[00:00:16]
WELCOME TO SUNNYSIDE PARK, RIGHT? I'M KENNETH ALLEN, AND IT IS, IT IS WITH GREAT HONOR THAT I SERVE AS A DIRECTOR OF THE HOUSTON PARKS AND RECREATION DEPARTMENT.
AND BEFORE WE ACTUALLY GET STARTED WITH THE PROGRAM, I'D LIKE TO INVITE UP REVEREND GUA BOOKER, I THIRD FROM THE GREATER ST.
SO GREAT TO SEE EVERYONE AND TO BE A PART OF THIS.
AND I THINK IT'S ONLY FITTING THAT WE BLESS THIS EVENT.
YOU KNOW, GOD WILL, UH, ORDAINED IN ALL THE EVENTS THAT HAPPENED ON YOU.
LET'S BY OUR HEADS MOST GRACIOUS MASTER LORD, WE THANK YOU FOR WHO YOU ARE.
LORD, WE LOVE YOU FOR WHO YOU ARE.
WE THANK YOU FOR THE EVENTS THAT ARE TAKING PLACE TODAY.
WE THINK THAT FOR THE HANDS DO HAVE ORDAINED THOSE EVENTS.
LORD, WE KNOW NOTHING HAPPENS BY SURPRISE.
AND WE KNOW THAT THIS WAS NEEDED IN OUR COMMUNITY.
'CAUSE WE WANT TO, UH, MAKE SURE THAT THE PEOPLE OF YOUR KINGDOM AND YOUR COMMUNITY ARE SERVED BETTER.
SO, LORD, WE JUST THANK YOU FOR THIS, UH, THIS TIME, THIS OCCASION.
AND WE ASK YOU THAT YOU LET THIS FIELD AND EVERYTHING THAT HAPPENED HERE BE USED FOR THE UPLIFTING OF YOUR KINGDOM AND THE BETTERMENT OF OUR COMMUNITY AND OUR KIDS.
'CAUSE THEY DO DESERVE THE BEST.
SO WE JUST THANK YOU RIGHT NOW.
LORD BLESS THIS COMMUNITY, MAYOR, EVERYONE WHO'S INVOLVED, AND LET US GALVANIZE AND, AND LET US BRING US TOGETHER.
AND WE PRAY YOU FOR THIS EVENT.
WE THANK YOUR NAME AND YOUR SON'S NAME, YOUR PERFECT PRECIOUS NAME.
REALLY APPRECIATE THOSE KIND WORDS AND PRAYER.
WITHOUT FURTHER ADO, I'D JUST LIKE TO WELCOME YOU ALL AGAIN AS WE CELEBRATE THINGS HAPPENING IN THE SUNNYSIDE COMMUNITY.
AS WE SPOTLIGHT ACTUALLY PUBLIC AND PRIVATE PARTNERSHIPS, UH, THAT ARE INSTRUMENTAL IN ACCOMPLISHING PARK IMPROVEMENTS ACROSS OUR GREAT CITY.
THERE'S NO SECRET THAT MAYOR SYLVESTER TURNER HAS A TRUE LOVE FOR PARKS, A VERY TRUE LOVE FOR PARKS.
IT'S JUST BEEN A PLEASURE SERVING UNDER HIS LEADERSHIP AS WE IMPACT PEOPLE ACROSS THIS CITY THROUGH PARK IMPROVEMENT.
HE'S FOCUSED IN AREAS AND, AND PLACES ALONG THIS CITY THAT NEED RESOURCES AND OPPORTUNITIES THE MOST.
AND UNDER-RESOURCED COMMUNITIES, SUNNYSIDE IS CERTAINLY BENEFITING FROM THE VISION OF EQUITY AND RESILIENCY IN THIS CITY.
SO, WITHOUT FURTHER ADO, I'D LIKE TO INTRODUCE OUR HONORABLE MAYOR, SYLVESTER TURNER.
ALRIGHT, EVERYONE HERE PLEASE.
AND LET ME, UH, LET ME THANK DIRECTOR KENNETH ALLEN AND, AND HIS ENTIRE TEAM.
SO GIVE IT UP TO DIRECTOR ALLEN AND PARKS AND REC.
AND THEN LET ME ACKNOWLEDGE THE GENERAL AND ER, THANK YOU SO VERY MUCH.
THAT'S THE SERGEANT GENERAL RIGHT OVER THERE.
SO, LOOK, BEFORE I GO EVEN FURTHER, LET ME, LET ME ACKNOWLEDGE NUMBER ONE, ALL OF THE RESIDENTS OF SUNNYSIDE.
UH, THIS, THIS AFTERNOON, REVEREND BOOKER, PASTOR BOOKER, THANK YOU SO VERY MUCH, UH, FOR YOUR PRESENCE.
AND I DO WANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE, UH, THE CONGRESSMAN OF THE NINTH CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT, CONGRESSMAN AL GREEN, GIVE IT UP TO CONGRESSMAN AL GREEN.
HE HAS, UH, HE'S BEEN AT SEVERAL OF THOSE THINGS BECAUSE OF HIS GENEROSITY, AND YOU'LL HEAR MORE ABOUT THAT IN A LITTLE BIT.
AND THEN OF COURSE, WE ARE IN DISTRICT D, UH, WHICH HAS BEEN BRANDED THE DISTRICT OF DESTINATION BY A COUNCIL MEMBER.
CAROLYN, EVAN SHABAZZ, PLEASE GIVE IT UP TO YOUR COUNCILWOMAN.
AND THEN THIS COUNCIL MEMBER WHO HAS REALLY GIVEN MEANING TO BEING AT LARGE, BECAUSE SHE IS ALL OVER THE CITY, UH, EVERY SINGLE WEEK.
WAIT, PLEASE GIVE IT UP TO COUNCIL MEMBER SALLY ALCORN.
AND THEN OF COURSE, I HAVE THE PRIVILEGE OF BEING INVITED INTO, UH, THE ANOTHER TERRITORY.
AND SO I CERTAINLY WANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE MAYOR SANDRA HINES.
YEAH, YOU KNOW, SHE, SHE'S UPSET WITH ME RIGHT NOW, BUT, YOU KNOW, WE GONNA MAKE AMENDS, YOU KNOW,
UH, AND DO, I DO WANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE EVERYONE THAT'S AFFILIATED WITH, UH, CENTER POINT.
I KNOW JASON WILL BE SPEAKING, BUT ALL OF THE REPRESENTATIVES FROM CENTER POINT, JUST RAISE YOUR HAND AND PLEASE GIVE IT UP TO ALL THE MEMBERS OF CENTER POINT.
[00:05:01]
WHEN SUNNYSIDE RESIDENTS AND COMMUNITY STAKEHOLDERS CAME TOGETHER IN 2019 AND 2020, UH, TO BUILD THE SUNNYSIDE COMPLETE COMMUNITY ACTION PLAN, UH, THEY PLACED IMPROVED SUNNYSIDE PARK AS THE FIRST PRIORITY LISTED IN THE PARKS AND COMMUNITY AMENITY SECTION OF THE ACTION PLAN.SUNNYSIDE RESIDENTS AND COMMUNITY STAKEHOLDERS SAID THEY WANTED SEVERAL IMPROVEMENTS FOR THIS REGIONAL PARK, INCLUDING ADDITIONAL WALK-IN TRAILS AND UPGRADED PLAYGROUND AREAS.
CENTER POINT ENERGY, UH, RESPONDED TO THAT CALL TO ACTION BY DONATING $600,000, UH, TO TRANSFORM A MULTI.
AND I WILL TELL YOU THAT CAME FROM, UH, THE TOP OF CENTER POINT FROM DAVE LAZAR, THE CEO WHO, UH, WHO REALLY WANTED THIS TO TAKE PLACE.
SO THEY GAVE $600,000 TO TRANSFORM A MULTI-ACTIVITY FIELD INTO A COMPETITION READY YOUTH, UH, FOOTBALL FIELD WITH A NEW SCOREBOARD REFURBISHED AND NEW BLEACHERS AND NEW WALKING PATHS AROUND IT.
AND THEN CONGRESSMAN AL GREEN, UH, LEVERAGE THAT CORPORATE PHILANTHROPY TO ELEVATE THE CASE FOR EVEN MORE INVESTMENTS INTO SUNNYSIDE PARK AND SECURED A $1.55 MILLION FEDERAL FUND TO REFURBISH.
GIVE IT UP TO CONGRESSMAN AL GREEN.
EVERY TIME HE SHOWS UP, HE BRINGS MONEY.
SO I'M, I I WANT HIM TO JUST TRAVEL WITH ME ALL OVER, YOU KNOW,
AND I WANT YOU TO KNOW, AND THAT'S ON TOP OF THE $750,000.
THE CONGRESSMAN HAD ALREADY GOT CONGRESS TO ALLOCATE THE FUNNY WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT TRAINING PROGRAM TO GET SUNNYSIDE RESIDENTS AND OTHER HOUSTONIANS LIVING IN UNDER-RESOURCED NEIGHBORHOODS, TRAINED IN SOLAR PANEL INSTALLATIONS.
SO THEY ARE READY TO BE HIRED ON, ON, UH, TO HELP CONSTRUCT THE SUNNYSIDE SOLAR FARM.
SO THE 1.55 MILLION COMBINED WITH THE $750,000 ALL DE DEDICATED TO SUNNYSIDE, I THINK HE DESERVES ANOTHER STRONG HAND.
AND THAT'S NOT EVEN COUNTING THE OTHER DOLLARS THAT HE'S RECEIVED FOR OTHER COMPLETE COMMUNITY, UH, NEIGHBORHOODS, UM, AND IN THE NINTH CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT.
SO HE'S BEEN A, HE'S BEEN A TRUE PARTNER WITH US EVERY STEP OF THE WAY, AND I REALLY APPRECIATE HIM.
AND AS MANY OF YOU KNOW, THIS IS THE FOUNDATION OF OUR COMPLETE COMMUNITY INITIATIVE TO LEVERAGE PUBLIC AND PRIVATE RESOURCES AND PARTNERSHIPS AND TARGET THOSE WITHIN AREAS MOST CHALLENGED BY ECONOMIC, ENVIRONMENTAL, AND EQUITY BARRIERS THAT HAVE EXISTED FAR TOO LONG.
AND CENTER POINT HAS FOLLOWED SUIT.
NOT ONLY HAVE THEY GIVEN 600,000 HERE, THEY HAVE ALSO CONTRIBUTED TO OTHER PROJECTS IN OUR COMPLETE COMMUNITIES' NEIGHBORHOOD THROUGHOUT THE CITY OF HOUSTON.
SO IN JUNE OF 2019, I ANNOUNCED THE SUNNYSIDE COMMUNITY WILL BE INCLUDED IN OUR SECOND PHASE OF COMPLETE COMMUNITIES.
THE SUNNYSIDE COMPLETE COMMUNITY IS HOME TO SEVEN PUBLIC PARKS, PROVIDING THE COMMUNITY WITH OVER 270 ACRES OF GREEN SPACE.
AND WITH HOUSTON'S RESILIENCY WHEN IT WAS TESTED BY COVID AND BY WINTER STORM URI.
OUR CITY DEPARTMENTS, PRIVATE SECTOR NONPROFIT PARTNERS CARRY FORTH AND CONTINUE TO MOVE THE NEEDLE FORWARD.
AND SO I WANT TO GIVE A BIG HAND, UH, TO THE, UH, THE CITY PARKS AND REC TO COMPLETE COMMUNITIES, TO ALL OF OUR DEPARTMENTS FOR REALLY STEPPING UP.
AND THEN I WANT TO THANK COUNCIL MEMBER CAROLYN, MEMBER SHABA, FOR REALLY CARRYING THE FLAG AND BEING THE CHEERLEADER.
SHE WAS THE CHEERLEADER AT YATES, BUT I MEAN NOW, NOW SHE'S THE CHEERLEADER AT CITY COUNCIL.
SO GIVE IT UP AGAIN TO YOUR COUNCIL MEMBER.
LASTLY, THE IMPROVEMENTS THAT WE CELEBRATE TODAY IN THIS BEAUTIFUL SUNNYSIDE PARK INCLUDE THE INSTALLATION OF A NEW SPORTS TURF FOOTBALL FILLING, IRRIGATION, RELOCATION OF THE FIELD LIGHTS, CONCRETE BLEACHER PADS, AND NEW SCOREBOARD, NEW GOALPOSTS, FENCING AND GATES, AND NEW SIDEWALK CONNECTIONS.
ALL OF THIS WOULD NOT HAVE BEEN POSSIBLE WITHOUT THE COLLABORATION OF CENTER POINT CONGRESSMAN AL GREEN, COMPLETE COMMUNITIES, PARKS AND REC AND OTHERS.
AND, BUT MOST IMPORTANTLY, LET ME THINK OF PEOPLE IN SUNNYSIDE FOR BEING PATIENT AS THESE IMPROVEMENTS WILL HAVE HAVE TAKEN PLACE.
SO AT THIS POINT IN TIME, UH, WHO I'M TURNING IT OVER TO, LEMME TURN IT OVER.
FIRST TO, UH, JASON, WHO WILL THEN BE FOLLOWED BY CONGRESSMAN AL GREEN.
I'M THE DIRECTOR OF LOCAL GOVERNMENT RELATIONS AND REGULATORY WITH CENTER POINT ENERGY.
[00:10:01]
THIS IS A GREAT DAY FOR CENTER POINT ENERGY AND MORE IMPORTANT, MORE IMPORTANTLY, IT'S A GREAT DAY FOR THE COMMUNITY OF SUNNYSIDE.I'D LIKE TO FIRST THANK MAYOR TURNER FOR HAVING US HERE TODAY.
THANK YOU FOR EVERYTHING YOU'VE DONE FOR THE COMMUNITY CON COUNCIL MEMBER EVIS SHABA
AND DIRECTOR ALLEN AND DEC DIRECTOR.
BUGS CENTERPOINT HAS BEEN PART OF THIS COMMUNITY FOR OVER 150 YEARS, AND CENTERPOINT ENERGY'S FOUNDATION IS COMMITTED TO MAKING INVESTMENTS THAT MAKE OUR COMMUNITIES BETTER PLACES TO LIVE, WORK, AND PLAY.
THIS PARK IS A WONDERFUL EXAMPLE OF THOSE KINDS OF INVESTMENTS.
THE CENTER POINT ENERGY FOUNDATION, AS MAYOR TURNER SAID, INVESTED OVER, INVESTED $600,000, OVER 600,000 IN THE COMPLETE COMMUNITIES OF HOUSTON TO IMPROVE THE QUALITY ACCESSIBILITY AND THE SAFETY FOR YOUTH FOOTBALL OF THE YOUTH FOOTBALL FIELD HERE AT SUNNYSIDE.
THESE UPGRADES INCLUDE ENERGY EFFICIENCY LIGHTING, AS WELL AS BRAND NEW FIELDS OF SOD BLEACHERS, AND OF COURSE, THIS BEAUTIFUL NEW SCOREBOARD.
WITH THESE IMPROVEMENTS, WE'RE PROVIDING EQUITABLE ACCESS TO HIGH QUALITY FACILITIES FOR LOCAL YOUTH, INCLUDING SCHOOLS NEARBY WHO CAN NOW HAVE LOW LEAGUE TEAMS. PARKS ARE IMPORTANT ELEMENTS OF THE CITY.
THEY ACT TO DEFINE THE SHAPE AND FEEL OF THE COMMUNITY AND CAN SERVE AS A TOOL FOR REVITALIZATION.
SO WE'RE EXCITED TO BE A PART OF THIS BEAUTIFUL CENTER POINT COLLABORATION WITH SUNNYSIDE, AND I HOPE IT WILL SERVE AS A PLACE FOR RESIDENTS TO SAFELY GATHER AND PLAY FOR MANY, MANY YEARS TO COME.
REALLY APPRECIATE ALL OF THAT.
I DO WANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE, UH, BETH WHITE, WHO'S OVER THE, UH, PARKS BOARD.
BETH, YOU REALLY NEED TO COME AROUND.
AND THEN I WANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE NICOLE IRVIN WITH THE MAYOR'S OFFICE OF CULTURAL AFFAIRS.
NOW LEMME BRING UP, UH, THE CONGRESSMAN, UH, FROM THE NINTH CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT.
I DIDN'T JUST WANT HIM TO WALK UP, UH, THAT, THAT, THAT THAT WOULD'VE BEEN DISRESPECTFUL.
UM, SO I WANTED TO COME BACK, UH, BECAUSE TRULY I'VE BEEN MAYOR NOW FOR SEVEN PLUS YEARS.
UH, AND I CAN TELL YOU I'VE HAD NO BETTER PARTNER, UM, THAN CONGRESSMAN AL GREEN AT THE CONGRESSIONAL LEVEL.
I MEAN, HE'S BEEN THERE EVERY SINGLE TIME AND HE'S BEEN VERY HELPFUL.
UM, WHEN WE NEEDED SOMETHING, HE STEPPED UP.
AND OF COURSE, UM, UM, THESE ON COMPLETE COMMUNITIES WOULD BE NOTHING WITHOUT RESOURCES.
YOU CAN, YOU CAN HAVE THE COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENTS, YOU CAN PUT TOGETHER ALL THE PLANS AND PUT IT IN A FOLDER.
SO YOU, YOU HAVE TO REALLY HAVE THE MONEY.
AND IN ORDER TO HAVE THAT, YOU JUST HAVE TO HAVE PEOPLE WHO, WHO UNDERSTAND IT AND GET IT AND FIGHT FOR IT AND CAN BRING IT HOME.
AND THIS IS ONE PERSON WHO UNDERSTANDS IT, GETS IT, AND HAS BROUGHT IT HOME.
SO PLEASE GIVE A WARM WELCOME, UM, TO CONGRESSMAN AL GREEN OF THE NINTH RUSSIAN DISTRICT.
FRIENDS, I BELIEVE THAT WE HAVE BEEN BLESSED TO HAVE ONE OF THE GREATEST MAYORS THIS COUNTRY HAS EVER PRODUCED.
THE GREATEST MAYOR, THE CITY OF HOUSTON HAS EVER PRODUCED A MAYOR THAT CARES FOR EVERYBODY ON ALL SIDES.
AND, UH, THAT INCLUDES SUNNY SIDE.
LET'S GIVE MAYOR SYLVESTER TURNER A REALLY BIG EXPRESSION OF APPRECIATION.
PLEASE, MAYOR, THAT THAT WAS GOOD.
BUT I'M TALKING ABOUT A TEXAS SIZE EXPRESSION OF APPRECIATION FOR MAYOR TURNER.
THAT WAS CLOSE, BUT THAT WAS MORE LIKE DALLAS FORT WORTH.
SO NOW A TEXAS SIZE EXPRESSION OF APPRECIATION FOR THE GREATEST MAYOR OF THE CITY OF HOUSTON HAS EVER HAD.
BEFORE I DO SOMETHING THAT I THINK IS EXCEEDINGLY IMPORTANT, UH, TO MY FRIEND, UM, EVAN SHABAZZ, UH, WE CONSIDER OURSELVES PARTNERS AGAINST CRIME.
AND, UH, SHE AND I HAVE WORKED CLOSELY TOGETHER AND I WANT TO ASSURE YOU, CITIZENS, RESIDENTS OF SUNNYSIDE, THAT SHE DID HER PART IN GETTING YOUR CONGRESSMAN TO GET THIS DONE.
SO SHE NEEDS A REALLY BIG EXPRESSION OF APPRECIATION.
AND, UH, I CAN ONLY SECOND THE EMOTION THAT THE MAYOR PLACED BEFORE US ABOUT COUNCILWOMAN ALCORN.
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I THINK SHE'S RUNNING ALL THE TIME.AND, UH, IT IS GOOD TO SEE HER HERE TODAY.
IT MEANS SOMETHING TO THE PEOPLE OF SUNNYSIDE TO KNOW THAT OUR AT LARGE COUNCIL PERSON CAME OUT FOR THIS EVENT.
SO WOULD YOU KINDLY GIVE HER ANOTHER EXPRESSION OF APPRECIATION FOR ME, PLEASE? AND, UH, YES, IT'S TRUE THAT, UH, MAYOR HINES AND MAYOR TURNER HAVE CONNECTED.
MAYORS, MAYORS HAVE ALL KINDS OF POLICE FORCES AND YOU KNOW, YOU NEED SOMETHING YOU CALL THE MAYOR.
SO MAYOR, I GUESS ALL THE NEEDS HAVE BEEN TAKEN CARE OF.
OKAY, SO GIVE 'EM A HAND PLEASE.
NOW, UH, CENTER POINT, I, I'M VERY PROUD OF WHAT CENTER POINT HAS DONE.
UH, WE WANT AND APPRECIATE GOOD CORPORATE CITIZENSHIP.
THIS IS GOOD CORPORATE CITIZENSHIP.
THIS IS, THIS IS WHAT WE WANT CORPORATIONS TO DO FOR OUR COMMUNITY.
UH, WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT GOOD CORPORATE CITIZENSHIP INCLUDES RESIDENTS OF SUNNYSIDE.
AND I AM PROUD OF WHAT CENTER POINT HAS DONE AND, UH, WILL LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING WITH CENTER POINT ON FUTURE PROJECTS.
SO GIVE CENTER POINT, A BIG HAND, PLEASE, IF YOU WOULD, JUST FOR ME.
OKAY NOW FRIENDS, UH, TO THE, UM, SPECIAL MOMENT THAT I REALLY AM GRATEFUL TO, TO HAVE, UH, TO YOU THE RESIDENTS OF SUNNYSIDE.
FIRST I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR ALLOWING ME TO SERVE YOU IN THE CONGRESS OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA.
UH, I'M NOT THERE BECAUSE I'M SO SMART.
UH, I'M NOT THERE BECAUSE I AM THE GIFTED AND TALENTED PERSON WHO DESERVES THE OPPORTUNITY TO REPRESENT SOME 700,000 PEOPLE.
I AM THERE BECAUSE SOMEBODY IN SUNNYSIDE, THE RESIDENTS DECIDED THAT THEY WOULD GIVE ME A CHANCE.
YOU KNOW, SOMETIMES YOU JUST NEED A CHANCE.
AND BECAUSE YOU GAVE ME A CHANCE TO SERVE, I WANT TO ASSURE YOU THAT I'M GOING TO DO ALL THAT I CAN TO LIVE UP TO YOUR EXPECTATIONS.
SO TO YOU, I THANK YOU FOR ALLOWING ME TO SERVE YOU IN THE CONGRESS OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA.
AND BECAUSE YOU HAVE ALLOWED ME TO SERVE, I'M PROUD TO TELL YOU THAT WHAT OTHERS SEE AS A GYM, A GYMNASIUM, THE PEOPLE OF SUNNYSIDE, WHEN THEY SEE THAT FACILITY, THEY SEE A COMMUNITY CENTER.
WHERE THEY SEE THAT FACILITY, THEY SEE A PLACE WHERE YOU CAN HAVE A HEALTH FAIR.
WHEN THEY SEE THAT FACILITY, THEY SEE A PLACE WHERE CHILDREN CAN COME ON, COME IN AND NOT ONLY PLAY BASKETBALL, BUT THEY CAN ALSO COME THERE FOR AFTERSCHOOL PROGRAMS. THAT IS MORE THAN A PLACE FOR CHILDREN TO PLAY BASKETBALL.
AND I ADMIRE US FOR HAVING THE GYM, BUT IT'S ALSO A PLACE FOR THIS COMMUNITY TO CONNECT AND TO GET THINGS DONE SUCH THAT WE CAN HAVE EVENTS LIKE THIS ONE TODAY.
SO PLEASE SEE MORE THAN A GYM.
SEE A COMMUNITY CENTER THAT PROVIDES RECREATION AS WELL AS AN OPPORTUNITY FOR CITIZEN PARTICIPATION IN COMMUNITY MEETINGS.
AND IF YOU LIKE WHAT YOU SEE, LET'S GIVE THE PEOPLE WHO WORK IN THAT FACILITY A BIG HAND.
LET'S GIVE THE MAYOR OF THE CITY OF HOUSTON A BIG HAND.
LET'S GIVE MR. BUGS, LET'S MISS BUGS AND LET'S GIVE THE COUNCILWOMAN A BIG HAND IF YOU LIKE WHAT YOU SEE.
AND TO FACILITATE THIS, UH, THERE WILL BE MONEY SPENT ON THAT FACILITY.
IT WILL GET A NEW ROOF, A NEW ROOF, UH, IT WILL GET NEW FLOORING, IT WILL GET NEW GOALS, IT WILL GET NEW RESTROOMS. IT WILL GET THE THINGS THAT WILL MAKE IT MORE ACCEPTABLE TO PEOPLE WHO WANT TO LIVE AND PLAY AND RESIDE IN SUNNYSIDE.
SO I AM PROUD TO TELL YOU THAT AT THIS MOMENT, MAYOR, WITH YOUR CONSENT AND PERMISSION, DO I HAVE YOUR CONSENT AND PERMISSION? YES, YOU DO.
MAYOR, I'M PROUD TO PRESENT TO YOU THIS CHECK.
SYMBOLIC, THOUGH IT MAY BE THIS CHECK FOR $1,550,000 TO THE PEOPLE OF SUNNYSIDE.
AND I'M PROUD TO HAVE EVAN SHABAZZ HERE.
UH, COUNCILWOMAN ALCORN, WOULD YOU COME OVER PLEASE? AS WELL AS STAND IN THIS PHOTO.
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MAYOR, YOU TELL ME WHO ELSE SHOULD BE HERE.HE, I DON'T KNOW MAYOR, HE, I DON'T KNOW ABOUT MAYOR HEES.
OKAY, WELL LET'S RAISE IT ABOVE THIS.
EVERYBODY GOT YOUR SHOTS? THANK YOU.
YOU KNOW, YOU TOOK THE WORDS RIGHT OUT, RIGHT OUT OF MY MOUTH BEING THE PARKS DIRECTOR IN TERMS OF THE IMPACT THAT QUALITY FACILITIES AND PROGRAMMING ACTUALLY HAVE ON THE PEOPLE.
SO WITHOUT FURTHER ADO, I'D LIKE TO ALSO INTRODUCE ANOTHER PARTNER THAT MADE THIS HAPPEN.
COUNCIL MEMBER CAROLYN EVANS SHABAZZ FOR HER EFFORTS AND THE THINGS THAT, THE THINGS THAT SHE'S DOING DAY TO DAY.
YOU WOULD SWEAR I WAS GETTING READY TO PUT ON MY CHEERLEADING UNIFORM AND COME KICK MY LEGS UP AND I'LL, IF Y'ALL LET ME KNOW, RIGHT? BUT AT ANY RATE, I AM COUNCIL MEMBER CAROLYN, EVAN SHABAZZ, THE COUNCIL MEMBER FOR DISTRICT D, WHAT I CALL THE DISTRICT OF DESTINATION.
AND THERE'S A GROUP OF PEOPLE, WE ACKNOWLEDGE ALL THE MAYOR AND WE ACKNOWLEDGE THE CONGRESSMAN AND THE CENTER POINT AND THE OTHER COUNCIL MEMBER AND THE PASTOR.
BUT YOU KNOW WHAT? THESE RIGHT HERE ARE THE MOST IMPORTANT PEOPLE THAT ARE OUT HERE.
THESE YOUNG ATHLETES AND SCHOLARS AND CHEERLEADERS AND PARENTS AND COACHES AND COMMUNITY PEOPLE THAT ARE GONNA HAVE TO COME OUT AND SUPPORT THESE YOUNG PEOPLE.
THEY NEED TO SEE YOU STANDING IN THE STANDS SHOUT SHOUTING FOR THEIR VICTORY.
AND THAT'S WHAT'S REALLY IMPORTANT HERE, BECAUSE WE'RE GONNA BUILD CHARACTER HERE.
AND WHAT I SEE WHEN I LOOK OVER THERE, I SEE HOPE.
I SEE HOPE FOR A COMMUNITY THAT HAS BEEN SOMEWHAT, UH, UNDERFUNDED IN SOME AREAS, BUT NOT ANYMORE.
THIS COMMUNITY CALLED AND CRIED OUT FOR THIS AND, YOU KNOW, IT BECAME A BIG THING, YOU KNOW, UH, UH, YOU KNOW, THE DISTRICT D OFFICE DON'T REALLY HAVE NO MONEY, BUT WE WERE HEARD BY THE CONGRESSMAN, BY CENTER POINT, BY THE MAYOR.
AND I AM SO VERY THANKFUL TO STAND HERE AT THIS PARTICULAR TIME, TO THANK EVERYONE STANDING HERE BECAUSE THIS IS A COMMUNITY EFFORT.
SO WHEN YOU HEAR THAT THERE ARE ACTIVITIES, AND YOU MAY BE ON YOUR WAY HOME IF YOU CAN'T STOP, BUT A MINUTE OR TWO TO SHOW ENCOURAGEMENT TO THESE ATHLETES WHO ALREADY TOLD ME HE WASN'T GONNA GO PLAY FOR THE TEXANS.
BUT ANYWAY, THANK YOU EVERYONE FROM THE BOTTOM OF MY HEART, I'M JUST, I'M SO FULL AND CENTER POINT HAS BEEN SUCH A TREMENDOUS PARTNER AND CERTAINLY I CAN'T SPEAK ENOUGH OF THE CONGRESSMAN AND THE MAYOR.
WHEN YOU SAY YOU CALL THE MAYOR, YOU RIGHT.
I TEXTED MAYOR ALL TIMES AT NIGHT.
NOW, YOU KNOW, BECAUSE I'M, I DON'T HAVE THE MONEY, BUT I AM THE CHEERLEADER AND I WILL GET BEHIND THE TEAM TO MAKE SURE THAT THINGS DO COME TO FRUITION.
SO THANK YOU SO VERY MUCH EVERYBODY THAT'S HERE, COUNCIL MEMBER ALCORN, YOU ARE EVERYWHERE.
AND IT CERTAINLY APPRECIATED AND WE LOVE THE PRAYERS OF THE RIGHTEOUS AND SO THANK YOU SO VERY MUCH.
ANOTHER PARTNER THAT THIS WOULD NOT HAVE HAPPENED WITHOUT IS OUR DIRECTOR OF COMPLETE COMMUNITIES.
UM, WE'VE ALREADY TALKED ABOUT THE MAJOR PUBLIC-PRIVATE PARTNERSHIPS THAT MADE THIS ALL HAPPEN, BUT I DO NEED YOU ALL TO KNOW THAT YOUR RESIDENTS, UM, YOUR NEIGHBORS HAVE BEEN DOING THIS ADVOCACY WORK FOR YOU AND WITH YOU.
MAYOR HINES, OF COURSE, EVERYONE KNOWS HOW MUCH HE FIGHTS FOR SUNNYSIDE ABSOLUTELY ALL THE TIME.
THAT'S, YES, SYKES, UH, PATRICIA SYKES HAS ALSO BEEN WORKING VERY HARD, DR. SYKES TO MAKE SURE THAT YOU ALL KNOW EXACTLY WHAT'S GONNA COME ON THAT LANDFILL FOR THE SOLAR FARM.
IT'S A LOT OF GROUP WORK COLLABORATION.
UM, REVEREND BOOKER, HE NOT ONLY CAME TO PRAY OVER THE FIELD, SO WE HAVE A GREAT AND
[00:25:01]
FABULOUS START FOR THIS ASSET IN YOUR COMMUNITY.BUT HIS LIGHTHOUSE, CDC FOR GREATER ST.
MATTHEW BAPTIST CHURCH, UH, SERVED AS THE FISCAL AGENT FOR THIS PROJECT.
THEY WERE THE ONES WHO MADE SURE THAT THE MONEY FLOWED TO THE CONTRACTORS, THE GENERAL, UM, THE CONSTRUCTION MANAGER, WHICH IS GEORGIE JOHNSON FIRM.
UM, IT HAS BEEN A, A, A COLLABORATION OF LOVE FROM FOLKS WHO KNOW SUNNYSIDE, WHO HAVE COMMITTED TO BRINGING THIS RESOURCE TO HERE.
CENTER POINT, I CALL THEM, I DON'T KNOW, ONCE A WEEK, GLORIA THERESA.
WE ARE ALWAYS TALKING, AND IT'S NOT JUST THIS FOOTBALL FIELD.
THERE ARE STRENGTHENING THE RESILIENCY OF OUR ENTIRE CITY AND ARE ALREADY WORKING ON THE CIRCUITS AND SUNNYSIDE AND OTHER COMPLETE COMMUNITIES TO MAKING SURE THAT OUR POWER IN OUR COMPLETE COMMUNITIES NEIGHBORHOODS.
'CAUSE I LIVE IN ONE, JUST AS MAYOR TURNER LIVES IN ONE, THAT THAT POWER DOESN'T GO OUT IN THE NEXT BIG STORM, WHICH WE KNOW IS COMING.
SO THEY'RE LOOKING TO OUR RESILIENCY IN MANY WAYS, NOT JUST IN POWER, BUT ALSO IN QUALITY OF LIFE AND THE IMPROVEMENTS THAT WE ARE MAKING IN THIS SPACE FOR THE CHILDREN AS COUNCIL MEMBER EVAN SHABA SAID.
SO I JUST WANNA MAKE SURE THAT WE ALL HAVE A FULL UNDERSTANDING ABOUT JUST HOW MUCH OUR RESIDENTS ARE ENGAGED IN THIS PROCESS OF BRINGING MORE TO YOUR COMMUNITY AND THAT YOUR ELECTED OFFICIALS ARE LISTENING BECAUSE CONGRESSMAN GREEN'S OFFICE, UH, ROBERT TEAM COLBY CRYSTAL, THEY ANSWER THE CALL ALWAYS RIGHT TO MAKE SURE THAT THE CONGRESSMAN KNOWS EXACTLY WHAT IT IS THAT YOU WANT AND NEED AND IS DELIVERING ON IT IN CONGRESS FOR YOU.
SO WE THANK YOU ALL FOR COMING OUT TODAY AND CONTINUING TO BE PART OF THE MOVEMENT, RIGHT? BE PART OF COMPLETE COMMUNITIES INITIATIVE.
WHEN MR. CAVE CALLS, YOU COME TO THE MEETING WHEN MS. SYKES, DR. SYKES CALLS YOU, COME TO THE MEETING.
WHEN MAYOR HINES CALLS YOU, COME TO THE MEETING.
TO THE MEETING BECAUSE WHEN CENTERPOINT KNOWS THAT THE RESIDENTS ASK FOR IT, THEY DELIVER.
OKAY, SO NOW WE'RE GONNA SEE THEM DELIVER ON THIS CHECK FOR $600,000.
SO IF GLORIA WILL COME FORWARD AS WELL AS THE MAYOR AND JASON AND ALL OF THE OTHER ELECTED OFFICIALS, PLEASE, PLEASE COME FORWARD.
I JUST HATE THEY NOT SPELLING MY NAME RIGHT.
IS THERE ANYONE FROM SUNNYSIDE OUT HERE TODAY? IS IT ANYBODY FROM SUNNYSIDE HERE TODAY? GIVEN OUR PRAISE AND HONOR AND GLORY TO GOD THE FATHER ALMIGHTY AND TO HIS ONLY SON, MY LORD AND SAVIOR JESUS CHRIST.
THIS HAS BEEN A GREAT EVENT ON TODAY IN THAT OUR LEADERS ARE LOOKING OUT FOR OUR INTEREST.
AND YES, WE HAVE PURSUED THEM UNTIL WE'VE OVERTAKEN THEM TO BRING HOME THE MONEY.
CAN WE SAY BRING HOME THE MONEY? BRING HOME THE MONEY.
NOW WE'RE GONNA SAY THANK YOU.
FIRST IT WAS A MAGNIFICENT OPENING FOR THE SUNNYSIDE HEALTH AND MULTI-SERVICE CENTER THROUGH COMPLETE COMMUNITIES AND OTHERS.
AND TODAY, LOOK AT WHAT HAS HAPPENED UNDER THE EYES OF ALMIGHTY GOD.
WHAT WE HAVE ALL BEEN WAITING FOR YEAR AFTER YEAR.
AND MAYOR AFTER MAYOR, COUNCIL MEMBER AFTER COUNCIL MEMBER HAS TAKEN PLACE IN THIS CITY, IN THIS COMMUNITY.
AND SUNNYSIDE RIGHT HERE AND RIGHT NOW, THE LAST GREAT EFFORT I KNOW OF A SITTING MAYOR PUTTING MILLIONS INTO THIS PARK WAS MAYOR BOB LANIER.
NOW OUR PHENOMENAL MAYOR, MAYOR, MY USED TO BE PRINCE CHARNEY
THIS IS THE HIGHLIGHT OF THE DAY.
YES, I'M SURE TO THE SATISFACTION OF OUR FEARLESS SUNNYSIDE COMMUNITY LEADERS AND SOME OF THEM ARE NOT HERE.
GARY MONROE, CALVIN MILLER, TEARS, SUNNYSIDE, TRACY STEVENSON, REVEREND JAMES NASH, AND ALL OF THE POP WARNER AND OTHER LITTLE LEAGUE YOUTH TEAMS,
[00:30:01]
SCHOOLS IN THE AREA, CIVIC AND OTHERS.THANKFUL TO THESE COMMUNITY LEADERS, THESE POLITICAL LEADERS, THESE GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS WHO ARE ECHOING THE VOICE OF THE COMMUNITY.
ON BEHALF OF THE SENIORS IN THIS COMMUNITY, THE UNDERSERVED BUSINESS, CIVIC, PRIVATE, AND SUNNYSIDE COMMUNITY, MAY GOD CONTINUE TO PROSPER AND BLESS US ALL IN GOODWILL.
GOD BLESS YOU AND THANK YOU SUNNY SIDE.
AND I'M GONNA MAKE A, JUST A QUICK ANNOUNCEMENT FOR THOSE OF YOU THAT ARE AVAILABLE ON THIS SATURDAY.
THERE WILL BE A SUNNY SIDE CLEAN UP AT THE MULTI-SERVICE CENTER STARTING AT 9:00 AM SO IF YOU ARE AVAILABLE, COME ON OUT.
LET'S GET THIS COMMUNITY CLEANED UP SO THAT THIS PART CAN SHINE IN A CLEAN COMMUNITY.
THAT'S THIS SATURDAY, STARTING AT NINE, NINE TO ONE AT THE MEETING AT THE MULTI-SERVICE CENTER, RIGHT DOWN THE STREET, AROUND THE CORNER.
ALRIGHT TO HEELS, CAN YOU PLEASE STAND UP ALL SUMMER IN RICHMOND, ASTROS.
COULD YOU PLEASE MOVE FORWARD? WHAT THE HELL? LOOK AT.
ALRIGHT, SO THIS IS WHAT IT'S ALL ABOUT.
THIS IS TRULY WHAT IT'S ALL ABOUT.
SO COMMUNITY LEADERS, VOLUNTEERS, CITY OFFICIALS, CONGRESSMEN, YOUR EFFORTS WILL GO AND POUR INTO THEM DAY TO DAY.
AND I WANT TO THANK ALL THE STAFF, HOUSTON PARKS AND RECREATION STAFF THAT ARE HERE FROM THE COMMUNITY CENTER TO THE GROUNDS CREWS, TO UM, OUR FACILITIES TEAM THAT, THAT'S POURING INTO THIS PLACE DAY TO DAY, LISTENING TO THE COMMUNITIES, MAKING ADJUSTMENTS.
IT'S ALL, IT'S ALL FOR OUR KIDS.
SO IT IS ALL OPPORTUNITY TO CELEBRATE.
WE'RE GONNA GO AHEAD AND TAKE A FEW PHOTOS AND THEN WE'RE GONNA RIBBON CUT RIBBON, CUT THIS FIELD AND, AND USE IT.