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WE'RE GONNA GO AHEAD AND GET STARTED.[PRESENTATIONS]
IT IS 1 35 ON TUESDAY, MARCH 21ST, 2023.I AM VICE MAYOR, PRO TEM MARTHA CASTEX TATUM, AND I'M CALLING THIS MEETING OF THE HOUSTON CITY COUNCIL TO ORDER, UH, THE CHAIR RECOGNIZES COUNCIL MEMBER PLUMMER FOR A PROCLAMATION TO THE MUSEUM OF FINE ARTS, CELEBRATING THE OPENING OF PERMANENT GALLERIES FOR ARTS FROM THE ISLAMIC WORLD COUNCIL MEMBER PLUMMER.
WHAT A DIFFERENT ENVIRONMENT,
IF I COULD HAVE, I'VE GOT AMY HERE, CAROLINE, SHAHEEN AND ZAKIA.
I'M GONNA HAVE 'EM ALL COME UP AND JUST STAND WITH ME.
UM, SO A COUPLE OF WEEKS AGO, THERE WAS THIS BEAUTIFUL FESTIVAL, UM, THAT HAPPENED AT THE MUSEUM OF FINE ARTS.
IT TOOK 16 YEARS FOR THIS, UM, EXHIBIT TO BE CREATED.
AND, UM, I HAD THE PLEASURE OF BEING ABLE TO, UM, YOU KNOW, WELCOME EVERYONE.
IT WAS AT MFA, IT WAS BEAUTIFUL.
ALL THE FOOD THAT YOU CAN IMAGINE, UM, OF THE COMMUNITY OF THE ARAB AND INDIAN, PAKISTANI, THE ROSTER, EVERY COMMUNITY WAS THERE.
AND, UM, AND SO WE HAVE THE CURATORS HERE OF THE MUSEUM.
AND SO I'M JUST, I WOULD JUST WANT, WHEN I SAW THIS AND I SAW THE CULMINATION OF CULTURE, I JUST WANTED TO MAKE SURE THAT WE ACKNOWLEDGED THEM.
SO WHERE IS, ARE YOU? OKAY, SO, MFA ART OF THE ISLAMIC WORLDS, WHEREAS THE MUSEUM OF FINE ARTS OPENED ITS NEW GALLERIES FOR ART OF THE ISLAMIC WORLD ON MARCH 5TH, 2023.
THE DEVOTED PERMANENT GALLERY SPACE NEARLY DOUBLES PREVIOUS DISPLACED SPACE FOR THE ISLAMIC ART.
HUNDREDS OF OBJECTS, EXQUISITE PAINTINGS, MANUSCRIPTS, CERAMICS, CARPETS, METAL WORK SPANNING FOR MORE THAN A THOUSAND YEARS REFLECT THE BREADTH OF HISTORIC ISLAMIC LAND, INCLUDING PRESENT DAY MOROCCO, SPAIN, TUNISIA, EGYPT, IRAN, UM, SYRIA, IRAQ, AFGHANISTAN, PAKISTAN, INDIA, AND SO MANY MORE.
WHEREAS THE OPENING OF THESE GALLERIES CULMINATES A MAJOR LONGTIME INITIATIVE AT MFA TO DEVELOP SPECIAL EXHIBITIONS, NEW SCHOLARSHIPS, SIGNATURE ACQUISITIONS, AND DYNAMIC PUBLIC PROGRAMS IN THE ISLAMIC ART CENTRAL TO THIS INITIATIVE HAS BEEN A LANDMARK OF PARTNERSHIPS THAT HAVE PLACED TWO DISTINGUISHED PRIVATE COLLECTIONS OF ART FROM THE ISLAMIC LANDS ON LONG-TERM LOAN FROM MFA, THE AL SABA COLLECTION, AND THE HOENE SHAR COLLECTION.
ADDITIONALLY, MARCH 5TH, 2023 MARKED MORE THAN 15 YEARS SINCE THE LAUNCH OF A I W'S INITIATIVE AT MFA, WHEREAS THE EFFORT WAS ESTABLISHED IN 2007 BY A PATRON GROUP, UNIQUE TO HOUSTON, PHILANTHROPISTS WITH STRONG CULTURAL HERITAGE, LINKS TO HISTORICALLY, UM, ISLAMIC LANDS WHO HAVE COMMITTED TO SUPPORTING ACQUISITIONS OF ISLAMIC ART ACROSS THE CENTURIES AND CULTURES FROM NORTH AFRICA TO CHINA, CENTRAL ASIA, SOUTH ASIA, AND SOUTH ASIA.
SINCE THE INITIATIVES START MORE THAN A DECADE OF EXHIBITIONS, ACHIEVEMENTS OF ISLAMIC ARTS TRADITIONS TO HOUSTON AND GLOBAL AUDIENCES, THE CITY OF HOUSTON COMMENDS THE MUSEUM OF FINE ARTS FOR ITS CURATED CULTURAL DISPLAYS THAT CONTINUE TO PROVIDE ENRICHMENT TO OUR CITY.
THEREFORE, I VICE MAYOR PRO TEM MARTHA CASTEX TATUM, ON BEHALF OF SYLVESTER TURNER, MAYOR OF THE CITY OF HOUSTON, DO HEREBY PROCLAIM MARCH 21ST, 2023 AS THE MUSEUM OF FINE ARTS, HOUSTON ART OF THE ISLAMIC WORLDS DAY IN HOUSTON, TEXAS.
MY NAME IS RUM, AND I'M THE CURATOR FOR ART OF THE ISLAMIC WORLDS AT THE MUSEUM OF FINE ARTS HOUSTON.
I'M CAROLINE GAER, CHAIR OF LEARNING AND INTERPRETATION AT THE MUSEUM OF FINE ARTS HOUSTON.
AND ON BEHALF OF DIRECTOR GARY TRO, THE ENTIRE MUSEUM STAFF, OUR COMMUNITY PARTNERS WHO WE'RE SO GRATEFUL ARE HERE WITH US TODAY.
UM, WE ARE JUST MOST GRATEFUL TO YOU VICE, UH, FOR COUNCIL MEMBER PLUMMER AND VICE MAYOR AND MAYOR SYLVESTER TURNER, AND EVERYONE, UH, THAT YOU ARE RECOGNIZING THIS VERY SIGNIFICANT DAY.
THIS IS TRULY A PARTNERSHIP, UM, THAT ONLY CAN HAPPEN IN HOUSTON BETWEEN THE MUSEUM AND OUR DIVERSE HOUSTON COMMUNITIES.
AND SO WE ARE JUST SO ABSOLUTELY GRATEFUL TO BE ABLE TO CELEBRATE THIS TOGETHER, AND WE'RE VERY HAPPY THAT THIS IS NO RUSE NEW BEGINNINGS OF THE CELEBRATION OF THE NEW YEAR AND SPRING, AND WE'RE VERY EXCITED FOR THE FUTURE.
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OKAY, COUNCIL MEMBER THOMAS.COUNCIL MEMBER PLUMMER, JUST WANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE BEFORE WE ALL DO YOUR PHOTOS, JUST THANKS FOR BRINGING, UM, PRESENTING THEM TO THE CITY.
I KNOW THERE WAS A TIME WHERE ISLAMIC ART PROBABLY WOULD'VE BEEN CONSIDERED NICHE AND SOMETHING TO THE SIDE, BUT AS WE KNOW, UM, SO MANY PRACTICE THIS BEAUTIFUL RELIGION, AND SO ISLAMIC ART IS MAINSTREAM ART.
AND YOU'RE RIGHT, ONLY THIS WOULD ONLY TAKE PLACE IN HOUSTON.
SO THANKS FOR KEEPING, UM, THIS COMMUNITY IN FRONT OF THE CITY, UM, FOR VERY INSTRUMENTAL THINGS.
THANK YOU, COUNCIL MEMBER CISNEROS.
UM, AND I WANT TO JUST ADD MY THANKS TOO FOR THE, UM, THE RECOGNITION OF THE, OF THE, OF THIS WONDERFUL ISLAMIC ART COLLECTION.
AND ALSO TO GIVE SPECIAL THANKS TO THE MUSEUM OF FINE ARTS, WHO, AT ANY, ANY OPPORTUNITY WILL JUMP TO SUPPORT THE COMMUNITY IN ANY WAY THEY CAN.
AND SO I'M REALLY HAPPY TO SEE YOU HERE AGAIN TODAY.
LOOK FORWARD TO YOU COMING BACK FREQUENTLY,
AND THANK YOU COUNCIL MEMBER PLUMMER.
AND ISN'T THAT IN THE DISTRICT OF DESTINATION DISTRICT? YES, IT'S DISTRICT.
AND, UH, THANK YOU SO MUCH, UH, MUSEUM OF FINE ARTS FOR EVERYTHING THAT YOU DO OUT IN THE COMMUNITY.
AS YOU STATED THAT HOUSTON'S THE MOST DIVERSE CITY IN THE NATION, IT'S SO IMPORTANT THAT EVERYONE, UH, IS ABLE TO SEE THEMSELVES IN REGARDS TO THEIR ART AND WHAT HAVE YOU, AND AT THE MUSEUM OF FINE ARTS.
AND, AND ZAP, IF, UH, YOU CAN INTRODUCE YOURSELF AND INTRO, INTRODUCE THE OTHER GUESTS, PLEASE.
OH, UM, UH, I'M HERE TODAY AS A PROUD BOARD MEMBER OF ISLAMIC ART SOCIETY, AND WITH ME IS, UH, THE PRESIDENT OF ISLAMIC ART SOCIETY, SHAHIN SHAHIN REMAN.
AND OF COURSE, OUR BOARD MEMBERS, ZAKIA ALANI, UH, ZAKIA, AS YOU ALL KNOW BY NOW, IS WIFE OF SOLEMA ALANI, THE FIRST ELECTED ESTATE REP IN AUSTIN, REPRESENTING ALL OF US.
SO WE ARE PROUD TO BE PARTNERS WITH HOUSTON, UH, MUSEUM OF FINE ARTS, AND, UH, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER PLUMMER IS ALWAYS BY OUR SIDE.
COUNCIL MEMBER PLUMMER FOR THE RECOGNITION.
I JUST WANTED, JUST ALSO TO REITERATE, CAROLINE, IF YOU CAN HELP ME, THIS EXHIBIT'S PERMANENT, RIGHT? YES, IT IS.
SO THIS IS NOT GONNA GO ANYWHERE.
THAT'S ANOTHER AMAZING PIECE OF THIS.
THIS IS NOT SOMETHING THAT'S GONNA COME AND GO.
IT'S GONNA BE IN OUR CITY FOREVER.
PRESENTED BY COUNCIL MEMBER EVAN SHABAZZ FOR A PROCLAMATION TO THE TEXAS SOUTHERN UNIVERSITY COLLEGE OF PHARMACY IN HEALTH SCIENCE, IN HONOR OF ACHIEVING A NUMBER TWO RANKING.
AND HAIL, HAIL, HAIL, TEXAS SOUTHERN.
IT'S KINDA LONG, SO I HOPE YOU ALL BROUGHT LUNCH.
SO CERTAINLY LET ME GET STARTED.
UH, COLLEGE OF PHARMACY AND HEALTH SCIENCES, WHEREAS THE CLASS OF 2022 PHARMACY PLEX LICENSURE PASSAGE RATES EARNED TEXAS SOUTHERN UNIVERSITY COLLEGE OF PHARMACY AND HEALTH SCIENCES, T-S-U-C-O-P-H-S, THE SECOND HIGHEST SCORE IN THE STATE, AND TIED FOR FIRST AMONG HBCU PHARMACY SCHOOLS IN 2022, THE ACCREDITATION COUNCIL ON PHARMACY EDUCATION REAFFIRMED THE DOCTOR OF PHARMACY ACCREDITATION THROUGH 2028, RETURNING THE COLLEGE TO A STANDARD EIGHT YEAR ACCREDITATION TERM.
AND WHEREAS THE DEPARTMENT OF PHARMACEUTICAL SCIENCES RECEIVED TSU DEPARTMENT OF THE YEAR AND THE CHAIR RECEIVED THE SCHOLARLY RESEARCH AND CREATED ACTIVITIES AWARD, T-S-U-C-O-P-H-S ESTABLISHED A MENTORSHIP PROGRAM WITH BAYLOR ST.
LUKE'S FOR A FIRST YEAR PHARM D RESPIRATORY THERAPY, AND CLS STUDENTS.
ADDITIONALLY, T-S-U-C-O-H-S PROVIDES 3.2 MILLION TWO 5 MILLION IN SCHOLARSHIP FUNDING FOR UNDERREPRESENTED MINORITY PHARMACY STUDENTS.
AND WHEREAS THEY WERE AWARDED 8.6 MILLION IN NIH GRANT FUNDING FOR A CENTER FOR BIOMEDICAL AND MINORITY HEALTH RESEARCH AND ESTABLISH INTERPROFESSIONAL RESEARCH FELLOWSHIP AND PARTNERSHIP WITH THE NUTRITIONAL SCIENCE AND DIETETICS PROGRAM FOR A PHARMACY STUDENT TO STUDY
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SLEEP MEDICINE.AND WHEREAS THE DEAN OF THE T-S-U-C-O-P-H-S SERVES AS THE A SHP RESEARCH COUNCIL, TMC LIBRARY BOARD OF DIRECTORS, A A CP, INSTITUTIONAL RESEARCH COUNCIL, AND U-T-M-B-C-T-S-A LEADERSHIP COUNCIL, T-S-U-C-O-P-H-S WOO GEEZ, FACULTY ARE ELECTED TO SERVE ON NATIONAL BOARDS, INCLUDING THE ACCREDITATION COUNCIL FOR EDUCATION ON NUTRITION AND DIETETICS ASCEND FACULTY.
WERE NAMED OUTSTANDING FACULTY BY THE AMERICAN SOCIETY OF CONSULTANT PHARMACISTS, A SCP, AND THE BOARD OF THE ACCREDITATION COUNCIL FOR EDUCATION AND NUTRITION AND DIETETICS.
ASCEND AND T-S-U-C-O-P-H-S ALUMNI WERE ELECTED A-B-C-D-E-F-G
WERE ELECTED TO SERVE AS THE PRESIDENT OF THE NATIONAL PHARMACY ASSOCIATION IN PHA AND PRESIDENT OF THE AMERICAN PHARMACIST ASSOCIATION, A PHA FOUNDATION.
AND WHEREAS T-S-U-C-O-P-H-S STUDENTS WERE SELECTED TO RECEIVE THE HONORABLE ALBERT ALBERT SCHWEITZER FELLOWSHIP TO PARTICIPATE IN THE LEAP AT LILLY ANNUAL BUSINESS COMPETITION, THE S-N-P-H-A, THIS HAS TO BE A RECORD RIGHT?
AND NUMBER THREE PRODUCER, BLACK AFRICAN AMERICAN PHARMACISTS IN THE UNITED STATES, A HUNDRED PERCENT OF STUDENTS THAT'S GREAT ENROLLED IN THE PHD PROGRAM, COMPLETE THEIR DISSERTATION WORK WITHIN FIVE YEARS OF STUDY.
AND WHERE IS THE T-S-U-C-O-P-H-S HAS BEEN NOTED AS THE FIRST ACCREDITED ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH PROGRAM IN THE STATE OF TEXAS.
THEY WERE THE FIRST AND ONLY COLLEGE IN HOUSTON TO OFFER A MASTER'S OF SCIENCE IN THE HEALTHCARE ADMINISTRATION DEGREE.
BACHELOR'S OF HEALTH ADMINISTRATION IS THE ONLY HEALTH ADMINISTRATION PROGRAM IN THE GREATER HOUSTON AREA, CERTIFIED BY THE GOLD STANDARD ASSOCIATION OF UNIVERSITY PROGRAMS IN HEALTH ADMINISTRATION, A-U-P-H-A, THE CITY OF HOUSTON COMMENDS, THE TEXAS SOUTHERN UNIVERSITY NO COMMENCES.
THE TEXAS SOUTHERN UNIVERSITY,
THEREFORE, I, MARTHA CASTEX TATUM VICE MAYOR PRO TIM ON BEHALF OF SYLVESTER TURNER, MAYOR OF THE CITY OF HOUSTON, DO HEREBY PROCLAIM MARCH 21ST, 2023 AS TEXAS SOUTHERN UNIVERSITY COLLEGE OF PHARMACY AND HEALTH SCIENCES DAY IN HOUSTON, TEXAS.
KNOW I LIVE RIGHT? COUNCIL MEMBERS, UH, WHAT A GREAT HONOR FOR ME AS THE, OKAY, WAIT, THEY'RE SPEAKING FIRST.
COUNCIL MEMBER SHABA, COUNCIL MEMBERS, WHAT A GREAT HONOR FOR ME AS THE DEAN OF COLLEGE OF PHARMACY, HEALTH SCIENCE, THE TSU, TO RECEIVE THIS PROCLAMATION.
YOU ALL THE SUCCESS AND PRESENT SUCCESS WE'VE HAD OVER THE PAST FOUR YEARS IS BECAUSE OF THE FOLKS BEHIND ME, AMAZING STUDENTS, FACULTY, STAFF, ENGAGED ALUMNI, DEANS, UH, ADVISORY COUNCIL MEMBERS, OFFICE OF THE PROVOST, AND OF COURSE OUR OFFICE OF PRESIDENT.
SO THANK YOU SO MUCH AND THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT.
UH, COUNCIL MEMBER SHABA, UM, I WANT TO THANK ALL OF YOU FOR GETTING AN EDUCATION AND BEING INVOLVED IN HEALTHCARE WHEN YOU HAVE A LITTLE CHILD WITH A STREP THROAT OR WITH SOMETHING WRONG WITH HIM.
AND ESPECIALLY WHEN IT'S YOUR GRANDSON AND, AND YOU CAN'T FIND ANYBODY, YOU KNOW, AND THEN ALL OF A SUDDEN YOU GET HELP AND THEN THEY GIVE YOU A PRESCRIPTION AND ALL THE PHARMACIES, EXCEPT FOR ABOUT THREE OR FOUR ARE CLOSED.
BY THE TIME YOU'RE ABLE TO ASCERTAIN ALL THIS, I WANT YOU TO KNOW THAT YOU, PHARMACISTS WORK MIRACLES WITH YOUR HANDS, PUTTING THINGS TOGETHER FOR US.
AND I HAVE A, UH, A NIECE THAT'S A DOCTOR OF PHARMACOLOGY AND, AND SHE RUNS, UH, COMPOUNDING LABS AND, AND SHE BILLS THE DRUGS FOR FOLKS THAT, THAT HAVE CANCER.
AND, AND I JUST, I, I'M SO THANKFUL FOR YOU AND,
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AND YOU MAY NOT GET THAT THANKS.WHEN PEOPLE COME TO THE PHARMACY AND THEY'RE UPSET, BUT I'VE LEARNED THAT I'M GONNA TREAT A PHARMACIST AND, AND, AND THE STAFF WITH GREAT LOVE AND APPRECIATION JUST AS I WOULD SOMEBODY TRYING TO SERVE ME MEALS, BECAUSE I WANNA MAKE SURE IT'S DONE RIGHT.
AND I WANNA LET THEM KNOW HOW MUCH I APPRECIATE IT.
AND I DON'T KNOW IF YOU CAN TELL IN MY TONE, BUT I'M GREATLY APPRECIATIVE OF YOU.
COUNCIL MEMBER PLUMMER, THANK YOU SO MUCH, COUNCIL MEMBER SHABBAT, FOR BRINGING THIS FORWARD.
IT'S AMAZING AND CONGRATULATIONS TO ALL OF YOU.
UH, AND I'LL SAY THIS FROM SOMEONE FROM THE MEDICAL FIELD, AS WE SEE, YOU KNOW, BLACK AND BROWN COMMUNITIES HAVE MORE COMORBIDITIES THAN ANYONE ELSE.
AND SO SEEING A PHARMACIST BACK THERE, PHARMACIST BACK THERE, HAS A PRESCRIPTION FOR A PATIENT THAT THEY RECOGNIZE, THAT THEY CAN SHARE PERSONAL INSIGHT WITH AND REALLY EXPLAIN TO THEM THE, THE, THE, UM, THE ISSUES THAT THEY MAY BE DEALING WITH PERSONALLY IS REALLY IMPORTANT.
AND, AND YOU'RE TRUSTED, YOU'RE TRUSTED PARTNERS IN THE HEALTHCARE FIELD.
UM, YOU KNOW, IT'S JUST, IT'S TOUGH BEING A DOCTOR IN GENERAL.
AND TSSU HAS OFFERED AN OPPORTUNITY THAT'S REALLY INSURMOUNTABLE IN STATE OF, IN STATE OF TEXAS AND THE NATION.
LEMME I I JUST WANNA SAY IN CLOSING, OF COURSE, A COUPLE OF WEEKS AGO AGO, WE HAD THE FABULOUS EVENT, THE TEXAS SOUTHERN UNIVERSITY AT THE CHAMBER IN THE CITY HALL CHAMBERS.
BUT I WANNA SAY THAT I DON'T KNOW ABOUT YOU ALL, BUT ON MANY OCCASIONS I HAVE GONE TO THE PHARMACY AND TALKED ABOUT MY SYMPTOMS, AND THEY WERE ABLE TO TELL ME WHAT I NEEDED TO DO, PROBABLY BETTER AND FOR FREE.
AND, AND, AND THEN YOU GO GET SOMETHING OFF THE SHELF AND THEN YOU'RE CURED.
AND SO THEY ARE JUST PHENOMENAL.
AND I WANNA THANK EACH AND EVERY ONE OF YOU.
COUNCIL MEMBER THOMAS FOR A PROCLAMATION TO THE RED CROSS AND CELEBRATION OF BLOOD AND PLATELET DONORS.
YOU GOOD TO SEE YOU? YEAH, I SEE.
I'LL PAY TO THE LITTLE, HOW ARE YOU? GOOD.
LIKE THAT BIG RED CROSS YOU GOT ON.
I KNOW THEY DREW A CROWD, VICE MAYOR AND COUNCIL COLLEAGUES.
UM, I AM GRATEFUL FOR THIS OPPORTUNITY TO PRESENT TO YOU, UH, THE RED CROSS OF HOUSTON.
AND, UM, WE KNOW THAT EVERY TIME THE CITY OF HOUSTON HAS EXPERIENCED A DISASTER, WE COULD ALWAYS COUNT ON OUR PARTNERS DOWN ON 59 TO RESPOND IN VARIOUS WAYS, AND NOT JUST IN HOUSTON, BUT THROUGHOUT THE REGION.
SO I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR THAT.
IN TIMES OF CRISIS, THE RED CROSS HOUSTON CHAPTER COMES TOGETHER TO CARE FOR ONE ANOTHER.
THIS HUMANITARIAN SPIRIT IS PART OF THE FOUNDATION OF OUR COMMUNITY AND IS EXEMPLIFIED BY THE AMERICAN RED CROSS VOLUNTEERS AND OUR DONORS.
IN 1881, CLARA BARTON FOUNDED THE AMERICAN RED CROSS, TURNING HER STEADFAST DEDICATION FOR HELPING OTHERS INTO A BOLD MISSION OF PREVENTING AND ALL ALLEVIATING
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PEOPLE SUFFERING.TODAY MORE THAN 140 YEARS LATER, WE HONOR THE KINDNESS AND GENEROSITY OF THE RED CROSS VOLUNTEERS HERE IN HOUSTON WHO CONTINUE TO CARRY OUT CLARA'S LIFESAVING LEGACY.
THEY JOIN THE MILLIONS OF PEOPLE ACROSS THE UNITED STATES WHO VOLUNTEER, GIVE BLOOD, DONATE FINANCIALLY, OR LEARN VITAL LIFE PRESERVING SKILLS THROUGH THE RED CROSS IN HOUSTON, THE CONTRIBUTION OF LOCAL RED CROSS VOLUNTEERS GIVE HOPE TO THE MOST VULNERABLE IN THEIR DARKEST HOURS, PROVIDING EMERGENCY SHELTER FOOD AT COMFORT FOR FAMILIES, DEVASTATED BY LOCAL DISASTERS LIKE HOME FIRES, HURRICANE TROPICAL STORMS AND MORE.
THEY'RE ON THE FOREFRONT OF BLOOD DONATION FOR ACCIDENT AND BURN VICTIMS HEART SURGERY AND ORGAN TRANSPLANT PATIENTS, AND THOSE RECEIVING TREATMENTS FOR LEUKEMIA, CANCER, OR SICKLE CELL DISEASE.
RED CROSS PROVIDES A SUPPORT SERVICE FOR MEMBERS AND VETERANS, ALONG WITH THEIR FAMILIES, THEIR CAREGIVERS, THROUGH THE UNIQUE CHALLENGES OF MILITARY LIFE.
THE RED CROSS ALSO HELPS TO SAVE THE LIVES OF OTHERS WITH FIRST AID CPR AND OTHER SKILLS, THE WORK CONTINUES TO PREVENT AND ALLEVIATE HUMAN SUFFERING IS VITAL TO STRENGTHENING OUR COMMUNITY'S RESILIENCE.
WE DEDICATE THIS MONTH OF MARCH TO ALL OF THOSE WHO CONTINUE TO ADVANCE THE NOBLE LEGACY OF AMERICAN RED CROSS FOUNDER CLARA BARTON, WHO LIVED BY HER WORDS.
YOU MUST NEVER THINK OF ANYTHING EXCEPT THE NEED AND HOW TO MEET IT.
YOU MUST NEVER THINK OF ANYTHING EXCEPT THE NEED AND HOW TO MEET IT.
WE ASK OTHERS TO JOIN IN THIS COMMITMENT TO GIVE BACK TO THEIR COMMUNITY.
THE CITY OF HOUSTON COMMENDS, THE RED CROSS HOUSTON CHAPTER FOR THEIR UNWAVERING SUPPORT, CARE AND CONCERN FOR THOSE IN NEED.
VICE MAYOR, THEREFORE, I, MARTHA CASTEX TATUM, THE VICE MAYOR PRO TEM OF THE CITY OF HOUSTON, ON BEHALF OF SYLVESTER TURNER, MAYOR OF THE CITY OF HOUSTON, HEREBY PROCLAIM MARCH 21ST, 2023 AS RED CROSS HOUSTON MONTH IN THE CITY OF HOUSTON, TEXAS.
AND, AND I SEE, I SEE COUNCIL MEMBER THOMAS, THAT YOU'RE DRESSED APPROPRIATELY, DRESSED APPROPRIATELY.
AND I'LL TELL YOU, WHEN I WAS IN COLLEGE, UM, THEY WERE GIVEN OUT FREE SHIRTS AND SNACKS.
AND SO WHEN YOU'RE A COLLEGE STUDENT, YOU JUST, YOU GO GET THE FREE SHIRTS AND SNACKS AND THERE WAS A, A DONATION, UH, UH, SET UP ON CAMPUS.
AND THAT WAS THE FIRST TIME I LEARNED OF MY BLOOD TYPE.
AND I REMEMBER THEY GAVE US THE CARDS BECAUSE OF, UM, UM, WHAT THEY WERE DOING IN HUNTSVILLE AFTER A DISASTER.
SO, UM, Y'ALL HAVE A SPECIAL PLACE IN, IN, IN MY HEART AS WELL, BUT WE HAVE SOME REMARKS FROM OUR, UH, LEADERSHIP.
THANK YOU, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER THOMAS, AND VICE MAYOR.
UH, I JUST WANT TO TAKE A MOMENT.
I'M THE CEO OF THE, UH, UH, AMERICAN RED CROSS, TEXAS GULF COAST REGION.
UH, WE COVER 51 COUNTIES ALONG OUR TEXAS GULF COAST.
SO IT'S A PRETTY BIG GEOGRAPHY THAT WE'RE TRYING TO MEET NEEDS EVERY DAY.
AND HERE IN HOUSTON, WE'VE BEEN SERVING THE HOUSTON AREA SINCE 1916.
AND WE'RE ON THE FRONT LINES EVERY DAY OF DISASTER.
WE HAVE A LOT OF SINGLE AND MULTIFAMILY FIRES HERE.
AND WHEN YOUR FIRE DEPARTMENT IS OUT TO, UH, MEET WITH THOSE RESIDENTS, UH, RED CROSS IS RIGHT, UH, BEHIND THEM, THEY'RE CALLING US AND OUR FOLKS ARE ON THE FRONT LINES.
I WANT TO THANK THE SUPPORT OF THE CITY COUNCIL AND THE CITY OF HOUSTON.
WE JUST HAD, UH, TORNADOES THAT WENT THROUGH OUR AREA BACK IN JANUARY.
AND THE, UH, WORK, UH, WITH THE COUNCIL MEMBERS, UH, SHABAZZ'S OFFICE, UH, AS WELL AS SOME OF OUR OTHER ELECTED OFFICIALS WAS JUST, UH, FANTASTIC.
THE PARTNERSHIP THAT WE HAD WITH THE CITY, AND WE'RE TAKING CARE OF THOSE MEMBERS.
AND THE, UH, THOSE RESIDENTS IN THE BEAMER PARK APARTMENTS, UH, WE'LL BE GETTING WITH COUNCIL MEMBER SHABAZZ'S OFFICE TO LET THEM KNOW THAT, UH, WE'VE GOT ANOTHER ROUND OF ASSISTANCE THAT'S COMING TO THOSE FOLKS.
COUNCIL MEMBER CAYMAN, HOLD ON.
AND COUNCIL MEMBER THOMAS, THANK YOU FOR BRINGING THIS PROCLAMATION.
UM, I, I DON'T THINK THERE'S ANYONE AROUND THIS HORSESHOE THAT HAS NOT BEEN EITHER PERSONALLY HELPED OR INVOLVED WITH HELPING OTHERS THROUGH YOU.
UH, YOU TOUCHED ON SOME OF IT, RIGHT? WHETHER IT'S SWIMMING CERTIFICATION, I REMEMBER GETTING THAT CERTIFICATION CARD AT CAMP
UM, YOU ALL HAVE HELPED FACILITATING, INCLUDING BEING THE HOME FOR A LOT OF THOSE, UH, NOT JUST MEETINGS, BUT DRILLS, RIGHT.
AND I'M, I'M SO PROUD Y'ALL'S BRICK AND MORTAR IS IN DISTRICT C.
I GOTTA GIVE THAT SHOUT OUT,
UH, BUT AGAIN, IT'S NOT JUST THE STAFF OF THE RED CROSS WHO IS ALWAYS GIVING, IT'S ALL OF THE VOLUNTEERS.
[00:25:01]
FROM THE CITY OUR HEARTFELT APPRECIATION FOR ALL THAT YOU DO AND ALL OF THE WAYS THAT YOU DO IT.UM, BECAUSE YOU KNOW, MR. BLAKE, WE COULDN'T DO IT WITHOUT YOU.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR WHAT YOU DID AFTER HURRICANE HARVEY.
UH, THE REPORT INITIALLY SHOWED THAT THAT A $405 MILLION WAS GIVEN TO THE RED CROSS, UH, TO HELP PEOPLE IN HOUSTON.
WHEN I WOULD GO OUT INTO THE COMMUNITIES, THIS IS THE ORGANIZATION, THE RED CROSS, THAT ACTUALLY PUT CASH IN THEIR HANDS.
UH, EACH PERSON TOLD ME THEY GOT A $400 CHECK FROM, FROM THE RED CROSS TO HELP THEM THANK YOU FOR BUYING DIAPERS AND FORMULA AND MILK AND EVERYTHING THAT PEOPLE REALLY NEEDED FOR THEIR BASIC NECESSITIES.
AND IT CAME THROUGH THE RED CROSS.
I WOULD'VE WISHED THAT ALL THE OTHER, UH, ORGANIZATIONS WOULD'VE DONE THE SAME THING THAT YOU DONE.
COUNCILMAN, UM, GIRL THOMAS THOMAS
THANK YOU SUCH FOR BRINGING THIS FORWARD.
UH, I, I WANNA JUST THANK YOU PERSONALLY FOR, UM, WE HAD AN APARTMENT FIRE THAT HAPPENED ABOUT A MONTH AND A HALF AGO, AND YOU CAME IN AND YOU HELPED US REHOUSE ABOUT SEVEN MEMBERS, UM, IN THAT APARTMENT COMPLEX.
AND, AND SO WHEN OTHER PEOPLE DIDN'T STEP IN, YOU DID SO.
I MEAN, AND FOR ALL THE OTHER THOUSANDS AND THOUSANDS OF THINGS THAT THE RED CROSS DOES, UM, AND, YOU KNOW, AND ALSO THANK YOU FOR MAKING IT EASIER FOR PEOPLE TO BE A VOLUNTEER, THE TRAINING AND THE ONLINE SERVICE THAT YOU, THAT YOU ALLOW US TO BE INVOLVED IN HELPING OTHER PEOPLE WHEN WE DON'T KNOW HOW TO HELP.
SO THANKS FOR EVERYTHING THAT YOU DO, AND THANK YOU COUNCIL MEMBER THOMAS, FOR PUTTING THIS FORWARD.
I DO WANT TO INTRODUCE MY, UH, CHAIR OF OUR BOARD, UH, STEVE BROWN.
STEVE, DID YOU WANT TO SAY ANYTHING? YOU'RE FINE.
LIKE THE RESIDENTS ARE ACTUALLY COME NEXT WEEK CLEARANCE HERE, BUT IT'S A NIGHTMARE.
[2:00 P.M. – INVOCATION AND PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE]
NOW RECOGNIZES COUNCIL MEMBER EVANS SHABAZZ FOR THE INVOCATION.UH, IF, UH, BISHOP AL HICKMAN SENIOR WOULD STEP FORWARD.
UH, BISHOP AAL AL HICKMAN, SR.
FIRST OF ALL, HE'S A LONGTIME FRIEND, IS A NATIVE OF THIRD WARD ON DIVINE ASSIGNMENT TO SOUTH PARK TEXAS.
UH, HE'S ACTUALLY
AND, UH, BISHOP HICKMAN ATTENDED THE UNIVERSITY OF HOUSTON IN THE FALL, ALONG WITH THE CURRENT MAYOR OF THIS GREAT CITY OF HOUSTON.
AND, UH, HE HAS MATRICULATED AT SEVERAL, UH, UNIVERSITIES.
ONE OF COURSE BEING THE UNIVERSITY OF HOUSTON, WHERE HE GOT A DEGREE IN ECONOMICS IN 1980.
UH, HE ATTENDED THE THEOLOGY AT UNION INTERDENOMINATIONAL SCHOOL OF THEOLOGY, UH, SOUTHERN METHODIST UNIVERSITY, UNIVERSITY OF ST.
AND, UH, WHEN HE GRADUATED FROM THE UNIVERSITY OF HOUSTON, HE WENT ON TO BE A STORE MANAGER FOR WALGREENS.
UH, HE SERVED AS AN EDUCATOR IN THE HOUSTON INDEPENDENT SCHOOL DISTRICT FOR 21 YEARS.
AND HE WAS CALLED TO THE GOSPEL AND HAS SERVED FAITHFULLY FOR SOME 46 YEARS.
UM, HE WAS ELEVATED TO THE OFFICE OF BISHOP ON JUNE THE 24TH, WHICH IRONICALLY WAS MY MOTHER'S, WOULD'VE BEEN MY MOTHER'S BIRTHDAY IN 2023.
AND CONSECRATED A BISHOP IN THE FAMILY LIFE.
INTERNATIONAL FELLOWSHIP COMMUNION BY ARCHBISHOP DI UH, STERLING LANDS, THE SECOND OF AUSTIN, TEXAS.
BISHOP HICKMAN IS MARRIED TO CYNTHIA R BLAZO HICKMAN.
AND THEY ARE THE PARENTS OF ARIS LORD HICKMAN JR.
AND CHELSEA CHRISTIAN HICKMAN.
AND THEY HAVE 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 WONDERFUL GRANDKIDS.
AND I PRESENT TO YOU A WONDERFUL FRIEND.
AND I'M TELLING YOU, IF HE'S NOT PREACHING THE GOSPEL, HE COULD HAVE BEEN A COMEDIAN.
BUT, UH, WE HAVE BISHOP A L HICKMAN SR.
[00:30:01]
LADY SHABAZZ, I'VE BEEN CALLED TO DO THE INVOCATION, SO I'M GONNA FOLLOW INSTRUCTIONS, SHALL WE, SHALL WE PRAY? GRACIOUS GOD, OUR FATHERS ONCE MORE AGAIN, THAT WE COME BEFORE YOU WITH THANKSGIVING AND OUR HEARTS.AND LORD, WE THANK YOU FOR THIS DAY, FOR THIS IS A DAY THAT YOU HAVE MADE, AND WE HAVE LEARNED TO REJOICE AND BE GLAD IN IT.
THANK YOU FOR THIS COUNCIL THAT HAS GATHERED TO DO THE PEOPLE'S BUSINESS.
AND OH GOD, WE PRAY THAT THOU WOULD ALWAYS GIVE THEM WISDOM AND COURAGE AND STRENGTH, OH GOD, TO CARRY OUT THEIR CALLING AS IS SET FORTH AND THOSE WHO HAVE ELECTED THEM TO THEIR CEASE OF OFFICE.
LORD, WE PRAY FOR THIS GREAT CITY.
WE PRAY FOR THIS MAYOR, WE PRAY FOR THIS COUNCIL THAT YOU WILL CROWN THEIR HEADS WITH WISDOM AND KNOWLEDGE.
WELL, GOD, THAT YOU'LL GUIDE THEM THROUGH ALL OBSTACLES, AND THAT YOU WILL CAUSE THEIR EFFORTS TO PRODUCE FRUITS OF RIGHTEOUSNESS.
AND LORD, HOW WE JUST THANK YOU FOR YOUR ABUNDANCE OF GRACE, FOR THE GREAT WORK THAT SHALL BE MANIFESTED AND HAS BEEN MANIFESTED.
NOW, LORD, AGAIN, BLESS THE MAYOR, BLESS THIS COUNCIL.
AND OH GOD, REMEMBER THEIR FAMILIES ALSO REMEMBER THEIR LOVED ONES AND THEIR NEIGHBORS AND CALLS, OH GOD, GOD, YOUR FACE TO LIVE UPON THEM AND BE GRACIOUS UNDER THEM AND LIFT UP YOUR COUNTESS UPON THEM AND GIVE THEM THE ABUNDANCE OF PEACE.
IF YOU'LL STAND FOR THE PLEDGE, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA TO THE REPUBLIC FOR WHICH IT STANDS, NATION UNDER GOD, INDIVISIBLE WITH LIBERTY.
[ROLL CALL AND ADOPT THE MINUTES OF THE PREVIOUS MEETING]
MOVE NEXT TO THE ROLL.CALL COUNCIL MEMBERS IF YOU'RE PREPARED TO ANSWER THE ROLE.
MADAM SECRETARY, IF YOU WOULD PLEASE CALL THE ROLE MAYOR TURNER WILL BE ABSENT.
COUNCIL BARDEN WILL BE ABSENT.
COUNCIL MEMBER THOMAS PRESENT.
WE HAVE A NUMBER OF MINUTES TO ADOPT.
WE HAVE, WE NEED A MOTION TO ADOPT THE MINUTES OF DECEMBER 6TH AND SEVENTH.
MOVE TO, UH, ADOPT THE AFOREMENTIONED MINUTES, ROBINSON KUBA.
IT'S BEEN MOVED IN SECOND IF, AND THIRD, IF THERE'S NO DISCUSSION, NO DISCUSSION.
UH, WE DO HAVE COUNCIL MEMBER CAYMAN IN THE QUEUE FOR A POINT OF PERSONAL PRIVILEGE TO RECOGNIZE A STUDENT GROUP.
THANK YOU SO MUCH, COLLEAGUES.
IT'S MY PLEASURE TO INTRODUCE IF Y'ALL WILL STAND UP SOME OF OUR NINTH AND 10TH GRADERS FROM POST OAK MONTESSORI HIGH SCHOOL.
SO I THINK I HAVE EVERYONE, LULU, IAN, MATT, BERNARDO AND ALI AND MS. HARRISON'S CLASS.
MS. HARRISON I THINK IS STILL, GO AHEAD.
UM, THEY ARE ON A TWO WEEK SPECIAL SEGMENT FOCUSED ON CIVICS AND ALL THE DIFFERENT STUDENTS, I THINK GOT TO SIGN UP FOR DIFFERENT TOPICS.
SO THESE ARE THE STUDENTS THAT SAID, SIGN ME UP FOR CIVICS.
AND SO WE HAD A GREAT CONVERSATION TODAY AND THEY'RE GONNA BE LEARNING ALL ABOUT DIFFERENT LEVELS OF GOVERNMENT.
THANK YOU SO MUCH, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER CAYMAN FOR BRINGING THEM AND WELCOME TO YOUR CITY HALL.
AND IF YOU HAVE ANY ADDITIONAL QUESTIONS, THERE ARE LOTS OF COUNCIL MEMBERS THAT YOU CAN LEARN A LOT ABOUT CIVICS FROM ON TODAY.
UH, WE'LL NOW MOVE TO OUR, ARE THERE ANY PROCEDURAL MOTIONS? UH, COUNCIL MEMBER GALLEGOS? YES.
I MOVE TO SUSPEND THE RULES, UH, TO MOVE OLGA VIEGAS AND BLANCA GARCIA TO THE TOP OF THE THREE MINUTE NON-AG AGENDA LIST.
ANY DISCUSSION? ANY DISCUSSION? IF NO DISCUSSION? ITEM PASSES.
I'D LIKE TO MOVE TO SUSPEND THE RULES AND MOVE, UH, MS. DANNY U UP TO NUMBER THREE ON THE, UH, AGENDA.
ANY DISCUSSION IF NO DISCUSSION? NO DISCUSSION.
[PUBLIC SPEAKERS]
SECRETARY, IF YOU'LL PLEASE CALL THE FIRST SPEAKER.[00:35:01]
SPEAKER.IS HE HERE? HE HAD HIS SIR, DID YOU HAVE YOUR HAND UP? ARE YOU CHUNG? LI GO.
MR. OLGA IS HERE TO BE FOLLOWED BY BLANCA GARCIA.
MS. MS. OGLE, WE CAN HAVE ONE PERSON AT THE PODIUM AT A TIME.
ARE YOU AN INTERPRETER? ARE YOU GONNA TRANSLATOR? SHE'S, SHE'S, SHE'S THE TRANSLATOR.
MY NAME IS VIEGA AND I AM HERE.
I WAS TERMINATED MARCH THE THIRD FROM THE COMPANY, KAREN.
THEY JUST CALLED ME AND TOLD ME THAT I HAVE NO MORE.
LIKE, THEY NO LONGER NEEDED HER, BUT I DON'T THINK IT WAS THAT REASON BECAUSE I'M A, A BARGAINING MEMBER.
AND WHEN THEY CONTRACTED THE COMPANY, THEY STATED THAT THEY WERE GONNA HONOR OUR BENEFITS AND OUR SENIORITY, WHICH, UH, THEY SAID THEY WERE GONNA RESPECT IT AND THEY HAVEN'T.
ON MY DAY OFF, I WENT TO THE GEORGIA BROWN TO GO TALK TO MY COWORKERS.
AND THAT DAY ON THE EVENING, THEY CALLED ME THAT I HAVE NO MORE WORK.
AND BECAUSE THEY'RE NOT HONORING OUR BENEFITS, THE ONLY THINGS THEY'VE GIVEN US IS, UH, FIVE PTOS BECAUSE THEY DON'T WANNA HONOR THE, UH, UNION.
AND IT WAS EASY FOR THEM TO TERMINATE ME BECAUSE I'M A BARGAINING MEMBER.
I NEED MY JOB BECAUSE I'M A, I'M SINGLE AND I SUPPORT MYSELF FROM MY JOB.
AND THEY DON'T WANNA GIVE US, UH, PTOS.
THEY DON'T WANNA GIVE US, UH, HOLIDAYS.
AND I WOULD LIKE FOR WHOEVER WHO CONTRACTED THE COMPANY FOR Y'ALL TO TALK TO THEM AND LET THEM KNOW THAT, UH, TO, UH, FOR ME TO RETURN TO MY JOB.
AND I WOULD LIKE, UH, FOR YOU TO HELP.
SO THEY WON'T TAKE ALL OF THIS AWAY.
WE DO HAVE A COUPLE OF COUNCIL MEMBERS THAT HAVE, UH, COMMENTS IN THE QUEUE.
COUNCIL MEMBER CAYMAN, I'LL DEFER TO COUNCIL MEMBER GALLEGOS FIRST IF HE WANTS TO GO.
HOW MANY INDIVIDUALS LOST THEIR JOB? FOUR OF US WHO HAVE BEEN, UH, NEGOTIATING THE CONTRACT.
UH, I'M, UH, SHE, WE HAD A VIRTUAL MEETING, UH, NOT TOO LONG AGO.
SHE MENTIONED TO ME THE, THE BENEFITS THAT THEY WERE NO LONGER RECEIVING.
SO SHE'S EXPLAINING WHAT BENEFITS SHE'S NO LONGER RECEIVING FIVE DAYS OF PTO
[00:40:04]
ONE WEEK OFF HOLIDAY.WE HAVE PAID HOLIDAYS, BIRTHDAYS, FIVE DAYS OF BEREAVEMENT DAY AND HONORING OUR SENIORITY.
BUT THEY DIDN'T WANT IT TO, THEY WANTED IT TO GET, SORRY, I HAVE TO TRANSLATE.
AND SHE ALSO SAID THAT SHE WAS TOLD THAT, UH, THEY'RE NOT HONORING OLDER, ELDERLY, UH, EMPLOYEES AND THEY BRING IN FOR, IF THEY, UH, TERMINATE ONE EMPLOYEE LIKE ELDERLY, THEY BRING THREE NEW ONES INTO WORK.
UH, AT THE LAST, UH, HOUSTON FIRST BOARD MEETING, UH, YEAH, AT THE LAST HOUSTON FIRST BOARD MEETING, SEIU WAS THERE TO SPEAK.
UH, AND THE OWNER OF THE CONTRACTOR WAS THERE AS WELL.
UH, AND HE WAS ASSURING EVERYONE AT THE HOUSTON FIRST BOARD MEETING THAT EVERYTHING WAS FINE, THAT HE'S LISTENING TO HIS EMPLOYEES, UH, WHI WHICH, YOU KNOW, I, I, I HAD QUESTIONS ABOUT THAT.
UH, AND I UNDERSTAND THAT THE, UH, THE FIRING OF THESE FOUR EMPLOYEES HAPPENED AFTERWARDS.
UH, AGAIN, LIKE, UM, OLGA HAS STATED THAT HER AND THE OTHER THREE HAVE BEEN VOCAL, HAVE BEEN VOCAL SPEAKING UP, THAT THEIR BENEFITS HAVE BEEN TAKEN AWAY.
AND THIS WAS NEGOTIATED, OF COURSE, WITH HOUSTON FIRST.
AND HOUSTON FIRST IS LOOKING INTO THIS.
THEY'RE SUPPOSED TO BE REPORTING BACK AT THIS BOARD MEETING THIS, UH, THURSDAY THIS WEEK.
UH, SO I'M, UH, WAITING TO HEAR WHAT HOUSTON FIRST HAS FOUND OUT.
UH, BUT THIS IS NOT ACCEPTABLE.
WHEN, WHEN SOMEONE IS TRYING TO MAKE A BETTER LIFE FOR THEMSELVES AND THEY'RE ALREADY WORKING AT A LOW WAGE, THEY'RE ALREADY GETTING NOT THAT GREAT OF A BENEFITS TO BEGIN WITH.
AND BECAUSE SHE HAD THE NERVE AND THE, THE, THE, THE COURAGE TO SPEAK UP AND SAY, THIS IS NOT RIGHT, AND HER AND THREE OF HER COWORKERS HAVE TO LOSE THEIR JOBS.
AND I'M HOPING HOUSTON FIRST, I'M HOPING HOUSTON FIRST WILL COME BACK AND, AND, AND REPORT THIS, UH, YOU KNOW, ON, ON THURSDAY.
UH, AND SEE THE CARING COMPANY THAT WON THE CONTRACT, THAT WON THE CONTRACT AND SAID THAT THEY WOULD PROVIDE THESE BENEFITS.
THEY WOULD TAKE CARE OF THESE EMPLOYEES, AND NOW HAVE COME BACK AND ARE LETTING FOUR OF THESE EMPLOYEES GO WITHOUT ANY REALLY NOTICE OTHER THAN THEY JUST SPOKE UP.
THEY HAD THE COURAGE TO SPEAK UP FOR THEMSELVES AND FOR THEIR COWORKERS.
AND HOUSTON FIRST, AGAIN, IS LOOKING INTO THIS, AND I'M EXPECTING, AND, AND, AND WAITING TO HEAR WHAT THE RESULTS ARE COMING THURSDAY AS TO WHAT THEY HAVE FOUND OUT ON THIS, BECAUSE THIS IS NOT RIGHT.
COUNCIL MEMBER GALLEGOS, UH, WE'LL MOVE TO COUNCIL MEMBER CAYMAN.
UH, FIRST I WANNA, COUNCIL MEMBER GALLEGOS, THANK YOU FOR THAT UPDATE.
AND IF I WOULD ASK, ONE OF MY QUESTIONS WAS GOING TO BE, IF WE CAN GET AN UPDATE FROM HOUSTON FIRST.
SO AT THAT BOARD MEETING, IF YOU COULD PLEASE KEEP US IN THE LOOP AND CONVEY, 'CAUSE THIS IS VERY CONCERNING.
I WANTED TO THANK YOU FOR YOUR COURAGE.
UH, IT IS NOT EASY TO COME BEFORE US AND TALK ABOUT WHAT HAPPENED, LET ALONE, UH, FIGHT FOR NOT JUST YOURSELF AND YOUR FAMILY, BUT ALL, UM, YOUR COLLEAGUES AND EMPLOYEES THAT WORK WITH YOU.
HOW LONG HAD YOU BEEN WORKING AT THE GEORGE R. BROWN? FOUR YEARS.
SO YOU MADE IT THROUGH THE PANDEMIC AND EVERYTHING THAT YOU HAD TO GO THROUGH? WELL, AGAIN, I WANNA THANK YOU.
UM, A LOT OF THE QUESTIONS I HAD FOR YOU WERE ALREADY ASKED, BUT, UH, I KNOW YOU HAVE SOME CO, SOME COLLEAGUES SUPPORTING YOU, YOU TODAY.
AND I WANTED TO ALSO THANK SCIU, UH, FOR MAKING SURE YOU HAVE A VOICE.
AND WE WILL LOOK INTO THIS IN EVERYTHING THAT WE CAN, UH, TO DO THAT.
BUT AGAIN, AS, AS MY COLLEAGUE SAID, ASKING FOR FIVE DAYS OF PTO FOR AS HARD AS YOU WORK, UM, YOU SHOULD BE ASKING FOR MORE.
AND THANK YOU FOR EVERYTHING YOU DO FOR THE CITY.
[00:45:01]
THANK YOU.UM, BEFORE SHE GOES, AND I DON'T KNOW IF THIS IS A-S-E-I-U QUESTION OR COUNCIL MEMBER GALLEGOS, YOU CAN CHIME IN.
WHAT WAS THE AGREEMENT OR WHAT WAS THE, UM, CONTRACT AGREEMENT THAT THE INCOMING FIRM SAID THAT THEY WOULD AGREE TO, THAT THEY'RE NOW CHANGING? DO YOU HAVE THAT INFORMATION? BECAUSE WHAT I, THE WAY I UNDERSTOOD IT IS THAT THEY MINIMIZED THE PTO TO FIVE DAYS.
SO THERE PROBABLY WAS A CONTRACT THAT PROBABLY HAD TWO WEEKS.
AND SECOND, ANY DISCUSSION? ANY DISCUSSION IF NO DISCUSSION ITEM PASSES.
SO IT IS MY UNDERSTANDING THAT WHEN HOUSTON FIRST HAD THEIR, UM, ACTUALLY THEIR MEETING ONCE THEY VOTED, AND MR. GALLEGOS IS PRESENT HERE, THAT, UM, THEY VOTED AND THEY ALSO SAID THAT CARING COMPANY WAS GOING TO HONOR THE MIDWEST EMPLOYEES, WHATEVER CONTRACTS THEY HAD PREVIOUSLY WITH SEIU TEXAS, THAT THEY WOULD GO AHEAD AND THE NEW COMPANY WAS GOING TO HONOR THEM AS WELL.
AND WHAT WAS THE, WHAT ARE THE BENEFITS THOUGH? VACATION DATES, HOLIDAY PAY, VACATION DAY, 14 DAYS, VACATION DAY.
IT VARIES FROM, FROM ONE YEAR TO FOUR YEARS IS ONE WEEK.
AND ALSO, UH, SIX DAY HOLIDAYS.
NOT ONLY THAT, BUT ALSO BEREAVEMENT DAYS, FIVE DAYS, IT ALSO INCLUDE THAT.
AND ALSO PTO TIME, FIVE DAYS OF PTO TIME, WHICH PTO STANDS FOR.
ANYTHING THAT COULD BE PERSONAL TIME OR SICK TIME.
SO WHAT'S HAPPENING IS, IS NOW THEY'RE JUST LIMITED TO THE FIVE DAYS.
WHICH THE FIVE DAYS THEY CAN USE FOR VACATION, THEY CAN USE FOR WHATEVER.
UNFORTUNATELY IN HER CASE, SHE WOULDN'T HAVE 10 DAYS.
AND NOW IT'S JUST BEING GIVEN FIVE DAYS WITH NO BEREAVEMENT, NO SICK TIME.
MATTER OF FACT, SHE HAD A SICK TIME THAT, UH, A SICK DAY.
I, I APOLOGIZE THAT SHE CALL IN BECAUSE SHE WAS SICK AND SHE HAVE TO REPLACE THAT DAY FOR ANOTHER DAY BECAUSE SHE WASN'T GONNA GET PAID FOR.
THAT WOULD BE HELPFUL TO HAVE WHAT THE AGREEMENT IS.
SO WE KNOW NOT ONLY, I'M SORRY, I, I APOLOGIZE.
UM, MS. THOMAS, BUT ALSO THE OTHER THING IS THAT, UH, THEY ALSO AGREED THAT THEY WERE GONNA SIT DOWN WITH THE UNION AND, UH, TO NEGOTIATE, WHICH THAT HAS NOT HAPPENED AT ALL.
THEY HAVE, THEY DON'T WANT TO SIT DOWN AND TALK TO THE UNION, THE BARGAINING MEMBERS THAT DON'T WANNA, THAT DON'T WANNA DO THAT AT ALL.
FOR WHAT REASON? WE DON'T KNOW.
THANK, THANK YOU FOR THAT INFORMATION.
COUNCIL MEMBER GALLEGOS, IF YOU CAN KEEP US ABREAST OF, OF THE DEVELOPMENTS.
SHE'S GONNA BE CHURCH TRANSLATOR, BE FOLLOWED BY DANNY O.
MS. GARCIA BLANC GARCIA, GEORGIA BROWN FOR, HI, MY NAME IS BLANCA GARCIA AND I'VE BEEN WORKING WITH GEORGIA BROWN FOR 14 YEARS.
I'M A SUPERVISOR, UH, FOR, UH, SINCE 2016 I'VE BEEN WORKING VERY HARD AND I DON'T KNOW WHAT'S GOING ON.
AND ALSO I'VE BEEN IN THE NEGOTIATION TABLE.
UH, WE DON'T KNOW WHAT'S HAPPENING.
ONLY ON WHAT HAPPENED WAS ON MARCH 3RD, THEY ASKED HER FOR A BADGE AT THE END OF OUR, UH, SHIFT, UH, THAT NIGHT WHEN I LEFT AT 11 O'CLOCK AT NIGHT.
AND I RECEIVED A CALL FROM ONE OF THE MANAGEMENT TO TELL ME THAT THEY DIDN'T NEED MY SERVICE ANYMORE AND THAT I WAS TERMINATED.
I DON'T THINK IT'S JUST THAT WE, UH, HAD WORKED VERY HARD AND NOW JUST IN A SLIGHT MOMENT, EVERYTHING'S GONE.
I LIVE BY MYSELF AND I HAVE MY NEPHEW THAT HE IS DISABLED, AND MY MOM, THAT SHE'S OLDER THAN 90 YEARS OLD.
WHAT WE'RE ASKING FOR, FOR THEM TO RESPECT OUR SENIORITY, TO RESPECT THE TIME THAT WE HAVE BEEN THERE, THAT WE HAVE THE RIGHT TO WORK THERE
[00:50:01]
AND TO RETURN OUR JOB AND OUR BENEFITS THAT WE USED TO HAVE.IT IS NOT JUST THAT A NEW COMPANY COMES IN AND FOR THEM TO TAKE AWAY EVERYTHING THAT WE FOUGHT FOR AND FOR SO MANY YEARS.
WE'RE ASKING YOU FOR YOUR HELP TOO, SO THAT WE CAN GET OUR DROP BAGS.
WE ARE, UH, ADULTS NOW OF AGE AND NOT JUST ANYBODY'S GONNA HIRE US.
WE JUST WANNA, UH, GIVE YOU THANKS FOR, UH, LETTING US VOICE, UH, FOR YOU GUYS LISTENING TO US AND REVOICING OUR, OUR CONCERNS HERE.
WE HAVE A COUPLE OF COUNCIL MEMBERS THAT WOULD LIKE TO ADDRESS YOU.
CAN I, CAN I TRANSLATE REALLY QUICK? UH, SO SHE SAYS SHE'S BEEN WORKING THERE AT GEORGIA BROWN SINCE 2008.
AND THEN, UM, SHE, UH, WAS A SUPERVISOR 2016, JUST TO LET YOU KNOW.
AND SHE HAD NEVER HAD ANY PROBLEMS BEFORE WITH THE PREVIOUS, UH, COMPANY THAT WAS THERE.
AND, AND THAT'S WHAT I'M ASKING IS THAT, YOU KNOW, HAD SHE HAD ANY PROBLEMS WITH THE PREVIOUS CONTRACTOR? AND SHE SAID NO, SHE, NO, NO PROBLEMS AT ALL.
UH, UH, AND, AND, AND THAT'S CONCERNING FOR ME IS WHEN, WHEN, WHEN YOU HAVE A CONTRACTOR THAT YOU'RE NOT HEARING ANY COMPLAINTS FROM, THAT HAS BEEN THERE FOR A WHILE, BUT YET YOU HAVE ANOTHER CONTRACTOR THAT COMES IN AND IS GONNA SAVE YOU A LITTLE BIT OF MONEY, WHY ARE YOU GONNA TAKE THAT RISK? WHY ARE YOU GONNA TAKE THAT RISK HERE? YOU NOW HAVE A LADY THAT HAS BEEN THERE FOR 14 YEARS.
14 YEARS, AND SHE GETS A CALL AT NIGHT FROM ONE OF THE MANAGERS FROM THIS CARING COMPANY SAYING YOUR SERVICES ARE NO LONGER NEEDED AFTER 14 YEARS.
AND AGAIN, HOUSTON FIRST IS LOOKING INTO IT, AND I EXPECT SOME KIND OF A REPORT ON THURSDAY AT THE BOARD MEETING.
AND AGAIN, AS I SAID BEFORE, THANK YOU FOR YOUR COURAGE.
UH, IT IS NOT EASY TO COME SHARE YOUR STORY, BUT I APPRECIATE YOUR VOICE.
UH, IF ANYTHING, THIS HAS REINFORCED, UH, MY BELIEF IN THE IMPORTANCE OF OUR UNIONS FOR MAKING SURE THAT ISSUES LIKE THIS ARE BROUGHT UP TO OUR ATTENTION.
UH, JUST FOR THE RECORD, THE FOUR PEOPLE THAT WERE TERMINATED, INCLUDING YOU, ALL FOUR, WERE INVOLVED IN THOSE NEGOTIATIONS OR ADVOCATING ON BEHALF OF OTHER EMPLOYEES.
IS THAT CORRECT? UH, THE FOUR PEOPLE THAT WERE TERMINATED WERE ALL IN NEGOTIATIONS TABLE, AND WE DON'T KNOW WHY WAS THE REASON, THAT'S THE ONLY REASON THAT WE CAN COME UP WITH THIS.
WHY WAS THE REASON THAT WE GOT TERMINATED.
AND THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR COMING.
IT'S IMPOSSIBLE TO NOT BE MOVED BY YOUR STORY AND BY THE STORY OF THE PREVIOUS SPEAKER.
AND I'M SO SORRY YOU'RE GOING THROUGH WHAT YOU'RE GOING THROUGH AND I APPRECIATE YOU'RE BRINGING IT TO OUR ATTENTION.
[00:55:01]
WAS, YOU'VE BEEN THERE FOR 14 YEARS.WAS THERE ONE CONTRACTOR THERE BEFORE THAT OR HAVE THERE BEEN MULTIPLE BEFORE THIS, THIS COMPANY, THIS IS A NEW COMPANY THAT CAME IN, RIGHT? IT'S JUST COMPANY? YES.
THIS IS A NEW COMPANY, BUT WAS IT JUST ONE CONTRACTOR FOR THE OTHER 14 YEARS OR 13 YEARS, OR HAVE THERE BEEN NUMEROUS? THE FIRST COMPANY THAT WHEN SHE FIRST STARTED WORKING THERE WAS ARAMARK.
FOLLOW UP, UH, AFTER THE BOARD MEETING ON THURSDAY.
DANNY O HELLO? YES MA'AM, GO AHEAD.
UH, I'M HERE ON BEHALF OF MY BUSINESS ON 11TH STREET BAKERY DONUT.
WE'VE BEEN THERE FOR 26 YEAR AGO, AND, UH, RIGHT NOW I HAVE A PROBLEM WITH THE, THEY BLOCKED MY LEFT TURN LANE FOR MY BUSINESS.
SO MY BUSINESS IS KIND OF SLOW RIGHT NOW.
SO I, MAYBE IF I CAN HELP ME TO, YOU KNOW, TO OPEN THE
COUNCIL MEMBER KNOX, UH, AU HOW ARE YOU DOING? YOU DOING WELL TODAY? YEAH, IT'S OKAY.
SO YOUR COMPLAINT IS THAT THE CONSTRUCTION OF THE BIKE LANE ALONG WEST 11TH, THEY PUT BARRICADES, UH, DOWN THE MIDDLE OF THE STREET THAT PREVENT PEOPLE TURNING LEFT INTO YOUR BUSINESS.
AND YOU, YOU HAVE A DONUT SHOP, RIGHT? YES.
AND SO PEOPLE POP IN THERE ON THEIR WAY TO OR FROM WORK? YES.
AND SO A LARGE PART OF YOUR BUSINESS WAS TRAFFIC ON BOTH SIDES OF THE STREET? YES.
PRIOR TO THIS, THIS LITTLE TRANSITION? YES.
AND SO AT WHAT PERCENTAGE HAVE YOU NOTICED A REDUCTION IN YOUR SALES? SINCE THE BIKE LANE HAS COME IN? UH, I LOSING AT LEAST 20, 25% EVERY DAY ON THE LEFT TURN LANE THAT PEOPLE DON'T KNOW US THAT COME THROUGH THE, THE AREA AND THEY KNOW THEY DUNNO LOCATION, THEY DUNNO PLACE.
THEY HAVE TO GO TO THE NEXT LOCATION, YOU KNOW, SO THEY DON'T STOP AT MY BUSINESS BECAUSE THEY HOW TO TURN AROUND AND YOU TURN BACK, YOU KNOW? WELL, IT'S ALSO INCONVENIENT TO GO DOWN THREE OR FOUR BLOCKS TO TURN AROUND AND COME BACK.
BACK THREE OR FOUR BLOCKS THE WAY YOU JUST CAME.
BECAUSE YOU WANT A DONUT, RIGHT? YEAH.
BECAUSE THERE'S PROBABLY GONNA BE ANOTHER DONUT SHOP DOWN THE STREET.
AND SO THEY JUST CONTINUE ON AND YOU'RE LOSING BUSINESS AS A RESULT OF THAT.
I DON'T SEE NO MORE NEW CUSTOMER COME IN, YOU KNOW, I, EXCEPT MY, MY REGULAR CUSTOMER COME TO SUPPORTING ME, SO MM-HMM
WELL HOPEFULLY THAT CONTINUES.
HOW LONG CAN YOU CONTINUE TO TAKE THAT KIND OF A REDUCTION IN BUSINESS BEFORE YOU HAVE TO MOVE YOUR BUSINESS OR GO OUT OF BUSINESS? NOT FOR A VERY LONG TIME IF I DON'T HAVE NOBODY TO SUPPORTING ME, BUT RIGHT NOW, MY, MY CUSTOMER THAT KNOW ME, THEY SUPPORTING ME MORE.
SO I'M OKAY RIGHT NOW, BUT IN THE FUTURE, BY SLOW DOWN TO SUPPORTING ME, I HAVE, I HAVE A PROBLEM FOR MY BUSINESS EVERY DAY FOR, FOR ALL THE TIME, YOU KNOW, AGO NOW, DO YOU LEASE THAT? DO YOU LEASE THE PROPERTY OR DO YOU OWN THE PROPERTY THERE? I OWN THE PROPERTY AND MY PROPERTY GONNA GO DOWN ON A VALUE TOO, YOU KNOW? MM-HMM
BECAUSE, UH, I WANT TO RETIRE SOMEDAY WHEN I'M 65, YOU KNOW? AND NOW I, I DON'T THINK I CAN SELL THAT MUCH FOR MY BUSINESS.
WELL, THANK YOU FOR COMING TODAY.
UM, MICHELLE, UH, THESE ARE THE UNINTENDED CONSEQUENCES OF A GOVERNMENT ACTION WHENEVER THESE KIND OF THINGS HAPPEN, EVEN THOUGH WE, UH, COUNCIL MEMBERS LIKE MYSELF AND, AND COUNCIL MEMBER KNOX, WE SPOKE OUT LOUD ALONG AGAINST THIS BECAUSE WE COULD SEE THE IMPACT THAT IT WAS GONNA HAVE, NOT ONLY, UH, IN THE DRIVING COMMUNITY, BUT ALSO IN THE BUSINESS COMMUNITY.
THAT'S WHY WE SO MUCH ENCOURAGED IT TO, TO, TO MOVE IT TO, TO MAYBE THE STREET NORTH OR SOUTH.
UH, INSTEAD OF PUTTING IT IN, IN A FULL LANE OF TRAFFIC, IT, IT DIDN'T MAKE ANY SENSE TO ME.
AND IT STILL DOESN'T MAKE ANY SENSE.
I REMEMBER WHEN THE, UH, COMPREHENSIVE BIKE PLAN WAS PASSED YEARS AGO, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER KNOX MADE THE, THE STATEMENT, HE SAID, UH, OUR QUESTION, WILL WE BE ABLE TO, UH, TO ALTER OR IMPLEMENT SOME CHANGE IN THIS BIKE PLAN, UH, BEFORE IF WE DON'T LIKE WHAT
[01:00:01]
IT HAS TO, WHAT, WHAT'S GOING ON? WELL, IT NEVER CAME BACK BEFORE COUNCIL FOR US TO DO THAT.UH, ONCE IT PASSED, UH, THE, THE PLANNING DEPARTMENT TOOK A HOLD OF IT.
AND, YOU KNOW, WHEN I, WHEN I WENT TO TO SCHOOL, I LEARNED THAT IN GOVERNMENT YOU HAVE AN EXECUTIVE BRANCH, YOU HAVE A LEGISLATIVE BRANCH, WHICH WE ARE.
AND, AND THEN YOU HAVE A JUDICIAL BRANCH WITH JUDGES.
AND, AND THEN THEY NEVER TAUGHT ME ABOUT ANOTHER BRANCH OF GOVERNMENT THAT I'VE HAD BUTTED HEADS WITH FOR YEARS NOW.
AND THAT'S THE BUREAUCRATIC BRANCH,
AND THAT BRANCH IS HARD TO DEAL WITH BECAUSE ALL THEY HAVE TO DO IS WAIT ANOTHER NINE MONTHS AND I'M GONE UNLESS I GET ANOTHER POSITION.
AND, AND SO I, I GET FRUSTRATED WHENEVER I HEAR THE CRIES OF PEOPLE LIKE YOURSELF, ESPECIALLY BUSINESS OWNERS, A SENIOR WHO, WHO WOULD LIKE TO SELL THEIR BUSINESS AT SOME POINT AND RETIRE.
BUT WHAT WE HAVE DONE, UH, TO ACCOMMODATE, UH, A FEW, NOT MANY, UH, FOR A BIKE LANE.
AND, AND, AND THIS IS VERY FRUSTRATING TO ME.
UH, IT'S NO LONGER JUST ABOUT, UH, THE, THE, THE MOVEMENT OF TRAFFIC.
IT'S ABOUT THE, THE ACTUAL CURTAILMENT OF BUSINESS AND SHUTTING DOWN YOUR BUSINESS.
SO YOU HAVE MY APPROVAL, UH, TO, YOU KNOW, OR MY SUPPORT, UH, FOR SURE.
AND, AND I'LL TRY TO DO MY BEST WHEN I BUY A DONUT TO COME BY YOUR SHOP.
OH, YOU CAN OPEN THE LETTER LINK FOR ME, LIKE JUST, YOU KNOW, SO THEY CAN TURN.
ANY DISCUSSION? ANY DISCUSSION? ANY DISCUSSION? I'VE NEVER, YEAH, I NEVER SEEN NO ACCIDENT IN THE CAR RUNNING SMOOTH, YOU KNOW, BUT NOW IT'S MORE, MORE TRAFFIC, MORE, MORE DANGEROUS TO THAT LOCATION THAN BEFORE.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR COMMENTS, COUNCIL MEMBER CAYMAN MS. SO IT'S SO GOOD TO SEE YOU AT COUNCIL.
UM, ONE THING, ONE COUNCIL MEMBER TO YOUR POINT ABOUT, UH, YOU KNOW, ADJUSTMENTS AND MODIFICATIONS.
I KNOW YOU RECEIVED A MEMO, SO I'M JUST GONNA READ IT THAT AGAIN.
CITY STAFF IS MONITORING CRASH DATA AND SALES TAX REVENUE TO IDENTIFY IF CHANGES SHOULD BE CONSIDERED TO THE PROJECT AND TO THE DEPARTMENT'S CREDIT, NOT MISSO AT YOUR LOCATION, BUT THERE'S ONLY THREE MEDIANS NOW ALONG THE ENTIRE CORRIDOR.
ONE NICHOLSON, UH, CLOSE TO DURHAM SHEPHERD, RIGHT AT THAT INTERSECTION WHERE THERE'S BEEN A LOT OF CRASHES AND THEN ONE OTHER INTERSECTION.
BUT AT THE REQUEST OF ALL THE RESIDENTS IN THE AREA, THEY REMOVED ALL THE OTHER MEDIANS THAT WERE PLANNED.
IF WE TALK ABOUT THAT FLEXIBILITY.
BUT MS. O TO YOUR POINT, BECAUSE BUSINESS IS CENTRAL, NOT JUST TO DISTRICT C, BUT THE ENTIRE CITY AND THE 11TH STREET CORRIDOR, UM, ONE OF THE THINGS THAT I READ THAT STAFF IS DOING IN THE DEPARTMENTS IS THEY'RE MONITORING ALL OF THE SALES TAX REVENUES FOR EVERY SINGLE BUSINESS ALONG THAT CORRIDOR.
AND THEY'RE ABLE TO ACCESS THAT INFORMATION.
A LOT OF IT'S PUBLICLY AVAILABLE, BUT MS. O I'D ASK, IT'S BEEN A LITTLE BIT CHALLENGING WITH YOURS BECAUSE I DON'T WANNA GET INTO THE WEEDS, BUT, UH, DONUT SHOPS HAVE CERTAIN EXCEPTIONS AND EXEMPTIONS.
UH, SO SOME OF THAT INFORMATION IS NOT AS EASILY AVAILABLE.
WOULD YOU BE WILLING AND ABLE TO WORK WITH OUR CITY STAFF TO SHARE WITH THEM, UM, HOW YOUR SALES ARE GOING? BECAUSE AGAIN, EVEN THE COFFEE SHOP ACROSS THE STREET, THEY HAVE ALL THAT INFORMATION FOR, BUT WOULD YOU BE A WI WILLING TO WORK WITH THEM IN SHARING THAT INFORMATION? RIGHT NOW? RIGHT NOW MY BUSINESS IS OKAY BECAUSE, UH, ALL MY, MY, MY FRIENDS SUPPORTING ME, SO SEE, THEY PUT THAT BALL ONLY THREE DAYS AGO.
THREE DAYS AFTER THEY PUT IT IN.
AND MY VISIT IS SLOWER THAN USUAL, THEN MY FRIEND STOP BY.
SO SHE POST IN NEXT DOOR, RIGHT? SO EVERYBODY SHARE, SO EVERYBODY COME TO SUPPORTING ME, RIGHT? I, AND I UNDERSTAND THAT, AND AGAIN, THE HEADACHES OF CONSTRUCTION AND EVERYTHING ELSE THAT YOU'VE HAD TO GO THROUGH.
BUT AGAIN, CAN I CONNECT YOU WITH OUR CITY DEPARTMENTS TO WORK WITH YOU AND SO THAT YOU CAN SHARE THAT INFORMATION WITH THEM SO THEY CAN GET THAT DATA? 'CAUSE AGAIN, THEY'RE TRACKING ALL OF IT.
SO CAN I, CAN I DO, ARE YOU OKAY IF I DO THAT WITH YOU? CONNECT YOU WITH THE DEPARTMENT? I ASKED, UH, UH, ME SEE, BECAUSE RIGHT NOW MY, MY BUSINESS IS LIKE I TOLD YOU, LIKE EVERYBODY'S COME TO SUPPORTING ME, SO I AM NOT LOSING ANY ANYTHING YET BECAUSE THEY BEEN DOING ONLY THREE DAY ON THE, THE, THE MIDDLE BALL LIKE THAT.
SO EVERYBODY COME TO SUPPORT AFTER SHE POST NEXT DOOR, EVERYBODY SHARE, SHARE THE POST, YOU KNOW, SO EVERYBODY COME.
SO I STILL, I LOVE THE BUSINESS FOR THE PEOPLE, I DON'T KNOW, BUT, UH, UH, THE NEIGHBORHOOD SUPPORTING ME.
AND WE HAVE AN AMAZING NEIGHBORHOOD.
I KNOW EVERYBODY BECAUSE I'VE BEEN THERE FOR SO LONG, 26 YEARS AGO.
I WORK EVERY DAY, SEVEN DAY A WEEK AND YOU KNOW, I DON'T HAVE TOO MUCH EMPLOYEE, SO I WILL CLEAN UP SELLING EVERYTHING, YOU KNOW, SO EVERYBODY KNOW ME, YOU KNOW, SO, UH, RIGHT, I UNDERSTAND.
AND AGAIN, I'M JUST SAYING IN ORDER FOR THE CITY TO BE ABLE TO LOOK AT SOME OF THE THINGS THAT YOU'RE SAYING, WE NEED
[01:05:01]
TO BE ABLE TO CONNECT YOU AND HAVE YOU WORK WITH THE DEPARTMENT.SO THEY'RE READY, THEY'RE WILLING.
UH, I WE JUST NEED TO, YOU KNOW, BE ABLE TO CONNECT YOU AND HAVE YOU WORK WITH THEM TO SHARE THAT INFORMATION.
COUNCIL MEMBER KOSH, MICHELLE, I, I WOULDN'T AND BY ANY MEANS, UH, OPEN MY FINANCIAL BOOKS UP TO ANY CITY EMPLOYEE.
AND SO I, I HIGHLY RECOMMEND AGAINST THAT.
NO, AND, AND, AND I THINK THAT'S WHAT IT SOUNDED LIKE TO ME.
MAYBE NOT, BUT THAT'S WHAT IT SOUNDED LIKE.
THAT, UH, WE WANT YOU TO, UH, TO, TO BRING YOUR BOOKS TO CITY HALL SO WE CAN SEE WHAT YOU, UH, YOU'RE ACTUALLY BRINGING IN, RIGHT? YEAH.
NO, UH, IT'S, THIS IS AMERICA.
YOUR, YOUR, UH, YOUR, YOUR, YOUR TAX STATEMENTS ARE PRIVATE AND YOU DON'T HAVE TO DIVULGE ANY OF THAT TO, TO A BUREAUCRACY.
COUNCIL MEMBER CAYMAN, I JUST, FOR THE RECORD, AND AGAIN, THIS ISN'T TOO MISO.
ALL SALES TAX REVENUES FOR BUSINESSES, SAY FOR A FEW EXCEPTIONS, ARE PUBLICLY ACCESSIBLE INFORMATION THROUGH THE STATE CONTROLLER'S OFFICE.
I'M, I'M JUST FOR THE RECORD STATING.
AND DURING THE COVID, I NEVER CLOSED ONE DAY BECAUSE EVERYBODY TIES TRIED TO SUPPORT ME.
THEY, THEY POST ON THEIR, THEIR NEXT DOOR, FACEBOOK, LIKE THAT.
EVERYBODY COME TO SUPPORTING ME.
I'M STILL OPEN BECAUSE EVERYBODY'S SUPPORTING ME, YOU KNOW, ALL MY FRIEND.
SO I HAVE NOT LOSING ANY SALE YET, BUT I REALLY, IN THE FUTURE, IF THEY SLOW DOWN TO SUPPORTING ME, YOU KNOW, RIGHT NOW EVERYTHING IS STILL THE SAME.
YOU KNOW, I'M NOT SAY LYING, YOU KNOW, I TELL THE TRUTH, YOU KNOW, BUT I'M WORRIED ABOUT NEXT YOU, SO, YOU KNOW, SO THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR BEING HERE.
DENNIS BURTON, NEXT SPEAKER, MICHAEL VINK.
UH, I'M FROM SOUTH AFRICA AND I'M PASSING THROUGH HOUSTON AND I'VE BEEN NOTICING, UH, WELL, I SLEEP ON THE STREETS WITH THE HOMELESSNESS PEOPLE BECAUSE I DO, WHERE WHEREVER I GO IN THE WORLD ARE TRY AND HELP.
AND, AND I NOTICED THERE'S A LOT OF, UH, PEOPLE THAT HELP.
THEY FEED THE PEOPLE ON THE CORNER OF CHURCH AND BY THE LIBRARY, AND THEY'RE TRYING TO GET THEIR CLOTHES DOWN, WHICH I DISAGREE WITH, BUT I DUNNO WHY.
AND, UH, AND, UH, THEY GOT PEOPLE BRINGING FOOD AT NIGHT, AND I KNOW THERE'S A BIT OF RUBBISH ON THE STREETS, BUT THEY ALSO NEED A FEW MORE PORT LOOS.
I DUNNO WHAT THEY'RE CALLING THEM IN AMERICA.
AND, UH, IT'S JUST THE, THE CITY SEEMS TO BE VERY LIKE, SMELLY WHERE THERE'S PEOPLE THAT ARE SLEEPING ON THE STREETS BECAUSE THEY GOT NOWHERE TO GO.
'CAUSE THEY CANNOT GO INTO THE HOTELS UNLESS YOU STAY THERE AT A 500, $600 HOTEL.
AND I'M SURE THESE PEOPLE CANNOT AFFORD IT.
AND, UH, AND, UH, THIS IS, UH, A PROBLEM THAT SHOULD BE, IT'S, IT'S IN A LOT OF MAJOR CITIES IN AMERICA, NEW YORK.
I'VE BEEN TO PHILADELPHIA, I'VE SEEN THAT LOS ANGELES IS PRETTY BAD, SKID ROW.
UH, AND, UH, I'D LIKE, WELL, NEXT TIME I PASS THROUGH HOUSTON, I'D LIKE TO SEE A BIT MORE PORT LOUS AND THINGS GOING ON FOR THE HOMELESSNESS IN, IN HOUSTON.
WE DO HAVE A COUPLE OF, UH, COUNCIL MEMBERS IN Q.
UH, SO YOU'RE ON A WALKABOUT ACROSS AMERICA? IS THAT WHAT WE'RE DOING? SORT OF WALKABOUT.
SEE, I WANNA WALKABOUT IN AUSTRALIA ONE OF THESE DAYS.
UH, WELL, I'VE DONE IT IN AUSTRALIA.
AND SO HOW LONG HAVE YOU BEEN HERE IN HOUSTON? UH, FOUR WEEKS.
AND WHERE'S YOUR NEXT DESTINATION OF YOUR I'M GONNA TEXARKANA, THEN I'M GOING DOWN TO KEY WEST.
WELL, THAT'S QUITE A PLEASURE.
I HOPE YOU'RE TAKING NOTES AND, AND WRITING A BOOK.
I'D LOVE TO LOVE TO SEE THAT SOMEDAY OF YOUR ADVENTURES ACROSS AMERICA.
UH, WELL, COUNCILOR, IT'S ALL IN MY HEAD.
I DON'T, IN CASE I LOSE MY NOTES.
WELL, THANK YOU FOR YOUR INPUT AND WE APPRECIATE YOUR COMMENTS, UH, AT A, ON A GLOBAL PERSPECTIVE.
COUNCIL MEMBER KUBOSH, THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
UH, VERY INTERESTING STORY THAT YOU HAVE AND, AND UNUSUAL THAT YOU HAD, UH, COME TO HOUSTON AND THEN FIND THAT WE WERE FEEDING, UH, THE, THE NEEDY AND THE HOMELESS OVER BY THE, THE LIBRARY, WHICH IS JUST RIGHT ACROSS THE STREET.
AND, AND IT'S IMPORTANT TO NOTE THAT BACK IN ABOUT 2012
[01:10:02]
OR 13, THE CITY PASSED AN ORDINANCE THAT YOU COULDN'T FEED MORE THAN FIVE PEOPLE WITHOUT HAVING A PERMIT AND, AND TO GET PERMISSION.NOW, THEY'VE NEVER, THAT I KNOW OF, THEY'VE NEVER WRITTEN A TICKET OR ARRESTED ANYBODY FOR DOING IT.
BUT, BUT IT JUST SEEMS CONTRARY TO MY CHRISTIAN FAITH TO BELIEVE THAT JESUS COULDN'T HAVE FED 6,000 PEOPLE HERE WITH, WITH, WITH BREAD AND FISHES.
AND, AND YET WE'RE GONNA CRIMINALIZE IT AND, AND IT JUST DOESN'T MAKE SENSE.
BUT I, I BELIEVE THE BOTTOM LINE WAS THEY WERE TRYING TO KEEP THE, THE AREA CLEAN.
UH, UH, AND, AND THERE WAS A LOT OF, LIKE YOU SAID, RUBBISH AND THINGS.
I BELIEVE THAT, THAT YES, WHAT SPAWNED THE ORDINANCE INITIALLY, BUT I COULD HAVE NEVER VOTED FOR IT.
'CAUSE IT'S CONTRARY TO MY FAITH, UH, TO DO THAT.
AND SO, BUT THANK YOU FOR COMING, UH, BECAUSE BY YOU BEING HERE, YOU GIVE, UH, US AN OPPORTUNITY TO MAKE THESE STATEMENTS.
UH, BUT I JUST WANT TO SAY THE LADY THAT IS FEEDING AT THE CORNER OF THE LIBRARY'S HAD A FEW CITATIONS BECAUSE THE POLICE ARE THERE EVERY NIGHT ON TUESDAY NIGHT AND SATURDAY NIGHT.
THE POLICE, THE LADY THAT DOES, UH, THE MONDAY, SHE'S THERE EVERY NIGHT.
MONDAY DO WRITE TUESDAY, WEDNESDAY, I DUNNO WHAT HER NAME IS.
AND, UH, THE TUESDAY PEOPLE HAVE MOVED UP TO THE OLD COURTHOUSE, THE OLD JAIL THROUGH THE TUNNEL UP AROUND THERE.
I DUNNO WHAT THEIR ADDRESS IS.
AND, UH, THE PEOPLE FROM THE TUESDAY, AND THEY SAID THAT THEY HAVE MOVED THERE BECAUSE THEY A BIT SCARED TO ACTUALLY GET TICKETS AND GET LOCKED UP.
THANK YOU FOR LETTING ME KNOW.
I WAS UNAWARE THAT WE WERE, WE WERE ENFORCING IT AT ALL.
SO, UH, BECAUSE I SPOKE TO THE ONE SERGEANT THAT'S THERE EVERY NIGHT, AND I SAID, WHERE DO YOU GET YOUR, YOUR THING TO COME AND STAND YOU AND ACTUALLY WATCH AND HAND OUT CITATIONS? AND HE SAYS, WELL, FROM HIS LIEUTENANT.
AND, AND I ASKED HIM, CAN YOU TELL ME WHERE IS? AND HE SAID, NO, I CAN'T DO THAT.
SO THANK YOU FOR LETTING ME KNOW.
THANK YOU MR. VINK, FOR BEING HERE.
FIRST MAY I OBSERVE THE POLITENESS, THE INTEREST OF THIS BODY FOR THE HOUSTON CITIZENS? UH, MY PURPOSE HERE TODAY IS TO DISCUSS GUN VIOLENCE, MORE SPECIFICALLY, GUN ELIMINATION IN THE CITY OF HOUSTON.
UH, I'VE BEEN IN HOUSTON FOR OVER 70 YEARS.
CAME HERE AFTER GRADUATING FROM THE UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS LAW SCHOOL.
AND I'M AS PROUD OF BEING A CITIZEN HERE AS I CAN BE.
NOW, LET'S TALK ABOUT GUN ELIMINATION.
IT IS OBVIOUSLY THE ULTIMATE GOAL OF GUN CONTROL, BUT IT'S GONNA BE ANOTHER 10, 20, 30 YEARS BEFORE WE REACH THAT GOAL.
AS IT'S BEEN 10, 20 OR 40 YEARS SINCE WE'VE BEEN IN THAT POSITION, MY REQUEST IS THAT THE MAYOR OF THE VICE MAYOR, BY EXECUTIVE ORDER, ORDER THE ELIMINATION OF GUNS IN THIS CITY OF HOUSTON.
I HAVE ALSO MADE THIS REQUEST TO THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES TO ASSIST HOUSTON AND EVERY OTHER CITY IN THAT QUEST.
UH, I COULD QUOTE STATISTICS AND YOU ALL COULD QUOTE MORE.
WE ALL DO RECOGNIZE AS A FACT THAT GUNS ARE A PROBLEM
[01:15:02]
IN THE UNITED STATES, IN HOUSTON, SAN ANTONIO, DALLAS, MEMPHIS, WHEREVER.AND MY SIMPLIFIED REQUEST TO THE MAYOR, TO THE VICE MAYOR IS TO ISSUE THAT EXECUTIVE ORDER.
I KNOW IT'S GONNA BE A PROBLEM.
I KNOW THERE'S GONNA BE PROTESTS, BUT IN THE MEANWHILE, CHILDREN ARE BEING SLAUGHTERED IN THEIR SCHOOLS.
CITIZENS ARE BEING KILLED AT EVENTS.
LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS ARE BEING AMBUSHED.
MR. GOULD, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR BEING HERE.
COUNCIL MEMBER PLUMMER SA GOUL, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR BEING HERE.
AND WE HAVE A MUTUAL FRIEND THAT'S, WE HAVE A MUTUAL FRIEND THAT SPEAKS SO HIGHLY OF YOU.
SO WE HAVE A MUTUAL FRIEND THAT SPEAKS SO HIGHLY OF YOU.
SARAH IS A MUTUAL FRIEND OF OURS, SARAH IL.
NO,
I REALLY APPRECIATE YOU FOR BEING HERE AND SHARING THIS WITH US.
AND I WANTED TO ADD A SMALL NOTE TO YOUR COMMENTS, IS THAT THE AMERICAN, UH, THE JOURNAL OF MEDICINE JUST ANNOUNCED THAT, UM, GUN VIOLENCE IS ACTUALLY A PUBLIC HEALTH ISSUE NOW, RIGHT? YEAH.
AND SO, SO, YOU KNOW, TO YOUR POINT, YOU KNOW, WE WANNA PROTECT OUR CHILDREN.
AND I'M JUST SO GRATEFUL FOR YOU TO BE AN ADVOCATE FOR THIS ISSUE.
NEXT SPEAKER, REVEREND GARTON GUILLORY.
NEXT SPEAKER, THE OTIS BUTLER.
HI, HOW ARE YOU? WELL, THANK YOU.
I'M ACTUALLY AN, UM, ACTIVIST, NATIONAL ACTIVIST, CIVIL RIGHTS ACTIVISTS.
AND I GO ALL ACROSS THE WORLD SUPPORTING FAMILIES THAT HAVE BEEN THERE.
THEIR, THEIR LOVED ONES HAVE BEEN TAKEN DUE TO POLICE BRUTALITY AND RACISM.
AND TODAY I'M HERE ON BEHALF OF JAIL AND RANDALL'S FAMILY, WHICH IS HERE IN THE BACK.
I WAS EXPECTING FOR MAYOR TURNER TO BE HERE TODAY BECAUSE I WAS COMING TO GET A UPDATE ON WHETHER IF HE ACTUALLY CHECKED INTO WHAT WAS GOING ON WITH JAIL AND RANDALL'S CASE.
UM, I'M NOT HERE FOR ANYONE TO LIKE ME.
AND AFTER LOOKING AT THE VIDEO WITH THE OFFICER KILLING JAIL AND RANDALL, AND IN 2019, BEATING ANOTHER YOUNG MAN, BLACK MAN.
AND HE'S STILL ON THE POLICE FORCE.
YES, HE'S HOME, BUT HE'S STILL ON THE POLICE FORCE.
SO MY QUESTION TODAY FOR YOU ALL, HOW DO YOU FEEL ABOUT THIS YOUNG MAN STILL BEING ON A POLICE FORCE AFTER HE ACTUALLY BEAT SOMEONE AND THEN KILLED SOMEONE THAT DIDN'T POSE A THREAT TO HIM? HE SHOT JALEN IN THE BACK OF THE NECK WITHIN THREE SECONDS, JAYLEN'S DEAD.
I'M GRIEVING AND JAYLEN'S NOT EVEN MY SON.
I GRIEVE FOR PLENTY OF PEOPLE'S SONS.
AND I HAVE A HEART TO STAND UP HERE.
AND ANYTIME THAT YOU GUYS HAVE PUBLIC EVENTS, I'M THERE.
WHY? BECAUSE I FEEL LIKE YOU GUYS DON'T ADDRESS THE MATTER AND WE NEEDED TO BE ADDRESSED.
SO MY QUESTION AGAIN IS, HOW DO YOU FEEL THAT OFFICER SHANE PRITT IS STILL AN OFFICER WHEN HE SHOULD BE FIRED, AS IF, IF IT WAS A BLACK MAN THAT WOULD'VE SHOT AND KILLED A WHITE MAN, HE WOULD BE INCARCERATED UNDER THE PENITENTIARY? THAT'S MY QUESTION.
UM, VICE MAYOR PRO TIM, THANK YOU FOR COMING IN.
UM, THIS HAS BEEN A CASE THAT'S BEEN HEAVILY ON MY HEART, UM, AS WELL.
UM, I DID SEE THE VIDEO MM-HMM
[01:20:01]
HAPPENED, UM, WHEN I HEARD ABOUT IT HAPPENED, I'M ACTUALLY THE COUNCIL REPRESENTATIVE FOR THE DISTRICT.UM, IT HAPPENED IN PLEASANTVILLE.
UM, I GET REGULAR UPDATES WHEN SHOOTINGS HAPPEN IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD.
AND SO I GOT THIS UPDATE ABOUT THIS PARTICULAR INCIDENT, AND I REACHED OUT IMMEDIATELY TO HPD AND I WANTED TO FIND OUT WHAT ACTUALLY HAPPENED.
AND IT TOOK A MINUTE, ABOUT A MONTH BEFORE I GOT WORRIED BACK ON WHAT HAPPENED.
AND EVENTUALLY, A FEW MONTHS BEFORE I GOT A CHANCE TO SEE THE VIDEO.
AND WHEN I DID SEE THE VIDEO, I FELT LIKE THIS OFFICER SHOULD BE FIRED IMMEDIATELY.
BECAUSE HE KNEW, HE LITERALLY SAID THAT HE WAS GONNA SHOOT, THAT THIS PERSON WAS NOT LEAVING THIS NEIGHBORHOOD.
AND SOON AS HE GETS OUT THE CAR, OUT OF THE CAR, BOOM.
AND SO, BUT OF COURSE I RESPECT CHIEF NER.
UM, AND HE TOLD ME THAT THIS, THIS CASE IS UNDER INVESTIGATION AND I'M CONSTANTLY WAITING FOR FEEDBACK AND UP UPDATES ON THIS CASE.
BUT I AGREE WITH YOU AND THE FAMILY THAT THIS OFFICER SHOULD NOT BE ON THE FORCE BECAUSE THIS WAS LIKE UNNECESSARY FORCE.
SO AGAIN, I APPRECIATE YOU COMING OUT AND ADVOCATING FOR THIS FAMILY BECAUSE THEY NEED SOMEONE STANDING WITH THEM.
I STAND WITH THEM AND I WILL CONTINUE TO REQUEST INPUT OR, UM, UPDATES ON THIS PARTICULAR CASE.
I RESPECT YOUR ANSWER, MS. CHARLES, THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE.
AND I DID WANT TO, UM, LET YOU KNOW THAT, UH, I DO HAVE A MESSAGE THAT THIS INCIDENT IS STILL BEING INVESTIGATED BY THE HPD SPECIAL INVESTIGATIONS UNIT, THE INTERNAL AFFAIRS DIVISION, AND THE HARRIS COUNTY DISTRICT ATTORNEY'S OFFICE.
AND THE ENTIRE INVESTIGATION WILL BE REVIEWED BY THE INDEPENDENT POLICE OVERSIGHT BOARD.
UH, AS WITH ALL OFFICER INVOLVED SHOOTING INCIDENTS, THE HARRIS COUNTY DISTRICT ATTORNEY WILL PRESENT THE COMPLETED INVESTIGATION TO A GRAND JURY.
SO IT IS STILL UNDER INVESTIGATION AND WE APPRECIATE YOU COMING AND KEEPING THIS IN THE FOREFRONT.
IT'S STILL COLD-BLOODED MURDER.
TIFFANY ROCHELLE, MS. ROCHELLE, HELLO.
AND THANK YOU FOR ALLOWING ME TO SPEAK ON TODAY.
MY NAME IS TIFFANY ROCHELLE, THE MOTHER OF JALEN RANDALL.
I'M HERE TO DISCUSS A FEW TOPICS, UH, WITH YOU TODAY.
FIRSTLY, ON APRIL 27TH, 2022, MY SON, JALEN RANDALL, WAS KILLED BY AN OFFICER SHANE PERVI, WHO WAS PREVIOUSLY BEING INDICTED FOR POLICE BRUTALITY.
I FEEL THERE HAS BEEN A LACK OF TRANSPARENCY IN THE CITY OF HOUSTON REGARDING THIS ISSUE AND THE BAD POLICE AND NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED INSTEAD OF IGNORED AFTER COMMITTING ONE INCIDENT.
I'M QUESTIONING WHY THE OFFICER INVOLVED WAS NOT FIRED.
I'M REFERRING TO THE OFFICER SHANE PRI, WHO HAD LY BEEN INDICTED FOR A POLICE BRUTALITY BEFORE KE HE KILLED MY SON.
I BELIEVE THAT THE HIRING AND RETENTION POLICIES OF HOUSTON POLICE DEPARTMENT, HPD NEED TO, UH, BE IMPROVED FOR, UH, TO PREVENT SUCH INCIDENT FROM HAPPENING AGAIN.
I'M ALSO CONCERNED ABOUT THE LACK OF COMMUNICATION WITH OUR FAMILY REGARDING POLICE BRUTALITY IN THE CITY OF HOUSTON.
I FEEL THAT IT'S IMPORTANT TO HAVE OPEN TRANSPARENT COMMUNICATIONS WITH THE FAMILIES AFFECTED BY THESE ISSUES.
I WANT TO KNOW WHY THE PROCESS TAKES SO LONG WHEN A WHITE OFFICER IS INVOLVED, ITS PROCESSES VERSUS WHEN A BLACK OFFICER IS INVOLVED, THEY MOVE VERY SWIFTLY.
WHY DOES IT TAKE 30 DAYS TO RELEASE A VIDEO FOOTAGE WHEN IT'S ON, WHEN IT ONLY TAKE A COUPLE OF DAYS IF THE HOUSTON POLICE DEPARTMENT IS IN THE RIGHT? I BELIEVE THAT THE INVESTIGATION PROCESS NEEDS TO BE FAIR AND TIMELY FOR ALL CASES, AND THAT IT SHOULD NOT TAKE A YEAR TO INVESTIGATE A THREE SECOND VIDEO WHEN IT COMES TO POLICE MISCONDUCT.
AS A LITTLE GIRL, I WAS ALWAYS TAUGHT TO TAKE ACCOUNTABILITY FOR MY MISTAKES AND UNDERSTAND THAT EVERY ACTION AND HAS ITS CONSEQUENCES.
IT'S A LESSON THAT HAS STAYED WITH ME THROUGHOUT MY LIFE.
SO EVEN IF I DON'T RECEIVE SUPPORT FROM OTHERS, MEANING YOURSELF, WE WILL NOT GO WEARY IN, IN THE FIGHTS FOR JUSTICE.
WE WILL GO ABOVE AND BEYOND BECAUSE WE KNOW IT'S THE RIGHT THING TO DO.
MS. ROCHELLE, THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE.
AND, AND MY SINCERE CONDOLENCES TO YOU.
WE DO HAVE A COUPLE OF COUNCIL MEMBERS THAT WOULD LIKE TO ADDRESS YOU.
UH, THANK YOU VERY MAYOR PROTO, AND GOOD AFTERNOON TO EVERYONE.
[01:25:01]
SINCERE CONDOLENCES TO YOU AND YOUR ENTIRE FAMILY AS WELL.UM, YOU'RE RIGHT, YOU NEED TO BE GETTING ANSWERS, UM, MUCH SWIFTER THAN YOU HAVE, UH, BEEN RECEIVING THEM THUS FAR.
AND I KNOW THAT AS BEEN REPORTED THAT THIS CASE IS UNDER INVESTIGATION.
UM, BUT YOU PROBABLY NEED MORE ADVOCATES AND EVEN AROUND THIS, UH, TABLE KNOCKING ON THE DOOR AND MAKING THE PHONE CALLS TO GET YOU THE ANSWERS THAT YOU AND YOUR FAMILY DESERVE.
SO, ALTHOUGH I KNOW THIS INCIDENT HAPPENED IN DISTRICT B, UM, MY OFFICE WILL, UH, STAND WITH YOU AND START MAKING MORE INQUIRIES ON YOUR, UH, SON'S CASE TO TRY TO GET YOU SOME ANSWERS.
UH, I CAN ONLY IMAGINE WHAT YOU'RE GOING THROUGH AND WHAT YOUR FAMILY IS GOING THROUGH BY NOT GETTING THE ANSWERS YOU WOULD LIKE TO, UH, RECEIVE.
SO, UH, I'LL DO MY PART TO WORK WITH YOUR COUNCIL MEMBER, UH, AS WELL AS WORKING WITH THE FAMILY TO GET THE INFORMATION I NEED TO MAKE THOSE CALLS AND MAKE THOSE INQUIRIES.
AND WE'LL SEE WHAT WE CAN DO, UH, TO GET YOU A RESPONSE AND TO MAKE SURE THAT THAT INVESTIGATION ISN'T TAKING, UM, LONGER THAN IT NEEDS TO.
UM, TO ECHO MY COLLEAGUE, UH, I DON'T HAVE THE WORDS.
UM, YOU, YOU ARE STANDING HERE SO STRONG TO SHARE THOSE COMMENTS, UM, IN YOUR BRAVERY.
SO I WANTED TO ACKNOWLEDGE THAT.
UM, I HAVE NO IDEA THE WEIGHT THAT YOU'RE CARRYING, BUT I WANNA EXTEND TO YOU MY SUPPORT AS WELL.
AND WE'LL WORK DEFINITELY CLOSE WITH YOUR COLLEAGUE.
UM, SOMETIMES PEOPLE, YOU KNOW, PART OF OUR JOB IS TO RESTORE FAITH IN GOVERNMENT AND TO RESTORE, UM, THAT YOU HAVE PEOPLE THAT ARE ADVOCATING ON YOUR BEHALF.
SO I WANNA THANK YOU FOR SOUNDING THE ALARM AND, AND BRINGING PEOPLE WITH YOU AND, AND MAKING US AWARE.
BUT I DO HAVE A SPECIFIC QUESTION.
YOU ALLUDED TO IT IN YOUR COMMENTS.
WHEN WAS THE LAST TIME YOU WERE COMMUNICATED WITH, FROM THE, UH, POLICE DEPARTMENT ABOUT THE CASE OR THE STATUS OF THE CASE? DO YOU HAVE AN ONGOING CONVERSATION WITH THEM? I HAVE HEARD FROM THE POLICE DEPARTMENT.
ONLY TIME WE, UM, WE DEALT WITH THE POLICE DEPARTMENT WHEN, UH, CHIEF NER CAME TO A TOWN HALL MEETING.
WE SPOKE, AND BASICALLY, AGAIN, IT WAS MOVING AROUND THE SITUATION INSTEAD OF ADDRESSING THE SITUATION.
AND I JUST, UM, MATTER OF FACT, I JUST WENT TO THE VICTIM CRIME, UH, RALLY ON MAYBE TWO WEEKS AGO MM-HMM
AND HE BASICALLY IGNORED ME EVEN AFTER SPEAKING WITH HIM AS I DONE SOMETHING TO THE POLICE DEPARTMENT.
AND I FEEL THAT THAT'S UNACCEPTABLE.
'CAUSE I DON'T DISRESPECT NONE OF Y'ALL, I DON'T DISRESPECT ANYONE.
'CAUSE I WASN'T RAISED THAT WAY.
SO WITH THAT, DO, UH, WITH THAT SAID, HE IGNORED ME EVEN AFTER I SPOKE TO HIM AS IF I DONE SOMETHING TO HIM AM I'M A MOTHER OF A, A BLACK CHILD.
AND IT, IT WASN'T ONLY TAKEN FROM FROM ME, IT WAS TAKEN FROM HIS FATHER.
IT WAS TAKEN FROM HIS STEPFATHER, HIS DAUGHTER.
AND I'M JUST FURIOUS BECAUSE WE HAVE NOT HAD ANY HELP FROM ANYBODY ON POLITICIANS, ANYTHING.
WE WERE TOLD THAT POLITICIANS CAN'T MOVE HEAVEN.
AND THAT IS UNACCEPTABLE TO ME.
SO I I, I THINK WHAT'S CONCERNING FOR ME IS TO MAKE SURE YOU HAVE ONGOING CONVERSATION, UM, REGARDING THE CASE.
AND, YOU KNOW, SOME OF IT'S, IT'S A, IT'S A LEGALITY TO IT.
SOME OF IT'S A PROCEDURE, BUT NEVERTHELESS, YOU SHOULD BE INFORMED ON WHAT THE PROCESS IS.
SO YOU AT LEAST HAVE THE LANGUAGE AND UNDERSTAND THE TIMELINE AND CAN LEVEL SET.
UM, SO COUNCIL MEMBER JACKSON, I, I REALLY WANNA WORK WITH YOU TO MAKE SURE SHE HAS A POINT PERSON THAT CAN CONSISTENTLY PROVIDE UPDATES EVEN FOR, FROM THE DA'S OFFICE FROM HP, UM, HPD, THE UNION, HOWEVER THAT IS.
SO SHE UNDERSTANDS, BECAUSE THERE'S MULTIPLE DYNAMICS.
IT'S NOT ALWAYS AS SIMPLE AS, WELL, HOW WE WOULD SEE IT ON, YOU KNOW, TV OR THE NEWS.
BUT YOU NEED THAT INFORMATION.
AND SOMETIMES THAT'S NOT SHARED.
SO I WANNA MAKE SURE THAT WE GET THAT TO HER.
AND I JUST WANNA ACKNOWLEDGE YOU FOR YOUR PRESENCE TODAY.
CAN I ASK ONE MORE QUESTION? WHY COME? IT IS ALWAYS A POLICY AND PROCESS WHEN IT COMES DOWN TO A WHITE OFFICERS.
AND WHEN IT COMES DOWN TO A, A BLACK CIVILIAN MAKING ERRORS OR MAKING MISTAKES OR MAKING BAD CHOICES, IT'S IMMEDIATELY DEALT WITH WHY CAN'T WE ALL BE TRANSPARENT? SO I CAN'T ANSWER THAT EXPLICITLY.
BUT I WILL TELL YOU IN 2020, SEVERAL OF US AUTHORED MULTIPLE RECOMMENDATIONS, UM, TO ADDRESS EVEN RECRUITING, HR PRACTICES, ALL OF THAT, UH, THREE YEARS AGO.
UM, SO, UM, IT'S, THAT WASN'T A FIX ALL.
IT WASN'T TO CURE EVERYTHING, BUT IT WAS THE STEP IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION.
IT HAS SELF-CORRECTED SOME OTHER THINGS.
WE DEFINITELY HAVE, UH, MORE WORK TO DO.
YOUR COMMENTS TELL US TODAY, WE STILL HAVE MORE WORK TO DO, SO WE'RE NOT DONE.
[01:30:01]
WHY I I APPRECIATE YOU, UM, COMING HERE TO SHARE THAT SO WE CAN CONTINUE TO KEEP OUR EYES ON THE THINGS THAT ARE IMPORTANT, ESPECIALLY TO THE VICTIM'S FAMILIES.UM, BUT I WANNA MAKE SURE A PRIORITY THAT WE GET YOU LINKED IN WITH SOME COMMUNICATION.
'CAUSE IT SOUNDS LIKE THERE'S SOME INFORMATION THAT YOU DON'T HAVE THAT YOU NEED.
AND SECOND, ANY DISCUSSION? ANY DISCUSSION? IF NO DISCUSSION, ITEM PASSES.
AND I JUST WANNA TELL YOU, THANK YOU FOR YOUR STRENGTH.
I CANNOT IMAGINE WHAT YOU ARE EXPERIENCING RIGHT NOW.
AND I TOO WILL JOIN MY COLLEAGUES TO MAKE SURE THAT YOU HAVE THE ANSWERS THAT YOU NEED.
COUNCIL MEMBER KOSH, I HEAR THE SADNESS IN YOUR VOICE.
I HAVE, UH, FOUR SONS AND, AND, AND RIGHT AT 12 GRANDSONS.
AND, UH, I CAN ONLY IMAGINE THE PAIN THAT YOU MUST HAVE EXPERIENCED.
AND, UH, UH, SOMETIMES, UH, AS YOU MENTIONED, ELECTED OFFICIALS, WE HAVE CERTAIN AUTHORITIES.
BUT I DO APPRECIATE YOU COMING AND, AND IT, BY YOU COMING, YOU GET TO VOICE IT.
AND I BELIEVE IT HELPS ALL OF US.
AND, UM, THE COUNCIL MEMBERS WILL WORK WITH YOUR COUNCIL MEMBER TO TRY TO GET YOU SOME OF THOSE ANSWERS.
HOW'S EVERYONE DOING? UM, LIKE WE ALLUDED TO EARLIER, HOUSTON IS ONE OF THE MOST DIVERSE, GREATEST CITIES IN, UH, IN THE WORLD, ACTUALLY DEALING WITH NASA AND ALL THESE THINGS OF THIS NATURE.
BUT IN REALITY IS AN UNDERLYING, UH, PROBLEM HERE IN HOUSTON, WHICH THE POLICE, THE POLITICIANS, EVERYTHING THEY SWEEP UNDER THE RUG, WHICH IS POLICE BRUTALITY.
IT'S AN ONGOING THING THAT GOES ON WITHIN OUR COMMUNITIES AS BLACK COMMUNITIES.
IT'S A ESOTERIC LAW THAT'S BEING IMPOSED AMONGST ALL OF, BUT PEOPLE CAN'T GO OUTSIDE.
THEY CAN'T WEAR WHAT THEY WANNA WEAR WITHOUT BEING DISCRIMINATED AGAINST OR BOTHERED OR TAMPERED WITH.
WE WORK BY SEPARATE LAWS THAT EVERYBODY KNOWS EXISTS, BUT ON THE OTHER HAND, WE PRETEND THEY DON'T.
UM, AS POLITICIANS, I WAS RAISED BY POLITICIANS.
SO I KNOW ABOUT ALL THE POLITICAL JARGON IT USED TO BE BACK THEN.
POLITICIANS STOOD FOR NOW FOR SOMETHING.
BUT IT SEEMS LIKE ALL OF POLITICIANS NOW SEEM TO STAND FOR THE MEDIA.
ANYTIME SOME MEDIA WORTHY, THAT'S WHEN YOU SEE THEIR FACES.
THE, THE, THE TOPICS, THE ISSUES THAT REALLY CONCERN THE CONSTITUENTS NO LONGER AFFECT PEOPLE.
EVERYBODY'S HERE JUST TO BE ON TV, SOCIAL MEDIA, WHATEVER THAT CAUSES.
BUT THIS IS, THIS NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED.
YOU KNOW, HOUSTON IS A BIG MUNICIPALITY.
YOU GOT SMALLER MUNICIPALITIES AROUND THE COUNTRY, WHICH ATTACK AGGRESSIVELY POLICE ISSUES.
BUT HERE ON THIS CITY, WE LAY IT DOWN, WE HIDE IT, WE WORRY ABOUT MARCH MADNESS, WE WORRY ABOUT THE BIKE RIDES, WE WORRY ABOUT ALL THE FOOLISHNESS.
WHILE PEOPLE ARE STUDIED GETTING MURDERED, PEOPLE ARE STUDIED, BEING BOTHERED, INCARCERATED PEOPLE ARE DYING.
IN THE LAST TWO YEARS, 50 PEOPLE HAVE DIED IN HARRIS COUNTY JAIL WHILE BEING INCARCERATED.
NO ONE TALKS ABOUT ANY OF THESE ISSUES, BUT WE TALK ABOUT ALL THE FOOLISHNESS.
WHAT WASHINGTON AVENUE OFFERS, WHAT THE HEIGHTS OFFER.
IT OFFERS NOTHING FOR BLACK PEOPLE, NOTHING FOR MEXICAN PEOPLE.
BECAUSE GUESS WHAT, WHEN THEY GO TO THOSE AREAS, THEY'RE BEING HARASSED, THEY'RE BEING SHOT AT, THEY'RE BEING, THE POLICE ARE NOT HERE FOR US.
THE POLITICIANS AREN'T HERE FOR US ANYMORE.
WE TELL THESE STORIES TO EACH AND EVERY ONE OF THE POLITICIANS.
GUESS WHAT? THEY ACT LIKE THEY NEVER HEARD THEM.
BUT WHEN BEN CRUMP, MY ESTEEMED ATTORNEY APPEARS, HERE THEY GO, ALL OF A SUDDEN IT'S NEWSWORTHY.
THEN THESE PROBLEMS NEED TO BE ADDRESSED IN HOUSTON.
IT'S TERRIBLE THAT WE HAVE TO LOOK AT YOU GUYS AND, AND ASK FOR HELP.
I HAVE TO ASK FOR HELP AFTER MY SON'S BEEN MURDERED IN THREE SECONDS.
YOU TRYING TO TELL ME IT TAKES AN ENTIRE YEAR TO INVESTIGATE THREE SECONDS.
I DON'T KNOW HOW YOU EVEN SAY THAT.
AND CHIEF BANNER TELLS US, I WENT TO A MEETING THE OTHER DAY.
WE TALKED ABOUT PUBLIC SAFETY, AND I TOLD HIM THE LOWER REALM OF THE SAFETY PUBLIC SAFETY ARE MINORITY MEN, YOUNG, MINORITY MEN ARE, ARE THOSE NOT SAFETY ISSUES THAT WE DON'T HAVE TO ENCOUNTER BEING JUST HARASSED? OR MA'AM, YOUR TIME HAS EXPIRED.
JUST, JUST ONE SECOND, MR. RANDALL, COUNCIL MEMBER POLLARD.
[01:35:01]
UH, MR. RANDALL, UH, MY SINCERE CONDOLENCES.I KNOW THE, THE, UM, I KNOW THE BILL STOPPED YOUR COMMENTS, BUT YOU CAN HAVE THE REST OF MY TIME TO FINISH UP.
WELL, I'VE SAID MOST LAW, LIKE I SAY, THIS NEEDS TO BE TRANSPARENCY.
I DON'T KNOW WHETHER THE, THE POSTLE UNION RUNS THE CITY, THE POLICE, OR WHEN DOES A MAN HAVE ENOUGH STAND UP IN HIS SELF BELIEF IN GOD TO DO THE RIGHT THING? GOD IS THE PERSON WHO JUDGES EVERYBODY.
IF THE POLICE UNION, YOU'RE WORRIED ABOUT YOUR JOB, DO THE RIGHT THING.
DO YOUR JOB ON EARTH, WHAT GOD PUT YOU HERE FOR.
AND THAT'S TO DO WHAT'S RIGHT.
WE DID, UH, MR. RANDALL, BEFORE YOU WALK AND MR. RANDALL WALK AWAY, COUNCIL MEMBER JACKSON, MR. RANDALL, UM, THANK YOU, UH, FOR COMING IN AND SPEAKING UP.
I REALLY, REALLY APPRECIATE IT.
AND JUST KNOW THAT YOU HAVE AN ADVOCATE.
I BELIEVE THAT, YOU KNOW, THIS HAS TAKEN TOO LONG.
UM, AND THANK YOU FOR JUST BRINGING BACK TO THE FOREFRONT AND LET'S DO WHAT WE NEED TO DO TO, TO GET SOME, SOME ANSWERS.
NEXT SPEAKER, WE'RE GONNA GO BACK UP TO THETIS BUTLER.
I'M IN, UH, DISTRICT B, BUT MY, UH, PRESENTATION TODAY IS REGARDING THE CITY OF HOUSTON.
UM, I SPENT SOME TIME IN COLORADO, SMALL RURAL TOWN, UM, CALLED LOVELAND.
AND I SPENT ABOUT A YEAR THERE UP IN THE MOUNTAINS.
EVERYTHING WAS QUAINT, NICE, PEACEFUL.
AND YOU KNOW, I WATCHED THE NEWS EVERY MORNING FROM MY HOTEL, AND IT SEEMED LIKE EVERYBODY WAS JUST GETTING ALONG AND EVERYTHING WAS FINE.
I COME TO HOUSTON AND I'M A NATIVE HERE.
I'M LOCAL, GREW UP HERE, AND I COME TO HOUSTON.
AND I'M JUST REALLY DISAPPOINTED IN WHAT MY CITY HAS BECOME.
NOW I KNOW THAT YOU ALL AREN'T DIRECTLY RESPONSIBLE FOR THE CURRENT STATE OF THE CITY, BUT YOU KNOW, AS FAR AS JOB OPPORTUNITIES AND BUSINESSES AND STIMULATION, I WOULD HOPE THAT WE CAN SEE MORE OF THAT.
UM, I DO SEE NEW BUILDINGS GOING UP, WHICH IS PROMISING.
HOWEVER, I FEEL LIKE THERE'S MORE TO BE DONE.
AND I FEEL LIKE YOU ALL, UH, IF YOU HAVE A VOICE, IF YOU HAVE ANY TYPE OF POWER OR AUTHORITY OVER THE POWERS AND A AUTHORITIES IN THIS CITY, THEN I HOPE THAT YOU CAN EXERCISE THAT, UH, PRUDENTLY AND EXPEDITIOUSLY AND DO THE JOB THAT WE ALL ELECTED YOU GUYS TO DO.
THANK YOU, MR. BUTLER, FOR BEING HERE.
HI, UM, I'M HERE TO TALK TO Y'ALL TODAY ABOUT SOMETHING OTHER THAN 11TH STREET.
LET'S TALK ABOUT LIVABLE SPACES,
UM, SO LIVABLE SPACES, ARE Y'ALL FAMILIAR WITH THAT? Y'ALL KNOW WHAT'S GOING ON WITH IT, RIGHT? WELL, I WENT AHEAD AND SAT IN, IN 10 HOURS WORTH OF MEETINGS WHERE THEY WERE TALKING ABOUT WHAT THEY'RE PLANNING ON DOING.
AND THE PUBLIC DOES NOT KNOW ABOUT THIS.
WE NEED TO GET IT OUT TO OUR NEIGHBORS.
UM, THE CITY'S RUNNING THROUGH THE SAME SCENARIO THAT WE DO EVERY TIME.
SO, LIVABLE SPACES IS GONNA BE OUR NEW 11TH STREET.
IF WE DON'T GET THE INFORMATION OUT AHEAD OF TIME, WE NEED TO BE IN SWEATY GYMS WHERE WE CAN SIT AND ACTUALLY EXPLAIN TO THE PUBLIC WHAT'S GOING ON.
PEOPLE ARE BEING PARCELED OUT AND SOLD IN LITTLE SECTIONS.
WHAT'S GOING ON? AND WHEN I SAY LITTLE SECTIONS, I'M TALKING ABOUT LESS THAN A DOZEN PEOPLE AT A TIME.
THEY'RE DEPENDING ON THE, UM, SUPER NEIGHBORHOOD GROUPS AND OUR CIVICS CLUBS TO GET THIS INFORMATION OUT.
WE NEED THE CITY TO TAKE HOLD OF THIS, TO HAVE MEETINGS TO TELL PEOPLE WHAT'S GOING ON.
I MEAN, THEY'RE ACTUALLY TALKING ABOUT GETTING RID OF, OF PARKING REQUIREMENTS FOR THE LIVABLE SPACES COMMUNITY, LIKE THE DIFFERENT BILL.
ANYWHERE THAT THERE'S A BIKE LANE WITHIN A CERTAIN DISTANCE, UM, OR BOOST PROJECT OR PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION, WE DON'T EVEN HAVE SIDEWALKS
[01:40:01]
TO CONNECT SOME OF THESE THINGS.NO ONE KNOWS WHAT'S GOING ON IN OUR CIVICS CLUBS AND OUR SUPER NEIGHBORHOOD GROUPS ARE NOT DOING WHAT THEY NEED TO DO TO GET THE INFORMATION OUT.
SO HOW DO WE GET PUBLIC WORKS TO ACTUALLY HOST MEETINGS AND TO BE THE ONES THAT ARE THE ONES HOSTING IT, NOT DEPENDING ON SOMEONE ELSE TO INVITE 'EM TO SOMETHING TO HOST IT.
IF Y'ALL FIND PLACES TO HAVE MEETINGS, I CAN FILL IT.
I PROMISE I WILL HAVE PEOPLE SHOW UP FOR THE MEETINGS TO HEAR THE PRESENTATIONS.
SO WHAT CAN Y'ALL DO TO HELP ME FIND THE SPACES AND TO HAVE PUBLIC WORKS ACTUALLY THERE TELLING THE COMMUNITY WHAT Y'ALL ARE PLANNING ON DOING.
THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE, MS. WRIGHT.
UH, WE DO HAVE A COUNCIL MEMBER THAT WOULD LIKE TO ADDRESS YOU.
AND, AND I, I DID GO TO THE GREATER INWOOD SUPER NEIGHBORHOOD LAST NIGHT WHERE I, I SAW THE PRESENTATION AND I KNOW THAT, THAT THAT'S KIND OF OUR WAY AS A CITY TO FUNNEL INFORMATION DOWN.
WERE NOT MORE THAN, YOU KNOW, 20 PEOPLE THERE.
SO, UM, YOU KNOW, I WOULD ASK THAT THE ADMINISTRATION DO CONSIDER, YOU KNOW, SOME LARGER MEETINGS.
THIS IS, YOU KNOW, SOME MAJOR THINGS THAT WE'RE BRINGING AND SOME OF THEM, YOU KNOW, LOOK VERY PROMISING, AND SOME OF THEM MIGHT NEED MORE TO WORK TO FLESH OUT.
SO, SO, UH, JUST THANK YOU FOR COMING AND HIGHLIGHTING THAT.
I, IT WAS THE FIRST TIME I HAD SAT THROUGH THE PRESENTATION AND AS MANY PEOPLE AS CAN SEE IT, UM, THAT THERE'S A LOT OF REALLY GOOD PICTURES IN IT, SO YOU CAN REALLY FIGURE, YOU KNOW, SEE WHAT, WHAT, WHAT, WHAT'S GOING ON.
BUT YEAH, I MEAN, WE AS A CITY USE THE SUPER NEIGHBORHOODS TO FUNNEL INFORMATION DOWN TO THE VARIOUS CIVIC CLUBS.
HOWEVER WE CAN IMPROVE THAT PROCESS OR, OR, AND IT'S THE PLANNING DEPARTMENT REALLY RUNNING THIS NOT PUBLIC WORK.
SO ANYWAY, THANKS FOR COMING AND HIGHLIGHTING THAT.
AND I, I WOULD CERTAINLY, UM, AGREE THAT THE MORE PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT WE CAN DO, THE BETTER ON THIS.
THANK YOU COUNCIL MEMBER KNOX.
THANK YOU MS. WRIGHT FOR COMING TODAY.
AND, UH, WE ALREADY TALKED ABOUT WEST 11TH A LITTLE BIT THIS MORNING OR THIS AFTERNOON, SO WE'RE NOT GONNA DO THAT.
I DO WANNA POINT OUT THOUGH, THAT OVER THE PAST 20 TO 30 YEARS, IT'S BEEN A PUSH IN THE CITY OF HOUSTON TO, TO CREATE A CITY THAT IS A UTOPIAN EXPERIENCE.
THAT IS A, A WALKABLE CITY WHERE EVERYBODY WAS IS EVERYTHING IS WITHIN WALKING DISTANCE AND WE NO LONGER NEED CARS, AND WE CAN ALL RELY ON PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION.
BUT, UM, IT'S NOT A VERY PRACTICAL WAY TO DO BUSINESS.
AND I APPRECIATE YOUR COMING TODAY AND POINTING OUT THAT OUR PLANNING DEPARTMENT, I THINK SOMETIMES GOES OFF ON ITS OWN AND, AND JUST DOES WHATEVER THEY WANT TO DO.
AND, UH, I AGREE WITH YOU THAT THERE NEEDS TO BE A LOT MORE COMMUNITY INPUT IN THESE PROGRAMS. THESE, THESE POLICIES NEED TO BE A LOT MORE FLEXIBLE.
THEY NEED TO BE ABLE TO BE CHANGED AT THE WILL OF THE COMMUNITY.
UH, WHEN THEY FIND IT WORKS FINE.
IF IT DOESN'T WORK, IT DOESN'T WORK.
THE PURPOSE OF REDUCING PARKING REQUIREMENTS IS SO YOU CAN INCREASE DENSITY AND THEREBY IT PROMOTE PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION AND, AND WALKABILITY.
UM, I, I, I THINK THAT THERE'S A PLACE FOR THAT IN HOUSTON, BUT I'M NOT SURE THAT ALL OF HOUSTON IS REALLY READY FOR THAT.
SO, UH, I APPRECIATE YOUR COMMENTS AND THANK YOU FOR COMING AND RINGING THE BELL OF ATTENTION FOR US TO PAY ATTENTION TO.
ROLAND CURRY, NEXT SPEAKER, MARIKA MOORE.
HELLO, I'M MARIKA MOORE AND I LIVE IN DISTRICT H AND I'M HERE TO TALK ABOUT THE BIKE AND TRANSPORTATION SAFETY.
SO HOUSTON HAS BEEN INCREASING THE AMOUNT OF SHARED USED PADS AND DEDICATED LANES FOR BICYCLES.
THEY'VE BEEN HELPING PEOPLE TO GET TO PLACES USING THE ALTERNATIVE MODES OF TRANSPORTATION.
UH, THE LANES THAT HAVE A BARRIER BETWEEN MOTORISTS AND OTHER ROAD USERS ARE SAFER AND WE LOVE THEM.
I'M ALSO HERE TO REMIND YOU THAT THE VISION ZERO PROGRAM HAS BEEN FAILING.
LAST WEEK, A MOTORIST CRASHED INTO A WOMAN ON A BICYCLE.
SHE WAS THE SIXTH PERSON ON A BICYCLE TO DIE THIS YEAR.
VISION ZERO PROMISED ZERO DEBTS IN HOUSTON ROADS.
THESE SIX LIVES COULD HAVE BEEN SAVED WITH INFRASTRUCTURE DESIGNED FOR ALL ROAD USERS.
BUILD MORE MULTIMODAL LANES FOR VULNERABLE ROAD USERS, SEPARATE LANES FROM CARS WITH CURBS OF CEMENT OR CRAFTS.
MEDIAS THIS WAY, MOTORISTS STAY AWAY FROM CRASHING INTO PEOPLE ON BIKES, RUNNERS WHEELCHAIRS.
THOSE WALK HAVE BIKE LANES AND PATHS, CONNECT NEIGHBORHOODS, PARKS AND
[01:45:01]
PEOPLE BY ADDING THEM INTO ALL POSSIBLE ROADS.THE FASTER PROTECTED LANES ARE BEING BUILT, THE MORE LIVES WILL BE SAVED.
YOU CAN USE TO CAREFULLY DESANT HOUSTON BIKE LANE AS A REFERENCE WHERE TO BUILD THESE BIKE LANES.
PLEASE WORK TOGETHER WITH THE COMMISSIONERS, CITY COUNCIL, DISTRICTS S AND MANAGEMENT DISTRICTS.
AND WHEN YOU HEAR PUSHBACK, REMEMBER VISION ZERO AND THE PROMISE OF ZERO DEBTS YOU MADE.
REMEMBER THOSE WHO GOT INJURED AND LOST THEIR LIVES WHEN THEY WERE RIDING THEIR BICYCLES.
KEEP IN MIND THAT HIGH CAR SPEEDS CREATE MORE CRASHES.
BARRIERS OF CEMENT OR CRASH MEDIAS WILL SLOW THESE SPEEDS DOWN AND HELP MOTORISTS STAY OFF WRECKS.
THE MORE THERE ARE PROTECTED BIKE LANES AND THE MORE THEY CONNECT TO PLACES, THE MORE THERE WILL BE PEOPLE USING THESE LANES.
EVERY PERSON ON A BICYCLE AND A PEDESTRIAN YOU SEE IS ONE LESS CAR POLLUTING, ONE LESS CAR CREATING TRAFFIC, ONE LESS CAR CRASHING.
YOU ARE IN A POSITION OF POWER TO DECIDE WHEN THE ROADS WILL BE SAFER FOR ALL YOU MAKE THE CALL, WHICH DEATH IS THE LAST WE WITNESSED IN OUR STREETS.
BUILD PROTECTED LANDS FOR ALL SELF-POWERED ROAD USERS NOW, AND YOU WILL BUILD A LIFESAVING LEGACY.
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR BEING HERE.
UH, DEAR COUNCILMAN, I'M HERE, UH, TO SPEAK ABOUT, UM, QUITE FRANKLY, UNLIVABLE CONDITIONS AS A TENANT IN THE CITY OF HOUSTON.
I'VE BEEN IN QUITE A FEW, UH, PROPERTIES AND I KEEP ON MOVING EVERY YEAR, KEEP ON MOVING EVERY YEAR.
BUT THE LAST ONE CAUSED ME HEALTH ISSUES.
AND I, UM, INVITED, UM, CITY INSPECTORS TO INSPECT A SPECIFIC ISSUE THAT ACTUALLY, UH, ENDED ME IN A EMERGENCY ROOM.
BUT, UM, CITY INSPECTORS, UH, WRONGFULLY IDENTIFIED THE PROBLEM.
AND THE PROBLEM WAS, UM, I LIVE IN THE OLDER BUILDING, UH, PRIVATELY OWNED, UH, ON 23 5 0 BARING UNIT 17.
I'M MOVING NEXT SATURDAY, AND I'M WILLING TO TAKE LEGAL ACTION AGAINST MY OWNER FOR ALL, ALL THE, UH, PROBLEMS CAUSED ME BY THE ISSUE, WHICH I WILL ADDRESS IN JUST A SECOND.
UM, BUT I CANNOT GET CITY INSPECTORS TO PROPERLY IDENTIFY THE ISSUE, UH, UH, SO TO SPEAK, TO COAT IT.
THEY IDENTIFY THE ISSUE, BUT THEY CANNOT PROPERLY COAT IT.
AND WHICH IS, UH, THE, UH, DRYER CLOTHING DRYER, UH, THAT'S VENT IS GOING INSIDE INTO MY, MY, MY BEDROOM WHERE I SLEEP EIGHT HOURS A DAY.
UM, THEY WROTE IT UP AS AC PROBLEM, BUT THAT'S NOT AN AC PROBLEM.
UM, THERE WAS, UH, LIKE THEY CAME IN FOR TWO ISSUES.
ONE WAS WALL CRACKED FROM, UM, SHIFTING FROM, UH, UM, WHAT DO YOU CALL THE FOUNDATION SHIFTING BECAUSE THEY DID, DID RAISE THE FOUNDATION IN THE BUILDING.
UM, BUT THAT DOES NOT CONCERN ME MUCH.
BUT THE, UM, UH, DRYER VENT, LIKE GOING INTO MY BEDROOM, NOT ONLY THE DAMAGE TO A LOT OF MY ARTWORK, UM, WHICH I HAVE NOT ASSESSED, UH, THE OUT OF IT, BUT LIKE, HOPEFULLY I CAN JUST CLEAN IT AND EVERYTHING WILL BE GOOD.
BUT MY HEALTH HAS BEEN DAMAGED AND, UH, I END UP IN EMERGENCY ROOM AND LIKE MY, MY OWNER WHEN HE CAME TO FIX IT, UM, THE PROBLEMS HE GOES, SHOW TO ME, SHOW TO ME WHERE THE CITY, UH, CITED ME
[01:50:01]
FOR, FOR THE DRYER.I GO, THAT'S WHAT THEIR CITATION IS THERE, BUT THERE IS NOWHERE THAT SAYS THAT IT'S DRYER.
I MEAN, LIKE, LITERALLY THE, THE, THE, THE, WHAT DO YOU CALL THE, THE HOSE IS LIKE STICKING OUT LIKE THIS AND GOING INTO LIKE SOME LIKE WATER BUCKET.
AND I KNOW LIKE THERE'S INTERNATIONAL CODE AND, AND FEDERAL CODE ON THIS.
UH, ANYWAY, YEAH, TIME HAS EXPIRED.
SO DO YOU HAVE A SPECIFIC ASK OF THE COUNCIL? I'M VERY OF HEARING DO YOU HAVE A SPECIFIC ASK OF THE COUNCIL? DO I HAVE A SPECIFIC WHAT REQUEST? UM, TO, UH, LIKE THE NEXT WEEK TO SEND THE INSPECTORS WHO CAN PROPERLY, UH, UH, IDENT IDENTIFY THE, UH, THE CODE.
AND DO YOU, DO YOU KNOW WHO YOUR COUNCIL IS? I MEAN, THE PROBLEM IS ALREADY BEING IDENTIFIED, BUT THE CODE IS NOT PROPERLY, UH, WRITTEN UP.
COUNCIL MEMBER HUFFMAN, THANK YOU.
AND THANK YOU FOR, THANK YOU FOR COMING TO, TO COUNCIL TODAY.
UM, I HAVE YOUR, UM, PHONE NUMBER LISTED ON THE AGENDA, AND I'LL TOUCH BASE WITH YOU AFTER, UH, THIS MEETING TODAY AND, AND WE'LL TRY TO FIGURE OUT WHAT YOUR ISSUES ARE.
YES, I MEAN, LIKE, UH, THEY, THEY TRY TO COME IN TO, UH, THE, THE CITY INSPECTORS TRIED, UH, TO ATTEMPT TO COME AND SEE IF EVERYTHING HAS BEEN FIXED COUPLE OR THREE TIMES.
I OUR DAY AND NIGHT, YOU KNOW, AND, AND THEY SHOWED UP AT MY DOOR WITHOUT ANY ATION 24 HOURS PRIOR OR, OR EVEN LIKE FEW HOURS PRIOR THAT THEY'RE COMING.
I CAN'T BE SITTING AT HOME AND NOT WORKING.
I CAN'T, I'M THE ONLY ONE WHO SUPPORTS MYSELF.
WELL, I'LL TOUCH BASE WITH YOU AFTER THIS.
AND, AND THERE'S, THERE'S A, DO YOU NEED THE C CASE? UH, THE CITY CASE, UH, FOR, FOR, FOR THIS ISSUE.
SHE CAN GET THAT INFORMATION FROM ME WHEN SHE, SHE CALLS YOU, UH, CH 0 0 0 1 8 4 3.
AND I'M MOVING, UH, ON THE FIRST, AND I NEED THEM TO INSPECT IT AND WRITE THE CITATION PROPERLY.
IS VICKI HERE? NEXT SPEAKER? PETE CANITA.
I'VE BEEN A PROUD RESIDENT OF HARRIS COUNTY FOR THE PAST 11 YEARS.
I'VE, AFTER COMPLETING COLLEGE, I PURSUED MY CAREER HERE AS AN ENGINEER, AND IT HAS BEEN A PRIVILEGE TO CALL THIS PLACE HOME EVER SINCE.
IN 2021, I WAS THRILLED TO REALIZE THAT MY AMERICAN DREAM WAS COMING TRUE, AND I WAS ABLE TO SAVE ENOUGH MONEY TO PUR TO PURCHASE MY DREAM PROPERTY AT 1600 KING STREET.
THIS UNIQUE PROPERTY OFFERS BREATHTAKING VIEWS OF THE DOWNTOWN SKYLINE AND IS SITUATED WITHIN WALKING DISTANCE OF THE UNIVERSITY OF HOUSTON DOWNTOWN CAMPUS AND THE BUFFALO BAYOU TRAIL.
I HAD PLANS TO DEVELOP THIS PROPERTY INTO A COMMERCIAL ROOFTOP RESTAURANT AND LIVING SPACE FOR ME AND MY FAMILY.
HOWEVER, MY JOY WAS SHORT-LIVED.
WHEN I RECEIVED A LETTER FROM HARRIS COUNTY ON MARCH 10TH THAT INFORMED ME THEY WERE INTENDED TO PURCHASE MY PROPERTY VIA IMMINENT DOMAIN AT LESS THAN 40% OF THE MARKET VALUE.
THE OFFER THEY MADE ME WAS $288,000, WHICH IS INSUFFICIENT TO PURCHASE EVEN A RESIDENTIAL LOT IN THAT AREA, LET ALONE A COMMERCIAL PROPERTY WITH A SKYLINE VIEW.
THE PROPERTY HOLDS SENTIMENTAL VALUE FOR ME AND MY FAMILY, AND THE THOUGHT OF LOSING IT IS DEVASTATING.
AS A PRIVATE INDIVIDUAL, NOT PART OF A LARGE CORPORATION OR FROM A WEALTHY BACKGROUND, I IMPLORE YOU TO AS ASSIST ME IN MAKING THIS RIGHT.
I RESPECTFULLY REQUEST ONE OF THREE POSSIBLE OUTCOMES.
NUMBER ONE, I'M ALLOWED TO RETAIN POSSESSION OF MY PROPERTY.
NUMBER TWO, I'M GIVEN ENOUGH COMPENSATION TO PURCHASE A COMPARABLE PROPERTY IN DOWNTOWN.
[01:55:01]
NEIGHBOR'S PROPERTIES ARE LISTED FOR 3 MILLION TO 6 MILLION PER ACRE.NUMBER THREE, I'M GRANTED EXCLUSIVE RIGHTS TO PURCHASE A COMPARABLE DOWNTOWN COMMERCIAL PROPERTY WITH THE SKYLINE VIEW THAT HARRIS COUNTY OWNS AT THE SAME PRICE IN WHICH HARRIS COUNTY IS PURCHASING MY PROPERTY.
MY ONLY DESIRE IS TO BE MADE WHOLE FROM THIS SITUATION.
I HUMBLY REQUEST YOUR URGENT ATTEN ATTENTION BEFORE THE SPECIAL HEARING, UH, SPECIAL COMMITTEE HEARING SCHEDULED FOR APRIL 10TH.
I HAVE PREPARED A PACKAGE WHICH I PLAN TO PASS OUT.
THIS SHOWS THE LOCATION OF MY PROPERTY, COMMERCIAL PROPERTIES FOR SALE, UH, MY PLANS FOR MY ROOFTOP RESTAURANT AND LIVING SPACE, AND THE OFFER I RECEIVED FROM HARRIS COUNTY.
IN CLOSING, I WANNA EXPRESS MY GRATITUDE FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION OF THESE MATTERS.
LOSING THIS PROPERTY WOULD NOT ONLY BE A FINANCIAL BLOW, BUT A DEEP PERSONAL LOSS.
IT WOULD MEAN SAYING GOODBYE TO A DREAM THAT I HAVE WORKED HARD TO ACHIEVE.
I HOPE THAT YOU CAN SEE THE IMPORTANCE OF MY REQUEST AND THE IMPACT IT WILL HAVE ON MY LIFE AND MY LOVED ONES.
I BELIEVE IN THE POWER OF OUR COMMUNITY AND COLLABORATION, AND I REMAIN HOPEFUL THAT WE CAN FIND A SOLUTION THAT BENEFITS EVERYONE INVOLVED.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME, AND I AWAIT YOUR RESPONSE AND I'LL PASS PACKETS ON BOTH SIDES.
MS. HOLLY, HAVE YOU HAD ANY CONVERSATION WITH HARRIS COUNTY? UM, I'VE ONLY HAD CONVERSATIONS WITH THE, UH, PERSON WHO SENT OUT THE LETTER, UH, FOR THE EMINENT DOMAIN.
SO NOT WITH THE, SO HAVE YOU HAD ANY CONVERSATION WITH THE HARRIS COUNTY COMMISSIONER'S COURT? UH, NO, BUT SOMEONE I THINK MY COUNCIL YES.
UH, MY COUNCIL PERSON JUST SHARED, UH, A CONTACT WITH ME FOR HARRIS COUNTY.
COUNCIL MEMBER CISNEROS, DID YOU WANT TO ADDRESS HER? YES.
SO WE, WE CONNECTED WITH YOU AND, AND, UM, HAVE REFERRED YOU TO SOMEONE TO SPEAK WITH IN PRECINCT TWO THAT, UM, BECAUSE THIS IS A COUNTY ISSUE AND, UM, I I WANTED TO JUST CONGRATULATE YOU ON, ON, ON THE SUCCESSFUL PERSON YOU ARE AND THAT YOU, YOU KNOW, THAT YOU, UM, A A YOUNG PERSON BUYING A HOME AND YOU KNOW, AND I KNOW YOU HAD BIG DREAMS FOR THIS.
UM, I DID WANNA ASK YOU, UM, ABOUT THIS SPECIAL COMMITTEE HEARING.
THAT'S A COUNTY MEETING THAT THEY'LL BE HEARING YOUR CASE? YES.
GET IN TOUCH WITH THE CONTACT WE GAVE YOU AND, AND WORK THAT, AND, AND YOU MAY ALSO WANNA SEEK, UM, SOME LEGAL GUIDANCE THAT, YOU KNOW, THAT CAN HELP YOU.
UM, YEAH, SO I'VE BEEN IN CONTACT, UM, IN COMMISSIONER'S COURT SLIGHTLY WITH LEGAL GUIDANCE, BUT I MEAN, THE, THE FEES AND, UH, THE PRE PERCENTAGES THAT THEY WANNA TAKE ARE LIKE, IT, IT MAY BE WORTH IT TO YOU.
I JUST WANT TO REITERATE, UH, THE COUNTY, UM, AND IT'S, IT, YOU WOULD NEED TO MOVE EXPEDITIOUSLY TO MAKE SURE, UH, NOT ONLY THE COUNTY ENGINEER, WHICH SEEMS LIKE THIS IS THE ONE THAT OFFERED YOU THE OFFER TO PURCHASE, BUT ALSO COMMISSIONER'S COURT AND, UM, YOU KNOW, EMINENT DOMAIN CAN BE A, SO I GET IT, BUT I, I, I WE'RE THE, THE WRONG BODY TO COME BEFORE THAT JURISDICTION, UM, ISSUED THIS.
AND I WOULD, UM, JUST AS WELL PREPARED AS YOU ARE FOR THIS, DEFINITELY GET THAT IN FRONT OF, IN PERSON AT COMMISSIONER'S COURT AND GET THOSE COPIES TO THEM BECAUSE, UM, I'M CURIOUS, SO THERE ARE THEY STATING THAT THEY WANNA ACQUIRE, THEY WANNA ACQUIRE THIS FOUR CLINIC? CORRECT? SO THERE'S A, UM, A HEALTH CENTER NEXT DOOR, BUT I MEAN,
SO THEY'RE, THEY'RE SAYING THEY'RE GOING TO ACQUIRE IT BE, SO THE C IS THE COUNTY PUTTING MONEY IN THIS? YEAH.
SO THEY'VE OFFERED ME, UM, A LITTLE UNDER 40% OF THE MARKET VALUE.
BUT IS THE COUNTY PUTTING MONEY IN THE C CLINIC EXPANSION? UH, I BELIEVE SO.
YEAH, I CAN, WE MAKE SURE, GIVES VERY VALID QUESTIONS.
RENEE, CAN WE MAKE SURE SHE HAS THE INFORMATION FOR COMMISSIONER'S COURT? OKAY.
AND, UH, AGAIN, YOU ARE SO WELL SPOKEN, AND IF YOU KNOW, I KNOW YOUR, YOUR COUNCIL MEMBER IS ACTIVELY NOW ENGAGED IN HELPING YOU GET TO THE RIGHT FOLKS TO ADDRESS THIS.
I JUST WANTED TO EMPHASIZE WHAT SHE SAID ABOUT IT MAY BE WORTH IT TO RETAIN COUNSEL, UM, FOR THIS, BECAUSE AGAIN, THIS IS YOUR PROPERTY, AND IF YOU'RE GOING TO INTO NEGOTIATE WITH A BODY, REGARDLESS OF THAT BODY, UH, I CAN'T GIVE YOU LEGAL ADVICE, I WOULD JUST SAY, UH, TAKE A STRONG LOOK AT THAT.
AND IF YOU CANNOT AFFORD IT, THERE'S OTHER LEGAL ENTITIES INCLUDING, FOR EXAMPLE, LONE STAR LEGAL AID.
OKAY? I KNOW THEY HAVE A, A PRETTY, UH, LARGE DOCKET RIGHT NOW, BUT YOU CAN ALL, IT'S WORTH A TRY, RIGHT? INQUIRING WITH SOME PRO BONO, UM, AREAS.
SO I, I CAN ONLY IMAGINE HOW FRUSTRATING THIS IS FOR YOU.
UM, BUT YOU KNOW, YOU, YOU HAVE A GREAT ALLY
[02:00:01]
IN YOUR COUNCIL MEMBER, BUT ALSO IN, UH, YOUR COMMISSIONER, UH, WHO SHOULD BE HOPEFULLY GOING TO BAT FOR YOU ON THIS.COUNCIL MEMBER POLLARD, AND THANK YOU, MA'AM FOR COMING FORWARD, AND I CONCUR WITH MY COLLEAGUES TO, UH, WORK WITH COMMISSIONER'S COURT IN HARRIS COUNTY ON, ON GETTING SOME OF THESE ISSUES ADDRESSED.
AND ALSO THURGOOD MARSHALL SCHOOL OF LAW.
YEAH, THEY HAVE A LEGAL CLINIC.
EARL, CARL INSTITUTE, UH, REACH OUT TO THEM.
UH, THEY MAY BE A GOOD RESOURCE FOR YOU, UH, IN SOUTH TEXAS AS WELL AS SOUTH TEXAS.
THEY HAVE A, A, UH, A CLINIC AS WELL.
SO LOOK AT OUR, OUR LOCAL LAW SCHOOLS THAT MAY BE ABLE TO ASSIST WITH SOME OF YOUR LEGAL QUESTIONS.
HOW YOU DOING? VERY WELL, THANK YOU.
UH, YES, UH, HOW YOU DOING? WE'RE WELL, THANK YOU.
UH, I WOULD LIKE TO ADDRESS THE, UM, PROBLEM OF GENTRIFICATION, WHAT IT POSES IN THE COMMUNITY.
UH, I LIVE IN THE DISTRICT D UH, DISTRICT, UH, UNDER, UM, UH, SHABAZZ, UH, COUNCILMAN, UH, SHABAZZ.
AND, UH, IT IS REGARDING THAT GENTRIFICATION.
NOW, THERE ARE SEVERAL ISSUES THAT, UH, OPPOSE THE, UH, GENTRIFICATION FOR AS IT POSES THREATS TO THOSE PERSONS THAT HAVE BEEN LIVING IN THAT COMMUNITY FOR QUITE SOME TIME.
NOW, WE UNDERSTAND THAT THE BIGGER BUSINESSES KIND OF MOVE IN THERE IN ORDER FOR, FOR DIVERSITY REASONS, FOR IT, FOR ECONOMIC, UH, OPPORTUNITIES FOR TO RAISE REVENUE, TA TAXES.
HOWEVER, ONE ISSUE THEY SAID ABOUT SAFETY, UH, WHICH THEY MOVE IN THERE, BUT THAT'S NOT TRUE BECAUSE WHEN THEY MOVE IN THERE, UH, THE AREA IS MORE CONGESTED AND IT INCREASES PROBLEMS SUCH AS MORE CRIMES AS WELL.
IF THERE ARE ANY CRIMES, WHICH THEY KNOW THERE'S CRIMES EVERYWHERE IN, UH, HOUSTON.
NOW THERE ARE, UM, NOW THE TARGET, THE TARGET, THE HIGH TRAFFIC CONGESTION, UH, THE URBAN RENEWAL PRO PROGRAMS, THE TARGETED PUBLIC, UH, SAFETY, UH, POLICIES AND THE DESIRE OF THE, UH, URBAN LIFE LIFESTYLE TO INCREASE FOR THEIR MOVING IN.
NOW I UNDERSTAND THAT THERE IS A HISTORICAL, THAT IS A HISTORICAL, UH, DISTRICT.
AND, UH, IN, UH, FEBRUARY THE THIRD, NO, UH, 13TH OF THIS YEAR, IT WAS A PUBLIC HEARING WITH THE DRAFT OF THE CON CONSERVATION AND THEN THE CONSERVATION OF THIS, THE, THAT, UH, ISSUE BEING IN THE PLACE.
IT HAVE NOT BEEN PASSED AS OF AS OF YET, BUT HOWEVER WE AND THE COMMUNITY IN WHICH I LIVE, WE APPLAUD YOU FOR, FOR EVEN DRAFTING.
AND, AND, AND, AND WE REALLY WANT YOU TO, UH, PASS ON IN THE PAST THAT BILL BECAUSE IT'LL STOP THE GENTRIFICATION PROCESS IN THAT COMMUNITY BECAUSE THERE ARE PEOPLE THAT HAVE BEEN IN THAT COMMUNITY FOR HUNDREDS, UH, FOR, FOR YEARS AND FOR YEARS.
AND, AND, UM, THEY MAY NOT HAVE THE MEANS IN ORDER TO MOVE.
SO THEREFORE, WITH THE DISPLACEMENT, DISPLACEMENT OF THOSE PERSONS AND THE LACK OF INCOME, WHICH POSES A THREAT TO THE STABILITY OF THAT PARTICULAR, UH, THOSE PERSONS IN THE COMMUNITY, UH, THE, UH, CONSERVATIVE DISTRICT WOULD BE A VERY GOOD PLAN IN ORDER TO OFFSET SAID THAT THERE'S NOT ANYTHING STATED REGARDING THE, UH, ECOLOGICAL, THE ECOLOGY OF THAT PARTICULAR AREA, BUT HOWEVER, A, IT'S A LOT OF SQUIRRELS RUNNING AROUND OR WE HAVE FLOCKS OF BIRDS AND WE HAVE, UH, AND, AND BY PERSONS COMING IN TRYING TO BUILD EVERYTHING UP.
I MEAN, A LOT OF THOSE ANIMALS ARE BEING DISPLACED.
NOW ALL OF US HAVE HAD BIOLOGY 1 0 1, YOU KNOW, WHERE WE BREATHE OUT CARBON DI OXIDE, AND, UH, THE PLANTS BREATHE OUT.
YOU KNOW, YOUR TIME HAS EXPIRED.
BUT HOWEVER, I WOULD APPRECIATE THAT IF THAT CONSERVATIVE BILL IS PASSED, NOT ONLY MYSELF, BUT ALL OF US IN OUR COMMUNITY.
YOU'RE SPEAKING OF THE CONSERVATION DISTRICT.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR YOUR COMMENTS MUCH, AND WE APPLAUD YOU FOR THAT EFFORT TOO.
NEXT SPEAKER, BENJAMIN BROADWAY, HERE TO BE FOLLOWED BY FELIX KAPOOR.
[02:05:01]
OKAY, THANK YOU.UH, MY NAME IS BENJAMIN BROADWAY AND I'D LIKE TO THANK THE COUNCIL FOR HEARING YOU SPEAK TODAY.
TODAY I'M SPEAKING ON THE 2024 CITY BUDGET, AND I'M UP HERE TO ASK IF THEY CAN GIVE $20 MILLION TO SWAP PROJECTS, $20 MILLION TO LDP PROJECTS AND ANOTHER $20 MILLION TO CIP PROJECTS.
AND MY MAIN ASK IS TO GIVE THE 20 MILLION TO THE LDP PROJECTS BECAUSE OF THE SIMPLE FACT IS THAT THEY DO THE WORST FIRST AND THEY DON'T HAVE TO GO THROUGH SOME OF THE POLITICS OF EVERYTHING ELSE THERE IN DISTRICT B ON THE CORNER OF, I WANT TO SAY THE HARDY TOW ROAD AND CAVAL, NO, UM, CROSS TIMBERS.
THERE'S A YARD THERE THAT HAS EQUIPMENT THAT'S RUSTING AND NOT IN USE FRONT END LOADERS THAT COULD BE USED TO GET SOME OF THIS HEAVY TRASH OUT OF DISTRICT B OR OUT OF THE CITY OF HOUSTON.
WE NEED TO MAKE MORE BENEFICIAL USAGE OF THAT EQUIPMENT.
AND, AND, AND Y'ALL SHOWED US THAT Y'ALL CAN GIVE $20 MILLION TO A PACIFIC PROJECT BECAUSE WE'RE FACING ANOTHER HURRICANE SEASON.
WE NEED TO FIX IT NOW, AND Y'ALL HAVE THE POWER TO DO IT, SO PLEASE, LET'S GET THE MONEY TO WHERE IT NEEDS TO BE.
WE APPRECIATE YOUR COMMENTS AND BEING HERE TODAY.
COUNCIL MEMBER JACKSON, ONE MOMENT.
MR. BENJAMIN, I JUST WANTED TO SAY HELLO AND THANK YOU FOR YOUR CONTINUING ADVOCACY AND LEADERSHIP, UM, YOU KNOW, FIGHTING FOR FLOOD MITIGATION PROJECTS AND THE RESOURCES TO HANDLE THE FLOODING OVER IN THAT AREA.
UM, JUST SO YOU KNOW, I DID HAVE A CONVERSATION WITH THE MAYOR ON LAST MONDAY, AND WE DID TALK ABOUT, YOU KNOW, THE ADDITIONAL 20 MILLION THAT HE PUT TOWARDS, UM, SWAT PROJECTS.
AND SO THOSE DOLLARS WILL BE DISTRIBUTED NOT EQUALLY, BUT HE IS GONNA WORK TO MAKE SURE THAT IT'S DISTRIBUTED VERSE FIRST SO WE CAN GET SOME OF OUR PROJECTS MOVING FORWARD.
SO, UM, AND THAT'S BECAUSE OF YOUR ADVOCACY THAT'S HAPPENING.
SO THANK YOU AGAIN FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP AND, UM, I LOOK FORWARD TO CONTINUING WORKING WITH YOU GUYS.
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR BEING HERE, MR. BROADWAY.
UM, WANT TO THANK COUNCIL AND THE PRO TEMP MAYOR, UH, FOR YOUR TIME TODAY.
I REPRESENT THE NORTHEAST ACTION COLLECTIVE.
UM, THE SAME ORGANIZATION BEN BROADWAY IS WITH, UM, I'M HERE TODAY TO LET THE CITY KNOW ABOUT THE NACS DEMANDS FOR THE FISCAL YEAR 2024 CITY BUDGET.
UM, THERE'S A HISTORIC PATTERN OF UNDERINVESTMENT IN DRAINAGE IN LOW INCOME BLACK AND BROWN COMMUNITIES IN THE CITY OF HOUSTON.
THE CITY SHOULD ADDRESS THIS IN THIS YEAR'S BUDGET THROUGH THESE DEMANDS.
ONE PERMANENT INCREASE IN THE SWAP PROGRAM BY $20 MILLION AS WAS PREVIOUS, PREVIOUSLY DISCUSSED BY MR. MR. BROADWAY.
UM, THE NEXT DEMAND PERMANENT INCREASE IN THE LOCAL DRAINAGE PROGRAM.
LDP WITHIN PUBLIC WORKS BY 20 MILLION AS WELL.
THIS EMPOWERS PUBLIC WORKS WHO ARE THE EXPERTS AND REALLY THE BEST SOLUTION THE CITY OF HOUSTON HAS TOWARDS FIXING ANY DRAINAGE PROBLEMS. THE THIRD DEMAND MONEY FOR PUBLIC WORKS STAFF AND MAINTENANCE CREWS AS WELL AS MACHINERY.
THE INFRASTRUCTURE BILL AND IRA MONEY IS COMING TO HOUSTON, BUT WE NEED TO BE READY TO SPEND IT.
THAT WILL REQUIRE TO EXPENDING EXPANDING THE STAFF OF PUBLIC WORKS.
WE ALSO NEED MONEY SO THAT WE CAN MAINTAIN THE INVESTMENTS WE ARE ABOUT TO MAKE IN THE FUTURE OF THE CITY.
THE LAST DEMAND IS FOCUSING ON EQUITY WHEN SELECTING DRAINAGE PROJECTS AND INVESTMENT AND MAKING PUBLIC INPUT MEANINGFUL.
THE CITY CLAIMS TO USE A WORST FIRST SELECTION PROCESS AND NEEDS TO ACTUALLY DO THAT.
THE CITY IS DIVERTING AT LEAST 22 MILLION PER YEAR THAT SHOULD BE GOING TOWARDS DRAINAGE PROJECTS.
UM, BUT INSTEAD IS GOING TOWARDS THE GENERAL BUDGET.
THESE FUNDS SHOULD BE REROUTED TOWARDS PUBLIC WORKS AND THE, AND THE ALSO THE PUBLIC BUDGET OR THE GENERAL BUDGET CAN EASILY FUND MOST OF THE DEMANDS AS WELL.
UM, THESE DEMANDS ARE ALSO CONNECTED TO PRIORITY THREE IN INITIATIVE ONE OF ILLEGAL DUMPING ALL OF PRIORITY FOUR, WHICH IS SERVICE AND INFRASTRUCTURE, STREET REHAB AND SWAT, AS WELL AS WHICH ALL FEEDS INTO INITIATIVE FIVE, WHICH IS MAKING HOUSTON MORE RESILIENT THROUGH THE MAYOR'S GUIDE FOR THE BUDGET IN THIS YEAR THAT HE'S PUBLISHED AND MADE PUBLIC.
OVERALL, OUR DEMANDS ARE MOST INFORMED BY OUR ONGOING MEETINGS WITH PUBLIC WORKS, OUR RESEARCH INTO THE CITY'S DRAINAGE SPENDING, AS WELL
[02:10:01]
AS THE COLLECTIVE PRIORITIES OF LONG-TERM RESIDENTS WITHIN NORTHEAST HOUSTON.WE DO HAVE A COUNCIL MEMBER IN THE QUEUE.
AND FELIX, THANK YOU FOR REPRESENTING AND SPEAKING ON BEHALF OF YOUR ORGANIZATION AND ALL THE RESIDENTS RIGHT IN THAT, IN THAT NORTHEAST AREA.
AND I KNOW YOU'RE ALSO A RESIDENT OF DISTRICT C, SO I JUST WANTED TO THANK YOU FOR YOUR INVOLVEMENT AND ENGAGEMENT.
I HAD ONE QUESTION, I THINK YOU TOUCHED ON IT, BUT JUST SO WE HEAR YOU AND UH, BENJAMIN, CLEARLY, UH, I HEAR 60 MILLIONS, YOU KNOW, ALLOCATED TO SPEC SPECIFIED BUCKETS COMING FROM THE GENERAL FUND, IS THAT CORRECT? WE'RE ASKING FOR 20 MILLION TOWARDS THE SWAP PROGRAM, RIGHT.
AND 20 MILLION FOR THE LDP PROGRAM.
WHICH IS MANAGED BY PUBLIC WORK, SO 40 MILLION, 40 FOR THOSE TWO SPECIFIC PROGRAMS, AS WELL AS AN INCREASE IN THE GENERAL OPERATING BUDGET AND MAINTENANCE BUDGET WITHIN PUBLIC WORK SO THAT THEY CAN INCREASE THEIR STAFF.
ALL OF THAT CAN BECOME FROM THE DRAINAGE TAX FEE THAT'S BEEN GOING AND REROUTED TOWARDS THE GENERAL FUND, OR IT CAN BE FUNDED BY THE GENERAL FUND AS THE SWAT PROGRAM WAS LAST YEAR.
AND, AND JUST TWO FOLLOW UP QUESTIONS I DON'T WANNA TAKE AWAY FROM IT.
I HEARD MR. BENJAMIN BROADWAY SAY 20 MILLION ALSO FOR CIP, SO I JUST WANNA MAKE SURE THAT, I KNOW YOU'RE SPEAKING ON A C CERTAIN PORTION, BUT I DIDN'T WANNA FORGET ABOUT THAT.
UM, WHEN YOU TALK ABOUT THE GENERAL FUND, I HEAR SOME OF IT COMING FROM THE DRAINAGE FEE, BUT DO YOU HAVE ANY OTHER RECOMMENDATIONS OF WHERE WE SAY GENERAL FUND PRETTY BROADLY, RIGHT? BUT A LOT OF THAT IS DESIGNATED FOR SPECIF SPECIFIC DEPARTMENTS HISTORICALLY.
SO DO YOU HAVE A PROPOSAL FOR HOW THAT'S REALLOCATED? WHERE IS THAT COMING FROM? LIKE IN FROM IN TOWARD IN TERMS OF WHERE THE MONEY IS COMING FROM, LIKE WHICH BUDGET ALLOCATION IT IS ALREADY COMING FROM? WELL, I WOULD, YEAH, I WOULD DEFINITELY START WITH WHERE THE MONEY WAS COMING FROM LAST YEAR.
HOWEVER, THE MAYOR DID PAY FOR THE 20 MILLION FOR THE SWAT PROGRAM.
AND THEN ALSO THE, THE DRAINAGE FEES THAT'S THE CITY IS REPORTING IS NOT A HUNDRED PERCENT GOING TOWARDS PUBLIC WORKS BUDGET, IT'S JUST FEEDING INTO THE GENERAL BUDGET.
SO IF WE ACTUALLY REROUTE THE FULL ALLOCATION OF FUNDS, WHICH IS I THINK 11.80 CENTS PER DOLLAR, IF I'M NOT MISTAKEN, BASED ON THE DRAINAGE TAX FEE THAT WAS VOTED ON TWICE, UM, THAT SHOULD BE ABLE TO FUND EVERYTHING.
IN TERMS OF THE DEMANDS THAT WE ARE MAKING.
THANK YOU SIR FOR COMING AND THANK YOU TO THE NORTHEAST ACTION COLLECTIVE.
YOU GUYS HAVE REALLY DONE GREAT WORK AND A LOT OF RESEARCH AND I THINK YOU WERE THE, A BIG IMPETUS TO GETTING, YOU KNOW, ADDITIONAL FUNDS.
I REMEMBER I DID A BUDGET AMENDMENT FOR $5 MILLION FOR ADDITIONAL, AND UH, THE MAYOR GAVE HIS WORD THAT HE WAS GONNA PUT MORE MONEY IN AND THAT, THAT THEN THE 20 MILLION CAME, SO THAT WAS A LOT MORE THAN FIVE.
SO I WAS REALLY HAPPY WITH THAT.
I DO WANNA JUST SAY WE ARE NOT DIVERTING MONEY FROM THE DRAINAGE FEE.
THE DRAINAGE FEE MONEY IS GOING TOWARDS DRAINAGE BY STATE LAW.
THAT MONEY THAT'S BA COMES ON YOUR WATER BILL THAT GOES TOWARDS DRAINAGE PROJECT PROJECTS.
I THINK THE MONEY TO WHICH YOU ARE REFERRING, THERE IS A, THERE IS A, THIS IS IN LITIGATION, THERE IS WAS AN, SOME OF YOUR AD THAT AVALOR TAX THAT HAS BEEN COLLECTED.
UM, THE 11.80 CENTS PER A HUNDRED DOLLARS VALUATION THAT'S BEING USED TO PAY DOWN DEBT AND THEN BEING USED FOR PROJECTS.
WHEN WE BUMPED UP AGAINST THE REVENUE CAP IN 20 14, 20 15, THAT THAT NUMBER WAS ADJUSTED BASED ON THE REVENUE CAP THAT IS IN LITIGATION.
I'M NOT GONNA SPEAK FURTHER TO THAT, BUT I THINK, I THINK IT'S VERY IMPORTANT, UM, FOR OUR CAUSE, UM, TO GET MONEY TO DRAINAGE THAT WE REALLY DON'T SAY TO OUR DRAINAGE FEE MONEY, THE MONEY THAT PEOPLE ARE PAYING IN THEIR WATER BILLS IS GOING TO THE GENERAL FUND.
I CAN ASSURE YOU THAT IS NOT HAPPENING, THAT MONEY'S BEING SPENT ON DRAINAGE PROJECTS.
BUT IT, BUT YOU, YOU COULD, YOU COULD MAKE THE ARGUMENT AS THE PEOPLE IN LITIGATION ARE THAT, THAT THE MONEY FROM THE, THE VALOREM IS SOMEHOW BEING LOST.
SO JUST NOT, I AM NOT TRYING TO DO SEMANTICS.
I JUST, IT, IT REALLY GIVES PEOPLE PAUSE TO THINK THAT THE MONEY, THAT, OF COURSE THEY'RE PAYING A VALOREM AS WELL, BUT, BUT THE MONEY THAT THEY'RE PAYING ON THEIR WATER BILL, UM, THAT BY STATE LAW HAS TO BE SPENT ON DRAINAGE.
AND WE ARE, I MEAN, WE'VE LOOKED AT THAT EVERY WHICH WAY.
WE'VE HAD THE CONTROLLER LOOK AT IT EVERY WHICH WAY THAT MONEY'S BEING SPENT ON DRAINAGE.
THANK YOU FOR THAT CORRECTION.
AND REGARDLESS OF WHAT IT'S CALLED, MONEY'S NOT BEING DIRECTED TOWARDS WHERE IT NEEDS TO GO.
AND THE PEOPLE THAT ARE SUFFERING, ESPECIALLY DURING THE MAJOR STORMS THAT WE SEE, ARE THE BLACK AND BROWN COMMUNITIES, PARTICULARLY IN NORTHEAST HOUSTON, BUT ACROSS OTHER PARTS OF THE CITY AS WELL.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR YOUR, UH, COMMENTS AND BEING HERE TODAY.
[02:15:01]
HOW YOU DOING?GOOD AFTERNOON, VICE MAYOR AND CITY COUNCILS.
MY NAME IS DORIS BROWN AND I'M ONE OF THE FOUNDERS OF THE NORTHEAST ACTION COLLECTIVE.
I'M HERE TODAY TO REQUEST MORE MONEY FOR THE PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT, BUDGET AND STAFF.
A PERMANENT INCREASE FROM 12 MILLION TO 32 MILLION, WHICH IS THE 20 MILLION, WILL ALLOW MORE LDP PROJECTS TO ADDRESS THE HISTORICAL DISINVESTMENT OF ANTIQUATED INFRASTRUCTURE THAT EXISTS IN OUR NEIGHBORHOODS AND COMMUNITIES.
IT WOULD SIGNIFICANTLY ADDRESS THE WORST FIRST ISSUE WITH THIS DRAINAGE INCREASE.
IT WILL PROVIDE MORE FUNDING FOR IN-HOUSE STAFF AND MACHINERY FOR MAINTENANCE.
THIS WOULD MAKE OUR DRAINAGE INFRASTRUCTURE GOVERNORS MORE EFFECTIVE, TRANSPARENT, AND EQUITABLE.
THE SWAT PROJECT'S BUDGET NEEDS TO BE INCREASED BY 20 MILLION TO 40 MILLION ANNUALLY BECAUSE IT FUNDS MAINTENANCE PROJECTS, INCREASES CITY COUNCILORS AND POTENTIALLY RESIDENTS INFLUENCE OVER DRAINAGE PROJECTS WITH THEIR PROSPECTIVE DISTRICTS.
SWAT IS LISTED AS INITIATIVE FIVE IN YOUR BUDGET PROPOSAL PRIORITIES.
WE NEED TO DO MAINTENANCE TO PROTECT THESE INVESTMENTS AND ENSURE WE, WE ARE READY FOR THE FEDERAL MONIES.
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR COMMENTS TODAY.
NEXT SPEAKER, STEVE WILLIAMS. STEVE WILLIAMS. NEXT SPEAKER IS NOT PRESENT.
MY NAME IS ALFREDIA BROOKS AND I'M HERE TO, UH, DISCUSS AN ISSUE THAT I'M HAVING WHERE THEY CITY RIGHT AWAY, PIECE OF PROPERTY THAT'S NEXT DOOR TO MY HOUSE WHERE I'VE HAD THREE TREES TO FALL ON MY HOUSE.
INITIALLY, WHEN THE FIRST TREE FELL, THIS I CALL CALLED THE CITY, AND THEY TOLD ME THAT THEY HAD TO FIND OUT WHO THE OWNER OF THE PROPERTY WAS WHEN THE SECOND TREE FELL, JULY THE 22ND OF 22, I FOUND OUT THAT THE CITY OF HOUSTON OWNS THAT PROPERTY IS CITY RIGHT AWAY PROPERTY.
I HAD CONTACTED THE CITY SECRETARY AND SENT HER PICTURES ALONG WITH THE NOTE AND RECEIVED THIS LETTER FROM HER ACKNOWLEDGING THAT SHE HAD RECEIVED ALL OF THE PAPERWORK THAT I HAD SUBMITTED TO HER, AND SHE WAS REFERRING IT TO LEGAL.
AFTER LEGAL RECEIVED THE, THE PAPERWORK AND THE PICTURES, THEY SENT ME A LETTER STATING THAT THE CITY WAS NOT LIABLE FOR THAT.
I RECEIVED A LETTER FROM, UH, THE CITY TELLING ME, WELL, FIRST OF ALL, THIS CITATION WAS PUT ON THE, ON THE VACANT LOT WITH MY ADDRESS, WHICH IS 78 56 SANDY STREET.
AND THEY, IT WAS POSTED THERE ON SEPTEMBER THE 21ST OF 22, AND THEY WERE GIVING ME UNTIL SEPTEMBER THE 30TH TO CLEAR THE LOT OFF THE LOT IS NOT MINE.
I LATER RECEIVED THIS VIOLATION NOTICE TELLING ME IF I DID NOT GET IT CLEARED OFF, WHAT WOULD HAPPEN TO ME.
I'M HERE TODAY BECAUSE ON FEBRUARY THE 27TH, ANOTHER TREE FELL ON MY HOUSE.
THEY CAME OUT AND THEY REMOVED THE TREE.
THEY MARKED THREE OTHER TREES THAT NEEDED TO BE CUT DOWN AND REMOVED.
TO THIS DAY, NOTHING HAS HAPPENED.
UNFORTUNATELY, SATURDAY NIGHT, DUE TO THE BIG TREE HITTING MY HOUSE, THE CABINETS OVER THE STOVE AND THE, THAT BLACK SHIELD OVER THERE ALL FELL ON THE FLOOR.
[02:20:02]
WE WILL GIVE YOU ANOTHER MINUTE TO FINISH YOUR STATEMENT, MS. IT, THEY, IT FELL ON THE FLOOR.MY, UH, RESTROOM DOOR, IT, IT DRAGS.
EVERYTHING HAS BEEN JUST SHIFTED AND MOVED.
IT'S JUST ALMOST, IT'S UNBEARABLE.
SO, I, I WANNA BE CLEAR, DID THE LOT THAT THE TREES FELL FROM IS THE CITY'S RIGHT OF WAY? YES, MA'AM.
UM, I'M GONNA ASK THE CITY ATTORNEY IF YOU CAN, UM, HELP US WITH THIS ONE, UH, BECAUSE I WANNA MAKE SURE THAT SHE GETS THE INFORMATION THAT SHE NEEDS AND, AND, AND WHAT CAN BE ADDRESSED.
I I, I DO UNDERSTAND, UM, SHE, SHE'S GOT VALID CONCERNS AND, AND I WANNA MAKE SURE THAT WE CAN, IF THAT IT'S THE CITY'S PROPERTY AND, AND THERE WAS DAMAGE, AND WE ARE LIABLE THAT WE ADDRESS THAT.
AND IF NOT, WHAT RECOURSE DO WE HAVE? IS THE DAM YOU, IS THE DAMAGE TO YOUR FENCE, TO YOUR HOUSE, TO YOUR YES.
MY FENCE IS, I MEAN, IT'S JUST TERRIBLY DAMAGED WHO CAME OUT AND PUT THE, THE MARKS ON THE TREES.
DO YOU KNOW, DO YOU KNOW IF THAT WAS PUBLIC WORKS? PUBLIC WORKS FROM PUB PUBLIC WORKS CAME OUT ON THE 28TH OF FEBRUARY.
UM, RENEE, IF YOU COULD HELP US, UH, UM, WITH, UH, MAKING SURE WE HAVE ALL OF HER CONTACT.
AND MR. ZAMORE, IF YOU WANNA ADDRESS NOW OR YOU WANNA SPEAK TO HER OFFLINE? YEAH, LET ME GET HER CONTACT INFORMATION.
AND I'LL, AND I'LL GET IN TOUCH WITH YOU IF WE CAN GET YOUR PHONE NUMBER, I'LL GIVE YOU A CALL.
AND, AND MR. ZAMORE IS WITH OUR LEGAL DEPARTMENT.
UM, AND SO I, I, I WOULD LIKE FOR HIM TO HAVE A CONVERSATION WITH, WITH YOU, AND THEN, UM, WE CAN FOLLOW UP WITH YOU TO MAKE SURE THAT YOUR, YOUR CONCERNS HAVE BEEN ADDRESSED.
NEXT SPEAKER THERE, COVINGTON.
AND LAST BUT NOT LEAST, JACOB.
I'VE WRITE SOME OF Y'ALL HAVE, UH, ALREADY AUTOGRAPHED THESE, UH, SO PROGRAMS FOR ME, UH, AND, UH, WHILE I'M GONNA GIVE THE THEM TO RENEE TO GIVE Y'ALL TO THE REST FOR Y'ALL TO AUTOGRAPH AT ANYWAY.
Y'ALL ARE VERY, VERY INFLUENTIAL.
UH, AT ANY RATE, FRIENDS, HOUSTONIANS, COUNTRY, PEOPLE COMING, COUNCIL MEMBERS.
AND THAT IS, I WANT TO TALK ABOUT WOMEN IN OUR HISTORY.
IT'S THE MARCH AND IT'S STILL WOMAN HISTORY MONTH.
AND I WANT TO SAY THAT THAT QUARTERLY, THE GENERAL MANAGER AT NRG PARK WAS AWARDED THIS, UH, UM, UH, CERTIFICATE OF MANAGER OF THE DAY AT THAT RODEO.
AND SO SHE'S THE WOMAN OF THE A YEAR, AND NOW THE WOMAN OF THE, OF THE LIFETIME IS MY MOTHER.
BUT ALSO, I WANT TO SAY THAT, THAT THE WOMAN WHO SHOULD BE CONGRATULATED IS, UH, DO VARNER BECAUSE SHE, UH, HAPPENED TO HAVE THE LUCK OF GETTING EDWARD COUNCIL MEMBER EDWARD POLLARD, SPEAK AT A FUNCTION THAT SHE HAD.
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR BEING HERE.
JACOB, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER KAMAN, THANK YOU.
AND JACOB IS ALWAYS, IT'S NOT JUST GREAT TO SEE YOU, BUT THANK YOU FOR YOUR PATIENCE, REALLY.
UH, I THINK THIS IS BEING CIRCULATED TO SIGN RIGHT NOW, BUT THANKS FOR RECOGNIZING NOT JUST WOMEN'S HISTORY MONTH, BUT YOUR MOTHER, I KNOW YOU'RE VERY CLOSE WITH HER.
UH, SHE, SHE, I KNOW THAT THAT RELATIONSHIP IS VERY SPECIAL ALSO.
WHERE'D YOU GET THAT SHIRT? OH, UH, THE HOUSTON LIVESTOCK SHOW AND RODEO.
AND I GOT THIS BOTTLE TIE FROM THE NG STATE STADIUM, WHICH HAS HOUSTON LOVES HOUSTON LIVESTOCK SHOW AND RODEO ON IT.
AND I HAVE SOME BOOTS THAT I BOUGHT AT THE RODEO ALSO.
WELL, IS ALWAYS, YOU'RE LOOKING VERY GOOD.
[02:25:01]
YOU, JACOB.AND I WANT TO CONGRATULATE YOU, ABBY, FOR BEING NAMED, UH, A JEWISH LEADER OF THE WORLD, OF NOT THE WORLD, BUT OF HOUSTON
OH, COUNCIL MEMBER POLLARD JACOB, GREAT TO SEE YOU.
UH, JUST WANTED TO LET YOU KNOW THAT LAST WEEK I WAS WITH THE VARNER, UM, ATTORNEY VARNER.
SHE WAS THE CHAIR OF THE LEON JAWORSKI AWARDS RECEPTION.
AND, UH, THEY MENTIONED YOU AND HOW, UH, MUCH THEY THINK OF YOU AND HOW HIGHLY THEY RESPECT YOU, AND I WANTED YOU TO KNOW THAT.
AND, UH, IT IS ALWAYS GREAT TO SEE YOU.
AND WASN'T LEON KY AT YOUR ATTORNEY? HE WAS, THAT WORKED WITH BARBARA JORDAN.
BARBARA JORDAN WENT TO WHEATLEY HIGH SCHOOL.
YOU'RE RIGHT ABOUT THAT AS WELL.
UM, I WANTED TO ALSO JUST, UH, TELL ME, TELL YOU THAT I REALLY APPRECIATE YOU ALSO.
UM, UH, AND, UH, THIS WHILE WE'RE HONORING WOMEN TO RECOGNIZE THAT INCOMING BOARD CHAIR TO THE, UM, THE HOUSTON LIVESTOCK SHOW AND RODEO.
UM, THAT'S, UM, THE INCOMING CHAIRMAN, UH, PAT MANN PHILLIPS.
AND I'M VERY EXCITED ABOUT HER.
AND I WILL TELL YOU THAT IN A CONVERSATION I HAD WITH HER DURING RODEOS, SHE STARTED TALKING ABOUT HOW IMPORTANT IT WAS TO CONNECT TO INNER CITY YOUTH, WHICH WAS REALLY IMPORTANT TO ME TO HEAR HER SAY THAT.
AND SHE WAS THE ONE WHO BROUGHT THAT UP.
SO I'M REALLY LOOKING FORWARD TO, YOU KNOW, UM, WHAT SHE WILL BRING TO THE RODEO.
AND I, I UNDERSTAND SHE'S BEEN INVOLVED FOR A VERY LONG TIME AND IS, YOU KNOW, HUGELY RESPECTED AND YOU KNOW, AND, UM, WILL BE A, A VERY STRONG LEADER FOR US AT THE RODEO.
WHEN I WAS LOOKING THROUGH THAT SOUVENIR PROGRAM, I ONLY SAW ONE, UH, ADVERTISEMENT FOR, UH, HARRIS COUNTY COMMISSIONER, AND THAT WAS TOM RAMEY.
I DIDN'T SEE ONE FOR LESLIE, BE HONEST, OR, OR, UH, COUNTY JUDGE, UH, LINDA ALGO.
BUT I DID SEE THE IMPORTANT PEOPLE, AND THAT'S YOU ALL.
JACOB, YOU WANT THE WOMEN'S SIGNATURES, RIGHT?
UM, RIGHT OVER THERE BY ABBY AND EDWARD.
COUNCIL MEMBERS, JUST SO YOU KNOW, UH, THE AUDIO IS REPAIRED, SO WE WILL BE BACK IN CHAMBERS ON TOMORROW.
[RECESS]
CONCLUDES OUR LIST OF SPEAKERS.UH, SO WE ARE NOW IN RECESS UNTIL TOMORROW MORNING AT NINE DESCRIPTION OR CAPTIONS OF THE CITY COUNCIL'S AGENDA FOR THE WEEK OF MARCH 21 AND 22 2023.
ITEM ONE, REQUEST FROM MAYOR FOR CONFIRMATION OF THE APPOINTMENT OR REAPPOINTMENT OF THE FOLLOWING INDIVIDUALS TO THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF REINVESTMENT ZONE NUMBER 15, EAST DOWNTOWN.
ITEM TWO, REQUEST FROM MAYOR FOR CONFIRMATION OF THE APPOINTMENT OR REAPPOINTMENT OF THE FOLLOWING INDIVIDUALS TO THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF THE EAST DOWNTOWN REDEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY.
ITEM THREE HAS BEEN PULLED AND WILL NOT BE CONSIDERED.
ITEM FOUR, RECOMME RECOMMENDATION FROM DIRECTOR OF HOUSTON PUBLIC ARTS FOR APPROVAL OF FINAL CONTRACT AMOUNT OF $2,879,046 86 CENTS AND ACCEPTANCE OF WORK ON CONTRACT WITH RAY TECH CONSTRUCTION RESOURCES INC.
DRAINAGE REHABILITATION WORK ORDERS NUMBER THREE, ITEM FIVE KG INC.
FOR PURCHASE OF INTERACTIVE HOTSPOTS, DATA PLANS AND ACCESSORIES.
FOR PURCHASE OF TWO ROBOT TWO ROBOTS THROUGH THE GENERAL SERVICES ADMINISTRATION COOPERATIVE PURCHASING PROGRAM.
ITEM SEVEN, VECTOR CONTROLS LLC FOR THE PURCHASE OF PRESSURE TRANSMITTERS.
ITEM EIGHT, CONSOLIDATED TRAFFIC CONTROLS INK FOR PURCHASE OF TRAFFIC CONTROL CABINETS AND MONITORS.
ITEM NINE, MUSTANG MACHINERY COMPANY LT, DOING BUSINESS AS MUSTANG CAT FOR PURCHASE OF AN ASPHALT PAVER.
ITEM 10, ORDINANCE AMENDED SECTION SIX DASH 1 54 AND SIX DASH 1 55 OF THE COURT OF ORDINANCES, HOUSTON, TEXAS.
ITEM 11 ORDINANCE ADOPTING THE MOORE SPACE MAIN STREET PROGRAM.
AMENDING SECTION 40 DASH 10.1 SIDEWALK CAFES OF CHAPTER 40 OF THE CODE OF ORDINANCES OF THE CF FUTURE TEXAS ITEM 12 ORDINANCE ACCEPTING THE PROPO, THE PROPOSAL FROM UNDERWRITERS AT LLOYD'S APPROVING AN AUTHORIZING PURCHASE OF TERRORISM INSURANCE FOR PROPOSED CITYWIDE INSURANCE POLICY.
ITEM 13, ORDINANCE TO ACCEPTING INDIVIDUAL PROPOSALS FROM IRON SHORE SPECIALTY
[02:30:01]
INSURANCE COMPANY, LEXINGTON INSURANCE COMPANY, STAR SULER SURPLUS LINES INSURANCE COMPANY, UNDERWRITERS AT LLOYD'S RSUI, INDEMNITY COMPANY, ARCH SPECIALTY INSURANCE COMPANY, NATIONAL FIRE, MARINE INSURANCE COMPANY, CANNABIS, US INSURANCE INC.ILLINOIS UNION INSURANCE COMPANY, ASPEN SPECIALTY INSURANCE COMPANY, ACCESS SURPLUS INSURANCE COMPANY.
NAUTILUS INSURANCE COMPANY, STARSTONE SPECIALTY INSURANCE COMPANY, PRINCETON, ENS.
LINES INSURANCE COMPANY, EVANSTON INSURANCE COMPANY, GREAT LAKES INSURANCE SE ENDURANCE, AMERICAN SPECIALTY INSURANCE COMPANY, SWISS RE, CORPORATE SOLUTIONS, AMERICAN INSURANCE CORPORATION, TOKYO MARINE AMERICAN INSURANCE COMPANY AND WESTFIELD SPECIALTY INSURANCE.
ITEM 14, ORDINANCE ACCEPTING INDIVIDUAL PROPOSALS FROM ENDURANCE.
AMERICAN SPECIALTY INSURANCE COMPANY, IRONSHORE SPECIALTY INSURANCE COMPANY, KINSALE INSURANCE COMPANY, OUR SOUTHWEST LYONS INSURANCE COMPANY, INDEPENDENT SPECIALTY INSURANCE COMPANY, UNDERWRITERS AT LORDS RSUI, INDEMNITY COMPANY, ARCH SPECIALTY INSURANCE COMPANY, GREAT LAKES INSURANCE SE ACCESS SURPLUS INSURANCE COMPANY, PRINCETON ACCESS AND SURPLUS INSURANCE COMPANY, STARSTONE SPECIALTY INSURANCE COMPANY, NATIONAL FIRE AND MARINE INSURANCE COMPANY.
EVANSTON INSURANCE COMPANY, ILLINOIS UNION INSURANCE COMPANY, PALMS INSURANCE COMPANY, LTD, ASPEN SPECIALTY INSURANCE COMPANY, WESTFIELD SPECIALTY INSURANCE COMPANY AND LEXINGTON INSURANCE COMPANY.
IT DOES SOUND LIKE YOU'RE GOING IN AND OUT.
TURN YOU, YOU GOT IT? YEAH, IT'S ONE GRADE OR I AM 15.
ORDINANCE ACCEPTING INDIVIDUAL PROPOSAL FROM HART HARTFORD FIRE INSURANCE COMPANY.
ITEM 16, ORDINANCE APPROVED AND AUTHORIZING AMENDMENT NUMBER FOUR TO A LEASE AGREEMENT BETWEEN CITY OF HOUSTON AND THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA.
ITEM 17, ORDINANCE APPROVED AND AUTHORIZED SUBMISSION OF A GRANT APPLICATION TO THE UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES CENTER FOR DISEASE CONTROL AND PREVENTION, OR ENHANCE SURVEILLANCE OF PERSONS WITH EARLY AND LATE HIV DIAGNOSIS.
ITEM 18 ORDINANCE RELATING TO RENTAL OF BARBARA BUSH LITERACY PLAZA FOR PUBLIC USE.
ITEM 19, ORDINANCE APPRO AND AUTHORIZING SUB-RECIPIENT AGREEMENT BETWEEN CITY OF HOUSTON AND HOUSTON HEALTH INC.
ITEM 20 ORDINANCE AMENDING ORDINANCE NUMBER 2013 DASH 4 0 9 APPROVED MAY 8TH, 2013 AUTHORIZING FIRST AMENDMENT FOR PURCHASE OF DATA CENTER SERVICES.
ITEM 21 ORDINANCE APPROPRIATING $845,000 OUT OF GENERAL IMPROVEMENT CONSOLIDATED CONSTRUCTION FUND, $115,000 OUT OF PARKS CONSOLIDATED CONSTRUCTION FUND AND $200,000 OUT OF SOLID WASTE CONSOLIDATED CONSTRUCTION FUND FOR PROFESSIONAL SERVICES CONTRACT BETWEEN CITY OF HOUSTON AND ACCRUENT LLC ITEM 22.
ORDINANCE APPROPRIATING $2,278,945 71 CENTS OUT OF THE WATER AND SEWER SYSTEM.
CONSOLIDATED CONSTRUCTION FUND AWARD, A CONSTRUCTION CONTRACT TO ERC ENVIRONMENTAL CONSTRUCTION SERVICES INC.
ITEM 23 ORDINANCE APPROVED AND AUTHORIZED AND A PURCHASE AND SALE AGREEMENT BETWEEN CRAIGHEAD LLC ITEM 24 ORDINANCE AWARD CONTRACT TO PAWN EQUIPMENT COMPANY INC.
ITEM 25 ORDINANCE CONSENTING TO THE ADDITION OF 118.14 ACRES OF LAND TO HARRIS COUNTY MUNICIPAL UTILITY DISTRICT NUMBER 5 2 5 ITEM 26 ORDINANCE CONSENTING TO THE ADDITION OF 104.442 ACRES OF LAND TO THE HARRIS COUNTY MUNICIPAL UTILITY DISTRICT NUMBER 5 3 9 ITEM 27 ORDINANCE CONSENTING TO THE ADDITION OF 228.5 ACRES OF LAND TO HARRIS COUNTY MUNICIPAL UTILITY DISTRICT NUMBER 5 7 0 A ITEM 28 ORDINANCE CONSENTING TO THE ADDITION OF 605.1 ACRES OF LAND TO HARRIS COUNTY WATER CONTROL AND IMPROVEMENT DISTRICT NUMBER 1 6 4 ITEM 29, ORDINANCE CONSENTING TO THE ADDITION OF 5 56 0.198 ACRES OF LAND TO OAKMONT PUBLIC UTILITY DISTRICT.
ITEM 30 ORDINANCE ADOPTING UPDATES TO THE LAND USE ASSUMPTIONS, CAPITAL IMPROVEMENTS PLAN AND AMENDED AMENDED DRAINAGE IMPACT FEES.
ITEM 31, ORDINANCE APPRO AND AUTHORIZED IN A PURCHASE AND SALE AGREEMENT, AN EASEMENT
[02:35:01]
AGREEMENT BETWEEN COUNTY OF HARRIS AND THE CITY OF HOUSTON FOR A 25,175 SQUARE FOOT TRACT OF LAND AND A 3000 SQUARE FOOT EASEMENT.ITEM 32, ORDINANCE APPROPRIATING $396,471 60 CENTS OUT OF THE WATER AND SEWER SYSTEM.
CONSOLIDATED CONSTRUCTION FUND FOR DESIGN AND CONSTRUCTION OF UNDERGROUND UTILITIES FOR THE ROSEWOOD STREET IMPROVEMENTS PROJECT ITEM 33, ORDINANCE APPRO AND AUTHORIZING A NEW ADVANCED FUNDING AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE CITY OF HOUSTON AND THE TEXAS DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION.
ITEM 34 ORDINANCE APPROPRIATING $6,600,000 OUT OF THE DEDICATED DRAINAGE AND STREET RENEWAL CAPITAL FUND DRAINAGE CHARGE ORATE CONTRACT TO T CONSTRUCTION LLC ITEM 35 IN ORDINANCE APPROPRIATING $8,865,375 85 CENTS OUT OF THE DEDICATED DRAINAGE AND STREET, THE RENEWAL CAPITAL FUND AT VALOR TAX AND $3,496,436 35 CENTS OUT OF THE CONTRIBUTION FOR CAPITAL.
IMPROVED CAPITAL PROJECTS FUND AWARDING A CONTRACT TO SER CONSTRUCTION PARTNERS, LLC OH.
AND THIS COMPLETES THE READING OF THE AGENDA FOR THE CITY COUNCIL SESSION OF MARCH 21 AND 22 2023.
IN THE WORDS OF THE CURRENT, I'M SORRY, IN THE WORDS OF THE CITY SECRETARY, PAT JEFFERSON, DANIEL, ALWAYS TREAT EVERYONE THE WAY YOU WOULD LIKE TO BE TREATED AND HAVE A BLESSED AND FANTA DAY.
[RECONVENE]
RIGHT.IT, UH, IT IS 9 0 5 ON WEDNESDAY, MARCH 22ND, 2023.
I'M CALLING THIS MEETING OF THE HOUSTON CITY COUNCIL OF WATER.
[MAYOR'S REPORT]
A FEW, A FEW COMMENTS.THE LEGISLATURE IS IN SESSION AND, UM, AND I TELL YOU, UM, THE, UM, NO, IT, IT DOES NOT.
UM, I DO WANT TO, UM, EVERYBODY BE AWARE, AND I KNOW BILL KELLY IS ALSO, UM, SENDING OUT MEMOS TO YOU, BUT, UH, HOUSE BILL 2127 THAT WE'VE TALKED ABOUT BEFORE, UM, IS A, IS A TROUBLING, IS A TROUBLING BILL.
UM, AND THE REASON WHY THIS BILL IS IMPORTANT TO THE HOUSTON IS THIS, IT'S A RADICAL DEPARTURE FROM HOW THE LEGISLATURE HAS ADDRESSED PREEMPTION.
UH, RATHER THAN THIS, UH, KIND OF LIKE A SURGICAL APPROACH, UM, THIS BILL ATTEMPTS TO PREEMPT ENTIRE AREAS, FIELDS, AND THE PRACTICAL IMPACT IS TURNING HOME RULES, CITIES LIKE HOUSTON AND OVER 300 OTHER CITIES INTO GENERAL LAW CITIES, UM, ALLOWING, ONLY ALLOWING ACTIONS ON WHAT THE LEGISLATURE SAYS YOU CAN DO.
SO IF THE LEGISLATURE DOESN'T EXPRESSLY GIVE YOU PERMISSION, CITIES CANNOT DO IT.
SO IN EFFECT, IT, IT JUST CLIPS THE ABILITY OF CITY COUNCILS TO OPERATE ON BEHALF OF THEIR CONSTITUENTS.
UM, AND IN THE PAST SEVERAL YEARS, UH, TEXAS HAS EXPERIENCED AN UNPRECEDENTED EXPANSION OF STATE POWER OPEN MUNICIPALITIES.
SO I'M GONNA ENCOURAGE YOU TO, UH, TO TAKE A LOOK AT 2127.
IT STRIKES AT MATTERS NOT EVEN CONSIDER CONTROVERSIAL SUCH AS BOARDING HOMES.
IT WOULD TAKE US OUT OF THAT, UM, YOU KNOW, WORSE THE THREAT OF LEGAL ACTION AGAINST CITIES.
BUT LIKE, IT WOULD FREEZE YOU IF YOU STEP, IF YOU DO SOMETHING NOT EXPRESSLY ALLOWED.
SO LET ME ENCOURAGE, UH, LET ME ENCOURAGE COUNCIL MEMBERS.
UM, AUSTIN IS RIGHT DOWN THE STREET, 45 MINUTE FLIGHT, TWO AND A HALF HOUR ROAD TRIP.
UM, AND YOU, WE'VE GOT THE, THE TEAM UP THERE, BILL KELLY AND HIS TEAM.
UH, BUT LET ME ENCOURAGE CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS TO ALSO GO TO AUSTIN AND TALK WITH YOUR CONS.
UH, THEY NEED TO, THEY NEED TO HEAR FROM, THEY NEED TO HEAR FROM YOU ON BOTH SIDES.
YEAH, BECAUSE I DON'T CARE WHERE YOU STAND POLITICALLY
[02:40:01]
IF YOU'RE SITTING IN THESE SEATS, YOU, YOU WANT TO BE ABLE TO MAKE DECISIONS OTHERWISE, YOU'LL HAVE TO TALK TO YOUR LEGISLATORS BEFORE YOU ACT EVERY TWO YEARS.SO, SO LET ME ENCOURAGE YOU TO GO TO AUSTIN THEN.
NOW THIS IS A BILL, UM, BEING PUSHED BY CENTER POINT AND IT WOULD SILENCE THE VOICES OF HOMEOWNERS AND SMALL BUSINESSES AND WHAT THEY ULTIMATELY PAY ON THE ELECTRICITY SERVICE IN HOUSTON AND ACROSS THE STATE.
UH, FOR EXAMPLE, FOR DECADES, UH, CITIES, FOR EXAMPLE, HAVE BEEN THE OVERSEERS ON YOUR, ON YOUR UTILITY BILLS.
EVERY, UM, KNOW SOME POINTS AND OTHERS CAN DO THEIR RATE CASES.
AND THEN THE CITY, FOR EXAMPLE, WILL REVIEW THOSE RATE CASES, TINA PIUS AND HER TEAM, AND THEN JUST LIKE ON INSURANCE AND ANY OTHER MATTERS, AND THEY MAKE AN ASSESSMENT AS TO WHETHER OR NOT THEY THINK THE REQUEST IS TOO MUCH.
AND THEN THE ACTION COMES BEFORE US, AND THEN WE VOTE TO DENY PENDING THE REVIEW.
OKAY? UM, AND WE HAVE SPENT ABOUT $500,000 IN LEGAL FEES IN OUR LAST FOUR RATE HEARINGS.
WE HAVE SAVED CUSTOMERS, HOMEOWNERS, SMALL BUSINESSES, UH, ALMOST $80 MILLION IN CHARGES.
SO 500,000 WE'VE SPENT IN LEGAL.
THE SAVINGS ON PEOPLE'S THE ELECTRICITY BILL HAS BEEN $80 MILLION.
NOW, WHAT COMPANIES LIKE CENTERPOINT ARE SAYING, AND WE GET REIMBURSED, OKAY, WE GET REIMBURSED, PROBABLY, PROBABLY, OR FEES.
THAT IS A PART OF THE, THE CONSTRUCT, THE WAY IT'S SET UP BECAUSE CITIES BECOME THE O THE, IT'S LIKE THE, UM, REVIEWER OF THESE ELECTRICITY BILLS.
WHAT'S AN IMPORTANT, AND OTHER COMPANIES ARE SEEKING TO DO IS TO DENY THE CITY'S REIMBURSEMENT, WHICH MEANS WE ARE TAKEN OUT OF THE OVERSIGHT BUSINESS.
AND SO WHEN THEY DO THEIR RATE CASES, UH, THE ONLY PEOPLE WHO ARE GONNA BE TAKING A LOOK AT IT, FOR EXAMPLE, WOULD BE THE LEGISLATORS TO THE EXTENT THEY DO IT AT ALL.
THIS HAS BEEN THE WAY IT HAS BEEN DONE FOR YEARS.
WHEN I WAS A LEGISLATOR FOR 27 YEARS, THE CITIES WOULD COME TO US, THEY WERE REVIEW, UH, AND ESSENTIALLY SAY, UM, THE REQUEST IS TOO HIGH.
YOU NEED TO BRING IT DOWN, AND YOU'LL GO INTO THESE CONTESTED RATE CASES AND THE CITIES WOULD BE REIMBURSED FOR THEIR LEGAL EXPENSES.
AND SO NOW WHAT THE COMPANY IS SEEKING TO DO IS TO PREVENT THE CITIES FROM BEING REIMBURSED.
WELL, IF YOU'RE NOT REIMBURSED, WE ARE DEALING WITH ALL THESE OTHER COSTS, OKAY? IT IS A VERY BAD DEAL.
AND QUITE FRANKLY, I WOULD ENCOURAGE AND ASK SENATOR POINT TO STAND DOWN ON SENATE BILL 1 0 1 5, AND I WOULD ASK SENATOR POINT TO SAY TO THEM, SENATE BILL 1 0 1 5 IS NOT IN THE BEST INTEREST OF THIS CITY OR ANY OTHER CITY WHERE THEY'RE NOT MUNICIPAL, UH, UTILITIES LIKE AUSTIN AND SAN ANTONIO.
AND I WOULD ASK THEM TO PULL THIS BILL DOWN.
AND LEMME JUST SAY THIS TOO, FROM WINTER STORM URI, AND, YOU KNOW, ALL OF THOSE COSTS ARE BEING PASSED DOWN TO THE CITIES AND THE END USERS.
WHAT DOES THAT MEAN? REMEMBER, WE NEGOTIATED OUR UTILITY CONTRACT OVER SIX, SEVEN YEARS, FOR EXAMPLE, IN AN RRG.
WHAT WILL JONES FROM FINANCE IS SAYING IS THAT WITH ALL OF THOSE COSTS BEING PASSED DOWN JUST TO THE CITY, OUR ADDED COSTS ON A CONTRACT THAT WE ENTERED INTO FOR SEVEN YEARS IS $13 MILLION MORE.
EVERY UTILITY PAYER IS GOING TO, THE ELECTRICITY BILLS ARE GOING UP.
THEY DIDN'T SAY TO THE UTILITIES, YOU EAT THE COST.
THEY HAVE ALLOWED THEM TO PASS IT ALL THE WAY THROUGH TO THE END USERS.
SO FOR THE CITY OF HOUSTON, WE
[02:45:01]
LOOK AT THE BUDGET IN, IN A MONTH OR SO, WE HAVE TO FACTOR IN $13 MILLION MORE.AND FOR HOMEOWNERS ON YOUR ELECTRICITY BILLS, YOU WILL SEE THE COST GOING UP.
THAT IS WHY SENATE BILL 1 0 1 5 BECOMES EVEN MORE DANGEROUS BECAUSE YOU ARE SUBJECT, YOU ARE SUBJECTING UTILITY TO HOMEOWNERS, PEOPLE WHO PAY MORE IF THE CITIES ARE NOT ALLOWED TO EXERCISE OVERSIGHT ON BEHALF OF OUR CONSTITUENTS.
SO I WOULD ASK SENATE POINT TO PULL DOWN SENATE BILL 10 15.
SENATE BILL 7 36, LEMME SAY SENATE BILL 7 36.
THIS IS A BILL BEING CARRIED BY SENATOR JOHN MEYER.
AND THIS BILL REQUIRES BINDING ARBITRATION FOR FIREFIGHTERS.
CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS SHOULD DETERMINE WHAT THEIR EMPLOYEES ARE PAID.
AND WE TAKE IN A LOT OF FACTORS WHEN WE MAKE THOSE DETERMINATIONS.
IT SHOULD NOT BE A SITUATION WHERE A THIRD PARTY OUTSIDE OF THE CITY OF HOUSTON, WHO HAS NO IDEA OF WHAT OUR BUDGETARY CONSTRAINTS ARE OR DECIDED, I MEAN, DECIDED WHAT TO PAY.
SO SENATE BILL 7 36 BINDING ARBITRATION WILL IMPACT, UH, CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS, CITY COUNCILS FOR YEARS TO COME.
AND IT, IT DOESN'T EVEN, IT DOESN'T EVEN CREATE POSITIVE RELATIONSHIPS.
UM, AND IT'S CONTRARY TO HOW WE HANDLE POLICE AND MUNICIPAL WORKERS.
AND CITY BILL 7 36 SHOULD ALSO BE REJECTED.
SO THERE ARE JUST A NUMBER OF OF BILLS THAT ARE OUT THERE.
LET ME ENCOURAGE YOU, UH, YOU KNOW, YOU CAN VISIT WITH BILL KELLY.
IF YOU WANT TO GO TO AUSTIN, IF YOU NEED ANY GUIDANCE DIRECTION, BILL KELLY AND HIS TEAM WILL BE MORE THAN HAPPY TO ESCORT YOU, HELP YOU TO, YOU KNOW, UM, UH, SET UP MEETINGS FOR YOU, TALK WITH, UM, LEGISLATORS, AND JUST LET THEM KNOW HOW YOU FEEL.
BECAUSE SOMETIMES LEGISLATORS, THEY, THEY DON'T KNOW.
UH, THIS IS FIX A LEAK WEEK, AND YOU CAN REGISTER FOR VIRTUAL ONLINE WORKSHOP HOSTED BY THE HOUSTON PUBLIC WORKS AND OTHER ORGANIZATIONS TO LEARN HOW TO SIMPLE, HOW TO DO SIMPLE REPAIRS FOR INDOOR AND OUTDOOR COMMON PROBLEMS LIKE A LEAKY FAUCET, LEAKY HOME SPRINKLER SYSTEM, OR A POOL LEAK.
SO IT IS FIX A LEAK WEEK, UH, INWOOD FOREST, UH, THE GROUNDBREAKING FOR THE INWOOD FOREST STORMWATER DETENTION BASIN PROJECT COUNCIL MEMBER PECK IS NEXT FRIDAY, MARCH 31ST AT 10:00 AM AT THE WHITE OAK CONFERENCE CENTER.
WE'VE BEEN WAITING FOR THIS FOR A WHILE.
THIS ONE OF THE FOUR HAZARD, THE MITIGATION GROUND PROBLEMS, I MEAN, UM, PROJECTS, UM, IT'LL HOLD MORE WATER THAN THE ASTRODOME.
UM, BUT IT'S ALSO WILL SERVE FROM A RECREATIONAL POINT OF VIEW AS WELL.
SO JUST NOT DIGGING A HOLE, BUT OTHER AMENITIES WILL BE THERE FOR THE PEOPLE OUT IN THEIR COMMUNITY.
UM, AND IT WILL REALLY HELP TO MAKE THAT COMMUNITY, UH, MORE RESILIENT, UH, WHEN THEY'RE DEALING WITH FLOODING.
SO THAT'S A, THIS IS A MAJOR, MAJOR DEAL.
UM, AND SO THAT'S GONNA BE MARCH 31ST, SO WE WON'T, WE, WE WON'T JUST BE HOSTING THE NCAA FINAL FOUR.
UM, BUT THE NCAA FINAL FOUR WILL BE UPSTAGED BY, UH, THE, THE INWARD FOREST STONEWATER DETENTION BASIN PROJECT.
UH, SO, UM,
AND LET ME GIVE KUDOS TO, UM, UH, NRG AND THEIR TEAM ON HOW QUICKLY THEY ARE CHANGING THAT, UH, FROM THE RODEO OVER TO THE FINAL FOUR.
UM, AND BEAR IN MIND THOUGH, THERE, THERE WILL, UH, THERE'LL BE A NUMBER OF ROADS CLOSED FROM WEDNESDAY, MARCH 21ST THROUGH SATURDAY, MARCH THE 25TH.
UM, I'LL, I'LL END ON A GOOD NOTE, BUT I DO WANT TO, I DO WANT TO COMMENT, UM, UM, AND THIS IS ME TALKING, UM, BECAUSE I AM CONCERNED WITH, WITH HIS TAKEOVER OF HISD.
BUT LEMME TELL YOU WHAT I FOUND MORE DISTURBING.
WHEN I CAME IN FROM NEW YORK AND WATCHING TELEVISION, THE GOVERNOR WAS DOWN IN CYPRUS TALKING TO THOSE PARENTS, THE GOVERNOR IN CYPRUS,
[02:50:01]
DOWN THE STREET.AND WHAT HE SAID TO THOSE PARENTS, PARENTS MATTER AND PARENTS OUGHT TO HAVE CHOICES ABOUT THEIR EDUCATION OF THEIR KIDS.
I WAS THE GOVERNOR IN CYPRUS TALKING TO THOSE PARENTS AND ADVOCATING, GIVING THEM $8,000 IN VOUCHERS TO GO TO PRIVATE SCHOOLS, PUSHING THIS BILL TO GIVE THEM $8,000 TO GO TO PRIVATE SCHOOLS.
BUT I THINK AT WILLOW RIDGE, AT WESTBURY, IN HISD, THE STATE HAS TAKEN OVER THE LARGEST SCHOOL DISTRICT IN THE STATE OF TEXAS, SHOULD NOT THOSE PARENTS DESERVE TO BE TALKED TO BY THE GOVERNOR OR THE COMMISSIONER OF TEA.
SHOULDN'T THOSE PARENTS BE GIVEN AN EXPLANATION AS TO WHY THEIR DISTRICT AND THEIR SCHOOLS ARE BEING TAKEN OVER BY THE STATE? IF PARENTS MATTER IN CYPRUS, PARENTS MATTER AT WESTBURY.
AND YOU CANNOT SAY TO THOSE PARENTS, YOU DON'T HAVE A CHOICE.
BUT IN CYPRUS, THE STATE IS SAYING TO THOSE PARENTS, PARENTS MATTER WHERE PARENTS MATTER IN CYPRUS, PARENTS MATTER AT WESTBURY AND KMIR AND WEEKLY AND WORTHY PARENTS MATTER.
AND YOU DON'T SEND SOMEBODY LOWER LEVEL, NOT EVEN TO EXPLAIN TO THEM WHY THIS ACCIDENT IS BEING TAKEN.
BUT YOU'RE SAYING TO THE PARENTS IN WESTBURY, THIS IS WHAT'S GONNA TAKE PLACE TO YOU.
WELL, I THOUGHT PARENTS MATTER.
OKAY, SO SOMETHING'S JUST, SOMETHING'S JUST NOT RIGHT IN THE UNIVERSE RIGHT NOW, BUT JUST SOMETHING'S NOT RIGHT.
THE ONLY THING THAT I WOULD ASK IS THAT THE STATE HAS NO RESPECT OF PERSONS.
WHAT I MEAN BY THAT, THE GOOD BOOK SAYS, LORD HAS NO RESPECT OF PERSONS, TREATS EVERYBODY THE SAME.
AND SO IF, IF GOOD LORD SAYS, I'LL TREAT YOU THE SAME, NO RESPECTIVE PERSONS, AND IF PARENTS HERE MATTER TO THE STATE, THEN THOSE PARENTS AT WESTBURY DESERVE THE STATE, THE GOVERNOR, THE COMMISSIONER OF TEA, TO STAND BEFORE THEM AND DEFEND YOUR ACTIONS, OR AT LEAST EXPLAIN THEM.
AND THEN THE LAST THING, WHAT I FOUND DISTURBING, YOU CAN'T GO COME AND SAY TO THE, THESE PARENTS IN WESTBOROUGH, IN HISD, THE ACTIONS THAT THE STATE HAS TAKEN, IT IS NOT ABOUT THE STUDENTS.
THEY SAID IT'S NOT ABOUT THE, UH, THE TEACHERS.
IT'S NOT ABOUT THE YOU, THE PARENTS.
HOW IS THE TAKEOVER NOT ABOUT THE STUDENTS? HOW IS IT NOT ABOUT THE STUDENTS? IT IS ABOUT THE STUDENTS YOU'RE TAKING OVER THEIR SCHOOLS.
IT IS ABOUT THE PARENTS, YOU DENYING THEM THEIR CHOICE.
SO THE REASON WHY I'M BRINGING THIS UP, THE PARENTS SHOULD NOT BE FIGHTING BY THEMSELVES.
THESE ARE HOUSTON RESIDENTS, AND WE NEED TO BE STANDING WITH THEM.
OKAY? AND, AND, AND, AND I'M, I'M JUST, FOR ME, FOR ME, FOR ME, WHEN I SAW THE GOVERNOR STANDING IN CYP, HIS PRIVATE SCHOOL CHURCH AND TELLING THEM THAT PARENTS MATTER, AND THEN I SAW THE PARENTS AT WESTBURY BEING TALKED TO BY SOMEONE AT A LOWER LEVEL, NOT EVEN THE COMMISSIONER OF TEA AND NOT BEING GIVEN AN EXPLANATION AS TO WHY THE STATE IS TAKING OVER.
THAT, THAT JUST, THAT JUST HIT ME.
[02:55:02]
LEMME SAY TO THE, THE PARENTS, YOU HAVE EVERY RIGHT TO DEMAND EX AN EXPLANATION AND TO THE STUDENTS AND TO THE TEACHERS, ALL OF THEM, BUS DRIVERS, CUSTODIAL WORKERS, AND, UM, LET'S TREAT EVERYBODY THE SAME.OKAY? LET'S JUST TREAT EVERYBODY THE SAME.
AND LET'S NOT SAY TO ONE GROUP, YOU MATTER AND TO SOME ANOTHER GROUP, WE DON'T SEE YOU.
AND THIS IS WHAT YOU GOT TO TAKE.
WE ARE GOING TO GIVE IT, WE ARE GONNA, WHETHER YOU LIKE IT OR NOT, THIS IS THE WAY IT'S GOING TO BE.
THE TAKEOVER, UH, BY THE STATE OF HISD IS A FAL COMPLAINT.
AND I SAY TO THE PARENTS, AND TO THE STUDENTS AND TO THE TEACHERS, YOU HAVE THE POWER.
OKAY? BECAUSE I, I WILL FIGHT FOR MY CHILD.
I'LL FIGHT FOR, AND NOT ONLY THAT, AND YOU DON'T HAVE TO BE MY BIOLOGICAL CHILD, I WILL FIGHT FOR OUR KIDS BECAUSE THEY ARE OUR KIDS.
ALRIGHT, NOW ON A, ON ANOTHER NOTE, THE ASTROS, UH, I GUESS THEY KIND OF, IS IT LIKE NEW UNIFORMS FOR RIGHT NOW? YOU WERE ASKING THE WRONG PERSON.
OH, THE HOUSTON ASTROS HAVE STRUCK GOLD AND HAVE A NEW LOOK TO CELEBRATE THE TEAM'S 2022 WORLD SERIES CHAMPIONSHIP.
SO STARTING TODAY, YOU CAN PURCHASE THE GOLD RUSH COLLECTION.
AND I, I HAVE IT HIM IN THIS GOLD BOX, WHICH FEATURED, FEATURED SPECIAL GOLD JERSEYS, HATS, T-SHIRTS, AND OTHER APPAREL.
AND THE, AND THE ASTROS ARE SAID TO WHERE? YEAH.
IS THAT NOT NICE? NO
IS THAT NOT NICE? NOW I'M ASKING THEM TO PROVIDE EACH AND WHEN EVERY ONE OF Y'ALL THE SAME BOX.
BECAUSE I THINK IT'S, YOU KNOW, AWW, VERY NICE.
SO I JUST, I JUST, I JUST BROUGHT YOU AND I JUST BROUGHT YOU TODAY A SAMPLE.
WELL, I'M, I'M ASKING THAT THEY DO THE SAME THING, ESPECIALLY FOR THOSE OF US WHO ARE THAT GO BE SITTING IN THESE SEATS,
BUT THIS, BUT THIS IS VERY NICE.
SO I, YEAH, I HAVE, I HAVE TO GIVE IT TO 'EM.
AND I THINK IT'S ONLY GONNA BE ON SALE FOR 24 HOURS, SO PEOPLE, THEY CAN GET IT.
THAT'S, THAT'S MY REQUEST THAT FOR ALL THE COUNCIL MEMBERS.
AND THEN LAST TIME WE GET TO I'M, I'LL BE DONE.
I WANT, I WANT TO SAY, UM, RAMADAN MA BARRICK TO HOUSTON'S MUSLIM COMMUNITY.
STARTING TONIGHT THROUGH THURSDAY, APRIL 20TH, MUSLIMS WORLDWIDE WILL OBSERVE A MONTH OF FASTING, PRAYER, REFLECTION, AND COMMUNITY, AND MADE THIS RAMADAN BRING JOY, HEALTH AND WEALTH TO ALL SO RAMADAN BARBARIC TO EACH AND EVERY, EACH AND EVERY ONE.
SO, UM, UH, MAYOR PORTER MARTIN.
MAYOR, I JUST WANTED TO PIGGYBACK ON YOUR HOUSE BILL, SENATE BILL INFORMATION ON TUESDAY, APRIL 4TH AT OUR BFA MEETING, WE WILL HAVE CITY ATTORNEY URA MU MICHEL, UH, FIRE CHIEF SAMUEL PENA, AND A RA DIRECTOR, TINA PAEZ, GIVEN US AN UPDATE ON THOSE SPECIFIC BILLS AND THE INFORMATION BEHIND THEM.
UM, VICE MEMBER TE CASH, TAKE THEM.
JUST WANTED TO, UH, GIVE AN UPDATE ON OUR BANDED SIGN LEGISLATION.
UH, SENATOR MILES DID, UM, UH, CARRY, UH, SENATE BILL ONE 90, UH, THROUGH COMMITTEE AND IT, IT DID PASS, UH, THROUGH COMMITTEE.
AND WE HAVE, UH, STATE REPRESENTATIVE SEAN THI WILL CARRY THE COMPANION BILL HOUSE BILL 35 23.
UH, WE'RE VERY CONFIDENT THAT THIS YEAR WE CAN GET THAT BAND SIGNED LEGISLATION TO THE GOVERNOR'S DESK.
AND THAT WILL, UM, INCLUDE INCREASE IN FINES FOR REPEAT OFFENDERS WHO CONTINUE TO PUT THOSE BANDIT SIGNS IN OUR CITY RIGHT OF WAYS.
I KNOW LAST YEAR WE HAD A PARTICULAR, UM, PERPETRATOR WHO PAID OVER $300,000 IN FINES AT THIS LOW RATE OF A FINE.
UM, SO CAN YOU IMAGINE IF THEY CONTINUE TO BE A REPEAT OFFENDER AT $5,000? UM, YOU KNOW, HEY, I THINK THAT IT, IT WILL
[03:00:02]
NOT BE JUST A COST OF DOING BUSINESS ONCE WE HAVE SOME SERIOUS ENFORCEMENT.SO I'M VERY GRATEFUL TO, UH, SENATOR MILES FOR HIS WORK ON THIS LEGISLATION AND LOOKING FORWARD TO, UM, GOING DOWN TO TESTIFY.
UH, DIRECTOR FRANCIS, UM, WENT DOWN AND TESTIFIED BEFORE THE SENATE COMMITTEE AND SCENIC HOUSTON WAS THERE, UM, ON BEHALF OF THE CITY OF HOUSTON AS WELL.
UH, AND WE LOOK FORWARD TO GETTING THIS THROUGH THE HOUSE.
AND LEMME JUST SAY IF, IF, IF, IF THERE ARE A NUMBER OF YOU, FOR EXAMPLE, WHO ARE INTERESTED IN GOING TO THE LEGISLATURE, UM, MAYBE LIKE ON A MONDAY OR THURSDAY, SINCE WE MEET ON TUESDAY, IF THERE'S A NUMBER OF YOU, UH, THEN LET THE CHIEF OF STAFF KNOW AND, UM, MAYBE WE CAN WORK OUT TO MAKE ARRANGEMENTS TO GET YOU THERE AND BRING YOU BACK.
OKAY? UH, BECAUSE IT'S JUST THAT, IT IS JUST THAT IMPORTANT FOR, FOR THEM TO, IT'S ONE THING TO SEE BILL KEL AND HIS TEAM.
IT'S ANOTHER THING TO SEE THE COUNCIL MEMBERS THEMSELVES.
SO IF A, IF A GROUP OF Y'ALL ARE INTERESTED IN GOING, LET'S HAVING THE SAME DAY, A MONDAY OR A THURSDAY, UM, THEN WE'LL WORK TO GET YOU THERE AND TO BRING AND TO BRING YOU BACK.
OKAY? SO JUST, JUST LET US KNOW, UH, COUNCILMAN GALL EAGLES.
THANK YOU, MAYOR, LISTENING TO YOUR COMMENTS IN REGARDING THESE BILLS.
UH, I'M ASKING CIVIC CLUBS TO PLEASE SEND LETTERS TO YOUR LEGISLATORS, LIKE THE MAYOR STATED IN REGARDS TO, UH, BOARDING HOUSES.
I KNOW THAT'S AN ISSUE THAT WE'VE HAD, UH, WHERE BOARDING HOUSES ARE COMING INTO NEIGHBORHOODS.
THE NEIGHBORHOODS CAUSED, CAUSED MY OFFICE, UH, WANTING US TO GET INVOLVED TO SEE WHAT WE CAN DO TO PREVENT IT.
COME TO FIND OUT WE JUST HAVE VERY LIMITED, LIMITED AUTHORITY.
UH, AND NOW IF THEY'RE GONNA TAKE THAT LIMITED AUTHORITY AWAY FROM US, UH, WE CAN ONLY IMAGINE WHAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN.
SO I'M ENCOURAGING ALL CIVIC CLUBS.
PLEASE SEND LETTERS TO YOUR, TO YOUR STATE LEGISLATORS AND YOUR STATE SENATORS, UH, TO, UH, ADVOCATE AND IN, IN, IN VOTING AGAINST US.
'CAUSE IT WILL BE DETRIMENTAL, UH, TO OUR NEIGHBORHOODS WITH BOARDING HOUSES COMING IN.
UH, AND, AND, AND YOUR CITY COUNCILMAN OR COUNCILWOMAN, UH, DOESN'T HAVE THAT AUTHORITY TO DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT.
UM, ALSO IN REGARDS TO THE ELECTRIC RATE INCREASES, MAYOR, IF, IF, IF COUNCIL NO LONGER WILL HAVE THE AUTHORITY IN REGARDS TO THE INCREASES, AND, AND THEY'RE GONNA LEAVE IT UP TO THE LEGISLATURES, I CAN ONLY IMAGINE CENTER POINT AND, AND OTHERS WILL JUST BE IN DOING THE INCREASES ON, ON OFF YEAR LEGISLATOR OF THE YEARS.
UH, SO THAT WAY THEY WON'T HAVE TO HEAR FROM ANYBODY SAYING THAT WE DON'T WANT AN INCREASE.
UH, SO THAT, THAT, THAT'S, THAT'S SCARY.
THAT'S VERY, VERY DANGEROUS IN REGARDS TO HOMEOWNERS, UH, WITH THE, UH, THE RISING RATES OF THE ELECTRIC BILLS.
SO, UH, THAT'S ANOTHER THING THAT, UH, HOPEFULLY EVERYONE WILL START REACHING OUT TO THEIR LEGISLATORS AND STATE SENATORS.
UH, ON, ON A DIFFERENT NOTE HERE, MAYOR, UH, IN REGARDS TO THE BOARD OF MANAGERS, THAT HISD OR, OR THE STATE'S GONNA BE APPOINTING, I, I, I KNOW IN HERS AND, UH, THE HOUSTON LAND BANK AND OTHER, UH, BOARDS THAT THE CITY HAS, WE DO HAVE REPRESENTATIVES FROM HISD ON THESE.
UH, SO I DON'T KNOW HOW THAT'S GONNA WORK, UH, WITH, WITH THE BOARD OF MANAGERS.
ARE THEY GONNA BE INVOLVED IN THAT AT ALL? OR THEY WILL, THEY JUST LEAVE IT UP TO THE CITY TO APPOINT THOSE REPRESENTATIVES? YEAH, I HAVE COUNCIL, I HAVE NO, NO, I HAVE NO CLUE.
YEAH, SO, SO, SO, SO THAT'S VERY CONCERNING ALSO IN REGARDS TO, UH, THOSE THAT ARE SERVING ON THESE JERSEYS OR BOARDS, UH, THAT REPRESENT HISD CURRENTLY.
I MEAN, WHO'S, WHO'S GOING TO BE APPOINTING THOSE? OR, OR IS THE STATE GONNA HAVE ANY INTEREST IN THAT AT ALL? SO THAT'S ANOTHER THING WE NEED TO LOOK AT.
[CONSENT AGENDA]
SECRETARY.LET'S PROCEED WITH THE, UH, AGENDA ON THE MISCELLANEOUS CATEGORY.
NUMBERS ONE AND TWO NEED A MOTION AS TATOR MOVES SECOND, ROBINSON BEEN MOVED IN.
DISCUSSION IN FAVOR, OPPOSING GRANTED ON ONE, TWO, IN THE SAME, PER SAME PANEL, YES, SAME PANEL.
WE HAVE THE REINVESTMENT ZONE, NUMBER 15 EAST DOWNTOWN.
AND THEN WE HAVE THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF THE EAST DOWNTOWN REDEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY.
UH, IF YOU ARE HERE, PLEASE STAND AND COME FORWARD.
POSITION TWO IS CHRIS, UH, CHRIS HOLLANDS, POSITION THREE IS PAULA M MENDOZA, FOUR BERNARDO AFI.
THE THIRD FIVE IS MARTHA GILL.
UH, SIX IS SETH HOPKINS, AND SEVEN IS FRANCIS CAST DUS.
AND SO, I KNOW I CALLED YOUR NAME OUT.
SO PAULA, WON'T WE START WITH YOU AND JUST GIVE YOU, GIVE YOUR NAMES AGAIN.
GOOD MORNING, AND THANK YOU FOR HAVING US THIS MORNING.
GOOD MORNING, FRANCIS CASTED ICE.
THANK YOU ALL FOR, UH, FOR AGREEING TO SERVE, UM, ON THE REINVESTMENT ZONE, ON THE REDEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY, AS YOU ALL KNOW, VERY IMPORTANT,
[03:05:01]
UH, TO THE, TO THE DEVELOPMENT OF EAST DOWNTOWN.SO, UH, THANK YOU FOR TAKING THE TIME, BRINGING YOUR EXPERTISE, UM, TO MOVE THIS, UH, AGENDA ITEM, UH, FORWARD.
FIRST OF ALL, I WANNA PERSONALLY THANK Y'ALL.
THANK Y'ALL FOR EVERYTHING THAT Y'ALL ARE DOING OUT IN EAST, IN IDO, EAST DOWNTOWN.
UH, UH, THERE'S A LOT OF GREAT THINGS HAPPENING, UH, AND I KNOW THAT, THAT YOU LIVE IN, IN IDO.
SO, UH, THANK, THANK YOU FOR EVERYTHING THAT Y'ALL ARE DOING.
UH, AND, UH, MARTHA GILL, UH, THANK YOU FOR, UH, YOUR WILLINGNESS TO SERVE.
UH, MAR MARTHA IS A BUSINESS OWNER MAYOR THERE, UH, IN, IN EAST BETWEEN EAST END AND IN IDO, UH, WITH SEGUNDO COFFEE SHOP.
UH, THEY, THEY, UH, THEY, THEY, I, I KNOW YOU MAY HAVE HEARD, UH, IN REGARDS TO ISSUES THAT THEY MAY BE HAVING WITH THE RAILROADS.
UH, THEY ARRIVE BY YES, RAILROAD TRACK, UH, AND SOMETIMES THE TRAIN IS JUST STALLED THERE FOR HOURS, UH, WHICH IMPACTS THEIR BUSINESS.
SO IT'S GOOD THAT SHE'S ON THIS BOARD, UH, AS A BUSINESS OWNER, SOMEONE THAT'S BEING IMPACTED BY THE RAILROADS, UH, SO THAT WAY SHE CAN ALSO SPEAK UP, UH, TO PROTECT, UH, PROTECT THE AREA IN, IN REGARDS TO BUSINESSES AND WHAT HAVE YOU.
AND THANK YOU, FRANCIS, FOR EVERYTHING THAT, UH, THAT, THAT YOU DO OUT IN THE EAST AND, UH, UH, AND PAULA AND EVERYONE ELSE THAT Y'ALL HAVE BEEN VERY ACTIVE, UH, IN, IN, IN, IN NITO THE EAST END IN REGARDS TO EITHER BEING A RESIDENT OR IN THE BUSINESS COMMUNITY, UH, OR LIVING THERE.
SO THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR EVERYTHING THAT Y'ALL DO.
UH, JUST WANT TO THANK YOU ALL AS WELL.
GIVE A SHOUT OUT TO MY FRIEND, BERNIE, IT'S GOOD TO SEE YOU.
YOU SPENT A LOT OF LONG NIGHTS AT THE LAW SCHOOL LIBRARY TOGETHER A WHILE BACK.
SO THANK YOU ALL FOR YOUR, UH, SERVICE AND LOOK FORWARD TO SEEING YOUR WORK.
I JUST WANT TO ADD TO THE, WHAT MY COLLEAGUES' COMMENTS ARE FOR, UH, THANKING AND APPRECIATING ALL THAT YOU GUYS DO.
MAYOR, I'M THINKING ABOUT SOME OF THE LONGSTANDING SERVICE THAT'S REPRESENTED IN THE INDIVIDUALS IN FRONT OF US.
AND I KNOW, SETH, YOU KEEP DOING IT.
UH, WE WERE TOGETHER WORKING ON THE SUPER NEIGHBORHOOD ALLIANCE OVER 10 YEARS AGO.
SO, UM, MAYOR, I WANNA THANK ALL THESE FOLKS, UH, INDIVIDUALLY, BUT ALSO YOUR CHAIR, WHO'S NOT HERE IN A GREAT LEGACY THAT I'M PROUD, UH, TO SIT IN THE CHAIR OF THE FORMER AT LARGE, UH, TO COUNCIL MEMBER GORDON KWAN.
SO KEEP UP THE GOOD WORK THERE.
YOU KNOW, AS COUNCIL MEMBER GALLEGOS JUST SAID, THERE'S SO MUCH IMPORTANT ACTIVITY GOING ON IN THE EAST END, AND WITH THE I 45 PROJECT BACK ON TRACK, THERE'S A LOT TO BE VIGILANT ABOUT AND STEWARDS OF THE RESOURCES THAT ARE IN THE BOUNDARIES OF YOUR AREA.
SO, THANKS AGAIN FOR EVERYTHING, AND LET US KNOW IF WE CAN HELP.
WE'RE HERE, UH, TO COLLABORATE WITH YOU AND, UH, FOR THE COMBINED EFFECTS THAT WE CAN, UH, ALL WORK ON.
UM, I WANTED TO ALSO EXPRESS MY GRATITUDE TO YOUR COMMITMENT TO SERVICE AND, AND THE GOOD WORK YOU DO.
UM, MOST OF THESE ARE REAPPOINTMENTS, BUT, BUT MARTHA GILL, YOU KNOW, WELCOME TO THIS WONDERFUL GROUP.
YOU KNOW, YOU'RE, YOU'RE A WONDERFUL ADDITION.
UM, I ALSO JUST WANTED TO COMMENT ON HOW NICE IT IS THAT SO MANY OF YOU CAME THAT WE CAN RECOGNIZE YOU SOMETIMES, WE'RE JUST LOOKING AT NAMES ON, YOU KNOW, ON THE AGENDA.
AND IT'S, AND I APPRECIATE THAT YOU, THAT ALL OF YOU MADE AN EFFORT, YOU KNOW, TO, TO BE HERE TODAY SO THAT WE CAN, WE CAN THANK YOU IN PERSON.
UM, AND FRANCIS, YOU ARE REAPPOINTMENT, BUT YOU'VE ALSO BEEN ACTIVE WITH THE CHAMBER.
YOU WANNA SPEAK ON BEHALF OF THE GROUP.
IT'S AN HONOR TO SERVE THE, THESE ARE NOT ONLY COLLEAGUES, BUT NOW THEY'RE FRIENDS.
AND OUR GOAL IS TO MAKE THE EAST DOWNTOWN THE BEST PLACE TO BE.
IT'S CLOSE PROXIMITY TO DOWNTOWN, AND IT IS THE PLACE WHERE, WHERE RESTAURANTS ARE OPENING AND PEOPLE ARE COMING BACK.
AND WE ALWAYS TRY TO REMIND EVERYONE THAT THAT IS WHERE THE ORIGINAL CHINATOWN WAS.
AND DO NOT FORGET THAT, THAT THAT WONDERFUL CULTURE, UM, AND WELCOME THE NEW FOLKS THAT ARE COMING IN.
IT'S AN HONOR TO, TO, TO SEE THE, THE NEW SIDEWALKS THAT ARE COMING UP, THAT THE, THE NEW BUSINESS THAT ARE COMING UP.
AND THEY REALLY DO APPRECIATE THE MONEY, THE REINVESTMENT THAT WE'RE DOING.
WE HAD AN OPEN HOUSE RECENTLY, AND IT WAS PACKED, UH, AND IT WAS GREAT.
UH, UM, SO WE'RE DOING GREAT THINGS, AND IT'S BECAUSE OF, OF THE HELP, UH, UH, IN THIS ROOM.
THANK YOU, MAYOR PHIL FAILED TO MENTION, BUT COUNCIL MEMBER ROBBINS POINTED IT OUT IN REGARDS TO THE, UH, REALIGNMENT OF 45.
UH, I, I KNOW THAT'S, UH, SOMETHING THAT I WOULD LOVE TO WORK WITH Y'ALL, UH, AND WITH THE DOWNTOWN MANAGEMENT DISTRICT IN REGARDS TO THE PROPOSED CAP, UH, A 10 BLOCK, UH, PROPOSED 10 BLOCK LONG PARK, UH, GREEN SPACE THERE OVER I 45 ON THE REALIGNMENT.
UH, AND ALSO THE IMPORTANCE OF MAKING SURE THAT WE STILL HAVE CONNECTIVITY, UH, TO AND FROM THE EAST END AND DOWNTOWN, UH, AND ON THE NORTH, NORTH SIDE OF DOWNTOWN, AS WELL AS THE SOUTH SIDE OF DOWNTOWN.
SO THAT'S SOMETHING THAT I, I HOPE TO WORK WITH YOU AND WITH THE DOWNTOWN MANAGEMENT DISTRICT AND THE CHURCH AS WELL.
[03:10:01]
THANK YOU ALSO VERY MUCH.LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING WITH YOU.
[ACCEPT WORK]
UNDER THE ACCEPT CATEGORY, ACCEPT WORK CATEGORY.ITEM THREE HAS BEEN PULLED AND WILL NOT BE CONSIDERED.
DISCUSSION IN FAVOR, OPPOSED GRANTED UNDER THE PROPERTY CATEGORY ITEMS FIVE THROUGH NINE.
ROBINSON MOVED AND SECONDED ON ITEMS FIVE THROUGH NINE.
OPPOSED, GRANTED UNDER THE ORDINANCES CATEGORY ITEMS REMOVED FOR SEPARATE CONSIDERATION.
THOSE NUMBERS AGAIN ARE 10, 11, 30, AND 32.
DISCUSSION, DISCUSSION, DISCUSSION IN FAVOR, OPPOSE GRANTED, ITEMS REMOVED
[CONSIDERATION OF MATTERS REMOVED FROM CONSENT AGENDA]
FOR STEP FOR CONSIDERATION.ITEM NUMBER 10 IS AN ORDINANCE.
COUNCIL MEMBER PACK ON ITEM 10.
UM, I JUST WANTED TO THANK YOU FOR THIS ITEM.
THIS IS TO AMEND CHAPTER SIX OF THE ORDINANCES TO CLOSE THE LOOPHOLE TO BASICALLY NOW ALLOW MUNICIPAL JUDGES TO, UM, ISSUE WARRANTS OUT WHEN THERE'S A DANGEROUS DOG SITUATION.
THIS ACTUALLY WAS A RESULT OF A SITUATION IN DISTRICT A WHERE A DOG ATTACKED A 4-YEAR-OLD IN THE DISTRICT, AND THE MUNICIPAL COURTS COULDN'T DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT.
SO I JUST WANTED TO THANK YOU FOR CLOSING THIS LOOPHOLE.
AND ALSO WANTED TO THANK DIRECTOR PAEZ, UM, CHRIS GLASSER, JARED ME'S, NIKKI COOPER, AND THE LEGAL DEPARTMENT AS WELL FOR WORKING ON THIS.
UM, THIS, THIS WILL NOW ALLOW US TO, UM, TO MIRROR STATE LAW AND, AND ALLOW JUDGES TO ISSUE A, A WARRANT TO OWNERS OF DANGEROUS DOGS, WHICH HAD NOT BEEN ALLOWED TO HAVE HAPPENED BEFORE.
AND, UM, AND I'M GLAD TO SEE THIS TODAY.
COUNCIL MEMBER, MEMBER P*****K.
I WAS TRYING TO GET SOME MORE CLARIFICATION ON THIS PARTICULAR ITEM.
UM, USUALLY WHEN THERE ARE DANGEROUS INCIDENTS OF DOGS, TO MY UNDERSTANDING, UM, IT COMES DOWN TO THE OCCURRENCES OF THE INCIDENTS, UM, IN STATE LAW.
AND SO IF THIS IS ALREADY STATE LAW, STATE LAW, ARE WE JUST MAKING IT MORE FLEXIBLE FOR OUR MUNICIPAL COURTS TO HAVE, UH, AUTHORITY OVER THESE TYPE OF CASES? OKAY.
UM, IT SEEMS KIND OF REDUNDANT, BUT, OKAY.
ANY, ANY OTHER DISCUSSION IN FAVOR I ANY DISCUSSION IN FAVOR? OPPOSED? GRANTED ON ITEM 10, ITEM 11 IS AN ORDINANCE.
WE ON ITEM 11, COUNCILOR COUNCILOR GYUS ON ITEM 11.
UH, THIS IS SOMETHING THAT WAS IMPLEMENTED DURING COVID TO HELP THE, UH, BARS AND RESTAURANTS ON MAIN STREET, UH, TO HELP THEM DURING, DURING COVID TO, TO, TO BRING CUSTOMERS BACK.
UM, AND I WANT TO, I WANT TO THANK CHIEF TRANSPORTATION PLANNER, DAVID FIELDS FOR LEADING THIS PROGRAM, WHICH HAS BEEN WELL RECEIVED AND SUPPORTED BY BUSINESS OWNERS, VISITORS, AND RESIDENTS ALIKE.
I ENCOURAGE MY COLLEAGUES WHO HAVEN'T ALREADY VISITED THE AREA TO DO SO AND SEE HOW POPULAR THESE SPACES HAVE BECOME, ESPECIALLY IN THE EVENINGS AND THE WEEKENDS.
IT TOOK PARTNERS TO MAKE THIS A REALITY.
SO LET ME ALSO THANK THE DOWNTOWN MANAGEMENT DISTRICT FOR THEIR WORK ON THE PROJECT.
UH, HOUSTON METRO PUBLIC WORKS, THE PLANNING DEPARTMENT, HFD AND HPD, AS WELL AS THE RESTAURANT ASSOCIATION AND THE BUSINESSES THAT HAVE BEEN SO SUPPORTIVE.
UH, AND IT'S, IT'S, UH, IT'S GREAT TO SEE THE NUMBER OF INDIVIDUALS THAT ARE TAKING ADVANTAGE, UH, OF THESE SPACES IN, IN DOWNTOWN HOUSTON ON MAIN STREET IN THE EVENING.
SO, UM, APPRECIATE Y'ALL SUPPORT ON THIS.
ANY OTHER DISCUSSION ON ITEM 11? DISCUSSION IN FAVOR, OPPOSE GRANTED ON 11.
THIS IS THE FIRST READING DISCUSSION ON ITEM 30, DISCUSSION ON 30, DISCUSSION IN FAVOR, OPPOSED GRANTED
[03:15:02]
ON THE FIRST READING, AND IT WILL REAPPEAR NEXT WEEK AS WELL.COUNCIL MEMBER EVAN SHABA ON ITEM 32.
ITEM 32 HAS BEEN TAGGED BY COUNCILMAN EVAN SHABA ITEM, THIS COMPLETES THE ITEMS ON THE AGENDA.
ALRIGHT, WELCOME BACK FROM SPRING BREAK.
[NON CONSENT - MATTERS TO BE PRESENTED BY COUNCIL MEMBERS]
ALL RIGHT, WE ARE GOING TO, WE START OFF WITH COUNCIL MEMBER THOMAS.APPRECIATE THAT AGENDA, MAYOR
I APPRECIATE THE CONTROL OF THAT AGENDA.
UM, SO WE HAVE A LOT HAPPENING IN DISTRICT F, UH, THROUGH THE MONTH OF APRIL.
AND, UM, AS WE WRAP UP MARCH, UM, ON APRIL 1ST, WHICH IS SATURDAY, UM, WE'RE PARTNERING WITH MIDWEST HPD AND PILGRIM'S REST MISSIONARY BAPTIST CHURCH FOR THE VERY FIRST EASTER DAY, AND ALSO PINEY POINT ELEMENTARY.
SO WE'RE REALLY EXCITED WITH THAT.
WALMART, UM, STORES ARE PARTNERING WITH US, SO WE'RE GONNA SERVE THE KIDS AND PROVIDE RESOURCES.
AND I BELIEVE THERE'S VARIOUS DEPARTMENTS THAT ARE, UM, COMING OUT, CITY DEPARTMENTS THAT ARE COMING OUT TO PROVIDE SOME RESOURCES.
UH, WE WERE GONNA HAVE SAM HOUSTON STATE UNIVERSITY DATE AT CITY HALL AND, UH, APRIL 11TH.
THAT'S GONNA BE REALLY EXCITING.
UM, AND A, A VARIETY OF OTHER EVENTS.
UM, WE DON'T HAVE TOO MANY SERIOUS CONSTITUENT CONCERNS TO BRING TO YOUR ATTENTION OR TO THE COMMUNITY, BUT I DO WANNA REMIND EVERYONE THAT ON APRIL, 2020 NINTH, AND WE'RE PUSHING THIS, UM, PUTTING A LOT OF ENERGY BEHIND THIS ISSUE, UH, I'M SORRY, THIS EVENT, WE'RE HOSTING OUR D RESTRICTION WORKSHOP.
AND SO WE HAVE BEEN INUNDATED AND ALL OF US ARE INUNDATED WITH, UH, PRIVATE, UH, COVENANT CONCERNS IN NEIGHBORHOODS.
AND SO WE'RE LIMITED IN WHAT WE COULD DO WITH THE CITY.
AND SO, UH, WE ARE PARTNERING WITH THE, UH, LAW OFFICES OF RICE AND RICE.
OUR VICE MAYOR HOSTS A SIMILAR WORKSHOP, SO THEY'RE GOING TO PROVIDE THAT.
BUT ALSO FROST BANK IS PARTNERING WITH US TO TALK ABOUT, UM, HOW TO PROTECT YOUR HOME DURING DISASTER, AND THEN PROTECTION OF, UH, CONTRACTOR FRAUD.
UH, WE HAVE SEVERAL, UH, RESIDENTS THAT HAVE, UH, DONE BUSINESS WITH CONTRACTORS ONLY TO FIND OUT THEIR, THE WORK WASN'T PERMITTED AND THEY HAVE TO WALK THAT BACK.
AND SO WE'VE BEEN WALKING THAT THROUGH WITH PERMITTING.
SO WANT TO INVITE AT LARGE MEMBERS, YOU KNOW, TO, UM, DEFINITELY PUSH THAT OUT.
BUT IF YOU'RE WILLING TO SUPPORT US AND COME, WE'RE DEFINITELY WILLING TO HAVE YOU.
APRIL 29TH, SATURDAY, APRIL 29TH AT THE WEST HOUSTON INSTITUTE AT HCC HAYES ROAD.
UM, SO WE'LL SEND THAT OUT TO ALL OF YOUR, UM, YOUR OFFICES AS WELL.
WE HAD A REALLY GOOD HOUSING COMMITTEE MEETING YESTERDAY, ROBUST, LOTS OF DISCUSSION AROUND, UH, THE SINGLE FAMILY DEVELOPMENT, MULTIFAMILY DEVELOPMENT IN A VERY DETAILED CONVERSATION ABOUT THE GLO AND THE MOST RECENT NOTIFICATION OF THE CLAWBACK OF THE $30 MILLION FOR MULTIFAMILY.
UM, AND JUST REALLY RAISED THE POINT HOW WE HAD ABOUT 45 MINUTE DISCUSSION TALKING ABOUT SINGLE FAMILY AND THREE BEDROOM HOMES AND, AND GARAGES AND WHAT WE'RE DOING IN NEIGHBORHOODS.
AND THEN TO PIVOT THAT CONVERSATION, UM, UM, WITH STATEMENTS FROM THE GLO THAT THEY'RE HOLD, CONTINUE TO HOLD THEIR POSITION ON THE TWO BEDROOM, UH, WHICH IS DEFINITELY DAMAGING.
AND JUST THE REALITY IS, IS NO ONE AROUND THIS TABLE WILL PURCHASE A TWO BEDROOM HOME, RIGHT? UM, AND WHAT WE'RE DOING IN NEIGHBORHOODS WITH THE 3000, UH, HOME JUST SIGNALS THAT, UH, SO GREAT CONVERSATION, GOOD DEVELOPERS WE'RE IN THAT MEETING.
UH, LOTS OF WORK WITH HOPWA FUNDS AND SO WE'LL CONTINUE TO HAVE THOSE MEETINGS AND WE'LL HAVE OUR NEXT ONE IN IN APRIL.
TOMORROW, RNA WILL, UM, BE, HAS INVITED AIRBNB TO COME.
UM, WE'VE HAD A LOT OF, UM, COMPLAINTS IN, IN NEIGHBORHOODS ABOUT PARTY HOUSES.
AIRBNB'S GONNA COME AND TALK ABOUT THEIR TRUST AND SAFETY POLICIES, HOW NEIGHBORS CAN REPORT THESE, UH, THESE, YOU KNOW, PARTY HOUSES.
HOUSTON FIRST IS GOING TO, WE DON'T REGULATE THESE, THESE HOUSES, BUT WE DO COLLECT HOT TAXES.
HOUSTON FIRST WILL BE ON HAND TO TALK ABOUT THE FINANCIAL PART OF WHAT WE COLLECT FROM THESE AND WHAT WE DON'T DO.
AND, UH, SO INVITE EVERYBODY THAT, THAT HAS AN INTEREST IN, IN THIS TO, TO PLEASE COME.
WE ALSO REACHED OUT TO VRBO AIRBNB, I MEAN VRBO, WHICH IS HOMEAWAY, WHICH IS EXPEDIA.
THEY DID NOT, THERE, DID NOT HAVE NOT RESPONDED.
SO JUST PUTTING THAT OUT THERE IN THE UNIVERSE.
BUT AIRBNB IS COOPERATING AND COMING IN AND TALKING TO US ABOUT THAT.
IN THAT SAME VEIN, TONIGHT AT ST.
ARNOLD'S AIRBNB IS HOSTING A BIG FINAL FOUR.
HOUSTON, THERE'S OVER 150 I THINK HOSTS COMING TO THAT.
THEY'RE REALLY TRYING TO WORK, BE PRE PROACTIVE BEFORE THE BIG WEEKEND, UM, TO MAKE SURE THAT PEOPLE AREN'T, YOU KNOW, JUST BLOWING IT
[03:20:01]
OUT IN THESE RESIDENTIAL AREAS.MAYOR, ON, UM, ON FRIDAY NIGHT, ST.
PATRICK'S DAY, I'M SURE YOU'VE HEARD, UH, THERE WERE SOME SPEAKERS THAT WERE GONNA WAIT UNTIL NEXT WEEK.
SO YOU COULD HEAR A, A PARTY WAS PERMITTED, A BIG KIND OF CON LIKE OUTDOOR CONCERT WAS PERMITTED.
UH, IT WAS, UH, REALLY, REALLY DISRUPTIVE TO THE NEIGHBORHOOD.
SO, UM, I'M SURE WE WILL BE HEARING MORE ABOUT THAT AND WHAT CAN WE, WHAT WE CAN DO IN THE FUTURE TO KIND OF, YOU KNOW, WARD OFF THAT KIND OF DISRUPTION.
AND I JUST WANTED TO, YOU KNOW, RUM ON STARTS TOMORROW, AND SO I JUST WANNA WISH ALL MY MS. LYNN BROTHERS AND SISTERS A GOOD RAMADAN AND, UM, COUNCILMAN P THANK YOU MAYOR.
UM, I JUST WANT TO HIGHLIGHT A FEW EVENTS THAT ARE HAPPENING THIS WEEKEND IN DISTRICT A FIRST, UM, THIS FRIDAY AT 10:00 AM AT THE SPRING BRANCH FAMILY DEVELOPMENT CENTER IS COFFEE WITH THE COPS, IS PART OF THE, UM, NORTHWEST DIVISION'S MARCH ON CRIME EVENT.
UM, COME MEET WITH COMMANDER WYNN AND OUR NORTHWEST OFFICERS TO DISCUSS WORKING TOGETHER FOR A SAFER COMMUNITY.
UM, THIS SATURDAY NEAR NORTHWEST MANAGEMENT DISTRICT IS HAVING THEIR ANNUAL PLANT SALE IN PERSON.
PRESENTATION WILL BE AT 9:00 AM AND THE TAX-FREE VIRTUAL SALE WILL BE AT NOON.
YOU CAN VISIT NMD.ORG FOR MORE INFORMATION.
ALSO ON SATURDAY IS THE SPRING FIESTA.
AT THE SPRING RANCH FAMILY DEVELOPMENT CENTER.
AT 9:00 AM THEY WILL HAVE, UM, AN EGG HUNT, PETTING ZOO GAMES AND PRIZE FOR KIDS.
AND THEN FINALLY, THIS SUNDAY IS THE CIGNA SUNDAY IN THE PARK EVENT IN DISTRICT A.
IT'LL BE AT SCHWARTZ PARK, 8 2 0 3 VOGUE LANE.
MUSIC, DANCING, FREE FOOD AND GAMES.
SO I HOPE TO SEE EVERYONE AT THESE EVENTS.
THANK YOU, COUNCILMAN JACKSON.
UM, FIRST I WANT TO THANK, UM, CHIEF NER AND HIS TEAM FOR JOINING, UM, THE DISTRICT BE BRIEFING THIS PAST SATURDAY, UM, TALKING PUBLIC SAFETY.
AND, UM, I HEARD IT WAS A GREAT CONVERSATION.
I WASN'T PRESENT, UM, BUT THE COMMUNITY AND, UM, CHIEF AND HIS TEAM WAS ABLE TO JUST DISCUSS WAYS WE CAN KEEP OUR COMMUNITY SAFE AND JUST PARTNER AND WORK TOGETHER.
UM, I ALSO WANT TO THANK PASTOR GENTRY FOR HOSTING, UM, THE BRIEFING, UM, AT HIS, UM, ESTABLISHMENT, A NICE ESTABLISHMENT IN DISTRICT B.
SO IF YOU WANNA KNOW MORE ABOUT THE NEXT DISTRICT B BRIEFING, WHICH WE WILL HAVE THE PARKS DEPARTMENT, UM, TO COME OUT AND GIVE THE COMMUNITY UPDATES ON, UM, THE PARKS, UM, THE PROGRESS THAT WE'RE MAKING ON THE 50 50 AND ALL THE WORK THAT WE'RE DOING TO UPGRADE THE PARKS AND DISTRICT B.
UM, CONTACT OUR OFFICE AT 8 3 2 3 9 3 3 0 0 9.
UM, ALSO I WANT TO THANK, UM, KOREAN RECOVERY SERVICE FOR PARTNERING WITH THE DISTRICT B OFFICE.
WE ACTUALLY GONNA BE KICKING OFF OUR MOW DOWN PROGRAM, WHERE THEY'RE GONNA BE WORKING WITH US TO MOW DOWN AND HELP KEEP OUR SENIORS AND DISABLED, UM, CONSTITUENTS, YARDS CLEAN, AS WELL AS VETERANS.
AND SO THIS IS KICKING OFF AS SOON AS POSSIBLE.
UM, FOLKS ARE HA UM, I'M EXCITED ABOUT IT.
SO IF YOU WANT YOUR, YOU ARE A SENIOR AND YOU WANT YOUR YARD UPGRADED OR YOU NEED YOUR YARD CUT AND MAINTAINED, IT'S CONTACT OUR OFFICE AT 8 3 2 3 9 3 3 0 0 9.
AND THIS IS ALSO A JOBS, UM, OPPORTUNITY.
SO THEY'RE GONNA BE HIRING PEOPLE, UM, THAT ARE HOMELESS, UM, OF COURSE, AS THEY'RE TRANSITIONING INTO HOUSING, BUT THIS IS OPPORTUNITY TO BUILD THEM OVERALL, NOT JUST WITH A JOB, BUT, UM, HOUSING AS WELL.
UH, NEXT WEEK WE ALL KNOW THAT THE FINAL FOUR IS COMING TO HOUSTON.
UH, THAT TUESDAY WE ACTUALLY HAVE THE MCDONALD'S ALL AMERICAN GAME FOR THE HIGH SCHOOL, UH, STARS.
BUT ON SUNDAY, APRIL 2ND, 2023, WE'LL HAVE THE HBCU ALLSTAR BASKETBALL GAME, WHICH WILL BE AT TSU AT THREE O'CLOCK, AND THAT'S GONNA BE NATIONALLY TELEVISED ON CBS.
AND SO BEFORE FINAL FOUR, SATURDAY, WELL AFTER FINAL FOUR, SATURDAY AND BEFORE THE CHAMPIONSHIP GAME ON MONDAY, THE HBCU ALLSTAR GAME WILL BE ON SUNDAY.
AND SO WE WANT TO GET EVERYONE OUT TO TSU TO SUPPORT THE HBCU ALL STARS.
AND, UM, YOU CAN GO TO HBCU ALLSTAR GAME.COM TO GET TICKETS AND GET MORE INFORMATION, BUT DEFINITELY WANNA HYPE THAT AS WELL.
UH, I JUST WANNA GIVE A RECAP, UH, FOR THIRD WARD ON TAP, WHICH WAS LAST SATURDAY WHERE DISTRICT D WAS PROUD TO PARTNER WITH THE HOUSTON HOUSING AUTHORITY AND THE THIRD WARD CUNY HOMES CHOICE NEIGHBORHOOD INITIATIVE TO SPONSOR THE SECOND ANNUAL THIRD WARD ON TAP.
IT WAS A, AN IMPORTANT OPPORTUNITY TO ENGAGE AND EMPOWER THE LOCAL COMMUNITY.
AND, UH, WE REIMAGINE THE COLUMBIA TAP TRAIL, WHERE OF COURSE, I AM PROVIDING, UM, THE CALL BOXES FOR SAFETY ON THAT, UH, CORRIDOR, UH, FOR THE COLUMBIA TAP.
AND I'M VERY PROUD AND HAPPY TO DO THAT, UH, BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, THERE ARE ACTIVITIES THAT TAKE PLACE, BUT WE WANT PEOPLE TO BE SAFE AS POSSIBLE WHILE THEY USE THIS BEAUTIFUL, UH, AREA.
I ALSO WANT TO SAY THAT THE RECENT
[03:25:01]
DEATH OF TWO UNIVERSITY OF HOUSTON STUDENTS THIS SEMESTER BY SUICIDE IS DEVASTATING AND HEARTBREAKING NEWS.UH, THIS WAS, UH, THERE WAS A RECENT SUICIDE, AND THIS SERVES AS A REMINDER THAT MENTAL HEALTH ISSUES ARE A SERIOUS CHALLENGE FACING MANY COLLEGE STUDENTS.
AND IT HIGHLIGHTS THE NEED FOR INCREASED RESOURCES AND SUPPORT.
WE CERTAINLY, UH, GIVE OUR CONDOLENCES TO THOSE FAMILIES, UH, SUCH A TRYING, UH, EXPERIENCE FOR ESPECIALLY A YOUNG PERSON TO FEEL SO DESPONDENT THAT THEY THINK THAT THAT IS THE WAY THEY NEED TO GO, NOT KNOWING THAT THE SUN CAN SHINE TOMORROW, AND THEN THEY COULD HAVE A, A BETTER DAY IF THEY JUST HOLD ON.
UH, ALSO, UH, THIS SATURDAY WILL BE THE MCGREGOR PARK CLEANUP FROM NINE TO NOON AT 52 25 CALHOUN ROAD.
ALL SUPPLIES WILL BE PROVIDED.
UH, PLEASE WEAR CLOTHES TO CLOTHES TOED SHOES AND CLOTHES THAT YOU DON'T MIND GETTING DIRTY.
SO COME OUT AND LET'S DO THIS CLEANUP ON SATURDAY.
ALSO, ON SATURDAY, THERE WILL BE A SUNNYSIDE PRAYER WALK AND BLOCK PARTY FROM 10:00 AM TO 2:00 PM EXCUSE ME.
AND THAT WILL BE AT THE SUNNYSIDE PARK, 35 0 2 BELFORT AVENUE.
AND THIS IS ONE TEAM, ONE FIGHT MINISTRIES AND, UH, POLICE COME OUT BECAUSE PRAYER CHANGES THINGS.
ALSO, ON THIS SATURDAY, TRINITY UNITED METHODIST CHURCH WILL HAVE THEIR FRESH PRODUCE MOBILE MART, WHICH WILL BE FROM 10 TO ONE AT THE, UH, PARKING LOT, IN THE PARKING LOT AT 2,600 HOLMAN.
AND, UH, PLEASE COME OUT AND, UH, GET SOME FRESH PRODUCE.
AND THEN I WANNA GIVE MY CONDOLENCES TO, UH, PUBLISHER LORENZA P BUTLER JR.
ON THE DEATH OF HIS FABULOUS DAD, LORENZA P BUTLER SR.
HE, UH, HIS FATHER STEPFATHER WAS MY NEIGHBOR, AND HE ACTUALLY, UH, SOMEBODY THAT I USED TO WORK WITH AT FLEMING MIDDLE SCHOOL.
HE WAS A WONDERFUL COACH, AND EVERYONE LOVED AND ADORED HIM, AND HE MADE SUCH A MAGNIFICENT IMPACT ON STUDENTS AS WELL AS OTHERS.
AND HIS SERVICES WILL BE ON THIS SUNDAY AT THE METROPOLITAN CME CHURCH PARKING LOT, UH, WHICH IS 89 55 SOUTH FREEWAY.
UH, PLEASE COME AND JOIN THE FAMILY.
THE VIEWING WILL BE FROM 1230 TO ONE.
SO COME OUT AND, UM, AND GIVE YOUR REGARDS TO THE FAMILY OF LORENZO P BUTLER JR.
AND I'M SORRY, HIS STEPBROTHER LIVED DOWN THE STREET FROM ME.
AND SO CERTAINLY, UH, HE WILL BE SORELY MISSED.
I WANTED TO JUST, UM, POINT OUT THAT THIS WAS ANOTHER VERY SUCCESSFUL SEASON FOR THE RODEO AND HOW MUCH MONEY THAT THEY HAVE RAISED FOR YOUTH IN TEXAS.
UM, THIS YEAR THEY, THEY RAISED, UM, 22 AND A HALF MILLION DOLLARS.
UM, THAT'S GOING TO, UM, A WHOLE LOT OF THINGS.
YOU KNOW, UH, THERE'S GRADUATE ASSISTANTSHIPS, THERE'S, UM, EDUCATIONAL PROGRAM GRANTS.
THERE'S, UM, MONEY GOING TO THE JUNIOR SHOW EXHIBITORS, AND THERE'S 14, ALMOST $14.3 MILLION GOING IN SCHOLARSHIPS THAT WILL BE AWARDED THIS SUMMER.
AND 45% OF THOSE KIDS ARE HISPANIC.
SO THIS IS SUCH A SUCCESSFUL PROGRAM, AND I JUST WANTED TO, TO THANK THEM, YOU KNOW, FOR, UM, THIS IS THEIR, THEIR 91ST YEAR.
UM, THE HUNDREDTH ANNIVERSARY IS GOING TO BE A BIG DEAL AND, YOU KNOW, LATER ON.
BUT, UM, THAT THEY DO SUCH A GREAT JOB AND, AND, AND IT'S VOLUNTEER RUN.
I MEAN, THERE ARE OVER 35,000 VOLUNTEERS THAT MAKE IT, MAKE IT WORK.
I KNOW THEY HAVE A LOT OF, UM, UH, VISITORS, YOU KNOW, THAT FROM OTHER RODEOS THAT COME AND, AND TALK TO THEM AND SAY, HOW ARE YOU ABLE TO DO SO MUCH? AND IT'S BECAUSE OF THE, THE, THE GENEROSITY OF WITH TIME OF THE VOLUNTEERS THAT, THAT MAKE IT ALL POSSIBLE.
AND WERE YOU ABLE TO GET OUT THERE FOR 21 STRAIGHT DAYS? I WAS THERE EVERY SINGLE DAY.
I SAW EVERY RODEO, THE, THE WHOLE PER, YOU KNOW, THE WHOLE RODEO COMPETITION EVERY TIME.
AND, AND, AND THE PERFORMANCES TOO.
I I WAS THERE ALL, UM, FOR EVERYONE LAST YEAR AS WELL.
AND, UM, IS THAT RIGHT? MM-HMM
YEAH, I REALLY, I, I, AND I'M JUST, I'M JUST SO IMPRESSED WITH THEM AND I, AND I'M VERY EXCITED ABOUT THE INCOMING CHAIR.
UM, PAT MANN PHILLIPS, I DON'T KNOW IF SHE'S THE FIRST WOMAN TO HAVE THIS POSITION.
SHE'S, SHE MIGHT BE, BUT SHE'S, SHE'S AMAZING AND VERY IMPRESSIVE.
AND, AND, UM, AND GETTING TO MEET HER AND, AND HEAR HER INITIATE CONVERSATIONS ABOUT, UM, AN INTEREST IN INNER CITY YOUTH.
YOU KNOW, THAT CAME FROM HER, NOT FROM ME, BUT I WAS VERY, VERY PLEASED TO, TO SEE HER COMING IN WITH THAT AS PART OF WHO SHE IS.
MAYOR PRO TAM, THANKS FOR TAKING AWAY THE THUNDER OF MY OPENING COMMENTS, MAYOR, BECAUSE, UH, I WAS GONNA, UH, SAY THAT WE NEED TO PRESENT A, UH, PROCLAMATION TO COUNCIL MEMBER CISNEROS AS OUR, AS OUR CRO, OUR, OUR CHIEF RODEO OFFICER, AS SHE DID NOT MISS A NIGHT.
AND, UH, HER SUPPORT FOR THE RODEO CONTINUES TO BE STRONG.
[03:30:01]
AND, UM, UH, WHAT YOU DO WITH YOUR, UH, K THROUGH 12 POLICY EDUCATION COMMITTEE, UH, LENDS IN VERY HANDY WITH WHAT THE RODEO DOES WITH THEIR SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM.SO CONGRATULATIONS TO YOU AND I HOPE TIM FINALLY GETS A HOME COOKED MEAL, BECAUSE EVERY TIME I SAW HIM THERE, HE WAS LOSING 10 AND 12 POUNDS A DAY.
BUT ANYWAY, UH, I WANTED TO REMIND KINGWOOD RESIDENTS THAT PUBLIC WORKS BEGAN THEIR PANEL REPLACEMENT PROJECT IN THE WESTBOUND LANES OF KINGWOOD DRIVE FROM GREEN OAK TO CHESTNUT RIDGE THIS PAST MONDAY.
THE COST OF THE PROJECT IS $175,000 AND IS FUNDED THROUGH OUR COUNCIL DISTRICT SERVICE FUNDS, WHICH WE HOPE TO INCREASE, UH, BY 50% DURING THIS BUDGET CYCLE.
THAT WAS A JOKE, RIGHT? NO, SIR.
AND FROM SATURDAY, FROM 7:00 AM TO 12:00 PM THE PROJECT IS ESTIMATED TO BE COMPLETED BY MONDAY, MAY 8TH, WEATHER PERMITTING.
OVER THE LAST TWO WEEKENDS, OUR OFFICE HAS PARTNERED WITH BARK TO PUT ON TWO FREE MICROCHIPPING EVENTS IN DISTRICT E, ONE IN KINGWOOD, AND ONE IN CLEAR LAKE BARK WAS ABLE TO MICROCHIP NEARLY 200 PETS BETWEEN THE TWO EVENTS.
I WANNA THANK BARK FOR ALL THEIR HARD WORK AND THEIR EFFORTS DURING THIS EVENT, AND ALSO TO THANK YOU TO COMCAST XFINITY FOR SPONSORING OUR KINGWOOD EVENT.
AND TOMORROW, UH, CHIEF RECOVERY OFFICER STEVEN AND COSTELLO AND I WILL HEAD TO AUSTIN.
HOPEFULLY WE'LL HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO TALK TO FOLKS ON THE TWO SENATE BILLS IN THE ONE HOUSE BUILT.
BUT WE'LL CONTINUE OUR DISCUSSIONS ON THE SIGNIFICANT PROJECTS IN THE LAKE HOUSTON AND CLEAR LAKE AREAS.
HOPEFULLY WE CAN SECURE THE APPROPRIATE FUNDING TO ENSURE THE PROTECTION OF LIFE AND PROPERTY.
AND CONGRATULATIONS TO COUNCIL MEMBER AMY PECK FOR HER FUNDING OF INWOOD.
UH, INWOOD WAS THE NUMBER ONE PROJECT THAT THE CITY OF HOUSTON RECOMMENDED, UH, CLOSELY FOLLOWED BY THE LAKE HOUSTON SPILLWAY DAM PROJECT, WHICH WE'RE GONNA TALK ABOUT TOMORROW.
SO I HOPE WE'RE BATTING A THOUSAND, UH, WHEN WE COME BACK FROM THAT MEETING.
I KNOW YOU DID A LOT OF HARD WORK.
COUPLE OF ANNOUNCEMENTS IN DISTRICT A UH, THIS SATURDAY IS WE LOVE SHERN DAY AT SHERN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL AND RESIDENTS COMMUNITY AND CHURCH ORGANIZATIONS, UM, WILL COME OUT TO HELP BEAUTIFY THE CAMPUS.
THE DISTRICT CASE STAFF WILL BE THERE WITH GLOVES AND SHOVEL TO SHOW LOVE TO THAT GRAY SCHOOL.
UH, HOPE TO SEE YOU THERE AT 98 0 2 STELLA LINK ROAD FROM 8:00 AM TO 12:00 PM AND IF YOU NEED MORE INFORMATION, YOU CAN CONTACT LAURA PETERS AT SHERN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL, THE WESTBURY COMMUNITY GARDEN FUNDRAISER.
THE FOUNDER'S BREAKFAST IN THE GARDEN WILL BE ON SATURDAY, MARCH THE 25TH FROM 10:00 AM TO 12:00 PM AT THE WESTBURY GARDEN ON DUNLAP STREET.
UH, THE WESTBURY GARDEN IS CELEBRATING 13 YEARS.
IT'S A TREMENDOUS ASSET TO OUR COMMUNITY, UM, AND WE HOPE THAT YOU WILL BE ABLE TO PARTICIPATE IN THE FOUNDER'S, UH, BREAKFAST IN THE GARDEN ON SATURDAY, MARCH THE 25TH.
UH, IF YOU ARE IN NEED OF GETTING YOUR TAXES DONE, UH, AT THE FOUNTAIN LIFE CENTER, THE VOLUNTEER INCOME TAX ASSISTANCE PROGRAM IS THERE EVERY YEAR.
UH, RESIDENTS WHO NEED TO, UM, HAVE THEIR TAXES PREPARED, THEY CAN GET THAT DONE FOR FREE THROUGH APRIL THE 17TH.
UM, IF YOU JUST GO TO THE FOUNTAIN LIFE CENTER AT 1 4 0 8 3 SOUTH MAIN STREET, UM, VITA TEXT PREP WILL BE ON SITE FOR ASSISTANCE.
AND IF YOU NEED MORE INFORMATION, THAT PHONE NUMBER IS (713) 726-3398.
UH, ALSO WANT TO THANK, UM, MY COUNCIL COLLEAGUES WHO SIGNED ON TO THE NLC RAIL SAFETY ACTION LETTER TO MEMBERS OF THE US SENATE AND HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.
THIS, UH, WEEK I WILL BE GOING TO DC FOR THE NATIONAL LEAGUE OF CITIES, UH, CONFERENCE, UH, IT'S FEDERAL ADVOCACY WEEK IN WASHINGTON, DC.
UM, AND AS A MEMBER OF THE TRANSPORTATION AND INFRASTRUCTURE SERVICES COMMITTEE WILL BE MEETING, UM, AND TALKING ABOUT THE IMPORTANCE OF RAIL SAFETY ACTION, UM, COUNCIL MEMBER GALLEGOS, I TALKED A LOT ABOUT ALL OF THE ISSUES THAT YOU BRING UP ON, UM, RAIL SAFETY AND THE IMPORTANCE OF, UH, WORKING WITH, UH, UNION PACIFIC AND THE OTHER, UM, PLACES THAT ARE CAUSING PROBLEMS FOR US, UM, IN OUR, IN OUR RAILWAYS.
SO, UM, THANK YOU ALL FOR SIGNING ON TO THAT LETTER TO CONGRESS.
AND THEN FINALLY, I WANT TO WISH HAPPY BIRTHDAY.
IT SEEMS LIKE EVERYBODY IN OUR OFFICE HAD A BIRTHDAY THIS WEEK.
OUR CHIP INTERN, ALEXIS BAMER, CELEBRATED HER BIRTHDAY ON MARCH 14TH.
OUR CHIEF OF STAFF, DD CHAVIS CELEBRATED HER BIRTHDAY ON MARCH 20TH.
AND, UH, OUR EXECUTIVE ASSISTANT, JOE GATSON, WILL CELEBRATE HIS BIRTHDAY ON SATURDAY, MARCH 25TH.
SO HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO OUR AMAZING STAFF.
HAVE A SUPER DAY, BE KIND TO EACH OTHER.
[03:35:02]
THANK YOU, MAYOR.ON ON MONDAY, I JOINED, UH, CONGRESSMAN AL GREEN AND CONGRESSWOMAN SYLVIA GARCIA, WHO ACCOMPANIED MITCH LIN DREW, UH, PRESIDENT BY BIDEN, SENIOR ADVISOR AND INFRASTRUCTURE COORDINATOR.
UH, WE GAVE HIM A WALKING TOUR OF TELEPHONE ROAD, UH, SO HE COULD SEE AND HEAR, UH, WHAT THE IMPROVEMENTS ARE IN STORAGE FOR TELEPHONE ROAD FROM LAWNDALE TO SIX 10, UH, FROM THE $20.6 MILLION AWARDED, UH, GRANT, A RAISED GRANT TO THE CITY OF HOUSTON.
UH, ONE OF THE FIRST GRANTS AWARDED, UH, FROM THE INFRASTRUCTURE BILL.
UH, I ALSO WANT TO THANK, UM, UH, CATHERINE SUMMER LINE, UH, WITH PUBLIC WORKS AND A GRANT WRITER.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR ALL SHE DID.
AND, UH, IN REGARDS TO THE GRANT WRITING, UH, ALSO TO DAVID FIELDS IN THE PLANNING DEPARTMENT, UH, THEY BOTH ALSO PARTICIPATED IN THIS WALKING TOUR ON MONDAY.
SO THANK Y'ALL FOR BEING THERE.
UM, MAYOR, UH, YESTERDAY, UH, WE HAD A COMMUNITY MEETING IN EASTWOOD.
UM, I WANT TO THANK, UH, TOM LAMBERT, UH, FROM METRO CEO AND OTHER METRO REPRESENTATIVES THAT WERE THERE.
UH, THE, UM, UH, WE HAD IT AT THE CAPE CENTER, A CITY FACILITY THERE AT LOCKWOOD AND, UH, TELEPHONE ROAD.
UH, AND, AND, AND IT WAS PACKED, PACKED WITH RESIDENTS, UH, THAT WERE VERY VOCAL, UH, IN REGARDS TO METRO'S PROPOSED PLAN OF BUILDING AN OVERPASS.
UH, THEY WERE AT THE RAILROAD TRACK.
I KNOW VICE MAYOR PRO TIM MENTIONED ABOUT THE, JUST, JUST, JUST A, A MINUTE AGO REGARDING THE TRAINS.
UM, EASTWOOD IS A HISTORIC NEIGHBORHOOD IN, IN THE EAST END, UH, AND FOR THE CITY OF HOUSTON, IT WAS DEVELOPED IN 1913 BY WILLIAM A. WILSON, WHO ALSO DEVELOPED WOODLAND HEIGHTS.
AND LOCKWOOD IS THE MAIN CORRIDOR FOR EASTWOOD.
AND TO BUILD AN OVERPASS THERE WOULD JUST DESTROY THAT NEIGHBORHOOD AND ITS CHARACTER.
SO I WAS THERE LAST NIGHT TO HEAR FROM THE RESIDENTS, AND AGAIN, IT WAS PACKED, UH, AND IT WAS VERY VOCAL, AND RESIDENTS MADE IT VERY CLEAR THAT THEY DO NOT SUPPORT AN OVERPASS.
UH, SO I'M HOPING METRO IS ABLE TO LOOK AT THIS AND, UH, FIND HOPEFULLY AN ALTERNATIVE, UH, IN REGARDS TO, UH, AN ALTERNATIVE ROUTE IN THAT AREA, UH, TO AVOID HAVING TO BUILD AN OVERPASS THAT WILL DESTROY THE CHARACTER AND THE HISTORY AND THE BEAUTIFUL NEIGHBORHOOD OF EASTWOOD, UH, THERE IN THE EAST END.
I KNOW THAT, UM, WHAT WOULD REALLY HELP
UH, AND THAT WAY, UH, HOPEFULLY A A AN OVERPASS DOES NOT HAVE TO BE BUILT.
IS THAT THE REASON? IS THAT THE REASON FOR THE OVERPASS? YES.
UH, BECAUSE THE TRAIN, THE, THE TRAIN THERE ON LOCKWOOD THAT CROSSES LOCKWOOD, SOMETIMES IT'S STOPPED THERE WITH THE MONITORS THAT WE NOW HAVE.
THE CITY HAS, UH, WE HAVE, AND, AND, AND RESIDENTS IN EASTWOOD ARE ALSO MONITORING THEMSELVES, UH, WHERE THE TRAIN HAS BEEN THERE FOR SEVERAL HOURS, JUST STOPPED AT LOCKWOOD.
UH, I, I KNOW UNION PACIFIC HAS BEEN WORKING ON IT.
UH, IT, IT, IT MAY HA IT MAY HAVE IMPROVED SOMEWHAT, BUT WHEN YOU'RE BUILDING A-B-R-T-A-B-R-T, THE PURPOSE OF A BRT, YOU HAVE A, A DEDICATED BUS LANE.
UH, AND IT, IT, IT'S GOING FROM POINT A TO POINT B QUICKLY.
UH, SO WHAT YOU DON'T NEED IS A TRAIN STOPPED.
UH, SO THEREFORE, IF WE CAN WORK WITH ME, WITH, WITH UNION PACIFIC TO, TO, TO GET A COMMITMENT FROM THEM THAT THEY WILL NOT BE STOPPING A TRAIN, UH, HOPEFULLY, UH, HOPEFULLY WE DON'T HAVE TO BUILD ANY OVERPASS.
I KNOW AN UNDERPASS WAS CONSIDERED, UH, BUT, UH, METRO, UH, AFTER THE RESEARCH, UH, FOUND THAT, UH, UH, IT WOULD PROBABLY CAUSE FLOODING.
THEY WOULD ALSO HAVE TO REMOVE THE CVS THERE AT LOCKWOOD AND HARRISBURG, UH, IN ORDER TO HAVE SPACE FOR THE PUMPS AND A DETENTION POND.
UH, SO, SO, UM, IT DOESN'T LOOK LIKE AN UNDERPASS WOULD BE FEASIBLE.
UH, BUT THEY'RE HAVING VENTRALS HAVING A BOARD MEETING TOMORROW.
UH, I WILL BE SPEAKING AT THE BOARD MEETING TOMORROW AND ASKING THAT IT BE, UH, POSTPONED THE VOTE IN REGARDS TO THE ROUTE TO GIVE TIME FOR RESIDENTS OF EASTWOOD TO ONCE AGAIN, TALK TO METRO TO SEE IF THERE'S ANOTHER ALTERNATIVE.
UH, SO, UH, I UNDERSTAND THAT SEVERAL RESIDENTS FROM EASTWOOD AND THE PRESIDENT OF EASTWOOD, UH, CIVIC CLUB WILL BE AT THE BOARD MEETING A METRO'S BOARD MEETING TOMORROW TO SPEAK AS WELL.
SO, JUST WANTED TO GIVE EVERYONE AN UPDATE.
UM, WANT TO APPRECIATE WHAT YOU'VE SAID ABOUT THE SENATE AND HOUSE BILLS
[03:40:01]
IN AUSTIN.AS YOU KNOW, SOMEONE WHO'S GONE UP A COUPLE TIMES ALREADY THIS YEAR.
THERE'S, THERE'S TRULY A LOT OF WORK TO BE DONE, AND I, I WANNA THANK, UH, THE MAYOR PRO TEM FOR HIS EFFORTS GOING UP.
I ALSO KNOW HE'S GOING TO WASHINGTON DC NEXT WEEK AND VICE MAYOR PRO TEM FOR WHAT YOU'RE DOING.
UM, YOU KNOW, CHAIR THOMAS IS RIGHT THAT THE, UH, HOUSING AND COMMUNITY AFFAIRS MEETING YESTERDAY WAS ROBUST WITH DISCUSSIONS ABOUT THE GLO.
AND I KNOW COUNCIL MEMBER MARTIN AND I WILL HAVE A VERY BUSY AGENDA NEXT WEEK WITH SEVERAL DAYS OF ADVOCACY ON THE HILL.
BUT I THINK WITH DISCUSSIONS, UH, CENTERED AROUND THE GLO, THINKING ABOUT TDOT RECENTLY, OUR CONVERSATIONS, AS COUNCIL MEMBER GALLEGOS HAS MENTIONED WITH THE FEDERAL, UH, TRANS TRAIN, UH, AUTHORITIES, THERE ARE DISCUSSIONS WITH SECRETARY BUTTIGIEG, WITH SECRETARY FUDGE, UM, THAT ARE ALL VERY, VERY IMPORTANT FOR US TO CONTINUE TO WORK ON.
UM, SO JUST FOR YOUR KNOWLEDGE OF HOW WE ARE FANNING OUT, UH, TO AUSTIN, TO DC, UM, I TOO WAS, UH, LUCKY ENOUGH TO MEET WITH MITCH LANDRY YESTERDAY, UH, WITH SHEILA JACKSON LEE, OUR GREAT CONGRESSWOMAN, AND, UH, COMMISSIONER ELLIS, UH, AND A NUMBER OF OUR STAFF MEMBERS FROM DIRECTOR HADDOCK AND OTHERS, UH, WITHIN PUBLIC WORKS AND PLANNING, UM, THERE ALONGSIDE OUR, OUR COLLEAGUES AT THE HARRIS COUNTY.
UM, AND WE'RE REALLY TRYING TO PULL DOWN ALL THE MONEY WE POSSIBLY CAN FROM EACH AND EVERY BUCKET, AND I KNOW YOU'RE WORKING ON THAT.
SO, UM, JUST TO THE COLLABORATIVE EFFORTS THAT CAN GO ON BEHIND THE SCENES, THIS IS A REALLY IMPORTANT TIME FOR ALL OF US, AND I KNOW YOU'RE, YOU'RE AWARE OF THAT.
SO, UM, BLESSINGS TO YOU AND, UM, UH, THANKS FOR AN, A GOOD AGENDA TODAY.
AND LEMME JUST SAY, YEAH, IT IS ALL HANDS ON DECK, SO PLEASE, UM, LET ME ENCOURAGE YOU, PLEASE BE ENGAGED WITH THE LEGISLATIVE PROCESSES IN AUSTIN, IN DC YOU'RE GONNA BE IN DC AND NEED ANY ASSISTANCE THERE.
YOU KNOW, LET US KNOW, TOUCH BASE WITH BILL KELLY IF YOU'RE GONNA BE IN AUSTIN, BUT DO, UH, TALK AMONGST YOURSELVES.
IF THERE'S A DAY, AGAIN, I'M SAYING MONDAY OR THURSDAY, PICK A DAY, WORK WITH, GIVE ME INVITE MEMBER, TIM, UH, LET US KNOW.
AND THEN WE'LL WORK TO MAKE THE ARRANGEMENTS TO, TO GET YOU UP AND BRING AND BRING YOU BACK, UH, AND ALL OF THAT.
SO, UM, I THINK THAT WOULD BE VERY, VERY HELPFUL ON, ON SO MANY, ON SO MANY DIFFERENT FRONTS, AND I HOPE IT WILL BE VERY, YOU KNOW, A VERY BIPARTISAN SYN EFFORT FROM, FROM US.
UM, HAVING SAID THAT, I'M TRYING TO THINK, DID I LEAVE OUT ANYTHING? I DON'T THINK SO.
WHEN WE, UM, WE STAND ADJOURN, UM, FOR TODAY.