[Press Conference: "50/50 Park Ribbon Cutting - Winzer Park"]
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ALL RIGHT.WELL, I'M KENNETH ALLEN, THE DIRECTOR OF THE HOUSTON PARKS RECREATION DEPARTMENT, AND IT'S JUST A PLEASURE TO BE WITH YOU ALL TODAY.
IT'S A BEAUTIFUL DAY FOR US JUST TO GET TOGETHER AND CELEBRATE THE REVITALIZED WINDSOR PARK.
HOW ABOUT A HAND FOR THAT? AND AS OUR MAYOR, AS OUR MAYOR WOULD SAY, IN THE FOFO ACRES, HOME COMPLETE COMMUNITIES.
SO, UH, BEFORE WE REALLY GET STARTED, I'D JUST LIKE TO RECOGNIZE THE WINDOR FAMILY, MRS. LARA WINDSOR, LARA WINDSOR, AND HER SON, COREY WINDSOR, AND ALL THE FAMILY MEMBERS THAT ARE HERE TODAY.
NOW, TODAY, IT ACTUALLY CONTINUES TO HONOR MRS. WINDSOR'S, LATE, LATE HUSBAND, HPD OFFICER ANDRE UN, EXCUSE ME, ANDREW WINDSOR, WHO THIS PARK WAS NAMED AFTER IN 1988.
YOU KNOW, AT THIS TIME, I'D JUST LIKE FOR US, ALL GUESTS THAT ARE SEATED TO STAND, PLEASE.
WE WILL HAVE, UH, THE PRESENTATION OF COLORS BY THE HOUSTON POLICE DEPARTMENT UNDER GUARD AT THIS TIME, ALL OFFICERS IN COLORS AND HUH ALL OFFICERS IN COLORS FREEZE AND ARMED.
NOW WE'LL HAVE A WOMAN IN SILENCE FOR OFFICER WINTER.
ALL THAT WAS IN COLORS ORDER ART.
HPD COLOGUARD AND COMMANDER BRANDY OSA.
NOW, IT GIVES US AND GIVES ME GREAT HONOR TO BEGIN THIS PROGRAM INTRODUCING OUR NEXT SPEAKER, WHO IS AN UNDENIABLE SUPPORTER OF PARKS AND COMMUNITY UNDER HIS ADMINISTRATION.
OVER THE LAST EIGHT YEARS, THERE'S BEEN COUNTLESS OF PROJECTS IN COMMUNITIES THAT NEED IT MOST.
FROM OUR LARGE SIGNATURE PROJECTS, TO OUR NEIGHBORHOOD PROJECTS, TO PROJECTS THAT IMPACT POCKET PARKS AND NEIGHBORHOOD PARKS, SUCH AS THIS ONE.
WITHOUT FURTHER ADO, I'D LIKE TO HONOR AND BRING UP MY BOSS AND YOUR BOSS, THE HONORABLE MAYOR, SYLVESTER TURNER.
LOOK, WHAT A, WHAT A GREAT DAY TO BE OUT HERE IN EXPRESS HOME, THE NORTH SIDE, THE FOFO.
UH, TODAY, UH, LET ME START OFF BY ACKNOWLEDGING THE DIRECTOR OF PARKS AND, UH, RICK, UH, KENNETH ALLEN, WHO HAS DONE A TREMENDOUS JOB.
GIVE IT UP TO DIRECTOR ALLEN AND FACT, UH, EVERYONE THAT'S WITH, UH, PARKS AND REC.
IF YOU'LL JUST KINDA SHOW YOUR HANDS.
LET ME, LET ME, LET ME JUST SAY, UH, I MEAN, YOU ALL, YOU ALL HAVE DONE THIS.
UM, I MEAN, I, I'VE BEEN OUT THE PARK OUT THIS PARK A NUMBER OF TIMES.
UH, THE IMPROVEMENTS, THE ENHANCEMENTS, UH, THE, THE WORK THAT Y'ALL HAVE PUT INTO THIS PARK REALLY, REALLY, UH, STANDS OUT.
AND FROM THE VERY BEGINNING, I WANT TO SAY THANK YOU, UH, FOR DOING A TREMENDOUS JOB.
GIVE IT UP TO PARKS AND REC ONE MORE TIME, AND, UH, UH, LET ME CERTAINLY ACKNOWLEDGE THE WINSOR FAMILY, UH, EACH AND THERE.
MS. WINDSOR, GOOD TO SEE YOU AGAIN.
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ALL THE SIBLINGS AND THE GRANDKIDS, I MEAN, THE WHOLE CLAN.YOU KNOW, UM, LEMME JUST SAY, YOU KNOW, YOU, YOU ALL CONTINUE TO BE IN OUR HEARTS, OUR PRAYERS, OUR THOUGHTS.
AND SO, UH, JUST THANK YOU ALL FOR BEING STEADFAST AND, UH, AND A SMILE.
OKAY? AND AS WE REMEMBER, OFFICER WINDOR, UH, CERTAINLY WANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE, UH, CHIEF NER AND, UH, BEING ALL THE OFFICERS WHO ARE HERE, YOU KNOW, I'M GONNA GIVE ME ONE OF THOSE UNIFORMS. Y'ALL ARE, Y'ALL LOOK PRETTY GOOD IN THEM UNIFORMS. YOU KNOW HOW I'M GONNA COME OUT HERE BEFORE THE YEARS? I'LL BE WEARING ONE OF THEM UNIFORMS.
BUT LOOK, THANK, THANK EACH AND EVERY ONE OF YOU FOR EVERYTHING THAT YOU ALL DO.
YOU ALL REPRESENT THE OTHER 5,200 POLICE OFFICERS THAT WE HAVE.
AND SO GIVE ANOTHER THANKS TO HPD.
OKAY, DOUG, GOOD TO SEE YOU IN BACK.
YOU DON'T HAVE YOUR UNIFORM ON.
YOU KNOW,
AND NEXT TO HIM IS DIRECTOR CJ MESSIAH FROM GHD, WHO HELPED BUILD ALL OF THESE FACILITIES.
AND THEN I WANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE WHAT DIRECTOR SHANNON, DIRECTOR SHANNON BUGS OF COMPLETE COMMUNITIES.
WE'VE TAKEN SOME OF HER MONEY FROM COMMUNITY COMMUNITIES TO MAKE THIS HAPPEN.
SO THANK YOU, SHANNON, FOR YOUR CONTRIBUTION.
YOU KNOW, AND, AND THEN OF COURSE, A COUNCIL MEMBER THAT'S BEEN WITH ME AT SO MANY OF THESE PARK DEDICATIONS THROUGHOUT THE CITY OF HOUSTON, UH, AT LARGE, MEMBER COUNCIL MEMBER SALLY ALCORN.
AND THEN OF COURSE YOU ALL KNOW, UH, THE PERSON FROM DC HOUSTON, HOUSTON, DC,
AND THAT'S NONE OTHER THAN CON THE CONGRESSWOMAN SHEILA JACKSON LEE OF THE 18TH CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT.
SHE'S FAMILIAR, QUITE FAMILIAR WITH THIS PARK.
AND THEN MY CITY ATTORNEY, YOU CAN'T DO ANYTHING WITHOUT THE ATTORNEY.
OKAY? YOU GOT, YOU HAVE TO HAVE THE ATTORNEY SOMEWHERE CLOSE.
ARTUR MICHELLE, PLEASE GIVE IT UP TO HIM.
AND THEN MY DEPUTY CHIEF OF STAFF, WALTER HAMRICK, IS HERE.
SO LOOK, WE GOT A NUMBER OF CITY, UH, UH, EMPLOYEES, DIRECTORS WHO ARE HERE THAT REALLY, UH, SHOWCASE THE IMPORTANCE OF THIS PARTICULAR DAY.
LOOK, IT'S A PLEASURE TO JOIN YOU.
THIS, THIS MORNING, UH, IN MY HOOD, UM, A A A ACRES HOME.
UH, IN DISTRICT B, COUNCIL MEMBER TASHA JACKSON'S DISTRICT, SHE'S NOT HERE AT THE TIME, BUT PLEASE GIVE IT UP TO COUNCIL MEMBER TASHA JACKSON.
AND AGAIN, I, I, WELL, I'VE ALREADY ACKNOWLEDGED ALL THE DIRECTOR, SO I WENT OFF SCRIPT.
UH, I WANT TO ALSO RECOGNIZE LETICIA GRANT, UH, PRESIDENT OF THE ACRE HOME SUPER NEIGHBORHOOD FOR ALL OF HER SUPPORT IN THIS AREA TO UPLIFT OUR COMMUNITY.
WHERE'S LETICIA GRANT? THANK YOU.
AND, UH, AND SO LET ME, UH, TO MS. WINDSOR, YOU HAVE MY FULLEST GRATITUDE FOR THE SERVICE OF YOUR HUSBAND, OFFICER ANDREW WINDSOR, WHO PROVIDED TO OUR CITY WITH, UH, THE SERVICE TO HPD.
AND HIS MEMORY TODAY, OFFICER WINDSOR'S MEMORY WILL CONTINUE TO LIVE ON THROUGH THIS PARK'S RENEWAL AND BRING JOY TO THOSE WHO VISITED THIS PROJECT.
ALSO, COMMEMORATES ANOTHER MILESTONE FOR OUR GREAT CITY AS PART OF THE 50 50 PARK PARTNERS INITIATIVE, WHICH SIGNIFICANT INVESTMENTS INTO NEIGHBORHOOD PARKS IN UNDER-RESOURCED COMMUNITIES, PARKS AND GREEN SPACES ARE SO IMPORTANT TO THE HEALTH AND BEAUTY OF OUR COMMUNITIES.
AND EVERY COMMUNITY NEEDS A THRIVING PARK.
AND THAT'S WHY THE PUBLIC, UH, WE, WE INVESTED, UH, IN THIS 50 50 INITIATIVE OF WHICH TO $14 MILLION TO REVAMP MANY OF OUR PARKS IN OUR CITY.
THIS PARTICULAR PROJECT IS UNIQUE BECAUSE THE PARK
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PARTNERS ARE CITY DEPARTMENTS WHICH HAVE JOINED TOGETHER TO DELIVER THE MUCH DESERVED IMPROVEMENTS TO WINDSOR PARK, THE HOUSING AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT, AND THE HOUSTON PARKS AND RECREATION DEPARTMENT, ALONG WITH THE GENERAL SERVICES DEPARTMENT.AND WHAT THAT MEANS, OFTENTIMES WE PARTNER WITH PEOPLE OUTSIDE OF THE CITY FOR THESE IMPROVEMENTS.
WE PARTNER WITH DEPARTMENTS A PART OF THE CITY OF HOUSTON.
AND THAT'S WHY YOU SEE ALL OF THESE DIRECTORS WHO ARE HERE WITH US TODAY.
IT'S ONE OF THOSE UNIQUE COLLABORATIVE PARTNERSHIPS OF FAMILY DEPARTMENTS PARTNERING TOGETHER.
AND LET ME TELL YOU, I AM SO PROUD OF YOU ALL BECAUSE, UM, BECAUSE THIS PARK LOOKS PRETTY GOOD,
AND THROUGH A COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT BLOCK, GRANT FACILITATED OUR HOUSING DEPARTMENT, COUPLED WITH OUR PARKS DEPARTMENT FUNDING AND COMPLETE COMMUNITIES, WE HAVE INVESTED MORE THAN $2.6 MILLION HERE IN WINDSOR PARK.
OUR COMMUNITY MEMBERS WILL BE ABLE TO ENJOY A FEATURE SUCH AS A NEW SPRAY GROUND, THE NEW EXERCISE AREA WITH SHADE, UH, SAILS, NEW PICNIC AREA AND PICNIC SHELTER, WIDER WALKING PAST RESURFACE TENNIS COURT.
NOW, IF ANYBODY GOT ANY GAME, JUST COME SEE ME.
YOU KNOW, YOU KNOW,
NEW FENCING AND SITE FURNISHINGS, UPGRADED LIGHTING AND LANDSCAPING, IMPROVED DRAINAGE AND DETENTION WITHIN THE PARK.
ADDITIONALLY, THE PARK PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT IS WORKING ON A $2 MILLION DRAINAGE IMPROVEMENT PROJECT AROUND THE PARK THAT IS EXPECTED TO BE COMPLETED BY YEAR END.
SO, MS. WILLIAMS, WE ARE NOT FINISHED WITH THIS PARK YET.
UH, THE COMMUNITY WILL NOTICE NEW GREEN INFRASTRUCTURE IMPROVEMENTS, INCLUDING POROUS CONCRETE SIDEWALKS THAT ABSOLVE RAIN WATER TO HELP MITIGATE FLOODING THE PROJECT.
AND I FORGOT TO MENTION JANICE WEAVER, MY FAITH-BASED COMMUNITY SERVICE DIRECTOR, JANICE WEAVER, THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE.
I NEED YOU TO DO SOMETHING FOR ME AFTER WE FINISH.
SO, YOU KNOW, THAT'S WHY I RECOGNIZE YOU.
'CAUSE I GOT SOMETHING FOR YOU.
THIS PROJECT WILL ALSO PROVIDE PATHWAYS.
NOW, DIG THIS, THIS PROJECT WILL ALSO PROVIDE PATHWAYS TO CONNECT WINDSOR PARK.
TO THAT, THAT, UH, PARK DOWN THE STREET, THE SYLVESTER TURNER PARK,
HEY, AND WE
AND THE PARKS DEPARTMENT WILL CONTINUE TO OPERATE AND MAINTAIN THE PARK FOR THE BENEFIT OF OUR COMMUNITY MEMBERS.
AND WE ALSO WANT THE COMMUNITY TO CONTINUE THEIR STEWARDSHIP OF THIS WELL LOVED GATHERING PLACE.
WHAT THAT MEANS, YOU SEE THE NEW GRASS UHHUH, TALK TO US, PLEASE.
ALL THE NEW LANDSCAPING, PLEASE TALK TO US.
WE CAN'T BE CHASING THOSE HORSES.
NOW, WHEEL FOUR WHEEL OVER THE WEEKEND, YES, Y'ALL HAD THE MAYOR CHASING THEM HORSES,
YOU ARE TEAR IT UP IF, IF THE HORSES COME IN AND THE FOUR WHEELERS COME IN.
SO PLEASE, PLEASE, WE WANT PEOPLE TO ENJOY.
BUT THIS IS FOR THE KIDS, THE FAMILIES, OKAY? NOT FOR THE HORSES.
WE ARE BUILDING ANOTHER PLACE FOR THE HORSES,
WINSOR PARK, WE'LL CONTINUE TO THRIVE AND SERVE AS A PLACE FOR FAMILIES AND NEIGHBORHOODS.
AND SO I WANT TO THANK EVERYONE.
UM, LOOK, WE'RE GETTING IT DONE BEFORE DECEMBER 31ST, 1159.
THE LAST PART, WE ARE DEDICATING GONNA BE AT 1158 AT NIGHT IN
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THE LIGHTS.BUT WE ARE GOING TO GET IT DONE.
BUT AGAIN, TO ALL OF THE DEPARTMENTS, UH, TO PARTS AND REC IN PARTICULAR, AS I TOLD THE EMPLOYEES, I MEAN, YOU ALL DID THIS.
I, I, I HAVE TO GIVE IT TO Y'ALL.
AND SO THANK YOU ALSO VERY, VERY MUCH.
AND THIS, AT THIS TIME, IT'S MY PLEASURE TO BRING UP ANOTHER PERSON FROM HOUSTON, NOT NECESSARILY FROM THIS HOOD
OKAY? AND THAT'S NOTHING OTHER THAN CHIEF, CHIEF
SO WE'RE GONNA GET MARRIED, WE'RE GONNA GET YOU A UNIFORM, OKAY?
BUT, UH, REALLY, REALLY QUICKLY.
AND I, I WANT HIS PARTNERS AND OUR UNION STEP UP IN FRONT OF THE UNIFORM.
UH, AFTER STEP ON, UP, STEP ON UP.
FIRST OF ALL, RIGHT THERE Y'ALL COME.
YOU GOTTA STAND TO THE RIGHT OF JUST A LITTLE BIT.
'CAUSE YOU, YOU KNOW, YOU'RE KIND OF SHORT.
SO FIRST OF ALL, THANK YOU FOR THE FAMILIES.
ALL OF US HAVE TO GO THAT ROUTE.
BUT YOUR LEGACY LIVES FOREVER.
AND MAYOR, THANK YOU FOR YOUR VISION DIRECTOR KEN ALLEN AND EVERYBODY THAT'S PARTICIPATED IN, IN MAKING THIS A REALITY.
GREEN SPACE AND THE OTHER DIRECTORS, BUT MOST IMPORTANTLY TO THE FAMILY, 121 HAVE DIED IN THE LINE OF DUTY.
UHHUH, OFFICER WINDSOR DIED IN THE LINE OF DUTY 19 88, 35 YEARS AGO.
THE BEAUTY OF THIS CITY, THE BEAUTY OF THIS DEPARTMENT, THE BEAUTY OF THIS ADMINISTRATION, WE NEVER FORGET.
RIGHT? AND I WANT TO GO JUST 30 SECONDS INTO HIS LEGACY.
THESE MEN FOR 35 YEARS AGO ARE STANDING FAMILY MEMBERS.
I GOT AT LEAST TWO SETS OF BROTHER-IN-LAWS.
I DON'T THINK THEY COMING AROUND TO SEE ME.
WE GOT BROTHER-IN-LAWS HERE THAT SPEAKS TO WHO HE IS.
BUT HE WAS A PAL OFFICER ALONG WITH BEING A PATROL OFFICER, ALONG WITH BEING A PERSON THAT PUT PEOPLE IN JAIL.
HE EVEN BOUGHT PAL KIDS TO HIS OWN HOME.
AND TO SEE HIS SON HERE, HIS GRANDKIDS, IT IS AMAZING.
SO I'M JUST PROUD AS A CHIEF BECAUSE THAT LEGACY GOES ON.
AND THE ONLY THING I ASK YOU TO DO AS A FAMILY, AS A COMMUNITY, RESPECT THIS PART.
RESPECT ALL PARTS, RESPECT THE LEGACY, WHO HE WAS AND WHAT HE STOOD FOR.
SO GRANDKIDS, WHEN YOU HAVE KIDS, YOU PASS THAT MESSAGE ON TO YOUR GRAND, TO THEIR GRANDKIDS, AND IT JUST GOES ON AND ON.
BUT THE FINAL THING I WANT TO SAY, LOVE THIS GREAT CITY.
BUT THERE'S A TIME AND PLACE FOR EVERYTHING.
THIS MAN DIED IN LINE OF DUTY.
FOUR WHEELERS, HORSES, EVERYBODY GOT THEY PLATES.
THIS IS A FAMILY PART AND I'M PROUD OF IT TODAY.
AND, UH, THE WIFE, THANK YOU SO MUCH.
WE STANDING HERE, OKAY? THANK YOU FOR THIS ENTIRE FAMILY.
I'VE HAD THE PLEASURE OF KNOWING THE CHIEF FOR MOST OF MY ADULT LIFE.
SO BECAUSE HE IS GOT A PASSION FOR THIS COMMUNITY, HE'S GOT A PASSION FOR FIGHTING CRIME AND HE'S GOT A PASSION FOR OUR YOUTH.
YOU KNOW, HAVING HPD JOIN US IN THIS CAMPAIGN TO KEEP PARK SAFE AND CLEAN IS TRULY, TRULY AMAZING.
YOU GUYS WILL SEE B BILLBOARDS PLASTERED ACROSS THE CITY ABOUT TAKING CARE OF OUR PARKS.
REALLY APPRECIATE YOU NOT ONLY PARTNERING IN TERMS OF FIGHTING CRIME AND BEEN A WATCHDOG, BUT OUR CHIEF HAS ALSO PARTNERED WITH H PARK IN TERMS OF OUR PAL PROGRAM IN PARKS.
HE'S DEDICATED OFFICERS IN 15, 16 DIFFERENT LOCATIONS THAT ARE OUT WORKING WITH FAMILIES, WORKING WITH KIDS.
SO I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR THAT AS WELL.
AND MAYOR, WHEN I TOOK THIS CHAIR, YOU TOLD ME WE'RE GONNA WORK TOGETHER AND WE'RE GONNA GET THINGS DONE.
SO I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR HAVING THAT VISION OF BRINGING US ALL TOGETHER.
'CAUSE THAT'S HOW WE ACCOMPLISH THIS TODAY.
YOU KNOW, IN TERMS OF THE POLICE DEPARTMENT, IN TERMS OF HOUSING AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT, IN TERMS OF GSD GENERAL SERVICES, I HAVE THREE,
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FOUR PARTNERS RIGHT HERE THAT I'LL TAKE WITH ME ANYWHERE TO DO ANYTHING.SO OUR, OUR NEXT SPEAKER, YOU KNOW, WHEN YOU TALK ABOUT COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT, WHEN YOU TALK ABOUT COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT WORK, TIRELESSLY TO HELP US REVITALIZE THIS SPACE ON A CALL TO THE PODIUM DIRECTOR KEITH BYNUM.
I DON'T HAVE MUCH TO ADD THE OTHER THAN THIS IS A BEAUTIFUL PARK ON A BEAUTIFUL DAY.
AND THEN JUST TO LET YOU KNOW WHAT CAN HAPPEN WHEN, UH, THREE DEPARTMENT HEADS COME TOGETHER AND JUST HAPPEN TO BE BALD
AND IF YOU LOOK ALONG THIS FRONT ROW, IT'S A COMMON THEME.
AND WHEN THE BALL HEADED GUYS GET TOGETHER, THIS IS WHAT YOU GET.
SO I WANT TO THANK ALL OF OUR, ALL OF THE PARTNERS FOR DOING AN OUTSTANDING JOB.
THIS IS A BEAUTIFUL PARK AND I, I HOPE ALL THE MEMBERS OF THIS COMMUNITY GET TO ENJOY IT.
I DON'T KNOW ABOUT YOU DIRECTOR, BUT I SHAVED THIS MORNING.
YOU KNOW, THE NEXT PERSON I WANNA CALL UP, I'VE HAD THE PLEASURE OF WORKING WITH HIM, DIRECTOR OF CJ MESSIAH WITH GENERAL SERVICES IS THROUGH HIS LEADERSHIP THAT WE CAN GET THINGS DONE JUST LIKE WE GOT DONE HERE.
HE OVERSEES ALL OF OUR CAPITAL PROJECTS AS WELL AS LARGE PROJECTS.
AND THEN EVEN SOME OF THE SMALL, HIM AND HIS TEAM WITH LISA JOHNSON, LIAISON THE PARKS HAS TRULY DONE A WONDERFUL JOB.
SO WITHOUT FURTHER ADO, I'D LIKE TO CALL UP DIRECTOR CJ MESSIAH.
BEFORE THE MAYOR APPOINTED ME TO THIS JOB, I HAD AN AFRO.
NO, BUT IT'S A, IT IS A PLEASURE BEING THE DIRECTOR OF GENERAL SERVICES DEPARTMENT, BUT IT'S EVEN MORE AN HONOR OF BEING HERE AS A RETIRED MEMBER OF THE HOUSTON POLICE DEPARTMENT IN 2013 AND SEEING SOME OF OFFICER WINDSOR'S FELLOW OFFICERS BACK THERE IN THE BACK THAT KIND OF BROKE ME IN WHEN I WAS A ROOKIE'S, AN HONOR TO BE HERE.
I JUST WANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE SOME PEOPLE AND SOME GROUPS THAT HELP MAKE THIS POSSIBLE.
AND THAT'S TIME'S CONSTRUCTION, JB WHITE, CARLOS MACIA, AND RYAN WEBER.
THOSE FOLKS PUT IN A LOT OF TIME.
THE DESIGN TEAM, M TWO L ASSOCIATES, MIKE MAUER AND WIN WINING HUNG.
AND FROM I, MY NOTES SAY MY TEAM, BUT IT'S NOT MY TEAM, IT'S OUR TEAM.
IT'S THE NEIGHBORHOOD'S TEAM FROM GSD.
RICHARD BAYLOR, LISA JOHNSON, AND SARAH.
OKAY, SARAH, I'M GONNA GET IT RIGHT.
BUT AS THE MAYOR AND TROY SAID, CHIEF FINNER, THIS IS THE COMMUNITY'S PART.
IT'S YOUR RESPONSIBILITY TO TAKE CARE OF IT.
YOU KNOW, THE MAYOR MENTIONED SOME TIMELINES.
YOU KNOW, ANY GOOD DEED DESERVES A LOT OF EFFORT AND A LOT OF TIME.
AND I WANT TO THANK MY FELLOW TEAMMATES, THE HOUSTON PARKS AND RECREATION DEPARTMENT STAFF.
COULD YOU ALL RAISE YOUR HANDS ONE MORE TIME PLEASE.
AND IN PARTICULAR, I'M GONNA, I'LL BE REAL BRIEF ON THIS STORY, BUT, UH, SATURDAY, YOU KNOW, WE HAD A DELAY IN DELIVERY.
YOU GUYS SEE ALL THE BEAUTIFUL SAW AROUND THIS PARK.
BUT WE HAD A TRUCK COME IN SATURDAY NIGHT AT 8:00 PM WE HAD GUYS LAND SOD UNTIL ALMOST 11 ALL THE WAY THROUGH SUNDAY TO GET THIS PLACE BEAUTIFUL.
SO I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR YOUR EFFORTS, FOR YOUR TIRELESS EFFORTS TO MAKE THIS PLACE NICE.
AND IT DIDN'T STOP JUST THERE.
I MEAN, WE HAVE FINANCE INVOLVED, WE HAVE TRADES INVOLVED, WE HAVE EVENTS INVOLVED.
LOT OF PIECES TO THIS PUZZLE CAME TOGETHER QUITE NICELY.
I JUST WANT TO CALL YOU UP, FIRST OF ALL AND SAY THANK YOU.
JUST SAY THANK YOU, UM, FOR GIVING ME THE OPPORTUNITY TO SERVE IN THIS, IN THIS CHAIR.
UH, I DIDN'T TAKE IT LIGHTLY AND I DON'T NOW.
UH, BUT YOUR SUPPORT, UH, IN NEIGHBORHOOD
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PARKS, THE TYPE OF THE TYPE OF NEIGHBORHOODS THAT I GREW UP IN IS MAKING A TREMENDOUS DIS DIFFERENCE ACROSS THE CITY.SO I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR THAT.
IN FACT, WHAT WE ARE DOING TODAY MAKES A SAFER CITY.
IT BUILDS THAT UNITY, THAT BONDING.
AND KIDS KNOW THAT WE ARE INVESTING IN THEM.
FAMILIES KNOW WE ARE INVESTING IN THEM.
I DIDN'T KNOW I WAS SITTING ON THE ROAD WITH ALL BALL GUYS.
ALRIGHT, LET ME, LEMME GET BACK TO MY SCRIPT.
LOOK, I'M A HAPPY, I'M A HAPPY SOUL, UH, TODAY BECAUSE IT'S ALL ABOUT BUILDING UP COMMUNITIES AND BUILDING UP NEIGHBORHOODS.
AND TODAY'S ESPECIALLY, I'M ESPECIALLY PLEASED BECAUSE THIS IS AN INTERNAL AFFAIR.
I WAS JUST TELLING CHIEF TROY, ER, SOMETIMES CITY EMPLOYEES ON MULTIPLE LEVELS DON'T GET THE CREDIT THAT THEY RIGHTFULLY DESERVE.
AND SO, UH, TODAY IS JUST A BLESSING.
UH, PASTOR DAVID SMITH, IT'S GOOD TO SEE YOU AND YOUR WIFE.
UH, THANK YOU ALL FOR BEING HERE.
THEY RIDE THEIR BICYCLE, SO THANK YOU ALL.
UH, LET ME ALSO, AT THIS TIME, LET ME BRING UP SOMEONE WHO'S BEEN VERY ACTIVE, VERY, UH, WORKING IN OUR COMMUNITIES AND OUR NEIGHBORHOODS.
UH, WE ARE IN THE 18 CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT, SO I DO WANT TO, UH, PAY TRIBUTE AND, AND RESPECT, UH, TO CONGRESSWOMAN SHEILA JACKSON LEE, WHO IS HERE IN THE WORK THAT SHE'S DONE.
SO, CONGRESSWOMAN, IF YOU DO, DO YOU HAVE ANYTHING THAT YOU WOULD LIKE TO SAY, CONGRESSWOMAN, THAT I PREPARED? ARE YOU ON TODAY? I'M NOT PREPARED,
I'M NOT PREPARED, BUT I WILL ACCEPT.
YOU CAN, YOU CAN, YOU CAN PASS THE MIC, BUT I'M, I'M, I'M JUST, I'M JUST NOT PREPARED.
BUT I, I WILL SAY A FEW WORDS, HOW LONG, UH, YOU KNOW, THIS IS A HAPPY DAY.
AND, UM, AS I RECALL, COUNCIL MEMBER ALCORN, WHEN I SERVED ON CITY COUNCIL JUST, JUST A FEW SHORT MONTHS AGO, UM, I JUST LOVE PARKS AND RECREATION.
I LOVE ALL THE DEPARTMENTS, BUT I JUST LOVE THAT PARKS AND RECREATION.
UH, AND MAYOR, YOU HAVE TAKEN IT TO A NEW LEVEL.
UH, WE ARE SO BLESSED, UH, THIS IS TRULY A FAMILY PARK, BUT THE SYSTEM BECOMES THE KIND OF SYSTEM THAT FAMILIES CAN MAKE RESERVATIONS FOR THEIR VACATION.
IT'S JUST AN ARRAY OF DIVERSITY.
UH, LAST WEEK WE WERE CUTTING THE RIBBON ON A FABULOUS NEW POOL, BUT WE CAN SEE OUR NEIGHBORHOOD PARKS ARE JUST AS BEAUTIFUL.
AND WHAT YOU HAVE DONE HERE NEEDS COMMENTING ON, UH, THE, THE SPRAY PAD, BUT THE DRAINAGE DETENTION THAT YOU ARE SMART BEAUTY AND FLOOD MITIGATION.
THAT'S A SMART WAY, UH, TO BE ABLE TO HANDLE YOUR, YOUR BUSINESS.
AS I LOOKED AT THE PLAYGROUND, I DIDN'T SEE A AGE LIMIT.
I'M WONDERING, CAN I SNEAK OUT HERE AND GET ON THAT PLAYGROUND? THAT'S IF YOU BUILD IT, GENTLEMEN, THEY WILL COME AND YOU HAVE BUILT IT, AND THEY WILL COME TO ALL OF THE STAFF.
I AM SO HONORED, UH, TO CALL YOU FELLOW HOUSTONIANS BECAUSE IT IS OBVIOUS THAT ANYONE PLANNING SOD SATURDAY NIGHT, UH, AND INTO SUNDAY, UH, SOMEBODY TELLS ME, UH, THAT, UH, ALL KINDS OF ENTERTAINMENT WAS GOING ON SATURDAY NIGHT THAT YOU COULD HAVE BEEN AT HERE.
WE CALL IT THE GSA AND FEDERAL GOVERNMENT.
AND EVERY TIME WE SEE THEM COMING, WE GET OUTTA THE WAY BECAUSE WE ALWAYS NEED SOMETHING.
UM, AND, UH, THANK YOU TO HOUSING COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT.
I'D LIKE TO SEE, UH, MY FEDERAL DOLLARS BEING USED.
AND THANK YOU FOR NOT ONLY TAKING CARE OF HOUSING, BUT DOING THINGS LIKE THIS.
AND THEN LET ME, UH, EMPHASIZE IF I MIGHT MAYOR, UH, THE NEW ELEVATION THAT YOU'VE TAKEN.
BUT, UH, THE AFFECTION THAT THE COMMUNITY HAS FOR CHIEF NER AND HIS TEAM AND MS. WINSOR, I THINK IT IS EXTREMELY IMPORTANT FOR YOUR FAMILY TO KNOW THAT ALTHOUGH HE WENT TOO SOON AND WE DIDN'T WANT HIM TO GO, THAT THERE'S SOMETHING SIGNIFICANT AND POWERFUL AND MOVING AND UNCHANGING ABOUT THE OFFICER WHO DIES IN THE LINE OF DUTY.
ALL THE TEARS ARE STRONGER AND, AND HARDER, UH, BECAUSE WE JUST, WE JUST
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WONDER WHY.UH, AND WE DO NEED TO PROVIDE THE LOVE OF THIS PARK BECAUSE OF HIS SYMBOLISM.
AND WE DO NEED TO TEACH THE CHILDREN.
AND AS I CAME IN, A YOUNG BROTHER, I GUESS HE HAD PERMISSION, MAYBE HE WAS OLDER THAN HE LOOKED, SO I THINK IT'S A SCHOOL DAY.
BUT HE LOOKED LIKE HE MIGHT HAVE HAD PERMISSION TO BE ON THE BASKETBALL COURT.
I DIDN'T CHECK ANY CREDENTIALS.
UH, BUT HE WAS, UM, I, I KNOW.
AND, UH, HE WAS ENJOYING THE BASKETBALL COURT.
HE WAS ENJOYING THE FREEDOM OF BEING OUT IN THE OPEN AIR.
AND SINCE I KNOW PASTOR AND SISTER SMITH, FIRST LADY SMITH UNDERSTAND BECAUSE OF THE WORK THEY DO, HOW IMPORTANT IT'S FOR OUR YOUTH TO BELONG AND TO FEEL LIKE THEY ARE WELCOMED.
THAT'S WHAT THE WINDSOR PARK DOES.
I DON'T KNOW HOW MANY YOU'LL GET OR WANNA JOIN THE POLICE DEPARTMENT, BUT HOPEFULLY THERE'S A DESCRIPTION OF WHO THIS PARK WAS NAMED AFTER.
AND I KNOW THAT, UH, THE MAYOR AS A BIG KID, WANTS A UNIFORM.
UH, THE LITTLE KIDS WANT 'EM TOO.
AND WE NEED TO GET MORE OF THE LITTLE KIDS WANTING THE UNIFORM.
AND THE LITTLE GIRLS WANT THEM TOO.
AND THE BIG GIRL WANTS THEM TOO.
UH, BUT I JUST WANNA CONCLUDE MY REMARKS BY, UH, INDICATING IT'S A FAMILY AFFAIR.
AND I'M VERY GRATEFUL TO BE PART OF THIS FAMILY AND HAVE HAD THE PRIVILEGE OF SERVING SOME YEARS AGO, UH, ON THIS, UH, CITY COUNCIL.
MORE IMPORTANTLY, TAKING TO WASHINGTON THE UNDERSTANDING IT'S ALL ABOUT THE NEIGHBORHOODS.
IT'S ALL ABOUT HOUSTON AND THE PEOPLE THERE, UH, THAT YOU SERVE.
SO I AM VERY GRATEFUL TO COME, UH, FIRST OF ALL TO HONOR, UM, IF I MIGHT, UM, HOUSING COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT.
I'M A, I'M GONNA START WITH YOU.
UH, COME ON UP SO YOU CAN PLANT, UH, THAT THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT IS PROUD OF YOU AND THE WORK BECAUSE WE BELIEVE IN THE DIVERSIFICATION OF OUR FUNDS.
AND THAT IT'S NOT ONLY HOUSING, BUT IT'S EVERYTHING THAT INVEST IN PEOPLE.
THANK YOU FOR TURNING IT UPSIDE DOWN, MAKING IT A VACATION SPOT IN ALL OF THE PARKS.
AND IT LOOKS LIKE YOU LOVE WHAT YOU'RE DOING.
SOMEBODY THINKS, SOMEBODY THINKS KEN LOVES WHAT HE'S DOING.
OH, YOU NOT BEING LOUD ENOUGH.
DOES HE LOVE WHAT HE IS DOING? UH, YOU KEEP ON YOU, KEEP ON KEEPING ON.
AND LET ME, UM, ACKNOWLEDGE THE CITY OF HOUSTON AND I'M GONNA GIVE THAT STAY IN GOOD GRACES TO GSD.
I DO THINK WE'VE MADE THE GUINNESS BOOK OF RECORDS RIGHT HERE.
CHIEF IS COVERING UP HIS HEAD, FIVE RIGHT IN A ROW TOGETHER.
GOT TO BE THE GUINNESS BOOK OF RECORD.
NOW THE MAYOR IS, UM, WRITING 10 BOOKS.
I WANNA MAKE SURE THAT I'M AT LEAST FIVE OF THEM.
SO MAYOR SYLVESTER TURNER, YOU'RE TAKING US TO ANOTHER LEVEL.
MS. WINSELL, COULD YOU COME UP FOR A MINUTE? IS SHE LOOKING GOOD? I MEAN, YOU KNOW, WHEN YOU WEARING A BAD HAT, YOU KNOW YOU GOT, YOU GOT YOU.
I, I DO THIS WITH A, WITH A SENSE OF TEARS.
UH, BUT, UM, YOU OBVIOUSLY GOT A FAMILY OF LOVE AROUND YOU.
HE OBVIOUSLY PLANTED A WHOLE BUNCH OF SEEDS, UH, BECAUSE, UM, NO, I'M, I'M, I'M NOT GOING THE WAY THE, THE, THE MAYOR WAS GOING
AND SO I WANTED TO MAKE SURE, UH, THAT WE HONORED HIM.
AND SO, UH, ONLY MEMBERS OF CONGRESS HAVE THE ABILITY TO CERTIFY THAT THIS ACCOMPANYING FLAG WAS FLOWN OVER THE UNITED STATES CAPITOL AT THE REQUEST OF THE HONORABLE SHEILA JACKSON LIE FOR YOUR HUSBAND POSTHUMOUSLY AND FOR YOUR FAMILY.
AND WOULD YOU SHOW THAT, UM, CHIEF, YOU COME UP HERE AND DO SOME WORK FOR ME, PLEASE.
I'M GONNA GIVE, GIVE IT TO HIM.
CHIEF, WOULD YOU TAKE IT OUT AND GIVE TO HER PLEASE? AND MAYOR, COME STAND WITH ME.
I JUST THOUGHT IT WAS BELATED, BUT IT WAS DESERVING JUST FROM US, JUST FROM YOUR NATION.
HERE IS YOUR FLAG CERTIFICATE THAT SHOWS IT'S REAL.
[00:35:01]
THANK YOU SO VERY MUCH.ALRIGHT, THANK YOU ALL VERY MUCH.
AS I GO TO MY SEAT, SOMEBODY GAVE ME A NOTE AND SAID THAT, UM, MAYOR, YOU REMEMBERED, YOU, YOU WERE JUST IN, UH, PRESCHOOL.
BUT, UM, THE, UH, THIS PARK MANY YEARS AGO WHEN HER HUSBAND WAS SERVING, HAD DRUG FOLK IN IT, HAD DRUG FOLK IN IT.
UH, AND THEY WERE NOT GIVEN OUT, UH, VACCINES OR FLU SHOTS.
SOME FOLK WANT AT TRIBUTE TO THE WARREN DRUG.
IT IS A TRIBUTE TO YOU THAT THE STORY GOES, THAT IT MIGHT HAVE BEEN A THOUSAND DEALERS MOVING AROUND, BUT A THOUSAND ACRES HOME.
PEOPLE CAME AND SAID, THIS IS MY PART.
AS I AM TOLD THAT HOME ROSE UP AND SAID, THIS IS OUR, AM I RIGHT? AM I RIGHT? YES.
AM I RIGHT? SO EVERYBODY NEEDS TO UNDERSTAND THAT WE CAN TAKE BACK OUR CITY, WE CAN TAKE BACK OUR NEIGHBORS, WE CAN TAKE BACK OUR FAMILIES, WE CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE.
AND I THINK THAT'S A STORY THAT SHOULD NEVER BE FORGOTTEN ABOUT WINDSOR PARK.
WHY DON'T WE DO THIS? UH, CHIEF, WHY DON'T Y GIVE MS. WINDOR AND YOUR FAMILY, WHY DON'T Y'ALL GET IN FRONT? OH MY GOODNESS.