[Press Conference: “One Clean Houston Plan”]
[00:00:19]
WE'RE HERE ON A HISTORIC DAY, UH, TO ADDRESS ILLEGAL DUMPING IN HOUSTON.UH, AS YOU CAN SEE BEHIND US, WE HAVE A TON OF PARTNERS, UH, THAT HAVE BEEN, UH, WITH US, UH, THROUGH THIS JOURNEY, UH, TO GET US TO THIS POINT.
UH, AND, UH, WE WILL, UH, KICK IT OFF HERE SHORTLY.
UH, WANTED TO FIRST JUST INTRODUCE OR, UH, MENTION THAT, UH, WE HAVE COUNCIL MEMBER, UH, TARSHA JACKSON HERE, AS WELL AS COUNCIL MEMBER CISNEROS, UH, FROM DISTRICT B AND H.
WE'RE BASICALLY ON THE BORDER OF THOSE TWO, UH, COUNCIL DISTRICTS.
AND IS THERE ANY OTHER, UH, UH, WE HAVE CONSTABLE ROSEN HERE WITH PRECINCT ONE.
UH, ANY OTHER ELECTEDS THAT I'M REPRESENTING? CONGRESSMAN SHEILA JACKSON, AROPA HARRIS REP AROPA HARRIS WITH, UH, UH, CONGRESSWOMAN SHAILA JACKSON LEE'S OFFICE.
UH, AND SO WE'RE KICKING OFF ONE CLEAN HOUSTON, WHICH IS AN INITIATIVE TO COMBAT ILLEGAL DUMPING IN HOUSTON, UH, WITH US.
UH, I'LL GO AHEAD AND KICK IT OVER TO THE MAYOR, UH, TO SAY SOME BRIEF REMARKS, AND THEN, UH, WE WILL, UH, GO DOWN THE LIST WITH, UH, VARIOUS SPEAKERS.
AND, AND I WANTED JESSE TO KICK US OFF BECAUSE, UM, HE'S DIRECTOR OF THE MAYOR'S OFFICE OF INNOVATION AND TECHNOLOGY, AND HAS BEEN HELPING AND TO COORDINATE ALL OF THESE OTHER DEPARTMENTS AND OUR STAKEHOLDERS.
AND LET ME JUST START OFF BY THANKING ALL OF THEM BECAUSE I, UH, THEY'VE SPENT A NUMBER OF, UM, UH, HOURS, UH, WORKING TO, TO PUT THIS TOGETHER.
AND I WILL TELL YOU, WE ARE FASHIONING AFTER ONE SAFE HOUSTON.
WHAT WE'VE DISCOVERED IS THEY'RE TAKING A VERY HOLISTIC, COMPREHENSIVE APPROACH WORKS.
AND WHEN WE IMPLEMENTED ONE SAFE HOUSTON IN FEBRUARY OF LAST YEAR, COUNCIL MEMBERS, UH, THE RESULTS HAVE BEEN VERY, VERY POSITIVE.
AND SO, EVEN AS OF TODAY, WHEN IT COMES TO PUBLIC SAFETY AND CRIME, UM, VIOLENT CRIME, ESPECIALLY ON HOMICIDES, WE ARE LIKE 25% LESS THAN WE WERE LAST YEAR.
AND WE ARE EVEN BETTER THAN WE WERE IN 2021.
SO IT IS WORKING, AND THE NUMBERS ARE BEING DRIVEN DOWN WHEN WE'RE DEALING WITH ILLEGAL DUMPING TRASH.
WE NEED A COMPREHENSIVE APPROACH.
IT'S NOT THAT WE HAVEN'T BEEN DOING THINGS, BUT IT JUST NEEDS TO BE VERY INTEGRATED AND VERY ROBUST WORKING WITH MANY OF OUR STAKEHOLDERS.
SO I'M JUST HONORED TO HAVE, UM, THE COUNCIL MEMBERS HERE, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER, CIS COUNCIL MEMBER JACKSON, AND THEN, UH, UH, VERY PLEASED TO HAVE, UH, CONSTABLE ROSEN.
AND I WANT TO GIVE, UH, HIM AND HIS OFFICE A GREAT DEAL OF KUDOS FOR WHAT THEY HAVE BEEN DOING AND, UH, UH, CATCHING THOSE WHO HAVE BEEN ILLEGALLY DUMPING.
CONSTABLE ROSEN, THANK YOU SO VERY MUCH.
LOOK, AND WE ALSO HERE IN, UM, IN ONE OF OUR COMPLETE COMMUNITIES, UH, I KNOW SHANNON BUGS GIVES LEADERSHIP TO THAT EFFORT.
AND THEN WITH ALL OF THE DI DIRECTORS WHO ARE HERE, AND DIRECTOR WILL LET ME THANK HIM AND SOLID WASTE FROM THE VERY BEGINNING, UH, BECAUSE THEY PRETTY MUCH HAVE BEEN LEADING THE WAY IN THIS EFFORT.
SO, DIRECTOR WILLOW, THANK YOU.
THANK ALL OF THE, UH, PEOPLE ASSOCIATED WITH SOLID, SOLID WASTE, THE STAFFERS, AND THEN DEPARTMENT OF NEIGHBORHOODS, UH, DASHA FRANCIS, LET ME THANK YOU BECAUSE THE TWO OF YOU ALL WORKING DIRECT IN CONCERT WITH ONE ANOTHER.
SO I WANT TO THANK YOU ALL, UH, FOR WHAT Y'ALL HAVE ALREADY DONE.
THIS IS A GREAT NEIGHBORHOOD WHERE WE ARE STANDING.
WE ARE PROUD AND HARDWORKING HOUSTONIANS, BUT UNFORTUNATELY, UH, THIS COMMUNITY, LIKE MANY OTHERS HAVE, HAVE SUFFERED, HAS SUFFERED BECAUSE OF COUNTLESS ILLEGAL DUMP SITES THAT HAVE CREATED BLIGHT AND BECOME A MAJOR PROBLEM IN OUR NEIGHBORHOODS.
AND I KNOW KEITH DOWNEY IS HERE, UH, REPRESENTING THIS AREA AS WELL, SUPER NEIGHBORHOOD.
UH, AND SO, AND AS YOU CAN SEE, RIGHT BEHIND THIS GROUP, UH, IS IN ONE OF THOSE ILLEGAL DUMP SITES.
AND WHAT WE FIND OFTENTIMES IS THAT, UH, WE CAN COME CLEANING UP AND THINGS WILL COME RIGHT BACK A WEEK OR TWO LATER.
UH, BUT THESE ARE, UH, PEOPLE WHO WORK VERY HARD IN THESE COMMUNITIES.
THEY WANT TO ENHANCE THEIR OWN QUALITY OF LIFE.
THIS SIMPLY GOES IN THE WRONG DIRECTION.
ILLEGAL DUMPING IS A CITYWIDE PROBLEM THAT HAS BEEN A CHALLENGE FOR YEARS OF THIS IRRESPONSIBLE BEHAVIOR JUST DOESN'T CREATE EYE SOURCE.
IT IS UNACCEPTABLE AND CREATES UNPLANNED USE OF CITY RESOURCES.
UH, QUITE FRANKLY, THERE ARE TOO MANY EXAMPLES AND OFFENDERS THAT ARE DESTROYING QUALITY OF LIFE IN SOME COMMUNITIES AND BREAKING THE LAW ALL AT THE SAME TIME.
WE KNOW THERE ARE PEOPLE IN BUSINESSES THAT ILLEGALLY DUMP THEIR OLD AND UNWANTED FURNITURE, TIRES, TOYS, TRASH,
[00:05:01]
AND OTHER MATERIALS ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD, OR A DITCH, JUST LIKE THEY THINKING THAT THEY HAVE CONCIERGE SERVICE.INSTEAD OF PROPERLY DISPOSING OF THOSE ITEMS OR TAKING THEM TO A DROP OFF SITE WHERE THEY CAN BE PROPERLY DISPOSED OF IN A LANDFILL OR RECYCLED, UH, ILLEGAL DUMPING CAN DECREASE THE QUALITY OF LIFE IN OUR COMMUNITIES, CREATE HEALTH HAZARDS, CONTAMINATE WATERWAYS, UH, IN MANY WAYS HAMPER DEVELOPMENT AND NEGATIVELY IMPACT PROPERTY VALUES.
A FEW YEARS AGO, THE CITY CHANGED THE ORDINANCE, UH, TO INCREASE AWARENESS AND RAISE THE LEVEL OF FINES FOR THOSE INDIVIDUALS DIRECTLY ASSOCIATED WITH THIS CHRONIC ISSUE.
ONE OF THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT CODE ALLOWS MUNICIPALITIES TO ENFORCE A RULE ORDINANCE OR POLICE REGULATION THAT GOVERNS THE DUMPING OF REFUGE BY A FINE OR A PENALTY OF UP TO $4,000.
TODAY, WE ARE HERE TO ANNOUNCE THAT THROUGH A WORKING GROUP OF CITY DEPARTMENTS AND STAKEHOLDERS, THIS ADMINISTRATION HAS DEVELOPED A PLAN TO ADDRESS ILLEGAL DUMPING AND CLEAN UP OUR NEIGHBORHOODS.
AND YOU ALL CAN PASS OUT, UM, THE PLAN TO, TO ALL MEMBERS OF THE MEDIA SO THEY CAN HAVE IT, UH, IN FRONT OF THEM.
UM, THE ONE CLEAN HOUSTON INITIATIVE, AND THAT'S HOW WE ARE AFRAID, UH, UH, FRAMING IT.
ONE CLEAN HOUSTON INITIATIVE FOCUSES ON THREE KEY AREAS OF INTERVENTION, RAPID CLEANUP MORE, WHICH IS MORE EXPEDITED DUMP SITE REMOVALS.
UH, SECONDLY, BETTER ENFORCEMENT, PLACING MORE CODED OFFICERS, MORE CODE ENFORCERS ON THE STREET AND IN OUR NEIGHBORHOODS, VIOLATORS WHO DUMP ILLEGALLY OR ENDANGERING OUR COMMUNITIES AND MUST BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE.
AND THREE, PREVENTION AND EDUCATION, PROVIDING ADEQUATE ALTERNATIVES TO DISPOSE OF WASTE, EDUCATING THE COMMUNITY ON THE CONSEQUENCES AND IMPACTS AND IMPROVING AREAS THAT ARE PRONE TO DUMPING.
SO RAPID CLEANUP, ONE, TWO, BETTER ENFORCEMENT.
AND THEN NUMBER THREE, PREVENTION AND EDUCATION.
THIS IS A HOLISTIC APPROACH TO COORDINATE ALL THE ACTIONS WE ARE TAKING TO ATTACK ILLEGAL DUMPING.
IT WILL TAKE DEPARTMENTS WORKING IN TANDEM WITH COMMUNITY MEMBERS, THE COURTS, NONPROFITS, INDUSTRY, AND OTHER GOVERNMENTAL ORGANIZATIONS TO MAKE THIS VISION OF ONE CLEAN HOUSTON A REALITY.
OVER THE PAST 12 MONTHS, THE SOLID WASTE MANAGE MANAGEMENT DEPARTMENT HAS RECEIVED OVER 5,000 COMPLAINTS FOR ILLEGAL DUMPING THROUGHOUT THE CITY OF HOUSTON.
IN DIRECT RESPONSE TO CALLS FOR SERVICE.
AND TO ABATE THESE NUISANCES, WE ARE ALLOCATING AN ADDITIONAL $11.5 MILLION FOR SUPPLEMENTAL HEAVY TRASH, ILLEGAL DUMPING AND LITTER CONTROL CONTRACTED, UH, FOR, UH, UH, FOR CONTRACTED COLLECTIONS.
THIS IS OVER AND ABOVE OUR NORMAL SPEND.
WE ARE ALSO EXPANDING OUR SOLID WASTE FLEET WITH 11 SINGLE OPERATOR GRAPPLER TRUCKS TO STREAMLINE BUCKY WASTE COLLECTIONS AT A COST OF $3 MILLION, AND INCREASING THE HIRING BONUSES FOR SOLID WASTE DRIVERS TO $5,000 AT A WAY TO REDUCE OUR CURRENT VACANCY RATES.
RIGHT NOW, WE ARE OFFERING 3000 OTHERS LIKE METRO ARE OFFERING FIVE.
WE NEED TO BE JUST AS COMPETITIVE.
AND SO I'VE AUTHORIZED THAT THAT BONUS GO, THAT INITIAL SIGN IN BONUS GO FROM THREE TO $5,000.
MANY OF MUCH OF THE DOLLARS THAT WE ARE UTILIZING HERE, WE ARE PULLING FROM OPERA FUNDING.
UH, AND THAT WAY WE CAN ASSURE THAT THE FUNDING WILL PROVIDE OVER A TWO TO THREE YEAR TIME PERIOD TO IMPROVE ENFORCEMENT.
I'VE ALLOCATED OVER $400,000 FOR 25 ADDITIONAL CAMERAS THAT ARE NOW IN OPERATION AND BEING MANAGED BY SOLID WASTE AND HPD, AND I'VE ALLOCATED $100,000 MORE FOR OVERTIME FOR HPD TO INCREASE INVESTIGATIONS.
WE ARE ALSO EXPANDING OUR PARTNERSHIP WITH CONSTABLE ROSEN AND THE HARRIS COUNTY ENVIRONMENTAL CRIME UNIT OF PRECINCT ONE, ALLOCATING $1.9 MILLION OVER TWO YEARS TO ADD SIX NEW INVESTIGATORS AND PURCHASED AN ADDITIONAL 120 NEW CAMERAS.
AND I'VE ALSO INCREASED SOLID WASTE BUDGET BY THREE, $600,000 PER YEAR.
AS IN ADDITION TO EVERYTHING ELSE THAT I'VE ANNOUNCED TO ADD SIX NEW CODE ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS WHO WILL ENFORCE, WHO WILL ENFORCE THE CITY'S SOLID WASTE ORDINANCES.
AND IT'S, YOUR PROPERTY OWNERS ARE COMPLYING WITH THE CITY'S HEAVY TRASH RULES AND REGULATIONS.
UH, ONCE WHAT ONE THING WE HAVE FOUND, WE CAN GO AND PICK IT UP.
[00:10:01]
COME BACK AGAIN.AND SO WE HAVE TO HAVE AN EFFECTIVE ENFORCEMENT MECHANISM SO PEOPLE KNOW IT'S NOT ONE, AND YOU DO IT AGAIN AND AGAIN AND AGAIN, BUT ONE CAUGHT, AND YOU, AND THERE ARE CONSEQUENCES FOR YOUR BEHAVIOR IF YOU SET OUT TOO MUCH HEAVY TRASH OR, UH, UNACCEPTABLE ITEMS, OR IF YOU, OR IF YOU PLACE YOUR HEAVY TRASH ON THE CURB TOO EARLY OR LATE, UH, WANT PEOPLE TO KNOW THAT YOU WILL BE TICKETED.
THESE RULES ARE IN PLACE FOR A REASON, AND WE WILL PROTECT OUR COMMUNITIES FROM THIS BLIGHT.
WHAT WE HAVE NOTICED IS THAT PEOPLE WILL SET OUT THEIR HEAVY TRASH EARLY, AND IT WILL SIT THERE FOR DAYS, UH, WHEN IT'S NOT ON THE NORMAL SCHEDULE.
WHAT ENDS UP HAPPENING, PEOPLE END UP ADDING TO THAT, OR PEOPLE WILL WAIT UNTIL AFTER THEIR SIGNED DATE AND THEY'LL SET IT OUT LATE AND IT SIMPLY ADD AND ADD AND ADD.
AND THEN PEOPLE WILL CALL AND SAY, YOU DIDN'T PICK IT UP.
OKAY? AND SO PEOPLE NEED TO BE EDUCATED ON WHAT REEDUCATED ON WHAT THE SCHEDULE IS, AND WE INTEND TO HOLD PEOPLE ACCOUNTABLE FOR THAT, OR RUN THE RISK OF BEING CITED.
THE CITY WILL PURSUE EVERY LEGAL REMEDY AVAILABLE TO CATCH VIOLATORS AND BRING THEM TO JUSTICE.
WHETHER YOU ARE THE PERSON DUMPING OR A PROPERTY OWNER THAT ALLOWS DUMPING ON YOUR PROPERTY, WE WILL USE EVERY OPTION AT OUR DISPOSAL TO HOLD YOU ACCOUNTABLE.
FINALLY, THE BEST WAY TO STOP ILLEGAL DUMPING IS TO PREVENT IT FROM HAPPENING IN THE FIRST PLACE.
THE CITY ALREADY HAS SIX, UH, NEIGHBORHOOD DEPOSITORY CENTERS WHERE RESIDENTS CAN DISPOSE OF BUCKY ITEMS AND RECYCLABLES FREE OF CHARGE.
WE ARE ADDING ROLL OFF CONTAINERS TO THESE CENTERS TO REDUCE WAIT TIME, AND WE'LL BE PILOTING A NEIGHBORHOOD DROP OFF PROGRAM AT THE BLUE RIDGE AND MCCARTHY LANDFILLS, WHERE RESIDENTS CAN TAKE ANY ITEMS TO THE LANDFILL FOR FREE ON APRIL, FOR EXAMPLE, 29TH.
AND WE ARE PARTNERING WITH COMMUNITIES ACROSS THE CITY TO ADDRESS ILLEGAL DUMPING BY IMPROVING AWARENESS OF LOCAL REGULATIONS, REPORTING VIOLATORS, AND AIDING IN BEAUTIFICATION EFFORTS.
ALL TOLD THE ONE CLEAN HOUSTON PLAN ALLOCATES NEARLY $18 MILLION IN ADDITIONAL DOLLARS OVER THE NEXT TWO YEARS TO COMPREHENSIVELY ADDRESS ILLEGAL DUMPING.
THIS IS AN UNPRECEDENTED INVESTMENT IN THIS ISSUE THAT IMPACTS SO MANY OF HOUSTON'S NEIGHBORHOODS, PARTICULARLY THE MOST VULNERABLE.
WE NEED ALL COMMUNITY, ALL COMMUNITIES TO STEP UP AND SAY, ENOUGH IS ENOUGH.
WE LOVE OUR CITY, AND WE WERE PROTECTED FROM THIS UNACCEPTABLE BLIGHT.
AND I'M ASKING ALL HOUSTONIANS TO TAKE SOME PRIDE AND STAND UP FOR ONE CLEAN HOUSTON.
IF YOU SEE SOMETHING, SAY SOMETHING, ANYONE CAN SUBMIT A TIP ANONYMOUSLY TO CRIME STOPPERS AND WILL BE ELIGIBLE FOR A CASH AWARD OF UP TO $5,000.
CALL 7 1 3 2 2 2 TIPS A REPORT ONLINE@CRIMESTOPPERS.ORG.
YOU CAN ALSO NOW PROVIDE TIPS DIRECTLY TO POLICE THROUGH THE ONLINE CRIME REPORTING FORM ON HPDS HOMEPAGE.
ARE THE RAT ON A RAT HOTLINE, 7 1 3 5 2 5 2 7 2 8.
AND THIS IS ONE TIME WHEN IT'S OKAY TO RAT ON A RAT
YES, IT'S, YES, IT'S, YOU CAN ALSO VISIT OUR WEBPAGE, HOUSTON TX.GOV/ONE CLEAN HOUSTON, THAT'S HOUSTON TX.GOV/ONE CLEAN HOUSTON.
TO FIND OUT MORE ABOUT THIS INITIATIVE AND HOW YOU CAN BE INVOLVED TODAY, YOU WILL HEAR FROM SOME OF OUR DEPARTMENTS AND ORGANIZATIONAL LEADERS INVOLVING KEEPING OUR CITY CLEAN AND WAYS IN WHICH YOU CAN ASSIST IN THIS ENDEAVOR.
LET ME THANK YOU, LOOK FORWARD TO YOU, UH, WORKING WITH YOU.
AND AGAIN, IT'S NOT GOING TO BE SOLVED OVERNIGHT, BUT COLLECTIVELY, COLLECTIVELY, WE CAN LET PEOPLE KNOW THAT THE DAYS OF ILLEGAL DUMPING, THAT THOSE DAYS ARE GONE.
AND SO LET ME ASK, AS WE WORK TOGETHER WITH NONPROFITS, COMMUNITY GROUPS, CONSTABLE ROSEN, AS WELL AS THE COURTS, AND WHAT I MEAN BY THAT IS WHEN WE CATCH FOLK VIOLATING THAT'S RIGHT, THE COURTS MUST HOLD THEM ACCOUNTABLE.
SO YOU JUST CAN'T ALLOW THEM TO SAY, WE ARE SORRY AND WE DIDN'T MEAN TO, OR WE ARE NOT GOING TO DO IT AGAIN.
THEY NEED TO KNOW THAT WHEN YOU ILLEGALLY DUMP THAT THERE'S A PENALTY AND A PRICE TO BE PAID FORWARD.
IF WE DO THIS, THEN I THINK WE'LL HELP TO CHANGE THE CULTURE AND THEN LET PEOPLE KNOW THAT THERE IS NO NEIGHBORHOOD WHERE YOU CAN UNLOAD YOUR TRASH
[00:15:01]
BECAUSE YOU THINK THAT THESE NEIGHBORHOODS ARE SECOND.LET ME INTRODUCE, UH, TO YOU THE DIRECTOR OF SOLID WASTE MANAGEMENT, MARK WIL OCK.
I WANT TO THANK JESSE FOR GIVING ME THE TOUGH TASK OF COMING IN FROM BEHIND MAYOR TURNER.
I THINK THAT, UH, OUR MAYOR HAS SO ELOQUENTLY ADDRESSED ALL OF THE ISSUES THAT WE HAVE HERE AND THAT WE'RE TACKLED AND WE'RE PREPARED TO DEAL WITH.
AND I JUST WANT TO THANK MAYOR TURNER ONE MORE TIME FOR HIS SUPPORT IN ADDRESSING THESE INITIATIVES IN THE COMMUNITY.
UM, THIS IS WHY IT'S ALWAYS GOOD TO BE PREPARED,
UH, I ALSO WANT TO THANK OUR, OUR PROFESSIONAL MEN AND WOMEN OF THE SOLID WASTE DEPARTMENT BECAUSE ALTHOUGH I HAVE THE, THE PRIVILEGE OF STANDING BEFORE YOU TODAY, UH, I'M NOT UP HERE WITHOUT THEIR SUPPORT.
SO THANKS AGAIN TO THE MEN AND WOMEN OF THE DEPARTMENT FOR THE SACRIFICES THAT YOU ALL HAVE MADE AND, UH, THE, THE, THE TIRELESS AND THE, THE EFFORTS THAT YOU PUT INTO MAKING THIS CITY LOOK GOOD.
WE HAVE, UH, UH, THANKS TO MAYOR TURNER'S SUPPORT, WE'VE ALREADY BEGAN TO SEE SOME OF THE PROGRESS IN OUR COMMUNITIES.
UH, I'M GETTING PHONE CALLS AND FEEDBACK FROM, UH, MANY RESIDENTS THROUGHOUT THE CITY WHO ARE SAYING, WOW, YOU KNOW, I PUT IT IN A COMPLAINT AND, UH, YOU GUYS ADDRESSED IT.
AND I'M LIKE, OKAY, I WANT YOU TO REALLY THANK OUR TEAM, YOU KNOW, FOR RESPONDING AND MAKE SURE YOU THANK MAYOR TURNER AS WELL.
AND WE'VE BEEN ABLE TO, UH, IMPROVE AND INCREASE THAT EFFICIENCY AND REDUCE THOSE WAITING TIMES, UH, BECAUSE OF THAT EXTRA SUPPORT THAT WE HAVE BEEN GIVEN.
SO, UH, WITH THAT BEING SAID, UH, DO WANT TO ALSO RECOGNIZE THE FACT THAT, I GUESS PRIOR TO MY ARRIVAL AND, AND PRIOR TO US REALLY KIND OF BUCKLING DOWN AND ADDRESSING THIS ISSUE, OUR AVERAGE WAIT TIME HOVERED AROUND 45 PLUS DAYS.
HAPPY TO REPORT TODAY THAT NUMBER IS DOWN TO 20, BUT WE STILL WANT TO KEEP GOING FURTHER THAN THAT.
SO, UM, THE, THE $5,000 SIGNING BONUS, WE ARE REALLY LOOKING FORWARD TO IT.
IN FACT, I'M PREPARED TO DO ON THE SPOTS INTERVIEWS RIGHT NOW, RIGHT HERE TODAY, UH, TO, TO HELP, UH, TO HELP WITH THAT INITIATIVE.
AND THE REASON THAT I REALLY WANT TO STRESS THIS IS BECAUSE THE TWO GREATEST ASSETS OF OUR DEPARTMENT IS GONNA ALWAYS REVOLVE AROUND EMPLOYEES AND EQUIPMENT.
WITHOUT EITHER ONE OF THOSE, WE CAN'T GET ANYTHING DONE.
AND THANKS AGAIN FOR MAYOR TURNER, UH, FOR MAKING THOSE RESOURCES AVAILABLE FOR US.
BUT THEN IN ADDITION TO THAT, WE ALSO HAVE SOME INITIATIVES TO ACTUALLY TRY TO START TRAINING FOLKS TO GET THEIR CDL LICENSES AS WELL.
SO AS WE CONTINUE TO DEVELOP OUR APPROACH, UH, WE WANT TO EVENTUALLY IMPLEMENT SOME SORT OF PIPELINE.
UH, SO IN CLOSING, THE MAYOR, UH, MENTIONED IT EARLIER.
WE HAVE DEPOSIT DEPOSITORIES, NEIGHBORHOOD DEPOSITORY SITES THROUGHOUT THE CITY.
UH, PLEASE UTILIZE ONE OF THOSE SIX, UH, DEPOSITORY SITES THAT WE HAVE.
YOU CAN ALWAYS FIND OUT MORE INFORMATION ON THEM ON OUR WEBSITES WE'RE TRYING TO ADD.
UH, I KNOW AT TIMES THERE MAY BE LONG WAIT TIMES, BUT AS MAYOR TURNER MENTIONED, WE'RE ADDING MORE CONTAINERS SO WE CAN INCREASE OUR CAPACITY AND ABILITY TO SERVICE RESIDENTS, UH, UM, IN A MORE EXPEDITIOUS MANNER.
AND, UH, WE ARE DEFINITELY LOOKING FORWARD TO THE SUPPORT OF WORKING WITH OUR PARTNERS AND CONSTABLES AND EVERYONE ELSE AROUND US.
UH, SO NEXT UP, YOU KNOW, WE HAVE A LOT OF STRONG ADVOCATES ON CITY COUNCIL, UH, AND TWO OF THEM ARE HERE TODAY.
UH, WE HAVE, UH, COUNCILWOMAN, UH, TARSHA JACKSON FROM DISTRICT B AND COUNCILWOMAN, UH, CARLOS CIRO FOR DISTRICT H.
I'D LIKE TO INTRODUCE YOU TO CAR TARSHA JACKSON.
IT IS A GREAT DAY IN DISTRICT B, RIGHT? I AM SO EXCITED.
UM, THANK YOU TO EVERYONE WHO HAS BEEN, WHO'S WORKING HARD TO MAKE SURE THAT OUR CITY, THAT OUR DISTRICT STAY CLEAN.
I WANNA RECOGNIZE, UM, SOME OF OUR LEADERS, IT'S EXCITING TO SEE THE LEADERS FROM ACROSS THE DISTRICT B HERE.
WE GOT KEN, KATHY TER, YOU GOT ALVIN BYRD.
WE GOT, UM, UM, UM, RAIN EATON AND, AND, AND MR. KEITH DOWNING AND HUEY, EVERYONE IS HERE BECAUSE THIS IS VERY IMPORTANT TO US.
AND THIS PRESS CONFERENCE TODAY IS SENDING A MESSAGE TO OUR RESIDENTS ACROSS THE DISTRICT B, THAT WE ARE NOT GONNA TAKE IT ANYMORE, THAT WE GOT THE CITY BEHIND US, THAT WE ARE GONNA LIKE CLEAN UP OUR NEIGHBORHOOD.
UM, JUST THE OTHER DAY I WAS DOING A TOUR WITH, UM, THE, UM, THE CHIEF, DEPUTY CHIEF AND, UM, IT WAS BROAD DAYLIGHT.
WE DROVE UP ON TWO MEN CASUALLY DUMPING IN THE MIDDLE OF OUR NEIGHBORHOOD.
OF COURSE, WE PULLED UP ON HER AND MADE THEM STOP.
YOU KNOW, AND, BUT THIS IS WHAT WE HAVE TO DO AS COMMUNITY COME TOGETHER, CALL 'EM OUT.
AND I'M GLAD THAT WE HAVE THAT NUMBER THAT WE CAN CALL.
WHAT IS IT? THE RATS? WE NEED TO LIKE, MAKE SURE THAT WE START YEAH.
WE NEED TO START CALLING THEM ALL OUT BECAUSE THIS IS OUR NEIGHBORHOOD.
BECAUSE THIS IS WHAT WE NEED A COMPREHENSIVE APPROACH.
SOMETHING THAT'S GONNA HOLD FOLKS ACCOUNTABLE, YOU KNOW, RAPID CLEAN UP.
UM, I KNOW WE GOT A HOT TEAM HERE THAT WORKS VERY, VERY HARD, IS WHERE DISTRICT BE HOT TEAM.
THEY WORK VERY HARD TO KEEP OUR NEIGHBORHOOD CLEAN, BUT THEY CAN'T KEEP UP WITH IT BECAUSE AS SOON AS THEY CLEAN IT
[00:20:01]
UP, IT'S RIGHT BACK DOWN.BUT THIS PROGRAM IS WHAT WE NEED TO CLEAN DISTRICT B AND THE CITY OF HOUSTON OPEN.
SO AGAIN, THANK YOU, MAYOR DIRECTOR WILL CALL FOR JUST COMING AND EVERYONE WHO'S INVOLVED FOR MAKING SURE THAT WE GET A PROGRAM THAT'S GONNA MAKE SURE OUR NEIGHBORHOODS ARE CLEAN AND PEOPLE FEEL GOOD ABOUT WHERE THEY LIVE.
WHEN I FIRST BECAME A COUNCIL MEMBER, ONE OF THE FIRST THINGS THAT I WAS SHOWN WAS A, WAS A HEAT MAP OF WHERE ILLEGAL DUMP SITES WERE.
AND DISTRICT H LOOKED LIKE A HEART ATTACK.
I MEAN, IT WAS SO INTENSE RIGHT OVER DISTRICT H AND, AND IT WAS BECAUSE OF ILLEGAL DUMPING.
UM, YOU KNOW, THE, THE MAYA STAFF HAS BEEN, UM, TACKLING FOR THE, FOR THE FOR, WE'RE IN OUR EIGHTH YEAR RIGHT NOW.
AND I WANNA JUST SAY HOW MUCH I APPRECIATE THE, THE WORK ALL ALONG WITH, WITH, UH, CONSTABLE ROSEN, THAT WAS ONE OF THE FIRST THINGS I DID WAS BUY ADDITIONAL CAMERAS.
AND I KNOW THOSE WORK BECAUSE, UM, THAT, YOU KNOW, THAT'S, THAT'S ANOTHER, UM, LEVEL OF ENFORCEMENT WHEN YOU'RE CAPTURING, UM, VIDEO FOOTAGE OF A DUMPER, YOU KNOW, AND, AND, UM, AND THAT CAN HOLD UP IN COURT AND THEY GET, THEY GET, UM, THEY'RE, THEY'RE CAUGHT.
THEY'RE CAUGHT, AND THEY'RE, AND THEY'RE, AND THEY'RE, UM, THEY'RE SORRY THEY GOT CAUGHT.
AND SO, UM, I'M, I'M JUST THRILLED TO HEAR THAT, THAT NOT ONLY IS THE CITY, UM, GONNA BE HAVING ADDITIONAL CAMERAS, BUT THAT IT'S ALSO EXPANDING WITH, WITH THE, WITH THE, THE PROGRAM THAT, THAT CONSTABLE ROSEN ALREADY HAS IN PLACE.
UM, SOMETHING ELSE THAT, UM, AND MAYOR, LET ME JUST SAY THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THIS AND THIS ADDITIONAL INVESTMENT IN, IN, IN RESOURCES AND IN, UM, INCENTIVES TO HIRE PEOPLE AND, AND THE BONUSES.
I MEAN, THAT HAS BEEN ONE OF THE CHALLENGES, YOU KNOW, SOLID WASTE WORK SO HARD.
A LOT OF THOSE PEOPLE ARE, YOU KNOW, DON'T REALLY HAVE A, A WEEKEND ANYMORE.
THEY'RE, THEY'VE BEEN WORKING SIX DAYS A WEEK AND IT'S, THAT'S THAT, THAT WEARS ON YOU.
YOU KNOW, THEY'VE, BUT THEY HAVE STEPPED UP AND THEY'VE BEEN LOYAL AND, AND, AND HARDWORKING.
SO I HOPE THAT THIS WILL GIVE THEM SOME RELIEF TOO.
UM, SOMETHING ELSE YOU SAID MAYOR, UM, ABOUT, YOU KNOW, UM, YOU KNOW, WANTING HOUSTON TO HAVE PRIDE IN HOW WE LOOK, THAT'S ANOTHER BIG CHALLENGE.
YOU KNOW, I THINK, YOU KNOW, WE'RE IN A TIME RIGHT NOW WHERE THERE'S A, A LOT OF, UM, UM, ANGER IN THE COM IN THE SOCIETY, YOU KNOW, AND, AND, AND, UM, AND, AND WE'RE SEEING, YOU KNOW, HOW IT, IT PLAYS OUT, YOU KNOW, THAT, THAT PEOPLE AREN'T RESPECTFUL OF LAWS.
YOU KNOW, THERE'S, THERE'S MORE ILLEGAL DUMPING, THERE'S MORE SPEEDING.
THERE'S A LOT MORE THINGS THAT ARE HAPPENING THAT, THAT, THAT WEREN'T AS AS BAD BEFORE.
AND, AND I THINK, YOU KNOW, THAT, THAT THE WAY YOU FIGHT THAT IS TO, TO REALLY, YOU KNOW, BUILD ON THAT, THAT SENSE OF PRIDE AND THAT, AND OUR, AND OUR OWN CONNECTEDNESS WITH EACH OTHER, THAT THIS IS OUR HOME, YOU KNOW, AND THAT, AND THAT WE'RE ALL RESPONSIBLE, YOU KNOW, FOR THAT AND TO EACH OTHER, YOU KNOW, TO, TO, TO TAKE CARE OF IT.
SO, SO THAT'S ANOTHER BIG THING WE, WE STILL NEED TO KEEP WORKING ON.
BUT, BUT, BUT THESE, YOU KNOW, THE ADDITIONAL RESOURCES THAT, YOU KNOW, THE ADDITIONAL TRUCKS, THE ADDITIONAL CAMERAS, YOU KNOW, THE, THE ADDITIONAL ENFORCEMENT AND THEN ADDITIONAL EDUCATION, YOU KNOW, ABOUT, YOU KNOW, HOW TO DO IT RIGHT, IS IMPORTANT.
AND IT'S, IT'S GONNA TAKE EVERYONE HERE TO MAKE SURE IT HAPPENS.
THANK, THANK YOU COUNCILWOMAN.
UH, SO THE MAYOR MENTIONED THAT WE'RE EXPANDING ENFORCEMENT, AND PART OF THAT IS, UH, WE'RE EXPANDING OUR PARTNERSHIP WITH THE CONSTABLE ROSEN'S OFFICE IN PRECINCT ONE.
THAT'S, THEY'RE THE PRIMARY, UH, CRIME CRIMINAL ENFORCEMENT AGENCY FOR, UH, ENVIRONMENTAL CRIMES IN THE CITY.
UH, AND WE'RE ALSO, UH, PARTNERING WITH OUR HPD HOUSTON POLICE DEPARTMENT'S ENVIRONMENTAL CRIMES UNIT, UH, TO EXPAND OVERTIME AND THEIR CAMERAS AS WELL.
SO, UH, WANNA INTRODUCE YOU TO, UH, COUNCIL CONSTABLE ROSEN, UH, WITH PRECINCT ONE.
WELL, LET ME START BY SAYING THAT, UH, THIS IS A HISTORIC MOMENT.
IT'S, THIS TRULY IS THE INVESTMENT BEING MADE HERE IS A TRUE COMMITMENT TO THE CITY OF HOUSTON RESIDENTS THAT WE ARE SERIOUS ABOUT THIS AND THAT WE'RE DOING SOMETHING ABOUT IT.
MAYOR, THANK YOU FOR THAT INVESTMENT.
I MEAN, REALLY, UM, A COMMUNITY CANNOT WITHSTAND A PANDEMIC FOLLOWED BY AN EPIDEMIC OF ILLEGAL DUMPING.
YOU CAN'T, IT'S IN THE AIR WE BREATHE, WE CAN'T, IT, IT CAN LEAD TO WATER.
WE DRINK, IT'S IN AND AROUND OUR CHILDREN, OUR SENIORS, AND MOST IMPORTANTLY, IT CONTINUES TO PLAGUE OUR MOST VULNERABLE COMMUNITIES.
THE MAYOR WON'T TOLERATE IT, AND NOT ANY OF THESE PEOPLE HERE BEHIND US ARE GONNA TOLERATE IT.
THE INVESTMENT OF SIX INVESTIGATORS POSITIONS, AS WELL AS 120 NEW CAMERAS, UH, IS, IS AMAZING.
WE'RE GONNA BE ABLE TO, UH, DEPLOY THOSE CAMERAS AND INVESTIGATORS OUT TO REALLY HIT AND SATURATE THE AREA.
I WANT TO GIVE YOU SOME HISTORICAL NUMBERS.
UM, WE HAVE, PRESENTLY SPEAKING, WE HAVE 137 UNDERCOVER CAMERAS OUT AT VARIOUS ILLEGAL DUMPING
[00:25:01]
SITES RIGHT NOW AS WE SPEAK.AND YOU'RE RIGHT, COUNCILMAN CISNEROS, YOU WERE ONE OF THE FIRST PEOPLE TO INVEST IN CAMERAS WITH US.
THAT HISTORIC COLLABORATION BETWEEN THE COUNTY AND THE CITY IS INVO IS, IS JUST INCREDIBLE.
UH, LAST YEAR WE HAD 276, UH, INVESTIGATIONS OF ILLEGAL DUMPING 139 ARRESTS THAT PAST YEAR.
PRESENTLY WE HAVE 22 CURRENT ACTIVE INVESTIGATIONS.
MANY OF Y'ALL HAVE SEEN SOME OF THE VIDEO OF A GUY THAT WAS IN THE TIRE BUSINESS THAT TOOK HIS TIRES AND PEOPLE PAID HIM MONEY TO GO DUMP THOSE TIRES LEGALLY.
AND HE WENT AND DUMPED THEM AT A FRENCHY'S, A CLOSED DOWN FRENCHY CHICKEN, UH, PLACE.
WE CAUGHT HIM, WE CHARGED HIM.
TWO, WE'RE WORKING WITH THE DISTRICT ATTORNEY'S OFFICE AND HOLDING PEOPLE ACCOUNTABLE IN THAT.
PART OF THE CONDITION OF GETTING THEIR CASE DISPOSED OF IS THEY HAVE TO GO OUT AND CLEAN UP ANOTHER DUMP SITE.
THAT'S, AND THAT'S TAKEN A WHILE TO GET THERE.
BUT I CAN TELL YOU THAT IT'S, IT'S PEOPLE THAT ILLEGALLY DUMP LIVE WITHIN FIVE MILES OF WHERE THEY ILLEGALLY DUMP.
AND GENERALLY SPEAKING, THEY ONLY DO IT ONCE.
ONCE THEY'RE CAUGHT, THEY DON'T DUMP AGAIN, UNLESS YOU'RE THESE SERIAL DUMPERS THAT ARE ACTUALLY GETTING PAID, UH, BY VARIOUS COMPANIES TO GET RID OF EITHER CONSTRUCTION WASTE OR TIRES OR THINGS LIKE THAT.
ALL THE COMMUNITY LEADERS HERE.
I KNOW I HAVE A MEETING WITH Y'ALL TONIGHT ABOUT ILLEGAL DUMPING, AND, UH, I LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING WITH THE CITY OF HOUSTON, THE HOUSTON POLICE DEPARTMENT, THE MAYOR'S OFFICE, AND ALL THE CITY COUNCIL, UH, PERSON'S OFFICE TO ERADICATE THIS PROBLEM.
UM, IT'S A QUALITY OF LIFE ISSUE.
OUR CHILDREN ARE EXPOSED TO MOSQUITOES, THEY'RE EXPOSED TO HEALTH PROBLEMS, AND IT'S A QUALITY OF LIFE ISSUE.
SO THANK YOU, AND I SURE APPRECIATE IT.
AND I'LL BE AROUND FOR QUESTIONS IF EVERYBODY ELSE, AND ALSO, UH, SERGEANT PATRICK MORRISSEY WITH THE HOUSTON POLICE DEPARTMENT.
I WOULD LIKE TO SAY THANK YOU FOR MAYOR, FOR GIVING US THE OPPORTUNITY TO BE PART OF THE ONE CLEAN HOUSTON PROGRAM.
MY OFFICERS ARE OUT HERE SEEING THE BLIGHTS AND THE EFFECTS ON THE COMMUNITY DIRECTLY, WHAT THESE ILLEGAL DUMP SITES DO TO DO TO THE COMMUNITIES.
LAST YEAR, MY GROUP, WE DID 600, ABOUT 600 INVESTIGATIONS.
AND SO FAR THIS YEAR WE'RE ALREADY PASSING UP 400.
WE INVESTIGATE ILLEGAL DUMPING, HAZARDOUS WASTE, AND WATER POLLUTION INCIDENTS ALL AROUND THE CITY, AND ALL AROUND THE CITY IN THAT AFFECT THE CITY OF HOUSTON.
BUT AS, AS WE KIND OF TALK RIGHT NOW, WE BRING UP THAT WE CAN'T DO THIS ALONE.
WITHOUT THE COMMUNITY, WE CAN'T DO ANYTHING.
SO PART OF EVERYONE REACHING OUT TO THE RAT ON A RAT LINE, MAKING ONLINE REPORTS, IF YOU SEE SOMETHING, SAY SOMETHING WITHOUT YOUR HELP, WITHOUT THE REPORTS, WITHOUT KNOWING WHO'S DOING THIS, WE CAN'T ACTUALLY HOLD THOSE PEOPLE ACCOUNTABLE.
AND THAT'S WHAT MATTERS THE MOST.
AGAIN, THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT AND THANK YOU FOR HAVING US.
TAKE PICTURES, TAKE VIDEO, SEND IT TO HPD, BUT ALSO SEND IT TO CRIME STOPPERS.
UH, AND YOU'LL, YOU'LL BE ELIGIBLE FOR A REWARD IF YOU SEND IT TO CRIME STOPPERS.
UH, WOULD LIKE TO INTRODUCE YOU TO NICOLE, UH, JOSEPH WITH, UH, UH, CHRISTOPHE WITH, UH, CRIME STOPPERS TO TELL YOU MORE.
I'M GONNA LOWER THIS, JUST, NO, MAYBE NOT.
UM, CRIME STOPPERS IS THE ORIGINAL RAT ON A RAT LINE.
UM, AND WE'VE BEEN ANSWERING TIPS FOR OVER 42 YEARS.
IF YOU SEE SOMEONE AND YOU KNOW WHO THEY ARE THAT'S DOING ILLEGAL DUMPING, CALL THE TIP LINE SEVEN ONE THREE TWO TWO TWO TIPS 24 HOURS A DAY, SEVEN DAYS A WEEK.
WE ALSO CAN REPORT ANONYMOUSLY ONLINE REPORT THOSE PEOPLE THAT ARE DOING THE ILLEGAL DUMPING.
AND YOU COULD BE ELIGIBLE FOR THAT CASH REWARD OF UP TO $5,000.
IT'S IMPORTANT TO NOTE THAT THAT LINE IS FOR PEOPLE THAT ARE THE SUSPECTS, THE ONES THAT ARE DOING THE DUMPING.
IF YOU WANT TO REPORT A DUMP SITE, THEN CALL THE THREE ONE ONE NUMBER.
AND AS THEY'VE ALREADY SAID, THEIR RESPONSE TIMES ARE REMARKABLE.
AND THE CRIME STOPPER TIP LINE RESPONSE TIME IS REMARKABLE AS WELL.
SO PLEASE, IF YOU KNOW SOMEONE THAT'S DOING THIS, HAVE PRIDE IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD THAT YOU'RE ASSOCIATED WITH.
I, EVERYONE HAS SAID IT ALREADY, BUT OUR NEIGHBORS DESERVE TO LIVE IN A CLEAN, SAFE PLACE.
AND I CAN PROMISE YOU, IF WE FIND THE PERSON THAT DID THIS DUMPING AND OFFER TO BRING ALL OF THIS BACK TO THEM, THEY WOULD NOT WANT IT.
SO PLEASE REPORT THAT INFORMATION AND WE WILL BE HAPPY TO HELP TAKE CARE OF THAT.
[00:30:01]
YEAH.AND IF YOU HAVE, HAVE INFORMATION ABOUT A DUMP SITE, UH, THAT IS, WELL, YOU DON'T HAVE INFORMATION ABOUT A DUMP SITE.
YOU JUST SEE A DUMP SITE, UH, THAT YOU WANNA REPORT FOR CLEANUP, YOU CALL 3 1 1.
UH, MAKE SURE THAT YOU CALL 3 1 1 SO WE CAN PICK IT UP.
UH, WE'D ALSO LIKE TO, UH, INTRODUCE TO, UH, ETTE WILLIAMS, WHO'S ONE OF OUR, UH, STRONG COMMUNITY ADVOCATES HERE IN DISTRICT B.
UH, I'M ETTE WILLIAMS WITH, UH, PRINCE SQUARE, UH, A CIVIC ASSOCIATION.
I'M VERY ACTIVE IN THE COMMUNITY.
I WANT TO GIVE A SPECIAL THANKS TO THE MAYOR FOR THIS PROGRAM.
WHO HAVE WE, WE HAVE BEEN WORKING WITH THEM, UH, DILIGENTLY TRYING TO CLEAN UP OUR COMMUNITY.
BUT I WILL SAY TO THE COMMUNITY, THE ONES THAT LIVE HERE IN FIFTH WARD AND THROUGHOUT HOUSTON, IT STARTS WITH US.
WE HAVE TO REPORT THESE THINGS TO THE PROPER, UH, PEOPLE TO ADDRESS THESE ISSUES OUT HERE.
BUT I WANT TO, UH, THANK ALL THE DIFFERENT PARTNERS THAT HAS JOINED TOGETHER TO COME INTO OUR COMMUNITY, TO MAKE OUR COMMUNITY BETTER.
IT HOLDS OUR PROPERTY VALUE WHEN WE KEEP OUR COMMUNITY CLEAN AND WE HAVE TO WORK TOGETHER.
AND IF YOU SEE SOMETHING, PLEASE SAY SOMETHING.
THERE ARE TRASH THROUGHOUT THE COMMUNITY.
THERE ARE PEOPLE BRINGING TRASH INTO OUR COMMUNITY.
WE HAVE TO DO OUR PART AS COMMUNITY MEMBERS, AS RESIDENTS THAT LIVE IN THESE COMMUNITIES.
THANK YOU SO MUCH, MAYOR, AND WE'RE LOOKING FORWARD TO CONTINUE TO WORK WITH ALL THE DIFFERENT PARTNERS HERE.
LEMME DO THIS, UH, UH, KEITH'S DOWNEY, WHY DON'T YOU COME ON HIS ROUTE.
THANK YOU TO SOLID WASTE MANAGEMENT.
TELL ME WHO YOU'RE, UH, MY NAME IS KEITH DOWNEY.
I AM SUPER NEIGHBORHOOD PRESIDENT FOR CASHIER GARDEN, ALSO VICE CHAIR OF THE, UH, SUPER NEIGHBORHOOD ALLIANCE.
AND I WANT TO SAY THIS, IT IS A DAUNTING TASK AS A VOLUNTEER TO DRIVE AROUND, NOT ONLY IN KME GARDEN, BUT IN COMMUNITIES IN THE AREA, AND SEE PILE AFTER PILE, AFTER PILE AFTER PILE OF DISCARDED WASTE.
AND THE FACT OF THE MATTER IS, WE HAVE TO, IF YOU, IF YOU SEE SOMETHING, SAY SOMETHING.
I DON'T CARE IF YOU DON'T LIVE IN THAT COMMUNITY.
IF YOU SEE SOMETHING, REPORT SOMETHING.
DO NOT LET HIGHWAYS AND RAILROAD TRACKS SEPARATE AND SILO YOU JUST FOR YOUR COMMUNITY.
IF YOU'RE DRIVING AROUND, IF YOU WORK FOR THE CITY, IF YOU'RE A VOLUNTEER, IF YOU'RE A RESIDENT, IF YOU WORK AT A LOCATION AND YOU SEE ILLEGAL DUMPING DEFINITELY REPORTED ARE ALWAYS REPORTED WITH PHOTOGRAPHS ALONE TO 3 1 1.
THANK YOU TO, TO, UM, CRIME STOPPERS.
AND IT'S ONE THING ABOUT THOSE SIGNS.
WE HAD A A, A GROUP OF SIGNS WE PUT OUT IN THE COMMUNITY, THE SIGNS DISAPPEAR,
SO THE FACT OF THE MATTER IS, IF YOU SEE SOMETHING, REPORT SOMETHING, WE WERE NOT BORN TO LIVE IN FILTH.
AND SO WE ALL WANNA CLEAN A HOUSTON, WE ALL HAVE TO WORK TOGETHER.
COMMUNITY LEADERS FROM ALL AROUND NORTHEAST HOUSTON HAVE BEEN COMPLAINING.
AND IT'S NOT JUST ONE COMMUNITY.
AND PEOPLE SAY, WELL, FROM THE OTHER SIDE OF TOWN, WE REPORT, OR WE HAVE A HAULERS THAT HAUL THE STUFF AWAY.
I SAY, BUT DO YOU KNOW WHAT YOU'RE HAULING IT TO? IT'S IMPORTANT.
WE HAVE TO CHANGE OUR MINDSETS.
WE WILL NOT, BECAUSE YOUR NEIGHBOR PUT SOMETHING OUT THERE IN FRONT OF A VACANT LOT, DOESN'T MEAN YOU SHOULD DO THE SAME THING.
THANK YOU TO CONSTABLE ROSEN, THE MAYOR, THANK YOU TO SOLID WASTE MANAGEMENT, THANK YOU TO HIS ENTIRE CITY TEAM, THANK YOU FOR ALL THE CITY WORKERS, AND THANK YOU TO THE RESIDENTS BECAUSE WE GOTTA WORK TOGETHER TO, TOGETHER WE WILL HAVE A ONE CLEAN HOUSTON.
AND ALSO, AS A COMMUNITY MEMBER, YOU CAN REQUEST SIGNS, UH, FROM CRIME STOPPERS, REQUEST THESE SIGNS AND THEY'LL, UH, FURNISH YOU WITH THOSE.
UH, SO PART OF THE MAYOR'S COMPLETE COMMUNITIES PROGRAM, UH, IS A PROGRAM CALLED THE COMPLETE COMMUNITIES UNIVERSITY, WHICH, UH, CREATES YOUNG LEADERS AND IN COMMUNITIES TO BE ADVOCATES FOR THEIR COMMUNITY.
UH, AND, AND ALSO GETS, UH, IDEAS FROM THEM, UH, THAT CAN HELP THE CITY.
AND SO, UH, WE'VE BEEN WORKING WITH THEM ON THIS INITIATIVE, UH, THROUGH THE DEPARTMENT OF NEIGHBORHOODS, UH, DIRECTOR FRANCIS, UH, AND SHANNON BUGS WITH THE OFFICE OF COMPLETE COMMUNITIES.
UH, AND I'D LIKE TO INTRODUCE YOU TO ONE OF OUR COMPLETE COMMUNITIES, UH, UNIVERSITY
[00:35:01]
GRADUATES, UH, TANISHA MANNING.UM, I HA I'M TANISHA MANNING, AND I HAIL FROM THE OTHER SIDE OF TOWN, DISTRICT D, SUNNY SIDE, UM, WHERE YES,
YOU KNOW, THE MAYOR HAS LAID OUT A VERY HOLISTIC PLAN, BUT THE COMMUNITY, I LIKE TO EMPHASIZE THE PREVENTION EFFORTS.
SO WE DON'T HAVE TO GO THIS FAR TO REALLY HAVE TO GET, UM, INVOLVED WITH THE CONSTABLES AND LAW ENFORCEMENT.
HOW DO WE PREVENT THIS? RIGHT? DO OUR CIVIC CLUBS AND OUR SUPER NEIGHBORHOODS KNOW ABOUT THIS INITIATIVE? YOU KNOW, ARE THEY WATCHING THIS PRESS CONFERENCE? MAYBE NOT ALL OF THEM.
SO WE ARE THINKING OF WAYS OF HOW DO WE GET OUT INTO OUR COMMUNITIES, TO THE PEOPLE WHO DON'T GET ON SOCIAL MEDIA TO OUR ELDERS, TO MAKE SURE THAT THAT EDUCATION PIECE IS REALLY CRITICAL AND THAT IT IS REALLY SHARED WITH OUR COMMUNITY MEMBERS.
SO IT DOESN'T HAVE TO ALWAYS TRIGGER THE WHOLE, THE ENTIRE, UM, OTHER STAKEHOLDERS THAT ARE INVOLVED.
SO I'M EXCITED TO, EXCITED TO CONTINUE TO WORK WITH YOU ALL, UM, AND TO ME, EVEN IF IT TAKES LATE IN THE EVENING MEETINGS, TO REALLY MAKE SURE THAT WE INCLUDE THE VOICES OF THE YOUNG COMMUNITY MEMBERS WHO ARE ALSO, WHO ARE ALSO IMPACTED AND CARE ABOUT THIS ISSUE AS WELL.
LOOK, LET ME, LET ME AGAIN, ME, LET ME THANK, UH, EVERYONE.
LEMME THANK ALL OF THE DEPARTMENTS, UH, SHANNON BUR OSH, I MENTIONED DEPARTMENT OF NEIGHBORHOODS.
I DO WANT TO GIVE SPECIAL CREDIT, UH, TO MY OWN CHIEF OF STAFF, UH, FOR COORDINATING.
I'M STANDING BEFORE YOU, BUT MARETTE HUNTER, LET ME, LEMME THANK, UH, UH, THE CHIEF OF STAFF, UH, FOR TAKING THE, THE LEAD ON MY BEHALF AND WORKING WITH EVERYONE AND PULLING ALL OF ALL OF THIS TOGETHER.
UH, LOOK, THIS IS A DAUNTING TASK.
AND AGAIN, I WANT TO EMPHASIZE IT'S GOING TO TAKE EVERYBODY WORKING TOGETHER.
UH, AND WE HAVE TO CHANGE THE MINDSET.
WE JUST HAVE TO CHANGE THE MINDSET.
UM, AND PEOPLE HAVE TO REC, THE PEOPLE HAVE TO VALUE EVERY NEIGHBORHOOD WITHIN OUR CITY, EVERY SINGLE NEIGHBORHOOD.
AND JUST BECAUSE THE NEIGHBORHOOD MAY NOT, QUOTE UNQUOTE BE THE AFFLUENT NEIGHBORHOOD DOESN'T MEAN IT IS, UM, THE, UH, DEPOSITORY FOR JUNK TRASH WASTE.
OKAY? SO THAT DOESN'T MEAN THAT, AND WE HAVE TO CHANGE THAT.
AND NEITHER DO WE HAVE CONCIERGE SERVICE FOR YOUR ILLEGAL DUMPING, OKAY? AND WHAT I MEAN BY THAT, YOU SHOULDN'T FEEL AS THOUGH YOU CAN FIND SOME STREET THAT YOU THINK WHERE SAFE ENOUGH FOR YOU TO DROP YOUR TRASH AND THEN EXPECT SOMEBODY ELSE TO COME AND PICK IT UP.
UH, THAT, THAT, THAT MINDSET NEEDS TO, THAT MINDSET NEEDS TO GO.
UM, SO I DO WANT TO GIVE A GREAT DEAL OF CREDIT AGAIN, UH, TO SOLID WASTE TO THE EMPLOYEES, UH, BECAUSE THEY ARE GOING, GOING AND GOING.
THEY'RE PICKING UP THE BLACK BINS.
THEY'RE PICKING UP THE GREEN BINS.
THEY'VE GOT THE YARD WAY, SOME ONE MONTH.
THEY'VE GOT HEAVY, UH, TRASH ON ANOTHER MONTH.
UH, SO THEY'RE GOING, GOING, GOING.
AND WE RUN THEM, UH, SOMETIMES SIX DAYS, SOMETIMES SEVEN DAYS A WEEK.
SO I REALLY WANT TO THANK THEM, UH, COLLECTIVELY FOR THEIR SERVICE.
WE ARE AUGMENTING THEM WITH OTHER VENDORS.
UM, WE, CITY COUNCIL HAS ALREADY APPROVED, UM, THE CONTRACT WITH DRC.
I THINK THERE'S A REPRESENTATIVE FROM DRC, IS THAT RIGHT? YES.
AND THEN WE'VE BEEN AUGMENTING THAT WITH GRAB AND GO THE REPRESENTATIVE FROM GRAB AND GO REACH, GRAB, YEAH, RIGHT.
REACH THAT ARE, THAT ARE, UH, REACH, GRAB AND GO.
SO THESE ARE TWO ADDITIONAL VENDORS THAT WE ARE AUGMENTING, UH, BECAUSE WE WANT TO, WE WANNA PICK THIS STUFF UP AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE.
WE KNOW WE ALREADY HAVE SOME ILLEGAL DUMPING SITES ALREADY IN EXISTENCE RIGHT NOW.
AND SO IN ORDER TO REALLY BRING THOSE DOWN, WE ALSO HAVE TO STOP FOLK FROM ADDING TO THE LIST, OKAY? AND WE HAVE TO STOP REPEAT OFFENDERS.
AND THAT IS, ONCE WE CLEAN IT UP, GOING RIGHT BACK THERE, THE FOLLOW FOLLOWING WEEK, IT BECOMES VERY DIFFICULT FOR US TO CLEAN IT UP.
[00:40:01]
CRITICAL, THE EDUCATION PIECE, VERY, VERY CRITICAL WHILE WE EXPAND, UM, SIGNIFICANTLY MORE RESOURCES TO ADDRESS THESE PROBLEMS. SO I'M GONNA BRING MY CUMMINS, UM, TO AN END.I WANT TO THANK ALL THE, THE RESIDENTS AND COMMUNITY LEADERS FROM ALL OVER THE CITY.
I WANT TO THANK EVERYONE FOR THEIR PATIENCE.
OKAY? I WANNA APPRECIATE THAT.
AND THEN LEMME JUST, LET ME GIVE A BIG SHOUT OUT TO OUR MEDIA PARTNERS BECAUSE QUITE FRANKLY, EVERYTHING THAT WE HAVE SAID FALLS SHORT WITHOUT THE MEDIA PARTICIPATING.
UH, SO WHEN YOU ARE SHOWING PEOPLE WHO HAVE ENGAGED IN ILLEGAL DUMPING, NOBODY WANTS TO BE SHAMED, OKAY? THEY DON'T WANNA BE SHAMED.
UM, BUT THIS IS JUST, THIS IS ONE OF THOSE TIMES WHEN YOU, SOMETIMES YOU JUST HAVE TO SHAME PEOPLE, UM, BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, PEOPLE DON'T MIND BEING ON CAMERA AS LONG AS IT'S GOOD STUFF.
AND THEY WANT TO SAY TO FOLK, IT IS ALL RIGHT TO RAT ON RATS.
OKAY? THAT'S, THAT'S NOTHING WRONG WITH THAT.
IF THERE'S ANY QUESTIONS THEN YOU MAY HAVE FROM ANY OF THE PERSONS UP HERE.
THEN WE GONNA START PICKING 'EM UP.
I GOT ONE OF THE TRASH AND THIS IS FROM, FROM THE MEDIA.
I'M, I CAN TALK WITH YOU IF YOU'RE NOT FROM THE, FROM THE MEDIA.
WAS THE ADDITIONAL FUNDING ALREADY BUDGETED? THOSE ARE NEW SOURCES.
MUCH OF THAT 18 MIL ADDITIONAL, THOSE ARE, ARE COMING FROM OPERA DOLLARS AND THOSE ARE FEDERAL DOLLARS THAT HAVE BEEN MADE AVAILABLE THAT WE ARE PUTTING IN, UH, FOR THE ADDITIONAL VENDORS AND FOR THE ADDITIONAL TRUCKS IN SOME CASES.
UM, THERE WILL BE SOME GENERAL FUND, FUND, UH, DOLLARS THAT WE ARE UTILIZING, BUT MUCH OF THOSE DOLLARS ARE OPERA FUNDING AND THAT, AND THAT WILL COVER OVER LIKE A TWO YEAR PERIOD.
ANY OTHER QUESTIONS THAT WE CAN ANSWER? OKAY, SO LET'S, LET'S, UM, MARK? YES.
AND WE HAVE, UH, SPANISH TRANSLATION AVAILABLE IF YOU'D LIKE.
UH, MARY, DO YOU HAVE ANY OTHER COMMENTS THAT I JUST WANNA KNOW? OKAY.
AND, AND JUST LASTLY, I DID WANT TO MENTION THAT ELLEN STEINBERG IS HERE WITH THE KI HOUSTON.
WHICH IS A BIG, BIG, DO YOU WANNA SAY SOMETHING?
THANK YOU JESSE FOR HAVING CLEAN, UH, FOR DOING WHAT Y'ALL ARE DOING.
KEEP, I CAN'T COMPETE WITH THAT
IS EXCITED ABOUT THE ONE CLEAN HOUSTON INITIATIVE.
WE'RE GLAD TO BE A PARTNER IN THIS.
WE'D LIKE TO ECHO WHAT'S BEEN SAID.
CAN'T KEEP THE CITY FROM BEING THE AMAZING CITY.
IT IS, BUT IT DOES TAKE ALL OF US WORKING TOGETHER TO KEEP HOUSTON BEAUTIFUL.
SO THANK Y'ALL FOR BEING OUT HERE.
DANIEL, MY DAD, BOX AND YO, DO WHAT YOU DO.
IF YOU'RE FOLLOWING ME, I NEED TO GET ON ONE OF THOSE TRUCKS.
HEY, I, ALRIGHT MARK, I TURNED UP TO YOUR PEOPLE.
ALRIGHT, THANK YOU FOR LETTING.