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I'M TRAVIS LEMONS AND WE'VE GOT MUCH THE SHOW IN THIS EPISODE.
COMING UP, HTV, MULTIMEDIA JOURNALIST SHAVAN HERNDON.
GRAB SOME COFFEE WITH COPS IN DISTRICT A.
WE CELEBRATE IMPROVEMENTS MADE TO HARWIN PARK, DONE AS PART OF MARIAL FESTER TURNER'S COMPLETE COMMUNITIES INITIATIVE.
AND HOUSTON FIRST PRESIDENT, CEO, MICHAEL HECKMAN FORECAST WHAT THE FUTURE HOLDS IN STORE FOR THE CITY.
RODEO SEASON MIGHT BE OVER, BUT HEARING WHAT KIDS AND FAMILIES LIKE BEST WILL MAKE YOU GO YEEHAW FOR NEXT YEAR.
WE HAVE BEEN GOING TO DIFFERENT RODEOS THROUGHOUT THE WHOLE MONTH.
I GUESS SINCE LAST MONTH WE WENT TO SAN ANTONIO RODEO HERE AT HOUSTON RODEO, AND THEN WE'RE GONNA END UP IN EITHER DALLAS OR THE LIVESTOCK SHOW IN THE VALLEY.
WE ENJOY THE FULL DAY OF JUST HAVING A LOT OF FUN DIFFERENT FOODS.
WE LIKE LOOKING AT THE ANIMALS AND WE LOVE THE RODEO.
WHAT'S YOUR FAVORITE PART? UM, I LIKE THE FOOD
THERE'S A ROLLER COASTERS, MERRY GO ROUNDS PRIZE.
A LOT OF PRIZES YOU CAN WEAR AT FOOD.
YOU CAN BASICALLY HAVE A DINNER HERE IF YOU WANTED TO.
I GOT THE CHOPPED BEEF I POTATO FROM TRIPLE J'S.
CAN YOU TALK ABOUT WHY YOU DECIDED? YEAH, ABSOLUTELY.
UH, SO SHE HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO DO MUTT BUSTON LAST YEAR AS A 5-YEAR-OLD, AND SHE ABSOLUTELY ENJOYED IT.
AND SO SHE'S DETERMINED TO DO IT AGAIN THIS YEAR AND WIN IT.
THE CITY OF HOUSTON RECENTLY PARTNERED WITH BREAD OF LIFE AND AREA HOMELESS ORGANIZATIONS FOR THE DINNER TO HOME FOOD PROGRAM.
SHAVONNE HERNDON HAS MORE THANK YOU.
THAT MAYOR SYLVESTER TURNER IS PASSING OUT A WARM COOK MEAL TO HUNDREDS OF HOMELESS MEN AND WOMEN COMPLIMENTS TO THE SHOW THROUGH THE DINNER TO HOME PROGRAM IN DOWNTOWN HOUSTON.
IT'S A BLESSING ON MULTIPLE, MULTIPLE LEVELS.
PEOPLE CAN SIT DOWN, THEY CAN SIT DOWN AT THE TABLES, THEY CAN GET A HIGH MEAL, THEY CAN GET OTHER, UH, NECESSITIES, UH, THAT THEY, THEY THAT THEY NEED.
THE CITY OF HOUSTON HAS PARTNERED WITH THE BREAD OF LIFE, THE COALITION FOR THE HOMELESS, AS WELL AS SEARCH HOMELESS SERVICES TO PROVIDE FOUR MEALS A WEEK FOR THE HOMELESS, WHILE ALSO GUIDING THEM TOWARDS PERMANENT HOUSING.
MARK SMITH WORKS WITH THE MAYOR'S OFFICE OF HOMELESS INITIATIVE, SAYS THE OUTREACH IS INTENDED FOR THOSE WHO DON'T TYPICALLY ENGAGE IN OUTREACH INITIATIVES, YOU KNOW, REALLY VULNERABLE PEOPLE.
AND SO AN OPPORTUNITY TO GIVE SOMEONE A GOOD MEAL, UH, A SAFE PLACE TO DO IT, A CLEAN PLACE TO DO IT, AND THEN START TO BUILD THAT RELATIONSHIP AND MOVE THEM FORWARD TOWARDS HOUSING, THAT'S REALLY, REALLY IMPORTANT.
'CAUSE WE DON'T WANT TO JUST SOLVE THAT IMMEDIATE NEED OF A, OF A GOOD MEAL.
WE WANT TO SOLVE THAT LONG TERM MEAT HOUSING.
WE BELIEVE, UH, PEOPLE SHOULD HAVE, UH, THE BASIC NECESSITIES.
AND AND OUR MAYOR ALSO BELIEVES THAT A PERSON WHO'S CONCERNED ABOUT, UH, THE, UH, THE PERSON WHO MIGHT BE THE MOST CHALLENGED IN THE SOCIETY ACTUALLY SAYS A LOT ABOUT A CITY.
A CITY LED BY TURNER WHO ADDS FOOD AS THE FIRST STEP.
WE'VE GOTTA PUT THEM IN A BETTER PLACE SO THAT THEY CAN STAND UP FOR THEMSELVES AND THEN LIVE VERY PRODUCTIVE LIVES.
SO WE DON'T WANT TO OVERLOOK ANYONE.
THERE ARE TREMENDOUS NEEDS BY PEOPLE IN, IN OUR COMMUNITY.
AND WHEN WE WORK COLLABORATIVELY TOGETHER, WE CAN, WE CAN MEET YOU WITH THOSE NEEDS.
FOR THE CITY OF HOUSTON, OFFICE OF THE MAYOR, I'M SIOBHAN HERNDON FROM THE HOUSTON LIVESTOCK SHOW AND RODEO TO THE FINAL FLOOR.
OUR CITY IS A LEADER WHEN IT COMES TO HOSTING BIG EVENTS.
HAVING ALREADY DISCUSSED WHY BRANDING IS ESSENTIAL TO ATTRACTING CONVENTIONS AND ENTERTAINMENT.
HOUSTON FIRST PRESIDENT AND CEO MICHAEL HECKMAN CONCLUDES THIS CONVERSATION WITH PODCAST ARCHITECTS GARRETT HUDDLE IN EXPLAINING HOW HOUSTON'S POPULATION DIVERSITY CAN IMPACT BUSINESSES COMING TO THE BAYOU
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CITY.THIS SOUNDS LIKE A A FUN QUESTION, ESPECIALLY FOR SOMEONE IN YOUR POSITION.
WHERE DO YOU SEE THE CITY IN THE NEXT FIVE TO 10 YEARS? WELL, I, I SEE US CONTINUING TO DEVELOP ALONG, UM, OUR LINES OF THE, UH, UH, OF WHERE WE'VE BEEN FOR THE PAST FEW YEARS ALONG INNOVATION, UH, WITH THE ENERGY TRANSITION, UH, CONVERSATION THAT IS NOW GOING ON.
YOU KNOW, WE'RE AN ENERGY CITY, UM, BUT THAT'S GONNA LOOK DIFFERENT.
I THINK THAT WE WILL CONTINUE TO BE, UM, A HIGHLY DIVERSE CITY.
YOU'LL CON CONTINUE TO SEE THAT.
UM, UH, UH, WE'RE A YOUNG CITY, UH, YOUNG PEOPLE CONTINUE TO MOVE HERE.
SO I THINK THAT YOU'LL CON CONTINUE TO SEE A LOT OF THAT.
AND IF WE'RE DOING OUR JOB, UH, THE RIGHT WAY AT HOUSTON, FIRST, HOPEFULLY YOU'RE JUST GONNA SEE MORE AND MORE VISITORS, UH, THAT COME HERE AND FOR OUR JOB TO CONTINUE TO EXPAND, UH, WHAT THAT LOOKS LIKE FOR VISITATION TO, TO OUR COMMUNITY, BECAUSE WE KNOW THE DOLLARS AND CENTS THAT ARE RELATED TO THAT.
BUT IT ALSO RELATES TO, UH, TO BUSINESS RECRUITMENT.
A CEO OR A BOARD OF DIRECTORS IS TYPICALLY NOT GONNA EXPAND INTO A COMMUNITY OR MOVE THEIR HEADQUARTERS TO A CITY THAT THEY'VE NEVER VISITED BEFORE.
AND A LOT OF TIMES THAT FIRST BLUSH WHEN THEY COME AND MAYBE THEY'RE HERE, UM, UH, FOR A LEISURE VISIT OR THEY'RE HERE FOR A BUSINESS VISIT, UH, THAT EXPERIENCE NEEDS TO BE SUPERIOR.
AND IF THEY LEAVE AND SAY, WOW, YOU KNOW, I'VE BEEN READING A LOT ABOUT HOUSTON, I'VE SEEN A LOT, BUT MAN, I WAS THERE AND, AND IT WAS REALLY TERRIFIC WITH ALL THE GREEN SPACE AND THE PEOPLE WERE FRIENDLY.
UH, AND IT REALLY BLEW, BLEW ME AWAY WITH WHAT WAS THERE.
AND WE HEAR THAT A LOT FOR PEOPLE THAT MAYBE HAVEN'T BEEN HERE EVER OR MAYBE HAVEN'T BEEN HERE FOR 20 YEARS.
IT'S A COMPLETELY DIFFERENT CITY.
AND IT SOUNDS LIKE YOU MENTIONED IT THERE EARLIER THAT MAYBE A LOT OF PEOPLE DON'T TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THIS OR DON'T, DON'T PRACTICE THIS, BUT YOU WANT PEOPLE TO CHECK THE CITY WEBSITE BECAUSE THE OPPORTUNITIES AND THE CULTURE HERE IS CHANGING AND IT'S GROWING MORE DIVERSE.
AND THAT'S WHAT WE SAY IS, IS HOUSTON IS A TAPESTRY OF CULTURES THAT REALLY FITS TOGETHER BEAUTIFULLY TO MAKE HOUSTON WHAT WE ALL KNOW IT TO BE.
AND SOMETIMES THAT'S HARD TO EXPLAIN FOR THOSE OF US THAT I'VE LIVED HERE NOT 20 YEARS, UH, AS MY HOME.
UM, AND, AND IT, IT GETS TO BE HARD TO EXPLAIN BECAUSE IT, IT HOUSTON SORT OF HAS THAT MAGIC THAT THAT'S, THAT'S, THAT'S BEEN CAPTURED IN A BOTTLE THAT YOU REALLY DON'T KNOW HOW TO EXPLAIN.
BUT IT, IT REALLY IS A BEAUTIFUL TAPESTRY OF CULTURES THAT ALL WORK TOGETHER.
OUR DIVERSITY IS OUR STRENGTH.
UM, DIVERSITY IN ITSELF IS JUST A NUMBER, BUT THE WAY THAT IT WORKS TOGETHER AND WE SAY THAT THE POWER OF TOGETHER IS REALLY WHAT MAKES HOUSTON WHAT IT'S IN THE INTERVIEW.
MICHAEL HECKMAN MENTIONED INNOVATION AND ENERGY TRANSITION, MAKING HOUSTON A SMART CITY IS THE FUTURE.
AND AS WE GO TO BREAK, HERE'S A SHORT TEASER TO OUR CONVERSATION WITH JESSE BOUNDS, THE CITY OF HOUSTON'S DIRECTOR OF INNOVATION.
WHAT ARE SMART CITY PROJECTS? THERE'S THE, UH, FORMAL DEFINITION OF SMART CITY, WHICH IS USING MERGING TECHNOLOGIES LIKE SENSORS, AI, ADVANCED ANALYTICS TO DRIVE IMPROVEMENTS IN OPERATIONS TO IMPROVE THE CUSTOMER EXPERIENCE.
WE CERTAINLY USE THOSE TO IMPROVE THE CITY.
OUR TAKE ON IT IS REALLY A SMART CITY IS ONE THAT WORKS SMARTER, NOT HARDER.
AND THE SMART CITY THAT WE'RE REALLY GOING AFTER IS HAVING A WORKFORCE IN THE CITY OF HOUSTON THAT USES DATA TO INFORM THEIR DECISION.
WE COULD START BY TELLING YOU HOW SLEEK IT IS, HOW IT'S AT THE EDGE OF INNOVATION IN ITS INDUSTRY, THAT IT MAKES CONNECTIONS FASTER AND MORE CONVENIENT.
WE COULD PROMOTE THE FACT THAT EVEN TRAFFIC SIGNALS GIVE IT THE GREEN LIGHT AND THAT IT MOVES SO QUICKLY.
WE HAD TO GIVE IT ITS OWN LANE.
OR YOU COULD JUST RIDE DISCOVER WHERE THIS RAIL LIKE RIDE IS GOING NEXT.
IT'S TIME TO GRAB A COFFEE DISTRICT.
A COUNCIL MEMBER AMY PECK HOSTED A COFFEE WITH COFFEE EVENT AND SPRING RANCH SO RESIDENTS COULD VOICE THEIR CONCERNS ABOUT PUBLIC SAFETY.
HTVS JOON HERON HAS MORE HOUSTON DISTRICT A COUNCILWOMAN AMY PECK, ALONG WITH DISTRICT A COMMUNITY LEADERS AND HPD OFFICERS HELD THEIR ANNUAL COFFEE WITH COPS AT SPRING BRANCH'S FAMILY DEVELOPMENT CENTER PUBLIC SAFETY IS A TOP PRIORITY IN DISTRICT A AND WE ARE DOING EVERYTHING POSSIBLE TO MAKE IT AS DIFFICULT TO BE A CRIMINAL IN OUR COMMUNITY AS POSSIBLE.
PECK SAYS OVERTIME FUNDING FOR HPD ALONG WITH THE NEW SHOT SPOTTER
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PROGRAM AND SEVERAL NEWLY INSTALLED FLOCK CAMERAS HAVE PROVEN TO BE A HUGE SUCCESS IN THE COMMUNITY.NOTIFY HPD WHEN THERE IS AN ISSUE.
SO IF YOU, UM, HAVE A WARRANT OUT FOR YOUR ARREST, IF IT'S A STOLEN VEHICLE, YOU'RE A SUSPECT IN SOME CRIME, BASICALLY IT WILL NOTIFY HPD.
WHILE ATTENDEES WERE INFORMED OF THE VARIOUS PUBLIC SAFETY INITIATIVES IN PLACE, THEY WERE ALSO ABLE TO BRING THEIR CONCERNS TO THE FOREFRONT.
ISSUES WITH AFTER HOUR CLUBS, ILLEGAL DRUG ACTIVITY AND BOARDING HOME ORDINANCE CONCERNS WERE ALL DISCUSSED.
CHRISTINE CLANCY SAYS MEETINGS LIKE COFFEE WITH COPS ARE ESSENTIAL FOR KEEPING COMMUNITIES SAFE.
IT'S NICE TO HEAR THE SAME CONVERSATIONS WITH TECHNOLOGY THAT'S HAPPENING HERE, HOW THAT TECHNOLOGY IS BEING DEPLOYED IN THE AREA.
WHAT ARE THEY USING IT FOR? UM, IT'S GOOD TO GET PEOPLE IN THE SAME ROOM TO HAVE THIS CONVERSATION AND IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT, AT LEAST TO GET THEM IN THE ROOM HERE, TO START THAT CONVERSATION AND THEN FOLLOW UP CONVERSATIONS LATER ON.
FOR THE CITY OF HOUSTON, OFFICE OF THE MAYOR, I'M SHAVON HERNDON.
A LITTLE RAIN CAN TURN PEOPLE AWAY AS GOSPEL MUSIC.
FILL THE AIR AT BUFFALO BAYOU PARK WITH THOUSANDS ENJOYING THE PRAISE IN THE PARK FESTIVAL.
MAYOR TURNER WAS ON HAND WITH A PROCLAMATION FOR THE UPLIFTING EVENT.
AND LOOK, I LOOK OUT THERE AND I'M LOOKING AT LITERALLY HUNDREDS AND HUNDREDS OF PEOPLE.
UM, LOOK, GIVING PEOPLE A LOT OF HOPE, A LOT OF INSPIRATION.
LETTING THEM KNOW THAT WHATEVER THEY'RE GOING THROUGH, THEY'RE NOT GOING THROUGH IT BY THEMSELVES.
MAKE SOME NOISE FOR GOD CAN DO.
AND WHAT HE'LL DO FOR THE MAYOR, HE'LL DO FOR YOU TOO.
SOMEBODY WILL BE BLESSED TODAY.
SO THE I HAM MAYOR HOUSTON GIVE I PROUD RECLAIM THIS DAY, 18 20 23 AS RADIO ONE PRAISE DAY IN THE OF THANK FOR IN THE LIVES.
I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO HEARING SOME GOOD GOSPEL SINGING, SOME GOOD PRAISING.
SO I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO TODAY BECAUSE JESUS CAN HELP YOU WITH THE GOOD AND BAD TIMES.
OH YEAH, WE, UM, WE REALLY LIKE IT.
THERE'S A LOT OF TALENT IN THERE.
A BUNCH OF, UM, NICE, NICE FELLOWSHIP.
YOU'RE READING THE BIBLE AND IT'S JUST GOOD TO KEEP YOUR FAITH IN SOMETHING GREATER THAN THAN OUR ABILITY.
PEOPLE NEED SOMETHING TO HOLD ON TO.
I DON'T CARE WHO YOU ARE, EVERYBODY NEEDS SOMETHING TO HOLD ON TO AND SO I'M JUST GLAD AND HONORED TO BE HERE, TO BE A PART OF IT.
TAKES US TO HARWIN PARK AS MAYOR TURNER AND 50 50 PARTNERS CELEBRATE ITS RENOVATION.
IT'S GREAT TO BE WITH YOU HERE THIS MORNING IN THE HARWIN PARK WITHIN THE A LEAF WESTWOOD COMPLETE COMMUNITY, IF NOTHING ELSE, THE PANDEMIC TAUGHT US HOW QUALITY OF LIFE AND MENTAL HEALTH AND HOW GREEN SPACES WERE SO IMPORTANT FOR US.
AND TODAY WE CELEBRATE ONE OF THOSE PARKS BY RIBBON CUTTING.
IT MAKES ME HAPPY TO SEE PEOPLE OUT HERE ENJOYING IT.
IT MAKES ME HAPPY TO SEE THE IMPROVEMENTS THAT THEY'VE MADE.
WE'VE BEEN WORKING IN THIS PARK FOR OVER 20 YEARS.
IT BRINGS BACK MEMORIES OF MY CHILDHOOD.
THIS IS THE PARK WHERE MY MAMA SAID, GET OUT OF MY HOUSE AND DO NOT COME BACK UNTIL SIX O'CLOCK.
THIS LITTLE MAN THAT I HAVE WITH ME, HE'S JUST STARTING TO WALK AND HIS EYES ARE BRIGHT 'CAUSE HE IS LOOKING AT ALL THE WONDERFUL COLORS ALONG WITH THE OTHER KIDS.
NEIGHBORHOOD PARKS ARE WHERE TOGETHER AS FAMILIES, WHERE WE MAKE FRIENDS AND CONNECTIONS TO ONE ANOTHER AND WHERE WE EXERCISE BREATH IN, FRESH AIR AND PLAY.
IT'S A PHENOMENAL TRANSFORMATION AND IT'S DECADES OVERDUE.
THE KIDS HAVE NEW PLAYGROUND TO PLAY WITH.
THE SENIOR CITIZENS HAVE NEW PATHS TO GO AND WALK AROUND.
UH, IT'S IMPORTANT TO HOW CHILDREN, UH, LEARN.
IT'S IMPORTANT TO ALL OF US WHEN WE HAVE HARD WORK DAYS SO WE CAN COME TO A PARK AND ENJOY FRESH AIR.
AND THAT IS WHY WE CREATED THE 50 50 PARKS PROGRAM WITH THE GO TO UPLIFT, NEIGHBORHOOD PARKS AND UNDER-RESOURCED AREAS AS A CRUCIAL ELEMENT IN IMPROVING THE QUALITY OF LIFE IN THESE COMMUNITIES AS THEY BECOME WHAT I CALL COMPLETE COMMUNITIES.
WOW, THAT DOES IT FOR THIS CITY PULSE.
UNTIL NEXT TIME, DO BETTER AND BE KIND.