPLAUSE.
I GREW UP IN HOUSTON, UH, 60 YEARS.
YOU KNOW, WHEN I WAS A KID IN THE SIXTIES, I HEARD THIS MAN, JOHN F. KENNEDY, SAY, THAT'S NOT WHAT YOUR COUNTRY CAN DO FOR YOU, BUT WHAT YOU CAN DO FOR YOUR COUNTRY.
AND IT STUCK TO ME LIKE A CURSE BECAUSE IT WAS, IT BECAME AN OBSESSION.
AND I COULDN'T FIGURE OUT HOW I COULD ALLOW THE CITY OR GOVERNMENT TO CLEAN UP AFTER ME.
[00:05:01]
WE PRACTICE IT TOGETHER.YOU KNOW, I, I AM, I, I LIKE TO MAKE, I'M AN ARTIST.
I LIKE TO MAKE THINGS FUN AND ENTERTAINING FOR EVERYBODY.
AND TO BECOME PART OF A CATALYST FOR OUR WORLD, OUR COUNTRY, IN ORDER FOR US TO WORK TOGETHER.
I DON'T CARE WHO YOU ARE, DON'T ASK FOR ANYTHING.
LET'S TAKE SOME SERIOUS ACTION BECAUSE OUR CITY NEEDS IT, AND IT NEEDS IT VERY, VERY BAD.
UM, I WANT TO THANK THE MAYOR.
THANK YOU MR. TURNER, SO MUCH FOR BELIEVING IN US IN WHAT WE'RE DOING AND OFFERING THIS OPPORTUNITY FOR US.
I'VE NEVER HAD ANYTHING LIKE THIS, YOU KNOW, UH, EVER.
I MEAN, YOU KNOW, I'M, I'M GROWING STILL.
I'M 60 YEARS OLD, BUT I'M STILL GROWING.
UH, YOU KNOW, AND, AND IT'S BECOME SO FUN IN THIS JOURNEY, THIS BRAND NEW JOURNEY THAT I CHOSE.
OKAY? SO I WANT TO THANK CITY COUNCIL AND ALL OF YOUR HARD WORK AND THE WAY YOU ALL GUYS WORK TOGETHER, THE OBSTACLES, EVERYTHING THAT WE HAVE TO GO THROUGH IN THIS BEAUTIFUL CITY, THIS GREAT CITY OF HOUSTON.
THIS IS A MAGNIFICENT CITY IN THE WORLD.
I WANT TO BE PART OF LEARNING HOW TO ALL OF US MAKE IT FUN, WHERE WE TAKE CARE OF THIS CITY TOGETHER AND WORK OTHERS, WHAT, WORK WITH OTHERS IN OUR COUNTRY AS WELL.
WE COULD TALK ABOUT THAT ONCE, ONCE I GOT YOU,
SO HOW MUCH TIME DO I HAVE? 'CAUSE I'M GONNA BE BRIEF.
THIS WOULDN'T HAPPEN WITHOUT, OR, OR, OR VOLUNTEERS.
AND I'M SO GRATEFUL TO EACH AND EVERY ONE OF YOU.
IF YOU GUYS, ANYBODY IN HERE EVER WANTS TO JOIN US, SEE ME AFTER THIS MEETING.
UH, MY WIFE AND I, WE'VE BEEN PRACTICING THIS THING CALLED DIVERGENT THINKING, WHERE YOU USE WHAT'S EXISTING ALREADY AND YOU RECYCLE IT AND YOU PUT IT TO GOOD USE AGAIN, YOU KNOW, WANNA MAKE IT POPULAR WHERE IT'S NOT LIKE THIS UGLY THING, YOU KNOW, WHERE IT'S BEAUTIFUL TO TEACH THE KIDS HOW TO CREATE ART WITH LITTER.
I MEAN, THAT'S ALL WE HAVE RIGHT NOW, UNLESS WE START TO DIVERT THE PRODUCTION OF SO MUCH FOAM AND PLASTIC BOTTLES AND PLASTIC BAGS THAT GETS WRAPPED UP IN OUR TREES IN THE SHIP CHANNEL.
OUR SHIP CHANNEL IS LIKE A BIG, HUGE FILTRATION SYSTEM FOR THE COUNTRY.
'CAUSE ALL THE WATER THAT COMES THROUGH OUR COUNTRY, MR. MACHADO IS GONNA ELABORATE ON THAT IN JUST A SECOND ABOUT WHERE WE'RE AT IN CLEANLINESS IN THE WORLD.
JUST FYI, UH, LET'S SEE, WHAT ELSE? UH, LEADING BY EXAMPLE.
I DON'T LIKE TO SHAME OR GUILT ANYBODY.
OKAY? I DON'T WANT TO DO IT WHERE WE, WHERE WE PULLED TOGETHER, YOU KNOW, AND GIVE CREDIT WHERE CREDIT IS DUE.
UH, OH, WORLD CLEANUP DAY, SEPTEMBER 16TH.
IF WHOEVER WANTS TO ENGAGE IN, IN, IN, UH, WORLD CLEANUP DAY, UH, WE'LL, WE CAN TALK ABOUT THAT LATER.
ALSO, UH, THINGS THAT WE NEED, WE NEED, WE NEED MORE TOOLS.
WE NEED TO BE ABLE TO HAVE SOME TYPE OF BOATS THAT GET DONE IN THE, UH, INTO THE BAYOU AND MAKE IT INTERESTING WHERE PEOPLE SAY, LOOK, MOMMY, WHAT ARE THEY DOING OVER THERE? WE WANT PART OF THAT.
WE WANT TO HAVE FUN LIKE THAT MOM, YOU KNOW, UH, ABLE BODIES.
WE NEED PEOPLE TO JOIN US TO JUST, AND I WANNA MAKE IT FUN FOR EVERYBODY.
YOU KNOW WHAT, THAT'S ALL I GOT.
WE DO HAVE, WE DO HAVE A COUPLE OF COUNCIL MEMBERS IN THE QUEUE, LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, MR. JOE MACHADO.
YEAH, I'LL, I'LL BE REALLY BRIEF.
I JUST WANTED TO MAKE A FEW POINTS.
IT'S BEEN A, A GREAT HONOR TO WORK WITH, UH, FRANCISCO AS PART OF DIDU, AS A VOLUNTEER, AND, UH, BEEN VERY, VERY IMPRESSED BY THE ORGANIZATION AND BY SOME OF THE CITY LEADERS WHO ROLL UP THEIR SLEEVES AND REALLY DO HARD WORK ALONGSIDE US IN PICKING UP, UH, TRASH.
SO, BY DAY, I ALSO, UH, REPRESENT THE ALLIANCE TO END PLASTIC WASTE, WHICH IS A, A GLOBAL ORGANIZATION DOING, UH, UH, WASTE COLLECTION AND RECYCLING PROJECTS AROUND THE WORLD.
AND I THINK WE'RE ALL COGNIZANT THAT IN THE PRESS RECENTLY, UH, HOUSTON'S BEEN SEEN, UH, FROM A NUMBER OF SOURCES AS THE, THE DIRTIEST CITY IN THE UNITED STATES.
AND I THINK THAT'S NOT SOMETHING WE'RE SUPER PROUD OF.
AND, UH, I THINK, YOU KNOW, WE WOULD LOVE TO, UH, IMPROVE THE LITTER, UH, PROBLEM AND IMPROVE THE RECYCLING RATES, WHICH ARE PRETTY LOW.
AND, UH, UH, THE ALLIANCE AND PLASTIC WASTE IS DEDICATED TO WORK WITH THE CITY OF HOUSTON, IN PARTICULAR, BECAUSE MANY OF OUR MEMBERS ARE BASED HERE, UH, TO IMPROVE RECYCLING, TO IMPROVE LITTER.
I'M WORKING VERY CLOSELY WITH, UM, SOLID WASTE DIRECTOR, UH, MARK WILLOCK, WHO I THINK YOU ALL KNOW TO, UH, TO TRY TO IMPROVE THE INFRASTRUCTURE AND, AND WORK TOGETHER.
SO, I JUST WANNA SAY THAT WE ARE, ARE VERY, VERY KEEN TO, TO WORK WITH THE CITY, AS YOU KNOW, PART THE, UH, UH, AN NG ORGANIZATION THAT'S SUPPORTED BY, UH, SOME OF THE LOCAL INDUSTRY HERE, UH, AND, AND DOING SOME, SOME SERIOUS INFRASTRUCTURE PROJECTS.
SO, LOOK FORWARD TO BRINGING SOME PROPOSALS, UH, TO YOU, UH, SOON.
[00:10:01]
WE DO HAVE A COUPLE OF COUNCIL MEMBERS IN THE QUEUE.COUNCIL MEMBER ALCORN, THANK YOU.
VICE MAYOR PROAM, AND THANK YOU COUNCIL MEMBER GALLEGOS FOR BRINGING, UM, DI DO DO YOU HERE, FRANCISCO.
WE HAD A FUN DAY IN, IN OCTOBER, UM, WITH BUFFALO BAYOU PARTNERSHIP AND YOUR GROUP, AND FAIRCHILD, A BUNCH OF PEOPLE WENT TO THE SHIP CHANNEL MAYOR, AND UGH, IT'S JUST, YOU NEVER WANNA SEE ANOTHER PIECE OF STYROFOAM EVER AGAIN.
I WISH WE COULD JUST CLONE YOUR ENERGY FOR THIS.
THE FACT THAT YOU SAID YOU DON'T WANT ANYBODY TO HAVE TO PICK UP AFTER YOU.
UGH, I WISH EVERYBODY FELT THAT WAY.
UM, BUT THANKS FOR JUST NOT LOSING SIGHT OF, OF THIS GOAL TO HAVE A CLEANER CITY BOOKED TO BOTH OF YOU.
UH, IT CAN BE PRETTY DISCOURAGING WHEN YOU CLEAN UP A BIG AREA AND IT'S JUST RIGHT BACK THERE THE NEXT WEEK.
BUT YOU DON'T LET THAT DISCOURAGE YOU.
YOU JUST KEEP ON DOING WHAT YOU CAN TO MAKE IT BETTER.
SO THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR ALL YOU DO.
CAN I JUST SAY, JUST THREE MORE, FOUR MORE THINGS, JUST REAL QUICK, REAL QUICK, REAL QUICK.
UH, THANK, THANK YOU TO GALLEGOS, THANK YOU TO TURNER.
THANK YOU TO JOAQUIN, AMY, AND THE REST OF YOU, YOU KNOW WHO YOU ARE.
WE DO HAVE TWO MORE COUNCIL MEMBERS.
COUNCIL MEMBER CIRO THANK YOU, COUNCIL MEMBER GALLEGOS FOR, FOR, UM, FOR LETTING US BE PART OF THEIR, UM, RECOGNITION TODAY.
REALLY HAPPY TO SEE YOU, UM, FRANCISCO, LOVE YOUR POSITIVE ENERGY.
THANK YOU BOTH OF YOU, GENTLEMEN.
AND, AND THE, ALL THE, THOSE THAT CAME WITH YOU TODAY THAT ARE ALSO VERY ENTHUSIASTIC.
WE CAN HEAR THEIR, THEIR, THEIR, UM, THEIR, THEIR JOY AND, YOU KNOW, AND BEING PART OF THIS TOO.
BUT, UM, BUT I JUST REALLY APPRECIATE YOUR COMMITMENT TO COLLABORATION AND KEEPING OUR CITY CLEAN AND, YOU KNOW, AND EDUCATING AND, AND THEN JUST THE, THE, UM, THE MANPOWER YOU PUT BEHIND YOUR WORDS.
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR STEPPING UP AS YOU DO.
I, I LIKE LITTER PICKER UPPERS.
UH, I THINK, I THINK WE SHOULD ALL DO THAT.
UH, RIGHT AFTER I GOT ELECTED TO BE A CITY COUNCILMAN IN 2014, MY WIFE AND I CAME TO CITY HALL AND WE SAW A LOT OF TRASH AROUND CITY HALL.
SO WHAT WE DO WHEN WE WALK AROUND, WE, WE CARRY PLASTIC BAGS IN OUR POCKETS, AND WE PICK UP TRASH, AND WE MAKE IT A GAME WHO CAN PICK UP THE MOST? AND, UH, AND SO, UH, EVERY ONCE IN A WHILE, UH, SHE HITS A BONANZA AND GETS A WHOLE LOT, AND SHE WON'T LET ME HELP HER PICK IT UP WHEN SHE FINDS IT.
BUT WE CAME TO CITY HALL AND WE STARTED WALKING AROUND CITY HALL, AND WE PICKED UP FOUR BAGS OF TRASH.
AND I TOOK 'EM TO MY OFFICE AND TOOK PICTURES OF 'EM.
AND, AND, UH, I SAID, YOU KNOW, THI THIS IS ONE WAY OF CLEANING UP CITY HALL YOURSELF.
I, I, I THINK THAT EVERY COUNCIL MEMBER, EVERY MEMBER OF, OF, UH, EVERY EMPLOYEE OF THE CITY, WHEN THERE'S SOME PLACE AND THEY SEE TRASH ON THE GROUND, ESPECIALLY AROUND, UH, OUR GOVERNMENT BUILDINGS, WE NEED TO PICK IT UP.
AND BECAUSE IT'S OUR DUTY TO KEEP OUR CITY CLEAN, AND I, I DON'T LIKE HEARING THAT WE'RE NOT THE, THAT WE'RE THE DIRTIEST, UH, CITY IN AMERICA.
COUNCIL MEMBER GALLEGOS, YOU KNOW, I'M RIGHT HERE WITH THIS PROCLAMATION TODAY.
SO TO EVERYONE WHO IS VOLUNTEERING TO PICK UP LITTER, THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
UM, I DID NOT LIKE THAT ARTICLE WHEN I READ IT, AND I DIDN'T AGREE WITH IT EITHER.
UM, THE SECOND THING I WANTED TO SAY IS, UH, THE WORK THAT YOU ARE DOING IS NOT GOING UNNOTICED.
THERE'S A STATISTICS THAT SHOWS THAT 50% OF THE LITTER ON OUR STREETS ARE FROM JUST DISCARDED FROM CARS.
SO THE PEOPLE DRIVING ON OUR STREETS ARE THROWING THEIR TRASH IN THEIR LITTER OUT OF THEIR CARS.
IT GETS INTO OUR DRAINS, INTO OUR WATERWAYS, AND THEN YOU ARE REPETITIVELY HAVING TO PICK IT UP.
SO WE APPRECIATE ALL THE WORK THAT YOU DO.
WE ARE SPENDING THOUSANDS AND THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS EACH MONTH PICKING UP LITTER, UM, AT THE DETRIMENT OF MORE MEANINGFUL PROGRAMS. SO WE APPRECIATE THE WORK YOU DO.
I, I LIKE THAT AUSTIN HAS GOTTEN RID OF THEIR PLASTIC BAGS, AND I WONDER IF HOUSTON WOULD HAVE AN APPETITE TO GET RID OF THOSE PLASTIC BAGS.
I HATE SEEING 'EM IN THE TREES.
I HATE SEEING 'EM ALONG THE ROADS.
UM, AND ENCOURAGE PEOPLE TO BRING RECYCLE BAGS TO THE GROCERY STORE.
SO, THANK YOU AGAIN, COUNCIL MEMBER GALLEGOS.
AND, UH, LET'S MAKE HOUSTON NUMBER ONE ON THAT LIST.
FOR A CLEAN CITY, IT TAKES PEOPLE LIKE YOU TO DO IT.
[00:15:37]
CHAIR RECOGNIZES MAYOR TURNER FOR A PROCLAMATION TO INNOVATION ECOSYSTEM, INTEL IN THE UNIVERSITY OF HOUSTON, AND RECOGNITION OF AI INNOVATION DAY.AND I THINK, UH, JESSE BOUND IS COMING UP.
AND THEN THE DEAN OF THE BALL SCHOOL.
YEAH, DEAN PABLO AND ELIZABETH MCGEE, ALSO FER.
HEY, HOW YOU DOING? GOOD TO SEE YOU.
AND THIS IS A PROCLAMATION TO AI INNOVATION AND ENTREPRENEURSHIP NOW, WHEREAS THE UNIVERSITY OF HOUSTON, CT BAUER COLLEGE OF BUSINESS OFFERS AN UNDERGRADUATE CERTIFICATE PROGRAM IN ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE AND A NON-DEGREE CERTIFICATE PROGRAM IN ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE FOR ENTREPRENEURSHIP AND PARTNERSHIP WITH THE INTEL CORPORATION.
AND WHEREAS THE INDUSTRY LEADING ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE, AI DIGITAL READINESS AND ENTREPRENEURSHIP INITIATIVE HELPED, UH, CURATE INNOVATIVE AND LEADING EDGE WORKFORCE TRAINING CONTENT TO PREPARE THE NEXT GENERATION OF BUSINESS LEADERS AND ENTREPRENEURS FOR THE CITY OF HOUSTON.
AND WHEREAS THEIR CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE HOUSTON INNOVATION ECOSYSTEM SUPPORT ENTREPRENEURS THROUGH TRAINING, PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT AND RESOURCES TO LAUNCH AND EXPAND NEW BUSINESSES IN THE CITY OF HOUSTON.
AND WHEREAS THE UNIVERSITY OF HOUSTON'S RESEARCH PROJECT, COMMUNITY RESPONSIVE ALGORITHMS FOR SOCIAL ACCOUNTABILITY, UH, WITH ADVISORY SUPPORT FROM THE INTEL CORPORATION IS ADDRESSING ALGORITHM ACCOUNTABILITY AND ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE TO MEET SOCIAL NEEDS.
AND WHEREAS AND RECOGNITION OF THE INTEL CORPORATION AND THE UNIVERSITY OF HOUSTON'S COMMITMENT TO RESPONSIBLE AI, DIGITAL UPSKILLING AND INNOVATION, THE CITY OF HOUSTON COMMENDS THE ENTITIES ON THEIR HARD WORK AND COMMITMENT TO EDUCATION, RESEARCH AND WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT.
SO, THEREFORE, I, SYLVESTER TURNER, MAYOR OF CITY OF HOUSTON, DO HEREBY PROBABLY PROCLAIM FEBRUARY 7TH, 2023 AS AI INNOVATION AND ENTREPRENEURSHIP DAY IN THE CITY OF HOUSTON.
CONGRATULATIONS TO, SOUNDS GOOD.
WELL, CITY COUNCIL, THANK YOU VERY MUCH, UH, FOR HAVING US, UH, HERE.
I MEAN, THIS IS A CULMINATION OVER THREE YEARS IN THE MAKING THAT, UH, THE NUMBER ONE ENTREPRENEURSHIP PROGRAM IN THE COUNTRY.
I WILL NOT SAY WHICH ONE OUR STUDENTS ARE BEHIND ME.
UH, AND THE NUMBER
I WILL NOT SAY THE NUM IN THE NAME EITHER.
SO THEY CAME WITH THE IDEA OF LEVERAGING OUR KNOWLEDGE IN, UH, UH, ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE AND INTEL, UH, HAS BEEN, UH, UH, YOU KNOW, VERY SUPPORTIVE IN TERMS OF PROVIDING ALL OF THEIR RESOURCES, INCLUDING THEIR PATENTS, INCLUDING THEIR KNOWLEDGE.
AND OVER THE LAST, UH, TWO YEARS, OUR FACULTY AND STUDENTS HAVE BEEN WORKING VERY CLOSELY IN DEVELOPING THIS, UH, PROGRAM, UH, WORKING ON RESEARCH, UH, UH, PROJECTS, AND, UH, DEVELOPING THESE CERTIFICATES THAT ACTUALLY WE STARTED OFFERING, YOU KNOW, THIS, UH, VERY, UH, SPRING, UH, IT WILL BE AN UNDERGRADUATE CERTIFICATE TO START WITH, WITH THREE COURSES, UH, THE BASIS OF ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE, AND THEN APPLICATION TO ENTREPRENEURSHIP.
AND HOPEFULLY WE'LL SEE SOME OF THESE, UH, YOU KNOW, AI INNOVATIONS TO COME TO, UH, TO MARKET, YOU KNOW, TO HELP, UH, UH, PEOPLE TO HELP, UH, SOCIETY, UH, MORE BROADLY.
WE'RE HOPING TO EXPAND THAT, THOSE OFFERINGS EVEN FURTHER IN NON-DEGREE PROGRAMS LATER IN THIS YEAR, UH, HOPEFULLY WITH THE CITY OF HOUSTON, THEY HIRED THE YOUTH PROGRAM, HOPEFULLY WILL HELP THE NOTION OF ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE FOR ALL.
SO, UH, YOUNG, UH, YOU KNOW, PEOPLE CAN GET THEIR BASIC KNOWLEDGE SO THEY CAN, YOU KNOW, APPLY THEM IN DIFFERENT, UH, JOBS.
AND, YOU KNOW, THE SKY'S THE LIMIT.
WE'D LIKE TO SEE EVEN MORE, UH, INNOVATIONS MORE PROGRAMS SO WE CAN CONTINUE TO UPSKILL, IMPROVE THE WORKFORCE OF THE CITY AND BEYOND, AND REALLY MAKE A DIFFERENCE, REDUCE, REDUCE THE DIGITAL DIVIDE, AND REALLY, YOU KNOW, MAKE SURE THAT EVERYBODY'S DIGITALLY READY AND TAKE ADVANTAGE OF ALL THESE WONDERFUL TECHNOLOGIES, INNOVATIONS WE
[00:20:01]
SEE, UH, EVERY DAY.I'LL ASK ELIZABETH AND MY COLLEAGUE TO SAY A FEW WORDS AS WELL.
BUT THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR HAVING US.
AND MAYOR, THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR EVERYTHING THAT YOU, THANK YOU.
UM, AI IS JUST A, A TECHNOLOGY, ONE OF MANY, BUT THIS DIGITAL UPSKILLING, DIGITAL READINESS, THIS NEEDS TO BE A CATAPULT FOR ECONOMIC PROSPERITY FOR EVERYONE AND NOT A DIVIDING LINE.
SO I REALLY WANNA APPLAUD YOU AND EVERYBODY, UM, AT THE U OF H SYSTEM FOR BEING THE FIRST HIGHER ED INSTITUTION TO TAKE OUR AWARD-WINNING CURRICULUM AND LEND YOUR EXPERTISE IN ENTREPRENEURSHIP, YOUR ACCESS TO THE BROADER HOUSTON COMMUNITY, AND SUPPORTING THIS DIGITAL UPSKILLING FOR EVERYONE.
SO THANK YOU FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP AND YOUR EXPERTISE.
THANK ANY QUESTIONS, ANYTHING THAT THEY CAN, KOSH, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR COMING.
UM, I, I'VE, I'VE BEEN, UH, REALLY LOOKING AT AI AND, AND HOW THAT, UH, THE ADVANCEMENTS OF AI AND NOT ONLY CAN HELP OUR, OUR, BASICALLY OUR STANDARD OF LIVING AND HELP US TO GET MORE DONE SOONER, BUT AS I'M AGING AND, AND THE MEDICAL PROFESSION, UH, IS USING IT TO, TO DO SO MANY THINGS THAT, THAT, THAT ACTUALLY COULD, UH, COULD HELP WITH THE, THE QUALITY OF LIFE AND EXTEND LIFE.
AND I'M, I'M VERY INTERESTED IN, IN WHAT'S GOING ON IN THE MEDICAL PROFESSION WITH AI.
UH, AND, AND A LOT OF THE SURGERIES, UH, ARE, ARE, ARE DONE BY ROBOTIC COMPUTERS.
PEOPLE DON'T EVEN REALIZE THAT.
'CAUSE WHEN THEY PUT YOU TO SLEEP, WHO KNOWS WHAT'S GOING ON.
BUT ANYWAY, UH, AND I DON'T WANNA SEE A PICTURE OF IT LATER, BUT, UH,
AND, AND THESE MEDICAL, UH, TOOLS THAT, THAT, THAT CAN DO THINGS THAT, THAT WERE JUST UNHEARD OF BEFORE.
AND I KNOW THAT, UH, UH, I APPRECIATE YOUR, YOUR, YOUR WORK, MAYOR.
I REMEMBER WHEN WE WENT TO ISRAEL AND THEY WERE TALKING ABOUT STARTUPS AND THINGS OF THAT NATION NATURE, AND, AND, AND, AND YOU WERE SO BIG IN TRYING TO GET STARTUPS TO COME TO HOUSTON.
AND, AND THANK ALL OF YOU FOR, FOR YOUR HELP.
AND, UH, I APPRECIATE YOU BRINGING THIS FORWARD TODAY.
I MEAN, DEFINITELY HEALTHCARE AI IS A VERY BIG AREA THAT ACTUALLY CAN MAKE A HUGE IMPACT ON SOCIETY, ON, UH, YOU KNOW, HELPING THE MEDICAL PROFESSION.
ACTUALLY, THAT'S ONE OF THE VERY AREAS THAT WE HAVE, UH, FACULTY EXPERTS, ACTUALLY SOME OF MY FACULTY HERE, MANLY, KAREN Z, ARE WORKING IN THIS VERY AREA AND TRY TO SEE HOW AI CAN BE APPLIED IN THE HEALTHCARE, UH, PROFESSION TO HEALTH PHYSICIANS, ROBOTIC SURGERY, UH, YOU KNOW, TELEMEDICINE, AND, YOU KNOW, ON AND ON AND ON TO HELP, UH, THE QUALITY OF LIVES, THE MEDICAL PROFESSION.
AND OF COURSE, HOPEFULLY WITH INTEL'S, UH, UH, SUPPORT, WE CAN SEE, YOU KNOW, EVEN MORE INNOVATION AND MORE APPLICATION INTO THE HEALTHCARE PROFESSION AS WELL.
ALRIGHT, WE'LL TURN RIGHT AROUND.
[00:29:26]
ATE.BY THE WAY, WE HAVE A RECEPTION AT, UH, TWO O'CLOCK, UH, HERE.
SO IF YOU'RE GOING TO JOIN US AT, UH, DOWNSTAIRS.
[2:00 P.M. – INVOCATION AND PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE]
[00:30:16]
OKAY, LET'S GET THAT STARTED.UM, IF YOU'RE BOW YOUR HEADS FOR A MOMENT, FATHER GOD, I'LL BE THANK YOU FOR THIS AFTERNOON, AND THANK YOU FOR ALLOWING US TO ASSEMBLE AT THIS PLACE, AT THIS APPOINTED TIME.
NOW, HELP US FARTHER TO BE ATTENTIVE, UH, TO ALL THAT WE WILL HEAR, AND TO BE RESPONSIVE AND REC RECOGNIZING THAT WE REPRESENT, UH, THE GREAT CITY OF HOUSTON.
AND GIVE US THE WISDOM AND THE COURAGE TO DO WHAT IS RIGHT, AND WE'LL GIVE YOU ALL THE PRAISE AND THE GLORY.
PLEASE RISE FOR THE, FOR THE PLEDGE.
I PLEDGE YOUR ALLEGIANCE TO THE FLAG OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, AND TO THE REPUBLIC FORTUNE ONE NATION, INVISIBLE WITH LIBERTY AND JUSTICE FOR.
[ROLL CALL AND ADOPT THE MINUTES OF THE PREVIOUS MEETING]
MADAM SECRETARY, YOU'LL PROCEED TO CALL THE ROLE MAYOR TURNER.PRESENT, COUNCIL MEMBER EVAN SHABA.
HERE, COUNCIL MARTIN WILL BE ABSENT.
COUNCILOR PALMER WILL BE ABSENT.
COUNCILOR ALCORN HERE NEED A MOTION TO DELAY THE MINUTES AS TATU MOVE.
AND SECOND TO DELAY THE MINUTES.
UH, ANY PROCEDURAL MOTIONS? UH, CHAIRMAN CANAL.
I, I MOVE TO SUSPEND THE RULES TO HAVE LETICIA AZA SPEAK FIRST FOR THREE MINUTES.
SECOND, ROBINSON MOVED AND SECONDED.
[PUBLIC SPEAKERS]
THAT CHANGE, WE WILL PROCEED.THE FIRST SPEAKER, MALCOLM SHARP.
THE FIRST SPEAKER, LETICIA ISHA BLA.
GOOD AFTERNOON, COUNCIL MEMBERS AND MAYOR.
UM, MY NAME IS LETICIA GUTIERREZ.
UM, I'M WITH AIR ALLIANCE HOUSTON, AND WE'RE A NONPROFIT ADVOCACY ORGANIZATION WHO BELIEVES THAT EVERYONE HAS THE RIGHT TO BRE TO TO BREATHE CLEAN AIR.
AND THAT WHERE YOU LIVE SHOULDN'T DETERMINE IF YOU LIVE.
I WANNA THANK COUNCIL MEMBER GALLEGOS AND ALSO, UM, OUR MAYOR FOR RECOGNIZING THE HARD WORK THAT FRANCO AND HIS AMAZING TEAM DO IN OUR COMMUNITY.
I CONSIDER HIM A GOOD FRIEND, AND WE HAVE COLLABORATED IN EFFORTS TO NOT JUST CLEAN UP VISIBLE TRASH, BUT ALSO THE INVISIBLE TRASH IN OUR AIR.
HE ALSO ASSISTS IN COMMUNITY MEETINGS TO HOLD POLLUTERS ACCOUNTABLE.
I WANT TO THANK OUR MAYOR AS WELL AGAIN, AND, UM, COUNCIL MEMBERS, PLUMMER, GALLEGOS, AND JACKSON, ALSO FOR SUPPORTING OUR LEGISLATIVE EFFORTS TO REIGN IN CONCRETE BATCH PLANTS IN OUR COMMUNITIES.
I STRONGLY BELIEVE THAT TOGETHER WE CAN GO FURTHER IN MAKING OUR CITY NOT JUST CLEANER, BUT ALSO HEALTHIER FOR OUR CHILDREN AND FOR OUR NEXT GENERATION.
PAULA'S COMING TO BE FOLLOWED BY CHRIS ROGERS.
YOU'LL GET RIGHT BEHIND ONE OF THOSE MICS.
GOOD AFTERNOON, COUNCIL MEMBERS.
I LIVE AT 3 0 7 ORIO STREET IN INDEPENDENCE HEIGHTS.
AND I'M COMING TO YOU TODAY BECAUSE MY LAND WAS STOLEN BY NEGATIVE EASEMENT.
THE AVERAGE EASEMENT IS ABOUT 15 FEET.
THE CITY TOOK 30 FEET, 35 FEET OF MY LAND BY 100.7 FEET OF LAND.
I WAS TOLD ABOUT IT AFTER THE CONCRETE DRIED.
I AM A RECIPIENT OF A GLO HOME AND A FUNDING PROGRAM FROM, UH, HARVEY HURRICANE HARVEY.
AND I'VE HAD SOME FINANCIAL HARDSHIPS, BUT I HAVE WORKED IN GOOD FAITH FOR THIS CITY, IN THIS CITY FOR OVER 41 YEARS, AND PAID FOR MY HOME.
TO HAVE LAND TAKEN WITHOUT PRIOR KNOWLEDGE IS DOWNRIGHT WRONG.
[00:35:01]
CAME TO SPEAK ABOUT.SURELY WE CAN ALL AGREE THAT EASEMENT SHOULD HAVE BEEN AGREED UPON PRIOR TO DESTROYING MY PREVIOUS HOME.
IT WAS NOT MY CHOICE TO LOSE LAND AND NOT, AND NOT THE CITY.
AND THE CITY SHOULDN'T HAVE STOLEN MY LAND.
I'M ASKING THAT I'M REASONABLY COM COMPENSATED FOR MY LOSS.
I'M NOT ASKING FOR 40 ACRES AND A MULE.
I'M ASKING TO BE COMPENSATED FOR THE ADDITIONAL LAND THAT THEY TOOK THROUGH A NEGATIVE EASEMENT.
AND YOU'RE SAYING THE EASEMENT WAS TAKEN, WHEN WAS PUT IN, WHEN WAS THE, WHEN WAS THE EASEMENT? THE EASEMENT IS A SIDEWALK EASEMENT.
AND THIS WAS DONE WHEN THEY WENT UP INTO MY LAND.
AND WHEN WAS THE SIDEWALK PUT IN? YES, THE SIDEWALK IS PUT IN.
IT WAS PUT IN, NO, WHEN, WHEN? OH.
UM, LESS THAN A THREE WEEKS AGO.
SO YOU'RE SAYING THE CITY PUT IN A SIDEWALK.
THEY DIRECTED THE BUILDER TO PUT THE SIDEWALK IN.
AND YOU'RE SAYING THEY TOOK MORE LAND THAN THEY SHOULD HAVE? YES, SIR.
THEY BUILT THE HOME ON ONE LOT.
THEY PUT THE SIDEWALK ON BOTH LOTS.
AND NOT ONLY DID THEY PUT IT ON BOTH LOTS, BUT THEY WENT 30 FEET UP INTO MY LAND RATHER THAN A 15 FEET EASEMENT, WHICH IS WHERE THEY, YOU KNOW, I, I FEEL THEY SHOULD HAVE PUT THE SIDEWALK, THEY WENT ANOTHER ADDITIONAL 15 FEET.
WELL, I'D BE MORE THAN HAPPY TO HAVE SOMEONE TAKE A LOOK AT IT TO SEE EXACTLY WHAT WAS DONE.
UH, IT'S KIND OF HARD FOR ME TO SAY AT THIS POINT, BUT I CERTAINLY WILL HAVE MY PEOPLE HAVE PEOPLE, UM, UH, THE DEPARTMENTS TAKE A LOOK AT IT.
HELLO, MS. GRAVES, THANK YOU FOR COMING TODAY.
UM, YOU REACHED OUT TO MY OFFICE WHEN YES, WHEN THAT HAPPENED, AND WE'VE BEEN LOOKING INTO IT AND COMMUNICATING WITH YOU.
UM, YOU, YOU THOUGH DISPUTE WHAT, WHAT WE ARE HEARING BACK THAT, UM, BECAUSE THE, THE, THE PLANNING DEPARTMENT HAS WRITTEN BACK TO US THAT, THAT THE, UM, THAT, THAT THE SIDEWALK IS COMPLETELY WITHIN THE PUBLIC RIGHT OF WAY, AND THAT ACTUALLY YOUR PROPERTY LINE IS, IS NOT IN THE, WHERE THE SIDEWALK IS.
SO THAT'S WHAT, THAT'S WHAT WE'VE GOTTEN BACK FROM, FROM THEM.
BUT THE, UH, WHAT I WANTED TO SAY, AND I THANK YOU FOR YOUR RESPONSE, MRS. ROS, BUT WHAT I WANNA SAY IS, ON THE PLA IT SAYS THAT THE, THE STREET IS 30 FEET, 30 FEET ACROSS THE STREET IS ACTUALLY 12 FEET ACROSS.
SO I'M SAYING THAT THE, THE, UH, THE, UH, THE NUMBERS ARE WRONG.
WE'LL TAKE A, WE'LL TAKE A SECOND LOOK AT IT.
UM, DO YOU HAVE A COPY OF YOUR, WHEN YOU, WHEN YOU CLOSED AND PURCHASED YOUR HOME, YOU SHOULD HAVE RECEIVED A COPY OF YOUR PLAT, UNFORTUNATELY, WITH ALL THE EASEMENTS MARKED ON THEM.
DO YOU HAVE A COPY OF THAT? UNFORTUNATELY, WHEN I MOVED TO, I HAD TO MOVE OUT OF MY HOME.
WELL, I THINK YOU CAN ACQUIRE ANOTHER ONE OVER HERE AT THE COUNTY.
UH, AT THE COUNTY CLERK'S OFFICE, THEY KEEP A RECORD OF THAT.
IF YOU'LL GO OVER THERE AND TAKE THEIR, TAKE YOUR ADDRESS OVER THERE AND ACQUIRE A NEW COPY OF YOUR PLAT ON YOUR PROPERTY.
PERHAPS THEN OUR LEGAL DEPARTMENT CAN TAKE A LOOK AT THAT AND SEE, YOU KNOW, WHERE THE, WHERE THE MISQ IS.
EITHER, EITHER YOU ARE MISINFORMED ABOUT WHAT YOU PURCHASED OR, UH, THE CITY'S MISINFORMED ABOUT WHERE THE, THE LINE IS.
SO I THINK GETTING THAT PLAT FROM THE COUNTY CLERK'S OFFICE WOULD BE HELPFUL IN ELIMINATING THAT CONFUSION.
CHRIS ROGERS, CHRIS, NEXT SPEAKER.
MICHELLE WILLIAMS. MICHELLE WILLIAMS. NEXT SPEAKER LEE MERCER.
LEE MERCER IS HERE TO BE FOLLOWED BY BERNIE DAVIS.
PASTOR YES, PLEASE STEP FRONT OF THE MIC.
MY NAME IS LEE MERCER AND I'M HERE TO, UH, KIND LODGE A COMPLAINT, BUT TO HELP THE HOUSTON POLICE DEPARTMENT THIS WEEKEND, UH, THERE WAS A, A VAGRANT ACROSS THE STREET IN A HOUSE, WHICH TWO
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WEEKS AGO, THERE WAS ANOTHER VAGRANT THERE.THIS WHITE GUY CAME IN, HE MOVED INTO THE HOUSE, LIVED THERE FOR A WEEK, AND THE POLICE CAME OUT AND PICKED HIM UP.
SO SOMEBODY REPORTED HIM, UH, UH, FRIDAY, ANOTHER VACANT, MOVED IN.
I CALLED THE POLICE SATURDAY, AND THEY WERE SAYING IT'D BE A TWO HOUR ARRIVAL.
BUT ANYWAY, HE DIDN'T COME SATURDAY.
HE CAME SUNDAY ABOUT LIKE 2:00 PM AND THE MAN, WE SAW HIM, THE POLICE CAME THE DOOR, KNOCKED ON THE DOOR OFF, STEPPED OUTSIDE.
WE SAW THE MAN STARTED RUNNING.
THE POLICEMAN SAID, WHAT I'M GONNA DO, I'M GONNA TRY TO CATCH HIM.
SO I GUESS HE DID NOT CATCH HIM.
SO YESTERDAY MORNING I GOT UP AND LOOKED OUT THE WINDOW.
NOW, THIS IS A PROPERTY THAT, UH, IS BOARDED UP.
HE TOOK THE BOARDS DOWN SOME, THE BOARDS DOWN.
BUT I KNOW IT'S DIFFICULT TO CATCH 'EM BECAUSE HE RAN.
AND, UH, THE THING ABOUT THAT, IT'S GONNA BE DIFFICULT FOR THE POLICE TO CATCH THAT PERSON, ESPECIALLY IF HE'S NOT, IF HE CAN'T ARRIVE WITHIN FIVE OR SEVEN MINUTES OR SOMETHING OF THAT NATURE.
HOUSTON POLICE DEPARTMENT HAS A PROBLEM.
NOW, THE THING ABOUT THAT IS WHEN HE, IF THEY, IF I CALL THE POLICEMAN, IT TAKES HIM TWO HOURS TO GET THERE.
IF THE MAN HEARS, MAN FINDS OUT ANY KINDA WAY HE LEAVES.
BUT HE LEAVES AND HE COMES BACK, HE GOES EAT, AND HE COMES BACK AND TRIES TO CLEAN UP.
SO I WENT OUTSIDE AND TOOK A LOOK AT THE HOUSE BEHIND HIM, UH, IN THE BACKYARD, PER SE.
THERE WAS A LITTLE OUTHOUSE BACK THERE, BUT, UH, A LITTLE GARAGE.
SO THE PERSON WAS GOING IN THAT GARAGE AT NIGHT.
SO I CALLED THE HOUSTON POLICE DEPARTMENT.
UH, HE'S A THREAT TO THE COMMUNITY.
HE'S A THREAT TO THE CITIZENS.
SO THAT'S WHAT I HAVE IN THIS LETTER.
AND MY, MY APPLICATION FOR TODAY, I THINK ABOUT IT, IS I'M NOT, UH, AFTER THE HOUSTON POLICE DEPARTMENT, I CRITICIZED HOUSTON POLICE DEPARTMENT.
I'M A CANDIDATE FOR PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES.
SO YESTERDAY, WHAT I DID WAS I WROTE A LETTER TO THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES.
I WORKED FOR THE JUDICIARY EXECUTIVE BRANCHES OF THE GOVERNMENT AND US CONGRESS.
SO I'M HERE GOING TO COLLEGE AT THE US OIL AND MILITARY ACADEMY, SAN ANTONIO CAMP BULLIS.
AND MY PROJECTS ARE POLICE AND LAW ENFORCEMENT.
SO I'VE INVENTED A NEW WAY TO DO POLICING AND LAW ENFORCEMENT.
AND THE UNITED STATES GOVERNMENT HAS COME UP WITH A NEW WAY TO DO POLICE AND LAW ENFORCEMENT.
SO I WANT TO GET WITH THE HOUSTON POLICE DEPARTMENT TO FINISH MY GRADUATION.
SO, UH, THAT'S WHY ON THIS BUSINESS COURT, YOU'LL SEE HERE, I HERE AT THE FRONT, AT THE TOP OF IT, A FRONT PORCH CAMPAIGN.
THAT MEANS THAT A CAMPAIGN IS GONNA BE DONE HERE IN THE CITY, AND IT'S GONNA BE DONE BY, BY THE US ARMY MILITARY GENERAL'S ACADEMY, BUT THE UNITED STATES GOVERNMENT, WE'RE TALKING ABOUT THE, UH, SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE, THE CHIEF JUSTICE OF SUPREME COURT, AND THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES.
SO WE'RE GETTING TOGETHER TO PUT THAT, UH, PRISONER CAMPAIGN TOGETHER INTO HOUSTON AND THE UNITED STATES GOVERNMENT HAS DEVELOPED A SECOND GOVERNMENT.
BERNICE DAVIS IS HERE TO BE FOLLOWED BY JOSEPH NEIL.
I AM HERE ON BEHALF OF BROOKHAVEN COMMUNITY.
I AM THE VICE PRESIDENT OF THE CIVIC CLUB.
UM, I AM HERE BECAUSE WE ARE HAVING ISSUES WITH, UM, THE CITY PLANNING AND DEVELOPMENT AND THE REAL ESTATE DEPARTMENTS IN VIOLATING OUR D RESTRICTIONS BY, UM, APPROVING REPL IN OUR NEIGHBORHOOD.
THAT WE HAVE PROVEN TIME AND TIME AGAIN THAT THE PLATS IN OUR COMMUNITY VIOLATE OUR D RESTRICTIONS.
AND WE CAME DOWN AND WE SPOKE THIS, THE PERSON IS, THE ADDRESS IS 1201 ALBERTA STREET.
AND HE, THE PER THE DEVELOPER, WAS DENIED THE RE PLAT IN AUGUST OF 2022.
AND THEN IN DECEMBER OF 2022, UH, IT WAS PUT ON HOLD BECAUSE THEY NEEDED TO GET MORE INFORMATION ABOUT ID RESTRICTIONS.
AND THEN IN JANUARY, THEY MADE A DECISION TO, UM, APPROVE IT IN SPITE OF THE FACT THAT THEY ASK US FOR ALL THE INFORMATION OF HIGHER ID RESTRICTIONS, READ ID RESTRICTIONS, READ THAT THERE ARE NO PROPERTIES IN BROOKHAVEN THAT CAN BE REPLANTED OR NEW CONSTRUCTIONS DONE.
FIRST OF ALL, WHAT UPCOMING BEFORE OUR CIVIC CLUB TWO, WE HAVE FRONTED STREET, NID RESTRICTIONS.
AND, UH, KIM MICKELSON SAID THAT AFTER THEY RE AFTER THEY APPROVE THE DEED, THE REPL, THAT THEN THEY WILL CHANGE, WHICH THE FRONTED STREET IS, WHICH STILL
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IS A VIOLATION OF OUR DEED RESTRICTIONS BECAUSE YOU CANNOT AMEND OUR DEED RESTRICTION WITHOUT COMING TO THE NEIGHBORHOOD AND GETTING APPROVAL.THIRD, YOU CANNOT CHANGE THE, THE TYPE OF HOME THAT'S BEING BUILT IN.
OUR NEIGHBORHOOD CANNOT BUILD A THREE STORY.
YOU CAN ONLY BUILD SINGLE FAMILY DWELLINGS, DETACHED.
SO NO THREE LEVELS BUILDINGS CAN BE BUILT IN OUR NEIGHBORHOOD.
AND THEN WE HAVE THE DEVELOPERS, THEY ALREADY KNOW THAT THIS IS A VIOLATION OF ID RESTRICTION BECAUSE SEVERAL OF THEM HAVE GOTTEN TOGETHER AND, UM, CAME TO THE CITY WITH A PROPOSAL TO REWRITE ID RESTRICTIONS, TO AMEND ID RESTRICTIONS TO FIT THEIR NEEDS TO DO WHAT THEY WANT TO DO IN OUR NEIGHBORHOODS.
THEY COME TO OUR, UH, MEETINGS.
THEY COME IN AS FIRST, THEY TRY TO BULLY THE COMMUNITY INTO DOING WHAT THEY ASK.
THEN THEY START PLEADING WITH US TO ALLOW THEM TO DO IT.
AND THEN ONCE THAT DOESN'T WORK, WELL THEN, UM, THEY JUST STORM OUR, OUR, UH, CIVIC CLUB MEETINGS.
UM, I REALLY LIKE THAT CLAUSE IN YOUR DEED RESTRICTIONS THAT SAYS, THAT SAYS THAT YOU HAVE TO COME TO THE CIVIC ASSOCIATION, BUT OF COURSE WE NEED IT ENFORCED.
BUT I DON'T KNOW, DID YOU SPEAK WITH INGRAM? IN MY OFFICE I DID.
BECAUSE SHE REPORTED THAT THEY DID PUT THE PLAT ON HOLD BECAUSE IT IS A VIOLATION OF THE DEED RESTRICTIONS.
SO I'LL HAVE TO ASK HER TO FOLLOW UP ON THAT.
WELL, I DON'T KNOW WHEN THEY DID THAT.
I DON'T KNOW WHEN THEY DID THAT.
BECAUSE WHEN WE CAME, UH, TO THE LAST, UH, COMMISSION PLANNING MEETING MM-HMM
THEY TOLD US THAT, UH, THE ONLY THING THAT WAS HOLDING IT UP WAS THAT THEY HAD ALREADY APPROVED THE REPL, BUT THE DEVELOPER WHO DIDN'T EVEN HAVE TITLE TO THE LAND, AND THEY WERE GONNA GIVE, I'M GONNA THE DEVELOPER UP FOR 30 DAYS TO COME UP WITH THE TITLE.
NOW I'M TRYING TO FIGURE OUT HOW YOU APPROVE A REPL AND THE DEVELOPER DOESN'T EVEN HAVE THE TITLE TO THE LAND.
WELL, I'LL ASK HER TO FOLLOW UP BECAUSE THAT'S WHAT SHE REPORTED TO ME.
SO I DON'T KNOW IF IT WAS IN BETWEEN THE CONVERSATION THAT SHE HAD, BUT WE'LL VERIFY IT AND MAKE SURE THAT, UH, AND FIND OUT WHAT THE STATUS OF IT IS.
AND I, I ALWAYS THANK YOU FOR COMING.
DID THEY FIX THAT ELEVATOR YET? AT, AT, UH, NO, THEY HAVE NOT.
BECAUSE I KNOW THEY WERE WORKING ON IT LAST WEEK.
I MEAN, LIKE, THAT IS VERY IMPORTANT TO ME ABOUT THE ELEVATOR.
BUT RIGHT NOW THESE DEVELOPERS ARE TRYING TO NO, NO, NO.
I'M NOT TRYING TO DETRACT OKAY.
I JUST WAS CURIOUS TO KNOW, BECAUSE I'M TOLD THAT THEY DID START ON THE ELEVATOR.
SO I I DIDN'T, I DIDN'T MEAN THEY MAY HAVE, THEY SAID THEY WERE GONNA DO IT A COUPLE OF WEEKS AGO.
THEY HAD NOT STARTED ON THAT ISSUE.
I WILL GET INGRAM IN MY OFFICE TO FOLLOW UP WITH YOU REGARDING THAT, BECAUSE I AM A STRONG PROPONENT FOR FOLLOWING DEED RESTRICTIONS.
AND SO I WILL CERTAINLY FOLLOW UP WITH YOU.
AND LET ME JUST MAKE SURE THAT I UNDERSTAND.
MS. DAVIS, UH, DID THE CITY ASK FOR A COPY OF THE DEED RESTRICTIONS FROM BROOKHAVEN? THEY DID, AND WE SENT EVERYTHING THEY ASKED US FOR.
AND YOU SENT THE, THE, THE, UH, DE RESTRICTIONS.
TO WHOM, WHOM DID YOU, WHICH DEPARTMENT DID YOU GIVE TO? UH, WE SENT THEM TO DORIAN PO OR POWELL.
AND, UM, AND DORIAN IN WHICH DEPARTMENT? PLANNING? SHE IN PLANNING AND DEVELOPMENT.
AND, UM, WE ALSO MADE, UH, KIM MICKELSON AWARE OF THE DEED RESTRICTIONS ALSO.
AND SHE WAS THE ONE WHO MADE THE DECISION TO, UH, APPROVE AND THEN CHANGE, AMEND OUR DEED RESTRICTIONS SO THAT IT WOULD FIT WHAT THE DEVELOPER WANTED, WHICH IS A VIOLATION OF ID RESTRICTION BECAUSE SHE CAN'T, UH, AMEND ANYTHING WITHOUT PERMISSION FROM THE COMMUNITY OF 50% PLUS ONE.
THEN THAT'S A GOOD PLACE FOR ME TO TAKE A LOOK.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH, MS. DAVIS.
WE FOLLOWED BY BESSIE MANSFIELD.
I WAS WORKING ON THIS, UH, INSTRUMENT TO FIX IT AS A REPAIRING THE OZONE LAYER.
AND IN MIDDLE OF IT, UH, I DON'T KNOW.
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SNIFFING THAT, UH, AIR COMING OUT OF IT AND MY EYES START OPENING UP AND I GOT MUCH BETTER.I COULD HAVE WALKED MUCH BETTER.
AND AFTER THAT, I, UH, I GOT, UH, TO THE GOOGLE, I ASK HIM ABOUT, WHAT IS THIS? AND THEY SAY, YES, OXYGEN WOULD MAKE YOU MUCH FEEL MUCH BETTER, AND YOU CAN SEE BETTER.
YOU CAN BREATHE BETTER AND ALL GOES TO YOUR LUNGS.
AND THEN I CHECK OUT AND THEY SAY, YES, RESPIRATORY SYSTEM, NOSE, MOUTH, THROAT, WHITE SPOKES, AND THE WIND PIPE AND LUNGS AND DIAGRAMS. ALL OF IT WOULD AFFECT IF YOU DO THE OXYGEN WORKING.
I WOULD LIKE TO ASK MR. TURNER, THE MAYOR OF THE HOUSTON, TEXAS, PLEASE GIMME A TIME.
I WOULD LIKE TO TALK TO YOU PERSONALLY ABOUT THAT.
SO I WANT A TIME FOR YOU, PLEASE.
NEXT SPEAKER, DR. THOMPSON ECHO.
ALL OTHER PROTOCOLS DULY OBSERVE.
I'M DR. THOMPSON, AQUA TUBA, INTERNATIONAL POLITICAL LEADER, PHYSICIAN AND COMMUNICATOR.
I'M HERE TO SPEAK ON A NUMBER OF ISSUES, UH, TO WHICH I WANT TO ONCO THE FIRST INTERNATIONAL OR GLOBAL, UH, MAYORAL HEALTHY CITIES, UH, CONFERENCE IN LONDON IN MAY.
UM, MAYOR BERG AND WHO HAPPENS TO BE A FRIEND OF THE CITY.
AND A FRIEND OF THE MAYOR IS ONE OF THOSE WHO ARE IN THE FOREFRONT OF HOSTING THIS FIRST, UH, INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE.
AND I THINK THAT HOUSTON HAS MOVED FROM THE 23RD TO ALMOST THE NINTH HEALTHIER CITY IN AMERICA.
SO I'M ASKING IF HOUSTON IS GOING TO PARTICIPATE AND WHAT WILL HOUSTON BE TALKING ABOUT? AND THEN THE OTHER ISSUE IS, UH, POLICE KILLING OF RESIDENTS IN THE USA.
I THINK IT'S TIME FOR US TO REFRAME AND CHANGE THE NARRATIVE.
I THINK FOR A LONG TIME IT'S BEEN PUT AS RACIALLY MOTIVATED KILLINGS, BUT IT'S NOT WHITE KILLING IN MEMPHIS.
AND I THINK THAT THE POLICE ALSO HAS TO BE TOLD, AND I WANT THIS TO BE IN RECORD, THAT THEY DON'T ADJUDICATE.
THEY ARE NOT JUDGES, THEY'RE NOT PROSECUTORS.
THE POLICE HAS TAKEN A LOT OF AUTHORITY AND POWERS INTO THEIR OWN HANDS.
AND SOME OF THE PROBLEMS THAT WE ARE HAVING IN THE CITIES AND THE COUNTIES IN THIS NATION ARE RELATED TO THESE ISSUES WHICH THE CITY, THE MALES HAVE TO ADDRESS.
AND IF I COULD GET SOME MAYBE INSIGHT INTO WHAT THE MAYOR, THE COUNCIL IS DOING ON SOME OF THESE ISSUES, THAT WOULD BE NICE.
TONY IS HERE TO BE FOLLOWED BY REX PETTINGILL.
UH, COUNCIL MEMBERS AND MAYOR, THANK YOU FOR GIVING ME THE TIME TO SPEAK TODAY.
UM, MY NAME IS ANTONIO PADUA, AND I'M A RESIDENT IN THE EAST END, JUST, UH, COUPLE BLOCKS AWAY FROM THE PROPOSED MIDDLE STREET, PROJECT EIGHT CALLED, UH, 800 MIDDLE STREET.
AND I LIVE THERE ALONG WITH MY WIFE AND TWO BABIES AND MY NEIGHBORS AND RESIDENTS.
WE ALL HAVE SOME SERIOUS CONCERNS ABOUT SAFETY AND OTHER VIOLATIONS THAT WE HAVE BEEN ADDRESSING FOR MANY YEARS, BUT THEY'RE STILL NOT RESOLVED.
THIS IS, UH, TECHNICALLY A HOUSTON HOUSING AUTHORITY PROJECT, BUT THE, BUT THE CITY IS RESPONSIBLE FOR ADDRESSING THESE CONCERNS AND, AND THEY HAVE THE ABILITY TO, BUT UP TO NOW THEY HAVEN'T.
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ABOUT A, ABOUT A COUPLE OF 'EM THAT ARE IN THE, IN THE HANDS OF THE CITY REGARDING TRAFFIC.THE CITY OF HOUSTON APPROVED A PLAN TO CONSTRUCT A BUILDING THAT PERMANENTLY BLOCKS ACCESS TO THE EAST TO THE SOUTH.
THERE'S A RADIO TOWER TO THE NORTH.
THERE'S THE BAYOU TO THE WEST IS OUR NEIGHBORHOOD WITH INADEQUATE STREETS THAT PERMANENTLY FORCES THOUSANDS OF CARS UP TO 5,000 NEW CARS AT FULL COMPLETION THROUGH INADEQUATE STREET GRID.
AND THIS WAS ARBITRARY BECAUSE THERE WAS, THERE'S AN EXISTING CITY OF HOUSTON RIGHT OF WAY THAT CONNECTS THE PROJECT TO THE EAST TO VELASCO STREET.
ALL OF THE, ALL THE DEVELOPER HAD TO DO WAS SHIFT A BUILDING 50 FOOT OVER, AND THEY WOULD'VE HAD THE ABILITY TO ACCESS THE ROAD.
BUT FOR SOME ARBITRARY REASON THAT WE HAVE NOT RECEIVED AN ANSWER FOR, THEY DECIDED TO PLACE THE BUILDING TO, TO PERMANENTLY BLOCK THIS AS A PRIVATE, UH, BUILDER AND DEVELOPER.
I KNOW THE CITY WOULD NEVER ALLOW ME TO DO THAT, TO BLOCK AN EXISTING CITY OF HOUSTON RIGHT AWAY.
SO, UM, WE'RE ASKING YOU GUYS TO ENFORCE THE SAME RULES ON THIS PROJECT, AS YOU WOULD HAVE ENFORCED ON ME OR ANY OTHER PRIVATE DEVELOPER.
THE CITY CITES A TRAFFIC STUDY THAT THEY REVIEWED AS JUSTIFICATION FOR THIS, BUT THE TRAFFIC STUDY ONLY CONSIDERED LESS THAN HALF OF THE PLANNED UNITS.
SO THEY ONLY CONSIDERED A PHASE ONE, WHICH IS 400 UNITS.
THE ENTIRE PROJECT IS 900 UNITS.
SO THE TRAFFIC STUDY BARELY JUSTIFIED IT AND CITED SOME CONCERNS, BUT IT ONLY USED HALF OF THE TRA OF THE UNITS THAT WOULD RE HAVE A TRAFFIC IMPACT.
SO AGAIN, WE'RE ASKING THE CITY TO FORCE TO, TO REQUIRE THAT THEY STUDY.
YOUR TIME HAS EXPIRED THE ENTIRE PROJECT.
UH, AWA, UM, I NOTICED THAT YOU HAD AN ADDRESS HERE ON SAN PHILIPPE.
SO YOU, YOU ACTUALLY LIVE ON MIDDLE STREET? I LIVE ON, UH, NORTH LIVE OAK, WHICH IS TWO BLOCKS OVER.
AND, UH, ARE DO YOU DRIVE ON MIDDLE STREET? YES.
AND YOU'RE SAYING THAT THEY BUILT A BUILDING TO BLOCK THE STREET? WELL, THE, THEY, THE CITY APPROVED A PLAN TO BUILD, TO PUT A BUILDING THAT WILL TEMPORARY BLOCK A RIGHT OF WAY THAT WOULD ALLOW THE PROJECT TO GET ACCESS FROM THE EAST.
AND, AND, AND YOUR CONCERN IS THAT THE TRAFFIC'S GONNA BE TOO MUCH, UH, FOR THAT STREET BASED ON THE, THE, UH, THE FACT THAT IT, THEY DID THE STUDY ON ONE BUILDING AND NOT TWO? YES.
THEY ONLY, UH, THEY ONLY CONSIDERED PHASE ONE, WHICH IS 400 UNITS, BUT THE TOTAL AMOUNT OF UNITS IS 900 UNITS.
NOW, WHEN YOU GET TO YOUR HOME, WILL YOU ACTUALLY BE USING METAL STREET TO GET TO YOUR HOME? NO.
NEXT SPEAKER LASONYA MALBOROUGH LASONYA.
MALBOROUGH LASONYA IS HERE TO BE FOLLOWED BY SARAH UA.
GOOD AFTERNOON, MAYOR AND COUNCIL MEMBERS.
MY NAME IS LASONYA MALBOROUGH.
I'M A NURSE PRACTITIONER WHO WORKS AT MD ANDERSON CANCER CENTER.
I OWN A HOME, WHICH IS IN VERY CLOSE PROXIMITY TO THE 800 MIDDLE STREET PROJECT WHERE WE HAVE ACTIVE CONSTRUCTION.
UM, I'M SPEAKING TODAY AS A CONCERNED TAXPAYER AND PROPERTY OWNER, BUT ALSO I SPEAK ON BEHALF OF THOSE WHO WILL, WILL BE, UM, IMPACTED BY THE DECISIONS YOU MAKE AS PUBLIC REPRESENTATIVES REGARDING THIS DEVELOPMENT.
WE KNOW THE CITY OF HOUSTON OWNED AND OPERATED THE VELASCO INCINERATOR SITE FOR MANY YEARS, WHICH KNOWINGLY BY THE CITY HAS CONTAINS TOXIC LEVELS OF LEAD, ARSENIC, AND OTHER CHEMICALS.
SO, THE SITE OF THIS ADJACENT MIDDLE STREET PROJECT, WHERE THE CITY PLANS TO PLACE 800 LOW INCOME FAMILY UNITS, THIS IS, UM, OF GREAT CONCERN.
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WE KNOW THIS ASH, WHICH WAS BURIED IN THE PROPERTIES AROUND MIDDLE STREET.UM, THEY HAVE GONE THROUGH EXTENSIVE ENVIRONMENTAL CLEANUP PROCEDURES.
UM, SO THE FACT THAT WE STILL HAVE CONTAMINATED ASH IN OUR BACKYARD IS CONCERNING.
SO IN LATE DECEMBER, NPR, SORRY, NRP, WHICH IS THE DEVELOPER FOR 800 MIDDLE STREET, THEY EVACUATED MOUNTAINS OF THIS ASH WITHIN THEIR PROJECT SITE.
THE HOUSING AUTHORITY CLAIMED THAT THE PROPERTY WAS ALREADY CLEANED, SO THAT H SO THAT HUD WOULD ACTUALLY APPROVE THE $54 MILLION NEEDED TO PURCHASE THE LAND.
BUT PRIOR TO THE START, NPR R'S OWNED ENVIRONMENTAL CONSULTANT CONFIRMED THAT THE ASH, WHICH WAS EVACUATED, CONTAINED NEARLY SEVEN TIMES THE MAXIMUM LEVELS ALLOWED FOR HOUSING.
SO IF THIS IS ACTUALLY THE CASE, WHY IS THE CITY OF HOUSTON NOT DOING ANYTHING TO REMEDIATE THE CONTAMINATED AREA? AND WHY IS THE CITY OF HOUSTON ACTIVELY PUSHING THIS MASSIVE PROJECT THROUGH KNOWING THAT IT'S CONTAMINATED? SO IN ADDITION TO THE INCINERATOR SITE, CONTAMINATION MIDDLE STREET PROJECT IS NEXT TOWARDS NEXT DOOR TO THE LEAD PRODUCT SUPERFUND SITE, ALL CONCERNING IN THE FIFTH WARD MASS CANCER CLUSTER, THE CITY BLAMED THE RAILROAD FOR CREATING CONTAMINATION.
HOWEVER, IN THIS CASE, THE CITY HAS CREATED THE TOXIC EX ACCELERATOR ASH ENVIRONMENT AND GIVING THE GO AHEAD FOR OVER 800 LOW INCOME FAMILIES TO CREATE A HOME ON TOP OF THIS CONTAMINATED LAND.
SO AS OF YESTERDAY, WE KNOW THE ASH IS STILL PRESENT, IT'S STILL UNCOVERED AND EXPOSED, AND GOD ONLY KNOWS WHAT THE END RESULT OF THAT WILL BE.
AS A NURSE, I'M POINTING OUT THE LONG-TERM EFFECTS OF ARSENIC EXPOSURE, HEART DISEASE, DIABETES, CANCER OF THE BLADDER, LUNG, SKIN, KIDNEY, LIVER, AND PROSTATE.
THE LONG-TERM EFFECTS OF ARSENIC, I'M SORRY, LEAD EXPOSURE TO CHILDREN WOULD BE BEHAVIORAL PROBLEMS SUCH AS HYPERACTIVITY, LEARNING DISABILITIES, AND EVEN REDUCED PHYSICAL GROWTH.
SO HOW IS THE CITY OF HOUSTON GOING TO PROTECT THOUSANDS OF LOW INCOME CHILDREN FROM PLAYING ON THESE CONTAMINATED LANDS? THIS PROJECT SHOULD NOT BE ALLOWED TO CONTINUE.
UH, AND YOUR LAST NAME IS MALBOROUGH MALBOROUGH.
I, I'LL GO BY AND TAKE A LOOK AT THAT.
I REMEMBER US, UH, PA PASSING SOMETHING ON THAT, UH, SOME TIME AGO.
UH, THAT MIDDLE STREET RIGHT NOW IS, IS IT PAVED OR IS IT STILL, UH, A LIKE A GRAVEL ROAD? WELL, THERE'S BARRIERS.
I, MY COMMUNITY IS ADJACENT TO IT.
WE ARE ABLE TO DRIVE DOWN MIDDLE STREET AND THEY HAVE LIKE THEIR CONSTRUCTION, YOU KNOW, BARRIERS UP.
BUT, BUT, BUT IT'S NOT ASPHALT, IS IT? IT'S, I, UM, THERE'S, THERE, THERE'S LOTS OF DIRT AND ACTIVITY.
I'LL, I'LL, I'LL DEFINITELY GO BY AND TAKE A LOOK AT IT.
I APPRECIATE YOU AND THE OTHER SPEAKER COMING AND BRINGING IT TO OUR ATTENTION.
'CAUSE WE NEED TO GO LOOK AT WHEN, WHEN IT GETS THE TO CITIZEN'S ATTENTION TO COME HERE.
I MEAN, THERE, THERE, THERE'S SOMETHING GOT TO BE THERE THAT BOTHERS YOU, SO I'LL DEFINITELY WANNA TAKE A LOOK AT IT.
I, UM, I AM HAPPY TO, TO TO, UM, TO TELL YOU THAT AS, AS Y'ALL HAVE BEEN CONTACTING MY OFFICE, WE'VE BEEN VERY MUCH ON TOP OF, OF, OF SHARING YOUR CONCERNS.
THAT BECAME MY CONCERNS, YOU KNOW, WITH THE ADMINISTRATION.
AND, UM, WE'VE BEEN DILIGENT IN REPORTING.
UH, MY FIRST, UM, HEARD FROM, FROM Y'ALL AND, AND, UM, IN, UH, KIND OF LATE, UH, TO MID-DECEMBER THAT ABOUT THE TOXIC ASH PARK, WE HAD BEEN WORKING WITH YOU, YOU KNOW, TO MAKE SURE THAT THE CONSTRUCTION TRAFFIC WAS, YOU KNOW, WAS, WAS, UM, BEING TAKEN CARE OF.
AND I KNOW THERE ARE ALSO COMPLAINTS ABOUT LARGE TRUCKS AND NOISE AND THE DEBRIS.
SO WE'VE BEEN WORKING ON THAT.
BUT, BUT WE, I FIRST LEARNED ABOUT THAT, YOU KNOW, THAT THERE, YOU KNOW, THERE WAS THIS ASH AND THAT WAS, UM, UH, HAD LEAD IN IT.
SO WE, WE BEGAN LOOKING AT THAT.
THERE, THERE HAVE BEEN, UM, COMMUNICATIONS THAT WE'VE RECEIVED FROM Y'ALL THAT, THAT WERE NOT TRUE, SAYING THAT THERE'S NOT, UM, A PERMIT, UM, FROM TCEQ.
THEY, THEY'VE GOT THAT IN, IN, UM, IN AUGUST.
THEY ARE, UM, WE'VE SENT PEOPLE OUT.
WE'VE BEEN TALKING TO A, A LOT OF, YOU KNOW, EVERYBODY THAT, THAT WE HAVE ACCESS TO, YOU KNOW, THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT, UM, THE, UH, HOUSING DEPARTMENT, THE, UM, UH, UH, PUBLIC WORKS.
AND, UM, AND, AND WE HAVE WHAT THEY TELL US, THEY, THEY'VE GONE OUT MULTIPLE TIMES, YOU KNOW, UM, TO CHECK, YOU KNOW, WHEN THERE WAS A CHEMICAL ODOR, ODOR THAT THEY SAID THAT THEY, AND THEY TOOK AIR MONITORS OUT AND THEY SAID THEY, THEY COULDN'T DETECT ANYTHING.
THEY'VE GONE OUT THERE MULTIPLE TIMES TO DO THAT.
UM, AND, UH, YOU KNOW, WE FIRST REPORTED IT,
[01:05:01]
UM, AS A, AS AN AIR POLLUTION, UM, UH, CONCERN.AND THEN IT GOT CHANGED TO WATER QUALITY CONCERN AND THEN ANOTHER ODOR COMPLAINT.
AND E EVERY SINGLE TIME, YOU KNOW, WE'VE, WE'VE IMMEDIATELY JUMPED TO, UM, TO, TO MAKE SURE THAT, YOU KNOW, THAT THE, WE'RE CATCHING STUFF THAT'S NOT SUPPOSED TO HAPPEN.
UM, LET ME JUST INSERT, I REALLY APPRECIATE YOU, YOU CONTACTING US, YOU KNOW, BECAUSE I'M, YOU KNOW, I'M, I'M, I'M TRYING TO ADVOCATE FOR YOU TO MAKE SURE THAT YOU'RE SAFE.
I MEAN, IT'S SCARY TO BE, YOU KNOW, THINKING THAT YOU'RE NOT, UM, BUT THEY'VE GONE BACK OUT AND SAID NO, THAT, YOU KNOW, THAT THE, THERE'S NOT PARTICLES IN THE WATER EITHER.
UM, WE'VE HAD, UH, AS, AS, AS CON COMPLAINTS CONTINUED TO COME, UM, WE'VE ALSO SEEN THAT, YOU KNOW, THAT, UM, THAT THE, THAT THE, THAT THE DIRT THAT WAS DETERMINED TO HAVE THAT LEAD IN, IT WAS EXCAVATED AND IT WAS SUPPOSED TO BE COVERED.
I'VE, I'VE BEEN TOLD THAT IT'S NOT COVERED.
IT'S SUPPOSED TO BE THEY, THEY TOLD ME.
WHAT I'VE GOTTEN IS SAID THAT IT IS COVERED AND IT'S BEING REMOVED.
UM, THERE WERE SOME WEATHER DELAYS, BUT IT'S, UM, BUT IT'S IN THE PROCESS OF MOVING.
THEY TOLD US, UM, YESTERDAY THAT THEY HOPED IT WOULD BE ALL GONE TODAY.
UM, BUT WE'RE, WE HAVE, UM, A, THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT IS MAKING, UM, DAILY VISITS OUT THERE TO, TO SEE THAT, UM, THE, THE OFF THE OFFICE OF THE CITY ENGINEER ALSO, WE GOT INVOLVED.
AND, YOU KNOW, TO SAY THAT NOT ONLY IS THERE AN ACTIVE TCEQ PERMIT, UM, THEY, THEY ALSO HAVE AN IMPLEMENTED, UM, STORM WATER POLLUTION PREVENTION PLAN IN PLACE.
AND THAT, UM, THEY'RE IN COMPLIANCE WITH, WITH TCEQ.
SO, UM, BUT I KNOW, UM, OH, AND ALSO WE, WE'VE BEEN TOLD THAT THIS WAS, UH, THIS WAS SITTING ON TOP OF A-T-C-E-Q SUPERFUND SITE.
AND, AND IT IS NOT THAT THE CITY ENGINEER INVESTIGATED THAT TOO, AND SAID, IT'S NOT, IT'S NOT A SITE THAT'S LISTED IN THAT LIST.
SO, UM, I WANTED, YOU KNOW, REALLY HELP TO ADDRESS YOUR CONCERNS AND THEN, AND ALSO TELL YOU WHEN, WHEN, WHEN THERE'S A LITTLE BIT OF GOOD NEWS, LIKE IT'S, IT'S, YOU KNOW,
UM, BUT, BUT THE, THE THIS IS, HAS BEEN PRIORITIZED, UM, BY THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT.
AND, UM, THEY ARE COORDINATING EFFORTS, YOU KNOW, BASED ON COMPLAINTS FROM Y'ALL TO, UM, YOU KNOW, TO WORK WITH THE COMMUNITY ASSISTANCE TEAM AND MOTION TO EXTEND.
SO, MOVE SECOND, SECOND, SECOND.
SO THAT REALLY DOES GET ME TO THE END.
BUT JUST TO SAY, YOU KNOW, KEEP LETTING ME KNOW, YOU KNOW, AND, AND WE WILL, WE ARE WORKING HARD TO, TO MAKE SURE THAT, THAT THIS INFORMATION GETS TO, YOU KNOW, ALL, ALL THE PEOPLE THAT I HAVE ANY INFLUENCE WITH.
AND I DO APPRECIATE YOUR OFFENSE RESPONDING TO OUR, UM, EMAILS.
I GOT AN EMAIL AS OF TODAY, AND THE EMAIL TODAY SAID THAT THEY UNDERSTAND THAT THEY'RE STILL, UM, ASH THERE THAT IS NOT COVERED.
THAT'S WHY I SAID IT'S STILL THERE, STILL PRESENT, IT'S STILL NOT COVERED.
AND REGARDING THE PERMIT, I, THAT'S NOT REALLY MY CLAIM TODAY.
I'M JUST CONCERNED ABOUT THE AIR QUALITY.
I'M, I'M CONCERNED ABOUT, YOU KNOW, WHAT'S GONNA HAPPEN TO MY PROPERTY VALUE.
AND ALSO PEOPLE WHO, BECAUSE I AM A NURSE AND I DO CARE, I WORK AT A CANCER CENTER.
WHAT ARE THE LONG-TERM EFFECTS OF PEOPLE WHO ARE GONNA BE LIVING ON THIS PROPERTY DOWN THE ROAD? SO I JUST WANTED TO BRING THAT TO YOUR ATTENTION.
I KNOW YOU HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO DO WHAT'S RIGHT, AND THEN I JUST FEEL THAT, YOU KNOW, WHAT ARE THE ODDS THAT WOULD BE HERE TODAY WHEN YOU MAKE A PRO PROCLAMATION TO MAKE HOUSTON A BETTER PLACE? YOU KNOW, I LOVE LIVING IN HOUSTON.
I'M PROUD OF MY CITY, SO I WANNA JUST BE PROUD OF MY HOME.
THANK YOU MAYOR, AND GOOD AFTERNOON TO EVERYONE.
MS. MARLBOROUGH, GOOD TO SEE YOU.
UM, WHAT YOU'RE SAYING DEFINITELY DOES NOT SEEM LIKE SOMETHING THAT WILL GIVE YOU COMFORT EVERY DAY WHEN YOU'RE, WHEN YOU'RE IN YOUR HOME.
AND I KNOW YOUR COUNCIL MEMBER IS DOING A LOT TO ADVOCATE ON YOUR BEHALF.
UH, I KNOW SHE'LL CONTINUE TO DO THAT.
UH, COUNCIL MEMBER, IF YOU, UH, DO ANY SITE VISITS, UM, I KNOW MS. MARLBOROUGH AND I WOULD, UM, LIKE TO BE INVITED AS WELL, SO I CAN UNDERSTAND THE DYNAMICS OF THAT AREA.
I DO THINK A SITE VISIT WILL BE, COULD BE SOMETHING TO WHERE ALL THESE DIFFERENT DEPARTMENTS AND ALL THESE, UH, DIFFERENT PERSONALITIES, UH, COULD BE AT ONE PLACE TO HAVE THESE DISCUSSIONS RIGHT THERE TO UNDERSTAND, UH, THE CONCERNS OF THE RESIDENT, AS WELL AS AN OPPORTUNITY FOR THE, UH, UM, ADMINISTRATION OR THE COUNCIL OFFICE TO BE ABLE TO GIVE THEIR FEEDBACK AS WELL.
UM, BUT DEFINITELY KEEP MY OFFICE POSTED IF THERE'S ANYTHING THAT WE CAN DO, AND WE'LL WORK WITH YOUR COUNCIL MEMBER AS SHE CONTINUES TO DO A GREAT JOB IN ADVOCATING FOR YOU.
LET ME JUST, UH, EMPHASIZE YOU, YOU KNOW, WE CANNOT BUILD, OR THE CITY OR THE HOUSTON HOUSING AUTHORITY, ANYONE ELSE CAN BUILD THESE DEVELOPMENTS, UH, WITHOUT DOING ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENTS FIRST.
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THE ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENTS MUST, MUST BE DONE.AND IF THEY DON'T PASS THE ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENTS, THEY'RE NOT GONNA GET, THEY'RE NOT GONNA GET BUILT AT ALL.
UH, THE OTHER THING IS THAT I THINK THESE, UM, THIS, UH, MAY BE TO ACCOMMODATE, UH, UH, SOME OF THE PEOPLE THAT, UH, ARE BEING DISPLACED, UH, WILL BE DISPLACED BY 45 ON THE CLAYTON HOME PROJECTS.
AND SO A PART OF THE, A PART OF THE UNDERSTANDING IS THAT THEY WILL BE LIVING WITHIN TWO MILES OF WHERE THEY CURRENTLY LIVE.
SO THERE, THERE ARE A LOT OF, UM, CONSIDERATIONS BEING TAKEN INTO ACCOUNT.
AND LEMME JUST, LEMME JUST MAKE SURE THAT I GOT A GOOD UNDERSTANDING, MS. MALBOROUGH, ASSUMING THAT WE DON'T HAVE ANY OF THESE ENVIRONMENTAL CONCERNS, UH, THAT CONCERN YOU AND I CAN UNDERSTAND WORKING WITH MD WHERE YOU'RE COMING FROM, BUT ASSUMING THAT THESE ENVIRONMENTAL CONCERNS ARE NOT THERE, UH, THAT THEY HAVE BEEN ADDRESSED, ALLEVIATED, MITIGATED, AND THEY'RE NOT THERE, UH, WITH THEIR OBJECTION, WHICH YOU STILL HAVE OBJECTIONS.
SO AS A COMMUNITY, UM, AS YOU REALIZE, TONY AND I, WE, WE LIVE IN THE EAST END.
AND, UM, IT'S NOT JUST THE ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUE.
THAT'S JUST SOMETHING THAT I'M PASSIONATE ABOUT BECAUSE, UM, I AM A NURSE AND, UM, I'M FIRST GENERATION COLLEGE STUDENT.
I MEAN, FIRST TIME, YOU KNOW, I'M FIRST PERSON TO OWN A HOME IN MY FAMILY.
UM, SO THIS IS LIKE AN INVESTMENT IN MY FUTURE TO LIVE IN THIS AREA.
AND I LIVE CLO YOU KNOW, I LIVE CLOSE BY WHERE I WORK.
SAFETY'S IMPORTANT, YOU KNOW, WE'RE GONNA, AND IF PEOPLE ARE DISPLACED FROM THEIR HOME, UM, I FEEL THAT SH THEY, I KNOW THAT THEY WERE, CLAYTON HOMES IS ALREADY EMPTY, SO I, I KNOW THESE PEOPLE HAVE ALREADY FOUND OTHER HOMES, SO IT WOULD BE A DISSERVICE FOR THEM TO MOVE FROM ONE LOCATION TO ANOTHER LOCATION WHERE THEY'RE PROB PROBABLY GONNA BE, COULD BE IMPACTED BY LEAD OR OTHER, OTHER THINGS THAT ARE IN, THEY'RE IN THE GROUND LIKE THEY'VE BEEN DETECTED.
I MEAN, AS FAR AS I UNDERSTAND, THE CITY HAD, UH, WAS SEEKING CONTRACTORS TO REMOVE THIS ASH, THIS PRODUCT FROM THE INCINERATOR PROJECT.
AND IT WAS DOCUMENTED THAT IT EXISTED.
AND, AND WHENEVER THIS MIDDLE STREET PROJECT CAME ABOARD AND THEY WERE BUILDING SUIT, YOU KNOW, THEY WERE LIKE EXCAVATING THE LAND FOR WHATEVER, UM, PIPES OR WHATEVER, IT WAS STILL THERE.
SO IF IT'S STILL THERE, IT'S STILL A CONCERN.
SO IF IT, I MEAN, THAT SHOULD BE, YES, IT'S A HUGE CONCERN.
AND IF THAT WAS ALLEVIATED AND YOU SAID, NO, WE DON'T HAVE PROBLEMS AND IT'S SAFE FOR PEOPLE AND MYSELF TO LIVE THERE 'CAUSE I DON'T PLAN ON LEAVING, UM, THAT, THAT WOULD DEFINITELY, UM, ALLEVIATE SOME OF MY CONCERNS.
THEN THE OTHER ISSUES THAT TONY BROUGHT UP, THEY STILL EXIST, THE TRAFFIC AND ALL THAT.
BUT MY CONCERN WITH THE ENVIRONMENT, WHICH I FEEL IS MORE IMPORTANT THAN IN CON, YOU KNOW, TRAFFIC ISSUES, I FEEL THAT THAT'S PROBABLY EASIER FOR YOU TO RESOLVE.
YOU CAN'T FIX IF SOMEONE GETS CANCER.
IS THERE SECOND? IS THERE SECOND? SECOND BEEN MOVED.
I FINISHED, NOT FINISHED WITH YOU YET.
ONE OF THE THINGS THAT CONCERNS ME IS I'VE RECENTLY READ THAT THE TECQ IS UNDER FEDERAL INVESTIGATION FOR, UH, NOT BEING TRUTHFUL ABOUT REPORTING SOME OF THESE THINGS.
AND SO, UH, YOU KNOW, IT, WE HAVE TO, WE TRY TO TRUST OUR GOVERNMENT, BUT THEN WE WANT OUR GOVERNMENT TO HOLD STATE GOVERNMENT, UH, ACCOUNTABLE IF THEY'RE NOT DOING THE RIGHT THING.
WE CERTAINLY DON'T NEED ANOTHER CANCER CLUSTER.
GOOD AFTERNOON, MAYOR TURNER AND CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS.
I'M SARAH PADUA CORDA, AND I'M ALSO HERE TO LODGE MY OPPOSITION TO THE 800 MIDDLE STREET PROJECT.
AFFORDABLE HOUSING IS SUCH A NOBLE CAUSE IF IT'S GONNA BENEFIT THE RESIDENTS THAT ARE GONNA LIVE THERE.
AND, UM, IT REALLY IS, UH, A GOOD DAY TO BE HERE IN THE SPIRIT OF DECONTAMINATION AND DECONTAMINATION OF THE REALLY DANGEROUS, UH, YOU KNOW, TOXIC CHEMICALS THAT YOU CAN'T SEE, THAT YOU CAN'T JUST PICK UP LIKE LITTER.
UM, AND SO I'M HERE TO ECHO, ECHO WHAT BOTH OF THEM HAVE SAID ABOUT THE PROJECT, BUT ALSO I'M JUST REALLY, REALLY SADDENED BY THE WAY THAT I FEEL THAT I'VE BEEN MISLED, MISINFORMED.
AND BY THE WAY, THAT SOME OF THE REPORTS THAT HAVE BEEN USED TO PASS THROUGH SOME OF THESE APPROVALS AT DIFFERENT GOVERNMENT LEVELS HAVE BEEN BASED ON FALSE ASSUMPTIONS, MISTRUTHS HALF-TRUTHS.
AND SO THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR LISTENING TO ALL OF US.
WOULD YOU BE WILLING TO PUT THE PROJECT ON HOLD TO GAIN A BETTER UNDERSTANDING OF WHAT'S REALLY GOING ON AND TO
[01:15:01]
REDO SOME OF THESE REPORTS WITH THE PROPER INPUTS? BUT YOUR POINT, THAT IS MY CHALLENGE.AND ARE YOU REFERRING TO THE ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENTS? THE ENVIRONMENTAL AND THE TRAFFIC STUDY? RIGHT.
BECAUSE FOR EXAMPLE, THE TRAFFIC ONE WAS DONE DURING COVID WITH, WITH, YOU KNOW, FALSELY LOW, YOU KNOW, REPORTS.
AND I, I CAN TELL YOU THAT IT HAS, THERE HAVE BEEN SEVERAL ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENTS ON THIS, ON THIS DEVELOPMENT, AND THEY, AND THEY HAVE PASSED.
THAT'S THE ONLY WAY IT CAN MOVE FORWARD.
SO THE ENVIRONMENT, YOU CANNOT GO TO, YOU CAN'T GO PAST, GO WITHOUT THE ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENTS HAVING BEEN DONE.
SO IT HAS, IT HAS PASSED ALL OF THE HUD ASSESSMENTS.
UM, TO MY KNOWLEDGE, IT'S BEEN A RECENT UNCOVERING OF THE LEVELS THAT ARE SEVEN TIMES THE UNDERSTAND ALLOWABLE LEVELS FOR THIS TIME.
UNDERSTAND, I UNDERSTAND WHAT PEOPLE MAY BE SAYING, BUT I AM SAYING TO YOU, THE PROJECT, THE DEVELOPMENT WOULD NOT BE MOVING FORWARD IF IT HAD NOT PASSED THE ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENTS THAT I CAN TELL YOU.
AND I, I, I CHALLENGE EVERYONE'S COLLECTIVE CONSCIOUSNESS JUST TO TAKE ONE DEEPER LOOK AND LOOK NOT JUST AT THE RESULTS OF THE STUDIES, BUT THE INPUTS THAT ARE GOING IN.
RONALD IS HERE TO BE FOLLOWED BY COURTNEY REBELS.
GOOD AFTERNOON AGAIN, ONCE AGAIN.
UH, I WAS HERE, UH, AND I SPOKE ABOUT, UH, VARIANTS, UH, ONCE BEFORE, UH, WITH CONCERNS FOR THE, UH, BROOKHAVEN SUBDIVISION.
UM, I'M A, UH, MEMBER OF THE, UH, UM, CIVIC CLUB, BROOKHAVEN CIVIC CLUB, PRESIDENT OF BROOKHAVEN CIVIC CLUB.
AND, UH, WHAT MY CONCERN IS, IS THE, UH, DESCRIPTION THAT THE, UH, UM, CITY ORDINANCE PROVIDES FOR VARIANCE DOESN'T SEEM TO MATCH WHAT THE, UH, UH, CITY COUNCIL, I MEAN, NOT THE CITY COUNCIL, I'M SORRY, THE, UH, UH, COMMISSION, UM, UH, LET THE, THE APPLICATION FOR THE VARIANCE, UM, GO THROUGH, UH, ON, BECAUSE ON THE, UH, THE, UH, UH, IN THE, UM, CODE OF CITY ORDINANCE, UH, NUMBER 42 IN THE, IN THE GLOSSARY, IT DESCRIBES A VARIANCE AS, UM, A DEVIATION FROM THE STANDARD RULE AND REGULATIONS, UH, UH, UH, OF CHAPTER 42, PLANNING, COMMISSION, AND LIMITS THE DISCRETIONARY AUTHORITY.
IF A PLAQUE REQUIRES A VARIANCE OR A SPECIAL ACCEPTANCE, UH, PROPERTY OWNERS, UH, AND THE PROPO OF THE PROPOSED DEVELOPMENT, OR NOTIFIED OF CERTAIN VARIANCE, THE APPLICATION MUST DOCUMENT REASONABLE HARDSHIP OR AN USUAL PHYSICAL AND UNUSUAL PHYSICAL CONDITION FOR THE VARIANCE.
UM, AND SUCH AS A STRICTLY, UH, SUCH AS STRICTLY APPLYING THE RULES OF THE CHAPTER 42 VARIANCE, UH, WOULD MAKE THE, UH, LAND DIFFICULT TO DEVELOP WITHOUT, WITHOUT A VARIANCE.
AND THAT THE RULES APPLY TO THE, UH, PROJECT ARE CONTRARY TO, UH, SOUND PUBLIC POLICY.
SO WHAT THIS, UH, WHAT THIS, UM, SAYS TO OUR CIVIC CLUB IS THAT THERE, THERE SHOULD HAVE BEEN A, A REASON FOR THE VARIANCE TO, TO GO AGAINST ID RESTRICTIONS, TO, TO CHANGE THE SIZE OF THE PROPERTY, THE BOUNDARIES OF THE PROPERTY FOR A SPECIAL REASON OTHER THAN MONETARY.
UH, SO THAT'S, AND THE, THE GLOSSARY FROM THE, UH, UH, FROM, UH, CODE 42 AND THEN, UH, AND THE HOUSTON PLANNING COMMISSION'S APPLICATION, UM, UM, STATEMENT.
IT SAYS, IT SAYS, UH, APPLICATION STATEMENT OF FACTS.
SO IN THIS, IT ALSO SAYS THAT, THAT, UH, THE APPLICANT MUST CLEARLY IDENTIFY HOW TO REQUEST VARI REQUESTED VARIANCE MEETS THE CRITERIA IN ONE A, WHICH IS ONE A IS THE IMPOSITION OF THE TERMS, RULES, CONDITIONS, AND POLICY.
AND STANDARDS OF A CHARTER WOULD CREATE AN UNDUE HARDSHIP BY DEPRIVING THE, UH, APPLICANT OF THE REASONABLE USE OF THE LAND.
OKAY? THE, THE, UM, UH, PROPERTY IS ALREADY DEVELOPED RIGHT NOW.
THERE'S NOTHING ON THE PROPERTY AND IT'S CLEARED.
OKAY? SO THERE'S NOTHING THAT WOULD COUNCIL MEMBER SHABAZZ, UH, THANK YOU.
UH, YOU WANT TO COMPLETE YOUR THOUGHT, SIR? YES.
SO, THERE'S NOTHING TO, UH, TO KEEP THE, UH, DEVELOPER OR PERSON THAT OWNS THE PROPERTY FROM USING A
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PROPERTY IN THE CONDITION THAT IT'S IN.IT'S, IT'S PERFECTLY FINE TO BUILD A, A SINGLE FAMILY, UH, HOME, UH, WITHOUT CHANGING THE BOUNDARIES OF THE PROPERTY.
AND, UM, SO THEY WERE, THE DEVELOPER WAS ASKING FOR A VARIANCE TO, TO CHANGE THE SIZE OF THE PROPERTY, WHICH IS ALSO IS AGAINST OUR, UM, UH, UH, CIVIC CLUB AGAINST, I'M SORRY, THE D RESTRICTIONS FOR OUR, UH, UM, SUBDIVISION.
AND IT, IT CLEARLY STATES, AND WE DID, AS MR. DAVIS SAID, MS. DAVIS WAS HERE EARLIER.
AND, UH, AS MR. DAVIS SAID, THERE WAS, I, I HAD ACTUALLY EMAILED A COPY OF THOSE RESTRICTIONS TO THE, UH, UM, COMMISSION.
AND, BUT THEY DIDN'T SEEM TO WANT TO USE THEIR OWN, UH, UH, STANDARDS HERE WHEN THEY, UH, WHEN THEY APPROVE THAT.
SO MY, MY DEAL HERE IS TO, UH, MAKE, LET THE, UH, COUNCIL BE AWARE THAT FOR SOME REASON, THE, THE, UH, PLANNING COMMISSION WIN AGAINST THEIR, UH, ON REGULATION, THEIR RULES HERE AND THEIR ORDINANCE, WHICH CAUSE FOR A SPECIAL REASON FOR VARIANCE OTHER THAN MONETARY.
SO THE VERY LAST PART OF THIS IS THAT, UH, THAT ECONOMIC HARDSHIP IS NOT THE SOLE JUSTIFICATION FOR VARIANCE.
OKAY? SO IN THE CASE THERE, THE, THE DEVELOPER ACTUALLY WANTS TO MAKE MORE MONEY FROM THE PROPERTY.
BUT TO, TO, TO USE A VARIANCE TO DO THAT IS IT'S, UM, YEAH, IT'S, IT'S WRONG.
IT'S AGAINST THE, UH, UH, THE, UM, UM, THE CODE CITY CODES ANYWAY.
AND, UH, THAT'S WHAT I WANTED TO PRESENT.
AND SO ON JANUARY 5TH, THE, UH, DEVELOPER DID SPEAK WITH THE, UH, UH, UH, WITH THE PLANNING COMMISSION AT THAT DAY.
AND IT, ON THAT DAY, I WAS, I WASN'T REALLY SUFFERING, BUT I HAD COVID, SO I WASN'T ABLE TO GO AND, AND DO A, UH, UH, A PROTEST ON JANUARY 5TH AT THAT TIME.
ARE YOU AND MS. DAVIS SPEAKING OF THE SAME PROPERTY? YES.
WELL, WHAT I'D LIKE TO DO IS GET WITH YOU, UM, LET MY OFFICE GET WITH YOU SO WE CAN TRY TO SEE WHERE THIS IS REGARDING BOTH OF YOUR COMPLAINTS.
UM, AND, UM, THAT'S WHAT I WANTED TO MAKE THE COUNCIL AWARE THAT THE COMMISSION, THEY HAVE RULES AND REGULATIONS AND THEY'RE THERE AND LOOK LIKE THEY STEPPED AROUND THEM FOR SOME, FOR SOME REASON FOR THAT.
YOUR COUNCIL MEMBER'S GONNA ATTEND TO THAT FOR YOU.
NEXT SPEAKER, THE NEXT SPEAKER, COURTNEY RES.
UM, SO, UM, MY NAME IS COURTNEY.
I'M FROM, UH, I LIVE IN DISTRICT B.
I'M FROM THE SUPER NEIGHBORHOOD OF 49 50 SET OF GAS EAST HOUSTON.
AND, UM, MY ISSUE IS ILLEGAL DUMPING AND OUR FLOODING DITCHES.
UM, MY DAUGHTER GOES TO BC ELMORE ELEMENTARY, 8,200 TATE STREET, AND THE ENTIRE STREET IS FLOODED.
THE DITCHES ARE FLOODED EVERY SINGLE DAY, AND THEY ARE FULL OF GARBAGE.
UM, I LOVE SEEING U OF H UP HERE, AND I LOVE SEEING DIDU, AND WE VERY MUCH SO CLEAN UP OUR OWN NEIGHBORHOODS WHEN WE CAN.
WITH THE DITCHES BEING FULL OF WATER, THERE'S NOTHING WE CAN DO.
I HAVE A TICKET NUMBER FOR YOU GUYS.
UM, IT IS, UM, 2 2 0 0 3 9 0 0 7 9.
AND THE RESOLUTION ON THAT TICKET IS, THE DRAINAGE SYSTEM IS BEYOND ROUTINE REPAIR.
AND SO I HAVE BEEN TOLD THAT THERE ARE TWO PROJECTS, THE SWAT PROJECT, AND A LOCAL DRAINAGE PROJECT THAT WAS SUPPOSED TO TAKE AWAY IN OCTOBER.
I, I'M DISAPPOINTED TO NOT SEE MY COUNCIL PERSON HERE, UM, BECAUSE THAT'S WHO INFORMED ME ABOUT THE PROJECT.
AND I HAD TO INFORM THEM IN DECEMBER.
AND AGAIN, YESTERDAY WHEN I SIGNED UP TO SPEAK AT COUNCIL, THAT THAT PROJECT HAS NOT BEGUN YET.
I WOULD LOVE TO DO A DRAINAGE PROJECT WHERE WE CLEAN UP OUR OWN NEIGHBORHOODS, BUT WHEN THEY'RE FULL OF WATER, IT IS NOT SAFE FOR US.
OUR CITY, OUR OUR AREA IS FULL OF SENIORS, AND I CAN GET SOME YOUNG PEOPLE AND SOME KIDS, BUT WHO IS GONNA PUT THEIR LIFE AT RISK WHEN WE'RE NOT THE ONES DUMPING? WE HAVE BUSINESSES, WE HAVE, WE HAVE, UM, DEVELOPERS, AND THEY'RE THE ONES DUMPING THEY'RE TIRES, THEY'RE DUMPING DOGS.
THEY MIGHT AS WELL DUMP SOME KIDS.
YOU KNOW, WE, WE DON'T KNOW WHAT'S IN THE DITCHES 'CAUSE THEY'RE FULL OF WATER.
SO, UM, I'M JUST, I'M JUST ASKING THAT, UM, SOMEONE CALLED ME AND TOLD ME THAT IT WILL TAKE PLACE.
THIS, THIS MONTH IS WHEN THAT PROJECT IS SUPPOSED TO START.
THEY TOLD ME THAT THE REASON THAT IT DIDN'T START WAS BECAUSE SOMETHING ELSE TOOK PRIORITY.
WELL, ON JANUARY 24TH WHEN IT WAS RAINING REALLY HARD, I COULDN'T GET TO MY DAUGHTER.
AND I, AND HISD HAS NO, UM, NO WHATEVER.
[01:25:01]
PLAN FOR WHEN THE STREETS FLOOD AND IF I CAN'T GET HOME.SO WHAT DO I DO? WHAT DO WE DO, RIGHT? AND THEN, AND THEN EVERYBODY'S TELLING ME SOMETHING DIFFERENT WHEN WE JUST NEED TO STEP UP FOR THE KIDS.
NO PROJECT SHOULD TAKE PRIORITY OVER A PROJECT THAT I'VE BEEN ASKING FOR, FOR THREE YEARS SINCE MY DAUGHTER HAS ATTENDED BC ELMORE.
SO, UM, I WOULD JUST ASK THAT SET OF GAS IN EAST HOUSTON BECOME A PRIORITY FOR EVERYONE, BECAUSE IT'S A BIG DEAL ON THAT DAY.
ALSO, JANUARY 24TH, THE CITY CAME OUT BECAUSE THE TREE FELL, THOSE GUYS THREW THE LIMBS FROM THE TREE IN THE FLOODED DITCH.
AND I CAN, I CAN SEND EVERYBODY PICTURES, YOU KNOW, I HAVE THEM SINCE, UM, AUGUST OF 2021.
SO MS. REBELS, IF YOU HAVE THOSE PICTURES AND, UH, WE CAN IDENTIFY WHO PUT THOSE TREE LIMBS IN THE DITCH, I REALLY WOULD LIKE TO GET THAT BECAUSE THAT DEFINITELY IS NOT THE PROTOCOL FOR, UM, STAFF TO PUT TREE LIMBS IN THE DITCH.
THE OTHER THING I, I NEED, UM, TO LET YOU KNOW IS THAT PROJECT IS SCHEDULED TO BEGIN.
THE CONTRACTOR IS WAITING ON MATERIALS.
BUT IF, IF PROJECTS ARE TAKEN PRIORITY, HOW DO OUR KIDS END UP AT U OF H IN THAT BOMB PROGRAM? HOW CAN WE CLEAN UP OUR OWN COMMUNITIES? LIKE THEY SAID, YOU KNOW, I, I TOTALLY UNDERSTAND YOUR FRUSTRATION, BUT THE PROJECT IS GOING TO HAPPEN.
AND I KNOW THAT IT SEEMS LIKE THEY TAKE A VERY LONG TIME.
UM, BUT WE DO HAVE THIS PROJECT AS A PRIORITY IN DISTRICT B, AND WE ARE AWARE THAT DISTRICT B HAS A LOT OF OPEN DITCHES.
AND AS SOON AS THE CONTRACTOR GETS THOSE MATERIALS, THEY ARE SLATED TO BEGIN AS SOON AS THEY GET THOSE MATERIALS.
UH, WE WILL DEFINITELY SHARE THAT INFORMATION WITH YOUR COUNCIL MEMBER.
UM, BUT KNOW THAT YOU HAVE A, UM, COUNCIL OF SUPPORTERS WHO ARE ADVOCATING TO ALSO GET THAT WORK DONE IN DISTRICT B.
BUT I AM VERY INTERESTED IN, UM, IDENTIFYING WHO PUT TREE LIMBS IN ADDITION TO THE WATER IN THE DITCH.
IF YOU HAVE THAT INFORMATION, WE, WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT WE, UM, CAN CORRECT THOSE TYPES OF, UH, SITUATIONS.
COUNCIL MEMBER THOMAS, BEFORE YOU LEAVE MS. REBELS, COUNCIL MEMBER THOMAS IS IN THE QUEUE.
UH, SIMILARLY, I WANTED TO SHARE SIMILAR REMARKS, AND I KNOW YOUR COUNCIL MEMBER ISN'T HERE TODAY, BUT, UM, DURING THE BUDGET CYCLE OF THIS LAST SUMMER, THERE WAS A LOT OF CONVERSATION ABOUT THE OPEN DITCHES IN YOUR DISTRICT AND THE DEMAND AND HOW YOU HAVE THE MOST IN THE CITY.
AND SO ALL OF US WERE IN SUPPORT OF, UH, THE ADMINISTRATION, UH, IDENTIFYING ADDITIONAL FUNDS FOR THAT.
AND I KNOW YOUR COUNCIL MEMBER IDENTIFIED A, UM, UH, UH, A DITCH MAINTENANCE PROGRAM THAT WAS A BUDGET AMENDMENT THAT WAS PASSED.
UM, SO THERE'S SOME THINGS IN Q.
UH, IT DOES, UH, BUT KNOW THAT IT'S HAPPENING LIKE THAT, THAT COMMITMENT IS THERE.
AND SO, UM, UH, CONTINUE TO GIVE US A LITTLE GRACE BECAUSE THERE IS A, A LABOR AND A SUPPLY SHORTAGE.
WE'RE SEEING THAT WITH WATER MAIN PIPES.
WE'RE SEEING THAT WITH ALL TYPES OF PROJECTS HAPPENING THROUGHOUT THE CITY.
BUT CONFIDENTLY, YOU CAN KNOW THAT THIS IS A PRIORITY AND THAT THAT ENTIRE DISTRICT TO MAKE SURE THAT, TO YOUR POINT, SENIORS, KIDS, YOU KNOW, UH, THAT THEY ARE NOT FALLING IN THE DITCHES.
IT'S NOT A PUBLIC SAFETY ISSUE.
AND JUST FOR MAKING SURE THAT Y'ALL DON'T FLOOD OUTTA YOUR HOMES.
AND SO I APPRECIATE YOU TAKING THE TIME TO COME UP HERE TODAY.
UM, AND ALWAYS FEEL COMFORTABLE TO, UH, YOU KNOW, REMIND US OF THE PRIORITIES IN YOUR COMMUNITY.
AND THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE.
AND IF YOU HAVE THAT INFORMATION, YOU CAN GIVE IT TO RHONDA.
UM, 'CAUSE I'D LIKE TO SEE THE PICTURE.
I'M JUST GONNA EMAIL IT TO EVERYBODY, PLEASE.
CHRISTOPHER FIELDS NEXT SPEAKER, EVELYN ROBERTS TO BE FOLLOWED BY STEVE WILLIAMS. HAVING ME, I LIVE LIVED AT 32 11 MERCER STREET FOR THE PAST 20 YEARS.
IT'S RIGHT OFF EDLO IN BETWEEN BOTH ST.
IT'S BEEN A GREAT PLACE TO LIVE AND WORK, EXCEPT IN THE LAST FEW YEARS, WE'VE HAD OUR SAFETY AND PEACE SHATTERED WITH AN AFTER HOURS BAR STORY ULTRA LOUNGE, WHICH IS 33 0 2 MERCER.
IT OPENS AT 2:00 AM CLOSES AT 6:00 AM ON WEEKDAYS, AND 10:00 AM ON WEEKENDS.
SINCE IT'S A PRIVATE CLUB, I UNDERSTAND FROM TABC THAT SELLING ALCOHOL IS OKAY.
IT SELLS $200 BOTTLE BAR BOTTLES.
THE MANAGER HAS TOLD ME THAT ALL THE PATRONS COME IN DRUNK FROM OTHER BARS, THEY DRINK WHILE THEY'RE THERE, AND THEY LEAVE EVEN MORE INTOXICATED AND GET BEHIND THE WHEEL OF A CAR.
WE'VE SEEN THEM LITERALLY BEING DRUG OUT INTO THEIR CARS.
THEY'VE SMASHED THROUGH A RESIDENTIAL GATE ACROSS FROM BERNARD ON
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EDLO.THEY'VE ENDANGERED THOUSANDS OF PARISHIONERS EVERY SUNDAY AM THAT DRIVE ALONG EDLO.
AND ON THAT OVERPASS, THERE WAS A FATALITY A FEW MONTHS AGO AT 4:00 AM WHERE WERE THEY COMING FROM? WHO KNOWS? THE GUY'S DEAD.
THE LAST 10 MONTHS ALONE, THERE HAVE BEEN OVER 174 POLICE REPORTS.
WHEN I PULLED A RECENT REPORT, THE FIRST FIVE ON THIS LIST, DIFFERENT DATES ARE DISTURBANCES WITH A WEAPON.
WHEN I PULLED THE ONE IN THE FALL, THE FIRST OUT OF THE FIRST NINE, THERE ARE SIX.
ONE SUICIDE ASSAULT WITH A WEAPON, SEXUAL ASSAULT DISCHARGE WITH A FIREARM, NARCOTICS COMPLAINT, DISCHARGED WITH A FIREARM.
THEY ARE EITHER RIGHT AT THE BAR OR RIGHT OUTSIDE THE BAR.
ONE OF THE NEIGHBORS THAT LIVES NEAR THAT BAR IS SELLING HIS PROPERTY BECAUSE HIS EMPLOYEES WILL NO LONGER COME TO WORK IN THE MORNING.
THE, UM, SO PEOPLE ARE LITERALLY BEING DRIVEN.
PROPERTY VALUES ARE GOING DOWN OR BEING DRIVEN FROM THE NEIGHBORHOOD.
THE RESPONDING OFFICERS TO THOSE 174 COMPLAINTS ARE ALL FRUSTRATED.
THEY TELL US TO CONTACT OUR CITY.
COUNCILWOMAN VICE SUGGESTED THE SAME.
MY LETTERS AND EMAILS HAVE GONE UNANSWERED UNTIL THIS MORNING.
IMAGINE THAT EVERY AGENCY THAT TOUCHES THIS BAR HAS AN ONGOING INVESTIGATION, YET WE NEVER HEAR OF ANY ACTION.
IT'S ALL A PROCESS, IS WHAT I'VE HEARD NOW FOR OVER FOUR YEARS.
THERE'S A REAL EASY FIX RIGHT THIS VERY MOMENT.
THEY HAVE NO OCCUPANCY PERMIT AND NO BUILDING PERMIT FOR THEIR ADDITION.
THEY TOOK DOWN ALL THE BAR SIGNS AND WROTE THAT THEIR CLOTHES DUE TO CONSTRUCTION ON THE DOOR, KEPT THEIR OPEN EVERY SINGLE NIGHT EXCEPT MONDAY AS BORN OUT BY THEIR SOCIAL MEDIA PAGES AND PICTURES THAT WE'VE SENT IN.
THE INSPECTORS COME OUT DURING THE DAYTIME RED TAG IT AND SAY, WELL, THEY'RE NOT OPEN.
WE HAVE REPORTED THE HOURS THAT THEY'RE OPEN YET.
UH, PUBLIC WORKS TELLS ME THAT THERE IS, THEY HAVE NO, NO ONE, NO INSPECTORS THAT CAN GO OUT.
NO ENFORCEMENT AGENT THAT CAN GO OUT IN THE WEE HOURS OF THE MORNING.
THEY JUST WORK DURING THE DAY.
NOW THEY'RE SCHEDULED FOR ANOTHER REVIEW ON THE 13TH, WHICH IS COMPLETELY MEANINGLESS FROM NINE TO FIVE.
THE PROPERTY OWNER'S A BUILDER, ROBERT COVINGTON, HE KNOWS FULL WELL THAT HE NEEDS PERMITS.
THIS IS ONE OF THREE BUILDINGS ON THAT SAME BLOCK THAT HE'S RENOVATED WITH NO PERMITS.
UH, WHAT I'M ASKING FOR ON IS SOMEONE WITH AUTHORITY TO GO, HANG ON, HANG ON.
DO YOU WANNA FINISH FOR A FEW SECONDS? THEN I'M GONNA RESPOND TO A FEW THINGS I WOULD LIKE TO FINISH.
TWO OF THOSE WERE TWO OF THOSE BUILDINGS WERE SHUT DOWN BECAUSE THEY'RE OPEN DURING THE DAY.
SO THE TENANTS WERE MOVED OUT.
THE, UM, INSPECTOR 2 96 SAID HE COULDN'T FIND THE OWNER.
HE ACTUALLY LIVES AND WORKS FIVE DOORS AWAY AT 34 19 ROBERT COVINGTON.
SO THAT'S WHAT WE'RE ASKING FOR.
SO WITH AUTHORITY TO GO BY WHEN THEY'RE OPEN, THAT HAS THE AUTHORITY TO CLOSE IT DOWN.
UM, MS. ROBERTS, I'VE, FIRST, I KNOW IT, GIVEN THE SITUATION IN THE ONGOING INVESTIGATIONS, I KNOW IT TAKES A LOT TO COME HERE PUBLICLY AND SPEAK.
SO FIRST I WANNA THANK YOU AND ACKNOWLEDGE YOU FOR DOING THAT BECAUSE I KNOW THAT THAT, UM, IS, CAN BE CHALLENGING, UM, AS IT RELATES SPECIFICALLY TO THE RED TAG.
SO COLLEAGUES, JUST SO YOU ALL KNOW, THERE HAVE BEEN CONSISTENT ISSUES WITH THIS LOUNGE FOR YEARS.
UM, AS YOU KNOW, THERE HAVE BEEN MULTI-LAYERED INVESTIGATIONS WITH LAW ENFORCEMENT.
THE MOST RECENT UPDATE WE GOT, AGAIN, AND I HAVE A CHAINS OF INQUIRIES GOING BACK EVERY SINGLE MONTH SENDING TO HPD, SENDING TO LEGAL.
UM, BUT EVEN AS RECENTLY AS JANUARY 5TH, UM, ALL OF THE DEPARTMENTS, INCLUDING LEGAL, ARE AWARE OF THE LOCATION I CAN COUNT ON.
AND I'M NOT GONNA, I CAN SHARE YOU WITH THIS INFORMATION HOW MANY TIMES WE HAVE INQUIRED ON YOUR BEHALF.
UM, BUT I WILL SAY THAT WE ALSO REQUESTED, AND IF THE DEPARTMENTS CAN DO THIS, I WOULD APPRECIATE IT AS WELL.
THAT WITH THAT FOLLOW UP, WE SUBMITTED OUR OWN PERSONAL REQUEST THAT AN INSPECTOR BE DISPATCHED DURING THE HOURS THAT YOU ALL HAD FLAGGED.
BECAUSE AGAIN, WHAT'S HAPPENING, FROM WHAT I UNDERSTAND IS THEY'RE GOING, WHEN THEY'RE NOT OPEN, THEY'RE GOING DURING NORMAL BUSINESS HOURS, WHICH IS NOT WHEN THIS CLUB OPERATES.
UM, THE HEALTH AND SAFETY VIOLATIONS THAT HAVE OCCURRED ARE FRIGHTENING.
UM, WE THOUGH, I DO WANNA SAY ANY EMAIL WE HAVE RECEIVED FROM YOU, WE HAVE RESPONDED TO.
I KNOW THAT WE HAVE EMAIL CHAINS WITH YOU AND OTHERS.
MY STAFF HAS LOOKED FOR YOU SPECIFICALLY.
I KNOW YOU MENTIONED TO MY CHIEF THAT SOMETIMES YOU USE ALIASES.
WITHOUT THOSE, WE CANNOT VERIFY, UH, WHAT COMMUNICATIONS YOU'VE SENT.
BUT I HAVE AGAIN, UH, FROM GOING BACK MONTHS OF RESPONSES TO YOU AND OTHER RESIDENTS AS WE CONTINUE TO WORK THROUGH THIS.
UH, BUT I AGAIN, APPRECIATE YOU ELEVATING THIS SO THAT COLLEAGUES CAN HEAR AS WELL THE CHALLENGES THAT WE ARE FACING, UM,
[01:35:01]
AND THE SIGNIFICANT RISK THAT THIS LOCATION IS PUTTING, UM, NOT JUST FOR THE NEIGHBORHOOD, BUT FOR THE COMMUNITY AT LARGE.AND DO YOU HAVE A DATE FOR WHEN THEY WILL GO OUT TO INSPECT AT THE WRITE OUT? UM, I WAS, I BELIEVE TOLD THE 13TH ON THE 13TH, BUT AGAIN, I REQUESTED IT'S DURING THE DAY.
I, AGAIN, WE'RE WORKING WITH THE DEPARTMENT.
THAT IS THE MOST RECENT INFORMATION THAT WE HAVE.
AND WE HAVE MADE THAT SPECIFIC REQUEST ON YOUR BEHALF TODAY.
AND JUST TO ADD TO THIS, THE, UM, UH, BYOBS AFTER HOURS ARE SUFFOCATED ME IN THE MIDWEST, SO I UNDERSTAND EXACTLY WHAT YOU'RE SAYING.
AND, UM, I RAISED THIS POINT DURING POP-OFF A COUPLE OF WEEKS AGO WITH MAYOR TURNER AND CITY LEGAL'S ACTUALLY WORKING ON AN ORDINANCE TO PRESENT TO COUNCIL TO ADDRESS THAT.
'CAUSE CURRENTLY, AS YOU MENTIONED, IF YOU ARE NOT LICENSED BY THE TABC, THEY DON'T REGULATE THOSE SPACES.
RIGHT? AND SO THEN IT'LL THEN WE'RE FORCED TO HAVE, UM, EITHER, YOU KNOW, PUBLIC WORKS OR THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT.
AND WE'VE BEEN ABLE TO SHUT DOWN TWO, IT'S TAKEN 18 MONTHS IN THE MIDWEST.
YEAH, WE'VE SHUT DOWN TWO, BUT AS SOON AS WE SHUT 'EM DOWN, THEY COME BACK.
SO, NO, IT POPS UP IN THE COMMERCIAL AREA.
AND SO THIS, THIS ORDINANCE THAT THEY'RE WORKING ON SHOULD HOPEFULLY COME TO COUNCIL IN MARCH.
UM, WHICH THEN WILL GIVE HPD AND OTHER DEPARTMENTS SOME TEA TO LIKE ACTUALLY GO IN THERE WITH SOME INTEGRITY.
UM, SO WE CAN ACTUALLY MONITOR THAT.
SO THERE'S SOME OTHER, UH, PIECES TO THAT.
BUT, UH, I SHARE YOUR FRUSTRATION.
I, THOSE AFTER HOURS HAVE TAKEN ME OUT.
AND SO IT, WE'VE HAD TO PAY FOR OVERTIME FOR HPD TO GO DURING THOSE DAY, DURING THE TIMEFRAME, BECAUSE THEY'RE GONE AT FIVE O'CLOCK RIGHT.
AND SO IT'S HAPPENING, IT'S COMING.
AND SO JUST, YOU KNOW, STAY TUNED TO, TO MORE OF THAT FROM COUNCIL.
WHEN DO YOU EXPECT THAT TO HAPPEN? MARCH.
IS THERE A SECOND? OH, IT'S BEEN MOVING A SECOND DISCUSSION.
AND IN ADDITION TO, UH, WHAT COUNCIL MEMBER THOMAS SAID, UH, GOING BACK TO THE TEETH ISSUE, WE'RE ALSO MEETING COUNCIL MEMBER.
ALCORN HAS BEEN EXTREMELY HELPFUL WITH THIS, WITH STATE REPRESENTATIVES, BECAUSE AGAIN, ALL OF THIS GOES BACK TO REGULATION WITH TABC, AND THE CITY DOESN'T HAVE THE TOOLS THAT IT NEEDS.
A LOT OF THAT LIES WITH THE STATE.
SO I'M CURRENTLY, BECAUSE WE'RE IN LEGISLATIVE SESSION, AND I ENCOURAGE YOU ALL TO REACH OUT AS WELL AND CAN, I CAN REALLY USE YOUR HELP WITH THAT IN GETTING STATE LEGISLATION THAT GIVES MORE ENFORCEMENT AND ABILITY FOR THE CITY TO DO SOMETHING.
OR MAKING SURE THAT TABC IS DOING WHAT THEY NEED TO DO TO REIGN THIS STUFF IN.
WHAT CAN WE DO TO HELP? WE CAN, WE'VE BEEN STANDING BY FOR YEARS, I EVEN, BEFORE I CAME INTO OFFICE.
AND, AND I'M HAPPY TO SHARE THAT INFORMATION WITH YOU.
BUT REACHING OUT AND TALKING TO YOUR STATE REPRESENTATIVES AND YOUR STATE SENATORS, UH, HELPS TO AMPLIFY THE ISSUE.
'CAUSE AGAIN, A LOT OF THIS COUNCILMAN KUBOSH TO YOUR POINT, GOES BACK TO THE INABILITY OF US TO DO WHAT WE SEE WE NEED TO BE DOING BECAUSE WE DON'T HAVE THE TEETH AND ABILITY TO ENFORCE THE WAY THAT THE STATE DOES.
STEVE WILLIAMS, STATE WILLIAMS, STEVE WILLIAMS. NEXT SPEAKER, ELLIE MONTOYA.
REVIS BE FOLLOWED BY ROBERT CHO.
GOOD AFTERNOON, CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS.
UM, I'M HERE, UH, WITH AN UPDATE.
UH, MY CASE IN THE CRIMINAL COURT HAS BEEN DISMISSED AND I'M VERY GRATEFUL TO GOD AND, UH, TO THOSE PEOPLE WHO BELIEVE IN ME AT THE TIME, UH, THAT WAS GOING THROUGH A SITUATION.
UM, I'M ASKING THE LDS CHURCH TO CEASE AND DEIST.
UH, I SPOKE TO HPD IN THE KINGWOOD LOCATION.
I DON'T HAVE THE $2,000 CHECK THAT I GAVE BACK.
AND, UH, THEY HAVE BEEN SLANDERING ME FOR QUITE SOME TIME.
UH, UNFORTUNATELY, I'M NOT IN THE POSITION TO, UH, HELP ANYBODY AT THIS POINT.
I'M LIVING WITH MY, UH, STEPDAD AND MOM, UH, AND MY MOM.
AND BASICALLY I DON'T, UM, BELONG TO ANY CHURCH.
UH, MY, UH, PARTICIPATION WITH THE MORMON CHURCH.
IT IS BASICALLY ABOUT TRYING TO, UH, COME TOGETHER AS A COMMUNITY AND TRY TO BE, UH, GOOD SAMARITANS AND GOOD CHRISTIANS, UH, OR WHATEVER RELIGION WE ALL PROFESS.
AND THANK YOU MS. UH, MONTOYA RIVAS.
[01:40:01]
ROBINSON, YOU HAVE A MOTION? YES.UM, AND I'D LIKE TO ASK FOR, UH, UH, RELEASE THE RULES TO ADD CAMERON JONES THOMAS, UH, TO THE ONE MINUTE AGENDA.
ANY DISCUSSION? IF NO DISCUSSION, WE'LL ADD CAMERON JONES, UH, TO THE BOTTOM OF THE ONE MINUTE AGENDA LIST.
LAST WEEK, THE CITY RECOGNIZED A 5000TH ENTITY ASSISTED BY THE CITY OF HOUSTON'S SMALL BUSINESS PROGRAM.
SMALL BUSINESSES ARE AN, OBVIOUSLY AN IMPORTANT PART OF THIS CITY.
SMALL BUSINESSES EMPLOY PEOPLE.
THEY PURCHASE GOODS AND SERVICES, THEY SELL GOODS AND SERVICES, AND IN DOING SO, COLLECT AND REDEEM SALES, TAXES, SMALL BUSINESSES, PAY PROPERTY TAXES AND OVERALL PLAY.
AN IMPORTANT PART IN THE LIVES OF HOUSTONIANS BAKERY.
DONUT IS ONE SUCH SMALL BUSINESS BAKERY DONUT HAS SERVED THIS COMMUNITY FOR 25 YEARS.
THEY HAVE SERVED THE CHOATE FAMILY AT LEAST 1000 TIMES DURING THE 25 YEARS.
MS. DANNY, WHO'S PICTURED ON A HANDOUT THAT'S COMING AROUND NOW, CO-OWNS THIS BUSINESS WITH HER HUSBAND.
THEY WORK LITERALLY SEVEN DAYS A WEEK, CLOSE ONLY ON CHRISTMAS AND THANKSGIVING.
THEY PROVIDE A BIT OF SWEETNESS EACH DAY.
BAKERY DONUT WAS THE INCENTIVE TO GET MY KIDS TO SCHOOL ON TIME, AT LEAST ONCE A WEEK.
BETWEEN YEARS OF 2022 AND, UH, 2012, MS. DANNY AND HER HUSBAND HAVE SUFFERED A 20% DROP IN THEIR BUSINESS SINCE THE INSTALLATION OF CONCRETE OF THE CONCRETE MEDIAN IN THE MIDDLE OF 11TH STREET AS PART OF THE 11TH STREET PROJECT, BAKERY DONUT MAY BE FORCED OUTTA BUSINESS IF MODIFICATIONS ARE NOT MADE.
THANK YOU MR. HILT FOR COMING BACK TODAY.
UM, I'M, I'M ALWAYS CONCERNED ABOUT BUSINESSES WHEN THEY HAVE TO GO OUTTA BUSINESS FOR WHATEVER REASON.
IT, IT'S CERTAINLY, UH, WHENEVER IT'S EITHER CRIME RELATED, AS WE HAD HEARD EARLIER, PEOPLE ARE HAVING PROBLEMS, OR IF IT'S, UH, THAT WE ARE DOING SOMETHING WITH THE ROADS OR, OR IN THE NEIGHBORHOODS THAT'S CAUSING IT TO HAPPEN.
AND THIS, UH, OBVIOUSLY THIS, THIS BIKE, UH, LANE AS I'VE DRIVEN DOWN, IT, IT, IT'S A, IT'S A REAL PROBLEM TRYING TO GET INTO SOME OF THESE BUSINESSES YES.
AND TO GET OUT OF SOME OF THESE BUSINESSES.
SO, UH, ONE OF THE THINGS I'D LIKE TO HAVE IF, IF, IF YOU LIVE CLOSE TO THE, TO THE, TO COMMUNITY THERE, IF YOU, IF YOU COULD FIND OUT WHEN DO THEY PICK UP THE TRASH ON 11TH STREET? BECAUSE I'D LIKE TO SEE HOW THAT, HOW THAT ACTUALLY WORKS.
IF SOMEBODY WOULD TEXT ME THAT, I GUESS I COULD GET AHOLD OF SOLID WASTE, BUT I, I'D LIKE TO, I'D LIKE TO FOLLOW THE, THE GARBAGE TRUCK DOWN THE ROAD AND SEE, SEE WHAT HAPPENS.
IT, DOES THE ARM EXTEND OUT OVER THE BIKE TRAIL? IF SO, DOES THAT ENDANGER PEOPLE ON, ON THE BIKE LANE? I MEAN, UH, HOW DO WE HANDLE HEAVY TRASH? WHAT'S THE BACKUP ON THE ROADWAY WHILE THE GARBAGE TRUCK IS SLOWING DOWN TO PICK UP EACH ONE? SURE.
IF THE TRASH PICKUP IS ANYTHING LIKE MY NEIGHBORHOOD, WHICH IS A MILE WEST, IT'LL BE ABOUT SEVEN 30 ON THURSDAY NIGHTS.
WELL, IT WOULD BE NICE TO HAVE A VIDEO OF IT.
IF SOMEBODY WOULD TAKE TIME TO, TO VIDEO THE TRUCK AND THE TRAFFIC SURE.
AND THAT WAY WE CAN ALL SEE IT.
AND, AND I, I APPRECIATE YOU COMING.
I KNOW YOU TAKE TIME OUTTA YOUR DAY TO COME DOWN HERE, AND IT MEANS A LOT TO US ON COUNCIL THAT YOU COME AND MAKE A STATEMENT.
WE HAVE ANO UH, TWO MORE COUNCIL MEMBERS TO ADDRESS YOU, MR. CHO.
UH, ROBERT, HOW YOU DOING TODAY? PRETTY GOOD.
SO THIS, THIS CONSTRUCTION OUT THERE, YOU KNOW, WE ALWAYS HAVE CONSTRUCTION PROBLEMS, WORK ON A STREET.
DO YOU SEE THAT THESE, UH, MEDIANS ARE SOMETHING IN ADDITION TO OUR NORMAL CONSTRUCTION ISSUES? OR IS THIS, YOU THINK IT'S GONNA BE A PERMANENT FIXTURE THAT CUSTOMERS WILL BE PREVENTED FROM GETTING TO THE BUSINESS? THIS HAPPENS TO BE A PERMANENT FIXTURE.
UH, THERE ARE PICTURES OF IT ON SOCIAL MEDIA, AND THIS ISN'T ABOUT ME, IT'S ABOUT THE BUSINESS.
BUT IF I WANT TO GO THERE, I CAN'T MAKE A LEFT TURN INTO THAT PROPERTY ANYMORE.
I HAVE TO MAKE A DANGEROUS MOVE ONTO NORTH SHEPHERD AND CUT AROUND THE BACK OF DADDY'S CHICKEN SHACK AND HOPEFULLY NOT RUN OVER ANYBODY WHO'S TAKING OUT THE TRASH OR WHATEVER, OR KIND OF GO AROUND THE BLOCK.
UH, THE OTHER DAY I WAS HAVING COFFEE AT A BUSINESS ACROSS THE STREET, WHICH IS ALSO SUFFERING A LOSS.
LEFT AT FIVE O'CLOCK, WENT DOWN DOROTHY STREET WHEN I GOT TO 10TH STREET, WHAT I ENCOUNTER, BUT A FREIGHT TRUCK WHO, SO, UM, WAS USING 10TH STREET AS A BYPASS.
[01:45:01]
I'M ASSUMING, I'M JUST CURIOUS ABOUT YOUR OPINION HERE.DO, DO YOU THINK THIS IS A, AN UN UNFORCED ERROR ON THE PART OF THE CITY TO PUT A BIKE LANE ON WEST 11TH WHEN WE COULD HAVE PUT IT ON WEST 12TH? POSSIBLY.
AND, UH, EVEN A BIKE LANE ON WEST, ON ON 11TH STREET, YOU KNOW, TO HAVE THIS CONCRETE MEDIAN AND THERE'S SOME ISSUES.
I, BUT WE NEED TO DO THAT FOR THE SAFETY OF THE, OF THE BICYCLIST.
RIGHT? IT'S IN THE MIDDLE OF THE STREET.
THAT'S, THAT'S GONNA CAUSE TRAFFIC TO REALLY SLOW DOWN SO THEY DON'T RUN OVER THE BICYCLIST THERE.
ODDLY, ODDLY ENOUGH THOUGH, IF I MAY, THAT PARTICULAR MEDIAN ISN'T EVEN AN, ISN'T EVEN WHERE THE BIKE LANES EXIST.
THE BIKE LANE ACTUALLY ENDS, IF YOU'RE WESTBOUND AT DOROTHY STREET, WHICH IS THE STREET TO THE EAST OF BAKERY DONUT, THE BIKE LANE ACTUALLY TURNS ONTO DOROTHY STREET THEN ONTO 10TH STREET AND ACTUALLY ENDS BEFORE SHEPHERD.
SO WHAT WAS THERE, WE'RE TALKING WHAT WE ACCOMPLISHED.
WHAT WAS THERE BEFORE THE CONSTRUCTION? WERE THERE A TURN LANE OR SOMETHING THERE? NO, IT WAS A, YOU KNOW, TWO LANES IN EACH DIRECTION.
AND IF YOU WANNA MAKE A LEFT TURN TO THE DONUT SHOP OR YOU HELD SIGNAL THE TRAFFIC BEHIND PEOPLE AROUND YOU AND SURE.
UM, MR. CHO, ACCORDING TO, UM, PUBLIC WORKS DATA, JUST FOR YOUR AWARENESS, UH, THAT INTERSECTION WHERE THAT, SO ONE, WE HAVE PEDESTRIAN REFUGES AT SOME OF OUR MOST DANGEROUS INTERSECTIONS ON THAT AREA, INCLUDING NICHOLSON, WHICH I'M SURE YOU AGREE, IS A VERY HIGH TRAFFIC AND DANGEROUS CROSSING.
DO YOU AGREE WITH THAT? I'M SORRY.
DO I AGREE? IT'S DANGEROUS WITH THE NICHOLSON CROSSING AND THE IMPORTANCE OF THE PEDESTRIAN REFUGE THERE.
IRONICALLY, WHEN I LEFT HERE TWO WEEKS AGO, I USED THIS, THIS PEDESTRIAN OPERATED CROSSING SIGNAL RIGHT OUTSIDE HERE.
SO YOU DON'T THINK YOU NEED, THAT'S ALL WE NEEDED.
THE WITH IN FRONT OF THE DONUT SHOP, IT WAS ONE OF THE HIGHEST, ACCORDING TO PUBLIC WORKS, WHERE THAT LEFT TURNOUT WAS, WAS ONE OF THE HIGHEST ACCIDENT RATES ALONG THE ENTIRE 11TH STREET CORRIDOR.
SO THAT'S JUST THE DATA WE'VE GOTTEN.
COUNCIL MEMBER KUBOSH REGARDING TRASH.
UM, PRIVATE BUSINESSES ARE NOT ENROLLED IN THE CITY'S SOLID WASTE PROGRAM.
THAT'S WHY WE PASSED, UH, IMPORTANT SCREENING, UH, ORDINANCES RECENTLY REGARDING DUMPSTER SCREENINGS.
OUR PRIVATE BUSINESSES USE DUMPSTERS AND THINGS LIKE THAT.
AND TRASH ACCESS FOR THE BUSINESSES IS ACTUALLY ON THE BACKSIDE.
IT'S NOT ON 11TH STREET SPECIFICALLY AROUND THAT CORRIDOR OR THERE.
IF I MAY ADDRESS THE COMMENT YOU JUST MADE ABOUT THE ACCIDENTS, I CAN'T TELL YOU HOW MANY TIMES I'VE GONE THROUGH THE INTERSECTION.
I'VE LIVED ONE MILE WEST OF THERE FOR 25 YEARS.
DON'T, DON'T, DON'T DO THAT, MR. DON'T DO THAT.
THE NEXT, MR. CHO AND I, I'VE SEEN MAYBE ONE ACCIDENT.
I'D LOVE TO SEE THOSE FIGURES BECAUSE AT THE PUBLIC MEETINGS, THE SLIDES WE SHOWED, YOU COULD BARELY READ OF ALL THESE ACCIDENTS OVER A 19 YEAR PERIOD ALONG THAT STREET.
MR. CHILD, YOUR TIME HAS EXPIRED.
WE APPRECIATE, WE APPRECIATE YOUR PASSING.
I WILL SAY THAT THERE'S INFORMATION ON, UH, THE WEBSITE, INCLUDING THE LET'S TALK HOUSTON WEBPAGE.
THERE'S ALSO BEEN 10 PUBLIC MEETINGS, INCLUDING SOME WITH OVER A HUNDRED IN ATTENDANCE, AND THE DEPARTMENTS HAVE SHARED ALL THOSE SLIDES.
I PICK THIS UP OFF SPEAKER THE STREET YESTERDAY.
IT WAS KNOCKED OFF OF ONE OF THOSE MEETINGS.
THE NEXT SPEAKER, MARION WRIGHT.
THANK YOU MR. CHO TO BE FOLLOWED BY CAMERON THOMAS JONES.
SO I'M HERE ON BEHALF OF THE 24 BUSINESSES FOR A MILE AND A HALF DURING THIS PROJECT THAT HAVE SIGNED, SAYING THAT THEY'RE HAVING ADVERSE EFFECTS BECAUSE OF THIS PROJECT.
NOW, IN ORDER TO GET TO THE DONUT SHOP THAT MS. CAYMAN WAS TALKING ABOUT, YOU WOULD ACTUALLY HAVE TO GO AROUND.
IT'S EIGHT BLOCKS TO GET BACK IF YOU WENT OKAY, MR. ROBINSON CAME OUT YESTERDAY.
I'D LIKE FOR YOU TO SHARE YOUR EXPERIENCE AND HOW, WHAT YOU THOUGHT WHEN YOU WERE THERE.
WE CAN'T GET OUR COUNCIL MEMBERS TO COME OUT, BUT THE COUNCIL MEMBERS AT LARGE ARE COMING OUT.
ABBY CAYMAN AND CARLOS CIRO ARE EITHER SILENT OR ABSENT.
WE'VE ASKED FOR THE COUNCIL MEMBERS TO COME OUT.
WE'VE HAD THREE COUNCIL MEMBERS AT LARGE COME OUT.
THEY'VE TOURED, THEY'VE SEEN WHAT'S GOING ON.
THEY KNOW WHAT THE BUSINESSES ARE BEING AFFECTED.
I INVITE ALL OF Y'ALL TO GO TO ANY 24 OF THESE BUSINESSES AS FAR AS TRASH PICKUP 11 STREET.
AND EVERYBODY SHOULD KNOW THAT, ESPECIALLY ABBY CAYMAN.
HAS EXPIRED COUNCIL MEMBER ROBINSON.
MS. WRIGHT, I DID JOIN YOU YESTERDAY AND I'M GRATEFUL FOR YOU ASKING.
AND I THOUGHT I LEARNED A GREAT DEAL FROM BEING OUT ON, UH, 11TH STREET.
UM, I CAN'T SAY THAT I THINK YOUR TECHNIQUES OF,
[01:50:01]
UM, ACTING IN AN ADVERSARIAL WAY WITH SOME OF MY COLLEAGUES IS REALLY HELPING YOUR POSITION.BUT I, I DID LEARN A LOT FROM DOING THAT YESTERDAY AS WELL AS, UM, AGAIN, THANKING YOU FOR YOUR TIME AND, UH, HELPING ME UNDERSTAND PART OF THE CRITICISM THAT I'VE BEEN HEARING.
UM, SO I'M STILL DIGESTING WHAT I'VE SEEN.
I THINK THERE'S A NUMBER OF ISSUES THAT BALANCE THIS DISCUSSION IN BOTH DIRECTIONS.
SO I'VE YET TO MAKE A COMPLETE CONCLUSION ABOUT WHAT I WOULD RECOMMEND TO THE CITY IF IT WAS UP TO ME.
BUT I, I KNOW THAT YOU ALL ARE VERY COMPELLING WITH YOUR SIGNATURES.
I JUST THINK THAT DOESN'T NEED TO BE THE TENSION IN THE ADVERSARIAL APPROACH.
NOW, I KNOW LAST WEEK YOU MENTIONED A LIST OF BUSINESSES AND THEN YOU PROVIDED ANOTHER LIST OF BUSINESSES TODAY.
AND BESIDES THE TWO THAT WE'VE ALREADY TALKED ABOUT, THE DONUT SHOP AND THE OTHER BUSINESS MENTIONED, ARE, WILL THESE BE REMEDIED POST-CONSTRUCTION OR WILL DO YOU ANTICIPATE THERE'S STILL PROBLEMS AFTER THE CONSTRUCTION? THE PROBLEMS THAT WE'RE HAVING AREN'T CONSTRUCTION PROBLEMS. THE FACT THAT TRAFFIC IS BACKING UP TO THE POINT WHERE THE FIRE TRUCKS AND STUFF CAN'T GET THROUGH.
SO THEY'RE USING BACK STREETS, THAT'S NOT GONNA GO AWAY AS FAR AS THE GARBAGE CANS ON THE STREET.
A LOT OF IT'S RESIDENTIAL PEOPLE THAT LIVE ON 11TH STREET.
AND PEOPLE KNOW THAT MS. CAYMAN KNOWS THAT IT'S NOT ALL BUSINESSES THAT CAN PUT THEIR TRASH CANS BEHIND.
AND I'M NOT TRYING TO BE ADVERSARIAL.
WE HAVE ASKED OVER AND OVER AGAIN, PLEASE COME AND MEET WITH THE BUSINESS OWNERS.
COME AND MEET WITH THE COMMUNITY, PLEASE.
AND WE JUST KEEP GETTING STONEWALLED.
WE'VE GONE TO OUR CIVICS CLUBS AND ASKED THE CIVICS CLUBS TO PLEASE, YOU KNOW, THEY CAME TO ME AND ASKED ME, BRAD SNEAD FROM THE CIVICS CLUB, FROM ASKED ME TO PLEASE COLLECT DATA AND TELL THEM WHAT WAS WRONG.
AND I SAID, NO, AND NEED TO HAVE THE COMMUNITY TELL YOU WHAT'S WRONG.
HE TOLD ME, WELL, WE CAN'T WORK WITH YOU ANYMORE.
I DON'T KNOW WHAT TO DO WITH THAT.
WE NEED OUR COUNCIL MEMBERS TO PLEASE LISTEN TO US.
AND I DON'T THINK WE'RE ASKING FOR TOO MUCH.
WE'RE ASKING FOR Y'ALL TO SIT DOWN IN A MEETING.
I MEAN, REALLY, WHEN COUNCIL MEMBERS AT LARGE ARE COMING AND THEY'RE MEETING WITH US, AND I'M GETTING CALLS FROM CANDIDATES THAT ARE RUNNING IN OTHER POSITIONS.
I'VE GOT SOMEONE COMING TOMORROW THAT'S RUNNING FOR COUNCIL MEMBER CIRO'S POSITION WHEN SHE'S DONE TERM LIMITED AND SHE WANTS TO SEE WHAT'S GOING ON ON 11TH STREET.
WHY CAN'T OUR COUNCIL MEMBERS, I YOU HAVE A COUPLE OF OTHER COUNCIL MEMBERS THAT'D LIKE TO ADDRESS.
UM, LET'S, UH, REVISIT THE, THE TRAFFIC SITUATION.
I MEAN, THESE BUSINESSES THAT YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT HERE ON 11TH STREET, THOSE GARBAGE TRUCKS THAT COME TO PICK UP THEIR GARBAGE ARE FAIRLY LARGE, ARE THEY NOT? WELL, IT'S THE REGULAR SIZED GARBAGE TRUCKS PICKS UP ALL OF OUR REGULAR TRASH YEAH.
AND THEY NEED ROOM TO MANEUVER AROUND AND THEY HAVE TO BE ABLE TO GET ON 11TH STREET TO GET BACK THERE BEHIND THE, THE STORE TO GET THAT, TO GET THOSE THINGS.
NOT ONLY THAT, MS. WRIGHT IS, ISN'T IT ALSO TRUE THAT A LOT OF THESE BUSINESS REQUIRED DELIVERIES TO BE MADE FROM TIME TO TO TIME? THAT'S TERRIBLE.
SOME OF THE BUSINESSES HAVE ALREADY LEFT BECAUSE THEY CAN'T GET DELIVERIES.
DO YOU HAVE ANY IDEA HOW MANY BUSINESSES HAVE LEFT AS A RESULT OF CERAMICS STORE HAS ALREADY LEFT BECAUSE THEY COULDN'T GET THEIR DELIVERIES? WE HAVE OTHER CUSTOMER, I MEAN, BUSINESSES THAT THEY'RE BIKE PARKING IN THE BIKE LANES AND IN THE, UM, THE BUS STOP LANES TO GET THEIR DELIVERIES.
UM, I KNOW THAT, UM, WHAT'S THE NAME OF THE RESTAURANT? IT'S A MEXICAN RESTAURANT.
UM, WELL, WE'LL, WE, WE CAN GET TO THAT LATER.
BUT, 'CAUSE I'M RUNNING OUTTA MY TIME.
I JUST WANTED TO, I'M SORRY I DIDN'T HEAR YOU MS. CAYMAN, WE NEED A MOTION TO EXTEND.
ANY DISCUSSION? IF NONE, YOU MAY CONTINUE.
UM, SO IT, IT'S YOUR, YOUR CONVICTION OR YOUR BELIEF THAT THIS PROJECT THAT WE'VE CREATED ON WEST 11TH IS GONNA BE A DETRIMENT TO THE COMMUNITY AND TO THE BUSINESSES ALONG THAT, THAT THOROUGHFARE, YES OR NO? ABSOLUTELY.
THANK COUNCIL MEMBER KOSH? YEAH.
UH, I'D LIKE TO FIND OUT IF PEOPLE ARE ABLE TO PUT THEIR TRASH OUT ON 11TH STREET AND, AND IF THEY, IF THEY HAVE A WAY OF PUTTING IT BEHIND THEIR HOUSE.
IS THERE AN ALLEY BACK THERE? I, I DON'T KNOW.
I I DON'T SEE AN ALLEY BEHIND THE, THE HOMES THAT ARE ON 11TH STREET.
IS THERE AN ALLEY? NO, THERE'S LIKE, HOUSES BEHIND THOSE HOUSES? NOT THAT I'M AWARE OF.
I DON'T LIVE ON 11TH STREET, BUT I'M NOT AWARE OF AN ALLEY.
WELL, ONCE AGAIN, AFTER I LEAVE HERE, I'M GOING TO MIDDLE STREET AND THEN I'M GONNA GO DOWN 11TH STREET AGAIN.
[01:55:01]
AND WE NEED TO DO SOME VIDEO AND TO SEE, AND I NEED TO SEE HOW MANY BIKES ARE THAT WE NEED TO DO A, A BIKE COUNT AND SEE IF THERE'S HUNDREDS OF BIKES THAT ARE ON THAT BIKE LANE, UH, DURING THE DAY OR IF THERE'S ANY AT ALL.WELL, I DO APPRECIATE THE COUNCIL MEMBERS THAT ARE COMING OUT.
AND MS. ELKHORN AND MS. PLUMMER, WE'VE EXTENDED INVITATIONS TO Y'ALL, SO HOPEFULLY YOU'LL COME.
UM, MY NAME IS CAMERON JONES AND I WAS COMING TO TALK ABOUT, UH, UH, ALL RIGHT, ONCE WE GO.
BUT ON JANUARY 4TH, 2023, CALEB SWOFFORD, WHICH IS MY BROTHER, BECAME THE SECOND PERSON IN A WEEK TO BE STRUCK BY A POLICE OFFICER WHILE THE PEDESTRIAN AND KILLED.
12 DAYS LATER, ANOTHER PERSON STRUCK BY AN HPD OFFICER LOST THEIR LIFE.
HE WAS ON HIS WAY TO AN APARTMENT COMPLEX IN THE AREA THAT WAS NOT WELL LIT.
AND LIKE A LOT OF THE CITY HAD NO CROSSWALK FOR PEDESTRIANS TO SAFELY WALK TO THE DESTINATION.
AND EVERY IN AND EVERY INCIDENT, THE OFFICER WHO STRUCK THE PEDESTRIAN WAS RESPONDING TO A NON-EMERGENCY CALLS AND WERE NOT UTILIZING LIGHTS AND SIRENS.
AND THE INCIDENT THAT HAPPENED DECEMBER 30TH, THE OFFICER WAS RESPONDING TO A FATAL CRASH, RESPONDED TO THE FATAL CRASH.
THE INCIDENT ON JANUARY 17TH WAS AN OFFICER RESPONDED TO THE DOUBLE SHOOTER WITH NO LIGHTS OR SIRENS FOR EITHER AND TO, UNTIL THIS DAY, IT IS UNKNOWN WHAT THE, WHAT THE CALL WAS.
THE, UH, YOUR TIME HAS TIME HAS EXPIRED.
YOU CAN HAVE THE REST OF MY TIME TO FINISH YOUR STATEMENT.
UM, UH, UH, AN UNKNOWN TO WHAT THE CALL OFFICER, IT IS UNKNOWN WITH THE CALL, WHAT THE CALL WAS, THE OFFICER WHO STRUCK MR. SWER WAS RESPONDING TO.
IN LIGHT OF ALL THESE THREE EVENTS THAT HAPPENED IN LESS THAN THREE WEEKS, I'M ASKING THAT THE CITY OF HOUSTON TO, UM, TO REVISE THEIR RESPONSE MANAGEMENT PLAN AND CONSIDER NEW PROCEDURES AND UTILIZING LIGHTS AND CYRUS RESPONDING TO CALLS, UTILIZING LIGHTS ONLY WHEN RESPONDING TO NON-EMERGENCY CALLS, ESPECIALLY AT NIGHT.
WE ENSURE THE SAFETY OF PEDESTRIANS AND OFFICERS ALIKE.
I ALSO LIKE TO PROPOSE THE CITY REVIEW THE PLAN TO MAKE SUBURBAN AREAS OF THE CITY MORE FRIENDLY TO THE PEDESTRIANS, TO ENSURE OUR HISTORIANS ARE PROVIDED WITH SAFE WALKWAYS WHEN MOVING THROUGH THE CITY.
SO, THANK YOU, SIR, FOR CALLING.
I THINK YOU HAVE SOME GREAT POINTS.
FIR FIRST I WANNA, UH, GIVE MY CONDOLENCES TO THOSE WHO WERE STRUCK.
UM, AND I'M GONNA GIVE YOU MY CARD, IF YOU CAN EMAIL ME YOUR STATEMENT, UM, SO THAT WE CAN HAVE THAT OF RECORD AND PASS IT ON TO HPD.
AND THEN MY OFFICE WILL FOLLOW UP WITH YOU ON, UH, SOME MORE SPECIFICS REGARDING THAT ACCIDENT.
AND, AND IF I UNDERSTAND YOU CLEARLY, YOU'RE ASKING FOR SIDEWALKS SO THAT PEDESTRIANS CAN WALK ON THE SIDEWALK.
AND LIGHTS, STREET LIGHTS AND STUFF.
DO YOU KNOW WHICH DISTRICT THIS IS IN? UH, IT, IT WAS, WELL, I KNOW THE ACCIDENT.
WELL, DO YOU KNOW THE ADDRESS? OH YEAH.
ISN'T NOTHING, IT'S JUST A DARK STREET.
WE DO HAVE ANOTHER COUNCIL MEMBER THAT WANTS TO ADDRESS YOU.
ACTUALLY, UH, I WAS HAVING DIFFICULTY HEARING.
I WASN'T CLEAR AND YOUR QUESTION ANSWERED THAT FOR ME, SO I'M GOOD.
UM, AND THEN, UH, ONE OF OUR HPD OFFICERS IS HERE, IF YOU WOULD TALK TO HIM, AND HE CAN ALSO GET YOUR STATEMENT AND WE'LL FOLLOW UP WITH YOUR COUNCIL MEMBER AND LOOK AT, UM, POTENTIAL SIDEWALKS AND STREETLIGHTS.
ALRIGHT, THIS COMPLETES THE LIST OF SPEAKERS.
[RECESS]
WE ARE, UM, HALLELUJAH.WE ARE IN RECESS UNTIL TOMORROW'S 9:00 AM MEETING
[02:00:19]
ITEM 21, ORDINANCE APPROVED AND AUTHORIZING CONTRACT BETWEEN THE CITY OF HOUSTON AND DRC EMERGENCY SERVICES.ITEM 22, ORDINANCE AMENDING ORDINANCE NUMBER 2019 DASH 72 TO AMEND THE MAXIMUM CONTRACT AMOUNT FOR CONTRACT NUMBER 4 6 0 0 0 1 4 9 8 9.
BETWEEN THE CITY OF HOUSTON AND JEFFERSON MOWING, LLC ITEM 23 ORDINANCE APPROVED AND AUTHORIZING FIRST AMENDMENT TO CONTRACT NUMBER 4 6 0 0 0 1 6 8 5 3 BETWEEN THE CITY OF HOUSTON AND MIDWEST.
TAPE, LLC ITEM 24 ORDINANCE AUTHORIZING A GRANT APPLICATION TO THE STATE OF TEXAS OFFICE OF THE GOVERNOR, PUBLIC SAFETY OFFICE, CRIMINAL D, CRIMINAL JUSTICE DIVISION.
ITEM 25 ORDINANCE RELATING TO FISCAL AFFAIRS OF UPTOWN DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY ON BEHALF OF REINVESTMENT ZONE NUMBER 16, CITY OF HOUSTON, TEXAS UPTOWN ZONE.
ITEM 26 ORDINANCE RELATING TO FISCAL AFFAIRS OF MEMORIAL CITY REDEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY ON BEHALF OF REINVESTMENT ZONE NUMBER 17, CITY OF HOUSTON, TEXAS MEMORIAL CITY ZONE ITEM 27, ORDINANCE CONSENTING TO THE ADDITION OF 24.7653 ACRES OF LAND TO HARRIS COUNTY MUNICIPAL UTILITY.
UTILITY DISTRICT NUMBER 24, ITEM 28.
ORDINANCE APPROPRIATING 10,500,000 OUT OF DEDICATED DRAINAGE AND STREET RENEWAL CAPITAL FUND APPROVING AND AUTHORIZING INTERLOCAL AGREEMENT BY AND BETWEEN THE CITY OF HOUSTON, TEXAS, AND HARRIS COUNTY FLOOD CONTROL DISTRICT.
ITEM 29 ORDINANCE APPROVING AND AUTHORIZING ADVANCED FUNDING AGREEMENT FOR NORTH HOUSTON HIGHWAY IMPROVEMENT PROJECT, NORTH CANAL ON SYSTEM AND OFF SYSTEM BETWEEN THE CITY OF HOUSTON AND TEXAS DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION.
ITEM 30, ORDINANCE APPROVING AND AUTHORIZING FIRST AMENDMENT TO CONSTRUCTION MANAGEMENT AND INSPECTION SERVICES.
CONTRACT BETWEEN THE CITY OF HOUSTON AND BRIANIS CONSULTING AND ENGINEERING LTD.
THIS COMPLETES THE READING OF THE AGENDA FOR THE CITY COUNCIL SESSION OF FEBRUARY SEVEN AND EIGHT, 2023.
STAY TUNED FOR THE NEXT SESSION OF THE HOUSTON CITY COUNCIL SCHEDULED TO BEGIN AT 9:00 AM AND IN THE WORDS OF THE CURRENT CITY SECRETARY, ALWAYS TREAT EVERYONE AND EVERYTHING THE WAY YOU WILL WANT TO BE TREATED.
[RECONVENE]
WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY THE EIGHTH, 2023.AND I'M MAYOR SYLVESTER TURNER, AND I'M CALLING THIS MEETING OF THE HOUSTON CITY COUNCIL TO WATER.
[MAYOR'S REPORT]
A FEW, A FEW, UM, COMMENTS.UH, THIS FRIDAY AND SATURDAY, UH, THE MEMORIAL PARK CONSERVANCY WILL MARK THE GRAND OPENING OF THE KINDER LAND BRIDGE AND SIVIA AND MARYLAND WOLF PRAIRIE.
UM, FRIDAY IS THE NEWS CONFERENCE, UH, THE RIBBON CUTTING AND THE TOUR.
AND THEN SATURDAY FROM I BELIEVE 10:00 AM TO 5:00 PM AND IT MIGHT BE NINE, BUT FROM 10:00 AM TO 5:00 PM THE MEMORIAL PARK CONSERVANCY IS HOSTING THE BIGGEST PICNIC IN TEXAS.
IN FACT, I THINK THEY MAY BE EXPECTING BETWEEN 20, 30,000 PEOPLE OUT THERE.
EVERYONE IS WELCOME TO EXPERIENCE THIS NEW 100 ACRE SPACE, THE LAND BRIDGE AND PRAIRIE, WHICH IS PART OF THE 10 YEAR PLAN, UH, WHICH IS AN ACCELERATED SET OF PROJECTS WITHIN THE MEMORIAL PARK MASTER PLAN.
SO A REMINDER THIS, UH, FRIDAY AND SATURDAY.
FRIDAY IS THE NEWS CONFERENCE, THE RIBBON CUTTING AND TOUR.
AND THEN SATURDAY IS THE BIGGEST PICNIC IN TEXAS, AND THAT IS SCHEDULED FROM 10 TO FIVE.
UM, AND THEN, UH, ON SATURDAY, FEBRUARY THE 18TH, UH, HARRIS COUNTY PRECINCT, ONE COMMISSIONER RODNEY ELLIS AND THE HARRIS COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE, UM, ALONG WITH THE CITY OF HOUSTON, ARE HOSTING A THE THIRD GUN BACK BY GUN BUYBACK PROGRAM STARTING AT 8:00 AM IN ALEXANDER DOON PARK, UM, WHICH IS LOCATED AT 12,000 3 0 3 SONIA, S-O-N-N-I-E-R STREET.
AND PEOPLE CAN TURN IN THEIR FIREARMS TO RECEIVE GIFT CARDS IN THE AMOUNTS RANGED FROM $50 TO $200 DEPENDING ON THE TYPE OF FIREARM.
[02:05:01]
AND THE CITY IS WORKING IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE COUNTY, UH, FOLLOWING OUR TWO SUCCESSFUL GUN BUYBACKS LAST YEAR.AND THE PROGRAM IS A PART OF THE ONE SAFE HOUSTON INITIATIVE, WHICH INVEST IN PUBLIC SAFETY.
UH, LAST WEEK, AND I, UM, DON'T KNOW IF YOU SAW IT, UM, BUT THE MAJOR CITY POLICE CHIEFS RELEASED THEIR REPORT.
UM, THESE ARE MAJOR CITY POLICE CHIEFS FROM AROUND THE COUNTRY, RELEASED THEIR REPORT SHOWING HOUSTON HAD NEARLY DOUBLE DIGIT DECREASE IN VIOLENT CRIME IN 2022.
AND THE DATA SHOWED THAT THE CITY OF HOUSTON, MOSES, WAS THE LARGEST MAJOR METROPOLITAN AREA IN THE COUNTRY TO REPORT A DROP IN THE MOST SERIOUS OFFENSES.
SO THAT'S OUT OF ALL THE LARGE METROPOLITAN AREAS ACROSS THE COUNTRY.
UH, AND EVEN AS WE START 2023, UH, HOMICIDES ARE BELOW WHERE THEY WERE THIS TIME, UH, LAST YEAR.
SO, UM, I'M ON THE ECHO CHIEF FINN'S REMARKS THAT WE STILL HAVE A LOT OF WORK TO DO AND WE DO.
THERE'S ONE HOMICIDE IN THE CITY OF HOUSTON, IS ONE HOMICIDE TOO MANY.
UM, AND THAT IS, UM, THE NUMBERS ARE, ONE THING IS PEOPLE'S PERCEPTION OR ANOTHER, BUT, UH, IT IS VERY DIFFICULT TO OVERCOME PERCEPTION BECAUSE EVERY DAY WHEN PEOPLE SEE IT ON THE, ON THE NEWS THAT SOMEONE HAS BEEN KILLED, THAT'S WHAT THEY SEE.
OKAY? AND WHEN IT, WHEN IT BLEEDS, IT LEADS MM-HMM
PEOPLE ASK, WELL, WHAT ABOUT THE PERCEPTION? WELL, IT'S HARD TO OVERCOME PERCEPTION WHEN THEY ARE INUNDATED.
UM, IF THERE'S, IF THERE'S JUST ONE HOMICIDE, THAT'S WHAT THEY ARE HEARING AND THAT'S WHAT THEY ARE SEEING.
BUT THE REALITY IS, IS THAT VIOLENT CRIME, UH, IS GOING DOWN IN THIS CITY, BUT IT'S GOING TO TAKE A COLLECTIVE EFFORT, UM, COMMUNITY LAW ENFORCEMENT, UM, AND EVERYONE IN BETWEEN, UH, TO, TO, UH, CONTINUE TO WORK IN THAT REGARDS.
UM, THE EVERGREEN CEMETERY, UH, WHICH WAS, UM, STARTED IN ABOUT 1890, REFERRED TO THE EVERGREEN NEGRO CEMETERY.
UM, UM, HUNDREDS OF, UH, PEOPLE WERE BURIED AT THE EVERGREEN NEGRO CEMETERY.
IT WAS QUITE ACTIVE IN 1890S TO ABOUT 1930, UH, REMAIN OPERATION, UH, SOME YEARS AFTER THAT.
AND YOU HAVE BUFFALO SOLDIERS WHO ARE BURIED THERE, EX-SLAVES BURIED THERE.
UM, WORLD WAR I VETERANS, UH, BURIED THERE.
UM, AND IN THE EIGHT, IN 1940, THE CITY OF HOUSTON BUILT A TWO, UH, LANE ROAD, UH, THROUGH THAT CEMETERY LOCKWOOD.
AND THE CITY OF HOUSTON, UH, CAME BACK IN 1960, UH, AND EXPANDED LOCKWOOD, UH, TO INCLUDE A EXPLAN IN BETWEEN THOSE TWO ROADS.
THE AGREEMENT THAT WAS MADE BACK THEN, UH, WAS THAT, UM, THOSE BODIES WHO WERE THERE, UH, WOULD BE DISINTER REMOVED AND REPLACED IN THE EVERGREEN NEGRO CEMETERY ON BOTH SIDES OF LOCKWOOD.
AND APPROXIMATELY, UH, 400 OF THOSE BODIES WERE SUPPOSEDLY REMOVED, UH, AND NOW IN 2023, AS METRO SEEKS TO, UH, EXPAND, UH, THE UNIVERSITY LINE, UM, AS A PART OF METRO NEXT, UM, THE PART OF THEIR RESPONSIBILITIES TO GO OUT THERE, DO THE ARCHEOLOGICAL ASSESSMENT, ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT SURVEYS.
AND WHILE THEY WERE OUT THERE, UH, UH, LAST WEEK, UH, EARLY PART OF LAST WEEK, UH, THEY DISCOVERED THAT SOME OF THOSE, UM, REMAINS WERE STILL LOCATED IN THE XPLAN.
SO, AND, UM, AND SO THAT PROJECT IMMEDIATELY CAME TO A HALT, UH, WHILE METRO STATE OF HOUSTON AND OTHERS CONFERRED WITH PROJECT RESPECT, WHICH IS THE NONPROFIT.
AND THIS IS IN COUNCIL MEMBER JACKSON'S DISTRICT, UH, CONFERRED WITH PROJECT RESPECT TO SEE WHAT WAS THE BEST WAY, UH, AND THE MOST DIGNIFIED WAY TO HANDLE THIS SITUATION.
AND SO AS WE WORK THROUGH THAT PLAN, UM, A PART OF IT IS TO RESPECTFULLY AND IN A VERY DIGNIFIED WAY, REMOVE, UH, THOSE REMAINS, UM, AND TO RELOCATE THEM INTO THE EVERGREEN NEGRO CEMETERY.
BUT IT IS ALSO IMPORTANT THAT THE CITY AND METRO GO EVEN OVER AND ABOVE BECAUSE IT WAS THE CITY'S RESPONSIBILITY IN 1940 AND THEN AGAIN IN 1960.
[02:10:01]
AND SO WE HAVE A RESPONSIBILITY TO GO OVER AND ABOVE NOT JUST RELOCATING, BUT MAKING SURE THAT WE WORK WITH PROJECT RESPECT RESIDENTS OUT IN FIFTH WARD, COMMUNITY LEADERS, UH, TO HONOR THOSE WHO WERE BURIED THERE AND TO HELP TO PRESERVE, UH, AND MAINTAIN THE QUALITY AND THE DIGNITY OF THAT, OF, OF THAT, OF THAT CEMETERY.SO, UH, AS WE WORK THROUGH THAT AND WORK WITH A COMMUNITY CUSTOMER, BUT JACKSON LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING WITH YOU AND, AND OTHERS, UM, THAT IS WHAT WE OWE PEOPLE WHO WERE BURY THERE.
THAT IS WHAT WE OWE THE DESCENDANTS OF THOSE WHO WERE BURIED THERE.
AND THAT IS WHAT WE OWE TO THE COMMUNITY ITSELF, BECAUSE FAR TOO MUCH, FAR TOO MANY TIMES, IT IS A HISTORY OF NOT JUST IN THIS CITY, BUT ACROSS THE COUNTRY, THAT AS WE BUILD INFRASTRUCTURE, IN MANY CASES, WE GO RIGHT THROUGH COMMUNITIES OF COLOR, UH, AND END UP DESTROYING, UH, OR, UM, MINIMIZING THE SIGNIFICANCE OF THOSE WHO CAME BEFORE.
SO, UM, WE'LL, WE'LL WORK THROUGH IT.
IT IS SIMPLY IRONIC THAT ALL OF THIS IS BEING DISCOVERED IN FEBRUARY IN BLACK HISTORY MONTH.
BUT, UH, THIS PROVIDES THE CITY OF HOUSTON AN OPPORTUNITY, UH, TO STEP UP AND BE SENSITIVE AND RESPONSIVE, UH, TO THOSE WHO CAME BEFORE AND QUITE FRANKLY, TO THOSE WHO WILL COME AFTER.
SO I LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING WITH EVERYBODY IN THAT REGARDS ON THE ULI, THE URBAN LEAGUE INSTITUTE AWARDS PROGRAM, WHICH WAS, UH, THE NIGHT, LAST NIGHT, UH, THE ANNUAL AWARDS PROGRAM, THE CITY OF HOUSTON WON THREE OF THE FIVE HONORS, UH, FOR FOR PROFIT, SMALL SCALE, THE PLANT ON HARRISBURG, UM, UM, ONE SMALL BUSINESSES THAT WE GOT COUNCIL APPROVAL FOR TUR 23 TO SUPPORT WITH A THREE 80 AGREEMENT.
AND THEN FOR PROFIT LARGE SCALE, THE MONTROSE COLLECTIVE ONE.
AND, UH, STEVE ROD'S PROJECT THAT TUR 27 SUPPORTED FOR A PUBLIC GARAGE.
AND WE NEGOTIATED A CONDO INTEREST IN FOR OUR NEW MONTROSE LIBRARY.
AND THEN FOR THE RENEWAL AWARD, WHICH IS A NEW CATEGORY, THE HOUSTON FARMER'S MARKET, UH, WON.
AND WE WORKED WITH THEM ON MULTIPLE SITE ISSUES.
UH, BUT THIS YEAR WE PUT IN TOUR 21 FOR FUTURE INFRASTRUCTURE AND OTHER PHASES.
SO CONGRATULATIONS TO ALL OF THE WINNERS AND IN YOUR RESPECTIVE DISTRICT, THE CITY OF HOUSTON AS A WHOLE.
UM, IT WAS A GOOD WEEK THAT FOLLOWS THE GRAMMYS.
YAY, WHICH, UH, HOUSTON, UM, SHOWED UP AND SHOWED OUT AND, UM, UM, CERTAINLY WANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE HOME TOWN OWN BEYONCE, UH, BECOMING ONE, UH, ONE MORE GRAMMYS THAN ANYBODY.
AND SO CERTAINLY WANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE HER.
AND OF COURSE, SHE WILL BE ON HER TOUR FOR I THINK, 41 CONCERTS.
AND, UH, SHE WILL BE IN HOUSTON ON SEPTEMBER THE 23RD, THIRD, FOURTH, AND 24TH, SUNDAY, SUNDAY, SATURDAY, AND SUNDAY, IN WHICH, UM, WE'LL BOTH BE PERFORMING, UH, TOGETHER, UH, IN MY FINAL SALUTE TO THE CITY OF HOUSTON.
SO, GET YOU SO GET YOUR TICKETS EARLY,
OKAY, UH, JUST LET A FEW FALL FROM THE GROUND, YOU KNOW.
BUT, UH, ANYWAY, UH, SO TO BEYONCE, CONGRATULATIONS, UH, LA I LOVE IT.
I MEAN, CONGRATULATE HIM FOR BEING NOMINATED AND WIN.
UH, BUT FROM KLEIN HIGH SCHOOL, YOU KNOW, UH, I KNOW Y'ALL ARE FAMILIAR WITH KLEIN HIGH SCHOOL, UH, THE BEST HIGH SCHOOL, UH, IN THE CITY OF HOUSTON, UH, BY, YOU KNOW, WIDE MARGIN, UM, THOSE BEARCAT BEARCAT.
UM, AND THEN I CERTAINLY WANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE TOBY ENG.
TOBY WAS NOMINATED FOR BEST NEW ARTIST.
CERTAINLY WANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE HIM.
UH, LIZZO FROM A LEAF CAME THROUGH AGAIN,
UH, SO, OH, DID I SAY THAT? IT JUST SLIPPED.
WELL, THAT'S THE NAME OF THE SONG.
I MEAN, THAT'S THE NAME OF THE SONG.
I MEAN,
GET CURRENT, YOU KNOW, YOU KNOW.
UM, AND THEN ROBERT GLASPER ONE FOR BEST R AND B ALBUMS WAS, I WANTED TO ACKNOWLEDGE HIM, UH, AND TO ALL OF THE OTHERS.
SO IT WAS, IT WAS A, IT WAS A GREAT NIGHT.
AND THEN, UM, ON HOUSTON PARKS AND REC, OR WE WERE ALREADY LOOKING FOR LIFEGUARDS OR FOR THE SUMMER, YOU KNOW, PROBLEM WE HAD LAST
[02:15:01]
SUMMER, UH, SOME OF OUR SWIMMING POOLS COULDN'T OPEN.SO WE ARE LOOKING FOR LIFEGUARDS NOW.
UH, SO IF YOU KNOW, UH, PEOPLE, UH, WE ARE PROVIDING A $500 INCENTIVE FOR NEW LIFEGUARDS, AND PLEASE CALL 8 3 2 3 9 6 7 1 2 9.
SO WE ARE NEEDING THEM, UH, NOW.
UH, AND THEN FOR, UH, THE COLLEGE FOOTBALL PLAYOFF CHAMPIONSHIP, WHICH WILL TAKE PLACE, UH, IN JANUARY OF 2024.
UM, UH, I KNOW THAT, SEE, I'LL BE JOINING THE LOCAL ORGANIZING COMMITTEE TO OFFICIALLY KICK OFF THE COUNTDOWN TO THE NATIONAL COLLEGE FOOTBALL PLAYOFFS.
AND HOUSTON WILL HOST A GAME IN, IN JANUARY 20, 24.
AND IT'S COLLEGE FOOTBALL BIGGEST GAME, WHICH WILL BE TAKING PLACE IN THE CITY OF HOUSTON.
IT WON'T BE, YOU KNOW, I WON'T BE MAYOR AT THE TIME, BUT IT SO DULY NOTED, IT CAME UNDER THIS WATCH, YOU KNOW, SO SAME THING FOR, UM, UM, WHAT AM I THINKING ABOUT? 2026 WORLD CUP, YOU KNOW, WON'T BE HAPPENING, UH, WHILE WE ARE IN OFFICE, BUT IT'S CERTAINLY IS COMING UNDER THIS WATCH.
SO I'M EXCITED ABOUT ALL OF THAT.
AND I THINK, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER JACKSON, LET ME RECOGNIZE YOU.
UM, I WAS AT THE ULI AWARDS LAST NIGHT.
UM, THERE WERE FOUR NOMINEES THAT WERE FROM DISTRICT EIGHT.
SO, UM, TWO OF THEM LEFT AS WINNERS, BUT THEY WERE, THEY WERE, THEY'RE ALL WINNERS.
AND, AND THE PROJECTS THAT, YOU KNOW, THAT, UM, THAT OTHER PROJECTS ACROSS THE CITY, THEY WERE SUPER IMPRESSIVE TO.
BUT, UM, BUT I REALLY WANTED TO JUST, YOU KNOW, UM, SAY HOW EXCITED EVERYONE WAS THAT THE PLANET HARRISBURG AND THE HOUSTON FARMERS MARKET WERE RECOGNIZED AS, UM, AS, AS WINNERS THAT, UM, IT, IT SHOWS WHAT EVEN A MODEST AMOUNT OF, OF CITY SUPPORT CAN DO TO ELEVATE PROJECTS, TO BE AWARD WINNERS OF THIS VERY PRESTIGIOUS ULI AWARD.
UM, I'M SO APPRECIATIVE OF ALL THE AWARDS AND RECOGNITION THAT HOUSTON IS GETTING, WHETHER IT'S OUR INCREDIBLE MUSIC TALENT AND ARTISTS, OR OUR ARCHITECTURE, THE BUILDINGS, THE INITIATIVES THAT WE'RE DOING EVEN IN CRIME.
I THINK ONE OF THE THINGS THAT MAKES HOUSTON SO INCREDIBLE IS OUR INTERNATIONAL REACH.
AND I WANTED TO RECOGNIZE MAYOR, UH, THAT YOU SIGNED ON BEHALF OF THE CITY, UM, THE CONDOLENCES BOOK, UH, FOR TOK, UH, WITH OUR, WITH OUR, WITH THE CRISIS THAT'S GOING ON RIGHT NOW IN TURK AND SYRIA, UM, I KNOW THAT WE PLAY AND HAVE VERY STRONG RELATIONSHIPS, UH, WITH SOME OF THOSE GOVERNMENT ENTITIES, ESPECIALLY OUR CONS, GENERAL CORE.
SO I WANTED TO UPLIFT BOTH COUNTRIES.
I KNOW WE'VE LIT THE CITY, UM, HALL BUILDING IN HONOR OF THAT, BUT I'M ASKING, UH, WHETHER OR NOT THERE'S ANYTHING ELSE THAT WE CAN BE DOING, UM, TO HELP.
AND WE CERTAINLY DO WANT TO, UH, PRAY, UH, FOR THE FAMILIES AND LOVED ONES AND FRIENDS OF ALL OF THOSE WHO HAVE DIED AS A RESULT OF THAT EARTHQUAKE, UH, IN TURKEY AND SYRIA.
I THINK THE LAST COUNT, IT NOW EXCEEDS 11,000, UH, THAT HAVE DIED, AND THEN COUNTLESS OTHERS WHO HAVE BEEN INJURED.
AND SO WE'VE EXTENDED, UH, TO, UM, ALL OF THE STAKEHOLDERS AND BASICALLY SAID WHATEVER THE CITY, UM, CAN DO, WE WILL DO AND CERTAINLY WORK IN COLLABORATION WITH, WITH ALL OF THE, UH, VARIOUS ENTITIES THAT ARE OFFERING ASSISTANCE AND SUPPORT THERE.
SO THANK YOU FOR, FOR RAISING THAT.
AND THEN LASTLY, AND I, UH, BUDGETARY PROCESS IS ABOUT TO BEGIN, UH, MEMBER WITH ALL OF THE, UH, DEPARTMENTS AND DIRECTORS AND OTHERS YESTERDAY AND DISCUSSING THE BUDGETARY PROCESS.
AND SO, UH, UH, THIS YEAR WE PUT FORTH OUR STRATEGIC GUIDANCE TO ALL OF THE DEPARTMENTS.
AND AS YOU CAN SEE, THERE'S THIS FACILITY AT THE TOP, YOU KNOW, A LEAF MULTI SUBJECT SERVICE CENTER, AND THE FACILITY AT THE BOTTOM, WHICH IS THE SUNNYSIDE MULTI, UH, NEIGHBORHOOD CENTER, UH, UH, AS WE GRAVITATE OR TRANSITION TO OUTCOME, UH, BASE, UH, UH, UH, BUDGETING.
SO, UM, THERE ARE A NUMBER OF PRIORITIES.
UH, PRIORITY ONE IS SOUND FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT, PRIORITY TWO IS PUBLIC SAFETY.
PRIORITY THREE IS COMPLETE COMMUNITIES.
UH, PRIORITY FOUR IS SER SERVICE AND INFRASTRUCTURE.
UM, YEAH, PRIORITY FIVE IS RESILIENT HOUSTON.
AND I THINK THAT CONCLUDES IT.
BUT THOSE ARE THE MAJOR PRIORITIES, UH, WHICH, UM, I'VE ASKED ALL OF, UH, THE DEPARTMENTS TO GOVERN THEMSELVES BY IN THE BUDGETARY BUDGETING PROCESS.
SO THAT PROCESS HAS NOW, HAS NOW OFFICIALLY
[02:20:01]
BEGAN AND LOOK FORWARD TO HAVING, UH, CONVERSATIONS WITH Y'ALL AS WE MOVE, AS WE MOVE FORWARD.THAT DOES IT, THAT DOES IT FOR, UH, FOR ME.
UM, LET ME RECOGNIZE COUNCIL MEMBER CIRE FOR A POINT OF PERSONAL PRIVILEGE.
UH, I'M REALLY, UM, DELIGHTED TO, TO BE ABLE TO INTRODUCE MY CHIP INTERN WHO'S HERE IN THE AUDIENCE WITH US.
UM, WOULD YOU PLEASE STAND? THIS IS, UH, DIANA CANAL.
SHE'S A SENIOR AT THE UNIVERSITY OF HOUSTON, MAJORING IN POLITICAL SCIENCE AND, UM, AND A, A MINOR IN LAW VALUES AND POLICY.
AND WE ARE JUST THRILLED TO HAVE HER.
[CONSENT AGENDA]
MADAM, UM, SECRETARY, PROCEED WITH THE CONSENT AGENDA UNDER THE MISCELLANEOUS CATEGORY, ITEMS ONE THROUGH THREE.JUST NEED A MOTION CAST T MOVE SECOND, ROBINSON MOVED AND SECONDED ON ITEMS ONE THROUGH THREE, DISCUSSION ON ONE THROUGH THREE.
DISCUSSION IN FAVOR OF OPPOSE.
AND GRANTED, LET ME ACKNOWLEDGE, UM, UH, ON ONE IS THE MANAGEMENT DISTRICT NUMBER ONE, THE MEMORIAL CITY MANAGEMENT DISTRICT.
UH, IF YOU ARE HERE, PLEASE, PLEASE STAND.
UH, POSITION SEVEN IS BEN P**S LACK EIGHT IS CHRISTIAN JOHNSON.
UH, NINE IS ROBERT WILLIAMSON, 10 IS T BEN GILLIS 11 IS KIRK GOLAN HAW.
ALRIGHT, WE LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING, UM, WITH EACH AND EVERY ONE OF THEM ON POSITION TWO AND THREE.
UH, IF YOU'RE HERE, PLEASE STAND AND COME FORWARD ON POSITION TWO AND THREE.
UH, UM, THE FIRST ONE IS THE REINVESTMENT ZONE NUMBER TWO, ALSO KNOWN AS THE MIDTOWN ZONE, MICHAEL LEWIS.
AND, UH, MR. LEWIS WILL ALSO BE SERVING IN MIDTOWN REDEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY BOARD, UH, AS WELL.
UH, MICHAEL, IT'S GOOD TO SEE YOU.
LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING VERY CLOSELY WITH YOU.
AS WE MOVE FORWARD, A LOT OF THINGS ARE HAPPENING IN THE MIDTOWN AREA, UM, AND I KNOW WE'VE BEEN TALKING ABOUT HOUSING AND A WHOLE LOT OF OTHER THINGS, SO, UM, WELCOME AND CONGRATULATIONS TO YOU COUNCIL MEMBER KAMAN.
THANK YOU, MAYOR MICHAEL, I JUST WANTED TO THANK YOU, UH, SO MUCH FOR, UH, SEEKING OUT THIS ROLE, ADVOCATING TO SERVE ON IT.
UH, AND I KNOW THAT WHILE I WON'T BE REPRESENTING NEXT YEAR, THE AREA, UM, YOU HAVE DONE SO MUCH IN PARTNERSHIP WITH DISTRICT C, UM, AS ONE OF OUR LEADERS WITH THE SUPER NEIGHBORHOOD.
SO AGAIN, THANK YOU FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP, YOUR INVOLVEMENT, AND YOUR CONTINUED ENGAGEMENT.
COUNCILMAN, MAYOR AND SHABASH, THANK YOU MAYOR.
AND THANK YOU, MICHAEL, FOR YOUR PAST SERVICE.
AND I LOOK SO FORWARD TO YOUR CONTINUED SERVICE.
AND OF COURSE, I HAVE TO HIGHLIGHT THAT YOU'RE MY MOREHOUSE BROTHER AS WELL.
AND SO THANK YOU SO VERY MUCH AND LOOK FORWARD TO ALL THAT'S GONNA BE HAPPENING IN THE MIDTOWN AREA.
COMMENTS FROM YOU? NO, THANK YOU.
THANK YOU, UM, COUNCIL MEMBERS FOR YOUR ENDORSEMENT.
UH, MIDTOWN HAS BEEN HOME FOR ME AND MY FAMILY FOR 24 YEARS NOW.
EXCITING THINGS ARE HAPPENING AND LOOKING FORWARD TO MORE EXCITING THINGS TO COME.
SO THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY.
AND MICHAEL IS A NEW APPOINTEE TO THIS BOARD, SO LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING WITH YOU.
OKAY, MADAM SECRETARY, NEXT ITEM UNDER THE ACCEPT WORK CATEGORY, ITEM FOUR NEEDS A MOTION, SIX, TATUM, MOVE SECOND, ROBINSON, IT'S BEEN MOVED.
AND SECOND ON ITEM FOUR, DISCUSSION ON FOUR.
DISCUSSION IN FAVOR, OPPOSED GRANTED ON FOUR UNDER THE PURCHASING AND TABULATION ABUSE CATEGORY.
ITEM EIGHT HAS BEEN REMOVED FOR SEPARATE CONSIDERATION.
NEED A MOTION FOR ITEMS FIVE THROUGH 13.
ROBINSON BEEN MOVED AND SECONDED.
UH, DISCUSSION, DISCUSSION IN FAVOR OF OPPOSED AND GRANTED UNDER THE RESOLUTION CATEGORY.
ITEMS 14 AND 15, JUST NEED TO VOTE.
DISCUSSION, DISCUSSION IN FAVOR OF OPPOSED GRANTED UNDER THE ORDINANCES CATEGORY.
ITEM 16, 22 AND 23 HAVE NOT BEEN RECEIVED AND WILL BE CONSIDERED IF THEY'RE RECEIVED BEFORE THE END OF THE MEETING.
ITEMS MOVE FOR SEPARATE CONSIDERATION ARE 18, 21, 24, 28, AND 29.
THOSE NUMBERS AGAIN ARE 18, 21, 24, 28, AND 29.
NEED A VOTE ON THE BALANCE DISCUSSION, DISCUSSION IN FAVOR OF OPPOSED AND GRANTED
[CONSIDERATION OF MATTERS REMOVED FROM CONSENT AGENDA]
ITEMS REMOVE FOR SEPARATE CONSIDERATION.ITEM EIGHT NEEDS THE MOTION CAST T MOVE SECOND.
[02:25:01]
SECONDED ON ITEM EIGHT.I WASN'T GONNA SAY ANYTHING BUT JUST A SPECIAL HIGHLIGHT.
WE GOT AN ELECTRIC PICKER AND ELECTRIC REACH TRUCK, ELECTRIC BOOM LIFT, AND AN ELECTRIC CRANE.
SO THANKS TO THE TEAM FOR, UH, ELECTRIFYING OUR FLEET IN MANY DIFFERENT WAYS.
OKAY, ANY OTHER DISCUSSION ON EIGHT IN FAVOR? I OPPOSED GRANTED ON EIGHT.
ITEM 18 ISN'T ORDINANCE, JUST NEED A VOTE? OH YEAH.
ON ITEM 18, DISCUSSION ON 18, DISCUSSION ON 18.
THE VOTE, UH, IN FAVOR, OPPOSE GRANTED.
COUNCIL MEMBER CAMAN ON ITEM 18.
UM, I, I'M HOPING COUNCIL MEMBER SHABAZZ WILL COME BACK IN THE ROOM, BUT I WANTED TO RECOGNIZE, UM, WE HAVE OUR AMAZING LEADERSHIP FROM THE HOUSTON AREA WOMEN'S CENTER HERE TODAY.
UH, THIS IS A REALLY IMPORTANT ITEM, UH, MOVING FORWARD.
AND WHILE DISTRICT C IS VERY SAD TO LOSE THE HOME BASE THAT HAS BEEN HOUSTON AREA WOMEN'S CENTER FOR AS LONG AS I CAN REMEMBER.
UM, THE NEW BUILDING IS GOING TO HOUSE 135 AFFORDABLE RENTAL, UH, EXCUSE ME, AFFORDABLE ROOMS, UH, FOR SURVIVORS AND THEIR FAMILIES.
UH, THREE, UH, AND I'M LOOKING AT ALL THE NUMBERS.
THERE'S TOO MANY TO GO THROUGH, BUT I WANT, IT'S AMAZING WHAT YOU ALL DO EVERY SINGLE DAY, THE PARTNERSHIPS THROUGH, UH, COVID THROUGH ALL OF IT.
I JUST WANTED TO SHARE ONE IMPORTANT STATISTIC.
IN 2021 ALONE, DURING THE PEAK OF THE PANDEMIC HAWK AVERAGED MORE THAN 150 CALLS A DAY, TOTALING NEARLY 54,000 CALLS IN ONE YEAR, UM, FOR SERVICE.
SO WHILE WE'RE FOCUSING ON ONE LOCATION, YOUR REACH IS NOT ONLY IN THE CITY OF HOUSTON, IT'S THE ENTIRE REGION.
SO MY HUMBLEST APPRECIATION AND SINCERE, UM, GRATITUDE MAYOR FOR WHAT WE'RE DOING IN MOVING FORWARD WITH THIS.
UM, COUNCIL MEMBER EVAN SHABAZZ.
I'M SO LOOKING FORWARD TO YOU ALL JOINING, JOINING US IN THE DISTRICT OF DESTINATION, ALTHOUGH I WISH YOU DIDN'T HAVE TO EXIST, BUT CERTAINLY WE KNOW THAT YOU DO GREAT, GREAT WORK AND YOU OFFER SO MUCH SUPPORT FOR SO MANY WOMEN.
AND SO THANK YOU AND WELCOME TO THE DISTRICT OF DESTINATION.
AND AGAIN, EMILY AND ALL OF YOU, LET ME JUST, UH, ALSO ACKNOWLEDGE THE CITY OF HOUSTON COULD HAVE A BETTER PARTNER.
AND SO LET ME THANK YOU ALL FOR WHAT YOU DO.
UM, IT IS ABOUT CREATING A, A LOT OF SAFE SPACES, UH, FOR PEOPLE WHO NEED THEM, WOMEN AND CHILDREN.
UH, SO LET ME, LET ME, LET ME THANK YOU AND LOOK FORWARD TO PARTNERING WITH YOU.
AND, UM, THIS IS, UM, THIS IS A PLUS, UH, NOT JUST FOR THE HOUSTON AREA, WILMINGTON, IT IS A PLUS FOR THE CITY OF HOUSTON AS A WHOLE.
SO THANK YOU ALSO VERY, VERY MUCH.
WELL THAT, LET ME JUST, UH, SAY THAT THAT ITEM WAS UNANIMOUSLY APPROVED.
SHE WAS TECHNICALLY ABSENT ON THE VOTE.
SO IF WE WANNA REGISTER, SHOW, SHOW COUNCIL MEMBER, UH, CAROLYN AND SHABAZZ VOTING FOR ITEM 18.
THAT'S, DOES THAT DO IT? ITEM 21 IS AN ORDINANCE.
THIS IS ITEM, UH, 2021, UH, DISCUSSION ON 21.
I DO WANNA HIGHLIGHT, UM, ITEM 21, UM, BECAUSE THIS IS ONE OF OUR INITIATIVES OF ADDRESSING, UH, BULK WASTE, JUNK WASTE, ILLEGAL DUMPING.
UM, IT'S BEEN A CONTRACT THAT'S BEEN IN THE, UM, BEEN NEGOTIATING THIS CONTRACT FOR SOME TIME.
UM, NOW ON THE AGENDA AND HAVING PASSED, UM, THIS IS A THREE YEAR CONTRACT, UM, A TOTAL COST OF ABOUT 7.99, ABOUT $8 MILLION, UM, WHERE WE ARE USING OPERA FUNDING.
OKAY, SO LET ME, LET ME UNDERSCORE, LET ME UNDERSCORE THAT.
UM, BUT IT IS TO ADDRESS BUCKY'S, UM, UH, JUNK ILLEGAL DUMPING, AND IT'S ONE OF SEVERAL TOOLS THAT WE ARE UTILIZING AND IT'S ALSO AN ANTI LITTER CONTRACT AS WELL.
SO WE ARE DEALING WITH IT ON MANY DIFFERENT PARTS.
UM, AND THIS IS IN ADDITION TO THE SOLID WASTE TEAM.
SO IT'S, IT'S TO TRY TO ASSIST AND, AND PROVIDE, UH, TAKE SOME OF THE PRESSURE OFF.
[02:30:01]
UH, BUT TO ADDRESS, UH, THE SITUATION THAT WE FIND IN OUR CITY.UH, I DO WANNA UNDERSCORE THE FACT THAT THE CITY OF HOUSTON CONTINUES TO SPEND MILLIONS AND MILLIONS OF DOLLARS IN THIS CATEGORY.
SO CONTRACTORS WILL DO THEIR PART, SOLID WASTE, STILL WILL DO ITS PART, BUT AT THE SAME TIME, I DO WANT TO REITERATE, IT'S IMPORTANT FOR THE PEOPLE IN THE CITY TO DO THEIR PART.
AND I DO WANT TO REITERATE THAT FOR PEOPLE IN THE COMMUNITIES, UM, UH, REGARDLESS OF WHERE THE COMMUNITIES ARE, UH, IF YOU SEE SOMEBODY ENGAGED IN ILLEGAL DUMPING, IT'S IMPORTANT FOR YOU TO REPORT IT.
NOT ASKING YOU TO, TO TRY TO GO OUT THERE AND PREVENT IT, BUT IT IS IMPORTANT FOR YOU TO REPORT IT.
AND I DO WANNA SAY, UH, AND I CAN'T STRESS ENOUGH, IT'S NOT THAT SOLID WASTE, IT'S NOT RESPONDING TO CALLS AND COMPLAINTS, BECAUSE LEMME TELL YOU, I HAVE HAD SOLID WASTE GO OUT ALONG ONE STREET, I WOULD SAY MORE THAN 15 TIMES.
JUST LIKE THIS WEEK I HAD THEM TO GO OUT AND CLEAN UP SOME TRASH THREE BIG PILES, AND THEY HAVE SENT ME PICTURES, BUT THEY HAVE CLEANED IT UP AND THEY EVERY TIME, BUT I GUARANTEE YOU, A WEEK OR TWO LATER, IT'S RIGHT BACK AGAIN IN THE SAME SPOTS AS IF PEOPLE HAVE SOME CONCIERGE SERVICE WHERE THEY CAN JUST GO AND DUMP IT.
SO YOU GOTTA HAVE PRIDE IN YOUR OWN COMMUNITY'S OWN NEIGHBORHOOD, OKAY? AND THAT STRAINS THE RESOURCES WHEN WE ARE HAVING TO GO BACK TO THE SAME SPOTS OVER AND OVER AND OVER AGAIN.
I DO HOPE, UH, WHEN PEOPLE ARE CAUGHT ENGAGED IN LEGAL DUMPING, THE JUDGES WILL TAKE IT VERY SERIOUSLY.
OKAY? UM, BUT AS MUCH AS WE ARE SPENDING, AND WE WILL CONTINUE TO DO OUR PART, IT IS IMPORTANT FOR PEOPLE IN THE COMMUNITY WHO ARE, WHO ARE INCLINED TO DO THIS, TO HAVE THE CHANGE OF A DIFFERENT MINDSET.
BECAUSE OTHERWISE, WE ARE IN THIS CONSTANT STATE OF REPORTING AND REMOVAL, REPORTING AND REMOVAL.
AND THEN PEOPLE SEEM TO THINK, WELL, THE CITY'S NOT DOING ANYTHING.
KNOW THE CITY'S DOING SOMETHING.
BUT EVERYBODY HAS, HAS HAVE TO HAVE INDIVIDUAL RESPONSIBILITY, OKAY? EVERYBODY HAS TO ASSUME SOME RESPONSIBILITY HERE.
SO WE'LL CONTINUE TO WORK, WE'LL CONTINUE TO WORK, BUT THIS CONTRACT OVER THREE YEARS COSTING 8 MILLION, THAT'S NOT EVEN FACTORING IN THE OVERTIME THAT WE ARE GIVING TO OUR SOLID WASTE EMPLOYEES.
AND THAT'S ABOUT TWO TO $3 MILLION A YEAR, NOT EVEN FACTORING THAT IN OR THE OTHER CONTRACTS AS IT RELATES TO ANTI.
SO I JUST WANNA UNDER UNDERSCORE THAT, AND MY ASK IS THAT EVERY CITIZEN, EVERY PERSON WHO LIVES IN OUR CITY, THAT THEY WILL ASSUME RESPONSIBILITY AND COMMIT THEMSELVES NOT TO ENGAGE IN ILLEGAL DUMPING.
AND MAYBE THERE CAN BE SOME SORT OF PLEDGE THAT PEOPLE WILL SIGN THAT WE WILL NOT LET OUR CITY AND WE WILL NOT DUMP IN OUR CITY.
AND THEN THE OTHER THING IS THAT PEOPLE NEED TO KNOW WHEN HEAVY TRASH IS OCCURRING.
HEAVY TRASH IS NOT EVERY WEEK OKAY.
AND WE ARE ONE OF THE FEW CITIES THAT PICK IT UP ON A REGULAR, ON A, LIKE EVERY OTHER MONTH.
FOR SOME CITIES YOU HAVE TO CALL IF YOU WANT IT, PICK IT UP.
OKAY? BUT IT IS IMPORTANT FOR PEOPLE TO KNOW WHEN YOUR HEAVY TRASH IS GOING TO BE PICKED UP AND NOT PUT IT OUT, YOU KNOW, TWO WEEKS BEFORE.
SO I'M JUST ASKING EVERYONE TO JUST ASSUME THE RESPONSIBILITY, ACCEPT SOME RESPONSIBILITY, AND NOT ENGAGE IN ILLEGAL DUMPING OR THROWING STUFF OUTTA YOUR WINDOW.
AND JUST TAKE PRIDE, NOT JUST IN YOUR COMMUNITY.
TAKE PRIDE IN THE CITY OF HOUSTON.
COGNIZANT, MEMBER KOSH MAYOR, UH, DIRECTOR HAYES A FEW YEARS AGO SAID IT COST ABOUT $20 TO PICK UP A TIRE.
UH, HE, HE GAVE A REPORT TO ONE OF OUR, UH, COMMITTEES.
AND, UH, OF COURSE I THOUGHT THAT WAS VERY HIGH.
BUT WHEN YOU THINK ABOUT THE TRUCKS AND THE EMPLOYEES AND ALL THE, UH, ALL, ALL THAT WE'RE, THAT'S INVOLVED AND THEN HAVING TO DISPOSE OF THEM, UH, I KNOW WE'VE TALKED ABOUT LEGISLATION THAT
[02:35:01]
WOULD, UH, PUT A, A FEE ON TIRES FOR DISPOSAL.AND, UH, I I, WHAT, WHAT ARE WE WORKING ON IN THE LEGISLATURE IN REFERENCE? IS THERE ANYTHING THAT YOU KNOW OF THAT'S IN THE LEGISLATURE NOW ABOUT, ABOUT THIS TYPE OF A MATTER? I THINK THERE'S A DEDICATED ACCOUNT, UM, IN THE LEGISLATURE RIGHT NOW AS RELEASED TO COLLECTING FEE FOR TIRES.
AND I'LL HAVE, UM, BILL KELLY AND THE GOVERNMENT TEAMS TO, UH, TAKE A LOOK TO SEE IF THAT COUNT IS STILL, THEY, IT IS A DEDICATED ACCOUNT, BUT, UM, THE LEGISLATURE HAS NEVER REALLY ALLOCATED THOSE DOLLARS.
THEY JUST KIND OF SIT AND ACCUMULATE.
YOU KNOW, MAYOR, IF WE, IF WE WERE TO, WHEN WE WERE KIDS, YOU REMEMBER GOING AND PICKING UP COKE BOTTLES, IT WAS 2 CENTS A BOTTLE.
I MEAN, I MEAN, I, OUR KIDS DON'T KNOW THAT, BUT WE DO, IF THERE WAS SOME TYPE OF A, OF A, OF A FEE PEOPLE COULD GET, IF THEY TURNED THEM IN, I, I MEAN, IT WOULDN'T HAVE TO BE EXORBITANT, BUT THERE WOULD BE PEOPLE BRINGING THEM IN.
AND OF COURSE, THEY'D BE BRINGING 'EM IN FROM ALL OVER THE UNITED STATES PROBABLY.
BUT, UH, I KNOW THAT THEY USE THAT, THOSE THAT RUBBER FOR, FOR DIFFERENT THINGS IF IT'S REUSABLE, SO RECYCLABLE.
SO I'D LIKE TO SEE SOME LEGISLATION TO FIX THIS PROBLEM.
I'LL HAVE BILL KELLY TO RESEARCH TO SEE WHETHER OR NOT THAT DEDICATED ACCOUNT IS STILL THERE FOR TIRE REMOVALS.
THANK YOU, MAYOR, AND GOOD MORNING TO EVERYONE.
UM, I WAS GOING BACK TO THE, THE LEGAL DUMPING AND THE SITUATION THAT YOU MENTIONED, HAVING TO SEND SOLID WASTE REPEATEDLY OUT TO THE SAME LOCATION.
AND IT BROUGHT ME BACK TO, UH, A FEW WEEKS AGO WHEN WE WERE ABLE TO CATCH THE INDIVIDUAL WHO DUMPED ALL THOSE TIRES.
I'M NOT SURE IF IT, WHAT CAMERA THAT WAS.
BUT I DO THINK WE NEED TO BE, UM, VERY INTENTIONAL AND STRATEGIC ABOUT PLACING CAMERAS IN HOTSPOTS, UM, AND UTILIZING SOME OF THE MONEY THAT WE HAVE TO DO THAT AND NOT PUBLICIZE WHERE THOSE CAMERAS OR THOSE HOTSPOTS ARE, BUT, UH, GET THEM TO AREAS WHERE WE KNOW HAVE BEEN HABITUALLY, UM, UM, DUMPED AND TRY TO CATCH THESE PEOPLE AND THEN PUT THEM ON BLAST AS WE DID THE LAST INDIVIDUAL.
AND I THINK IF WE'RE ABLE TO DO THAT, THOSE CAMERAS WILL BE USED AS A DETERRENT LIKE EVERY OTHER SURVEILLANCE CAMERA, UM, THAT'S OUT THERE.
AND PEOPLE WHO ARE DOING THINGS IN THE NIGHT, OR WHEN THEY'RE NOT BELIEVING ANYONE IS WATCHING, UH, YOU KNOW, THEY'LL, THEY'LL DO WHATEVER.
BUT WHEN THEY BELIEVE THAT THERE'S AN OPPORTUNITY OR A SITUATION WHERE THEY MAY GET CAUGHT OR BE ON CAMERA, THEN THEY'RE GONNA THINK TWICE ABOUT IT.
AND I REALLY THINK WE NEED TO UTILIZE CAMERAS MORE OFTEN, UH, ESPECIALLY AS IT PERTAINS TO ILLEGAL DUMPING.
I WOULD TELL YOU, UH, THAT THAT CONTRACT IS BEING FINALIZED AND THAT ITEM WILL BE ON THE AGENDA VERY SOON.
UM, I HOPE MAYOR, THAT INFRARED CAMERAS ARE PART OF THE, OKAY, HOLD ON ONE SECOND.
DID, DID I SAY HOLD ON ONE SECOND.
COUNCILMAN SIMPSON? NOW WAS COUNCILMAN HUFFMAN.
I JUST WANNA SAY THANK YOU TO THE DIRECTOR OF, UM, SOLID WASTE.
YOU KNOW, THE RESIDENTS OF DISTRICT G.
THERE'S A HIGH PERCENTAGE THAT USE PRIVATE TRASH PICKUP.
AND BECAUSE OF THE HOLIDAY SCHEDULE AND THINGS LIKE THAT, THERE WAS SOME MISSED TRASH.
UM, AND WHICH LED TO A BUNCH OF HOAS CONTACTING MY OFFICE AND THE CITY ABOUT POSSIBLY SWITCHING BACK TO THE CITY TRASH SERVICES.
AND THE DIRECTOR DID A GREAT JOB ABOUT FACILITATING CONVERSATIONS WITH THESE PRIVATE TRASH COMPANIES TO FIGURE OUT REALLY WHAT THE PROBLEMS WERE.
AND SO WE MADE CONTACT WITH A LOT OF THESE HOAS AND I THINK WE'RE BACK ON TRACK.
SO HE KEPT ME ABREAST OF THAT.
AND, UM, I THINK WE, WE, WE ARE BACK ON TRACK, UH, WHICH, WHICH IS GOOD.
UM, SO THANK YOU, UH, CA NOW, COUNCIL MEMBER CISNEROS, YOU WERE SMILING THIS WAY, I THINK.
UM, SO THE, THE CAMERAS THAT, THAT I'VE PURCHASED, YOU KNOW, THROUGH, UM, UH, UM, ALAN ROSEN'S OFFICE, UM, HAVE INFRARED CAPABILITIES, AND I HOPE THE ONES WE'RE TALKING ABOUT NOW WILL DO THAT BECAUSE THEY WILL DO EXACTLY WHAT YOU SAID.
THEY CAN SEE THROUGH THE NIGHT.
THEY CAN, THEY CAN CAPTURE, UM, A LICENSE PLATE.
UM, IF THE ONLY LIGHTS THAT ARE AVAILABLE ARE THE HEADLIGHTS ON THAT CAR, THEY, IT, THEY, THEY CAN CUT THROUGH, YOU KNOW, UM, THROUGH THE GLARE AND, AND, AND THEY WORK.
SO I HOPE, I HOPE WE'RE, WE'RE, WE HAVE THAT IN THESE CAMERAS BECAUSE, 'CAUSE YOU ARE EXACTLY RIGHT COUNCIL MEMBER THAT, YOU KNOW, A LOT OF THIS HAPPENS IN, IN THE DEAD OF THE NIGHT WHEN THEY THINK NO ONE CAN SEE, BUT THESE INFRARED CAMERAS CAN SEE.
AND, AND THAT STANDS UP IN COURT.
WELL, I'LL TELL YOU THAT THERE ARE A NUMBER OF INITIATIVES THAT, UM, THAT WE ARE PUTTING IN PLACE, AND WE, UH, UH, VERY SOON WILL PUT FORTH A PLAN LIKE WE'VE DONE FOR ONE SAFE HOUSTON,
[02:40:02]
UH, IN THIS PARTICULAR AREA AS WELL.UH, YOU ARE SEEING SOME OF THE PIECES THAT ARE COMING TOGETHER, AND ONCE ALL THE PIECES HAVE COME TOGETHER, UH, THEN IT WOULD BE A PART OF A MORE HOLISTIC ECOSYSTEM, UH, TO ADDRESS IT.
SO, UM, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER GALLEGOS.
UH, JUST FOR CLARIFICATION, YOU SAID THIS CONTRACT IS FOR THREE YEARS? YES, FOR THREE YEARS.
UM, I KNOW THAT, UH, AND AGAIN, I WANNA THANK CONSTABLE ROSEN IN REGARDS TO THE, UH, CAMERAS THAT ARE PLACED THROUGHOUT OUR DISTRICTS.
UH, AND, AND I KNOW THAT IN DISTRICT, I, WE'VE PURCHASED ABOUT 10 CAMERAS, AND WE ARE IN THE PROCESS OF MOVING THEM AROUND.
UH, WE'RE, WE'RE HAVING SOME HOTSPOTS THAT, UH, WE'RE TRYING TO CATCH THE PERSON OR PERSONS THAT ARE, UH, ILLEGALLY DUMPING.
UM, AND IN REGARDS TO THE ARPA FUNDS, MAYOR, I, I KNOW THAT BACK, UH, FORMER, FORMER DIRECTOR HAYES, UH, WHEN I MET WITH HIM SOME TIME AGO, HE DID MENTION BACK THEN THAT THE CITY IS IN NEED OF AT LEAST FOUR MORE DEPOSIT DEPOSITORIES.
AND I KNOW WE'RE STILL GETTING CALLS FROM RESIDENTS, UH, THAT GO TO THE CENTRAL STREET DEPOSITORY.
UH, AND, AND THEY'RE CLAIMING THEY'RE, THEY'RE HAVING TO BE IN LINE FOR A COUPLE HOURS JUST WAITING.
UH, SO THOSE THAT, UH, TRY TO DO THE RIGHT THING, BUT, YOU KNOW, UNFORTUNATELY, THEY END UP GETTING FRUSTRATED AND THEN THEY END UP DUMPING SOMEWHERE.
UH, SO I, I DON'T KNOW IF THERE'S ARPA FUNDS, UH, HOPEFULLY HELP WITH, UH, OPENING FOR MORE DEPOSIT DEPOSITORIES, UH, THAT ARE DESPERATELY NEEDED.
UM, YOU KNOW, AND I KNOW THAT ONE THERE AT CENTRAL STREET, IN MY OPINION, CAN BE ENLARGED TO ADD MORE, UH, ANOTHER SITE WHERE, UH, TRUCKS CAN ACTUALLY PULL UP AND, AND, AND DUMP.
SO THAT WAY PEOPLE WON'T BE IN LINE AS LONG.
UH, SO I'M HOPING THESE ARE THINGS THAT SOLID WASTE ARE, ARE LOOKING AT, UH, AND, AND, AND SEEING IF, MAYBE, AGAIN, IF THERE'S SOME ARPA FUNDS TO HELP WITH THAT.
AND I'LL TELL YOU, DOUG, DIRECTOR, WE'LL FOCUS TAKING A LOOK AT THAT IN TWO PHASES.
UH, FOR THE EXISTING POSITORY, SOME OF THEM NEED TO BE EXPANDED AND UPGRADED.
NUMBER ONE, EXPANDING UPGRADE.
AND THEN, AND ON THE SECOND ONE IS WHERE CAN WE ADD SOME INITIAL ONES? AND, UM, AND YEAH.
AND WE ARE PREPARED TO USE, UH, UPPER FUNDING FOR THOSE.
AND, UM, I TOO WANT TO, UM, THANK COUNCILOR ROSERO, ALLEN ROSEN, UM, FOR HIS PARTNERSHIP AND MAKING SURE THAT, YOU KNOW, PUTTING CAMERAS WITHIN, UM, OUR DISTRICTS.
BUT I WANNA PIGGYBACK ON WHAT MY COLLEAGUE MENTIONED ABOUT THE OWNER WHO WAS CAUGHT DUMPING THE TIRES.
UM, I, IT WAS BROUGHT TO MY ATTENTION THAT EVEN THOUGH HE WAS CAUGHT, HIS COMPANY, UM, WAS NOT OPERATING WITH THE RIGHT PERMITS, UM, BUT HE'S STILL ABLE TO OPERATE EVEN AFTER BEING CAUGHT DUMPING TIRES.
SO, IS THERE SOMETHING THAT WE CAN PUT, UM, IN PLACE TO WHERE WHEN THESE OWNERS ARE CAUGHT, THAT WE STRIP THEM OF THEIR PERMITS OF, IN THIS CASE, THIS OWNER DON'T EVEN HAVE THE PROPER PERMITS, BUT CAN WE JUST SHUT 'EM DOWN SO THAT HE DON'T, HE'S NOT ABLE TO CONTINUE TO OPERATE? YEAH.
UM, UM, NOW I WAS HEARING THIS ECHO SHUT THEM DOWN.
I MEAN,
AND CERTAINLY THIS IS A GREAT CONTRACT.
WE NEED ALL THE HELP WE CAN GET HEAVY TRASH, BULK WASTE, JUNK WASTE.
THIS ISN'T THE ONLY CONTRACT THOUGH WE'VE DONE TO SUPPLEMENT, UM, SOLID, SOLID WASTE.
WHAT I'D LIKE TO SEE IS KIND OF ON AN ANNUAL BASIS, HOW MUCH WE'RE SPENDING TO, UH, HELP OUT AT SOLID WASTE TO GET A TRUER PICTURE OF, OF WHAT IT REALLY COSTS TO RUN A, AN EFFECTIVE, SOLID WASTE DEPARTMENT.
UM, YOU KNOW, BUILD THAT INTO THE BUDGET IF WE'RE GONNA, YOU KNOW, UNTIL, UNLESS WE HAVE A FEE, UM, ONE DAY, UH, WHAT DOES IT REALLY COST US EACH YEAR? UM, IT'S A LOT OF EXTRA CONTRACTING, WHICH I'M ALL FOR BECAUSE WE NEED THE HELP.
BUT I THINK IT WOULD BE GOOD TO HAVE KIND OF A, AN HOW MUCH, LIKE I, I'D LIKE TO SEE ALL THE CONTRACTS OVER AN ANNUAL BASIS, HOW MUCH WE'RE SPENDING ABOVE AND BEYOND THE, THE GENERAL FUND.
AND THAT, UM, IN PART THAT WILL BE, UH, SOME OF WHAT YOU WOULD GET IN THE PLAN THAT WE TEND TO OUTLINE, BECAUSE EVERYBODY NEEDS TO SEE THE, THE DIFFERENT PARTS THAT WE ARE, UM, THE DIFFERENT PARTS THAT, THAT WE ARE USING TO MAKE OUR CITY CLEANER AND SAFER.
SO THAT, THAT, UM, THAT IS A PART OF THE LAYOUT.
YOU SEE THIS PIECE, BUT PEOPLE DON'T SEE HOW THEY'RE CONNECTED TO THE OTHER PIECES.
ONE SAFE HOUSTON, I THINK, DEMONSTRATED TO US, PEOPLE CAN SEE THE HOLISTIC APPROACH, RIGHT.
AND WHETHER THEY AGREE OR DISAGREE, THEY CAN SEE ALL THE PIECES THAT WE ARE USING, RIGHT.
AND ESPECIALLY AS WE'RE ENTERING THE BUDGET SEASON, IT'S GOOD TO HAVE A, A FULL PICTURE.
AND, UH, WE INTEND TO DO THE SAME THING IN THIS CATEGORY.
HAVE WE EVER, AND I KNOW IT'S DIFFICULT TO GET THE TRUTH,
[02:45:01]
BUT HAVE WE EVER LOOKED TO SEE WHY IT HAPPENS, WHY PEOPLE ACTUALLY DUMP? IS IT BECAUSE IT'S TOO EXPENSIVE? IS IT ACCESS? I MEAN, THE REASONS ON WHY THEY DO IT.I, I MEAN, KNOW, AND I KNOW THERE MAY BE A SILLY QUESTION, BUT I MEAN, I'M, I'M REALLY BEING SERIOUS.
I MEAN, OFTENTIMES IF YOU CAN FIGURE OUT, YOU KNOW, WHAT THE REAL REASON IS, AND I GET EVERYTHING THAT WE'RE SAYING AT THE COURT SHEET RIGHT NOW, BUT I MEAN, ARE THOSE ACT, IS THAT ACTUALLY THE REASON? AND IT'D BE INTERESTED TO FIND THAT PART OUT TO SEE IF THERE IS SOMETHING THAT WE CAN DO, UM, THAT CAN DETER THEM.
'CAUSE I MEAN, OBVIOUSLY WE'RE SPENDING A TON OF MONEY, YOU KNOW, UM, IT'S DIRTYING ALL OF OUR NEIGHBORHOODS AND ALL OF OUR AREAS.
I MEAN, WE ARE, WE CAN KEEP ON ON THAT WHOLE HAMSTER WHEEL IF WE WANT TO.
BUT IT'D BE VERY INTERESTING TO SEE THE PEOPLE THAT ARE CAUGHT, IF WE JUST ASK THEM, YOU KNOW, WHAT IS THE REASON WHY YOU DO THIS? AND WE, AND WE CERTAINLY CAN, CAN, UH, CAN WORK ON THAT.
UH, I WOULD SUSPECT WHERE BUSINESSES, WHERE PEOPLE WHO CALL THEMSELVES BUSINESS PERSONS, AND I DON'T NECESSARILY CALL 'EM BUSINESSES, BUT IF THEY CALL THEMSELVES BUSINESSES, UM, BUSINESS PERSONS, THEY'RE DOING IT, UH, TO SAVE MONEY, TO CUT COSTS, TO CUT THEIR COSTS.
THEY'RE GETTING PAID TO, LET'S SAY, HAUL AWAY TIRES OR TAKE THEM TO THE RIGHT PLACE.
SO THEY GET THE MONEY, AND THEN THEY GO, UH, A MILE DOWN THE STREET AND THEY JUST DUMP 'EM IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD.
THAT WAS, SO THAT'S IN ONE INSTANCE.
SO COST, UH, SECOND ONE MAY, MAY BE FOR EXPEDIENCY PURPOSES.
SO, YOU KNOW, SO THEY JUST DECIDE, OKAY, UM, THIS COMMUNITY, UH, WE CAN JUST GO AND DUMP IT HERE.
UH, THIRD PEOPLE MAY FEEL AS THOUGH THEY, THEY WON'T GET CAUGHT.
SO THEY'LL GO DOWN SOME STREET, BUT THERE'S NOT A LOT OF RESIDENTS, FOR EXAMPLE, AND THEY JUST TREAT IT AS A DUMP, A DUMPING GROUND, A LANDFILL, AND THEN THEY JUST DUMP, UH, FOR SOME, IT, IT, IT, IT IS HOW YOU VALUE YOURSELF AND YOUR COMMUNITY.
SO IF YOU DON'T VALUE OR RESPECT, UM, THEN YOU WILL TREAT IT AS IF IT'S SECOND OR THIRD HAND.
I THINK THERE ARE MULTIPLICITY OF REASONS.
AND THEN IN SOME CASES, WHICH IS MORE WHAT I CALL, UM, UM, HOW CAN I PUT IT? UM, IF WE HAVE, AND WHEN I SAY WE, I'M TALKING MORE OF A, AS A CITY GOVERNANCE STRUCTURE, IF WE HAVE THE, IF WE HAVE UNDER SOURCED, OR IF WE HAVEN'T INVESTED IN COMMUNITIES FOR A LONG TIME, AND WE HAVE PARTICIPATED IN DEVALUING THOSE COMMUNITIES, THEN IT, IT CREATES A WHOLE SET OF DYNAMICS MM-HMM
BECAUSE IF YOU ARE NOT, YOU INVEST IN STUFF THAT YOU VALUE.
AND FOR A LONG TIME, WE HAVE NOT INVESTED IN MANY OF THESE COMMUNITIES, BECAUSE WHEN YOU LOOK AT WHERE YOU ARE, A LOT OF YOUR DUMPING IS OCCURRING.
SO, UM, SO I THINK THERE ARE MANY DIFFERENT FACTORS, BUT WHATEVER THE REASON, UM, AS MY MOM WOULD SAY, WE NEED TO REVERSE THAT CURSE.
SO THAT CURSE NEEDS TO BE REVERSED.
AND, UM, AND, AND WE NEED TO, UM, WORK WITH COMMUNITIES AND WITH BUSINESSES TO, UM, RESTORE AND ENHANCE THE PRIDE IN THESE COMMUNITIES.
AND I DON'T THINK PEOPLE TRASH WHERE THEY LOVE.
SO I THINK, I THINK THAT'S WHAT I'M SAYING.
WE'LL, SYSTEMICALLY, YOU KNOW, WE'LL DO OUR PART HERE, BUT IT'S GONNA TAKE ALL OF US WORKING TOGETHER TO KEEP IT FROM HAPPENING.
I, I UNDERSTAND YOU'RE, YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT CHANGING MINDSET OF, OF PEOPLE, WHICH IS, YOU KNOW, IT'S VERY, IT'S VERY DIFFICULT TO DO.
ALL I'M SAYING IS THAT IF WE COULD, SINCE WE'RE SPENDING SO MUCH MONEY ON THIS, WE'RE OVER AND OVER AND OVER AGAIN, IT WOULD BE VERY NICE TO ACTUALLY FIND OUT THE REASON AND SEE IF THERE WAS A WAY TO DECREASE COSTS ON THE OTHER SIDE OF IT AND CHANGE THE WAY IN WHICH WE'RE SPENDING MONEY.
'CAUSE THE WAY WE'RE DOING IT RIGHT NOW, IT'S JUST, IT'S JUST, IT'S, IT'S AN ONGOING, IT'S AN ONGOING ISSUE.
SO I JUST WANTED, I'M JUST SAYING, LOOKING AT IT FROM A DIFFERENT PERSPECTIVE AND SEEING, UM, IF WE CAN DO THAT.
THANK YOU, MAYOR, YOU DEFINITELY HIT ON THE REASONS WHY PEOPLE ARE DUMPING.
I MEAN, WE HAVE BEEN UTILIZING OUR CAMERAS.
WE HAVE SPOKEN TO BUSINESS OWNERS.
UM, THERE'S AN INSTANCE WHERE WE HAD A BUSINESS OWNER WHO HAD A CRAWFISH, UH, COMPANY, AND HE WAS BOILING CRAWFISH IN HIS TRAILER, AND THEY DID NOT HAVE A DUMPSTER.
[02:50:02]
ACTUALLY HAVING A DUMPSTER ON THEIR SITE, THEY WOULD JUST TAKE THEIR BAGS OF TRASH AND DUMP IT ALONG ONE OF THE ROADS IN OUR NEIGHBORHOODS.AND THE REASON WE KNEW IT WAS THEM WAS WHEN WE OPENED THE BAGS OF TRASH, THEIR LITERATURE WAS IN THE BAGS OF TRASH.
AND SO HPD WAS ABLE TO GO TO THE COMPANY AND SAY, WE KNOW THAT YOU HAVE BEEN LITTERING THIS ENTIRE ROAD FOR ALL THIS TIME, AND THEY HAD TO CLEAN IT UP, AND WERE ALSO, UM, HAD TO GO TO COURT.
AND SO NOW THEY KNOW IF THEY'RE CAUGHT AGAIN, UM, THERE WILL BE STIFFER PENALTIES.
UM, JUST LIKE THE INSTANCE WITH THE LANDSCAPING COMPANY THAT WE CAUGHT ON THE CAMERA, THIS WAS AN EMPLOYEE NOT FOLLOWING PROTOCOL.
THEY WERE SUPPOSED TO TAKE THE LANDSCAPING MATERIAL TO THE LANDFILL, BUT THEY LIVE DOWN THE STREET.
SO INSTEAD OF GOING TO THE LANDFILL, IT'S NIGHTTIME, I'LL JUST BACK MY TRUCK IN, UNLOAD THE MATERIALS AND A DEAD END, AND THEN DRIVE TO MY HOUSE.
UM, SO THERE'S A MYRIAD OF REASONS THAT PEOPLE ARE NOT FOLLOWING THE PROTOCOL OR UTILIZING THE, THE LANDFILLS.
THEY DON'T WANT TO PAY, BUT THEY ARE CHARGING THE FEE FOR DISPOSAL.
SO IT'S, IT'S NOT FAIR FOR YOU TO COLLECT THE MONEY AND THEN NOT PROPERLY DISPOSE OF THE MATERIALS.
AND WE SEE A LOT OF CONTRACTOR MATERIALS, UM, DUMPED IN OUR COMMUNITIES.
AND I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT FOR HOUSTONIANS, WHEN YOU ARE GETTING WORK DONE AT YOUR HOME OR YOUR BUSINESS TO ASK THAT CONTRACTOR, HOW DO YOU DISPOSE OF YOUR MATERIALS BECAUSE YOU'RE GETTING A FEE FOR DIS DISPOSAL, AND WE NEED TO HOLD THEM ACCOUNTABLE FOR PROPERLY DISPOSING OF THAT CONTRACT OF WASTE.
COUNCILMAN CISNEROS? UM, I AGREE WITH EVERYTHING THAT'S BEEN SAID.
I, I SEE THAT IN MY DISTRICT TOO.
UM, BUT I WOULD ALSO JUST LIKE TO ADD THAT, UM, TO YOUR POINT, COUNCIL MEMBER PLUMMER, THAT, YOU KNOW, A REASON THAT PEOPLE, UM, COUNCIL MEMBER PLUMMER, I WANTED, UM, COUNCIL MEMBER PLUMMER, UM,
I, I WANTED TO, JUST TO, TO, TO ADD TO YOUR POINT ABOUT, YOU KNOW, WHY PEOPLE DO THIS.
UM, I, I HAVE ALSO OBSERVED THAT, YOU KNOW, AT, AT, UM, A, A DROP OFF SITE THAT ISN'T, UM, IN, IN INDEPENDENCE HEIGHTS, THAT, UM, THERE'S A LOT OF ILLEGAL DUMPING THAT HAPPENS RIGHT AROUND THAT, THAT FACILITY.
BECAUSE PEOPLE GET THERE AND THEY, AND IT'S LIKE, WE'RE CLOSE ENOUGH, WE'LL JUST LEAVE IT HERE, YOU KNOW,
WELL, WE KNOW IT'S A MAJOR, IT IS A MAJOR ISSUE, AND IT'S ONE THAT WE ALL TRYING TO GET OUR HANDS AROUND OF.
UM, YOU KNOW, WE WELCOME IN AND OUT ALL IDEAS OF OTHER PEOPLE HAVE IDEAS.
YOU KNOW, WE ARE OPEN AND RECEPTIVE, UH, TO THOSE IDEAS.
COUNCILMAN PLUMER, ONE MORE QUICK QUESTION.
WE DON'T HAVE ANY AUTHORITY TO REVOKE BUSINESS THE WAY OF DOING, DOING BUSINESS, AS DO WE IF SOMEONE VIOLATES, IF SOMEONE, I'LL HAVE TO DEFER TO THAT, TO, TO, TO, UH, ATTORNEY MICHELLE ON THAT ONE.
NO, I, I, AND I DON'T KNOW, NOW I KNOW IF YOU DON'T HAVE A CERTIFICATE OF OUR CAN C WE OUGHT TO BE ABLE TO THROW YOU OUT.
UM, BUT IF, YEAH, I MEAN, IF, IF MICHELLE, YOU WANT TO WEIGH IN ON THAT, YOUR THOUGHTS? UM, I MEAN, I THINK THERE ARE A LOT OF ISSUES SURROUNDING THAT WE'RE LOOKING AT, AT, AT THE TEAM ON ONE CLEAN HOUSTON, YOU KNOW, THE IDENTIFICATION OF THE DEFENDANT IN COURT IS AN ISSUE.
AND THEN ALSO BEING ABLE TO TAKE HIGHER AMOUNTS IN MUNICIPAL COURT WHEN THE DA WON'T, WON'T TAKE THOSE UP.
BUT THOUGH WE'RE TRYING TO WORK AND SEE IF WE CAN ACCESS SOME DPS SYSTEMS AND OTHERS, THAT WOULD MAKE IT SIMPLER TO DO THAT, TO MAKE THAT IDENTIFICATION AND BE ABLE TO MOVE FORWARD, UH, WITH THE IDENTITY.
IT'S, IT IS AN ISSUE WHEN WE GET TO COURT.
THANK YOU ALL FOR THE, FOR THE DISCUSSION.
THERE'LL BE MANY, MANY OTHERS.
AND, UM, BUT IF ANYBODY OUT THERE IN THE UNIVERSITY, IF YOU HAVE ADDITIONAL IDEAS ON HOW WE CAN ADDRESS THAT, UH, ADDRESS THIS ISSUE OF ILLEGAL DUMPING LETTER, YOU NAME IT.
UM, I DO KNOW BUSINESSES SHOULD BE RESPONSIBLE, UH, FOR PICKING UP THE LETTER ON THEIR PREMISES AND, UM, UH, AND KEEPING THAT CLEAN, UM, THAT'S IMPORTANT.
BUT, YOU KNOW, WE ARE WELCOME TO ANY AND ALL IDEAS AS WE MOVE FORWARD, BUT I DO LOOK FORWARD TO LAYING OUT, UH, OUR, UM, MORE HOLISTIC PLAN ON HOW TO ADDRESS THAT.
AND THAT SHOULD BE COMING OUT SOON.
HAVE A THANK YOU ALL FOR THE CONVERSATION.
NEXT ITEM, ITEM 24 IS AN ORDINANCE.
JUST NEED A VOTE ON ITEM 24, DISCUSSION
[02:55:01]
ON 24, DISCUSSION ON 24 IN FAVOR, UM, OPPOSED, GRANTED IN FAVOR.COUNCIL MEMBER GALLEGOS ON 28.
EXCITED ABOUT THIS, UH, PARTNERSHIP AS PARTNERSHIP BETWEEN THE COUNTY AND THE CITY.
AND I WANNA THANK COMMISSIONER ADRIAN GARCIA.
UM, TH TH THIS IS A PROJECT THAT'S, UH, DESPERATELY NEEDED.
UH, I KNOW THAT, UH, THE CITY IS PAYING 10 PO, 10, UH, 10,500,000, AND IT'S A, A LITTLE OVER $30 MILLION PROJECT, AND THE REST OF THE MONEY IS COMING FROM THE COUNTY BOND FUNDING.
UM, AND I JUST WANT TO COMMEND THE HOUSTON PUBLIC WORKS FOR WORKING WITH FLOOD CONTROL TO ADVANCE THIS CRUCIAL DRAINAGE PROJECT.
THE WORK WILL FOCUS ON RECONSTRUCTING A DRAINAGE CHANNEL BETWEEN THE GULF FREEWAY AND THE SOUTH LOOP, UH, WHICH WILL BENEFIT AREA RESIDENTS BY PREVENTING FUTURE FLOOD RISK.
THE DRAINAGE DEFICIENCIES AND NEEDS ALONG PLUM CREEK.
WERE IDENTIFIED IN A TECHNICAL STUDY COMMISSIONED BY THE CITY A FEW YEARS BACK.
AND WITH THIS INTERLOCAL WE'LL FINALLY BE ABLE TO REHAB THIS CHANNEL.
UH, MY THANKS AGAIN TO, TO MAYOR AND TO THE, TO THE ADMINISTRATION IN, UH, HOUSTON PUBLIC WORKS, AND AGAIN, TO, UH, FLOOD CONTROL AND COMMISSIONER ADRIAN GARCIA.
ANY OTHER DISCUSSION ON ITEM 28 IN FAVOR, OPPOSED GRANTED ON 28? NEXT ITEM, ADAM 29 IS AN ORDINANCE.
UM, THIS AGENDA ITEM AUTHORIZES AN AMENDMENT TO, UM, A CONTRACT THAT ALLOWS THE CITY TO MOVE FORWARD TO CONSTRUCT THE NORTH CANAL.
SOMETHING THAT WOULD NOT HAVE BEEN POSSIBLE WITHOUT THE AGREEMENT THAT WAS RECENTLY REACHED BETWEEN THE CITY IN TDOT ON THE I 45 PROJECT.
THE NORTH CANAL, WHICH WILL BE BUILT PRIMARILY IN DISTRICT H ON THE NORTH SIDE OF THE CENTRAL BUSINESS DISTRICT, UM, DOWNTOWN, UM, IS A VERY IMPORTANT DRAINAGE PROJECT THAT WILL GIVE SIGNIFICANT, UM, FLOODING RELIEF TO NEIGHBORHOODS ALONG WHITE OAK AND LITTLE WHITE OAK BAYOU.
AND I'M, I'M VERY, UM, ENTHUSIASTICALLY SUPPORTING THIS.
ANY OTHER DISCUSSION ON ITEM 29 IN FAVOR? OPPOSED? GRANTED ON 29, THIS COMPLETES THE ITEMS ON THE AGENDA.
UM, THERE MAY BE A FEW ITEMS COMING IN, IN A FEW MINUTES.
UM, LET ME RECOGNIZE COUNCIL MEMBER, UH, PLUMMER, UH, FOR A POINT OF PERSONAL PRIVILEGE.
THANK YOU SO MUCH, MAYOR TURNER.
I WOULD LIKE TO RECOGNIZE MOHAM EROLA, HE'S IN THE ROOM AND IF, IF, IF, I'M NOT SURE IF ALL OF YOU KNOW HIM OR NOT, BUT HE IS THE CREATOR.
HIM AND HIS WIFE RUTH, ARE THE CREATORS OF THE COVID WALL OF MEMORIES.
I, I'M NOT SURE HOW MANY PEOPLE, BUT I, HOW MANY PEOPLE HAVE BEEN ACKNOWLEDGED? 15,000, 15,000 PEOPLE THAT HAVE LOST THEIR LIVES DURING COVID NOW ARE RECOGNIZED ON THIS WEBSITE.
THIS IS FROM ACROSS THE, ACROSS THE COUNTRY.
AND, UM, IT REALLY ALLOWS, YOU KNOW, THEM TO, UM, TO HAVE THEIR MEMORIES AND PEOPLE KNOW WHO THEY ARE, ACTUALLY PUT A FACE, UH, TO SOMEONE THAT'S LOST THEIR LIFE DURING COVID.
AND WE'RE, WE'RE RECOGNIZING, UM, AT TRANQUILITY PARK ON, LET ME SEE, ON THE 24TH AT TRANQUILITY PARK, THEY'RE GONNA BE DOING THIS BEAUTIFUL ROSE GARDEN, UM, AND AN ACKNOWLEDGEMENT OF ALL THEIR LIVES LOST DURING COVID.
SO THANK YOU SO MUCH, MAYOR TURNER, FOR ALLOWING ME TO, TO RECOGNIZE MY GOOD FRIEND.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH, AND THANK YOU FOR THE WORK YOU DO.
[MATTERS TO BE PRESENTED BY COUNCIL - Council Member Martin first]
TODAY WE'RE GOING TO START WITH COUNCILOR MARTIN.HE'S IN THE BAG'S IN THE, OKAY.
IF I WERE HERE TODAY, I WOULD SAY TO YOU
VICE MAYOR PRO TEM, HE SAID, PASS I'LL PASS.
UM, VICE MAYOR PRO TEM IS PASSING.
UH, THIS PAST SATURDAY ATTENDED THE, UH, UH, THE MEETING HOSTED BY THE OFFICE OF EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT AT HARTMAN PARK, UH, IN MANCHESTER.
UH, THIS WAS THE, UH, SECOND OF THREE MEETINGS.
UH, THE THIRD MEETING WILL BE HELD IN THE NEW SUNNYSIDE MULTI-SERVICE CENTER AT 44 10 REED ROAD, UH, THIS EVENING AT SIX O'CLOCK.
UH, IT'S IMPORTANT THAT, UH, PEOPLE PARTICIPATE, UH, IN THE HAZARD MITIGATION PLAN.
UH, WHAT IS THE HAZARD MITIGATION PLAN? THE CITY OF HOUSTON OFFICE OF EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT IS UPDATING HOUSTON'S HAZARD MITIGATION PLAN.
THE PLAN GUIDES ACTIONS THE CITY WILL TAKE TO REDUCE RISK AND IMPACTS FROM DISASTERS OVER THE NEXT FIVE YEARS AND BEYOND.
UH, THE HAZARD MITIGATION PLAN, UH, ALSO ALLOWS HOUSTON TO
[03:00:01]
RECEIVE FUNDING FROM THE FEDERAL EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT AGENCY, FEMA, TO REDUCE THE COMMUNITY'S VULNERABILITY TO DISASTERS.UM, YOU CAN GO ONLINE IN, UH, PARTICIPATE, UH, BY GOING TO HOUSTON OM.ORG/PAGES/PLANS-PROGRAMS. UM, THIS PAST SATURDAY JOINED THE MAYOR AND OTHER COUNCIL MEMBERS AND ELECTED OFFICIALS, UH, HAD A GREAT TIME AT THE BLACK HERITAGE WESTERN GALA, BOOTS BLING AND, AND, AND, AND BOW TIES, UH, CELEBRATING THEIR 30TH ANNIVERSARY.
UH, I WANNA CONGRATULATE THE, UH, HFD CADET CLASS 2020 2D UH, THE 29 CADETS WERE SWORN IN LAST WEEK, AND THEY ARE NOW PROUD HOUSTON FIREFIGHTERS.
UH, ALSO CONGRATULATIONS TO MY HIGH SCHOOL AUSTIN HIGH SCHOOL BAND AND BAND DIRECTOR KEVIN RUN REYNOLDS, UH, FOR RECE, RECEIVING THE PRESTIGIOUS PRESIDENTIAL LIFETIME OF ACHIEVEMENT AWARD.
UH, ATTENDED THE, UH, THE PRESENTATION YESTERDAY, YESTERDAY EVENING.
UH, IT WAS GOOD TO SEE NAVARRO MIDDLE SCHOOL AND EDISON MIDDLE SCHOOL, UH, JOINING THE BAND, THE AUSTIN HIGH SCHOOL BAND, UH, AND, UH, DOING A PERFORMANCE THERE IN THE AUDITORIUM.
SO, AGAIN, CONGRATULATIONS TO AUSTIN HIGH SCHOOL BAND AND DIRECTOR KEVIN REYNOLDS.
I JUST, UH, WANNA, UH, ANNOUNCE THAT WE DO HAVE THE TTI COMMITTEE MEETINGS ORIGINALLY SCHEDULED FOR LAST WEEK.
AND WE'VE HAD, UH, AN ADDITIONAL ITEM ADDED, WHICH IS A REALLY EXCITING ONE WITH OUR HOUSTON PUBLIC LIBRARY SYSTEM.
RAYA LAWSON, THAT'S THE LIBRARY PUBLIC USE HOTSPOTS AND DATA PLANS MAYOR.
AND THAT PROGRAM'S EXPANDING A WHOLE LOT IN THE CITY.
SO I THINK COUNCIL MEMBERS WILL BE INTERESTED TO HEAR ABOUT THAT.
WE ALSO HAVE TWO ITEMS FROM OUR HOUSTON INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY SYSTEM DEPARTMENT, THE DATA CENTER LEASE AGREEMENT, AS WELL AS THE FISCAL YEAR 2023 CITYWIDE PC REPLACEMENT.
UH, SO THAT'LL TAKE PLACE TOMORROW MORNING, UM, ON THE 9TH OF FEBRUARY AT 10:00 AM HERE IN CHAMBERS.
AND WANTED TO REPORT MAYOR TO THE COUNCIL MEMBER ALCORN AND I, UH, ON FRIDAY, ATTENDED THE CODE MODERNIZATION WORKSHOP WITH A BUNCH OF OUR STAKEHOLDERS, UM, CROSS THE WAY AT THE WELLS FARGO TOWER.
AND, UH, OUR PUBLIC WORKS TEAM, HOUSTON PERMITTING CENTER FOLKS, ARE ALL WORKING DILIGENTLY TO MAKE THAT COME FORWARD.
A LOT OF STAKEHOLDERS IN THE ROOM IN A VERY HEALTHY DIALOGUE.
I THINK WE ARE ON PACE AND SETTING A GOOD, UH, SET OF PROGRESS GOING FORWARD.
SO WE WILL KEEP YOU TUNED ON THAT ONE.
AND FINALLY, JUST WANTED TO, UH, THANK YOU AND AGAIN, COUNCIL MEMBER ALCORN AND OTHERS TO SHOW UP.
UM, VICE MAYOR PRO TEM, YOUR CHIEF OF STEPH DEI, DID A GREAT JOB REPRESENTING YOU LAST SATURDAY AND ARB DAY AND DISTRICT K, AND PLANTED A BUNCH OF TREES WITH APACHE AND OUR FRIENDS FROM ACCENTURE'S.
SO YEAH, IT WAS A WHOLE BUNCH OF TREES, BEAUTIFUL DAY, AND MAYOR, IT WAS GREAT TO BE WITH YOU.
UM, YES TO ECHO, UM, YOUR CONGRATULATORY REMARKS TO BEYONCE AND OF COURSE, LIZZO, TOBY, UM, REPRESENTING THE WEST SIDE, THE BEST SIDE.
SO BUNCH OF TALENT COMING OUTTA DISTRICT F.
UM, I WANNA RECAP, UH, OUR SPECIAL CALL MEETING OF, OF OUR 9% TAX CREDITS.
AND, AND JUST TO, YOU KNOW, REITERATE AT THE HOUSING DEPARTMENT LEVEL, WHAT YOU SEE IN THOSE PROJECTS IS A VERY THOUGHTFUL PROCESS, AND I THINK IT GETS BETTER EVERY YEAR, AND IT'S AN EQUITABLE DISTRIBUTION OF AFFORDABILITY THROUGHOUT THE CITY, UM, WHICH IS HELPFUL TO KNOW.
SO, UH, IF YOU HAVE NOT REACHED OUT TO, UH, REPRESENTATIVES FROM THOSE PROJECTS, PLEASE DO SO AS WE'RE PREPARING FOR THOSE PROJECTS TO COME TO COUNCIL NEXT WEEK FOR A VOTE.
UH, UH, MAYOR TURNER AND I WERE AT A PRESS CONFERENCE ON MONDAY WITH READING WITH THE RAPPER, AND SO IF YOU WERE NOT ABLE TO WATCH THAT PRESS CONFERENCE, READING WITH THE RAPPER, UM, IS A LITERACY PROGRAM IN SCHOOLS.
AND AS THE GRAMMY CELEBRATED THE 50TH ANNIVERSARY OF HIP HOP, IT'S CLEAR THAT, UH, HIP HOP HAS INFLUENCED NOT ONLY, UH, THE CULTURE, BUT ALSO EDUCATION.
AND SO EXCITED TO DEDICATE $30,000 OF, UH, DISTRICT SERVICE FUNDS, UM, TO, UH, A LEAF ISD AND ALSO HISD, PARTICULARLY PINEY POINT, WHICH IS A FLAGSHIP SCHOOL FOR THAT PROGRAM.
AND PINEY POINT, UM, WAS ACTUALLY THAT LAND WAS DONATED FROM, UH, FREED SLAVES, UH, IN 19 SEVEN.
IN 1917, THEY OPENED UP THEIR FIRST SCHOOL, THAT LAND, UM, CREATED PINEY POINT ELEMENTARY THAT SITS AT, UH, I SDS CAMPUS NOW.
SO I'M EXCITED THAT, UM, THEY'RE CONTINUING TO DO THAT WORK OF EDUCATION, UH, LIBERATION THROUGH EDUCATION.
UH, JUST WANNA REMIND WESTMONT AND, UM, ANOTHER NEIGHBORHOOD IN ALE THAT YOU HAVE A NOTICE TO PROCEED.
THERE'S SOME CONSTRUCTION HAPPENING.
UH, WE ARE CUR, UH, REPAIRING AND CLEARING YOUR CURB AND GUTTER AND YOUR, UM, A DA SIDEWALKS.
AND IN ALE, WE ARE DOING SOMETHING SIMILAR WITH YOUR SIDEWALKS AND EXISTING RAMPS.
AND SO IF YOU HAVE AN APPLICATION,
[03:05:01]
PLEASE GET THAT TO US SO WE CAN GET A COST ESTIMATE, INITIATE THAT, UH, PROJECT.UM, WE ALSO HAVE A VERY SUBSTANTIAL CIP WASTEWATER PROJECT.
IT'S A $15 MILLION, UM, UH, AILEY VILLAGE.
UH, UH, THE LIFT STATION'S BEING REPLACED SINCE THAT'S A 600 DAY PROJECT, SO PLEASE BEAR WITH US MORE DETAILS TO COME.
UM, WE SPENT A LOT OF TIME TALKING ABOUT ILLEGAL DUMPING, AND AS WE CLEAR DUMPING IN, IN DISTRICT F, WE'RE ALSO NOTICING, UH, HOMELESS ENCAMPMENTS.
I DROVE PAST THIS MORNING AND SAW A WHOLE ENTIRE TENT CITY, UM, IN THE TREES, UM, AT 59 IN THE BELTWAY, WHICH IS PROBABLY JAY.
THEY'RE LITERALLY LIVING IN THE DETENTION.
UM, AND THEY HAD CLOTHES HANGERS, UH, OUT YESTERDAY.
AND SO, UH, IT'S LIT CREATING COMMUNITIES, AND I REALLY DON'T KNOW HOW TO RESPOND TO THAT.
I DON'T KNOW WHAT, I DON'T KNOW WHAT TOOLS ARE AVAILABLE, UM, FOR THEM AS WE CONTINUE TO CLEAR.
UM, UH, THEY CON IT CONTINUES TO SHOW UP.
AND I HAD TO TELL MY DADDY TO STOP GIVING FOLKS $2 ON THE CORNER.
HE WAS LIKE, WELL, I GIVE THEM SOME MONEY EVERY TIME I SEE 'EM.
AND I SAY, WELL, DADDY, YOU PART OF THE PROBLEM.
'CAUSE I I CAN'T, YOU KEEP GIVING THEM MONEY.
AND SO THEY STAY RIGHT THERE, BUT THEN I GET THE COMPLAINTS.
AND SO, UH, WE'RE DOING EVERYTHING, YOU KNOW, SO EDUCATION, UH, WE, WE GOTTA EDUCATE FOLKS.
UM, YEAH, BUT THEY STAY THERE BECAUSE THEY KNOW THAT THEY'RE GONNA GET THAT SUPPORT.
AND SO I, I NEED TO HAVE A BETTER GRASP ON WHAT TOOLS ARE AVAILABLE TO ME TO CLEAR THOSE SMALL ENCAMPMENTS TO GET THEM WHERE THEY NEED TO BE.
'CAUSE THEY ARE DEFINITELY OUT THERE IN THE WEST.
AND, UH, WEST HOUSTON ASSISTANCE MINISTRY, THEY ARE IN NEED OF, UH, SUPPLIES.
SO IF YOU HAVE FURNITURE, SHOES, CLOTHING, UH, A DISHWARE, HOUSEWARE, UM, THEY ARE RUNNING LOW ON INVENTORY, SO I WANNA SUPPORT THEM.
AND JUST PUT A CALL OUT THERE, THERE.
IF YOU ARE, YOU KNOW, SPRING CLEANING, UM, YOU HAVE SOME STUFF YOU WANNA GET, GET RID OF THAT IS WEARABLE, USABLE, CLEAN, AND APPROPRIATE, PLEASE CONSIDER WEST HOUSTON ASSISTANCE MINISTRIES FOR DONATING THAT.
AND PLEASE CONTACT MY OFFICE, REBUILD, REBUILDING TOGETHER.
HOUSTON, THEY HAVE SOME FUNDING OPPORTUNITIES AND SOME, UH, FOR THOSE STILL IMPACTED BY HARVEY FOR MINOR REPAIR.
UM, AND SO IF YOU QUALIFY IN DISTRICT F, WE WOULD LOVE TO GET YOU CONNECTED TO THOSE PROGRAMS. AND, UH, SATURDAY, I WILL, UH, OFFER REMARKS TO THE O FOR THE OPENING OF THE ELLA AND DEIDRE JEFFERSON EARLY LEARNING CENTER, UH, IN, IN HONOR OF, UH, MY FORMER SCHOOL PRINCIPAL AND, UH, MY FORMER, UH, SENIOR CLASS SPONSOR WHO PASSED AWAY A COUPLE OF YEARS AGO.
SO THEY'RE EXCITED ABOUT THAT PRE-K CENTER OPENING UP IN ALE.
AND, UM, ONE THING I JUST SHARED WITH, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER ALCORN, AND I'LL CLOSE WITH THIS, IS, UH, WE HAVE, UM, AN, UH, A GROUP HOME ISSUE IN DISTRICT F.
WE HAVE WHAT'S ON RECORD AS A LICENSED GROUP HOME.
AND, YOU KNOW, WITH THE PERMITS WE HAVE, IT'S OUTTA CONTROL.
AND SO THESE GROUP HOMES, UH, THESE INVESTORS ARE PURCHASING THESE HOMES, MAKING THEM GROUP HOMES.
THERE'S BEEN A FIRE IN THE PAST, SOMEONE PASSED AWAY.
SO WE'RE TRYING TO GET A HANDLE ON THAT.
I WOULD LIKE TO GET THAT TO RNA SO WE CAN, UH, LOOK AT THAT, UH, PROBLEM BECAUSE IT'S OUTTA CONTROL.
I'VE ASKED COMMUNITY MEMBERS TO KEEP THEIR EYES OUT ON THAT IN THEIR SUBDIVISIONS SO WE CAN START MITIGATING THAT SO WE CAN HAVE A BETTER GRASP ON HOW WE RESPOND BECAUSE THEY'RE BECOMING DANGEROUS, UH, UH, UH, FROM A PUBLIC SAFETY PERSPECTIVE.
UH, AND I WANNA DEAL WITH THAT.
SO THAT CONCLUDES MY REMARKS FOR TODAY.
LET ME ASK YOU TO GET WHAT TINA PIE AS WELL.
SAY THAT AGAIN? TINA PIE? YES.
AND I WANNA THANK YOU FOR YOUR STRATEGIC GUIDELINES.
I'M EXCITED FOR OUTCOME-BASED BUDGETING, AND THIS IS REALLY HELPFUL TO SEE, YOU KNOW, KIND OF WHAT OUTCOMES WE'RE, WE'RE GONNA BE LOOKING FOR THIS BUDGET SEASON.
UH, I DO SEE THAT THE SURVEYS STILL OPEN.
IT TALKS ABOUT GETTING FEEDBACK FROM 2,500 HOUSTONIANS.
I DO SEE THE SURVEY STILL OPEN.
UM, I WOULD LIKE TO SEE THE RESULTS IN SOME KIND OF, I'M SURE THEY'RE, THEY'RE COMP COMPILING THOSE.
AND SEE, I THOUGHT THEY WERE GOOD QUESTIONS HOW THEY WERE ASKED.
SO, UH, I'D LIKE TO SEE ALL THAT LAID OUT.
I LOOK FORWARD TO REALLY GOING THROUGH IT AND, AND, YOU KNOW, WE'LL BE, YOU KNOW, THIS, THESE, THESE ARE THE PRIORITIES, SO THESE ARE THE THINGS WE SHOULD FUND.
AND, YOU KNOW, IF THEY'RE NOT PART OF THESE PRIORITIES, WE GOTTA KIND OF LOOK AT THAT.
SO I THINK THAT'S, THAT'S REALLY IMPORTANT.
AND I JUST WANTED, UM, MENTION ONCE AGAIN THE COVID WALLET MEMORIES.
THE, UH, PRESENTATION IS GONNA BE ON THE 24TH OF FEBRUARY, ATMAN PARK AT 1:00 PM SO I WOULD LOVE FOR EVERYONE TO COME OUT, UM, AND SUPPORT THAT.
UH, I WAS TRAVELING OVERSEAS THIS LAST WEEK, AND, UM, AND, UH, WE HAD A HUGE ISSUE AT ONE OF THE APARTMENT COMPLEXES, TIMBER RIDGE APARTMENTS, UH, AT 12,000 FLEMING.
IT'S ONE OF THE APARTMENT COMPLEXES THAT WAS RECOGNIZED BEFORE THAT THE TASK FORCE WENT OUT, UH, TO BEFORE, ONCE AGAIN, BAD ACTORS, YOU KNOW, THEY, THEY KIND OF DO WHAT THEY NEED TO DO AT THE MOMENT, AND THEN THEY, UM, THEY KIND OF REGRESS BACK, UM, TO, TO THEIR BAD HABITS.
UH, WE DID INFORM THE ADMINISTRATION AND,
[03:10:01]
UM, COUNCIL MEMBER S'S OFFICE.I REALLY WANNA COMMEND MY TEAM ON THIS.
UM, THEY, THEY TOOK THIS THING BY THE HORN.
UM, TENANTS, YOU KNOW, HAS SPOKEN, UH, COUNCIL DURING PUBLIC SESSION.
UM, THE, THE FIRE STARTED BECAUSE A STOVE WAS FAULTY IN ONE OF THE TENANT'S APARTMENTS.
SHE HAS MULTIPLE, UM, COMPLAINTS THAT WENT TO THE MANAGEMENT TO SAY THAT THERE WAS AN ISSUE WITH THE, WITH THE, WITH HER STOVE.
UM, AND SHE TURNED THE STOVE ON, ON IT CAUGHT FIRE, AND SHE COULDN'T, AND THERE WAS NO FIRE EXTINGUISHERS, UM, IN THE APARTMENTS.
AND AS YOU KNOW, THOSE ARE, THOSE ARE NORMAL STANDARDS THAT SHOULD BE GIVEN.
THERE'S STILL RECURRING ISSUES.
I MEAN, THE WHOLE NINE, NO FIRE EXTINGUISHERS, NO FIRE ALARMS INSIDE THE APARTMENTS.
UM, RESIDENTS ARE OVERCHARGED.
THEY WON'T GIVE THEM RECEIPTS.
I MEAN, THE LIST JUST ALL GOES ON AND ON AND ON.
UM, MY STAFF HAS BEEN, UM, DEALING WITH EVERYONE THERE.
WE MADE, WE GOT THE TASK FORCE TO GO OUT.
WE DID GET THEM FINALLY REHOUSED.
UM, UH, BUT ONCE AGAIN, THE WHOLE, UH, COMPLEX IS, IS A, IS A POTENTIAL POTENTIAL PROBLEM.
UM, MY TEAM HAS HELPED WITH FIRE RECOVERY, PROVIDING CLOTHES, CLEANING SUPPLIES, FOOD COLLABORATION WITH LOCAL CHURCHES, UM, GATHERING DATA ON RESIDENTS AND, AND, AND ALLOWING THEM TO CALL AND SUPPORTING THEM, CALLING THREE ONE ONE.
UM, BUT I'LL BE HONEST WITH YOU, MAYOR TURNER, MY OFFICE IS THAT CAPACITY.
I MEAN, WE HAVE SO MANY CALLS.
WE ARE LIKE THE APARTMENT, BAD PEOPLE OFFICE, LIKE EVERYONE THAT HAS A COMPLAINT ABOUT AN APARTMENT COMPLEX, THEY CALL US AND WE JUST DON'T HAVE THE CAPACITY, UM, TO KEEP THIS THING GOING.
I WILL SAY THAT CLEARLY, UM, THIS IS A PROBLEM NATIONWIDE BECAUSE, UM, PRESIDENT BIDEN, UM, AND THE WHITE HOUSE ANNOUNCED ON THE 25TH, THE NEW ACTIONS TO PROTECT RENTERS AND PROMOTE, PROMOTE RENTAL AFFORDABILITY.
UM, THESE ITEMS ARE DRAFTED BY THE WHITE HOUSE, SAFE, QUALITY, ACCESSIBLE, AFFORDABLE HOUSING.
RENTERS SHOULD HAVE ACCESS TO HOUSING THAT IS SAFE, DECENT, AND AFFORDABLE.
I MEAN, IT'S LITERALLY BEEN DONE NOW BY THE GOVERNMENT.
SO I'M REALLY HOPING TO SEE THAT WE CAN PUT SOMETHING MORE FORMIDABLE IN PLACE.
UM, YOU KNOW, I'M GONNA KEEP ON BUGGING YOU ABOUT MY ORDINANCE, UM, BUT WE REALLY NEED SOMETHING THAT IS MORE, UM, THAT HAS MORE TEETH.
WE HAVE GOT TO MAKE SURE THESE PEOPLE IN OUR COMMUNITIES LIVE.
DID YOU ALL PASS IT ON TO, UH, TO, UM, TO WALTER HAMBRICK? WE DID.
EVEN FOR WALTER, HE DOES HIS LEVEL BEST.
NO, BUT WALTER IS TO THE STRIKE.
WHEN I SAY WALTER TO THE STRIKE FORCE, THE STRIKE FORCE CAME OUT IN THIS PARTICULAR, UM, ON THIS PARTICULAR MM-HMM
BUT ONCE AGAIN, THEY COME OUT, THEY DO WHAT THEY NEED TO DO REALLY QUICKLY, AND THEN IT GOES RIGHT BACK BECAUSE THEY KNOW THAT WE DON'T HAVE THE CAPACITY TO KEEP AND THERE'S NO ENFORCEMENT IN PLACE.
SO, WELL THEN NO, THEN Y'ALL NEED TO KEEP GIVING IT BACK TO STRIKE TURNER.
BUT THERE'S SO MANY APARTMENT COMPLEXES.
I MEAN, IT'S, IT'S, I KNOW, BUT I, WE ARE TALKING ABOUT THIS ONE HERE AND HERE.
WE HAVE, HAVE FOLLOWED ALL THE PROPER PROTOCOLS.
THE STRIKE FORCE WENT OUT THERE.
THEY, UM, BECAUSE OF THE SUPPORT THEY DID, THEY DID.
WE FORCED THEM TO REHOUSE THE TENANTS.
UM, BUT THERE ARE OTHER ISSUES THAT ARE STILL THERE.
SO, YOU KNOW, ONCE AGAIN, THE ONLY TIME THAT ANYTHING HAPPENS IS IF SOMETHING HAPPENS.
SO WE'RE NOT BEING PREVENTIVE, WE'RE BEING REACTIVE.
COUNCILMAN P THANK YOU, MAYOR.
UM, FIRST I WANNA WISH A VERY HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO SARAH SINGLETON IN MY OFFICE, OUR DIRECTOR OF CONSTITUENT SERVICES.
SHE IS WONDERFUL, HAS SUCH A HEART FOR SERVICE, AND WE'RE SO LUCKY TO HAVE HER IN DISTRICT A, UM, AND NEXT MAYOR, UM, MONDAY AFTERNOON, THERE WAS A BIG WATER LEAK AT ANTOINE AND TIDWELL AFFECTING AT LEAST 2000 PEOPLE.
UM, AND I JUST WANNA THANK, UM, PUBLIC WORKS FOR GETTING OUT THERE REALLY QUICKLY TO AT LEAST BARRICADE IT OFF BECAUSE THE, THE STREET WAS SINKING.
UM, AND SO PATRICK RALEIGH, WITH PUBLIC WORKS WAS OUT THERE REALLY QUICKLY.
UM, AND HE STAYED UNTIL IT WAS BARRICADED PROPERLY.
SO I REALLY APPRECIATE HIS WORK.
RON DELANEY, UM, WHO IS THE PRESIDENT OF THE ANTOINE FOREST, THE STATE CIVIC ASSOCIATION, KIND OF FLAGGED HIM DOWN AS HE WAS DRIVING AROUND LOOKING FOR WHAT THE ISSUE WAS AND STAYED WITH HIM UNTIL THEY FIGURED OUT WHAT, WHAT WAS HAPPENING.
SO I REALLY JUST APPRECIATE BOTH OF THEM AND THEIR WORK.
UM, MY ISSUE THOUGH, WITH, UM, WHAT HAPPENED KIND OF AFTER THAT IS COMMUNICATION WHEN IT COMES TO SOMETHING THIS BIG, UM, WITH PUBLIC WORKS, IT TOOK SEVERAL PHONE CALLS AND EMAILS FROM MYSELF AND MY STAFF TO PUBLIC WORKS TO GET ANY KIND OF UPDATE YESTERDAY, AND WE DIDN'T GET ONE UNTIL ALMOST THE AFTERNOON.
AND THE UPDATE WAS JUST, CREWS ARE WORKING ON IT, WHICH WE ALREADY KNEW FROM OUR CONSTITUENTS WHO SAW THE WORK HAPPENING.
SO IN SITUATIONS LIKE THIS, I REALLY DO WANT TO LOOK FURTHER INTO ALERT HOUSTON AND THE WIRELESS EMERGENCY ALERTS TO, UM, NOTIFY PEOPLE WHEN IT'S THAT SOMETHING THAT'S AFFECTING THAT MANY PEOPLE.
UM, BECAUSE PEOPLE ALSO DIDN'T KNOW IF THEY SHOULD BOIL THEIR WATER.
THEY DIDN'T KNOW IF IT WAS GOING TO BE RESTORED.
SO JUST LOOKING FURTHER INTO HOW WE, WE CAN BETTER COMMUNICATE MANY TIME INVOLVED, THE WATER IS WHEN THE, IS, WHEN THE WATER PRESSURE ACROSS THE CITY DROPS BELOW 20 PSI, RIGHT? BUT PEOPLE DON'T KNOW THAT.
SO I UNDERSTAND IN THE FUTURE IF THERE'S SOME, EVEN JUST, UM, AN ALERT SAYING CREWS ARE OUT THERE WORKING ON IT,
[03:15:01]
SO PEOPLE KNOW WHAT'S HAPPENING.UM, AND IT'S SOMETHING THAT I DID ASK, UM, CHAIR HAMAN FOR THE PUBLIC SAFETY COMMITTEE, IF WE CAN LOOK AT ALERT HOUSTON FOR SITUATIONS LIKE THIS GOING FORWARD.
UM, ON LAST WEEKEND, I WAS IN LAS VEGAS.
I'M TOURING THE MEOW WOLF, UM, LOCATION THERE.
AS YOU GUYS KNOW, WE'RE GONNA HAVE A MEOW WOLF, UM, COME INTO THE FIFTH WARD AREA.
I WANT TO THANK MY VICE MAYOR, PRO TIM, UM, AND COUNCIL MEMBER SHABA FOR JOINING ME.
GOT A CHANCE TO SEE HOW THIS, UM, INTERACTIVE IMMER, WHAT IS IT EMERGING, UM, SITE OPERATE.
AND SO I'M REALLY EXCITED ABOUT THE JOBS THAT'S GONNA BE COMING TO DISTRICT B.
UM, AND THROUGHOUT THE CITY OF HOUSTON, UM, MY, MY VICE MAYOR PRO TEAM AND MY COLLEAGUES ALREADY TOLD ME THAT THEY'RE NOT ALL JUST MY JOBS.
I HAVE TO LIKE, SHARE WITH OTHER FOLKS.
SO I KNOW WE GOT TO SHARE, BUT 127 JOBS.
UM, THEN ALSO LOCAL ARTISTS WOULD GET THE OPPORTUNITY TO CREATE THE WHOLE MEOW WOLF.
AND THAT'S WHAT I'M EXCITED ABOUT.
I MEAN, JUST SEEING THIS SITE AND THE ARTISTS, UM, THEIR IDEAS, JUST TO SEE HOW DIFFERENT WE'RE GONNA BE, I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO THAT.
AND AS WELL AS IT'S GONNA BE FUN FOR FAMILY.
I HAD A LOT OF FUN JUST GOING THROUGH THE SITE.
UM, JUST, IT'S, YOU HAVE TO SEE IT.
IT'S ONE OF THOSE YOU HAVE TO SEE.
SO, BUT I'M REALLY EXCITED ABOUT IT.
COMING TO FIFTH WARD, THE CITY OF HOUSTON, AGAIN, THANK YOU, VICE MEMBER TIM AND COUNCIL MEMBER SHABA FOR JOINING US ON THIS SATURDAY OR JOINING ME THIS SATURDAY.
WE HAVE OUR DISTRICT B, UM, BE SUCCESSFUL JOBS INITIATIVE.
THIS IS GONNA BE OUR FOURTH, UM, BE SUCCESSFUL JOBS INITIATIVE.
IT'S GONNA BE AT THE ACRES HOMES MULTI SERVICE CENTER.
OF COURSE, WE ARE GONNA HAVE, UH, QUITE A FEW EMPLOYEES OUT THERE.
UM, HIRING RIGHT ON THE SPOT, THE CITY OF HOUSTON METRO, UM, UM, UM, UNITED, SOUTHWEST AIRLINES, UNION PACIFIC, YOU NAME IT.
SO JUST COME ON OUT AT 10:00 AM ACRES HOME MULTI SERVICE CENTER.
AND ON NEXT, UM, TUESDAY, WHICH IS ON VALENTINE'S DAY, I'M EXCITED TO ANNOUNCE THAT A LIGHT THAT WE HAVE BEEN WAITING FOR FOR SUCH A LONG TIME ON HOMESTEAD IN BENNINGTON WILL FINALLY BE LIT UP.
SO I WANNA ENCOURAGE THE HOUSTON GARDEN RESIDENTS TO COME ON OUT.
THEY'VE BEEN, YOU KNOW, ASKING FOR THIS LIGHT FOR PROBABLY ABOUT A GOOD THREE TO FOUR YEARS.
AND SO FINALLY, IT'S, IT'S BEEN, IT IS INSTALLED AND WE ARE GONNA LIGHT IT UP.
SO IF YOU WANT MORE INFORMATION, CONTACT ME AT 8 3 2 3 9 3 3 0 0 9.
AGAIN, FEBRUARY THE 14TH AT 9:00 AM THANK YOU.
ON FRIDAY, UH, BETH MURPHY AND I, UH, WERE HONORED BY THE NATIONAL COUNCIL OF JEWISH WOMEN, UH, AT THEIR WOMEN OF INFLUENCE LUNCHEON.
AND DURING THAT CONVERSATION, I WAS ASKED TO SHARE SOME OF THE OUTLOOK, UH, FOR WOMEN AND GENDER EQUITY IN OUR CITY.
AND THERE'S TWO ISSUES THAT I RAISED THAT I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT THAT WE ARE ACTUALLY PUSHING THE ENVELOPE ON, AS UNCOMFORTABLE AS IT MAY BE.
UM, ONE NCJW FOCUSES ON IS ONE OF THEIR ISSUES, PERIOD, POVERTY.
AND THERE'S BEEN A LOT OF FOCUS ON FLORIDA RIGHT NOW ABOUT FOR STUDENT ATHLETES BEING REQUIRED TO SUBMIT INFORMATION ABOUT THEIR MENSTRUAL CYCLES.
BUT DALLAS MORNING NEWS, UH, PUT OUT A STORY.
EVERYONE'S FOCUSING ON FLORIDA HERE, ALLEGEDLY IN HISD.
SO MY ASK OF THE CITY IS IF WE CAN HAVE A CONVERSATION WITH HISD ABOUT WHAT THESE REQUIREMENTS ARE, UM, BECAUSE IT'S VERY PERSONAL INFORMATION.
AGAIN, THE RULE CHANGE THAT USED TO BE OPTIONAL, NOW IT'S REQUIRED TO SUBMIT.
AND, UM, I I, I THINK THAT THAT'S ABSOLUTELY WRONG IF IT'S, IF IT'S TRUE.
THE OTHER ISSUE THAT WE RAISED, THE FIFTH CIRCUIT, UM, JUST CAME DOWN WITH A DECISION THAT PROHIBITS IF THERE IS A DOMESTIC VIOLENCE RESTRAINING ORDER, A COURT IS NOT ALLOWED TO REMOVE THE FIREARM ANY LONGER FROM THAT ABUSER.
HOUSTON AREA WOMEN'S CENTER, UM, YOU KNOW, NEW FACILITIES WE'RE, UH, DOING EVERYTHING WE CAN TO STEM THE VIOLENCE AND SUPPORT SURVIVORS.
AND COURTS ARE NOW RULING AND BAR, OR EXCUSE ME, COURTS ARE NOW BARRED FROM TAKING AWAY A FIREARM IF THERE IS A RESTRAINING ORDER AND A DOMESTIC VIOLENCE SITUATION.
AND WE'VE TALKED A LOT ABOUT LOWERING THE CRIME RATE HERE IN HOUSTON, AND THERE'S A DIRECT NEXUS BETWEEN DOMESTIC VIOLENCE AND OUR HOMICIDE RATES.
AND FOR LAW ENFORCEMENT, IT'S THE MOST DANGEROUS SITUATION FOR LAW ENFORCEMENT TO RESPOND TO.
SO, I, I ELEVATE THESE BOTH AS VERY SERIOUS AND REAL ISSUES THAT WE NEED TO CONTINUE TO PUSH ON.
UM, BUT I WANNA BRING AWARENESS TO BOTH OF THOSE THINGS BECAUSE, UH, I DON'T THINK WE'RE TALKING ENOUGH ABOUT THEM.
SO, UH, I WOULD APPRECIATE YOUR HELP ON, UH, THE ISSUE WITHIN HISD AND OTHER, UH, MUNICIPAL CITIES.
[03:20:02]
THANK YOU, MAYOR.UM, I WANNA HIGHLIGHT AGAIN, MAYOR, THE NEARLY $30 MILLION, UM, THAT FEDERAL GRANT THAT WE RECEIVED, UH, LAST WEEK, UH, TO RECONSTRUCT BINET, UH, FROM SOUTH DAIRY ASHFORD TO HILLCROFT.
THAT STRETCH OF BINET HAS BEEN A CHALLENGING AREA FOR YEARS AND, UH, TRULY NEEDS REAL INVESTMENT.
SO I WANT TO THANK YOU AND THANK YOUR OFFICE.
UM, AND THANK THEM ALSO FOR COLLABORATING WITH MY OFFICE, UH, REALLY PUSHING THIS TO, TO, UH, GET THAT, THAT GRANT APPROVED.
THE RESIDENTS ARE REALLY EXCITED ABOUT THIS GRANT, AND I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO THE NEXT STEPS OF PLANNING.
TURS 20 HAS RECENTLY ANNOUNCED PROPOSED PLANS TO COMPLETELY RECONSTRUCT HARWIN DRIVE, WHICH IS ANOTHER HEAVILY TRAFFICKED STREET THAT NEEDS SIGNIFICANT INVESTMENT.
MY OFFICE WILL BE STAYING ENGAGED WITH TURS 20 ON GETTING PUBLIC COMMENTS AND FEEDBACK FROM RESIDENTS AND BUSINESS OWNERS.
SO THERE WILL BE A PROJECT, UH, THAT WILL BRING TRUE VALUE TO THE AREA.
AND ALSO, MY OFFICE HAS BEEN COLLABORATING WITH METRO IN REGARD TO COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT PERTAINING TO THE PROPOSED GULFTON CORRIDOR PROJECT, WHICH WILL UTILIZE BUS RAPID TRANSIT LINES TO CONNECT THE SILVER LINE DOWN POST OAK THROUGH SOUTHWEST HOUSTON.
BUT AS WITH HARWIN, WE MUST, UH, CONTINUE TO LEAN ON THE PUBLIC TO PROVIDE FEEDBACK SO THAT WE CAN KNOW WHAT YOU WOULD LIKE TO SEE HAPPEN.
THERE WILL BE A SPANISH SPEAKING MEETING TOMORROW, THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 9TH FROM 6:00 PM TO 8:00 PM AT BAKER RIPLEY SHARPSTOWN GULFTON CAMPUS, WHICH IS LOCATED AT 6,500 RANKIN STREET AND SATURDAY FROM 10:00 AM TO NOON.
AT BURNETT? NO, AT BAYLIN PARK, EXCUSE ME, 6,000 CHIMNEY ROCK ROAD.
SO THE GREAT THING ABOUT THESE PROJECTS IS THE FUNDING IS THERE.
AND SO NOW WE JUST NEED THE PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT WITH THE, UH, BINET CORRIDOR.
THAT'S FEDERAL DOLLARS WITH THE HARWIN RECONSTRUCTION, THAT'S TURS DOLLARS.
AND, UM, WITH THE METRO GULFTON CORRIDOR PROJECT, THAT MONEY WAS PASSED THROUGH TO THE, UH, LAST ELECTION WITH THE METRO NEXT BOND THAT THE VOTERS APPROVED.
SO THE FUNDING IS THERE, WE JUST NEED TO HEAR FROM THE RESIDENTS AND STAKEHOLDERS IN MY OFFICE WILL CONTINUE TO BE ENGAGED ON HOW YOU CAN DO THAT.
UH, ON LAST WEDNESDAY, I WAS JOINED BY MAGNIFICAT, MY COMMUNITY AND MY COLLEAGUES AT THE SUCCESSFUL GROUNDBREAKING CEREMONY, MARKING THE BEGINNING OF CONSTRUCTION ON ROSEMARY'S PLACE, WHICH IS 149 AFFORDABLE RENTAL APARTMENTS AND WRAPAROUND SERVICES FOR THOSE EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS IN THE MIDTOWN HOUSTON.
IT WAS A GREAT EVENT AND WELL ATTENDED ON, UM, THIS SATURDAY, THE EL DORADO SOCIAL CLUB, WHICH IS A VERY OLD CLUB.
MY MY PARENTS USED TO GO THERE, UH, TO THE EL DORADO, WHICH WAS ACTUALLY ON, UH, OFF OF EMANCIPATION AN ELGIN.
AND IT'S BEING CONSTRUCTED RIGHT NOW.
WE'LL BE HOSTING ITS 98TH ANNUAL WINTER BALL, CELEBRATING 98 YEARS OF EXCELLENCE.
THAT WILL BE FROM 7:30 PM TO 12:30 AM AT THE CHATEAU CHRISTAL 25 17 SOUTH GESNER.
AND, UH, JUST COME OUT AND JOIN THEM FOR A WONDERFUL CELEBRATION.
AND I WANNA SAY HAPPY HEAVENLY BIRTHDAY TO MY DAD, HIS BIRTHDAY, UH, COACH EDWARD B DOC EVANS OF THE MIGHTY JACKIES LIONS BIRTHDAY IS TODAY, FEBRUARY THE EIGHTH.
AND SO THAT CONCLUDES WHAT'S GOING ON IN THE DISTRICT OF DESTINATION.
UM, I WANTED TO, TO SAY, JUST BUILDING ON SOME OF THE CONVERSATION EARLIER ABOUT, YOU KNOW, HOW, UM, ILLEGAL DUMPING AND, AND HOW DO WE GET TO THE ROOT OF, OF THINGS.
PART OF THAT IS, IS, YOU KNOW, GIVING, UM, INFORMATION AND EDUCATING THE PUBLIC.
AND, AND, AND A REALLY GOOD WAY TO DO THAT IS THROUGH CHILDREN.
AND, UM, TODAY, UM, AT THE CHILDHOOD AND YOUTH COMMITTEE MEETING THAT WILL BE HAPPENING AT TWO O'CLOCK AND THESE CHAMBERS, UM, SOLID WASTE MANAGEMENT, UM, DEPARTMENT DIRECTOR, MARK WIL FALK WILL BE TALKING ABOUT, UM, A VERY INTERESTING PROJECT THAT THEY'RE DOING.
UM, IT'S A CREATIVE TRUCK ARTWORK COMPETITION, UM, THAT'S ALL ABOUT RECYCLING.
AND SO, UM, PLEASE COME LEARN MORE ABOUT THAT, ABOUT HOW THE CITY IS, IS, IS, UM, IS, UH, MAKING SURE THAT, YOU KNOW, OUR YOUNG PEOPLE UNDERSTAND HOW THE CITY WORKS AND WHAT THEIR ROLE IS IN THAT.
ALSO PRESENTING TODAY, UM, BARK WILL BE, UH, TALKING ABOUT THEIR YOUTH OUTREACH AND ENGAGEMENT EFFORTS.
UM, ALSO, I JUST WANTED TO GIVE SOME UPDATES ABOUT WHAT THIS WEEK IS COMING, YOU KNOW, UM, WE ARE NOW AT FULL SWING IN LOVE YOUR PET MONTH THIS FRIDAY, THERE WILL BE A, UM, A FREE PET FOOD PANTRY AT THE, WITH THE HOUSTON HUMANE SOCIETY AT THE
[03:25:01]
FUN DEL ANHILL ON THE NORTH FREEWAY.UM, THERE WILL BE CONTINUE TO BE FREE SPAY NEUTER SURGERIES IN EAST TEXAS, JENSEN, EVERY SUN, UH, SUNDAY, MONDAY, TUESDAY AND WEDNESDAY.
UM, APPOINTMENTS ARE REQUIRED.
UM, YOU CAN FIND OUT INFORMATION AND SIGN UP, YOU KNOW, ON THROUGH MY WEBSITE ON THE, THE DISTRICT H WEBSITE ON LOVE YOUR PET MONTH.
UM, THERE'S ALSO, UH, UH, WILL BE A, A FREE, UM, PET WELLNESS DAYS FOR DISTRICT H AT BARK EVERY SUNDAY THIS MONTH.
UM, SO IF YOU MISS THE, UH, YOUR CHANCE TO GET FREE MICROCHIPPING, IF YOU'RE A DISTRICT H RESIDENT, YOU CAN GET FREE MICROCHIPPING AT, AT BARK.
YOU MUST REGISTER AHEAD OF TIME.
I'M, I USUALLY JUST TALK ABOUT THE WEEK AHEAD, BUT I'M GONNA GO A LITTLE BIT FURTHER AHEAD BECAUSE NEXT WEEK I WON'T BE HERE.
I HAVE JURY DUTY, SO I WANTED TO MAKE SURE THAT, UM, THAT YOU ALSO KNOW THAT THERE IS AN, AN ENORMOUS, UM, EVENT TO, TO, UH, TO NEUTER MALE CATS ON FEBRUARY 15TH.
IT'S CALLED FIX FELIX FOR FREE.
IT'S SPONSORED BY THE HOUSTON HUMANE SOCIETY.
UM, ALSO, THERE'LL BE A PET FOOD PANTRY IN INDEPENDENCE HEIGHTS, A A WEEK FROM THIS FRIDAY ON ON, UM, FEBRUARY 17TH FROM NINE TO 10, THERE'LL BE A, A, UM, VACCINE CLINIC AT, UM, AT, AT IN PORT HOUSTON, ON, ON SATURDAY, UM, FEBRUARY 18TH.
AND THEN IT AGAIN REPEATS WITH THE FREE SPAY NEUTER OPPORTUNITIES IN EAST TEXAS, JENSEN, AND, AND MORE FREE MICROCHIPPING AND VACCINATION OPPORTUNITIES AT BAR.
UM, IS THERE ANY OTHER COMMENTS? OKAY, WE STAND ADJOIN FOR ADJOURN FOR THE DAY.