[Press Conference: "Beat the Heat Centers and Portable A/C Units"]
[00:00:19]
LOOK, IT'S GOOD TO BE AT DENVER HARBOR.ONE MORE TIME, THE MULTI SERVICE CENTER.
AND LEMME SAY GOOD MORNING TO EVERYBODY AND THANK YOU ALL FOR JOINING US, UH, FOR THE 18TH ANNUAL BEAT, THE HEAT PRESS CONFERENCE.
THIS IS OUR 18TH TIME, AND THIS YEAR, UH, WE MOVED THE PRESS CONFERENCE, UH, OUT OF THE CITY HALL AND INTO THE CITY OF HOUSTON'S DENVER HARBOR MULTI-SERVICE CENTER.
IN FACT, WE'VE BEEN HERE BEFORE.
YEAH, FOR BEFORE BEAT THE HEAT.
SO IT'S GOOD TO BE BACK RIGHT HERE AGAIN.
UH, YOU'RE GONNA BE HEARING FROM A NUMBER OF PEOPLE, UH, HERE THIS MORNING TO, TO SPEAK TO YOU.
UH, UH, YOUR CITY COUNCIL PERSON, CARLOS CISNEROS IS RIGHT HERE AS WELL.
UH, YOU'RE GONNA BE HEARING FROM, UH, YOUR ACCOUNTING COMMISSIONER PRECINCT TWO, COMMISSIONER ADRIAN GARCIA, BILL CLAYTON, WHO IS THE VICE PRESIDENT OF RELIANT.
YOU'RE GONNA BE HEARING FROM HIM.
AND DEBORAH MOORE, THE ASSISTANT DIRECTOR OF HUMAN SERVICES, DIVISION OF HOUSTON HEALTH DEPARTMENT.
AND THEN, LOOK, I GOTTA GO BACK AGAIN 'CAUSE WE DIDN'T CLAP FOR COUNCIL MEMBER.
GIVE IT UP TO YOUR COUNCIL MEMBER RIGHT HERE,
AND THEN, THOUGH HE'S NOT SITTING UP HERE, UH, THE CITY'S LEGAL, UH, HOW DO YOU CALL IT? CITY ATTORNEY COUNCIL, THE BIG LAWYER AT THE CITY OF HOUSTON, ARTURO MICHELLE, RIGHT THERE.
SO, LOOK, THANK YOU, UH, TO THE HOUSTON HEALTH DEPARTMENT AND THE MAYOR'S OFFICE, ESPECIALLY EVENTS FOR THEIR HELP IN GETTING THIS EVENT OFF THE GROUND.
UM, I CERTAINLY WANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE ALL OF THE ELECTED OFFICIALS AND THOSE REPRESENTING, UH, OTHER ELECTED OFFICIALS.
I THINK WE HAVE A REPRESENTATIVE HERE FROM STATE REPRESENTATIVE ANNA HERNANDEZ.
IS THAT CORRECT? RIGHT OVER THERE.
LET HER KNOW WE SAID HELLO, UH, TO HER.
UH, AND THIS YEAR WE ARE ALSO JOINED, UH, OF COURSE BY RELIANT AND OTHER PARTNERS.
UH, LOOK, UH, IT IS, IT'S HOT TODAY.
UM, BUT IT'S GONNA GET HOTTER.
AND, UH, IT IS KIND OF IRONIC THIS PRESS CONFERENCE IS COMING RIGHT IN TIME BECAUSE TOWARDS THE END OF THIS WEEK, UH, THE TEMPERATURE IS GONNA BE LIKE 98, 99, A HUNDRED.
AND WHICH MEANS THAT IF YOU OUTSIDE, IT'S GONNA FEEL LIKE 105 AND IN SOME CASES, EVEN HOTTER THAN THAT.
SO, UH, WE ARE DOING THIS PRESS CONFERENCE, UH, RIGHT AT, AT, AT A, AT A VERY GOOD TIME.
WE ARE STILL TECHNICALLY A WEEK AND A HALF FROM THE OFFICIAL START OF SUMMER, BUT HOUSTON IS ALREADY EXPERIENCING TEMPERATURES HIGHER THAN EVER.
UH, AND TODAY'S FORECAST, OF COURSE, IS LIKE 98 DEGREES.
AND THAT'S WHY WE ARE SO THANKFUL WE ARE GATHERED INDOORS TODAY AND HAVE CENTRAL AIR CONDITIONING BECAUSE SADLY, MANY OF OUR NEIGHBORS DON'T.
WHICH IS WHY THIS EVENT AND PARTNERSHIP BETWEEN THE CITY OF HOUSTON, RELIANT AND HARRIS COUNTY PRECINCT TOO, ARE SO IMPORTANT IN HELPING HOUSTON RESIDENTS STAY COOL DURING THE SUMMER.
WE WANT YOU TO STAY COOL, AND WE DON'T WANT YOU TO, UM, BE AT HOME IN THE HEAT AND THEN JUST FANNING, BECAUSE IF YOU ARE AT HOME IN THE HEAT AND YOU'RE FANNING, ALL YOU'RE DOING IS FANNING THAT HOT AIR.
OKAY? UM, IT IS THROUGH THESE PARTNERSHIPS THAT THE HOUSTON HEALTH DEPARTMENT WAS ABLE TO PURCHASE 350 PORTABLE AIR CONDITIONING UNITS.
LOOK THANKS TO 20,000 FROM THE HARRIS COUNTY AREA AGENT ON AGING.
AND YEAH, GIVE IT UP TO DEBORAH.
AND $75,000 COMING FROM RELIANCE.
SO GIVE IT UP AGAIN TO RELIANCE.
WE ARE THANKFUL FOR RELIANCE, CONTINUED GENEROSITY AND PARTNERSHIP FOR THE BEAT THE HEAT PROGRAM.
I THINK I'VE BEEN WITH RELYING ON THIS BEAT THE HEAT PROGRAM ALMOST EVERY SINGLE YEAR.
I DON'T KNOW IF I MISSED ONE YET.
[00:05:01]
THIS DONATION HELPS THE HOUSTON HEALTH DEPARTMENT'S AREA AGING AGENCY ON AGING, CONTINUING TO OFFER PORTABLE AIR CONDITIONING CONDITIONERS TO QUALIFYING INDIVIDUALS.AND LOOK, AND IF YOU GREW UP LIKE I DID, UH, WITH NO AIR CONDITION, NO CENTRAL AIR, AND THE ONLY THING THAT WE HAD AT THE TURNER HOUSEHOLD WAS AN ADDICT FAN.
UM, AND QUITE FRANKLY, YOU KNOW, THAT'S, YOU KNOW, IT WORKED A LITTLE BIT, BUT NOT A WHOLE LOT.
AND THEN, UH, AND THEN, AND THEN WE SLEPT WITH OUR HEADS IN THE, IN THE WINDOW BECAUSE BACK THEN WE HAD SCREENS.
AND THAT'S HOW, THAT'S HOW WE MADE IT.
UM, AND I, I KIND OF LOOK BACK AND WONDER JUST HOW WE DID IT, UH, BACK THEN, UH, BECAUSE THERE WAS TWO BEDROOMS. ONE, UM, BATHROOM, A SMALL KITCHEN LIVING ROOM, AND 11 FOLK IN THE HOUSE ALL AT THE SAME TIME.
BUT WE MADE IT WORK, OKAY? BUT AT THE SAME TIME, A LOT OF PEOPLE, UH, GOT SICK BEING IN THAT HEAT.
AND THEN ALSO, WHAT ENDS UP HAPPENING, PEOPLE ARE CONCERNED ABOUT THE ELECTRICITY BILL.
SO EVEN IF THEY HAVE AIR CONDITION, A LOT OF SENIORS DON'T TURN ON THAT AIR CONDITIONING BECAUSE THEY'RE CONCERNED ABOUT THE, THE HIGH ELECTRICITY BILL.
AND SO I WANT TO, I WANT TO ENCOURAGE YOU THIS MORNING, IF YOU HAVE THE AIR CONDITIONING AND WHEN THE TEMPERATURES GET UP LIKE THEY ARE NOW, AND GET HOTTER DURING THE WEEK, TURN ON YOUR AIR, TURN ON THE AIR, AND WE'LL, WE'LL TRY TO WORK EVERYTHING ELSE OUT, OKAY? BUT DON'T, DON'T BE LIVING, DON'T BE STAYING IN YOUR HOME AND ALL THAT HEAT IF YOUR AIR CONDITIONING IS WORKING.
NOW, IF YOU DON'T HAVE AIR CONDITIONING, IF YOU DON'T HAVE AIR CONDITION, THEN WE ARE DOING EVERYTHING THAT WE CAN TO TRY TO GET YOU ONE.
AND THERE ARE 350 OF THESE PORTABLE AIR CONDITIONS.
EVEN IF YOU CAN COOL ONE ROOM, IT'S BETTER THAN NO ROOM BEING COOLED AT ALL.
OKAY? SO, UM, SO THAT'S WHY I REALLY WANT TO GIVE A HUGE THANK YOU TO RELIANT BILL, UH, FOR, UH, THE WORK THAT IT IS DOING.
I WANT TO GIVE, UH, THE AREA AGENCY ON AGING, DEBORAH HEALTH DEPARTMENT.
I WANT TO THANK YOU ALL QUITE A BIT.
UH, COMMISSIONER THE COMMISSIONER HAS MADE THIS A TOP PROGRAM PRIORITY FOR HIM.
SO I WANT TO THANK COMMISSIONER ADRIAN GARCIA AND PRECINCT TWO YEAH.
AND I WANT TO THANK COUNCIL MEMBER CARLOS CIRO.
SHE'S BEEN WITH ME EVERY SINGLE TIME ON THIS EVENT.
AND I KNOW WHEN IT COMES TO OUR SENIORS, SHE'S VERY PASSIONATE ABOUT MAKING SURE THAT THEY HAVE WHAT THEY NEED AND HER CONTRIBUTION.
SO, THANK YOU, COUNCIL MEMBER CARER CISNEROS.
OKAY, LET ME, FIRST, LET ME, LET ME FIRST CALL UP, UH, BILL, UH, REPRESENTING RELIANT, AND THEN HE'LL BE FOLLOWED BY, UH, COMMISSIONER, UH, ADRIAN GARCIA.
SO, UH, BILL CLAYTON FROM RELIANT, GIVE HIM A STRONG HAND.
I JUST WANT TO THANK EVERYBODY, UH, FOR SHOWING UP HERE TODAY.
UH, MAYOR TURNER, UH, COMMISSIONER GARCIA, COUNCILWOMAN CISNEROS, UH, MS. MOORE, I, I JUST WANT TO THANK YOU FOR THE PARTNERSHIP THAT WE HAVE WITH YOU.
AND, AND I CLEARLY THINK THAT THIS IS A CASE STUDY IN TERMS OF HOW BUSINESSES, LOCAL GOVERNMENT, AND NONPROFIT COME TOGETHER TO TAKE CARE OF THE MOST VULNERABLE.
UH, I'VE BEEN WITH, UH, NRG RELIANT FOR, THIS WOULD BE MY 32ND SUMMER.
I WAS GONNA TRANSLATE THAT INTO DOG EARS, BUT I COULDN'T DO IT QUICK ENOUGH 'CAUSE IT SOUNDS BETTER.
AND EVERY SINGLE SUMMER IS DIFFERENT.
UH, BUT THE KEY IS COMMUNICATION, COMMUNICATION, COMMUNICATION, WHICH WE WILL GET INTO, UH, JUST A LITTLE BIT.
I, I'M PROUD TO SAY THAT, UH, RELIANT CARES DEEPLY ABOUT THE COMMUNITY.
WHEN YOU LOOK AT SOME OF OUR CORE VALUES AT NRG, SAFETY AND WELLBEING ARE OUR NUMBER ONE COMMITMENTS.
AS A MATTER OF FACT, EVERY SINGLE LEADERSHIP MEETING THAT STARTED AT NRG OR RELIANT HAS STARTED WITH SAFETY AND WELLBEING, I THINK AND BELIEVE WHOLEHEARTEDLY THAT THERE'S A DIRECT CORRELATION BETWEEN US GIVING AND, AND GIVING TO THE MOST VULNERABLE.
AND THAT'S ONE OF THE REASONS WHY I'VE STAYED WITH RELIANT FOR SO LONG.
WE CARE DEEPLY ABOUT THE COMMUNITY UNDER WHICH WE SERVE.
THE MAYOR MENTIONED IT, THE HEAT WAVE IS HERE NOW, EVEN THOUGH SUMMER STARTS IN ABOUT NINE DAYS.
[00:10:01]
OUT THIS WEEKEND OR EVEN THIS MORNING, WE FEEL IT.WE FEEL THE HEAT AND HUMIDITY THAT WE'VE COME TO KNOW, AND IT DOES NOT DISCRIMINATE.
AND WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE DIFFERENT PROGRAMS THAT WE'RE PUTTING TOGETHER TO REALLY PROVIDE A SAFEGUARD FOR OUR COMMUNITIES AND OUR CUSTOMERS, I THINK THAT ALL OF US, WITHOUT QUESTION, WILL BE ABLE TO BENEFIT FROM THIS.
THE FIRST THING IS, TODAY WE ARE OPENING UP 22 BEAT THE HEAT CENTERS ACROSS HOUSTON.
I WANT TO THANK THE CITY, UH, FOR GIVING US THESE FACILITIES.
IT IS OPEN TO EVERY SINGLE CUSTOMER.
YOU DO NOT HAVE TO BE A RELIANT CUSTOMER IN ORDER TO BENEFIT.
PLEASE COME AND, AND GET AWAY FROM YOUR HOME WHILE YOU, IF YOU LEAVE YOUR HOME.
HERE'S A COUPLE THINGS THAT WE RECOMMEND.
IF YOU'RE GONNA LEAVE YOUR HOME FOR MORE THAN FOUR HOURS, IT'LL GIVE YOUR AIR CONDITIONING A LITTLE BIT, BIT OF A BREAK.
IT'LL ALSO GIVE YOUR POCKETBOOK A LITTLE BIT OF BREAK.
THE OTHER THING TOO, THERE WILL BE REFRESHMENTS AS WELL AS OTHER ACTIVITIES AT THE BEAT THE HEAT CENTER.
SO PLEASE, PLEASE LEVERAGE THEM.
THEY'RE OPEN ALL THE WAY THROUGH SEPTEMBER OF THIS YEAR, AND WE WANT TO SEE YOU THERE.
IN ADDITION, I TALKED A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THE POWER OF NONPROFIT.
WE'RE PROVIDING $20,000 TO PRECINCT TOGETHER, WHICH IS, UH, UH, COMMISSIONER GARCIA'S, UH, IT'S YOUR NONPROFIT ARM.
JUST WANT TO THANK YOU FOR ALL THE GREAT WORK THAT YOU'RE DOING THERE.
WE'RE ALSO GIVING $55,000 TO MS. MOORE IN THE CITY HEALTH DEPARTMENT, REALLY TO HELP FUND AND, AND PROVIDE THESE PORTABLE AIR CONDITIONING UNITS.
IN ADDITION, AND THIS IS EXTREMELY IMPORTANT FOR THE RELIANT CUSTOMERS OUT THERE.
WE'RE ALSO GOING TO BE CONTRIBUTING A MILLION DOLLARS THROUGHOUT THE STATE OF TEXAS FOR CARE FUNDING.
WHAT CARE STANDS, WHAT, WHAT CARE STANDS FOR COMMUNITY ASSISTANCE FROM RELIANT ENERGY.
IT'S DIRECT BILL PAYMENT, UH, ASSISTANCE DIRECTLY TO OUR CUSTOMERS TO SUPPORT THEM THROUGH THESE CHALLENGING TIMES, ESPECIALLY THIS SUMMER.
HERE'S KEY IN TERMS OF HOW DO I GO ABOUT GETTING THOSE OR INQUIRING ABOUT THOSE FUNDS.
JUST DOLL 2 1 1, DOLL 2 1 1, AND ASK FOR CARE FUNDINGS.
OR YOU CAN GO TO 2 1 1 TEXAS.ORG.
THEY HAVE A GREAT ONLINE FACILITY AS WELL, WHERE YOU CAN JUST PLUG IN YOUR ZIP CODE AND FIND OUT THE DIFFERENT SOCIAL SERVICE AGENCIES THAT'LL PRO PROVIDE THOSE FUNDS.
AND THEN WHEN IN DOUBT, IF YOU NEED HELP FROM RELIANCE, I CAN TELL YOU THAT'S THE, MY DAY JOB IS RUNNING ALL OF OUR CUSTOMER CARE OPERATIONS.
AND WHEN I LOOK AT OUR EXPERIENCE FOUNDATIONS, IT'S BASED UPON THREE WORDS, WARMTH, EMPATHY, AND COMPASSION.
OUR AGENTS ARE DESIGNED TO HELP YOU, BUT WE HAVE TO HEAR FROM YOU.
THERE'S A NUMBER OF DIFFERENT WAYS TO CONTACT US.
YOU CAN CALL 8 7 7 2 2 2 7100, OR WE CAN MAKE IT SIMPLE.
8 6 6, RELIANT EITHER ONE OF THOSE 800 NUMBERS.
WE'LL GET YOU DIRECTLY TO ONE OF OUR CUSTOMER CARE REPRESENTATIVES.
OR YOU CAN ALSO TRY OUR APP, OR ALSO YOU CAN CHAT.
WE CREATE A NUMBER OF DIFFERENT CHANNELS BY WHICH TO INTERACT WITH US.
OUR REQUEST IS CONTACT US EARLY.
THE EARLIER THAT YOU CONTACT US, THE MORE OPTIONS WE CAN HAVE FROM EVERYTHING FROM BILL EXTENSIONS TO AVERAGE MONTHLY BILLING.
OUR GOAL IS CUSTOMER HELP, AND WE WANT TO HELP YOU.
EACH CUSTOMER IS UNIQUE IN TERMS OF, OF THE NEEDS THAT THEY HAVE.
AND, UH, OUR AGENTS ARE THERE AND ABLE TO ASSIST YOU.
I WANT TO THANK AGAIN, THIS TRIFECTA THAT WE HAVE BETWEEN LOCAL GOVERNMENT, BUSINESS, AND NONPROFIT, MAKING A STAND FOR EACH AND EVERY ONE OF YOU.
I JUST WISH YOU A SAFE AND, UH, HEALTHY SUMMER.
AND IF YOU NEED ANYTHING FROM RELIANT, WE'RE HERE 24 7 FOR YOU.
AND DO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF, UH, CARES.
YOU KNOW, CALL IN BILLS GET TOO HIGH.
LET ME NOW BRING UP COMMISSIONER ADRIAN GARCIA, PRECINCT TWO.
MR. CLAYTON, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER SNE.
MS. MOORE, UH, THANK YOU SO MUCH.
IT IS EXCITING TO BE, UH, IN DENVER HARBOR.
UH, RIGHT, COME ON, DENVER HARBOR, LET'S HEAR YOU.
BUT BEFORE I, UH, MAKE MY REMARKS IN REGARDS TO BEAT THE HEAT, WE HAVE SOME, UH, SPECIAL PEOPLE IN THE CROWD.
I MEAN, ALL OF Y'ALL ARE SPECIAL, UH, BUT LET ME JUST SAY, UH, A HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO, UH, MS. MOORE.
UH, I MEAN, MS. HARRIS, MS. HARRIS
[00:15:01]
WILL BE TURNING 90 IN TWO WEEKS.AND THEN WE HAVE SITA AND ADELA WHO ARE ALSO CELEBRATING THEIR BIRTHDAYS.
UH, SO I AM SO EXCITED TO BE HERE AND GOOD MORNING TO EVERYBODY.
AND WE KNOW THAT HOUSTON SUMMERS CAN BE TOUGH.
UH, BUT THAT'S WHY, UH, PROVIDING, UH, THESE, UH, AIR CONDITIONING UNITS THAT YOU SEE RIGHT HERE ARE SO CRITICAL.
AND AGAIN, I WANNA THANK RELIANT, UH, FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP, FOR YOUR COLLABORATION.
UH, BECAUSE WITHOUT RELIANCE HELP, IT WOULD BE VERY HARD, UH, TO MAKE SURE THAT WE CAN GET OUT A HUNDRED, UH, AC UNITS IN THE PRECINCT TWO AREA ALONE, UH, COST OF THESE UNITS.
I WAS JUST TALKING TO MR. CLAYTON THAT THE COST OF THESE UNITS HAS GONE UP BECAUSE OF INFLATION.
UH, SO WE'RE HAVING TO FIND MORE MONEY, UH, TO TRY TO MAKE THIS HAPPEN.
UH, SO IT IS SO CRITICAL THAT THIS PARTNERSHIP, UH, WITH RELIANT, UH, CONTINUES TO HAPPEN AND TO WORK.
BUT MAYOR TURNER, LET ME JUST SAY, WE WERE JUST TALKING, YOU WERE TAKING ME BACK WITH ALL THAT DESCRIPTION OF HOW TO WORK THROUGH THE SUMMER, UH, WHEN WE WERE KIDS.
UH, AND YOU JUST REMIND ME, WE HAD ONE OF THEM ATTIC FANS TOO, THAT WHEN YOU TURNED IT ON, YOU HEAR IT ALL SUCK UP.
YOU HAD TO GO RUN AND OPEN UP ALL THE WINDOWS, UH, TO GET THAT AIR CIRCULATING.
BUT I HAD ONE OTHER TRICK THAT I WOULD USE, AND THAT WAS WHEN IT REALLY, REALLY GOT HOT.
SINCE WE HAD WOODEN FLOORS, I WOULD JUST SLEEP ON THE FLOOR.
'CAUSE THE WOOD WAS KIND OF COOL, RIGHT? UH, SO WE JUST FIGURED IT OUT.
WE JUST FIGURED OUT HOW TO MAKE IT, HOW TO MAKE IT WORK.
UH, BUT IT, IT WAS, SO THOSE MEMORIES ARE SO, UH, BEAUTIFUL TO REMEMBER BECAUSE PORCH, YEAH, AND THE PORCH SLEEPING ON THE PORCH, THAT'S ANOTHER ONE.
UH, BUT AS YOUR MOTHER USED TO SAY, UH, OUR TOMORROW WILL BE BETTER THAN OUR TODAY, AND OUR TOMORROW WILL BE BETTER THAN OUR TODAY BECAUSE OF THE SUPPORT OF RELIANT, BECAUSE OF THE CITY'S COMMITMENT, LONGTIME COMMITMENT, UH, TO BEATING THE HEAT.
AND I AM SO PROUD THAT PRECINCT TWO IS CELEBRATING FOUR YEARS NOW AS A ACTIVE PARTICIPANT IN THE BEAT THE HEAT PROGRAM.
UH, SO VERY, VERY EXCITED ABOUT THAT.
AND SIMILARLY, IT'S NOT JUST ABOUT THE AIR CONDITIONING UNITS, BUT ENSURING, OH, AND I ACTUALLY, BEFORE I FORGET, I WANNA RECOGNIZE MY PRECINCT TWO TEAM.
WILL YOU GUYS PLEASE WAVE YOUR HANDS? COME ON.
DON'T BE DON'T BE SHY BACK HERE, SANDRA.
YES, BECAUSE THEY MAKE THIS HAPPEN.
TEKO UH, HOUSEMAN RUNS ALL OF OUR COMMUNITY CENTERS IN PRECINCT TWO.
AND SO WE WILL BE PROVIDING, UH, THAT OUR, UH, 10, UH, AIR CONDITIONING, UH, OUR AIR CONDITIONED COMMUNITY CENTERS WILL BE OPEN, UH, MONDAY AND WEDNESDAYS FROM EIGHT TO FIVE, TUESDAYS AND THURSDAYS FROM EIGHT TO 9:00 PM AND FRIDAYS FROM 8:00 AM TO NOON.
AND THIS WILL ALLOW ANYONE WHO, YOU KNOW, JUST CAN'T BEAR THE HEAT AT HOME, COME OVER.
WE'LL HAVE, UH, THINGS FOR YOU TO DO ACTIVITIES, UH, SOME REFRESHMENTS, UH, BUT WE'LL BE MAKING YOU FEEL AT HOME.
AND IF IT'S NOT HOT, HOT ENOUGH OUTSIDE, THEN WE'LL ALSO HAVE ZUMBA CLASSES TO MAKE YOU SWEAT A LITTLE BIT MORE, UH, SO YOU CAN PARTICIPATE IN THAT.
BUT JUST VISIT OUR, OUR WEBSITE AT HC P NUMBER TWO.COM, OR JUST CALL US AT (713) 274-2222.
AND THEN AGAIN, IN JUST CLOSING, I JUST WANT TO REMIND EVERYONE TO LOOK OUT FOR EACH OTHER.
CHECK ON YOUR NEIGHBORS, CHECK ON YOUR FAMILY, CHECK ON THOSE, UH, IN OUR, IN OUR, UH, IN OUR OWN COMMUNITY AND FAMILY THAT ARE UP IN AGE CHECK TO MAKE SURE THAT EVERYBODY IS DOING WELL.
UH, KNOCK ON THEIR DOOR IF YOU DON'T HEAR FROM THEM.
BUT LET'S MAKE SURE TO BE A GOOD NEIGHBOR TO EACH OTHER, UH, FOR, ESPECIALLY FOR THOSE, UH, UP IN AGE SO THAT WE CAN, UH, BE SURE TO BE TAKING CARE OF EVERYBODY THROUGH THE SUMMER.
UM,
LET'S GIVE IT UP FOR RELIANT SYLVESTER TURNER.
[00:20:03]
ROSITA MOORE, EL BILL CLAYTON, THE RELIANT.THEY, THEY, THEY WERE RESPONDING TO YOUR MAMA COM.
LEMME THANK THE, UH, LEMME THANK THE COMMISSIONER.
I WAS, I WAS GOING TO DO THAT IN, IN SPANISH.
UH, SO, UM, HE JUST, UH, SO SINCE HE'S, HE DID IT, I, AND HE, HE COVERED ALMOST EVERYTHING I WOULD'VE SAID
UM, NOW LET ME BRING ON DEBORAH MOORE, THE ASSISTANT DIRECTOR FOR THE, UM, UH, HEALTH SERVICES DIVISION OF THE HOUSTON HEALTH DEPARTMENT.
AND THANK YOU ONCE MORE FOR YOUR DYNAMIC LEADERSHIP AND COMMITMENT TO THE CITIZENS OF THE CITY OF HOUSTON.
[00:25:02]
SO I AM HERE TO RECOGNIZE ALL OF OUR PARTNERS, UH, BUT REALLY WANNA RECOGNIZE RELIANT AS HAVING BEEN A TRUE PARTNER IN THE BEAT THE HEAT PROJECT FOR THE LAST 18 YEARS.THEIR COMMITMENT IS UNPARALLELED.
THEY DO BELIEVE IN HEALTH AND SAFETY.
WE, WE ALL KNOW THAT THE SUMMERS IN HOUSTON ARE HOT.
WE KNOW THAT THIS WEEK WE WILL PROBABLY GET A FORECAST AROUND THURSDAY OF 100 DEGREES, AND WE HAVE NOT REACHED SUMMER YET.
EXTREME HEAT IS BAD FOR ANYONE, BUT IT IS PARTICULARLY CHALLENGING FOR OLDER ADULTS AND PEOPLE THAT LIVE WITH DISABILITIES BECAUSE EXTREME HEAT CAN PUT THEM VERY MUCH AT A HIGHER RISK FOR OVERHEATING AND POSSIBLY HEAT STROKE.
AND THAT'S WHY THE CITY OF HOUSTON, THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT, AND THE HARRIS COUNTY AREA AGENCY ON AGING ARE ALWAYS VERY PLEASED TO PARTNER WITH OUR VALUABLE PARTNER, RELIANT IN PROTECTING THE HEALTH AND WELLBEING OF OUR HOUSTONIANS RELIANT.
AND THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT WILL BE WORKING TOGETHER TO SHARE SAFETY, PUBLIC HEALTH, ENERGY ASSISTANCE, AND CONSERVATION INFORMATION THROUGHOUT THIS ENTIRE PROGRAM SEASON AT OUR COOLING CENTERS.
SO, AS HAS BEEN SAID, IF IT JUST GETS VERY HOT IN YOUR HOUSE AND YOU'RE UNABLE TO COOL YOURSELVES, PLEASE GET TO ONE OF OUR COOLING CENTERS WHERE YOU WILL RECEIVE INFORMATION ON HOW TO REMAIN HEALTHY AND SAFE, WHERE YOU WILL RECEIVE ACTIVITIES, INFORMATION ON HOW TO CONSERVE ENERGY AND SUPPORT IN HOW TO PAY YOUR BILLS IF THE BILLS ARE SO HIGH THAT YOU'RE UNABLE TO PAY THEM.
NOW, WE WILL ALSO PROVIDE THESE BEAUTIFUL PORTABLE AIR CONDITIONING UNITS TO OLDER ADULTS AND INDIVIDUALS WITH DISABILITIES WHO HAVE NO MEANS OF COOLING THEIR HOMES.
YOU HEARD WE HAVE 350 AIR CONDITIONING UNITS, SO WE ARE HAPPY TO PROVIDE THESE UNITS TO ELIGIBLE INDIVIDUALS AS LONG AS THEY ARE AVAILABLE.
WE ALSO WANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE THIS YEAR, THE COUNCIL MEMBER SHAVAS AND DISTRICT D, AS THEY HAVE ALSO JOINED OUR BEAT THE HEAT PROJECT, AND HAVE PROVIDED FUNDING THAT WILL ALLOW US TO EXTEND OUR PROJECT AND EXPAND OUR BEAT THE HEAT PROJECT.
SO IN HER ABSENCE, I'D LIKE TO GIVE HER A HAND.
SO IF YOU'RE WONDERING, OKAY, HOW DO WE QUALIFY? THIS GENTLEMAN HERE ASKED ME THAT EARLIER.
JUST CALL THIS NUMBER, (832) 393-4301.
YOU WILL RECEIVE A, YOU'LL GET A LIVE PERSON ANSWERING THE PHONE.
I HAVE TO SAY A LIVE PERSON BECAUSE I'VE BEEN ON THE PHONE WITH A LOT OF AUTOMATED CALLS RECENTLY.
BUT YOU WILL GET A LIVE PERSON ANSWERING THE PHONE AND JUST LET THEM KNOW THAT YOU'RE INTERESTED IN THE BEAT THE HEAT PROJECT OR THE AIR CONDITIONING PROJECT.
AGAIN, THAT NUMBER IS 8 3 2 3 9 3 4 3 0 1.
PLEASE GIVE US A CALL BECAUSE, AND, AND AGAIN, UH, WE WILL GET LOTS OF CALLS AFTER THIS PRESS CONFERENCE.
AND REMEMBER, DURING THESE HOT MONTHS TO STAY HYDRATED, STAY VENTILATED AND ACTIVATE A BUDDY PLAN WHERE YOU CHECK ON YOUR BUDDY AND YOUR BUDDY CHECKS ON YOU.
THAT'S THE WAY TO STAY HEALTHY AND SAFE IN OUR COMMUNITY.
AGAIN, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR ATTENTION.
AND, AND ANOTHER YOUR COUNCIL MEMBER'S BEEN VERY ACTIVE IN THESE PROGRAMS, UH, AS WELL, LIKE MYSELF, UM, OUR TERM ENDS THE LAST DAY OF THIS YEAR, SO COUNCILMAN CAU CI, UH, LAST DAY IN OFFICE WILL BE DECEMBER 31ST.
UH, BUT SHE'S BEEN ACTIVE, BEEN HERE MANY, MANY TIMES.
[00:30:01]
SO COUNCILMAN MCC, CALLER CI NARROWS, PLEASE, COME ON.UM, YOU KNOW, THE COMMUNITY THAT COMES HERE OF SENIORS TO DENVER HARBOR IS ONE OF THE MOST ACTIVE AND ENGAGED IN, IN OUR CITY.
AND, UM, SO YOU ALREADY KNOW, YOU ALREADY KNOW THE RESOURCES THAT ARE HERE, BUT WE ALSO KNOW THAT, THAT NOT EVERYONE'S HERE.
AND, AND WE ARE REALLY LOOKING TO YOU TO HELP COMMUNICATE WHAT YOU'RE HEARING TODAY TO PEOPLE WHO DIDN'T COME, OR PEOPLE WHO MAY BE INCLINED TO NOT TAKE ADVANTAGE OF, OF, OF, UM, WHAT'S AVAILABLE NOW.
UM, WE KNOW IT'S HOT AND IT'S GOING TO GET HOTTER LATER THIS WEEK, AND IT WILL GET HOTTER LATER THIS SUMMER.
AND IT'S NOT JUST GETTING HOTTER OUTSIDE.
AND, AND, UM, AND WE, YOU KNOW, THE SENIORS ARE, THAT'S A VULNERABLE POPULATION, YOU KNOW, FOR, FOR THE HEAT, IT CAN BE, UM, IT'S DANGEROUS.
SO, SO PLEASE SHARE THE INFORMATION ALL THAT YOU'VE, YOU'VE HEARD TODAY.
UM, AND, UM, I WANTED TO SAY AS YOU WERE SHARING STORIES OF WHEN, WHEN WE WERE YOUNG, UM, MY GRANDPARENTS LIVED IN NEW ORLEANS AND WE USED TO VISIT THEM AND STAY WITH THEM EVERY SUMMER.
NOW, YOU KNOW, THE WEATHER'S PRETTY SIMILAR TO HOUSTON.
AND I REMEMBER THAT MY GRANDFATHER WOULD GO TO AN ICE HOUSE AND BUY A BLOCK OF ICE AND PUT IT IN A BUCKET AND THEN PUT THE FAN ON THAT.
AND THAT WAS OUR AIR CONDITIONING IN THE SUMMER IN NEW ORLEANS.
SO THIS IS SO MUCH BETTER
I REALLY APPRECIATE THAT THE FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE TO PAY FOR THE ELECTRICITY TO RUN THESE TOO.
YOU KNOW, IT REALLY HELPS WHEN, WHEN PEOPLE COME TOGETHER, YOU KNOW, WHEN WE HAVE THE, THE CITY AND THE, YOU KNOW, THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT, THE COUNTY, AND THEN, YOU KNOW, LONG STANDING COMMITTED PARTNERS THAT JUST ALL ARE ALWAYS THERE, YOU KNOW, THAT TRANSITION BEYOND, YOU KNOW, THE ELECTED OFFICIALS THAT COME AND GO, YOU WERE RELIANT IS ALWAYS THERE.
THANK YOU EVERYONE FOR BEING HERE TODAY.
SO I WANT TO REMIND HOUSTONIANS THAT THE HEAT WE ARE CURRENTLY EXPERIENCING IS EXPECTED TO GET A LITTLE BIT HOTTER TOWARDS THE END OF THIS WEEK, GOING INTO NEXT WEEK.
TRY TO STAY INSIDE, UH, AIR CONDITIONED BUILDINGS IN BETWEEN ONE AND 5:00 PM THE HOTTEST PART OF THE DAY.
AND IF YOU ARE OUTDOORS, KNOW THE SYMPTOMS OF A HEAT STROKE SUMMER.
HEAT IS NO STRANGER TO HOUSTON.
SO PLEASE TAKE PRECAUTIONS TO KEEP YOUR FAMILY AND FRIENDS SAFE FROM THE HEAT.
PLEASE CALL THE HOUSTON HEALTH DEPARTMENT'S AREA AGENCY ON AGING.
IF YOU ARE INTERESTED IN ONE OF THESE, YOU CAN REACH THEM AT, UM, IS IT TRO DOSE CIRCUIT UNO,
SO AGAIN, PLEASE, PLEASE CALL.
LOOK, WE WANT YOU TO STAY SAFE AND COOL, UH, FOR YOU IN THIS ROOM.
YOU ARE YOU'ALL, WERE SENIORS.
YOU PAID THE WAY ONE CELEBRATING 90 YEARS OF AGE BACK THERE, SO, UH, SO PLEASE, PLEASE STAY VERY SAFE AGAIN.
LET ME, UH, LET ME THANK, UH, RELIANT FOR THEIR GENEROSITY AND FOR 18 CONSECUTIVE YEARS OF BEAT THE HEAT, UH, YOUR COMMISSIONER, ADRIAN GARCIA, UH, WHO HAS BEEN VERY PASSIONATE ABOUT THIS PROGRAM, MAKING IT WORK, UH, COUN COUNCILMAN MCCULL NER FOR HER COMMITMENT TO HER COUNCIL DISTRICT, AND THEN DEBORAH MOORE WITH THE AREA AGENCY ON AGING FOR WHAT THEY DO.
UH, ARE THERE, IS THERE A QUESTION FOR, YES, MA'AM.
UM, THE ONES THAT ARE AVAILABLE TO HOME PAY, UH, FOR
BUT THE CHALLENGE IS FOR OTHER COMPANIES TO DO THE SAME.
WHAT RELIANT IS COMMITTED TO DO, OTHER CO COMPANIES CAN ALSO DO.
AND SO MY HOPE IS IT'S ONE THING TO HAVE AN AIR CONDITION, BUT IF YOU CAN'T PAY THE BILL, THAT CREATES A PROBLEM.
SO HOPEFULLY, UH, UH, OTHER COMPANIES WILL STEP UP AND ASSIST PEOPLE IN THEIR, IN THEIR BILLS, ESPECIALLY DURING THE SUMMER.
SO WHAT DO YOU WANNA TELL OF, UM, AND IF THERE'S A, WHETHER THEY'RE ALLOWED TO TURN ON YOUR AGENCY BECAUSE THEY CAN'T AFFORD TO BILL, WHAT I WOULD TELL THEM, TURN ON YOUR AIR.
I'D RATHER YOU TURN ON YOUR AIR.
AND THEN IF YOU'RE HAVING PROBLEMS WITH PAYING
[00:35:01]
YOUR ELECTRICITY BILL, YOU CAN REACH OUT TO US AS ELECTED OFFICIALS, YOUR ELECTED OFFICIALS, THE AREA AGENCY ON AGENCY, YOUR ACCOUNTING COMMISSIONER AND OTHERS, AND WE WILL ADVOCATE ON YOUR BEHALF.BUT I WOULD RATHER YOU TURN ON YOUR ELECTRICITY AND RUN YOUR AIR INSTEAD OF BEING AT HOME, GETTING SICK AND POSSIBLY LOSING YOUR LIFE.
AND THEN I WOULD ENCOURAGE OTHER COMPANIES, UH, TO FOLLOW THE LEAD OF, UH, RELIANT AND THEN ASSIST IN PAYING PEOPLE ELECTRICITY BILL.
NOW THERE'S A CERTAIN POINT IF THE INDEX GETS HIGH ENOUGH, UH, THEN THE PUBLIC UTILITY COMMISSION AND OTHERS WILL SAY, DON'T TURN OFF PEOPLE'S POWER.
BUT I WAS CERTAINLY ASKED DURING THE SUMMER, UH, THAT ELECTRIC, THAT, UH, OUR ELECTRIC PROVIDERS BE VERY SENSITIVE, UH, TO PEOPLE NEEDING THEIR POWER TO RUN THEIR AIR CONDITION, ESPECIALLY FOR SENIOR CITIZENS.
I WAS, I WAS, I DON'T THINK SHE TRUSTS ME.
AND ONE ADDED ONE OTHER THING AS A, AS AN ADDENDUM TO THAT, UH, IF YOU'RE HAVING PROBLEMS PAYING YOUR ELECTRICITY BILL, ALSO CALLED 2 1 1, THAT WILL ALSO BRING ALL OF THE OTHER SOCIAL AGENCIES INTO THE MIX.
SO IF YOU'RE DIALED 2 1 1, IF YOU HAVE ANY PROBLEMS PAYING YOUR ELECTRICITY BILL, UH, THEN MULTIPLE AGENCIES CAN COME TO YOUR, TO YOUR, TO YOUR ASSISTANCE.
UM, SO THE PEOPLE THAT RECEIVED, AND THAT'S, YOU BOTH WANT TO ANSWER THAT C
SO THE, SO FOR THE HARRIS COUNTY AREA AGENCY ON AGING, THESE UNITS ARE PORTABLE AND WE DISTRIBUTE THEM AT OUR MULTI-SERVICE CENTERS.
SO WE LOOK TO, UH, TRY TO GET INDIVIDUALS FROM THAT COMMUNITY TO RECEIVE THE UNITS AT THE MULTI-SERVICE CENTER.
THERE IS, UH, TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE AND GUIDANCE THAT GOES ALONG WITH THAT.
AND IF THAT INDIVIDUAL HAS NO WAY TO TRANSPORT THE UNIT HOME, WE WILL ARRANGE TO GET IT TRANSPORTED TO THEIR HOME.
AND, UH, SO THE ANSWER IS WE'RE GONNA WORK TO MAKE SURE THESE THINGS GET TO YOUR HOME AND GET WORKING.
ONE WORD OR THE OTHER, WE'LL FIGURE IT OUT.
ANY OTHER QUESTION? FROM THE MEDIA? FROM THE MEDIA? FROM THE MEDIA? YES MA'AM.
[00:40:02]
DEMAND I LAST THURSDAY, SO I'M WONDERING IF YOU HAD ANY END ON THAT.WELL, I CAN TELL YOU THIS IS GONNA BE A CHALLENGING SUMMER FROM ALL INDICATIONS BECAUSE THE PUBLIC UTILITY COMMISSION AND ERCOT ARE ALREADY, UH, SAYING THAT THE DEMAND MAY EXCEED CAPACITY.
SO IT'S ALREADY GOING TO BE A CHALLENGING SUMMER IN MAINTAINING THE GRID AND PROVIDING POWER.
IT IS GOING TO REQUIRE A CONSERVATION ON ENERGY PEOPLE KIND OF CUTTING BACK.
UH, THAT'S, THAT'S SOMETHING WE CAN DO IMMEDIATELY.
UM, BUT IT'S GOING TO BE A CHALLENGING SUMMER BECAUSE WE ARE ALREADY, UH, EXCEEDING EXPECTATIONS IN TERMS OF THE USAGE.
SO, UM, BUT CONSERVATION, UH, DEMAND MANAGEMENT, ALL OF THOSE TOOLS THAT HAVE BEEN TALKED ABOUT IN THE LEGISLATURE, FOR EXAMPLE, FOR A NUMBER OF YEARS ARE GOING TO COME INTO PLAY.
BUT THE CONSERVATION OF, UM, OF, UM, OF ENERGY DURING THE COURSE OF THE SUMMER IS GOING TO BE REQUIRED.
UM, THERE'LL BE A LOT MORE CONVERSATIONS ON THIS AS WE GO DOWN THE PIPE.
FAR OF WHETHER, UM, ON THE LAND PUNCTUATION PLAN BE ROLLED OUT OR AS RIGHT NOW, THIS, THAT, UM, WE'LL, TAKING A LOOK AT THAT, UM, I MEAN WE'VE BEEN ALL PUT ON NOTICE.
UH, FOR EXAMPLE, THE END OF THIS WEEK IS GOING TO BE HOT.
LAST WEEK THINGS WERE OKAY, WE GOT A LOT OF RAIN.
NOW THE RAIN IS GONE, THE HEAT HAS COME, AND WE ARE ANTICIPATING, FOR EXAMPLE, BASED ON WEATHER FORECAST, THE END OF THIS WEEK COULD BE UP TO A HUNDRED DEGREES.
AND WE ARE STILL IN THE MONTH OF JUNE.
UH, SO I'VE BEEN TALKING WITH MY TEAM ABOUT WHAT MESSAGING WE NEED TO DO, WHAT SORT OF CONSERVATION PLANS WE NEED TO PUT IN EFFECT, AND THEN WE'LL BE, WE WILL BE VIS VISITING ALSO WITH MANY OF OUR ENERGY COMPANIES AND REPS.
UH, SO YOU'LL BE HEARING MORE OF THAT COMING DOWN THE PIPE.
WHAT WE DON'T WANT, WE DON'T WANT, UM, UH, TO GET TO THE POINT WHERE THE MAN EXCEEDS, UM, THE CAPACITY AND WE HAVE A BIGGER SHUTDOWN.
SO THAT, THAT'S A FAR MORE SERIOUS ISSUE, BUT IT IS A REAL ONE, UM, THAT, UH, WE NEED TO ADDRESS.
UM, IT'S UNFORTUNATE THAT, UM, WELL I WON'T GET INTO THE LEGISLATURE.
I DEAL WITH THAT A LITTLE BIT LATER ON.
UM, 'CAUSE THEY WERE DEALING WITH EVERYTHING ELSE BUT WHAT THEY SHOULD HAVE BEEN DEALING WITH.
ANY, ANY, ANYTHING ELSE? WE DO HAVE, UM, SOME PEOPLE WHO ARE HERE THAT'S GONNA BE RECEIVING THEIR AIR CONDITIONING TODAY.
SO, UH, DEBORAH, IF YOU'LL COME ON UP, THEY WANTED TO MEET THE MAYOR.
DO WE KNOW THEIR NAMES OR DO WE, IS IT BILL YOU? OH.
AND BEFORE WE, BEFORE YOU START, DON'T FORGET TO GO OUT AND TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THE, IS IT THE CONES? CORN CON ICE, KONE KNIVES, ICE, THE CONINE ICE.
SO PLEASE TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THE COLONIZED ICE THAT'S OUT THERE.
THIS IS MS. BERTHA BERTHA SANDERS, SAND SANDOZ.
AND ANDREA, TERRY, AND MS. TERRY.