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TO, UH, TO ALL OF THE MEMBERS OF THE MEDIA AND TO, UH,[Press Conference: "Safety and Transportation for NCAA Final Four"]
TO FRIENDS AS WELL.UH, THANK YOU FOR JOINING US AT CITY HALL AS WE PREPARE TO HOST OF THE MEN'S FINAL FOUR IN HOUSTON, MARCH 31ST THROUGH APRIL THE THIRD LOOK, I'M JOINED, UH, THIS MORNING BY HOLLY KIRSON, PRESIDENT OF THE HOUSTON, UH, ORGANIZING COMMITTEE, HOUSTON POLICE CHIEF TROY FINNER, UH, FIRE CHIEF SAM PENA.
SUSAN CHRISTIAN, DIRECTOR OF MAYOR'S OFFICE OF SPECIAL EVENT, SANJAY RON, METRO CHAIR, DR.
LAURA MARIA, WHO IS, UH, ON THE HARRIS HOUSTON SPORTS AUTHORITY AND ALSO CEO OF THE HISPANIC UH, CHAMBER.
UH, WE WILL SHARE SOME IMPORTANT DETAILS TODAY FOR HOUSTONIANS TO KNOW, AS YOU ALL ENJOY THE FESTIVITIES AROUND TOWN DURING THE FINAL FOUR.
UH, THIS IS GOING TO BE AN EXCITING TIME, UH, FOR HOUSTON BASKETBALL FANS AND EVERYONE ELSE WHO PLAN TO ATTEND THE MUSIC FEST AND FAN FEST.
I WANT TO BEGIN BY SAYING, UH, IT IS GAME ON HOUSTON.
WE HAVE BEEN PLAN PLANNING FOR THE MEN'S FINAL FOUR AND ALL THIS COMMUNITY EVENTS, UH, TO TIP OFF FOR WELL OVER A YEAR AND A HALF.
I CAN STILL REMEMBER THE EXCITEMENT FROM WHEN THE NCAA ANNOUNCED HOUSTON WOULD WOULD HOLD THE 2023 MEN'S FINAL FOUR, AND THEN LAST YEAR WHEN THEY UNVEILED THE LOGO THAT REALLY CAPTURES THE HEART AND SPIRIT OF OUR CITY.
TO PLAY HOST ONE OF THE LARGEST SPORTING EVENTS IN THE NATION IS A BIG DEAL.
IT'S A WIN TO BE ON THE NATIONAL STAGE.
IT'S A WIN TO WELCOME A PROJECTED 75,000 OR MORE OUT OF TOWNERS TO THE CITY.
UH, WE CALL HOME, AND EVEN THOUGH WE ARE NOT GONNA HAVE A TEXAS TEAM, UM, WE'VE GOT
EVEN THOUGH WE'RE NOT GONNA HAVE A TEXAS TEAM, UM, WE DO HAVE, WHAT, TWO COMING FROM MIAMI COMING IN, OR ONE COMING FROM UP NORTHEAST COMING DOWN, ONE COMING FROM THE WEST COMING IN.
SO WE'LL HAVE PEOPLE COMING FROM ALL OVER, IS GOOD FOR THE HOTELS, UH, IN THE CITY OF HOUSTON.
UH, SOME
HOUSTON'S FOURTH, FINAL FOURTH HAPPENING MARCH 31ST THROUGH APRIL THE THIRD COMES WITH MANY FAMILY FRIENDLY ACTIVITIES CONCENTRATED IN DOWNTOWN HOUSTON AND AT NRG STADIUM.
THESE INCLUDE EVENTS LIKE THE DRIBBLE PRESENTED BY BUICK, WHERE APPROXIMATELY 4,000 YOUTH WILL DRIBBLE A MILE LONG COURSE WITH THEIR GUARDIANS.
THE THREE DAY MARCH MADNESS MUSIC FESTIVAL PRESENTED BY AT T CAPITAL ONE AND COCA-COLA AT DISCOVERY GREEN, WHICH WILL FEATURE HUGE PERFORMERS LIKE HOUSTON'S OWN, UH, MEGA, THE MEGA THE STALLION PERFORMING WITH THE MAYOR AND THE LOCAL ORGANIZING COMING.
SHE, SHE MADE A SPECIAL REQUEST FOR, OH, PUT IT IN ATMOSPHERE.
AND THEN THE LOCAL ORGANIZING COMMITTEE'S, FOUR MILER, A FOUR MILE RUN THROUGHOUT THE DOWNTOWN AREA WITH MORE THAN 1000 PARTICIPANTS.
EACH OF THESE EVENTS BRINGS WITH IT A LARGE, ENERGETIC CROWD.
AND WITH THESE COME IMPORTANT SAFETY AND TRANSPORTATION CONSIDERATIONS THAT ARE TOP OF MIND FOR EVERY ORGANIZATION YOU SEE REPRESENTED HERE TODAY, UH, I DO WANNA ACKNOWLEDGE YOUR, YOUR ROPER HARRIS, REPRESENTING CONGRESSWOMAN SHEILA JACKSON LEE OF THE 18TH CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT.
MOREOVER, THE MEN'S FINAL FOUR COMMUNITY EVENTS, UH, JEFFS A PORTION OF WHAT'S HAPPENING IN THE AREA.
THE HOUSTON ASTROS WILL BE BACK TO THE PLAYING FIELD DURING THE SAME DATES, AND THE ROCKETS WILL BE PLAYING ON THIS WEEKEND.
SO THERE'S A WHOLE LOT OF STUFF TAKING PLACE GOING DOWN, UH, IN, UM, UH, CITY OF HOUSTON, DOWNTOWN AREA.
JUST WHAT, UH, CHIEF FENNER AND SHE AND CHIEF PINARD ARE BEEN PRAYING FOR
MAKE A DAY OUT OF CYCLING THROUGH ALL OF THESE INCREDIBLE HAPPENINGS.
UM, LOOK THROUGH NCAA.COM/MENS FINAL FOUR IS AN OUTSTANDING HUB OF INFORMATION THAT ALL HOUSTONIANS CAN AND SHOULD USE.
FINALLY, EVERY ORGANIZATION REPRESENTED HERE IS READY TO SHOW THE REST OF THE NATION HOW HOUSTON
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DOES IT, WITH ENTHUSIASM, WITH CARE, AND WITH RESPONSIBILITY.HOUSTONIANS IS MY SINCERE HOPE THAT YOU'LL JOIN US IN THAT ENDEAVOR.
AND AS YOU ARE DRIVING THROUGH DOWNTOWN HOUSTON AND SEE A FELLOW DRIVER TRYING TO MERGE LANES BECAUSE A ROAD IS CLOSED FOR THE DRIBBLE, GIVE THEM THE RIGHT OF WAY.
AND IF YOU MISS OUT ON A MARCH MADNESS MUSIC FESTIVAL CONCERT, BECAUSE IT REACHES CAPACITY, KNOW THAT IT IS FOR YOUR SAFETY, AND YOU CAN STREAM THE SHOWS ON THE MEN'S FINAL FOUR APP.
AND THEN YOU CAN CATCH MEGAN THEE STALLION AND SYLVESTER P TURNER PERFORMING, UH, LATER ON AT NIGHT WHEN YOU GET HOME.
AND BEFORE YOU LEAVE YOUR CAR PARKED TO GO TO FAN FEST AT THE GEORGE R. BROWN, DO A BAG CHECK TO MAKE SURE YOU ARE BRINGING A CLEAR BAG.
YOU WANT TO REMEMBER THE CLEAR BAG POLICY THAT WILL BE IN EFFECT FOR ALL THE FINAL FOUR FAN EVENTS TOGETHER.
I JUST KNOW WE'RE GOING TO HAVE AN AMAZING, MEMORABLE TIME, AND LET'S SHOW PEOPLE HOUSTON'S HOSPITALITY.
UH, LET ME ALSO ACKNOWLEDGE TOM LAMBERT, UH, CEO OF METRO.
I KNOW YOU ARE EXCITED, AND, UH, WE'RE GONNA WELCOME ALL THESE TEAMS, ALL OF THESE FANS COMING, JUST NOT THROUGHOUT THE UNITED STATES, BUT QUITE FRANKLY, THERE ARE PEOPLE COME, PEOPLE COMING FROM ALL OVER THE WORLD.
SO TOGETHER, I KNOW WE'RE GOING TO HAVE AN AMAZING, MEMORABLE TIME, AND I'M GOING TO HEAR NOW, AND FOR THE OTHER SPEAKERS, LEMME GIVE IT AT FIRST, OR TO HOLLY KESTEREN, WHO HAS BEEN ORCHESTRATING ALL OF THESE EVENTS.
I KNOW SHE'S BEEN GETTING A GOOD NIGHT'S SLEEP EVERY NIGHT.
AND YOU ARE ABSOLUTELY CORRECT.
FIRST OFF, I, YOU KNOW, I'D BE REMISS NOT TO START OFF WITH A SPECIAL THANK YOU TO YOU, MAYOR TURNER.
YOU'VE BEEN WITH US FROM THE BID PROCESS, THROUGH THE PLANNING PROCESS AND EVERYTHING THROUGH, WE COULD NOT BE HERE TODAY WITHOUT YOUR SUPPORT, YOUR LEADERSHIP.
UM, ALSO WANNA TAKE TODAY TO THANK ALL OF OUR OTHER PARTNERS.
THERE HAVE BEEN A LOT OF PEOPLE THROUGH THE COUNTY, THROUGH THE CITY, AND SO ON, WHO'VE BEEN A PART OF THIS, THAT MAKE THIS POSSIBLE.
WITHOUT THEM, WE WOULD NOT BE HERE TODAY.
UM, OUR GOAL IS A SAFE AND A FUN EVENT, FIRST AND FOREMOST.
UM, WE'VE BEEN WORKING WITH THE POLICE DEPARTMENT, WITH THE FIRE DEPARTMENT, WITH MAYOR'S, OFFICE OF SPECIAL EVENTS, UH, METRO AND SO MANY OTHERS TO PUT ALL THE PLANS IN PLACE, PRACTICES, PROCEDURES, ON AND ON, BECAUSE THAT IS OUR PRIORITY.
BUT IT TAKES EVERYBODY, IT TAKES OUR CITY, OUR COMMUNITY COMING OUT, UM, BEING AWARE OF THEIR SURROUNDINGS, PLANNING THEIR TRIP IN ADVANCE TO MAKE SURE THAT THAT TAKES PLACE.
UM, SO ON BEHALF OF THE LOCAL ORGANIZING COMMITTEE, ON BEHALF OF HARRIS COUNTY HOUSTON SPORTS AUTHORITY, THANK YOU FOR ALL THAT.
OUR COMMUNITY DOES GET ONCA.COM/ MEN'S FINAL FOUR TO FIND OUT MORE ABOUT THIS EVENT AND COME OUT, PARTICIPATE, BE A PART OF IT.
AND THEN, LAST BUT NOT LEAST, A SPECIAL THANK YOU TO THE VOLUNTEERS.
THERE ARE MORE THAN 2,500 VOLUNTEERS WITHIN OUR COMMUNITY THAT ARE GONNA MAKE THIS WEEKEND POSSIBLE, THAT ARE GONNA BE THE HANDS THAT REACH OUT AND, UH, WELCOME OUR GUESTS MORE THAN 75,000 GUESTS IN OUR COMMUNITY.
SO THANK YOU TO ALL THE WORK THAT THEY'RE PUTTING IN.
THANK YOU TO OUR COMMUNITY, AND WE HOPE TO SEE YOU OUT THIS WEEKEND FOR ALL THE FINAL FOUR FESTIVITIES.
WITH THAT, I'LL TURN IT OVER TO CHIEF FINNER.
JUST WANT TO SAY THANKS AND WELCOME TO EVERYBODY HERE AT MAYOR.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR, UH, LEADERSHIP AND POOR HOLLY, UM, DEALING WITH EVERYTHING, BRINGING IT TOGETHER AND, AND DEALING WITH US AS WELL.
SO, LOOK, THANK YOU SO MUCH, BUT YOU SAID IT, UH, SAFETY AND FUN.
AND WE'VE BEEN PLANNING FOR OVER A YEAR AND A HALF.
WE HAVE EVERYTHING IN PLACE THAT WE NEED TO, BUT I JUST WANT TO GIVE SOME THANKS TO, UH, IT'S NOT A HPD PLAN OR HFD PLAN.
THIS IS COLLABORATIVE PLAN PLAN WITH ALL OF OUR PARTNERS.
UM, STATE, FEDERAL, LOCAL, UM, ALSO EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT, UH, PUBLIC WORKS, WHO WE LEAVE OUT A LOT OF TIMES, AND, AND ALSO OUR FIRE DEPARTMENT METRO.
UM, JUST WANT TO SAY UPFRONT AND, UH, WE NEED TO COMMUNICATE THIS OUT.
THERE ARE NO WEAPONS ALLOWED IN EITHER, UM, THE, THE STADIUM OR GRB.
OKAY? SO PUT THAT OUT THERE RIGHT AWAY TO EVERYBODY.
UH, WHEN YOU'RE TRAVELING TO AND FROM, PLEASE BE PATIENT.
UM, WE CAN'T DO THIS BY OURSELVES.
UM, WE HAVE SO MANY OFFICERS OUT HERE, AND PEOPLE ASK, WELL, HOW MANY OF YOU HAVE, WE NEVER GO OVER THE NUMBERS, BUT HUNDREDS SEEN AND UNSEEN.
UM, YOU'RE GONNA SEE MARK UNITS AND YOU'RE GONNA SEE, AND YOU'RE NOT GONNA SEE SOME PLAIN CLOTHES OFFICERS.
UM, EVEN THE HOTELS, UM, EVERYTHING'S, WE WANT PEOPLE TO COME HERE AND HAVE A GOOD TIME
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IN OUR CITY, UM, SPEND SOME MONEY, UH, COME AND WE GOT THE GREATEST HOTELS, AND WE GOT THE GREATEST RESTAURANTS, BUT LET'S DO IT SAFELY.UM, IF YOU SEE SOMETHING, YOU NEED TO SAY SOMETHING.
UM, THERE ARE GONNA BE POLICE OFFICERS AT ANY BLOCK AND YOU JUST, YOU SEE IT.
UM, IF YOU NEED, UH, DIRECTIONS OR QUESTIONS OR ANYTHING, UH, PLEASE JUST ASK.
BUT, UM, YOU'LL SEE A SEA OF UNIFORMS, UM, SEEN AN UNSEEN.
SO, UM, LET'S ALL BE SAFE AND LET'S DO OUR PARTS AND LET'S BE, UH, RESPECTFUL OF, OF, OF EVERYBODY.
UM, AND LET'S JUST HAVE A SAFE EVENT.
SO I'VE STEPPED DOWN, UH, TRAFFIC, I'M SORRY, SUSAN IS GOING TO, THEY'RE GONNA PUT UP A, A MAP HERE TO GO OVER THAT.
BUT LET'S USE RIDE SHARE AND, UM, EVERYTHING ELSE THAT WE CAN METRO, UM, GET IN SAFELY.
I JUST LEFT A PRESS CONFERENCE WITH, UH, MATT, UM, AND ALSO, UH, AAA, TALKING ABOUT IMPAIRED DRIVING THAT IS A HUNDRED PERCENT PREVENTABLE.
IT'S JUST SIMPLE AS, AS, AS MAKING A PLAN, UH, AND, AND, AND BEING REASONABLE, UM, AND CONSIDERING OTHER PEOPLE.
THE LAST THING WE WANT IS SOMEBODY HURT SERIOUSLY OR KILLED BECAUSE YOU DIDN'T CELEBRATE RESPONSIBLY.
WE GOT FOUR BEAUTIFUL TEAMS COMING IN, GREAT UNIVERSITIES, AND WE'RE GONNA HAVE FUN HERE IN THIS CITY, AND WE'RE EXCITED ABOUT IT.
THE MAYOR TOUCHED ON A NUMBER OF OTHER EVENTS, SO, UH, WE'RE GONNA HAVE TO ALL WORK TOGETHER, BUT WE'RE A BIG TIME CITY AND WE'RE USED TO HOSTING, UH, BIG EVENTS, AND WE'RE PAUSED AND WE'RE READY TO ROLL.
SO EVERYBODY JUST COME OUT AND HAVE A GREAT TIME.
UH, IT'S TURN TO THE SPORTS L JANICE'S.
GOOD TO SEE YOU OUT THERE, HOLLY.
THANK YOU FOR, FOR YOUR PARTNERSHIP.
UH, AND A SPECIAL THANKS TO MOS AND OF COURSE, MY, MY PARTNER IN PUBLIC SAFETY, UH, POLICE DEPARTMENT, UH, THE OFFICE OF, UH, EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT AND THE MEN AND WOMEN OF THE HOUSTON FIRE DEPARTMENT ON THE HEELS OF MONTH LONG RODEO.
UH, THIS IS A, IT'S GONNA BE A SPECIAL WEEKEND.
IT'S A GREAT WAY TO SHOWCASE OUR CITY, BUT IT IS GONNA BE A BUSY WEEKEND.
IT'S, WE HAVE TWO VENUES, THE NRG AND DISCOVERY GREEN, AND THEY'RE BOTH GONNA BE VERY CONGESTED AREAS.
BRING YOUR PATIENTS, IF YOU DON'T HAVE TO DRIVE THERE, DON'T DRIVE METRO THE RIDE SHARES.
THOSE ARE GREAT OPTIONS TO GET IN AND OUT OF THESE VENUES.
BUT PLEASE, PLEASE BRING YOUR PATIENTS BECAUSE IT IS GONNA BE VERY CONGESTED.
UH, I WANNA THANK THE RESIDENTS AND THE BUSINESSES, UM, ADJACENT TO THESE TWO VENUES BECAUSE WE'RE GONNA HAVE HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE IN THESE, UH, IN THESE AREAS ALL WEEKEND.
AND HYDRATE, HYDRATE, HYDRATE.
WHO KNOWS WHAT THE WEATHER'S GONNA BE LIKE.
IT CAN CHANGE IN, IN 10 MINUTES.
BUT, UH, PLEASE MAKE SURE THAT YOU'RE DOING YOUR PART TO ENSURE A SAFE EVENT FOR YOURSELVES AND YOUR FAMILIES.
WE'RE GONNA HAVE PLENTY OF RESOURCES FROM THE FIRE DEPARTMENT EMBEDDED WITH THE RESOURCES THAT ARE PROVIDED BY THE PROMOTERS.
UH, WE'RE GONNA HAVE PLENTY OF FIRST AID UNITS, UH, AND, AND LOCATIONS OUT THERE.
WE'RE GONNA HAVE FIREFIGHTERS, WE'RE GONNA HAVE INSPECTORS.
WE'RE GONNA HAVE EMERGENCY OPERATIONS, PERSONNEL, RESCUE PERSONNEL, ALL TO ENSURE THE SAFETY OF OUR, OF PEOPLE ATTENDING THESE, THESE TWO SHOWS.
BUT, UM, AGAIN, WE ASK THAT THE PUBLIC, PLEASE BRING THEIR PATIENTS, BRING PLENTY OF TIME AND HAVE A PLAN TO REUNIFY WITH YOUR FAMILY MEMBERS.
IF YOU GET SEPARATED AT ANY OF THESE VENUES, HAVE THOSE PLANS AHEAD OF TIME.
THERE'S GONNA BE PLENTY OF LAW ENFORCEMENT, PLENTY OF SECURITY.
AS, UH, CHIEF FINNER MENTIONED, WE HAVE A RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE SAFETY OF EACH OTHER.
AND IF YOU SEE SOMETHING THAT'S OUT OF THE ORDINARY, PLEASE REPORT IT TO ANY ONE OF THE FIREFIGHTERS, POLICE OFFICERS, SECURITY, ANYBODY IN UNIFORM.
WE WILL ENSURE THAT THAT, UH, INFORMATION GETS TO THE APPROPRIATE CHANNELS.
AND, UH, REST ASSURED THAT, UM, THAT WE'RE GONNA BE PREPARED WITH ENOUGH RESOURCES TO ENSURE A SAFE VENUE FOR, FOR THIS WEEKEND.
ALRIGHT, THANK YOU, CHIEF PINA.
I'M SANJAY RAMADAN, THE CHAIR OF THE METRO TRANSIT AUTHORITY BOARD.
EVERYBODY I SAID THIS, THIS IS A TEAM EFFORT.
AND NOW THAT HOUSTON IS ONCE AGAIN ON THE NATIONAL STAGE, WE AT METRO ARE PROUD TO DO OUR PART SO THAT WE SHINE ONCE AGAIN.
AND WE HAVE A FANTASTIC EXPERIENCE, BOTH FOR HOUSTONIANS AND VISITORS TO THE CITY OF HOUSTON.
SOUTHWEST BEVERAGES, A PROUD PARTNER OF THE 2023 NCAA MEN'S FINAL FOUR.
WE AT METRO WILL BE PROVIDING FREE METRO RAIL RIDES ON THE RED, GREEN, AND PURPLE LINES, MARCH 31ST THROUGH APRIL 3RD.
SO IF YOU'RE GONNA WORK, IF YOU'RE GONNA SCHOOL, IF YOU'RE OUT THERE TO HAVE FUN, IF YOU'RE GOING TO NCAA FESTIVITIES EVENTS, BASKETBALL, BASEBALL, MUSIC EVENTS,
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THE RIDE ON THE RED, GREEN AND PURPLE LINES ARE FREE.MARCH 31 THROUGH APRIL 3RD FOR ROOTS AND SCHEDULES.
HOUSTONIANS ARE INVITED AND OUR VISITORS ARE INVITED TO DOWNLOAD THE RIGHT METRO APP FOR USE OF EITHER BUSES OR THE RAIL.
YOU CAN ALSO VISIT WRIGHT METRO.ORG TO PLAN YOUR TRIPS AHEAD OF SITE AHEAD OF TIME.
CUSTOMERS CAN ALSO SIGN UP FOR SERVICE ALERTS FOR REALTIME INFORMATION AND FOLLOW METRO ON OUR SOCIAL MEDIA CHANNELS FOR THE LATEST OPERATIONS NEWS.
NOW, AS YOU PLAN TO WRITE METRO RAIL, POTENTIALLY LEAVING YOUR HOTEL, YOUR HOME, OR YOUR CARD AT A GOOD DISTANCE FROM WHERE YOU'LL BE SPENDING YOUR DAYS, IT'S IMPORTANT TO KEEP IN MIND THE SAFETY POLICIES AND RESTRICTIONS THAT HAVE BEEN PUT FORTH BY NCAA.
IN ADDITION TO METRO POLICE WORKING WITH HOUSTON POLICE.
AND HOUSTON FIRE DEPARTMENT METRO HAS HUNDREDS OF VOLUNTEERS THAT'LL BE ACTING AS AMBASSADORS, HELPING YOU WITH WAY FINDING AND ANSWERING QUESTIONS THAT YOU MAY HAVE.
NOW, YOU'LL HEAR FROM SUSAN CHRISTIAN WITH THE MAYOR'S OFFICE OF SPECIAL EVENTS, WHO WILL REVIEW SEVERAL IMPORTANT THINGS THAT YOU NEED TO KEEP IN MIND.
WHAT AN EXCITING TIME FOR HOUSTON, TEXAS.
YOU KNOW, ON THE, UH, RIGHT AFTER THE INCREDIBLY SUCCESSFUL, UH, HOUSTON LIVESTOCK SHOW AND RODEO TOUR TO HOUSTON, UH, AND THEN THE BIO CITY ART FESTIVAL, THIS, UH, THIS WEEKEND, SO MANY OTHER EVENTS, WE ARE SO PROUD TO WELCOME ALL OF OUR VISITORS TO HOUSTON.
UH, THE MAYOR'S OFFICE OF SPECIAL EVENTS, OF COURSE, UH, WORKS ON, UH, A CIVIC CELEBRATION PROGRAM, UH, FAMILY ENTERTAINMENT FOR ALL OF HOUSTON.
WE SEE ABOUT 2000 EVENT DAYS ANNUALLY, OVER 10 MILLION PEOPLE ANNUALLY.
AND IT IS NOT A SOLO DEPARTMENT BY ANY MEANS.
WE'RE SMALL, BUT WE'RE A MIGHTY MAYOR.
BUT, YOU KNOW, I, UH, I WANNA COMPLIMENT ALL OF OUR SISTER DEPARTMENTS AS CHIEF FINNER DID, WHETHER WE'RE WORKING IN A NEIGHBORHOOD ON A, OR ON A BIG CITYWIDE EVENT OR A BID EVENT LIKE NCAA, IT TAKES EVERYONE, UH, TO MAKE A SUCCESSFUL EVENT.
SO, THANK YOU ALL OF OUR PARTNERS.
I ALSO WANNA INTRODUCE TODD HOLMAN.
HE'S OUR CO-CHAIR, UH, MY CO-CHAIR FOR, UH, THE, UH, EVENTS, UH, FOR THE NCAA, THE EVENTS COMMITTEE.
BANIN, OH MY GOODNESS, WHAT A DYNAMO.
ALL OF THE POLICE DEPARTMENT, BRIAN MASON, I WANNA THANK YOU ALL FOR DOING YOUR BEST AND SHARING YOUR EXPERTISE FOR ALL OF THE EVENTS, UH, WHETHER IT'S, UH, THE BALL GAME OR THE ANCILLARY EVENTS.
THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU.
ALSO, UH, YOU KNOW, WITH, UH, THE MAYOR POINTED IT OUT.
SO WE HAVE A LOT OF ACTIVITIES DOWNTOWN NOW.
WE'RE USED TO BIG EVENTS, BIG EVENTS, BUT DOWNTOWN, OH, ON THE EAST SIDE, IF THAT'S NOT CHALLENGING ENOUGH ON THE EAST SIDE OF THE RAIL, RIGHT? SO, UH, WE HAVE OUR WORK CUT OUT FOR US.
AND SO EVERYONE'S BEEN VERY, UH, UH, SPECIFIC ON BEING COURTEOUS, BEING PATIENT, PLAN YOUR DAY.
BUT ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE WANT YOU TO KNOW ARE OUR ROAD CLOSURES AND ALSO KNOWING WHERE YOU'RE GOING.
BUT LET'S GO OVER OUR ROAD, OUR ROAD CLOSURES FIRST.
CURRENTLY, IF YOU'VE BEEN AROUND DISCOVERY GREEN, YOU KNOW, THERE'S SOME CLOSURES, LANE CLOSURES, AND THAT WILL CONTINUE, UH, THROUGH, UH, THE EVENT.
SO ANITAS, YOU KNOW, DON'T EVEN TRY IT.
UH, MCKINNEY AND WALKER ON BOTH SIDES OF DISCOVERY GREEN, YOU KNOW, TRY TO AVOID THAT.
UH, BUT, UH, THEN GOING ON, ON FRIDAY, MARCH THE 31ST, UH, WE'RE GOING TO BRING IN, IF YOU'LL LOOK AT THE MAP, AND WE HAVE ALL OF THIS ON OUR WEBSITES.
IN FACT, WE'VE ALL SHARED THIS INFORMATION, THESE LINKS ON OUR WEBSITE.
SO, UH, YOU KNOW, IF YOU KNOW ANY OF THESE CITY DEPARTMENTS, UH, JUST GO ON THERE.
YOU CAN GO TO SPECIAL EVENTS.ORG AS WELL.
UH, BUT ON FRIDAY, MARCH THE 31ST LE BRANCH WILL BE CLOSED, UH, BETWEEN, UH, AND SO WILL CRAWFORD, ONE BLOCK FROM MCKINNEY AND WALKER.
UH, SO ALL OF THE CLOSURES AROUND DISCOVERY GREEN IN FULL FORM WILL TAKE A, UH, WILL TAKE PLACE.
MOVING ON TO, UH, MARCH MADNESS MUSIC MUSICAL, UH, FESTIVAL LOAD IN THAT SHOULD BE FINISHED PRETTY, PRETTY SOON.
OUR ROAD CLOSURES FOR SATURDAY, APRIL, THE FIRST FINAL FOUR, FOUR MILER.
UH, BESIDES THE DISCOVERY GREEN, WHICH I JUST WENT OVER, OUR FOUR MILER IS GOING TO START RIGHT HERE AT CITY HALL HERMAN SQUARE.
IT'LL BE A PRETTY FAMILIAR ROUTE.
WE'LL CLOSE PART OF BAGBY WALKER STREET.
COME DOWN DALLAS, AND GO ALL THE
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WAY OUT.UH, ALLEN PARKWAY COMING BACK IN TO, UH, THE, TO CITY HALL ALSO, UH, THE DRIBBLE, THE DRIBBLE, THE 3000 KIDS THAT WERE MENTIONED, THAT MAYOR MENTIONED EARLIER, IT'S GOING TO COME FROM CITY HALL TO THE GRB, JUST LIKE IT DID.
BUT THIS TIME IT'S GOING TO BE ON WALKER STREET.
AND SO, UH, YOU KNOW, AVOID, AVOID THAT, UH, THAT STREET EARLY, THAT SUNDAY MORNING AS WELL.
UM, I ALSO WANT TO TALK ABOUT, I THINK WE HAVE IT UP.
UM, I ALSO WANT TO TALK ABOUT, UH, TRAFFIC, HOW YOU'RE GONNA GET THERE.
WE, UH, SEVERAL YEARS AGO, IN FACT, ABOUT 12 YEARS AGO, WE IMPLEMENTED A PROGRAM, UH, DURING HOUSTON, UH, SPRING BREAK OR SPRING BREAK, HOUSTON, UH, WHICH WE JUST CAME OUT OF, UH, RIGHT, THAT'S, UH, 350,000 CARS IN A FIVE MILE RADIUS DURING SPRING BREAK, UH, THAT CELEBRATED HERE IN HOUSTON, UH, AND WELL EVERYWHERE, BUT, UH, WITHIN A FIVE MILE RADIUS'S, 350,000 CARS.
SO WE LOOKED, LOOKED AT THAT PLAN AND BAN, I APPRECIATE YOU SO MUCH.
WE LOOKED AT THAT PLAN AND WE SAID, HEY, YOU KNOW, THE SUCCESS OF THAT PLAN IS, UH, IS ELIMINATING AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE THE CROSS TRAFFIC.
SO THE MAYOR MENTIONED ALL THE MINUTE MADE, UH, ACT, YOU KNOW, UH, UH, ASTROS OPENING WEEKEND.
THAT'S GOING TO BE REAL EXCITING.
BUT IF YOU'RE GOING THERE, GO ON THESE WEBSITES, CLICK ON THAT LINK, AND LOOK AT NOT ONLY THE ROAD CLOSURES, BUT LOOK AT HOW WE WISH FOR YOU TO GET THERE SO THAT YOU'RE NOT CROSSING TRAFFIC.
IF YOU'RE GOING TO MINUTE MAID TO SEE THE INCREDIBLE ASTROS, WE WANT YOU TO COME IN FROM THE NORTH AND THEN FROM THE, FROM THE WEST, THE NORTHWEST, UH, TO ACCESS PARKING LOTS AROUND MINUTE MAID, THE SAME THING IN THE MIDDLE OF THE, UH, OF THIS HUGE FOOTPRINT IS THE NCAA FINAL FOUR MUSIC FEST AND THE GRB ACTIVITIES, THE FAN FEST.
AND WE WANT YOU TO COME IN FROM THE WEST UTILIZING ALLEN PARKWAY, UH, MCKINNEY, AND DRIVE STRAIGHT INTO, UH, THOSE PARKING LOTS.
IF YOU'RE GOING TO THE ROCKETS GAMES AND THE CONCERT THAT THE MAYOR MENTIONED, NEW EDITION, UH, WE WANT YOU TO COME IN, UH, FROM THE SOUTH AND, UH, AND THEN STAY ON THE SOUTH SIDE OF, UH, TOYOTA CENTER.
IF YOU'RE COMING FROM THE NORTH, GO AHEAD, TAKE MCKINNEY, TAKE A RIGHT ON SMITH, TAKE A LEFT ON, UM, UH, ON JEFFER, JEFFERSON, OR ONE OF THOSE STREETS, AND YOU'LL GET RIGHT INTO THAT PARKING.
UTILIZE IT, PLEASE UTILIZE IT.
OUR FRIENDS OVER AT METRO, THEY'LL BE RUNNING BUSES, THEY'LL BE RUNNING, UM, THEY'LL BE RUNNING, UH, THE, THE LINES.
AND, UH, I THINK IF YOU WILL GO ONLINE, YOU WILL HAVE A VERY SUCCESSFUL TRIP.
BE SAFE, AND THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
UM, SO A LOT OF THINGS WILL BE GOING ON.
UM, LET ME, UM, LEMME SAY THANK YOU TO HOLLY AGAIN AND THE LOCAL ORGANIZING COMMITTEE.
IT IS NO SMALL EFFORT, UH, TO PUT ON AN EVENT OF THIS MAGNITUDE.
I SEE JANICE BURKE HERE IS DIRECTOR OF THE HARRIS HOUSTON SPORTS AUTHORITY.
AND LOOK, THE GOOD NEWS IS THAT, UM, WE'VE DONE THIS BEFORE.
SO IN 2017, UM, WE WENT THROUGH THIS BEFORE VERY SUCCESSFULLY.
AND NOW, UH, THIS IS COMING BACK AGAIN.
AND IF I MIGHT ADD
SO VERY, VERY MUCH EXCITED ABOUT THAT.
UM, OH, THOSE ARE THE CLEAR BAGS FOR PEOPLE.
TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THOSE.
YEAH, I DON'T WANT TO COME ON JUST A REMINDER THAT ALL NCA EVENTS, NOT JUST AT THE STADIUM, BUT ALL NCA EVENTS HAVE A CLEAR BAG POLICY.
IT'S NOT UNUSUAL FOR BIG EVENTS.
UM, BUT JUST WANNA MAKE SURE THAT THAT'S ON YOUR RADAR.
YOU WILL SEE THESE BAGS HERE, THIS EXACT BAG GIVEN OUT IN LOTS OF LOCATIONS DOWNTOWN, ESPECIALLY, UM, AROUND THE HOTELS ALL OVER TOWN.
YOU CAN FIND THESE, YOU DON'T HAVE TO USE THIS SPECIFIC ONE, YOU CAN USE YOUR OWN CLEAR BAG.
UM, BUT JUST A REMINDER, IF YOU'RE COMING OUT, PLEASE, PLEASE LOOK AT THE RULES, MAKE SURE YOU KNOW WHAT YOU'RE BRINGING, AND USE YOUR CLEAR BAG SO YOU CAN GET INTO THE FACILITIES WITHOUT ANY ISSUES.
AND WE'LL, WE'LL LET YOU, AND NO, NO GUNS IN THE BAGS.
NO, HIM, NO, I MEAN, YOU KNOW, NO, NO, NO GUNS IN THE BAGS.
NO GUNS, PERIOD AT THESE EVENTS.
UM, AND CHIEF UNI, UH, I KNOW OEM WOULD BE ACTIVATED AS OF FRIDAY, SATURDAY, SUNDAY, MONDAY.
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SO THE OFFICE OF EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT WILL BE ACTIVATED STARTING ON FRIDAY.I AGAIN, WANT TO THANK HOUSTON PUBLIC WORKS.
I WANNA GIVE A GREAT DEMOCRATIC, I KNOW CHIEF NER MENTIONED THEM, BUT HOUSTON PUBLIC WORKS SUPPORTS EVERYTHING THAT WE DO.
SO I WANT TO THANK ALL OF THEM.
UH, TRANS STAR, ALONG WITH THE MAYOR'S OFFICE OF SPECIAL EVENTS, H-F-D-H-P-D, UH, ALL WORKING TO MAKE THE FINAL EVENT A SUCCESS.
WE ARE COLLECTIVELY EXCITED ABOUT THE GAMES, THE FANS, THE MUSIC FESTS AND EVERYTHING SURROUNDING THIS INCREDIBLE EVENT.
UH, AND THEN I'M GOING TO, UH, CALL ON, UH, CALL GOMEZ WITH THE LOCAL ORGANIZING COMMITTEE, WHO WILL NOW HELP US.
WELL, WELL, PHOTOS WILL BE COMING UP SHORTLY, BUT LEMME JUST SAY, SO U OF H WON'T
MIAMI HURRICANES, COME ON DOWN.
FROM THE WEST TO MIDWEST, YUKON, COME ON DOWN.
UH, WE PROMISED TO GIVE EVERYBODY JUST AN OUTSTANDING HOUSTON, TEXAS EVENT.
AND LEMME JUST SAY FOR HOUSTONIANS AND OTHERS, THOUGH, WE MAY NOT HAVE A TEXAS TEAM.
WE CERTAINLY HAVE OUR TEXAS HOUSTON HOSPITALITY.
SO, UM, AND THAT, WHAT, THAT IS WHAT MAKES ANY EVENT.
LET'S BE NICE, LET'S BE FRIENDLY, LET'S BE HOSPITABLE.
AND IF WE ARE US, THEN WE ALREADY HAVE WON.
SO I'M EXCITED THAT WE ARE HAVING THIS EVENT.
UM, AND IT WILL SHOWCASE OUR CITY.
AND WE'VE BEEN SET A NATIONAL EVENT, BUT QUITE FRANKLY, IT IS AN INTERNATIONAL EVENT.
'CAUSE A LOT OF EYES WILL BE ON THE FINAL FOUR.
NOW, HAVING SAID THAT, LET ME NOW TURN IT.
ARE THERE, WELL, ARE THERE ANY QUESTIONS FROM ANYBODY BEFORE WE, UH, ANY QUESTIONS? OH, I'M SORRY.
WHAT'S THE CAPACITY FOR THE 22,000? THE CAPACITY FOR THE, FOR THE CONCERT IS 22,000, UH, FOR MEGAN AND THEE STALLION AND, AND HER ACCOMPANYING, YOU KNOW, TALK ABOUT, YOU KNOW, TICKET.
WHAT, HOW HAS THE DIALOGUE OR THE COMMUNICATION CHANGED THE CITY, THE FIRE DEPART POLICE DEPARTMENT, AND PROMOTERS AND, AND SINCE THE ASTRO I'LL ADDRESS YOUR FIRST QUESTION, UM, REGARDING CAPACITY AND ATTENDANCE AT THE MUSIC FEST, AT DISCOVERY GREEN PARK.
SO THE CAPACITY AT THE PARK FOR THE MUSIC FEST IS 22,000.
UM, ONE OF THE BIGGEST CHANGES FROM 2016 TO THIS YEAR'S MUSIC FEST IS THE FACT THAT IT IS TICKETED.
SO YOU, IT IS A FREE TICKET, BUT IT IS A TICKETED EVENT.
SO ANYBODY WHO WANTS TO ATTEND THE MUSIC FEST WILL HAVE TO GO TOCA.COM/ MEN'S FINAL FOUR TO GET A TICKET TO ATTEND.
WE HAVE WORKED REALLY HARD WITH OUR PARTNERS THROUGHOUT THE CITY, THE COUNTY, UM, OUR VENUE PARTNERS AND SO ON, TO MAKE SURE THAT THAT MESSAGE HAS BEEN ECHOED OVER AND OVER AND OVER AGAIN.
AND WE WILL CONTINUE TO DO THAT FOR THE NEXT WEEK AS WE GET INTO IT.
OF, YOU MUST HAVE A TICKET, 100% MUST HAVE A TICKET TO ATTEND THAT FESTIVAL.
UM, WE ARE EXCITED THAT MEG THEE STALLION SOLD OUT, AND SO QUICKLY TALK ABOUT A HOMETOWN TEAM AND HOMETOWN PERFORMER.
I KNOW IT'S BECAUSE OF MAYOR, BECAUSE HE'S PERFORMING.
I, SORRY, NOT BECAUSE OF HER, BECAUSE OF YOU.
UM, AND SO BECAUSE WE SAW THE TICKETING PIECE PICK UP SO QUICKLY, WE KNOW OUR MESSAGE IS GETTING OUT THAT PEOPLE KNOW THEY HAVE TO GET ON, THEY HAVE TO GET A TICKET.
UM, AND BECAUSE THE PRIORITY IS SAFETY, THERE'S NO QUESTION EVERYBODY, NCA, OUR COMMUNITY, EVERYBODY'S GOAL IS SAFE, FUN EVENT.
AND SO TICKETING IS A PIECE OF THAT TO MAKE SURE THAT THAT CROWD IS KNOWLEDGEABLE, THAT THEY'RE PREPARED, THEY HAVE THE RIGHT INFORMATION.
AND WE WILL CONTINUE TO PRIORITIZE THAT AS WE WORK THROUGH THE WEEK.
MAYOR, I'LL TURN IT BACK OVER.
WELL, LET ME, LET ME JUST SPEAK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THE COORDINATION.
'CAUSE THE SECOND QUESTION WAS ABOUT WHAT'S CHANGED SINCE THE, UH, SINCE, UH, THE ASTRAL WORLD.
AND I CAN TELL YOU THAT AS HOLLY MENTIONED, THE COORDINATION HAS BEEN, UH, IN PLACE FROM THE BEGINNING.
THE DIFFERENCE NOW IS THAT WE ARE INVOLVED WITH THE PLANNING, WITH THE, UH, LOGISTICS, WITH APPROVAL OF, OF THE PLAN THAT THE PROMOTERS HAVE, HAVE, UH, SUBMITTED ESTABLISHING A, A FOOTPRINT AND A OCCUPANCY FOR THE EVENTS AT THE, AT, UH, DISCOVERY GREEN.
SO THAT'S THE BIGGEST DIFFERENCE, IS THE COORDINATION BETWEEN ALL AGENCIES, BOTH VENUES, UH, FROM THE BEGINNING.
THAT WAY EVERYBODY UNDERSTANDS WHAT THE ROLE IS.
THE UNIFIED COMMAND IS, HAS BEEN ESTABLISHED.
THE, UH, THE COMMUNICATION PLAN HAS BEEN OUTLINED.
UH, AREAS OF RESPONSIBILITY HAVE BEEN ASSIGNED.
SO THAT IS THE BIGGEST DIFFERENCE, IS IN THE COORDINATION.
[00:30:01]
WAS, UH, THAT HAPPENED FROM THE BEGINNING AND THROUGHOUT THIS WHOLE PROCESS.UM, BUT THE, UH, SAFETY PLAN AND, AND THE MEDICAL PLAN, UM, IT HAS TO BE APPROVED BY MYSELF AND CHIEF PINON.
SO THAT GOES ALONG WITH THE COORDINATION, BUT EVEN A LITTLE BIT DEEPER THAN THAT, JUST, UM, A COUPLE OF WEEKS AGO, UH, ALL OF THE HEADS OF OUR STAKEHOLDERS WERE OUT ON GROUND TALKING ABOUT, UM, YOU KNOW, SAFETY.
SO, UM, THAT'S, I JUST WANT TO SAY THIS TOO.
THOUSANDS OF EVENTS IN OUR CITY, THOUSANDS BEEN SUCCESSFUL, AND YOU UNDERSTAND WHEN THERE'S TRAGEDY AND NOBODY'S HIDING BEHIND THAT, UM, THERE ARE GONNA BE CHANGES.
AND WE, WE'VE MADE CHANGES, UM, TO MAKE A SAFER EVENT.
BUT, UM, WE'LL SPEAK TO, UH, EVEN IN MORE DETAIL LATER ON WHEN IT'S APPROPRIATE.
ANYONE ELSE? DID THAT DO IT? THAT'S GOOD.
YOU GO, YOU GO AHEAD AND DO IT.
AND THAT WAS JUST ONE THING THAT HE, HE DID FEEL HE DIDN'T MENTION IN HIS COMMENTS.
UH, I WAS LISTENING VERY CAREFULLY TO, UH, WHAT COMMANDER GARCIA SAID.
WE WANTED EVERYTHING TO BE BIGGER, BOLDER, GRANDER.
SO I DON'T WANT IT TO GO UNMIS THIS WEEKEND.
UH, NCAA UH, MEN'S FINAL FOUR PLAYING RIGHT HERE IN THE CITY OF HOUSTON.
BUT AT THE SAME TIME, THE ASTROS ARE PLAYING, THE ROCKETS ARE PLAYING, UH, NEW EDITION THAT'S IN CONCERT AND ALL OF THE OTHER EVENTS.
SO WHEN YOU LOOK BACK AT 2017 TO LOOK AT WHAT'S HAPPENING THIS YEAR, IT IS BIGGER, BOLDER, GRANDER.
SO YOU MAY NOT HAVE A TICKET TO THE NCAA FINAL FOUR, BUT THERE ARE SO MANY OTHER THINGS THAT ARE TAKING PLACE IN A VERY COMPACTED AREA.
SO BETWEEN DOWNTOWN AND NRG, IT'S OWNED IN THE CITY OF HOUSTON.
I MEAN, IT IS, IT IS HAPPENING.
SO I, I, I HOPE EVERYONE IS EXCITED.
AND, UH, SO JUST COME OUT AND, AND HAVE A GOOD TIME.
BUT BE VERY, VERY SAFE AS WE MOVE FORWARD.
NOW, I'LL BE TAKING PHOTOS, SOME PHOTOS, PHOTOS.