Oct 17, 2023 Council Meeting (October 17, 2023 &amp; October 18, 2023)

THANKS AGAIN, AND CONGRATULATIONS.

UH, DWIGHT, I'M NOT SURE IF YOU WANTED TO, COULD YOU INTRODUCE YOUR GUESTS THAT ARE HERE WITH US AND SURE.

UH, FIRST I'LL START ON, ON THE RIGHT.

THIS IS ALEX LUSTER.

UH, THIS YOUNG MAN IS A VERY GOOD FRIEND OF MINE BECAUSE WE WORK TOGETHER AT TELEMUNDO, UH, FOR QUITE A FEW YEARS.

HE WAS JUST A YOUNG KID AT THE TIME.

NOW HE OWNS HIS OWN STUDIO, AND HE IS THE TREASURER OF THE BOARD, UH, HOUSTON MEDIA SOURCE BOARD.

SO HE HAS GONE COME A LONG WAY AND DONE A LOT OF WONDERFUL, GREAT THINGS, AND I'M JUST SO PROUD OF HIM.

AND, UH, NEXT TO, TO, UH, HIM IS, UH, JEAN , I'M SORRY, , UH, OUR, UH, ANOTHER BOARD MEMBER.

HE IS THE SECRETARY OF, UH, HOUSTON MEDIA SOURCE BOARD.

AND, UH, WE ARE GETTING TO KNOW EACH OTHER.

AND WE ARE, WE ARE WORKING TOGETHER AND THE EXECUTIVE BOARD COMMITTEE, UH, TO DO GREAT THINGS.

AND WE ARE EXCITED ABOUT HOW WE'RE WORKING TOGETHER.

UH, MATTER OF FACT, BOTH OF THESE GUYS ARE ON THE EXECUTIVE BOARD COMMITTEE.

AND THEN OF COURSE, UH, YOU ALL KNOW, UH, TED, HE, UH, I, UH, GET A LITTLE BROKE, LITTLE CHOKED UP.

'CAUSE TED HAS DONE SOME AMAZING THINGS AS A YOUNG MAN BEFORE I SAW HIM, UH, UH, COME TO FRUITION.

AND, AND, AND WORKING AT, UH, YATES AND, AND, AND PUTTING IN THAT AMAZING FACILITY THAT JACK YATES HAS OVER THERE THAT IS EXPIRING AND, AND GIVING A LOT OF CREATIVE OPPORTUNITIES TO YOUNG PEOPLE IN THE THIRD WARD AREA.

BUT, UH, I, I TOLD THE MAYOR, YOU KNOW, THAT WAS THE GUY THAT I WANTED TO COME BEHIND ME.

AND THERE, UH, YOU, YOU, YOU DIDN'T HESITATE AND, AND LOOK AT WHAT THIS GUY HAS DONE FOR YOU.

LOOK AT WHAT HE'S DONE FOR THE CITY AND BRINGING HTV, UH, TO WHERE IT IS TODAY.

AND I'M JUST SO PROUD OF HIM.

AND, UH, THAT'S WHAT I WANT TO.

AWESOME.

AND CONGRATULATIONS AGAIN.

ALRIGHT, JUDGE, UH, GINA RICE, HOUSTON.

GINA, DO YOU WANT TO, UM, WE, WE DO YOU WANNA INTRODUCE YOURSELF TO, OH, HI, I'M GINA RICE.

GINA SIGNS RICE, AND I'M THE DEVELOPMENT DIRECTOR OF HOUSTON MEDIA SOURCE.

AND THANK YOU'ALL FOR THE OPPORTUNITY FOR THIS.

WE'RE REAL EXCITED ABOUT CELEBRATING FREE SPEECH WEEK THIS WEEK, AS WELL AS COMMUNITY MEDIA DAY.

WE WANNA BRING THAT, UH, MAKE THAT AN ANNUAL DEAL TO BRING ATTENTION TO HELP BRING PUBLIC AWARENESS TO WHAT PUBLIC ACCESS TV AND PEG IN GENERAL DOES FOR HOUSTON.

'CAUSE WE HAVE FOUR OF THEM, AND WE'RE PRETTY FORTUNATE THAT WE HAVE FOUR AND THEY'RE STILL ALIVE AND KICKING, SO WE WANNA HELP KEEP 'EM GOING.

SO THE COMMUNITY SUPPORT IS VITAL.

AND, UH, IF I CAN SAY WE ARE HAVING, UM, SPANKY'S PIZZA ON TELEPHONE ROAD IS, UH, HO IS HOSTING A FUNDRAISER FOR US.

SO ALL DAY TO DAY, ANY FOOD PURCHASES MADE, UH, AT SPANKY'S TELEPHONE ROAD, 15% WILL BE DONATED BACK TO HOUSTON MEDIA SOURCE.

SO THANK Y'ALL.

AND ON FRIDAY, UH, JERSEY, MIKE SUBS IN GULF GATE IS ALSO DOING THE SAME.

CIVIC COMMITMENT TO OUR CITY FOR SUCH A GREAT TIME.

AND I JUST WANNA SAY, UH, THIS WAS GINA'S IDEA TO PUT THIS ALL TOGETHER, AND SHE WAS THE ONE WHO SPEARHEADED THIS WHOLE PROCESS.

WELL, I HAD A LOT OF HELP FROM THE STAFF.

THANK Y'ALL VERY MUCH FOR TIFFANY D. THOMAS FOR A PROCLAMATION TO THE NATIONAL DRIFTERS FOUNDER'S DAY FOR PROVIDING VALUABLE RESOURCES AND EMPOWERMENT TO LIFT THE COMMUNITY.

THANK YOU, MAYOR PRO TEM.

GOOD AFTERNOON, MR. MAYOR.

UH, PRESIDENT WORTHY, PLEASE JOIN ME, UH, COLLEAGUES AND THOSE IN THE CHAMBERS.

YOU KNOW, OFTENTIMES WE PRESENT PROCLAMATIONS TO SERVICE ORGANIZATIONS THAT CONTRIBUTE GREATLY TO OUR GREATER COMMUNITY.

THEY DO, AND WE DEPEND ON THEM TO DO A LOT OF THE STUFF AND FILL IN THE GAPS WHERE LOCAL GOVERNMENT CANNOT.

I'M HONORED AND PROUD TO ACKNOWLEDGE THE NATIONAL DRIFTERS INCORPORATED, PARTICULARLY THE HOUSTON CHAPTER, UM, FOR THEIR

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UM, AND, AND THANK YOU, UH, MAYOR TURNER FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO PRESENT THIS TO THEM.

WHEREAS THE NATIONAL DRIFTERS INCORPORATED WAS FORMED IN WACO, TEXAS TO NURTURE WARM FRIENDSHIPS AND PROVIDE A SOCIAL OUTLET FOR WOMEN WITH SIMILAR BACKGROUNDS AND INTERESTS.

BY 1956, THE NATIONAL DRIFTERS ORGANIZED AND ESTABLISHED CHAPTERS IN DETROIT, CHICAGO, LOUISVILLE, INDIANAPOLIS, ST.

LOUIS, NEW YORK, AND KANSAS CITY.

AND WHEREAS THE GUIDANCE AND SERVICE TO THEIR COMMUNITIES, THIS ILLUSTRIOUS ORGANIZATION OF TALENTED WOMEN CONTINUES TO ENERGIZE AND STRENGTHEN THEIR COMMUNITIES, AS WELL AS BUILD A LEGACY OF STRONG LEADERSHIP, OUTSTANDING SERVICE, AND A ROBUST SISTERHOOD.

WHEREAS TODAY, WITH OVER 600 MEMBERSHIP VOLUNTEERS WITH WITHIN 38 CHAPTERS ACROSS THE UNITED STATES, THE NATIONAL DRIFTERS PLEDGE TO CONTINUE THEIR LEGACY OF GIVING AND SERVICE.

AND WHEREAS THE LOCAL CHAPTERS PROVIDE VOTER EDUCATION AND REGISTRATION SUPPORT, SCHOLARSHIPS TO YOUTH, ALONG WITH ASSISTANCE TO SENIORS, ALL WHILE PROMOTING THE NATIONAL THEME, STRENGTHEN FAMILIES TO BUILD BETTER COMMUNITIES.

AND WHEREAS THE HOUSTON CHAPTER OF THE DRIFTERS IS A GROUP OF DYNAMIC WOMEN WITH CHARITABLE, CIVIC EDUCATIONAL, AND SOCIAL INTERESTS, WHO'VE DEDICATED THEIR TALENTS TO THE ENHANCEMENT OF THOSE CHOSEN COMMUNITIES AND THE UNIVERSAL IMAGE OF WOMANHOOD, THEIR ROLE MODELS AND MENTORS, ASPIRING THE NEXT GENERATION THROUGH THEIR ACTIONS.

AND WHERE THE CITY OF HOUSTON CONGRATULATES THE NATIONAL DRIFTERS ON THEIR 66TH FOUNDER'S DAY THIS OCTOBER.

MAYOR TURNER, THANK YOU COUNCIL MEMBER.

SO THEREFORE, I, SYLVESTER TURNER MAYOR CITY OF HOUSTON, HEREBY PROUDLY PROCLAIM OCTOBER 17TH, 2023.

THAT'S THE NATIONAL DRIFTER'S INCORPORATED DAY IN THE CITY OF HOUSTON.

YAY.

THIS IS IMPORTANT TO NOTE.

THIS IS THEIR VERY FIRST PROAM PROCLAMATION AS AN ORGANIZATION IN THE CHAPTER'S HISTORY FOUNDING.

SO HONORED TO SHARE THIS MOMENT WITH YOU, PRESIDENT WORTHY.

THANK YOU, MAYOR TURNER.

THANK YOU, COUNCILWOMAN.

TIFFANY THOMAS, WE ARE GRATEFUL TO BE HERE TODAY.

FOR THOSE OF YOU WHO DO NOT KNOW US, WE ARE A GROUP OF DYNAMIC WOMEN WITH SOCIAL EDUCATION AND, UM, CIVIC ORGANIZATION.

WE ARE HAPPY TO CONTINUE TO UPLIFT OUR COMMUNITY AND OUR YOUTH, PARTICULARLY OUR YOUTH AND SENIORS.

WE BRING JOY TO OUR SENIORS THROUGH VARIOUS PROGRAMS, UM, SUCH AS MARDI GRAS PARTIES, UM, JUST BRINGING JOY AND SUPPORT TO OUR SENIOR SCHOLARSHIP, TO OUR YOUTH, FINANCIAL LITERACY, VOTER EDUCATION.

AND WE ARE JUST GRATEFUL FOR THIS GREAT HONOR, AND WE ARE LOOKING FORWARD TO MANY MORE YEARS OF SERVING OUR COMMUNITY.

WE HAVE, UM, UH, VICE MAYOR PRO TEM MARTHA CASTEX.

TATUM.

THANK YOU MAYOR PRO TEM.

COUNCIL MEMBER THOMAS, THANK YOU FOR BRINGING THIS FORWARD.

I'M, UH, EXCITED TO LEARN MORE ABOUT THIS ORGANIZATION AND VERY HONORED THAT WE ARE SHARING WITH THEIR FIRST PROCLAMATION HERE IN, UH, HOUSTON, UH, CITY HALL CHAMBERS.

WHEN I WALKED IN AND I SAW THIS, UH, GROUP OF DYNAMIC WOMEN SITTING THERE, I KNEW THAT THERE WAS SOMETHING EXCITING HAPPENING IN THE CHAMBERS TODAY.

SO CONGRATULATIONS TO EACH OF YOU.

WE CANNOT DO THIS WORK ALONE AS GOVERNMENT, AND WE NEED SO MANY BOOTS ON THE GROUND MM-HMM .

AND YOU DEFINITELY ARE MAKING THE IMPACT THAT WE NEED WITH OUR YOUTH AND OUR SENIORS AND EVERYONE, UM, IMPACTING, UH, THE LIVES OF PEOPLE IN OUR GREAT CITY.

SO THANK YOU FOR ALL OF THE GREAT WORK THAT YOU DO, AND WE LOOK FORWARD TO CONTINUING TO WORK ALONGSIDE EACH OF YOU.

THANK YOU, VICE MAYOR.

CHAIR NOW RECOGNIZES COUNCIL MEMBERS ABBY CAYMAN AND LETITIA PLUMMER FOR A PROCLAMATION TO MAISHA COULTER FROM A VDA FOR DOMESTIC VIOLENCE AWARENESS MONTH, AND IN RECOGNITION OF AAV DA'S WORK RIGHT THERE.

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YEP.

THANK YOU VICE MAYOR, PRO TEM.

THERE.

YOU'RE OKAY.

AS MANY OF YOU KNOW, AND I WANNA REALLY COMMEND THE MAYOR AND ADMINISTRATION FOR FOCUSING SO MUCH ON DOMESTIC VIOLENCE.

ONE THING THAT WE SAW DURING COVID, I WAS, WE KNEW A LOT WAS HAPPENING IN HOUSEHOLDS, BUT WHEN COV HAPPENED, WE WERE FULLY AWARE OF WHAT WAS HAPPENING IN HOUSEHOLDS WHEN IT CAME TO DOMESTIC VIOLENCE.

AN ADVA LED THE WAY IN THAT.

AND SO IT IS MY PLEASURE AND HONOR TO, UH, TO PRESENT THIS PROCLAMATION TO ADVA AID OF TWO VICTIMS OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE BEGAN IN 1979 AS A TEAM OF VOLUNTEERS WITH NATIONAL COUNSEL OF JEWISH WOMEN GREATER HOUSTON SECTION, WHO WERE DETERMINED TO BREAK THE CYCLE OF VIOLENCE BY PROVIDING SURVIVORS WITH FREE LEGAL REPRESENTATION WITH THE REFRACTION OF ITS ARTICLES OF INCORPORATION.

ON AUGUST 18TH, 1980, THE DREAM BECAME ADVA THANKS TO THE FOUNDING MOTHERS, I'M SORRY, ADVA , THANKS TO THE FOUNDING MOTHER, RHONDA RSON, TOBY MEYERS AND DEI OFIELD, AND THE HOST OF OTHER VOLUNTEERS, INCLUDING JUDGE DOUG WARNER WARNEY, THE ORGANIZATION'S FIRST ATTORNEY.

THE ORGANIZATION HAS SINCE FLOURISHED INTO AN ADVOCACY GROUP.

40 PAID STAFF SERVING EIGHT COUNTIES SINCE 1984.

AADA HAS PROVIDED STATE ACCREDITED GROUP COUNSELING FOR MORE THAN 10,000 ABUSERS THROUGH THE BATTERING INTERVENTION AND PREVENTION PROGRAM.

NOW IN GALVESTON, HARRIS, AND MONTGOMERY COUNTIES.

IN 2014, A COUNSELING OF OUTREACH PROGRAM WAS ESTABLISHED TO PROVIDE TRAUMA COUNSELING FOR CLIENTS AND THEIR CHILDREN, EDUCATE YOUTH ON ABUSE PREVENTION AND BUILD COMMUNITIES AWARENESS.

ABDIS LEGAL ADVOCACY PROGRAM HAS HELPED MORE THAN A HUNDRED THOUSAND SURVIVORS BEGIN NEW LIVES IN PROVIDING FREE LEGAL REPRESENTATION FOR PRODUCT, FOR PROTECTIVE ORDERS, DIVORCE, CHILD CUSTODY, AND SUPPORT IN ADOPTION CASES OF PARENTS FATALITY.

ABDIS LEGAL AID EXPANDED INTO FORT BEND IN 2017 AND INTO AUSTIN GRIMES WALLER, AND WASHINGTON COUNTIES IN 2019, THROUGH ADVOCACY, ABDA WAS INSTRUMENTAL IN THE FORMATION OF THE FAMILY CRIMINAL DIVISION OF THE HARRIS COUNTY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE.

HARRIS COUNTY'S FIRST DOMESTIC VIOLENCE COURT, THE HARRIS COUNTY DOMESTIC VIOLENCE COORDINATING COUNSEL, AND THE CITY'S FIRST DOMESTIC VIOLENCE HIGH RISK TEAM.

IN OCTOBER, ADVA PAYS TRIBUTE TO 204 VICTIMS WHO LOST THEIR LIVES AS A RESULT OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE IN 2021 AT A SPECIAL EVENT HONORING TEXAS VICTIMS DINNER THIS EVENING IS A REMEMBRANCE WILL SPREAD AWARENESS OF INCREASING DOMESTIC VIOLENCE STATISTICS, AND ADVOCATE FOR ENDING ABUSE.

THE CITY OF HOUSTON COMMENDS ADVENT BOARD OF DIRECTORS AND STAFF AS WE CELEBRATE MORE THAN FOUR DECADES OF EXCEPTIONAL SERVICE AND EXTENDS BEST WISHES AS WE REDEDICATE THEMSELVES TO THE BLAZING NEW TRAILS TO TOWARD A FUTURE WITHOUT FAMILY VIOLENCE.

THANK, THANK YOU, COUNCIL MEMBER.

AND SO THEREFORE, I, SYLVESTER TURNER, MAYOR OF CITY OF HOUSTON, HEREBY PROBABLY PROCLAIM OCTOBER 17TH, 2023.

THAT'S HONORING TEXAS VICTIMS DAY IN HOUSTON, TEXAS.

THANK YOU AND SO MANY OTHERS FOR WHAT YOU DO.

AND, UH, BEFORE MAISHA SPEAKS, I WANTED TO SAY JUST A FEW WORDS ABOUT AB DOES WORK.

UM, AB AS YOU HEARD, COUNCIL MEMBER PLUMMER SAY IN HER PROCLAMATION WAS CREATED OUT OF THE NATIONAL COUNCIL OF JEWISH WOMEN, UH, WOMEN THAT SAID THAT WE HAVE TO TAKE A STAND FOR OTHER WOMEN.

AND WHAT'S COME OF THAT SINCE THAT DAY IS ABSOLUTELY, UM, IMPERATIVE LIFESAVING, BUT ALSO BEAUTIFUL, UH, THE WORK THAT ABDA DOES.

I KNOW MAISHA, YOU'RE GONNA TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT IT, BUT IT'S NOT JUST DOING LEGAL REPRESENTATION FOR WOMEN AND THEIR FAMILIES IN NEED OF CRITICAL LIFESAVING PROTECTIVE ORDERS.

UH, THEY DO SO MUCH MORE, INCLUDING COUNSELING AND WORKING WITH FORMER ABUSERS TO END THE CYCLE AND GET THEM THE SUPPORT THAT THEY NEED SO THAT NO ONE ELSE IS HURT FROM THIS.

UH, RECENTLY AT THE BEGINNING OF THE MONTH, WE STOOD, UM, ALONGSIDE SURVIVORS AND ALSO HOUSTON ROCKETS, UH, TARI EASEMENT, WHO, UH, IS NOW

[00:25:01]

WORKING WITH CLEAR CHANNEL AND ABDA ON THIS PUBLIC AWARENESS CAMPAIGN.

SO I'M JUST GONNA SHARE THE PHONE NUMBER OUT, AND IF THE PUBLIC CAN HELP SHARE IT FOR LEGAL SUPPORT, YOU CAN GO TO ABDA A AV DA.ORG OR CALL 7 1 3 2 2 4 9 9 1 1.

AND THERE'S ONE THING, MAYOR, I WANTED TO ACKNOWLEDGE, UH, YOU AND YOUR TEAM FOR UNDER ONE SAFE HOUSTON.

UH, NOT ONLY THE CREATION OF A SPACE WHERE DOMESTIC VIOLENCE IS NOW ADDRESSED THROUGH THE OFFICE OF HUMAN TRAFFICKING, BUT THE MILLIONS AND DOLLARS AND RESOURCES THROUGHOUT THE PANDEMIC AND BEYOND TO SUPPORT, UM, DOMESTIC VIOLENCE SURVIVORS AND ORGANIZATIONS LIKE ABDA.

BUT ONE THING I'VE SPOKEN ABOUT IS THE, UH, WE TALK ABOUT THE IMPORTANCE OF PROTECTIVE ORDERS.

AND RIGHT NOW, BEFORE THE SUPREME COURT, THERE IS A DECISION COMING THAT WILL DECIDE WHETHER OR NOT AN INDIVIDUAL, A KNOWN ABUSER THAT IS SUBJECT SUBJECTED TO A PROTECTIVE ORDER, HAS THE RIGHT UNDER THE CONSTITUTION TO KEEP THEIR FIREARM.

AND WE KNOW THAT IN A DOMESTIC ABUSE SCENARIO, A FIREARM MAKES IT FIVE TIMES MORE LETHAL.

UM, SO THIS IS MAKING ABDIS WORK ALL THE MORE CRITICAL, BUT I ENCOURAGE EVERYONE TO EDUCATE AND SUPPORT THIS INCREDIBLE ORGANIZATION.

AND THE EVENT IS ON THURSDAY, THURSDAY, THURSDAY EVENING.

SO, MAISHA WITH THAT, PLEASE.

THANK YOU SO MUCH, MAYOR TURNER.

COUNCIL MEMBER CAYMAN AND COUNCIL MEMBER PLUMMER FOR YOUR STEADFAST SUPPORT IN ALL THAT WE DO HERE AT ABDA.

UM, I JUST WANNA TAKE THE TIME TO SAY THANK YOU ON BEHALF OF THE A HUNDRED THOUSAND OR MORE VICTIMS THAT WE HAVE SERVED OVER THE LAST 43 YEARS, UM, FOR THE SUPPORT THAT WE GET FROM THE CITY, UM, AND THE GOVERNMENT.

BUT WE WILL ALSO BE REMISS IF WE WOULDN'T, UM, IF I DIDN'T, THANK ALL OF THE COMMUNITY PARTNERS WHO MAKE IT POSSIBLE FOR THE COMMUNITY TO BE, TO BE AWARE THAT ABDA SERVICES ARE HERE AND AVAILABLE TO THEM.

SO, CLEAR CHANNEL, WE THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR SUPPORT, UM, AND DEDICATION TO MAKING SURE THE MESSAGE IS THERE, THAT THERE IS HELP FOR PEOPLE IN NEED.

NO ONE SHOULD LIVE IN A HOME WHERE THEY ARE ABUSED, AFRAID, OR THREATENED.

AND WE KNOW THAT LIVING IN THOSE TYPES OF SITUATIONS HAVE EXTENSIVE, UH, IMPACT NOT JUST ON THE PERSON WHO'S DEALING WITH IT TODAY, BUT ON THEIR CHILDREN AND ON THE FUTURE.

AND SO IT IS MY GREAT HOPE THAT AT SOME POINT WE DO WHAT WE CAN TO CONTINUE TO, UM, SERVE THE COMMUNITY, BUT ULTIMATELY PUT OURSELVES OUT OF BUSINESS BY BEING ATTENTIVE TO THE NEEDS OF ALL OF THOSE WHO ARE A PART OF THE CYCLE OF FAMILY VIOLENCE.

AND THAT MEANS THE PERPETRATOR, THE VICTIM, AND THEIR CHILDREN.

AND IF WE ADDRESS ALL OF THE NEEDS OF EVERYONE INVOLVED IN THESE DYNAMICS, THEN I BELIEVE THAT WE HAVE THE REAL POTENTIAL TO DO AWAY WITH THIS CRIMINAL ACT, UM, AND WITH THIS PUBLIC, UM, HEALTH CRISIS THAT IT IS.

SO THANK YOU AGAIN FOR ALL OF THE SUPPORT, AND WE WILL CONTINUE TO DO EVERYTHING THAT WE CAN AT ABDA TO MAINTAIN THE SERVICES AT THE HIGHEST LEVEL THAT WE CAN, SO THAT WE CAN HELP TO TRANSFORM AND CHANGE LIVES.

CAN YOU DO ME A FAVOR? CAN YOU THANK YOU, MS. COLTER, A PHONE NUMBER THAT THEY CAN CALL HOTLINE PHONE NUMBER.

AND THANK YOU SO MUCH, UH, LEE VE WITH CLEAR CHANNEL OUTDOOR.

AND WILL YOU, UM, YOU KNOW, WE DO A LOT OF PUBLIC SERVICE CAMPAIGNS THROUGHOUT THE YEARS, UH, WITH A LOT OF NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATIONS, BUT WE'VE BEEN DOING, DOING THINGS WITH ADVENT FOR THE LAST EIGHT, NINE YEARS.

UH, AND WE KNOW THAT IT'S MADE A DIFFERENCE BECAUSE THEY HAVE A LOT OF CALLS THAT COME IN FROM THAT.

SO PART OF THIS IS REACHING PEOPLE WHO NEED HELP, AND THAT'S WHAT WE CAN HELP DO, UH, BEING OUT IN THE COMMUNITY AND OUT THROUGH, THROUGH THE ENTIRE AREA.

SO IT'S PART OF WHAT WE, WHAT CLEAR CHANNEL DOES, AND ON BEHALF OF CLEAR CHANNEL, WE'RE VERY PROUD TO BE A PART OF THIS PARTICULAR, UH, UM, PRO PROGRAM THAT'S HELPING SO MANY PEOPLE AND, AND HOPEFULLY SAVING LIVES AT THE SAME TIME.

SO, THANK YOU VERY MUCH, MAISHA AND ADVA AND COUNCIL MEMBERS, UH, FOR, AND MAYOR FOR HAVING US HERE.

UH, WE, UH, WE APPRECIATE YOUR LEADERSHIP IN THIS AREA AND, AND WE'RE HERE TO HELP YOU AS WELL.

THANK YOU, MR. VILLA, AND CLEAR CHANNEL .

GRANDMOTHER, GRANDMOTHER INVOLVED WITH THE ORGANIZATION AND BY PROFESSION, I'M A MENTAL HEALTH, UH, MARRIAGE AND FAMILY THERAPIST, AND I'M ALSO A CREDENTIALED SCHOOL COUNSELOR.

TURN RIGHT AROUND.

YES,

[00:30:02]

BUT AT THE TIME OF THE INCIDENT IN QUESTION, UH, BACK IN 1993, UH, I WAS A MOTHER PREGNANT WITH TWO KIDS ALREADY.

UM, AND THE MURDER HAPPENED SO QUICKLY AND SHIFTED A LOT OF THINGS.

SO I DON'T REALLY WANNA TALK ABOUT THAT.

BUT WHAT I REALLY WANNA TALK ABOUT IS WHAT HAPPENS IN THE SHIFT THAT WE HAVE TO HAVE HOUSING, WE HAVE TO HAVE TRANSITIONAL CARE.

WE CAN'T RELY ON THINGS LIKE A RESTRAINING ORDER.

MY SISTER HAD ONE, IT DIDN'T STOP HER FROM GETTING 13 BULLETS AND MY MOTHER GETTING ONE AND A HEAD.

IT DIDN'T STOP THE THREE KIDS WHO NEEDED, UM, FOSTER MOTHER BECAUSE MY MOTHER, MY, MY SISTER WAS MENTALLY ILL.

SO ALL OF A SUDDEN, THOSE KIDS NEEDED CARE TOO.

SO THERE IS AN EFFECT, A DOMINO EFFECT WHEN IT COMES TO DOMESTIC VIOLENCE.

BUT FOR ME, AS AN EDUCATOR, I SAID, IT STARTS IN SCHOOL.

I SAY IT STARTS WITH KIDS.

I SAY IT STARTS WITH BULLYING.

I SAY IT STARTS WITH PARENTS.

IF YOU KNOW THAT YOUR KIDS ARE A BULLY OR A GANG BANGER, THAT STUFF FOR YOU TO STAND UP AND MAKE A DIFFERENCE.

THAT WE CANNOT DEPEND ON SOCIETY TO TAKE CARE OF THE ILLS.

BUT FOR ME AND MY FAMILY, WE STAND AGAINST DOMESTIC VIOLENCE IN ANY FORM, IN ANY THREAT, IN ANY COLOR.

IT DOESN'T MATTER, BLACK OR WHITE, MALE OR FEMALE.

IT'S A HORRIBLE PLACE TO BE.

AND HAVING LOST MY MOTHER AND MY SISTER ON A MOTHER'S DAY RIGHT AFTER CHURCH, IT WAS VERY, VERY TRAGIC.

BUT I AM SO GLAD, I'M SO BLESSED OF WHAT'S GOING ON HERE TODAY.

I'M FROM CALIFORNIA, I DON'T LIVE HERE, SO IF I SOUND LIKE I'M ROOTING IN TOOTING, YOU KNOW, THAT'S WHAT WE DO IN CALIFORNIA.

, WE DO , WE DO IT.

BUT I LOVE, I LOVE TEXAS.

UH, MY, MY PARENTS, MY DAD ACTUALLY HAS ABOUT 333 ACRES OF LAND, EX-SLAVE LAND, UM, IN FORT BEND COUNTY.

SO I'M CONNECTED EVEN.

SO MY MOTHER WAS BORN IN LOUISIANA, SO I'M CONNECTED TO THE SOUTH AND I LOVE TEXAS.

AND THANK YOU FOR ALLOWING ME TO SPEAK.

EXCUSE ME FOR BEING LATE .

BUT, UM, YOU CAN CONTACT ME AT SPORTS COUNSELING USA.

UM, I'M TERRY LEWIS.

I, I WORK WITH YOUTH AND SPORTS AND MENTAL HEALTH IS VERY IMPORTANT TO ME.

SO IF YOU JUST WANNA GIVE ME A LITTLE SHOUT OUT, UH, HELP YOURSELF, WE WILL, AND JUST MAKE, JUST TO MAKE SURE WE HAVE, AND THIS IS MY GRANDSON, SO, SO JUST TO MAKE SURE YOU HAVE TO LOOK AT THIS ONE HERE.

I, I PHOTO BOB DID A LITTLE CHANGE TO HIS RED SHIRT.

IF YOU SEE THAT, THAT'S TOO CUTE.

THANK YOU GUYS SO MUCH.

NEXT CHAIR REC, UM, CHAIR NOW RECOGNIZES MICE MAYOR PRO TEM MARTHA CASTEX TATUM, ON BEHALF OF ED POLLARD FOR A PRO PROCLAMATION TO LATINA GIRL CARMEN IN RECOGNITION OF HER 20 YEARS IN THE INDUSTRY.

HOW ARE YOU? DOING FINE.

DOING FINE.

UH, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR BEING HERE TODAY AND ON BEHALF OF COUNCIL MEMBER POLLARD, UH, WE ARE HONORED TO PRESENT THIS PROCLAMATION TO YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE AND THE PROCLAMATION READ.

LATINA GIRL CARMEN CONFETTI HAS CAPTIVATED HOUSTON LISTENERS FOR MORE THAN 20 YEARS.

HOUSTONIANS CAN EASILY FIND HER VOICE ON 93.7, THE BEAT HOUSTON, WHILE OTHERS AROUND THE NATION CAN LISTEN AS WELL.

CARMEN'S LISTENERS HAVE GIVEN HER THE NICKNAME HOUSTON'S VOICE, AND SHE IS A LEGEND IN THE INDUSTRY.

IN THE NINETIES, SHE WENT INTO LOCAL RADIO STATION, 97.9, THE BOX, JUST TO CLAIM A PRIZE THAT HER LITTLE BROTHER WON FROM A RAP CONTEST.

AND CARMEN WALKED OUT WITH A JOB.

CARMEN STARTED OFF IN THE RESEARCH DEPARTMENT OF THE STATION.

ONE DAY AT WORK, SHE NOTICED THE DJ NEVER CAME BACK TO THE STUDIO.

THERE

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WAS NO MUSIC ON THE AIR, AND SHE TOOK IT UPON HERSELF TO START PLAYING MUSIC.

AND THAT DAY, A RADIO STAR WAS BORN.

SINCE THEN, SHE HAS CONTINUED TO ROCK THE HOUSTON RADIO AIRWAVES ON 97.9, THE BOX HOT 95.7 HOUSTON'S HOT HITS, AND NOW 93.7, THE BEAT HOUSTON.

OVER THE YEARS, CARMEN HAS TRAINED OTHER WOMEN WHO ARE NOW VERY SUCCESSFUL IN THE WORLD OF RADIO THAT WAS ONCE A MALE DOMINATED INDUSTRY.

EVERYONE RECOGNIZES THE VOICE OF LATINA GIRL CARMEN CONTRERAS.

BUT YOU CAN ALSO SEE CARMEN WHEN SHE MAKES HER SPECIAL APPEARANCES.

CARMEN HAS EXPANDED HER MEDIA EMPIRE OUTSIDE OF RADIO AS A CONTRIBUTOR TO THE ISAIAH FACTOR UNCENSORED ON FOX 26, ADDING HER FLARE TO STORIES ABOUT MUSIC, ENTERTAINMENT, AND SOCIAL MEDIA.

SHE GOES ABOVE AND BEYOND FOR HER COMMUNITY AND PROUDLY PARTICIPATES WITH GIRLS TALK AT CYPRESS SPRINGS HIGH SCHOOL.

AS A GUEST SPEAKER, SHE SHARES HER STORY OF GETTING BULLIED AND HOW IT DIDN'T STOP HER FROM SUCCEEDING.

SHE HAS WORKED WITH THE BOYS AND GIRLS CLUB OF TEXAS EXECUTIVE WOMEN MENTORING PROGRAM.

SHE IS PASSIONATE ABOUT HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS SUCCEEDING AND TRAINS THEM ON SETTING GOALS, WORK ETIQUETTE, DRESSING FOR SUCCESS, AND PREPARING FOR LIFE AFTER SCHOOL.

SHE HAS BEEN THE SPOKESPERSON FOR THE TEXAS BAY CREDIT UNION IN ASSOCIATION WITH THE HOUSTON ROCKETS AND HOUSTON ASTROS.

SHE HAS EVEN THROWN THE FIRST PITCH SEVERAL TIMES FOR THE HOUSTON ASTROS.

HOUSTON LOVES CARMEN AND SHE LOVES HOUSTON.

HER DREAMS BECAME A REALITY, AND IT ALL STARTED IN THE FIFTH WARD OF HOUSTON, TEXAS AT CROCKETT ON CROCKETT STREET.

SHE WILL NEVER FORGET WHERE SHE CAME FROM AND WHERE SHE STARTED.

SHE MADE IT OUT OF THE PROJECTS BECAUSE OF HER PASSION TO SUCCEED AND HER NEVER QUIT ATTITUDE.

CARMEN HAS MADE SACRIFICES AND STILL WORKS HARD WITH HER FAMILY BY HER SIDE.

CARMEN'S BEEN MARRIED FOR 18 YEARS TO KELTON SMITH, AND THEY HAVE FOUR DOGS NAMED SIERRA FENDI.

LARRY IN HEAVEN, WHEREVER LATINA GIRL CARMEN GOES, SHE BRINGS HER ENTIRE ENTOURAGE WITH HER, WHICH ARE HER LISTENERS, ALSO KNOWN AS HER RADIO BABIES, THE CITY OF HOUSTON COMMENDS LATINA GIRL CARMEN CONTRERAS, ON HER OUTSTANDING COMMITMENT TO THE COMMUNICATIONS INDUSTRY AND HER EMPOWERMENT OF THE LATIN COMMUNITY.

THANK YOU, THANK YOU COUNCIL MEMBER.

AND SO I HAVE THE PLEASURE OF SAYING SO.

THEREFORE, I SYLVESTER TURNER, MAYOR OF CITY OF HOUSTON, DO HEREBY PROUDLY PROCLAIM OCTOBER 17TH, 2023 AS LATINA GIRL COMMON CONTRERA DAY IN THE CITY OF HOUSTON.

THANK, THANK YOU.

NOW Y'ALL KNOW I CAN TALK.

OKAY, , I WANNA SHARE MY STORY WITH ALL OF Y'ALL.

FIRST OF ALL, LET ME JUST SAY YOU NOT THINK GONNA DO IT, I SAID, OKAY.

FIRST WARD, I REPRESENT FIRST WARD.

LEMME JUST TAKE THIS IN.

UM, THANK YOU FOR THIS RECOGNITION.

I'M TRULY HONORED TO RECEIVE THIS PROCLAMATION.

THE HIGHEST AWARD I COULD EVER RECEIVE.

YOU SEE, I'VE BEEN NOMINATED FOR AWARDS, BUT I NEVER GOT THE AWARDS 'CAUSE GOD WAITED FOR THIS DAY TO RECEIVE THE BIGGEST AWARD FROM MY CITY AND FROM MAYOR TURNER AND FROM COUNCIL MEMBER EDWARD POLLARD.

WHEN I WAS OFFERED THE OPPORTUNITY TO BE ON THE RADIO, I HAD NO EXPERIENCE IN RADIO.

I SAID YES TO THIS OPPORTUNITY, NOT KNOWING WHAT I WAS GETTING MYSELF INTO.

AFTER ALL, I LOVE TO TALK.

WHEN I WAS ASKED WHAT MY RADIO NAME WOULD BE, I SAID, YOU ARE LATINA .

I WAS TOLD, ARE YOU SURE? 'CAUSE THIS IS A HIP HOP URBAN STATION.

I SAID, YES, I'M LATINA.

AND THAT'S MY NAME, CARMEN RES.

I REMEMBER SOMEONE SAYING, LET'S SEE HOW THIS GOES.

I WAS LAUGHED AT AND AND WAS TOLD I WOULDN'T MAKE IT IN THIS INDUSTRY AT THAT MOMENT, I WENT BACK IN TIME WHEN I WAS BULLIED AS A KID FOR HAVING A LONG NAME MARIA DEL GARMEN RES AND BULLIED FOR SPEAKING BROKEN ENGLISH.

I WAS DETERMINED TO PULL A POINT AND FAST FORWARD DECADES AFTER DECADES AFTER DECADES, I'M STILL SAYING MY NAME IN SPANISH, YOUR LATINA, ON THE RADIO.

YOU SEE, BACK THEN I WAS THE FIRST LATINA RADIO DJ HERE IN HOUSTON TO SAY MY NAME IN SPANISH WHILE WORKING FOR A HIP HOP STATION 97 9, THE BOX WHERE MY RADIO CAREER STARTED FROM ANSWERING PHONES TO WORKING OVERNIGHTS AND GETTING PROMOTED TO THE MIDDAY SHOW, WHICH I HELD AT BEING NUMBER ONE, NUMBER ONE RATED SHOW.

NO MATTER HOW HARD IT GOT, I NEVER QUIT BECAUSE MY MOTHER NEVER QUIT.

RAISED IN FIRST WARD, A SINGLE MOTHER.

THE SACRIFICES AND STRUGGLES MY MOTHER OVERCAME MADE ME WHO I AM TODAY.

THE WOMAN THAT CAN TAKE ANY CHALLENGE AND WIN.

THIS REWARD IS DEDICATED TO THE STRONGEST WOMAN

[00:40:01]

I KNOW.

ANNA MARIA ENTRES MY MOTHER TO MY SECOND GRADE TEACHER WHO IS HERE, MR. TRUNK.

SHE, SHE ACTUALLY SENT MY MOTHER A PROGRESS REPORT SAYING, YOUR DAUGHTER TALKS TOO MUCH.

, SHE'S PROBABLY GONNA DO RADIO OR TV.

THANK YOU TEACHER FOR ALLOWING ME TO TALK, BUT MOST IMPORTANTLY, FOR FEEDING ME WHEN I COULDN'T AFFORD TO EAT TO MY HUSBAND, WHO I'VE BEEN MARRIED TO GOING ON 19 YEARS AND WHO HAS PUT UP WITH ALL MY RADIO MADNESS, YOU ALWAYS ENCOURAGE ME TO GO HIGHER AND NEVER TAKE SHORTCUTS IN LIFE.

THANK YOU FOR ALWAYS PICKING ME UP AND NEVER LETTING ME HIT THE GROUND TO MY FAMILY.

Y'ALL CAN SEE I ROLLED IN REALLY DEEP .

MY BROTHERS, MY SISTER-IN-LAW, I LOVE YOU.

MOMMY IS SO PROUD OF US.

THANK YOU FOR ALWAYS BEING THERE WHEN I NEEDED YOU THE MOST.

MY NIECES AND NEPHEWS, MY NUMBER ONE FANS, REMEMBER, AIM HIGHER THAN ME AND TURN THAT NO INTO A YES I CAN.

MY AUNTS, UNCLES, AND COUSINS THAT TRAVEL TO BE WITH ME.

A HUGE SHOUT OUT TO ROBIN ANTHONY BECAUSE I DID LOSE A COUPLE OF JOBS DURING THIS JOURNEY.

UH, MY SPIRITUAL ADVISOR WHO COULDN'T BE HERE, UH, SHE HELD ME UP WHEN I LOST MY JOB FROM THE BOX FROM IN 2008.

I DIDN'T KNOW WHAT MY NEXT MOVE.

I MEAN, ALL I DID WAS RADIO.

UM, BUT SHE HELD MY HAND, SHE PRAYED, PAID MY BILLS, AND SAID, GOD GOT YOU.

ONLY HE CAN TURN OFF YOUR SPOTLIGHT.

AND YOU ARE RIGHT.

'CAUSE I BOUNCED BACK AND I KEPT ON BOUNCING BACK TO THE LITTLE GIRLS THAT COME UP TO ME, ME, AND TELL ME, YOU ARE THE REASON WHY I SAY MY NAME IN SPANISH.

I SAY, I SAY TO YOU, KEEP SAYING IT AND SAY IT LOUDER TO EVERYONE THAT HAS TOLD ME I WANT TO DO RADIO AND BE JUST LIKE YOU.

I SAY TO YOU, DON'T LET NO ONE STOP YOU.

I'LL TRAIN YOU.

'CAUSE I'VE TRAINED SO MANY WHO ARE VERY SUCCESS SUCCESSFUL IN THIS CAREER.

TO MY MENTOR IKA, WHO WAS HERE, WHO HAS PREPARED ME FOR SOME OF THIS, THE CRAZIEST INTERVIEWS LIKE JANET JACKSON MAXWELL, AND SHE HAS, YOU KNOW, HELPED ME.

YOU CAN'T MAKE IT TO THE TOP ALONE.

THANK YOU MISH.

MY FRIENDS THAT ARE HERE, THE ONES THAT COULDN'T BE HERE.

THANKS FOR SUPPORTING ME BEING THE SHOULDER I CRY ON TO MY HAIRSTYLIST LUCERO, WHO HAS ALWAYS INSPIRED ME.

I HAVE TO GIVE HER A SHOUT.

WHO IS HERE? MICHAEL SAUNDERS.

'CAUSE THE HAIR LOOKS GOOD.

MY, I PROMISE YOU I'M WRAPPING IT UP.

MY FORMER PROGRAM DIRECTOR, ROBERT SCORPIO, WHO GAVE ME MY FIRST RADIO JOB AND BELIEVED IN ME AND SAW SOMETHING IN ME I DIDN'T SEE.

THANK YOU FOR THE RADIO CAREER.

TOM KOCHI, MARK ADAMS. BRUCE MCCOMBS, THANK YOU FOR STILL MENTORING ME.

ISAIAH CAREY, HAPPY BIRTHDAY.

OKAY, , UH, HE, UH, PUT ME ON, ON TV, GAVE ME THE OPPORTUNITY TO WORK ON TV AND KEPT MY NAME ALIVE WHEN I WAS UNEMPLOYED TO MY IHEART MEDIA MANAGEMENT.

THANK YOU BOSS FOR HIRING ME AND MAKING ME A BETTER RADIO PERSONALITY.

YOU ARE AN INCREDIBLE LEADER.

A RADIO GOD, MARK SHERMAN, EDDIE MARTINI, AND TUTU.

THANK YOU FOR ALWAYS SUPPORTING ME AND CONTINUING TO TEACH ME AND GIVING ME THE OPPORTUNITY TO NOT ONLY BE HEARD IN HOUSTON, BUT HEARD IN OTHER MARKETS, AND TO MY RADIO BABIES.

IT'S OUR DAY.

THANK YOU FOR BEING WITH ME SINCE DAY ONE AND TO THE ONES THAT CLOSED MY DOORS.

TODAY I OPENED THE DOORS TO CITY HALL AND GOT MY OWN DAY.

THANKS LORD.

I GOT MANY MORE YEARS TO GO.

AND I'M 25 IN HAL.

THANK YOU, COUNCIL MEMBER CARLOS CISNEROS.

YOU'RE AMAZING.

AND WHAT A WONDERFUL ROLE MODEL YOU ARE.

I, I LOVE YOUR SPIRIT AND YOUR CANDO ATTITUDE.

KEEP GOING.

I WANNA SEE WHERE YOU'RE GOING NEXT.

I MIGHT RUN FOR MAYOR ONE DAY.

IS YOUR MOTHER.

YOU SAID YOUR MOTHER'S HERE.

MY MOTHER IS RIGHT HERE IN MY NECKLACE.

I SEE.

SHE'S ALWAYS WITH ME.

AND THANK YOU.

AND I REALLY WANNA SAY THIS REALLY QUICK.

I'M HONORED TO RECEIVE THIS TODAY BECAUSE TODAY IS THE BIRTHDAY OF ES.

HE CREATED THE FIRST FULL-TIME SPANISH RADIO AND TV STATIONS IN THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA.

SO RECEIVING THIS PROCLAMATION TODAY IS VERY MEANINGFUL.

Y'ALL ARE GONNA NEED TO GO ALL THE WAY AROUND.

THANK YOU TO MY THANK CONGRATULATIONS TO MY STEPDAD WHO SENT THOSE TO ME.

THANK YOU, SAM.

[00:45:56]

GOT OUT ON THEIR CAR AND STARTED TALKING.

I ALWAYS, JOHN MARTHA, THANK YOU.

MR. MOSS ACTIONS PROVE HIM TO BE A MAN OF SERVICE.

[00:50:08]

TWO TO 6:00 PM ON 9 3 7.

THE BEAT CHAIR, CHAIR RECOGNIZES COUNCIL MEMBER TIFFANY D. THOMAS.

UH, UH, THANK YOU MAYOR PRO TEMP FOR THIS PERSONAL POINT OF PRIVILEGE.

MAYOR TURNER, IF YOU'LL INDULGE MY GRADUATE COURSE WITH THE PHOTO.

WE HAVE NO COMMENTARY, JUST A PHOTO.

THIS IS YOUR GRADUATE CLASS, SO YOU, YOU'RE THEIR TEACHER.

YOU'RE THE PROFESSOR.

Y'ALL NEED TO TALK TO US AFTER CLASS.

THESE PEOPLE GOTTA GET IT RIGHT PRO TIM.

Y'ALL ALL GET A'S NO MATTER WHAT SHE SAYS.

STRAIGHT A'S CHAIR NOW RECOGNIZES MAYOR, MAYOR SYLVETA TURNER.

THANK YOU, UH, MAYOR PRO TEM AND COUNCIL MEMBERS.

AND I HAVE THE, UH, THE PLEASURE OF PRESENTING, UH, THIS PROCLAMATION.

UH, DAVE MOSS, WHO IS ACCOMPANIED BY HIS LOVELY WIFE.

UM, AND, UM, AND THIS IS A SPECIAL DAY, UH, FOR ME, UH, DAVE AND, UH, AND HIS LOVELY WIFE.

THEY HAVE BEEN, UH, THEY HAVE, UH, REALLY BEEN THE MAIN SPONSORS OF OUR OHIO HOUSTON YOUTH PROGRAM, UH, EVER SINCE I'VE BEEN MAYOR AND EVEN BEFORE.

SO FOR, FOR THE PAST EIGHT YEARS, UH, HE AND THE MCDONALD OWNERS HAVE REALLY, UH, STEPPED UP.

AND AS A RESULT OF THEIR EFFORTS IN PART OVER EIGHT YEARS, WE HAVE HIRED, UH, OVER 40,000, UH, INTERNS, UH, IN THE CITY OF, AND WHEN I CAME IN, HE OWNED A WHOLE LOT OF MCDONALD'S FRANCHISES.

UH, HE'S NOW KIND OF DISTRIBUTED THEM TO EVERYBODY.

AND, UM, AND, UM, UH, WELL, HE'S MADE A LOT OF MONEY.

UH, .

IN 2016, DAVE MARS SAW AN OPPORTUNITY FOR THE GREATER HOUSTON MCDONALD OWNERS TO COMMEMORATE THEIR FALLEN FRIENDS AND COLLEAGUES, UH, CAROL OLIVER BY PARTNERING WITH THE CITY OF HOUSTON TO PROVIDE SUMMARY EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES FOR YOUTH AGES 16 THROUGH 24.

THE RESULT WAS THE MCDONALD HIGHER HOUSTON YOUTH SERIES OF ON THE SPOT HIRING EVENTS, WHICH WITH THE SUPPORT OF OTHER EMPLOYERS INCLUDED ACCESS TO INTERVIEWING, UH, TIPS, FINANCIAL LITERACY, TRANSPORTATION AND SCHOLARSHIP INFORMATION.

AS A RESULT BETWEEN 2016 AND 2023 ARE WELL OVER.

AND THIS ONE'S IS REAL.

WELL, WELL OVER 40,000 YOUTH WERE HIRED IN 34 JOB FAIRS, UH, THROUGHOUT THE CITY.

AND NOT ONLY DID HE COME, BUT HE BROUGHT, UH, HIS SONS AND OTHERS WITH HIM.

AND THEY ACTUALLY PARTICIPATED IN PROVIDING THOSE TIPS TO THESE YOUNG FOLK CLIMBING THE MCDONALD LADDER OF SUCCESS TO THE HIGHEST RUNGS OF OWNERSHIP.

MR. MOSS RECOGNIZED THE IMPORTANCE OF PROVIDING YOUTH WITH AN OPPORTUNITY TO EARN INCOME, GAIN JOB READINESS SKILLS, ENGAGE IN POSITIVE ACT ACTIVITIES DURING THE SUMMER, AND BECOME LINKED, LINKED TO LONG-TERM CAREER OPPORTUNITIES.

HIS PASSION FOR THIS PROJECT WAS EVIDENCE AND HIS INVOLVEMENT IN EVERY ASPECT OF THE PLANNING, COORDINATION, AND EXECUTION OF EACH EVENT, PARTICIPATING IN MEETINGS, ARRIVING EARLY, HELPING WITH SET UP AND NOT LEAVING UNTIL THE LAST USE WAS SEEN.

MR. MOSS, CHARITABLE AND PHILANTHROPIC ENDEAVORS, INCLUDING THE ON THE SPOT HIRING EVENT, EARNED HIM THE MCDONALD'S PIONEER AWARD, WHICH IS GIVEN ANNUALLY BY THE MCDONALD CORPORATION TO RECOGNIZE OWNER OPERATORS WHO HAVE CONTRIBUTED GREATLY TO THEIR COMMUNITIES.

[00:55:01]

AND BEFORE I READ THE LAST PART, UM, I LIKE HIS STORY BECAUSE HE STARTED, UH, ON THE BACK OF A SOLID WASTE TRUCK FOR THE CITY OF HOUSTON.

FOR THE CITY OF HOUSTON, OF HOUSTON.

THAT'S WHERE HE STARTED.

UM, BUT IT CERTAINLY HAS NOT BEEN WHERE HE ENDED.

AND NOW YOU ALL HAVE BEEN MARRIED FOR HOW LONG? 49.

THEY HAVE BEEN MARRIED NOW FOR 49 YEARS.

HOW MANY KIDS? SIX KIDS.

SIX, SIX KIDS.

AND HOW MANY OF THEM ARE NOW MCDONALD FRANCHISE? TWO, TWO AND TWO OF THEM ARE NOW MCDONALD FRANCHISE OWNERS.

BUT HIS STORY SPEAKS FOR ITSELF, THAT IN THIS CITY, IN THIS CITY, YOU CAN START ON THE BACK OF A SOLID WASTE TRUCK AND YOU CAN END UP BEING A MAJOR MCDONALD FRANCHISE OWNER.

I COULD NOT BE MORE PROUD OF THE TWO OF THEM BECAUSE QUITE FRANKLY, THEY HAVE DONE IT TOGETHER.

UH, THE CITY OF HOUSTON APPRECIATE AND COMMEND DAVE MARS FOR HIS LEADERSHIP AND COMMITMENT TO MAKING LIFE BETTER FOR OUR MOST IMPORTANT RESOURCES, OUR YOUNG PEOPLE.

AND SO THEREFORE, I, SYLVESTER TURNER, MAYOR OF CITY OF HOUSTON, PROUDLY PROCLAIMS THIS DAY, OCTOBER 17TH, 2023, AS DAVE MOSS DAY IN THE CITY OF HOUSTON.

SO, VERY WELL, AND, AND I DO WANNA ACKNOWLEDGE JANE CHEEK.

'CAUSE JANE, YOU HAVE WORKED WITH DAVE FOUR FROM THE BEGINNING, FROM THE VERY, VERY BEGINNING.

, BUT WHAT I DID BRING, WHAT I DID BRING WHEN WE WERE DOING THE BACKPACK AND YOU SAID, MAKE SURE YOU GET ONE OF MY BALLS.

UM, I WANT TO THANK THE MAYOR, THE CITY COUNCIL, MY WIFE ESPECIALLY, UH, MS. JANE CHEEKS.

UH, MS. BELO, SHARON MALVO.

UH, WHEN THE MAYOR ACCEPTED MY PROGRAM THAT I HAD BEEN RUNNING FOR PAST PEOPLE, I WAS VERY HONORED, UH, BECAUSE WITH HIM, WE GO A LONG WAYS BACK.

I WAS TRULY A GARBAGE MAN FOR THE CITY OF HOUSTON, SO WASTE DEPARTMENT.

I WORKED THERE IN THE SEVENTIES, AND BECAUSE I WAS NOT A COLLEGE EDUCATED INDIVIDUAL, THE CITY WOULD NOT LET ME BECOME THE DIRECTOR.

SO WITH THE ENCOURAGEMENT OF MY WIFE, I WENT TO BROWN AND FAIR INDUSTRIES WHERE THEY RECOGNIZED MY TALENTS AND ABILITIES, SENT ME TO SAUDI ARABIA, RIYADH, WHERE I MADE A WHOLE LOT OF MONEY.

AND AGAIN, WITH MY WIFE, STANDING BY ME, ENCOURAGED ME TO COME BACK HOME, BE WITH HER, AND GO INTO BUSINESS WITH MCDONALD'S.

IT HAS BEEN TRULY A JOURNEY, UH, WITH THE EXPERIENCE THAT I'VE HAD WITHIN THOUSANDS OF THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE THAT I HIRED IN MY 39 CAREERS IN MCDONALD'S.

MY MAJORITY OF STORES WERE LOCATED IN WHAT WE CALL THE HOOD, SUNNYSIDE THIRD WARD, A LITTLE PART OF FOURTH, FOURTH AND FIFTH WARD A LEAF.

UH, AND I'M PROUD TO SAY AS I STAND HERE TODAY WITH BEING ABLE TO HAVE THIS PROGRAM THAT AGAIN, THE MAYOR ALLOWED ME TO DO THAT I HOPE THIS PREDECESSOR AND I HOPE CITY COUNCIL PEOPLE WILL ENCOURAGE THE PREDECESSOR OF THE VALUE OF THIS IMPORTANT PROGRAM, HIRE HOUSTON U WITH OVER THE 47,000 YOUNG PEOPLE THAT WE HIRED IN THE CITY OF HOUSTON TO BECOME PRODUCTIVE CITIZENS AND NOT JOIN GAINES, NOT PARTICIPATE IN CRIME, BUT PARTICIPATING A VERY POWERFUL, UPLIFTING MOMENT.

UH, CITY COUNCILMAN CISNEROS CAN ATTEST TO BEING A PAST MCDONALD'S EMPLOYEE AND WAS OUT THERE WAVING THE FLAG FOR US.

COUNCILMAN KOSH ALSO ALWAYS TELLS US ABOUT HIS APPETITE FOR SUCH , THE MENU THAT WE SERVE.

BUT AGAIN, I AM SO THANKFUL TO STAND BEFORE YOU TODAY.

PASS CITY EMPLOYEE, RETIRED NOW, MCDONALD'S OWNER OPERATOR WITH A PROGRAM THAT WE HAVE LAID OUT THAT THESE YOUNG LADIES THAT I CALLED OUT HAVE THE FOUNDATIONS THERE.

MY SONS WHO OWN MCDONALD'S WILL PARTICIPATE IF ALLOWED.

AND IF I'M ALLOWED TO COME BACK AND GRACE THOSE, I DEFINITELY WILL DO SO.

SO, I'M SO PROUD, SO PROUD.

AND MAYOR, I APOLOGIZE BECAUSE MY BACKUP SUPPORT FOR MCDONALD FRANCHISEES ALL IN LAS VEGAS OF THE CONVENTION.

IEL, YOU DIDN'T BRING MY FRIES.

I DIDN'T BRING YOUR FRIES,

[01:00:01]

THAT'S RIGHT.

I BROUGHT YOU A BALL.

SO AGAIN, THANK YOU SO MUCH.

THANK YOU MR. MOSS.

THANK YOU MR. AND MRS. MOSQUE, COUNCIL MEMBER CARLOS CISNEROS, I WANNA CONGRATULATE YOU ON THIS VERY WELL DESERVED HONOR AND, AND YOUR INCREDIBLE JOURNEY.

AND, AND THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR MAKING HIGHER HOUSTON YOUTH BE PART OF YOUR JOURNEY AND LOOK AT ALL THE GOOD WORK YOU'VE DONE AND ALL THE VALUE YOU'VE ADDED TO OUR CITY.

UM, AND IN SUPPORTING YOUNG PEOPLE.

UM, I JUST RECENTLY LEARNED THAT ONE OUT OF EIGHT PEOPLE IN THE, UM, IN THE UNITED STATES WORKED AT MCDONALD'S.

IS THAT A TRUE FACT? YES MA'AM.

IT IS.

WELL, I'M ONE OF THEM THAT YOU, YOU STARTED ON, YOU KNOW, WORKING FOR SALAD WASTE.

I STARTED AT MCDONALD'S, AND, UM, AND LOOK, AND LOOK WHERE I AM NOW.

IT WAS MY FIRST CUSTOMER SERVICE JOB.

AND, AND I'M STILL STILL PRACTICING THOSE.

HOW CAN I HELP YOU? UM, SO THANK YOU MCDONALD'S.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR COMMITMENT TO OUR CITY COUNCIL MEMBER, ABBY CAYMAN.

UM, TO BOTH OF YOU, THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY THAT YOU, UM, HAVE PROVIDED TO SO MANY OF OUR YOUTH.

UH, AND ALSO, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER , YOU MAY NOT KNOW THIS, MY MOTHER'S, UH, ONE OF MY MOTHER'S FIRST JOBS WAS ALSO AT MCDONALD'S.

UH, BUT EVEN IN OUR OFFICE, WE HAVE HAD, UM, INCREDIBLE, INCREDIBLE YOUNG PEOPLE COME THROUGH THROUGH THE PROGRAM THAT WE'RE SO IMPRESSIVE THAT THEY NOW ARE FULL-TIME STAFF WITH OUR OFFICES.

UM, SO THE OPPORTUNITIES THAT HAVE BEEN PROVIDED, AND OF COURSE, DIRECTOR CHEEKS, I WANNA THANK YOU AS WELL BECAUSE YOU ALL, UM, YOU KNOW, OPERATE THE PROGRAM AND IT'S ON SUCH A LARGE SCALE.

I DON'T KNOW HOW Y'ALL DO IT.

UM, BUT AGAIN, THANK YOU FOR PROVIDING THE TYPE OF LEADERSHIP AND OPPORTUNITIES THAT YOU ALL ARE AND THE DIFFERENCE YOU MAKE FOR ALL OF OUR OFFICES AS WELL, BECAUSE WE GET TO, UM, CONNECT WITH YOUNG PEOPLE THAT OTHERWISE WOULDN'T GET TO SEE WHAT GOVERNMENT LOOKS LIKE.

COUNCIL MEMBER MICHAEL KUBOSH, THANK YOU VERY MUCH, AM MAYOR FOR BRINGING, UH, MR. MOSS AND HIS WIFE FORWARD.

UH, I'VE NEVER WORKED AT MCDONALD'S, BUT I'VE EATEN THERE .

AND, UM, I, I LOVED YOUR STORY.

THANK YOU FOR TELLING US THAT STORY GIVES HOPE TO YOUNG PEOPLE WHO, WHO DON'T HAVE THAT EDUCATION AND, AND NOT TO GIVE UP.

JUST THINK IF YOU'VE HAD THAT EDUCATION, YOU, YOU, YOU'D BE OUT THERE MANAGING, UH, SOME, SOME SOLID WASTE TRUCKS TODAY, .

JUST, JUST THINK THAT WHAT YOU HAVE BEEN ABLE TO ACCOMPLISH BECAUSE OF ADVERSITY, ADVERSITY PUSHED YOU INTO AN AREA OF SUCCESS THAT OTHERWISE YOU MAY HAVE NEVER FOUND VERY TRUE.

AND I APPRECIATE YOUR STORY.

UH, I LOVE TO HEAR THOSE KIND OF STORIES THAT IT, IT ENCOURAGES ME.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH, MAYOR, FOR BRINGING HIM FORWARD.

COUNCIL MEMBER TARSHA JACKSON, THANK YOU.

AND I TOO WANT TO SAY CONGRATULATIONS AND THANK YOU FOR EVERYTHING THAT YOU'RE DOING FOR OUR COMMUNITY.

I'M, MY FIRST JOB WAS MCDONALD'S AS WELL.

IT'S 14 YEARS OLD.

UM, AND IN FACT, IT WAS A FRANCHISE OWNER WHO ACTUALLY HELPED ME GET MY FIRST BRAND NEW CAR, YOU KNOW, SO I APPRECIATE WHAT YOU GUYS DO, UM, FOR OUR COMMUNITIES, IT'S THESE FRANCHISE OWNERS THAT ENCOURAGE US YOUNG FOLKS TO BE ALL THAT WE CAN BE.

AND LOOK AT ME TODAY.

I'M A CITY COUNCIL MEMBER, AND SO THAT'S RIGHT.

THANK YOU ALL AGAIN FOR EVERYTHING THAT YOU, FOR OUR COMMUNITIES.

THANKS.

COUNCIL MEMBER TIFFANY D. THOMAS.

THANK YOU MAYOR PRO TEM.

UM, YOU KNOW, UH, WE ROTATE SPONSORING BREAKFAST FOR COUNCIL ON WEDNESDAYS.

AND, UM, EVERY TIME WE HAVE MCDONALD'S, IT'S A MOSS, MCDONALD'S .

SO I WANNA, UH, UH, UH, THANK YOU FOR THAT AND JUST YOUR CONTRIBUTION.

UH, THE MAYOR'S, UH, UH, SUMMER JOBS PROGRAM HAS TRANSFORMED HOW WE DO WORK IN THE DISTRICT OFFICE, UH, WHERE WE HAVE INSPIRED YOUNG PEOPLE BECAUSE THEY WERE LOOKING AT WHAT OTHER YOUNG PEOPLE WERE DOING.

UM, SO JUST THANK YOU FOR HAVING THAT LEADERSHIP AND, UH, LISTENING TO THAT GOOD WOMAN NEXT TO YOU WHO HAD AN IDEA , UH, AND, AND HOW, AND HOW THAT, UH, MATRICULATES AND BLESSES THE ENTIRE CITY.

SO THANK YOU FOR YOUR WORK.

AND COUNCIL MEMBER CARLOS CISNEROS.

SO I JUST REALIZED THAT THE, THAT THE RATIO OF ONE OUT OF EIGHT, THERE ARE 16 COUNCIL MEMBERS, TWO OF THEM WORKED FOR MCDONALD'S, OUR FIRST JOB.

AND I, I WAS WONDERING WHO ELSE IN THE AUDIENCE WOULD YOU STAND UP IF YOU WORKED AT MCDONALD'S? .

HAS BEEN IN, WHEN WE HAVE TALKED AND MS. CHEEKS, SELMA LAWS, WHEN WE TALKED TO THE YOUNG KIDS AND THEY FROWNED ON MCDONALD'S AND THEY FROWNED ON EDUCATION AND OTHER THINGS.

WE GOT OUR START.

IT'S OUTSTANDING.

SEE WHAT, UH, HAPPENS AND DO, THAT'S ONE OTHER PART OF MY STORY THAT YOU, I DIDN'T TELL BECAUSE I'M NOT TOO HAPPY ABOUT.

I GET VERY EMOTIONAL.

I USED TO BE HOMELESS AT AGE 13, UH, AND I FINISHED HIGH SCHOOL ON MY OWN.

SO TO WHAT YOUR COMMENT WAS, I ALWAYS DESIRED TO BE A LAWYER.

AND, UH, SOMETIMES I TALK WITH BEN HALL, I'M SURE Y'ALL KNOW HIM.

UH, BUT THAT DRIVE IN ME WHEN ALL THOSE DOORS WERE CLOSED, THERE WERE DOORS OPEN.

AND THE MAYOR

[01:05:01]

I REMIND THEM I WAS HOMELESS, BUT I'M NOT HOMELESS NOW.

AND WHEN PEOPLE SEE ME, PULL ME, PULL UP IN MY BENLEY OF MY ROLLS ROYCE, THEY THINK I'M A FOOTBALL PLAYER OR A BASEBALL PLAYER.

I SAY, NO, I'M FLIPPING BURGERS.

I'M FLIPPING BURGERS AT MCDONALD AS AN EXAMPLE OF WHAT CAN BE DONE.

BUT THANK YOU.

AND CONGRATULATIONS.

WE GONNA WRITE A BOOK.

I NEED TO GET MY BABY GIRL UP HERE, BRIDGET.

YOU WANT TO PROCEED?

[2:00 P.M. – INVOCATION AND PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE]

CHAIR NOW.

RECOGNIZES COUNCIL MEMBER AMY PECK FOR THE INVOCATION.

IS MY HONOR TO HAVE RABBI STEVEN MORGAN GIVE THE INVITATION TODAY.

RABBI, IF YOU WANNA COME UP.

RABBI MORGAN GRADUATED FROM UCLA SCHOOL OF LAW IN 1983 AND PRACTICED CORPORATE AND SECURITIES LAW IN LA FOR OVER NINE YEARS.

HE BEGAN RABBINICAL SCHOOL IN 1993 IN LA AND WAS ORDAINED BY JTS IN NEW YORK.

IN 1998, RABBI MORGAN MOVED TO HOUSTON UPON HIS ORDINATION TO SERVE AS RABBI AT CONGREGATION BETH SHEAN, AND HAS HAPPILY REMAINED THERE FOR MORE THAN 25 YEARS.

HE SUPERVISES THE ADULT LEARNING PROGRAM AT BETH SHEAN, IN WHICH HE TEACHES AN INVITATION TO JUDAISM, OF COURSE, AMONG OTHER CLASSES, AND IS INVOLVED IN A VARIETY OF INTERFAITH AND EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS IN HOUSTON.

THANK YOU, RABBI.

RACES AND CREEDS, FORGE A COMMON BOND OF TRUE HARMONY TO WORK TOGETHER FOR THE WELFARE OF ALL THE PEOPLE WHO RESIDE WITHIN ITS BORDERS.

COUNCIL MEMBER AMY PECK FOR INVITING ME TO GIVE THE INVOCATION THIS AFTERNOON.

I WANT TO ALSO ESPECIALLY THANK OUR MAYOR FOR, UM, BEING PRESENT AND GIVING VERY POWERFUL, UM, SPEECHES AT TWO PRAYER VIGILS, UH, UH, FOR THE JEWISH PEOPLE.

ONE AT MY CONGREGATION AND ONE AT THE CONGREGATION OF BISHOP DIXON, WHO IS THE LEADER OF THE LOCAL, UM, OR THE REGIONAL OFFICE OF THE NAACP.

UH, HE WAS A VERY POWERFUL SPEAKER AND GAVE A LOT OF SUPPORT AND COMFORT TO THE JEWISH PEOPLE.

THE INVOCATION I'M ABOUT TO GIVE IS VERY SIMILAR TO WHAT I'VE GIVEN BEFORE ON AN, UH, EARLIER OCCASION.

UH, AND AS I WAS READING IT, THE, UM, THE WORDS THAT I WROTE MANY YEARS AGO, UH, RESONATE VERY MUCH I THINK WITH WHAT'S GOING ON IN THE WORLD TODAY AND, UH, WHAT'S GOING ON IN OUR COUNTRY AND, AND EVEN THE CITY.

ETERNAL SOURCE OF LIFE.

WE ASK YOUR BLESSINGS FOR OUR CITY AND FOR THIS ASSEMBLY OF GOVERNMENT.

LEADERS OF OUR CITY INSPIRE ALL OF US WITH LOVE AND COMPASSION, WISDOM AND INSIGHT, COURAGE AND STRENGTH, KINDNESS AND UNDERSTANDING SO THAT WE MAY SEE PAST OUR DIFFERENCES IN ORDER TO ACHIEVE COMMON GOALS AND ASPIRATIONS.

GRANT OUR LEADERS CLARITY AND GOOD JUDGMENT IN ALL THEIR DELIBERATIONS.

THAT THEY MAY ADMINISTER ALL MUNICIPAL BUSINESS FAIRLY AND JUSTLY FOR THE SAFETY, HAPPINESS, AND PROSPERITY OF ALL OUR CITIZENS.

MAY THEIR DEBATES AND DISCUSSIONS BE INSPIRED BY YOUR WILL.

THAT DIFFERENCES OF OPINION MAY BE EXPRESSED IN AN ATMOSPHERE OF SINCERITY, COURTESY, AND MUTUAL RESPECT, AND THAT THEIR DELIBERATIONS MAY LEAD TO INSPIRED, CREATIVE AND FRUITFUL PLANS AND DECISIONS WHICH FURTHER ENHANCE THE QUALITY OF LIFE FOR OUR CITIZENS.

CREATOR OF ALL FLESH, BLESS ALL THE INHABITANTS OF OUR CITY.

WITH YOUR SPIRIT, MAY ITS CITIZENS OF ALL

[01:10:01]

MAY YOUR SPIRIT NEVER DEPART FROM OUR MIDST.

MAY WE ALWAYS RECOGNIZE THE MANY WONDROUS BLESSINGS THAT YOU HAVE BESTOWED UPON US, UPON OUR CITY, UPON OUR COUNTRY, AND TO ALL OF THIS, MAY WE SAY AM.

AMEN.

THANK YOU, RABBI.

PLEASE STAND FOR PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE.

PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE, ALLEGIANCE TO THE FLAG OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, AND TO THE REPUBLIC FOR WHICH IT STANDS, ONE NATION UNDER GOD WITH LIBERTY ON JUSTICE FOR ALL.

COUNCILMAN JACKSON? HERE.

[ROLL CALL AND ADOPT THE MINUTES OF THE PREVIOUS MEETING]

WE'LL HAVE ROLL CALL.

MADAM SECRETARY, POLICE, CALL THE ROLL, MAYOR TURNER.

COUNCILMAN PECK HERE.

COUNCILMAN KAMAN.

PRESENT, CONSTABLE EVAN SHABAZZ.

HERE, CONSTABLE MARTIN PRESENT, CONSTABLE THOMAS.

PRESENT, COUNCILMAN HUFFMAN.

PRESENT.

CONSTABLE CISNEROS.

HERE.

COUNCIL GALLEGOS COUNCIL POLL WILL BE ASKING, COUNCIL MEMBER CASTEX TATUM.

COUNCILMAN PLUMMER HERE.

AND COUNCIL RAY ALCORN HERE NEED MOTION TO ADOPT THE MINUTES OF MAY 23RD AND 24TH AND JUNE 13TH AND 14TH.

CASTEX STATE A MOVE.

SECOND ROBINSON.

MOTION IS SECOND.

ALL THOSE IN FAVOR OPPOSED? MOTION GRANTED.

NOW ARE THERE ANY PROCEDURAL MOTIONS BEFORE WE START PUBLIC SESSION? SEEING

[PUBLIC SPEAKERS]

NONE, MADAM SECRETARY, PLEASE CALL THE FIRST SPEAKER.

RICK LORD, GOOD AFTERNOON, BE FOLLOWED BY JOSHUA HALL AFTERNOON.

MY NAME'S RICK LORD.

I'M LIVE IN PASADENA.

I'M A BUSINESS AGENT WITH THE PLUMBER'S LOCAL 68, AND WE'VE BEEN WORKING WITH THE, UH, CODE MODERNIZATION COMMITTEE AND IT'S BEEN A, A, A VERY GOOD THOROUGH PROCESS AND I REALLY WANT TO THANK COUNCILMAN ROBINSON AND COUNCILWOMAN ALCORN FOR THEIR GUIDANCE IN THIS WHOLE PROCESS.

AND, UH, WE STAND IN SUPPORT OF UPDATING THE UNIFORM, PLUMBING AND MECHANICAL CODES.

UH, BE MORE THAN HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS.

BUT, YOU KNOW, I REALLY GOTTA APPLAUD THE ADMINISTRATION FOR THIS WHOLE PROCESS, AND I THINK EVERYBODY'S BEEN ABLE TO HAVE THEIR SAY IN IT WITH THE DIFFERENT COMMITTEES.

AND, UH, THERE AGAIN, I AM THANKFUL FOR BEING ON THE OVERALL COMMITTEE AND THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

APPRECIATE IT.

COUNCIL MEMBER ABBY CAYMAN.

UM, RICK, FIRST OFF TO ON BEHALF OF ALL THE PLUMBERS YES.

UH, THAT YOU REPRESENT, PLEASE THANK THEM, UM, FOR EVERYTHING THAT YOU ALL DO.

UH, BUT MY QUESTION IS, AS IT RELATES TO, YOU TALKED ABOUT THE PROCESS.

AND FROM DAY ONE, UM, MY COMMITMENT, AND I THINK A LOT OF COUNCIL MEMBERS' COMMITMENTS HAS BEEN TO ENSURE THAT THIS WAS AN INCLUSIVE PROCESS.

UM, DO YOU FEEL THAT THE UNIONS WERE WELL REPRESENTED AND HAD AN OPPORTUNITY TO FAIRLY PARTICIPATE? I REALLY FEEL VERY STRONGLY THAT THE WHOLE INDUSTRY, IT WASN'T, YOU KNOW, LIKE A LOT OF TIMES, UH, Y'ALL SEE ME UP HERE, BUT, UH, OUR CONTRACTOR ASSOCIATION, THE MECHANICAL CONTRACTOR ASSOCIATION, UM, THEY HAVE BEEN IN FULL SUPPORT.

AND SO THAT'S WHO WE WORK FOR, IS THE MECHANICAL CONTRACTOR ASSOCIATION OF HOUSTON.

AND, AND SO IT WASN'T JUST US AND, AND YOU'LL HEAR FROM OTHER SPEAKERS AND IT WAS A, AN INDUSTRY THING.

RIGHT.

AND YOU KNOW, WHETHER IT'S UNION OR NON-UNION, IT WAS INDUSTRY.

YES, MA'AM.

GREAT.

AND, BUT I APPRECIATE YOU WHAT YOU SAID IN CH MR. CHAIR FOR THE PROCESS THAT YOU ALL DID TO MAKE SURE THAT THIS WAS A, UM, AN ONGOING DIALOGUE THROUGHOUT, AND THAT THIS PRODUCT IS THE RESULT OF MONTHS AND MONTHS AND MONTHS OF THAT WORK.

UH, THERE'S NO DOUBT COUNCIL MEMBER, UH, ROBINSON AND, AND COUNCILWOMAN, UH, ALCORN WOULD CRACK THE WHIP.

I MEAN, THEY, THEY WERE REALLY LIKE, GET THE BUSINESS DONE.

SO I APPRECIATE EVERYTHING THEY DID FOR IT.

IT'S A VERY LENGTHY PROCESS AND I WHAT, SEVEN MONTHS, SO WE APPRECIATE IT.

NEXT SPEAKER, JOSHUA HOL AFTERNOON.

FORCE GROUP HARD WORK, AND AS A CO-CHAIR OF THE TASK FORCE GROUP FOR, I CAN TELL YOU THAT THE BACKEND WORK HAS BEEN VERY TIME CONSUMING AND THOROUGH.

MY NAME IS JOSHUA HOL.

UH, I'M HERE ON BEHALF OF THE GULF COAST, PHCC, TEXAS, PHCC AND PHCC NATIONAL.

UH, I'VE BEEN A PLUMBER FOR 18 OF MY 33 YEARS AND I'M PROUD OF MY INDUSTRY.

UH, I WANTED TO THANK THE COUNCIL AND THE STAFF AND EVERYONE INVOLVED IN UPDATING AND INFORMALLY ADOPTING THE UMC AND THE UPC 21.

UH, THESE PREMIER CODES HAVE SUPPORTED THE UNPRECEDENTED GROWTH IN INFRASTRUCTURE FOR THE CITY OF HOUSTON FOR OVER 40 YEARS, AND ALSO WANTED TO COMMEND THE CCMC COMMITTEE AND TASK

[01:15:01]

UH, I'M PROUD TO HAVE SERVED AND HAVE BEEN A, AND TO HAVE BEEN A PART OF, UH, THE PROCESS.

THERE ARE TWO THINGS THAT PLUMBERS ARE PASSIONATE ABOUT, UH, PROTECTING OUR CITIZENS AND THE UNIFORM PLUMBING CODE, THE CITY OF HOUSTON.

IS A MODEL FOR THE SURROUNDING CITIES IN THE ENTIRE STATE.

AND THANK YOU GUYS FOR YOUR TIME.

NEXT SPEAKER, JASON POTTER.

THANK YOU, MAYOR PRO, TIM, AND COUNCIL MEMBERS.

MY NAME IS JASON POTTER.

I AM WITH CISCO, AND WE DO IT IN FACT, THAT ACCESS POINT RIGHT THERE, UH, IS WHAT I'M HERE TO TALK ABOUT.

UH, THE CCMC DID A LOT OF THINGS RIGHT? I SAW A LOT OF HEALTHY DISCUSSION IN THE PLUMBING ISSUES AND A LOT OF BACK AND FORTH TRYING TO RESOLVE CONCERNS.

WE CAME TO YOU SEVERAL YEARS AGO TO TRY AND RESOLVE A CONCERN WE HAD ABOUT PERMITTING, AND WE WERE TOLD THE CMC WOULD BE THE RIGHT PROCESS FOR IT, BUT UNFORTUNATELY, THAT PROCESS HAS FAILED US.

WE ESSENTIALLY PUT FORTH PROPOSAL AND PROPOSAL AND PROPOSAL TO RECTIFY THIS, AND EVERY TIME WE WERE VOTED DOWN, ALMOST BEFORE WE WERE DONE TALKING.

SO THERE WAS NO HEALTHY BACK AND FORTH.

THERE WAS NO DISCUSSION.

AND THE REASONS THAT WERE BROUGHT UP ARE MEANT TO STIR CONFUSION AND FEAR, BUT WE HAVE THE FACTS, WHICH ARE, THERE ARE TWO DECISIONS THAT WERE, THEY'RE ASKING US TO MAKE, WHICH IS ONE, SHOULD EVERY WIRE IN EVERY BUILDING IN HOUSTON BE PERMITTED AND INSPECTED? AND THE ANSWER THERE IS NO, YOU, YOUR PERMITTING SITTER COULDN'T HANDLE THAT.

SO THERE HAS TO BE SOME WIRING THAT'S EXEMPT.

EVERY CITY IN THIS STATE HAS EXEMPTIONS.

OUR OPPONENTS KEEP SAYING THEY DON'T LIKE ANY EXEMPTIONS.

AND IN FACT, SEVERAL YEARS AGO, THEY CAME TO YOU TO TRY TO REMOVE ALL EXEMPTIONS.

WE GOT THEM PUT BACK.

BUT THE PROBLEM IS WHERE THE LOAN IS DRAWN IS INCORRECT.

IT DOES NOT FOLLOW THE NEC.

HOW DO I KNOW THAT I HELP WRITE THE NECI VOLUNTEER MY TIME ON CODE MAKING PANEL 18.

I'M VERY FAMILIAR WITH ALL THE REQUIREMENTS.

WE HAVE VERY CLEAR REQUIREMENTS IN ARTICLE 7 25 FOR SOMETHING CALLED CLASS TWO.

AND THAT'S WHAT EVERYONE ELSE INCLUDING THE STATE USES.

BUT HOUSTON, FOR SOME REASON IS OUT OF LINE WITH THIS 50 VOLT, 50 WATT THING THAT DOESN'T REFLECT SAFETY SCIENCE.

SO IN A WAY, IT ACTUALLY CREATES ADDITIONAL RISK BY POTENTIALLY ALLOWING THINGS TO UNSAFE AND UNFAIRLY HAMPERS, THINGS LIKE THAT ACCESS POINT UP THERE THAT ARE PERFECTLY SAFE AND HAVE BEEN INSTALLED WITHOUT ISSUE IN HOUSTON AND THE WHOLE WORLD FOR 20 YEARS.

BUT WE FAILED IN THE CCMC BECAUSE THEY MANAGED TO CONVINCE PEOPLE DESPITE 20 YEARS OF SUCCESS AND NO FATALITIES AND NO FIRES, THAT MAYBE THE 21ST YEAR WILL BE THE ONE.

AND I'M HERE TO URGE THE COUNCIL TO CONSIDER ALIGNING HOUSTON WITH AUSTIN FORT WORTH, THE TEXAS ELECTRICAL LICENSING CODE AND THE NEC IN ESTABLISHING YOUR CRITERIA FOR LOW VOLTAGE WORK.

UM, I HAVE A QUESTION.

THERE'S NO OTHER COUNCIL MEMBERS IN Q.

UM, I'VE BEEN IGNORANT ON THIS UNTIL ABOUT A WEEK AGO, AND THEN ALL OF A SUDDEN MY PHONE STARTED RINGING AND I STARTED LOOKING AT IT.

IT SEEMS AS THOUGH WHAT WE'RE DOING IS RELATED TO POWER OVER ETHERNET.

WE BELIEVE THAT'S WHAT'S UNDER ATTACK HERE.

OKAY, SO THERE HAS TO BE A LICENSE ELECTRICIAN ANYTIME YOU DO ANY WORK.

BUT WE GOT ABSOLUTELY NOWHERE WITH TRYING TO ARRANGE A WAY TO GET PERMITS THROUGH REGISTRATION INDUSTRY CERTIFICATION.

THE THE ISSUE HERE IS THE EXEMPTION IS 50 VOLTS AND 50 WATTS, AND IT DOESN'T TELL YOU ALL THE OTHER THINGS YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT WHETHER THAT WILL BE SAFE.

YOU NEED TO KNOW IF IT'S A WET ENVIRONMENT, YOU NEED TO KNOW IF IT'S AC OR DC AC IS ABOUT TWICE AS DANGEROUS AS, UH, DC SO THE NEC CONSIDERS ALL THAT, AND IT'S ALL IN THE BOOK.

IT'S THE ONE THEY'RE REQUIRED TO READ.

BUT BECAUSE POE ALLOWS YOU TO WORK WITHIN THE SAFE RANGE OF ABOUT 48 TO 57 VOLTS, THAT EXTRA SEVEN VOLTS, THEY'RE THROWING A FIT OVER.

AND THEY'RE USING IT TO SAY THAT FOR US TO DO ANY P OE WORK, WE NEED TO PULL A PERMIT WELL, IN HOUSTON TO PULL A PERMIT.

AND WE'RE HAPPY WITH THAT.

WE'D LOVE TO GET A PERMIT.

BUT TO GET THAT PERMIT IN HOUSTON, YOU HAVE TO HAVE A MASTER ELECTRICIAN.

AND THE RULES IN TEXAS ARE TO HAVE A MASTER ELECTRICIAN PULL PERMITS FOR YOU.

EITHER THEY HAVE TO BE YOUR EMPLOYEE OR THEY HAVE TO OWN YOUR COMPANY.

WELL, MOST OF 'EM ARE ALREADY EMPLOYED BY SOMEONE.

SO EVEN THAT, THAT WAS ONE OF THE SUGGESTIONS WAS, WE'LL JUST GO HIRE A MASTER ELECTRICIAN TO PULL ALL YOUR PERMITS.

LIKE, WELL, IS HE GONNA COME CHECK MY PEOPLE'S WORK? IS HE GONNA GO TRAIN THEM IN WHAT TO DO? RIGHT? NO, HE'S JUST GONNA SUBMIT THE PAPERWORK AND COLLECT A PAYCHECK.

AND THAT DIDN'T SOUND RIGHT.

JUST GIVE US THE PERMIT.

TAKE THAT OUT OF THE LOOP.

UH,

[01:20:01]

THEY KEPT ASKING FOR A LICENSE.

THE CITY OF HOUSTON DID NOT WANT TO CREATE A LICENSE.

THE STATE DOES NOT HAVE ONE BECAUSE IT'S EXEMPT.

AND SO THAT LEAVES US WITH WHAT, UH, GO SPEND FOUR YEARS BECOMING AN ELECTRICIAN SO THAT WE CAN PULL PERMITS AND GO BACK TO WHAT WE'VE BEEN DOING FOR 20 YEARS.

DOESN'T MAKE SENSE.

COUNCIL MEMBER DAVID ROBINSON.

THANK YOU MAYOR PROAM.

AND MR. POTTO, THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE.

I WANNA DISAGREE WITH ONE THING THAT YOU'VE SAID, AND THAT'S REALLY, THAT YOU HAVEN'T GOTTEN ANYWHERE WITH THE PROCESS.

AND THAT'S BECAUSE I THINK YOU'VE MADE SOME EXCELLENT POINTS.

FIRST OF ALL, YOUR PARTICIPATION IN THE STAKEHOLDER GROUP HAS BEEN MUCH APPRECIATED.

AND IT NEEDS TO BE SAID THAT YOU WERE A PART OF THE STAKEHOLDER GROUP AND, AND EVERY TIME YOU DID BRING YOUR PROPOSAL FORWARD IN, I SUPPOSE NOT EXACTLY A DEMOCRATIC PROCESS, BUT IN ONE THAT WAS CAREFULLY VETTED WITH ALL OF OUR PEERS, UH, TO ADHERE TO THE PROCESS THAT, UH, HAS ALREADY BEEN COMMENDED AT THIS SESSION AND ELSEWHERE, WHEN IT CAME TO THE TTI COMMITTEE, IT WAS A TIME, AND IT IS THE CASE THAT YOUR PROPOSAL WAS BROUGHT FORWARD WITH A PEER OF OUR EXPERT, UH, UH, EXPERTS WHO WERE CONSIDERING THE POLICY.

AND I THINK MAYOR PRO TEM TO THAT FACT.

YOU KNOW, I, I WANT TO, I WANNA SAY THAT WHAT JASON AND MR. PATAR HAS DONE IS, HAS REALLY CONTRIBUTED TO A BEST SET OF PRACTICES AND THE POLICIES THAT ARE COMING FORWARD, UM, WITH WHAT WE HAVE ON THE AGENDA TO CONSIDER TOMORROW MORNING.

UM, SO, UH, AGAIN, THANK YOU FOR THAT.

UM, I DON'T KNOW IF THE VICE CHAIR HAS ANYTHING TO ADD TO THAT.

UM, COUNCIL MEMBER ALCORN AND I WERE IN, I THINK EVERY CONVENED MEETING BEYOND THE STAKEHOLDER GROUP, WE LET THOSE, UH, EXPERTS REALLY DELIBERATE BETWEEN THEMSELVES AND BROUGHT THOSE RECOMMENDATIONS FORWARD.

SO WITH THAT, AGAIN, I THINK, UH, WE STAND BEHIND THE PROCESS.

UM, AND WE THANK YOU FOR CONTRIBUTING WITH A LOT OF REALLY IMPORTANT INFORMATION.

COUNCIL MEMBER SALLY ALCORN.

THANK YOU CHAIR.

UH, AND, AND THANK YOU FOR THOSE COMMENTS.

WE WERE AT THOSE MEETINGS.

I DID, YOU KNOW, I, I WAS INVOLVED IN THIS ISSUE WHEN IT CAME IN THE 2015 CODE, IF YOU'LL RECALL.

THAT WAS A, A REALLY TIGHT VOTE WHEN WE VOTED ON THIS AMENDMENT.

AND THIS IS, THIS IS REALLY TO ME, UM, COUNCIL MEMBER ROBINSON, THIS IS THE, THIS IS THE ONLY STICKING POINT THAT IS, IS ANY KIND OF CONTROVERSY WITHIN THIS BUILDING CODE, I THINK THE PROCESS, AND EVERYBODY'S GENERALLY PRETTY HAPPY WITH IT.

THIS ONE, THIS ISSUE JUST KEPT COMING UP.

IT'S A COMPLICATED ISSUE.

WE'RE NOT ELECTRICIANS UP HERE.

UM, WE'VE HEARD, UM, WE'VE HEARD OTHER ARGUMENTS AND WE'VE HEARD YOUR SIDE.

UM, WE WANNA BE SURE WHAT WE'RE DOING HERE IS, IS KEEPING PEOPLE SAFE.

SO WHAT I'VE HEARD A LOT IS ABOUT LIGHTING.

SO CAN YOU ADDRESS WHAT, YOU KNOW, YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT THE ACCESS POINT AND SOME OF THE CABLING THAT GOES IN THAT IS DONE, THAT YOU'VE DONE UP, UP TO NOW, YOU KNOW, WITHOUT A MASTER ELECTRICIAN, JUST DESCRIBE IN LIKE NON, YOU KNOW, JUST PEOPLE SITTING AT THE HORSESHOE, JUST DESCRIBE LIKE SOME COMMON WAYS WHAT, WHAT YOU'RE DOING, WHAT THESE INTEGRATORS.

IT'S, AND THAT'S WHAT HE'S SAYING.

THERE'S NO LICENSE FOR AN INTEGRATOR AND THERE'S INTEGRATORS INVOLVED.

SO JUST EXPLAIN THE TYPES OF THINGS YOU'RE DOING THAT YOU DON'T WANT TO HAVE TO HAVE A MASTER ELECTRICIAN PULL A PERMIT, AND THEN IF YOU CAN'T HAVE TIME, ADDRESS, THE, WHEN, WHEN, UM, PEOPLE TALK ABOUT YOU, YOU'RE GETTING INTO LIGHTING.

AND THAT DOES CAUSE ME SOME PAUSE.

LIKE, OKAY, LIGHTING, THAT'S ELECTRICITY.

WE DON'T WANT ANYBODY TO GET IN ANY TROUBLE.

SO TRY TO ADDRESS THOSE POINTS.

SURE THING.

SO THE, THE THING TO UNDERSTAND IS THAT THERE ARE TWO THINGS THAT THE WHOLE AND THE MOTION, MOTION TO CONTINUE.

SECOND, SECOND FAVOR OPPOSED.

MOTION GRANTED.

THAT IS UNDER 50 VOLTS, JUST BARELY.

UH, THE NATIONAL ELECTRICAL CODE IS WRITTEN BY THE NATIONAL FIRE PREVENTION ASSOCIATION.

SO THEIR CONCERNS ARE RISK OF ELECTRICAL SHOCK FROM A LIFE SAFETY PERSPECTIVE AND FIRE.

THERE ARE CERTAIN SOURCES OF POWER THAT ARE SO SMALL, THEY CAN'T SHOCK ANYONE AND THEY CAN'T START A FIRE.

AND THE NEC DEFINES THESE AS CLASS TWO.

UM, WE HAVE BEEN USING THEM OUR WHOLE LIVES, TELEPHONES, UH, CAMERAS, DESK PHONES, NOW WIRELESS ACCESS POINTS.

SO I CAN HANG A DEVICE IN THE CEILING AND I DON'T HAVE TO RUN A BUNCH OF STEEL CONDUIT TO IT TO PLUG IT IN THERE BECAUSE WE CAN USE THIS SAFE CIRCUIT TO POWER IT.

AND WE'VE BEEN, I MEAN, YOUR DOORBELL AT HOME IS A CLASS TWO CIRCUIT.

UH, BUT THERE ARE SOME CIRCUITS THAT EXIST IN THE MARGINS BETWEEN YOUR 50 VOLT, 50 WATT AND THE CLASS TWO DEFINITION.

AND SOME OF THOSE CIRCUITS ARE ALREADY USED FOR LIGHTING THROUGHOUT.

I CAN GO TO IKEA AND BUY A CLASS TWO POWER SUPPLY

[01:25:01]

BUT THERE'S A NEW BREED OF TECHNOLOGY THAT FOR EFFICIENCY AND POWER, UH, SAVINGS, WE GO A LITTLE BIT HIGHER TO, UH, MAKE IT MORE EFFICIENT.

AND SO IT EXISTS BELOW THE 60 VOLT, ANY SEA LIMIT, BUT ABOVE THE HOUSTON 50 VOLT LIMIT.

AND IT'S JUST EASIER, IT'S SAFER IF IT GETS DAMAGED AND SOMEONE COMES UP AND GRABS THE WIRE.

UH, HOW MANY TIMES HAVE YOU BEEN WALKING AROUND? SOMEONE KNOCKED A LIGHT LOOSE AND THERE'S A WIRE HANGING THERE, AND YOU'RE WORRIED ABOUT YOUR KID TOUCHING IT.

IF IT WERE A P OE LIGHT, THERE WOULD BE NO HAZARD.

I HAVE LICKED POE.

IT IS THAT SAFE.

BUT THE CONCERN IS THAT TRADITIONALLY ONLY ELECTRICIANS HAVE INSTALLED THESE, AND NOW YOU HAVE INTEGRATORS THAT CAN PUT IN LIMITED FORMS OF LIGHTING USING THIS NEW TECHNOLOGY THAT MAYBE THEY WOULD MISS A REQUIREMENT SOMEWHERE THAT'S IN THE NEC.

AND SO THEY WANT PERMITTING AN INSPECTION.

AND WE WOULD BE FINE WITH PERMITTING AN INSPECTION FOR EVEN A LIMITED CASE OF P OE CIRCUITS.

SO IF POE'S USED FOR LIGHTING, UH, THEN YOU NEED A PERMIT THAT THAT'S FINE.

THERE'S JUST NO WAY FOR US TO OBTAIN THAT PERMIT IN THE STATE OF TEXAS.

COUNCIL.

UH, MAY I PRETEND MIKE? YES, SIR.

UM, QUESTION, UH, WE HAD A DISCUSSION ABOUT THIS ON MONDAY, AND UM, POINT WAS BROUGHT UP, WHAT ARE THE OTHER CITIES IN THE STATE OF TEXAS DOING? YOU MENTIONED FORT WORTH AND AUSTIN, BUT YOU DIDN'T MENTION DALLAS, SAN ANTONIO.

SO CAN YOU COMPARE, ARE THEY'VE TAKEN A SIMILAR STANCE OR ARE WE DIFFERENT FROM THOSE CITIES? UM, DALLAS AND SAN ANTONIO HAVE BEEN A LITTLE BIT MORE IN THE LOOK THE OTHER WAY CATEGORY.

SO DALLAS HAS AN EXEMPTION ON THE BOOKS FOR 30 VOLTS AC AND 60 VOLTS DC BUT THERE'S SOME QUALIFYING LANGUAGE IN THERE THAT THE HOUSTON CHIEF INSPECTOR BELIEVES DISQUALIFIES WHAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT.

UH, WHEN I SPOKE WITH THE CHIEF INSPECTOR IN DALLAS, I WAS ASSURED THAT FOR THE MOST PART, THAT REQUIREMENT HAS, OR THAT EXEMPTION HAS EVOLVED OVER TIME AS TECHNOLOGY HAS EVOLVED TO EXEMPT THINGS LIKE P OE CAMERAS AND ACCESS POINTS AND THINGS LIKE THAT, THAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT HERE.

AND, UH, HE SAID IN GENERAL, HE'S NOT AWARE OF THEM REQUIRING PERMITS OR INSPECTING, UH, IT WORK AROUND POE AND THAT SORT OF THING.

SAN ANTONIO, UH, THEY HAVE SOME VAGUE DEFINITIONS.

THEY DON'T USE A CLASS TWO AND THEY DON'T REALLY USE A VOLTAGE FOR THIS SORT OF THING.

IT KIND OF FALLS INTO TELECOMMUNICATIONS.

I'M NOT AWARE OF ANYONE IN THAT TOWN DOING THIS WORK, UH, WITH AN ELECTRICAL LICENSE.

AND I THINK THAT'S THE MOST IMPORTANT THING.

IF YOU CALL AROUND, YOU KNOW, GOOGLE, HOUSTON P OE CABLING AND CALL THE FIRST 10 HITS AND SAY, DO YOU HAVE AN ELECTRICAL LICENSE? NO.

DO I NEED A PERMIT? NO, I DID THAT.

THAT'S WHAT THEY TOLD ME.

THEY BELIEVE THAT THEY'RE OPERATING WITHIN THE RULES.

THE RULES ARE JUST OFFICE SMIDGE AND WE'RE SEEING ISSUES WITH SOME SUDDENLY PEOPLE WANTING TO, UH, CATCH PEOPLE WITH THAT LITTLE GAP AND SELECTIVELY ENFORCE THIS ISSUE.

LEMME JUST BE VERY CLEAR THOUGH.

I'M COUNCILMAN ROBINSON.

I WANNA GO BACK TO WHAT YOU SAID.

ALL OF THIS CAME UP THROUGH THE, THROUGH THE PROCESS.

THAT'S RIGHT.

MAY I AND ALL OF THE STAKEHOLDERS DECIDED TO, UH, TO MAINTAIN THINGS AS THEY WERE.

AND, AND MR. PUTAR DID ACTIVELY PARTICIPATE IN THAT GROUP, AND I THINK REPRESENTS, UH, A POSITION THAT HAS BEEN RECOGNIZED AND HAS BROUGHT FORWARD THAT PETITION, UH, REPEATEDLY TO THE STAKEHOLDER GROUP AND REPEATEDLY IT HAS FAILED TO COME FORWARD.

IT SAYS MA BUT IT'S, IT'S MAKA.

WAS JUST TO REAFFIRM THAT GIVEN YOUR INVOLVEMENT, AND THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME ON THIS, THIS IS NOT, UM, I MEAN, IT'S A LOT OF VOLUNTEER HOURS THAT YOU WERE DOING, WORKING ON THIS FOR MONTHS AND MONTHS AND MONTHS.

MY NAME IS JOHN MATA.

I'M A LIFELONG HOUSTONIAN, A LICENSED JOURNEYMAN PLUMBER, AND THE SENIOR DIRECTOR OF FIELD SERVICES FOR THE INTERNATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF PLUMBING AND MECHANICAL OFFICIALS, COMMONLY REFERRED TO AS IMO.

I'M HERE TODAY TO SPEAK IN SUPPORT OF AGENDA ITEM 35, THE CONSTRUCTION CODES.

I WOULD LIKE TO THANK THE MAYOR TURNER AND COUNCIL FOR THEIR LEADERSHIP DURING THE CONSTRUCTION CODE MODERNIZATION UPDATE AND YOUR COMMITMENT TO ENSURING THE ENGAGEMENT OF INDUSTRY EXPERTS.

THIS UNDERSCORED YOUR UNWAVERING DEDICATION TO SUPPORTING OUR INDUSTRY.

I ALSO HAD THE PRIVILEGE OF SERVING ON THE CONSTRUCTION CODE MODERNIZATION COMMITTEE, AS WELL AS VOLUNTEERING MY TIME FOR THE TASK FORCE GROUP FOUR MEETINGS, WHICH FOCUS ON THE MECHANICAL, ELECTRICAL, AND PLUMBING CODES.

I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR THE FOLLOWING RECOMMENDATIONS OF THE INDUSTRY TO CONTINUE WITH THE ADOPTION OF THE UNIFORM PLUMBING CODE AND THE UNIFORM MECHANICAL CODE 21 EDITIONS.

THE UPDATED ADDITIONS OF THESE CODES WILL PROVIDE GREAT BENEFITS TO HOUSTONIANS.

THANK YOU AGAIN FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO BE INVOLVED IN THIS CONSTRUCTION CODE UPDATE.

AND KNOW THAT I, A PMO IS HERE TO BE A RESOURCE FOR YOU AND YOUR STAFF.

I'M ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS YOU HAVE.

THANK COUNCILMAN MCCAIN.

THANK YOU MAYOR.

AND JOHN, THANK YOU AGAIN.

I'LL ASK THE SAME QUESTION THAT I DID OF RICK, WHICH

[01:30:01]

UM, FROM YOUR PERSPECTIVE, DID YOU FEEL LIKE THIS WAS NOT ONLY ENGAGING, BUT AN OPPORTUNITY, UM, TO PROVIDE MEANINGFUL FEEDBACK AND THAT, UM, THIS IS A WORK PRODUCT THAT EVERYONE BY AND LARGE CAN STAND BEHIND? YES, MA'AM.

UH, COUNCILWOMAN, UH, EVERY INVOLVEMENT THROUGHOUT THE INDUSTRY WAS, WAS EPIC WITH EVERYONE.

UH, YOU HEARD FROM MR. LORD EARLIER WHO REPRESENTS THE LABOR TO UNION.

AND, UH, MR. HOLLOW WHO REPRESENTS THE, UH, MERIT SHOPPER NON-UNION PORTION, THEN BOTH OF THOSE ARE THE BIGGEST INDUSTRIES THAT WE HAVE.

AND IF WE CAN GET THESE GROUPS TO COME TOGETHER AND COLLABORATE AND WORK OUR DIFFERENCES THAT WE MAY HAVE OR MAY NOT HAVE, I BELIEVE THIS IS A PROCESS THAT, YOU KNOW, WE CAN REALLY STAND FOR, UH, MOVING FORWARD IN THE FUTURE.

MARTIN, A QUICK QUESTION RELATED TO, IT SEEMS LIKE PLUMBERS ARE HAPPY, ELECTRICIANS AREN'T.

SO, UM, ELECTRICIANS TALKED ABOUT ORDER TO PULL A PERMIT.

THEY HAVE TO BE A LICENSED MASTER ELECTRICIAN, AND I'M MAKE SURE I GET ALL THAT RIGHT.

AND THOSE LICENSED MASTER ELECTRICIANS NEED TO BE EITHER YOUR EMPLOYEE OR OWN THE COMPANY.

IS THAT SAME REQUIREMENT OF THE PLUMBERS AS WELL? IF YOU HAVE SOMEONE GOING TO PULL A PERMIT, DOES IT HAVE TO BE A MASTER'S, A LICENSED MASTER PLUMBER? YES, SIR.

IT'S A, ACTUALLY IT'S A R AND P, IT'S A RESPONSIBLE MASTER PLUMBERS, THE WAY WE HAVE IT IN, UH, IN OUR, UH, PLUMBING LICENSE LAW AND OUR BOARD RULES, IT'S STATE LEVEL, AND THAT'S, UH, SOMETHING THAT WE'VE HAD FOR ALL PLUMBERS.

THEY ALL HAVE TO BE A MASTER PLUMBER.

NOW YOU HAVE PLUMBERS AND YOU HAVE APPRENTICES THAT WORK UNDER THIS A LICENSE, BUT THIS IS WHAT THEY HAVE TO DO ON THE PLUMBING INDUSTRY.

YES, TRUE.

YES, SIR.

ROBINSON, UH, COUNCILMAN ROBINSON? MAYOR, THANK YOU.

I JUST WANTED TO BE CLEAR.

FIRST OF ALL, JOHN, THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR YOUR PARTICIPATION, UH, AND ALL THAT YOU DO.

AGAIN, YOUR PART IN THE PROCESS I THINK WAS REALLY IMPORTANT.

MAYOR PRO TEM, NOT TO PICK ON THE DETAIL THAT YOU SAID, I THINK THE ELECTRICIANS ARE ALSO ACTUALLY HELPFUL.

IT'S, IT'S THE, UH, INTEGRATORS AS MENTIONED, AND IT'S THE LOW VOLTAGE THING THAT IS THE STICKING POINT THERE, UH, AS COUNCIL MEMBER ALCORN RIGHTLY POINTED OUT, BUT ELECTRICIANS, PLUMBERS, MECHANICAL FOLKS, UH, YES, SIR.

I THINK ALL OF OUR TRADES, THE UNION, GENERALLY SPEAKING, EVERYBODY ACROSS THE BOARD HAS BEEN PRETTY POSITIVE ABOUT THE WHOLE PROCESS.

THAT THANK YOU.

THAT'S CORRECT.

NEXT SPEAKER, CYNTHIA GREENWOOD.

AND IF I CAN'T THANK YOU, UH, COUNCILMAN ROBINSON AND COUNCILMAN ALCO FOR YOUR PARTICIPATION IN THIS SEVEN EIGHT MONTH PROCESS.

ALRIGHT, THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

CYNTHIA GREENWOOD IS HERE.

SHE FOLLOWED BY LINDSEY WILLIAMS. UH, YEAH.

I'M CYNTHIA GREENWOOD.

I LIVE AT 1113 WILLARD STREET IN MONTROSE.

THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME.

UM, I, I'D VERY MUCH LIKE TO JUST BRIEFLY THANK MELANIE CURRY AT THE PARK HOUSTON DEPARTMENT FOR HELPING MY NEIGHBORS GO THROUGH THIS APPLICATION PROCESS.

WE'RE TRYING TO GET A PRIVATE PARKING DESIGNATION ON A BLOCK OF WILLARD THAT IS EXTREMELY CLOSE TO MONTROSE BOULEVARD, WHERE FOUR BUSINESSES USE ALL OF OUR PARKING 80 TO 90% OF THE TIME, SO THAT, UM, OUR FRIENDS, OUR FAMILY, OUR, UH, SERVICE PROVIDERS HAVE NOWHERE TO PARK.

SO IT'S BECOME KIND OF A QUALITY OF LIFE ISSUE FOR US.

AN ISSUE OF SAFETY.

UH, SEVERAL PARKED CARS HAVE BEEN HIT ON OUR BLOCK BECAUSE, UH, IT'S SO CROWDED AND, UM, THE SOLID WASTE DEPARTMENT HAS TROUBLE GOING DOWN OUR STREET.

UM, WE HAVE MANY DRIVING AND MANEUVERING DIFFICULTIES JUST COMING IN AND OUT OF OUR DRIVEWAYS.

UH, THE TURNING RADIUS IS BASICALLY NOT THERE.

SOMETIMES WE HAVE TO PULL UP AND BACK, YOU KNOW, MOVE FORWARD AND BACKWARD THREE OR FOUR TIMES TO GET OUT OF OUR DRIVEWAYS.

UM, THE, THE OTHER, THE FINAL THING I WOULD POINT OUT IS THAT PARKING BY EMPLOYEES AND BY, UM, CUSTOMERS OF THESE BUSINESSES IS UNDERSTANDABLE BECAUSE THE BUSINESSES DON'T HAVE A LOT OF PARKING, BUT THEY'RE USING OUR STREET 10 TO 12 HOURS A DAY.

SO WE WOULD LIKE TO RESPECTFULLY ASK THE MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL TO SUPPORT THE RECOMMENDATION OF MELANIE CURRY AND THE PARK HOUSTON DEPARTMENT TO GRANT US A PRIVATE RESIDENTIAL PARKING DESIGNATION AND A TOW AWAY ZONE ON ONE SIDE.

[01:35:01]

HOLD ON ONE SECOND.

COUNCILMAN MCKINLEY.

UH, CYNTHIA, I JUST WANTED TO THANK YOU FOR COMING.

THIS IS SOMETHING THAT WE'VE BEEN WORKING WITH, UH, PARKING ON, AND THANK YOU FOR RECOGNIZING THE DEPARTMENT BECAUSE, UM, OFTENTIMES WHAT WE'RE SEEING IN MAYOR AND COLLEAGUES, YOU'VE HEARD ME DISCUSS THIS, WE HAVE SO MANY IN DISTRICT C NARROW STREETS THAT ARE BEING USED BY OTHERS AS KIND OF PERMANENT PARKING, EVEN THOUGH IT'S PUBLIC RIGHT OF WAY.

AND THE BURDEN IS FALLING ON RESIDENTS TO PROTECT, UM, THOSE STREETS SO THAT YOU CAN ACTUALLY DRIVE DOWN THEM AND BACK OUT OF YOUR DRIVEWAYS AND THINGS OF THAT NATURE.

UH, SO I REALLY WANNA COMMEND THE NEIGHBORHOOD.

UH, THIS ISN'T, UH, PARKING MAKES THIS AN EASY AS POSS AS EASY AS POSSIBLE TO DO, BUT IT STILL TAKES TIME AND EFFORT YEAH.

ON THE NEIGHBORHOOD'S PART.

SO, UM, I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO SUPPORTING THIS.

I THINK WE HAVE A FEW OF THEM COMING, UH, BEFORE COUNCIL TOMORROW, BUT I JUST WANNA THANK YOU ALL AS WELL FOR THIS EFFORT.

GREAT.

AND THANK YOU FOR YOUR STAFF FOR CALLING ME THIS MORNING.

I APPRECIATE IT.

THANKS FOR YOUR TIME.

THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE.

NEXT SPEAKER, LINDSEY WILLIAMS. LINDSEY WILLIAMS IS HERE.

SHOULD WE FOLLOW, BE FOLLOWED BY ALEJANDRO SANTOS.

GOOD AFTERNOON, MAYOR.

AFTERNOON, MAYOR PROTI, VICE MAYOR PROTI AND COUNCIL MEMBERS.

I'M HAPPY TO BE HERE TODAY TO TALK TO YOU ABOUT THE LAND BANKING AGREEMENT FOR THE FORMER OF ALASKA INCINERATOR SITE WITH THE HOUSTON LAND BANK.

I'M LINDSEY WILLIAMS. I'M THE DIRECTOR OF COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT FOR THE HOUSTON LAND BANK.

AS A LAND BANK, WE ARE A LOCAL GOVERNMENT CORPORATION AS WELL AS A NONPROFIT ORGANIZATION.

AND OUR MISSION IS TO ESSENTIALLY TAKE VACANT TO VIBRANT.

WE WERE CHARGED WITH TAKING THE DILAPIDATED VACANT PARCELS, UM, THAT ARE FORMERLY KNOWN FROM THE LAW PROGRAM AND TURNING THEM BACK INTO GOOD USE FOR THE COMMUNITY.

WE ARE RULED BY LEGISLATION SB 1679, WHICH EXPANDED OUR POWERS AS A LAND BANK.

FROM THERE, WE APPLIED TO THE EPA FOR FUNDING OF $600,000, AND WE AWARDED THAT AND WE'RE ABLE TO SUCCESSFULLY LAUNCH OUR CURRENT BROWNFIELDS PROGRAM.

THAT BROWNFIELDS PROGRAM HAS BEEN UP AND RUNNING SINCE 2022.

AND DUE TO ITS, ITS SUCCESS, EXCUSE ME, WE WERE EVEN ASKED TO SPEAK AT THE NATIONAL BROWNFIELD CONFERENCE TO TALK ABOUT COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT AND HOW WE'VE BEEN ABLE TO MOVE THAT NEEDLE FORWARD WHEN IT COMES TO BROWNFIELDS, I'M HERE BECAUSE WE BELIEVE THE LAND BANK IS THE PERFECT TOOL TO UTILIZE, TO TAKE THE FORM OF ALASKA INCINERATOR SITE AND REALLY TAKE THIS FROM A COMMUNITY LIABILITY TO AN ASSET DUE TO OUR LEGAL POWERS, OUR SUCCESSFUL BROWNFIELD PROGRAM, OUR WORKING RELATIONSHIP WITH THE EPA AND THE UNPRECEDENTED FUNDING AMOUNT THAT THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT HAS PUT IN THE PIPELINE OF $5 MILLION, WHICH IS PRETTY CLOSE, AND I THINK SERENDIPITOUS TO THE AMOUNT WE WOULD NEED TO PROPERLY CLEAN UP THIS SITE.

WE HEAVILY BELIEVE IN COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT AND COMMUNITY, UM, ENGAGED SOLUTIONS TO HELP MITIGATE THE MISTAKES OF THE PAST.

AND SO, TO OWN UP TO THAT AND TO BEGIN THAT PROCESS, WE'VE ALREADY LAUNCHED A BANKING VELASCO.ORG EXTENSION OF OUR WEBSITE WHERE THE COMMUNITY CAN LEARN MORE ABOUT THE SITE, OUR PROPOSAL, WHAT THE GRANT PROCESS WILL BE, AND THINGS THAT WILL NEEDED ONGOING THROUGHOUT THE PROJECT.

THE PUBLIC REPORTS ARE ALL MADE AVAILABLE ON THIS SITE AS WELL.

WE'VE SCHEDULED A COMMUNITY MEETING FOR OCTOBER 26TH AT THE HCC FELIX FRAGO LOCATION.

THAT WILL BE FROM SIX 30 TO EIGHT.

AND THE EPA GRANT PERIOD, UM, FOR OPEN PUBLIC COMMENT IS OCTOBER 23RD TO OCTOBER 30TH.

NOW, THIS IS THE EPA GRANT, PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD.

THIS IS NOT OUR OWN.

WE ARE COMMITTED TO CONTINUAL ENGAGEMENT AND UPDATES AND A FULL TRANSPARENCY, UM, PROCESS AS WE MOVE TOWARDS CLEANING THIS SITE IN TERMS OF REDEVELOPMENT, WE WILL LET THE COMMUNITY KNOW WHAT THEIR OPTIONS ARE BASED ON THE FINDINGS AND ENVIRONMENTAL REPORTS, AND WORK WITH THEM TO CREATE THE SOLUTION THAT WE ALL ALIGN WITH.

COUNCILMAN SROS.

THANK YOU FOR COMING TODAY.

I REALLY AM VERY EXCITED ABOUT THIS OPPORTUNITY.

UM, THIS IS A, A REALLY VERY PROBLEMATIC SITE FOR THE CITY.

UM, THE CITY WAS THE ONE WHO CREATED THE PROBLEM WITH INCINERATOR, UM, I DON'T KNOW, 70 YEARS AGO.

UM, NOT JUST THAT THE COMMUNITY MEETING NEXT WEEK, BUT THAT, YOU KNOW, AS THE PROCESS, UM, UH, GOES THROUGH THE WHOLE THING, THAT THERE WILL BE INVOLVED AND, AND, UM, UM, AND ENGAGED.

AND, AND SO THAT MAKES THE CITY INELIGIBLE TO APPLY FOR THE SAME EPA GRANTS, UM, THAT, THAT, UH, THAT, THAT, THAT YOU ARE ABLE TO APPLY FOR.

SO IT IS A WONDERFUL PARTNERSHIP TO COLLABORATE TO, UM, YOU KNOW, TO, TO GET THIS DONE.

AND I, AND I, I WANNA JUST SAY HOW IMPORTANT IT IS, AND I'M GLAD TO HEAR YOU SAY IT.

IT'S ALREADY BEEN ASSURED TO ME TOO, THAT THERE'S A, THERE'S A COMMITMENT, UM, TO WORK VERY CLOSELY WITH THE COMMUNITY TO MAKE SURE THAT,

[01:40:01]

SO I THINK THIS IS REALLY A GOOD THING FOR THE CITY.

YOU KNOW, WE WERE, UM, STARTING TO GET IN SOME, SOME LEGAL TROUBLE WITH TCEQ AND THEY DID GIVE US SOME GRACE PERIOD TO, TO WORK SOME THINGS OUT.

AND SO THIS IS, THIS IS THE SOLUTION, THIS IS OUR OPPORTUNITY.

AND, UM, AND, AND A BIG THANK YOU TO THE, THE LAND BANK.

ALEJANDRO SANTOS IS HERE.

MANDU ANDERSON IS HERE.

GOOD AFTERNOON, MR. MAYOR AND THE CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS.

THANK YOU FOR GIVING ME THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK TODAY.

MY NAME IS MEDU ANDERSON, AS A RESIDENT OF HARRIS COUNTY, I'M HERE TODAY TO EXPRESS MY CONCERNS ABOUT THE LACK OF INTEREST ON THE PART OF THE POLICE AND HARRIS COUNTY DISTRICT ATTORNEY, A IN PURSUING CRIMINAL ANIMAL CRUELTY CASES IN OUR COUNTY.

PLEASE CONSIDER THE INCIDENT I WITNESSED AND DECIDE HOW WE AS A CITY CAN BEST MOVE FORWARD.

RECENTLY, I WITNESSED A MAN VIOLENTLY PUNCHING AND KICKING A SMALL DOG IN THE CHEST AND FACE REPEATEDLY IN BROAD DAYLIGHT ON A BUSY DOWNTOWN HOUSTON STREET.

IT HAPPENED AT 3,200 WEST DALLAS STREET ON MAY 7TH, 2023, AROUND 5:00 PM I TRIED TO STOP HIM, BUT HE IGNORED ME.

THEN.

I DID EVERYTHING A LAW ABIDING CITIZEN IS SUPPOSED TO DO.

I CALLED THE POLICE, IMMEDIATELY, VISITED THE POLICE STATION SEVERAL TIMES TO ADDRESS THIS CRIME, AND I WENT DOOR TO DOOR IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD, GATHERING VIDEO EVIDENCE OF THE ABUSE.

I GAVE OUT FLYERS WITH A $500 REWARD FOR INFORMATION LEADING TO HIS IDENTIFICATION, CONTACTING THE MEDIA LAWYERS, PRO BONO LAWYERS, PRIVATE INVESTIGATORS, AND LOCAL BUSINESSES TO HELP IDENTIFY THIS ABUSER.

I SUBSEQUENTLY, POSITIVELY IDENTIFIED HIM IN A POLICE LINEUP.

THEN FINALLY, THE MAJOR OFFENDERS DIVISION OF THE HOUSTON POLICE DEPARTMENT OPENED AN INVESTIGATION OF THIS CASE, AND THEY FORWARDED IT TO THE DISTRICT ATTORNEY'S OFFICE.

ALONG WITH THE VIDEO EVIDENCE OF THE ABUSE AND WITNESS TESTIMONIES, I ALSO SUBMITTED SEVERAL DOZEN SIGNATURES FROM COMMUNITY MEMBERS SEEKING JUSTICE IN THIS CASE TO THE DA'S OFFICE.

BUT INSTEAD OF PRIORITIZING THE COMMUNITY'S SAFETY BY TAKING THIS ANIMAL CRUELTY CASE SERIOUSLY, THE DA SHOWED NO INTEREST IN PURSUING THIS CASE.

IF A MAN CHOKES AND PUNCHES A DOG AND KICKS THE DOG SO HARD THAT THE DOG FLIES THROUGH THE AIR, IS THAT NOT AN ANIMAL CRUELTY CASE WORTHY OF PROSECUTION? THE LACK OF ACTION FROM THE DA SUGGESTS EITHER THE ANIMAL CRUELTY LAWS ARE VERY WEAK IN HOUSTON, OR THE HARRIS COUNTY DISTRICT ATTORNEY ARG BELIEVES THAT PURSUING SUCH VIOLENT ANIMAL CRUELTY CASES IS NOT WORTH THEIR TIME.

IT IS WELL ESTABLISHED THAT PEOPLE WHO VIOLENTLY ABUSE ANIMALS OFTEN MOVE ON TO VIOLENCE AGAINST HUMANS BY NOT PURSUING THIS CASE.

AND OTHER CASES LIKE THIS, WE SEND A MESSAGE THAT ANIMAL CRUELTY HAS NO LEGAL REPERCUSSIONS.

I POLITELY REQUEST THAT YOU LOOK INTO THIS CASE AND PASS THE CITY ORDINANCE, MAKING IT A CRIMINAL OFFENSE TO KICK, PUNCH, CHOKE, OR THROW AN ANIMAL.

AND PLEASE URGE DA A TO START TAKING ANIMAL CRUELTY CASES SERIOUSLY, TO KEEP OUR COMMUNITIES SAFE FROM VIOLENT CRIMES AGAINST ANIMALS AND PEOPLE.

I WILL BE MORE THAN HAPPY TO FOLLOW UP WITH YOU ON THIS.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME.

COUNCIL MEMBER MCCAIN.

THANK YOU, UH, MS. ANDERSON, FIRST OFF, UM, FOR BEING A GOOD SAMARITAN AND ALL OF THE WORK THAT YOU ON YOUR OWN HAD TO GO THROUGH TO BASICALLY COMPILE ALL OF THE EVIDENCE TO HAND IT OVER TO THE POLICE.

AND I APPRECIATE THAT THE POLICE, IT SOUNDS LIKE, DID TAKE IT SERIOUSLY.

UM, IN, UH, FOLLOWING THE STEPS NECESSARY TO CREATE CHARGES THAT COULD BE BROUGHT BY THE DISTRICT ATTORNEY.

UM, I DON'T KNOW THE WHAT CODE, UM, WAS CITED SPECIFICALLY THAT ALLOWED FOR THOSE, UH, CHARGES TO BE BROUGHT TO THE DA'S OFFICE.

UM, BUT THAT LEADS ME TO BELIEVE THERE IS SOMETHING ON THE BOOKS IN HOUSTON.

UM, AS YOU MAY KNOW, THE CITY OF HOUSTON CANNOT CONTROL THE COUNTY DISTRICT ATTORNEY.

AND THE COUNTY DISTRICT ATTORNEY IS AN INDEPENDENT ENTITY, UM, ELECTED BY THE PEOPLE OF HARRIS COUNTY.

UM, HOWEVER, IT'S CONCERNING TO ME IF, UM, THAT'S NOT BEING LOOKED AT.

ONE OF THE REASONS, ONE, IT'S SIMPLY INHUMANE TO ABUSE ANY ANIMAL ON

[01:45:01]

TOP OF THAT.

UM, AS MANY OF YOU MAY KNOW, SI ABUSING AN ANIMAL IS ALSO AN INDICATOR OF ABUSING OTHER PEOPLE.

UM, IT MAY START WITH ANIMALS AND THEN IT LEADS TO CHILD ABUSE OR DOMESTIC ABUSE AND VIOLENCE AGAINST OTHERS AS WELL.

UM, SO I FIRST AND FOREMOST WANNA SAY THANK YOU.

UH, I ALSO WANNA, IF YOU CAN RELAY TO YOUR NEIGHBORS, UH, TO THANK THEM AS WELL FOR STEPPING UP, UH, I, I'M VERY SAD TO HEAR THAT THE DA DID NOT, UM, BRING CHARGES OR FOLLOW UP ON THIS CASE.

UM, BUT WOULD ALSO ENCOURAGE YOU TO GO TO HARRIS COUNTY COMMISSIONER'S COURT, UM, BECAUSE AGAIN, THE COUNTY, UM, THE DA'S OFFICE IS A, UH, A PART OF THE COUNTY ITSELF.

AND IF THERE'S ANYTHING THAT YOU NEED FROM ME, I'M HAPPY TO HELP.

UM, CAN I ANSWER VERY BRIEFLY? YES.

UM, COUNCILMAN COME IN FOR, UM, PURSUING THE CONCERN.

I WAS WORRIED THAT, UH, AT LEAST THE CITY OF HOUSTON CAN, UH, PASS ORDINANCE THAT CHOKING AND, UH, THROWING OR KICKING OR PUNCHING A DOG IN THE BROAD DAYLIGHT, BECAUSE I WITNESSED THAT MAN, THAT MAN WAS PUNCHING WITH A CLOSED FIST.

LIKE THAT DOG WAS 15 POUNDS.

IT WAS SUCH A TINY DOG.

AND THIS MAN WAS 200 POUND MAN.

AND AT FIVE O'CLOCK ON SUNDAY EVENING, ON A BUSY DOWNTOWN STREET, WHEN I WAS GOING BACK FROM, UH, FROM THE GROCERY STORE, I WAS GOING HOME AND I WAS SUPPOSED TO SEE THIS.

SO IT BREAKS MY HEART BECAUSE I TRIED SO HARD, LIKE A NORMAL PERSON.

I'M NOT AN EXPERT IN ANYTHING.

I'M, I'M JUST A NORMAL PERSON WHO GOES ON WITH THE DAY TO LI DAY LIFE.

AND I WAS FORCED TO SEE THAT, AND NOBODY HELPED ME WITH THIS.

SO IS THIS CITY CAN PASS AN ORDINANCE OR LOOK INTO THE ORDINANCE THAT CHOKING AND HURTING A DOG LIKE THIS.

VIOLENCE IS ILLEGAL.

AND I JUST, MAYOR, IF I MAY JUST VERY QUICKLY, UM, INQUIRE WITH THE CITY ATTORNEY, UM, AS TO WHAT, WHAT I BELIEVE WE DO HAVE, UM, ORDINANCES ON THE BOOKS, UH, AND THEIR'S STATE LAW AS WELL, RIGHT.

UM, REGARDING ABUSE OF ANIMALS.

BUT CAN YOU SPEAK TO WHAT OUR, OUR RESIDENT IS ASKING? YEAH, THERE'S, THERE'S STATE LAW ON THE MATTER.

UM, UH, I DON'T KNOW THAT WE HAVE CITY ORDINANCES THAT DIRECTLY ADDRESS ABUSIVE ANIMALS, BUT SAY WE'RE PROBABLY PREEMPTED BY THE STATE LAW THAT ADDRESSES IT.

BUT THERE ARE DEFINITELY STATE STATUTES THAT ADDRESS, UH, ANIMAL CRUELTY.

UM, YEAH, ABSOLUTELY ARE.

UN UNDERSTOOD.

WELL, I'LL, I'LL F LOOK INTO IT FURTHER.

THAT'S, THAT'S RIDICULOUSLY CLOSE.

CAN I FOLLOW UP WITH YOU? OKAY.

RONALD LAWRENCE IS HERE TO BE FOLLOWED BY JULIAN ATMORE.

I GOT PICTURES HERE FOR EVERYBODY.

CAN I HAND THEM OUT OVER TO YOUR RIGHT? OBJECTION.

SO I'M HERE AGAIN TO TALK ABOUT MY BUILDING.

UM, LAST TIME SAUL MET ME IN THE BACK AND SAID THAT THEY WERE GONNA RETURN TO THE SITE SAL WITH PUBLIC WORKS, AND THEY DIDN'T RETURN TO THE SITE.

UM, THEY EVEN TOLD ME ON THE PHONE THAT THEY'RE NOT GONNA BUILD THE RETAINING WALL.

BUT, UH, I WANT YOU TO LOOK AT THESE PICTURES SO YOU CAN SEE, UH, IN PICTURE NUMBER ONE, IT'S SHOWING, UH, KIND OF WHAT'S ALREADY HAPPENING TO THE FOUNDATION BECAUSE OF, UH, THE DITCH, THIS DITCH THAT THEY CAME OUT ON SEPTEMBER 6TH, AND THEY DUG IT MUCH BIGGER THAN WHAT IT WAS BEFORE.

AND I'M ALL FOR, LIKE, YOU KNOW, TRYING TO HELP THE STORM WATER, UH, DRAIN MUCH BETTER, YOU KNOW, BUT NOT AT THE EXPENSE OF MY BUILDING.

AND IT'S ALSO DANGEROUS WHEN THE CONCRETE'S CRACKING UP LIKE THAT AND PEOPLE ARE WALKING ON IT.

BUT ANYWAYS, UM, PICTURE NUMBER THREE.

UM, SHOULDN'T I BE CONCERNED ABOUT THE SIZE AND HOW CLOSE THEY BROUGHT THIS STITCH TO MY BUILDING? UH, PICTURE NUMBER TWO IS SHOWING THE HOLLOWING UNDERNEATH THE CONCRETE ALREADY.

SO SOMETHING NEEDS TO BE DONE ABOUT IT.

THEY'VE ALREADY CLOSED MY CASE THREE TIMES.

EVERY TIME THEY AGREE THAT IT IS AN ISSUE, IT'S OBVIOUS.

I, I APPRECIATE YOU BEING, UM, BEING BACK.

I KNOW PUBLIC WORKS HAS BEEN OUT THERE AND THEY PROVIDED PICTURES AS WELL, SO, I MEAN, WE'LL, WE'LL TAKE A LOOK AT IT.

OKAY? YEAH.

SO, UM, THIS IS A TIME SENSITIVE MATTER.

UM, IS SOMETHING GONNA BE DONE ABOUT THIS AFTER SOMETHING CATASTROPHIC HAPPENS TO MY BUILDING? IF YOU LOOK AT PICTURE NUMBER THREE, YOU CAN SEE THAT SOMETHING IS GONNA HAPPEN.

WOULD YOU WANT TO DITCH THAT CLOSE TO YOUR HOUSE? WE CERTAINLY WILL HAVE PUBLIC WORKS GO AND TAKE A, AND TAKE

[01:50:01]

A LOOK AT IT.

AND AGAIN, BUT WE ARE NOT IN POSITION TO SAY RIGHT NOW, JUST BY LOOKING AT THE PICTURES.

WE'LL TAKE A LOOK AT IT.

IS THERE ANYTHING WE CAN DO TO GET THEM TO FINISH THEIR JOB FOR THE SAFETY OF THE PEOPLE? WE WILL TAKE A LOOK AT IT.

HOW Y'ALL DOING? UM, I'M HERE, UH, SPEAKING TO Y'ALL ABOUT NEEDING SOME HELP AND TRYING TO GET SOME ADVICE ON SOMETHING RIGHT NOW.

CURRENTLY, THERE IS ONE INDIVIDUAL THAT WORKS IN THE CITY SECRETARY'S OFFICE THAT HANDLES EVERYTHING THAT HAS TO DO WITH WHEN A CANDIDATE IS RUNNING, AND THEN THEY HAVE TO FILE THEIR FINANCE REPORT.

SO WHEN I STARTED, UH, THE CONVERSATION WITH A GENTLEMAN BY THE NAME OF, UH, UH, LEMONS, THEN I SPOKE WITH ANOTHER GENTLEMAN.

IT'S LIKE THEY GIVING ME THE RUNAROUNDS ON WHAT TO DO.

AND THEN THE, THE, THE LATINO GUY THAT I SPOKE WITH, HE SAID, WELL, DO SHE HAVE A A, A CAMPAIGN TREASURER? I SAID, YEAH, I'M THE CAMPAIGN TREASURER.

WELL, SHE NEEDS TO HIRE A PROFESSIONAL CAMPAIGN TREASURER.

I SAY, WELL, I'M NEW AT THIS, BUT THAT DON'T MEAN THAT I'M I LITERALLY STUPID AND I DON'T KNOW WHAT TO DO.

AND THEN WHEN I GOT ON THE PHONE WITH TEXAS ETHICS, TEXAS, TEXAS ETHICS, ONE OF THE GENTLEMAN NAME IS JOHN UP IN AUSTIN.

HE ACTUALLY, WHILE I'M ON MY CELL PHONE AND IN FRONT OF THE, UH, COMPUTER, HE ACTUALLY TOOK OUR TIME TO WALK THROUGH AND TRY TO EXPLAIN EVERYTHING HE SAID, SO ALL YOU HAVE TO DO IS PRINT EVERYTHING OUT AND TAKE IT DOWN TO CITY HALL.

I SAID, THEY SAID THAT, THAT, THAT IT'S ONLY BEING DONE ELECTRONICALLY.

I SAID, UH, I'M, I'M A CAMPAIGN, UH, NEW CAMPAIGN TREASURER FOR, FOR ACCOMPLISHMENT OBEY.

I SAY, BUT I DON'T, I DON'T, I'M JUST GOING BY WHAT THE GUY AND THE CITY SECRETARY OFFICE.

SO THE GUY IN THE CITY SECRETARY SAID, WELL, AFTER TALKING TO HIM SEVERAL FOR A COUPLE OF DAYS, HE TELLS ME, WELL, MAN, YOU, YOU LOOK LIKE YOU WANT ME TO HOLD YOUR HAND.

I SAY, MAN, I'M A GROWN MAN.

I DON'T NEED NO MAIL TO HOLD MY HAND.

AND HE SAID, WELL, I DIDN'T MEAN IT LIKE THAT.

I SAID, BUT YOU ALREADY SAID IT.

ALL I'M ASKING IS, CAN WE GET WITH ALL OF THE CITY DOLLARS? CAN WE GET MORE THAN ONE PERSON, DR.

KATHY TATUM, THAT'S, UH, ALSO RUNNING FOR MALE'S OFFICE, SHE SAID, AND MET WITH COFFIN.

NOW, SHE EVEN SAID ON OUR FACEBOOK PAGE, WE WENT LIVE ABOUT THIS.

SHE SAID THAT SHE BEEN HAVING A PROBLEM.

THEN THE CHRONICLE CALLED AND TALKED TO MY WIFE COFFEE.

AND THEN IT'S OVER 15 TO 18 PEOPLE THAT'S HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM.

SO WITH ALL OF THE MONEY THAT WE HAVE, CAN Y'ALL PLEASE LOOK INTO THE BUDGET TO SEE IF WE CAN GET MORE THAN ONE INDIVIDUAL THAT CAN HELP? UM, MISS, MISS PAT, DANIEL, I, I'VE TALKED TO HER BEFORE, MET WITH HER THAT SHE'S VERY NICE, VERY RESPECTFUL, BUT CAN WE JUST GET SOME MORE ALLOCATED RESOURCES? THAT'S WHAT I'M COMING HERE FOR.

JUST SEE IF SOME MONEY CAN BE FOUND.

MAYBE WE CAN HIRE 10 PEOPLE THAT CAN BE TRAINED TO BE ABLE TO SPEAK BECAUSE THERE'S TOO MANY CANDIDATES.

AND JUST BY ME BEING A NEW, UH, PERSON THAT'S, UH, HANDLING THE PAPERWORK AND EVERYTHING, I DON'T THINK I SHOULD BE JUST LOOKED DOWN AND SPOKE ON, UH, FROM THE CITY SECRETARY'S OFFICE AND SAYING, OR WHEN THE GUY SAID, YOU NEED TO HIRE A PROF.

UH, SHE NEED TO COFF NEED TO HIRE A PROFESSIONAL.

THIS IS, THIS IS, THIS IS DELIBERATE, THIS IS INTENTIONAL.

NOW, I DON'T KNOW IF IT'S JUST FAVOR BECAUSE THEY WANT CERTAIN PEOPLE TO BE IN THE SEAT, STAND THE SEAT, OR WE IN THE SEAT.

BUT I FEEL THAT WE NEED TO BE ABLE TO OPEN UP THIS DEMOCRACY.

IT SHOULDN'T BE NO BLOCKING AND, AND ALL THESE TYPE OF GAMES THAT'S BEING PLAYED.

BUT MAYBE IF THERE WAS MULTIPLE INDIVIDUALS THAT WAS IN THAT POSITION TO BE ABLE TO HELP WITH ALL OF THESE NEW CANDIDATES, I THINK WE'LL BE ABLE TO GET SOME HELP.

THANK, THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

HOW Y'ALL DOING? LET ME SEE.

OKAY, I'M C SMITH BAY IN REFERENCE TO WHAT MY CAMPAIGN TREASURER OR SMITH WAS SAYING, I'M IN AGREEMENT WITH THAT.

UM, WHEN YOU CALL AND SPEAK TO SOMEONE AT CITY SECRETARY OFFICE, AND HE WAS REQUESTING INFORMATION ABOUT FILING MY, UH, FINANCIAL REPORT.

SO THE GUY WAS SAYING, OH, YOU CAN GO HERE AND THEN THEY'LL GIVE YOU THE REST OF THE INFORMATION, THE DIRECTIONS AND ET CETERA.

SO HE DID THAT.

SO HE CALLED BACK, STILL COULDN'T GET ANY HELP.

SO LIKE HE SAID, HE CALLED THE TEXAS ETHICS, UH, COMMISSION, AND THEY GAVE HIM MORE HELP THAN WE RECEIVE HERE FROM, UH, CITY HALL, THE SECRETARY OFFICE.

AND SO, UH, ART SAID TO ME ABOUT WHAT LEMON SAID ABOUT, I'M NOT GONNA HOLD YOUR HAND.

NOW, THAT'S VERY UNPROFESSIONAL, YOU KNOW WHAT I'M SAYING? TO BE REPRESENTING, UH, CITY HALL IN THE SECRETARY OFFICE.

THAT'S VERY UNPROFESSIONAL.

AND I RECEIVED MANY CALLS FROM MANY, MANY

[01:55:01]

CANDIDATES SAYING, THEY SAID, EVENTUALLY, YOU NEED A PASSWORD TO GO ONLINE TO SUBMIT YOUR FINANCIAL REPORT.

AND THEY STILL GOT THE SAME RUNAROUND.

MY THING IS, IS IT DONE INTENTIONALLY, UH, ON BEHALF OF THE CANDIDATES BECAUSE THEY ARE FAVORING THE PEOPLE WHO ARE ALREADY IN THE SEAT? AND IF SO, THAT'S, THAT'S JUST A SHAME IN REFERENCE TO, UH, UNFAIR PRACTICE HERE AT CITY HALL AS AN EMPLOYEE, IT'S A BAD REPRESENTATION OF CITY HALL IN THE SECRETARY'S OFFICE.

THERE'S NO WAY TO BUILD UP THE CITY OF HOUSTON.

IF PEOPLE WANT TO RUN FOR AN ELECTED SEAT AND SERVE THE PEOPLE FOR REAL AS PUBLIC SERVANTS, THERE SHOULD BE NO ONE BLOCKING THEM OR TARGETING THEM TO BUILD SOME TYPE OF NEGATIVE IMPACT OVER THEM.

SO THEY CAN SAY, OH, THEY DIDN'T FILE THIS ON TIME, OR THEY DIDN'T FILE THAT ON TIME.

THEN YOU HAVE HOUSTON CHRONICLE CALLING THE CANDIDATES SUCH AS MYSELF, ASKING, WHY DIDN'T YOU FILE YOUR FINANCIAL REPORT ON TIME? AND I TOLD 'EM EXACTLY WHY.

'CAUSE OF THE ONE AROUND HERE AT CITY HALL IN THE SECRETARY OFFICE, AND I'M ASSUMING THAT THEY'RE TARGETING THE CANDIDATES BECAUSE THEY'RE FAVORING THE ONES THAT'S ALREADY IN THE SEAT, WHICH IS A SHAME.

SO SHAME ON HOUSTON CITY HALL SECRETARY OFFICE FOR BEING SO BIASED TO THE CANDIDATES WHEN ALL THEY WANT IS THE PROPER DIRECTION TO FILE THEIR FINANCIAL REPORTS.

THAT MISINFORMATION, YOU KNOW, THAT'S NOT GOOD.

THAT'S NOT GOOD.

SO THERE IS NO TEAMWORK, THERE IS NO UNITY.

YOU KNOW, SO I'M COMING DOWN HERE TO INFORM AND COMPLAIN IN REFERENCE TO WHAT'S GOING ON.

YOU KNOW, WE HAVE A LOT, A LOT OF NEGATIVE THINGS AND THINGS THAT ARE NOT GETTING DONE IN DISTRICT B WHERE I'M BORN AND RAISED THAT BEEN THERE ALL MY LIFE, REPRESENTING THE PEOPLE FOR 25 PLUS YEARS AS A COMMUNITY LEADER, A COMMUNITY ACTIVIST, AND A EDUCATION ADVOCATE.

AND THIS IS REAL.

THIS IS REAL TO ME.

I'M NOT A POLITICIAN.

I'M A PUBLIC SERVANT UNTO GOD.

SO I'M ALWAYS GONNA BE THAT BEFORE, DURING, AND AFTER THE ELECTION.

I'M JUST LOOKING FOR A FAIR OPPORTUNITY TO DO WHAT I'M CALLED TO DO YOUR TIME WITH NO INTERRUPTIONS.

ON THESE PREMISES IS A FELONY WITH A MAXIMUM PENALTY OF 10 YEARS IMPRISONMENT AND A FINE NOT TO EXCEED 10,000.

NEXT SPEAKER, MICHAEL GRIFF GRIFFIN.

MICHAEL IS HERE TO BE FOLLOWED BY ROBERT CHO.

THANK YOU MAYOR, AND GOOD LUCK TO YOU AND THE FUTURE THERE.

YOU'VE DONE A GREAT JOB THERE.

THANK YOU, MIKE.

AND FOR THE REASON I'M HERE IS, UH, DURING THE CAMPAIGN GOING ON RIGHT NOW, ALMOST, I, I KIND OF PICK THE SMALL GROUPS.

I DON'T GO WITH THE BIG GROUPS.

I LIKE TO TAKE CARE OF THE SMALL PEOPLE.

AND THE BIGGEST THING WE HAVE, GRIFF, WHAT IS THE CITY DOING ON FENTANYL? ALMOST EVERY GROUP THAT I TALKED TO, THERE'S SOMEBODY THAT HAD JUST BEEN DIED BECAUSE OF FENTANYL.

AND I SAID, WELL, I WILL MAKE IT A POINT TO GO DOWN THERE AND CHECK BECAUSE, UH, YOU KNOW, HOUSTON HAS GOT THE NAME AS WE'RE THE ONE OF THE NUMBER ONE FENTANYL CITIES.

AND THAT'S, IT SCARES THE PEOPLE.

AS YOU KNOW, CRIME IS THE NUMBER ONE CONCERN ALMOST OF EVERY GROUP THAT WE GO SPEAK TO.

AND, UH, YOU KNOW, THIS IS, THIS IS, WE ARE DOING REAL GOOD ON THE, AS LIKE THE MURDERS.

AND WE'RE TALKING ABOUT THE, THE RAPES, THEY'RE, THEY'RE DOWN, THAT, THAT MAKES PEOPLE FEEL GOOD.

BUT THE IDEA OF THE FENTANYL HAS SCARED THE HELL OUT OF MORE PEOPLE.

AND THAT'S THE QUESTION.

WE GET EVERYTHING THERE.

IF THEY SAY, GRIFF, YOU KNOW, SOME OF THE PEOPLE DOWN THERE ASK THEM, WHAT ARE THEY GOING TO DO? AND IT KIND OF LEADS BACK THERE TO 1990.

I WAS PRESIDENT OF THE FOOD AND BEVERAGE ASSOCIATION OF TEXAS, AND ONE OF THE BIG THINGS WE WERE WORRIED ABOUT IS PEOPLE BRINGING WEAPONS INTO PLACES THAT SERVE ALCOHOL, LIKE SPORTS PLACES AND PUBS AND EVERYTHING LIKE THAT.

SO WHAT WE DID WAS WE GOT TOGETHER, WE HIRED A LOBBY, A SENATOR BABE SQUATS DOWN IN GALVESTON.

WE SAID, WE WANT TO MAKE A LAW SO TIGHT, SO TOUGH THAT PEOPLE WILL NOT BRING A WEAPON INTO ANY PLACE THAT SERVE ALCOHOL.

AND WHAT WE WORKED ON, AND WHAT CAME OUT OF IT WAS, AND WE SAID, WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT PEOPLE CHECK ON EVERYTHING LIKE THAT.

AND FOR THE LAST 34 YEARS, YOU HAVE VERY HEARD VERY LITTLE ABOUT SOMEBODY SHOT INSIDE A BAR.

LATELY YOU'VE SEEN A LOT OF THEM OUTSIDE THERE.

FOR SOME REASON THEY'RE GOING IN THEIR CARS AND GETTING, BUT WHAT WE DID WAS WE CAME UP WITH, UH, AND WE WORKED HARD WITH THE STATE AND WE SAID, WE'VE GOT TO ENFORCE THIS BECAUSE ONCE THE WORD GETS OUT, AND THIS IS THE ONE THAT WE DID THAT PROBABLY WAS IN EVERY PLACE IN HOUSTON, IN TEXAS IN GENERAL, THIS IS THE NOTICE.

AND UNLESS IT READS, THE UNLICENSED POSSESSION OF A WEAPON

[02:00:01]

THIS WAS PUT IN EVERY PLACE.

AND EVEN MY OLD PLACE AT GRIFF'S THERE, PROBABLY FOUR OR FIVE TIMES THERE, SOMEONE WOULD COME UP AND SAY, GRIFF, THERE'S SOMEBODY IN THE POOL ROOM.

UH, THE, THE GIRL OPENED UP A PURSE AND THERE WAS A, A WEAPON IN THERE.

SO I WOULD GO AND I'D SAY, YOUNG LADY, HAVE YOU SEEN THIS? AND THEY ACTUALLY FINED TWO OR THREE, WHICH MADE NATIONAL NEWS $2,500.

AND I REMEMBER THE GIRL SAYING, MY BOYFRIEND TOLD ME TO BRING IT IN.

WELL, MA'AM, DO YOU KNOW YOU CAN'T DO THAT? SO WHAT I'M THINKING OF NOW IS THERE, WHAT CAN WE DO IN HOUSTON TO MAKE FENTANYL AND ALSO THE SALE OF FENTANYL, SEX TRAFFICKING AND THE FIRING OF POLICE, YOUR TIME HAS EXPIRED.

AND WE WERE JUST SAYING, MAYOR, COULD WE DO SOMETHING LIKE THIS, MOVE IT TO 20 YEARS? ANYBODY BRINGING FENTANYL INTO HOUSTON, TEXAS, NOT ONLY IS IT $20,000 FINE, BUT ALSO 20 YEARS IN PRISON.

AND IF THE WORD GETS OUT, I'LL GUARANTEE YOU, AND WE GET SOME GOOD PUBLICITY EVERY NIGHT, YOU SEE SOMEONE BEING SHOT IN THE HOME OR SOME CRAZY MURDER.

BUT WHAT IF WE HAVE TWO OR THREE PEOPLE THERE AND, UH, MIKE WON'T CATCH 'EM SELLING FENTANYL TO THE CHILDREN, ANYTHING LIKE THAT? MIKE, WHY DON'T YOU, WHY DON'T YOU JUST LEAVE IT WITH, UH, RENEE, WITH RENEE.

LEAVE, LEAVE IT, LEAVE IT WITH RENEE.

EXCUSE ME, I'M NOT IN HERE.

YEAH, IF YOU, IF YOU WOULD LEAVE IT WITH RENEE, MIKE, IF YOU DON'T MIND LEAVING THAT WITH RENEE.

OKAY, THANKS.

AND THE ONE THING I DID, I HAD POLICE BECAUSE I KNOW MIKE, BUT THE TIME IS EXPIRED.

WHY? BECAUSE OF UNINTENDED CONSEQUENCES.

THANKS.

THANKS THOUGH.

NEXT, NEXT SPEAKER, ROBERT CHO.

ROBERT CHO ROBERT, HE FOLLOWED BY JOSHUA BULLARD.

GREETINGS, THIS WEEK IS THE SECOND ANNIVERSARY OF MY FIRST CONVERSATION WITH YOU FOLKS ABOUT CRIME.

AND I'VE APPEARED HERE A FEW MORE TIMES ON THE SAME SUBJECT.

UH, SMALL PACKETS BEING DISTRIBUTED TO YOU.

AND I INTENDED TO COVER ALL THAT IN THREE MINUTES.

BUT GUESS WHAT? I'M NOT, I'M GONNA DIRECT YOU TO THE LAST PAGE.

RESPONSE TIMES KIDS WHERE THE RUBBER MEETS THE ROAD, LITERALLY AND FIGURATIVELY.

WHY DO PEOPLE CALL THE POLICE? THEIR CAR GETS STOLEN, THE HOME GOT BURLED.

MINIMUM WAGE FAST FOOD WORKER HAD HELD UP AT THE DRIVE-THROUGH WINDOW WHILE THEY'RE DOING THEIR JOB.

A CITIZEN'S INTIMIDATED BY AN OUTTA CONTROL SUPER NEIGHBORHOOD CHAIR.

ALL THESE CALLS ARE PLACED IN A PRIORITY ONE THROUGH FIVE.

BE HONEST WITH YOU, I DON'T KNOW WHAT THESE ONE THROUGH FIVES ARE.

I COULD JUST TELL YOU THE PRIORITY ONE IS SOMEONE GOT SHOT, THEY'RE BLEEDING OUT, THE GUY'S STILL ON THE PREMISES GET THERE.

AND THE POLICE GENERALLY DO THAT IN FIVE TO SIX MINUTES.

PRIORITY FIVE IS, OR THREE THROUGH FIVE ARE ALL THE STUFF THAT FILTERS DOWN.

UH, I WAS SURPRISED AT CHRISTMAS TWO YEARS AGO WHEN SHOTS WERE FIRED FOUR DOORS DOWN FROM ME THAT OUR CALL BECAME A PRIORITY FIVE BECAUSE THE PERSON HAD LEFT, NO ONE WAS BLEEDING OUT, NO SENSE RUSHING TO GET THERE.

IT TOOK TWO HOURS AND TWO MINUTES.

SO THE WEIGHTED AVERAGE HAS GONE FROM 2019, FROM 47 MINUTES TO 63.47 MINUTES.

THE BIGGEST RATE RISES IN THE PRIORITIES THREE, FOUR, AND FIVE.

I BROUGHT THIS ATTENTION TO THE ATTENTION OF THE PUBLIC, UH, PUBLIC SAFETY AND HOMELAND SECURITY COMMITTEE ON JUNE 15TH.

AND THEN MIKE MORRIS AND HIS TEAM AT THE CHRONICLE DID A VERY NICE STORY ABOUT A MONTH LATER.

SINCE THEN, WE HAVEN'T HEARD A THING.

CRICKETS.

I'M APPEALING TO YOU TO ELEVATE THIS SITUATION.

PEOPLE LOSE CONFIDENCE IN THE POLICE.

WHY BOTHER REPORTING THIS? I CAN'T WAIT TWO HOURS, PERPS GET AWAY.

MORE CRIMES ARE COMMITTED BECAUSE, AND THE ICING ON THE CAKE WAS A FEW MONTHS AGO.

THERE WAS A SHOOTER WHO CASUALLY RODE AWAY AT HIS BICYCLE.

WHY? BECAUSE HE KNEW THE RED LIGHTS WEREN'T COMING DOWN THE STREET ANYTIME SOON.

IN CONCLUSION, WHEN SHE FIT IS HERE TOMORROW TO TELL YOU THE CRIME IS DOWN.

AND I'LL AGREE, CRIME IS DOWN.

I'M SHOWING IT TO YOU ON FOUR PAGES OF THAT PACKET.

BUT LET'S TALK ABOUT HOW, HAVE A SERIOUS DISCUSSION ABOUT HOW WE CAN IMPROVE OUR RESPONSE TIMES.

NEXT SPEAKER, JOSHUA BULLARD.

JOSHUA BULLARD, JOSHUA THREE, FOLLOWED BY WILL HILL

[02:05:07]

MAYOR, COUNCIL MEMBER.

I WAS, UM, ADDRESS IN, UM, A CLUB CALLED THE ADDRESS.

THE ADDRESS IS, UH, HAD CONVINCED THE HOUSTON POLICE DEPARTMENT MAJOR ASSAULTS DIVISION TO STORM A WOMAN'S HISTORICAL HOME IN THIRD WARD OVER A SINGLE NEGATIVE GOOGLE REVIEW IN RETALIATION FOR A LEGAL ONE STAR GOOGLE REVIEW.

OWNERS OF THE ADDRESS, A CLUB OFF 2 88 AND THIRD WARD IN HOUSTON, TEXAS SOMEHOW CONVINCED THE HOUSTON POLICE DEPARTMENT MAJOR ASSAULTS DIVISION TO STORM THE HISTORICAL MCGOWAN PROPERTY OWNED BY A SINGLE MOTHER IN DISTRICT D, WHICH IS A COUNCIL MEMBER SHAZA DISTRICT SEARCHING FOR THE GOOGLE REVIEWER, JOSHUA BULLARD IN PERSON.

THE SERGEANT WITH HPD DID NOT ADMIT THAT THEY HAD ANY EVIDENCE THAT BULLARD HAD COMMITTED ANY CRIME.

RATHER, HE QUESTIONED BULLARD FROM WHAT APPEARED TO BE THE GOOGLE REVIEW HE HAD LEFT FOUR DAYS PRIOR ALLEGING HOW DANGEROUS THE ADDRESS HAS BECOME IN REGARDS TO BOOKING SINGER MAYA MARIE HARRISON, ALSO KNOWN PROFESSIONALLY AS MAYA.

UM, A NUMBER OF YEARS AGO I HAD A ONE-ON-ONE PICNIC WITH MAYA AT DISCOVERY GREEN.

AND IT WAS NOT MUSIC-BASED, IT WAS NOT AN OFFICIAL EVENT, IT WAS JUST HER AND I AND IT WAS FAN-BASED AND I HAD TO LEAVE THE PARK AND SHE WAITED ON ME TO COME BACK.

AND THEN I CAME BACK AND WE CONCLUDED THAT, UH, EVENT BETWEEN HER AND I, LIKE I SAID, IT WAS JUST FAN-BASED, BUT SHE DEMANDED THAT I ATTEND HER NEXT HOUSTON EVENT, WHICH WAS AT A CLUB THAT WAS OWNED BY A CRIMINAL OFFENSE ATTORNEY IN HOUSTON NAMED CARL MOORE.

CARL MOORE HAS A SUBSTANTIAL HISTORY IN BEING A CLUB OWNER HERE IN HOUSTON.

SHE DEMANDED THAT I ATTEND HER NEXT HOUSTON EVENT.

WHEN I GOT TO THE CLUB, SHE CONVINCED THE CLUB SECURITY TO ASSAULT ME AND DRAGGED ME OUT OF THE CLUB.

AND WHEN I REQUESTED FROM ATTORNEY CARL MOORE FOR THE VIDEO OF THE INCIDENT, THAT'S PRIOR TO THE MAYOR'S LEGISLATION THAT MADE IT LAW THAT THEY HAD TO HAVE VIDEO IN THE CLUBS, CARL MOORE REFUSED TO RELEASE THE VIDEO.

DISCOVERY GREEN HAS REFUSED TO RELEASE THE VIDEO OF THE PICNIC BETWEEN MAY AND I.

ONE SECOND COUNCIL EVAN SHABAZZ.

THANK, THANK YOU JOSHUA.

UM, I JUST HAVE A COUPLE OF QUESTIONS, UH, IN REGARDS TO THESE INCIDENTS, DID YOU FILE A POLICE REPORT? I I I, HE, THE, THE POLICE JUST LEFT THE HOUSE TWO, THREE DAYS AGO.

NO, MY QUESTION IS, DID YOU OH, ON THAT I DID NOT, BECAUSE I COULD NOT GET A COPY OF THE VIDEO BECAUSE THE CLUB OWNER NO, NO, NO, NO, NO.

DID YOU FILE, YOU, YOU ARE ALLEGING THAT THIS CLUB, UH, SOMEONE THERE ASSAULTED YOU, WHICH WOULD MEAN THAT YOU NEED TO MAKE A POLICE REPORT OF THAT BECAUSE I DID, I DID NOT FILE A POLICE REPORT.

YOU NEED TO FILE A POLICE REPORT IF YOU BELIEVE THAT YOU WERE, UH, IF, IF YOU WERE ASSAULTED.

BECAUSE I DID NOT, WAS NOT ABLE TO GET THE VIDEO FROM THE CLUB.

RIGHT? A REPORT IS FREE TO DO, YOU GO DO IT AND THEN YOU LOOK, DO YOUR DISCOVERY TO SEE IF YOU CAN GET THIS.

BUT CERTAINLY TO NOT FILE A POLICE REPORT IF SOMEONE ASSAULTED YOU IS NOT PROTOCOL.

SECONDLY, YOU'RE, YOU'RE USING THE WORD DEMANDED YOU TO BE THERE.

I DON'T KNOW THAT ANYONE THAT DOES NOT HAVE A CHARGE OVER YOUR PERSON CAN DEMAND YOU TO BE ANYWHERE BUT HERE AGAIN.

BUT, BUT MY POINT IS, WITHOUT ANY EVIDENCE OF ANYTHING, YOU KNOW, WE, WE DON'T REALLY KNOW WHAT TRANSPIRED NOT TO QUESTION YOU AND YOUR INTEGRITY, BUT CERTAINLY I ALSO DON'T KNOW WHAT THE CITY IS SUPPOSED TO DO IN REGARDS TO THIS.

THIS IS A MATTER BETWEEN YOU, THE PERSON THAT ASSAULTED YOU AND PERHAPS THE ADDRESS.

NOW, THEY DID LEAVE INFORMATION FOR YOU TO REACH OUT TO THEM BECAUSE THEY SAID THAT YOU HAVE NOT DONE THAT.

SO, UH, INGRAM IS IN THE BACK.

SHE CAN PROVIDE YOU WITH THE PHONE NUMBERS.

BUT HOW DID THE ADDRESS HAVE THE HOUSTON POLICE DEPARTMENT MAJOR ASSAULT DIVISION RUSHED TO THE HOME OVER THE GOOGLE REVIEW? WE, WE HAVE NO IDEA IF THAT ACTUALLY TRANSPIRED OR WHO SENT THEM THERE.

JOSHUA, MY POINT IS,

[02:10:01]

I'M NOT LEAVING ANY MORE GOOGLE REVIEWS WITH THE ADDRESS.

I'M SORRY, SIR.

I'M NOT GONNA LEAVE ANY MORE GOOGLE REVIEWS FOR THE ADDRESS.

WELL, THAT, THAT'S BETWEEN YOU AND, AND GOOGLE AND THE ADDRESS.

MY POINT IS, IF YOU WERE ASSAULTED, YOU NEED TO TAKE THOSE PROPER STEPS TO MAKE SURE THAT THOSE THAT DID THAT TO YOU HAVE CONSEQUENCES.

ARE YOU GONNA ASK SINGER MAYA TO STOP COMING TO THIS CITY? I AM NOT.

I I HAVE NOTHING TO DO WITH THAT VENUE OR ANYONE THAT IS THERE TO ENTERTAIN THAT IS BETWEEN THEM.

BUT CERTAINLY IF YOU FILE A POLICE REPORT AND CAN PROVE YOUR ALLEGATIONS, THEY MAY BE ABLE TO TO DO THAT WHICH YOU ARE DESIRING, AND THAT IS FOR THAT PERSON TO NO LONGER PERFORM.

BUT PLEASE FOLLOW THE STEPS THAT ARE PROVIDED TO YOU REGARDING FILING AN ASSAULT AND THEN PERHAPS, UH, YOU CAN GET SOME RELIEF.

OKAY? THANK YOU SO MUCH.

THANK YOU HONOR.

THANKS JOSH.

NEXT SPEAKER, WILL HILL.

WILL HILL, WILL HILL IS NOT HERE.

NEXT SPEAKER.

DANIELLE INGER.

DANIELLE WHO INGER HER NAME WAS LEFT OFF THE LIST.

OH, DANIELLE .

IT'S TAKING A LITTLE BIT TO GET ON THE LIST.

GOOD AFTERNOON, MAYOR TURNER CITY COUNCIL.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME.

MY NAME IS DANIELLE INGER.

I AM A TEXAS LICENSED PROFESSIONAL GEOLOGIST.

UM, I ALSO AM THE CO-FOUNDER AND CEO OF COMMUNITY LATTICE.

UM, WE ARE A SMALL ENVIRONMENTAL CONSULTING FIRM, UM, BASED HERE IN HOUSTON THAT SPECIALIZES IN BROWNFIELDS REDEVELOPMENT AND ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE PLANNING.

I'VE HAD THE PLEASURE OF WORKING WITH THE CITY OF HOUSTON IN THE BROWNFIELDS REDEVELOPMENT PROGRAM, UM, FOR THE PAST 10 YEARS.

UM, AND I ALSO HAVE HAD THE PLEASURE OF WORKING WITH THE HOUSTON LAND BANK FOR THE PAST, UM, TWO YEARS THAT THEY'VE STARTED THEIR BROWNFIELDS PROGRAM.

SO I'M HERE TODAY JUST TO SHOW THAT SUPPORT FOR THE TRANSITION OF THE VELASCO INCINERATOR SITE TO THE HOUSTON LAND BANK.

UM, AT THE CITY WITH THE CITY'S BROWNFIELDS PROGRAM.

WE HAVE BEEN WORKING WITH THE EPA AS WELL AS THE TEXAS COMMISSION ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY TO ASSESS THIS PROPERTY TO CHARACTERIZE IT.

WE KNOW THAT THERE IS ABOUT 35 FEET OF ASH THAT WAS REALLY THE REMNANTS OF THE BURNING OF TRASH THAT'S ON SITE.

WE DO KNOW THAT THAT IS CONTAMINATED.

UM, AND WE DO KNOW THAT THE CITY, UM, HAS THEIR HANDS TIED IN BEING ABLE TO GET FUNDING TO CLEAN IT UP.

SO IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE HOUSTON LAND BANK, AND THIS IS WHY WE SET UP THE HOUSTON LAND BANKS BROWNFIELDS PROGRAM, WAS TO COMPLIMENT THE CITY'S BROWNFIELDS PROGRAM AND GIVE THEM THE ABILITY TO BRING IN MORE FUNDING, UM, AND TO CHAMPION THIS INTO, UH, A REUSE THAT WILL BENEFIT THE COMMUNITY.

THIS CANNOT BE HOUSING.

UM, THIS BECAUSE OF THE STRUCTURAL INTEGRITY OF THE, OF THE ASH.

IT HAS TO BE SOMETHING, UM, THAT REALLY THE COMMUNITY DECIDES.

UM, BUT IT IS LIMITED TO, UH, CAPPING THE SITE.

SO THINK PARK, YOU CAN PUT BALL FIELDS, OTHER CAPPING HAS INCLUDED, UM, PARKING LOTS, ROADS AND THINGS OF THAT NATURE.

SO I'M HAPPY TO, TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS, UM, REGARDING ANY OF THE TECHNICAL COMPONENTS.

UM, AND AGAIN, WORKING WITH THE CITY AND THE LAND BANK TO PUT THIS SITE BACK INTO PRODUCTIVE REUSE.

THANK, THANK YOU, DANIELLE.

CATHERINE, I'M SORRY.

COUNCILMAN PLUMER.

THANK YOU MAYOR TURNER.

I JUST WANTED TO THANK YOU, DANIELLE, FOR ALL THAT YOU DO IN TERMS OF ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE AND JUST, YOU KNOW, HELPING US WORK THROUGH THE PROCESSES.

SO THANK YOU.

IT'S BEEN GREAT WORKING WITH YOU AS WELL.

HERE AND THEY'RE SCARED TO SPEAK UP.

OKAY, THANK YOU ALL.

NEXT SPEAKER SHAY SHARP.

SHAY SHARP SHAY IS HERE, EITHER ONE.

UM, I'M HERE TODAY BECAUSE I WANNA SPEAK ON THE ISSUE AND I WANT TO ADDRESS SOMETHING ELSE.

PRIOR FROM LAST WEEK, UM, I'VE BEEN DEALING WITH SOME STALKING AND HARASSMENT AROUND THE CITY OF HOUSTON AND A LOT OF THINGS FROM THIRD PARTY ENTITIES.

I DON'T KNOW WHAT YOU GUYS ARE GONNA DO ABOUT THAT.

TO MY KNOWLEDGE, UH, NOTHING HAS BEEN DONE.

AND I ALSO HAVE A STOLEN INHERITANCE, AND SOMEBODY THOUGHT IT WAS FUNNY TO DO THAT AND HAVE ME OUT HERE HOMELESS.

SO I WANNA KNOW WHAT ACTIONS CAN I TAKE BESIDES THE POLICE DEPARTMENT, BECAUSE CLEARLY WHEN I SIT THERE, I GET LAUGHED AT AND ONLY CERTAIN THINGS GET DONE, AND THEN I NEVER GET A CALL BACK.

I GET THE RUNAROUND AND I DON'T GET WHAT I NEED.

AND I FEEL LIKE A LOT OF WOMEN ARE GETTING ABUSED OUT

[02:15:01]

AND WE DON'T KNOW HOW MANY PEOPLE HAVE BEEN GOING THROUGH THIS.

SO I WANT TO KNOW WHAT OTHER, UH, CAN I GET MORE TIME? I'M SORRY.

CAN I GET MORE TIME, PLEASE? I TELL YOU WHAT, WHY DON'T YOU GET WITH RENEE? HMM.

AND YOU CAN, YOU FEEL FREE TO GO AND TALK TO RENEE, OKAY? OKAY.

ALL RIGHTY.

CAN I PASS SOMETHING AROUND TO YOU GUYS TOO.

RE RENEE.

OKAY, THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

ELI, WHAT YOU GOT FOR US TODAY? .

DO YOU REALLY WANNA KNOW? HI.

GOOD AFTERNOON, MAYOR.

UH, I WAS CANVASING WITH, UM, THE JEAN MARK CAMPAIGN.

I'M HERE.

UM, I WAS TAKING TOO MANY PICTURES WITH AFRICAN AMERICANS AND WITH HISPANIC.

I'M HISPANIC.

I CAME ACROSS JC HARMON.

UH, HE'S, UH, SUPER FAMOUS.

I DIDN'T KNOW I TOOK A PICTURE WITH HIM.

I BOUGHT HIS BOOK AND THEN I GOT A PHONE CALL.

UM, JAY MALONE, POLITICAL AND COMMUNICATIONS DIRECTOR OF THE TEXAS GULF COAST AREA LABOR FEDERATION FIRE.

HE DIDN'T SAY WHY, HE SAYS BECAUSE MISCONDUCT, UH, I DIDN'T DO ANYTHING.

HE, HE'S JUST A FAMOUS GUY.

HE AUTOGRAPHED HIS BOOK.

I WASN'T GONNA BE PREJUDICED AGAINST AFRICAN AMERICAN PEOPLE, HISPANIC PEOPLE.

I WAS TAKING PICTURES, I WAS ENGAGING WITH THE, UH, WHAT IS IT CALLED WITH CONSTITUENTS IN DIFFERENT AREAS.

WE WERE, WE WENT ALL THE WAY TO OUR, UH, THE, UH, FUNERAL.

YOU WERE THERE, MRS. SHEILA JACKSON LEE.

TIME HAS EXPIRED.

UM, JACKSON COUNCIL MEMBER COUNCILWOMAN JACKSON.

UM, I JUST WANNA SAY THANK YOU FOR COMING OUT TO OUR JOB FAIR ON SATURDAY.

OH, THANK YOU.

SO HOW WAS IT? DID YOU, UM, GET CONNECTED WITH AN EMPLOYER? YES.

SINCE I GOT FIRED, YES.

YEAH, SHE CAME ON OUT ON SATURDAY.

SO THANK YOU.

IT WAS GOOD TO SEE YOU.

HITCHCOCK, JONAH HITCHCOCK.

AND WE HAVE ANOTHER JOB FAIR COMING UP.

I DON'T KNOW IF YOU'RE GONNA BE THERE, BUT I'M LOOKING FOR EMPLOYMENT AND I HAVEN'T GOTTEN UNEMPLOYMENT, SO, UH, I DIDN'T, I TOLD YOU.

WELL, I WAS TALKING, I JUST WANTED TO SAY THANK YOU FOR COMING OUT TO THE JOB FAIR.

WELL, THANK YOU FOR LETTING ME TAKE A PICTURE WITH YOU.

I REALLY APPRECIATE IT.

WE'LL PICK IT UP NEXT WEEK.

JONAH HITCHCOCK.

NEXT SPEAKER.

JACOB CLEMENT.

BEST FOR BEST FOR BEST FOR LAST.

LOOK AT THE BALL.

NO, WHO HAS BEEN SIGNED BY, BUT JIM CRANE.

I WAS AT THE OSO CRI RESTAURANT AND HE WANTS TO GO THERE TONIGHT WITH ME.

YEAH, IT IS, IT IS A GREAT RESTAURANT.

SEE, JIM CRANE OWNS OSO CRI THAT IS NAMED AFTER TWO OF HIS CHILDREN.

AND AT ANY RATE, UH, I AM GOING TO SAY SOMEBODY GAVE ME A DOCTOR, NOT YOU, DR.

SHABAZZ, BUT A DR.

PLUMMER .

I WOULD LIKE YOU TO AUTOGRAPH THIS, UH, UH, CAMPAIGN LITERATURE THAT YOU GAVE TO ME AND BEFORE YOU'LL SAY TO JACOB, UH, PROUD AND STRONG VOTER.

UNTIL TOMORROW MORNING AT 9:00 AM CONFIRMATION OF THE APPOINTMENT OR REAPPOINTMENT OF THE FOLLOWING INDIVIDUALS TO THE PLANNING COMMISSION.

THANK YOU, JACOB.

AT, ANYWAY, IT'S GOING ON ON THREE, BUT HE WANTS TO GO TO THE RESTROOM WITH ME.

NEXT SPEAKER, THEY COMPLETE LIST OF SPEAKERS.

UH, JACOB, DON'T FORGET YOUR BASEBALL.

CRANE WILL COME IF I FORGOT THIS ALL.

ALRIGHT, WE STAND IN RECESS

[RECESS]

ITEM THREE, RECOMMENDATION FROM DIRECTOR ADMINISTRATION REGULATORY AFFAIRS DEPARTMENT FOR THE DESIGNATION OF A RESIDENTIAL PARKING PERMIT AREA IN THE 1100 BLOCK OF HARMORE STREET AND THE 1100 BLOCK OF WILLARD STREET.

ITEM FOUR, RECOMMENDATION FROM DIRECTOR OF GENERAL SERVICES DEPARTMENT FOR APPROVAL OF FINAL CONTRACT AMOUNT OF $718,105 AND 43 CENTS AND ACCEPTANCE WORK ON CONTRACT WITH DNV ENTERPRISE INC.

ITEM FIVE, RECOMMENDATION FROM DIRECTOR OF GENERAL SERVICES DEPARTMENT FOR APPROVAL TO FINAL A CONTRACT AMOUNT OF 4 MILLION 553 351 25 AND ACCEPTANCE OF WORK ON CONTRACT WITH GAD CONSTRUCTION COMPANY, INC.

[02:20:03]

ITEM SIX FRASER, LTD FOR A PURCHASE OF COMPLETE AMBULANCE CHEVY C 3,500 REGULAR CAB THROUGH THE HGAC CORPORATE PURCHASING PROGRAM FOR THE FLEET MANAGEMENT DEPARTMENT ON BEHALF OF THE HOUSTON FIRE DEPARTMENT.

ITEM SEVEN APPROVED SPENDING AUTHORITY IN THE AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED 9 6 3 8 9 3 70 FOR EMERGENCY CONSTRUCTION AND REPAIRS AND WATERPROOFING SERVICES AT THE CITY HALL TUNNEL FOR THE GENERAL SERVICES DEPARTMENT ON WARD TO TIMES CONSTRUCTION.

ITEM EIGHT, FERGUSON WATER WORKS FOR REPAIR CLAMPS THROUGH THE COOPERATIVE PURCHASING AGREEMENT WITH NATIONAL COOPERATIVE PURCHASING ALLIANCE FOR HOUSTON PUBLIC WORKS.

ITEM NINE APPROVED SPENDING AUTHORITY IN THE AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED $6,200,000 IN NO CENTS FOR EMERGENCY WATERLINE INSPECTION SERVICES FOR HOUSTON PUBLIC WORKS ON AWARD TO MIDDLETON BROWN, LLC.

ITEM 10, KEN LOCK EQUIPMENT AND SUPPLY INC FOR A RENTAL OF SEWER CLEANING TRUCKS, CLEANER TRUCKS THROUGH THE TEXAS LOCAL PURCHASING COOPERATIVE BY BOARD FOR HOUSTON PUBLIC WORKS.

ITEM 11, APPROVED SPENDING OF 30 AND A MILE NOT SUCCEED, $170,000 IN OH CENTS TO UPDATE THE 2019 CITY OF HOUSTON WATER CONSERVATION PLAN AND DRIVE CONTINGENCY PLAN FOR HOUSTON PUBLIC WORKS ON AWARD TO ALLEN PLUMBER ASSOCIATES, INC.

DBA PLUMBER ASSOCIATES INC.

ITEM 12 APPROVED SPENDING AUTHORITY AND THE AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED $640,000 AND NO CENTS FOR EMERGENCY MAINTENANCE AND REPAIR BELT FILTER IONS FOR HOUSTON PUBLIC WORKS ON AWARD TO APPLE LAVAL INC.

ITEM 13 ORDINANCE AMENDING SECTIONS 46 DASH 1 91 AND 46 2 39 OF THE CODE OF ORDINANCES, HOUSTON, TEXAS RELATED TO CHAUFFEUR LIMOUSINES.

ITEM 14, ORDINANCE WAIVING THE REQUIREMENTS OF SECTION ONE DASH 13 OF THE CODE OF ORDINANCES, HOUSTON, TEXAS.

ITEM 15 ORDINANCE APPROVING AND AUTHORIZING CONTRACT BETWEEN THE CITY OF HOUSTON AND HOUSTON COMMUNITY COLLEGE SYSTEMS TO PROVIDE DEPARTMENT OF LABOR COMMUNITY PROJECT FUNDING.

ITEM 16 ORDINANCE APPROVING AND AUTHORIZING AND LOCAL AGREEMENT BETWEEN CITY OF HOUSTON AND HOUSTON COMMUNITY COLLEGE FOR A COMMERCIAL DRIVER'S LICENSE TRAINING.

ITEM 17 ORDINANCE APPROVING AND AUTHORIZING FIRST AMENDMENT TO SUB RECIPIENT AGREEMENT BETWEEN CITY OF HOUSTON AND NORTHWEST ASSISTANCE MINISTRIES.

ITEM 18 ORDINANCE APPROPRIATING $520,000 AND OH CENTS OUT OF EQUIPMENT ACQUISITION, CONSOLIDATED FUND FOR PLAN PUBLIC PRINTING KIOSK.

ITEM 19 ORDINANCE I APPROVING AN AUTHORIZING PROFESSIONAL ARCHITECTURAL SERVICES CONTRACT BETWEEN CITY OF HOUSTON AND JOHNSON.

LLC ITEM 20 ORDINANCE I APPROVING AND AUTHORIZING SUB SUBMISSION OF APPLICATION FOR GRANT ASSISTANCE TO THE UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY FOR ENERGY EFFICIENCY AND CON CONSERVATION BLOCK GRANT, BLOCK GRANT PROGRAM ITEM 21 ORDINANCE APPROVING AND AUTHORIZING AND LAND BANKING AGREEMENT BETWEEN CITY OF HOUSTON AND TEXAS AS GRANTOR AND HOUSTON LAND BANK AS GRANTEE ITEM 22.

ORDINANCE SUBMITTING ORDINANCE NUMBER 20 19 9 15 TO INCREASE THE MAXIMUM CONTRACT AMOUNT FOR AGREEMENT BETWEEN CITY OF HOUSTON AND AMERICAN MECHANICAL SERVICES OF HOUSTON LLC ITEM 23, ORDINANCE AWARDING CONTRACT, DM, ELECTRICAL AND CON AND CONSTRUCTION LLC ITEM 24, ORDINANCE APPRO AN AUTHORIZING CONTRACT BETWEEN CITY OF HOUSTON AND CS DISCO INC.

ITEM 25 ORDINANCE APPROPRIATED WITH $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 AN AUTHORIZING AND AGREEMENT BETWEEN CITY OF HOUSTON AND VERSA TERM PUBLIC SAFETY INC.

ITEM 26, ORDINANCE APPROVING AN AWARD AND CONTRACT BETWEEN CITY OF HOUSTON AND LANGUAGE LINE SERVICES INC.

DBA LANGUAGE LINE SOLUTIONS.

ITEM 27, ORDINANCE SUBMITTING ORDINANCE NUMBER 20 18 10 32 TO INCREASE THE MAXIMUM CONTRACT AMOUNT APPROVING AN AUTHORIZING FIRST AMENDMENT TO EXTEND CONTRACT TERM BETWEEN CITY OF HOUSTON AND VARIOUS CONTRACTORS FOR AGING AND CAREGIVER SUPPORTIVE SERVICES TO SENIOR ADULTS.

ITEM 28 ORDINANCE RELATING TO FISCAL AFFAIRS OF UPTOWN DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY ON BEHALF OF REINVESTMENT ZONE NUMBER 16, CITY OF HOUSTON, TEXAS.

ITEM 29 ORDINANCE RELATING TO FISCAL AFFAIRS OF ST.

GEORGE PLACE, WE DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY ON BEHALF OF REINVESTMENT ZONE NUMBER ONE, CITY DIFF HOUSTON, TEXAS.

ITEM 30 ORDINANCE RELATING TO FISCAL AFFAIRS.

MEMORIAL HEIGHTS REDEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY ON BEHALF OF REINVESTMENT ZONE NUMBER FIVE, CITY D HOUSTON, TEXAS MEMORIAL HEIGHTS ZONE ITEM 31 ORDINANCE RELATING TO FISCAL AFFAIRS OF HARRISBURG RE DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY ON BEHALF OF REINVESTMENT.

ZONE NUMBER 23, CITY D HOUSTON, TEXAS, HARRISBURG ZONE ITEM 32.

ORDINANCE RENEWING THE ESTABLISHMENT OF THE EAST AND WEST SIDES OF THE SIX AND 700 BLOCKS

[02:25:01]

OF COLUMBIA STREET BETWEEN EAST EIGHTH STREET AND WHITE OAK.

WHITE OAK DRIVE WITHIN THE CITY, HOUSTON, TEXAS.

ITEM 33 ORDINANCE CONSENTED TO THE ADDITIONAL OF 29.89 60 ACRES OF LAND TO DODO PUBLIC UTILITY DISTRICT.

ITEM 34 ORDINANCE CONSENTED TO THE ADDITION OF 10 POINT 60 ACRES OF LAND IN WEST HARRIS COUNTY MUNICIPAL UTILITY DISTRICT NUMBER 21 ITEM 35 ORDINANCE RELATED TO TO THE ADOPTION OF CONSTRUCTION CODES FOR THE PROTECTION AND PRESERVATION OF LIVES AND PROPERTY FROM FIRE AND OTHER PERILS.

ITEM 36 ORDINANCE FINDING AND DETERMINING PUBLIC CONVENIENCE AND NECESSITY FOR THE ACQUISITION OF REAL PROPERTY INJURIES IN CONNECTION WITH THE PUBLIC IMPROVEMENT PROJECT KNOWN AS THE 48 EDGE WATERLINE FROM STATE HIGHWAY 2 88 TO CULLEN BOULEVARD ALONG EAST ORUM.

PROJECT ITEM 37 MUNICIPAL SETTING DESIGNATION ORDINANCE PROHIBITING THE USE OF DESIGNATED GROUNDWATER BENEATH ATTRACTIVE LAND CONTAINING 15.174 ACRES, COMMONLY KNOWN AS 1501 ST.

MISS DRIVE, HOUSTON HARRIS COUNTY, TEXAS, SUPPORTING ISSUES OF A MUNICIPAL SETTING DESIGNATION BY THE TEXAS COMMISSION ON ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY AT THE REQUEST OF DAIKIN COMFORT TECHNOLOGIES MANUFACTURING LP, FORMER GOODMAN MANUFACTURING COMPANY LP ITEM 38 ORDERS APPROPRIATING IN ONE MILLION THREE HUNDRED FORTY SIX THOUSAND TWO HUNDRED THIRTY SIX THOUSAND NO CENTS.

I DEDICATED DRAINAGE STREET RENEWAL CAPITAL FUND, ABOR TAX APPROVING AND AUTHORIZING FIRST AMENDMENT TO PROFESSIONAL ENGINEERING SERVICES CONTRACT, EXCUSE ME, BETWEEN CITY OF HOUSTON AND WSB AND ASSOCIATES INC.

FORMERLY KNOWN AS NATHAN LANE, A KENNEDY AND ASSOCIATES.

LP ITEM 39, ORDINANCE APPROPRIATING $5,703,465 AND 19 CENTS OUT A DEDICATED DRAINAGE AND STREET RENEWAL CAPITAL FUND AT VELU TAX AWARDING CONTRACT TO JFT CONSTRUCTION INC.

FOR SHERWOOD LANE FROM MANGO ROAD TO WEST TC JUSTICE BOULEVARD.

ITEM 40 SET OF PUBLIC HEARING DATE PROVIDE A RESOLUTION NO OBJECTION FOR THE 4% TAX CREDIT APPLICATION OF EMILY EMLI, HOUSTON MESA, T-C-I-L-P.

ITEM 41, SET A PUBLIC HEARING DATE TO PROVIDE A RESOLUTION OBJECTION FOR THE 4% TAX CREDIT APPLICATION, UH, W WP INVESTORS LP SUGGESTED HEARING DATE 9:00 AM WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 25TH.

ITEM 42 MATTERS HELD IS APPROVED.

SPREADING AUTHORITY IN THE AMOUNT OF $34,278,274 AND 30 CENTS FOR PURCHASE OF MAINTENANCE, REPAIR, OPERATING AND INDUSTRIAL SUPPLIES AND EQUIPMENT THROUGH THE INTERLOCAL AGREEMENT FOR COOPERATIVE PURCHASING FOR VARIOUS DEPARTMENTS WITH CONTRACTORS, WW GRANGER AND C TWO CO.

D-B-A-M-S-C, INDUSTRIAL SUPPLY COMPANY, TAB BY COUNCIL MEMBER ALCORN.

THIS IS ITEM FOUR AND AGENDA OF OCTOBER 11TH, 2023.

AND ITEM 43 IS THE ORDINANCE APPROVING AND AUTHORIZING SECOND AMENDMENT TO RENOVATION OPERATION AND MANAGEMENT AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE CITY OF HOUSTON, TEXAS, AND HOUSTON BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT INC.

THIS WAS TAGGED BY COUNCIL MEMBERS JACKSON AND THOMAS.

THIS WAS ITEM 13 ON AGENDA OF OCTOBER 11TH, 2023.

THIS COMPLETES THE READING OF THE CITY COUNCIL AGENDA FOR THE MEETING OF OCTOBER 18TH, 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'D LIKE TO LEAVE YOU WITH THIS.

ALWAYS, ALWAYS, ALWAYS TREAT EVERYONE THE WAY YOU WOULD LIKE TO BE TREATED.

HAVE A BLESSED AND FANTABULOUS DAY.

THANK YOU SO, SO VERY MUCH MADAM SECRETARY.

YOU ARE WELCOME.

MY NUMBER ONE FAN.

IT'S A BEAUTIFUL READING.

OH, THANK YOU.

I NOTICED THAT.

[RECONVENE]

OH, WE'RE JUST WAITING.

I'M ON.

I'M HERE.

OKAY, I'M GOING TO HOLD ON THE MAYOR'S REPORT FOR A MOMENT.

[MISCELLANEOUS]

AND UM, MADAM SECRETARY, IF YOU A CALL OF ITEMS ONE AND TWO ITEMS ONE AND TWO.

JUST NEED A MOTION.

TM MOVED.

SECOND ROBINSON.

IT'S BEEN MOVED AND SECONDED ON ITEMS, UM, ONE AND TWO.

DISCUSSION, DISCUSSION, DISCUSSION IN FAVOR OF OPPOSED AND GRANTED.

AND IF, UH, IF YOU ARE PRESENT, IF YOU ARE, STAND AND COME FORWARD.

UH, THE FIRST IS TO THE HARRIS COUNTY HOUSTON SPORTS AUTHORITY BOARD OF DIRECTORS.

UM, POSITION FOUR IS MARTY KENDRICK.

POSITION FIVE IS LAURA MARILLO.

AND POSITION 11 IS ROBERT WOODS.

IF YOU ARE STAND AND COME FORWARD, IT'S ROBERT.

[02:30:04]

I'M BEING REAPPOINTED TO THE HARRIS COUNTY HOUSTON SPORTS AUTHORITY.

I KNOW YOU'VE BEEN ON THERE FOR A WHILE.

LOOK FORWARD TO CONTINUING TO WORK WITH YOU, UM, AND WITH YOUR APPOINTMENT TODAY.

UM, THE ASTROS WILL WIN LATER ON THIS EVENING, SO, UM, ALRIGHT.

YOU WANNA JUST INTRODUCE YOURSELF BRIEFLY TO US? YES.

MY NAME IS ROBERT WOODS.

UH, I'VE BEEN IN HOUSTON, SEEMED LIKE ALL MY LIFE SINCE 1978.

UH, I USED TO PLAY FOR THE HOUSTON ALLERS BACK IN THE LOVE BLUE DAYS.

UH, UH, I'M THE SECOND FASTEST MAN FROM LOUISIANA.

DAVE MARTIN IS NUMBER ONE.

, UH, UH, I MEAN, IT'S BEEN AN HONOR TO SERVE ON THIS BOARD OF HARRIS COUNTY HOUSTON SPORTS AUTHORITY, AND I THINK YOU'VE BEEN A OUTSTANDING MAYOR AND OUTSTANDING GROUP OF PEOPLE IN FRONT OF ME.

UM, MAYOR PRO, TIM MARTIN.

YEAH, THANK YOU ROBERT.

GOOD TO SEE YOU.

AND CONGRATULATIONS.

THE PRIDE OF GRAMBLING STATE UNIVERSITY, ROBERT WOODS.

YEAH, SO GOOD TO SEE YOU AND CONTINUED GOOD WORK.

THANKS ROB.

LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING WITH YOU.

ALRIGHT, THANK YOU.

POSITION NINE IS LISA M. CLARK.

BYE.

ALRIGHT, AND THEN ON POSITION, UM, UH, ON THE, ON ITEM TWO, WHICH IS THE PLANNING COMMISSION.

IF YOU ARE HERE, PLEASE STAND AND COME FORWARD.

I KNOW MARTY UH, STEIN IS OUT OF TOWN, SO SHE WON'T BE HERE THIS MORNING, BUT WANT TO THANK HER FOR HER LEADERSHIP.

POSITION THREE IS Z HERE.

UH, IF YOU'LL COME FORWARD, POSITION FIVE IS RANDY JONES.

POSITION SEVEN IS IAN ROSENBERG.

POSITION 11 IS KEVIN ROBBINS.

POSITION 13 IS RODNEY RA.

POSITION 14 IS BILL BALDWIN.

UH, POSITION 18 IS SAMMY KLIK.

UM, POSITION 19 IS LINDA POR UH, DALE AND POSITION 21 IS MANARDO EAST SUNNY ZA.

AND I KNOW I CALLED YOUR NAMES OUT, SO IF YOU, UH, IF YOU'LL JUST, UM, BRIEFLY REINTRODUCE YOURSELF.

SO WE'LL KNOW WHO'S BEFORE US MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR TRUST AND CONFIDENCE.

I AM VERY PROUD TO BE SERVING IN THIS POSITION AND I CONSIDER THIS TO BE A PRIVILEGE AND HONOR TO BE, UH, TO BE SERVING HERE.

I ALSO WANT TO TAKE A, A PERSONAL MOMENT AND SAY THAT, THAT THIS CITY STANDS FOR EVERYBODY.

UH, ALL RELIGIONS, ALL ETHNICITIES, ALL NATIONALITIES.

AND WHAT WE ARE SEEING IN MIDDLE EAST, HOPEFULLY PEACE CAN REIGN RATHER THAN MISSILES AND ROCKETS.

AND I THINK THAT'S THE MESSAGE FROM HOUSTON TO MIDDLE EAST.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH, MAYOR.

GOOD MORNING, MAYOR.

MEMBERS OF THE CITY COUNCIL.

RANDY JONES.

UH, I HAVE BEEN A RESIDENT IN THE CITY OF HOUSTON FOR WELL OVER 40 YEARS.

UM, I FEEL SOMEWHAT BORN AND RAISED HERE.

THE WAY, UM, THE PROCESS GOES AND WHAT YOU LEARN OVER THE COURSE, UM, I THINK YOU'RE AWESOME.

I LOVE EVERYTHING THAT YOU DO.

MEMBERS OF COUNCIL THAT I'VE MET OVER THE YEARS, MAYOR, UH, FANTASTIC JOB.

YOUR YOUR TERM.

ALL, EVERY ONE OF YOU.

THANK YOU, SAMMY.

BEING APPOINTED TO THE HOUSTON PLANNING AND AIRPORT COMMISSION IS BOTH AN HONOR AND INNOVATIVE RESPONSIBILITY.

AND I, YOU KNOW, I ACCEPTED MAYOR WITH UTMOST HUMILITY.

IT IS NOT JUST AN APPOINTMENT, IT'S A TESTAMENT TO THE FAITH THE CITY OF HOUSTON HAS IN ITS YOUNG LEADER.

UH, MAYOR, THANK YOU FOR YOUR FAITH IN MY ABILITIES AND FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO SERVE IN THIS CAPACITY.

AND TO THE CITY COUNCIL.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR ENDORSEMENT.

ASSURE YOU THAT YOUR TRUST WILL NOT BE MISPLACED AND TOGETHER, I'M CONFIDENT THAT WE CAN SHAPE A CITY THAT'S DYNAMIC AND INCLUSIVE.

AND LASTLY TO MY FAMILY AND FRIENDS, THANK YOU FOR BEING MY ROCK AND CONSTANTLY PUSHING ME TO DREAM BIGGER, WORK HARDER, AND SERVE WITH PASSION.

MAKE THE RIGHT DECISIONS.

THANK YOU, SAMMY.

YES, SIR.

REMIND ME NEVER TO GO LAST AFTER GENTLEMEN LIKE THIS .

UM, IT'S A GREAT HONOR TO BE REAPPOINTED TO THE PLANNING COMMISSION AGAIN.

UM, UH, I DIDN'T PLAY FOOTBALL FOR THE OILERS, BUT I DID PLAY FOR SHARP SOUND HIGH SCHOOL, UH, .

AND, UH, I ORIGINALLY FROM NEW YORK AND GOT HERE AS QUICK AS I COULD.

SO HOUSTON'S DEFINITELY HOME.

UM, THE THING THAT MATTERS THE MOST TO ME ABOUT THE SITTING ON THE PLANNING COMMISSION IS JUST KNOW THAT OUR RESPONSIBILITY IS TO CARRY THE TRUST OF YOU GUYS TO

[02:35:01]

NOT NECESSARILY THE DECISION YOU MIGHT WANT EVERY SINGLE TIME, BUT WE BELIEVE IN THE BIG PICTURE IS WHAT'S BEST FOR THE COMMUNITY AT LARGE.

UM, AND SOMETIMES THAT'S NOT THE EASIEST MESSAGE TO GET ACROSS.

SO AGAIN, THANK YOU FOR ALL YOUR SUPPORT AND ALLOWING US TO DO OUR JOB.

AND LET ME ALSO ACKNOWLEDGE MA UH, MARGARET WALLACE BROWN, IF YOU JUST WANNA COME AND STAND.

SHE IS THE DIRECTOR OF THE PLANNING, UM, DEPARTMENT, UH, NUMBER ONE, LET ME, LET ME THANK YOU ALL ALONG WITH THE OTHERS.

UM, IT IS A VERY IMPORTANT POSITION AND IT DOES TAKE A LOT OF TIME.

UM, AND YOUR JOBS DO HAVE A DIRECT BEARING ON, UM, WHAT HAPPENS IS THAT IN THIS CITY, WHAT'S DEVELOPED IN THIS CITY, HOW THINGS ARE DEVELOPED IN THIS CITY, WHETHER OR NOT WAIVERS SHOULD BE GRANTED IN ON, ON VARIOUS REQUESTS IN THIS CITY.

UM, SO YOU IMPACT 640 SQUARE ACRES AND BEYOND.

UM, AND SO I WANT TO THANK YOU NUMBER ONE BECAUSE IT'S A, IT'S A HUGE COMMITMENT, UH, THAT YOU ARE MAKING, UH, TO THE CITY, TO THE CITY OF HOUSTON.

UM, AND IT'S ALWAYS, YOU CAN COUNT ON BILL BALDWIN TO COME UP IN THE REAR .

UM, UM, AND SO I, I, AGAIN, HAVING, UH, SERVICE MAYOR FOR NOW ALMOST EIGHT YEARS, UH, I THINK THERE'S GREATER INTERACTION WITH THE PLANNING COMMISSION THAN ALMOST ANY OTHER DEPARTMENT, UM, UH, ANY OTHER GROUP.

UH, SO THANK YOU.

UH, AND BEFORE I, UH, TURN THEM FOR A FEW COMMENTS, UH, SAM, AS YOU ONE OF THE YOUNGEST ONES NOW, AND I THINK YOU PROBABLY HAVE SOME FRIENDS AND RELATIVES AND ASSOCIATES WITH YOU, IF YOU ARE WITH, I'M ELECTED OFFICIALS, IF YOU ARE WITH, IF YOU ARE WITH SAMMY, WHY DON'T YOU STAND UP IF YOU ARE WITH ? WELL, LEMME JUST SAY, UH, THAT'S A TESTAMENT, SAMMY, TO, UH, UH, TO WHO YOU ARE AND THE SUPPORT THAT'S BACK.

HOW, HOW MANY, I THINK YOU PROBABLY BROUGHT THE LARGEST DELEGATION OF ANYONE.

WHOLE AUDIENCE.

UM, WOW.

I'M, I'M, I'M IN AWE.

UM, SO, UH, LET ME THANK ALL OF YOU ALL, UH, FOR COMING IN SUPPORT.

UH, NOT ONLY SAMMY, BUT THE, BUT THE ENTIRE GROUP WAS, UH, CONGRATULATIONS.

AND BILL, YOU DID NOT, I GAVE PEOPLE A BRIEF OPPORTUNITY TO KIND OF INTRODUCE THEMSELVES.

YOU WANT TO DO THE SAME? I JUST WANNA THANK YOU ALL SO MUCH FOR THIS OPPORTUNITY TO SERVE.

DURING THIS PAST EIGHT YEARS, WE'VE BEEN SO PROUD TO DO SO MANY THINGS.

FROM THE PASSAGE OF DIALING TO EMANCIPATION AVENUE, THE PASSAGE OF WALKABLE PLACES, THE BUT STIFFENING OF THE BUFFERING ORDINANCE, THE EXPANSION OF TOD PERFORMANCE, AND OF COURSE THE CHAPTER 42 EXTENSIONS OF THE AMENDMENTS WE DID.

WE'RE SO PROUD OF THAT WORK.

SO PROUD OF MARTY STEIN, OUR CHAIR AND THE DEPARTMENT, AND JUST SO PROUD TO BE ABLE TO REPRESENT THIS ADMINISTRATION AND ALL THE THINGS THAT WE'VE BEEN ABLE TO DO AND LOOK FORWARD TO DOING MORE IMPORTANT THINGS TO HELP THE CITY OF HOUSTON.

SO, THANK YOU.

UH, I TELL YOU WHAT, WE'LL START WITH COUNCIL MEMBER ROBINSON MAYOR, THANK YOU SO MUCH.

AND, AND PERFECT WORDS, MAYOR, FOR THE COMMITMENT THAT THIS GROUP DOES.

I'M CAN SPEAK FROM MY OWN PERSONAL EXPERIENCE WITH THE YEARS THAT I'VE SPENT ON THE PLANNING COMMISSION.

I'M SO GRATEFUL FOR ALL OF YOU, UH, THE REAPPOINTED COMMISSIONERS, UH, FOUR IN NUMBER HERE, DIRECTOR WALLACE WITH YOU, AND THE LEADERSHIP THAT YOU HAVE FROM MARTY STEIN, OF COURSE, CELEBRATED ALREADY THIS MORNING.

GREAT LEADERSHIP FROM YOU AND YOUR STAFF.

UM, SAMMY, I WANNA SINGLE YOU OUT 'CAUSE YOU'RE THE ONLY APPOINTMENT THAT WE HAVE HERE.

FIRST TIME APPOINTMENT, OBVIOUSLY WITH YOUR FAMILY, YOU'RE WELL SUPPORTED.

UM, I'M, YOU'RE OBVIOUSLY WELL DRESSED.

I LOVE THE BOW TIE.

THIS IS, THIS IS A GREAT LOOK, UH, AND, UM, EXCITED TO KNOW MORE ABOUT YOU AND GET TO KNOW YOU A LITTLE BETTER.

CAN I BRING YOU TO THE MIC ONE MORE TIME AND JUST TELL US, UH, A LITTLE BIT ABOUT YOUR BACKGROUND? YES, SIR.

SO, UH, EXTENSIVE BACKGROUND.

I HAD STARTED OUT IN, UH, CYBERSECURITY, SPECIALIZED IN HUMAN TRAFFICKING INVESTIGATIONS.

UH, AND FROM THAT KIND OF EXPANDED MY REALM INTO URBAN PLANNING, UH, WHEN I WAS APPOINTED A FELLOW OF THE ROYAL SOCIETY, UH, IN THE PATRONAGE OF QUEEN ELIZABETH II.

SAY, NORMALLY BILL'S THE SHARPEST DRESS.

THAT'LL, THAT'LL DO .

APPRECIATE THAT VERY MUCH.

AND, UM, TO NEWLY APPOINTED PLANNING.

COMMISSIONER.

NO, HOLD ON.

LAURA MARIA, YOU'RE HERE FOR THE SPORTS AUTHORITY.

SPORTS AUTHORITY.

SO I'D LIKE THEM TO FINISH THERE.

AND THEN I KNOW ONE MINUTE TO THANK YOU GUYS.

PLEASE.

I LET'S, WE WILL GET YOU TO THE MIC IN A MINUTE.

I APPRECIATE YOU BEING HERE TO THE PLANNING COMMISSION.

THANKS FOR EVERYTHING.

I KNOW THERE'S A NUMBER OF MY COLLEAGUES IN THE QUEUE.

[02:40:01]

I KNOW, BUT SAMMY, UH, OUTDID IT THIS TIME, UH, TO ALL OF YOU.

ZI MEAN, THERE'S SO MANY OF YOU AND MARTY, OF COURSE, HIS CHAIR.

UM, A LOT OF RESIDENTS DON'T KNOW HOW MUCH TIME IT TAKES TO SERVE ON THE PLANNING COMMISSION, THE BINDERS THAT Y'ALL GO THROUGH.

UM, DIRECTOR WALLACE BROWN, THE COORDINATION WITH YOUR DEPARTMENT AND WORKING WITH THE COMMISSION.

UH, BUT I SAY THANK YOU, ESPECIALLY BECAUSE, UH, I THINK OF ALL THE DISTRICTS, YOU PROBABLY HAVE THE MOST FOLKS COMING FROM DISTRICT CA LOT OF THE TIME.

UM, AND BILL, YOU TALKED ABOUT SOME OF THE HIGHLIGHTS FOR ME.

ONE OF THE HIGHLIGHTS WAS THE, UM, SENSITIVE NATURE TO WHICH YOU ALL LOOKED AT THE ISSUE AROUND OLIVE WOOD CEMETERY.

UM, AND I WANNA RECOGNIZE THAT WE DON'T ALWAYS GET THOSE, THOSE WINS FOR THE RESIDENTS, UH, BECAUSE OF HOW OUR RULES ARE WRITTEN AND EVEN STATE LAW IS.

BUT, UM, WHERE YOU CAN, YOU DO.

AND I REALLY WANTED TO JUST THANK YOU ALL FOR THAT COMMITMENT.

COUNCIL MEMBER GGO US.

THANK YOU MAYOR TH THANK YOU EVERYONE ALSO FOR SERVING IN THIS SO IMPORTANT COMMISSION.

I KNOW THAT, UH, WORKING WITH THE PLANNING COMMISSION, EVEN BEFORE I WAS A COUNCIL MEMBER, AS A CIVIC CLUB PRESIDENT, AS PRESIDENT OF MY SUPER NEIGHBORHOOD.

UH, AND IN THESE PAST 10 YEARS, UH, AS YOU KNOW, WE'RE THE FOURTH LARGEST CITY IN THE COUNTRY, BUT YET WE ARE NOT ZONED.

UH, SO YOU, YOU'RE ACTUALLY IN ONE OF THE MOST, IF NOT THE MOST IMPORTANT, UH, COMMISSION IN THE CITY OF HOUSTON, UH, TO, TO CONTINUE TO MAKE OUR CITY, UH, BETTER, GREATER, AND BETTER THAN WHAT IT IS NOW.

UH, AND IT'S BECAUSE OF Y'ALL'S WILLINGNESS TO SERVE ON THIS COMMISSION.

I, I DID NOT WANT THIS OPPORTUNITY TO PASS WITHOUT SAYING THANK YOU.

UM, THIS COMMISSION DEALS WITH, UM, SOME OF THE LONGEST AGENDAS I'VE EVER SEEN, UH, THE 100 AND PLUS ITEMS, UH, PER WEEK AND WEEK AFTER WEEK AFTER WEEK.

UH, CONSEQUENTLY, UH, THE COUNCIL MEMBERS AND THEIR STAFFS ARE, UH, COMBING THROUGH THESE AGENDAS AS WELL TO ENSURE THAT WE ARE PROTECTING OUR NEIGHBORHOODS.

UM, SPECIFICALLY, UM, IN DISTRICT A I KNOW THAT WITH A, UM, BEDROOM COMMUNITY OF 96 NEIGHBORHOODS WITH CIVIC CLUBS AND HOAS, WE DEPEND ON A LOT OF, UH, EFFORT, UH, FROM THE PLANNING COMMISSION.

AND I APPRECIATE THE COMMUNICATION AND THE, UM, OPPORTUNITY TO DEFER WHEN WE NEED MORE INFORMATION FROM THE PLANNING COMMISSION.

AND, UH, DIRECTOR BROWN, YOUR, YOUR TEAM HAS BEEN, UM, GREAT TO WORK ALONGSIDE VERY PATIENT AND, AND WILLING TO PROVIDE OUR NEIGHBORHOOD PRESIDENTS THE INFORMATION THAT THEY NEED SO THEY CAN MAKE GOOD DECISIONS, UM, ON BEHALF OF THEIR COMMUNITIES.

SO WE APPRECIATE THE HOURS OF WORK THAT GO INTO, UM, MAKING THESE DECISIONS WEEK AFTER WEEK.

SO THANK YOU FOR YOUR WILLINGNESS TO SERVE THIS GREAT CITY.

AND COUNCILMAN MCCARROLL OZ.

CERTAINLY, I ECHO THE SENTIMENTS OF MY COLLEAGUES, BUT I WANT TO, AND CERTAINLY, YOU KNOW, BILL BALDWIN AND I, WE'VE KNOWN EACH OTHER FOR A MINUTE.

UH, AND THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE.

BUT I ALSO WANNA RECOGNIZE THE PRESENCE OF ONE OF THE SUPPORTERS, THE FORT BEND, HONORABLE DISTRICT ATTORNEY BRIAN MIDDLETON, WHO IS SITTING IN THE AUDIENCE.

AND SO I'M SURE THERE ARE OTHERS, BUT MY EYES AT THIS EARLY TIME, CAN'T, CAN'T GIVE ME TOO MUCH FURTHER BACK.

BUT I WANTED TO RECOGNIZE HIM AND HIS FINE SERVICE THAT HE IS GIVING TO THE FORT BEND RESIDENTS.

AND THANK YOU EACH AND EVERY ONE OF YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE.

THANK YOU SO VERY, VERY MUCH.

UH, UH, AND MARGARET WALLACE BROWN, DO YOU WANNA SAY ANYTHING AS WE WRAP THIS? UM, JUST BRIEFLY TO ECHO YOUR, UH, YOUR GRATITUDE WITH THE PEOPLE WHO SERVE ON THE PLANNING COMMISSION? IT IS ONE OF THE HARDEST WORKING COMMISSIONS EVERY TWO WEEKS.

SOMETIMES THERE ARE 200 ITEMS ON THEIR AGENDA, AND THEY CANNOT SKIP FOR SEVERAL WEEKS.

THEY HAVE TO, CAN'T MISS TWO WEEKS IN A ROW WITHOUT, YOU KNOW, ASKING FOR A, UM, FOR A WAIVER ON THAT.

SO THIS IS A TER, WONDERFULLY IMPORTANT COMMISSION THAT MAKES YOUR NEIGHBORHOODS AND YOUR DISTRICTS STRONGER THROUGH THE WORK THAT THEY DO.

AND WE'RE GRATEFUL FOR THEM EVERY DAY.

THANK YOU SO VERY, VERY MUCH.

AND THEN FINALLY, I'LL GO BACK TO YOU, SAMMY, SINCE, UH, THERE'S SO, SO MANY PEOPLE HERE.

DO YOU JUST WANT TO GENERALLY JUST, UH, ACKNOWLEDGE WHO'S HERE IN, UH, WITH YOU TODAY? YES, SIR.

I GOT MY, UH, I GOT MY IMMEDIATE FAMILY, MY PARENTS MOM AND DAD, UH, IN THE AUDIENCE.

WHERE ARE THEY? PLEASE STAND.

THEY'RE RIGHT HERE.

UH, IT'S REPRESENTED ON, ON THE PLANNING COMMISSION.

I GOT DISTRICT ATTORNEY.

I GOT DISTRICT ATTORNEY OFFICE FROM FORT BEN, UH, GOT ASSISTANT CHIEF BASHIR, UH, WHO'S HERE AS WELL FROM HPD.

UH, AND I HAVE A LOT OF, A LOT OF COMMUNITY LEADERS FROM VARIOUS COMMUNITIES, UH, THROUGHOUT THE ROOM.

WELL, THANK YOU.

CERTAINLY REFLECTS THE DIVERSITY AND THE INCLUSIVITY OF, OF OUR COMMUNITY.

AND,

[02:45:01]

SO AGAIN, UH, THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU.

AND, UH, LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING WITH YOU OVER THE NEXT TWO AND A HALF MONTHS.

, THANK YOU'ALL VERY MUCH.

ALRIGHT.

GOING BACK TO THE HARRIS HOUSTON SPORTS AUTHORITY.

DR.

YES, THANK YOU.

MY APOLOGIES.

WORK OFTEN GETS IN THE WAY OF MY COMMUNITY SERVICE.

NONETHELESS, I AM HERE MAYOR, TO SAY THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO BE REAPPOINTED TO THE HOUSTON HARRIS COUNTY SPORTS AUTHORITY, UH, ALONG SERVING WITH DAVE MARK.

STAND IN SUPPORT OF MY BOARD MEMBER.

THERE YOU GO.

FELLOW BOARD MEMBER HOUSTON OYLER.

ROBERT WOODS MAYOR.

AGAIN, I'D LIKE TO JUST EXPRESS MY THANKS TO YOU AND CITY COUNCIL FOR THE REAPPOINTMENT TO SERVE ON THE SPORTS AUTHORITY.

AS WE KNOW, NOT ONLY IS IT AN ENTERTAINMENT, UH, ENTITY, BUT MORE IMPORTANTLY IT'S AN ECONOMIC IMPERATIVE TO THE CITY.

YOU HAVE BEEN SUCH A GREAT AMBASSADOR FOR THIS CITY.

YOU AND I HAVE HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO TRAVEL THE GLOBE PROMOTING HOUSTON, TEXAS.

THE SPORTS AUTHORITY SPECIFICALLY IS BRINGING BILLIONS OF DOLLARS TO HOUSTON THROUGH THE WORLD CUP IN 2026.

AND WHILE YOU'LL NOT BE MAYOR AT THAT TIME, I WANT EVERYONE ON THE RECORD TO REMEMBER THAT YOU WERE THE MAYOR WHO BROUGHT THIS TO THIS GREAT CITY.

SO WE'LL WAVE OUR HANDS AT THAT TO YOU.

THANK YOU SO MUCH, MAYOR, FOR BEING THERE FOR THE HOUSTON HISPANIC CHAMBER OF COMMERCE ON THE, THE GOOD TIMES, THE BAD TIMES, THE AGREEMENTS, THE, PERHAPS NOT ON THE SAME PAGE, BUT AT THE END OF THE DAY, ALWAYS DOING WHAT IS IN THE BEST INTEREST OF HOUSTON AS I REPRESENT OVER 45% OF THE DEMOGRAPHIC OF THE CITY, APPROXIMATELY 30% OF THE WORKFORCE OF THE CITY, AND OVER 55 BILLION DO DOLLARS A YEAR IN CONSUMER SPENDING BY HISPANICS IN HOUSTON.

IT'S BEEN AN HONOR.

AND TO COUNCIL MEMBER GALLEGOS, THANKS FOR ALL YOU HAVE DONE.

COUNCILMAN GALLEGOS.

THANK, THANK YOU, MAYOR.

UH, DR.

MILLO, THANK YOU AGAIN FOR YOUR WILLINGNESS TO SERVE AND THANK YOU FOR EVERYTHING YOU CONTINUE TO DO OUT IN THE COMMUNITY.

UH, YOU KNOW, YOU, YOU'RE, YOU'RE SUCH A GREAT ROLE MODEL FOR SO MANY.

UH, SO THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR EVERYTHING THAT YOU DO.

AND I WANT TO ECHO THAT.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR PARTICIPATION ON THE HARRIS HOUSTON SPORTS AUTHORITY, BUT THANK YOU FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP OVERALL APPRECIATE.

'CAUSE YOU CERTAINLY HAVE BEEN, UM, AN ACTIVE, UH, AND A, AN EXCELLENT EXAMPLE OF, OF LEADERSHIP AND, UM, AND MAKING A DIFFERENCE, IMPACTFUL LEADERSHIP, I MIGHT ADD.

SO APPRECIATE YOUR PRESENCE.

COUNCILMAN KNOX, DR.

MARIA, MR. WOODS, THANK Y'ALL FOR YOUR SERVICE.

UH, I JUST HAVE ONE, I, YOU KNOW, ALL THAT OTHER STUFF YOU WERE TALKING ABOUT THAT'S REAL GREAT AND EVERYTHING.

BUT RIGHT NOW, I WANT Y'ALL TO FOCUS ON THE ASTROS WINNING.

I WANT YOU TO TELL THEM, QUIT MESSING AROUND AN OUTFIT CHANGE IN THE CAR.

SO, YEAH, WELL QUIT MESSING AROUND AND JUST WIN THE NEXT FOUR GAMES.

SO, SO MY BLOOD PRESSURE CAN COME DOWN JUST A LITTLE BIT.

I WOULD APPRECIATE THAT A LOT.

THANK YOU ALL.

APPRECIATE YOU BEING HERE.

YEARS WITH THE BACKLOG AND ALL THE OTHER CHALLENGES THAT WE HAVE.

HAVE A GREAT DAY.

OKAY, NOW, NOW LET ME TURN TO, UH, THE

[MAYOR'S REPORT]

MAYOR'S REPORT.

AND, AND I'LL TELL YOU AT THE TOP OF THE MAYOR'S REPORT, IT'S GOING TO BE THE, UH, THE REPORT COMING FROM HPD CHIEF CENTER AND HIS KEN GROUP.

I DO WANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE, UH, CHIEF PENA, UH, WITH THE HOUSTON FIRE DEPARTMENT, WHO IS ALSO HERE.

CHIEF PENA, ALWAYS GOOD TO SEE YOU.

THANK YOU, UH, FOR BEING PRESENT.

UH, BUT CHIEF FENNER, LET ME, LET ME TURN IT UP.

UH, TURN IT OVER TO YOU FOR AN UPDATE ON WHERE WE ARE.

GOOD MORNING, MAYOR.

GOOD MORNING COUNCIL.

UM, THANKS FOR ALLOWING ME TO COME IN.

I DO WANNA START OFF BY SAYING, GO ASTROS.

UH, I'VE BEEN GETTING HARASSED BY THREE CHIEFS IN THE D DALLAS, UH, METROPLEX AREA, BUT WE'RE GOING QUIET 'EM TONIGHT.

BUT JUST WANNA MOVE THROUGH A NUMBER OF, UH, UH, SLIDES, UM, TO, UH, DISCUSS OUR THIRD QUARTER, UM, REPORT ON, UH, OUR CRIME STATS.

BUT I DO WANT TO SAY THIS BECAUSE MAYOR AND, AND THIS CITY COUNCIL, I KNOW THAT SOME OF YOU, WHEN I GET UP TO DO THIS AGAIN, BECAUSE WE'LL PROBABLY BE IN DECEMBER OR JANUARY, I WANT TO THANK EACH AND EVERY ONE OF YOU.

UH, AND I DON'T WANT IT TO EVER BE LOST.

A COUNCIL THAT IS SMART AND TOUGH ON CRIME.

WE'VE BEEN THROUGH SO MUCH IN THIS CITY IN THESE LAST COUPLE OF

[02:50:01]

BUT WITH YOUR SUPPORT, WITH YOUR SUPPORT, EACH AND EVERY ONE OF YOU, AND I MEAN THAT FROM THE BOTTOM OF MY HEART, AND I WANT TO SAY THAT BECAUSE SOMETIMES IT GETS LOST IN TRANSACTION.

THANK Y'ALL.

THANK YOU FOR WHAT Y'ALL DO FOR THE MEN AND WOMEN ON THE FRONT LINE.

AND I ALSO WANNA SAY, I'M GETTING READY TO RUN THROUGH A FEW STATS, BUT LET'S NOT EVER FORGET, AND THIS IS TO OUR PUBLIC, OUR BEAUTIFUL PUBLIC IN, IN, IN THIS HOUSTON AREA.

NEVER FORGET ABOUT THOSE MEN AND WOMEN ON THE FRONTLINE AND ALWAYS GIVE THEM CREDIT FOR WHAT THEY'RE DOING.

AND I MEAN, OUR SUPPORT STAFF AND OUR FRONTLINE STAFF.

BUT JUST WANT TO GO THROUGH A, A FEW CRIME TRENDS, UH, OPERATIONAL CHALLENGES AND SUCCESS, UH, AND THE DIVERSITY AND RECRUITMENT.

UH, NEXT SLIDE.

UH, THESE ARE THE NUMBERS, UM, THAT, THAT WE HAVE FOR OUR THIRD QUARTER.

AND I'M GONNA RUN DOWN IT.

MURDER DOWN 17.95%.

RAPE UP 1.8%.

ROBBERY DOWN 10.35%.

AGGRAVATED ASSAULTS, WHICH INCLUDES SHOOTINGS DOWN 10.4%, KIDNAPPINGS DOWN 3.58%.

HUMAN TRAFFICKING DOWN 13%, 13.79%.

OVERALL VIOLENT CRIME DOWN 9.64%.

PROPERTY CRIMES BURGLARY DOWN 6.34%.

THEFT DOWN 7.92%.

AUTO THEFT UP 15, UH, 0.1%.

AND THAT'S EVIDENT AROUND THE NATION RIGHT NOW.

TOTAL NONVIOLENT CRIME IS DOWN 3.89%.

TOTAL CRIME IS DOWN 5.07%.

THOSE ARE THE NUMBERS I I RECEIVED IN, IN THE, UH, LAST, UH, I GUESS WEEK.

AND I WAS OUT OF TOWN LAST WEEK.

AND MAJOR CITY CHIEFS, UM, A NUMBER OF MEDIA OUTLETS HAVE BEEN CALLED IN ABOUT STATS ON, UH, SHOOTINGS, UH, NON NON-FATAL AND FATAL SHOOTINGS.

LEMME TELL YOU SOMETHING, 'CAUSE THE MAYOR AND ALL OF OUR CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS HAVE SAID, AND CERTAINLY THE POLICE CHIEF, TOO MANY GUNS IN THE WRONG HANDS OF PEOPLE IN OUR CITY.

AND THAT'S A FACT OUT OF, AND THESE NUMBERS ARE, ARE MAY BE JUST A, A DAY OR TWO OFF.

85% OF ALL OUR HOMICIDES IN OUR CITY GUNSHOTS, OKAY? YEAR TO DATE, 879 SHOOTINGS IN OUR CITY, BOTH FATAL AND NON-FATAL.

GOOD NEWS IS WE'RE HEADED IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION.

ALL SHOOTINGS ARE DOWN 17.02% IN OUR CITY.

NEXT SLIDE, PLEASE.

WE NEED HELP FROM THE CITIZENS AND EVERYONE.

WE AVERAGE ABOUT 3,500 GUNS STOLEN FROM CARS EACH YEAR, A YEAR TO DATE, THERE'S BEEN ALMOST 3000 GUNS STOLEN FROM CARS.

WE CAN'T KEEP PUTTING GUNS IN THE HANDS OF CRIMINALS IN OUR CITY.

SO I'M ASKING CITIZENS, PLEASE BUY THE SAFE.

A LOT OF COUNCIL MEMBERS.

AND I WANT TO THANK Y'ALL FOR PROVIDING THE SAFES AND WE'RE GIVING THEM FREE.

BUT SPEND A LITTLE BIT OF EXTRA MONEY OR COME BY WHEN WE PUT THAT OUT AND GET A SAFE AND, UH, KEEP THE, UH, UH, GUNS FROM GETTING STOLEN OUTTA YOUR VEHICLES.

SOMETHING THAT I WANTED, I SAID THAT, UH, LAST MONTH THAT I WOULD DO A REPORT ON A REPORT CARD.

WHAT I CALL IS PURSUITS.

YOU KNOW, UH, LAST MONTH, UH, SEPTEMBER 14TH, WE CHANGED OUR POLICY.

UH, BEFORE THAT YEAR TO DATE, THERE WERE THREE, I'M SORRY, 1,360 VEHICLE PURSUITS, 526 COLLISIONS, 188 INJURIES, FOUR DEATHS.

WE WERE FORCED TO CHANGE THE POLICY.

BUT IN THIS CITY, AS I SAID IN THE PRESS CONFERENCE, INDIVIDUALS, VIOLENT INDIVIDUALS COMMIT CRIMES IN THOSE VEHICLES, DRIVE-BY SHOOTINGS, EVERYTHING.

SO WE CAN'T JUST TOTALLY ABANDON THE PURSUITS, BUT WE ARE WORKING SMARTER.

UH, WE ARE BRINGING MORE MANAGEMENT TO, UM, THOSE PURSUITS TO, SO DID I SAY NEXT SLIDE? I'M SORRY.

UM, IN 30 DAYS, BECAUSE OF THIS POLICY AND THE LEADERSHIP OF THOSE FRONTLINE SUPERVISORS AND THE COLLECTIVE TEAM, AND I WANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE OUR UNION, UM, THEY WERE STEADFAST AND RIGHT THERE WITH US AND DRAFTED AND CRAFTED THIS POLICY TO MAKE IT BETTER.

40% FEWER

[02:55:01]

PURSUITS THAN JUST 30 DAYS, 35% FEWER COLLISIONS IN JUST 30 DAYS.

35% MORE PURSUITS TERMINATED BY THOSE OFFICERS WHO ARE INVOLVED IN THE PURSUIT AND SUPERVISORS.

SO THAT'S GOOD NEWS.

I WANT TO TALK BRIEFLY ABOUT, UM, A FEW, UH, SUCCESSFUL OPERATIONS THAT WE'VE HAD THAT'S BEEN DRIVING DOWN CRIME.

I WANNA FIRST TALK ABOUT, AND I'VE I'VE TALKED ABOUT IT IN, IN, IN A PRIOR PRESS CONFERENCE WITH, WITH OUR FEDERAL PARTNERS, BUT THE US ATTORNEY'S OFFICE SOUTHERN DISTRICT.

I WANT TO THANK THEM.

I WANT TO TAKE THANK THE US, UM, DEPARTMENT OF OF JUSTICE, UH, THE ATTORNEY GENERAL HIMSELF, UH, FOR SENDING FEDERAL FIVE FEDERAL PROSECUTORS DOWN HERE IN HOUSTON TO HELP US FIGHT VIOLENT CRIME AND VIOLENT GANGS.

UH, TO THIS DATE, UM, WE HAVE DISMANTLED.

AND THE, SO LET ME TAKE AWAY THE DISMANTLE BECAUSE THEY POP UP AGAIN, TOTALLY DISRUPTED AT LEAST THREE TO FOUR MAJOR GANGS.

AND THESE GUYS ARE VERY VIOLENT.

ALMOST 77 FEDERAL PRO, A LITTLE BIT OVER 77 FEDERAL PROSECUTIONS BECAUSE OF THAT GREAT WORK.

AND WE'RE JUST GETTING STARTED.

AND I WANT THAT MESSAGE TO BE STRONG TO EVERYONE.

UM, ALL OUR CITIZENS, BUT MAINLY THOSE INDIVIDUALS WHO ARE COMMITTING CRIME IN, IN THE AREA.

AND YOU TOOK, WE TAKING THEY TOOLS AWAY FROM 'EM, PILL PRESSING MEALS THAT THEY PRESSING AND, AND, AND, AND, AND PRODUCING FENTANYL AND ALL THAT CRAZINESS.

SO, UH, WE'VE ALL, IN, IN THOSE OPERATIONS, WE'VE SEIZED A HUNDRED AND, UH, 10 GUNS.

SO WE ARE POLICING IN THIS CITY AND WE'RE GONNA CONTINUE TO POLICE IN THIS CITY ALSO WANNA LOOK AT AND ACKNOWLEDGE THE GREAT WORK OF, OF, OF OUR FRONTLINE PEOPLE ON MIDTOWN.

MIDTOWN, WHEN YOU GO AND YOU DRIVE THROUGH THERE, EVERYBODY SAW THAT REPORT DRIVE THROUGH THERE.

NOW LOOK AT THE BIS AND THAT CORRIDOR DRIVE THROUGH THERE.

NOW, NOW WE UNDERSTAND THAT THERE'S DISPLACEMENT, BUT MY TEAMS, OUR TEAMS ARE WORKING TO MAKE SURE THAT WE STOPPED THAT DISPLACEMENT.

UH, WE CAN DISPLACE THEM OUTTA OUR CITY.

'CAUSE I'M NOT RESPONSIBLE FOR WHAT'S OUTSIDE THIS CITY, BUT, UH, WE GONNA WORK HARD IN, IN THE CITY.

ALL BLOCKS ARE IMPORTANT.

WHEN I WAS IN MAJOR CITY CHIEFS, JUST, UH, LAST WEEK I SAW A, A, A COFFEE SHOP OWNER, SMALL AND THIRD WARD.

I THINK THAT'S, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER SHABAS, THAT'S, THAT'S YOUR AREA.

SHE SAID THAT HER SHOP HAD BEEN BURGLARIZED EIGHT TIMES OVER IN THE NINE YEARS.

I THINK THAT'S IMPORTANT.

EVERY BLOCK IS IN IMPORTANT.

AND SHE SAID THAT SHE PROBABLY HAVE TO CLOSE DOWN, BUT I, I HAVEN'T TALKED TO HER YET, BUT I'M GOING TO HAVE COFFEE WITH HER IN OUR SHOP BECAUSE THIS IS HOUSTON AND WE ALL WORK TOGETHER TO PREVENT BUSINESSES FROM CLOSING DOWN.

AND I'M GONNA STAND STRONG WITH HER.

SO I JUST WANTED TO MENTION THAT BECAUSE I THINK IT'S VERY IMPORTANT.

I WANNA ALSO TALK ABOUT DIVERSITY AND RECRUITING.

UH, WE'RE 600, I'M SORRY, 6,223 STRONG RIGHT NOW WITH HPD.

THAT INCLUDES FIFTY ONE HUNDRED AND THIRTY THREE CLASSIFIED.

200 CADETS ARE IN OUR ACADEMY RIGHT NOW.

878 CIVILIANS.

AT THE CONCLUSION OF, OF MAYOR TURNER'S ADMINISTRATION, YOU WOULD'VE BROUGHT IN ALMOST 2,500 CADETS TO THIS DATE.

YOU'VE BOUGHT IN 2,328 CADETS.

THAT'S MOST THAN ANYBODY'S ADMINISTRATION, I THINK, OTHER THAN, UH, UH, I FORGOT HER, HER NAME, BUT SHE SPENT TWO YEARS, UH, MORE THAN YOU DID.

MAYOR WHITMEYER, WHITMEYER WHITMEYER.

ALRIGHT, THANK YOU.

ALSO, THE ATTRITION RATE, UH, WHERE WHEN YOU CAME IN OFFICE MAYOR WAS 38.5% OF THE CLASSIFIED STAFF WERE ELIGIBLE BEFORE RETIREMENT.

WE'RE GETTING A LITTLE BIT YOUNGER.

IT'S 27.9% RIGHT NOW.

BUT WHAT I'M MOST PROUD OF IN OUR ACADEMY RIGHT NOW IS UNLIKE ANY MAJOR CITY IN HOUSTON.

I MET WITH THE CHIEFS LAST WEEK AND I TALKED TO 'EM ABOUT THIS, OF THOSE CADETS.

AND THANK Y'ALL FOR THE $10,000 SIGNING BONUS BECAUSE IT, IT, IT, IT HELPS.

OKAY? UM, THE DIVERSITY IN THAT ACADEMY RIGHT NOW, 25% FEMALES, THE NATIONAL AVERAGE IS 17.

IT IS 14%.

WE'RE AT 17% HERE IN HOUSTON RIGHT NOW.

BUT IN OUR ACADEMY, 25% FEMALES, THAT IS HUGE.

24% BLACK, 33% HISPANIC, 34% WHITE,

[03:00:01]

9% ASIAN.

THOSE NUMBERS REPRESENT WHO WE ARE AND THAT REPRESENTS OUR COMMUNITY.

SO I JUST WANTED TO STOP BY AND, AND, AND GIVE A QUICK REPORT ON THE NUMBERS OF CRIME IN OUR CITY.

BECAUSE SOMETIMES IN, IN THIS SEASON, PEOPLE FORGET ABOUT THE NUMBERS.

AND I ONLY REPORT THE NUMBERS FROM HPD AND I'M VERY TRANSPARENT, AND I'M NEVER GOING TO PLAY AROUND WITH THE NUMBERS.

IF WE MAKE A MISTAKE ON SOMETHING, I'LL BE FIRST TO TELL YOU AND STEP UP AND SAY, YOU KNOW WHAT? I MADE A MISTAKE ON THOSE NUMBERS.

BUT REMEMBER ONE THING BE BEFORE I, I STEPPED DOWN, PLEASE GIVE OUR MEN AND WOMEN CREDIT.

AND WHEN YOU SEE THEM OUT THERE, PLEASE THANK THEM.

THEY DO A LOT.

AND OUR TEAM, I WOULDN'T TRADE 'EM FOR ANYTHING.

AND THIS IS THE BEST CITY IN THE WORLD.

AND I STAND HERE WITH HONOR TODAY, AND I'M LOOKING STRAIGHT AT MY MAYOR.

THAT'S MY MAYOR.

NOBODY UNDERSTANDS THE NIGHTS, THE MORNINGS WHERE YOU DON'T SLEEP.

AND I'M GETTING CALLS, HE'S GETTING CALLS.

THANK YOU FOR WHO YOU ARE.

THANK EACH AND EVERY ONE OF YOU FOR WHO YOU ARE.

I BRAG ON Y'ALL EVERYWHERE I GO.

AND I MEAN THAT.

AND I HOPE WE SET A MODEL HERE IN HOUSTON.

NO MATTER WHAT'S GOING ON IN OUR CITY, NO MATTER WHAT THE CHALLENGES IS, NO MATTER OUR DIFFERENCES, WE WORK TOGETHER FOR THE BETTER OF THIS CITY.

WE SET THE LEGACY AND LET NEVER LET ANYBODY BREAK THAT.

BUT I'M, I'M A LITTLE FIRED UP TODAY.

I WANT THIS ENERGY TO FLOW TO OUR ASTROS.

AND I LOVE IT.

AND I KNOW IT'S GONNA BE CHANGES, BUT I HOPE IT'S FOR THE BETTER.

BUT THANK Y'ALL.

THANK YOU FOR THE GREAT SUPPORT.

THAT WE ACKNOWLEDGE THE WORK AND THE SUCCESS ALONG WITH THE COMMUNITY AS A WHOLE.

UH, LET ME THANK, LET ME THANK YOU CHIEF NER AND YOUR, UM, EXECUTIVE TEAM, YOUR COMMAND STAFF, UM, I'M SORRY, ALL OF THE, UH, UM, POLICE OFFICERS THAT ARE ON THE STREET, THE CIVILIANS.

I WANT TO THANK ALL OF YOU, UH, FOR THE WORK THAT YOU ALL HAVE DONE.

UM, AND I DO THINK IT'S IMPORTANT, UH, TO HIGHLIGHT THE NUMBERS BECAUSE, UM, WHEN CRIME WAS SOARING, UH, IN THE CITY, PEOPLE HIGHLIGHTED THE NUMBERS AND THEY HIGHLIGHTED THE NUMBERS ALMOST EVERY SINGLE DAY.

ALMOST EVERY SINGLE DAY.

AND THAT'S WHAT PEOPLE WERE GETTING ON TELEVISION IN NEWSPAPERS BECAUSE PEOPLE WERE HIGHLIGHTING THE NUMBERS.

IT IS UNFORTUNATE THAT WHEN THE NUMBERS ARE TRENDING IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION, PEOPLE DON'T HIGHLIGHT WHAT'S HAPPENING, UH, IN THOSE TRENDS.

I DO WANNA UNDERSCORE, AND OFTENTIMES WHEN WE LOOK AT THE PERCENTAGES, UM, WE MISS THE NUMBERS.

BUT WHEN YOU COMPARE THE HOMICIDES, THE MURDERS TO LAST YEAR, UH, BASED ON WHAT YOU PRESENTED, YOU ARE TALKING ABOUT 63 FEWER HOMICIDES IN COMPARISON TO 2022.

NOW, THAT'S SIGNIFICANT 63.

BUT IF YOU CAN LOOK AT THE 2021 NUMBERS, BECAUSE I SEE THESE NUMBERS EVERY MORNING.

WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE 2021 NUMBERS IN HOMICIDES, 94 FEWER HOMICIDES THAN IN 2021.

NOW I WANT THAT TO SINK IN 94 FEWER HOMICIDES THAN IN 20 21, 63 FEWER HOMICIDES THAN IN 2022.

AND 22 WAS BETTER THAN 21, AND 23 IS BETTER THAN 22 AND SUBSTANTIALLY BETTER THAN 21.

AND I DON'T WANT US TO JUST GLOSS OVER THE SHOOTINGS.

'CAUSE WE WILL SAY, WELL, MAYOR, THEY, THEY, THEY'RE SHOOTING, THEY'RE JUST NOT DYING.

HMM.

WELL, BASED ON THE NUMBERS THAT YOU ARE PRESENTING MM-HMM .

17% FEWER SHOOTINGS TAKING PLACE IN THE CITY OF HOUSTON.

RIGHT? RIGHT.

THAT'S SIGNIFICANT.

SO WHEN PEOPLE ARE TALKING ABOUT WHAT THEY'RE GOING TO DO TO ADDRESS CRIME, WHAT MORE YOU GOING TO DO THAN WHAT WE ARE DOING RIGHT NOW, OTHER THAN FLAP YOUR LIPS? WHAT MORE YOU GOING TO DO? SO I WANT TO, I WANT TO THANK CHIEF, I WANT TO THANK HPD.

I WANT TO THANK THE MEN AND WOMEN IN BALLOON BECAUSE IT IS IMPORTANT

[03:05:01]

BUT IT IS IMPORTANT THAT WE LOOK AT THE NUMBERS TO SEE WHAT THE NUMBERS ARE SAYING.

AND I THINK WE ALL ACKNOWLEDGE THAT IF ONE PERSON IS VICTIMIZED BY A CRIME, IT'S ONE TOO MANY.

WE ALL RECOGNIZE THAT.

BUT THESE ARE, UH, SIGNS THAT WE ARE TRENDING IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION AND GETTING BACK TO THE 2019 WHERE WE WERE IN 2019.

SO I WANNA, I WANT TO THANK YOU AND UNDERSCORE, UH, THE IMPORTANCE OF THAT.

AND I ALSO WANNA SAY, WHEN PEOPLE SAY WE'RE GONNA HIRE MORE POLICE, WELL, WE BROUGHT ON ABOUT 25.

WE'LL BE BRINGING ON BY 2,500 ALREADY OVER 2300.

HOW MANY MORE YOU GONNA DO? AND TELL US HOW YOU'RE GONNA DO IT.

SO BY THE END OF THIS TERM, WE WOULD'VE BROUGHT ON MORE THAN 2,500 NEW CADETS TO HPD.

AND THE ONLY MAYOR IN THE LAST 40 YEARS THAT HAS DONE MORE WOULD BE MAYOR CATHERINE WHIT BIAS.

SHE WAS HERE FOR 10 YEARS.

SO AGAIN, I WANT TO, I WANT TO THANK, I WANT TO THANK YOU AND THE ENTIRE TEAM FOR WHAT'S TAKING PLACE.

UH, COUNCIL MEMBER KAMAN.

UM, CHIEF IS CHAIR OF PUBLIC SAFETY.

UM, I WANNA THANK YOU.

AND THE ENTIRE TEAM, UH, AT COUNCIL, UH, AT THE COMMITTEE, MAYOR, WE, LAST MONTH, WE DID AN ENTIRE TERM REVIEW OF ALL THAT'S BEEN DONE.

UM, I MEAN, BODY-WORN CAMERA POLICY, INCREASING DOMESTIC ABUSE RESPONSE, TEAM FUNDING, VICTIM SERVICES IMPROVEMENTS, OUR CAMERA AND LIGHTING ORDINANCES, CATALYTIC CONVERTER ORDINANCE, LICENSE PLATE READERS, UH, TACKLING, STREET RACING, OUTDOOR MUSIC ORDINANCE, UM, VEHICLE PURSUIT POLICIES, WHICH I KNOW COUNCILS MEMBER EVAN SHABAZZ WAS VERY COMMITTED TO A-B-Y-O-B ORDINANCE.

UM, INCREASING CRISIS INTERVENTION TEAMS AND CRISIS DIVERSION.

I MEAN, THERE IS A WHOLE LIST AND THAT'S JUST MERE THE HEADLINES, RIGHT? THERE'S, BUT BEHIND THE SCENES, SO MUCH HAS BEEN DONE AND ACCOMPLISHED DESPITE AND IN LIGHT OF A PANDEMIC AND A BUNCH OF OTHER FACTORS, UM, OUTSIDE OF THE CITY'S CONTROL, THE FACT THAT, UM, ATTRITION IS DOWN NEARLY 10%, THAT'S A BIG DEAL.

UM, SO I WANTED TO FIRST AND FOREMOST SAY THANK YOU.

IF YOU CAN, BECAUSE I, ONE OF THE CRITICISMS I THINK WE HAVE HEARD, AND I HAVE SEVERAL QUESTIONS, MARY, I MAY NEED TO GET BACK IN QUEUE.

BUT ONE OF THE CRITICISMS THAT WE'VE HEARD IS RELATED TO, UM, RESPONSE TIMES.

CAN YOU ADDRESS THOUGH SOME OF THE MISNOMERS WITHIN THAT? ABSOLUTELY.

WE WE'RE DOING, UH, JUST AS AND BETTER THAN, THAN MOST, UH, MAJOR CITIES, UH, IN OUR RESPONSE TIME, UH, CODE ONES AND CODE TWOS, UH, WE'RE EITHER LEADING OR RIGHT THERE, UH, WITH THEM.

BUT I ALWAYS WANT TO IMPROVE.

UM, WE'RE ALWAYS LOOKING AT, AT WAYS TO IMPROVE.

BUT, UH, WHERE WE FALL OFF, JUST LIKE, UH, OTHER MAJOR CITIES, WE WON, UH, 1.2 MILLION CALLS A, A, A YEAR.

UH, WHEN YOU HAVE THE LOWER PRIORITY CALLS, THAT'S WHEN PEOPLE REALLY GET, UH, UPSET WITH A CALL, I'M SORRY, AN ISSUE, A CRIME THAT'S ALREADY OCCURRED, LIKE A THEFT OR SOMETHING.

THEN WE GOTTA GET TO ALL THE IN PROGRESS CALLS.

SO, UH, WE GONNA BE MORE TRANSPARENT WITH THAT AND THEN GET THAT ON THE DA ON THE DASHBOARD.

UM, SO PEOPLE CAN, AND I CAN LOOK AT IT EVERY MONTH, WHICH I DO.

BUT I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT THAT COUNCIL MEMBERS AND, AND, AND CITIZENS, THEY CAN SEE IT AND WHEN THINGS COME UP, UH, BECAUSE SOMETIMES PEOPLE HAVE THEIR OWN AGENDAS AND, AND I'M NOT NEGATIVE OR POSITIVE.

THEIR AGENDA IS THEIR AGENDA AND WE ADDRESS IT.

BUT, UH, WHEN YOU LOOKING FOR SOMETHING AND IT'S ALREADY OUT THERE, YOU REALLY DON'T HAVE A STORY.

SO THAT'S, THAT'S THE KIND OF DEPARTMENT THAT I, I I WANT TO BE IN.

WE'RE WORKING ON, UH, UM, TECHNOLOGY THAT'S COMING IN THAT'S GOING TO BETTER, UH, HELP US TO GET THOSE, UH, STATS OUT THERE AND DIFFERENT THINGS.

BUT NO, WE WE'RE DOING ALL RIGHT.

BUT ALL RIGHT, IS NOT GOOD ENOUGH FOR CHIEF AND MY TEAM.

WE WANNA BE THE BEST.

AND I, I THINK THAT'S WHAT YOU STRIVE TO DO.

I DON'T CARE IF IT'S RESPONDING TO CALLS OR RESPONSE TIME, REDUCING CRIME.

I SIMPLY WANNA BE THE BEST.

I'M VERY COMPETITIVE AND, AND MY TEAM IS, SO THANK YOU FOR ASKING.

RIGHT.

AND I APPRECIATE THAT.

AND THE CLARIFICATION ABOUT WHERE WE STAND DOING BETTER THAN MOST MAJOR CITIES AND HOW WE CALCULATE RESPONSE TIMES CAN BE DIFFERENT DEPENDING ON THE CITY.

UM, YOU BROUGHT UP TECHNOLOGY AND, UM, OUR COMPUTER AIDED

[03:10:01]

DISPATCH IS COMING.

THAT'S GOING TO BE HELPING.

AND I WANNA HIGHLIGHT, UM, WHETHER IT PASSES TODAY OR NEXT WEEK, OUR RECORDS MANAGEMENT SYSTEM MAYOR, WHICH HAS BEEN A PRIORITY FOR, UM, HPD FOR ME, FOR YOU, WHICH WILL CHANGE THE WAY IN WHICH WE ARE ABLE TO POLICE, UM, IN SO MANY WAYS, INCLUDING, I WAS, I, I'M GRATEFUL THAT YOU HAVE THE NUMBERS TODAY.

85% OF ALL HOMICIDES ARE GUN RELATED.

AND, AND THAT MAY, IT MAY BE OFF ONE OR TWO POINTS, BUT IT'S, IT'S RIGHT THERE.

AND OUR RMS SYSTEM, THOUGH, IS GONNA EN IT'S GOING TO ENABLE US TO REALLY HONE IN AND FINE TUNE SO THAT WE CAN BE ADDRESSING THOSE AT A MUCH MORE SPECIFIC LEVEL.

UM, I WANNA THANK YOU ALL FOR THE PARTNERSHIP WHEN I CAME TO YOU ALL AND CAME TO CHIEF SATTERWHITE AND WE CAME UP WITH, YOU KNOW, LOCK IT UP SAFE AND WHAT'S BEEN DONE SINCE THEN, UM, I TRULY BELIEVE IS SAVING LIVES AND WE NEED MORE OF IT.

BUT I WANNA THANK YOU ALL FOR THAT PARTNERSHIP.

UM, WHEN IT COMES TO THE TECHNOLOGY THAT WE'RE HARNESSING, UH, I WOULD SIMPLY ASK MAYOR, BECAUSE WE'RE COMING UP ON THE END OF THIS TERM, UH, AS MORE TECHNOLOGY IS COMING ONLINE, CHIEF, I KNOW YOU ARE WORKING ON, UM, SOLIDIFYING RULES AND POLICIES JUST AS WE HAVE WITH A LOT OF OTHER THINGS RELATED TO, UH, CAMERAS YES.

AND SURVEILLANCE.

SO I WANNA MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE, UM, BRINGING ATTENTION TO THAT AND MY APPRECIATION FOR ALL OF THE PARTNERSHIPS.

ANYTIME I HAVE BROUGHT SOMETHING TO Y'ALL, Y'ALL HAVE LOOKED AT IT AND Y'ALL HAVE FOUND A WAY TO MOVE SOMETHING FORWARD.

AND MAYOR ONE SAFE HOUSTON IS WORKING.

UM, THE NUMBERS SPEAK FOR THEMSELVES, BUT I THINK THAT THE STORIES BEHIND IT, THE WORK THAT GOES BEHIND IT, NOT JUST THE FUNDS THAT WERE PUT BEHIND IT, UM, ARE MAKING HOUSTON THE LEADER WHEN IT COMES TO ADDRESSING CRIME IN THE UNITED STATES.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT COUNCIL.

UH, BEFORE WE GO TO THE NEXT, UH, PERSON, I WANNA RECOGNIZE THE WILLOW ROCK GIRL SCOUT TROOP.

IF YOU ARE HERE, PLEASE STAND THE WILLOW ROCK GIRL SCOUT TROOP AND THEIR LEADERS ARE TIFFANY LOVE.

AND, UH, IS THAT DARLENE ROBINSON? YES.

THANK YOU ALL FOR BEING HERE.

THIS, THIS MORNING.

COURTNEY COURTNEY JOHNSON ROSE.

IT'S COURTNEY JOHNSON ROSE THERE.

IS SHE BACK THERE? YES, SHE IS IN THAT.

OH, YOUR DAUGHTER'S IN THAT TRUTH.

BUT WE ARE GONNA HAVE TO HELP PROTECT THEM AS WELL.

ALL GOOD TO SEE ALL ABOUT IT, EVERYBODY.

ALRIGHT, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER.

I WAS A GIRL SCOUT, UH, .

WELL, UH, FIRST I WANNA THANK YOU MAYOR AND THANK YOU CHIEF NER FOR THIS AMENDMENT OF THIS POLICE PURSUIT POLICY.

YOU KNOW, I REACHED OUT YES, MA'AM.

AND THANK YOU COUNCIL MEMBER CAYMAN, FOR HIGHLIGHTING THAT THAT WAS SO VERY IMPORTANT BECAUSE OF COURSE I HAD A CONSTITUENT WHO DIED AS A RESULT OF A POLICE PURSUIT.

BUT I, I REALLY THANK YOU FOR YOUR RESPONSE.

I WANT PEOPLE TO KNOW THAT THIS DIDN'T COME ABOUT BECAUSE THE DEATH OF PASTOR COLLINS AND THE POLICE SERGEANT'S MOTHER, UH, THIS IS SOMETHING THAT HAS BEEN IN THE WORKS AND, YOU KNOW, IT DOESN'T HAPPEN OVERNIGHT, BUT IT HAPPENED MM-HMM .

AND I'M SO VERY HAPPY TO, TO BE A PART OF IT.

BUT CERTAINLY I WANT PEOPLE TO KNOW THAT WE ARE NOT GOING SOFT ON CRIME.

UH, WE ARE JUST PURSUING MORE SAFELY.

AND IF, YOU KNOW, MOST OF THE, UH, PURSUITS START IN THE AFRICAN AMERICAN AND THE LATINO COMMUNITIES.

AND SO I'M JUST GONNA ADVISE THOSE THAT ARE THINKING OF RUNNING AND, UH, THAT THAT IS NOT A GOOD DECISION.

AND IT COULD BE YOUR LAST DECISION.

SO DO NOT THINK THAT THEY WILL NOT GET YOU, THEY JUST MAY, UH, OPERATE MORE SAFELY SO THAT THEY CAN GET YOU AT ANOTHER TIME, UH, BECAUSE WE ARE NOT GONNA TOLERATE WHAT YOU ARE DOING IN THE CITY TO IMPACT OUR CITIZENS.

AND SO I WANNA ALSO THANK YOU FOR YOUR RESPONSE TO MIDTOWN, UH, AND, AND LOWERING OF THE CRIME THAT IS GOING ON THERE.

OF COURSE, WE HAVE A POLICE STATION THERE, AND WE HAVE PEOPLE THAT ARE GETTING OFF THE BUS THAT MAY BE COMING FROM THE PENAL INSTITUTIONS.

I CERTAINLY HAVE SPOKEN WITH COMMANDER COLLINS TO SEE IF WE COULD SET UP SOMETHING MAYBE IN THE BUS STATION, BECAUSE THEY CAN BECOME VICTIMS THEMSELVES COMING INTO A CITY, A BIG CITY WITH NO MONEY AND NO RESOURCES.

AND SO THAT'S SOMETHING THAT SHE AND I HAVE SPOKEN ABOUT, AND MAYBE WE COULD, UH, UH, SPEAK FURTHER ABOUT IT BECAUSE IT'S VERY IMPORTANT BECAUSE THEY CAN VERY WELL END UP BACK INTO THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM OR BECOME VICTIMS THEMSELVES.

AND SO I, I THANK YOU FOR THAT AS WELL.

AND FINALLY, I WANT TO CERTAINLY SPEAK ABOUT ARINA KEENER, WHO IS THE OWNER OF CAFFEINE COFFEE.

UH, I, I CAN'T IMAGINE THE DEVASTATION, BUT YOU, WE ARE CITIZENS.

WE'RE GONNA HAVE TO PROTECT.

WE, YOU KNOW, WE ARE IN THE DISTRICT OF DESTINATION, SO WE HAVE A LOT OF PEOPLE WHO WANNA HAVE BUSINESSES,

[03:15:01]

IF WE SEE THINGS, WE NEED TO SAY SOMETHING BECAUSE IT IS DEVASTATING, ESPECIALLY TO SMALL BUSINESS OWNERS WHO ARE TRYING TO OPERATE AND SOMEONE IS COMING IN BREAKING INTO THEIR, UH, ESTABLISHMENTS.

AND SO I THANK YOU FOR ALL OF THE PROTECTION AND EVERY MAN AND WOMAN WHO HAS DEDICATED THEIR LIVES FOR THIS.

I CAN'T IMAGINE A LIFE WITHOUT POLICE OFFICERS.

AND SO I WANNA PERSONALLY THANK YOU AND THE HPD DEPARTMENT FOR ALL THAT YOU DO.

THANK YOU FOR COUNCILMAN GALLEGOS.

THANK YOU CHIEF.

I HEARD YOU SAY YOU STAND THERE PROUDLY AND, AND RIGHTFULLY SO.

YOU SHOULD.

'CAUSE YOU'VE DONE AN OUTSTANDING JOB.

AND HPD CONTINUES TO DO AN OUTSTANDING JOB.

AS YOU KNOW, THERE'S ABOUT 5,200 OFFICERS PATROLLING OVER 640 SOME ODD SQUARE MILES IN OUR CITY, AND THAT'S DIVIDED AMONGST THREE SHIFTS.

SO Y'ALL ARE DOING AN OUTSTANDING JOB.

I KNOW THAT, UH, COUNCILS JUST APPROVED A BILLION DOLLAR BUDGET THIS PAST FOR, FOR HPD, UH, THIS PAST JULY.

UM, AND TO HEAR PEOPLE OUT THERE JUST SAYING WHATEVER THEY WANNA SAY IN REGARDS TO CRIME, BASICALLY STATING THAT, YOU KNOW, CRIME IS RAMPANT ACROSS OUR CITY IS VERY DISHEARTENING.

AND I'M SURE THAT AFFECTS THE MORALE OF HPD OFFICERS TO KNOW THAT THEY ARE OUT THERE EVERY SINGLE DAY, EVERY NIGHT, PATROLLING TO MAKE OUR CITY SAFE.

AND WHAT THEY DON'T NEED TO HEAR IS FROM CANDIDATES SAYING THAT CRIME IS RAMPANT ACROSS THE CITY.

CANDIDATES SAYING THAT WE DON'T DO ANYTHING.

SPEAKING FOR MYSELF AS A COUNCIL, DISTRICT COUNCIL MEMBER, I HAVE GIVEN MONIES FOR MY DISTRICT SERVICE FUNDS TO HELP THE DIVISIONS THAT ARE IN MY DISTRICT FOR SERVICES THAT THEY MAY NEED.

I KNOW OTHER COUNCIL MEMBERS AROUND THIS HORSESHOE DO THE SAME.

AND LIKE THE MAYOR STATED, THERE'S A LOT OF OFFICERS THAT HAVE BEEN HIRED HERE IN THE CITY OF HOUSTON, BUT YET YOU HAVE PEOPLE OUT THERE CLAIMING THAT WE ARE NOT DOING ANYTHING.

AND IT'S VERY DISHEARTENING, VERY AFFECTING THE MORALE OF OUR HPD OFFICERS.

AND THAT'S NOT RIGHT, BECAUSE AGAIN, Y'ALL ARE DOING AN OUTSTANDING JOB WITH THE RESOURCES YOU HAVE.

SO THANK YOU, THANK YOU FOR EVERYTHING YOU DO, AND THANK YOU FOR HPD FOR EVERYTHING THAT THEY DO AS WELL.

THANKS FOR YOUR SUPPORT.

COUNCILMAN GALLEGOS.

UH, COUNCILMAN THOMAS.

UM, MAYOR TURNER, I'VE SHARED THIS WITH YOU PUBLICLY, BUT, UM, I WANNA THANK YOU FOR KEEPING PUBLIC SAFETY FIRST.

WHEN MANY US MA MAYORS CHOSE TO DO DIFFERENT THINGS, I WANNA THANK YOU FOR, UM, KEEPING THAT, UM, AS A TOP PRIORITY IN YOUR ADMINISTRATION AND ALSO FOR MY COLLEAGUES, UM, FOR US HAVING RIGOROUS CONVERSATION FROM 20 20, 20 21, DOING THAT WORK, UM, CHALLENGING HPD TO COME HIGHER, TO DO DIFFERENT THINGS, TO HAVE PUBLIC FACING INFORMATION AND ALL OF THAT.

BUT I ALSO WANT TO THANK YOU FOR BISSONNET CORRIDOR.

I KNOW MY COLLEAGUE IS NOT HERE, AND WE SHARE BISSONNET.

UM, I EXIT BISSONNET IN THE BELTWAY EVERY DAY TO GO HOME, AND IT HAS BEEN TRANSFORMED.

UM, MAYOR TURNER AND COUNCIL MEMBER POLLARD HAS DONE A WONDERFUL JOB, BUT THAT JOB WOULD NOT BE COMPLETE WITHOUT WEST SIDE MIDWEST HPD.

SELLING DRUGS AND, AND CAUSING PROBLEMS, YOU KNOW, SO THOSE THINGS, THE QUICKER WE FIND OUT ABOUT 'EM, UH, WE WANNA WORK ON 'EM.

UM, AND WITHOUT YOUR LEADERSHIP, UM, BEING COMMITTED TO THAT AREA, BUSINESS OWNERS FEEL SAFER NOW, UM, RESIDENTS THAT HAVE BEEN THERE FOR A VERY LONG TIME.

UM, AND SO CHANGING THE NARRATIVE OF THAT, OF THAT COMMUNITY HAS BEEN PARAMOUNT.

AND I KNOW THAT IT IS NOT DONE.

IT'S MORE WORK WILL CONTINUE TO HAPPEN, BUT AS SOMEONE THAT LIVES OVER THERE, I CAN TELL YOU WHAT IT LOOKS LIKE.

SO I WANNA, I WANNA THANK YOU FOR THAT.

UM, SECONDLY, I JUST WANNA POINT TO HOMELESSNESS IN, UH, THE CITY.

I AM OFTEN RESISTANT TO REACH OUT TO DRT TO ADDRESS THOSE ISSUES AROUND HOMELESSNESS BECAUSE WE DO HAVE PRIORITIES THAT SUPERSEDE THAT.

UM, CAN YOU TALK TO US ABOUT HOW Y'ALL ARE WORKING WITH MITIGATING THAT AS WE HAVE OUR OWN COORDINATED APPROACH IN THE CITY? THANK, THANK YOU.

PLEASE REACH OUT TO OUR DRT UNITS.

DON'T, UH, THINK THAT THEY'RE TOO BUSY.

THAT'S, SO WE'RE THERE ALSO OUR HOMELESS OUTREACH TEAMS. UM, WE'RE WORKING ON A NUMBER OF, UH, LOCATIONS IN THE CITY AND, UH, YOU KNOW, IT'S MAYOR'S GOAL AND, AND MOST CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS TO GET INDIVIDUALS AND PERMANENT HOUSING.

UH, BUT WE'RE DEALING WITH DRUG DEPENDENCY.

WE'RE DEALING WITH MENTAL ILLNESS.

AND, UH, IT'S NOTHING, UM, AGAINST THE LAW TO BE HOMELESS.

BUT I ALWAYS SAY THIS, WE ALL STILL HAVE TO BE GOOD NEIGHBORS, INCLUDING THE HOMELESS.

AND WHEN THEY'RE IMPACTING IN A NEGATIVE WAY A COMMUNITY, WE GOTTA STEP IN AND HELP THEM TO HELP THEMSELVES.

UM, SO PLEASE CALL IT IN.

WE'RE WORKING ON A PROPERTY, UH, I FORGOT THE BLOCK AND, UH, THE BLOCK NUMBER ON WESTTOWN, BUT RIGHT NOW, UH, IT'S BEHIND A CONVENIENCE STORE.

AND, UH, SEVERAL HOMELESS INDIVIDUALS HAVE SET UP TENTS AND, UM, THEY'RE COMING IN AND, AND OTHER STREET PEOPLE THAT, UH, PUT THEMSELVES IN, IN THE MIDDLE OF HOMELESS PEOPLE

[03:20:01]

AND WE'LL USE EVERY RESOURCE THAT WE HAVE.

UM, ALL OF OUR, UM, WE ARE ONE OF FEW, UH, UM, UM, IN THE, IN THE NATION THAT HAS A, A, A WHOLE, UM, UNIT THAT'S, UM, GEARED TO MENTAL HEALTH AND, AND, AND HOMELESS.

UM, SO, UM, WE PUT A LOT OF RESOURCES OUT THERE, SO JUST PLEASE REACH OUT TO US AND, UH, LET ME CLOSE WITH THIS.

I WANNA TELL YOU THAT IT'S WORKING.

MY STAFF AND I, WE VISITED EVERY ENCAMPMENT IN DISTRICT F AND, UM, WITH THE MAYOR'S, UH, UH, ADVISOR FOR HOMELESSNESS, UH, MARK EICHENBAUM.

AND, AND THEY SAID THAT THEY HAD ALREADY BEEN ASSESSED BY THE HOMELESS OUTREACH TEAM FOR HOUSING, RIGHT? SO JUST TO BE ABLE TO SPOT CHECK AND KNOW THAT IT WAS ALREADY HAPPENING JUST REINFORCES WHAT'S ALREADY IN PLACE.

SO I JUST WANNA THANK YOU FOR THAT.

AND PUBLIC PUBLICLY, THANK YOU FOR, UM, TAKING PRIDE IN YOUR WORK, UM, AND REPRESENTING US VERY WELL.

COUNCIL MEMBER SISNAROS.

THANK YOU, CHIEF.

I, UM, I HEARD YOU SAY THAT YOU BRAG ON US WHEN YOU ARE OUT, AND I WANNA SAY, YOU KNOW, YOU'RE ALREADY HEARING A LOT OF APPRECIATION FROM THIS HORSESHOE, BUT, BUT I BRAG ON YOU TOO.

YOUR, UM, YOUR COMMITMENT TO ALWAYS STRIVING TO, TO BE THE BEST, UM, YOUR HEART FOR PEOPLE, YOUR INSPIRATIONAL LEADERSHIP OF HPD.

THANK YOU FOR ALL THAT.

UM, YEAH, I, AND THEN I, I WANTED TO, TO GO BACK TO THE THIRD QUARTER OPERATIONAL SUCCESSES, YOU HIGHLIGHTED ONE OF THEM WAS THE BISSONNET CORRIDOR, AND, AND YOU DID, UM, MENTION THAT THERE'D BEEN DISPLACEMENT AS YOU'VE DISMANTLED THE, YOU KNOW, THE, THE PROBLEMS THERE.

UM, SOME OF THAT PROSTITUTION, UM, POPPED UP, YOU KNOW, IN, IN OTHER PLACES.

ONE OF THEM WAS IN DISTRICT H IN THE NORTHLINE AREA.

AND I WANNA THANK YOU AND MAYOR, I WANNA GO BACK TO, TO NUMBERS, TALKING ABOUT SPECIFIC NUMBERS AGAIN, BECAUSE THEY'VE HAD A, IT'S ALREADY HAD A HUGE IMPACT, EVEN THOUGH THIS IS STILL A RELATIVELY NEW OPERATION.

WE ALREADY SEE THAT THERE HAVE, UM, AND THIS IS A, THAT IS A WEEK OLD, SO MAYBE IT'S MORE NOW, BUT THEY'VE ALREADY BEEN 213 FELONY CHARGES MM-HMM .

AND 75 MISDEMEANOR CHARGES SO FAR.

AND, AND THE, UM, THE COMMUNITY SEES IT, YOU KNOW, WE ARE, UM, UH, WE ARE HEARING THAT FROM THE, THE RESIDENTS THAT LIVE UP THERE.

AND I'M, I'M SO GRATEFUL, YOU KNOW, FOR THE, UM, FOR STEPPING IN AND, AND, AND FOLLOWING UP, YOU KNOW, AS PART OF THE BISSONNET CORRIDOR, YOU KNOW, STAMPING IT OUT, WHERE, WHERE, WHERE THEY'RE TRYING TO FIND NEW PLACES TO GO.

THANK YOU FOR THAT.

UM, AND A BIG PART OF THAT IS THE, UM, THE COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT PIECE.

AND, UM, AND WE'RE WORKING CLOSELY WITH, YOU KNOW, WITH, WITH YOUR OFFICERS TO, UM, TO MAKE THAT EFFECTIVE.

THERE IS A, UM, UH, A CON WITH THE COP COMING UP EVENT.

I'LL, I'LL TALK MORE ABOUT THAT LATER.

BUT, UM, BUT, BUT, YOU KNOW, JUST THANK YOU.

THANK YOU, COUNCIL.

COUNCIL MEMBER KASH, CHIEF FINN, I APPRECIATE YOUR SERVICE TO OUR CITY.

I, I'M SURE BY NOW, YOU'VE KNOWN, YOU'VE BEEN ONE OF MY FIRST CHOICES A LONG TIME AGO FOR, FOR OUR CHIEF.

AND, AND THEN WHEN THE MAYOR PUTS YOU UP, I WAS CERTAINLY HAPPY TO SEE THAT.

UH, I FLY IN AND OUT OF CHICAGO QUITE A BIT BECAUSE MY GRANDCHILDREN AND, AND, AND I'VE HAD TWO YOUNG GRANDSONS GO TO THE MILITARY, UP TO THE GREAT LAKES MILITARY, UH, NAVY BASE.

AND WHILE I WAS THERE THIS WEEK, I HEARD THE MAYOR OF CHICAGO ON A PUBLIC SERVICE ANNOUNCEMENT IN THE AIRPORT ABOUT EVERY HOUR.

IT WOULD RUN A VERY SHORT ANNOUNCEMENT, WELCOMING ME TO CHICAGO.

AND, AND, AND THEN WHEN I WENT TO LEAVE, HE WAS DOING IT AGAIN AND, AND, AND WELCOMING ME AND, AND TALKING ABOUT HOW GOOD CHICAGO IS.

AND I THOUGHT, WOW, I GOTTA TELL THE MAYOR ABOUT THAT , BECAUSE HE CAN TELL EVERYBODY LEAVING AND COMING.

HOW GREAT HOUSTON IS.

THEN WHEN I HEARD YOU SPEAK, I, I, I LIKE IT WHEN YOU TELL US THAT YOU WANT TO KEEP US SAFE.

I, I LIKE HEARING THAT.

AND TO HAVE THE CHIEF OF POLICE ON THE PUBLIC SERVICE ANNOUNCEMENT TELL US AT THE AIRPORT THAT YOU'RE HERE AND, AND WE HAVE A FORCE THAT'S HERE TO PROTECT YOU AND TO KEEP YOU SAFE.

I LIKE THAT REASSURING FEELING.

AND, UM, I NEVER THOUGHT MUCH ABOUT THE MAYOR OF CHICAGO UNTIL HE WELCOMED ME SO MANY TIMES, .

SO, UH, ANYWAY, I JUST THOUGHT, UH, SO I, I, I'VE ALSO JUST NOW TOLD THE MAYOR THAT HE NEEDS TO RUN A PUBLIC SERVICE ANNOUNCEMENT IN OUR AIRPORTS.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR YOUR SERVICE.

GOSPEL VICE MAYOR PROCAST ATU.

UH, CHIEF FINN, THANK YOU.

WE APPRECIATE ALL THE WORK THAT YOU AND THE MEN AND WOMEN OF HPD DO, UM, DAY IN AND DAY OUT.

BUT I WANTED TO JUST SPECIFICALLY SAY THANK YOU FOR THE WILLINGNESS OF, UH, YOUR TEAM TO WORK ALONGSIDE COUNCIL MEMBERS.

UM, WHAT YOU'VE HEARD CONSISTENTLY FROM COUNCIL MEMBERS IS THAT WHEN WE HAVE AN IDEA OF SOMETHING THAT POPS UP IN OUR COMMUNITIES, YOUR TEAM IS RIGHT THERE WORKING THOSE SPECIFIC ISSUES BESIDE

[03:25:01]

RIGHT BESIDE US.

UM, IN, IN DISTRICT A, WE WERE VERY CONCERNED ABOUT, UM, FIREWORKS AND GUNFIRE DURING THE HOLIDAYS.

AND WE WORKED WITH THE HPD TEAM AT THE SOUTHWEST COMMAND STATION AND THE GESNER STATION TO DO A HOT, UM, MM-HMM SPOT TEAM FOR THE HOLIDAYS.

AND IT WAS VERY SUCCESSFUL.

UM, THEY, THEY WORKED OVERTIME AND THEY WERE OUT THERE PATROLLING THE STREETS DURING THE HOLIDAY SEASON TO DISCOURAGE PEOPLE FROM POPPING THE FIREWORKS AND SHOOTING THEIR GUNS IN THE AIR.

AND I HOPE THAT WE WILL CONTINUE TO DO THAT.

BUT I WANTED TO JUST SPECIFICALLY SAY THANK YOU FOR HEARING OUR IDEAS THAT COME FROM OUR CONSTITUENTS AND WORKING WITH US TO SOLVE THE ISSUES THAT ARE, ARE OF CONCERN TO THEM IN THEIR SPECIFIC NEIGHBORHOODS.

AND THEN, I CAN'T SAY ENOUGH ABOUT OUR MONTHLY PIP MEETINGS.

AND THE REASON THAT THEY ARE SO IMPORTANT IS BECAUSE WE ENCOURAGE OUR CONSTITUENTS TO GO TO THOSE MEETINGS SO THEY CAN GET FIRSTHAND INFORMATION ABOUT THESE SAME STATISTICS IN THEIR IMMEDIATE NEIGHBORHOODS SO THAT THEY HAVE THE FACTS.

AND THAT CAN COUNTER THE FALSE NARRATIVE THAT SOMETIMES IS OUT IN OUR CITY FEARMONGERING AND MAKING PEOPLE AFRAID AND GO TO THE STATION WHERE THEY CAN MEET THE COMMANDER AND THE POLICE OFFICERS WHO ARE WORKING THEIR BEATS AND WORKING IN THEIR NEIGHBORHOODS, AND BRINGING THOSE SPECIFIC CONCERNS RIGHT TO THEM, AND GETTING SOLUTIONS MONTH AFTER MONTH.

SO I DIDN'T WANT THIS OPPORTUNITY TO PASS US BY WITHOUT YOU BEING ABLE TO HEAR FIRSTHAND THAT THOSE PROGRAMS WORK, UM, AND HOW MUCH WE APPRECIATE THE WILLINGNESS OF THOSE COMMANDERS AND THE, UM, CHIEFS AND EVERYONE WHO WORKS ALONGSIDE THE COUNCIL OFFICES TO SOLVE THOSE PROBLEMS THAT COME UP FROM OUR CONSTITUENTS.

SO WE APPRECIATE THE WORK THAT YOU'RE DOING, UM, AND GOD BLESS YOU AND, AND MAY GOD CONTINUE TO WATCH OVER THIS CITY AND ALL WHO SERVE.

COUNCILMAN HUFFMAN.

UH, AND THANK YOU, CHIEF.

I JUST WANTED TO BRIEFLY SAY THAT, UM, DISTRICT G THIS MONTH IS STARTING A, UH, UPTOWN INITIATIVE AROUND THE GALLERIA AREA WITH CENTRAL AND MIDWEST OFFICERS, AS WELL AS HPD CRIME SUPPRESSION TEAM IN THE HOT TEAM.

AND SO I JUST WANNA THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT, UH, IN THAT PROGRAM.

WE'RE LOOKING FORWARD TO IT.

COUNCIL MEMBER PLUMMER.

THANK YOU MAYOR TURNER.

AND I WANNA JOIN MY COLLEAGUES AND THE ENTIRE CITY AND THANKING YOU AS WELL.

UM, BUT SPECIFICALLY FOR YOUR INNOVATIVE APPROACH AND BEING OPEN FOR THE DEPARTMENT TO BE OPEN TO LOOKING AT DIFFERENT WAYS TO HEAL THE CITY OF HOUSTON FROM A PUBLIC SAFETY PERSPECTIVE.

SO I WANNA THANK YOU FOR THAT.

YOU, UM, YOU MENTIONED ABOUT THE MENTAL HEALTH ISSUES OR THAT WE SEE.

COULD YOU TALK A LITTLE BIT, JUST VERY BRIEFLY ABOUT HOW SUCCESSFUL OUR OTT TEAMS AND OUR CERT TEAMS ARE? I, I THINK THEY'RE VERY SUCCESSFUL AND, AND THANK, UH, TO ONEE AND AN ADDITIONAL FUNDING.

BUT, UH, FOR US TO HAVE A NUMBER OF PROGRAMS, UM, THAT WHERE WE CAN RESPOND, UM, TO THOSE INDIVIDUALS.

FIRST OF ALL, IN CRISIS, OUR CT TEAMS WHERE YOU HAVE A, UH, COMMISSION IN IN THE CAR WITH THE PATROL OFFICER, UM, AND THEY CAN GO AND, AND IF THERE'S DANGER, THEY CAN GO AND, AND, AND LEND SOME SUPPORT AND HELP TO THAT INDIVIDUAL, BUT MCO WHEN THERE'S NO VIOLENCE AND YOU CAN JUST, WE DON'T NEED TO SEND POLICE WHEN WE DON'T NEED TO SEND POLICE.

SO THAT'S, THAT'S GREAT.

UM, THE OTHER PROGRAM, UH, WHERE WE GOT 80, UH, LAPTOPS OUT IN THE FIELD, AND YOU TRAIN OFFICERS, THEY CAN CONNECT DIRECTLY TO A CLINICIAN, GET INFORMATION ON THE PATIENT, GET THAT PERSON, HELP, UH, GET 'EM TO WHERE THEY ARE.

AND THE FINAL PROGRAM IS IN, UH, OUR EMERGENCY COMMUNICATION DISPATCH.

A LOT OF TIMES THE PERSON IS IN CRISIS, SOMETIMES THEY JUST NEED SOMEBODY TO TALK TO WHO'S TRAINED FOR THAT.

SO, UM, THE RESOURCES THAT WE PUT OUT THERE, UM, AND, AND THERE'S ALWAYS IMPROVEMENT, BUT MANY CITIES, UM, MANY DEPARTMENTS COME TO OUR DEPARTMENT, UH, EVERY MONTH, UH, TO GET TRAINING AND SEE WHAT WE'RE DOING HERE IN HOUSTON.

AND, UH, WE WANT TO ENHANCE THAT AND IMPROVE IT.

BUT, AND THE MAYOR SAYS IT ALL THE TIME, AND IT'S SO, SO TRUE.

YOU LOOK AT, WHEN THE STATE OF TEXAS IS 50 51 IN FUNDING FOR MENTAL HEALTH, THAT'S A PROBLEM.

THE CITY CAN'T, I MEAN, IT HAS TO BE EVERYONE, THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT, THE STATE GOVERNMENT, THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT PUSHING THAT MONEY BACK IN.

AND SOMETIMES WHEN WE HAVE, I, I DON'T Y'ALL KNOW ME, I DON'T DO THE POLITICS TOO MUCH, BUT WHEN YOU HAVE A SURPLUS, LOOK AT WHAT'S GOING AROUND OR WHATEVER AREA THAT YOU, THAT YOU HAVE, LOOK AT WHAT YOU CAN DO NOT FOR ONE INDIVIDUAL.

WHAT CAN YOU DO FOR THE COLLECTIVE COMMUNITY? AND THAT, THAT'S SOMETHING THAT, THAT I, I KNOW THAT WE'RE GONNA NEED HELP ON.

AND THEN I, I JUST THANK THE CITIZENS AND I THANK OUR, I THANK OUR PARTNERS, UM, THE SOCIAL SERVICE PARTNERS, UH, AND ALL THOSE PROFESSIONS WHO STEP IN, UH, TO HELP US.

SO, UM, REALLY PROUD OF WHAT'S GOING ON.

THANK YOU, CHIEF.

AND JUST TO WRAP THINGS UP, UM, LEMME JUST SAY THIS, UM, UH, NUMBER ONE, I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR A VERY DIVERSE COMMAND STAFF.

THE COMMAND, STAFF, EXECUTIVE, CHIEF ASSISTANT, CHIEF COMMAND STAFF, THAT'S REFLECTIVE OF THE TOTAL COMMUNITY.

'CAUSE WE HAVE PEOPLE ON

[03:30:01]

AND WHEN WE ARE LIVING IN TIMES, LIKE WE ARE LIVING RIGHT NOW, THAT DIVERSITY IS CRITICALLY IMPORTANT.

UNDER THE MISCELLANEOUS CATEGORY.

SO I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR THAT.

NUMBER TWO, UM, WHEN YOU CAME IN, I MEAN, WE WERE, THE CRIME WAS, WAS, WAS MOVING IN THE, IN THE WRONG DIRECTION.

UM, SINCE YOU'VE BEEN THERE, THINGS HAVE REVERSED AND WE ARE TRENDING IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION.

UM, SO I WANT, I WANT TO, I WANT TO THANK YOU BECAUSE LEADERSHIP IS IMPORTANT AND WHO'S IN THESE POSITIONS IS IMPORTANT.

AND THE NUMBERS ARE REFLECTIVE OF WHAT'S OF THE POSITIVE THINGS THAT ARE HAPPENING IN HPD AND IN OUR COMMUNITY AS A WHOLE.

BECAUSE NOT ONLY ARE YOU LEADING HPD, BUT YOU'RE ALSO INTERFACING WITH PEOPLE IN THAT COMMUNITY.

SO, UH, YOU HAVE DONE A HERCULEAN JOB.

I MEAN, I'M THE MAYOR, BUT, UM, LET ME TELL YOU, UH, YOU HAVE BEEN AN INCREDIBLE, UH, CHIEF FOR HPD AND FOR THE CITY AT A VERY, UM, AT A TIME IN WHICH, I MEAN, THINGS ARE GOING IN SO MANY DIRECTIONS ACROSS THE COUNTRY, BUT, BUT HOUSTON, HOUSTON, UM, IN TERMS OF RESULTS, HOUSTON IS AT THE TOP OF THE, AT THE TOP OF THE LADDER.

AND, UH, AND THAT DOESN'T HAPPEN BY ACCIDENT.

SO I WANT, I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR PROVIDING INCREDIBLY LEADERSHIP.

I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR, UH, FOR YOUR COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT.

I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR JUST BEING DOWN TO EARTH AND SHOOTING IT STRAIGHT.

I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR STAYING AWAY FROM THE POLITICS AND, AND BEING THE POLICE CHIEF, OKAY.

AND ALLOWING US TO HANDLE THE POLITICS.

UH, I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR THAT.

UM, BUT, UH, YOU HAVE DONE AND CONTINUE TO DO AN INCREDIBLE JOB.

AND, AND QUITE CANDIDLY, I COULD NOT BE MORE PROUD.

SO REALLY APPRECIATE YOU.

AND, UM, WE ARE GONNA LET YOU GO AND YOUR COMMAND STAFF GO, SO Y'ALL CAN CONTINUE TO DO WHAT YOU'VE ALREADY BEEN DOING, AND SO THAT YOU CAN BRING ME IN IN TWO MONTHS FROM NOW.

SOME EVEN BETTER NUMBERS FROM BETTER NUMBERS.

THANK YOU, OFFICER, VERY MUCH.

UH, I'M GONNA BE, I'M JUST ONE OR TWO THINGS.

UH, AS YOU KNOW, LAST WEEK, UM, UM, THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION ANNOUNCED THESE HYDROGEN HUBS AS A PART OF THE ENERGY TRANSITION.

AND THE HOUSTON TEAM IS WHAT'S NAMED AS ONE OF THOSE SEVEN, THE BIGGEST AND THE BIGGEST.

SO HOUSTON TEAM WILL BE RECEIVING LIKE $1.2 BILLION IN TERMS OF ENERGY TRANSITION.

THAT IS HUGE.

THAT IS HUGE, HUGE, HUGE, HUGE, UH, FOR THE CITY OF HOUSTON.

SO I JUST WANTED TO UNDERSCORE THAT.

UM, AND THEN I WANT TO UNDERSCORE THE FACT THAT UNIVERSITY OF HOUSTON IS PLAYING, OH, WHAT'S THE NAME OF THAT SCHOOL? UH, IN AUSTIN.

UM, REMEMBER, I, I A STATE SCHOOL, UNIVERSITY OF HOUSTON AND WILL BE, WILL BE PLAYING, UH, UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS IN HOUSTON ON SATURDAY.

ON SATURDAY.

AND SO, UM, UH, LEMME JUST ENCOURAGE, UH, ALL OF THE HOUSTON FANS TO SHOW UP.

JUST SHOW UP, SHOW UP, SHOW UP SO THAT THERE WON'T BE ANY SEATS FOR, UH, FOR THOSE LONGHORNS.

AND, UM, SO JUST SHOW UP AND THIS, YOU KNOW, AND SHOW OUT.

UM, AND YOU KNOW, THIS, I ALREADY PREDICT THE SCORE WOULD BE 42 TO ZERO, UH, UH, COUGARS.

UM, SO, UM, AND THAT, AND THEN ASTROS, COME ON.

ASTROS, COME ON.

ASTROS.

UH, TONIGHT IS IMPORTANT.

AND SO THAT SEND A LOT OF POSITIVE VIBES TOWARDS THE ASTROS.

ONE THING ABOUT THE CITY OF HOUSTON, WE ARE HIGHLY RESILIENT.

AND WHEN, UH, OUR BACKS UP AGAINST THE WALL, WE COME OUT FIGHTING.

SO, UH, COME ON, ASTROS.

A LOT OF RUNS TONIGHT.

AND, UM, LET'S GET IT DONE.

THAT'S IT.

LET'S GO TO THE AGENDA

[CONSENT AGENDA]

ITEM THREE NEEDS A MOTION.

CASTEX, TADA, MOVE SECOND.

ROBINSON, IT'S BEEN MOVED.

AND SECOND ON ITEM THREE, DISCUSSION IN FAVOR, OPPOSED

[03:35:01]

GRANTED ON THREE UNDER THE ACCEPT WORD CATEGORY.

ROBINSON SECONDED ON FOUR AND FIVE.

ITEMS REMOVED, SEPARATE CONSIDERATION.

DISCUSSION IN FAVOR OF OPPOSING GRANITE UNDER THE PURCHASING AND TABULATION OF BIDS.

CATEGORY ITEM 6, 8, 9, 10, AND 11 HAVE BEEN REMOVED.

SEVERAL CONSIDERATION.

NEED A MOTION FOR ITEM SEVEN AND 12 CAST SECTION.

STATE MOVE.

SECOND.

ROBINSON, MOVE AND SECONDED ON ITEM SEVEN AND 12, DISCUSSION IN FAVOR OF OPPOSED GRANTED UNDER THE ORDINANCES CATEGORY.

ITEM 18 AND 24 HAVE NOT BEEN RECEIVED AND WILL BE CONSIDERED IF THEY'RE RECEIVED BEFORE THE END OF THE MEETING.

15, 16, 20, 21, 25, 26, 30, AND 35.

THOSE NUMBERS AGAIN ARE 15, 16, 20, 21, 25, 26, 30, AND 35.

NEED A VOTE ON THE BALANCE.

DISCUSSION, DISCUSSION, DISCUSSION IN FAVOR OF POST GRANITE.

I REMOVE

[CONSIDERATION OF MATTERS REMOVED FROM CONSENT AGENDA]

SEPARATE CONSIDERATION.

ITEM SIX NEEDS A MOTION.

I ASEX.

TATUM, MOVE SECOND.

ROBINSON, WE ON ITEM SIX MOVED.

AND SECOND ON ITEM SIX, DISCUSSION ON SIX.

DISCUSSION IN FAVOR OF OPPOSED GRANITE.

ITEM EIGHT NEEDS A MOTION.

SX TATUM, MOVE SECOND.

ROBINSON MOVED.

AND SECOND ON ITEM EIGHT.

DISCUSSION ON EIGHT.

DISCUSSION IN FAVOR OF OPPOSED GRANITE.

ITEM NINE NEEDS A MOTION.

CASTEX.

TADA, MOVE SECOND.

ROBINSON MOVED.

AND SECOND ON ITEM NINE.

DISCUSSION IN FAVOR OPPOSED GRANITE.

ITEM 10 NEEDS A MOTION.

CASTEX.

TADA.

MOVE SECOND.

ROBINSON MOVED IN SECOND ON ITEM 10.

DISCUSSION IN FAVOR OF OPPOSED GRANITE.

ITEM 11 NEEDS A MOTION.

CASTEX TATUM, MOVE.

SECOND.

ROBINSON MOVE.

AND SECOND ON ITEM 11.

DISCUSSION IN FAVOR OF OPPOSED GRANTED.

ITEM 15 IS AN ORDINANCE.

JUST NEED A VOTE ON ITEM 15, DISCUSSION ON 15.

DISCUSSION ON 15.

DISCUSSION IN FAVOR OF OPPOSED AFTER THE VOTE, IT THREW ME OFF.

IN FAVOR.

IN FAVOR OF OPPOSED GRANTED.

AND NOW, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER SHABAZZ ON ITEM 15.

THANK YOU MAYOR.

I REALLY WANNA HIGHLIGHT THIS ITEM.

UM, THIS IS FANTASTIC USE OF ARPA FUNDING.

UH, OF COURSE, YOU KNOW, I HAVE A GREAT LOVE FOR THE HOUSTON COMMUNITY COLLEGE AND THEIR ENGAGEMENT, BUT THIS OFFERS AN OPPORTUNITY FOR, UH, PEOPLE, PARTICULARLY THOSE FROM THE COMPLETE COMMUNITIES, WHICH SUNNYSIDE IS ONE OF THOSE WHERE WE WILL, UH, HAVE THE SOLAR FARM, BUT THEY CAN GET CERTIFICATES FOR ELECTRICAL TECHNICIANS AND SOLAR INSTALLATION.

AND I JUST THANK YOU MAYOR, FOR BEING ON TOP OF THIS BECAUSE IT'S VERY IMPORTANT THAT WE ENGAGE IN THIS NEW, UH, TECHNOLOGY THAT IS AVAILABLE.

AND CERTAINLY IT WILL PROVIDE HIGHER WAGES FOR PEOPLE.

AND I THINK THAT MAKES A TREMENDOUS DIFFERENCE IN PEOPLE'S LIVES, TO GIVE THEM QUALITY OF LIFE, TO HELP THEM TO BE ABLE TO NOT HAVE TO WORK TWO AND THREE JOBS, UH, TO TAKE CARE OF THEIR FAMILIES, WHICH OF COURSE IMPACTS OUR EDUCATION AND IS VERY CYCLICAL.

SO THANK YOU SO VERY MUCH FOR THIS.

PRUDENT AND WONDERFUL USE OF FUNDS FOR, UH, MY DISTRICT, OF COURSE, AND WITH THE HOUSTON COMMUNITY COLLEGE.

JUST TRYING TO FOLLOW YOUR LEADERSHIP, SO THANK YOU.

SO VERY, VERY MUCH.

NEXT, NEXT ITEM, ITEM 16 IS AN ORDINANCE, JANINA VOGUE, UH, ON ITEM 16, COUNCIL MEMBER THOMAS ON 16.

CLARIFYING QUESTION.

UM, MY CHIEF OF STAFF, UM, REQUESTED THIS INFORMATION ON BEHALF DURING THE BRIEF.

SO I KNOW EARLIER IN A COUPLE OF BUDGET SESSIONS WHEN WE WERE LOOKING TO INCENTIVIZE BECAUSE OF OUR WORKFORCE OF HAVING THE CDL TRAINING, THERE'S NO EXPLICIT TIMELINE THAT THERE'S AN OBLIGATION OF EMPLOYEES RECEIVING THE BENEFIT OF THE CDL TRAINING.

AND I THINK THE RESPONSE WAS THAT MAYBE NEW EMPLOYEES, THERE MIGHT BE SOME TYPE OF CONSIDERATION FOR REIMBURSEMENT OR SOMETHING.

IS THERE ANY THOUGHT AROUND THOSE RECEIVING THE TRAINING TO CDL AND THEN BEING POACHED BY THE PRIVATE SECTOR? OR ARE WE CONFIDENT THAT WE ARE SCALING UP OUR EMPLOYEES FOR THEM TO RETAIN WITH THE CITY? YEAH, THIS ONE, THIS ITEM IS SPECIFICALLY FOR THE FLEET EMPLOYEES AND WHAT'S HAPPENING WHEN THEY'RE, UH, THERE'S A NEED FOR THEM TO BE DRIVING THE FLEET, BUT IT REQUIRES A CDL LICENSE.

AND SO, UM, MANY TRANSPORT, YEAH, THE FUEL TRANSPORT, THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

AND SO WE ARE NEEDING THEM TO KIND OF GET TRAINED FOR IT.

AND SO THAT'S, UH, REALLY THE SPECIFIC PURPOSE

[03:40:01]

OF THIS ONE.

NOW WE DO NEED TO TAKE A LOOK AT WHAT WE CAN DO, UH, TO GET MORE CDL DRIVERS ACROSS THE BOARD, LIKE IN SOLID WASTE.

AND I THINK THAT'S A, THAT'S AN ADDED COMPONENT THAT'S COMING LATER ON.

YEAH, BECAUSE WE DO NEED MORE CDO FOR JUST RIGHT, THE OPERATION OF THE CITY.

THAT'S GREAT.

AND THAT WAS MORE OF MY CONSIDERATION.

I'M IN SUPPORT OF THIS ITEM.

I JUST WANTED TO CLARIFICATION ON THAT.

ANY OTHER DISCUSSION ON ITEM 16 IN FAVOR? OPPOSED? GRANTED ON 16, ITEM 20 IS AN ORDINANCE.

JUST NEED TO VOTE.

WE ON ITEM 20, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER CAMAN ON 20.

I JUST WANTED TO SPOTLIGHT THIS ITEM IN ADDITION TO THE ANNOUNCEMENT ABOUT THE HYDROGEN HUBS, UH, FOR THE REGION, WHICH IS, UH, A HUGE, HUGE ECONOMIC BOOSTER.

UM, WE ARE GOING OUT FOR A GRANT, UM, THAT'S OVER $2 MILLION.

UM, THAT, UH, WHAT I LOVE ABOUT THIS ONE, THE GRANT DOES NOT REQUIRE A CASH MATCH OR IN KIND CONTRIBUTION FROM THE CITY, RIGHT? SO WE'RE LITERALLY JUST SEEKING OVER $2 MILLION, UM, FOR ENERGY EFFICIEN EFFICIENCY AND CONSERVATION BLOCK GRANT PROGRAMS. UM, THAT WILL MAKE A TREMENDOUS DIFFERENCE, UM, WHEN IT COMES TO RESILIENT HOUSTON AND THE CLIMATE ACTION PLAN.

SO, UH, AGAIN, VERY EXCITED ABOUT THIS AND THE HYDROGEN THANK YOU ANNOUNCEMENT.

ANY OF THE DISCUSSION ON 20 DISCUSSION IN FAVOR? OPPOSE GRANTED ON 20, ITEM 21 IS AN ORDINANCE.

NEED TO VOTE ON ITEM 21, DISCUSSION ON 21.

DISCUSSION ON 21 IN FAVOR.

OPPOSE GRANTED ON 21.

ITEM 25 IS AN ORDINANCE.

JUST NEED A VOTE ON ITEM 25, DISCUSS VICE MAYOR PERM CAST CHECK TATUM ON 25.

MAYOR, I'D LIKE TO TAG THIS ITEM.

THIS ITEM'S BEEN TAGGED BY VICE MAYOR PERM.

PLEASE ADD MY NAME TO THE TAG, MAAM, AND BY ROBINSON.

ITEM 26 IS AN ORDINANCE, JUSTINE TO VOTE ON ITEM 26.

MR. THOMAS.

I'M SORRY, ON 26.

COUNCIL MEMBER THOMAS.

YES, I'M EXCITED TO SUPPORT THIS ITEM.

I RECALL, I BELIEVE IT WAS A, EITHER A PUBLIC SAFETY AND THE QUALITY OF LIFE JOINT COMMITTEE, UM, OEM PRESENTED, UM, THEIR FUTURE PLANS.

AND A LOT OF THE FEEDBACK WAS TO MAKE SURE DURING A DISASTER, THE FREEZE WATER BOIL NOTICE THAT WE HAD, UM, INFORMATION IN VARIOUS LANGUAGES.

I KNOW THIS ITEM SPECIFICALLY SPEAKS TO, UM, CALLING THE EMERGENCY CENTER AND 9 1 1.

I JUST WANNA GET CLARITY THAT THIS ALSO EXPANDS TO DISASTER WHEN THERE IS A NOTICE GOING OUT, FREEZE, FLOOD, UH, WATERFALL NOTICE BECAUSE ALL THE LANGUAGE IS REPRESENTED IS A REFLECTION OF THE CITY FROM MANDARIN TO KOREAN, UM, ARABIC, UM, VIETNAMESE AND ALL OF THAT.

AND SO THIS IS A REALLY GOOD ITEM.

AND I HOPEFULLY THE PUBLIC IS PAYING ATTENTION TO KNOW THAT WHEN WE ARE IN A SITUATION, WE NOW HAVE THE TOOL TO TO COMMUNICATE WITH THEM.

YES, I'M BEING TOLD THE ANSWER IS YES.

OKAY, PERFECT.

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR GETTING THIS ITEM ON THE THANK YOU.

UH, COUNCILMAN KAMAN.

OH, THANK YOU, MAYOR.

UM, COUNCIL MEMBER THOMAS PRETTY MUCH SAID IT, IT, WE, WE HIT THIS PRETTY HARD AT PUBLIC SAFETY COMMITTEE.

UM, AND I KNOW IT TAKES TIME.

YOU HAVE TO HAVE THE TECHNOLOGY TO BE ABLE TO SEND IT OUT AND THAT COSTS MONEY.

SO I APPRECIATE, UM, YOUR ADMINISTRATION AND OEM TAKING THIS SO SERIOUSLY.

UM, YOU KNOW, AGAIN, THERE'S A WHOLE LIST OF LANGUAGES ON HERE THAT WE'RE GOING TO BE TRANSLATING IN.

UM, AND OTHER DEPARTMENTS ARE FOLLOWING THAT LEAD AS WELL.

SO WHEN WE TALK ABOUT DIVERSITY, IT'S ALSO ABOUT INCLUSION.

AND THIS IS, THIS IS THAT EXAMPLE.

IS A MOTION TO SET A HEARING.

ANY OTHER DISCUSSION ON ITEM 26 IN FAVOR? OPPOSED? GRANTED ON 26.

ITEM 30 IS AN ORDINANCE.

JUST NEED TO VOTE.

WE WANT ITEM 30, DISCUSS TAG.

UH, ITEM 30 IS BEING TAGGED BY COUNCIL MEMBER GALLEGOS.

ITEM 35 IS AN ORDINANCE.

JUST NEED TO VOTE.

WE WANT ITEM 35 TAG.

IT'S ITEM 35.

IT'S BEING TAGGED BY COUNCIL MEMBER PLUMMER.

ITEM 40

[NON-CONSENT - MISCELLANEOUS]

MOVE ROBINSON.

SECOND CAST SIX ITEM, BEEN MOVED AND SECONDED, UH, ON ITEM 40 TO SET THE HEARING DATE, OCTOBER 25TH FOR OCTOBER 25TH AT 9:00 AM.

DISCUSSION, DISCUSSION IN FAVOR, OPPOSED? GRANTED.

ITEM 41 IS A MOTION TO SET THE HEARING.

UH, CASTEX TAYLOR MOVED TO SET THE HEARING FOR 9:00 AM WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 25TH, 2023.

SECOND ROBINSON, IT'S BEEN MOVED.

AND SECOND TO SET THE HEARING DATE DISCUSSION IN FAVOR.

OPPOSED? GRANTED ON 41.

ITEM 42

[MATTERS HELD]

[03:45:06]

AND SECOND ON ITEM 42.

COUNCILMAN PLUMMER, 42.

THANK YOU SO MUCH, MAYOR.

AND AS, AS YOU KNOW, MAYOR TURNER, WE'VE BEEN WORKING REALLY CLOSELY WITH THE DEPARTMENT TO LOOK AT HOW, UM, DURING THESE CO-OPS WE CAN INVOLVE AND ENGAGE MWBES.

UM, I WILL SAY THAT, UM, I THINK WE'RE MOVING IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION FOR SURE.

UM, AS, AS MANY OF YOU KNOW, CO-OPS, THERE'S NO MWBE, UH, REQUIREMENT IN THAT.

AND SO WE'RE WORKING WITH A DEPARTMENT TO CREATE SOME LEVEL OF CARVE OUT.

UH, RIGHT NOW, THE, UM, THE DEPARTMENT HAS COMMITTED TO A MILLION DOLLARS.

I KNOW THAT DOESN'T SOUND LIKE A LOT OF MONEY, UM, BUT IT'S A START.

UM, AND WHAT I'M, I WOULD LIKE TO ASK THE COMMUNITY AND, AND ALL OF OUR MWBES, THERE ARE CURRENTLY SEVEN, UM, BIDS THAT ARE ON THE EBIT SYSTEM RIGHT NOW.

WE NEED YOU TO GO ON THERE.

WE NEED YOU TO BID ON THOSE PRODUCTS.

THEY'RE EASY PRODUCTS TO DO.

IF WE CAN PROVE UP AND SHOW THAT WE HAVE THE CAPACITY FROM A SMALL BUSINESS PERSPECTIVE, THEN WE CAN INCREASE THAT NUMBER.

THESE, THESE BIDS THAT WE SEE, THIS, THIS MONEY THAT'S GOING SPECI, UM, SPECIFICALLY TO GRANGER.

THESE ARE UP TO AMOUNTS, WHICH MEANS WE DON'T HAVE TO SPEND THAT TOTAL AMOUNT WITH THAT COMPANY.

WE SPEND UP TO THAT AMOUNT, AND WE HAVE THE AUTHORITY, UM, TO BID, YOU KNOW, PORTIONS OF THOSE CONTRACTS OUT.

SO I ENCOURAGE THE MWBES THAT ARE LISTENING TO THIS, TO THIS TODAY TO PLEASE GO OUT BID ON THE SEVEN THAT ARE THERE.

WE DO HAVE THE COMMITMENT FROM THE DEPARTMENT TO AT LEAST PUT ONE TO THREE, UM, BIDS OUT ON A MONTHLY BASIS IN VARIOUS AMOUNTS.

OF COURSE, MY ASK IS 15%, BUT WE CAN'T DO THAT PUBLICLY.

SO OUR GOAL IS JUST TO MAKE SURE THAT WE ENGAGE, UM, SMALL BUSINESSES TO, UH, TO CONTINUE TO DO THAT.

SO I'M, I'M HOPEFUL THAT WE'RE MOVING.

I, I SEE THAT WE'RE MOVING IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION.

I'M HOPEFUL THAT WE'LL CONTINUE TO ALLOW, UM, SMALL BUSINESSES TO BE ENGAGED IN THE PROCUREMENT PROCESS.

THANKS, MADAM ACK TATUM.

THANK YOU MAYOR AND COUNCIL MEMBER PLUMMER.

THAT DISCUSSION WILL ALSO TAKE PLACE AT THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE MEETING TODAY.

OKAY, THANK YOU.

ANY OTHER DISCUSSION ON ITEM 42? DISCUSSION IN FAVOR OPPOSED? GRANTED ON 42.

ITEM 43 IS AN ORDINANCE.

JUST SEE THE VOTE ON ITEM 43.

DISCUSSION ON 43.

DISCUSSION ON COUNCILMAN JACKSON ON 43.

UM, I'M EXCITED TO SUPPORT THE 1.3 MILLION FUNDING FOR THE BETHUNE ACADEMY.

UM, I TAGGED THIS LAST WEEK BECAUSE I WANTED TO JUST GET A LITTLE BIT MORE INFORMATION.

HAD OPPORTUNITY TO MEET WITH THE HOUSTON BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT, UM, INCORPORATE WHO'S GONNA BE MANAGING THIS PROJECT.

AND THEY ASSURED ME THAT AFTER THE TWO YEARS THAT, UM, THEY'RE, THEY'RE GONNA USE RENTS TO SUSTAIN THE PROJECT.

SO WE ARE NOT LOOKING AT COMING BACK TO COUNCIL FOR MORE FUNDING.

UM, BUT MOST IMPORTANTLY, I'M EXCITED ABOUT THE INVESTMENT IN THE PEOPLE AND THE EXPANSION OF THE, THE BUILD OUT OF THE ROBOTICS LAB AND, UM, THE INSTALLATION OF THE GREENHOUSE.

SO THANK YOU FOR, UM, THIS PROJECT.

I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO, YOU KNOW, WORKING WITH, UM, THE COMPANY WHO'S GONNA BE LEADING IT.

ANY OTHER DISCUSSION? , THAT FUNNY? IN FAVOR? OPPOSED? GRANNY ? I'M A JOKING MR. ALL RIGHT.

THANK YOU'ALL.

THANK.

OKAY, WE STARTING NOW WITH VICE MAYOR PRO CAST

[NON CONSENT - MATTERS TO BE PRESENTED BY COUNCIL MEMBERS]

TATOR.

THANK YOU MAYOR.

UH, WANT TO REMIND COUNCIL MEMBERS THAT WE DO HAVE OUR ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE MEETING TODAY AT 2:00 PM UH, THE OBO OFFICE WILL BE PRESENTING ON CO-OP PURCHASING AND MWBE INCLUSION.

UM, WE ALSO HAVE A COUPLE OF OTHER PRESENTATIONS.

IT SHOULD BE A GREAT MEETING TODAY AT 2:00 PM A COUPLE OF PROJECTS COMING TO THE DISTRICT, A COMMUNITY RESIDENTS IN SOUTH FRAN PLACE, AND FRAN COMMUNITIES WILL HAVE SOME ADDITIONAL CONCRETE PANELS REPLACED ALONG FRUM ROAD FROM US 90 TO SAM HOUSTON PARKWAY.

THAT WORK WILL BE COMPLETE IN DECEMBER.

UM, RESIDENTS IN BRADBURN VALLEY CAN LOOK FORWARD TO MORE CONCRETE PANELS BEING REPLACED.

SO, UM, WE ARE MAKING STRIDES IN IMPROVING OUR ROADWAYS THROUGHOUT THE COMMUNITY.

AND THAT CONSTRUCTION WILL BEGIN OCTOBER THE 25TH, AND EXPECTED TO BE COMPLETED JANUARY OF 2024.

UM, WORLD YOUTH FOUNDATION WILL CELEBRATE 33 YEARS OF CHARITABLE SERVICE AT THEIR ANNUAL SEEDS OF GRATITUDE FUNDRAISER EVENT ON SUNDAY, OCTOBER THE 22ND, FROM TWO TO 4:00 PM IF YOU HAVE ANY.

UM, IF YOU NEED FURTHER INFORMATION, YOU CAN CALL OUR OFFICE OR VISIT THE WORLD YOUTH

[03:50:01]

FOUNDATION.ORG.

UH, ON OCTOBER THE 28TH FROM 11:00 AM TO 7:00 PM THERE WILL BE A LIVE MUSIC FEST, UM, AT THE WILLOW WATER HOLE.

THERE'S GOING TO BE GREAT FOOD HALLOWEEN THEMED ACTIVITIES, BEAUTIFUL TRAILS TO SEE, AND MUCH MORE.

AND IT'S ALL, UM, FREE.

WE'D LOVE TO SEE YOU OUT AT THE WILLOW WATERHOLE MUSIC FEST ON SATURDAY, OCTOBER THE 28TH.

AND THEN OCTOBER, AGAIN IS BREAST CANCER AWARENESS MONTH.

AND I'M SUPER EXCITED ABOUT, UM, OUR SALUTE TO SURVIVORS ON OCTOBER THE 30TH AT THE FOUNTAIN LIFE CENTER.

I'LL HOST OUR INAUGURAL POSE IN PINK YOGA EXPERIENCE, UH, WITH LINDSAY LEVISTON, THE FOUNDER OF SURVIVE, HER AND MITZI HENDERSON, THE OWNER OF NA MITZI YOGA.

SO WE ARE ASKING, UM, SURVIVORS AND SUPPORTERS TO COME AND PARTICIPATE, UM, IN THIS EXTREMELY FUN YOGA CLASS THAT IS SPECIFICALLY DESIGNED TO PROMOTE PHYSICAL AND EMOTIONAL WELLBEING.

UH, YOU WON'T WANT TO MISS THIS INFORMATIVE FUND AND POWERFUL EVENT.

YOU CAN REGISTER AT PO PINK ON EVENTBRITE.

AND I WANT TO GIVE A SPECIAL THANK YOU TO THE HOUSTON HEALTH DEPARTMENT, THE FOUNTAIN APPRAISE BLUE CROSS BLUE SHIELD FOR THEIR A SPONSORSHIP AND SUGAR LIFE ORGANICS.

UM, FOR ALSO SPONSORING.

IF YOU HAVE NOT SIGNED UP FOR OUR DISTRICT K NEWSLETTER, CALL THE OFFICE OR EMAIL US AT DISTRICT K@HOUSTONTX.GOV.

UH, BE KIND TO EACH OTHER AND MAKE IT A GREAT WEEK.

COUNCIL MEMBER ROBINSON MAYOR, JUST WANTED TO REPORT, UH, ABOUT A CONFERENCE THAT REALLY FOCUSED ON THE ISSUE THAT WE BROUGHT UP AT THIS MONTH'S, UH, TTI COMMITTEE MEETING WITH THE GALVESTON BAY PARK, UH, PLAN.

AND I KNOW, MAYOR, YOU'VE BEEN A BIG SUPPORTER OF THAT, AND IT, UH, RESONATED AT THE CONFERENCE.

IT WAS TWO DAYS AT THE SPEED CENTER AT RICE WITH EXPERTS COMING FROM THE NETHERLANDS, UH, OTHER PARTS OF EUROPE, BUT REALLY FOCUSED ON THE GOOD WORK THAT, UH, DR.

PHIL BET AND HIS TEAM, JIM BLACKBURN AND HAVE, HAVE BEEN WORKING ON.

IT'S A, IT'S A PROGRAM THAT WE'VE SPONSORED ALONG WITH THE PORT, UH, HARRIS COUNTY AND AN INDIVIDUAL NAMED JOE SWIN BANK, WHO'S PUT SOME PRETTY SIGNIFICANT PRIVATE CAPITAL UP FOR THIS.

AND IT IS GAINING TRACTION.

AND YOU MENTIONED, UH, RESILIENCE A FEW MOMENTS AGO WITH THE ASTROS, RIGHT? HOW IMPORTANT IT IS TO BE RESILIENT.

I THINK THIS IS A TIME WHERE WE ARE COMING THROUGH THE END OF WHAT SOME PREDICTED WOULD BE A BIG HURRICANE SEASON.

WE'RE VERY LUCKY, KNOCK WOOD.

AND, UH, IT'S BEEN QUITE A YEAR, UH, I THINK AMONG THE ONLY YEARS WHERE YOU HAVE SERVED, WHERE WE HAVE NOT YET HAD A FEDERALLY DECLARED DISASTER A BLESSING.

SO I'M GRATEFUL FOR THAT.

I WANNA CALL EVERYONE'S ATTENTION TO THE GALVESTON BAY PARK PLAN.

AGAIN, I THINK, UH, WITH COMMISSIONER, UH, ADRIAN GARCIA'S ATTENTION ON THAT IT IS, UH, UH, GAINING NEW TRACTION AND, UH, LOVE TO COMMIT EVERYONE TO THAT WHILE WE FOCUS ON THE ALL IMPORTANT RESILIENCE OF OUR HOUSTON ASTROS.

MAYOR, UH, I HOPE THAT YOU CONSIDER DOING ONE OF THOSE, UH, PUBLIC SERVICE ANNOUNCEMENTS AT THE AIRPORT.

UM, IT WAS REALLY IMPRESSIVE.

YOU MIGHT WANT TO MAYBE CALL THE MAYOR UP THERE AND HAVE HIM SEND YOU WHAT HE HAS.

UH, BUT, UH, IT, IT WAS REALLY IMPRESSIVE.

AND, AND, AND EVEN TO HAVE SOMEBODY LIKE THE CHIEF, YOU KNOW, MAKE A STATEMENT, UH, THAT THAT WOULD REALLY, UH, IT, IT, IT, IT, IT'S JUST REASSURING THAT, THAT, THAT NOT ONLY IS HOUSTON A GREAT PLACE, BUT THAT HE WANTS TO KEEP US SAFE.

AND I APPRECIATE THE, UH, THE, THE CHASE POLICY CHANGING SO WE CAN SAVE LIVES ON THAT.

SEE, I AIN'T HAD NO DISCUSSION ON THAT ITEM, , BUT I DO HAVE A REQUEST.

UM, SO I NEED YOUR ASSISTANCE.

I WOULD LIKE TO RETRIP INTERSECTIONS NEAR SCHOOLS, UM, UH, IN THE DISTRICT.

I HAVE, AND I NOTICED THIS WHEN I WENT TO APHIS D GREEK WEEK, AND A PRINCIPAL SAID, HEY, ARE Y'ALL RESPONSIBLE FOR THOSE INTERSECTIONS? 'CAUSE THEY WERE FADED AND KIDS ARE CROSSING FROM APARTMENTS, WALKING THE SCHOOL.

UM, THEY DON'T RIDE THE BUS THAT THEY CAN WALK.

I THINK IT'S A MILE AND A HALF FROM THE SCHOOL.

SO I'VE REQUESTED THE SCHOOL DISTRICT TO SEND ME A SHORT LIST OF PRIORITY AREAS TO RETRIP BY THE END OF THE YEAR.

SO WHEN THE STUDENTS RETURN IN THE SPRING, UM, EVERYTHING WILL BE VISIBLE WITH, WHICH WOULD ALSO HELP DRIVERS.

UM, SO I WANNA PROVIDE THAT LIST.

UH, MANY OF THEM ARE IN THE COMPLETE COMMUNITIES, BUT I ALSO HAVE PINE PINEY POINT, EMERSON, AND BROWN METAL CHOP, UH, CHARTER THAT WOULD ALSO NEED STRIPPING ON THE FONDANT GENETIC SIDE.

WHY DON'T YOU GET IT TO ME? I WILL THANK YOU MUCH.

SEE HOW MUCH NO DISCUSSION GOES.

YOU SEE HOW FAR THAT GOES WHEN YOU AIN'T GOT NO DISCUSSION.

YOU SEE WHAT YOU CAN DO? ALRIGHT, THANK YOU.

WE'LL HANDLE IT.

COUNCILMAN ALCO.

UM, ON, UH, CHIEF THINNERS REPORT, MAYOR.

YEAH, STRIPING COMES UP.

I JUST PUT IN, UH, SEVERAL REQUESTS.

UH, I, I DO WANT KIND OF AN UPDATE OF WHERE WE ARE.

WE HAD A BACKLOG ON STRIPING, STILL REALLY HARD TO SEE IN A LOT, IN A LOT OF AREAS AROUND TOWN,

[03:55:01]

UM, THAT WAS REALLY GREAT.

UH, I THINK IT IS UPON US TO GO AND TELL THAT STORY.

UH, I WAS AT, I SPOKE AT A BREAKFAST CLUB THIS MORNING AND WAS ABLE TO REPORT, YOU KNOW, OUR, OUR STATS BEFORE THESE STATS AND, AND TALK SOME AROUND ALL THE INITIATIVES THAT HAVE BEEN DONE.

UM, OF COURSE WE KNOW WE NEED ADDITIONAL POLICE.

AND YOU BROUGHT UP AT THE PARKS BOARD LUNCHEON, AND YOU BROUGHT UP TODAY, YOU KNOW, THE, THE COST OF THESE POLICE.

UH, I ASKED CHIEF THINNER IN THE LAST PUBLIC SAFETY MEETING, IF YOU, YOU KNOW, IF WE COULD DO MORE COMMUNITY POLICE, IF YOU COULD BE MORE PROACTIVE, WHAT, WHAT'S YOUR NUMBER? IF, IF MONEY WASN'T AN OBJECT TO HAVE, YOU KNOW, ENOUGH POLICE TO COVER EVERYTHING, PLUS DO SOME PROACTIVE STUFF AND MORE COMMUNITY POLICE, THE NUMBER'S, 2000 POLICE OFFICERS, HE SAID, BUT EVEN 500 WOULD BE GREAT.

IF YOU LOOK AT THE AVERAGE ALL IN COST OF A CLASSIFIED EMPLOYEE, UM, THAT'S SALARY, BENEFITS, PENSION.

THE AVERAGE IS $115,000, RIGHT? GRANTED, THEY DON'T START THERE AND YOU GET $557 MILLION.

SO IT'S REAL MONEY TO TALK ABOUT ADDITIONAL POLICE.

IT'S REAL MONEY.

SO, UM, I JUST APPRECIATED YOUR COMMENTS YESTERDAY ABOUT THE CITY BEING HAMSTRUNG IN A LOT OF AREAS WHERE WE WOULD DEFINITELY, WE KNOW WE NEED TO DO MORE AND WE'D LIKE TO DO MORE, RIGHT? AND, UM, THE COST OF ADDITIONAL, UH, PUBLIC SAFETY PERSONNEL.

THERE, THERE IS A COST, AND IT IS, YOU KNOW, A CIVILIAN EMPLOYEE IS AROUND 80,000 ALL IN, RIGHT? SO, ANYWAY, JUST, UM, JUST TO PUT, UH, YOU KNOW, PEOPLE DO STILL HAVE CONCERNS ABOUT CRIME.

THAT'S, THAT'S LEGITIMATE, RIGHT? UM, BUT IT IS UPON US TO TELL THE STORIES OF, UM, OF THE SUCCESSES THAT WE'RE HAVING BECAUSE THAT PERCEPTION HAS TO CHANGE AND WE HAVE THE NUMBERS TO BACK IT UP.

AND SO I APPRECIATED VERY MUCH THE REPORT TODAY.

STILL HAVE WORK TO DO, OF COURSE, BUT, BUT, UH, THIS IS GOOD NEWS.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH, COUNCILMAN AK.

UM, WE'LL, STICKING WITH THE THEME OF PUBLIC SAFETY, I WANNA INVITE EVERYONE TO OUR ANNUAL PUBLIC SAFETY TOWN HALL MEETING.

IT'LL BE SATURDAY, OCTOBER 28TH AT 11:00 AM IT WILL BE AT SPRING SPIRIT, THIRD CAMPBELL ROAD LOCATION AT 3 9 1 1 CAMPBELL ROAD.

BE FREE BARBECUE LUNCH, THANKS TO THE SPRING BRANCH MANAGEMENT DISTRICT AND ACTIVITIES FOR KIDS.

SO YOU CAN BRING THE WHOLE FAMILY.

UM, SPEAKERS INCLUDE CHIEF FINNER, CHIEF PENA COMMANDERS FROM THE NORTH AND NORTHWEST HPD DIVISIONS.

AND MAYOR.

WE DO WANNA HIGHLIGHT, UM, HOW OUR NUMBERS ARE TRENDING IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION, BUT WE DO, UM, AT THE TOWN HALL WANNA DISCUSS INDIVIDUAL, UM, CRIME CONCERNS THAT WE'RE HAVING IN DISTRICT A THANK YOU.

AND WE RECOGNIZE WE STILL HAVE A LOT OF WORK TO DO.

SO, OKAY.

UH, COUNCILMAN JACKSON.

AND I WANT TO THANK YOU AND VICE MAYOR PRO TIM AND MAYOR PRO TIM MARTIN FOR JOINING US, UM, AT OUR ONE YEAR CELEBRATION FOR BE SUCCESSFUL.

UM, IT WAS A VERY MOVING EXPERIENCE AND A REMINDER OF THE IMPORTANCE OF CREATING OPPORTUNITIES, UM, FOR YOUNG MEN AND WOMEN, AND GOOD PAYING JOBS CAN REALLY TRANSFORM, UM, PEOPLE LIVES.

AND SO, UM, IT WAS A REALLY EXCITING EVENT.

UM, ALSO THE VERY NEXT DAY ON SATURDAY, WE HAD A JOB FAIR AND JOB COMMUNITY RESOURCE FAIR.

WELL, 14 PEOPLE WERE HIRE HIRED.

EXCELLENT.

UM, QUITE A FEW, UM, UM, INTERVIEWS WERE SET UP.

SO IT WAS, WE ARE MOVING IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION.

AND SO I JUST WANNA THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT, DIRECTOR WILLIAMS, UM, FOR HIS SUPPORT, AND JUST ALL THE COMPANIES AND HR JUST FOR, YOU KNOW, LIKE REALLY PARTNERING WITH US TO MOVE THIS PROJECT FORWARD.

SO THANK YOU SO MUCH.

GREAT WORK THAT YOU'RE DOING.

SO THANK YOU.

COUNCILMAN CAYMAN.

AVAILABLE TO ANYONE IN NEED.

UM, I WAS NOT HERE LAST WEEK, SO NORMALLY I GIVE MY, UM, DISTRICT UPDATES, BUT, UH, MY HEART IS STILL VERY HEAVY.

AS MANY, UM, OTHERS IN OUR COMMUNITY CONTINUE TO SEE THE HORRORS THAT ARE UNFOLDING, UM, IN THE MIDDLE EAST.

BUT MAYOR, I WANTED TO THANK YOU.

UM, YOUR WORDS TO THE COMMUNITY, UH, ARE NOTHING SHORT OF EXACTLY WHAT THE HOUSTON COMMUNITY NEEDED TO HEAR, UM, IN BRINGING EVERYONE TOGETHER AND, UH, THE SHOWING OF TRUE LEADERSHIP IN A VERY DIFFICULT TIME WHEN IN THE HOUSTON JEWISH COMMUNITY, THERE'S NOT A SINGLE PERSON, UH, THAT HAS NOT ESCAPED THE PAIN, UH, OR THE IMPACT OF WHAT IS HAPPENING.

UH, I, I WANNA EMPHASIZE FOR THE COMMUNITY THAT NO ONE IS ALONE RIGHT NOW.

UH, THERE'S A LOT OF PEOPLE THAT FEEL ALONE, BUT WHETHER IT'S YOU THAT HAS SPOKEN OUT, OTHER ELECTED OFFICIALS, UM, THE INTERFAITH COMMUNITY, UH, HAS BEEN EXTRAORDINARY IN THEIR OUTPOURING OF SUPPORT.

UH, BUT I WANNA EMPHASIZE TO EVERYONE THAT IT'S OKAY TO NOT BE OKAY RIGHT NOW.

UH, THAT THERE ARE COUNSELING, UH, FREE COUNSELING OPPORTUNITIES

[04:00:01]

UH, I WANNA ENCOURAGE THE PUBLIC, UH, WHOEVER YOU ARE TO NOT, UH, GET SUCKED INTO SOCIAL MEDIA.

THAT THE MISINFORMATION THAT IS TAKING PLACE RIGHT NOW, UM, THE RUSH TO CONCLUSIONS, UH, THE LACK OF FACT CHECKING, UH, TO PLEASE FOLLOW ONLY VERIFIED, TRUSTED NEWS SOURCES AND JOURNALISTS.

UM, EVERYONE IS TRYING TO DO THEIR BEST DURING THIS TIME, BUT THERE IS SO MUCH MISINFORMATION, BOTH INTENTIONALLY AND UNINTENTIONALLY.

UM, SO PLEASE, PLEASE, TO EVERYONE, UH, BE CAREFUL ON SOCIAL MEDIA.

I ALSO WANNA THANK HPD, UM, MAYOR, I SPOKE WITH YOU AND DIRECTLY WITH CHIEF NER.

UM, I REACHED OUT BOTH OF A CONCERN FOR SAFETY, NOT ONLY FOR THE JEWISH COMMUNITY, BUT FOR OUR MUSLIM COMMUNITY.

UM, AND I WANNA EMPHASIZE AS LOUDLY, UM, AND FORCEFULLY AS POSSIBLE THAT, UH, WE IN THIS CITY HAVE ABSOLUTELY NO TOLERANCE FOR HATE BIGOTRY, WHETHER THAT'S ANTISEMITISM, ISLAMOPHOBIA, OR ANY FORM OF HATE.

UM, HPD HAS DONE AN INCREDIBLE JOB, NOT ONLY PROVIDING RESOURCES FOR, UH, JEWISH INSTITUTIONS AT THIS TIME, BUT ALSO FOR OUR MUSLIM INSTITUTIONS.

AND I HAVE PERSONALLY REACHED OUT, UM, TO OUR PARTNERS IN THE MUSLIM COMMUNITY, UH, IN DISTRICT C SPECIFICALLY.

BUT MY MESSAGE TO EVERYONE, UM, IS TO HAVE COMPASSION.

REACH OUT AND CHECK ON YOUR FRIENDS RIGHT NOW.

UH, BUT DO NOT GIVE INTO FEAR.

DO NOT GIVE INTO HATE.

UH, WE ARE ALL IN THIS TOGETHER.

UH, BUT MAYOR, FOR ME PERSONALLY, I'LL END WITH AMRI HIGH.

THANK YOU SO VERY MUCH.

UH, COUNCIL MEMBER EVAN SHABBAT.

A LITTLE OF THAT IN VIEW OF THE FACT THAT IT'S GOING TO BE, UH, TORN DOWN AND REBUILT.

ON LAST FRIDAY, OCTOBER THE 13TH, WHICH HAPPENED TO HAVE BEEN MY BIRTHDAY, I, UH, STARTED OUT MY DAY WITH THE DOGS.

WE HAD A WONDERFUL RIBBON CUTTING AT THE MCWILLIAMS DOG PARK IN HERMAN PARK, AND I WANT TO THANK, UH, DOREEN STOLLER AND THE HERMAN PARK AND CONSERVANCY, AND CERTAINLY LAURA AND BRAD MCWILLIAMS, WHO GAVE THE INITIAL $1 MILLION DONATION TO THE PARK.

IT OFFERS AN OPPORTUNITY TO BRING YOUR DOG UNLEASH.

THEY HAVE SEPARATION AREAS FOR SEPARATE AREAS, RATHER FOR SMALL DOGS AND LARGE DOGS.

AND SO, I DON'T KNOW, AND I PROBABLY HAVE SHARED THIS A MILLION TIMES, MY GRANDFATHER, WHO ALSO WAS THE FORMER PRESIDENT OF PRAIRIE VIEW A AND M UNIVERSITY, WAS THE FIRST BLACK VETERINARIAN IN THE STATE OF TEXAS.

AND SO I THINK I HAVE A LITTLE DOG, CAT, ANIMAL, DNA SOMEWHERE, BUT CERTAINLY I LOVE ANIMALS.

I HAVE TWO OF WHICH I CALL HIGHEST 50 SEVENS.

I HAVE NO CLUE WHO THEIR PARENTS ARE, BUT AT ANY RATE, I LOVE THEM JUST THE SAME.

BUT THE DOG PARK IS AN OPERATION FROM TUESDAY TO SUNDAY FROM 6:00 AM TO 11:00 PM THERE'S FREE PARKING.

SO TAKE YOUR DOG OVER THERE AND HAVE A GREAT TIME.

IT'S JUST A WONDERFUL SERENE AREA.

AND I ALSO WANNA THANK, UH, CENTER POINT FOR WORKING WITH US AS WELL TO GET TO MOVE FORWARD IN THAT PROJECT.

ALSO ON, UH, OH, AND ALSO I HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO SEE THE FAMILY OF PERRY ROFF.

I DON'T KNOW IF ANYONE KNOWS PERRY ROFF, BUT HE WAS A WONDERFUL PERSON.

UH, HE WAS A MEMBER OF THE NAACP EDUCATION COMMITTEE WHI, WHICH I CHAIRED.

AND HE HAD A GREAT, GREAT PUSH TO TRY TO GET CAMERAS AND APARTMENT COMPLEXES FOR THEM TO BE REQUIRED SO THAT OUR STUDENTS MAY NOT HAVE TO SEE ALL OF THE VIOLENT THINGS THAT THAT HAPPEN IN, IN APARTMENTS, BECAUSE IT AFFECTS THEIR ABILITY TO LEARN.

AND SO THAT WAS SOMETHING THAT WE CAME AND ACTUALLY SPOKE TO SOME COUNCIL MEMBERS ABOUT SEVERAL YEARS AGO.

BUT HE HAS SINCE PASSED.

BUT I STILL THINK THAT IT'S A WORTHY EFFORT FOR US TO PURSUE.

UH, ALSO, UH, I WANT TO THANK THE ALPHA KAPPA ALPHA, ALPHA KAPPA OMEGA CHAPTER, UM, AND THE OMEGAS THAT CAME OUT THIS PAST SATURDAY FOR SHREDDING AN E RECYCLE EVENT.

IT'S VERY IMPORTANT THAT WE TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THESE EVENTS.

WE HAVE A TIME WHERE PEOPLE ARE STEALING YOUR IDENTITY.

AND SO EVEN THE SMALLEST DOCUMENT YOU NEED TO BRING, BECAUSE SOMETIMES IT IS NOT DISPOSED OF PROPERLY IN YOUR HOMES AND IN YOUR TRASH RECEPTACLES, AND PEOPLE GET YOUR INFORMATION, AND THEN NEXT YOU, UH, FIND OUT THAT THEY ARE IN YOUR BANK ACCOUNT.

SO THOSE ARE VERY IMPORTANT.

ALSO, I PARTICIPATED IN A STAKEHOLDERS MEETING FOR THE IMPROVEMENTS FOR THE SUNNYSIDE PARK.

WE ARE CERTAINLY LOOKING FORWARD, THEY'RE MOVING FORWARD FOCUSING ON THE PARK DESIGN AND THE MASTER PLAN, WONDERFUL OPPORTUNITY FOR THE COMMUNITY TO GIVE THEIR ENGAGEMENT AT, AT SOME POINT.

AND SO, UM, WE ARE LOOKING FORWARD TO THE REBUILDING OF THAT COMMUNITY CENTER.

WE STILL ALSO THANK, UH, CONGRESSMAN AL GREEN FOR HIS, UH, DONATION TO THE ROOF.

BUT WE ARE TRYING TO SEE IF WE CAN KINDA REALLOCATE

[04:05:01]

UH, I HAVE SPOKEN WITH HIS OFFICE TO SEE IF THERE'S SOMETHING WE CAN DO FOR THAT EARMARKED MONEY, BECAUSE THEY STILL NEED REPAIRS TO THE ROOF, RIGHT? BUT, YOU KNOW, I DON'T KNOW IF THAT WOULD BE THE MOST, UH, FRUGAL USE IF THEY'RE GONNA TEAR IT DOWN.

BUT CERTAINLY IT'S, IT'S THE NEED OF REPAIR AND OTHER AMENITIES NEED TO BE, UH, REPAIRED AS ALL AS WELL.

AND SO CERTAINLY, I I, I WANT TO AGAIN, GET MY CONDOLENCES TO MY COLLEAGUE, UH, UH, EDWARD POLLARD FOR, UH, WE HAD THE HOMEGOING CELEBRATION FOR HIS MOTHER.

AND, UM, HE'S CERTAINLY MISSED HERE, BUT WE CERTAINLY UNDERSTAND THAT IT TAKES TIME FOR HIM TO BE ABLE TO GATHER HIMSELF AS WELL.

BEEN THERE, DONE THAT.

AND SO I ALSO WANT, I HAVE TO, I WANNA MAKE SURE THAT, THAT PEOPLE SIGN UP WITH THE CIRCUIT APP.

UH, I HAVE TALKED TO METRO REGARDING KEEPING THAT RIDE PROGRAM GOING.

IT'S SO HELPFUL TO THE STUDENTS AND TO THE PEOPLE IN THAT COMMUNITY WHO CAN GET TO HEB OR SOME OF THE OTHER AREAS WITHOUT COST.

AND SO IF YOU ARE IN LISTENING, THEN DOWNLOAD THE CIRCUIT APP.

UH, WE HAVE CERTAINLY CONTRIBUTED COUNCIL DISTRICT SERVICE FUNDS TO KEEP IT MOVING, UH, IN THE INTERIM.

BUT CERTAINLY THAT'S A WONDERFUL THING.

AND THE RIDERSHIP CAN MAKE A TREMENDOUS DIFFERENCE IN OUR PLEA WITH METRO TO CONTINUE THAT.

AND SO, CERTAINLY, FINALLY, MAYOR, I KNOW THAT WE ARE WAITING ON THE MONEY FROM THE FEDERAL INFRASTRUCTURE, UH, BILL AND CERTAINLY, UH, UH, THANKS, THANKS TO COUNCIL.

THEY APPROVED THE AMENDMENT I PUT FORTH REGARDING HELPING US WHEN WE GET THAT MONEY TO REDUCE THESE WATER BILLS FOR PEOPLE.

BUT CERTAINLY MAYOR, PEOPLE ARE BEING JUST, I, I MEAN, I'M GETTING CALLS DAILY.

I MEAN, I HAVE PEOPLE IN SINGLE HOMES THAT ARE GETTING $1,400 WATER BILLS.

AND SO CERTAINLY MAYOR, I, I KNOW THAT THEY, YOU'RE, YOU'RE SAYING THEY SHOULD APPEAL, BUT I AM APPEALING TO WHOEVER THAT CAN HELP THESE PEOPLE BECAUSE IN THE INTERIM, THEY HAVE TO PAY THESE BILLS OR WORK IT OUT.

AND SO I DON'T KNOW IF IT'S SOMETHING WE CAN LOOK AT.

AND THANK YOU.

AND SORRY FOR PASSING THE BAIL.

NO, THEY SHOULD, THEY SHOULD REACH OUT.

THEY SHOULD REACH OUT TO THE PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT.

OH, IF THEY'VE GOT A BILL THAT'S SUBSTANTIALLY HIGHER THAN THEIR NORMAL MONTHLY BILL, THEY SHOULD BRING THAT TO OUR ATTENTION.

AND WE DO HAVE A RIBBON CUTTING AT THE GRIMES PARK THIS FRIDAY, MAYOR, THAT THIS COMING FRIDAY AT 10:30 AM I THINK YOU'RE GONNA BE PRESENT.

UH, THANK YOU FOR THOSE IMPROVEMENTS.

AND I HAVE APPROVED ADDITIONAL FUNDING FOR THE RIDE PROGRAM, SO THAT THAT HAS BEEN APPROVED.

THANK YOU, MAYOR .

COUNCIL MEMBER CISNEROS.

KNOW, YOU DON'T KNOW IF IT'S GONNA, THEY'RE GONNA DO THE RIGHT THING.

I WANTED TO BEGIN WITH A, A, A PERSONAL THANK YOU, UM, FOR ME TO COUNCIL MEMBERS WHO, UM, COLLECTIVELY SENT ME A, A BEAUTIFUL PLANT AND A, UM, A, A FRUIT BASKET, YOU KNOW, MEMORY OF MY MOTHER WHO PASSED AWAY PEACEFULLY, SURROUNDED BY ALL OF US ON SEPTEMBER 27TH, UM, AT THE AGE OF 92.

SO IT WAS, UM, UH, IT WAS, IT'S BEEN REALLY, YOU KNOW, A POWERFUL MOMENT IN OUR LIVES TO LOSE HER.

UM, HER CELEBRATION OF LIFE WILL BE IN NO, ON, ON NOVEMBER 11TH IN NEW ORLEANS.

SO THAT'S STILL COMING.

UM, BUT THANK YOU.

I REALLY, UM, I'M VERY TOUCHED BY ALL OF YOU.

AND, UM, I WANTED TO KINDA GET BACK TO THE, THE REPORT FROM, UM, CHIEF NER AND JUST TO AGAIN, SAY THANK YOU FOR THE, THE HELP HE'S GIVEN DISTRICT H AND, AND, UM, IN FOLLOWING UP WITH THE, UM, THE DISPLACEMENT OF SOME OF THE PROSTITUTION AND THE, UM, BINET QUARTER THAT HAS, UM, FOUND ITS WAY INTO THE NORTHLINE AREA OF DISTRICT H AND, AND THE VERY EFFECTIVE, UM, RESPONSE WE'VE GOTTEN FROM, FROM YOU MARIN, THE, AND THE CHIEF AND, AND HPD TO, UM, BE ADDRESSING THAT AND TAMPING THAT DOWN, THAT THE RESIDENTS ARE SEEING THE DIFFERENCE.

UM, THERE WERE, THERE'S BEEN A SERIES OF COMMUNITY MEETINGS THAT THERE WILL BE ONE FRIDAY MORNING, UM, COACHING WITH A COP THIS FRIDAY, OCTOBER 20TH FROM EIGHT TO 10 O'CLOCK AT, UM, THE ERRANDS BANKY ON AIRLINE.

SO, UM, PLEASE CONTINUE TO STAY ENGAGED WITH US AS WE, WE WORK TO ADDRESS THIS, THIS PROBLEM.

AND THEN, UM, I WANTED TO, TO GET BACK TO, UM, ANOTHER THING THAT WAS IN YOUR REPORT THIS, THIS MORNING, MAYOR, UM, ABOUT HOUSTON BEING NAMED ONE OF THE SEVEN ENERGY HUBS IN THE NATION TO RECEIVE, UM, UH, VERY SIGNIFICANT FEDERAL FUNDING, UM, THAT IS BEING DRIVEN BY THE ENERGY TRANSITION THAT IS UNDERWAY.

AND I WANTED TO RECOGNIZE YOUR ADVOCACY, YOU KNOW, FOR HIGHLIGHTING HOUSTON, UM, HERE AND ABROAD AND, AND YOUR, UM, TRADE MISSIONS IS, IS REALLY, YOU KNOW, HIGHLIGHTING HOUSTON AS THE ENERGY CAPITAL OF THE WORLD.

THAT'S ALL PLAYED INTO IT.

AND IT, THIS IS, THIS IS SO IMPORTANT FOR HOUSTON, AND I MEAN, IT WAS SUCH A NATURAL FIT, BUT WE, YOU

[04:10:01]

AND THEY DID BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, UM, WE ARE SO POSITIONED TO, UM, TO, TO BE VERY SUCCESSFUL PRODUCERS OF, OF, OF HYDROGEN ENERGY AND, AND, UM, AND REALLY, YOU KNOW, TO THE, THE, TO YOUR CREDIT, ME, THANK YOU FOR ALL THAT.

AND THAT'S IT FOR ME.

AND WE CONTINUE TO LIFT YOU UP AND YOUR FAMILY, UH, 'CAUSE I KNOW YOU ALL ARE HAVING YOUR, THAT, UH, FINAL TRANSITION CEREMONY ON NOVEMBER THE 11TH IN NEW ORLEANS.

SO WE CONTINUE TO LIFT YOU UP.

UM, UM, CONTINUE TO LIFT UP COUNCIL MEMBER POLLARD AS WELL.

UM, UM, THESE ARE NOT EASY TIMES, UM, BUT OF VIEW US AS AN EXTENDED FAMILY.

UM, IN MY CLOSING COMMENTS, I DO WANT TO THANK ALL OF YOU WHO CAME OUT TO THE IMPROV LAST WEEK.

UM, MARTA WAS TERRIFIC, , UM, UH, VERY, VERY FUNNY.

SO THANK YOU, MARTA.

YOU'RE WELCOME.

UM, UH, AND THEN THANK ALL OF YOU.

AS A RESULT, OVER $12,000 WERE, WAS RAISED FOR THE CMC UH, PROGRAM.

I WANT TO THANK ALL OF THE ORGANIZERS, UH, JANICE WEAVER, REBECCA WILLIAMS, VERONICA, UH, WEATHERSPOON, AND ALL OF THE CITY EMPLOYEES WHO CAME OUT AND PURCHASED TICKETS AND CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS, EVERYONE.

SO LET ME THANK YOU ALL, UH, FOR A FANTASTIC, UM, UH, EVENING.

UH, LET ME JUST SIMPLY ALSO SAY, UM, UM, WE ARE ONE DIVERSE, INCLUSIVE CITY.

THESE ARE TOUGH TIMES THAT WE ARE LIVING THROUGH RIGHT NOW.

UM, WE ARE CERTAINLY IMPACTED BY EVERYTHING THAT'S TAKING PLACE, UH, AROUND THE GLOBE IN THE MIDDLE EAST.

UM, AND BECAUSE WE HAVE PEOPLE HERE THAT COME FROM EVERYWHERE.

AND SO, UH, BUT LET ME, LET ME ENCOURAGE, UH, HOUSTONIANS, UH, TO BE LOVING TOWARDS ONE ANOTHER.

UH, TO BE COMPASSIONATE, TO BE UNDERSTANDING, YES.