[PRESENTATIONS]
[00:00:06]
CHAIR RECOGNIZES COUNCIL MEMBER CASTILLO FOR THE FIRST WHO WE HONOR.GOOD AFTERNOON, MAYOR AND COLLEAGUES.
TODAY I AM DELIGHTED TO PRESENT A PROCLAMATION AND BRIEFLY TALK ABOUT A TOPIC CLOSE TO MANY OF OUR HEARTS, WHICH IS OUR, OUR FURRY FRIENDS AND FAMILY, OUR PETS.
THROUGHOUT FEBRUARY, THE DISTRICT H OFFICE HAS BEEN CELEBRATING THE JOY AND RESPONSIBILITY OF PET OWNERSHIP WITH LOVE YOUR PET MONTH.
LOVE YOUR PET MONTH IS A TIME TO REFLECT ON THE IMPORTANCE OF RESPONSIBLE PET OWNERSHIP AND ENSURING THE SAFETY AND WELLBEING OF OUR BELOVED COMPANIONS.
WE'VE BEEN PROUD TO PARTNER WITH BARK ALONG WITH MANY OTHER ORGANIZATIONS, UH, SUCH AS THE HOUSTON HUMANE SOCIETY, HOUSTON PET SET, CV BARRIO DOGS BEST FRIENDS ANIMAL SOCIETY.
TO FACILITATE A SERIES OF EVENTS CELEBRATING LOVE YOUR PET MONTH, YOU CAN FIND OUT MORE ABOUT OUR EVENTS, UH, ON HOUSTON TX.GOV/LOVE YOUR PET.
JOINING US TODAY, WE HAVE DIRECTOR JARED MEERS OF BARK, ALONG WITH A NUMBER OF HIS TEAMMATES AND, UM, A RA DIRECTOR, TINA PAEZ.
AND WE ARE CELEBRATING THE CRUCIAL ROLE BARK PLAYS, WORKING TIRELESSLY TO ENSURE THE WELFARE OF ANIMALS IN OUR COMMUNITY.
BARK HAS FACILITATED THE ADOPTION OF 4,393 PETS.
UM, THERE'S ACTUALLY TWO HERE TODAY THAT ARE UP FOR ADOPTION.
PLEASE JOIN US UP HERE, UM, DIRECTOR AND BARK FOLKS.
WE'VE GOT TWO, TWO PETS HERE WITH US TODAY.
UH, THEY ARE AVAILABLE IF YOU'RE INTERESTED, AND IF YOU WANT TO COME AND SPEND TIME WITH THEM, PLEASE DO.
IN 2023, BARK SPAY AND NEUTERED.
9,322 ANIMALS CONTRIBUTING SIGNIFICANTLY TO POPULATION CONTROL, REDUCING THE NUMBER OF STRAY ANIMALS ON OUR STREETS, AND WITH THE HELP OF OVER 7,200 VOLUNTEER HOURS, BARK ACHIEVED A REMARKABLE SAVE RATE OF 83% IN 2023.
ADDITIONALLY, THEY RESPONDED TO OVER 59,500 CALLS FOR SERVICE, HIGHLIGHTING THE CRITICAL ROLE THEY PLAY IN ADDRESSING A PUBLIC HEALTH AND SAFETY CONCERN RELATED TO ANIMAL WELFARE.
SO THE STATS UNDERSCORE THE IMPORTANCE OF WHY WE ARE CONTINUING TO DO LOVE YOUR PET MONTH.
AND BY CELEBRATING IT AND BY CELEBRATING BARK AND OTHER ORGANIZATIONS, WE, WE CAN COLLECTIVELY PROMOTE RESPONSIBLE PET OWNERSHIP THROUGH EDUCATION, OUTREACH, AND COMMUNITY INITIATIVES.
SO IN HONOR OF LOVE YOUR PET MONTH, A SERIES OF EVENTS DURING FEBRUARY PROMOTING RESPONSIBLE PET OWNERSHIP AND PROVIDING PET CARE RESOURCES TO THE RESIDENTS OF CITY COUNCIL.
DISTRICT H IN THE CITY OF HOUSTON RECOGNIZES THE VITAL ROLE BARK PLAYS IN ANIMAL WELFARE ACROSS THE REGION.
BARK IS THE CITY'S HU CITY'S ANIMAL SHELTER AND ADOPTION FACILITY.
IN ADDITION TO SHELTERING AND PROVIDING VETERINARY CARE TO ALL ANIMALS BROUGHT TO THE SHELTER, BARK WORKS DILIGENTLY TO PLACE THESE ANIMALS IN NEW HOMES.
BARK CARES FOR PET FOSTERING PROGRAMS AND OFFSITE ADOPTION TRAILER, A CITYWIDE TRAP NEW TO RELEASE PROGRAM AND GROUP INDIVIDUAL VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES TO ASSIST SHELTER PETS BARK HAS SEVERAL PROGRAMS AVAILABLE TO ASSIST EXISTING PET OWNERS, WHICH INCLUDE A LOW COST WELLNESS CENTER, CITYWIDE PET REGISTRATION AND FREE HEALTHY PETS HEALTHY STREETS SPAY NEUTER PROGRAM.
BARK'S MISSION IS TO PROMOTE AND PROTECT PUBLIC HEALTH AND SAFETY, AS WELL AS ANIMAL CARE THROUGHOUT SHELTERING PET PLACEMENT PROGRAMS, ANIMAL LAW AND ENFORCEMENT.
AND THEY'RE COMMITTED TO PROMOTING RESPONSIBLE PET OWNERSHIP THROUGH SPAY, NEUTERING, MICROCHIPPING REGISTRATION, AND VACCINATION.
DURING THE JANUARY, 2024 HARD FREEZE BARK.
AS PART OF THE HARRIS COUNTY ANIMAL CRUELTY TASK FORCE RESPONDED TO 174 CALLS PER SERVICE THAT CAME THROUGH THE PAUL'S HELPLINE BARK STAFF WORKED BOTH AT THE SHELTER AND WERE DEPLOYED INTO THE COMMUNITY 24 7 THROUGHOUT THE EVENT TO ENSURE THAT ALL ANIMALS IN THEIR CARE WERE SAFE AND ANY ANIMAL THAT NEEDED ASSISTANCE WOULD BE RESCUED.
AND A TOTAL OF 28 WERE IMPOUNDED AT THE SHELTER AS A RESULT OF FREEZING WEATHER CALLS AND IN CONJUNCTION WITH COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS AND ANIMAL WELFARE AGENCIES BARK STRESSES TO ALL HOUSTON RESIDENTS THAT RESPONSIBLE PET OWNERSHIP IS NOT ONLY THE RIGHT THING TO DO, IT IS THE LAW.
THE CITY OF HOUSTON RECOM COMMENDS BARK FOR THE VITAL ROLE THEY PLAY IN ANIMAL WELFARE ACROSS HOUSTON.
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THEREFORE, I, JOHN WHITMEYER, MAYOR OF THE CITY OF HOUSTON, HEREBY PROCLAIM FEBRUARY 13TH, 2024 IS LOVE YOUR PET MONTH.COUNCIL MEMBER CASTILLO, LET ME JUST MAKE A COUPLE OF EDITORIAL COMMENTS.
FIRST OF ALL, BARK IS ONE OF OUR MOST IMPORTANT DEPARTMENTS AND WE NEED TO SEND MORE LOVE YOUR WAY.
SO THANK YOU FOR YOUR STAFF, YOUR EMPLOYEES.
UH, WE KNOW HOW IMPORTANT YOUR SERVICE IS.
IN MY OTHER FIELD OF PUBLIC SERVICE, I WAS THE VOICE IN AUSTIN OF ANIMAL WELFARE.
NUMEROUS PIECES OF LEGISLATION SUCH AS REGULATING THE PUPPY MILL INDUSTRY, BUT MORE RECENTLY, PASSING LEGISLATION REQUIRING LAW ENFORCEMENT TO TAKE A SIX HOUR DEESCALATION TRAINING.
AND WE STILL MENTION TO LAW ENFORCEMENT THAT THESE ARE FAMILY MEMBERS WHEN THEY ENCOUNTER ONE THAT OFTEN THEY'RE UPSET BECAUSE THEY SEE THE HARM TO THEIR FAMILY MEMBERS.
SO BEEN A HUGE SUCCESS IN REDUCING THE NECESSARY SHOOTING BY LAW ENFORCEMENT OR THE UNNECESSARY SHOOTING OF LAW ENFORCEMENT BY ALLOWING THEM TO KNOW WHEN YOU APPROACH SOMEONE, YOU COME UP ON THE PORCH AND ENCOUNTER A FAMILY PET, A FAMILY MEMBER, THAT YOU NEED TO DEESCALATE IT BACK OFF AND ENSURE THAT FAMILY MEMBER THAT YOU'RE NOT THERE TO HARM ANYONE.
SO THERE'S A LOT OF GOOD WORK HAS BEEN DONE WITH ANIMAL WELFARE, UH, ACTIVISTS, LOVED ONES, AND I WANT TO THANK BART BECAUSE IT'S RIGHT UP THERE NEAR THE TOP OF OUR IMPORTANT SERVICES.
AND I'VE ALSO HEARD VERY GOOD THINGS IN RECENT MONTHS, IN DAYS THAT IT'S, UH, HEADED IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION.
BUT AS I SAID, IT NEEDS RESOURCES AND SOME LOVE FROM THE CITY OF HOUSTON.
MAYOR, THANK YOU SO MUCH, MAYOR, AND I'LL DO, MAYOR, I APPRECIATE YOU.
I JUST WANTED TO THANK, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER CASTILLO FOR RECOGNIZING BART, UH, ON BEHALF OF OUR BARK STAFF, WE DO THANK YOU FOR YOUR PARTNERSHIP AND CONTINUED WORK TO MAKE DISTRICT H AND ANIMAL WELFARE MINDED COMMUNITY, BUT NOT ONLY DISTRICT H UH, THE ENTIRE CITY.
UH, I WISH ALL OF OUR STAFF WERE ABLE TO BE HERE TO RECEIVE THIS PRO PROCLAMATION, BUT I WILL PERSONALLY ENSURE THAT EVERY MEMBER IS MADE AWARE THAT THEIR EFFORTS ARE RECOGNIZED AND APPRECIATED.
THANK YOU, COUNCIL MEMBER CASTILLO, FOR BRINGING THIS FORWARD.
AND WE DEFINITELY WANT TO RECOGNIZE DIRECTOR PEZ FOR ALL THE GREAT WORK THAT SHE DOES.
SO, UH, CONGRATULATIONS ON THE PROCLAMATION AND LOVE YOUR PET AS HIS COUNCIL MEMBER EVAN SHABAZZ FOR A PROCLAMATION TO RANDY WALLACE TO HONOR HIM FOR HIS UNWAVERING COMMITMENT TO EXCELLENCE.
RIGHT? AND BY FOR THE RECORD, I LOVE ANIMALS.
ANYWAY,
UH, WHEREAS RANDY WALLACE HAS BEEN A TENACIOUS FIGURE IN JOURNALISM.
COME COUNCIL MEMBER SHABAZZ, WILL YOU SPEAK IN THE MICROPHONE PLEASE? THANK YOU.
OH, I WAS JUST GONNA USE MY JACKS CHEERLEADER VOICE, BUT I'M GOOD.
WHEREAS RANDY WALLACE HAS BEEN A TENACIOUS FIGURE IN JOURNALISM, HE HAS ILLUMINATED THE PATH OF EXCELLENCE WITH HIS FIRST TIME EMMY ACCOLADES SHOWCASING HIS UNWAVERING DEDICATION DESPITE INITIAL SKEPTICISM IN RADIO MARKETS, HE DISCOVERED HIS CALLING IN HOUSTON PIONEERING GROUNDBREAKING COVERAGE ON CITY UNDER SIEGE AT KRIV FOX 26.
AND WHEREAS RANDY'S INVESTIGATIVE BRILLIANCE EARNED HIM EXTREME AWARDS, INCLUDING THE EDWARD R MURROW AWARD IN 1996 AND THE TITLE OF TELEVISION REPORTER OF THE YEAR BY THE HOUSTON PRESS IN 2005.
AND WHEREAS RANDY'S FIRST ON FOX INVESTIGATIONS HAVE INSPIRED LEGISLATIVE CHANGES AND EXPOSED NATIONWIDE ISSUES, ENRICHING THE FABRIC OF HOUSTON'S COMMUNITY, HIS COMMITMENT TO JUSTICE EXTENDS BEYOND REPORTING EVIDENCE BY HIS COLLABORATION WITH CRIME STOPPERS TO SPOTLIGHT SUSPECTS AND ADVOCATE FOR THE VOICELESS, NOTABLY ABUSED ANIMALS.
HOW ABOUT THAT? AND WHEREAS THE CITY OF HOUSTON RECOGNIZES RANDY WALLACE'S INDELIBLE LEGACY MARKED BY HIS EM, LATENT CAREER INVESTIGATED PROGRESS AND COMPASSIONATE ADVOCACY, HE EMBODIES THE TRUE ESSENCE OF PUBLIC SERVICE, ENRICHING COMMUNITIES, CHAMPIONING THE VULNERABLE AND CATALYZING POSITIVE CHANGE.
[00:10:02]
SAY, UH, THEREFORE, I JOHN WHITMEYER, MAYOR OF THE CITY OF HOUSTON, DO BY HERE PROCLAIM FEBRUARY 13TH, 2024 IS RANDY WALLACE DAY.AND I, AND I'LL AGAIN, TAKE THE LIBERTY TO SAY SOMETHING.
UH, RANDY, YOU AND YOUR TEAM HAVE MADE HOUSTON SAFER AND YOU KNOW, THAT'S MY HIGHEST PRIORITY, PUBLIC SAFETY.
UH, YOU'VE CERTAINLY BEEN A MAJOR CONTRIBUTOR TOWARD MOVING IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION WITH PUBLIC SAFETY.
SO, AND I, I WOULD SUGGEST THE BETTER YOUR BEST DAYS ARE YET IN FRONT OF YOU, WE'RE GONNA MAKE A DIFFERENCE TOGETHER.
YOU WANT IN YOUR ATTENTION,
Y'ALL COME ON UP AND TAKE A PICTURE THE CAMERA ON.
CAN YOU PASS THE CAMERA RIGHT? ALRIGHT.
WHY ARE YOU NOT IN THE PICTURE? REALLY, HE SHOULD BE IN THE PICTURE.
UH, FOR THE FOLKS THAT CAME OUT, SUSAN SCHILLER, WHO USED TO BE MY BOSS, CAME OUT, JIM DUNHAM, WHO WORKED AS MY INVESTIGATIVE PHOTOGRAPHER FOR MORE THAN A DECADE.
TORY ISAIAH ANDY, WHO, WHO MADE THIS HAPPEN.
AND I REALLY APPRECIATE IT AND I APPRECIATE YOU THERE WITH MY THANK YOU.
WE DO HAVE SOMEONE IN THE QUEUE.
RANDY, I JUST WANNA SAY CONGRATULATIONS, WELL DESERVED.
UM, I KNOW IT'S BEEN 35 YEARS, BUT I HOPE YOU GIVE US, UH, MORE YEARS AND, UH, THANK YOU FOR HELPING TO MAKE THIS CITY SAFER AND FOR ALL THAT YOU DO.
AND I TOLD HIM, I THINK ABOUT 10 YEARS AGO, HE FUED ME ABOUT SOMETHING.
BUT LOOK AT, LOOK AT GOD, THANK YOU.
I, NO, LET ME GET, YOU HAD A WHOLE GRUDGES.
THE NEXT PROCLAMATION, THE CHAIR RECOGNIZES COUNCIL MEMBER EVAN SHABAZZ FOR PROCLAMATION TO MONTOYA MURRAY IN HONOR OF HER BEING RECOGNIZED AS THE MLK ORATOR CONTEST WINNER.
I AM SO VERY EXCITED WHEN I SAW THIS YOUNG LADY PERFORM.
AND TO KNOW THAT SHE ATTENDS BLACKSHIRE ELEMENTARY, WHICH IS IN THE DISTRICT OF DESTINATION, I JUST HAD TO ASK HER TO COME FORWARD.
SO I'M GONNA GIVE THE PROCLAMATION FIRST, AND THEN I'M GONNA GIVE HER AN OPPORTUNITY TO GIVE A PART OF HER SPEECH.
YOU ALL WILL BE IN AWE OF HER.
AND SO SHE HAS HER PARENTS AS WELL AS HER PRINCIPAL FROM BLACKSHIRE.
WHEREAS MATOYA MURRAY, A FOURTH GRADER AT BLACKSHIRE ELEMENTARY, HAS DEMONSTRATED EXCEPTIONAL TALENT AND DEDICATION BY EMERGING VICTORIOUS IN A PRESTIGIOUS COMPETITION AMONG 165 STUDENTS FROM 20 HISD SCHOOLS.
AND WHEREAS MONTOYA MURRAY EARNED FIRST PLACE IN THE 28TH ANNUAL MARTIN LUTHER KING JR.
ORATORY COMPETITION, WHICH WAS HELD AT THE HISTORIC ANTIOCH MISSIONARY BAPTIST CHURCH, SHE MESMERIZED AUDIENCES AND JUDGES ALIKE WITH HER SPEECH.
ANSWERING THE QUESTION, HOW WOULD DR. KING REFLECT ON THE 60 YEARS SINCE HIS EYE HAVE A DREAM SPEECH? AND WHEREAS HER PROFOUND UNDERSTANDING IN ELOQUENCE REGARDING DR. MARTIN LUTHER KING JR'S ENDURING LEGACY, NOTABLY REFLECTING ON THE 60 YEARS SINCE HIS ICONIC I HAVE A DREAM SPEECH, HAVE IGNITED INSPIRATION WITHIN US ALL.
AND WHEREAS WE RECOGNIZE THE SIGNIF SIGNIFICANCE OF MONTOYA MURRAY'S ACHIEVEMENT AS A BEACON OF HOPE AND MOTIVATION FOR GENERATIONS TO COME.
AND WHEREAS THE CITY OF HOUSTON CELEBRATES MONTOYA MOORE'S TRIUMPH AND EXTEND OUR HEARTFELT CONGRATULATIONS ON HER REMARKABLE ACCOMPLISHMENT.
THEREFORE, I JOHN WHITMEYER, MAYOR OF THE CITY OF HOUSTON, DO HEREBY PROCLAIM FEBRUARY 13TH, 2024 IS MONTONYA MURRAY DAY, AND I YIELD TO MANALIA
[00:15:01]
AT THIS TIME.HOW I GOT OVER, HOW I GOT OVER MY SOUL LOOKS BACK IN.
WONDER HOW I GOT OVER? I WAS THERE.
YES, I WAS THERE 60 YEARS AGO TO WIN.
IT'S A GREAT CHAMPION OF THE CIVIL RIGHTS MOVEMENT DR. MARTIN LUTHER KING, JR.
THE CROWD WAS MASSIVE AT THE MARCH ON WASHINGTON FIELD.
WERE FREE ARTISTS FROM EVERY WALK OF LIFE.
DR. KING WAS ORIGINALLY SUPPOSED TO SAY A SPEECH WRITTEN BY HIS FORMER ADVISOR, SINCE I HAD JUST SANG I BUKE AND I'VE BEEN SCORED ON THE PODIUM, I WAS STILL CLOSE ENOUGH FOR HIM TO HEAR ME SAY, TELL THEM ABOUT THE DREAM, MARTIN, TELL THEM ABOUT THE DREAM.
IMMEDIATELY MARTIN SLID HIS NUTS TO THE SIDE AND BEGAN TO PREACH HIS EL FINE.
IF DR. KING COULD REFLECT ON THE 60 YEARS, I HAVE A DREAM SPEECH, MARCH'S REFLECTION WOULD BE A CONFESSION OF THE GOODNESS OF GOD.
FIRST, HE WOULD THANK GOD FOR BRINGING US OVER.
HE WOULD SAY, MAHALIA, I KEPT ON DREAMING.
THANK YOU FOR SINGING AT EVERY RALLY IN EVERY MARCH.
KING COULDN'T HELP BUT TO REFLECT ON HOW JOHN LEWIS GATHERED YOUNG ADULTS TOGETHER TO FIGHT FOR CHANGE IN THE SUMMER TO MONTGOMERY MARCH IN 1965.
HE WOULD RECALL HIS HOW LONG, NOT LONG SPEECH HE GAVE AFTER THE MARCH.
HE PREDICTED THAT EQUAL RIGHTS FOR AFRICAN AMERICANS WOULD BE GRANTED.
DR. KING WAS SHOUT, THANK GOD WE MADE IT OVER LESS THAN SIX MONTHS LATER.
PRESIDENT LINDA JOHNSON SIDE THE VOTING RIGHTS ACT, MY SPEECH SPOT DAY MOVEMENT OF EQUALITY, WHICH HELPED CREATE THE CIVIL RIGHTS ACT OF 1964 AND THE VOTING RIGHTS ACT OF 1965 AND DID RACIAL SEGREGATION IN THE UNITED STATES.
BUT THERE IS STILL WORK TO BE DONE GLOBALLY.
DO YOU KNOW HOW MANY SLEEPLESS NIGHTS I HAD? HEY, THANK GOD WE MADE IT OVER.
K WOULD BE THANKFUL FOR THE AWARDS FOR HIS ACHIEVEMENTS.
THE NOBEL PEACE PRIZE IN 1964, THE PRESIDENTIAL MEDAL OF FREEDOM IN 1977 AND THE CONGRESSIONAL GOLD MEDAL IN 1994.
WITH TEASE IN HIS EYES, DR. KING WOULD REFLECT ON THE 60 YEARS SENTENCE.
I HAVE A DREAM SPEECH AND CRY OUT INJUSTICE ANYWHERE IS A THREAT TO JUSTICE EVERYWHERE.
AT THE MARCH ON WASHINGTON, I TAUGHT THE CROWD WITH THIS FAITH WE WOULD BE ABLE TO WORK TOGETHER, PRAY TOGETHER, STRUGGLE TOGETHER, STAND UP FOR FREEDOM TOGETHER, KNOWING THAT WE WOULD BE FREE ONE DAY TODAY WE HAVE REASON FROM THE DARK AND DESOLATE VALLEY OF SEGREGATION TO THE CELEBRATE OF RACIAL JUSTICE.
WE HAVE MADE JUSTICE A REALITY AND MY CHILDREN HAVE CARRIED ON MY LEGACY.
EVEN MY BEAUTIFUL GRANDDAUGHTER HAS HER OWN PLATFORM.
AMERICANS HAVE THE RIGHTS TO GO TO THE SAME RESTAURANTS, MOVIE THEATERS, SCHOOLS, AND CHURCHES.
OBAMA WASN'T JUST A CANDIDATE, BUT BECAME THE FIRST BLACK PRESIDENT.
KABBALA HARRIS, YOU SEE, BECAME THE FIRST FEMALE VP, DR.
KING'S LAST WORDS WILL BE TO YOU.
HE WOULD SAY, MY LIFE IS WORTH SACRIFICING BECAUSE I WAS FIGHTING FOR YOU DESERVE THE RIGHT TO FREE PUBLIC EDUCATION.
YOU DESERVE TATTOO TEACHERS WHO CARE AND NOT JUST WARM BODIES.
WE FOUGHT FOR EQUAL RIGHTS SO THAT YOU CAN HAVE A BLANK CHECK.
SO GO BACK HOME AND CHECK YOUR CASH APP YOU HAVE BEEN GIVEN BACK.
GO BACK TO SCHOOL AND GET A GREAT EDUCATION INSTEAD OF USING AI, ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE TO DO ALL OF YOUR CLASSWORK.
JUST BE I BE INTELLIGENT, BE INTELLIGENT ENOUGH TO KNOW THAT A, BECOME A REALITY OVERNIGHT.
[00:20:01]
YES, THEY MAY HAVE KILLED THE DREAMER, BUT COULDN'T KILL THE DREAM.SHE LOOK GOOD FOR SIXTY'S A PARENT.
WHERE DID SHE PARENT MONTOYA? WE DO HAVE SOME COUNCIL MEMBERS IN THE QUEUE THAT WOULD LIKE TO ADDRESS HER.
OH MY GOD, I THINK SOME OF THE COUNSELORS DON'T.
WE WE DO HAVE SOME COUNCIL MEMBERS IN QUEUE THAT WOULD LIKE TO ADDRESS YOU.
UH, MONTOYA, WHAT AN INCREDIBLE SPEECH.
HOW LONG DID IT TAKE YOU TO LEARN YOUR SPEECH? SOMETIMES, SOMETIMES YOU DID A LOT OF PRACTICING.
WELL, I WILL TELL YOU THAT YOU DID AN INCREDIBLE JOB AND WE ARE SO VERY PROUD OF YOU.
AND, UM, YOUR SPEECH SAID IT ALL.
WE, WE LOVE THAT JOURNEY BACK THROUGH OUR HISTORY AND LOOKING FORWARD, AND YOU DEFINITELY ARE THE DREAM.
AND AND I WISH YOU THE VERY BEST IN ALL THAT YOU DO.
COUNCIL MEMBER, UH, SHABAZZ, THANK YOU FOR BRINGING THIS FORWARD.
UH, I, I HEARD MONTOYA AT THE FOUNTAIN OF PRAISE, UH, DO HER SPEECH.
AND I CALLED THE CHURCH AND SAID, DOES SHE LIVE IN DISTRICT K? BECAUSE I'VE GOTTA HAVE HER AT CITY COUNCIL.
AND THEY TOLD ME SHE LIVED IN DISTRICT D, BUT SHE WOR WORSHIPS IN DISTRICT K.
SO WE, WE ARE SO PROUD OF YOU AND, AND YOU DEFINITELY ARE THE DREAM.
WE HAVE A COUPLE OF COUNCIL MEMBERS THAT WOULD LIKE TO ADDRESS YOU.
WE'LL START WITH, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER CARTER, I JUST WANTED TO SAY YOU ARE BRILLIANT AND YOU ARE BOLD AND YOU ARE SO BEAUTIFUL.
YOU KNOW, I WAS, THE OTHER THING IS, DO YOU NEED A JOB? BECAUSE WE NEED YOU AROUND
WHERE DID YOU GET THAT LOVELY DRESS? MY LIBRARIAN GOT IT FOR ME.
WELL, SHE DID A FANTASTIC JOB BECAUSE YOU LOOK GORGEOUS AND YES, THANK YOU FOR COMING FROM THE DISTRICT OF DESTINATION TO VISIT US TODAY.
AND THANK YOU COUNCIL MEMBER FOR BRINGING HER.
COUNCIL MEMBER THOMAS, OUT OF THE MOUTH OF BABES.
UM, MOM, DAD, THIS, I MEAN, SO IMPRESSIVE.
UH, AND I THINK IT'S A TESTAMENT TO, UH, LEARNING THAT HAPPENS AT HOME, VALUES THAT HAPPEN AT HOME, RIGHT? AND THEN WE GET TO DEMONSTRATE THAT.
SO SWEET BABY, YOU GIVE ME HOPE, UH, YOU REMIND ME THAT THE DREAM, UH, WE ALL HAVE A RESPONSIBILITY IN THAT.
SO CONTINUE, UH, DOING WHAT YOU'RE DOING, CONTINUE BEING WHO YOU ARE, AND MOM AND DAD CONTINUE POURING INTO HER.
SHE HAS A, A VERY BRIGHT FUTURE AHEAD OF HER.
SO THANK YOU FOR YOUR CONTRIBUTION TO OUR CITY.
I WANT TO COMMEND THIS YOUNG LADY.
I HAD A CONVERSATION WITH YOUR PASTOR, PASTOR REMA WRIGHT AND I ABOUT YOU.
AND, UH, JUST A PHENOMENAL HOW OUTSTANDING YOU ARE.
AND I MUST SAY I DID PUT SOME NOTES DOWN, UH, THAT I WROTE BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, WE AS PREACHERS, WE ALWAYS TAKING NOTES AND I GOT THE NOTES OR THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE AI AND THE BI.
ALL RIGHT? SO I THINK THAT'S A COMMON COMBINATION TO THE PARENTS.
YOU SET IN A GREAT EXAMPLE OF WHAT CAN BE IF, UH, WE ALL PARTICIPATE.
AND I JUST BELIEVE IT, WHEN IT'S A FAMILY STRUCTURE, THE SKY IS THE LIMIT.
JUST, UM, I HAVE A BABY GIRL THAT I WANT HER TO GROW UP TO BE JUST LIKE YOU
UM, AND TO THE PARENTS, I THINK IT IS A, A DEFINITELY A TESTAMENT TO WHAT Y'ALL ARE DOING.
UH, IT'S APPRECIATED AS A FATHER OF FOUR AND BABY GIRL, KEEP DOING WHAT YOU'RE DOING 'CAUSE THE DREAM IS STILL ALIVE.
AND I DO WANT TO, UM, ASK THE PRINCIPAL IF SHE WILL INTRODUCE HERSELF, BECAUSE I KNOW YOU ARE VERY PROUD OF ONE OF YOUR STUDENTS.
WELL, GOOD AFTERNOON, LADIES AND GENTLEMEN.
SHAKAR STREED THOMAS, THE PROUD PRINCIPAL OF BLACKSHIRE ELEMENTARY, WHERE THE PRIDE OF THIRD WARD BEGINS
WELL, I, I, WE DEFINITELY SEE THAT THE, UH, PRINCIPAL IS POURING INTO HER STUDENTS.
SO CONGRATULATIONS TO YOU ALL.
AND AGAIN, THANK YOU COUNCIL MEMBER SBA FOR BRINGING HER FORWARD.
AND, UH, WE LOOK FORWARD TO HEARING MORE FROM ALIA MURRAY IN THE NEAR FUTURE.
THANK YOU SO MUCH, MAYOR, UH, FOR ALLOWING US TO MAKE HER LAST BECAUSE I KNEW SHE WAS GONNA BE A HARD ACT TO FOLLOW.
AND SO CERTAINLY I AM SO VERY PROUD OF YOU AND JUST CALL ON ME IF YOU NEED ME TO COME FORWARD AND HELP YOU WITH ANYTHING.
BUT I'LL PROBABLY BE CALLING ON YOU.
AND BY THE WAY, YOU LOOK REALLY GOOD FOR
[00:25:01]
60 YEARS OLD.I'D, I'D LIKE TO, UH, THANK YOU FOR BRINGING SOME HAPPINESS TO OUR LIFE TODAY AND LET YOU KNOW AT, AT A VERY YOUNG AGE, YOU ARE A ROLE MODEL BECAUSE THERE'S YOUNG STUDENTS ALL ACROSS HOUSTON THAT ARE LOOKING UP TO YOU TODAY AND USING YOU AS A ROLE MODEL FOR WHAT BEING OUT OF TROUBLE, GETTING GOOD EDUCATION BRINGS IN LIFE.
AND, UH, WE THANK YOU AND IT ALSO REMINDS US, THANK YOU FOR REMINDING US WHY WE ALL RUN FOR OFFICE, IS TO PREPARE HOUSTON AND THIS GREAT STATE AND COUNTRY FOR THE NEXT GENERATION.
YOU'VE REALLY ENLIGHTENED US TODAY AND WE'RE BETTER BECAUSE YOU WERE HERE TODAY.
SHABAZZ, DID YOU WANT TO INTRODUCE THE PARENTS? GOOD AFTERNOON EVERYONE.
UM, I AM THE MOTHER OF MU MONTOYA, MURRAY
UM, I'M JUST GRATEFUL FOR THE OPPORTUNITY AND THANK YOU FOR SUCH A WARM WELCOME, ENCOURAGING WORDS, UM, SPOKEN TO HER.
UM, I FEEL THAT THE EXAMPLE DOES START AT HOME.
YES, IT DOES START AT HOME, UM, RAISE THE CHILD IN THE WAY THAT THEY SHOULD GO AND THEY WILL NOT DEPART FROM IT.
UM, SO, UM, THANK YOU ALL FOR THE INVITE.
THANK YOU AGAIN FOR YOUR ENCOURAGING WORDS.
AND YES, SHE IS A PROUD STUDENT OF THE BLACK SHERE, UM, ELEMENTARY, WHERE DOC T AS WE AFFECTIONATELY CALL HER, IS THE PRINCIPAL.
[2:00 P.M. – INVOCATION AND PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE]
YES.UH, IF I COULD ASK EVERYONE IN THE AUDIENCE AND THE COUNCIL TO JOIN ME IN A MOMENT OF MEDITATION.
I'VE BEEN ASKED TO GIVE, UH, THE PRAYER TODAY OUTTA RESPECT FOR OUR DIVERSITY OF FAITHS.
I WOULD ASK EVERYONE TO TAKE A COUPLE OF MINUTES TO GO TO YOUR CREATOR OR YOUR FAITH IN YOUR OWN PERSONAL WAY.
[ROLL CALL AND ADOPT THE MINUTES OF THE PREVIOUS MEETING]
MADAM SECRETARY, WILL YOU PLEASE CALL THE ROLE MAYOR WHITMEYER, PRESENT.COUNCIL MEMBER FLICKINGER PRESENT.
COUNCILMAN CASTEX TATUM? HERE.
COUNCILMAN PLUM WILL BE ASKING, COUNCIL MEMBER ALCORN HERE NEED A MOTION TO ADOPT THE MINUTES OF AUGUST 29TH AND 30TH.
ALL IN FAVOR OPPOSED? MOTION CARRIES.
[PUBLIC SPEAKERS]
AND GENTLEMEN, WE HAVE A VERY LONG LIST OF SPEAKERS TODAY BECAUSE WE[00:30:01]
HAVE MORE THAN 150 MINUTES WORTH.THE RULES REQUIRE US TO ONLY GIVE EACH OF YOU ONE MINUTE.
EVEN IF YOU'VE SIGNED UP FOR TWO OR THREE, I'LL DO MY BEST TO LET YOU FINISH YOUR STATEMENTS, BUT I NEED YOU TO WORK WITH ME AND TRY TO KEEP YOUR TESTIMONY, TESTIMONY SHORT AND TO THE POINT.
UM, CHAIR RECOGNIZES, COUNCIL MEMBER ALCORN ALCORN.
I MOVE TO SUSPEND THE RULES TO BRING LIZ HANKS.
ELIZABETH HANKS, UM, TO THE TWO MINUTE LIST RIGHT BEHIND CHRISTINE PARKER.
I MOVE TO SUSPEND THE RULES TO, TO MOVE JACOB CLEMENT UP TO, I I THINK MARTA'S GONNA HAVE TO TELL ME.
I COULDN'T FOLLOW EXACTLY WHERE YOU SAID.
UH, AFTER, UH, JUSTIN MCMURTRY.
I MOVE TO SUSPENDING RULES TO MOVE FRED WOODS TO IN TO THE TOP OF THE TWO MINUTE IN FRONT OF NOREEN MUHAMMAD.
AND THEN AFTER COUNCILOR DAVIS.
I, I MOVED TO SUSPEND THE RULE THAT I WOULD, WE WOULD MOVE REVEREND ELMO JOHNSON TO THE TOP OF THE THREE MINUTE LIST ON THE SECOND MOTION MADE.
SECONDED THOSE IN FAVOR? THOSE OPPOSED.
YOU ADDING, YOU'RE ADDING KIM.
I DIDN'T EVER FIND THAT OTHER ONE.
MAY THE SECRETARY PLEASE CALL OUR FIRST SPEAKER MARIO MARTINEZ, TO BE FOLLOWED BY ALEX MCDONALD.
SOMEBODY'S ALREADY BROUGHT KIND OF NERVE WRACKING
HELLO, MY NAME IS MARIO MARTINEZ.
I'M WITH TEXAS PRO GRADING AND I WAS CONTRACTED BY TNT, UH, IN A JOINT VENTURE TO DO THE EPO CONTRACT.
AND I'M HERE REGARDING PAYMENT ISSUE.
I HAVEN'T GOT PAID SINCE OCTOBER.
I'M TRYING TO SEE WHAT WAS THE DELAY.
I KNOW 'CAUSE THERE'S SOME CORRUPT WHAT WAS GOING ON, BUT WE HAVE NOTHING TO DO WITH IT.
AND I JUST WANNA KNOW BASICALLY WHAT THE TIME PERIOD LOOKS LIKE.
UH, WE WORKED AROUND THE CLOCK, UH, 12 HOUR DAYS, 14 HOUR DAYS, SOMETIMES NIGHTTIME TO TRY TO GET THIS RESOLVED.
UH, WE TOOK PRIDE IN OUR WORK.
I MEAN, I GOT PROBABLY $30,000 A MONTH ON OVERHEAD AND IT'S LIKE I'M GETTING CHARGED INTEREST RATE, LATE FEES.
UH, I GOT VENDORS THAT ARE CALLING ME EVERY DAY AND I TRY TO GET SOME TYPE OF ANSWER.
I DID WANNA JUST, UM, RE ASK THE CITY ATTORNEY.
HAVE WE MADE ANY PROGRESS? I KNOW WE'VE TALKED ABOUT THIS WEEK AFTER WEEK.
UM, WE'VE HAD CONTRACTORS COMING UP ASKING WHEN THEY ARE GOING TO GET PAID.
WE KNOW THERE'S AN OIG INVESTIGATION, UM, BEFORE THE PEOPLE THAT ARE NOT INVOLVED, UM, WHEN CAN THEY EXPECT TO EITHER HEAR SOMETHING FROM, UH, THE INVESTIGATION AND WHEN CAN THEY EXPECT PAYMENT? BECAUSE WE KNOW THAT THEY HAVE RESPONSIBILITIES FOR THEIR STAFF AND, AND, AND BILLS AS WELL.
THE ONES THAT ARE NOT PART OF THE INVESTIGATION HAVE ALREADY BEEN FORWARDED TO HPW FOR PAYMENT.
UM, AND SO THEY'RE OUT OF OUR HANDS AT THIS POINT.
HPW IS MAKING SURE, MY UNDERSTANDING IS HPW IS ENSURING THE WORK WAS DONE AND DONE PROPERLY SO THEY CAN ISSUE THE PAYMENT.
BUT THOSE HAVE BEEN SENT TO HPW.
[00:35:01]
ONLY DEALING WITH THE ONES THAT WE THINK ARE QUESTIONABLE.UH, MAYOR, I DON'T KNOW IF WE COULD MAYBE ASK HPW FOR AN UPDATE ON THIS BECAUSE WE HAVE THE VENDORS THAT ARE COMING WEEK AFTER WEEK ASKING FOR PAYMENT.
UM, I'VE, I'VE, UH, SPOKEN TO THE CITY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE AND FINANCE DEPARTMENT.
EVERYONE INVOLVED URGED THEM TO EXPEDITE THESE, BUT THE DISCUSSION WAS THAT IT'S AN ONGOING INVESTIGATION EVEN INVOLVING OUTSIDE AGENCIES.
AND UNFORTUNATELY SOME OF THE, THE HARD WORKERS THAT GOT CAUGHT UP IN THIS ARE CAUGHT UP IN IT.
BUT, UH, THE DOCUMENTATION IS BEING REQUIRED MORE THAN JUST A VERBAL EXPRESSION THAT THEY DID THE WORK.
THERE'S SOME STATEMENTS THAT COME IN AND, AND JUST SHOW THE FINAL AMOUNT OF WORK WITHOUT ANY DOCUMENTATION AS TO THE LOCATION AND HOURS AND WORK USED.
SO, UH, THE BEST I THINK WE CAN DO AT THIS TIME IS, IS LET EVERYONE KNOW WE'RE AWARE OF THE PROBLEM.
CITY ATTORNEYS ON TOP OF IT, AND THE INSPECTOR GENERAL HAS BEEN INSTRUCTED TO DO THEIR WORK, THEIR QUALITY WORK AS, AS QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE.
SO, I'M SORRY, I'M, I THINK IT'S OUR HANDS ARE TIED BECAUSE IT'S AN ONGOING INVESTIGATION AND THAT'S THE RESPONSE THAT WE'VE GOTTEN AT THE TOP.
SO I GUESS THAT MY OTHER QUESTION WOULD BE, WHAT WOULD BE OUR RESPONSIBILITY LEGALLY IF THESE, UM, CONTRACTORS ARE WAITING FOR PAYMENT AND THEY GET SUED? 'CAUSE WE HAVE SEVERAL OF THEM SAYING THAT THEY ARE BEING SUED.
UM, WHAT, WHAT'S GOING TO BE OUR RESPONSIBILITY AS A CITY, UM, FOR LATE FEES AND, AND PEOPLE THAT ARE BEING SUED? I THINK WE HAVE TO CROSS THAT PATH AS WE SEE ON AN INDIVIDUAL BASIS IN THE MERITS OF THEIR CLAIM.
AND, UH, IT MAY HAVE DONE, BEEN DONE EXACTLY PROPERLY CORRECT WITH HARD WORK, BUT AN INVESTIGATION IS AN INVESTIGATION.
AND CERTAINLY WHEN WE'RE INSTRUCTED OR REQUESTED BY THE INVESTIGATORS TO ALLOW THEM TO DO THEIR WORK, I DON'T THINK WE HAVE ANY CHOICE.
AND THEN IF THERE'S LIABILITY, WE'LL HAVE TO DEAL WITH IT AND SEE IF IT HAS MERIT AT THE TIME.
BUT, UM, I'M KIND OF PARAPHRASING OR REPORTING TO YOU WHAT THE CITY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE REPORTED AS WELL AS THE INSPECTOR GENERAL.
IT'S, IT'S A BAD SITUATION, BUT THERE WAS A, THERE WOULD BE APPEARANCE OF SOME BAD PLAYERS AND I THINK THAT'S WHAT THE INSPECTOR GENERAL'S TRYING TO DETERMINE.
AGAIN, I DON'T ELABORATE, BUT WITH OUTSIDE AGENCIES AS WELL THAT HAVE BEEN ASKED TO, UH, FOR US TO STAND DOWN AND LET 'EM DO THEIR WORK.
SO THANK YOU FOR PREPARING COUNCIL MEMBER ALCORN.
UH, THE MAYOR PROTE PRETTY MUCH COVERED IT, BUT IF HE'S TALKING ABOUT PAYING INTEREST AND YOU KNOW, THAT MIGHT BE THE CITY'S RESPONSIBILITY AND UP IF WE'RE WE'RE ASKING PEOPLE TO WAIT AND, YOU KNOW, WHEN WE DO END UP PAYING THEM, WE KIND OF GOT A TIME TO MAKE UP FOR 'EM.
I HOPE THAT LEGAL AND WHOEVER'S INVOLVED, WE CONSIDER THAT AS WELL.
WE'LL CERTAINLY DO OUR BEST AND WILL COMMIT THAT THE GOOD ACTORS WILL BE MADE WHOLE.
THAT'S ABOUT AS A COMPLETE STATEMENT AS I CAN MAKE.
GOOD AFTERNOON MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL.
AS A BOY SCOUT, I LEARNED THAT PEOPLE CAN ONLY LIVE THREE WEEKS WITHOUT FOOD.
YESTERDAY I HEARD THE CHILDREN HAVE NOW DIED FROM HUNGER IN GAZA.
THIS IS NOT STARVATION BECAUSE OF THE CLIMATE.
THIS IS NOT STARVATION, BECAUSE OF POVERTY.
THIS IS A PLANNED AND EXECUTED BOMBING AND STARVATION CAMPAIGN AGAINST CIVILIANS, HALF OF THEM CHILDREN.
AND UNLIKE A FIRING SQUAD OR GAS CHAMBER, WHERE ONE'S DEATH COMES WITHIN MINUTES, BOMBING AND STARVING PEOPLE FOR WEEKS IS A FAR MORE HORRIFIC FORM OF MURDER.
AND INSTEAD OF CONDEMNING THESE ACTIONS, OUR PRESIDENT HAS VETOED CEASE FIRE RESOLUTIONS.
AND CONGRESS HAS PASSED, OR SENATE HAS PASSED ADDITIONAL FUNDING, UH, TO THIS CAMPAIGN.
IT'S TIME THAT WE AS HOUSTONIANS BREAK THE SILENCE AND JOIN 48 OTHER AMERICAN CITIES IN STANDING FOR A CEASEFIRE AND IMMEDIATE AID TO END THIS CRIMINAL STARVATION OF CIVILIANS, I ASK THIS COUNCIL TO PASS SUCH A RESOLUTION.
SAID, WE ARE CONFRONTED WITH THE FIERCE URGENCY OF NOW IN THIS UNFOLDING CONUNDRUM OF LIFE AND HISTORY.
THERE IS SUCH A THING AS BEING TOO LATE.
NEXT MARIAH CRUZ IS NOT PRESENT.
CHRISTINE PARKER, ARE YOU MARIAH CHRISTINE PARKER? YES.
[00:40:01]
TO BE FOLLOWED BY ELIZABETH HANKS.I'M A MOM AND A 26 YEAR RESIDENT OF THE HOUSTON HEIGHTS.
UM, I'VE SEEN MANY CHANGES IN THE HEIGHTS OVER THOSE 26 YEARS, BUT ONE THAT HAS BEEN THE CONSTANT IS THE WALKABILITY OF THE NEIGHBORHOOD.
UM, I AM HERE TO STATE MY OPPOSITION TO REMOVING THE SAFETY IMPROVEMENTS THAT HAVE BEEN MADE TO 11TH STREET.
UM, THOSE IMPROVEMENTS ARE JUST A COUPLE OF BLOCKS FROM MY HOUSE AND I REALLY APPRECIATE THAT THEY WERE PUT IN TO REDUCE FATALITIES.
NUMBER ONE, TO REDUCE INJURIES TO PEDESTRIANS AND TO REDUCE VEHICULAR ACCIDENTS AS WELL.
I DRIVE UP AND DOWN 11TH EVERY DAY.
I'VE NOT HAD ANY INCONVENIENCE TO MY DRIVING, BUT WHAT I SEE EVERY DAY IS THE PROTECTIONS THAT ARE AFFORDED TO MOMS WITH STROLLERS, TO KIDS WALKING HOME FROM SCHOOL TO FAMILIES ON BIKES.
AND THEY REALLY ADD TO THE CHARACTER OF OUR NEIGHBORHOOD, WHICH IS BASED AROUND COMMUNITY, BASED AROUND WALKABILITY.
BIKEABILITY, I APPRECIATE THAT IT'S REDUCING THE NUMBER OF CARS THAT WE HAVE ON 11TH STREET, AND I JUST URGE YOU TO, UM, RETAIN, KEEP THOSE SAFETY IMPROVEMENTS CONSISTENT WITH WHAT MAYOR WHITMEYER JUST SAID ABOUT HIS HIGHEST PRIORITY OF PUBLIC SAFETY, IMPROVING PUBLIC SAFETY.
IT'S A UNIQUE NEIGHBORHOOD AND THE ATTRACTIVENESS OF THAT NEIGHBORHOOD IS DIFFERENT IN HOUSTON BECAUSE WE CAN WALK AND WE THAT TIME HAS COMMUNITY DO SO SAFELY.
NEXT, ELIZABETH HANKS BE FOLLOWED BY FRED WOODS.
I'M ALSO A RESIDENT IN THE GREATER HEIGHTS.
UM, I USUALLY ADVOCATE AROUND, UM, GUN SAFETY AND GUN VIOLENCE PREVENTION, BUT HERE TODAY I'M TALKING IN MY PERSONAL CAPACITY ABOUT A DIFFERENT TYPE OF SAFETY, SAFETY OF OUR ROADWAYS.
I HAVE A 6-YEAR-OLD AND A 10-YEAR-OLD, AND WE MOVED, UM, BACK TO HOUSTON AFTER MANY YEARS OF LIVING IN LONG BEACH AND CAMBRIDGE, MASSACHUSETTS AND, UM, WASHINGTON, DC AND NEW YORK.
AND WE WANTED TO MOVE BACK TO A NEIGHBORHOOD IN HOUSTON THAT WAS WALKABLE AND WE WERE TOLD, UM, MONTROSE AND THE HEIGHTS ARE YOUR OPTIONS.
WE'VE BEEN THERE FOR EIGHT YEARS AND WE DO LOVE THE HEIGHTS, BUT ONE THING I WILL NOT ALLOW MY GIRLS TO DO IS BIKE ANYWHERE ON 20TH STREET, 11TH STREET, STU WOOD, YALE HEIGHTS BOULEVARD BECAUSE THE TRAFFIC IS JUST TOO FAST AND IT'S TOO DANGEROUS.
SO ALTHOUGH WE HAVE THIS BEAUTIFUL WALKABLE COMMUNITY, UM, MY KIDS JUST DON'T GET TO HAVE THE CHILDHOOD THAT I HAD WHEN I WAS GROWING UP OUT IN THE SUBURBS WHERE IT'S REALLY VERY SAFE TO BE OUT ON THE SIDEWALKS AND CROSSING THE STREETS.
AND SO I AM IN FAVOR OF THE IMPROVEMENTS ON 11TH STREET.
YOUR TIME HAS EXPIRED AND WE'D LIKE TO KEEP THEM.
WE FOLLOWED BY MAUREEN MUHAMMAD.
EITHER ONE, WHICHEVER ONE YOU PREFER.
GOOD AFTERNOON, MAYOR AND COUNCIL.
UH, WANT TO THANK MY DISTRICT B COUNCILWOMAN? UH, I'M HERE TO FOLLOW UP ON A REQUEST, UH, FOR A HIGHER LEVEL OF COMMUNICATION BETWEEN OUR HOUSTON PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT, IN PARTICULAR, THE TRANSPORTATION AND DRAINAGE OPERATIONS, AND THE RESIDENTS OF NORTHWOOD MANOR.
LIKE MANY THROUGHOUT HOUSTON, NORTHWOOD MANOR RESIDENTS ARE TIRED OF FLOODING.
STORM WATER ACCUMULATES IN OUR NEIGHBORHOOD, UH, STREETS CAUSING HOMES TO BECOME FLOODED WITHOUT THERE BEING A NAME STORM LIKE TROPICAL STORM AMELDA, UH, OR HURRICANE HARVEY.
SO YOU CAN IMAGINE OUR EXCITEMENT, UH, WHEN WE LEARNED THAT THERE WAS A SWAT PROJECT TARGETED TO IMPROVING OUR NEIGHBORHOOD STORM WATER MANAGEMENT, UH, UPSIZING THE DRAINS, REPLACING THE OUTFALLS AND POSITIVELY IMPACTING OUR QUALITY OF LIFE.
THE STATUS FOR THE PROJECTS HAS CHANGED A FEW TIMES WITH STAGES LISTED AS UNDERSTUDY FINALIZED FOR IMPLEMENTATION, APPROVED FOR IMPLEMENTATION IN DESIGN, ALL WITHOUT SUPPORTING DETAIL TO UNDERSTAND THE MEANING, THE SCOPE OF WORK, AND THE TIMELINE OF EACH STAGE.
[00:45:01]
YOU CAN FINISH UP YOUR, UM, YOUR STATEMENT.UM, WHEN REQUESTS, UH, WE REQUEST A CONTINUED DIALOGUE BETWEEN OUR COMMUNITY AND THE PROJECT TEAM, OR AT LEAST SOMEONE FROM PUBLIC WORKS THAT CAN BRING ANSWERS TO OUR QUESTIONS AND UPDATE US AS THE STATUS OF THE PROJECTS MOVES FORWARD UNTIL CONSTRUCTION IS COMPLETED.
THE CURRENT PROCESS OF FIELDING QUESTIONS AND OBTAINING INFORMATION THROUGH COUNCIL MEMBERS IS EFFICIENT AND INEFFECTIVE.
IT FOSTERS A LAG AND INCREASE AMBIGUITY, WHICH FURTHER ADDS TO OUR FRUSTRATIONS, A LACK OF UNDERSTANDING AND REFLECTS POORLY ON THE CITY OF HOUSTON.
NOW MAYOR, I WANT YOUR ADMINISTRATION TO BE SUCCESSFUL.
UM, YOU'VE IDENTIFIED AND ACKNOWLEDGED GAPS IN CERTAIN DEPARTMENTS, UH, PERTAINING TO A LACK OF COMMUNITY INPUT, COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT AND INTERDEPARTMENT COLLABORATION, THEREBY WASTING VALUABLE TIME AND RESOURCES.
UH, THIS IS A MULTI-BILLION DOLLAR SERVICE ENTITY.
HOW CAN YOU SERVE PEOPLE THAT YOU REFUSE TO SPEAK DIRECTLY WITH? UH, I'M CALLING ON YOU, MAYOR WHITMEYER, TO APPOINT AN INDIVIDUAL OR INDIVIDUALS SOLELY TASKED WITH COMMUNITY OUTREACH WITHIN THE PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT TO BRIDGE THAT GAP.
COUNCILOR EVAN SHABAZZ, COUNCIL MEMBER EVANS SHABAZZ.
YOU HAVE BROUGHT UP A VERY RELEVANT POINT, AND I HEAR THIS ALL THE TIME.
THE LACK OF ENGAGEMENT OF LETTING PEOPLE KNOW WHAT'S GOING ON IN THEIR NEIGHBORHOODS, PEOPLE'S WATER AND, AND, AND THINGS HAVE BEEN TURNED OFF IN THEIR NEIGHBORHOODS AND THEY HAVE NO CLUE UNTIL THEY GO AND TRY TO CUT THE WATER ON THAT IS TOTALLY UNACCEPTABLE.
AND SO WE ARE GONNA CERTAINLY HAVE TO DO BETTER WITH ADVISING PEOPLE OF WHAT IS GOING ON BECAUSE SOME PEOPLE ARE, ARE IN SOME LIFE THREATENING SITUATIONS AND CANNOT GO WITHOUT WATER.
PEOPLE THAT MAY BE ON DIALYSIS OR OTHER LIFE SUPPORTING MACHINES.
SO CERTAINLY, I REALLY APPRECIATE YOU BRINGING THAT TO THE FOREFRONT.
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR WORDS, MR. WOODS.
I'LL WORK WITH YOUR COUNCIL MEMBER AND WE'LL REDOUBLE OUR EFFORTS IN YOUR COMMUNITY.
SO LET'S STAY IN CONSTANT TOUCH TILL THAT HAPPENS.
THANK YOU FOR BEING, I I I REALLY WOULD LIKE TO HAVE, UM, SOMEONE THAT'S TASKED WITH MOVING THESE PROJECTS ALONG, COME TO THE COMMUNITY AND SPEAK WITH THEM ABOUT THE STAGES OF THE PROJECT.
I MEAN, YOU'RE, UM, YOU'RE CAUSING INDIVIDUAL NEIGHBORS, UH, UH, HOMEOWNERS, UH, TO HAVE ISSUES WITH GETTING TO THEIR HOME.
YOU'RE BLOCKING THEIR STREETS, YOU'RE TEARING UP THEIR YARDS, BUT NO ONE'S TALKING TO THEM.
AND SO IT REALLY IS IMPERATIVE THAT THERE'S A DIALOGUE.
YOU WOULDN'T HAVE A CONTRACTOR IN YOUR HOUSE, UH, JUST GO THROUGH YOUR HOUSE AND AND, AND DO A RENOVATION WITHOUT TALKING TO YOU, RIGHT? SURE.
SOMEONE NEEDS TO BRING THE STAKEHOLDERS TOGETHER AND HAVE A DIALOGUE.
WE ALL KNOW PUBLIC WORKS CAN DO A BETTER JOB AND YOU'RE MAKING SOME VERY VALID POINTS.
NEXT REEN MUHAMMAD BE FOLLOWED BY A AND MUHAMMAD RESPECTED COUNCIL MEMBERS.
I AM A HOUSTON MOM AND EDUCATOR, BUT TODAY, INSTEAD OF ADDRESSING YOU ON THE ISSUE OF STAFF SHORTAGES IN OUR HOUSTON SCHOOLS OR THE NEED FOR STATEWIDE SCHOLARSHIPS, I'M UNABLE TO CONTINUE BUSINESS AS NORMAL BECAUSE NOTHING IS NORMAL ABOUT LIVING THROUGH A GENOCIDE AND NOW WITNESSING THE FINAL STAGE OF IT.
TODAY, WE HONORED A SWEET LITTLE GIRL FOR FOLLOWING IN THE FOOTSTEPS OF DR. KING.
BUT IF YOU DO NOT CALL FOR A CEASEFIRE AND PUT PRESSURE ON PRESIDENT BIDEN TO DO THE SAME.
YOUR SILENCE TELLS ALL HOUSTONIANS, ALL AMERICANS, THAT ONLY ONE KIND OF PEOPLE'S LIVES MATTER.
ADVOCATING FOR LIFE AND PEACE OVER WAR AND HATE SHOULD NEVER BE CONSIDERED HARMFUL OR WRONG.
WE ARE SETTING A DANGEROUS PRECEDENT IN OUR CITY LIFE.
LIBERTY INEQUALITY ARE THE FOUNDATION FOR AMERICAN VALUES.
AND WHEN YOU FLIP THE NARRATIVE AND ABSTAIN FROM CALLING FOR A CEASEFIRE, A 6-YEAR-OLD WA GETS STABBED TO DEATH 26 TIMES IN HIS APARTMENT.
A 23-YEAR-OLD ZACHARIA IN AUSTIN GETS STABBED IN THE RIBS, ATTENDING PROTESTS.
PLEASE CALL FOR A CEASEFIRE IMMEDIATELY.
I AM A 10-YEAR-OLD PROUD MUSLIM AMERICAN.
[00:50:01]
TO ASK YOU TO SPEND ON EDUCATION, NOT A GENOCIDE.MY MOM IS AN EDUCATOR AND WE CARE A LOT ABOUT TEACHERS IN OUR HOME.
HOUSTON SCHOOLS ARE SERIOUSLY STRUGGLING WITH TEACHERS BURNING OUT AND LEAVING TO FIND BETTER PAYING JOBS.
WHEN I HEAR THAT THE US HAS $39 MILLION TO BOMB INNOCENT PEOPLE IN ZA BUT CANNOT RAISE TEACHER SALARIES, GIVE MORE RESOURCES TO SCHOOLS, MAKE COLLEGE MORE AFFORDABLE, OR HELP PEOPLE PAY OFF STUDENT LOANS, IT MAKES ME VERY FRUSTRATED.
CAN YOU IMAGINE PUTTING MILLIONS OF SCHOOLS DOLLARS INTO OUR SCHOOLS IN HOUSTON? WE WOULD BECOME SO SMART THAT EVEN HARVARD WOULD WANT TO OPEN A CAMPUS HERE.
BUT JOKES ASIDE, WE NEED GOOD EDU EDUCATION SO THAT WE CAN GROW UP TO LEAD THE WORLD IN A BETTER WAY WHERE GENOCIDES ARE NOT OVERLOOKED, WHERE LEADERS AND MEDIA DON'T DISCRIMINATE AGAINST AN ENTIRE COMMUNITY WHERE WE DON'T PUT POLITICAL AGENDA INTO OUR TEXTBOOKS, WHERE WE SPEND MORE OF OUR MONEY ON AMERICAN CITIZENS AND LESS ON WARS ALL OVER THE WORLD CITY COUNCIL, I LEAVE YOU EXPIRE.
I LEAVE YOU WITH THREE REQUESTS.
ONE REPRESENT ME, A DIVERSE HOUSTONIAN AND PLEASE STOP PRESIDENT BIDEN TO STOP FUNDING A GENOCIDE.
TWO, REPRESENT ME, A DEDICATED STUDENT AND PLEASE INVEST MORE MONEY IN OUR TEACHER SALARIES AND IMPROVING EDUCATION IN TEXAS.
THREE, REPRESENT ME, THE DAUGHTER OF AN EDUCATOR AND SEND STRONG PEOPLE TO FIGHT FOR TEACHERS INSTEAD OF SENDING STRONG PEOPLE TO COMMIT CRIMES FOR ISRAEL.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME AND FREE PALESTINE.
UH, NEXT RANIA, OUR AYA MUHAMMAD, MEMBERS OF THE HOUSTON CITY COUNCIL.
MY NAME IS RANIA AND I'M IN THIRD GRADE.
THERE ARE MANY ISSUES I NEED TO TALK TO YOU ABOUT, BUT WHILE I TALK ABOUT THEM, CHILDREN AND GAZA WILL BE KILLED.
SO CLEARLY THIS TOPIC IS MORE URGENT.
DO YOU KNOW WHAT RAFA IS? IT IS THE LAST SAFE PLACE WHERE ISRAEL TOLD PALESTINIANS TO EVACUATE TO AND NOW AFTER DISPLACING THEM, REJECTING AZIZ FIRE, BLOCKING AID AND STARVING THEM, ISRAEL'S ARMY HAS STARTED KILLING PEOPLE IN RAFA SUNDAY NIGHT DURING THE SUPER BOWL.
THEY KILLED 109 PEOPLE IN JUST ONE HOUR.
THIS MAY BE OUR LAST CHANCE TO STOP THIS GENOCIDE BEFORE IT'S TOO LATE.
IT'S ALREADY TOO LATE FOR 6-YEAR-OLD HIN WHOSE DEAD BODY WAS FOUND LAST WEEK, SHE WAS TRAPPED IN A CAR HIDING UNDER THE DEAD.
BODIES OF HER RELATIVES HAD BEEN SHOT BY ISRAELI TANKS.
SHE CALLED EMERGENCY SERVICES AND BEGGED FOR THEM TO RESCUE HER, BUT THEY WERE KILLED ON THEIR WAY TO SAVE HER.
IT IS TOO LATE FOR THE MOM WHO TOOK 580 IVF SHOTS TO HAVE A SON ONLY TO BURY HIS BLOWN UP BODY.
GO AHEAD, FINISH YOUR TIME HAS EXPIRED.
IT IS TOO LATE FOR ALL THE SOBBING CHILDREN WHO HUGGED THEIR DEAD MOTHERS AND FATHERS ONE LAST TIME.
SO CITY COUNCIL, PLEASE MAKE SURE YOU ARE NOT TOO LATE.
HOUSTON MUST CALL FOR A CEASEFIRE NOW AND ALLOW AID TO ENTER GAZA IMMEDIATELY.
I'M HERE TO TALK ABOUT A 6-YEAR-OLD GIRL NAMED HEND, WHO AS PREVIOUSLY SAID WAS TRAPPED ALONE IN THE CAR WITH FIVE MEMBERS OF HER MARTYRED FAMILY.
THESE ARE SOME OF HER LAST WORDS.
BEGGING FOR SOMEONE TO HELP HER.
THE MEDICS SENT TO RESCUE HER WERE BOMBED JUST METERS FROM THE VEHICLE WHERE SHE WAS TRAPPED.
MOMENTS BEFORE THEY COULD REACH HER, THE ISRAELI SOLDIERS WHO BESIEGED HER ROBBED HINT OF HER CHANCE AT RESCUE AND THEN ROBBED HER OF HER LIFE.
I CALL ON YOU TO REMEMBER HER NAME.
RIGHT NOW ALMOST 2 MILLION PEOPLE ARE BEING BOND AND RAFA.
THE SUPPOSED SAFE ZONE GROUND INVASION IS LOOMING.
I CALL ON YOU TO SIT WITH THEIR GRIEF TO HAVE SUFFERED AND SURVIVED FOR 130 DAYS ONLY TO REACH THE END OF THE ROAD WITH NO WAY FORWARD AND NO WAY BACK.
CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS, I CALL ON EACH OF YOU TO ACT.
PLEASE CALL FOR A CEASE FIRE RESOLUTION.
GEORGE MORALES IS NOT PRESENT.
SARAH CHATTA BE FOLLOWED BY NICOLE YIN.
I CAME HERE TO TALK ABOUT SAFETY, THE SAFETY OF OUR HEARTS, THE SAFETY OF HUMANITY.
THERE'S A VERSE IN THE QURAN 2246.
[00:55:01]
NOT TRAVELED THROUGHOUT THE LAND, SO THEIR HEARTS MAY REASON AND THEIR EARS MAY LISTEN.INDEED, IT IS NOT THE EYES THAT ARE BLIND, BUT IT'S THE HEARTS IN THE CHEST THAT GROW BLIND.
YOU HEARD THE AUDIO OF 6-YEAR-OLD HIND A LITTLE GIRL WHO FLED HER UNCLE'S FAM WITH HER UNCLE'S FAMILY.
ISRAELI SHOULDERS, SOLDIERS SHOT UP THEIR CAR AND SHE WAS THE ONLY SURVIVOR TRAPPED AND SURVI SURROUNDED BY TANKS.
HER LAST PLEAS WERE, DON'T LEAVE ME MAMA.
DOES IT NOT MOVE YOUR HEART TO KNOW? THIS CHILD WAS INTENTIONALLY MURDERED.
PALESTINIAN RED CROSS TOLD ISRAEL THE EXACT COORDINATES OF WHERE THE AMBULANCE WAS GOING AND GOT SAFE PASSAGE.
THEY SHOT UP THE AMBULANCE, KILLING TWO MEDICS AND HIN WAS LEFT TO DIE ALONE, ALL ALONE STARVED TO DEATH SURROUNDED BY HER DEAD RELATIVES.
WHILE THE RECORD HIGHEST SU WATCH SUPER BOWL AIRED, ISRAEL DROPPED BOMBS ON THE LAST PLACE GAZEN COULD FLEE.
CAN I PLEASE FINISH? YOUR TIME HAS EXPIRED.
UM, LAST PLACE GAZEN COULD FLEE RAHA 1.4 MILLION REFUGEES TRAPPED IN THE SIZE OF HEATHROW AIRPORT.
I KNOW ONLY GOD CAN CHANGE HEARTS THAT ARE HARDENED.
LISTEN, HINT, LISTEN TO YOUR HEART.
THE SAFETY OF OUR HUMANITY IS AT RISK.
NICOLE YIN ELIZABETH ABRAHAM BE FOLLOWED BY PASTOR ELMO JOHNSON.
I LIVE IN DISTRICT A REPRESENTED BY AMY PECK.
TODAY I STAND BEFORE YOU TO ADDRESS A PRESSING ISSUE THAT AFFECTS ALL OF US CLIMATE CHANGE AND THE URGENT NEED FOR ACTION.
RIGHT HERE IN THE CITY OF HOUSTON, HOUSTON HAS BEEN FACING THE CONSEQUENCES OF CLIMATE CHANGE FROM EXTREME WEATHER EVENTS TO RISING SEA LEVELS.
TO CONFRONT THESE CHA CHALLENGES AHEAD, IT IS IMPERATIVE THAT WE CONTINUE IMPLEMENTING THE CLIMATE ACTION PLAN ADOPTED IN 2020.
ONE OF THE GOALS SET FOR THE CAP WAS TO PLANT 4.6 MILLION TREES.
TREES ARE SILENT HEROES OF A LANDSCAPE AND THEIR SIGNIFICANCE IN THE URBAN AREAS CANNOT BE OVERSTATED.
THEY PROVIDE SHADE, COOLING EFFECT, ESPECIALLY WHEN WE ARE HAVING A SCORCHING SUMMERS AND IT, THE TREES MAKE OUR CITY LIVABLE AND COMFORTABLE FOR RESIDENTS.
TREES ALSO, UH, PROVIDE US WITH FLOOD MITIGATION AND STORMWATER RUNOFF, WHICH IS VERY CRUCIAL IN YOUR TIME, HAS EXPIRED.
PASTOR ELMORE JOHNSON CITY COUNCIL.
I'M HERE TO CONGRATULATE YOU ON YOUR LEADERSHIP OF THE CITY.
I'M HERE ALSO TO ASK YOUR SUPPORT FOR COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT HOUSING.
I HAVE A GROUP OF PASTORS THAT HAVE LAND NEAR THEIR CHURCHES.
THEY WANT TO OFFER FOR LOW TO MODERATE INCOME HOUSING.
THE MAYOR RAN ON THIS AND I KNOW HE'LL FOLLOW ME UP, FOLLOW UP WITH THIS.
IT CLEARS OUT THE BLIGHT IN OUR COMMUNITY.
IT PUTS THE LAND BACK ON THE TAX ROLL AND IT HELPS OUR CHURCHES AND, AND GROUPS TO COLLABORATE TOGETHER FOR THE GOOD OF OUR COMMUNITY.
IT HELPS GET US OUT OF THE FOUR WALLS OF OUR CHURCHES AND DO SOME GOOD WORK IN OUR COMMUNITY.
I SAW YOU MAYOR ON TV THE OTHER DAY WHEN THE SHOOTING WAS AT LAKEWOOD WITH ALL OF THE OFFICERS BEHIND YOU.
CHIEF NER, YOUR TIME HAS EXPIRED.
UH, OUR SHERIFF DEPARTMENT, OUR, OUR AIR ROSEN, I TOLD MY WIFE, THAT WILL MAKE A DIFFERENCE IN OUR CITY, CITY WITH CRIME WORKING TOGETHER, YOU KNOW, WILL HELP US.
PASTOR DAVIS IS GATHERING ALL THE PASTORS TOGETHER TO TRY TO HELP US WORK TOGETHER.
AND WHEN I LEAVE THIS CITY COUNCIL, I GO TO MINISTERS AGAINST CRIME TO TRY TO HELP WITH THE CRIME IN OUR COMMUNITY.
YOU SAID THAT YOU WANTED TO BRING PEOPLE TOGETHER AND I LIKE THAT.
AND CITY COUNCIL MAYOR, YOU HAVE BEEN DOING THAT AND WE APPRECIATE THAT.
LET US HELP AS PASTORS HELP YOU BUILD LO TO MODERATE INCOME HOUSING AND SO PEOPLE THAT THAT'S AT HOME
[01:00:01]
DEPOT AND KROGER'S AND HEB CAN HAVE A HOME.WE LOVE OUR CITY AND WE WANT TO HELP.
PLEASE LET US WORK WITH, UH, DIFFERENT DEPARTMENTS LIKE PERMITTING DEPARTMENTS AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT OF HOUSTON.
I THINK WHAT MAY BE HELPFUL, UM, LEMME BACK UP.
CHURCHES IN HOUSTON ARE PROBABLY THE LARGEST REAL ESTATE HOLDERS.
UM, UH, I GOT SOME BECAUSE OF THE PROPERTIES, RIGHT, BECAUSE OF THE PROPERTIES THAT Y'ALL HAVE AMASSED OVER TIME AND BUILDING FUNDS.
I THINK IT MAY BE HELPFUL ONE, UM, IF Y'ALL ARE GONNA DO THIS AS A COLLECTIVE, AS LIKE A, UM, A FAITH-BASED CDC TO PAY ATTENTION TO THE NOTICE OF FUNDING AVAILABILITY.
PERIODICALLY THE DEPARTMENT PUTS UH, A REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS.
I THINK IT ALSO MAY BE HELPFUL THAT IF YOU TO GO AHEAD AND START LOOKING AT PLANS AND TYPES OF HOUSING OPTIONS YOU WANT TO, UM, OFFER TO THE CITY TO SEE IF IT FITS WITHIN THE ADMINISTRATION AND DEPARTMENT'S PRIORITIES.
SO YOU CAN BE PROACTIVE IN THAT.
I WOULDN'T TAKE THE POSITION OF JUST WAITING ON THAT TO HIT THE STREET, BUT TO START ENVISIONING WHAT THOSE LOTS LOOK LIKE.
IS IT SENIORS? IS IT YOUNG PEOPLE? ARE YOU DOING AFTER SCHOOL PARTNERSHIPS? YES.
AND I THINK THERE'S SOME, UM, HE'S NOT IN HERE TODAY, BUT I THINK SOMEONE FROM THE HOUSING DEPARTMENT, ELI MAY BE REALLY HELPFUL TO YOU.
UM, TO KIND OF GET Y'ALL, UH, STARTED AND SQUARED AWAY.
AND OF COURSE I'M WILLING TO ASSIST WITH THAT.
SO YOU CAN BE PREPARED TO DO THE WORK THAT YOU WANNA CONTINUE OUTSIDE OF THE CHURCH.
THE PASTORS OUT HERE, THEY HAVE ACRES, PASTOR WASHINGTON, THREE OR FOUR ACRES AROUND THIS CHURCH AND HE WANT TO SUBMIT THAT.
I ASKED HIM, I SAID, YOU WANT TO BE A HIGH RISES? HE SAID, NO, I WANT TO HELP THE PEOPLE IN MY COMMUNITY.
THOSE TWO PASTORS, THEY, WE HAVE LAND AND WE WANT TO HELP OUR COMMUNITY.
THANK YOU MS. THOMAS FOR THAT.
WELL, PASTOR UH, JOHNSON SAID I WANNA FIRST THANK YOU FOR YOUR FRIENDSHIP.
AND THE WORK THAT YOU AND YOUR COLLEAGUES DO.
THANK YOU GENTLEMEN FOR BEING HERE.
UH, WE'LL BE ANNOUNCING VERY SHORTLY OUR INTENT TO MAKE HOUSTON THE MOST AFFORDABLE HOUSING BIG CITY IN AMERICA WITH A CHANGE IN LEADERSHIP.
WE'RE GONNA WORK WITH COUNCIL MEMBER THOMAS AND ALL THE STAKEHOLDERS TO SEE THAT THIS VISION BECOMES REALITY.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR WORK WITH MINISTERS AGAINST CRIME.
YOU'VE MADE THIS CITY SAFER AND WE'D ONLY URGE YOU TO CONTINUE 'CAUSE WE CAN'T DO IT ALONE.
YOU ALL ARE DOING A GOOD JOB BY BRINGING PEOPLE TOGETHER AND WE LOVE THAT.
SARAH AGUIRE AGUIRE TO BE FOLLOWED BY NANCY EDWARDS.
HELLO, UH, SHE AGUIRE HERE, UM, HOMEOWNER IN DISTRICT D AND I'M HERE TO URGE THE CITY COUNCIL'S CONTINUED COMMITMENT AND THE SUPPORT OF MAYOR WHITMEYER FOR THE HUSTON CLIMATE ACTION PLAN, WHICH THE CITY COMMITTED TO IN 2020.
AND THAT INCLUDES THE TARGET OF POINT OF PLANTING 4.6 MILLION TREES.
THE SCIENCE IS CLEAR, WHILE TREES WILL SLOW DOWN THE FUTURE EFFECTS OF GLOBAL WARMING AND SEVERE WEATHER EVENTS, UH, THEY ALSO HAVE IMMEDIATE BENEFITS WHICH MAKE OUR CITY A MORE ATTRACTIVE OPTION FOR BUSINESS AND FAMILIES TO RELOCATE AND TO REMAIN HERE.
SOME OF THESE ARE OF COURSE, REDUCING TEMPERATURES, UH, BUT TREES ALSO PROVIDE COMMUNITY ECONOMIC BENEFITS BY ATTRACTING BUSINESS SECTOR GROWTH, UM, AND ALSO INCREASING PROPERTY VALUES.
TREES PROVIDE COMMUNITY HEALTH BENEFITS BY REDUCING STRESS, LOWERING BLOOD PRESSURE, AND IMPROVING MOOD AND MENTAL HEALTH, WHICH WE ALL KNOW IS AN ISSUE IN OUR GREAT CITY.
WHILE ALL OF THESE ARE IMPORTANT REASONS TO HONOR THE COMMITMENT AND MEET THE TREE PLANNING GOAL, THE MOST IMPORTANT REASON TO DO SO IS TO SET THE EXAMPLE FOR OUR YOUTH THAT WE DO NOT SHIRK FROM OUR RESPONSIBILITIES.
WE WILL NOT PRETEND THAT THIS IS THE TIME FOR BUSINESS.
AS USUAL, YOUR TIME HAS EXPIRED.
UM, AND WE WILL KEEP OUR COMMITMENT TO SECURE THE YOUTH, THEIR FUTURE, AND THE FUTURE OF THIS GREAT CITY.
AND I ALSO WANT TO SAY I WAS MOVED BY THE PLEASE FOR GAZA AND I ENCOURAGE THE COUNCIL TO ASK FOR A CEASEFIRE.
NEXT NANCY EDWARDS TO BE FOLLOWED BY BRIAN GANNON, MR. MAYOR AND MEMBERS OF THE CITY COUNCIL.
MY NAME IS NANCY EDWARDS AND I LIVE IN COUNCIL DISTRICT K
[01:05:01]
REPRESENTED BY MARTHA CASTEX TATUM.OUR ABILITY TO LIVE REASONABLE LIVES HERE IN HOUSTON DEPENDS ON A STABLE CLIMATE.
UNSTABLE CLIMATE BRINGS MORE FREQUENT FLOODS AND FIRES, DISRUPTS BUSINESSES AND SCHOOLS AND GIVES US HIGHER ELECTRICITY AND INSURANCE BILLS TO HELP MITIGATE AND PREVENT THESE PROBLEMS. HOUSTON HAS A CLIMATE ACTION PLAN, WHICH STARTED IN 2020 AND RUNS UNTIL 2030.
WE ARE IN THE MIDDLE OF IMPLEMENTING IT NOW, AND WE NEED TO CONTINUE UNTIL WE ACHIEVE NET ZERO CARBON EMISSIONS.
I WANT TO PARTICULARLY POINT TO THE GOAL OF PLANTING 4.6 MILLION TREES OF WHICH 1.4 MILLION HAVE BEEN PLANTED SO FAR.
TREES ON URBAN STREETS AND IN YARDS ARE IMPORTANT TO REDUCE THE HEAT ISLAND EFFECT.
CITIES ARE HOTTER THAN THE SURROUNDING FORESTS AND PRAIRIES BECAUSE BUILDINGS AND PAS REFLECT MORE HEAT THAN VEGETATION THAT TIME HAS EXPIRED.
MAYOR PRO, UH, MAY I FINISH? MAYOR PROTE SIX TATUM, GO AHEAD.
ACCORDING TO THE HEAT STUDY BY HARK, THE HOUSTON AREA RESEARCH CONSORTIUM, SOME AREAS WITH ABUNDANT TREES ARE UP TO 17 DEGREES COOLER THAN AREAS WITH FEW TREES.
THE CITY NEEDS TO PLANT TREES IN LOW INCOME, LOW TREE AREAS.
THE CITY ALSO NEEDS TO ENCOURAGE PROPERTY OWNERS TO PLANT TREES ON THEIR OWN LAND.
THE WHOLE CITY WILL BECOME COOLER AS A RESULT.
WE CIRCULATED A SIGN-ON LETTER TO THE NEW MAYOR AMONG THE CITIZENS OF HOUSTON.
THIS WAS BEFORE THE ELECTION, WHI WHEN WE DID NOT KNOW WHO THE NEW MAYOR WOULD BE.
I WOULD LIKE TO MEET WITH YOU, MAYOR WHITMEYER, AND PRESENT THIS LETTER WITH 500 SIGNATURES TO YOU IN PERSON.
I'LL ASK YOU TO PUBLICLY STATE THAT YOU'LL CONTINUE TO IMPLEMENT THE CURRENT CLIMATE ACTION PLAN UNTIL ITS GOALS HAVE BEEN MET.
UH, COUNCIL MEMBER, SPEAKER, MAYOR PER MS. THANK YOU.
UM, WE DEFINITELY SUPPORT THE PLANTING OF MORE TREES AND THE CLIMATE ACTION PLAN.
UM, MY OFFICE IS HAPPY TO ENGAGE WITH YOU.
UM, I KNOW THAT WE JUST PLANTED SOME MORE TREES OVER AT THE WILLOW WATER HOLE.
UM, WE'RE LOOKING FOR MORE SPACES TO PUT MORE TREES BECAUSE IT'S IMPORTANT THAT WE HAVE THESE TREES IN THE GROUND.
UM, YOU KNOW, THERE'S A GREAT QUOTE THAT SAYS, WHEN IS THE BEST DAY TO PLANT A TREE 20 YEARS AGO? MM-HMM
UM, SO WE WANNA MAKE SURE THAT WE CONTINUE TO DO THIS WORK IN THE CITY OF HOUSTON AND LOOK FORWARD TO PARTNERING WITH YOU IN THE OFFICE AS WELL.
UM, IF YOU'D LIKE TO, UM, SEND A COPY OF THAT LETTER DIRECTLY TO OUR OFFICE, WE'D LOVE TO HAVE A COPY AS WELL WITH THE SIGNATURES.
I LOOK FORWARD TO MEETING WITH YOU AND THE INDIVIDUAL THAT SIGNED YOUR SIGNATURE.
AND I'M DOING EVERYTHING I CAN TO PROTECT SOME TREES ON A VERY STRATEGIC PLAN PROJECT.
AND THAT WILL OF WATERHOLE IS, IS A MAJOR PLACE TO PLANT TREES AND EXPERIENCE EVERY HOUSTONIAN OUGHT TO SEE THAT LOCATION NEXT.
BRIANI GRANT GANNON, BRIANI GANON IS NOT PRESENT.
MARTY WILLIAMS. MARTY WILLIAMS IS NOT PRESENT.
GEORGE LEBLANC, ALONZO SMITH, JR.
TO BE FOLLOWED BY RANDALL CALLAN.
UH, MR. UH, JOHN WHITMEYER, MAYOR WHITMEYER, UH, MR. ALFONZO LEE SMITH JR.
UH, I JUST WANT TO TOUCH UP ON TWO THINGS.
ONE IS WITH, UH, S SOLID WASTE.
UH, I, UH, I RESIGNED IN 2017 AND I'VE BEEN TRYING TO COME BACK FOR ABOUT FOUR YEARS.
I DON'T KNOW WHAT THE HOLD UP HERE.
THEY'VE BEEN DECLINING ME TO COME BACK AND I KNOW Y'ALL NEED THE HELP OUT THERE WITH THIS TRASH.
THEN I HAVE A NEIGHBOR, UH, SHE'S BEGINNING TO BE A NUISANCE NEIGHBOR, SO I HAVE PICTURES HERE WHERE SHE'S, UH, YOU KNOW, PARKING ON THE STREET AND, UH, TAILGATING ALL MY VEHICLES.
AND I'VE CALLED, UH, CONST, UH, THE CONSTABLE OFFICE, PRECINCT SEVEN.
AND, UH, THEY HAD A TALK WITH HER AND SHE STEADY DOING THE SAME THING.
I KNOW Y'ALL GOT THAT FOUR EIGHT HOUR POLICY OUT, BUT SHE STEADY BLOCKING.
I GOT PICTURES OF WHERE I'M HAVING TROUBLE GETTING MY TRASH PICKED UP AND THEY MISSED MY TRASH TWICE AND THEY'VE MISSED THE, UH, NEIGHBOR'S TRASH ACROSS THE STREET THREE TIMES.
IT'S A DEAD END STREET WHERE THEY HAVE TO BAG UP.
YOUR TIME HAS EXPIRED AND GET THE TRASH.
SO THAT'S KIND OF WHERE I CAN GET YOU TO, TO REACH OUT TO THAT, UH, NEIGHBOR FOR ME AND SEE, AND SEE WHAT'S GOING ON THERE.
[01:10:02]
OKAY.LET WANDA GET YOUR ADDRESS AND, AND LOCATION.
UM, I HAVE A LETTER FOR THE COUNCIL MEMBERS FROM A COMMUNITY MEMBER WHO CAN'T BE HERE BECAUSE OF HER WORK SCHEDULE.
IS THERE SOMEONE IN PARTICULAR I CAN GIVE THIS TO OR THANK YOU.
UM, MY NAME IS VLA TORGERSON AND I AM A 20 YEAR RESIDENT.
OF THE NORTH NOR HILL HISTORIC DISTRICT AND A VOTER IN DISTRICT H.
I LIVE VERY CLOSE TO 11TH STREET AND HAVE SINCE 2004.
AND I AM HERE TO GIVE MY SUPPORT TO THE CHANGES THAT HAVE BEEN MADE ON 11TH STREET.
IT HAS MADE MY COMMUNITY SAFER FOR MYSELF AND MY NOW TWO TEENAGE BOYS WHO WALK AND BIKE OUR NEIGHBORHOOD TO VISIT THEIR FRIENDS AND OUR LOCAL AMENITIES.
FOR THOSE WHO CLAIM THAT SPEED WAS NEVER AN ISSUE ON 11TH STREET, I WOULD LIKE TO REMIND EVERYONE OF A STORY OF A MAN WHO WAS DRIVING EASTBOUND ON 11TH STREET SO FAST THAT WHEN HE TRIED TO TAKE A LEFT ON STUDEWOOD, HE LOST CONTROL OF HIS SMALL PICKUP TRUCK.
HIS SPEED SENT HIM OVER THE CURB THROUGH AN IRON FENCE AND THROUGH THE SOLID BRICK WALL OF A HISTORIC BUILDING.
BY SHEER LUCK OR THE GRACE OF GOD, THE EMPLOYEES OF THE SMALL FAMILY OWNED CAFE WERE IN THE BACK KITCHEN AND NO ONE WAS KILLED.
THE IMPACT DID CAUSE A FIRE IN THE BUILDING AND DESTROYED A SMALL LOCAL BUSINESS KILLING THAT FAMILY'S DREAM OF OWNING A NEIGHBORHOOD RESTAURANT.
UM, THE HEIGHTS WANTED AND NEEDED THIS CHANGE ON 11TH STREET, AND THAT FACT IS DEMONSTRATED BY THE VOCAL SUPPORT OF ALL OF OUR LOCAL NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATIONS AS WELL AS OUR SUPER NEIGHBORHOOD.
WE AS YOUR CONSTITUENTS, WANT OUR COMMUNITY REPRESENTATIVES TO PROTECT OUR SAFETY AND THE SAFETY OF OUR CHILDREN AND MAKE HOUSTON OVERALL A MORE WALKABLE AND BIKEABLE COMMUNITY.
AND I WOULD ALSO LIKE TO ASK YOU ALL TO FACT CHECK SOME OF THE CLAIMS THAT HAVE BEEN PRESENTED HERE RECENTLY ABOUT WHY SOME LOCAL BUSINESSES HAVE BEEN CLOSED.
UM, YOU WERE NOT TOLD THE TRUTH IN THE LAST MEETING.
SO JUST AS PEOPLE COME UP AND THEY GIVE THOSE STORIES, DO TAKE SOME TIME TO FACT CHECK THEM.
OH, COUNCIL COUNCILOR CASTILLO.
AND THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR BEING HERE.
I WAS GONNA GIVE YOU SOME OF MY TIME TO, TO FINISH UP, UM, BUT I WANT TO APPRECIATE YOU COMING DOWN TO SHARE YOUR THOUGHTS AND TO LET US KNOW WHAT YOU'RE, WHAT YOU'RE THINKING ABOUT THESE THINGS.
IT'S IMPORTANT THAT WE HEAR FROM THE PUBLIC.
AND REPRESENTATIVE, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER CASTILLO.
YOU WERE ELECTED IN OUR COMMUNITY KNOWING THAT YOU SUPPORT THESE CHANGES.
AND SO YOUR ELECTION IN THIS COMMUNITY I THINK IS IMPORTANT TO BE RECOGNIZED.
NEXT JERRY GAZE TO BE FOLLOWED BY ANGEL CRUZ.
STEP OVER A LITTLE BEHIND THE MIC.
UM, MY, MY TOPIC TODAY IS MISUSED OF SUPER NEIGHBORHOODS.
THE PREVIOUS SPEAKER JUST SAID THAT THERE WAS A LOT OF SUPPORT FOR THE 11TH STREET PROJECT.
I'M GONNA TALK ABOUT MISUSE OF SUPER NEIGHBORHOODS.
PREVIOUS SPEAKERS SAID THAT THERE WAS A LOT OF SUPPORT FOR THE 11TH STREET PROJECT BECAUSE OF THE, UH, LITTLE CIVIC GROUPS AND THE SUPER NEIGHBORHOOD ALL WROTE A LETTER IN SUPPORT.
WELL, FIRST OF ALL, UM, I DON'T BELIEVE SUPER NEIGHBORHOODS SHOULD BE USED AS
[01:15:01]
EVIDENCE THAT THERE'S ACTUALLY SUPPORT FOR THE PROJECTS.UH, THE SUPER NEIGHBORHOOD COUNCIL MEMBER MEMBERS ARE NOT ELECTED OFFICIALS.
UM, AND WHEN VOTES ARE TAKEN IN SUPER NEIGHBORHOOD ORGANIZATIONS, IT'S ONLY RESIDENTS THAT HAVE PAID DUES THAT CAN VOTE.
AND I'VE SEEN, UH, MAYBE I HAVE STATISTICS THAT AT LEAST FOR ONE, THAT SHOWS ABOUT 6% OF ALL THE RESIDENTS IN AN, IN A SUPER NEIGHBORHOOD ORGANIZATION AREA, OR ACTUALLY MEMBERS OF THE SUPER NEIGHBORHOOD.
SO THAT FALLS COMPLETELY SHORT OF ACTUALLY REPRESENTING THE RESIDENTS IN THE SUPER NEIGHBORHOODS.
UM, MY, MY POINT IS, THEY, THEY DO NOT REALLY REPRESENT ALL, UH, RESIDENTS.
SO WHAT'S THE SOLUTION? I THINK ONE GOOD SOLUTION IS TOWN HALLS, BECAUSE THEN THE DECISION MAKER CAN HEAR FROM BOTH SIDES OF THE, UH, OF THE ISSUE AND THEN MAKE A DECISION BASED ON THAT, PLUS ANY ENGINEERING STUDIES, ET CETERA.
UM, WE ASKED FOR THE 11TH STREET PROJECT FOR, UH, TOWN HALL, AT LEAST ON TWO OCCASIONS HERE AT CITY COUNCIL.
AND THE PREVIOUS MAYOR'S RESPONSE WAS, NO, WE'RE NOT GONNA HAVE A, A TOWN HALL.
AND, UH, ON A SECOND, UH, UH, REQUEST, IT WAS, UH, THANK YOU FOR COMING NEXT.
WHEN I, I PRE, I WAS AT THE, UH, SUPER NEIGHBORHOOD COUNCIL WHEN THE VOTE WAS TAKEN.
AND I WAS THERE BECAUSE I WAS GONNA PRESENT AND I DID PRESENT, UH, THE CASE AGAINST THE 11TH STREET PROJECT.
THERE WAS ANOTHER PERSON THERE TO PRESENT THE OTHER SIDE.
UH, BEFORE WE EVEN MADE OUR PRESENTATIONS, UH, THE, THE, UH, CHAIRMAN OF THE SUPER NEIGHBORHOOD CALLED FOR A VOTE OF ALL THE SUPER NEIGHBORHOOD COUNCILS THAT WERE THERE.
AND, UH, EVERYONE VOTED FOR THE PROJECT WITH ONE ABSTENTION, WHICH WAS IN FACT THE GREATER, WAS THE, UH, HOUSTON HEIGHTS ASSOCIATION, WHICH IS IMPACTED MOST BY THE CHANGES.
SO WHEN I GOT UP TO PRESENT THE CASE AGAINST, MY FIRST QUESTION IS, WHY CALL FOR A VOTE? BEFORE YOU'VE HEARD BOTH SIDES, THE ANSWER I GOT WAS TO, WE HAVE OUR PROCESSES.
WELL, I COULD SEE THE PROCESS WAS NOT A DEMOCRATIC ONE, SO I WENT AHEAD AND MADE MY PRESENTATION AND, UH, WELL BEFORE I EVEN MADE THE PRESENTATION, I ASKED THE OTHER COUNCIL MEMBERS, OTHER COUNCIL ORGANIZATIONS, HAD THEY TALKED TO THEIR PEOPLE IN THEIR DISTRICTS OR THEIR ORGANIZATIONS, DEAD SILENCE.
SO IT WAS PRETTY OBVIOUS TO ME THAT, UH, WHAT YOU GET FROM THE SUPER NEIGHBORHOOD IS WHAT THE OPINION IS OF THE CHAIRMAN AT THE TIME.
IT'S NOT REALLY, FROM WHAT I COULD SEE, WHAT I WITNESSED WAS NOT THE, UH, WILL OF THE PEOPLE.
I MADE MY PRESENTATION AGAINST THE PROJECT.
ABOUT 70% OR 90% OF THE PEOPLE IN THE ROOM GAVE ME A STANDING OVATION, WHICH I'VE NEVER HAD.
AND, UH, SO IT WAS PRETTY OBVIOUS THAT THERE WAS, UH, NOT A LOT OF SUPPORT FOR THE PROJECT FROM WHAT I COULD SEE.
WE ALSO HAD A PETITION WITH 3000 PEOPLE VOTING AGAINST THE PROJECT VERSUS 1500 FOR, UH, PEOPLE, UH, AGREEING WITH THE PROJECT.
SO I WOULD URGE YOU NOT TO, YOU KNOW, I THINK SUPER NEIGHBORHOODS HAVE THEIR ROLE IN, UH, DISSEMINATING INFORMATION, BUT THEY SHOULD NOT BE USED.
AND, UH, THEY SHOULD NOT BE USED FOR A SHOW OF SUPPORT BECAUSE THEY DON'T REALLY REPRESENT ALL THE PEOPLE, BUSINESSES, CHURCHES, UH, PROPERTY OWNERS IN ANY PARTICULAR AREA.
ANGEL CRUZ KELLY HARE TO BE FOLLOWED BY STANLEY JONES.
I WOULD LIKE TO TALK ABOUT THE 11TH STREET SAFETY MEASURES.
THE REELECTION OF ABBY CAYMAN AND THE ELECTION OF MARIO CASTILLO, WHO BOTH ADVOCATE
[01:20:01]
FOR THE ROAD DIET DEMONSTRATE THE POPULARITY AND SUCCESS OF PEDESTRIAN FRIENDLY INITIATIVES IN THE AREA.I'VE LIVED IN THE WOODLAND HEIGHTS AND DISTRICT HA COUPLE WEEKS SHY OF 20 YEARS.
I HAVE TWO CHILDREN WHO HAVE ATTENDED OUR NEIGHBORHOOD SCHOOLS, TRAVIS ELEMENTARY AND HOG MIDDLE SCHOOL, AND ONE WILL HEAD TO HEIGHTS HIGH SCHOOL NEXT YEAR.
OUR FAMILY'S BEEN VERY INVOLVED IN BOTH SCHOOL AND THE NEIGHBORHOOD.
I'VE SERVED ON THE BOARD OF THE WOODLAND HEIGHTS CIVIC ASSOCIATION AND WAS ACTIVE WHEN THE LETTER SUPPORTING THE TRAFFIC CALMING MEASURES ON 11TH WAS WRITTEN.
I AM THE REASON THE PARAGRAPH URGING, I AM THE REASON THE PARAGRAPH URGING THE CITY TO ADDRESS LEGITIMATE CONCERNS WAS ADDED.
I LOVE THE SPEED BUMPS IN OUR NEIGHBORHOOD AND I THINK THE PEDESTRIAN ISLANDS WERE SORELY NEEDED.
I WAS NOT EXCITED ABOUT THE BIKE LANES.
I DRIVE MY SON FROM THE BEGINNING OF THE BIKE LANES IN MISHO ALL THE WAY TO SHEPHERD AT FIVE 30 IN THE AFTERNOON TO GET TO ACTIVITIES AND IT WAS GONNA MAKE AN ALREADY FRUSTRATING ROUTE.
IT'S A MORE MANAGEABLE AND SAFER DRIVE THAN IT WAS BEFORE.
OCCASIONALLY IT'LL TAKE TWO TO THREE MINUTES MORE, BUT THE TRADE OFF IS THAT I CAN NOW WALK DOWN 11TH STREET TO THE LIBRARY BUCHANANS AND MY SALON.
PREVIOUSLY I DRIVE BACK ROADS TO AVOID TRAFFIC AND ALL THAT CAME WITH IT.
THE NEW 11TH STREET IS A PLEASANT WALKABLE STREET THAT SHOULD BE GREAT FOR NEW BUSINESSES, MUCH LIKE THE CURRENT WHITE OAK.
I UNDERSTAND THERE MAY BE ISSUES TO ADDRESS SUCH AS FLOODING AND EGRESS TO ONE PARTICULAR SPOT AND CLEANING UP THE BIKE LANES.
BUT I URGE YOU TO FIND SOLUTIONS TO THAT.
DO NOT REMOVE THE MAJORITY OF TRAFFIC CALMING MEASURES CURRENTLY IN PLACE.
OPPONENTS OF THE NEW OPPONENTS OF THE NEW MEASURES BLAME ME STATIC OBJECTS FOR CAUSING DAMAGE TO CARS.
I WOULD PERSONALLY PREFER TO HAVE DAMAGE TO MY CAR THAN TO A PERSON OR A HOME.
MY 15-YEAR-OLD IS WORKING ON HIS DRIVER'S LICENSE AND HAS NO ISSUES WITH ANY OF THE SAFETY MEASURES.
IF YOU NEED TO DRIVE MORE CAREFULLY TO AVOID DAMAGE, IT'S AN ADDED BENEFIT.
STANLEY JONES, JARVIS TILLMAN, JENNA, WALLY, GREGORY THOMAS.
HOW YOU GUYS DOING? UH, COULD WE LIFT THIS UP A LITTLE BIT? WE LIFT THIS UP.
I WAS ASKING COULD WE LOOK, IS THAT THE FARTHEST TO GO ALSO? THANK YOU.
YOU KNOW, I KNOW IT WAS, I WAS HERE A MONTH AGO.
I WON'T BE REDUNDANT 'CAUSE MY GUYS ARE HERE.
MR. MARTINEZ, UH, FROM PRO GRADING CY WILLIAMS FROM, UH, VIRTUAL ASSETS, UM, MAYOR CRUZ, WHERE THAT THEY'VE BEEN HERE.
AND SO I NOTICED THAT YOU HAD MENTIONED THE UPDATE ABOUT, YOU KNOW, THINGS UNFOLDING AND UM, CERTAIN INVESTIGATIONS TAKING PLACE.
BUT WE HAVE YET TO BEEN, UH, BE WE HAVE YET TO RECEIVE ANY CALLS OR FEEDBACK, UH, YOU KNOW, TO EVEN GIVE TO OUR WORKERS, WHICH IS WHY THEY WANTED TO COME HERE TODAY AND JUST TRY TO FIGURE OUT WHAT'S GOING ON.
YOU KNOW, ABOUT A MONTH AGO, LIKE I SAID, I WAS HERE TWO MONTHS PRIOR TO, WE WERE JUST FINISHING UP, YOU KNOW, DOING THE REPAIRS.
I KNOW YOU GUYS ARE GETTING OVER 20,000 CALLS, YOU KNOW, THROUGH THE LOG AS WELL AS OVER 2000 REPAIRS.
I THINK SINCE THEN THOSE REPAIRS HAVE GONE DOWN.
'CAUSE WE HAVEN'T HEARD ANY NEWS BREAKS OR ANYTHING TO THAT NATURE.
BUT, YOU KNOW, WE'VE TALKED TO ROBIN CURTIS, YOU KNOW, SEVERAL TIMES SHE'S BEEN UNRESPONSIVE IN TERMS OF THINGS THAT SHE'S WANTED, THE DOCUMENTATION THAT SHE'S WANTED.
SHE SAID, HEY, YOU KNOW, CAN YOU SEND DOCUMENTATION THE STUFF THAT WE'VE TRIED TO SEND? SHE'S LIKE, NO, I DON'T NEED THAT.
SO YOU CAN GO AHEAD AND FINISH.
SO SHE SAID THAT SHE DIDN'T NEED THAT.
SO FOR US TO, TO GO OUT AND DO ALL OF THESE REPAIRS AND SEE THE NUMBERS GOING DOWN AND HAVE A SHARED ACCESS FILE WITH THE CITY OF HOUSTON TO SEE EXACTLY WHAT THESE REPAIRS ARE DOING, I THINK IT'S A WASTE OF RESOURCES TO HIRE A THIRD PARTY COMPANY TO GO AND DO SCOPING INTO THE GROUND TO SEE IF THESE REPAIRS ARE DONE.
AND OUR GUYS CAN JUST SIMPLY TAKE YOU TO THE REPAIRS OVER THE LAST TWO MONTHS, EVEN BEFORE WE, YOU KNOW, STOPPED THE REPAIRS.
WE HAD CASH SMITH, I THINK HE WAS WITH HBW, THAT HAD MAYBE 65 REPAIRS THAT HE NEEDED TO GO LOOK AT.
AND NO ONE ASSISTED HIM ON GOING TO LOOK AT THOSE REPAIRS.
SO WE HAD TO BACKFILL THOSE AREAS TO MAKE SURE THAT IT WASN'T A HAZARD, A HAZARD, YOU KNOW, TO THE CITY.
AND SO MY GUYS AT THE POINT, EVEN US, WE'VE BEEN SO FAR INTO DEBT, THESE CREDITORS HAVE BEEN CALLING US.
WE'VE BEEN HAVING PEOPLE, YOU KNOW, SAID THAT THEY'RE GONNA SUE US AND TO SAY THAT THEY'RE GONNA HIRE A THIRD PARTY COMPANY IS A SLAP IN THE FACE
[01:25:01]
AND A WASTE OF RESOURCES.SO I JUST ASK THAT WE JUST TRY TO DELINEATE THE PEOPLE THAT YOU SAY ARE BAD ACTORS IN THE SITUATION AND JUST TRY TO GET TO THE BOTTOM OF IT SO OUR GUYS CAN BE, YOU KNOW, GET BACK TO NORMAL LIFE.
THEY CAN'T EVEN GO WORK BECAUSE THEY DON'T EVEN HAVE CAPITAL TO, YOU KNOW, GO FORWARD WITH DIFFERENT JOBS.
AND SO I DID TALK TO, WHEN I TALKED TO ROBIN CURTIS, SHE HAD A COUPLE OF QUESTIONS ABOUT MY EXPERIENCE, YOU KNOW, UH, CONSTRUCTION.
I'VE BEEN IN CONSTRUCTION OVER 15 YEARS.
HIGHLY REPUTABLE COMPANY AROUND THE CITY.
I'VE DONE WORK IN FOR BEND BRAZORIA COUNTY.
AND ANOTHER QUESTION THAT SHE ASKED ME WAS ABOUT MY LAST NAME.
IT WAS, UH, IT WAS, IT WAS NOT TO MY KNOWLEDGE UNTIL THE NEWS BROKE OUT THAT THE LADY THAT WAS I GUESS OVER THE PUBLIC WORKS LAST NAME WAS THOMAS.
SO TO ME, I THINK IT'S SHALLOW TO USE THAT IN, IN, IN PROLONGED PROCESS BECAUSE THERE'S A LOT OF THOMAS'S IN THE WORLD.
THAT'S MR. ARE YOU, AM I RELATED TO YOU? I, I DON'T KNOW YOU.
SO I MEAN THAT, THAT, THOSE ARE ONE OF THE QUESTIONS THAT SHE ASKED MR. MARTINEZ, YOU RELATED TO MR. MARTINEZ.
SO I JUST ASK THAT WE DELINEATE, YOU KNOW, THE, THE ISSUES AT HAND AND TRY TO GET DOWN TO WHOEVER THE BAD ACTORS ARE SO THAT WE CAN GET THIS RESOLVED AND MOVE ON WITH OUR LIFE.
THAT'S, THAT'S, THAT'S ALL I VERY GOOD.
XI DON'T KNOW NOTHING ABOUT THAT.
WAYNE MILES, LEAVE ME OUT OF THAT ROOM.
UM, MY CONCERNS ARE THE HOUSTON FOOD INSECURITY BOARD COMPLAINTS AS WELL AS CITY PARKS AND SUNNYSIDE AND SOUTH PARK.
UM, AND A TOKEN OF APPRECIATION FOR YOU.
SO THE 100 FOOD PANTRY INITIATIVE CREATED BY DISTRICT J COUNCIL MEMBER POLLARD WAS CREATED TWO YEARS AGO WITH THE LAST ADMINISTRATION.
BUT WE HAVE BEEN GHOSTED AND FORGOTTEN ABOUT WHEN IT COMES TO DELIVERING THE SERVICES AS PROMISED OR EVEN MOVING FORWARD.
THE FOOD INSECURITY BOARD CHAIR SHEIK ABDUL GANI HAS BEEN MISSING IN ACTION FOR QUITE SOME TIME WHEN IT COMES TO COMMUNICATING WITH THE ORGANIZATIONS OF THE COMMUNITY WHO SIGNED UP AS PART OF THE 100 FOOD PANTRIES INITIATIVE, WHICH IS ALSO RAN BY HIS 5 0 1 C3 ORGANIZATION, ETTE FOUNDATION.
SO, UH, WE FEEL THAT THIS WHOLE FOOD INSECURITY AND 100 FOOD PANTRY OPERATION WAS A WAY TO USE OUR INFORMATION AS DATA.
SO, UM, I WANT TO ALSO COME TO ACKNOWLEDGE THE SOUTHSIDE JETS YOUTH ORGANIZATION FOR SPORTS TRAINING AND HEALTH.
THEY HAVE BEEN BECOME AN INTEGRAL PART IN 65 YEARS IN THE SOUTH PARK AND SUNNYSIDE COMMUNITY.
SO I'M HIGHLIGHTING THEIR RECENT ACHIEVEMENT OF RECEIVING A FIVE YEAR SPONSORSHIP.
AND I'M JUST ASKING YOU MAYOR, AS WELL AS COUNCIL MEMBER SHA BASS AND ANY OF THE AT LARGE COUNCIL MEMBERS, IF THEY WOULD LIKE TO, UH, PROPOSE A PROCLAMATION FOR THIS ORGANIZATION THAT IS AFRICAN AMERICAN SPORTS ORGANIZATION FOR FOOTBALL, BASEBALL, AND CHEER EVEN KIDS.
SO I'M COMING TO TELL YOU ABOUT THIS ORGANIZATION, BUT ALSO EXPLAIN THAT THE PARK THAT THEY PRACTICE IN PAY AT EDGEWOOD PARK, IT DOES NOT HAVE LIGHTING.
AND ALL WE ASKING IS FOR LIGHTNING TO BE IN THAT PARK SO THEY CAN CONTINUE TO OPERATE AND PLAY AND, AND PRACTICE.
SO THAT'S ONE OF THE THINGS IN YOUR GIFT FOR BLACK HISTORY MONTH, WE HOPE TO SEE YOU WITH IT ON COUNCIL MEMBER EVAN SHABA.
THANK YOU MAYOR, AND CERTAINLY THANK YOU FOR COMING.
WE ARE PLANNING SOME VERY EXCITING THINGS FOR EDGEWOOD PARK.
UH, WE DID HAVE A MEETING THE OTHER DAY AND WE SHARED SOME INFORMATION.
SO WE ARE PRETTY EXCITED AND CERTAINLY LIGHTING IS GOING TO BE A PART OF THAT BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, THEY CAN'T PLAY IN THE DARK AND SOME OF THE ACTIVITIES DO GO, UH, LATER IN THE DAY.
AND CERTAINLY IN REGARDS TO A PROCLAMATION, IF YOU COULD CONTACT INGRAM OVER THERE, UH, SHE CAN ASSIST YOU WITH THAT.
AND, UH, GOOD AFTERNOON EVERYONE.
UM, I WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK WITH YOU FURTHER ABOUT WHAT, UM, EXPERIENCES YOU'VE HAD WITH THE FOOD INSECURITY BOARD AND THE, UH, THE PANTRY INITIATIVE.
UM, AND SO IF YOU WANNA REACH OUT TO MY OFFICE SO I CAN, UH, SPEAK DIRECTLY TO YOU, UH, LOVE THE OPPORTUNITY.
'CAUSE I DID BEFORE, SO, UH, YOU
[01:30:01]
NEVER SPOKE WITH ME.WELL, I REACHED OUT TO YOUR OFFICE, OKAY.
OKAY, WELL, LET ME FOLLOW UP WITH THEM AND IF YOU WOULD FOLLOW UP WITH US AGAIN ON THAT.
UH, NOW THAT I KNOW DIRECTLY FROM YOU THAT YOU HAD REACHED OUT, WE'LL MAKE THAT HAPPEN.
NEXT, JESSE ESCALANTE TO BE FOLLOWED BY ALEX ORI.
I APPROACHED HERE, UH, ABOUT TWO YEARS AGO WITH THANK HOUSTON TOGETHER.
WE REMEMBER THE APOLLO 13TH ON, UH, APRIL 11TH WHEN THEY REACHED OUT ON RADIO AND SAID, HOUSTON, WE HAVE A PROBLEM.
I'M WITH THANK HOUSTON AND I CAN REALLY APPRECIATE SOME AFRO AFRICAN AMERICAN LADIES THAT CAME UP WITH A SOLUTION WITH A PROBLEM.
SO THE FACT OF THE MATTER IS, IS HOUSTON, WE HAVE AN ANSWER TO A PROBLEM.
WILL IT BE ROAD RAGE? WILL IT BE FENTANYL? WILL IT BE VIOLENCE? WILL IT BE JUST A FACTOR OF HUMAN TRAFFICKING? AND I'M HERE TO TALK TO YOU ABOUT THAT.
'CAUSE THE FACT OF THE MATTER IS TOGETHER HOUSTON'S NOW KICKING CRIME CAN ALSO BE USED AS TOGETHER.
HOW INDIVIDUALS ARE KICKING CRIME TOGETHER, HOW ISDS ARE NOW KICK KICKING CRIME AND AWARENESS.
THE BOTTOM LINE IS WHETHER THERE ARE HALLWAYS OR ROOMS OF TEACHING ENVIRONMENTS TO TEACH.
MANY MOMENTS BECOME SONS AND DAUGHTERS OF EXCELLENCE.
HE SAID, HOW TO MAKE OR BREAK IT A HABIT IN 21 DAYS, YOUR TIME HAS EXPIRED.
IT'S ALL ABOUT ENCOURAGING, EMPOWER AND INFLUENCING INSPIRING PEOPLE BY SENDING MESSAGES ACROSS THE WAVES WILL BE ROADWAYS WHERE THERE BE SIGNS IN SCHOOL DISTRICTS OR EVEN I HAVE A CURRICULUM AS THE, AS THE TEEN THINKS, THE, IT'S ALSO A CURRICULUM AS A STOP PROGRAM.
SURRENDER THOUGHTS, OFFENDING PARENTS AND PEOPLE.
IT'S ALSO SHOW ME, GROW ME AND KNOW ME, WHICH IS A SIXTH GRADE TO EIGHTH PROGRAM.
'CAUSE THE FACT OF THE BOTTOM IS, THE FACT OF THE MATTER IS THESE ARE SEEDS OF GREATNESS TO YOUNG MEN AND WOMEN.
WE HAVE OUR OWN HOUSTON AWARENESS PROGRAM AT OUR BACK DOOR.
WHY CAN'T WE UTILIZE IT? WE JUST NEED TO GET OURSELVES OUTTA THE WAY TO RECOGNIZE AND REALIZE WE HAVE A PROBLEM.
RIGHT NOW THEY'RE COMING IN, IN A FLOOD THROUGH THE, THROUGH THE BORDER.
OKAY, YOU GOT YOUR 15 SECONDS AND AN EXTRA 15 SECONDS.
I'M JUST HERE ANTE WITH THANK HOUSTON.
LOVE TO SEE IF I CAN ASSIST A PROGRAM THAT COULD DEFINITELY CHANGE PEOPLE'S MINDS AND HEARTS.
UM, I'M A NINE YEAR RESIDENCE OF THE HEIGHTS, UH, NEIGHBORHOOD.
AND I ACTUALLY AGREE WITH THE, UH, SAFETY IMPROVEMENTS JUST TO MAKE THAT ONE CLEAR.
UM, SINCE I'M IN ABBY CAYMAN'S DISTRICT, UH, THIS WAS ADDRESSED TO, TO HER IN A SPEECH THAT, UH, SHE MADE, UM, DURING HER SPEECH LAST OCTOBER, SHE SAID THAT SHE WAS RAISED IN A HOME WITH A LOVE FOR ISRAEL AND A BELIEF IN PEACE AND A TWO STATE SOLUTION.
AND THAT HER FATHER WAS DEDICATED HIS LIFE TO THIS.
AND SHE SAID THAT SHE HELD FORMALLY TO THAT BELIEF.
SHE ALSO SAID THAT FOR ANY JEW TO BE GLAD FOR THE DEATHS OF INNOCENT CHILDREN IN GAZA ISAC UNACCEPTABLE.
UM, I WANNA ACKNOWLEDGE THAT HER HOPES AND VISION FOR ISRAEL ARE HEAVILY CONTRASTED BY THE STATE OF ISRAEL TODAY.
NETANYAHU IS PUBLICLY STATED MULTIPLE TIMES THAT HE OPPOSES A TWO STATE SOLUTION AND A PALESTINIAN STATE.
TODAY, THIS VERY DAY SETTLEMENTS IN THE WEST BANK ARE BEING FAST TRACKED.
THERE ARE OVER 1.5 MILLION GAZEN REFUGEES WITH THEIR BACKS PRESSED UP AGAINST THE EGYPTIAN BORDER.
AND ISRAEL'S PLANNING TO ATTACK ISRAELI MINISTRY OF, UH, SECURITY BIN VERE HAS AUTHORIZED THE SHOOTING OF WOMEN AND CHILDREN IF THEY APPROACH ANY SOLDIERS OR SOLDIERS, BUT THEY HAVE NO PLACE TO GO.
SO WHAT ELSE ARE THEY GONNA DO? I CAN TELL THAT SHE HAS STRONG CONVICTIONS ABOUT A TWO-STATE SOLUTION AND THE SACREDNESS OF LIFE.
UM, I DON'T THINK THE PEOPLE OF ISRAEL, UM, CAN I YIELD LIKE 15 SECONDS? YEP.
UM, I DON'T THINK THAT, UH, THE PEOPLE OF ISRAEL LIVE HAS TO MEAN THAT THE PEOPLE OF PALESTINE MUST DIE OUT OF EVERYONE SITTING AT THE DIOCESE.
UH, I THINK HER VOICE CARRIES EXTRA WEIGHT AS A JEWISH PERSON.
AND I THINK THAT IF SHE LOVES ISRAEL, UM, I BELIEVE THAT SHE WOULD USE HER VOICE TO MAKE IT A BETTER PLACE BECAUSE THAT'S DEMOCRACY.
UM, SO I'M ASKING HER TO STICK TO THESE CONVICTIONS, UPHOLD THE VISION OF HER FATHER, THAT A PEACEFUL DEMOCRATIC STATE IS POSSIBLE.
CALL FOR CEASEFIRE, THE INTERVIEW HUMANITARIAN AID WITHHOLD FUNDING.
I ALSO WANNA QUICKLY THANK, UH, POLLARD AND SHABAZZ FOR BEING THE TWO, UH, MOST RECENT CONGRESS MEMBERS TO COME FORWARD AND SPEAK OUT FOR A CEASEFIRE.
I HOPE THAT EVERYONE CAN FOLLOW SUIT.
UM, THANK YOU FOR THIS TIME TO SPEAK.
I LIVE IN MONTROSE AND I'M HERE TO TALK ABOUT THE MONTROSE REDEVELOPMENT PROJECT.
SO I DIDN'T PAY MUCH ATTENTION TO THE PROJECT BEFORE THE NEWS OF THE TREES BROKE.
HOWEVER, AS SOON AS I SAW A YARD SIGN ABOUT IT, I LOOKED INTO IT, SIGNED THE PETITION, AND I WENT TO THE TEARS MEETINGS,
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RILED UP AND READY TO VOICE MY SUPPORT FOR THE TREES AND THE ENVIRONMENT.BUT AFTER HEARING FROM THE TEARS BOARD AND AFTER WHAT I'VE SEEN FROM THE PETITION ORGANIZERS THESE PAST FEW WEEKS, I KNEW I HAD TO TAKE TIME OFF OF WORK TO BE HERE AND SAY I NO LONGER SUPPORT THAT PETITION.
IN FACT, I STRONGLY OPPOSE IT.
AT FIRST, I SIGNED THAT PETITION BECAUSE THE ENVIRONMENT IS IMPORTANT TO ME.
MY LOGIC WAS TREES ARE GOOD FOR WALKING AND WALKING IS GOOD FOR THE ENVIRONMENT.
THEREFORE, WE SHOULD PRESERVE TREES WHENEVER POSSIBLE.
SEEMS STRAIGHTFORWARD, RIGHT? WHAT THAT DOESN'T MEAN IS IF SOME TREES ARE THREATENED, MOST OF WHICH ARE SICK OR DYING, WE SHOULD TRY TO GET BASICALLY EVERY WALKING AND BIKING PROJECT IN THE CITY.
BUT THAT'S EXACTLY WHAT I'VE SEEN HAPPENING, AND IT MAKES ME SICK TO MY STOMACH TO SEE A PETITION WITH MY NAME ON IT BEING WAVED AROUND HERE AND USED TO DAMAGE THE CITY THAT I LOVE.
AND DON'T GET ME WRONG, TREES ARE IMPORTANT, BUT THEY'RE NOT LITERALLY HEAP OF FILTERS THAT TAKE MOG OUT OF THE AIR.
THIS DISCUSSION IS INCOMPLETE IF IT BEGINS AND ENDS WITH TREES AT THE EXCLUSION OF CARS, THE POLLUTANTS, THEY EMIT THE MICROPLASTICS, RELEASE ITS TIRES, WEAR DOWN THE RAW MATERIALS MINED FROM THE EARTH TO BUILD THESE VEHICLES.
THIS APPLIES TO ELECTRIC CARS AS BY THE WAY.
UM, THERE'S ALSO THE HEAT ISLANDS AND FLOODING EXACERBATED BY THE AMOUNT OF LAND THE CITY DEDICATES TO CONCRETE PARKING LOTS AND WIDE OPEN ROADS, ALL BECAUSE THE CITY PUTS CARS ABOVE ALL ELSE.
WHEN I SEE THESE ISSUES DISMISSED UNDER THE GUISE OF ENVIRONMENTALISM, IT STRIKES ME AS A DEEPLY UNSERIOUS APPROACH TO CLIMATE POLICY.
PLEASE SUPPORT THE MANTRAS REDEVELOPMENT PROJECT.
I THINK IT'S VERY GOOD FOR THE ENVIRONMENT.
STEVE LONGMEYER BE FOLLOWED BY LLOYD MAGNER.
GOOD AFTERNOON MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS.
I DON'T KNOW ALL OF YOU BECAUSE SOME OF YOU'RE NEW, BUT, UH, I'VE BEEN HERE A LOT.
UH, MY NAME IS STEVE LONGMEYER.
I'M THE PRESIDENT OF THE CIVIC ASSOCIATION OF THE FIRST MONTROSE COMMONS, THE OLDEST OF THE NEIGHBORHOODS THAT ARE NOW CALLED MONTROSE.
WE DATE FROM 1873 AND WE'RE QUITE PASSIONATE ABOUT LEGACY PRESERVATION AND HISTORY.
A LOT'S BEEN SAID ABOUT THE PRESERVATION AND THE PROTECTION OF LEGACY MONTROSE OAKS.
I WANNA PRE PRESENT FOUR QUESTIONS TO YOU.
IF YOU CHANGE THE OUTCOME OF ONE OF THESE MONTROSE WOULD NOT BE THE SAME.
INDEED, IT MIGHT NOT BE HERE AT ALL.
FIRST, IMAGINE IT'S NOVEMBER, 1900 AND GALVESTONIANS ARE BEING TOLD THAT THEY MUST ENDURE 10 YEARS OF DREDGING GALVESTON BAY TO LIFT THE CITY TO PREVENT FURTHER FLOODING.
FURTHER, THEY MUST SACRIFICE THEIR BEACHFRONT HOMES FOR A NEW 17 FOOT, UH, SEA WALL.
AND THEY WILL NO LONGER BE ABLE TO WALK ON THE BEACH BECAUSE THEY'RE GOING TO GET A 10 FOOT WIDE SIDEWALK THAT NOBODY NEEDS.
IMAGINE HOUSTONIANS IN 1910, VOTING AGAINST YOUR TIME HAS EXPIRED.
VOTING AGAINST SPENDING ONE AND A QUARTER MILLION DOLLARS TO DREDGE THE HOUSTON SHIP CHANNEL TO 25 FEET.
AFTER ALL, WE HAD 17 RAILROADS COMING IN AND OUT OF HOUSTON.
THAT'S WHAT WE WERE KNOWN FOR.
17 RAILROADS FROM THE SEED OF THE COUNTRY.
WHY WOULD WE DREDGE UP THE BIO IN AND DESTROY OUR RAIL HERITAGE? APPARENTLY NO ONE BACK THEN WORRIED MUCH ABOUT THE ENVIRONMENTAL CONSEQUENCES ABOUT RAILROADS.
FINALLY, WHAT IF JOHN LINK HAD NOT PERSUADED THE G-H-N-S-A RAILROAD TO MOVE ITS TRACKS AND STATIONS OUT OF WHAT WAS TO BECOME MONTROSE AND OUT TO THE WEST OF AFTON OAKS? YOU'D HAVE HAD RAILROADS.
YOU WOULD'VE HAD THE FIFTH WARD IN MONTROSE INSTEAD OF MONTROSE IN MONTROSE.
EACH OF THESE HISTORICAL MOMENTS CHANGED THE FUTURE.
YOU NOW ARE CHARGED WITH THE SAME SORT OF DECISION AND HISTORICAL MOMENT TO IMPROVE UPON JOHN LINK'S ORIGINAL VISION FOR MONTROSE, AND TO BRING IT TO THE 21ST CENTURY TO MAKE IT SAFE FOR EVERYONE TO IMPROVE THE DRAINAGE AND TO TAKE CARE OF BEAUTIFYING IT BY THE REPLACEMENT OF THE TREES WHICH ARE NOT HEALTHY.
SO I'M CALLING ON YOU TODAY TO PLEASE JOIN US IN SUPPORTING TOURS 27, THE PEOPLE'S TURS WHO'VE LAID DOWN A BOLD PLAN, CAREFULLY STUDY, AND CAREFULLY PROPOSED BEFORE YOU.
I APPRECIATE THE EXTRA TIME, SIR.
GOOD AFTERNOON, MAYOR WHITMEYER AND MEMBERS OF CITY COUNCIL.
MY NAME IS LLOYD MASSER AND I SERVE AS PRESIDENT OF THE NORTH MONTROSE CIVIC ASSOCIATION AND HAVE LIVED IN THE SAME ADDRESS IN NORTH MONTROSE FOR OVER 20 YEARS.
TODAY I'D LIKE TO SPEAK IN FAVOR OF THE MONTROSE BOULEVARD REDEVELOPMENT PROJECT AND THE SAFE ROUTE TO SCHOOLS.
GRANT, PHASE ONE OF THE TIERS 27 MONTROSE PROJECT WILL TAKE PLACE WITHIN THE BOUNDARIES OF
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OUR CIVIC ASSOCIATION DISTRICT.THE RESIDENTS OF THIS AREA WILL BE THE ONES FIRST IMPACTED BY THE PROJECT.
IN ADDITION, MANY OF THE STUDENTS LIVING IN NORTH MONTROSE AND ATTENDING AREA SCHOOLS WILL BE THE BENEFICIARIES OF THE SAFETY IMPROVEMENTS FUNDED BY THE SAFE ROUTE GRANT, THE NMCA BOARD.
AND THE MAJORITY OF OUR MEMBERS ENDORSE THE TIERS 27 PROJECT, WHERE THE PRIMARY GOAL IS TO IMPROVE DRAINAGE AND MOBILITY.
WE ALSO APPRECIATE THE AWARDING OF THE HIGHLY COMPETITIVE FEDERAL GRANT, WHICH IS DISPERSED BY THE TEXAS DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION.
PLEASE NOTE THAT THE GRANT FUNDING IS INDEPENDENT OF THE MONTROSE BOULEVARD PROJECT.
GO AHEAD, MISCHARACTERIZATIONS AND INACCURATE SOCIAL MEDIA MESSAGING BY THOSE OPPOSED TO THE PROJECT FAIL TO RECOGNIZE THAT TIERS 27 HAS BEEN RESPONSIVE TO THE ALTERNATE POINTS OF VIEW AND HAS REDEFINED THE PROJECT BASED UPON COMMUNITY FEEDBACK.
THE TUNNEL VISION DISPLAYED BY THOSE WHO WISH TO SAVE THE TREES FAILS TO ACKNOWLEDGE THE MUCH NEEDED IMPROVEMENTS THAT WILL BE BROUGHT TO THE AREAS INFRASTRUCTURE GROWTH AND REDEVELOPMENT, ESPECIALLY IN NORTH MONTROSE, ARE PUTTING THE STRAIN ON EXISTING INFRASTRUCTURE AND SHOULD BE ADDRESSED.
NOW WE URGE THE MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL TO MOVE AHEAD IN IMPROVING, IN IMPROVING THIS PROJECT.
NEXT RADU TUDOS BE FOLLOWED BY NANCY HIGGS.
GOOD AFTERNOON AND THANK YOU FOR GIVING ME THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK.
I AM A BOARD MEMBER OF BOULEVARD OAKS CIVIC ASSOCIATION, UH, REPRESENTING ONE OF THE MANY NEIGHBORHOODS THAT STAND TO BENEFIT FROM THE MONTROSE BOULEVARD IMPROVEMENT PROJECT.
AND I'M HERE TO SPEAK ABOUT HOW IMPORTANT THIS PROJECT IS TO, TO OUR NEIGHBORHOOD.
UM, FIRST THIS HAS BEEN A COMMUNITY LED PROJECT.
NEIGHBORS SUCH AS MYSELF HAVE BEEN INVITED TO ENGAGE AND PROVIDE INPUT, AND NEARLY EVERY CIVIC ASSOCIATION ALONG MONTROSE BOULEVARD HAS PARTICIPATED AS A PREVIOUS, UH, SPEAKERS, UH, SHOW.
UM, THIS STARTED REALLY AS A DRAINAGE PROJECT, BUT I'M HERE TO, UH, DISCUSS ANOTHER CRITICAL BENEFIT OF THE PROJECT THAT IS PERSONAL TO ME, AND THAT IS TRAFFIC SAFETY AND MOBILITY.
LIKE MANY NEIGHBORS, I WANTED TO LIVE IN THE GREATER MONTROSE AREA BECAUSE IT IS A WALKABLE, DIVERSE, AND COMMERCIALLY VIBRANT NEIGHBORHOOD.
BUT THERE IS ONE GLARING PROBLEM THAT WE HAVE, AND THAT'S MONTROSE BOULEVARD.
UM, IT IS DESIGNED TO BE A SPEEDWAY AT THIS POINT, AND IT IS DANGEROUS TO DRIVE ON CRIME.
THE HIGH CRASH NETWORK, AT LEAST OF THE 30 MOST DANGEROUS STREETS IN HOUSTON.
THAT IS RESPONS THAT ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR 65% OF THE DEADLY CRASHES IN OUR CITY.
IT IS ALSO DANGEROUS TO CROSS ON FOOT, ON BIKE, OR ON A WHEELCHAIR BECAUSE THERE ARE NO SAFE AND WELL DESIGNED PLACES TO CROSS ALONG ITS ENTIRE LENGTH, ALL THE WAY FROM BUFFALO BAYOU TO TO HERMAN PARK.
UM, AND I CAN TELL ATTEST TO THAT PERSONALLY, I USED TO WALK MY SON TO HIS MIDDLE SCHOOL, WHICH IS A NICE 10, 15 MINUTE WALK FROM OUR HOUSE.
ASIDE FROM HAVING TO CROSS MONTROSE, CARS ARE SPEEDING.
THEY'RE RUNNING, UH, RUNNING RED LIGHTS.
UH, THERE IS NO PEDESTRIAN SAFETY ZONE AT CROSSING AND IS JUST TERRIFYING TO CROSS.
I HAD TO, UM, MAKE SURE THAT I WORK WITH HIM, UH, THROUGH, THROUGH HIS, THROUGH THE END OF HIS, UH, UH, EIGHTH GRADE JUST TO MAKE SURE THAT HIS, WHICH, UH, WHICH SCHOOL YOUR SON GO TO? PRESBYTERIAN.
PRESBYTERIAN, WHICH IS ACROSS MONTROSE, AND I LIVE ON THE OTHER SIDE OF MONTROSE.
UM, AND THEN I USE, AND THEN THESE DAYS I WALK ALSO WITH MY YOUNGER SON WHO IS NOW NINE YEARS OLD TO HIS ART CLASSES AND SUMMER CAMPS AT GOEL SCHOOL OF ARTS.
AGAIN, I HAVE TO CROSS MONTROSE TO, TO GET THERE.
IT'S, IT'S A DIFFERENT CROSSING, BUT IT'S THE SAME STORY.
IT IS JUST AS TERRIFYING, TERRIFYING TO CROSS AS THE, THE ONE THAT I PREVIOUSLY HAD TO, TO USE.
SO THE MONTROSE PROJECT WILL PROVIDE MUCH NEEDED CROSSINGS AT STREETS THAT ARE PEDESTRIAN FRIENDLY, SUCH AS CLAY STREET, AND IT'LL ALSO PROVIDE SIX, SIX FOOT PLANTING ZONE BEHIND THE CURB WHERE WE PLACE TREES ENHANCED VISIBILITY OF, FOR BOTH PEDESTRIANS AND VEHICLES.
UH, THE, THE PROJECT WILL ALSO PROVIDE PEDESTRIAN SAFETY ZONES AND BRING THE SIDEWALKS UP TO A DA STANDARDS.
I URGE YOU TO, UM, EXPEDITE THE EXECUTION OF THE PROJECT AND RESOLVE THE, THE SAFETY THAT WE HAVE IN OUR NEIGHBORHOOD.
I'VE SENT YOU A FEW EMAILS LATELY.
HELLO TO ALL THE COUNCIL MEMBERS AND THANK YOU FOR,
[01:45:01]
UH, LISTENING TO MY CONCERNS.I'M HERE FOR ONE REASON, TREATS, BUT I WANNA START BY SAYING I'M A MOM, I'M A GRANDMOTHER, I'M A NURSE AND I'M A SAFETY FREAK.
ALL THESE COMMENTS PRECEDING ME ARE, ARE SORT OF LIKE DIZZYING BECAUSE I FEEL LIKE THERE'S, YOU'RE HEARING TWO DIFFERENT REALITIES AND IT'S, IT'S REALLY QUITE FRANKLY, BIZARRE TO ME.
I WAS STUNNED WHEN I FIRST ATTENDED, WHEN I ATTENDED THE FIRST HERDS MEETING I EVER HEARD ABOUT, WHICH WAS IN SEPTEMBER.
SO FOR THE FIRST POINT IN OR DISCREPANCY THAT I WOULD LIKE TO CLARIFY IS THAT DESPITE WHAT HAS BEEN SAID, AND DESPITE MY DAILY READING OF THE CHRONICLE AND MY OBSESSIVE LISTENING TO KUHF HOUSTON PUBLIC MEDIA, I FIRST HEARD MENTION OF THIS PROJECT WHEN ABBY HAPPENED TO COME SPEAK TO OUR VERMONT COMMONS MEETING THE MONDAY BEFORE THE TURS MEETING IN SEPTEMBER LAST YEAR.
NOT ANY OF THOSE OTHER MEETINGS THAT SUPPOSEDLY I WAS SUPPOSED TO KNOW ABOUT AND THE WAY THAT, GO AHEAD, THE WAY THAT ABBY PRESENTED THIS PROJECT AT OUR MEETING.
I HONESTLY WOULD NOT HAVE EVEN BEEN MOTIVATED TO ATTEND THE TURS MEETING THE FOLLOWING WEEK.
BUT A FRIEND ASKED ME TO, I WAS STUNNED WHEN I STOOD BEFORE THE POSTER THAT SAID 61 TREES PROTECTED BY CITY ORDINANCE WOULD BE REMOVED IN THE FIRST TWO BLOCKS.
I COULDN'T BELIEVE WHAT I WAS READING AS I TOLD THE MAN STANDING THERE.
I'M IN AUSTINITE AND IN AUSTIN, IF IT'S PROTECTED, IT'S SIMPLY THAT PROTECTED.
BUT I THINK YOU KNOW WHAT IT MEANS IN HOUSTON.
YOU SIMPLY TAKE A LARGE MAJESTIC OAK AND REPLACE IT WITH A MULTIPLE OF TEENY TWIG TREES AND HOPE THEY WILL GROW BECAUSE YOU MIGHT NOT LIVE LONG ENOUGH TO KNOW THERE ARE WAYS TO EASILY MITIGATE THIS DISASTER.
THIS MELEE CENTER SEEMS TO BE AT THE CRUX OF A LOT OF THIS, AND THERE'S ONLY THREE PRETTY UNHEALTHY LOOKING RELATIVELY SMALL OAK TREES ALONG ITS WEST BORDER WHERE WE'RE CONTEMPLATING PUTTING IN THE 10 FOOT PATHWAY.
SO GO AHEAD AND REMOVE THOSE AND CREATE THAT 10 FOOT POSSIBLY UNSAFE PATHWAY, BUT ENDED AT THE END OF THAT BLOCK AT DALLAS.
STOP THERE, NARROW THE 10 FEET TO SIX FEET MOVING SOUTH THE REMAINDER OF MONTROSE.
AUSTIN HAS SIX FOOT SIDEWALKS WITH A CENTER STRIPE, ONE SIDE FOR PEDESTRIANS, THE OTHER FOR BIKES.
AND I HAVEN'T HEARD OF ANY PROBLEMS WITH IT.
THE OTHER PART OF THIS COSTLY PROJECT IS PUTTING THOSE HUMONGOUS DRAINAGE CULVERTS BENEATH MONTROSE BOULEVARD.
WE'VE BEEN LED TO BELIEVE THAT TREES CAN'T SURVIVE THIS WELL.
IT'S BEING DONE ALL OVER OUR AREA ON WOODHEAD HAZARD, THE SOUTHERN ASPECT OF GREENBRIER BERNARD WEST MAINE.
QUI AND NO TREES HAVE BEEN REMOVED OR DAMAGED LARGE OAKS OR CARBON RESERVOIRS AS WELL AS SUN PROTECTORS.
BUT RIGHT NOW WE ARE GOING TO VOLUNTARILY CUT THEM DOWN SO WE CAN BE HOTTER AND UNHEALTHIER.
JUST A WEEK AGO, A EUROPEAN PUBLICATION RECOGNIZED HOUSTON AS THE BEST CITY OF THE SOUTH.
WHAT WILL BE SAID IF WE ARBITRARILY MASSACRE OUR TREES, ESPECIALLY WHEN IT'S 107 DEGREES OUT.
LASTLY, BUT NO LESS URGENTLY, I WOULD ASK YOU TO PLEASE DO A BETTER JOB OF ENFORCING THE REQUIREMENT THAT BUILDERS ALSO REPLACE TREES.
BECAUSE YOU KNOW WHAT THEY DO? THEY LEAVE THE TREE, THEY BUILD THE HOUSE.
THEN ONCE THE CITY INSPECTORS ARE NO LONGER COMING AROUND, THEY CHOP DOWN THE TREE.
THEY DID IT YESTERDAY IN MY NEIGHBORHOOD AT WELCH AND HOLD A HUGE TREE.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR YOUR TIME AND LISTENING TO MY CONCERNS.
NEXT, GREG LAGRAND BE FOLLOWED BY JUSTIN MCMURTRY, CITY COUNCIL AND MAYOR.
UH, THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK TODAY.
UH, I'M GREG LAGRANDE AND, UH, I LIVE IN MONTROSE AND I ALSO SERVE AS A PRESIDENT OF THE NEAR TOWN MONTROSE SUPER NEIGHBORHOOD NUMBER 24.
AND I'M HERE TO EXPRESS THE SUPPORT FOR THE MONTROSE TOURS AND THE MONTROSE BOULEVARD IMPROVEMENT PROJECT.
REBUILD THE NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATIONS THAT YOU'VE HEARD FROM TWO OF THOSE WHO ARE MEMBERS, THOSE ARE MEMBERS OF THE GREATER OR NEAR TOWN.
THERE ARE A TOTAL OF 17 OF THOSE THAT MAKE UP NEAR TOWN.
[01:50:01]
UH, VERY WELL ATTENDED BY MEMBERS OF, OF THE PUBLIC.THE NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATIONS FROM ONE TO THE OTHER MAY VARY ON, ON THEIR ACTIVITY LEVEL.
UH, AND UH, BUT THE BIG CONCERN I HAVE HERE IS THAT WE DELAY A PROJECT THAT IS JUST WAITING FOR OUR NEXT SERIES OF STORMS. YOUR TIME HAS EXPIRED.
I, I'M, I'M AWARE OF THE CONTROVERSY WE'VE HEARD, HEARD THE CONTROVERSY HERE.
UH, BUT, UH, THE CLAIMS THAT THE MONTROSE TURS WERE UNNECESSARILY REMOVED NUMEROUS TREES, WHICH IS ABSOLUTELY NOT TRUE.
THE PHYSICAL ENGINEERING BUILD OF THE ROAD, THE SIZE OF THE, THE CONDUITS, THE 10 FOOT INTERIOR, 12 FOOT EXTERIOR OF THE DRAINAGE, THAT WILL INCREASE THE DRAINAGE BY A FACTOR OF MORE THAN FIVE.
UH, CURRENTLY WE HAVE, WHEN WE HAVE A STORM, THE STORM DRAINS BACK UP, UH, UH, 50 FEET ABOVE THE SEA LEVEL ALL THE WAY BACK AND WATER FLOWS OUT.
THE STORM DRAINS THOSE WHO ARE IN LOWER PLACES FROM UP UPHILL TO THOSE.
IT'S DRIVEN BY 2021 STUDY MONTROSE FLOODS AND WE NEED HELP.
UH, WE'RE CREATING ACCESSIBILITY AND, AND COMFORT FOR ALL USERS MAKING A, A WORN AND UNEVEN MONTROSE BOULEVARD SAFER THAN IT IS TODAY.
CARS WILL NOT BE AFFECTED BY THEIR, THEIR ABILITY TO DRIVE ON THE ROAD WHATSOEVER.
BUS, BUS RIDERS, WALKERS, WALKERS, INDIVIDUALS WITH DISABILITIES, STROLLERS AND OTHERS WILL BE ABLE TO USE THIS FACILITY RATHER THAN THE CARS ALL ALONE.
WE HAVE SECTIONS THAT THAT IS BEING REDUNDANT, THAT HAVE NO SIDEWALK ALONG MONTROSE.
WE HAVE SECTIONS, MANY OF THE SECTIONS WHERE THE, WHERE THE WALKWAYS A RIGHT AGAINST THE, THE ROADWAY WITH A TREE SITTING RIGHT THERE, UH, ALONG WITH HIM.
BUT, UH, I COULD TALK ABOUT THIS FOR AN HOUR.
I KNOW I'VE PASSED MY TIME AND THANK YOU.
THANK YOU ONCE AGAIN, THANK YOU FOR THE SPEAKING OPPORTUNITY.
UH, MY NAME'S JUSTIN MCMURTRY AND I'M HERE TO TALK VERY BRIEFLY ABOUT BIKE STUFF.
UH, SPECIFICALLY THE PROJECT CURRENTLY IN, UH, WELL ACTUALLY IT'S ABOUT TO BEGIN CONSTRUCTION ON EQUIPMENT STREET IN THE NEAR NORTH SIDE.
UH, AS CURRENTLY DRAWN, UH, THE PLANS WOULD HAVE A TWO-WAY CYCLE TRACK, ALSO KNOWN AS A PROTECTED BIKE LANE, UH, INSTALLED ON ONE SIDE OF EQUIPMENT ALL THE WAY FROM, UH, HOUSTON AVENUE TO ALLEGIANT STREET.
UM, I JUST WANTED TO TAKE A MOMENT TO SAY THAT'S REALLY A BAD IDEA.
UH, I'M A BICYCLE SAFETY INSTRUCTOR CERTIFIED BY THE LEAGUE OF AMERICAN BICYCLISTS AND ALSO THE AMERICAN BICYCLING EDUCATION ASSOCIATION.
AND ONE OF THE, UH, MAIN THINGS THAT WE TEACH, ONE OF THE FIRST THINGS WE TEACH IN OUR CLASSES IS THAT ABOUT THE WORST THING YOU CAN DO RIDING NEAR THE STREET IS TO BE RIDING AGAINST THE FLOW OF TRAFFIC.
A TWO-WAY CYCLE TRACK ON ONE SIDE OF THE STREET DOES EXACTLY THAT.
ITS THE SIDE OF A ONE-WAY STREET SUCH AS LAMAR OR AUSTIN.
IT'S REALLY BAD ON THE SIDE OF A TWO-WAY STREET.
THE THING ABOUT BICYCLE CRASHES IS, NUMBER ONE, MOST OF THEM HAVE NOTHING TO DO WITH TRAFFIC.
BUT OF THOSE THAT DO, THEY ALMOST ALWAYS HAPPEN AT CROSSWAYS CROSSINGS AND INTERSECTIONS, UH, PLACES WHERE MOTORISTS ARE TURNING.
AND, UH, THAT PROBLEM IS EXACERBATED WHEN YOU HAVE BICYCLISTS MOVING IN A MANNER THAT MOTORISTS ARE NOT EXPECTING.
WHEN YOU COME FROM AN UNEXPECTED DIRECTION, THE PROBABILITY OF CRASHES QUADRUPLES.
THIS HAS BEEN FOUND VERY CONSISTENTLY IN RESEARCH, UM, FROM BOTH THE UNITED STATES AND EUROPE.
UH, SO I REALIZE, UH, THERE'S, THERE MAY BE A LIMIT TO WHAT THE CITY CAN DO ABOUT THIS SPECIFIC EXAMPLE, SINCE IT'S A MULTI JURIS JURISDICTIONAL PROJECT, UH, WITH, UH, METRO, THE CITY AND, UH, ONE OF THE, UH, COUNTY PRECINCTS.
BUT, UM, THEY HAVEN'T STARTED BUILDING YET.
AND SO I'M HOPING THAT WE CAN, UH, MODIFY THAT DESIGN TO, UH, HAVE THE CYCLISTS OPERATING IN THE SAME DIRECTION AS THE ADJACENT TRAFFIC
[01:55:01]
RATHER THAN OPPOSED TO THEM.I'M JUST CURIOUS WHAT INPUT HAVE, IF ANY OF YOU HAD, OR DO ANYBODY, YOU KNOW, HAD ANY INPUT INTO THE DESIGN? YES, SIR.
HAVE YOU PERSONALLY? UM, WELL I WASN'T ALL THAT AWARE OF IT DURING THE, UH, UH, COMMUNITY DISCUSSION PHASE, WHICH WAS SOMETIME BACK.
UM, I, I DIDN'T REALLY BECOME AWARE OF IT UNTIL AFTER THAT TO THE EXTENT THAT IT HAPPENED, UH, WAS COMPLETED AND, AND DESIGN PROCESS AND BEGUN.
COULD YOU RESTATE THE NAME OF YOUR ORGANIZATION? YEAH, UH, I'M CERTIFIED BY THE LEAGUE OF AMERICAN BICYCLISTS, WHICH YOU'VE PROBABLY HEARD OF.
AND ALSO THE AMERICAN BICYCLING EDUCATION ASSOCIATION, WHICH IS BASED IN FLORIDA.
WELL, I'M AN IO S HUSTLE, AN ITALIAN OLYMPIC SINGER.
AND HIS BIRTHDAY WAS A COUPLE DAYS AGO.
HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU.
MAC, HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU ON
CAN YOU REPEAT THAT? I'M THE JOE DIAGGIO OFS.
JOE DIAGGIO OF THE ITALIAN OLYMPIC TEAM.
YEAH, ACTUALLY HE'S TRADE THE TRUTH.
HE'S GOTTA DEAL WITH
I DON'T SEEM AS GOOD AS TRADE THE TRUTH THOUGH.
AND I HAVE FRIENDS THAT ARE PALESTINIANS, BUT I ALSO HAVE FRIENDS THAT, UH, ISRAELIS.
WE FOLLOWED BY REVEREND KEN LAVERNE.
WILLIAM WHITE, DIRECTOR OF THE COUNCIL ON AMERICAN ISLAMIC RELATIONS NATION'S LARGEST MUSLIM CIVIL RIGHTS ORGANIZATION.
IN AN EIGHT WEEK PERIOD, BETWEEN OCTOBER 7TH AND NOVEMBER 7TH, CARE RECEIVED 5,156 ANTI-MUSLIM COMPLAINTS, WHICH WAS 42% OF THE TOTAL OF THE ENTIRE YEAR OF 2022.
EACH OF THESE COMPLAINTS ONLY HAPPENED AFTER THE START OF THE ISRAELI BOMBARDMENT IN GAZA.
TO DATE, TO DATE THE INDISCRIMINATE BOMBING AND KILLING OF INNOCENT CIVILIANS IN IN GAZA AND IN THE WEST BANK HAS LEFT TWO 28,340 KILLED AS OF TWO HOURS AGO.
I'M SURE THAT NUMBER HAS GONE UP.
AT THE RATE WE'RE GOING JUST ON SUNDAY.
WE SAW IN TWO HOURS THAT YOU ALL WERE SITTING COMFORTABLY AT HOME WATCHING THE SUPER BOWL 139 PEOPLE KILLED, OF WHICH SO MANY COUNTLESS CHILDREN, HARMLESSLY OR CARELESSLY MURDERED.
OF THE 28,000, 12,150 ARE CHILDREN.
RAMADAN STARTS IN LESS THAN A MONTH.
WE WILL START RECONSIDERING OUR POLITICAL STRATEGY.
IF WE ARE NOT TAKEN SERIOUSLY IN OUR CALL FOR A CEASEFIRE, IF YOU CANNOT LISTEN TO YOUR HEART, LISTEN TO YOUR CONSTITUENTS THAT LINE UP HERE EVERY WEEK WHO ARE NOT BEING HEARD AND ARE ASKED FOR A CEASEFIRE.
NEXT, REVEREND KENNETH LAVERNE MARYAM RAW.
CAN SOMEONE PLEASE, PLEASE UP SOME SIX FIVE
I'VE BEEN LIVING IN HOUSTON FOR OVER 15 YEARS.
I WANTED TO ADDRESS THE CITY MY CONCERN AS A TAXPAYER.
I'VE BEEN CONTACTING THE CITY FOR OVER YEARS TO ASK TO PLEASE RENEW AND REBUILD OUR NEIGHBORHOOD PUBLIC PARKS AND IS STILL PENDING ON SO MANY GOOD AREAS.
ALSO, MY NEIGHBORHOOD'S FRIENDS AND I ARE SUPER CONCERNED ABOUT THE
[02:00:01]
CRIME, WHICH WE HAVE SEEN GETTING WORSE.I HAVE CONCERN ALSO ON STREETS AND ROADS THAT NEED SOME WORK.
I KNOW THINGS HAVE BEEN IMPROVING 'CAUSE WE HAVE BEEN SEEING IT.
AND ALSO WE ARE CONCERNED ABOUT THE HOMELESS SITUATION 'CAUSE HE HAS BEEN RISING.
AND DEFINITELY THE CITY NEEDS HELP AND HOPEFULLY THIS COULD BE ADDRESSED.
THIS STATEMENT NEEDS TO PLEASE DO SOMETHING FOR A BETTER HOUSTON.
COUNCIL MEMBER HUFFMAN, THANK YOU FOR COMING IN, SPEAKING TODAY.
UM, YOU MENTIONED SOMETHING ABOUT PARKS AT THE VERY BEGINNING.
SO I'VE BEEN TRYING TO CONTACT THE CITY LITERALLY FOR SO MANY YEARS, AND I GOT LIKE FEW RESPONSES AFTER I TRY TO FOLLOW UP.
AND I HAVE, I CAN NAME TWO OF THE PARKS SPOTS PARK THAT IS BEHIND ALLEN PARKWAY THAT NEEDS, NEEDS TO BE, THE TENNIS COURT NEED TO BE RESURFACED AND THE PLAYGROUNDS ARE NOT REALLY SAFE.
AND ALSO THERE IS ANOTHER ONE CALLED, UM, I, I KNOW CLEVELAND PARK HAS BEEN DONE ALREADY AND ALSO THE RIVER OAKS, UH, PARKS THAT HAVE BEEN ALSO RESURFACED.
THE TENNIS COURT THAT NOTICED THAT THERE IS ANOTHER ONE THAT IT'S ON WEST HEIMER THAT I CAN REMEMBER EXACTLY THE, THE NAME.
I THINK IT'S CHERRY HORSE PARK AND IT'S 1700 MISERY STREET AND TENNIS COURT NEEDS TO BE RESURFACED AS WELL AS A LIKE, UH, YOU KNOW, THE WHOLE THE WHOLE THING.
OKAY, WELL LET'S GET TOGETHER AND GET A LIST OF SOME OF THE PARKS THAT YOU'RE CONCERNED ABOUT MM-HMM
AND, YOU KNOW, SEE WHAT DISTRICTS THEY'RE IN AND, AND WHAT WE CAN DO TO FIX THAT.
AND I KNOW THAT YOU'RE CONCERNED ABOUT CRIME AND THERE'S A LOT OF PEOPLE HERE THAT ARE CONCERNED ABOUT CRIME.
UM, MAYOR WHITMEYER THAT IS AT THE TOP OF HIS AGENDA AND HE HAS ALREADY STARTED WORKING ON, YOU KNOW, TACKLING THAT PROBLEM.
BUT WE REALLY APPRECIATE YOU COMING DOWN.
YES, I KNOW, I KNOW YOU GUYS ARE DOING A, YOU KNOW, A MUCH BETTER JOB, BUT IT'S, IT'S BEEN RISING, YOU KNOW, AND WE'RE REALLY CONCERNED.
JAMES BALDWIN SAID, THE CHILDREN ARE ALWAYS OURS, EVERY SINGLE ONE OF THEM ALL OVER THE GLOBE.
AND I'M BEGINNING TO SUSPECT THAT WHOEVER IS INCAPABLE OF RECOGNIZE THAT, RECOGNIZE THIS MAY BE INCAPABLE OF MORALITY.
YOU HAVE HEARD THE LAST WORDS OF A GIRL NAMED HIND WHO WAS MURDERED BY ISRAEL.
I WANT TO KNOW, IS THE LIFE OF MY SON MORE IMPORTANT THAN THE LIFE OF HIND? IF MY SON WENT MISSING AND WAS FEARED TO BE ENDANGERED, HOUSTONIANS WOULD SHOW OUT AND DROVES TO SEARCH FOR HIM.
WHAT HAPPENED WHEN HEALTHCARE WORKERS ATTEMPTED TO RESCUE HEND ISRAEL BLEW UP THEIR AMBULANCE, THEN MURDERED HEND, WHOSE LAST MEMORIES WERE OF THE SMELL AND SIGHT OF THE DECAY OF HER FAMILY MEMBERS AND THE REALITY THAT THE WORLD HAD ABANDONED HER.
SHE SHOULD NOT KNOW THE MEANING OF ABANDONMENT AND DEATH.
WE ARE NOT ASKING THAT MUCH OF YOU.
WE ARE ASKING YOU FOR, FOR YOU TO ISSUE A STATEMENT, CALLING FOR A CEASEFIRE TO STOP THE BLEEDING, TO ALLOW LITTLE GIRLS LIKE HIM TO LIVE.
WE ALL HAVE A RESPONSIBILITY TO EACH OTHER.
AND I AGREE WITH JAMES BALDWIN.
EVERY SINGLE ONE OF THEM DESERVES THE LOVE AND SAFETY MY SON HAS.
DEMONSTRATE THAT YOU ALL ARE CAPABLE OF MORALITY AND CALL FOR A CEASEFIRE.
NEXT, DARL HARPER, LAURA STEELE, ALI YOUNGS, JS HELLO MAYOR WHITMEYER AND CITY COUNCIL.
UM, FIRST OF ALL, I'D LIKE TO SAY HI TO MY OLD BOSS, UH, CITY COUNCIL CASTES TATUM.
I ENTERED IN 2018 FOR YOU UNDER LARRY GREEN.
I REMEMBER WE HAD LUNCH ONE DAY AND YOU TOLD ME YOUR DREAMS AND I SEE YOU DOING IT.
SO I'M VERY PROUD OF YOU AND KEEP DOING A GOOD JOB.
UM, I'M HERE AS TO KIND OF CALL FOR THE WHOLE CITY COUNCIL, CITY OFFICIALS TO LEAD US AS WE SAW WHAT HAPPENED ON SUNDAY.
AND WE WANT, WE'RE LOOKING, THERE'S SO MUCH VIOLENCE AND HURT IN THIS WORLD.
WE WANT, WE LOOK TO OUR CITY OFFICIALS TO LEAD US.
WHAT'S THE BEST THING YOU COULD DO RIGHT NOW? WHY NOT CALL FOR A CEASEFIRE? WHAT'S A CEASEFIRE? A LOT OF MY FRIENDS HERE, THEY'RE ASKING YOU GUYS TO CALL FOR CEASE FIRE.
I'M ASKING YOU GUYS WHY NOT? WHY AREN'T YOU DOING IT? WHAT'S THE NEGATIVE EFFECT OF IT? IT'S LITERALLY PEACE BETWEEN ISRAEL AND PALESTINE.
WE'RE ASKING FOR ALL HOSTAGES TO BE RETURNED TO ISRAEL FOR THE KILLINGS OF INNOCENT PALESTINIANS TO STOP.
HOW MANY DEATHS HAVE TO HAPPEN BEFORE YOU GUYS CALL FOR CEASE FIRE CITY COUNCIL MEMBER.
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15 MORE SECONDS? IF YOU DON'T MIND, YOUR TIME HAS EXPIRED.28,000 PALESTINIANS HAVE DIED.
1.9 MILLION PALESTINIANS DISPLACED.
ALMOST A WHOLE POPULATION OF GAZA IS IN A STARVATION MODE.
SO I'M ASKING YOU GUYS, PLEASE CALL FOR CEASE FIRE CEASEFIRE.
IF YOU DO, YOU'RE NOT ANTI-ISRAEL.
IF YOU DO, YOU ARE JUST LITERALLY CALLING FOR PEACE.
AND I WOULD LIKE TO YIELD MY TIME TO CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS TO ANSWER MY QUESTION.
WHY NOT CALL FOR CEASEFIRE? THANK YOU.
I STAND BEFORE YOU TO REQUEST THAT THE CITY OF HOUSTON CALL FOR A CEASEFIRE IN GAZA.
MY FAMILY IS OF BOTH JEWISH AND ARMENIAN DESCENT, WHICH MEANS WE ARE NO STRANGERS TO GENOCIDE.
BUT I NEVER THOUGHT I WOULD SEE IT REPEATED IN OUR TIME, MANY OF THE BOMBS BEING DROPPED ON GAZA ARE MANUFACTURED HERE IN AMERICA.
THEY'RE SUPPORTED WITH OUR TAXES.
IT IS OUR MONEY THAT IS BOMBING SCHOOLS, LEVELING HOSPITALS, AND DESTROYING FAMILIES.
I REFUSE TO BE COMPLICIT IN ANOTHER GENOCIDE.
I REFUSE TO INFLICT THE SAME NIGHTMARE ON ANOTHER GENERATION.
THAT IS WHY I ASK THE CITY COUNCIL TO CALL FOR A CEASEFIRE IN PALESTINE.
UH, JUST A FEW DAYS AGO, MAYOR WHITMEYER MADE A STATEMENT AFTER THE LAKEWOOD CHURCH SHOOTING, STATING, SAY, A PRAYER FOR THOSE OFFICERS THAT HAD TO DROP THE SUSPECT.
SO YOU SEE HOW TAKING A PERSON'S LIFE SHOULD AFFECT SOMEONE.
NOW, COMPARE THAT TO THE ISRAELI OCCUPATION.
FORCES COUNTLESS FOOTAGE OF THEM CELEBRATING AFTER DEMOLISHING WHOLE NEIGHBORHOODS AND PLACES OF WORSHIP WITH CIVILIANS STILL INSIDE.
SO, PARDON ME IF I THINK IT'S WEIRD THAT MY CITY WON'T JOIN THE OTHER 48 US CITIES THAT HAVE ADOPTED SYMBOLIC RESOLUTIONS CALLING FOR A CEASEFIRE.
ACCORDING TO WIKIPEDIA, HOUSTON RANKS NUMBER FOUR OUT OF THE TOP FIVE LARGEST US CITIES AND THE THIRD LARGEST US CITY CHICAGO JUST RECENTLY CALLED FOR A CEASEFIRE.
NOW IMAGINE IF A NUMBER OF THE LARGEST US CITIES ARE COLLECTIVELY CALLING FOR A CEASE FIRE, WHICH I CAN'T EVEN BELIEVE WE NEED TO PROTEST TO SAY THAT BOMBING CHILDREN IS WRONG.
BUT IF ALL THIS DEATH HASN'T COMPELLED YOU, CAN I PLEASE HAVE LIKE YOUR TIME HASN'T 30 SECONDS.
UM, SO IF ALL OF THIS DEATH HASN'T COMPELLED YOU TO SPEAK OUT, I CAN'T HELP BUT FEEL SADNESS FOR THE PRISON OF THOUGHTS YOU UNDOUBTEDLY RESIDE IN.
I MEAN, IF YOU DON'T WANT TO BE A PART OF THE MOVEMENT TO END A LEVEL OF TORMENT THAT IS UNPRECEDENTED, THEN THAT'S VERY UNSETTLING AND IT MAKES ME UNCERTAIN IN REGARDS TO OUR LEADERSHIP.
SOMETIMES IT'S NOT EASY HAVING A KIND HEART IN A CRUEL WORLD, BUT YOUR ACTIONS MIRROR YOUR HEART AND WE'RE PAYING ATTENTION.
AND FOR THOSE HERE ADVOCATING FOR ENVIRONMENTALISM, PLEASE REMEMBER ISRAEL HAS HAD AN IMMENSE EFFECT ON THE CLIMATE BECAUSE OF THEIR GAS EMISSIONS FROM BOMBING PALESTINE, RELENTLESSLY USE OF WHITE PHOSPHORUS AND UPROOTING AND BOMBING OF OVER 800,000 TREES.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME AND I HOPE TO SEE MY CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS JOIN THE OTHER 48 US CITIES IN CALLING FOR A CEASEFIRE.
GOOD AFTERNOON MAYOR WHITMEYER AND COUNCIL MEMBERS.
MY SON IS A STUDENT AT TH ROGERS, WHICH IS AN HISD SCHOOL.
I AM HERE TO ASK YOU TO HELP ME KEEP THE SCHOOL NEIGHBORHOOD SAFE.
I'VE KEPT HEARING ABOUT SAFETY, SAFETY OF CHILDREN, NOT IN THE US SAFETY AROUND OUR HOUSTON STREETS.
I'M JUST ASKING FOR SCHOOL ZONE SAFETY.
I'M AN ACTIVE MEMBER OF THE PTO.
[02:10:01]
OUR STREETS SAFE.WHAT I REPEATEDLY SEE ARE TRAFFIC OFFENSES HAPPENING ON A BUSY INTERSECTION, PARTICULARLY CENTRALLY BEARING AND SUGAR HILL.
I'M ASKING YOU FOR THE PRESENCE OF LAW ENFORCEMENT TO BE THERE TO HAND OUT TICKETS FOR VIOLATIONS LIKE CELL PHONES DURING SCH SCHOOL DROP OFF TIME, ILLEGAL U-TURN, ILLEGAL LEFT TURNS.
I AS A PARENT VOLUNTEER EVERY MORNING AMONGST OTHERS TO TRY AND KEEP OUR SCHOOL CARPOOL LINE SAFE.
COUNCIL MEMBER HUFFMAN, YOUR OFFICE HAS BEEN RESPONSIVE TO SOME OF OUR EMAILS, BUT EVEN THIS MORNING, I, I'M TRYING TO RUN AROUND THE NEIGHBORHOOD YELLING AT PARENTS WHO ARE DOING ILLEGAL THINGS.
WHILE I CAN TAKE CARE OF THE SCHOOL AREA, I CAN'T BE HOPPING AROUND BEARING SUGAR HILL.
I KNOW WE HAVE MONEY BECAUSE OUR COUNTRY IS YOUR TIME HAS EXPIRED.
WE'RE FUNDING WARS ABROAD, BUT COME ON, WHEN I COME TO YOU FOR HELP ON KEEPING MY STREETS SAFE.
SO, UH, I AM FAMILIAR WITH TH H ROGERS.
IS, IS YOUR CHILD A A, UH, A PARTICIPANT IN DR.
CARR'S PROGRAM? NO, MY CHILD IS JUST, UM, HE'S A FIRST GRADER.
I WAS ACTUALLY VERY ACTIVE ABOUT THE PSI PROGRAM, WHICH WAS, WE ALMOST LOST THAT LAST YEAR, SO, ABSOLUTELY.
UM, YOU KNOW, I'LL GET WITH COUNCIL MEMBER HUFFMAN.
UH, FOR THOSE OF YOU WHO DON'T KNOW, TH ROGERS HAS A VERY STRONG PROGRAM MM-HMM.
THAT HELPS DIS UH, CHILDREN WITH DISABILITIES BE FRAGILE.
SO I'LL GET WITH COUNCIL MEMBER HUFFMAN AND SEE WHAT WE CAN THANK YOU.
I NEED TO PARTNER WITH YOU TO HELP.
UM, I KNOW THAT THIS ISSUE IS VERY IMPORTANT AND SO, UM, THE TRAFFIC ENFORCEMENT DIVISION HAS BEEN OUT THERE, YOU KNOW, IN THE NEW YEAR.
AND SO, UM, I FOLLOWED UP WITH MIDWEST HPD TODAY, TALKED TO THEIR COMMANDER AND LOOKED AT THE TRAFFIC ENFORCEMENT DIVISION FROM JANUARY 26TH TO FEBRUARY 2ND.
AND DURING THAT TIME, JUST IN BETWEEN FOUNTAIN VIEW AND CHIMNEY ROCK ON WESTHEIMER, I MEAN NOT ON WEST HER, UM, JUST IN BETWEEN F UH, SO I THINK SAN ON CAPE PHILIPPY.
BETWEEN CHIMNEY ROCK AND VIEW, UH, 44 CITATIONS HAVE BEEN ISSUED IN THAT TIME PERIOD.
UM, 20 OF THOSE WERE FOR SPEEDING.
FOUR OF THEM WERE FOR, UH, INTERSECTION VIOLATIONS.
THERE WERE 18 OTHER CITATIONS.
UM, AND SO WE ARE WORKING ON THIS ISSUE AND I, I UNDERSTAND AND I'VE SEEN FOUND VIEW, BUT WE NEED BEARING AS WELL.
'CAUSE THAT'S WHERE THE DROP OFF HAPPENS.
SOME CHILD IS GONNA DIE ONE DAY.
I MEAN, AND THIS IS NOT GONNA BE A BOMB THAT WE'RE SUPPORTING, BUT THIS IS GONNA BE OUR NEGLIGENCE BECAUSE WE CAN'T AFFORD A POLICE OFFICER TO BE THERE TO HELP US.
AND I'LL, I'LL PUT THAT ON THE RADAR FOR THE COMMANDER AT MIDWEST.
HELLO, MY NAME IS HAMZA AVAREZ AND I'M FROM DISTRICT A, WHICH IS AMY PECK'S DISTRICT.
AND I'M REPRESENTING THE NORTHEAST ACTION COLLECTIVE THAT HAS BEEN COMING OUT FOR MANY YEARS, ADVOCATING FOR BETTER DRAINAGE AND, UM, AND THE PEOPLE WHO ARE BELOVED, THE CITY OF MILLIONS FOR MANY BACKGROUNDS THAT CALL THE HOME.
I WOULD LIKE TO THANK THE POOR COUNCIL MEMBERS THAT HAVE ALREADY CALLED FOR CEASEFIRE AND I URGE OTHERS TO DO SO.
FOLLOWING IS, UM, A SOUND BIT FROM THE LAST WORDS OF HINT WHO HAS BEEN, WE'VE BEEN TALK MENTIONING EARLIER.
I WOULD JUST LIKE TO HAVE A 10 MORE SECONDS.
AFTER HEARING THIS, HEARING THIS, UH, SOUNDBITE OF A GIRL WHO WAS TRAPPED INSIDE HER CAR, SURROUND BY HER RELATIVES, PEOPLE IN THE ROOM AND ON THE CITY COUNCIL, PLEASE RAISE YOUR RIGHT HAND.
IF YOU BELIEVE THAT S AND THOUSANDS OF MARTYRS LIKERS DEATHS WERE NOT JUSTIFIED, PLEASE RAISE YOUR HAND.
[02:15:01]
YOU.I DON'T THINK I HEARD YOUR QUESTION.
PEOPLE IN THE ROOM AND ON THE CITY COUNCIL, PLEASE RAISE YOUR RIGHT HAND.
IF YOU BELIEVE THAT HEINZ HEINS AND THOUSANDS OF MARTYRS LIKE HERS, YOUR TIME HAS EXPIRED.
THANK, THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE.
IN AUGUST OF 2017, I LOST MY HOME TO FLOODING.
DURING HURRICANE HARVEY, IN AN INSTANT WATER ROSE FROM OUR FLOORS, GIVING US ONLY ENOUGH TIME TO GATHER OUR NECESSITIES.
AS THE WATER BECAME WAIST DEEP, I KNEW THAT ALL THE THINGS AROUND ME THAT HELD SO MUCH SENTIMENTAL VALUE WOULD ONLY EVER CONTINUE TO LIVE IN MY MEMORY.
IT WASN'T LONG BEFORE THE NATIONAL GUARD CAME TO RESCUE US AND I SAW MY NEIGHBORS TEAR STAINED AND UNITED IN GRIEF.
WE WERE TAKEN TO THE GEORGE R. BROWN CENTER, WHERE I NEVER ONCE QUESTIONED MY SAFETY.
MY FAMILY AND I TOOK A BREATH, ABLE TO TRY AND START TO PROCESS OUR LOSS.
THE PALESTINIANS IN RAFA WERE NOT GIVEN THAT LUXURY TO EXPERIENCE DISPLACEMENT OVER AND OVER AGAIN, ONLY TO EVACUATE TO SAFETY AND STILL BE RAINED ON BY BOMBS IS NOTHING SHORT OF A NIGHTMARE.
IN 2017, MYSELF AND 30,000 OTHER HOUSTONIANS EXPERIENCED DISPLACEMENT, AND AS OF NOW, THE SAME NUMBER OF PALESTINIANS HAVE BEEN KILLED.
HOUSTON IS A CITY THAT KNOWS DISPLACEMENT ALL TOO WELL, AND I WAS GRATEFUL TO MY CITY FOR STANDING TALL IN THE FACE OF LOSS.
NOW I ASK MY CITY TO DO THE SAME AND CALL FOR A CEASEFIRE NOW.
HI, MY NAME IS ASHLEY WILKERSON AND BY TRADE I WORK IN SOCIAL SERVICES WITH THE HOMELESS, BUT I'VE HAD TO BECOME AN ACTIVIST FOR QUITE SOME TIME NOW, THREE MAYORS.
NOW I'VE BEEN REPORTING THAT A WIRELESS AND HIGH TECH CRIMINAL NETWORK HAS BEEN ENGAGING IN REMOTE CRIMES IN THE CITY OF HOUSTON, TARGETING POOR, MINORITY AND WHITE CHILDREN AND WOMEN REMOTELY.
LAW ENFORCEMENT HPD HAS REPEATEDLY CHARACTERIZED THE REPORT OF THIS CRIME.
EVEN IN SPITE OF EVIDENCE AS SOMETHING THAT DOES NOT EXIST AND ISN'T IS IMAGINE IMAGINARY.
I AM REQUESTING ASSISTANCE BECAUSE IF YOU CANNOT REPORT THE CRIME OR IF THE REPORT IS PENALIZED OR SOMEONE IS DETAINED, THEN INVESTIGATION OF IT CANNOT OCCUR.
UM, THESE PHOTOS ARE OF VICTIMS WHO ALSO HAVE BEEN REPORTING THAT SOME GROUP IS WIRELESSLY ASSAULTING THEM.
WHAT YOU HAVE HERE IS AN EXCERPT FROM MY BOOK THAT I'VE WRITTEN FOR ACTIVISM PURPOSES, MY OWN TIME, MY OWN MONEY IN THIS BOOK.
IN THIS BOOK, IT TALKS ABOUT THE CRIMES, UM, AGAINST FEDERAL PERSONS.
IN 2008, I REPORTED THIS CRIME IN HOUSTON TO THE FBI TO HPD.
THE CRIME THEN STARTED BEING REPORTED OVERSEAS BY C-I-A-F-B-I DIPLOMATS.
WHAT THEY DO NOT UNDERSTAND IS THERE IS A TRANSNATIONAL CRIMINAL ORGANIZATION THAT WORKS ALL AROUND THE WORLD AND HOUSTON IS GROUND ZERO.
SO I AM ASKING FOR ASSISTANCE WITH GETTING LAW ENFORCEMENT TO LOOK INTO THIS CRIME.
THIS IS A CHILD'S NAME, THIS IS NOT, YOU KNOW, UM, WHAT IS THAT? UM, WHATEVER THE SKY STUFF, THEY CHEM TRAILS.
YOU CAN SEE VERY VIVIDLY HERE THAT THIS IS E AND A G.
THIS IS MY MAIDEN NAME, INITIALS OVER MY MOTHER'S HOUSE.
OKAY, SOMETHING IS GOING ON AND I NEED SOMETHING DONE.
NEXT J EM, LASONYA MALBOROUGH.
GOOD MORNING OR AFTERNOON? GOOD AFTERNOON, MAYOR WHITMEYER, COUNCILMAN AND WOMEN.
MY NAME IS LASONYA MALBOROUGH.
I RESIDE IN DISTRICT H I'M A NURSE ANESTHETIST.
I WORK AT MD ANDERSON CANCER CENTER.
OVER THE YEARS, WE ARE SEEING MORE AND MORE PATIENTS DIAGNOSED WITH CANCER WHO'VE NEVER SMOKED.
THEY DO NOT DRINK, AND THEY DO NOT HAVE A FAMILY HISTORY OF CANCER.
WE DO KNOW THAT ENVIRONMENTAL CAUSES
[02:20:01]
EXIST.WE CANNOT CONTROL THAT, BUT THERE ARE SOME THAT WE CAN CONTROL AND THAT'S WHY I'M HERE FOR THE SECOND TIME TO BEG YOU TO DO SOMETHING ABOUT WHAT'S HAPPENING ON OUR, IN OUR BACKYARD AT 800 MIDDLE STREET.
EXCUSE ME, WE KNOW THEY FOUND ELEVATED MUSCLES OF ARSENIC AND LEAD.
THESE LEAD TO HEART DISEASE, DIABETES, CANCER OF THE BLADDER, LUNG, SKIN, LIVER, PROSTATE, BEHAVIORAL PROBLEMS WILL RE RESULT HYPERACTIVITY, LEARNING DISABILITIES AND REDUCE PHYSICAL GROWTH OF KIDS.
MY SECOND POINT ABOUT THIS PROJECT IS THAT THE TRAFFIC ISSUES ARE ASTRONOMICAL.
MY PROPERTY WAS PHYSICALLY DAMAGED DUE TO THE NEGLIGENT AND AGGRESSIVE DRIVER DRIVING OF THESE CONTRACTORS.
IT WAS CAUGHT ON TAPE BY ONE OF MY NEIGHBORS.
THEY CAUSED THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS OF DAMAGE TO MY VEHICLE, AND IT WILL REQUIRE AN ATTORNEY TO HAVE THIS FIXED.
THANK YOU MAYOR PROTO, AND, UH, YOU CAN HAVE THE REST OF MY TIME.
I JUST WANTED TO POINT OUT THAT WE DEFINITELY, DEFINITELY NEED YOUR HELP WITH, UM, TO STOP THIS PROJECT AS A NURSE, AS A HUMAN BEING.
UM, I'LL JUST POINT OUT THE LAST TIME I WAS HERE, UM, PREVIOUS MAYOR ASKED ME IF I WOULD BE HAPPY IF THEY PROVIDED A WAY FOR HOMELESS PEOPLE AND OTHERS TO BE RELOCATED.
AND, UH, MY RESPONSE WAS NO, BECAUSE I DON'T THINK IT WOULD BE A SOLUTION, A VIABLE SOLUTION, BECAUSE I THINK IT'S UNETHICAL TO ALLOW PEOPLE TO MOVE ONTO THE SITE WHERE WE KNOW THAT THERE'S, THERE'S ENVIRONMENTAL CAUSES.
I WOULD NOT WANT MY COUSINS WHO ARE LOW INCOME TO HAVE THEIR KIDS PLAYING ON THE SOIL AND ONE DAY END UP AS A PATIENT OF MINE.
THANK YOU FOR ALLOWING ME EXTRA TIME.
THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE TODAY.
MS. UH, MARLBOROUGH, COUNCIL MEMBER POLLARD HAS A COMMENT FOR YOU.
AND THANK YOU FOR COMING AGAIN.
I KNOW YOU'VE BEEN ON THIS ISSUE FOR SOME TIME.
UM, HAVE YOU BEEN ABLE TO STAY ENGAGED WITH YOUR, YOUR, UH, COUNCIL OFFICE? I KNOW THAT THERE'S A NEW, A NEW TEAM IN PLACE.
UM, OUR COMMUNITY HAS REALLY COMES TOGETHER TO WORK TOGETHER, UM, SENDING LETTERS TO THE COUNCIL AND DEFINITELY STAYING ACTIVE.
NEXT SPEAKER, JONAH HITCHCOCK.
FIRST OF ALL, I JUST WANNA ACKNOWLEDGE THAT THIS MONTROSE BOULEVARD PROJECT PALES IN COMPARISON AS A PROBLEM TO MANY OF THE PROBLEMS YOU'VE HEARD ABOUT TODAY.
AND I WANT TO OFFER MY PUBLIC THANKS TO OFFICE AGENT HERRERA AND OFFICER MORENO FOR THEIR ACTIONS AT LIQUID CHURCH YESTERDAY.
I AM HERE, HOWEVER, WITH THE SAVE MONTROSE LIVE OAKS GROUP, AND I JUST WANTED TO SAY LAST WEEK, THE MAYOR, UH, OFFERED TO DO A TOWN HALL TO ENSURE THE YOUR FULL COMMUNITY HAS A CHANCE TO HAVE THEIR VOICES HEARD.
WE HOPE THAT WE'LL BE GIVEN A CHANCE ALONG WITH OTHER GROUPS TO PLAN THE TIMING AND FORMAT SO WE MAKE SURE THAT THEY'RE FAIR AND CONDUCIVE TO GENUINE AND EXCHANGE OF, OF IDEAS WITH ACCURATE INFORMATION.
THERE'S BEEN MANY ACCUSATIONS HERE TODAY THAT OUR GROUP IS SPREADING MISINFORMATION, BUT THERE'S BEEN NO SPECIFICS OR EVIDENCE ABOUT THAT.
WE WILL BE RELEASING A COMPREHENSIVE REPORT THIS WEEK THAT WILL SHOW, SHARE ALL OUR CONCERNS AND PROVIDE DETAILED EVIDENCE BEHIND EACH OF OUR ASSERTIONS.
THIS INCLUDES DEBUNKING MANY OF THE MYTHS YOU'VE HEARD TODAY THAT MONTROSE HAS A TERRIBLE, TERRIBLE FLOODING PROBLEM THAT'S WORSE THAN MANY IN THE CITY.
LOOK FORWARD FOR THE TOWN HALL.
THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE, AND WE LOOK FORWARD TO YOUR COMPREHENSIVE EVALUATION.
SO YESTERDAY THE HEAD OF SAFETY, CHIEF SAFETY OFFICER FOR METRO CAME OUT TO 11TH STREET TO EVALUATE WHAT WAS GOING ON WITH THE BIKE LANES THAT MERGE INTO THE BUS STOPS.
YOU CAN READ FOR YOURSELF WHAT HE HAS TO SAY.
WHAT HE HAD TO SAY WAS BASED ON OUR CONVERSATION REGARDING THE BIKE LANES ON 11TH STREET AT HEIGHTS, I APPRECIATE SHARING YOUR CONCERNS ABOUT THE BIKE LANE'S INTERSECTION WITH METRO BUSES.
AS EXPLAINED, I SHARE IN YOUR SAFETY CONCERNS REGARDING THE INCONSISTENCIES OF THE DEDICATED BIKE LANE LIMITS, BARRIERS AND OVERALL TREATMENT.
FOR THIS REASON, IT IS IMPORTANT TO FOLLOW A CONFIGURATION MANAGEMENT PROCESS THAT IDENTIFIES HAZARDS INTRODUCED BY THE CHANGE OR DESIGN, ALLOWING FOR PROPER MITIGATION OR PERHAPS RECONSIDERING THE PROJECT BASED ON SAFETY RISK.
WHAT ARE WE GONNA DO ABOUT THIS? IS METRO GONNA HANDLE THIS OR IS THIS, I MEAN, WHAT DO WE DO? THANK YOU.
[02:25:01]
YOU.I'LL START BY SPEAKING FOR A FRIEND WHO CAN'T BE HERE.
SHE SAYS, I'M A NURSE REPRESENTING HEALTHCARE WORKERS FOR PALESTINE HOUSTON CHAPTER.
WHILE I ADVOCATE FOR JUSTICE IN A CEASEFIRE FOR PALESTINIANS, I WOULD ALSO LIKE TO ADVOCATE FOR AFFORDABLE HOUSING FOR HOUSTONIANS.
EVERYONE DESERVES FAIR AND EQUITABLE HOUSING, NO MATTER THEIR ECONOMIC BACKGROUND.
NO MATTER WHO YOU ARE, YOU DESERVE SHELTER AND A ROOF ABOVE YOUR HEAD.
IF WE CAN AFFORD TO PURCHASE ISRAELI IE OCCUPIED PALESTINE BONDS, THEN WHY CAN'T WE AFFORD HOUSING FOR OUR OWN PEOPLE STRUGGLING HERE AT HOME? I WANNA OFFER MY SUPPORT IN SOLIDARITY TO COUNCILWOMAN THOMAS FOR NOT ONLY SPEAKING IN FAVOR OF AFFORDABLE HOUSING PROJECTS, BUT FOR ALSO CALLING FOR A CEASEFIRE AND PALESTINE WHEN OTHERS HAVE BEEN SILENT FOR MYSELF.
I'M HERE AGAIN TODAY BECAUSE YOU ALL AS HIGHER UPS HAVE THE POWER TO ENACT ORDINANCES AND RESOLUTIONS AND USE YOUR GOVERNMENTAL POWERS FOR GOOD.
SO I'M STILL WONDERING WHAT'S UP WITH THE GAZA SEAFIRE RESOLUTION.
THERE'S NO REASON THAT COULD JUSTIFY THE WAR CRIMES OUR GOVERNMENT IS PAYING TO HAVE CARRIED OUT.
AND FOR THE PAST FIVE MONTHS WE'VE BEEN HERE ASKING YOU AS CONSTITUENTS TO DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT, TO REPRESENT US, TO SHOW YOUR HUMANITY.
SO WHAT'S WHAT, WHERE IS IT? WHAT'S GOING ON? YEAH, THAT'S WHAT I THOUGHT.
I HOPE YOU ALL HAVE THE DAY YOU DESERVE YOUR TIME HAS EXPIRED.
GOOD AFTERNOON, MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL.
UH, THANK YOU FOR RECONSIDERING SOME OF THE ROAD PROJECTS, UH, THROUGHOUT HOUSTON, INCLUDING MONTROSE BOULEVARD.
I'M A RECREATIONAL BIKE RIDER AND I RIDE 50 TO 80 MILES A WEEK.
I OPPOSE THE BIKE LANES ON 11TH STREET AND THE SHARED USE PATH ON MONTROSE.
I'VE SENT YOU AN EMAIL IN, IN, UH, ESSENCE OF TIME FOR MORE DETAILED DISCUSSION AND EXAMPLES OF SOME OF THE THINGS I'M GOING TO SPEAK ABOUT.
FIRST, I'M NOT AGAINST SAFETY FOR PEOPLE WALKING OR KIDS GOING TO SCHOOL AND CROSSING STREETS, BUT YOU DON'T NEED TO PUT A CEMENT ISLAND IN THE MIDDLE OF AN INTERSECTION OR IN FRONT OF CHURCHES OR BUSINESSES TO HAVE SAFE CROSSWALKS.
PEDESTRIAN ACTIVATED CROSSING LIGHTS WORK PERFECTLY AND AROUND SCHOOLS CROSSING GUARDS ARE ANOTHER GOOD OR ALTERNATIVE.
THAT'S WHAT WE HAVE IN THE HEIGHTS AT HOG MIDDLE SCHOOL AND HARVARD ELEMENTARY SCHOOL.
THE BIKE LANES ON 11TH AND THE SHARED USE PATH ON MONTROSE ARE REDUNDANT AND IN DANGEROUS.
THERE ARE BETTER PLACES TO RIDE NO MATTER WHAT KIND OF A BIKE RIDER YOU ARE.
INTERACTION FROM TRAFFIC CROSSING CROSS STREETS AND DRIVEWAYS CAN CAUSE ACCIDENTS.
ADDITIONALLY, IN THE CASE OF THE SHARED USE PATH ON MONTROSE, PEDESTRIANS IN SCOOTING, INCLUDING KIDS WALKING TO SCHOOL, WILL BE AT DANGER FROM BIKE RIDERS RIDING TWO FAST DOWN THIS BIG STRAIGHTAWAY.
GOOD AFTERNOON MAYOR WHITMEYER AND COUNCIL MEMBERS.
UM, UH, THANK YOU FOR RECONSIDERING SOME ROAD PROJECTS INCLUDING MONTROSE BOULEVARD AND HOUSTON AVENUE.
THERE HAS TO BE A BETTER WAY TO ENGAGE RESIDENTS ABOUT PROJECTS IN THEIR NEIGHBORHOODS BEFORE THE DESIGNS ARE COMPLETE.
FEW PEOPLE READ, LISTEN, OR WATCH TRADITIONAL MEDIA THESE DAYS AND FEW SUBSCRIBE TO OFFICIAL NEWSLETTERS WEBSITES UNLESS THEY BELONG TO A SPECIAL INTEREST GROUP, HAVE A BUSINESS INTEREST OR ARE A POLITICAL JUNKIE.
GO TO SOCIAL MEDIA FOR TRANSPARENCY.
NEXTDOOR EX TWITTER, FACEBOOK, TIKTOK, ET CETERA.
OLD SCHOOL DOOR HANGERS, PETITIONS, PHONE CALLS OR POLLS.
ALSO HELPFUL POST QR CODES ON SOCIAL
[02:30:01]
MEDIA AND AROUND TOWN.THERE CAN BE NO TRANSPARENCY IF ONLY SPECIAL INTEREST GROUPS HAVE INPUT.
FEW CITIZENS NOW PAY ATTENTION OR VOTE FOR THAT MATTER BECAUSE NO ONE ENGAGES THEM UNTIL SOMEONE OR SOMETHING RATTLES THEIR CAGE ON NEXTDOOR.
ON NEXTDOOR DIANA SUGGESTED THAT THE REVIEW OF PROJECTS SHOULD NOT JUST REEVALUATE THE JOBS PENDING, BUT ALSO INCLUDE PUBLIC MEETINGS WITH BROAD MEDIA NOTICES.
THIS WOULD AT THE VERY LEAST, ALLOW RESIDENTS TO VOICE THEIR CONCERNS AND WOULD CERTAINLY SAVE TAX DOLLARS BECAUSE THE POLICY OF BILL FIRST ASK FORGIVENESS LATER IS WASTEFUL TO THE TAXPAYERS WHEN THE ITEMS ARE REMOVED.
NOT TO MENTION THE COST OF MISTRUST BETWEEN CITIZENS AND LOCAL GOVERNMENT.
PEOPLE FOUND OUT ABOUT THE MONTROSE BOULEVARD PROJECT ON NEXT DOOR, NOT FROM THE TOUR.
TWO DAYS BEFORE THE THIRD OF FOUR PUBLIC MEETINGS.
MY HUSBAND LEARNED ABOUT THE FIRST MEETING ON 11TH STREET BY EMAIL PROBABLY BECAUSE HE IS A BIKE RIDER.
BASED ON THOSE IN ATTENDANCE, THE SECOND MEETING INVITATION WENT OUT TO PEOPLE AT THE FIRST MEETING.
NO MATTER HOW MANY PUBLIC MEETINGS THERE ARE, ONCE YOU GET THE POST-IT MEETING STAGE, THE DESIGN IS BASICALLY SET.
WE FOUND THAT OUT AT THE NORTH MAIN POST-IT MEETING AND YOU BETTER KEEP CHECKING UP ON CHANGES.
TURS REJECTED A SHARED USE SIDEWALK BECAUSE IT WOULD ENTAIL SIGNIFICANT TREE REMOVAL IN MONTROSE.
THEN THE ESTABLISHED TREES WERE OUT INFAMOUSLY.
THE CITY ELIMINATED THE CENTER TURN LANE ON WEST 11TH BECAUSE THE ROW WAS DISCOVERED TO BE TOO NARROW.
ALL OF THIS IS TO SAY WE APPRECIATE WHAT YOU WERE DOING, MAYOR WHITMEYER, BUT MORE NEEDS TO BE DONE TO ENGAGE AND LISTEN TO COMMUNITY MEMBERS TO GET INFORMATION FLOWING UP, NOT JUST DOWN.
HELLO, MY NAME IS MALEEK ELEC COMB AND I WANT TO USE MY TIME TO BRING ATTENTION TO TWO THINGS.
ONE, ISRAEL HAS UPROOTED OVER 800,000 TREES SINCE 1967.
SO FOR THE TREE LOVERS IN HERE, THAT'S SOMETHING TO BAKE ABOUT WHEN YOU WANT TO KNOW WHERE YOUR TAXES ARE GOING.
UH, NUMBER TWO, I WANT TO ECHO MY COMRADE HAMZA AND I WANNA ADDRESS EVERYONE IN THE ROOM, INCLUDING COUNCIL MEMBERS IN THE MAYOR.
IF YOU ARE AGAINST THE SLAUGHTERING AND MASSING OF INNOCENT CHILDREN LIKE LITTLE 6-YEAR-OLD HEN, PLEASE RAISE YOUR HAND.
I DON'T KNOW IF Y'ALL HEARD ME.
IF YOU'RE AGAINST THE MASSING AND SLAUGHTERING OF CHILDREN LIKE LITTLE 6-YEAR-OLD, HED PLEASE RAISE YOUR HAND.
THANK YOU, UH, THOMAS PLUMBER AND POLLARD FOR CALLING FOR A CEASEFIRE.
OF COURSE, IT'S THE PEOPLE OF COLOR THAT HAVE DONE IT, SO MAYBE Y'ALL SHOULD FOLLOW SUIT.
AND I DO WISH YOU WHAT YOU WISH FOR POWER SIGNED.
UM, FIRST I WOULD LOVE TO COMMEND, UH, MRS. MONTOYA FOR HER SPEECH OF THE DREAM.
SECOND COMMEND MR. FRED WOODS ON COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT.
I FIRST SPOKE AS AN A-H-H-I-S-D PARENT ON HOUSTON PARKS AND RECREATION AS A BASKETBALL PLAYER, WORKED AS A COMMUNITY SERVICE ADVOCATE ON HOMELESSNESS.
NOW AS A SOCIAL JUSTICE ACTION TEAM.
MINISTRY PANEL MEMBER ON METRO BUS SAFETY, BUS SHELTER, SAFETY, MENTAL HEALTH AWARENESS, UH, CRIME PREVENTION AS A REGISTERED VOTER WITH THE CLEAN BACKGROUND CHECK, CLEAN DRIVER'S LICENSE.
I WOULD LOVE TO ENCOURAGE Y'ALL AS CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS TO HELP OUR CITY'S METRO COMMUTE BEFORE THE 2026 FIFA WORLD CUP.
UM, ONCE AGAIN, THIS IS OUR CITY AND WE CAN ONLY CONTROL, WE CAN CONTROL.
AND I WANT TO LEAVE IT OPEN FOR ANY QUESTIONS.
I HANDED OUT SOME STUFF FOR THE MAYOR, UM, SOME BACKGROUND ON THE COMMUNITY, UH, SERVICE ADVOCACY, AN AFFIDAVIT FOR HUMAN RESCUE, AND A RESUME LIST JUST IN CASE YOU GUYS DIDN'T KNOW WHO I WAS THE FIRST TIME, THE SECOND TIME OR, OR THE THIRD TIME.
UM, ANY QUESTIONS? UM, THANK YOU.
UH, WE ALL GET THE IMPRESSION THAT MANY OF YOU WISH TO REMAIN NEUTRAL WITH REGARDS TO ISRAEL AND PALESTINE.
UH, DR. KING, WHO IS MY HERO, IS PROBABLY ROLLING IN HIS GRAVE THAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT NEUTRALITY IN A TIME LIKE THIS.
BUT THE QUESTION WE NEED TO ASK IS WHETHER YOUR SILENCE ACTUALLY IS NEUTRALITY.
FOR THE LAST 10 YEARS, THE CITY OF HOUSTON HAS INVESTED 20 OVER $20 MILLION
[02:35:01]
INTO ISRAEL BONDS.UH, THAT MONEY IS USED BY THE STATE OF ISRAEL IN A FUNGIBLE WAY, IN AN UNRESTRICTED WAY.
THEY CAN USE IT FOR WHAT THEY WANT, SUCH AS ILLEGAL SETTLEMENTS, PRISON CELLS FOR LITTLE CHILDREN, BONDS THAT DROP ON 6-YEAR-OLD GIRLS IN THE AMBULANCES THAT GO TO RESCUE THEM.
SO YOUR SILENCE CANNOT BE NEUTRALITY.
THOSE BOND PURCHASES ARE STILL AUTHORIZED IN THE CITY'S INVESTMENT POLICY.
THE INVESTMENT MANAGER AT THE CONTROLLER'S OFFICE CAN MAKE A PURCHASE WITHOUT ASKING YOU, THEY'RE NOT GONNA ASK YOU BECAUSE YOU'VE ALREADY AUTHORIZED IT.
AND UNTIL YOU DO THAT, YOU CAN'T EVEN FEIGN NEUTRALITY ON THIS ISSUE.
WE'RE ASKING YOU ALL TO ACT TODAY TO REMOVE THAT AUTHORIZATION.
UH, AND, AND YOUR TIME HAS EXPIRED.
WE CAN'T, WE CAN'T STAY NEUTRAL IN A TIME LIKE THIS.
COUNCIL MEMBERS, THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK HERE TODAY.
I, UM, I'M HERE, UH, TO DISCUSS THE MONTROSE BOULEVARD REDEVELOPMENT PROJECT.
AND, UH, LAST TIME WHEN I WAS HERE, ABBY CAYMAN BROUGHT UP, UM, SHE MADE A STATEMENT AND SHE SAID, THIS IS PREDOMINANTLY A DRAINAGE PROJECT, WHICH I WANTED TO LOOK INTO A LITTLE BIT FURTHER.
SO I FOUND THE, UH, GAUGE ENGINEERING MONTROSE DRAINAGE, UH, STUDY FROM 2021.
AND I WANTED TO SHARE THIS WITH YOU.
ONE IS BEFORE AND ONE IS AFTER.
AND I'VE PASSED OUT, UM, UH, SOME PAGES TO YOU SO YOU CAN TAKE A CLOSER LOOK AT IT.
I GUESS MY QUESTION IS, DO YOU SEE ANY DIFFERENCE BEFORE, BETWEEN BEFORE AND AFTER? 'CAUSE I DO NOT.
THIS IS A HUNDRED MILLION DOLLARS WORTH OF INVESTMENT.
THIS DRAINAGE PROJECT COVERS NOT JUST MONTROSE BOULEVARD, BUT SHEPHERD DUNLEVY PARTS WEST TIME.
CAN I GO AHEAD, CAN I CONTINUE? AND, UM, SO A HUNDRED AND MILLION DOLLARS LA LATER.
AND WHAT ARE WE ACHIEVING ON THIS THIRD PAGE IN YOUR PACKAGE? I HAVE, UM, TAKEN EXCERPTS FROM THIS DRAINAGE STUDY, AND YOU CAN SEE ON THE RIGHT HAND SIDE, WHAT ARE THE FLOOD COMPLAINTS.
IN SIX OUT OF THE SEVEN PROBLEM AREAS IDENTIFIED BY GAUGE, THEY SAY NO FEMA, REPETITIVE LOSS COMPLAINTS WERE IDENTIFIED.
AND ONLY ONE OF THEM AT MONTROSE AND WESTHEIMER HAVE THERE BEEN MULTIPLE FEMA REPETITIVE LOSS COMPLAINTS.
ALTHOUGH THEY DON'T TELL US HOW MANY.
AND, UM, SO IF YOU LOOK IN THE MIDDLE COLUMN FLOODING DURATION, WHAT YOU SEE IS THAT THE DRAINAGE ISSUES ARE MOST, MOSTLY COMPRISED OF SIX INCHES OF WATER STANDING IN THE STREET.
NOW, THE STREETS, I DON'T KNOW IF IT'S 'CAUSE IT'S MONTROSE AND IT'S AN OLDER NEIGHBORHOOD, BUT THE ROADS ARE DESIGNED, YOU KNOW, ON A CURVE.
SO THAT ALONG THE EDGES IS WHERE THE WATER FLOWS.
AND I CAN SEE THIS OUT MY WINDOW 'CAUSE I'VE LIVED IN MONTROSE FOR OVER 40 YEARS, 20 OF WHICH AS A HOMEOWNER, AND I'VE SEEN THIS, YOU KNOW, RAINSTORM AFTER RAINSTORM FROM ALLISON TO IKE TO HARVEY, THE WATER RISES IN THE STREET NEVER TO THE POINT WHERE IT EVEN GETS, YOU KNOW, VERY FAR INTO MY DRIVEWAY, MAYBE AN INCH OR TWO.
AT MOST, IT DOESN'T THREATEN THE STRUCTURES, IT DOESN'T THREATEN THE VEHICLES.
AND THEN AS IT STATES ON HERE IN THE GATE STUDY, IT TAKES FROM AN AVERAGE OF TWO TO FOUR HOURS TO RECEDE IN THE WORST AFFECTED PARTS OF MONTROSE.
AND I I JUST QUESTION, YOU KNOW, CAN WE TAKE ANOTHER LOOK AT THIS PLEASE, BEFORE WE MOVE FORWARD WITH THIS MASSIVE INVESTMENT AND MASSIVE DISRUPTION TO OUR STREETS.
IF I LOOK AT THE MONEY THAT'S PROJECTED TO BE SPENT ON THIS, AND, AND MUCH OF THIS MONEY HAS, IS NOT YET BEEN OBTAINED, I GUESS THEY'RE APPLYING FOR FEDERAL GRANTS AND SO ON, UM, WE COULD ACTUALLY FIX THE STREETS, REPLACE THE SIDEWALKS, AND, UH, UNLIKE SOME OF THE PEOPLE WHO GOT UP HERE AND SAID THEY'RE NOT A DA COMPLIANCE, THAT'S NOT ACTUALLY TRUE.
THERE ARE PARTS OF MONTROSE THAT HAVE BEEN RECENTLY, UM, THE SIDEWALKS HAVE BEEN RECENTLY REPLACED AND INCLUDING A DA COMPLIANT RAMPS ON THE CORNERS.
SO YOU'RE BASICALLY TEARING UP ALMOST BRAND NEW SIDEWALKS IN SOME AREAS, THREE FEET SIDEWALKS TO REPLACE 'EM WITH 10 FEET OF CONCRETE, RIP
[02:40:01]
OUT ALL THE TREES.IF ANYTHING, IT MAKES THE DRAINAGE WORSE AND THEY'RE NOT ACTUALLY SOLVING THE PROBLEM.
SO LET ME JUST GET BACK TO THIS REAL QUICK.
WHY IS, WHY IS IT LIKE THIS BEFORE AND AFTER? A LARGE REASON IS BECAUSE HARRIS COUNTY HAS DENIED THEIR REQUEST TO DISCHARGE ADDITIONAL WATER INTO BUFFALO BAYOU.
AND PERSONALLY, I AGREE WITH THIS DENIAL.
I AGREE WITH THIS DENIAL BECAUSE WE ARE NOT SEEING FLOODING IN MONTROSE AND THERE ARE PARTS OF HOUSTON WHERE THE WATER IS ACTUALLY INUNDATING HOMES, FLOODING VEHICLES ON A REGULAR BASIS.
AND THEY SHOULD BE THE PRIORITY, NOT A NEIGHBORHOOD WHERE ALL YOU HAVE IS SIX INCHES OF STREET FLOODING FOR TWO TO FOUR HOURS AFTER.
AND THIS IS DURING A HUNDRED YEAR EVENT.
SO I REALLY STRONGLY, STRONGLY URGE YOU TO TAKE A MUCH CLOSER LOOK AT THIS ENTIRE PROJECT.
I THOUGHT AT FIRST WHEN I HEARD DRAINAGE, GREAT, THAT'S A GREAT IDEA.
BUT WHEN YOU ACTUALLY DELVE INTO THE INFORMATION YOU FIND OUT IT'S NOT, IT WILL ACTUALLY HAVE NO IMPACT.
I MEAN, LOOK AT THIS, THIS IS FROM THE STUDY.
A HUNDRED MILLION DOLLARS WORTH SPENT ON ALMOST NO RESULT AND NO BENEFIT TO US.
UM, I DID WANNA ADDRESS TWO MORE THINGS REALLY QUICKLY.
IF I MAY, I NEED TO GO AHEAD AND WRAP IT UP AS QUICK AS POSSIBLE.
IT'S JUST, WE WE'VE GOT A LOT MORE WITNESSES.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR, FOR LETTING ME SPEAK.
SO THE AMBULANCES PASSING DOWN MONTROSE BOULEVARD.
I JUST FOUND OUT YESTERDAY THEY'RE GOING TO NARROW EACH LANE BY ONE AND A HALF FEET.
AND I COULD JUST TELL YOU FROM PERSONAL EXPERIENCE WHEN MY FATHER HAD TO GO TO THE HOSPITAL AND I RODE IN THE AMBULANCE IN THE FRONT SEAT OF, YOU KNOW, THE FRENCH PASSENGER SEAT WITH HIM.
AND MONTROSE BOULEVARD IS ALREADY NARROW.
AND I KNOW THAT THE AMBULANCE DRIVER TOLD ME HOW MUCH HE DISLIKED DRIVING UP AND DOWN MONTROSE 'CAUSE OF HOW NARROW THE EXISTING LANES ARE TO, TO FURTHER NARROW IT BY ANOTHER ONE AND A HALF FEET JUST SEEMS LIKE NOT A GOOD IDEA.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR YOUR TIME.
I AM HERE TO ASK FOR A CEASEFIRE RESOLUTION AND THANK YOU.
AND I GUESS WHAT I, SOME FRIENDS AND I HAVE BEEN GOING TO CAMPAIGN EVENTS RECENTLY AND DISRUPTING THEM AND ASKING THE PERSON, WHETHER IT'S LACEY HALL, GREG ABBOTT, OR LIZZIE FLETCHER, WHY THEY HAVEN'T CALLED FOR A CEASEFIRE.
AND WE'VE GOTTEN A LOT OF FLACK FOR THAT BECAUSE THERE IS DECORUM AND RULES TO FOLLOW.
BUT TELL ME WHAT TRUE DIFFERENCE HAS EVER BEEN, BEEN MADE BY FOLLOWING RULES AND DECORUM OF THE STATUS QUO AND THOSE IN CHARGE, SPECIFICALLY WHITE PEOPLE IN CHARGE.
SO WE CAN LOOK BACK TODAY AND BE ALL.
OH, MARTIN LUTHER KING HAD A DREAM AND HE WAS A GREAT MAN, BUT AT THE TIME HE WAS GETTING CALLED RACIAL SLURS.
HIS HOUSE WAS BEING FIREBOMBED, PEOPLE WERE THREATENING HIS CHILDREN AND THE US GOVERNMENT WAS WIRETAPPING HIM.
SO I WOULD LIKE TO FORMALLY REQUEST THAT YOU ALL YOUR TIME HAS EXPIRED.
CALL FOR A CEASEFIRE AND THESE DISRUPTIVE EVENTS WILL CONTINUE, BUT WE WILL ALSO CONTINUE TO BE HERE.
AND PLEASE REALIZE THAT THIS IS NOW THE, THE PART OF HOUSTON.
OH, I APPRECIATE THE CHANCE TO, TO DO THIS THOUGH.
I HAD BEEN SUMMONED TO MY CHURCH IN MIDTOWN BECAUSE THERE WAS A TREE EMERGENCY.
A, UM, HERITAGE TREE WAS HAVING A A, AN ILLICIT, UM, FOUR FOOT HOLE, DUG RIGHT NEXT TO IT INTO ITS ROOTS, CONTRARY TO ITS TREE PROTECTION PLAN.
AND I THEN ENDED UP SPEAKING WITH THE CONTRACTORS INVOLVED AND THE THIRD PARTY INSPECTOR, I WROTE MY NAME DOWN ON ONE OF THE FLYERS THAT I HAD HANDY AND HE'S LIKE, OH, I KNOW THIS PROJECT.
YOU KNOW, YOU ARE SO RIGHT ABOUT THIS.
THERE'S NO WAY THEY SHOULD TAKE DOWN ALL THOSE TREES JUST FOR THE SAKE OF A 10 FOOT PATH.
IN ADDITION TO WHAT HELEN SAID ABOUT DRAINAGE, I JUST WANNA SAY THAT YOU DON'T HAVE TO DECIDE ABOUT DRAINAGE BECAUSE THEY DON'T AFFECT THE TREES OR ARBORIST
[02:45:01]
SAYS THAT IT'S FINE IF, UH, WITH REGARD TO THE, THE DRAINAGE DOESN'T, UH, ENDANGER THE TREES.THESE ARE THREE OF THESE TREES THAT I WANTED TO SHOWCASE.
THESE POST OAKS ARE 160 YEARS OLD, AT LEAST THEY'RE AT THE ENTRANCE TO MAGNOLIA CEMETERY.
AND THAT THEY ARE OLDER THAN THE CEMETERY.
THEY'RE REALLY GLORIOUS, LARGE, SUCCESSFUL POST OAK TREES.
THEY DON'T EXIST AT NURSERIES.
AND IF YOU LOOK AT WHERE THEY'RE PLANTED, THEY'RE SORT OF ON AN INCLINE.
THAT'S WHAT POST OAKS LIKE THESE POST OAKS WERE NOT PLANTED.
THEY JUST ENDED UP THRIVING IN A PLACE WHERE THEY WERE PLANTED.
THEY'RE, UM, THEY'RE MAGNIFICENT.
WE DON'T HAVE TO LOSE THEM BECAUSE OF DRAINAGE.
WE DON'T HAVE TO LOSE THEM BECAUSE OF A 10 FOOT PATH.
AND I REALLY APPRECIATE YOUR CREATING AN OPPORTUNITY FOR US TO GET TO SOME BETTER SOLUTIONS.
MAY WE FIND PRAGMATIC SOLUTIONS TO THIS AND ALSO LEARN TO PROVIDE BETTER TREE PROTECTION THROUGHOUT THE CITY.
WE WOULD LIKE TO WORK ON THAT MOVING FORWARD WITH THE CITY.
WHERE DO YOU LIVE? I'M SORRY? WHERE DO YOU LIVE? I LIVE IN MONTROSE, A BLOCK AWAY FROM MONTROSE BOULEVARD, AND I'VE LIVED THERE FOR 20 YEARS.
MY SON, UH, WALKS HOME FROM CARNEGIE VANGUARD AND TAKES ALL OF THESE CROSSINGS, REFINE WITH SAFE CROSSES, SAFE CROSSINGS, SAFE CROSSINGS ARE GREAT, DRAINAGE IS FINE, LET'S ASSESS THE DRAINAGE AND DO WHATEVER ON THE DRAINAGE.
UM, BUT THESE TREES ARE CERTAINLY A PART OF OUR ENVIRONMENT.
WHAT WE LOVE ABOUT MONTROSE AND, YOU KNOW, THE RIGHT THING FOR CITIES MOVING FORWARD, UM, I FIRMLY BELIEVE IS TO LEARN HOW TO WORK AROUND TREES.
WE'D LIKE TO TALK ABOUT THEM, UM, AND JUST LEARN TO DO BETTER IN THE FUTURE ABOUT APPRECIATING THE ECOSYSTEM WE HAVE.
AND EACH TREE IS AN ECOSYSTEM, 300 PLUS SPECIES IN MANY CASES.
[RECESS]
IF NOT, WE STAND RECESS TO NINE O'CLOCK IN THE MORNING AGENDA.I'M COMING TO YOU LIVE FROM THE ANNA RUSSELL COUNCIL CHAMBER.
I'M ABOUT TO READ THE DESCRIPTION, OUR CAPTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL AGENDA FOR THE WEEK, FEBRUARY 13TH AND 14TH.
THIS VALENTINE'S DAY, WE ARE GOING TO START WITH ITEM ONE.
RECOMMENDATION FROM FIRE CHIEF FOR EXTENSION OF INJURY ON DUTY LEAVE SALARY CONTINUATION FOR FIREFIGHTER EMT DONOVAN, A-P-I-A-G.
I DIDN'T WANNA MISPRONOUNCE YOUR LAST NAME.
ORDINANCE APPROPRIATED IN 1,298,000 466, 400 $60 AND 62 CENTS OUT OF WATER AND SEW SYSTEM, CONSOLIDATED CONSTRUCTION FUND AS AN ADDITIONAL APPROPRIATION TO THE CONTRACT BETWEEN THE CITY OF HOUSTON AND VOER INC.
ITEM THREE, RECOMMENDATION FROM DIRECTOR HOUSTON PUBLIC WORKS FOR APPROVAL OF CHANGE ORDER NUMBER THREE AND THE AMOUNT OF $1,236,629 AND 16 CENTS AWARDED TO BOYER INC.
FOR WEST RIDGE REGIONAL LIFT STATION CONSTRUCTION AND ABANDONMENT OF KIRBY NUMBER ONE WESTRIDGE AND MAIN STREET LIFT STATIONS.
THIS ITEM IS, SHOULD BE, THIS ITEM SHOULD ONLY BE CONSIDERED AFTER PASSAGE OF ITEM TWO ABOVE.
ITEM FOUR, RECOMMENDATION FROM DIRECTOR OF GENERAL SERVICES DEPARTMENT FOR APPROVAL OF FINAL CONTRACT AMOUNT OF TWENTY FOUR MILLION NINE HUNDRED THIRTEEN THOUSAND FIVE HUNDRED SEVENTY EIGHT THOUSAND FORTY FIVE CENTS AND ACCEPTANCE OF WORK ON CONTRACT WITH THE JT VON CONSTRUCTION LLC.
ITEM FIVE, RECOMMENDATION FROM DIRECTOR GENERAL SERVICES DEPARTMENT FOR APPROVAL OF FINAL CONTRACT AMOUNT OF $3,262,925 AND 20 CENTS AND ACCEPTANCE WORK ON CONTRACT ON WORK, ACCEPTANCE OF WORK ON THE DESIGN BILL CONTRACT WITH TIMES CONSTRUCTION INC.
ITEM SIX, RECOMMENDATION FROM DIRECTOR HOUSTON PUBLIC WORKS FOR APPROVAL OF FINAL CONTRACT AMOUNT OF THREE MILLION ONE HUNDRED EIGHTEEN THOUSAND SEVEN HUNDRED THIRTY EIGHT THOUSAND FIFTY FIVE CENTS AND ACCEPTANCE OF WORK ON CONTRACT WITH GRAVEL LLC.
ITEM SEVEN, RECOMMENDATION FROM DIRECTOR HOUSTON PUBLIC WORKS FOR APPROVAL OF FINAL CONTRACT AMOUNT OF $2,919,618 AND 90 CENTS.
AND A ATTEMPT TO WORK ON CONTRACT WITH MAIN LANE INDUSTRIES.
RECOMMENDATION FROM DIRECTOR HOUSTON PUBLIC WORKS FOR APPROVAL OF FINAL CONTRACT AMOUNT OF $9,758,400 AND 50 CENTS AND ACCEPTANCE TO WORK ON CONTRACT WITH A TOTAL CONTRACT AND LIMITED ITEM NINE.
CHASTAIN ENTERPRISES HOUSTON, L-L-C-D-B-H CHASTAIN FORD FOR PURCHASE OF TWO FORD F TWO 50 THREEQUARTER TON TRUCKS.
ITEM 10, CHASTAIN ENTERPRISES HOUSTON, L-L-C-D-B-H, CHASTAIN FORD FOR PURCHASE OF FORD F 3 51 TON UTILITY
[02:50:01]
FUEL TRUCKS AND FORD F TWO 50 TROUBLESHOOTING RESPONSE UNIT TRUCKS.ITEM 11, CHASTAIN ENTERPRISES HOUSTON, L-L-C-D-B-H CHASTAIN FOUR FOR PURCHASE OF ONE HIGH ROOF CARGO VAN ITEM 12, CHASTAIN ENTERPRISES HOUSTON, L-L-C-D-B-H CHASTAIN FOUR FOR PURCHASE OF FORD F 3 54 BY FOUR DULY TRUCK ITEM 13.
CHASTAIN ENTERPRISES HOUSTON, L-L-C-D-B-A CHASTAIN FOUR FOR PURCHASE OF FORD F 4 51 TON FOUR FOUR BY FOUR CREW CAB PICKUP TRUCK ITEM 14 SEALS BEFORE FOR PURCHASE OF FOUR FORD THREE 50 TRANSIT, 15 PASSENGER VANS.
ITEM 15 SEALS BEFORE FOR PURCHASE OF FORD F-150 POLICE PURSUIT VEHICLES.
ITEM 16, CALDWELL COUNTRY CHEVROLET FOR PURCHASE OF CHEVROLET MALIBU LS SEDANS.
ITEM 17 EVANS CONSOLES INCORPORATED FOR PURCHASE OF SINGLE POSITION 9 1 1 DISPATCH CONSOLES ITEM 18 APPROVED SPENDING AUTHORITY IN THE AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED $250,000 AND NO CENTS FOR EMERGENCY REPAIR OF GROUNDWATER.
WELL MOTORS FOR HOUSTON PUBLIC WORKS WATER TO NORTH SIDE ELECTRIC MOTORS ITEM 19 APPROVED SPENDING AUTHORITY AND THE AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED $430,650 AND 63 CENTS FOR EMERGENCY TRANSFER PUMP REPAIR FOR HOUSTON PUBLIC WORKS WATER TO NORTH STAR ELECTRIC AND SUPPLY ITEM 20, HARPER BROTHERS CONSTRUCTION LLC FOR APPROVAL OF PAYMENT FOR EMERGENCY REPAIR AND RESTORATION SERVICES.
ITEM 21, PATRICIA TECH SUPPLY AND SERVICE PURCHASE OF ASPHALT CLEANER.
ITEM 22, ROB MACK INDUSTRIES FOR PURCHASE OF SICA SAND FOR HOUSTON PUBLIC WORKS.
ITEM 23 RESOLUTION CONFIRMING SUPPORT FOR PROPOSED DEVELOPMENT OF CERTAIN PROPERTIES AS AFFORDABLE RENTAL HOUSING.
ITEM 24 RESOLUTION CONFIRMING SUPPORT FOR PROPOSED DEVELOPMENT OF CERTAIN PROPERTIES AS AFFORDABLE RENTAL HOUSING EACH LOCATED IN THE EXTRA TERRITORIAL JURISDICTION OF THE CITY OF HOUSTON, TEXAS ARE HAVING BEEN ANNEXED INTO THE CITY OF HOUSTON ONLY FOR LIMITED PURPOSES AND THE SUBMITTAL OF APPLICATIONS FOR COMPETITIVE 9% HOUSING TAX CREDIT FOR SUCH DEVELOPMENTS.
ITEM 25 RESOLUTION CONFIRMING SUPPORT FOR PROPOSED DEVELOPMENT AS AFFORDABLE RENTAL HOUSING OF ONE OR MORE PROPERTIES WHICH ARE SUBJECT TO THE TWO MILES SAME YEAR RULE, EACH LOCATED IN THE CITY OF HOUSTON, TEXAS, AND THE SUBMITTAL OF APPLICATIONS FOR COMPETITIVE 9% HOUSING TAX CREDIT FOR SUCH DEVELOPMENTS ALLOWING THE CONSTRUCTION OF SUCH DEVELOPMENTS AND AUTHORIZING THE ALLOCATION OF TAX CREDITS TO SUCH DEVELOPMENTS.
ITEM 26 RESOLUTION CONFIRMING SUPPORT FOR PROPOSED DEVELOPMENTS AS A PORT AFFORDABLE RENTAL HOUSING OF ONE OR MORE PROPERTIES, EACH OF WHICH IS LOCATED IN THE CITY OF HOUSTON, TEXAS.
AND WITHIN CENSUS CONTRA CENSUS TRACK THAT HAS A POVERTY RATE ABOVE 40% FOR INDIVIDUALS ALLOWING CONSTRUCTION OF SUCH PROPERTY, SUPPORTING THE SUBMITTAL OF APPLICATIONS FOR COMPETITIVE 9% HOUSING TAX CREDITS FOR SUCH DEVELOPMENTS AND AUTHORIZING THE ALLOCATION OF TAX CREDITS TO SUCH DEVELOPMENTS.
ITEM 27, ORDINANCE APPROVING AND AUTHORIZING COMPROMISE SETTLEMENT RELEASE AND INDEMNITY AGREEMENT BETWEEN CITY OF HOUSTON AND ROBERT WILLETT.
ITEM 28 ORDINANCE APPROPRIATING $500,000 AND NO CENTS OUT OF EQUIPMENT ACQUISITION CONSOLIDATED FUND FOR PURCHASE OF TEMPORARY MOBILE RESTROOM AND SHOWER TRAILERS.
ITEM 29, ORDINANCE MANY ORDINANCE 20 18 3 46 TO INCREASE THE MAXIMUM CONTRACT AMOUNT FOR CONTRACT BETWEEN C HOUSTON AND DORY H PER TAIL.
DBA DJ VETS ITEM 30 ORDINANCE AWARD AND CONTRACTOR BAYSIDE PRINTING COMPANY, INC.
FOR PRE-PRESS PRINTING AND BOUNDARY SERVICES.
ITEM 31 ORDINANCE APPRO AND AUTHORIZING DERIVATIVE AGREEMENT BETWEEN CITY OF HOUSTON AND STAR SERVICE INC.
OF HOUSTON FOR HEATING, VENTILATION AND AIR CONDITIONING REPLACEMENT SERVICES.
ITEM 32, ORDINANCES APPROVING AND AUTHORIZING DERIVATIVE AGREEMENT BETWEEN CITY OF HOUSTON AND BRENT COMPANY'S LLC FOR HEATING, VENTILATION AND AIR CONDITIONING REPLACEMENT SERVICES.
ITEM 33, ORDINANCE APPROPRIATING TWO MILLION FIVE HUNDRED THOUSAND FIVE HUNDRED THOUSAND EIGHT HUNDRED DOLLARS AND NO CENTS OUTTA WATER AND SEWER SYSTEM.
CONSOLIDATED CONSTRUCTION FUND APPROVING AN AUTHORIZING PROFESSIONAL ENGINEERING SERVICES CONTRACT BETWEEN CITY OF HOUSTON AND ENBREL ENGINEERING INC.
FOR KEEGAN'S BIO WASTEWATER TREATMENT PLANT EXPANSION.
ITEM 34, ORDINANCE APPROPRIATING $787,500 AND NO CENTS OUT OF DEDICATED DRAINAGE AND STREET RENEWAL CAPITAL FUND DRAINAGE CHARGE AS ADDITIONAL APPROPRIATION TO PROFESSIONAL ENGINEERING SERVICES CONTRACT BETWEEN CITY OF HOUSTON AND BGE INC.
FOR FY 23 LOCAL DRAINAGE PROGRAM PROJECTS.
ITEM 35 ORDINANCE APPROPRIATING $1,100,000 AND NO CENTS OUT OF DEDICATED DRAINAGE AND STREET RENEWAL CAPITAL FUND DRAINAGE CHARGE AND $440,000 IN NO CENTS OUT OF DEDICATED DRAINAGE AND STREET RENEWAL CAPITAL FUND AT VALOR TAX APPROVING AND AUTHORIZING PROFESSIONAL CONSTRUCTION MANAGEMENT AND INSPECTION SERVICES.
CONTRACT BETWEEN CITY OF HOUSTON AND ARRADONDO, ZAPETA AND BRONZE LLC FOR DRAINAGE AND PAVING REHABILITATION PROJECTS.
CONTRACT NUMBER ONE, ITEM 36, ORDINANCE AWARDING CONTRACTOR INDUSTRIAL TX CORP FOR WASTEWATER PROCESS UNIT CLEANING AND EVALUATION.
ITEM 37, ORDINANCE APPROPRIATED $4,400,000
[02:55:02]
AND NO CENTS OUT OF DEDICATED DRAINAGE AND STREET RENEWAL CAPITAL FUND DRAINAGE CHARGE AWARDING CONTRACTOR DL GLOVER UTILITIES LLC FOR FY 2024 DRAINAGE REHABILITATION, STORM WATER ACTION TEAM SWAT WORK ORDERS NUMBER ONE.THIS COMPLETES THE READING OF THE AGENDA FOR THE COUNCIL SESSION OF FEBRUARY 14TH, 2024.
STAY TUNED FOR THE NEXT SESSION OF HOUSTON CITY COUNCIL SCHEDULED, BEGIN AT 9:00 AM IN THE WORDS OUR FORMER CITY SECRETARY, MS. ANNA RUSSELL, SHE ALWAYS SAID, DRIVE SAFE, DRIVE FRIEND, AND HAVE A NICE DAY.
IN THE WORDS 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 FABULOUS DAY.
MY NUMBER ONE FAN, TWO DAYS WE RECYCLE 'EM.
[RECONVENE]
TO ORDER MEMBERS,[MAYOR'S REPORT]
UH, IN THE MAYOR'S REPORT.I'D LIKE TO BE SERIOUS FOR A MOMENT AND ACKNOWLEDGE OUR FIRST RESPONDERS FROM SUNDAY'S, UH, TRAGEDY AT LAKEWOOD CHURCH.
UH, BEFORE I NAMED THE TWO HEROES THAT I WANNA SINGLE OUT, I'D LIKE TO ACKNOWLEDGE, UH, HOW SAD THE EVENT WAS, IS THAT I THINK IT ALSO SHOWS HOW IMPORTANT AND WE AS A COMMUNITY AND A SOCIETY HAVE TO ADDRESS MENTAL HEALTH AND, UM, LOOK FOR EVERY INDICATION THAT SOMEONE IS, IS STRUGGLING IN THEIR LIFE BECAUSE IT LEADS TO TRAGEDY SUCH AS SUNDAY.
BUT WE CAME TOGETHER, OUR FIRST RESPONDERS, FIRE POLICE, EMS, UM, DID THEIR JOB SO HOUSTONIANS WOULD KNOW THAT THEY WERE SAFE.
THE TWO HEROES, CHRISTOPHER MARINO AND HBV OFFICER AND ADRIAN HERRERA, TABC, CONFRONTED THE, UH, SUSPECT.
AND, UH, WE KNOW IT WOULD'VE PROBABLY BEEN WORSE BECAUSE THE NATURE OF HER ASSAULT RIFLE AND AMOUNT OF AMMUNITION, UM, THEY, THEY NEED A REAL SPECIAL SHOUT OUT.
THEY DID THEIR JOB, BUT IT WAS A COLLABORATION.
I WAS THERE, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER CAYMAN WAS THERE REPRESENTING HER DISTRICT.
UH, IT WAS JUST SURREAL TO, TO BE PRESENT AND WATCH CHIEF FINN PENA, OTHER DEPARTMENT CHIEFS LEAD THEIR MEN AND WOMEN TOGETHER TO GO IN THE COMMAND STATION AND WATCH THE DISTRIBUTION OF RESPONSIBILITY, UH, IS SOMETHING THAT, UH, THEY TRAIN FOR.
SO TODAY, UH, I THINK WE STILL HAVE A REAL CONCERN ABOUT THE, THE, THE SON THAT WAS INJURED THAT'S IN VERY, VERY CRITICAL CONDITION.
THE OTHER GENTLEMAN THAT WAS SHOT IN THE HIP THAT IS NOW GONE HOME, BUT THE FAMILY OF THE SUSPECT, YOU KNOW, SHE WAS SOMEONE'S DAUGHTER.
UM, IT'S JUST, IT'S JUST SAD TO, TO LISTEN TO HER NEIGHBORS TALK ABOUT THE CONCERN OVER HER BEHAVIOR THAT JUST WE AS A SOCIETY AND AND CERTAIN AGENCIES JUST DIDN'T RESPOND.
AND RED FLAG LAWS CERTAINLY ARE ONE POSSIBLE, UH, ADDITION TO OUR TOOLKIT.
I ACTUALLY SPONSORED RED FLAG LEGISLATION, COULDN'T GET A HEARING ON IT IN AUSTIN.
BUT WHEN SOMEBODY IS, UM, CRYING OUT FOR HELP, BUT WE KNOW THAT THEY'RE ARMED, WE HAVE A DUTY TO RESPOND
[03:00:01]
RESPONSIBLY USING DUE PROCESS AND EVERY SECOND AMENDMENT RIGHT AND, AND PROTECTION THAT, THAT THEY WOULD BE ENTITLED TO.BUT WE'VE JUST GOTTA EMPHASIZE MENTAL HEALTH, MENTAL HEALTH.
WE, WE SEE IT IN ALL OF OUR ACTIVITIES, CERTAINLY DEALING WITH THE HOMELESS ISSUE AND CRIMINAL JUSTICE.
BUT TODAY, LET ME CONCLUDE BY SAYING WE NEED TO THANK OUR FIRST RESPONDERS, THESE TWO INDIVIDUALS, OUR FIRE RESPONDED WITHIN MINUTES.
AND SO AS WE GO FORWARD AND, AND PREPARE A BUDGET AND OTHER DISCUSSION ABOUT ACADEMIES AND TRAINING AND BENEFITS, WE, WE CERTAINLY ARE IN THE ACTIVE NEGOTIATION WITH FIRE OVER THEIR BENEFIT PACKAGE AND, AND RETROACTIVE BENEFITS.
SO LET'S JUST KEEP IN MIND WE CAN'T DO WITHOUT 'EM.
AND, UM, THE PUBLIC SUPPORTS US IN THAT POSITION.
BUT THANK YOU CHRISTOPHER MARINO, HBD OFFICER AND T-T-A-B-C OFFICER ADRIAN HERRERA, AND EVERYONE THAT RESPONDED SO PROFESSIONALLY ON SUNDAY.
WITH THAT SAID, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER CAYMAN, I YIELD TO YOU.
THANK YOU MAYOR, AND GOOD MORNING.
UM, I APPRECIATE YOU ADDRESSING AGAIN, UH, THE TRAGEDY THAT OCCURRED IN DI AGAIN IN DISTRICT C AT LAKEWOOD CHURCH, ONE OF THE LARGEST, UH, HOUSES OF WORSHIP IN THE NATION.
UH, AND I KNOW IT'S GATHERING A LOT OF NATIONAL HEADLINES.
SO I I TOO WANT TO EXPRESS MY GRATITUDE AND APPRECIATION TO OUR FIRST RESPONDERS AND TO LAW ENFORCEMENT, UH, FOR HOW THEY RESPONDED TO THIS INCIDENT.
INCIDENT AS WELL AS THE MEMBERS OF THE CHURCH.
UH, THERE ARE HUNDREDS IF NOT THOUSANDS OF VICTIMS HERE.
WE HAVE THOSE THAT WERE INJURED AND THE FAMILIES IMPACTED, BUT IT'S ALSO THE TRAUMA THAT OCCURS JUST BY WITNESSING WHAT HAPPENED, BY EXPERIENCING WHAT HAPPENED.
AND THIS IS NOT THE FIRST TIME THIS HAS HAPPENED IN DISTRICT C.
AND WE HAVE, UH, I MEAN EVEN HEIGHTS HIGH SCHOOL WITH THE, UH, LOCKDOWN SCARE AND THE TRAUMA THAT OUR CHILDREN GO THROUGH EVERY SINGLE TIME.
AND THIS HAPPENS THROUGHOUT THE CITY, THROUGHOUT THE STATE, AND THROUGHOUT THE NATION.
UH, BUT MAYOR, YOU BROUGHT UP TWO REALLY IMPORTANT POINTS.
UH, IN ADDITION TO OUR GRATITUDE, UH, FOR OUR FIRST RESPONDERS IN LAW ENFORCEMENT, MENTAL HEALTH PLAYED A KEY ROLE IN THIS.
AND I WANNA BE, I WANNA CAUTION US ALL NOT TO STIGMATIZE MENTAL HEALTH BECAUSE THERE ARE MILLIONS OF PEOPLE THAT STRUGGLE WITH MENTAL HEALTH EVERY SINGLE DAY AND DO NOT, UH, RESORT TO VIOLENCE.
SO I JUST WANNA MAKE SURE THAT IN THE CONTEXT OF THIS, WE'RE NOT STIGMATIZING MENTAL HEALTH AS THE, UH, NUMBER ONE FACTOR IN THIS.
UH, MAYOR, YOU BROUGHT UP RED FLAG LAWS, AND I KNOW THAT THE INVESTIGATION IS ONGOING, BUT AS I BELIEVE WE WILL CONTINUE TO SEE, THERE WERE MULTIPLE INSTANCES WHERE RED FLAG LAWS COULD HAVE PLAYED A SIGNIFICANT ROLE IN THIS, UH, YOUR TIME AT THE LEGISLATURE, MAYOR AND I, I WAS ACTUALLY THERE DURING SOME OF THIS.
UH, BUT IT'S ONGOING, THE CRISIS WITH CHILD PROTECTIVE SERVICES WITHIN THE STATE OF TEXAS, UM, THIS CHILD, BASED ON WHAT THE GRANDMOTHER IS SAYING, THERE WERE MULTIPLE OPPORTUNITIES FOR THE STATE TO INTERVENE AND PROTECT THIS CHILD.
AND AGAIN, THE INVESTIGATION IS ONGOING, BUT I WANNA MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE LOOKING AT ALL OF THESE ISSUES, UH, FROM A BROADER CONTEXT OF WHERE ARE OUR SYSTEMS FAILING US AND HOW DO WE PROTECT AND KEEP SAFE ALL OF THE RESIDENTS IN OUR CITY.
AND THAT'S A LOT OF WORK THAT TAKES PLACE AT THE STATE LEVEL.
UH, SO AGAIN, UH, THIS IS MAYOR, AS YOU SAID.
UH, I CAN'T SAY A WAKE UP CALL BECAUSE WE KNOW THAT THESE ISSUES EXIST.
UH, BUT I I HOPE THAT WE WILL HEED THE CALLS OF THE GRANDMOTHER, OF THIS CHILD'S FAMILY, OF PARISHIONERS OF OUR COMMUNITY TO CONTINUE TO ADVOCATE AND DO WHATEVER WE CAN TO KEEP OUR COMMUNITY SAFE.
ALSO, I SHOULD DO, UH, MAKE CERTAIN THE RECOGNITION OF PASTOR OSTEEN RESPONDED PROFESSIONALLY AND AS A LEADER OF OUR FAITH COMMUNITY.
AND WE WANNA ALSO ASSURE ALL OUR FAITH KNOW THAT THEIR SECURITY IS OUR HIGHEST PRIORITY.
OUR CHURCHES, OUR SYNAGOGUES, TEMPLE MOSQUE, OUR DIVERSE FAITH COMMUNITY, UM, I KNOW HPD AND THE OTHER AGENCIES, AND I DON'T KNOW IF I EMPHASIZE THE OTHER AGENCIES ENOUGH, BUT IT'S THE DPS, OUR CONSTABLES, OUR SHERIFF, ED GONZALEZ WAS THERE, FBI, ALCOHOLIC, UH, A TF, YOU NAME IT.
[03:05:02]
AND UNIFIED WITH THEIR RESPONSE.SO WE STILL HAVE EVERYONE, UH, ALL TO FACE, UH, AS A HIGH PRIORITY.
SO EVERYONE NEEDS TO KNOW WE'RE, WE'RE ON THE JOB.
AND, AND ONE OTHER THING THAT IS, IS HEAVY ON MY HEART IS TO, BECAUSE OF THE NATURE OF THIS LADY'S EMOTIONAL STATE THAT LED HER TO ACT, IT'S A GOOD REMINDER TO FOLKS BE PATIENT.
WHEN YOU SEE SOMEONE IN OUR COMMUNITY, IT LEADS TO ROAD RAGE.
YOU, YOU NEVER KNOW WHAT'S GOING THROUGH SOMEBODY'S LIFE AS SHE WAS TRAVELING.
JUST THINK ABOUT HER MENTAL STATE THAT LED HER TO THESE, UH, THIS TRAGEDY.
SO I USE IT AS A LEARNING OPPORTUNITY TO REMIND MY FAMILY, FRIENDS IN THIS BODY AND EVERYONE THAT CAN HEAR MY VOICE, HOUSTONIANS, TO JUST REALIZE PEOPLE ARE HAVING A BAD DAY.
AND THEIR EMOTIONAL STATE OR MENTAL STATE IS A, IS A SERIOUS FACTOR WHEN YOU ENCOUNTER THEM.
SO IF THEY'RE IMPATIENT OR SEEM AGGRESSIVE, JUST RECOGNIZE WHO YOU MIGHT BE DEALING WITH IS SOMEONE SUFFERING FROM AN EMOTIONAL STATE THAT LEADS 'EM TO DO DRASTIC MEASURES.
SO BE PATIENT, RESPECTFUL, SHARE SOME LOVE, AND JUST REALIZE NOT EVERYBODY'S AS BLESSED AS AS, AS MOST OF US ARE.
SO ANYWAY, IT WAS A, IT WAS A TRAGEDY.
AND, UH, THEY'RE STILL DOING AFTER INCIDENT REVIEW.
THE VIDEOS ARE FORTHCOMING, BUT I THINK, UH, I THINK REVEREND DAVIS, UH, COUNCILOR DAVIS, WE OUGHT TO TAKE A MOMENT OF SILENCE IN, IN YOUR OWN RESPECTFUL WAY, UH, SEND PRAYERS TO THE YOUNGSTER THAT IS REALLY STRUGGLING FOR HIS LIFE.
I KNOW THAT FOR A FACT, IT'S NOT A GOOD REPORT.
SO I'M GONNA ASK EVERYONE TO PAUSE FOR A MOMENT OF SILENCE, UH, TO SEND OUR COMFORT AND PRAYERS TO THAT YOUNGSTER.
[CONSENT AGENDA]
MADAM SECRETARY, IF YOU WILL NOW PROCEED WITH THE CONSENT AGENDA UNDER THE MISCELLANEOUS CATEGORY.WE NEED A MOTION FOR ITEMS ONE AND THREE.
AND SECOND, THOSE IN FAVOR? THOSE OPPOSED.
AND, AND THEN FOR ITEM TWO AND ITEM TWO, JUST NEED A VOTE.
A VOTE ON ITEM TWO, IT'S AN ORDER.
MOTION CARRIES UNDER THE ACCEPT WORK CATEGORY, ITEMS FOUR THROUGH EIGHT HAVE BEEN REMOVED FOR SIMPLY CONSIDERATION UNDER THE PURCHASING AND TABULATION OF BID CATEGORY ITEMS NINE THROUGH 16, 18, 20, AND 22 HAVE BEEN REMOVED.
A SEPARATE CONSIDERATION, THOSE NUMBERS AGAIN, ARE NINE THROUGH 16, 18, 20, AND 22.
NEED A MOTION FOR ITEM 17, 19, AND 21 CAST TAX.
TAYLOR, MOVE THE SECOND MOTION MADE AND SECOND IN FAVOR.
THOSE OPPOSED MOTION CARRIES UNDER THE ORDINANCES, UNDER, UNDER THE RESOLUTION CATEGORY, ALL ITEMS WILL BE REMOVED.
SEPARATE CONSIDERATION UNDER THE ORDINANCES CATEGORY ITEMS REMOVED.
SEPARATE CONSIDERATION ARE 30, 34, 35, AND 36.
THOSE NUMBERS AGAIN ARE 30, 34, 35, AND 36.
NEED A VOTE ON THE BALANCE? ALL IN FAVOR? THOSE OPPOSED.
[CONSIDERATION OF MATTERS REMOVED FROM CONSENT AGENDA]
MOVE SEPARATE CONSIDERATION.ITEM NUMBER FOUR NEEDS A MOTION PASS.
ALL IN FAVOR? WE NEED SECOND THOMAS.
THESE ARE TWO, UH, EXCUSE ME, FOUR AND FIVE OR TWO VERY IMPORTANT ITEMS. ONE IN DISTRICT D, UM, ONE IN DISTRICT B FOR, UH, THE MULTI-SERVICE CENTERS THERE.
WE'RE GONNA BE SPENDING OVER 28 MILLION ON THESE TWO MULTI-SERVICE CENTERS COMBINED.
COMBINED, WHICH I FULLY SUPPORT.
AND WE NEED MORE FUNDING FOR OUR SERVICE CENTERS.
UH, I'M COMPELLED MAYOR TO RAISE, UM,
[03:10:01]
THE FACT THAT WE STILL DO NOT HAVE A FUNDING PLAN, UH, FOR WEST GRAY MULTI-SERVICE CENTER, WHICH AGAIN, IS THE ONLY WHOLE HOLISTIC SERVICE CENTER PROVIDING SERVICES TO THE ENTIRE REGION WHEN IT COMES TO THE DISABILITY COMMUNITY.HOWEVER, WE'RE CONTINUING TO DO A PATCHWORK OF FUNDING WHEN IT COMES TO, UH, THE ISSUES THAT WE'RE HAVING AT THIS, AT THE SERVICE CENTER.
FOR EXAMPLE, THE PAST FEW WEEKS.
AND I WANNA THANK GSD AND H PART FOR THEIR WORK.
BUT, UH, TWO WEEKS AGO WE HAD THE VENTILATION SYSTEM IN THE INDOOR POOL BREAKDOWN.
UH, THIS POOL, IT SOUNDS LIKE IT'S JUST A NICE AMENITY.
UM, OVER 250, 250 TO 350 INDIVIDUALS USE THIS POOL WEEKLY FOR REHABILITATION AND DISABILITY SERVICE PROGRAMS. AGAIN, THE POOLS ARE IMPORTANT TO THAT.
UH, IN ORDER TO REPLACE ONE OF THE COMPRESSORS AT THE POOL, UH, IT'S GOING TO COST OVER $700,000.
AND WE HAVE A LEAD TIME OF 20 WEEKS TO GET THAT IN.
WE HAVE A TEMPORARY FIX THAT GSD AND DIRECTOR MESSIAH HAVE BEEN PHENOMENAL WORKING ON.
BUT AGAIN, WE'RE CONTINUING TO SPEND MONEY FOR ISSUES THAT IF WE JUST INVESTED THE RIGHT WAY IN A HOLISTIC APPROACH TO THE SERVICE CENTER, WE WOULDN'T HAVE TO KEEP DOING A COUPLE HUNDRED THOUSAND DOLLARS THERE, A MILLION DOLLARS HERE, ET CETERA.
SO AGAIN, I, I LOVE THESE ITEMS. UH, I I JUST NEED TO CONTINUE TO RAISE THAT WE HAVE A BIG ISSUE AND CHALLENGE AT WEST GRAY, UH, THAT, THAT WE NEED TO LOOK AT AND IT NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED.
COUNCILOR EVAN SHABA, COUNCIL MEMBER EVANS SHABA.
I WAS GONNA WAIT TILL POP OFF, BUT I WANTED TO PERSONALLY THANK YOU FOR THE NEW SIGNAGE THAT'S GOING TO GO IN FRONT OF THE SUNNYSIDE MULTI-SERVICE HEALTH AND MULTI-SERVICE CENTER.
IT'S GONNA BE A MUCH, UH, NEEDED, UH, SIGNAGE TO HELP PEOPLE TO ACTUALLY FIND THE BUILDING BECAUSE THEY'RE STILL THINKING THAT IT'S SOMEWHERE ELSE.
BUT CERTAINLY I WANTED TO PERSONALLY THANK YOU.
I WAS GONNA WAIT TO POP OFF, BUT SINCE WE'RE TALKING ABOUT SUNNYSIDE MULTI-SERVICE CENTER, I WANTED TO THANK YOU.
NEW, VERY VISIBLE SIGNS THAT, THAT, THANK YOU FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP.
NEED A VOTE ON ITEM FOUR? YES, WE DO NEED TO VOTE ON ITEM FOUR, PLEASE.
THOSE IN FAVOR? THOSE OPPOSED.
THOSE IN FAVOR? THOSE OPPOSED? MOTION CARRIES.
COUNCIL MEMBER POLLARD, YOU HAVE A QUESTION? COUNCILMAN POLLARD COMMENT.
MOTION CARRIES WITH POLLARD POLLARD.
AND COUNCILMAN MARTINEZ HAS A COMMENT OR QUESTION.
UH, JUST, UH, WANTED TO HIGHLIGHT THIS PROJECT.
UH, WANTED TO THANK, UH, MELISSA JEFFERSON WITH PUBLIC WORKS.
THERE WAS A LOT OF BACK AND FORTH TO ADDRESS, UM, DRIVEWAYS THAT WEREN'T, UH, INITIALLY THOUGHT OF WHEN THEY WERE GOING THROUGH THE, THROUGH THE ENGINEERING AND DESIGN.
UM, WE'RE ABOUT TO HIT, UH, PHASE, UH, ONE B THIS SPRING.
AND IT'S GONNA BE JUST NORTH OF THAT SET.
UH, THE, THE WHERE, WHERE THE PROJECT WAS INITIALLY, UH, THAT WE'RE VOTING ON NOW.
UM, AND SO I JUST WANNA MAKE SURE THAT PUBLIC WORKS TAKES HEAT ON MAKING SURE THAT WE ALWAYS HAVE COMMUNITY MEETINGS THAT ADDRESS THESE CONCERNS ON THE FRONT END.
UM, YOU KNOW, WANNA MAKE SURE THAT, THAT, UH, THAT WE DON'T HAVE TO GO BACK AND FORTH WITH, WITH, UH, PUBLIC WORKS TO ENSURE THAT THIS IS HAPPENING.
WHERE FOLKS NEED SIDEWALKS, UH, THEY GET SIDEWALKS WHERE THEY NEED DRIVEWAYS, THEY GET DRIVEWAYS.
AND SO, UM, I'M EXCITED ABOUT WHAT'S BEEN DONE.
IT'S A AMAZING DRAINAGE PROJECT THAT'S BEEN NEEDED IN NEEDED IN THE MAGNOLIA PARK, UH, MAYOR.
BUT THIS NEXT PHASE JUST WANNA BE A LITTLE BIT MORE SMOOTHER.
UH, ALL IN FAVOR OF ITEM EIGHT.
THOSE OPPOSED? MOTION CARRIES.
ITEM NINE NEEDS AND MOTION CASTEX.
COUNCIL MEMBER CAMAN PARLIAMENTARY INQUIRY.
I'M GONNA BE TAGGING, UH, MULTIPLE ITEMS IN ORDER.
IS IT BETTER TO JUST LAY OUT ALL THE TAGS? OR YOU WANT ME TO DO EM ONE BY ONE? JUST ONE
[03:15:01]
MOTION.SO YOU'RE GONNA TAG NINE THROUGH 16 AND I THINK YES, SHE'LL RECOGNIZE YOU FOR TAGGING ALL OF 'EM AT ONE TIME.
DO YOU WANT MOTION? NEED A MOTION? WE HAVE A MOTION FOR ITEM NINE.
CAST CASTEX T TO MOVE SECOND NINE THROUGH 16.
I SECOND AND SECOND IT ALL IN FAVOR? OPPOSED CAME.
COUNCIL MEMBER CAME AND TAG THEM.
THOSE IN FAVOR? THOSE OPPOSED.
THOSE IN FAVOR? THOSE OPPOSED? MOTION.
I JUST WANNA SAY, YOU KNOW, WHEN THIS HAPPENED, WHEN WE HAD THE SINKHOLE ON FONDANT AND IT WAS QUITE A SURPRISE, UM, BUT THE CITY WORKED REALLY HARD TO GET IT REPAIRED.
I HEARD FROM MY CONSTITUENTS OVER AND OVER AGAIN THAT THEY WERE SO PLEASED WITH THE COMMUNICATION FROM THE CITY WITH THE SOCIAL MEDIA UPDATES, UM, PROVIDING ADDITIONAL, UH, ROUTES TO TAKE.
AND SO I JUST WANNA COMMEND PUBLIC WORKS IN THE CITY FOR THAT KIND OF COMMUNICATION.
YOU KNOW A LOT, A LOT OF US, JUST A LITTLE COMMENT HERE.
I'VE REALLY SEEN PUBLIC WORKS GET REENERGIZED AND, AND I HOPE WE ALL NOTICE IT BECAUSE IT'S, THEY'RE EASY, THEY'RE EASY TO KICK AROUND BECAUSE THERE'S SO MUCH FALLS ON THEIR PLATE, BUT WHEN THEY DO RESPOND, IT'S GOOD TO HEAR AS IF, AS EXPEDITIOUSLY AS THEY DID IN YOUR INSTANCE.
ALRIGHT, ITEM 22 NEEDS A MOTION CAST.
AND, AND COUNCIL MEMBER CAYMAN TAGGING THE SAND.
THOMAS TAGS RAMIREZ JOINT TAGGED BY THOMAS AND RAMIREZ.
THOMAS TAGS RAMIREZ JOINS, TAGGED BY THOMAS AND RAMIREZ.
COUNCIL MEMBER THOMAS AND COUNCIL MEMBER RAMIREZ.
UH, I'M A PASS OVER TO MY COLLEAGUE.
YOU CAN GO TO THE NEXT, UH, PERSON.
COUNCILMAN CARTER AND RAMIREZ HAVE TAGGED.
AND POLLED MADE IT THREE P THROW IN POLLARD.
THEY ADDED 36 ITEM 36 IS AN ORDINANCE.
OKAY, THIS COMPLETES THE ITEMS ON THE AGENDA.
I, I WILL ACCEPT, I I WILL ACCEPT A MOTION TO ADJOURN.
[03:20:01]
VERY MUCH,NOT TO BE OUTDONE BY COUNCIL MEMBER POLL, BUT NONE FOR YET.
IF I COULD HAVE EVERYONE'S ATTENTION, UH, TURN AROUND
[NON CONSENT - MATTERS TO BE PRESENTED BY COUNCIL MEMBERS]
COUNCIL MEMBER MARTINEZ, THIS SECOND.Y'ALL READY? I RECOGNIZE COUNCIL MEMBER MARTINEZ.
SO FIRST AND FOREMOST, UH, OF COURSE NEEDED TO MAKE SURE I STEPPED UP MY GAME AS WELL.
SO HAPPY VALENTINE'S TO EVERYONE AROUND THE HORSESHOE MEN AND WOMEN, UH, TO MY WIFE AS WELL, TO MY KIDS.
UH, I JUST WANNA SAY HAPPY VALENTINE'S DAY TO THEM.
UH, YOU KNOW, THERE'S, UH, THERE'S BEEN A LOT GOING ON OVER THE PAST MONTH, ALMOST MONTH AND A HALF.
IT'S BEEN BUSY, BUT AT THE SAME TIME, UH, IT'S BEEN REALLY GOOD.
I WAS ABLE TO REPRESENT THE MAYOR AT BAKER RIPLEY LAST WEEK, UH, FOR A NEW, UM, IT'S A EAST END LEARNING CENTER HUB.
AND I WAS THERE WITH MY COLLEAGUE, UH, COUNCILOR CASTILLO.
IT, IT BROUGHT BACK SOME MEMORIES FOR ME 'CAUSE I WORKED FOR BAKER RIPLEY FOR ABOUT 10 YEARS AND SPECIFICALLY WHEN IT COMES TO, TO YOUTH PROGRAMMING.
SO, YOU KNOW, BRIDGING THAT DIGITAL GAP WAS IMPORTANT TO GO, GO BY THERE AND VISIT AS WELL.
UH, WE ALSO HAD A GROUNDBREAKING FOR WITH NEW HOPE HOUSING.
UH, IT'S, UH, OVER A HUNDRED UNITS, UH, FOR SENIORS AFFORDABLE HOUSING.
UH, IT'S, IT'S GREAT TO, YOU KNOW, AND ONE OF THE THINGS I MENTIONED AT THAT, AT THAT GROUNDBREAKING IS, UM, WHEN I WAS WORKING FOR COUNCILOR GALLEGOS POST HARVEY, WE HAD ABOUT EIGHT CALLS FROM SENIORS THAT NEEDED SOMEWHERE TO STAY.
AND WE STARTED MAKING CALLS TO, TO, UH, SENIOR HOUSING, UH, APARTMENTS.
THERE WAS A TWO TO THREE YEAR WAIT WAITING LIST.
AND SO, UH, IT WAS IMPORTANT FOR US DURING THAT TIME AND CONTINUE TO DO IT, UH, TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE FILLING THE, YOU KNOW, THOSE, THOSE HOUSING UNITS, UH, SENIOR HOUSING UNITS IN THE CITY AS WELL.
UM, WE, THIS PAST FRIDAY, UH, MY STAFF AND I, AND MY TEAM AND I, WE ACTUALLY TOOK A TOUR OF DISTRICT.
I, I WANNA MAKE SURE THAT THEY'RE ABLE TO, UH, SEE WHAT'S ON THE GROUND.
WE'RE COMING, UH, WE'RE IN THE NORTHEAST PART OF THE DISTRICT THIS FRIDAY.
SO IF YOU'RE IN THE EAST END AND YOU SEE US COMING AROUND, PLEASE WAVE, WAVE TO US.
UM, AND THEN LAST, UH, BUT NOT LEAST, UH, UH, YOU KNOW, I WAS A ALTAR BOY FOR ABOUT 10 YEARS.
SO WHEN NASH WEDNESDAY COMES, UH, LINT SEASON IS REALLY IMPORTANT TO ME AS WELL.
UH, YOU KNOW, A LOT OF TIMES WE THINK ABOUT WHAT WE WANNA SACRIFICE, BUT SOMETIMES WE SHOULD BE THINKING ABOUT WHAT ELSE WE SHOULD BE DOING MORE OF.
UM, AND SO IN THAT, IN THAT CONTEXT, YOU KNOW, JUST WANNA MAKE SURE THAT FOLKS CAN BE MORE INTENTIONAL, MORE PURPOSEFUL ABOUT WHAT YOU SAY DO WITH YOUR FAMILY, WITH YOUR COMMUNITY, AND THEN OF COURSE, IN THIS SPACE THAT WE'RE IN AS WELL.
UM, TODAY ON THE FRONT PAGE OF THE HOUSTON CHRONICLE, IT HIGHLIGHTED A PROGRAM THAT WAS INITIATED BY MY OFFICE CALLED THE DISTRICT J PATROL IS WHAT I BELIEVE IS THE NEW MODERN APPROACH TO COMMUNITY POLICING, WHERE WE HAVE A WEBSITE, DISTRICT J PATROL.COM THAT ALLOWS RESIDENTS AND DISTRICT J TO BE ABLE TO GO ON AND SUBMIT REPORTS FOR LOWER LEVEL QUALITY OF LIFE CRIMES AND VIOLATIONS.
AND THEN I PAY HPD OFFICERS OVERTIME TO GO AND ADDRESS THOSE TYPE OF INCIDENTS.
THE ONLY THINGS THAT REALLY AFFECT THE NEIGHBORHOOD, SO YOUR, YOUR JUNK MOTOR VEHICLES, PARKING ON THE LAWN, NUISANCES, TRESPASSES, HOMELESS ENCAMPMENTS, PANHANDLING, UH, THE THINGS THAT TOUCH THE NEIGHBORHOOD BUT MAY NOT BE AS HIGH ON THE PRIORITY LIST FOR HPD.
WE KNOW THAT THEY'RE SPREAD VERY THIN.
THEY'RE GONNA PRIORITIZE RAPES, ASSAULTS, MURDERS BEFORE THEY DO, YOU KNOW, PARKING ON THE LAWN.
BUT THE PARKING ON THE LAWN STILL AFFECTS PEOPLE AND THEIR QUALITY OF LIFE WITHIN THE NEIGHBORHOOD.
SO THE DISTRICT J PATROL IS SET UP JUST FOR THAT.
AND THE, UH, HOUSTON CHRONICLE, UH, DID A FRONT PAGE STORY ON IT THIS MORNING.
WHAT I WANT TO HIGHLIGHT ABOUT THAT THOUGH IS, UM, THE REPORTING DID NOT TAKE INTO ACCOUNT THAT THE DATA THAT WE CAPTURE, UH, ON THE DISTRICT J PATROL.COM IS MIXED INTO THE ACTUAL 3 1 1 OR HPD DATA THAT'S OUR OWN PRIVATELY MAINTAINED, INDEPENDENTLY MAINTAINED DATA.
AND SO THE NUMBERS THERE DON'T ALWAYS TELL THE COMPLETE STORY, BUT, UH, I WANT TO THANK, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER CASTILLO FOR ALSO, UM, LOOKING INTO HOW YOU CAN DEVELOP A PROGRAM FOR YOUR DISTRICT.
[03:25:01]
BE REP REPLICATED, CITYWIDE.UH, THE COOL THING ABOUT THE WEBSITE IS IT HAS A RESULTS TAB ON, UH, ON THE WEBSITE THAT ALLOWS THE RESIDENTS TO BE ABLE TO SEE, UH, THE RESPONSES FROM HPD.
SO AFTER THEY PUT IN A SUBMISSION, LET'S SAY ABOUT, UH, PARKING ON THE, A FEW DAYS LATER, THEY SHOULD GET A, A REPORT BACK FROM HPD ON WHAT HAPPENED WHEN THEY WENT OUT TO THAT ADDRESS.
SO EVERYTHING IS ACCOUNTABLE, AND THERE'S A LOT OF TRANSPARENCY THAT'S BUILT IN.
UH, THE LAST THING I WANNA MENTION ABOUT THE, UH, DISTRICT J PATROL IS IT'S REALLY BUILT SO THAT, UH, IT CAN IMPROVE THE TRUST BETWEEN POLICE AND COMMUNITY.
WE HAVE, UH, POLARIS VEHICLES THAT THEY RIDE AROUND IN, WHICH ARE KIND OF LIKE OPEN CONCEPT A TV VEHICLES.
UH, THEY ARE AT ALL THE COMMUNITY EVENTS WITH THESE VEHICLES WHEN THEY'RE RIDING DOWN THE STREET.
IT'S EASY FOR, UH, PEOPLE TO TALK TO THEM AND ENGAGE WITH THEM.
AND SO, UH, I HOPE YOU ALL CHECK OUT THE STORY.
I WANT TO THANK THE CHRONICLE FOR, FOR HIGHLIGHTING IT.
UM, AND ALSO TO ENSURE THAT PEOPLE UNDERSTAND THAT THE DATA IS NOT INCLU.
OUR DATA IS NOT INCLUDED IN THE H HPD OR 3 1 1 DATA, BUT IT'S DISTRICT J PATROL.COM.
I SEE RAY HUNT OUT IN THE AUDIENCE.
HE WAS ONE OF THE FIRST BIG SUPPORTERS OF THIS PROGRAM, SO THANK YOU FOR THAT, RAY.
AND, UH, HAPPY VALENTINE'S TO EVERYONE, EVEN THE MEN
UH, COUNCIL MEMBER, ALCORN MAYOR LAST NIGHT, COUNCIL MEMBER EVAN SHABAZZ AND I SAT WITH ABOUT 30 NEIGHBORS OVER AT EMANCIPATION AND HADLEY, WHERE THEY ARE RIGHT BY A BAR, LITERALLY FEET AWAY FROM A NIGHTCLUB CALLED TRIBECA.
IT'S ACTUALLY NOT A NIGHTCLUB, IT'S A, IT'S A RENTAL SPACE.
THEY, IT'S AN EVENT SPACE, AND THEY HAVE PARTIES COME IN EVERY THURSDAY, FRIDAY, SATURDAY, SUNDAY NIGHT.
AND THE REASON THIS IS IMPORTANT IS IT'S KIND OF THE FIRST GROUP THAT WE TOOK THROUGH THE NEW STRENGTH AND NOR NOISE ORDINANCE THAT WE DID.
WE, THEY WERE BROUGHT IN FOR AN ADMINISTRATIVE HEARING THAT WAS SOMETHING WE INCORPORATED INTO THE CHANGES THAT WE DID IN, IN THE NOISE ORDINANCE.
UH, THEY PRESENTED TO A HEARING OFFICER, THE OWNERS OF THIS ESTABLISHMENT, A SOUND MITIGATION PLAN.
THE SOUND MITIGATION PLAN WAS ACCEPTED.
A RA GOES OUT AND INSPECTS THE, THE, THAT THEY PUT UP THE SOUND WALLS AND EVERYTHING THAT THEY DID, AND THEN THEY GET THEIR PERMIT.
THEY, THEY CONTINUE THEIR PERMIT.
BUT WHAT'S HAPPENED, AND WHAT WE DIDN'T CONSIDER WHEN WE WERE STRENGTHENING THE ORDINANCES, WHAT HAPPENS WHEN THAT IMPLEMENTATION PLAN REALLY DOESN'T WORK? AND THERE'S STILL A LOT OF COMPLAINTS ABOUT, ABOUT NOISE.
I MEAN, DOCTORS THAT CAN'T SLEEP ALL NIGHT AND THEY HAVE TO OPERATE.
THERE WAS LITERALLY A WOMAN CRYING THERE LAST NIGHT.
UM, HER HOMES OUR BIGGEST INVESTMENT.
PEOPLE ARE SELLING THEIR PLACES.
AND THIS WASN'T JUST THE, THE TOWNHOUSES THAT ARE RIGHT THERE, THEY WERE IN THE SURROUNDING NEIGHBORHOOD.
SO I SAY ALL THIS TO, TO LET YOU KNOW, MAYOR, UM, COUNCIL MEMBER E SHAVA, PROBABLY COUNCIL MEMBER CAMAN SINCE SHE WORKED ON IT TOO.
AND I WILL BE SENDING OVER SOME, UM, THINGS TO CONSIDER THAT WE MIGHT WANNA CONSIDER TO FURTHER STRENGTHEN IT.
MEANING ADDING AN ENFORCEMENT MECHANISM WHEN THE SOUND MITIGATION PLAN IS INEFFECTIVE.
UM, WE NEED TO CONSIDER ADDING SOUNDPROOFING REQUIREMENTS TO THE BUILDING CODE FOR NEW BARS AND NIGHTCLUBS THAT ARE BUILT WITHIN 300 FEET OF A RESIDENCE.
AND THEN SIMILAR TO WHAT WE'RE DISCUSSING CURRENTLY ABOUT BARS NOT HAVING A CERTIFICATE OF OCCUPANCY.
IF CLUBS DON'T HAVE A, THE, THE NEW COMMERCIAL ESTABLISHMENT PERMIT THAT WE, THAT WE PUT INTO THE NEW ORDINANCE, AND THIS, THIS CLUB ACTUALLY, THEY LET THEIRS LAPSE IF THEY DON'T HAVE IT.
WE DON'T WANNA SHUT THE BUSINESS DOWN, BUT WE CERTAINLY WANNA WANNA BE ABLE TO SAY, YOU CANNOT PLAY MUSIC AFTER 10 ON WEEKDAYS AND 11 ON WEEKENDS.
UNPLUG THE DJ, WHATEVER WE HAVE TO DO, WE NEED THAT FURTHER ENFORCEMENT.
BECAUSE WHAT'S HAPPENING IS THE POLICE GO OUT, THEY, THEY'LL ISSUE A PERMIT, UH, A TICKET FOR NOT HAVING THE, THE, UH, THE SOUND PERMIT.
THEY'LL ISSUE A TICKET FOR THE NOISE, BUT THAT'S A YEAR LONG WAITING PROCESS BEFORE THOSE TICKETS GET FULLY ADJUDICATED.
SO THAT'S WHY WE ESTABLISHED THIS ADMINISTRATIVE HEARING.
ANYWAY, YOU'LL GET A MEMO WITH ALL, WITH ALL OF THIS.
WE, WE, WE NEED, WE, I THINK THERE'S SOME QUICK FIXES WE COULD DO TO, UM, TO PUT SOME MORE TEETH INTO THIS AND GIVE SOME PEOPLE A, A DECENT NIGHT'S SLEEP.
AND PART OF THAT DISCUSSION I'D LIKE TO SEE IS THE ACTIVITIES OUTSIDE THE BUILDING, CERTAINLY ON WASHINGTON.
I ASSUME THEY'RE GOING RIGHT UP TO THEIR PROPERTY LINES, BUT SEEM LIKE SOME OF THE ABUSES ARE TAKING PLACE NOT IN THE CONFINES OF THE FOUR WALLS, BUT WHEN THEY GET OUT IN FRONT OF THE BUILDING RIGHT THERE ON WASHINGTON OR EMANCIPATION OR OTHER LOCATION, IS JUST SEE IF WE COULD KEEP 'EM MORE RESTRICTED TO THEIR OWN CONSTRAINTS, THEIR OWN, THEIR OWN FOUR WALLS.
YEAH, NO, NOISE IS JUST PART OF IT.
I MEAN, THERE WAS ALSO, YOU KNOW, LOUD MOTORCYCLE SOUNDS IN THE, IN THE, IN THE PARKING LOT, A LOT OF DISORDERLY CONDUCT, ALL OF THOSE THINGS THAT GO ALONG WITH IT.
[03:30:01]
UH, COUNCILMAN CARTER.HAPPY VALENTINE'S DAY, EVERYBODY.
COULD I ADD THAT, UM, YOU KNOW, MY, UH, STAFF AND I HAVE BEEN REALLY OUT TAKING A LOOK AT, AT THE DEPARTMENTS AROUND THE CITY.
AND, UH, MONDAY WE WERE SCHEDULED FOR A TOUR AT THE, UH, FORENSIC SCIENCE CENTER.
WE HAPPENED TO BE THERE WHEN THEY WERE PROCESSING THE, UH, EVIDENCE INTAKE, UH, FROM LAKEWOOD.
AND, UH, YOU KNOW, THE, THE TOUR ENDED, UH, IN THAT PROCESSING ROOM.
AND OVERALL, WHEN WE LOOK AT THINGS, YOU KNOW, NEEDS AROUND THE CITY, AND WE TALK ABOUT COLLABORATIVE EFFORTS ON LAW ENFORCEMENT AND, AND REALLY PUBLIC SAFETY BEING FIRST AND FOREMOST, YOU KNOW, WE NEED TO KEEP IN MIND THESE DEPARTMENTS THAT ARE LACKING IN RESOURCES.
UM, YOU KNOW, UH, DR. STOUT TALKED ABOUT HIS STAFF AND WE'RE, WE'RE WE'RE STANDING THERE WITH TWO MEMBERS WHO HAD, UH, SPENT 12 HOURS, YOU KNOW, COLLECTING EVIDENCE, UH, WENT HOME ON A FEW HOURS OF SLEEP AND WE'RE BACK PROCESSING EVIDENCE.
AND, UM, YOU KNOW, THE STAFFING NEEDS, THE BUDGETING REQUIREMENTS THAT THEY HAVE TO KEEP UP, UH, SOME OF THE COLLABORATIVE EFFORTS THAT THEY'RE LOOKING TO DO.
WE REALLY NEED TO KEEP THAT FIRST AND FOREMOST WHEN WE TAKE A LOOK AT, AT PUBLIC SAFETY AND HOW THAT OUTCOME IMPACTS OUR JUDICIAL SYSTEM.
UM, YOU KNOW, AND I JUST WANT TO, UH, GIVE A, A SHOUT OUT AND SAY THANK YOU FOR ALL THAT, THAT THESE INDIVIDUALS DO TO KEEP, TO KEEP THESE, UH, CASES MOVING.
UM, YOU KNOW, THEY'RE TA IN TAKING, UH, THE CASE INTAKE IS ANYWHERE FROM THE TEXAS RANGERS TO FBI AND DOWN.
SO IT'S NOT JUST AN HPD EFFORT, IT'S TRULY A STATEWIDE EFFORT.
SO JUST WANTED TO, UH, BRING THEM TO THE FOREFRONT AND, AND HOPE THAT WE CAN ADDRESS THEIR NEEDS AND, AND, UH, TAKE A LOOK AT, AT GETTING THEM WHAT THEY NEED OVER THERE TO CONTINUE TO KEEP UP WITH OUR, WITH OUR CRIME.
UH, COUNCIL MEMBER EVANS SHABAZZ.
UM, I'M GONNA START OUT ECHOING THE SENTIMENTS AND CONCERN OF MY COLLEAGUE, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER ALCO.
IT WAS, IT WAS A GREAT MEETING WITH ATTENDANCE AND THEY WERE REALLY, REALLY CRYING OUT FOR HELP.
UH, I MEAN, THE, THE CLUB IS LITERALLY AS CLOSE AS CLOSER THAN FOR ME TO COUNCIL MEMBER DAVIS.
AND WHAT THEY ARE DOING, THEY ARE, THE POLICE OFFICERS ARE GOING OUT AND THEN THEY CUT IT DOWN, AND THEN THEY CUT IT BACK UP.
AND SO WE CERTAINLY GONNA HAVE TO GET WITH YOU TO GET SOME TEETH TO THIS ORDINANCE.
UH, MY OFFICE IS GOING TO COM COMMIT SOME COUNCIL MEMBER DISTRICT SERVICE FUNDS FOR POLICE OFFICERS WHO ARE SPECIFICALLY DESIGNATED TO GO OUT TO ADDRESS THESE CONCERNS.
UH, THEY WILL BE OVERTIME, THEY WILL BE OFF DUTY OFFICERS, SO THEY WILL NOT BE ONES THAT WILL BE PULLED TO OTHER EVENTS.
AND SO I THINK THAT'S SOMETHING, A PILOT THAT'S GOING ON IN MIDTOWN, AND WE'RE GONNA TRY TO DUPLICATE THAT BECAUSE I DO THINK THAT THEY'RE HAVING SOME SUCCESS.
WE'RE ALSO GONNA HAVE TO MAKE THE OWNERS ACCOUNTABLE BECAUSE THE OWNERS ARE ALLOWING PEOPLE TO RENT THESE SPACES, AND THEY ARE NOT MAKING THE PEOPLE THAT ARE RENTING THE SPACES ADHERE TO THE ORDINANCE.
AND SO THEY'RE GONNA HAVE TO FEEL THIS AS WELL.
AND SO, OF COURSE, AND ALLOWING THEM TO, UH, OPERATE WITHOUT THE SOUND PERMIT AND LETTING THEM CONTINUE TO PLAY THE MUSIC IS JUST TOTALLY UNACCEPTABLE.
AND SO I DO WANT TO THANK HPD, OUR NEW COMMANDER, UH, WHEN, UH, SERGEANT ALMS, WHO IS SO MUCH ON IT AND GOING AROUND ALL OVER THE, UH, DISTRICT D AND I'M SURE OTHER PLACES TO TRY TO MITIGATE THESE PROBLEMS, A RA WAS PRESENT.
AND I JUST THINK I TOLD COUNCIL MEMBER ELKHORN, I WAS NOT GOING IN THAT MEETING UNTIL SHE GOT THERE, BECAUSE I KNEW THAT IT WAS GONNA BE QUITE CONTENTIOUS.
BUT AT ANY RATE, UH, WE HEARD THE PEOPLE, WE WANT THEM TO KNOW THAT WE DO UNDERSTAND, AND WE'RE GONNA NEED YOU, UH, MAYOR TO HELP US TO NAVIGATE TO SOMETHING THAT'S GONNA HAVE A TRUE BITE.
UH, I ALSO WANNA SAY THAT THE AFRICAN AMERICAN POLICE OFFICERS LEAGUE WILL BE HAVING A BLACK HISTORY CELEBRATION THIS SATURDAY AT WILLER AVENUE BAPTIST CHURCH.
IT WILL BE FROM 10 TO TWO, AND IT WILL BE A WONDERFUL EVENT.
SO IF YOU'RE AVAILABLE, PLEASE COME OUT AND JOIN US.
AND THAT CONCLUDES, OH, AND AGAIN, I WANT TO THANK YOU AGAIN, MAYOR, FOR THE SIGNAGE.
THE PEOPLE IN THE COMMUNITY ARE GONNA BE REALLY EXCITED BECAUSE IT'S GONNA HAVE LIGHTS AND ALL OF THAT, AND THEN YOU CAN ACTUALLY SEE THE ADDRESS ON THE SIDE.
AND SO THAT'S GONNA BE VERY, VERY HELP HELPFUL.
AND THAT CONCLUDES WHAT'S GOING ON IN THE DISTRICT OF DESTINATION.
THANK YOU MAYOR, AND HAPPY VALENTINE'S DAY TO EVERYONE.
I WANNA START BY HIGHLIGHTING A NUMBER OF EVENTS THIS WEEKEND AROUND OUR LOVE YOUR PET MONTH, EXCUSE ME, INITIATIVE THAT WE'LL
[03:35:01]
BE HOSTING, STARTING WITH A VACCINE CLINIC ON FRIDAY, FEBRUARY THE 16TH, AT THE AIRLINE FARMER'S MARKET WITH OUR PARTNER VX.THEY WILL BE THERE, UH, FROM 12 TO FIVE, WHERE YOU CAN STOP BY AND GET PET VACCINES ON FRIDAY, SATURDAY, THE HOUSTON HUMANE SOCIETY WILL BE HOSTING A VACCINE CLINIC IN THE EAST SIDE OF TOWN AT BAKER RIPLEY ON NAVIGATION SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 17TH FROM NINE TO ONE.
AND THEN ON SUNDAY, BARRIO DOGS WILL BE HOSTING AN EVENT AT WHITE RHINO FROM TWO TO SIX, UH, FOR THEIR LOVE YOUR PET, UH, INITIATIVES AS WELL, WHICH WILL GIVE PEOPLE AN OPPORTUNITY TO REGISTER FOR FREE PET SPAY NEUTER SERVICES.
AND I WANT TO ENCOURAGE FOLKS, UH, TO UTILIZE THESE SERVICES THIS WEEKEND IF THEY NEED THEM.
AND THEN, UH, WE HAVE TWO OPPORTUNITIES TO SEE, UH, BARK FOR THEIR WELLNESS VISITS THAT DISTRICT H IS SPONSORING.
UM, THE 16TH AND THE 23RD, THE LAST TWO FRIDAYS OF THE MONTH.
YOU CAN CALL BARK IF YOU ARE DISTRICT H RESIDENT, GET AN APPOINTMENT AND, UH, GET A WELLNESS VISIT FOR YOUR PET.
UH, WE HAD A TOWN HALL LAST WEEKEND.
I WANNA THANK COUNCIL MEMBER RAMIREZ FOR BEING PRESENT, UM, AT THE OLD SIX WARD.
AND, UH, I WANNA THANK ALL THE CITY DEPARTMENTS THAT WERE THERE, UH, PROVIDING INFORMATION AND, AND RESOURCES TO THE NEIGHBORS.
I KNOW THAT THEY REALLY APPRECIATE THAT.
UM, I WILL SAY WE DID GET A LOT OF QUESTIONS ON THE HOUSTON AVENUE PROJECT.
IT WAS, YOU KNOW, A TOWN HALL THAT WAS VERY NEAR, NEAR, UH, THAT LOCATION.
AND, UH, I AM STILL WAITING ON, ON INFORMATION THAT I HOPE COMES SOON SO THAT I CAN GET THAT OUT TO THEM, UH, BECAUSE THERE ARE A LOT OF QUESTIONS AROUND THAT PROJECT.
UH, WE HAVE TWO MORE TOWN HALLS COMING UP, UH, ONE ON FRIDAY IN THE GARDEN OAKS, UH, SHEPHERD PARK AREA AT, UH, THE GREATER HEIGHTS BREWERY.
AND THEN ON SATURDAY, WE HAVE ONE IN DENVER HARBOR AT RAITA.
AND, UH, WE ARE EXCITED FOR BOTH OF THOSE AS WE CONTINUE OUR TOWN HALL SERIES, UH, ACROSS THE DISTRICT.
UM, I WANT TO ECHO, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER ALCORN'S COMMENTS ON, UM, THE SOUND, UH, ISSUES THAT WE'RE HAVING, BECAUSE WE HAVE BEEN EXPERIENCING SOME DOWNTOWN AS WELL, UH, WITH SOME BARS THAT ARE JUST PLAYING LOUD MUSIC NEXT TO, UM, NEXT TO RESIDENTIAL AREAS AND, AND VIOLATING, UH, YOU KNOW, OUR ORDINANCES.
AND I DO THINK WE NEED MORE ENFORCEMENT.
UM, YOU KNOW, THIS IS, WE HAVE BARS NEXT TO RESIDENTIAL AREAS, AND WE DON'T HAVE THESE ISSUES, YOU KNOW, SO WE, WE KNOW THAT FOLKS CAN'T GET THIS RIGHT.
UM, AND SO I WANT TO OFFER TO HELP, UH, IN THAT REGARD AS WELL, AND IN, IN ANY EFFORTS MOVING FORWARD.
UM, AND I APPRECIATE COUNCIL MEMBER POLLARD'S COMMENTS ON THE DISTRICT J PATROL.
I WILL SAY A LOT OF RESIDENTS IN DISTRICT H ARE VERY EXCITED BY THE PROGRAM AND, UH, HAVE, YOU KNOW, SEEN HOW IT'S WORKED IN DISTRICT J AND I'M GLAD YOU MENTIONED THE DATA COMPONENT.
IT'S GOOD TO TO CLEAR THAT UP.
AND, AND, YOU KNOW, WE KNOW THAT AS THESE CALLS ARE MORE LOWER PRIORITY, UM, OFTENTIMES, YOU KNOW, IF THEY GET RESPONDED TO IT'S, IT'S HOURS AND HOURS LATER, SOMETIMES THEY DON'T.
UM, AND RESIDENTS GET FRUSTRATED AND THEY STOP REPORTING, YOU KNOW, AND THAT'S PART OF, OF THE DATA GAP THERE.
BUT, YOU KNOW, YOU SEE IT ON THE GROUND IN YOUR DISTRICT, I SEE IT ON THE GROUND IN MINE, AND, AND IT'S, IT'S A, IT'S AN ISSUE.
AND, AND THIS PROGRAM'S GONNA HELP ADDRESS THAT.
SO WE'RE EXCITED TO, TO BRING IT INTO DISTRICT H.
UM, I DO WANT TO HIGHLIGHT MY SPECIAL PROJECTS DIRECTOR, SABRINA SALTS, WHO ALSO HAS BEEN COORDINATING ALL OF OUR TOWN HALLS.
SHE HAS HIT THE GROUND RUNNING, UH, MAKING THOSE A GREAT SUCCESS.
SHE IS A HOUSTON NATIVE AND, UH, WENT TO ST.
PIUS HIGH SCHOOL AND PLAYED COLLEGIATE SOFTBALL FOR EAST TEXAS BAPTIST UNIVERSITY.
UM, SO IF THERE IS A COUNCIL CITY SOFTBALL TEAM, YOU KNOW, OR TO GO FOR, FOR A RINGER.
AND, UH, SHE'S A PROUD LULAC COUNCIL 60 MEMBER, AND SHE'S BEEN SERVING THE EASTERN COMMUNITY FOR, FOR MANY YEARS ALONG WITH HER FAMILY.
AND SHE'S BEEN A GREAT ADDITION TO THE TEAM.
UM, I'M GLAD TO HAVE HER ON BOARD, AND, UH, THAT IS IT FOR ME.
HURRO, YOU WANNA POP OFF? UH, COUNCIL MEMBER DAVIS.
UH, I WANT TO, UH, BEGIN BY SAYING THAT I CERTAINLY, UM, APPRECIATE THE OPPORTUNITY TO MOVE AROUND IN MANY OF THE DISTRICTS THAT THEY HAD INVITED AND TRIED TO, UM, PARTICIPATE.
I WAS THERE AT THE RIBBON CUTTING FOR THE BAKER RIPLEY, UH, LEARNING CENTER, UH, ALONG WITH, UH, JOAQUIN AND, UM, COUNCIL MEMBER CASTILLO.
AND IT WAS REALLY A GREAT OPPORTUNITY TO SEE A LEARNING CENTER BEING,
[03:40:01]
YOU KNOW, OPENED UP, UH, AND, YOU KNOW, PROJECTING IN THE COMMUNITY.ALSO, I WANT TO APPRECIATE GOING TO SUGAR VALLEY AS WELL AS WITH, UH, I MEAN, PLAZA.
I VISIT BOTH OF THE SUPER NEIGHBORHOODS ON THIS WEEK, AND IT WAS REALLY A MARATHON, BUT, YOU KNOW, IT'S, IT'S PART OF WHAT WE DO TO TRY TO SHOW OUR PARTICIPATION.
ALSO, UH, WAS HAPPY TO BE A PART OF THE PRIDE VIGIL, WHICH WENT ON AT THE, UM, THE GOSPEL MUSIC HOUSE AND, UH, MUSEUM THAT IS GOING UP IN, UH, THE HISTORICAL THIRD WARD ON EMANCIPATION BOULEVARD.
UH, IS THAT, I THINK THIS IS A PHENOMENAL OPPORTUNITY BECAUSE HOUSTON IS WELL KNOWN FOR GOSPEL LEADERS.
UH, V MICHAEL MCKAY AND YOLANDA ADAMS ARE LEADING THAT.
AND, UH, I WAS ASKED TO BE A PART OF THE PRAYER VISION DEDICATING THAT LOCATION, WHICH IS HISTORICAL, UH, WAS THE A ME CHURCH, WESLEY CHAPEL, A ME CHURCH.
AND, UH, I, ALONG WITH SOME OTHERS, WITH THEIR, AS WELL AS CONGRESSWOMAN LEE.
AND, UH, I DO WANNA ALSO ASK, UH, THAT MANY OF YOU KNOW THAT CRIME HAS ALWAYS BEEN ONE OF THE BIG ISSUES FOR ME, UH, IN MY CAMPAIGN FOR THE LOVE OF OUR CITY.
BUT NOT ONLY, I DO WANT TO SAY I SPOKE WITH THE MAYOR, I, I MEAN, UH, NOT THE MAYOR, BUT ALSO THE POLICE CHIEF ON IN INITIATING, UM, THE, UH, ROLE OF WHERE WE ARE WITH CRIME.
AND A LOT OF US WHO RAN ON IT, USED IT, UH, DURING OUR CAMPAIGNING.
AND I THINK IT'S TIME FOR US TO TAKE A SERIOUS APPROACH.
SO I MENTIONED TO THE CHIEF ABOUT INITIATING A PROGRAM, UM, THAT'S CALLED PPP, WHICH IS POLICE PASTORS AND PEOPLE KNOW, UH, OUR, WE, I COMMEND OUR LAW ENFORCEMENT, UH, OUR FIRST RESPONDERS TO ALL THAT THEY DO.
I WANT TO THANK THE MAYOR AND HIS LEADERSHIP OVER THE WEEKEND AND THIS ISSUE BECAUSE, UH, CHURCHES CAN BE SOFT SPOTS, UH, AS WELL.
DON'T HAVE TO ELABORATE ON THAT MUCH, BUT THE CHIEF DID EXPRESS TO ME ABOUT, UH, PARTICIPATING IN GETTING A TRAINING FOR MANY OF OUR CHURCHES AND MOSQUE AND OTHER, UH, RELIGIOUS PLACES.
SO I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO BRINGING THAT FORTH, MAYOR, BECAUSE I KNOW THAT'S ONE OF YOUR MAJOR AGENDAS.
IT'S BEEN MINE, UH, FOR MANY, MANY YEARS SINCE 2019.
I TALKED ABOUT CRIME IN THIS CITY.
UH, PEOPLE IGNORED IT AT THE TIME, BUT DURING 2023, EVERYBODY GRABBED IT, UH, BECAUSE IT IS ESSENTIAL.
CRIME IS CONNECTED TO EVERYTHING THAT WE DO IN THIS CITY, WHETHER IT'S IN OUR SCHOOLS AND OUR BUSINESSES AND OUR CHURCHES, MARS.
AND SO, UH, I HOPE THAT, UH, WE COULD GO FORWARD IN THAT, AND THAT COUNCIL WILL TAKE A SERIOUS LOOK AT THAT BECAUSE IT AFFECTS US MOSTLY IN OUR ECONOMICS.
SO I'M HOPING TO WORK WITH ALL THAT WILL, AND I'M HOPING TO ROLL THAT OUT, MAYOR, TO GET A CHANCE TO HAVE THAT DISCUSSION IN DEPTH.
UM, NOT SURE HOW MANY ARE AWARE, BUT, UH, KINGWOOD HAS BEEN WORKING ON A NEW PROJECT FOR ACTUALLY ABOUT 10, 11 YEARS NORTH PARK DRIVE.
UH, THEY'VE ACTUALLY STARTED THE, UH, DRAINAGE WORK, AND IT HAVE BEEN COMING ALONG QUITE WELL WITH THAT.
UH, WE'RE GONNA START TO FEEL SOME OF THE PAIN FOR THAT, THOUGH, STARTING MONDAY, FEBRUARY 19TH.
WANNA MAKE SURE ALL THE KINGWOOD RESIDENTS ARE AWARE.
NORTH PARK WESTBOUND AT INTERSTATE 69 IS GONNA CLOSE TWO LANES, SO WE'RE GONNA GO DOWN FROM FOUR LANES TO TWO LANES UNTIL THOSE LANES ARE CONSTRUCTED, AND THEN THEY'LL SWAP AND CLOSE THE OTHER LANES AND OPEN THE OTHERS BACK UP.
SO, UH, WE ENCOURAGE EVERYONE TO TAKE ALTERNATE ROUTES IF POSSIBLE.
UH, THIS IS GONNA BE GOING ON FOR A TOTAL OF FOUR MONTHS.
UH, AND THEN WE'LL START ON SOME NEW CONSTRUCTION UP THERE.
UH, ALSO YESTERDAY WHEN I LEFT HERE, AFTER COUNCIL MEETING, WENT DOWN TO CLEAR LAKE, HAD A MEETING DOWN THERE, UH, THERE'S A SIGNIFICANT ANNOUNCEMENT THAT'S SCHEDULED FOR TOMORROW THAT WILL NOT ONLY IMPACT DISTRICT E IN CLEAR LAKE AREA, BUT THE ENTIRE CITY AS WELL.
SO, HOPEFULLY GOOD NEWS TO COME FOR EVERYBODY.
UM, WE, WE'VE ALREADY ADDRESSED AND SPOKEN ABOUT LAKEWOOD, UM, BUT I, I WANNA JUST REITERATE OUR APPRECIATION TO OUR FIRST RESPONDERS IN LAW ENFORCEMENT, BUT THEY SHOULD HAVE NEVER HAD TO HAVE RESPONDED TO BEGIN WITH.
UM, SO I, I LOOK FORWARD TO MORE WORK IN THE REALM OF, UH, ADDRESSING AND TACKLING GUN VIOLENCE HEAD ON.
SIGNAL CONSTRUCTION IS SET TO BEGIN THIS WEEK, WE HAD BEEN WORKING WITH RESIDENTS
[03:45:01]
IN, UH, OAK FOREST ON A, UH, SAFE CROSSING, BOTH, BUT FOR FRANK BLACK AND OAK FOREST MIDDLE SCHOOLS.UH, SO WE, ONE OF MY FOCUSES WITH SAFETY IS SAFE CROSSINGS, ESPECIALLY FOR FAMILIES, ESPECIALLY FOR CHILDREN TRYING TO GET TO SCHOOL.
SO THE HAWK SIGNAL IS GOING UP AT 43RD AND CURTIN, I WANNA THANK PUBLIC WORKS FOR WORKING WITH OUR OFFICE, OUR RESIDENTS, FOR WORKING WITH US, UM, TO ADDRESS THIS CONCERN IN THE COMMUNITY AND THE TWO PRINCIPALS OF THE MIDDLE SCHOOLS WHO CAME TOGETHER AND AGREED TO THIS LOCATION, WHICH IS THE HALFWAY POINT BETWEEN THE TWO SCHOOLS, SO THAT BOTH SCHOOLS AND THEIR FAMILIES CAN USE THAT.
SO, A HEADS UP IN OAK FOREST, THAT THAT CONSTRUCTION IS SET TO BEGIN THIS WEEK ON A MUCH NEEDED PEDESTRIAN SIGNAL FOR THE KIDS.
UH, WE ARE GOING TO HAVE A COMMUNITY MEETING, MAYOR IN YOUR NECK OF THE WOODS FOR CRESTWOOD GLEN COVE.
UM, THE PGA TOUR, UH, O THE HOUSTON OPEN AT MEMORIAL PARK IS NOW GONNA BE IN THE SPRING, WHICH IS A GREAT MOVE.
IT BRINGS MORE ATTENTION TO THE CITY.
UH, IT'S A GREAT SLOT IN THE TOUR.
UH, EVERY YEAR WE HAVE A PUBLIC MEETING BECAUSE FOR RESIDENTS IN THAT NEIGHBORHOOD, UM, WE OFFER ADDITIONAL PROTECTION FROM, UH, THE INFLUX OF INDIVIDUALS THAT ARE TRYING TO PARK IN THE NEIGHBORHOODS TO GET TO THE TOUR.
SO THAT COMMUNITY MEETING, UH, IS GOING TO BE HELD, AND WE HAVE SENT OFF, UH, DATES AND TIMES FOR THAT.
AND THEN IN HONOR OF BLACK HISTORY MONTH, ESPECIALLY FOR OUR AT LARGE MEMBERS, UM, YOU'RE, WE'D LOVE TO HAVE YOU VOLUNTEER.
HOUSTON IS HAVING TWO CEMETERY CLEANUPS AS PART OF A, UM, RESTORING HERITAGE, UH, EVENT.
AND THE FIRST IS GOING TO BE AT OLIVE WOOD CEMETERY.
YOU'LL HEAR US TALK A LOT ABOUT OLIVE WOOD AND THE IMPORTANCE FOR PRESERVATION.
THAT IS GONNA BE ON SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 17TH, FROM 8:00 AM TO NOON, AGAIN AT OLIVE WOOD CEMETERY WITH THE DESCENDANTS.
AND THEN ON MONDAY, FEBRUARY 19TH, UH, COLLEGE MEMORIAL PARK CEMETERY CLEANUP, UH, THAT'S ALSO FROM 8:00 AM TO NOON OFF OF WEST DALLAS.
SO BOTH ON SATURDAY THE 17TH AND MONDAY THE 19TH.
TWO OPPORTUNITIES, UH, DURING BLACK HISTORY MONTH, UH, TO SHOW OUR LOVE FOR, UM, THESE REALLY IMPORTANT CEMETERIES.
I JUST WANNA REMIND EVERYONE THAT ON TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 20TH, WE'RE HOSTING COFFEE WITH THE COP AND A COUNCIL MEMBER AT PEON GRILL ON ELDRIDGE AT NINE 30.
SO, UH, COME OUT AND SEE US THERE.
A COUPLE OF POINTS I WANNA MAKE, UH, FIRST OFF, REGARDING WHAT, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER CARTER WAS SAYING, I, WE, WE TOO SHARE CONCERN ABOUT THE STATE OF THE CRIME LAB IN THE BACKLOG THERE.
MAYOR, WE'VE LOOKED AT IT EXTENSIVELY.
WE'VE TALKED TO, UH, A NUMBER OF PEOPLE REGARDING THAT AND, UH, HAVE COME TO A CONCLUSION THAT IT'S NOT AN EASY FIX OR IT'S NOT A QUICK FIX.
BUT THERE ARE A COUPLE THINGS I THINK WE CAN DO, BE DOING MORE OF.
AND ONE IS OUTSOURCING, UH, MORE CASES THAN WE'RE CURRENTLY OUTSOURCING.
I WONDER SOME TIMES IF, IF, UH, OUR CRIME LAB SETS ITS STANDARDS A LITTLE BIT TOO HIGH IN REGARDS TO THE OUTSOURCING.
AND I SAY THAT BECAUSE THE DISTRICT ATTORNEY'S OFFICE HAS TAKEN UPON ITSELF THE TASK OF OUTSOURCING, UH, SOME OF THE CASES AND PAYING FOR IT, UH, THEMSELVES.
AND, AND I'M SPEAKING OF FIREARMS CASES.
I WOULD LIKE TO SEE THE CRIME LAB BE DOING MORE IN TERMS OF OUTSOURCING TO REDUCE THE BACKLOG.
SECOND MAYOR, UH, ANOTHER PROBLEM AT THE CRIME LAB IS, IS THE LACK OF TRAINED, UH, FORENSIC ANALYSTS.
AND THAT'S THE PROBLEM NATIONWIDE.
AND SO I'D LIKE TO SEE THE CITY BE DOING MORE IN TERMS OF RECRUITING AND, UM, WHERE NECESSARY PAYING HIGHER SALARIES TO ATTRACT TRAINED ANALYSTS SO THAT WE CAN GET OUR BACKLOGGED DOWN.
AS COUNCIL MEMBER CARTER POINTED OUT, THIS HAS RAMIFICATIONS OVER AT THE COURTHOUSE, AND I THINK, UH, IN THE END, IT LEADS TO ADDITIONAL CRIME, WHICH IS NOT A GOOD THING.
SECOND MAYOR, UH, I TAGGED A NUMBER OF THE, ALL OF THE, UH, 9% TAX CREDIT ITEMS ON THE AGENDA TODAY.
AND I DID THAT BECAUSE I HADN'T RECEIVED THE INFORMATION THAT WE'D REQUESTED FROM THE HOUSING DEPARTMENT LAST WEEK.
I'D ASKED FOR A LIST OF THE PRINCIPLES, UM, WITHIN, UH, THE, UH, UH, THE DEVELOPING COMPANIES, UH, THAT WERE ASSOCIATED WITH THESE, WITH THESE PROJECTS.
UM, WE WERE TOLD WE WOULD GET IT, WE DIDN'T GET IT.
AND THE REASON WE WERE GIVEN WAS WE DON'T COLLECT THAT INFORMATION.
YOU CAN GO TO THE STATE WEBSITE AND FIND IT.
WE ATTEMPTED TO GO TO THE STATE WEBSITE, WE FOUND SOME OF THE INFORMATION.
BUT I THINK THE REAL POINT HERE, MAYOR, IS THAT THAT IS INFORMATION THE CITY SHOULD BE COLLECTING.
UM, AND I I, I THINK IT GOES TO THE HEART OF TRANSPARENCY IN GOVERNMENT AND, AND WHAT WE DO.
I THINK THE PUBLIC DESERVES TO KNOW WHO IS BENEFITING FINANCIALLY FROM THE DECISIONS THAT WE MAKE.
[03:50:01]
WAS TOLD, WELL, THE CITY'S NOT GIVING THESE, THESE COMPANIES ANY MONEY, WHICH, WHICH IS TRUE.HOWEVER, IT IGNORES THE FACT THAT WITHOUT A RESOLUTION OF SUPPORT FROM US, THESE PROJECTS DON'T GET BUILT.
AND, UM, THESE ARE, UM, IN THE END, WE'RE TALKING ABOUT A LOT OF MONEY.
UM, AND, AND I THINK THE PUBLIC NEEDS TO KNOW WHO THESE, WHO, THE, WHO THE, UH, PRINCIPLES ARE, UH, WITHIN, UH, THE DEVELOPING COMPANIES SO THAT THEY CAN PROPERLY EVALUATE THE JOB THAT, THAT WE'RE DOING AND THE DECISIONS THAT WE'RE MAKING.
VERY GOOD COUNCIL MEMBER, THOMAS.
IT'S ALWAYS A GREAT DAY IN DISTRICT F.
UM, AND SINCE COUNCIL ENDED SO EARLY, ANYONE WATCHING, I'M AVAILABLE FOR A LUNCH DAY.
I'M GONNA GO AHEAD AND PUT THAT OUT THERE.
UH, SO, UM, THANK YOU MAYOR FOR COMING ON THE WEST SIDE, THE BEST SIDE OF HOUSTON.
TO CELEBRATE OUR LUNAR NEW YEAR, WE WERE AT THE ALE CAREER TECHNOLOGY CENTER, UM, CELEBRATING WITH ALE, ISD AND OTHER COMMUNITY LEADERS, ALSO AT THE CHINESE COMMUNITY CENTER.
SOME OF MY OTHER COLLEAGUES JOINED, UH, COLLEAGUES FROM THE COUNTY, UM, OUR FEDERAL, FEDERAL DELEGATION, UM, AND ALSO STATE REPRESENTATIVE GENE WU WAS THERE.
HAPPY LUNA NEW YEAR, THE YEAR OF THE DRAGON.
WISHING EVERYONE A YEAR OF POWER, ABUNDANCE, AND A PROSPERITY.
I ALSO ENDED MY DAY AT WEST OAKS SMALL, CELEBRATING WITH OUR VIETNAMESE BROTHERS AND SISTERS.
UH, THEY HAD ONE OF THEIR, UH, UH, NETFLIX, UH, CHEFS.
SHE'S DOING A POPUP AND SHE'S WORKING ON OPENING HER RESTAURANT RIGHT THERE IN THE HEART OF DISTRICT F.
I WANNA, UH, BUMP UP TO THE COMMUNITY CONSTITUENT ISSUES THAT WE'RE WORKING ON, PARTICULARLY THE FOOD TRUCK LOT ON WESTHEIMER AND HALL SMITH.
WE'VE BEEN WORKING ON THIS FOR PROBABLY THREE YEARS.
UH, MEETING WITH THE OWNER THAT OWNS THE LAND, OWNS THE PROPERTY THAT'S HOSTING A FOOD TRUCK A LOT.
UH, HOUSTON POLICE, HOUSTON HEALTH DEPARTMENT, HOUSTON FIRE, HOUSTON PUBLIC WORKS.
EVERYONE HAS, UH, BEEN OUT THERE INVESTIGATING, DOING CITATIONS, OFFERING EDUCATION FOR THE FOOD TRUCK VENDORS.
UM, WE'VE DONE A TREMENDOUS AMOUNT OF DRAINAGE OPERATIONS AND REPAIRS FOR THOSE OPEN DITCHES, AND WE WANNA MAKE, MAKE SURE THAT WE MAINTAIN THOSE.
HOWEVER, RESIDENTS ARE STILL, UM, EXPERIENCING QUALITY OF LIFE INTERRUPTIONS.
I JUST WANNA PUBLICLY LET THEM KNOW.
UH, WE'VE BEEN TALKING ON TEXT MESSAGE THROUGH THE PHONE AND THROUGH EMAIL AND COMMUNITY MEETINGS THAT THIS IS STILL A PRIORITY CASE AND WE'LL CONTINUE TO WORK ON THAT.
I WANNA SHOUT OUT PUBLIC WORKS.
WE HAVE BEEN WORKING ON A, UH, MYSTERIOUS LEAK AT A PARK AT THE WEST CHASE CREEK APARTMENTS.
UM, AND FINALLY THAT THIS, UH, REPAIR, THIS LEAK WAS REPAIRED.
I WANNA SHOUT OUT SAL, CHRIS, JULIE, AND RANDY FOR THEIR HANDS-ON APPROACH, AND ALSO STEPHANIE AND ISAAC AND MY STAFF.
THIS HAS BEEN A LONG TIME COMING.
UM, PUBLIC WORKS ADDRESSED THE INITIAL, UH, UH, WATER LEAK ON THE PROPERTY DURING THE SUMMER MONTHS DURING THE PEAK, BUT THERE WAS A MYSTERIOUS LEAK AT THE PARK, AND WE FINALLY WERE ABLE TO GET THAT RESOLVED.
I WANNA THANK THE, UH, APARTMENT MANAGERS AND PROPERTY OWNERS FOR REACHING OUT AND TRUSTING OUR OFFICE TO DELIVER ON THAT.
I ALSO WANNA SHARE SOME BLAST BLACK HISTORY FACTS IN DISTRICT F THAT YOU ALL SHOULD KNOW.
EVERYONE KNOWS, I LOVE MY PINEY POINT, BUT DID YOU KNOW THAT THE LAND OF PINEY POINT ELEMENTARY WAS DONATED TO HISD BY THE DESCENDANTS OF THE FREED SLAVES? YES, THAT'S ABSOLUTELY CORRECT.
UM, THAT LAND WAS, UH, OWNED, OWNED AND OPERATED BY THE FREE SLAVES.
UH, PINEY POINT ONCE HAD FIVE NEIGHBORHOODS, BLOSSOM HEIGHTS, HARLEM HEIGHTS, ULRICH, PINEY POINT, AND CARVER CREST.
TODAY, PINEY POINT, UH, LARGELY IS, UH, LEFT WITH 120 WOOD FRAME HOMES IN CARVER CREST, AND THEY ARE CHALLENGED WITH, UH, EXTREME GENTRIFICATION BY COMMERCIAL DEVELOPMENT.
UM, AND WE ARE HOLDING FAST WITH THE CONSERVATION DESIGNATION SO WE CAN MAINTAIN THE PRESERVATION OF THAT COMMUNITY.
AND WE WILL BE AT THE PLANNING COMMISSION THIS FEBRUARY.
UH, UH, ADVOCATING ON BEHALF OF, UH, RESIDENTS ON, ON BEHALF OF THE PINEY POINT RESIDENTS SO THEY CAN MAINTAIN, UM, THEIR CULTURE AND THEIR HERITAGE.
UH, WHAT REMAINS FROM THAT ORIGINAL SETTLEMENT IS PILGRIM'S REST MISSIONARY BAPTIST CHURCH.
THAT'S THE OLDEST BLACK CHURCH IN HARRIS COUNTY.
UM, AND THE ORIGINAL CEMETERY CONTINUES TO EXIST ON WESTHEIMER ROAD.
UM, THAT CONCLUDES ALL OF MY COMMENTS.
UH, THANKS FOR KEEPING DISTRICT F ON THE WEST SIDE, THE BEST SIDE.
COUNCIL, UH, MAYOR PROM, CASTEX TATUM.
UH, I WANTED TO TALK ABOUT, UM, ALAMEDA PLAZA, AND Y'ALL WILL HEAR ME TALK ABOUT ALAMEDA PLAZA A LOT BECAUSE WE'VE BEEN ADVOCATING FOR ALAMEDA PLAZA FOR SIX YEARS.
UM, THIS NEIGHBORHOOD MAYOR IS IN DIRE NEED OF SOME INFRASTRUCTURE REPAIR.
WE HAD A SWAT PROJECT PLAN, UM, FOR ALAMEDA PLAZA TO CLOSE THE DITCH THAT RUNS THROUGH THIS NEIGHBORHOOD.
UH, IT WAS ESTIMATED AT $3 MILLION.
UM, RECENTLY WE'VE HEARD THAT THIS PROJECT NOW IS $12 MILLION.
UM, SO THUS MOVING IT OUT OF A SWAT PROJECT AND MORE INTO A CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT
[03:55:01]
PROJECT.UM, THERE IS SOME ADDITIONAL DRAINAGE THAT NEEDS TO HAPPEN IN THIS NEIGHBORHOOD.
UH, AND THERE IS, UM, A DIRE NEED FOR RECONSTRUCTION OF STREETS.
WE'VE BEEN WORKING TO TRY TO IDENTIFY SOME FUNDING.
UM, SO I WANT TO AMPLIFY THE IMPORTANCE OF THIS PROJECT OVER AND OVER, UM, BECAUSE AS WE START TALKING ABOUT OUR CIP PROJECTS, I WANT THIS TO BE TOP OF MIND BECAUSE THIS NEIGHBORHOOD HAS NOT HAD ANY DRAINAGE, UM, IMPROVEMENTS OR STREET RECONSTRUCTION, UH, IN YEARS.
UH, WE DID HAVE A CIVIC CLUB MEETING LAST NIGHT IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD.
I WANT TO, UM, THANK COUNCIL MEMBER DAVIS, UH, FOR BEING THERE.
WE ALSO HAD STAFF FROM A COUPLE OF THE OTHER AT LARGE OFFICES.
UM, WE'VE GOT A NEW PRESIDENT IN ALAMEDA PLAZA.
THE, UM, FORMER PRESIDENT, UNFORTUNATELY PASSED AWAY A COUPLE OF MONTHS AGO.
THERE'S SOME NEW ENERGY IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD, UM, BECAUSE WE WANT TO ADVOCATE FOR THE IMPROVEMENTS NEEDED, UM, IN THIS NEIGHBORHOOD.
UM, ALSO WANNA LET THE RESIDENTS IN WESTBURY KNOW THAT THE PUBLIC WORKS TRANSPORTATION AND DRAINAGE OPERATIONS WILL ATTEND THEIR CIVIC CLUB MEETING ON WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY THE 21ST.
UM, AT 7:00 PM THERE WAS A RECENT TRAFFIC STUDY, UM, REQUESTED FROM OUR OFFICE AND THE RESIDENCE AT INE STREET AND WEST BELFORT.
UM, THERE HAVE BEEN SEVERAL ACCIDENTS AT THAT INTERSECTION.
AND WITH THE NEW LIBRARY COMING ONLINE, WE WANNA MAKE SURE THAT, UM, TRANSPORTATION TO AND FROM THAT AREA IS SAFE.
AND THEY WILL BE PRESENTING, UH, THE RESULTS FROM THAT TRAFFIC STUDY TO THE RESIDENTS, UM, IN THE WESTBURY AREA.
AND THEN, UM, MAYOR AND I, I DO WANT TO, UM, TALK ABOUT, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER POLLARD, THANK YOU FOR BRINGING UP THE DISTRICT J PATROL BECAUSE ONE OF THE, THE ISSUES THAT WE, I HAVE BEEN ADVOCATING FOR IS THE ENFORCEMENT AND HAVING OUR INDIVIDUAL INSPECTORS FOR CODE ENFORCEMENTS IN OUR DISTRICTS.
AND I KNOW THAT THAT CODE ENFORCEMENT USED TO BE UNDER HPD, UM, AND THEN IT WAS MOVED TO THE DEPARTMENT OF NEIGHBORHOODS.
UM, I'D REALLY LIKE FOR US TO DISCUSS, YOU KNOW, SHOULD WE KEEP THAT UNDER THE DEPARTMENT OF NEIGHBORHOODS OR SHOULD WE MOVE THAT, THOSE, UM, CODE ENFORCEMENT ISSUES BACK TO DRT AND AND HPD? BECAUSE WHAT I'M FINDING IS IT'S VERY DIFFICULT, UM, TO GET THAT LEVEL OF ENFORCEMENT WITHOUT HAVING AN INDIVIDUAL INSPECTOR IN OUR PARTICULAR AREAS.
AND IF THAT'S NOT GOING TO BE AN OPTION, I WOULD REALLY LIKE FOR US TO MOVE CODE ENFORCEMENT BACK TO HPD.
UM, SO I'M INTERESTED IN READING THAT STORY.
UM, COUNCIL MEMBER POLL OF, OF WHAT'S HAPPENING IN DISTRICT J.
UH, BECAUSE I THINK ALL OF OUR NEIGHBORHOODS ARE LOOKING FOR THAT CODE ENFORCEMENT, UM, BECAUSE PEOPLE WILL NOT COOPERATE IF EVERY MONTH THEY VIOLATE THE, UM, YOU KNOW, PUTTING THEIR HEAVY TRASH OUT EARLY OR, OR THOSE, UH, PARKING IN THE YARD IF THERE'S NO ENFORCEMENT.
UM, SO I'D LIKE FOR US TO EXPLORE THAT.
AND THEN FINALLY, UH, WANT TO SAY THE DEPARTMENT OF NEIGHBORHOODS WILL HOST A TRANSFER ON DEATH DEED CLINIC ON MONDAY, FEBRUARY THE 19TH FROM 9:00 AM TO 12:00 PM AT THE QUAIL RUN COMMUNITY CENTER IN FORT BEND, HOUSTON.
UH, IF YOU HAVE ANY OTHER QUESTIONS, YOU CAN CONTACT OUR OFFICE FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION AND OF COURSE, BE KIND TO EACH OTHER.
AND HAPPY VALENTINE'S DAY VERY WELL.
ANYTHING ELSE? VICE MAYOR PROTON PECK.
UM, FIRST I'D LIKE TO THANK MELISSA ACOSTA FROM THE URBAN FORESTRY DEPARTMENT.
UM, SHE HELPED US WITH AN ISSUE.
A TREE WAS FALLING OVER ONTO ANTOINE AND SHE JUST GOT RIGHT IN THERE AND MADE SURE THAT IT WAS TAKEN DOWN AND WASN'T TURNED INTO A SAFETY ISSUE.
SO THANK YOU, MELISSA, FOR THAT.
NEXT, I REALLY WANNA PUBLICLY THANK DR HORTON FOR WORKING WITH US ON AN ISSUE.
THEY ARE SCHEDULED TO BUILD OVER 200 HOMES IN THE CITY'S ETJ.
THEIR ORIGINAL TRAFFIC PLAN WAS TO DIVERT TRAFFIC THROUGH AN EXISTING NEIGHBORHOOD IN DISTRICT A.
AND WE ASKED THEM TO RETHINK THAT AND THERE WAS NO REASON THAT THEY HAD TO DO THAT.
THEY, UM, THEY COULD HAVE GONE THROUGH THE EXISTING NEIGHBORHOOD, BUT THEY WORKED WITH US AND ACTUALLY CHANGED THEIR ENTIRE PLANS, UM, JUST TO BE GOOD NEIGHBORS.
AND SO I JUST REALLY WANNA THANK THEM FOR WORKING WITH US.
THAT DOESN'T ALWAYS HAPPEN WHEN THERE'S ISSUES LIKE THAT, BUT THEY WERE WILLING TO RETHINK THINGS AND I REALLY APPRECIATE THEM WORKING WITH US TO NOT IMPACT THE EXISTING NEIGHBORHOOD.
AND FINALLY, I WANNA WISH A HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO DISTRICT A'S DIRECTOR OF CONSTITUENT SERVICES, SARAH SINGLETON.
HER BIRTHDAY WAS YESTERDAY, AND WE ARE JUST SO THANKFUL FOR HER, UM, IN THE DISTRICT A OFFICE.
WE KNOW OUR CONSTITUENTS ARE IN GREAT HANDS WITH HER, SO HAPPY BIRTHDAY, SARAH.
[04:00:01]
UH, COUNCIL STAND ADJOURNED.