[00:00:05]
REALLY, UH, I'LL YIELD YOUR QUESTIONS, BUT JUST THE OPENING IS, UH, IT WAS A GOOD FIRST DAY.WHAT YOU GOT TO WITNESS IS WHAT I WOULD CALL THE LEGISLATIVE PROCESS.
AND I THINK HOUSTONIANS OUGHT TO BE PROUD THAT WE HAD A SERIOUS DISCUSSION ON A SERIOUS MATTER, AND WE CAME TOGETHER WITH A CONSENSUS.
AND, UH, WE HAVE A LOT MORE WORK TO DO AND, UH, ASK, UH, ENCOURAGE YOU TO JOIN US.
DO YOUR DUE DILIGENCE, LIKE I'VE BEEN DOING MY DUE DILIGENCE.
THIS, UH, ISSUE OBVIOUSLY OF, UH, THE CANCER CLUSTER IS ONE THAT WE'VE FOLLOWED THROUGH THE MEDIA.
AND, UH, I GOT A REPORT TWO DAYS AGO, WHICH RAISED SOME ALARMS WHERE WE REALLY READY TO GO FORWARD.
UM, AND I LOOK FORWARD TO SHARING ADDITIONAL INFORMATION WITH THE COUNCIL MEMBERS AND THE PUBLIC, AND CERTAINLY THE RESIDENTS.
UH, I WANNA MEET THE RESIDENTS I'VE REPRESENTED, UH, ADJOINING NEIGHBORHOODS.
I'VE CERTAINLY BEEN ACROSS THE CANCER CLUSTER.
UH, IT'S NOT ONLY THE HEALTH CONCERNS, BUT THE QUALITY OF LIFE ISSUES OF FIFTH WARD AND THE, UH, DESIGNATED AREA.
UH, OUR, WE COULD LEAVE HERE RIGHT NOW.
YOU'D BE ALARMED AT THE CONDITIONS THAT THOSE RESIDENTS ARE LIVING IN.
NOT ONLY THEIR HEALTH CONCERNS, BUT STRAY ANIMALS, ILLEGAL DUMPING.
IT'S, IT'S, UH, WHAT KEEPS ME UP AT NIGHT WORRYING ABOUT THE DISADVANTAGED NEIGHBORHOODS OF HOUSTON.
AND IT'S NOT JUST LIMITED TO, UH, FIFTH WARD, BUT WE HAVE CONCERNS IN MANY OF THE DISTRICTS.
AND THAT'S THE REASON I RAN FOR OFFICE TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE.
AND, UH, I UNDERSTAND SOME MEMBERS WERE CONCERNED ABOUT THE PERCEPTION.
UM, I'M CONCERNED ABOUT PERCEPTION, AND I WANT PEOPLE TO KNOW.
THE REALITY IS THOUGH WE'RE ON THE JOB WORKING HARD AND, UH, THIS MORNING WAS GOOD DISPLAY OF A NEW DAY AT CITY HALL WHERE COUNCIL MEMBERS ARE GONNA BE INVOLVED.
I THINK THEY, UH, HAD WORKED FROM A DISADVANTAGE.
CAN YOU IMAGINE? COUNCIL MEMBER PLUMMER HAD A SERIES OF QUESTIONS ABOUT THIS PROJECT, AND I GOT TO SEE THE ANSWERS BEFORE SHE DID.
IN FACT, SHE, I SPOKE TO HER THIS MORNING.
WE HAVE A LOT OF WORK TO DO, BUT, UH, I'VE PREPARED MY ENTIRE LIFE FOR THIS OPPORTUNITY, AND I'M GOING TO LEAD THE BEST I CAN.
MAYOR ON FIFTH WARD, UH, DID I HEAR YOU CORRECTLY IF, UH, AFTER A MONTH, UH, ASSESSMENT OF THE PROBLEM, THAT IF AS MUCH AS $40 MILLION IS NEEDED, UH, YOU'D BE SUPPORTIVE OF THAT.
AND ALSO HAD A QUESTION ABOUT THE $2 MILLION ADMINISTRATIVE FEE ON A $5 MILLION LAYOUT.
DOES THAT SEEM HIGH TO YOU? CERTAINLY.
A, A FAIR QUESTION AND A CONCERN, CERTAINLY NO ONE HAD AN EXPLANATION HOW THE 2 MILLION WOULD BE USED.
I THINK LATE IN THE DISCUSSION, THERE WERE SOME RECOMMENDATIONS OF SOME NONPROFITS AND OTHER, UH, ACTIVIST GROUPS THAT WOULD ASSIST.
I THINK, UH, IN CHECKING WITH THE CITY ATTORNEY, JUST BRIEFLY, THERE'S BEEN NO PROCUREMENT, NO SERIOUS DISCUSSION ABOUT A, UH, DECISION ON THOSE GROUPS.
I THINK WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT THOSE MANAGEMENT GROUPS WOULD BE REPRESENTATIVE OF THE COMMUNITY AND HAVE SOME EXPERTISE.
UH, THIS IS VERY SERIOUS THAT WE CANNOT AFFORD TO DO WRONG.
THE 40 MILLION, OBVIOUSLY THE CITY OF HOUSTON IS LIMITED IN OUR RESOURCES.
PREVIOUS ADMINISTRATION PLACE 5 MILLION IN A TRUST.
UM, QUITE FRANKLY, NO ONE CAN TELL YOU WHAT THE NEXT STEP WOULD BE, EXCEPT I WAS TOLD THAT THE COUNTY MIGHT MATCH IT.
BUT THAT'S PRETTY VAGUE WHEN YOU'RE TELLING RESIDENCES, UH, WHAT THAT THEY SHOULD BE MAKING PLANS FOR RELOCATION.
OBVIOUSLY, THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT SHOULD PLAY A ROLE, AND I WOULDN'T RULE OUT THE STATE OF TEXAS, BUT YOU CAN'T REACH OUT TO OTHER LEVELS OF GOVERNMENT UNLESS YOU HAVE A WORKABLE PLAN, AND YOU'VE GOT TO HAVE THE SUPPORT OF THE RESIDENTS.
YOU KNOW, NINE OUTTA 42 POSSIBLE RESIDENTS IS, IS NOT A VERY LARGE REPRESENTATION.
SO WE'RE LACKING IN OUR COMMUNICATION AND THE PRESENTATION
[00:05:01]
OF A PLAN THAT BUILDS TRUST WITH THE COMMUNITY, AND THAT'S GONNA BE ALL OF OUR JOBS.MARY, I KNOW YOU WERE
WHERE DO YOU STAND ON THAT? DO YOU HAVE AN AGREEMENT FROM THE STATEMENT? WE HAD A GREAT, UH, MEETING LAST THURSDAY.
CHIEF NER BROUGHT AREA CHIEFS AND DEPARTMENTS TOGETHER.
YOU KNOW, WE ALREADY HAVE A, UH, PROGRAM RUN BY THE STATE, FUNDED BY THE STATE, WHICH BRINGS THE DPS, UH, LOCALLY INTO AN ANTI-GANG TASK FORCE, UH, ACTUALLY PLAYED A ROLE IN FUNDING THAT.
SO THE DPS HAS BEEN HERE, UH, THEY PLAY A CRITICAL ROLE IN OUR MAJOR EVENTS SUCH AS MONDAY NIGHT CROWD CONTROL, UH, PUBLIC, UH, TRAFFIC ENFORCEMENT.
UH, I, I GET ROUTINE REPORTS THAT THEY'RE DOING TRAFFIC ENFORCEMENT ON SOME OF THE STATE ROADS INSIDE THE CITY OF HOUSTON.
CHIEF FINNER IS LEADING THAT EFFORT, AND HE'S VERY SUPPORTIVE OF THE COLLABORATION THAT I'VE ASKED FOR, INVOLVING ALL OF OUR LOCAL LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES.
AND THE DPS PROVIDES US RESOURCES THAT, QUITE FRANKLY, WE DON'T HAVE.
I THINK WE OUGHT TO LOOK TO 'EM MORE FOR THE FORENSIC WORKS.
YOU KNOW, YOU, YOU LEARN THAT OUR FORENSIC LAB IS RUNNING MAYBE AS LATE AS A, UH, OVER SIX MONTHS TO A YEAR ON BALLISTIC TESTS.
THE DA IS SAYING SHE CANNOT MOVE FORWARD IN THE PROSECUTION OF, UH, VERY SERIOUS CRIMES BECAUSE THERE OUR LACK OF RESOURCES, I'M OBVIOUSLY ALREADY IN DISCUSSION WITH THE COUNTY, COULD WE MERGE OUR FORENSICS? WE JUST HAVE TO DO IT BETTER.
AND SO THE DPS WILL PLAY A ROLE.
UH, THERE'S NOTHING SIGNIFICANT ABOUT THAT NUMBER OF 200, UH, THEY'RE ALREADY HERE.
AND, AND IT CHIEF'S FINN'S RESPONSIBILITY TO WORK WITH THEM TO HAVE A FORCE MULTIPLIER.
BUT IT'S NOT JUST PERSONNEL, IT'S, IT'S IT'S EYES IN THE AIR.
HELICOPTERS, THEY'VE INVOLVED THEMSELF IN SOME OF OUR CHASES.
WE ARE, I'M PERSONALLY, AND REALLY, WE HAVEN'T DISCUSSED IT MUCH ON A CAMPAIGN TRAIL, OR EVEN THE 10 DAYS I'VE BEEN HERE, I'M CONCERNED ABOUT THE POLICE CHASES.
SO IF THE DPS COULD REDUCE THE DANGERS TO HOUSTONIANS BY HAVING THEIR HELICOPTERS IN THE AIR, YOU KNOW, IT'S, IT'S A CRYING SHAME THAT HOUSTON DOESN'T HAVE 24 7 AIR COVERAGE.
AND SO I'LL BE ATTEMPTING TO GET ADDITIONAL RESOURCES FROM DPS TO BACK UP HPD, BUT CHIEF FINNER WILL TELL YOU IT'S A, UH, GREAT PARTNERSHIP.
AND, AND SO, AND THEY'LL BE, AND THEY'LL BE WORKING UNDER HPD.
I MEAN, THEY'RE DOING THAT NOW, AND UNFORTUNATELY IT WAS POLITICIZED, BUT THEY'LL BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE.
AND SO FAR HAVE THEY COMMITTED TO SENDING ANY ADDITIONAL TROOPERS? UM, CHIEF NER IS WORKING OUT THOSE DETAILS AS WE TALK.
MAYOR, THE CITY OF HOUSTON IS HOSTING THE, ONE OF THE BIGGEST SPOTS EVENT, WHICH IS, UH, THE HOUSTON MARATHON.
AND WE SEEM TO BE PRETTY VERY QUIET ABOUT IT, BUT IT'S SOMETHING THAT REQUIRES THE PEOPLE TO KNOW HOW PREPARED THE, THE CITY IS, WHAT, UH, SECURITY MEASURES AND EXTRA SECURITY MEASURES ARE PUT IN PLACE.
REMEMBER, IT WAS, UH, IN BOSTON MARATHON THAT PEOPLE PLACE.
SO HOW PREPARED ARE YOU? HOW INVOLVED ARE YOU? UM, ARE YOU GETTING READY TO BE DEAD TOMORROW? E EARLY IN THE MORNING WITH THE COURT? I MEAN, ON SUNDAY? MM-HMM
BUT YOU KEEP TALKING ABOUT MARTIN LUTHER NEVER TALKING ABOUT THE BIGGEST SPORTING EVENT WE ARE EXPECTING THIS WEEKEND.
I'LL BE THERE AT SIX 30 SUNDAY MORNING.
I HOPE I HAVE SOMETHING ON MY HEAD, BUT, UH, YES, WE'RE ALL EXCITED.
IT'S, IT'S A, IT IS A MAJOR EVENT.
I HAVE GREAT CONFIDENCE IN OUR FIRST RESPONDERS.
WE HAD A VERY SUCCESSFUL NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP MONDAY, AND WE ACTUALLY GOT TO EXPERIENCE SOME HOUSTON WEATHER ABOUT GAME TIME.
BUT, UH, CHIEF PENA AND AND NER WE'RE ON TOP OF THINGS.
OUR HOMELAND SECURITY MUNICH WAS INVOLVED.
UH, WE ACTUALLY GOT THE NFL AND THE TEXANS TO COOPERATE TO OPEN THE STADIUM EARLIER TO GET PEOPLE OFF THE STREETS FROM THE FORECAST OF AROUND SIX O'CLOCK, WHICH WAS PRETTY, PRETTY DARN ACCURATE.
SO, YOU KNOW, THIS IS A GREAT CITY AND GREAT PEOPLE.
AND, UH, WE'RE GONNA MEET PEOPLE'S AND THE, AND THE CITIZENS' EXPECTATIONS.
THAT'S, THAT'S THE REASON I'M STANDING BEFORE YOU.
[00:10:01]
WE'RE GONNA BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE, AND I'LL BE VERY PLEASED TO BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE.HOW SUCCESSFUL SUNDAY MORNING IS.
I WON'T BE RUNNING, BUT, UH, I'LL BE THERE.
MAYOR, I WANTED TO GO BACK TO THE RELOCATION.
I KNOW THERE ARE A LOT OF CONCERNS ABOUT HOUSING STOCKING, AND I WAS CURIOUS WHAT YOU WOULD SAY TO RESIDENTS WHO MAY BE CONCERNED THAT THEY'RE GONNA BE GIVEN POOR QUALITY, WHAT THEY'RE IN NOW AS A RESULT OF THAT LOCATION.
AND THAT'S THE ASSURANCES THEY GET.
AND QUITE FRANKLY, I THINK AS WE GO FORWARD, I REALLY DON'T THINK THEY'VE HAD THE DIALOGUE AND THE FACETIME OTHER THAN A PRESS CONFERENCE.
YOU KNOW, THEY'VE SEEN ENOUGH PRESS CONFERENCES.
WE NEED, WE NEED CITY OFFICIALS TO GO OUT THERE AND SIT DOWN AND GIVE 'EM THE BEST INFORMATION.
WE CAN TALK ABOUT RELOCATION, YOU KNOW, A TIMETABLE, WHAT THEY CAN EXPECT AT THEIR NEW LOCATION.
UH, THE RENTERS, THERE'S SEVERAL RENTERS.
YOU GIVE THEM $10,000 TO RELOCATE, THEN WHAT? SO I THINK WE NEED TO SEE THE AGE AND THE CIRCUMSTANCES OF EACH AND EVERY RESIDENCE.
AND THERE'S ONE RESIDENCE I'M TOLD THAT'S ALREADY LEFT THE AREA.
SO I'D LIKE TO VISIT WITH HER, SEE WHAT HER EXPERIENCES WERE, WHAT HER EXPECTATIONS ARE, IS SHE SATISFIED WITH WHERE SHE'S LIVING? THEY'RE JUST REALLY GOOD COMMON SENSE QUESTIONS THAT I HAVEN'T HEARD ANSWERED.
MAYOR, DO YOU HAVE A TIMELINE ON WHERE YOU'LL START MEETING WITH THE RESIDENTS? THE FIFTH WARD AND
I'M IN THE COMMUNITY QUITE OFTEN.
UH, JUST ONE OF MY WAYS TO STAY IN TOUCH.
I I DRIVE JUST ON MY OWN, DON'T TELL MY SECURITY GROUP, BUT, UH, I ENJOY DRIVING THE STREETS OF HOUSTON.
AND, UH, FIFTH WARD IS, IS A PRIORITY FOR ME.
TRINITY GARDENS, YOU KNOW, THIS GETS ENOUGH COVERAGE THAT IT ALARMS MANY MORE COMMUNITIES THAN JUST FIFTH WARD.
AND CERTAINLY, AS THE MAYOR PRO TEM POINTED OUT, UH, THIS, THIS CONFINED AREA OF THE PLUME IS THE MOST TALKED ABOUT IN THE CONCERN.
BUT CAN YOU IMAGINE LIVING A BLOCK FROM THERE? WHO'S COMMUNICATING WITH YOU WHAT YOUR EXPOSURE IS? AND ANOTHER THING I WANT TO EMPHASIZE, IF WE'RE GONNA ADDRESS THIS AS A COUNCIL, WE GOTTA BE ABLE TO SELL IT TO ALL HOUSTONIANS.
YOU KNOW, I WANT PEOPLE ACROSS HOUSTON TO BUY INTO THIS PROBLEM.
SO WHEN I SPEAK AT A LUNCHEON AND I'M ASKED ABOUT IT, I WANNA BE ABLE TO CONVINCE YOU NAME THE GROUP, THE REALTORS, THE DEPARTMENT ASSOCIATION, HOMEOWNERS ACROSS HOUSTON.
AND I'M PRETTY DARN GOOD AT BRINGING PEOPLE TOGETHER SAYING, YOU MAY, YOU MAY LIVE YOU ON THE WEST SIDE, BUT THESE ARE YOUR EMPLOYEES.
THIS IS YOUR FELLOW HUMAN BEINGS.
AND SO HELP US SOLVE THAT PROBLEM.
MAYOR, THE SECOND WARD, UH, WE HAVE THE 800 MIDDLE STREET PROJECT, THE AFFORDABLE HOUSING, UH, SITUATION THAT THE HOUSTON HOUSING AUTHORITY IS PUTTING UP.
UH, IT'S SURROUNDED BY CONTAMINATED PROPERTIES.
YESTERDAY, STATE REPRESENTATIVE CHRISTINA MORALES, UH, EXPRESSED HER HOPE THAT YOU WOULD PAUSE THAT, THAT PROJECT UNTIL WE GOT BACK.
UH, STATE ORDERED INDEPENDENT ENVIRONMENTAL TESTING.
YOUR THOUGHTS, I SAW YOUR REPORT, AND I APPRECIATE YOU, UH, HANDING THAT OFF TO ME.
I'VE GOT THE LEGAL DEPARTMENT AND OTHERS LOOKING AT IT.
IT'S VERY DIFFICULT TO STOP IN THE MIDDLE OF A CONSTRUCTION.
I WISH REPRESENTATIVE MORALES WOULD'VE SPOKEN UP BEFORE THEY BROKE GROUND.
UH, WHEN THE PROJECT'S HALF COMPLETED, IT CREATES LIABILITIES AND OTHER, AND I, AND QUITE FRANKLY, IT WAS AFTER TODAY'S MEETING THAT IT OCCURRED TO ME, I SHOULD HAVE BROUGHT UP OUR CONCERNS ABOUT ENVIRONMENTAL EQUALITY AND, AND JUSTICE.
UH, AND USE THAT PROJECT IS ANOTHER EXAMPLE WHERE, QUITE FRANKLY, I DON'T THINK THE CITY'S BEEN VERY TRANSPARENT.
SO GREG, I'M ON TOP OF IT, BUT, UH, YOU KNOW, I'D LIKE TO HOLD THE, THE, THE DEVELOPER AND THE DEPARTMENT THAT AUTHORIZED IT ACCOUNTABLE AND WE WILL.
BUT, UH, GOOD REPORTING ON YOUR PART.
IT'S VERY FRUSTRATING TO WATCH SOMETHING GO FORWARD AND FEEL LIKE YOU'VE SOMEWHAT GOT YOUR HANDS TIED.
MAY IN TERMS OF, UM, CRIME AND SECURITY, I WANT THIS POINT TO BE ADDRESSED.
THE POPULATION OF HOUSTON IS GROWING AND
[00:15:01]
IF TWO, FIVE YEARS AGO YOU HAD 2 MILLION, AND FIVE YEARS LATER YOU HAVE 2.5 MILLION, DO YOU THINK THAT THE EXTRA FIVE, I MEAN, UH, 0.5 MILLION OR 500, UH, THOUSAND PEOPLE WOULDN'T BRING A PERCENTAGE OF CRIME TO THE NUMBER THAT YOU HAVE? BECAUSE WE KEEP SAYING THAT, OH, UH, THE DECREASE THAT WE HAVE IS NOT GOOD ENOUGH.WE HAVE TO GO BEYOND A CERTAIN YEAR OR NUMBER.
BUT I BELIEVE THAT EXCEPT SOMETHING ELSE IS DONE, WE SHOULD BE ABLE TO ALSO ADJUST THE, UH, WITH THE FACT THAT A GROWING POPULATION, THE EXTRA POPULATION, BRINGS IN A PERCENTAGE OF CRIME, WHICH SHOULD ALSO BE FACTORED INTO THAT.
AT WHAT POINT DO YOU WANT TO SAY THAT THE, UH, UM, SECURITY PEOPLE, PUBLIC SAFETY, HAVE, HAVE DONE A PERFECT JOB BECAUSE THAT FACTOR IS NOT BEING TALKED, UM, ABOUT? WELL, AS YOU KNOW, IT'S MY HIGHEST PRIORITY, AND I STRONGLY BELIEVE IF WE DO NOT IMPROVE PUBLIC SAFETY, MOST OF THE OTHER ISSUES DON'T MATTER.
UH, WE'RE OBVIOUSLY WORKING IN THE DIRECTION OF BEING TOUGH AND SMART ON CRIME, UH, AND WE'RE GONNA DO THAT.
WE'RE GONNA HAVE ADDITIONAL RESOURCES.
BUT, UH, IT'S NOT JUST PERSONNEL.
IT'S, UH, THE SMART PART WOULD BE USE TECHNOLOGY, USE PLATE, USE PLATE READERS.
UH, CRIMINAL JUSTICE IS A SYSTEM, AND IF ANY PART OF IT IS BROKEN, IT DOESN'T WORK.
AND QUITE FRANKLY, AS I STAND BEFORE YOU TODAY, WE HAVE SEVERAL ELEMENTS OF THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM THAT'S NOT WORKING.
CERTAINLY DEALING WITH THE BACKLOG.
WE HAVE TO PROCESS FOLKS THAT HAVE BEEN CHARGED WITH SERIOUS VIOLENT OFFENSES.
VIOLENT OFFENDERS ARE BEING GIVEN, ARE BEING GIVEN REPEATED BONDS.
SO THAT NEEDS TO BE CORRECTED.
IT'S LARGELY THE DISTRICT COURTS AND THE MAGISTRATES THAT CONTROL THAT.
BUT WHAT I AND THE COUNCIL CAN INFLUENCE IS OUR DEPARTMENTS AND, UH, WE'RE GONNA DO THE VERY BEST WE CAN.
I HAVE CONFIDENCE IN CHIEF FINNER.
HE UNDERSTANDS THE COMMUNITY, HE UNDERSTANDS HIS RESOURCES, AND HE'S GONNA USE 'EM TO THE BEST OF OUR ABILITY.
SO NO, WE HAVE WORK TO DO IN THE AREA OF PUBLIC SAFETY.
THURSDAY, WE HAD A GREAT START MEETING WITH AREA CHIEFS.
LET ME JUST TELL YOU SOMETHING.
IF YOU HAVEN'T NOTICED THE MORALE AND IMPROVEMENT OF OFFICERS WANTING TO WORK FOR THE CITY OF HOUSTON, YOU NEED TO VISIT WITH THEM INSTEAD OF A BLACK TIE GALA THAT NORMALLY MAYORS IN THE PAST HAVE HAD.
ON THE DAY OF THE SWEARING IN, I HAD A DINNER AND A RECEPTION FOR OUR FIRST RESPONDERS AT THE GEORGE BROWN.
FIRST OF ALL, IT WAS GREAT TO SEE FIREMEN POLICEMEN COME TOGETHER.
OFTENTIMES THE ISSUES DIVIDE THAT GROUP OF IN, UH, FIRST RESPONDERS.
SO OUR CURRENT WORKFORCE IS EXCITED.
I'M ACTUALLY CHALLENGING THEM TO HELP ME RECRUIT.
I MET WITH 23 CADETS THAT NIGHT.
THEY WERE AT THE GEORGE BROWN.
THEY WANTED TO TAKE PICTURES AND I WANTED TO PICK THEIR MINDS.
I'M GONNA GO OUT TO THE TRAINING CENTER, THE CADET CLASSES, AND ASKED THE CADETS, WHAT OBSTACLES DID YOU HAVE BECOMING A HOUSTON HPD CADET? HOW CAN WE MAKE YOU FEEL MORE WELCOME? AND WHAT DO YOU SEE AS YOUR CHALLENGES GOING FORWARD? IT'S ABOUT COMMUNICATIONS, TRANSPARENCY AND THE PERCEPTION THAT YOU CARE.
AND YOU'VE HEARD ME MENTION, I'M GOING TO END IT FOR THE NEXT NEXT CADET CLASS.
YOU CAN'T IMAGINE CADETS CAN'T AFFORD A THOUSAND DOLLARS SERVICE FIREARM.
THEY GO BORROW THE MONEY AT THE CREDIT UNION PLEDGE, THEIR FIRST MONTH'S SALARY.
WHEN WE HAVE THE POLICE FOUNDATION, WE HAVE CORPORATE HOUSTON AND OTHER PHILANTHROPISTS THAT WOULD BE WILLING TO SAY, WELCOME TO HOUSTON, YOU'RE GONNA PUT YOUR LIFE ON THE LINE AND WE'RE GONNA HELP YOU MAKE IT AFFORDABLE.
SO WE HAVE A LOT OF WORK TO DO IN PUBLIC SAFETY, BUT, UH, QUITE FRANKLY, UH, I'M PREPARED FOR, TO TACKLE THE WATER BILL ISSUES.
DO YOU THINK THE ACTIONS
UH, A COUPLE OF THE, UH, CITIZENS THAT TESTIFIED YESTERDAY IN THE PUBLIC SESSION, PEOPLE ARE STILL HAVING DIFFICULTY WITH THEIR WATER BILLS.
GET A DEPARTMENT THAT IS RESPONSIVE.
YOU'LL NEVER BELIEVE WHAT HAPPENED TO ME YESTERDAY.
SOMEONE WHO WORKS AT THE COUNTY
[00:20:02]
HAD PUBLIC, HAD THE WATER DEPARTMENT ON THE PHONE.UH, SHE'S ACTUALLY A SCHEDULER FOR A COMMISSIONER.
SO I ANSWERED MY PHONE THINKING IT WAS A SENSITIVE CALL.
AND SHE'S ARGUING WITH THE WATER DEPARTMENT,
SO AFTER ABOUT 30 SECONDS OF HER COMPLAINING TO ME AND THE WATER DEPARTMENT SAYING, MA'AM, THAT'S NOT WHAT I SAID, WE CAN HELP YOU UP TO 40% AND ALL THAT.
AND I SAID, LISTEN, Y'ALL WORK THIS OUT AND THEN CALL ME.
SO IF IT'S AN ISSUE OF THAT MAGNITUDE, WE'VE GOT A LOT OF WORK TO DO.
AGENDA ITEM 35, TALK ABOUT WHAT HAPPENS NEXT WITH THAT.
I KNOW YESTERDAY WHEN PEOPLE SPOKE ON THAT, A LOT OF THEM WERE PRETTY SUSPICIOUS OF IT.
AND YOU SAID, SAID YOU SHARED THEIR CONCERNS.
WHAT, WHAT DO YOU MEAN BY THAT? WHAT ARE YOU CONCERNED ABOUT? THAT'S THE, UM, COMP CONVENTION CONFERENCE CENTER.
THE CONCERN IS IT SETS A TERRIBLE PRECEDENT BECAUSE I CAN ONLY IMAGINE WHAT OTHER OPERATORS ARE THINKING.
NUMBER TWO, IT REALLY JEOPARDIZES THE LEGISLATION I PASS TO CREATE AN ENTERTAINMENT DISTRICT IN CENTRAL HOUSTON, DOWNTOWN HOUSTON.
UH, SENATE BILL 10 57 CREATED AN ENTERTAINMENT DISTRICT IN THREE MILES IN EVERY DIRECTION OF THE GEORGE BROWN.
WE CA THE STATE HOTEL OCCUPANCY TAX, WHICH THAT ITEM WOULD'VE CUT INTO, BUT WE CAPPED IT IN ANY GROWTH.
IT WAS BROUGHT TO ME BY THE CITY OF HOUSTON.
'CAUSE I WORK ACROSS THE AISLE AND I WOULD'VE WAS ABLE TO PASS IT.
IT COULD, IT COULD RAISE AS MUCH AS 3 BILLION OVER THE NEXT 30 YEARS.
WE'LL EXPAND GEORGE BROWN ADDITIONAL RETAIL GREEN SPACE WHEN THEY PUT 59 AND 45 UNDERNEATH EAST SIDE ENTRANCE TO THE GEORGE BROWN CONVENTION CENTER.
IT'LL TRANSFORM DOWNTOWN WITH INFRASTRUCTURE, SAFETY AND DEVELOPMENT.
IF YOU START CUTTING INTO IT FOR THE HOUSTON POST, I CAN ONLY IMAGINE FOUR SEASONS.
BE READY TO ASK FOR IT, THE HEIGHT, AND YOU CAN GO ON AND ON.
SO I JUST SAW IT AS COUNTERPRODUCTIVE.
UH, WE'LL REVIEW IT, IT'S REFERRED BACK TO MY OFFICE AND I'LL GIVE IT THE DUE DILIGENCE THAT IT DESERVES.
UM, WHAT DO THE NEXT 30 DAYS LOOK LIKE FROM, YOU KNOW, WHERE YOU ARE, HOW YOU'RE FEELING NOW ABOUT THE PROJECT TO THAT FEBRUARY 7TH MEETING TO, TO NEED TO PASS THIS A REAL GOOD TEAM TOGETHER.
WE'RE STILL BUILDING OUR TEAM, BUT WE'LL, UH, SIT DOWN AND HAVE A SCHEDULE WHO THE STAKEHOLDERS ARE.
UH, I, UH, WILL BE TALKING TO EPA.
WHAT ARE THEIR PLANS? WHAT ARE THEIR, UH, THE OPPORTUNITY TO GET GRANTS FROM THEM? UH, BUT WE GOTTA HAVE A PLAN OF EXECUTE FUNDING IS IS CERTAINLY IMPORTANT, PARTNERING WITH THE COUNTY AND THE FED.
BUT I THINK THE, UH, COMMUNICATION WITH THE RESIDENTS IS GONNA BE CRITICAL.
THEY'LL, THEY'LL HEAR ABOUT THE DAY AND THEY NEED TO NOT BE ALARMED.
I ONLY ASK FOR A 30 DAY WORKING PERIOD.
LET ME, LET ME JUST SUGGEST SOMETHING OR MAKE AN OBSERVATION.
I THINK YOU WITNESSED TODAY AN OPPORTUNITY FOR COUNCIL MEMBERS TO BE MORE INVOLVED AND, YOU KNOW, I DON'T PAINT WITH A BROAD BRUSH.
CERTAINLY SOME ARE MORE INVOLVED THAN OTHERS, BUT I'M GONNA SHARE WITH THEM INFORMATION.
I'M GONNA CHALLENGE THEM TO BE PREPARED.
I, I JUST THINK IT'S GONNA BE A NEW EXPERIENCE FOR PEOPLE WHO ARE AT THE HORSESHOE TO SEE INFORMATION.
THE, THE SIGHTING COUNCILMAN PLUMMER NOT HAVING THE ANSWERS TO HER QUESTIONS.
THAT'S JUST NOT THE WAY GOOD GOVERNMENT OPERATES.
AND, UM, YESTERDAY MORNING I WAS GIVEN THE ANSWERS AND WAS TOLD THAT SHE HADN'T BEEN ALLOWED TO SEE 'EM YET.
MAYOR ONE METRO QUESTION, UM, PRAISE WE'RE, WE'RE METRO VOTERS, UH, AUTHORIZED METRO TO RETURN.
25% OF ITS ONE PEN SENT SALES TAX BACK TO THE CITY ANALYSIS BILL KING AND OTHERS HAVE LOOKED AT, AT HOW MUCH MONEY THEY'RE SENDING BACK.
UH, YOU HAVE MONEY PROBLEMS, MONEY CHALLENGES.
SHOULD METRO BE GIVEN THE FULL 25 CENTS? FOR SURE.
AND THEY OUGHT TO PARTNER WITH US, UH, IN THE INFRASTRUCTURE THAT, YOU KNOW, THEY USE.
UH, QUITE FRANKLY, I THINK THEY SHOULD PARTNER WITH US IN PUBLIC SAFETY.
I HEAR REPEATEDLY, I WILL NOT USE THE RAIL OR BUSES BECAUSE I DON'T FEEL THEY'RE SAFE.
SO WE'VE GOT TO ADDRESS A SAFETY ISSUE AS IT RELATES TO METRO.
[00:25:01]
BUT IT STARTS WITH OBVIOUSLY THE INFRASTRUCTURE.BUT, UH, YOU KNOW, I, I TALKED TO A RESIDENT IN MIDTOWN WORKS IN THE MED CENTER, AND SHE SAID, I LOCATED HERE SO I COULD GET ON MY METRO TRAIN.
SHE SAID, I JUST ACTUALLY DON'T FEEL SAFE BETWEEN MY, MY CONDO AND, AND THE RAIL LINES.
SO WE HAVE A GREAT CITY, GREAT PEOPLE, BUT WE'VE GOT A LOT OF WORK TO DO WITH THAT SAID, FOLLOW UP.
YOU, YOU JUST, YOU TALKED ABOUT, UH, A A, A COUNCIL SESSION AND MEMBERS TEAM NOT, OR MAYBE EMPATHETIC, I SHOULD USE THAT WORD, BUT WE HAD, WE HAVE HTV VIDEO RECORDS OF THE SESSIONS.
AND SHOULD WE REFER, BECAUSE FOR THE RECORDS, WE WANT SOME OF THESE THINGS TO BE REALLY, UH, ADDRESSED PROPERLY AND WITH HONESTY, SHOULD WE SEND SOME OF THESE PEOPLE TO GO AND LOOK AT THE RECORDS OF THE SESSIONS AND TO SEE IF WHAT YOU ARE SAYING ABOUT PARTICIPATION IS TRUE OR IT'S JUST THAT, UM, ONE OR TWO ISSUES THAT YOU ARE PICKING THAT YOU WANT TO TALK ABOUT, BUT FACT THAT THE COMMUNITY OR THE, OR THE COUNCIL MEMBERS? NO, THE COUNCIL, YOU ARE TALKING ABOUT COUNCIL MEMBERS NOT PARTICIPATING BECAUSE MAYBE THEY WERE NOT GETTING THE INFORMATION THEY WANTED.
BUT I COVERED THE CITY FOR THE TWO TERMS OF THE LAST ADMINISTRATION.
AND MOST OF THE TIMES WHEN WE ARE NOT HERE, WE ARE FOLLOWING THE MEETINGS THROUGH THE HTV UH, UH, PRESENTATIONS.
AND I THINK THEY HAVE BEEN PARTICIPATING.
THEY CHALLENGE THE MAYOR, THEY DID EVERYTHING, MANY OF THEM TALK A LOT OF THE ITEMS. SO WE ARE HEARING NEW INFORMATION FROM YOU, THOUGH YOU ARE NOT HERE.
SO I DON'T, I DON'T KNOW THAT IS CONTRADICTORY.
SO I WANT THAT TO BE CLEAR BEFORE THESE CAMERAS, YOU KNOW, REPORT THINGS, WHICH MAKE NO SENSE TO ME.
THE POINT I WAS MAKING IS, YOU'RE GONNA BE PLEASED AND THE COUNCIL'S GONNA BE PLEASED WITH MY OPENNESS.
MEANING THERE WAS NO OPENNESS.
I, I'M GONNA SHARE WITH THEM ALL THE INFORMATION I HAVE.
I'M GONNA ADMIT TO 'EM WE DON'T HAVE ENOUGH INFORMATION.
AND I JUST THINK THAT'S THE WAY MY EXPERIENCE IN AUSTIN AND IN OTHER GOVERNMENTAL BODIES WORKS.
IF THE MORE INFORMATION, THE BETTER, THE GREATER PARTICIPATION, THE BETTER.
AND I THINK THE PUBLIC AND THE COUNCIL MEMBERS ARE GONNA BE PLEASED WITH MY SHARING OF INFORMATION.
IF WE DON'T HAVE THE ANSWER, WE'LL GET IT.
BUT WE'RE GONNA BE VERY YEAH, I SAW YOU.
WE'RE GONNA BE VERY TRANSPARENT.
AND YOU KNOW WHAT, I'M SO PLEASED THAT THE COUNCIL CAME TOGETHER AND AGREED.
LET'S ALLOW FOR MORE INFORMATION.
THANK YOU EVERYONE AND WE'LL HAVE A BETTER PRODUCT.