* 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. [Press Conference: "Domestic Violence Awareness Month"] [00:00:18] SO, I'M SAY, GOOD AFTERNOON TO EVERYONE. UM, WE'RE HERE TO, UH, SPEAK ON THIS, UH, OCTOBER, DOMESTIC VIOLENCE, UH, MONTH. WE'RE HERE TO SPEAK TO THAT, BUT I JUST WANT TO PAUSE AND ACKNOWLEDGE, UH, PAIN AND SUFFERING IN THE MIDDLE EAST AND THAT ENTIRE REGION, UH, ISRAEL. UH, JUST WANT TO ASK THAT, UH, EVERYONE PRAY, UH, FOR THOSE OF VICTIMS, UH, AND THEIR FAMILIES, AND, UM, EVEN ALL AMERICANS THAT'S OVER THERE AND PRAY FOR A SAFE RETURN HOME. UM, SO JUST WANT TO START OFF BY SAYING, AGAIN, THIS IS THE, UH, FAMILY VIOLENCE, UH, MONTH. UH, WE'VE HAD SOME SUCCESS HERE IN HOUSTON, BUT AT THE SAME TIME, AND I'LL SPEAK TO THE NUMBERS HERE JUST SHORTLY, BUT I JUST WANTED TO SAY FEW PEOPLE WHO ARE JOINING US. A LOT OF INDIVIDUALS ON OUR HPD TEAM, BUT OF COURSE, OUR MAYOR, SYLVESTER TURNER, IS HERE. CITY COUNCIL MEMBER AND CHAIR OF PUBLIC SAFETY, ABBY CAYMAN, UH, AND FROM THE HOUSTON AREA WOMEN'S CENTER, CEO, EMILY WHITEHURST, AND DEPUTY CEO, SONYA CORRALES. AND MOST IMPORTANTLY, UH, JUST HONORED TO HAVE YOU HERE, UM, MS. ANGELA JOHNSON, WHO IS A SURVIVOR OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE. SO, THANKS FOR BEING HERE. UM, WE'LL, UH, HEAR SOME, UH, FROM OUR PARTNER SHORTLY, BUT I WANNA BRING UP FIRST, UH, MAYOR TURNER. THANK YOU. THANK YOU, CHIEF. AND LET ME THANK ALL OF, UH, WHAT I CALL THESE FRONTLINE RESPONDERS, UH, WHO ARE JUST DOING, UM, AN EXCEPTIONAL JOB. AND OF COURSE, I'VE HAD THE PRIVILEGE OF WORKING WITH COUNCIL MEMBER ABBY CAYMAN OVER THE LAST FOUR YEARS ON THIS SUBJECT MATTER. SO, THANK YOU. AND YOU'RE GONNA BE HEARING FROM A NUMBER OF, UH, SPEAKERS THIS MORNING. CHIEF, THANK YOU SO VERY MUCH, UH, FOR THE WORK THAT YOU'VE BEEN DOING IN THIS AREA AND FOR YOUR, FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP. LOOK, THE TRUTH IS DOMESTIC VIOLENCE IS PREVENTABLE. AND I HAVE SOME OF THESE NOTES THAT HAVE BEEN WRITTEN, BUT LEMME JUST, LEMME JUST SAY THIS. UM, YOU DON'T HAVE TO ENGAGE IN DOMESTIC VIOLENCE. UH, THERE'S NO JUSTIFICATION FOR IT. UM, RELATIONSHIPS WILL BREAK UP. THAT DOESN'T MEAN THAT IT NEEDS TO TURN INTO A FATAL ONE, OR WHERE PEOPLE ARE INJURED OR SHOT OR KILLED. UM, DIVORCES WILL HAPPEN. YOU KNOW, I'M A DIVORCEE MYSELF, OKAY? MM-HMM . UH, BUT THAT DOESN'T MEAN IT SHOULD BE A DEATH SENTENCE FOR ANYBODY, BECAUSE THE RELATIONSHIP, UH, UH, UH, DIDN'T WORK OR DIDN'T TURN OUT. UM, AND I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT FOR PEOPLE TO REMEMBER, UM, THAT, UH, WHEN YOU ENGAGE IN DOMESTIC VIOLENCE, IN MORE CASE, MORE SO THAN NOT, IS, UH, SOMEONE'S DAUGHTER OR SISTER OR AUNT. UH, AND I KNOW IT HAPPENS TO MEN TOO, BUT IN MORE CASES, UH, THE PAIN, THE INJURY DEATH IS INFLICTED ON, ON WOMEN. SO, KIND OF TAKING A DIFFERENT, A LITTLE DIFFERENT APPROACH TODAY. YOU KNOW, LEMME JUST SPEAK TO MEN, OKAY? LEMME JUST SPEAK TO MEN. UM, IT JUST DOESN'T MAKE ANY SENSE TO BE ENGAGING IN DOMESTIC VIOLENCE IF, UH, IF THE RELATIONSHIP IS NOT WORKING OUT. IT'S JUST NOT WORKING OUT. DON'T MAKE IT A FATAL ONE. AND DON'T ENGAGE IN ANY SORT OF ACTIVITY OR BEHAVIOR THAT, UH, THE NEXT SECOND YOU REGRET IT. OR, IF NOT, THE NEXT SECOND, THE NEXT DAY, OR THE NEXT MONTH, OR THE NEXT YEAR. AND, UH, AND REMEMBER THESE KIDS, OKAY? SO LEMME JUST SAY TO MEN, UM, KEEP YOUR FIRE, KEEP YOUR GUNS WHERE THEY BELONG. KEEP 'EM LOCKED UP. DON'T USE THEM. UH, KEEP YOUR HANDS TO YOURSELF, UM, AND DON'T ALLOW A SITUATION WHERE, UM, UM, THE PERSON YOU ENGAGE IN A RELATIONSHIP WITH DECIDES THAT, UH, NO, IT'S NOT WORKING OUT. DON'T MAKE THAT FATAL. I JUST WANT TO, I WANT TO SAY THAT BECAUSE OFTENTIMES WE TALK AROUND IT MM-HMM . INSTEAD OF SPEAKING TO IT. SO, UM, AND I WILL TELL YOU, UH, EVEN AS A DIVORCEE, MY RELATIONSHIP WITH MY, UH, EX AND, AND MY DAUGHTER, UH, IS ONE OF THE BEST. [00:05:01] OKAY? SO, UM, I WANNA THANK OUR FRIENDS AT, AT HOK, WHO WORKING AT SYSTEM LEVEL TO IMPROVE WHAT HAPPENS TO SURVIVORS IMMEDIATELY WHEN THEY CALL FOR HELP. UH, THIS HAS LED TO PARTNERSHIPS LIKE THE ONE WITH DART THAT HAVE UNDOUBTEDLY SAVED MANY LIVES. I WANT TO ALSO ACKNOWLEDGE MY OFFICE OF HUMAN TRAFFICKING AND DOMESTIC OF VIOLENCE, AND THE LEADERSHIP OF MENA PATEL DAVIS. AND MY OFFICE, JUST LAST MONTH ON SEPTEMBER 15TH, ANNOUNCED $1.75 MILLION, UH, IN, IN, IN AVAILABLE FUNDS FOR ORGANIZATIONS TO APPLY VIA A NOTICE OF FUNDING AVAILABILITY TO ADDRESS DOMESTIC VIOLENCE. THAT'S $1.75 MILLION THAT'S AVAILABLE. OUR GOAL IS TO FUND NEW AND EXISTING PROGRAMS THAT WILL INTERVENE IN COMMUNITIES OF COLOR AND WITH OTHER ETHNIC GROUPS. WHEN IT COMES TO ADDRESSING THIS ISSUE, WE ENCOURAGE ELIGIBLE ORGANIZATIONS TO CONSIDER APPLYING VISIT WWW.HUMANTRAFFICKINGHOUSTON.ORG/NOFA. THAT'S NOFA FOR MORE INFORMATION. UH, THIS IS A MISSION THAT WE HAVE WORKED CLOSELY WITH THE POLICE DEPARTMENT, WITH HARK, WITH COUNCIL MEMBER CAMAN, AND MY OFFICE OF HUMAN TRAFFICKING AND DOMESTIC VIOLENCE FOR MANY YEARS. AND OVER THE LAST THREE YEARS, I, ALONG WITH COUNCIL MEMBER CAMAN, ANNOUNCED A CITYWIDE DOMESTIC VIOLENCE AWARENESS INITIATIVE TO REACH VULNERABLE POPULATIONS AND PROVIDE RESOURCES FOR SURVIVORS. IT INCLUDED A $50,000 GRANT FROM UBER TO PROVIDE RIDE SERVICES TO VICTIMS OF HUMAN TRAFFICKING AND DOMESTIC VIOLENCE. AND THIS WORK WILL CONTINUE, AND COLLABORATION IS AT THE CORE OF THESE EFFORTS. AND CURRENTLY, SO MANY WOMEN AND CHILDREN MUST CHOOSE BETWEEN HOMELESSNESS AND VIOLENT AND VIOLENT HOME. THAT'S NOT AN ACCEPTABLE OPTION. AND DOMESTIC VIOLENCE, LETHALITY RATES HAVE INCREASED. SAFETY AND HOUSING FOR SURVIVORS ARE IN JEOPARDY AND HEART. EMILY, LET ME THANK YOU. AND IN YOUR ENTIRE TEAM IS IN THE PROCESS OF BUILDING A NEW FACILITY THAT WILL TRIPLE THE NUMBER OF SHELTER BEDS THEY OFFER. IT WILL OPEN AT THE END OF 20 20, 24, AND I'M PROUD TO SAY THAT THE CITY IS PLAYING A SIGNIFICANT ROLE IN BRINGING THIS FACILITY TO ESTONIANS. AND THEN LASTLY, THE FACILITY WILL CONTAIN BEHAVIORAL HEALTH, WELLNESS, FINANCIAL EMPOWERMENT CENTERS, STATE-OF-THE-ART, COMPUTER LAB, AND SO MUCH MORE. HEART HAS ALSO OPENED NEIGHBORHOOD HUBS REACHING THEIR SERVICES INTO THE COMMUNITIES THAT NEED THEM, AND MAKING SERVICE ACCESSIBLE. SO, LOOK, UH, EXCUSE, I'M A PROUD HOUSTONIAN. I'M PROUD OF THE PEOPLE IN THE CITY, EVERY SINGLE ONE, AND I'M PROUD OF, UM, UH, THOSE WHO, UH, UM, UM, WORK EVERY SINGLE DAY TO MAKE THEIR LIVES BETTER FOR THEIR FAMILY MEMBERS AND SO MANY OTHERS. BUT MY MESSAGE TODAY IS SIMPLY CLEAR, DOMESTIC VIOLENCE IS NOT ACCEPTABLE IN OUR CITY. LET'S REACH A ZERO LEVEL. AND IN ORDER TO ACHIEVE THAT, KEEP YOUR HANDS TO YOURSELF. KEEP YOUR GUNS LOCKED DOWN, LOCKED UP. UM, ALLOW PEOPLE TO, UM, ENTER AND EXIT RELATIONSHIPS WITHOUT MAKING AN EXIT, A FATAL ONE. AND FOR MEN, THE BEST WAY TO BE A MAN IS TO BE RESPECTFUL OF WOMEN AND OTHERS. AND IF YOU DO THAT, THEN I THINK THE CITY CAN LEAD THE WAY IN THE END OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. WHITE MEN. I KNOW WHEN WE CHANGE THE ORDER, YOU KNOW, IT'S ALWAYS HARD TO FOLLOW THE MAYOR, BUT LOOK, JUST A FEW WORDS FROM ME, AND WE'RE GONNA TURN IT OVER TO OUR, OUR PARTNERS. UM, OUR GOAL WITH ALL OF OUR PARTNERS IS TO PREVENT, UH, UH, DOMESTIC VIOLENCE. BUT WHEN THAT DOESN'T HAPPEN, WE REALLY HAVE TO LEND THE SUPPORT, UH, WHICHEVER WAY THAT WE CAN, UH, TO THOSE VICTIMS. AND, UH, JUST WANT TO TOUCH ON A FEW NUMBERS. UH, AS OF, UH, SEPTEMBER 30TH, UM, THE NUMBER OF VEST, UH, DOMESTIC VIOLENCE HAVE DECREASED, UH, 17%. HOWEVER, THEY STILL ACCOUNT FOR 18% OF ALL OF OUR HOMICIDES. AND THAT'S WHAT WE'RE HERE TO TRY TO SEND THAT NUMBER DOWN AND, AND PREVENT THAT. UH, WE CAN ATTRIBUTE THIS TO A LOT OF THINGS, BUT NUMBER ONE IS THE GREAT PARTNERSHIP. UM, ANOTHER REASON, THE FUNDING FROM THE MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL, MILLIONS OF DOLLARS, UH, WENT IN TO, UM, UM, PROVIDE SHELTERS, UH, INCREASE OUR, UM, COUNCILORS THAT RIDE AROUND WITH, WITH THE OFFICERS. BUT, UM, JUST WANT TO LOOK AT, AND WE ARE ONE AND PROBABLY, UH, THE ONE, THE ONLY MAJOR DEPARTMENT THAT I KNOW OF THAT HAS A, A, A UNIT, UH, UNDER COMMANDER, UH, HARRIS, UH, [00:10:01] VICTIM SERVICES UNIT, ENTIRE DIVISION THAT'S DEVOTED TO ASSISTING VICTIMS OF CRIME, UM, ESPECIALLY WHEN IT COMES TO VIOLENCE. SO I WANT TO THANK, UH, YOU, DAN, AND, AND, AND, UH, MY LIEUTENANT, THE GREAT LIEUTENANT, UH, PLEASANT FOR EVERYTHING THAT Y'ALL DO. AND EVERYBODY THAT'S O OVER THERE WANT TO TOUCH ON, UH, OUR DART, UH, UNIT, UH, DOMESTIC RESPONSE, UM, I'M SORRY, DOMESTIC ABUSE RESPONSE TEAM. UM, THESE, AN OFFICER IS PUT WITH A CIVILIAN WHO IS TRAINED IN THE VICTIM ADVOCACY ADVOCACY, UM, THE RIDES WITH, UM, THE OFFICER. SO THIS IS IMPORTANT BECAUSE YOU CAN LEND THAT ASSISTANCE IMMEDIATELY, UH, TO SOME OF THOSE VICTIMS. SO, JUST A FEW STATS OVER THE LAST 12 MONTHS, THEY'VE RESPONDED TO, UH, 1,084 SCENES AND PLACED A HUNDRED, I'M SORRY, 404 ADULTS INTO SHELTERS. SO THAT, THAT'S JUST HUGE. SO AGAIN, UH, THE PARTNERSHIPS THAT WE HAVE HERE IN HOUSTON, I'M, I'M, I'M VERY PROUD OF THAT. OUR, OUR TEAM AND THE HOUSTON AREA WOMEN'S CENTER. AND WE'RE GONNA GET EVEN STRONGER, AND THAT'S WHY WE'RE HERE TODAY TO STAND IN, IN UNITY, UH, TO, UH, MAKE SURE. SO I WANT TO, UH, PAUSE JUST FOR A SECOND, UM, TO, UH, LOOK AT A VIDEO AND, AND THEN, UH, WE'LL BRING UP OUR PARTNERS. UH, WE CLEAR EVERYBODY'S CLEAR, THE VIDEOS AND YOU STEP IN A LITTLE BIT, LIKE THEY CAN SEE IT. OKAY. YEAH. WE GOOD? MM-HMM . THE LIGHTS. SO LIGHTS, A DARK TEAM CONSISTS OF A VICTIM ADVOCATE AND A CLASSIFIED POLICE OFFICER. WHEN WE RESPOND, IT'S ALWAYS WITH THAT TRAUMA INFORMED APPROACH. WE ARRIVE ON SCENE AND THE PERSON IS STILL EXPERIENCING THE EFFECTS OF TRAUMA IN THAT MOMENT, WE CAN JUST SAY, HEY, WE GOT YOU. WE'RE HERE FOR YOU, AND THIS IS WHAT'S AVAILABLE FOR YOU. YOU DON'T HAVE TO STAY IN THIS SITUATION. YOU HAVE PEOPLE OUT THERE TO SUPPORT YOU. WE'RE ABLE TO FOCUS ON THE VICTIM. WHEN I WAS IN PATROL, IT WAS MORE BASED ON ASSESSING THE SUSPECT, YOU KNOW, ASSESSING THE SCENE. BUT NOW IT'S, YOU KNOW, ABOUT THE VICTIM AND MAKING SURE THEY'RE OKAY. THEY'LL TALK TO THEM ABOUT WHAT RESOURCES THEY MAY NEED, WHETHER IT'S EMERGENCY SHELTER OR LEGAL OR SOCIAL SERVICES, BUT BUILT OFF TRUST. SO WHEN WE ENTER THE DOOR, WE WALK IN WITH THEM NOT WEARING A UNIFORM, IT MAKES IT A LOT EASIER. AND THE COMPAN IS ABLE TO TALK TO THEM AND HAVE GOOD CONNECTION AND TRUST US AND TRUST THAT WE CAN DO WHAT'S BEST FOR THEM. SOMETIMES THE VICTIM, THE SURVIVORS, THEIR CHILDREN MAY ALWAYS MAY SEE A NEGATIVE SIDE OF THE POLICE WHERE THERE'S ARREST IS MADE. SO THEY CAN ALSO SEE US AWARE. THE POLICE DEPARTMENT ARE ALSO THERE TO HELP US, TO MAKE US FEEL SAFE. WE KNOW THAT IT'S NOT THAT EASY TO JUST GET OUT OF A SITUATION. WE HAVE TO HAVE LIKE, RESOURCES OUT THERE, AND IT'S OKAY TO BE NOT OKAY IN AFRICA. AND RESEARCH HAS SHOWN THAT WHEN VICTIMS DO RECEIVE THAT KIND OF ATTENTION TO THEIR NEEDS ON SCENE, THEY'RE MORE LIKELY TO STAY ENGAGED WITH THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM THROUGHOUT THE ENTIRE PROCESS. ALRIGHT, THANK YOU. SO AT THIS TIME, I'D LIKE TO, UH, BRING UP, UM, UH, UH, HAWK, UH, CEO, EMILY WHITEHOUSE. THANK YOU. THANK YOU, CHIEF NER. UH, THANK YOU MAYOR, UH, FOR YOUR EMILY WISDOM AND WEALTH THAT YOU'VE INVESTED IN THIS MOVEMENT WHILE YOU'VE BEEN IN OFFICE. WE ARE SO GRATEFUL TO HAVE YOU. UH, AND ONE SAFE HOUSTON HAS REALLY MADE A DIFFERENCE. YES, IT REALLY HAS. UM, THANK YOU COUNCIL MEMBER CAYMAN FOR BEING HERE. WE LOOK FORWARD TO HEARING YOUR REMARKS. AND, UM, MOST IMPORTANTLY, THANK YOU, ANGELA, FOR BEING COURAGEOUS ENOUGH TO TELL YOUR STORY WITH US TODAY. THE ARY WOMEN'S CENTER IS INDEED ON THE FRONT LINES OF SUPPORTING SURVIVORS. OFTENTIMES IN LETHAL SITUATIONS, WE HAVE AN ARRAY OF SERVICES. ALL OF THOSE SERVICES ARE FREE AND CONFIDENTIAL. AND I HOPE YOU HEARD IN THAT VIDEO THAT IT IS NOT YOUR JOB ALONE TO BE SAFE. WE ARE HERE FOR YOU. UH, WE HAVE A 24 HOUR HOTLINE, AND WE INVITE YOU TO CALL US. UH, MAYOR, YOU SPOKE TO MEN. I WANT TO START MY REMARKS BY JUST SPEAKING TO SURVIVORS THIS MORNING. UH, AND YOUR FRIENDS AND FAMILY, THERE ARE SIGNS THAT YOU CAN RECOGNIZE, UH, THAT CAN GIVE YOU SOME INDICATION AS TO WHETHER OR NOT YOU'RE IN A SITUATION THAT COULD POTENTIALLY ESCALATE AND POTENTIALLY TURN LETHAL. UM, IF YOU'RE IN A SITUATION WHERE THERE IS A COERCIVE AND CONTROLLING DYNAMIC IN YOUR RELATIONSHIP, IF YOUR ABILITY [00:15:01] TO DRIVE, HAVE INDEPENDENCE AND AUTONOMY, GO WHERE YOU WANNA GO IS BEING CURTAILED. IF YOUR ACCESS TO FINANCIAL RESOURCES IS BEING COMPROMISED, IF YOUR PARTNER IS LEVERAGING YOUR CHILDREN AGAINST YOU, AND CERTAINLY IF THERE IS A GUN IN THE HOME, UH, WE REALLY IMPLORE YOU TO CALL OUR HOTLINE, UH, AND VISIT WITH OUR TRAINED ADVOCATES SOMETIMES. AND IT IS THE MOST NORMAL AND HEALTHY THING IN THE WORLD. UH, SURVIVORS GET TO A POINT WHERE THEY HAVE HAD IT, THEY HAVE JUST HAD IT, AND THEY ARE READY TO GO, AND THEY WANT TO LEAVE. AND, UH, OFTENTIMES PEOPLE IN THEIR LIVES ARE ENCOURAGING THEM TO DO SO. AGAIN, IT'S A VERY HEALTHY AND NATURAL AND NORMAL AND HUMAN RESPONSE. AND WHAT WE WANT TO MAKE SURE, UH, WE TELL YOU TODAY IS THAT THAT MOMENT CAN IN FACT BE THE MOST DANGEROUS MOMENT FOR YOU. IT IS NOT TO SAY THAT YOUR INSTINCTS, UH, TO, TO END THIS DYNAMIC ARE OFF POINT, BUT PLEASE CALL US BEFORE YOU MAKE ANY DECISIONS ABOUT LEAVING. UH, WE WORK WITH EACH PERSON WHO CALLS TO DEVELOP A SPECIALIZED PERSONALIZED SAFETY PLAN. UH, WE KNOW THAT LEAVING CAN BE THE MOST DANGEROUS TIME, AND WE ACTUALLY HAVE A TOOL THAT WE USE TO HELP ASSESS HOW LETHAL A SITUATION MIGHT BE. AND THIS MONTH, WE ARE REALLY WANTING TO FOCUS, ESPECIALLY ON THE ROLE GUNS ARE NOW PLAYING IN THE INCREASING LETHALITY RATES FOR DOMESTIC ABUSE. WHAT BEFORE MIGHT HAVE BEEN A HORRIFIC AND EVEN VIOLENT SITUATION WOULD NOT NECESSARILY HAVE BEEN A LETHAL ONE. UH, BUT IF THERE IS A GUN IN A HOME THAT INCREASES THE LETHALITY 500 TIMES, AND YOU DON'T HAVE TO KNOW THAT, YOU WOULDN'T KNOW THAT. BUT FOR OUR, IT'S OUR JOB AT THE ARY WOMEN'S CENTER AND WITH OUR PARTNERS TO GET THAT MESSAGE OUT. UM, WE ARE STANDING IN A MOMENT WHERE WE ARE REALLY TRYING TO HELP PEOPLE SEE THE CONNECTIONS, CONNECT THE DOTS, AND WE'RE COMMITTED TO DOING THAT BECAUSE EVERY DAY WE'RE ON THE FRONT LINES ANSWERING CALLS, UH, SUPPORTING SURVIVORS. AND WE SIMPLY CAN'T FIX THIS PROBLEM ONE BY ONE. SO TODAY WE'RE COMING TOGETHER WITH OUR PARTNERS TO DO SOME REAL TRUTH TELLING ABOUT WHAT'S HAPPENING IN OUR COMMUNITY AND THINGS THAT PEOPLE CAN DO. AND IF THERE'S ONE TAKEAWAY THAT YOU HAVE FROM TODAY, IT IS TO KNOW THAT THE GUNS THAT ARE PENETRATING OUR COMMUNITY ARE TURNING AGAINST WOMEN AND CHILDREN. THEY'RE TURNING AGAINST WOMEN AND CHILDREN. AND INCREASINGLY, IT IS BECOMING A VERY SCARY PLACE. AND PEOPLE MAY THINK OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE AS SOMETHING BETWEEN TWO PEOPLE THAT HAPPENS BEHIND CLOSED DOORS. YOU WOULD BE WRONG. THIS VIOLENCE IS CASCADING OUT. IT'S CASCADING OUT INTO COMMUNITIES, INTO WORKPLACES, EVEN TO MASS SHOOTINGS. AND I'LL TAKE A LITTLE TIME BECAUSE THAT DOESN'T MAKE A LOT OF SENSE TO PEOPLE. BUT WHAT I NEED YOU TO KNOW IS THAT MASS SHOOTINGS ARE OFTENTIMES ROOTED IN INTERPERSONAL DOMESTIC VIOLENCE SITUATIONS. UH, AND THE GUNS ARE WHAT ARE TURNING THAT ANGER AND RAGE OVER SOMEBODY NOT COMPLYING INTO A DEATH SENTENCE. AND IT'S GOT TO STOP, AND IT CAN STOP IF WE WORK TOGETHER. UH, THE LAST THING I REALLY WANNA MAKE SURE PEOPLE UNDERSTAND IS WE'RE AT A VERY PIVOTAL, PIVOTAL MOMENT IN OUR MOVEMENT. UM, I, I'M ABOUT TO HAND THIS OVER TO SONYA CORRALES, WHO'S BEEN WORKING TO END DOMESTIC VIOLENCE FOR OVER 30 YEARS. DICTIONARY WOMEN'S CENTER HAS BEEN AROUND OVER 45 YEARS. UH, WE KNOW, UH, WHAT IT TAKES TO KEEP PEOPLE SAFE. AND ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT TOOLS THAT WE HAVE IS A PROTECTIVE ORDER. AND IT COMES THROUGH THE CIVIL SIDE. IT DOESN'T REQUIRE A CRIMINAL JUSTICE PROCESS, UH, BUT IT'S FAIR, IT'S RUN BY A JUDGE. AND IF YOU GET A PROTECTIVE ORDER AND YOUR ABUSER HAS BEEN VIOLENT, YOU CAN ASK FOR THAT ABUSER TO NOT HAVE ACCESS TO THEIR GUNS UNLESS, AND UNTIL THE SUPREME COURT DECIDES OTHERWISE. IN HOUSTON AND IN TEXAS, THIS RECOURSE THAT WE HAVE WORKED SO HARD TO, UH, TO PROVIDE FOR SURVIVORS IS NOW GONE. NOW BECAUSE OF A FIFTH CIRCUIT DECISION, WE ARE NO LONGER ABLE TO REQUIRE A DANGEROUS ABUSER, SUBJECT TO A PREVENTATIVE PROTECTIVE ORDER TO SURRENDER THEIR GUNS. AND THAT MAY BE THE FATE OF THE REST OF THE COUNTRY. SO WE ARE RAISING THE ALARM. WE KNOW TOO MUCH TO BE QUIET, AND IT IS UNCONSCIONABLE THAT SURVIVORS ARE NOW FACING A REALITY WHERE THEY WILL LOSE ACCESS TO A VERY IMPORTANT LIFESAVING MEASURE, WHICH IS TO MAKE SURE THEIR ABUSER DOES NOT HAVE A LEGAL RIGHT TO A GUN. I THANK YOU FOR LISTENING. UH, I WANT YOU TO GO TO OUR WEBSITE. WE HAVE A PETITION. I'M ASKING EVERYBODY TO SIGN THIS PETITION. WE CANNOT ALLOW THIS VERY IMPORTANT SAFETY MEASURE TO BE TAKEN AWAY BY A COURT THAT DOES NOT HAVE THE INTERESTS OF WOMEN AT HEART. WE CANNOT. AND WITH THAT, I WOULD LIKE TO INVITE MY COLLEAGUE, SONYA CORRALES, UP TO THE STAND TO TALK A LITTLE BIT MORE ABOUT THIS VERY IMPORTANT PARTNERSHIP WITH THE POLICE DEPARTMENT. IT REALLY IS A TESTAMENT TO YOUR LEADERSHIP, SONYA, THAT THIS PARTNERSHIP IS IN PLACE. AND I LOOK FORWARD TO HEARING [00:20:01] WHAT YOU HAVE TO SAY. THANK YOU. PARDON? THANK YOU. THANK YOU, EMILY. AND THANK YOU FOR YOUR, YOUR PASSION. , JUST LOVE IT. UM, GOOD AFTERNOON EVERYONE. AND BEFORE I GET STARTED, I WANTED TO ACKNOWLEDGE THAT TODAY IS ACTUALLY, UM, INDIGENOUS PEOPLE'S DAY. YES. AND I WANTED TO ACKNOWLEDGE THAT AS WE CELEBRATE AND HONOR, UH, NATIVE AMERICAN CULTURE AND HISTORIES. UH, BUT IT ALSO GIVES US AN OPPORTUNITY TO RAISE AWARENESS WITHIN THE NATIVE AMERICAN COMMUNITY BECAUSE THEY, UH, FACE HIGHER RATES OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE, UM, HERE IN THE US AND ALL OF NORTH AMERICA, UH, FOR THAT MATTER. AND OFTENTIMES THEY DO NOT HAVE ACCESS TO, UH, SUPPORTIVE SERVICES AS MANY, UM, OTHER SURVIVORS. WELL, I DO WANNA HIGHLIGHT A LITTLE BIT OF OUR PARTNERSHIP WITH THE HOUSTON, UH, POLICE DEPARTMENT THAT I AM VERY PROUD OF, AND MY SISTER OVER HERE, JULIE, OR LIEUTENANT . LIEUTENANT. WE, WE HAVE A, A LONGSTANDING RELATIONSHIP AND PARTNERSHIP WITH THE, WITH THE HOUSTON POLICE DEPARTMENT. BUT IT REALLY IS IMPORTANT TO HIGHLIGHT THAT PARTNERSHIP TODAY WITH THE DOMESTIC ABUSE RESPONSE TEAM, BECAUSE I DO BELIEVE THAT IT IS, IT IS INCREDIBLY, INCREDIBLY IMPORTANT TO THE SAFETY OF HOUSTON AND TO THE CARE, UH, THAT THE, THE SURVIVORS RECEIVE, UM, IN THE COMMUNITY OR, OR ANYWHERE. NOW, I WILL, I WILL, I DO WANNA SAY THAT THE HOUSTON AREA WOMEN'S CENTER IS NOT THE POLICE. WE ARE NOT THE POLICE. WE ARE PARTNERS OF THE POLICE DEPARTMENT, AND WE ARE HERE TO TELL YOU THAT WE WILL ADVOCATE AND GO ALONG WITH YOU AS YOU NAVIGATE, UM, THE SYSTEMS. BUT I WILL TELL YOU THAT THE HOUSTON POLICE DEPARTMENT HAS REALLY COMMITTED TO GETTING THE TRAINING TO BE TRAUMA INFORMED. UM, ALL OF THE ADVOCATES GO THROUGH THE SAME TRAINING THAT THE ADVOCATES AT THE HOUSTON AREA WOMEN'S CENTER GO THROUGH. AND THAT IS A HUGE, HUGE COMMITMENT THAT THE HOUSTON POLICE DEPARTMENT HAS MADE. WHAT THAT MEANS FOR SURVIVORS IS THAT WHEN YOU ENTER THESE SYSTEMS, THAT YOU'RE GONNA BE TREATED WITH DIGNITY, AND YOU'RE GONNA BE TREATED WITH RESPECT IN A VERY TRAUMA INFORMED WAY. AS THE VIDEO SAID, JUST ABSOLUTELY LOVE THAT THIS TEAM, THAT, AS YOU HEARD IN THE VIDEO AND AS YOU HEARD THE CHIEF MENTION, IS COMPRISED OF OFFICERS, MEDICAL PROFESSIONALS, ADVOCATES, AND ALSO THOSE WHO WORK DIRECTLY WITH THE HOUSTON AREA WOMEN'S CENTER. IT'S A COORDINATED RESPONSE, AND IT'S USING A MULTIDISCIPLINARY APPROACH THAT PREVENTS HOMICIDE. I TRULY BELIEVE THAT THIS APPROACH PREVENTS HOMICIDES FROM OCCURRING. AT THE HOUSTON AREA WOMEN'S CENTER, WE WITNESS FIRSTHAND THE DEVASTATING IMPACT THAT DOMESTIC VIOLENCE HAS ON FAMILIES, BOTH ADULTS AND CHILDREN. WE AVERAGE ON OUR HOTLINE MORE THAN 50,000 CALLS A YEAR, AND WE KNOW THAT THAT'S A PROBLEM IF, IF WE, ONE HOTLINE IS RECEIVING OVER 50,000 CALLS A YEAR, AND MORE THAN HALF OF THEM INVOLVE PEOPLE WHO ARE SAYING THAT THEY ARE IN DANGEROUS SITUATIONS, AND THAT THEY HAVE BEEN THREATENED WITH GUNS. THAT IS, THAT IS ALARMING. NOW, WITH OUR HOTLINE, AS EMILY INDICATED, WE HAVE ACCESS TO A LETHALITY TOOL WHERE WE MEASURE YOUR LETHALITY. THIS IS VERY IMPORTANT BECAUSE OFTENTIMES SURVIVORS DO NOT KNOW THAT THEY MAY POTENTIALLY HAVE A RISK OF DYING, AND THAT IS IMPORTANT. AND THEN WE OFFER LOTS OF SAFETY PLANNING. WE ALWAYS TALK ABOUT SAFETY PLANNING FOR NOT ONLY THAT SURVIVOR, BUT FOR FRIENDS AND FOR FAMILY. WHAT CAN YOU DO AS A FRIEND OR FAMILY TO ENSURE THAT SOMEBODY MIGHT BE SAFE? SAFETY PLANNING SAVES LIVES, AND WE, WE BELIEVE THAT. NOW, AT THE END OF THE PROGRAM, I'M GONNA, I'M GONNA COME BACK AND, AND SAY SOME OF THESE THINGS, UM, IN SPANISH, BECAUSE ONE OF THE IMPORTANT THINGS AT THE HOUSTON AREA WOMEN'S CENTER, JUST TO MENTION, IS THAT OVER 50% OF OUR CLIENTS IDENTIFY AS HISPANIC OR LATINO. AND AT THE HOUSTON AREA WOMEN'S CENTER, UM, WE KNOW THAT IT IMPACTS EVERYONE WE KNOW DOMESTIC VIOLENCE IMPACTS EVERY PERSON, WHETHER IT'S THE VICTIM OR PEOPLE WHO ARE IMPACTED OUTSIDE OF WHO THE, WHO THAT SURVIVOR IS. IT CROSSES ALL RELIGIONS AND RACIAL AND CULTURAL LINES. IT IS A PUBLIC HEALTH PROBLEM. AND I'M GONNA SAY THAT ONE MORE TIME. IT IS A PUBLIC HEALTH PROBLEM, AND IT DISPROPORTIONATELY IMPACTS WOMEN AND WOMEN OF COLOR FROM COMMUNITIES THAT ARE HARMED BY HISTORICAL AND ONGOING OPPRESSION. HAWK USES A GENDER AND RACIAL LENS TO SEE THE NEEDS OF CLIENTS. AND BY UNDERSTANDING THIS, WE CAN TAILOR PROGRAMS AT AN INDIVIDUAL LEVEL, BUT ALSO WE ALSO ARE ABLE TO ENGAGE IN THE SYSTEMS AS WE ARE DOING TODAY, WHERE SOMETIMES BARRIERS EXIST BETWEEN THE CLIENT AND THEIR SAFETY. AND WE WANNA MAKE SURE THAT WE WORK WITH THOSE SYSTEMS TO ENSURE THAT THERE IS CHANGE, YOU KNOW, IN, IN, IN THE FUTURE. AND IT'S LONG LASTING. SO NOW I'M GONNA PIVOT OVER AND TALK ABOUT, UH, PIVOT OVER AND, AND GIVE THE [00:25:01] MICROPHONE TO ANGELA JOHNSON. NOW ANGELA, UH, A REMARKABLE, REMARKABLE WOMAN, UM, HAS A GREAT STORY OF SUCCESS. SHE'S ACTUALLY AN EMPLOYEE AT THE HOUSTON AREA WOMEN'S CENTER NOW, THOUGH WE DID NOT KNOW THAT WHEN WE INTERVIEWED HER AND WHEN WE HIRED HER, SHE ACTUALLY IS A FORMER, IS A FORMER CLIENT. THAT'S AMAZING. WELL SAID. THANK YOU, SONYA. AGAIN, MY NAME IS ANGELA JOHNSON. I'M A DOMESTIC VIOLENCE SURVIVOR AND A FORMER CLIENT OF THE HOUSTON AREA WOMEN'S CENTER HAWK. WHEN MY THEN HUSBAND THREATENED TO BURN DOWN THE HOUSE WITH MY CHILDREN AND MYSELF IN IT, I KNEW I HAD TO GET OUT OF THE SITUATION. I CONTACTED HAWK AND THEY HELPED ME CREATE A SAFETY PLAN. I BEGAN TO SLOWLY PACK MY THINGS AND STORE THEM IN THE GARAGE UNTIL THE DAY I PLAN TO LEAVE. ONE DAY WHEN HE WAS AT WORK, I FOLLOWED HAWK'S SAFETY PLAN AND MOVED TO THE SHELTER. HAVING A SAFE PLACE TO LIVE AND KNOWING MY CHILDREN WERE SAFE GAVE ME THE SPACE AND TIME TO RECOVER, GET HELP, AND GET BACK ON MY FEET. WHEN CHILDREN SEE VIOLENCE AROUND THEM, IT'S IMPORTANT TO TEACH THEM THAT IT'S NOT THE NORM. HAVING THIS SAFE PLACE TO LIVE AND KNOWING THAT MY CHILDREN WERE SAFE GAVE ME THE SPACE AND TIME TO RECOVER, GET HELP, AND GET ON MY FEET. UM, AT THE SHELTER, MY CHILDREN AND I RECEIVED COUNSELING, WHICH WAS VERY IMPACTFUL IN HELPING US COPE WITH THE SITUATION. ALSO, HAWK PROVIDED SCHOOLING AND A SAFE PLACE. THE SCHOOLING WAS IN A SAFE ENVIRONMENT FOR MY KIDS, THAT THEY FELT SAFE TO HAVE THEIR SCHOOLING. AND WHEN IT WAS TIME TO LEAVE THE SHELTER, HAWK PROVIDED SERVICES TO HELP US MOVE INTO OUR OWN PLACE. HAWK SAVED ME HAWK HELP MY FAMILY GET ON TRACK. ALL OF MY CHILDREN ARE SUCCESSFUL NOW AND DOING WELL. I HAD A FULL CIRCLE MOMENT A FEW YEARS AGO. I APPLIED FOR A JOB AT HAWK. I DIDN'T TELL ANYONE I WAS FORMER CLIENT OR INTERVIEW IN THE INTERVIEW ABOUT THE POSITION. I WAITED UNTIL MY FIRST DAY OF WORK AND INFORMED THEM THAT I WAS A FORMER CLIENT. I WANTED TO GET THE JOB ON MY OWN MERITS. WOW, IT FEELS GOOD TODAY TO BE HERE, LIVING MY FULL CIRCLE MOMENT. I AM HONORED AND PROUD TO BE A PART OF THIS AMAZING ORGANIZATION THAT DOES SUCH GREAT WORK IN THE COMMUNITY. THERE'S A PHOTOGRAPH OF THE, OF MY OLD SHELTER ROOM AT THE TOP OF THE STAIRS AT OUR CURRENT SHELTER. WHEN I SEE THAT PHOTOGRAPH, IT BRINGS BACK MEMORIES, BUT IT ALSO REMINDS ME HOW FAR I HAVE COME. I THINK ABOUT THE HELP THAT I RECEIVE TO PROPEL ME TO MOVE FORWARD AND ULTIMATELY BE WHERE I AM TODAY. HAWK TAUGHT ME TO NEVER GIVE UP. STAY POSITIVE. THERE IS HOPE, AND YOU CAN SI YOU CAN SURVIVE A DOMESTIC VIOLENCE SITUATION AND NOT ONLY SURVIVE, BUT YOU CAN THREAD THRIVE IN LIFE AFTERWARDS. I WANT TO THANK HAWK FOR EVERYTHING THEY'VE DONE FOR MY FAMILY AND OTHERS IN SIMILAR SITUATIONS. I ALSO WANTED TO THANK OUR PUBLIC OFFICIALS AND OTHER ADVOCATES FOR SUPPORTING HAWK AND THESE CRITICAL SERVICES. NOW I'M GONNA HAND IT OVER TO BACK TO CHIEF THINNER, AND THANK YOU FOR ALL THE WORK, UM, THAT HPV DOES, UM, TO INCORPORATE TRAUMA INFORMED TRAINING AND TO THE RESPONSES TO SURVIVORS. THANK YOU. I'M SO PROUD OF YOU. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. LOOK, SO VERY POWERFUL. SO VERY POWERFUL. WE ARE ALL SO PROUD OF YOU AND ALL OF OUR PROGRAMS. UM, THIS IS SOMETHING THAT WE NEED TO PACKAGE AND WE NEED TO SEND IT ACROSS OUR CITY, OUR STATE, AND OUR NATION. SO THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR BEING HERE. UM, THANK YOU VERY MUCH. I WANNA BRING ON, UH, UH, OUR COUNCIL MEMBER, ABBY CAYMAN. UM, AND THEN WE'LL DO OUR TRANSLATIONS, UH, UM, COMMANDER GARCIA WITH THE HPD. AND THEN, UM, MS. CORRALES WILL TRANS TRANSLATE AS WELL. COME ON UP. THANK YOU, CHIEF, AND GOOD AFTERNOON, EVERYONE. UH, FIRST AND FOREMOST, ANGELA, MY HEARTFELT, UM, NOT ONLY APPRECIATION, BUT RESPECT, UM, FOR YOUR VOICE. NOT ONLY YOUR STRENGTH, BUT WE'LL TALK A LOT ABOUT STATISTICS. BUT THESE ARE LIVES MM-HMM . UM, THESE ARE LIVES OF EVERYDAY HOUSTONIANS, UM, GOING THROUGH SOMETHING THAT NOBODY SHOULD, UH, HAVE TO GO THROUGH. AND I AM SO GRATEFUL, [00:30:01] UM, FOR YOUR VOICE TO EDUCATE OTHERS, UM, TO DE-STIGMATIZE RIGHT, UH, THE ISSUE OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE. AND ALSO TO SHOW THE INCREDIBLE WORK THAT HOUSTON AREA WOMEN'S CENTER DOES. UM, THEIR INITIATIVES PROVIDE FREE RESOURCES, UH, THAT TRULY DO SAVE LIVES. UH, PREVIOUSLY BEFORE I CAME ONTO COUNCIL, UH, I HAD THE PRIVILEGE TO SERVE ON THE MAYOR'S COMMISSION AGAINST GUN VIOLENCE. AND THEN, UH, COMING INTO OFFICE, UM, THE MAYOR APPOINTED ME AS CHAIR OF PUBLIC SAFETY AND HOMELAND SECURITY, A ROLE THAT, UM, I APPRECIATE THE OPPORTUNITY TO MAKE SUCH A DIFFERENCE IN. UH, BUT I CAN STATE UNEQUIVOCALLY THE DIRECT LINK BETWEEN DOMESTIC VIOLENCE AND GUN VIOLENCE, ENDING DOMESTIC VIOLENCE BENEFITS ALL OF US. AND WE MUST REACH THAT TIME. WHEN MAYOR, YOU SPOKE ABOUT THAT ZERO NUMBER WE MUST GET THERE. UM, THE NUMBER OF DOMESTIC FI, DOMESTIC VIOLENCE HOMICIDES HAS DOUBLED. AND AS WE KNOW, THIS ISN'T JUST A SET OF FIGURES. THESE ARE LIVES. AND THIS IS A PUBLIC HEALTH CRISIS. UH, MAYOR TURNER. FIRST I WANNA RECOGNIZE YOU, UM, AT THE START OF THE PANDEMIC, UH, WE ALL WORKED TOGETHER AND THE HOUSTON AREA WOMEN'S CENTER PLAYED A CRITICAL ROLE, NOT JUST THE FUNDING, UM, FOR RIDES SO THAT, UH, SURVIVORS COULD LEAVE DANGEROUS SITUATIONS, BUT THE AWARENESS CAMPAIGNS THAT CAME OF IT, THE HOTEL FUNDING WHEN SHELTERS WERE AT LIMITED CAPACITY, UM, AND EVEN MOST RECENTLY, UH, WITH THE GUN VIOLENCE INJURY DATA PROGRAM THAT THE CITY, THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT, IS GONNA BE SPEARHEADING, UH, $16 MILLION. THE CITY UNDER MAYOR TURNER HAS ALLOCATED FOR THE NEW HOUSTON AREA WOMEN'S CENTER CAMPUS THAT IS GONNA PROVIDE NOT ONLY MORE BEDS, THAT MORE RESOURCES, BUT NEW OPPORTUNITIES FOR SO MANY FAMILIES, UH, THAT ARE CURRENTLY AT RISK. UH, I BELIEVE, MAYOR, IT'S, I THINK THIS IS CORRECT, IT OVER $10 MILLION WAS DIRECTED, UH, THROUGH ONE SAFE HOUSTON FOR DOMESTIC VIOLENCE INITIATIVES. AND I WANNA TAKE A MOMENT TO THANK ALL OF OUR, UM, DART MEMBERS, UH, FOR THE WORK THAT THEY DO. YOU SAW THE VIDEO, UH, BUT OUR DOMESTIC ABUSE RESPONSE TEAM, UH, THE WORK THEY DO TRULY DOES SAVE LIVES. HAWK IS NOT ONLY ADDRESSING THE AFTERMATH, BUT TAKING PROACTIVE SYSTEMS LEVEL MEASURES TO BRING ABOUT MEANINGFUL CHANGE. AND I ALSO WANNA RECOGNIZE, BECAUSE WE HAVE OUR MEDIA PARTNERS HERE, UH, THE WORK THAT WE HAVE DONE TOGETHER AND WITH HPD, UH, TO WORK WITH THE MEDIA. SO FOR ALL OF OUR MEDIA PARTNERS THAT ARE HERE, YOU TOO CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE. WHEN YOU'RE COVERING SOMETHING, WHETHER IT'S THIS PRESS CONFERENCE OR WHETHER YOU'RE ON SCENE AT A POTENTIAL DOMESTIC VIOLENCE SITE SCENE, CRIME SCENE, YOU CAN ALSO, AS MUCH AS THE HEADLINES READ, BE SHARING CRITICAL LIFESAVING INFORMATION, WHETHER IT'S HAWKS, UH, WEBSITE AND HOTLINE, WHETHER IT'S BEST PRACTICES. SO EDUCATING THAT WHEN YOU LEAVE, WHEN YOU'RE GETTING READY TO LEAVE, THAT IS THE MOST CRITICAL TIME IN A DOMESTIC VIOLENCE SCENARIO. AND THAT THEY, SOMEBODY IN THAT SCENARIO NEEDS TO REACH OUT TO HOUSTON AREA WOMEN'S CENTER OR HPD TO RESPOND. BUT THAT EDUCATION COMPONENT, UM, ALL OF OUR MEDIA PARTNERS CAN PLAY A ROLE IN THAT. SO WE ASK THAT YOU CONTINUE TO NOT ONLY COVER THE ISSUE, BUT TO GET THE INFORMATION OUT TO EDUCATE OTHERS. HAWK IS MAKING SURE THAT NO ONE IGNORES THE ROLE THAT FIREARMS PLAY. IN DOMESTIC VIOLENCE SCENARIOS, GUNS ARE THE LEADING CAUSE OF DEATH FOR CHILDREN IN AMERICA. AND WHILE CRIME IS DOWN, AND CHIEF AND MAYOR, THOSE ARE GOOD, YOU KNOW, THEY WE'RE TRENDING IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION. FIREARM RELATED DEATHS ARE ON A STEADY RISE. AND AS YOU HEARD FROM EMILY, IN A DOMESTIC VIOLENCE SITUATION, A FIREARM MEANS IT IS FIVE TIMES MORE LETHAL THAN IF A FIREARM WAS NOT PRESENT. THIS UNDERSCORES THE URGENCY OF THE SITUATION, AND IT IMPACTS ALL OF US. NEARLY 60% OF ALL MASS SHOOTINGS IN THIS COUNTRY ARE RELATED IN SOME WAY TO DOMESTIC VIOLENCE SITUATIONS. 60% HERE IN HOUSTON, NEARLY 18% OF ALL HOMICIDES AND 9.8 OF ALL CRIME, 9.8% OF ALL CRIME IN HOUSTON ARE DOMESTIC VIOLENCE INCIDENTS. SO LET THAT SINK IN FOR A MOMENT. ALMOST 20% OF ALL HOMICIDES IN HOUSTON, AND NEARLY 10% OF ALL CRIME IN OUR CITY ARE INCIDENTS RELATED TO DOMESTIC VIOLENCE. AND THE MAJORITY OF THOSE, I WOULD ASSUME, ARE INVOLVING A FIREARM. COMMON SENSE GUN SAFETY ISN'T JUST AN A TERM, IT IS AN IMPERATIVE CALL TO ACT. UH, I ENCOURAGE EVERYONE TO READ HAWK'S NEW REPORT AND TO SIGN THEIR PETITION TO KEEP GUNS OUT OF THE HANDS [00:35:01] OF ABUSERS THAT HAVE PROTECTIVE ORDERS AGAINST THEM. AGAIN, IT'S A COURT PROCESS, UH, AND IT IS THE ONLY PROCESS TO REMOVE A FIREARM FROM A DANGEROUS ABUSER IN A SITUATION. EACH OF US CAN PLAY A ROLE IN STANDING WITH OUR SURVIVORS BY GIVING THEM OUR UNWAVERING SUPPORT AND UPLIFTING OUR ENTIRE COMMUNITY. AND CHIEF, I KNOW YOU'VE BEEN MODERATING THIS, UH, THIS GATHERING, BUT I DO WANNA SAY THAT THE MOST DANGEROUS SCENE FOR OFFICERS TO RESPOND TO IS A DOMESTIC VIOLENCE SCENE. AND THAT EMPHASIZES EVEN FURTHER HOW IMPORTANT IT IS TO TAKE THE RIGHT STEPS AS A CITY TO RESPOND. SO MAYOR, UNDER YOUR LEADERSHIP, THANK YOU FOR EVERYTHING THAT YOU HAVE DONE, CHIEF TO ALL OF OUR OFFICERS, UH, WE EXPRESS OUR GRATITUDE. BUT THE TODAY ON DOMESTIC VIOLENCE AWARENESS MONTH, UM, WE THANK PARTNERS LIKE HAWK HOUSTON AREA WOMEN'S CENTER CONTINUES TO LEAD THE NATION AS AN EXAMPLE OF WHAT IT LOOKS LIKE TO HAVE MEANINGFUL, ROBUST, UM, DOMESTIC VIOLENCE PREVENTION AND RESPONSE. SO TO YOU, WE ARE VERY GRATEFUL. THANK YOU VERY MUCH, COUNSEL. HEY, REALLY QUICKLY, WE'RE GONNA BRING UP OUR TRANSLATORS, BUT, UH, THERE'S A PERSON THAT DIRECTS AND, AND, AND MANAGES, UM, ALL OF THE RESPONSES AND INVESTIGATIONS TO MAJOR ASSAULTS AND, AND, UH, DOMESTIC FAMILY VIOLENCE. AND AND THAT'S THE COMMANDER, UH, HOLIDAY RIGHT BEHIND ME. I JUST WANTED TO ACKNOWLEDGE YOU, GREAT WORK THAT YOU DO FOR US. SO THANK YOU. LET'S START WITH, UH, COMMANDER GARCIA, AND THEN SON, YOU COME UP. THANK YOU, CHIEF. THEN WE'LL OPEN UP THE QUESTIONS AFTER THE TRANSLATION WHEN IS TURNER DEL, THE HOUSTON EMILY WHITEHURST EN [00:40:43] PROGRAM AT THE DART, UH, IL. THANK YOU. THANK EXACTLY. OKAY. ES HELLO AGAIN. UH, THE HOUSTON, THANK YOU MULTIDISCIPLINARY IN HOUSTON. [00:46:37] AND THEN JUST TO WRAP UP, I, I REALLY WANNA THANK THE, THE HOUSTON POLICE, UH, DEPARTMENT AND THE MAYOR AND THE COUNCILWOMAN FOR ALL OF THEIR SUPPORT. THE HOUSTON POLICE DEPARTMENT. YOU KNOW, AS I MENTIONED BEFORE, WE'VE HAD A LONGSTANDING RELATIONSHIP WITH THEM AT ALL DIFFERENT DEPARTMENTS, NOT JUST WITH WITH THE DART. UM, BUT FOR EXAMPLE, YOU KNOW, THE, THE FAMILY VIOLENCE UNIT WITH LIEUTENANT WEBSTER, UM, THEY GO OVER TO THE SHELTER AND SHE'S BROUGHT THEM OVER, PA MADE THEM PART OF THE PROCEDURE TO TOUR POLICE OFFICERS IN THESE SPECIALIZED UNITS SO THAT THEY CAN KNOW EXACTLY WHAT SERVICES WE PROVIDE. AND THESE KIND OF PARTNERSHIPS HELPS US WORK BETTER TOGETHER FOR THE SAFETY OF, OF SURVIVORS. SO, THANK YOU. AND I'M GONNA TURN IT OVER BACK TO CHIEF. ALRIGHT. QUESTIONS. UM, AND ANYBODY DIRECTED UP HERE, YOU KNOW, UH, THERE'S A LOT OF EXPERTS UP HERE, SO DOES ANYBODY HAVE ANYTHING? GO AHEAD. YES. SO, SO IN THE LAST MONTH IN HARRIS COUNTY, UM, I CAN THINK OF AT LEAST FOUR INCIDENCES WHERE THE VICTIMS HAD THE RELATIONSHIP, AND UNFORTUNATELY IT ENDED IN FATALITIES INVOLVING THE VICTIMS. UM, I KNOW ONE OF 'EM, THE CASES ENDED UP WITH A SHOOTOUT BETWEEN, UM, THE SUSPECT AS WELL AS YOUR OFFICERS CHIEF CENTER. CAN ONE OF YOU TALK ABOUT HOW THAT REALLY SHOWED THE URGENCY OF THIS ISSUE, THE CONNECTION TO GUNS, UM, AND HOW LEAVING IS ONE STEP OF THE PROBLEM, BUT IT TAKES MUCH MORE, SUCH AS THE CCP PLAN? GO AHEAD. JUST YOU WANT TO THANK YOU. WE, WE REALLY ARE, UM, WORKING HARD TO RAISE AWARENESS IN THIS COMMUNITY ABOUT THE VITAL ROLE THAT SAFETY PLANNING CAN PLAY IN SAVING LIVES. UH, WE HAVE SEEN, UH, A HORRIFIC SERIES OF, UH, HOMICIDES OF VICTIMS AND AT TIMES THEIR FAMILY MEMBERS OR THEIR FRIENDS WHO ARE TRYING TO INTERVENE. AND WHAT WE WANT, UH, THE MESSAGE TO BE IS, UH, YES, UH, SURVIVORS AND, AND NEED SUPPORT. THEY NEED, UH, HELP FROM THEIR FRIENDS AND FAMILY, BUT PLEASE DO NOT GO IT ALONE. UH, WORK WITH THE HOUSTON AREA WOMEN'S CENTER AND OUR TRAINED ADVOCATES ON OUR HOTLINE WORK WITH THE HOUSTON POLICE DEPARTMENT BECAUSE THAT DEPAR, THAT TIME OF LEAVING AND REALLY UP TO A YEAR AFTER CAN BE INCREDIBLY DANGEROUS. UH, MOST OF THE HOMICIDES THAT WE SEE, UH, THROUGHOUT THE STATE AS WELL AS HERE ARE, ARE OFTEN IN THE WAKE OF SOMEBODY PLANNING, TRYING TO EXIT A RELATIONSHIP. UH, SO, UH, AGAIN, UM, THERE ARE MANY WAYS TO, UH, PROTECT YOURSELF. AND THERE ARE CONCRETE ACTIONS THAT ANY INDIVIDUAL CAN TAKE. ALTHOUGH I WANT TO BE CLEAR, IT IS NOT THE BURDEN OF THE VICTIM. UH, IT IS, THE ACCOUNTABILITY RELIES, LIES SQUARELY ON THE ABUSER. BUT THERE ARE THINGS THAT WE ALL CAN DO TO MAKE SURE THAT WE NEVER HAVE TO WATCH ANOTHER NEWS STORY ABOUT A VICTIM, UH, BEING KILLED OR A VICTIM'S FRIEND. UM, YES, OUR HOTLINE NUMBER IS 7 1 3 7 2 3 2 1 2 1, OR OUR WEBSITE IS WWW.HAC.ORG. WE HAVE A CHAT LINE, UH, IN CASE PEOPLE ARE NOT FREE TO MAKE A PHONE CALL, UH, PLEASE, WWW.HAC.ORG EVERY INFORMATION THAT YOU MIGHT NEED IS THERE. AND [00:50:01] WE HAVE TRAINED ADVOCATES READY TO ANSWER YOUR CHAT IMMEDIATELY. THANK YOU. I JUST WANT TO ADD REAL QUICKLY, DID YOU GET IT? I'M SORRY. 1, 3 7 1 3 5 2 8 5 2 8 2 1, 2, 1, SORRY. AND WE'LL, WE'LL POST IT, WE'LL SEND IT OUT BECAUSE IT'S VERY IMPORTANT AND THE EDUCATIONAL PIECE TO, UH, NOT ONLY POTENTIAL VICTIMS, BUT EVERYBODY, FAMILY MEMBERS AND MS. JOHNSON SPOKE WITH CLARITY AND POWER AND, AND I MEAN, WE GOTTA GET HER STORY OUT AND WE'RE GONNA NEED ALL OF THE MEDIA OUTLETS TO ASSIST US WITH THAT. UM, WE'LL DO OUR PART WITH OUR PIOS AND, AND, AND ALL OF THAT WITH ALL OF OUR AGENCIES, BUT AT THE SAME TIME, WE NEED HELP, UH, BECAUSE SHE GAVE YOU HER LIFE STORY AND WHAT, WHAT HAPPENED, BUT SHE USED THE RESOURCES AND PUT A PLAN IN PLACE AND PUT IN A PLAN IN PLACE IN THE MOST CRITICAL TIME WHEN YOU'RE TELLING SOMEBODY, I'M GONNA LEAVE YOU. MM-HMM. OR WHEN YOU MAKE THAT MOVE, WHEN YOU MAKE THAT ACT, IF YOU LOOK BACK ON MOST OF OUR CASES, THAT'S WHEN THE MURDER OCCURRED RIGHT THERE CLOSE TO IT. SO WE HAVE TO EDUCATE EVERYBODY, SO PLEASE HELP US IN DOING THAT. OKAY. AGAIN, THANK YOU. ANYTHING ELSE? I'M SORRY. I KNOW IT'S BEEN A LONG, UH, WE GOOD. WELL, THANK Y'ALL SO MUCH. THANKS FOR COMING OUT. DO YOU HAVE ONE? YES, GO AHEAD. I'M THE ONLY ONE ASKING QUESTION. THAT'S ALL RIGHT. GOOD. UM, THIS CAN BE, UM, A QUESTION TO ANY OF Y'ALL, EVEN MY UNION TURNER OR COUNCILMAN? WE'LL LET THE MAYOR, WE'LL LET THE MAYOR CLOSE IT OUT. OKAY. OKAY. UM, I KNOW THAT YOU MENTIONED, UM, THE PETITION YES. WITH THE TEXAS SUPREME. I, I'M JUST WONDERING, YOU ASK SUPREME, IS THERE ANYTHING ON A POLICY OR LEGISLATIVE LEVEL THAT YOU WOULD LIKE TO SEE MAYBE OUR STATE LAWERS DO, UH, TO PREVENT GUN VIOLENCE? UM, BECAUSE OBVIOUSLY GUNS, RIGHT, THERE'S SO MANY, SO MANY, THERE'S SO MUCH DISCUSSION ON WHAT WE NEED TO DO TO, TO MAKE THINGS HARDER, TO USE GUNS TO ACCESS THE GUN. WHAT WOULD YOU LIKE TO SAY ON A POLICY LEVEL? BEAR, IF I MAY, EXPERT TEXAS HAS SOME OF THE MOST LAX GUN LAWS IN THE UNITED STATES, AND WE ARE SEEING THE REPERCUSSIONS OF THAT. UM, WHETHER IT'S OPEN CARRY AND THE RISK THAT THAT PUTS TO OUR LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS AND OUR COMMUNITY. UH, THE LACK OF BACKGROUND CHECKS, I MEAN, YOU NAME IT. UH, RIGHT NOW TEXAS IS THE WILD, WILD WEST. AND FOR SOME REASON, UH, WE ARE NOT STEPPING IN. WE'RE ALSO SUPPOSED TO BE RESPECTFUL OF LAW ENFORCEMENT AND HAVE THIS FOCUS ON THE STATE ON CRIME. THAT'S BEEN A TALKING POINT FOR SO LONG AND AN IMPORTANT ONE. BUT YET WE AREN'T TAKING THE STEPS NECESSARY TO ADDRESS GUN VIOLENCE IN OUR NATION. AND WE ARE LEADING THE WAY. AND YOU ARE SEEING THE DIRECT IMPACTS OF THAT. WHEN YOU FOLLOW THE SYSTEM, YOU FOLLOW THE RULES, YOU GO THROUGH THE COURT PROCESS, AND YET SOMEBODY THAT HAS BEEN DEEMED BY A JUDGE TO BE A DANGER TO SOMEONE ELSE IS ALLOWED TO KEEP THEIR FIREARM. THAT'S INSANITY. SO I, I ENCOURAGE EVERYONE AGAIN TO GO TO HAWK'S WEBSITE, UH, TO SIGN THE PETITION, TO EDUCATE OTHERS ABOUT WHAT'S HAPPENING BECAUSE THE ONE TOOL THAT DOMESTIC VIOLENCE SURVIVORS HAVE RIGHT NOW AND ADVOCATES HAVE AND LAW ENFORCEMENT HAVE IS THAT PROTECTIVE ORDER. AND RIGHT NOW WE DON'T HAVE THAT. AND LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS HAVE DIED, RESPONDING FRIENDS THAT HAVE ENCOURAGED PEOPLE TO LEAVE AND TRIED TO HELP HAVE DIED AND SURVIVORS HAVE DIED AND CHILDREN HAVE DIED. AND IF THEY HAVEN'T DIED, THEY'VE WITNESSED AND BEEN TRAUMATIZED FOREVER. SO AGAIN, THIS PUBLIC HEALTH CRISIS IS A, HAS A DIRECT CORRELATION WITH THE LAWS, THE LAX LAWS THAT THE STATE OF TEXAS HAS DECIDED, UM, TO STAND BY. AND THAT'S NOT ACCEPTABLE. ALRIGHT. OKAY. THANK Y'ALL. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. * 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.