[City Pulse]
[00:00:21]
I'M YOUR HOST, TRAVIS LEMONS, AND ON TODAY'S SHOW, WE HEAD UP TO KINGWOOD FOR A NEW TRANSPORTATION PROJECT THAT BROKE GROUND RECENTLY.
BUT CIVIC ENGAGEMENT IS THE BIG DRAW TODAY.
FOR OUR FIRST STORY, MAYOR TURNER BECAME CAPTAIN PLANET FOR THE EARTH DAY, HTX FESTIVAL, THE LARGEST FESTIVAL OF ITS KIND IN TEXAS.
IT'S A BEAUTIFUL DAY IN H TOWN.
WE ARE CELEBRATING THE EARTH DAY FESTIVAL 2023.
TODAY AT AT EARTH DAY HOUSTON FESTIVAL, WE ARE CELEBRATING THE MANY SUCCESSES OF OUR CITY DEPARTMENTS THROUGH PROJECTS AND INITIATIVES THAT PROMOTED CLEANER, GREENER HOUSTON.
AND ONE DAY HE WILL BE 10 TO TOKI LONG.
THIS IS THE FIRST TIME THAT THE CITY OF HOUSTON IS HOSTING AN EARTH DAY EVENT AT THIS SCALE.
AND THIS, WHAT WE ARE SEEING TODAY IS A CULMINATION OF THE EARTH DAY CELEBRATION WITH THIS FESTIVAL.
WE WANTED TO INVITE COMMUNITY.
NOT A LOT OF PEOPLE KNOW THAT WE ACTUALLY DO HAVE RIVER OTTERS AND BEAVERS THAT ARE NATIVE TO TEXAS.
SO IT'S JUST A CELEBRATION OF HOW MUCH THIS ADMINISTRATION HAS DONE AND THAT IT TAKES A WHOLE COMMUNITY TO COME TOGETHER AND REALLY MAKE A CHANGE.
DOESN'T HAVE VERY MANY WAVES, BUT I PROMISE.
BIG SUPPORTER OF EARTH DAY, CITY OF HOUSTON AND EE WHERE IT PUT TOGETHER.
AND I'D LOVE THIS LITTLE TINY HOUSE FOR THIS TO ALL OF YOU WHO ARE OUT HERE, IT IS ABOUT MAKING OUR ENVIRONMENT A MUCH SAFER, CLEANER, A PLACE IN WHICH TO LIVE.
AND SO LET ME THANK ALL OF YOU, UH, FOR PARTICIPATING.
AND JUST REMEMBER, IF WE ARE GONNA SAVE, OUR PLANET IS UP TO EACH AND EVERY ONE OF US.
NO ONE HAS TO DO EVERYTHING, BUT IF SOME, IF EVERYBODY DOES SOMETHING, THEN EVERYTHING GETS DONE.
STICKING WITH THE EARTH DAY THEME, MAYOR TURNER WAS THE DEMOLITION MAN JOINING DEPARTMENT OF NEIGHBORHOODS DIRECTOR TO AKASHA FRANCIS AND OUTLINING THIS YEAR'S DEMOLITION INITIATIVE.
AND I'M EXCITED TO REPORT THAT IN THE FIRST QUARTER, OVER 100 DANGEROUS RESIDENTIAL STRUCTURES HAVE BEEN DEMOLISHED BY THE CITY.
MR. MAYOR TEARS DOWN THIS HOUSE.
DANGEROUS BUILDINGS LIKE THESE ARE A THREAT TO PUBLIC HEALTH AND SAFETY.
THEY NOT ONLY CONTRIBUTE TO NEIGHBORHOOD BLIGHT, BUT SERVE AS HAVEN FOR CRIMINAL ACTIVITIES SUCH AS BANCY, ASSAULT, ILLEGAL DRUG USE, OR CELL GANG ACTIVITIES, SQUATTERS, HUMAN TRAFFICKING, GRAFFITI.
AND QUITE FRANKLY, LIFE WILL BRING DOWN THE WHOLE STREET AND WILL BRING DOWN THE WHOLE NEIGHBORHOOD.
SO WE'RE LOOKING AT THIS HOUSE BEHIND US RIGHT HERE, AND WE'VE GOT A BIG MACHINE TO TAKE IT DOWN, BUT WE'RE ALSO LOOKING UP THE STREET AT ONE OF THE NEXT HOUSES THAT'S GONNA NEED SOME ATTENTION AND SOME LOVE.
DANGEROUS BUILDINGS ALIGN WITH BOTH INITIATIVES AND GREATLY IMPROVES THE AMBIENCE OF OUR NEIGHBORHOOD AND RESIDENTS QUALITY OF LIFE.
IT'S BEEN ALSO A COMMUNITY FOR YEARS, AND I'M VERY OVERJOYED AT THEY'RE GETTING A CHANCE TEAR DOWN DANGEROUS BUILDINGS LIKE THE GREATEST NEIGHBORHOODS, ESPECIALLY FOR UNDERSERVED COMMUNITIES.
I ACTUALLY THINK IT'S PRETTY TERRIFIC THAT THEY'VE GOTTEN MONEY TO BE ABLE TO DO THAT.
THE HOUSE HAS BEEN CANDIDLY AND ISOLATED THE NEIGHBORHOOD FOR YEARS, BUT THE COMMITMENT I MAKE TO THE PEOPLE OF THE CITY OF HOUSTON IS THAT WE WILL WORK UNTIL DECEMBER 31ST, 1150 9:00 PM TO GET THE JOB DONE.
SINCE 2016, MORE THAN 11,000 CASES OF DANGEROUS BUILDINGS IN HOUSTON HAVE BEEN RESOLVED.
SWITCHING FROM TEARING DOWN TO BREAKING GROUND, A MAJOR IMPROVEMENT IS COMING TO KINGWOOD.
A NEW OVERPASS WILL GIVE SOME EAST TO RUSH HOUR SLOWDOWNS AND MAKE THINGS EASIER FOR EMERGENCY VEHICLES GOING IN AND OUT OF THE COMMUNITY.
GOOD MORNING EVERYONE, AND WELCOME TO THE NORTH PARK DRIVE EXPANSION GROUNDBREAKING.
WE'RE BUILDING THE BRIDGE TO GO OVER THE RAILROAD TRACKS, AND THE IMPORTANCE OF THAT IS ON THE EAST SIDE OF THE BRIDGE, WHICH IS OVER HERE IN KINGWOOD.
WE HAVE THE FIRE STATIONS ON THE WEST SIDE.
WE HAVE A LARGE HOSPITAL IN A LONE STAR COLLEGE.
SO THE WHAT IF FACTOR, WHAT IF THERE'S A FIRE ON THE WEST SIDE OF 59 IN A RAILROAD CAR? CARS ARE COMING FROM NORTH TO SOUTH, BLOCKING THE INTERSECTION.
HOW DO YOU GET FIRE VEHICLES FROM EAST SIDE OF 59 TO THE WEST SIDE OF 59?
[00:05:01]
THAT'S ALWAYS BEEN A SAFETY CONCERN FOR ME.MORE IMPORTANTLY THAN THAT, UH, IS THE EVACUATION ROUTE FOR PEOPLE IN THE EVENT OF ANOTHER HURRICANE.
AS YOU KNOW, KINGWOOD BECAME AN ISLAND IN 2017 WHEN HURRICANE HARVEY HIT.
WE COULD NOT GET RED CROSS IN HERE.
WE COULD NOT GET PEOPLE TO THE GEORGE R. BROWN WHERE THEY WERE TO RECEIVE MEDICAL TREATMENT BECAUSE WE HAD PEOPLE THAT WERE SERIOUSLY ILL THAT NEEDED MEDICAL ATTENTION AND WE COULDN'T GET THEM TO MEDICAL ATTENTION.
SO THIS ROUTE WILL BE ELEVATED UP ABOVE THE FLOODPLAIN AREA, ABOVE THE FLOODWAY, AND IT'LL BE A TRUE EVACUATION ROUTE.
I COULD NOT AGREE MORE WITH MAYOR PRO TEM MARTIN, UH, REMARKS ABOUT THE SIGNIFICANCE OF THIS PROJECT, THIS IMPROVED ROADWAY, UH, WITH ABOVE GRADE RAILROAD CROSSING WILL NOT ONLY SERVE AS AN EVACUATION ROUTE, BUT WILL EASE THE GROWING TRAFFIC CONGESTION IN OUR AREA.
AS MORE AND MORE FAMILIES FIND, UH, OUR WAY TO OUR GREAT CITY, THE OVERPASS PROJECT IS EXPECTED TO TAKE 24 MONTHS TO COMPLETE.
UP NEXT ON CITY PULSE, WE BLAST IN THE SPRING.
STEM IS EVERYWHERE LIKE HERE, BEHIND THE SCENES OF THE WALKING DEAD.
WHEN WE BREAK DOWN CLOTHES, WE TUMBLE IT WITH S SODIUM PHOSPHATE ROCK, SALT, AND DISH DETERGENT.
WE STITCHED TOGETHER IMAGES OF OUR MODEL AND CREATED A 3D SET THAT CAN BE WALKED THROUGH IN A VR HEADSET.
WE'RE ABLE TO TURN 12 WALKERS INTO A THOUSAND WALKER BOARDS.
STEM CAN CREATE NEW WORLDS ON AND OFF THE SCREEN.
WHAT WILL YOU MAKE WITH STEM? GET INSPIRED@SHECANSTEM.COM VICTORY DEPLOYED FOR THE FIRST TIME TO AFGHANISTAN.
IN 2003, HE SUSTAINED A MODERATE TRAUMATIC BRAIN INJURY, BASICALLY HAD TO RELEARN EVERYTHING.
ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT ELEMENTS OF CAREGIVING IS TAKING CARE OF YOURSELF.
WE HAVE OUR OWN JOURNEY AND WE CAN FULFILL THAT JOURNEY AT THE SAME TIME THAT WE ARE HELPING OUR LOVED ONE.
VISIT AARP.ORG/CAREGIVING FOR A FREE MILITARY VETERANS GUIDE TO NAVIGATE YOUR CAREGIVING JOURNEY.
THE FAMILY'S VISIT TO THE FOREST INSPIRED A BEAUTIFUL QUESTION, MOTHER, MOTHER, AM I A TREE? YOU TELL ME TO STAND TALL.
BUT WHAT KIND OF TREE WILL YOU BE? THE KIND TO HUG OR THE KIND TO CLIMB? DOESN'T MATTER WHAT YOU CHOOSE SO LONG AS YOU CHOOSE TO BE A TREE THAT'S KIND.
MAKE THE FOREST PART OF YOUR STORY AT A PARK NEAR YOU.
WE STARTED THE PROGRAM WITH AN EARTH DAY FEST.
NOW IT'S TIME TO HAVE A BLAST.
HOBART TAYLOR PARK HELD ITS ANNUAL SPRING BLAST ON EASTER WEEKEND, AND MAYOR TURNER WAS THERE TO LEND A HAND AND HIDE SOME EGGS.
THIS IS SPRING BLAST IMPACTING HOUSTON, WHICH IS AN EVENT TO CELEBRATE COMMUNITY IN ADVANCE OF EASTER.
I LIKE THE ENERGY THAT THE KIDS VERY POSITIVE.
I LOVE KIDS, SO JUST SEEING KIDS PLAY AND HAVE FUN IS EXCITING TO ME.
UH, CYNTHIA BAILEY IS THE LEAD ORGANIZER.
THEY PROVIDE HUNDREDS OF THESE BASKETS TO THESE KIDS.
AND LOOK, THEY COME LINING UP WAITING FOR THEM ALL ON THIS FRIDAY.
JUST THE ENJOYMENT AND THE MEMORIES THAT GET CREATED, YOU KNOW, THOSE ARE INVALUABLE.
BUT LIKE, WHENEVER THEY HAD THE MAYOR IN A CIRCLE AND THEY WAS SINGING AND STUFF LIKE THAT, I REALLY ENJOYED IT.
I WAS ACTUALLY SUPPOSED TO PERFORM, BUT I HAD SO MANY PEOPLE COME TO MY TABLE.
SO MY SMALL BUSINESS WAS STILL SUPER SUCCESSFUL BECAUSE YOU, YOU DON'T REALLY SEE A LOT OF PEOPLE JUST GETTING TOGETHER IN A BIG GROUP AS MUCH ANYMORE.
AND SO HAVING AN OPPORTUNITY TO CREATE MEMORIES, CREATE COMMUNITY, CREATE A SENSE OF, UH,
[00:10:01]
ENJOYMENT, I THINK IS CRITICAL.KIDS IN EVERY NEIGHBORHOOD DESERVE QUALITY NEIGHBORHOOD PARKS THAT THEY CAN WALK TO, BIKE TO ASSEMBLY, DRIVE TO.
AND THAT'S WHY WE ARE HERE AT HOBA TAYLOR PARK, UH, BECAUSE IT'S A LOCAL NEIGHBORHOOD PARK THAT WILL BENEFIT COMMUNITIES.
SPRING BLAST IS ABOUT COMMUNITY ENRICHMENT SOMETHING.
ANGEL PONZA, THE DIRECTOR OF THE MAYOR'S OFFICE FOR PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES KNOWS VERY WELL.
MOVEMENT AND ACCESSIBILITY ARE MAJOR CONCERNS IN THE CITY.
AS LARGE AS HOUSTON PONCE SOLUTION IS THE PEDESTRIAN ACCESSIBILITY REVIEW PROGRAM.
IT HELPS GIVE THOSE WHO ARE DISABLED BETTER PEACE OF MIND AND INDEPENDENCE.
THE PEDESTRIAN ACCESSIBILITY REVIEW PROGRAM, CAN YOU DESCRIBE TO ME WHAT THAT IS? WHY IS IT IMPORTANT? THE REASON THAT THIS PROGRAM IS VERY IMPORTANT IS BECAUSE WE HAVE INDIVIDUALS, PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES, HOUSTONIANS, THAT SOMETIMES DON'T HAVE ACCESS TO THEIR COMMUNITIES, DON'T HAVE ACCESS TO THEIR, UH, PLACE OF, OF, OF WORK, A PLACE OF EMPLOYMENT, DON'T HAVE ACCESS TO THE PLACE OF WORSHIP, UM, DON'T HAVE ACCESS TO THEIR COMMUNITIES IN GENERAL.
UH, WE'VE HAD INDIVIDUALS THAT HAVE CALLED OUR OFFICE THAT ARE NOT ABLE TO EXIT THEIR HOMES AND GO TO THEIR VEHICLES.
THE PEDESTRIAN ACCESSIBLE REVIEW PROGRAM MAKES SURE THAT PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES IN HOUSTON HAVE ACCESS TO THEIR COMMUNITIES.
THE PROGRAM IS EASY AS SIMPLE WHEN AN INDIVIDUAL WITH A DISABILITY MAKES A REQUEST TO OUR OFFICE, WE WORK WITH HOUSTON PUBLIC WORKS TO IDENTIFY THAT, THAT AREA AND, UM, MAKE THE RECOMMENDATIONS OF WHAT NEEDS TO BE REPAIRED.
THEN WE WORK WITH THEIR ENGINEERS TO MAKE SURE THAT THAT HAPPENS.
WHEN AN INDIVIDUAL WITH A DISABILITY IN HOUSTON MAKES A REQUEST FOR A SIDEWALK REPAIR, THAT REPAIR GOES TO THE FRONT OF THE LINE.
AND THAT IS WHY THE PEDESTRIAN ACCESSIBLE REVIEW PROGRAM IS VERY IMPORTANT TO HOUSTONIANS WITH DISABILITIES.
IF I WAS GONNA EXPLAIN THIS TO SOMEONE, I WOULD SAY, AND I MEAN YOU DESCRIBED IT RIGHT THERE, NOT ABLE TO GO GET GROCERIES, NOT ABLE TO GO, UH, TO THEIR PLACE OF WORK.
THIS IS SOMETHING THAT IS CHANGING LIVES.
UH, I MEAN, I'M NOT, NOT TRYING TO EXAGGERATE LIKE IT.
WE GET PEOPLE THAT CALL US BACK AND SAY, UH, ANGEL, UM, OR NICK, UM, OR JOHN, BECAUSE OF YOU, I'M ABLE TO GO TO THE STORE BY MYSELF NOW BECAUSE OF YOU.
I'M ABLE TO GET BACK INTO MY VEHICLE WITHOUT THE ASSISTANCE OF MY SPOUSE, WITHOUT THE ASSISTANCE OF MY KIDS.
AND, AND THAT JUST BRINGS JOY TO US.
AND WE'RE HERE TO MAKE THAT HAPPEN FOR ANY HOUSTONIAN WITH A DISABILITY THAT NEEDS ACCESS.
FINALLY, ONE OF HOUSTON'S MOST BELOVED AND COLORFUL EVENTS TOOK TO THE STREETS.
ONCE AGAIN, IT STARTED MORE THAN 40 YEARS AGO WHEN A BUNCH OF ARTISTS WANTED TO TAKE THEIR SHOW ON THE ROAD.
HERE IS THE HOUSTON ARC CAR PARADE.
HOW ARE YOU HOLDING? IT'S WARM.
JOB, THE INSPIRATION WAS STEVIE RAY VAUGHAN, WHO IS A TEXAS MUSICIAN.
MY STUDENTS AND I HAVE CREATED THIS, AND THEY PICKED OUT STEVIE RAY V TO MAKE A TRIBUTE TO IT TAKES ABOUT THREE AND A HALF MONTHS, AND I HAVE ABOUT 16, 15 STUDENTS THAT I HANDPICKED TO BE PART OF THE ART CAR CLUB AND THE CARS THAT THE KIDS DID GO TO MUSEUMS AND GALLERIES AROUND THE WORLD.
WE ARE HERE TO SERVE THE COMMUNITY, AND AS YOU CAN SEE, WE HAVE THE CASKET WITH THE SWINGERS ON IT.
THE HEARSE WITH THE SWINGERS ON IT, WHICH YOU WON'T FIND NOWHERE ELSE.
BUT IN HOUSTON, IT WAS LIKE 40 ART CARS BACK IN 1990.
AND THEN NOW, OF COURSE, IT'S ALMOST 300.
IT'S, IT'S A A WAY TO EXPRESS YOURSELF.
AND INSTEAD OF HAVING YOUR ART SITTING IN A GALLERY SOMEWHERE, YOU'RE DRIVING IT AROUND FOR EVERYBODY TO SEE.
SO IT'S MORE AVAILABLE THAT WILL DO IT FOR CITY PULSE.
UNTIL NEXT TIME, DO BETTER AND BE KIND.