* 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. [00:00:07] 1 35. AND LET'S GET STARTED. UH, LET'S SEE. [PRESENTATIONS] COUNCIL KAMAN IS NOT HERE, SO WE'RE GONNA TURN TO VICE MAYOR PROM CAST TATUM FOR A PROCLAMATION TO DDRICK JOSEPH IN CELEBRATION OF HIP HOP'S 50TH ANNIVERSARY. HE WANTS TO GO UP. HE CAN GO. YEAH. MAYOR AND COUNCIL ON MAY 10TH OF THIS YEAR. THE HOUSTON CHRONICLE ARTICLE TITLED THESE SEVEN HOUSTON PODCAST WILL TEACH YOU SOMETHING NEW ABOUT YOUR CITY DURING YOUR COMMUTE. FEATURED DONNIE HOUSTON'S PODCAST. HE HAS A GROWING AUDIENCE WITH MULTIPLE EPISODES INTERVIEWING ENTERTAINERS IN A SINGLE DAY. WE HAVE ALL SEEN THE VAST NUMBER OF TRIBUTES TO THE 50TH ANNIVERSARY OF HIP HOP AROUND THE COUNTRY. AND DONNIE HOUSTON CONTINUES TO EDUCATE US, NOT ONLY WITH HIS PODCAST, BUT WITH THE BOOK CLUB. THE BOOK CLUB IS CURRENTLY READING A BREAKDOWN OF THE CLASSIC MILES DAVIS ALBUM. SO IT'S NOT ONLY A READING EXPERIENCE, BUT ALSO A LISTENING EXPERIENCE. SO TODAY, MAYOR AND COUNCIL, I'M VERY HAPPY TO PRESENT THIS PROCLAMATION TO DDRICK JOSEPH, AND IT READS DDRICK JOSEPH, BETTER KNOWN AS DONNIE HOUSTON IS A HOUSTON BORN AND BASS MUSIC JOURNALIST, HISTORIAN, DJ, VOICE ACTOR AND MUSIC PRODUCER, A GRADUATE OF TEXAS SOUTHERN UNIVERSITY WITH A BACHELOR'S DEGREE IN JOURNALISM. DONNIE'S LOVE AFFAIR WITH MUSIC BEGAN AT BIRTH THROUGH HIS OLDER SISTER SOON THAT LOVE WOULD SPREAD BEYOND COLLECTING ALBUMS AND TAPES, RECITING RAPS BY RUN DMC AND WATCHING JAM MASTER J WORK THE TURNTABLES. AT THE AGE OF 15 YEARS OLD, HE BECAME A DJ HIMSELF AND ADOPTED THE MONIKER DJ DON, WHICH LED TO DJING AND PRODUCING FOR LOCAL RAPPERS ACROSS THE CITY. IN 2013, HE BEGAN TO HAVE ASPIRATIONS BEYOND MAKING MUSIC AND WOULD CHANGE HIS NAME TO DONNIE HOUSTON, FITTING HIS LOVE FOR HIS HOMETOWN, BUT NOT LIMITING HIM TO JUST A DJ PRODUCER. HOWEVER, HE CONTINUED TO DJ AND PRODUCE, WHICH HAS LED TO OPPORTUNITIES FOR HIM TO DO SO FOR HOUSTON LEGENDS LIKE SLIM THUG, PAUL, WALL ZERO, LITTLE O AND MORE. IN 2019, DONNY'S LOVE AND CURIOSITY ABOUT THE ORIGINS OF HOUSTON HIP HOP SCENE LED HIM TO CREATE HIS OWN PODCAST. THROUGH HIS WORK WITH THE DONNY HOUSTON PODCAST, HE HAS BEEN ABLE TO ANSWER MANY QUESTIONS THAT HE AND HOUSTON HIP HOP FANS ALIKE HAVE ALWAYS WANTED TO KNOW BY INTERVIEWING VARIOUS LUMINARIES IN THE HOUSTON HIP HOP SCENE, FROM MUSIC EXECUTIVES TO PRODUCERS, RADIO HOSTS, DJS AND MORE. DONNIE'S GROWTH WITH DONNIE HOUSTON PODCAST HAS LED HIM TO BECOME ONE OF THE MOST SOUGHT AFTER VOICES IN HOUSTON, AS HE HAS BEEN HONORED BY SEVERAL PUBLICATIONS FOR HIS WORK, INCLUDING THE HOUSTON CHRONICLE AND MORE. HE HAS TAKEN ON THE ROLE OF AN EDUCATOR THROUGH NON-TRADITIONAL MEANS OF TEACHING NEWFOUND FANS ABOUT THE GENESIS OF HOUSTON'S MUSIC CULTURE, WHETHER ABOUT THE EARLY RISE OF RAP, ALOT, DJ SCREW, AND MORE, HIS TALENTS HAVE TAKEN HIM FROM THE SETS OF BET'S 1 0 6 AND PARK TO THE ISAIAH FACTORY ON FOX 26 TO THE SET OF HIS OWN DONNY HOUSTON PODCAST. IN 2023, HE PARTNERED WITH THE CITY OF HOUSTON'S MAYOR'S OFFICE OF CULTURAL AFFAIRS FOR A SERIES OF EVENTS THAT EDUCATE AND PROMOTE THE IMPORTANCE OF PRESERVING HOUSTON'S RICH MUSIC HISTORY. DONNIE HAS ALSO CENTERED HIMSELF SQUARELY WITHIN THE COMMUNITY, HELPING TO GIVE BACK THROUGH VARIOUS CHARITIES AND HONORING THE NAME OF HIS LATE COUSIN, CHRISTOPHER BARER, KNOWN TO THE WORLD AS MR. THREE, TWO VIA SEVERAL TRIBUTES, THE CITY OF HOUSTON COMMENDS DONNIE HOUSTON ON HIS OUTSTANDING CONTRIBUTIONS TO MUSIC JOURNALISM. MAYOR, THANK YOU, VICE MAYOR, PRO 10. SO THEREFORE, I, SYLVESTER TURNER, MAYOR OF CITY OF HOUSTON, DO HEREBY PROBABLY PROCLAIM OCTOBER 10TH, 2023 AT DDRICK JOSEPH DAY. DONNY HOUSTON DAY IN THE CITY OF HOUSTON. CONGRATULATIONS, MAN, AND WELL DESERVED. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. [00:05:01] WOW. UH, THIS IS, THIS IS A LOT. UM, I'M EXTREMELY THANKFUL. THANK YOU, UH, MARTHA. THANK YOU, UH, MAYOR ESA TURNER. THANK YOU. DALLAS JONES. UH, WE HAVE MY FAMILY HERE. MY MOM, DAD, MY YOUNGER SISTER, UH, ANTONIA, FAMILY FRIEND. UM, IT'S BEEN AN HONOR TO, UH, TO DOCUMENT THIS CULTURE, AND IT REALLY JUST STARTED AS ME TO WANT TO DO SOMETHING THAT I LOVE. AND SO RICHARD TURNER IS SOMETHING LIKE THIS. IT'S TRULY AN HONOR, SO THANK YOU. SO HOLD ON ONE SECOND. HOLD ON ONE SECOND. HOLD ON. HOLD ON ONE SECOND. GET YOUR MICROPHONE. THERE YOU GO. SORRY. OKAY. ARE WE ON? OKAY, WE'RE ON. UH, SO HERE WE HAVE MY MOM. THIS IS ANITA JOSEPH. SHE'S THE ONE WHO BOUGHT ME THE TURNTABLES AT 15 AND STARTED THIS WHOLE MADNESS. . UH, WE HAVE MY DAD. SO MY LEFT, ANTHONY JOSEPH. WE HAVE MY YOUNGEST SISTER, JOSHLYN JOSEPH, AND WHO ELSE DO WE HAVE UP HERE? YEAH, THAT'S IT. SO, YEAH, THIS IS MY FAMILY. CONGRATULATIONS. CONGRATULATIONS. THANK YOU. CHAIR. NOW RECOGNIZES COUNCIL MEMBER ABBY CAYMAN FOR A PROCLAMATION TO SOUTH HAMPTON PLACE TO CELEBRATE THEIR CENTENNIAL. CONGRATULATIONS, EVERYONE ELSE. ALRIGHT, GOOD AFTERNOON, EVERYONE. UH, I AM JOINED BY SOME OF OUR CIVIC LEADERS AS WE, UH, CELEBRATE THE CENTENNIAL OF SOUTH HAMPTON PLACE, ONE OF THE MOST ICONIC NEIGHBORHOODS IN DISTRICT C. UH, IT WAS FOUNDED IN 1923 AND COVERS, UH, NEIGHBORHOODS, INCLUDING SHADOW ON SHADYSIDE AND BOULEVARD OAKS. UH, MANY OF YOU HAVE DRIVEN THROUGH AND DRIVE, UH, THROUGH THE NEIGHBORHOOD DAILY, AND I'M SO PROUD THAT SOUTH HAMPTON HAS PLANNED A YEAR'S WORTH OF EVENTS TO CELEBRATE. SO, EXAMPLES OF EVENTS INCLUDE, UH, THEIR KICKOFF PARTY, A LECTURE SERIES, UH, THROUGHOUT THE SPRING GARDEN TOURS, AND THEN OF COURSE, ENDING WITH THE GRAND FINALE BIRTHDAY CELEBRATION IN NOVEMBER, UH, AT RICE'S BROCKMAN OPERA HALL. SO, WE'LL GO AHEAD AND SHARE THIS PROCLAMATION. HOUSTON, SOUTH HAMPTON PLACE IS CELEBRATING ITS CENTENNIAL. IN 1923, EH, FLEMING'S VISION OF A RESIDENTIAL PHENOMENON BECAME A REALITY WHEN THE HOUSTON CITY COUNCIL APPROVED SOUTHAMPTON PLACE AS A NEW ADDITION TO THE CITY. THE LAYOUT OF SOUTHAMPTON WAS DESIGNED BY WM WARD WATKIN, WHO INTRODUCED THE INNOVATIVE CONCEPT OF A NEIGHBORHOOD PARK UNIFORMLY PLANTED LIVE OAKS DURING THE STREETS. WE KNOW HOW MUCH OUR RESIDENTS LOVE THOSE LIVE OAKS. WHILE GRADED LOW STREETS CREATED TERRORIST LOTS ABOVE SIDEWALKS, ENHANCING THE TOPOGRAPHY, ALLEYWAYS WERE BUILT AT THE REAR OF EACH HOME SITE TO ACCOMMODATE UTILITIES AND FOSTER CONNECTIONS BETWEEN NEIGHBORS WHO COULD ENGAGE IN CASUAL CHITCHAT OR SHARE RECIPES OVER THE FENCE. STREETS WERE INTENTIONALLY KEPT CAR FREE AND FRIENDLY FOR CHILDREN AND FAMILIES. ADDITIONAL ARCHITECTS AND DEVELOPERS SUCH AS JOSEPH NORTHUP, CC ROUSE, WM FARRINGTON, RUSSELL BROWN, AND LATER ANDERSON TODD AND TOM WILSON CONTRIBUTED TO THE DE DEVELOPMENT OF SOUTH HAMPTON. AMONG THE COMMUNITY'S ARCHITECTURAL LANDMARKS IS THE WAKEMAN HOME, A TESTAMENT TO HOME OWNERSHIP BY A SINGLE WOMAN REFLECTING HOUSTON'S HERITAGE OF WOMEN ASSERTING THEIR INDEPENDENCE. SOUTH HAMPTON'S RICH AND DIVERSE HISTORY INCLUDES A TAPESTRY OF HOUSTON'S HEROES, VILLAINS SUCCESS STORIES AND SCANDALS. NOTABLE RESIDENTS HAVE INCLUDED ARCHITECT CHARLES OLIVER, MD ANDERSON, DR. RED DUKE, PULITZER PRIZEWINNING AUTHOR LARRY MCMURDY, [00:10:01] AND THE CITY OF HOUSTON RECOGNIZES THIS HISTORICAL LANDMARK AND THE DIVERSE HISTORICAL VALUE IT HOLDS WITHIN THIS GREAT CITY. MAYOR. THANK YOU, COUNCIL MEMBER. SO THEREFORE, I, SYLVESTER TURNER, MAYOR OF STATE OF HOUSTON DUE, HEREBY PROBABLY PROCLAIM OCTOBER 10TH, 2023 AT SOUTHAMPTON PLACE, CENTENNIAL CELEBRATION DAY IN HOUSTON, TEXAS. CONGRATULATIONS TO YOU ALL. 100 YEARS AGO, PEOPLE HAD TO BE CONVINCED TO LIVE IN SOUTH HAMPTON, LOCATED ON THE SOUTHERN BORDER OF THE CITY OF HOUSTON. THE LAND WAS EITHER TEXAS PRAIRIE OR A SWAMP THAT HAD TO BE DRAINED. TODAY, LIVING IN SOUTH HAMPTON AND HOUSTON IS A NO-BRAINER. IT'S A SLAM DUNK. THANK YOU, MAYOR TURNER. COUNCIL MEMBER CAYMAN AND HOUSTON CITY COUNCIL FOR TODAY'S PROCLAMATION. IT'S A DAY WHERE WE LOOK BACK ON OUR PAST, BUT ALSO WITH YOUR CONTINUED LEADERSHIP. WE CELEBRATE LOOKING FORWARD TO THE FUTURE. THANK YOU. WE HAVE A, IF YOU WOULDN'T MIND INTRODUCING OUR GUESTS THAT WE HAVE HERE AS WELL, AND THEN WE'LL GO TO COUNCIL MEMBERS FOR CUMMINS. OH, YEAH. INTRODUCE YOURSELF. I, I'M JOE FISHER AND I'M PART OF THE SOUTHAMPTON CIVIC, UM, ASSOCIATION AND AM ON THE COMMITTEE TO CELEBRATE OUR 100 YEAR ANNIVERSARY. I'M MARY HAL HAWKINS. I GREW UP IN SOUTHAMPTON AND LIVED THERE ONCE AGAIN WITH MY FAMILY. AND I AM ON THE SOUTHAMPTON CIVIC ASSOCIATION BOARD AND ALSO WORKING ON THE CENTENNIAL. THANK YOU. AND OUR FEARLESS LEADER, . HI, I'M CHRIS AAND, PRESIDENT OF THE SOUTHAMPTON CIVIC CLUB, AND I'M DELIGHTED TO, UH, BE ABLE TO BE JOINED HERE BY TWO MEMBERS OF THE CENTENNIAL COMMITTEE, WHO DID A GREAT JOB, UH, HAVE DONE A GREAT JOB ALL YEAR, RECOGNIZING THE CENTENNIAL. THANK YOU. COUNCIL MEMBER DAVID ROBINSON. THANK YOU, MAYOR PRO TEM, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER CAYMAN, THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR BRINGING THIS FORM FORWARD AND, UH, RECOGNIZING SOUTHAMPTON PLACE. A HUNDRED YEARS IS A LONG TIME, AND, UH, GRATEFUL THAT THOSE LIVE OAKS ARE STILL THERE, SOME OF THEM ORIGINAL AND, UH, LIVING INTO THE BEAUTY AND THE PRIDE THAT YOU MENTIONED. UM, I, I WANT TO THANK CHRIS ARMAND, WHO I SERVED WITH ON THE PLANNING COMMISSION MAYOR SOME YEARS AGO. AND HE'S BEEN A CHAMPION, NOT ONLY, UH, FOR THE CIVIC CLUB, BUT FOR THE NEIGHBORHOOD, UM, FIGHTING SOME DEED RESTRICTIONS, SOME CHALLENGES, AS WE KNOW WITH THE, UH, TOWER OF TERROR OF YEARS PAST AND CURRENT CHALLENGES AS WELL. I KNOW WHEN I WAS A GRADUATE STUDENT AT RICE, I USED TO RIDE THROUGH THE NEIGHBORHOOD EVERY DAY, AND I DRIVE THROUGH IT NOW ON MY WAY TO CHURCH WHEN I GO TO RICE. AND IT'S ALWAYS, UH, BEAUTIFUL AND IT'S GREAT TO SEE ALL THE SIGNS AROUND CELEBRATING THE, UH, THE FESTIVITIES OF THIS CENTENNIAL. SO, UH, BEYOND THAT, LAID OUT BY WILLIAM WARD WATKIN, THE, UH, THE ARCHITECT OF RICE UNIVERSITY HIMSELF, AND THE, UH, THE COUNCIL THAT I SIT ON FOR RICE ARCHITECTURE MAYOR. SO WITH THAT, AND, UH, MENTION OF A NUMBER OF MY FANS WITHIN THE COMMUNITY OF ARCHITECTS OF THE CITY, INCLUDING MY FIRST PROFESSOR AT RICE RICE, THE LATE GREAT ANDERSON TODD. UM, BLESSINGS TO ALL OF YOU. AND, UM, MAY THE NEXT A HUNDRED YEARS BE A CONTINUED BLESSING TO THE CITY OF HOUSTON COUNCIL MEMBER SALLY ALCORN. THANK YOU, MAYOR PROAM, AND THANK YOU COUNCIL MEMBER KAMAN SUCH A BEAUTIFUL NEIGHBORHOOD. JOE, I CAN'T IMAGINE HAVING TO BE CONVINCED TO LIVE IN SOUTH HAMPTON . IT'S SO BEAUTIFUL. I WAS DRIVING AROUND THIS WEEKEND AND REALLY SAW ALL THE SIGNS. YOU GUYS ARE PLAYING IT UP, MAN. YOU'RE GONNA HAVE A BIG CELEBRATION. I JUST WISH YOU ALL THE BEST, AND THANKS FOR BEING SUCH A HOUSTON TREASURE AND TAKING CARE OF YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD. SO WELL, THANK YOU. COUNCIL MEMBER CARLOS CISNEROS. THANK YOU, MAYOR PRO TE THANK YOU, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER CAYMAN. UM, I, I'M AWARE THAT THERE ARE A NUMBER OF BIG, UH, CENTENNIAL CELEBRATIONS GOING ON AND JUST AROUND THE CORNER FROM YOU, MILLER OUTDOOR THEATERS HAVING THEIR CENTENNIAL. AND, UM, AND I WAS AT A, A COMMUNITY MEETING IN, UM, IN DISTRICT H THAT NOR HILL WAS HAVING THEIR CENTENNIAL, AND THEY TOLD US THAT AT THE TIME, A HUNDRED YEARS AGO, THAT YOU COULD BUY A LOT IN NOR HILL FOR $650. AND SO, AS YOU WERE TALKING ABOUT THE HISTORY, YOU KNOW, AND HAVING TO CONVINCE PEOPLE, I WONDERED IF YOU HAPPEN TO KNOW HOW MUCH A LOT WENT FOR SALE IN SOUTH HAMPTON A HUNDRED YEARS AGO. LOTS WERE ABOUT $1,200. AND WHEN THE DEPRESSION STRUCK, THEY WENT ON SALE OUT OF PUBLIC AUCTION. . WOW. . OKAY, GOOD TO KNOW. MAY I SAY, I GREW UP IN MD ANDERSON'S HOUSE AND MY PARENTS BOUGHT IT WOW. IN 1957, AND THEY PAID 25,000 FOR A DOUBLE LOT FOR THE HOUSE WHERE I GREW UP AND IN MY BACKYARD, WHICH WAS NEXT TO IT. SO, OH, THAT'S, PRICES HAVE GONE UP CONSIDERABLY. I WAS GONNA SAY, NOT A BAD INVESTMENT. THAT'S AN AWESOME, THAT'S AN AWESOME STORY. AND, UH, CONGRATULATIONS ON, UH, YOUR CENTENNIAL. Y Y'ALL LOOK SO WONDERFUL FOR BEING A HUNDRED YEARS OLD, SO THANK YOU. CONGRATULATIONS. ALRIGHT, RIGHT THERE. [00:15:30] THE MR. TURNER FOR A PROCLAMATION TO CAROL JACKSON IN RECOGNITION OF 50 YEARS OF SERVICE TO THE CITY OF HOUSTON. WOW. CONGRATULATIONS, JACKSON. BUT TODAY WE WANTED TO GIVE HER THIS PLAQUE FOR 50 YEARS OF SERVICE. AND, UH, YEAH. AND NOT ONLY THAT, I WANNA THANK YOU FOR BEING AN EXEMPLARY EMPLOYEE, UH, FOR THE CITY OF HOUSTON AND YOUR SERVICE, THE DEDICATION, YOUR COMMITMENT FOR STAYING THE COURSE. UM, AND LOOK, UM, VERY, VERY, VERY FEW EMPLOYEES OF 22,000, UH, ON AN ANNUAL BASIS REMAIN WITH THE CITY FOR 50 YEARS. SO, MY DEEPEST CONGRATULATIONS, I WANT TO PRESENT THIS PLAQUE TO YOU. 50 YEARS OF SERVICE AWARD PRESENTED TO CAROL JACKSON, AN APPRECIATION FOR YOUR UNWAVERING DEDICATION AND CONTRIBUTION TO THE CITY OF HOUSTON MUNICIPAL COURTS. AND OF COURSE, WE'RE STANDING HERE WITH JUDGE NAMED MARSHALL, PRESIDING JUDGE OF MUNICIPAL COURTS FOR 50 YEARS. YES. THAT'S FIVE ZERO . CONGRATULATIONS TO YOU. THANK YOU, MAYOR. IF I DO SAY SO, UM, EVERY MORNING WHEN I DO A WALKTHROUGH, I GET TO SEE HER. AND ALL OF THE EMPLOYEES BEHIND YOU ARE HERE TO SUPPORT YOU. AND, UH, WE THOUGHT SHE WASN'T COMING BECAUSE SHE WOULD ALWAYS DUCK OUT WHENEVER WE WOULD TRY TO, UM, AWARD HER WITH THIS. BUT FOR SOMEONE WHO IS THAT DEDICATED, AND SHE WANTED TO MAKE SURE YOU KNEW THAT SHE KNOWS YOU'RE THE BEST MAYOR BECAUSE SHE CONTINUES TO, TO ALWAYS LOOK OUT FOR YOU AND PRAY FOR YOU. AND THANK YOU FOR OUR DEPARTMENT. IT, IT, IT'S A BLESSING TO HAVE SOMEONE DEDICATED FOR 50 YEARS. SHE'S HUMBLE. SHE'S KIND, AND I'VE NEVER SEEN HER WITH A HARSH WORD OR ANYTHING. SO FOR ME, FOR MY TENURE AS A DIRECTOR, I JUST WANT TO SAY I LOVE YOU DEARLY. AND THEY SAID YOU WOULDN'T COME WITH ME, BUT SHE DID. THANK YOU. COME ON. THEY SAID THAT I WOULDN'T COME, BUT I WOULD COME FOR HER BECAUSE SHE'S SOMEBODY SPECIAL. AND TO YOU, MAYOR, I APPRECIATE, UH, YOU FOR TAKING OUT YOUR TIME TO, UH, ACKNOWLEDGE ME FOR THE SERVICES THAT I'VE DONE FOR THE CITY, UH, OUTTA ALL THE MAYORS THAT I'VE BEEN THROUGH, AND I'VE BEEN THROUGH QUITE A BIT. BUT YOU'VE MAKE ME FEEL LIKE HOME. YEAH. AND I APPRECIATE YOU, MS. JACKSON. CONGRATULATIONS, UH, VICE MAYOR PROAM, MARTHA CASTEX, TATUM, MS. JACKSON. 50 YEARS DESERVES TO BE CELEBRATED. UM, NOT MANY PEOPLE ARE, UM, DEDICATED TO, UH, LONG-TERM EMPLOYMENT ANYMORE. . UM, PEOPLE ARE USUALLY LOOKING FOR THE NEXT BEST THING, AND THEY'RE READY TO MOVE ON TO THE NEXT JOB AS SOON AS ANOTHER OPPORTUNITY PRESENTS ITSELF. SO WHEN WE HAVE EMPLOYEES THAT HAVE DEDICATED THEMSELVES, UM, TO 50 YEARS OF SERVICE TO THE CITY OF HOUSTON, WE DEFINITELY WANT TO CELEBRATE YOU. SO, CONGRATULATIONS. IT SPEAKS VOLUMES. UM, WE HAVE HEARD NOTHING BUT TREMENDOUS FEEDBACK ABOUT YOUR SERVICE TO THE CITY OF HOUSTON. SO ON BEHALF OF, UH, THE CITY COUNCIL, WE WANT YOU TO KNOW HOW MUCH WE APPRECIATE YOUR SERVICE TO THE CITY. AND TO HOUSTONIANS CONGRATULATIONS. THANK YOU. AND MS. JACKSON, THAT THAT IS ONE HECK OF A MILESTONE. UM, I COULD IMAGINE THE DIFFERENT MAYORS THAT YOU WORKED UNDER AND NOW TO WORK UNDER THIS ADMINISTRATION. IT'S GOTTA BE A BLESSING FOR ALL OF US TO BE HERE TO HONOR YOU. SO THANK YOU FOR WHAT YOU DO. YOU HAVE A WHOLE FAMILY OF FRIENDS BEHIND YOU THAT ARE ALL HERE TO REJOICE WITH YOU AND CONGRATULATIONS. AND WE LOOK FORWARD TO ANOTHER 50 YEARS. ANOTHER 50. THAT'S RIGHT. YOU HAVE TO TURN AROUND. WE TURN RIGHT AROUND SEAT [00:21:13] TURNER FOR A PROCLAMATION TO HISPANIC HERITAGE AWARD WINNERS IN HONOR OF HISPANIC HERITAGE MONTH. AND LEMME JUST SAY MS. JACKSON IS 50 YEARS OF SERVICE, BUT, UH, YOU NEED TO GET BACK TO WORK, . ALL RIGHT. THE FIRST PRESENTATION THAT, THAT I'M GOING TO MAKE TODAY WILL BE TO, TO DR. MARLENE TRULIO. UH, AND THIS IS THE RECEIVING THE HEALTH, UH, AND THE HISPANIC HERITAGE HEALTHCARE AWARD. THANK YOU AGAIN. SENIOR . THANK YOU. DR. MARLENE TRUJILLO IS THE RECIPIENT OF THE 2023 MAYOR'S HISPANIC HERITAGES HEALTHCARE AWARD. DR. TRUJILLO IS THE CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER OF THE SPRING BRANCH COMMUNITY HEALTH CENTER, A NONPROFIT COMMUNITY HEALTH CENTER THAT PROVIDES LOW COST HEALTHCARE, SOCIAL, AND EDUCATIONAL SERVICES. DR. TRUJILLO WAS ONE OF THE COMMUNITY LEADERS ON THE FOUNDING BOARD OF THE COMMUNITY BASED HEALTH CENTER IN 2002. IN MAY OF 2004, THE COMMUNITY HEALTH CENTER WAS OPEN IN THE SPRING BRANCH AREA TO TARGET THE ME MEDICALLY UNDERSERVED POPULATION AND HELP REDUCE HEALTHCARE DISPARITIES BY INCREASING ACCESS TO AFFORDABLE QUALITY HEALTHCARE. THE COMMUNITY HEALTH CENTER WAS DEEMED AS A FEDERALLY QUALIFIED HEALTH CENTER IN 2005. AND IN RECENT YEARS, THE ORGANIZATION HAS EXPERIENCED A POPULATION EXPLOSION, WHICH HAS INCREASED THE NEED FOR ADDITIONAL HEALTHCARE SERVICES IN THE WEST HOUSTON AREA. CURRENTLY, THE ORGANIZATION HAS EIGHT LOCATIONS AND TWO MOBILE HEALTH CLINICS SERVING MORE THAN 25,000 INDIVIDUALS IN NEED IN 2020, SHE FOUNDED THE SPRING BRANCH LEADERSHIP INSTITUTE TO SERVE HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS INTERESTED IN CAREERS AND HEALTHCARE, ESPECIALLY THOSE WANTING TO BECOME PHYSICIANS. DR. TRULIO WAS BORN IN HOUSTON, TEXAS, AND RAISED IN THE SPRING BRANCH COMMUNITY DISTRICT A HER PARENTS ARE FROM COLUMBIA AND MEXICO. SHE HAS BEEN THE CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER OF S-B-C-H-C FOR 15 YEARS. SHE TRULY UNDERSTANDS THE HEALTHCARE NEEDS OF HER COMMUNITY AND IS AN ADVOCATE FOR REDUCING HEALTH DISPARITIES ACROSS ALL POPULATIONS, ESPECIALLY WOMEN. PRIOR TO BEING THE CEO OF S-B-C-H-C G'S POSITION OF CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER FOR THE COMMUNITY HEALTH CENTER AND PREVIOUSLY HELD POSITIONS AT THE NATIONAL HISPANIC INSTITUTE, THE YWCA OF GREATER HOUSTON AND THE CITY OF HOUSTON, SHE HAS A BACHELOR OF BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION IN FINANCE AND MARKETING FROM THE UNIVERSITY OF HOUSTON, GO COBES, AND ALSO JOSE MASTERS IN BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION AND INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS FROM OUR LADY OF THE LAKE UNIVERSITY. SHE RECENTLY OBTAINED HER PHD IN PUBLIC HEALTH FROM THE UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS HEALTH SCIENCE CENTER SCHOOL OF PUBLIC HEALTH. AND SHE IS PASSIONATE ABOUT HEALTHCARE AND EDUCATION. THE CITY OF HOUSTON COMMENDS DR. MARLENE TRULIO FOR HER OUTSTANDING CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE HEALTH OF THE HISPANIC COMMUNITY. A COMMITMENT HAS EMPOWERED AND INSPIRED THE NEXT GENERATION OF LEADERS AND TRULY CAPTURES THE SELFLESS SPIRIT OF ALL HOUSTONIANS SHOULD SEEK TO EMULATE. THEREFORE, I, SYLVESTER TURNER MAYOR CITY OF HOUSTON, HEREBY PROUDLY SAY, ACKNOWLEDGE AND HONOR DR. MARLENE TRULIO WITH THE MAYOR'S HISPANIC HERITAGE HEALTHCARE AWARD AND PROCLAIM OCTOBER 10TH, 2023 AS DR. MARLENE TRULIO DAY IN HOUSTON, TEXAS. CONGRATULATIONS. THANK YOU. [00:25:03] HI, THANK YOU. THANK YOU TO MAYOR TURNER. THANK YOU TO ROLAND GARCIA TO LENORA. UM, AND ALSO SPECIAL THANKS TO COUNCIL MEMBER AMY PECK FOR THE NOMINATION. I APPRECIATE EVERYTHING YOU DO FOR OUR DISTRICT, AND I'M SO EXCITED THAT WE'LL CONTINUE TO HAVE YOU ON COUNCIL REPRESENTING US, UM, IN, IN THE SPRING BRANCH AREA AS WELL. AND THANK YOU TO, UM, THE CITY OF HOUSTON FOR CONTINUING TO FOCUS ON HEALTHCARE SERVICES. UM, WE REALLY, TRULY HAVE A NEED TO CONTINUE SERVING OUR UNDERSERVED AND VULNERABLE POPULATIONS AROUND THE CITY AND THE COUNTY. SO I APPLAUD Y'ALL FOR YOUR EFFORTS, AND I WILL CONTINUE TO DO MY JOB IN MAKING SURE, UM, ALL THE POPULATIONS HAVE ACCESS TO ACCESSIBLE QUALITY AND AFFORDABLE HEALTHCARE. THANK YOU AGAIN, COUNCIL MEMBER AMY PECK. THANK YOU. AND THANK YOU MAYOR, AND TO EVERYONE WHO SELECTED MARLON. I THINK THAT THIS IS JUST SO AMAZING THAT YOU'RE BEING RECOGNIZED. THE WORK THAT YOU DO IN SPRING BRANCH AND BEYOND IS JUST TRULY REMARKABLE. AND I DON'T KNOW WHERE WE WOULD BE WITHOUT YOU JUST SEEING EVEN THE KIDS WHO COME, UM, TO THE SPRING BRANCH FAMILY DEVELOPMENT CENTER AND WORK, UM, WITH YOU GUYS. I MEAN, IT'S JUST, THEY, THEY GET SO EXCITED ABOUT HEALTHCARE AND IT'S JUST SO AMAZING TO SEE. SO THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR EVERYTHING THAT YOU DO. THANK YOU. COUNCIL MEMBER. THANK YOU. COUNCIL MEMBER ABBY CAYMAN. DR. CONGRATULATIONS, UH, MAYOR, THANK YOU FOR THE RECOGNITION. COUNCIL MEMBER PECK FOR THE NOMINATION, AND OF COURSE, UM, TO ROLAND AND LENORA WHO CONTINUE TO LIFT UP AND SHARE A SPOTLIGHT WITH OTHER RISING STARS SO THAT THEIR WORK IS KNOWN TO ALL. UH, SO MY HEARTFELT APPRECIATION TO ALL OF YOU, BECAUSE WE ARE ALL IN IT TOGETHER, AND HEALTHCARE IS THAT VITAL, UH, VITAL SERVICE THAT FAR TOO MANY PEOPLE DON'T HAVE ACCESS TO, INCLUDING IN OUR CITY. AND THOSE DISPARITIES, UH, THAT YOU CONTINUE TO ADDRESS, UH, ARE CHANGING LIVES AND SAVING LIVES. SO, THANK YOU COUNCIL MEMBER THANK, COUNCIL MEMBER DAVID ROBINSON. THIS IS, UH, DR. TRULIO, COUNCIL MEMBER SALLY ALCORN. THANK YOU. GREAT TO SEE YOU AGAIN. I'VE BEEN SEEING YOU LIKE A LOT IN THE LAST COUPLE DAYS. IT, UH, I SO ENJOYED MEETING YOUR FATHER LAST NIGHT, AND HE WAS SO PROUD OF YOU. THANK YOU. IT WAS JUST REALLY GREAT TO SEE. AND, AND HIS GUEST SPOKE ONLY SPANISH. SO I WAS NOT AS ELOQUENT AS MY COHORT COUNCIL MEMBER ROBINSON, BUT I WAS DRAWING BACK FROM MY YOUTH IN EL PASO. OKAY. AND, UH, AND CAME, I, I COULD COMMUNICATE WITH HER. SO IT WAS ALL GOOD. BUT CONGRATULATIONS, HEALTHCARE SO IMPORTANT AND THE WORK YOU'RE DOING IN THE SPRING BRIDGE COMMUNITY IS, IS VITAL. SO THANK YOU VERY MUCH. THANK YOU, COUNCIL MEMBER. AND THANK YOU AGAIN DR. TRUJILLO. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. MARTHA , WE WANNA PRESENT, QUITE FRANKLY, IT'S THE LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT AWARD AND THE 2023, UH, MAYOR'S HISPANIC HERITAGE LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT AWARD HAS BEEN PRESENTED TO MARY RAMOS. NO, , [00:30:01] I CAN STAND UP. ALRIGHT. WE ALL KNOW, UM, MARY , AND IF YOU DON'T KNOW HER, YOU SHOULD KNOW HER . UH, BUT MARY ROMOS IS THE, IS THE RECIPIENT OF THE 2023 MAYORS HISPANIC HERITAGE LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT AWARD. FROM HER HUMBLE BEGINNINGS, SHE LEARNED AND NURTURED WHAT WOULD BE HER LIFETIME PASSION, GIVING BACK AND EMPOWERING COMMUNITIES. AND SHE'S DONE THAT FOR A LIFETIME. AFTER ENCOUNTERING, UM, LULAC LEAGUE OF UNITED LATIN AMERICAN CITIZENS IN 1980, THAT PASSION WAS IGNITED BY PROVIDING, UH, MARY WITH A SPRINGBOARD FOR ALL FUTURE INVOLVEMENTS. MARY HAS SPENT HER ADULT LIFE AS A STACH SUPPORTER OF JUSTICE AND AS AN ADVOCATE FOR HUMAN RIGHTS, IMMIGRATION, AND EDUCATION, EQUAL RIGHTS, EQUAL PAY, AND QUITE FRANKLY, JUST FIGHTING FOR ALL IN HER JOURNEY TO HELP GIVE, UH, THE HISPANIC COMMUNITY EQUAL OPPORTUNITIES. SHE HELPED FORGED A RELATIONSHIP WITH THE N-A-A-C-P THAT LED TO THE DEVELOPMENT OF A STATEWIDE RESOLUTION THAT ALLOWS TEXAS N-A-A-C-P AND TEXAS LULAC TO WORK TOGETHER ON ISSUES THAT AFFECT BOTH COMMUNITIES. I WANNA SAY THAT HER FRIENDSHIP WITH DR. WILLIAM LAWSON, UH, GOLD COVERS MY LOVE, DEDICATION, AND, UH, I KNOW SHE'S SUPPOSED TO LOVE ME, BUT SHE LOVED DR. LAWSON MORE , BUT I'M, I'M GETTING, I'M GETTING OKAY WITH THAT. ALL RIGHT, GOOD. I'M OKAY. , HER LEADERSHIP AND ADVOCACY GARNERED HER THE NAACP HOUSTON BRANCH 2012 PRESIDENTIAL AWARD. MARY HAS BEEN A DEDICATED VOICE FOR HER COMMUNITY WHILE A MEMBER OF THE 2004 SUPER BOWL COMMITTEE AND WITH LULAC AS THE BACKDROP, MARY HELPED ADVOCATE ON BEHALF OF HISPANIC OWNED BUSINESS CONTRACTORS AFTER A HATE CRIME AGAINST DAVID RICHARDSON. A 16-YEAR-OLD LATINO STUDENT, UH, OCCURRED IN 2 0 0 6. MARY LED A LULAC DELEGATION TO HELP ESCORT DAVID TO WASHINGTON, DC TO TESTIFY ABOUT PASSING MORE STRINGENT HATE CRIME LAWS. WHEN CANCER STRUCK MARY, IT MIGHT'VE BEEN A REASON TO CURTAIL HER WORK, BUT IT DID NOT. SHE REMAINED STEADFAST IN THE GOOD FIGHT AND CONTINUES TO THIS VERY, VERY DAY AND SERVES AS AN INSPIRATION TO US ALL, WHETHER IT IS HER WORK TO RAISE FUNDS FOR LULAC SCHOLARSHIPS, WHICH HAS NOW SURPASSED $1 MILLION, DISTRIBUTED MORE THAN 500 BACKPACKS TO SCHOOLS FOR BACK TO SCHOOLS, TO, UH, OR CONTINUED THE YOLANDA BLACK NAVARROS WORK WITH SHOES FOR KIDS. MARY IS NOW SLOWING DOWN. SHE REMAINS A FORCE AND A WHOLEHEARTED WARRIOR ON BEHALF OF THE LATINO COMMUNITY. THE CITY OF HOUSTON COMMANDS MARY RAMOS FOR HER OUTSTANDING DEDICATION AS A LEADER IN THE HISPANIC COMMUNITY, AND WISHES A CONTINUED SUCCESS IN ALL OF OUR FUTURE ENDEAVORS. SO, THEREFORE, I, SYLVESTER TURNER, MAYOR OF CITY OF HOUSTON, HEREBY PROUDLY HONOR MARY RAMOS, UH, WITH THE MAYOR'S HISPANIC CARRIAGES LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT AWARD, AND PROCLAIM OCTOBER 10TH, 2023, AS MARY ROMANS TODAY IN THE CITY OF HOUSTON. CONGRATULATIONS, MARY OBAMA. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THIS HONOR. I WANNA THANK THE HISPANIC, THE MAYOR'S HISPANIC ADVISORY BOARD FOR THIS HONOR. I REALLY AM TOUCHED, UH, I'VE BEEN WORKING IN THE COMMUNITY FOR MANY, MANY YEARS, AS MOST OF Y'ALL KNOW. UH, BUT YOU KNOW, WHAT, WHAT HE SAID TOUCHED ON WAS AS REVEREND WILLIAM LAWSON, WHO'S MY LOVE, HE TAUGHT ME SOMETHING 30 YEARS AGO. HE, WE WERE TALKING ABOUT THE BIBLE OR SOMETHING, HE SAID TO ME, YOU KNOW, HONEY, THE LORD PUT US ON THIS EARTH TO HELP THE POWERLESS AGAINST THE POWERFUL. AND I'VE LIVED BY THAT, WHAT HE TAUGHT ME. AND YES, I DO LOVE YOU, MAYOR, ALMOST AS MUCH AS I DO REVEREND LAWSON, BUT HE, REVEREND LAWSON IS, IS GOD. I LOOK UP TO HIM. I HE MEANS THE WORLD TO ME. AND WORKING WITH ALL PEOPLE, ALL CHILDREN. WHAT I TRIED TO SAY LAST NIGHT WAS, THANK YOU AGAIN, ROLAND AND LENORA, UH, FOR THIS GREAT HONOR, UH, TO REPRESENT MY COMMUNITY. BUT I DON'T JUST REPRESENT MY COMMUNITY. I REPRESENT [00:35:01] ALL COMMUNITIES. 'CAUSE ALL CHILDREN AND ALL ELDERLY ARE IMPORTANT TO ME. AND ONE THING I TRY TO TELL MY CHILDREN AND MY GRANDCHILDREN, YOU KNOW, THAT ALWAYS GET AN EDUCATION. 'CAUSE THAT'S ONE THING NO ONE CAN TAKE AWAY FROM YOU. EDUCATION, EDUCATION IS THE NUMBER ONE THING THAT'S IMPORTANT TO ME FOR OUR CHILDREN. I GO TO AUSTIN AND FIGHT FOR THAT ALL THE TIME. I WENT AND TOOK THREE BUSLOADS OF COLLEGE STUDENTS TO FIGHT FOR HOUSE BILL 1403. UH, THESE ARE THINGS THAT ARE IMPORTANT AND ELDERLY TAKE CARE OF OUR ELDERLY ALL, YOU KNOW, I, I'M GRATEFUL FOR MY CHILDREN AND GRANDCHILDREN THAT, YOU KNOW, THROUGH ALL THE CANCER AND EVERYTHING THAT I'VE HAD SURGERY AFTER SURGERY, AND I'VE HAD LIKE 11 SURGERIES IN THE PAST FOUR YEARS. BUT MY CHILDREN ARE ALWAYS THERE AND MY GRANDCHILDREN TO TAKE CARE OF ME. AND FOR THAT, I'M VERY GRATEFUL. THANK YOU SO MUCH TO MY FAMILY, TO THE HISPANIC ADVISORY BOARD, TO CITY COUNCIL, AND OF COURSE, MY LOVE THE MAYOR, THE BEST MAYOR IN THE WORLD. THANK YOU. THANK YOU, MS. RAMOS. THANK YOU MS. RAMOS. AND WE HAVE A NUMBER OF COUNCIL, I'M SORRY, COUNCIL MEMBERS IN QUEUE . UM, BUT I, I APPRECIATE YOU RECOGNIZING THE CO-CHAIRS OF THE MAYOR'S HISPANIC ADVISORY BOARD, MS. LENORA, OLA PULLMAN, AND MR. ROLAND GARCIA. SO THANK YOU FOR RECOGNIZING THEM. WE'LL START OFF WITH COUNCIL MEMBER TASHA JACKSON. THANK YOU, MARY RAMOS. CONGRATULATIONS. WELL DESERVED. UM, I KNOW WHEN I WAS A YOUNG ACTIVIST ORGANIZING COMING ON THE SCENE, I LEARNED YOU, I CONNECTED WITH YOU AND I LEARNED A WHOLE LOT ABOUT, YOU KNOW, THE ISSUES, THE SHARED ISSUES, UM, THAT IMPACT OUR COMMUNITIES. AND SO YOU HELPED SHAPE THE PERSON THAT I AM TODAY, THE ADVOCATE THAT I AM TODAY. AND SO I REALLY APPRECIATE YOU. I'M WELL DESERVED. YOU ALWAYS HAD MY BACK WHEN I WAS RUNNING FOR OFFICE. YOU'RE LIKE, WHAT DO I NEED TO DO? YOU, YOU KNOW, SO YOU ALWAYS, THAT'S MY GIRL. VERY SUPPORTIVE. AND SO I REALLY APPRECIATE YOU AND WELL, YOU ARE A CHAMPION. YOU'RE A CHAMPION IN MY BOOK, AND I'M SURE I KNOW YOU ARE A CHAMPION IN THE COMMUNITY BOOK, SO CONGRATULATIONS. THANK YOU, TASHA. APPRECIATE IT, COUNSELOR. AND MR. RAMOS, IF YOU WOULD INTRODUCE THOSE GOOD LOOKING GENTLEMEN THAT ARE AT YOUR SIDE. OH MY GOODNESS, I WOULD APPRECIATE IT. OH, YOU WON'T BELIEVE THIS, BUT THIS IS MY SON. THIS IS MY GRANDSON, AND THEY'RE A MONTH APART. . MY DAUGHTER AND I WERE PREGNANT AT THE SAME TIME. , CAN YOU BELIEVE THAT? BUT ANYWAY, , I DON'T KNOW HOW THAT HAPPENED. BUT ANYWAY, I'M VERY PROUD OF BOTH OF THEM. THEY BOTH GRADUATED FROM COLLEGE. AND ANYWAY, BY THE GRACE OF GOD, VERY PROUD OF MY FAMILY. THAT'S SURE. COUNCIL MEMBER CAROLYN, EVAN SHABAZZ. THANK YOU, MAYOR PRO. TIM, I'M GONNA TELL YOU, MARY RAMOS IS, SHE'S SO MUCH FUN TOO, WHILE SHE'S WORKING. I REMEMBER ONCE SHE AND YOLANDA SMITH AND I, I WAS THE EDUCATION CHAIR OF THE, UH, NAACP HOUSTON BRANCH. AND WE, WE LACED UP OUR BOOTS AND WE WENT DOWN ON I 45. I DON'T EVEN REMEMBER WHICH SCHOOL DISTRICT WE WENT TO. YEAH. BECAUSE THAT'S WHAT WE DID. NORTH SHORE. AND WE CERTAINLY IS THAT, THAT'S, THAT'S WHERE IT WAS. WE WENT THERE TO, AND WE TOOK CARE OF BUSINESS. MM-HMM . YOU KNOW, UH, BUT WE HAD A GOOD TIME DOING IT. WE DID. AND IT'S ALWAYS A PLEASURE TO SEE YOU. CERTAINLY. AND THEN, UH, LENORA, YOU KNOW, I CAN'T SAY ENOUGH ABOUT YOU AS WELL, BUT BOTH OF YOU LADIES HAVE JUST BEEN SO AWESOME AND SO STELLAR IN DOING WORK FOR YOUR COMMUNITIES. AND I JUST, I'M JUST HONORED TO KNOW BOTH OF YOU. YOU TOO, ROLAND, BUT CERTAINLY . BUT YOU KNOW, IT'S A, IT'S A WOMAN THING. YEAH. WE, YOU KNOW, WE REALLY, REALLY BONDED. AND I REALLY, REALLY APPRECIATE THEIR FRIENDSHIP, BOTH OF THEM AND, AND THE WORK THAT THEY DO. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. THANK YOU SO MUCH. OKAY. APPRECIATE THAT. COUNCIL MEMBER ABBY CAYMAN. THANK YOU, MAYOR PRO TEM, AND MARY, CONGRATULATIONS. UH, THANK YOU SO MUCH. I, YOU KNOW, AND YOU TALK ABOUT REVEREND LAWSON AND THERE'S THIS, YOU KNOW, EVERYONE KIND OF JUST FEELS GOOD BECAUSE OF THE INTERCONNECTIVITY AND THE LOVE YES. THAT IS SHARED. AND THE BEAUTY THAT HE IS AND, AND THE GIFT THAT HE IS TOO. UM, I DID THOSE, SEE, YOU KNOW, WHEN YOU SAID THANK YOU, LENORA KIND OF DID HER LENORA FACE, AND SHE GOES LIKE, WHAT ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT? BECAUSE I'M PUTTING WORDS INTO YOUR MOUTH, LENORA. BUT YOU'RE SO EXTRAORDINARY. AND, UM, THIS IS SO WELL DESERVED THAT THERE'S NO NEED TO THANK ANYONE FOR THIS BECAUSE IT'S YOU AND IT'S WHO YOU ARE. SO, UH, WE LOVE YOU. WE APPRECIATE YOU. KEEP GOING. THANK YOU FOR BRINGING YOUR FAMILY INTO YOUR FAMILY FOR SUPPORTING YOU. UH, AND, AND ALL THAT YOU DO, AND ALL THE FIGHTS YOU TAKE ON. THANK YOU. COUNCIL MEMBER CARLOS CISNEROS. UM, THIS IS SUCH A WELL DESERVED HONOR, MARY, AND I'M JUST SO PROUD OF YOU AND, AND, UM, AND THE WORK YOU DO. YOU'VE BEEN AN UNWAVERING ADVOCATE AND SUPPORTER AND FIGHTER FOR, UM, FOR HUMAN RIGHTS, ESPECIALLY IN THE HISPANIC COMMUNITY. BUT, BUT AS YOU SAID FOR EVERYBODY, AND I WANTED TO [00:40:01] JUST TO TELL YOU HOW MUCH I APPRECIATED YOUR WORDS LAST NIGHT WHEN YOU KIND OF CLOSED YOUR REMARKS BY SAYING, ENCOURAGING EVERYONE TO CARE A LITTLE BIT MORE FOR OUR ELDERLY AND TO CARE A LITTLE BIT MORE FOR OUR CHILDREN. EXACTLY. THANK YOU FOR THOSE WORDS. MORE IMPORTANT THAN ANYTHING . AND THANKS AGAIN. AND CONGRATULATIONS. THANK YOU SO MUCH. THAT WAS A WONDERFUL NIGHT LAST NIGHT. APPRECIATE SO THANK YOU, LENORA. THANK YOU ROLAND. THANK YOU. TOTALLY. ALRIGHT, THE, UH, SESSION, [2:00 P.M. – INVOCATION AND PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE] UH, THE, SHE RECOGNIZES COUNCIL MEMBER ALCO FOR, FOR THE INVITATION. THANK YOU MAYOR. AND I'D, IT'S MY HONOR TO INTRODUCE GUSTA BOOKER, WHO MANY OF YOU KNOW, TO SAY THE LEAD US IN PRAYER TODAY. UM, PASTOR BOOKER AND I MET, UM, IN THE DISTRICT OF DESTINATION WHEN THAT CENTER POINT MAYOR THAT REMEMBER THE CENTER POINT, UM, FOOTBALL FIELD THAT THEY DID OVER IN SUNNYSIDE. YES. YOU WERE OVER THERE TAKING YOUR FRAT PICTURES. YES. ANYWAY, HE AND I, UH, STRUCK UP A CONVERSATION AND I'VE ENJOYED GETTING TO KNOW HIM. HE'S A LEADER IN SENIOR HOUSING DEVELOPMENT AND REALLY INTERESTED IN DEVELOPING AFFORDABLE, SAFE, AFFORDABLE HOUSING. AND HE'S ALSO TAKEN OVER THE, THE HELM AT GREATER ST. MATTHEWS. UM, HIS, HIS FATHER WAS ONE OF THE FOUNDERS OF THE CHURCH. WE CELEBRATED RECENTLY, IT'S 55TH ANNIVERSARY, THEN HIS BROTHER RONALD. AND NOW IT'S GB THREE'S TURN AT, AT THE PULPIT. SO REALLY JUST WANNA WELCOME YOU TO CITY HALL AND UM, THANK YOU FOR HONORING US WITH A PRAYER THIS MORNING. THANK YOU. GOD BLESS. I APPRECIATE THAT. JUST REALLY BRIEF. I JUST WANNA SAY BEFORE I DO THAT, I, UH, SO YOU SAY YOU WERE WONDERING IF I WAS COMING OR YOU WERE GONNA HAVE TO GIVE THE CATHOLIC PRAYER, BUT I KNOW WE HAVE REVEREND TURNER OVER THERE, SO I YOU WOULD GIVE NEXT WEEK , BUT I THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY AND I THANK YOU CITY FOR ALLOWING ME TO CONTINUE TO SERVE ON THE TOURIST BOARD EIGHT. GOD BLESS YOU. I ENJOY DOING THAT. BUT I'M GONNA GIVE US PRAYER AS WE MOVE AHEAD. MASSARA. MARTHA, IT'S GREAT TO SEE YOU TASHA AS WELL. MOST GRACIOUS MASTER, WE THANK YOU FOR ALLOWING US THE OPPORTUNITY TO BE HERE. WE THANK YOU FOR WHAT'S GOING ON TODAY, WHAT'S TAKING PLACE, EVEN IN THE MIDST OF WHAT'S GOING ON IN THE CITY AND A LOT OF PLACES YOU STILL ALLOW THIS COUNCIL TO BE HERE TO TAKE CARE OF, OF YOUR KINGDOM AMONGST MILLIONS OF PEOPLE THAT WE HAVE IN THE CITY. SO WE JUST THANK YOU FOR THE STRENGTH THAT THEY HAVE AND CONTINUE TO, TO GIVE THEM THE STRENGTH NO MATTER WHAT HAPPENS. GIVE THEM THE INTESTINAL FORTITUDE TO MAKE DIFFICULT DECISIONS WHEN EVERYONE IS AGAINST THEM. WE KNOW THAT, UH, YOU WILL GIVE THEM THAT. WE ALSO GONNA CONTINUE PRAYING FOR OUR CITY AND OUR BROTHERS AND SISTERS. AND WE WANT TO CONTINUE FOR, UH, THE PEOPLE THAT ARE AFFECTED HERE ACROSS IN ISRAEL. THERE ARE PEOPLE THAT OUR LEADERS HAD TO GO SEE THERE, UH, SEE LAST NIGHT. SO WE WANT TO CONTINUE PRAYING THERE 'CAUSE IT AFFECTS A LOT OF PEOPLE HERE. AND WE KNOW THERE ARE PEOPLE WHO ARE CONCERNED HERE, BUT THERE'S NO REASON EVER TO, UH, EXONERATE BLOODSHED. BUT LET'S JUST PRAY FOR THEM, OUR BROTHERS AND SISTERS THAT ARE HERE AND FOR THEM THERE THAT YOU JUST TOUCHED THAT SITUATION THERE. BUT AGAIN, EVERYONE HERE ON THIS COUNCIL, WE ASK YOU TO JUST TOUCH THEM, GIVE THEM STRENGTH AS THEY CONTINUE TO MAKE, UH, STRIDES FOR OUR CITY AND CONTINUE TO BLESS OUR CITY THAT WE CAN BE A BEACON TO THE, TO THE STATE, AND TO THE COUNTRY, AND TO THE WORLD. JUST CONTINUE BLESSING OUR MAYOR AS HE CONTINUES TO MOVE FORWARD. AND I THANK YOU FOR TOUCHING HIS HEALTH. CONTINUE TO BLESS HIM AND EVERYONE ELSE ON HERE. WE KNOW THAT YOU CAN CHANGE MINDS IN OUR CITY AND EVERYTHING 'CAUSE YOU'RE TRANSFORMING GOD, BUT [00:45:01] WE ASK YOU TO CONTINUE ON RIGHT NOW. IT IS IN YOUR PERFECT, PRECIOUS, POWERFUL, AND MIND TRANSFORMING NAME. AMEN. AMEN. AMEN. AMEN. THANK YOU. PLEASE DESCRIBE SIR THE PLEDGE. I PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE TO THE OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA AND THE REPUBLIC FOR WHAT ONE NATION. INDIVISIBLE. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. OKAY. AND AS WE PREPARE FOR THE, UM, FOR THE ROLL CALL, JUST WANTS TO BE MINDFUL OF, UM, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER, UH, EDWARD EDWARD POLL, WHO WAS, UM, UH, STILL DEALING WITH THE TRANSITION OF HIS MOM. AND THAT FUNERAL WILL BE, UH, THIS COMING MONDAY AT DOWNTOWN. UM, BUT LET'S CONTINUE TO LIFT HIM UP AND HIS FAMILY UP IN PRAYER AS WELL. ALRIGHT, HAVING SAID [ROLL CALL AND ADOPT THE MINUTES OF THE PREVIOUS MEETING] THAT, MADAM SECRETARY, WILL YOU PLEASE CALL THE ROLE MAYOR TURNER. HERE. CONSTABLE PECK. HERE. CONSTABLE JACKSON. HERE. COUNCILMAN KAMAN. PRESENT. COUNCILMAN EVAN SHABAZZ. HERE. COUNCILMAN MARTIN. PRESENT. CONSTABLE THOMAS WILL BE ASKED. CONSTABLE HUFFMAN. PRESENT. COUNCILMAN CISNEROS? HERE. COUNCIL GALLEGOS. HERE. COUNCILMAN POLL WILL BE ASKING. COUNCIL CASTEX TATUM. HERE. COUNCILMAN KNOX? HERE. CONSTABLE ROBINSON. HERE. CONSTABLE KUBACH WILL BE ABSENT. CONSTABLE PALM WILL BE ASKING CONSTABLE ALCORN. HERE NEED A MOTION TO ADOPT THE MINUTES OF MAY 9TH AND 10TH AND MAY 16TH AND 17. CASTEX TATUM MOVED SECOND. ROBINSON MAY MOVED THE SECOND. ANY OBJECTION TO THE ADOPTION OF THE MINUTES? UH, HEARING NONE AND THE MINUTES ARE ADOPTED. WELL, THANK YOU. THIS IS A UNIQUE COUNCIL MEMBER, UH, MEETING. WE DON'T HAVE ANYBODY SIGNED UP TO SPEAK, UH, TODAY AT THE, UH, UH, THIS SESSION. . LET'S JOKING . HERE WE GO. OH, YEAH. OH, I'M JUST JOKING. COUNCILMAN CAYMAN AROUND STATE. ALL RIGHT. UH, IS THERE, ARE THERE ANY PROCEDURAL MOTIONS? COUNCILMAN CHAIR RECOGNIZES. COUNCIL MEMBER MAG GALLEGOS. THANK YOU, MAYOR. FIRST I'D LIKE TO MOVE TO, TO SUSPEND THE RULES TO ADD PATRICK MCVAY TO THE TOP OF THE THREE MINUTE NON AGENDA LIST. SECOND, ROBINSON SECOND. BEEN MOVED AND SECONDED. ANY OBJECTION? JERRY IS NONE. AND THE MOTION IS GRANTED. AND, AND I'D LIKE TO, UM, ADD BIANCA CIA AND ADD VICKI CRUZ AND MOVE CARMEN CAVAZOS, UH, BEHIND, UH, PATRICK MCVAY AT THE, UH, THREE MINUTE NON-AD AGENDA LIST. SECOND. ROBINSON. CARMEN, WHO? CARMEN GLOSSO MOVED. SECOND. ANY OBJECTIONS CHAIR HERE? NONE. AND THE MOTION IS GRANTED. OKAY. OKAY. COUNCIL MEMBER, UH, VICE MAYOR PROAM, CAST TUM. THANK YOU MAYOR. I'D LIKE TO SUSPEND THE RULES AND MOVE ELVA TREVINO, UH, BEHIND CARMEN CAVAZOS AND RE REED BEHIND ELVA TREVINO AT THE, ON THE THREE MINUTE SECOND ROBINSON. OKAY, ONE MORE TIME. BACK. ELVA TREVINO AND CENTRE REED, UH, THEY'RE BOTH SPEAKING ON THE SAME ITEM BEHIND CARMEN CAVAZOS. THAT WAS ONE SECOND ALL TOGETHER. YOU'VE HEARD THE MOTION THERE. A SECOND, SECOND, SECOND. ANY OBJECTION, CHAIR'S? NONE. MOTION IS GRANTED. CHAIR RECOGNIZES COUNCIL MEMBER MC CAMAN FOR PROCEDURAL MOTION. THANK YOU, MAYOR. I MOVE TO SUSPEND THE RULES TO MOVE DAN KRUEGER TO THE BOTTOM OF THE ONE MINUTE NON AGENDA LIST. SECOND. ROBINSON, YOU HAVE HEARD, HEARD THE MOTION? IT'S BEEN PROPERLY. SECOND. ANY OBJECTION? CHAIR IS NONE. AND THE MOTION IS GRANTED. ARE THERE ANY OTHER PROCEDURAL MOTIONS? ROBINSON? COUNCIL MEMBER ROBINSON MAYOR, I'D LIKE TO ASK TO SUSPEND THE RULES TO ADD JACOB CLEMENTI TO THE BOTTOM OF THE ONE MINUTE NON AGENDA. SECOND. OKAY. IT'S BEEN MOVED AND SECONDED. ANY OBJECTIONS? CHAIR HERE. NOT. AND THAT MOTION IS GRANTED. ANY OTHER PROCEDURAL MOTIONS? ALRIGHT, MADAM [PUBLIC SPEAKERS] SECRETARY, YOU'LL CALL THE FIRST SPEAKER. SABRE RICHARDSON. SABRE [00:50:01] RICHARDSON. SABRA. NEXT SPEAKER. DAN KRUGER. DAN KRUGER. DAN KRUEGER IS HERE. THREE. FOLLOWED BY JACOB CLEMENTI. I'M SORRY. OH, THIS IS ER RICHARDSON. YES. OKAY. DAN, IF YOU'LL HOLD MS. RICHARDSON, IF YOU'LL COME FORWARD. YES MA'AM. HONOR AND CITY COUNCILMAN, IT'S A PLEASURE OF BEING HERE FOR Y'ALL TO HEAR MY VOICE TODAY ON THE PHYSICAL ASSAULT TO ME AT IHOP 1 97 ADDRESS. AND IF YOU PULL THAT MIC DOWN, I'M TOO SHORT. HUH? THERE YOU GO. OKAY. THANK YOU. 29TH AT 1:30 AM IN THE MORNING. I AM A WORKING SENIOR CITIZEN. I TAKE CARE OF THE ELDERS. THAT'S 94, 89 YEARS OF AGE. NOW I, I BECAME IN THAT GROUP TO BE ELDER DISABLED. BECAUSE OF THIS PHYSICAL ASSAULT, I HAD TO BE TAUGHT HOW TO WALK AGAIN, HOW TO STAND. I, I HAD TO BE TRANSPORTED TO THE HOSPITAL. ONCE I WAS TRANSPORTED TO THE HOSPITAL, THE DOCTOR SAID, YOU HAVE NERVE DAMAGE. NERVE DAMAGE. I WENT BACK HOME. I WAS FALLING AGAINST THE WALL. I COULDN'T WALK, I COULDN'T EVEN GO TO THE BATHROOM. SO I CALLED 9 1 1 AGAIN, TRANSPORT ME TO ANOTHER HOSPITAL. AND THERE I STAYED IN THAT HOSPITAL FOR TWO WEEKS. THEN I WENT TO REHABILITATION. YOUR TIME HAS EXPIRED. YEAH. I GIVE YOU, YOU CAN CONTINUE. I'LL GIVE YOU ANOTHER MINUTE, ANOTHER MINUTE OVER THAT PHYSICAL ASSAULT. I WENT TO IHOP AT ONE 30 IN THE MORNING TO HAVE TOAST AND HAM. AND THAT I WAS ASSAULTED BY THE WAITRESS. SHE, SHE WAS SITTING DOWN AND SHE TOLD ME TO HAVE A SEAT. I SAY, MA'AM, I NEED TO GO TO THE BATHROOM. AS I PROCEED TO THE BATHROOM, SHE CAME IN THERE BAMMING ON THE DOOR, COME OUT, COME OUT IN RAGE VOICE. SO ONCE I CAME OUT, I SAY, MA'AM, I'M READY FOR YOU TO TAKE MY ORDER. SHE WAS STANDING AT THE FRONT DOOR, HOLDING THE DOOR, GET OUT HERE LIKE, I'M AN ANIMAL. SO I ASKED HER, I SAY, WHY DON'T YOU WANNA WAIT ON ME? WHAT SEEMED TO BE THE PROBLEM, MA'AM? SHE SAY, I REFUSE TO GIVE YOU SERVICE. GET OUTTA HERE. SO SHE LEFT THE FRONT DOOR AND CAME UP BEHIND ME, CAUGHT ME BY MY NECK, CHOKING ME AND AND, AND MY SHOULDER TWISTING ME, TOSSING ME AROUND TILL SHE TOSSED ME OUT THE DOOR JUST ABOUT EACH TIME. AND I BRACED MYSELF, KEEP FALLING. AND I WENT TO THE COURT AND CALLED 9 1 1. AND THE OFFICERS CAME OUT AND THEY SAY, WELL, SHE'S GONNA FILE TRESPASSING IF YOU FILE ASSAULT. I SAID, SIR, I'VE NEVER HEARD OF THAT BEFORE. THIS IS A PUBLIC PLACE. HOW CAN YOU DARE DO ME LIKE THIS? SHE, HE SAID, WELL, YOU GOING TO JAIL TOO? AND I'M LIKE, NO, I'M NOT GOING TO JAIL. BECAUSE I WAS NOT TRESPASSING. THIS IS A PUBLIC PLACE AND I KNOW MY RIGHTS. SO THANKS SO MUCH FOR HEARING MY PEACE HERE TODAY. THANK YOU ALL. THANK THANK YOU MS. RICHARDSON. THANK YOU FOR COMING. OKAY. HOPE YOU FEEL BETTER. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. OKAY, NEXT SPEAKER. DAN KRUGER. NOW DAN, YOU CAN COME FORWARD. GOOD AFTERNOON. THANK YOU, COUNCIL MEMBER. THE PASSAGE OF TIME CHANGES OUR WORLD, BUT IT'S RATHER ODD THAT WITH THE CITY BEING THE BUYER AND SGRA BEING THE SELLER, THAT WE APPEAR SO FAR TO BE CONTENT WITH AN SGRA OFFER THAT IS SEVEN MONTHS OLD FOR AT LEAST TWO REASONS. APPROVAL OF THE CONTRACT WILL NOT SECURE A RIGHT TO SEASONALLY LOWER LAKE CONROE. YET THE COUNCIL HAS AN OPPORTUNITY TOMORROW TO BE GRATEFUL FOR OUR WATER RESOURCES, [00:55:02] TO RESPECT OUR RATE PAYERS AND TO CARE FOR THOSE WHO NEED OUR PUBLIC WATER SYSTEM. SO IF IMPATIENCE IS DRIVING US FOR THE BENEFIT OF ALL I'M OFFERING TO MEDIATE THE NEGOTIATION OF A BETTER UPDATED CONTRACT, THAT WILL BE GOOD FOR ALL OF HOUSTON AND ALL OF SGRA AND BETTER RESOLVE THE WATER MANAGEMENT AND FINANCIAL ISSUES. TIM MARTIN. SO, MR. KRUEGER, JUST A FULL DISCLOSURE, LET EVERYONE KNOW THAT YOU WERE THE FORMER DIRECTOR OF HOUSTON PUBLIC WORKS FOR MANY YEARS, EVEN WHEN I WAS HERE, WAY BACK WHEN, 10, 11 YEARS AGO. AND YOUR POINT IN THIS IS TO NOT RENEW THE AGREEMENT, RIGHT? TO NOT SIGN A NEW AGREEMENT AND JUST TO LET THE 1964 EXISTING CONTRACT, OPERATING CONTRACT BE A PART OF WHAT WE DEAL WITH 68 CONTRACT COUNCIL MEMBER. AND I BELIEVE THE CONTRACT SHOULD BE UPDATED. IT SHOULD NOT BE UPDATED IN THE FORM THAT IT IS. AND THE ISSUE REALLY GETS TO NOT ONLY UPDATING THE, UH, OP O AND M CONTRACT, BUT ALSO THE SALES AGREEMENT. AND IN FACT, THE JOINT OPERATING AGREEMENT. SO THE CONTRACT FROM 68 AND THERE WAS A NEW LAKE CONROE DAM WAS BUILT IN 1973 AFTER THE OPERATING CONTRACT HAS BEEN IN EXISTENCE FOR A NUMBER OF YEARS. AND IN THIS CONTRACT, THE REASON WHY IT'S BEING HELD UP IS NOT BECAUSE OF MAYOR TURNER. HE'S BEEN VERY PATIENT WITH ME. IT'S YOURS TRULY THAT HAS A PROBLEM WITH IT. AND THE PROBLEM I HAVE IS THAT I'VE NEVER SEEN A BUSINESS ENTITY THAT EXISTED WHEN THEY RECEIVED ZERO REVENUE, BUT YET ARE OBLIGATED TO PAY TWO THIRDS OF THE EXPENSES IN THIS OPERATING CONTRACTS. SO THE CITY IS OPERATING IS OBLIGATED TO PAY TWO THIRDS OF THE EXPENSES, RECEIVE ZERO REVENUE, WHILE THE SAN JACINTO RIVER AUTHORITY RECEIVES MILLIONS OF DOLLARS ALSO WITHIN THESE EXPENSES THAT WE'RE OBLIGATED TO PAY, WHICH AGAIN IS TWO THIRDS. THERE ARE LEGAL BILLS THAT ARE BEING RUN UP EACH AND EVERY DAY BY THE SAN JACINTO RIVER AUTHORITY HIRING LAWYERS TO DEFEND THEMSELVES AGAINST THE VERY PEOPLE I REPRESENT IN THE CITY OF HOUSTON, WHICH IS APPALLING TO ME THAT THEY'RE USING THE MONEY AND WE'RE OBLIGATED TO THE EXPENSES TO DO, TO SUE THE VERY PEOPLE TO WORK AGAINST THE VERY PEOPLE I'M IN CHARGE OF REPRESENTING. MAKES NO SENSE. BUT IT ALSO MAKES NO SENSE THAT YOU MOVE FORWARD. I'M OUTTA HERE IN LESS THAN THREE MONTHS, AND I'VE BEEN FIGHTING THIS THING FOR MY 11 YEARS ON, ON COUNCIL BECAUSE I WOKE UP IN THE MORNING ON OCTOBER 27TH, 2017 TO WATER IN MY HOUSE. AND I WILL NEVER SEE THAT HAPPEN AGAIN. AND I'VE BEEN FIGHTING VERY HARD TO MAKE SURE THAT NEVER HAPPENS AGAIN. PART OF IT IS CHANGING THE OPERATING AGREEMENT THAT WE HAD FROM 1968 WITH THE SAN JACINTO RIVER AUTHORITY THAT GIVES US THE PEOPLE THAT LIVE DOWNSTREAM A LITTLE BIT MORE PROTECTION AGAINST THE RELEASE OF WHAT I CALL CLASS FIVE RAPIDS THAT WERE SENT DOWN THE SAN JACINTO RIVER INTO MY BACKYARD, INTO MY HOUSE THAT FLOODED US ALL 10,000 HOMES IN THE VERY AREA THAT I REPRESENT. SO, UM, I'M ACTUALLY MEETING WITH YOUR GUYS IN ABOUT 25 MINUTES AND UM, I HOPE WE CAN REACH RESOLUTION, BUT I'M NOT GONNA BACK DOWN. I'M NOT GONNA GIVE IN, I THINK THIS CONTRACT IS ONE-SIDED. I THINK IT FAVORS THE SAN JACINTO RIVER AUTHORITY AND I'M APPALLED THAT WE'RE OBLIGATED TO PAY THE EXPENSES AND RECEIVE $0 IN THE REVENUE. I'LL GIVE YOU, I I WENT WAY OVER MY TIME, SO SORRY. WELL, IT IN SHORT, COUNCIL MEMBER. I AGREE. I AGREE WITH YOU. THE CONTRACT FAVORS THE, AS WRITTEN AND RATIFIED IN MARCH, FAVORS THE INTEREST OF THE SAN JACINTO RIVER AUTHORITY AND SUBORDINATES THE INTEREST OF HOUSTON. AND THAT'S WHY I'M AGAINST PASSING IT AS IS. I DON'T, I I DON'T THINK THAT YOU WILL BE ABLE TO FIX IT IN, IN A DAY BECAUSE, AND, AND I SAY THAT BECAUSE IT IS AN ISSUE NOT JUST OF THE O AND M CONTRACT, BUT THE OTHER TWO LEGS OF THE STOOL THAT I BROUGHT UP. IT IS ALSO THE SALES AGREEMENT AND THE JOINT OPERATING AGREEMENT THAT THE CITY AND SGRA AND OTHERS HAVE, UM, JOINED TOGETHER TO COME IN AGREEMENT ON. THANK YOU, UH, COUNCILWOMAN ROBINSON. THANK YOU MAYOR. UH, MR. KRUEGER, THANKS FOR COMING TODAY AND YOUR EXPERTISE IS REALLY HELPFUL HERE. HAVING SAT IN, UH, WITH MAYOR PRO TEM ON DISCUSSIONS WITH OUR CITY LEGAL, WE'VE CONSIDERED, UH, THE POSSIBILITY OF [01:00:01] LANGUAGE AMENDMENTS, VARIOUS THINGS THAT WE COULD SUGGEST TO THE RIVER AUTHORITY, UH, THAT THEY MIGHT INCORPORATE. AND THEY'RE UNDER NO OBLIGATION WHATSOEVER TO TAKE OUR SUGGESTIONS YET. THIS IS ON OUR, ON OUR AGENDA FOR TOMORROW. AND I GUESS I WANT TO BE CLEAR ABOUT WHAT YOU MIGHT BE RECOMMENDING FOR US TO DO AS A COUNCIL, UM, GIVEN WHAT APPEARS TO BE THE BARREL THAT THEY HAVE US OVER. WELL, THE FIRST THING I WOULD SAY, AGAIN, AS IT GOES BACK TO ISSUES BEYOND THE O AND M AGREEMENT, ISSUES THAT ARE ADDRESSED IN THE 2009 WATER SALES AGREEMENT AND THE JOINT OPERATING AGREEMENT, THAT THAT IS, UH, AN AGREEMENT TO DO A STUDY AND THEN FURTHER REVISE OPERATING PROCEDURES, WHICH WILL HAVE TO BE REFLECTED IN THE O AND M AGREEMENT OR BY THE O AND M AGREEMENT IN THE FUTURE. BUT THE STUDY, UH, I IS BASICALLY HAS NOT PROCEEDED AS, AS INTENDED. SO WHAT I WOULD RECOMMEND IS MOTION TO EXTEND. SECOND, I'M MOVING IN SECONDING OBJECTION. CHAIR STAND GRANTED A MUCH MORE DELIBERATE EFFORT TO TO PROCEED. SO THAT TIMES HAVE CHANGED. WHERE WE ARE IN 2023, IT'S FAR DIFFERENT THAN WHERE WE WERE IN 2018, FAR DIFFERENT THAN WHERE WE WERE IN 2011. LAST TIME WE HAD A BIG DROUGHT, FAR DIFFERENT THAN WHERE WE WERE IN 1968, WHICH WAS BEFORE THE LAKE WAS BUILT. AND THAT AGREEMENT WAS BASICALLY TO PROVIDE FOR THE CONSTRUCTION OF THE LAKE. AND THEN THE OPERATION AND MAINTENANCE AFTER CONSTRUCTION WITH IT DOES NEED TO BE UPDATED WITH A LITTLE LESS PERSONAL, UH, UH, SUFFERING IN MY PAST THAN THE MAYOR PRO TEM. I KNOW THAT OUR CONSTITUENTS ARE VULNERABLE TO WHATEVER HAPPENS UPSTREAM OF US. AND THE FACT THAT WE NO LONGER WE'RE ABOUT TO HAVE NO OTHER REPRESENTATION IN THE CITY OF HOUSTON ON THE LAKE CONROE BOARD, IF I UNDERSTAND THAT CORRECTLY, AND THAT THIS IS OUT OF OUR HANDS IN THE GOVERNOR'S OFFICE IN THE STATE LEGISLATURE WITH, UH, SENATOR CREIGHTON AMONG OTHERS, AGAIN, THIS APPEARS THAT WE ARE AT ODDS WITH FORCES THAT WE HAVE NO AUTHORITY WITH. DO YOU THINK, IS THAT A FAIR STATEMENT OR HOW WOULD YOU CHARACTERIZE WHERE WE ARE? WELL, TO, TO THE CONCERN THAT THAT'S WHY THE, THE JOINT O AND EXCUSE ME, JOINT OPERATING STUDY COMES INTO PLAY, THAT THAT DOES NEED TO PROCEED. AND THE SGRA DOES HAVE LEGAL CONSTRAINTS TODAY. THEY HAD 'EM YESTERDAY, THEY WILL HAVE 'EM TOMORROW. BUT CLEARLY THERE IS A NEED FOR BETTER COOPERATION AND COORDINATION BETWEEN SGRA AS THE OPERATOR OF LAKE CONROE DAM AND, UM, THE CITY COASTAL WATER AUTHORITY ON BEHALF OF THE CITY FOR OPERATION OF LAKE HOUSTON DAM. VERY GOOD. AND THAT WILL OCCUR BASICALLY IN A VERY INFORMED MANNER AFTER THE JOINT OPERATING STUDY PROCEEDS O AND M AND, UH, SOME STRUCTURAL CHANGE PERHAPS. I CERTAINLY THINK THAT THAT WOULD HAVE TO BE, UH, WHAT COMES OUT OF THERE WILL HAVE TO BE IN, IF IT'S GONNA BE IMPLEMENTED, WILL HAVE TO BE IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE O AND M AGREEMENT OR THE O AND M AGREEMENT WOULD NEED TO BE FURTHER REVISED AS IT'S BEEN MANY TIMES IN THE PAST. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. UM, UH, MAYOR PORTO MARTIN? YES, MAYOR, I JUST WANTED TO END WITH THIS THOUGHT. UM, I WANTED TO PUBLICLY THANK YOU ON YOUR PATIENCE WITH THIS. YOU'VE, UM, YOU'VE LET ME RUN WITH THIS. YOU'VE BEEN EXTREMELY PATIENT. PROBLEM WE HAVE IS IN TWO AND A HALF MONTHS YOU DISAPPEAR AND I DISAPPEAR AT THE SAME TIME. THE BOARD THAT MAKES THESE DECISIONS, WE'RE GONNA LOSE ONE OF ONLY TWO BOARD MEMBERS THAT LIVE DOWNSTREAM. SO EVERYONE THAT CONTROLS THE NEW OPERATING PROCEDURES AT THIS FACILITY WILL LIVE UPSTREAM. AND QUITE FRANKLY, THEY DON'T CARE ABOUT FLOODING ME. THEY DON'T CARE THAT THEY FLOODED ME IN 2017. THEY'LL DO IT AGAIN TO PROTECT THEIR PROPERTY. AND THAT'S MY DILEMMA. BUT MAYOR, YOU'VE BEEN EXTREMELY PATIENT. I'M STILL NOT SURE WHERE THE HECK THIS IS GONNA GO WHEN WE'RE LITERALLY MEETING IN 20 MINUTES TO FIGURE IT OUT. BUT, UM, I JUST WANTED TO THROW THAT OUT AND TO THANK YOU BECAUSE I SORT OF GET A KICK OUT OF THIS THREE COUNCIL MEMBERS PUTTING SOMETHING ON THE AGENDA. 'CAUSE EVERY TIME I HAD SOMETHING, I ASKED FOR 15 MINUTES OF YOUR TIME AND WE'VE BEEN ALWAYS THERE TO REACH SOMETHING THAT'S AMIABLE, WHETHER IT'S ON THE AGENDA OR WHETHER IT'S OFF THE AGENDA. IN THIS CASE, IT'S BEEN OFF OF THE AGENDA 'CAUSE WE PUT IT ON EVERY TIME. AND THIS GENTLEMAN SITTING TO MY RIGHT'S BEEN, UH, BEEN REALLY VERY PROTECTIVE OF US THAT LIVE DOWNSTREAM FROM THAT FACILITY. SO, [01:05:01] I'M RAMBLING A LITTLE BIT. I APPRECIATE WHAT YOU'VE DONE IN THE PAST WITH THE DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC WORKS AND YOUR POSITION TODAY. AND, UH, WE'LL KEEP YOU UP TO SPEED ON WHERE WE ARE WITH THIS. BUT, YOU KNOW, AS, AS SOMEONE THAT SPENT 40 YEARS IN ACCOUNTING AND FINANCE, I FIND IT RIDICULOUS THAT ONE ENTITY THAT PAYS TWO THIRDS OF THE EXPENSES RECEIVES ZERO REVENUE. BUT YET THE OTHER PARTY RECEIVES ALL THE REVENUE, YET WE'RE OBLIGATED TO TWO THIRDS OF THE EXPENSES. SO THANK YOU DAN. GOOD TO SEE YOU. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. THANK YOU. THANK YOU, DAN. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. NEXT SPEAKER? SURE. JACOB CLEMENTI. JACOB, GO. ASTROS, GO ASTRO. GO AS GO. ASTROS, GO ASTROS, GO ASTROS. IT'S A BLAST. OKAY, JACOB, YOUR TIME IS RUNNING. . AND ANYWAY, I WAS GONNA TALK ABOUT TONY BUSBY, BUT WELL, I'M GONNA TALK ABOUT TWO THINGS RIGHT NOW, AND THAT IS, I, I WAS INVITED ABOUT TWO AND A HALF WEEKS AGO BY TONY BUSBY TO GO TO HIS, UH, UM, VOLUNTEER, UH, SITUATION AT HIS HEADQUARTERS. AND I PICKED UP ONE OF HIS, UH, DOOR HANGERS AND IT LOOKED PRETTY INTERESTING AT AND RATE, UH, MAYBE HE'LL BE AS GOOD AS DAVE MARTIN. I DON'T KNOW. DAVE MARTIN IS GOOD MAN. SO IS I, I WOULD CALL IT. AND MAYOR TURNER IS GONNA BE GONE. OH, WE GONNA MISS HIM? YEAH. AND ROBERT GALLS IS GONNA BE THE REPLACEMENT FOR SYLVESTER TURNER. RIGHT? ? YEAH. WHAT ELSE TO SAY? OH, THUMBS UP. YEAH. . THANK YOU. JACOB, GO ASK ROSE ASTRO NEXT SPEAKER. FARRAH MARTIN. FARRAH MARTIN. FARRAH MARTIN IS HERE TO BE FOLLOWED BY DOUG SMITH. UM, TODAY I WANTED TO SPEAK ABOUT MULTICULTURAL EDUCATION FOR THE STATE OF TEXAS. I EXPERIENCED A LOT OF MICROAGGRESSION GOING TO SCHOOL AND JUST BEING, AND BEING A PART OF THE MINORITY AND BEING AFRICAN AMERICAN AND BEING A PART OF THE MINORITY THAT HAS DIFFERENT CULTURES. AND I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT TO EDUCATE OUR CHILDREN ON OUR YOUTH, HONESTLY, ON HOW TO INTERACT WITH DIFFERENT CULTURES AND BE FAIR AND EQUAL AND TREAT THEM AS THOUGH THEY'RE NOT LIKE ALIENS, I GUESS. AND I THINK THE MOST IMPORTANT PART ABOUT THIS IS THAT AMERICAN IS AMERICA IS A VERY MUCH SO A BIG MIXING POT OF CULTURES. THERE. I THERE'S AMERICAN CULTURE, BUT AT THE SAME TIME WE EXPERIENCES A LOT OF CULTURES AROUND US TODAY. AND I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT THAT WE KNOW HOW TO TREAT THEM EQUALLY AND NOT TREAT THEM LIKE AS THOUGH THEY'RE BELOW US OR DIFFERENT THAN US JUST BECAUSE WE HAVE A DIFFERENT SKIN COLOR OR WE CAME FROM A DIFFERENT COUNTRY, OR WE CELEBRATE DIFFERENT THINGS IN OUR LIFETIME. AND WHEN I EXPERIENCED THE MICROAGGRESSION, I PERSONALLY BRUSHED IT OFF BECAUSE I DIDN'T, I KNEW THAT THEY DIDN'T HAVE EXPERIENCES I HAD GROWING UP. I TRAVELED A LOT GROWING UP, SO I GOT TO EXPERIENCE ALL THESE DIFFERENT CULTURES AND I NEVER HAD TIME TO BUILD A PREJUDICE. BUT A LOT OF THESE KIDS DON'T GO OUT OF COUNTRY AND THEY GET COMFORTABLE WHERE THEY'RE AT. AND THEN ANY, ANYTIME THEY MEET SOMEONE DIFFERENT THAN WHAT THEY, WHAT THEY'VE ALREADY EXPERIENCED, THEY JUST START TO BELITTLE THEM CONSTANTLY. AND I THINK THAT ONE THING THAT IS JUST NOT OKAY IS US ALLOWING THEM TO KEEP DOING IT BECAUSE THEY'RE JUST CHILDREN OR THEY'RE JUST KIDS OR THEY DON'T KNOW WHAT THEY'RE SAYING, EVEN THOUGH THEY DON'T KNOW WHAT THEY'RE SAYING. IT DOESN'T MAKE IT OKAY TO SAY IT. I'VE SPOKEN OUT ABOUT THIS AT MY SCHOOL AND THEY, AND THEY DID DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT. THEY DID TELL THEM THAT IT WAS OKAY. BUT THE THING IS, THE ONE THING THAT A LOT OF THE, LIKE MY GENERATION LACKS IS EMPATHY FOR THE THOSE AROUND US AND SYMPATHY FOR OTHER PEOPLE'S HURT. AND I THINK THAT THEY SHOULD, WE SHOULD TEACH THEM THAT. THANK YOU. THANKS MAYOR. FOR JIM CASTEK TATUM, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR COMING TODAY. UH, WHAT SCHOOL DO YOU GO TO? UM, TRINITY CON LUTHERAN. OKAY. UM, I WANTED TO JUST, UH, TELL YOU THAT I APPRECIATE YOU COMING TODAY AND SHARING YOUR EXPERIENCE. UM, CONTINUE TO USE YOUR VOICE AND SPEAK UP FOR THOSE WHO DON'T SPEAK UP FOR THEMSELVES. YOU HAVE A BIG PLACE IN THE WORLD AND WE WILL STAND ALONGSIDE YOU TO MAKE SURE THAT PEOPLE ARE BEING EMPATHETIC AND CARING ABOUT OTHERS. SO CONTINUE TO STAY INVOLVED. THANK YOU. UH, COUNCILMAN CASTEK TATUM? YES. ME, I'M SORRY. COUNCIL EVAN [01:10:01] SHABA, COUNCIL MEMBER EVAN SHABAZZ. I JUST WANNA TELL YOU THAT I COMMEND YOU FOR COMING HERE. IT'S KIND OF DAUNTING TO COME AND AND SPEAK TO COUNCIL. SO I SEE GREATNESS IN YOU. I SEE LEADERSHIP AND SO CONTINUE ON YOUR PATH AND ENCOURAGE YOUR, YOUR PEER GROUP, YOU KNOW, TO CARE ABOUT OTHERS. AND I THINK THAT CAN REALLY CHANGE THE WORLD. BUT YOU ARE REALLY, REALLY AWESOME TO COME HERE TODAY. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. THANK YOU FOR VERY MUCH. OKAY. NEXT SPEAKER, DOUG SMITH. DOUG SMITH IS HERE. BE FOLLOWED BY AKIA LEWIS. GOOD AFTERNOON. AFTER LOBBYING FOR 20 YEARS TO BUILD OUR SPECTACULAR NEW A LEAF NEIGHBORHOOD CENTER. THANK YOU MARY TURNER FOR THAT. ONCE IT WAS PLACED IN THE CIP SCHEDULE, THE A LEAF SUPER NEIGHBORHOOD IMMEDIATELY STARTED WORKING ON OPTIONS FOR THE OLD HUNTINGTON LIBRARY, WHICH WAS GOING TO BE PART OF THE NEW CENTER. OUR DESIRE WAS TO CONVERT THE LIBRARY TO A SENIOR CENTER LIKE TRACY G AND TRINITY MENDON. WE'VE WORKED WITH FOUR COUNTY COMMISSIONERS, STEVE RADDICK, TOM RAMSEY, JACK KAGEL, AND LES, WHO HAVE ALL EXPRESSED INTEREST IN TAKING OVER THE PROPERTY FROM THE CITY TO CREATE SUCH A CENTER TO REALIZE THEIR DREAM WOULD REQUIRE AN INTER-LOCAL AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE CITY AND COUNTY TRANSFERRING THE OWNERSHIP OF THE BUILDING TO THE COUNTY. THE MAYOR HAS PREVIOUSLY STATED HE WOULD SIGN SUCH AN AGREEMENT AND I BELIEVE THE COUNTY HAS ALREADY EXECUTED IT AND IT IS WAITING APPROVAL BY THE CITY ATTORNEY. RECENTLY THERE WAS A MEETING AT THE OLD LIBRARY CALLED BY SHANNON BUGS RELATING TO THE ALE WESTWOOD COMPLETE COMMUNITY WITH DIFFERENT PLANS THE CITY WAS PROPOSING. THE PRIMARY ATTENDEES AT THAT MEETING WERE CITY DEPARTMENTS AND NONPROFITS WHO WOULD BE AFFECTED BY THESE PLANS. THE ONLY CITIZEN INPUT I WAS AWARE OF WAS BY BARBARA QUATTRO AND ME. THERE ARE MANY RUMORS ABOUT WHAT MIGHT TRANSPIRE AT THE PROPERTY, INCLUDING A DOMESTIC VIOLENCE RECOVERY LOCATION, WHICH POLICE OFFICERS IN ATTENDANCE SAID WOULD BE VERY DIFFICULT TO CONTROL. OR A PLACE FOR TRAFFICKED WOMEN TO LEAVE LIFE ON THE STREETS. GIVEN THE POTENTIAL USES. WE THINK IT'S VERY IMPORTANT TO HAVE ROBUST PUBLIC INPUT BEFORE ANYTHING IS DONE. I THINK IN PARTICULAR, PARENTS OF CHILDREN ATTENDING THE MARTIN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL, LESS THAN A BLOCK FROM THE LIBRARY, WOULD BE VERY INTERESTED IN HEARING WHAT IS PROPOSED. AS WOULD CITIZENS FROM THE AIF WESTWOOD COMPLETE COMMUNITY, PLEASE CONSIDER MORE PUBLIC INPUT, WHICH SHOULD BE DONE FOR ANY PROJECT OF THIS TYPE BEFORE PLANS ARE FINALIZED FOR THE LIBRARY. THANK YOU. THANKS VERY MUCH. THANK YOU. NEXT SPEAKER, NIKIA LEWIS. NIKIA. LEWIS NIKIA. NEXT SPEAKER, PATRICK MCVAY. PATRICK MCVAY PATRICK IS HERE, HONORABLE MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS. BEFORE I START MY STAND BEHIND A MIC, OH, I'M SORRY. I'M WASHINGTON CENTER, THE HONORABLE MAYOR, UH, TURNER AND COUNCIL MEMBERS. BEFORE I STATE WHY I'M HERE, I WANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE THE PERSON THAT HAS EMPOWERED ME TO BE HERE. AND NOTE THIS DATE IN 1978, MY MOTHER STOOD HERE AND ADVOCATED FOR HER GAY SON. IT IS THROUGH THAT HAS EMPOWERED ME TO BE HERE. NOW. TODAY IS WORLD MENTAL HEALTH DAY. IT IS THE 33RD ANNIVERSARY OF ITS, OF ITS CREATION. SADLY, VERY FEW PEOPLE ARE AWARE OF IT, AND EVEN WORSE THAN THAT, ALMOST 90% OF THE WORLD'S POPULATION DO NOT SAY MENTAL ILLNESS. THESE TWO WORDS, MENTAL ILLNESS, NEEDS TO BE A LOT MORE. AND OUR ACCEPTED VOCABULARY, EVERY TIME WE SAY THESE WORDS, MENTAL ILLNESS OUT IN PUBLIC, A PART OF THE HORRENDOUS STIGMA THAT IS STILL SO YOKED TO US IS CHIPPED AWAY. AFTER DOING THE WALK FOR 11 YEARS AND THEN TWO YEARS OF COVID, WE CAME TO THE END OF, OF OUR FIRST CHAPTER. TODAY WE ARE STARTING OUR SECOND CHAPTER, AND THAT IS TO RAISE THE AWARENESS OF WORLD MENTAL HEALTH DAY. WE ARE SHOWING AND TELLING OUR STORIES. WE ARE TELLING OUR TRUTH. WE ARE SHOWING THAT EVEN THOUGH WE LIVE WITH A MENTAL ILLNESS, IT DOES NOT DEFINE US. AND IN NO WAY HAS IT PREVENTED US FROM LIVING A SUCCESSFUL LIFE TOGETHER. AND ONLY TOGETHER WITH EVERYONE TALKING ABOUT MENTAL HEALTH AND MENTAL WILL ILLNESS, WILL WE CHANGE THE FALSE NARRATIVE TO A POSITIVE NARRATIVE. I INVITE ALL OF YOU TODAY TO EVENING DOWN TO, UH, TRANQUILITY. I'M SORRY, TO UH, UH, UH, WHERE SECTION FOUR, THANK YOU. THANK YOU, UH, AT SIX [01:15:01] 15 TO JOIN US. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. COUNCILMAN MEGOS. PATRICK, AGAIN, THANK YOU FOR EVERYTHING THAT YOU DO ON THIS IN REGARDS TO MENTAL ILLNESS. I KNOW THAT THIS YEAR I LOST A VERY GOOD FRIEND OF MINE, AND I HAVE SPOKEN WITH YOU ABOUT HIM SEVERAL TIMES IN REGARDS TO HIM BEING BIPOLAR. UNFORTUNATELY, HE DID, DIDN'T GET THE CARE THAT HE WAS SUPPOSED TO GET. SO I MEAN, HE WAS A GREAT GUY WITH A BIG HEART, LOVED ANIMALS, YOU KNOW, HIS SMILE WOULD JUST, YOU KNOW, MAKE A STRANGER VERY COMFORTABLE AND HAPPY. AND HE'S NOT HERE BECAUSE HE DIDN'T GET THAT CARE THAT HE SHOULD HAVE GOTTEN. AND IT'S YOU AND ALL YOUR VOLUNTEERS THAT KEEP THIS MOVING AND FORWARD. AND I WANNA THANK THE MAYOR IN REGARDS TO ALWAYS LIGHTING CITY HALL IN, IN, IN, IN, IN THE GREEN THAT REPRESENTS MENTAL, MENTAL ILLNESS. SO, I WILL BE THERE TODAY. I KNOW LAST WEEK I DID SAY I WAS NOT GONNA BE THERE 'CAUSE I THOUGHT I WAS GONNA BE AT ANOTHER EVENT THIS EVENING, BUT UNFORTUNATELY, I'M NOT GONNA BE AT THAT EVENT. SO I WILL BE AT YOUR EVENT THIS EVENING. SO AGAIN, THANK YOU FOR EVERYTHING THAT YOU DO. THANK YOU. YOU ALL YOUR APPLAUSE, PLEASE. THANK YOU. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. THANKS, PATRICK. GOOD TO SEE YOU. OKAY, NEXT SPEAKER. BIANCA GARCIA. BIANCA GARCIA. BIANCA IS HERE TO BE FOLLOWED BY V VICKI CRUZ. GOOD AFTERNOON. MY NAME IS BIANCA GRACIA AND I REPRESENT LATINOS FOR AMERICA. FIRST, I JUST CAME BACK FROM THE BORDER AND, UH, HELPED ASSIST PICKING UP 20,000 POUNDS OF TRASH IN HALF OF A MILE AT THE BROWNSVILLE BORDER FROM THE ILLEGALS CROSSING VIA AN OPEN BORDER. OUR FENTANYL DEATHS ARE ON THE RISE, AND I'VE HEARD FROM FUNERAL HOMES HERE IN THE HISPANIC COMMUNITY WHO ARE BURNING MORE HISPANICS FROM FENTANYL DEATHS HUMAN AND CHILD TRAFFICKING IS ON THE RISE, AND CHILDREN HAVE GONE MISSING HERE IN THE CITY OF HOUSTON. WHAT IS THE CITY OF HOUSTON DOING TO ADDRESS THE RISE IN CRIME TARGETING OUR COMMUNITIES? I HAVE NOTICED THAT HOUSTON IS THE THIRD LARGEST HISPANIC CITY IN THE NATION. YET I DO NOT SEE THAT OUR PEOPLE ARE EQUALLY REPRESENTED. WE OWN, WE HAVE ONE HISPANIC SITTING COUNCILMAN, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR SERVING YOUR COMMUNITY. UM, TO SERVICE 1.8 MILLION HISPANICS IN THE CITY OF HOUSTON, HISPANICS CONTRIBUTE 3.4 TRILLION INTO OUR ECONOMY. WE HAVE THE PURCHASE POWER, BUT YET I'M TO BELIEVE WE ARE NOT EQUALLY REPRESENTED, CONSISTENTLY, DISENFRANCHISED, AND MORE OFTEN IGNORED. HOW MANY HISPANICS ARE EMPLOYED IN THE CITY OF HOUSTON? HOW MANY ARE IN LEADERSHIP POSITIONS BASED ON QUALIFICATIONS AND EXPERIENCE? HOW MANY HAVE OBTAINED CONTRACTS BASED ON MERIT? HOW MANY HAVE BEEN APPOINTED TO POSITIONS AND COMMITTEES TO SHOW EQUALITY AND INCLUSIVITY? WE HAVE RECENTLY SEEN THE MAINSTREAM MEDIA COMPLETELY IGNORE HISPANICS RUNNING FOR OFFICE, PURPOSELY MAKING MANMADE RULES TO PURPOSELY DISQUALIFY HISPANICS. A WILLING ELITE CLASS IS DECIDING AND SELECTING INDIVIDUALS INSTEAD OF ELECTING THEM BASED ON EXPERIENCE AND KNOWLEDGE. AS AN ACTIVIST AND AN ADVOCATE FOR AMERICAN CONSERVATIVE HISPANICS, OUR CALL UPON TO BECOME CIVICALLY ENGAGED AND INVOLVED IN THE PROCESS AND LET YOUR VOICES BE HEARD. WE EXPECT TO LIVE IN A CITY THAT IS SAFE AND CLEAN. WE NEED TO FIX THE DRAINAGE, PICK UP TRASH ON TIME, GET THE BUDGET UNDER CONTROL, AND STOP WASTING MONEY AND FIX THE POTHOLES IN OUR STREETS. GOD BLESS AMERICA, GOD BLESS TEXAS, AND GOD BLESS HOUSTON. NEXT SPEAKER, VICKY CRUZ. HEY THERE. UM, I KNOW THREE YEARS AGO ON 10 10, 20 20, WE DECLARED THIS DAY TO BE UNITY IN OUR COMMUNITY. SO I THANK YOU FOR THAT CITY OF HOUSTON. I AM HERE TODAY AS NOT JUST A VETERAN, UM, BUT ALSO THE PRESIDENT OF LULAC COUNCIL 29 11. AND I ALSO COME IN THE NAME OF THE LORD. UM, I'M REALLY BIG ON THE UNITY, BUT HERE RECENTLY AS MY, ONE OF MY PARTNERS JUST, UM, SHARED, UM, THERE IS DISPARITY HERE FOR THE LATINO COMMUNITY. YESTERDAY, WE WERE HERE IN THE FRONT LAWN, UH, BASICALLY PROTESTING THE KPRC DEBATE THAT'S HAPPENING TODAY FOR THE MAYORAL CANDIDATES. UM, THREE OF OUR LATINO CANDIDATES ARE NOT BEING FAIRLY, UM, INCLUDED IN THE DEBATE. UM, THE WOMEN, THE LEAGUE OF WOMEN VOTERS HAVE CALLED, UM, WORKING WITH KPRC MUNDO. AND, UH, THE, THE PREREQUISITES FOR THE CAN OR FOR THE DEBATE WAS, UH, CHANGED. UM, I DO UNDERSTAND THAT WHAT [01:20:01] I'M ASKING FOR IS AN INVESTIGATION IF POSSIBLE. UM, BECAUSE ONE OF THE CANDIDATES THAT IS, OR COUPLE I BELIEVE THAT IS ARE IS THERE TODAY OR WILL BE THERE TODAY, UM, ACTUALLY HAD, UM, VERY MINIMUM DONATIONS. IT WAS BASED ON, YOU KNOW, 400, UM, DONORS, AND THEY WERE LIKE ALL RECEIVING DOLLAR DONATIONS AND FROM OTHER PARTS OF THE, THE COUNTRY NOT HERE FROM HOUSTON. SO, UM, RIGHT NOW WE'RE USING EVERY PLATFORM TO GET OUT THERE AND TO DISCUSS TODAY'S, UM, DEBATE. AND SO THAT'S WHAT WE WANNA DO IS ENSURE THAT OUR THREE QUALIFIED, INCLUDING, UM, COUNCILMAN GALLEGOS, THAT'S RUNNING FOR, UM, MAYOR, UH, YOU KNOW, ALONG WITH GILBERT GARCIA AND, UH, JULIAN MARTINEZ WOULD BE RECONSIDERED. UM, OR, YOU KNOW, THIS, THIS EVENT OR THIS DEBATE BE, UM, AND THE ELECTIONS INVESTIGATED. UM, THANK YOU SO MUCH. AND COUNCILMAN GALLEGOS, MS. CRUZ. MS. CRUZ, YES. A GALLS. THANK YOU MS. CRUZ, FOR BEING HERE. FIRST OF ALL, LET ME START OFF THAT MY REMARKS AND MY COMMENTS ARE NOT AS A CANDIDATE FOR MAYOR MM-HMM . BUT MY REMARKS AND COMMENTS ARE, AS A LATINO CITY COUNCIL MEMBER, THE ONLY ONE SITTING IN THIS HORSESHOE OUTTA 16, REPRESENTING NEARLY HALF THE CITY'S POPULATION. AB THOSE ARE MY, THESE ARE GONNA BE MY COMMENTS. THE LEGAL WOMEN'S VOTERS ON THEIR LETTER STATES, THE LEAGUE WAS FOUNDED AS A SUCCESSOR TO THE NATIONAL AMERICAN WOMEN'S SUFFRAGE ASSOCIATION, WHICH HAD LED THE NATIONWIDE FIGHT FOR WOMEN'S SUFFRAGE. THE INITIAL GOALS OF THE LEAGUE WERE EDU TO EDUCATE WOMEN TO TAKE PART IN THE POLITICAL PROCESS. WE HAVE AN ELECTION COMING UP IN NOVEMBER. THE CITY, NEARLY HALF THE CITY'S POPULATION IS HISPANIC, BUT YET NOT ONE LATINO CANDIDATE IS ON STAGE TONIGHT. MM-HMM . SO THAT WAY THE LATINO COMMUNITY CAN HEAR FROM US. THERE'S A MAMA GARCIA, BUT SHE'S NOT HISPANIC. AND SHE STATES THAT IN HER WEBSITE, THE CRITERIA WAS CHANGED FOUR YEARS AGO. THE CRITERIA TO PARTICIPATE IN THE DEBATE FOUR YEARS AGO THAT MAYOR TURNER PARTICIPATED IN THEN BACK IN 2019 WAS $50,000 IN YOUR CAMPAIGN REPORT. $50,000. NOW, IT'S BEEN CHANGED IN REGARDS TO THE NUMBER OF INDIVIDUALS THAT, THAT CONTRIBUTE TO YOUR CAMPAIGN. ONE OF THE CANDIDATES HAS $400, $1 BILLS, A CONTRIBUTION FROM HONOLULU, HAWAII, A CONTRIBUTION OF A DOLLAR FROM SEATTLE, WASHINGTON, A CONTRIBUTION OF A DOLLAR FROM LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA, A CONTRIBUTION OF A DOLLAR FROM BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS. THE SECOND CANDIDATE HAS $300 DONATIONS OF $5 OR LESS. SAME THING, $5 CONTRIBUTION OR A DOLLAR CONTRIBUTION FROM VARIOUS CITIES THROUGHOUT THE COUNTRY. BUT YET THE LEGAL OF WOMEN VOTERS CLAIMS THAT THEY TOOK TWO DAYS TO LOOK AT OUR REPORTS, AND THAT'S WHERE THEY GOT THESE FIVE INDIVIDUALS TO BE ON THAT STAGE TONIGHT. BUT NOT ONE, NOT ONE OF THOSE FIVE CANDIDATES IS A LATINO SHAME ON THE LEAGUE OF WOMEN VOTERS. SHAME ON THE LEAGUE OF WOMEN VOTERS. YES. YOU WERE FOUNDED IN 1920 BECAUSE OF YOUR SUFFRAGE. WE'RE HALF THE POPULATION IN THE CITY OF HOUSTON, AND YOU DISRESPECT US THIS WAY, AND I'M ASKING ALL THE FIVE CANDIDATES TO NOT PARTICIPATE IN THIS DEBATE. YOU WANNA BE MAYOR, TAKE THE LEADERSHIP WHEN HALF THE CITY'S POPULATION IS BEING IGNORED AND DISRESPECTED. BOYCOTT THIS DEBATE TONIGHT. DO NOT ATTEND. I'M ASKING SHEILA CONGRESSWOMAN, CONGRESSWOMAN SHEILA JACKSON LEE, SENATOR JOHN WHITMEYER, AND THE OTHER THREE CANDIDATES BOYCOTT TONIGHT'S DEBATE. YES, I AGREE BECAUSE IT'S DISRESPECTFUL, IGNORING HALF THE CITY'S POPULATION. IF YOU WANNA BE A LEADER, BE A LEADER, AND DO NOT SHOW UP TONIGHT ON THE, ON THAT STAGE IST INVESTIGATION POSSIBLE. I DON'T KNOW, BUT, BUT, BUT, BUT AGAIN, TO KNOW THAT THE LEGAL WOMEN VOTERS IS DOING THIS, YOU KNOW, IS, IS EMBARRASSING. I AGREE. THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE. THANK YOU. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. NEXT SPEAKER, CARMEN CAVAZOS. CARMEN EVASO [01:25:01] IS HERE. GOOD AFTERNOON, MAYOR. GOOD AFTERNOON. CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS, LET ME INTRODUCE MYSELF. MY NAME IS CARMEN EVASO. I'M THE CAMPAIGN MANAGER FOR JULIAN MARTINEZ. WE HAVE BEEN ON THE CAMPAIGN TRAIL WITH COUNCILMAN GALLEGOS AND AREAS OF UNDERSERVED POPULATIONS THROUGHOUT HOUSTON. HOUSTON REPRESENTS HISPANICS REPRESENT 1.8 MILLION RESIDENTS WITHIN THE CITY OF HOUSTON. AND STILL WE HAVE ONE SITTING COUNCIL MEMBER WHO, WITH MY CANDIDATE TRAVELS THROUGHOUT HOUSTON TO AREAS LIKE PLEASANTVILLE, FIFTH WARD, SUNNY SIDE, THE EAST SIDE, THE SOUTH SIDE, AREAS THAT SEEM TO HAVE BEEN FORGOTTEN, AREAS THAT ARE HEAVILY POPULATED WITH HISPANIC RESIDENTS AND BLACK RESIDENTS. I AM HERE TODAY TO TELL Y'ALL THAT THERE ARE MAJOR ISSUES THROUGHOUT OUR CITY. THESE AREAS ARE POPULATED ONCE AGAIN WITH HISPANIC POPULATION AND OUR BLACK POPULATION, AND WE HAVE ONE SITTING COUNCIL MEMBER TO REPRESENT US. NOW, I'M GONNA GO OVER SOME DISTRICTS AND SOME STATISTICS. WE HAVE BEEN IN DISTRICT B, WE HAVE BEEN IN DISTRICT D, WE HAVE BEEN IN DISTRICT EI KNOW TO SOME OF Y'ALL THOSE SOUND FAMILIAR, THESE AREAS I GREW UP IN FOR THE PAST 30 TO 40 YEARS. THE SAME BUILDINGS AND DECAY, THE SAME CRIME, IF NOT MORE, 435 MURDERS. AND WE SIT HERE FOR THE FIRST HOUR AND WE PAT EACH OTHER IN THE BACK FOR WHAT? 435 MURDERS WHEN MURDERS, WHEN, GOD, THAT IS NOT TRUE. 2022. THAT IS NOT TRUE, MA'AM. WELL, IT IS ALL OVER A, B, C NEWS, KPRC NEWS. AND I COULD GO ON AND ON AND I WILL PROVIDE EVIDENCE ON THAT. WE SIT HERE AFTER AN INVESTIGATION BY THE US JUSTICE DEPARTMENT BECAUSE OF ILLEGAL DUMPING IN OUR BLACK AND BROWN COMMUNITIES, A SETTLEMENT THAT WAS REACHED AT 17 PLUS MILLION DOLLARS TO CORRECT THIS. AND WE SIT HERE FOR THE FIRST HOUR AND PAT OURSELVES IN THE BACK. LET'S TALK ABOUT REAL ISSUES THAT AFFECT OUR COMMUNITIES. LET'S TALK ABOUT REAL ISSUES OF CRIME, OF HUMAN TRAFFICKING. DO Y'ALL REALLY REPRESENT YOUR DISTRICTS? AND I ASK YOU THAT BECAUSE I'VE BEEN THERE AND I'VE SEEN THE LOOKS ON PEOPLE'S FACES WHEN THEY SAY THAT THEY ARE DRINKING DIRTY WATER OUT OF THEIR FAUCETS. DO WE LIVE IN MICHIGAN OR ARE WE IN TEXAS NOW? CITY COUNCIL MEMBER GALL. I APPLAUD YOU. I APPLAUD YOU FOR ONE SECOND, ONE SECOND. IF YOU PLEASE KEEP YOUR COMMENTS TO YOURSELF. IF YOU WANNA STAND UP AND IF YOU AGREE WITH SOMEBODY, THAT'S FINE. IF YOU WANNA RAISE YOUR HAND, THAT'S FINE, BUT THE VERBAL COMMENTS ARE NOT ALLOWED. I APPLAUD YOU FOR BEING ON THE CAMPAIGN TRAIL AS WELL, SIR. THERE IS MUCH SUFFERING OUT THERE OUTSIDE OF THESE WALLS. I ASK YOU TO BE VIGILANT WITHIN YOUR DISTRICT, WITHIN OUR BROWN AND BLACK COMMUNITIES COUNCIL GOES, THANK YOU MAYOR TH TH THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE TODAY AS WELL. AGAIN, THE LEAGUE OF WOMEN VOTERS CLAIMS THAT THEY SPENT TWO DAYS LOOKING AT OUR REPORTS, BUT YET TWO OF THE CANDIDATES, ONE OF 'EM, $400 OF $1 BILLS COMING FROM ALL OVER THE COUNTRY, CLAIMING THAT THEY TOOK OUT A LOAN FOR $1,519,000. BUT YET ON THEIR REPORT, THEIR FINANCE REPORT, THEY CLAIM THEY ONLY HAVE $3,599 AND 42 CENTS LEFT ON HAND. WHAT HAPPENED TO THE REST OF THE MONEY? THAT'S AN EXCELLENT QUESTION. WHAT HAPPENED TO THE REST OF THE MONEY? YOU TOOK TWO DAYS TO LOOK AT THESE REPORTS. NO, YOUR CRITERIA WAS TO KEEP LATINOS OUT OF THAT, OFF OF THAT STAGE. AND THAT'S SHAMEFUL WHEN WE ARE HALF THIS POPULATION, BUT WE DON'T HAVE ANY REPRESENTATION ON THAT STAGE TONIGHT. SO AGAIN, I'M ASKING SENATOR WHITMEYER, CONGRESSWOMAN, SHEILA JACKSON LEE, AND THE OTHER THREE CANDIDATES TO BOYCOTT AND NOT ATTEND THAT DEBATE TONIGHT. AGAIN, YOU WANNA BE MAYOR, SHOW LEADERSHIP WHEN HALF THIS POPULATION IS BEING DISRESPECTED, SHOW LEADERSHIP AND NOT ATTEND THAT DEBATE [01:30:01] TONIGHT. THANK YOU. THANK, THANK YOU VERY MUCH. NEXT SPEAKER. EVA TINO. EVA T TNO. YEAH. EVA. EVA'S HERE. HI EVERYONE. UM, MY NAME IS ELVA TINO. I'M ACTUALLY HERE WITH CENTRAL REED. ONE PERSON AT THE, AT THE MIC AT A TIME. OKAY, GO. FIRST ONE. THIS IS THE ORDER THAT THEY WERE GIVEN. OKAY. SO MY NAME IS ELVA TINO, THANK YOU FOR HAVING US TODAY. UM, I WAS RECENTLY THE NOMINATION FOR THE COMMUNITY ACTIVISTS FOR THE HISPANIC HERITAGE AWARDS. THANK YOU TIFFANY THOMAS, UH, FOR SUPPORTING THAT NOMINATION. AND OUR MUSICIANS ACTUALLY FOR A PROJECT WE'RE DOING. WERE ON YOUR STAGE LAST NIGHT, MAYOR. UM, SO WE ARE JUST REALLY PROUD TO CONTINUE TO HELP IN, IN OUR EFFORTS AND IN MY OPINION, A LOSS OF A NOMINATION WAS NEVER ABOUT THE NOTORIETY, BUT IT SERVED ITS PURPOSE IN TRIGGERING OUR COMMUNITY TO STEP UP AND DO MORE. SO I'VE BEEN IN THE TRENCHES, UH, FOR YEARS AS A GYM OWNER AND ALSO OWNING MULTIPLE BUSINESSES WITHIN THE ENTERTAINMENT INDUSTRY. A LOT OF IT REALLY JUST TO SERVE MENTAL HEALTH. AND A LOT OF TIMES THAT WE'VE BEEN WORKING WITH THE DIFFERENT COUNCIL MEMBERS HAS BEEN ON CAMPAIGNS LIKE THE WALK 30 IN HEALTH. UM, I WAS HERE A FEW MONTHS BACK WITH LARISSA JACOBS SPEAKING ABOUT THAT PROJECT. WELL, NOW I'M HERE TO ASK FOR A REQUEST TO REALLY PAY ATTENTION TO THIS GROUP THROUGH THE IEP THAT IS UNDER CENTRAL REED. UH, WHAT WE ARE TRYING TO DO IS REALLY BRIDGE THE GAP WITH THE ENTERTAINMENT INDUSTRY NOW THAT AFTER THE LEGISLATURE, WE'VE BEEN AWARDED MORE FUNDING FOR FILM. AND IF YOU GUYS HAVE DONE YOUR RESEARCH, YOU DO KNOW THAT, UM, THOSE DOLLARS CAN ACTUALLY TURN INTO AN ECONOMIC BOOM IN OUR CITY BEING THE FOURTH LARGEST CITY, WE CAN HAVE AN ACCESS TO DOMINATE THE SPACE AND FROM CONNECTING WITH CELEBRITIES AND PEOPLE IN THE SPORTS AND ENTERTAINMENT WORLD. I KNOW THAT WITH STARTING WITH THIS FIRST EVENT WE'RE HAVING AT THE END OF THE MONTH, WE'RE GONNA BE BRIDGING A GAP BETWEEN SO MANY COMMUNITIES. SO WE HAVE FRIENDS HERE TODAY TO KIND OF TALK ABOUT, UM, THEIR PART IN THAT FROM THEATER TO ARTS TO FASHION. AND, UH, WE ASK FOR YOUR SUPPORT ALSO TO CONNECT WITH US AT THAT EVENT AND AS WE FURTHER ALONG THIS MISSION, TO PUT HOUSTON ON THE MAP. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. NO PROBLEM. THANK YOU. PROBLEM SPEAKER, NEXT SPEAKER IS CENT REED. NOW RE REED. HELLO, GREETINGS, MAYOR TURNER. COUNCIL MEMBERS. UM, MY NAME IS CENTRE REED, OWNER OF CREEK GLOBAL MEDIA AND CREEK GLOBAL MEDIA TELEVISION. AND I AM HERE TODAY STANDING AS THE LEADER OF THE INTERNATIONAL ENTERTAINMENT PARTNERSHIP. IT IS A 5 0 1 C SIX ORGANIZATION THAT WE HAVE FORMED ALONG WITH THE HOUSTON ENTERTAINMENT INITIATIVE, WHICH IS OUR 5 0 1 C3. THESE ORGANIZATIONS WERE GROWN OUT OF A CONVERSATION THAT I HAD WITH THE MAYOR AND THE MAYOR'S OFFICE OF CULTURAL AFFAIRS BACK IN 2019. AND THE FOCUS WAS TO EXPAND THE ENTERTAINMENT INDUSTRY BY BRINGING THE COMMUNITY TOGETHER. AND WE HAVE DONE THAT. UM, WE HAVE NOW FOCUSED ON THE HOUSTON ENTERTAINMENT INDUSTRY TASK FORCE, WHICH AS YOU CAN SEE, A NUMBER OF OUR REPRESENTATIVES BEHIND US THAT ARE PUSHING TOWARDS THE AGENDA OF MAKING HOUSTON AN ENTERTAINMENT DESTINATION. NOW, NOW THAT WE'VE DONE THAT, WE WANNA MAKE SURE THAT WE, WE PUT FORTH THE MISSION, WHICH IS ECONOMIC INFRASTRUCTURE, JOBS, RESOURCES, AS WELL AS THE INFRASTRUCTURE TO SUPPORT OUR DIVERSE ENTERTAINMENT COMMUNITY. TODAY, THIS IS AN INTRODUCTION TO THE INTERNATIONAL ENTERTAINMENT PARTNERSHIP, WHICH IS WHY YOU SEE SO MANY OF US AS US HERE. UH, MANY PEOPLE DON'T KNOW THAT WE EXIST AND THEY SHOULD KNOW THAT WE EXIST. WE'VE BEEN HERE FOR FOUR AND A HALF YEARS, SO HOW DO WE MAKE SURE THAT THE 130,000 CREATIVES IN THIS CITY HAVE A PLACE WHERE THEY CAN LIVE, WORK, AND THRIVE? AND THAT IS FOR US TO CONTINUE TO LEAD THE MISSION WITH MOMENTUM. WE KNOW THAT HOUSTON IS AN ENERGETIC CITY AND WE APPRECIATE THAT ENERGY, AND WE WANNA CONTINUE TO PUSH THAT INTO MAKING HOUSTON THE DESTINATION THAT WE KNOW IT CAN BE FOR OUR CREATIVE ECONOMY. WE ARE NOT LIMITED BY WHO WE ARE. WE ARE LIMITED BY WHAT WE THINK WE ARE NOT. AND SO TODAY THE CALL TO ACTION IS THAT YOU JOIN US, THAT YOU SUPPORT US, THAT YOU PUT YOUR EFFORTS, YOUR INFLUENCE, YOUR RESOURCES BEHIND THE THINGS THAT WE ARE DOING COLLECTIVELY, AS WE HAVE DONE SO FAR, BY BUILDING COMMUNITY PARTNERSHIPS AND BY ALSO PUTTING TOGETHER AN ANNUAL LINEUP OF EVENTS, PROGRAMMING, AND OTHER COLLABORATIVE, UH, INITIATIVES SUCH AS OUR SPEAKER SERIES, HOUSTON MEDIA CONFERENCE, WHICH WE HAD THE OBO ATTEND, AND ALSO OUR UPCOMING CELEBRITY SOIREE, AS WELL AS ENTERTAINMENT SUMMITS THAT WE HOPE TO HAVE IN THE FUTURE. IT IS THIS TIME THAT WE ARE ABLE TO BUILD TOGETHER, AND WE THANK YOU FOR THE TIME AND WE ALSO THANK YOU IN ADVANCE [01:35:01] FOR THE EFFORTS THAT YOU'RE GOING TO PUT FORTH TO WORK WITH US IN MAKING HOUSTON THE PLACE WHERE WE CAN HAVE ENTERTAINMENT FOR OUR COMMUNITY. THANK YOU SO MUCH. THANK YOU. VICE MAYOR, PRO TIM, UH, . THANK YOU. UM, RE REED AND ALSO ELVA TREVINO, COUNCIL MEMBER THOMAS WANTED TO, UM, SEND HER SUPPORT, UM, AS SHE'S NOT HERE. AND THEN ALSO WANTED TO LET YOU BOTH KNOW, UH, THAT WE APPRECIATE YOU SHARING WHAT YOU'VE ALREADY DONE, UM, AND ASK THAT YOU WOULD CONTINUE TO JUST MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE ABREAST OF ALL OF THE ACTIVITIES THAT YOU HAVE COMING FORWARD. UM, YOU, YOU ALL KNOW THAT THE, UM, MAYOR'S OFFICE OF, UH, CULTURAL AFFAIRS AND, UM, OBO, WE, WE KNOW WHAT A FORCE ENTERTAINMENT CAN BE ECONOMICALLY. AND SO KNOW THAT YOU HAVE ALLIES ON COUNCIL TO CONTINUE TO PUSH FORWARD WITH THE WORK THAT YOU'RE DOING. THANK YOU SO MUCH. THANKS. LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING WITH YOU, RA. THANK YOU. THANK YOU, MAYOR. NEXT SPEAKER. FREDERICK MIMS. FREDERICK MIMS. FREDERICK, GOOD AFTERNOON. THANK YOU MAYOR. AND THANK YOU COUNCIL. MY NAME IS FREDERICK MIMS AND I'VE BEEN LIVING AT THE REDFORD FOR OVER EIGHT YEARS. I MOVED IN THE SUMMER OF 2017. DURING COVID-19, I LOST MY JOB AS A FOREMAN FOR ALPHA INSULATION WATERPROOFING AND FIREPROOFING, WHICH I HAD TO APPLY FOR RENTAL RELIEF. MY FIRST HELP CAME FROM BAKERS RIPLEY. MY SECOND ATTEMPT CAME FROM TEXAS RENT RELIEF. AND WE KNOW IT WAS SO MUCH DEMAND FOR HELP THAT FUNDS RAN OUT. HOWEVER, WHEN I APPLIED, THEY APPROVED. IT JUST TOOK A WHILE FOR THE MONEY TO COME IN. DURING THAT PARTICULAR TIME, THE APARTMENT, THE REFERENCE AND MANAGEMENT BECAME DARK. NO COMMUNICATION, NO PROFESSIONALISM. AND THEY EVICTED OR TRIED TO EVICT ME BECAUSE THEY JUST WANTED THE UNIT. IT'S HOW I FELT. AND IT, IT, IT'S NOT JUST ME, IT'S PEOPLE THAT WERE THERE ON PROGRAMS AND IT'S REGULAR TENANT NOW THAT THEY'RE DEMANDING THREE, TWO MONTHS BACK. RENT. I WAS AWARDED $18,000 THROUGH TEXAS RENT RELIEF WHEN IT DID COME IN. ASK THE APARTMENT MANAGEMENT. WHERE IS THAT? THEY HAVE NO IDEA WHERE THOSE FUNDS WENT TO. AND THEY ARE STILL TRYING TO EVICT ME. THEY ARE STILL TRYING TO EVICT THOSE WHO ARE HOUSING PROGRAMS WHO GOT APPROVED FOR HOUSING VOUCHERS. , THOSE VOUCHERS, $1,200, THEY'RE CHARGING 900 FOR THE SMALLEST UNIT. SO WHERE'S THE EXTRA $300 AT? SO AS A REPRESENTATIVE OF THE SOUTHEAST TENANT INFORMATION ORGANIZATION HELP US FIND ANSWERS, HELP US HOLD THEM ACCOUNTABLE. AT SOME POINT THEY HAVE TO TAKE THEIR HANDS OUT THE COOKIE JAR AND PAY THEIR BILLS, PAY THE RENT, WHAT WAS GIVEN TO THEM BY GOVERNMENT FUNDS, PUT IT WHERE IT'S SUPPOSED TO GO. DON'T BLAME IT ON US. BLAME IT ON MANAGEMENT FOR MANAGEMENTS CAME THROUGH THE APARTMENTS IN OVER A YEAR. NO ONE HAS ASKED THEM WHERE THE MONEY AT, BUT THEY'RE STEADY PUTTING DIFFERENT VACATE NOTICES ON OUR DOORS WITH DIFFERENT PRICES FROM 29,000, 4,000, 3000. PICK ONE. WHICH ONE OF 'EM IS IT? IT'S NOT. IT'S LIKE THEY'RE NOT COMMUNICATING WITH US. THEY'RE GOING OFF OF WHATEVER THEY'RE GOING OFF OF AND THEY'RE JUST MAKING ANYTHING, MAKING EVERYTHING UP. AND IF WE DON'T HOLD THEM ACCOUNTABLE, WHATEVER THEY'RE DOING, THEY THINK IS RIGHT AND IT'S NOT. AND WE WOULD LOVE SOMEONE TO SEND MAYBE OUR OUTSIDE TO LOOK AT THEIR BOOKKEEPING IN 2019. YOUR TIME HAS EXPIRED. THANK YOU. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. THANK YOU. NEXT SPEAKER. LETITIA MILES. LETITIA MILES IS HERE. ISHA NEXT SPEAKER. RE ATMORE REINE. ATMORE RE ATMORE IS HERE. OKAY. WHO'S HERE? HERE [01:40:01] NOW. AND YOU ARE? LETICIA MILES. LETICIA MILES. UM, I WAS PLACED AT THE REDFORD APARTMENTS THROUGH CATHOLIC CHARITIES AS A RESULT OF ATTEMPTING TO GET HELP. UM, I WENT TO THE BEACON, BUT LAST NIGHT, UM, DUE TO BEING ATTACKED AND PHYSICALLY ASSAULTED, ONLY IN ATTEMPTS TO TRY TO WORK THROUGH THIS HOUSING PROGRAM, I'M GOING A DIFFERENT DIRECTION. I WAS ATTACKED BY ANOTHER RESIDENT THAT SUFFERS WITH MENTAL DISABILITIES, JUST THE SAME AS MYSELF. THESE ORGANIZATIONS WE WERE PLACED UNDER WERE FUNDED TO HELP GUIDE US TO GET THE HELP THAT WE NEEDED TO GET BACK ON OUR FEET. BUT INSTEAD OF GETTING ANY OF THE TOOLS THAT WE NEEDED, I WAS TOLD THAT BY, UH, CATHOLIC CHARITIES THAT THEY WERE UNDERSTAFFED. THAT WAS NO ASSISTANCE GIVEN ONLY TO MAYBE TELL ME TO GET A TOOL AND PROTECT MYSELF AND BE CAREFUL. I'M TIRED OF BEING AFRAID FOR MY LIFE. AND I HAVE, I SUFFER WITH SEVERE DEPRESSION AND ANXIETY, NOT ACCOMPLISHING ANYTHING I HAVE TRIED HARD TO DO FOR MYSELF. I'M GRATEFUL FOR RECEIVING A PLACE OF SHELTER, BUT A BULLET HAS NO EYES AND GOES, GOES THROUGH WALLS. IF THESE ORGANIZATIONS WERE FUNDED, THEN SOMEONE INSTILLED IN THE MONEY BECAUSE NO ONE HELPED ME. I'VE TRIED HARD. I HAVE, I'VE TRIED HARD. SO WHAT WAS THE, UH, THE PURPOSE OF THE RAPID REHOUSING PROGRAMS? IF IT WAS, IF THE REASON WAS TOLD BY US THAT IT WAS TO TAKE THE PEOPLE OFF OF THE STREETS, ONLY TO BE KICKED BACK INTO THE STREETS WHEN NOT BEING GIVEN ANY OF THE ASSISTANCE THERE WAS PROMISED. I ONLY WANNA GET MY LIFE BACK ON TRACK. AND BEING THROUGH THIS PROGRAM HAS BEEN A GREAT DISTRACTION. SO I'M ASKING, PLEASE INVESTIGATE WHERE THESE FUNDINGS HAVE GONE BECAUSE IT, IT HAS NOT BEEN FUNDED AND GIVEN TO THE PEOPLE THAT ACTUALLY REALLY WANT TO GET THE HELP THAT THEY NEED TO BE ABLE TO GET BACK ON THEIR FEET. LEMME MAKE, LEMME MAKE SURE THAT I, LEMME MAKE SURE THAT I UNDERSTAND. YOU PLACED AT THE APARTMENT COMPLEX UNDER THE RAPID REHOUSING PROGRAM? YES, SIR. AT THE BEGINNING. OKAY. AND THAT'S A VOUCHER PROGRAM? YES, SIR. AND YOU ARE STILL UNDER THE VOUCHER PROGRAM? I'M BEING KICKED OUT OF MY PLACE OF RESIDENCY. AND WHY ARE YOU BEING KICKED OUT? BECAUSE THE PLACE WHERE I LIVE, THEY FILLED THE, UM, THEY FILLED THE HOUSING INSPECTION AND SO HOUSING DISCONTINUED PAYING MY RENT. THEY FAILED THE INSPECTION THREE TIMES. OKAY. BUT IT IS NOT THAT THE VOUCHER HAS RUN OUT? NO, IT'S, IT'S OUT NOW. IT, IT'S IT, MY VOUCHER IS GONE. I NO LONGER HAVE IT BECAUSE I WAS NOT GETTING, THEY BASICALLY TOLD ME, OKAY, YOUR TIME IS UP, YOU NEED TO GO. OKAY. BUT DID THEY TELL YOU IT IT WAS TIME UP BECAUSE THE VOUCHER HAD RUN OUT? YES, SIR. THAT'S WHAT I'M TRYING TO UNDERSTAND. YES, SIR. THE VOUCHER HAS RUN OUT. OKAY. AND AND THE VOUCHER FOR YOU RAN OUT WHEN? UM, AND MINE, MINE HAS BEEN LIKE, UM, MAYBE A YEAR NOW. ONE YEAR? YES SIR. OKAY. BUT YOU'RE STILL AT THE APARTMENT COMPLEX? YES, SIR. OKAY. SO HOW IS IT BEING PAID FOR? IT IS, IT'S NOT, WE'RE GOING THROUGH, UH, EVICTION, UH, PROCEDURES AT THIS TIME BECAUSE OF FIGHTING THE, THE APARTMENT COMPLEX. OKAY. BECAUSE OF YOUR INABILITY TO PAY? YES, SIR. WELL, THEY'RE WITH THE, WITH THE APARTMENT COMPLEX RIGHT NOW. MM-HMM . THEY'RE, THEY'RE, UM, WE'RE HAVING TO DEAL WITH THAT BECAUSE THE MONEY THAT WAS PAID FOR THESE RENTS MM-HMM . THEY HAVE BEEN CHARGING US MORE THAN WHAT THEY, THEY WERE SUPPOSED TO BE PAYING. OKAY. MY RENT. I MEAN, THAT'S A WHOLE DIFFERENT DIRECTION. BUT THESE PROGRAMS RIGHT. I'M JUST TRYING TO GET, MAKE SURE I GOT A GOOD UNDERSTANDING. SO IT WAS UNDER THE RAPID REHOUSING PROGRAM? YES. THE VOUCHER HAS RUN OUT. YES, SIR. UH, THEN THEY ARE, LET'S SAY THEY'RE ADDING ON ADDITIONAL CHARGES NOW, AND YOU ARE NOT, YOU DON'T HAVE THE ABILITY TO PAY. SO THEY'RE TRYING TO, IN ALL ACTUALITY, THEY CHARGE, THEY CHARGE MORE THAN WHAT WAS, WHAT WAS SUPPOSED TO BE A LAWYER. I, I GOT YOU. SO THEY ARE, [01:45:01] THEY ARE ATTEMPTING TO EVICT YOU FOR LACK OF PAYMENT. YES, SIR. OKAY. ARE THERE ANY OTHER COMPLAINTS THAT YOU HAVE? ANY OTHER COMPLAINTS WITH THE YES, SIR. WITH THE PROGRAM WE WERE ASSIGNED, UH, CASE MANAGERS. AND THAT'S UNDER THE RAPID REHOUSING PROGRAM? YES, SIR. I GOT THAT. WELL, THAT'S MY THING. THE RAPID REHOUSING PROGRAM, JUST RAPID ING, THEY DON'T HAVE THE, THEY, THEY JUST BASICALLY TOLD ME THEY HAD NO CASE MANAGERS TO REPRESENT US. I, SO THAT'S WHAT'S I, WHAT'S IMPORTANT FOR YOU. AND WHAT WAS IMPORTANT FOR YOU WAS THE, UH, PLACEMENT AT THE HOUSING COMPLEX UNDER THE RAPID REHOUSING YES SIR PROGRAM. YES, SIR. THAT PROVIDED YOU WITH ALL OF THE ADDITIONAL SUPPORT THAT YOU NEEDED. THEY FAILED. AND, AND, OKAY. AND THAT'S DID NOT PROVIDE ME WITH I UNDERSTAND, UNDERSTAND. AND, AND SO THAT IS THE, THAT'S THE BASIS YES, SIR. OF YOUR CONCERN. YES, SIR. OKAY. AND SO WHAT'S IMPORTANT FOR YOU IS TO BE ABLE TO, LET'S SAY, REMAIN HERE WITH THE RAPID REHOUSING SUPPORT SERVICES. BUT THAT'S WHAT I'M SAYING. I'M NOT GETTING ANY, I HAVE NOT GOT ANY OF I OF I GOT THAT, BUT I'M UNDERSTAND THAT'S, THAT'S, THAT'S THE ISSUE HERE. YES, SIR. OKAY. AND, UM, OKAY. AND I ASSUME, IS THAT THE ISSUE WITH THE, WITH THE REST OF YOU? YES, SIR. OKAY. UH, OKAY. I JUST WANTED TO BE CLEAR. YES, SIR. ALRIGHT. LET ME WORK ON IT. OKAY. YES, SIR. THAT'S WHAT I NEEDED. OKAY. I GOT YOU. NO SPEAKERS. THAT'S WHAT I NEEDED. YES, SIR. LET ME WORK ON IT. THANK YOU. OKAY. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. NEXT SPEAKER. REINE ATMORE. REINE ATMORE, SENATOR MOORE. I STAND HERE THIS EVENING IN THE MAS NAME OF JESUS REPRESENTING SOUTHEAST TENANT INFORMATION ORGANIZATION. I, IN AGREEMENT WITH THE YOUNG LADY THAT SPOKE BEFORE HAVE BEEN PUT ON A PROGRAM AND THESE PROGRAMS, WE WANT ACCOUNTABILITY, WE WANT TRANSPARENCY. WE WANT THE EVICTIONS TO STOP. WE WANT TO KNOW WHY THERE IS NO AVENUES FOR A GRIEVANCE TO BE ADDRESSED. MAYOR TURNER, YOU APPOINT PEOPLE TO THE HOUSING AUTHORITY. WHEN I HAD THE, THE PROBLEMS THAT I HAD WITH MY HOUSING, WHICH THIS IS MY HEHV VOUCHER, I'M ON PERMANENT HOUSING. THIS EHV VOUCHER, I WAS NOT ABLE TO UTILIZE 'CAUSE MY HOUSING COORDINATOR FOR THE SALVATION ARMY TOLD ME I COULDN'T, I FOUND VERY ADEQUATE HOUSING, BUT SHE SAID I COULD NOT DO IT. ONLY SHE COULD PUT ME IN IT. THE PROPERTIES THAT THEY WANTED ME ON WERE BELOW THE, THE BAR WELL BELOW THE LOW, THE STANDARD OF LIVING. TO MAKE MATTERS WORSE, I RECEIVED A LETTER ON MY DOOR AND THE LETTER SAID THAT FOUR DAYS PRIOR, MY RENT HAD BEEN CEASED BY SALVATION ARMY. NOW THIS WAS AFTER THEY ALLOWED MY VOUCHER TO EXPIRE. THEY ALLOWED MY VOUCHER TO EXPIRE. THEY KEPT CHANGING HOUSING COORDINATORS ON ME, JUST LIKE TO CHANGE THE LEASING MANAGEMENT. AND BECAUSE OF THIS, I WAS PUT OUT OF MY, I WAS, I WAS SERVED THE EVICTION, I WAS SERVED THE EVICTION BECAUSE THEY WANTED TO MOVE ME THAT DAY. AND THAT DAY THEY WANTED TO MOVE ME. I HAD A CUT ON MY CORNEA, I ULCER ON MY EYES AND BLISTERS HAD FOUR BLOOD LETTERS FOR MY DOCTOR SAY THAT I COULD NOT BE MOVED THEN. AND THEY SAID THEY WERE GOING TO EVICT ME. THEY, THEY STRIPPED MY EHV VOUCHER FROM ME AND PUT ME ON THEIR PROGRAM. AND THEN THEY TREATED ME LIKE I WAS A PRISONER. NO ONE IS BEING HELD ACCOUNTABLE. EVEN IN MY LEDGERS. I HAVE LEDGERS WHERE MY RENT WAS PAID TWICE BY THE CITY. WHERE ARE THE PEOPLE THAT'S OVER THESE VENDORS? WHY ARE THEY ALLOWED TO DISCRIMINATE AGAINST US? CAN WE PLEASE HAVE OUR VOICES TO BE HEARD? CAN WE HAVE MEETINGS? CAN YOU STOP THIS? INSANE EVICTIONS. WE DON'T DESERVE TO BE EVICTED. I HAVE NOWHERE TO GO. I'M 68 YEARS OLD AND I'M BLIND. THIS WAS PERMANENT HOUSING I HAD, AND SALVATION ARMY COMPLETELY SCRIPTED FROM ME, PUT ME ON THAT PROGRAM [01:50:01] AND THEN THEY CUT ME OFF OF THAT ILLEGALLY. SURE. THERE'S SOME FORM THAT WE HAVE OR SOME TYPE OF AVENUE THAT WE HAVE THAT YOU COULD HELP US WITH. WE'RE IT'S BEING DISCRIMINATED IN OUR HOUSING. ALRIGHT. I THINK I HAVE IT. AND YOU ARE, YOU'RE ALSO A TENANT AT THE REST OF APARTMENT? YES, I AM. OKAY. AND IT'S THE SAME ISSUE. YOU ARE THE, THE VOUCHER SUPPOSED TO, HERE'S MY VOUCHER RIGHT HERE. IT'S NO LONGER NO GOOD. OKAY. I GOT YOU. OKAY. BUT YOU'RE AT THE REDFORD APARTMENT. YES. AND I JUST, WHAT I'M, WE'RE ASKING FOR, WE'RE ASKING FOR OUR VOUCHERS TO BE RETURNED TO US TO HAVE THE MONIES RETURNED TO US. WELL, LET ME, AND TO ALLOW US TO UTILIZE THEM THE WAY WE WANT TO UTILIZE THEM. WELL, LET ME, LET ME, LET ME JUST TAKE A LOOK AT IT. LET ME, LET ME LOOK INTO IT. I GOT IT. I UNDERSTAND. LEMME TAKE A LOOK AT IT. RIGHT NOW. WE'RE ALL FACING EVICTIONS THIS MONTH. I UNDERSTAND. LET ME TAKE A LOOK AT IT. LET ME TAKE A LOOK AT IT. CAN YOU PLEASE MEET WITH US? I, I, LET ME, LET ME INVESTIGATE AND SEE WHAT THE PROBLEM IS. I UNDERSTAND WHAT YOU'RE COMING FROM. LET ME SEE IF I CAN HELP OUT. OKAY. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. SO WILL WE, WILL WE HEAR FROM YOU? YES, YES, MA'AM. LET ME, LET ME TAKE A LOOK AT IT. OKAY. AND AGAIN, I REPRESENT THE SOUTHEAST TENANT INFORMATION ORGANIZATION. WELL, I'M, I'M MORE INTERESTED IN THE FACT THAT YOU'RE AT THE REDFORD APARTMENTS AND YOU WANT TO STAY IN THE, IN YOUR APARTMENT. NO, MY APARTMENT HAS BEEN CONDEMNED FOR OVER A YEAR AND A HALF. THE CITATION SITS ON THE FRONT DOOR OF THE OFFICE AND THEY'RE STILL GIVING ME EVICTIONS. THEY'VE NEVER FIXED MY APARTMENT. I HAVE MY, MY, MY WALL, MY FLOOR, MY, MY HOUSE IS GOING INTO A SINKHOLE. OKAY. WELL THAT ALL THE WALLS IS CRACKED ALL THE WAY ACROSS. LET ME TAKE A LOOK AT ALL OF THE ISSUES BECAUSE THERE, THERE ARE A LOT OF ISSUES HERE. LET ME TAKE A LOOK AT IT. I JUST DON'T UNDERSTAND HOW SOMEONE COULD BRING YOU TO EVICTION COURT WHERE THEY DON'T ABIDE BY THE LAW. LET ME, AND ANOTHER THING IS THEY CAME AS A, THEY WEREN'T EVEN A BUSINESS PROPRIETOR FOR THAT. I GOT YOU. I GOT IT. LET ME TAKE A LOOK AT IT. OKAY. THANK YOU. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. LEMME TAKE A LOOK AT IT. IN JESUS NAME. JESUS NAME. OKAY. NEXT SPEAKER. BETTY CRUZ. BETTY CRUZ. UH, HELLO. UH, GOOD AFTERNOON, MAYOR TURNER AND CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS. UH, MY NAME IS BAKER AND IT'S THE FIRST TIME COMING HERE. I'M HERE BECAUSE I FEEL THE NEED TO VOICE MY FRUSTRATION FOR CHANGING HOUSTON. I LIVE IN SEVEN 10 CARTON DISTRICT C UM, IN, UM, NORTHWEST HOUSTON. LESS THAN 200 FEET AWAY FROM MY HOUSE. THERE IS A GAS STATION LOCATED AT 46 15 NORTH SHEPHERD DRIVE. I HAVE COMPLAINED ABOUT THIS LOCATION. SO MAZDA HAVE MEMORIZED THE ADDRESS ON A REGULAR BASIS. I HAVE TO PUT OUT WITH LOUD MUSIC VARIATIONS FROM THE AREA SOUNDS THAT I CAN HEAR INSIDE MY HOUSE. HAVING BEEN CALLING THE POLICE SINCE JUNE TO GET THE ISSUE ADDRESSED. SOMETIMES THE SOURCE OF VARIATIONS OR MUSIC IS A BUNCH OF DRUNKS WHO LIKE TO GATHER THERE. OTHER TIMES IT COMES FROM A FOOD TRUCK ON THE PREMISES. IT CAN START AS EARLY AS 2:00 PM AND LAST FOR OVER SIX HOURS, EVEN AFTER KALET CALLS TO THE POLICE. THE POLICE DIDN'T APPEAR A TO ME BLOWING APPLICANT BALLOON FOR THE POLICE TO FINALLY SHOW UP TWICE IN SEPTEMBER. I'VE HAD HAD TWO CONFRONTATIONS WITH THE FOOD TRUCK PEOPLE IN WHICH THE POLICE HAVE COME. AND THEY CANNOT DO ANYTHING BECAUSE THE MANAGER DOESN'T CARE ABOUT THE MUSIC. HE DID NOT HAVING AN ISSUE WITH THE MUSIC, EVEN THOUGH CHER, UH, SHARED WITH ME THAT THEY HAVE SOME ISSUES WITH IT. AND ALSO BECAUSE THEY'RE ON PRIVATE PROPERTY AND IT'S NOT 10:00 PM. UM, ON FRIDAY NIGHT, I HAD TO PUT UP WITH DRUNKS IN THE AREA PLAYING LOUD MUSIC FROM 8:00 PM TO 11:30 PM THE POLICE DIDN'T SHOW UP AFTER TWO CALLS, ONE MADE BEFORE 10:00 PM AND ANOTHER ONE AFTER 10:00 PM THIS CALL HAVE BECOME WEEKLY CALLS. I HAVE TALKED TO TWO BUSINESSES IN THE AREA AND THEY ALSO DO NOT LIKE THE NOISE COMING FROM THE PLACE. AND THEY WOULD LIKE CHANGE THEY ARGUMENT TO KEEP CALLING THE POLICE AND TO KEEP TRYING TO CHANGE THINGS AROUND. UM, I WOULD LIKE A LOT OF THINGS TO CHANGE. UM, I WOULD LIKE YOU TO PASS A STRICT ORDINANCE TO ADDRESS HOW CLOSE GAS STATIONS CAN BE BUILT TO RESIDENTIAL AREAS AND CLOSE THE ONES THAT ARE LESS THAN 500 FEET FROM RESIDENTIAL AREA. WILL YOU ASK YOURSELVES, WHY DOES A COMMUNITY NEED A GAS STATION THAT ONLY BRINGS NOISE, POLLUTION AND CRIME? AND ALSO PLACE RESTRICTIONS ON WHERE AND HOW LONG FOOD TRUCKS CAN OPERATE. UM, THIS FOOD TRUCK IS IN THE AREA FROM 10:00 AM AND THEY CAN BE THERE UNTIL 10:00 PM MAKE, YOU KNOW, KIND OF RUCKUS. AND I WOULD ALSO LIKE, UM, IN PLACE A PROCESS WHERE I CAN ACTUALLY REPORT THE BAD BEHAVIOR OF THIS FOOD TRUCK. IT WAS [01:55:01] REALLY HARD TO FIND SOMETHING WHERE I COULD MAKE A COMPLAINT. UM, I COULD ONLY REACH OUT TO THE, TO THE FOOD HEALTH DEPARTMENT. AND THEY SAID THAT ONLY ACCEPT COMPLAINTS, UH, REGARDING FOOD COMPLAINTS. FOR EXAMPLE, IF I GET LIKE FOOD POISONING WHEN I THINK ABOUT BAD BEHAVIOR. ALSO, I WOULD LIKE YOU TO EXPAND THE POWER SO THE POLICE TO SOMETHING ABOUT THE NOISE. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR BEING HERE. THANK YOU. NEXT SPEAKER. JOHNNA HITCHCOCK. JOHNNA HITCHCOCK. HELLO, MAYOR COUNCIL. THANK YOU. I'M JONNA HITCHCOCK. I'M THE CO-FOUNDER OF SAVE MONTROSE LIVE OAKS. SEVERAL OF OUR MEMBERS SPOKE HERE LAST WEEK. I'M HERE TO COME BACK WITH A COUPLE OF SPECIFIC FOLLOW UP POINTS. FIRST OF ALL, THE PETITION THAT'S DEMANDING A PAUSE TO THIS PROJECT UNTIL WE CAN HAVE REAL REPRESENTATIVE INPUT IS NOW UP TO 6,000 SIGNATURES. OVER 6,000, 4,000 OF THEM ARE IN MS. CAYMAN'S DISTRICT. I SEE SHE'S NOT HERE TO HEAR THAT, BUT 4,000 JUST FROM HER DISTRICT, 5,000 ALL OVER HOUSTON. THERE IS A GROUNDSWELL OF PROTEST, AND IT IS BECAUSE PEOPLE DID NOT HAVE A CHANCE TO HAVE INPUT. WE WERE TOLD LAST WEEK THAT IF WE HAD BEEN SUFFICIENTLY INVOLVED IN DEMOCRACY, WE WOULD'VE ALREADY GONE TO THE MEETINGS AND GIVEN INPUT ABOUT THIS. BUT WHEN I SPOKE TO THE TEARS LAWYER LAST WEEK, HE EXPLAINED TO ME THAT THE FOUR PUBLIC INPUT MEETINGS THAT THEY KEEP TELLING US, WE HAD A CHANCE TO GO TO CONSISTED OF A POSTING OF A RECORDED VIDEO IN DECEMBER, 2023 WHEN THE, WHEN THE PLANS WERE ALREADY AT 30% COMPLETION. THAT WAS FOLLOWED BY AN OPEN HOUSE IN JANUARY WHERE SOME PEOPLE GOT INVITED THROUGH THEIR CIVIC CLUBS, BUT THERE WAS NOT VERY MUCH PUBLIC PUBLICITY ABOUT IT. THEN THERE WAS ANOTHER POSTED VIDEO IN AUGUST OF THIS YEAR, FOLLOWED BY THE SEPTEMBER 18TH OPEN HOUSE, WHICH IS WHERE I AND MOST OF MY NEIGHBORS AND MOST PEOPLE I KNOW FIRST HEARD ABOUT THE PROJECT. AND MORE IMPORTANTLY, THE SEPTEMBER OPEN HOUSE WAS THE VERY FIRST TIME THERE WAS ANY INFORMATION ABOUT THE TREE REPERCUSSIONS OF THIS PROJECT. SO TO SAY THAT WE HAD NOTICE OF THIS AND SHAME ON US AND WE'RE LATE TO THE TABLE IS NONSENSE. I ALSO WANNA POINT OUT THE TOTALLY MISLEADING INFORMATION, PROJECT, RENDERINGS AND STATEMENT THAT THE TEARS CONTINUES TO USE. WHEN MS. CAYMAN AND THE TEARS CHAIR WENT AROUND AND TALKED TO CIVIC CLUBS, THEY SHARED A, A REPRESENTATION STILL ON THEIR BROCHURE OF WHAT THE STREET SCAPE WOULD LOOK LIKE WHEN IT, THIS WAS ALL OVER. AND IT SHOWS 35 TO 40 FOOT OAK TREES ON BOTH SIDES OF THE TREE OF THE STREET AND IN THE MIDDLE. THAT'S NOT WHAT IT'S GONNA LOOK LIKE WHEN THIS PROJECT IS OVER. THOSE TREES ON THE SIDE STREET ARE BEING REPLACED WITH 3.5 INCH PO. TREES. THEY'RE CALLED POULTRIES BECAUSE THE TRUNK IS THE SIZE OF A STREET POLE INSTEAD OF THOSE BEAUTIFUL OAK TREES. THAT'S WHAT WE'RE GONNA GET ON THE SIDE OF MONTROSE. I WILL ALSO SAY THAT, UH, THE TIER, THE TEARS RECENTLY SAID IN AN UPDATE ME MEMO THAT NO HEALTHY MATURE LIVE OAKS WOULD BE REPLACED OR REMOVED. BUT THEN IF YOU COULD JUST GO A FEW PAGES BACK IN THEIR OWN MEMO, THEY SPELL OUT 29 OAKS, WHICH ARE BEING BROUGHT DOWN BECAUSE QUOTE, THEY'RE NOT OPTIMALLY LOCATED FOR THE PEDESTRIAN SIDEWALK OR THEY ARE LIKELY TO BE IRREVOCABLY DAMAGED BY THE CONSTRUCTION. THESE ARE NOT UNHEALTHY TREES. THESE ARE TREES THAT ARE IN THEIR WAY. FINALLY, THE DEFINITION OF HEALTHY IS WORTH SOME DISCUSSION. TREES WHICH HAVE BEEN TRIMMED AROUND POWER LINES WILL GROW BACK. YOUR TIME HAS EXPIRED. MM-HMM . THANK YOU VERY MUCH. NO QUESTIONS. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. OKAY. AND JACKSON FOR HER MOTION? UH, COUNCIL MEMBER JACKSON. THANK YOU MAYOR. UM, I MOTION TO SUSPEND THE RULES TO MOVE DANNY ASBURY BEHIND ANGEL CORTEZ. UM, ON THE NON AGENDA THREE MINUTE LIST. ANY OBJECTION? CHAIR NONE. CHAIR NONE. GRANTED. OKAY, MADAM SECRETARY, YOU CONTINUE TO CALL THE SECRET STRONG AND INHALE. CORTEZ ANGEL. ANGEL CORTEZ. ANGEL CORTEZ. I WAS GONNA REQUEST FOR HER TO GO FIRST. NO, YOU GOTTA COME. SO THE MOTION'S OKAY FOR YOU GUYS. THE TIME IS RUNNING. NOT YET. THE TIME IS RUNNING. QUITE SHAMEFUL. ACTUALLY, TO ME, IT'S NOT WORTH THE $3 AND 20 CENTS TO PARK ANYMORE. OCTOBER 10TH, THE RESULT OF REFUSING GOD BASED ON ROMANS 1 28. AND EVEN AS THEY DID NOT LIKE TO RETAIN GOD IN THEIR KNOWLEDGE, GOD GAVE THEM OVER TO A DEBASED MIND [02:00:01] TO DO THOSE THINGS WHICH ARE NOT FITTING. YOU'VE SEEN OUR LAMINATE, ALL OF OUR BLESSINGS HAVE RESPONSIBILITIES ATTACHED TO THEM. AND THIS IS ESPECIALLY TRUE OF OUR WILL, OUR FREE WILL THAT WE HAD RIGHT NOW. WE CAN USE OUR FREEDOM IN ANY WAY WE WISH. BUT THE BLESSING OF FREEDOM HAS A RESPONSIBILITY ATTACHED TO IT. THERE IS COMING A DAY OF RECKONING. AND WHEN IT ARRIVES, WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO ANSWER FOR THE USE OF OUR FREEDOM. SO AS WE EXERCISE A GIFT OF OUR FREE WILL, DAY AFTER DAY, TREMENDOUS CONSEQUENCES HANG IN THE BALANCE IN THIS EXISTENCE. 'CAUSE WITHOUT CHRIST, THAT'S ALL IT IS. IT IS POSSIBLE TO REFUSE GOD AND REJECT HIS RULE OVER US, HAVING GIVEN US A WILL THAT IS FREE. GOD WON'T MAKE OUR CHOICE FOR US. HE LOVES US, BUT HE WON'T FORCE US TO LOVE HIM BACK. AND IN SO FAR AS ETERNAL SALVATION IS CONCERNED, GOD WON'T COMPEL US TO BE SAVED. NOW THEN PAUL WROTE, WE ARE AMBASSADORS FOR THE CHRIST AS THOUGH GOD WERE PLEADING THROUGH US. WE IMPLORE YOU ON CHRIST'S BEHALF, BE RECONCILED TO GOD. SECOND CORINTHIANS FIVE 20. SUCH AN APPEAL WOULD BE MEANINGLESS IF WE HAD NO CHOICE IN THE MATTER IN ROMANS ONE, PAUL USED US SOME VIVID LANGUAGE TO DESCRIBE THOSE IN HIS DAY WHO HAD REJECTED GOD. THEY HAD SUPPRESSED THE TRUTH ABOUT GOD. VERSE 18, ALTHOUGH THEY KNEW GOD, THEY DID NOT GLORIFY HIM AS GOD. THEY EXCHANGED THE TRUTH OF GOD FOR THE LIE. AND THEY DID NOT LIKE TO RETAIN GOD IN THEIR KNOWLEDGE. THESE EXPRESSIONS REFLECT NOT SIMPLY AN IGNORANCE OF GOD, BUT A WILLFUL IGNORANCE, A DELIBERATE REJECTION OF GOD'S AUTHORITY. IN VIEW OF THIS, GOD GAVE THEM UP TO UNCLES. HE GAVE THEM UP TO A VILE PA, VILE PASSIONS AND GAVE THEM OVER TO A DEBASED MIND TO DO THOSE THINGS WHICH ARE NOT FITTING. IN EFFECT, GOD WITHDREW HIS RESTRAINING HAND AND LET THEM PLUNGE TO THE DEPTHS OF THEIR DESIRED REBELLION. GOD ABANDONED THEM TO THEIR SINFUL CHOICE. AND WE CAN HARDLY IMAGINE A MORE TERRIBLE THING. YET THERE IS A MORE TERRIBLE THING, THE FINAL ABANDONMENT WHEN GOD WITHDRAWS HIMSELF FOREVER FROM THOSE WHO HAVE REJECTED HIM. AT THAT TIME, GOD TURNS AWAY FOR ETERNITY FROM THOSE WHO HAVE TURNED AWAY FROM HIM. AND THAT WILL BE THE ANGUISH OF HELL BEING ABANDONED BY GOD. WHO WOULD HAVE LOVED US IF WE LED HIM. THE NAME SYLVESTER TURNER. IT'S AN OVERGROWN WOODED TREE TURNER. WELL, WE CAN SEE HE'S TURNED. SO LET US BE AWARE THAT THE SEAT THAT HE'S FITTING IN, THANK YOU VERY MUCH. IT'S ONLY FOR SALE. THANK YOU. BECAUSE OUR $33 TRILLION IN DEBT ARE STILL THE EMBARRASSMENT OF HOW WE ARE BEING SOLD. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. BECAUSE IT'S NOT THE DOLLARS THEY'RE PRINTING. THANK YOU VERY MUCH THAT WE'RE DEVALUING THE NEXT SPEAKER. DON'T TOUCH ME. DANNY ASBERRY. L STATE, NO COURT, BE FOLLOWED BY GAY HART. NEXT SPEAKER. WHO IS IT? WHO IS THE NEXT SPEAKER? WHO? HI, I'M DANNY ASBURY. I, UH, LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, I WANT TO START BY EXPRESSING MY GRATITUDE FOR MAYOR TURNER'S SERVICE AND ACKNOWLEDGING THE DEDICATION OF OUR CITY COUNCIL, PARTICULARLY THAT OF COUNCILWOMAN JACKSON, COUNCILWOMAN SHABAZZ, COUNCILWOMAN CISNEROS. UH, YOU GUYS HAVE BEEN PIVOTAL, UH, IN RECOGNIZING THAT OUR FIRM EXISTS . AND, UH, NEVERTHELESS, THERE ARE SOME PRESSING ISSUES THAT I REQUIRE THAT REQUIRE OUR IMMEDIATE, UH, ATTENTION. UH, AND I'M HERE TO ADDRESS THEM. FIRST, LET'S TALK ABOUT MICROAGGRESSIONS. UH, A CONCERN THAT HAS PERSISTED AMONGST SOME CITY WORKERS, CONTRACTORS AND ONE ELECTED OFFICIAL AT THE NEIGHBORHOOD LEVEL AIMED AT SIDELINING AND ERASING SOLAR INTERNATIONAL. GROWING UP IN NORTH FOREST, I UNDERSTAND THE FEELING OF BEING OVERLOOKED ALL TOO WELL NOW, UNTIL NOW, UNTIL OTHER ISSUES, UH, FALSE DEFAMATION AND DELIBERATE ATTEMPTS TO HINDER, HINDER OUR PROGRESS, ESPECIALLY CONCERNING REQUESTS FOR PROPOSALS ELECTED OFFICIAL. VICKI MARTIN'S ACTIONS COME TO MIND AS I OBSERVED HER RAISING OBJECTIONS REGARDING MY ORGANIZATION'S WITH THE TURS. UM, TS 22. UM, WHAT'S PUZZLING ABOUT THAT IS THE COMMUNITY INITIALLY ENDORSED OUR ART PROJECTS. HOWEVER, OUT OF NOWHERE, THE ART PORTION OF THE RFPS DISAPPEARED, LEAVING MY TEAM AND ME IN DISBELIEF. FURTHERMORE, THERE IS A MAJOR CONFLICT OF INTEREST THAT WE MUST ADDRESS. UP ARTS IS A PAID IS PAID DIRECTLY BY EMPLOYEES OF MEOW WOLF, RAISING QUESTIONS ABOUT IMPARTIALITY. INSTEAD OF PROVIDING PARTNERSHIP OPPORTUNITIES, THEY SEEMED INCLINED TO PUT EVERYONE ON THEIR PAYROLL. THIS TACTIC IS FAMILIAR AND WE SHOULD CONSIDER A MORE TAILORED PARTNERSHIP. [02:05:03] HERE ARE SOME URGENT QUESTIONS. WHY, UH, WHEN CAN I MEET WITH KEY PLAYERS OF THE RESILIENCE OF THE RESILIENCY PLANS TO SECURE ARTS FUNDING? WHY HAS THE ART PORTION OF THE RESILIENCE PLAN HAS NOT BEEN COMPLETED WHEN FIFTH WARD HAS FINISHED ITS TASK AHEAD OF US? WHY IS UP ARTS INCLUDED IN THE EAST HOUSTON RESILIENCY PLAN WHEN IT WAS OUR ORGANIZATION THAT LED THE GROUNDWORK, CONSIDERING WE ARE FROM THERE? WHY WASN'T SOLE INTERNATIONAL AT THE TABLE AND NOTIFIED INITIALLY, UH, AND NOTIFIED BY, UH, INITIALLY, UH, MEOW WOLF WHEN THE CITY WAS INSISTENT UPON THEM DOING SO. COUNCIL MEMBER TAR JACKSON, HER OFFICE TRIED TO MAKE SURE THAT WE WERE HEARD. OKAY. I'M GRATEFUL FOR THE DISCUSSIONS WITH THE PLANNING DEPARTMENT AND WILL BE INVALUABLE, WHICH HAVE BEEN INVALUABLE. HOWEVER, MY REPUTATION HAS TAKEN A HIT DUE TO ACTIONS OF CERTAIN INDIVIDUALS. LASTLY, I ASKED FOR CLARITY ON WHEN WE CAN ANTICIPATE AN RFP CREATED BY THE TURS BOARD FOR THE ARTS. SO LITTLE INTERNATIONAL HAS BEEN CHOSEN BY THE US EMBASSY TO PERFORM FOR THE ABRAHAM RECORDS IN MAY, MAKING A SIGNIFICANT IMPACT WORLDWIDE, YET WE ASPIRE TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE RIGHT HERE AT HOME AS WELL. THESE CONCERNS. COUNCILMAN, COUNCILMAN JACKSON? THANK YOU MAYOR. AND, UM, THANK YOU DANNY FOR COMING IN TO RAISE YOUR CONCERNS. UM, THANK YOU. I KNOW THAT YOU ARE A GREAT ARTIST. YOU DO A LOT OF WORK ACROSS THE CITY AND YOU'RE EAGER TO MAKE SURE THAT YOUR ART IS ON THE FOREFRONT. UM, YOU KNOW, JUST INCLUDED IN IN WHAT'S HAPPENING ACROSS THE CITY OF HOUSTON. YES, MA'AM. UM, I DID HAVE A CONVERSATION WITH MEOW WOLF. THAT WAS LAST YEAR, AND THEY WERE MORE SUPPOSED TO REACH OUT TO YOU, UM, TO MAKE SURE THAT YOUR ORGANIZATION WAS PART OF THE INITIAL, UM, ORGANIZATIONS THAT, 'CAUSE THEY BROUGHT DIFFERENT ARTISTS TOGETHER TO KIND OF START THAT'S CORRECT. THE WHOLE, UM, MEOW WOLF, UM, PROJECT. AND SO IT'S DISAPPOINTING TO KNOW THAT YOU WERE NOT CONTACTED. UM, SO JUST KNOW THAT I WILL REACH OUT TO, UM, GWEN, I KNOW SHE'S BEEN WORKING WITH THEM BECAUSE, BECAUSE WE HAVE A COMMUNITY BENEFITS AGREEMENT WITH THEM AS WELL. MM. UM, JUST TO SEE WHY, UM, THE ARTISTS THAT WE RECOMMENDED WAS NOT INCLUDED, UM, IN THE INITIAL PHASE OF THE PROJECT. BUT, UM, AND AS FAR AS THE TOUR BOARD, I DON'T KNOW WHAT'S GOING ON WITH THAT, BUT WOULD LOVE TO SIT DOWN A LITTLE BIT MORE TO FIND OUT, UM, WHAT YOU KNOW YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT IN REGARDS TO RFPS. YES. AND I, I I GAVE YOU GUYS SOME, UH, PAPERWORK. YEAH, I HAVE IT RIGHT HERE. THIS IS MY FIRST TIME SENDING IT. YES. SO I'LL, I'LL REVIEW IT. YES. AND, AND ON THE, THE END OF THAT PAPERWORK, YOU CAN KIND OF SEE A LOT OF MY, UH, YOU CAN SEE THE EMAILS, YOU CAN SEE ALL SORTS OF STUFF THAT THEY'VE GIVEN US, NOTICES, ALL OF THAT. ALL OF THAT IS THERE. ALRIGHT. ALRIGHT. THANK YOU. ALRIGHT. THANK YOU. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. NEXT SPEAKER. GAY HAR. GAY. HAR GAY. HARDLY HERE. UM, I'M BRINGING NEWS THAT, UH, WE JUST DISCOVERED, AND I DON'T KNOW IF Y'ALL ARE AWARE, BECAUSE WE CALLED, UH, SCHOOL DISTRICTS, HOUSTON INCLUDED. AND THEY SAID THEY'D HEARD ABOUT IT, BUT THEY DID NOT KNOW THAT BREAKING NEWS, DRAG QUEEN COURT RULING JUDGES ALLOW SEXUAL PERFORMANCES IN FRONT OF KIDS HOUSTON, TEXAS. THAT WAS SEPTEMBER THE 26TH. I DUNNO IF YOU'RE AWARE, BUT NOW DRAG QUEEN STORY TIME CAN BE ALLOWED IN ANY PUBLIC SCHOOL. I DON'T KNOW IF YOU'RE AWARE BECAUSE THE SCHOOL DISTRICTS DIDN'T KNOW WHEN WE CALLED THEM WHAT WE'RE SUGGESTING. AND HIGHLY SUGGEST BECAUSE SILENCE IS NOT GOLDEN. SILENCE IS NOT GOLDEN. WE NEED TO BE A VOICE AS TEXANS. WE NEED TO ARISE TO PROTECT OUR CHILDREN. THEY'RE GOING TO BE GROOMED. WE KNOW THIS. WE KNOW THIS. OKAY. THE BILL IS SB 12. PLEASE CALL AS I DID. AND A LOT OF GRANDPARENTS AND PARENTS ARE CALLING AUSTIN ABBOTT, LIEUTENANT, UH, GOVERNOR PATRICK. AMEN. WE NEED TO STAND UP AND ARISE BEFORE THEY TAKE OUR CHILDREN. AND THEY'RE ALLOWED TO COME IN TO OUR PUBLIC SCHOOLS IN ANY SHAPE, FORM, OR SIZE. IT'S BEING HELD BACK FOR RIGHT NOW. SB 12. SB 12 NEEDS TO BE STOPPED. WE NEED TO ARISE FOR OUR CHILDREN. IT'S GOING TO BE ENTERING INTO OUR PUBLIC SCHOOLS. DRAG QUEEN STORY TIME. BUT WHAT ARE WE DOING ABOUT IT? WE HAVE TO BE A VOICE. AND IT IS DEMONIC DRAG QUEEN STORY TIME IS NOW ALLOWED IN LEGAL IN TEXAS SCHOOLS. MAYOR TURNER, WERE YOU AWARE OF THAT? IT'S YOUR TURN THE QUESTION WILL I WE WEREN'T AWARE OF IT. IT SNUCK IN. WE GOT QUIET. WE'RE TOO QUIET. TEXAS WAS SUPPOSED TO BE THE LAST STAND HERE FOR THESE THINGS AND PROTECT OUR CHILDREN. [02:10:01] IF THIS IS ALLOWED IN ANY PUBLIC SCHOOL IN TEXAS, YOU ARE, WE'RE FAILING OUR CHILDREN. IT'S NOT ABOUT YOU AND YOU AND ME. WE'RE OF THE AGE, WE'RE PAST THIS, BUT IT'S OUR CHILDREN, OUR GRANDCHILDREN THAT IS GOING TO BE AFFECTED BY DRAG QUEENS COMING INTO OUR SCHOOL SYSTEM IN TEXAS. PLEASE MAKE YOUR STAND. SB 12, AUSTIN, TEXAS, GOVERNOR ABBOTT, LIEUTENANT PATRICK, ALL THE REST OF THEM. Y'ALL HAVE THE VOICE. WE DON'T. WE'RE DOING WHAT WE CAN, BUT WE NEED YOUR BACKING. THAT'S WHY WE'RE HERE TO SHOW WHAT'S GOING ON AND FIXING TO HAPPEN TO YOUR GRANDCHILD, YOUR CHILD, YOUR NEIGHBOR'S CHILD. WE NEED TO MAKE A STAND. SECOND CHRONICLE SEVEN 14 SAYS, IF MY PEOPLE, IF MY PEOPLE WILL TURN FROM THEIR WICKED WAYS AND FALL UPON THEIR FACE AND SEEK ME, I WILL HEAR THEIR PRAYER AND HEAL THEIR LAND. AMEN. HALLELUJAH. SECOND CHRONICLES SEVEN 14. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. WE NEED TO STAND FOR OUR CHILDREN. GETS FIRED. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. THEY'RE GROOMING OUR CHILDREN. NEXT SPEAKER. GLENDA MOORE MOORE. LINDA MOORE. NEXT SPEAKER. LINDA MOORE IS HERE. AIN'T WORTH THREE. NO MORE. NEXT, NEXT SPEAKER. LINDA MOORE. WILL HILL, WILL HILL, WILL HILL. NEXT SPEAKER WALTER VIDAL. WALTER VIDAL. WALTER VIDAL. NEXT SPEAKER. CATHERINE SWELLY. CATHERINE SWELLY. CATHERINE. CATHERINE. GOOD AFTERNOON. STEP OVER BEHIND THE MIC. CAN YOU? GOOD AFTERNOON, MY ATTORNEY AND COUNSELOR. MY NAME IS CATHERINE SWILLEY. I'M HERE TODAY RESPECTFULLY TO ASK THAT THE FABRICATED TERMINATION LETTER BE REMOVED FROM MY PERMANENT, UH, PERSONNEL FILE AND A DISHONORABLE DISCHARGE BE REPLACED WITH AN HONORABLE DISCHARGE. AND I BE ISSUED AN OFFICIAL POLICE RETIREMENT ID. I WAS WRONGLY FOR TERMINATED FOR A CHARGE OF UN TRUTHNESS. AND, AND I'VE BEEN FIGHTING THIS CASE SINCE 2008 TO CLEAR MY NAME. THE HOUSTON POLICE DEPARTMENT'S DOCUMENTS STATES THAT THE UNTRUTHFULNESS CHARGE WAS CLASSIFIED AS NOT SUSTAINED DURING MY ADMINISTRATIVE HEARING. HPD OFFICIALS ADMITTED THAT I WAS WRONGFULLY TERMINATED BY THE OMISSION OF SERGEANT TODD AND LIEUTENANT CISCO, UH, THAT I WAS WRONGFULLY TERMINATED, CONFIRMS THAT A FABRICATED TERMINATION LETTER IS IN MY PERMANENT PERSONNEL FILE. AND I RECEIVED A INVALID DISHONORABLE DISCHARGE BY TODD AND CISCO'S MISSION, A COMPLETELY FABRICATED TERMINATION LETTER IS IN MY PERSONNEL FILE. I ASKED YOU TODAY, MAYOR TURNIN COUNSELOR, WHO WILL HOLD OFFICERS ACCOUNTABLE FOR UPHOLDING THE INTEGRITY OF THE HOUSTON POLICE DEPARTMENT. I AM RESPECTFULLY ASKING YOU, MAYOR TURNER, TO GIVE REQUEST THAT CHIEF TROY FINNER BE GIVEN A DIRECTIVE TO SUBMIT A CORRECTED F FIVE REPORT TO T CODE SHOWING AN HONORABLE DISCHARGE. AND IN ADDITION, AS REQUEST THAT CHIEF FINN BE GIVEN A DIRECTIVE TO REMOVE THE FABRICATED TERMINATION LETTER FROM MY IED FILE FOR MY PERMANENT POLICE FILE. I HAVE RECEIVED SUPPORT FROM ALL OF THE POLICE UNIONS STATING THAT I SHOULD HAVE GOT AN HONORABLE DISCHARGE. I HAVE RECEIVED SUPPORT FROM REVEREND BILL LAWSON, THE GREATER COALITION FOR JUSTICE LULAC. WE THE PEOPLE ORGANIZED MOTHERS AGAINST POLICE BRUTALITY OUTTA DALLAS, STATING THAT I SHOULD, AFTER REVIEWING MY EVIDENCE IN THE FILES AND WHAT YOU HAVE PRESENT IN FRONT OF YOU TODAY, UH, THAT I SHOULD HAVE RECEIVED THE HONORABLE DISCHARGE DURING MY ADMINISTRATION HEARING. THERE WAS 14 WITNESS, INCLUDING FIVE SUPERVISORS THAT TESTIFIED UNDER OATH THAT THEY HAD KNOWN ME FOR 15 TO 20 YEARS AND THEY NEVER KNOWN ME TO BE UNTRUTHFUL. [02:15:01] I AM HERE TODAY AND AS YOU STATED BEFORE, MAYOR TURNER, THAT I WAS PERSISTENT. WELL, YOU WAS A GOOD ROLE MODEL FOR THAT. YOU WERE PERSISTENT IN CLEARING YOUR NAME AND I'M PERSISTENT IN CLEARING, CLEARING MINDS. AND THE EVIDENCE IN FRONT OF YOU TODAY CLEARLY SHOWS THAT I AM INNOCENT. AND AGAIN, I ASK YOU, WHO WILL HOLD OFFICERS ACCOUNTABLE FOR UPHOLDING THE INTEGRITY OF THE HOUSTON POLICE DEPARTMENT? THANK YOU VERY MUCH. THAT EXPIRED. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. COUNCIL MEMBER. UH, THANK YOU COUNCIL MEMBER EVAN HO HO HOLD ON. CATHERINE DID, DID YOU FINISH WHAT YOU WERE SAYING? YES, MA MA'AM, I KNOW YOU'VE BEEN FIGHTING THIS FIGHT A LONG YES MA'AM. LONG TIME. A LONG TIME. AND LET ME TELL YOU WHY I FIGHT OFFICERS ASK ME ALL THE TIME, WHY AM I STILL FIGHTING? 'CAUSE THIS STILL AFFECTS MY LIFE. ABSOLUTELY. A LIE WILL DESTROY YOUR CAREER AND TAINT YOUR REPUTATION FOR LIFE. ABSOLUTELY. OKAY. I WOULD NOT BE FIGHTING THIS FIGHTING FOR SO LONG IF I WASN'T INNOCENT. OKAY. YOU HAVE THE EVIDENCE IN FRONT OF YOU. UH, ACTUALLY, IF YOU LOOK, AND LIKE I SAY, WE, I HAVE A, A LIEUTENANT, A LIEUTENANT WHO FOUND THE CHARGE OF UNTRUTHFULNESS AGAINST ME. NOT SUSTAINED. SO WHY IS IT STILL IN MY RECORD? MY PERSONNEL FILE IS COMPLETELY TAINTED. ABSOLUTELY. AND BECAUSE, AND IF YOU LOOK AT, JUST LOOK AT SOME OF THE PICTURES. WHAT I'VE GO, GONE, MATTER OF FACT, THERE'S A COPY OF THE IED STATEMENT THAT CLEARED. THERE WAS NO EVIDENCE. THE IED SERGEANT SAID THE CHARGE AGAINST ME WAS TRUMPED UP. SO WHY, WHY AM I STILL FIGHTING THIS? THIS IS PROBABLY MY SEVENTH TIME BEING HERE AT CITY HALL MY SEVENTH TIME. I'M SURE IT IS. SO YES. I'M STILL, I REMEMBER YOU. I THINK WE WENT TO WASHINGTON, TO DC TOGETHER. YES, WE DID. WE DID. AND I REMEMBER YOU WERE FIGHTING THAT FIGHT THEN. YES. SO I HOPE MAYOR, SOMEBODY CAN LOOK INTO THIS AND, AND SEE AFTER ALL OF THESE YEARS, I, I BELIEVE THAT SHE HAS A VALID, UH, ALLEGATION. AND CERTAINLY IF SOMEBODY COULD MAYBE JUST LOOK AT IT. WELL, THE EVIDENCE, BECAUSE IT HAS BEEN AN IMPEDIMENT ON HER LIFE FOR QUITE SOME TIME, THE EVIDENCE IS IN MY FILE AND I JUST PRESENTED ALL THE EVIDENCE TO YOU. OKAY. THERE WAS A HARD TIME GETTING ALL THAT EVIDENCE BECAUSE AT FIRST THEY SAID THEY COULDN'T LOCATE MY IED FILE. I HAD TO FILE A MOTION TO GET THE FILE. AND THEN THEY PUT ME ON A PROTECTIVE ORDER WHERE I COULDN'T DISCUSS ANY OF THE EVIDENCE IN THE FILE. WELL, THE EVIDENCE IS CLEAR WHY THEY DIDN'T WANT ME TO DISCUSS WHAT WAS IN THE IED FILE. THE IED REPORT CLEARLY STATES THE CHARGE OF UNTRUTHFULNESS WAS NOT SUSTAINED. OKAY. ACTUALLY IT WAS FELT NOT SUSTAINED 28 DAYS BEFORE THE ACTUAL LOUDERMILL HEARING. YOU HAVE THE DOCUMENTS IN FRONT OF YOU, YOU HAVE A LIEUTENANT THAT CLEARED ME. YOU HAVE A IED SERGEANT THAT DID THE INVESTIGATION, SAID THE CHARGES WERE TRUMPED UP AND THEY ARE TRUMPED UP. SO IF I CAN'T DEPEND ON MY ELECTED OFFICIALS TO STAND WITH ME OR EVEN TO OPEN THE INVESTIGATION, WHO WILL THE NEXT OFFICER BE THAT JUST FLAT OUT LIED ON? LOSE YOUR CAREER, LOSE YOUR INTEGRITY, USE YOUR, LOSE YOUR REPUTATION. YOU KNOW, I SHOULD NOT HAVE HAD TO SPEND MY ENTIRE SAVINGS TO GET THIS EVIDENCE TO CLEAR MY NAME AND I STILL CAN'T GET COUNSEL TO STAND WITH ME AND EVEN LOOK AT IT OR OPEN INVESTIGATION. THIS IS NOT RIGHT. IF THIS IS HAPPENING TO A POLICE OFFICER, TIME HAS EXPIRED. I JUST WANNA SAY, CAN I SAY ONE THING? THE TIME, THE TIME IS UP. OKAY. THANK YOU SIR. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. THANK YOU, COUNSEL. NEXT SPEAKER MARIA LOPEZ, RODRIGUEZ. MARIA LOPEZ, RODRIGUEZ. MARIA LOPEZ RODRIGUEZ. NEXT SPEAKER MARIAN SCOTT. MARIAN SCOTT. NEXT SPEAKER HEATHER CROSSLAND. HEATHER CROSSLAND. HEATHER. NEXT SPEAKER, JOY WILLER. JACKO JOY WILL JACKO IS HERE. HI. GOOD AFTERNOON, MAYOR TURNER. AND COUNCIL, UH, I AM YOUR GRAINGER SENIOR ACCOUNT MANAGER, UM, FOR ALL OF THE CITY AND THE COUNTY. I HAVE A TEAM OF ACCOUNT REPRESENTATIVES WHO WORK ALONGSIDE ME TO HELP SUPPORT EACH AND EVERY DEPARTMENT EVERY DAY. AND I WANNA JUST SAY THANK YOU FOR ALLOWING US TO SUPPORT YOU ALL THIS TIME. WE DO APPRECIATE IT. WE PRIDE OURSELVES ON BEING MORE THAN JUST AN MRO SUPPLIER FOR YOU, BUT RATHER A PARTNER. AND WE HAVE SEVERAL RESOURCES THAT ALLOW US TO PARTNER WITH YOU FOR NOT ONLY YOUR DAY TO DAY, BUT EMERGENCY EVENTS SUCH AS HURRICANE HARVEY AND THE PANDEMIC. [02:20:01] WE'VE BEEN THERE THROUGH IT ALL. WITH THE NETWORK OF 287 BRANCHES, 17 DISTRIBUTION CENTERS, AND THE CLOSEST ONE BEING IN DALLAS, WE'VE BEEN ABLE TO MAINTAIN A LEVEL OF CONSISTENCY TO PROVIDE YOU WITH PRODUCTS THAT YOU NEED, EVEN THROUGHOUT THE POST PANDEMIC SUPPLY CHAIN CHALLENGES AND SHIPPING CHALLENGES. SO ON THE HANDOUT THAT I PROVIDED, I'D LIKE TO JUST KIND OF HIGHLIGHT SOME OF THE CONTRACT BENEFITS AND VALUE ADDED SOLUTIONS. ONE OF THE MOST, UH, GREAT BENEFITS FOR YOU WITH, UM, AN EMERGENCY EVENT IS YOU HAVE ACCESS TO OUR AFTER HOURS EMERGENCY SERVICE. WHAT DOES THAT MEAN? WE OPEN UP THE BRANCH FOR YOU AFTER HOURS. IT DOES SAY A $50 FEE APPLIES. WE TYPICALLY WAIVE THAT FOR THE CITY OF HOUSTON. 'CAUSE WE DO VALUE YOU, WE VALUE YOUR SERVICE. UM, ON THE VALUE ADDED SOLUTIONS, WE DO HAVE A, A DIVERSITY AND SMALL BUSINESS PROGRAM THAT YOU'LL HEAR ABOUT LATER FROM MY, UH, SENIOR CHANNEL BUSINESS MANAGER, ERIC HALVERSON. UM, BUT THROUGHOUT THAT PROGRAM WE HAVE, UM, BEEN HAD THE HONOR TO PARTICIPATE IN YOUR MENTOR PROTEGE PROGRAM, WHICH WE ARE EXCITED ABOUT. UM, WE ALSO PROVIDE SOURCING SERVICE FOR YOU. WHAT DOES THAT MEAN? UM, IF THERE'S A SPECIAL ORDER PRODUCT THAT ANY DEPARTMENT NEEDS, UM, THAT'S NOT IN OUR CATALOG, WE SOURCE FROM OTHER SUPPLIERS. A LOT OF TIMES WE DO SOURCE FROM LOCAL MWBES IN THAT SOURCING COMPONENT. WE ALSO HAVE KEEPSTOCK INVENTORY MANAGEMENT SOLUTIONS. WHAT DOES THAT DO? IT'S TO HELP, UM, IMPROVE THE EFFICIENCIES AND MAYBE THE WAREHOUSE AND HOW MAYBE EACH DEPARTMENT RUNS. AND FINALLY, WE HAVE OUR CONSULTING SERVICES. ALL OF THESE ARE VALUE ADDED SERVICES, OUR CONSULTING SERVICES. WE HAVE A TEAM OF MRO INDUSTRY EXPERTS. THEY CAN COME IN AND JUST HELP SIT DOWN, DO PROCESS MAPPING, REALLY HELP TO STREAMLINE EFFICIENCIES AND LOWER COSTS AND SEE WHAT WE CAN SEE FROM A STANDPOINT OF MRO INDUSTRY EXPERTS. SO AGAIN, VALUE ADDED SERVICES, NO COST TO YOU OUTSIDE OF THAT. YOU OBVIOUSLY HAVE YOUR CATEGORY DISCOUNTS AND THINGS LIKE THAT, UM, THAT WE PROVIDE. AND SO I JUST WANTED TO COME TODAY AND SAY THANKS. UM, I HAVE BEEN COVERING THE CITY SINCE 2019, SO I'VE SEEN A LOT. AND MY OTHER COUNTERPARTS THAT COVERED BEFORE HAD THE LUXURY OF PARTICIPATING IN HURRICANE HARVEY. AND IT'S, IT'S, IT'S BEEN A JOURNEY AND WE WANT TO CONTINUE THAT WITH YOU. SO THANK YOU. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. OKAY, NEXT SPEAKER, RALPH WALTON. RALPH WALTON IS HERE. UH, HELLO, COUNSEL. UH, MY NAME'S RALPH WALTON. I'M WITH MSC. UH, WE'RE ACTUALLY THE SECOND LARGEST, UH, MRO SUPPLIER TO GRANGER. WE HAVEN'T HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO PARTNER WITH THE CITY TO THE EXTENT THAT GRANGER HAS, UH, BEEN TALKING AND WORKING WITH JEDEDIAH AND MS. PORSCHE JACKSON, UH, IN THE OBO OFFICE, THEY'RE GIVING US THE OPPORTUNITY TO PARTNER. UNFORTUNATELY, NOT BEING AS LARGE AS GRANGER, WE DON'T, I DON'T HAVE A TEAM OF PLAYERS, BUT I DO PLAN ON BUILDING A TEAM OF PLAYERS. MY TEAM OF PLAYERS WILL BE THE SMALL MINORITY BUSINESSES. AND I'M WORKING WITH MS. JACKSON TO CARVE OUT A PROGRAM TO INCLUDE THE SMALL AND MINORITY BUSINESSES AND WHAT MSC HAS TO OFFER. WE HAVE CONSULTING SERVICES. WE HAVE OVER A MILLION AND A HALF PRODUCTS. UH, WE HAVE DEDICATED ACCOUNT MANAGEMENT. UH, WE ARE LOOKING TO ACTUALLY BUILD, UH, SPECIAL PROGRAMS AND WORK WITH JEDI TO WORK WITH THEM. PUBLIC WORKS TO BE ABLE TO PROVIDE SPECIAL STUFF FOR THEM. UH, I'M HERE IN HOUSTON. I LIVE IN, UH, KATY, A MEMBER IN HARRIS COUNTY. SO WE ARE VERY FORTUNATE AND WE WOULD LIKE TO THANK THE CITY FOR HAVING THE OPPORTUNITY TO SHOW AND TO ILLUSTRATE WHAT WE CAN DO. AND I'M MORE THAN CONFIDENT THAT GIVEN THE OPPORTUNITY TO, UH, TO BE ABLE TO ILLUSTRATE THE GRAINGER VALUES AND OUR BUILT TO MAKE YOU BETTER SLOGAN THAT WE ARE GONNA BE MORE THAN ABLE TO BE A PARTNER FOR THE CITY AND BRING VALUE AND TO HELP TO TAKE COSTS AND TIME OUT OF THE PROCESSES IN THE CITY, IS OUR GOAL. AND, UH, AGAIN, I WANNA SAY THANK YOU. AND AGAIN, I WANT TO LASTLY SAY THAT I WILL BE BUILDING A TEAM OF PLAYERS THROUGH SMALL BUSINESS. THANK YOU. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. NEXT SPEAKER. BRANDON PIERCE. BRANDON PIERCE. BRANDON IS HERE. HI, MY NAME IS BRANDON PIERCE. UM, MY COMPANY IS ENVIRONMENTALS. SORBENT AND SAFETY. I'M ACTUALLY ONE OF THE MINORITY VENDORS THAT'S ON BOARD AND WORKS WITH RANGER AND ALSO MSC. WE HAVE BEEN FOR YEARS. UH, I'M REPRESENTING MYSELF, BUT THERE ARE MANY OTHER VENDORS WHO PARTICIPATE IN THE PROCUREMENT PROCESS. AND I WANT TO THANK YOU, MAYOR, UM, DURING YOUR TERMS. WE'VE DONE VERY WELL AS A MINORITY [02:25:01] VENDOR AND SO HAVE OTHERS. UH, THERE'S BEEN MANY BID OPPORTUNITIES. WE'VE TAKEN ADVANTAGE OF THEM. I WOULDN'T BE HERE TO TODAY IF IT WASN'T FOR OBO AND THOSE OPPORTUNITIES. UM, I WANNA ALSO, ESPECIALLY GIVE THANKS TO COUNCILMAN PLUMMER AND COUNCILMAN ALCORN WHO HAVE LISTENED TO US, UM, DURING THIS PROCESS. WE'RE ALL ON BOARD. WE WORK WELL WITH GRAINGER AND AND MSC. THEY'RE GREAT PARTNERS. WHAT'S BEEN OCCURRING LATELY HAS BEEN THE CO-OP SITUATION THAT HAS SUPPRESSED WE MINORITY VENDORS. AND THAT'S WHAT THE CONCERN IS, IS THAT WE ARE CONCERNED THAT I WANT TO JUST CLEAR UP A COUPLE THINGS. NUMBER ONE, CO-OPS AND SMALL BUSINESSES ARE LIKE OIL AND WATER. THEY DON'T EXIST. CO-OPS WERE PUT TOGETHER SO THAT LARGER CORPORATIONS SUCH AS GRANGER AND MSC CAN BID ON CONTRACTS IN ANY CITY IN THE UNITED STATES CAN TAKE THAT CONTRACT BECAUSE IT'S ALREADY BEEN BID AND UTILIZE IT WITHOUT INVOLVING WE LOCAL VENDORS. SO MY CONCERN IS WE NEED SOME TYPE OF CARVE OUT AS THOUGH WE, RALPH HAS SPOKEN OF AND GRANGER, SO THAT WE CAN STILL BE INVOLVED BECAUSE GUARANTEED, WE'RE GONNA DIE OFF MAYOR BECAUSE THERE'S NO OPPORTUNITIES TO BID AT ALL. AND THERE'S NO NORTH STAR TO LOOK TO. IT'S A BLACK HOLE AND THERE'S NOWHERE TO GO. SO WE ASK THAT YOU ALL PLEASE PUT SOMETHING TOGETHER, SOME CARVE OUT SO THAT WE CAN STILL PARTICIPATE. AND WE'RE NOT LOOKING FOR A HANDOUT. WE'RE JUST LOOKING FOR AN OPPORTUNITY TO BID. THAT'S IT. JUST TO BID, JUST TO PUT A NUMBER OUT. 'CAUSE OBVIOUSLY GRANGER AND MSC STARTED WITH ONE PERSON IN A GARAGE AND OVER A HUNDRED SOMETHING YEARS. THEY, THEY ARE A HUGE COMPANY. THEY DO A GREAT JOB. BUT THAT'S NOT GONNA BE US, YOU KNOW, MAYBE, YOU KNOW, IN SOME OTHER LIFETIME, BUT THAT'S NOT NOW. SO THAT'S WHAT WE'RE ASKING FOR THAT OPPORTUNITY. 'CAUSE IF, IF CO-OPS WERE A THING WHEN I GOT STARTED, I WOULDN'T BE STANDING HERE TODAY. I'D BE DOING SOMETHING ELSE, COACHING BASKETBALL, WHICH IS WHAT I WAS DOING. THANK YOU. GOTCHA. COUNCIL MEMBER BROWN, COUNCIL . THANK YOU MAYOR. AND THANK YOU MR. PIERCE. AND, AND THANK YOU FOR COMING TO ME WITH ME AND, AND EXPLAINING SOME OF THIS SITUATION. I DID HAVE A SUBSEQUENT, UH, CONVERSATION WITH JED DIA GREENFIELD ABOUT, ABOUT THIS AND ABOUT ADDITIONAL OPPORTUNITIES FOR, FOR BIDDING THINGS OUT. ADDITION. HE DID HAVE, UH, MAYOR, THERE ARE SOME ADDITIONAL SOLICITATIONS COMING IN DIFFERENT CATEGORIES, SO I KNOW THEY'RE WORKING ON THIS. I, I, I THINK YOU HAVE, UH, THE, THE UPDATE THAT I PROVIDED, BUT I REALLY APPRECIATE MAYOR, WHAT HE'S SAYING. WE DO WANNA MAKE SURE ON THESE BIG CONTRACTS THAT THERE'S, WE WANT, WE WANNA GIVE EVERYBODY AN, AN OPPORTUNITY. AND SO JUST REALLY APPRECIATE YOUR KIND OF EDUCATING ME MORE ABOUT THE COOPERATIVE PURCHASING. UM, YOU KNOW, THAT WE, THAT WE DO, I MEAN, WE BUY A LOT OF THINGS THROUGH COOPERATIVE PURCHASING. UM, AND THAT YOU'VE BROUGHT UP A LOT OF GOOD POINTS ABOUT HOW SOME PEOPLE KIND OF ARE, ARE SHUT OUT OF THAT, THAT FIELD. SO, UM, I APPRECIATE YOUR EDUCATING ME AND I KNOW IT'S SOMETHING THE CITY AND, AND, UM, STRATEGIC PURCHASING IS WORKING ON. SO THANK YOU VERY MUCH. Y YES, IT, LET ME JUST ADD JANET AND I, GREENFIELD HAS DONE AN EXCELLENT JOB. UH, AND HIS TEAM, NOLA BOONE AND BRIAN BLUM, THEY PROVIDES A LOT OF OPPORTUNITIES FOR BIDDING. AND THAT'S ALL WE LOOK FOR IS CAN WE CONTINUE TO BID FOR A CITY BUSINESS? THAT'S ALL WE'RE ASKING FOR. THAT'S HOW WE GOT STARTED. THAT'S HOW IT'S ALWAYS BEEN THERE. IF WE GO A HUNDRED PERCENT TO CO-OP, WE HAVE NO OPPORTUNITIES TO BID AT ALL. AND WE MIGHT AS WELL NOT DO BUSINESS WITH THE CITY. WE MIGHT AS WELL SHUT OBOS OFFICE DOWN BECAUSE YOU CAN BECOME CERTIFIED, BUT THEY SHOULD HAND YOU A LETTER AND SEND, BUT YOU CAN'T BID WITH THE CITY OF HOUSTON. YOU NEED TO GO SOMEWHERE ELSE. THANKS A LOT. APPRECIATE IT. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. NEXT SPEAKER, ERIC HAVERSON. ERIC HAVERSON. ERIC IS HERE. HI. GOOD AFTERNOON. UM, THANKS FOR THE TIME TODAY. UH, I ALSO WORK WITH GRANGER, WORK CLOSELY WITH JOY. UM, I REPRESENT WHAT WE CALL DIVERSITY ALLIANCE PROGRAM FOR GRANGER. UM, SO WE DEAL WITH A NUMBER OF DIFFERENT, UM, DI DIVERSE OPTIONS, RIGHT? SO OUR, OUR PRODUCT OFFERING, WE HAVE 1.5 MILLION PRODUCTS IN OUR, IN OUR PRODUCT OFFERING. MANY OF THOSE ARE FROM DIVERSE MANUFACTURERS. UM, WE ALSO HAVE A PROGRAM THAT'S WE USE TO SUPPORT THE STATE OF TEXAS AND MANY OTHERS, UM, WHICH IS, WE CALL THE TIER ONE PROGRAM. [02:30:01] AND IT'S BASICALLY WHERE WE, WE WORK WITH COMPANIES, UM, LIKE BRANDON'S COMPANY AND, AND THEIR AUTHORIZED RESELLERS UNDER OUR, UH, AGREEMENT, UM, WITH THE AGREEMENT WITH THE CITY OF HOUSTON. UM, WE FOUND THAT, THAT, UH, YOU KNOW, SOME OF OUR PROGRAMS AREN'T IN ALIGNMENT WITH OBO. UM, SO, YOU KNOW, WE, WE EXHAUSTED A, A NUMBER OF DIFFERENT EFFORTS TO, UM, COME UP WITH A A, A GOOD DIVERSITY SOLUTION. UM, THE, THE BEST THAT, THAT WE'VE, WE'VE BEEN ABLE TO COME UP WITH IS, YOU KNOW, WORKING WITH LOCAL DIVERSE, UM, COMPANIES LIKE BRANDON'S COMPANY, UM, TO SUPPORT OUR CONTRACT FOR SOURCING OF PRODUCTS. AND THEN WE ALSO, UM, AGREED AND ARE PART OF THE, THE MENTOR PROTEGE PROGRAM, UM, WITH OUR, OUR PROGRAM AS A WHOLE, YOU KNOW, WE, WE WORK WITH OVER A HUNDRED DIFFERENT DIVERSE COMPANIES ACROSS THE COUNTRY, AND PART OF THAT JOB IS TO MENTOR THESE COMPANIES. AND WE'RE TAKING SOME OF THAT, THOSE LEARNINGS THAT WE'VE, WE'VE HAD OVER THE YEARS WITH OUR PROGRAM AND IMPLEMENTING THAT TO SUPPORT SOME OF THE PROTEGES WITHIN, WITHIN HOUSTON. SO I JUST WANTED TO, UH, SPEND A FEW MINUTES AND THANK YOU FOR, FOR, UM, ALL THE BUSINESS THAT YOU'VE DONE, AND WE'LL CONTINUE TO DO HOPEFULLY WITH, UH, WITH GRAINGER. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. THANK YOU. NEXT SPEAKER, BLANCA BELTRON ROBINSON. BLANCA BELTRON ROBINSON BLANCA. NEXT SPEAKER, CAMRY, ALEXI CAMRY. ALEX IS HERE. GOOD AFTERNOON ACTUALLY. CAMRY IS MY WIFE. MY NAME IS KARI ALEX, AND I AM PRESIDENT. AND, UH, I'M PRESIDENT OF CAPTIVE CREATIVE, AND I AM THE FOUNDER. I UNDERSTAND. NOW, DID YOU SIGN UP OR DID SHE SIGN? I SIGNED UP. MAYOR, CAN WE, CAN I MOVE TO HEAR HIM IN PLACE OF HIS WIFE? WELL, MY WIFE HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH THIS. UH, WE'RE TRYING TO GLIT YOU SPEAK, SIR. WE JUST HAVE CAMRY ON HERE. OKAY. SO YOUR NAME IS KARI ALEXI. OKAY. MOVE TO HEAR KARI IN PLACE OF CAMRY. THAT WAS A MOTION TO SUSPEND THE RULES TO HEAR KARI ALEXI KARI INSTEAD OF CAMRY. ANY OBJECTIONS? HERES NONE. CORRECT. OKAY. RIGHT. OKAY. THANK YOU ALL. UM, THANKS. COUNCIL MEMBER ROBINSON. I AM, UH, PRESIDENT OF CAPTIVE CREATIVE AND CO-FOUNDER OF CAPTIVE STUDIOS. THAT IS HOUSTON'S LARGEST FILM STUDIO. UH, I AM HERE AND, AND INVITED BY IEP, UH, WHICH I'M A MEMBER OF, AND ALSO HELPING HOST THE, UH, EVENT, THE, SO A COMING UP HERE AT THE END OF THE MONTH, WHICH I WOULD LOVE FOR YOU ALL TO COME. UM, YOU KNOW, I WANTED TO START THIS OFF WITH A STORY. I RECENTLY FILMED A CAMPAIGN FOR A MAYORAL CANDIDATE, ONE THAT I WILL NOT NAME, UM, IN THIS, UH, FILMING, IT WAS MENTIONED THE, UH, SUPPORT THAT WE NEED IN THE FILM INDUSTRY. AND I MENTIONED THE HOUSTON FILM COMMISSION. UM, THIS CANDIDATE DID NOT KNOW ABOUT THE HOUSTON FILM COMMISSION OR, UH, WHAT IT DOES, WHICH WAS KIND OF DISHEARTENING. AND, UH, THAT IS ONE OF THE, UH, A BIG REASON, AND I'M COMING TODAY. UM, WHY SHOULD Y'ALL CARE ABOUT THE FILM INDUSTRY? UM, WORKING IN THE MIDDLE OF THIS, I'VE SEEN A LOT OF TOP TALENT, UM, HERE IN HOUSTON. LEAVE TO PLACES LIKE LOS ANGELES AND NEW YORK, UM, WHILE ALSO WATCHING A LOT OF LARGE PRODUCTIONS GET PASSED UP. UM, AND, AND GO TO OTHER CITIES. AND WE CAN TALK ABOUT SOME NUMBERS AS WELL. UM, MARVEL'S BLACK PANTHER INVOLVED MORE THAN 3,100 LOCAL WORKERS, UM, WHO TOOK HOME OVER 26, UH, $0.5 MILLION IN WAGES THAT WAS FILMED IN ATLANTA OVER A FOUR MONTH PERIOD. THERE'S ALSO ANOTHER PROJECT THAT YOU ALL MIGHT BE FAMILIAR WITH MO, UH, THAT WAS FILMED HERE IN HOUSTON. AND WE NEED MORE PROJECTS LIKE THAT, AND I WANT TO, UM, HELP FACILITATE THAT AND BRING THOSE HERE TO HOUSTON. THERE'S A LARGE MARKET AND OTHER CITIES LIKE SAN ANTONIO, FORT WORTH AND AUSTIN ARE MAKING EFFORTS TO BRING THOSE PROJECTS TO THEIR CITY. AND I DO NOT WANT US TO, UH, GET LEFT BEHIND ON IN, IN THAT INDUSTRY. UM, I LOVE TO INVITE Y'ALL TO MY STUDIO, UM, SO WE CAN SHOW Y'ALL HOW WE ARE CREATING HIGH TECH, HIGH TECH JOBS AND BRINGING OPPORTUNITY TO LOCAL HOUSTONIANS. AND, AND THAT'S ALL I HAVE TO SAY TODAY. SO THANK Y'ALL. YOUR STUDIO, IT IS ON THE BELTWAY IN TWO 90. COUNCILMAN ROBINSON. THANK YOU, MAYOR. I, I'M GLAD YOU'RE HERE. AND, UH, THE FILM COMMISSION IS NOT SOMETHING THAT EVERYBODY KNOWS ABOUT, BUT I'M GLAD YOU'RE HERE TO PROMOTE IT. IT'S SOMETHING THAT, UM, THE CITY RUNS REALLY WITH HOUSTON. FIRST, HAVING, I'M A FORMER BOARD MEMBER AND, UH, KNOW THE, UH, WITH PASSION, WHAT YOU'RE LOOKING FOR AND THE HELP YOU NEED. SO, UH, I THINK THERE'S A NUMBER OF US HERE ON CITY COUNCIL WHO WANT TO SUPPORT YOUR EFFORTS VERY MUCH WHOLEHEARTEDLY. AND, UH, THERE IS SOME LEGISLATION THAT'S PASSED THIS YEAR THAT WE THINK IS GONNA BRING SOME HELP TO THE FILM INDUSTRY AND, UH, [02:35:01] OTHERWISE, UM, I, I KNOW THERE'S A NUMBER OF US WHO MIGHT LIKE TO COME AND SEE YOUR STUDIO. AWESOME. WAS IT THE STATE, UH, TAX INCENTIVE THAT YOU'RE REFERRING TO? I THINK SO, YEAH. WELL, THAT, THAT WAS $200 MILLION UP FROM $44 MILLION FROM THE TWO YEARS BEFORE. UM, GEORGIA GETS $2 BILLION AND IT GENERATES $4 BILLION IN REVENUE. UM, SO I KNOW I DON'T HAVE TO TELL YOU . WELL, IT'S TRUE. AND, AND THE NUMBER OF PLACES THAT, UH, PRETEND TO BE TEXAS AND FILM THERE WITH BACKGROUNDS THAT LOOK LIKE TEXAS, BUT THEY'RE NOT TEXAS ARE IMPRESSIVE. BUT, UH, WE KNOW BETTER. SO ABSOLUTELY APPRECIATE THE PROMOTION. ABSOLUTELY. LET'S GET 'EM DOWN HERE. THANK Y'ALL FOR YOUR TIME. THANKS. THANKS A LOT. APPRECIATE IT. OKAY, NEXT SPEAKER. SHAA JONES. SHAA JONES SHAA. NEXT SPEAKER. ADONIS ALEXANDER. ADONIS ALEXANDER IS HERE. GOOD AFTERNOON. UH, MY NAME IS ADONIS ALEXANDER AND I AM THE, UH, OWNER AND FOUNDER OF DIVERSITY CLOTHING COMPANY. UH, I'M ALSO A PRODUCT OF, UH, LAUNCH AND HOUSTON FIRST, WELL, HOUSTON FIRST AND THE LAUNCH PROGRAM THAT HOUSTON FIRST, UH, INITIATED. UH, I'M HERE TODAY, UH, IN CONNECTION WITH THE IEP. I'M ACTUALLY GOING TO BE, UH, DIRECTING THE FASHION SHOW SEGMENT OF OUR EVENT THAT'S HAPPENING ON THE 27TH, UH, AS WELL. SO I'LL BE A PART OF THAT. AND I JUST WANTED TO SHARE WITH YOU THAT, UH, I ACTUALLY STARTED DIVERSITY CLOTHING COMPANY TO ACTUALLY, UH, KIND OF CONTROLLED THE NARRATIVE, SO TO SPEAK, UH, IN A POSITIVE WAY, WHILE ALSO GIVING, GIVING HOUSTONIANS AND THOSE THAT VISIT A WAY TO EXPRESS THEIR LOVE IN HOUSTON, TO CONTROL THAT NARRATIVE, UH, ON A, ON A NATIONAL LEVEL OF HOW, HOW OUR CITY IS VIEWED. AND BEING BORN AND RAISED HERE, UH, ON THE SOUTH, SOUTH SIDE OF HOUSTON, TEXAS. CHRIS BOND PARK, TO BE EXACT, UH, I GREW UP HERE, UH, AND IT REALLY BOTHERED ME THAT, UH, THE MOST POPULOUS CITIES IN, UH, THE COUNTRY, UH, REPRESENTED EACH CORNER OF THE COUNTRY, NEW YORK, UH, OBVIOUSLY THE EAST COAST, LA UH, REPRESENTING THE WEST COAST, CHICAGO, THE MIDWEST, BUT THE FOURTH LARGEST CITY BEING HOUSTON. UH, WE WERE ALWAYS KIND OF OVERLOOKED, SO TO SPEAK, BY OTHER CITIES LIKE NEW ORLEANS WHERE YOU WOULD HEAR MIAMI. AND, UH, AND THAT WAS MENTIONED ATLANTA. UH, BUT WE'RE THE FOURTH LARGEST CITY IN AMERICA. UH, WE'RE THE CULTURAL CAPITAL OF THE SOUTH THAT'S BEEN, UH, NOTATED IN, UH, IN, UH, UH, THE NATIONAL MEDIA HERE RECENTLY. UH, THE, THOSE, WITH THOSE THINGS IN MIND, UH, IT IS ABOUT TIME THAT HOUSTON ACTUALLY TOOK ITS RIGHTFUL PLACE AS THE CULTURAL CAPITAL OF THE SOUTH, NOT JUST ON PAPER. UM, ONE OF THE THINGS THAT SETS THOSE OTHER CITIES APART, OR, OR THEY'VE HAD IN THEIR FAVOR, HAS BEEN THE ENTERTAINMENT INDUSTRY. AND SO BY SUPPORTING THE, THIS INITIATIVE, THE HOUSTON ENTERTAINMENT INITIATIVE, HOUSTON WILL BE ABLE TO RIGHTFULLY TAKE ITS PLACE, UH, THERE, AND AS WAS BEFORE, MENTIONED, THE AMOUNT OF INCOME THAT IT WOULD GENERATE. UH, HOUSTON WOULDN'T JUST BE ON THE MAP, SO TO SPEAK, ON PAPER, BUT ALSO IN THE MINDS AND HEARTS OF AMERICANS AND INTERNATIONALLY. AND THAT'S, I JUST WANTED TO COME HERE TODAY AND SHARE THAT WITH YOU. AND ALSO TO ALSO INVITE YOU TO OUR, UH, EVENT ON THE 27TH AS WELL. IT'S BEEN ALL ABOUT THE TAX INCENTIVES, RIGHT? OKAY. THANKS VERY MUCH. APPRECIATE IT. NEXT SPEAKER FARHAN. JOHN FAHAN. JOHN FAHAN, NEXT SPEAKER, CAMILLA CARVER HALL. CAMILLA CARVER HALL, CAMILLA. NEXT SPEAKER, DEBORAH AJI. DEBORAH AJI. DEBORAH IS HERE. GREETINGS HONORABLE MAYOR AND COUNCIL MEMBERS. I'M DEBORAH HUBBARD DEJE. I'M A BOARD MEMBER OF THE IEP, SO I'M ALSO HERE IN SUPPORT OF THE INITIATIVES. IN 2019, MAYOR TURNER MET WITH A GROUP OF LOCAL MEDIA INDUSTRY LEADERS WHO WERE TASKED WITH DEVELOPING AN ORGANIZATION TO INCREASE AND ENHANCE THE CITY OF HOUSTON'S PROFILE IN THE ENTERTAINMENT INDUSTRY, NAMELY THE FILM INDUSTRY. THIS TASK WAS TAKEN UP BY CENTRE REED, AND THUS THE HOUSTON ENTERTAINMENT INDUSTRY TASK FORCE WAS FORMED. FROM THERE, THE ORGANIZATION HAS GROWN EXPONENTIALLY AND NOW HAS EXPANDED TO THE IEP. OUR GOAL IS ALIGNED TO RAISE THE CITY'S FILM PROFILE. IN DOING THIS, WE GATHERED LOCAL PROFESSIONALS TOGETHER AND DEVELOPED THE STRATEGIES NEEDED TO SEE GROWTH AND DEVELOPMENT OCCUR. THIS WAS DONE THROUGH WORKSHOPS, COLLABORATION, NET NETWORKING, AND MUCH MORE. TODAY, WE JUST WANNA SAY THANK YOU FOR THE SUPPORT THAT HAS ALREADY BEEN GIVEN, AND WE ASK FOR CONTINUED SUPPORT VIA YOUR PRESENCE AND ALSO AVAILABLE [02:40:01] RESOURCES. YOUR SUPPORT AND RESOURCES CAN CREATE A POSITIVE IMPACT ON EMPOWERING OUR COMMUNITIES IN PREPARATION FOR THE CONTINUED ANTICIPATED ECONOMIC GROWTH. THANK YOU. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. NEXT SPEAKER, TAYLOR REGO. TAYLOR REGO IS HERE. GOOD. A GOOD AFTERNOON, COUNSEL. UM, MY NAME IS TAYLOR LOREDO AND I WORK AS THE COMMUNITY NAVIGATOR IN THE OFFICE OF TEXAS HOUSERS. I COME HERE TO ADVOCATE ALONGSIDE THE TENANTS OF CABO AND LUCAS IN THE REDFORD APARTMENTS, AND TO ADVOCATE ALL ALONGSIDE ALL THE TENANTS OF CABO AND LUCAS AND THE REDFORD APARTMENTS WHO WERE UNABLE TO ATTEND THIS COUNCIL MEETING TODAY. AND FOR FORMER TENANTS OF CABO AND LUCAS IN THE REDFORD, WHO WERE EVICTED FROM THEIR HOMES IN THESE PROPERTIES, THRUST INTO HOUSING AND SECURITY IN THE PROCESS. MY WORK AT TEXAS HOUSERS FOCUSES ON EVICTION PREVENTION. WE LEARNED OF THE CABO AND LUCAS AND THE REDFORD THROUGH OUR EVICTION WORK, HELPING CONNECT RESIDENTS WITH LEGAL AID. SO THEY AVERTED A MASS ATTEMPTED WRONGFUL EVICTION, AND WERE ABLE TO REMAIN HOUSED LONGER. AS WE SPOKE WITH RESIDENTS, WE LEARNED THAT EVICTION WAS ONLY THE TIP OF THE ICEBERG OF THE PROBLEMS THESE RESIDENTS HAVE FACED. THE CONDITIONS THAT CABO SAN LUCAS AND THE REDFORD ARE ABSOLUTELY DEPLORABLE. YOU HAVE HEARD FROM THE LITANY OF UNSAFE CONDITIONS THESE RESIDENTS LIVE IN. WE AS HOUSING ADVOCATES EXPRESS A DEEP CONCERN TO WHY PARTICIPANTS IN RAPID REHOUSING PROGRAMS WERE GIVEN CABO AND THE REDFORD AS TWO OF THEIR OPTIONS IN THE FIRST PLACE, WHEN THE COMPLEXES HAD A REPUTATION AND NEWS COVERAGE FOR THEIR VIOLENCE AND IN HABITABLE LIVING CONDITIONS. WHILE THE NARRATIVES OF THE RESIDENTS AND THE HOUSING SUPPORT PROGRAMS THEY PARTICIPATED IN OR DO PARTICIPATE IN DIFFER, THE CULMINATION OF THEIR EXPERIENCES ILLUSTRATE A BROADER PROBLEM. IN THE CITY OF HOUSTON, WE HAVE A PROBLEM, AN AFFORDABLE HOUSING PROBLEM. MARKET RENT RATES KEEP RISING. KINDER INSTITUTE REPORTS THAT IN 2023, NOT ONLY HAS THE AVERAGE RENT INCREASE IN THE HOUSTON AREA, BUT ALSO THAT 51% OF RENTERS ARE SPENDING MORE THAN 30% OF THEIR INCOME ON RENT EACH MONTH. RESIDENTS SEEKING HOUSING SUPPORT PROGRAMS MUST NAVIGATE ARCANE INTAKE PROCESSES, MIRED IN BUREAUCRATIC BARRIERS WITHOUT PROPER CASE MANAGEMENT AND NAVIGATION. MANY RESIDENTS WHO ARE AT ONE POINT IN EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS HAVE EVEN MORE OF A DIFFICULT TIME NAVIGATING THEMSELVES TO AFFORDABLE HOUSING. AS SUSTAINABLE. IT'S VIRTUALLY IMPOSSIBLE TO SECURE A SECTION EIGHT VOUCHER, REMOVING THE OPTION FOR MANY RENTERS WHO ARE COST BURDENED. SO NO WONDER COME RESIDENTS REMAIN AT THESE APARTMENTS, COLLECT CABOS AND LUCAS AND THE REDFORD, THE RESIDENTS OF CABOS AND LUCAS AND THE REDFORD DESERVE BETTER THAN TO PARTICIPATE IN A GAME OF ACCOUNTABILITY. HOT POTATO. AS HOUSTON LANDING ASTUTELY REPORTED, EVERYONE DROPPED THE BALL AS LOW INCOME HOUSING ADVOCATES. WE ASK THAT YOU PAY ATTENTION TO THE RESIDENT'S CONCERNS AS THEY'RE SEEKING ACCOUNTABILITY, TRANSPARENCY, AND JUSTICE. UM, ACCOUNTABILITY. RESPONDING TO THE RESIDENTS DEMANDS HAVE BEEN CLEARLY OUTLINED. TRANSPARENCY, GIVING RESIDENTS THE ANSWERS THEY HAVE ABOUT THEIR PROGRAMS AND WITHIN THE POWER OF THE CITY, INVESTIGATING THESE ENTITIES JUSTICE, ENCOURAGING THE CONTINUUM OF CARE THAT MAKES UP THE WAY HOME TO HELP THESE TENANTS AND NAVIGATING THEMSELVES TO SECURE HOUSING. AND SEEING THIS SITUATION AS A LESSON LEARNED FOR HOW TO IMPROVE HOUSING SUPPORT PROGRAMS IN THE CITY OF HOUSTON IN THE FUTURE SO THAT TENANTS LIVES ARE NOT MADE WORSE THROUGH THE TRAUMA THAT CAME FROM LIVING AT THESE APARTMENTS. WE DON'T WANT TO SEE SOME OF THE MOST VULNERABLE HOUSEHOLDS IN HOUSTON LEFT BEHIND. AND YOUR TIME HAS EXPIRED. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. THANK YOU. THANK YOU ALL. THANK YOU. NEXT SPEAKER, PAUL DN. PAUL DN IS HERE. GOOD AFTERNOON, MAYOR ARNOLD. COUNCIL MEMBERS. MY NAME IS PAUL DERAN. I'M A SENIOR, OBVIOUSLY ALSO A DISABLED WAR VETERAN OF THE GULF WAR. I LIVE AT THE CABO SAN LUCAS APARTMENTS. I HAVE FOR THE PAST THREE YEARS. SOME OF THE THINGS THAT I'VE GONE THROUGH, I WOULD SAY NOBODY NEEDS TO GO THROUGH. I WENT THROUGH HHA SECTION EIGHT HOUSING. I WAS PLACED THERE FROM THE BEGINNING. YOU COULD TELL SOME THINGS WERE NOT ALWAYS LOVELY, BUT THEN THAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN WITH A LARGE COMMUNITY. BUT GUNSHOTS EVERY NIGHT IN THE PARKING LOTS, HOMES BEING BROKEN INTO MINE AT LEAST SEVEN TIMES. PLUS THE CONDITIONS BEING DEPLORABLE. WHILE THIS IS THE CONDITION I'M LIVING IN MY APARTMENT, BE TO BLACK MOLD INFESTATION HAS CAUSED ME TO BE HOSPITALIZED OVER SEVEN TIMES, JUST THIS PAST YEAR ALONE. AND I'VE HAD TO STAY IN A HOSPITAL ANYWHERE FROM FOUR TO SIX WEEKS. I'VE HAD THE HOSPITAL TRY TO HOG HOUSING OR TO SIT THERE AND GET ME MOVED TO A DIFFERENT UNIT. NO RESPONSE FROM MANAGEMENT WHATSOEVER. THEY KEEP CHANGING MANAGEMENT AND OWNERSHIP TO ESCAPE THE FINES [02:45:01] THAT THEY GET FROM THE CITY FOR NOT HAVING THE PROPER LIGHTING, NOT FIXING THINGS UP WITH THE APARTMENTS AND SO FORTH. BUT MY APARTMENT BEEN LAST NOVEMBER WHEN THE ELECTRICITY WENT OUT, THE CITY CAME, TOLD THEM, YOU BETTER GET THE LIGHTS BACK ON, OR YOU'LL FACE EVEN MORE FINES. WELL, THEY TURNED THE LIGHTS BACK ON, BUT MY REFRIGERATOR DIDN'T WORK ANYMORE. STOVE DIDN'T WORK ANYMORE. AND IN THE BATHROOM, THE TOILET HAD CEASED WORKING. THIS WAS NOVEMBER OF 2022. NONE OF IT'S BEEN REPAIRED. AND IT'S STILL THE SAME WAY ME AND MY GUESTS GO OUTSIDE TO USE THE RESTROOM. THIS IS THE PUMP. THIS IS THE WAY WE ARE LIVING RIGHT NOW. I HADN'T SEEN MY OWN FINGERPRINTS IN A YEAR AND A HALF DUE TO THE EXTREME ECZEMA, THAT THEY WILL NOT SIT THERE AND DO ANYTHING TO TAKE CARE OF THE BLACK MOLD OR JUST SIMPLY MOVE ME TO A DIFFERENT UNIT WITH HHA. WE CALLED, I PUT IN FOR MY MOVE LAST FEBRUARY. GOT NO RESPONSE. CONSTANTLY CALLED, EMAILED NOTHING AT ALL. CALLED THEM AGAIN TO COME INSPECT THE APARTMENTS. IT FAILED INSPECTION FOR A SECOND TIME. THEN THEY RESPONDED, SENT ME A LETTER OF THE INSPECTION, TOLD ME I HAD, THEY STOP PAYING ON NOVEMBER 30TH, AND THAT'S WHEN I SHOULD LEAVE. BUT THEY DISCONTINUED MY HOUSING AND NOW I HAVE TO GO THROUGH AN INFORMAL HEARING. WHY DID I LOSE MY HOUSING WHEN I DID EVERYTHING PROPERLY IN THE FIRST PLACE AND THEY DROPPED THE BALL? WHY AM I BEING FORCED TO GO THROUGH THIS? AND IT'S THEIR RESPONSIBILITY TO MAKE SURE THIS DOESN'T HAPPEN. THEY TELL US THAT IF WE'RE OUR LIVES ARE BEING THREATENED, THAT THEY WILL IMMEDIATELY MOVE US. JUST THIS LAST. OKAY. THANK YOU. ONE SECOND. COUNCIL MAYOR SHABA. THANK YOU, MAYOR. I, I LOOKED AT SOME OF THESE PICTURES AND I CANNOT BELIEVE THAT PEOPLE ARE COLLECTING RENT FROM PEOPLE AND ALLOWING THEM TO LIVE IN THESE INHUMANE CONDITIONS. I, I DO BELIEVE THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT WAS CONTACTED, I THINK YESTERDAY. MM-HMM. SEVERAL TIMES. SEVERAL TIMES. DIRECT. I'M SORRY, I'M NOT SUPPOSED TO ONE PERSON AT A TIME NOW. OKAY. THIS'S THIS PERSON AT THE MIC. BUT I'M JUST APPALLED. I MEAN, IT'S NOT IN DISTRICT D, BUT, BUT IT'S IN THE WORLD. OKAY. THOSE PICTURES YOU'RE LOOKING AT, THEY'RE FROM MY APARTMENT. THEY'RE FROM YOUR APARTMENT. SOME OF THEM ARE FROM OTHERS THAT TAKEN. SO I HOPE SOMEONE CAN LOOK INTO THIS. THIS IS, THIS IS APPALLING THAT, THAT PEOPLE ARE HAVING TO LIVE IN THESE CONDITIONS. UM, UH, YOU KNOW, WE'LL FOLLOW UP WITH IT, BUT, UH, I, I'M JUST, I I, I'M, I CAN ONLY MAKE ONE COMMENT WITH THAT, MY, MY HEART REGARDING, YOU KNOW, PEOPLE LIVING IN INHUMANE CONDITIONS AND, AND PEOPLE SHOULD NOT BE ALLOWED TO JUST COLLECT RENT AND, AND, AND HAVE PEOPLE LIVE IN THESE CONDITIONS. SO THE ONLY COMMENT THAT I WOULD HAVE TO SAY THAT THEN YOUR HEALTH IS, IS BEING IMPACTED AS WELL. SO THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT HAS BEEN CONTACTED. I DO KNOW THAT I READ THE INFORMATION SO WE'LL, WE'LL BE IN TOUCH. BUT THE THING THAT WE'RE ASKING THOUGH, AND THE ONLY COMMENT TO MAKE TIME IS RUNNING OUT FOR US. MANY OF US HAVE ALREADY GOTTEN A SECOND 30 DAY NOTICE TO MOVE, OR THEY'RE GONNA START GOING THROUGH THE EVICTION PROCESS AGAIN. THEY TRIED TO DO IT A MASSIVE WAY. A HUNDRED EVICTIONS FROM ONE APARTMENTS. YOU'VE PROBABLY SEEN US ON THE NEWS BECAUSE OF THAT. THEY'RE DOING ANYTHING AND EVERYTHING TO GET US OUT IN ANY WAY POSSIBLE. HERE IT IS. THEY GAVE ME MY 30 DAY NOTICE. COUPLE OF DAYS LATER, MY LIFE ARE SHUT OFF. I LIVE IN AN ALL BILLS PAID. I DIDN'T EVEN GET THE 30 DAYS AND THEY ALREADY SHUT OFF MY LIGHTS. I HAD TO CALL TXU AND GET A NEW SERVICE STARTED BECAUSE OF THAT. SO THESE ARE THE THINGS AND THE PROBLEMS WE'RE FACING. WE UNDERSTAND THINGS TAKE TIME, BUT WE ARE AT ACCOUNT OF 30 DAYS LESS. WHAT, WHAT DISTRICT ARE YOU IN? HMM? WHAT DISTRICT ARE YOU? ONE SECOND. ONE. I, I, PLEASE, PLEASE. OH, THERE'S ONLY ONE SPEAK AT A TIME NOW. SORRY. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. THANK YOU. NO COUNCIL. I'M SORRY. I'M SORRY. I'M SORRY. I'M SORRY. I'M SORRY. ONE SECOND. ONE SECOND. COUNCIL MEMBER ALCO. THANK YOU. THANK YOU, SIR, FOR COMING. AND THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE TO OUR COUNTRY. AND I AM ALSO APPALLED THAT THESE PICTURES AND FEEL THE SAME WAY AS MY COLLEAGUE. AND I'M SURE IT'S ALL, ALL OF US DO THAT NO ONE SHOULD BE LIVING IN THIS, THESE CONDITIONS. UM, MAYOR, THIS QUESTION MIGHT BE FOR YOU. I, I'M, YOU, YOU TALKED ABOUT THE HOUSTON HOUSING AUTHORITY SENDING INSPECTORS WHEN IT IS SEC HAS A SECTION EIGHT VOUCHER. WHAT I MEAN IS THE, THE HOUSING AUTHORITY HAVE, UM, PURVIEW OVER THE CONDITION OF THESE APARTMENTS? OR IS IT ALSO THE CITY'S, UM, OBVIOUSLY THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT'S BEEN CONTACTED, BUT YOU MENTIONED THAT IT WAS THE HOUSING STORE. I'M TRYING TO UNDERSTAND WHO'S RES, WHO'S IS RESPONSIBLE FOR INSPECTING AND MAKING DEMAND? A K DOES HAVE THEIR OWN INSPECTION. I HAD ORIGINALLY CALLED THE CITY AND THE CITY [02:50:01] CALLED A KK. YEAH. OKAY. TO COME OUT TO DO THE INSPECTION. OKAY. SO THAT, THAT'S, THAT'S, THAT'S WHAT WE ARE LOOKING AT. GREAT. OKAY. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. THAT'S ALL. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. NEXT SPEAKER. SARAH FRASIER. SARAH FRAZIER. GOOD AFTERNOON. T 27 COULD BE SPENDING MORE OF ITS MONEY ON AFFORDABLE HOUSING. IT'S SPENDING LESS THAN A QUARTER. IT'S SPENDING 50 MILLION ON A MONTROSE, UM, BOULEVARD OVERHAUL FROM ALLEN PARKWAY TO HIGHWAY 59. THAT MONTROSE RESIDENCE LIKE MYSELF DO NOT WANT. I'M SARAH FRAZIER. I'VE LIVED IN MONTROSE FOR 20 YEARS. I'M A MOTHER WHOSE SON WALKS HOME FROM CARNEGIE ACROSS MONTROSE BOULEVARD EVERY DAY. UM, AND I WANNA ADDRESS THIS PLAN. I'M DISAPPOINTED. DISAPPOINTED TO HEAR PEOPLE SAY THAT IT'S TOO LATE FOR US TO OPPOSE THIS PLAN BECAUSE WE'VE BEEN GIVEN PUBLIC NOTICE, UNLIKE OTHER RECENT TOURS, PLANS THAT WERE MODEST AND RELATIVELY UNCONTROVERSIAL BIKE PATH HERE, SIDEWALK THERE. THIS ONE IS MASSIVE AND IT'S IRREVERSIBLE. AND THOUGH I KEEP UP WITH HYDE PARK CIVIC CLUB MATTERS AND READ MY NEWSLETTER EVERY TIME. I HAD NO IDEA OF THE SCOPE OF THIS PROJECT OR HOW DEVASTATING IT WOULD BE. NEITHER DID MY NEIGHBORS. YOU CAN SEE THAT IF YOU GO ON FACEBOOK, YOU SEE THE DISCUSSIONS. HYDE PARK, YOU SEE THE 6,000 SIGNATURES WE NOW HAVE. SO WHY DIDN'T WE KNOW? WELL, LET'S TALK ABOUT THE NOTICE WE ACTUALLY GOT. IT'S ONE THING TO SAY THAT YOU'RE IMPROVING SOME STREETS OR SIDEWALKS. AND IT'S ANOTHER TO TELL FOLKS THAT YOUR PLAN IS TO CUT DOWN 50 PLUS TREES. NOW, MOST OF THEM SHADE PRODUCING LIVE OAKS, MAYBE ANOTHER HUNDRED OR MORE TREES MOVING SOUTH. IN THE NEXT PHASES, YOU'RE GONNA BURY BREAKFAST ROOM SIZE, DRAINAGE, PIPES DOWN THE WHOLE LENGTH OF THE BOULEVARD. YOU'RE GONNA NARROW OUR MEDIANS BY 10 FEET AND CLOSE A HANDFUL OF OUR STREETS FOREVER. THAT'S A BIG DEAL. WELL, I'M A LAWYER. SO I LOOKED UP THE OPEN MEETINGS ACT AND THIS PUBLIC NOTICE LOOKS QUESTIONABLE TO ME. FOLKS HAVE SUCCESSFULLY CHALLENGED A SCHOOL BOARD VOTE OVER A SCHOOL INTENDANT OUSTER, WHERE THE NOTICE JUST SAID PERSONNEL AND DIDN'T SAY WHAT WAS REALLY HAPPENING. AND THAT'S WHAT HAPPENED HERE. MY NEIGHBORS COULDN'T SEE THE DANGER COMING. AND I'M FRANKLY DISAPPOINTED THAT MY COUNCIL MEMBER, UM, MEMBER ABBY CAYMAN, BROUGHT T FOLKS TO OUR CIVIC CLUB MEETINGS, BUT DID NOT EXPLAIN THE NATURE, THE SCOPE OF THIS PROJECT. SHE WOULD'VE SEEN IT COMING. AND SURELY SHE KNOWS HER DISTRICT WELL ENOUGH TO KNOW THAT MONTROSE RESIDENTS, WERE GONNA LOVE OUR, OUR MATURE LIVE OAK TREES. AFTER ALL, WHAT'S OUR NEIGHBORHOOD? IT'S THE ORIGINAL HIPPIE NEIGHBORHOOD. OF COURSE WE CARE. SO SHE COULD HAVE BROKERED THAT CONFLICT, BUT IT DIDN'T HAPPEN. AND HERE WE ARE WITH 6,000, 6,000 SIGNATURES AND IT TURNS AT A DEAD SET ON NOT EVEN SITTING DOWN WITH US. YOUR TIME HAS EXPIRED. I ASK THE COUNCIL TO RECONSIDER THE SPEED OF THIS PROJECT. THANK YOU. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. OKAY, NEXT SPEAKER. MARYANNE WRIGHT. ARIAN WRIGHT. SOUNDS FAMILIAR, DOESN'T IT? 6,000 SIGNATURES. CAN Y'ALL THINK OF SOMETHING ELSE? MISS 11TH STREET HERE. 3000 SIGNATURES. FOR SOME REASON PEOPLE ARE NOT GETTING NOTICE. BUT I'M GONNA LEAVE THAT THERE 'CAUSE THAT'S NOT WHAT I'M HERE TO SPEAK ABOUT TODAY. WHAT I'M HERE TO SPEAK ABOUT TODAY IS A MUCH BIGGER ISSUE. IT WAS BROUGHT UP AT THE LAST COUNCIL MEETING AND Y'ALL ALL WERE GIVEN THE TEXT MESSAGES THAT YOU'RE JUST BEING PASSED OUT AGAIN. SO I'M ASSUMING THAT YOU'ALL READ 'EM LAST TIME. I HOPE YOU DID. NOT ALL OF Y'ALL WERE HERE. I KNOW THAT MS. HORNE WASN'T HERE. UM, BUT I THINK MOST OF THE REST OF Y'ALL WERE. SO LET ME GO AHEAD AND TELL YOU EXACTLY WHAT HAPPENED AND THEN WE CAN READ SOME OF THIS. IF I HAVE TIME AT THE TRANSPORTATION FORUM THAT WAS HELD. AND MR. GALLEGOS, YOU WERE THERE 'CAUSE YOU WERE ONE OF THE MAYOR CANDIDATES THERE WHEN IT WAS, IT WAS A VERY NICE FORUM, BY THE WAY. IT WAS HELD BY LINK HOUSTON AND BIKE HOUSTON. WHEN THE FORUM WAS OVER, THERE WAS A BIKE RIDE THAT WAS SET UP OUTSIDE THAT SOME OF THE PARTICIPANTS OR THE PEOPLE IN THE AUDIENCE OR WHATEVER WERE GONNA GO ON WHILE THERE WAS SETTING THAT UP. ONE OF THE CANDIDATES WHO'S RUNNING FOR, NOT MY DISTRICT, SO IT'S NOT ANYTHING TO DO WITH OUR DISTRICT, BUT IN THE JASON DISTRICT, [02:55:01] UM, WAS OUTSIDE SPEAKING TO THE PEOPLE SAYING, HEY, DID Y'ALL HEAR ANY, WHATEVER, WHATEVER HER SPIEL WAS, SHE WAS HANDING OUT HER CARDS, HAND OUT HER LITERATURE AND SPEAKING TO PEOPLE. HER BACK WAS FACED TO EVERYBODY AND SHE WAS, AS THE PEOPLE WERE PUTTING ON THEIR HELMETS AND SETTING UP TO GO AND GET TO THEIR BIKES, A GENTLEMAN CAME UP TO HER GENTLEMEN, I USE THAT TERM VERY LOOSELY, CAME UP TO HER, PUT HIS HAND ON HER SHOULDER, FLIPPED HER AROUND AND SAID, ARE YOU AND GAVE THE CANDIDATE'S NAME, WHICH I'M NOT GONNA REPEAT. SHE SAID, YES I AM. HE THEN PROCEEDED TO SAY, AND YOU CAN READ THIS, THIS WAS FROM ONE OF THE GENTLEMEN THAT WAS THERE WHO WAS SETTING UP, WHO'S FRIENDS WITH HIM, RIGHT? AND IT'S IN THIS THING DOWN HERE CALLED HER NAMES, WHICH I'M NOT GONNA REPEAT. AND SAID THAT SHE WAS BUDDYING UP WITH THE 11TH STREET PEOPLE WHO ARE AGAINST SPIKE LANES. DON'T TALK TO HER. THIS IS OUTRAGEOUS. THERE'S NOTHING WE CAN DO ABOUT THIS BECAUSE THIS PERSON'S ON THE SUPER NEIGHBORHOOD. BUT HE IS ALSO THE SUPER NEIGHBORHOOD ALLIANCE 15 PRESIDENT. HE REPRESENTS ME. I HAVE NO WAY OF VOTING FOR HIM. I HAVE NO WAY OF DOING ANYTHING TO REMOVE HIM BECAUSE I REFUSE TO JOIN THE WOODLAND HEIGHTS CIVICS ASSOCIATION BECAUSE OF WOODLAND HEIGHTS CIVICS ASSOCIATION WILL NOT LET RENTERS VOTE, WILL NOT LET RENTERS BE ON THEIR BOARD UNTIL THEY CHANGE THAT. I WON'T DO THAT. SO BECAUSE OF THAT, I CAN'T, I HAVE NOTHING TO DO WITH THIS GENTLEMAN WHO SAYS HE REPRESENTS IF YOU READ THIS THROUGH EVERYTHING, AND I HOPE Y'ALL DO SPEND THE TIME TO DO IT. I REALLY DO HOPE Y'ALL DO SPEND THE TIME TO DO IT. SHE'S NOW AFRAID TO GO AND CAMPAIGN ON HER OWN. SHE'S ASKED ME BEFORE, WILL YOU COME WITH ME? I'M NOT EVEN IN HER DISTRICT. YOUR TIME HAS EXPIRED. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. NO SPEAKER. NOTHING. NO ONE. OKAY. THANK YOU. THAT'S PRETTY MUCH WHAT I WAS EXPECTING. THANK Y'ALL. BECKY BEST, HELLO, MAYOR TURNER AND CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS. I'M BECKY BEST. I AM THE, UH, DIRECTOR OF THE GULF COAST ANIMAL WELFARE ALLIANCE AND ALSO THE CHAIR OF THE BARK ADVISORY BOARD. I'M HERE ON BEHALF OF THOSE TWO GROUPS AND AS WELL, UM, ON BEHALF OF 45 DIFFERENT ANIMAL WELFARE ORGANIZATIONS. TOGETHER WE SPEND THOUSANDS OF HOURS AND MILLIONS OF DOLLARS TRYING TO HELP SUPPORT THE CITY OF HOUSTON'S ANIMAL WELFARE CRISIS. AND I WANTED TO TALK TO YOU ABOUT THE FACT THAT PETLAND HAS CONTINUED TO STAY OPEN FOR MONTHS AFTER YOU ALL HAVE, UH, GRACIOUSLY AND, AND WISELY PASSED THE HUMANE ANIMAL ORDINANCE, UH, THAT REQUIRES ANIMALS ONLY BE SOLD IF THEY ARE COMING FROM SHELTERS OR RESCUES, RESCUES. OF COURSE, THEY'RE, UH, BRINGING IN THEIR ANIMALS FROM COMMERCIAL BREEDING FACILITIES. UH, AS WE KNOW, OUR CITY RIGHT NOW IS FACING AN ANIMAL. WELL CRISIS, ANIMAL WELFARE CRISIS, UNLIKE ANY THAT WE'VE SEEN BEFORE. AND TO BRING IN MORE UNALTERED ANIMALS AND SELL THOSE INTO THE COMMUNITY IS COUNTERPRODUCTIVE TO EVERYTHING THAT ALL OF OUR GROUPS ARE WORKING ON, ON A DAILY BASIS. SO IN ADDITION TO HAVING THOSE EXTRA ANIMALS THAT ARE COMING IN, BEING SOLD UN ALTERED, THAT COULD BE, UH, INTENTIONALLY OR ACCIDENTALLY BRED, UM, WE ARE ALSO HAVING TO NOW SEND THE, UH, OFFICERS FROM BARK OUT ON A VERY REGULAR BASIS TO PROVIDE, UH, TICKETS AND CITATIONS TO THE MANAGEMENT THERE AT PETLAND. AND THOSE OFFICERS COULD BE MORE PRODUCTIVE, UH, HANDLING THE DIFFERENT CALLS THAT ARE COMING IN FROM THROUGHOUT THE CITY. RIGHT NOW WE HAVE, UM, USUALLY ABOUT 55,000 CALLS ARE COMING IN FROM CITIZENS THAT ARE HAVING PROBLEMS WITH ANIMALS. AND, UM, WE'RE ON TRACK TO BEAT THAT SIGNIFICANTLY THIS YEAR. SO IT IS NOT THE BEST USE OF THEIR TIME TO GO OUT INTO THE COMMUNITY TO BE SITTING, UH, SETTING UP AND WRITING THESE TICKETS. AND THEN LASTLY, IT REALLY SENDS A MESSAGE THAT WE DON'T CARE ABOUT OUR ANIMALS WHEN WE'RE NOT EVEN ENFORCING OUR OWN LAWS. AND WE DON'T REALLY KNOW IF THAT'S HELPING TO EMBOLDEN OTHER PEOPLE TO THEN GO OUT AND, UH, DO UNLICENSED BREEDING TO DUMP ANIMALS OR TO HAVE CRUELTY AND NEGLECT. SO WE ASK THAT YOU PLEASE, UM, DO ANYTHING POSSIBLE TO GET PET PETLAND TO COMPLY WITH THE LAW THAT YOU ALL GRACIOUSLY PASSED, UH, LAST YEAR. THANK YOU COUNCILMAN MAYOR COY. THANK YOU MAYOR. AND THANK YOU FOR COMING. I DO APPRECIATE IT. UH, I AM AWARE WE ALL ARE AWARE OF THE PETLAND SITUATION. I KNOW MAYOR, WE ARE GOING OUT THERE DAILY. WE USED TO GO OUT THERE WEEKLY. NOW WE'RE GOING OUT THERE DAILY. AGREE WITH YOU WHOLEHEARTEDLY. I I KNOW ONE COURT DATE WAS SET. WE WENT, HE PAID, UM, THE, YOU KNOW, REMEMBER HE WAS UNDER [03:00:01] ARREST 'CAUSE HE DIDN'T SHOW AND THEN HE PAID THAT FINE. I'M NOT SURE WE, WHERE WE ARE WITH THE COURT HEARING. UM, I'LL DEFINITELY SHOW UP WHEN IT WHEN IT COMES. UM, I'LL CHECK IN WITH, WITH STAFF ABOUT THAT. BUT I THINK THAT, UM, A SHOWING THERE MM-HMM UM, WHEN THEY, WHEN THE, HE, WE HAVE TO, WE, WE HAVE TO LET SOMETHING GET THROUGH THE COURT. YOU KNOW, WE CAN, WE CAN TICKET IT, BUT WE, YOU KNOW, THAT'S KIND OF, I MEAN, WE ARE TRYING TO ENFORCE IT, RIGHT? WE'RE ENFORCING IT BY CITATIONS. WE HAVE TO FIGURE OUT OUR NEXT STEP. BUT WE HAVE TO GET THROUGH AT LEAST ONE OF THE COURT DATES. SO THAT'S WHAT WE'RE WAITING ON. CERTAINLY. UM, WE'LL KEEP YOU IN THE LOOP ON THAT AND, AND THANK YOU FOR COMING AND ADVOCATING FOR THE ANSWERS. THANK YOU. I KNOW WITH THE 42, UH, CITATION SO FAR, I'M SURE EVERYONE IS ANXIOUS TO SEE THIS, COME TO A CONCLUSION AND HAVE THEM COMPLY. SO THANK YOU SO MUCH. NEXT SPEAKER, JASON CONWAY. JASON IS HERE. GOOD AFTERNOON, MAYOR TURNER AND COUNCIL MEMBERS. AND I JUST, UH, CAME UP HERE TODAY TO SAY THANK YOU THAT, UH, FOR SPEAKING WITH MS. BROWN AND THE SITUATION IS TAKEN CARE OF. SO I JUST APPRECIATE YOUR HELP. YOUR HELP, YOUR HELP AND EVERYBODY. THANKS. THAT'S ALL. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. OKAY. LUCY MORENO. LUCY MORENO. PRETTY GOOD. LUCY. NEXT SPEAKER. PATRICIA MCNEIL. PATRICIA MCNEIL. PATRICIA NEXT SPEAKER. LAURA GOMEZ. LAURA IS PATRICIA HERE? OKAY, PATRICIA IS HERE. PATRICIA MCNEIL. WELL, THERE HAVE BEEN OTHERS THAT SPOKE ON SOMETHING SIMILAR TO WHAT, UH, MY CONCERNS ARE. UH, I DID NOT KNOW THAT I CAN, CAN I MAKE COPIES OF THIS AND GIVE IT TO THE CITY SECRETARY FOR COUNCIL AND COUNCIL MEMBERS? THAT'S FINE. UM, MY ISSUE IS THE HOUSING. I HAVE BEEN TO THE COALITION FOR THE HOMELESS ENDEAVORS, WHICH IS, UH, ASSOCIATED WITH THE BEACON. AND I WAS IN THE HOUSING PROGRAM, RAPID REHOUSING. I WAS IN IT FOR THREE MONTHS AND THEY SAID THAT MY, UM, NAVIGATOR QUIT. AND SO HE TOLD ME PRIOR TO THAT TO GO AHEAD AND DO THE PAPERWORK, FIND ANOTHER PLACE, AND I DID. AND THAT, UM, I COULD MOVE IN. WELL, AFTER, UM, A COUPLE OF MONTHS AND I NEVER HEARD FROM HIM. I KEPT CALLING. I FINALLY FOUND OUT THAT HE HAD QUIT AND HE WAS NO LONGER WORKING WITH THEM. AND THAT I HAD TO, UM, REAPPLY ALL OVER AGAIN. AND THE APARTMENTS THAT I HAD BEEN STAYING IN, THEY WERE INADEQUATE. THEY WOULDN'T FIX ANYTHING. UH, IT WAS DIRTY. THE STOVE, UH, DIDN'T WORK. THE ICEBOX, THERE WAS ISSUES WITH IT. AND I HAVE BEEN TO THE CITY OF HOUSTON. UH, I CAME AND SAW MR. WONG DOWN HERE ON THE FIRST FLOOR. UM, MS. JEFFRIES AND I WENT TO HARRIS COUNTY AND I TALKED TO IVAN LONZO, WHO IS OVER, UH, THE HOUSING OVER THERE, CATHOLIC CHARITIES. UM, THEY ONLY, THEY HELP WHO THEY WANT. THEY JUST TOLD ME I DIDN'T QUALIFY FOR RAPID REHOUSING BECAUSE I HAD INCOME. I'M 67, I LIVE OFF OF, UH, SOCIAL SECURITY, SO THAT IS MY INCOME, BUT THEY ACT LIKE YOU CAN'T HAVE INCOME. BUT I HAD ON RAPID REHOUSING, I HAD INCOME, WHICH WAS MY SOCIAL SECURITY. AND UH, THEY MORE OR LESS IT'S A, ON A, A SLIDING SCALE, I WENT TO NORTHWEST ASSISTANT MINISTRIES AND LIKE I SAID, THE BEACON, I EVEN WENT TO MY CHURCH, ST. JOHN'S DOWNTOWN. AND, UH, EVEN MEDICARE. I WENT TO, UM, ADULT PROTECTIVE SERVICES AND, UM, BECAUSE I'VE HAD ISSUES, UH, WHERE I'M STAYING AT NOW. AND IT SEEMS LIKE THESE, ALL THESE ENTITIES, THEY HELP WHO THEY WANT OR THEY DON'T HELP AT ALL. [03:05:01] AND, AND THAT IS A REAL CONCERN. AND MY ISSUE IS AS WELL THAT I DON'T UNDERSTAND WHY THEY, THEY CAN FIND MONEY FOR, UM, OH, THAT'S JUST MIGRANTS, NOT FOR THE, YOUR TIME HAS EXPIRE. VICE MEMBER CAST. THANK YOU. MAYOR. I'M, I'M NOT QUITE SURE WHAT'S, WHAT'S HAPPENING AT UM, HHA, UM, BUT I KNOW THAT WE ARE GOING TO LOOK INTO, UM, REACHING OUT TO THEM TO FIND OUT EXACTLY WHAT WE CAN DO TO TRY TO ENCOURAGE, UM, THESE ISSUES TO BE TAKEN CARE OF. BUT I DID WANT TO ASK IF ANYONE HAS HAD AN OPPORTUNITY TO REACH OUT TO, UM, JP UH, WANDA ADAMS. I KNOW I WAS AT CHURCH TWO SUNDAYS AGO AND THE JP COURTS HAVE A PROGRAM TO HELP WITH, UM, EVICTIONS AND PROBLEMS THAT PEOPLE ARE HAVING AT THEIR APARTMENT COMPLEXES. THAT MAY BE ANOTHER ALTERNATIVE FOR, UM, RESIDENTS TO REACH OUT TO THE JP COURTS BECAUSE OF THE PROGRAMS AND RESOURCES THAT THEY HAVE AVAILABLE. MAY I SUGGEST THAT MAYBE SOMEONE FROM THE GROUP OR THE ORGANIZATION CAN REACH OUT, UM, TO JUDGE ADAMS. UH, AND THEN WE WILL ALSO SIMULTANEOUSLY, UH, REACH OUT TO HHA TO SEE IF THERE IS SOME KIND OF WAY THAT WE CAN TRY TO RESOLVE WHAT, WHAT'S HAPPENING, UM, TO THIS LARGE NUMBER OF PEOPLE. I MEAN, IT EVIDENTLY SOMETHING IS GOING ON THAT WE NEED TO LOOK INTO. OKAY, WELL I DID, UH, FILE, UM, HHA WOULD NOT LET ME SIGN UP BECAUSE THEY SAID I DIDN'T HAVE AN EMAIL, SO I COULD NOT PARTICIPATE IN THE SECTION EIGHT, UH, SIGN UP OR DO ANYTHING. SO IT'S JUST, UH, THE REASON WAS AGAIN, I'M SORRY SHE DIDN'T HAVE AN EMAIL BECAUSE, BECAUSE I DIDN'T E HAVE AN EMAIL. YOU DIDN'T HAVE AN EMAIL ADDRESS. OKAY. YEAH. AND THEY TOLD ME I COULDN'T PARTICIPATE BECAUSE I DIDN'T HAVE AN EMAIL. SO I COULDN'T SIGN UP WHEN THEY HAD THE OPEN ENROLLMENT A FEW MONTHS BACK. SO IT'S ALRIGHT, WE'LL TAKE A LOOK AT IT. ALRIGHT. OKAY. THANK YOU. NEXT SPEAKER. LAURA GOMEZ. LAURA GOMEZ. HELLO. I'M HERE BECAUSE I LIVE IN KAVA SAN LUCAS APARTMENTS LIKE EVERYONE ELSE, YOU KNOW, UH, I'M BEING EVICTED. I WAS ON SECTION EIGHT, UH, IN 2021. THEY TOOK MY SECTION EIGHT AWAY BECAUSE I DIDN'T FILL OUT MY APPLICATION. 'CAUSE AT THE TIME MY DAD WAS SICK. I LOST MY DAD IN JANUARY, I LOST A NEPHEW AND I ALSO LOST A COUSIN. WELL, BESIDES THAT, I WENT THREE TIMES, STILL COULDN'T GET MY SECTION EIGHT BACK. I WAS ASKED, I ASKED HOUSING TO MOVE ME BECAUSE I WAS AGGRAVATED ASSAULTED IN CABO SAN LUCAS. THEY WOULD NOT MOVE ME. THEY SAID I HAD TO STAY IN PLACE. SO BASICALLY, I'M HERE TO ASK IF Y'ALL CAN HELP US WITH THE HOUSING AUTHORITY, YOU KNOW, TO GET US PLACED INTO SAFE PLACES. GET ME BACK ON SECTION EIGHT BECAUSE I WAS TOOKEN OFF BECAUSE I DIDN'T, UH, REAPPLY. YOU KNOW, AT THE TIME I LOST THREE PEOPLE IN MY FAMILY. UH, I DIDN'T HAVE ACCESS TO MY MAILBOX. WHEN I DID DO THE APPLICATION, THEY DENIED ME THREE TIMES. SO ALL I'M ASKING IS FOR HELP TO HELP US BE PLACED INTO A SAFE PLACE. AND AGAIN, COBBLE SAN LUCAS IS NOT A PLACE TO BE LIVING. IT'S VERY DANGEROUS. AND BASICALLY, THANK YOU VERY MUCH. I'M ASKING FOR HELP. MM-HMM . THANK YOU. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. NEXT SPEAKER. MICHAEL GRIFF GRIFFIN. UH, HE IS NOT HERE. GLORIA ZINO. GLORIA ZINO NOT HERE. NEXT SPEAKER. ROBIN LAVO. ROBIN LAVO IS HERE. HOW DO YOU DO? MY NAME'S ROBIN LAVO. I'M HERE TO REPRESENT THE SOUTHEAST TENANTS ASSOCIATION. ALSO, I'M A RESIDENT OF THE REDFORD DEPARTMENTS ALSO. AND WHAT I WANNA DISCUSS IS, AFTER HARVEY, I WAS LIVING IN A TRAILER AND I WASN'T REALLY FAMILIAR WITH WOOD FLOORBOARDS. AND AFTER THE FLOOD WATER SUBSIDED LIKE FOUR MONTHS LATER, THE FLOORBOARDS JUST LITERALLY TURNED TO POWDER AND, AND DISINTEGRATED. IT CAUSED [03:10:01] MYSELF AND MY DOG TO BE HOMELESS. AND SO I APPLIED FOR A VOUCHER TO TRY TO GET SOME KIND OF HOUSING FOR US, BECAUSE LIVING IN A CAR WITH A DOG, IT'S REALLY HARD TO GET A JOB AND GET SOME MOMENTUM, GOING TO TRY TO GET A JOB AND YOU KNOW, FURTHER YOUR CAREER OR WHATEVER. SO LUCKILY, UM, AFTER A LONG AND DEPRIVED COVID PANDEMIC FILLED COVID PANDEMIC SESSION, UM, MY VOUCHER CAME THROUGH AND I WAS GIVEN AN APARTMENT AT THE REDFORD AND WITH MUCH ENTHUSIASM, I LOOK FORWARD TO GETTING A JOB NOW THAT MY DOG HAD A ROOF OVER HIS HEAD AND I DIDN'T HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT HIM. UM, I WAS JUST READY TO GET OUT THERE AND RESTART MY CAREER. BUT I NOTICED SOMETHING THE DAY I WAS GONNA GET IN MY CAR AND LIKE GO TO CLEAR LAKE AND TRY TO APPLY FOR JOBS STARTING AT FIVE 30 IN THE MORNING TILL NINE 30 IN THE MORNING. THERE'S JUST LIKE NONSTOP GUNFIRE. I DIDN'T KNOW WHERE IT WAS COMING FROM AND WHERE IT WAS GOING TOWARDS. IT WAS VERY STRESSFUL. AND IT STOPPED AT NINE 30 IN THE MORNING. AND I SAID, WELL, LET ME MAKE A CHART AND SEE, YOU KNOW, WHAT DAYS MIGHT HAVE LESS GUNFIRE TO GET TO MY CAR THAN OTHERS. AND THAT'S THE DAY I'LL, I'LL TRY TO GET OUT AND GET A JOB. AND IT WAS BASICALLY SEVEN DAYS A WEEK FROM FIVE 30 IN THE MORNING TILL NINE 30 IN THE MORNING. AND THEN IT WAS RELATIVELY QUIET UNTIL I'D SAY ABOUT 10, 15 AT NIGHT UNTIL ONE IN THE MORNING. AND THAT PERIOD OF TIME ALSO THAT BLOCK WAS JUST NONSTOP GUNFIRE. BUT IF I GOT A JOB AND I GOT OFF WORK AND DID MY SHOPPING, MAYBE STOPPED AND SAW MY MOM OR SOMETHING AND RAN A FEW OTHER ERRANDS, I'D PROBABLY GET HOME ABOUT 10 O'CLOCK AT NIGHT. SO I'D BE GETTING HOME TRYING TO BRING IN GROCERIES OR WHATEVER WITH THE GUNFIRE BEGINNING AGAIN. AND THIS WENT ON FOR TWO AND A HALF YEARS. AND I, I, I WENT IN MY CAR, DECIDED TO SPEND THE NIGHT IN MY CAR AND IT DIDN'T WORK OUT. YOUR HAS EXPIRED. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. ALL RIGHT. OKAY, NEXT SPEAKER. AUSTIN. RICHIE AUSTIN. RICHIE AUSTIN. NEXT SPEAKER. SHAY SHARP. SHAY SHARP SHAY IS HERE. EITHER ONE. ALRIGHT, I SIGNED UP FOR THREE MINUTES, BUT, UH, BY, BY THE PAPER. UM, I ALS I WANNA START OFF BY SAYING I DON'T APPRECIATE HOW HARRIS COUNTY HAS BEEN LYING ON MY NAME MAKING UP, MAKING UP A LOT OF LIES BECAUSE I SPEAK OUT ON MY SITUATION VIA SOCIAL MEDIA. UM, I'VE HAD CYBER ABUSE, I'VE BEEN GETTING DEATH THREATS A LOT. UM, I JUST DON'T APPRECIATE THE BEHAVIOR THAT I'VE RECEIVED. AND I'M NOT FROM HOUSTON AND I DON'T LIKE HOW MANAGERS ARE LYING TO POLICE OFFICERS WHEN I WALK INTO THE BUILDING SAYING THINGS THAT ARE NOT TRUE. UM, I HAVE SOME THINGS FOR YOU GUYS TO READ OVER SO YOU GUYS CAN GET A GIST OF MY SIDE OF THINGS VERSUS WHAT PROFESSIONALS LIE ABOUT ON A DAY-TO-DAY BASIS. AND PEOPLE OUT HERE ON THE STREETS ARE LYING ABOUT AS WELL. SO I WOULD LIKE FOR SOMEBODY TO ACTUALLY LOOK OVER THIS SITUATION AND INVESTIGATE WHAT GOES ON UP UNDER YOU GUYS. 'CAUSE A LOT OF THINGS ARE NOT LEGAL. YOUR TIME HAS EXPIRED. ALRIGHT. THANK YOU. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. NEXT SPEAKER. R CALLEN. R CALLAHAN. I DON'T SEE HIM. DON'T SEE HIM. SAMANTHA KIBBLE. MOGIE. SAMANTHA IS HERE. HELLO COUNSELORS. HELLO EVERYBODY. I WANT Y'ALL TO PAY ATTENTION. PLEASE WAKE UP AND PAY ATTENTION TO THE REFERENCE. PAY ATTENTION TO THE CARBOS. I AM A VICTIM OF THESE PEOPLE. I AM A VICTIM OF THESE PEOPLE. I HAVE BEEN SEXUALLY ASSAULTED IN THIS APARTMENT COMPLEX TWICE BY MAINTENANCE. I NEED YOU GUYS TO WAKE UP BECAUSE WE ARE BEING VICTIMIZED OVER THERE. WE NEED HELP IMMEDIATELY PEOPLE. AND WHEN I SAY IMMEDIATELY WE NEED HELP. SYLVESTER, YOU WAS OUT THERE AT, [03:15:01] AT AT AT TIMBER RIDGE. COME ON OUT HERE TO TO, TO RIFF IT AND CABO, MAKE THAT SAME, THAT THAT SAME WALKTHROUGH YOU DID THROUGH, UH, UH, TIMBER RIDGE. MAKE THAT WALK THROUGH THROUGH REDFORD AND CARBO. WE NEED YOUR ATTENTION OVER HERE. WE ARE WE GONNA BE HERE EVERY OTHER WEEK? WE COMING EVERY OTHER WEEK AND WE GONNA BE PROTESTING AT THESE PLACES THAT HAVE LET US DOWN PLEASE. WE ARE ASKING EVERY ONE OF YOU GUYS TO HELP US. THANK YOU. YOUR TIME HAS EXPIRED. THANK YOU. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. NEXT SPEAKER. THIS CONCLUDES THE LIST OF SPEAKERS FOR TODAY. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. WE STAND [RECESS] IN RECESS UNTIL TOMORROW MORNING AT 9:00 AM I JUDGE BY NOTHING AND IN MY OPINION, APARTMENT ON BEHALF OF THE HOUSTON PUBLIC LIBRARY, JULIA ADDISON BUILDING MAP ROOM WITH THE TEXAS LOCAL GOVERNMENT PURCHASING CORPORATE CONTRACTOR. MY UNIQUE OFFICE ITEM SIX RESOLUTION ALLOWING CONSTRUCTION OF BINET APARTMENTS AND AFFORDABLE RENTAL HOUSING PROPERTY LOCATED AT 12,000 BINET STREET IN THE CITY OF HOUSTON, TEXAS. ITEM SEVEN RESOLUTION CONFIRMING NO OBJECTION TO THE PROPOSED DEVELOPMENT OF BUSINESS DEPARTMENTS. ITEM EIGHT, ORDINANCE APPROVING AND AUTHORIZING DIRECTOR OF THE CITY OF HOUSTON HEALTH DEPARTMENT TO ACCEPT AND EXPEND THE GRANT FUNDS AS AWARD AND TO APPLY FOR AND ACCEPT AND EXPAND OUR SUBSEQUENT AWARD FROM THE UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES CENTERS FOR DISEASE CONTROL AND PREVENTION FOR HOUSTON CHILDHOOD LED POISONING PREVENTION PROGRAM. ITEM NINE, ORDINANCE APPROVING AND AUTHORIZING SUSPENSION OF SECTION 4.9 OF THE CITY OF HOUSTON, CODE OF ORDINANCES. ITEM 10, ORDINANCE APPROVING AND AUTHORIZING DIRECTOR OF HOUSTON, CITY OF HOUSTON HEALTH DEPARTMENT TO ACCEPT A GRANT AWARD FROM THE TEXAS DEPARTMENT OF FAMILY AND PROTECTIVE SERVICES FOR THE TEXAS NURSE FAMILY PARTNERSHIP PROGRAM. ITEM 11, ORDINANCE APPROVING AND AUTHORIZING FOURTH AMENDMENT TO AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE CITY OF HOUSTON AND THE VILLAGE LEARNING CENTER. ITEM 12, ORDINANCE APPROVING AND AUTHORIZING CONTRACT BETWEEN THE CITY OF HOUSTON AND HOUSTON COMMUNITY COLLEGE SYSTEMS. ITEM 13, ORDINANCE APPROVING AND AUTHORIZING SECOND AMENDMENT TO THE RENOVATION OPERATION AND MANAGEMENT AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE CITY OF HOUSTON, TEXAS, AND HOUSTON BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT INC. ITEM 14 ORDINANCE APPROVING AND AUTHORIZING CONTRACT BETWEEN THE CITY OF HOUSTON AND HARRIS COUNTY FOR ELECTION SERVICES. ITEM 15, ORDINANCE APPROPRIATING $550,000 AND NO CENTS OUT OF GENERAL IMPROVEMENT CONSOLIDATED CONSTRUCTION FUND AND $61,230 AND NO CENTS OUT OF PUBLIC HEALTH CONSOLIDATED CONSTRUCTION FUND FOR THE TEST AND ORDER AND JOB ORDER CONTRACTING PROGRAM. ITEM 16 ORDINANCE APPRO AND AUTHORIZING SECOND AMENDMENT TO LEASE AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE CITY OF HOUSTON, TEXAS LANDLORD AND FIFTH WARD COMMUNITY DEBRIS DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION. ITEM 17, ORDINANCE APPROVING APPROPRIATION OF $4,500,000 IN NO SENSE OUT OF EQUIPMENT ACQUISITION CONSOLIDATED FUND AND APPROVED A DERIVATIVE AGREEMENT WITH AXON ENTERPRISE INC. ITEM 18 ORDINANCE AMENDING ORDINANCE NUMBER 20 14 7 56 TO INCREASE MAXIMUM CONTRACT AMOUNT AND APPROVE AUTHORIZING SECOND AMENDMENT CONTRACT BETWEEN CITY OF HOUSTON AND SAP PUBLIC SERVICES INC. ITEM 19 ORDINANCE APPROVING OR, UH, ORDINANCE AUTHORIZING APPROPRIATION OF $3,131,000 AND NO CENTS OUT OF EQUIPMENT ACQUISITION CONSOLIDATED FUND AND $900,000 AND NO CENTS OUT OF CONTRIBUTED CAPITAL PROJECT AND APPROVING AWARD CONTRACT, ADVERSE TERM PUBLIC SAFETY INC. ITEM 20 ORDINANCE RELATING TO THE FISCAL AFFAIRS OF THE OH SIX WARD. REDEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY ON BEHALF OF REINVESTMENT ZONE NUMBER 13, CITY OF HOUSTON, TEXAS OH SIX WARD ZONE ITEM 21 ORDINANCE RELATING TO THE PHYSICAL AFFAIRS OF THE MIDTOWN REDEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY ON BEHALF OF REINVESTMENT ZONE NUMBER TWO, CITY OF HOUSTON, TEXAS MIDTOWN ZONE ITEM 22 ORDINANCE RELATING TO THE FISCAL AFFAIRS OF THE FIFTH WARD. REDEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY ON BEHALF OF REINVESTMENT ZONE. NUMBER 18, CITY OF HOUSTON, TEXAS FIFTH WARD ZONE ITEM 23 ORDINANCE RELATING TO THE FISCAL AFFAIRS OF REINVESTMENT. ZONE NUMBER 27, CITY OF HOUSTON, TEXAS APPROVING THE FISCAL YEAR 2024 OPERATING BUDGET AND THE FISCAL YEAR IS 2024. 2028. CAPITAL IMPROVEMENTS BUDGET FOR THE ZONE. ITEM 24, ORDINANCE AND DESING FROM THE CITY OF HOUSTON. CIVIC ART COLLECTION THREE ARTWORKS, ONE SPIRIT OF CONFEDERACY STATUTE TWO CHRISTOPHER COLUMBUS STATUTE AND THREE DICK DIALING STATUTE ITEM 25 ORDINANCE CALLING FOR A PUBLIC HEARING IN WHICH INTEREST PERSONS WILL BE GIVEN THE OPPORTUNITY TO BE HEARD ON AN AMENDMENT TO A STRATEGIC PARTNERSHIP AGREEMENT TO ANNEX TERRITORIAL FOR LIMITED PURPOSES IN HARRIS COUNTY. MUD 2 85 ITEM 26 ORDINANCE CALLING FOR A PUBLIC HEARING IN WHICH FOR INTERESTED PERSONS WILL BE GIVEN THE OPPORTUNITY TO BE HEARD ON FOUR FULL, UH, GENERAL PURPOSE AND ANNEXATIONS TO ANNEX TERRITORY INTO THE CITY OF HOUSTON, TEXAS BEING THE NORTH PARK DRIVE RIGHT OF WAY TECH PRO PROPERTIES 35 0 1 ANDERSON TRACK, DEVON ENERGY TRACK [03:20:01] AND LEH HOUSTON ONE MCCORD TRACK ITEM 27 ORDINANCE REPEALING ON DECEMBER, 2015, 67. ITEM 28, ORDINANCE CONSENTED TO THE ADDITION OF 5.828 ACRES OF LAND TO HARRIS COUNTY MUNICIPAL UTILITY DISTRICT NUMBER 5 5 2 ITEM 29. ORDINANCE CONSENTED TO THE ADDITION OF 59.987 ACRES OF LAND TO INTERCONTINENTAL CROSSING MUNICIPAL UTILITY DISTRICT. ITEM 30 ORDINANCE CONSENTED TO THE ADDITION OF 1.00 ACRES OF LAND TO NORTHWEST HARRIS COUNTY MUNICIPAL UTILITY DISTRICT NUMBER 15, ITEM 31 ORDINANCE CONSENTING TO THE ADDITION OF 20.229 ACRES OF LAND TO SPRING WEST MUNICIPAL UTILITY DISTRICT. ITEM 32 ORDINANCE FINDING AND DETERMINING THAT PUBLIC CONVENIENCE AND NECESSITY NO LONGER REQUIRE THE CONTINUED USE OF HARBOR OAKS AND DRIVE CUL-DE-SAC IN THE GEORGE L BELLOWS LEAGUE. A THREE ABANDONING SAID EASEMENT TO MI DEERWOOD SOUTH PROPERTY OWNER LLC ITEM 33 ORDINANCE APPROVING AND AUTHORIZING THE CONVEYANCE OF VARIOUS EASEMENTS TO THE HARRIS COUNTY FLOOD CONTROL DISTRICT. ITEM 34 ORDINANCE APPROVING AND THE CREATION OF TWO GRANT FUNDS TO SUPPORT BROWNFIELD REMEDIATION PROJECTS. ITEM 35 ORDINANCE APPROVING AND AUTHORIZING SUBMISSION OF A GRANT APPLICATION TO THE TEXAS DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION SEAPORT CONNECTIVITY PROGRAM. ITEM 36 ORDINANCE APPROVING AND AUTHORIZING FIRST AMENDMENT TO THE AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE CITY OF FUSION AND THE TEXAS WATER DEVELOPMENT BOARD AS APPROVED BY ORDINANCE 22 20 22 88. ITEM 37, ORDINANCE APPROVING AND AUTHORIZING FIRST AMENDMENT TO THE AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE CITY OF HOUSTON AND THE TEXAS WATER DEVELOPMENT BOARD AS APPROVED BY ORDINANCE NUMBER 20 22 1 44 ITEM 38, ORDINANCE APPROVING AND AUTHORIZING FIRST AMENDMENT TO AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE CITY OF HOUSTON AND TEXAS WATER DEVELOPMENT BOARD AS WE BY ORDINANCE 2022 DASH 89, ITEM 39, ORDINANCE APPROPRIATING 2424057 CENTS. ITEM WATER AND SEW SYSTEM, LADY CONSTRUCTION FUND APPROVING AN AUTHORIZING PROFESSIONAL ENGINEERING SERVICES CONTRACT BETWEEN THE CITY OF HOUSTON AND DE CORPORATION. ITEM 40, ORDINANCE APPROPRIATING $173,250 AND NO CENTS. I'M DEDICATED DRAINAGE AND SHEET RENEWAL CAPITAL FUND AS AN ADDITIONAL APPROPRIATION TO PROFESSIONAL ENGINEERING SERVICES CONTRACT BETWEEN THE CITY OF HOUSTON AND IDS ENGINEERING GROUP INC. ITEM 41 ORDINANCE, AWARD AND CONTRACT DL GLOVER UTILITIES, LLC ITEM 42 IS RECOMMENDATION FROM DIRECTOR OF HOUSTON PUBLIC WORKS THAT CITY COUNCIL DRAW LOTS TO DETERMINE THE SUCCESS. SUCCESSFUL BIDDER IN AS MUCH AS IDENTICAL BIDS WERE RECEIVED IN CONNECTION WITH THE SANITARY SEWER CLEANING AND TELEVISION INSPECTION DUE TO RECEIVING IDENTICAL BIDS, TIE BIDS FROM SWEEPING CORPORATION OF AMERICA LLC AND EDWARD INTEGRITY SOUTHEAST INC. IN THE AMOUNT OF 3150018 CENTS. ITEM 43 IS AN ORDINANCE APPROVING AND AUTHORIZING 2023 CONTRACT BY AND BETWEEN SAN DE SAND RIVER AUTHORITY AND CITY OF HOUSTON, TEXAS RELATING TO THE ONGOING OPERATION OF THE LAKE CONROE DAM AND RESERVOIR WAS DELAYED BY MOTION. 20 23 6 41 ON SEPTEMBER 27TH, 2023. THIS WAS HIRED IN 49 ON AGENDA OF SEPTEMBER 27TH, 2023. THIS COMPLETES THE READING OF THE AGENDA FOR THE COUNCIL SESSION OF OCTOBER 11TH, 2023. STAY TUNED FOR THE NEXT SESSION OF HOUSTON CITY COUNCIL. SCHEDULED TO BEGIN AT 9:00 AM IN THE WORDS OF OUR CURRENT CITY SECRETARY PAT JEFFERSON. DANIEL, I LIKE TO LEAVE YOU WITH THIS. ALWAYS, ALWAYS, ALWAYS TREAT EVERYONE THE WAY YOU WOULD LIKE TO BE TREATED. AND A HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO DANA DIXON, WHO SITS RIGHT OVER THERE. HER BIRTHDAY WAS YESTERDAY. HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO ALL THOSE. BORN IN THE MONTH OF OCTOBER. HAVE A BLESSED AND FANTABULOUS DAY. THANK YOU MADAM SECRETARY. YOU'RE WELCOME. ONE FAN, MY NUMBER ONE FAN, ALL MY FANS. THANK YOU. YES. IT'S MY BIRTHDAY TOO. YOUR BIRTHDAY? MM-HMM . WHEN'S YOUR BIRTHDAY TODAY? HAPPY BIRTHDAY. THANK YOU. [RECONVENE] [MAYOR'S REPORT] IN FACT, WE'RE GONNA GO DIRECTLY INTO THE, UH, TO THE MAYOR'S REPORT. UM, I WAS OUT LAST WEEK, SO I WAS NOT ABLE TO PRESENT TWO OF THE HISPANIC HERITAGE MONTH AWARD WINNERS. WE DID TWO YESTERDAY. UH, BUT TO CATCH UP, UH, I'M GOING TO DO TWO THIS MORNING. UH, AND GONNA DO THEM RIGHT AT THE VERY BE UH, WELL, I'M GONNA DO THEM RIGHT NOW. SO, UH, TALK YOU ON THE PODIUM. ALRIGHT. SO, MAY I PRO, PRETEND? YES, SIR. [03:25:01] AND THE FIRST ONE I'M GONNA PRESENT IS TO THE YOUTH ACTIVIST, UH, TO MARCUS DEPAY. AND IF MARCUS, IF YOU'LL COME UP RA ROLLING THIS DOWN WITH US THIS MORNING. NO, SIR. OKAY. OKAY. HE'S TAKING CARE OF LEGAL WORK. ALL RIGHT. THIS IS, UM, MARCO, UH, DIO, UH, LOPI, UH, DID I GET THAT NAME? AM I GETTING THAT NAME? CLOSE TO BEING RIGHT? YES. OKAY. HE IS THE RECIPIENT OF THE 2023 MAYOR'S HISPANIC HERITAGE YOUTH ACTIVIST AWARD. AND MARCUS IS A POLITICAL SCIENCE STUDENT AT THE UNIVERSITY OF HOUSTON. MARCUS CONCERNED FOR HIS MOTHER AND BLUE COLLAR WORKERS, INSPIRED HIM TO VOLUNTEER WITH THE FEE JUST JUSTIA WORKER CENTER AND THE WORKERS' DEFENSE PROJECT. THERE HE CONTRIBUTED TO WORKSHOPS TO INFORM CONSTRUCTION LABORERS ABOUT THE MANY HAZARDS OF THEIR PROFESSION AND HOW TO PROTECT THEMSELVES. HE ALSO PARTAKE IN INITIATIVES AIMED AT MAKING DOMESTIC WORKERS AWARE OF THEIR RIGHTS AND TEACHING THEM HOW TO RECOGNIZE IF THEIR EMPLOYERS OR, OR EXPLOITING THEM IN HIGH SCHOOL. MARCUS IN TURN AT THE BAKER RIPLEY. AND BECAUSE MARCUS WANTED TO ASSIST THE IMMIGRANT HISPANIC COMMUNITY, HE ALSO PARTICIPATED IN THE MONTHLY CITIZENSHIP FORUMS. HIS INTEREST IN LAW LED HIM TO INTERN WITH AN IMMIGRATION FIRM WHERE HE ASSISTED WITH ASYLUM AND RESIDENT AND RESIDENCY CASES. IN 2023, MARCUS INTERNED WITH THE CITY OF HOUSTON BOYS AND COMMISSION'S OFFICE. HIS INVOLVEMENT WITHIN THE LATINO COMMUNITY IS A TESTAMENT TO ITS DEDICATION IN UPLIFTING THOSE AROUND HIM. THE CITY OF HOUSTON COMMENDS MARCUS DEGRADO LOPI FOR HIS OUTSTANDING COMMITMENT TO UPLIFT AND EMPOWER THE HISPANIC COMMUNITY. SO THEREFORE, I, SYLVESTER TURNER, MAYOR OF CITY OF HOUSTON, HEREBY HONOR MARCUS DEGRADO LOPI WITH THE MAYOR'S HISPANIC HERITAGE YOUTH ACTIVIST AWARD AND PROCLAIMED OCTOBER 11TH, 2023 AS MARCOS DE LPI DAY IN THE CITY OF HOUSTON. CONGRATULATIONS, YOUNG MAN AND ALL OF THAT. PLEASE SAY HELLO TO THIS MORNING. IT'S ON. UH, HELLO EVERYONE. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR BEING HERE. UH, FIRST I WANT TO THANK LENORA AND EVERYONE FROM THE BOARD. WITHOUT YOU, UM, THIS WOULDN'T BE POSSIBLE. SECOND, WELL, I ALREADY SAID THIS. ON YES, TUESDAY. ON TUESDAY. UH, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR EVERYTHING. UM, I WANNA THANK MARTHA, THANK YOU FOR YOUR WORDS OF ENCOURAGEMENT WHILE I WAS, UM, WORKING HERE OVER AT 14 COMMISSIONS. SAME FOR OLIVIA LEE OVER THERE. UH, SHE'S AWESOME. AND ALL OF YOU GUYS, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR EVERYTHING THAT YOU DO IN THE CITY OF HOUSTON. UM, I CAN ONLY HOPE TO SOMEDAY BE ABLE TO CREATE, UH, JUST LIKE GREAT CHANGE LIKE ALL OF YOU GUYS, AND BE A LEADER LIKE ALL OF YOU GUYS. THANK YOU. LET DO THIS, THAT, OH, WE HAVE, WE HAVE A FEW COUNCIL MEMBERS IN QUEUE, IF YOU DON'T MIND. COUNCIL MEMBER CAROLYN, EVAN SHABAZZ. THANK YOU, MAYOR PRO, TIM. ANYBODY THAT CAN GET THROUGH A PROGRAM OR GOING THROUGH A PROGRAM AT THE UNIVERSITY OF HOUSTON AND POLITICAL SCIENCE DESERVES. I TOOK ONE OF THE HARDEST CLASSES OF MY LIFE OVER THERE AND ONE SUMMER, AND I, I GOT MY POLITICAL SCIENCE DEGREE AT SPELMAN COLLEGE, THE NUMBER ONE H-B-C-U-I MIGHT ADD, BUT CERTAINLY, UH, THAT WAS THE HARDEST CLASS I EVER TOOK. SO MY, MY HAT IS OFF TO YOU. AND THERE'S THAT LENORA AGAIN, JUST ALWAYS HERE TO SUPPORT. AND THANK YOU. AND THANK YOU MAYOR, COUNCIL MEMBER CARLOS CISNEROS. UM, THANK YOU. AND CONGRATULATIONS, MARCUS. THANK YOU. YOU ARE A RISING STAR, A RISING LEADER THAT WE WILL BE LOOKING TO IN THE FUTURE. UM, I AM GLAD TO HEAR YOU TALK ABOUT WANTING TO DO MORE, UM, ALREADY AT YOUR, AT YOUR YOUNG AGE. YOU ARE DOING SO MUCH TO UPLIFT PEOPLE, AND THAT'S WHAT THIS WORLD NEEDS MORE OF. THANK YOU. THANK YOU SO MUCH. COUNCIL MEMBER ROBERT GALLEGOS. CONGRATULATIONS. MAY I ASK HOW OLD YOU ARE? I'M 20. 20. OH MY GOSH. THAT'S GREAT. . UH, I MEAN, YOU KNOW, WITH HOUSTON, NEARLY HALF THE POPULATION BEING HISPANIC, IT'S SO IMPORTANT TO HAVE ROLE MODELS, UH, AND FOR YOU TO BE 20 YEARS OLD AND YOU ARE A ROLE MODEL. OH, THANK YOU. SO THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR EVERYTHING THAT YOU'RE DOING OUT IN THE COMMUNITY. THANK YOU. CONGRATULATIONS AGAIN. THAT'S A HECK OF AN ACCOMPLISHMENT FOR A 20-YEAR-OLD . THANK YOU SO MUCH. SO, BEST WI WISHES, . OKAY. GET THAT. [03:30:05] THE NEXT PERSON THAT WE WANT TO RECOGNIZE THIS MORNING IS ROCHELLE VALS DAY GONZALEZ, WHO IS THE RECIPIENT OF THE 2023 MAYOR HISPANIC HERITAGES COMMUNITY ACTIVIST AWARD. RACHEL VALS DAY GONZALEZ IS THE RECIPIENT OF THE 2023 MAYOR'S HISPANIC HERITAGE COMMUNITY ACTIVIST AWARD. RACHEL IS A LEADING PRODUCTION AND EFFICIENCY EXPERT FOR THE DECORATED APPAREL AND PROMOTIONAL PROJECT INDUSTRY. SHE'S THE OWNER OF IDENTITY PLUS LLC. RACHEL IS A PROUD HOUSTONIAN WHO IS PASSIONATELY INVOLVED IN HER COMMUNITY. RACHEL IS THE SECOND WOMAN EVER, UH, TO BE ELECTED AND SERVE AS PRESIDENT OF THE HISTORIC LULAC COUNCIL 60 IN ITS 90 YEAR HISTORY. HISTORY. SINCE JOINING COUNCIL 60, IN 2019, SHE HAS BEEN INSTRUMENTAL IN GROWING THE MEMBERSHIP BY 50 NEW MEMBERS. RACHEL HAS RESHAPED THE VISION AND THE MISSION OF COUNCIL 60, AND IN THE PROCESS AS DEVELOPING ORGANIZATION DETERMINED TO MAKE A POSITIVE IMPACT IN THE HISPANIC COMMUNITY, HER LEADERSHIP HAS POSITIONED THE ORGANIZATION TO HAVE A, A LARGER ROLE IN AWARDING SCHOLARSHIPS TO COLLEGE BOUND HIGH SCHOOL SENIORS AND ENROLL COLLEGE STUDENTS. ADDITIONALLY, SHE HAS PARTNERED WITH IS THAT ARTY PUBLICO PRESS YES. AT THE UNIVERSITY OF HOUSTON TO FUND RESEARCH INTERNS TO WORK IN CULTURAL AND HISTORICAL PRESERVATION AND PROMOTE ONLINE DIGITAL ARCHIVING. RACHEL HAS SECURED DIRECT CORPORATE SCHOLARSHIPS WITH VALERO AND CALPINE CORPORATION. RACHEL VOLUNTEERS IN THE COMMUNITY BY SERVING ON THE HOUSTON PUBLIC LIBRARY FOUNDATION BOARD. SHE'S A CONTRIBUTING MEMBER OF THE COMMITTEE TO RESTORE THE HISTORIC LULAC COUNCIL 60 CLUBHOUSE. AND SHE WAS ALSO A, A MEMBER A OF THE TEAM THAT BUILT THE LEAPING LEOPARD MARKET THAT SERVES FINANCIALLY CHALLENGED STUDENTS. AT YOLANDA NOVARRO BLACK MIDDLE SCHOOL, RACHEL IS FOCUSED ON HELPING ALL PEOPLE GAIN ACCESS TO NEEDED COMMUNITY RESOURCES. RACHEL DU A SUCCESSFUL 2022 LATINA ENTREPRENEUR PROGRAM AT THE UNIVERSITY OF HOUSTON DOWNTOWN, AND HER EFFORT HAS ENABLED MANY OF THE PROGRAM PARTICIPANTS TO START AND SUCCESSFULLY OPERATE PROFITABLE BUSINESSES. THE CITY OF HOUSTON COMMENCES RACHEL VAL STATE GONZALEZ FOR HER OUTSTANDING CONTRIBUTION TO THE HISPANIC COMMUNITY. HER UNWAVERING COMMITMENT TO THE COMMUNITY TRULY CAPTURES THE SELFLESS SPIRIT THAT ALL HOUSTONIANS SHOULD SEEK TO EMULATE. AND THEREFORE, I SYLVESTER TURNER MAYOR CITY OF HOUSTON, HEREBY PROUDLY HONORED RACHEL VAL STATE GONZALEZ WITH THE MAYOR HISPANIC HERITAGE COMMUNITY ACTIVIST AWARD AND PROCLAIM OCTOBER 11TH, 2023. THAT'S RACHEL VAL DAY, GONZALEZ DAY IN HOUSTON, TEXAS. CONGRATULATIONS, RACHEL. THANK CONGRAT. THANK YOU, MAYOR TURNER. THANK YOU, MY DEAR LENORA AND THE SELECTION COMMITTEE. I'M TRULY HONORED FOR THIS RECOGNITION. I'D LIKE TO ADD THAT OUR LULAC COUNCIL 60 LAST YEAR GAVE $20,000 IN SCHOLARSHIPS TO DESERVING STUDENTS, AND THIS YEAR WE'RE ON TRACK TO GIVE $30,000. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. WE HAVE A FEW, UH, WE HAVE A COUNCIL MEMBER IN Q, IF YOU DON'T MIND. OKAY. I'D LIKE TO PRESENT MAYOR TURNER WITH OUR LULAC COUNCIL 60 10. THANK YOU. VERY NICE. SO VERY MUCH HONORED TO RECEIVE IT. THANK YOU. COUNCIL MEMBER ROBERT CARGOS. CONGRATULATIONS, RACHEL. UH, THANK YOU FOR EVERYTHING THAT YOU DO. UH, THANK YOU FOR, UH, YOUR WILLINGNESS TO TAKE BEING THE PRESIDENT OF LULAC COUNCIL 60, UH, OF WHICH I'M A MEMBER OF AS WELL. AND, UH, THANK YOU FOR EVERYTHING THAT YOU'RE DOING IN REGARDING TO MAKE SURE THAT THAT CLUBHOUSE IS RENOVATED, BECAUSE THERE'S A LOT OF HISTORY THERE, AND WE NEED TO MAKE SURE WE SAVE THAT HISTORY. SO, THANK YOU. THANK YOU. COUNCIL MEMBER GALLEGOS, AND CONGRATULATIONS AGAIN, RACHEL. AND THANK YOU TO LULAC COUNCIL 60. THANK YOU. KEEP UP THE GOOD WORK. THANK YOU. I'D LIKE TO INTRODUCE YES, PLEASE. IMMEDIATE PAST DISTRICT DIRECTOR, TURN AROUND. PAUL MALDONADO. OH, AL MALDONADO. AND MARI, THANK YOU. THANK YOU. SPEAK. THANK YOU. THEY'RE ALSO MY COUNCIL MEMBERS. . NO PROBLEM. THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE. YES. YOU'RE DOING A GREAT JOB. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. OH, MAY I THANK YOU. [03:35:06] OH. OH, WAIT, WAIT, WAIT. COUNCIL MEMBER GALLEGOS, WILL YOU JOIN US, PLEASE? IN A PHOTO? AND WE TOOK THE PICTURE WITHOUT OH, OH MY GOD. GET ALL THAT. OKAY. A FEW OTHER THINGS. UM, AND OF COURSE, OUR, OUR HEARTS AND PRAYERS CONTINUE TO GO OUT TO THE STATE OF ISRAEL AND TO THE PEOPLE OF ISRAEL, AND QUITE FRANKLY, TO ALL OF THE MEN, WOMEN, AND CHILDREN WHO ARE CAUGHT IN THIS, UH, CAUGHT IN THIS CONFLICT. UM, BUT I WANT TO THANK EVERYONE WHO, WHO SHOWED UP AT BETSY SHEAN. UH, THE OTHER NIGHT THERE WAS, UH, 2000 PEOPLE WHO SHOWED UP. AND OF COURSE, UH, WE ILLUMINATED ILLUMINATED CITY HALL, UH, BLUE AND WHITE. UH, BLESSED CONTINUED TO PRAY FOR EVERYONE IN THAT AREA AND IN, UM, WHEN IN THE WHOLE, IN THAT WHOLE REGION. UM, AND THEN I DO, THE ASTROS WILL BE PLAYING TODAY. LET'S, UH, HOPE AND PRAY THAT THEY CAN WRAP IT UP TODAY, I GUESS THE MINNESOTA TWINS, SO WE CAN MOVE ON. AND, AND THEN, UH, WELL, I WON'T LOOK TOO FAR AHEAD. LET'S JUST PRAY FOR A WIN TODAY. AND THEN TOMORROW WE'LL TAKE CARE OF ITSELF. UH, LATER THIS MORNING, THE JOHNSON SPACE CENTER WILL UNVEIL THE UNITED STATES FIRST, UH, COLLECTED ASTEROID SAMPLE. UM, THE ERISA REC STANDS FOR ORIGIN, SPECTRUM AND INTERPRETATION, RESOURCE IDENTIFICATION AND SECURITY. AND THIS MISSION TRAVEL 3.86 BILLION, UH, MILES TOTAL TO THE ASTEROIDS, BENU BENU BENU AND BACK. AND THE MATERIAL FROM THE BEU COLLECTED FROM THE ASTEROIDS SURFACE IN 2020 WILL OFFER GENERATIONS OF SCIENTISTS AT WONDER UNTIL THE TIME WHEN THE SUN AND PLANETS WERE FORMING ABOUT 4.5 BILLION YEARS AGO. SO, AS WELL AS TO IMPROVE, IMPROVE OUR UNDERSTANDING OF ASTEROIDS THAT COULD IMPACT EARTH. SO IT'S A BIG DEAL. UH, THE SAMPLE WAS TRANSPORTED IN AN UNOPENED CANISTER BY AIRCRAFT TO NASA JOHNSON SPACE CENTER HERE IN HOUSTON ON SEPTEMBER 25TH, 2023. AND SO, UH, YOU CAN WATCH THE VEING LIVE ON NASA TV. UH, UH, SEE, UM, I KNOW ON TOMORROW THERE'S GONNA BE AT THE CITY OF HOUSTON COMBINED MUNICIPAL CAMPAIGN, WHICH WE ALL PARTICIPATE IN IS UNDERWAY. AND THIS EFFORT PROVIDES AN AVENUE FOR CITY EMPLOYEES TO DONATE TO CHARITABLE ORGANIZATIONS LIKE THE ALZHEIMER'S ORGANIZATION, WHICH I CONTRIBUTE TO. AND OVER THE PAST FIVE YEARS, DESPITE COVID-19 AND OTHER HARDSHIPS, CITY EMPLOYEES HAVE DONATED MORE THAN $4 MILLION. SO LET ME THANK ALL OF THE CITY EMPLOYEES FOR THEIR CONTRIBUTIONS. [03:40:01] AND FOR THOSE UNFAMILIAR, THE CITY IS HOSTING AN, UM, AN ONLINE AUCTION OF DONATED I ITEMS, SOME ARE SELLING CAKES, COOKIES TO MILEAGE TO RAISE MONEY FOR THE CHARITY. AND TOMORROW NIGHT, UM, YOU KNOW, THEY'VE GOT ME TO DO SOME SORT OF STANDUP COMEDY ROUTINE AT THE HOUSTON IMPROV, UH, COUNCIL MEMBERS, I INVITE YOU TO, UH, PURCHASE YOUR TICKETS. OUR MONEY WILL GO TO THE CANCER RESEARCH AND ALZHEIMER'S. UH, AND SO THE SPECIAL GUEST TOMORROW WILL BE JOE TORY, AN ACTOR AND COMEDIAN WHO HAS BEEN MAKING AUDIENCES LIVE FOR MORE THAN THREE DECADES. AND PRECEDING MY PERFORMANCE, UH, MARTA IS GOING TO START OFF AND GET EVERYBODY ALL FIRED UP AND LAUGHING AND JOKING AND STUFF. YEAH, I DO. FIVE MINUTES. YEAH. SO MOTTO RIGHT HERE IS GONNA BE THE . WOW. SO, YOU KNOW, UH, LOOK FORWARD TO THAT. GOOD TEAM. UM, AND THEN, UH, NO HAVE, WHEN, UH, NEXT WEEK I'M INVITED, UH, UH, CHIEF CENTER AND HIS TEAM TO COME AND GIVE A REPORT ON WHERE WE ARE ON PUBLIC SAFETY ISSUES. BUT I DO WANNA HIGHLIGHT AGAIN, UH, AS OF THIS, AS OF, UH, THIS WEEK IN COMPARISON TO 2021, UH, THERE ARE 88 FEWER HOMICIDES, THEN WE'RE IN 2021 AND 67 FEWER HOMICIDES THAN IN 2022. SO THOSE ARE, UM, AND ALL OF THIS HAS BEEN TRENDING IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION SINCE, UM, UH, WE HAVE UNVEILED ONE SAFE HOUSTON IN 2022. AND SO, UM, I KNOW KIND OF THINGS KIND OF GET LOST IN ALL OF THE CONVERSATION THAT'S TAKEN PLACE, BUT THERE WAS A TIME, UM, WELL THIS CAN, CAN YOU IMAGINE IF WE WERE 88 MORE HOMICIDES TODAY THAN WE WERE IN 21 OR 67 MORE HOMICIDES THAN WE WERE IN 22, THAT WOULD BE MAKING A LOT OF HEADLINES. WE ARE 88 FEWER HOMICIDES THAN 2021 AND 67 FEWER HOMICIDES THAN IN 2022. AND WHAT YOU WILL HEAR FROM, UH, CHIEF FINN AND HIS TEAM NEXT WEEK, AND VIOLENT CRIME AND NONVIOLENT CRIME IN THE CITY OF HOUSTON, UH, IS DOWN IN THE CITY OF HOUSTON. ALL OF THOSE ARE GOOD NUMBERS, BUT THINGS KIND OF, YOU KNOW, AND I KNOW IT'S, IT'S NOT JUST ABOUT WHAT THE NUMBERS, IT'S ABOUT PEOPLE'S PERCEPTIONS. I GOT THAT. UM, BUT WHAT HELPED DROVE THOSE PERCEPTIONS IS THAT EVERY WEEK PEOPLE WERE REPORTING THE NUMBER OF MORE HOMICIDES EVERY SINGLE WEEK. THAT'S WHAT THEY, THAT'S WHAT PEOPLE WERE GETTING. ISN'T IT IRONIC THAT WHEN THINGS ARE TRENDING IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION, YOU DON'T HEAR A WORD WHEN THINGS ARE TRENDING IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION? MM-HMM . NOBODY TALKS ABOUT IT WHEN THEY'RE TRENDING IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION. AND IT'S ALMOST AS IF THEY ALLOW PEOPLE TO FEED ON THE BAD PERCEPTIONS THAT WERE CREATED WHEN THINGS WERE GOING IN THE WRONG DIRECTION. BUT WHEN, AS A COUNCIL, AND LEMME JUST SAY AS A COUNCIL, BECAUSE WE HAVE SPENT ALMOST CLOSE TO $90 MILLION ON PUBLIC SAFETY, ALL OF US HAVE BEEN VERY INTENTIONAL IN ADDRESSING PUBLIC SAFETY. VERY. UM, AND IF WE DON'T TALK ABOUT THE NUMBERS, THEN PEOPLE BASE THEIR PER, I MEAN, THEY, THEY JUST, THEY RUN WITH THEIR OWN PERCEPTIONS. BUT LET ME TELL YOU, WHEN I LOOK AT, AND I LOOK AT THE NUMBERS EVERY MORNING, WHEN YOU HAVE 88 FEWER HOMICIDES TO DATE AND EXISTED IN 2021, THAT'S A, I MEAN, THAT'S, THAT'S A POSITIVE TREND. OR 67 FEWER HOMICIDES IN, AND IN 2022, THAT'S A POSITIVE TREND. I, I THINK IT'S WORTH TALKING ABOUT. I THINK IT'S WORTH TALKING ABOUT, BECAUSE PEOPLE ARE TALKING ABOUT EVERYTHING ELSE. BUT I DO KNOW THAT PEOPLE WOULD BE CHASING ME DOWN AND ASKING ME FOR A COMMENT IF THINGS WERE THE REVERSE. I DO KNOW THAT. I KNOW THAT AS A FACT, BECAUSE THAT HAS [03:45:01] HAPPENED. BUT YOU DON'T GET CREDIT FOR THE GOOD STUFF. AND WE LIVE IN A TOWN WHEN THE ONLY THING THAT PEOPLE WANT TO TALK ABOUT IS THE NEGATIVE STUFF. AND THEN WE WONDER WHY OUR KIDS ARE THE WAY THAT THEY ARE. IF YOU ONLY GIVE THE NEGATIVE AND YOU NEVER GIVE, THE POSITIVE PEOPLE'S PERCEPTIONS WILL BE BASED ON THE INFORMATION THAT THEY RECEIVE. SO I WANT TO, I JUST WANT TO, AND I'M NOT CLAIMING MISSION ACCOMPLISHED. OKAY? I'M NOT CLAIMING MISSION ACCOMPLISHED. IF IT'S ONE ROBBERY, ONE BURGLARY, ONE HOMICIDE, IT'S ONE TOO MANY. I'M NOT CLAIMING THAT. BUT I DO TH I DO WANT TO THANK YOU FOR WORKING WITH ME TO AT LEAST TO REVERSE THE TREND. I, I DO WANT TO SAY THAT. OKAY. I, I THINK THAT'S IMPORTANT TO BE NOTED, UM, BECAUSE, UM, WE ALL WORK VERY HARD AND EACH ONE OF US TAKE THE JOB THAT WE DO VERY, NOT JUST PROFESSIONALLY, BUT WE TAKE IT PERSONALLY. SO AT LEAST I WANT TO GIVE YOU THAT INFORMATION TO HAVE. AND, UH, AND I'VE ASKED CHIEF FENNER AND HIS TEAM, UH, TO NEXT WEEK TO COME AND GIVE YOU ANOTHER DETAILED REPORT SO YOU ALL CAN ASK WHATEVER QUESTION Y'ALL WANT TO ASK OF, OF THEM. UH, COUNCIL MEMBER STEN. THANK YOU, MAYOR. I LOOK FORWARD TO CHIEF FINN'S REPORT NEXT WEEK. BUT I WANTED TO JUST BUILD A LITTLE BIT ON WHAT YOU JUST SAID. I, I'M GONNA TALK MORE ABOUT THIS AT POPOFF AT THE END OF THE MEETING, BUT, BUT I WANTED TO TALK ABOUT SOMETHING ELSE THAT'S, THAT'S TRENDING IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION, AND THAT'S THE, THE SUPPORT THAT YOU AND CHIEF FINNER HAVE GIVEN, UM, ME, YOU KNOW, UM, TO ADDRESS THIS, THE SPIKE IN PROSTITUTION IN DISTRICT H AND, AND IT'S RESULTED JUST IN THE LAST FEW WEEKS, THE OPERATIONS HAVE RESULTED IN 2,213 FELONY CHARGES AND 75 MISDEMEANOR CHARGES SO FAR. AND, AND THE, THE COMMUNITY'S SEEING A DIFFERENCE. AND, UM, AND THANK YOU. THANK YOU. UM, I'LL, I'LL TALK MORE ABOUT IT LATER, BUT I DID WANNA JUST TO, TO SAY THAT, THAT, THAT THINGS ARE DEFINITELY TRENDING IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION IN, IN THE NORTHLINE AREA. THANK YOU. GOOD. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. OKAY. UM, AND, UM, AS YOU CAN SEE, COUNCIL MEMBER POLL IS NOT, IS NOT HERE THIS MORNING. UM, HIS MOM PASSED, UM, AND, UM, DR. DIANE JAMESON POLLARD, UM, PASSED IN OCTOBER THE FOURTH. UM, SHE WAS A PROFESSOR OF THE EIGHT AT TSU FOR 44 YEARS, AND SHE RECENTLY RETIRED, AND I HAD THE PRIVILEGE OF BEING AT HER, UH, RETIREMENT, UM, CELEBRATION. MM-HMM . UH, SHE SERVED AS THE DEAN OF THE THOMAS L. FREEMAN HONORS COLLEGE, AND WAS VERY ACTIVE AROUND THE CITY ON VARIOUS BOARDS AND ORGANIZATIONS. AND I'VE KNOWN COUNCILMAN POLLARD FOR A LONG TIME. FACT, I'VE KNOWN HIM SINCE HE WAS 10 YEARS OLD. MM-HMM . AND I, I KNEW HIS MOM BEFORE HE CAME ON, ON THE SCENE. UM, SO, UH, PRAYERS GO OUT TO COUNCIL MEMBER POLLARD AND TO THE, THE FAMILY, UH, FOR THE, UH, LOSS OF, UH, DR. DIANE JAMESON POLLARD, HIS MOM. AND, UH, TODAY WE WILL ADJOIN THE MEETING TODAY IN REMEMBRANCE OF DR. DIANE JAMESON POLLARD. THE FUNERAL SERVICE WILL BE, UH, THIS COMING MONDAY, I BELIEVE, AT 10 30 AT ANTIOCH, UH, DOWNTOWN, WHERE THEY HAVE BEEN LONG TIME, UM, MEMBERS. SO, AND CONTINUE TO LIFT UP, UH, UH, UH, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER POLLARD AND, AND HIS FAMILY. AND THEN I ALSO WANT TO NOTE THAT OLIVIA LEE, WHO WOULD JUST, WHO'S CHAIR OF MY BOARD OF COMMISSIONS, HER MOM JUST TRANSITIONED AS WELL. SO, UM, SO I WANT TO LIFT HER HER UP, UH, AS WELL AS, UH, UH, SO YOU NEVER KNOW WHAT PEOPLE ARE GOING THROUGH. YOU KNOW, YOU CAN SEE THEM, BUT YOU NEVER, YOU JUST NEVER KNOW. SO, UH, JUST CONTINUE TO LIFT UP EVERYONE. AND, BUT LEMME JUST THANK YOU. LEMME JUST END ON A, ON A POSITIVE NOTE, YOU KNOW, QUITE FRANKLY, I THINK WE'RE DOING SOME GOOD STUFF. I MEAN, IN SPITE OF, I THINK WE HAVE DONE SOME GOOD STUFF. UM, AND, UM, AND, AND AGAIN, YEAH, AND I DON'T WANT TO, UH, I CALL IT CI NARROW. [03:50:01] HER MOM TRANSITIONED, AND, UH, SHE AND, AND, UH, THE ENTIRE FAMILY WERE ABLE TO BE TOGETHER, I THINK, IN NEW ORLEANS WITH HER, WITH HER MOM. AND WE WERE PRAYING FOR YOU, CONTINUE TO PRAY FOR YOU, AND, UH, LIFT AND LIFTING YOU UP SO YOU KNOW, OUR THOUGHTS AND PRAYERS CONTINUE TO BE WITH, UH, WITH YOU AND YOUR FAMILY. ALL RIGHT THEN. ALRIGHT. HAVING SAID ALL OF THAT, UM, [CONSENT AGENDA] AND WE WILL PROCEED TO THE CONSENT AGENDA UNDER THE MISCELLANEOUS CATEGORY. ITEM ONE HAS BEEN REMOVED FOR SEPARATE CONSIDERATION UNDER THE ACCEPT WORK CATEGORY. ITEM TWO NEEDS A MOTION CAST. STATE MOVE ROBIN ROBINSON. SECOND. MOVE TO SECOND ON ITEM TWO. DISCUSSION. DISCUSSION IN FAVOR OF OPPOSED GRANTED UNDER THE PROPERTY CATEGORY. ITEM THREE NEEDS A MOTION. CASTEX TATUM, MOVE SECOND. ROBINSON MOVED. AND SECOND ON ITEM THREE. DISCUSSION. DISCUSSION IN FAVOR OF OPPOSE AND GRANTED UNDER THE PURCHASING AND TABULATION OF B CATEGORY. ITEM FOUR HAS BEEN REMOVED, SHARED CONSIDERATION. ITEM FIVE NEEDS A MOTION. CASTEX, TATUM, MOVE. SECOND. ROBINSON MOVED. AND SECOND LINE FIVE. DISCUSSION, DISCUSSION AND FAVOR. OPPOSE AND GRANTED UNDER THE RESOLUTION CATEGORY ITEM SIX AND SEVEN, JUST NEED A VOTE ON, UH, DISCUSSION. DISCUSSION ON SIX AND SEVEN. SEVEN. DISCUSSION IN FAVOR OF OPPOSED GRANTED UNDER THE ORDINANCE CATEGORY. ITEM 19 HAS BEEN PULLED AND WILL NOT BE CONSIDERED. ITEMS 12, 15, AND 18 HAVE NOT BEEN RECEIVED AND WILL BE CONSIDERED IF THEY'RE RECEIVED BEFORE THE END OF THE AGENDA. ITEM 17 HAS BEEN RECEIVED, ITEMS REMOVED. SEPARATE CONSIDERATION ARE 11, 13, 16, 22, 24, 32, 34, 35, AND 40. THOSE NUMBERS AGAIN, ARE 11, 13, 16, 22, 24, 32, 34, 35, AND 40. NEED A VOTE ON THE BALANCE. DISCUSSION. DISCUSSION IN FAVOR, OPPOSE, AND GRANTED [CONSIDERATION OF MATTERS REMOVED FROM CONSENT AGENDA] ITEM MOVE SEPARATE CONSIDERATION. ITEM NUMBER ONE NEEDS A MOTION CAST SEXT, MOVE SECOND. ROBINSON BEEN MOVED IN SECOND ON ITEM ONE. MOVE TO SECOND NINE. ONE DISCUSSION ON ONE. DISCUSSION IN FAVOR. OPPOSED? NO HOUSEMAN. NO. OKAY. I'M SORRY. THOMAS, BEFORE OR AFTER? OH, COUNCILMAN THOMAS. DID YOU WANNA JUST TALK ABOUT THIS BEFORE OR AFTER? BEFORE OR AFTER? BEFORE, BEFORE COUNCILMAN THOMAS. I'M SORRY. THANK YOU, MAYOR TURNER. UM, I WAS ABLE TO ATTEND, UH, THE TEXAS MUNICIPAL LEAGUE MEETING IN DALLAS. UM, I KNOW VICE MAYOR PROTE RECENTLY IS OUR IMMEDIATE PAST PRESIDENT OF THE ORGANIZATION AND COUNCIL MEMBER ALCORN REPRESENTS THE CITY ON THE BOARD. AND LET ME TELL YOU, UM, IT WAS A WELL WORTH IT INVESTMENT OF MY TIME. BUT THAT, I THINK MORE IMPORTANTLY WHAT I WALKED AWAY WITH IS HOW HOUSTON IS A LEADER, UH, IN THE STATE WITH A LOT OF THE WORK WE'RE DOING. SO A LOT OF THE STUFF THAT YOU INTIMATED THIS MORNING, MANY SMALLER CITIES ARE LOOKING TO US TO ASK US, WELL, HOW DID Y'ALL DO THAT? A LOT OF THE THINGS THAT THEY ARE GRAPPLING WITH AS THEY EXPERIENCE GROWTH AROUND HOUSING, ZONING PLANNING, UH, WE HAVE ALREADY ADDRESSED THOSE THINGS, UM, IN ORDINANCES YEARS AGO. UH, EVEN PUBLIC SAFETY. AND SO IT WAS GOOD TO COMMUNE WITH OTHER PUBLIC SERVANTS, UH, THROUGHOUT THE STATE, STATE WHERE, UM, THEY'RE LOOKING TO HOUSTON TO DIRECT. UH, AND THEN OFTENTIMES, AND I'M SURE OUR, OUR VICE MAYOR CAN SPEAK TO THIS, OFTENTIMES WHAT WE'RE ABLE TO DO, UM, THEY'RE UNABLE TO DO FOR THEMSELVES. AND SO WE ACTUALLY DO REPRESENT A LARGE SHARE OF, UH, SMALLER TOWNS IN THE CITY, UH, BECAUSE OF THE BANDWIDTH THAT WE HAVE. SO I'M IN DEFINITELY IN SUPPORT OF THIS ITEM, AND I LOOK FORWARD TO STAYING INVOLVED WITH TML. THANK YOU. THANK YOU SO VERY MUCH. UH, UH, VICE MAYOR PRO, ACK TATUM. THANK YOU, MAYOR. AND IN ADDITION TO, UH, WHAT COUNCIL MEMBER THOMAS SAID, I THINK THAT IT'S IMPORTANT THAT PEOPLE RECOGNIZE THE OFFERINGS THAT COME FROM OUR MEMBERSHIP WITH TEXAS MUNICIPAL LEAGUE AS FAR AS, UM, THE TRAININGS THAT ARE AVAILABLE, UM, SPECIFICALLY THE CONFERENCE. UM, AND I THINK PEOPLE NEED TO NOTE THAT THERE ARE ONLY, RIGHT NOW THREE CITIES THAT CAN ACTUALLY HOST THE TML CONFERENCE. THAT IS SAN ANTONIO, HOUSTON, AND DALLAS. AND SO THAT CONFERENCE IS RETURNING [03:55:01] TO HOUSTON ON NEXT YEAR. UH, THE LAST CONFERENCE THAT WE HAD IN THE CITY OF HOUSTON YIELDED US A $4 MILLION ECONOMIC IMPACT. SO IF WE LOOK AT A HUNDRED THOUSAND DOLLARS MEMBERSHIP AND A $4 MILLION IMPACT, UM, IT'S A, IT, IT IS A, IT IS A NO BRAINER, BUT THE VALUE THAT THIS MEMBERSHIP ALLOWS US, UM, THERE ARE EVERY LEGISLATIVE SESSION, AT LEAST 8,000 BILLS THAT ARE FILED, AND OVER 2000 OF THOSE ARE RELATED TO CITIES. AND THE LEAGUE IS VERY INTENTIONAL ABOUT MAKING SURE WE ARE LOOKING AT THOSE BILLS AND HELPING CITIES TO NAVIGATE, UM, THROUGH THE LEGISLATIVE PROCESS, ALONG WITH OUR GOVERNMENT RELATIONS TEAM. AND I THINK THAT THIS VALUE IS, UM, AGAIN, A NO BRAINER FOR US AS A CITY OF HOUSTON. THE CONFERENCE WILL BE BACK HERE NEXT YEAR. AND THEN, ALTHOUGH THERE ARE CURRENTLY THREE CITIES THAT THE, THE CONFERENCE WILL ROTATE, UM, THROUGHOUT, IT'S PROBABLY GOING TO GO DOWN TO TWO BECAUSE DALLAS IS GOING TO, UM, RECONSTRUCT THEIR CONVENTION CENTER. SO WE MAY POTENTIALLY HOST THIS CONFERENCE EVERY OTHER YEAR WITH, UM, A GROWING NUMBER OF ELECTED OFFICIALS THAT ARE ATTENDING THESE CONFERENCES. WHEN WE HAD IT IN HOUSTON, WE HAD THE THIRD HIGHEST, UM, ATTENDED CONFERENCE EVER IN THE HISTORY OF THE TEXAS MUNICIPAL LEAGUE. AND WE EXPECT THAT TO GROW EVEN HIGHER ON NEXT YEAR. SO I WOULD HOPE THAT COUNCIL MEMBERS WOULD UNDERSTAND THE ECONOMIC IMPACT THAT THIS CONFERENCE HAS FOR OUR CITY, AS WELL AS THE, UH, BENEFIT FOR ELECTED OFFICIALS. UH, I WILL TELL YOU THAT OUR GOVERNMENT RELATIONS TEAM WAS LIKE ROCK STARS AT THE LAST CONFERENCE. UH, THE LAWSUIT THAT WE FILED AGAINST HOUSE BILL 2127, THE OTHER CITIES WERE COMING UP TO US SAYING THANK YOU, BECAUSE THEY, THEY WERE NOT ABLE TO DO SO. UM, BUT THEY UNDERSTOOD WHY WE DID IT. AND THE STATE, THE CITIES IN THE STATE OF TEXAS WERE VERY APPRECIATIVE. UM, SO THERE IS A REAL VALUE HERE, AND I HOPE THAT, UH, COUNCIL MEMBERS WOULD SUPPORT THIS ITEM. THANK YOU. ANY OTHER DISCUSSION ON ITEM NUMBER ONE? ANY OTHER DISCUSSION IN FAVOR? OPPOSED? NO. HUFFMAN? NO. SO, COUNCIL MEMBER HUFFMAN AND COUNCIL MEMBER KNOX VOTING, NO. THE ITEM PASSES. NEXT ITEM. ITEM FOUR NEEDS A MOTION TAG. UH, ITEM FOUR IS BEING TAGGED BY COUNCIL MEMBER, UH, ALCO. ITEM 11 IS AN ORDINANCE. JUST NEED TO VOTE ON ITEM 11. UH, DISCUSSION ON ITEM 11. DISCUSSION IN FAVOR, OPPOSE GRANULAR ON ITEM 11. UH, CHAIR RECOGNIZES MAYOR PROAM. YES, MA'AM. THANK EVERYBODY FOR THEIR, UH, SUPPORT OF THE VILLAGE LEARN CENTER. IT'S MY FAVORITE CHARITABLE ORGANIZATION IN MY DISTRICT THAT REPRESENTS INDIVIDUALS WITH INTELLECTUAL AND DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES. UM, THE MAIN PROBLEM, AS WE'VE DISCUSSED BEFORE, AND NO ONE KNOWS ABOUT THIS MORE THAN COUNCIL MEMBER GALLEGOS, IS HOW DO THE, THESE YOUNG ADULTS, UH, TRANSITION WHEN THEY'RE CARETAKERS, THEIR MOMS AND DADS GET IN A POSITION WHERE THEY'RE, THEY HAVE HEALTH ISSUES AND WHERE THEY'RE MAY BE DECEASED. SO HOW DO YOU TRA TRADITION FROM IN, FROM DEPENDENT LIVING TO INDEPENDENT LIVING? AND THE VILLAGE LEARNING CENTER IS THE GREATEST ORGANIZATION I'VE WITNESSED THAT HELPS WITH THIS TRANSITION BECAUSE IT IS PROBABLY THE MOST CRITICAL TIME IN THE LIVES OF THESE INTELLECTUALLY AND DEVELOPMENTAL NEEDS ADULTS. SO THANKS FOR YOUR SUPPORT AS ALWAYS. AND, AND THANKS TO, UH, KEITH BONHAM, WHO ALWAYS RECOGNIZES THE NEED TO DO SOMETHING FOR OUR, OUR CHALLENGED INDIVIDUALS. GOD BLESS. THANKS. THANK YOU. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. ANY, UH OH, THANK YOU. UH, THE ITEM PASSES. UH, NEXT ITEM, ITEM 13 IS AN ORDINANCE. DOES NEED THE VOTE? AN ITEM 13? NO. OH, I'M SORRY. OBJECTION. MICROPHONE. MICROPHONE. I KNOW I JUST TALKED WITH, UM, CHIEF MARETTE ABOUT, SHE GAVE ME SOME UPDATES, BUT I STILL HAVE SOME QUESTIONS ABOUT, UM, THE HOUSTON BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT INCORPORATION. I'D LIKE TO, YOU KNOW, HAVE A CONVERSATION. I'M REALLY EXCITED ABOUT THIS PROJECT. UM, YOU KNOW, CREATING OPPORTUNITIES FOR BUSINESSES, UM, YOUNG PE PEOPLE THAT ARE TRYING TO GET BUSINESSES AND NEEDING JOBS WITHIN DISTRICT B. BUT JUST HAVE A, A FEW MORE VERSIONS. NO PROBLEM. YOU WANNA TAG? YES, PLEASE. OKAY. ITEM THREE. WHICH ONE? 13. ITEM 13 IS BEING TAGGED BY COUNCIL MEMBER JACKSON. I'LL JOIN THE TAG AND AS, AS WELL AS, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER THOMAS. OKAY. NEXT ITEM. ITEM 16 IS AN ORDINANCE. JUST NEED A VOTE. ONE. ITEM 16, DISCUSSION ON 16TH. DISCUSSION ON 16TH IN FAVOR. OPPOSED? GRANTED ON [04:00:01] 16. ITEM 22 IS AN ORDINANCE. JUST NEED A VOTE. ONE. ITEM 22. DISCUSSION ON 22. DISCUSSION IN FAVOR. OPPOSED? GRANTED ON 22. ITEM 24 IS AN ORDER. JUST NEED TO VOTE ON ITEM 24. COUNCIL MCGON 24. THANK YOU, MAYOR. FIRST OF ALL, I WANNA THANK YOU. I KNOW THAT I HAD BROUGHT THIS TO, TO YOUR ATTENTION SOME TIME AGO IN REGARDS TO THE CHRISTOPHER COLUMBUS STATUE THAT BASICALLY HAD BEEN, UH, UH, TAGGED WITH RED PAINT, UH, DUE THE FACT TO ALL, UM, THE HISTORY BEHIND CHRISTOPHER COLUMBUS AND THE INDIGENOUS PEOPLE IN THE UNITED STATES. AND SO MY QUESTION IS, IS, UM, IN, IN REGARDS TO THESE STATUES, ARE, ARE THEY GOING TO BE GOING TO A MUSEUM? BECAUSE IT MEANT IT IS HISTORY. UH, IT'S JUST THAT THEY SHOULDN'T BE IN A PUBLIC PLACE. UM, AND THEN MY NEXT QUESTION IS THE SPIRIT OF THE CONFEDERACY, UH, WHICH WAS AT SAM HOUSTON PARK. IT'S NOT A CONFEDERATE SOLDIER. UH, IT, IT, IT IT'S, IT'S AN ANGEL WITH A SWORD AND IT JUST HAS A PLAQUE. UH, IN REGARDS TO RECOGNIZING THE CONFEDERACY, IS THERE A WAY TO JUST RE UH, YOU KNOW, RENAME IT? UH, FOR EXAMPLE, UH, THE SPIRIT OF THE TEXAS REVOLUTION? THE SPIRIT OF THE TEXAS INDEPENDENCE, THE SPIRIT, UH, OF THE DEFENDERS OF THE TEXAS OF TEXAS. UM, 'CAUSE AGAIN, IT'S, IT'S, IT'S IN SAM HOUSTON PARK. AND TO RENAME IT, I THINK IT'S A, IT, IT IT'S A BRONZE STATUE. AND UNFORTUNATELY, THE CITY OF HOUSTON, WE, WE DON'T HAVE THAT MANY STATUES IN OUR CITY. UM, AND, AND, AND JUST TO RENAME IT, IT'S JUST A PLAQUE THAT IS DEDICATED TO THE CONFEDERACY, BUT JUST REMOVING THE PLAQUE AND RENAMING IT. UM, YOU KNOW, I, I I, I, I, I, I, I, YOU KNOW, IT'S AN ART PIECE. IT'S THERE, IT'S, IT WAS THERE AT SAM HOUSTON PARK. UH, AND IT'S APPROPRIATE THAT IT'S AT SAM HOUSTON PARK. UH, BUT IF WE CAN JUST HOPEFULLY RENAME IT, THE SPIRIT OF THE TEXAS INDEPENDENCE, OR THE SPIRIT OF THE, OF THE DEFENDERS OF TEXAS INDEPENDENCE OR, OR SOMETHING. LEMME JUST SAY THIS IS, THIS IS THE FINAL STEP IN THE PROCESS. ALL OF THESE STATUTES OF MONUMENT STA STATUES HAVE ALREADY BEEN REMOVED. UH, CHRISTOPHER COLUMBUS STATUE, FOR EXAMPLE, HAS BEEN RETURNED TO THE, TO THE ORIGINAL, TO THE ARTIST. UH, THE SPIRIT OF THE CONFEDERACY IS NOW HOUSED AT THE AFRICAN AMERICAN MUSEUM. UH, THE DICK DONALD STATUE IS JUST IN STORAGE. AND SO, IN THIS MEASURE, ALL WE ARE DOING IS TAKING THE FINAL STEP, UH, TO REMOVE IT FROM OUR PUBLIC ART COLLECTION. UH, THE WAY IT IS NOW, UH, THE HOUSTON NORTH ALLIANCE HAS RESPONSIBILITY OF KIND OF LIKE MAINTAINING. SO THIS IS JUST THE FINAL STEP IN THE PROCESS OF DE UM, UM, WHAT'S THE WORD? DESING. DESING, UH, TO SAY TO THE HOUSTON ARTS ALLIANCE, YOU NO LONGER HAVE THE RESPONSIBILITY OF MAINTAINING. SO THEY, THEY, THE, THE, THE STATUTES ARE NO LONGER THERE. OKAY. MAYOR, MAYOR MARTIN. YEAH, MAYOR. NOT TO BE, UH, REPETITIVE. BUT ABOUT TWO YEARS AGO, THIS COUNCIL VOTED TO DECOMMISSION THOSE STATUES AND THERE WERE THREE OF 'EM. THIS IS DESING IT, WHICH MEANS WE REMOVED THEM FROM OUR INVENTORY, AS WAS MENTIONED, THE FIRST STATUE, THE SPIRIT OF THE CONFEDERACY STATUE WAS GIVEN TO THE HOUSTON MUSEUM OF AFRICAN AMERICAN CULTURES. WHERE IS ON DISPLAY TODAY. THE SECOND ONE, THE CHRISTOPHER COLUMBUS STATUE WAS GIVEN BACK TO THE ARTIST. THE ARTIST OF THAT STATUE HAS RIGHT OF FIRST REFUSAL, AND THEY WANTED THEIR STATUE BACK AFTER THAT, DECOMMISSIONED BY COUNSEL. AND THEN THE DICK DIALING STATUE IS IN STORAGE. SO ALL THIS DOES IS DES IT, IT GOES FROM OUT OF OUR INVENTORY. IT WAS DECOMMISSION. THEY WERE DECOMMISSIONED TWO YEARS AGO. NOW THIS IS A FINAL STEP OF REMOVING THEM FROM THE CITY OF HOUSTON'S INVENTORY. SO THEY'VE ALREADY BEEN REMOVED FROM PUBLIC PLACES THEY'VE BEEN GIVEN BACK TO, IN ONE CASE, THE ORIGINAL OWNER, THE ARTIST TO THE MUSEUM OF AFRICAN AMERICAN CULTURES, AND THE OTHER ONE IS GOING INTO STORAGE. OKAY, ANY OTHER DISCUSSION ON ITEM 24? FOUR? ANY OTHER DISCUSSION IN FAVOR, OPPOSED, GRANTED ON 24. THANK YOU. NEXT ITEM, ITEM 32 IS AN ORDINANCE. IS HE A VOTE ON ITEM 32? DISCUSSION ON 32. COUNCIL MEMBER HUFFMAN ON 32. THANK YOU, MAYOR. UH, THIS ONE IS A, UM, IS AN EASEMENT THAT IS GONNA BE PICKED UP BY THE CITY. I WAS EXCITED TO SEE THIS, [04:05:01] UH, BUT WHEN I ORIGINALLY LOOKED AT THE ITEM NUMBER, THERE IS A CUL-DE-SAC JUST RIGHT NORTH OF THAT AREA, UM, THAT PEOPLE PARK IN ALL THE TIME. THEY PARK THERE AT NIGHT. UM, AND WE'D REALLY LIKE TO GET SOME NO PARKING SIGNS IN THAT CUL-DE-SAC JUST NORTH OF THERE. UM, BUT I SUPPORT THIS ITEM. UM, I JUST WANNA SEE IF THERE'S SOMETHING WE CAN DO ABOUT THAT. OKAY. CUL-DE-SAC. LET'S FOLLOW UP ON THAT. OKAY. ANY OTHER DISCUSSION ON ITEM 32? DISCUSSION IN FAVOR OPPOSED? GRANTED ON 32, ITEM 34 IS AN ORDINANCE. SEE VOTE ON ITEM 34. DISCUSSION ON 34. COUNCIL MEMBER LES ON 34. THANK YOU, MAYOR. I, I, I SUPPORT THIS ITEM. UM, MAYOR, IF, IF YOU RECALL, I HAD, UH, BROUGHT TO YOUR ATTENTION AND I BROUGHT TO THE DIRECTOR OF HOUSING 'CAUSE YOU ASKED ME TO, WHICH I DID. UM, THE, THE, THERE, THERE'S A BLOCK AND A HALF THAT'S FOR SALE. UM, YOU KNOW, BACK WHEN I WAS A KID, IT WAS A PIPE YARD. UH, AND I SPOKE WITH THE OWNER WHO NOW LIVES IN GEORGIA. HE'S UP THERE IN AGE, AND HE TOLD ME, COUNCIL MEMBER, I'M WILLING TO SELL THIS, YOU KNOW, THIS PROPERTY, UH, DUE TO THE FACT THAT, UH, THE PROPERTY VALUES ARE JUST RISING IN THE EAST END AND PEOPLE ARE NOT GONNA BE ABLE TO AFFORD TO LIVE THERE. UH, SO, UM, I BROUGHT IT TO THE ATTENTION OF THE DIRECTOR. THE DIRECTOR IS SAYING, WELL, COUNCIL MEMBER, I'M AFRAID THAT, YOU KNOW, THERE, THERE'S CONTAMINATION IN THE SOIL. AND I MEAN, I, I KIND OF LAUGHED IN THE SENSE, BECAUSE IT'S IN THE EAST END. FIND ME A PLACE IN THE EAST END THAT YOU DON'T HAVE SOME CONTAMINATION. I MEAN, IT'S, IT'S THE INDUSTRIAL EAST END. UH, SO, SO, YOU KNOW, I I, I'VE GOT THE OWNER THAT'S WILLING TO SELL AT MARKET RATE WITH THE AGREEMENT THAT THERE'S AFFORDABLE HOUSING THAT'S BUILT ON THAT PROPERTY. THAT, UH, SO I'M HOPING THAT SOME OF THIS MONEY WILL BE USED, AND I'M HOPING THE DIRECTOR WILL RECONSIDER, UH, UH, GIVE ME A CALL. I'LL BE MORE THAN HAPPY TO GIVE YOU THE CONTACT OF THE OWNER WHO NOW LIVES IN GEORGIA. UH, HE'S WILLING TO SELL AT MARKET RATE, UH, WITH THE AGREEMENT THAT IT WILL BE USED FOR AFFORDABLE HOUSING. UH, AND NOW THAT WE HAVE THIS FUNDING, HOPEFULLY IF IT IS CONTAMINATED, IT CAN BE CLEANED UP, UH, AND CAN BE REUSED FOR AFFORDABLE HOUSING. OKAY? UM, LEMME KNOW IF I NEED TO FOLLOW UP WITH, WITH YOU ON THAT AS WELL. OKAY? OKAY. ANY OTHER DISCUSSION ON ITEM 34? DISCUSSION IN FAVOR? OPPOSED? GRANTED ON 34, ITEM 35 IS AN ORDINANCE. JUST NEED A VOTE. WELL, ITEM 35, DISCUSSION ON 35. COUNCIL MEMBER GALLUS ON 35 CAME HERE. I'M SURE YOU'RE HAPPY ABOUT THIS ONE HERE. THIS IS, UH, OATS ROAD. REMEMBER? OATS ROAD? YES. OH, I, I , WE HAVEN'T BEEN DISCUSSING OATS ROAD ROAD FOR 80 YEARS. . I MEAN, WHEN I TOOK OFF AS 10 YEARS AGO, ONE OF THE BUSINESS OWNERS OUT THERE CALLED ME AND SAYS, COUNCIL MEMBER, I NEED YOU TO COME HERE. I WANT GIVE YOU A TOUR. SO HE GAVE ME A TOUR OF OATS ROAD, AND IT WAS, IT WAS POTHOLE AFTER POTHOLE, AFTER POTHOLE AFTER POTHOLE. AND HE'S LIKE, YOU KNOW, COUNCIL MEMBER, NOW THAT YOU'RE A COUNCIL MEMBER, WHATCHA GONNA DO ABOUT THIS? AND I SAID, WELL, I, YOU KNOW, I'LL DO MY BEST. I WILL DO MY BEST TO MAKE SURE THIS IS TAKEN CARE OF. AND I WANT TO THANK, UH, COMMISSIONER ADRIAN GARCIA. 'CAUSE HE AND I AND THE CITY, WE PARTNERED AND, AND WE DID AN A GOOD OVERLAY, UH, WHICH, WHICH IS THERE NOW, UH, WHICH HAS HELPED AND HAS IMPROVED, BUT IT WASN'T A FULL RECONSTRUCTION. UH, BUT NOW WE'RE GOING TO APPLY FOR A GRANT, UH, AND IF WE DO GET THE GRANT, UH, THEN WE WILL COME BACK AND IT'S GONNA TAKE A FEW YEARS. I UNDERSTAND. UH, BUT WE WILL COME BACK AND WE WILL ACTUALLY DO A FULL RECONSTRUCTION OF OATS ROAD IF WE ARE AWARDED THAT GRANT. AND AGAIN, IT'S GONNA TAKE A FEW YEARS. I UNDERSTAND. SO IT'S, DON'T EXPECT THIS OVERNIGHT. UH, BUT, BUT, BUT, BUT I'M GLAD TO SAY THAT, UH, YOU KNOW, THE MAYOR AND I AND CITY COUNCIL, UH, WE ALL KNOW ABOUT OATS ROAD. UH, IT, IT'S A MAJOR THOROUGHFARE FOR 18 WHEELERS, UH, TO GO TO AND FROM THE PORT OF HOUSTON. UH, SO IT'S VITAL THAT WE DO DO FULL RECONSTRUCTION AND WE HAVEN'T FORGOTTEN. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. UM, THIS IS A MAJOR ITEM AND, UM, SO THANK YOU. I, I WAS NOT FAMILIAR WITH OAK ROAD BEFORE I BECAME HERE, BUT, UM, I WILL LEAVE HERE. AND YOU'RE QUITE FAMILIAR WITH OAKS ROAD AND, UM, BUT THIS WILL, THIS WILL BE A MAJOR STEP GOING FORWARD. SO KUDOS TO YOU, UH, FOR BRINGING THE 20 ONE'S ATTENTION. SO, THANK YOU, UH, COUNCILWOMAN KNOX. THANK YOU, MAYOR. I REMEMBER OAKS ROAD. I USED TO PATROL OUT THERE WHEN I WAS A POLICEMAN A LONG TIME AGO. AND THAT'S WHERE WE WOULD GO TO TEAR UP OUR TRANSMISSION AND OUR, UH, AND OUR SUSPENSION SYSTEM ON THOSE, UH, POLICE CARS. BUT, UH, YEAH, THIS IS LONG OVERDUE AND I'M [04:10:01] EXCITED TO SEE OATS ROAD BEING REPAIRED. HOPEFULLY THEY'LL REPAIR IT TO BE ABLE TO SUPPORT RIGHT. SEMI-TRUCK. UH, ORIGINALLY IT WASN'T DESIGNED FOR SEMI-TRUCK, SO THAT'S WHY IT WAS A, A PROBLEMATIC. UH, THE OTHER THING IS THAT, OH MY GOODNESS, UM, WE NEED THAT, THAT ROAD TO GET THAT, THOSE MATERIALS IN AND OUT OF THE PORT, YOU KNOW? RIGHT. IN FACT, OATS ROAD, I HAVE A FRIEND OF MINE WHO IS A, UH, INTERSTATE TRUCKER. HE TELLS ME THAT HOUSTON IS THE ONLY, UH, CITY THAT HE'S AWARE OF THAT'S WEALTHY ENOUGH TO TAKE THEIR POTHOLES AND DIG THEM UP, TURN THEM UPSIDE DOWN, AND MAKE POTHOLE, UH, MAKE, UH, SPEED BUMPS OUT OF THEM. YEAH. AND HE SPENDS A LOT OF TIME ON THAT OATS ROAD. I THINK WE'RE, THAT'S WHERE HE GOT THAT IMPRESSION. SO GOOD JOB ON THIS ONE. THANK YOU. ALRIGHT. AND IF YOU DON'T MIND, UH, I WANT TO JUST KIND OF BACK UP AND HIGHLIGHT ITEM 33. IN ITEM 33 PASSED OUT ON THE CONSENT. UM, BUT IN ITEM 33, UH, TO THAT, THAT ORDINANCE WILL ALLOW THE CITY AND HARRIS COUNTY FLOOD CONTROL DISTRICT TO EXCHANGE SEVEN STORM WATER ASSETS WHERE THE BEST EXPERTS CAN OWN AND MAINTAIN THEM. THE INTERLOCAL AGREEMENT TRANSFERS MANAGEMENT OF OPEN CHANNELS, UH, TO HARRIS COUNTY FLOOD CONTROL, WHILE GIVING THE CITY MANAGEMENT OF CLOSED STORM WATER, UH, SYSTEMS IN DISTRICT F. UH, THIS SUCCESSFUL PARTNERSHIP HAS BEEN IN PLACE SINCE 2020 AND DOES NOT COST TAXPAYERS ANYTHING WHILE GIVING EACH DEPARTMENT THE TOOLS TO PROVIDE THE BEST FLOOD MITIGATION FOR THE COMMUNITY TO CREATE A MORE RESILIENT HOUSTON. AND THEN LASTLY, BEFORE THE PARTNERSHIP, THERE WERE CHANNELS ALL OVER THE CITY THAT WERE NOT PROPERLY MAINTAINED DUE TO A LACK OF OWNERSHIP AND RESOURCES. SINCE SIGNING THE AGREEMENT IN 2020, THE CITY AND HARRIS COUNTY FLOOD CONTROL DISTRICT HAVE SUCCESSFULLY ASSIGNED OWNERSHIP AND MAINTENANCE TO NEARLY 100 SO-CALLED OPEN CHANNELS. SO BOTH HOUSTON PUBLIC WORKS AND THE HARRIS COUNTY FLOOD CONTROL DISTRICT INSPECTED THESE LATEST PROPERTIES BEFORE THIS AGREEMENT WAS SIGNED. AND THE INTERLOCAL AGREEMENT ALLOWS BOTH GROUPS TO IDENTIFY AND REMOVE ENCROACHMENT. SO, I KNOW WE ALREADY PASSED IN 33, BUT I WANT TO HIGHLIGHT THE SIGNIFICANCE OF 33 BECAUSE, UM, I MEAN, THIS IS, UH, IT IS A, IT IS A BIG DEAL, UH, ESPECIALLY WHEN WE'RE TALKING ABOUT THESE OPEN CHANNELS, WHO MAINTAINS THEM. UH, THIS WILL CLARIFY THAT. SO, UH, I JUST WANTED TO HIGHLIGHT COUNCILMAN ACO SINCE YOU WENT BACK TO IT. I ALSO WANNA ADD HOW, HOW GREAT THIS IS. THANK YOU STEVE COSTELLO OUT THERE. IF YOU'RE WATCHING, UM, THIS IS SOMETHING THAT HE WOULD REALLY TALKED ABOUT A LOT. AND EVEN LAST NIGHT IN SPRING SHADOWS, IT CAME UP ABOUT A CERTAIN DITCH WHO OWNS WHAT. AND YOU KNOW, ALL THAT IS SO IMPORTANT THAT WE WORK TOGETHER WITH HARRIS COUNTY FLOOD CONTROL DISTRICT AND GET THAT. THANK YOU. THANK YOU, MAYOR. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. OKAY, NEXT ITEM. DO YOU STILL NEED TO VOTE ON 35? NEED TO VOTE ON 35? OH, WE STILL NEED TO VOTE ON 35. I'M SORRY. GOT EXCITED ABOUT OAKS ROAD AND GOT TO VOTE. . OKAY. ON 35 IN FA UH, IN FAVOR. OPPOSE GRANTED ON 35, ITEM 40 NEEDS AN ORDINANCE. IS AN ORDINANCE JUST NEED TO VOTE? WELL, ITEM 40 COUNT. I MEAN, MAYOR MAR MARTIN 40. YES, MAYOR, I, I DID NOT SQUARE THIS, BUT I DID WANT TO TALK ABOUT IT. ABOUT 11 YEARS AGO WHEN I FIRST DECIDED TO RUN FOR COUNCIL, EVERYBODY, WHEN THEY LOOKED AT DISTRICT E, THEY REFERRED TO DISTRICT E AS KINGWOOD AND CLEAR LAKE, AND THERE WAS THE LONG FORGOTTEN AREA OF THE SOUTH BELT. AND I MADE A COMMITMENT 11 YEARS AGO TO MAKE SURE THAT I REPRESENTED THEM AS HARD AS I REPRESENTED KINGWOOD AND AS HARD AS I REPRESENTED CLEAR LAKE. AND THIS IS JUST ANOTHER PROJECT THAT WE'VE BEEN ABLE TO ACCOMPLISH, UH, GOES ALONG WITH THE, EXCUSE ME, THE SHAVER ROAD RECONSTRUCTION THAT WE DID IN MY FIRST COUPLE OF YEARS. THE WORK WE'RE DONE AT FREEWAY MANOR, THE WORK THAT WE'RE DOING AT THE EDGEBROOK CORRIDOR, THE WORK THAT WE'RE NOW DOING AT ARLINGTON HEIGHTS, AND THEN EVENTUALLY ON CRENSHAW ROAD. THESE ARE AREAS THAT NO ONE IN DISTRICT E EVER HEARD OF, BUT I HAD A COMMITMENT TO THE FOLKS THAT LIVE IN THAT AREA THAT WERE UNDERSERVED, THAT WE WOULD ADDRESS THEM JUST AS HARD AS WE ADDRESS KINGWOOD AND JUST AS HARD AS WE ADDRESS CLEAR LAKE. SO, THANK YOU FOR DOING THESE PROJECTS, AND I APPRECIATE EVERYONE'S SUPPORT ON THIS LONG NEEDED PROJECT IN AN AREA THAT FLOODS ALL THE TIME IN ARLINGTON HEIGHTS. THANK YOU. THANK YOU, COUNCILWOMAN KNOX. UH, THANK YOU, MAYOR. I JUST, YOU KNOW, I'M OFTEN, UM, SORT OF NEGATIVE ABOUT HOW WE SPEND OUR D-D-S-R-F MONEY. I, I JUST WANNA POINT OUT THAT THIS IS AN EXAMPLE OF WHAT I'VE BEEN TALKING ABOUT. THE D-D-S-R-F FUNDING IN THIS PARTICULAR ONE IS GONNA BE USED FOR ACTUAL CONSTRUCTION TO MY UNDERSTANDING, AND THAT THE ENGINEERING AND THE DESIGN AND ALL THAT IS GONNA BE DONE BY OTHER FUNDING SOURCES WITHIN THAT DDRS. SO I GUESS I'M GETTING THROUGH FINALLY. SO JUST GLAD TO KNOW THAT. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. COUNCIL GALLS. THANK YOU. AND I JUST WANNA PERSONALLY THANK MAYOR PROM, 'CAUSE UH, YES. [04:15:01] YOU KNOW, HE, HE, HE, HE'S DONE A GREAT JOB IN REGARDS TO THAT AREA OF EDGEBROOK. I HAD FAMILY MEMBERS THAT LIVED THERE OFF OF EDGEBROOK. AND, UH, I, I KNOW THAT WHEN I BECAME A COUNCIL MEMBER, THEY WERE REACHING OUT TO ME FOR HELP. UM, YOU KNOW, AND, AND, AND PROJECTS HAVE BEEN DONE THERE ALONG EDGEBROOK AND, AND THINGS HAVE GOTTEN BETTER, SO THANK YOU. THANK YOU. THAT'S ALL. OKAY. ANY OTHER DISCUSSION ON ITEM 40? ANY OTHER DISCUSSION IN FAVOR? OPPOSED? GRANTED ON ITEM 40? THANK YOU. [NON-CONSENT - MISCELLANEOUS] ITEM 42 IS A RECOMMENDATION FROM DIRECTOR OF HOUSTON PUBLIC WORKS WITH THE CITY COUNCIL, DRAW LOTS TO DETERMINE THE SUCCESSFUL BIDDER. AND AS MUCH AS IDENTICAL BIDS WERE RECEIVED IN CONNECTION WITH THE SANITARY SEWER CLEANING AND TELEVISION INSPECTION, WE RECEIVED IDENTICAL BIDS FOR SWEEPING CORPORATION OF AMERICA LLC AND EQU INTEGRITY SOUTHEAST INC. IN THE AMOUNT OF $3,102,048 AND 18 CENTS. I HAVE ASKED THE INFAMOUS TO THE COUNCIL MEMBER KNOX TO DRAW LOTS. I LIKE THAT WORD. INFAMOUS . OKAY. AND WE HAVE SWEEPING CORPORATION AND EQU. OKAY, WE'RE ARE, DID YOU PUT TWO OF THEM IN THERE? . AND THE WINNER IS EQUITY INTEGRITY. OKAY. ALRIGHT. CONGRATULATIONS. WE NEED A MOTION. WHAT MOTION DO YOU NEED? MOTION. DO YOU NEED, DO WE NEED A MOTION TO ACCEPT EQU? A MOTION TO ACCEPT DIS DRAW. MOTION TO ACCEPT QUI? YES. MOTION TO ACCEPT EQUI EQUI INTEGRITY SOUTHEAST INCORPORATED IN THE AMOUNT OF $3,102,048 AND 18 CENTS ON THE SECOND. THANK YOU. THANK YOU, SIR. MOVED IN SECONDARY TO ACCEPT THE, UM, THE WINNER OF THE DRAWING. OF DRAWING, UM, THE LOTS, UH, IN DISCUSSION. DISCUSSION IN FAVOR OF OPPOSED, GRANTED. THANK YOU ALL VERY MUCH. ALRIGHT. OKAY. SO DO YOU WANNA DO THESE FIRST BEFORE WE DO MATTERS HELD? DO YOU WANNA DO THE RECEIPT ITEMS BEFORE WE DO MATTERS? YES. GO. LET'S JUST GO STRAIGHT THROUGH. GO. NEXT ITEM, ITEM 43. [MATTERS HELD] MS. MATTERS HELD THERE WAS ITEM 49 ON AGENDA 27TH. IT IS AN ORDINANCE. JUST NEED TO VOTE ON ITEM 43. DISCUSSION ON 43. DISCUSSION ON 43 IN FAVOR. OPPOSED? AND SHOW MAYOR PRO. UM, ON VOTING NOTE ITEM PASSES. OKAY. ALRIGHT. NEXT ITEM. ITEM 15 AND 18 HAVE BEEN RECEIVED. ITEM 15 IS AN ORDER, JUST NEED A VOTE. WE ON ITEM 15, WE ON ITEM 15. GOING BACK TO ITEM 15. DISCUSSION ON 15. DISCUSSION ON 15 IN FAVOR. OPPOSE GRANTED ON 15. ITEM 18 IS AN ORDINANCE. THIS NEED A VOTE. WELL, ON ITEM 18, DISCUSSION ON 18. DISCUSSION ON 18. IN FAVOR. OPPOSE GRANTED ON 18, THIS COMPLETES THE ITEMS ON THE AGENDA. ALRIGHT, UH, LET ME SAY, UH, HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER DAVID ROBINSON. THANK YOU, MAYOR. YOU KNOW, 29, 18, 18 YEARS YOUNG, YOUNG . THAT'S RIGHT. THAT'S RIGHT. SO I HOPE YOU HAVE A WONDERFUL, WONDERFUL, WONDERFUL DAY. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. TWO WEEKS AFTER YOURS AGAIN THIS YEAR, MAYOR. HEY, AS LONG AS WE KEEP COUNTING, WE IN GOOD SHAPE. YEP. I'M JUST TRYING TO STAY, STAY AT PACE WITH YOU, SIR. YEAH. YES, SIR. BUT I DON'T WANT YOU TO CATCH UP WITH ME. I CAN'T RUN THAT FAST. ALL [04:20:01] RIGHT. UH, AND TODAY WE START OFF WITH MALE PRO TIM MARTIN. PASS. OH, I'M SORRY, . MINE WAS LAST FRIDAY. OH, WAS YOUR, WAS YOUR BIRTHDAY? FRIDAY. FRIDAY. OH, COUNCIL MEMBER CAROLYN. EVAN SHABAS BIRTHDAY WAS FRIDAY. UH, 21. HAPPY. HAPPY 21. THIS COMING FRIDAY. THIS COMING FRIDAY. HAPPY TOMORROW. UH, FOR THE JELLY CAKE. MAKE A JELLY CAKE AND, AND COUNCIL MEMBER. SO ALCORN'S BIRTHDAY WAS LAST FRIDAY. MINE. HAPPY BIRTHDAY. HAPPY BIRTHDAY. AND I HOPE YOU, I HAD, HOPE YOU HAD A WONDERFUL BIRTHDAY AND, AND THAT YOU ENJOYED THE ENTIRE MONTH OF OCTOBER. I DID. YOU KNOW, AND THEN, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER COUNTY, YOUR CAKE IS STILL IN OVEN, SO IT'S EARLY, YOU KNOW, YOU KNOW. ALRIGHT. ANY OTHER, ANY OTHER OCTOBER BIRTHDAY'S AROUND HERE. OCTOBER. OKAY. I'M NOVEMBER. IF YOU WANTED TO GET A LITTLE EARLY START. NO, WE'RE NOT GOING IN NOVEMBER. ALRIGHT, UH, STARTING. WHO'S THAT? DANA DANA'S BIRTHDAY WAS YESTERDAY. HAPPY BIRTHDAY AND MANY, MANY, MANY MORE I TELL YOU. ALRIGHT. [NON CONSENT - MATTERS TO BE PRESENTED BY COUNCIL MEMBERS] ALRIGHT. STARTING OFF THE POP OFF. MAYOR PRO TIM MARTIN. YEAH, I WAS GONNA PASS, BUT NOW I'M NOT GOING TO KEEP Y'ALL HERE ON THE SOUTH SIDE. I'D LIKE TO MAKE RESIDENTS AWARE THAT THE MONTHLY ELLINGTON FIELD CLEAR LAKE ELECTRONIC RECYCLING EVENT WILL BE HAPPENING ON THE THIRD SATURDAY OF THE MONTH INSTEAD OF THE SECOND SATURDAY, WHICH IS OUR NORMAL, UH, ALSO WINGS OVER HOUSTON. AIRSHOW WILL BE TAKING PLACE THIS WEEKEND AT ELLINGTON AIRPORT. SO ELLINGTON FIELD RECYCLING CENTER IS GONNA BE CLOSED THIS WEEKEND, FRIDAY THROUGH SUNDAY. SO MAKE ARRANGEMENTS FOR THE SECOND, UH, THE THIRD SATURDAY OF THE MONTH. AGAIN, CLEAR LAKE WILL BE HELD ON OCTOBER 21ST AND THE NOVEMBER ELECTRONIC RECYCLING RETURN TO THEIR NORMAL SECOND SATURDAY. WANTED TO REMIND DISTRICT E RESIDENTS THAT WE WILL BE HAVING THE DAVE MARTIN FAREWELL TOUR LAST TOWN HALL MEETING NEXT WEEK. THE KINGWOOD TOWN HALL MEETING WILL BE HELD ON TUESDAY, OCTOBER 17TH AT THE KINGWOOD COMMUNITY CENTER AT SIX 30. AND THE CLEAR LAKE TOWN HALL MEETING WILL BE HELD ON THURSDAY, OCTOBER 19TH AT SPACE CENTER HOUSTON AT SIX 30. BOTH MEETINGS WILL INCLUDE UPDATES FROM VARIOUS DEPARTMENT ABOUT SPECIFIC PROJECTS AND EFFORTS HAPPENING IN EACH PART OF THE DISTRICT. I LOOK FORWARD TO SEEING MANY OF THE RESIDENTS AT THESE MEETINGS. DON'T FORGET ABOUT THE BLUE BIN FUNDRAISER. IF A COUNCIL MEMBER IS TRYING TO AVOID KISSING A CRITTER, PLEASE ADD MONEY TO YOUR BOX. THE BLUE BINS ARE LOCATED ON THE FIRST FLOOR OF THE CITY HALL ANNEX. AND IF YOU WANT TO KISS A BOX, PULL MONEY OUT OF YOUR BOX AND PUT IT IN MINE ON OCTOBER 11TH. THAT WAS A JOKE. Y'ALL SHOULD LAUGH. COME ON. THERE YOU GO. ON OCTOBER 11TH, WE HAVE TAMAL DAY DONATED BY COUNCIL MEMBER AMY PECK, NOTHING BUT CAKES FROM WEST UNIVERSITY LOCATION. ON OCTOBER 17TH, WE'LL HAVE CHICK-FIL-A FOR THREE BUCKS, DONATED BY SOYA HEIGHTS AND DREW ELLIS ON THE 18TH, WE'LL HAVE MEXICAN CORN IN A CUP AT 1145. LOCATED AT THE CITY HALL ANNEX, DONATED BY HEB AND MET TIENDA STORE NUMBER ONE OCTOBER 19TH. WE'LL HAVE MUSICAL CHAIRS AT 11:00 AM ON THE 11TH FLOOR OF CITY HALL ANNEX. EVERY DISTRICT AND AT LARGE MUST BRING A FAVORITE CAKE, AND EACH WINNER WILL SELECT THEIR FAVORITE CAKE. ALL PROCEEDS AGAIN GO TOWARDS THE VILLAGE CENTERS AS ONE OF THE ONLY ORGANIZATION IN THE NORTHEAST HOUSTON AVAILABLE TO PROVIDE SUCH A BROAD RANGE OF SUPPORT AND RESOURCES FOR THOSE LIVING WITH INTELLECTUALLY AND DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITY AND GHOST TROS. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. UH, VICE MAYOR PRO TEM CASTEK TATUM. THANK YOU, MAYOR. I WANTED TO JUST SAY THANK YOU TO THE DISTRICT, A NEIGHBORHOODS THAT CELEBRATED NATIONAL NIGHT OUT LAST TUESDAY ON OCTOBER THE THIRD. UH, THE RAIN DIDN'T STOP US FROM, UH, JOINING OUR DISTRICT K COMMUNITY MEMBERS WHO GATHERED FOR ENGAGEMENT WITH LAW ENFORCEMENT PERSONNEL AND THEIR NEIGHBORS, UM, WITH THE HOUSTON DEPARTMENT STAFF METRO AND MORE. SO. WE HAD A GREAT TIME, LOTS OF GREAT PHOTOS. IT WAS A GOOD TIME FOR ENGAGEMENT FOR OUR RESIDENTS. AND THEN I WANT TO REMIND RESIDENTS ON TRAIL LAKE IN KESWICK, UH, PLACE THAT THEIR STORM SEWER IMPROVEMENTS ARE HAPPENING THIS MONTH. UM, THERE WILL BE REMOVAL AND REPLACEMENT OF THE CONCRETE STORM SEWER LINE, UH, ALONG TRAIL LAKE DRIVE FROM PLAYER STREET ON THE SOUTHBOUND TO LAWN HAVEN DRIVE. AND THAT PROJECT SHOULD START, UH, OCTOBER THE 23RD AND EXPECT IT TO BE COMPLETED ON MAY, IN MAY OF 2024. SO WE LOOK FORWARD TO THOSE, UH, DRAINAGE IMPROVEMENTS. AND THEN OCTOBER IS BREAST CANCER AWARENESS MONTH, AND I AM ECSTATIC ABOUT THE OPPORTUNITY TO SALUTE OUR SURVIVORS. I'M ASKING, UH, RESIDENTS AND SURVIVORS [04:25:01] AND THEIR SUPPORTERS TO JOIN ME ON OCTOBER THE 30TH AT THE FOUNTAIN LIFE CENTER, AS I HOST OUR INAUGURAL POSE IN PINK YOGA EXPERIENCE AND FELLOWSHIP, ALONG WITH LINDSEY LEVISTON, WHO IS THE FOUNDER OF SURVIVOR. AND MITZI HENDERSON, WHO IS THE OWNER OF NA MITZI YOGA SURVIVORS AND SUPPORTERS, WILL PARTICIPATE IN A YOGA CLASS, SPECIFICALLY DESIGNED TO PROMOTE PHYSICAL AND EMOTIONAL NO WELLBEING. UH, YOU WON'T WANT TO MISS THIS INFORMATIVE, FUN, AND POWERFUL EVENT. SO GET REGISTERED, GRAB YOUR PINK YOGA ATTIRE AND A FRIEND, AND COME HELP US AMPLIFY THE IMPORTANCE OF EARLY DETECTION AND CELEBRATE LIFE. WE WILL HAVE CHAIR YOGA AVAILABLE FOR MODIFIED PRACTICE SIMULTANEOUSLY, UM, FOR THOSE THAT DON'T WANT TO DO THE TRADITIONAL YOGA. UH, SO, UM, TAG A SURVIVOR OR LET A SURVIVOR KNOW REGISTER, UH, FOR THE EVENT. AND WE LOOK FORWARD TO SEEING YOU THERE. I DO WANT TO THANK THE HOUSTON HEALTH DEPARTMENT, THE FOUNTAIN OF PRAISE CHURCH, BLUE CROSS BLUE SHIELD AND SUGAR LIFE ORGANICS FOR THEIR SUPPORT AND SPONSORSHIP OF THE EVENT. AND THEN FINALLY, MAYOR, I WANTED TO, UM, JUST TALK ABOUT WEST RIDGE. I'VE, I'VE RECEIVED A MYRIAD OF, UM, EMAILS FROM THE RESIDENTS IN THAT NEIGHBORHOOD ABOUT THEIR CIP PROJECT. I'M WORKING ON SCHEDULING, UM, AN A MEETING WITH DIRECTOR HADDOCK. THEY HAVE, UM, BEEN ON THE BOOKS FOR 10 YEARS BEFORE YOU AND I WERE HERE, UM, FOR A CIP PROJECT THAT WAS A, A, A DRAINAGE PROJECT AND, UM, REHAB OF THE STREETS IN THAT NEIGHBORHOOD. AND UNFORTUNATELY, WE RECEIVED A MESSAGE THAT, THAT CIP PROJECT HAS. THE SCOPE HAS CHANGED, UH, THE RESIDENTS ARE UP IN ARMS BECAUSE FOR 10 YEARS WE'VE NEGLECTED THAT NEIGHBORHOOD BECAUSE WE WERE LOOKING FORWARD TO THAT CIP PROJECT. UM, AND NOW THAT THE SCOPE HAS CHANGED, UM, THE COMMUNITY IS, IS, I MEAN, JUST REALLY FEELS BETRAYED, UM, BECAUSE THEY WERE WORKING ON PUTTING IN NEW STREETLIGHTS AND ALL OF THE THINGS THEY WERE PREPARING TO DO FOR THIS PROJECT THAT WAS SUPPOSED TO HAPPEN. SO, UM, I WANTED TO JUST KIND OF LET YOU KNOW ABOUT THAT, THAT I AM GONNA BE, UM, SCHEDULING THE MEETING WITH DIRECTOR HADDOCK, BUT WE NEED TO FIGURE OUT A WAY THAT WE CAN TRY TO, UM, OPPOSE BACK ON TRACK WHAT, WHAT WE, WHAT WE'VE COMMITTED TO DO FOR 10 YEARS IN, IN THAT SPECIFIC NEIGHBORHOOD. SO, UM, PLEASE PROVIDE, PLEASE GET WITH ME ON IT AND, UH, LET ME ALSO GIVE WITH, UH, PUBLIC WORKS. OKAY? THANK YOU. AND THEN JUST TO REMIND EVERYONE, IF YOU'RE NOT RECEIVING OUR NEWSLETTER, UM, REACH OUT TO US IN DISTRICT K, HAVE A SUPER DAY AND BE KIND TO EACH OTHER. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. COUNCILMAN MAG GALLEGOS. THANK YOU, MAYOR. FIRST OF ALL, I JUST WANT TO THANK, UH, BARRIO DOGS AND, UH, GLORIA NINTENDO WITH BARRIO DOGS, AS WELL AS EMANCIPET. UH, THEY WERE OUT AT HARTMAN PARK, UH, IN THE MANCHESTER COMMUNITY, UH, THIS PAST SATURDAY. UH, THEY, UH, UH, YOU KNOW, IT WAS GONNA START AT NINE O'CLOCK IN THE MORNING. I UNDERSTAND THERE WAS PEOPLE IN LINE, UH, FOR VOUCHERS TO GET THEIR DOGS AND CATS, UH, SPAYED AND NEUTERED. UH, SO THEY OPENED THE DOORS EARLIER THAN WHAT THEY AN, UH, ANTICIPATED SINCE THERE WAS A GOOD NUMBER OF INDIVIDUALS THERE WAITING, UH, TO GET THEIR VOUCHERS. UH, AND AGAIN, I WILL BE CONTRIBUTING ANOTHER $10,000 FROM MY DISTRICT SERVICE FUNDS, UH, FOR THE BIG FIX, UH, TO ADDRESS THIS ISSUE IN REGARDS TO GETTING DOGS AND CATS SPAYED AND NEUTERED. UM, SO, UH, AGAIN, I WANNA THANK BARRIO DOGS. I WANNA THANK EMAN EMANCIPATE, UH, FOR EVERYTHING THAT THEY ARE DOING OUT IN, IN, IN, IN THE COMMUNITIES, UH, IN REGARDS TO ADDRESSING THIS ISSUE, UH, AND GETTING DOGS AND CATS SPAYED AND NEUTERED BY OFFERING FREE VOUCHERS, UH, TO GET THIS DONE. SO AGAIN, THANK YOU. UH, LAST WEEK I ALSO ATTENDED THE, UH, BOTANIC GARDEN LUNCHEON. UH, IT WAS WELL ATTENDED. UH, AND, UH, AGAIN, PROUD TO HAVE THE BOTANIC GARDEN DISTRICT. I, UH, AND IF YOU HAVE NOT ATTENDED THE, UH, THE CHRISTMAS LIGHTS THERE AT THE BOTANIC GARDEN, I ENCOURAGE YOU TO PLEASE GO OUT THIS, THIS SEASON. UH, IT, IT, IT'S JUST BEAUTIFUL TO, TO, TO WALK AROUND THE GARDENS AND SEE ALL THE CHRISTMAS LIGHTS AND THE DECORATIONS. SO, UH, I ENCOURAGE YOU TO GO AND TAKE YOUR FAMILY AND MAKE THAT ONE OF THE THINGS TO DO FOR THIS HOLIDAY SEASON. SO THANK YOU. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. COUNCIL MEMBER ROBINSON. THANK YOU, MAYOR. UM, I WANT TO JUST TAKE A MOMENT TO TOUCH BRIEFLY ON AN ITEM THAT PASSED ON OUR CONSENT AGENDA TODAY. IT'S ITEM NUMBER FIVE, WHICH IS, UM, THE APPROVAL OF SPENDING AUTHORITY. IT WAS $120,000 TODAY FOR THE MAP ARCHIVE ACROSS THE STREET AND THE JULIA IEN LIBRARY. MARIN, THANKS FOR DUE TO YOU FOR HELPING TO PUSH THAT ACROSS. UH, WHAT I THINK IS GONNA BE A FINISH LINE. YEAH. WHILE YOU AND I ARE IN OFFICE, WHICH MEANS A LOT TO ME, IT'S A, I'M GONNA SAY [04:30:01] IT'S A GREAT BIRTHDAY GIFT FOR ME TODAY. UM, IT HAS TO DO WITH A VERY GENEROUS OFFER FROM TWO FRIENDS OF MINE FROM PALMER MEMORIAL EPISCOPAL CHURCH, THAT'S JIM AND BETTY KEY. JIM IS AN OPHTHALMOLOGIST AND IN THEIR LIVES TOGETHER, THEY HAVE, UM, COLLECTED AN INCREDIBLE ARRAY OF MAPS IN PARTICULAR OF THE HISTORY OF TEXAS IN HOUSTON. BEAUTIFUL, ANCIENT, NICE, AND IN SOME CASES EXTREMELY VALUABLE. AND RATHER THAN GIVE IT TO, UM, JIM'S ALMA MATER, THE UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS, BAYLOR, VARIOUS INSTITUTIONS THAT THEY'RE AFFILIATED WITH, UH, BOTH IN THE MEDICAL CENTER AND THROUGH THEIR, UM, DEGREES, THEY'VE DECIDED TO GIVE IT TO THE CITY OF HOUSTON. AND WE ARE ABOUT TO BECOME A UNIQUE CITY IN TEXAS FOR THE, THE INCREDIBLE COLLECTION THAT WE ARE ABOUT TO HAVE. AND THAT'S A BUILD OUT OF A ROOM ON THE FIRST FLOOR OF THE JULI JULIA IEN BUILDING ACROSS THE STREET BEYOND YOUR PUSH MAYOR, I WANT TO THANK VERY MUCH, UH, TO DR. RAY LAWSON AND HER TEAM, JOHN MIDDLETON IN PARTICULAR, HAS BEEN, UH, UH, ARCHITECTURALLY OF GREAT VALUE TO US TO SEE WHAT THIS SPACE WOULD LOOK LIKE. I THINK FROM A PROGRAMMING STANDPOINT, IT'S GOING TO BE PHENOMENAL. I WANNA THANK ALICIA GREEN ELLIS FROM THE, UH, UH, THE LIBRARY FOUNDATION BOARD, HER TREASURER, NEIL THOMAS, HELPING TO GET THE FUNDS IN PLACE. AND THEN IN THIS LAST PUSH, MAYOR, WHERE YOU ARE GETTING SO MUCH DONE ACROSS THIS CITY FOR ALL OF OUR DISTRICTS, THERE HAS BEEN SOME CONGESTION, LET'S SAY, IN THE, UH, GENERAL SERVICES DEPARTMENT AND WITHIN PROCUREMENT. SO TO CJ MESSIAH AND JADA GREENFIELD FOR THEIR WORK TO UNCLOG UNCONGESTED AND TO GET THESE THINGS DONE. I AM GRATEFUL. I KNOW MY STAFF, IN PARTICULAR, MY CHIEF OF STAFF, DIANA SDO, HAS BEEN A CRUSADER ON THIS. UH, AFTER SHE WORKED WITH, UM, COUNCIL MEMBER AND MAYOR PRO TEED GONZALEZ AND VICE MAYOR PRO TEM JERRY DAVIS, I HAVE BEEN INCREDIBLY FORTUNATE TO PICK HER UP FROM THE LIBRARY DEPARTMENT WHERE SHE SPENT A COUPLE OF YEARS WITH DR. LAWSON AND HER SKILLS. THERE HAVE BEEN GREAT. SO TO YOU, DIANA, UH, THANK YOU FOR ALL OF YOUR HELP GETTING THIS ACROSS MAYOR, BECAUSE OF OUR, MY TEAM'S HARD WORK AND THE LEAN NATURE OF THE AT LARGE TWO STRUCTURE, I BELIEVE WE'RE GONNA HAVE SOME EXTRA FUNDS AT THE END OF THE YEAR. AND I'D LIKE TO, UH, PREVIEW THE FACT THAT I'D LIKE TO DEDICATE WHATEVER I HAVE LEFT FOR AN ENDOWMENT FOR SPECIAL CURATED SHOWS AT THE ARCHIVE. AND, UH, ENCOURAGE OUR COLLEAGUES TO THINK ABOUT THAT AS A, UH, WORTHWHILE LOCATION TO PUT EXTRA FUNDS, SHOULD THERE BE ANY AT THE END OF 2023. AND WITH THAT, MAYOR, THE ONLY OTHER BIRTHDAY WISH I HAVE IS GHOST TROS. LET'S BRING IT HOME. YES, THANK YOU. AND THANK YOU SO VERY MUCH. UH, UM, THAT IS AN EXCITING PROJECT OVER. YEAH, I THINK, I THINK WE'RE GONNA HAVE A RIBBON CUTTING BEFORE ALRIGHT. BEFORE DECEMBER 31ST. THAT IS CORRECT, . ALRIGHT. COUNCIL MEMBER THOMAS. THANK YOU MUCH. UM, FIRST I WANNA START OFF TO REMIND MY COLLEAGUES AND THOSE WATCHING THAT THE 10TH A LEAF PROUD FESTIVAL WILL BE THIS SATURDAY, UM, OCTOBER 14TH AT ALE CRUMP STADIUM. ALE PROUD STARTED IN, UH, 2013, UM, AS A WAY OF COMMUNITY MEMBERS GETTING ENGAGED WITH THEIR SCHOOL DISTRICT AND, AND THE COMMUNITY, UM, SUPPORTING OUR YOUNG PEOPLE. I WILL BE OUT THERE, ALL OF THE SCHOOLS VENDORS, SO, UM, DEFINITELY WOULD LOVE TO SEE YOU ON THE WEST SIDE. THE BEST SIDE. I ALSO WANT TO LET MEMBERS KNOW THAT WE HAVE TWO ITEMS COMING BEFORE THE PLANNING COMMISSION THAT ARE OF IMPORTANCE. AND MAYOR, AS AN ASIDE, AND I'VE RAISED THIS TO YOU IN THE PAST ABOUT PINEY POINT. YEAH. AND SEPARATE OF THIS ITEM COMING BEFORE AS A REPL. BUT WHAT WE'RE NOTICING AGAIN, IS THAT MY FEAR AND CONCERN IS THAT BECAUSE THERE'S NO NOTHING IN PLACE THAT THE RESIDENTIAL LOTS, UM, THAT ARE THERE, THAT HAVE COMMERCIAL BUSINESSES OPERATING ON THAT, LIKE THAT BECOMES A PRECEDENT. AND SO THEN WE LOSE HOUSING INVENTORY, IT, YOU KNOW, CHANGES THE FABRIC OF THE COMMUNITY AND THERE'S REALLY NO, UH, PATHWAY FORWARD AROUND THIS. SO I DO PLAN ON ATTENDING THIS MEETING, NOT TO STOP THIS PROCESS, BUT JUST TO RAISE THE, THE BROADER POINT. UM, BECAUSE IF MY OFFICE COULD IDENTIFY RESIDENTIAL LOTS THAT HAVE COMMERCIAL BUSINESSES OPERATING ON THERE, SURELY THERE MUST BE A CURE IN AN ORDINANCE. SURELY THERE MUST BE A CURE IN THE, IN THE PERMITTING PROCESS. SURELY THERE MUST BE A CURE. UM, UM, BECAUSE THIS NEIGHBORHOOD WILL BE, UM, EXTINCT O OVER TIME. AND, UM, THE, AND THE FEEDBACK I HAVE, IT'S NOT YIELDING WHAT I WANT. SO I, I'LL BE THERE JUST TO SPEAK TO THAT. AND I WANNA LET RESIDENTS KNOW, UM, UH, THIS IS CONCERNING THE 39 16 ARC STREET IN JEANETTA COURTS. AND THEN THERE'S A SECOND PROJECT, KIRKWOOD CROSSINGS, [04:35:01] WHICH I'M IN SUPPORT OF THAT'LL BE MOVING FORWARD. UM, SO HOWEVER, UM, HOWEVER WE CAN FIGURE SOMETHING OUT, I, I WOULD APPRECIATE THAT , I'VE MET WITH THE ASFORD POINT OWNERS. UM, IT'S, SO, IT'S NOT AN HOA, BUT IT'S A BUSINESS ASSOCIATION AND THEY'RE EXPERIENCING EXTREME VANDALISM ON SENATE AND ASFORD POINT WEST PARK. UM, SO MUCH SO THAT WE'VE HAD TO DO A WHOLE SWEEP OF THAT NEIGHBORHOOD, A SOLID WAYS, DEPARTMENT OF NEIGHBORHOODS. THEY'VE MOVED EXPEDITIOUSLY TO RESPOND TO THAT. SO I WANNA PUBLICLY ACKNOWLEDGE THEM FOR THAT. UM, AND, AND WEST SIDE IS DOING THAT. SO I KNOW THAT YOU ALL HAVE AUTHORIZED ADDITIONAL OVERTIME FOR PATROL AND INVESTIGATIONS, BUT I DON'T KNOW IF THERE'S A PARTICULAR STRIKE FORCE OR TEAM. BUT WHAT'S HAPPENING IS VANDALISM IS HAPPENING IN THESE COMMERCIAL PROPERTIES FOR SQUATTERS, I MEAN RIGHT, THE WEATHER. AND SO THEY'RE, THEY'RE COMING INTO THESE COMMERCIAL PROPERTIES. IT'S A VERY SMALL BUSINESS ASSOCIATION. THEY DON'T HAVE MUCH CAPACITY. SO WHATEVER ASSISTANCE, HOWEVER WE CAN FIGURE THAT OUT. WEST SIDE IS VERY WELL AWARE OF THIS WEST SIDE COMMAND CENTER, BUT WOULD LOVE TO GET SOME ATTENTION ON THAT BECAUSE THEY'RE AT THEIR WITS END AND THEY'VE EXPENDED ALL OF THEIR FUNDS. AND, UM, I'VE ALREADY DESIGNATED OVER TIME TO WEST SIDE FOR THESE TYPES OF THINGS. SO HOWEVER WE CAN WORK THROUGH THAT, IF YOU REACH OUT TO REACH OUT TO, UH, TO ASSISTANT CHIEF SADDLE WHITE FOR ME. SURE. I WILL DO. I APPRECIATE THAT. THANK YOU. UM, AND THEN I, I JUST ALSO WANNA ACKNOWLEDGE ASTRONAUT JEANETTE EPPS. JEANETTE EPPS, UH, IS NOW, UH, SLATED TO, UH, BE A PART OF THE SPACE X CREW EIGHT MISSION. UM, WE ALL REMEMBER SHE WAS PULLED, UM, ON THE PRIOR, UH, ON THE PRIOR TRIP, UH, UH, AND SO NOW FEBRUARY, 2024. UM, AND SHE'S A SPECIAL LADY, SO IF YOU DON'T KNOW HER, PLEASE GET TO KNOW HER. AND SHE'S MY LINK SISTER. UH, SO I HAVE TO, UH, SHOUT HER OUT. BUT WE ARE EXCITED ABOUT HER MAKING HISTORY, UM, AND DOING WHAT ONLY SHE CAN DO IN THE WORLD. SO CONGRATULATIONS TO YOU AND I WANNA CLOSE OUT. WE'RE REMINDING WOMEN AND MEN TO GET YOUR MAMMOGRAM. IT IS BREAST CANCER AWARENESS MONTH. MY MOTHER LOST HER BATTLE AT THE AGE OF 43. UM, SO I WANNA REMIND EVERYONE THAT IT'S NEVER TOO EARLY TO GET YOUR MAMMOGRAM. DO THAT. UH, NOT ONLY MAKE YOUR APPOINTMENT, BUT KEEP YOUR APPOINTMENT AND DO YOUR FOLLOW UP. THANK YOU MUCH. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. COUNCIL MEMBER ALCORN. THANK YOU MAYOR. AND HAPPY BIRTHDAY DAVID ROBINSON. AND THANK YOU FOR THE, UH, THE WORK ON THE TEXAS ROOM. UM, YOU KNOW, THEY RECENT, IS IT THE TEXAS ROOM THAT THAT'S IT'S GONNA BE THE JIM AND BETTY KEY, UH, MAP ARCHIVE. OKAY. SO WHERE WILL IT BE? FIRST FLOOR? JUST GO IN THAT MAIN DOOR OFF OF MCKINNEY. OKAY. AND, UH, BANG A LEFT. OKAY. AND IT'S RIGHT THERE. OKAY, GREAT. 'CAUSE I DID RECENTLY GO TO THE TEXAS ROOM THAT THEY JUST RENAMED FOR DOROTHY. HOW KNOX, HOW HOUGHTON. BUT IT'S NOT THAT. OKAY, GOT IT. FIRST FLOOR. GOT IT. THE OTHER, UM, THING I WANTED TO MENTION, MAYOR, IS UM, YOU KNOW, YOU WERE OUT THERE AT THE BEZOS ACADEMY OPENING, WHICH WAS GREAT. UM, OVER AT THE NEW HOPE HOUSING AND STARVE HOPE FACILITY. RIGHT. AND REMEMBER, LIKE IN JANUARY, 2021, THEY HAD, WE HAD THE BIG PR PRESS CONFERENCE GROUNDBREAKING ON THAT. URBAN RESILIENCE PER I REMEMBER PROJECT. YEAH. I THINK THAT, UH, WE GOT $800,000 FROM WELLS FARGO AND THE FISH AND WILDLIFE AND, AND I THINK WITH, UH, TIMING AND COST DRIVER RUNS AND EVERYTHING, THEY ARE A LITTLE SHORT. I'M JUST GIVING A PLUG. I KNOW THAT THAT'S IN YOUR EAR ALREADY. I KNOW ANDY'S WORKING ON SOMETHING TOO, BUT, BUT JUST, IT'S BEAUTIFUL WHAT THEY'VE DONE SO FAR. BUT IT WOULD BE GREAT TO JUST FINISH THAT, THAT PROJECT. I THINK, IF I'M NOT MISTAKEN, IT'S PRI ZACHARIA WORKING ON THAT. OKAY, GOOD. WELL, I, I, I WAS HOPEFUL SOMEBODY WAS WORKING ON IT AND I JUST, UH, JUST, UH, WE'RE, YOU KNOW, I KNOW WE'RE TRYING TO DO MORE GREEN INFRASTRUCTURE. THAT WAS JUST A REALLY GREAT PROJECT AND WOULD REALLY LIKE TO SEE THAT, UH, FINISHED UP. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. UH, COUNCILMAN PACK. THANK YOU, MAYOR. FIRST, I WANNA THANK YOU FOR YOUR WORDS, UM, BE ASSURING THE OTHER DAY. IT WAS A REALLY BEAUTIFUL SPEECH. THANK AND JUST WANTED TO THANK YOU FOR THAT. UM, NEXT MAYOR, UM, WE'VE RECEIVED A LOT OF PHONE CALLS AND EMAILS RECENTLY ABOUT YARD WASTE NOT BEING PICKED UP IN DISTRICT A AND WE ASKED THIS ALL WASTE DEPARTMENT, UM, FOR A RESPONSE AND WHEN WE CAN EXPECT IT TO BE PICKED UP, THE RESPONSE WE'VE RECEIVED IS THAT CURRENTLY YARD WASTE IS NOT WORKING ON ANY ROUTES TODAY BECAUSE OF ITS DAY TO DAY BASED ON PRIORITY OF OUR OPERATIONS. MAYOR, I UNDERSTAND DELAYS, I UNDERSTAND WE DON'T HAVE ENOUGH DRIVERS. I UNDERSTAND. YOU KNOW, OUR EQUIPMENT BREAKS DOWN. I DON'T UNDERSTAND THIS RESPONSE. I MEAN, WHAT OTHER PRIORITY COULD THERE POSSIBLY BE IN THE SOLID WASTE DEPARTMENT OTHER THAN PICKING UP TRASH? WHEN DID YOU GET IT? I'M SORRY? WHEN DID YOU GET THAT RESPONSE? THAT RESPONSE CAME YESTERDAY FROM, FROM THE SOLID WASTE DEPARTMENT. OKAY. AND SO, YOU KNOW, IT'S NOT EVEN JUST THAT IT'S NOT A PRIORITY, WE'RE JUST NOT GETTING IT. IT'S DAY TO DAY. SO DOES THAT MEAN THAT EVENTUALLY IT WILL BECOME A PRIORITY AND IT WILL GET PICKED UP? WE DON'T KNOW WHAT TO TELL PEOPLE AS FAR AS WHEN IT WILL BE PICKED UP. IT'S JUST COMPLETE CHAOS AT THIS POINT. LEMME, LEMME GET ON TOP OF IT. OKAY. THAT'S NOT A GOOD RESPONSE. THANK YOU, MAYOR. OKAY. UH, COUNCIL MEMBER, UH, JACKSON. THANK YOU MAYOR. UM, SO THIS WEEK IS A VERY IMPORTANT WEEK IN DISTRICT B. UM, WE ARE CELEBRATING OUR ONE YEAR OF OUR BE SUCCESSFUL COMMUNITY CAPACITY BUILDING INITIATIVE. [04:40:01] REALLY EXCITED ABOUT THAT. UM, WE'RE GONNA KICK THIS OFF OUR CELEBRATION OFF ON FRIDAY WITH THE LUNCHEON. WE'RE OUR VERY OWN MAYOR, SYLVESTER TURNER WILL BE OUR KEYNOTE SPEAKER. THANK YOU MAYOR FOR, UM, JOINING US. AND THEN WE ALSO, WE'RE GONNA BE, WE'RE GONNA FOLLOW UP ON SATURDAY WITH ONE OF OUR BIGGEST JOBS AT RESOURCE FAIRS. UM, THIS IS GONNA TAKE PLACE AT GREENHOUSE INTERNATIONAL CHURCH, UM, WHICH IS LOCATED AT 200 WEST GREENS ROAD. UM, STARTS AT 10:00 AM WE HAVE QUITE A FEW, UM, COMPANIES THAT'S GONNA BE PARTICIPATING. OF COURSE, THE CITY OF HOUSTON, AMAZON, UM, ANHEUSER-BUSCH, UM, UNION PACIFIC, AND MANY, MANY MORE. AND SO, IF YOU KNOW OF ANYONE WHO NEEDS A JOB, WE HAVE FOLKS THAT'S HIRING ON THE SPOT AS WELL. IF YOU KNOW PEOPLE THAT NEED A JOB, CONTACT US AT 8 3 2 3 9 3 3 0 0 9. AND I CAN JUST SAY THIS WHOLE INITIATIVE THE PAST YEAR HAS BEEN VERY REWARDING TO SEE OUR YOUNG MEN AND WOMEN FOLKS WITH CRIMINAL RECORDS GETTING JOBS. AND SO THAT'S WHAT THIS IS ALL ABOUT, CREATING OPPORTUNITIES, UM, FOR FOLKS WHO WANT OPPORTUNITIES. WE KNOW EVERYBODY DON'T WANNA WORK, BUT THERE'S A LOT OF PEOPLE OUT THERE THAT DO WANNA WORK. AND SO, UM, IT'S BEEN GREAT AND IT'S GONNA BE A GREAT CELEBRATION. SO I HOPE, UM, TO SEE MY COLLEAGUES, UM, AND THE MAYOR, OF COURSE, I SEE YOU. I WANT TO ALSO THANK, UM, DIRECTOR WILLIAMS AND DIRECTOR SHE, UM, FOR THIS, THEIR PARTNERSHIP AND BEING ABLE TO, UM, ACCOMPLISH OR NOT, UM, BECAUSE OF THEIR PARTNERSHIP AND, AND WORKFORCE SOLUTIONS. AGAIN, HOPE TO SEE YOU ON FRIDAY OR SATURDAY. WE HOPE TO SEE YOU FRIDAY. WE'RE GONNA HAVE SOME GOOD FOOD TOO. UM, LASTLY, I WANNA WELCOME, UM, JUDGE HIDALGO BACK. I KNOW SHE'S, YOU KNOW, SHE'S BEEN OUT ON, UM, MENTAL HEALTH LEAVE AND, YOU KNOW, SHE'S BEEN, UH, PRAYERS AND JUST WANT HER TO KNOW, UM, WE HAPPY TO SEE HER BACK AND LOOK FORWARD TO CONTINUING WORKING WITH HER. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. COUNCILMAN SHABAZZ. THANK YOU MAYOR, AND HAPPY BIRTHDAY. UM, ALL YOU OCTOBER PEOPLE, WE ARE REALLY OFF THE CHAIN. WELL, I DIGRESS. UM, I WANT TO THANK, UH, SOME PARTICIPANTS IN AN IMPORTANT MEETING THAT WE HAD AT SUNNYSIDE THIS WEEK. I WANNA THANK COMMANDER MICHAEL COLLINS OF HPD, UH, NAU EDWARDS OF PUBLIC HOUSING. UH, ELDRIDGE PUGH FROM DEPARTMENT OF NEIGHBORHOODS, CAPTAIN SMOKEY PHILLIPS FROM THE HARRIS COUNTY PRECINCT SEVEN AND OUR NEWEST EDITION, CHRISTINA NORWICK FROM THE DEPUTY INSPECTOR GENERAL. THEY WERE THERE TO GIVE A, A WEALTH OF INFORMATION TO THE COMMUNITY. IT WAS WELL ATTENDED AND CERTAINLY WE ALWAYS WANNA HAVE ENGAGEMENTS WHERE PEOPLE CAN GET INFORMATION AS WELL AS SHARE THEIR CONCERNS. AND SO I ENCOURAGE PEOPLE TO STAY TUNED AND CERTAINLY SIGN UP FOR OUR NEWSLETTER SO THAT YOU CAN STAY ABREAST OF WHAT'S GOING ON IN THE DISTRICT OF DESTINATION. AND, UH, I ALSO WANT TO SAY THAT I WAS HONORED TO BE A SPEAKER AT THE HOUSTON RENAISSANCE AWARDS RECEPTION, WHICH WAS AT THE HISTORIC EL DORADO BALLROOM IN THE HISTORIC THIRD WARD. UH, CERTAINLY WAS GLAD TO BE A PARTICIPANT AND SPONSOR OF THAT EVENT, CELEBRATING 130 YEARS OF BLACK NEWSPAPER PUBLISHERS. CERTAINLY, UH, PUBLISHER LORENZA BUTLER AND HIS PERSONS WERE THERE AND OTHER PERSONS WERE THERE TO CELEBRATE BLACK MEDIA, WHICH HAS BEEN VERY IMPORTANT CERTAINLY IN DISTRICT D. I WANT TO, UH, COMMEMORATE AND BE WITH MUCH EXCITEMENT, THE OPENING OF THE MAC WILLIAMS DOG PARK AT HERMAN PARK ON THIS FRIDAY THE 13TH AT 10:00 AM AND HOPEFULLY PEOPLE WILL COME OUT. IT'S BEEN A LONG TIME COMING, BUT IT'S SOMETHING THAT WE'RE VERY MUCH LOOKING FORWARD TO. AND ALSO ON TUESDAY THERE WILL BE A SUNNYSIDE PARK DESIGN STAKEHOLDERS MEETING. AS YOU MAY KNOW, THERE ARE PLANS TO REBUILD THE COMMUNITY CENTER. AND SO WE CERTAINLY WANT PEOPLE TO COME OUT AND ENGAGE IN THOSE DISCUSSIONS. AND THAT WILL BE AT 1:00 PM ON TUESDAY. I BELIEVE IT WILL BE AT SUNNYSIDE PARK. UM, IF THAT CHANGES, WE WILL CERTAINLY LET YOU KNOW. UM, BUT WE WANT YOU TO COME OUT AND ENGAGE BECAUSE THAT'S VERY IMPORTANT BECAUSE THE CENTER IS IN DISREPAIR AND CERTAINLY, UH, CONGRESSMAN GREEN, UH, ALLOCATED SOME MONEY TO REPLACE THE ROOF. WHAT I'D LIKE TO DO IS PERHAPS, UH, HAVE THAT REPAIR OF THE ROOF AND FIX SOME OTHER THINGS SUCH AS THE AIR CONDITIONING, WHICH I THINK THEY'RE HAVING A LOT OF TROUBLE WITH OVER THERE. BUT I, I THINK IT WAS RECENTLY REPLACED. BUT JUST SOME OTHER, UM, THINGS THAT WE NEED TO DO TO UPGRADE THE PARK. I DON'T KNOW IF THAT'S POSSIBLE, BUT CERTAINLY I WANT PEOPLE TO BE JUST AS COMFORTABLE AS THEY CAN WHILE WE'RE WAITING ON THE NEW BUILDING. AND SO I WANT TO ALSO SAY THAT THIS IS IMPORTANT. WE ARE HAVING A COMMUNITY PAPER SHREDDING AND E CYCLING EVENT ON THE SATURDAY, OCTOBER THE 14TH FROM 9:00 AM TO 11:00 AM AT THE HOUSTON PUBLIC LIBRARY, WLD JOHNSON BRANCH, WHICH IS AT 35 17 REED ROAD, UH, WHICH IS SHARED WITH THE OLD SUNNYSIDE POLICE DEPARTMENT. SO [04:45:01] IT'S VERY IMPORTANT BECAUSE WE NEED TO PROTECT OUR PRIVACY AND OUR NUMBERS THAT PEOPLE TRY TO GET AHOLD TO, TO DISRUPT OUR LIVES. AND SO THAT IS, UH, SPONSORED OR CO-SPONSORED WITH THE ALPHA KAPPA ALPHA SORORITY, ALPHA KAPPA OMEGA CHAPTER, EPSILON LAMBDA CHAPTER, AND THE OMEGA SCI-FI FRATERNITY ROBE, BETA BETA CHAPTER. SO PLEASE COME OUT TO THAT EVENT SO THAT YOU CAN PROTECT YOURSELF. SO I THINK THAT CONCLUDES WHAT'S GOING ON IN THE DISTRICT OF DESTINATION. THANK YOU. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. COUNCILMAN CISNEROS. THANK YOU, MAYOR. UM, I WANTED TO TALK MORE ABOUT SOME COMMENTS I MADE DURING, UM, THE MAYOR'S REPORT ABOUT HOW THE MAYOR IS MAKING CRUCIAL INVESTMENTS IN THE ONE SAFE HOUSTON INITIATIVE AND HOW THINGS ARE TRULY TRENDING IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION. I WANT TO TALK ABOUT A, A SPECIFIC, UM, INITIATIVE WITHIN DISTRICT H THAT, THAT WE'RE SEEING BIG IMPROVEMENTS IN AND AND EXTEND A, A BIG THANK YOU TO HPD, PARTICULARLY THE NORTH DIVISION REGION ONE COMMAND FIELD OPERATIONS AND SPECIAL OPERATIONS FOR THEIR EFFORTS TO ADDRESS THE SPIKE IN IN PROSTITUTION IN DISTRICT H, UM, NEIGHBORHOOD OF NORTHLINE, FOLLOWING THE VERY SUCCESSFUL AND VERY EFFECTIVE ANTI PROSTITUTION EFFORTS ON THE SO WEST SIDE OF THE CITY ON ALONG THE BINET CORRIDOR. UM, I MADE MAYOR TURNER AND CHIEF FINNER AWARE OF SIMILAR PROBLEMS THAT WERE, UM, REALLY SPIKING IN THE AREA AROUND AIRLINE. AND BARRY AND NORTHLINE, BOTH THE MAYOR AND CHIEF FINNER PLEDGED IMMEDIATELY SUPPORT AND RESOURCES TO EXPAND OPERATIONS THERE. I'M SO GRATEFUL FOR THEIR RESOLVE AND ADDRESSING PROSTITUTION AND RELATED CRIMES THROUGHOUT THE CITY. IN THE LAST SEVERAL WEEKS, HBD HAS INCREASED PATROLS, COMMUNICATED WITH BUSINESSES, ADDED LIGHTING ON DARK STREETS, WORKED WITH OTHER CITY DEPARTMENTS TO CONDUCT A GENERAL CLEANUP OF THE AREA, INCLUDING TREE TRIMMING, CONCRETE REMOVAL, AND NUISANCE PROPERTIES. THE OPERATION HAS RESULTED IN 213 FELONY CHARGES AND 75 MISDEMEANOR CHARGES SO FAR. COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT IS ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT ASPECTS IN MAKING SURE THAT THE IMPROVEMENTS WILL BE SUSTAINABLE AND PERMANENT. UM, WE'VE, WE'VE HAD TWO, UM, VERY SUCCESSFUL COMMUNITY MEETINGS SO FAR. AND AT THE, UM, THE, THE FIRST ONE WAS WITH, UM, BUSINESS COMMUNITY. AND THEN IN THE SECOND IN, UM, THE END OF SEPTEMBER, MY OFFICE AND LAW ENFORCEMENT HOSTED A MEETING FOR RESIDENTS IN THE AREA THAT WAS VERY WELL ATTENDED AND VERY WELL RECEIVED BY THE COMMUNITY. THIS WILL GO A LONG WAY IN SOLIDIFYING THE CONNECTION BETWEEN THE COMMUNITY AND LAW ENFORCEMENT, WHICH IS ESSENTIAL AND SUSTAINABLE POSITIVE CHANGE IN THE AREA. I'D LIKE TO ANNOUNCE ANOTHER EVENT THAT IS COMING UP. WE ARE CONTINUING COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT WITH CIA WITH A COP AT THE AAND BAKERY ON AIRLINE NEXT WEEK, ON FRIDAY, OCTOBER 20TH, FROM EIGHT TO 10 IN THE MORNING. JONATHAN GARCIA AND THE WHOLE ERRANDS ON AIRLINE TEAM HAVE BEEN GREAT TO WORK WITH AND I APPLAUD THEIR COMMITMENT TO THE NORTHLINE COMMUNITY. SO THANK YOU AGAIN, MAYOR, FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP ON PUBLIC SAFETY AND COMBATING PRIME. IT IS WORKING, THINGS ARE TRENDING IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION. THANK YOU. THANK YOU COUNCIL MEMBER CISNEROS. AND THANK YOU FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP AND BEING ON TOP OF IT FROM THE VERY BEGINNING AND BRINGING IT TO, UH, TO OUR ATTENTION. SO WE'LL CONTINUE TO STAY ON IT 'CAUSE IT'S NOT ONE AND DONE. WE HAVE TO, WE REALLY HAVE TO, UH, STAY ON TOP OF IT. SO THANK YOU SO VERY MUCH FOR A SECOND, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER, ALCO MAYOR, JUST REAL QUICK, COUNCIL MEMBER PECK BROUGHT IT UP, BUT ON MONDAY NIGHT, YOU WERE AMAZING. I MEAN, YOU GUYS, WE MUST HAVE GIVEN HIM 10, 12 STANDING OVATIONS AT SOME POINT. WE JUST ALL STOOD UP. YOU WERE AMAZING FOR THAT CROWD OF 2000. THANK YOU. THERE ARE SO MANY PEOPLE IN THIS CITY, IN THIS WORLD THAT ARE HURTING. YOUR WORDS WERE DEFINITELY THE SVE THAT WE NEEDED THAT NIGHT. AND YOU WEREN'T LOOKING AT A NOTE, YOU WEREN'T LOOKING AT, YOU WERE LOOKING AT THE PEOPLE, AND IT WAS TRULY FROM YOUR HEART. AND I HAVE HEARD FROM COUNTLESS PEOPLE HOW IMPORTANT THAT WAS FOR THEM TO HEAR AND FOR YOUR PRESENCE THERE. SO THANK YOU, THANK YOU. AND IT IS ALL ABOUT, UM, OUR CITY AS LEADING THE WAY AND THIS IS ONE OF THOSE DEFINING MOMENTS FOR US ALL. SO THANK EACH AND ONE OF YOU. THANK YOU ALL FOR BEING THERE. AND FOR THOSE WHO ARE NOT THERE, THANKS FOR LENDING THEIR SUPPORT AND, UH, AND UM, ON THIS ISSUE, THEY WILL NEED OUR SUPPORT FOR THE NEXT COMING MONTHS. 'CAUSE THIS IS NOT A ONE AND DONE. MM-HMM . OKAY. SO THANK YOU ALL. THANK YOU. OKAY. HAVING SET, UH, LET ME, UH, SAY THAT, UM, TODAY, UH, WE [04:50:01] WILL, UH, ADJOURN TODAY IN REMEMBRANCE OF, UH, DR. DIANA JAMESON, UH, JAMESON POLLARD. UH, AND CONTINUE TO PRAY FOR COUNCILMAN POLLARD. UM, WE STAND ADJOURNED. THANK YOU. THANK. * 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.