[00:00:10]
GREG, DID I SPOIL Y'ALL? WE JUST LIKE HEARING FROM, FROM OUR CITY'S LEADER.AND LIKE I SAID, I THINK I SPOILED YOU.
MOST OF YOU HAVE ACCESS TO ME WHENEVER YOU WANT IT.
MARIO, YOU COULDN'T AFFORD A COAT AND TIE TODAY OR SOMETHING.
SIR, YOU KNOW WHAT, MIKE TIMES ARE TOUGH OUT THERE.
MY, MY, MY DRY CLEANER'S ON STRIKE THIS WEEK.
THE QUESTIONS WILL STILL BE STARCHY.
HOW'S THAT? WHAT SIZE SHIRT YOU WEAR? I, I'LL, I, UH, I GOT SOME EXTRA YOU BACK AND ASK MARIO THEN, THEN I WOULDN'T LOOK LIKE THE MAYOR.
I'D LOOK LIKE I'D LOOK LIKE YOU.
HOW YOU DOING, MAYOR? I'M ALWAYS GOOD.
WHAT CAN I DO FOR Y'ALL? THANK Y'ALL FOR BEING HERE.
WE HAD A GOOD SESSION, UH, A LOT ON OUR PLATE.
UH, I'M CERTAIN YOU HEARD THE FINANCIAL PICTURE IS ONE THAT WE'VE GOTTA TAKE VERY SERIOUS.
UH, I DON'T REALLY THINK IN PREVIOUS YEARS CITY OFFICIALS HAVE PAINTED AN ACCURATE PICTURE OF, UH, CITY FINANCES.
UNFORTUNATELY, GOING BACK A NUMBER OF ADMINISTRATIONS, IT'S BEEN KICKED DOWN THE ROAD.
UH, THE BUDGET WAS BALANCED BY SELLING PROPERTY, UM, ONE TIME FEDERAL FUNDING.
SO, UH, IT'S A VERY SOBERING DISCUSSION TO HEAR OUR TRUE FINANCIAL PICTURE.
AND I'M GONNA BE VERY TRANSPARENT.
UH, WE'VE GOT SOME CITY SERVICES THAT NEED ADDITIONAL RESOURCES.
I GUESS I DON'T HAVE TO POINT ANY FURTHER THAN HPD, BUT APPARENTLY IN YEARS PAST, UH, DUE TO SHORTAGE OF STAFFING, THERE WAS A CODE THAT WAS DECIDED TO BE USED TO SAY THAT WE JUST WON'T FOLLOW UP ON THIS BECAUSE OF SHORTAGE OF STAFF.
IT IS ALARMING THAT SOMEONE WOULD EVER EVEN CONTEMPLATE BLAMING, LACK OF POLICE INVESTIGATIONS ON LACK OF STAFFING.
THAT'S WHEN YOU SOUND THE ALARM AND YOU GO TO THE PUBLIC AND PAINT AN ACCURATE PICTURE THAT WE NEED ADDITIONAL RESOURCES.
I CAN SAY SIMILAR CONCERNS ABOUT OUR FIRST RESPONDERS AT THE FIRE DEPARTMENT, UNDERSTAFFED, UNDER-RESOURCED.
UH, I MENTIONED IN COUNCIL THAT THE PARKS DIRECTOR TELLS ME HE HAS TO SHUTTLE WORKERS TO WORK SITES.
AND, UH, WE ALL LOVE OUR GREEN SPACE.
AND THEN OF COURSE, THE SANITATION WORKERS WHO ARE WORKING 18 HOUR DAYS, UH, FOR LACK OF STAFFING AND RESOURCES.
AND SO I'M GOING TO, IN THE FUTURE MONTHS, SHARE THIS INFORMATION WITH HOUSTONIANS POINT TO THE REDUCTION IN, UH, STAFFING FROM 25 YEARS AGO FOR OUR FIRST RESPONDERS.
I'M ALSO GONNA SHOW 'EM THE MONIES THAT HAS BEEN REROUTED, UH, SINCE 2015.
I'M GONNA POINT OUT WHAT THE TOURS DO RECEIVE AND THE MANAGEMENT DISTRICTS AND JUST MAKE THIS A COMMUNITY DISCUSSION ABOUT OUR GREAT CITY HAS SOME MAINTENANCE AND SOME CITY SERVICES THAT NEED TO BE IMPROVED.
AND I'M PREPARED TO LEAD IN THAT DIRECTION.
I HAVE A QUESTION ABOUT THE UNITED DEAL, JUST BINGING OFF THE FINANCES.
BUT I KNOW YOUR OFFICE WAS ANTICIPATING HAVING THOSE FUNDS CERTIFIED TODAY.
I WAS CURIOUS ABOUT, UM, YOUR THOUGHTS ON THE, YOU KNOW, THE CONTROLLER HAS A, HAS A JOB TO DO AND I RESPECT THAT.
UM, WE FELT LIKE, AND, AND I STILL AM CONFIDENT THAT IT WAS TIME TO PUT IT ON THE AGENDA, UH, TO GET IT PASSED AND OR, AND THE ALTERNATIVE STARTED DISCUSSION.
SO I'LL BE IN TOUCH, UH, AS WE HAVE BEEN WITH A CONTROLLER.
UH, BUT, UH, THE FINANCE DEPARTMENT, OUR NEW AVIATION DIRECTOR, MY OFFICE, I PERSONALLY HAVE REVIEWED IT AND, UH, I BELIEVE IT'S TIME TO CERTIFY IT AND MOVE ON.
BUT I RESPECT HIS, UH, HIS RESPONSIBILITY, MAYOR, BUT IT'LL, IT'LL GET DONE.
MAYOR STRUCTURALLY UNBALANCED BUDGET IS A TERM WE'VE ALL BECOME SURE.
HOW BIG IS THE NUMBER? I THINK IT'S A, UH,
[00:05:01]
LARGE NUMBER.UH, PROBABLY LESS THAN 200 MILLION.
UH, IT'S GONNA DEPEND ON, UH, SALES TAX, REVENUE, THE ECONOMY.
BUT, UH, AS YOU HEARD, THE FINANCE JERKED OUT.
I THINK SHE SAID ONE 60 PROBABLY TODAY, BUT IT WOULD NOT BE SHOCKING TO SEE IT GET CLOSER TO 200.
BUT, UH, WE'LL KEEP YOU POSTED ON THAT.
MAYORS, YOU TALK ABOUT THE FINANCES AND OBVIOUSLY CREATING MORE FUNDING FOR FIRST RESPONDERS.
AND WE'LL TALK ABOUT THE HPD SCANDAL IN JUST A FEW MINUTES.
BUT YOU BRING UP A AN INTERESTING POINT THERE.
AND IT'S A CHALLENGE THAT A LOT OF MAYORS IN MAJOR US CITIES HAVE TODAY.
HOWEVER, YOU'RE UNIQUELY POSITIONED IN THAT YOU'RE IN THE STATE OF TEXAS, A STATE THAT MANY COMPANIES WANT TO MOVE TO.
COMPANIES MOVE TO CITIES AND THEY MOVE THOUSANDS OF EMPLOYEES BECAUSE THEY HAVE GOOD SCHOOLS, TAX BENEFITS OBVIOUSLY, AND SAFE CITIES.
YOU RELY ON COMPANIES AND EMPLOYEES TO MOVE HERE BECAUSE IT BRINGS MORE VALUE AND THAT'S MORE MONEY BROUGHT INTO THE CITY.
HOW CHALLENGING DO YOU VIEW THAT AND TALK AS YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT FINANCES, TO TRY TO LURE BUSINESSES TO HOUSTON, IF THEY'RE SEEING HEADLINES WHERE THE POLICE DEPARTMENT ISN'T INVESTIGATING AND YOU HAVE SCHOOLS DISTRICTS THAT ARE NOT PERFORMING AS THEY SHOULD, MARIO.
IT'S CALLED QUALITY OF LIFE ISSUES.
AND THERE'S A LONG LIST OF 'EM.
WITH SCHOOLS, WHICH THE CITY DOES NOT CONTROL.
BUT CERTAINLY WE PARTNER WITH THE LEADERSHIP, UH, GREEN SPACE, A SAFE TRANSIT SYSTEM.
LET'S JUST START AND EMPHATICALLY SAY WE HAVE A GREAT CITY AND YOU'RE RIGHT, WE'VE BEEN DISCOVERED PEOPLE WANNA MOVE HERE, BUT MORE TIMES THAN I, LIKE, YOU VISIT WITH SOMEBODY AND THEY'VE MOVED TO SUGAR LAND AND WORKED IN HOUSTON.
THEY MOVED TO KATY AND WORKED TO HOUSTON PARA LAND.
YOU COULD GO THROUGH THE LIST OF THE SUBURBS BECAUSE ONE AFFORDABILITY, THEY CAN BUY MORE HOME IN THE SUBURBS.
WE NEED TO BE MORE EFFICIENT IN OUR PERMITTING, IN OUR PUBLIC WORKS AND WORK WITH THE HOUSING DEPARTMENT AND AUTHORITY TO HAVE AFFORDABLE HOUSING.
BUT IT GOES BEYOND AFFORDABILITY.
IT COMES TO SAFETY, IT COMES TO STREETS.
IT COMES TO, THERE WAS AN ITEM TODAY TALKING ABOUT CLEAN DITCHES.
CAN YOU IMAGINE A CITY AS GREAT AS OURS JUST RECENTLY TOOK ON THE RESPONSIBILITY OF KEEPING THEIR DITCHES CLEAN, ILLEGAL DUMPING, RELIABLE SANITATION.
UH, IT'S UNHEARD OF UNTIL VERY RECENTLY IN MOST OF OUR NEIGHBORHOODS THAT YOU'RE RECYCLING IN, YOUR GARBAGE GETS PICKED UP THE SAME DAY BECAUSE OF LACK OF RESOURCES.
BUT THAT'S THE QUALITY OF LIFE ISSUES THAT, THAT PEOPLE ARE REVIEWING HOUSTON AND MAKING A JUDGMENT CALL, UH, OUR GREEN SPACE, OUR SANITATION, OUR STREETS.
BUT IT REALLY, REALLY, IT STARTS WITH PUBLIC SAFETY.
YOU KNOW, THAT'S WHY I RAN FOR MAYOR.
I WAS FRUSTRATED ABOUT THE RISE IN RESPONSE TIME.
I WAS RESPONSE ABOUT THE LOW MORALE OF OUR POLICE OFFICERS AND FIRE.
AND SO I'M COMMITTED TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE, BUT THE ONLY WAY YOU'RE GONNA FIX THIS IS ADMIT THAT IT EXISTS.
THE KICKING THE CAN DOWN THE ROAD AND SAYING, OH, ONE SAFE HOUSTON.
WE HAVE CHALLENGES WITH OUR PUBLIC SAFETY AND OUR FIRST RESPONSES.
WE'VE GOT TO ENCOURAGE HISD TO CONTINUE TO IMPROVE, GET THE POLITICS OUT OF THE SCHOOL SYSTEM AND LET'S FOCUS ON THE CHILDREN.
I COULD GO ON AND ON AS YOU'RE GETTING ME A LITTLE FIRED UP.
HOUSTON IS A GREAT CITY WITH GREAT PEOPLE, BUT WE HAVE CHALLENGES THAT HAVE BEEN IGNORED FOR YEARS AND YEARS.
AND UH, I'M NOT GONNA DO THAT ANY LONGER.
I MEAN, I WOULDN'T BE STANDING BEFORE YOU IF I WASN'T PREPARED TO LEAD AND SAY THAT ENOUGH'S ENOUGH ON IGNORING OUR BROKEN WATER MAINS.
AND, AND TO HEAR PEOPLE IN CITY GOVERNMENT SAY, WELL, YOU KNOW, THE BAD STREETS ARE NOT ALL THAT BAD BECAUSE IT SLOWS DOWN THE TRAFFIC.
THAT'S A, THAT'S AN ACCURATE QUOTE FROM SOMEONE IN CITY GOVERNMENT.
BAD STREETS ARE OKAY BECAUSE IT'S GONNA SLOW US DOWN.
[00:10:01]
PEOPLE DOWN WITH TRAFFIC ENFORCEMENT, WHICH MEANS WE NEED ADDITIONAL STAFFING.AND HPD, HOW DOES, AS YOU TALK ABOUT PUBLIC STATE, HOW DOES THE QUOTE FROM THE POLICE CHIEF A WHAT? THE QUOTE FROM THE POLICE CHIEF AS YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT QUOTES WITHIN THE CITY OF HOUSTON AND WORKERS.
HOW DOES THE QUOTE FROM YOUR POLICE CHIEF SAYING, I KNEW THAT THIS WAS HAPPENING IN 2021, BUT DIDN'T RAMP UP INVESTIGATIONS UNTIL HE UNCOVERED AGAIN IN 2024? WELL, OBVIOUSLY YOU'RE TAKING A COMMENT OUTTA CONTEXT.
THAT'S WHAT HE SAID AT THE NEWS CONFERENCE.
I UNDERSTAND, BUT YOU'RE TAKING EVEN HIS REPLY TO YOUR QUESTION OUTTA CONTEXT.
HE WAS IN A, A COMMAND STAFF MEETING WHEN HE DISCOVERED IT.
AND THERE IS MUCH MORE TO THAT DISCUSSION THAN, THAN YOU'RE REPORTING.
SO I THINK RIGHT NOW THAT'S AN OPEN INVESTIGATION.
HE KNOWS HOW STRONGLY I FEEL ABOUT IT.
IT'S UNACCEPTABLE CODE, AND WE NEED TO GET TO THE BOTTOM OF IT.
AND THEN WE REPORT TO THE PUBLIC HIS FINDINGS.
I'LL BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE AND WE'LL GO FURTHER.
WE'VE GOT TO LET FOLKS KNOW THAT THIS WAS NOT JUST PULLED OUTTA THE SKY.
THIS WAS CREATED BY AN ASSISTANT CHIEF WITH HUGE RESPONSIBILITY.
AND FOR WHATEVER REASON, THAT PERSON WHO'S NO LONGER IN HPD DECIDED, WELL, I'LL JUST SAY TODAY.
WE DON'T HAVE ENOUGH STAFFING.
AND IT IS SHOCKING THAT IT'S LASTED AT LEAST THREE PRIOR CHIEFS, THIS ONE BE A FOURTH CHIEF, COUPLE OF MAYORS.
I CAN'T BELIEVE THAT THERE WASN'T COFFEE ROOM TALK OR, OR SOME CONVERSATION ABOUT WHAT DO Y'ALL THINK ABOUT THAT CODE? AND HERE WE FIND OURSELF, BUT WE CAN'T UNDO THAT.
BUT WE CAN CERTAINLY GET TO THE BOTTOM OF IT, BE TRANSPARENT AND GO FORWARD.
AND THAT'S WHAT I STAND FOR AND THAT'S WHAT CHIEF NER STANDS FOR.
AND, UH, WE'RE GONNA, WE'RE GONNA REVIEW HIS WORK PRODUCT, WE'RE GONNA GO FORWARD AND, AND YOU WILL INFORM THE PUBLIC.
BUT IT'S A VERY SERIOUS MATTER.
IT IS SHOCKING TO ME SOMEONE THAT WORKS IN CRIMINAL JUSTICE FOR THE LAST 30 YEARS CHAIRING A COMMITTEE IN AUSTIN.
I'VE NEVER HEARD OF SUCH, AND I CAN'T BELIEVE THAT THERE WASN'T SOME POLICE OFFICER OR SOME ADMINISTRATOR THAT DIDN'T SOUND THE ALARM ABOUT, DO Y'ALL KNOW WHAT'S GOING ON OVER THERE? UP TO 200,000 PLUS CASES, A WIDE RANGE OF OFFENSES.
WE ALL MAKE THAT SUCH A HIGH PRIORITY IN DOMESTIC ABUSE.
YOU KNOW, UM, I'M QUITE FRANKLY AM GLAD I'M HERE TODAY SO I CAN LEAD THE CHARGE TO FIX THAT.
I'M SORRY THAT IT, IT CAME ON MY PLATE WHEN I WAS SWORN IN.
I RODE WITH THE OFFICERS ON NEW YEAR'S EVE.
I'M AROUND OFFICERS ON THE STREET.
I CAN'T BELIEVE SOMEONE DIDN'T GET ME OFF TO THE SIDE AND SAY, YOU KNOW, WE GOT A CODE THAT WE'RE USING THAT WE DON'T INVESTIGATE STUFF 'CAUSE WE DON'T HAVE A STAFFING.
I TALKED ABOUT IT IN THE CAMPAIGNING, THE WHOLE IDEA OF COLLABORATION.
AND I GOT QUESTIONED ABOUT THE IDEA OF BRINGING THE DPS TO HOUSTON.
SOMEONE SHOULD BE TALKING LIKE ME FOR YEARS.
IT TOOK ME TO RUN FOR MAYOR AND I WAS CHALLENGED.
AND WE'VE GOT, YOU KNOW, OFFICIALS IN, IN OUR COUNTY THAT SAY, OH, DISTRICT OFFICERS ARE GOING TO CRIMINALIZE MORE THINGS OR CRIMINALIZATION OF, OF OUR COMMUNITY.
WE'VE GOT TO DEAL WITH THE COURT BACKLOG.
WE'VE GOT TO GET MORE OFFICERS ON THE STREET, CONTINUE TO IMPROVE THEIR MORALE.
THEIR MORALE IS BETTER SINCE I GOT ELECTED.
AND AS YOU STAND HERE FRUSTRATED TELLING US YOU CAN'T BELIEVE THAT THIS HAPPENED AND THIS WILL HAPPEN THIS LONG, WHAT SHOULD YOUR CHIEF HAVE DONE DIFFERENTLY IN 2021 THAT IS BEING RESEARCHED.
THERE'S ACTUALLY AN INTERNAL INVESTIGATION.
HE'S GONNA BE VERY TRANSPARENT WITH YOU TOMORROW.
HE'S GONNA DOCUMENT A TIMELINE FOR WHEN HE DISCOVERED IT, THE INSTRUCTIONS HE GAVE.
AND UH, HE'S GONNA MAKE CHANGES.
HE ALREADY IS HOLDING PEOPLE ACCOUNTABLE.
BUT WE'RE GONNA HOLD HIM ACCOUNTABLE.
WE'RE GONNA REVIEW HIS WORK PRODUCT AND THEN Y'ALL CAN HOLD ME ACCOUNTABLE.
WE ARE GOING TO HAVE A SAFE CITY.
WHATEVER IT TAKES TO HAVE ADDITIONAL RESOURCES AND I'M GONNA REACH OUT TO THE PUBLIC, GIMME SOME RESOURCES.
I NEED ADDITIONAL FIREFIGHTERS.
IT WAS SCARY TO DEATH IF YOU SAW THE DISTRIBUTION ACROSS THE CITY OF AMBULANCES.
YOU KNOW, YOU MIGHT SAY, WELL I HAVEN'T NOTICED IT.
IT'S 'CAUSE YOU HADN'T HAD A HEART ATTACK AT WORK OR IN YOUR COMMUNITY.
I'M GONNA PUT A FACE ON HOUSTON.
[00:15:01]
WE HAVE A GREAT CITY.PEOPLE ARE MOVING HERE BY THE THOUSANDS WE'VE BEEN DISCOVERED.
AND LET ME JUST TELL YOU THE POSITIVE, YOU KNOW, WHAT MAKES OUR CITY SO GREAT? WHEN I START TALKING ABOUT SOME OF THE DYSFUNCTIONS IN CITY GOVERNMENT, OUR MED CENTER, OUR PORT, OUR SPACE CENTER, OUR FAITH.
WE HAVE SO MUCH GOING FOR US THAT ARE KIND OF CARRYING THE LOAD AND WE NEED CITY GOVERNMENT TO CARRY ITS LOAD.
I KNEW IT WHEN I GOT IN THE MAYOR'S RACE.
I HEARD IT ON THE CAMPAIGN TRAIL AND I'M WITNESSING IT.
IF YOU DON'T THINK WE'VE GOT SOME SERIOUS CHALLENGES, YOU OUGHT TO SIT IN MY CHAIR FOR 18 HOURS A DAY, PRETTY MUCH SEVEN DAYS A WEEK.
AND EVERY DAY I WILL TRY TO DEAL WITH THIS ISSUE AND I CAN'T FINISH IT BECAUSE I'VE GOTTA GET TO THE NEXT MEETING DEALING WITH ANOTHER SERIOUS PROBLEM.
WE HAVE A GREAT CITY, BUT WE'RE GONNA HAVE TO PARTNER WITH THE COUNTY, THE STATE, AND THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT.
THE ENCOURAGING DISCUSSIONS I'VE HAD WITH COUNTY COMMISSIONERS, I WISH I COULD ANNOUNCE SOME OF THE PROGRAMS. YOU'RE GONNA SEE AMAZING THINGS IN A CITY PARK BECAUSE OF COMMISSIONER BRIANIS AND I WORKING TOGETHER.
MARY THE STREETS ARE GONNA GET BETTER BECAUSE I'M WORKING WITH TOM RAMSEY AND ADRIAN GARCIA.
IS THIS AN INVESTIGATION THAT HBD CAN HANDLE INTERNALLY GIVEN THAT THAT IT GOES ALL THE WAY UP TO THE CHIEF AT THIS, AT THIS POINT THEY'RE CONDUCTING THEIR INTERNAL INVESTIGATION AND I HAVE CONFIDENCE IN IT.
BUT WE ARE GONNA CREATE A REVIEW SYSTEM.
WE'RE GONNA HAVE OUTSIDE REVIEW AND WE'RE IN THE PROCESS OF DEVELOPING THAT.
AS I STAND BEFORE YOU OUTSIDE REVIEW HOW, SO THERE'S GONNA BE A PANEL OF PEOPLE THAT I RESPECT THAT HAVE, UH, MY CONFIDENCE THAT THEY'RE GONNA REVIEW THE WORK PRODUCT THAT CHIEF FINNER PRESENTS TO YOU.
WHO ARE THOSE PEOPLE? WE'RE IN THE PROCESS OF ESTABLISHING THAT REVIEW PANEL RIGHT? AS I TALKED TO YOU, WE WANT PEOPLE TO KNOW AND PEOPLE IN HOUSTON LIKE THEIR HPD OFFICERS AND AFTER SOME OF THE PRESS, SOME OF IT BETTER THAN OTHERS, PEOPLE PROBABLY HAVE A RIGHT TO SAY, ARE THE NUMBERS ACCURATE? BECAUSE IT STARTED AT ONE LEVEL, IT GREW.
I DON'T THINK WE'VE BROKEN DOWN THOSE NUMBERS BY OFFENSE.
UH, WE RIGHTFULLY ARE MAKING SEXUAL ASSAULT OUR TOP PRIORITY.
WE WANNA REVIEW CONTACT THOSE VICTIMS. PEOPLE ARE KNOCKING ON DOORS AS WE TALK TO TALK TO THOSE VICTIMS AND REVIEW THEIR CIRCUMSTANCES.
WE'RE DEALING WITH DOMESTIC ABUSE CASES AS WE TALK.
SO I WANT SOMEONE TO GO IN AND DOCUMENT AND REVIEW THAT WORK PRODUCT.
SO ONCE WE ARE THROUGH, WE'RE GONNA DO IT RIGHT.
TIME IS, WE'RE NOT GONNA RUSH.
BUT WHAT I MEAN IS NOT AT THE EXPENSE OF QUALITY, UH, CREDIBLE WORK.
THERE, THERE ARE PEOPLE IN HOUSTON ARE SAYING THE FOLLOWING AND YOU GO BACK TO ENRON AND KEN LAY AND THERE WAS A FAMOUS QUOTE FROM THAT POINT, RIGHT? IF HE DIDN'T KNOW HE WAS INCOMPETENT.
WELL, FIRST OF ALL, THIS NO, I'M JUST SAYING FIRST OF ALL, THIS ISN'T ENRON.
IT'S ABOUT SEXUAL ASSAULT VICTIMS. AND IT'S ABOUT PROBLEM IS YOU KEEP FOCUSING ON ONE PERSON INSTEAD OF LOOKING AT THE HISTORICAL PERSPECTIVE BECAUSE HE'S THE POLICE CHIEF.
BUT SO WAS ALGO AND SO WAS MCCLELLAN AND SO WAS ART VEDA.
I HE'S THE ONE THAT I UNDERSTAND HOW I UNDERSTAND IT.
THERE'S ONLY ONE MAYOR AND ONLY ONE CHIEF AT A TIME.
BUT THE BOTTOM LINE IS TO BE ACCURATE.
HOW CAN SOMETHING LIKE THAT EXIST SINCE 2015? I JUST TOLD YOU I'M SHOCKED BY IT.
I CAN'T BELIEVE IN A DEPARTMENT OF 5,000 PLUS INDIVIDUALS THAT, THAT, THAT WASN'T SOMEBODY THAT SAW THAT, THAT KNEW.
I'LL, I'LL SHARE IT WITH HIM AND MAYBE THEY DID, BUT THEY SURE KEPT IT ON THE WRAPS.
WELL, WE GOTTA ASK ABOUT THE UNIONS, YOU KNOW, RAY HUNT AND, AND AND DOUG DID THEY KNOW, AND I YOU YOU YOU HAVE REGULAR CONVERSATIONS WITH HIM.
HAS THIS BEEN JUST A COLOSSAL COVERUP SECRET THAT EVERYBODY, I DON'T KNOW.
I I, YOU KNOW, I HESITATE TO SAY COVERUP BECAUSE I DON'T KNOW THE MOTIVATION FOR, FOR A COVERUP.
I MEAN, THEY'RE, THEY'RE PRETTY TRANSPARENT ABOUT ATTACKING THE ADMINISTRATION AND, AND THE POLICE DEPARTMENT ADMINISTRATORS.
IT'S JUST THE LABOR, UH, MANAGEMENT RELATIONSHIP THAT LORD EXISTS, UH, IN INDUSTRY AS WELL AS IN PUBLIC SERVICE.
UH, I I'M, I'M GONNA SAY AGAIN, YOU GOT TO UNDERSTAND HOW WELL I KNOW THESE PEOPLE.
I WRITE, I READ WITH ALL, I RODE WITH VETA THREE NEW YEAR'S EVE.
[00:20:01]
WHAT DO YOU THINK WE TALK ABOUT WHEN WE'RE GOING DOWN THE STREET OPERATIONS? I'M OVER AT THE UNION FOR, FOR 30 YEARS.THEY'VE BEEN APPEARING BEFORE THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE COMMITTEE.
DO YOU NOT? WHAT I CAN'T UNDERSTAND IS WHY DIDN'T HE BRING THAT ISSUE TO JOHN WHITMORE, CHAIRMAN OF CRIMINAL JUSTICE? WE COULD HAVE CONSIDERED A STATE LAW THAT WOULD SAY, NO, YOU GOTTA HAVE TRANSPARENCY.
YOU GOT LET'S, LET'S HAVE A HEARING ON YOUR CODE SYSTEM.
I'M HERE TO TELL YOU SINCE 2015, NO ONE CAN SAY TO ME AND VALIDATE THAT SOMEBODY WAS HIDING IT OR USING IT FOR OTHER THAN THE DUMB REASON OF TRYING TO MAKE AN EXCUSE THAT YOU DON'T HAVE ENOUGH STAFFING.
YOU'VE GOT TO SPEAK OUT IF YOU HAVE PUBLIC SAFETY ISSUES INVOLVING LACK OF RESOURCES.
AND LEMME JUST TELL YOU, IT'S NOT NEW TO THIS DISCUSSION.
WE'RE OUR, OUR RECRUITING'S DOWN.
I SPEAK AT A FIRE CADET CLASS TWO WEEKS AGO WITH 31 PEOPLE.
YOU KNOW, WE NEED TO SOUND AN ALARM.
WE CAN'T ATTRACT PEOPLE TO THE HOUSTON FIRE DEPARTMENT 'CAUSE THEY DIDN'T HAVE A CONTRACT.
THEY DIDN'T KNOW WHAT THEIR FUTURE LOOKED LIKE.
AND IF THEY GO THROUGH THE CADET CLASS, THEY LEAVE AND GO TO BRENHAM OR PASADENA OR ANOTHER JURISDICTION.
WE GOT SOME REAL CHALLENGES AND I'M UP TO 'EM AND I'M EXCITED ABOUT THE OPPORTUNITY TO USE EXPERIENCE AND COLLABORATION TO FIX THIS.
AND WE WILL HOLD PEOPLE ACCOUNTABLE.
MAYOR UH, PUBLIC SAFETY HARRIS COUNTY WILL HAVE A NEW DISTRICT ATTORNEY AND, UH, THE WINNER OF THE DEMOCRATIC PRIMARY LOW TURNOUT RACE SAID THAT WE, IF HE IS ELECTED IN NOVEMBER, WE'RE GONNA HAVE A MORE EMPATHETIC DA'S OFFICE.
HAVE A MORE WHAT TYPE EMPATHETIC JUSTICE SYSTEM.
ON I, TO BE FAIR, HE SAID WE'RE GONNA HOLD VIOLENT CRIMINALS ACCOUNTABLE, BUT WE'RE NOT GOING, WE'RE GONNA BE MORE EMPATHETIC TO THOSE WHO ARE COMMITTING SO-CALLED NONVIOLENT CRIMES.
UH, WHAT IS YOUR ASK OF, OF ANY DISTRICT ATTORNEY IN TERMS OF, OF PROVING PUBLIC SAFETY IN HOUSTON HARRIS COUNTY? WELL, THE FIRST THING I WOULD ASK THE DA TO DO IS USE RISK ASSESSMENT IN SETTING BONDS.
AND I UNDERSTAND THAT IS LARGELY THE JOB OF THE MAGISTRATE WHO'S BEEN APPOINTED BY THE JUDGES.
BUT A DA HAS A ROLE TO PLAY IN THAT.
UH, IF NOTHING ELSE, SPEAK OUT.
UH, AND YOU'RE GONNA SEE HPD AND THE LEADERSHIP TALKING MORE ABOUT THE REVOLVING DOOR OVER AT THE COUNTY.
WE CANNOT CONTINUE TO PUT VIOLENT REPEAT OFFENDERS ON THE STREETS OF HOUSTON.
THAT'S, THAT IS JUST DOCUMENTED WHERE MOST OF THE VIOLENT CRIMES COMING FROM, THEY GET A BOND.
THEY DON'T EVER GO TO THE NEXT COURT APPEARANCE.
SO WE HAVE TO DO RISK ASSESSMENT.
THE SENATE PASSED IT, THE HOUSE BLOCKS IT.
THE CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT SAYS THAT NOT EVERYONE IS ENTITLED TO A BOND.
SO THERE ARE PEOPLE THAT ARE BAD ENOUGH AND DANGEROUS ENOUGH, THEY OUGHT TO BE DENIED THAT BOND.
AND JUDGES CURRENTLY COULD DO A BETTER JOB OF USING THAT AS A CONSIDERATION.
SO WHAT WOULD I ASK A DA TO DO? COMMUNICATE.
TALK ABOUT THE JUDGES THAT ARE NOT WORKING.
YOU KNOW, I, I HAD A REPORT YESTERDAY.
UH, EVERYBODY SHOWED UP IN A CIVIL COURT YESTERDAY MORNING AT NINE O'CLOCK AND THEY FINALLY PICKED A JURY AT FIVE O'CLOCK.
WELL, THAT'S BAD IN THE CIVIL SIDE, BUT WHEN YOU SEE SOME OF THAT SAME ANNEX OVER IN THE, IN THE CRIMINAL, IT'S REAL BAD.
UH, LET'S CLEAR THE BACKLOG, HOLD PEOPLE ACCOUNTABLE IF THEY'RE INNOCENT, GET 'EM OUTTA THE SYSTEM.
AND I CAN'T BELIEVE THAT Y'ALL DON'T REALLY DO A BETTER JOB OF REPORTING THE DANGERS IN THE HARRIS COUNTY JAIL.
AND YOU GOT HUNDREDS OF INMATES, CITIZENS OF HARRIS COUNTY BEING LOCKED UP IN POST TEXAS AND IN LOUISIANA.
HOW'D YOU LIKE TO BE SITTING IN LOUISIANA IN A, IN A LOUISIANA COUNTY JAIL AND YOU'RE INNOCENT AND YOU CAN'T TALK TO YOUR PARENTS OR YOUR ATTORNEY? I CAN'T BELIEVE THAT THERE'S NOT MORE OUTRAGE.
FIRST OF ALL, IT COSTS MILLIONS.
BUT I'M MORE CONCERNED ABOUT JUSTICE.
THEY NOBODY WORKING IN THE POST BUILT AS A PRISON NOW BEING OPERATED AS A HARRIS COUNTY ANNEX JAIL.
YOU THINK THEY HAVE ANY DIVERSITY AMONG THE CORRECTION WORKERS IN POST TEXAS? HOW'D YOU LIKE TO BE SOMEONE FROM ACRES HOME STUCK IN POST TEXAS?
[00:25:01]
OH, THEY CAN USE, THEY CAN USE THE PHONE.UNLESS YOU MAKE SOMEBODY, UNLESS YOU MAKE ONE OF THE CORRECTIONAL OFFICERS ANGRY.
SO WE HAVE A LOT TO DO IN THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM.
MY RESPONSIBILITY IS HOUSTON, HBD GET THE CONSTABLES TO COLLABORATE WITH US.
AND WE'RE DOING, CHIEF NER HAS HAD GREAT MEETINGS WITH OTHER LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES.
WE'RE STILL PLANNING ON USING THE DPS RESELLERS FOR OUR FORENSICS, THEIR AIR COVERAGE AND SOME OF THEIR INVESTIGATIVE TOOLS.
SO I THINK I'M GONNA GET THROUGH HERE IN A MINUTE AND SAY LET'S GO TO WORK.
BUT I'LL, I'LL HOLD OFF MAY SEAN SAFETY, UH, DIFFERENT KIND OF SAFETY, TRAFFIC SAFETY FOR MY COLLEAGUE CHERYL MERCEDES CYCLISTS ARE CONCERNED.
YOU ARE BACKPEDALING ON PROGRESS TO MAKE STREETS SAFER FOR THEM.
WHAT ARE YOUR PLANS FOR CONNECTING TRAILS AND ADDING BIKE LANES? I'M GONNA DO EVERYTHING I CAN FOR THOSE TRAILS AND BIKE PATHS.
I GOT, ONE OF THE REASONS I GOT IN THIS RACE IS I CAN'T COME OUTTA MY NEIGHBORHOOD BECAUSE OF THE LACK OF A CROSSWALK.
IN FACT, MY SECURITY, THE FIRST TIME THEY TOOK ME HOME SAID, AND THEY KNOW I LIKE TO DOWNPLAY MY SECURITY.
I LIKE TO BE TREATED LIKE EVERYONE ELSE.
I WANNA LIVE THE LIVES THAT Y'ALL LIVE.
BUT THE JOB REQUIRES A DEGREE OF SECURITY.
AND THEY SAID, BUT FOR YOU TELLING US TO DOWNPLAY YOUR SECURITY, WE WOULD'VE TURNED OUR RED LIGHTS ON TO GET ACROSS AN INTERSECTION AT BLOSSOM.
THE CONSERVATORSHIP MADE THAT THE MAIN ENTRANCE INTO MEMORIAL PARK.
STROLLERS, BICYCLERS JOGGERS, RESIDENTS CANNOT GET IN AND OUT.
THAT WAS ONE OF THE, THE, THE SUBJECTS THAT I MENTIONED.
NOW LET ME EMPHASIZE OUR MOBILITY.
WE'VE ALREADY DISCUSSED HOW HOUSTON'S GROWING.
WE'VE GOT TO HAVE A WORKABLE TRANSIT SYSTEM, SAFE, CLEAN.
OBVIOUSLY THE, THE HOMELESS HAVE TO PROVIDED SOME SHELTER BECAUSE THERE ARE DETERRENT TO PEOPLE USING TRANSIT.
BUT THE, THE BIKERS, I TOLD THEM DURING THE CAMPAIGN, I WILL LEAD THE WAY TO HELP 'EM GET INTO MEMORIAL PARK.
I DON'T KNOW WHY WE DON'T FIND A WAY FOR THE ALLEN PARKWAY TRAILS TO GO RIGHT ON UP THE BAYOU INTO MEMORIAL PARK.
I'M NOT WORRIED ABOUT SOME OF THE WEALTHY THAT LIVE RIGHT THERE ON THE BANK.
SO THE BAYOU, LET'S, LET'S GO PAST THEM AND GET INTO THE PARK.
BUT I AM GONNA BE SMART, USE COMMON SENSE AND HELP PEOPLE GET TO WORK INTO SCHOOL.
AND THE BIKERS HAVE NO REASON TO WORRY ABOUT THEIR ABILITY TO HAVE AS MANY PATHS USE THE SITTER POINT EASEMENTS.
I'M THERE, BUT I'M ALSO GONNA REPRESENT HARDWORKING HOUSTONIANS THAT DON'T SUBSCRIBE TO ROAD DI WHEN WE'RE GROWING BY LEAPS AND BOUND.
REMEMBER I TOLD YOU I HAD, UH, AN OFFICIAL TOLD ME IN THIS BUILDING, BAD STREETS ARE NOT BAD.
YOU KNOW, THAT ACTUALLY CROSSED MY MIND DURING THE CAMPAIGN.
DO THEY NOT SEE AT CITY HALL WHAT I SEE THE DEPLORABLE STREETS? MAYBE THEY'RE LETTING 'EM GET LIKE THAT 'CAUSE IT WILL SLOW YOU DOWN.
UH, WE'RE GONNA HAVE MOBILITY.
WE'RE GONNA PROVIDE FOR ALTERNATIVES.
JUST WATCH WHAT METRO DOES IN TERMS OF SAFER, UH, BUS STOPS.
I CAN'T BELIEVE WITH THE RESOURCES THAT METRO HAS THAT I'VE GOTTA DRIVE DOWN THE STREET AND SEE FAMILIES STANDING OUT IN 105 DEGREE WEATHER OR THE RAIN.
'CAUSE THEY DON'T HAVE A BUS, BUS SHELTER OR A PLACE TO SIT.
BUT, UH, MOBILITY'S IMPORTANT PEDESTRIAN CROSSWALKS, BUT IT'S GONNA HAVE TO BE BALANCED.
MAYOR, MAYOR, MAYOR, CAN YOU TALK TO US ABOUT COUNCIL, COUNCIL MEMBER TIFFANY THOMAS MENTIONED THE WATER RATE INCREASE, UH, AND THE CITY OF CONSENT DECREE WITH THE EPA.
CAN YOU COMMENT ON THAT? WELL, IT'S DUE UP APRIL 1ST BEEN ON THE BOOKS.
UH, I UNDERSTAND CURRENTLY THE INFLATION FACTOR WILL BE NEUTRAL, SO THAT WON'T BE A BUMP.
BUT THE, UH, SCHEDULE INCREASE TO MAKE OUR AGREEMENT WITH THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT BINDING WILL COME APRIL 1ST.
THEY THERE WITH REGARDS OR THERE WOULD BE PENALTIES? YES, SIR.
UH, WE'VE REACHED OUT TO HPD THE LAST FEW DAYS.
I DON'T KNOW IF THEY, WHEN THE LAST FEW DAYS WE REACHED OUT TO HPD WITH REGARDS TO WHAT WE DISCOVERED ABOUT CRIME STATS NOT BEING PROPERLY REPORTED TO THE DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE DIFFERENTIALS IN AGGRAVATED ASSAULTS MOTOR VEHICLE THEFTS.
THE NUMBERS THE FEDS HAVE FOR US ARE ACTUALLY MORE THAN WHAT HPD IS REPORTING.
HOW AWARE ARE YOU ABOUT THESE CRIME STATS NOT BEING ACCURATELY REPORTED TO
[00:30:01]
HANNAH? WELL, I DON'T KNOW THAT FACTS.THEY'RE NOT ACCURATELY REPORTED IN, IN MY WORK IN CRIMINAL JUSTICE.
YOU KNOW, IT DEPENDS ON WHO'S LOOKING AT THE NUMBERS AND HOW THEY DESCRIBE 'EM.
UH, WE'VE ASKED HBD WHAT, WHAT, WHAT'S, YOU KNOW, WHAT'S, WHAT'S A CLEARED CASE? WHAT'S AN ALLEGATION? I JUST DON'T KNOW.
I DO LOOK AT THE MURDER RATE ON A REGULAR BASIS FURNISHED BY HPD AND, UH, UNTIL SOMEONE CAN CONVINCE ME OTHERWISE, I HAVE CONFIDENCE IN HPD NUMBERS AND, UH, BUT THESE ARE THE FEDERAL NUMBERS THAT SHOWING I UNDERSTAND THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT, BUT YOU KNOW, THEY'VE GOT THEIR RESPONSIBILITY.
AND UNTIL SOMEONE SHOWS ME DIFFERENT, I RELY UPON HPD.
AND THE PANEL THAT YOU ARE NOW GONNA HAVE REVIEWED THE WORK OF CHIEF FINNER, IS THAT BECAUSE CHIEF FINNER, THERE ARE ACTIONS THAT HE INDICATED TO ME.
ARE YOU HAVING THIS PANEL BECAUSE IT IS SO CLOSE TO CHIEF FINNER? NO, I'M DOING IT TO HAVE ONE MORE SET OF EYES THAT I TRUST TO REVIEW THE WORK TO VALIDATE THE OUTCOME.
AND IT'S OBVIOUSLY SHOULD ASSIST CHIEF NER IN PUTTING CLOSURE TO THIS AT THE PROPER TIME.
IT'S AN ONGOING INVESTIGATION.
I'M GONNA HAVE A REVIEW PANEL TO REVIEW HIS WORK AND GIVE US THEIR PERSPECTIVE, THEIR INDEPENDENT, UH, OPINION AS DOES THIS REALLY GET TO THE BOTTOM OF IT? I NEED THAT ASSURANCE.
HOUSTONIANS NEED THAT ASSURANCE.
AND UH, WE'RE, WE'RE IN THE PROCESS OF GETTING THAT DONE.
WILL YOU BE STANDING WITH THE CHIEF TOMORROW WHEN HE HAS HIS NEWS CONFERENCE? I'LL BE HONEST WITH YOU, UH, NO.
I, I DON'T THINK MY SCHEDULE HAS ME THERE, MAYOR WITH ALL THE PRESSING, BUT I'LL BE THERE IN SPIRIT.
WITH ALL THE PRESSING FINANCIAL NEEDS YOU'VE OUTLINED IS A FULL CENT OF THE CITY'S SALES TAX FOR METRO? UH, STILL JUSTIFIED.
YOU KNOW, THAT, THAT'S, UH, AN INTERESTING DISCUSSION.
I THINK IT'S A FAIR DISCUSSION TO SEE WHAT ARE THE NEEDS OF METRO, UH, WHAT THEY CAN DO.
ONE, TO INCREASE THEIR RIDERSHIP.
GETTING BACK TO WHETHER WE'RE TALKING ABOUT BIKE PASS OR MOBILITY.
WE'VE GOT TO HAVE A VIABLE PUBLIC TRANSIT SYSTEM.
THEIR RIDERSHIP IS SIGNIFICANTLY DOWN THEIR BUDGET'S ON THE RISE.
BUT, UH, I THINK YOU'RE GONNA SEE SOME INNOVATIVE IDEAS FOR METRO TO PARTNER WITH THE CITY.
IN FACT, WE HAD AN ANNOUNCEMENT, I GUESS FRIDAY THAT, THAT THEY'RE GONNA REFINISH AND, AND UH, WORK ON WESTHEIMER AT A SAVINGS TO THE CITY.
SO, UH, I JUST BE HONEST WITH YOU, I THINK I'VE ONLY BEEN HERE TWO MONTHS.
SO UNTIL YOU GIVE ME AN OPPORTUNITY TO HAVE MY REPRESENTATIVES AT METRO TO REVIEW THEIR EXPENSES, THEIR OVERHEAD, WHICH I WOULD SUGGEST FROM, UH, THIS VANTAGE POINT LOOKS A LITTLE HEAVY.
UH, I DON'T KNOW WHY THEY SPEND THE KIND OF MONEY THEY DO ON ADVERTISEMENT.
CERTAINLY REMINDING US OF WHAT WE PASSED YEARS AGO.
I WOULD APPLY THAT MONEY ON PRESENT SERVICES GOING FORWARD.
IF THEY WOULD GET THEIR BUSES AND RAILS SAFER AND CLEANER, THEY COULD PROBABLY REDUCE THEIR ADVERTISEMENT.
AND QUITE FRANKLY, SO FAR THE ADVERTISEMENT IS NOT SHOWING ANY INCREASE.
UH, BUT ANYWAY, BACK TO YOUR QUESTION.
LEMME TELL YOU WHAT, WHEN YOU LOOK AT OUR, OUR SHORTFALL GOING FORWARD AND TO, TO REPLACE THE ONE TIME ARPA MONEY AND OTHERS THAT WAS USED TO PAY THE FIREFIGHTERS, WE'VE GOTTA BE VERY PHYSICALLY RESPONSIBLE.
AND THAT INCLUDES THE METRO MAYOR.
WE HEARD A BIT TODAY ABOUT 5% BUDGET CUTS.
I WANTED TO KNOW THE STATUS OF THOSE POTENTIAL CUTS AND ALSO IF THOSE CUTS ARE POTENTIALLY BEING MADE TO, UM, HELP PAY BACK THE FIREFIGHTERS UNION FOR LIABILITIES.
NO, WE DID THIS A MONTH OR WE ACTUALLY SENT THAT LETTER OUT WHEN WE FIRST GOT HERE, AS WAS POINTED OUT BY A COUPLE OF COUNCIL MEMBERS.
YOU KNOW, I I I WAS ON THE STATE FINANCE SENATE IN 2011 WITH HUGE DEFICIT.
I DON'T LIKE ACROSS THE BOARD CUTS.
I THINK IT, UH, REWARDS, UH, INEFFICIENT OPERATIONS DEPARTMENTS THAT KIND OF RAT HOED SOME MONEY OR DIDN'T NEED ALL THEY ASKED FOR IN THE FIRST PLACE.
AND IT PUNISHES THOSE RESPONSIBLE DEPARTMENTS.
BUT IT'S A PLACE TO START A CONVERSATION.
ONE, TO LET THE COUNCIL MEMBERS ALSO KNOW WE CAN'T CONTINUE TO COME UP WITH ITEMS THAT WE'D LIKE.
WE'VE GOT TO HAVE PUBLIC SAFETY INFRASTRUCTURE, CITY SERVICES.
BUT, YOU KNOW, IT WOULD PAIN ME TO HAVE TO REDUCE SANITATION.
ANY, IF ANYTHING, WE'VE GOTTA BE GETTING, GETTING THEM SOME RESOURCES, WHICH IS A CONVERSATION WE NEED TO HAVE.
[00:35:01]
I WANNA MAKE CERTAIN THAT YOU KNOW, IT, IT EXEMPTED POLICE AND FIRE.BUT, UM, MOST OF THE BUDGET IS PERSONNEL.
SO, YOU KNOW, WE'RE ALREADY UNDERSTAFFED IN MOST OF OUR DEPARTMENTS.
SO THAT'S A STARTING PART TO SEND A MESSAGE TO HOUSTONIANS THAT WE'RE SERIOUS ABOUT BEING RESPONSIBLE.
AND ALSO TO LET COUNCIL AND CITY STAFF KNOW WE'VE GOT TO, YOU KNOW, TURN OUT THE LIGHTS WHEN YOU LEAVE THE ROOM.
JUST THINGS THAT YOU WERE RAISED TO DO WHEN YOU'RE A KID THAT I DON'T, DON'T THINK THIS GENERATION HAS HEARD IT, BUT ANYWAY, 11 YEAR OLDS DON'T DO IT EITHER.
YEAH, BECAUSE YOU BROUGHT UP SANITATION.
I MEAN, OBVIOUSLY YOU INHERITED A DEPARTMENT THAT'S SEVERELY UNDERFUNDED.
YEAH, I WAS CURIOUS, LIKE WHAT SPECIFICALLY ARE YOU PLANNING TO DO TO HELP SOLID WASTE? WELL, WE'RE LOOKING FOR EFFICIENCIES RIGHT NOW.
AND THEN I THINK WE'LL HAVE A VERY GROWN UP DISCUSSION ABOUT WHAT WE DO TO GET THEM ADDITIONAL RESOURCES IN THE VERY NEAR FUTURE.
FOLLOW UP ON THE BIKE LANE SPRING COLLEAGUE.
IF THEY WANT TO ASK QUESTIONS, I OUGHT TO BE HERE.
I'M NOT GONNA HAVE, I'M NOT GONNA HAVE THIS PRESS CONFERENCE.
AND THEN ANOTHER FROM YOUR CALL IN FRIENDS, YOU DO APPRECIATE YOU TAKING THE TIME.
AND YOU KNOW, I, YOU KNOW, WE REALLY DO APPRECIATE THIS.
WHAT ARE YOUR PLANS TO ADD MORE BIKE LANES AND CONNECT TRAILS TO INCREASE BIKE SAFETY? ARE THERE ANY CONCRETE PLANS IN THE WORKS RIGHT NOW? YES, WE HAVE A BIKE ADVISORY COMMITTEE.
I, I'VE LIVED IN HOUSTON MY LIFE, UH, I HESITATE TO SAY I'VE GOT A BIKE BECAUSE THE NEXT THING YOU'RE GONNA WANT TO SEE ME RIDE IT.
UH, WE'RE, WE'RE GONNA NETWORK AND COLLABORATE AND LISTEN TO INTEREST GROUPS.
BUT LET ME JUST EMPHASIZE NOT SPECIAL INTEREST.
THOSE WHO JUST WANNA MAKE A LOT OF NOISE.
WE'RE LISTENING TO FAMILIES AND RESIDENTS.
YOU KNOW, I GOT TWO GRANDKIDS THAT LIVE IN HOUSTON, IN, IN YOUR FAMILY AND EVERYONE I'M LOOKING AT, I WANNA KNOW WHAT YOUR FAMILY THINKS ABOUT MOBILITY ROAD DIET.
UH, WE WANT SAFE OPTIONS FOR, UH, FOR OUR FAMILIES AND, AND BIKE PATHS WILL BE ONE ON THEIR TRAILS.
AND, UH, YOU KNOW WHAT'S INTERESTING? TELL 'EM WE'RE, WE'RE GONNA DO A, UH, WE'RE GONNA BE ALSO DRIVEN BY DATA.
SEE, SEE, SEE IF YOUR CALL IN WOULD BE WILLING TO DO A TRAFFIC COUNT ON SOME OF THEIR PROPOSALS.
SEE WHERE WE PUT ADDITIONAL RESOURCES AFTER WE REALLY RESEARCH THE BEST USE OF 'EM.
UH, WE'RE NOT GONNA BE DRIVEN BY NOISE OR ACTIVISM.
WE'RE GONNA BE LIVING DRIVEN BY DATA AND LISTENING TO HOUSTONIANS, WHICH I KIND OF ENJOY.
THANKS MARY, WE APPRECIATE YOU.