[00:00:07]
OKAY, LET'S,[PRESENTATIONS]
UH, LET'S GET STARTED, UH, TODAY, UM, IT IS 1 32 ON TUESDAY, MAY 23RD, 2023.I'M CALLING THIS MEETING OF THE HOUSTON CITY COUNCIL TO WATER.
UH, THE CHAIR WOULD RECOGNIZE AS COUNCIL MEMBER, UH, MICHAEL KOSH FOR A PROCLAMATION IN CELEBRATION OF ASIAN AND SPECIFIC ISLANDER RESTAURANT WEEKS, UH, IN CITY OF HOUSTON, REPRESENTATIVE VICE MEMBER TIM, WHILE THE MAYOR'S COMING, I'M GONNA ASK DEBBIE CHEN, UH, RIA SAN PO.
SIMIO AND TON LEE TO COME FORWARD.
WE HAVE THE HONOR TODAY TO RECOGNIZE THE ASIAN AMERICAN PACIFIC ISLANDERS RESTAURANT WEEKS, UH, ASIAN, UH, AMERICAN RESTAURANT WEEKS IS CELEBRATED, UH, IS A CELEBRATION OF ASIAN AMERICAN PACIFIC ISLANDER HERITAGE MONTH THROUGH THE UNIVERSAL, UH, LANGUAGE OF FOOD.
I'VE EATEN TOO MUCH OF 'EM THERE.
OCAA GREATER HOUSTON SHOWCASES ASIAN PACIFIC ISLANDERS HERITAGE THROUGH FINE CASUAL DINING MENUS AT PARTICIPATING RESTAURANTS FROM MAY THE FIRST THROUGH THE 15TH.
DINERS MAY SAVOR A VARIETY OF AWARD-WINNING CUISINES, FEATURING UNIQUE FLAVORS AND DISHES IN ASIA TOWN CHINATOWN AND ACROSS THE CITY OF HOUSTON, ASIAN RESTAURANTS AND ASIAN OWNED RESTAURANTS ARE OFTEN SMALL BUSINESSES AND FAMILY OWNED PLACES.
A API RESTAURANT WEEKS, UH, ALLOWS DINERS TO TRY NEW DISHES AND REVISIT OLD FAVORITES WHILE HONORING THE RICH HISTORY AND CULTURE OF THE DIVERSE COMMUNITY.
PATRONS WHO DONATE $25 OR MORE GAIN ACCESS TO SPECIALTY OFFERINGS AND DISCOUNTS FROM PARTICIPATING RESTAURANTS AND SPECIALTY STORES.
THIS DONATION GOES TO PURCHASE FOOD TO HELP FEED VULNERABLE FAMILIES, SENIORS, AND FRONTLINE WORKERS.
A PORTION OF THE DONATION ALSO SUPPORTS OCAS GREATER HOUSTON COMMUNITY AND YOUTH PROGRAMS. FOUNDED IN 1979, OCA GREATER HOUSTON IS ONE OF THE OCA IS THE ASIAN PACIFIC AMERICA'S ADVOCATES MORE THAN 100 CHAPTERS AND COLLEGE AFFILIATES WITH A LONG TRACK RECORD OF PROGRAMS AND INITIATIVES THAT EMPOWER THE A API.
THANK YOU COUNCIL MEMBER KASH, AND I HAVE THE PRIVILEGE OF SAYING SO.
THEREFORE, I, SYLVESTER TURNER, MAYOR OF CITY OF HOUSTON, HEREBY PROBABLY PROCLAIM MAY 1ST THROUGH JUNE 15TH, 2023 AS ASIAN, UH, A API RESTAURANT WEEKS IN THE CITY OF HOUSTON.
CONGRATULATIONS TO ALL OF YOU.
I AM THE PRO DEVELOPMENT AND PROGRAMS LEAD FOR OCA GREATER HOUSTON.
I'M JOINED HERE TODAY WITH MEMBERS OF OUR STAFF AS WELL AS COMMUNITY PARTNERS.
UM, WE WOULD LIKE TO THANK MAYOR TURNER AND THE COUNCIL MEMBER KOSH AND ALL THE PARTICIPATING RESTAURANTS FOR SUPPORTING A API RESTAURANT WEEKS, WHICH IS CURRENTLY TAKING PLACE AS SAID, UM, UNTIL JUNE 15TH.
UM, IT IS OUR FOURTH YEAR HOLDING A RW OR A API RESTAURANT WEEKS, AND WE LOOK FORWARD TO CONTINUING THIS PROGRAM FOR AS LONG AS WE CAN.
UM, ALL THE PROCEEDS LIKE MENTIONED, UM, WILL BE GIVEN OF A API RESTAURANT WEEKS, UH, WILL GO TOWARDS PURCHASING RICE FOR THE LOW INCOME A API SENIORS.
UM, THANK YOU ALL FOR RECOGNIZING AND SUPPORTING OUR ORGANIZATION AND THE PARTICIPATING RESTAURANTS EFFORTS.
WE, WE DO HAVE A COUPLE OF COUNCIL MEMBERS IN QUEUE.
UH, FIRST IS COUNCIL MEMBER THOMAS.
GOOD AFTERNOON AND CONGRATULATIONS.
COUNCIL MEMBER KUBO FOR PRESENTING THEM.
UM, DEBBIE AND FRIENDS OCAS THE TREMENDOUS OF, UH, IS A TREMENDOUS AGENCY AND FOOTPRINT IN ON THE WEST SIDE, WHICH IS THE BEST SIDE
AND, UM, I, I APPRECIATE YOU CONTINUING THIS EFFORT BECAUSE AS WE ALL KNOW, UH, MANY OF YOUR RESTAURANTS WERE IMPACTED FOR COVID AND, AND SOME WERE EVEN TARGETED.
UM, AND SO NOW THERE'S SUCH A RENAISSANCE OF ASIAN FLARE FOOD AND STOREFRONTS, LIKE I, I CAN'T WATCH INSTAGRAM ENOUGH WHERE THERE'S ANOTHER POPUP OF WHAT'S HAPPENING
[00:05:01]
IN HOUSTON.AND SO JUST REALLY APPRECIATE YOUR CONTRIBUTION TO THE CULTURE, UM, AND TO THE CITY, AND WE LOOK FORWARD TO EATING SOME GOOD FOOD WITH YOU.
CONGRATULATIONS, COUNCIL MEMBER CAYMAN.
UH, COUNCIL MEMBER KUBO AND MAYOR, THANK YOU FOR THIS RECOGNITION LIFTING UP THE DI THE DIVERSITY OF OUR FOOD, RIGHT, THAT WE LOVE AROUND HOUSTON.
REALLY QUICKLY, IF PEOPLE WANT TO GO TO A PARTICIPATING RESTAURANT, IS THERE A WEBSITE THAT THEY CAN GO TO AND WOULD YOU SAY ONE MORE TIME WHERE THEY CAN GO FOR THAT INFORMATION? ABSOLUTELY.
SO IT'S A API RESTAURANT WEEKS.COM.
AND CONGRATULATIONS AGAIN, COUNCIL MEMBER KASH WILL GIVE YOU THE LAST WORD.
YOU KNOW, MAYOR, THERE'S OTHER NOTABLE GUEST HERE.
I, I WAS TOLD THAT, UH, THE HONORABLE GORDON KWAN MAY BE HERE TODAY.
IS HE HERE NOW? THE, THE FORMER COUNCIL MEMBER, UH, I KNOW THAT WE HAVE INE CALVERT.
IS SHE HERE? INE? THERE'S INE AND WE HAVE HONORABLE ALICE LEE, CHUCK ALICE CHEN, UH, THE COUNCIL MEMBER OF CITY OF STAFFORD.
AND, UH, WE LEE, THE PRESIDENT AND CEO OF SOUTHERN NEWS GROUP.
AND, UH, WE LEE, THANK YOU AND, UH, MANIER ABRAHAM, MS. MANNE HERE.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH, AND I APPRECIATE YOU BEING HERE TODAY.
THIS FOLKS KNOW THAT RIGHT CHAIR NOW RECOGNIZES COUNCIL MEMBER SALLY ALCORN FOR A PROCLAMATION RECOGNIZING A API MENTAL HEALTH THANK YOU CHAIR.
AND I'D LIKE TO INVITE SEVERAL MEMBERS FROM THE HOPE CLINIC UP, AELA KAHN HOPE, COMMUNITY BEHAVIOR HEALTH PROGRAM MANAGER, CHOW LEE, HOPE, CLINICAL PLANNING PROJECT MANAGER, AND SHANE CHEN, COO OF HOPE CLINIC.
ANDREA'S GONNA BE WALKING IN THE DOOR, AND WE ALL KNOW RO CALVERT.
SO, MAYOR, I AM SO HONORED IN,
[00:10:01]
IN RECOGNITION OF BOTH ASIAN AMERICAN NATIVE HAWAIIAN PACIFIC ISLANDER, A-A-N-H-P-I HERITAGE MONTH AND MENTAL HEALTH AWARENESS MONTH IN MAY, THE ASIAN AMERICAN HEALTH COALITION SLASH HOPE CLINIC SEEKS RECOGNITION OF A-A-N-H-P-I MENTAL HEALTH DAY, THE ASIAN AMERICAN HEALTH CLINIC HOPE CLINIC, IN COLLABORATION WITH 10 OTHER A API AND REFUGEE SERVING COMMUNITY PARTNERS LEADS THE ASIAN AMERICANS ATTAINING AWARENESS.A INITIATIVE FUNDED BY THE HOG FOUNDATION TO INCREASE OUR UNDERSTANDING OF THE BEHAVIORAL HEALTH NEEDS OF ASIAN AMERICANS AND THEIR FAMILIES, AND TO DEVELOP CULTURALLY AND LINGUISTICALLY APPROPRIATE PROGRAMS TO MEET THOSE NEEDS.
THE ASIAN AMERICAN NATIVE HAWAIIAN AND PACIFIC ISLANDER COMMUN COMMUNITY IS AMONG THE FASTEST GROWING AND MOST DIVERSE RACIAL GROUPS IN THE UNITED STATES AND THE HOUSTON AREA.
A A NPIS HAVE GROWN BY OVER 66% IN TEXAS SINCE 2010, MAKING IT THE THIRD LARGEST A-A-N-H-P-I STATE IN THE COUNTRY.
IN THE HOUSTON AREA, ASIAN AMERICANS MAKE UP THE FASTEST GROWING ETHNIC GROUP, A 5.7% GROWTH PER YEAR.
ACCORDING TO RICE UNIVERSITY'S KINDER INSTITUTE FOR URBAN RESEARCH, THE REGION IS HOME TO 550,000 ASIAN AMERICAN RESIDENTS, THE EIGHTH LARGEST AA POPULATION IN THE COUNTRY.
APPROXIMATELY 25% OF AMERICANS EXPERIENCE AND ARE DIAGNOSED WITH ME A MENTAL HEALTH CONDITION EACH YEAR IMPACTING ALL COMMUNITIES COMPARED TO OTHER ETHNIC POPULATIONS, THE A A AND HPI COMMUNITY UTILIZES MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES AT THE LOWEST RATES.
THIS MAY BE DUE TO THE SUBSTANTIAL STIGMA ASSOCIATED WITH SEEKING MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES THAT EXISTS AMONG A, A NHPI AS WELL AS CULTURAL AND LINGUISTIC NEEDS OF THE COMMUNITY, FAMILY, AND INDIVIDUAL.
THEREFORE, THERE IS A CRITICAL NEED TO RAISE AWARENESS AND ADVOCATE FOR HEALTHCARE POLICIES AND FUNDING THAT INCREASE THE ACCESSIBILITY OF MENTAL HEALTHCARE SERVICES THAT ARE SUITABLE AND EFFECTIVE FOR THESE POPULATIONS.
RAISING AWARENESS ABOUT THE MENTAL HEALTH OF A-A-N-H-P-I COMMUNITIES ENCOURAGES PROFESSIONAL INTEREST IN HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICE CAREERS, AND FOSTERS A DIVERSIFIED WORKFORCE THAT REFLECTS THE COMMUNITY A, A RESOURCE GREATLY NEEDED.
THANK YOU, COUNCIL MEMBER, THEREFORE, I, SYLVESTER TURNER, MAYOR OF CITY OF HOUSTON, HEREBY PROBABLY PROCLAIM MAY 23RD, 2023 AS A-A-N-H-P-I, MENTAL HEALTH AWARENESS DAY IN HOUSTON, TEXAS.
THANK YOU ALL FOR WHAT YOU DO.
GLORIA HARRIS, THANK YOU SO MUCH, MAYOR TURNER, AS WELL AS COUNCIL.
UM, WE'RE FINDING OUT THAT, UH, ESPECIALLY, YOU KNOW, WITH THE PANDEMIC, UH, MENTAL HEALTH AWARENESS IS ACTUALLY SOMETHING THAT'S ACTUALLY REALLY CRITICAL, NOT ONLY TO THE, UM, INDIVIDUAL AS WELL AS THE, UM, THE YOUTH AS WELL AS THE ELDERLY.
UM, WE HELP CLINIC, WE HAVE FIVE LOCATIONS OF, AS A, A FEDERALLY QUALIFIED HEALTH CENTER.
WE HAVE COUNSELING, BEHAVIORAL HEALTH, UM, PSYCH PSYCHIATRY, AND ALSO TO ADDRESS TIMELY ACCESS TO, UM, THERAPY AS WELL AS, UM, MEDICATION ASSISTANCE.
SO WE OFFER CARE IN, UM, WHAT'S CALLED SLIDING FEES.
SO IF YOU REALLY DON'T HAVE MONEY OR RESOURCES, WE WILL NOT TURN YOU AWAY.
AND I THINK THAT'S ACTUALLY REALLY CRITICAL AT THIS TIME AS WE'RE TRYING TO GET BACK ON ALL OF OUR FEET AND GET BACK INTO, UM, THE NORM OF THINGS TO MAKE SURE THAT THE, THE CITY OF HOUSTON IS HEALTHY AND EVERYONE IS RESILIENT.
UM, WITH THAT, UM, WE'RE VERY PROUD TO ACTUALLY BE A PARTNER OF, UM, THE CITY OF HOUSTON, AS WELL AS THE, UM, LOCAL COMMUNITY, AS BOTH THE, UM, COMMUNITY HEALTH CENTER AS WELL AS COMMUNITY ADVOCATE TO MAKE SURE THAT, UM, THE RESOURCES THERE.
AND ALSO THERE'S, UM, AWARENESS ABOUT THE DISPARITY THAT IS EXISTING.
UM, WE'RE CURRENTLY, UH, HOSTING THIS PROJECT.
IN PART, IT IS A FUNDING FROM THE HOG FOUNDATION CALLED THE, UM, ASIAN AMERICAN DETAINING AWARENESS THAT WE'RE COLLECTING DATA FROM, UH, VARIOUS UNDERSERVED, UM, ASIAN AMERICAN POPULATIONS TO BE ABLE TO REALLY LOOK AT THE GAPS AS WELL AS CHALLENGES, BARRIERS, STIGMA, TO BE ABLE TO ADDRESS, ADDRESS THOSE, AS WELL AS LOOKING AT TRAUMA, ANYONE WHO'S ACTUALLY GONE THROUGH WAR TORN COUNTRIES SUCH AS AFGHANISTAN, TO BE ABLE TO LOOK AT TRAUMA, UH, INFORMED, UM, CARE SO THAT THE PROVIDERS CAN BE AWARE OF, UM, SITUATIONS AND BE ABLE TO ADDRESS THOSE CARE IN A VERY SENSITIVE TIME, UH, MANNER.
WE HAVE A NUMBER OF COUNCIL MEMBERS IN Q COUNCIL, MEMBER CABBY, ABBY CAYMAN.
UM, COUNCIL MEMBER ALCORN, THANK YOU FOR THIS.
AND I KNOW OUR, UH, HEALTH DEPARTMENT DIRECTOR IS ALSO HERE, UM, IN TERMS OF JUST, AGAIN, BRINGING ATTENTION
[00:15:01]
TO THIS, RIGHT? WE JUST HAD, UH, A API RESTAURANTS WEEK WHERE WE'RE SUPPORTING OUR LOCAL BUSINESSES, BUT WE ALSO HAVE THIS CRITICAL ISSUE THAT YOU ALL ARE ADDRESSING FOR OUR A-A-N-H-P-I COMMUNITY.AND I, I KNOW YOU DIDN'T TOUCH ON IT, BUT AS YOU TALK ABOUT RESILIENCE, WHAT OUR A API AND A-A-N-H-P-I, I'M ADDING MORE LETTERS IN
I CAN ONLY IMAGINE THAT NOW MORE THAN EVER, THE SERVICES THAT YOU'RE PROVIDING TO MAKE SURE THAT THE COMMUNITY AND OUR ENTIRE COMMUNITY IS RESILIENT DESPITE THE, THE HATE THAT HAS BEEN GOING ON DESPITE THE TARGETING, UH, MY HEARTFELT APPRECIATION TO THAT WORK COUNCIL MEMBER, TIFFANY D. THOMAS, THANK YOU, MAYOR PRO, TIM SHANE, AND DR.
IT'S ALWAYS GOOD TO SEE Y'ALL.
I MEAN, UH, YOU CAN'T GO ANYWHERE ON THE WEST SIDE WITHOUT SEEING Y'ALL AT COMMUNITY EVENTS.
UM, AND, AND MAYOR TURNER, YOU, AS YOU RECALL, WE HAD OUR OPENING IN JANUARY OF THE CENTER, AND THEN JUST DOWN THE ROAD ON BEL AIR THAT SPRING, THEY OPENED THEIR FANTASTIC FACILITY, UM, WHERE YOU WILL CONTINUE TO BE THE FRONT DOOR FOR MANY INDIVIDUALS RECEIVING PRIMARY CARE, HEALTH, AND ALSO MENTAL HEALTH.
JUST WANNA THANK YOU FOR WHO YOU ARE AND WHAT YOU DO, AND APPRECIATE SEEING YOU IN CHAMBERS.
COUNCIL MEMBER ALCORN AND MAYOR TURNER, VICE MAYOR PRO TEM, MARTHA CASTEX.
THANK YOU, UH, CHAIR COUNCIL MEMBER ALCORN, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR BRINGING THIS FORWARD.
UM, MAY IS DEFINITELY MENTAL HEALTH AWARENESS MONTH AND A GREAT TIME FOR US TO AMPLIFY THE IMPORTANCE OF OUR MENTAL WELLNESS FOR ALL OF US.
UH, WE DEFINITELY NEED TO CONTINUE TO WORK TO REMOVE THE STIGMA OF MENTAL HEALTH, UM, AND THE IMPORTANCE OF MENTAL HEALTH IN OUR COMMUNITIES.
AND SO, I'M SO GRATEFUL TO SEE OTHER ORGANIZATIONS REACHING OUT TO PEOPLE TO MAKE SURE THAT THERE IS, UM, NO SHAME IN GETTING THE ASSISTANCE THAT YOU NEED.
UH, OUR OFFICE PUTS TOGETHER A RESOURCE GUIDE FOR MENTAL, UH, HEALTH MONTH, UH, AND I NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT WE ADD THE HOPE CLINIC IN OUR RESOURCE GUIDE BECAUSE WE ARE DISTRIBUTING IT AROUND THE CITY BECAUSE WE GET THE PHONE CALLS AND PEOPLE ARE JUST DESPERATE TO KNOW, WHERE CAN I GO AND GET HELP FOR MY LOVED ONE? OR, WHERE ARE THERE RESOURCES AVAILABLE? AND I DON'T HAVE A LOT OF MONEY WHO CAN HELP ME? SO TO HEAR THAT YOU OFFER IT ON A SLIDING SCALE, IT'S CRITICALLY IMPORTANT.
THOSE, UH, RESOURCES ARE, ARE, ARE VALUE ADDED TO EVERYONE IN THE COMMUNITY.
SO THANK YOU FOR THE GREAT WORK THAT YOU DO, AND RAISE JEAN'S.
ALL RIGHT, COUNCIL MEMBER LETICIA PLUMMER, THANK YOU SO MUCH HERE FOR TIM.
AND, AND I WANNA ACKNOWLEDGE YOU FROM A DIFFERENT PERSPECTIVE, JUST CULTURALLY.
SO MY MOM IS ARAB AND YEMENI, RIGHT? AND SO FOR CULTURALLY, I THINK MENTAL HEALTH IS NOT DISCUSSED IN OUR FAMILIES.
AND SO WHAT I WANT YOU TO KNOW IS THAT YOU'RE GIVING PEOPLE PERMISSION AND, AND YOU'RE, YOU'RE GIVING, YOU'RE TELLING THEM THAT IT'S OKAY FROM A CULTURAL PERSPECTIVE.
HISTORICALLY, WE JUST DIDN'T TALK ABOUT THAT.
AND IT'S A LITTLE BIT DIFFERENT FROM THE WESTERN CULTURE, RIGHT? I MEAN, IT'S, IT'S DEFINITELY, IT WAS, IT'S VERY DIFFERENT AT HOME.
YOU KIND OF KEEP IT YOURSELF, YOU DEAL WITH YOUR PROBLEMS PRIVATELY, YOU KNOW? AND SO I THINK THIS IS HUGE BECAUSE YOU'RE ALLOWING PEOPLE WITHIN OUR CULTURE, WITHIN THE CULTURE TO SAY, LISTEN, IT'S OKAY.
WE CAN HAVE THESE CONVERSATIONS.
AND NOT ONLY THAT, YOU'RE ALSO ALLOWING PEOPLE TO COME TO SOMEONE THAT UNDERSTANDS THE CULTURE, TO HAVE THOSE CON THOSE CONVERSATIONS.
SO FROM THAT PERSPECTIVE, I REALLY APPRECIATE IT.
AND, UM, I THINK IT'S WONDERFUL WHAT YOU'RE DOING.
AND CONGRATULATE, THANK YOU COUNCIL MEMBER ALCO, FOR BRINGING THIS FORWARD.
AND OBVIOUSLY, MAYOR TURNER, YOU ALWAYS HAVE BEEN AN ADVOCATE FOR, FOR MENTAL HEALTH, ESPECIALLY DURING COVID.
SO THANK YOU, COUNCIL MEMBER MICHAEL KUBOSH.
UM, THIS IS KIND OF LIKE A CONTINUATION OF WHAT WE WERE ALREADY DOING, BUT IT'S, IT'S SO GOOD TO, UH, TO SEE ROSE HERE,
AND I WANT YOU TO KNOW, I, I GREATLY APPRECIATE IT, AND I'VE ALWAYS ENJOYED IT.
AND, UH, I, I WAS TOLD TODAY THAT, THAT UNDER THE CHINESE CALENDAR, I'M A, I'M A RABBIT, BUT, BUT UNDER THE, UH, VIETNAMESE CALENDAR, I'M A CAT.
I DON'T KNOW WHICH ONE OF THE TWO I WANT TO BE.
SO, BUT YOU'VE ALWAYS BEEN SO GRACIOUS, AND THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE WITH US, SIR.
THANK YOU AGAIN, AND CONGRATULATIONS.
OKAY, I'M GONNA SAY THAT BECAUSE
[00:21:10]
VESTA TURNER FOR PROCLAMATIONS TO BRAVO AWARD WINNERS TO RECOGNIZE CITY EMPLOYEES.OKAY? OUT OF ALL THE AWARDS THAT CITY GIVES, UH, THE BRAVO AWARDS ARE AMONG THE MOST ESTEEM AND IMPORTANT AND BRAVO AWARDS GO TO CITY EMPLOYEES WHO ARE NOT ONLY OUTSTANDING AT THEIR JOBS, THEY'RE EXEMPLARY AND INSPIRING MEMBERS OF OUR COMMUNITY.
THEY'RE TRULY PUBLIC SERVANTS WITH EMPHASIS ON SERVICE SERVING.
OTHERS COMES NATURALLY FOR THESE SIX.
THEIR SENSE OF SERVICE DOESN'T STOP WHEN THEY LEAVE THE OFFICE.
THEY CONTINUE TO SERVE THROUGH HOUSES OF WORSHIP, COMMUNITY OUTREACH, AND HELPING THOSE LESS FORTUNATE PEOPLE WHO RECEIVE BRAVO AWARDS DO WHAT THEY DO OUT OF A SENSE OF MISSION.
IT IS AS IF THEY DON'T EVEN CONSIDER THAT THEY HAVE A CHOICE.
THERE'S A NEED, AND THEY CAN DO SOMETHING TO HELP.
AND SO THEY WANT TO, AND THEY DON'T MAKE A BIG DEAL OUT OF IT.
SO IT'S UP TO US BECAUSE IT IS A BIG DEAL WHEN SO MANY OF YOUR WAKING HOURS ON THE JOB AND AWAY FROM WORK ARE DEDICATED TO OTHERS.
YOU MAKE OUR CITY A BETTER PLACE.
SO IT IS IMPORTANT FOR US TO EXPRESS OUR GRATITUDE FOR THEIR SERVICE.
YOU NOT ONLY DO A GREAT JOB FOR THE CITY OF HOUSTON, YOU ALSO DO MUCH MORE FOR THE COMMUNITY OF HOUSTON.
AND FOR THAT, WE SAY BRAVO, AND WELL DONE HERE.
YOUR 2023 BRAVO AWARDS WINNERS.
UM, AND THE TONYS AND THE OSCARS COULD NOT BE BETTER THAN WHAT WE ARE PRESENTING, UH, TODAY.
EACH ONE OF THEM WILL RECEIVE A TRIP ALL AROUND THE WORLD, MULTIPLE TIMES,
UH, SONYA BAREN, SONYA SONYA, SONYA BARON GRAHAM, UH, WHERE'S SONJA ADMINISTRATIVE COORDINATOR, HOUSTON RESOURCES DEPARTMENT, COMMUNICATIONS DIVISION.
BEING THE VOICE OF CONSCIOUS MOTIVATION, SELF-AWARENESS AND WELLBEING FOR OTHERS IS NOT AN EASY TASK.
UH, BUT SONYA BARING GRAHAM TOOK IT UPON HERSELF TO BE THAT VOICE COMING FROM A PLACE OF EMPATHY AND SPEAKING FROM THE HEART.
SONYA SEEKS TO EMPOWER OTHERS AT WORK AND THROUGH HER ALTRUISM TO MAKE SURE THAT EVERYONE RECEIVES THE OPPORTUNITIES THEY DESERVE.
AS AN HONORARY BOARD MEMBER OF THE SAFE DIVERSITY COMMUNITIES NONPROFIT, SONYA USES HER SOCIAL MEDIA PRESENCE TO PROMOTE AND RAISE FUNDS FOR SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS TO HELP THEM ATTEND COLLEGE.
AND IN MOST CASES, UH, THEY BECOME THE FIRST MEMBER OF THEIR FAMILY TO DO SO WITH AN ADVOCACY FOR DIVERSITY, EQUALITY, AND DISABILITY.
SONYA CO-FOUNDED AN ANNUAL BLANKET AND SOCK DRIVE THREE YEARS AGO.
THE DRIVES COLLECT DONATIONS THROUGHOUT THE YEAR, AND SONYA PERSONALLY DELIVERS THE ITEMS TO THE UNHOUSED IN OUR COMMUNITY.
SONYA HAS BEEN DESCRIBED AS THE HELPER.
MR. ROGERS TOLD US ABOUT, NO MATTER IF IT'S COOKING, CLEANING, COLLECTING, OR PROMOTING, SHE'S ALWAYS LOOKING FOR WAYS TO GIVE BACK.
SHE IS ALSO THE CONVERSATION STARTER WHO SHARES HER OWN EXPERIENCES TO MAKE SURE EVERYONE FEELS HEARD, INCLUDED, AND EMPOWERED TO BE THEIR AUTHENTIC SELVES, NO MATTER HOW UNIQUE THEIR CHALLENGES ARE.
SONYA, THANK YOU FOR BEING THE VOICE OF MOTIVATION AND FAIRNESS, UH, WE ALL NEED.
AND SO PLEASE GIVE IT UP TO SONYA BARING.
[00:25:02]
THANK YOU.NOW THE NEXT BROTHER WINNER IS THE TRISTA LEE BROWN.
LEE BROWN IS A WOMAN OF ACTION AND PROBLEM SOLVING A CHANGE AGENT.
UH, SHE PROBLEM SOLVED HER OWN CHALLENGING EXPERIENCE AND TRANSFORMED THEM INTO WAYS TO HELP OTHERS WHO FACE SIMILAR SITUATIONS, SEEKING TO HELP OTHERS, AT LEAST STARTED HER OWN NONPROFIT.
MORE THAN 10 YEARS AGO, THE SAVANNAH COMMUNITY, AMERICAN RELIEF FUND OF SCARF OFFICE, ASSISTANCE TO FAMILIES AND RESIDENTS OF THE SAVANNAH COMMUNITY DURING CHALLENGING TIMES TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY HAVE A HELPING HAND SO NO ONE SUFFERS ALONG OR IN SILENCE WHEN DIFFICULT LIFE EVENT OCCURS.
SHE HAS ESTABLISHED CONNECTIONS WITH LARGE AND SMALL BUSINESSES TO ENSURE A SAFE AND EASY BACK TO SCHOOL EXPERIENCE FOR THE CHILDREN IN THE COMMUNITY, PROVIDING UNIFORM SCHOOL SUPPLIES AND FREE HAIR SERVICE.
HER SINCERE CONCERN FOR YOUNG PEOPLE IS ALSO EXPRESSED THROUGH BISM WITH THE YOUTH POLICE ADVISORY COUNCIL, WHERE SHE ADVISES AND MENTORS YOUTH TO HELP, UH, YPAC EPAC PROMOTE MUTUAL TRUST AND UNDERSTANDING BETWEEN HOUSTON KIDS AND THE POLICE.
LEE ALSO VOLUNTEERS TO HELP DISTRIBUTE MEALS AND HOUSEHOLD ITEMS TO SENIOR CITIZENS.
THANK YOU LEE BROWN, FOR MAKING THINGS HAPPEN.
PLEASE GIVE IT UP TO LETA LEE BROWN.
READY? ONE, TWO, CONGRATULATIONS.
THE NEXT BRAVO AWARD WINNER IS JANAE CASH DESCRIBED AS SOMEONE WHO MAKES YOU FEEL SPECIAL.
JANAE CASH FULLY UNDERSTANDS THE MEANING OF FRIENDSHIP, NOT ONLY TO THOSE WHO KNOW HER, BUT TO EVERYONE.
SHE COMES ACROSS AS A FOUNDER OF THE OF THE GIRLFRIEND'S CHRISTMAS PARTY.
SHE HAS TOUCHED THE LIVES OF HUNDREDS OF, UH, BY HOSTING AN ANNUAL PARTY FOR MORE THAN 20 YEARS.
AND THROUGH HER CONNECTIONS AND COLLABORATIONS WITH CHARITABLE ORGANIZATIONS, SHE HAS BROUGHT TOYS TO CHILDREN WHO WOULD BE GONE, LARGELY, WHO WOULD HAVE GONE LARGELY WITHOUT HER.
WORK HAS ALSO COLLECTED AND DISTRIBUTED TORIES TO WOMEN IN NEED CARE PACKAGES FOR COLLEGE STUDENTS, AND MUCH, MUCH MORE.
BUT FRIENDSHIP APART FROM BEING SUPPORTIVE, BRING OTHERS CLOSER TO THE RESOURCES TO BUILD THEIR OWN SKILLS AND HAVE BETTER OPPORTUNITIES.
AS A BOARD MEMBER OF, OF CIVIC HEART COMMUNITY SERVICES, FORMERLY CHANGE HAPPENS.
JANAE SEEKS TO EMPOWER OUR COMMUNITY, CHILDREN, YOUTH AND ADULTS WITH EDUCATION SO THEY CAN HAVE HEALTHIER LIVES, MAKE INFORMED DECISIONS, EMBRACE CHANGE, AND THRIVE.
SHE IS ALSO A LOYAL FRIENDS TWO LINKS INCORPORATED THE MISSOURI CITY CHAPTER AND A OH, THEY JUST HAD THEIR LUNCHEON.
AND A 20 PLUS YEAR MEMBER OF DELTA SIGMA THETA SORORITY INCORPORATED WHERE SHE HAS, OKAY, WHERE SHE HAS A COMMUNITY IN BOTH, UM, SERVICE A COMMUNITY IN BOTH ORGANIZATIONS IN WHATEVER CAPACITY NEEDED TO PROVIDE POSITIVE AND IMPACTFUL CHANGE.
THANK YOU JANAE CASH FOR BEING AN UNCONDITIONAL FRIEND.
PLEASE GIVE IT UP TO JANAE CASH.
AND I'LL TELL YOU, WHY DON'T WE DO THIS? YOUR PARENTS ARE HERE.
WHY DON'T YOU COME? RIGHT? OH, AND, AND, AND HER HUSBAND.
THEN WE'LL CIRCLE BACK IN CASE Y'ALL HAVE, OKAY.
[00:30:08]
THANK YOU.FAITH FOREMAN HAYES IS ONE YOU CAN ALWAYS COUNT ON, AND NOT ONLY AT WORK.
DURING HER YEARS OF SERVICE WITH THE CITY OF HOUSTON, AND THROUGH HER MANY OTHER ACTS AND TISM, SHE HAS REPRESENTED LOYALTY, RESILIENCE, INNOVATION, AND THE TRUE MEANING OF SISTERHOOD.
SERVING SIGMA GAMMA RO SORORITY INCORPORATED FOR 37 YEARS AT DIFFERENT LEVELS AND POSITIONS.
SHE HAS BEEN DESCRIBED AS A HUMBLE PERSON WHO TREATS EVERYONE WITH DIGNITY AND RESPECT, WITH A PARTICULAR FOCUS ON HEALTH AND WELLNESS.
AS PART OF HER SORORITY, SHE LED THE CDC FUNDED A 34 LIFE PROJECT, DESIGNED TO REDUCE HIV AIDS AND AFRICAN AMERICAN COMMUNITIES, AND LATER DEVELOPED THE WALK 22 WALKING PROGRAM TO MAKE SURE MEMBERS AND AFFILIATES HAVE ACTED LIVES DURING THE LAST FEW YEARS.
NOW, AS THE INTERNATIONAL WOMEN'S WELLNESS LIAISON, SHE SEEKS TO BRING WELLBEING TO WOMEN AND THEIR FAMILIES.
APART FROM THE TISM AND INITIATIVE SHE HAS PROMOTED WITH HER SORORITY FOR ALMOST FOUR DECADES, SHE'S A DEDICATED SUPPORTER OF THE SISTERS NETWORK INCORPORATED FOR AFRICAN AMERICANS BREAST CANCER SURVIVORS IN HER PROFESSIONAL LIFE.
AND AS A CITY OF HOUSTON PUBLIC SERVANT, SHE HAS MERGED MOTIVATE INNOVATION WITH HER HEALTH INITIATIVES.
DR. FOREMAN HAYES HAS LED NUMEROUS ASSESSMENTS, INTERVENTION AND MOBILIZATION OR AIM PROJECTS WITH THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT OVER THE PAST 15 YEARS.
AND WE ALSO THANK HER FOR DEVELOPING THE OFFICE OF CHRONIC DISEASE HEALTH, EDUCATION AND WELLNESS.
AND SHE IS RETIRING FROM THE CITY OF HOUSTON COME JULY, ALTHOUGH THAT MAY BE EXTENDED BY AN EXECUTIVE ORDER OF THE OF ME.
FAITH FOREMAN HAYES, FOR CARING ABOUT OUR COMMUNITY'S HEALTH AND WELLBEING.
WILL YOU COME? AND THAT'S YOUR HUSBAND? YES.
AND HER HUSBAND IS ALSO RETIRING.
UH, THE NEXT, UH, BRAVO WARD, UH, IS, UH, IS THAT TEMA? TIM? TIM, YEAH.
THE BEST WAY TO LIVE IS WITH PASSION, BUT TURNING THIS PASSION INTO THE FUEL THAT DRIVES YOU TO HELP OTHERS IS A GIFT THAT TIM RYER HAS MASTERED.
TIM HAS TURNED HIS PASSION FOR BASEBALL INTO COMMUNITY SERVICE AND HAS BROUGHT ALL HIS SKILLS TO THE GAME.
TIM HAS BEEN A MEMBER OF THE OAK DADS CLUB FOR MORE THAN 20 YEARS.
HE HAS COACHED FOR THE CLUB'S MINOR AND MAJOR YOUTH BASEBALL DIVISIONS, AND HAS ALSO SERVED AS A HEAD UMPIRE AND AS PART OF THE CLUB'S BOARD OF DIRECTORS, HE NOT ONLY SHARED HIS KNOWLEDGE OF BASEBALL, BUT HE ALSO FOUND THE RIGHT OPPORTUNITIES TO HELP IN OTHER AREAS, SUCH AS FINANCE, VOLUNTEERISM, UH, ADVERTISING, AND MUCH MORE.
TIM USES HIS SKILLS AND SHARES HIS KNOWLEDGE AT EVERY LEVEL.
PLUS, HE'S A POSITIVE ROLE MODEL TO CHILDREN, GIVING THEM A SENSE OF PURPOSE, DISCIPLINE, ORGANIZATION, AND COMMUNITY VALUES THAT ARE ALL, ARE ALREADY DIRECTING THEM TO A BRIGHTER FUTURE.
THANK YOU, TIM RY FOR BEING A REAL TEAM PLAYER.
[00:35:39]
ONE, TWO, AND THREE.THE NEXT AWARD WINNER, BRAVO WOMAN WINNER, ZACHARY THOMAS.
ZACHARY IS A TRUE EXAMPLE OF MENTORSHIP AND COUNSELING AT WORK AND IN ALL IMPORTANT AREAS OF SAFETY ON THE JOB AND RISK MANAGEMENT.
AND AT HIS CHURCH, AND AS AND AS A PASTOR WITH THE CHURCH OF GOD IN CHRIST AND ASSISTANT PRESIDENT OF THE GALVESTON DISTRICT EVANGELIST DEPARTMENT, HE HAS VOLUNTEERED HIS SERVICES PROVIDING COUNSEL AND MATTERS SUCH AS RELATIONSHIP, FINANCES, HEALTH, AND PROFESSIONAL SUCCESS, TO MENTION ONLY A FEW.
AND ALL THIS IS WITH THE SOLE INTENTION OF HELPING THOSE IN NEED TO DEVELOP THEIR OWN SKILLS, EMBRACE OPPORTUNITIES, AND BECOME POSITIVE ROLE MODELS FOR YOUNGER GENERATIONS.
GOING EVEN FURTHER TO HELP THE COMMUNITY, ESPECIALLY THOSE IN NEED OF HUNGER PREVENTION AND NUTRITIONAL BENEFITS.
ZACHARY PERSONALLY STOCKS THE FOOD BANK AND DISTRIBUTES FOOD TO THE BRAZORIA AND HINKLE BERRY COMMUNITIES, WHERE HE ALSO BRINGS COACHING AND DIRECTION TO YOUNG MEN.
THANK YOU ZACHARY THOMAS, FOR BEING AN ADVOCATE FOR THE WELLBEING OF THE MIND, THE BODY, AND THE SPIRIT.
PLEASE GIVE IT UP TO ZACHARY THOMAS, THREE, DIRECTOR HAYES, DIRECTOR WILLIAMS. I'M THINKING ABOUT DR.
I'M THINKING, I'M THINKING ABOUT DR. HAYES
HE SAID, HAYES, I KNEW YOU WASN'T HAYES
I CAN'T EVEN GO BACK TO WORK THEN.
I THOUGHT YOU WERE TALKING ABOUT HIM.
UM, LEE BROWN, WHY DON'T YOU COME BACK? YOU LIKE THIS? YEAH.
AND FAMILY MEMBERS OF LEE BROWN, SONYA BARRY, AND GRAHAM AND FAMILY MEMBERS TAKE YOUR TIME
[00:41:35]
FOR AWARD WINNERS.IT IS MY HONOR AND PRIVILEGE TO RECOGNIZE MAYOR SYLVETA TURNER FOR A PROCLAMATION TO SERGEANT KENDRICK SIMO IN RECOGNITION OF HIS MEDAL OF, UH, LEMME SAY THIS BEFORE I PRESENT THIS FOR OUR PROCLAMATION, I KNOW THAT SERGEANT SIMO WAS, UH, IN C RECEIVING, UM, THE, THE PRESTIGIOUS AWARD FROM, UM, FROM PRESIDENT BIDEN.
UM, AND IT'S ONE THING TO BE RECOGNIZED OUTSIDE OF YOUR HOME, BUT IT'S ALSO IMPORTANT TO BE RECOGNIZED AT YOUR HOME.
AND SO WE WANTED TO, UH, TO PRESENT THIS PROCLAMATION, UH, TO SERGEANT KENDRICK SIMO.
AND WHEREAS SERGEANT KENDRICK KENDRICK SIM WAS SWORN INTO THE HOUSTON POLICE DEPARTMENT IN MAY, 2009, AND AFTER SEVERAL DEDICATED YEARS AS POLICE OFFICER SIMO EARNED HIS SERGEANT BADGE IN JUNE, 2020.
AND WHEREAS HE HAS DEDICATED HIMSELF TO PROTECTING AND SERVING THE CITIZENS OF HOUSTON BY ATTENDING TO THE WELFARE AND RECOVERY OF SURVIVORS THROUGH HBDS VICTIM SERVICES DIVISION, HE CONTINUES TO SERVE AND IS CURRENTLY ASSIGNED TO THE INTERNAL AFFAIRS DIVISION.
AND WHEREAS IN FEBRUARY, 2022, WHILE SERGEANT SEPA WAS WORKING AN EXTRA JOB AT THE GALLERY OF SHOPPING MALL, HE HEARD A CALL OVER THE RADIO THAT A SUSPECT WAS ARMED WITH A RIFLE.
SERGEANT SPO QUICKLY RESPONDED, IN SPITE OF THE SURVIVE, THE SUSPECT WITHIN A FEW FEET OF, OF HUNDREDS OF CHILDREN AND THEIR FAMILIES, BY PARTICIPATING IN A DANCE COMPETITION, SERGEANT SIM WAS ABLE TO, UH, TACKLE THE ARMED SUSPECT WITHOUT A SINGLE SHOT BEING FIRED.
AND WHEREAS AFTER THE SUSPECT WAS ARRESTED, HE WAS FOUND TO HAVE MORE THAN 120 ROUNDS OF AMMUNITION AND A HANDGUN, WHICH COULD HAVE LED TO A DIFFERENT OUTCOME, IF NOT FOR SERGEANT SIMPLE'S QUICK ACTION AND EXEMPLARY, EXEMPLARY BRAVERY.
AND WHEREAS THE UNITED STATES PRESIDENT JOE BIDEN AWARDED SERGEANT SIM WITH THE PUBLIC SAFETY OFFICER MEDAL OF VALOR ON MAY 17TH, 2023, AND PRAISED SIM FOR ACTING DISCREETLY AND DECISIVELY PLACING THE SAFETY OF OTHERS ABOVE HIS OWN AND RESTRAINING THE HEAVILY ARMED SUSPECT WITH HIS OWN HANDS.
WHEREAS THE CITY OF HOUSTON COMMANDS SERGEANT KENDRICK SIMO ON THE BRAVERY AND DEDICATION TO PROTECTING THE CITIZENS OF THE CITY, AND OWES HIM A DEBT OF GRATITUDE FOR HIS SERVICE AND SACRIFICE.
SO THEREFORE, I SYLVESTER TURNER, MAYOR OF CITY OF HOUSTON, HEREBY DUE, PROCLAIM MAY 23RD, 2023, AS SERGEANT KENDRICK SIMO DAY IN THE CITY OF HOUSTON.
[00:45:13]
A LITTLE BIT, WE I AM GOOD.WHY DON'T WE DO THIS AND THEN WE'LL TURN AROUND AND YOU CAN SPEAK TO COUNCIL MEMBERS.
COMMENTS AND HIS FAMILY MEMBERS JUMP IN.
I WANTED TO SHARE REALLY QUICKLY, ON BEHALF OF CHIEF FENNER WHO COULD NOT BE HERE THIS AFTERNOON, ALL THE MEN AND WOMEN OF THE HOUSTON POLICE DEPARTMENT ARE EXTREMELY PROUD OF SERGEANT SIMO.
AND SO I WAS HONORED TO BE ON THE PHONE WITH CHIEF NER, AND YOU LAST, UH, ALMOST TWO WEEKS AGO NOW, WHEN WE GAVE YOU THE PHONE CALL IN THE NEWS, UH, FROM WASHINGTON, AND, AND DEFINITELY A HIGHLIGHT, UH, FOR ALL OF US, THE FIRST HOUSTON POLICE OFFICER IN OUR HISTORY TO BE AWARDED THE PRESIDENT'S, UM, MEDAL OF VALOR.
UM, AND QUITE FRANKLY, UM, STOPPED AND THWARTED A THREAT THAT COULD HAVE TURNED OUT TO BE A HORRIBLY, HORRIBLY TRAGIC, TRAGIC DAY.
UM, AND QUICK ACTION THINKING, NO REGARD FOR HIMSELF, NO REGARD FOR HIS OWN SAFETY.
UH, DEFINITELY, UM, YOU KNOW, OUTMATCHED AS IT RELATED TO THE FIREARMS AND ROUNDS IN POSSESSION.
UM, AND YOU MADE A SPLIT SECOND DECISION THAT NONE OF US SHOULD EVER HAVE TO MAKE.
AND YOU MADE THE RIGHT ONE, AND YOU KEPT EVERYBODY SAFE.
AND WE'RE PROUD OF YOU, AND WE LOVE YOU.
AND I HAVE A WHOLE ROOM FULL OF PEOPLE WAITING ON ME AT HEADQUARTERS FOR A MEETING, AND I'M GOING TO TAKE MY LEAVE NOW AND GO HANDLE THAT, BECAUSE TODAY IS NOT ABOUT CHIEFS.
IT'S NOT ABOUT, UH, CHIEF NER OR MYSELF OR ANY LEADERS IN THE HOUSTON POLICE DEPARTMENT.
TODAY IS ABOUT THIS LEADER RIGHT HERE, SERGEANT KENDRICK SIMO.
AND I WILL LEAVE IT TO YOU, SIR.
I'M GONNA TRY TO MAKE THIS REAL SHORT.
UM, OF COURSE, IT WAS AWESOME WEEK.
UM, HAS BEEN AN AWESOME MAY FOR ME.
OF COURSE, I HAVE MY FAMILY HERE, WHICH MEANS THE WORLD TO ME, FAMILY IS EVERYTHING.
UM, TO ME, GOING TO GO MEET THE PRESIDENT, UH, WAS DEFINITELY A BUCKET LIST, UH,
SO I TELL MY, MY FAMILY AND I TELL ALL MY FRIENDS, UM, I'M VERY THANKFUL WE RECEIVING AN AWARD, BUT JUST THE FACT THAT I WAS ABLE TO TAKE MY, MY WHOLE ENTIRE FAMILY WITH, WITH ME, AND HAVE THEM, WITH THEM TO EXPERIENCE THIS, THAT MEANT THE WORLD TO ME.
SO DEFINITELY APPRECIATE Y'ALL ACKNOWLEDGING ME.
BUT I HAVE ONE QUESTION THERE.
SO NOW, SINCE YOU PRESENTED ME THIS PROCLAMATION AND IT SAYS, KENDRICK, SIMPLE DAY.
SO I PLAN ON RETIRING IN LIKE SIX MORE YEARS.
[00:50:01]
SO EVERY MAY IS YOUR DAY.DOES THAT MEAN I GET A SPECIAL ASSIGNMENT OR, UH, YOU KNOW, CITY BUSINESS OFF EVERY SINGLE DAY ON YOUR DAY? IS YOUR DAY
THANK ALL MY COWORKERS FOR COMING AND SHOWING SUPPORT.
GOT AN AWESOME CREW THAT I WORK WITH.
BUT LIKE I TELL EVERYBODY, YOU KNOW, I MAY BE THE FIRST, BUT I'M NOT THE LAST.
WE'RE DEFINITELY GONNA PAY HOUSTON POLICE DEPARTMENT ON THE MAP, AND IT'S GONNA BE OTHER WAR RECIPIENTS THAT'S GONNA RECEIVE IT.
SO, SERGEANT SIMO, IF YOU WOULDN'T MIND, COULD YOU INTRODUCE US TO YOUR FAMILY THAT'S WITH YOU? SURE.
I HAVE MY OLDEST SON, AMIR SIMO
AND I HAVE MY BABY BOY CHRISTIAN SIMO.
WE HAVE A NUMBER OF COUNCIL MEMBERS IN CUBA.
ON SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 6TH, 2022.
WE DIDN'T WAKE UP AND READ ABOUT MASSIVE SHOOTINGS IN THE STATE OF HOUSTON.
WE DIDN'T HAVE TO RUN WITH FLOWERS TO THE GALLERIA AREA AND LAY THEM DOWN.
AND I WANT TO ADDRESS THIS TO YOUR TWO YOUNG MEN.
I WON'T CALL 'EM YOUR, YOUR KIDS, TWO YOUNG MEN.
WE DIDN'T HAVE TO DO THAT BECAUSE YOU ACTED.
NO TELLING HOW MANY LIVES YOU SAVED.
I DO BELIEVE THAT THE GOOD LORD SENDS YOU DOWN A PATH THAT YOU DON'T KNOW ABOUT.
AND THAT DAY, ON THAT SATURDAY, YOUR PATH WAS TO GO TO THE GALLERIA AREA AND PROTECT THOSE YOUNG GIRLS, MOSTLY THAT WERE IN THAT DANCE CONTEST.
SO THANK YOU FOR WHAT YOU DO, AND MORE IMPORTANTLY, TO YOUR FAMILY, THANK YOU FOR SHARING YOUR DAD, YOUR HUSBAND WITH US, BECAUSE IT'S BECAUSE OF MEN LIKE SERGEANT SIMO, THAT WE CAN SIT AROUND HERE AND TALK ABOUT THIS AND HAVE SMILES ON OUR FACE INSTEAD OF LOOKING BACK ON THAT DAY, THAT SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 5TH AND GO, WHAT WOULD'VE HAPPENED HAD WE NOT HAD YOU THERE? SO, GOD BLESS YOU.
AND MAYOR, I KNOW RIGHT AFTER THE INCIDENT WE WERE TALKING AND WE SAID WE HAVE TO MAKE SURE, UM, THAT THIS SERGEANT IS, IS RECOGNIZED AND HONORED.
AND I I JUST WANNA READ, UM, WHAT THE MEDAL OF VALOR IS FOR.
UH, THE AWARD IS GIVEN FOR ACTIONS ABOVE AND BEYOND THE CALL OF DUTY AND EXHIBITING EXCEPTIONAL COURAGE, EXTRAORDINARY DECISIVENESS, PRESENCE OF MIND, AND UNUSUAL SWIFTNESS IN ACTION, REGARDLESS OF HIS OR HER PERSONAL SAFETY IN AN ATTEMPT TO SAVE OR PROTECT A HUMAN LIFE.
AND I'M SO GRATEFUL THAT YOU BROUGHT YOUR FAMILY HERE, UH, BECAUSE AS WE TALK, WE TALK A LOT ABOUT HOW HPD, IT'S NOT JUST THE OFFICERS, UH, AND SERGEANTS, IT'S YOUR FAMILY, AND YOU PROTECTED A LOT OF FAMILIES THAT DAY.
UH, I, AS MUCH AS THIS IS A CELEBRATION, UM, I ALSO THOUGH WANNA RECOGNIZE YOU SHOULD HAVE NEVER HAD TO HAVE BEEN IN THAT POSITION.
BUT YOU KNOW, I REMEMBER YOUR INTERVIEWS WHEN YOU TALKED ABOUT, UH, SETTING ASIDE YOUR OWN PERSONAL SAFETY, KNOWING IT WAS A HANDGUN AGAINST A RIFLE, AND THE SENSITIVITY YOU SHOWED, EVEN AS YOU WERE RUNNING TOWARDS THE RISK AND THE DANGER, UH, NOT DRAWING YOUR OWN FIREARM SO THAT YOU WOULDN'T SCARE THE CHILDREN.
AND THERE'S A LOT THAT WENT THROUGH YOUR MIND AND THE INTENTIONALITY BEHIND IT.
BUT THE FACT, AND I WAS TALK MAYOR, SPEAKING WITH CHIEF SLINKER BEFORE THIS, BECAUSE, UM, BETWEEN OPEN CARRY, NO LICENSE REQUIREMENTS, THE FACT THAT THIS INDIVIDUAL HAD 120 ROUNDS AND IT WAS, HAS A MISDEMEANOR CHARGE, UH, THE FACT THAT YOU WERE PLACED IN A SITUATION WHERE YOU HAD TO MAKE THAT SPLIT SECOND DECISION.
SO THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU FOR YOUR COURAGE.
BUT I ALSO WANT TO, UM, LIFT UP THAT YOU SACRIFICED YOUR OWN SAFETY AND YOUR FAMILY FOR THAT.
AND IT'S UP TO US TO CONTINUE, UM, TO WORK TOWARDS A DAY WHEN YOU AND OTHER OFFICERS ARE NOT PUT IN THAT POSITION.
SO THANK YOU FOR WHAT YOU DID, AND THANK YOU TO YOUR FAMILY FOR STANDING WITH YOUR FATHER AND YOUR HUSBAND, COUNCIL MEMBER CARLOS CIRO.
WHAT AN EXTRAORDINARY PERSON YOU ARE.
ALL OF US ARE FILLED WITH GRATITUDE FOR YOUR QUICK THINKING, YOUR QUICK ACTION FOR YOUR BRAVERY.
UM, THERE WERE NINE FIRST RESPONDERS THAT WERE HONORED, UM, LAST WEEK DURING POLICE WEEK AT THE WHITE HOUSE BY PRESIDENT BIDEN.
UM, AND THEIR HEROIC DEEDS WERE AMAZING TOO, BUT YOU ARE TOTALLY ONE OF THEM.
YOU WERE, YOU WERE ONE OF THE, THE BEST OF US OF IN OUR COUNTRY, WHO RUNS INTO DANGER WHEN EVERYONE ELSE IS RUNNING AWAY.
UM, PRESIDENT BIDEN MENTIONED THAT TO YOU, AND I THINK THAT'S, THAT IS ABSOLUTELY APPROPRIATE HERE.
UM, BUT, BUT, UH, JUST JUST WANTED TO, TO, TO SAY THANK YOU AND, AND,
[00:55:01]
UM, HOW, HOW VERY GRATEFUL WE ARE.VICE MAYOR, PRO TEM MARTHA TEX TATUM, THANK YOU, MAYOR PRO, TEM.
SERGEANT, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR SERVICE.
I LOOK AT YOUR BEAUTIFUL FAMILY, AND I CAN ONLY THANK AND IMAGINE WHAT WENT THROUGH YOUR HEAD WHEN YOU WERE MAKING THOSE SPLIT DECISIONS, UH, THE SACRIFICE THAT YOU MADE ON THAT DAY.
WE ARE ALSO GRATEFUL, UM, FOR, AND WHEN, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER CAME AND READ WHAT THE, UH, AWARD MEANT WHEN IT SAYS UNUSUAL SWIFTNESS IN ACTION.
UM, IT WAS YOUR, YOUR TRAINING, YOUR COURAGE, YOUR BRAVERY, AND I'M SURE YOUR FAITH, UH, THAT LED YOU TO TAKE THE ACTION THAT YOU DID.
AND, UH, I LOOK, I LOOK AT YOUR TWO SONS, AND I THINK, YOU KNOW, HOW DOES IT FEEL TO HAVE A HERO FOR A DAD? ALL ALL KIDS THINK THAT THEIR DAD IS THEIR HERO,
UH, BUT YOU, YOU, YOU REALLY DO HAVE A REAL LIVE HERO, UH, FOR A DAD AND FOR AND FOR A HUSBAND.
AND I KNOW THAT, UM, I HAVE SEVERAL FRIENDS THAT ARE POLICE OFFICERS AND THE FAMILIES, THEY CARRY A LOT OF THE, THE SACRIFICE BECAUSE EVERY DAY YOU'RE PRAYING FOR YOUR LOVED ONE TO COME HOME SAFELY.
UM, AND TO KNOW THAT YOUR DAD HELPED A LOT OF PEOPLE GO HOME SAFELY.
YOU SHOULD BE VERY PROUD BECAUSE WE'RE EXTREMELY PROUD OF YOU.
AND IF THERE'S ANYTHING WE CAN DO TO ASSIST YOU, PLEASE DON'T HESITATE.
UM, THANK YOU FOR YOUR BRAVERY, SIR.
COUNCIL MEMBER EDWARD POLLARD, THANK YOU, CHAIR.
AND, UH, GOOD AFTERNOON TO EVERYONE.
MAYOR, THANK YOU FOR BRINGING THIS FORWARD, SERGEANT.
UH, I WAS JUST THINKING ABOUT WHEN YOU GOT THE CALL AND YOUR FAMILY WHO'S STANDING BEHIND YOU, WHAT THOUGHTS PROBABLY WENT THROUGH YOUR HEAD.
UH, I CAN ONLY IMAGINE HOW I WOULD BE IN THAT SITUATION, AND I'M NOT SURE I WOULD BE AS BRAVE AS YOU ARE.
AND I THINK YOU'RE A TESTAMENT AND A, A TRUE GREAT REPRESENTATION OF THE HOUSTON POLICE DEPARTMENT, UM, THE BRAVE MEN AND WOMEN THAT SERVE WHAT YOU ALL PUT YOURSELVES THROUGH, WHAT YOUR FAMILIES HAVE TO LIVE THROUGH.
UH, IT'S AMAZING TO KNOW THAT WE HAVE PEOPLE LIKE YOU THAT ARE DEFENDING US, THAT ARE PROTECTING US EVERY SINGLE DAY.
SO I THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE, THANK YOU FOR YOUR COURAGE.
AND, UH, THANK YOUR FAMILY, UH, FOR LIFTING YOU UP AS WELL.
COUNCIL MEMBER LETITIA PLUMMER, THANK YOU SO MUCH, MAYOR PRO, TIM.
I KNOW THERE'S SO MANY, EVERYONE SAID SO MANY AMAZING THINGS, BUT I JUST WANNA JOIN MY COLLEAGUES AND JUST CONGRATULATING YOU.
YOU KNOW, WE SEND OUR KIDS AND WE GO TO THE MALL, AND WE ARE JUST GONNA GO THERE AND HAVE A GOOD TIME.
AND WE DON'T THINK FOR ONE MOMENT THAT'S GONNA HAPPEN.
AND SO JUST THANK YOU FOR YOUR BRAVERY AND, UM, AND, AND BOYS, I, I KNOW Y'ALL ARE SO YOUNG MEN, EXCUSE ME.
I KNOW Y'ALL ARE SO PROUD OF YOUR DAD, AND IT'S TRUE.
YOU ARE DEFINITELY A SUPERHERO.
AND, UM, WE'RE VERY GRATEFUL FOR YOU.
THANK YOU, COUNCIL MEMBER AMY PECK, THANK YOU.
AND SO GRATEFUL TO YOU, NOT JUST FOR WHAT YOU DID THAT DAY, BUT EVERY SINGLE DAY THAT YOU SERVE OUR CITY.
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR EVERYTHING THAT YOU DO.
WELL, SERGEANT, I'LL LEAVE YOU WITH THE LAST WORDS.
HEY, LIKE I SAY, IT'S, IT'S BEEN A UNIMAGINABLE.
I CAN'T EXPLAIN THE EXCITEMENT, THE PRIDE, JUST SEEING THE SMILE ON MY KIDS AND MY WIFE FACE.
THANK ALL MY SUPPORT, MY COWORKERS, MY FAMILIES, MY LOVED ONES.
LIKE I SAY, JUST, UH, THE EXPOSURE THAT THE CITY OF HOUSTON IS GETTING, NOT JUST ME ALONE.
LIKE I SAID, THERE'S 5350, 200 OTHER, UH, SWORN OFFICERS THAT'S DOING GREAT WORK OUT HERE, AND IT'S TIME TO GET THEM EXPOSED AS WELL TO SHOW THAT, HEY, THIS CITY IS THE NUMBER ONE CITY.
THANK, UH, POLICE OFFICERS AND THOSE WHO ARE HERE, UM, SUPPORTING, UH, SARGE, IF YOU ALL WILL COME FORTH RIGHT QUICK.
[01:01:28]
I GOT IT ALL.[2:00 P.M. – INVOCATION AND PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE]
THE CHAIR NOW RECOGNIZES COUNCIL MEMBER TIFFANY THOMAS FOR THE INVOCATION, AND GLAD THANK YOU MAYOR TURNER.IF WE MAY BOW OUR HEADS, GOD, HERE WE ARE AGAIN ASKING YOU FOR SOMETHING.
BUT BEFORE WE ASK YOU FOR ANYTHING, I WANNA THANK YOU FOR EVERYTHING.
I WANNA THANK YOU FOR THE BREATH IN OUR BODY.
I WANT TO THANK YOU WHEN WE ARE WEARY, YOU ALLOW US A PLACE OF REST.
I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR ALL OF MY COLLEAGUES AND THE RESIDENTS IN THE CITY, THOSE IN THE CHAMBERS, THOSE THAT OCCUPY THE CITY HALLS, THOSE THAT ARE DOING THE WORK ON BEHALF OF OUR GREAT CITY.
GOD ALSO WANT YOU TO REMIND US THAT WE ARE IN THESE SEATS BECAUSE YOU ORDAINED IT.
SO, SO REMIND US TO DO WHAT YOU'VE CALLED US TO DO FOR THE LEAST, THE LOST, THE BROKENHEARTED, AND THAT OUR DECISIONS WILL BE IN ALIGNMENT WITH THE VERY BEST OF THOSE THAT WE ARE REPRESENTING.
MAY YOU ACCEPT OUR PRAYER WITH GRACIOUSNESS, AND MAY IT BE SO IN YOUR SON'S NAME.
PLEASE RISE FOR THE PLEDGE PLEDGE FLAG OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA TO REPUBLIC ONE NATION UNDER GOD IN THE
[ROLL CALL AND ADOPT THE MINUTES OF THE PREVIOUS MEETING]
OKAY.PREPARE FOR THE ROLL CALL MAYOR TURNER.
COUNCILMAN ROBINSON WILL BE ABSENT.
AND CONSTABLE ALCORN HERE NEED A MOTION TO DELAY THE MINUTES THE SECOND WE MOVED.
AND SECOND TO LAY THE MINUTES.
UH, CHAIR RECOGNIZES COUNCIL MEMBER GALLEGOS FOR A POINT OF PERSONAL PRIVILEGE.
THANK YOU, MAYOR, FOR THE OPPORTUNITY.
UM, UH, MAYOR AND COUNCIL MEMBERS, UM, IN THE AUDIENCE WE HAVE, UH, THEY WILL BE BACK AT A LATER DATE, UH, AND THEY WILL RECEIVE A PROCLAMATION AND THEY'RE LOOKING FORWARD TO HAVING A PHOTO WITH YOU.
UH, MS. BE IS A FEMALE EMPOWERMENT PROGRAM THAT HAS HELPED MANY WOMEN AND YOUNG GIRLS IN OUR HOUSTON COMMUNITY THROUGH THE CULTIVATION OF BEAUTY AND PERSONAL GROWTH.
SO AGAIN, THEY WILL BE BACK AT A LATER DATE.
WELL, WE WERE HOPING YOU WOULD DO THAT, MAYOR.
SEE, I LIKE THAT CUP DEAL, HUH?
[01:06:08]
WE ARE, WE ARE INVOKING A NEW RULE.IF ALL OF Y'ALL WILL TURN YOUR PHONES IN TO ME.
UH, AND, UH, CHAIR NOW RECOGNIZES COUNCIL MEMBER COUNTY EVAN SHABAZZ, UH, THE CHURCH SECRETARY FOR, UH, MOTION.
I MOVE TO SUSPEND THE RULES TO ADD, UH, DEIDRE RASHID TO THE TOP OF THE THREE MINUTE NON-AG AGENDA LIST.
BEEN MOVED AND SECONDED, UH, TO MS. RASHEED? YES.
TOP OF THE THREE TO THE TOP OF MOVE TO MOVE.
ANY OTHER, ANY OTHER MOTIONS? ANY OTHER OKAY.
[PUBLIC SPEAKERS]
THAT BEING DONE, SAID MAD SECRETARY, YOU PROCEED TO CALL THE SPEAKER'S LIST.TO BE FOLLOWED BY DIETRA RASHID, IF YOU GET RIGHT BEHIND, IF YOU GET RIGHT BEHIND ONE OF THOSE MICS.
I'M A RESIDENT OF SOUTH UNION, AND I, UM, HAVE LIVED IN SOUTH UNION SINCE 2005.
WE FEEL AS THOUGH WE'RE THE GATEWAY TO RELIANCE STADIUM.
WE'RE THE GATEWAY TO THE MEDICAL CENTER.
WE'RE THE GATEWAY TO DOWNTOWN, UH, SITTING RIGHT THERE AT SIX 10.
UM, BUT WE ARE ALSO KIND OF FORGOTTEN AND, UM, THERE ARE A LOT OF THINGS IN OUR AREA THAT WE'RE CONCERNED ABOUT, AND I'M APPROACHING THE COUNCIL TO ASSIST US IN TAKING A LOOK AT SOUTH UNION.
IT HAS A VERY VIBRANT HISTORY.
IT IS ALSO A VERY AREA IN WHICH THERE'S A LOT OF CRIME.
WE HAVE A LOT OF YOUTH WITH ACTUALLY NO ACTIVITIES, UM, AVAILABLE TO THEM.
WE'RE WITHOUT A CENTRAL PLACE FOR SENIORS AND YOUNG PEOPLE TO SPEND THEIR SUMMERS.
WE ARE ALSO LOSING, UM, STUDENTS THAT ARE ATTENDING THE LOCAL SCHOOL IN OUR NEIGHBORHOOD.
UM, WE'RE ALSO IN NEED OF PARK, UH, UPGRADES.
SO WE HAVEN'T, WE HAVE SEEN IMPROVEMENTS FROM THE CITY WITH SIDEWALKS.
WE DID NOT HAVE SIDEWALKS BEFORE.
AND SINCE MY TIME IS UP, I HOPE YOU'LL TAKE A CLOSER LOOK AT SOUTH UNION.
HOLD ON ONE, COUNCILMAN COUNTY
SOMEONE IN MY OFFICE WILL GET IN TOUCH WITH YOU IF THEY HAVE NOT ALREADY.
AND WE CERTAINLY WOULD BE INTERESTED IN WHATEVER IMPROVEMENTS THAT YOU WANT TO LET US KNOW ABOUT AND WE'LL WORK TO GET IT DONE.
AND CERTAINLY IF YOU HAVE, I'LL GIVE YOU A FEW OF MY MINUTES TO COMPLETE YOUR THOUGHTS IF YOU HAVE NOT GONE COMPLETED THEM.
UM, YES, THERE ARE VERY MANY ONESIE, TWOSIES PEOPLE THAT ARE SOLDIERS IN OUR NEIGHBORHOOD THAT ARE REPORTING ITEMS, AND THEY'RE, THEY'RE VERY DILIGENT IN MAKING THINGS HAPPEN.
I THANK YOU AND WE'VE CONTACTED YOUR OFFICE, WE'VE GOTTEN A LOT OF SUPPORT ON A LOT OF THINGS, SO APPRECIATE THAT.
WE'RE ALSO INTERESTED IN GETTING OUR YOUTH INVOLVED.
THEY'RE OUR FUTURE AND WE'RE REALLY NEEDING TO REACH OUT TO THEM.
WE DON'T WANT THEM TO FEEL AS THOUGH GUNSHOTS ARE NORM IN OUR NEIGHBORHOOD.
SO WE WILL BE GETTING WHAT YOUR OFFICE ABOUT THAT.
NEXT SPEAKER, DIETRA, RASHEED DIETRA.
RASHEED TO BE FOLLOWED BY VICTOR TORRES.
[01:10:01]
HOW ARE YOU ALL? I WANNA GREET MY MAYOR, MY COUNCIL MEMBER, COUNCIL MEMBER, EVAN SHABAZZ AND ALL OF MY OTHER COUNCIL AND FRIENDS.I AM HERE, UM, TO SAY TO YOU THAT WE ARE TALKING ABOUT A NEW DEVELOPMENT THAT IS COMING TO OUR AREA.
I AM STARTING OFF OUR CONVERSATION BY SAYING WE ARE NOT AGAINST AFFORDABLE HOUSING OR FIRST TIME BUYERS.
WE BELIEVE IN MIXED INCOME DEVELOPMENTS.
AGAIN, I THINK I'VE COME HERE BEFORE ON THE SAME TOPIC.
WE DO WANT TO CONTINUE TO ASK THAT WHEN THE HOUSING DEPARTMENT CONSIDERS THE LOW INCOME HOUSING, IT CONSIDERS THE FACT THAT WE ARE ALREADY IN AN AREA SURROUNDED BY BRUNSWICK MEADOW.
WE ARE WITH ON THE OTHER SIDE OF SKYVIEW, WE ARE ON THE OTHER SIDE OF CITY PARK.
WE ARE OVERRUN WITH LOW INCOME HOUSING.
AND SO WHAT SEEMS TO BE HAPPENING IS THAT WHEN THEY, UM, DO THEIR DEVELOPMENT, SOMETIMES THEY CONSIDER THOSE AREAS THAT ARE AVAILABLE FOR THE GEOGRAPHICAL REGIONS, BUT NOT NECESSARILY THE FINANCIAL IMPACT ON THOSE NEIGHBORHOODS.
AND WHAT HAPPENS IS WHEN YOU DO AN OVERAGE OF LOW INCOME WITHOUT THE TAX BASE TO SUPPORT THOSE, UM, THOSE, UM, NEW DEVELOPMENTS, THEN YOU BASICALLY CREATE GHETTOS.
AND SO WE'RE HOPING THAT IN THE FUTURE, COMPREHENSIVE PLAN THAT'S SUBMITTED BY THE CITY, THAT THEY WILL START TO CONSIDER NOT TO, UM, PUT LAYERS UPON LAYERS OF LOW INCOME HOUSING IN COMMUNITIES IN WHICH THERE IS HOUSING ALREADY LOW INCOME ON THE LEFT, ON THE RIGHT, IN THE FRONT AND IN THE MIDDLE, BUT BECOME MORE CREATIVE WITH THOSE AREAS THAT DO NOT HAVE THAT TYPE OF HOUSING IN THE FUTURE.
CERTAINLY MY OFFICE WILL GET WITH YOU.
YOU AND I HAVE TALKED EXTENSIVELY AND WE WILL CERTAINLY TAKE IN MIND YOUR, UH, YOUR, UH, THINGS THAT YOU HAVE BROUGHT TO US.
ANDY IKIN AND GWEN HAVE MET WITH US.
AND BECAUSE OF THOSE INCOMES IN OUR AREAS, THERE'S CERTAIN AREAS AND GROCERY STORES WE DON'T QUALIFY FOR.
AND WE DO HAVE SEVERAL NEW, UM, DEVELOPMENTS THAT HAVE COME IN WITH THE INCREASED, UM, HOME VALUES.
HOWEVER, THOSE ARE YET TO BE RECORDED WITHIN THE CITY RECORDS.
AND BECAUSE OF THAT, WE CAN ONLY HAVE THOSE THAT ARE IN LOWER INCOME AREAS.
SO I DO SAY TO YOU, WHEN WE ASK ABOUT THE DEVELOPMENT, WE'RE NOT JUST ASKING ABOUT ONE THING.
IT DOES IN FACT IMPACT OTHER AREAS OF OUR DEVELOPMENT.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH KUBA FOR HIS PROCEDURAL MOTION.
UH, CHAIR, RECOGNIZE COMM, COUNCILMAN KUBAN FOR A PROCEDURAL MOTION.
MAYOR, I'D LIKE TO SUSPEND THE RULES AND MOVE, UH, SANDRA MASSEY HINES, OUR HONORARY MAYOR OF SUNNYSIDE, TO BE, TO SPEAK AFTER VICTOR TORRES.
I HEARD THE MOTION'S BEEN SECOND.
MADAM SECRETARY VICTOR TORRES, VICTOR TORRES IS HERE TO BE FOLLOWED BY SANDRA MASSEY HINES.
CERTAINLY, IT'S BEEN LIKE 18 MONTHS SINCE I BOUGHT A HOUSE IN THE AREA OF MONTROSE.
AND I BEEN KINDA VICTIM OF THE CRIME THAT I'VE BEEN LIVING THERE.
I'VE BEEN HAVING PEOPLE KNOCKING ON MY DOOR, UH, TELLING ME LET'S GO TO THE ATM FIRE AND A LOT OF STUFF.
SO I I'M SURROUNDED BY A LOT OF PEOPLE OLDER THAN ME THAT, UH, WE, WE GOT TOGETHER, WHAT DO WE NEED TO DO? WE HAVE AN ALLEY BETWEEN THE BRIDGEWOOD STREET IN MANDEL, RIGHT AROUND HUGO'S RESTAURANT, DEMARCOS, UH, ROMAN PLACE WHERE THEY, BECAUSE OF NO ONE CARES, I MEAN, I'M SORRY TO SAY THAT NO ONE IS INVOLVED.
IT, THEY EVEN TOOK THE MAIN HALL OF THE STREET ONE DAY.
I WAS SAYING, HOW FAIR IS THAT SOMEBODY'S GONNA FAIL THERE.
SO I WENT TO TALK TO THE MANAGERS.
THEY DEMARCOS THEY PUT US A BRIGHT LIGHT ON OUR WINDOW.
WHEN I CAME TO THE, TO SPEAK HERE AT YOUR OFFICE, UH, MAYOR TURNER, THEY TOLD ME THE CITY OF HOUSTON WOULDN'T CARE ABOUT THOSE ISSUES.
SO I REQUESTED TO SEE IF MY MAYOR WILL CARE BECAUSE I WORK 12 HOURS A DAY TO COME UP WITH THOSE TAXES THAT ARE JUST BEING REPRESSED TO BE HIRED.
AND I MAKE VIDEOS AND, AND THE STREETS IS, EVERYBODY TELL US THE ALLEY IS
[01:15:01]
THE OWNERS OF THE HOUSES AND THE OWNERS OF THE HOUSES ARE PRETTY MUCH RESTAURANTS.THEY DON'T WANT TO TAKE CARE OF THEM.
BUT, UH, I SPENT MY SON SPEAKING UP CONDOMS, HOMELESS CLOTHES.
IT IS UNFAIR THAT PEOPLE PAYING $10,000 IN TAXES EVERY YEAR HAS TO BE LIVING IN THOSE CONDITIONS AND UNSAFE.
AND WHEN I CAME TO YOUR OFFICE, IT WAS TWO BEAUTIFUL PEOPLE.
RENEE, RENEE ROSE AND KER ROBERTS, CARRIE ROBERTS, A BEAUTIFUL BLACK LADY WHO THEY SEEN MY FRUSTRATION BECAUSE ONE OF YOUR EMPLOYEES THERE TOLD ME CITY OF HOUSTON DON'T CARE ABOUT THE ROACHES THAT YOU GET THERE.
AND IT'S JUST, I CAME HERE AS A CITIZEN, NA US CITIZEN, PROUD TO BE IN TEXAS.
AND, AND I, AND I THOUGHT THAT IT IS NOT FAIR FOR PEOPLE WHO VISIT US FROM KA, HAMBURG, CYPRUS, AND EVERYWHERE ELSE, INCLUDING OTHER STATES IS A IS, IS A, EVERYBODY GOES THERE.
THAT THEY HAVE TO SEE THE CITY WITH SO MUCH HOLES.
AND, AND WHAT I EXPRESSED TO YOU, I I, I DON'T THINK IT'S FAIR THAT I HAVE TO SPEND MY SUNDAYS PICKING UP THE GARBAGE OF OTHERS AND HELPING OLDER PEOPLE WHEN I, THAT'S WHY I PAY MY TAXES.
I I CAN HELP, BUT I, I DON'T KNOW WHERE ELSE DO I GO? I, I I END THE MM-HMM
AND I'M TRYING, I'M TRYING TO MAKE SURE THAT I, I HAVE A GOOD UNDERSTANDING OF WHAT, OF, OF WHAT YOUR CONCERNS ARE.
SO LEMME MAKE SURE YOU LIVE NEXT TO SEVERAL BUSINESSES.
AND YOU'RE SAYING THOSE BUSINESSES ARE NOT CLEANING UP? NO, SIR.
AND I HAVE VIDEOS THAT ARE, I, IT'S A ACCUMULATION OF GARBAGE WITH ROACHES FOR, FOR FOUR MONTHS THAT IT GOES WITH THE FENCE OF THE PARTY OF MY HOUSE.
I DON'T, I CANNOT THROW MORE PO MORE POISON.
I, THEY PUT A BRIGHT LIGHT ON OUR WINDOW.
I ASKED THE, THE MANAGER, PLEASE, YOU CAN'T DO THAT.
HE SAID, BY CORINS, BY BLINDS.
THEN THE ON THE OTHER SIDE WITH THE HUGOS, THEY, THEY TOOK OFF THE MAIN HOLE, THE FRONT, YOU KNOW, THE SEWER FOR THE WATER.
BUT AFTER I CAME TO RENE ROY, THEY FIXED THAT.
IT'S JUST THE CONDITION OF THE ALLEY.
IT IS, IT'S KIND OF ABANDONED IT.
NOT JUST, IT IS NOT JUST FOR ME, IT'S FOR EVERYBODY ELSE WHO COMES.
IT'S BY WESTHEIMER AND MANDEL WHERE HUGOS IS.
AND RIGHT THERE IS, IT IS NOT FAIR FOR THE PEOPLE THAT THEY, THEY COME IN TO VISIT US AND SEE.
AND I, I'M JUST TRYING TO MAKE SURE THAT I GOT A GOOD UNDERSTANDING.
ARE, ARE YOU COM ARE YOU INDICATING OR COMPLAINING ABOUT THE ALLEY NOT BEING MAINTAINED? YEAH, THE ALLEY.
THE ALLEY IS, WE HAVE HAD PREVIOUS BUSINESS OWNERS BECAUSE THEY CONFUSION ABOUT THE REGULATION.
WHO OWNS THE ALLEY? RIGHT? WHO'S IN CHARGE OF THE ALLEY? SO, AND WHO'S RESPONSIBLE? WHO'S RESPONSIBLE? WHO'S RESPONSIBLE.
SO I DON'T WANNA BE LIVING UNSAFE.
AND THAT'S WHAT I'VE BEEN TAKING PART.
I BOUGHT MY MACHINES TO CLEAN IT.
I'VE BEEN TRYING EVERY WEEKEND.
BUT I I, IT IS, IT IS A WHOLE EXCUSE STREET.
SO YOUR, SO YOUR CONCERNS ARE ABOUT, UM, THE ALLEY.
THAT'S, THOSE ARE YOUR CONCERNS.
THE ALLEY NOT BEING MAINTAINED.
AND THEY BLOCKED THE, THEY BLOCKED SOME OF THE OWN, SOME PEOPLE, THEY GO OVER THERE, THEY BLOCK, THEY BEEN DOING, I'VE BEEN CALLING 9 1 1, GETTING PEOPLE THERE SHOOTING HEROIN.
AND IT IS NOT, IT IS JUST, IT'S BECOMING TO BE THE, IS WE CALL THE POLICE 30 TIMES MM-HMM
BEFORE I CAME TO THIS MEETING.
AND, AND I THINK THAT WE JUST NEED A LITTLE BIT OF HELP IN THAT AREA.
I DON'T THINK THAT ALL MY NEIGHBORS WHO ARE A LITTLE OLDER, THEY, THEY JUST, THEY JUST GAVE UP.
AND I SAY, I WANNA GO TO SEE IF ANYONE WILL AT LEAST GO AND SEE IT, YOU KNOW, WHILE WE LIVE ENOUGH.
LET ME, LET, LET US TAKE, LET US TAKE A LOOK AT IT, UH, BECAUSE I KNOW YOU'RE CONCERNED ABOUT THE ALLEY THAT'S, THAT'S RUNNING BEHIND IT.
UM, MANDEL, RODNEY, IF YOU'LL TALK TO HIM, GET JUST A FURTHER UNDERSTANDING SO WE'LL HAVE A CLEAR UNDERSTANDING OF WHAT, WHAT THE CONCERNS ARE.
BUT I THINK IT'S THE UPKEEP OF THE ALLEY.
'CAUSE THE QUESTION IS, WHO'S RESPONSIBLE FOR, FOR THE MAINTAINING OF THE ALLEY PROPERTY? AND I THINK IT'S THE PROPERTY OWNER THAT'S RESPONSIBLE FOR THE, FOR THE ALLEY, EXCUSE ME, MAYOR, THE CITY ISSUE, GARAGE DOORS WITH PERMITS INSIDE THE ALLEY.
SO I CAN NOW OWN MY ALLEY, MY PART OF THE ALLEY THERE, BECAUSE I CANNOT BLOCK THE STREET
[01:20:01]
OF MY NEIGHBOR.'CAUSE INSIDE THROUGH THE ALLEY, THEY ARE GARAGE DOORS.
YOU CAN'T BLOCK, YOU CAN'T BLOCK THE ALLEY.
SO IT'S NOT MINE BECAUSE HOW AM I GONNA, I KNOW.
WELL, I, I UNDERSTAND, BUT YOU CAN'T BLOCK THE ALLEY.
BUT I THINK THE RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE MAINTENANCE OF THE ALLEY IS THE, IS THE PROPERTY OWNER.
AND I DO MY PART, AND I TRY TO PUT EVERYONE TOGETHER, BUT THE ANSWERS OF THE BUSINESS, HUGO'S DEMARCOS, I, MY NEIGHBOR AND I, WE PAID THE LANDSCAPING OF DEMARCO RESTAURANT AND IT IS NOT FAIR BECAUSE THEY TELL US WE DON'T CARE STRAIGHT UP.
AND I'VE BEEN REPORTING THAT THE LAST TIME THAT, UH, THE LANDSCAPING OVER THERE, I TALKED TO THEM AND I HAVE TO CALL 9 1 1 BECAUSE THEY, THEY WENT AND THEY WERE SCREAMING IN TERROR.
I UNDERSTAND, UNDERSTAND, I UNDERSTAND THAT IT IS IMPORTANT TO HOLD ALL OF THE PROPERTY OWNERS, UH, RESPONSIBLE FOR, FOR CLEANING UP THEIR PROPERTY.
HOLD ON ONE, HOLD ON ONE SECOND.
THANK YOU FOR BRINGING ALL THAT TO OUR ATTENTION.
I, I KNOW MAYOR, THAT, UH, WE, WE HAD A SITUATION SOME TIME AGO IN REGARDS TO A NEIGHBORHOOD OF PINEVIEW.
THEY HAVE A FEW ALLEYS IN THE BACK AND, UH, A PROPERTY OWNER, THIS WAS SOME TIME AGO, AND A PROPERTY OWNER WAS UPSET BECAUSE THERE WERE POTHOLES AND WHAT HAVE YOU IN THE ALLEY.
AND THEY WANTED TO CITY TO COME AND FIT THE POTHOLES.
BUT AFTER WE DID THE RESEARCH, WE WERE TOLD PROPERTY OWNERS THAT HAVE ALLEYS, THEY'RE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE, FOR THE ALLEY.
BUT WITH THAT SAID, I'M HOPING THAT THE DEPARTMENT OF NEIGHBORHOODS DO SEND INSPECTORS OUT THERE AND LET THE PROPERTY OWNERS KNOW THAT THEY ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR THEIR SECTION OF THE ALLEY.
BECAUSE I THINK THAT'S ONE OF HIS ARGUMENTS IS THAT MANY OF THESE OWNERS DON'T KNOW THAT.
AS A COUNCIL MEMBER, I DIDN'T KNOW THAT UNTIL I HAD TO RESEARCH IT.
UH, SO WE CAN LET THESE PROPERTY OWNERS KNOW THAT THEY ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR THEIR SECTION OF THE ALLEY AND THEREFORE THEY WILL MAINTAIN IT AND KEEP IT UP AND CLEAN IT.
AND THAT WAY HE DOESN'T HAVE TO GO DO THAT ON HIS OWN.
UH, AND I'M HOPING THAT'S SOMETHING THAT THE DEPARTMENT OF NEIGHBORHOODS CAN DO WITH THEIR INSPECTORS.
THANK YOU, SIR, FOR BRINGING THIS TO OUR ATTENTION.
AND I, I GET SIMILAR, UH, CALLS LIKE THIS, MAYOR.
I THINK WE REALLY NEED TO, UH, ENSURE THAT OUR INSPECTORS ARE NOT JUST GOING OUT THERE DOING EDUCATION.
I THINK THE EDUCATION PART IS ONLY GETTING US BUTT SO FAR, BUT CITATIONS HAVE TO BE WRITTEN.
WE NEED MORE ENFORCEMENT TO GET PROPERTY OWNERS' ATTENTION, UH, ACROSS THE BOARD, NOT WHEN IT JUST COMES TO SANITATION, BUT LIGHTING, NOISE, EVERYTHING.
UH, CITATIONS ARE WHAT GETS PEOPLE'S ATTENTION.
IT'S WHAT HITS THEM IN THEIR POCKET.
IT'S WHAT CURVES THE BEHAVIOR AND CHANGES THE ATTITUDES.
SO HOPEFULLY WHEN THE INSPECTORS DO GO OUT THERE, IT'S NOT JUST EDUCATION, BUT IT'S CITATIONS.
THANK YOU, COUNCILMAN CISNEROS.
I'D LIKE TO TAKE IT A STEP FURTHER AND SAY THAT, UM, YOU KNOW, SOME OF THE ALLEYS THAT USED TO BE, UM, THE HOW GARBAGE WAS SERVICED, UH, YOU KNOW, I HAVE IN NEIGHBORHOODS LIKE DENVER HARBOR, THERE ARE ALLEYS BUYING HOMES THAT ARE JUST, UM, ARE, ARE PROBLEMATIC BECAUSE NOTHING HAPPENS BACK THERE.
AND IT, THEY BECOME PLACES WHERE PEOPLE CAN HIDE, WHERE THEY'RE MAYBE, UM, ILLICIT, YOU KNOW, ILLEGAL THINGS GOING ON.
AND, AND, AND I THINK IN, IN CASES LIKE THAT, WHERE THERE'S NO PURPOSE, WHERE THERE'S NO CITY BENEFIT TO HAVING ALLEYS AT ALL, THAT THERE NEEDS TO BE ANOTHER SOLUTION THAT, THAT THAT PROPERTY CAN BECOME PRIVATE PROPERTY AND IT'S NOT SOMETHING THAT'S JUST A NEW MAN'S LAND.
AND WELL, LOOK, LET ME, LET ME THANK YOU, UH, MR. TORRES FOR BEING HERE AND LET US LOOK INTO IT.
UM, I THINK WE HAVE A BETTER UNDERSTANDING OF WHAT YOUR CONCERNS ARE.
UH, SO LET US SEE HOW WE CAN ADDRESS THEM, YOUR HONOR.
AND IF YOU'RE GOOD WITH RONDA, SHE'LL, SHE'LL GET SOME ADDITIONAL INFORMATION FROM YOU.
CHAIR RECOGNIZED COUNCILMAN SHA BASS FOR A PROCEDURAL MOTION.
I MOVE TO SUSPEND THE RULES TO ADD ED PETIT AFTER THE HONORABLE MAYOR SANDRA MASSEY HINES, UH, FOR THREE MINUTES NON AGENDA.
UH, HE'S A SUPER NEIGHBORHOOD PRESIDENT.
SANDRA MAXEY HINES TO BE FOLLOWED BY EDWARD PETIT.
I BRING YOU GREETINGS ON BEHALF OF MY LORD AND MY SAVIOR, JESUS CHRIST.
IT PSALMS 82, IT SAYS, DEFEND THE POOR AND THE FATHERLESS.
DO JUSTICE TO THE AFFLICTED AND NEEDY.
MAYOR, DOZENS OF HOMELESS HAVE ASKED ME TO SPEAK DIRECTLY TO YOU.
COUNCIL MEMBERS ASSEMBLED HERE AS YOU HAVE EACH TRIED TO HELP ME IN SOME MANNER.
[01:25:01]
MR. SAMUEL IS IN A WHEELCHAIR.HE'S A FORMER MILITARY POLICE.
HE SERVED AS A POLICE OFFICER IN ANOTHER STATE.
HIS BODY IS NOW RIDDEN WITH PAIN.
A $1 MILLION SURGERY SAVED HIS LIFE FROM A FLESH EATING BACTERIA.
WE HAVE A JD, DR. PAUL, JEAN MCCOY, AND EACH OF THESE, I'M EXPRESSING OR HOMELESS UNDER THE BRIDGE, EITHER AT 1202 PRAIRIE AND 500 CAROLINE, OR AT MCKEE AND ALLEGION.
THEY ARE DISGUSTED WITH WHOEVER LAW ENFORCEMENT IS THAT IS ENFORCING THE RULES ON THEM.
THEY SAY THEY ARE UNFAIR AND BIASED AND THEY'RE BEING MISTREATED AND THEY DON'T LIKE IT.
MR. DR. PAUL MCCOY HAS HAD ONE CHILD GRADUATE FROM HARVARD.
FOUR KIDS IN TOTAL, THREE STUDIED AT CAMBRIDGE.
HE HAS HAD 40 YEARS OF SERVICE TEACHING POOR PEOPLE ENGLISH.
THEY SAID THERE IS NO DUE PROCESS OF LAW.
THESE POLICE OFFICERS MOVE PEOPLE OUT WITHOUT BEING SERVED.
THEY JUST DO WHAT THEY WANT TO.
THEY'RE SAYING POLICE OFFICERS, BECAUSE THESE PERSONS ARE IN A UNIFORM SIMILAR TO POLICE.
AND THEY SAY POLICE ARE CALLED LATER IF THEY ARE NEEDED TO COME AND TICKET THEM.
I HAVE NOT SEEN, BUT I HAVE SOME MEDIA WORKING WITH ME RIGHT NOW LOOKING INTO IT WITHOUT BEING NOTICED.
HE SAY SOMEONE USED HIS SOCIAL SECURITY, HE COULDN'T GET A TABLET.
THEY DESCRIBED THESE LAW ENFORCEMENT POLICE OFFICERS, THEY SAID AS DESTROYING THEIR TENTS, DESTROYING THEIR BIKES.
ONE OF THE HOMELESS IS ON INSULIN.
THEY DESTROYED THE TENT AND DESTROYED THE MEDICINE.
THEY WERE CALLING ME DURING THE TIME THAT THE STORM HIT LAST WEEK, 16TH, 17TH.
I TRIED CALLING EVERYBODY THE OFFICE OF EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT, SOMEONE TO COME AND SEE.
I CALLED TROY CENTER, I TEXT, I EMAIL, AND I GOT NO ONE.
I CALLED, UH, A COUPLE OF THE CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS, BUT I DID NOT GET A RESPONSE.
SOME 75 HOMELESS WERE TRYING TO REACH SOMEONE TO HELP THEM DURING THAT STORM.
YEAH, I THINK, I THINK, UH, MISS MS. HINES, WE TALKED, WE DON'T KNOW IF THESE ARE POLICE OFFICERS OR NOT.
I THINK YOU AND I AGREE WITH THAT.
'CAUSE IT, BASED ON WHAT YOU WERE TELLING ME, IT DOESN'T SOUND LIKE IT'S SOMETHING THAT POLICE OFFICERS WOULD BE DOING.
UH, 'CAUSE PRIMARILY WE HAVE PEOPLE WITH OUR HIGH TEAMS, UM, WHO ARE RESPONDING TO OUR HOMELESS SITUATION.
AND THAT'S NOT SOMETHING THAT THEY WOULD DO.
UH, BECAUSE ESSENTIALLY THE WAY, IF WE ARE DOING IT, UH, WE WORK WITH THE NONPROFIT, THE HOMELESS COALITION, IN TERMS OF CLOSING DOWN IN CAMERAS AND THEN GETTING THEM TRANSITION.
SO I DON'T THINK THEY, THESE ARE POLICE OFFICERS, ASSUMING WHAT THEY'RE SAYING TO YOU IS, YOU KNOW, IS, IS CORRECT.
AND SO, UM, YOU KNOW, WE'LL, WE'LL, WE'LL ALSO WORK WITH YOU AND ANYBODY ELSE TO DETERMINE, YOU KNOW, WHO'S DOING WHAT.
I MEAN, OUR PRIMARY AIM IS TO GET, IS TO GET THOSE WHO ARE ON OUR STREETS, UH, TO TRANSITION THEM TO SUPPORTIVE, SUPPORTIVE HOUSING.
SO, YOU KNOW, WE'LL, WE'LL CERTAINLY BE MORE THAN HAPPY TO WORK WITH YOU AND OTHERS TO DETERMINE, YOU KNOW, WHO'S DOING SOMETHING, WHO'S DOING WHAT, AND WHETHER OR NOT WE CAN GET THEM INTO A, UM, INTO A BETTER ENVIRONMENT.
I'M UNDERSTANDING THEY HAVE A TAG THAT SAYS SEALED, BUT THEY'RE UNIFORMS OR HPD, WHICH I BELIEVE THEY THINK THAT THEY ARE, I DON'T KNOW, I'M NOT FAMILIAR.
BUT I GOT UP TO COME DOWN AND FIND OUT WHO WAS OPPRESSING THEM BOTH ON SUNDAY.
AND I HAVE RECEIVED SO MANY CALLS.
THEY SAY THEY MAKE THEM GET UP, THEY KICK THEM, THEY KICK THEM AND MAKE THEM GET UP.
[01:30:01]
THERE'S ONE GENTLEMAN, HE WAS HIT BY AN 18 WHEELER.HIS BACK IS BROKEN IN SEVERAL PLACES, AND SO IS HIS NECK.
AND THEY FORCED THEM TO GET UP EVERY HOUR ON THE HOUR UP UNTIL 11:00 PM WELL, WE'LL HAVE TO FIND OUT WHO'S DOING THAT.
BUT AGAIN, THAT, THAT DOES NOT SOUND LIKE SOMETHING THAT LAW ENFORCEMENT WOULD BE DOING.
SO, UM, WE'LL CERTAINLY JOIN WITH YOU AND OTHERS TO FIND OUT.
QUITE FRANKLY, WE WOULD PREFER FOR, UH, PEOPLE ON OUR STREETS TO EITHER BE IN, IN SHELTERS OR GOING OR GO TO THE NAVIGATION CENTER OR BE PLACED IN ENVIRONMENTS WITH SUPPORTIVE HOUSING.
BUT, UM, YOU KNOW, I, I JUST, YOU KNOW, I DON'T KNOW WHO'S DOING IT.
UH, BUT CERTAINLY, UM, UM, AND I DON'T HAVE ANY REASON TO QUESTION WHAT THEY'RE SAYING TO YOU, UH, BUT WE CERTAINLY WILL, WOULD JOIN WITH YOU AND OTHERS TO TRY TO FIND OUT WHO, HOLD ON ONE SECOND.
I, I GOT A, UH, TEXT FROM YOU AT, UH, 10:01 AM ON, ON MONDAY.
AND, AND I, I STARTED TRYING TO LOOK INTO WHO, WHO MIGHT THAT BE? UH, I, I, OVER THE YEARS I'VE KNOWN OUR, OUR, UH, HOMELESS TEAM THAT HPD OFFICERS AND THEY'RE HIGHLY TRAINED TO IN HOW TO, UH, UH, TO, TO CREATE A, A DIFFERENT TYPE OF A A, OF A RELATIONSHIP THAN WHAT YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT.
THESE PEOPLE ARE SAYING, UH, I'VE NEVER MET ANYBODY IN OUR, IN OUR TEAM THAT, THAT, THAT, THAT HELPS THE HOMELESS TO, TO HAVE THIS TYPE OF ATTITUDE.
SO IT'S BAD, IT'S REALLY BAD, BUT IT'S GOTTA BE SOMEBODY ELSE.
NOW, WHEN, WHEN YOU TEXT ME, IT SAID THE GROUP CALLED SEALS, AND THEN IT HAD ALSO HPD.
SO DO, DO THEY KNOW IT WAS SECURITY? I DUNNO.
THEY SAY HPD RESPONDS AFTER THIS FIRST GROUP THAT KIND OF TORMENT THEM AND MAKE THEM GET UP EVERY HOUR ON THE HOUR, NO MATTER WHAT CONDITION THEY'RE IN.
AND THEY SEE THE CONDITION THAT THEY'RE IN.
BUT THEY MANDATORILY MAKE THEM GET UP, AND THEN THEY LAUGH AT THEM WHEN THEY'RE WALKING OFF.
BUT THEY COME EVERY HOUR ON THE HOUR AND FORCE THEM TO GET UP AND STAND UP, WHETHER IT IS EXCRUCIATING OR NOT.
HAVE YOU WITNESSED ANY OF THIS? I GOT THE VIDEO.
DID THEY? SOMEBODY VIDEOTAPE IT.
THEY STILL SENDING THEM TO ME.
UM, HONORABLE MAYOR, THERE'S A CROWN LAID UP IN HEAVEN FOR YOU.
'CAUSE YOU ARE ALWAYS LOOKING OUT FOR ESPECIALLY THE MOST VULNERABLE OF OUR, UH, POPULATION AND CONSTITUENTS.
UH, I WAS OUT OF TOWN, YOU KNOW, I DO RESPOND TO YOU ON FACEBOOK.
BUT YOU KNOW, I DIDN'T WANNA POST THAT ON FACEBOOK THAT I WAS OUTTA TOWN.
I POSTED ON FACEBOOK AND I TAGGED YOU OFF.
I DIDN'T WANT TO WHEN I SAW YOUR MESSAGE, I WAS OUT OF TOWN.
AND I DIDN'T WANNA SAY, MAYOR, I'M OUT OF TOWN.
YOU KNOW, THAT'S NOT A GOOD PRACTICE ON FACEBOOK.
WHAT, BUT CERTAINLY, YOU KNOW THAT ME AND MY STAFF WILL CERTAINLY REACH OUT TO DO WHATEVER WE CAN.
OKAY, WELL, LET'S, WE'LL, WE'LL LOOK INTO IT, UH, MS. HINES AND SEE, UH, SEE HOW WE CAN, HOW WE CAN ASSIST.
AND THANK YOU TO EACH OF YOU HERE.
I KNOW SALLY, SHE'S TRYING TO HELP AT ALL TIMES.
EACH OF YOU ARE, AND THANK YOU SO MUCH.
EDWARD PETIT TO BE FOLLOWED BY CORTEZ.
UM, IN, IN ADDITION TO BEING, UH, VICE PRESIDENT OF THE THIRD WARD SUPER NEIGHBORHOOD, I'M ALSO A GRADUATE RESEARCH ASSISTANT WITH THE BULLARD CENTER FOR ENVIRONMENTAL AND CLIMATE JUSTICE AT TEXAS SOUTHERN UNIVERSITY.
AND THOUGH I CAN'T STAY FOR THEIR COMMENTS, I WANTED TO SAY I STAND IN SOLIDARITY WITH THE NORTHEAST ACTION COLLECTIVE AND, UH, AGREE WITH THEM THAT DRAINAGE IS AN ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE ISSUE, ESPECIALLY WHEN IT'S DISPROPORTIONATELY SPREADING TOXINS IN OUR BLACK AND BROWN COMMUNITIES, ESPECIALLY IN THE NORTHEAST OF HOUSTON.
UM, I'M ACTUALLY HERE TODAY TO SPEAK ON AN ISSUE THAT COULD ACTUALLY RELIEVE A BURDEN FROM THE, UH, HOUSTON PUBLIC WORKS SHOULDERS SO THAT IT CAN FOCUS MORE ON DRAINAGE.
AND IT'S AN ISSUE THAT'S DIRECTLY CONNECTED TO OUR THIRD WARD COMPLETE COMMUNITIES ACTION PLAN.
UM, ANYONE WHO KNOWS ME KNOWS THAT I'VE BEEN A HUGE PROPONENT OF THE COMPLETE COMMUNITIES PROGRAM SINCE THE EARLY PLANNING STAGES IN THIRD WARD.
AND I APPRECIATE THAT WHEN WE HAVE REACHED IMPASSES IN IMPLEMENTING SOME OF THESE PROJECTS, DIRECTOR BUGS AND THE MAYOR HAVE PERSONALLY STEPPED IN TO HELP US BREACH THOSE IMPASSES, SUCH AS THE LOT OWNED BY PUBLIC WORKS IN THE UNIVERSITY VILLAGE NEIGHBORHOOD THAT WAS PERENNIALLY, UM, NEGLECTED AND OVERGROWN.
THEY HELPED US TURN THAT INTO THE UNIVERSITY VILLAGE'S FIRST PUBLIC POCKET PARK.
[01:35:01]
AND SO WE APPRECIATE THAT.WE HAVE ANOTHER ISSUE ON ADDRESSING OUR GOAL ON PAGE 32 OF THE PLAN UNDER PRESERVING OUR NEIGHBORHOOD'S HISTORY AND CHARACTER.
THERE'S A PROJECT, UH, FOR A CULTURAL TRAIL, UH, TO JOIN WITH OTHER ORGANIZATIONS TO CREATE A CULTURAL TRIAL THROUGH THE HOUSTON SOUTHEAST DISTRICT AND THE THIRD WARD THAT CONNECTS BUSINESSES, HISTORIC LANDMARKS, ART INSTITUTIONS AND PARKS AND OPEN SPACES, SPECIFICALLY REFERENCING THE COLUMBIA TAP, HIKE AND BIKE TRAIL, INCLUDING SIGNAGE AND PUBLIC ART.
AND WE'VE BEEN TRYING TO DO THIS FOR SIX YEARS.
THE PROBLEM IS THAT, UM, HOUSTON PUBLIC WORKS OWNS THE TRAIL AFTER IT WAS EMINENT DOMAIN FROM UNION PACIFIC, AND THEY ONLY HAVE A MAINTENANCE CONTRACT WITH PUBLIC WORKS TO MOW THE GRASS ON THE SIDES.
SO WHEN WE GO TO PUBLIC WORKS WITH GRANT FUNDING, WITH OPPORTUNITIES, WITH, UM, WITH, WITH, WITH OFFERS TO PUT IN SIGNAGE, PUBLIC WORKS SAYS WE'RE NOT A PARKS ENTITY.
AND WE GO TO PARKS AND PARKS SAYS OUR HANDS ARE TIED.
SO THEY POINT AT EACH OTHER, AND IT'S NOT ONLY THIS TRIAL, BUT OTHER TRIALS LIKE THE, UM, MKT TRIAL IN THE HEIGHTS AND THE, UM, HARRISBURG SUNSET TRIAL IN THE EAST END.
BUT AT LEAST THOSE TRIALS HAVE TS AND MANAGEMENT DISTRICTS.
AND IN THE CASE OF MKT HEIGHTS, A PRIVATE ENTITY THAT ACTUALLY INVESTED IN PUBLIC REALM IMPROVEMENTS TO THOSE TRIALS, WE DON'T NECESSARILY HAVE THAT KIND OF SUPPORT IN THIRD WARD, WHICH IS WHY I'M REQUESTING THAT THE COUNCIL WITH THE ASSISTANCE OF THE MAYOR AND DIRECTOR BUGS WORK TO AMEND THE INTERLOCAL AGREEMENT WITH HOUSTON PARKS BOARD TO TAKE OVER MANAGEMENT AND JURISDICTION OF THAT TRIAL SO THAT WE CAN FINALLY GET FEDERAL FUNDING, STATE FUNDING, LOCAL FUNDING, TO MAKE THE IMPROVEMENTS WE WANT, ESPECIALLY AS THIS TRIAL IS KEY TO THE NEW PLAN FOR CUNY HOMES.
COUNCILMAN CAROLYN, MR. BOSS? THANK YOU, MAYOR.
ALWAYS GOOD FOR YOU TO COME DOWN AND HELP US TO GET ON POINT.
AND SO I WANT TO GIVE YOU, UH, MY MINUTES.
SO I WOULD LOVE TO, YOU KNOW, THANK COUNCIL MEMBER, MEMBER SHABAZZ.
SHE'S BEEN ON TOP OF THIS AND VARIOUS STAFF MEMBERS HAVE BEEN HELPFUL.
MIKE EISERMAN AT PARKS AND HOVAN, ALL BLA, UM, VERONICA DAVIS WITH HOUSTON PARKS BOARD, UM, THE HOUSTON PARKS.
AND THEN ALSO THE BOARD CHAIRMAN OF HOUSTON PARKS BOARD.
BARON WALLACE HAS APPOINTED MICHAEL SKELLY TO HELP US WORK OUT ISSUES FROM THEIR END.
SO WHAT I'M REQUESTING THE MAYOR DO IS SIT DOWN WITH THE DEPARTMENT HEADS, GET THEM IN THE SAME ROOM, DIRECTOR KENNETH ALLEN, DIRECTOR CAROL HADDOCK WITH, UH, YOU KNOW, THE CEO OF HOUSTON PARKS BOARD, UH, BETH WHITE TO WORK OUT A SOLUTION TO THIS PROBLEM SO WE CAN TICK OFF ANOTHER CHECK BOX ON OUR COMPLETE COMMUNITIES PLAN.
THANK YOU EDWARD, FOR EVERYTHING THAT YOU DO IN REGARDS TO COLUMBIA TAP.
I KNOW THAT YOU ARE ALSO INSTRUMENTAL AND AN ADVOCATE FOR, FOR THAT SECTION THERE IN IDO AS WELL.
UH, AND, AND, AND MAYOR, I HAVE TO AGREE WITH EDWARD IN REGARDS TO, UH, I, I KNOW MY CIVIC CLUB, WE HAVE A GREEN SPACE IN, IN MY NEIGHBORHOOD THAT, UH, IT'S, IT'S PUBLIC WORKS, BUT THEN WHEN WE TRY TO DEAL WITH PUB, IT'S JUST A SMALL LITTLE TRIANGLE CIVIC CLUB.
IT'S FOR YEARS BACK WHEN I WAS PRESIDENT OF MY CIVIC CLUB, WE WANTED TO DO SOMETHING IN THAT LITTLE SPACE AND WE WOULD REACH OUT TO PUBLIC WORKS.
PUBLIC WORKS WOULD TELL US TO GO TO THE PARKS DEPARTMENT.
PARKS DEPARTMENT WILL TELL US TO GO TO PUBLIC WORKS.
AND WE'RE LIKE, WAIT A MINUTE, YOU KNOW, WE WANNA DO SOME IMPROVEMENTS IN THIS BILL GREEN SPACE.
UH, AND, AND, AND, AND, AND IF THERE'S ANY WAY WHERE IN SITUATIONS LIKE THAT, WHEN, WHEN THE PARKS DEPARTMENT AND PUBLIC WORKS KNOWS THAT THEY'RE NOT GONNA USE THAT PIECE OF PROPERTY FOR ANYTHING IN THE FUTURE.
SO WHY NOT DIRECT IT TO THE PARKS BOARD AND LET THE PARKS BOARD WORK WITH THESE ORGANIZATIONS SO THAT WAY THEY CAN DO WHAT THEY WOULD LIKE TO DO AND LIKE TO SEE IN THE FUTURE.
UH, I, I DON'T KNOW IF THAT MIGHT BE A SOLUTION, BUT I'M SURE IF, IF EDWARD'S BRINGING HIS SITUATION UP AND I KNOW OF ONE IN MY NEIGHBORHOOD, I'M SURE THERE'S A WHOLE BUNCH OF 'EM THROUGHOUT THE CITY THAT THEY'RE, THEY'RE, IT'S FRUSTRATING WHEN YOU'RE TRYING TO DO SOME IMPROVEMENTS, BUT YET YOU HAVE PUBLIC WORKS TELLING YOU TO GO TO PARKS DEPARTMENT.
PARKS DEPARTMENT TELLING YOU TO GO BACK TO PUBLIC WORKS AND NOTHING GETS DONE.
AND THANK YOU FOR YOUR ASSISTANCE WITH YOUR SECTION OF THE COLUMBIA TAP NORTH OF THE GULF FREEWAY.
UM, I'M PROUD TO REPORT THAT ALL THE CIVIC CLUBS, COUNCIL DISTRICTS, MANAGEMENT DISTRICTS, AND TSAS FOR THE FIRST TIME ARE ON THE SAME, UH, BOARD ON THE, ON THE SAME LEVEL ON THE COLUMBIA TAP, AND WORKING WITH THE UNIVERSITY OF HOUSTON COMMUNITY DESIGN RESOURCE CENTER TO PUT TOGETHER A COMPREHENSIVE PLAN.
SO I THANK YOU FOR HELPING TO LEAD THOSE EFFORTS.
NEXT SPEAKER CORTEZ BILL CORTEZ.
BILL CORTEZ BILL, NEXT SPEAKER, JSA MAY JSA, MAY JSA MAY IS HERE TO BE FOLLOWED BY BENJAMIN BROADWAY.
HOW Y'ALL DOING? UM, MY NAME IS JSA MAIN.
I'M HERE BECAUSE I DON'T WANT TO END UP ON A NEWS DEAD.
[01:40:01]
TO END UP ON A NEWS DEAD.I DON'T WANT MY MOM END UP ON A NEWS DEAD BECAUSE JANAE HOWARD, WHO IS A FELON, WHO IS OUT ON BOND AND IN MY TERMS, HAVE VIOLATED EVERYTHING YOU COULD THINK OF ON HER BOND.
I'M NOT SCARED TO SPEAK UP, BUT I'M SCARED THAT NOTHING WILL BE DONE.
I'M IN THE PROCESS OF BEING TOLD I HAVE TO LEAVE MY APARTMENT BECAUSE SHE KEEPS COMING TO MY APARTMENT, HARASSING ME AND MY FAMILY VANDALIZED MY CAR.
I'VE CALLED THE POLICE MULTIPLE TIMES AND TOLD THEM SHE'S ON THE RUN FROM VIOLATING HER PROBATION.
THIS ENVELOPE IS FULL OF DEATH THREATS.
I HAVE VIDEO, AUDIO OF HER THREATENING TO KILL ME AND MY FAMILY.
HER MOM IS ALSO BEEN ON 39 NEWS FOR FRAUD AND SCAM.
SHE HAS SENT DEATH THREATS TO ME AND MY FAMILY, AND I DON'T KNOW WHAT ELSE TO DO.
I'M SCARED MY APARTMENTS, I HAVE A NOTICE HERE FROM THE HOUSTON POLICE DEPARTMENT FROM VICTIMS FOR INVOLUNTARY DISPLACEMENT.
MY APARTMENTS WON'T EVEN MOVE ME AT ALL TO BE SAFE FOR MY KIDS.
NO SHELTERS ARE OPENED AS FAR AS HAVING ME AND MY KIDS GO THERE.
SO I HAVE TO FIND SOMEWHERE TO GO.
I HAVE BEEN SENT ON, LAID OFF.
I'VE BEEN LAID OFF BECAUSE I HAVING TO GO TO POLICE REPORTS.
SHE STALKED MY GRANDMOTHER ALL WHILE SHE'S ON BOND.
HER MOM, BRANDY TARVER, WHO IS FRAUD, WHO DOES EVERYTHING YOU COULD THINK OF, HELPED HER GET OUT.
AND SINCE THEN, SHE'S BEEN TERRORIZING ME AND MY FAMILY.
I CALLED THE NEWS BECAUSE I DON'T KNOW WHAT TO DO.
I GOT POLICE REPORTS, NOBODY WOULD HEAR ME.
I WENT TO THE POLICE DEPARTMENT ON GASNER.
THEY'RE THREE MINUTES AWAY FROM MY HOUSE.
THEY LAUGHED AND SAID THAT THEY DON'T HAVE THE MANPOWER.
I HAVEN'T BEEN WATCHING THE NEWS.
AND I SAID, WHY ARE YOU LAUGHING AT ME? I HAVEN'T WATCHED THE NEWS.
I'M WORKING, I'M TRYING TO GO TO SCHOOL, DEALING WITH THIS.
I'M, I KNOW, I'M, I KNOW MY TIME IS, I'M GONNA, I HAVE LEARNED SO MUCH WITH ABOUT THE LAW THAT I DIDN'T KNOW BEFORE BECAUSE I DON'T KNOW WHAT TO DO.
I'M SCARED AND I JUST, I I I WANNA BE HEARD.
'CAUSE I DON'T WANNA BE ON THE NEWS.
UH, ARE YOU GOING TO 1200 TRAVIS TODAY? I, I, IF I HAVE TO, I WILL.
WELL, IN, IN THE MEMO THAT I, THAT I HAVE, UM, THEY'RE TRYING TO GET MORE INFORMATION FROM YOU.
AND, UM, WHAT THIS SAYS IS THAT, UM, UM, THEY WANT YOU TO REPORT TO 1200 TRAVIS TODAY, UM, TO PROVIDE WHATEVER EVIDENCE THAT YOU HAVE.
THEY WANT YOU TO COME TO 1200 TRAVIS TO THE HOUSTON POLICE DEPARTMENT.
OKAY? THEY WANT YOU TO COME TO 12, GO TO 1200 TRAVIS FOR FAMILY VI.
IS THAT THE FAMILY VIOLENCE? 'CAUSE I'VE CALLED THEM TO, AND THEY COULDN'T HELP ME.
WELL, NO, THEY, THEY WANT YOU TO COME AND GIVE A REPORT AND PROVIDE THEM WITH WHATEVER EVIDENCE YOU HAVE THAT YOU'RE BEING HARASSED.
AND, AND PROVIDE A SWORN STATEMENT TO THEM.
I HAD A POLICE OFFICER CALL ME AND I TOLD HIM THAT.
'CAUSE HE MUST HAVE FOUND OUT I WAS COMING HERE.
BUT THEY, THEY WANT YOU TO JUST LIKE, YOU'RE COMING HERE, THEY WANT YOU TO GO TO THE POLICE DEPARTMENT AND, AND, AND TELL THEM, PROVIDE THEM WHATEVER EVIDENCE YOU HAVE.
I TOLD HIM, WHOEVER CALLED ME THAT I HAD EVIDENCE, HE SAID, THAT'S MY WORD AGAINST HERS.
EVEN WITH TEXT, EVEN WITH, I DON'T KNOW WHAT TO DO.
THEY, WHAT? THEY'RE A I GOT YOU.
THE ONLY THING THEY'RE ASKING ON YOU TO DO IS TO GO TO 1200 TRAVIS TO THE OKAY.
TELL THEM WHAT YOU'RE SAYING TO US.
PROVIDE THEM WITH WHATEVER EVIDENCE YOU HAVE THAT YOU HAVE BEEN HARASSED OR THREATENED, AND TO GIVE THEM A SWORN, A SWORN STATEMENT SO THAT THEY CAN HELP YOU.
I MEAN, ARE YOU FOLLOWING ME? ARE WE ON THE SAME PAGE? MM-HMM
IS THERE ANY PROBLEM WITH DOING THAT? I GO THERE RIGHT NOW.
WELL, IF, IF YOU'LL DO THAT, I THINK, AND, AND, AND IF YOU NEED, IF THERE ARE ANY QUESTIONS, JUST SEE, UH, RHONDA AND RIGHT THERE OR SERGEANT AND THEY'LL BE ABLE TO ASSIST YOU.
[01:45:01]
ONE SECOND.AND, AND THANK YOU MS. MAY FOR COMING FORWARD.
PLEASE FOLLOW HIS DIRECTIVE AND GO AND DO THE REPORT.
IF YOU HAVE ANY WITNESSES THAT WOULD BE HELPFUL AS WELL.
THEN IT WON'T BE JUST YOUR WORD AGAINST HERS.
I DON'T WANNA SEE YOU ON THE NEWS.
AND SO CERTAINLY FOLLOW UP WITH WHAT HE'S SAYING AND, AND THAT IS A WAY THAT YOU CAN GET SOME HELP.
AND, AND MY HEART GOES OUT TO YOU BECAUSE I KNOW THAT IT'S A VERY FRIGHTENING SITUATION.
BUT FOLLOW THE DIRECTIVE AND LET'S SEE HOW YOU CAN MOVE FORWARD TO BUILD A CASE ON THIS PERSON.
IF YOU CAN'T DO IT ORIGINALLY, JUST KEEP WORKING AT IT.
BUT CERTAINLY YOUR LIFE IS VALUABLE AND I THANK YOU FOR COMING FORWARD TO PROTECT BOTH YOU AND YOUR FAMILY.
AND, UH, I KNOW THIS IS A DIFFICULT SITUATION FOR YOU.
WE CAN ALL SEE, UH, YOUR PAIN IN YOUR TEARS, BUT I DO THINK THAT FROM YOUR STATEMENT THAT YOU DON'T FEEL YOU'RE BEING HEARD.
YOU'RE NOW BEING HEARD AND YOU HAVE PEOPLE REACHING OUT TO YOU TO TELL YOU WHAT THEY BELIEVE THE NEXT COURSE OF ACTION SHOULD BE.
WHEN YOU ARE ABLE TO PRESENT ALL OF YOUR EVIDENCE AND BE ABLE TO GIVE A SWORN STATEMENT MM-HMM
THEN THEY CAN START TO INVESTIGATE FROM THERE.
SO, UH, WE WISH YOU ALL THE BEST, UH, WITH THAT PROCESS.
AND IF THERE'S ANYTHING ELSE THAT WE CAN DO, JUST COME BACK AND LET US KNOW.
BUT YOU ARE BEING HEARD NOW, OKAY? OKAY.
UH, SISTER, YOU MENTIONED SOMETHING ABOUT AN INVOLUNTARY EVICTION.
CAN YOU, WHAT, WHAT, WHY, WHY IS IT INVOL? IS IT VOLUNTARY OR IN IT SAYS, IT SAYS INVOLUNTARY DISPLACEMENT.
SO IS THAT YOUR, THAT'S FROM HPD OR THAT'S YOUR PART? IT'S FROM HPD AND I GAVE IT TO, I, I DON'T REALLY, I GAVE IT TO, UH, MS. JANICE.
I TALKED TO MS. JANICE AND SHE SAID THAT MY APARTMENT SHOULD HAVE A SISTER APARTMENTS TO RELOCATE ME.
THEY WON'T, THEY WON'T MOVE ME.
AND SO I HAVE TO LITERALLY, I HAVE TO SIGN A 30 DAY NOTICE TO LEAVE.
THAT'S WHY I WAS SAYING I'M LOOKING FOR SHELTERS.
BUT THEY SHOULD BE ABLE, THAT WAS GONNA BE MY QUESTION, YOUR PART, BECAUSE YOU HAVE THAT DOCUMENT.
YOUR THE, THE LANDLORD IS ALMOST OBLIGATED TO FIND ANOTHER UNIT FOR YOU AT ANOTHER PROPERTY.
SO IS IT THAT THEY DON'T HAVE UNITS AVAILABLE? SHE SAID THEY HAVE A WAITING LIST AND I, THEY, BECAUSE THEY DON'T HAVE UNITS AVAILABLE, SO.
SO THEN, UM, WILL THE SERGEANT BE ABLE MAYOR TO PROVIDE SOME OF THAT ASSISTANCE AS WELL? YEAH.
BETWEEN THE SERGEANT AND RHONDA TO PROVIDE SOME ASSISTANCE? YEAH.
THERE, THERE ARE RESOURCES AVAILABLE FOR THAT.
SO WHILE YOU ARE WORKING WITH MS. RHONDA, UH, OKAY.
BE REAL CLEAR TO ASK ABOUT THOSE TYPE UNITS FOR YOUR SITUATION.
THANK COUNCIL COUNCILMAN MS. SHAVAN.
AND WHAT I'D LIKE TO FOR YOU TO DO, I'M GONNA PASS MY CARD TO YOU.
PLEASE CALL MY OFFICE, YOU CAN CALL BEFORE YOU EVEN LEAVE THIS BUILDING AND SOMEBODY CAN GET A COPY OF THAT LETTER AND PERHAPS WE CAN HELP YOU SO THAT YOU DON'T HAVE TO MOVE TO AN UNSAFE CONDITION.
BUT WE CERTAINLY WANT YOU TO MOVE AROUND SO THAT YOU CAN BE SAFE.
SO I'M GONNA PASS MY CARD TO YOU.
CALL BEFORE YOU EVEN LEAVE THE BUILDING, OKAY? OKAY.
JULIA'S HERE TO FOLLOW BY ROLANDO PEREZ.
I'M THE SOUTHEAST TEXAS REGIONAL DIRECTOR FOR TEXAS HOUSERS.
MY WORK HAS FOCUSED IN DISASTER RECOVERY IN HOUSTON FOR FOUR YEARS.
MY FIRST EXPERIENCE WORKING WITH THE NORTHEAST ACTION COLLECTIVE WAS AFTER TROPICAL STORM AMELDA.
I VOLUNTEERED ON A SATURDAY MORNING TO TEAR OUT TWO FEET OF DRYWALL IN A HOUSE THAT HAD JUST BEEN REPAIRED FROM ITS HARVEY DAMAGES.
THE CHILDREN IN THIS HOME NOW ASK THEIR MOTHER EVERY TIME IT RAINS, IF THEY SHOULD PUT THE FURNITURE ON TOP OF EACH OTHER.
THEY ALSO NORMALLY GET A HOTEL JUST BECAUSE THEY'RE SCARED.
IS THIS THE ENVIRONMENT THAT THIS ADMINISTRATION WANTS THEIR CONSTITUENTS TO LIVE IN? THE CITY CLAIMS TO FOCUS ON THE WORST FIRST, BUT THE SIGNIFICANTLY LOWER CONDITIONS OF DRAINAGE IN THE NORTHEAST AND OTHER BICO COMMUNITIES HAVE BEEN CREATED BY THIS, THIS DIRECT DISINVESTMENT.
I LIVE IN DISTRICT C AND I HAVE SEEN MAJOR PROJECTS CURRENTLY HAPPENING IN MONTROSE.
I CAN ASSURE YOU THAT THERE IS MINIMAL TO NO STANDING WATER IN OUR STREETS AFTER A HEAVY RAIN.
[01:50:01]
CAN HAPPEN IN AREAS THAT ARE LESS DISTRESSED, WE ASK THAT THESE PROJECTS ALSO HAPPEN IN AREAS THAT ARE SEVERELY FLOODED.IT IS NOT RIGHT TO LEAVE YOUR RESIDENTS LIVING IN THESE CONSTANT STATES OF EMERGENCY.
WHEN THERE IS MONEY AVAILABLE, THE CITY HAS AN OPPORTUNITY TO ADDRESS THE HISTORIC DISINVESTMENT, MAKING SURE THAT THE VOTERS WILL, IS ENACTED AND FULLY FUNDING THE BUILD HOUSTON FORWARD AS IT WAS INTENDED, THE INCREASE OF SWAP BUDGET BY 20 MILLION, WHICH IS DONE ON A TEMPORARY BASIS, NEEDS TO BE MADE PERMANENT.
A $20 MILLION LDP INCREASE WOULD EMPOWER PUBLIC WORKS TO BE ABLE TO INVEST DRAINAGE WHERE IT IS THE WORST.
THE MAYOR AND THIS CITY COUNCIL HAS THE OPPORTUNITY TO BELIE, TO LEAVE AN AMAZING LEGACY OF EQUITY ACTION AND INVESTMENT IN COMMUNITIES THAT HAVE BEEN NEGLECTED FOR TOO LONG.
CAN WE COUNT ON YOU TO MAKE A COMMITMENT TODAY TO INCREASE THE SWOT AND LDP BUDGETS EACH BY $20 MILLION? THANK YOU.
GOOD AFTERNOON, CITY COUNCIL AND MAYOR TURNER.
I LIVE IN DISTRICT H AND AS OF OCTOBER THIS YEAR, I'LL BE THERE 46 YEARS.
I WANT TO DATE THE COUNCIL FOR THEIR ATTENTION THAT THEY HAVE BEEN GIVEN AS NAC HAS SPOKEN OUT ABOUT THE NEED FOR INVESTMENT IN OUR COMMUNITY DRAINAGE SYSTEM.
WE ASK THAT THE COUNCIL APPROVE A BUDGET THAT INCLUDES MORE FOR SWAT AND LVP IN THE AMOUNT OF $20 MILLION EACH.
THE CITY ISN'T DOING ENOUGH TO PROTECT ME.
PEOPLE LIKE ME, MY NEIGHBORS, AND MY COMMUNITY FROM FLOODING.
I HAVE FLOODED OUT FOUR TIMES.
PEOPLE HAVE GOTTEN SICK FROM CONTAMINANTS IN THE WATER.
LIVES HAVE BEEN LOST ON DROWNING FROM MOLD CHEMICALS THAT ARE IN THE WATER.
WE HAVE HEARD THAT MAYOR TURNER HAS GIVEN $20 MILLION TO SWAT, BUT IT ALSO, AND BUT CAN THAT BE CONFIRMED OR IS THAT NECESSARILY TRUE? BECAUSE WE HAVE HEARD FROM PUBLIC WORKS THAT THE MONEY HAS NOT BEEN ALLOCATED OR SECURED YET.
WE HOPE THAT IT WILL BE IN THE BUDGET FOR NEXT WEEK, BUT MORE NEEDS TO BE DONE.
AND I THINK THE CITY COUNCIL HAS THE POWER TO DO THAT.
IT ALL, NOT NECESSARILY ABOUT THE MONEY, AS THEY SAY, A DOLLAR SPENT IN MITIGATION SAY $7 IN THE COST OF RECOVERY.
BUT IT'S NOT ALL ABOUT THE MONEY.
IT'S ABOUT DOING THE RIGHT THING.
IT'S ABOUT CIVIL RIGHTS, DRAINAGE, EQUITY, OR COMMUNITY FOR PEOPLE LIKE ME.
EVERYBODY WHO SHOOTS IN TEXAS DESERVES THAT.
SO WE ASK HERE TO ASK YOU, PLEASE APPROVE THE BUDGET.
SHOW US THAT THE HEALTH AND SAFETY, THE PEOPLE WHO SHOOTS IN TEXAS MATTERS TO ALL OF YOU.
IT MATTERS TO ME, AND IT MATTERS TO THE NACI.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME, YOUR PATIENCE, AND YOUR ATTENTION.
GOD BLESS EACH AND EVERY ONE OF YOU.
ONCE AGAIN, ORLANDO, BE DISTRICT H.
OKAY, NEXT SPEAKER, ANDRES RODRIGUEZ.
ANDRES RODRIGUEZ IS PRESENT TO BE FOLLOWED BY DORIS BROWN.
[01:55:10]
HELLO, I'M ANDRES AND I SERVED AS A DIGITAL ORGANIZER FOR HOME COALITION.TODAY I STAND ALONGSIDE OUR PARTNERS, WESTWOOD RECOVERY AND ACT TO NOT ONLY, NOT ONLY AS THEIR SUPPORTER, BUT ALSO AS AN EFFECTIVE RESIDENCE RESIDING IN DISTRICT.
I I HAVE ENCOUNTERED NUMEROUS CHALLENGES IN FINDING AN AFFORDABLE FLOOD FREE HOME IS DISHEARTENING TO COMMIT TO A HOUSE MONTHS BEFORE HURRICANE SEASON, ONLY TO POTENTIALLY WITNESS WITNESS ITS DESTRUCTION DUE TO INADEQUATE DRAINAGE MAINTENANCE.
THIS IS, THIS ISSUE ISN'T UNIQUE TO ME.
IT AFFECTS THOUSANDS WITHIN OUR COMMUNITY ON A DAILY BASIS.
THE EMOTIONAL TOLL ENDURED BY INDIVIDUALS WHOSE BELONGINGS HAVE BEEN DESTROYED AND PAST DISASTERS, AWAKENS DURING HEAVY THUNDERSTORMS AS THEY WATCH THEIR STREETS GRADUALLY TRANSFORM INTO WATERWAYS.
AS CITY COUNSELORS, YOU POSSESS THE ABILITY TO ALLEVIATE THIS SUFFERING.
THE HOME COALITION HAS, UH, DEDICATED ITS EFFORTS TO DISASTER RECOVERY SINCE HURRICANE HARVEY.
WHILE SOME LEVEL OF RECOVERY WILL ALWAYS BE NECESSARY FOLLOWING A DISASTER LIKE A HURRICANE, IT IS TIME TO ADOPT A PROACTIVE APPROACH THAT PRIORITIZES PREVENTION, SAFEGUARDING OUR COMMUNITIES, AND MITIGATING THE IMPACT OF FUTURE DISASTERS SHOULD ONLY, SHOULD BE ONE OF OUR MAIN GOALS.
REMEMBER, INVESTING IN PREVENTION MEASURES NOW WILL NOT ONLY SAVE THE CITY CONS, CONSIDERABLE RESOURCES, AKA LOTS OF MONEY, BUT ALSO PRESERVE THE LIVES OF COMMUNITY MEMBERS.
I URGE YOU, ESPECIALLY CITY COUNCIL, UH, MEMBER ROBERT GALLEGOS, AS YOU ARE MY CITY COUNCIL REPRESENTATIVE, TO SERIOUSLY CONSIDER THE RECOMMENDATIONS PRESENTED BY OUR PARTNERS, LET US WORK TOGETHER TO CREATE A MORE RESILIENT AND SAFE FUTURE FOR OUR COMMUNITY.
FOR THOSE WHO MIGHT HAVE FORGOTTEN, OUR DEMANDS ARE AS FOLLOWS.
INCREASE THE STORM WATER ACTION TEAM BUDGET BY $20 MILLION.
INCREASE LOCAL DRAINAGE PROGRAMS BUDGET BY $20 MILLION.
MAKE DRAINAGE SPENDING MORE EQUITABLE AND MAKE DRAINAGE GOVERNANCE MORE DEMOCRATIC.
AND LAST BUT NOT LEAST, HONOR THE BUILD HOUSTON ORDINANCE BY ENSURING THAT 18.47% OF HOUSTON'S TAX REVENUE GOES TO DEPTH ON PAST PROJECTS AND THE BUILD HOUSTON FORWARD PROGRAM.
DORIS BROWN IS HERE TO BE FOLLOWED BY BECKY SALE AFTERNOON MAYOR AND COUNCIL PEOPLE.
THIS IS A PICTURE IN FRONT OF MY HOME WHEN THE FLOODS CAME, WHEN THE HEAVY RAINS CAME ON MAY THE NINTH.
THIS IS A TUESDAY WHEN THERE ARE USUALLY GARBAGE CANS SITTING UP.
BUT THE GARBAGE CANS FLOW DOWN THE STREET IN FRONT OF MY HOUSE LIKE A LITTLE RIVER THAT, THAT KEEPS ME LOCKED INTO MY HOUSE.
I HAVE TO SHELTER IN PLACE FOR FOUR DAYS AS THE WATER RECEDES.
MY NAME IS DORIS BROWN AND I LIVE IN CENIC WOODS ON THE NORTHEAST SIDE OF TOWN.
I AM A CO-DIRECTOR OF WEST STREET RECOVERY.
AFTER 56 YEARS OF LIVING IN AN HISTORICALLY MARGINALIZED RED LINE DISINVESTED COMMUNITY, I AM ALSO A CO-FOUNDER OF THE NORTHEAST ACTION COLLECTIVE.
THE KNOCK IS ORGANIZED TO IMPROVE OUR QUALITY OF LIFE, IMPROVE ENVIRONMENTAL CONDITIONS, AND WE IN BETTER PROTECTIONS FROM OUR GOVERNMENTS.
THAT IS WHY WE HAVE BEEN HERE EVERY WEEK FOR THE LAST FEW MONTHS.
WE ARE HERE TO CALL ON YOU OUR CITY GOVERNMENT TO PROVIDE PROTECTION FOR OUR COMMUNITIES.
WE KNOW THAT THE MAYOR SAID THERE'S 20 MILLION MORE IN THE BUDGET FOR SWAT.
WE LEARNED LAST WEEK AT THE PUBLIC WORKS BUDGET.
HEARING THAT THE DEPARTMENT WHO HAS NO KNOWLEDGE OF MORE MONEY IN THEIR BUDGET, WE DESERVE STRAIGHT ANSWERS.
AND IS THERE 20 MILLION MORE IN THIS BUDGET FOR SWAT AS WAS PROMISE AT THE PRESS CONFERENCE LAST WEEK? OR WAS THAT JUST LIP SERVICE WITH NO MATERIAL REALITY BEHIND IT? IF THAT ISN'T YET MONEY SECURED, WHERE SHOULD BE IN ADDITION TO SWAT THAT SHOULD BE FUNDS FOR LDP.
I EMPHASIZE THIS BECAUSE THESE PROJECTS ADDRESS THE WORST FIRST CONCEPT
[02:00:01]
ADDRESSED IN BILL HOUSTON FORWARD.HOW CAN HOUSTON GO FORWARD IF SO MANY STILL HAVE ANTIQUATED OR NO DRAINAGE AT ALL? MY ORGANIZING FRIENDS HAVE SHOWN HOW THEIR NEIGHBORHOODS SUFFERED JUST LAST WEEK.
WE KNOW THAT BIPOC COMMUNITIES HAVE A DIFFERENT TYPE OF DRAINAGE.
OPEN DITCH YOU ON COUNCIL MUST KNOW SEPARATE CAN NEVER BE EQUAL.
WE, THE PEOPLE OF NORTHEAST USED TO NEED THE 40 MILLION MORE TO BE IN THE BUDGET.
WHY ARE WE STILL FLOODING? ARE WE STILL EXPENDABLE? WE DEMAND EQUAL PROTECTION FROM FLOODING AS PART OF OUR RIGHT TO FAIR HOUSING, EQUAL OPPORTUNITY AND EQUAL PROTECTIONS BY THE GOVERNMENT.
LEMME JUST SAY FOR CLARIFICATION, UM, WE PUT AN ADDITIONAL 20 MILLION IN THIS BUDGET, UH, HOPING AND ANTICIPATING THAT THE COUNTY LIKE LAST YEAR WOULD JOIN US IN PUTTING $20 MILLION MORE.
AND SO WE ARE IN CONVERSATION WITH THE COUNTY TO SEE WHETHER OR NOT THEY WILL COME BACK AGAIN LIKE THEY DID LAST YEAR TO ADD THEIR 20.
'CAUSE ALL OF THE CITY OF HOUSTON IS IN THE COUNTY.
SO I HOPE, YOU KNOW, WE'RE NOT LETTING ANYBODY OFF THE HOOK.
AND TO THE EXTENT, IF THEY DON'T, UH, THEN YEAH, WE'LL MAKE SURE THAT THE 40 IS THERE.
BUT OUR HOPE IS THAT THE CITY WILL PUT IN 20 AND THE COUNTY WILL PUT IN 20.
JUST THAT WAS THE, UM, WHAT WE DID LAST YEAR.
AND THE HOPE IS THAT'S WHAT WILL HAPPEN THIS YEAR.
BUT IF THEY DON'T, UM, WE'LL FIND A WAY TO FILL IN THE REST.
BECKY S BECKY S SHOULD BE FOLLOWED BY MYRTLE.
TRISTAN, YOU CAN ALWAYS PULL FROM THE COUNTY DISTRICT SERVICE FILING.
CITY COUNCIL DISTRICT SERVICE IS FINE.
OKAY, SO WE ALL HAVE A STAKE IN THIS GAME.
UM, I'M A MEMBER OF THE NORTHEAST ACTION COLLECTIVE AND CO-DIRECTOR OF WEST STREET RECOVERY.
UM, THIS AFTERNOON WE HAD A BIG RALLY AND PRESS CONFERENCE OUTSIDE OF CITY HALL.
WE HAD SEVERAL, MANY MEMBERS FROM A LOT OF DIFFERENT ORGANIZATIONS AND ALL OVER THE CITY JOIN US.
AND ALTHOUGH WE'RE FIGHTING SPECIFICALLY FOR SMALL BUDGET CHANGES TOWARDS DRAINAGE, THE REASON WE HAD SO MUCH SUPPORT IS THAT THIS MOVEMENT AND THIS TESTIFYING IS PART OF OUR VISION.
UH, AND, AND WORK TOWARDS MAKING A CITY WHERE WE'RE ACTUALLY ALL SAFE AND WE ACTUALLY LIKE, HAVE, HAVE SPACE AND OUR SUPPORTED TO CREATE THE LIVES AND COMMUNITIES WE NEED.
UM, SO I KNOW WE'VE BEEN TALKING TO Y'ALL A LOT,
I WANTED TO JUST TAKE A MOMENT TO REFOCUS ON HOW PERSONAL THIS ISSUE IS TO ALL OF US AND THAT IT'S A A, AN IMMINENT ISSUE OF SAFETY AND HEALTH CONCERN.
PASSING AROUND SOME PHOTOS THAT ARE ALL FROM THIS MONTH.
THEY'RE ALL FROM STREETS THAT FLOODED IN DISTRICT HMB.
UM, THEY'RE IMP THEY'RE COMPLETELY IMPASSABLE FROM A HEAVY RAIN.
THAT WATER STAYS THERE FOR A LONG TIME.
IF YOU WANNA TRAVEL AROUND THE STREET, YOU HAVE TO WALK THROUGH IT.
IT, IT'S, IT'S A REALLY SERIOUS ISSUE.
UM, ON A PERSONAL NOTE, I ALMOST MISSED A RALLY TODAY BECAUSE I WAS AT A WEEKLY DOCTOR'S APPOINTMENT I GO TO FOR CHRONIC HEALTH PROBLEMS, PROBABLY CAUSED BY MY WORK DURING HARVEY AND AMELDA DOING RECOVERY.
A LOT OF OUR FRIENDS COULDN'T BE HERE TODAY 'CAUSE THEY WERE WORKING, THEY WERE EXHAUSTED STANDING OUT IN THE HEAT.
SO THESE PHOTOS ARE TO SPEAK FOR THEM AS WELL.
THE 47 MILLION INCREASE IN THE PUBLIC WORKS BUDGET IS, IS GOOD, BUT IT'S NOT NEW.
IT MEANS THAT THE PLAN FOR REBUILD HOUSTON IS WORKING AND THAT MONEY IS GOING TOWARDS PROJECTS AS IT WAS PLANNED OVER 10 YEARS AGO.
BUT IT'S NOT AN ANSWER TO US BEING HERE.
AND TO DESCRIBE IT TO AN ANSWER OF US BEING HERE IS VERY CONDESCENDING AND DISMISSIVE.
WE NEED MONEY 20 MILLION FROM THE BUDGET SURPLUS TO LDP PROJECTS TO TAKE A SMALL STEP TOWARDS ACTUALLY MAKING CHANGE.
WE NEED 20 MILLION TOWARDS SWAT, NOT FROM THE COUNTY.
IF THE COUNTY GIVES US MORE MONEY, THAT'S FANTASTIC.
LAST YEAR, THE CITY PUT 20 MILLION AS IT HAS EVERY YEAR FOR A LONG TIME.
[02:05:01]
MAYOR TURNER, THAT'S AN EXCELLENT PROGRAM AND AN ADDITIONAL 20 MILLION FROM THE CITY.AND THEN IF THE COUNTY GIVES MORE MONEY, THAT'S GREAT.
THE REASON THAT COUNTY, THE COUNTY HAS THAT MONEY IS BECAUSE WE'VE BEEN IN A MASSIVE FIGHT OVER AT THE COUNTY TO ENFORCE AN EQUITY PROVISION IN THEIR DISTRIBUTION OF BOND MONEY.
SO IT'S REALLY JUST TAKING IT FROM ONE POT WE'VE BEEN FIGHTING FOR AND PUTTING IT INTO ANOTHER POT EXPIRED.
WELL, THE REASON WHY THE COUNTY HAS MORE MONEY, 'CAUSE THEY RECEIVED $750 MILLION FROM THE GLO AND, AND THE CITY OF HOUSTON DIDN'T RECEIVE A DIME.
SO THAT'S THE REASON WHY, UH, THAT'S, THAT'S THE REASON WHY I AM SAYING THAT, UM, WE WOULD LIKE THE COUNTY TO JOIN WITH US BECAUSE ALL OF THE CITY IS IN THE COUNTY.
OKAY? IF YOU LIVE IN THE CITY YOU LIVE IN, YOU LIVE IN THE COUNTY, THAT THERE'S NO QUESTION THAT MORE MONEY IS NEEDED FOR INFRASTRUCTURE, ESPECIALLY IN COMMUNITIES OF COLOR.
AND THAT'S WHAT, THAT'S WHAT CONGRESS INTENDED WHEN THEY PROVIDED $4.3 BILLION IN CDBG MID FUNDING.
AND IT WAS HUD WHO FOUND THAT THE GLO DISCRIMINATED AGAINST THE CITY OF HOUSTON AND COMMUNITIES OF COLOR.
SO WE, WE'VE BEEN TRYING TO GET THAT MONEY FOR INFRASTRUCTURE FOR COMMUNITIES OF COLOR, LIKE IN NORTHEAST AND OTHER AREAS.
SO THERE IS NO QUESTION THAT THERE'S A GREATER, THAT THERE'S A NEED.
WE ARE ALL FIGHTING FOR THE SAME THING.
BUT AT THE SAME TIME, UM, YOU HAVE MORE INFRASTRUCTURE NEEDED.
YOU HAVE MORE DOLLARS NEEDED FOR ILLEGAL DUMPING.
UM, THERE ARE, UH, DOLLARS NEEDED FOR PUBLIC SAFETY.
SO THERE ARE A LOT OF NEEDS THAT EXIST WITHIN THIS CITY, NO QUESTION ABOUT THAT.
UM, AND THERE ARE MORE NEEDS THAN THERE ARE DOLLARS THAT ARE AVAILABLE.
SO AS I INDICATED BEFORE, YES, THERE'S $20 MILLION BUILT INTO THIS BUDGET, UH, FOR, UM, SWAT PROJECTS.
AND THE HOPE IS THAT THE COUNTY WILL JOIN US AGAIN LIKE THEY DID BEFORE FOR ANOTHER 20.
BUT EVEN IF, BUT IF THEY DON'T, AND I'M GONNA CONTINUE TO, THE COUNTY'S BEEN AN EXCELLENT PARTNER WITH THE CITY OF HOUSTON, AN EXCELLENT PARTNER.
UH, BUT IF THEY DON'T, YOU KNOW, THEN YEAH, WE WILL FIND A WAY, UH, TO MEET THE 40 MILLION THAT I SPOKE ABOUT AT THE PRESS CONFERENCE.
UM, SO IT'S, IT'S, WE ON THE SAME, WE ON THE SAME, WE ARE NOT IN DISAGREEMENT WITH YOU THAT RESPECTFULLY, WE, WE, I DO NOT BELIEVE WE ARE ON THE SAME PAGE.
WE THINK THAT THE COUNTY, THE, THE COUNTY'S MONEY MATTERS TOO, RIGHT? BUT AS YOU SAID, THERE'S SO MANY PROBLEMS. THERE'S, WE, WE COULD USE 60 MILLION, NO PROBLEM.
RIGHT? THERE'S A, THERE'S A BUDGET SURPLUS.
WE THINK THAT HOUSTON IS IN A STATE OF CRISIS AND THAT THERE SHOULDN'T BE AS MUCH MONEY IN THE BUDGET SURPLUS.
THERE'S MORE THAN IS REQUIRED.
AND THAT MONEY CAN FUND THESE PROGRAMS WE'RE TALKING ABOUT.
I THINK YOU MIGHT BE REFERRING TO THE STATE OF TEXAS, BUT NOT TO THE CITY OF HOUSTON.
AND YES, THERE'S A, THERE'S A $30 BILLION SURPLUS AT THE STATE LEVEL.
THE NAC ON WEST STREET FILED THE TITLE VI THAT WAS THEN REFERRED TO THE JUSTICE DEPARTMENT, WHICH IS THE BEST CHANCE OF THE CITY GETTING MONEY.
WE HAVE DONE EVERYTHING YOU COULD POSSIBLY IMAGINE TO DO TO GET THAT MONEY.
SO TO PASS OFF RESPONSIBILITY COMPLETELY IS HONESTLY, IT'S VERY INSULTING.
IF ALL OF YOU HAVE LISTENED TO US, COME HERE FOR THREE MONTHS AND THAT'S THE RESPONSE WE GET.
WE'LL LEAVE WITH NO HOPE IN THE CITY GOVERNMENT.
AND THAT'S THE MESSAGE YOU NEED TO HEAR.
NO ONE IS, NO ONE IS SAYING THAT NO ONE IS, NO ONE IS SAYING THAT AT ALL.
IF YOU, IF YOU ANSWER US BY MOVING 40 MILLION MORE INTO DRAINAGE FROM CITY MONEY TO SWAT AND LDP, THEN WE WILL BELIEVE YOU ALL THE WAY.
AND THAT'S WHAT WE HOPE TO SEE.
WELL, I UNDERSTAND WHAT I UNDERSTAND YOUR POSITION AND I'M GONNA RESPECT YOUR POSITION.
OKAY? SO I'M NOT GONNA, I'M NOT GONNA EVEN GO DOWN THAT, THAT ROAD, UH, WITH YOU.
IT TAKES EVERY UNIT OF GOVERNMENT TO WORK TOGETHER, OKAY? AND WE AGREE.
SO WE ARE, WE ARE, WE ARE AT THE, WE ARE AT THE LOWER END OF THE GOVERNMENT, FEDERAL, STATE, LOCAL.
AND, UH, I SHARE YOUR, YOUR CONCERNS.
I SHARE YOUR, YOUR FIGHT, UH, SHARE YOUR PASSION AND ALL OF THAT.
AND NO ONE IS TRYING TO IGNORE OR DISREGARD WHAT YOU ARE SAYING.
OKAY? SO LET'S JUST, LET'S JUST BE CLEAR ON THAT.
APPRECIATE YOUR FIGHT, UH, WITH, UH, HAN ON ELLO.
BUT, BUT THERE HAS BEEN NO RESPONSE FROM HUD OR DOJ AS IT RELATES TO THAT.
AND THE STATE HAS ALREADY REED, AS THEY SAY, THAT $4.3 BILLION TO OTHER AREAS,
[02:10:01]
NOT TO, HE HAS, OKAY.WE ARE NOT GONNA BE DISRESPECTFUL NOW, NOW THAT I WILL NOT ALLOW.
NOW I RESPECT YOUR RIGHT, BUT WE ARE NOT GOING TO BE DISRESPECTFUL, OKAY? WE, WE ARE HERE ASKING FOR OUR RIGHT TO SAFETY, TO BE RESPECTED, OKAY? AND FOR YOU TO TAKE ACTION TOWARDS THAT.
WE, AND WE HAVE HEARD YOU, SO THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
WE, WE BELIEVE IN THE CITY AND THAT'S WHY WE'RE HERE.
AND WE REALLY APPRECIATE ALL THE TIME Y'ALL HAVE SPENT TO MEET WITH US.
AND WE HOPE WE CAN WORK TOGETHER AND MOVE THIS FORWARD.
AND WE NEED YOU TO SHOW YOU BELIEVE IN US, AND HAVE HEARD US BY ACTUALLY TAKING ACTION, NOT JUST TELLING US.
WELL, WE THANK YOU VERY, YOU THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
BUT PLEASE BEAR IN MIND THAT SOME OF US STILL LIVE IN THESE SAME NEIGHBORHOODS.
OKAY? SO, BUT ANYWAY, NEXT SPEAKER, NEXT SPEAKER.
I AM A 30 YEAR RESIDENT OF LAKEWOOD AND CO-FOUNDER OF THE NORTHEAST ACTION COLLECTIVE.
I HOPE THIS IS NOT A BARRIER FOR US.
FOR FOUR YEARS, WE HAVE FOCUSED ON TRYING TO GET THE CITY TO IMPROVE THE DRAINAGE INFRASTRUCTURE IN OUR NEIGHBORHOODS.
MEMBERS OF THE NAC HAVE COUNTLESS STORIES RELATING TO FLOODING, SEWER AND EXPOSURE TO TOXINS.
NONE OF THIS IS AN EXAGGERATION.
POOR DRAINAGE INFRASTRUCTURE IS AN ISSUE OF PUBLIC SAFETY.
AND IF YOU NEED PROOF, JUST LOOK AT ALL THE PHOTOS NAC MEMBERS ARE SHOWING YOU TODAY.
GETTING A VOICES HEARD HAS BEEN AN LPO BATTLE.
THE NAC HAS BEEN ASKING THE CITY TO INCREASE DRAINAGE INFRASTRUCTURE SPENDING THROUGH THE BUDGET PROCESS FOR THREE YEARS NOW.
WE ASKED THE CITY TO HELP TWO YEARS AGO, AND WE WERE TOLD THERE WAS, THERE WASN'T ENOUGH MONEY AND TO ATTEND A CIP MEETING THAT WAS NEVER SCHEDULED.
WE TRIED TO ENGAGE IN THE BUDGET PROCESS LAST YEAR BY PRESENTING AN AMENDMENT ON DITCH MAINTENANCE.
AND WE WERE TOLD THERE WAS SOMETHING IN THE WORKS.
THERE WAS SOME SMALL DRAINAGE RELIEF ANNOUNCED, BUT NOT WHAT WAS REQUESTED BY OUR COMMUNITY.
NOW WE ARE HERE PARTICIPATING IN THE ONLY WAY POSSIBLE TO MAKE SURE OUR DEMANDS ARE HEARD LOUD AND CLEAR
[02:15:19]
CLIMATIC.DESPITE OUR ENGAGEMENT AND COMMITMENT, THE ANNOUNCEMENTS OF THE PROPOSED BUDGET FOR THE FISCAL YEAR 2024 SHOWS THAT NOTHING WE HAVE BEEN ASKING FOR IS INCLUDED IN THE PROPOSED BUDGET.
WE WERE REMINDED THAT THE CITY BUDGET PROCESS IS INACCESSIBLE.
YOUR TIME HAS DESCRIBED NON-INCLUSIVE AND NON-DESIGNATED FOR DEMO DEMOCRATIC INPUT.
IF THE CITY OF HOUSTON WANTS BI HAS EXPIRED, HE'S TRANSLATING, LEMME FINISH.
TRANSLATING BI POC COMMUNITIES LIKE OURS TO SURVIVE IN THE FACE OF THE CLIMATE CRISIS.
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR LISTENING TO US.
I JUST WANT TO ADD ONE LAST THING.
I'VE BEEN LIVING IN HOUSTON ALL MY LIFE AND FLOODING HAS BEEN AN ISSUE.
HOPEFULLY WE CAN RESOLVE THIS AND IT DOESN'T TAKE ANOTHER 20, 30 YEARS TO DO THIS.
TO BE HONEST, I DON'T THINK I HAVE ANYTHING TO SAY THAT MY ALLIES, COWORKERS, AND FRIENDS HAVEN'T SAID ALREADY OVER THE PAST THREE MONTHS.
WE HAVE TWO WEEKS LEFT IN THE BUDGET PROCESS.
I WANNA THANK THE CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS LAST WEEK DURING THE PUBLIC WORKS BUDGET WORKSHOP.
FOR THE QUESTIONS YOU ASKED TO PUBLIC WORKS.
IT SHOWS THAT YOU HAVE BEEN LISTENING TO US.
YOU'RE AWARE OF THE MAGNITUDE OF THIS PROBLEM, BUT WE HAVE YET TO SEE THAT TRANSLATED IN THE BUDGET INTO ACTUAL INVESTMENT.
WE DON'T WANT TO BE HERE ANY MORE THAN Y'ALL WANT TO KEEP LISTENING TO US, BUT WE ARE HERE TO SHOW THAT THE PEOPLE OF HOUSTON HAVE IDENTIFIED DRAINAGE AS THE BIGGEST ISSUE.
AND THE PEOPLE IN THIS ROOM TODAY WHO ARE SPEAKING ARE JUST A SMALL FRACTION OF THE PEOPLE WHO ARE A PART OF OUR MOVEMENT.
EARLIER THIS AFTERNOON, OUTSIDE OF CITY HALL, WE HAD ABOUT 50 PEOPLE FROM COMMUNITY GROUPS AND ORGANIZATIONS ACROSS HOUSTON WHO HAVE TAKEN PART IN OUR FIGHT FOR DRAINAGE JUSTICE.
SO WITH TWO WEEKS LEFT, I URGE COUNCIL MEMBER JACKSON MAYOR PRO TEM MARTIN TO PLEASE PROPOSE THE AMENDMENTS FOR $20 MILLION FOR SWAT.
NOT FROM COUNTY MONEY, BUT FROM THE CITY'S OWN MONEY FROM, AS MAYOR TURNER SAID, THE CITY'S LARGEST EVER GENERAL FUND BALANCE.
WE DON'T WANT TO, WE DON'T WANT FOR FINGERS TO BE POINTED TO OTHER LEVELS OF GOVERNMENT.
WE ARE PUSHING EVERY LEVEL OF GOVERNMENT TO ADDRESS THIS ISSUE.
BUT WE ARE HERE TODAY BECAUSE WE WANT THE CITY TO SPEND ITS OWN MONEY ON DRAINAGE.
AND WE WANT THOSE AMENDMENTS TO NOT ONLY BE PROPOSED, BUT FOR THEM TO GO TO A VOTE.
AND WE WILL BE HERE NEXT WEEK AND WE WILL BE HERE ON JUNE 7TH FOR THE BUDGET VOTE.
APPARENTLY, I, I GUESS WHAT I SAID DIDN'T REGISTER.
SO LET ME SAY THIS ONE MORE TIME.
THERE'S $20 MILLION IN THE BUDGET.
THE HOPE IS TO GET $20 MILLION ALSO FROM THE COUNTY.
AND IF THE BY CHANCE THE COUNTY DOESN'T DO IT, THEN WE WILL PUT $20 MILLION TO MAKE IT A TOTAL OF 40.
I CAN'T SAY IT ANY CLEARER THAN THAT.
WHAT ABOUT $20 MILLION FOR LDP? YOU, YOU, THERE'S 40 SOME MILLION DOLLARS THAT'S GOING INTO THAT PROGRAM BECAUSE WE ARE PAYING DOWN ON THE DEBT.
SO THAT IS ALL THAT'S GONNA HAPPEN IN THIS BUDGET.
[02:20:01]
I THINK WE'RE ALL ON THE SAME PAGE.DOLLARS ARE DOLLARS WHEREVER, WHEREVER YOU GET 'EM FROM.
IF IT'S FROM THE GENERAL FUND, IF IT'S COMING FROM PAY HOUSTON FORWARD, IF IT'S COMING FROM THE COUNTY, YOU ALL ARE ASKING FOR X AMOUNT OF DOLLARS.
IT SEEMS LIKE THE MAYOR IS COMMITTING TO X AMOUNT OF DOLLARS CONTINGENT ON OTHER FACTORS.
IF THE OTHER FACTORS COME IN, YOU STILL MAKE IT.
IF THE OTHER FACTORS DON'T COME IN, YOU MAY STILL MAKE IT.
IF THE MONEY CAME FROM PAYING DOWN THE DEBT, THEN THAT MONEY GETS TRANSFERRED OVER AND IT'S STILL THERE.
WHAT YOU ALL HAVE TO UNDERSTAND FROM MY PERSPECTIVE IS DOLLARS ONLY MEAN SOMETHING IF THE PROJECTS ARE ACTUALLY ABLE TO HAPPEN.
IF YOU DON'T HAVE THE CAPACITY TO DO THE PROJECTS IN A TIMELY MANNER BECAUSE OF EITHER PERSONNEL OR CONTRACTING OR WHATEVER, THEN YOU JUST HAVE MONEY SITTING THERE.
THAT'S NOT A GOOD USE OF TAXPAYER MONEY EITHER.
SO WHEN YOU THINK ABOUT THE DOLLARS THAT ARE COMING IN, THAT'S PROBABLY GOING TO BE THE MOST, THAT CAN EVEN BE PUT FORTH IN A REALISTIC MANNER FOR DRAINAGE PROJECTS.
IN A ONE YEAR SPAN, WE GET THESE SWAT DOLLARS AS COUNCIL MEMBERS AND WE PUT FORTH ALL THESE PROJECTS AND IT STILL TAKES A YEAR, TWO YEARS, SOMETIMES THREE YEARS EVEN TO GET THESE PROJECTS COMPLETED.
LIKE THE MONEY HAS TO BE UTILIZED IN A PRACTICAL WAY.
SO JUST BY ASKING FOR MORE MONEY OR WANTING IT TO COME FROM THE GENERAL FUND, JUST OUT OF PRINCIPLE, DOESN'T ACTUALLY GO TOWARDS ENSURING THAT YOUR PROBLEMS ARE SOLVED.
SO IN THIS PARTICULAR BUDGET, WHAT YOU HAVE IS 40 PLUS MILLION COMING FROM PAYING DOWN THE DEBT.
YOU HAVE $20 MILLION WITH THE SWAT AND YOU MAY HAVE AN ADDITIONAL 20 MILLION EITHER FROM THE COUNTY OR IF THE MAYOR DECIDES TO PUT FORTH THAT, UH, THROUGH HIS PROPOSAL.
BUT THE MONEY IS SITTING, GONNA BE SITTING THERE FOR PROJECTS BASED ON A LOT OF THE ACTIONS THAT YOU ALL HAVE PUT FORWARD OVER THE PAST YEAR ADVOCATING FOR.
SO YOU SHOULD NOT GO BACK THINKING THAT YOU'RE NOT IN A POSITION WHERE YOU ALL'S VOICE HAS NOT BEEN HEARD 'CAUSE IT HAS BEEN HEARD CLEARLY AND UNDERSTAND THAT IT IS OUR COMMITMENT TO ENSURE THAT DRAINAGE AND INFRASTRUCTURE IS A TOP PRIORITY.
JUST TO MAKE SURE WE CLEAR THIS UP, I THINK OUR COMMITMENT HAS BEEN $40 MILLION MINIMUM ON SWAT.
I THINK WE'VE HEARD THAT A NUMBER OF TIMES.
I THINK IF YOU HAD THE PUBLIC, UH, WORKS WORKSHOP LAST WEEK, THEY TALKED ABOUT LDP BEING, I THINK YOUR REQUEST ON DEMAND ONE WAS 20 TO 40.
CHECK THE BOX NUMBER TWO IS 12 TO 32.
I THINK I REMEMBER SEEING IT IN THE FORTIES.
SO CHECK BOX NUMBER TWO, AND I'LL CHECK ON THAT.
WELL, I SEE YOUR, YOUR THUMBS DOWN.
SO, AND THEN THE OTHER ONE, I TALKED TO YOU GUYS ABOUT THIS AND INCREASING PUBLIC WORKS BUDGET FOR IN-HOUSE STAFF AND MACHINERY.
I THINK THE CONTRACTORS AND PEOPLE LIKE THAT CAN DO IT MUCH BETTER THAN WE CAN AND QUICKER.
SO IF YOU WANT 'EM QUICK, IF YOU WANT 'EM FAST, UH, WE DON'T HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT DOING PUBLIC WORKS.
WE HIRE CONTRACTORS AND ENGINEERS TO DO THAT.
AND THEN I THINK DEMAND THREE SELECT PROJECTS USED IN EQUITABLE AND NEEDS BASED CRITERIA.
WE DO IT EACH AND EVERY DAY AND THEN BUILD HOUSTON FORWARD BY USING 18.47 OF THE TOTAL TAX REVENUE.
I'M NOT SURE WHERE WE FALL ON THAT, BUT I THINK IF YOU LOOK AT IT, ALL THE DEMANDS THAT YOU'VE GIVEN US, UH, WE'VE WE'VE BEEN MORE, MORE THAN AMENABLE TO 'EM.
SO, AND I'M GLAD Y'ALL PROTESTED TODAY WHILE WE WERE DOING OUR BUDGET.
WE COULD HEAL YOU LIVE AND CLEAR THAT WAS EFFECTIVE.
BUT I THINK, UH, AS WE GO DOWN THIS PATH, I THINK YOU'RE GONNA BE PLEASANTLY SURPRISED WITH WHAT YOU'RE GONNA SEE.
NOW, THE MAYOR TALKED ABOUT THE STATE, THAT'S JUST ANOTHER SET OF MONEY.
I'VE BEEN AT THE STATE FOR PROBABLY THE LAST FOUR WEEKS DEALING WITH FLOODING AND PICTURES THAT I CAN SHOW YOU THAT ARE WORSE THAN THE PICTURES YOU SHOWED ME OF THE AREA THAT I REPRESENT.
AND I'M FALLING ON DEAF EARS AS WELL.
BUT WE'RE CONTINUING TO FIGHT AND WE'RE CONTINUING TO WORK HARD TO MAKE SURE THAT WE RECEIVE OUR MONEY FROM THE STATE.
BECAUSE IF YOU LOOK AT BUDGET SURPLUS, THERE'S BILLIONS OF DOLLARS OF YOUR TAX MONEY IN THE STATE OF TEXAS.
SO WHILE YOU'RE HERE TALKING WITH US, WE APPRECIATE THAT WE'RE WORKING HARD TO ADDRESS YOUR NEEDS.
THOSE SAME COMMENTS NEED TO BE TAKEN TO THE STATE OF TEXAS SO YOU CAN GET MORE MONEY.
THOSE SAME COMMENTS NEED TO BE TAKEN TO HARRIS COUNTY, SO YOU CAN GET PART OF THEIR MONEY AS WELL BECAUSE YOU PAY STATE TAX DOLLARS, YOU PAY HARRIS COUNTY TAX DOLLARS
[02:25:01]
AND YOU PAY CITY OF HOUSTON TAX DOLLARS.I THINK THE ONLY ONES THAT ADDRESSED IT IN A POSITIVE VEIN FROM WHAT I'M UNDERSTANDING IS THE CITY OF HOUSTON.
SO I, IS THERE A MOTION, MOTION TO EXTEND ANY OBJECTION TO A MOTION TOAND HEARING NOW GRANTED, COUNCIL MEMBER JACKSON, THANK YOU MAYOR.
AND UM, AGAIN, THANK YOU KNOCK AND UM, THE NORTHEAST RESIDENTS AND ALL THE ACTIVISTS FOR CONTINUING YOUR FIGHT, UM, FOR DRAINAGE.
UM, AS YOU KNOW, UM, I WAS IN THIS FIGHT WITH YOU GUYS WHEN I WORKED AT, UM, TEXAS ORGANIZING PROJECT, ACTUALLY, YOU KNOW, STARTED WORKING WITH A LOT OF YOU AFTER HURRICANE HARVEY.
AND SO I JUST WANT TO LET YOU GUYS KNOW THAT, UM, I KNOW WE HAVE A LOT OF SWAT PROJECTS MOVING FORWARD.
UM, THE MAYOR HAS COMMITTED TO MAKE SURE THAT WE GET THE RESOURCES THAT WE NEED.
UM, I KNOW LAST BUDGET CYCLE, I THINK YOU GUYS HAVE RIGHT HERE THAT, UM, YOU KNOW, MY, MY BUDGET AMENDMENT WAS WITHDREW, BUT EVENTUALLY WE DID GET THE $20 MILLION, UM, IMMEDIATELY AFTER, UM, UM, BUDGET CYCLE.
SO JUST KNOW THAT I'M CONTINUALLY TO ADVOCATE TO MAKE SURE THAT WE GET THE RESOURCES THAT WE NEED SO THAT WE CAN, UM, GET SOME OF THESE DRAINAGE ISSUES TAKEN CARE OF.
TAYLOR, JUST WANTED TO ADD ON TO WHAT COUNCIL MEMBER JACKSON SAID.
I DON'T KNOW IF THE ORGANIZATION FOLLOWS OUR WEEKLY AGENDAS.
UM, BECAUSE WE'VE HAD SEVERAL WEEKS OF PROJECTS COMING FORTH, UM, EVERY WEEK, UM, WITH PROJECTS, AND THE MAJORITY OF THEM HAVE BEEN IN THE AREAS THAT YOU'RE SPEAKING OF.
UM, WHEN WE GET THE LIST OF PROJECTS THAT ARE CURRENTLY IN QUEUE TO HAPPEN, THE MAJORITY OF THEM ARE IN, IN DISTRICT B AND DISTRICT H.
UM, SO I THINK YOUR ADVOCACY FROM LAST YEAR IS COMING TO FRUITION.
UM, BUT THERE IS A A TIME THAT IT TAKES AND, AND, AND I DON'T LIKE IT EITHER THAT I, I THINK THAT, YOU KNOW, THAT IT TAKES A LONG TIME FOR THESE PROJECTS TO COME FORTH.
THEY HAVE TO GO, UM, THROUGH DESIGN, UM, THEY HAVE TO GO THROUGH THE PROCUREMENT PROCESS.
BUT WHAT I AM HAPPY TO REPORT IS THAT WE HAVE HAD, UM, WEEK AFTER WEEK WE VOTED ON PROJECTS.
AND I HOPE THAT THE ORGANIZATION, UM, CONTINUES TO LOOK AT OUR AGENDAS WHERE YOU CAN SEE WHICH PROJECTS ARE ACTUALLY HAPPENING OR SCHEDULED TO HAPPEN, UM, IN THOSE COMMUNITIES THAT YOU ARE ADVOCATING FOR.
AND WE'LL KEEP WORKING ON THOSE.
UM, ALONGSIDE YOU, ARE YOU REFERRING TO, UH, CIP PROJECTS? CIP, SWAT, SEVERAL, ALL BUCKETS OF MONEY.
WE, WE'VE BEEN VERY INTENTIONAL ABOUT MAKING SURE THAT THOSE AREAS THAT HAVE BEEN, UM, WITHOUT PROJECTS ARE GETTING THOSE PROJECTS OPEN DITCH PROJECTS.
UM, AND THE COUNCIL MEMBER OF DISTRICT B HAS BEEN A VOCAL ADVOCATE FOR THOSE PROJECTS TO COME FORTH.
UM, AND THE COUNCIL SUPPORTS THAT BECAUSE WE KNOW THAT SOME COMMUNITIES HAVE BEEN OVERLOOKED, UH, DURING THE YEARS AND THAT THEY HAVE GREATER NEEDS.
AND, UM, THE EQUITY CAN'T REALLY BE EQUITABLE UNTIL WE BRING EVERYONE UP TO THE SAME LEVEL.
AND SO WE'RE VERY COGNIZANT OF THAT.
AND I THINK IT SHOWS IN THE PROJECTS THAT WE VOTED ON WEEK AFTER WEEK IN OUR AGENDAS, I THINK THANK YOU FOR TELLING US, AND, UM, WE ABSOLUTELY APPRECIATE THAT, UH, TO RESPOND TO MAYOR PROTE MARTIN.
UM, I APPRECIATE YOU ADDRESSING OUR DEMANDS DIRECTLY.
I DO WANT TO CLARIFY THAT, UM, WE HEARD LOUD AND CLEAR.
I THINK ALL OF US WERE HERE DURING THE PUBLIC WORKS BUDGET WORKSHOP LAST WEEK, THAT THERE, THE LDP FUNDING HAS NOT, UM, INCREASED.
AND THAT'S A QUOTE FROM, UM, DIRECTOR HADDOCK.
AND THANK YOU VICE MAYOR, PRO TEM FOR THAT.
AND I ALSO WANTED TO ADD, I KNOW WE'VE BEEN TALKING ABOUT THE DITCH MAINTENANCE.
UM, I ACTUALLY ALLOCATED SOME RESOURCES WITHIN MY DISTRICT BE, YOU KNOW, DOING WITH THE DISTRICT SERVICE FUNDS TO, YOU KNOW, START A SMALL DITCH MAINTENANCE PROGRAM.
AND I KNOW I HAD A CONVERSATION WITH THE MAYOR, JUST WANT YOU GUYS TO KNOW THE MAYOR IS LIKE WITH US A HUNDRED PERCENT.
HE'S CURRENTLY HAVING CONVERSATIONS WITH LEGAL ABOUT HOW WE'D OVERTURNING THAT POLICY.
I DON'T KNOW WHAT THE OUTCOME OF THAT IS, BUT THE, UM, WHERE, YOU KNOW, THE, THE OWNER, THE RESPONSIBILITY WAS PUT ON THE RESIDENTS TO SEE HOW WE CAN LIKE SWITCH THAT BACK TO, UM, UM, THE CITY.
BUT I KNOW THAT THERE IS A LOT OF WORK HAPPENING IN NORTHEAST HOUSTON, UM, AREA, AND I'M EXCITED ABOUT IT.
I'M EXCITED ABOUT THE PROGRESS.
I'M STARTING TO SEE A LOT OF THE PROJECTS THAT WE PUT ON THE BOOKS A COUPLE OF YEARS AGO, AND IT, IT IS STARTING TO ROLL OUT.
YOU KNOW, WE HAVE QUITE, UM, UM, UH, UH, UH, WHAT IS IT? CONSTRUCTION, AND IT'S JUST A LOT OF THINGS THAT'S HAPPENING.
AND JUST KNOW THAT, YOU KNOW, I'M, AGAIN, I'M ADVOCATING THE MAYOR'S LISTENING.
UM, I TRUST HIM, YOU KNOW, WHEN HE SAY HE'S GONNA LIKE, LOOK, FIND THE MONEY, HE'S GONNA FIND THE MONEY.
IT MIGHT NOT RIGHT? BE RIGHT THEN AND THERE.
NOT SAYING THAT WE ARE NOT GONNA, IT'S NOT GONNA HAPPEN, YOU KNOW, NEXT WEEK.
BUT JUST KNOW THAT YOU HAVE ADVOCATES HERE ON CITY HALL, IN IN CITY HALL, MAKING SURE THAT, YOU KNOW, YOU GUYS, WE GET WHAT WE NEED.
'CAUSE WE ALL, I LIVE IN DISTRICT B TOO, YOU KNOW, SO I MEAN, I'M FLOODED JUST LIKE YOU GUYS.
[02:30:01]
JUST KNOW THAT, YOU KNOW, I'M VERY PASSIONATE ABOUT, UM, MAKING SURE THAT WE BRING OUR COMMUNITY, OUR NEIGHBORHOOD UP, UP TO STANDARDS, BECAUSE I AGREE WE HAVE MISSED OUT ON A LOT OVER THE PAST DECADES.AND I THINK, JUST TO BE CLEAR, THAT CHANGING THE POLICY FOR, UM, UH, TAKING ON RESPONSIBILITY FOR DITCH MAINTENANCE AGAIN, UM, THAT'S GREAT.
AND THAT'S ONE OF THE CENTRAL ISSUES WE'VE BEEN TALKING ABOUT.
BUT WE KNOW THAT THAT CAN'T HAPPEN, UH, JUST THROUGH POLICY THAT ACTUALLY PROPERLY MAINTAINING DITCHES DOES REQUIRE MORE INVESTMENT IN THE CAPACITY OF PUBLIC WORKS TO ACTUALLY CARRY OUT THOSE PROJECTS.
AS COUNCIL MEMBER POLLARD IS SAYING, YOU'VE BROUGHT UP CAPACITY MULTIPLE TIMES, AND THIS IS REALLY IMPORTANT, WHICH IS WHY WE'RE ALSO WORKING ON INITIATIVES TO INCREASE PUBLIC WORKS CAPACITY.
AND I THINK IT'S FRUSTRATING FOR US TO SORT OF RESPOND TO CERTAIN, UH, CRITIQUES AND THEN, UM, UH, HAVE THOSE SOLUTIONS, UH, NOT BE SUPPORTED EITHER.
SO IF YOU WANT TO WORK WITH US TO VERY INCREASE CAPACITY, WE'RE OPEN TO THAT.
NEXT SPEAKER, ELIZABETH LUMIA.
ELIZABETH LULUM EIA IS PRESENT TO BE FOLLOWED BY RICHARD LAKE.
HELLO, UM, CITY COUNCIL MAYOR CHARTER.
I'M A MEMBER OF NAC AND A SOCIAL WORK MASTER STUDENT NEWLY, UM, GRADUATED MASTER STUDENT, UM, AT THE UNIVERSITY OF HOUSTON.
I'M HERE TODAY TO ASK THAT YOU AMEND THE 2024 BUDGET TO MEET THE NEEDS OF THE, THE RESIDENTS OF NORTHEAST HOUSTON TO OTHER MARGINALIZED COMMUNITIES WHO ARE UNNECESSARILY, WHO ARE AT UNNECESSARY RISK DUE TO INADEQUATE DRAINAGE.
IT IS WELL KNOWN THAT THE NORTHEAST SUFFERED THE WORST IMPACTS OF HURRICANE HARVEY, BUT WHAT IS SHOCKING IS, IS THAT SINCE THE STORM, THE INEQUITY AND FLOOD PROTECTION BETWEEN COMMUNITIES IN THE WEST AND NORTHEAST HOUSTON IS ACTUALLY INCREASING NEW STUDIES FROM TEXAS A AND M AND UNC LED BY DR. PHILIP BURKE.
SHOW THAT SINCE HARVEY, BOTH THAT SINCE HARVEY, BOTH AREAS HAVE SEEN AN INCREASE IN FLOOD MITIGATION ELEMENTS INCLUDED IN PLANS.
BUT WEST HOUSTON PLANS TO HAVE THREE TIMES MORE DRAINAGE AND FLOOD MITIGATION IMPROVEMENTS WHEN COMPARED TO DO NORTHEAST HOUSTON PLANS PUT SIMPLY SINCE HARVEY IN TWO COMMUNITIES WITH ROUGHLY THE SAME HYDROLOGICAL, UH, FLOOD RISK, THE CITY HAS PLANNED THREE TIMES MORE FLOOD PROTECTION ELEMENTS AND THE WIDER AND WEALTHIER COMMUNITIES.
THE CITY HAS NOT DISCLOSED THE GAP OR HAS NOT CLOSED THE GAP, RATHER, AND THE GAP HAS WIDENED.
EVERYONE KNOWS THAT FLOODING IS NOT A GREAT EQUALIZER.
POOR PEOPLE HAVE FEWER RESOURCES TO RECOVER AND FACE MORE RISKS FROM TOXINS AND SEWAGE AND FLOOD WATER.
WE KNOW THAT HOUSTON HAS KNOWN, HAS KNOWN FOR MORE THAN A DECADE THAT DRAINAGE INFRASTRUCTURE INEQUITY IS AN IMP, EXCUSE ME, IMPEDIMENT TO FAIR HOUSING.
UM, AS A SOCIAL WORK STUDENT AND A COMMUNITY MEMBER WHO THIS IS CONFUSING AND RATHER DISHEARTENING FLOODING, WHICH COULD BE PREVENTED CAUSE TRAUMA, STRESS, ANXIETY, AND DEPRESSION.
THESE STRUGGLES HAVE EXTENSIVE EFFECTS FOR FAMILIES, CHILDREN, AND THE ENTIRE COMMUNITY.
THE STATUS QUO IS NOT WORKING.
AND IN FACT, THE FLOOD PROTECTION GAP IS GROWING.
THE PROPOSED BUDGET INTRODUCES NO NEW MONEY FOR DRAINAGE.
AS COUNCIL MEMBERS, YOU HAVE THE POWER TO USE AMENDMENTS TO CHANGE THAT.
YOU HAVE THE POWER AND RESPONSIBILITY TO CLOSE A MITIGATION GAP AND PROVIDE EQUAL PROTECTION.
THE, THE PLANNED BUILD USE AND FORWARD INVESTMENTS WILL NOT REDUCE INEQUITY.
ONLY NEW INVESTMENTS WILL I CALL ON YOU CITY COUNCIL TO REVERSE THE INCREASE.
EMPOWER PUBLIC WORKS WITH FUNDING THAT CAN ALLOW THEM TO ADDRESS THE WORST, THE WORST, STRANGE PROBLEMS. FIRST, BE HONEST WITH YOURSELF AND WITH THE HISTORY YOU'RE LEAVING VERSUS THE LEGACY YOU COULD CREATE.
CLIMATE CHANGE IS HERE, INEQUITY IS GROWING INSTEAD OF RELYING ON RESILIENCE FOR THE SAME, FOR THE SAME PEOPLE WHO SUFFER AGAIN AND AGAIN, WE NEED A BOLD POLICY THAT CLOSES THE GAP IN FLOOD PROTECTION.
I CALL ON YOU TO PLEASE IN INTRODUCE AMENDMENTS TO THIS, TO END THIS TODAY, THE COMMUNITY IS WITH YOU.
GRETA, NEXT SPEAKER WITH ROGERS, WITH RO ROGERS, WITH ROGERS.
NEXT SPEAKER AJ ALL GAR, ME AJ ALL GAR.
AJ IS HERE TO BE FOLLOWED BY ELIE MONTOYA.
I'M AN EIGHTH GRADER, AND THE PURPOSE OF THE SPEECH IS TO ADDRESS THE RAPIDLY INVADING RATES OF RENT WITHIN
[02:35:01]
HOUSTON.SPECIFICALLY THE FOLLOWING IS AN EXCERPT FROM TEXAS HOUSING LAW IN SECTION TWO 14.902, THE GOVERNING BODY OF A MUNICIPALITY MADE BY ORDINANCE ESTABLISHED RENT CONTROL.
IF THE GOVERNING BODY FINDS THAT A HOUSING EMERGENCY EXISTS DUE A DUE TO A DISASTER DEFINED BY SECTION 4 1 8 0.004 GOVERNMENT CODE, AND THE GOVERNOR APPROVES THE ORDINANCE, I FEEL THAT THIS IS VERY, VERY IMPORTANT.
AS SINCE HARVEY AND THE 2008 FINANCIAL CRISIS EVICTIONS HAVE BEEN ON THE RISE, AND WE HAVE SEEN RENT INCREASES OF UP TO 14% PER YEAR.
AND GIVEN THIS FAIR HOUSING ORDINANCES THAT WERE IN EXISTENCE ON JANUARY ONE, UH, 1999, AND ARE MORE RESTRICTIVE THAN FEDERAL FAIR HOUSING LAW SHALL REMAIN IN EFFECT, I BELIEVE THAT HOUSTON SHOULD BEGIN IMPLEMENTING RENT CONTROL ORDINANCES BECAUSE WE ARE IN A HOUSING EMERGENCY, BE REDFIN REPORTS 15 TO 25% PER YEAR IN MANY, IN MANY PLACES.
AND DURING 2023, WE'VE SEEN UP TO 6,800 EVICTIONS A MONTH.
THE FOLLOWING IS A SUMMARIZED OUTLINE OF MY PROPOSAL MODELED AFTER THE SUCCESSFUL BOSTON RENT CONTROL ORDINANCE ORDERED THAT A PETITION TO THE GENERAL COURT, ACCOMPANIED BY A BILL FOR A LAW SPECIAL OR SPECIAL LAW RELATING TO THE CITY OF HOUSTON, BE FILED WITH AN ATTESTED COPY OF THIS ORDER.
PROVIDED THAT THE LEGISLATURE LEGISLATURE MAY REASONABLY VARY THE FORM AND SUBSTANCE OF THE REQUESTED LEGISLATION.
THE MAJORITY OF THE STATEMENTS IN WITHIN THIS DOCUMENT ARE FINDINGS AND PURPOSES DESIGNED TO DECREASE THE RENT INCREASES WITHIN LOW INCOME HOUSING, WHICH CAN BE SPECIFICALLY BE FOUND WITHIN HOUSTON, THROUGHOUT THE EDDO AND EAST END DISTRICTS.
THE MAIN PLACES THAT ARE ADDITIONALLY AFFECTED ARE UNITS IN HOTELS OR MOTELS THAT ARE LEASED OUT ON LONG-TERM HOUSING, AS WELL AS FACILITIES OCCUPIED BY TRANSIENT GUESTS.
UM, ADDITIONALLY, THERE COULD BE HOUSING AND COMBINATIONS MADE FOR NONPROFIT HOSPITALS, RELIGIOUS FACILITIES, EXTENDED CARE FACILITIES, RESIDENTIAL CARE, OR FACILITIES FOR THE ELDERLY.
LASTLY, DORMITORIES OWNED AND OPERATED BY AN INSTITUTE OF HIGHER EDUCATION SHOULD ALSO BE CONTROLLED BY RENT, AS THESE ARE PEOPLE WHO NO LONGER HAVE THE ABILITY TO CREATE MORE INCOME.
SO THE REASON THAT THIS HAS BEEN SO EFFECTIVE WITHIN BOSTON AND MANY OTHER CITIES IS BECAUSE THEY, LIKE HOUSTON, HAVE A RAPIDLY GROWING ECONOMY.
AND WITH THIS, YOU'RE SEEING A PUSHING OUT OF THE LOWER CLASS INTO THE SUBURBS AND OTHER AREAS.
THIS IS BECOMING AN INCREASING ISSUE BECAUSE AS THIS GENTRIFICATION IS MOVING PEOPLE OUT, YOU'RE SEEING THAT THE LOWER INCOME PEOPLE ARE UNABLE TO TRAVEL TO THEIR JOBS AND OTHER ISSUES.
LASTLY, THE MOST IMPORTANT PART IS LIKE REQUIREMENTS FOR TENANT NOTIFICATION REQUIREMENTS.
MM MM I I'LL LET YOU FINISH YOUR COMMENT.
UM, THE LASTLY, IT'S REQUIREMENT FOR TENANT NOTIFICATIONS AND REQUIREMENT PLANS WHEN EVICTIONS ARE CREATED DUE TO INFLATING GRADES FINISHED? YES, SIR.
NOW, WHICH SCHOOL DO YOU ATTEND? I ATTEND ST.
AND WHICH GRADE ARE YOU IN? I'M IN EIGHTH GRADE RIGHT NOW.
WELL, A VERY IMPRESSIVE PRESENTATION.
AND WELL, WELL CONSTRUCTED AND WELL, AND VERY WELL DELIVERED.
AND, UM, AND, UM, I, I APPLAUD YOU, UH, FOR THE SUBSTANCE OF YOUR COMMENTS.
UH, VICE MAYOR PRO TE CAST TATUM, THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE, AJ.
I AM I'M VERY IMPRESSED THAT YOU ARE HERE.
IT IS SO IMPORTANT THAT, UH, YOUNG PEOPLE ARE ENGAGED IN THEIR GOVERNMENT.
UM, MY QUESTION IS, ARE YOU WORKING ON A SCHOOL PROJECT? YES, I'M CURRENTLY IN ASSOCIATION WITH MY CAPSTONE PROJECT.
HOWEVER, THIS IS NO LONGER ATTACHED TO A GRADE.
THIS HAS A DEEPER PERSONAL ATTACHMENT AS SCHOOL HAS ENDED.
UM, AND THEN I WANTED TO ASK, DID YOU READ THE ARTICLE IN THE HOUSTON CHRONICLE THIS WEEK? THERE WAS AN ARTICLE THAT, UM, TALKED ABOUT HOUSTON BEING ONE OF THE CITIES WHERE YOU CAN ACTUALLY BUY A HOME FOR LESS THAN SOME RENTS.
UM, I THINK IT WOULD BE A A GOOD ARTICLE FOR YOU TO, TO LOOK UP AND READ AND THEN ALSO WOULD, UM, ENCOURAGE YOU TO LOOK AT THE HISTORY OF THIS COUNCIL.
UH, AS FAR AS ATTAINABLE HOUSING.
UM, WE'VE GOT SOME LOFTY GOALS TO MAKE SURE THAT HOUSING IN THE CITY OF HOUSTON IS AFFORDABLE, UM, FOR PEOPLE AND NOT CAUSING PEOPLE TO HAVE TO RELOCATE, UH, INTO THOSE SUBURBS LIKE YOU, YOU STATED IN, IN YOUR COMMENTS.
UM, BUT HOW HOUSING IS A AFFORDABLE HOUSING IS AN ISSUE ACROSS THE COUNTRY.
AND I I THINK THAT YOU WOULD BE PLEASANTLY SURPRISED AT WHAT WE HAVE DONE AS A CITY, UM, THE NUMBER OF AFFORDABLE HOUSING COMPLEXES THAT WE HAVE,
[02:40:01]
UM, PUT ON THE GROUND IN THE CITY OF HOUSTON.NOT TO MENTION THE NUMBER OF ATTAINABLE HOUSES THAT ARE CURRENTLY IN THE WORKS TO BE BUILT.
UM, I KNOW IN, IN MY DISTRICT, WE'VE GOT A COUPLE OF NEIGHBORHOODS WHERE WE ARE BUILDING HOMES THAT WILL BE LESS, UM, THAN $300,000.
AND IT, IT EVEN SEEMS HARD TO SAY THAT, YOU KNOW, AN ATTAINABLE HOUSE IS UNDER $300,000.
BUT, UM, AS PRICES GO UP, IT IS VERY CRITICAL THAT WE KEEP THE, UM, HOME PRICES AND RENT PRICES DOWN.
SO I THINK YOU'RE, YOU'RE A GREAT ADVOCATE AND I HOPE THAT YOU CONTINUE TO ENGAGE WITH YOUR GOVERNMENT AND, UM, GET INVOLVED, UH, WHEREVER YOU CAN.
AND AJ, I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR YOUR COMMENTS.
WERE VERY WELL ARTICULATED IN YOUR, UH, PRESENTATION.
I THINK YOU MADE SOME REALLY GOOD POINTS.
WHAT I WANNA, UH, REALLY HIGHLIGHT IS YOUR APPROACH.
YOUR APPROACH WAS VERY BALANCED.
YOUR APPROACH WAS VERY EVEN KEELED.
UM, THERE, EVEN THOUGH IT'S IN A PASSIONATE AND EMOTIONAL TOPIC, UH, YOU KEPT IT TO THE FACTS AND YOU KEPT IT TO YOUR PERSPECTIVE.
AND I THINK YOU'LL GO A LONG WAYS WHEN DELIVERING A MESSAGE THAT WAY.
REGARDLESS IF WE AGREE ON EVERY SINGLE POINT, I CAN RECEIVE IT WELL BECAUSE OF THE WAY YOU PRESENTED IT.
AND I THINK FOR YOU, BEING IN THE EIGHTH GRADE, PRESENTING YOURSELF IN THIS FASHION, IT'S A TESTAMENT TO YOUR FAMILY AND A TESTAMENT TO YOUR SCHOOL.
THANK YOU, COUNCIL MEMBER, UH, THOMAS.
UM, I THOUGHT YOU WERE AN ATTORNEY OR A LANDLORD COMING UP HERE TO COMPLAIN.
I, I, I REALLY THOUGHT YOU WERE SO I DEFINITELY IMPRESSED.
UM, AND JUST SOMETHING, UH, TO KEEP IN YOUR HAT.
ARE YOU FOLLOWING THE TEXAS LEGISLATURE RIGHT NOW? YES.
SO YOU'RE FAMILIAR WITH SENATE BILL 9 86? I DON'T BELIEVE SO.
SO, SENATE BILL 9 86, WHAT HAPPENED A COUPLE OF WEEKS AGO? ANOTHER BILL WAS ATTACHED TO THAT, THAT REMOVED LOCAL MUNICIPALITY'S ABILITY TO STOP AND HALT EVICTIONS.
SO WHAT WE'VE DONE IN THE CITY, WE HAVE, UM, UH, THE CITY DIRECTLY HAS PROBABLY, UM, HALTED KEPT OVER 45,000, UM, UM, DOORS, UH, FROM PEOPLE, UM, BECOMING EVICTED AND THEN COLLECTIVELY WITH FUNDS FROM THE COUNTY CLOSE TO 77,000 HOUSEHOLDS WERE, WERE REMAINED HOUSED DURING COVID.
UM, AND WHAT THAT SENATE BILL DOES, UM, IT STOPS OUR ABILITY FROM FUNDING AGENCIES SUCH AS LONE STAR LEGAL AID, WHICH WE'VE DONE.
SO IF PEOPLE WERE ALREADY IN THE EVICTION PROCESS, THEY, WE HAD FUNDING AVAILABLE FOR THEM.
SO, UM, ALTHOUGH, UM, MANY LOCAL CITIES DURING, UM, COVID, UM, HAD ORDINANCES AND ALL TYPES OF, UH, DEALS, WHAT'S HAPPENING RIGHT NOW IS AN ASSAULT ON THE WORK THAT WE'VE DONE OVER THE LAST TWO AND A HALF YEARS.
SO I WOULD JUST ENCOURAGE YOU NOW THAT THIS IS A, A, YOU KNOW, A NEW PASSION TO FOLLOW THAT LEGISLATION BECAUSE IT'S DEFINITELY DETRIMENTAL TO SOME OF THE WORK THAT WE'RE DOING.
AS WE DO BOTH, WE CREATE INVENTORY IN THIS CITY, RIGHT, FOR THE AFFORDABILITY THAT'S MEANT, UH, MENTIONED, BUT WE ALSO, UM, PRESERVE MULTI-FAMILY, UM, UM, OPTIONS WHERE PEOPLE CAN AFFORD AS WELL.
SO KEEP YOUR EYES ON THAT LEGISLATION.
UH, COUNCILMAN MR. CISNEROS? I HEAR AJ, YEAH.
UM, A NUMBER OF ATTORNEYS HAVE ADDRESSED YOU THAT ARE SITTING ON COUNSEL.
UM, BUT I WANNA SAY I'M A TEACHER AND I WANNA SAY, I, I REALLY APPRECIATE YOUR CONFIDENCE.
YOU KNOW? YES, YOU SPOKE WELL.
YES, YOU COMPOSE IT WELL, BUT YOUR CONFIDENCE IS, IS SO STRONG.
AND, AND THAT'S, THAT WILL CARRY YOU A LONG WAY.
AND I'M, I'M, UM, I, I JUST WANNA ENCOURAGE YOU TO KEEP GOING.
YOU KNOW, A LOT OF, A LOT OF YOUNG PEOPLE DON'T HAVE THAT.
YOU KNOW, THEY DOUBT, THEY THINK, OH, I DON'T KNOW.
UM, BUT, BUT, UM, YOU, YOU, YOU BELIEVE IN YOURSELF AND THAT'S, THAT'S GONNA CARRY YOU FAR.
AND, AND WE NEED PEOPLE LIKE YOU.
RODNEY IS HERE, IS NOT PRESENT.
CHRIS IS NOT HERE NEXT WEEKEND.
CHRIS IS HERE TO BE FOLLOWED BY ANNIE LEE.
AFTERNOON, COUNSEL, MAYOR, UH, YOU HAVE THIS GRAPHIC ON PAGE 10 OF YOUR PACKET.
UH, Y'ALL LIMITED ME TO 60 SECONDS TODAY.
SO I BROUGHT THE GRAPHIC ON THE A VALOREM TAX AFTER HEARING FROM THE MAYOR LAST WEEK.
WE AGREE THAT EQUIVALENT MEANS PROPORTIONAL.
SO, UH, HERE WE'RE USING 18.47% AS THE DEFINITION OF EQUIVALENT OR PROPORTIONAL FOR FULFILLING THE VOTER MANDATE FROM 2010.
BASED ON THAT, HERE IN THE BLUE, WE COMPARE WHAT SHOULD HAVE BEEN SPENT ON DRAINAGE VERSUS WHAT WAS ACTUALLY TRANSFERRED
[02:45:01]
IN ORANGE.YOU CAN SEE THE ROUGHLY $118 MILLION INFERRED FUNDS IN THE RED CIRCLES HERE EACH YEAR.
WE'VE ASKED, BUT STILL NOT, UM, BEEN TOLD HOW OUR CALCULATIONS MIGHT BE DIFFERENT FROM THE, HOW THE CITY IS DEFINING EQUIVALENT, UH, MAYOR AND COUNCIL MEMBERS.
WE ASK THAT THE 2024 CITY BUDGET BEGIN THE PROCESS OF TRANSFERRING THESE MILLIONS OF DOLLARS OWED TO LOCAL DRAINAGE PROJECTS BY AT LEAST 20 MILLION EACH YEAR.
COUNCIL MEMBER POLLARD DOLLARS ARE NOT JUST DOLLARS.
MOVING MONEY FROM ONE DRAINAGE PROJECT TO ANOTHER IS VERY DIFFERENT THAN ADDING MONEY TO DRAINAGE.
ANNIE LEE IS AND, AND COUNCILMAN PROTE COUNCILMAN'S.
I'M STILL ASKING THAT, UM, YOU, THAT THE POLICE OFFICERS WOULD BE TRAINED IN CHILD CUSTODY BECAUSE THE PEN CODE 25.03, SAY, ANYONE WHO INTERFERES WITH CHILD CUSTODY CARRIES A STATE JAIL FELONY OF SIX MONTHS TO TWO YEARS AND A $10,000 FINE.
ALL THE POLICE HAS TO DO IS I GAVE OFFICER FORT THE PEOPLE NUMBER.
HE ASKED ME, DID THE PEOPLE CALL ME.
CHRISTINA'S, UM, SUPPOSED TO BE, UH, FATHER'S, THE CHILDREN, THE CASEY'S FATHER'S STEPMOTHER.
SO OFFICER PERFOR ASKED ME IF I WOULD, UH, HAVE THEY CONTACTED ME? I SAID NO.
SO, UH, BOBBY, THE ONE WHO MURDERED CHRISTINA, PROBABLY WOLF, HE GAVE THEM TEMPORARY CUSTODY OF THE BABY.
BUT THE COURT SAY IT'S A MESS.
HE SAYS THAT THE POLICE OFFICERS HAS TO DO THEIR JOB.
ALL THEY HAVE TO DO IS CONTACT THESE PEOPLE.
THEY HAVE THE NUMBER, THEY GOT MY NUMBER BLOCKED.
THE WOLF GOT MY NUMBER BLOCKED.
AND LET THEM KNOW IF THEY DON'T BRING THAT BABY, THAT THEY COULD GET KIDNAPPING CHARGES.
SO WHAT COULD WE DO? YOU TOLD ME THAT I HAVE, THE BABY IS SUPPOSED TO BE WITH ME.
HE TOLD ME, THANK MS. LEE, YOUR TIME HAS EXPIRED.
I KNOW, BUT HE TOLD ME THAT MY PAPERWORK IS IN ORDER.
GO TO HIS OFFICE, HE'LL BE THERE TO TALK TO YOU.
HE DIDN TOLD ME THAT MY, ALL MY PAPERWORK'S GETTING OFF.
OKAY, COUNCIL MEMBER, YOU CAN EXCUSE, YOU CAN GO TALK TO MS. LEE.
BUT WHAT CAN WE DO, MS. LEE? THANK YOU VERY MUCH MS. LEE.
IT IS GREAT, BUT NOW I'M GONNA BE FINE.
AND ANYWAY, PLEASE ASK ME ABOUT MY FEAR THAT I HAVE ON BECAUSE IT'S VERY INSTRUMENTAL TODAY.
AND ALSO WHAT I WANT TO SAY IS, YOU KNOW ABOUT THAT MENTAL HEALTH PEOPLE, PEOPLE, WELL, I, MR. TURNER KNOWS THAT I HAVE A MENTAL HEALTH ISSUE AND WELL, UM, UH, PLEASE ASK ABOUT THIS, VAL.
OH, I'M SCARED TO DEATH ABOUT MY POSSESSION OF A GUN.
BUT I THINK THE SECOND AMENDMENT SHOULD BE FULLY, UM, INVO INVOKED ALL THE TIME THAT MEN AND WOMEN SHOULD HAVE GUNS.
THAT THEY WANT TO HAVE THEM, BUT I DON'T WANT THEM.
SO, UM, THAT'S MY PHILOSOPHY THAT THE SECOND AMENDMENT IS WHAT WE NEED TO HAVE.
BUT, UH, HEY, AND FOR ME TO HAVE A POSSESSION OF A GUN, NO WAY IN HELL.
AREN'T YOU GONNA ASK ABOUT THE SHIRT? NOW? TELL US ABOUT THE SHIRT.
I MEAN, UH, LIKE, UH, IT IS, UH, IT IS TO HONOR THAT AND THOSE POOR, TRAGIC VICTIMS OF YUVAL.
AND SO THAT'S WHY I WORE IT TODAY BECAUSE HEY, TOMORROW, THAT TRAGEDY OCCURRED ONE YEAR AGO, RIGHT? AND THAT SUCKS.
SHE WAS THE, UH, UM, SECRETARY RECEPTIONIST FOR THE FUNERAL HOME THAT TOOK CARE OF THE LITTLE KIDS AND THE RIGHT.
THE TROS ARE GOING TO GET MINE.
THAT COMPLETE THE LIST OF SPEAKERS.
[RECESS]
RIGHT, WE STAND IN RECESS UNTIL TOMORROW MORNING AT 9:00 AM YES.I'M ABOUT TO READ THE DESCRIPTION, OUR CAPTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL AGENDA FOR THE WEEK
[02:50:01]
MAY 23RD AND 24TH, 2023.ITEM ONE, REQUEST FROM MAYOR FOR CONFIRMATION FOR THE REAPPOINTMENT OF THE FOLLOWING INDIVIDUALS TO THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF THE HOUSTON AMATEUR SPORTS PARK, LGC INC.
ITEM TWO, REQUEST FROM MAYOR FOR CONFIRMATION OF THE REAPPOINTMENT OF THE FOLLOWING INDIVIDUALS TO THE HOUSTON SPACEPORT DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION.
ITEM THREE, REQUEST FROM MAYOR FOR CONFIRMATION OF THE APPOINTMENT OF TERRANCE H FONTAIN TO POSITION TWO OF REINVESTMENT ZONE NUMBER TWO, ALSO KNOWN AS THE MIDTOWN ZONE BOARD OF DIRECTORS.
ITEM FOUR, REQUEST FROM MAYOR FOR CONFIRMATION OF THE APPOINTMENT OF TERRACE H FONTAIN TO POSITION TWO OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF THE MIDTOWN REDEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY.
ITEM FIVE, REQUEST FROM MAYOR FOR CONFIRMATION OF THE REAPPOINTMENT OF THE FOLLOWING INDIVIDUALS TO THE FALL CREEK MANAGEMENT DISTRICT BOARD OF DIRECTORS.
ITEM SIX, REQUEST FROM MAYOR FOR CONFIRMATION OF THE REAPP APPOINTMENT OF REAPPOINTMENT OF THE FOLLOWING INDIVIDUALS TO THE HARRIS COUNTY IMPROVEMENT DISTRICT.
NUMBER FOUR, ENERGY CORRIDOR MANAGEMENT DISTRICT BOARD OF DIRECTORS.
ITEM SEVEN, REQUEST FROM MAYOR FOR CONFIRMATION OF THE APPOINTMENT OF REAPPOINTMENT OF THE FOLLOWING INDIVIDUALS TO THE WEST CHASE DISTRICT BOARD OF DIRECTORS.
ITEM EIGHT, REQUEST FROM MAYOR FOR CONFIRMATION OF THE APPOINTMENT OF THE FOLLOWING INDIVIDUALS TO THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF REINVESTMENT.
ZONE NUMBER 14, CITY FUSION, TEXAS, ALSO KNOWN AS THE FOURTH WARD ZONE.
ITEM NINE, REQUEST FROM MAYOR FOR CONFIRMATION OF THE APPOINTMENT OF THE FOLLOWING INDIVIDUALS TO THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF THE FOURTH WARD REDEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY.
ITEM 10, REQUEST FROM MAYOR FOR CONFIRMATION OF THE REAPPOINTMENT OF THE FOLLOWING INDIVIDUALS TO THE REINVESTMENT ZONE.
NUMBER 10, CITY OF HOUSTON, TEXAS LAKE HOUSTON ZONE BOARD OF DIRECTORS.
ITEM 11, REQUEST FROM MAYOR FOR CONFIRMATION OF THE REAPPOINTMENT OF THE FOLLOWING INDIVIDUALS TO THE LAKE HOUSTON REDEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY BOARD OF DIRECTORS.
ITEM 12, RECOMMENDATION FROM THE CHIEF OF POLICE FOR EXTENSION OF INJURY ON DUTY LEAVE.
SALARY CONTINUATION FOR OFFICER JARED, SALLY.
ITEM 13, RECOMMENDATION FROM DIRECTOR OF GENERAL SERVICES DEPARTMENT FOR APPROVAL OF FINAL CONTRACT AMOUNT OF $4,828,552 26 CENTS AND ACCEPTANCE OF WORK ON CON ON CONSTRUCTION MANAGER AT RISK CONTRACT WITH JE DUNN CONSTRUCTION COMPANY.
ITEM 14, RECOMMENDATION FROM DIRECTOR HOUSTON PUBLIC WORKS FOR APPROVAL OF FINAL CONTRACT AMOUNT OF FOUR HUNDRED SEVENTY SEVEN THOUSAND EIGHT HUNDRED THIRTY TWO THOUSAND TWENTY ONE CENTS AND ACCEPTANCE OF WORK ON CONTRACT WITH THE DL GLOVER INC.
ITEM 15 PACIFIC STAR CORPORATION FOR APPROVAL OF SPENDING AUTHORITY FOR EMERGENCY PURCHASE OF LABORATORY TESTING.
SUPPLIES REQUIRED FOR TESTING SERVICES FOR MONKEYPOX COVID-19 AND OTHER HIGHLY INFECTIOUS DISEASES.
ITEM 16, CENTRAL TEXAS HEAVY EQUIPMENT COMPANY DBA CENTRAL TEXAS EQUIPMENT FOR PURCHASE OF A GENERATOR.
ITEM 17, UNITED RENTALS NORTH AMERICA, INC.
FOR PURCHASE OF A DIESEL POWERED FUSION MACHINE.
ITEM 18 NORTH STAR INDUSTRIES FOR APPROVAL OF FINAL PAYMENT FOR EMERGENCY TRANSFERRED PUMP REPAIR.
ITEM 19, CONSOLIDATED TRAFFIC CONTROLS INC FOR PURCHASE OF PEDESTRIAN PUSH BUTTON ASSEMBLIES.
ITEM 20, ORDINANCE AMENDING CHAPTER 28 AND CHAPTER ONE OF THE CODE OF ORDINANCES, HOUSTON, TEXAS.
ITEM 21, ORDINANCE APPROVING AND AUTHORIZING FORM AMENDMENT AGREEMENT FOR CITY OF HOUSTON HARVEY MULTIFAMILY PROGRAM.
ITEM 22, ORDINANCE APPROVING AND AUTHORIZING SECOND AMENDMENT TO AGREEMENT FOR PROFESSIONAL SERVICES BETWEEN CITY AND HARMONY HOUSE INC.
ITEM 23, ORDINANCE APPROVING FIRST AMENDMENT TO LEASE AGREEMENT BETWEEN JEFFERSON SMITH, LLC ITEM 24, ORDINANCE APPROVING AND AUTHORIZING AGREEMENT BETWEEN CITY OF HOUSTON AND BOYER INC.
ITEM 25 ORDINANCE APPROVING AND AUTHORIZING THIRD AMENDMENT TO ENTER LOCAL AGREEMENT BY AND BETWEEN CITY OF HOUSTON, TEXAS, AND HOUSTON PARKS BOARD LGC INC.
ITEM 26 ORDINANCE APPROVING AND AUTHORIZING SUBMISSION OF AN ELECTRONIC APPLICATION FOR AND ACCEPTANCE OF GRANT FUNDS THROUGH THE OFFICE OF THE GOVERNOR CRIMINAL JUSTICE DIVISION FOR THE CRIMINAL HAZMAT TEAM FORMATION PROJECT ITEM 27, ORDINANCE APPROVING AND AUTHORIZING SUBMISSION OF AN ELECTRONIC APPLICATION FOR AND ACCEPTANCE OF GRANT FUNDS THROUGH THE OFFICE OF THE GOVERNOR CRIMINAL JUSTICE DIVISION FOR THE FY 2024.
SAFE POLICING THROUGH COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT GRANT.
ITEM 28 ORDINANCE APPROVING AND AUTHORIZING SUBMISSION OF AN ELECTRONIC APPLICATION FOR AN ACCEPTANCE OF GRANT FUNDS THROUGH THE OFFICE OF THE GOVERNOR CRIMINAL JUSTICE DIVISION FOR THE FY 24, TAKING A STAND REDUCING VIOLENT CRIMES IN OUR COMMUNITY'S GRANT.
ITEM 29 ORDINANCE APPROVING AND AUTHORIZING SUBMISSION OF AN ELECTRONIC APPLICATION FOR AND ACCEPTANCE OF GRANT FUNDS THROUGH THE OFFICE OF THE GOVERNOR CRIMINAL JUSTICE DIVISION FOR THE FY 2024 HOUSTON POLICE DEPARTMENT'S PAROLE DOMESTIC VIOLENCE INITIATIVE GRANT ITEM 30 ORDINANCE APPROVING AND AUTHORIZING SUBMISSION OF AN ELECTRONIC APPLICATION FOR AND ACCEPTANCE OF GRAND FUNDS THROUGH THE MOTOR VEHICLE CRIME PREVENTION AUTHORITY
[02:55:01]
M-V-C-P-A IN SUPPORT OF THE HOUSTON AUTO CRIMES TAX FORCE.ITEM 31 ORDINANCE FINDING AND DETERMINED THAT PUBLIC CONVENIENCE AND NECESSITY NO LONGER REQUIRED THE CONTINUED USE OF A MORE OR LESS 10 FOOT WIDE WATERLINE EASEMENT FROM WIND ROCK BOULEVARD WEST, MORE OR LESS.
7 173 FEET SITUATED IN THE JOHN D. TAYLOR SURVEY.
ABSTRACT NUMBER 72 BEING OUT OF THE BRI WEST APARTMENTS, HARRIS COUNTY, TEXAS ABANDONING SAID EASEMENT TO WIND ROCK NORTH PFC ITEM 32.
ORDINANCE FINDING AND DETERMINING THAT PUBLIC CONVENIENCE AND NECESSITY FOR THE ACQUISITION OF REAL PROPERTY INTEREST IN CONNECTION WITH THE PACIFIC IMPROVEMENT PROJECT, KNOWN AS A 36 INCH WATERLINE ALONG MEDICAL CENTER BOULEVARD CHANNEL, A 1 1 1 OH OH OH OH AND BAY AREA BOULEVARD PROJECT FROM GALVESTON ROAD TO BEMA ROAD, AUTHORIZING THE ACQUISITION OF FEE SIMPLE OR EASEMENT INTEREST TO ONE PARCEL OF LAND REQUIRED FOR THE PROJECT.
AND SITUATED IN THE ROBERT W. WILSON LEAGUE SURVEY, ABSTRACT NUMBER 88.
ITEM 33, ORDINANCE APPROPRIATING $8,275,000 AND NO CENTS OUT OF METRO PROJECTS CONSTRUCTION.
D-D-S-R-F AWARDING CONTRACT TO GRAVEL LLC.
THIS IS THE END OF THE CONSENT AGENDA.
ITEM 34, SET A PUBLIC HEARING DATE REGARDING THE DESIGNATION FOR THE BLEX EXCHANGE REINVESTMENT ZONE FOR TAX ABATEMENT PURPOSES.
HEARING DATE 9:00 AM WEDNESDAY, JUNE 14TH, 2023.
THIS COMPLETES THE READING OF THE AGENDA FOR THE CITY COUNCIL SESSION OF MAY 24TH, 2023.
STAY TUNED FOR THE NEXT SESSION OF HOUSTON CITY COUNCIL.
SCHEDULED TO BEGIN AT 9:00 AM IN THE WORDS OF THE CITY SECRETARY PAT JEFFERSON.
DANIEL, I'D LIKE TO TREAT, UH, TO LEAVE YOU WITH THIS.
ALWAYS, ALWAYS, ALWAYS TREAT EVERYONE THE WAY YOU WOULD LIKE TO BE TREATED.
HAVE A BLESSED AND FANTABULOUS DAY DAY.
[RECONVENE]
EVERYONE.I HAVE 9 0 4, UH, ON WEDNESDAY, MAY 24TH, 2023.
I'M CALLING THE MEETING OF THE HOUSTON CITY COUNCIL TO WATER.
[MAYOR'S REPORT]
A FEW COMMENTS FROM ME AS IT RELATES TO WHAT'S HAPPENING IN OUR CITIES AND, UH, STATE AND WORLD.UH, THE COUNTDOWN TO FIFA WORLD CUP 26 AS OFFICIALLY STARTED.
AS YOU ALL CAN SEE, UH, LAST WEEK, THE OFFICIAL HOST CITY BRAND FOR HOUSTON, ALONG WITH OTHER HOST CITY BRANDING WAS UNVEILED.
AND TODAY, UH, WE'RE GONNA KIND OF GET A BRIEF UPDATE, UH, FROM KENNY FREEMAN OF HARRIS COUNTY HOUSTON SPORTS AUTHORITY, UH, THE BOARD CHAIR AND CHRIS CNET, PRESIDENT OF HOUSTON 2026 WORLD CUP HOST COMMITTEE.
UM, AND THEN WE'RE GETTING OUR VERY OWN WORLD CUP COMMEMORATIVE SCARVES.
I THINK Y'ALL ALREADY HAVE THOSE, UH, FEATURING THE HOST CITY LOGO.
SO LET ME JUST BREAK FOR RIGHT NOW AND LET'S, UH, LET ME ASK KENNY AND CHRIS, IF YOU ALL TO COME FORWARD, UM, TO TALK ABOUT PRETTY MUCH WHERE, WHERE WE ARE, UH, AS IT RELATES TO FIFA WORLD CUP 2026.
THANK YOU MAYOR AND COUNCIL MEMBERS.
IT'S EXCITING TIME FOR HOUSTON AND FOR ALL OF US.
UH, THE SPORTS AUTHORITY HAS BEEN WORKING ON THIS WORLD CUP FOR OVER 10 YEARS, AND WE ARE THRILLED THAT WE WERE SELECTED AS ONE OF THE HOST CITIES.
IT'S, UH, IT'S GONNA BE A FABULOUS ECONOMIC IMPACT FOR THIS COMMUNITY, AND WE'RE EXCITED TO BE A PART OF IT.
UH, WE'RE LUCKY TO HAVE A, UH, TERRIFIC BOARD THAT SUPPORTS ALL OF THE ACTIVITIES THE SUPPORT AUTHORITY DOES.
WE HAVE MANY OF 'EM HERE WITH ME TODAY.
UH, IF YOU GUYS WOULD STAND UP, PLEASE.
SO, NAOMI HUSSEIN, ROBERT WOODS, ROBERT MARIA, WILLIE ALEXANDER, JOSEPH CALLIER, ARE ALL HERE.
THANK YOU ALL FOR BEING HERE AND BEING SUPPORTIVE.
UM, THANK YOU ALL FOR CONTINUING TO SEND GREAT PEOPLE TO THE SPORTS AUTHORITY BOARD.
UM, I'M GONNA QUIT TALKING AND LET CHRIS CONTI, WHO IS, UH, THE CHAIR OF THE HOST COMMITTEE FOR THE WORLD CUP, UH, TALK TO YOU A LITTLE BIT ABOUT WHERE WE ARE AND WHERE WE'RE GOING HERE WITH THIS.
GOOD MORNING EVERYBODY, AND IT'S GREAT TO BE HERE AGAIN THIS MORNING TO TALK ABOUT THE FIFA WORLD CUP.
AND AS, UH, AS MAYOR TURNER SAID, WE UNVEILED OUR, OUR LOGO, OUR HOST CITY LOGO LAST WEEK, WHICH, WHICH IS REPRESENTATIVE IN THE SCARFS THAT WE'VE, UH, HANDED OUT TO YOU GUYS.
UH, AND WHILE WE'RE EXCITED ABOUT, UH, THE UNVEILING OF THAT LOGO, IT'S REALLY ONE, ONE NEXT STEP IN THE PROCESS OF GETTING US CLOSER TO THE FIFA WORLD CUP BEING HERE IN 2026.
AND I'LL JUST PROVIDE SOME HIGH LEVEL, UH, HIGHLIGHTS ABOUT WHAT THE WORLD CUP WILL MEAN FOR HOUSTON.
UH, FIRST AND FOREMOST, THIS IS GONNA BE THE BIGGEST SPORTING EVENT IN
[03:00:01]
THE HISTORY OF THE WORLD.AND WE'RE FORTUNATE ENOUGH TO BE ONE OF 16 HOST CITIES IN NORTH AMERICA.
IT'S THE FIRST TIME THE FIFA WORLD CUP WILL BE HELD IN THREE NATIONS BETWEEN THE US, MEXICO, AND CANADA.
THERE'LL BE TWO HOST CITIES IN CANADA, THREE IN MEXICO, AND 11 IN THE US.
AND AS KENNY SAID, WE WORKED VERY HARD OVER THE COURSE OF SEVERAL YEARS TO MAKE SURE THAT HOUSTON WAS, UH, ONE OF THE 11 CITIES CHOSEN BY FIFA TO PARTICIPATE AND APPRECIATE THE SUPPORT OF, OF YOU MAYOR TURNER IN THE ENTIRE CITY COUNCIL DURING THE BID PROCESS, AS WE CERTAINLY FELT THE WEIGHT OF, OF OUR CITY BEHIND US IN THIS PROCESS.
AND I THINK IT WAS IMPORTANT AND, AND WELL RECEIVED BY FIFA IN THEM SELECTING US.
SO WE WILL, UH, THE WORLD CUP WILL TAKE PLACE IN JUNE, JULY OF 2026.
UH, THERE WILL BE 104 MATCHES ACROSS THE ENTIRE TOURNAMENT IN THOSE 16 CITIES.
48 NATIONS WILL COMPETE, AND WE WILL HOST SOMEWHERE IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD OF FIVE TO EIGHT MATCHES HERE IN HOUSTON AT NRG STADIUM.
SO, UH, WE WILL LEARN THE SCHEDULE IN SEPTEMBER.
WE'LL KNOW EXACTLY HOW MANY GAMES WE'LL HAVE, WHAT ROUNDS AND LEVELS WE WILL HOST.
UH, AND THEN WE'LL HAVE TO WAIT UNTIL DECEMBER OF 2025 BEFORE WE ACTUALLY KNOW WHAT OPPONENTS ARE COMING BECAUSE THERE'S A QUALIFICATION PROCESS AND A DRAW.
BUT IT'LL BE, UH, YOU KNOW, ALL OF THE MATCHES WILL BE SOLD OUT, UH, UNEQUIVOCALLY.
THAT'S, UH, THIS, I GUESS SAID THE BIGGEST SPORTING EVENT IN THE HISTORY OF THE WORLD.
UM, WE'VE DONE SOME ECONOMIC IMPACT STUDIES THAT SHOW, UH, A POTENTIAL, UH, IMPACT OF NORTH OF $1.3 BILLION TO OUR CITY.
THIS WILL, THIS WILL BE AS, AS KENNY AND I WERE TALKING ABOUT BEFORE, AND WALKING IN, AS WE LIKE TO SAY, THE EQUIVALENT OF HOSTING FIVE TO EIGHT SUPER BOWLS IN HOUSTON IN THE PERIOD OF ABOUT THREE WEEKS TIME.
IT'S, IT'S GONNA BE GREAT FOR OUR COMMUNITY.
WE'RE, WE'RE WORKING HARD ON THE LEGACY PROGRAMS TO MAKE SURE THAT AFTER THE FINAL WHISTLE BLOWS AND, UH, YOU KNOW, ALL THE TEAMS HAVE HAVE GONE HOME, UH, THAT WE'VE BEEN ABLE TO LEAVE A, A, AN IMPACT ON OUR CITY FOR, FOR MANY, MANY YEARS TO COME.
AND, UH, AGAIN, LOTS OF PEOPLE THROUGHOUT THE THE CITY HAVE BEEN STAKEHOLDERS ON THAT PROCESS, AND IT'S BEEN AN EXCITING THING TO WORK THROUGH.
AND, UM, THE EXCITEMENT, THIS BUILDING, UH, WE WERE IN MEXICO, UH, TWO WEEKS AGO.
UH, AND QUITE FRANKLY, THE CONVERSATION WAS ABOUT FIFA WORLD CUP, UH, WITH THEM HOSTING THEIR THREE.
AND SO IN TALKING WITH THE MAYOR OF MONTEREY, UH, AND THEN THE GOVERNOR OF NEW
SO YOU MENTIONED, UM, FIVE TO EIGHT, THIS FIRST TIME I'M HEARING POSSIBILITY OF EIGHT GAMES, UM, IS THAT THEY CHANGED THE FORMAT OF THE TOURNAMENT, UH, ABOUT TWO MONTHS AGO, MAYBE THREE MONTHS AGO.
AND THAT ADD THAT TOOK THE, THAT ADDED 20 GAMES TO THE, UH, OVERALL TOURNAMENT SCHEDULE.
SO BEFORE WE WERE THINKING FIVE TO SIX, AND NOW WE'RE BEING TOLD FIVE TO EIGHT.
OKAY, WELL, THAT'S EVEN BETTER, YOU KNOW? YEAH.
UM, BUT YEAH, BUT THEY WERE DISCUSSING HOW WITH THE GAMES IN MEXICO AND THE GAMES IN, IN, UH, BEING HELD IN THE CITY OF HOUSTON, UH, THAT THE TRAFFIC BETWEEN THE TWO, UH, WOULD BE, UM, UH, ENHANCED.
SO THEY'RE EXCITED OVER THERE, YOU KNOW, THE EXCITEMENT IS BUILDING OVER HERE AND, UM, AND 26 IS NOT THAT FAR AWAY WHEN YOU THINK ABOUT IT.
I MEAN, THINGS ARE ALREADY ALREADY TAKING PLACE, SO IT'LL BE AN EXCITING PERIOD IN THE CITY OF HOUSTON BETWEEN NOW AND, UH, 2026.
AND, UH, GOOD MORNING TO EVERYONE.
THANK YOU ALL FOR COMING FORWARD, AND THIS IS EXCITING NEWS, AND I THINK WE'RE ALL EXCITED ABOUT THE TOURNAMENT COMING TO HOUSTON.
WHAT GOES INTO YOUR PROJECTIONS FOR THE, UH, ESTIMATED ECONOMIC IMPACT? WHAT, WHAT ALL FACTORS ARE YOU LOOKING AT? YEAH, SO THERE'S A, THERE'S A, A NUMBER OF FACTORS THAT GO INTO THAT.
FIRST AND FOREMOST, IT'S DRIVEN BY THE, THE ATTENDANCE AT THE MATCHES.
SO AGAIN, WE'RE LOOKING AT, UH, FIVE TO EIGHT MATCHES OF 72,000, UH, CAPACITY SOLD OUT THE, THE VISITORS THAT COME INTO THE CITY.
THIS IS A, A GLOBAL EVENT WHERE WE WILL LITERALLY HAVE THOUSANDS AND THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE FROM ACROSS THE PLANET THAT ARE COMING TO HOUSTON TO PARTICIPATE IN THAT.
WE, WE'VE DONE A STUDY THAT SHOWS THE AVERAGE VISITOR WILL STAY FOUR DAYS FOR EVERY GAME THEY ATTEND.
SO IF SOMEONE'S HERE FOR TWO GAMES, THEY'LL STAY FOR EIGHT DAYS.
UM, AND ALL THE CONTRACTS AND, YOU KNOW, JUST THE, THE THINGS THAT NEED TO BE, UM, THE INVESTMENT THAT NEEDS TO BE PUT INTO THIS EVENT IN ORDER TO PULL IT OFF, IT'S, IT'S QUITE SIGNIFICANT.
YEAH, AND I, AND AGAIN, I WANNA UNDERSCORE THE ECONOMIC IMPACT AND COULD BE AS MUCH AS $1.3 BILLION, UH, FOR THE CITY, BECAUSE I THINK THE GAMES WILL GO FROM WHAT, JUNE THE 11TH, ROUGHLY THROUGH JULY THE 15TH.
UM, AND SO CAN YOU IMAGINE THE NUMBER OF, I MEAN, PEOPLE IN THE RESTAURANTS, PEOPLE IN HOTELS, UH, I MEAN ALL THROUGHOUT THE CITY OF HOUSTON, UH, DURING THAT EXTENDED PERIOD OF TIME, RIGHT? IN THE MIDST OF FREEDOM OVER TEXAS AT THE SAME TIME.
SO, UM, I MEAN, YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT A SUMMER WHERE
[03:05:01]
THE THINGS WILL BE BUZZING, UH, INSIDE THE CITY OF HOUSTON.AS A FORMER SPORTS AUTHORITY BOARD MEMBER, I LOOK OUT IN THE AUDIENCE AND I SEE THE BOARD MEMBERS, AND I'VE HARKEN BACK TO AROUND 2010 WHEN I WAS ON THE BOARD, AND THE SPORTS AUTHORITY ALMOST WENT BANKRUPT BECAUSE OF THE DEFAULT ON THE BOND MARKET.
AND WHAT Y'ALL HAVE DONE SINCE THAT TIME IS A, SHOULD BE A, A CASE STUDY SOMEWHERE.
I MEAN, THE NUMBER OF SPORTING EVENTS THAT WE'VE BEEN ABLE TO ATTRACT, WE JUST GOT THROUGH WITH THE FINAL FOUR, UH, ANTICIPATING 24 OF THE NCAA FOOTBALL NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP GAME, BUT A LOT OF SPORTS THAT PEOPLE DON'T PAY ATTENTION TO IN THE UNITED STATES, BUT WORLDWIDE, THEY'RE HUGE.
AND THAT WAS THE WORLD WEIGHTLIFTING CHAMPIONSHIP, THE WORLD TABLE TENNIS CHAMPIONSHIP, YOU KNOW, AND THINGS THAT WE HAVE LOCALLY, THE BATTLE OF THE BANDS THAT WE HAD A PRESS CONFERENCE I BELIEVE THIS WEEK FOR.
BUT IT'S AMAZING OF THE NUMBER OF SPORTING EVENTS AND ACTIVITIES THAT Y'ALL BRING TO US THAT BRINGS A SIGNIFICANT ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT OPPORTUNITY FOR THE CITY OF HOUSTON AND THE ENTIRE REGION.
SO I APPLAUD YOUR BOARD MEMBERS.
AND MORE IMPORTANTLY, I APPLAUD, UH, JANICE BERGS, WHO DOES A FANTASTIC JOB DAY IN AND DAY OUT.
SO CAN'T WAIT FOR THE WORLD CUP.
UH, I, HOPEFULLY IT'LL BE ATTENDING ALL EIGHT OF THE GAMES.
WELL, IF I CAN ADD, WE'VE ATTRACTED MORE SPORTING EVENTS IN THE LAST SEVEN PLUS YEARS THAN ANY TIME IN THE HISTORY OF THIS CITY, WHO WAS THE MAYOR.
UM, WELL, I DON'T KNOW HIS NAME, BUT, YOU KNOW,
UM, BUT AGAIN, VERY EXCITING EVENT.
SO LET ME DO THIS BIG, JUST QUICK PICTURE RIGHT QUICK, MAYOR, WHILE YOU'RE DOING IT, I WILL SAY YOUR COMMENTS ABOUT MEXICO AND HOUSTON BEING, UH, EASY TO GET TO AND FROM WAS PART OF THE ARGUMENT WE MADE TO FIFA ABOUT WHY HOUSTON SHOULD BE SELECTED BECAUSE IT'S SO EASY TO TRAVEL BETWEEN MEXICO AND HOUSTON.
UH, AND I THINK IT WAS, IT WAS HELPFUL, AT LEAST IN, IN US SECURING THAT.
AND WE'VE GOT, YEAH, DIRECT FLIGHTS TO, UH, TO MONTEREY, WHICH LESS, LESS THAN TWO HOURS AND DIRECT FLIGHTS, UH, TO MEXICO.
UM, SO I MEAN, IN TERMS OF AVIATION, THAT WOULD BE A BIG, BIG BOOST.
UM, I MEAN, IT'S JUST A HUGE MULTIPLIER IN TERMS OF TOURISM, IN TERMS OF MARKETING OUR CITY.
I KNOW HOUSTON FIRST IS PLANNING ON DOING A LOT OF THINGS AS RELATES TO FEE FOR WORLD CUP BETWEEN NOW AND THEN.
SO, UM, I MEAN, THE EXPONENTIAL BENEFITS FROM IT.
UM, UH, CHRIS, I DO WANT TO, UH, UH, THANK Y'ALL ACKNOWLEDGE, UM, INCLUDING HUMAN TRAFFICKING AS A MAJOR PART OF THIS PLAN.
I KNOW MINA PATEL, DAVIS HAS WORKED VERY CLOSELY WITH YOU AND THE OTHERS, UH, IN THIS DEAL.
SO THERE ARE A LOT OF THINGS THAT ARE, THAT ARE TAKING PLACE, UM, AS IT RELATES TO THE FIFA WORLD CUP.
SO, UH, AND LEMME JUST ASK, ARE THERE ANY, ARE THERE ANY REASON TO, TO BUILD ANYTHING, UH, IN ANY CAPITAL PROJECTS NEEDED, OR WE'VE GOT EVERYTHING THAT WE NEED TO HOST THIS GAME? WE DO NOT NEED TO BUILD ANYTHING TO HOST.
UM, WE'VE, WE'VE PUT FORTH A NUMBER OF FACILITIES THAT NEED TO BE USED, AND SOME OF THOSE FACILITIES MIGHT REQUIRE SOME MINOR ENHANCEMENTS AND UPGRADES TO, TO MEET THE STANDARD OF FIFA, BUT NO NEW, NO NEW BUILDINGS, WHICH IS, UH, REALLY A GOOD THING.
AND, UH, UNIVERSITIES INCLUDED.
UH, RICE AND U OF H ARE POTENTIAL, UH, TEAM TRAINING HEADQUARTERS.
UM, UM, WHEN YOU MENTIONED THAT YOU'RE WORKING VERY HARD ON LEGACY PROGRAMS, THAT REALLY PIQUED MY INTEREST.
AND, UM, COULD YOU TALK MORE ABOUT THAT AND, AND, UH, ARE THERE OPPORTUNITIES FOR INPUT OR, YOU KNOW, TO, TO HOUSTONIANS FOR IDEAS ABOUT HOW TO REALLY, UM, TO MAKE SURE THAT WE, WE, WE GET AS MUCH OUT OF THAT AS WE CAN? YEAH, ABSOLUTELY.
I'D BE HAPPY TO SHARE SOME OF THAT WITH YOU.
THERE'S, WE'RE STILL EARLY ON, SO THERE'S STILL A LOT OF OPPORTUNITY TO BRING IDEAS TO THE TABLE AND, AND NEW FRESH IDEAS THAT WE HAVEN'T CURRENTLY DISCUSSED.
BUT WE HAVE WORKED WITH A, A WIDE GROUP OF STAKEHOLDERS.
UH, YOU KNOW, MAYOR TURNER REFERRED TO US WORKING WITH, WITH CITY MEMBERS AROUND, UH, CITY EMPLOYEES, AROUND THINGS AROUND HUMAN RIGHTS AND SUSTAINABILITY AND THINGS OF THAT NATURE.
BUT BECAUSE THIS IS THE WORLD CUP AND IT'S FOCUSED ON SOCCER, UM, ONE OF THE THINGS WE'RE, WE'RE REALLY COMMITTED TO IS HOW WE CAN GROW THE GAME AND HOW WE CAN GROW THE SPORT IN THIS COUNTRY, UM, IN A WAY WHERE IT'S BENEFITING THE YOUTH OF OUR CITY.
AND WHEN YOU LOOK AT SOCCER, UM, FOR THE MOST PART ACROSS OUR COUNTRY, IN OUR CITY, IT'S A PAY TO PLAY SPORT.
AND IT TAKES PLACE MAINLY IN THE SUBURBS FOR PEOPLE WHO CAN AFFORD IT.
AND THAT'S DIFFERENT COMPARED TO OTHER COUNTRIES.
UM, SO WE WANT TO CREATE AN EFFORT WHERE WE CAN MAKE THE GAME MORE ACCESSIBLE TO PEOPLE IN PARTICULAR, UH, UNDERSERVED COMMUNITIES, UH, HERE IN THE CITY.
UH, AND THE BIG LEGACY PROGRAM THAT A, A WIDE GROUP OF STAKEHOLDERS WHO HAVE BEEN INVOLVED IN THIS HAVE STARTED TO FOCUS ON, IS CREATING A YOUTH SOCCER CLUB FOR THE INNER CITY, UM, FOR KIDS TO PLAY IN WITH NO BARRIER TO ENTRY.
SO RIGHT NOW, THERE'S LOTS OF GOOD PROGRAMS
[03:10:01]
THAT TAKE PLACE THAT SAY, UH, BOYS AND GIRLS CLUBS OR AFTER SCHOOL PROGRAMS THAT A LOT OF US HAVE PUT TOGETHER.UH, BUT IT'S NOT AN, UM, AN EQUITABLE EXPERIENCE TO THE, TO THE, UH, TO THE ONES THAT YOUTH ARE GETTING IN THE SUBURBS WHERE YOU'RE, YOU PLAY FOR A CLUB AND YOU PRACTICE TWO, THREE TIMES A WEEK.
YOU HAVE A COACH, YOU PLAY GAMES ON THE WEEKEND, AND YOU WIN AND YOU LOSE, AND YOU GO THROUGH THOSE WHOLE ENTIRE EXPERIENCES.
SO WE WANT TO CREATE A CLUB LIKE THAT, WHICH DOESN'T EXIST FOR OUR KIDS.
UH, THOUSANDS OF KIDS, BOYS AND GIRLS AGE SIX TO 18, GETTING THEM CONNECTED TO THE SPORTS, GETTING THEM INVOLVED IN THE SPORT.
OTHER SPORTS IN THE CITY HAVE DONE A BETTER JOB THAN THAT, THAN SOCCER, TO BE HONEST WITH YOU.
UM, SO WE WOULD HOPE THAT THAT CLUB, THAT THE, THE WORLD CUP CAN CREATE THE, UM, CAN CREATE THAT CLUB, AND IT GOES ON TO LIVE FOREVER AS A LEGACY, PROVIDING THE VALUES TO THOSE YOUTH IN OUR CITY AND ALL OF OUR PARTNERS AND POTENTIAL SPONSORS AS WE NEED TO RAISE A LOT OF MONEY FOR THIS, ARE EXCITED ABOUT THAT.
AND HOW THEY CAN COME IN AND LAYER ON TOP OF THAT.
AND IF IT'S A BANK, BRING FINANCIAL LITERACY OR AN OIL AND GAS COMPANY, BRING IT, BRING STEM OR A HOSPITAL, BRING, UH, HEALTH AND WELLNESS TO THE TABLE AND, UH, INTO THAT.
SO TRYING TO CREATE THIS WHOLE PLATFORM THROUGH SOCCER TO ADVANCE, UH, PEOPLE'S LIVES, BUT AT THE SAME TIME GROW THE GAME.
SO THAT'S SOMETHING WE'RE REALLY FOCUSED ON AS A, AS THE KEY LEGACY THING.
BUT AGAIN, THERE'S LOTS OF OTHER SMALLER THINGS AROUND HUMAN RIGHTS, SUSTAINABILITY, ET CETERA, THAT WE'VE, WE WILL HAVE SUBCOMMITTEES WORKING ON.
AND, AND I WILL JUST SAY THAT, YOU KNOW, THERE ARE A LOT OF CITY DEPARTMENTS THAT ARE TURNING THEIR ATTENTION TO, YOU KNOW, HOW DO THEY CONNECT WITH CHILDREN, YOU KNOW, THE, THE MAYOR'S OFFICE OF EDUCATION AND PARKS AND, YOU KNOW, AND HEALTH DEPARTMENT AND, AND THOSE ARE ALSO GOOD PARTNERS AS YOU MOVE FORWARD.
DON'T JUST THINK THAT IT'S, YOU KNOW, JUST ONE THING.
I MEAN, THERE'S A, THERE'S A LOT OF YES WAYS TO, TO, TO GET TO EXACTLY WHERE YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT.
WE KNOW SOCCER IS EXTREMELY POPULAR IN THESE NEIGHBORHOODS THAT DON'T HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY FOR, YOU KNOW, FOR THE FREE COACHES AND, YOU KNOW, ALL THE EQUIPMENT AND EVERYTHING.
AND I THINK THE GOOD NEWS TOO, BY THE WAY, IS MANY OF THEM HAVE BEEN INVOLVED IN THIS.
ALL OF THOSE DEPARTMENTS, UM, HAVE BEEN HELPING US, UH, YOU KNOW, FILL, UM, BUILD THIS PLAN.
SO IT WE'RE WELCOME TO MORE, UM, INVOLVEMENT AS WELL.
WE JUST WANTED TO MAKE YOU AWARE OF THAT.
AND, AND I THINK, YOU KNOW, BUILDING THE PLAN NOW, NOT JUST WAITING FOR THEM TO COME AND THEN BUILD.
I MEAN, I THINK YOU CAN, THAT'LL, THAT'LL REALLY ACCELERATE WHAT CAN HAPPEN IF, YOU KNOW, YOU, UM, WE CAN COLLECTIVELY DO AS MUCH AS WE CAN NOW TO, YOU KNOW, TO, TO START IN THAT DIRECTION.
THANK YOU, MAYOR KENNY AND CHRIS, FIRST OFF, CONGRATULATIONS TO THE ENTIRE BOARD.
UM, WHAT YOU ALL HAVE DONE HAS BEEN YEARS AND YEARS IN THE MAKING THE TIME, THE INVESTMENT.
MAYOR, YOU TALK ABOUT INFRASTRUCTURE AND THE FACT THAT YOU ALL HAVE BEEN ABLE TO BUILD UPON THE INFRASTRUCTURE THAT'S ALREADY HERE, RIGHT.
TO CAPITALIZE ON THAT AND SPOTLIGHT HOUSTON WALL.
CHRIS, AS YOU SAID, THE LEGACY OF HOUSTON AND KEEPING HOUSTON AT THE FOREFRONT INTERNATIONALLY OF SPORTS, RIGHT? ASTROTURF CAME FROM HOUSTON.
UH, THERE'S THE ASTRODOME EIGHTH WONDER OF THE WORLD, ALL OF THESE THINGS, AND YOU ALL ARE KEEPING THAT MOMENTUM GOING TO BUILD FOR THE NEXT, UH, NOT JUST THIS GENERATION, BUT THE NEXT GENERATIONS IN THE FUTURE.
SO AGAIN, I JUST WANTED TO RECOGNIZE, UM, THE HISTORICAL NATURE OF THIS AND WHAT YOU ALL HAVE BEEN ABLE TO DO IN WORKING WITH THE CITY MAYOR, WITH, YOU KNOW, LAW ENFORCEMENT, DIFFERENT DEPARTMENTS HAVE BEEN TRAVELING, HAVE BEEN DOING THE WORK, SO THAT THIS CAN BE SUCH A SUCCESS.
SO AGAIN, HUGE CONGRATULATIONS AND WE LOOK FORWARD TO WHAT'S TO COME.
'CAUSE I DO WANNA EMPHASIZE THAT THIS IS A PART OF THE OVERALL ECOSYSTEM.
UM, HOUSTON SPORTS AUTHORITY, HOUSTON FIRST ALL, IF IT DOESN'T HAPPEN HERE, IF THE INFRASTRUCTURE'S NOT PUT IN HERE, IF PUBLIC SAFETY IS NOT DONE HERE, ALL OF THOSE THINGS, THEN THE IMAGE BEYOND THE CITY IS NOT A POSITIVE ONE.
SO IT'S NOW WHERE WE HAVE IN INDEPENDENT ENTITIES, ALL OF IT IS, IS ITS ALMOST LIKE THIS IS THE, THE, UH, KIND OF LIKE THE NUCLEAR, SO TO SPEAK.
AND THEN THINGS KIND OF, YOU KNOW, BUT WE ARE VERY MUCH CONNECTED.
THERE ARE NO INDEPENDENT ENTITIES, AND IF WE DON'T DO OUR JOB, THEY CAN'T DO THEIR JOB.
BUT WHEN, IF WE DO OUR JOB WELL, THEN WE ARE ALL SUPPORTIVE OF ONE ANOTHER.
I WOULD RECOMMEND, UH, CHRIS AND KENNY THAT YOU ALL REALLY TIE INTO THE COMPLETE COMMUNITIES, BECAUSE THOSE ARE COMMUNITIES IN THE NEIGHBORHOODS THAT HAVE BEEN UNDERSERVED AND UNDER RESOURCED.
AND WHAT WE, WE DON'T WANNA DO IS BRINGING THE FIFA WORLD CUP HERE, AND THEN YOU'VE GOT THESE COMPLETE COMMUNITIES WITHOUT THE FACILITIES, THE VENUES, THE CLUBS, YOU KNOW, AND, AND THAT'S WHAT WE NEED TO SHOW UP, WE NEED TO WORK ON AND BE VERY INTENTIONAL BETWEEN NOW AND JUNE OF 2026.
[03:15:01]
EVEN IN SUNNYSIDE, UM, WHEN WE WERE CELEBRATING THE FOOTBALL FIELD AS WAS BEING REDONE, I HAD SOME KIDS COME UP AND SAY TO ME, MAYOR, UM, ARE Y'ALL DOING ANYTHING ABOUT SOCCER FIELDS? YEP.SO WE, LOOK, WE HAVE HAD COMPLETE COMMUNITIES, HAS BEEN ONE OF THE STAKEHOLDERS AT THE TABLE AND HELPING US PLAN THIS AND IDENTIFYING THE, THE, THE FIELDS.
UM, AND, UM, IT PART, IT'S BEEN PART OF THAT COLLABORATIVE EFFORT.
SO CERTAINLY WE'LL FOLLOW YOUR LEAD ON THAT ONE GOING FORWARD, AND THEN THAT WAY EVERYBODY FEELS A PART OF, AND PEOPLE CAN SEE THAT IT'S NOT JUST BRINGING FIFA CUP HERE, BUT IT'S ALSO BUILDING COMMUNITIES AND INVESTING IN THESE COMMUNITIES AS WE MOVE FORWARD.
AND THEN EVERYONE CAN EMBRACE IT, EVEN THOUGH THEY MAY NOT BE ABLE TO GO TO ONE OF THE GAMES.
UM, SO THAT'S, TO ME, THAT'S THE EXCITING, THAT'S THE EXCITING PART, AND THE DERIVATIVE BENEFITS THAT WILL FLOW FROM BRINGING BIG EVENTS INTO OUR CITY.
A COUPLE MORE, AND THEN WE GONNA MOVE.
THANK YOU FOR THE, UH, UPDATE IN THE REPORTING ON THIS.
IN REGARDS TO THE WORLD CUP, I KNOW THAT, UH, WHEN THE, UH, SUPER BOW HAS COME TO HOUSTON, I KNOW THAT THE SUPER BOW RE REACHES OUT AND, UH, TARGETS OR, UH, YOU KNOW, A FACILITY AND THEY TRY TO IMPROVE A FACILITY IN REGARDS TO SPORTING AND WHAT HAVE YOU.
SO LIKE THE MAYOR STATED, I'M HOPING THAT'S SOMETHING THAT, THAT FEMA CAN ALSO DO IN REGARDS TO THE COMPLETE COMMUNITIES, BECAUSE AS YOU KNOW, UH, MANY OF THE, UH, UM, KIDS THAT LIVE IN THESE COMMUNITIES ARE GOING TO NOT BE ABLE TO GO TO THESE GAMES.
SO I'M HOPING OUR PARKS DEPARTMENT CAN WORK WITH Y'ALL AND HOPEFULLY HAVE LARGE SCREENS AT TARGETED PARKS WHERE KIDS CAN GO AND ACTUALLY EXPERIENCE THE WORLD CUP AT THE PARK.
UH, SO I'M HOPING THAT'S SOMETHING THAT CAN BE DONE AS WELL.
AND I KNOW THAT YEARS AGO, UM, BEING ON COUNCIL NOW FOR 10 YEARS, I MEAN, IT WAS BROUGHT TO MY ATTENTION YEARS AGO THAT WE NEED MORE SOCCER FIELDS.
SO THERE'S SO MANY KIDS THAT LOVE THE SPORT.
UH, SO I'M HOPING THAT IS SOMETHING THAT WE CAN TARGET ALSO WITH FEMA AND IN, IN, IN, IN BUILDING SOME MORE SOCCER FIELDS IN THE HOUSTON AREA WOULD BE GREAT.
UH, AND AS A REPRESENTATIVE, UH, FOR COUNCIL SITTING ON HOUSTON FIRST, UH, YOU KNOW, IT, IT, IT'S NOT JUST A WORLD CUP, IT'S, IT'S WHAT'S GONNA HAPPEN AFTER THE WORLD CUP.
I MEAN, THERE'S SO MANY PEOPLE THAT ARE GONNA BE COMING TO THE CITY OF HOUSTON.
IT'S OUR OPPORTUNITY TO SHINE, UH, AND SHOW WHAT WE CAN OFFER.
UH, SO THAT WAY THOSE INDIVIDUALS, HOPEFULLY AND THEIR FAMILIES WILL COME, UH, TO VISIT OUR CITY.
SO THIS IS A GREAT OPPORTUNITY.
AND YOUR COMMENTS WERE PERFECT SEGUE, UH, TO THE POINT I WAS GOING TO MAKE THAT ON THE WEST SIDE AND ALE, WE HAVE SOME OF THE BEST SOCCER FIELDS, UH, THAT WERE, WAS RENOVATED IN JANUARY.
AND, UM, ALSO ALE ELSIK WAS ACTUALLY THEIR STATE CHAMPIONSHIP SOCCER TEAM.
UM, SO TO THAT VERY POINT OF COMPLETE COMMUNITIES AND HAVING ACCESS TO THE SPORT WHERE INTERNATIONAL DIVERSE COMMUNITY WHERE SOCCER IS THEIR PRIMARY SPORT, SO WOULD LOVE THAT TYPE OF PARTNERSHIP WHERE WE COULD HAVE THOSE TYPES OF SCREENS.
BUT THE SOCCER, THE SOCCER FIELDS AT THAT COMMUNITY CENTER ARE IN HIGH DEMAND.
SO, UM, WELCOME ANY PARTNERSHIP.
GOOD TO HEAR THAT COMPLETE COMMUNITY IS ALREADY AT THE TABLE, AND LOOK FORWARD TO THAT PARTNERSHIP AND GREAT IDEA.
I SHOULD JUST ADD ONE THING THAT I, THAT EVERYBODY SHOULD KNOW.
UM, ON TOP OF THE MATCHES BEING HELD HERE IN HOUSTON, UH, WE'RE REQUIRED TO PUT ON WHAT'S CALLED THE FIFA FAN FEST, WHICH IT WILL BE A 37 DAY EVENT, PROBABLY TAKING PLACE SOMEWHERE DOWNTOWN.
AS YOU CAN IMAGINE, THAT WILL ATTRACT IN, IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD OF FOUR TO 8,000 PEOPLE A DAY.
AND IT IS A, IT IS A FREE OPEN TO THE PUBLIC VIEWING PARTY WHERE IF THE MATCH ISN'T BEING PLAYED IN HOUSTON, YOU WATCH THE GAMES FROM ATLANTA OR MIAMI OR WHATEVER.
SO THAT'LL BE A KEY COMPONENT AND ANOTHER ECONOMIC DRIVER TO THIS ENTIRE EVENT.
AND BRINGING PEOPLE INTO THE CORE OF THE CITY, CITY AS COUNCIL, THAT AS WE, AS WE, UM, BID FOR SPORTING EVENTS IN TOWN, THEY'RE VERY COMPETITIVE, AS YOU MIGHT IMAGINE ACROSS THE
[03:20:01]
COUNTRY.MAYOR TURNER HAS BEEN FABULOUS IN BEING A HELP TO US.
HE SHOWS UP WHENEVER HE'S NEEDED.
UH, I CAN'T TELL YOU HOW MUCH THAT MEANS TO AGENCIES THAT ARE AWARDING AROUND THE COUNTRY.
MAYORS OF CITIES NORMALLY DON'T SHOW UP FOR THINGS LIKE THAT.
AND THIS MAYOR HAS DONE A FABULOUS JOB IN THAT REGARD, AND I JUST WANTED TO MENTION THAT TO EVERYBODY.
AND MY LITTLE BRACELET THAT I'M WEARING IS FROM, UM, THE, UH, THE, WHAT YOU CALL IT, THE GOLD, THE GOLD NET.
THE GOLD NET, UH, FROM BRAZIL, FROM THE MARNA STADIUM.
YEAH, THE, HOW DO YOU PRONOU IT? MARNA MAR.
THE BRACELET COMES FROM THIS, THE, SO NET FIELD.
ALRIGHT, JUST A FEW MORE COMMENTS AND THEN, UM, REMEMBER THAT, UH, JULY 4TH IS RIGHT AROUND THE CORNER, FREEDOM OVER TEXAS.
UH, CELEBRATION IS RIGHT AROUND THE CORNER.
UH, WILL FEATURE LIVE PERFORMANCES BY COUNTRY MUSIC SINGER AND SONGWRITER CHRIS YOUNG AS THE HEADLINER WITH SPECIAL GUEST YOLA, UH, TMX, FORMERLY OF MAZE, FEATURING FRANKIE BEVERLY, KEISHA PRATT, UH, BAND AND MOORE.
AND OF COURSE, THERE WILL BE FIREWORKS.
UM, IT TAKES PLACE FROM 4:00 PM TO 10:00 PM AT ELEANOR TINSLEY PARK AT SAM HOUSTON PARK, LOCATED IN LONG ISLAND PARKWAY.
UH, TICKETS ARE NOW ON SALE, AND YOU CAN FIND INFORMATION, UH, TO PURCHASE THE ON THE CITY'S WEBSITE.
UH, SO AND REMEMBER THAT, UM, THE LEGAL FIREWORKS SHOW, UH,
I WANT TO STRESS THE LEGAL ONE, UH, OF COURSE WILL BE AT EL I TENSLEY PARK.
UM, BUT FIREWORKS IN THE NEIGHBORHOODS IS NOT RIGHT.
SO, UM, BUT 4TH OF JULY, RIGHT AROUND THE CORNER, PLEASE PLAN ACCORDINGLY.
UH, THEN ONE SAFE SUMMER, THE HOUSTON PARKS DEPARTMENT WILL HOST, UH, ONE SAFE SUMMER ANNOUNCEMENT THIS SATURDAY, MAY 27TH, UH, STARTING AT 12:30 PM AT TOWN WOOD PARK.
UH, DIRECTOR ALLEN, ALONG WITH POLICE CHIEF FINN AND FIRE CHIEF PENON WILL DISCUSS SUMMER SAFETY WITH SCHOOL OUT AND KIDS SPENDING TIME OUTDOORS WHILE PARENTS ARE WORKING.
UH, WE'LL ALSO DISCUSS POOL SAFETY AND THEN HOST THE FIRST POOL OPENING, UH, FOLLOWING THE REMARKS.
THAT'S THIS SATURDAY, MAY 27TH, 1230 TOWN WOOD PARK.
UM, THE GREAT HOUSTON PARTNERSHIP ANNOUNCED THE DAY THAT UNEMPLOYMENT IS NEAR A RECORD LOW FOR HOUSTON.
ONLY 30 TIMES IN THE PAST 43 YEARS HAS THE REGION RECORDED A LOWER RATE.
UM, THE ALL TIME LOW WAS IN MARCH OF 1981, UH, WHEN THE UNADJUSTED RATE SLIPPED TO 3.1%.
SO IF THE UNEMPLOYMENT RATE FOR METRO HOUSTON, TEXAS, AND THE US IMPROVED LAST MONTH, ACCORDING TO THE TEXAS WORKFORCE COMMISSION, AND HOUSTON'S UNEMPLOYMENT RATE SLIPPED FROM 4.4% IN MARCH TO 4.0% IN APRIL.
AND TEXAS RATE SLIPPED FROM 4.2% TO 3.7%.
UH, AND IN THAT MAIN, REMEMBER HIGHER HOUSTON YOUTH, THAT'S OUR SUMMER INTERN PROGRAM, PAID SUMMER INTERN, UM, INDIVIDUALS FROM 16 TO 24.
UM, SO YOU CAN GO TO HIGH HOUSTON YOUTH.ORG AND APPLY HIGH HOUSTON YOUTH.ORG.
AND THAT'S FOR, UH, UH, STUDENTS 16 TO 24, AS WELL AS TO AS EMPLOYERS.
AND BASED ON THE REPORT THAT I GOT FROM OLIVERA, UH, YOUNG COSTCO, WHO'S, YOU KNOW, EDUCATION DIVISION, UH, RIGHT NOW WE ARE A LITTLE ABOVE 15,000, UH, FOR PAID SUMMER, UH, UH, YOUTH, UH, EMPLOYMENT FOR THIS SUMMER.
UM, WOULD LOVE TO GET UP TO 20,000, BUT RIGHT NOW WE ARE OVER 15,000.
SO IF YOU'RE OUT THERE BETWEEN 16 AND 24, LOOKING FOR A PAID SUMMER, UH, JOB, GO TO HIGHER HOUSTON YOUTH.ORG.
UH, WE JUST WANT THIS ONE TO BE THE BIGGEST OF THEM ALL.
SO, AND I WANNA THANK ALL THE BUSINESSES ABOUT 500 BUSINESSES THAT ARE PARTICIPATING IN THE PROGRAM.
AND THEN BEAR IN MIND THE CITY IN TERMS OF OUR INTERNS, UH, WE ONLY ARE HIRING 450.
THE REST OF THAT NUMBER IS TO THE PRIVATE SECTOR AND OTHER NONPROFITS.
SO, AND IF YOU CAN'T HIRE FOR WHATEVER REASON, YOU CAN CERTAINLY DONATE, UH, TO THE INITIATIVE AS WELL.
UM, THERE'S NO SECRET THAT AUSTIN, UM, THAT THE LEGISLATURE'S IN SESSION SHOULD MOMENT OF SILENCE PRAYER.
UM, AND IT HAS, IT HAS BEEN A SESSION.
I WAS IN LEGISLATURE FOR 27 YEARS.
IT'S NOTHING COM DOESN'T COMPARE IN TERMS OF, UM, UH, THE ADVERSE CONSEQUENCES OF THIS ONE.
THIS ONE HAS BEEN A HAM DINGA.
[03:25:01]
BUT THEY'RE IN SESSION AND THEY'LL BE DONE, UM, MONDAY, I BELIEVE.AND THEN, UH, WHO KNOWS, THERE POSSIBLY WILL BE A, A, UM, A SPECIAL SESSION LATER ON.
UM, BUT ANYWAY, UM, HOUSTON, HARRIS COUNTY HAS BEEN LIKE THE TARGET IT, UH, OF THE, OF LE OF LEGISLATORS AND I KNOW THERE'S A PRESS CONFERENCE LATE ON TODAY AT TWO O'CLOCK, UH, WITH CHRISTIAN MENIFEE, THE COUNTY ATTORNEY, AND OTHERS AT TWO, I WILL JOIN THEM AT TWO O'CLOCK.
UH, 'CAUSE THEY CERTAINLY HAVE SINGLE OUT HARRIS COUNTY.
UM, AND, UM, IN THEIR EFFORTS OF COMING INTO HARRIS COUNTY OUTTA 250 SOME COUNTIES AND SINGLING OUT HARRIS COUNTY, UH, CERTAINLY HAVE PROBLEMS WITH THAT.
AND THERE HAVE BEEN BILLS SINGLING OUT THE CITY OF HOUSTON AND APPLYING THINGS SPECIFICALLY FOR THE CITY OF HOUSTON.
AND WHAT I WOULD SAY, IF IT'S GOOD FOR ONE, IT SHOULD BE GOOD FOR ALL.
UM, SO, UM, UM, UM, WELL, LET ME JUST, I'M, I'M GONNA STOP RIGHT THERE
BUT LEMME JUST SAY WE WORK VERY HARD TO PUT THE CITY IN GOOD FINANCIAL STANDING.
AND WE HAVE WORKED VERY HARD TO REMOVE STRUCTURAL BARRIERS.
OKAY? I DON'T CARE WHICH SIDE YOU STAND, STRUCTURAL BARRIERS ARE NOT GOOD.
SO WE WORKED VERY HARD TO ADDRESS PENSION REFORMS. WE'VE BEEN SUCCESSFUL AND YOU'VE SEEN THE RESULTS.
WE'VE WORKED VERY HARD TO DEAL WITH OTHER POST-EM EMPLOYMENT BENEFITS, EP, AND WE'VE BEEN SUCCESSFUL.
THOSE WERE TWO OF THE THREE BARRIERS, STRUCTURE BARRIERS THAT WE HAVE WORKED TO EITHER REMOVE COMPLETELY OR SIGNIFICANTLY CUT BACK ON BINDING ARBITRATION ON THIS CITY WITH NO GUARDRAILS IS ANOTHER STRUCTURAL BARRIER THAT HAS BEEN IMPOSED ON THIS CITY.
NOW, IT'S ONE THING IF CITY COUNCIL PUT IN PLACE AN ORDINANCE.
IF IT DOESN'T WORK, CITY COUNCIL CAN COME BACK AND CHANGE IT.
BUT WHEN YOU PUT THINGS IN STATE STATUTE AND YOU DISCOVER IT WORKS AGAINST YOU, YOU CAN'T JUST WALK DOWN THE STREET AND ASK THEM TO REMOVE IT.
IT'S VERY HARD TO REMOVE THINGS IN STATE STATUTE.
AND I DON'T CARE WHO'S SITTING IN THIS SEAT, YOU SHOULD NOT IMPOSE STRUCTURAL BARRIERS IN AUSTIN THAT COME AND AFFECT THE CITY OF HOUSTON.
AND I DON'T CARE WHETHER OR NOT YOU'RE WELL INTENTIONED OR NOT.
BECAUSE WHEN YOU REMOVE THINGS OUT OF THE PURVIEW OF CITY COUNCIL, THEN YOU HAVE PLACED THE POWER OF THE AUTHORITY SOMEPLACE ELSE, OKAY? AND I DON'T CARE IF YOU INTENDING IT FOR A GOOD PURPOSE.
AND BEAR IN MIND, BEAR IN MIND, THE CITY OF HOUSTON AS IT RELATES TO OUR FIREFIGHTERS WITH THE PASSAGE OF THIS COMING BUDGET, WOULD'VE GIVEN THEM AN 18% PAY RAISE.
SO HOW MUCH MORE ARE YOU SEEKING? AND THEN YOU PASS A BINDING ARBITRATION BILL WITH NO COMMITMENT THAT THEY'RE GONNA BE DROPPING THEIR LAWSUITS.
SO THEY GET BINDING ARBITRATION, THEY CONTINUE WITH THEIR LAWSUITS, COST CONTINUE TO RISE.
AND THEN HOW MUCH MORE DO YOU WANT? OKAY.
WE WORK VERY HARD TO BUILD UP A FUND BALANCE.
NOW, WHOEVER SITS IN THIS SEAT IS UP TO THAT PERSON AND YOU ALL TO MAINTAIN THE FINANCIAL INTEGRITY OF THE CITY.
BUT WHAT I CAN SAY TO YOU IS THAT THIS MAYOR WILL TURN OVER TO THE NEXT MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL, A CITY THAT'S IN HEALTHY FINANCIAL STATE.
IT'S UP TO THE NEXT MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL TO MAINTAIN IT.
AND IF YOU START DEALING, WORKING AGAINST IT BEFORE YOU EVEN GET HERE, THEN THAT SPEAKS VOLUMES.
AND I'LL LEAVE IT JUST LIKE THAT.
OKAY? AND THEN NO ONE SHOULD ASSUME THAT I'M TALKING ABOUT ANY ONE PERSON, BECAUSE NO ONE HAS BEEN CHOSEN.
SO NO ONE SHOULD BE PRESUMPTUOUS AT ALL.
YOU STILL GOT AN ELECTION YOU GOTTA GO THROUGH.
NOBODY HAS BEEN CROWNED THE WINNER UNLESS THAT BEEN DETERMINED IN AUSTIN, TEXAS ALREADY
AND WE'LL WAIT TO SEE IF THE GOVERNOR SIGNS THAT BILL.
NOW LET ME, LET ME END ON A SUMMER NOTE, WHICH, WHICH I DIDN'T WANT TO END BECAUSE SEE, A YEAR AGO, UH, 19 STUDENTS AND TWO TEACHERS LOST THEIR LIVES IN YOUR B AND AND AGAIN, I I HOPE WE NEVER GET NUMB TO THESE SITUATIONS.
SO LET'S CONTINUE TO PRAY FOR THOSE FAMILIES.
LET'S CONTINUE TO LIFT UP THOSE FAMILIES, UM, WRAP OUR ARMS AROUND THEM, UNDERGIRD THEM,
[03:30:01]
AND THEN LET'S PRAY THAT, YOU KNOW, OTHER FAMILIES DO NOT HAVE TO EXPERIENCE WHAT THEY HAVE EXPERIENCED.SO, UM, OUR HEARTS AND THOUGHTS AND PRAYERS AND, UH, GO, GO OUT TO THEM, BUT THEY DESERVE MORE THAN JUST OUR THOUGHTS AND OUR PRAYERS.
OKAY? SO, UM, UM, I DIDN'T WANT TO PASS WITHOUT, WITHOUT ACKNOWLEDGING THE FAMILIES IN VALDI AS WELL AS OTHER FAMILIES ACROSS OUR COUNTRY.
UM, THANK YOU MAYOR, FOR THE, UH, LEGISLATIVE UPDATE.
UH, UH, DID YOU INTENTIONALLY LEAVE OUT THE FACT THAT IT LOOKS LIKE WE'RE GONNA BE, UH, RECEIVING ABOUT $1.3 BILLION, UH, FOR FIRST HOUSTON FIRST AND OTHER FACILITIES, UH, THAT, THAT THE LEGISLATURE PASSED? ASSUMING, ASSUMING THINGS CAN GOES THROUGH, AND I THINK THAT THAT BILL HAS TO GO BACK TO THE CONFERENCE COMMITTEE, TO A CONFERENCE COMMITTEE, WORK OUT A, A CHANGE THAT WAS MADE, I THINK, ON THE HOUSE SIDE.
UM, THEN IF IT PASSES OUT THE CONFERENCE COMMITTEE, UH, THE CONFERENCE REPORT PASSES, THEN IT WILL GO TO THE GOVERNOR TO SIGN AND IT WILL PUT THE CITY OF HOUSTON, FOR EXAMPLE, IN THE SAME STATE AS DALLAS AND FORTH WORTH.
AND QUITE FRANKLY, WHEN THAT BILL WAS PUT IN PLACE IN 2013, IT SHOULD HAVE APPLIED TO EVERYBODY.
SO EVERYBODY'S TREATED THE SAME.
AND THAT'S THE POINT THAT I'M MAKING.
YOU KNOW, IF IT'S GOOD, IT SHOULD APPLY TO EVERYBODY.
UM, BUT IT WILL SERVE AS AN ECONOMIC, UM, UM, UM, HOW CAN I PUT IT? PLUS, UH, FOR THE HOUSTON HARRIS COUNTY AREA AND FOR, AND THEN, UH, WHAT COULD BE OVER A BILLION DOLLARS OR MORE TO REALLY IMPROVE, UM, THE EAST SIDE OF DOWNTOWN AS WELL AS THE WEST SIDE OF DOWNTOWN.
WELL, 'CAUSE I WANTED YOU TO END ON A GOOD POSITIVE NOTE,
UM, AND I APPRECIATE YOU RECOGNIZING THE ANNIVERSARY OF VALDI.
UH, AND AGAIN, THE PAST FEW WEEKS IT'S BEEN LISTING OF NAMES.
YOU KNOW, I'VE TRIED TO RECOGNIZE ANYTIME THERE'S A MASS SHOOTING THOSE VICTIMS WHOSE LIVES WERE LOST.
AND IT SEEMS LIKE EVERY SINGLE WEEK WE'RE SAYING MORE NAMES OR RECOGNIZING ANOTHER TRAGEDY.
UM, WITH VALDI IN PARTICULAR, I DID WANNA LIFT UP YOUR WORDS AND ALSO NOTE THAT TONIGHT THERE WILL BE A COMMUNITY VIGIL, UH, AT 7:30 PM UH, THAT'S BEING HOSTED BY STATE REPRESENTATIVE, UH, MORALES MOMS DEMAND ACTION, UH, AND SEVERAL OTHER PARTNERS.
AND THAT'S AT, AGAIN, 7:30 PM AT, UH, SET AGAST PARK OFF OF G**O.
SO, I, I JUST WANTED TO LOOK THAT UP AS A THING.
WHY, AGAIN, VIGILS ARE IMPORTANT.
COMMEMORATING AND RECOGNIZING ARE IMPORTANT, BUT ACTION IS ALSO VITAL.
AND THANK YOU FOR REMEMBERING THOSE THAT DIED IN VALDI.
THIS, THIS LAST STATE ELECTION.
OUR STATE LEADERS WERE RUNNING ON FIGHTING CRIME.
THEY WANTED TO BE ELECTED SO THEY CAN TARGET AND DO THEIR BEST TO FIGHT CRIME.
SINCE THIS STATE LEGISLATURE HAS BEEN IN SESSION, I HAVEN'T HEARD THAT MUCH.
WHAT THEY'VE BEEN TARGETING IS LIMITING CITY COUNCILS ON WHAT THEY CAN DO, WHAT THEY CAN PASS.
THEY HAVE TO GO TO THE STATE FOR APPROVAL, WHEN YET WE ARE ELECTED OFFICIALS REPRESENTING OUR CONSTITUENTS.
THEY TOOK DAYS TO FIGHT IN REGARDS TO ANTI-D DRAG SHOWS.
THEY TOOK DAYS FIGHTING TO PREVENTING TRANS CHILDREN AND GOING AFTER THE PARENTS OF THESE TRANS CHILDREN.
BUT I DIDN'T HEAR THEM FIGHTING CRIME, TARGETING THOSE CRIMINALS.
AND NOW HERE WE ARE AFTER THE STATE LEGISLATURE, AND NOTHING, IN MY OPINION, HAS BEEN DONE TO FIGHT CRIME AND TARGETING THE CRIMINALS.
BUT YET THEY ARE LIMITING US AS CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS TO PASS ORDINANCES TO PROTECT OUR NEIGHBORHOODS, TO IMPROVE OUR CITY.
[03:35:01]
AND THIS IS SOMETHING WE HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT BECAUSE WHEN CONSTITUENTS COME TO US AND ASKING US TO CHANGE THINGS, I KNOW COUNCIL MEMBER ALCORN AND OTHERS FOUGHT HARD IN REGARDS TO THE SOUND ORDINANCE.AND THAT'S SOMETHING THAT CONSTITUENTS HAVE BEEN ASKING US TO TACKLE FOR YEARS.
AND NOW WE WE'RE GONNA HAVE TO GO TO AUSTIN AND GET THEIR APPROVAL EVERY OTHER YEAR.
AND WHAT REALLY WORRIES ME IS IN REGARDS TO MANY OF OUR HARRIS COUNTY LEGISLATORS WEREN'T THERE SPEAKING UP.
SAY, WEREN'T THERE SPEAKING UP.
THAT'S A SUPER PREEMPTION BILL.
AND FROM ALL INDICATIONS IT IS ON ITS WAY TO THE GOVERNOR.
THAT IS A HORRIBLE, HORRIBLE BILL.
I THINK IT'S A DOCUMENT, AS THE AUTHOR SAID, I BELIEVE I HEARD HIM SAY IT IS A LIVING, BREATHING DOCUMENT, WHICH MEANS IT'S SO VAGUE, UH, AND AMBIGUOUS, UH, THAT I QUESTION THIS CONSTITUTIONALITY.
SO, UM, YOU KNOW, WHAT I WILL SAY IS THAT THE LEGISLATURE HAS HAD IT SAY IN THE END, CITIES AND COUNTIES WILL HAVE THEIR SAY.
CO COUNCIL MEMBER KAREN, EVAN SHABAZZ.
I FIND THIS TO BE SO HYPOCRITICAL THAT WE CONSTANTLY HEAR ABOUT STATE'S RIGHTS, YET WE WANNA LIMIT THE AUTHORITY OF LOCAL LEADERSHIP.
AND IT'S JUST VERY TROUBLING TO ME HOW WE CAN JUST SIT VERY COMFORTABLE COMFORTABLY AND BE HYPOCRITES AND CALL OURSELVES LEADERS.
WELL, YOU KNOW, UM, AT SOME POINT PEOPLE HAVE TO EXPLAIN THEMSELVES TO THE PEOPLE THAT THEY REPRESENT.
UH, AUSTIN DOES NOT OPERATE IN A BUBBLE.
UM, SO IT'S, THIS IS, YOU KNOW, WE'LL TAKE IT ONE DAY AT A TIME.
[CONSENT AGENDA]
HAVING SAID ALL OF THAT, UM, MADAM SECRETARY, LET'S TURN TO THE CONSENT AGENDA UNDER THE MISCELLANEOUS CATEGORY.ITEM ONE THROUGH 12, NEED A MOTION.
IT'S BEEN MOVED IN SECOND IN ITEMS ONE THROUGH 12.
DISCUSSION IN FAVOR, OPPOSE, AND GRANTED, IF YOU'RE HERE, PLEASE STAND AND COME FORWARD.
UM, IN ONE, IT IS THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF THE HOUSTON AMATEUR SPORTS PARK.
UM, POSITION ONE IS DAVID SHIELD, POSITION TWO IS JACQUELINE SWINDLE.
POSITION THREE IS CHRISTOPHER PORTER.
WE LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING WITH ALL OF THEM.
AND POSITION TWO, ALL THREE ARE HERE, UH, IS THE HOUSTON SPACE SPORTS DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION.
AND I KNOW ALL OF THEM ARE HERE.
SO IF YOU'RE HERE, PLEASE, UH, STAND AND COME FORWARD.
I SEE BRENDA HELLER, LOS ANGELES CENTER COMMUNITY COLLEGE, UH, KOFI, BERNIE AND DAVID ALEXANDER.
UM, AND THIS IS WITH THE HOUSTON SPACE BOARD, UH, DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION.
AND AS WE SPEAK, UH, AXIOM HAS TAKEN A NUMBER OF, I THINK FOUR, UH, ASTRONAUTS AND WITH THE, UM, UH, SPACE STATION, AND THEY ARE THERE.
SO THINGS ALREADY TAKEN PLACE, I WILL SAY, AS RELEASED TO THE LEGISLATURE.
I THINK THEY PASSED A BILL ON ONE IS PASSED, YOU KNOW, UH, ON ITS WAY MAYBE TO THE GOVERNOR FOR ABOUT $200 MILLION.
UM, AND FOR SPACE, I GUESS INNOVATION OR DEVELOPMENT OF THAT KIND.
SO, UM, LET ME, LET ME THANK EACH AND EVERY ONE OF YOU AND, UM, BRENDAN, LEMME START.
PLEASE INTRODUCE YOUR NAME TO US A LITTLE BIT AND, UM, FOR YOU SOON, EVERY ONE OF YOU.
I SERVE AS CHANCELLOR OF SAN JACINTO COLLEGE, AND WE HAVE A TRAINING FACILITY AT THE HOUSTON SPACE PORT.
AND WE'RE TRAINING TECHNICIANS, UM, TO WORK WITH THESE COMMERCIAL AEROSPACE COMPANIES.
WE PARTNER WITH AXIOM COLLINS AND, UM, INTUITIVE MACHINES AND EVERY NEW COMPANY THAT'S COMING ON.
AND, UM, I'M HONORED TO SERVE IN THIS ROLE.
AND I JUST LOOK AT THE FUTURE OF THIS INDUSTRY AND HOW WE CAN BETTER SUPPORT IT.
AND SO, UM, THANK YOU FOR THIS APPOINTMENT.
I'M A PROFESSOR AT RICE UNIVERSITY AND THE DIRECTOR OF
[03:40:01]
THE SPACE INSTITUTE.UM, LIKE BRENDA SAYS, WE'RE REALLY, I'M EXCITED ABOUT FIFA, BY THE WAY.
UM, BUT, UM, WE'RE REALLY EXCITED ABOUT, UH, WHAT'S HAPPENED AT THE SPACEPORT AND WHAT WHAT WILL HAPPEN IN THE FUTURE.
AND THAT'S THANKS TO THE MAYOR AND ALL OF THIS COUNCIL WHO HAVE SUPPORTED THE EFFORT.
UM, IT'S SHOWING GREAT DIVIDENDS.
UM, PEGGY WHITSON, OF COURSE, IS A NATIONAL HERO, AND OUR, OUR RICE GRADUATE, WHO'S THE COMMANDER OF ACTS TWO AND IS ON STATION TODAY, UM, I THINK IT'S BEEN GREAT FOR THE CITY, UM, WITH THE PEOPLE FROM ALL OVER THE WORLD COME TO VISIT US AND FIND OUT HOW WE DO IT HERE IN TERMS OF COMMERCIAL SPACE IN ADDITION TO OBVIOUSLY NASA.
SO AGAIN, THANK YOU ALL FOR YOUR SUPPORT AND THANK YOU.
AND I'M HONORED AND PRIVILEGED TO BE A, CONTINUE TO BE A MEMBER OF THE CORPORATION.
HOW YOU GOOD THAT MY, EITHER ONE WORKS.
I GUESS I'M A LITTLE DIFFERENT AND I'M JUST A CITIZEN OF THIS GREAT CITY.
UM, I CONCLUDED A 25 YEAR CAREER AT NASA, SO I JUST RECENTLY, VERY NICE.
AND I GUESS THAT OFFICIALLY MAKES ME A SPACE GEEK, SO, WHICH I WEAR PROUDLY, BY THE WAY.
UM, SO YEAH, I'VE BEEN INVOLVED IN, IN SPACE IN THE SPACE INDUSTRY, AND I'M HOPING TO BRING ANY, UM, INSIGHT AND KNOWLEDGE THAT I HAVE, UM, TO THIS BOARD.
I WILL SAY THE BOARD OPERATES VERY WELL.
UM, WE HAVE A, A GOOD, UH, DYNAMIC AND A GOOD CULTURE ON THAT BOARD.
SO HOPEFULLY, AGAIN, I CAN BRING MY INSIGHT AND AWARENESS WITH WORKING WITH NASA AND THE COMMUNITY AND BEING INVOLVED IN THE COMMUNITY.
SINCE I'VE BEEN IN THE CITY OF HOUSTON, I AM, UH, AN EX GRADUATE OR A FORMER GRADUATE FROM THE CITY OF DETROIT.
SO, UM, I JUST WANTED TO THROW THAT OUT THERE.
BUT I, I LOVE MY ADOPTED CITY IN THE CITY OF HOUSTON, SO HAPPY TO BE ENGAGED AND INVOLVED.
AND Y'ALL DOING SOME AMAZING WORK, UH, DOING, ACKNOWLEDGE ANDY, ANDY WHO WORKS VERY CLOSELY WITH THE SPACE BOARD AND, UH, AND WITH ALL OF THE INTUITIVE MACHINES, AXIOM COLLINS, OUR, OUR SPACE, ALL OF THEM.
UH, LEMME START OFF WITH MAYOR PRO, TIM MARTIN.
UH, WITH THREE GREAT INDIVIDUALS WE HAVE REPRESENTING US IN SPACEPORT, WHICH IS GONNA BE THE NEXT ITERATION OF AVIATION AND SPACE TRAVEL IN THE CITY OF HOUSTON.
I THINK IT'S GONNA BE THE LEADING INDUSTRY THAT'S GONNA REPLACE OIL AND GAS HERE ALONG WITH THE MEDICAL CENTER.
HELLER AND MR. ALEXANDER, UH, ARE MORE THAN QUALIFIED, UH, THE EDGE CENTER AT SAN JACK, WHICH IS TRAINING STUDENTS TODAY TO BE A PART OF THIS INITIATIVE.
AND, UH, MR. ALEXANDER, THE DIRECTOR OF THE RICE SPACE INSTITUTE.
AND THEN MR. BERNIE, YOUR EXPERIENCE AT NASA AS A DIRECTOR OF INFRASTRUCTURE AND APPLICATIONS, WHAT GREAT EXPERIENCE WE HAVE, WHAT INTELLIGENCE WE HAVE, AND WHAT INNOVATION AND IDEAS ARE GONNA COME OUT OF THAT INSTITUTE.
I MADE THIS COMMENT YESTERDAY IN THE HOUSTON AIRPORT SYSTEM SOMEWHERE DOWN THE ROAD.
UH, WE'RE GONNA BE LANDLOCKED IN SPACEPORT BECAUSE OF THE NUMBER OF OPPORTUNITIES WE ARE SEEING RIGHT NOW.
THERE'S A PIECE OF LAND THAT'S ADJACENT TO THAT, THAT WE NEED TO PROACTIVELY PURCHASE BECAUSE THEY'VE BEEN WANTING US TO PURCHASE IT FOR YEARS.
THAT WOULD BE SPACEPORT TWO, I WOULD CALL IT.
BUT TAKE A LOOK AT THAT IN OUR DEALINGS.
AND IT'S A GREAT OPPORTUNITY WORKING WITH AN AREA IN ANOTHER CITY THAT HAS SOME LAND THAT SHOULD BE AVAILABLE FOR US TO PURCHASE SO THAT WE NEVER GET TO A POINT WHERE WE'RE LANDLOCKED AND WE CAN'T BRING IN NEW GREAT BUSINESSES.
BUT APPRECIATE YOUR TALENT AND APPRECIATE YOUR INVOLVEMENT IN THIS INITIATIVE.
THANK YOU, COUNCIL MEMBER COUNCIL AND MS. SHABAS.
I CERTAINLY WANNA GIVE GREETINGS TO DR.
BRENDA, BRENDA HILLIER, UM, IN MY STINT AS TRUSTEE OF THE HOUSTON COMMUNITY COLLEGE, I JUST USED TO WATCH YOU, YOU ARE A LEGEND IN, IN THAT ARENA, AND CERTAINLY WE APPRECIATE YOUR SERVICE AND CERTAINLY GIVE MY REGARDS TO THE HONORABLE MARIE FLICKINGER, UH, YOUR BOARD CHAIR.
AND, AND I'M GONNA SAY TO YOU, UH, MR. BERNIE, YOU LOOK LIKE A MIGHTY YOUNG RETIREE, SO I HOPE YOU HAVE SOME PLANS,
YEAH, WELL, I MADE SOME GOOD FINANCIAL DECISIONS.
BUT, BUT I THANK ALL THREE OF YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE.
UH, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER KINGMAN.
UH, YOU KNOW, I, EVERY TIME WE HAVE SOMETHING RELATED TO THE SPACEPORT COME UP, I, I STOPPED.
'CAUSE I REALLY CAN'T BELIEVE THAT AS A CITY, WE'RE HERE, WE'RE LITERALLY TALKING ABOUT REAPPOINTMENTS TO THE SPACEPORT BOARD OF DIRECTORS AND OR DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION.
AND THAT IN AND OF ITSELF IS EXTRAORDINARY.
UH, SO THANK YOU ALL FOR YOUR SERVICE.
UH, CONGRATULATIONS ON YOUR RETIREMENT.
CLEARLY THE JOBS AT NASA IS A, A GOOD RECRUITMENT POINT TO MAKE.
UH, BUT I ALSO, I DON'T WANNA MISS THE OPPORTUNITY TO DO A SPECIAL PLUG AS WE'RE TALKING ABOUT DEVELOPMENT AND PROGRAMMING AND ESPECIALLY, UM, DAVID, TO YOU AND WHAT RICE DOES ALSO, WHAT
[03:45:01]
YOUR SCHOOL DOES, BRENDA, UM, THE IMPORTANCE OF SPACE LAW AND SPACE POLICY.AND MY HOPE THAT WE CAN ALSO BRING THAT IN, UM, AS ONE OF THOSE AREAS OF EXPERTISE THAT WE CONTINUE TO FOCUS ON IN RECRUITMENT.
BECAUSE AS YOU KNOW, IT'S THE SORT OF LIKE MARITIME LAW, RIGHT? WHOEVER IS CONTROLLING THAT IS THE ONE THAT'S GOING TO MAKE THE POLICY AND THE LAW FOR THE REST OF HUMANITY.
SO, UH, YOU KNOW, WHATEVER I CAN DO TO SUPPORT THAT.
BUT AGAIN, CONGRATULATIONS AND THANK YOU.
SORRY, I JUST WANTED, I THINK THAT'S, UH, REALLY CRUCIAL.
UM, AND ACTUALLY I MEETING WITH OUR BUSINESS SCHOOL TODAY TO TALK ABOUT SOME OF THAT RICE WAS IN PARIS YESTERDAY.
TALKING TO SOME OF THE UNIVERSITIES THERE, THAT SPACE, POLICY, SPACE LAW, ALL OF THOSE ISSUES ALL CAME UP AS A WAY OF BRINGING THE FUTURE, UH, TO THE WORLD, BUT ALSO PARTICULARLY HERE TO HOUSTON.
SO I THANK YOU FOR THOSE COMMENTS.
AND MAYOR, I'LL JUST GIVE A SHOUT OUT ALSO TO, UH, BECAUSE WE HAVE, UH, SOME ONE PROFESSOR THERE WHO ALSO IS VERY INSTRUMENTAL IN NASA, UH, IN DC AND, YOU KNOW, THOSE OPPORTUNITIES TO PARTNER, UH, BETWEEN, UH, RICE, ALL OF OUR SCHOOLS IN THAT RESPECT.
THANK YOU, COUNCIL MEMBER CISNEROS.
UM, I TOO JUST WANTED TO ADD MY, UM, MY THANKS TO YOU TO THE, THE EXPERTISE YOU BRING TO THIS, UM, AND, UH, YOUR SERVICE TO OUR CITY AND REGION.
AND, AND JUST TO SAY HOW EXCITED I AM TO SEE JUST SPACE IN THE NEWS
THANK, THANK YOU ALSO VERY, VERY MUCH.
UM, A LOT OF THINGS ARE TAKING PLACE OUT THERE.
SO, UM, I WOULD SAY, I MEAN, THINGS HAVE HAVE REALLY TAKEN OFF.
UM, BUT RICE, APPRECIATE THAT.
UNIVERSITY OF HOUSTON, TEXAS, SOUTHERN, I MEAN THE, WITH THEIR AVIATION SCHOOL THAT'S OUT THERE.
SO IT'S A LOT OF EXCITING THINGS.
WE WERE LISTENING TO FIFA REPRESENTATIVES A FEW MINUTES AGO, BUT THEN THE SPACEPORT, UM, IS ALSO, UM, CREATING ITS MARK FOR THE ENTIRE REGION.
SO THANK YOU OFFICER VERY MUCH FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP AND OKAY.
LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING WITH YOU.
ALRIGHT, ON POSITION THREE, UM, AND THIS IS A, AN APPOINTMENT TERRANCE, UH, FUND TO POSITION TWO OF THE REINVESTMENT ZONE, ALSO KNOWN AS THE MID MIDTOWN ZONE.
I DON'T SEE TERRANCE LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING WITH HIM.
AND THAT WAS ITEMS THREE AND FOUR, AND THAT WAS THREE AND FOUR ON FIVE IS THE FALL CREEK MANAGEMENT DISTRICT BOARD OF DIRECTORS.
IF YOU ARE HERE, PLEASE STAND AND COME FORWARD.
POSITION ONE IS CURTIS CAMPBELL.
POSITION TWO IS ENRIQUE MORALES.
AND POSITION SEVEN IS MONIQUE DOTSON.
WE LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING WITH THEM ON POSITION SIX IS THE HARRIS COUNTY IMPROVEMENT DISTRICT.
NUMBER FOUR, THE ENERGY CARD MANAGEMENT DISTRICT.
UH, IF YOU'RE HERE, STAY IN POSITION SIX IS TOM HALAKA.
UH, POSITION SEVEN IS CRAIG COOK.
POSITION EIGHT IS DAVID LANE, AND POSITION NINE IS CHASE CRAWFORD.
LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING WITH THEM.
UH, AND THEN ON SEVEN IS THE WEST CHASE DISTRICT BOARD OF DIRECTORS.
UH, POSITION NINE IS L LEE WONG 10 IS MARK TAYLOR.
UM, 15 IS LOU ANN PEREIRA, 16 IS HARRY GREEN BLACK.
OKAY, LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING WITH THEM.
AND THEN ON EIGHT, UH, EIGHT AND NINE, THIS IS TO THE, UH, FOURTH WARD ZONE, UH, POSITION.
UH, WELL, STEVE ROGERS AND COVANA HICKS CLOUD.
OKAY, LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING WITH THEM.
AND THEN ON NUMBER 10 AND 11 AND 11, NOW THIS IS TO THE, UH, LAKE HOUSTON ZONE.
BROAD POSITION SIX IS MARTIN BY SIDE.
AND THEN LASTLY, UH, NO, I THINK THAT'S IT.
OKAY, MADAM SECRETARY, BACK TO YOU UNDER THE ACCEPT WORK CATEGORY, ITEMS 13 AND 14.
NEED A MOTION AS SEC SAY A MOVE.
SECOND, BEEN MOVED TO SECOND ON ITEMS 13 AND 14.
DISCUSSION, DISCUSSION IN FAVOR OF POST GRANITE UNDER THE PURCHASING AND TABULATION OF BID CATEGORY.
NEED MOTION FOR ITEM 16 THROUGH 19.
CAN I SECOND STATE A MOVE, MARTIN? SECOND, UH, IT'S BEEN MOVED.
AND SECOND ON ITEM 16 THROUGH 19.
DISCUSSION IN FAVOR OF POST GRANT
[03:50:02]
UNDER THE ORDINANCES CATEGORY, SINCE YOUR LIST WAS DISTRIBUTED, ITEM 20 HAS BEEN RECEIVED, ITEMS REMOVED, SEPARATE CONSIDERATION, 20, 25, 26, 30, AND 31.THOSE NUMBERS AGAIN ARE 20, 25, 26, 30, AND 31.
DISCUSSION, DISCUSSION, DISCUSSION IN FAVOR OF OPPOSED AND GRANTED,
[CONSIDERATION OF MATTERS REMOVED FROM CONSENT AGENDA]
I REMOVE SEPARATE CONSIDERATION.IT IS BEEN MOVED IN SECOND TO ITEM 15, DISCUSSION ON 15TH.
MAYOR, IF THAT'S, ITEM 15 IS BEEN TAGGED BY COUNCILMAN PLUMMER.
ITEM 20 IS AN ORDERED, JUST NEED A VOTE.
I'M GOING TO ANY COUNCIL MEMBER CAMAN ON 20.
UH, JUST TO REMIND COLLEAGUES, THIS IS THE NEW BYOB UM, ORDINANCE THAT, UH, AMENDS CHAPTER 28.
WE'RE CREATING, UH, PERMITTING AND ENFORCEMENT REGULATIONS FOR BYOB ESTABLISHMENTS THAT REDUCES FIRST AND FOREMOST THE STRAIN ON LAW ENFORCEMENT BY ADDRESSING, UH, THE REGULATORY LOOPHOLE FOR BUSINESSES THAT ARE ALLOWING ALCOHOL CONSUMPTION, BUT ARE NOT SUBJECT TO TABC.
UM, AND IT ALSO IS ESTABLISHING RULES AND SAFETY REGULATIONS, INCLUDING REQUIREMENTS LIKE, UH, PROVIDING INTERIOR AND EXTERIOR CAMERAS.
UH, I DO KNOW THERE HAVE BEEN SEVERAL QUESTIONS AS TO WHAT TYPES OF ESTABLISHMENTS THIS CAN COVER.
UM, COUNCIL MEMBER THOMAS HAS BEEN, UH, EXTREMELY VOCAL AS IT RELATES TO ISSUES THAT YOUR CONSTITUENTS ARE FACING WITH POKER ROOMS. COUNCIL MEMBER POLLARD HAS ALSO BEEN, UM, OUR UNDERSTANDING IS THAT THIS IS DEFINED SO THAT ANY ESTABLISHMENT THAT IS PARTICIPATING AS A-B-Y-O-B ESTABLISHMENT CAN FALL UNDER THIS IN TERMS OF THE SAFETY REQUIREMENTS THAT THE CITY IS STATING.
UH, SO WHILE IT MAY NOT, UH, SPECIFICALLY ADDRESS, UH, BY NAME CERTAIN TYPES OF BUSINESSES, IF THEY ARE PARTICIPATING AS A-B-Y-O-B ESTABLISHMENT AFTER HOURS STARTING BEYOND MIDNIGHT, THEN IT CAN, UH, POTENTIALLY FALL INTO THIS.
UH, I ALSO WANNA NOTE THAT THIS IS A DIRECT RESPONSE TO ISSUES THAT OUR RESIDENTS AND LAW ENFORCEMENT ARE FACING EVERY SINGLE WEEKEND.
WE SAW HEAT MAP, HEAT MAPS THAT WERE PRESENTED AT PUBLIC SAFETY COMMITTEE, THAT SPECIFICALLY LOOK AT WHERE THESE AREAS ARE, AND IT IS HAPPENING ALL OVER THE CITY.
UH, I SAY THAT BECAUSE, MAYOR, TO YOUR POINT EARLIER, EVERYTHING IS UP IN THE AIR AS IT RELATES TO WHAT A CITY WILL BE ABLE TO DO TO PROTECT AND KEEP ITS CITIZENS SAFE.
AND THE, THIS IS ONE OF THOSE CRITICAL ITEMS THAT AGAIN, UH, MAY BE CALLED INTO QUESTION DOWN THE ROAD.
UH, SO I, I SAY THAT BECAUSE OF HOW IMPORTANT THESE TYPES OF ITEMS ARE AND MY APPRECIATION TO A RA AND LEGAL AND, UH, HPD FOR WORKING SO QUICKLY TO ADDRESS THIS ISSUE, BECAUSE AGAIN, THESE ARE ESTABLISHMENTS THAT HAVE EITHER BEEN DENIED A-T-A-B-C PERMIT, OR HAVE NEVER EVEN SOUGHT TO GET ONE, AND YET ARE OPERATING AGAIN IN THIS KIND OF REGULATORY LOOPHOLE.
SO, I, I CLOSE WITH THAT, BUT, UH, LOOK FORWARD TO THE VOTE ON THIS AND APPRECIATE THE DEPARTMENT'S, UH, DILIGENT EFFORTS TO BRING THIS UP QUICKLY.
I WILL ADD THAT A LOT OF OUR CRIMINAL ACTIVITY TAKES PLACE AFTER 2:00 AM AND OF THE TIME.
A LOT OF THE CRIMINAL INCIDENTS, SHOOTINGS, FOR EXAMPLE, TAKE PLACE IN THE PARKING LOT, UH, AFTER, UM, TWO 15 BECAUSE THIS WOULD TAKE EFFECT LIKE AT TWO 15.
UM, AND THIS IS ANOTHER WAY OF TRYING TO CREATE A MORE SAFE ENVIRONMENT.
UM, UM, AND THAT'S IN CHIEF FINN.
UM, WE'VE HAD MANY CONVERSATION ON THIS.
SO THIS IS SOMETHING THAT THEY FEEL VERY STRONGLY ABOUT, EVEN THOUGH IT BECOMES EFFECTIVE IMMEDIATELY.
UM, THE PLAN IS TO PROVIDE A 60 DAY EDUCATION PERIOD, SO IT TAKES EFFECT IMMEDIATELY.
BUT, UH, IN TERMS OF ANY CRACKDOWN THAT WOULD BE LIKE 60 DAYS LATER TO USE THIS TIME PERIOD TO EDUCATE, TO ALLOW PEOPLE TO, TO COME AND, AND GET IN COMPLIANCE.
UM, BUT IT IS A SITUATION WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE NUMBERS AND INCIDENTS THAT HAVE OCCURRED AFTER TWO 15 IN THE PARKING LOT.
UM, MANY OF THESE INCIDENTS ARE OCCURRING THERE.
SO THAT'S, THAT'S THE, THE REASON FOR IT.
UH, COUNCIL MEMBER ASH, THANK YOU, MAYOR.
I, AS I WAS, UH, LOOKING AT THE, UH, UH, AT THE ORDINANCE, OF COURSE, I DON'T KNOW WHO'S GONNA BE UP AT TWO O'CLOCK IN THE MORNING, YOU KNOW, BUT, UH, IT LOOKS LIKE A LOT OF PEOPLE ARE.
UH, MY CONCERN IS, IS THAT, UH,
[03:55:01]
WHEN I WAS READING IT, IT SAYS THAT, UH, PATRONS MUST BE AT LEAST 18 OR OLDER, UH, TO ENTER, UH, EIGHTEEN'S AWFULLY YOUNG.YOU, IF YOU GIVE ALCOHOL TO SOMEBODY UNDER, UH, UNDER 21, IT'S A, IT'S A, IT'S A VIOLATION OF STATE LAW LAW.
AND, UH, IS THERE ANY UNINTENDED CONSEQUENCES IN HERE, MAYOR, THAT'S GONNA GET US INTO SOME LAWSUITS THAT, UH, 'CAUSE I, I RECEIVED A CALL FROM A LAW FIRM THAT, THAT THEY'RE, THEY'RE, UH, SOME OF THESE BY OBS ARE GONNA, ARE GONNA FILE SUIT, BUT I WANNA MAKE SURE WE HAVE A GOOD ORDINANCE THAT DOESN'T HAVE LOOPHOLES IN IT.
UH, I MEAN, I MEAN, UH, MICHELLE, UH, WELL, THE, THE WAY IT WAS DRAFTED WAS TO AVOID UNINTENDED CONSEQUENCES.
ONE OF THE, UH, THERE ARE POTENTIALLY PLACES THAT OPERATE WITHIN THE LAW THAT COULD HAVE THEIR, UH, YOUNG ADULTS THERE WHO ARE 18.
AND SO WE TRIED NOT TO CAST TOO WIDE A NET, YOU KNOW, 18 IS, IS, YOU KNOW, THE AGE OF, OF, UH, OF ADULTHOOD WHERE YOU CAN VOTE.
UH, WE THINK THERE'S SUFFICIENT, UM, YOU KNOW, WITH THE SECURITY CAMERAS, THE LIGHTING REQUIREMENTS, UH, SUFFICIENT PROTECTIONS IN PLACE THAT WE FELT 18 WOULD BE FINE IF WE DID PUT IT AT 21 THOUGH, IF IT IS AN SOB.
SO, UH, HOW MANY OF THESE, UH, UH, OF THESE ESTABLISHMENTS ARE THERE IN HOUSTON? UM, I AM NOT SURE.
UH, A LOT OF THESE ARE VERY FLY BY NIGHT.
I'M NOT SURE WE HAVE AN EXACT NUMBER.
I'D HAVE TO GET, UH, ARE THERE HUNDREDS OR THOUSANDS PROBABLY IN THE HUNDREDS I'D HAVE TO GET WITH HPD AND THEY'D HAVE TO GIVE THEIR BEST ESTIMATE.
YOU KNOW, MAYOR, THAT'S, THAT'S THE ONLY REASON WHY I, I WAS CONSIDERING TAGGING IT SO THAT, UH, SO THAT I COULD, YOU KNOW, SEE WHAT MAY BE THE UNINTENDED CONSEQUENCES ARE.
'CAUSE I, I'M IN SUPPORT OF THE ORDINANCE, RIGHT? I, I, AND I, I THINK EIGHTEEN'S AWFULLY YOUNG.
YOU KNOW, YOU GO TO THE CLUB AT 18, DO WHAT? YOU CAN GO TO THE CLUB AT 18.
WELL, I'M, I'M 72, AND I, THEY HAVE, THEY STILL CARD ME.
SO YEAH, 18, YOU, YOU GOT PEOPLE COMING IN AT 1818 AT SOME OF THESE ESTABLISHMENTS.
UM, THE, THE REALITY IS, AND
SO THIS IS NOT AN ATTEMPT TO CLOSE ANYBODY.
THIS IS AN EFFORT TO TRY TO CREATE A SAFER ENVIRONMENT, A SAFER VENUE FOR THOSE WHO ARE ATTENDING, UH, THESE, UM, BUSINESSES AT THAT TIME, OR STAYING THERE PAST A CERTAIN TIME.
UH, BECAUSE WHAT WE ARE FINDING IS THAT A LOT OF THESE INCIDENTS ARE HAPPENING EITHER IN THESE CLUBS OR ESTABLISHMENTS OR IN THESE PARKING LOTS AFTER TWO 15.
NOW, SOME SAY THEY'RE NOT SUPPOSED, THEY'RE NOT, THEY'RE NOT, UH, SERVING ALCOHOL.
AND THEN WHAT ENDS UP HAPPENING IS THAT THEY LEAVE THESE ESTABLISHMENTS VERY, VERY LATE.
THEY GET OUT INTO THE PARKING LOTS, AND BEFORE YOU KNOW IT, PEOPLE ARE INJURED OR KILLED.
AND IT JUST CREATES A LOT OF TURMOIL.
AND SO THAT'S WHY IT TAKES EFFECT IMMEDIATELY.
UM, BUT EVERYONE IS, YOU KNOW, WE ARE TRYING TO BE SENSITIVE AND, UM, AND, UM, ALLOW PEOPLE AN OPPORTUNITY TO BECOME COMPLIANT.
SO THE FIRST 60 DAYS IS LIKE AN EDUCATIONAL PERIOD FOR 60 DAYS, ESSENTIALLY TO SAY, LOOK, UH, PUT UP THE NECESSARY, PUT IN THE NECESSARY LIGHTING ON NECESSARY CAMERAS, FOR EXAMPLE, SO THAT YOUR PATRONS WILL FEEL SAFE.
SO, FOR EXAMPLE, IF, IF YOU'VE GOT FAMILY MEMBERS OR FRIENDS, UM, THAT ARE OUT AT THAT TIME, LET'S SAY 3:00 AM IN THE MORNING, AND I'M NOT SAYING THEY SHOULDN'T BE AT HOME, BUT IF THEY'RE OUT AT THREE, AT LEAST YOU WANT TO FEEL COMFORTABLE THAT THEY'RE IN A SA IN A, IN AN, IN A, IN A SAFE ENVIRONMENT IF THEY'RE GONNA BE OUT AT THREE.
BUT THE WORST THING IS TO BE OUT AT THREE.
AND THEN YOU HAVE PEOPLE WHO ARE ALLOWING CERTAIN ACTIVITIES OR ALCOHOL OR WHATEVER WHEN THEY SHOULDN'T.
AND THEN YOU HAVE A SITUATION WHERE FIGHTS ARE INCURRING IN THESE ESTABLISHMENTS OR IN THE PARKING LOTS.
AND THAT'S WHERE, AND THAT'S WHERE CHIEF FINN AND HPD CAME TO ME AND SAID, BASICALLY THEY CAME TO ME AND SAID, MAYOR, WE HAVE TO DO SOMETHING TO, TO, UH, CRACK DOWN ON ALL THIS.
UH, AND THIS IS AN ACTIVITY OR CRAZY BEHAVIOR THAT'S TAKING PLACE IN THESE AFTER HOUR ESTABLISHMENTS.
BUT WE'RE NOT TRYING TO SHUT ANYBODY DOWN.
WE'RE JUST TRYING TO CREATE A SAFER ENVIRONMENT.
MA, MAYOR, MAY I CLAIM A LITTLE BIT OF MY TIME? SURE.
BUT, UH, I, I'D LIKE, LIKE TO ASK THE CITY ATTORNEY, UH, DID, DID THE, UH, LAW FIRM THAT I HAD SENT TO YOU, DID YOU COMMUNICATE WITH 'EM AND, AND WERE THEIR, THEIR ISSUES ADDRESSED OR, OR DO THEY STILL HAVE ISSUES? UH, I THINK THEY STILL HAVE ISSUES.
THEY ARE TO PROPOSE SOME LANGUAGE IS
[04:00:01]
WHAT THEY, THEY SAID, AND I HAVE SOME PRELIMINARY LANGUAGE.I WOULD ALSO LIKE TO MAKE, THE POINT I SHOULD HAVE MADE EARLIER IS THAT WE'VE TRIED TO TRACK, UM, THE WHOLE PURPOSE OF THIS ORDINANCE IS TO ADDRESS WHAT OUR GAPS, SO TO SPEAK, IN WHAT TABC COVERS.
RIGHT? BUT TO THE EXTENT WE CAN COVER TABC, WE TRY TO DO THAT.
TABC PERMITS PATRONS WHO ARE 18 YEARS OLD, OBVIOUSLY THEY CAN'T DRINK AT THAT POINT, BUT THEY'RE PERMITTED IN TABC PERMITTED ESTABLISHMENTS.
UH, AND, AND, UH, SO, SO THE, YOU SAY YOU HAVE, THEY HAVE SOME DRAFT, UH, SOME, SOME AMENDMENT OR SOMETHING.
NOT IN AMENDMENT FORM, BUT THEY'VE PROPOSED SOME LANGUAGE THAT I, THAT I'VE LOOKED AT.
WELL, WELL, THAT'S, THAT'S THE REASON I'M GONNA TAG IT, EVEN THOUGH I'M FOR IT.
I, I WANNA MAKE SURE THAT WE DON'T GET INTO ANY LITIGATION.
'CAUSE I, I WAS, I WAS TOLD WE WERE PROBABLY GET INTO LITIGATION ALMOST IMMEDIATELY, AND I'D RATHER NOT DO THAT.
AND SINCE IT'S NOT GONNA GO INTO EFFECT FOR 60 DAYS, OR YOU'RE NOT GONNA PUT IT INTO EFFECT FOR IT, IT WOULD BE EFFECTIVELY IMMEDIATELY, BUT THE EDUCATION PERIOD WOULD BE, UH, SIX, A 60 DAY PERIOD TO PHASE TO PHASE IT IN, UM, SIX DAYS.
LOOK, I LOOK, I, I, I, I'M, I KNOW, I KNOW I'M PROBABLY, UH, THE, ONE OF THE OLDEST PEOPLE AROUND HERE, BUT YOU KNOW, MY DAD USED SAY, YOU KNOW, IF YOU'RE OUT PAST TWO, WELL, I CAN'T TELL YOU WHAT MY DAD SAID.
BUT THE POINT, BUT THE POINT IS, WHETHER YOU ARE OUT AT TWO OR AT FOUR O'CLOCK IN THE MORNING, WE NEED TO CREATE AS BEST AS POSSIBLE A SAFE ENVIRONMENT.
WELL, MAYOR, I'M GONNA TAG IT, BUT I'M FOR IT.
AND I'LL, UH, BRING IT UP NEXT WEEK AND I'LL CONTINUE ALLOW ALLOWING DISCUSSION.
WILL, WILL YOU HOLD YOUR, WILL YOU HOLD YOUR, THERE ARE A WHOLE LOT OF PEOPLE.
UH, COUNCILMAN PLUM, I HOLD, I HOLD MY TAG AS WELL.
I HOPE Y'ALL RELEASE YOUR TAGS BECAUSE, UH, AS A DISTRICT COUNCIL MEMBER, IF YOU LOOK AT THE HEAT MAP, UM, MY DISTRICT HAS A LOT OF B YBS.
AND THIS IS A TOOL THAT WE'RE GIVING HPD THAT ALLOWS THEM AN OPPORTUNITY TO GO IN AND ENSURE THAT THESE PLACES ARE CONDUCTED IN A SAFE MANNER.
NOW, YOU CAN'T LEGISLATE WITH THE FEAR OF LITIGATION, OKAY? IF YOU'RE TALKING TO THE LAW FIRMS THAT ARE REPRESENTING THE BAD ACTORS, AND YOU'RE TALKING TO THE LAW FIRMS WHO WANNA PROPOSE LANGUAGE THAT WILL MAKE IT MORE FAVORABLE FOR THEIR BAD ACTORS, THAT'S NOT THE WAY TO LEGISLATE.
WE HAVE TO BE ON THE SIDE OF THOSE IN OUR COMMUNITY WHO ARE CALLING, WHO ARE REACHING OUT, WHO ARE SAYING THESE AFTER HOUR SPOTS ARE CREATING CHAOS IN OUR NEIGHBORHOODS.
LOUD NOISE, GUNSHOTS, SERVING ALCOHOL TO MINORS, SERVING ALCOHOL BEYOND 2:00 AM WHEN THEY'RE SUPPOSED TO BE A-B-Y-O-B.
THE ONLY REASON WE PUT THIS FORWARD IS LIKE THE CITY ATTORNEY SAID, THERE WAS NO LOCAL OR STATE ORDINANCE THAT REALLY LOCAL ORDINANCE OR STATE LAW LAW THAT REALLY SPOKE TO THIS PARTICULAR ISSUE.
AND SO WE HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY AS A BODY NOW TO PUT FORTH THIS LANGUAGE THAT WILL BE ABLE TO KEEP OUR COMMUNITIES SAFER.
AND SO, AS A AT LARGE MEMBER, I HOPE YOU WOULD DEFER TO YOUR DISTRICT COUNCIL MEMBERS WHO HAVE THESE BYOB ESTABLISHMENTS WITHIN OUR DISTRICTS THAT OUR CONSTITUENTS ARE CALLING US, SAYING, WE'RE SO EXCITED THAT THIS IS GOING INTO EFFECT.
FINALLY, THERE'S A BODY THAT'S LISTENING TO US AND HEARS US.
AND AS A AT LARGE MEMBER WHO MAY NOT GET THOSE CALLS ALL THE TIME, I WANNA LET YOU ALL KNOW THAT FOR MY DISTRICT, WE GET THOSE CALLS ALL THE TIME.
AND THIS IS SOMETHING THAT WE'VE WORKED VERY HARD OVER THE PAST SEVERAL MONTHS TO BRING FORTH.
A RA HAS DONE A GREAT JOB OF REALLY FINDING A LANGUAGE THAT WE BELIEVE IS AND ARE CONFIDENT THAT WON'T GET STRUCK DOWN IN A COURT OF LAW.
UH, BUT ALL THESE QUESTIONS THAT YOU HAD AND ALL THE CONVERSATIONS WITH THE LAW FIRMS THAT YOU MAY HAVE HAD, COULD HAVE BEEN TAKEN PLACE OVER THE LAST FEW MONTHS THAT WE'VE BEEN DISCUSSING THIS.
SO WE DON'T WANNA WAIT TILL THE, TILL THE GAME TO THEN SAY, NAH, I NEED, I NEED A TIMEOUT.
ALRIGHT, WE'VE HAD TIME FOR THIS.
THE MAYOR SAID HE WAS GONNA GIVE A 60 DAY GRACE PERIOD.
I WOULD GIVE A SIX DAY GRACE PERIOD.
SO I WANT YOU TO KNOW THAT THIS IS SOMETHING THAT OUR COMMUNITIES WANT.
[04:05:01]
WE'VE ALREADY BEEN GETTING CALLS AND EMAILS FROM PEOPLE SAYING, THEY'RE SO EXCITED TO SEE THIS GET PASSED, AND I HOPE YOU ALL WILL RELEASE YOUR TAG SO THAT THEIR VOICES WILL BE HEARD.COUNCIL MEMBER COUNCILMAN THOMAS.
UM, MY COLLEAGUE REALLY SHARED A LOT OF MY POINTS, BUT I JUST WANNA BRING HOME THE UNINTENDED CONSEQUENCES IF WE DON'T GET THIS DONE.
AND I WANNA BRING BACK TO YOUR REMEMBRANCE.
IN 2021, CHEMISTRY LOUNGE WAS SHUT DOWN BECAUSE OF A HOMICIDE ON CLARK CREST.
IN PINEY POINT, MAYOR, YOU VISIT, YOU WALK DOWN CLARK CREST, AND YOU PUT YOUR FINGER IN THAT GUNSHOT HOLE, A BULLY, A BULLY WENT INTO THE WINDOW OF A CHILD WHO NO LONGER WANTS TO SLEEP IN HIS ROOM.
CARS HAVE BEEN SHOT UP BECAUSE OF THE GUN PLAY THAT WOULD HAPPEN OVERNIGHT.
IT TOOK US 18 MONTHS TO GET THAT SHUT DOWN BECAUSE HPD DIDN'T HAVE THE TEETH TO GO IN LEGITIMATELY.
THEY TALKED TO ME ABOUT THIS IN 2019 WHEN I WAS CAMPAIGNING ABOUT SHUTTING DOWN THESE AFTER HOURS.
AND WHAT THEY DO IS THEY GO INTO THESE COMMERCIAL BUILDINGS, THE LANDLORD, IT'S CASH MONEY.
THEY GET THEIR MONEY EVERY MONTH.
THEY DON'T CARE ABOUT WHAT'S HAPPENING.
AND THEN THEY MOVE, THEY'RE NOMADS, THEY'RE GONNA MOVE TO ANOTHER FACILITY.
SO I THINK, YES, IT'S NOBLE TO RAISE THE POINT ABOUT, YOU KNOW, LITIGATION, BUT WE ARE HERE TO RAISE THE POINT ON BEHALF OF THE PEOPLE, THE PEOPLE WHO CAN'T FILE A LAWSUIT.
THEY'RE ASKING US TO GET THIS DONE.
AND SO I THINK WE HAVE TO LOOK AT, UH, THE QUALITY OF LIFE THAT WE SAY THAT WE ARE FOR, TO TAG THIS ITEM AFTER REALLY YEARS OF COMING TO THIS BODY, TALKING ABOUT CRIME HAPPENING, ESPECIALLY DURING PEAK COVID, IS PROBLEMATIC.
I, I'VE TALKED ABOUT THIS ITEM THROUGH THE NEWSLETTER.
I'VE GONE TO PIP, I'VE GONE TO COMMUNITY MEETINGS.
I'VE SAID, THIS IS OUR MOMENT.
AND SO I THINK WE HAVE TO BE REALLY SENSITIVE TO THE PEOPLE WHO, UM, WHEN THEY CALL OUR OFFICES, WE'RE THEIR ONLY ACCESS POINT.
THEY'RE NOT WORRIED ABOUT LITIGATION.
THEY'RE WORRIED ABOUT CAN THEY SLEEP AT NIGHT? ARE THEY AFRAID OF HAVING BULLET WOUNDS GO IN THEIR CAR, BULLETS GOING INTO THEIR CAR, SHATTERING THEIR WINDSHIELD THAT THEY HAVE TO PAY FOR OUT OF THEIR POCKET.
THE CITY DOESN'T PAY FOR THAT.
SO I THINK WHEN YOU THINK ABOUT THAT TAG, AND THE REALITY IS TO, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER PAULA'S POINT, THE MAYOR NICER THAN ME, I SAY, SHUT 'EM DOWN.
YEAH, SHUT 'EM DOWN, RIGHT? BECAUSE AIN'T NOTHING OPEN AFTER 11.
THAT'S WHAT MY MAMA USED TO SAY.
YOU SEE WHAT I'M SAYING? SO I, I THINK WHEN WE'RE TALKING ABOUT PUBLIC SAFETY, WE HAVE TO LOOK AT EVERY PIECE.
AND THE ONES THAT ARE THE ONES THAT ARE GOOD, GOOD BUSINESS PEOPLE, THEY HAVE CAMERAS, THEY HAVE SECURITY, THEY HAVE ALL OF THAT.
BUT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT THE ONES THAT ARE PROBLEMATIC, WHERE PEOPLE ARE DYING, THE BAD ACTORS.
SO I THINK WE GOTTA KEEP THAT IN MIND.
IT'S NOT THE MOST PERFECT, IT'S THE BEST STEP IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION FOR US TO PROTECT OUR NEIGHBORHOODS.
AND THEN HOPEFULLY THE CITY ATTORNEY, WHATEVER LANGUAGE YOU COME UP WITH IN TERMS OF THAT'S MEANINGFUL, THAT MAY BE ADOPTED.
BUT I, I THINK WE HAVE TO KEEP, THIS IS ABOUT THE PEOPLE AND THE, THE GOOD BUSINESSES THAT ARE GONNA STAY IN BUSINESS.
COUNCIL MEMBER COUNCILMAN MAGOS.
THANK, THANK, THANK YOU, MAYOR.
UM, JUST TO REMIND MY COLLEAGUES, I MEAN, WITH 20, WITH WITH HOUSE BILL 20, 21, 27, WE ALREADY HAVE THE STATE THAT MAY BE COMING AFTER US.
WHAT WE DON'T NEED IS FOR COUNCIL MEMBERS TO BE PREVENTING US FROM PROTECTING OUR CONSTITUENTS.
UH, WE NEED TO STAY UNIFIED AND SHOW THE STATE THAT THIS IS IMPORTANT FOR US.
UM, I KNOW THAT WE DID HAVE A JOINT QUALITY OF LIFE AND PUBLIC SAFETY MEETING, AND HPD DID PRESENT TO, TO THE, UH, JOINT COMMITTEE.
UH, AND IT WAS BROUGHT TO OUR ATTENTION THAT SIGNIFICANT PATTERN OF CRIMINAL ACTIVITY AT BARS, CLUBS, AND SOBS.
AFTER 2:00 AM AND THIS WAS A TIMEFRAME FROM NOVEMBER 1ST, 2022 THROUGH APRIL 18TH, 2023, THERE WAS A TOTAL OF NINE MURDERS.
FOUR OF THEM WERE AFTER 2:00 AM THERE WAS A TOTAL OF 32 ROBBERIES, 13, OR AFTER 2:00 AM THERE WAS A TOTAL OF 103 AGGRAVATED ASSAULTS.
36 HAPPENED AFTER 2:00 AM AND THAT'S WHY IT'S SO IMPORTANT TO PASS THIS BECAUSE WE ARE CONSTANTLY HEARING FROM OUR CONSTITUENTS IN REGARDS TO CRIME AND WHAT ARE WE DOING TO FIGHT CRIME.
WELL, THIS IS SOMETHING THAT HPD CAN HAVE IN THEIR TOOLBOX.
SO THEY CAN GO OUT THERE AND THEY CAN FIGHT CRIME.
AND WE ARE THE LEGISLATIVE BODY HERE IN THE CITY OF HOUSTON, AND THEREFORE,
[04:10:01]
IT IS OUR DUTY TO DO WHAT WE CAN TO PROVIDE THOSE TOOLS FOR HPD.AND THAT'S WHY I SUPPORT THIS, AND THAT'S WHY I'M ASKING MY COLLEAGUES TO JOIN US IN SUPPORTING THIS UNANIMOUSLY.
VICE MEMBER CHAIRMAN, CAST TATUM.
I DEFINITELY WANT TO, UH, JOIN MY COLLEAGUES, UM, AS A DISTRICT COUNCIL MEMBER BECAUSE WHAT YOU ARE HEARING IS THE FRUSTRATION OF THE RESIDENTS THAT ARE ASKING FOR THIS ORDINANCE AND WHO HAVE PUT IN THE WORK TO REQUEST THIS ORDINANCE.
AND THIS IS AN OPPORTUNITY FOR THEM TO SEE US MAKING THE CHANGES THAT THEY HAVE BEEN REQUESTING FOR YEARS.
IT IS EXTREMELY FRUSTRATING FOR US TO CONTINUE TO PROLONG, UH, THESE ITEMS WHEN WE HAVE GONE OVER AND OVER, UH, BACK AND FORTH TO, TO GET ORDINANCES LIKE THIS TO THE TABLE REQUIRES A GREAT AMOUNT OF TIME AND EFFORT FROM A RA FROM LEGAL, UM, FROM HPD, FROM THE COUNCIL MEMBERS.
UM, AND IT'S EXHAUSTING WHEN WE PUT FORTH ALL THAT WORK AND WE GET TO THE TABLE AND THEN WE HAVE TO CONTINUE.
UM, BUT EVEN IT MAY SEEM MINUSCULE, UM, A WEAK TAG, BUT IT'S NOT.
UM, BECAUSE OF EVERYTHING THAT HAS GONE INTO THIS, THE FRUSTRATION THAT YOU HEAR AROUND THE TABLE IS, QUITE FRANKLY, FROM DISTRICT COUNCIL MEMBERS WHO GET THESE CALLS AND WHO GO TO THESE PIP MEETINGS AND WHO GO TO THESE SUPER NEIGHBORHOOD MEETINGS WEEK AFTER WEEK AFTER WEEK.
AND THE PEOPLE ARE LOOKING AT YOU WITH NO HOPE.
AND THIS IS THE HOPE THAT THEY ARE ASKING FOR.
AND I WOULD, UM, RESPECTFULLY ASK MY COLLEAGUES NOT TO TAG THIS ITEM, BUT FOR US TO MOVE FORWARD AND PROVIDE THE HOPE THAT THESE RESIDENTS ARE ASKING US FOR IT.
IT'S FRUSTRATING WHEN YOU DON'T HAVE TOOLS IN PLACE, BUT IT'S EVEN MORE FRUSTRATING WHEN YOU HAVE A TOOL AND THEN YOU HAVE TO CONTINUE TO FIGHT TO GET IT PASSED AT THIS BODY.
UM, I'M READY TO VOTE ON THIS ITEM.
UH, FOR THE PEOPLE OF HOUSTON, UH, WE, WE CAN'T CONTINUE TO PROLONG ITEMS LIKE THIS.
UH, PEOPLE ARE DEPENDING ON US.
IN, IN MY DISTRICT SPECIFICALLY, THESE AFTER HOURS PARKING LOT PARTIES ARE CREATING SUCH A NUISANCE IN OUR COMMUNITIES.
THE RESIDENTS CALL US ON MONDAY MORNINGS.
OUR, UH, MESSAGE BOXES FULL BECAUSE OF WHAT THEY EXPERIENCE WEEKEND AFTER WEEKEND IN THESE, AFTER OUR, OUR PARKING LOTS.
UM, AND I WOULD HOPE THAT THIS COUNCIL WOULD BE SUPPORTIVE OF, UH, THIS ORDINANCE SO THAT WE CAN PROTECT HOUSTONIANS.
UM, REGARDING THE URGENCY OF THIS, I JUST WANNA PROVIDE SOME ADDITIONAL CONTEXT.
THE REASON WHY WE HAD A JOINT COMMITTEE HEARING ON THIS BACK IN APRIL WAS BECAUSE WE DON'T HAVE OUR COMMITTEE MEETINGS IN MAY BECAUSE OF BUDGETS AND THE DEPARTMENTS AND LAW ENFORCEMENT SAID, WE NEED TO GET THIS MOVING.
PLEASE HEAR THIS IN APRIL, SO THAT WE CAN TAKE A VOTE.
WE'RE ALREADY GETTING INTO THE SUMMER MONTHS WHEN WE KNOW THAT VIOLENT CRIME GOES UP.
I CERTAINLY WILL NOT BE ON THE SIDE OF THESE TYPE OF BAD ACTOR.
I DON'T EVEN WANNA CALL THEM BARS BECAUSE THAT'S NOT EVEN WHAT THEY ARE, THAT HAVE IN MY DISTRICT, LITERALLY LOCKED THE DOORS WHEN HPD HAS TRIED TO GONE GO IN AND PREVENTED ANY PATRONS FROM EXITING WHILE THEY CLEANED UP.
THAT'S WHAT'S HAPPENING IN DISTRICT C.
THAT'S WHAT'S HAPPENING IN F AND J AND K.
WE HAVE LETTERS, UH, COUNCIL MEMBERS, I DON'T KNOW IF YOU'VE SEEN THIS THAT CAME IN TODAY FROM THE TEXAS RESTAURANT ASSOCIATION, THE MAJOR INDUSTRY PLAYERS.
AND WE ASKED COUN, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER KUBOSH ACT COMMITTEE, YOU KNOW, WHERE DOES THE INDUSTRY STAND ON THIS? THE TEXAS RESTAURANT ASSOCIATION SUPPORTS IT BECAUSE IT'S NOT GOING TO IMPACT, AGAIN, THE PEOPLE THAT ARE FOLLOWING THE RULES.
WHAT THIS DOES IS FOR THOSE THAT ARE NOT GETTING A PERMIT, THAT ARE NOT GETTING A CERTIFICATE OF OCCUPANCY THAT ARE NOT, UH, THAT DON'T HAVE SECURITY GUARDS, AND WHEN THEY DON'T HAVE SECURITY GUARDS, THEN HPD IS HAVING TO BEAR THAT BURDEN.
COUNCIL MEMBER KUBOSH, YOU ASKED FOR NUMBERS, AGAIN, THAT WAS PRESENTED AT THE APRIL COMMITTEE MEETING.
ALL OF THOSE ARE IN THE SLIDES.
WE ALSO GAVE AN OPPORTUNITY FOR COUNCIL MEMBERS TO SUBMIT ADDITIONAL QUESTIONS BEYOND THE COMMITTEE.
SO, AGAIN, THE FRUSTRATION THAT YOU HEAR IS BECAUSE THIS IS AN ISSUE THAT WE HAVE BEEN TOLD, NOT ONLY BY RESIDENTS, BUT BY LAW ENFORCEMENT AND LEGAL AND DEPARTMENTS, THAT WE NEED TO TAKE ACTION TO CURB
[04:15:01]
THIS AND ADDRESS THE PUBLIC SAFETY ISSUES RELATED TO THIS THAT ARE VERY, VERY REAL.SO, UH, I, I WILL JOIN MY COLLEAGUES IN ENCOURAGING A VOTE ON THIS.
WE'VE DONE EVERYTHING THAT WE CAN THAT'S WITHIN OUR POWER TO BRING THIS QUICKLY AND EXPEDITIOUSLY, UM, WITH AND WITH DUE DILIGENCE TO NARROWLY TAILOR, NARROWLY TAILOR AN ORDINANCE TO BRING IN A GROUP OF BAD ACTORS THAT ARE CREATING PROBLEMS FOR PUBLIC SAFETY IN THE CITY OF HOUSTON.
UM, I'VE HEARD THESE PEOPLE CALLED BAD ACTORS.
YOU KNOW, I, UH, I, I PERSONALLY DON'T KNOW ANYBODY THAT OWNS ONE OF THESE, UH, THAT OWNS ONE OF THESE BUSINESSES.
AND, AND MAYOR, UM, UH, YOU KNOW, HAD THERE BEEN SOMEBODY THAT WOULD'VE TRIED TO DELAY THE, THE HOUSE BILL THAT PASSED THAT, THAT CAUSED US TO HAVE TO SHUT DOWN I-I-S-D-H-I-S-D TO LOOK AT THE UNINTENDED CONSEQUENCES, PERHAPS WE, WE WOULDN'T BE FACING THAT NOW.
SO ALL I'M ASKING IS, IS TO GIVE IT A, A WEEK TO, TO LOOK AT THE ISSUES AND TO SEE IF THERE'S SOMETHING THAT, THAT, UH, WE'RE MISSING THAT, THAT'S ALL I'M ASKING.
I'VE, I'VE SAID I'M SUPPORTING IT.
AND, AND IF YOU BELIEVE I'M, I, I'M, I'M THAT WRONG.
AND, AND THAT A WEEK IS BAD, THERE'S A, THERE'S A MECHANISM TO, TO OVERRIDE MY TAG.
YOU CAN, YOU CAN MAKE A MOTION AND, AND GET A SECOND, AND YOU CAN VOTE TO OVERRIDE MY TAG.
I, I JUST WANT TO GIVE IT AN OPPORTUNITY TO SEE IF THERE'S ANYTHING THAT WE'RE MISSING HERE.
THAT'S ALL I, THAT'S ALL I'M SAYING.
'CAUSE I'M GONNA SUPPORT IT SO YOU CAN OVERRIDE MY TAG.
WELL, YOU, YOU'VE NEVER, UH, DONE THAT SINCE I'VE BEEN MAYOR.
I DON'T INTEND TO DO IT, UH, TODAY.
WHAT I WILL SAY TO YOU IS THAT I WAS IN THE LEGISLATURE WHEN THAT MEASURE CAME THROUGH WITH RESPECT TO TAKING OVER A SCHOOL.
THE DIFFERENCE IS THAT THE AUTHOR OF THAT AMENDMENT NEVER TOLD US THAT HE WAS PUTTING IT ON THE BILL.
SO WHEN WE VOTED ON THE OVERALL BILL, WE DIDN'T KNOW IT EXISTED.
WE WERE JUST VOTING ON THE BILL.
WE NEVER DISCUSSED IT, IT NEVER CAME UP A DISCUSSION UNLIKE WHAT WE ARE DOING TODAY.
UM, UM, I TELL YOU WHAT, THAT'S, AND I, I KNOW I KNOW YOU WHERE YOU ARE.
LET'S JUST FINISH THIS AND THEN, THEN WE'LL DECIDE WHAT WE'RE GONNA DO.
UM, YOU SAY YOU DON'T, UH, CO COUNCIL MEMBER KOOSH, YOU DON'T, YOU DON'T KNOW ANY OF THE BAD ACTORS, BUT YOU KNOW THEY'RE LAWYERS BECAUSE THAT'S WHO'S REACHING OUT TO YOU SAYING THAT THEY WANT US TO LOOK AT THIS AND REVISIT THIS AND TO BE ABLE TO PROPOSE SOME LANGUAGE.
SO I WANT YOU TO KNOW THE GOOD ACTORS FROM THE BAD ACTORS.
THE GOOD ACTORS ACTUALLY WANT THIS BECAUSE THEY'RE SAYING THAT WHY ARE WE GOING TO HAVE TO PUT FORTH EFFORTS TO PUT SECURITY, TO HAVE LIGHTING, TO ENSURE THAT WE, UM, DISCLOSE OUR VIDEOTAPES TO ENSURE THAT WE'RE GETTING THE PROPER CODES AND THE PERMITS AND THEY'RE DOING ALL THE RIGHT THINGS.
BUT THEY'RE SEEING THE BAD ACTORS THAT DON'T TRY TO GET A-A-T-A-B-C PERMIT THAT DON'T TRY TO GET LIGHTING SECURITY, RIGHT? THAT ARE, ARE SERVING ALCOHOL TO MINORS THAT ARE GOING FROM SPOT TO SPOT.
THEY'RE SEEING WHY, WHY AREN'T AS HARD ON THEM, AND PUTTING TEETH AND REGULATION ON THE THINGS AS YOU ARE ON US.
AND THE BAD ACTORS DON'T WANT TO DO ANY OF THAT STUFF.
AND THEY SAY THEY DON'T HAVE TO DO ANY OF THAT STUFF.
'CAUSE THERE'S NO ORDINANCE THAT TELLS THEM THEY HAVE TO DO IT.
SO NOW WE PUT FORTH LANGUAGE AND AN ORDINANCE THAT SAYS, NO, YOU'RE GONNA HAVE TO DO SOME THINGS TOO.
YOU'RE GONNA HAVE TO HAVE A OCCUPANCY CODE, YOU'RE GONNA HAVE TO HAVE LIGHTING, YOU'RE GONNA HAVE TO HAVE SECURITY.
YOU KNOW, YOU'RE NOT GONNA BE ABLE TO CONSUME ALCOHOL ON THE PREMISES, UH, BEYOND 2:00 AM.
RIGHT? WE'RE TRYING TO PUT ALL THOSE SAFEGUARDS IN PLACE THAT THE, THAT THE GOOD ACTORS ARE ALREADY FOLLOWING.
THIS IS TO ENSURE THAT THOSE LOOPHOLES ARE NOW CLOSED.
SO THE BAD ACTORS CAN'T USE THEM TO SKIRT AROUND, UM, ANY PENALTIES AND CAN CONTINUE TO PUT DANGEROUS PLACES WITHIN OUR COMMUNITIES.
SO I DON'T THINK ANYONE WANTS TO OVERRULE YOUR TAG.
WE WANT YOU TO REMOVE YOUR TAG, ALRIGHT? BECAUSE WE KNOW THAT YOU, JUST LIKE THE REST OF US ARE A STRONG ADVOCATE FOR SAFE COMMUNITIES, YOU LIKE THE REST OF US ARE A STRONG ADVOCATE FOR ENSURING THAT OUR CONSTITUENTS VOICES ARE HEARD.
I KNOW THAT'S WHAT YOU ARE, BECAUSE THAT'S WHAT YOU TELL THE COMMUNITY WHEN YOU'RE OUT THERE IN FRONT OF THEM AT THEIR MEETINGS.
AND SO THIS IS A OPPORTUNITY TO BE MORE THAN WORDS TO REMOVE YOUR TAG SO THAT WE ALL CAN VOTE ON THIS.
I'M ASKING THE SAME COUNCIL MEMBER PLUMMER, BECAUSE THIS
[04:20:01]
IS SOMETHING THAT IF THERE WERE SOME UNINTENDED CONSEQUENCES THAT YOU, UH, WERE WORRIED ABOUT COULD HAVE BEEN ADDRESSED OVER THE LAST TWO OR THREE MONTHS WHEN THIS HAS GONE THROUGH COMMITTEE, WHEN YOU, WHEN WE'VE BEEN SAYING THIS IS COMING UP ON THE AGENDA, THE HOUSTON CHRONICLE HAS WRITTEN ARTICLES SAYING, THIS MAY BE COMING.WE'VE BEEN TALKING TO OUR COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS ABOUT THIS.
SO NOW IT'S GOTTEN ALL THE WAY TO US TO DECIDE IF WE'RE GONNA VOTE FOR IT OR NOT.
AND THOSE QUESTIONS SHOULD HAVE BEEN ANSWERED PRIOR TO THIS.
SO, UM, WOULD BE GREAT IF YOU WERE REMOVE YOUR TAG SO THAT OUR COMMUNITIES WILL BE HEARD AND WE CAN MOVE FORWARD.
AND I AM GOING TO REMOVE MY TAG BECAUSE I AM SO, YOU KNOW, ENAMORED AND IMPRESSED BY THE CONVERSATION GOING ON AROUND HERE.
BUT COULD WE TAKE ALL OF THIS ENERGY PLEASE AND MOVE THIS INTO APARTMENT INSPECTION REFORM? I HAVE TO TAKE A MOMENT.
I'M LOVING ALL THIS CONVERSATION.
AND IN THE SAME WAYS, DID Y'ALL GET ALL THE, ALL THE CALLS FROM YOUR DISTRICT MEMBERS SAYING HOW HORRIBLE THEIR LIVING CONDITIONS ARE? I GET ALL THOSE CALLS TOO, AND I REALLY WOULD LOVE TO GET ALL THIS ENERGY AROUND AND BRING THIS SAME CONVERSATION TO ALL THE HUNDREDS OF PEOPLE THAT HAVE COME IN FRONT OF US AND TALKED ABOUT HOW HORRIBLE THEIR LIVING CONDITIONS ARE.
SO YES, COUNCIL MEMBER POLLARD, I'M GONNA MOVE MY TACK.
I JUST WANTED MORE INFORMATION, BUT I GOT IT AT THE HORSESHOE, SO I REALLY DO APPRECIATE THE CONVERSATION.
BUT SINCE WE HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY, MAYOR TURNER TO MAKE SOME DECISIONS BEFORE THE STATE SHUTS US DOWN, CAN WE TALK ABOUT HABITABLE LIVING CONDITIONS, PLEASE? I THINK YOU AND I BEATING ON FRIDAY,
I'M SORRY, YOU AND I ARE MEETING ON FRIDAY.
AND I THINK I'M GONNA EXTENDED AN EXTRA 30 MINUTES,
ALRIGHT? KNOW IT FOR THE DISCUSSION,
I I WHAT THE ORDINANCE FOR? OKAY.
I HAVE CALLED EVERY SINGLE PERSON.
I GOT, AND I'VE GONE TO A RA WE HAVE AN ORDINANCE WRITTEN FROM THE LAW, FROM FROM LEGAL.
SO THAT I AM DOING THE WORK ONE ISSUE AT A TIME.
COUNCIL MEMBER ASH MAYOR, THAT YOU NOW SEE WHY WHEN I TAG SOMETHING, I, I DON'T ALLOW DISCUSSION
WELL, NO, NOT BEATING UP DISCUSSION IS GOOD.
WELL, I MEAN, AND, AND I AGREE WITH EVERYTHING EVERYBODY SAID.
I, I, THAT THAT'S NOT THE QUESTION.
THE CITY ATTORNEY SAID HE HAD SOME THINGS THAT, THAT ARE WE GONNA BRING THOSE THINGS BACK UP AND, AND AMEND THE ORDINANCE AFTER WE PASS IT? SO WHY NOT WAIT TILL NEXT WEEK AND SEE WHAT, SEE WHAT TO BRING UP? THE GOOD NEWS WITH THE GOOD NEWS WITH THE CITY ORDINANCE IS THAT AT ANY POINT IN TIME, IF YOU FIND A WAY TO MAKE IT BETTER, YOU CAN ALWAYS COME BACK AND AMEND IT.
THAT'S A, THAT'S THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN A CITY ORDINANCE AND A STATE ORDINANCE.
SO THERE'S NOTHING THAT PRECLUDES TO CITY COUNCIL FROM COMING BACK AT ANY POINT IN TIME AND MAKING IT BETTER.
I THINK IT WAS COUNCIL MEMBER THOMAS WHO SAID, THIS IS NOT A PERFECT ORDINANCE, BUT IT'S A VERY GOOD ONE.
WELL, I, I'LL REIN, I'LL REINSTATE MY TAG IN IN NO DISCUSSION.
THE ITEM IS TAGGED BY, THE ITEM IS TAGGED BY COUNCILMAN OSH.
AND I JUST WANTED TO SAY THANK YOU AND TO THE HOUSTON PARKS BOARD AND, UM, THE HOUSTON PARKS DEPARTMENT FOR THIS ITEM.
UM, QUITE A FEW PARKS AND DISTRICT B HAVE BEEN UPGRADED, GOT MUCH NEEDED IMPROVEMENTS BECAUSE OF YOUR 50 50, UM, PARTNER INITIATIVE.
AND SO JUST WANTED TO HIGHLIGHT THAT AND JUST SAY THANK YOU, YOU KNOW, FOR ALL THAT YOU DO.
AND I DO WANNA SAY THIS IS ABOUT, UH, THIS WILL GO TO ABOUT 10 OR SO PARKS, ALL OF WHOM ARE SCHEDULED TO BE, UH, COMPLETED BEFORE THE END OF THIS YEAR.
SO THIS IS SUB, UH, SUBSTANTIAL PARK IMPROVEMENTS AT YOUR LOCAL, UH, NEIGHBORHOOD PARKS.
UH, SO REALLY, I'M REALLY EXCITED ABOUT THIS.
AND THIS WILL COVER THE COST ESCALATIONS, UH, FOR THOSE IMPROVEMENTS.
ANY OTHER DISCUSSION ON 25 TAG? OH, I'M JUST
AND IN FAVOR? OPPOSED? GRANTED ON 25.
[04:25:01]
GRANTED ON 26.COUNCIL MEMBER CIRO ON ITEM 30.
UM, I'M REALLY EXCITED ABOUT THIS AND, AND I'M REALLY HAPPY TO SUPPORT IT.
UM, EARLIER THIS MONTH WHEN CHIEF FINNER CAME AND, UM, UH, GAVE, UH, THE PRESENTATION ON, UH, CRIME IN THE CITY AND, YOU KNOW, THE, AND THE BIG IMPROVEMENTS THAT, THAT HE, YOU KNOW, AND THE DATA, HOW THAT REFLECTED THAT.
UM, DISTRICT H HAD SOME OF, SOME BIG CHALLENGES.
WE WERE AT THE BOTTOM OF SOME OF THE, OF, OF THE LISTS AND ESPECIALLY, YOU KNOW, UM, WITH THE NUMBERS FOR AUTO THEFT, WE, WE LED THE CITY IN AUTO THEFT IN DISTRICT H AND, AND, UM, AND I MET WITH, UM, COMMANDER DANA HITMAN, WHO, WHO, UM, LEADS THE HOUSTON AUTO CRIMES TASK FORCE OR THE, THE, THE AUTO THEFT DIVISION.
AND, UM, AND, YOU KNOW, UH, SHE WAS GIVING ME A HEADS UP ABOUT THIS COMING.
AND SO I'M, I'M REALLY GLAD TO SEE, UM, THAT TODAY WE'LL GET TO VOTE ON, UM, ALLOWING THE SUBMISSION FOR THIS GRANT AND THE ACCEPTANCE OF FUNDING AND THEN A, UM, A CITY'S MATCH THAT WILL HELP, UM, PROVIDE THE RESOURCES THEY, THAT THE, THAT HPD REALLY NEEDS TO BE, UM, STEMMING AUTO THEFT.
SO THANK YOU FOR BRINGING THIS FORWARD TODAY.
UH, I JUST ALSO WANTED TO SPOTLIGHT LIKE WE'VE BEEN DOING.
UH, WE JUST VOTED ON A, A HOST OF HPD GRANTS THAT THEY'RE GOING FOR.
AGAIN, THOSE REPRESENTED AT COMMITTEE, UM, INCLUDING THIS IS I THINK THE 32ND YEAR WE'RE DOING THIS, WHICH IS THE, UM, AUTO CRIMES TASK FORCE TO REDUCE AUTO THEFTS.
UH, WE ALSO JUST VOTED ON A DOMESTIC VIOLENCE INITIATIVE GRANT.
UH, SOME HAZMAT FUNDING, A WHOLE HOST OF THINGS, UH, THAT WE REALLY APPRECIATE HPD GOING AND GETTING THE MONEY FOR.
UM, ANY OTHER DISCUSSION ON 30 ON 30 IN FAVOR? OPPOSE GRANTED ON 30.
COUNCILOR HUFFMAN, COUNCIL MEMBER HUFFMAN ON 31 HUFFMAN TAG.
UH, UH, ITEM 31 HAS BEEN TAGGED BY COUNCIL MEMBER HOSPITAL.
[NON-CONSENT - MISCELLANEOUS]
UH, NEXT ITEM, ITEM 34 IS A MOTION TO SET A DATE FOR A PUBLIC HEARING FOR BLEX EXCHANGE REINVESTMENT ZONE.THE HEARING DATE IS WEDNESDAY, JUNE 14TH, CASTEX TATUM.
MOVED TO SET THE DATE FOR WEDNESDAY, JUNE 14TH, 2023.
MARTIN SECONDS AT 9:00 AM MM-HMM
YOU'VE HEARD THE MOTIONS BEEN SECONDED.
ANY, UH, DISCUSSION? DISCUSSION IN FAVOR OF OPPOSED AND GRANTED? 15.
NOW WE'RE GOING BACK TO ITEM 15.
UH, COUNCILMAN PLUM? YES, I'M A RELEASE ATTACK.
UH, COUNCILMAN PLUMS. RELEASE AN TAG ON ITEM 15.
OPPOSED? GRANTED ON 15, UM, THIS COMPLETES THE ITEMS ON THE AGENDA.
I WILL SAY THAT, UM, IN VIEW OF THE TAG ON, UH, WHAT WAS THAT ON 20, WHENEVER IT COMES, THEY NOW HAVE 53 DAYS TO GET IT IMPLEMENTED INSTEAD OF 60.
[NON CONSENT - MATTERS TO BE PRESENTED BY COUNCIL MEMBERS]
OKAY.WE ARE GONNA START OFF WITH COUNCIL MEMBER CIENA.
UM, AND I'D, I'D LIKE TO TURN OUR ATTENTION BACK TO UVALDE AND I WANNA SHARE, UM, I APPRECIATE THAT WHEN THAT MASSACRE HAPPENED, THAT THAT, THAT WE WERE GIVEN PHOTOGRAPHS OF THE CHILDREN.
I THINK ABOUT THESE CHILDREN AND, UM, AND, AND WHAT WE AS, AS LEGISLATORS CAN DO TO, YOU KNOW, TO, TO PROTECT OUR, OUR OWN KIDS AND, AND OUR CITY.
UM, HERE IN HOUSTON, LAST FEBRUARY, MONTHS BEFORE THE MASSACRE IN UVALDE, UM, HPD, SERGEANT KENDRICK SIMO DID SOMETHING EXTRAORDINARY AND EXTRAORDINARILY BRAVE AND SHOWED A GREAT DEAL OF VALOR WHEN HE THWARTED A MASS SHOOTING EVENT, UM, HERE IN OUR CITY.
AND WE HONORED HIM YESTERDAY, UM, ON TOP OF THE NATIONAL, UM, RECOGNITION.
HE GOT, YOU KNOW, FROM THE, THE PRESIDENT, YOU KNOW, FOR AN AWARD FOR VALOR.
UM, BUT I'M SO PROUD THAT HE'S OURS, YOU KNOW, THAT HE REALLY, UM, YOU KNOW, ACTED ON HIS TRAINING AND, YOU KNOW, AND HIS, YOU KNOW, THE, UM, THE ESPRIT CORPS HERE
[04:30:01]
IN HPD, YOU KNOW, AND, AND WAS SO EFFECTIVE, SO, SO QUICK AND SO EFFECTIVE TO, TO PREVENT SOMETHING LIKE THAT.UM, DURING THE MA THE MASSACRE IN UVALDE WEREN'T 19 STUDENTS AND TWO TEACHERS WERE SLAUGHTERED.
UM, WHILE 376 LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS WAITED OUTSIDE.
THEY WERE ARMED, THEY WERE TRAINED, BUT LEADERSHIP WAS LACKING AND ULTIMATELY FAILED.
THERE'S BEEN A LOT OF TALK ABOUT WHAT DO WE DO ABOUT THIS? THERE'S BEEN SO MANY DISCUSSIONS ABOUT WHAT NEEDS TO HAPPEN WITH GUN CONTROL, WHAT WE NEED TO DO ABOUT SCHOOL SAFETY, ABOUT ADEQUATELY FUNDING POLICE, BUT THOSE ARE ALL KIND OF JUST PARTS OF IT.
I THINK, YOU KNOW, WHEN YOU, WHEN YOU REALLY LOOK AT IT, THE, THE ROOT PROBLEM OF WHY, WHY WE WE'RE SEEING MASS SHOOTINGS, IT'S, IT'S NOT JUST THE GUNS.
IT'S NOT JUST, YOU KNOW, ALL THESE OTHER THINGS.
WE ARE DEALING WITH A MENTAL HEALTH CRISIS, AND WE KNOW THAT, YOU KNOW, THAT THERE ARE A LOT OF PEOPLE THAT ARE, ARE, ARE NOT MENTALLY HEALTHY AND EMOTIONALLY HEALTHY, AND THAT, YOU KNOW, THAT, UM, THINGS LIKE DRUG USE, THINGS LIKE THE PANDEMIC, YOU KNOW, THE STRESS OF LIVING IN POVERTY.
THOSE ARE ALL THINGS THAT EXACERBATE MENTAL HEALTH ISSUES.
AND, AND MOVING FORWARD, IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT THAT, THAT THOSE, YOU KNOW, THAT THE ROOT CAUSES AREN'T, UM, ARE, ARE, ARE ADEQUATELY FUNDED, AND THAT THERE'S POLICIES AND THERE'S RESOURCES THAT, THAT REALLY TACKLE THE, THE PROBLEM THAT CAUSES, YOU KNOW, THESE, UM, THESE TERRIBLE, HORRIFIC EVENTS.
UM, AND SO TO THAT END, I'M, I'M REALLY PROUD OF THE WORK THAT THE, ESPECIALLY OUR HEALTH DEPARTMENT HAS DONE TO, UM, TO, TO GET RESOURCES TO, UH, TO, TO FAMILIES AND, AND YOU MAYOR YOUR LEADERSHIP AND, UM, IN, IN WHAT WE DO TO SUPPORT FAMILIES AND CHILDREN AND, AND JUST KEEPING EVERYBODY WELL, BECAUSE THE, THE, THE FACT IS THERE'S, WE'VE, THERE'S BEEN GUNS IN OUR COUNTRY ALWAYS.
I MEAN, I, I GREW UP, I REMEMBER IN HIGH SCHOOL THERE WOULD, I WOULD SEE IN THE BACK OF PICKUP TRUCKS, PEOPLE WOULD HAVE, UM, SHOTGUNS, THEY'D GO HUNTING AFTER SCHOOL, YOU KNOW, AND, AND NO ONE THOUGHT ANYTHING OF IT, YOU KNOW, IN, IN, IN OTHER, ALL THEIR CULTURES.
I KNOW IN, IN, UM, GHANA, THE, THE BEGINNING OF SCHOOL CHILDREN SHOW UP WITH MACHETES.
THEY ASK THEM TO BRING MACHETES TO SCHOOL SO THEY CAN CUT THE GRASS.
AND IT, IT'S NOT THOUGHT, IT'S NOT THOUGHT AS, AS A DANGER.
IT'S, IT'S, IT'S, IT'S, YOU KNOW, PEOPLE, YOU, YOU LOOK AT THINGS THAT, YOU KNOW, THOSE AS TOOLS AND, YOU KNOW, NOT WEAPONS.
AND SO SOME THINGS HAPPENED HERE THAT, THAT I THINK IS THAT, THAT WE'RE SORT OF, WE'RE SICK, YOU KNOW, PEOPLE AREN'T WELL, AND, AND THEY'RE ACTING OUT.
AND, AND I THINK THAT THAT'S, THAT THERE NEEDS TO BE A WHOLE LOT MORE, UM, ENERGY GOING INTO, TO, TO, TO HAVING A HEALTHIER, A MENTALLY HEALTHIER, UM, SOCIETY.
AND, AND IT'S, YOU KNOW, AND IT REALLY NEEDS TO COME FROM HIGHER LEVELS.
AGAIN, IT'S THE STATE WHO IS NOT ADEQUATELY RELEASING MONEY FOR THOSE KINDS OF SERVICES.
UM, YOU KNOW, I KNOW WE ARE DOING WHAT WE CAN HERE, BUT WE, WE NEED HELP FROM HIGHER LEVELS OF GOVERNMENT TO, TO TRULY ADDRESS THAT.
SHARE YOUR SENTIMENTS, MAYOR PRO, TIM MARTIN.
I WANTED TO MAKE KINGWOOD RESIDENTS AWARE THAT HOUSTON PUBLIC WORKS WILL BE INSTALLING TRAFFIC SAFETY IMPROVEMENTS IN THE KINGWOOD DRIVE MEDIUM TO THE EAST OF WESTLAKE HOUSTON PARKWAY, AND THE WEST OF KING'S CROSSING DRIVE TRAFFIC SIGNAL.
THE PROJECT IS EXPECTED TO START ON TUESDAY, MAY 30TH, WITH AN ESTIMATED COMPLETION DATE OF TUESDAY, JUNE 20TH.
WEATHER PERMITTING CONSTRUCTION ACTIVITY IS, ARE EXPECTED TO TAKE PLACE MONDAY THROUGH FRIDAY FROM 8:00 AM TO 5:00 PM AND ON SATURDAY FROM SEVEN TO ONE O'CLOCK, THIS KINGWOOD MEDIAN OPEN HAS BEEN THE SITE OF NUMEROUS SERIOUS VEHICLE ACCIDENTS.
IT'S THE ENTRANCE AND EXIT OF THE HEB ON KINGWOOD DRIVE.
AND WE HAVE HAD NOTHING BUT PROBLEMS BECAUSE I DON'T KNOW WHO DESIGNED IT, BUT IT WASN'T DESIGNED PROPERLY.
BUT THE PLAN IMPROVEMENTS ARE EXPECTED TO GREATLY IMPROVE TRAFFIC SAFETY.
AND FOR MORE INFORMATION, PLEASE CALL MY OFFICE OR CONTACT US AT DISTRICT E@HOUSTONTX.GOV.
AND LAST BUT NOT LEAST, UH, SINCE 1868, WE'VE BEEN CELEBRATING MEMORIAL DAY, WHICH IS ON MONDAY, AND TO HONOR THE MEN AND WOMEN WHO HAVE SERVED AND SACRIFICED THEIR LIVES FOR OUR COUNTRY.
SO I HOPE EVERYBODY HAS A VERY BLESSED AND SAFE MEMORIAL DAY WEEKEND.
HAPPY NATIONAL PUBLIC WORKS WEEK TO OUR HOUSTON PUBLIC WORKS TEAM.
UM, ALSO MAYOR, EXCITED THAT YOU WILL BE COMING TO DISTRICT K ON, UH, SATURDAY THE 27TH,
[04:35:02]
UH, AT TOWN WOOD PARK, UM, FOR THE ONE SAFE, UH, SUMMER POOL OPENING.UM, BUT ALSO WANT TO, UM, BRING UP THE FACT THAT OUR WESTBURY POOL IS NOT GOING TO, UM, OPEN THIS SUMMER BECAUSE OF A VERY EXPENSIVE REPAIR.
AND THE RIP THE FILTER'S BEEN ORDERED, BUT THEY, THERE'S A LEAD TIME FOR THE SUPPLY CHAIN.
UM, BUT THE, WHEN I ASKED ABOUT THE COST OF THE REPAIR, IT, IT IS A RANGE FROM 600,000 TO $900,000 REPAIR.
AND SO I WAS LIKE, MAN, THAT'S EXPENSIVE.
WE SHOULD JUST GET A NEW POOL.
I, I NEVER IMAGINED THAT A A POOL COSTS THAT MUCH IN THE, IN THE CITY.
SO I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT FOR US TO, UM, LET PEOPLE KNOW WHAT THOSE COSTS ARE.
AND QUITE FRANKLY, OUR, THE COST OF THIS REPAIR IS MORE THAN THE AMOUNT THAT WE HAVE ALLOTTED FOR THE REPAIR POOLS FOR FY 24, SO THAT I'VE ALREADY INSTRUCTED THEM TO PROCEED TO MAKE THE NECESSARY REPAIRS.
UM, BUT I, I MEAN, I'M BLOWN AWAY BY THE COSTS OF, OF, OF THESE REPAIRS.
AND, UM, WINDOR, BUT I'VE BEEN, BUT I'VE INSTRUCTED 'EM NOT JUST ON THIS POOL, BUT ANY OF THE POOLS THAT ARE IN THE CITY.
WINDSOR VILLAGE POOL HAS A LEAK, AND THEY HAVE BEEN WITHOUT THEIR POOL FOR FOUR SUMMERS.
THESE, THESE REPAIRS ARE EXTREMELY EXPENSIVE, BUT I THINK THAT AS A CITY, IT'S IMPORTANT FOR US TO HAVE SPACES FOR OUR KIDS TO GO IN THE SUMMER, AND THE POOL IS ONE OF THOSE PLACES THAT THEY GET TO HANG OUT AND PLAY WITH THEIR FRIENDS MM-HMM
AND HAVE A, HAVE A SAFE PLACE TO BE, ESPECIALLY IN THE SUMMER.
SO, THANK YOU FOR, UM, MAKING, MAKING THOSE CALLS AND, AND ARRANGING FOR US TO BE ABLE TO DO THAT.
ALSO, WANT TO CONGRATULATE THE EDISON ARTS FOUNDATION'S, UM, THE CO-FOUNDERS CHARITY AND TROY CARTER FOR AN INCREDIBLE TUTU'S IN TEXAS FUNDRAISING GALA THIS PAST SATURDAY.
COUNCIL MEMBER, UM, JACKSON AND ALCORN ALSO ATTENDED.
IT WAS A GREAT OPPORTUNITY FOR THEM TO WORK ON THEIR FUNDRAISING.
THEY'VE RAISED ALREADY 24 MILLION OF THE $30 MILLION PROJECT, AND CONGRATULATIONS TO ALL OF THE HONOREES THIS WEEK.
WE ALSO HAD A SPARK PARK DEDICATION AT BILLY REAGAN, K THROUGH EIGHT.
UM, IT'S ALWAYS A HAPPY TIME WHEN WE CAN, UH, CUT THE RIBBON FOR MORE SPARK PARKS IN OUR COMMUNITIES.
LOOKING FORWARD TO THOSE FAMILIES ENJOYING THAT TIME AT BILLY REAGAN SPARK PARK.
UM, PARENTS WITH CHILDREN AGES FIVE THROUGH 14 CAN REGISTER THEIR KIDS TO ATTEND A UNIQUE, UH, MINDFULNESS BASED SUMMER CAMP AT NEW FAITH CHURCH.
ANDRE LEWIS IS THE PASTOR, AND MITZI HENDERSON IS OFFERING THIS NEW CAMP, VERY EXCITED ABOUT THIS COMING TO DISTRICT A.
THE KIDS WILL BE JOURNALING, DOING SOME MINDFULNESS, YOGA, UM, AND REALLY, UM, HAVING A SAFE SPACE TO BE IN OUR COMMUNITIES.
AND THEN FINALLY, UM, MONDAY WORLD YMCA AND HP, UH, DEDICATED THE FIRST YMCA DIGITAL HUB AT THE WEST.
ORM, YMCA, RIGHT IN DISTRICT A.
THIS IS A GLOBAL PARTNERSHIP FOR DIGITAL EQUITY, AND WE TALK A LOT ABOUT DIGITAL EQUITY.
SO TO SEE HP COME INTO THE COMMUNITY, UM, AND JOIN WITH OUR YMCA TO CREATE THIS, UM, STEM EDUCATION IS EXCITING.
THESE RESOURCES ARE FREE TO ALL RESIDENTS.
NO YMCA MEMBERSHIP IS REQUIRED TO UTILIZE THIS PROGRAM.
SO WE WANNA THANK THE YMCA PRESIDENT AND CEO, STEVE IVES, UM, AND ALL WHO PLAYED A PART IN MAKING SURE THAT THIS, UM, DIGITAL HUB IS AVAILABLE FOR STUDENTS, ESPECIALLY WITH THE SUMMER MONTHS COMING UP.
UM, AND THANK YOU FOR PUTTING THOSE RESOURCES IN OUR, IN OUR COMMUNITIES.
KEEP UP WITH DISTRICT K, SIGN UP FOR OUR NEWSLETTER, BE KIND TO EACH OTHER AND MAKE IT A GREAT DAY.
AND ALSO MAYBE, UH, MAYBE THAT THE, THE REASON WHY IT WAS $8 MILLION IS BECAUSE A LOT OF THE WATER, IT'S, THE WATER'S GONNA COST A LOT.
UH, MAYOR, LET ME ASK YOU THIS.
IF, IF I WERE TO REMOVE MY TAG ON THIS MATTER, WOULD YOU, WOULD YOU, UH, RE RE UH, AND THE CITY ATTORNEY COMES BACK AND SAYS, LOOK, YOU KNOW, WE SEE WE NEED TO HAVE A, A CHANGE.
WOULD YOU BE WILLING TO BRING IT BACK WITHIN A WEEK OR TWO? RIGHT.
I MEAN, IF THE CITY ATTORNEY ADVISES ME THAT A CHANGE NEEDS TO BE MADE, UH, THEN YEAH, IT CAN BE DONE.
AND, AND WOULD YOU ALSO REDUCE THE, THE TIMEFRAME FROM, UH, FROM 60 DAYS TO 30 DAYS AND, AND PUT PRESSURE ON THESE PEOPLE TO STOP THESE, THESE BUSINESSES? WILL YOU AGREE TO, TO MAKE IT 30 DAYS INSTEAD OF 60? YEAH.
IF YOU'RE GONNA REMOVE YOUR TAG TODAY, YES.
[04:40:02]
MAYOR, WE HAVE SOME COUNCILS MEMBERS WALKING OVER FOR THE VOTE THAT WANNA CAST A VOTE ON THIS.UM, I JUST LIKE TO STRIKE WHILE THE FIRE IS HOT.
JUST, UM, AND MAYOR, THANK YOU FOR AGREEING TO, TO REDUCE THE TIME BECAUSE AS I HEARD ALL THESE COUNCIL MEMBERS TALKING ABOUT THE, THE, THE DANGERS IN THEIR COMMUNITIES, AND, AND, AND I, I, I'M THEIR COUNCIL MEMBER AS WELL, BUT I, I, I'M NOT UP AT, I'M NOT UP AFTER MIDNIGHT MAYOR RUNNING AROUND.
I, I, I DON'T KNOW WHAT'S GOING ON OUT THERE UNLESS PEOPLE CALL ME.
BUT I, I DON'T WANT ANY OF THESE UNLICENSED, UH, UH, BUSINESSES OPERATING, UH, IN THIS MANNER.
I DON'T WANT MY KIDS, MY GRANDKIDS GOING TO 'EM.
I DON'T WANT TO ENDANGER THE PUBLIC, BUT I, I CERTAINLY WANT SWIFT DIRECTION THAN THAN 60 DAYS.
AND, AND LET'S, LET'S PUT SOME TEETH INTO IT AND LET'S, LET'S BITE 'EM.
WHILE WE ARE WAITING, I TELL YOU WHAT, UH, UM, COUNCIL MEMBER THOMAS, YOU WANNA PROCEED WITH YOUR REPORT? SURE.
LISTEN, WATER BOARDING WORKS, UH,
I'M JUST, DAMN, YOU KNOW, OH MY GOD, IT WORKS.
I'M DAMN, I'M JUST SAYING IT WORKS.
SOMETIMES YOU GOTTA TAKE THE BODY BEHIND THE CHAMBERS AND DUNK THEY HEAD REAL QUICK.
NEVERTHELESS, UH, WHILE WE'RE TALKING ABOUT PUBLIC SAFETY, AND I'M EXCITED TO FINALLY VOTE ON THIS.
COUNCIL MEMBER KOSH, I ALSO, UM, YESTERDAY APPROVED AN ADDITIONAL $15,000 IN OVERTIME TO MIDWEST BECAUSE WE'VE CREATED A, A, A SPECIFIC PLAN TO ADDRESS THE AFTER HOURS, AND THEY NEED THE FUNDING BECAUSE DRT, AS YOU KNOW, IS EIGHT TO FIVE.
SO THEY'LL BE ABLE TO CONTINUE TO SUPPORT US ON THIS WORK.
UM, BECAUSE OF THEIR ONGOING WORK, WE'VE BEEN ABLE TO CLOSE DOWN TO AND MONITOR OTHERS.
SO, UM, UH, THAT, THAT'S A STEP IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION.
AND THEN ALSO SPEAKING ABOUT, YOU KNOW, POKER CLUBS AFTER HOURS AND ALL OF THESE AREAS, I JUST WANNA HIGHLIGHT THE HARRIS COUNTY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE.
THEY ACTUALLY SETTLED WITH FOUR GAME ROOMS, UM, IN ALE, UM, WHERE THERE, THERE'S A FIVE YEAR BAN ON GAMING MACHINES, AND THEY EACH HAD TO PAY A $2,000 FINE.
AND SO I KNOW A LOT OF TIMES THAT'S A REGULATED INDUSTRY THAT DOESN'T COME BEFORE US, BUT IT'S ALL HELPFUL IN TERMS OF MANAGING PUBLIC SAFETY, UM, AND CRIMINAL ACTIVITY.
SO I JUST WANTED TO HIGHLIGHT THAT WORK THAT'S ALSO HAPPENING IN THE DISTRICT.
SO WHILE WE'RE DOING THIS HERE IN THE, UM, ORDINANCE IN THE BODY, THE COUNTY ATTORNEY'S ALSO DOING SOME THINGS, UM, AND SO FORTH.
AND SO, OH, AND JUST WANNA HIGHLIGHT, WE HAD THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT, UH, HEALTH FAIR AT THE COMMUNITY CENTER, 500 ATTENDEES.
IT WAS DE DEFINITELY NECESSARY.
AND IT JUST GOES TO SHOW THE DEEP NEED OF, OF HEALTHCARE PRIMARY CARE ACCESS.
SO I JUST WANNA THANK ALL THE, UH, VENDORS AND THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT AND DR. TRAN AND OTHERS THAT STEPPED UP TO MAKE THAT HAPPEN.
UH, MADAM SECRETARY, MADAM SECRETARY, IF YOU, IF YOU'LL, UH, CALL BACK.
ITEM NUMBER, ITEM 20, ITEM 20 IS AN ORDINANCE.
AND AGAIN, COUNCILMAN KASH, YOU'RE RE RELEASING.
I, I'M GONNA REMOVE MY TAG MAYOR, AND, AND I'M GOING TO REINSTATE THAT.
UM, YOU'VE AGREED TO, IF, IF YOU SEE, UH, IF THE CITY ATTORNEY SEES A, A FLAW SOMEWHERE IN THIS, THAT YOU'RE GONNA BRING IT BACK QUICKLY AND ALSO THAT, UM, INSTEAD OF YOUR, YOUR STATEMENT THAT YOU'RE GONNA GIVE 'EM, UH, 60 DAYS GRACE PERIOD, YOU'RE GONNA REDUCE THAT 30 DAYS.
I'M GONNA REDUCE THAT TO 30 DAYS.
NOT, NOT, INSTEAD OF 60 30 DAY GRACE PERIOD.
THANK YOU FOR REMOVING YOUR TAG.
DISCUSSION, DISCUSSION, DISCUSSION IN FAVOR, OPPOSED GRANTED ON ITEM 20.
OKAY, COUNCIL MEMBER ALCORN, JUST A QUICK NOTE OF THANKS TO, UM, MAYOR PRO TEM AND, UM, COUNCIL MEMBER POLLARD FOR THE BUDGET WORKSHOPS.
I MEAN, THEY'VE BEEN GOING SMOOTHLY.
THE DIRECTORS ARE PUTTING A LOT OF WORK, AND I LIKE THE FORMAT OF DIVIDING IT UP BY DIVISIONS.
COUNCILMAN P THANK YOU, MAYOR.
UM, TODAY I REALLY WANTED TO THANK THE LEGAL DEPARTMENT FOR THEIR WORK.
UM, WE HAVE A HOUSE IN DISTRICT A WHERE THE INDIVIDUALS WHO LIVE THERE HAVE JUST BEEN CAUSING A LOT OF ISSUES, DRUG, GUNS, CRIME, ALL KINDS OF THINGS.
UM, AND THIS HAS BEEN GOING ON FOR A LONG TIME, BUT THE LEGAL DEPARTMENT STEPPED IN AND REALLY, UM, TOOK CARE OF THIS ISSUE.
SO I WANTED TO THANK ALEX NIJA, DAMON, COURSE ARTURO FOR ALL OF THEIR WORK.
UM, HPD, PUBLIC WORKS AND HEALTH ALSO WERE INVOLVED IN THIS REALLY TOOK MANY MONTHS.
UM, A LOT OF DIFFERENT DEPARTMENTS
[04:45:01]
HAD TO WORK ON THIS.UM, AND ALSO THANK YOU TO THE CONSTITUENTS WHO LIVE IN THAT NEIGHBORHOOD AROUND THIS HOUSE BECAUSE THEY'VE BEEN, UM, WORKING ON THIS WITH US AND, UM, GETTING INFORMATION FOR US FOR MANY, MANY MONTHS.
SO I JUST WANTED TO THANK EVERYONE FOR THAT.
UM, I JUST WANTED TO THANK EVERYONE WHO PARTICIPATED IN THE BE SUCCESSFUL, UM, SECOND CHANCE JOB FAIR AND RESOURCE FAIR.
THAT HAPPENED, UM, THIS PAST WEEKEND.
UM, WE ACTUALLY HAD OVER APPROXIMATELY 300 PARTICIPANTS.
UM, 35 PEOPLE WERE HIRED ON THE SPOT.
UM, SO I WANNA THANK THE CITY OF HOUSTON, HARRIS COUNTY JUVENILE PROBATION, METRO TRANSIT AUTHORITY.
UM, YOU HAD, UM, DIVERSE RESOURCING.
CHASE BANK CAME OUT AND HELPED PEOPLE WITH THEIR RESUMES AND DID SOME MOCK INTERVIEWS.
THEY CAME OUT AND SEALED PEOPLE RECORDS AND WORKED ON EXPUNGEMENT.
SO IT WAS A REALLY GOOD EVENT.
UM, THE YOUNG MEN AND WOMEN WAS REALLY EXCITED.
AND WE, I SENT YOU SOME OF THE VIDEOS OF, OF VIDEO MAYOR OF A, UM, I SAW IT, OF, UH, OF A TESTIMONY.
AND SO IT'S JUST, WE ARE ON THE RIGHT TRACK.
AND SO I'M REALLY EXCITED ABOUT THE NEXT JOB FAIR.
AND I KNOW THAT WE NEED TO, UM, WHEN WE DO THESE JOB FAIRS, BEING SPECIFIC ABOUT SECOND CHANCE.
'CAUSE THE JOB FAIRS WE DID BEFORE, IT WAS JUST LIKE OPEN.
AND SO YOU HAD SOME MEN AND WOMEN COME IN THAT HAVE CRIMINAL RECORDS THAT DIDN'T GET A JOB, YOU KNOW, SO THIS WAS SPECIFICALLY FOR SECOND CHANCE.
SO I WAS REALLY EXCITED ABOUT THAT.
UM, ON TOMORROW WE WILL BE DOING OUR HOUSTON GROUNDBREAKING OF THE MEOW WOLF, A DESTINATION WORTHY MUSEUM.
UM, IN THE HISTORICAL FIFTH WAR, YOU KNOW, I LOVE THE MEOW WOLF.
I HAD AN OPPORTUNITY TO VISIT LAS VEGAS TO LOOK AT THEIR SITE THERE.
UM, I MEAN, AND THE GOOD THING ABOUT THIS IS LIKE, THE ARTISTS ACTUALLY CREATE THE INSTALLATION.
AND SO REALLY EXCITED ABOUT THE JOBS THAT IS GONNA BE BRINGING, AGAIN, IN FIFTH, THE HISTORICAL FIFTH WARD.
SO IF YOU'RE NOT DOING ANYTHING, COME ON OUT TOMORROW AT ONE 30, UM, 31 0 3 LOWNDES AVENUE, HOUSTON, TEXAS 7 7 0 2 0.
AND SO, AGAIN, EXCITED ABOUT THAT.
UM, THANKS TO, UM, UM, VICE MAYOR, PRO TEM, UM, OUR ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT TEAM, EVERYONE WHO WORKED TO MAKE THIS HAPPEN, REALLY LOOKING FORWARD TO THIS, UM, INITIATIVE.
AND SO IF YOU WANT TO GET THE BUZZ, OUR WEEKLY, WEEKLY NEWSLETTER, UM, CONTACT OUR OFFICE AT 8 3 2 3 9 3 3 0 0 9.
UM, IN ADDITION TO, UH, RECOGNIZING THE ANNIVERSARY OF UVALDE, UH, THIS EVENING, I DID WANNA LET RESIDENTS KNOW THAT, UH, FINALLY, UH, WE, I'VE BEEN WORKING ON THIS SINCE COMING INTO OFFICE.
UH, THE WOW ROUNDABOUT AND THE BLOSSOM WESCOTT INTERSECTION.
OUR, UH, CONSTRUCTION IS ABOUT TO START.
SO WE CONTRIBUTED OVER A HUNDRED THOUSAND DOLLARS IN DISTRICT SERVICE FUNDS PLUS LANE MILES FOR A WHILE.
UH, AND THEN ALSO WE HAD THIS EXTRAORDINARY, UH, NEIGHBORHOOD INPUT PROCESS TO DO A SAFE CROSSING AT BLOSSOM, WHICH IS THE MAIN CROSSING THAT EVERYONE USES IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD TO GET TO MEMORIAL PARK.
UM, FOLKS CAN REACH OUT TO OUR OFFICE OR CHECK SOCIAL MEDIA, BUT CONSTRUCTION IS GOING TO START ON JUNE 1ST AND END BY JUNE 30TH.
THERE WILL BE SOME TIMES WHEN THE ENTIRE ROUNDABOUT IS SHUT DOWN.
UH, SO WANNA MAKE SURE RESIDENTS ARE AWARE OF THAT.
BUT AGAIN, BETWEEN WOW AND BLOSSOM, UH, WE'VE CONTRIBUTED OVER $150,000 TO THIS EFFORT.
UH, I'M GONNA GET IN TROUBLE AND SHE JUST STEPPED OUT.
BUT I DO WANNA WISH MARTA A VERY HAPPY BIRTHDAY.
SHE DOES NOT LIKE, IT'LL BE ON THURSDAY, AND SHE DOES NOT LIKE ANYONE DISCUSSING IT.
AND THEN MAYOR, UM, SEVERAL FOLKS ON YOUR TEAM ARE GETTING SOME ADDITIONAL RECOGNITIONS FROM THE PRESIDENT'S OFFICE.
UM, I THINK BOTH JEFF TAC AND MAZDA, UH, ARE RECEIVING THE PRESIDENTIAL VOLUNTEER SERVICE AWARD.
SO BIG CONGRATULATIONS TO THEM.
AND SAMMY COLLEAGUE, ANOTHER FRIEND, UH, WHO ARE GETTING THAT, THAT'S ALL FOR ME.
UM, JUST WANNA REMIND, UH, EVERYONE THAT THIS FRIDAY, MAY 26TH AT 11:00 AM WE'LL HAVE THE UNVEILING OF THE HOUSTON VIETNAM VETERANS MEMORIAL.
WE'LL BE AT THE CLUB CREEK PARK, WHICH IS AT 9 6 8 0 CLUB CREEK.
UH, WE'RE EXPECTING A LARGE TURNOUT MAYOR, UH, EXCITED THAT, UM, THE STATE, UH, PUT OUT THE, UH, SIGN OFF THE FREEWAY THAT SAYS HOUSTON, VIETNAM VETERANS MEMORIAL PARK WITH THE, WITH THE, UH, WITH THE ARROW LEADING DOWN CLUB CREEK.
UM, THIS HAS BEEN SOMETHING THAT MY OFFICE HAS WORKED ON FOR THE LAST THREE YEARS IN CONJUNCTION WITH THE TURS 20, UM, WITH THE HOUSTON PARKS DEPARTMENT.
AND, UH, NOW THE OFFICE OF SPECIAL EVENTS HAS REALLY STEPPED UP TO MAKE THIS, UH, A GRAND CELEBRATION FOR THOSE VIETNAM VETERANS.
[04:50:01]
TO THAT.AND, AND WE'LL BE SENDING, UH, INVITES AGAIN OUT TO ALL OF THE OFFICES.
UM, SECOND MAYOR, JUST WANT TO THANK YOU FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP, UH, IN COLLABORATION WITH HPD ON THE RESOURCES THAT WE'RE PUTTING ON BINET, UH, BETWEEN 59 AND BELTWAY EIGHT.
UH, THERE'S BEEN A LOT OF ATTENTION LATELY ON, UM, A HOLISTIC STRATEGY THAT WE'RE FOCUSED ON THAT AREA, TRYING TO CURB CRIME, ADDRESS PROSTITUTION, AND, UM, AT NIGHTTIME, UH, WE'RE BLOCKING OFF THE SIDE STREETS, HAVING HPD PRESENCE THERE WITH BARRICADES SO THAT PEOPLE CAN'T GET INTO THE NEIGHBORHOODS TO DO ILLEGAL ACTIVITY.
UH, WHAT WE'VE BEEN HEARING FROM THE BUSINESS OWNERS AND THE RESIDENTS OF THE AREA IS THAT, UH, THEY'VE SEEN IMMEDIATE IMPACT FROM THAT STRATEGY, AND THAT THERE'S BEEN A SIGNIFICANT DECREASE IN PROSTITUTION AND, AND VISIBLE, UH, CRIMINAL ACTIVITY ON BINET.
UH, THAT'S JUST ONE SMALL SLICE OF THE PIE.
IT'S NOT SOMETHING THAT, UH, WE WANT TO JUST HANG OUR HAT ON JUST ONE THING.
BUT IT IS ONE THING THAT RIGHT NOW IS WORKING AND LOOK FORWARD TO CONTINUING TO WORK WITH HPD AND ALL OF OUR STATE AND FEDERAL AGENCIES, NONPROFITS, FAITH-BASED INSTITUTIONS, AND COMMUNITY LEADERS ON CONTINUING TO ADDRESS THAT PARTICULAR ISSUE ON THAT PARTICULAR CORRIDOR, BECAUSE THE RESIDENTS DESERVE BETTER.
THE, THE CHURCHES AND THE SCHOOLS DESERVE BETTER, AND WE WANT TO BRING A SENSE OF DECENCY AND DECORUM, UH, THAT THEY DESERVE, UH, IN THAT NEIGHBORHOOD.
I JUST WANNA RECAP LAST WEEK, I'M STILL EXCITED ABOUT THE HOUSTON AREA WOMEN'S CENTER, GROUNDBREAKING.
I WANT TO, AGAIN, THANK YOU MAYOR COUNCIL MEMBER CAYMAN, COUNCIL MEMBER ALCORN AND PLUMBER FOR JOINING US FOR THAT WONDERFUL OPPORTUNITY FOR A SAFE HAVEN FOR, UM, SURVIVORS OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE.
ALSO, I WANT TO SAY THAT ON THURSDAY, IT WAS VERY EXCITING TO HAVE THE RIBBON CUTTING FOR THE CITADEL.
AND ELGIN, THANK YOU AGAIN, MAYOR, FOR JOINING US.
UH, CERTAINLY GONNA PROVIDE, UH, AFFORDABLE SPACES FOR THOSE 55 AND OLDER, AND IT'S A BEAUTIFUL EDIFICE AND JUST REALLY, REALLY EXCITED ABOUT THAT.
ALSO, THANK YOU TO YOUNG ELEMENTARY SCHOOL FOR THEIR WONDERFUL HEALTH FAIR, BECAUSE WE DO WANNA KEEP OUR COMMUNITIES HEALTHY, AND WE THANK THEM FOR THEIR ENDEAVORS.
UM, ALSO THE ION ACTIVATION, UH, FESTIVAL WAS THIS WEEKEND, AND WE ARE VERY THANKFUL FOR THAT INNOVATIVE, UH, OPPORTUNITY ALSO.
UM, THIS AND, AND THANK YOU TO COMMISSIONER, UH, ELLIS AND PRECINCT ONE FOR THEIR ENGAGEMENTS IN THE SUNNYSIDE COMMUNITY.
IT'S GONNA TAKE A PARTNERSHIP.
THAT'S ENOUGH TO THANK THE COMMISSIONER ON THAT.
MAYOR, YOU OKAY? YOU OKAY? ALRIGHT.
I, I GIVE CREDIT WHERE CREDIT IS DUE.
ANYWAY, I WANNA INVITE ALL OF MY COLLEAGUES TO A WONDERFUL UPCOMING EVENT.
UH, IT'S THE THREE YEAR COMMEMORATION OF THE MURDER OF GEORGE FLOYD.
UH, THERE WILL BE A, THE MAKING OF GEORGE, A FILM SCREENING AND DISCUSSION AT THE EMANCIPATION PARK 30 18 EMANCIPATION AVENUE.
UH, PLEASE COME OUT AND JOIN US.
THERE WILL BE A RECEPTION FROM SIX TO SIX 30, AND THE ACTUAL FILM SCREENING WILL START AT SIX 30.
AND SO PLEASE COME AND JOIN US.
THAT CAN, AND HAPPY MEMORIAL DAY TO EVERYONE.
AND MAYOR, HOPEFULLY YOU CAN MAKE IT BY THERE.
I DID SEND YOU A SPECIAL INVITATION.
AND SO THAT CONCLUDES WHAT'S GOING ON IN THE DISTRICT OF DESTINATION.
I'M GOING TO PASS ON YOUR REMARKS TO COMMISSIONER ELLIS
REAL QUICK, UH, I WANT TO GIVE A SHOUT OUT TO ATTORNEY IER AND MS. LACEY, UM, WHO ARE IN THE AUDIENCE RIGHT NOW.
UM, WHEN IT CAME TO THE PASSION THAT YOU HEARD FROM US WHEN IT CAME TO THE BYOB ORDINANCE, UM, THAT'S BASED ON A LOT OF THE EFFORTS WE KNOW THAT THEY PUT FORWARD TOO IN THE WHOLE LEGAL DEPARTMENT WHEN WE CAME TO THEM.
SO WE'VE HAD MANY DISCUSSIONS ON HOW TO IMPLEMENT THIS, WHAT THE LANGUAGE SHOULD BE.
UH, YOU KNOW, SOMETIMES WE AGREE, SOMETIMES WE DISAGREE, BUT WE CONTINUE TO KEEP OUR EYE ON THE TARGET OF ADDRESSING THESE, THESE AFTER HOURS PLACES.
AND THEY DID A TREMENDOUS JOB OF RESEARCH AND, AND DILIGENTLY LOOKING INTO THE ISSUE,
[04:55:01]
UM, AND BRINGING FORTH SOMETHING THAT I THINK, UH, WILL MAKE REAL IMPACT WITHIN THIS CITY.SO I WANT TO GIVE THEM CREDIT, UH, WHERE CREDIT IS DUE.
THANK YOU ALL FOR YOUR WORK AND THOSE WHO AREN'T IN THE CHAMBERS THAT HELPED YOU ALL WITHIN THE LEGAL DEPARTMENT.
UM, I THINK THAT BRINGS US, UH, TO THE END, UH, DO WANT TO SAY HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO MA, YOU KNOW, UM, YEAH, HAPPY BIRTH, HAPPY BIRTHDAY.
YOU KNOW, SO REALLY ENJOY YOUR DAY.
AND SHE'LL BE AT THE ME OFF MEOW WOLF MEAL TOMORROW.
UH, ALRIGHT, PUT IN THE CAMERA.
TODAY WAS, TODAY WAS A PRODUCTIVE DAY.
AND, UM, AND THEN OF COURSE, BEAR IN MIND, MONDAY IS MEMORIAL DAY.
SO NEXT WE WILL BE CONSOLIDATED.
YES, WE WON'T BE MEETING ON TUESDAY.
UM, AND THEN HAVING SAID THAT, TODAY WE'RE GOING TO ADUR ADJOURN IN MEMORY OF, UM, THE 19 KIDS AND THE TWO TEACHERS WHO LOST THEIR LIVES.
UM, AND THANK AND BEING, KEEPING THE FAMILIES IN OUR THOUGHTS, YOU KNOW, AND PRAYERS.
AND QUITE FRANKLY, UM, LET'S ALWAYS REMEMBER, UM, THESE, THESE KIDS.
OKAY? WE JOIN ADJOINING MEMORY OF THE YDI VICTIMS.