[Press Conference: "Earth Day HTX Celebration"]
[00:00:24]
OKAY, LET'S, LET'S GET, UH, STARTED, UM, UH, ON AN EXCITING AND EXCITING, UM, MORNING TO TALK ABOUT AN EXCITING, UH, UH, HOW CAN I PUT IT? UM, YVETTE, UH, STARTING, UH, NEXT WEEK AND I'M HERE WITH, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER DAVID ROBINSON, A LARGE THANK YOU COUNCIL MEMBER.
AND THEN, UH, MR. CHRISTOPHER LAWSON, PRESIDENT OF HOUSTON DOWNTOWN MANAGEMENT DISTRICT, PRIYA ZACHARIA, WHO'S OVER THE MAYOR'S OFFICE OF RESILIENCE AND SUSTAINABILITY.
UH, DR. LAUREN HOPKINS, THE CHIEF ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE OFFICER, UH, WITH THE CITY OF HOUSTON.
AND THEN A NUMBER OF, UM, MY DEPARTMENT DIRECTORS, ALL OF WHOM ARE PARTICIPATING, UH, IN THE EVENT NEXT WEEK.
LOOK, LEMME LEMME JUST TELL YOU, THE NEXT, NEXT WEEK WILL BE, UH, UNLIKE ANY, UH, EARTH DAY EVENT THAT THE CITY HAS PUT ON IN THE PAST.
SO I'M, I'M ALREADY EXCITED ABOUT IT AND SAW THE WEATHER REPORTS FOR NEXT WEEK.
AND, YOU KNOW, IT SEEM LIKE WE JUST GONNA HAVE SOME GOOD, SOME EXCELLENT WEATHER, UH, TO AUGMENT.
SO IT'S, AND IT'S ALL GONNA BE HAPPENING DOWN DOWNTOWN.
AND, UH, WELL, LET ME, LET ME GET TO THE SCRIPT.
UH, UH, THANK YOU FOR JOINING US TODAY AS WE PREPARE FOR THE LARGEST EARTH DAY CELEBRATION EVER PRESENTED BY THE CITY OF HOUSTON.
UH, AND I'M JOINED BY KEY MEMBERS OF THE EARTH DAY PLANNING COMMITTEE THAT HELPED MAKE THIS EVENT POSSIBLE.
CITY OF HOUSTON DEPARTMENTS HAVE BEEN WORKING ON THIS PLAN FOR THE PAST SEVERAL MONTHS, AND I KNOW THAT THEY HAVE BEEN WORKING ON IT, AND THEY'VE GOT SOME EXCITING THINGS THAT ARE PLANNED.
UH, EARTH DAY HOUSTON, HTX IS A THREE DAY EVENT THAT WILL TAKE PLACE NEXT MONDAY, APRIL THE 17TH, AND TUESDAY, APRIL THE 18TH, WITH OUR SPEAKER SERIES AND CO AND CULMINATES ON WEDNESDAY, APRIL 19TH, WITH THE EARTH DAY HTX HOUSTON FESTIVAL RIGHT HERE OUTSIDE OF CITY HALL.
THE APRIL 19TH FESTIVAL WILL INCLUDE DEMONSTRATIONS LIKE A SIMULATED FOREST, A WHOLE LOT MORE OF THIS
IT WILL EVEN INCLUDE A TINY HOUSE WITH A SMALL CARBON FOOTPRINT ON DISPLAY PRESENTED BY THE CITY'S PLANNING AND DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT.
UM, THOSE AND MANY MORE HANDS-ON DEMONSTRATIONS AND PRESENTATIONS WILL BE HIGHLIGHTED BY ALMOST EVERY CITY DEPARTMENT.
AND THROUGH PARTNERSHIP WITH ORGANIZATIONS LIKE HOUSTON DOWNTOWN MANAGEMENT DISTRICT, COCA-COLA METRO CENTER POINT EVO OF HOUSTON AND HERTZ, YOU CAN FIND A FULL LIST OF ALL THE ACTIVITIES ON RSVP TO ATTEND SPEAKING ENGAGEMENTS AT OUR WEBSITE@EARTHDAYHX.COM.
FOR THE LAST SEVEN YEARS, I'VE WORKED TO ENSURE THAT THE CITY OF HOUSTON REMAINS DEDICATED TO BECOMING KNOWN AS THE PREEMINENT CLIMATE CHANGE LEADER AMONG US CITIES.
WE HAVE MADE SIGNIFICANT PROGRESS WITH OUR SCIENCE-BASED COMMUNITY-DRIVEN CLIMATE ACTION PLAN TO REDUCE GREENHOUSE GASES AND OUR CARBON FOOTPRINT ACROSS THE CITY.
THESE SUCCESSES RESULTING FROM THESE EFFORTS ARE BEING REALIZED AND WILL BE ON FULL DISPLAY AT EARTH DAY HTX 2023.
WE HAVE BEEN A PART OF EARTH DAY EVENTS IN THE PAST, BUT HAVE NEVER DIRECTLY HOSTED A SPECTACULAR EVENT QUITE LIKE THIS ONE THAT WILL TRULY SHOWCASE THE CITY'S EFFORT TOWARDS CLEANER GREENER HOUSTON.
IN ADDITION TO THE INTERACTIVE BOOTS AND DISPLAYS AT THE FESTIVAL.
THERE WILL ALSO BE PLENTY OF FOOD MUSIC GIVEAWAYS AND SPECIAL GUESTS FROM 10:00 AM TO 2:00 PM ON WEDNESDAY, APRIL THE 19TH.
IT'S NOT ON HERE, BUT THERE WILL ALSO BE A FASHION SHOW,
[00:05:03]
THERE'LL BE A FASHION SHOW AS WELL, WHERE WE'LL BE SPORTING GREEN OUTFITS, ESPECIALLY DESIGNED FOR SOME KEY PEOPLE
SO YOU JUST DON'T WANNA MISS IT.
I MEAN, YOU JUST DON'T WANNA MISS IT.
IN FACT, THEY OUGHT TO LET SCHOOL OUT SO PEOPLE COME DOWNTOWN TO SEE IT.
UM, SO IT WILL BE A GREAT TIME TO COME OUT AND HAVE SOME LUNCH WHILE TAKING PART IN THE FESTIVITIES.
THE TWO DAYS LEADING UP TO THE OUTDOOR FESTIVAL WILL BE OUR SPEAKER SERIES, WHICH KICKS OFF ON MONDAY MORNING, APRIL THE 17TH, AND RUNS THROUGH TUESDAY, APRIL THE 18TH AT THE JULIA IERSON LIBRARY.
THERE WILL BE DIFFERENT SESSIONS EVERY HOUR FROM EIGHT TO FIVE ON BOTH DAYS, COVERING A VARIETY OF ENVIRONMENTAL TOPICS AND FEATURING SOME OF THE NATION'S FOREMOST EXPERTS IN THE FIELD.
AND, UH, LET ME PAUSE 'CAUSE I WANT TO INTRODUCE DR. LAUREN HOPKINS, WHO HAS BEEN INSTRUMENTAL IN BRINGING US SOME OF THESE RENOWNED SPEAKERS AND PANELISTS.
DR. HOPKINS IS THE HOUSTON HEALTH DEPARTMENT'S CHIEF ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE OFFICER, AND CAN GIVE US SOME MORE DETAILS ABOUT WHAT TO EXPECT AND HOW TO ATTEND THE SPEAKER SERIES, DR. HOPKINS.
WELL, WE'VE GATHERED AN AMAZING GROUP OF CITY PROFESSIONALS AND THE ENVIRONMENTAL EXPERTS THEY HAVE PARTNERED WITH TO TALK ABOUT A SWEEPING ARRAY OF THE IMPORTANT WORK THEY'VE DONE.
FURTHERING ENVIRONMENTAL INITIATIVES HERE IN THE CITY OF HOUSTON UNDER MAYOR TURNER.
UM, WE TRULY HAVE SOMETHING FOR EVERYBODY.
UH, JUST TO GIVE YOU A FEW HIGHLIGHTS.
DURING THE TWO DAYS, WE HAVE 20 SESSIONS.
UM, THEY'RE COVERING PROGRESS AND PLANS FOR SOLAR ENERGY FOR ALL HOUSTONIANS ELECTRIC VEHICLE CHARGING INFRASTRUCTURE, MEETING THE NEEDS OF DRINKING WATER IN ONE SESSION AS OUR POPULATION GROWS, AND HOW WE'RE MITIGATING FLOODING IN ANOTHER SESSION, UH, WITH RESPECT TO OUR BUILDINGS, UM, IMPORTANT PROGRESS IN CODE MODERNIZATION, DECARBONIZATION, AND A LOOK AT OUR PORTFOLIO OF LEAD ARCHITECTURE AND CONSTRUCTION, AND WHERE WE'RE HEADING IN TERMS OF NEW WAYS TO RECYCLE AND EMERGING GREEN JOBS IN HOUSTON.
WE ALSO HEAR ABOUT ENVIRONMENTAL CONCERNS AND SOLUTIONS RELATED TO THE IMPACT OF CLIMATE CHANGE ON SOME THINGS YOU MAY NOT HAVE THOUGHT ABOUT, SUCH AS PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES, THE CLIMATE, UH, MIGRATION AND HOMELESSNESS, HUMAN TRAFFICKING AND OTHER CRIMINAL THREATS THAT ACCOMPANY IT.
SOME SERIOUS ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION CHALLENGES IN HOUSTON WHERE THE CITY DOES NOT HAVE JURISDICTION.
AND NEVERTHELESS, WE PERSIST TO PROTECT OUR COMMUNITY, INCLUDING THE UNION PACIFIC RAILROAD SITE AND CANCER CLUSTER IN FIFTH WARD, CASHIER GARDENS AREA, AND THE FIGHT AGAINST CONCRETE BATCH PLANTS, HOW WE'RE USING STATE-OF-THE-ART POLLUTION, PATHOGEN MONITORING, ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE AND DATA SCIENCE TO MONITOR OUR AIR AND WASTEWATER.
WE'LL HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO LEARN HOW TO USE THE ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE SCREEN EPA TOOL TO INVESTIGATE EJ ISSUES IN OUR DIFFERENT COMMUNITIES.
WE'LL ALSO HEAR HEARTWARMING STORIES AND SEE WONDERFUL PHOTOS OF HOW WE'RE PRESERVING HOUSTON'S WILDERNESS AT THE SAME TIME AS PROTECTING OUR CLIMATE AND IMPROVING OUR HEALTH FROM THE PARKS DEPARTMENT, OUR PARTNERS AT THE ZOO, THE AUDUBON, THE NATURE CONSERVANCY AND HOUSTON WILDERNESS.
WE WILL PRESENT SONGS, COMIC BOOKS, FILMS, EDITORIAL CARTOONS AND VISUAL ART TO PROMOTE HOUSTON'S ENVIRONMENTAL ARTIVISM AND HIGHLIGHTS OF OUR YOUTH-LED ENVIRONMENTAL INITIATIVES WITH EXPERTS FROM EPA, BOTH FROM DC HEADQUARTERS AND OUR REGIONAL OFFICE, ACADEMIA AND INDUSTRY LEADERS GIVING DEEP DIVES ALONG THE WAY.
IT'S FREE, YOU JUST NEED TO REGISTER.
THERE'S SO MUCH TO BE EXCITED ABOUT.
UM, SO NOW I'D LIKE TO INVITE, UH, PRIYA ZACHARIA TO THE PODIUM FOR A FEW MINUTES.
SHE'S THE CITY'S CHIEF SUSTAINABILITY AND RESILIENCE OFFICER, AND SHE'S GONNA SHARE WITH YOU SOME OF THE SUCCESS STORIES AND ACCOMPLISHMENTS, UH, WE'VE MADE DURING MAYOR TURNER'S TWO TERMS IN OFFICE WITH EARTH DAY, UM, AND WHY IT'S SO IMPORTANT TO HIM.
UM, AND THANK YOU, DR. HOPKINS.
UM, IT IS INDEED AN EXCITING LINEUP.
I WANNA PERSONALLY ATTEND EVERY SINGLE ONE OF THOSE 20 PANELS, BUT, UM, I KNOW I CAN'T BECAUSE THEY ARE DOUBLE TRACK.
WE HAD SO MUCH TO SAY ABOUT THE PROGRESS WE'VE MADE AND ABOUT OUR ACCOMPLISHMENTS THAT WE HAD TO DOUBLE TRACK AND IN SOME CASES EVEN TRIPLE TRACK IT.
BUT THE REASON THAT WE HAVE SO MUCH TO TALK ABOUT IN OUR RESILIENCE AND SUSTAINABILITY JOURNEY, IT REALLY BEGINS WITH THE MAYOR'S UNIFYING VISION.
UM, AND THAT CALL TO ACTION IN THE TIME FOLLOWING HARVEY.
[00:10:01]
TRANSFORMATIVE VISION WAS THAT OF A RESILIENT HOUSTON FOR ALL HOUSTONIANS AND ALL OF HOUSTON'S COMMUNITIES.THAT WAS FIRST EMBODIED IN THE RESILIENT HOUSTON PLAN.
UH, A TRANSFORMATIVE AND GROUNDBREAKING FRAMEWORK THAT PLACES EQUITY RIGHT AT THE CENTER OF RESILIENCE, CLIMATE ACTION, AND SUSTAINABILITY.
SO THAT WAS A PLAN THAT WAS ADOPTED IN 2020.
AND SHORTLY THEREAFTER, THE THE CITY RELEASED THE CLIMATE ACTION PLAN.
THIS ADMINISTRATION HAS MADE SURE THAT THOSE BOTH OF THOSE PLANS NOT ONLY BUILD ON THE FOUNDATIONS OF THE COMPLETE COMMUNITIES PLAN AND THE LIVING WITH WATER PLAN, BUT WHAT WAS ALSO THE FIRST TO ESTABLISH A FULLY STAFFED RESILIENCE OFFICE, AND ALSO THE FIRST TO COMBINE THAT RESILIENCE OFFICE WITH THE OFFICE OF SUSTAINABILITY.
AS THE MAYOR'S OFFICE OF RESILIENCE AND SUSTAINABILITY, THE MAYOR HAS DIRECTED DEPARTMENTAL LEADERSHIP, UM, TO EMBED RESILIENCE ACROSS ALL DEPARTMENTS, AND HAS INSTITUTED, UH, DEPARTMENTAL RESILIENCE AND SUSTAINABILITY LIAISONS KEY RESOURCES FOR US, UM, AS THE RESILIENCE AND SUSTAINABILITY TEAM, AND MAKING ADVANCES EVERY DAY IN MAKING HOUSTON MORE RESILIENT AND MORE EQUITABLE.
THE CITY OF HOUSTON'S VOICE IS HEARD NATIONALLY AND INTERNATIONALLY.
AS MANY OF YOU MAY KNOW, UH, MAYOR TURNER WAS STILL THE END OF 2021.
THE, UM, THE END OF 2022, THE CHAIR OF CLIMATE MAYORS, THE LEADING, UM, ORGANIZATION REPRESENTING 470 CITIES ACROSS THE UNITED STATES, AND NOW IS THE CHAIR EMERITUS OF CLIMATE MAYORS, AS WELL AS THE GLOBAL CHAIR OF THE RESILIENT CITIES NETWORK, A COALITION OF NEARLY A HUNDRED CITIES INTERNATIONALLY.
UM, THIS IS NOT ONLY SPOTLIGHTED THE WORK WE DO, UM, BUT HAS BROUGHT MANY TO THE TABLE AS IS REPRESENTED HERE.
CITY DEPARTMENTS, UH, PARTNERS ACROSS THE COUNTY, ACROSS THE REGION, NATIONALLY AND INTERNATIONALLY.
AND IT IS BECAUSE OF MANY OF THESE PARTNERSHIPS, THE MAYOR'S VISION AND THE COLLECTIVE ACTION OF THE CITY, THAT WE ARE ABLE TO TALK ABOUT PROJECTS SUCH AS THE SUNNYSIDE SOLAR FARM PROJECT, IT TRANSFORMATIVE INITIATIVE.
WHEN COMPLETED, THIS WILL BE THE LARGEST URBAN SOLAR FARM, UH, ON A LANDFILL.
AS A CITY, WE HAVE PLANTED 1.2 MILLION TREES, MAKING STRONG STRIDES IN OUR GOAL OF PLANTING 4.6 MILLION TREES, UH, BY 2030.
IN 2021, THE CITY OF HOUSTON RECEIVED A, THE A GRADE FOR CITYWIDE CLIMATE ACTION AND IS NAMED A NEW GENERATION OF CLIMATE LEADERS PER THE CDP, THE CARBON DISCLOSURE PROTOCOL, WHICH WE, AGAIN, MAIN, AGAIN, MAINTAINED IN 2022.
ALSO, IN 2022, THE CITY OF HOUSTON WAS RECOGNIZED BY THE US GREEN BUILDING COUNCIL FOR RECEIVING THE GOLD FOR CITIES, THE GOLD RATING, UH, FOR CITIES.
IN 2021, THE MAYOR SIGNED INTO ACTION THE BUILDING DECARBONIZATION POLICY FOR CITY OF HOUSTON BUILDINGS.
UH, IN 2022, THE CITY COUNCIL, UH, PRESERVER PASSED THE NATURE PRESERVE ORDINANCE, PRESERVING 7,000 ACRES OF NATURAL HABITAT.
THESE ARE JUST VIGNETTES OF THE ACCOMPLISHMENTS, AND WE DON'T WANNA GIVE ALL OF IT AWAY, BUT WE'LL BE TALKING ABOUT THIS, THE WORK BEHIND THE WORK AND THE ACCOMPLISHMENTS AND OUR JOURNEY, UH, WHEN YOU ATTEND ALL OF OUR PANELS, UH, IN THE UPCOMING WEEK.
BUT THIS IS REALLY A JOURNEY THAT'S BUILT ON COLLABORATION, VISION, AND CREATIVITY.
IN MANY WAYS, THIS IS VERY FAMILIAR GROUND NOW, REFRESHED WITH THE INTENTIONALITY AND THE PURPOSE OF RESILIENCE, BUT IN SO MANY WAYS, THIS IS ALSO NEW GROUND ONE THAT BEHOOVES US TO FORGE NEW AND CREATIVE PARTNERSHIPS TO SOLVE FOR MULTIPLE PROBLEMS AND FIND THE MOST CREATIVE WAYS TO BE EFFICIENT, EXPEDIENT, AND EQUITABLE.
AND WE HAVE HOPED TO REFLECT ALL OF THIS IN THE WAY THAT WE PUT TOGETHER THE, THE, THE PROGRAM FOR THE SPEAKER SERIES, AS WELL AS THE, FOR THE FESTIVAL.
AND WE HOPE THAT WE, YOU ARE GONNA BE JUST AS EXCITED AS WE ARE, AND WE HOPE TO SEE ALL OF YOU AND MANY MORE, UM, UH, IN ATTENDANCE.
AND WITH THAT, I'M GONNA PASS IT BACK TO MAYOR TURNER.
AND WE HAVE DONE IT ALL TOGETHER.
AND SO LEMME REMIND YOU ALL OF WHAT'S NEXT WITH THAT WILL TAKE PLACE.
ALL RIGHT? YOU REGISTER, BUT IT IS FREE.
UM, GET ON METRO, COME ON DOWN.
UH, JUST TAKE A BIKE RIDE, COME ON DOWN.
YOU KNOW, JUST COME ON FROM SCHOOL WITH YOUR TEACHER, YOU KNOW, YOU KNOW, JUST COME ON DOWN FIELD TRIP.
BE AN EXCELLENT TIME FOR TEACHERS TO COME ON DOWN AND TAKE ADVANTAGE OF EVERYTHING THAT'S GOING, THAT'S TAKING PLACE.
SO I REALLY WANT TO APPRECIATE THAT, THAT, AND BEFORE I, I BRING UP, UH, THE NEXT SPEAKER.
I DO WANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE, UH, YOUR EUROPA HARRIS, REPRESENTING CONGRESSWOMAN SHEILA JACKSON LEAD.
[00:15:01]
AND THIS IS A COLLECTIVE EFFORT.I KNOW I MENTIONED SOME, THE PARKS DEPARTMENT, A RA, MUNICIPAL COURTS, HPW, HOUSTON PUBLIC WORKS, DEPARTMENT OF NEIGHBORHOODS, THE MAYOR'S OFFICE WITH PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES HOUSING.
EVEN THE LEGAL DEPARTMENT HAS SOMETHING TO DO WITH, I MEAN, GIVE IT UP TO GIVE IT UP TO OUR TOUR.
AND, AND HIS TEAM, THE LEGAL DEPARTMENT IS, IS IN ON GREEN
UM, THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT, HPD IS PARTICIPATING ON WHAT'S TAKING PLACE NEXT WEEK.
UM, LET ME USE WALGREENS, UM, THE HOUSTON PUBLIC LIBRARY, OF COURSE, GIVE IT UP TO THE LIBRARY, AND THEN OF COURSE, GIVE IT UP TO SPECIAL EVENTS.
THAT'S PUTTING ALL OF THIS TOGETHER.
ALREADY MENTIONED, THE PLANNING DEPARTMENT IS IN, ON THE GAME.
SO, UH, IT IS ALL OF THE DEPARTMENTS THAT ARE PARTICIPATING IN ONE FORM OR FASHION.
SO PLEASE, OH, I DIDN'T, I MENTIONED THEM EARLIER.
WELL, WE CAN'T DO IT WITHOUT SOLID WASTE.
SO THEY COME IN, HTV IS PARTICIPATING.
EVEN THE MAYOR'S OFFICE ON CULTURAL AFFAIRS IS PARTICIPATING.
AND THEN MY MAYOR'S OFFICE ON INTERNATIONAL TRADE AND INTERNATIONAL AFFAIRS.
WHERE'S CHRIS? CHRIS IS THEM, IS ON THE GAME.
IN FACT, WE ARE TAKING OFF, UH, WELL WEEK AFTER NEXT, TALKING ABOUT WHAT WE ARE DOING HERE IN THE CITY OF HOUSTON.
SO WHEN I THANK THEM, MY FAITH-BASED COMMUNITY SERVICE DIRECTOR DEPARTMENT IS ALL ENGAGED.
THE MINISTERS WILL BE PRESENT.
SO ANYWAY, IT'S, IT'S FOR EVERYBODY AND IT'S FREE.
UH, NOW LET ME, LET ME MOVE ON.
CHRISTOPHER LAWSON IS THE PRESIDENT OF THE HOUSTON DOWNTOWN MANAGEMENT DISTRICT.
OF COURSE, ALL OF THIS IS TAKING PLACE DOWNTOWN.
UM, AND WITHOUT THEIR SUPPORT AND CORPORATION PULLING OFF A MAJOR EVENT IN DOWNTOWN HOUSTON WOULD BE VERY, VERY DIFFICULT.
SO, I WANT TO THANK CHRIS FOR HIS CONTINUED SUPPORT AND HIS LEADERSHIP AND WHAT HE'S DOING, AND REALLY IMPROVING, ADVANCING, UH, DOWNTOWN.
AND LEMME TELL YOU, IF YOU JUST WANT TO SEE JUST HOW BEAUTIFUL DOWNTOWN CAN BE, BEAUTIFUL, THEN YOU JUST NEED TO SHOW UP THE FOREST.
I MEAN, YOU KNOW, ALL OF THOSE ELEMENTS ARE COMING DOWNTOWN.
I'M INVITING THE GOVERNOR BACK FROM CONNECTICUT.
I GOT HERE AS QUICK AS I COULD, MAN.
TO SEE THE GREEN SIDE OF DOWNTOWN HOUSTON.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR WHAT YOU'RE DOING.
THANK YOU SO MUCH, MAYOR TURNER.
AND, UH, SPEAKING OF FOREST, WE, WE HAVE OVER 2000 TREES, UM, IN OUR URBAN FOREST IN DOWNTOWN THAT OUR TEAM CARES FOR EACH AND EVERY DAY.
UH, BUT WE, WE ARE HONORED, UH, TO JOIN MAYOR TURNER AS WE LAUNCHED THE CITY OF HOUSTON'S EARTH DAY CELEBRATION.
AND HERE IN DOWNTOWN, WHILE WE'RE SURROUNDED BY A HULKING BUILT ENVIRONMENT WITH SKYSCRAPERS, STADIUMS, STREETS, SIDEWALKS, AND MORE, IT MIGHT NOT SEEM OBVIOUS AT FIRST, BUT THAT URBAN DENSITY HELPS US TO BE HOUSTON'S MOST ENVIRONMENTALLY SUSTAINABLE NEIGHBORHOOD.
AS EXAMPLES RESIDENTS LIVING IN DOWNTOWN USE LESS ENERGY TO HEAT AND COOL THEIR HOMES AND URBAN LIVING SUPPORTS A CAR LIGHT OR EVEN CAR FREE LIFESTYLE.
CARBON FOOTPRINTS ARE EVEN SMALLER FOR PEOPLE WHO WORK AND LIVE IN DOWNTOWN.
YOU CAN WALK OR BIKE TO WORK, RUN ERRANDS, AND ENJOY A HUGE VARIETY OF DINING AND ENTERTAINMENT, ALL WITHOUT A CAR.
AND IF YOU CAN'T GET TO WHERE YOU'RE GOING ON TWO FEET OR EVEN TWO WHEELS DOWNTOWN IS ALSO HOUSTON'S MOST TRANSIT ACCESSIBLE NEIGHBORHOOD WITH NEARLY 50 MILLION SQUARE FEET OF LEED CERTIFIED SPACE DOWNTOWN IS ALSO HOME TO ONE OF THE LARGEST CLUSTERS OF GREEN BUILDINGS OF ANY CITY IN THE COUNTRY.
AND AT CENTRAL HOUSTON, WE ARE EXPLORING NEW TECHNOLOGIES TO HELP MITIGATE THE IMPACTS OF CLIMATE CHANGE AND IMPROVE THE RESILIENCY OF HOUSTON'S BIRTHPLACE.
BUT ENOUGH ABOUT US, WE'RE HERE TO CELEBRATE THE PROGRESS THAT OUR LEADING CLIMATE ADVOCATE, MAYOR TURNER AND HIS ADMINISTRATION HAVE MADE.
WE WALK ALONGSIDE THEM ON THE JOURNEY OF TRANSFORMING HOUSTON INTO A GREENER, MORE RESILIENT AND MORE SUSTAINABLE PLACE FOR EVERYONE.
AND MAYOR TURNER, I WANT YOU TO KNOW THAT I WORE THIS HEART PIN TODAY.
NOT ONLY BECAUSE I DIDN'T HAVE AN EARTH PIN TO WEAR, SO GOTTA ADD ONE TO THAT.
BUT IT'S, UM, IT'S BECAUSE NOT ONLY, UM, DO WE LOVE WORKING WITH YOU AND YOUR TEAM ON EVENTS LIKE THIS, BUT, UH, THE MANAGEMENT DISTRICT, CENTRAL HOUSTON AND OTHERS, UH, ALSO SINCERELY CARES AND LOVES THIS PLANET AND THIS PLACE.
AND SO WE ARE PROUD TO BE YOUR PARTNERS IN THIS, CHRIS, THANK YOU ALL.
[00:20:06]
SO, LOOK, WE'VE GOT SOME EXCITING THINGS PLANNED.UM, SUSAN, WHY DON'T YOU COME TELL US ABOUT HOW THE STREETS ARE GOING TO BE WORKING, WHAT'S BEING BLOCKED OFF SO PEOPLE WILL HAVE A GOOD IDEA ON WHERE TO COME.
UM, WELL, I WANT YOU TO KNOW, AND CHIEF, IF YOU WANT TO ADD ANYTHING TO IT.
'CAUSE IT IS A BIG EVENT NEXT WEEK, AND WE WANT PEOPLE TO KNOW, FEEL COMFORTABLE WITH COMING DOWNTOWN ON MONDAY, TUESDAY, AND WEDNESDAY.
WE WANNA MAKE IT AS ACCESSIBLE AND AVAILABLE FOR YOU SO THAT YOU DON'T BE INCONVENIENCED, QUITE FRANKLY, WITH THIRD DAY HOUSTON.
YOU KNOW, ROD METRO WOULD BE A GREAT, GREAT IDEA, UH, FOR IT.
BUT IF YOU'LL TELL US HOW THINGS WILL BE LAID OUT, SURE.
WELL, WE'VE BEEN QUITE SUSTAINABLE, UH, MAYOR, SO WE'RE GONNA KEEP TRAFFIC FLOWING PRETTY WELL.
WE'LL START SETTING UP FOR THE FESTIVAL, OF COURSE.
LET ME BACK UP ON MONDAY AND TUESDAY.
JUST TO REITERATE, THAT'S THE SPEAKER SERIES.
AND THAT'S GOING TO BE IN THE JULIA ADDISON BUILDING.
UH, BUT ON MONDAY AND TUESDAY, WE'LL ALSO BEGIN SETTING UP.
UH, AND WE'LL TAKE TWO LANES OF, UM, OF, UH, MCKINNEY STREET BETWEEN BAGBY AND, UH, SMITH, LEAVING TWO LANES OPEN, UH, FOR TRAVEL.
SO MAYOR, WE'VE BEEN ABLE TO ACCOMPLISH THAT AND WE THINK WE'LL BE QUITE SUCCESSFUL.
SO WE'LL START SETTING UP ON MONDAY, TUESDAY, WE'LL BE, UH, AFTER THE ART CAR PARADE THIS WEEKEND.
UH, WE WILL DRAIN THAT REFLECTION POOL.
WE HAVE BEAUTIFUL ART GOING IN, VERY SUSTAINABLE ART INTO THE, UH, INTO THE REFLECTION POOL.
AND WE'LL BE SETTING UP FOR HERMAN SQUARE AS WELL, UH, ON WALKER STREET.
UH, WE'LL ALSO TAKE ONE LANE, UH, ON, AND THAT WILL BEGIN ON TUESDAY.
UH, AND AGAIN, START SETTING UP, UH, ON WALKER STREET.
AND THEN ON, UH, WEDNESDAY FOR THE, UH, FOR THE FESTIVAL, WE WILL CLOSE MCKINNEY STREET ALTOGETHER.
UH, SO, UH, YOUR ALTERNATIVE, UH, ROUTES COMING INTO DOWNTOWN FROM, UH, VIA 45.
UH, YOU WILL HAVE TO TAKE A LEFT OR A RIGHT, UH, AND GO NORTH OR SOUTH ON BAGBY, UH, AND THEN GET TO YOUR DESTINATION.
WE ONLY CLOSE ON WEDNESDAY, UH, FOR THE FULL DAY.
UH, AGAIN, MCKINNEY BETWEEN BAGBY AND SMITH STREET.
UH, BUT WE HAVE A LOT OF GREAT ACTIVITIES.
AND I'M GONNA TELL YOU, WORKING WITH THESE DEPARTMENTS, THEY'RE, YOU KNOW, I'VE, I'VE BEEN HERE FOR A FEW YEARS, AND, UH, THE EXPERTS THAT WE HAVE AROUND THE TABLE, MAYOR IS JUST, YOU KNOW, A TRIBUTE TO YOU, BUT ALSO A TRIBUTE TO EVERY DEPARTMENT WHO SINCERELY CARES ABOUT OUR ENVIRONMENT.
UH, BUT I'M GONNA SAY SOMETHING ABOUT MY PARTNER, UH, OUR PARTNER, HOUSTON POLICE DEPARTMENT, UH, EVERY DAY, EVERY DAY, EVERY NIGHT, UH, THEY ARE, UH, WORKING ON THEIR, UH, WORKING AT THEIR JOBS, BUT ON EVENTS, THEY KEEP US SAFE.
AND SO I'LL, WITH THAT, I'LL TURN THAT OVER TO, UH, TO MY PARTNER, UH, AND, UH, FROM THE POLICE DEPARTMENT, MATT SLINKER.
THANK, WELL, SO TWO THINGS, UH, QUICKLY AND GOOD MORNING EVERYONE.
AND MAYOR, THANK YOU, UH, FOR ALLOWING US TO BE HERE WITH YOU.
ONE, I'M GONNA HAVE, WE'RE GONNA HAVE TO SWEAR SUSAN IN BECAUSE SHE COVERED THE STREET CLOSURES BETTER THAN, UH, CHIEF NER OR MYSELF COULD.
SO SUSAN COVERED ALL THE STREET, UH, THAT WILL BE AFFECTED, BUT WE'RE GONNA KEEP TRAFFIC MOVING.
WE'RE GONNA KEEP MOBILITY GOING.
BUT, UM, AND MAYOR, SECONDLY, UM, I WANNA PUT IN OUR ORDER CHIEF, ENTER MYSELF FOR THIS GREEN SUIT RIGHT NOW,
BUT APRIL'S A BEAUTIFUL TIME IN HOUSTON, IS IT NOT? MM-HMM.
AND, UM, AND SO, YOU KNOW, WE'RE ENCOURAGED BY ALL THE ACTIVITIES THAT ARE GOING ON NEXT WEEK.
UH, WE WILL BE THERE TO SUPPORT, UH, WE WILL HAVE RESOURCES OUT THERE AS WE DO WITH ANY MAJOR EVENT, ANYTIME TRAFFIC AND MOBILITY, UM, YOU KNOW, IS IMPACTED.
UH, SO WE WILL HAVE OFFICERS THROUGHOUT THIS ENTIRE EVENT AND PUBLIC SAFETY PROFESSIONALS OUT THERE TO HELP, UH, PEDESTRIANS AND EVERYBODY ELSE GET TO WHERE THEY NEED TO BE.
I WOULD ASK, AS I HAVE DONE MANY TIMES IN NEWS CONFERENCES OVER THE YEARS, I WOULD ASK THAT YOU PACK TWO THINGS.
PLEASE, UH, PACK YOUR PATIENTS, UH, WHEN YOU COME DOWN.
AND LET'S BE WONDERFUL, GOOD NEIGHBORS LIKE WE ARE IN HOUSTON.
SO, PACK YOUR PATIENTS AND EVEN IF YOU KNOW YOU'RE NOT, YOU KNOW, GETTING TO YOUR DESTINATION IN YOUR VEHICLE QUITE AS QUICKLY AS MAYBE YOU DID RIGHT, UM, EVERY OTHER DAY, THEN PACK YOUR PATIENTS AND THEN LET EVERYBODY ENJOY, UH, EARTH DAY AND HAVE A GREAT TIME.
AND I WOULD ALSO ASK THAT YOU PACK YOUR PRIDE.
UM, THIS IS GONNA BE A GREAT EVENT FOR THE CITY OF HOUSTON.
THE WEATHER'S GONNA BE GREAT, YOU KNOW, FASHION SHOWS THAT WE'RE HEARING ABOUT ALL KINDS OF STUFF, RIGHT? AND A LOT OF GOOD INFORMATION AND EDUCATION ABOUT ALL THE GREAT WORK THAT'S GOING ON IN OUR CITY.
AND HPD, UH, WILL BE THERE TO SUPPORT AND HAPPY TO DO IT.
[00:25:01]
WANT TO MENTION ANYBODY COMING DOWN, IF YOU'RE COMING DOWN IN YOUR VEHICLE, PLEASE HELP US HELP YOU AND DO NOT LEAVE VALUABLES IN YOUR VEHICLE.PLEASE DO NOT LEAVE BACKPACKS, PURSES, WALLETS, LAPTOP, COMPUTERS, OF COURSE, WEAPONS OF ANY KIND.
DO NOT LEAVE PERSONAL ITEMS AND ARTICLES IN YOUR VEHICLE.
MAKE SURE THAT THOSE THINGS ARE SECURED PROPERLY.
AND, YOU KNOW, OUR PREFERENCE WOULD BE THAT THOSE ARE SECURED AT HOME BEFORE YOU COME.
AND SO ANYWAY, WE LOOK FORWARD TO SUPPORTING SUSAN AND THE MAYOR'S OFFICE OF SPECIAL EVENTS.
WE LOOK FORWARD TO SUPPORTING, UM, MAYOR TURNER AND THE DOWNTOWN MANAGEMENT DISTRICT.
ALWAYS BEEN A WONDERFUL PARTNER.
AND HPD WILL BE THERE TO ASSIST THE PUBLIC IN ANY WAY WE CAN.
LOOK, NEXT WEEK, UH, CERTAINLY WANNA ENCOURAGE, I I, I DON'T EVEN THINK I MENTIONED MUNICIPAL COURTS, UM, BUT AIRPORT AND THE AIRPORTS, ALL OF THEM ARE INVOLVED, UH, IN, IN, IN NEXT WEEK'S CELEBRATION.
AND SO IT IS ALL THE DEPARTMENTS, AND IF I MISS ANYONE, UM, PLEASE LET ME KNOW.
BUT IT'S ALL OF THE DEPARTMENTS THAT'S PARTICIPATING IN SOME FORM OR FASHION.
LOOK, WE ARE KNOWN AS THE ENERGY CAPITAL WORLD.
THAT IS TRUE, THE LARGEST MEDICAL CENTER IN THE WORLD.
BUT WHEN IT COMES TO ENERGY TRANSITION, RESILIENCE, THE CLIMATE ACTION PLAN, WE'RE ALSO KNOWN FOR THAT.
AND THE BEST WAY TO DEMONSTRATE THAT IS TO PUT IT ON FULL DISPLAY.
AND THAT'S WHAT'S HAPPENING NEXT WEEK, MONDAY, TUESDAY, WEDNESDAY.
IF YOU WANT TO SEE WHAT YOUR CITY IS DOING AS IT RELATES TO THE ENVIRONMENT, AS IT RELATES TO RENEWABLES, AS IT RELATES TO RECYCLING, AND ALL OF THOSE OTHER ISSUES, UH, GREEN SPACE TREES.
UM, NEXT WEEK WILL BE AN EXCELLENT TIME TO COME AND CHECK US OUT THE SPEAKER SERIES, MONDAY, TUESDAY, JULIA IERSON, EIGHT TO FIVE, REGISTER FOR THAT.
COME OUT ON WEDNESDAY IS THE FESTIVAL, AND THAT WILL START AT 10, 10, 10 GOING UNTIL TWO O'CLOCK.
I DO ENCOURAGE, THOUGH, I WAS, UH, JOKING.
BUT I DO INVITE TEACHERS AND OTHERS, UH, SCHOOLS, UH, TO BRING THEIR, UH, THEIR STUDENTS DOWN IN LIKE A FIELD TRIP.
UH, BETTER, YOU KNOW, EXCELLENT PLACE TO BRING 'EM DOWNTOWN AND SEE THE, CREATE THE CREATIVE WORK OF SO MANY, UH, PEOPLE WHO ARE INVOLVED.
I REALLY CAN'T WAIT TO, I, I'VE BEEN JOKING ABOUT THIS FOREST, BUT, UM, I KNOW IT'S GONNA BE GREAT.
SO, I MEAN, I'M, I'M REALLY PUTTING IT WAY UP THERE.
SO, UH, Y'ALL BETTER BE WORKING OVER THE WEEKEND, UH, BUT WITH EVERYTHING THAT PEOPLE ARE DOING, SO PLEASE COME OUT.
AND THEN IF YOU JUST WANNA HAVE SOME FUN, I REALLY, YOU KNOW, THE FASHION SHOW, YOU REALLY DON'T WANT, I MEAN, YOU KNOW,
I THINK I'VE, I THINK I'VE, I THINK I'VE COVERED, I THINK I'VE COVERED EVERYTHING.
UM, UH, ARE THERE ANY QUESTIONS FROM ANYBODY? OKAY, WELL, LET'S DO THIS, UM, WITH ALL MY DEPARTMENT HEADS, UH, JUST, JUST COME ON UP IN FRONT SO WE CAN, WE CAN TAKE SOME PICTURES.
OKAY? WE'LL SEE YOU NEXT WEEK.