* This transcript was created by voice-to-text technology. The transcript has not been edited for errors or omissions, it is for reference only and is not the official minutes of the meeting. [00:00:01] CALLING THIS MEETING OF THE HOUSTON CITY COUNCIL OF THE WATER. UH, [PRESENTATIONS] THE CHAIR RECOGNIZES VICE MAYOR PRO TEM MARTHA CASTEK TATUM FOR A PROCLAMATION TO KIM DAVIS, AND RECOGNITION OF HER OUTSTANDING CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE HOUSTON COMMUNITY. THANK YOU, MAYOR AND COUNCIL. AS YOU CAN TELL, I WAS ANXIOUS TO GET UP HERE TO, UH, PRESENT THIS PROCLAMATION TODAY. UH, TRUTH BE TOLD, LAST WEEK WHEN I SAW THE PROCLAMATION LIST AND I SAW THAT COUNCIL MEMBER KUBOSH WAS GIVEN A PROCLAMATION TO KIM DAVIS, I THOUGHT, THAT'S A GOOD ONE, COUNCIL MEMBER KUBA. SO WHEN I GOT THE TEXT, UH, FROM HIM THAT HE WAS GOING TO BE OUT AND ASKED ME TO PRESENT IT, I THOUGHT, MAN, THE UNIVERSE LOVES ME, . I REALLY WANTED TO, UH, CELEBRATE KIM ON TODAY. SO, UM, FOR ONCE I READ THE PROCLAMATION, YOU'LL KNOW WHY I'M SO HONORED THAT THE CITY IS RECOGNIZING HER FOR HER GREAT ACCOMPLISHMENTS. UH, KIM Y DAVIS IS A SPEAKER, MEDIA COACH, SPORTS JOURNALIST, NATIVE HOUSTONIAN, AND GRADUATE OF TEXAS A AND M UNIVERSITY. SHE IS KNOWN FOR HER BARRIER BREAKING ACCOMPLISHMENTS AS THE FIRST AND CURRENTLY THE ONLY AFRICAN AMERICAN FEMALE SPORTSCASTER IN HOUSTON, TEXAS. SHE EXCELS IN EVERY ASPECT OF THE COMMUNICATION FIELD FROM WORKING WITH MAJOR NETWORK TV AFFILIATES LIKE N-B-C-A-B-C-C-B-S, FOX AND WB TO HOSTING LIVE SHOWS AND CONDUCTING INTERVIEWS. SHE HAS REDEFINED EXCELLENCE IN JOURNALISM, MEDIA CONSULTING AND SPORTS ANALYSIS WITH MORE THAN 25 YEARS OF EXPERIENCE. SHE FOUNDED THE KD COMPANY IN 2004 AFTER A SUCCESSFUL STINT AS VICE PRESIDENT OF SUPER BOWL 38. AS THE DRIVING FORCE BEHIND THE KD COMPANY, DAVIS OFFERS MEDIA AND COMMUNICATION CONSULTING, INCLUDING MEDIA TRAINING, EXECUTIVE COMMUNICATION, STRATEGIC CONSULTING, AND CRISIS MANAGEMENT, BUILDING ON NEARLY THREE DECADES OF HONED EXPERTISE. SHE IS ALSO AN ENGAGING KEYNOTE SPEAKER THAT INSPIRES LEADERSHIP, FOSTERS ENGAGEMENT, AND PROVIDES VALUABLE INSIGHT INTO THE FUTURE OF MEDIA. HER CAPTIVATING STORIES MOTIVATE AUDIENCES TO EMBRACE CHANGE, UNLEASH THEIR POTENTIAL, AND CONQUER CHALLENGES WITH CONFIDENCE. HER INTERACTIVE SPORTS COMMUNICATION SERIES CHALK TALK, IS TAILORED TO EMPOWER WOMEN TO CONQUER THE LANGUAGE OF SPORTS. SHE IS THE GENIUS BEHIND KIMMI TREATS, FEATURING VEGAN NON GMO POPCORN, AS THE VENTURE ALLOWS HER TO SHOWCASE HER CULINARY CREATIVITY, THE ACCOMPLISHMENTS SHE HAS ACHIEVED EX EXTEND BEYOND HER PROFESSIONAL CAREER, EARNING HER ACCOLADES, INCLUDING HOUSTON'S TOP 25 WOMEN AND VARIOUS COMMUNITY SERVICE AWARDS. SHE REMAINS ACTIVE IN THE COMMUNITY AND HAS SERVED ON SEVERAL BOARDS, INCLUDING AIDS FOUNDATION, HOUSTON, UNCF, DRESSED FOR SUCCESS, THE HOUSTON HOSPITALITY ALLIANCE, THE ZENA GARRISON ACADEMY, AND THE HOUSTON ASSOCIATION OF BLACK JOURNALISTS, THE CITY OF HOUSTON, COMMENDS KIM Y DAVIS FOR HER GROUNDBREAKING ACHIEVEMENTS IN THE COMMUNICATION INDUSTRY, AS WELL AS HER OUTSTANDING EFFORTS TO CHANGE AND LIVES. MAYOR, THANK YOU. SO THEREFORE, WELL, LEMME JUST SAY BEFORE I PRESENTING, KIM, UM, CONGRATULATIONS FOR EVERYTHING THAT YOU DO. THANK YOU. AND LEMME TELL YOU WHEN IT COMES TO, IF IT'S SPORTS, UH, YOU KNOW, YOU KNOW THAT AREA AND IT'S A JOY AND A PLEASURE JUST TO, UM, TO HEAR YOU AND TO HEAR YOU TALK ABOUT IT. YEAH. AND I WAS JUST SO VERY, VERY PROUD OF, OF YOUR WORK. AND SO THEREFORE, I, SYLVESTER TURNER MAYOR CITY OF HOUSTON, DO HEREBY PROCLAIM AUGUST 8TH, 2023. THAT'S KIM Y DAVIS DAY IN THE CITY OF HOUSTON, AND SO WELL DESERVED. SO THANK YOU, UM, AND COUNCIL MEMBER ASH'S ABSENCE FOR, FOR, FOR GIVING ME THIS PROCLAMATION. THANK YOU COUNCILMAN, MY COUNCIL MEMBER FOR A FEW MORE MINUTES BECAUSE I'M MOVING, BUT I'M GONNA STILL BE IN THE CITY. OKAY. AND THANK YOU MAYOR TURNER. UM, I'M USED TO BEING ON THE OTHER SIDE WHERE I'M ASKING THE QUESTIONS AND TALKING TO PEOPLE. SO I AM INCREDIBLY HONORED AND HUMBLED. I'M A NATIVE HOUSTONIAN. UM, I THINK ABOUT MY MOTHER WHO WOULD BE REALLY PROUD. YEAH, AMEN. SO I DON'T GET EMOTIONAL A WHOLE LOT, BUT, UM, IN HER HONOR, I ACCEPT IT. THANK YOU. THANK YOU VERY WELL. CONGRATULATIONS AGAIN MS. DAVIS. THANK YOU. YEAH. YOU GONNA COME THIS WAY? DEI, WE WILL TURN THIS WAY. [00:06:58] MARY NAN HUFFMAN FOR A PROCLAMATION TO MELODY MUSGROVE TO CELEBRATE HER AWARD AS THE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL TEACHER OF THE YEAR FROM HISD THANK WRITING THIS IN MELODY. MELODY MUSGROVE IS A NATIVE HOUSTONIAN WHO JUST FINISHED HER 12TH YEAR IN THE CLASSROOM. MELODY WAS A STUDENT OF THE SPRING BRANCH SCHOOL DISTRICT BEFORE OBTAINING HER UNDERGRADUATE DEGREE IN EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION FROM BAYLOR UNIVERSITY, AND RECENTLY GRADUATED FROM LAMAR UNIVERSITY WITH A MASTER'S IN COUNSELING. AND WHEREAS SHE HAS SPENT HER CAREER TEACHING MATH AND SCIENCE TO CHILDREN IN SECOND THROUGH FIFTH GRADE, ALL OF THOSE IN HOUSTON SCHOOLS, SHE BELIEVES THAT TEACHING IS SO MUCH MORE THAN THE EXPRESSION OF ACADEMIC CONTENT AND STRIVES TO INCORPORATE EMOTIONAL AND SOCIAL EDUCATION INTO EVERY LESSON TO GUIDE HER STUDENTS TOWARDS WHOLE SELF-DEVELOPMENT. AND WHEREAS WHEN CHILDREN FEEL SAFE, SEEN AND VALUED IN THE CLASSROOMS, THEY'RE MORE LIKELY TO LEARN AND GROW AS STUDENTS AND INDIVIDUALS. MELODY IS TRAINED AND CERTIFIED AND GIFTED AND TALENTED. ENGLISH HAS A SECOND LANGUAGE AS WELL AS ADVERSE CHILDHOOD EXPERIENCES AND PRIDES HERSELF IN CREATING ACCEPTING AND INCLUSIVE EXPERIENCES FOR EACH AND EVERY STUDENT SHE COMES IN CONTACT WITH. AND WHEREAS TEACHING HAS GIVEN MELODY COUNTLESS OPPORTUNITIES TO GROW BOTH AS AN EDUCATOR AND ADVOCATE, AND SHE HOPES TO STRENGTHEN BOTH ROLES FOR MANY YEARS TO COME. HER CURRENT CAMPUS, WALNUT BEND ELEMENTARY IN DISTRICT G PRIDES ITSELF ON MEETING THE NEEDS OF THE COMMUNITY THROUGH ACADEMIC PROGRESS AND STUDENT ENGAGEMENT. AND MELODY HAS THOROUGHLY ENJOYED BEING A PART OF SUCH A MISSION. AND WHEREAS IN MAY OF 2023, MELODY MUSGROVE WANT HOUSTON INDEPENDENT SCHOOL DISTRICT'S 20 22, 20 23 ELEMENTARY TEACHER OF THE YEAR, THE CITY OF HOUSTON COMMENDS MELODY MUSGROVE ON HER OUTSTANDING COMMITMENT TO EDUCATION AND ACADEMIC EMPOWERMENT THAT WILL PROVIDE FUTURE GENERATIONS WITH THE TOOLS NEEDED TO SUCCEED. THANK YOU, COUNCIL MEMBER. AND SO THEREFORE, I, SYLVESTER TURNER, MAYOR CITY OF HOUSTON, DO HEREBY PROUDLY PROCLAIM AUGUST 8TH, 2023 AS MELANIE MUSGROVE DAY IN HOUSTON, TEXAS. CONGRATULATIONS. THANK YOU FOR WHAT YOU DID BY KIDS. THANK YOU. I'M SO PROUD OF YOU. THANK YOU. IF YOU'D LIKE TO SAY SOMETHING, I JUST WANNA SAY THANK YOU. UH, PUBLIC EDUCATION OFTEN GETS THE BRUNT, UH, AND IT'S CLEARLY A DIFFICULT TIME TO BE AN EDUCATOR, SO THANK YOU FOR SHINING A LIGHT ON THE POSITIVE ASPECTS OF OUR CAREER. I APPRECIATE IT. THANK YOU, MISS MS. MURO. WE HAVE A FEW COUNCIL MEMBERS THAT WOULD LIKE TO ADDRESS YOU. FIRST IS THE CHAIR OF OUR CHILDHOOD AND YOUTH COMMITTEE COUNCIL MEMBER CARLOS CISNEROS. WELL, YOU ARE ONE OF THE BRIGHT SPOTS IN PUBLIC EDUCATION. THANK YOU. AND YOU ARE SUCH A VALUED PERSON, YOU KNOW, AND, AND ALL THE TEACHERS THAT, THAT COMMIT SO MUCH OF THEIR, THEIR HEART AND SOUL AND, YOU KNOW, AND ARE DOING SUCH A GREAT JOB. [00:10:01] YOU EXEMPLIFY THAT AND JUST WANTED TO, YOU KNOW, TO CONGRATULATE YOU ON THIS AND JUST, YOU KNOW, AND, UM, ENCOURAGE YOU TO KEEP DOING YOUR BEST THAT I KNOW THAT YOU ARE. THANK YOU. THANK YOU SO MUCH. THANK YOU SO MUCH. I APPRECIATE THAT. AND MY FAVORITE TEACHER OF THE YEAR, COUNCIL MEMBER TIFFANY D. THOMAS . THANK YOU MAYOR PROTI. THANK YOU. COUNCIL MEMBER HUFFMAN AND MAYOR TURNER FOR PRESENTING THIS. I KNOW SOMEONE WHO IS VERY PROUD OF YOU, AND THAT'S YOUR DAD, YOUR MOM AND DAD. SO, UM, YOUR DAD LIVES IN DISTRICT F, YOUR FAMILY DOES. AND SO, UM, HE, UM, HAD LET ME KNOW THAT YOU WERE RECEIVING THIS TODAY. AND, UH, , HE'S A, HE'S A GOOD DAD, SO HE'S PROUD TO BE A DAD GIRL. AND MY BROTHER'S STARTING HIS 15TH YEAR IN PUBLIC EDUCATION, SO I UNDERSTAND EXACTLY WHAT YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT, BUT I, I WILL TELL YOU, UM, PEOPLE DON'T KNOW ME AS LIKE A COUNCIL MEMBER. THEY KNOW ME AS COACH THOMAS'S SISTER . SO Y'ALL ABSOLUTELY HAVE INFLUENCE, UM, CONTINUE DOING THE VERY GOOD WORK THAT YOU'RE DOING AND CONTINUE TO BE IN A BRIGHT LIGHT LIKE MY COLLEAGUE MENTIONED. CONGRATULATIONS. THANK YOU SO MUCH. THANK YOU, MS. BERRY. I SPENT 11 YEARS ON A SCHOOL BOARD. I, WE CALLED IT THE OTHER HISD, HUMBLED INDEPENDENT SCHOOL DISTRICT. AND IT WAS ALWAYS FUN TO RECOGNIZE OUR TEACHERS OF THE YEAR AND THEN THE OVERALL WINNER. AND, UH, YOU KNOW, TEACHERS ARE THE MOST VITAL INGREDIENT TO ANY SCHOOL. AND YOU MAKE THE DIFFERENCE. YOU MAKE THE DIFFERENCE IN KIDS' LIVES, YOU MAKE THE DIFFERENCE IN THEIR FUTURE. SO THANK YOU FOR WHAT YOU DO. I'VE ALWAYS STATED TEACHERS ARE NEVER PAID ENOUGH. THEY NEVER ARE, BUT THEY SURE HAVE A BIG PART IN RAISING OUR KIDS AND MAKING SURE THAT THEY'RE READY FOR THE CHALLENGES THAT LIFE GIVES TO THEM. SO GOD BLESS YOU. THANK YOU. AND CONGRATULATIONS ON THIS HONOR AND COUNCIL MEMBER HUFFMAN, I'LL GIVE YOU THE LAST WORDS. THANK YOU. WELL, WE'RE VERY PROUD OF YOU. CONGRATULATIONS. THANK, THANK YOU. AND I'M SO GLAD TO HAVE YOU IN MY DISTRICT, DISTRICT CHIEF. THANKS. HAPPY TO BE THERE. THANK YOU. AND MR. MS. MUSGROVE, IF YOU WOULDN'T MIND INTRODUCING THE PEOPLE THAT YOU'RE, YOU HAVE HERE, I THINK. YES. OKAY. ALRIGHT. UH, SO THERE'S MY DAD, , UH, THAT'S GORDON MUSGROVE, MY MOM, GAIL MUSGROVE, MY LITTLE SISTER, MOLLY MUSGROVE, WHO'S ALSO A TEACHER IN HISD, MY PRINCIPAL, UH, WHO I COULD NOT HAVE DONE THIS WITHOUT. ALICIA MCMILLAN. OKAY. OUR COMMUNITY ADVOCATE, CAROL TUTTLE IS HERE. AND THEN I HAVE THREE PROXY FAMILY MEMBERS. UH, JENNIFER GRIBBLE IS HERE, SETH UMBLE IS HERE, AND MY PASTOR AND SECOND DAD, STEVE WELLS IS HERE. I COULDN'T HAVE DONE IT WITHOUT ANY OF THEM, SO THANK YOU SO MUCH. BUT OKAY, LET'S DO THIS PICTURE WITH YOU FIRST [00:15:33] FOR A PROCLAMATION TO BERNITA JONES TO CELEBRATE THE YEARS OF SERVICE FOR THE CITY OF HOUSTON. SO THANK YOU EVERYONE. VICE MAYOR PROAM, MARTHA CASTEX. TATUM DOES NOT LODGE, BUT SHE TOLD THE FIB IN THAT PART. AND, BUT THE SURPRISE IS OUT OF THE BAG. I ACTUALLY BLEW IT ON MONDAY. WE HAVE OUR EXECUTIVE TEAM MEETING, AND, UH, CHIEF HUNTER WAS GOING THROUGH THE, THE DIFFERENT INFORMATIONS ON THE PROCLAMATION GOING OVER THE AGENDA. AND I MESSED UP BECAUSE IT'S, UH, THE HONOREE IS ACTUALLY JESSICA BEAMER. IT'S HER BIRTHDAY TODAY. SO I WON'T TELL YOU THAT SHE'S, I WON'T TELL YOU THAT SHE'S 37 TODAY, BUT SHE IS, UH, CELEBRATING A MOMENTOUS OCCASION. AND, UH, AS WE ALL, AS MANY OF US AROUND THE HORSESHOE TRANSITION AND SIX MONTHS FROM NOW, AND, UH, WE ALWAYS LOOK BACK AND ARE THANKFUL FOR THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE THAT WE'VE HAD THAT MADE A DIFFERENCE IN OUR LIVES AS WELL AS OUR CONSTITUENTS LIVES. AND JESSICA'S BEEN MY CHIEF OF STAFF FOR LONGER THAN WE CAN REMEMBER. SHE'S DONE A GREAT JOB. SHE'S ALWAYS TRIED TO KEEP ME ON THE STRAIGHT AND NARROW, BUT SOMETIMES THAT'S HARD TO DO. BUT AS WE ALL KNOW, UH, WE'RE ONLY AS GOOD AS THE PEOPLE THAT WE SURROUND OURSELVES WITH. AND IF WE HAVE GOOD PEOPLE, WE CAN SERVE THE CONSTITUENTS AND THE RESIDENTS OF THE CITY OF HOUSTON IN THE BEST WAY POSSIBLE. AND JESSICA'S THE BEST. SHE'S THE BEST THAT I'VE HAD, AND SHE'S THE BEST THAT I'VE WORKED WITH. SHE'S CONSCIENTIOUS. SHE NEVER ASKED WHY. SHE'S JUST FOCUSED ON THE TARGET AND MAKING SURE THAT SHE HAS THE ABILITY TO DO THE JOB IN THE RIGHT WAY WITH THE SOLE PURPOSE OF SERVING THE CITY OF HOUSTON AND SERVING OUR RESIDENTS. SO, HAPPY BIRTHDAY JESSICA. LET ME READ A COUPLE OF THINGS ON THIS. MAYOR. JESSICA BEMA IS A COMMITTED PUBLIC SERVANT, AND HER CONTRIBUTIONS TO OUR CITY HAS LEFT AN INDEM MARK. SHE'S A TREMENDOUS ASSET. AS CHIEF OF STAFF TO MAYOR PRO TEM DAVE MARTIN, THROUGH HER TIRELESS EFFORTS AND DEDICATION, JESSICA HAS NOT ONLY STRENGTHENED HER TEAM, BUT HAS INSPIRED ALL WHO VOLUNTEER AND WHO ENCOUNTER HER. WHEREAS SHE'S A GRADUATE OF BOL HIGH SCHOOL WITH TWO DEGREES FROM THE UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS AT SAN ANTONIO. HER REPRESENTATION AS MISS UTSA IN 2008, AND FOR HER ACADEMIC ACHIEVEMENTS AS AN ARCHER CENTER FELLOW GRADUATE STUDENT IN 2011, OR SOME OF THE MILESTONES IN HER ILLUSTRIOUS JOURNEY. AND WHEREAS JESSICA'S COMPASSION AND MENTORSHIP AS A SIGMA KAPPA SORORITY MEMBER AND HER SERVICE AS A CHAPTER ADVISOR FOR MANY YEARS SHOWCASE HER COMMITMENT TO EMPOWERING THE NEXT GENERATION OF LEADERS. HER LOVING DEVOTION TO HER MANY AUSTRALIAN SHEPHERD, WAYLON WATSON, WHO I SAW PICTURES OF AT LUNCH TODAY, EXEMPLIFIES THE KINDNESS AND WORTH SHE BRINGS TO EVERY ASPECT OF HER LIFE. AND WHEREAS THE CITY OF HOUSTON IS PLEASED TO JOIN THE CITY COUNCIL FAMILY AND THE FRIENDS OF JESSICA BEAMER AND EXTENDING BEST WISHES FOR A HAPPY BIRTHDAY AND WISH FOR HER GREAT HAPPINESS AS SHE CELEBRATES ANOTHER YEAR OF LIFE, MAY THIS DAY BE FILLED WITH JOY, WITH LOVE AND CHERISH MOMENTS. WE ARE TRULY FORTUNATE TO HAVE SUCH AN INDIVIDUAL IN OUR MIDST, AND WE LOOK FORWARD TO WITNESSING THE CONTINUED IMPACT OF HER CONTRIBUTIONS FOR MANY, MANY YEARS TO COME. THANK YOU, MAYOR PRO TIM. SO THEREFORE, I, SYLVESTER TURNER, MAYOR OF CITY OF HOUSTON, HEREBY PROUDLY PROCLAIM AUGUST 8TH, 2023 AS JESSICA BEMA DAY BIRTHDAY IN THE CITY OF HOUSTON. CONGRATULATIONS, JESSICA. BEFORE WE BEGIN, UH, JESSICA, THE MIKE, UM, MARK MITCHELL, WHO MANY OF YOU REMEMBER THAT WORKED IN MY OFFICE AND HE LEFT US AND WENT TO WORK FOR BAY A, THE BAY AREA HOUSTON ECONOMIC PARTNERSHIP. AND HE'S DONE A GREAT JOB OVER THERE. AND THE REST OF MY STAFF COME ON IN. AND, AND CASEY CHRISMAN, WHO IS THE HEAD OF THE GREATER HOUSTON BUILDER CONTRACTORS ASSOCIATION, BLAH, BLAH, BLAH . ANYWAY, SO COME ON UP HERE, JESSICA. WELL, THANK YOU MAYOR PRO TEM. THANK YOU MAYOR TURNER. IT'S AN HONOR TO BE, UM, A PUBLIC SERVANT FOR THE CITY OF HOUSTON. UM, FOURTH LARGEST BUT THE GREATEST IN THE UNITED STATES. UM, IT'S BEEN QUITE A PRIVILEGE TO SERVE THE COMMUNITY OF DISTRICT E AND THEN THE GREATER HOUSTON AREA AS THE MAYOR OF PRO TEMS OFFICE, WORKING WITH MY, MY COUNCIL MEMBER WHO I DEARLY LOVE HIS FAMILY. AND, UM, THE FREEDOM THAT HE GIVES ME IN THE OFFICE TO LEAD AND TO ENCOURAGE, INSPIRE HAS BEEN PHENOMENAL. SO THANK YOU. WE DO HAVE A [00:20:01] COUPLE OF COUNCIL MEMBERS IN QUEUE. COUNCIL MEMBER POLLARD, THANK YOU. VICE MAYOR, PRO TIMM. THANK YOU MAYOR PRO TIMM, AND MAYOR, UH, FOR THIS PROCLAMATION. JESSICA, WELL DESERVED, UH, YOU HAVE BEEN A GREAT RESOURCE TO THE DISTRICT J OFFICE EVER SINCE. UH, WE'VE COME INTO THE ANNEX, UH, WE'VE LEANED ON YOU ALL FOR A LOT OF GUIDANCE, UH, THROUGH THE BUDGET AND FISCAL AFFAIRS COMMITTEE. YOU'RE ALWAYS ON POINT. UH, YOU KEEP ME AND THE MAYOR PRO TEM, UH, ON SCHEDULE AND MAKE SURE THAT WE HAVE ALL THAT WE NEED TO RUN THAT COMMITTEE. UH, BUT I WISH YOU WELL IN ANYTHING THAT YOU DO GOING FORWARD. AND THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE. GOD BLESS YOU. THANK YOU. COUNCIL MEMBER. COUNCIL MEMBER ALCO. THANK YOU, JESSICA. HAPPY BIRTHDAY. THANK YOU. ONCE A STAFFER, ALWAYS A STAFFER. SO JESSICA AND I HAVE BEEN FRIENDS A LONG TIME RUNNING AROUND THAT HORSESHOE, SO CONGRATULATIONS. THANKS FOR TRAINING, JORDAN. SO WELL, TO ALSO BE A STELLAR CHIEF OF STAFF. YES. AND, UH, JUST, IT'S ALWAYS BEEN A JOY TO WORK WITH YOU. YOU'RE SO EASY TO WORK WITH AND SO KNOWLEDGEABLE, AND I REALLY APPRECIATE ALL YOU'VE DONE FOR THE CITY. AND HAPPY BIRTHDAY. THANK YOU. THAT MEANS A LOT, COUNCIL MEMBER. OKAY. ALRIGHT. SO BEFORE, TAKE OUR PICTURES, JUST ONE SIMPLE WORD. YOU KNOW, IT'S, PEOPLE ALWAYS ASK ME, YOU KNOW, WHY DO YOU DO THIS? YOU KNOW, WHY DO YOU RUN FOR CITY COUNCIL? WHY DO YOU TAKE THIS INITIATIVE UP? AND A LOT OF IT IS RELATED TO THE RELATIONSHIPS THAT YOU DEVELOP AND THE RELATIONSHIPS I HAVE WITH 16 OF MY CLOSEST FRIENDS. YOU KNOW, WE HAVE A COMMON BOND, WE HAVE A SPIRIT, AND WE'LL ALWAYS BE CONNECTED WHETHER WE GO TO DO SOMETHING ELSE OR WE STAY HERE AND DO FOUR MORE YEARS OR WHATEVER. AND IT'S BEEN A JOY TO WORK WITH JESSICA AND TO WORK WITH THIS BODY BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, IF YOU LOOK AT WHAT WE'VE ACCOMPLISHED, UH, OVER THE LAST THREE YEARS AND OVER THE LAST 11 YEARS, FOR ME, IT'S BEEN AMAZING. AND AS WE VENTURE INTO THE FUTURE, I WANNA MAKE SURE THAT EVERYBODY UNDERSTANDS WHEN WE TURN THIS CITY OVER AS MAYOR TURNER WILL ONE DAY, UH, WE WILL TURN IT OVER IN MUCH BETTER SHAPE THAN WE INHERITED IT. AND THAT'S WHAT YOU WANT TO DO. YOU WANT TO GIVE A GIFT. IF YOU LOOK AT THE FINANCIAL POSITION THE CITY OF HOUSTON IS IN TODAY, IT'S IN NO BETTER SHAPE THAN WHERE WE ARE NOW. THANKS TO YOU AND YOUR ADMINISTRATION, AND THANKS TO THIS TEAM OF 16 INDIVIDUALS THAT I WORK WITH DAY IN AND DAY OUT. YOU SHOULD FEEL PROUD OF THAT. YOU SHOULD BE HONORED, AND YOU SHOULD TAKE IT TO HEART AND MAKE SURE THAT EVERYBODY UNDERSTANDS AND DON'T LET THEM GET AWAY WITH SAYING OTHER THINGS. SO WITH THAT, HAPPY BIRTHDAY, JB THANK. ALL RIGHTY. [2:00 P.M. – INVOCATION AND PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE] AS WE NOW TURN TO THE COMMUNITY SESSION, UH, CHAIR RECOGNIZES COUNCIL MEMBER HUFFMAN ON BEHALF OF COUNCIL MEMBER KNOX FOR THE INVOCATION. THANK YOU, MAYOR. I'D LIKE TO INVITE PASTOR MOTT TO THE PODIUM. GREG MOTT IS THE SENIOR PASTOR OF HOUSTON'S FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH. UNDER HIS LEADERSHIP, THE HISTORIC CHURCH FOUNDED IN 1841, HAS MOVED TO THE CUTTING EDGE OF MINISTRY AND EXPERIENCED TREMENDOUS, TREMENDOUS GROWTH, INCLUDING THE ADDITION OF FOUR CAMPUSES IN GREATER HOUSTON AREA. PASTOR MOTT IS THE AUTHOR OF EIGHT BOOKS, THE MOST RECENT BEING, SALVATION HAS COME 25 CHRISTMAS DEVOTIONS IN LUKE. NOW, BEFORE COMING TO HOUSTON IN 2004, PASTOR MOTT FOUNDED BREAKAWAY MINISTRIES AT TEXAS A AND M UNIVERSITY, THE LARGEST COLLEGE BIBLE STUDY IN THE NATION. WHAT STARTED WITH 12 PARTICIPANTS IN HIS APARTMENT GREW INTO A WEEKLY GATHERING OF MORE THAN 4,000 STUDENTS EACH TUESDAY NIGHT. UNDER HIS LEADERSHIP, HE CONTINUES TO SERVE ON BREAKAWAY'S BOARD OF DIRECTORS. IN ADDITION TO HIS ROLE AS SENIOR PASTOR AT HOUSTON'S FIRST, PASTOR MOTT SERVES ON THE BOARDS OF HOUSTON CHRISTIAN HIGH SCHOOL AND BREAKAWAY MINISTRIES. HE ALSO SERVES ON THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES AT HOUSTON CHRISTIAN UNIVERSITY, [00:25:01] AND HAS SERVED AS CHAIRMAN OF THE BOARD AS WELL. PLEASE WELCOME PASTOR MOT TO GIVE US THE INVITATION TODAY. THANK YOU PASTOR MOTT. GOOD TO HAVE YOU. GOOD TO BE HERE, MAYOR. THANK YOU AND COUNSEL FOR BEING HERE. SUCH A JOY AND AN HONOR. I'M A NATIVE HOUSTONIAN, SO TO STAND IN THIS POSITION, I'VE SEEN THIS ON TV MY WHOLE LIFE, AND TO BE ABLE TO BE BLESSED IN THIS WAY, OUR CHURCH LOVES OUR CITY. FOUND OUT IN A MEETING JUST TODAY, WE'VE GIVEN AWAY OVER 3 MILLION POUNDS OF FOOD JUST THIS YEAR TO FOLKS THAT ARE IN NEED IN OUR CITY AND MINISTER TO PEOPLE OF ALL DIFFERENT ECONOMIC STATUSES. SO IF YOU'LL JOIN ME IN A WORD OF PRAYER, I'M HONORED TO BE HERE. LORD, WE BEGIN BY SAYING WE ARE THANKFUL FOR YOUR BLESSINGS AND YOUR PROTECTIONS. WE HAVE A BLESSED CITY, AND WE ARE GRATEFUL. YOU HAVE BLESSED US IN COUNTLESS WAYS AND PROTECTED US IN WAYS UNSEEN AND SEEN. LORD, WE'RE GRATEFUL FOR THAT. WE PRAY FOR OUR FIRE DEPARTMENT, OUR POLICE DEPARTMENT, OUR FIRST RESPONDERS, ANYONE WHO'S IN HARM'S WAY. LORD, THANK YOU FOR THEM, PROTECT THEM. AND FATHER, WE ASK FOR HEAVENLY WISDOM. IN THE DISCUSSIONS AND DECISIONS OF THE CITY COUNCIL, WE KNOW THAT YOUR PLANS ARE BETTER AND FAR MORE BENEFICIAL THAN OURS. SO MAY THIS TIME BE PLEASING TO YOU AND YOUR HOLY AND GRACIOUS NAME WE PRAY. AMEN. AMEN. AMEN. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. PLEASE RISE FOR THE PLEDGE OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA TO THE REPUBLIC ONE NATION UNDER GOD. [ROLL CALL AND ADOPT THE MINUTES OF THE PREVIOUS MEETING] THANK YOU VERY MUCH. MADAM SECRETARY, PLEASE CALL THE ROLE MAYOR TURNER HERE. COUNCILMAN PECK HERE. COUNCILMAN JACKSON. COUNCILMAN CAME, WILL BE ABSENT. COUNCIL MEMBER EVAN CHABA. HERE. COUNCILMAN MARTIN, PRESENT, COUNCIL THOMAS PRESENT. COUNCILMAN HUFFMAN? PRESENT? COUNCILMAN CISNEROS? HERE. COUNCILMAN GALLEGOS. COUNCILMAN POLLARD? HERE. COUNCILMAN CASTEX TATUM. HERE. COUNCILMAN KNOX WILL BE ABSENT. COUNCILOR ROBINSON WILL BE ABSENT. COUNCILMAN KASH. COUNCIL MEMBER PALMER WILL BE ABSENT. COUNCIL FOR ALCORN HERE NEED A MOTION TO ADOPT THE MINUTES OF APRIL 4TH AND FIFTH. CASTEX. TATUM MOVED. THOMAS SECOND. AYE. AND DARREN, ANY ANY OBJECTIONS TO ADOPTION OF THE MINUTES? CHAIR IS DONE. MINUTES ARE, THANK YOU VERY MUCH. [PUBLIC SPEAKERS] UH, NOW CHAIR RECOGNIZED AS PROCEDURAL MOTIONS. COUNCILMAN THOMAS ON A PROCEDURAL MOTION. THANK YOU MAYOR TURNER IUD TO SUSPEND THE RULES TO MOVE THE FOLLOWING SPEAKERS TO THE TOP OF THE THREE MINUTE NON AGENDA LIST. GRACIE CHAVEZ, ERICA DELEON, JASON WOODS, CRAIG LONG AND JARON SMALL. IT'S THE TOP OF THE THREE MINUTE NON AGENDA FOR THREE MINUTES. OKAY, A SECOND. YOU FURTHER THE MOTIONS THERE. HAVE A SECOND, SECOND, SECOND. ONE SECOND. ONE SECOND. ONE SECOND. ONE SECOND. NOT YET. NOT YET. NOT YET. NOT YET. OKAY. IT'S BEEN MOVED IN SECOND. ANY OBJECTION, CHAIR. NOW MOTION IS GRANTED. CHAIR REC RECOGNIZES COUNCIL MEMBER ALCORN FOR PROCEDURAL MOTION. I MOVE TO SUSPEND THE RULES TO MOVE ED PETIT TO, UH, RIGHT BELOW AARON HALL ON THE THREE MINUTE NON-AG AGENDA LIST. BUT ED PETIT WILL JUST HAVE ONE MINUTE ON A SECOND. IT'S BEEN MOVED. AND SECOND. ANY OBJECTION? CHAIR IS NONE. MOTION IS GRANTED. I I'M ALSO MOVED TO SUSPEND THE RULES TO MOVE BARBARA ASCOT TO WRITE BELOW JASON GINSBURG ON THE THREE MINUTE NON AGENDA LIST. BUT AGAIN, JUST FOR ONE MINUTE. THOMAS SECOND. IT'S BEEN MOVED AND SECONDED. ANY OBJECTION, CHAIR'S? NONE. MOTION IS GRANTED. ARE THERE ANY OTHER PROCEDURAL MOTIONS? CHAIR HAS NONE. AND MADAM SECRETARY, JUST AS SOON AS YOU ARE READY, YOU CAN PROCEED TO CALL THE FIRST SPEAKER, VANESSA COLE. VANESSA COLE. VANESSA COLE IS PRESENT, BE FOLLOWED BY HARRY KLEIN. ONE PERSON AT A TIME. ONE PERSON AT A TIME. THANKS. OH, SORRY. GO AHEAD. THERE YOU GO. GOOD AFTERNOON, HONORABLE MAYOR TURNER. HELLO, ESTEEM MEMBERS OF THE CITY COUNCIL. MY NAME IS VANESSA COLE WITH COLINE BUILDERS AND WE ARE HERE TODAY REPRESENTING THE TWO PROJECTS BEFORE YOU, WHICH ARE GARBER HEIGHTS AND ZURI GARDENS, WORKING WITH THE HOUSING DEPARTMENT TO MEET, UM, 200 AFFORDABLE HOMES UNDER THE MAYOR'S 3000 AFFORDABLE HOME INITIATIVE. SO WE'RE SUPER EXCITED. IT'S BEEN A LONG ROAD TO GET HERE, TO SAY THE LEAST. UM, AND WE'RE HERE TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS YOU MAY HAVE. AND HARRY KLEIN IS MY BUSINESS PARTNER. THANK YOU. COUNCILMAN P*****K. THANK YOU MAYOR. AND, UH, GOOD AFTERNOON TO EVERYONE. [00:30:01] UH, MS. COLE, YOU SAID IT WAS A LONG PROCESS. TE TELL US ABOUT THAT PROCESS AND AND, AND WHY YOU BELIEVE THIS WILL BE AN IMPORTANT PROJECT FOR THE CITY. YES. UM, SO WE HAD APPLIED BACK IN 2020 2ND OF JANUARY, AND SO WE'RE HERE NOW AUGUST, 2023. SO JUST LIKE ANYTHING, UM, THERE'S JUST A LOT OF DUE DILIGENCE. EVERYONE WANTS TO MAKE SURE THAT IT'S GOING TO BE A SUCCESSFUL PROJECT DOWN THE ROAD. UM, BUT WE'RE EXCITED, AFFORDABLE HOUSING IS WHAT WE LOVE TO DO HERE IN HOUSTON, AND WE'RE EXCITED TO PUT HOME BUYERS IN THESE QUALITY HOMES THAT THEY DESERVE. THANK YOU. COUNCIL MEMBER EVAN SHABAZZ. THANK YOU MAYOR. AND THANK YOU VANESSA. UM, CERTAINLY I HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO TOUR SOME OF HER WORK IN THE THIRD WARD AREA AND SHE DOES A BEAUTIFUL PRODUCT. UH, IT IT WAS JUST SO WARMING TO BE THERE AND CERTAINLY THE COMMUNITY EMBRACED THE WONDERFUL OPPORTUNITIES THAT YOU ARE AFFORDING AND I CERTAINLY, UM, APPRECIATE WHAT YOU HAVE BROUGHT TO THIRD WARD AND I KNOW THAT THIS WILL BE, UM, EQUALLY AS RECEIVED IN THE COMMUNITY. SO THANK YOU SO VERY MUCH. YES, THANK YOU. THANK YOU FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP VICE, UH, VICE MAYOR PRO, MARTHA CASTEK. KAYLA, MS. COLE, THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE ACROSS THE COUNTRY. EVERYBODY IS TALKING ABOUT THE RISING COSTS OF HOME OWNERSHIP. UM, SO WHAT YOU ARE PROVIDING TO THE CITY OF HOUSTON IS DEFINITELY AN INVALUABLE ASSET. UM, WE THANK YOU FOR, UM, BIDDING ON THE PROCESS AND BEING AVAILABLE TO HELP, UM, MAKE SURE WE HAVE AFFORDABLE, ATTAINABLE INVENTORY IN THE CITY OF HOUSTON. AND QUITE FRANKLY, THAT WASN'T REALLY A LONG TIME IN COMPARISON TO SOME OF THE CITY GO FOR CITY GOVERNMENT TIME. THAT ACTUALLY WASN'T THAT LONG. WELL THEN WE'RE FORTUNATE, BUT I DID WANT TO SAY THANK YOU FOR BEING AVAILABLE AND MAKING SURE THAT WE HAVE, UM, PRODUCT ON THE GROUND FOR HOUSTONIANS TO BE ABLE TO LIVE IN A HOME. THANK YOU. WELL, THIS DOESN'T WORK WITHOUT PUBLIC AND PRIVATE PARTNERSHIPS, SO THANK YOU. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. REALLY APPRECIATE YOUR WORK. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. OKAY, NEXT SPEAKER HARRY KLEIN. NOW HARRY KLEIN TO BE FOLLOWED BY STEVEN VLY. GOOD AFTERNOON. I'M HARRY KLEIN AND AS VANESSA POINTED OUT, I'M, UH, I'M HER BUSINESS PARTNER AND I'VE BEEN WORKING WITH HER NOW FOR THE LAST SIX YEARS AND LOOKING FORWARD TO CONTINUING WITH OUR PROJECTS. GOOD DEAL. COUNCILMAN P*****K. THANK YOU MAYOR HARRY, I WANT TO THANK YOU AGAIN FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP. UH, WHEN IT COMES TO THE AFFORDABILITY SPACE, THERE ARE A LOT OF DEVELOPERS WHO, UH, DO NOT TAKE THE TIME AND DILIGENCE TO GO THROUGH THE PROCESS AND PROGRAMS THAT WE HAVE HERE AT THE CITY. UM, BUT WE NEED DEVELOPERS TO DO JUST THAT BECAUSE THERE ARE A LOT OF FAMILIES THAT ARE IN NEED. SO, UH, WANT TO THANK YOU AS WELL. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. THANK YOU. AND HOW MANY HOMES ARE THERE? HARRY ZURI GARDENS WILL BE 80 AFFORDABLE HOMES. UH, GARVER HEIGHTS WILL BE 60 AFFORDABLE HOMES, A TOTAL OF 200 LOTS IN GARVER HEIGHTS, A TOTAL OF 84 IN ZURI. UM, BY NATURE, UH, THE MAJORITY OF ALL THE 200 LOTS IN GARVER HEIGHTS WILL END UP BEING AFFORDABLE HOUSING. GOOD. TOWARDS, UM, TOWARDS OUR GOAL OF 3000. YES, SIR. OKAY. BY THE END OF THE YEAR. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. APPRECIATE IT. THANK YOU, SIR. OKAY, THANK YOU. OKAY, NEXT SPEAKER. OKAY. STEVEN V. STEVEN BILLY. STEVEN BILLY. NEXT SPEAKER RANDALL CALLANAN. RANDALL CALLANAN IS HERE TO BE FOLLOWED BY NICHOLAS COOPER. YOU GET RIGHT BEHIND ONE OF THOSE MICS. THERE YOU GO. UH, GOOD AFTERNOON MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL. I'M HERE TODAY WITH MANY MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC AND, UH, FOOD NOT BOMBS, TO TALK ABOUT FEEDING THE HOMELESS FOOD. NOT BOMBS HAS BEEN FEEDING THE HOMELESS FOR 12 YEARS. UH, HOWEVER, LATELY THEY'VE BEEN RECEIVING ABOUT 50, UH, TICKETS, UH, FOR FEEDING THE HOMELESS, WHICH HAS RECEIVED NATIONAL ATTENTION STORIES IN THE USA TODAY, UM, AS WELL AS THE NEW YORK TIMES, JUST TO NAME A FEW. AND THE ASSOCIATED PRESS BECAUSE, UH, OF THIS PUNISHMENT OF THE GOOD SAMARITANS THAT THESE PEOPLE ARE IN HELPING, UH, THE HOMELESS AND NOT WITH JUST WITH FEEDING, BUT WITH TRYING TO STEER THEM TOWARDS HOUSING, CLOTHING AND MANY OTHER ITEMS. AND, UH, THERE IS A PENDING LAWSUIT TO TRY TO GET THIS STOP THE, UH, TICKETS AGAINST THE FEEDING OF THE HOMELESS. UM, AND BASED UPON THE CASE LAW THAT I SEE, THIS LAW CLEARLY VIOLATES THE RIGHT TO FREEDOM OF SPEECH AND THE RIGHT TO FREEDOM OF, OF RELIGION. BECAUSE THROUGHOUT THE BIBLE, JESUS SAYS, TO FEED THE HUNGRY AND POOR. LET'S BE VERY CAREFUL WITH THAT. LEMME JUST [00:35:01] SAY NUMBER ONE, UH, THEY'RE NOT BEING TICKETED FOR FEEDING THE HOMELESS. THEY'RE BEING TICKETED FOR WHERE THEY ARE CHOOSING TO FEED THE HOMELESS. LET ME BE VERY CLEAR. DURING THIS SESSION, THERE WILL BE NO OUTBURSTS. IF YOU CHOOSE TO HAVE AN OUTBURST, YOU'LL BE ESCORTED OUTSIDE. SO LEMME BE VERY CLEAR TODAY, THEY ARE NOT BEING TICKETED OF FEEDING THE HOMELESS. THEY ARE BEING TICKETED FOR WHERE, AND THE CITY HAS PROVIDED A MORE THAN REASONABLE LOCATION WHERE THEY CAN FEED IF THEY CHOOSE. AND THAT'S RIGHT DOWN THE STREET. IN FACT, WHAT IS NOT BEING SAID ENOUGH IS THAT THE CITY IS PROVIDING ANOTHER LOCATION AT THE CITY'S COST, PROVIDING HOT MEALS FOUR TIMES A DAY, WORKING WITH THE BREAD OF LIFE, WHICH IS A NONPROFIT PASTOR RUDY RASMUS AND HIS TEAM. BUT WE CANNOT AFFORD TO LOSE A MAJOR PUBLIC RESOURCE LIKE THE CITY LIBRARY WHERE FAMILIES AND THEIR CHILDREN AND PATRONS ARE NO LONGER, UH, FEEL COMFORTABLE IN ATTENDING. AND THAT'S THE REASON WHY. SO YOU JUST DON'T HAVE THE LUXURY OF PROVIDING FOOD ANYWHERE, ESPECIALLY WHEN REASONABLE ACCOMMODATIONS ARE BEING PROVIDED. SO THAT'S WHAT'S HAPPENING HERE. IT'S NOT GOING TO STOP. IF THEY CHOOSE TO DO THAT IN FRONT OF THE CENTRAL LIBRARY, THEY WILL BE TICKETED. SO THANKS VERY MUCH. NO SPEAKER, UH, THANK YOU VERY MUCH. THANK YOU. AND I'LL, I'LL ALLOW OTHERS TO SPEAK. THANK YOU. SPEAKER NICHOLAS COOPER. NICHOLAS COOPER NICHOLAS. NEXT SPEAKER, JOE CASIS. JOE CASIS. JOE CASSIS IS HERE TO BE FOLLOWED BY SEAN BARRY. RIGHT BEHIND THE MIC, ONE OF THE MIC. OH, . THANK YOU MR. MAYOR. SURE. SO RIGHT HERE. THAT'S FINE. OKAY. SO, UM, HOUSTON CITY ATTORNEY ARTURO MICHEL SAID THAT ENFORCING THIS ORDINANCE IS QUOTE, A HEALTH AND SAFETY ISSUE FOR THE PROTECTION OF HOUSTON'S RESIDENTS. WHAT I WANT TO UNDERSTAND IS WHY DOES THE CITY OF HOUSTON NOT CONSIDER THE UNHOUSED TO BE RESIDENTS? BECAUSE THE WAY THEY ENFORCE THIS POLICY DOESN'T REFLECT THAT THE UNHOUSED OR HUMAN BEINGS WHO LIVE IN THIS CITY, THEY ARE HOUSTON RHETORIC RESIDENTS. THE RHETORIC DEFENDING THIS ORDINANCE DELIBERATELY DEHUMANIZES THE UNHOUSED. IT DENIES THEM THE RIGHT TO EXIST IN PUBLIC WITHOUT DISCRIMINATION OR SEGREGATION. IT USED TO NOT BE A MATTER TO FEED THEM WHEREVER WE WANTED. THIS HAS ONLY CHANGED RECENTLY BECAUSE IT IS CLEAR THAT THIS ORDINANCE IS ABOUT RELOCATING UNDESIRABLES OUT OF DESIRABLE LOCATIONS. AND THE ALTERNATIVE IS THE WHAT? THE PARKING LOT OF HPD, THAT'S NOT A PLACE THAT'S SHADED, IT'S NOT SECURED. AND THE FOOD THAT THEY SERVE IS OF FAR INFERIOR QUALITY DUE TO THE FOOD THAT FOOD NOT BOMBS HAS BEEN PROVIDING FOR THE LAST SEVERAL DECADES. OTHER CITIES HAVE TRIED TO RESTRICT SERVING MEALS TO THE UNHOUSED AND THEY HAVE LOST IN COURT. FOOD IS A HUMAN RIGHT AND PROVIDING IT IS PROTECTED UNDER THE FIRST AMENDMENT. THANK YOU. AND LET ME QUICKLY RESPOND. THE HOMELESS ARE NOT BEING TICKETED AND NO ONE IS OUT TO ATTACK THE HOMELESS. AND HOUSING IS A NUMBER ONE PRIORITY FOR THE CITY OF HOUSTON. WHAT YOU AND OTHERS FAIL TO SAY TO THE PUBLIC AND TO OTHERS IS THAT, UH, HOUSTON HAS BEEN VERY SUCCESSFUL AT PROVIDING HOUSING WITH WRAPAROUND SERVICES FOR THOSE WHO ARE HOMELESS. AND WE HAVE DONE IT BY THE THOUSAND AND JUST IN THE LAST YEAR, WE HAVE REDUCED THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE WHO ARE LIVING ON OUR STREETS HOMELESS BY 17%. IT IS ONE THING TO PROVIDE THEM WITH FOOD AND THEN LEAVE THEM. IT IS ANOTHER THING TO PROVIDE THEM WITH THE ESSENTIALS THAT THEY NEED TO HOUND THEM. AND WHAT THE CITY OF HOUSTON IS DOING IS THAT WE ARE GOING TO HOLD ON TO OUR PUBLIC FACILITY LIKE THE LIBRARY FOR FAMILIES AND CHILDREN TO USE. WE WANNA MAKE SURE THAT THE EMPLOYEES ARE SAFE. AND WHAT YOU ALL ARE NOT SAYING IS THAT IN OUR LIBRARIES, PEOPLE HAVE PULLED KNIVES BY THOSE WHO ARE HOMELESS ON THE STAFF [00:40:02] AND CUSTOMERS IN THE LIBRARY NO LONGER FEEL SAFE. NOW WE ARE PROVIDING A SPACE, A VENUE FOR PEOPLE WHO ARE HOMELESS AND THOSE WHO CHOOSE TO FEED THEM WITH SPACE TO DO THAT WITH TABLES AND CHAIRS SO THAT THEY CAN SIT DOWN WITH DIGNITY AND RESPECT. AND AT THE SAME TIME, WE ARE SEEKING TO PROVIDE THEM WITH PERMANENT SUPPORTIVE HOUSING. NOW, FOR THOSE WHO WISH TO USE THE HOMELESS FOR THEIR CAUSE, THAT'S ONE THING. BUT AS FAR AS THE CITY IS CONCERNED, WE WANT TO NUMBER ONE, PROVIDE THEM WITH PERMANENT SUPPORTIVE HOUSING. NUMBER TWO, WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE PROVIDE THEM A SPACE WHERE THEY CAN BE FED WITH DIGNITY AND RESPECT SO THAT THEY CAN SIT DOWN AT A TABLE WITH CHAIRS AND EAT IN A VERY DIGNIFIED FASHION AND NOT USE THEM FOR OTHER PEOPLE'S OBJECTIVES. AND WE FEEL, AND, AND WE WILL CONTINUE TO DO THAT. SO NO ONE IS PENALIZING THE HOMELESS. WE ARE SEEKING TO HELP THEM, BUT WE ARE NOT GOING TO ALLOW ANY GROUP TO DO THEIR BIDDING IN SUCH A WAY THAT WE LOSE A VITAL RESOURCE LIKE THE DOWNTOWN CENTRAL LIBRARY. THAT'S NOT GOING TO HAPPEN. LASTLY, SINCE YOU BROUGHT IT UP, I THINK THE PEOPLE WITH BREAD OF LIFE, THIS NONPROFIT AFFILIATED IN PART WITH ST. JOHN'S DOWNTOWN, WOULD TAKE STRONG ISSUE AT WHAT, HOW YOU CHARACTERIZE THEIR FOOD AND THEIR SERVICE. UM, AND QUITE FRANKLY, UM, I FIND IT APPALLING, BUT YOU'VE HAD YOUR SAY, I'VE HAD MINE. THANK YOU, SIR, VERY MUCH. THANK YOU. B******T, MR. MAYOR. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. NEXT SPEAKER, SEAN BARRY. SEAN BARRY, SEAN NEXT SPEAKER JAMIAH MILLER. JAMIAH MILLER IS HERE TO BE FOLLOWED BY EMILY GARCIA. MY NAME IS JAMIAH MILLER AND I'VE RECEIVED A TICKET FOR SERVING WITH FOOD NOT BOMBS. I LIKE TO ADDRESS SOME OF THE FALSE CLAIMS BEING SPREAD ABOUT FOOD, NOT BOMBS, FOOD SHARING. FIRST, THE DOWNTOWN LIBRARY IS CLOSED BY THE TIME FOOD NOT BOMBS HAS THEIR FOOD SHARING. SO THERE'S NO ACTUAL INTERFERING WITH THE LIBRARY'S OPERATIONS. THERE ARE ALSO CLAIMS THAT THE ALTERNATIVE LOCATION IS NOT THAT FAR AWAY TO QUOTE THE MAYOR. BUT THE WALK IS NOT EASY, ESPECIALLY WHEN YOU HAVE TO CARRY ALL OF YOUR BELONGINGS AND ESPECIALLY IN THIS HEAT. THERE'S ALSO NOT A BUS STOP AS CLOSE AS THERE IS AT THE LIBRARY WHERE WE SERVE. YOU SAID OFFICERS WOULD BE HELPING PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES TO THE NEW REISNER LOCATION, BUT BY Y'ALL'S OWN ADMISSION, THAT'S NOT SOMETHING Y'ALL CONTINUE TO DO. SO THE LACK OF ACCESSIBILITY WITH REISNER IS STILL AN ONGOING ISSUE. UM, I'VE OBSERVED ENOUGH CITY COUNCIL MEETINGS TO KNOW THE MAYOR'S JUST GONNA THANK ME FOR MY TIME AND REPEAT HIS SAME EXCUSES. BUT TO THE CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS HERE TODAY, THE WHOLE COUNTRY IS WATCHING. IN CLOSING, I'D LIKE TO ADDRESS SOME OF THE MORE INVOLVED COUNCIL MEMBERS ON SOCIAL ISSUES, SPECIFICALLY THE ONES THAT ARE PART OF THE QUALITY OF LIFE COMMITTEE, UM, THAT CONSIDERS ISSUES RELATED TO THE HOUSTON PUBLIC LIBRARY. SO COUNCIL MEMBERS, UM, PLUMBER CAYMAN JACKSON, UM, WHAT ARE Y'ALL DOING TO HELP STOP THE CRIMINALIZATION OF VOLUNTEERS HERE IN HOUSTON? WELL, LET ME JUST SAY TO YOU, UM, WHAT THE LAW REQUIRES IS THAT WE PROVIDE A REASONABLE SPACE IN ORDER FOR PEOPLE WHO DESIRE TO FEED THOSE WHO ARE HOMELESS. AND YOU ARE, ONE, APPRECIATE WHAT YOU ARE DOING. YOU CAN CONTINUE TO DO THAT. NO ONE IS STOPPING YOU FROM DOING THAT. WE WILL PROVIDE REASONABLE ACCOMMODATIONS AND YOU CAN DO IT IN SUCH A WAY EVEN OUTDOORS. UH, AND WE ARE PROVIDING THE CITY, WE ARE PROVIDING THE TABLES AND THE CHAIRS IN ADDITION TO WHAT YOU ARE DOING. THE CITY IS ALSO PARTNERED WITH BREAD OF LIFE, A NONPROFIT WHERE HOT MEALS ARE PROVIDED FOUR TIMES A WEEK. SO WE ARE DOING THAT. UH, ALL OF THIS IS AT THE CITY'S EXPENSE. NOW, WHAT HAS BEEN HAPPENING IS THAT ONCE WHEN PEOPLE ARE ASSEMBLING, UH, AND, AND, AND MEETING IN FRONT OF THE DOWNTOWN CENTRAL HIGH, UH, LIBRARY, YES, WHEN YOU ALL FINISH FEEDING, PROVIDING THE FOOD, YOU ALL LEAVE. BUT THOSE WHO ARE HOMELESS REMAIN AND [00:45:01] THEY CAMP OUT ON THE GROUNDS OF THE CITY OF HOUSTON'S LIBRARIES. AND DURING THE WORK HOURS, THEY MISS SOME OF THEM ENTER INTO THE LIBRARY AND THEY HAVE BEEN THREATENING THE STAFF. IN ADDITION TO THAT, WE HAVE RECEIVED A NUMBER OF COMPLAINTS FROM FAMILY MEMBERS AND OTHERS PATRONS WHO WISH TO UTILIZE THE LIBRARY. AND THEY NO LONGER FEEL SAFE IN DOING THAT. AND THE CITY CANNOT AFFORD TO LOSE A MAJOR ASSET THAT SERVICES THE OVERALL CITY. SO WHAT WE ARE DOING IS PROVIDING ANOTHER SPACE VENUE. SO IF YOU DESIRE, YOU CAN CONTINUE TO FEED THOSE WHO ARE HOMELESS. DON'T WANNA STOPPING YOU FROM DOING THAT. AND YOU CAN DO IT IN COLLABORATION WITH THE BREAD OF LIFE. YOU CAN CONTINUE TO DO THAT. BUT SOME HAVE MADE THE DECISION, WE'RE GONNA DO IT HERE, MAYOR, THIS IS WHERE WE CHOOSE TO DO IT. AND I DON'T CARE IF YOU PROVIDE ANOTHER SPACE, THIS IS WHERE WE CHOOSE TO DO IT. NO, YOU DO NOT HAVE THAT RIGHT. AND IF YOU DO THAT, YOU WILL CONTINUE TO BE TICKETED. THANK YOU SO VERY MUCH. MAY I RESPOND OR NO? OKAY. THANK YOU. APPRECIATE IT. NEXT SPEAKER, EMILY GARCIA. EMILY GARCIA IS HERE. MY NAME IS EMILY GARCIA AND I'M HERE TODAY TO TALK ABOUT THE DISGRACEFUL ACTIONS OF THE CITY OF HOUSTON AND HPD WHO HAVE BEEN HANDING OUT TICKETS TO VOLUNTEERS WITH FOOD NOT BOMBS FOR WEEKS NOW TARGETING PEOPLE WHO ARE FEEDING A HUNGRY AND VULNERABLE POPULATION IN DOWNTOWN HOUSTON. AS A COMMUNITY NUTRITIONIST WHO STUDY NUTRITION SCIENCE AT THE UNIVERSITY OF HOUSTON, I AM OUTRAGED THAT THE PEOPLE WHO HOLD PUBLIC OFFICE IN MY CITY, PEOPLE WHO HAVE SUPPOSEDLY MADE A COMMITMENT TO CARE FOR HOUSTON ARE NOW CRIMINALIZING THOSE WHO ARE DOING SOMETHING NECESSARY LIKE FEEDING THE COMMUNITY NUTRITIOUS MEALS. NOT ONLY ARE THE TICKETS BEING CRUELLY HANDED OUT CONSISTENTLY TO BEGIN WITH, BUT HOUSTON HAS EVEN HAD THE AUDACITY TO ANNOUNCE THAT THEY WILL REFILE CHARGES AGAINST VOLUNTEERS THAT HAVE SO FAR BEEN THANKFULLY FOUND NOT GUILTY BY A JURY. IT IS ABSOLUTELY HYPOCRITICAL AND HUMANE AND DISGUSTING. HOW SADISTIC IS IT TO TARGET PEOPLE WHO ARE HELPING THEIR COMMUNITY? MAYOR TURNER AND CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS SHOULD BE DOING EVERYTHING IN THEIR POWER TO HELP FOOD NOT BOMBS. NEWALL SHOULD BE DOING EVERYTHING IN YOUR POWER TO ENSURE PROGRAMS TO FEED HUNGRY PEOPLE ARE BEING FULLY FUNDED BY THE CITY. THE HOUSTON FOOD BANK, WHICH IS NOT EVEN A GOVERNMENT PROGRAM, IS NOT ENOUGH. WE NEED DOZENS OF COMMUNITY NUTRITION CENTERS THAT PROVIDE FREE MEALS AND GROCERIES TO OUR COMMUNITIES AND WHICH WOULD CHANGE THE LIVES OF MILLIONS IN THE HOUSTON AREA. INSTEAD, MILLIONS OF DOLLARS ARE BEING WASTED EVERY YEAR ON THE POLICE BUDGET THAT ARMS HPD OFFICERS AGAINST CIVILIANS. THE NEGLECT AND CRUELTY SEEN IN HOUSTON CANNOT AND WILL NOT BE IGNORED. JUST KNOW THAT YOUR HYPOCRISY IS ON FULL DISPLAY. KNOW THAT PEOPLE ARE NOT IGNORANT OF THE COLD-BLOODED ACTIONS BEING TAKEN BY THE CITY OF HOUSTON AND HPD. WE FULLY SUPPORT FOOD NOT BOMBS. WE DEMAND THAT ALL CHARGES AGAINST THE VOLUNTEERS WITH FOOD NOT BOMBS BE DROPPED. AND ADDITIONALLY, WE DEMAND THE CRIMINALIZATION OF FEEDING THE HUNGRY STOPS. NOW STOP TARGETING PEOPLE FOR FEEDING THEIR COMMUNITY. I CAN'T BELIEVE THAT EVEN HAS TO BE SAID AND I CAN'T BELIEVE YOU ARE OFFERING THE ALTERNATIVE AT A HOUSTON POLICE DEPARTMENT. HOW CAN THE COMMUNITY FEEL SAFE TO GO THERE AND BE FED WHEN Y'ALL ARE CRIMINALIZING THE PEOPLE WHO ARE TRYING TO FEED THEM? YOU DONE? I'M DONE NOW. THANK YOU. AND LET ME RESPOND TO YOU. PLEASE RESPOND THE SAME RESPONSES I'VE BEEN, YOU'VE BEEN GIVING. I DID NOT INTERRUPT YOU. GIVE ME THE SAME RESP. THANK YOU. NEXT SPEAKER, PATRICIA CHIN. I THINK THAT DEMONSTRATES WHAT WE ARE DEALING WITH, BUT YOU ARE. NEXT SPEAKER. PATRICIA CHEN. PATRICIA CHEN. NEXT SPEAKER SPENCER SWAN. SPENCER SWUNG IS HERE TO BE FILED BY CHRISTINA BERG. HELLO, COUNCIL MEMBERS, I'M HERE TO REGISTER MY FRUSTRATION AND DISAPPOINTMENT REGARDING THE TREATMENT OF THIS CITY TOWARDS FOOD NOT BOMBS, SPECIFICALLY RELATING TO THE CHARITABLE FOOD SERVICE ORDINANCES. I'VE ONLY FALLEN VOLUNTEERED A FEW TIMES WITH THIS ORGANIZATION, BUT WITHOUT FAIL. THERE HAVE BEEN SEVERAL POLICE OFFICERS WHO SHOW UP BEFORE WE DO SIT AND WAIT AND THEY'RE RUNNING AIR CONDITIONED CARS AND THEN DECIDE IT'S TIME TO WRITE US A TICKET AND COME OUT AND DO SO. THIS COMBINED WITH THE PROSECUTION OF THE RESULTING TICKETS AMOUNTS TO A SIGNIFICANT WASTE OF TAXPAYER MONEY AND CITY RESOURCES. DO THESE POLICE OFFICERS TRULY HAVE NO BETTER USE OF THEIR TIME THAN TO WAIT AROUND TO GIVE A TICKET TO SOMEBODY TRYING TO HELP THEIR HUNGRY NEIGHBORS? MR. MAYOR, YOUR POLICE, YOUR PROPOSAL CALLS FOR A POLICE BUDGET OF OVER A BILLION DOLLARS NEXT YEAR. IF THIS IS HOW THEY USE THEIR CURRENT BUDGET, DO THEY TRULY NEED MORE FUNDING NEXT YEAR? DO CITY PROSECUTORS TRULY NOT HAVE ANY MORE WORTHWHILE USES OF THE COURT SYSTEM THAN TO PROSECUTE THOSE TRYING TO LEND A HELPING HAND TO THOSE IN NEED? [00:50:02] HARRIS COUNTY COURTS HAVE 34,000 PLUS CRIMINAL CASES OPEN AND WAITING FOR THEIR DAY IN COURT. IS THIS THE BEST WAY TO USE AND FOCUS OUR EFFORTS AND RESOURCES? WASTING POLICE TIME AND MONEY CRIMINALIZING PEOPLE FOR HELPING AND ADDING TO THE COURT'S BACKLOG, THEREBY DELAYING JUSTICE FOR ACTUAL VICTIMS? LASTLY, THESE BACKWARDS EFFORTS AREN'T EVEN EFFECTIVE OF THE, OF THE, OF THE AT LEAST 47 CITATIONS THE CITY HAS ISSUED. THEY HAVE YET TO SUCCESSFULLY PROSECUTE A SINGLE INSTANCE AND HAVE HAD NINE CASES LOST OR OUTRIGHT DISMISSED. THE CITY IS UNABLE TO CONVINCE A JUDGE OR JURY OF THEIR CASE, BUT STATES THAT THEY SHALL SIMPLY REFILE THESE CASES AND VIGOROUSLY PROSECUTE THEM. WE OUGHT TO SPEND THESE RESOURCES ON EFFORTS TO IMPROVE THE LIVES OF THOSE WHO LIVE IN OUR CITY AND STOP USING THEM AGAINST THOSE WHO TRIED TO HELP. THIS CURRENT APPROACH IS INEFFECTIVE AT BEST AND COUNTERPRODUCTIVE AT WORST. I WOULDN'T HAVE EVEN KNOWN ABOUT THIS GROUP OR STARTED VOLUNTEERING WITH THEM, WERE IT NOT FOR THE CITY'S APPROACH OF SENDING IN POLICE TO DETER THEM. AND THE BACKLASH THAT THAT HAD GENERATED, YOU ARE NOT STOPPING ANYONE. ALL THAT HAS BEEN ACCOMPLISHED IS A WASTE OF TIME AND MONEY AND YOU'RE GIVING MORE AND MORE PEOPLE REASON TO STAND UP AGAINST UNJUST LAWS. THIS CITY CAN AND MUST DO BETTER. STOP WASTING RESOURCES PROSECUTING IN MORAL LAW. YEAH, HAZARD IS FINE. I'M VICE MAYOR VOTE. TIM KACK. TATUM. THANK YOU MAYOR. CAN YOU HELP ME UNDERSTAND WHAT THE OBJECTION IS TO FOOD DO BOMBS, UH, FEEDING ALONG WITH, UM, PASTOR RUDY RASMUS, UH, ORGANIZATION IN THE DESIGNATED AREA THAT WE'VE ALLOTTED FOR, UM, RESIDENTS TO BE FED? I'M, I'M TRYING TO UNDERSTAND WHAT THE OBJECTION IS. I HAVE ONE CLARIFYING QUESTION. IS THAT THE LOCATION NEAR THE POLICE OFFICE? YES. WHAT'S WHAT'S THE OBJECTION? I HAVE ONE. I WOULD SAY I'VE ONLY BEEN DOING THIS FOR THREE WEEKS, SO I DON'T WANNA SPEAK FOR THE WHOLE ORGANIZATION, BUT TWO IS MY UNDERSTANDING AND I THINK PRETTY REASONABLE TO EXPECT THAT PEOPLE WHO ARE HARASSED BY THE POLICE PROBABLY DON'T WANT TO GET THEIR MEALS AT A POLICE OFFICE. IT'S NOT, IT IS NOT AT THE POLICE OFFICE. IT IS IN A SPACE THAT'S RIGHT THERE IN THAT AREA. BUT IT IS NOT AT THE POLICE OFFICE. IT IS OUTSIDE. IT IS. HAVE YOU GONE TO THAT SPACE WHERE THEY FEED THE THE ALTERNATIVE SPACE? YES. PERSONALLY, NO, I DON'T THINK SO. OKAY. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. THANK YOU VERY I'M SORRY COUNCILMAN. AND LEMME JUST SAY OTHER NONPROFITS WHO WERE FEEDING IN FRONT OF THE LIBRARY, THEY HAVE CHOSEN TO GO DOWN TO THAT SPACE. YEAH. SO OTHER NONPROFIT, THE ONLY NON, REALLY THE ONLY MAIN NONPROFIT THAT'S NOT DOING IT IS FOOD NOT BOMB. OTHER NONPROFITS HAVE ELECTED TO UTILIZE THE OTHER SPACE WITH TABLES AND CHAIRS AND WHERE THOSE WHO ARE HOMELESS CAN SIT DOWN AND EAT. AND WE CLEAN THE SPACE AND WE PROVIDE OTHER NECESSITIES FOR THEM. AND AT THE SAME TIME WE UTILIZE OUR BEST EFFORTS TO PROVIDE HOUSING FOR THEM AS WELL. SO IT'S NOT JUST FEEDING THEM BECAUSE THAT'S A TEMPORARY SOLUTION. THE PRIMARY THING THAT THEY NEED, THEY NEED HOUSING WITH WRAPAROUND SERVICES IN ORDER TO RESPOND TO THEIR UNDERLYING NEEDS. THAT'S WHAT THEY NEED AND THAT'S WHAT THE, THAT'S WHAT THE CITY SHOULD BE PROVIDING THEM. BUT OTHER NONPROFITS WHO ARE FEEDING IN FRONT OF THE CENTRAL LIBRARY, WHEN THEY WERE MADE AWARE OF WHAT THE CITY WAS OFFERING, MANY OF THEM HAVE ELECTED TO GO TO THAT SPACE. MANY OF THEM HAVE ELECTED TO GO TO THAT SPACE. COUNCIL MEMBER POLL. THANK YOU MAYOR. UM, WHEN YOU SPEAK OF THE SPACE THAT IS BEING PROVIDED, BEING NEAR AN HPD STATION AND THE CONFLICT THAT MAY BE THERE BETWEEN WHAT YOU PERCEIVE LAW ENFORCEMENT AND THE PEOPLE THAT YOU'RE SERVING MM-HMM . WOULDN'T IT GO A LONG WAYS TO SHOW THAT? UM, BEING IN THAT SPACE, YOU'RE BUILDING TRUST BETWEEN COMMUNITY AND POLICE? SOMETHING THAT WE ARE ALL TRYING TO ACHIEVE. AND IF YOU HAVE, UM, BOTH DEMOGRAPHICS WITHIN ONE SPACE, BEING ABLE TO SERVE ONE ANOTHER, SPEAK TO ONE ANOTHER, BE AROUND ONE ANOTHER, THAT IT SHOULD INCREASE THE FAMILIARITY, UNDERSTAND THE ISSUES, AND BE ABLE TO BUILD THAT TRUST, SHOULDN'T THAT BE A POSITIVE THING THAT WE WANT TO PROJECT AND NOT, AND NOT BE RESISTANT OR HESITANT TO TRY DOING THAT AS A WAY IN WHICH TO IMPROVE THOSE RELATIONSHIPS. SO I SAY ALL THAT TO SAY HAVE AN OPEN MIND. I FULLY UNDERSTAND WHAT YOU ALL ARE SAYING, BUT UNDERSTAND THAT THE CITY ALSO HAS TO LOOK OUT FOR THE ENTIRE POPULATION OF THE RESIDENTS AND FINDING WAYS TO COMPROMISE. A LOT OF TIMES IT'S THE BEST WAY IN WHICH WE CAN FIND SOME RESOLUTION. IT MAY NOT BE THE PERFECT [00:55:01] SOLUTION, BUT IT'S A COMPROMISE THAT MAY BE, UH, FOR THE GREATER GOOD FOR ALL. SO FOR YOU AND THE REST OF THE SPEAKERS THAT ARE ON THIS TOPIC, IT WOULD, IT WOULD BE I THINK, ADVANTAGEOUS FOR US ALL TO NOT GO BACK AND FORTH WITH THE INSULTS OR THE DEFENSE, BUT FIND WAYS TO WORK TOGETHER IN A COMPROMISE WHICH THE CITY HAS OFFERED. IF YOU HAVE SOMETHING THAT MAY BE BETTER, MAYBE THAT'S SOMETHING FOR US TO BE CONSIDERATE OF. UM, BUT I APPRECIATE YOUR TIME AND YOUR WORDS AND THANK YOU. MAY I PRETEND MARTIN? MARTIN, YES. THANK YOU MAYOR. AND, UM, I DON'T THINK ANYONE IS, I, I APPRECIATE WHAT YOU DO AND TRYING TO MAKE SURE THAT THE HOMELESS HAVE A HOT MEAL AND THE HOMELESS HAVE THE ABILITY TO GET SOME NOURISHMENT. BUT WHAT I SEE EVERY DAY, AND I WALK THAT AREA EVERY DAY BECAUSE MY OFFICE IN THE PRIVATE SECTOR IS RIGHT ACROSS THE STREET. SO I GET THE CHANCE TO GO BY THERE AT ALL HOURS OF THE DAY AND TO, YOU KNOW, WATCH WHAT HAPPENS OVER THERE. SO MY QUESTION TO YOU, SO DO YOU THINK IT'S INHUMANE TO HAVE PEOPLE THAT ARE PROVIDED A MEALS AND HAS NOWHERE TO SIT, TO HAVE PEOPLE THAT ARE PROVIDED A MEAL, THAT HAVE NOWHERE TO USE THE RESTROOM? PEOPLE THAT ARE PROVIDED A MEAL AND HAVE NOWHERE TO WASH UP BEFORE THEY EAT AND AFTER THEY EAT? BECAUSE PART AND PARCEL TO THIS IS WHAT WE'RE TRYING TO DO IN BRINGING THIS ALL TOGETHER, IS TO TREAT THEM IN THE MOST HUMANE WAY, EVEN THOUGH THEY ARE HOMELESS. SO THAT WE PROVIDE THEM WITH A HOT MEAL, BUT WE ALSO PROVIDE THEM WITH SERVICES THAT ARE NEEDED IF THEY'RE MENTALLY ILL, SERVICES THAT ARE NEEDED, IF THEY NEED TO USE THE RESTROOM SERVICES THAT ARE NEEDED WHEN THEY WANTED TO TAKE A REST AND GET THE LOAD OFF THEIR FEET, BECAUSE I'M SURE THEY DON'T HAVE THE ABILITY TO DO THAT EACH AND EVERY DAY. SO I'D ASK YOU, SO DO YOU FIND THAT INHUMANE TREATMENT WHERE WE'VE SET UP THAT TYPE OF FACILITY TO PROVIDE THOSE SERVICES AND TO PROVIDE THOSE THINGS THAT THE HOMELESS NEED MOTION TO EXPAND? CAN I RESPOND? YES. ANY OBJECTION? NO, PER I WOULD NOT FIND THAT INHUMANE. MY ISSUE WITH ANYTHING INHUMANE IS PEOPLE TRYING TO DETER PEOPLE FROM FEEDING PEOPLE WHO EAT FOOD. I DON'T THINK WE'RE TRYING TO DETER PEOPLE FROM EATING. I THINK WE'RE TRYING TO PROVIDE A HUMANE OPPORTUNITY FOR PEOPLE THAT ARE UNFORTUNATE. MM-HMM . AND I, I THINK THAT'S NOBLE AND I JUST RESPOND TO THE TWO OTHER COMMENTS I'VE GOTTEN. UM, I THINK THAT'S GREAT AND THE CITY DOES A LOT OF GREAT THINGS AND SHOULD CONTINUE TO DO THEM, BUT WHY NOT USE THE RESOURCES BEING EMPLOYED TO PROSECUTE AND CRIMINALIZE US AND ADD TO THOSE EFFORTS? WHY, WHY, WHY WASTE THEM ON THIS? IF I CAN, IF IT IS SO GOOD, AND I THINK IT IS. IF I CAN RESPOND TO YOU, SPENCER, SIR. SURE. PRIOR TO US EVEN SETTING UP THE SPACE, THE VENUE, WE REACHED OUT TO FOOD NOT BOMB, AND ASKED THEM TO WORK WITH US IN COMING UP WITH A SUITABLE LOCATION. WHAT MANY PEOPLE MAY NOT KNOW, WE REACHED OUT TO FOOD, NOT BUM FIRST. FIRST THEY WERE ONLY INTERESTED IN FEEDING IN FRONT OF THE CENTRAL LIBRARY CASE CLOSE. THAT'S WHAT THEY SAID. AND OUR POSITION HAS BEEN THE CENTRAL LIBRARY SERVICES, ALL OF HOUSTON MM-HMM . AND WE CANNOT AFFORD TO LOSE THE CENTRAL LIBRARY BECAUSE FAMILIES AND OTHERS NO LONGER FEEL SAFE GOING THERE AND EMPLOYEES, LEMME JUST FINISH. AND I WAS HEARING FROM EMPLOYEES WHEN I HAD A STAFFER AND A KNIFE WAS PUT ON THAT, ON THAT EMPLOYEE. HE SAID, NO, WE CAN'T CONTINUE TO DO THIS. SO WE FOUND A LOCATION AND IT'S NOT IN, IN FRONT OF THE POLICE STATION. IT IS A, IT IS THE REASONING, IT IS AN OFFICE BUILDING AND IT'S THAT PARKING LOT. OKAY. AND WE PROVIDE, AND WE PARTNERED WITH BREAD OF LIFE, ANOTHER NONPROFIT THAT'S BEEN IN THIS SPACE DEALING WITH HOMELESS FOR YEARS. OKAY. PASTOR RUBY RAUS AND BREAD OF LIFE, THIS IS WHAT THEY DO. AND NOT ONLY DO THEY PROVIDE MEALS, THEY PROVIDE HOUSING. GOT ONE MORE TIME. OKAY. SO THEY PROVIDE MEALS AND THEY'RE NOT THE ONLY GROUP THAT PROVIDE HOUSING. WE WORK WITH OTHERS AND WE PROVIDE RESTROOMS AND PORTA-POTTIES THAT DOESN'T EXIST AT THE LIBRARY. WE PROVIDE FACILITIES FOR THEM TO WASH THEIR HANDS BEFORE AND AFTER. AT THIS OTHER SPACE, WE REMOVE THE TRASH AND WE'RE DOING IT AT THE CITY'S EXPENSE. THAT'S NOT AT THE CENTRAL LIBRARY [01:00:01] THAT'S NOT THERE. WE PROVIDE THE TABLES AND CHAIRS SO THAT THEY CAN SIT DOWN AND EAT WITH DIGNITY AND RESPECT. OKAY. I I DON'T APPRECIATE YOU SAYING WE DON'T RESPECT THEM. I DON'T THINK THAT'S FAIR. NO, WHAT I'M SAYING ASSERTION, WHAT I'M SAYING IS THAT WE ALLOWED THEM INSTEAD OF STANDING UP AND EATING MM-HMM . WE PROVIDE THE TABLES AND THE CHAIRS FOR THEM TO SIT DOWN AND EAT. THAT'S ALL I'M SAYING, MR. MAYOR, I WISH I HAD ENOUGH CHAIRS AND TABLES FOR EVERYBODY TO SIT DOWN, BUT I DON'T, I WOULD LOVE FOR THE CITY TO USE ITS RESOURCES TO PROVIDE MORE. WELL, I'VE BEEN THERE, I'VE BEEN OUT THERE, I'VE BEEN OUT THERE WHILE THEY WERE BEING SERVED THE FOOD AND WHILE THEY WERE EATING AND WHILE OTHER NECESSITIES WERE BEING PROVIDED. I'VE BEEN OUT THERE MYSELF. OKAY. I THINK IT'S GOOD. I DON'T THINK YOU SHOULD STOP. I'M NOT THERE. THESE ARE NOT, I CONTRADICTORY. I GOT YOU. WE, WE ARE FINE. OKAY. UH, THANK YOU VERY MUCH. APPRECIATE IT. YOU'RE WELCOME. NEXT SPEAKER CHRISTINA ROTENBERG. CHRISTINA ROSE. IS IT ROSENBERG? RONEN? WHERE? THAT RIGHT HERE. OKAY. CHRISTINA RONEN. GOOD AFTERNOON, MAYOR AND COUNCIL. MY NAME'S CHRISTINA ROTENBERG AND I'M STAFF AT BY HOUSTON. AND I'M HERE TODAY TO TALK ABOUT TRAFFIC VIOLENCE AND THE NUMBER OF BICYCLISTS WHO'VE BEEN KILLED SO FAR THIS YEAR. AND I'M HERE AGAIN, UNFORTUNATELY BY HOUSTON. CAME TO CITY COUNCIL IN JANUARY, FEBRUARY, MARCH AND APRIL OF THIS YEAR TO WARN THAT WE ARE ON TRACK TO PASS OR EVEN DOUBLE THE NUMBER OF BICYCLIST FATALITIES. AND UNFORTUNATELY, AS OF JULY 28TH WE DID. SO. UM, WE NOW HAVE 12 BICYCLIST FATALITIES. AND I KNOW THAT THE CITY IS WORKING HARD TO MAKE THE STREET SAFER AND TO ADDRESS THE HIGH INJURY NETWORK, BUT IT'S NOT ENOUGH. SO WHAT WE WANT IS FOR THE CITY TO DOUBLE DOWN ON THE VISION ZERO COMMITMENT TO SAVING LIVES OVER PRIORITIZING CARS. AND THIS TIME WE REALLY NEED IT TO BE BACKED BY FUNDING AND TIMELINES. WE WANT REDUCED SPEEDS, LOWERED TO 20 OR 25 MILES AN HOUR IN RESIDENTIAL AREAS. WE WANT SAFER TRANSPORTATION INFRASTRUCTURE. SO RAISED CROSSWALKS, ROAD DIETS, BUMP OUTS, AND PROTECTED BIKE LANES ACROSS THE CITY. YES, WE KNOW THAT SAFETY IMPROVEMENTS COST MONEY, BUT AREN'T THE LIVES OF HOUSTONIANS AND MULTIPLE MODE CHOICE FOR TRANSPORTATION WORTH IT? AND IF FUNDING IS A CONCERN, SEVERAL WAYS TO FUND SAFETY IMPROVEMENTS ARE TICKETING THOSE WHO SPEED IN RED, RED LIGHTS, WHICH IS RAMPANT IN THE CITY INSTITUTE. MARKET-BASED PARKING ACROSS THE CITY LIKE WE ALREADY HAVE IN THREE AREAS AND ISSUING A MOBILITY BOND FOR STREET SAFETY. LET'S REMEMBER THAT TRAFFIC VIOLENCE DOES NOT ONLY IMPACT PEOPLE WHO BIKE. THE NUMBER OF FATAL CRASHES HAS BEEN ON THE INCREASE AT ABOUT 6% FOR THE LAST 10 YEARS. AND THIS IMPACTS EVERYONE. PEOPLE IN CARS, PEDESTRIANS, PEOPLE WHO BIKE EVERYONE. SO IT'S TIME FOR HOUSTON TO MAKE VISION ZERO. ONE OF ITS VERY TOP PRIORITIES AND I REALLY DON'T WANNA BE THE BEARER OF BAD NEWS, BUT BY HOUSTON WILL CONTINUE TO COME TO EVERY PUBLIC SESSION AS LONG AS WE CONTINUE TO HAVE BIKE AND PEDESTRIAN FATAL FATALITIES. THANK, THANK YOU VERY MUCH. APPRECIATE YOU. NO SPEAKER. NEXT SPEAKER, GRACIE CHAVEZ. GRACIE CHAVEZ IS HERE. SHE FOLLOWED BY ERICA LEON. GOOD AFTERNOON. GOOD AFTERNOON. UM, I THINK I'M GONNA BRIGHTEN UP THE MOOD A LITTLE BIT HERE. THANK YOU MAYOR AND UH, COUNCIL MEMBERS, UH, FOR HAVING US. WE COME HERE TODAY TO ACKNOWLEDGE THE 50TH ANNIVERSARY OF HIP HOP AND HOW IT'S IMPACT IS STILL FELT IN HOUSTON MUSIC CULTURE. I'M GRACIE CHAVEZ, THE MUSIC AND CULTURAL TOURISM OFFICER FOR THE CITY OF HOUSTON. UM, BUT PRIOR TO THIS, MY EXPERIENCE WITH HIP HOP BEGAN AS A KID LISTENING TO KYOK AM RADIO, BUYING MY FIRST RECORD BY THE AGE OF 10, THEN GOING ON TO INTERVIEW HIP HOP LEGENDS LIKE RUN DMC, JUNGLE BROTHERS, UM, AND DE LA SOUL. ONE OF MY FIRST COVER STORIES WAS ON GRAFFITI ARTISTS HERE IN TOWN. I WAS SO INSPIRED THAT I LATER BECAME A DJ AND PART OF THIS MOVEMENT, BUT HIP HOP WAS BORN IN THE SUMMER OF 1973 AT A BLOCK PARTY IN THE BRONX. IT WAS A DJ KOOL HERC. HE, UH, WHO IN FACT, UH, EXTENDED BREAKS DURING RECORDS ON TWO TURNTABLES AND A MICROPHONE TO KEEP THE DANCE FLOOR MOVING. THESE TECHNIQUES BECAME TWO KEY ELEMENTS OF HIP HOP. AND IN THE, UH, 50 YEARS THAT FOLLOWED, HIP HOP HAS PUSHED THE BOUNDARIES AND GONE TO NEW HEIGHTS. AND IN ITS EVOLUTION, HIP HOP HAS IMPACTED MORE THAN POP CULTURE WORLDWIDE. SO THIS FRIDAY, AUGUST 11TH, [01:05:01] THE ACTUAL 50TH ANNIVERSARY OF HIP HOP, I'D LIKE TO INVITE Y'ALL TO JOIN US FOR A HIP HOP SPECIAL WITH LOCAL ARTISTS. GOOD GRIEF NOSA OF BEING AND BLAZING BLACK ALL LIVE STREAMED ON HTVS FACEBOOK CHANNEL. AND TODAY I'VE ASSEMBLED A FEW COMMUNITY LEADERS WHO CONTINUE TO CHAMPION THE HIP HOP CULTURE, UH, IN HOUSTON. UH, UP NEXT I'D LIKE TO INTRODUCE BBOY CRAIG LONG, OR AS WE KNOW HIM, BBC HENRY GUIDRY G DASH OF SW A HOUSE JARON SMALL CEO OF READING WITH A RAPPER, JASON WOODS, OR, UH, AS WE KNOW HIM, DJ FLASH, GORDON PARKS, AND ERICA DELEON, BABY GIRL, FOUNDER OF HIP HOP, VINTAGE FLEA MARKET, AND B GIRL CITY AT THIS, UM, POINT. WITH YOUR PERMISSION, MAYOR, UH, I'D LIKE PERMISSION TO HAVE, YOU KNOW, THOSE FOLKS THAT ARE, UM, HERE TO SUPPORT HIP HOP CULTURE, UH, HERE IN HOUSTON. PLEASE STAND. OKAY. YOU PLEASE STAND. YOU CAN, YOU CAN CERTAINLY STAND. THANK YOU ALL. IT'S GOOD TO HAVE EACH AND EVERY ONE OF YOU HERE TODAY. AND, UH, I THINK YOU ARE GOING TO BE YIELDING TO THE NEXT SPEAKER, WHICH WILL BE CRAIG LONG. ERIC, IT'S, UH, YOU KNOW, IN, UH, IN LATIFAH'S, UH, WORDS. LADIES FIRST. OKAY, SO MISS, UH, ERICA DEION. ERICA. ERICA. NEXT SPEAKER. ERICA DEION. ERICA DEION IS, IS HERE. OKAY. ERICA RIGHT BEHIND WITH THEIR MIC. HELLO. THANK YOU. UH, SEE, YES, I'M A NERVOUS . UH, THESE STRONG, FULL VOICES TODAY HAVE MADE ME SO INSPIRED AND THIS IS WHY I CONTINUE TO DO THE WORK THAT I DO. SO WE, WHATEVER WE'RE FIGHTING FOR, IT ALL STARTED IN OUR BACK HOMES AND THE DEPTHS OF THE PEOPLE THAT HAVE RALLIED AROUND US TO ALIGN US IN THIS WORK, ESPECIALLY THE, YOU ALL, OF COURSE THE CITY OF COUNCIL. BUT AS A COMMUNITY AND THE PEOPLE OF HOUSTON, I AM DEFINITELY SOMEONE THAT HAS TAKEN THE RANGE OF BEING AN AMBASSADOR FOR OUR COMMUNITY, FOR THE WOMEN IN OUR CULTURE, TO HAVE A PLACE TO CONTINUE TO BRIDGE GAPS AND ALSO TO BE INSPIRED BY THE NEXT GENERATION OF KIDS. I CURRENTLY NOW, UH, WORK FOR A PLACE THAT HAS SAVED MY LIFE, WHICH IS A PLACE CALLED HOUSTON REVISION. IT'S IN THE SOUTHWEST AREA OF HOUSTON OFF OF BEL AIR. MR. OLA, CARRIE SAYS HELLO . AND, UM, THAT SPECIFIC PLACE IS THE PLACE THAT WHEN I WAS A YOUNG TEEN DROPOUT MOTHER AT 16, FOUND THIS CULTURE. AND THROUGH THAT HAS, UH, PAVED MY WAY INTO ENLIGHTENING AND BRIDGING A GAP FOR SPACES FOR WOMEN AND FOR YOUNG KIDS IN THE CULTURE. SO, UH, AS I CONTINUE TO TRAVEL, I MAKE MYSELF AS A PERSON OF USING MYSELF AS, UM, UH, A BRIDGE TO BE ABLE TO SHOW ALL THE RESOURCES THAT WE HAVE GAINED HERE IN THE GREAT STATE OF OUR CITY. OF COURSE, I'M A PRODUCT OF MY ENVIRONMENT. I GREW UP IN SIXTH WARD, HOUSTON, TEXAS. AND MY, UH, PLAYING GROUND WAS NORTHSIDE CENTRAL AND SECOND WARD, WHICH MY MOM AND DAD'S FROM. AND GROWING UP TO LISTENING TO THE VINYL RECORDS OF MOTOWN FROM MY DAD AND MY UNCLES AND, UH, BEING THE HAM OF THE TRYING TO GET ATTENTION, UH, FROM THEM WAS JUST THROUGH DANCE. AND SO, THANK GOD FOR HIP HOP CULTURE THAT ALIGNED ME WITH BREAKING. SO I HAD BEEN A B GIRL FOR, UH, TWO DECADES AND I WILL CARRY THAT TRADITION ON WITH ME AS I DID WITH MY KIDS. AND THE ONE BIGGEST THING IS THAT TO ACKNOWLEDGING MY FAMILY AND MY HOME WAS TO COMMUNICATE WITH ONE ANOTHER, WHICH WE DIDN'T DO GROWING UP IN MY HOME. SO WE ALWAYS HAD THOSE, UH, DINNERS AT NIGHT SO THAT WAY MY SONS CAN BE ABLE TO COMMUNICATE WITH BOTH OF THEIR PARENTS. AND THEY'RE BOTH THE OLD FIRST TWO IN MY FAMILY TO GRADUATE FROM HIGH SCHOOL AS I DID NOT. SO I WAS VERY PROUD TO BE ABLE TO SEE THAT BEING WHO I AM AS A MOTHER AND A STRONG AMBASSADOR FOR SOMEONE THAT DOESN'T WANNA BE SCARED AND TO ALIGN THINGS AND TO LET OUR CITY KNOW THAT THEY TOO CAN BE CAPABLE OF ALL THE THINGS THAT THEY WANT TO. AND WE USE THAT BY THE, USING THE TOOLS OF THE CULTURE WITH SO MANY PEOPLE THAT I'M ALIGNED WITH, PEOPLE LIKE GRACIE CHAVEZ AND THROUGH THE, UH, HOUSTON REVISION. SO THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME AND I APPRECIATE ALL THE WORK THAT Y'ALL DO, HELP SUPPORT. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. COUNCILMAN POLLARD? YES. THANK YOU MAYOR, AND GREAT TO SEE YOU. I WANNA, UH, THANK YOU AND ALL OF THE MEMBERS OF REVISION FOR, UH, THE WORK THAT YOU'RE DOING WITH THE YOUTH, UM, THE AFTERSCHOOL PROGRAMS THAT ARE, UH, CENTRAL AND FOCUSED AROUND MUSIC AND HIP HOP AND BREAK DANCING. I WENT TO VISIT THEIR COMMUNITY CENTER LAST YEAR AND GOT TO SEE FIRSTHAND THE IMPACT ON THE YOUTH. MANY ARE FROM ALL OVER THE WORLD, MAYOR, A LOT OF REFUGEES, A LOT OF IMMIGRANTS. UM, AND THEY, THEY FEEL YOUR PASSION AND UNDERSTAND YOUR CARE AND YOUR LOVE. THIS IS ALSO AT, UM, GETHSEMANE, UH, METHODIST CHURCH MAYOR THAT WILL BE BUILDING THE $23 MILLION COMMUNITY CENTER. MM-HMM . AND SO THEY'LL BE ABLE TO FURTHER EXPAND [01:10:01] THEIR PROGRAM. BUT THANK YOU ALL FOR WHAT YOU DO, AND THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE TO DISTRICT J. THANK YOU SO MUCH. THANK YOU. THANKS. THANKS, ERICA. THANKS. THE NEXT SPEAKER IS JASON WOODS. JASON WOODS TO BE FOLLOWED BY CRAIG LONG. JASON. ALRIGHT. HOW'S EVERYBODY DOING? GOOD. OKAY. I WANT TO TAKE THIS OPPORTUNITY TO GIVE A LITTLE QUICK HISTORY LESSON ABOUT HOUSTON HIP HOP. MOST PEOPLE ARE FAMILIAR WITH HOUSTON HIP HOP, STARTING WITH THE GHETTO BOYS, BUT I'M HERE TO TELL YOU, AS NEW YORK CELEBRATES 50 YEARS OF HIP HOP, UM, IT'S IMPORTANT TO KNOW THAT HOUSTON EQUALLY HAS ABOUT THE SAME YEARS IN TERMS OF HIP HOP CULTURE COMING OUT OF THE URBAN AREAS OF THE CITY, PARTICULARLY A SPACE CALLED THIRD WARD. SO THERE'S A PROMINENT DJ, UH, NAMED DARRYL SCOTT, WHO IS REALLY THE PIONEER OF THE MIXTAPE CULTURE AS IT PERTAINS TO HOUSTON. NOW, HE STARTED DJING IN THE LATE SEVENTIES IN, UH, SKATING RINKS, BUT EVENTUALLY BROUGHT THOSE SOUNDS TO MCGREGOR PARK. NOW, MANY OF YOU MAY KNOW ABOUT THE HISTORY OF MCGREGOR PARK AS IT, UH, PERTAINS ON SUNDAYS WITH THE SLAB CULTURE. AND, UM, YOU KNOW, PEOPLE RIDING UP AND DOWN MARTIN LUTHER KING BOULEVARD. NOW, DARRYL SCOTT IS THE SOUNDTRACK OF THAT. AND BY HIM PLAYING A LOT OF THOSE EARLY HIP HOP RECORDS IN THE EARLY EIGHTIES, IT ALSO GAVE BIRTH TO WHAT BECAME THE FIRST RADIO STATION TO PLAY HIP HOP IN HOUSTON, WHICH WAS KTSU 90.9 IN 1982, WITH A PROGRAM CALLED KISS JAM. AND KISS JAM HAD, UH, A MC DJ NAMED JAZZY RED, WHO MADE A RECORD WITH A BAND CALLED CHANCE IN 1984. SO THESE ARE SOME OF THE RECORDS THAT WERE BEING PLAYED BEFORE. GHETTO BOYS HAD THEIR FIRST HIT WITH, UM, MY PLAYING TRICKS ON YOU. ALSO NOTABLE, UM, IN 1985, THE LA RAPPER CREATED A SONG, A HOMAGE TO MCGREGOR PARK, ENTITLED MCGREGOR PARK. SO THOSE ARE JUST THREE, UM, MONUMENTAL MOMENTS IN THE HOUSTON HIP HOP THAT MOST PEOPLE AREN'T FAMILIAR WITH. SO I WANTED TO SHARE THAT WITH THE COUNCIL TODAY. THANKS, HONOR. COUNCIL MEMBER EVANS SHABAN. THANK YOU, JASON. THANK YOU, MAYOR. UM, JUST SO GLAD THAT YOU BROUGHT THAT BIT OF HISTORY IN. THERE ARE SO MANY LANDMARKS THAT YOU MENTIONED IN DISTRICT D, PARTICULARLY IN, PARTICULARLY IN THIRD WARD. AND SO TH THANK YOU FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP IN THE COMMUNITY AS WELL. AND SO, I GUESS THIS IS THE TIME OF HIP HOP. I TELL YOU, THEY HAD THE, THE, WHAT WAS IT, THE BET OR SOMETHING? IT WAS AWARDS THE OTHER DAY. AND IF I TELL YOU, THEY, THEY MADE IT LIVE OKAY. RIGHT. . BUT ANYWAY, THANK YOU SO VERY MUCH FOR COMING FORWARD TO GIVE US THAT BIT OF HISTORY. ABSOLUTELY. THANK YOU, COUNCILWOMAN THOMAS. THANK YOU, UH, BROTHER WOODS, IT'S GOOD TO SEE YOU IN THE CHAMBERS. I JUST WANNA PUBLICLY, UM, THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE ON THE MAYOR'S INAUGURAL MUSIC ADVISORY BOARD, UM, FOR CHAIRING THAT, THAT MEANS A LOT TO THE CITY. AND, UM, I DISTINCTLY RECALL AN UNDERGRAD, I DON'T KNOW IF YOU REMEMBER THIS, BUT WE HAD A, A ARGUMENT ABOUT WHICH JAY-Z ALBUM WAS THE BEST , IF IT WAS REASONABLE DOUBT, OR IF IT WAS THE BLUEPRINT. OKAY. SO I JUST APPRECIATE YOU FOR BEING A CULTURAL BEARER YOURSELF, UM, BLUEPRINT AND KEEPING THE, THE REAL STORY OF MUSIC AND CULTURE AND HOW THAT'S INFLUENCED OUR CITY. SO THANK YOU FOR THE WORK THAT YOU DO. THANK YOU. THANKS. OKAY, NEXT SPEAKER, NEXT SPEAKER, UH, CRAIG LONG. CRAIG IS HERE. CRAIG, HOW'S EVERYBODY DOING? DOING FINE. UH, MY NAME'S CRAIG LONG. UH, I REPRESENT THE HYPHY LIFE MOVEMENT THAT IS, HIP HOP IS FOR EVERYONE. IT'S ALSO A DOUBLE ACRONYM. THAT MEANS HOUSTON HIP HOP IS FOR EVERYONE. UM, I'M A FIRST GENERATION B-BOY HERE IN HOUSTON. UM, STARTED IN THE CULTURE IN 1980. UM, THE YOUNGEST OF 12 LIVED RIGHT HERE IN FIRST WARD, YOU KNOW, WELL, WE USED TO WALK OVER HERE DOWNTOWN TO THE COLISEUM TO SEE THE WRESTLING MATCH AND ALL THAT GOOD STUFF AND EVERYTHING. BUT, UM, DEFINITELY WOULD LIKE TO SHARE THAT AGAIN, HOUSTON HIP HOP IS FOR EVERYONE. AND THE FACT THAT, UH, FLASH JUST RECENTLY TALKED ABOUT DARRYL SCOTT, I LIKE TO MENTION OTHERS SUCH AS LESTER SIR PACE, UM, RAINBOW SKATING RINK, WHICH THESE GUYS PLAYED AT, WHICH WE WOULD ALL GO TO IN, UH, BREAK DANCE IN THE MIDDLE OF THE SKATING RINK, UH, GUY SKATING. UM, AND I'VE JUST BEEN BLESSED TO BE AT EVERY PIVOTAL MOMENT OF HIP HOP CULTURE IN HOUSTON SINCE, UH, I STARTED, UH, BECOMING A PART OF IT. AND I'M STILL A PART OF IT. UM, WOULD LIKE TO JUST GIVE SOME SHOUT OUTS TO SOME OF THE PEOPLE THAT ARE CONSISTENTLY [01:15:01] STILL HOLDING IT DOWN AS WELL, YOU KNOW, AS WELL AS, UH, LET YOU GUYS KNOW, UH, SO THAT YOU PROBABLY COULD LET YOUR, UH, GRANDKIDS KNOW, OR YOUR KIDS KNOW THAT, UH, IT'S, UH, YOU KNOW, IT'S STILL BOLD AND IT'S STILL HAPPENING HERE. UM, HOUSTON HIP HOP, UH, HAS BECOME SOMETHING OF AN ANOMALY, WHEREAS, UH, IT'S PLAYED EVERYWHERE. YOU KNOW, YOU HAVE PEOPLE IN OTHER CITIES WANTING TO REP HOUSTON SUCH AS DRAKE AND NUM A NUMBER OF OTHERS THAT LIKE, YOU KNOW, WANNA BE HONORARY HOUSTONIANS AND STUFF. SO IT'S REALLY FUNNY TO ME THAT, LIKE IT STARTED IN NEW YORK, BUT SEEMS TO BE ALL ABOUT HOUSTON. SO, UM, AGAIN, UM, I WOULD, UH, ALSO LIKE TO, IF I HAVE A MOMENT JUST TO SAY SOME NAMES. AND THESE NAMES ARE NAMES OF PEOPLE THAT I THINK THAT HOUSTON HIP HOP CULTURE SHOULD KNOW ABOUT. AND THEY ARE, HAVE 'EM ALL HERE. AND ANY OF YOU GUYS FEEL FREE TO, UH, LOOK THEM UP. AND I JUST LIKE TO PUT 'EM IN THE Z GIST BECAUSE I THINK THAT THEY NEED TO BE KNOWN AND THEY NEED TO BE HEARD. UM, SO I'M GONNA JUST, UH, SAY SOME OF THESE NAMES, UH, INFO TIGO, THE NE FLIP ON YOU. ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE, THE NOMADS, THEM ROSE SCHOLARS DERAIL BIG SHANE JUICE BARKS PROJECT CHAOTICS KAY OF THE FOUNDATION, VILLA DIRTY AND NASTY BEING THE LOW ENDS FLIP KNOTS, THE MIGHTY DEISHA ROCCO SOUND DONOR CHECK, OTHER NOON AND RHINO, HERO AND RAD, RNS, SOUTHERN INTELLECT, PLANET SHOCK KIM TOWN AFTERSHOCK. TOM P BISHOP BLACK, HEW, THE NICE GUYS DEATH PERCEPTION, JUICE PARKS, THE CHAOTICS. SO THANK YOU YOUR TIME. COUNCIL MEMBER CISNEROS. UM, THANK YOU. AND YOU KNOW, UM, AS IT'S ALREADY BEEN SAID, YOU KNOW, THAT, THAT, UH, NEW YORK WAS THE, WHERE IT ORIGINATED MM-HMM . BUT IT'S PRETTY INDISPUTABLE THAT, THAT HOUSTON IS THE RECOGNIZED HEART OF HIP HOP IN TEXAS, I WOULD SAY. AND, UM, AND, UM, AND, AND ALSO, YOU KNOW, THAT IT'S, IT'S MORE THAN MUSIC. IT'S A CULTURE. AND THAT, UM, YOU KNOW, WITH ITS EARLY ROOTS AND JAZZ AND BLUES AND R AND B AND ZYDECO, IT MAKES SO MUCH SENSE THAT THAT HIP HOP HAS, UM, REALLY, UH, EVOLVED HERE LOCALLY, UM, TO, UH, UH, TO INCLUDE CARS AND GRAFFITI AND MURALS AND CLOTHING AND, AND ALL OTHER KINDS OF ARTISTIC FORMS. UM, I WANTED TO ADD A ANOTHER, UM, HIP HOP EVENT THAT'S COMING UP IN, UH, IN A LITTLE BIT MORE THAN A WEEK AT MILLER OUTDOOR THEATER. UM, THEY'LL BE CELEBRATING THE 50TH YEAR LEGACY OF HIP HOP ON AUGUST 17TH. AND, UM, THE MILLER SUMMER MIX TAPE SERIES, UM, WILL BE SHOWCASING HOUSTON'S VIBRANT MUSIC SCENE WITH AN ALL STAR LINEUP OF, UM, LOCAL HIP HOP ARTISTS. UM, I DON'T KNOW IF ANY OF THE ONES YOU NAMED WILL BE PART OF THAT GROUP, BUT, BUT THERE WILL BE LOCAL PEOPLE THAT WILL BE PERFORMING AND WE'LL BE CELEBRATING. SO MILLER THEATER'S ALWAYS, UM, FREE AND, UM, UH, THERE ARE TICKETS AVAILABLE, BUT THOSE ARE FREE TOO. I THINK THEY WILL BE, UM, START BEING AVAILABLE THE DAY BEFORE. THEY MAY GO QUICK, BUT YOU CAN SIT ON THE HILL AND, YOU KNOW, COME OUT AND ENJOY MILLER OUTDOOR THEATER. UM, WHETHER THERE'S, THERE'S ALWAYS SOMETHING FOR EVERYBODY MILLER'S CELEBRATING THEIR 100TH ANNIVERSARY HIP HOP CELEBRATING ITS 50TH ANNIVERSARY. SO, SO, UM, LET'S, LET'S BE OUT THERE TO CELEBRATE. INDEED, INDEED. THANK YOU. UH, I KNOW THAT NO SURPRISE AND BEING OF BEING AND BLAZING BLACK BOTH HERE, WHICH ARE PLAYING ON FRIDAY FOR THE FUNCTION THAT YOU GUYS ARE HAVING HERE. GREAT. UM, THANK YOU GUYS. THANKS. APPRECIATE Y'ALL. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. NEXT SPEAKER JAR, SMALL JARON SMALL JAR'S HERE. HOW Y'ALL DOING TODAY? HELLO. GOOD SEEING YOU. UM, HIP HOP CULTURE, I THINK WE ALL KNOW HAS BEEN PREVALENT IN OUR, IN OUR HISTORY FOR TIME, BUT FOR US, UH, READING WITH A RAPPER, WE USE THAT TO ACTUALLY TEACH STUDENTS K THROUGH 12 HOW TO READ AND WRITE THROUGH SOCIALLY CONSCIOUS LEAGUES CONTENT TECHNOLOGY. I'LL WORK WITH A HAND AND FULL OF YOU GUYS IN SOME FORM AND FASHION TO REALLY BRING CHANGE WITHIN OUR COMMUNITIES. BUT I JUST WANTED TO TAKE THE TIME AND OPPORTUNITY TO LET YOU KNOW WHAT HIP HOP HAS REALLY DONE FOR EDUCATION. HIP HOP IN HOUSTON HAS BEEN ABLE TO GIVE US $30 MILLION OF RESOURCES, SCHOLARSHIPS TO TEACHERS THAT WE'VE BEEN ABLE TO FUND THE KIDS. A 90% INCREASE IN THEIR ATTENDANCE, A 90% INCREASE IN THEIR SOCIAL EMOTIONAL LEARNING, A 90% DECREASE IN THEIR STUDENT BEHAVIOR, A 66 OVERALL INCREASE IN THEIR STANDARDIZED TESTING. THIS IS ACROSS REPEAT [01:20:01] TESTERS, UM, SPECIAL ED STUDENTS AND KIDS THAT ARE HAVING HIGH DISCIPLINARY ACTION. SO HIP HOP IS SAVING SINGLE HANDEDLY EDUCATION. WE ARE RENOVATING CLASSROOMS, WE'RE RENOVATING TEACHERS LOUNGES. AND THE MORE, THE MAJORITY OF THAT WORK THAT WE'RE DOING ACTUALLY HAPPENED IN HISD LAST YEAR. UM, WE PARTNERED WITH THE NCAA TO REIMAGINE THE RES OF FINAL FOUR THAT CAME HERE LAST YEAR. AND 16 YEARS OF THAT BEING HERE, HIP HOP GAVE THE FIRST EVER HALFTIME SHOW IN NCAA HISTORY IN HOUSTON. AND THAT WAS HERE WITH HOUSTON BASED ARTISTS THAT WERE PAID AND COMPENSATED. WE DID OVER 60 MILLION MINUTES OF READING 11 SCHOOL DISTRICTS AND 189 SCHOOLS, SPECIFICALLY THIRD GRADERS. 'CAUSE WE KNOW, UNDERSTAND THAT'S THE SCHOOL TO PRISON PIPELINE STARTS IN SIGHT SECTOR, BUT HIP HOP DID THAT. SO I'M A PRODUCT OF THAT. I CAME UP AROUND THE MIKE JONES, THE STEEL TIPPING ERA. BUT WE'RE USING ALL THIS COLLECTIVE CULTURE THAT NOT JUST STOPS IN OUR BLACK AND BROWN COMMUNITIES, BUT EVERYBODY THAT WALKS AND TALKS THE SAME AS HUMANS. 'CAUSE IT'S A HUMAN PROBLEM WITH LITERACY. AND WE'RE SOLVING THAT OUT LOUD AND, AND OUT AND OUT LARGE. SO FOR US, WE MAKING ADMISSION TO BE A PART OF THE ADDED VALUE, PRIVATE, PUBLIC AND COMMUNITY. AND EVEN WITH THAT, WE ARE ALREADY MAKING THE NOTION TO WHERE, UM, FLEMING MIDDLE SCHOOL IS ONE OF THOSE 28 SCHOOLS THAT ARE IN THE, UM, TAKING OVER FROM HISD. WE ARE ALREADY THERE. WE'RE GONNA GIVE GRANTS AND RESOURCES. WE'RE GONNA CONTINUE TO DO THAT. AND ALL THE OTHER 27 SCHOOLS AND ALL THE OTHER 300 SCHOOLS AND ALL THIS DISTRICTS IN THIS GREATER HOUSTON AREA, WE WILL BE THERE TO BE A SERVICE TO THEM. UM, WE RECENTLY JUST GOT DONE WORKING WITH COUNCIL MEMBER, OOH, TALKING TOO FAST. COUNCIL MEMBER THOMAS OVER HERE IN ALE, WHERE WE JUST GOT DONE DOING A SUMMER ENRICHMENT PROGRAM WITH ALE AND SUPERINTENDENT, UM, WHAT'S HIS NAME, MAZE. AND WE JUST MADE A HUGE IMPACT THERE, RIGHT? AND SO WE'RE ACTIVELY TALKING TO SUPERINTENDENTS ABOUT HOW DO WE ENGAGE PRIVATE, PUBLIC, AND COMMUNITY TOGETHER TO FIX A HUMAN PROBLEM AND NOT A SOCIAL PROBLEM. UM, BUT HIP HOP DID THAT FOR US, AND I THANK YOU GUYS FOR YOUR CONTINUED SUPPORT AND SUCCESS IN WHAT WE'RE DOING TO REALLY MAKE SURE THAT HOUSTON'S THE FIRST CITY TO HAVE AN ADULT LITERACY PROGRAM THAT IS BEING LOOKED AT ACROSS THE COUNTRY, AND WE'RE TAKING WHAT WE'RE DOING HERE AND REPLICATING TO OTHER CITIES. SO WE ARE THE EXAMPLE ACROSS THE COUNTRY AND HIP HOP WAS A PART OF THAT. SO THANK YOU GUYS. THANKS. COUNCIL MEMBER COUNCILMAN P*****K. THANK YOU MAYOR JAREN, I JUST WANT TO THANK YOU FOR YOUR CONTRIBUTIONS. I REMEMBER WHEN READING, UH, WITH A RAPPER WAS, WAS AN IDEA, RIGHT? AND, UH, YOU TOOK THAT AND RAN WITH IT. YOU AND YOUR COLLEAGUES HAVE MADE THAT SOMETHING THAT'S EXPANDED BEYOND JUST HOUSTON. YOU ALL ARE IN ALL OTHER CITIES AS WELL. UH, GOT BUSES RIDING DOWN THE STREET, FINDING CREATIVE WAYS, UH, TO REACH STUDENTS WHERE THEY ARE THROUGH MUSIC. AND, UH, I WANNA APPLAUD YOU FOR THAT AND ENCOURAGE YOU TO KEEP GOING. THANK YOU. THANK YOU MAYOR TIM TATU. THANK YOU, MAYOR JARON. UH, FIRST OF ALL, I LOVE YOUR SHIRT. UH, IT'S A GREAT, UH, STATEMENT. UH, JUST WANTED TO TELL YOU THAT I REMEMBER WHEN YOU LAUNCHED READING WITH A RAPPER AND I THOUGHT, THIS IS GENIUS BECAUSE MUSIC IS SUCH A UNIVERSAL LANGUAGE. AND SO MANY OF OUR CHILDREN, UM, YOU KNOW, THEY WALK AROUND, THEY HAVE THEIR HEADPHONES ON, THEY'RE LISTENING TO MUSIC, AND THE WAY YOU'VE CORRELATED HIP HOP WITH LITERACY AND LEARNING IS INCREDIBLE. UM, SO I WANT YOU TO KNOW THAT YOU HAVE AN ALLY. WE'D LOVE TO SEE SOME MORE PROGRAMMING IN DISTRICT K. ABSOLUTELY. UH, THE, THE STUDENTS ARE YEARNING, UH, FOR THIS TYPE OF, UH, LEARNING AND LITERACY. AND I, I THINK IT'S, IT'S A, A GREAT WAY TO REACH THEM WHERE THEY ARE AND HELP THEM, UM, ELEVATE TO NEW LEVELS, ESPECIALLY IN THEIR EDUCATIONAL PURSUITS. SO THANK YOU FOR BEING A CREATIVE. UM, AND THANK YOU FOR CARING ABOUT THE IMPORTANCE OF LITERACY AND FOR ALL THAT YOU DO IN THE CITY OF HOUSTON. WE APPRECIATE YOU. THANK YOU. THANKS, SHARON. ALRIGHT. APPRECIATE YOU MA'AM. THANKS. NEXT SPEAKER, ROBERT GROVE. ROBERT GROVE IS HERE. UM, HELLO. HELLO. MY NAME IS NO EBOR, NOT ROBERT GROVE. I'D LIKE TO PART OF THE MUSICAL COALITION. AND MAY I BE ACKNOWLEDGED FOR ONE MINUTE, PLEASE. UM, I GREW UP IN SOUTHWEST HOUSTON, TEXAS, AND I'M TALKING ABOUT THE HIP HOP MOVEMENT. UM, IN NINTH GRADE, I JOINED ONE OF THE ONLY BREAK DANCING PROGRAMS IN THE CITY OF HOUSTON. IT WAS SPONSORED BY HISD. THROUGH THAT PROGRAM, I WAS ABLE TO GO TO COLLEGE, YOU KNOW, GRADUATE COLLEGE, START A FAMILY. HANG ON ONE SECOND. LEMME MAKE SURE I, ARE YOU ROBERT? UM, NO, I'M NOT ROBERT. OH, OKAY. I AM SORRY. NO, NO. YEAH, IT IS ROBERT GROVE. TURN. OKAY. OKAY. THANK YOU. WELL, THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME. THANK YOU. IT'S ROBERT GROVE. HERE YOU ARE ROBERT. YES, SIR. OKAY. . I DIDN'T WANNA HEAR WHAT THAT GUY HAD TO SAY THOUGH. NO, CRAIG IS, CRAIG HAS ALREADY SPOKEN. OKAY, NOW IT'S YOUR TURN. THANK YOU. UM, MY NAME IS ROBERT GROBE, AND, UH, I'M WEARING THE SHIRT IN HONOR OF RODNEY ATKINS. UM, I DIDN'T [01:25:01] KNOW RODNEY, I NEVER HEARD ANYTHING HE HAD TO SAY. I NEVER READ ANYTHING HE HAD TO WRITE. I NEVER EVEN LOOKED A MAN IN THE FACE, BUT HE CHANGED MY LIFE. UM, WHEN YOU FIND SOMEONE LYING DOWN IN A POOL OF THEIR OWN BLOOD OUTSIDE YOUR HOUSE AND THEIR WIFE'S SCREAMING AT THE TOP OF HER LUNGS, UH, IT, IT TENDS TO DO SOMETHING TO YOU. UM, ON JANUARY 8TH, 2023, HE WAS TRAVELING NORTH ALONG THE COLUMBIA TAP TRAIL WITH HIS WIFE KELLY CROSSING MCKINNEY. WHEN A MOTORCYCLE TRAVELING AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS RAN OVER HIM. UM, HE ENDED UP ABOUT 40 YARDS FROM WHERE HE WAS HIT. THE MOTORCYCLE DRIVER ENDED UP ABOUT A HUNDRED YARDS AWAY FROM WHERE THE CRASH HAPPENED, AND THE MOTORCYCLE ENDED UP ALMOST 200 YARDS AWAY ON A WHOLE OTHER CITY BLOCK. UM, I WAS ROBBED OF MY INNOCENCE. I THOUGHT THAT I LIVED ON A SAFE STREET, BUT NOW I KNOW THAT THE, THE DESIGN OF THE STREET, THE DESIGN OF THAT INTERSECTION IS NOT SAFE. UM, RODNEY WAS ROBBED OF HIS LIFE. HE WAS ABOUT MY AGE, AND HE'LL NEVER HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO, UM, GET BACK ON HIS FEET. HE WAS LIVING A TOUGH LIFE, AND I DON'T KNOW WHAT THE FUTURE HELD FROM HIM, BUT, UH, OUR CITY STREETS ROBBED HIM OF THAT. UM, HIS WIFE KELLY WAS ROBBED OF THE OPPORTUNITY TO HUG HER HUSBAND, UM, HAVE ANOTHER MEAL WITH HER HUSBAND. RODNEY HAD BEEN ESTRANGED FROM HIS TEENAGE DAUGHTER FOR THE LAST FIVE YEARS. UM, SHE WAS ROBBED OF THE OPPORTUNITY TO HAVE A CONVERSATION WITH HER DAD ABOUT WHAT THAT MEANT. UM, SHE HADN'T EVEN REACHED ADULTHOOD YET, AND OUR CITY STREETS, UH, TOOK HER FATHER AWAY FROM HER. UM, SO I'M HERE TODAY TO PETITION THE MAYOR, COUNCIL MEMBERS, PUBLIC OFFICIALS, ANYONE THAT HAS ANY POWER TO CHANGE HOW WE APPROACH GETTING AROUND THIS TOWN. I'M ASKING YOU TO IMPLEMENT PROVEN MEASURES. NOT TO REPAINT THAT INTERSECTION, BUT TO PUT FLASHING LIGHTS, TO PUT SPEED CUSHIONS, TO PUT RAISED CROSSWALKS AT THESE INTERSECTIONS ALL ACROSS TOWN. 'CAUSE RODNEY'S RODNEY'S STORY IS UNIQUE, BUT IT'S NOT. AND THAT INTERSECTION IS UNIQUE, BUT IT'S NOT, IT'S DIFFICULT TO GET AROUND THIS TOWN IF YOU'RE NOT IN A VEHICLE. WE HAVE GIANT CARS TRAVELING AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS, AND IF THEY WANNA DO THAT, MAKE 'EM DO IT ON THE HIGHWAYS. DO NOT ALLOW THEM TO DO IT ON OUR CITY STREETS. I THINK EVERYONE HERE KNOWS OF A STREET IN THEIR NEIGHBORHOOD WHERE CARS SPEED DOWN FOR DECADES, IT'S BEEN HAPPENING. AND, UM, SO I'LL ECHO WHAT MY COLLEAGUE CHRISTINA SAID, UH, THAT WE NEED TO FIND THE FUNDING TO MAKE CHANGE. THANK YOU. YOUR TIME HAS EXPIRED. THANK YOU. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. YOU'RE WELCOME. THANK YOU. OKAY, NEXT SPEAKER. JENNIFER DODSON. JENNIFER DODSON, JENNIFER NEXT SPEAKER J CRAIG ILKA. J CRAIG AND ZAKA JAKE CRAIG, AKA. NEXT SPEAKER, JARED, SCOTTY. JOSEPH. JARED. SCOTTY JOSEPH IS HERE TO BE FOLLOWED BY AARON HALL. GOOD AFTERNOON, MEMBERS OF THE COUNCIL. SEE YOU GUYS ARE BUSY LOOKING DOWN. UM, AFTER HEARING ROB'S STORY, UH, AT FIRST I WAS GONNA COME UP HERE AND TALK ABOUT HOW WE NEED SAFETY. BUT YOU ALL, YOU GUYS, YOU GUYS ALL KNOW THAT AFTER HEARING, UH, UH, THE YOUNGER LADY THAT WAS SPEAKING EARLIER, SHE MADE MENTION ABOUT, UH, PUBLIC AND PRIVATE PARTNERSHIPS. AND I THINK THAT I WOULD LIKE TO OFFER THAT INSTEAD AS A CONVERSATION THAT COULD BE HAD BETWEEN ME AS A BUSINESS OWNER, SCOTTY'S BIKES, IT'S IN FIFTH WARD, AND YOU ALL THE COUNCIL, UH, IN ALL OF YOUR DISTRICTS, YOU SHOULD HAVE WHAT'S KNOWN AS A GHOST BIKE. DOES ANYONE KNOW WHAT A GHOST SPIKE IS? BY CHANCE? YOU GUYS KNOW WHAT A GHOST SPIKE IS. WHAT I WOULD LIKE TO DO IS PARTNER WITH YOUR DIFFERENT DISTRICTS, PARTNER WITH YOU GUYS, PERHAPS FIND WHERE THOSE GHOST SPIKES ARE, AND SET UP A TOUR MAYBE TO SEE WHERE THESE PLACES ARE, TO GIVE MORE AWARENESS AMONGST YOUR DISTRICTS TO KEEP THE, UH, IT'S, IT'S EASY TO GET, UH, EXCITED UP HERE, BUT TO KEEP THE CONVERSATION GOING. IT'S VERY EASY TO FORGET ABOUT THE FACES AND THE LIVES OF PEOPLE WHO ARE LOST. BUT I THINK BY HAVING SOMETHING LIKE THIS, AND I, I HAVE BIKES , UH, TO HELP YOU GUYS OUT, I THINK THAT THAT WOULD BE SOMETHING [01:30:01] THAT COULD HELP WITH IT. UH, I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR WHAT YOU'VE DONE SO FAR. UH, BUT AS YOU KNOW, HOUSTON IS CONSTANTLY GROWING AND THE INFRASTRUCTURE AS IT IS, IS, UH, UNSUSTAINABLE WHEN IT COMES TO BOTH, UH, BIKES AND CARS AT THIS TIME. UH, WE HAVE TO LOOK FORWARD WHEN IT COMES TO THE FUTURE. AND FOR ME, FOR ME PERSONALLY, I BELIEVE THAT ELECTRIC MOBILITY WILL HELP THAT. BUT, UH, BACK TO THE POINT WITH THE GHOST BIKES, IF ANY OF YOU GUYS WOULD LIKE TO, UH, SET UP ANYTHING. I'M SORRY, I'M LOOKING AROUND. IT'S KIND OF, BUT IF ANY OF YOU GUYS WOULD LIKE TO SET UP ANY TYPE OF TOUR, UH, WHERE WE SET UP SOMETHING, UH, WHERE PEOPLE CAN SEE THE DIFFERENT GOAL SPIKES, UM, I DON'T KNOW. MAYBE, UH, I'LL SPONSOR SOMETHING. MAYBE WE CAN WORK TOGETHER AND GIVE SOME AWARENESS THAT WAY. UM, I DIDN'T WANNA COME UP INITIALLY, I CAME UP HERE, I WANTED TO COME HERE AS AN ADVERSARY, BUT IN ORDER TO GET THINGS DONE, UH, LIKE YOU SAID, YOU HAVE TO BE, UH, WILLING TO WORK TOGETHER. UH, SO AS SOMEONE THAT IS IN THE BUSINESS SECTOR AND YOU GUYS BEING IN THE PRIVATE SECTOR, I MEAN IN THE, UH, IN THE, UH, PUBLIC SECTOR, CAN WE, UH, FIGURE A WAY TO GET SOME TYPE OF TOUR LIKE THIS SET UP TO BRING AWARENESS TO THE, UH, TO THE DEATHS THAT WE HAVE? UM, ANY QUESTIONS OR ANY THOUGHTS ON THAT? COUNCIL MEMBER JACKSON, THANK YOU. AND I JUST WANNA SAY THANK YOU, UM, AND YOUR COLLEAGUES FOR YOUR ADVOCACY FOR, UM, BIKE SAFETY. UM, I SHARE YOUR CONCERN AND YOUR PASSION. IN FACT, UM, I LOST MY 17-YEAR-OLD NEPHEW, UM, IN 2015, WAS STRUCK AND KILLED, UM, BY A TRUCK. AND SO, UM, I KNOW, YOU KNOW, IT, IT'S DANGEROUS AND IT, WE AS COUNCIL MEMBERS AND AS RESIDENTS, IT'S UP TO US TO COME UP WITH SAFER WAYS AND ADVOCATE FOR, UM, SAFER SYSTEMS OR WAYS THAT WE CAN MAKE SURE THAT PEOPLE ARE SAFE ON BIKES. AND SO, WHATEVER MY OFFICE CAN DO TO COM PARTNER WITH YOU GUYS, I'M OPEN TO IT. SO THANK YOU. GREAT. GREAT. DO YOU KNOW WHERE WAS HE STRUCK IN HOUSTON? UM, HE WAS STRUCK RIGHT OUTSIDE THE COUNTY IN OH, OKAY, OKAY. IN THE COUNTY AREA. THANK YOU. IF WE HAVE ANY GO, IF WE HAVE ANY GHOST SPIKES. BUT THEN THE DAY, I UNDERSTAND HE WAS ON THE BIKE AND YOU, I WAS LIKE, DUDE, WELL, IF THERE'S ANY GHOST SPIKES THAT YOU KNOW, THAT ARE, THAT ARE IN YOUR DISTRICT IN PARTICULAR. YEAH, WE HAVE QUITE A FEW ON THE DISTRICT, AND SO WELL, WE NEED TO GET THAT LIST SO WE CAN SET THAT, UH, UP THAT GOES TO ALL OF YOU. UH, IF YOU'RE INTERESTED WITH IT. I KNOW YOU GUYS ARE BUSY, BUT THAT GOES TO ALL OF YOU. THANK YOU GUYS. UH, ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? THANKS VERY MUCH. APPRECIATE YOU. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. NEXT WEEK. OH, AND I'M TAKING TOURS, SO YOU KNOW WHEN YOU'RE READY. OKAY. THANK YOU. AARON HALL. AARON HALL. ERIN HALL. NEXT SPEAKER. EDWARD PETIT. EDWARD PETIT. WE SEE IT. THANK YOU MAYOR TURNER. THANK YOU. CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS. MY NAME IS ED PETIT. I'M VICE PRESIDENT OF THIRD WARD SUPER NEIGHBORHOOD, AS WELL AS FOUNDER OF FRIENDS OF COLUMBIA TAP A TRIALS AND GREEN SPACE ADVOCACY ORGANIZATION. UM, I WANT TO REITERATE EVERYTHING THAT'S BEEN SAID BY CHRISTINA ROTENBERG AND ROBERT GROBE AND, AND SCOTTY. UM, WE NEED TO ADDRESS THIS ISSUE OF VULNERABLE ROAD USERS. IN 1973, HOUSTON CREATED A MODEL CITY PLAN FOR THIRD BOARD. THE LEGENDARY ARCHITECT, JOHN CHASE WAS PART OF THAT TEAM AS WELL AS LEADERS FROM TSU AND THE COMMUNITY. IN 1995, THEY CREATED A THIRD BOARD COMMUNITY ACTION PLAN, UH, WITH STATE REP GARNET COLEMAN AND MARETTE HUNTER AND OTHER THIRD WARD LEADERS AT THAT TIME SAYING THAT, YOU KNOW, SAFETY TO OUR STREETS AND CHANGE WAS COMING SOON. IN 2003, THE HOUSTON GALVESTON AREA COUNCIL AND THE WALTER P. MOORE BICYCLE PEDESTRIAN STUDY TEAM CREATED RECOMMENDATIONS FOR SAFER STREETS AND INTERSECTIONS IN THIRD WARD, AND SAID THAT CHANGE WAS COMING SOON. IN 2017, MAYOR TURNER LAUNCHED COMPLETE COMMUNITIES WITH GOALS FOR SAFER STREETS AND SIDEWALKS AND INTERSECTIONS, AND SAID THAT CHANGE WAS COMING SOON. IN RECENT YEARS, WE'VE HAD VISION ZERO AND LIVABLE PLACES AND WALKABLE STREETS AND COMPLETE STREETS, AND WE WERE TOLD THAT CHANGE IS COMING SOON. 1973, UH, 1973. 2023. THAT'S 50 YEARS. ONCE CHANGE COMING, YOUR TIME HAS EXPIRED. THANKS, ED. THANK YOU. NEXT SPEAKER. NO CLAPPING. NO CLAPPING. ONE TIME. HE'S OKAY. OKAY. OKAY. THANK YOU. NEXT SPEAKER. ETHAN GANZ. ETHAN GANZ. ETHAN GANZ TREAT, FOLLOWED BY DEBBIE RUSSELL. HELLO. OKAY. HEY Y'ALL. UM, I'M ETHAN MICHELLE GANZ, AND I'M HERE TO TALK ABOUT SHOTSPOTTER. YEAH, WE GOT TO STOP SHOTSPOTTER. IT IS NOT WORKING. IT CAUSES ALL KINDS OF ISSUES. [01:35:01] WE ARE SPENDING TAXPAYER MONEY ON IT THAT WE COULD USE TO RESOURCE COMMUNITIES. SO AS ANY OF US SHOULD KNOW, SCARCITY BREEDS CONFLICT. OKAY? THIS IS A KNOWN TENANT OF INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS, OKAY? SO IF WE ARE GOING TO HAVE A REAL PUBLIC SAFETY PROGRAM, WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO ADDRESS SCARCITY FIRST. WE'RE GIVEN ALL THIS MONEY TO HPD AND, AND THAT MONEY COULD BE USED TO RESOURCE COMMUNITIES LIKE YOU WERE TRYING TO SAY ABOUT WRAPAROUND SERVICES. PEOPLE NEED, PEOPLE NEED HOUSING. YES, PEOPLE NEED MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES. PEOPLE NEED ALL KINDS OF STUFF. BUT IF WE ARE GIVEN ALL THIS MONEY TO THE COPS WHO COME AFTER THINGS ARE, ARE DONE, AFTER CRIMES HAVE BEEN COMMITTED, THAT'S NOT PREVENTING STUFF THAT'S NOT PROACTIVE AND THAT'S NOT HUMANE. NOW ALSO, I HAVE A REAL PROBLEM WITH WHAT'S HAPPENING WITH FOOD NOT BOMBS. I'M A TAXPAYER AND MY TAXPAYER MONEY THAT'S BEING GIVEN TO HPD IS BEING WASTED ON THIS ISSUE WITH FOOD NOT BOMBS WHEN THEY'RE JUST TRYING TO FEED PEOPLE. NOW, I UNDERSTAND THAT, THAT THIS IS A ISSUE GOING ON BETWEEN Y'ALL, BUT, YOU KNOW, I DON'T HAVE AN ISSUE WITH GOING AROUND PEOPLE THAT ARE UNHOUSED. AND IF OTHER PEOPLE HAVE AN ISSUE WITH THAT, THAT'S THEIR BIAS. BUT IF WE ARE GOING TO, IF WE'RE GOING TO ACTUALLY, YOU KNOW, SAY THAT THE, THE LIBRARY IS FOR FAMILIES, WELL, FAMILIES ARE UNHOUSED. THEY'RE NOT ONLY HOUSED, RIGHT? UM, AND I, MYSELF, I I I, I LIVE IN A ONE BEDROOM APARTMENT IN MONTROSE. I'M A I'M A WORKING CLASS PERSON. I CAN BARELY AFFORD MY APARTMENT. I MYSELF COULD VERY WELL EASILY BE DISPLACED OR PUT OUTTA MY APARTMENT WHERE I LIVE. I VERY WELL AM VERY CLOSE TO BEING ONE OF THESE UNHOUSED PEOPLE, JUST LIKE MANY, MANY PEOPLE IN THIS CITY, OKAY? AND WE HAVE TO DO BETTER. WE, WE CAN'T JUST BE FIGHTING BETWEEN ALL THE PEOPLE THAT'S TRYING TO HELP. WE GOTTA FIND BETTER SOLUTIONS. AND, YOU KNOW, I UNDERSTAND WHAT YOU'RE TRYING TO DO, BUT I DON'T APPROVE, APPROVE OF YOUR TACTICS. I THINK THAT THEY'RE BULLYING. AND, UM, THAT'S NOT, THAT'S NOT THE BEST WAY TO HANDLE EVERYTHING, I DON'T THINK, YOU KNOW? AND SO I REALLY THINK THAT WE NEED TO DO BETTER AS A CITY FOR ALL OF THE RESIDENTS. UM, SO THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR ALL THAT Y'ALL DOING. YOUR TIME HAS EXPIRED. AND ETHAN, YOU AND I ARE NOT, WE ARE NOT THAT MUCH IN DISAGREEMENT. WE ARE NOT THAT MUCH IN DISAGREEMENT. AND I WAS IN THE LIBRARIES, NOT JUST ONE CENTRAL, BUT ALL OF THE LIBRARIES ARE OPEN TO EVERYONE. AND THERE ARE PEOPLE WHO HAVE GONE INTO OUR LIBRARIES WHO ARE HOMELESS, LOOKING FOR, UM, JOB OPPORTUNITIES, YOU NAME IT. AND THEY ARE WELCOME THERE. THAT'S NOT THE ISSUE. THE LIBRARIES ARE OPEN TO EVERYONE, INCLUDING THOSE WHO ARE HOMELESS. BUT WHAT WE ARE TALKING, AND WE DIDN'T JUST GET HERE OVERNIGHT. I DID, WE, THE CITY DID REACH OUT TO THIS ORGANIZATION ASKING FOR THEIR HELP IN SELECTING ANOTHER SPACE WHERE THEY COULD CONTINUE TO DO WHAT THEY'VE BEEN DOING. THEY SAID, WE'RE GONNA USE THIS SPACE. THIS IS THE SPACE WE WANT, AND YOU ALL ARE NOT GONNA MOVE US ANY PLACE. SO WHO'S DOING THE BULLYING? SO THAT'S, SO WE ARE NOT IN DISAGREEMENT, BUT WE DID PROVIDE AN ALTERNATIVE TO LOCATION. SO I JUST WANT YOU TO KNOW, I HEAR WHAT YOU'RE SAYING. I DON'T DISAGREE WITH WHAT YOU'RE SAYING. IT'S HOW DO YOU SERVE BOTH POPULATIONS, BUT IF YOU ARE HOMELESS, YOU ARE WELCOME TO GO INTO UTILIZE THE SERVICES OF THE LIBRARY. NO ISSUES THERE AT ALL. NONE. SO I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT, THAT YOU AND I ARE CLEAR. COUNCILMAN POLLACK. THANK YOU MAYOR. AND, UH, THANK YOU FOR YOUR COMMENTS. UM, A FEW THINGS WHILE WE'RE ON THE TOPIC OF, UM, BIKE LANES AND BIKE SAFETY. AS YOU BROUGHT UP THE FOOD KNOB BOMBS ISSUE, THE CITY HAS FOUND REASONABLE ACCOMMODATIONS FOR PEOPLE WHO ARE IN NEED OF FOOD AND SERVICES TO BE IN A KIND OF MORE CONTROLLED ENVIRONMENT WHERE THEY CAN SIT AND HAVE A DIGNIFIED MEAL. CURRENTLY, THEY ARE STANDING CLOSE TO THE [01:40:01] STREET OFF OF A MAJOR THOROUGHFARE FROM THE FREEWAY WHERE CARS ARE FLYING BY. AND THAT COULD BE, UM, NOT THE SAFEST PLACE FOR THEM TO RECEIVE THOSE SERVICES. SO JUST WANT TO THROW THAT OUT THERE. THE SECOND THING IS, I WANTED TO KNOW, WAS YOUR ISSUE WITH THE SHOT SPOTTER, JUST THE TECHNOLOGY ITSELF AS, YOU DON'T THINK THAT IT WORKS, OR YOU JUST BELIEVE THAT THOSE DOLLARS SHOULD BE PLACED ELSEWHERE? BOTH. SO SHOT SPOTTER IS NOT WORKING AND, UH, IT CAUSES INTERACTIONS BETWEEN PEOPLE AND POLICE. THAT CAN BE VERY BAD INTERACTIONS. AND, UH, YOU KNOW, SAY SHOT SPOTTER GOES OFF, SAY THERE'S THREE BLACK GUYS SITTING OVER HERE HANGING OUT, TALKING AFTER WORK. THEY'RE JUST TALKING. UM, COPS DON'T SHOW UP FOR TWO HOURS AFTER, AFTER SHOT SPOTTER. THESE GUYS DON'T KNOW SHOT SPOTTER WENT OFF. THEY'RE NOT DOING NOTHING. THEY'RE JUST GUYS HANGING OUT. THE COPS COME UP, THEY SAY THESE THREE GUYS, THEY DON'T SEE NOBODY ELSE. WHO ARE THEY GONNA HARASS? SO IT'S NOT THE SHOT SPOTTER THAT YOU'RE FINDING FAULT IN. YOU'RE SAYING THAT THE INDIVIDUALS OR THE LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS THAT SHOW UP, UH, AREN'T PROPERLY DOING THEIR JOB WHEN THEY'RE INVESTIGATING? I'M SAYING THAT, UH, THAT YOU SHOULD NOT, THAT, THAT, THAT, UH, STOPPING AND FRISKING IS, IS NOT COOL. RIGHT? THAT'S NOT OKAY. AND THAT'S, THAT'S, AND SHOTS SPOT CAUSES STOPPING AND FRISKING POLICE OFFICERS, TO MY KNOWLEDGE, THE HOUSTON POLICE DEPARTMENT, UH, DOES NOT STOP AND FRISK. AND IF THEY DO THAT IS, UH, TO MY, UH, KNOWLEDGE MAYOR, THAT IS UNLAWFUL. SO IF SHOT SPOTTER GOES OFF MM-HMM . AND WHEN THEY SHOW UP, THERE ARE PEOPLE WITHIN WHAT, A, A HALF A MILE RADIUS OR SOMETHING MM-HMM . THEN THEY CAN, THEY CAN CHECK THOSE PEOPLE OUT. THAT'S STOP AND FRISK. THOSE PEOPLE DON'T KNOW WHAT'S GOING ON. THEY'RE NOT, THEY, THEY COULD BE COMPLETELY INNOCENT AND HAVE NO IDEA WHAT'S GOING ON. AND, AND THEN THE COPS COME RUN UP ON THEM. YOU KNOW, THAT, THAT'S, THAT'S NOT THAT, THAT'S NOT THE TYPE OF INTERACTIONS THAT'S GONNA CREATE A BETTER, UH, FUTURE BETWEEN THE PUBLIC AND THE POLICE. THANK YOU, MA'AM. OH, I'M NOT A MA'AM. THANKS. THANKS, ETHAN. SORRY ABOUT THAT. THANK YOU. SPEAKER. NEXT SPEAKER. DEBBIE, DEBBIE RUSSELL. DEBBIE RUSSELL IS HERE. HI, MAYOR TURNER. YES, MA'AM. I TRIED TO WARN YOU ART OFF ART ACEVEDO AND YOU DIDN'T LISTEN. AND HIS JACK BOOT AND MOUTH DISEASE LEFT NASTY PS ON YOU THAT HIRE TOLD ME YOU WERE GONNA BE ON THE WRONG SIDE OF CRIMINAL JUSTICE REFORM. AND MAKE NO MISTAKE, JUST BECAUSE YOU'RE HIDING BEHIND GOING AFTER THE SAMARITANS, THIS IS A STRAIGHT UP CRIMINALIZATION OF THE HOUSE LIST, DESPITE YOUR HOUSING COMMITMENTS. OTHERWISE, IT'S CLEAR THIS IS ALL POLITICAL BECAUSE OF THE HYPOCRISY OF THE OFFER TO MOVE THEIR SERVICE TO THE POLICE STATION. IF IT'S A HEALTH AND SAFETY VIOLATION AT THE LIBRARY, THEN HOW IS IT NOT AT THE COP SHOP AND REFILING IN MUNI COURT IN MUNICIPAL COURT? THAT'S UNHEARD OF. THERE'S, THAT'S NOTHING BUT POLITICAL BE BESIDES THE HUGE WASTE OF TA TAXPAYER DOLLARS. SO YOU CAN, WHAT? I DON'T KNOW, KEEP YOUR DOWN DOWNTOWN DONORS HAPPY FOR A RUN FOR HIGHER OFFICE. IS THIS NATIONAL NEWS STORM AGAINST YOU WORTH IT? I JUST CAN'T FATHOM WHY YOU'VE DUG YOUR HEELS IN TO FIGHT ACTIVITY ALREADY DEEMED CONSTITUTIONALLY PROTECTED IN A FEDERAL COURT ANSWER FOR THE HYPOCRISY AND THE WASTE OF RESOURCES. STOP THE INSANITY FOOD NOT BOMBS. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. NEXT SPEAKER, NEIL COLBERT. NEIL COLBERT. NEIL COLBERT. NEXT SPEAKER, PHILLIP PAONE. PHILLIP PECON IS HERE. BE FOLLOWED BY SHERRY DORY. OKAY, SEE IF I CAN GET MY APP UP. WHAT HAPPENED? OKAY, UM, BEFORE I GET STARTED, I'D LIKE TO, UH, MAKE A POINT THAT THE PUBLIC LIBRARY IS PUBLIC AND THE HOMELESS AIRPORT OF THE PUBLIC. AND, UH, AND YOU ARE THE MAYOR FOR THE HOMELESS AS WELL. UM, MAYOR TURNER, YOU'RE TURNING OUT OF OFFICE. UH, YOU HAVE ABOUT A FEW MONTHS LEFT AND YOU ARE CHOOSING TO GO OUT FIGHTING THIS FIGHT. YOU'RE CHOOSING TO GO AFTER OUR MOST VULNERABLE COMMUNITIES. OF ALL THE THINGS YOU COULD HAVE DONE FOR HOUSTON ON YOUR WAY OUT, YOU DECIDE [01:45:01] TO CRIMINALIZE THOSE FEEDING THE HUNGRY AND THE FOOD INSECURE UNDER YOUR ADMINISTRATION. 47 CITATIONS TO FOOD NOT BOMBS. HOUSTON VOLUNTEERS HAVE BEEN ISSUED, ISSUED TO SH TO PEOPLE SHOWING COMPASSION AND FIGHTING POVERTY BY SERVING FRESH, HEALTHY MEALS FOUR DAYS A WEEK. THE GROUP FOOD NO BOMBS HAS BEEN DOING THIS HERE IN HOUSTON SINCE 1994. AND WHILE THE PREVIOUS ADMINISTRATION PUT THE ORDINANCE IN PLACE, THEY DID. SO MAYOR PARKER DID SO WITH THE STIPULATION THAT FOOD KNOB BOMBS IS EXEMPT AND THAT THE, THEY CONSERVE AT 500 MCKINNEY AT THE DOWNTOWN CENTRAL LIBRARY. THAT EXEMPTION IS STILL UP ON THE CITY'S WEBSITE, WHICH MEANS WE ARE NOT BREAKING ANY LAWS AND YOU ARE WASTING RESOURCES. FOUR COPS STANDING ON A STREET CORNER FOR A COUPLE OF HOURS. THE ONE PULLED TO TICKET ME WAS FROM A SUPPRESSION UNIT. I GOT THE IMPRESSION AT THE TRIAL HE'D READ TO CHASE REAL CRIMINALS. HE EVEN MENTIONED THAT HE GIVES TO THE HOMELESS, YOU READY? WHILE IN UNIFORM. SO THE ONLY DIFFERENCE IS HE FEEDS LESS THAN FIVE AND WE FEED MORE THAN FIVE. LIKE, THERE'S A LIMIT ON THE NUMBER OF HOUSTONIANS YOU CAN HELP. THAT'S RIDICULOUS. FOOD NOT BOMBS, CONTRARY TO WHAT YOU SAY, ACTUALLY LOWERS THE CRIME RATE. A CLEMSON UNIVERSITY STUDY FOUND FOOD INSECURITY TENDS TO HAVE MORE SIGNIFICANT EFFECT ON CRIMES THAT ARE RELATED TO POTENTIAL MONETARY GAIN. THE RESULTS FIND THAT FOOD INSECURITY HAS THE MOST SIGNIFICANT EFFECT ON THE RATE OF BURGLARIES. THEFT, YOU KNOW, CHIPS, GATORADE, A BOTTLE OF WATER, FOOD, NOT BONDS, ACTUALLY ADDRESSES HEALTH ISSUES AS WELL BY REDUCING THE NEED TO, TO TRASH AND DUMPSTER DIVE. SEEMS TO ME YOU SHOULD BE ASKING WHAT YOU COULD DO TO FACILITATE FOOD, NOT BOMBS YOUR TIME. DOING THIS SEVEN DAYS A WEEK. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. THANK YOU. NEXT SPEAKER, SHERRY DORY. I AM SO GLAD THAT I GOT TO WAIT A LITTLE WHILE BEFORE I ADDRESS BECAUSE THE MAYOR TOLD QUITE A FEW LIES AND I'M GOING ON OPEN RECORD, CONDUCT A FOOD SERVICE EVENT, FEED HOMELESS IN PARENTHESES. HE SAID, WE'RE NOT GETTING TICKETED FOR FEEDING THE HOMELESS. YEAH, WE ARE. WE ARE. AND IT'S DESPICABLE THE WAY YOU SIT HERE AND LIED OVER AND OVER AGAIN. THIS IS PERSONAL FOR YOU, MAYOR. SEE, I'M NOT THESE INDIVIDUALS, I'LL CALL YOU OUT. CORRUPTION. THESE HOMELESS ACCOUNTS THAT ARE NOT ACCURATE BALLOONING THEM FOR FEDERAL FUNDING. HOW MANY HOMELESS PEOPLE GET HOUSING AND END UP BACK ON THE STREETS? Y'ALL WOULDN'T KNOW THAT BECAUSE THE MAYOR DOESN'T TELL YOU. CALL IT ONE SECOND, ONE SECOND, ONE SECOND. LAST. WHEREVER THEY CLAP THE COLLAPSE, PLEASE TAKE A LOOK. AND THERE'S A DOOR. NOW WE HAVE BEEN RESPECTFUL TO EVERY SPEAKER HERE AND WE'VE ALLOWED THEM TO SPEAK WITHOUT INTERRUPTION. RESPECT GOES BOTH WAYS. OKAY, I HOPE I GET MY SECONDS BACK PLEASE. RESPECT GOES BOTH WAYS. OKAY? IN ANY CASE, SO LAST THURSDAY, TWO JUDGES DISMISSED, EIGHT CASES AGAINST ME AND MY FRIEND, MS. EILEEN, WHO IS 87 YEARS OLD LADY CAN BARELY WALK. AND SHE GOES AND SHE SERVES EVERY WEDNESDAY, WENT TO COURT LAST WEEK. THE MAYOR, THAT SAME NIGHT THROUGH MEDIA SAID, HEY, WE'RE GONNA REFILE AGAINST YOU GUYS. 38 CASES ARE IN COURT RIGHT NOW, ADDING THESE CASES BACK, BRING OUR NUMBER BACK UP TO 47. LOOK WHO IS WASTING YOUR TAX DOLLARS. LOOK WHO IS CLOGGING UP A COURT SYSTEM. WE HAVE 38 CASES LEFT. MAYOR, WHY WOULD YOU ADD THE EIGHT BACK? BECAUSE IT'S PERSONAL AND YOU WANNA MAKE A POINT. SECONDLY, FOOD NOT BOMBS. IN SEPTEMBER OF 2021 AGREED TO MOVE TWO BLOCKS DOWN THE STREET. MARK EICHENBAUM MADE THOSE MISTAKE OF SAYING HE DID NOT WANT THE HOMELESS AND THE PUBLIC TO COLLIDE. THAT BACKFIRED ON YOU GUYS. WE WERE WILLING TO MOVE THOSE TWO BLOCKS AWAY. GUESS WHAT? LAST SECOND YOU CAME BACK AND SAID, NOPE. OKAY, SO WE TRIED TO WORK WITH YOU. ALRIGHT, $900 A DAY IS WHAT WE'RE BEING TOLD THAT BREAD OF LIFE IS SPENDING TO FEED OUR HOMELESS COMMUNITY. THIS, I HOPE COUNCIL PEOPLE [01:50:01] CAN SEE, WOULD YOU FEED YOUR CHILDREN THIS? WOULD YOU FEED PEOPLE THAT YOU CARE ABOUT THIS? IT'S NOT A COMPETITION, BUT FOOD NOT BOMBS ACTUALLY GIVES A HEALTHY MEAL. WE DON'T SERVE MEAT AND WE'RE NOT GOING AGAINST ANYBODY WHO DOES. BUT WE WANNA SERVE A HEALTHIER ALTERNATIVE. YOU DON'T KNOW HOW MANY THINKINGS WE GET FOR SERVING FRUITS AND VEGETABLES, THINGS THAT THEY DO NOT GET, BUT THIS IS NOT IT. $900 A DAY FOR THIS. AND WHAT WE SERVE COMES OUTTA OUR OWN POCKETS. 80% COMES OUT OF OUR OWN POCKETS MADE WITH LOVE. MAYOR, YOU KEEP ON TALKING ABOUT THE VIOLENCE AT THE LIBRARY, BUT IT'S UNFOUNDED MEDIA AND ATTORNEYS HAVE COME BACK AND SAID, YOUR STATISTICS ARE NOT TRUE. YOU CONTINUED TO USE THIS ONE KNIFE INCIDENT, BUT DID YOU TELL THE PUBLIC THAT THAT LIBRARIAN CHOSE TO NOT FILE CHARGES AGAINST THE GUY? NO, BECAUSE YOU'RE USING THIS AS RHETORIC TO CREATE THIS WHOLE STEREOTYPE ABOUT OUR HOMELESS COMMUNITY. OKAY? WE HAVE NOTHING TO GAIN WITH THIS. NOTHING AT ALL. WE JUST WANNA GO OUT AND FEED PEOPLE. IT'S NOT A COMPETITION OVER THERE WITH THE RISER LOCATION, THE FOUR KNIGHTS THAT BREAD UP LIFE IS OUT THERE. BUT THE DIFFERENCE IS, IS WE MAKE EYE CONTACT, WE TALK TO PEOPLE, WE SMILE WITH PEOPLE. YOU TALK ABOUT PEOPLE STANDING UP AND EATING FOOD. THEY WOULD RATHER HAVE THAT THAN A COP SAY, YOU HAVE AN ATTITUDE. WE DON'T WANT YOU EATING HERE TODAY REPORTED BY PEOPLE WHO GO TO REISNER. WHERE IS THE DIGNITY IN THAT YOUR TIME? THANK YOU VERY MUCH. HAS INSPIRED. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. NEXT SPEAKER, EMILY FRAGER CHAMBERS, EMILY FRAGER CHAMBERS EMILY IS HERE TO BE FILED BY LEAH ENGLE. GOOD AFTERNOON, MR. MAYOR, CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS AND STAFF. MY NAME IS EMILY ROSE FRAGA CHAMBERS, AND I AM HERE ON BEHALF OF THE FRAGA FAMILY IN SUPPORT OF DESIGNATING THE RYER FRAGA HOUSE, LOCATED AT 15 TIC AND THE CITY AS A CITY OF HOUSTON LANDMARK. THE HOUSE WHICH WAS BUILT IN 1925 IS LOCATED IN THE HISTORIC EAST END, A NEIGHBORHOOD THAT WAS MEANT A GREAT DEAL TO MY FAMILY AND HAS ALSO HELPED SHAPE WHAT HOUSTON IS TODAY. MY GRANDPARENTS, JOE ZAGA AND LOOPY FRAGA WERE PROUD OF THIS HOUSE. THEY PURCHASED IT FOR $8,000 IN THE 1960S, AND IN IT THEY RAISED FIVE WONDERFUL CHILDREN, INCLUDING MY UNCLE, HONORABLE DAVID O FRAGA, AND MY LATE MOTHER, ROSA LINDA FRAGA CHAMBERS. IN THE FOLLOWING DECADES, MY GRANDFATHER'S BROTHER, FORMER COUNCIL MEMBER FELIX FRAGA AND HIS WIFE NELLIE FRAGA, MOVED IN NEXT DOOR AND THEY STILL RESIDE THERE TODAY. WHEN I WAS GROWING UP, MY GRANDPARENTS' HOME WAS THE CENTER OF OUR WORLD. IT WAS A PLACE WE CELEBRATED HOLIDAYS AND BIRTHDAYS. MOST IMPORTANTLY, IT WAS A PLACE THAT WE COULD SIMPLY BE TOGETHER, NO MATTER THE OCCASION. AFTER MY GRANDMOTHER PASSED AWAY IN 2018, MY UNCLE, MY AUNT, AND I DECIDED TO RESTORE THE PROPERTY AND THE MEMORY OF MY GRANDPARENTS. THIS YEAR WE RECEIVED THE MARTHA PETERSON GOODRICH AWARD FOR THE PRESERVATION HOUSTON AND RECOGNITION OF OUR WORK. WE ARE GRATEFUL THAT THE COUNCIL HAS NOMINATED OUR HOUSE TO RECEIVE THIS DESIGNATION. IT IS AN HONOR AND A PRIVILEGE TO LIVE IN HOUSTON, A CITY THAT HAS GIVEN OUR IMMIGRANT FAMILY AN OPPORTUNITY TO GROW, THRIVE, AND LEAD. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME AND CONSIDERATION, AND I HOPE YOU'LL VOTE IN FAVOR OF MAKING THE RYER FROGGER HOUSE A HISTORIC LANDMARK. THANK YOU. THANK COUNCILMAN ROS. THANK YOU EMILY. THANK, THANK YOU FOR COMING TODAY AND SHARING THE HISTORY OF THIS, THIS, UM, THIS HOUSE. IT'S, UM, IT'S, IT'S WORTHY OF THE LANDMARK NOMINATION AND, AND, AND THE PRESERVATION OF THE HOME'S HISTORY AND ITS, UM, SIGNIFICANCE IN THE, IN THE A STAND. UM, I WANTED TO ADD ONE THING THAT YOU DIDN'T SAY IS THAT, UM, THAT THIS HOUSE, THE WISHES OF, UM, LUPE FROG'S WISHES WERE TO PROVIDE THIS HOME WOULD PROVIDE LODGING FOR, UM, FAMILIES OF PATIENTS UNDERGOING TREATMENT AT THE TEXAS MEDICAL CENTER. YES. UM, SO, SO E EVEN MORE SPECIAL THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE TODAY. THANK YOU. THANK YOU ALL. THANK YOU COUNCILMAN COUNCIL BOWERS. THANK YOU MAYOR. AND THANK YOU FOR COMING FORWARD. JUST GO, INCIDENTALLY, I RAN INTO YOUR GRANDMOTHER AT HOME DEPOT THE OTHER DAY. OH, OKAY. AND SHE RECOGNIZED ME FROM MY HOUSTON COMMUNITY COLLEGE DAYS. WOW. AND SO CERTAINLY I THINK THIS IS A WONDERFUL NOMINATION THAT I COULD CERTAINLY SUPPORT. THANK YOU. THANK YOU ALL. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. NEXT SPEAKER. LEAH ANGLE. LEAH ANGLE. LEAH. NEXT SPEAKER. MONIQUE CLAY. MONIQUE CLAY MONIQUE IS HERE TO BE FOLLOWED BY STEVE WILLIAMS. OH, I CAN GET RIGHT BEHIND THAT ONE OF THOSE MICS. EITHER ONE. MY [01:55:01] MOUTH IS BIG. I DON'T NEED THE MIC. WITH THAT BEING SAID TODAY, I CAME TODAY BECAUSE I NEED A LITTLE ASSISTANCE. WHEN I CAME TO HOUSTON, MY OPPORTUNITIES WAS TO WORK IN THE MEDICAL FIELD, WORKED THROUGH AGENCY FOR 20 YEARS. THE BIGGEST THING OF MY LIFE WAS TAKING CARE OF PATIENTS FOR SERVING. THAT'S THE BIGGEST JOB OF MY JOB, OF HIPAA PRIVACY AND NOT TAKING SOMETHING THAT BELONGS TO THEM. IT'S THE THING THAT I LOVE THE MOST. THEN I WENT FROM BEING THE PERSON THAT TAKING CARE OF PATIENTS FOR 20 YEARS. I TOOK CARE OF EVEN CELEBRITIES FROM RONNIE WILSON, THE GAP BAND. I'VE ALSO EVEN TOOK CARE OF. I HAD FRIENDS WITH MS. CAROLINE JONES, THE MAYOR OF KENTON. I'VE NEVER TOOK ANYTHING FROM ANYONE. I'VE ALWAYS TRIED TO BE THE PERSON OF HELPING SOMEONE IF ANYWHERE OR, OR CAN. WITH THAT BEING SAID, MY IDENTITY WAS COMPROMISED FOR 20 YEARS AND IT WAS COMPROMISED TWICE AT THE WHITE HOUSE. I FOUND THE DOCUMENTS FROM THE, THE FEDERAL BUREAU INVESTIGATION 'CAUSE I ASKED ABOUT MY INFORMATION. I WANTED TO KNOW WHAT WAS GOING ON BECAUSE I SPENT SO MUCH TIME IN THE MEDICAL FIELD TAKING CARE OF PATIENTS. I DIDN'T HAVE TIME FOR MY OWN LIFE. I DIDN'T KNOW THAT IT WAS RIGHT BEHIND MY, MY RUG THAT IT WAS DONE IN 1998. AND I NEVER THOUGHT OF MY WILDEST DREAM THAT YOU WOULD TAKE MY IDENTITY TO THE POINT WHERE IT TOOK MY PRIVACY, IT TOOK MY LIFE, MY PRIVACY. AND I'VE NEVER DONE THAT TO A PATIENT. DOESN'T HURT ME MORE THAN ANYTHING. WHEN YOU HAVE EVERYTHING AND YOU LOSE EVERYTHING IN THE MEDICAL FIELD, THE FIRST THING THAT HURTS THE MOST IS YOU DON'T HAVE ANYTHING LEFT. AND THAT'S THE PART OF OUR JOB IS TO MAKE THAT THEY'RE HAPPY AND COMFORTABLE IN THEIR LAST DAYS BECAUSE I KNOW SOMEONE'S GONNA FIGHT FOR WHAT YOU HAD. WITH THAT BEING SAID, I'M FIGHTING FOR MY IDENTITY. I'M FIGHTING FOR MY, MY PRIVACY. THIS IS 20 YEARS. MY MOTHER WAS A WOMAN OF, RIGHT. SHE WAS A CHRISTIAN. SHE WAS A PRIVATE SCHOOL ALL THE WAY TO HIGH SCHOOL. AND I, I, I ALSO DID AS WELL. I DON'T HAVE A LOT OF EDUCATION, BUT I NEED RESOURCES. I LOOKED UP TO YOU. TRUE ENOUGH, THEY CRITICIZED EVERY ONE OF US. AND I DON'T JUDGE ANYONE. BUT THE THING I LOVED YOU THE MOST WAS BECAUSE IT WAS HARVEY. I WORKED IN MISS KEN, MISS CAROLINE JONES' HOUSE. SHE'S THE MAYOR OF KENDALL. YOU KNOW, MISS, UH, CAROLINE JONES. WITH THAT BEING SAID, SHE GAVE ME A HOUSE AND HER HOUSE WAS TORN UP. JUST ME BY MYSELF. THE CONSTRUCTION THAT I CHANGED, SHE WOULD TELL YOU THAT I DID A GOOD JOB, BUT JUST FOR ME, BY MYSELF. AND SHE EVEN HELPED ME ANY RESOURCES THAT SHE CAN, EVEN WHEN THEY TRIED TO KILL ME FOR MONEY, AND SHE'LL TELL YOU. 'CAUSE EVEN MY FAMILY, MY GUARDIAN THAT RAISED ME OVER ALL THE COLLEGES IN SAN ANTONIO, SOME OF IN HOUSTON, SOME AUSTIN, YOUR TIME HAS TO, SHE GAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO STAY FOR A LITTLE BIT. THANK, THANK YOU MS. CLAY. THANK YOU SO VERY MUCH. I NEED ANY KIND OF RESOURCES THAT I CAN GET HELP AS FAR AS SOME IDENTITY THEFT, SOME STUFF WITH THE INTERNET. THAT THE INTERNET WAS, UH, FAKE. I GOT WEBS THAT I SAW ON MY THING THAT'S BEEN COMPROMISED FOR THE WHOLE THING. LIKE, THEY BASICALLY TOLD ME HOW TO GET IN HER ACCOUNT. RIGHT. THANK YOU. WELL, RENEE WILL BE COMING BACK AROUND AND YOU CAN PROVIDE, UM, WHATEVER INFORMATION YOU HAVE SO WE CAN REACH YOU. I KNOW THAT'S NOT, YOU MAY NOT HAVE A TELEPHONE, I DON'T SEE ANYTHING LISTED, BUT IF YOU'LL, IF YOU'LL GET WITH RENEE WHEN HE COMES BACK. YES, SIR. OKAY. I APPRECIATE IT. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. STEVE WILLIAMS. STEVE WILLIAMS. STEVE WILLIAMS. NEXT SPEAKER. ANAYA MARAK. ANYA MAR CAT IS, DID I GET COME CLOSE THAT, THAT WAS VERY CLOSE. OKAY, , THANK YOU. MY NAME IS ANYA MARAK LOWE. AND I'M HERE TO ASK YOUR HELP. UH, WITH A PROPERTY IN MY NEIGHBORHOOD LOCATED AT 6 0 1 EAST SEVENTH STREET, THAT IS A 20 UNIT SHORT-TERM RENTAL PROPERTY. UM, THE PROPERTY WAS QUIETLY ACQUIRED BY A MAN NAMED ADA ONG LAST YEAR. AND HE CONVERTED THIS APARTMENTS TO 20 SHORT-TERM RENTAL UNITS THIS SPRING. AND MY NEIGHBORS AND I HAVE WITNESSED CRIMINAL ACTIVITY DAILY NOW SINCE THIS HAS HAPPENED. UM, FROM POTENTIAL HUMAN TRAFFICKING, BLATANT PROSTITUTION, DISTRIBUTION OF DRUGS, LOUD PARTIES, DOMESTIC VIOLENCE AND MULTIPLE ARRESTS HAVE BEEN MADE IN JUST A SHORT PERIOD OF A FEW MONTHS. AND EVERY DAY I WALK OUT TO TAKE MY DOG FOR A WALK AND I'M WORRIED ABOUT WHAT I'M GOING TO ENCOUNTER JUST ON MY STREET. AND THERE'S [02:00:01] PEOPLE HANGING OUT IN THE PARKING LOT, CLEARLY DOING DRUGS. WE CALL HPD. AND THEY'RE VERY, THEY'RE EXCELLENT RESPONDING. THEY'VE BEEN FANTASTIC, BUT THEY CAN ONLY DO SO MUCH UNLESS THEY CATCH SOMEBODY IN THE ACT. AND I SEE PROSTITUTES EVERY DAY, BARELY CLOTHED OUT AND GETTING IN AND OUT OF CARS ALL HOURS OF THE DAY, ALL HOURS OF THE NIGHT IN A VERY RESIDENT, ALL COMPLETE RESIDENTIAL NEIGHBORHOOD. UM, I WAKE UP TO A MESSAGE FROM MY NEIGHBOR THAT THERE WAS AN AGGRAVATED ASSAULT AND THAT HPD RESPONDED FOR AND THEN THEFT FROM THE CAR THE NEXT DAY AND WONDER WHEN MY PROPERTY'S GONNA BE NEXT. LAST MONTH, THE NEIGHBOR CALLED THE CONSTABLE ABOUT A SUSPICIOUS CAR PARKED AT THE COMPLEX. THEY ARRESTED THE MAN WHO HAD A GUN, WAS DOING DRUGS OPENLY AND WITH OPEN WARRANTS. LAST WEEK, HVD AND AN AMBULANCE RESPONDED TO A DOMESTIC DISPUTE OF THE PROPERTY. WHY ARE WE BURNING UP CITY RESOURCES IN OUR PRECIOUS HPD AND CONSTABLES TIME ON SOMETHING THAT CAN EASILY BE SOLVED JUST BY ENFORCING ORDINANCE IN, UH, THAT'S ALREADY IN PLACE. THERE ARE 20 UNITS AT THIS PROPERTY. THERE ARE MARKETING THESE AS NIGHTLY RENTALS. THE ONE BEDROOMS FOR SIX FOR SIX PEOPLE, THE TWO BEDROOMS FOR EIGHT PEOPLE. I'LL DO THE MATH FOR YOU. THAT'S A POTENTIAL 124 GUESTS AND A PROPERTY, A LAND TRACK THAT WOULD NORMALLY IN THE HEIGHTS NEIGHBORHOOD HAVE TWO SINGLE FAMILY HOMES AND WHICH WAS APARTMENTS. THAT WAS HOUSING HARDWORKING HOUSTONIANS THAT NOW WERE OTHERWISE WERE EVICTED AND DISPLACED FROM THIS. IMAGINE IF YOU HAD THIS KIND OF DENSITY, ONLY 20 PARKING SPOTS, 124 PEOPLE, AND THE FIRE AND SAFETY HAZARDS THAT ALSO COME WITH THAT KIND OF DENSITY IN A RESIDENTIAL NEIGHBORHOOD, ABUTTING RESIDENTIAL PROPERTIES. THIS ISN'T JUST A ONE-OFF SITUATION, WHICH IS WHY I'M HERE TODAY BECAUSE I FEEL LIKE I SHOULD HELP STOP THIS FROM CONTINUING TO HAPPEN. THIS IS HIS BUSINESS MODEL. HE'S PURCHASED 20 PROPERTIES WITH HUNDREDS OF THESE SHORT TERM UNITS AND HE HAS PLANS TO BUILD A HUNDRED IN GARDEN OAKS, OAK FOREST AND INDEPENDENCE HEIGHTS. THAT MEANS THAT THIS PROSTITUTION AND THE DRUGS THAT I'M EXPERIENCING IN MY NEIGHBORHOOD IN THE HEIGHTS IS COMING TO A NEIGHBORHOOD NEAR YOU. UM, PROPERTY. AGAIN, CONVERSIONS LIKE THIS ARE HOTBEDS FOR CRIME PROSECUTIONS. IT'S ON ONE SECOND. COUNCILMAN MAYOR ACO. THANK YOU MAYOR. AND, AND THANKS FOR COMING. I I'M NOT GONNA SPEAK AFTER EVERY ONE OF THE SPEAKERS COMING FOR SHORT-TERM RENTALS AND I KNOW COUNCIL MEMBER KAMAN WOULD, IF SHE WAS HERE, WOULD BE, UH, THANKFUL FOR YOU AND YOUR COMMENTS. UM, BUT MAYOR, THIS THIS, I KNOW WE'VE DISCUSSED WITH YOU BEFORE. WE DO NOT HAVE A RULE ON THE BOOKS ABOUT SHORT TERM RENTALS. WHAT WE DO HAVE A RULE ON THE BOOKS IS ABOUT HOTELS, MAYOR. AND OUR DEFINITION OF HOTEL IN CHAPTER 28 READS ANY BUILDING OR BUILDINGS IN WHICH THE PUBLIC MAY OBTAIN TRANSIENT SLEEPING ACCOMMODATIONS. THE TERM SHALL INCLUDE HOTELS, MOTELS, SUITE HOTELS, TOURIST HOMES, HOUSES OR COURTS ENDS ROOMING HOUSES OR OTHER BUILDINGS WHERE TRANSIENT ROOMS ARE FURNISHED FOR A CONSIDERATION. SO I THINK WHAT THIS GROUP IS ARGUING MAYOR, IS THAT THESE, UH, ARE BASICALLY DEFACTO, YOU KNOW, HOTELS AND WE HAVE SEVERAL RULES AND THERE'S PLENTY IN CHAPTER 28 FOR EVERYBODY TO SEE, OF WHICH THESE COMPLEXES DO NOT MEET THE REQUIREMENTS OF CHAPTER 28. SO I KNOW IT'S A MATTER FOR LEGAL, UM, TO, UH, DECIDE, BUT THIS WAS THE AFTER WE HAD, AFTER COUNCIL MEMBER PECK AND I HELD THE MEETING ON SHORT TERM RENTALS. WE HEARD MOSTLY FROM RESIDENTS, UM, IN NEIGHBORHOODS WITH THESE SMALLER APARTMENT COMPLEXES, 20, 24 OR SO UNITS, WHICH I MIGHT ADD DOES TAKE AFFORDABLE HOUSING STOCK OFF THE MARKET, UM, INSIDE, YOU KNOW, THE LOOP WHERE WE NEED IT AND ALL OF THAT. UM, BUT ANYWAY, THAT'S THEIR, THAT'S WHAT I THINK THE CRUX OF THE ARGUMENT IS, IS TO CLASSIFY THESE AS HOTELS. 'CAUSE YOU KNOW, IF IT LOOKS LIKE A HOTEL, YOU KNOW, TALKS LIKE A HOTEL, QUACKS LIKE A DUCK, UM, IT'S A, IT'S A, IT'S A HOTEL. SO, UM, THANK YOU FOR COMING. I DO WANNA, UM, IF I COULD, I DON'T KNOW IF THIS IS THE RIGHT TIME TO SUSPEND THE RULES TO ADD A SPEAKER WHO THOUGHT HE HAD SPOKEN UP ON THIS TOPIC. JOEL ABRAMOWITZ TO THE END OF THE SPEAKERS ON THESE TO, ON THIS TOPIC. I DON'T KNOW IF IT'S THE APPROPRIATE TIME TO MOVE AND IS THERE A SECOND UPON A SECOND? I GUESS THAT WOULD BE AFTER BARBARA ASIT FOR TWO MINUTES. ANY ANY OBJECTION? NONE. ANY OTHER QUESTIONS FOR ME ABOUT, I JUST, I JUST WANNA MAKE SURE THAT I UNDERSTAND. YEAH, YOU SAID HE PURCHASED 20 UNITS. THIS IS JUST ONE OF MULTIPLE PROPERTIES. HE'S PURCHASED IN A VERY SHORT ORDER AND HE HAS OPENLY SAID THIS IS HIS BUSINESS MODEL. HE'S GONNA CONTINUE TO DO THIS ACROSS HOUSTON. THIS IS HIS PLAN, BUT HE PURCHASED 20 UNITS AND IF THERE'S ONE BEDROOM, HE'S LEASING THAT ONE BEDROOM. FOR HOW MANY? IT'S FOR SIX PEOPLE IN ONE BEDROOM AND [02:05:01] THEN EIGHT PEOPLE IN TWO BEDROOMS. HE'S PUT TREL BEDS IN THE LIVING ROOM BASICALLY TO ACHIEVE THAT OCCUPANCY. WHICH, WHICH LOCATION IS THIS? THIS IS THE 6 0 1 EAST SEVENTH STREET. IT'S ON THE CORNER OF SEVENTH STREET AND OXFORD AND DISTRICT C AND ABBY CAYMAN IS VERY WELL VERSED ON THIS PARTICULAR ISSUE. 6 0 1 EAST SEVENTH EAST SEVENTH STREET. OKAY, LET ME, LEMME JUST HAVE SOMEONE TAKE A LOOK AT IT. OKAY. OKAY. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. NEXT SPEAKER. OKAY. MAC HOKE. MAC HOKE LIVES HERE TO BE FOLLOWED BY ANN FONT. THANK YOU MR. MAYOR. COUNCIL MEMBERS, UH, I LIVE ON STEP GONNA ONE OF MY EXCUSE, EXCUSE ME. MY NAME IS MAC HOKE AND I LIVE ON BANK STREET. UM, YOU GAVE ME THE COURTESY TO A NUMBER OF YOU TO SPEAK, I GUESS IN APRIL, ABOUT THE SAME OWNER WHO HAS A PROPERTY ON OUR STREET, 1116 BANKS. UM, I'M HERE WITH PROBABLY A DOZEN OF OUR NEIGHBORS WHO HAVE BEEN LIVING FOR ABOUT TWO YEARS WITH A CONVERTED 24 UNIT PROPERTY. ALL SINGLE BEDROOMS THAT THIS OWNER CONVERTED TO SHORT TERM RENTALS. AND WE BELIEVE, UM, WITH MEMBERS COUNT, UH, ALCORN AND CAYMAN, THAT THIS IS OPERATING AS A HOTEL FOR THE LAST TWO YEARS. SHORT TERM, OVERNIGHT, JUST LIKE OUR NEIGHBORS IN THE HEIGHTS. UM, UP TO EIGHT PEOPLE I'VE DOCUMENTED, WERE ALLOWED TO RENT FOR 80, $80 A NIGHT. SO $10 PER HEAD PER NIGHT. YOU BRING THE MATH. HOW MANY PEOPLE IN THIS UNIT WE'VE HAD, I PERSONALLY WITNESSED AS HAVE OTHERS, PROSTITUTION DRUGS, UM, HPD CALLS, CONSTABLE CALLS, WE'VE HAD 12 LONG ARMED RIFLE LAW ENFORCEMENT PEOPLE, UH, ARREST A FELONY GUEST THERE. UM, I HAVE TO SHOUT OUT TO TWO OF OUR COUNCIL MEMBERS AGAIN, UH, ALCORN AND CAYMAN BECAUSE THEY AND THEIR STAFF WERE AMAZED AND THEY GOT TOGETHER. THEY HELPED US DIG INTO THIS ISSUE AND WE WERE SUCCESSFUL IN GETTING THIS PROPERTY TAKEN OFF AIRBNB AND VRBO, SHORT-TERM RENTAL. BUT IT IS JUST A BANDAID FOR OUR CITY. THIS IS HAPPENING ALL OVER OUR CITY. THIS OWNER HAS 20 PROPERTIES, HE'S NOT ALONE. IT'S NO LONGER IN OUR HOUSING STOCK. THIS IS BRINGING TERRIBLE THINGS TO OUR NEIGHBORHOOD TO THE POINT WHERE MANY OF OUR NEIGHBORS ARE THINKING ABOUT MOVING, INCLUDING OURSELF. AND I THINK WE ALL KNOW WITH THE CORE OF A, A GREAT CITY OR GREAT NEIGHBORHOODS. SO WHAT WE ASK RESPECTFULLY IS WE DON'T, NOT NEW REGULATION, NOT NEW AUTHORITY. I THINK WE HAVE EXISTING AUTHORITY UNDER SECTION 28. UM, THIS PROPERTY IS IN, ON A RESIDENTIAL STREET, NOT A THOROUGHFARE. THIS PROPERTY IS NEXT DOOR TO A SCHOOL POST OAK SCHOOL. THIS PROPERTY IS WITHIN 400 FEET OF A PUBLIC PARK, BELL PARK. ALL OF THOSE ARE OUTLAWED BY AN OPERATING HOTEL AS I UNDERSTAND IT. SO, RESPECTFULLY, IF WE MAY, PLEASE REQUEST THAT THIS BODY ENFORCE EXISTING REGULATION SO THAT WE AS A CITY CAN NOT HAVE THIS GOING ON. AND PEOPLE FLEEING GREAT NEIGHBORHOODS. 'CAUSE HOUSTON'S AN AMAZING PLACE. WE LOVE IT AND WE WANNA PROTECT IT. SO THANK YOU SO MUCH. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. COUNCILMAN MALCO. THANK YOU MATT, FOR COMING. UM, SO IT'S OFF AIRBNB AND VRBO, BUT IT'S STILL BEING RENTED AS SHORT TERM RENTALS ON OTHER PLATFORMS. AND, AND MAYOR, THE PROBLEM WITH THIS IS, YOU KNOW, AIRBNB VRBO HAVE A LITTLE BIT MORE PRESENCE AND, AND SOME OF THESE OTHER PLATFORMS HARDER TO GET TO, HARDER TO REPORT ANYTHING GOING ON. SO IT'S STILL AN ISSUE. THANK YOU FOR COMING. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR HELP. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. THANK YOU. NEXT SPEAKER ANN FONT AND FONT IS HERE TO BE FOLLOWED BY ELLEN ERT. ALAN ER, SORRY. HELLO, MAYOR CITY COUNCIL. MY NAME IS ANN CAROLINE FAN. I'M A NATIVE HOUSTONIAN AND 16 YEARS AGO I BOUGHT MY LITTLE BUNGALOW WITH A WHITE PICKET FENCE IN THE HOUSTON HEIGHTS. IT'S ON A QUIET, DEAD END STREET WITH SINGLE FAMILY HOMES SURROUNDING A 20 UNIT APARTMENT COMPLEX ON THE CORNER OF OXFORD AND 6 0 1 EAST SEVENTH STREET. THE APARTMENTS WERE NOT FANCY AND THE PEOPLE THAT LIVED THERE WERE JUST HARDWORKING FOLKS YOU MIGHT SEE WORKING AT A HEIGHTS RESTAURANT OR A COFFEE SHOP. THEY WOULD PROBABLY NEVER BE ABLE TO AFFORD TO BUY A HOME IN THE HEIGHTS, BUT THEY COULD AFFORD TO RENT A SMALL APARTMENT CLOSE TO WHERE THEY WORKED IN OUR COMMUNITY. THIS ALL CHANGED LAST YEAR WHEN AN INVESTOR THOUGHT OF ONG BOUGHT IT. HE ALSO OWNS OVER 20 PROPERTIES IN HOUSTON, INCLUDING AIRBNB HOTELS LIKE 1116 BANKS. I WAS SAD TO SEE OUR NEIGHBORS GET EVICTED, BUT I HOPED HE WOULD FIX IT UP AND WE WOULD HAVE GREAT NEW NEIGHBORS THIS SPRING WHEN IT OPENED INSTEAD OF APARTMENTS, ALL OF THE UNITS WERE AIRBNB. THE LIVING ROOMS ARE NOW SLEEPING ROOMS WITH TWO OR THREE TRUNDLE BEDS. EACH ONE OR TWO BEDROOM RENTS FOR AN AVERAGE $87 A NIGHT AND SLEEP SIX TO EIGHT PEOPLE FOR A TOTAL OF 124 GUESTS IN AN APARTMENT COMPLEX WITH 20 PARKING SPACES. NO ONE LIVES THERE. CHECK-IN IS KEYLESS. NO ONE ACTUALLY MEETS THE PERSON RENTING THE UNIT. THE TROUBLE STARTED IN MAY WHEN THE DRUG DEALERS AND PROSTITUTES SHOWED UP. HPD RESPONDED TO AN AGGRAVATED ASSAULT, THEN THEFT FROM A CAR. MY [02:10:01] NEIGHBORS CALLED THE CONSTABLE ABOUT A U-HAUL THAT HAD BEEN PARKED FOR OVER A WEEK. IT HAD BEEN STOLEN BY ONE OF THE GUESTS LAST MONTH AROUND 1:00 AM I CALLED THE CONSTABLE ABOUT A SUSPICIOUS CAR PARKED AT THE COMPLEX. THEY ARRESTED THE MAN IN IT WHO HAD A GUN, WAS SMOKING POT AND HAD OPEN WARRANTS. HE SAID HE HAD MET SOME GIRLS THAT WERE STAYING THERE FOR WEEKS. WE SAW A PARADE OF CARS LATE AT NIGHT, SOME PARKING IN FRONT OF MY HOME AS THEY WAITED FOR SERVICE. I ASSUME FOR THE FIRST TIME I WAS AFRAID TO EVEN WALK OUT IN MY OWN FRONT YARD TO LET MY DOGS OUT. ONE OF MY NEIGHBORS FOUND AN EMPTY GUN HOLSTER IN HIS YARD, AND ON THE SECURITY CAMERA, YOU COULD HEAR WOMEN EXCLAIM HOLY S**T. AS THE CONSTABLE DROVE BY, THEY APPARENTLY DROPPED IT WHEN THEY DOVE INTO HIS BUSHES. THIS WENT ON FOR MONTHS AS WE REPORTED TO H-P-D-H-P-D VICE, THE CONSTABLE AIRBNB AND VRBO AND MANY OF YOU ON THE COUNCIL AND YOUR OFFICE, MR. TURNER. IT WAS ONLY AFTER ALL THIS REPORTING THAT WE COULD GET MR. ONG TO MEET WITH US IN HPDA FEW WEEKS AGO FOR HPD DIRECTION. HE DID MAKE SOME SECURITY IMPROVEMENTS. WE ENCOURAGED HIM TO CONVERT TO LONG-TERM RENTAL, BUT HE SHOWS LITTLE INTEREST. HE HAS A SECURITY PATROL FOR US IN HIS CONSTRUCTION PROJECTS FOR SIX MONTHS, BUT WE DON'T KNOW IF HE'S GONNA RENEW IT. WE DO KNOW THAT SIMILAR ISSUES CONTINUE AT HIS PROPERTY ON BANKS, EVEN THOUGH THEY HAVE NOW BEEN REMOVED FROM AIRBNB AND VRBO LAST WEEK. HPD IN AN AMBULANCE RESPONDED TO A DOMESTIC DISPUTE OVER THERE. HE IS ALSO BUILDING OVER A HUNDRED RENTAL UNITS IN OAK FOREST AND INDEPENDENCE HEIGHTS. WE NEED CITY COUNCIL TO ENFORCE CHAPTER 28, WHICH PROHIBITS HOTELS AND RESIDENTIAL NEIGHBORHOODS AGAINST THESE SHORT-TERM RENTAL HOTELS, WHICH ARE ACTUALLY WORSE BECAUSE THEY DON'T EVEN HAVE A FRONT DESK OR ANYONE ON SITE 24 7 WITHOUT REGULATION BY THE CITY. INVESTORS LIKE MR. ON WILL CONTINUE TO BUY UP THESE SMALL NEIGHBORHOOD APARTMENT COMPLEXES, REMOVING MUCH NEEDED HOUSING, AND INSTEAD CREATING SHORT-TERM RENTAL HAVENS FOR PROSTITUTION AND CRIME, WHICH ENDANGER ALL OF US AND OUR CHILDREN WHO LIVE NEXT TO THEM. IT SHOULDN'T BE UP TO EACH NEIGHBORHOOD AND LOCAL LAW ENFORCEMENT TO MANAGE A CRIME ON A CASE BY CASE BASIS AT THESE PROPERTIES. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. LEMME TAKE A LOOK AT IT. ANY QUESTIONS? LET ME, LET ME, LEMME GO OUT AND TAKE A LOOK AT IT. THANK YOU. NEXT, NEXT SPEAKER, ALAN ERT. ALAN ERT TO BE FOLLOWED BY DEBORAH QUIN. HI EVERYONE. UH, THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITIES TO SPEAK. UH, I ALSO LIVE IN THE MUSEUM DISTRICT NEIGHBORHOOD NEAR 1116 BANKS. UH, I THINK YOU'VE HEARD THE, THE COMMENTS. UH, I WANNA THANK YOU, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER, UH, ALQUAN FOR YOUR SUPPORT ON THIS, AND SO I WON'T BELABOR THE ISSUE. I THINK WE ALL KNOW WHAT THE ISSUE IS. UM, YOU KNOW, AS, AS THE PREVIOUS SPEAKER MENTIONED IN, IN THE CASE OF BANKS, THIS WAS A, UM, A SMALL APARTMENT COMPLEX THAT WAS CONVERTED TO, UH, WHAT, WHAT IN LARGE PART CONSTITUTES A HOTEL. UH, WE DON'T THINK THE PROPERTY OWNER PULLED THE, THE PROPER PERMITS, UH, REQUESTED THE, UH, REQUIRED VARIANCES TO BE ABLE TO PUT A HOTEL IN IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD. UM, WE, WE, WE DO THINK THAT CHAPTER 28 ADDRESSES THIS ISSUE, UH, AND, AND WE REALLY WOULD, UH, LIKE THE CITY TO, UH, SIMPLY REVIEW THE PROPERTY AND DETERMINE WHETHER OR NOT IT IT CONSTITUTES A HOTEL, UM, UNDER, UNDER CHAPTER 28. AND IF YES, COMPEL THE, THE PROPERTY OWNER TO, UM, UM, COMPLY WITH THE LOCATIONAL REQUIREMENTS UNDER THE ORDINANCE, UM, UH, TO BE ABLE TO HAVE A RESIDENTIAL HOTEL IN, IN, IN A NEIGHBORHOOD. AND, UH, AND, AND IF HE, AND IF IT IS NOT, IF IT HAS NOT MET THE REQUIREMENTS UNDER CHAPTER 28, UH, WE ASK THE CITY TO ENFORCE THE CODE AND COMPEL THE PROPERTY OWNER TO COMPLY, UH, AND HAVE THE PROPERTY CLOSED UNTIL IT DOES. UH, IT, IT HAS, UM, CREATED A SIGNIFICANT, UH, UPTICK IN, IN, UH, CRIME IN OUR NEIGHBORHOOD. AND WE THINK THAT, UH, THERE IS AN EXISTING CITY ORDINANCE THAT, UH, PROVIDES A REMEDY FOR, FOR THE PROBLEM AT HAND. UM, THANK YOU FOR THE TIME. THANK YOU. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. NEXT SPEAKER, DEBORAH QUINTERO. DEBORAH QUINTERO IS HERE. WE FOLLOWED BY JASON GINSBURG. HELLO EVERYONE. CAN YOU HEAR ME? THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR LETTING ME SPEAK TODAY. I REPRESENT THE WHAM CIVIC ASSOCIATION IN MONTROSE. I HAVE BEEN DESIGNATED THEIR CHAIR FOR THE SHORT TERM RENTAL SITUATION IN OUR NEIGHBORHOOD. UM, UM, UH, I LOVE LIVING IN WHAM. I CAME HERE FROM THE SUBURBS WITH MY DISABLED SON. WE WANTED TO LIVE CLOSE TO THE WEST GRADE MULTI-SERVICE CENTER FOR THE PROGRAMS. HE PARTICIPATES THERE. AND, UM, WE HAVE A GREAT COMMUNITY, BUT AS WE HAVE SEEN, IT'S NOT JUST THESE MID OLD MID-CENTURY 20 UNIT APARTMENT COMPLEXES THAT ARE BEING TURNED OVER. THE LONG-TERM RENTALS OF TOWN HOMES AND LITTLE BUNGALOWS ARE ALSO BEING SCOOPED UP BY THESE, THESE ARE WELL OILED SHORT-TERM RENTAL MACHINES. THESE ARE NOT MOM AND POP. WE'RE GONNA RENT OUT THE BASEMENT OR THE GARAGE APARTMENT. THEY HAVE HUNDREDS OF UNITS AND IT'S [02:15:01] GOTTEN TO THE POINT WHERE EVERY TIME A FOR SALE SIGN OR A FOR LEASE SIGN GOES UP IN OUR NEIGHBORHOOD, WE ARE LIKE, OH MY GOSH. HERE COMES ANOTHER SHORT-TERM RENTAL. AND, UH, THE PROBLEM IS THERE'S A TWO BEDROOM TOWN HOME NEXT TO ME THAT'S USED TO BE A LONG-TERM RENTAL. WE KNEW OUR NEIGHBORS, WE LOVED THEM, AND WE NEVER HAD A PROBLEM WITH THE LANDLORD. WELL, THIS LAST TIME HE TURNED IT OVER TO A SHORT-TERM RENTAL COMPANY. HE SLEEPS 12 PEOPLE IN A TWO BEDROOM TOWN HOME. NOW, IF IT WAS A LONG-TERM RENTAL, THE TEXAS STATE PROPERTY CODE 92.010 SAYS YOU CAN'T HAVE MORE THAN THREE ADULT HEADS IN BEDS. SO TECHNICALLY HE COULD ONLY HAVE SIX ADULTS IF IT WAS A LONG-TERM RENTAL, BUT A SHORT-TERM RENTAL, IT IS A FREE FOR ALL I KNOW OF A THREE BEDROOM, TWO BATH BUNGALOW ON MISSOURI STREET, LISTED FOR RENT AS A LONG-TERM RENTAL. IT FLIPPED OVER TO A, UH, AIRBNB SHORT-TERM RENTAL. ONCE AGAIN, THE MACHINE SLEEPS 16 PLUS WITH TWO BATHROOMS. THE PROBLEM WITH THIS STUFFING, WE'RE TALKING MORE STUFF THAN A TURKEY ON THANKSGIVING DAY, OKAY? BEDS, BEDS, BEDS IN DINING ROOMS, BEDS IN THE STUDY. WHEN YOU'RE ADVERTISING A PROPERTY IN MONTROSE THAT SLEEPS 16 PLUS, THAT IS PARTY CITY. AND I HAVE SEEN IT WITH MY OWN EYES. GUNS BEING TRANSFERRED FROM CAR TO CAR, UH, WEED TRASH, MORE TRASH, ILLEGAL PARKING, LOADS OF PEOPLE PILING IN AND OUT. THIS LITTLE TOWN HOME HAS A POOL AND THEY JUST BUNDLE AND LOAD UP. THE MORE PEOPLE THE BETTER IF YOU DO THE MA. AND YES, THEY'RE PROBABLY PAYING A HOTEL OCCUPANCY TAX, BUT IF YOU TOOK THAT SAME 16 PEOPLE AND PUT FOUR TO A ROOM IN A HOTEL, THEY'RE GONNA PAY MORE MONEY AND YOU'RE GONNA COLLECT MORE HOTEL OCCUPANCY TAX, THEN YOU WOULD FROM THE $250 A NIGHT THAT THIS STUFFED BUNGALOW IS GOING TO BRING IN. ALSO, YOU'RE GONNA HAVE 24 HOUR STAFF. THAT POOL'S GONNA CLOSE AT 10 O'CLOCK. YOUR TIME HAS EXPIRED. AND NO 3 1 1 CALLS. WE NEED CHAPTER 28. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. NEXT SPEAKER, JASON GINSBURG. JASON GINSBURG IS HERE. WE FOLLOWED BY BARBARA KOIT. GOOD AFTERNOON, Y'ALL. I'M WITH HOUSTONIANS AGAINST AIRBNB AND I'M HERE IN SUPPORT OF THOSE HOUSTONIANS LIVING NEXT TO APARTMENTS THAT HAVE BEEN CONVERTED TO DEFACTO HOTELS BY AIRBNB ACCORDING TO SECTION 28, 2 0 1 OF THIS CITY'S CODE. A HOTEL IS ANY BUILDING OR BUILDINGS IN WHICH THE PUBLIC MAY OBTAIN TRANSIENT SLEEPING ACCOMMODATIONS FOR CONSIDERATION. ALSO, ACCORDING TO THAT CODE, THE PROPERTY LINE OF THE TRACT ON WHICH A HOTEL WITH 50 OR FEWER SEPARATELY RENTABLE UNITS IS SITUATED, MAY NOT ABUT AT ANY POINT ANY OTHER TRACT THAT IS IN WHOLE OR IN PART RESIDENTIAL IN CHARACTER. THAT CODE WAS PASSED IN THE NINETIES TO KEEP SMALL HOTELS AWAY FROM HOMES. FOR EXAMPLE, ACRES HOMES, I NOW READ FROM THE HOUSTON CHRONICLE, PUBLISHED ON MAY 28TH, 1998. NEIGHBORHOODS WANT HOT SHEET MOTELS TO CHECK OUT EARLY BY JULIE MASON, MORE THAN TWO DOZEN RESIDENTS OF THE ACRES HOMES AREA ATTENDED CITY COUNCIL ON WEDNESDAY TO PROTEST PLANS FOR A 30 UNIT MOTEL NEAR THEIR NEIGHBORHOOD STATE REPRESENTATIVE SYLVESTER TURNER, DEMOCRAT HOUSTON, WHO GREW UP IN THE AREA AND NOW REPRESENTS ITS RESIDENTS, SAID SO-CALLED HOT SHEET MOTELS, ATTRACT DRUGS AND PROSTITUTION. THIS CITY IS RAPIDLY TURNING INTO A MOTEL HAVEN, AND THEY ARE NOT BEING BUILT FOR CONVENTIONEERS. TURNER SAID, THESE FACILITIES REPRESENT A BLIGHT AND NEIGHBORHOODS SHOULD BE PROTECTED. MAYOR, YOU ARE AN ATTORNEY, A HIGHLY EXPERIENCED LEGISLATOR, AND THE HEAD OF THIS CITY. YOU KNOW THAT THIS CITY'S HOTEL CODE AS WRITTEN APPLIES TO EVERY SHORT TERM RENTAL IN HOUSTON. YOU KNOW THAT YOUR ADMINISTRATION COLLECTS HOTEL OCCUPANCY TAX FROM EVERY AIRBNB IN HOUSTON BECAUSE THE TEXAS TAX CODE SAYS THAT EVERY SHORT TERM RENTAL IN HOUSTON IS IN FACT A HOTEL. YOU KNOW THAT THESE HOTELS SHOULDN'T BE ALLOWED NEXT TO OUR HOMES FOR THE SAME REASON. YOU DIDN'T WANT THEM. IN ACRE HOMES, THERE ARE MAGNETS OR VICE AND THERE AREN'T ENOUGH POLICE OFFICERS TO MONITOR THEM. SO MAYOR TURNER, KNOWING WHAT YOU KNOW, WHY ARE YOU NOT PRESENTLY ENFORCING THIS CODE? WHY IS THE LAW GOOD ENOUGH TO PROTECT ACRES HOMES, BUT YOU WON'T USE IT TO PROTECT OUR HOMES? I LOOK FORWARD TO YOUR RESPONSE. WELL, OUR RESPONSE SAYS [02:20:01] YOU WERE DOING QUITE WELL UNTIL YOU GOT TO THE END. OKAY? YOU WERE DOING, BUT SO WHEN YOU ASSUME THAT WE ARE NOT ENFORCING OR WE DON'T HAVE A DESIRE TO EN ENFORCE, THEN YOU MAKE IT PERSONAL. AND THAT'S WHERE YOU MADE YOUR MISTAKE. IF YOU SIMPLY STAYED WITH WHERE YOU WERE, YOU WILL BEING PERSUASIVE, BUT YOU UNDERCUT YOUR OWN ARGUMENT, IN THE END, YOU DON'T KNOW. YOU DON'T KNOW WHAT MY INTENT IS. I'M LISTENING TO THIS ISSUE FOR THE FIRST TIME, OKAY? IT IS IMPORTANT FOR YOU TO BRING THE INFORMATION TO US. I AM LISTENED TO EVERY SPEAKER, AND AS I SAID TO THE EARLIER SPEAKERS, I WILL TAKE A LOOK AT IT. YOU DIDN'T HAVE TO GO TO THE END, YOU JUST DIDN'T HAVE TO GO THERE. AND I WILL TAKE A LOOK AT IT, AND I MEANT WHAT I SAID YEARS AGO. AND I DON'T JUST STAND FOR ONE COMMUNITY. I REPRESENT THE ENTIRE CITY, AND I WILL TAKE A LOOK AT IT AS I'VE INDICATED. MAY I HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO RESPOND? CERTAINLY, YES. UH, WE COLLECTIVELY, UH, MANY MEMBERS OF OUR GROUP, DOZENS OF THEM HAVE BEEN EMAILING, UH, CITY COUNCIL, THAT LARGE MEMBERS, YOUR EMAIL ADDRESS, UM, YOUR CITY ATTORNEY, AND WE HAVE NOT BEEN GETTING RESPONSES FROM ANYONE EXCEPT, UH, CM ALCORN, WHO'S BEEN JUST ABSOLUTELY WONDERFUL TO WORK WITH. BUT, UH, WE HAVE BEEN, YOU KNOW, BANGING THIS DRUM AND WE HAVE NOT GOTTEN A RESPONSE. SO YOU'RE TELLING ME THIS IS THE FIRST TIME YOU'VE, YOU'VE HEARD OF THIS ISSUE. I WOULD SAY, MAYOR, RESPECTFULLY, CHECK YOUR INBOX. AGAIN. YOU'RE NOT HELPING YOURSELF IRRESPECTIVE OF WHAT YOU HAVE SAID. I APPRECIATE THE OTHER SPEAKERS FOR BRINGING IT TO MY ATTENTION, AND I WILL TAKE A LOOK AT IT AS I HAVE SAID, OKAY? AND I WILL, I BELIEVE YOU WHEN YOU SAY THAT, MAYOR. BUT YOUR PERSONAL ATTACK DOESN'T HELP YOUR ARGUMENT. IT DOESN'T HELP YOUR ARGUMENT, OKAY? BUT THE FACT THAT THERE ARE PEOPLE WHO ARE PURCHASING THESE FACILITIES, THESE, THESE PROPERTIES, AND TURNING THEM TO, UM, MAJOR MASS, UM, PLACES FOR AND CROWDING PEOPLE INTO THESE ROOMS. I GET THAT AND I UNDERSTAND THAT, AND I KNOW WHAT IT ATTRACTS. I GOT THAT AND WE'LL TAKE A LOOK AT IT, OKAY? BUT AGAIN, AND NOT, NOT JUST SAY TO THIS, TO YOU OR TO ANYONE ELSE, IF YOU MAKE YOUR ARGUMENTS PERSONAL, YOU UNDERMINE YOUR OWN ARGUMENT. THAT'S THE ONLY POINT THAT I'M MAKING. OKAY, MAYOR PRO, TELL MARTIN, UH, JUST A RECOMMENDATION. WE HAVE 17 OF US THAT SIT AROUND HERE. SO IF YOU'RE ADDRESSING YOUR EMAILS TO FIVE AT LARGE, AND ABBY, WHICH IS NUMBER SIX, UH, LET US KNOW BECAUSE THIS IS THE FIRST TIME I'M HEARING OF THIS. I'M, I'M APPALLED BY WHAT I SEE. I HAVE THREE KIDS THAT ARE, ONE OF 'EM IS LOOKING IN THIS EXACT NEIGHBORHOOD, NOT TOO FAR FROM THERE. AND, UH, I'M SHOCKED BY THE PICTURES I SEE. SO YOU GET MORE IF YOU GET EVERYBODY INVOLVED. UH, I APPRECIATE COUNCIL MEMBER ALCORN, COUNCIL MEMBER CAYMAN, BUT, UH, IF YOU DON'T KNOW ABOUT IT, UH, THEN YOU REALLY CAN'T DO ANYTHING TO HELP. AND WE'D LIKE TO HELP, BUT, UH, SEND US, I WOULD SEND ALL 17 OF US THE INFORMATION. SO THANK YOU. I WILL MAKE A NOTE OF THAT. THANK YOU COUNCIL MEMBER. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. SPEAKER. NEXT SPEAKER. BARBARA ATE. BARBARA ATE. BARBARA IS HERE. THREE FOLLOW ABOUT JOE ABRAMOWITZ. MAYOR, I WORE MY BADGE. I LOVED CONNECTED COMMUNITIES. I WANT YOU TO KNOW THAT. THANK YOU. AND I REPRESENTED MAMA MUSEUM AREA, AND I'VE BEEN WORKING WITH SALLY, AND I WAS HERE LAST WEEK AND WE MISSED YOU. AND I THINK WE'RE GETTING SOME TRACTION. I THINK WE'RE ON OFF THE ROAD TO GETTING A WORKABLE SOLUTION. I HAPPEN TO HAVE A BRIEF BUT VERY INTERESTING CONVERSATION WITH ONE OF YOUR ASSISTANT ATTORNEYS. AND, YOU KNOW, AUSTIN'S GOT THEIR BATTLES THAT THEY'RE FIGHTING, THAT I KNOW HOUSTON'S LOOKING AT. UM, THE TIMING WAS INTERESTING BECAUSE AFTER BEING HERE ON LAST TUESDAY, THEN A BUMP, UH, WEDNESDAY MORNING, THERE'S TWO POLICE CARS, AN AMBULANCE, THREE CONSTABLE CARS, BECAUSE AGAIN, ANOTHER, YET ANOTHER INCIDENT AT 1 1 1 6 BANKS. AND AS YOU ARE HEARING, THIS IS NOT A ONE OF ONE. THIS ISN'T JUST THE MUSEUM DISTRICT FOR THE LAST YEAR AND A HALF. AND WE'RE, WE ARE FRUSTRATED AND WE ARE ALSO GRATEFUL. I WOULD, WE HAD SEVERAL PEOPLE HERE THAT HAD TO LEAVE. IT'S NOW ALMOST FOUR O'CLOCK, BUT THOSE THAT ARE HERE, UM, GUY HAGG STAYED HERE. YEAH, TIME HAS [02:25:01] EXPIRED. I'D LIKE THEM TO STAND AND THANK YOU. SORRY. THANK YOU VERY, THANK YOU VERY MUCH. JOE ABRAMOWITZ. JOE YOU'S HERE. HE WAS ADDED. OH, OKAY. MOTION TO ADD. TWO MINUTES. RIGHT? THANK YOU. THANK YOU MAYOR, AND THANK YOU COUNCIL MEMBERS. UM, I WAS GOING TO, UH, BASICALLY, UH, GO THROUGH THIS THING, BUT I'M, I'M ACTUALLY GONNA JUST SUMMARIZE BECAUSE A LOT OF PEOPLE HAVE TALKED IN THE SAME SUB SUBJECT, AND THAT'S ABOUT THE 1 1 16 BANKS. MY WIFE AND I ARE THE SECURITY MANAGERS FROM MAMA, WHICH MEANS WE, WE MAKE SURE THAT PEOPLE, WE COLLECT MONEY FOR THE CONSTABLE AND WE DEAL WITH SECURITY ISSUES. UM, I JUST WANNA MAKE A FEW POINTS THAT, JUST TO REITERATE WHAT OTHER PEOPLE HAVE SAID, AND YOU'VE HEARD THIS FROM OTHER PEOPLE IN OTHER LOCATIONS. ONE IS THAT BEFORE THESE APARTMENT COMPLEXES GOT TAKEN OVER BY THE AIRBNB OPERATIVE, THEY WERE PEACEFUL MEMBERS OF OUR COMMUNITY. WE DIDN'T HAVE ANY DISRUPTIONS. THEY WERE LONG-TERM RENTALS. THEY PAID THEIR RENT. WE DIDN'T HAVE A PROBLEM. IT'S ONLY WHEN THIS STARTED, WHEN THE, THESE PROPERTIES WERE TAKEN OVER. AND, AND I'M TALKING SPECIFICALLY IN OUR AREA WITH 1 1 16 BANKS, THAT THESE PROBLEMS OCCURRED. UM, I WANNA REITERATE THAT WE ALL KNOW THAT THIS IS IN VIOLATION OF CHAPTER EIGHT, UH, ARTICLE SIX WITH REGARD TO WHAT CONSTITUTES A MOTEL AND HOTEL. UM, I ALSO WANT TO, UH, EMPHASIZE THAT THE, THESE PROPERTIES HAVE BEEN DELISTED FROM DBRO AND BE DELISTED FROM AIRBNB, WHICH NOW ACTUALLY MAKES IT WORSE BECAUSE BEFORE IT WAS ACTUALLY SOME, UM, SOME, YOU KNOW, SCRUTINY AND NOW THERE'S NONE. AND WHAT WE THINK, AND THIS MAY APPLY ALL OVER THE CITY, IS THAT THIS ELEMENT THAT IS USING THESE PLACES FOR ILLEGAL, PROBABLY ILLEGAL ACTIVITY, OKAY? ARE NETWORKING AMONG THEMSELVES. THEY DON'T NEED A-V-B-R-O OR AIRBNB SITE. UM, UM, AND SO, UM, SO IN SUMMARY, ALL, ALL THE, BOTH IN THE HEIGHTS AND HERE IN IN, IN BANKS AT MAMA, WE DIDN'T HAVE AN ISSUE UNTIL IT WAS, IT WAS TAKEN OVER BY AIRBNB AND, AND, AND, AND, AND, AND WE'D LIKE SOMETHING DONE ABOUT IT. I WILL TELL YOU THAT I'VE BEEN IN COMMUNICATION VERY NICELY, MAYOR WITH, UH, WHO OWNS ALL THESE PROPERTIES. AND HE'S A REASON, HE'S A PERSONABLE GUY, BUT HE DOESN'T, HE DOESN'T CARE ABOUT LONG-TERM RENTALS. HE HAS A BUSINESS MODEL THAT ALL HE WANTS TO DO IS MAKE MONEY AND HE WANTS TO MAKE IT WITH SHORT TERM RENTALS. AND HE'S HEARD FROM NUMEROUS OF US, NUMEROUS PEOPLE, HOW THIS IS UPSETTING TO OUR COMMUNITIES AND DISRUPTIVE, HE DOESN'T CARE. SO THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME. THANK YOU. COUNCILMAN MAYOR. COY, COUNCILMAN MAYOR. THANK YOU MAYOR. AND THANK YOU MR. BRA FOR COMING AND FOR EVERYBODY. I THINK THIS MIGHT BE ONE OF THE LAST SPEAKERS AND, AND, UM, YOU KNOW, I HAVE HEARD THE MAYOR SAY THAT HE'S LOOKING INTO THIS. WE KNOW THAT IT'S A PROBLEM. SO, UM, YOU KNOW, HOPEFULLY WE'LL HAVE SOMETHING BACK TO YOU GUYS, UM, ABOUT WHAT, HOW, HOW BEST TO PROCEED. SO THANKS FOR COMING. THANK YOU. AND, AND ALSO COUNCIL MEMBER KAMAN, YOU KNOW, WOULD BE HERE IF SHE COULD. SO SHE, SHE'S, UH, WELL AWARE OF ALL THIS SITUATION AND APPRECIATE Y'ALL COMING. THANKS. OKAY. NEXT SPEAKER, DIMITRI SMITH. DERA SMITH TREAT, FOLLOWED BY SARAH BELL EDWARDS. I PUSH THE BUTTON. YES, MA'AM. OKAY. SO, UM, GOOD EVENING EVERYONE. UM, SO I'LL START BY SAYING, THE TRAUMA OF ABUSE, DRUGS AND INCARCERATIONS NEVER FULLY GONE FROM A PERSON'S CONSCIOUSNESS. HOWEVER, LIKE ALL BAD EXPERIENCES, IT'S POSSIBLE TO TURN YOUR PAIN INTO PASSION. I DRA SMITH, AKA LADY D AM LIVING PROOF THAT NO MATTER WHAT TRIALS AND TRIBULATIONS WE FACE, FACE IN LIFE, GOD WILL GRANT US THE STRENGTH TO OVERCOME. I CREATED MILLIONAIRE MENTORSHIP, INSPIRE OUR LIVES, A NONPROFIT ORGANIZATION TO EMPOWER, MENTOR, AND INSPIRE THE YOUTH AND YOUNG ADULTS AFFECTED BY DOMESTIC VIOLENCE, DRUGS, AND INCARCERATION. ON SEPTEMBER THE EIGHTH, 2023, I ALONGSIDE MANY OTHER ARTISTS, WARRIOR SPEAKERS AND ENTREPRENEURS, ARE USING THIS [02:30:01] DAY AS AN OPPORTUNITY TO NOT ONLY CELEBRATE THE PROCLAMATION AWARD OF LADY D-DAY, SEPTEMBER THE SIXTH, 2023, BUT AS A MENTAL, EMOTIONAL INTELLECTUAL ON SOCIAL GETAWAY, PEOPLE SHARING THEIR STORIES, GIVING HOPE, RESOURCES AND INSPIRATION, SHOWING OTHERS WHY NOT TO LET OUR CIRCUMSTANCES AND SITUATIONS DEFINE US OR HOLD US BACK, NOT TO THROW THE TOWEL IN AND GIVE UP TO SHOW THEY'RE NOT ALONE, AND THAT THERE'S LIGHT AT THE END OF THE TUNNEL. THERE WILL BE CARS, JEEPS, SLINGSHOTS, MOTORCYCLES, KIDS MUSIC, ET CETERA. TO SHOW OUR CREATIVITY AND PASSION FOR ART, WE WILL GIVE PEOPLE A BRIEF OVERVIEW OF HOW AND WHY WE GOT STARTED, WHY WE DIDN'T GIVE UP, IN HOPES OF REACHING TEACHING, AND SHOWING SOMEONE ELSE HOW TO OVERCOME, GROW, AND EVOLVE AS A BRAND ARTIST AND THEIR ENTREPRENEUR, HOW TO PICK THEMSELVES UP IN THE MIDST OF THEIR SITUATION AND PUT ONE FOOT IN FRONT OF THE OTHER. EVERYONE WILL WALK AWAY FEELING INSPIRED, EDUCATED, AND MOTIVATED NOT TO GIVE UP. THEY'LL BE ABLE TO USE THE TOOLS, KNOWLEDGE, AND RESOURCES AND STORIES SHARED TOWARDS A BETTER PATHWAY OF LIFE. SO WHY ME, WHY THIS EVENT? WHY THE CITY COUNCIL? WELL, AS LEADERS OF THE COMMUNITY AND RESIDENTS OF HOUSTON, TEXAS, IT'S OUR JOB TO COME TOGETHER AND FIND SOLUTIONS TO ERADICATE THESE DISEASES. LET'S ERADICATE THIS FOOLISHNESS ENTIRELY. HAVING YOUR SUPPORT WILL ALLOW YOU TO BE EXPOSED AS SOMEONE WANTING TO SEE AND HELP OUR COMMUNITY GROW, CHANGE, AND EVOLVE FOR BETTER. YOU'LL BE ABLE TO REALLY CONNECT WITH PEOPLE AND SINCERELY GIVE BACK TO THE COMMUNITY BY DONATIONS, AUTOGRAPHS, PICTURES, OR JUST SHOWING UP, PROVIDING WORDS OF ENCOURAGEMENT AND TRUSTING YOUR TRUMPS STRUGGLES. AND TRUMP SHARING YOUR STORY OF HOW AND WHY YOU GOT STARTED, WHERE YOU'VE COME FROM, AND WHAT YOU HAD TO GO THROUGH TO BE TO WHERE YOU ARE TODAY. UH, YOU'LL BE ABLE TO REALLY RE, UH, REACH ONE, TEACH ONE EDUCATE, AND GIVE RESOURCES AND CONNECT. MY GRANDMOTHER HAS ALWAYS TOLD ME, IF A PROBLEM EXISTS, NIP IT IN THE BUD FROM THE START, THEN YOU WON'T HAVE TO REVISIT IT. SO IF YOU DON'T STAND FOR SOMETHING, YOU'LL FALL FOR ANYTHING. SO PLEASE SHOW UP TO SUPPORT ME. THE TIME HAS EXPIRED. COUNCILWOMAN JACKSON. THANK YOU, MAYOR. THANK YOU MS. SMITH FOR COMING IN TO, UM, SHARE, YOU KNOW, THE WORK THAT YOU'RE DOING. DO YOU HAVE MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THE EVENT? YOU'RE DOING AN EVENT IN SEPTEMBER? YES, MA'AM, I DID. I'M GONNA GIVE YOU MORE TIME TO SHARE MORE. I DIDN'T, I DIDN'T HEAR, UM, THE DETAILS OF THE EVENT. OH, OKAY. SO PLEASE SHOW UP TO SUPPORT ME. THE CALLS IN OUR COMMUNITY ON SEPTEMBER THE EIGHTH, 2023 AT 7:00 PM EX EXHALE LOUNGE ON WEST HERMAN HOUSTON. ADDRESS, THE ADDRESS IS 1 3 7 1 1 WESTHEIMER ROAD, HOUSTON, TEXAS 7 7 0 7 7. THANK YOU. AND THANK YOU FOR WHAT YOU DO. UM, I, I'M ADVOCATING FOR, UM, OUR YOUTH AND JUST MAKING SURE THAT THERE'S OPPORTUNITIES, UM, FOLKS THAT'S DIRECTLY IMPACTED HAVE BEEN THROUGH THE SYSTEM, GIVE THEM AN OPPORTUNITY TO SHARE THEIR STORIES AND HELP OTHERS TO KEEP THEM FROM GOING INTO THE SYSTEM. IT'S VAL, IT IS VALUABLE. SO THANK YOU FOR EVERYTHING THAT YOU DO. YES, MA'AM. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. APPRECIATE YOU. THANKS. NEXT SPEAKER. SARAH BELL EDWARDS. SARAH BELL EDWARDS. NEXT SPEAKER, JARED BAZI. JARED BRAZE, JARED. NEXT SPEAKER, SHARON MCCARTER. SHARON MCCARTER. SHARON, NEXT SPEAKER, TIM NAS SLES, TIM NATURE SLES. TIM NATURE SLES. NEXT SPEAKER DEV LANE ALLEN. DEV LANE ALLEN. NEXT SPEAKER LILLIAN FAIR. LILLIAN FAIR. LILLIAN IS HERE TO BE FOLLOWED BY ROSA HALL. GOOD AFTERNOON, MR. MAYOR AND MEMBERS OF THE CITY COUNCIL. UM, I'M HERE TO ASK FOR YOUR HELP TO SOLVE A PERSONAL ISSUE WITH THE HOUSTON OF, UM, WITH THE CITY OF HOUSTON, UM, DEPARTMENT OF WATER. BUT I KNOW THAT I'M NOT THE ONLY ONE IN THIS PREDICAMENT. UM, BASED ON SIMILAR CASES I'VE READ ON THE NEXTDOOR APP. UM, LET ME ELABORATE FURTHER. UM, FOR OVER SEVERAL YEARS, I HAVE BEEN CONSUMING APPROXIMATELY 1000 TO 2000 GALLONS OF WATER PER MONTH ON MY RESIDENCE LOCATED IN RICE MILITARY DISTRICT C UM, DURING APRIL OF THIS YEAR, I WAS UTTERLY SURPRISED TO SEE MY WATER BILLS SKYROCKET TO A MONTHLY USE OF 12,000 GALLONS. UM, THIS WAS FOLLOWED BY SIMILAR AND EXORBITANT CHARGES OF 7,000 GALLONS IN MAY, 8,000 IN JUNE AND 9,000, UM, GALLONS IN JULY. GIVEN THE SIZE OF MY HOUSEHOLD AND THE SIZE OF MY HOME, IT WOULD HAVE BEEN IMPOSSIBLE [02:35:01] TO CONSUME SUCH EXORBITANT AMOUNT OF WATER. UM, FOR THE PAST FOUR MONTHS, I HAVE BEEN TRYING TO SOLVE THIS ISSUE AMICABLY WITH THE CITY OF HOUSTON, UM, WATER DEPARTMENT, BUT HAVE BEEN UNSUCCESSFUL THROUGH NUMEROUS PHONE CALLS, EMAILS, AND PHYSICAL VISITS. I WAS TOLD THAT I WAS BEING, THAT I HAD BEEN UNDERCHARGED AND THEREFORE THE WATER DEPARTMENT HAD TO ESTIMATE MY MONTHLY CONSUMPTION OF WATER. HOWEVER, IT IS HARD TO COMPREHEND HOW THOSE FIGURES WERE ESTIMATED AS I HAVE NEVER CONSUMED SO MUCH WATER OVER THE PAST 20 YEARS OF RECITING IN HOUSTON. UM, ONE WEEK AGO I FINALLY GOT, UM, A TECHNICIAN TO COME IN AND READ MY METER. UM, DURING HIS VISIT, HE INFORMED ME THAT MOST LIKELY THE OVERCHARGE WAS DUE TO THE FACT THAT THE OLD METER WAS NOT FUNCTIONING AS IT WAS MORE THAN 50 YEARS OLD. UM, AND AS THE OLD METERS TEND TO MISREAD THE WATER CONSUMPTION, A NEW ELECTRONIC METER HAS BEEN INSTALLED AND IS SUPPOSED TO RESOLVE THE PROBLEM GOING FORWARD. HOWEVER, UM, I'M STILL, I STILL HAVE A WATER BILL OF MORE THAN $900, DESPITE THE FACT THAT I HAVE BEEN MAKING PAYMENTS EVERY MONTH. WHILE I DO NOT ASK TO WAIVE THE ENTIRE AMOUNT DUE, I ASK TO THAT YOU PLEASE LOOK AT THIS ISSUE AND THAT, UM, SO THAT I CAN PAY MY FAIR SHARE. OKAY, THANK YOU. LEMME JUST SAY, I'M LOOKING AT THIS AND IT SAYS THAT, UM, I THINK ON JULY THE 27TH OR 23 THIS YEAR, A SECOND METER INSPECTION WAS COMPLETED. YES. WHICH RESULTED IN READING OF 956. I DETERMINED THAT THE ACCOUNT HAD BEEN OVERESTIMATED TOO HIGH AT THIS TIME. BOTH THE ELECTRONIC READING DEVICE AND THE METERS REGISTER WERE REPLACED. YES, THE ACCOUNT WAS ALSO REVIEWED AND THE CORRECTION WAS APPLIED AND THE APRIL THROUGH JULY, 2023 BILLING CYCLES WERE REDUCED BY $294 AND 12 CENTS. THE CURRENT ACCOUNT BALANCE DUE IS $602 AND 56, WHICH INCLUDES MISSED PAYMENTS AND PARTIAL PAYMENTS RECEIVED. THIS INCLUDES THE MOST RECENT PAYMENT WAS RECEIVED ON JULY THE SIXTH OF THIS YEAR FOR $41 AND 82 CENTS. THAT'S CORRECT. I HAVE BEEN MAKING, UM, MONTHLY PAYMENTS. THERE WERE NO MISSED PAYMENTS DURING THIS TIME, BUT I HAVE NEVER, I MEAN, I HAVE NEVER USED THAT AMOUNT OF WATER, SO I DON'T KNOW WHY THE ADJUSTMENT IS ONLY FOR THE AMOUNT THAT YOU MENTIONED. RIGHT. THERE WAS A PERIOD OF TIME IN WHICH THE METER WAS BEHIND THE, UM, LOCK GATES. SO THEY WEREN'T ABLE TO GET, THEY WEREN'T ABLE TO GET BACK TO, TO READ IT. GOING BACK TO SEE FROM APRIL 21 TO FEBRUARY OF 2023, IT SAYS THE METER SERVICING THE PROPERTY IS LOCATED BEHIND A LOCKED GATE AND CITY STAFF HAS BEEN UNABLE TO ACCESS IT IN ORDER TO OBTAIN VISUAL METER READINGS AND ADDRESS ANY ISSUES WITH THE ELECTRONIC READING DEVICE. THE METER IS LOCATED IN AN AREA BEHIND THE FENCE, WHICH IS THE CITY'S RIGHT OF WAY, AND THE PHOTO IS ATTACHED. ON JULY 19TH, 2021, AN INACCESSIBLE METER LETTER WAS SENT TO THE PROPERTY OWNER. HOWEVER, SINCE THAT TIME, NO ACTION HAS BEEN TAKEN BY THE ACCOUNT HOLDER TO MAKE THE METER ACCESSIBLE TO CITY STAFF. AND THEN ON MARCH THE 14TH OF 2023, A VISUAL METER READING WAS OBTAINED, WHICH HAD DETERMINED THAT THE ACCOUNT HAD BEEN UNDERESTIMATED TOO LOW. UM, AND THEN I BELIEVE YOU SAID YOU HAD SOMEONE TO GO OUT YOURSELF? YES. AND THEY SAID IT WAS AN OLD METER. IT WAS AN OLD METER. IT, THAT'S WHY THEY REPLACED IT BECAUSE AS THE TECHNICIAN SAID, IT HAD BEEN OVERESTIMATING. ALRIGHT. SO IS, ARE YOU TAKE AN ISSUE THAT BASED ON THE CORRECTIVE ACTIONS THAT HAVE BEEN TAKEN, THAT THE CURRENT, THE CURRENT ACCOUNT BALANCE IS $602 AND 56 CENTS. ARE YOU DISAGREEING WITH THAT OR DO YOU THINK THAT'S, I I THINK THAT'S TOO HIGH. I THINK THAT'S TOO HIGH. OKAY. BASED ON THE AVERAGE THAT I USE MONTHLY IN THE LAST TWO YEARS OR THREE YEARS. WELL, BUT, BUT, BUT YOU, BUT YOU SAID THAT WHEN YOU WENT AND GOT, UM, I GUESS A PLUMBER OR WHOMEVER YOU GOT, UM, THAT THEY TOLD YOU THAT YOU HAD AN OLD METER, WHICH, WHICH WASN'T THE CITY OF HOUSTON SENT A TECHNICIAN. OKAY. UM, TO READ THE METER. THAT TECHNICIAN SAID, I NEED TO REPLACE THIS METER BECAUSE IT'S AN OLD METER AND WE'VE BEEN HAVING ISSUES [02:40:01] WITH THE OLD METERS OVERESTIMATING WHAT THE USAGE IS, WHAT HE SAID, BUT HE DID NOT WRITE THAT IN THE REPORT, IS WHAT I'VE BEEN TOLD AFTER CALLING, UM, THE LIAISON AT THE CITY OF HOUSTON WATER DEPARTMENT. OKAY. WHAT THE, WHAT WHAT I'M SAYING BEFORE ME, CERTAINLY, YOU KNOW, WE HAVE NO PROBLEMS CONTINUING TO LOOK AT IT, BUT THE ACCOUNT WAS REVIEWED AS OF JULY 27TH, UM, WHICH IS LAST, YOU KNOW, A COUPLE OF WEEKS AGO. UH, WELL WE CAN HAVE AGO THE ACCOUNT WAS ALSO REVIEWED AND THE CORRECTION WAS APPLIED AND THE APRIL THROUGH JULY, 2023 BILLING CYCLE. THIS IS NOT JUST ONE MONTH, THIS IS APRIL, MAY. THAT'S CORRECT. APRIL THROUGH JULY AND JULY. UM, AND THAT BILLING CYCLE, IT WAS REDUCED BY $294 AND LEAVING YOUR CURRENT BALANCE OF 602. THIS IS WHAT THE BILL LOOKS LIKE. RIGHT. UM, I MEAN, FEEL FREE IS, UH, WHO'S HERE FROM SAL SAL, FEEL FREE TO GIVE WITH SAL SAL'S RIGHT THERE. OKAY. AND HAVE THAT CONVERSATION. VICE VICE MAYOR PRO TE CAST DICTATOR. THANK YOU. UM, MS. HALL, UH, I KNOW THAT, UH, BARBARA HEIGHT IN MY OFFICE DID SPEAK WITH YOU, UM, OR, UH, SENT AN EMAIL ON YOUR BEHALF TO PUBLIC WORKS SO THAT WE CAN TRY TO DECIPHER WHAT'S HAPPENING WITH THE BILL. UM, WE HAD A MEETING WITH THE WATER DEPARTMENT ON YESTERDAY BECAUSE, UM, NOT ONLY YOU IN THE DISTRICT, BUT WE HAVE ABOUT 25 OTHER RESIDENTS THAT HAVE CALLED ABOUT THEIR WATER BILLS, AND THEY ARE LOOKING AT EACH ONE OF THOSE BILLS AND TRYING TO DECIPHER WHERE THE BREAKDOWN IS. UM, I THINK PART OF THE PROBLEM IS, UM, THAT IT TAKES A WHILE BEFORE THERE'S COMMUNICATION BACK AND FORTH MM-HMM . UM, LET US WORK WITH OUR CONTACT IN THE WATER DEPARTMENT TO HELP DECIPHER YOUR BILL. UM, I KNOW IT'S AT $600. ONE OF THE QUESTIONS THAT I ASKED WAS, WHEN YOU ESTIMATE SOMEONE'S BILL, WHAT IS THE FORMULA FOR ESTIMATING THE BILL? AND I WAS TOLD THAT THEY TAKE THE LAST 12 MONTHS TO DETERMINE WHAT THAT ESTIMATION SHOULD BE AND JUST PEERING OVER AT YOUR BILL. THAT WOULD NOT HAVE GIVEN US THE ESTIMATED AMOUNT, UM, THAT WE HAVE. BUT WE DO HAVE A CONTACT IN THE WATER DEPARTMENT THAT'S WORKING WITH THE RESIDENTS IN OUR, IN OUR DISTRICT. LET US WORK WITH YOU TO, UM, TRY TO DECIPHER AND IF THERE IS AN APPEAL NEEDED, WE CAN HELP YOU WALK THROUGH THAT APPEAL PROCESS. THANK YOU SO MUCH. YOU'RE WELCOME. WELCOME. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. NEXT SPEAKER, ROSA HALL. ROSA HALL ROSA. NEXT SPEAKER. MARIAN WRIGHT. MARIAN WRIGHT, MARIAN. NEXT SPEAKER DOROTHY HAAS. DOROTHY HAAS. DOROTHY. NEXT SPEAKER. KEVIN STRICKLAND. KEVIN STRICKLAND HERE TO BE FOLLOWED BY LISA BA BASE. GOOD AFTERNOON. UM, AS ALWAYS, WE APPRECIATE THIS EXERCISE IN DEMOCRACY. PEOPLE INVEST HALF A DAY TO COME HERE AND SPEAK FOR THREE MINUTES, SO I APPRECIATE THAT YOU BEAR WITH US. I KNOW SOMETIMES IT'S RAW AND UNCOMFORTABLE AND SOMETIMES THAT'S THE WAY DEMOCRACY WORKS. UM, TODAY I'M WEARING MY PET BIKE ACTIVIST HAT. I'M GONNA READ A LIST OF NAMES FOR YOU. RODNEY ADKINS, JOHN GRAY, JUAN PORTILLO, BRIAN NOS, JIMMY LOPEZ, ROBERT BANKS, HENRY SCHULTZ, GARLAND BROWN, DAVID HUNLEY, AND AN UNKNOWN PERSON. THOSE ARE THE PEOPLE WE'VE LOST SO FAR THIS YEAR WHILE RIDING THEIR BIKES TO CAR VIOLENCE. THAT DOES NOT SADLY INCLUDE THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE WHO'VE BEEN KILLED OR INJURED WHILE WALKING. I DON'T KNOW IF THERE'S SO MANY. I DON'T THINK WE EVEN HAVE A LIST OF THOSE PEOPLE. UM, WE'RE HOPING WITH ME AND MY FELLOW ADVOCATES TO DO TWO THINGS TODAY, WE NEED TO KEEP HAVING THE CONVERSATION THAT WE HAVE A PUBLIC HEALTH CRISIS OF DEATHS AND INJURIES TO PEDESTRIANS AND BI BICYCLISTS FROM CAR VIOLENCE. SECOND, THERE IS STUFF THAT WE CAN DO ABOUT THAT. SO I'M HOPING WE LEAVE TODAY. WE CAN COME UP WITH SOME SPECIFIC THINGS THAT WE CAN ACCOMPLISH. WE NEED THE CITY TO FUND TRAFFIC CALMING. CHRISTINA MENTIONED EARLIER, THERE'S A LOT OF STUFF WE CAN DO. EVERY NEIGHBORHOOD CAN TELL YOU WHICH STREETS IN THEIR NEIGHBORHOOD WOULD SUCK AND WHY. RIGHT? SO FOR EXAMPLE, SPEED BUMPS, BULB OUTS, THE NEW SIGNAGE FOR CAR DRIVERS TO STOP FOR [02:45:01] PEDESTRIANS PAINTED CROSSWALKS. COUNCIL MEMBER ALQUAN RAISED EARLIER THIS YEAR THAT THERE WAS A SHORTAGE IN THE FUNDING FOR STRIPING. SO I'M HOPING THAT'S BEEN FIXED. RAISED CROSSWALKS, NO RIGHT TURN ON. RED CARS DRIVERS TURNING RIGHT ON RED ARE LETHAL FOR PEOPLE WHEN YOU'RE WALKING AND BIKING. WE HAVE A LOT OF LOW COST OPTIONS. YOU BROUGHT VERONICA DAVIS AND DAVID FIELDS TO THE CITY TO TRANSFORM THE CITY, AND WE'RE SLOWING THEM DOWN AND WE SHOULD BE SPEEDING THEM UP. THAT'S A GREAT PUN, BY THE WAY. UM, WE'RE TOLD THAT VISION ZERO IS A SOLUTION. VISION ZERO IS VERY FLAWED FOR TWO REASONS. ONE, IT'S RETROACTIVE. IN ORDER FOR VISION ZERO TO BE IMPLEMENTED, WE HAVE TO HAVE MORE DEATHS AND INJURIES. THE VISION ZERO MAP, THE HIGH INJURY NETWORK IS GROWING. IT'S NOT SHRINKING. SECOND VISION ZERO FOCUSES ON SORT OF LARGE PROJECTS. SO THAT'S WHY WE NEED YOU TO FUND, UM, TRAFFIC CALMING IN OUR NEIGHBORHOODS. THERE'S STUFF THAT WE CAN DO ON A BLOCK BY BLOCK BASIS THAT WOULD MAKE A BIG DIFFERENCE. YOUR TIME HAS EXPIRED. CAN I GET A COUPLE MORE MINUTES? I GIVE YOU ONE MINUTE. UM, WE NEED THE RESIDENTIAL SPEED LIMIT TO BE LOWERED TO 25. WE'RE AWARE THAT THE BILL FAILED IN THE STATE LEGISLATURE, BUT IT'S STILL SOMETHING THE CITY CAN DO ON ITS OWN. UM, AND WE NEED HPD TO STOP BLAMING PEOPLE FOR THEIR OWN DEATHS. UH, SEVERAL OF THE PEOPLE ON THE LIST I GAVE YOU, HPD BLAMED THEM BECAUSE THEY WERE IN THE WRONG PLACE AT THE WRONG TIME. THE DEATHS AND INJURIES FROM CAR VIOLENCE CAN BE PREVENTED. THEY'RE NOT ACCIDENTS. UH, THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR YOUR TIME TODAY. I KNOW IT'S BEEN A LONG DAY. THANKS A LOT. THANK YOU FOR BEARING WITH US. APPRECIATE IT. THANK YOU. NEXT SPEAKER, LISA BASS. LISA BASS. GOOD AFTERNOON, CITY COUNCIL AND, UH, MAYOR TURNER. I'M HERE TODAY ON THE CORRUPTION DEMONIC CONCERT OF LITTLE LUCIFER. COMING IN NOVEMBER, I WOULD LIKE TO EXPRESS MY CONCERN OF THE SATANIC CONCERT INFILTRATING THE MINDS AND SOULS OF ALL GROUP AGE GROUPS. THE TRAVIS SCOTT HELD HERE. THERE WERE 10 INNOCENT PEOPLE THAT LOST THEIR LIVES. THESE CONCERTS ARE DANGEROUS. THE TRAVIS SCOTT WAS NOT PROPERLY STAFFED WITH TRAINED SECURITY AND MEDICAL STAFF ON HAND. IN MATTHEW 27, JUDAS PORTRAYED THE INNOCENT BLOOD OF JESUS BY GIVING THE CHIEF PRIEST 30 PIECES OF SILVER. WHEN THE PRIEST TOOK THE SILVER, HE SAID, IS IT NOT LAWFUL? IT IS NOT LAWFUL TO PUT INTO THE TREASURE BECAUSE IT IS THE, UH, THE PRICE OF BLOOD POLL ASKED THE PEOPLE TO WHOM TO RELEASE A PRISONER OR CHRIST TO BE CRUCIFIED. THE PEOPLE CHOSE CHRIST THE INNOCENT TO BE CRUCIFIED. SO I ASKED YOU, MAYOR TURNER, ARE YOU WILLING TO HAND OVER INNOCENT PEOPLE TO THE SATANIC CONCERT FOR A LITTLE BIT OF FINANCIAL GAIN FOR THEIR MINDS AND SOULS TO BE DECEIVED BY THE SATANIC MATERIAL PRESENTED? IS IT WORTH IT? IS THE QUESTION MY GROUP OF, UH, PRAYER WARRIORS IN CHRIST WOULD LIKE AN ANSWER? UH, WOULD WOULD LIKE TO SEE THE CANCELLATION OF THIS CONCERT THAT IS COMING IN NOVEMBER? I ASK YOU TO SEARCH YOUR SOUL DEEPLY ON THIS MATTER. AND I THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME TODAY. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. NEXT SPEAKER, TRAVIS MCGEE. TRAVIS MCGEE, NEXT SPEAKER GAY HART. JAY HART. NO. WELL, EVERYONE, UH, FIRST OF ALL, I'D LIKE TO SAY I'M NOT SURE WHY I WAS ONLY ALLOTTED ONE MINUTE. UH, I HAVE SPOKE IN JULY THE BEGINNING, AND SO THEY TOLD ME I COULD DO THREE MINUTES. SO, UH, I'M JUST ASKING FOR A LITTLE BIT. IF I RUN OUT, I, AGAIN, AM, UH, REPRESENTING FOR PRAYER WARRIORS UNITE AND, UH, WE'RE HERE TO, UH, YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT HIP HOP AND CELEBRATING 50 YEARS OF HIP HOP. THIS IS GOING TO MORE HOUSTON, TEXAS AS A FAMILY ORIENTED CITY AND HIP HOP. I'M, I'M GONNA PASS THIS ON. I I DIDN'T HAVE TIME TO MAKE COPIES FOR EVERYONE, BUT THIS IS YOUR COPY. THIS IS LITTLE LUCIFER. HE IS ALSO WITH TRAVIS SCOTT. WE KNOW WHAT HAPPENED AS ON TRAVIS SCOTT. WE DO NOT WANT THIS TO HAPPEN AGAIN IN NOVEMBER. IT SAYS RIGHT HERE, LITTLE [02:50:01] LUCIFER'S TOUR IS STRAIGHT UP SATANIC, BUT EL LUCIFER HAS BEEN DESCRIBED AS THE FUTURE OF HIP HOP, WHICH I WAS ABLE TO SPEAK TO A HIP HOPPER AND MAKING THEM AWARE. APPARENTLY THE FUTURE IS EXTRA SATANIC BECAUSE OF HIS VIDEOS AND HIS SYMBOLIC SYMBOLIC SYMBOLICS AND ALL THE THINGS THAT HE'S USING DURING HIS, UM, CONCERT SAYS THEY'RE BLATANTLY SATANIC WITH RITUALISTIC SYMBOLISM. AND IN THE PAST, SOME, UH, RAPPERS HAVE ACCUSED YOUR TIME HAS EXPIRED BEING A DEVIL WORSHIPERS, I AM ASKING YOU AS LISA BASS, AND THANK YOU VERY MUCH. EVERYONE ELSE, PLEASE DO NOT LET THIS SATANIC COME INTO OUR OUR CITY. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. NEXT SPEAKER. INHALE CORTEZ. INHALE CORTEZ, THE ONLY REASON YOUR POSITIONS EXIST WAS BECAUSE THE ORDER OF GOD'S LAW ALLOWED FOR SAN HERAN JUDGES TO BE USEFUL TO LOOK OUT FOR THINGS LIKE THIS. WE HEARD IT FROM MR. POLLARD HERE, THAT YOU GUYS ARE HERE TO LOOK OUT FOR OUR COMMUNITY AND WE'RE ESTABLISHING THAT LOOKING OUT FOR OUR COMMUNITY IS NOT WHAT WE'RE DOING, ESPECIALLY WHEN WE'RE DESIGNATING A DAY TO TRAVIS SCOTT FROM 2018. AND THEN WE HAVE 10 DIE. I'M GONNA READ TO YOU WHAT IT SAYS HERE ON VIGILANT CHRISTIAN. AND I'VE BEEN POSTING SOME OF THESE ON YOUR WALLS, AND WE'RE GONNA BE POSTING THIS A LITTLE BIT MORE FROM TWO YEARS AGO. DEMON HIGH BY LITTLE LUCIFER MARKETING SATANISM TO THE TEENAGERS FIVE YEARS AGO, THE BLATANT OCCULT SIM SYMBOLISM OF UP BY YOUNG THUG AND LITTLE LUCIFER SIX YEARS AGO, LITTLE LUCIFER XO TOUR LIFE IS STRAIGHT UP SATANIC. THESE PEOPLE'S BLOOD IS GONNA BE ON US PUBLIC. AND IF OUR MAYOR'S GONNA RETIRE WITH THIS ON OUR HEADS AND LET IT BE KNOWN WHY THIS INCREASE YOUR TIME HAS EXPIRED OF SATANISM IS BEING DONE PUBLIC. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. WE ALLOW FOR MUSIC. THANK YOU TO OUR KIDS. NEXT, NEXT SPEAKER, AND MAKE THEM BECOME NEXT SPEAKER. JACOB CLEMENT. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. NOW WE FOLLOWED BY EMMANUEL THOMAS PEOPLE. I HAVE MY OWN BOBBLEHEAD NOW. I MEAN, MATT JUST SPIN KIND SHOWED YOU HIS BOBBLEHEAD. WELL, THIS IS MY BOBBLEHEAD. I GOT IT AT THE ABILITIES EXPO THAT I HOPE Y'ALL WANT TO, BUT HEY, WHENEVER I'M GOING TALK ABOUT THE HISG, UH, EVENING OF, UH, UH, HOLIDAY, SHOULD GO TO THE EVENING OF JAZZ. THIS IS WHERE YOU KEEP COMING JOY AND EVENING OF JAZZ, CLASSICAL, AND COOL MUSIC. ENJOY SOME BELOVED CLASSICS AND DISCOVER NEW FAVORITES. IT'S FRIDAY, AUGUST 18TH AT 7:30 PM SATURDAY, AUGUST THE 19TH AT 7:00 PM AT THE HOLY ROSARY CATHOLIC CHURCH IN THE PARISH HALL, WHICH IS UPSTAIRS IN THE CHURCH. SAYS SHE LOCATED AT 3 6 1 7 MILAM STREET, EAST OF TEXAS 7 7 0 0 2. AND ADMISSION IS FREE IF YOU WANT TO. ALL DONATIONS WILL GO TO O YOU PERIOD R, PERIOD. WHEN CHANCE FOR OPERATION AND UNDERGROUND RAILROAD TUB RESCUE CHILDREN, YOUR TIME HAS EXPIRED TRAFFICKING. THANK YOU. SO MUSIC CAN HELP THE PEOPLE. THANK YOU JACOB. THANK YOU. AND I HELP, I HELP YOU LIKE, THANK YOU. OH, OH, Y'ALL GET TAKE GLOVES OVER THIS. THANK YOU. APPRECIATE IT, JACOB. THANK YOU. SPEAKER EMMANUEL THOMAS. EMMANUEL THOMAS EMMANUEL. NEXT SPEAKER. KEITH MCCRAY. KEITH MCCRAY IS HERE. OKAY. HOW YOU DOING? COUNCIL MEMBERS? UH, I CAME A COUPLE OF WEEKS AGO TO REACH OUT AND TO UH, BASICALLY SHOW MY FACE. I MOVED HERE FROM CALIFORNIA, ACCEPTED TO POSITION AS THE HEAD OF THE UNION, THE CARPENTERS UNION, UH, FOR HOUSTON, THE, THE BIG REGION THAT IS HOUSTON. JUST TO RE REITERATE TO YOU, MR. MAYOR, I KNOW YOU WERE ON YOUR, YOUR BUSINESS IN AFRICA. SO, UH, RECENTLY A FEW LAWS, BILLS AND EXECUTIVE ORDERS HAVE BEEN PASSED THAT INCLUDE VERBIAGE THAT IS UNION FRIENDLY. UH, AND THE CARPENTERS ARE LOOKING TO CONNECT WITH SOMEONE WHO WAS A POINT OF CONTACT FOR THESE CITY AND FEDERALLY FUNDED, UH, PROJECTS. MOVING FORWARD. THESE LAWS INCLUDE THE CHIPS AND SCIENCE ACT, UH, BIDEN'S, BIPARTISAN INFRASTRUCTURE LAW, UH, BILL HOUSTON, BETTER INITIATIVE, AS WELL AS HARRIS COUNTY APPROVE. UH, 9 MILLION FOR APPRENTICESHIPS AND, UH, AND JOB TRAINING. SO WE HAVE ONE OF THE LARGEST, UH, FACILITIES AND HOUSTON NORTH AMERICA OUT THERE IN PASADENA. I INVITED A FEW OF YOU TO COME OUT LOOKING TO, UH, REACH OUT AGAIN [02:55:01] AND EXTEND THE INVITATION AGAIN. UH, I APPRECIATE YOU MR. MAY. I'M FROM ACRES HOME. I ATTENDED A LOT OF, UH, BLACK PARTIES AT SYLVESTER TURNER, UH, PARK, YOU KNOW, THAT WAS NONVIOLENT. UH, YOU'VE BEEN A GREAT LIGHT FOR OUR NEIGHBORHOOD AND YOUNG MEN LIKE ME, SO I APPRECIATE YOU TOOK MY HAT OFF TO YOU, ESPECIALLY FOR THIS, UH, $9 MILLION FOR THE APPRENTICESHIP SHOWING THAT INITIATIVE. UH, AS YOU KNOW, TAX FRAUD IS RAPID, ESPECIALLY IN OUR CITY. UH, SO THAT GIVES US, UH, WORKING UNION MEMBERS A A LEG UP ON THE COMPETITION. SO I APPRECIATE THAT THAT TIME HAS EXPIRED. THANK YOU. LET ME THANK Y'ALL FOR THE WORK THAT YOU DO. YES, SIR. I CERTAINLY WOULD ENCOURAGE, UH, PEOPLE WHO HAVE NOT GONE OUT THERE TO PASTOR TO TAKE A LOOK. YES, SIR. AND WHAT Y'ALL ARE DOING. STATE OF THE ART AND, UM, I NEED TO GET BACK OUT THERE. SPEND, IT'S BEEN A FEW YEARS SINCE I'VE BEEN OUT THERE MYSELF. HOLD ON ONE SECOND. COUNCILMAN JACKSON. THANK YOU, MAYOR. AND AGAIN, THANK YOU FOR, UM, EVERYTHING THAT YOU'RE DOING. AND I JUST HAVE A QUESTION, WHAT IS IT THAT WE, HOW CAN WE SUPPORT, YOU KNOW, YOUR BUSINESS? YOU KNOW, WE JUST RECENTLY HAD A JOB FAIR, UM, IN DISTRICT B MM-HMM . AND SO WE WOULD WELCOME YOU TO COME OUT AND, YOU KNOW, TALK TO CONSTITUENTS AS THEY COME OUT TRYING TO GET JOBS. BUT HOW CAN WE SUPPORT YOU? UH, BASICALLY JUST POINT ME IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION. UM, YOU KNOW, AND, UH, JUST LIKE THAT, UH, EVENT. I LOVE ATTENDING EVENTS. I JUST ATTENDED, UH, A EVENT YESTERDAY WITH, UH, FELLOW COUNCIL MEMBERS AND FELLOW FELLOW REPRESENTATIVES THAT'S LOOKING TO GET ELECTED. YOU KNOW, UH, JUST LOOKING TO HELP THE COMMUNITY AS BEST AS I CAN. I KNOW YOU GUYS ARE A PART OF THAT COMMUNITY. I KNOW YOU HAVE A GOOD, UH, A BIG HAND ON THAT COMMUNITY. SO, YOU KNOW, JUST PARTNERING, JUST LOOKING TOGETHER, JUST LIKE YOUR INITIATIVE, UH, THAT I THINK THAT GOES HAND IN HAND TO GET THAT FACE OUT THERE AND TO EDUCATE PEOPLE TO, TO KNOW THAT THE UNION IS HERE. YOU KNOW, LIKE I SAID, IN CALIFORNIA, THE UNION IS BIG. I NEVER KNEW ABOUT IT GROWING UP IN HOUSTON, AND IT'S BEEN A GREAT TOOL FOR ME, UH, WHEN I, WHEN I LEARNED ABOUT IT. RIGHT? SO, UH, GETTING OUT THERE DOING THAT, ESPECIALLY WITH, UH, LIKE I SAID, WITH THE TAX FRAUD HERE, UM, THOSE LAWS HAVE BEEN PASSED, BUT, YOU KNOW, HOW DO WE TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THAT? RIGHT? UH, LIKE THE $9 MILLION APPRENTICE, UH, APPRENTICESHIP BEING APPROVED. HOW DO I TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THAT? RIGHT? SO JUST THAT EDUCATION PLATFORM, YOU KNOW, JUST A, A CONVERSATION IS ALL I'M ASKING FOR. AND IF YOU HAVE A FLYER YOU CAN SHARE WHAT WE CAN SHARE OUT OUTSIDE CONSTITUENTS APPRECIATE IT. RIGHT? OKAY. YEAH. HOW, HOW DO I GET THAT TO YOU? OKAY, COOL. THANKS. I'LL FOLLOW HIM WITH YOU. KEITH. YES, SIR. OKAY. THANKS MAN. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. NEXT SPEAKER. ART SMITH. ART HERE. HELLO. HOW Y'ALL DOING? UM, MAYOR, TURN THIS A WHOLE LOT'S BEEN TAKING PLACE SINCE YOU'VE BEEN, UH, AWAY FOR THE LAST COUPLE OF WEEKS. WE'VE BEEN HERE, MAN, BUT, UM, RIGHT NOW THE HOUSTON PERMANENT CENTER IS CONSTANTLY GIVING PERMITS OUT TO INDIVIDUALS THAT DON'T OWN PROPERTY. IN FIFTH WARD, THEY HAVE DEMOLISHED NINE RESIDENTS THAT'S IN ADVERSE POSSESSION OF PROPERTY UNDER MY WIFE'S NAME. UH, THE HOUSTON PERMIT CENTER, UH, ISSUED A DEMOLITION PERMIT TO SOME FOLKS THAT DON'T HAVE NO OWNERSHIP OF DEED, UH, RECORDS IN THEIR NAME. AND, UH, ONE OF THE CITY ATTORNEYS THAT SPOKE WITH US, WE'VE BEEN TALKING TO, UH, MS. JACKSON CITY COUNCILWOMAN, AND WE'VE BEEN TRYING TO, YOU KNOW, WORK ON GETTING SOMETHING LIKE A NEW CITY ORDINANCE RIGHT NOW I CAN COME AND DO A FAKE APPLICATION AT THE HOUSTON PERMANENT CENTER. AND IF YOU GONE, LIKE YOU WAS GONE FOR AFRICA, THREE WEEKS, YOU CAN COME BACK, THE WATER IRRIGATION WILL BE GONE. YOUR HOUSE CAN BE DEMOLISHED. THERE IS NO CITY ORDINANCE CURRENTLY ON THE BOOKS THAT WILL PROTECT TAXPAYERS IN THE CITY OF HOUSTON FROM, UH, DEALING WITH, UH, GOING TO THE CITY PERMIT DEPARTMENT. SO NOT ONLY MY WIFE HAD FILED THIS HERE IN, UH, UH, THE PUBLIC RECORDS, AND SO YOUR TIME HAS EXPIRED. I'LL GIVE YOU 30 SECONDS. OKAY. YEAH. SO I'M JUST TRYING TO FIND OUT IS IT SOMETHING THAT WE CAN DO TO PUT AN EMERGENCY SITUATION, EVEN THOUGH MY WIFE HAS BEEN AWARDED FROM THE, UM, THE DISTRICT COURTS A TEMPORARY RESTRAINING ORDER THAT WAS FOLKS OUT THERE, AND NOT ONLY ARE THEY, THEY, THESE APPROVED VENDORS THROUGH THE CITY OF HOUSTON, THEY COMING OUT THERE, UH, SHOOTING UP THE FINGER, UH, THE ATTORNEYS, THEY BRANDISHING THEY GUNS AND THEY CAUSING A LOT OF REAL HAVOC IN OUR COMMUNITY WITH, WITH A REAL BULLY AND, AND, UH, ARROGANCE BRAVADO THAT'S HAPPENING. YOU KNOW, EVEN THOUGH WE BE FILMING THEM ON OUR FIFTH ONE LIVE TV PAGE, IT ALL STARTS WITH THE NEGLIGENT OF THE CITY GIVING OUR PREMISE TO FOLKS THAT DON'T HAVE NO, NO DEEDS IN THEIR NAME. THEY DON'T OWN ANY PROPERTY, YOU KNOW. AND THEN, UH, WHEN MY WIFE WAS ON A, A ZOOM WITH THE DISTRICT COURT, THE, UH, THE ATTORNEY JC LOFTON, HE ADMITTED THAT IT'S BENJAMIN B. HALL THAT PAID FOR ALL OF THIS DEMOLITION. YET THEY NOT, THEY DON'T OWN ANY OF THE PROPERTY. GOT IT. COUNCILMAN MAYOR JACKSON. THANK YOU MAYOR. AND MRS. SMITH. THANK YOU. AND, UM, MS. COFFEY FOR, UM, YOUR ADVOCACY AND THEN THANK YOU FOR SHARING MORE DETAILS ABOUT, YOU KNOW, YOUR PARTICULAR SITUATION, UM, FROM MY UNDERSTANDING THAT, UM, YOU HAVE A PROPERTY THAT'S IN THE MIDDLE OF A LEGAL, UM, DISPUTE AROUND ADVERSE, UM, POSSESSION, CORRECT? THAT'S CORRECT. [03:00:01] MY WIFE. YES. YES, YES. AND, UM, BUT A PERMIT WAS ISSUED TO SOMEONE ELSE TO COME AND TEAR THIS PARTICULAR PROPERTY DOWN. AND WHAT I'VE SAID, MAYOR, I, I WILL WORK WITH THEM ON TRYING TO JUST, YOU KNOW, WORK WITH PERMITTING AND LEGAL ABOUT HOLDING OFF ON, UM, DEMOLISHING ANY OF THE PROPERTIES THAT'S CURRENTLY IN DISPUTE WITH THE COURTS UNTIL THE COURTS DETERMINE WHO ACTUALLY OWNS THE ACTUAL PROPERTY. IS THAT CORRECT? YEAH, THAT'S CORRECT. YEAH. THAT'S THE CONVERSATIONS WE HAD, BUT I KNOW IT'S A WHOLE LOT OF OTHER MOVING PIECES. YEAH. BUT I DID SAY TO YOU AND YOUR WIFE THAT I WILL, YOU KNOW, KIND OF TRY TO TRY TO GET THE PERMITTING AND WHOEVER DO THE, THE DEMOLITION OF THESE HOMES TO HOLD OFF, UH, AGAIN, UNTIL, UM, LEGAL, UM, WHOEVER OWNS IT BECOMES CLEAR, YOU KNOW, THOSE PARTICULAR PROPERTIES AND, AND MAIL TURN. I WANT TO, I DEFINITELY WANNA SAY THAT, YOU KNOW, COUNCIL MEMBER JACKSON, HER AND HER, UH, HER CHIEF OF STAFF, UH, MISS MARY, THEY, THEY REALLY HAVE BEEN THE BIGGEST THING THEY'VE DONE IN THE LAST COUPLE OF WEEKS. THEY'VE BEEN LISTENING TO US. MAN, YOU KNOW, IT'S BEEN REAL, REAL TOUGH. MY WIFE HAVE BEEN EVICTED THREE TIMES, UNLAWFULLY ILLEGALLY, BUT THEY'VE BEEN TAKING OUR TIME AND THEY LEAST LISTEN TO US. AND IF YOU JUST TAKE OUR TIME TO LISTEN TO US, WE CAN SHOW AND PROVE THAT THE DOCUMENTATION, AND I PROMISE YOU, ONCE, ONCE THESE DOCUMENTS OR ONCE A ONCE A CITY ORDINANCE IS PUT IN PLACE, MAN, THIS WILL PROTECT EVERY TAXPAYER, EVERY HOMEOWNER. NO ONE WOULD HAVE TO BE IN FEAR OF, YOU KNOW, SOMEONE FRAUDULENTLY FILLING OUT DOCUMENTS AND, YOU KNOW, YOU KNOW, MY WIFE CAME HOME TO A PLACE WHERE, WHERE SHE WAS LIVING IN THE WHOLE HOUSE WAS GONE AND, AND THE PERSON, AND THEY, THEY DEMOLISHED NINE RESIDENTS THAT'S UNDER HER NAME THROUGH ADVERSE POSSESSION OF PROPERTY THAT SHE'S ALREADY COMPLETED. WE NOT ASKING THE CITY TO GET INVOLVED WITH ANY LEGAL MATTERS. MY WIFE IS REPRESENTING HERSELF PRO SE AS A PRO SE LITIGANT. SO WE NOT ASKING THE CITY TO GET IN INVOLVED WITH ANY LEGAL MATTERS, WE SHARP ENOUGH NOT TO ASK THAT. I GOTCHA. BUT IF WE CAN JUST GET A CITY ORDINANCE AND GET THE CITY PERMIT APARTMENT TO STOP ALLOWING THESE FOLKS TO GO OUT THERE AND THE THE VOTE LIVE BUILDING I GOT, THEN THE GAS STATION IS WHAT WE, YOU KNOW, FIGHTING TO KEEP. 'CAUSE THEY'VE ALREADY DEMOLISHED THE NINE HOMES. AND IF THESE PERMITS WOULDN'T HAVE BEEN ISSUED IT, THESE HOMES WILL STILL BEEN UP. LEMME SEE. LET'S TAKE A LOOK AT IT. YES, SIR. OKAY. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. NEXT SPEAKER COFFEE L BAY. OKAY. HELLO. AND IT'S NOT, UM, HARD TO RECOGNIZE THE OWNERSHIP OF THE PROPERTY. IT'S NOT, UH, ROBERT CHARLES WILLIAMS WHO USED TO BE OVER THE SECURITY FOR THIS, UH, CITY HALL BUILDING. HE PASSED AWAY APRIL 15TH, 2021. HE'S NOT THE OWNER OF THE PROPERTY. HCA ILLEGALLY PUT HIS NAME ON TAX DOCUMENTS AND THEN SAY THEY DON'T KNOW HOW THEY PUT HIS NAME ON THERE. I HAVE THE DEEDS OF THE REAL, UH, THE LEGAL REAL PROPERTY OWNER THAT I SUED IN REFERENCE TO ADVERSE POSSESSION. I'VE BEEN IN, UH, POSSESSION OF THAT PROPERTY FOR 10 PLUS YEARS. SO IT'S, IT'S NOT UP TO ASK WHO'S THE OWNER OF THE PROPERTY I AM. AND SO THESE PEOPLE COMING OUT HERE WITH GUNS, THROWING THE FU FINGER UP, THEY'RE GONNA, UH, CAUSE A LOT OF STRIFE IN THE CITY OF HOUSTON AND MAKE THE CRIME RATE GO UP EVEN HIGHER BECAUSE THE NEGLIGENCE OF HOUSTON NOT HAVING A CITY ORDINANCE, ORDINANCE IN PLACE TO STOP PEOPLE FROM GETTING PERMITS FROM THE HOUSTON PERMITTING CENTER LIKE THEY HAVE, YOU KNOW, MY NAME HAVE BEEN DEFAMED. I'M THE FIRST FEMALE VOCALIST TO BE FEATURED ON BET AND MTV IN 1995 ON A SONG THAT I CO-WROTE AND PRODUCED THAT CAME OUT ON RAP EYE RECORDS AND VIRGIN RECORDS. SO I HAVE PEOPLE THAT KEEP SAYING COFFEE, I'M NOT GONNA LET ANYBODY HURT YOU. YOU'RE TALKING, I'M NOT GONNA LET ANYBODY DO THAT. BUT THE CITY IS BEING NEGLIGENT AND THEY, THEY DEMOLISHED MY HOME. OKAY. ILLEGALLY. THANK YOU. I GOT IT. I UNDERSTAND. OKAY. THANK YOU. NEXT SPEAKER, THIS COMPLETES THE LIST. YES, YES, YES. THIS COMPLETES THE LIST THAT WE HAVE, MAYOR. OKAY, THANK YOU. UM, AND WE'RE TRYING TO GET THE PAPERWORK TOGETHER. SO IT WOULD BE POST TODAY BY FIVE O'CLOCK. SO IT WOULD BE FIVE O'CLOCK ON FRIDAY. YES. I, I MISSED, I WAS LIKE TWO MINUTES AFTER I WAS CALLED. AM I, WOULD YOU ALLOW ME TO JUST, UM, AND YOUR NAME IS CHEN. TRICIA CHEN. OKAY. COME. OKAY. COME AND SPEAK. APPRECIATE THAT. PATRICIA CHEN. THANK YOU. UM MM-HMM . I WAS BORN IN HOUSTON. I GREW UP GOING TO THE HOUSTON DOWNTOWN LIBRARY WAS, IT'S A VERY CHERISHED MEMORY OF MINE. I'M CURRENTLY AN ASSISTANT PROFESSOR AT BAYLOR COLLEGE OF MEDICINE, AND I'M HERE TO SPEAK OUT AGAINST THE CITY'S RECENT, RECENT TICKETING OF VOLUNTEERS WHO ARE FEEDING THE HOMELESS. IT SHOULD NOT BE LEGAL TO HELP OUT. FELLOW HOUSTONIANS. VOLUNTEERS ARE GIVING THEIR RESOURCES THEIR OWN TIME. THEY'RE COORDINATING WITH OTHER RESIDENTS, OTHER COMMUNITIES, OTHER BUSINESSES TO DO THIS. AND THEY SHOULD NOT BE PENALIZED FOR IT. THE CITY'S FOOD SHARING ORDINANCE SHOULD NOT EVEN BE ON [03:05:01] THE BOOKS. MAYOR TURNER, YOU'VE TALKED ABOUT RETAKING DOWNTOWN CENTRAL LIBRARY TO MAKE IT A MORE WHOLESOME FOR WHOLESOME FOR FAMILIES. I WAS JUST TALKING TO MY SISTER WHO LIVES HERE IN HOUSTON AS WELL. SHE TOOK HER KIDS, HER TWO WHOLESOME KIDS DOWN TO THE DOWNTOWN LIBRARY JUST A COUPLE WEEKS AGO AND SAID SHE HAD A GREAT TIME. THEY LOVED THE LIBRARY AND SHE WAS NOT. AND LIKE ENCOUNTERING UNHOUSED PEOPLES WAS NOT AN ISSUE. SO I FEEL LIKE THAT'S JUST A FABRICATED PROBLEM THAT IS CREATING AN US AND THEM THAT REALLY SHOULD NOT BE THERE. WE SHOULD NOT, IT, IT IS NOT WHOLESOME FAMILIES AGAINST HOMELESS PEOPLE. WE ARE ALL A COMMUNITY TOGETHER. NOW I WAS LOOKING AT SOME REPORTS FROM THE COALITION OF, UM, WHAT IS IT CALLED? THE COALITION FOR HOMELESSNESS. AND THEY ESTIMATED THERE ARE OVER 3000 PEOPLE WHO ARE EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS IN HOUSTON AT ANY GIVEN TIME. I ALSO UNDERSTAND THAT THE, THAT HOUSTON, UM, WAS INVESTED INVESTING OVER A HUNDRED MILLION DOLLARS TO TRY AND REDUCE HOMELESSNESS. THIS, THIS JUST LAST YEAR, LOOKING AT THE REPORT FROM THE, UH, COALITION FROM HOMELESSNESS, THEY, IT LOOKS LIKE THERE WERE ABOUT 138 PEOPLE, 138 OUT OF THE 3000 WHO, WHO, UM, WHO WERE ABLE TO BE HOUSED THROUGH THAT PROGRAMMING. AND SO THAT'S ONLY LIKE 5%. I TELL YOU ALL THIS BECAUSE IT'S OBVIOUS THAT THE PROBLEM IS VERY COMPLEX. IT'S VERY HUGE. AND WE NEED EV THE CITY NEEDS ALL THE HELP THAT IT CAN GET. IT SHOULD NOT BE TICKETING AND FINDING, FINDING PEOPLE WHO ARE ALSO TRYING TO, TO, TO SOLVE THIS ISSUE. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME. YOU THINK THAT, UH, PEOPLE WHO ARE FEEDING THE HOMELESS SHOULD BE ALLOWED TO FEED THE HOMELESS ANY PLACE THEY SO CHOOSE. IT'S A PUBLIC, IT'S A PUBLIC, UH, SPACE. AND YOU KNOW WHAT? THEY WERE ALLOWED FOR THE PAST 10 YEARS. AND WELL, LEMME JUST SAY TOO, WHY IS IT AN ISSUE NOW? LEMME JUST SAY IT WAS GOOD FOR YOUR SISTER AND OTHERS TO GO. THERE ARE MANY HOUSTONIANS WHOSE FAMILIES DO NOT FEEL COMFORTABLE OR SAFE, UH, GOING TO THE LIBRARY. THEY DON'T WANT TO WALK PAST AND THROUGH, UH, THE HOMELESS. AND THEN THERE ARE THOSE HOMELESS THAT HAVE BEEN INSIDE THE LIBRARY THAT HAVE PULLED A KNIFE ON SOME OF THE CITY EMPLOYEES. WE HAVE PROVIDED ANOTHER SPACE FOR YOU AND OTHERS AND WHOMEVER ELSE WITH DESIRE TO FEED THE HOMELESS. WE WANT YOU TO FEED THEM. WE ARE NOT OPPOSED TO YOU FEEDING THEM, BUT WE ARE PROVIDING SUITABLE, REASONABLE ACCOMMODATIONS, UH, WITH UM, UH, PORTA-POTTIES AND CHAIRS AND TABLES. AND YOU CERTAINLY CAN FEED THERE. NO ONE IS STOPPING YOU FROM FEEDING. WE ARE SIMPLY SAYING WE DO NOT WANT TO CREATE AN ENVIRONMENT OUTSIDE THE CENTRAL LIBRARY WHERE FAMILIES, OTHER FAMILIES IN THE CITY OF HOUSTON DO NOT FEEL COMFORTABLE IN GOING TO THE CENTRAL LIBRARY. AND WE DON'T NEED TO TURN THE LIBRARY INTO A MUSEUM. THAT'S OUR, THAT'S THE POSITION THAT WE ARE TAKING. ALRIGHT. WE'RE JUST GOING BACK AND FORTH. HOLD ON. AND YOU'RE NOT LISTENING TO US. HOLD ON, HOLD ON. WELL, I, I TELL YOU WHAT, COME ON. WALK AWAY. LEMME LET YOU CLOSE. THANK YOU. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. OKAY. APPRECIATE YOU. ALRIGHT. HAVING SAID ALL OF THAT, UH, I DO WANT THERE, THERE WILL BE A NOTICE GOING OUT. THERE WILL BE PROBABLY A SPECIAL CALL MEETING ON FRIDAY, SINCE WE'RE NOT MEETING NEXT WEEK. UM, THERE'LL BE A SPECIAL CALL. NO MA'AM. WE, WE ARE DONE WITH THE SPEAKING. WELL, YOU GO THROUGH THE CHANNELS. UM, AND IT WILL HAVE TO DO WITH THAT PETITION. WE HAVE THE REQUISITE SIGNATURE THAT WAS, UH, WITH THE SIGNATURES AND IT SEEMED LIKE THEY HAD THE REQUISITE PETITIONS. SO WE NEED TO PUT ON THE BALLOT IN THE MORNING, EARLY IN THE MORNING AT HG MATTER. SO THERE WAS A PETITION. WE GOT THE RECORD. SO SINCE WE HAVE A, SINCE WE HAVE A BREAK WEEK NEXT WEEK, PUT ON THE BALLOT, THEN IT WOULD HAVE TO HAVE LIKE A SPECIAL CALL MEETING FOR THIS WEEK, WHICH WOULD BE FRIDAY. SHOULDN'T LAST VERY, SHOULDN'T LAST. WHAT TIME? WHAT TIME WOULD IT? PROBABLY, IT'LL HAVE TO BE FIVE O'CLOCK 'CAUSE IT'LL HAVE TO DO THE 72 HOURS. OH, COME FIVE O'CLOCK. NO, I AIN'T. EITHER THAT OR THE 21ST, WHICH IS MONDAY AFTER BREAK WEEK. MONDAY. THAT'S MONDAY THE 21ST. MONDAY THE 21ST. MONDAY THE 20. YES. THANK YOU. . YOU'RE WELCOME. MONDAY, MONDAY. MONDAY THE 21ST. [RECESS] ALL RIGHT. WE STAND IN RECESS UNTIL TOMORROW MORNING AT 9:00 AM GOOD MORNING. I'M COMING TO YOU LIVE FROM THE ANNA RUSSELL COUNCIL CHAMBER. I'M ABOUT TO READ A DESCRIPTION OR CAPTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL AGENDA FOR THE WEEK, AUGUST 8TH AND NINTH, 2023. ITEM ONE, RE REQUEST FROM MAYOR FOR CONFIRMATION OF THE APPOINTMENT OF THE FOLLOWING INDIVIDUALS TO THE HOUSTON ARTS ALLIANCE BOARD OF DIRECTORS. ITEM TWO, REQUEST FROM MAYOR FOR CONFIRMATION OF THE APPOINTMENT OF THE FOLLOWING INDIVIDUALS TO THE BUILDING AND STANDARDS COMMISSION. ITEM THREE, REQUEST FROM MAYOR FOR CONFIRMATION OF THE APPOINTMENT TO THE FOLLOWING INDIVIDUALS TO THE HOUSTON FOOD AND SECURITY BOARD. ITEM FOUR, REQUEST FROM MAYOR FOR CONFIRMATION OF THE APPOINTMENT OR REAPPOINTMENT OF THE FOLLOWING INDIVIDUALS TO THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF THE HOUSTON DOWNTOWN MANAGEMENT DISTRICT. ITEM FIVE, REQUEST FROM MAYOR FOR CONFIRMATION OF THE APPOINTMENT OR REAPPOINTMENT OF THE FOLLOWING INDIVIDUALS TO THE NORTH HOUSTON DISTRICT, FORMERLY KNOWN AS THE GREENSPOINT DISTRICT OF HARRIS COUNTY BOARD OF DIRECTORS. ITEM SIX, REQUEST FROM MAYOR FOR CONFIRMATION OF THE [03:10:01] REAPPOINTMENT OF THE FOLLOWING INDIVIDUALS TO THE NEAR NORTHWEST MANAGEMENT DISTRICT BOARD OF DIRECTORS, ITEM SEVEN RECOMMENDATION FROM THE DIRECTOR OF THE FINANCE DEPARTMENT THAT THE CITY COUNCIL RECEIVED THE ESTIMATED TAX YEAR 2023 APPRAISAL ROLL INFORMATION. CERTIFY THE ANTICIPATED COLLECTION RATE AND APPOINT ALMA ELLO AND MELISSA DEBOSKY TO CALCULATE AND PUBLISH THE CITY'S NO NEW REVENUE AND VOTER APPROVAL TAX RATES IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE TRUTH AND TAXATION PROVISIONS OF THE STATE TAX CODE. ITEM EIGHT. RECOMMENDATION FROM DIRECTOR HOUSTON AIRPORT ASSISTANT FOR APPROVAL OF FINAL CONTRACT AMOUNT OF $139,968 AND NO CENTS AND ACCEPTANCE OF WORK ON CONTRACT WITH THE ENTERPRISE LP. ITEM NINE. RECOMMENDATION FROM DIRECTOR HOUSTON AIRPORT ASSISTANT FOR APPROVAL OF FINAL CONTRACT AMOUNT OF $6,705,319 AND 91 CENTS AND ACCEPTANCE OF WORK ON CONTRACT WITH THE NORTHEAST NORTH ABATEMENT CORPORATION CONSTRUCTION INC. ITEM 10, RECOMMENDATION FROM DIRECTOR HOUSTON AIRPORT SYSTEM FOR APPROVAL OF FINDING CONTRACT AMOUNT OF $7,009,003 AND 86 CENTS AND ACCEPTANCE WORK ON CONTRACT WITH SPARK GLASS SILVER CONSTRUCTION INC. ITEM 11, RECOMMENDATIONS FROM DIRECTOR HOUSTON PUBLIC WORKS FOR APPROVAL OF FINAL CONTRACT AMOUNT OF $671,022 25 CENTS AND ACCEPTANCE TO WORK ON CONTRACT WITH REPI CONSTRUCTION. L-L-C-D-B-A-I-P-R SOUTH CENTRAL LLC. ITEM 12. RECOMMENDATION FROM DIRECTOR HOUSTON PUBLIC WORKS FOR APPROVAL OF FINAL CONTRACT AMOUNT OF $2,565,642 AND 2 CENTS AND ACCEPTANCE OF WORK ON CONTRACT WITH THE VAULT SERVICES LLC. ITEM 13. RECOMMENDATION FROM DIRECTOR HOUSTON PUBLIC WORKS FOR APPROVAL OF FINAL CONTRACT AMOUNT OF $3,290,725 AND 4 CENTS AND ACCEPTANCE OF WORK ON CONTRACT WITH THE GSI WITH CSI CONSOLIDATED L-L-C-D-B-A CLEAN SERVE LLC. ITEM 14, RECOMMENDATION FROM DIRECTOR HOUSTON PUBLIC WORKS FOR APPROVAL OF FINAL CONTRACT AMOUNT OF $51,219,486 AND 99 CENTS AND ACCEPTANCE WORK ON CONTRACT WITH THE HARPER BROTHERS CONSTRUCTION LLC AND A 15. RECOMMENDATION FROM THE CITY ATTORNEY TO DEPOSIT THE AMOUNT OF THE AWARD SPECIAL COMMISSIONS OF $55,203 AND NO CENTS INTO THE REGISTRY OF THE COURT AND PAY ALL COSTS IN CONNECTION WITH EMORY DOMAIN PROCEEDINGS STYLE CIFF HOUSTON VERSUS MAG THREE INVESTMENTS LLC AT ALL CAUSE NUMBER 1 2 0 1 6 6 6 FOR THE ACQUISITION PARCEL. A Y 20 0 5 1 FOR THE ANTOINE DRIVE PAVING AND DRAINAGE PROJECT. ITEM 16, METRO FIRE APPARATUS SPECIALIST INC. FIRE BOOTS THROUGH THE INTERLOCAL AGREEMENT WITH THE TEXAS LOCAL PURCHASING PROPERTY BY BOARD FOR THE HOUSTON FIRE DEPARTMENT. ITEM 17 APPROVED SPENDING AUTHORITY IN THE AMOUNT NOT EXCEED $1,278,114 AND 45 CENTS FOR EMERGENCY PURCHASE OF EMS MEDICAL SUPPLIES FOR THE HOUSTON FIRE DEPARTMENT AWARDED TO RE MEDICAL LLC AND LIFE ASSIST INC. ITEM 18 APPROVED SPENDING AUTHORITY IN AN AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED $208,058 AND 76 CENTS FOR EMERGENCY PURCHASE OF AUTOMOTIVE LUBRICANT SERVICES FOR THE FLEET MANAGEMENT DEPARTMENT AWARDED TO RNC DISTRIBUTORS LLC ITEM 19 APPROVED SPEEDING AUTHORITY AND THE AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED $139,550 AND NO CENTS THE PURCHASE OF FORENSIC INVESTIGATIVE SOUTHWEST SUBSCRIPTION RENEWAL ENTERPRISE CRIME TRACE OF THE HOUSTON POLICE DEPARTMENT AWARDED TO FORENSIC LOGIC LLC ITEM 20 JDC FLUID EQUIPMENT LLC FOR. SO SOURCE PURCHASE OF IBARRA PLUG PLUGIN POWER AND CONTROL CABLES FOR HOUSTON PUBLIC WORKS. ITEM 21, RED ZONE ROBOTICS INC. FOR EMERGENCY INSPECTIONS OF MANHOLES FOR HOUSTON PUBLIC WORKS. ITEM 22 APPROVED SPRINTING AUTHORITY AND THE AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED $725,000 IN THOSE CENTS FOR EMERGENCY PURCHASE OF WATER SAMPLING AND FLUSHING OF DRINKING WATER DEAD END LINES SERVICES FOR HOUSTON PUBLIC WORKS AWARD TO STRIKE WATER SERVICES LLC ITEM 23, ORDINANCE OF APPROVING AND AUTHORIZING LOAN AGREEMENT BETWEEN CITY OF HOUSTON AND HOUSTON BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT INC. ITEM 24 ORDINANCE OF APPROVING AND AUTHORIZING TWO LOAN AGREEMENTS BETWEEN CITY OF HOUSTON AND COLE. CLIMB BUILDERS LLC ITEM 25 ORDINANCE AUTHORIZING CITY OF HOUSTON TO ACCEPT TWO GRANT AWARDS FROM THE TEXAS DEPARTMENT OF HOUSING AND COMMUNITY AFFAIRS. ITEM 26, ORDINANCE APPROPRIATING $22,872,725 AND NO CENTS OUT OF AIRPORTS IMPROVEMENT FUND AWARDING CONSTRUCTION CONTRACT TO GAD BERRY CONSTRUCTION COMPANY INC. ITEM 27 ORDINANCE APPROPRIATED $19,317,025 AND NO CENTS OUT OF AIRPORTS IMPROVEMENT FUND, AWARDING CONSTRUCTION CONTRACT TO SPA GLASS, CIVIL CONSTRUCTION INC. ITEM 28 ORDINANCE APPROVING AND AUTHORIZING COMPROMISE SETTLEMENT AND RELEASE AGREEMENT BETWEEN CEDAR OF HOUSTON AND OKLAHOMA STATE UNIVERSITY. ITEM 29 ORDINANCE APPROVING AND AUTHORIZING GRANT AGREEMENT BETWEEN CITY OF HOUSTON AND THE DEPARTMENT OF STATE HEALTH SERVICES. ITEM 30 ORDINANCE APPROVING AND AUTHORIZING FRAMEWORK AGREEMENT FOR THE 2028 REPUBLICAN NATIONAL CONVENTION IN HOUSTON, TEXAS. ITEM 31 ORDINANCE AMENING. ORDINANCE NUMBER 2020 DASH 2 22 PAST [03:15:01] MARCH 25TH, 2020 TO INCREASE THE MAXIMUM CONTRACTING AMOUNT FOR CONTRACT NUMBER 4 6 0 0 1 5 8 4 5 FOR CONTRACT BETWEEN C OF HOUSTON AND SAN RICO COMMUNICATIONS LLC AND ON 32 ORDINANCE SUBMITTING ORDINANCE NUMBER 20 21 70 11 PAST AUGUST 25TH, 2021 TO INCREASE THE MAXIMUM CONTRACTING AMOUNT FOR CONTRACT BETWEEN CITY OF HOUSTON AND STAR SERVICE INC. DBA STAR SERVICE INC. OF HOUSTON. ITEM 33 ORDINANCE TO INCREASE THE MAXIMUM CONTRACTING AMOUNT FOR ANY LOCAL AGREEMENT BETWEEN CITY OF HOUSTON AND THE HARRIS CENTER FOR MENTAL HEALTH AND INTELLECTUAL AND DEVELOPMENT DISABILITIES. ITEM 34 ORDINANCE APPROVING AND AUTHORIZING SUBMISSION OF ELECTRONIC LAND APP GRANT APPLICATION FOR AN ACCEPTANCE OF THE OFFICE OF THE ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY. SOLID WASTE INFRASTRUCTURE FOR RECYCLING GRANT PROGRAM. ITEM 35 ORDINANCE APPROVING AND AUTHORIZING SUBMISSION OF AN ELECTRONIC GRANT APPLICATION FOR AND ACCEPTANCE OF THE OFFICE OF THE ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY RECYCLING EDUCATION AND OUTREACH GRANT PROGRAM. ITEM 36 HAVE REPORTED AND WILL NOT BE CONSIDERED. ITEM 37 ORDINANCE RENEWING AND THE ESTABLISHMENT OF THE EAST AND WEST SIDE OF THE 1600 BLOCK OF HARTFORD STREET BETWEEN EAST 16TH STREET AND EAST 18TH STREET. ITEM 38 ORDINANCE ESTABLISHING THE NORTH AND SOUTH SIDE OF THE 700 BLOCK OF HORNE STREET BETWEEN WASHINGTON STREET AND REAGAN STREET. ITEM 39 ORDINANCE ESTABLISHING THE NORTH AND SOUTH SIDE OF THE 400 BLOCK OF HIGHLAND STREET BETWEEN FLORENCE STREET AND HELEN STREET. ITEM 40 ORDINANCE ESTABLISHING THE NORTH SIDE OF THE 1000 BLOCK OF WOODLAND STREET BETWEEN MISHAW STREET AND NOR HILL BOULEVARD. ITEM 41 ORDINANCE DESIGNATING APPRAISERS AND APPROVING AND AUTHORIZING AND APPRAISER LIST PURSUANT TO SECTION TWO DASH 2 41 OF THE HOUSTON CITY, CITY OF HOUSTON. CODE OF ORDINANCES. ITEM 42 ORDINANCE APPROPRIATING $1,100,000 IN NO CENTS OUTTA METRO PROJECTS CONSTRUCTION, D-D-S-R-F APPROVING AND AUTHORIZING PROFESSIONAL CONSTRUCTION MANAGEMENT AND INSPECTION SERVICES. CONTRACT BETWEEN CITY OF HOUSTON AND SOWELLS CONSULTING ENGINEERS. LLC ITEM 43 SET A PUBLIC HEARING DATE REGARDING THE ADOPTION OF ARTICLE 12. CHAPTER 32. CODE OF ORDINANCES, CITY OF HOUSTON REGARDING STANDARDS OF CARE FOR THE HOUSTON PARKS AND RECREATION DEPARTMENT YOUTH RECREATION PROGRAM. SUGGEST A HEARING DATE, 9:00 AM WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 23RD, 2023. ITEM 44, ORDINANCE AMENDING ORDINANCE NUMBER 20 29 9 9 TO REVISE AND UPDATE THE AMENDED AND RESTATE THE CITY OF HOUSTON'S FINANCIAL POLICIES ADOPTED UND TAB BY COUNCIL MEMBERS PECK, PECK, JACKSON CASTEX, TATUM, PLUMBER AND ALCORN. THIS IS ITEM 19 ON AGENDA OF AUGUST 2ND, 2023 AND ITEM 45 IS A MUNICIPAL SETTING DESIGNATION ORDINANCE PROHIBITING THE USE OF DESIGNATED GROUNDWATER BENEATH THE TRACK LAND CONTAINING 4,000 6 8 4 0.682, COMMONLY KNOWN AS 3 38 14 LYONS AVENUE, HOUSTON HARRIS COUNTY, TEXAS. THIS WAS, UH, AT THE REQUEST OF FIFTH WARD REDEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY TERRA 18 TAB BY COUNCIL MEMBER JACKSON. THIS WAS ITEM 46 ON AGENDA OF AUGUST 2ND, 2023. THIS COMPLETES THE READING OF THE AGENDA FOR THE CITY COUNCIL SESSION OF AUGUST 9TH, 2023. STAY TUNED FOR THE NEXT SESSION OF HOUSTON CITY COUNCIL. SCHEDULED TO BEGIN AT 9:00 AM THIS PAST SATURDAY, AUGUST THE FIFTH WOULD'VE BEEN MS. RUSSELL'S 92ND BIRTHDAY. SO WITH THAT WE'RE GOING TO SAY IN THE WORDS OF OUR CURRENCY, THE SECRETARY OF PAT JEFFERSON. DANIEL, I'D LIKE TO LEAVE YOU WITH THIS. ALWAYS, ALWAYS, ALWAYS TREAT EVERYONE THE WAY YOU WOULD LIKE TO BE TREATED. HAVE A BLESSED AND FANTABULOUS DAY AND HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO THE FIVE FIGHTER JEFFERSON, MY SON. NEXT, UH, AUGUST THE 16TH, FIVE, UH, [RECONVENE] ON WEDNESDAY, AUGUST THE NINTH, 2023. I'M HERE. SVE TURN. I'M CALLING THIS MEETING OF THE HOUSTON CITY COUNCIL TO ORDER [MAYOR'S REPORT] A FEW COMMENTS. WELL, THERE ARE GONNA BE SEVERAL COMMENTS. UM, FIRST I WANNA MAKE THE ANNOUNCEMENT OF UNICEF, UNICEF RECOGNIZING HOUSTON AS THE FIRST. AND I WANT TO UNDERSCORE FIRST CITY IN THE UNITED STATES, UH, TO BECOME A CHILD FRIENDLY CITY. UM, I WANT TO GIVE A LOT OF CREDIT TO, UM, UM, OLIVER, OLIVER KOSKI, UM, OVER THE DEPARTMENT, OVER THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION AND YOUTH ENGAGEMENT. AND IN FACT, WHILE I'M TALKING ABOUT IT, OLIVERA, WHY DON'T YOU JUST COME UP SINCE I'M TALKING ABOUT IT. AND I THINK YOU ARE HERE THIS MOR UH, WITH YOU THIS MORNING. UH, IS IS NELSON, WE NELSON. IT'S NELSON AND NELSON BOWMAN, WHY DON'T YOU COME UP AS WELL. UH, WHO'S THE SENIOR REGIONAL, UH, MANAGER FOR UNICEF AND THEN AMY PIERCE, I BELIEVE THE SOUTHWEST REGIONAL UNICEF USA BOARD CHAIR ALSO. SO WHILE I'M TALKING ABOUT WANT YOU COME FORWARD, UH, 'CAUSE I DO WANNA UNDERSCORE, [03:20:01] UM, THAT, UH, HOUSTON HAS, HAS BEEN NAMED THE FIRST, UM, AND SO, UM, UH, THIS IS A HISTORIC ACHIEVEMENT, UH, NOT ONLY LOCALLY, BUT NATIONALLY AND GLOBALLY AS WELL. UH, THIS RECOGNITION IS A MESSAGE TO THE WORLD THAT HOUSTON IS DEDICATED TO PUTTING CHILDREN FIRST. UH, AND WE ARE COMMITTED TO ADVANCING CHILDREN'S RIGHTS. UH, WE HAVE A REPRESENTATIVE, OF COURSE, NELSON HAS BEEN WORKING WITH US WHERE EVER SINCE I'VE BEEN HERE AS MAYOR. AND SO I REALLY APPRECIATE HIS SUPPORT AND HE'S THE REGIONAL MANAGER, UH, DIRECTOR FOR UNICEF. WHETHER IT'S POVERTY, HOMELESSNESS, CLIMATE CHANGE, RACIAL INJUSTICE, EDUCATION OR GUN VIOLENCE, UH, CHILDREN CAN BE FOUND AT THE HEART OF EVERY ISSUE AND ARE OFTEN THE MOST AFFECTED. THE UNITED STATES IS A RECOGNIZED LEADER IN THE ADVOCACY OF HUMAN, HUMAN RIGHTS, AND THEREFORE HAS AN OBLIGATION TO THE CHILDREN OF THE WORLD. AND HOUSTON IS WELL POSITIONED IN THIS EFFORT. OUR FOCUS WILL CONTINUE TO ENSURE HOUSTON IS A SAFE, EQUITABLE, JUST INCLUSIVE AND YOUNG PEOPLE, RESPONSIVE CITY, AND WORK TO INCLUDE YOUTH VOICES INTO THE WORK OF THE CITY AND COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS TO ENSURE THAT YOUNG PEOPLE'S RIGHTS, THEIR VOICES, THEIR NEEDS AND PRIORITIES ARE INTEGRATED INTO PUBLIC POLICIES, PROGRAMS, AND DECISION. AND THIS IS SO IMPORTANT BECAUSE SOME MAY HAVE ASKED, UH, MAYOR, WHAT ARE Y'ALL DOING FOR CHILDREN? WELL, I THINK THIS SPEAKS DIRECTLY TO THAT QUESTION. IT ANSWERS THAT QUESTION, UM, THAT WE HAVE BEEN ENGAGED. SOME MAY HAVE SAID, UH, WHERE HAS THE MAYOR BEEN ON EVEN AS IT RELATES TO PUBLIC EDUCATION OF, UH, UH, IN DEALING WITH SCHOOLS? WELL, THIS IS WHERE THE MAYOR HAS BEEN. UM, WE ARE READY TO CONTINUE LEADING BY EXAMPLE AND TAKING CONCRETE ACTIONS TO TRANSLATE THESE COMMITMENTS INTO EXTENSIVE TANGIBLE PROGRAMS AND POLICIES. AND ALTHOUGH HOUSTON IS POSITIONED TO LEAD THIS WORK, THIS WORK IS NOT OURS ALONE. SO YOUNG PEOPLE WHO ARE HERE ARE LISTENING, UH, IN MY MESSAGE TO YOU IS SIMPLE. KEEP BELIEVING, KEEP BUILDING, KEEP RAISING YOUR VOICE, KEEP ADVOCATING FOR YOURSELVES. AND EVERY GENERATION, EVERY GENERATION CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE. UH, THIS ACHIEVEMENT IS A COMBINATION OF A THREE YEAR JOURNEY, UH, WHICH WAS LED BY MY MAYOR'S OFFICE OF, OF EDUCATION AND YOUTH ENGAGEMENT. AND I'D LIKE TO THANK DIRECTOR AVERA, JOHN KOSKA, UM, AND PROGRAM MANAGER LAURA, UH, LAR FOR SPEARHEADING THIS EFFORT. AND GOING, UH, GAINING THE STATUS WOULD NOT HAVE BEEN POSSIBLE WITHOUT THE COLLABORATION BETWEEN NEARLY 10 CITY DEPARTMENTS AND MORE THAN 30 COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS THAT INVESTED IN ADVOCATING AND SUPPORTING CHILDREN'S RIGHTS. AND I WOULD ALSO LIKE TO COMMEND EVERY CITY COUNCIL MEMBER AND CONGRESSIONAL LEADER FOR THE WORK THEIR OFFICERS HAVE ALREADY DONE TO ENSURE THAT HOUSTON'S CHILDREN ARE SAFE. NOW, I'D BE REMISS, UH, NOW TO, UH, UH, DIRECTOR YOUNG COSTCO TO AT LEAST, UH, SPEAK TO THE SIGNIFICANCE. I REMEMBER IT WAS, IT WAS ABOUT A YEAR AGO AROUND WHEN THE, THE HEAD OF UNESCO, UH, WAS IN CITY OF HOUSTON AND WE TALKED ABOUT THE CITY APPLYING, MAKE AN APPLICATION, AND THEN A YEAR LATER, UH, THAT DESTINATION HAS BEEN GIVEN. AND SO NORMAN, YOU WAS THERE, YOU KNOW, AS WELL. SO LET ME, LET ME JUST STOP AND, UM, UH, DIRECTOR YOUNG KO, YOU CAN SPEAK EVEN MORE SPECIFICALLY ABOUT THIS DESIGNATION. ABSOLUTELY. AND THANK YOU, MAYOR. THANK YOU CITY COUNCIL FOR ALLOWING US TO PURSUE THIS DESIGNATION. ONE YEAR AGO, WE WERE A CANDIDATE WITH A 400 PAGE ACTION PLAN. THAT MEANS WE HAD TO DO A BUNCH OF WORK TO ACTUALLY REACH THIS MOMENT. WE ADDRESSED ISSUES SUCH AS MENTAL HEALTH, AMONG YOUNG PEOPLE, EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS. AND THE MOST IMPORTANT, WHAT MAYOR HAS ALWAYS STAND FOR HAS BEEN RESOURCE ADEQUACY. HOUSTON IS A VERY RESOURCE RICH CITY, BUT IT REALLY NEEDS OUR YOUNG PEOPLE TO HELP US REACH THOSE COMMUNITIES, UNDERREPRESENTED CHILDREN, TO ACTUALLY PROMULGATE THESE RESOURCES. SO I JUST WANNA SAY THANK YOU, MAYOR, TO YOU, TO THE CITY OF HOUSTON FOR PURSUING THIS INCREDIBLE JOURNEY. IT'S BEEN THREE YEARS AND WE ARE VERY GRATEFUL FOR IT. THERE IS NO OTHER MAYOR IN THIS NATION BECAUSE WE ARE THE FIRST AND THIS IS THE TRUTH. YEAH. LIKE OUR MAYOR, HE'S OUR EDUCATION MAYOR, HE'S OUR YOUTH MAYOR. SO WE REALLY APPRECIATE YOU, MAYOR. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. AND NELSON, JUST MORMAN, UH, THE SENIOR REGIONAL MANAGING DIRECTOR FOR UNESCO, YOU KNOW, COMMENTS FROM YOU. SO, SO MARY, YOU REFERENCED, UM, AS LONG AS YOU UNICEF, I SAID UNESCO. UNICEF. I, I I KNOW WHAT YOU MEANT THOUGH. OKAY. UM, YOU SAID, UM, SINCE YOU'VE BEEN HERE, AND YOU ARE RIGHT, [03:25:01] I REMEMBER NOVEMBER, 2019 WHEN YOU SIGNED THAT MOU, IT WAS ACTUALLY WILL CHILDREN'S DAY, AND YOU WERE ONE OF THE FIRST MAYORS TO SIGN THAT MOU IN THE UNITED STATES. YOU ALSO DECLARED THAT YOU WOULD BE, OR HOUSTON WOULD BE THE FIRST CITY IN THE UNITED STATES, AND YOU MADE A PROMISE. AND TODAY IS TRUE. SO ON BEHALF OF UNICEF, JUST WANNA THANK YOU MEMBERS OF HOUSTON CITY COUNCIL AND THE MAYOR'S OFFICE OF EDUCATION. THANK YOU. AND WE APPRECIATE YOUR PARTNERSHIP. THANK YOU. AND AMY PIERCE, THE SOUTHWEST REGIONAL UNICEF, UH, USA BOARD CHAIR. WELL, I TOO JUST WANNA ECHO THE SENTIMENTS THAT HAVE ALREADY BEEN EXPRESSED. BUT, YOU KNOW, HOUSTON, WE ARE ALWAYS THE LEADER AND WE, UM, I THINK WE HAVE THE, THE WONDERFUL EGO OF TRYING TO, UH, LET OUT OTHERS KNOW THE, THE, THE BEAUTIFUL LIGHT WAY TO GO. SO WE JUST WANNA THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR, UH, BECOMING THIS MODEL CITY IN THIS AREA FOR OUR YOUTH, SO THAT WE CAN BE THE TEMPLATE FOR OTHER CITIES TO EMULATE AND, UM, WE CAN JUST CONTINUE TO, UM, ALLOW CHILDREN TO BE, UH, WHO GOD CREATED THEM TO BE. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. THANK YOU. AND THERE'S, UM, SOMETHING ELSE HERE, UM, YOU GO DOWN FOR, OH, I'M GOING, I'M COMING DOWN. I'M READY. YES. WE FORGOT WHAT I WAS SUPPOSED TO BE DOING. AND MAYOR PROAM, WILL YOU RECOGNIZE COUNCIL MEMBER SHABAZZ? YES. MAYOR, WHILE YOU'RE TAKING THE WALK, I'D LIKE TO RECOGNIZE COUNCIL MEMBER CAROLYN, EVAN SHABAZZ FOR SOME COMMENTS. THANK YOU. UH, MAYOR PROAM, I CERTAINLY WANNA HIGHLIGHT NELSON BOWMAN. I HAVE KNOWN NELSON BOWMAN SINCE HE WAS A, A STUDENT. UH, HE AND MY SISTERS ARE GREAT FRIENDS, UH, RAISED IN THE SAME NEIGHBORHOOD, AND I HAVE JUST WATCHED HIM JUST DO TREMENDOUS WORK WHEREVER HE HAS GONE. AND SO CERTAINLY I THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE AS WELL AS, UH, THE OTHERS, UH, AND, UH, KOSKA. I, I CAN SAY YOUR NAME, BUT CERTAINLY I, I THANK YOU ALL FOR YOUR SERVICES AND, UH, JUST VERY PROUD OF YOU, NELSON. AND I'LL BE SURE AND TELL KATHY AND CHARLOTTE HOW YOU'RE MOVING ABOUT IN THE CITY OF HOUSTON. THANK YOU. COUNCIL MEMBER CARLOS CISNEROS. ONE OF THE REALLY IMPORTANT THINGS ABOUT THIS, IT DOESN'T MEAN WE'RE ACTUALLY ALL THE WAY THERE YET WHERE WE WANNA BE, BUT IT'S, IT'S A COMMITMENT TO, UM, MOVING FORWARD. IT'S A COMMITMENT TO BEING INTENTIONAL ABOUT THE DECISIONS WE MAKE AS POLICY MAKERS, NEW TO, TO PUT CHILDREN AT THE CENTER. AND, AND, AND MAYOR, YOU ARE THE EDUCATION MAYOR. YOU KNOW, THANK YOU FOR YOUR, UM, THE MUSCLE YOU'VE PUT BEHIND ALL, YOU KNOW, THAT HAVE EMPOWERED SO MANY PEOPLE TO, TO, TO DO MORE. UM, AND I WANTED TO SAY THAT THIS AFTERNOON AT TWO O'CLOCK HERE IN THESE CHAMBERS, WE'RE HAVING THE CHILDHOOD AND YOUTH COMMITTEE MEETING. AND THIS IS OUR TOPIC. SO IF YOU WANNA LEARN MORE ABOUT THIS, THIS AMAZING ACCOMPLISHMENT, PLEASE COME BACK AT TWO O'CLOCK TODAY AND YOU CAN, UM, YOU CAN HEAR A LOT MORE AND, AND ASK QUESTIONS. AND YEAH, WE'LL BE, WE'LL BE SHARING A LOT TODAY. CONGRATULATIONS, OLI AND MAYOR. MR. BOWMAN. MS. PIERCE. OH. SO WE ARE HERE TO PRESENT THE OFFICIAL CERTIFICATE, RECOGNIZING THE CITY OF HOUSTON AS THE FIRST UNICEF CHILD FRIENDLY CITY. THANK YOU, ANNA. HEY, MARTA, CAN YOU, LORD, CAN YOU LOWER THIS? [03:33:29] ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU ALL SO VERY, VERY MUCH. UH, APOLOGIZE. UH, BUT, UH, THAT IS HIGHLY SIGNIFICANT FOR THE CITY, UH, AS A WHOLE. AND, UM, IT'S NOT JUST A PERSONAL ACHIEVEMENT. UM, IT'S A CITY ACHIEVEMENT. AND I WANNA THANK THE MEMBERS OF CITY COUNCIL. AND I PARTICULARLY WANT TO THANK, UM, UH, THE OFFICE OF EDUCATION AND YOUTH ENGAGEMENT, UH, DIRECTOR YOUNG KASKA. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. IN YOUR ENTIRE TEAM, WE WE'RE TALKING ABOUT THREE YEARS, SO THAT'S, THAT'S SIGNIFICANT. SO THANK YOU. AND THEN, UM, UNICEF REALLY APPRECIATE, UH, WHAT THEY, UH, THE SUPPORT THAT THEY'VE GIVEN TO OUR CITY. ALRIGHT, A FEW OTHER THINGS, UH, STILL STAND WITH KIDS. UM, THIS, UH, MAYOR'S BACK TO SCHOOL EVENT ON SATURDAY WAS A HUGE SUCCESS. WE HAD MORE KIDS TO PARTICIPATE, UH, THAN WE'VE HAD IN THE, IN THE PAST, UH, WHICH WAS ACTUALLY, I, I WANT TO GIVE A HUGE SHOUT OUT TO SHELL, SHELL, UM, CORPORATION HAS BEEN AN INCREDIBLE PARTNER, UH, WITH THE CITY OF HOUSTON. UH, COLLECTIVELY, YOU KNOW, UH, WE'VE WORKED, WORKING WITH VARIOUS GROUPS. 25,000 BACKPACKS WERE DISTRIBUTED, UH, TO THE COMMUNITY. BUT I JUST DON'T WANNA FOCUS ON THE BACKPACK. IT'S THE OTHER THINGS THAT ARE PROVIDED. UH, THE DENTAL, THE EYE SERVICE, UH, IMMUNIZATION, IMMUNIZATIONS, UH, DIABETES TESTING, DIABETES, KIDNEY TESTING, ALL OF THE OTHER THINGS THAT ARE PROVIDED. AND I DO WANNA UNDERSCORE, THESE ARE THINGS THAT WERE NOT PROVIDED BY, [03:35:01] UH, OTHER SCHOOL DISTRICTS. WASN'T PROVIDED BY HISD, PROVIDED BY THE CITY OF HOUSTON, AND WASN'T JUST DONE THIS YEAR. WE'VE DONE IT EVERY YEAR BEFORE I CAME, AND EVEN BEFORE WE'VE, WE'VE TRIED TO ENHANCE IT. UM, UM, AND IT'S FOR KIDS AND THEIR PARENTS WHO REALLY NEED IT. AND, UH, THEY VERY MUCH APPRECIATED THE VISION SCREENING, THE DENTAL SCREENING, UH, ALL OF THE EXHIBITS. SO, UM, I WANT TO JUST GIVE A HUGE THANK YOU, UH, TO SPECIAL EVENTS. UH, SUSAN CHRISTIAN AND HER TEAM, JANICE WEAVER AND HER TEAM, THE HOUSTON FIR, UH, FOOD BANK. I WANNA THANK ALL OF THE COUNCIL MEMBERS WHO WERE THERE IN SUPPORT. REALLY APPRECIATE YOU ALL BEING THERE. UH, BUT A HUGE SUCCESS, UH, VISION ZERO ANNUAL REPORT, UH, IS, UH, OUT, UH, TODAY. UM, SO PLEASE TAKE A LOOK AT THE VISION, UH, ZERO ANNUAL REPORT. WE STILL HAVE A LOT OF WORK TO DO. YOU HEARD COMMENTS ON YESTERDAY, STILL HAVE A LOT OF WORK TO DO ON THAT FRONT. THEN ONE SAFE HOUSTON COMMUNITY DAY. STAYING, STAYING WITH OUR KIDS. UH, THE ONE SAFE HOUSTON COMMUNITY DAY IS THIS FRIDAY, AUGUST THE 11TH. THE EVENT WILL TAKE PLACE FROM 9:00 AM TO 1:00 PM AT TIDWELL COMMUNITY CENTER. UH, 9 7 2 0 SPA SPALDING STREET. UH, TO KEEP OUR CITY SAFE IS SHARED RESPONSIBILITY. UM, I INVITE PARENTS TO BRING THEIR CHILDREN BECAUSE IT WILL BE A FAMILY AFFAIR WITH DEMONSTRATIONS, DISPLAYS FROM HPD AND HFD DANCE PERFORMANCES, GIVEAWAYS, AND HEALTH SCREENING. SO THIS WILL BE A CONTINUATION OF WHAT HAPPENED ON SATURDAY. IT IS ONE SAFE HOUSTON COMMUNITY DAY AT TIDWELL COMMUNITY CENTER. UH, IN ADDITION, UM, LET'S SEE, UH, WELL AGAIN, THE FOCUS IS ON, IS MEETING THE NEEDS OF OUR, OF OUR CHILDREN. UM, THEN THE MAYOR'S OFFICE OF CULTURAL AFFAIRS FOR THE FIRST TIME IN THE TEAM'S HISTORY, HOUSTON'S OFFICIAL YOUTH POETRY SLAM TEAM. THE METAPHOR HOUSTON WON THE INTERNATIONAL YOUTH POETRY SLAM. UH, BRAVE NEW VOICES 2023. UM, AGAIN, STAYING WITH OUR KIDS, COMPETING WITH TEAMS ACROSS THE GLOBE. THE TEAM COMPETED AND WON MULTIPLE ROUNDS BEFORE PLACING FIRST AT FINALS, AND BEING NAMED THE BRAVE NEW VOICES, THE 2023 CHAMPIONS. THE TEAM COACH IS CITY POET LAUREATE EMERITUS, OUTSPOKEN BEING, AND THE CITY'S YOUTH POET LAUREATE IS ONE OF THE TEAM MEMBERS. SO, CONGRATULATIONS, UH, TO, UH, THE METAPHOR HOUSTON THAT WON THE INTERNATIONAL YOUTH POETRY SLAM. KIDS ARE DOING SOME INCREDIBLE THINGS. UM, AND, AND THEN, UM, LET ME CONCLUDE. UH, I DO WANT TO, UH, SO MUCH CONTENTION ON THE HOUSTON PUBLIC LIBRARY AND THE HOMELESS. LET US NOT FORGET THAT HOUSTON IS THE MODEL WHEN IT COMES TO ADDRESSING HOMELESSNESS. SO WE DON'T JUST FOCUS ON ONE ITEM, WE FOCUS ON THE HOLISTIC. AND I DON'T WANT THAT TO GET LOST EVEN IN, UM, WHEN PEOPLE ARE COMMENTING ON, UH, THE FEEDING THAT'S TAKEN PLACE IN FRONT OF THE CITY OF HOUSTON LIBRARIAN, THE POSITION THAT THE CITY HAS TAKEN. UM, WE HAVE BEEN VERY, VERY FOCUSED IN HOUSING PEOPLE WHO, WHO ARE HOMELESS ON OUR STREETS. 'CAUSE ULTIMATELY THAT'S WHAT THEY NEED. THEY NEED TO BE TRANSITIONED TO PERMANENT SUPPORTIVE HOUSING. UH, AND WE ARE ACHIEVING THAT GOAL. WE HAVE SET UP THE NAVIGATION CENTER, UH, THAT WILL HELP TO MOVE PEOPLE FROM THE STREET, TRANSITION THEM FROM THE STREET INTO SUPPORTIVE HOUSING. HOUSTON IS THE MODEL. AND THAT'S WHY WE HAD MAYORS FROM LA AND AND CHICAGO IN HOUSTON A COUPLE OF WEEKS AGO, LOOKING AT WHAT WE ARE DOING. SO LET'S NOT LOSE SIGHT OF WHAT WE ARE DOING TO ADDRESS HOMELESSNESS AND THE DECOMMISSIONING OF OVER 90 ENCAMPMENTS, UH, IN THE CITY OF HOUSTON. NOW, I WANT EVERYONE TO THINK ABOUT THIS. WHAT WOULD PEOPLE BE SAYING TO ME, THE MEMBERS OF CITY COUNCIL, IF, UH, WE, PEOPLE JUST STOPPED GOING TO THE CENTRAL LIBRARY DOWNTOWN BECAUSE OF ALL OF THE HOMELESS ACTIVITY, THE FEEDING, AND, AND PEOPLE CAMPING OUT IN FRONT OF THE LIBRARY, THE CENTRAL LIBRARY PEOPLE STOPPED COMING. I THINK PEOPLE WOULD, CAN YOU IMAGINE THE CENTRAL, CENTRAL LIBRARY DOWNTOWN AND IT JUST BEING ABANDONED BECAUSE PEOPLE HAVE GIVEN UP ON IT. IT, OKAY. AND SO THE SITUATION IS, CAN WE, UH, CAN WE PROVIDE FOOD FOR THOSE WHO NEED ASSISTANCE AND ALSO MAINTAIN THE LIBRARY FOR THE GREATER COMMUNITY, EVEN THOSE WHO ARE HOMELESS, TO UTILIZE THOSE SERVICES? AND THE ANSWER IS YES. AND I DON'T WANT US TO LOSE SIGHT THAT THE CITY IS PAYING BREAD OF LIFE, THE NONPROFIT. THIS MONEY'S NOT COMING FROM BREAD OF LIFE. WE ARE, [03:40:01] THE CITY IS PAYING THEM TO PROVIDE FOUR HOT MEALS PER WEEK, UH, AT THE PARKING ON REGIONAL AND IS WELCOMING OTHER ORGANIZATIONS LIKE FOOD NOT BUM AND OTHERS TO COME AND JOIN. AND I WANT US UNDER, I WANT TO UNDERSCORE THAT. AND THEY HAVE, WE ARE, WE OTHER NONPROFITS WHO ARE FEEDING IN FRONT OF THE CENTRAL LIBRARY HAVE SAID, YES, WE WILL JOIN FOOD. NOT BUM HAPPENS TO BE THE ONE THAT SAYS, NO, THIS IS WHERE WE WANT TO BE. WELL, YOU JUST DON'T HAVE THE RIGHT TO JUST CHOOSE WHERE YOU WANT TO BE AT THE EXPENSE OF EVERYBODY ELSE IN THE CITY. NO. SO THE CITATIONS WILL CONTINUE BECAUSE YOU JUST CAN'T DECIDE THIS IS WHAT YOU'RE GONNA DO. AND, AND THEN TRY TO ENGAGE A PR CAMPAIGN TO MAKE IT SEEM LIKE THE CITY IS BEING INSENSITIVE TO THOSE WHO ARE HOMELESS. NO, THAT'S NOT THE CASE. THAT'S NOT THE CASE. AND SO, I, I JUST WANT TO BE CLEAR ON THAT. UH, AND THEN LASTLY, I'M STILL NOT GONNA, UH, MOVE FROM THESE LIBRARIES BEING CLOSED IN HISD BECAUSE FOR PEOPLE WHO, UM, LET'S SAY MY AGE AND OLDER AND MAYBE A LITTLE BIT YOUNGER, UH, WE REMEMBER FOR EXAMPLE, WHEN SCHOOLS WERE CLOSED AND KIDS WERE BUSED ELSEWHERE. AND I STILL REMEMBER THAT. 'CAUSE GORDON CITY ELEMENTARY JUNIOR HIGH WAS MY SCHOOL CLOSED, AND I WAS BUSED 18 MILES ELSEWHERE. AND PEOPLE MY AGE, MAYBE AND OLDER, MAYBE A LITTLE BIT YOUNGER, REMEMBER WHEN WE HAD SEGREGATED FACILITIES, I REMEMBER THAT. AND SEPARATE SEGREGATED AND UNEQUAL FACILITIES. AND IT, I, I CANNOT, UH, SQUARE IN A DISTRICT WHERE THERE ARE SOME SCHOOLS WITH FULLY FUNCTIONAL LIBRARIES, AND THERE ARE SOME SCHOOLS THAT DON'T HAVE THEM. I CAN'T ACCEPT THAT. AND MAYBE WHEN OTHER PEOPLE ARE COMMENTING, THEY NEED TO WALK IN THE SHOES OF PEOPLE LIKE MYSELF AND OTHERS. YOU WALK IN OUR SHOES AND I THINK YOU'LL UNDERSTAND WHY SHOULD I BE ABLE TO GO TO A SCHOOL IN NORTHEAST WITH NO LIBRARIES AND THEN DRIVE DOWN THE STREET? AND THERE ARE SCHOOLS WITH FULLY FUNCTIONAL LIBRARIES. AND SO WHEN PEOPLE SAY, WELL, MAYOR, WHERE WERE YOU ON WHEN THE QUALITY OF EDUCATION WASN'T WHERE IT SHOULD BE OUT THERE FIGHTING FOR QUALITY EDUCATION? BUT THE POINT IS, IN OUR CITY, YOU DON'T TAKE AWAY, IN ORDER TO MEET A NEED, YOU SET A BENCHMARK. NOW, IF YOU WANNA GO OVER IT AND ABOVE, THAT'S OKAY. I FULLY SUPPORT THAT. BUT I CANNOT ACCEPT IN THIS CITY WHERE THERE ARE SOME SCHOOLS THAT DON'T HAVE THOSE FACILITIES. AND IN OTHER SCHOOLS IN THE SAME DISTRICT, THEY DO. AND THEN PEOPLE ARE TRYING TO GET ME TO ACCEPT THAT I GOT, UH, A RESPONSE FROM SOMEBODY WHO I KNOW WHO SAID, UH, MAYOR, YOU, YOU, YOU'RE MAKING THIS A A PUBLIC SPECTACLE. WELL, YOU NEED TO COME WALK IN MY SHOES AND UNDERSTAND MY HISTORY. MAYBE YOU'LL UNDERSTAND. MAYBE YOU'LL UNDERSTAND. AND BLACK AND BROWN STUDENTS SHOULD NOT HAVE TO GO TO A SCHOOL WHERE THERE ARE NO LIBRARIES AND THEN GO DOWN THE STREET TO SCHOOLS WHERE THERE ARE FULLY FUNCTIONAL LIBRARIES. I CANNOT AND WILL NOT GET PAST THAT. AND I WILL NOT ACCEPT THAT. NOT IN THIS CITY WON'T ACCEPT IT. SO, UH, AND I WANT EVERYONE WITH THE OPPORTUNITY TO LEARN AND BE EDUCATED AND GET EVERYTHING THAT THEY NEED, AND WE'LL CONTINUE TO FIGHT FOR THAT. AND AGAIN, THAT IS CONSISTENT TO THE DESIGNATION WE RECEIVE OF A CHILD FRIENDLY CITY. AND TO ACCEPT WHAT IS HAPPENING NOW AND THEN BE GIVEN THE CHILD FRIENDLY CITY DESIGNATION DOES NOT COME. IT DOESN'T, IT DOESN'T SQUARE. IT JUST DOESN'T SQUARE. OKAY? [03:45:01] SO, UH, THIS WORKED ON BEHALF OF ALL OF OUR KIDS, AND THEN WE CAN MOVE FORWARD. OKAY? THAT'S MORE THAN ENOUGH THIS MORNING. AND, UH, WE ARE GOING TO MOVE FORWARD. NOW, BEAR IN MIND, NEXT WEEK IS A BREAK WEEK. AMEN. UM, BUT IF YOU FEEL NEED ARE COMPELLED TO COME TO THE HEART, SHOOT, UH, THE DOORS WILL BE OPEN AND, YOU KNOW, JUST SIT, COME AND MEDITATE. UM, [CONSENT AGENDA] ALL RIGHT, UH, NOW LET'S MOVE TO THE AGENDA RIGHT HERE, BECAUSE I WAS DOING, SORRY, MADAM SECRETARY, UNDER THE MISCELLANEOUS CATEGORY, ITEMS ONE THROUGH SEVEN NEED A MOTION. CASTEX TAYLOR, MOVE TO SECOND. THEY MOVED. AND SECOND ON NINE, ONE THROUGH SEVEN. DISCUSSION. DISCUSSION IN FAVOR, OPPOSED? GRANTED, UH, IF YOU ARE HERE, PLEASE, UH, STAND UP AND STEP FORWARD ON ITEM ONE IS THE ARTS ALLIANCE BOARD OF DIRECTORS. POSITION THREE IS ERIC BLACKWELL. FORD IS JUSTIN GOODWIN. AND THEN, UM, JUSTIN. OH, JUSTIN. HEY, JUSTIN. WE'RE DOING FINE. JUSTIN, UH, THANK YOU FOR YOUR WILLINGNESS TO SERVE ON THE ARTS ALLIANCE BOARD. VERY, VERY IMPORTANT, AS YOU KNOW. AND, UM, WE WANNA DO EVERYTHING WE CAN TO CONTINUE TO ELEVATE THE ARTS IN THE CITY OF HOUSTON. ABSOLUTELY. AND YOUR PRESENCE ON THAT BOARD WILL, WILL HELP OUT QUITE A BIT. SO, HOLD ON ONE SECOND. VICE MAYOR, CAST DICTATOR. THANK YOU JUSTIN, FOR YOUR WILLINGNESS TO SERVE ON THE BOARD. I'M VERY EXCITED WHEN I SAW YOUR NAME ON THE, UH, LIST OF APPOINTEES. UH, MAYOR COUNCIL, THIS IS MY LEADERSHIP. HOUSTON CLASSMATES BEST CLASS EVER. UH, OF COURSE, BEST CLASS EVER. UH, VERY EXCITED THAT YOU ARE, UM, GIVING UP YOUR TIME AND SERVICE TO CONTINUE TO MAKE HOUSTON BETTER. IT'S MY PLEASURE. UH, COUNCILMAN CISNEROS, JUSTICE, IT'S SO NICE TO MEET YOU EARLIER TODAY, MA'AM. UM, WELCOME TO THIS BOARD. IT'S AN AMAZING, POWERFUL, VERY IMPORTANT, UM, BOARD DOING IMPORTANT WORK. UM, I WANTED TO ALSO RECOGNIZE JOHN ABODE, THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF HOUSTON ARTS ALLIANCE. THANK YOU. CONGRATULATIONS. THANK YOU, JUSTIN. YOU WANNA JUST SAY HELLO? HELLO. JUSTIN GOODMAN, A PLEASURE TO BE HERE AND PLEASURE TO, TO CONTINUE SERVANT LEADERSHIP. THAT'S WHAT, THAT'S MY GUIDING COMPASS. SO THANK YOU ALL VERY MUCH. THANK YOU. APPRECIATE YOU. THANK Y'ALL. OKAY, ON POSITION TWO, UM, IT'S THE BUILDING AND STANDARDS COMMISSION. IF YOU'RE HERE, PLEASE STAND. UH, ONE IS JILL YAG, AND POSITION THREE IS DAVID DEW. JILL, LET ME THANK YOU, UH, FOR YOUR WILLINGNESS TO SERVE ON THE BUILDING AND STANDARDS COMMISSION. VERY, VERY IMPORTANT, UH, FOR US, AND YOUR PRESENCE WILL MAKE A HUGE DIFFERENCE. AND DAVID, UH, DAVID . GOOD MORNING, MAYOR. GOOD MORNING. IT'S GOOD TO SEE YOU AS WELL. GOOD TO SEE YOU. AND SO WE LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING WITH EACH ONE OF YOU. UM, JAY, YOU WANNA SAY GOOD MORNING TO US THIS MORNING? GOOD MORNING, MAYOR. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. UH, IT'S A PLEASURE AND AN HONOR TO BE HERE. UM, I LOOK FORWARD TO SERVING THE CITY OF HOUSTON, WHERE I HAVE BEEN A RESIDENT SINCE THE YEAR 2000 AFTER GRADUATING FROM LAW SCHOOL. I APPRECIATE THE OPPORTUNITY. LOOK FORWARD TO HELPING. THANK YOU. AND DAVID. GOOD MORNING, MAYOR. GOOD MORNING, CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS. IT'S MY HONOR TO BE HERE. IT'S MY HONOR TO BE APPOINTED AS A MEMBER OF, UH, BUILDING AND THE COMMISSIONS. I WILL, UH, I'M READY TO DO THE BEST I CAN TO CONTRIBUTE TO MY SERVICE AND TIME. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. WELL, I KNOW YOU BOTH WILL MAY BE, MAKE A HUGE CONTRIBUTION, AND WE LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING WITH YOU. OKAY. THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. ON POSITION THREE, WHICH IS THE HOUSTON FOOD INSECURITY BOARD. IF YOU'RE HERE, PLEASE STAND, COME FORWARD. SEVEN IS LUCY ORTEGA. 14 IS VANESSA LIPSKA, 16 IS LORENZO ANTHONY SALINAS, 17 IS CONNOR ROCK. AND AGAIN, UH, I WANT TO THANK YOU ALL FOR SERVING. AS YOU CAN SEE, IT'S NOT JUST MEMBERS OF CITY COUNCIL AND MYSELF, BUT IT ALSO INCLUDES, UH, PEOPLE LIKE YOURSELVES ON MANY OF THESE BOARD AND COMMISSIONS THAT ARE VITALLY IMPORTANT. ALL OF IT TAKES ALL OF US TO MAKE IT WORK. SO I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR YOUR WILLINGNESS TO SERVE. COUNCIL MEMBER THOMAS. THANK YOU. GOOD MORNING, COLLEAGUES. I JUST WANNA, UM, CONGRATULATE ALL OF YOU, ESPECIALLY VANESSA, FOR YOUR APPOINTMENT. THANK YOU FOR ACCEPTING. UM, VANESSA HAS BEEN DOING THIS WORK IN DISTRICT F FOR A VERY LONG TIME. HER AND HER HUSBAND, UM, THEY ARE CO-CEOS OF THE WOW PROJECT. AND SO, UM, JUST WANNA ACKNOWLEDGE HER INGENUITY AND THEN HER CONTRIBUTION TO THE HOUSTON FOOD INSECURITY BOARD WILL BE MEANINGFUL. AND SO LOOKING FORWARD TO YOUR CONTRIBUTION AND THE CONTRIBUTION OF EACH OF YOU. SO THANK YOU FOR YOUR WILLINGNESS TO SERVE. THANK YOU. COUNCILMAN POLLARD. THANK YOU, MAYOR. AND GOOD MORNING TO EVERYONE. I WANNA THANK EACH ONE OF YOU ALL FOR YOUR WILLINGNESS TO SERVE AS WELL. THIS IS A, A BOARD THAT WE CREATED A COUPLE YEARS AGO THAT HAS, UM, SOME OUTSTANDING MEMBERS ON THERE THAT WE THINK YOU ALL WILL MESH WELL WITH. THIS WAS A VERY COMPETITIVE, UH, PROCESS. YOU ALL HAVE VERY STRONG RESUMES, AND SO I LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING WITH YOU ALL. THANK YOU, COUNCIL [03:50:01] S THANK YOU, MAYOR. I TOO, JUST WANNA CONGRATULATE EVERYONE FOR SERVING THIS IMPORTANT BOARD. SO THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR TIME, UH, AND ESPECIALLY TO LUCY. I KNOW YOU REACHED OUT SAYING THAT YOU WANTED TO SERVE THE CITY OF HOUSTON. AND THANK YOU FOR, FOR REACHING OUT AND SERVING. THANK YOU. YOU WANT TO INTRODUCE YOURSELVES? SAY HELLO TO US. HI, I AM. UM, GOOD MORNING. I'M VANESSA LIPSCOMB. UM, THANK YOU ALL FOR ALLOWING ME TO SERVE, AND I WOULD REALLY LIKE TO GIVE A BIG THANK YOU TO COUNCIL MEMBER THOMAS FOR NOMINATING ME. UM, SHE AND HAS RECOGNIZED ME AND MY WORK IN A LEAF, SO I JUST WANTED TO SAY I APPRECIATE IT. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. LUCY. HELLO. HELLO. GOOD MORNING, UH, MAYOR, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER, THANK YOU FOR THE NOMINATION AND YOUR SUPPORT. AND I LOOK FORWARD TO PUTTING MY BACKGROUND IN NON-PROFIT, PUBLIC SERVICE, PHILANTHROPY, AND PUBLIC POLICY TO USE ON THIS BOARD. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. GREETINGS, EVERYONE. LORENZO SALINAS, I'M EXCITED TO SERVE ON THIS BOARD AND I'M MAINLY EXCITED TO SERVE THE PEOPLE OF HOUSTON. UH, WHEN I HEAR YOU TALK, MY ATTORNEY, WE MET AT THE YES, HOUSTON HISPANIC CHAMBERS OF COMMERCE. AND, UH, WHEN I HEAR YOU TALK, I JUST, I'D LIKE TO FIRE ME, YOU KNOW, AND I'M JUST EXCITED TO SERVE THE PEOPLE. THANK YOU. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. YES, SIR. GOOD MORNING. I'M CONNOR ROCK. THANK YOU FOR THE APPOINTMENT. UM, I'M REALLY LOOKING FORWARD TO SERVE AND AS PART OF THE L-G-B-T-Q POPULATION AND COMING HERE THROUGH THE CHA, THE L-G-B-T-Q CHAMBER OF COMMERCE, I'M EXCITED TO NOT ONLY END F FOOD INSECURITY FOR ALL HOUSTONIANS, BUT UH, ALSO OUR L-G-B-T-Q FRIENDS. THANK YOU ALL SO VERY MUCH. REALLY APPRECIATE YOU STEPPING UP. I LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING WITH YOU COLLECTIVELY TO MOVE HOUSTON FORWARD. SO THANK YOU VERY MUCH. OKAY, TO THE, UH, UM, NUMBER FOUR TO THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF THE HOUSTON DOWNTOWN MANAGEMENT DISTRICT. IF YOU ARE HERE, PLEASE STAND AND COME FORWARD. UH, TWO IS FRE REGGIE. SIX IS JOHN SCHAFER. UH, 14 IS SEAN LE. UH, 21 IS KELLY FOREMAN. UH, 24 IS RICHARD TORRES. 25 IS IRMA GALVAN 26 IS THE KEN KINDER BOND. GARDNER 27 IS ROBBIE JONES. 28 IS CHUNG CHI WANG. 29 IS ROLAND KENNEDY, AND 30 IS LACEY JACOBS. UH, LOOK, LET ME JUST SAY, WITH RESPECT TO THE DOWNTOWN MANAGEMENT DISTRICT, UM, IT SPEAKS FOR ITSELF AND THE IMPORTANCE OF IT AS GOES THE CORE, THE LITTLE HUB OF HOUSTON, SO GOES THE REST OF THE CITY OF HOUSTON, AND QUITE FRANKLY, THE REGION AS WELL. SO THE DOWNTOWN MANAGEMENT DISTRICT IS HIGHLY, HIGHLY, HIGHLY IMPORTANT. EVEN WHEN WE TALK ABOUT HOW WE ADDRESS THE NEEDS OF THE HOMELESS POPULATION, UH, THAT'S A CRITICAL COMPONENT. AND FOR THE PEOPLE WHO WORK HERE, UM, DO BUSINESS HERE, VISIT HERE, ALL THOSE THINGS. SO I DON'T HAVE TO SELL YOU ON IT. YOU HAVE ALREADY AGREED TO SERVE ON IT. SO WE LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING WITH YOU. COUNCILMAN GALLEGOS. THANK YOU, MAYOR. UH, AGAIN, I WANT TO THANK EVERYONE FOR Y'ALL'S WILLINGNESS TO SERVE AS A COUNCIL MEMBER THAT REPRESENTS MOST OF DOWNTOWN. UH, AS YOU KNOW, THE DOWNTOWN MANAGEMENT DISTRICT HAS DONE SOME AMAZING THINGS. UH, YOU KNOW, ABOUT 15, 20 YEARS AGO, UH, THERE WAS PARTS OF DOWNTOWN HOUSTON YOU WOULDN'T WANNA WALK INTO. UH, BUT Y'ALL HAVE DONE AN INCREDIBLE JOB. UH, SO THIS IS A GREAT BOARD. UH, AND AND THANK YOU RICHARD, FOR ALWAYS YOUR WILLINGNESS TO ALWAYS SERVE. UH, SO THANK YOU TO EVERYONE THAT'S WILLING TO SERVE. UH, AND THERE'S A LOT OF GOOD THINGS GOING TO BE HAPPENING SOON, AS YOU KNOW, WITH THE REALIGNMENT OF 45 AND WHAT HAVE YOU. UH, THERE'S THINGS THAT ARE GONNA BE CHANGING IN DOWNTOWN HOUSTON. UH, SO IT'S A GOOD TIME TO BE ON THIS BOARD TO CONTINUE IMPROVING OUR DOWNTOWN. SO, THANK YOU ALL. THANK YOU. AND PLEASE INTRODUCE YOURSELVES. GOOD MORNING. I'M F REGGIE, AND I WOULD JUST LIKE TO SAY THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO SERVE ON THE DOWNTOWN MANAGEMENT DISTRICT, AND, UH, GRATEFUL, UH, TO, TO, UH, FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO HELP IMPROVE, UH, CONTINUE TO IMPROVE THE DOWNTOWN AREA. THANK YOU, RICHARD. MAYOR, IT'S FUNNY. I, UH, I JOKE ABOUT ME NOT BEING GERARD, MY BROTHER. UH, EVERYBODY RECOGNIZES GERARD. I HAVE TO GET APPOINTED TO A BOARD FOR PEOPLE TO RECOGNIZE I HAVE MY OWN IDENTITY . BUT, UH, THANK Y'ALL SO MUCH FOR ALLOWING, UH, ME TO SERVE ON THIS DOWNTOWN MANAGEMENT DISTRICT BOARD. AS YOU'VE MENTIONED, IT IS AN IMPORTANT BOARD, UH, BUT THE WORK THAT'S BEING DONE IS SO CRITICALLY IMPORTANT. UM, THE CITY HAS ALWAYS BEEN SUPPORTIVE OF THE WORK THAT WE DO, WHETHER IT BE, UH, THROUGH PARTNERSHIPS, THROUGH FINANCING, UH, JUST THROUGH THE, THE LEVERAGE OF HAVING THE CITY SUPPORT WHAT WE DO. UM, AS, AS YOU MENTIONED, HAVING A STRONG CORE DOWNTOWN IS CRITICALLY IMPORTANT. UH, THERE STORIES OF, OF OTHER CITIES THAT HAVE, UH, SEEN THEIR CORE, UH, GO AWAY, ESSENTIALLY. UM, AND THOSE ARE DYING CITIES. UH, WE'RE NOT A DYING CITY. WE HAVE TO ADAPT. WE HAVE TO LOOK AT DOING THINGS DIFFERENTLY AND NEW, UH, YOU KNOW, WE'RE HAVING TO DEAL WITH THE CHALLENGES OF COVID AND BRINGING PEOPLE BACK INTO DOWNTOWN. SO THE WORK THAT, [03:55:01] UH, YOU AND THE CITY COUNCIL ARE DOING RELATED TO HOMELESSNESS, UH, TO THE LIBRARIES, UH, THOSE ARE REALLY IMPORTANT ISSUES. AND THEY'RE HELPFUL IN US BEING ABLE TO CARRY OUT, UH, OUR MISSION OF MAKING DOWNTOWN A DESTINATION FOR BOTH THE, UH, VISITORS AS WELL AS BUSINESSES. SO, THANK YOU SO MUCH. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. TELL GERARD TO SAY HELLO, . THANK YOU SO VERY MUCH. THANK YOU. UH, NOW TO THE, UH, THE NORTH HOUSTON DISTRICT, FORMERLY KNOWN AS THE GREENSPOINT, UH, DISTRICT OF HARRIS COUNTY. UH, IF YOU ARE HERE, PLEASE STAND AND COME FORWARD. UH, 12 IS STEVE MOORE. UH, 13 IS MELANIE K DOUGLAS. UH, 14 IS MICHELLE WOGAN. UH, 15 IS ABEL GARZA. 16 IS KAILYN BELLEN 17 IS MICHAEL A CA SKEE. AND 18 IS ELLE DART HART, JR. UH, UH, COUNCILOR MO JACKSON. THANK YOU MAYOR. AND I WANTED TO CONGRATULATE EVERYONE FOR THEIR REAPPOINTMENT, ESPECIALLY YOU, MR. MOORE. THANK YOU. UM, JUST FOR YOUR CONTINUED LEADERSHIP, UM, IN THE GREENSPOINT AREA, I'M REALLY EXCITED ABOUT, UM, THIS MANAGEMENT DISTRICT. I MEAN, WE, YOU GUYS HAVE BEEN DOING SOME GREAT WORK. I MEAN, WE ACTUALLY HAVE THE SECOND LARGEST SKATE PARK, UM, IN THE WORLD, IN OUR, IN OUR DISTRICT. AND SO I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO, UM, YOU KNOW, EN EN ENHANCING OTHER, YOU KNOW, OTHER, CREATING OTHER OPPORTUNITIES LIKE GREENS POINT MALL. AND SO, UM, JUST THANK YOU. YOU, YOU'VE BEEN A, UM, FIERCE ADVOCATE FOR, UM, JUST DEVELOPMENT, ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, JUST THINGS TO IMPROVE GREENS POINT MALL. SO THANK YOU. THANK YOU. AND COUNCILMAN, COUNCILMAN P*****K. THANK YOU MAYOR. AND STEVE, I ALSO WANT TO, UH, THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE. THANK YOU FOR YOUR WILLINGNESS TO SERVE. UH, YOU'RE ALL OVER THE CITY DOING A LOT, AND, UH, WE APPRECIATE YOUR CONTRIBUTIONS. GOD BLESS YOU. COUNCILMAN THOMAS. UH, THANK YOU, MAYOR TURNER. UH, AND JUST TO COUPLE YOUR COMMENTS ABOUT, UM, YOUNG PEOPLE IN THE CITY. UH, MR. MOORE, UM, OWNED SEVERAL PROPERTIES IN THE A LEAF AREA AND ACTUALLY PIONEERED THE COME PROGRAM WHEN I WAS ON THE SCHOOL BOARD FOR AIF, ISD. UM, HE WAS ONE OF THE, UH, PROPERTY OWNERS THAT UNDERSTOOD THAT WE STABILIZED KIDS. HE OFFERED UP A UNIT IN HIS, UH, APARTMENT COMPLEX WHERE PARENTS COULD TRAIN, UH, SUPPORT STUDENTS AFTER SCHOOL. AND THAT MODEL HAS CONTINUED ON TODAY, WHICH IS VERY POPULAR, AND WE SUPPORT THEM THROUGH CASE FOR KIDS. SO THANK YOU FOR WHATEVER SERVICE YOU'RE DOING IN THE CITY. I KNOW THAT IT'S MEANINGFUL AND JUST APPRECIATE YOUR VISION AND YOU'RE WILLING TO COLLABORATE. THANKS. YOU WANNA SAY HELLO? MAY. THANK YOU ALL. I KNOW YOU ALL SPENT COUNTLESS HOURS. UH, THE COMET PROGRAM WAS THE FIRST, AND IT'S STILL, IT'S FREE, TOTALLY FREE. AND WE'D STILL ARE SERVING DOZENS OF KIDS. UM, I, UH, I'D, I'D JUST LIKE TO SHARE WITH YOU THAT, UH, THAT, UH, I BELIEVE HOUSTON'S FUTURE, UH, UH, PERHAPS MORE THAN ALMOST ANYTHING, DEPENDS NOT ON JUST BEING A CHILD FRIENDLY COMMUNITY, BUT A, A CHILD EFFECTIVE, UH, COMMUNITY, ESPECIALLY FOR THE AT RISK, UH, KIDS. AND I, UH, HOPE TO BE SPENDING A LOT OF MY TIME HELPING, HELPING THAT TO, TO, TO BE. SO THANK YOU, YOU, STEVE, LOOK TO WORKING WITH YOU. LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING WITH YOU. THANK YOU. AND THEN LASTLY, UH, TO THE NEAR NORTHWEST MANAGEMENT DISTRICT, UH, THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS, IF YOU ARE PRESENT, PLEASE STAND AND COME FORWARD. UH, FIVE IS UPAL GARAL. UH, SIX IS JAY SHAWNEE. SEVEN IS JERRY M. YOUNG. EIGHT IS QUENTIN WRIGHT, AND 10 IS DI REMS. DAN KINNEY, UH, AH, DR. WRIGHT, HOW YOU DOING? GOOD, GOOD TO SEE YOU. HOW DOING HEAD OF THE, UH, LONE STAR NORTH CAMPUS? I REALLY APPRECIATE YOU, UH, SERVING ON THE NEAR NORTHWEST MANAGEMENT DISTRICT. WE ALREADY KNOW, UH, THE LEADERSHIP THAT YOU ARE PROVIDING, UH, FOR LONG STAR COMMUNITY COLLEGE AND YOUR COMMUNITY, UH, ACTIVISM, PARTICIPATION, EVEN BEYOND, UH, THE WALLS OF LONG STAR. UH, SO YOUR PRESENCE ON THIS NEAR NORTHWEST MANAGEMENT DISTRICT, UH, WILL MAKE A HUGE DIFFERENCE. AND OF COURSE, IT COMES ALONG WITH LONG STAR AS WELL. SO THANK YOU FOR YOUR WILLINGNESS TO SERVE COUNCILMAN P. THANK YOU, MAYOR, AND THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR CONTINUING TO SERVE ON THE NEAR NORTHWEST MANAGEMENT DISTRICT BOARD. UM, WE HAVE SO MANY GREAT THINGS HAPPENING IN THAT GENERAL AREA WITH THE INWOOD FOREST DETENTION BASIN PROJECT, ANTOINE, CHATEAU FOREST. I MEAN, THERE'S SO MANY GREAT THINGS HAPPENING IN THAT WHOLE AREA, AND SO BUSINESSES I THINK ARE REALLY GONNA START COMING INTO THAT AREA, EVEN MORE SO. AND SO, JUST REALLY EXCITING THINGS HAPPENING IN THAT AREA. SO THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR CONTINUING TO SERVE DR. WRIGHT. LISTEN, OH, I WANT TO THANK YOU, MAYOR TURNER, TO THE CITY COUNCIL. UH, MY NAME IS QUINN WRIGHT. I HAVE THE PLEASURE OF SERVING AS THE PRESIDENT OF LONE STAR COLLEGE COMMUNITY, UH, HOUSTON NORTH, WHICH IS IN COUNCIL MEMBER JACKSON, AND COUNCIL MEMBER PS DISTRICT. UH, AS A COLLEGE PRESIDENT, WE HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO SERVE THE COMMUNITY THROUGH EDUCATION AND WORKFORCE TRAINING, BUT I APPRECIATE THE OPPORTUNITY TO SERVE [04:00:01] ON THIS BOARD SO THAT WAY WE CAN SUPPORT ACCESSIBILITY, SAFETY, AND SECURITY, KEEPING THE AREAS ATTRACTING AND SO FORTH. SO, THANK YOU ALL FOR ALLOWING ME TO SERVE. THANK YOU. LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING WITH YOU. YES, SIR. AS YOU CAN SEE, WE'VE GOT SOME GOOD PEOPLE WHO ARE STEPPING UP. MM-HMM . AND A LOT OF GOOD PEOPLE THAT WE CAN WORK WITH. AND I, I THINK THAT'S WHAT, UM, KEEPS THIS CITY MOVING IN A VERY POSITIVE DIRECTION. SO LET ME THANK EVERYBODY FOR THEIR, FOR SAYING YES. UH, AND NOT KNOWING IF YOU SAID NO, WE'RE GONNA COME BACK TO YOU TO GET YOU TO SAY YES, . ALRIGHT. HAVING SAID THAT, MADAM SECRETARY, STILL WITH YOU. OKAY. UNDER THE ACCEPT WORK CATEGORY, ITEMS EIGHT THROUGH 14 NEED A MOTION, CASTEX TATUM, MOVED TO SECOND, IT'S BEEN MOVED. AND SECOND ON ITEMS EIGHT THROUGH 14. DISCUSSION, DISCUSSION IN FAVOR, OPPOSED GRANTED UNDER THE PROPERTY CATEGORY. ITEM 15 HAS BEEN REMOVED. SEPARATE CONSIDERATION UNDER THE PURCHASING AND TABULATION OF CATEGORY. ITEM 16 THROUGH 22. NEED A MOTION, MOVE TO SECOND AND MOVE AND SECOND ON ITEM 16 THROUGH 18. DISCUSSION. DISCUSSION IN FAVOR OF POST GRANTED UNDER THE ORDINANCES, CATEGORY ITEMS MOVE SEPARATE CONSIDERATION. 23, 24, 26, 27 AND 30. THOSE NUMBERS AGAIN ARE 23, 24, 26, 27, AND 30. NEED A VOTE ON THE BALANCE. DISCUSSION, DISCUSSION, DISCUSSION IN FAVOR OF OPPOSED AND GRANTED [CONSIDERATION OF MATTERS REMOVED FROM CONSENT AGENDA] ITEMS REMOVED FOR SEPARATE CONSIDERATION. ITEM 15, NEEDS A MOTION CAST. TATUM MOVED UPON. SECOND. YOU ON ITEM 15, COUNCIL MEMBER PACK ON ITEM 15. THANK YOU, MAYOR. I'D LIKE TO TAG THIS ITEM PLEASE. ITEM 15 HAS BEEN TAGGED BY COUNCILMAN PAT. ITEM 23 IS AN ORDINANCE. JUST NEED A VOTE. WE ON ITEM, UH, 23, DISCUSSION ON 23. DISCUSSION ON 23 IN FAVOR. OPPOSE GRANTED ON 23. ITEM 24 IS AN ORDINANCE. JUST NEED A VOTE. WE ON ITEM 24, DISCUSSION ON 24. DISCUSSION ON 24 IN FAVOR. OPPOSE GRANTED ON 24. ITEM 26 IS AN ORDINANCE. JUSTINE TO VOTE. WE ARE ON ITEM 26. AND LEMME JUST SAY RESPECT TO ITEM 26 AND 27. UH, THESE IS A CONSTRUCTION OF, UH, FIRE STATIONS, UM, AT BOTH HOBBY AND AT INTERCONTINENTAL. UM, SO IT'S, UH, THE DOLLARS ARE COMING, UH, THROUGH THE AIRPORT ENTERPRISE SYSTEM AS PART OF THEIR CIP PROGRAM. UH, BUT THESE WILL BE NEW FIRE STATIONS AT BOTH OF THESE LOCATIONS, UH, FOR A TOTAL AMOUNT OF ABOUT $40 MILLION. I WANT TO UNDERSCORE, UH, WHAT WE ARE DOING FOR, UH, FIREFIGHTERS, THE FIRE DEPARTMENT, AND ULTIMATELY FOR THE CITY AS A WHOLE. SO THESE ARE TWO BIG ITEMS, UH, THAT ARE COMING THROUGH. UH, ANY DISCUSSION ON ITEM 26, DISCUSSION IN FAVOR, OPPOSED GRANTED ON 26. ITEM 27 IS AN ORDINANCE. JUST NEED TO VOTE ANY, UH, DISCUSSION ON 27. DISCUSSION ON 27 IN FAVOR. OPPOSED? GRANTED ON 27. ITEM 30 IS AN ORDINANCE. JUST NEED TO VOTE YOU ON ITEM 30. COUNCIL MEMBER GALLEGOS ON ITEM 30. THANK YOU, MAYOR. UM, FIRST OF ALL, I'D LIKE TO, UH, READ SOMETHING ON BEHALF OF COUNCIL MEMBER CAYMAN. SHE'S OUT WITH COV. AND THEN I'D LIKE TO BE PLACED BACK INTO THE QUEUE SO I CAN MAKE MY COMMENTS. SURE. AGAIN, THIS IS FROM COUNCIL MEMBER CAYMAN, WHO IS OUT WITH COVID AND ASK ME TO READ HER STANCE ON THIS VOTE. SHE TAKES SERIOUSLY, THE DUTY TO ENSURE OUR ECONOMY IS THRIVING. AND THANKS HOUSTON FIRST STAFF BOARD AND THE HOST COMMITTEE FOR THEIR HARD WORK, BRINGING CONVENTIONS HERE, INCLUDING THIS ONE. BUT RIGHT NOW, THE POSITION OF THE STATE'S REPUBLICAN PARTY IN THEIR PLATFORM TO THIS DAY STATES THAT TEXAS RETAINS THE RIGHT TO SECEDE FROM THE UNITED STATES. THEIR PLATFORM SAYS HOMOSEXUALITY IS AN ABNORMAL LIFESTYLE CHOICE. THEY CALL FOR THE TOTAL REPEAL OF THE VOTING RIGHTS ACT. THEY DENY WOMEN THE RIGHT TO CHOOSE. AND THAT CARBON DIOXIDE IS THE DR THAT DR THE DRIVING FORCE OF CLIMATE CHANGE IS NOT A POLLUTANT. THE PLATFORM EXPLICITLY DENIES THE LEGITIMACY OF THE 2020 PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION, AND THEIR PRESUMPTIVE PRESIDENTIAL NOMINEE WAS THE LEADER OF THE INSURRECTION. [04:05:02] ANY ORGANIZATION HAS THE RIGHT TO ENJOY ALL THAT OUR CITY HAS TO OFFER, AND THEY SHOULD, BUT SHE CANNOT IN GOOD CONSCIOUS SUPPORT WHEN LARGE NUMBERS IN DISTRICT C RESIDENTS ARE BEING IMPACTED BY THE EXPLICIT BIGOTRY THAT'S BEEN EMBRACED BY A SMALL BUT LOUD FACTION. A FACTION THAT DOES NOT NECESSARILY REPRESENT JUST CONSERVATIVE VALUES, BUT IS CONTROLLING IN THIS STATE'S NONETHELESS. NOW, I'D LIKE TO ALSO MAKE COMMENTS ON THIS VOTE. I'M PROUD TO SIT ON HOUSTON FIRST BOARD WITH MY COLLEAGUE, MAYOR PRO TEM MARTIN, AND THE MAJORITY OF THE VENUES THAT HOUSTON FIRST IS RESPONSIBLE FOR ARE LOCATED IN DISTRICT. I AND I TOO WANNA THANK HOUSTON FIRST AND WHAT THEY DO TO BRING CONVENTIONS TO OUR CITY. IT IS A WONDERFUL WAY TO PROMOTE OUR CITY AND SHOWCASE WHO WE ARE AND WHAT WE HAVE TO OFFER. HOWEVER, AS THE MOST DIVERSE CITY IN THE NATION, WHAT WE DON'T WANT IS TO SHOWCASE THE BIGOTRY AND HATEFUL SPEECHES ON CITY PROPERTY. DURING THE RNC IN 2028, MARTIN LUTHER KING SAID, THE ULTIMATE MEASURE OF A MAN IS NOT WHERE HE STANDS IN MOMENTS OF COMFORT AND CONVENIENCE, BUT WHERE HE STANDS AT TIMES OF CHALLENGE AND CONTROVERSY. WE ARE HERE TODAY AT A TIME OF CHALLENGE AND CONTROVERSY WHEN OUR DEMOCRACY IS AT STAKE AS THE MOST DIVERSE CITY IN THE NATION, OUR RESIDENTS DESERVE. FOR THE CITY COUNCIL TO STAND UP AGAINST THIS HATEFUL RHETORIC USED TO PASS FEDERAL AND STATE LAWS AGAINST INDIVIDUAL RIGHTS AND FREEDOMS. I AM VOTING NO FOR HOSTING THE 2028 RNC. AND THIS DECISION IS NOT A POLITICAL DECISION. THIS DECISION IS MORE IMPORTANT THAN POLITICS. IT'S ABOUT THE RIGHT THING TO DO ABOUT LETTING HOUSTONIANS, TEXANS, AMERICANS, AND PEOPLE AROUND THE WORLD KNOW THAT HOUSTON STANDS FOR. BUT MORE IMPORTANTLY, WHAT IT DOES NOT STAND FOR, I CANNOT IN GOOD CONSCIENCE VOTE IN FAVOR OF HAVING A CONVENTION THAT PROMOTES AND SPEWS BIGOTRY, HATE RACISM, HUMAN RIGHTS VIOLATIONS AGAINST MIGRANTS DENYING WOMEN LIFE-SAVING MEDICAL CARE, TARGETING THE RIGHTS OF THE L-G-B-T-Q COMMUNITY PASSING, RESTRICTIVE VOTING LAWS, ATTEMPTING TO OVER THROW FREE AND FAIR ELECTIONS, TAKING LOCAL AUTONOMY TO GOVERN AND TO REMOVING TWO AFRICAN AMERICAN LEGISLATURES FROM THE TENNESSEE LEGIS LEGISLATURE SOLELY FOR SPEAKING UP. WE ARE NOT A SANCTUARY CITY FOR THE DIVISIVE IDEOLOGY OF THE RNC, NOR FOR A GATHERING OF THOSE WHO WISH TO SPREAD IT. AND I WILL NOT SELL HOUSTON'S AND OUR NATION'S PERSONAL RIGHTS AND FREEDOMS FOR THE CONVENTION DOLLARS. THIS CITY SURVIVED THE COVID EMIA WITHOUT A SINGLE CONVENTION. AND THIS GREAT CITY CAN CERTAINLY WEATHER NOT HAVING THE 2028 RNCI VOTE NO, NOT ON MY WATCH. THANK YOU. THANK YOU, COUNCIL MEMBER GALLEGOS, AND, UH, MUCH OF WHAT YOU HAVE EXPRESSED I, I CAN AGREE WITH. UM, BUT LEMME JUST SAY, UH, TELL YOU WHERE, WHERE I AM ON THIS ISSUE. UM, AND AS YOU ALL KNOW, I, I WENT AND TRAVELED, UH, WHEN WE WERE TRYING TO GET THE DEMOCRATIC NATIONAL CONVENTION TO THE CITY OF HOUSTON. UM, WENT TO, I THINK IT WAS IN DC AND TRIED TO GET THEM, UH, HERE. IN FACT, UM, I'VE GONE TWICE, UH, TO TRY TO GET THE DNC HERE TWICE. UM, AND IT HAS COME BEFORE THE CITY COUNCIL, UH, AND WE HAVE VOTED. UM, AND IN FACT, UH, IT WAS A BIPARTISAN VOTE TO BRING THE DNC HERE. UM, [04:10:01] AND I AM SURE, UM, THAT, UM, NOT EVERYBODY FULLY AGREED WITH EVERYTHING WITHIN THE DNC'S PLATFORM, BUT IT WAS A BIPARTISAN POSITION. UM, AND NOW HERE COMES THE REPUBLICAN NATIONAL CONVENTION. UM, AND THEY CAME TO TOWN AND I, AND I WENT AND SPOKE TO THEIR SITE SELECTION COMMITTEE AND HIGHLIGHTED THE IMPORTANCE, UH, OF OUR CITY IN TERMS OF OUR SERVICES, OUR AMENITIES, WHAT WE HAVE TO OFFER, UH, THE HOTELS, ALL OF THOSE THINGS. UH, THAT IS WHAT I PRESENTED AND THAT IS WHAT I SOLD. UH, I DID NOT INCORPORATE, UH, UH, THE VIEWS, UH, THE POLICIES OF THE RNC, UM, BUT I DID PRESENT THAT THIS IS A CITY THAT IS GOOD AT HOSTING, UH, EVENTS. AND WE ARE GOOD AT HOSTING EVENTS. UH, AND WHETHER IT IS THE DNC, THE DEMOCRATIC NATIONAL CONVENTION, OR THE REPUBLICAN NATIONAL CONVENTION, OR ANY OTHER CONVENTIONAL CONFERENCE THAT COMES, IT DOES NOT MEAN THAT WE ARE ADOPTING THEIR THOUGHTS, THEIR POLICIES, THEIR VALUES, UH, BUT WE ARE, UM, UH, A CITY THAT'S HIGHLY DIVERSE. UH, AND, UH, AND JUST LIKE I, WE WENT AFTER ONE, WE WENT AFTER THE OTHER, AND NOW IT IS TIME FOR US TO, TO VOTE ON HAVING THEM COME TO THE COME TO THE CITY OF HOUSTON. UM, I HAVE MY CONCERNS, AS YOU ALL KNOW, I DON'T THINK I HAVE TO GO DOWN THE LIST. WE DON'T AGREE ON EVERYTHING WITHIN THEIR, WITHIN THEIR, WITHIN THEIR PLATFORMS. BUT IN, WHEN IT COMES TO HOSTING THESE CONVENTIONS, UH, THAT IS WHAT IS BEFORE US. I DON'T THINK IT MEANS, UH, THAT WE ADOPT THEIR VALUES. UH, BUT IT DOES SAY THAT WE DO HAVE A CITY, UH, THAT CAN HOST PEOPLE WITH VERY DIFFERENT VIEWS AND EVEN, UH, VIEWS THAT SOMETIMES THAT, UM, WE MAY FIND IT HARD TO, UH, STOMACH OR AGREE WITH. UH, AND THAT IS WHAT IS BEFORE US TODAY. I DO APPRECIATE MICHAEL HECKMAN AS PRESIDENT OF CEO THAT'S, UH, HERE WITH US. AND DAVID MINTZBERG, CHAIRMAN OF THE BOARD. I THINK THIS ISSUE WAS THOROUGHLY VETTED, UH, AT HOUSTON. FIRST, I DO BELIEVE, IF I'M NOT MISTAKEN, IT WAS PRETTY MUCH A UNANIMOUS DECISION, UH, WITH HOUSTON FIRST. UM, AND SO IT IS NOW BEFORE US, OUR ASSEMBLY ASK BE, WE HAVE TO BE VERY, VERY, VERY CAREFUL WHEN WE REJECT ANY CONFERENCE OR CONVENTION, UH, BECAUSE WE MAY NOT AGREE. I THINK WE HAVE TO BE VERY, VERY, VERY CAREFUL WITH THAT. SO I DON'T TAKE A ANYTHING COUNCILMAN THAT YOU'VE SAID. YOU KNOW, 99% OF THE TIME WE ARE ON THE SAME. WE'RE ON THE SAME PAGE. AND WITH RESPECT TO A LOT OF THE SUBSTANCE THAT YOU'VE TALKED ABOUT, WE ARE STILL ON THE SAME PAGE. WE ARE STILL ON THE SAME PAGE. AND I RESPECT YOU FOR YOUR VIEW AND, UM, AND, UM, AND THE THINGS YOU HAVE TO SAY. BUT I WILL ASK THIS COUNCIL TO SUPPORT THIS ITEM. UH, UM, BECAUSE I DO BELIEVE, UH, THAT WHEN IT COMES TO THESE PARTY CONVENTIONS, UM, THAT AS WE WOULD SEEK TO HOST ONE, WE ALSO SHOULD ALSO SEEK TO HOST THEM BOTH. OTHERWISE, WE SHOULD JUST MAKE A DECISION THAT WE'RE NOT GONNA HOST ANY CONVENTION AT ALL AND NOT EVEN GET INTO THE BUSINESS OF HOSTING CONVENTIONS. UH, BUT IT WOULD BE HYPOCRITICAL OF ME AS THE MAYOR TO AGGRESSIVELY GO AFTER ONE AND TO GO THUMBS DOWN ON THE OTHER. AND QUITE FRANKLY, SINCE CITY COUNCIL DID VOTE ON THE ONE IN A BIPARTISAN WAY, I THINK WOULD BE HYPOCRITICAL FOR US NOT TO SHOW THE SAME DEGREE OF RESPECT ON THIS ONE. OKAY. ANY OTHER DISCUSSION? THIS ITEM PREPARED TO VOTE IN FAVOR OPPOSED NO SHOW COUNCIL MEMBER VOTING? NO. AND ITEM PASSES. UH, LEMME JUST SAY TO MICHAEL HECKMAN AND TO, TO CHAIRMAN BERG. ANY COMMENTS THAT YOU ALL WOULD LIKE TO MAKE ON THIS ITEM? YEP. THANK YOU MAYOR. THANK YOU. MEMBERS OF COUNCIL. UM, YES, THIS WAS, UH, VERY THOROUGHLY VETTED BY HOUSTON FIRST. UH, WE WENT AFTER THIS CONVENTION AS WE WENT, GO AFTER ALL CONVENTIONS. UH, I WOULD ALSO EXPRESS MY ACCORD WITH MANY OF THE SENTIMENTS EXPRESSED BY, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER GALLEGOS AND THANK HIM FOR HIS SERVICE ON OUR BOARD. UH, AND MAYOR, UH, FOR YOUR SENTIMENTS AS WELL. WE'RE IN THE BUSINESS OF BRINGING CONVENTIONS AND VISITORS TO THIS CITY AND THIS CONVENTION. UH, IF WE'RE SUCCESSFUL IN GETTING THE RNC TO COME HERE, WE'LL BRING THOUSANDS AND THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE [04:15:01] TO HOUSTON AT A TIME OF YEAR WHERE WE DON'T NORMALLY GET THOUSANDS AND THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE IN AUGUST OF 2028. IT'LL, UH, HAVE AN ENORMOUS ECONOMIC BENEFIT. AND THEN ON TOP OF THAT, MAYOR AND COUNCIL MEMBERS, UH, IT WILL HAVE NOT TENS OF THOUSANDS, NOT HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS, BUT MILLIONS OF EYEBALLS FROM AROUND THE WORLD ON THE CITY OF HOUSTON FOR SEVERAL DAYS IN A ROW. THIS IS A GREAT ECONOMIC BOON, POTENTIAL BOON TO THE CITY. UH, HOUSTON FIRST, MICHAEL HECKMAN, UH, NATHAN TALLETT AND OTHERS WHO ARE HERE TODAY, UH, HAVE DONE A PHENOMENAL JOB OF GOING AFTER THIS BUSINESS, AS WITH ALL OTHER PIECES OF BUSINESS. AND, UH, MAYOR, I REMEMBER WHEN YOU SPOKE TO THE RNCI WAS UP ON THAT PODIUM WITH YOU. I REMEMBER YOU AND I MADE A TRIP TO WASHINGTON DC FOR, FOR THE DNC. AND OUR BUSINESS IS TO TRY TO BRING AS MUCH CONVENTION BUSINESS, AS MUCH FOCUS ON THE CITY AS POSSIBLE. SO THANK YOU FOR YOUR HELP AND SUPPORT. THANK YOU COUNCIL MEMBERS FOR YOUR HELP AND SUPPORT. UM, AND MICHAEL. GREAT. THANK YOU MR. CHAIRMAN. AND THANK YOU ALWAYS FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP. HOUSTON FIRST AND, AND, AND THE TERRIFIC WORKING RELATIONSHIP WE HAVE TO TO TO GO MARKET HOUSTON ALL OVER THE WORLD. MAYOR, THANK YOU COUNCIL MEMBER. IT'S GREAT TO SEE YOU THIS MORNING. UM, UH, IT, IT IS TERRIFIC TO BE HERE, UH, TO SEE YOU ALL. UH, I WON'T GO OVER A LOT OF THE SAME GROUND THAT, THAT, THAT DAVID DID. UM, IT IS A SIGNIFICANT PIECE OF BUSINESS. UM, WE PUT OUR SHOULDER BEHIND THIS EFFORT, UH, MUCH THE SAME THAT WE DID WITH THE DNC MAYOR. I WANNA THANK YOU FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP IN WELCOMING THEM HERE. UH, THEY'VE HAD SUBSEQUENT VISITS AS WELL WHERE YOU'VE PERSONALLY MADE TIME TO MEET WITH THEM. UM, THE RNC, UH, FOR EITHER ONE OF THE PARTIES, UH, HAS MADE THE DECISION TO, UH, SELECT A HOST CITY A CYCLE OUT. THIS IS THEIR FIRST TIME TO DO THAT. THEY'VE MADE THE BUSINESS DECISION TO DO THAT. THEY'RE TRYING TO TAKE POLITICS OUT OF THE DECISION MAKING PROCESS. I THINK IT SAYS A LOT ABOUT HOUSTON, ABOUT OUR LEADERSHIP HERE, UH, THAT THEY HAVE THE CONFIDENCE, UH, TO SELECT A CITY, UH, ESSENTIALLY FIVE YEARS OUT FROM WHEN THEY WOULD, THEY WOULD HOST IT. YOU KNOW, WE MADE THE PITCH TO THE RNC MUCH THE SAME AS WE DID TO THE DNC. WE'RE A DIVERSE, INCLUSIVE CITY. WE DIDN'T CHANGE OUR TALKING POINTS. WE ARE A GET IT DONE CITY. WE HAVE TREMENDOUS LEADERSHIP. WE HAVE TREMENDOUS HOSPITALITY. UM, AND, AND, AND THAT IS THE PITCH THAT WE MADE TO BOTH, AND FRANKLY, TO ALL OF OUR CONVENTIONS THAT WE ARE, UM, MARKETING AND PROMOTING AND SELLING TO ALL THROUGHOUT THE YEAR, UM, EVERY, UM, UM, EVERY DAY OF THE YEAR. SO, UM, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER GALLEGOS, THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE ON OUR BOARD. I APPRECIATE YOUR COMMENTS THIS MORNING. UM, UH, AND, YOU KNOW, HAVE A DEEP RESPECT FOR, FOR YOU AND YOUR VIEWS. UM, MEMBERS OF COUNCIL, THANK YOU FOR YOUR VOTE THIS MORNING. MAYOR, THANK YOU AGAIN FOR YOUR, FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP. UH, I KNOW THAT IT STRUCK THEM, UM, YOU KNOW, UH, WHEN THEY LOOK AT AT, AT A CITY, THEY LOOK AT THE LEADERSHIP, UH, AND, AND WHAT IS GONNA BE SET FORWARD. UH, AND AS WE'VE BEEN WORKING THROUGH THE DOCUMENTS AND OTHER THINGS, UH, IN, IN ANTICIPATION OF, OF, OF, OF A SELECTION, UH, ANNOUNCEMENT FOR THEIR HOST CITY LATER THIS MONTH, THAT MEANT A LOT. UH, THIS CITY HAS COME TOGETHER LIKE WE NORMALLY DO, UH, AND THAT HAS STRUCK THEM AS WELL. SO, UM, THANK YOU, UH, FOR HAVING US HERE THIS MORNING. THANK YOU FOR, FOR, FOR THIS ITEM. UM, MAYOR, APPRECIATE IT. THANK YOU, MAYOR. MORNING. YES, THANK YOU MAYOR. AND THANK YOU GENTLEMEN. AND MY FIRST COMMENTS IS I TOTALLY RESPECT, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER GALLEGOS AND HIS VIEWS. I ENJOY WORKING WITH HIM AROUND THE HORSESHOE, AND I ENJOY WORKING WITH HIM AT HOUSTON FIRST. UH, HOUSTON FIRST REPRESENTS ONE OF THE MOST DIVERSE BOARDS THAT WE HAVE IN THE CITY OF HOUSTON. I WOULD GARNER TO SAY THAT WE PROBABLY, IF YOU LOOK AT POLITICAL AFFILIATIONS, HAVE MORE DEMOCRATS ON THE BOARD SINCE, UH, OVER REPUBLICANS. AND WE VETTED THIS VERY CLOSELY. AND IN AUGUST, EVERYBODY KNOWS WHEN THEY WALK OUTSIDE, IT'S NOT A COMFORTABLE FEELING. IT'S PROBABLY 103 DEGREES TODAY INTO ATTRACT A CONVENTION OF THIS MAGNITUDE, WHETHER IT'S THE DEMOCRATS, THE REPUBLICANS, OR THE INDEPENDENT CONVENTIONS. IT'S A BOOM FOR THE CITY FROM A FINANCIAL ASPECT. AND IN CONTRACTING A CONVENTION IN AUGUST WHEN IT'S THAT HOT OUTSIDE IS EVEN A BIGGER BOOM BECAUSE OUR STRUGGLE IN CONVENTION BUSINESSES DURING OUR SUMMER MONTHS BECAUSE IT'S SO HOT IN THE CITY OF HOUSTON. BUT, UH, WE ALWAYS RESPECT EACH OTHER'S VIEWS AROUND THIS HORSESHOE AND, AND AT HOUSTON FIRST. AND I'M PROUD TO SUPPORT THIS INITIATIVE, AND I'M PROUD OF THE WORK THAT HOUSTON FIRST DOES DAY IN AND DAY OUT. IT WILL, IT WAS A TREMENDOUS, UH, SITE VISIT AND I THINK THEY WALKED AWAY. UM, DON'T WANT BE TOO OVERLY AGGRESSIVE ON THAT, WITH A STRONG FEELING THAT THE CITY OF HOUSTON IS THE BEST PLACE TO HOLD THIS IN 2028. AND I'M VERY PROUD TO REPRESENT THAT ORGANIZATION. I'M VERY PROUD TO TAKE THAT VOTE TODAY, AND I THINK IT'LL BE A GREAT CONVENTION AND WE'LL DO A GREAT JOB IN THE CITY. SO KUDOS TO HOUSTON FIRST, AND, UH, WE LOOK FORWARD TO 2028. THANK YOU. [04:20:01] GOD BLESS. THANK YOU. WELL, LET'S SEE WHAT HAPPENS ON UNFOLD. THIS, UH, JUST, UH, WAS OUR STATEMENT OF SU SUPPORT TO HAVING IT HERE. AND THEN WE'LL SEE WHAT THE ULTIMATE DECISION WILL BE. AND MAYOR, IF I MAY, UH, IN RESPONSE TO, UH, UH, MAYOR PRO TEM MARTIN'S REMARK ABOUT REPRESENTING THE CITY, HE VELEY REPRESENTED YOU AND THE CITY AS, AS WELL AS COUNCIL MEMBER GALLEGOS AT THE WHITE HOUSE ON MONDAY. AND, UH, I HAVE A FEW PICTURES TO SHARE WITH YOU LATER ON THAT PLEASE DON'T. YEAH, I TRIED TO GET THE WHITE HOUSE TO POSTPONE THAT AT A TIME THAT I COULD HAVE CAN, BUT I WAS TURNED DOWN . BUT NO, IT SEEMED LIKE A GREAT TIME WAS HAD BY, HAD BY ALL, AND IT MOTIVATED THE ASTROS TO COME FROM BEHIND, UH, LAST NIGHT OVER THE OREOS AND, AND WIN THAT GAME. SO, ABSOLUTELY, GOOD THINGS ARE HAPPENING ALL OVER THE PLACE. THANK YOU ALL VERY MUCH. APPRECIATE YOUR LEADERSHIP. THANK YOU. THANK YOU, MAYOR. OKAY, NEXT ITEM, [NON-CONSENT - MISCELLANEOUS] ITEM 43 IS A MOTION TO SET A PUBLIC HEARING DATE REGARDING THE ADOPTION OF ARTICLE 12, CHAPTER 32, CODE OF AVOIDANCE TO CITY OF HOUSTON REGARDING STANDARDS OF CARE FOR THE HOUSTON PARKS AND, UH, RECREATION DEPARTMENT, YOUTH RECREATION PROGRAM. THE SUGGESTED HEARING DATE IS 9:00 AM WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 23RD, CASTEX TATUM MOVED TO SET THE HEARING DATE ON WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 23RD AT 9:00 AM ON THE SECOND. IT'S BEEN MOVED IN SECOND AT, UM, ON ITEM 43. DISCUSSION, DISCUSSION IN FAVOR OF OPPOSED GRANTED ON 43. [MATTERS HELD] ITEM 44 IS AN ORDINANCE DEC NEED TO VOTE. UH, WE ON ITEM 44, COUNCIL MEMBER ALCORN ON, AND THIS IS ON THE FINANCIAL POLICIES. UM, AND I THINK THERE'S A, THERE IS A TABLE AMENDMENT COUNCIL MEMBER. THANK YOU, MAYOR. AND I, UM, I BELIEVE EVERYONE HAS PASSED OUT A CLEAN COPY OF SECTION N, WHICH DEALS WITH THE TS POLICY AS WELL AS A RED LINE, BUT IT'S REALLY A BLUE LINE. THE BLUE IS WHAT IS NEW, AND THERE'S SOME PRETTY MINOR CHANGES, JUST ADDING SOME ANDS AND ORS WHERE I THOUGHT THEY NEEDED TO BE. I SENT THIS, I, I APOLOGIZE FOR THE LAST MINUTE NATURE OF THIS. I SENT THESE OVER TO THE ADMINISTRATION LAST WEEK AND JUST THIS MORNING, I THINK THEY'VE HAD A CHANCE SINCE THE MAYOR'S BEEN GONE TO REVIEW THINGS WITH THEM. SO THAT'S, I APOLOGIZE FOR THE LATENESS OF THIS, BUT, UM, YOU'LL SEE, UH, BASICALLY IT'S JUST CLEANING UP SOME OF THE LANGUAGE AND UNDER BOUNDARY ADJUSTMENTS, I THOUGHT IT IMPORTANT TO, UH, MAKE ANOTHER, UH, ANOTHER CRITERIA THAT HAS TO DO IF YOU'RE EXPECTING OR YOU WANNA SUPPORT AN APPLICATION FOR STATE FEDERAL PHILANTHROPIC FUNDING FOR TRANSPORTATION INITIATIVES, PARK OR OTHER INFRASTRUCTURE. WE ADDED THAT TO ONE OF THE, UM, TO ONE OF THE THINGS. AND THEN I BELIEVE FINANCE ADDED, UH, UH, SOMETHING ON THE BACK ON NUMBER SEVEN. AND THEN I ADDED THE, AND ON THE CREATION AND THE ORS UNDER LIFE EXTENSIONS AND, AND BOUNDARY ADJUSTMENTS. I'M GONNA TAG THE AMENDMENT. I'M PRETTY MUCH, I'M GONNA TAG THE AMENDMENT. MAYOR, IF YOU'RE TAGGING THE AMENDMENT, THEN YOU'RE TAGGING THE ITEM EITHER TWO SEPARATE. CAN I SET, IF YOU TAG THE AMENDMENT, YOU'RE TAGGING THE ITEM, UH, MOTION TO DELAY THE ITEM ON THE SECOND. SECOND, AND YOU'RE DELAYING SPEND MOVED SECOND IT, BUT YOU'RE DELAYING IT. FOR WHAT REASON? I HAVE NOT HAD ENOUGH OPPORTUNITY FOR ONE TO LOOK AT THE RED LINE COPY THAT I WAS NEVER SENT. UM, I THINK BELIEVE SOME OF THE OTHER COUNCIL MEMBERS MAY HAVE SEEN IT. I'VE CHECKED MY INBOX, I HAVE NOT SEEN IT. I WOULD LIKE THE OPPORTUNITY TO SEE IT REGARDING THIS AMENDMENT. UM, IT'S PRETTY SUBSTANTIVE. I WOULD LIKE AN OPPORTUNITY TO LOOK AT IT AS WELL AND HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO ASK SOME QUESTIONS. I DON'T LIKE WHEN WE GET THINGS AT THE LAST MINUTE. I DON'T LIKE WHEN I GET CALLS FROM PEOPLE WHO'VE SEEN THINGS BEFORE. I GET TO SEE IT AFTER IT'S, YOU KNOW, ALREADY BEEN PROPOSED. AND TO BE ABLE TO VOTE ON SOMETHING OF THIS MAGNITUDE, UH, WITHOUT HAVING, UM, ENOUGH INFORMATION AND TIME TO REVIEW. I JUST DON'T THINK IT'S GOOD POLICY. MAY IT'S, AM I STILL IN OR YEAH. SHOULD WAIT TO GO. OKAY. I BELIEVE, I MEAN, I THINK WE ALL HAVE, UM, SOMETHING TO SAY ABOUT THIS AT THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE MEETING THAT OCCURRED ON MAY 31ST. UM, I WAS REALLY EXCITED ABOUT THE WORK THAT'S BEEN DONE ON THIS. I MEAN, THIS IS 25% OF OUR TAXABLE VALUE TIED UP IN THESE TERMS. SO I THINK IT, IT DESERVES A LOT OF SCRUTINY INTO THE POLICIES THAT GO INTO HOW THAT MONEY IS, IS SPENT. I AM IN FAVOR OF T PROJECTS. THEY DO A LOT OF GREAT WORK THROUGHOUT THE CITY, AND I THINK THIS IS GREAT WORK BY THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE. AND MUCH TALK DURING THAT COMMITTEE WAS ABOUT A 40 PAGE DOCUMENT THAT WOULD, THAT INFORMS THESE POLICIES. A LOT OF GREAT WORK AT WHICH I [04:25:01] WAS ABLE TO GO, GO THROUGH IN, UM, IN KIND OF A ZOOM MEETING AT A HIGH LEVEL, WHAT WAS IN THAT DOCUMENT. BUT I WOULD LIKE TO SEE WHAT'S IN THAT DOCUMENT BECAUSE I, AND I, AND I WILL, I WILL SAY THAT THIS IS, THIS WHOLE EFFORT WAS AFTER, OF COURSE, THERE WAS A LOT OF SCRUTINY ABOUT TURS DOLLARS AND THE REVENUE CAP AND ALL OF THAT INFORMATION THAT CAME OUT KIND OF LAST FALL. AND SO ANDY SAID THAT THIS, THAT WE ARE TAKING A COMPREHENSIVE LOOK AT HOW WE WOULD DEAL WITH ALL 27 TS IN A SYSTEMATIC WAY. THAT'S A GREAT THING. AND ALSO THAT, THAT GWEN WENT ON TO SAY THAT THIS DOCUMENT, THIS POLICY DOCUMENT OF WHICH THE TABLE OF CONTENTS WAS ACTUALLY A SLIDE IN THE PRESENTATION. SO THIS POLICY DOCUMENT THAT THAT WAS BEING TALKED ABOUT WAS PROVIDED A VERY COMPREHENSIVE AND THOROUGH, IT GETS INTO THE POLICY ITSELF. IT TALKS ABOUT BENCHMARKS AND PRECEDENTS. IT LOOKS AT STATEWIDE NATIONAL REACH OF TSIS AND ALL OF THAT TO, TO SIT DOWN AND REVIEW, WHICH I WOULD, I REALLY WANT TO DO. IF IT'S IN DRAFT FORM, FINE, I'LL DO IT IN, UH, I CAN DO IT IN DRAFT FORM, BUT COUNCIL MEMBER, YOU CANNOT SEE. BUT I HAVE NOT SEEN, THESE ARE THE FINANCIAL POLICIES THEMSELVES. UNDERSTOOD. AND I AMM IN FAVOR OF, OF THESE. I KNOW. AND, AND THIS IS WHAT IS BEFORE YOU RIGHT NOW. RIGHT. BUT THAT'S WHAT IS BEFORE YOU. BUT IN TERMS OF, UM, THE ADDITIONAL, THE, THE, THE, THE DETAILS OF, OF, UH, I GUESS THAT THE KIND OF, UH, PROCEDURES, POLICIES, PROCEDURES, POLICIES, ALL THAT'S BEEN WORKED THROUGH, AND I HAVE NOT EVEN SEEN THAT. AND I CAN'T EVEN, I CAN'T TELL YOU WHEN IT'S GOING TO BE DONE. OKAY. BUT IF YOU WANT, BUT IF YOU ALL WANT TO DELAY UNTIL ALL OF THAT IS DONE, UH, OKAY, NO PROBLEM. IF IT'S IN DRAFT FORM, I HAVE NOT. IT'S FINE. COUNCIL MEMBER. I HAVEN'T SEEN IT. OKAY. THAT'S AN, THAT'S AN ADMINISTRATIVE SORT OF PROCESS. AND IT SAID, UH, SO I HAVEN'T SEEN IT. I HAVEN'T SEEN IT. BUT IF YOU'RE SAYING TO ME THAT YOU ALL WANTED TO DELAY THIS WHOLE ITEM UNTIL SUCH TIME AS IT MAY GET DONE, OKAY, NO PROBLEM. I, I'M PREPARED TO MOVE AHEAD WITH THE FINANCIAL POLICIES, WITH THE ASSURANCE THAT WE WILL GO, WE WILL, WE WILL GO THROUGH THIS DOCUMENT WHEN IT'S COMPLETE OR IN DRAFT FORM. I MEAN, THIS IS THE, IT WAS DEFINITELY AT THE COMMITTEE MEETING, WHICH COUNCIL MEMBER MARIA GALLEGOS WAS CHAIRING, AND, AND MANY OF US WERE WATCHING, IT WAS DEFINITELY COMMUNICATED THAT THIS DOCUMENT, THIS POLICY DOCUMENT WAS INFORMING THESE POLICIES. SO, AND THAT'S WHAT IT'S BEFORE YOU RIGHT NOW? I DON'T THINK THAT IT'S, AND RIGHT, AND THE POLICIES ARE BEFORE US NOW. THAT IS CORRECT, BUT I DON'T THINK IT'S AN UNREASONABLE REQUEST TO WANT TO SEE THAT THE BACKGROUND. AND IT WASN'T JUST, IT WASN'T REFERRED TO AS WORKING PAPERS. IT WASN'T REFERRED TO AS A DRAFT, IT WAS REFERRED TO AS THE POLICY DOCUMENT. WELL, I DON'T KNOW HOW IT WAS REFERRED TO YOU, BUT IT NEEDS TO BE REFERRED TO ME IN THE PRESENTATION. IT WAS OKAY. SO I DON'T, I DON'T KNOW WHAT WAS SAID TO YOU ALL. AND, AND THE POINT THAT I'M SIMPLY MAKING, I DON'T HAVE ANY PROMISE WITH YOU ALL SEEING THE WHOLE THING ONCE IT'S DONE. BUT THIS IS THE FINANCIAL POLICIES. BUT IF YOU ALL WANT TO WAIT UNTIL ALL OF THAT IS DONE, OKAY. I DON'T HAVE A PROBLEM WITH YOU. I'LL WAIT. I JUST CAN'T TELL YOU WHEN IT'S GOING TO GET DONE. THAT'S ALL I'M SAYING TO YOU. SO I LEAVE IT UP TO YOU ALL TO DECIDE I'M VERY EASY ON THIS. THE STATUS QUO CAN PROCEED AS A STATUS QUO UNTIL I'M FINISHED BEING MAYOR. I CAN DEAL WITH IT WITH THE NEXT MAYOR. I'M FINE. I'M EASY. I AM EASY ON THIS ISSUE. BUT WHAT I'M SAYING IS THE FINANCIAL POLICIES ARE BEFORE YOU, THE AMENDMENT. THESE ARE SOME, UH, WHAT I CALL TECHNICAL CLEANUP ITEMS. AND, UH, THAT STAFF HAS DONE AND WORKING ALSO IN COLLABORATION WITH YOU ON THIS. THAT IS WHAT THIS IS ALL ABOUT. BUT I DON'T, THERE'S NO RUSH FOR ME ON THIS. THERE, THERE IS NOTHING IN THESE BROAD FINANCIAL POLICIES THAT IS OFFENSIVE OR WILL HURT ANYTHING. RIGHT? THAT'S RIGHT. I MEAN, I THINK THEY'RE GOOD. I THINK THEY'RE GOOD. AND I, I'M PREPARED TO SUPPORT THEM WITH, WITH THE ASSURANCE THAT I WILL BE ABLE TO GO THROUGH THIS AND, AND BE ABLE TO, YOU KNOW, REALLY GO THROUGH THE FULL DOCUMENTS. RIGHT. YOU KNOW, IT'S NOT, WHENEVER IT'S DONE, I'LL BE MORE THAN HAPPY TO PROVIDE IT TO EVERYBODY. BUT I'M SIMPLY SAYING, WHAT YOU'RE ASKING FOR IS SOMETHING THAT I HAVE NOT EVEN SEEN. I HAVEN'T, I HAVEN'T SEEN IT. AND THE CONFUSION LIES IN THE, IN THE COMMITTEE PRESENTATION, MAYOR, THAT'S WHERE THIS CONFUSION STARTED, WHEN THIS WAS A DOCUMENT THAT WAS DONE THAT WAS GOING TO BE DISTRIBUTED TO ALL OF US. AND WE'RE TALKING ABOUT TRANSPARENCY AND RULES SURROUNDING TSAS. AND THAT'S, I THINK THAT THAT'S NOT AN UNREASONABLE REQUEST. I AM WILLING TO WAIT AND PASS THESE POLICIES NOW, BECAUSE LIKE I SAID, [04:30:01] I, I APPRECIATE ACCEPTING SOME OF THE CHANGES I I SUBMITTED. AND I THINK THERE'S NOTHING, I MEAN, THEY'RE FINE, RIGHT? AND I, AND I JUST WANNA BE CLEAR SO THAT NO ONE MIS CONSTRUES WHAT I AM SAYING. WE CAN EITHER PROCEED, WE CAN DELAY, YOU ALL CAN HOLD UNTIL ALL OF THIS, THE OTHERS, UM, WHAT DO YOU CALL IT? ADMINISTRATIVE, ADMINISTRATIVE STUFF IS DONE AND CAN ALL COME AT ONE TIME. I'M FINE EITHER WAY. YOU CHOOSE TO DO IT. UH, BUT THIS, UH, THESE FINANCIAL POLICIES ALONG WITH THIS AMENDMENT AND EMBODIES THE CRUX AND SOUL OF THE FINANCIAL POLICIES, THE OTHER, THE ADMINISTRATIVE END, BUT HOWEVER YOU ALL CHOOSE TO PROCEED, I AM EASY. I'M GOOD WITH IT EITHER WAY. OKAY. COUNCIL MEMBER P*****K, I DON'T KNOW IF YOU HAD YEAH. MOTION TO DELAY. ALRIGHT. THE MOTION WAS ALREADY WE DISCUSSION WITH DISCUSSION, WE'RE DISCUSSING NO, NO DISCUSSION. I, I WAS READY TO VOTE. WE ARE DISCUSSING YOUR MOTION TO DELAY IT. THIS IS NOT A TAG. I UNDERSTAND. WE, WE ARE DISCUSSING YOUR MOTION TO DELAY. AND I HAVE PEOPLE IN THE QUEUE. I THINK HE WAS IN THE QUEUE TO TAG, TO MAKE THE MOTION, AND I JUST DIDN'T, OKAY. I'M SORRY. UM, VICE MAYOR FOR TIM CASTEK TATUM. THANK YOU, MAYOR. I WANNA BE CLEAR THAT, UM, THE FINANCIAL POLICIES THAT WE ARE LOOKING AT TODAY IS DIFFERENT FROM THE ADMINISTRATIVE PROCESS THAT YES, I THINK WAS TALKED ABOUT AT THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE MEETING. UM, I DON'T WANT THE WORK OF WHAT'S HAPPENING IN THE TURS SPECIFICALLY BECAUSE, BUT FOR THESE TURS PROJECTS, I WOULDN'T HAVE PROJECTS HAPPENING IN DISTRICT K. UM, WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT THESE FINANCIAL POLICIES, AND I THINK EVERYONE HAD A CHANCE TO LOOK AT THE FINANCIAL POLICIES, WHICH IS WHAT WE ARE VOTING FOR VOTING ON TODAY GETS PASSED BECAUSE THERE ARE SOME TURS THAT ARE LINGERING, UM, OR THAT ARE SEEKING PASSAGE TO MOVE SOME PROJECTS FORWARD. IT IS PRUDENT THAT WE ALL HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO READ THE ADMINISTRATIVE POLICIES AND EVERYTHING. BEST CASE SCENARIO. ALL OF THAT WOULD HAVE COME FORTH TODAY. UM, I KNOW THAT PEOPLE HAVE BEEN OUT, THERE'S BEEN VACATIONS. UM, AND I MAYOR, I DON'T KNOW IF YOU HAVE SEEN THAT POLICY. YOU'RE SAYING YOU HAVE NOT SEEN THAT POLICY? NOT, UM, BUT IT, IT HAS COME OUT THAT SOME PEOPLE HAVE SEEN THE POLICY AND SOME PEOPLE HAVE NOT SEEN THE POLICY. UM, I THINK THAT IT WOULD BE PRUDENT FOR US TO, UM, ALL GET A COPY OF THE POLICY TO READ IT SO THAT WE CAN MAKE AN INFORMED DECISION. BECAUSE THIS IS A LARGE PERCENTAGE OF OUR, UM, OUR, OUR BUDGET, OUR FINANCING, AND THE PROJECTS THAT ARE HAPPENING IN OUR COMMUNITIES. THE FINANCIAL POLICIES ARE DIFFERENT FROM THE ADMINISTRATIVE PROCEDURES. I DID CALL DIRECTOR TILLSON TO GO OVER THE ADMINISTRATIVE PROCEDURES WITH HER. UM, BUT I DO, I KNOW THAT THAT IS STILL IN DRAFT FORM AND NOT COMPLETE YET. UM, SO I THINK THAT, UM, HOWEVER WE NEED TO MOVE FORWARD, I WOULD LIKE TO SEE US MOVE FORWARD WITH THESE POLICIES SO THAT OUR, UM, AND, AND QUITE FRANKLY, READING THROUGH THE POLICIES, I DON'T SEE THAT WE ARE DOING ANYTHING MORE THAN FORMALIZING WHAT WE ALREADY DO. IT FEELS LIKE WE'RE CODIFYING WHAT WE ALREADY DO AS A CITY WITH OUR TS PROJECTS. BUT THE CONFUSION AND THE ANGST IS THAT ADMINISTRATIVE PROCEDURE. EVERYONE WANTS TO REVIEW THE ADMINISTRATIVE PROCEDURES. SO I, WHAT WE NEED IS A TIMELINE FOR THE ADMINISTRATIVE PROCEDURES. AND WHEN WILL WE GET THAT FINAL DOCUMENT FOR EVERYONE TO REVIEW IT? IT, I FEEL LIKE IT'S TWO STEPS, THE FINANCIAL POLICY AND THE ADMINISTRATIVE REVIEW. AND I, I WOULD HOPE THAT WE CAN MOVE FORWARD WITH THE FINANCIAL POLICIES SO THAT WE DON'T HOLD UP THE, UM, PROCESS OF WHAT'S HAPPENING IN OUR TURDS. IT'S IMPORTANT TO WHAT'S HAPPENING IN DISTRICT K, UM, BUT I ALSO WANNA MAKE SURE THAT WE HAVE A TIMELINE AND, AND SOME TIMEFRAME THAT WE ALL CAN REVIEW THE ADMINISTRATIVE PROCEDURES THAT I FEEL LIKE IS CODIFYING WHAT WE ALREADY DO. TRUE. AND THEN YOUR ASSESSMENT IS ABSOLUTELY CORRECT. UM, COUNCILMAN MEMBER GALLEGOS. THANK YOU, MAYOR. FIRST OF ALL, I WANNA THANK COUNCIL MEMBER ALCO ALCORN FOR HER WORK ON THIS. AND, AND YES, UH, ANDY EKIN, CHIEF DEVELOPMENT OFFICER CAME AND SPOKE AT THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE MEETING AND PRESENTED THAT, YOU KNOW, THERE'S SOME TERMS THAT ARE COMING TO THEIR LIFESPAN. UM, SO THERE, THERE'S A LOT OF INFORMATION HERE, AND I'M NOT COMFORTABLE VOTING ON SOMETHING HERE AT THE TABLE LIKE THIS. [04:35:01] BUT, BUT YOU KNOW, WHAT I WOULD LIKE IS, IF POSSIBLE, IF, UH, AND, AND E CAN, CAN COME BACK, UH, AND, AND, AND, AND GIVE US AN UPDATE WITH ALL THIS, UH, JUST SO THAT WAY WE CAN KNOW WHAT WE ARE VOTING ON. UH, BECAUSE AGAIN, THE TURS ARE SO IMPORTANT HERE IN THE CITY OF HOUSTON DUE TO THE CITY'S, UH, REVENUE CAP. UH, LIKE, UH, VICE MAYOR PRO TEMP STATED, UH, IT WASN'T FOR THE TURS. SOME PROJECTS WOULDN'T BE HAPPENING IN MY DISTRICT. UH, SO IT'S SO IMPORTANT, UH, AND I JUST WANNA MAKE SURE WHAT WE ARE VOTING FOR O ON THIS. SO AGAIN, I WOULD LIKE TO SEE IF IT COME BACK TO THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, UH, AND ANDY COULD, UH, REPORT AND GIVE US AN UPDATE, WOULD BE APPRECIATED. THANKS, MEMBER JACKSON. THANK YOU, MAYOR. UM, AND SO MY QUESTION IS, IS THIS, SO THIS IS NOT THE FINANCIAL POLICY, THIS IS, IT IS THE FINANCIAL POLICY. SO AS I'M REVIEWING THE FINANCIAL POLICY, I GUESS, YOU KNOW, SOME OF MY CONCERNS IS THAT, UM, TURS ARE CREATED TO, UM, FOR DEVELOPING UNDERSERVED COMMUNITIES. AND SO I DON'T SEE CERTAIN TERMS IN THIS PARTICULAR, UM, ORDINANCE OR POLICY ABOUT, YOU KNOW, UNPRODUCTIVE, UNDERDEVELOPED, BLOATED AREAS. AND SO THAT'S THE WHOLE PURS PURPOSE OF CREATING TURS. AM I CORRECT? AND THEN SECONDLY, UM, IN THIS POLICY TERMINATION OF TURS, LIKE IN DISTRICT B, YOU KNOW, WE HAVE A FEW TURS THAT JUST RECENTLY, YOU KNOW, THIS FAIRLY NEW AND, UM, LELAND TURNS IS NOT PERFORMING. SO THIS, BASED UPON THIS PARTICULAR ORDINANCE, UM, THIS POLICY, THOSE TURS WILL BE, ESPECIALLY LELAND TURS WILL BE, UM, UM, TERMINATED. IS THAT CORRECT? I'M JUST TRYING TO UNDERSTAND, BECAUSE I'M SEEING, AS I'M LOOKING AT THE TURS, IT'S JUST STILL THIS POLICY IS LIKE, IT'S STILL A WAY TO CONCENTRATE WEALTH IN CERTAIN AREAS. UM, AND THEN OF COURSE, LOOK, THE CHURCH THAT WE HAVE IN DISTRICT B IS NOT PERFORMING. AND SO THE FEAR IS THAT THEY WILL BE TERMINATED. NOW, EACH, EACH CHURCH WILL HAVE TO BE EVALUATED BASED ON THE FINANCIAL POLICIES. SO YOU HAVE TO TAKE A LOOK AT EACH ONE INDIVIDUALLY. BUT THESE ARE WHAT IS BEFORE YOU ARE THE FINANCIAL POLICIES. UM, AND THEN YOU HAVE THE ADMINISTRATIVE, UM, PROCEDURES. PROCEDURES, UM, AND WHENEVER THE ADMINISTRATIVE PROCEDURES ARE DONE, YOU CERTAINLY WILL MAKE, WILL MAKE THOSE AVAILABLE TO YOU AS WELL. UH, BUT YOU KNOW, UNTIL I'VE HAD A CHANCE TO SEE THEM AND I HAVEN'T, UM, CAN'T DO THAT. BUT THE FINANCIAL POLICIES ARE, BEFORE YOU WRITE, ARE, BEFORE YOU WRITE DOWN IN TERMS OF WHAT THE IMPACT WOULD BE ON ANY INDIVIDUAL CHURCH, ANY TERRORIST, YOU HAVE TO LOOK AT THE, HOW THEY'RE PERFORMING EACH ONE INDIVIDUALLY AND THEN MAKE AN ASSESSMENT. OKAY. SO IS THERE A WAY TO WHERE WE CAN ADD THE LANGUAGE IN THIS PARTICULAR, UM, POLICY THAT ACTUALLY INDICATE BLIGHTED AREAS OR UNDEVELOPED AREAS? BECAUSE THAT'S THE WHOLE, THE STATE LAW BASICALLY SAID THAT'S WHY TURS ARE CREATED, UM, TO DEVELOP UNDERDEVELOPED AREAS. AND SO IF WE ARE JUST LEAVING IT OPEN TO WHERE AREAS THAT'S DEVELOPED CAN CREATE TURS, THEN IT'S DEFEATING THE WHOLE PURPOSE. WELL, IF, IF I THINK WHAT I'M HEARING YOU TO SAY THAT YOU WANT THE TURS RESTRICTED TO THOSE AREAS THAT ARE TO UNDERDEVELOPED AREAS. YEAH. CORRECT. I THINK THAT CERTAINLY IS AN ISSUE THAT CAN, CAN BE TO BE DEBATED, UH, AROUND THE HORSESHOE. UH, UH, IT IS CERTAINLY INTENDED TO ADDRESS THOSE AREAS THAT ARE UNDEVELOPED AND, AND, UM, UH, BLIGHTED, THAT IS A PART THAT IS CERTAINLY A CRITICAL PART OF IT. THAT'S NO QUESTION ABOUT THAT. THAT'S WHY THEY CAME INTO EXISTENCE. RIGHT. UM, AND I THINK IT'S BROAD ENOUGH TO TO, TO CONTINUE TO ADDRESS THAT. BUT IF YOU COUNCIL MEMBER, IF YOU'RE ADVOCATING THAT IT'D BE VERY MUCH RESTRICTED JUST TO THAT, THEN I THINK THAT'S, THAT'S, UM, THAT THIS REQUIRES, UH, FURTHER CONVERSATION AROUND THE HORSESHOE. OKAY. UH, COUNCIL MEMBER THOMAS, THANK YOU. UM, I JUST, I WANNA SPEAK TO THE, TO THE MOTION. I THINK IT'S TO RECEIVE SOMETHING RIGHT BEFORE WE VOTE. AND I KNOW VICE MAYOR PRO TEM SAID, YOU KNOW, IT, IT FEELS LIKE I'M JUST NOT COMFORTABLE MAKING A DECISION BASED ON WHAT IT FEELS LIKE TO LATER THAN FOR SOMETHING. I, IF IT'S FAIR, UH, THE, UH, 23RD AGENDA. I, I THINK JUST TO ASK SOME QUESTIONS, TO BE CLEAR, THERE ARE SOME SEVERAL, UH, PROJECTS THAT I'M ASKING MY TURS TO ADOPT BECAUSE I'M LIMITED IN TERMS OF CAPITAL PROJECTS THAT THEY'RE, THEY'VE BEEN WILLING TO DO. SO JUST TO HAVE A MASTERY UNDERSTANDING OF THOSE CHANGES WOULD BE HELPFUL NOT TO HOLD UP. I DON'T THINK IT'S NECESSARY TO HOLD UP THE ADMINISTRATIVE POLICIES THAT COME THROUGH YOUR HOUSE BEFORE WE DO THIS. BUT A, A DELAY TO THE 23RD AGENDA, I THINK IS REASONABLE IF YOU'LL ACCEPT THAT, IF, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER POLL WOULD BE, UM, COMFORTABLE WITH THAT, WITH HIS, UH, AMENDMENT TO THE MOTION, AND I'M, AND LOOK, AND I'M, I'M, I AM [04:40:01] FINE. I'M FINE WITH THE MOTION. I'M FINE WITH THE MOTION. I'M JUST TRYING TO MAKE SURE THAT WE HAVE A CLEAR UNDERSTANDING AND THAT I HAVE A CLEAR UNDERSTANDING. AND IF, AND IF THE MOTION IS INTENDED, FOR EXAMPLE, FOR THE ADMINISTRATIVE PROCEDURES, THEN THAT'S NOT GONNA COME ON THE 20. THAT'S NOT GONNA COME WHEN WE COME BACK. THAT'S, I JUST WANT TO BE VERY CLEAR. RIGHT. BUT, UH, IF YOU'RE SIMPLY DELAYING TO, TO GET A BETTER, UH, GRASP OF THE AMENDMENT AND, AND TO GET A BETTER GRASP OF WHAT'S BEFORE YOU, YOU KNOW, I'M GOOD. I, UH, MAYOR MARTIN. YES, MAYOR, THANK YOU. I, I JUST WANNA MAKE SURE I UNDERSTAND THE, THE PO THE PROCEDURES AND HOW WE'RE MOVING FORWARD. IT SOUNDS LIKE THIS IS, UH, WITH EVERY ORDINANCE CHANGED, THERE'S A FINANCIAL POLICY, WHICH THIS IS, THEN THERE'S ADMINISTRATIVE PROCEDURES, WHICH WE HAVE NOT SEEN IN THE COMING FORWARD, AND THEN THERE'S THE ORDINANCE ITSELF. SO, UM, THIS IS JUST THE FINANCIAL POLICY THAT RELATES TO EVENTUALLY ORDINANCE NUMBER 2020 DASH 9 99. AND THEN WE WILL EVENTUALLY RECEIVE THE ADMINISTRATIVE PROCEDURES THAT GO WITH THE FINANCIAL POLICY TOWARDS THIS ORDINANCE CHANGE. AND THEN I'M GONNA MAKE AN ASSUMPTION THAT AT THAT TIME, WE WILL VOTE ON THE ORDINANCE NUMBER 2 0 2 0 9 9 9 9, WITH CHANGES THAT WE'VE MADE SUBSEQUENT TO THE FISCAL, THE ADMINISTRATIVE, AND THEN THE ORDINANCE ITSELF. SO IT SOUNDS LIKE IT'S A THREE STEP PROCESS. AND, UM, I DON'T LIKE RECEIVING TABLE AMENDMENTS AS WELL, BUT I BRIEFED THEM REAL QUICK. AND IT LOOKS LIKE THEY'RE PRETTY MINOR. SO WHETHER IT'S A TAG OR NOT, OR A ONE WEEK DELAY, I'M OKAY WITH THE FINANCIAL COMPONENT BECAUSE WE'RE GONNA HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO LISTEN TO THE ADMINISTRATIVE PROCEDURES. AND THEN THE ORDINANCE ITSELF WHEN IT GOES TO THE AMENDED CHANGE, UNLESS I'M WRONG. OKAY. COUNCIL MEMBER QUIN. THANK YOU, MAYOR. AND I APPRECIATE THE DISCUSSION. I MEAN, WE'RE CALLING THESE ADMINISTRATIVE PROCEDURES. I, I, I'M NOT SURE THAT THAT'S THE CORRECT WORD. THE, THE DOCUMENT THAT THEY SPOKE ABOUT AT COMMITTEE, AND THEN WE GOT THE, THE, THE TABLE OF CONTENTS FOR IS A POLICY DOCUMENT WITH, WITH, LIKE I SAID BEFORE, COMPREHENSIVE RESEARCH AND LINKS AND HOW OTHER, IT'S NOT LIKE HOW WE'RE GONNA PUT IT FORTH, IT'S MORE LIKE THE BACKGROUND THAT GOES INTO THIS, THE, THESE POLICIES. SO I THINK ADMINISTRATIVE PROCEDURES IS NOT THE CORRECT, I DON'T NEED TO SEE ADMINISTRATIVE PROCEDURES AND, AND HOW EVERYTHING'S GONNA WORK IN EVERY DEPARTMENT BEFORE I VOTE ON THINGS. THOSE AREN'T IMPORTANT, BUT KIND OF THE WORK AND THE RESEARCH THAT INFORMS THINGS LIKE CREATION, LIFE EXTENSION, TERMINATIONS, BOUNDARY ADJUSTMENTS, NON-CONTIGUOUS TSTS PERFORMANCE, PROJECT BASED TS, THOSE ARE, WELL, THEY'RE PROCEDURES, BUT THEY'RE POLICY, THEY'RE NOT, IT'S MORE INFORMING THE, THE, THE POLICY. IT'S NOT LIKE WHO'S GONNA DO WHAT AT WHAT TIME. UM, BUT IT, IT'S ALL THE SAME. I, I MEAN, IF I'M MISSING WORDS, THAT'S FINE, BUT I'M FINE WITH THE DELAY. I AM FINE WITH EVERYTHING. I DO THINK THAT THE POLICIES DO CODIFY WHAT, WHAT IS GOING ON. I'M GLAD WE'RE PUTTING THAT INTO WRITING, AND I'M GLAD THAT THERE'S MORE TRANSPARENCY AROUND WHAT WE'RE DOING AROUND THE DIFFERENT THINGS. LIKE CRE, WE TALKED, UM, WHEN I MET WITH GWEN TILLETT AND WE TALKED ABOUT PROJECT-BASED TOURS AND OTHER THINGS LIKE THAT. THERE'S A LOT THAT GOES INTO THIS. AND THERE'S A LOT OF GOOD WORK THAT I THINK HAS BEEN DONE TOWARDS THIS. AND I THINK JUST MORE TIME TO REVIEW IT IS, IS FINE. WELL JUST BEAR IN MIND, ANYTIME, UH, WHEN, UH, THE BIPARTISAN IN, UM, INFRASTRUCTURE BILL PASSED, THE INFLATION REDUCTION ACT PASSED, UH, THOSE THINGS PASS. AND THEN THE ADMINIS, THE STATE OF AGENCIES ARE STILL WORKING OUT THE RULES AND THE GUIDELINES ON HOW TO IMPLEMENT IT. SAME THING. IT'S THE SAME THING. IT HAPPENS AT THE STATE LEVEL, IT HAPPENS AT THE FEDERAL LEVEL, IT HAPPENS AT THE STATE LEVEL. AND SO, WHETHER WE WANNA REFER TO 'EM AS THE ADMINISTRATIVE PROCEDURES, WHETHER WE WANT, UM, LOOK AT 'EM AS RULES OR GUIDELINES, HOWEVER YOU WANNA NAME IT. UM, THEY QUITE OFTEN FOLLOW THE PASSAGE OF THE MAIN ITEM. OKAY. UM, BUT, UM, EITHER, YOU KNOW, THEY DELAY. OKAY, NO PROBLEM. I HAVE NO PROBLEM WITH THAT. BUT IF YOU ALL, UH, YOU WANT TO DELAY EVERYTHING PENDING ALL OF THE OTHER, UH, THE OTHER, UM, ADMINISTRATIVE PROCEDURES, THE POLICIES, THE GUIDELINES, I'M FINE WITH THAT TOO. I AM, I AM SO EASY ON ALL OF THIS, YOU KNOW? UH, I MEAN, WE CAN WAIT IN UNTIL JANUARY 1ST. NO, WE'RE NOT DOING THAT. MAYOR TURN. AND I'M GOOD. AND I, AM I NOT DOING THAT GOOD WITH THAT TOO? NO, WE'RE NOT . I'M JUST SAYING, I, I JUST WANT YOU TO KNOW WHERE I'M COMING FROM. I'M NOT RUSHING ANYBODY ON THIS ITEM. I AM GOOD. HOWEVER Y'ALL WANNA PROCEED ON THIS. OKAY, NO PROBLEM. UH, COUNCIL [04:45:01] MEMBER P*****K. THANK YOU, MAYOR. AND, UH, SO MY REASON FOR THE DELAY ONE, AS I SAID IT BEFORE, I DON'T THINK WE ALL GOT THE SAME INFORMATION AT THE SAME TIME. I HAVE A PROBLEM WITH THAT. OKAY. AND I'M TRYING TO FIGURE OUT HOW SOME COUNCIL MEMBERS GOT SOME THINGS THAT I DIDN'T GET. WELL, I DON'T KNOW HOW THEY CAN GET SOMETHING. I, THAT THEY, WHAT, NUMBER ONE? I JUST SAW IT YESTERDAY. SO I, SO YOUR POINT IS, SO WE, WE WOULD NEED MORE TIME TO LOOK AT THE INFORMATION PRESENTED. AND IF I'M NOT GETTING SOMETHING THAT OTHER PEOPLE ARE GETTING, I HAVE A PROBLEM WITH THAT SECOND THING. WHAT, WHAT, WHAT PEOPLE ARE YOU REFERRING TO? SOME OF THE COUNCIL MEMBERS. IT WAS WORKED OUT IN COLLABORATION, CAUSING MY OUTGOING, SO WE'LL, WE'LL, WE CAN GO OFFLINE. BUT THE, THE SECOND THING IS, I, I, I DO AGREE AT, AT SOME LEVEL, WE DON'T HAVE TO GET INTO THE, THE, THE SUPREME DETAILS OF EVERY LITTLE PROCEDURE OF THE ORDINANCE. BUT THE BIG QUESTIONS REGARDING THE TSS, THE CREATIONS, THE TERMINATIONS, UH, COMMUNITY FEEDBACK, TIMELINES, THOSE ARE THINGS THAT WE SHOULD HAVE ENGAGEMENT WITHIN, UH, THESE DISCUSSIONS. IT SHOULDN'T BE SOMETHING TO WHERE WE, WE JUST PASS IT. AND THEN AFTER THE FACT START ASKING SOME OF THE BIG QUESTIONS. LIKE WE WANT, WE SHOULD BE INVOLVED IN THOSE DISCUSSIONS FROM THE VERY BEGINNING TO ENSURE WE'RE ALL ON THE SAME PAGE AND THEN MOVE FORWARD WITH THE, WITH THE VOTE. AND I THINK OVER THE NEXT COUPLE WEEKS, WE COULD, WE CAN DO THAT DIDN, THEY GO, DIDN'T THEY GO TO COMMITTEE? IT DID, BUT JUST BECAUSE IT GOES TO COMMITTEE, ONCE YOU'RE COMING BACK WITH THESE RED LINES AND DIFFERENT THINGS LIKE THAT. NOW WE HAVE MORE QUESTIONS. JUST GOING TO COMMITTEE IS JUST THE FIRST STEP, AND YOU CAN, WE CAN TAKE AS MUCH TIME AS YOU WOULD LIKE. COUNCIL OBAMA. ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU, MAYOR. MOTION. HAVE YOU NEED, IF YOU NEED FOUR MONTHS TO TAKE A LOOK AT IT, I'M WILLING TO GIVE YOU FOUR MONTHS AND YOU CAN PICK IT UP ON JANUARY ONE. I'M EASY WITH THAT TOO. I THINK. I THINK TWO WEEKS, UH, AS, AS THE COUNCIL MEMBER, BUT JUST TWO WEEKS OR FOUR MONTHS. I'M SUCH AN EASY GOING MAYOR. MOTION. AMEND YOUR MOTION TO THE 23RD. SO I'LL, I'LL AMEND MY MOTION TO DELAY UNTIL AUGUST 23RD. THOMAS SECOND. MOVED AND SECONDED ON THE AMENDED MOTION. COUNCIL P. COUNCIL MEMBER COUNCILMAN P. I'M VOTE. THANK YOU, MAYOR. UM, SO NOW WE'RE GONNA HAVE, ASSUMING THIS PASSES THIS AMENDMENT, UM, TO DELAY IT, WE'LL HAVE TWO WEEKS. UM, IS THERE SOME KIND OF TIMELINE FOR THIS POLICY DOCUMENT TO COME OUT THAT MAYBE IT CAN COME OUT IN THOSE TWO WEEKS SO WE CAN READ IT TO SEE, I, I CAN'T, I CAN'T, UH, I CAN'T PROMISE THAT BECAUSE I, I KNOW YOU HAVEN'T SEEN IT YET, BUT IT'S, I HAVEN'T SEEN IT, SO I CAN'T, I CAN'T PROMISE SOMETHING THAT I HADN'T SEEN. I CAN'T PROMISE THAT. AND THAT'S WHAT I'M SAYING, BUT I'M, I'M NOT RUSHING YET. ALL THESE YOU'RE CHILL. I'M NOT RUSH. DON'T THAT EASY. MAYOR. WE HAVE TUR 17 THAT WE NEED TAKE, DON'T BE TOO EASY ON IT BECAUSE WE HAVE TUR 17 THAT WE HAVE TO EXTEND THE LIFE. WELL, I'M SAYING WE CAN WAIT AS LONG AS Y'ALL WANNA WAIT. I AM, I AM, I AM EASY ON THIS. IF Y'ALL WANNA TAKE FOUR MONTHS, WE TAKE FOUR MONTHS. I'M GOOD, MAYOR. I'M FINE WITH DELAYING IT. SO WE CAN READ THIS, THE RED LINE AND MAKE SURE YOU KNOW THE LANGUAGE HERE. BUT AS FAR AS THAT POLICY DOCUMENT, I MEAN, I AGREE WITH COUNCIL MEMBER ALCORN AT THE COMMITTEE MEETING, IT REALLY MADE IT SOUND LIKE ALL THAT DOCUMENT, THAT 40 PAGE DOCUMENT, UM, INFORMED THESE POLICIES AND TERMS ARE SUCH A BIG DEAL WITH SO MUCH OF OUR MONEY GOING TOWARDS, TOWARDS ITS, I'D REALLY LIKE TO SEE IT AS WELL, JUST TO SEE IF THERE'S ANY CHANGES THAT MAYBE I CAN SEE FROM THE, THAT NEED TO BE MADE IN THE FINANCIAL POLICIES. IT IS, UM, CODIFYING WHAT WE KIND OF ALREADY DO, BUT STILL, I MEAN, THEY MADE SUCH A BIG DEAL ABOUT THIS DOCUMENT IN THE COMMITTEE MEETING THAT I'D REALLY LIKE TO, TO SEE IT IN THOSE TWO, IN THESE TWO WEEKS. AND YOU HAVE MY INSURANCE RESPONSES READY, WILL, WE'LL, IT WILL COME BEFORE, UH, THE CO THE COMMITTEE. I'M, I'M, I DON'T HAVE ANY OBJECTIONS WHEN MAKING THIS AVAILABLE WHEN IT'S READY, BUT I, UNTIL I GET A CHANCE TO SIT DOWN AND LOOK AT IT AND REVIEW IT, AND I HADN'T SEEN IT. ANYTHING. VICE MEMBER, UM, VICE MEMBER, TIM CASTEK. TATUM, UH, I JUST WANT TO GO AHEAD AND CALL THE QUESTION ON THE AMENDMENT AND THEN, UM, STATE FOR THE RECORD THAT WHEN THE PROCEDURES ARE THE, UH, POLICIES ARE READY, THAT THEY WILL COME BEFORE THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE MEETING? ABSOLUTELY. OF COURSE. NOW IS THE MOTION TO ABSOLUTELY. OKAY. SO WE ON THE MOTION TO, UH, DELAY THE ITEM UNTIL AUGUST THE 23RD. THIRD, CORRECT. OKAY. ANY OTHER DISCUSSION IN FAVOR OPPOSED GRANT? OKAY. DONE. OKAY, NEXT ITEM. SO SHE'S [04:50:01] CONSIDERING THAT A DELAY ON BOTH THE AMENDMENT TABLE, AMENDMENT AND THE MAIN ITEM. CORRECT. AND THAT'S DELAYING THE ENTIRE ITEM, THE, THE MAIN ITEM AS WELL AS THE AMENDMENT. RIGHT. OKAY. NEXT ITEM, ITEM ITEM 45 IS AN ORDINANCE. JUST NEED TO VOTE ON ITEM 45. COUNCIL MEMBER JACKSON ON ITEM 45. THANK YOU, MAYOR. UM, THIS IS THE MSD OVER IN THE FIFTH WARD AREA. FIRST I WANNA SAY THANK YOU FOR YOUR EXECUTIVE ORDER. UM, I'M GLAD WE WERE ABLE TO GET, UM, PLEASANTVILLE, MSD, UM, APPROVED. UM, BUT I STILL HAVE SOME QUESTIONS ON THIS PARTICULAR MSD. UM, I'VE TALKED WITH, UM, MR. CLEMONS, I'VE TALKED WITH AMY DUNN, AND SO THEY DISTILL, RIGHT? THE, THE, THE GROUPS ARE NOT AGREEING. AND SO I HAVE TO MAKE SURE, MAKE SURE THAT WHATEVER DECISION THAT I'M MAKING, IF I'M VOTING ON SOMETHING, IT'S NOT GONNA IMPACT THE PEOPLE IN THE LONG RUN. SO I'M NOT GONNA VOTE, I'M GONNA VOTE NO ON THIS. UM, ONLY BECAUSE PEOPLE ARE STILL, YOU KNOW, I'M, I'M NOT CLEAR ON IF THE TESTING WAS ACTUALLY DONE, YOU KNOW? AND SO, UM, THAT'S, THAT'S MY DECISION ON THIS ONE. OKAY. WELL, LEMME JUST SAY, UM, UM, TESTING HAS, HAS BEEN DONE. I KNOW, I KNOW THERE'S DISAGREEMENT. I'M, I'M SEEING THE, THE EMAIL. UH, BUT MSD IS, IS ABOUT ASSESSING TO SEE WHETHER OR NOT GROUND WATER'S BEEN USED AS DRINKING WATER AND, AND IT'S NOT, UM, OR ABOUT WHETHER OR NOT THE GREEN WATER CAN BE USED AS IRRIGATION AND, AND THE WELLS AND IT, AND IT'S NOT. AND I KNOW, UH, THERE ARE SOME WHO ARE SAYING WE NEED FURTHER EVALUATION, FURTHER TESTING, AND THEN YOU HAVE OTHERS WHO ARE SAYING ENOUGH HAS BEEN DONE. WHAT WE DO KNOW IS, IS BASED ON THE EXECUTIVE ORDER THAT I PUT IN PLACE, IS THAT THERE WILL BE TESTING DONE IN YEAR FOUR IN YEAR SEVEN. AND I THINK WE'VE HAD THAT CONVERSATION ABOUT THAT. SO IT'S JUST ONE OF THOSE ISSUES. YOU WISH WE COULD ALWAYS GET PEOPLE ON BOARD, A HUNDRED PERCENT. UM, BUT WE'RE JUST NOT ABLE TO DO THAT. SO I APPRECIATE YOUR, I APPRECIATE YOUR COMMENTS, COUNCILMAN JACKSON. BUT I AM GONNA ASK, SHALL WE MOVE WE MOVE FORWARD ON THIS ITEM? OKAY. UH, COUNCILOR MAGA GA. THANK YOU, MAYOR. I'M SORRY. COUNCIL MEMBER JACKSON, YOU SAID YOU'RE VOTING NO ON THIS ITEM, OR NO. OKAY. ANY OTHER DISCUSSION? OKAY. I ASK THAT YOU MOVE FORWARD, UM, IN FAVOR OPPOSED SHALL COUNCIL MEMBER JACKSON. AND COUNCIL MEMBER. GA GOES VOTING. NO ITEM PASSES. OKAY, NEXT ITEM. THIS COMPLETES THE ITEMS ON THE AGENDA. [NON CONSENT - MATTERS TO BE PRESENTED BY COUNCIL MEMBERS] OKAY, TODAY WE START WITH COUNCIL MEMBER, MEMBER PAT. THANK YOU, MAYOR. UM, I WANT TO ANNOUNCE TWO, UM, BACK TO SCHOOL EVENTS THAT ARE HAPPENING IN DISTRICT A. THE FIRST IS THIS SATURDAY, AUGUST 12TH AT 8:30 AM IT'LL BE AT THE SPRING BRANCH FAMILY DEVELOPMENT CENTER, 8 5 7 5 PITNER ROAD. UM, THEY'LL HAVE FREE BACKPACKS, UM, FREE IMMUNIZATIONS THAT ARE REQUIRED FOR SCHOOL. UM, IT'S A BIG EVENT EVERY YEAR. ENCOURAGE EVERYONE TO ATTEND WHO, UM, MIGHT NEED THAT. AND THEN THE CARVER DALE BACK TO SCHOOL. GIVEAWAY WILL BE ON AUGUST 19TH FROM 11 TO ONE. IT'LL BE AT THE CARDALE COMMUNITY CENTER, 9 9 2 0 PUERTO RICO. UM, AND THERE WILL BE BACKPACK GIVEAWAYS THERE AS WELL. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. COUNCIL MEMBER JACKSON. THANK YOU MAYOR. AND I WOULD LIKE TO INVITE EVERYONE OUT TO THE BACK TO SCHOOL GIVEAWAY ON THIS SATURDAY AT HARPER TAYLOR PARK, LOCATED AT 8,100 KEN STREET. UM, IT STARTS AT 9:00 AM TO 2:00 PM THAT WOULD BE FOOD MUSIC. UM, NO TURKEY LEGS GO AROUND UNLESS SOMEBODY WANNA BRING SOMETHING OUT. BUT, UM, LOOKING FORWARD TO A GREAT EVENT. SO COME ON OUT THIS SATURDAY, 9:00 AM TO 2:00 PM AT HOLBERT TAYLOR PARK. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. COUNCILMAN POLLARD. THANK YOU, MAYOR. UM, THIS PAST FRIDAY, WE HAD A BACK TO SCHOOL, UM, BACKPACK DRIVE AND SCHOOL SUPPLIES DRIVE AT THE HPD GULFTON STOREFRONT. I WANT TO THANK, UH, THE GULFTON MANAGEMENT DISTRICT, ALL THE VOLUNTEERS AND HPD FOR PUTTING THAT ON. ALSO, WANT TO GIVE A HUGE SHOUT OUT, UH, TO AT AND T. UH, THEY BROUGHT OUT DOZENS OF VOLUNTEERS, UH, MANY OF THEIR EMPLOYEES, AND THEY, UH, ALLOCATED ABOUT $8,000 IN SUPPLIES. AND SO I WANT TO THANK THEM FOR, UH, THEIR CONTRIBUTION. AND, UH, MAYOR, THINGS ARE CONTINUING TO LOOK, UM, REALLY GOOD IN THE BITS IN THAT AREA. THE, THE CORRIDOR BETWEEN 59 AND BELTWAY EIGHT. I WANT TO THANK YOU AND, UH, THE WEST SIDE HPD COMMAND STATION FOR ALL THAT THEY ARE DOING, UH, TO CONTINUE TO IMPROVE THAT AREA. AS YOU KNOW, WE'VE HAD, UH, MANY CHALLENGES WITH THAT CORRIDOR OVER THE PAST FEW DECADES. AND, AND THROUGH YOUR ONE SAFE HOUSTON, UH, PROGRAM, UH, WE'VE BEEN ABLE TO AL ALLOCATE SOME DOLLARS THERE THAT [04:55:01] HAVE BEEN VERY BENEFICIAL. AND NOW WITH THE ONE CLEAN HOUSTON PROGRAM, WE'RE GONNA BE ALLOCATING DOLLARS FOR THE CLEANUP OF THAT AREA. SO I WANNA PROMOTE, UM, THAT ON AUGUST 26TH, WE'LL BE HAVING A MASSIVE CLEANUP OF THAT BINET CORRIDOR AREA. UH, WE'RE ASKING FOR VOLUNTEERS TO REACH OUT TO OUR OFFICE ON THE DETAILS, BUT IT WILL BE FROM 8:00 AM TO 12:00 PM ON AUGUST 26TH, WHICH IS A SATURDAY. UH, WE'LL BE MEETING AT THE WESTWOOD PARK AND RIDE, WHICH IS LOCATED AT 9 9 0 0 SOUTHWEST FREEWAY. UH, THIS IS IN COLLABORATION WITH, UM, THE SOLID WASTE DEPARTMENT. KEEP HOUSTON BEAUTIFUL, THE SOUTHWEST MANAGEMENT DISTRICT, UM, ONE CLEAN HOUSTON PROGRAM. AND SO I JUST WANT TO THANK YOU FOR YOUR CONTINUED LEADERSHIP, UH, ON THIS AREA OF DISTRICT J. UM, THE RESIDENTS AND THE BUSINESSES, THE CHURCHES, THE SCHOOLS HAVE ALL FELT IT. AND, UM, I WANT TO CONTINUE TO KEEP THAT BALL MOVING. SO LOOK FORWARD TO HAVING PEOPLE COME OUT TO THE CLEANUP. AND HAVE A GREAT REST OF YOUR WEEK. COUNCIL MEMBER EVAN SURVIVES. THANK YOU, MAYOR. I WANT TO, UM, HIGHLIGHT THE RECENT INCIDENTS THAT UNDERSCORED THE URGENT NEED TO REVISIT THE HPDS PURSUIT POLICY. YOU KNOW, THIS ISN'T THE FIRST TIME DISCUSSING THIS, BUT THE EVENTS HAVE MADE, UH, THE REEVALUATION OF THIS MORE CRUCIAL AS GUARDIANS OF THE COMMUNITY'S SAFETY. IT'S OUR RESPONSIBILITY TO ENSURE THAT OUR POLICIES ARE ALWAYS IN LINE WITH THE BEST INTEREST OF OUR RESIDENTS, AND THAT THEY ARE FOLLOWED VERY UNSAFE FOR CARS TO BE, UH, PURSUED WHEN THERE MAY BE OTHER OPPORTUNITIES TO, TO, UM, ARREST OR WHATEVER AT ANOTHER, UH, DATE, BECAUSE PEOPLE'S LIVES ARE AT STAKE. AND SO I'D LIKE TO MAYBE LOOK TO REEVALUATE THAT OR AGAIN, INSIST ON, ON ENFORCE STRICT ENFORCEMENT. UM, I WANNA HIGHLIGHT THE H HEBS KIDS DAY CELEBRATIONS. IT WAS A GREAT HEARTFELT APPRECIATION. UH, WELL, I GIVE MY HEARTFELT APPRECIATION TO HB HEB MCGREGOR MARKET FOR ORGANIZING THE DELIGHTFUL KIDS DAY. THESE INITIATIVES NOT ONLY FOSTER JOY, BUT BUYING OUR COMMUNITY CLOSER AND ENSURING OUR CHILDREN GROW UP WITH THE FOND MEMORIES OF UNITY AND CELEBRATION. ALSO, I HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO ATTEND THE STREET OLYMPICS VIP BREAKFAST AND OPENING CEREMONY AT THE NRG. THE ATMOSPHERE WAS ALIVE. I SAW MY, MY OLD FRIEND, CALVIN MURPHY, WHO WAS STILL WORKING HIS PROGRAM AT WORTHING HIGH SCHOOL, AND, UH, WITNESSING 1500 HOUSTON YOUTH PASSIONATELY ENGAGE IN, IN ATHLETIC EVENTS. AND, AND THE FAIRES WAS A POWERFUL TESTAMENT TO THE POTENTIAL AND SPIRIT OF OUR NEXT GENERATION. SO THANK YOU TO, UH, COMMISSIONER ELLIS FOR THEIR INITIATIVE, UH, ENGAGING THE STREET OLYMPICS, UH, FOR THE CHILDREN. ALSO, UH, I KNOW THIS IS A, A DISTRICT K INITIATIVE, BUT I WANNA THANK, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER MARTHA CASTEX TATUM, AND ALL THOSE THAT WENT INTO THE NAMING AND RIBBON CUTTING OF THE HAROLD L. PRESTON SOUTHWEST, UH, POLICE STATION. OF COURSE, EVERYONE KNOWS THAT HAROLD WAS A CHILDHOOD FRIEND AND NEIGHBOR OF MINE, AND SO HIS MOTHER, OF COURSE, IS, IS SUCH A DELIGHTFUL PERSON. AND SO, UH, HER STRENGTH IS JUST A TESTAMENT OF WHAT GOD CAN DO, BECAUSE I KNOW IT HAS TO BE VERY DIFFICULT CONTINUING TO GO THROUGH THAT AND, UH, LOSING HER ONLY SON. I WANNA SAY THAT THE SPECIAL KIDS INCORPORATED BACK TO SCHOOL BASH FAMILY FUN DAY WILL BE SATURDAY, AUGUST 12TH FROM 12 TO 2:00 PM AND THAT'S AT 35 11 REED ROAD. ENJOY GAMES, PRIZES, FREE SCHOOL SUPPLIES, BACKPACKS, PACKS, AND DELICIOUS FOOD. AND THE BACKPACKS AND SUPPLIES ARE AVAILABLE WHILE SUPPLIES LAST. AND, UM, JUST COME ON OUT AND ENJOY AND HELP OUR STUDENTS TO START A GRADE SCHOOL YEAR. ALSO, THE ANNUAL BACK TO SCHOOL GIVEAWAY, ALSO ON THE 12TH AT THE EAST BETHEL CHURCH, WHICH IS LOCATED AT 57 0 2 CALHOUN ROAD, WHICH IS FROM 10:00 AM TO 1:00 PM. AND THEN WE HAVE THE PRAIRIE VIEW, A AND M UH, UNIVERSITY COLLEGE OF NURSING, BACK TO SCHOOL COMMUNITY HEALTH FAIR. UH, ALSO ON AUGUST THE 12TH FROM 10:00 AM TO 2:00 PM AT THE ST. JAMES CHURCH, WHICH IS 31 29 SOPHOMORE BOULEVARD. THERE WILL BE HEALTH SCREENINGS, SPORTS ACTIVITIES, IMMUNIZATIONS, GAMES AND MORE, AND FOOD DEMONSTRATIONS. SO, COME ON OUT. WE WANNA START OUR CHILDREN OFF, UH, WITH A GREAT, UH, WITH GREAT ACTIVITIES AND SUPPLIES, AND CERTAINLY WE WILL CONTINUE TO FIGHT, UH, FOR THE LIBRARIES IN ALL SCHOOLS. THANK YOU, MAYOR. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. COUNCIL MEMBER HOFFMAN. THANK YOU, MAYOR. UH, THIS SUMMER MOVIE SERIES [05:00:01] CONTINUES, COMMISSIONER BRIANIS AND I WILL HOST OUR FINAL, UM, MOVIE OF THE SUMMER ON AUGUST 11TH AT SIX 30 AT RAY MILLER PARK. THE EVENTS WILL START AT SIX 30. THE MOVIE WILL START WHEN THE SUN'S AROUND EIGHT 30, AND WE'LL BE SHOWING DESCENDANTS. AND THEN ALSO ON AUGUST 19TH, HPD MIDWEST, UM, THEY'RE HAVING A BACK TO SCHOOL BASH, UH, FROM 10:00 AM TO NOON AT 7 2 7 7 REGENCY SQUARE BOULEVARD. THEY'RE GONNA HAVE BACKPACKS, SCHOOL SUPPLIES, HAIRCUTS, RAFFLES, AND ALL SORTS OF THINGS. SO HOPE TO SEE YOU AT BOTH EVENTS. THANK YOU. COUNCILMAN CIRO. THANK YOU, MAYOR. UM, I JUST WANTED TO GIVE ANOTHER REMINDER ABOUT THE CHILDHOOD AND YOUTH COMMITTEE MEETING THAT'LL BE, UM, LATER TODAY, TWO O'CLOCK IN THESE CHAMBERS WHERE, UM, YOU'LL HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO, TO LEARN A LOT MORE ABOUT THE, THE BIG ANNOUNCEMENT EARLIER IN THE MEETING, UM, AS, UH, THE CITY OF HOUSTON, UH, IS NOW RECOGNIZED AS THE FIRST UNICEF CHILD FRIENDLY CITY IN THE UNITED STATES. SO, UM, WE'RE EXCITED ABOUT THAT. AND, UM, SO PLEASE COME JOIN US TO LEARN MORE. UM, I WANNA ALSO CONGRATULATE YOU, MAYOR, ON THE VERY SUCCESSFUL BACK TO SCHOOL EVENT LAST SATURDAY. AND, UH, AND TO THANK YOU FOR, UM, UH, LEFTOVER BACKPACKS THAT CAME TO COUNCIL MEMBERS. UM, AND WHAT I DO EVERY YEAR AS A FORMER EDUCATOR, I, I COULD HAVE SEEN FIRSTHAND THAT DESPITE ALL THE WONDERFUL EVENTS AND YOURS, THE BACK TO SCHOOL EVENT THAT YOU HOST EVERY YEAR IS ABSOLUTELY THE, THE BEST ONE WITH SO MANY MORE SERVICES AND THINGS. IT'S NOT JUST BACKPACKS, BUT THERE ARE OTHER EVENTS ACROSS THE CITY. WE'RE ADVERTISING, YOU KNOW, THE DISTRICT H ONES IN THE NEWSLETTER, CHECK THOSE, UM, IN, IN OUR NEWSLETTER TOMORROW FOR WHERE THOSE OPPORTUNITIES ARE. BUT I CAN TELL YOU THAT, UM, THAT WHEN I WAS A TEACHER IN HISD, NO MATTER HOW MANY GREAT OPPORTUNITIES THERE ARE FOR, FOR PARENTS TO GET BACK TO SCHOOL SUPPLIES, UM, FOR FREE, THERE ARE PARENTS THAT, THAT JUST AREN'T ABLE TO DO THAT AND FOR WHATEVER REASON, AND THEY, AND THERE ARE CHILDREN THAT SHOW UP TO, TO SCHOOL THE FIRST DAY, UM, AND HAVE NOTHING AT ALL. SO MY BACKPACKS GO DIRECTLY TO, UM, DISTRICT H ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS, UM, IN HISD, AND, UM, I WANNA THANK HISD FOR BEING PART OF THAT DISTRIBUTION. IT'S, IT'S WORKED AND, UM, IT, IT SERVES A DIFFERENT NICHE. AND THEN FINALLY, I WOULD LIKE TO JUST, UM, ON A VERY SOMBER NOTE, JUST, UM, TO REMIND EVERYONE THAT TOMORROW AUGUST 10TH, UM, IS, WOULD'VE BEEN JOSUE FLORES'S 19TH BIRTHDAY. SO HE WAS THE YOUNG MAN WHEN HE WAS 11 AT THE TIME, IN THE SPRING OF 2016, UM, ON HIS WAY HOME FROM A, AT, UM, A A END OF THE YEAR CELEBRATION AT HIS SCIENCE CLUB, WAS WALKING HOME AND WAS BRUTALLY MURDERED, JUST COMPLETELY SENSELESS. UM, HE WAS STABBED MORE THAN 20 TIMES AND DIED. AND, UM, HIS MOTHER ASKED THAT WE REMEMBER HIM ON HIS BIRTHDAY, NOT THE DAY THAT HE LOST HIS LIFE, AND THAT IS TOMORROW. SO JUST WANNA TO, TO LIFT UP THAT FAMILY AGAIN AND TO, AND TO REMEMBER JOSUE WHO WANTED TO BE A DOCTOR. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. THANK YOU, SIR. MUCH FOR THAT REMINDER, VICE MEMBER TIM KASEK TATUM. THANK YOU, MAYOR. WANTED TO, UM, SAY A VERY, UM, HEARTY THANK YOU TO EVERYONE THAT ATTENDED THE RIBBON CUTTING CEREMONY FOR THE RENAMING OF THE HPD SOUTHWEST COMMAND STATION IN HONOR OF HAROLD L. PRESTON ON YESTERDAY, IT WAS A GREAT, UM, HONOR TO RECOGNIZE HIS STELLAR SERVICE TO THE CITY OF HOUSTON. AND THEN WANT TO, UM, LET THE RESIDENTS OF FORT BEND HOUSTON, UH, KNOW THAT THE SUPER NEIGHBORHOOD COUNCIL 41 MEETING WILL MEET AT BRIARGATE CLUBHOUSE ON, UH, THURSDAY AT 7:00 PM HOPE TO, UH, SEE YOU ALL THERE ON TOMORROW. UH, THE BACK TO SCHOOL MEGAFEST IS FRIDAY, AUGUST THE 11TH FROM 5:30 PM TO 8:00 PM COME OUT FOR SCHOOL SUPPLIES, FREE HAIRCUTS, LAPTOPS, AND MORE. UM, WE'LL SEE YOU AT LANDMARK COMMUNITY CENTER AT 100 LOUISIANA STREET, UH, IN FORT BEND, HOUSTON. SO IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS ABOUT THAT EVENT, YOU CAN CONTACT THE DISTRICT K OFFICE. UH, WE ALSO WANT TO, UM, LET RESIDENTS KNOW THAT, UH, OUR VERY OWN JARED VANDERBILT, WHO PLAYS WITH THE LOS ANGELES LAKERS, IS HOSTING HIS THIRD ANNUAL BACKPACK GIVEAWAY ON SATURDAY, AUGUST THE 19TH, FROM 10 TO 2:00 PM AT MARION PARK AT, UM, 11,000 SOUTH GASNER ROAD. UH, SEVERAL, UH, ACTIVITIES HAPPENING IN THE DISTRICT, A OFFICE. HOPE THAT YOU'RE KEEPING UP WITH OUR NEWSLETTER. WANNA LET THE RESIDENTS OF MAPLEWOOD WEST KNOW THAT THEY'LL HAVE THEIR LONG ANTICIPATED SPEED CUSHIONS INSTALLED SOON? UM, THIS WAS PROVIDED, UH, FUNDING MOSTLY FROM THE NEIGHBORHOOD AND PARTLY FROM OUR DISTRICT SERVICE FUNDS. THOSE TRAFFIC CALMING DEVICES, UM, THAT THE MAJORITY OF THE COMMUNITY SURVEYED WERE IN FAVOR OF WILL CONSTRUCTION WILL BEGIN ON AUGUST THE 14TH, AND SHOULD BE COMPLETE [05:05:01] BY THE END OF SEPTEMBER OF 2023. AND NATIONAL BATTLE OF THE BANDS IS FAST APPROACHING. YOU DON'T WANNA MISS THIS TWO DAY EXTRAVAGANZA FRIDAY, AUGUST THE 25TH, ATTEND THE FREE EMERGING EXPERIENCE ENTREPRENEURIAL CONFERENCE. UM, THERE, UH, THERE ARE, UM, A BACK TO THE YARD KICKOFF AND STROLL OFF COMPETITION AT TEXAS SOUTHERN UNIVERSITY. UM, THE ACTUAL NATIONAL BALLOT OF THE BANDS STEM COLLEGE AND CAREER FAIR AT NRG PARK. UM, ANY QUESTIONS ABOUT IT, YOU CAN GO TO NATIONAL BALLOT OF THE BANDS.COM FOR MORE INFORMATION, BUT WE'RE EXCITED TO HAVE THAT AT NRG AND, UM, THROUGHOUT THE, UH, CITY TO CELEBRATE. UH, ONCE AGAIN AND AGAIN, IF YOU HAVE ANY OTHER QUESTIONS, YOU CAN CONTACT OUR OFFICE AND KEEP UP WITH OUR ACTIVITIES VIA OUR DISTRICT K NEWSLETTER. THANK YOU. AND COUNCIL MEMBER THOMAS. THANK YOU MUCH. UH, MAYOR, I'LL SEE YOU SHORTLY AT THE PRESS CONFERENCE WITH CHILDREN AT RISK. UH, WE, UM, ARE ANNOUNCING THE COLLABORATION OF HOUSE BILL 2313, UM, IN RELATED RELATION TO HUMAN TRAFFICKING. UM, SO HOPEFULLY Y'ALL WILL JOIN US THERE. UH, AND, AND I APPRECIATE YOUR WILLINGNESS TO THANK YOU. UM, HELP LEAD THAT. UM, ON SATURDAY, AUGUST 12TH, WE'RE HOSTING A BACK TO SCHOOL DRIVE AND WITH A, A LOT OF REALLY GOOD PARTNERS THAT ARE DOING THIS WORK IN THE COMMUNITY, AND I WANT ACKNOWLEDGE THEM PUBLICLY FOR AND, UM, FOR, UM, INVITING ME TO JOIN WITH THEM IN, IN THEIR WORK. AILEY SUPER NEIGHBORHOOD 25, BREAKING BREAD, SATURDAYS, THE JP AND S FOUNDATION AND THE WALMART FOUNDATION. WE'VE ALREADY FULLY SUBSCRIBED 300 BAGS, AND WE'RE ALSO, UM, PROVIDING DIRECT RESOURCES TO EXPECTING TEEN MOTHERS STARTING SCHOOL IN THE FALL. UM, JUST TO APPRECIATE THAT, UH, COLLABORATION, AND I'M SURE IT'S GONNA BE A PACKED HOUSE, UM, AT THAT WONDERFUL FACILITY. SO I WANT TO SHOUT OUT ALL OF OUR PARTNERS, AND I LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING WITH YOU ON SATURDAY. I WANNA ACKNOWLEDGE MY DEAREST FRIEND ALPHA, WHO PASSED AWAY ON SAT ON SUNDAY. UH, MAYOR, YOU MAY REMEMBER WHEN WE DID OUR VERY FIRST MASS DRIVE AT CRUMP STADIUM. ALPHA WAS THERE, UM, UH, ALPHA WAS, UH, A WARRIOR. HE WAS A MASTER GARDENER. HE TAUGHT ME HOW TO HARVEST OKRA. UM, UH, HE WOULD ALSO STEAL MY OKRA, UM, AT THE COMMUNITY GARDEN. UH, HE HELPED WITH ME ON THE CAMPAIGN AND WAS OUT THERE FIGHTING, AND I MEAN, LITERALLY OUT THERE FIGHTING. UH, UM, AL WAS A GOOD, GOOD MAN, AND, UH, A DEEPLY LOVED YOU AND ALWAYS ASKED ABOUT YOU, UH, AND AS HE DID WITH MY FAMILY. SO, UM, UH, MAY HE ENTER, UH, AN ETERNAL REST, AND I, I, I DEFINITELY WILL, WILL MISS HIM DEARLY. UM, EVERYTHING ELSE IS ONGOING IN DISTRICT F. PLEASE SIGN UP FOR OUR NEWSLETTER, FOLLOW US ON SOCIAL MEDIA, REACH OUT TO OUR OFFICE, UH, FOR ANYTHING RELATED TO CONSTITUENT SERVICES, AND WE'LL MAKE A RESPONSE. THANK YOU MUCH. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. COUNCILMAN MALCO. I'LL PASS. HAPPY BREAK WEEK. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. UM, AND DON'T FORGET, UM, NO MEETING. UH, NEXT WEEK WE'LL BE BACK ON TUESDAY, UH, AUGUST THE 22ND. AND, UH, BE SAFE AND BE KIND TO EVERYONE. AND WE STAND IN RECESS. I MEAN, WE, WE STAND ADJOURNED. * This transcript was created by voice-to-text technology. The transcript has not been edited for errors or omissions, it is for reference only and is not the official minutes of the meeting.