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GOOD AFTERNOON.I'M KIM OG HARRIS COUNTY DISTRICT ATTORNEY.
I'M JOINED TODAY BY THE HONORABLE MAYOR JOHN WHITMEYER, BY OUR FIRST ASSISTANT, DAVID MITCHAM, BY OUR PUBLIC CORRUPTION DIVISION, CHIEF GAVIN ELLIS, RIGHT THERE, UH, BY ASSISTANT DA IN CHARGE OF THIS CASE, MICHAEL LEVINE, OUT OF THE PUBLIC CORRUPTION DIVISION, TEXAS RANGER INVESTIGATOR RYAN CHRISTIAN AND RANDY MKI, HOUSTON PUBLIC WORKS CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER.
EXCUSE ME, I'M MISSING MY FIRST PAGE OF NOTES.
D DO YOU HAVE A FIRST PAGE HERE? SORRY, YOU ALL DOG ATE THEM? YEAH.
WE'VE GOT SEVEN PEOPLE, SO Y'ALL BEAR WITH ME JUST A MINUTE.
OH, NOBODY'S IN TROUBLE EXCEPT ME.
AND YOU MAY HAVE TO COMMUTE MY SENTENCE HERE.
PEOPLE HATE PUBLIC CORRUPTION BECAUSE IT COSTS TAXPAYER MONEY, AND MORE IMPORTANTLY, IT VIOLATES THE PUBLIC TRUST IN GOVERNMENT.
SEVEN PEOPLE HAVE BEEN INDICTED FOR PUBLIC CORRUPTION.
FELONIES RANGING FROM OFFICIAL ABUSE OF OFFICIAL CAPACITY TO TAMPERING WITH EVIDENCE, NAMELY DOCUMENTS.
THE CHARGES RANGE, UH, FOR RANGE ACROSS A NUMBER OF ACTIONS, WHICH EQUATE TO BRIBERY FOR A SCHEME CENTERING ON THE CITY OF HOUSTON, WATERLINE REPAIR CONTRACTS.
THE LEAD DEFENDANT, PATRICE LEE, IS A FORMER HIGH RANKING CITY EMPLOYEE WHO HAD ACCESS TO APPROXIMATELY $80 MILLION IN EMERGENCY WATERLINE REPAIR AND INSPECTION MONIES.
LEE WAS ARRESTED LAST NIGHT AND OTHERS WILL TURN THEMSELVES IN IN COMING DAYS.
ONE IS HER BROTHER, THE OTHERS ARE VENDORS.
AND WHAT I WOULD ENCOURAGE EVERYONE IN THE MEDIA TO DO IS TAKE A LOOK AT THE PUBLIC DOCUMENT.
THERE'S A 29 PAGE AFFIDAVIT PREPARED BY RANGER CHRISTIANS, RANGER, RANGER CHRISTIAN, THAT DESCRIBES THE ACTIONS OF ALL THE PARTIES CHARGED FULL DETAILS ON THE CLERK'S WEBSITE CONTAINED IN THAT AFFIDAVIT BEHIND THE WARRANT.
I'D LIKE TO PERSONALLY THANK MY FRIEND, MAYOR JOHN WHITMEYER, WHO I'VE KNOWN ALL MY LIFE.
UH, HIS ADMINISTRATION IS DEDICATED TO TRANSPARENCY AND THE COOPERATION THAT WE'VE RECEIVED FROM THIS ADMINISTRATION STANDS IN STARK CONTRAST TO THE LAST SEVEN YEARS.
I WANT TO THANK THE NEW CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER, PUBLIC WORKS FOR, UH, BEING AVAILABLE FOR US TO THE TEXAS RANGERS, WHO I CALLED IN AFTER THIS SET OF EVENTS AND INFORMATION AIRED.
I CALLED THE RANGERS BECAUSE REASONABLE SUSPICION WAS PRESENTED IN THE NEWSCAST ITSELF.
WE ASKED RANGER CHRISTIAN TO TAKE A LOOK AT MORE EVIDENCE.
GRAND JURIES WERE CALLED TOGETHER.
A DA MIKE LEVINE PRESENTED THE CASES AND INDICTMENTS FOLLOWED.
AT THIS TIME, I'D LIKE TO INVITE MAYOR WHITMEYER FOR REMARKS.
I WANT TO THANK YOU AND YOUR TEAM FOR TAKING THIS AS SERIOUS AS THE PUBLIC DOES, AND CERTAINLY I TAKE IT.
UH, IT WAS CERTAINLY ONE OF THE REASONS I RAN FOR MAYOR.
I ROUTINELY TALKED ABOUT IN THE CAMPAIGN, WE WOULD ADDRESS CONFLICTS OF INTEREST IN PUBLIC CORRUPTION.
IN FACT, AS RECENTLY AS A COUPLE WEEKS AGO WHEN WE LAID OUT THE BUDGET, AND YOU MIGHT NOTICE WE DIDN'T ASK FOR ADDITIONAL REVENUE, ALTHOUGH WE DO HAVE SHORTFALLS BECAUSE I ASSURED THE PUBLIC WE WOULDN'T
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ASK FOR ADDITIONAL REVENUE UNTIL WE COULD GUARANTEE THAT WE'VE REMOVED CONFLICTS OF INTEREST IN PUBLIC CORRUPTION.I TOO SAW THE NEWS STORIES LAST NOVEMBER.
I TOO FELT LIKE IT SHOULD BEEN REFERRED TO A CRIMINAL INVESTIGATIVE BODY.
THANK GOODNESS WE HAVE A DISTRICT ATTORNEY IN KIM OGG THAT RECOGNIZED IT THROUGH HER EXPERIENCE THAT THIS WAS NOT AN INTERNAL CIVIL MATTER, MILLIONS OF DOLLARS.
AND, UH, AMY, QUITE FRANKLY, WHAT I SAW, THE PREVIOUS ADMINISTRATION LABEL, YOUR WORK IS BEING RUDE.
I CONSIDERED IT DOING YOUR JOB.
YOU'VE BROUGHT INFORMATION TO MY ADMINISTRATION, WE'VE ADDRESSED IT.
ALL THE STAKEHOLDERS THAT ARE REPRESENTED HERE TODAY WILL NOT TOLERATE PUBLIC CORRUPTION.
WE WILL GO WHERE THE FACTS TAKE US.
AND I CAN ASSURE YOU DURING MY ADMINISTRATION, WHETHER IT'S CITY HALL, METRO, ANY GOVERNMENTAL BODY, THE AIRPORT, WHEREVER THERE IS CONFLICTS OF INTEREST AND WHERE AN INVESTIGATION SHOWS CORRUPTION, WE WILL BE PARTNERING WITH THOSE AGENCIES THAT ARE DOING THE INVESTIGATION TO SEE THAT PEOPLE ARE HELD ACCOUNTABLE.
HOUSTON HAS A SHORTFALL IN ITS FINANCIAL BUDGET.
WE CANNOT ASK FOR ADDITIONAL MONEY UNTIL WE CAN ASSURE THAT EVERY DOLLAR IS BEING HONESTLY USED TO RUN CITY GOVERNMENT.
I TOO WANT TO APPLAUD MICHAEL LEVINE FOR YOUR EXCELLENT WORK AND DEDICATION.
RANGER CHRISTIAN, YOU ONCE AGAIN, MAKE US PROUD.
AND CERTAINLY YOUR REPRESENT REPRESENTATION OF THE RANGERS IS THE TOP INVESTIGATIVE BODY IN THE WORLD IS DEMONSTRATED AGAIN TODAY, THE PRESS.
YOU KNOW WHAT CONCERNS ME AS SOMEONE THAT'S BEEN IN GOVERNMENT, ALL OF MY ADULT LIFE, CHAIRING CRIMINAL JUSTICE, ACTUALLY AS MAYOR, IT'S WHAT YOU DON'T KNOW THAT SCARES YOU THE MOST.
PEOPLE SAY WHAT CONCERNS YOU, IT'S WHAT I DON'T KNOW.
CITY OF HOUSTON IS A VERY LARGE GOVERNMENTAL BODY.
OVER 20,000 EMPLOYEES, 22 DEPARTMENTS, OTHER DIVISIONS LIKE THE AIRPORT METRO, I COULD GO ON AND ON THE HOUSING AUTHORITY, WE KNOW THAT THERE'S CONFLICTS OVER THERE.
WE KNOW THAT THAT IS THE REASON I REPLACED THE ENTIRE BOARD.
THEY WERE DOING PROJECTS WITH PEOPLE IN ENVIRONMENTAL DANGEROUS LOCATIONS BECAUSE PEOPLE KNEW PEOPLE.
SO I APPLAUD THE CRIMINAL INVESTIGATION.
THAT'S WHY WE HAD THE GRAND JURY SYSTEM.
THAT'S WHY WE HAVE LAW ENFORCEMENT.
AND I JUST WANT TO APPLAUD EVERYONE THAT IS DEMONSTRATING TODAY THAT WE WILL NOT TOLERATE PUBLIC CORRUPTION IN THE CITY OF HOUSTON.
WE WILL GO WHEREVER THE FACTS SHOW US IN ALL THE DEPARTMENTS.
LET'S JUST TALK ABOUT THE RECOVERY, WHERE WE'RE HIRING EMERGENCY WORKERS TO GO OUT AND COLLECT DEBRIS.
PREVIOUS ADMINISTRATIONS, THAT'S BEEN VERY CONTROVERSIAL, VERY QUESTIONABLE PRACTICES.
I'VE ALREADY SENT WORD TO ALL OF MY DEPARTMENT HEADS.
WE'RE WATCHING YOU DON'T EVEN THINK ABOUT CUTTING CORNERS OR PLAYING FAVORITES OR HIRING RELATIVES.
LET'S RUN CITY BUSINESS AS TRANSPARENT AS POSSIBLE.
I WILL HOLD PEOPLE ACCOUNTABLE.
AND THAT'S THE REASON I'M HERE TODAY TO ANNOUNCE AS WE GO FORWARD.
THIS IS JUST AN EXAMPLE OF HOW PEOPLE WILL BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE.
THANK YOU, MAYOR, TO TALK ABOUT PATRICE LEE'S SCHEME, THAT SHORT CIRCUITED EVERY CHECK AND BALANCE THE CITY HAD IN PLACE TO AVOID THEFT, BRIBERY, THE THINGS THAT WE SAW.
I'M ASKING MIKE LEVINE TO COME UP HERE AND GIVE YOU THE DETAILS.
HE'S BEEN WORKING ON THE CASE FOR SEVERAL MONTHS, AND I KNOW HE CAN DO A, A MUCH BETTER JOB THAN I ABOUT, ABOUT THE DETAILS.
JUST A COUPLE OF QUICK THANKS.
FIRST, UH, RYAN CHRISTIAN AND I HAVE WORKED TOGETHER ON THIS INVESTIGATION FOR SIX MONTHS.
IT'S LATE NIGHTS, IT'S EARLY MORNINGS.
HE, AND HE WORKED HIS, HE WORKED HARD.
SO I REALLY WANNA SAY THANK YOU.
I WANNA SAY THANKS TO A LOT OF FOLKS IN OUR OFFICE THAT AREN'T HERE, THE PARALEGALS AND ADMINS AND FRAUD EXAMINERS.
AND IT TAKES A LOT OF PEOPLE TO PUT TOGETHER, UH, A LARGE INVESTIGATION.
AND I REALLY WANNA THANK GRAND JURORS, CITIZENS OF HARRIS COUNTY.
UH, GRAND JURY WAS INTEGRAL IN THIS INVESTIGATION, SO THANKS TO THEM.
UM, FOR THE DETAILS OF THIS CASE, WE SPENT WEEKS PUTTING TOGETHER A ALMOST 30 PAGE PROBABLE CAUSE AFFIDAVIT.
IT'S ON THE DISTRICT CLERK WEBSITE.
IT WILL GIVE YOU A LOT MORE DETAIL THAN I EVER COULD.
YOU CAN'T ENCAPSULATE, YOU KNOW, SIX MONTHS OF WORK AND A FEW YEARS OF CORRUPTION IN A FEW MINUTES.
BUT I'LL TELL YOU IN THE MOST GENERAL SENSE, UH, WE HAVE FILED
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14 CHARGES AGAINST SEVEN DEFENDANTS.UH, MOST OF THOSE WERE INDICTED BY A GRAND JURY YESTERDAY AND A FEW DIRECT FILED WITH THE JUDGE, UH, IN A, IN THE SUMMER AND FALL OF 2022, PATRICE LEE AND AT LEAST TWO BUSINESSMEN CAME UP WITH A SCHEME TO ESSENTIALLY PUT HER ON THE PAYROLL AS A CONSULTANT OF THE VERY SAME COMPANIES THAT WERE GETTING CONTRACTS AND DOING BUSINESS WITH HER DEPARTMENT AT THE CITY.
UH, AND THEY DID THAT IN EXCHANGE FOR FAVORABLE TREATMENT, FASTER PAYMENT, LARGER AND BIGGER DEALS WITH THE CITY.
AND AS YOU'LL SEE, IF YOU LOOK AT THE DETAILED AFFIDAVIT, IN FACT, THOSE COMPANIES THAT WERE WILLING TO PAY OFF THE CITY EMPLOYMENT, MANAGING THEIR CONTRACTS DID SEE THEIR, THEIR DEALINGS WITH THE CITY GROW AND GROW.
EVENTUALLY, PATRICE LEE FOUND TWO MORE, UH, DEFENDANTS THAT WERE WILLING TO ENTER INTO A SIMILAR SCHEME.
AND THEN FINALLY, ALONG WITH HER BROTHER FORMED A SHELL COMPANY THAT DIRECTLY WAS, WAS A WAY FOR HER TO ESSENTIALLY DIVERT OVER $400,000 OF CITY MONEY TO HERSELF.
UH, ON THAT LAST NOTE, WE CHARGED AN ABUSE OF OFFICIAL CAPACITY CHARGE.
THAT IS A FIRST DEGREE FELONY, UH, CARRIES POSSIBLE PUNISHMENT OF FIVE TO 99 YEARS.
TEXAS DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS.
WE HAVE FILED MULTIPLE CHARGES OF BRIBERY.
THAT'S A SECOND DEGREE FELONY.
THAT MEANS TWO TO 20, UH, YEARS, IS THE PUNISHMENT RANGE, TDC.
AND THEN WE'VE ALSO FILED TWO CHARGES OF TAMPERING WITH A GOVERNMENT DOCUMENT ALLEGING THAT THE DEFENDANTS MADE FALSE STATEMENTS AND WHAT THEY KNEW TO BE FALSE STATEMENTS IN GOVERNMENT DOCUMENTS.
SO THAT WOULD BE 180 DAYS TO A MAXIMUM OF, UH, OF TWO YEARS IN STATE JAIL.
LAST THING I WANNA SAY, UH, AGENT CHRISTIAN SAID I CAN GIVE OUT THE PHONE NUMBER.
UH, RANGER CHRISTIAN SAID I CAN GIVE OUT THIS PHONE NUMBER (281) 517-1400 FOR THEIR TEXAS RANGERS OFFICE.
WE ARE CERTAIN THAT THERE ARE OTHER AFFECTED PEOPLE THAT WE HAVE NOT IDENTIFIED YET.
THERE ARE CERTAINLY MORE WITNESSES.
IF YOU'RE SOMEONE THAT HAS INFORMATION RELATED TO THIS INVESTIGATION, WE'D URGE YOU TO CALL THE TEXAS RANGERS.
THE ONLY WAY WE STOP PUBLIC CORRUPTION IS WITH THE PUBLIC COMING FORWARD TO BE A WITNESS.
SO WE'D ENCOURAGE YOU IF YOU THINK YOU'RE A WITNESS IN THIS CASE, TO PLEASE CONTACT THE TEXAS RANGERS.
CAN YOU STATE YOUR NAME AND YOUR TITLE PLEASE? UH, YEAH.
IT'S MIKE LEVINE AND I'M AN ASSISTANT DISTRICT ATTORNEY FOR HARRIS COUNTY.
YOU KNOW, THE LAST THING I WANNA TALK ABOUT IS THE DAMAGE.
THE DAMAGE OF PUBLIC CORRUPTION.
IN THE BIG PICTURE IS THE PUBLIC'S LOSS OF TRUST IN GOVERNMENT TO BE RESPONSIBLE STEWARDS OF THEIR MONEY, BUT WE ALSO EXPECT GOOD SERVICE FROM GOVERNMENT.
AND WHEN GOVERNMENT ENDS UP PAYING MUCH MORE FOR MUCH LESS, THE PUBLIC LOSES IN THIS CASE, BECAUSE THE SAME PEOPLE WERE HANDLING THE REPAIRS ON AN EMERGENCY BASIS, THE INSPECTIONS ON AN EMERGENCY BASIS AND THE DELIVERY OF CONTRACTS TO CERTAIN VENDORS, ALL OF THE NORMAL CHECKS AND BALANCES WERE AVERTED.
AND THAT IS A RECIPE FOR CORRUPTION.
AND SO I WANT TO THANK EVERYBODY INVOLVED FOR HELPING HOUSTONIANS GET WHAT WE PAY FOR.
IN THIS CASE, WE KNOW AT LEAST 750,000 WENT INTO THE POCKETS OF PATRICE LEE, HER BROTHER, AND OTHERS.
NOW, HOW BAD THE PUBLIC WAS RIPPED OFF, WE'LL NEVER KNOW BECAUSE IF YOU'VE EXPERIENCED A WATER MAIN BREAK OR ANY KIND OF LEAK IN YOUR AREA, YOU KNOW THAT IT TOOK A MINUTE TO GET IT FIXED.
SOMETIMES THE REPAIR WAS GOOD, SOMETIMES IT WASN'T.
IT HAPPENED IN MY NEIGHBORHOOD REPEATEDLY.
AND SO NOT KNOWING WHICH REPAIRS WERE GOOD AND WHICH ARE BAD, THIS MAY BE A PROBLEM THAT WE CAN CONTINUE TO PAY FOR AS TAXPAYERS.
BUT MOST IMPORTANTLY TODAY, THE PERPETRATORS ARE BEING HELD ACCOUNTABLE.
IF YOU HAVE FURTHER INFORMATION ABOUT THIS, AN ONGOING INVESTIGATION, PLEASE CALL THE TEXAS RANGERS.
AND AGAIN, RYAN, THANK YOU FOR YOUR WORK.
MIKE, THANK YOU FOR YOUR WORK, MAYOR.
WE'LL OPEN IT UP TO QUESTIONS, BUT FOR THE ORIGINAL REPORTING OF MY COLLEAGUE NEXT TO ME, WOULD THIS, WOULD WE BE HERE TODAY? YOU KNOW, THERE WERE A LOT OF CITIZENS WHO COMPLAINED ABOUT THEIR WATER BILLS AND WHETHER THE WATER BILL PROBLEM IS RELATED TO THE THEFT AND BRIBERY PROBLEM REMAINS TO BE SEEN.
SO WE KNEW THERE WAS A PROBLEM BECAUSE SO MANY PEOPLE GOT OUTRAGEOUS BILLS.
BUT WHEN IT CAME TO INTERNAL CHEATING ON CONTRACTS FUNDED BY EMERGENCY MONEY, I DON'T THINK WE WOULD'VE SHORT OF THE INVESTIGATION DONE BY AMY DAVIS.
OUR TEAM KEYED OFF OF ENOUGH FACTS WERE PRESENTED THAT WE HAD ENOUGH SUSPICION TO CALL THE RANGERS.
AND WHEN THERE'S SOMETHING LIKE PUBLIC CORRUPTION, IT'S TOUGH TO CALL HPD TO INVESTIGATE CITY EMPLOYEES.
IT'S TOUGH TO CALL THE COUNTY TO INVESTIGATE COUNTY EMPLOYEES.
SO WE UTILIZE INDEPENDENT LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES LIKE THE RANGERS, BUT LIKE ALL OF US, THEY'VE GOT LIMITED RESOURCES.
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MEANS WE DEPEND HEAVILY ON THE INDIVIDUAL COMMITMENT AND WORK OF THE RANGER ASSIGNED.I, I'LL SAY, I'LL BE REAL CLEAR, I DON'T BELIEVE WE'D BE HERE, BUT FOR AMY'S INVESTIGATION, CERTAINLY FROM THE, THE SEAT THAT I FEEL, UH, IT KEPT THE, IT KEPT THE TRANSPARENCY ON THE ISSUE.
IT KEPT IT ON THE FOREFRONT OF, OF THE FRONT BURNER, I SHOULD SAY.
SO YES, AND IT CERTAINLY KEPT ME FOCUSED.
YOU NOTICE, WE, WE DO HAVE, UH, A SIGNIFICANT TURNOVER IN PUBLIC WORKS IN OTHER DEPARTMENTS, AND IT'S TO GET THE FOLKS THAT ARE AGREE WITH ME IN TRANSPARENCY, IN HOLDING PEOPLE ACCOUNTABLE.
SO YES, THE, THE REPORTS AND ALSO THAT MAJOR PACKAGE WE ROLLED OUT ON, UH, WATER BILLING, UH, ACCURATE, TRANSPARENT, AND FAIR WATER BILLING IS CERTAINLY A RESULT OF THAT INVESTIGATIVE REPORT.
AND, AND THE REAL FINAL STRAW WAS TO WATCH AMY GO UP TO THE PERSON'S DOOR AT AN APARTMENT THAT'S SUPPOSED TO BE AN OPERATING BUSINESS.
AND HE DIDN'T WANT TO ANSWER QUESTIONS.
HE DIDN'T HAVE A BUSINESS THAT'S ALL THE INVESTIGATORS NEEDED, AND THAT'S ALL I NEEDED TO KNOW.
WE HAD A SERIOUS PROBLEM AT THE CITY, AND AS THE DA O JUST SAID, IT'S WHAT WE DON'T KNOW, IT'S, IT'S, WE, WE DO WEEKLY HUNDREDS OF CONTRACTS DEALING WITH VENDORS.
SO WE NEED TO ALL BE ON ALERT AND DO OUR JOBS.
AND THAT'S WHERE THE PRESS CAN PLAY A SIGNIFICANT ROLE.
UH, YOU KNOW, THERE'S, THERE'S, I SEE CONFLICTS, AIRPORT CONTRACTS, FOOD VENUES, METRO, A LOT OF POLITICAL PLAYERS IN TOWN ON THE PAYROLL OVER AT METRO.
SO I'VE BEEN DOWN THERE ALMOST FIVE MONTHS.
THERE'S A LOT OF WORK LEFT TO DO.
WE'RE GONNA BE WORKING WITH THE RANGERS.
WE'RE GONNA SEND INFORMATION TO THE DA THE RANGERS WHEN WE IT, IT, WHEN IT DOESN'T LOOK RIGHT, WE'RE GONNA REPORT IT.
WHEN'S THE LAST TIME A, UH, PUBLIC CORRUPTION PAROLE WOULD? MANY PEOPLE, WELL, LET ME SAY, WE, WE HAVE NOT HAD GOOD COOPERATION FROM THE CITY BEFORE THIS, AND WE HAVE NOT FILED ON A GROUP OF PEOPLE INVOLVED IN A SCHEME.
UH, IT COULD BE CALLED ORGANIZED CRIME IF THE CRIMES ARE ON THE LIST.
BUT I MEAN, THEY WORKED IN COLLABORATION AND COORDINATION WITH EACH OTHER.
I DON'T REMEMBER, IN MY SEVEN AND A HALF YEARS DURING OUR ADMINISTRATION, WE HAVE NOT HAD THIS MANY PEOPLE CHARGED.
THE PREVIOUS ADMINISTRATION TRIED TO KEEP IT INTERNAL, DID NOT WANT IT TO BE REFERRED TO CRIMINAL INVESTIGATORS.
AND THAT'S EVEN IN, IN THE ENVIRONMENT OF WILLIAM PAUL THOMAS BEING INVESTIGATED, PLEADING GUILTY, RIGHT IN THE MIDDLE OF THE CONFLICTS OF INTEREST AND POTENTIAL AND OBVIOUS CORRUPTION THAT IS NOW BEING REVEALED.
SO ON THAT NOTE, IS THE OIG INVESTIGATION BEEN COMPLETE? NO.
AND, UH, I'M CONCERNED ABOUT THE OPERATION OF THE INSPECTOR GENERAL'S OFFICE, BUT THIS WAS REFERRED OUT AND ENCOURAGED TO BECOME A CRIMINAL INVESTIGATION BY MY ADMINISTRATION.
AND THE, UH, THAT OFFICE IS UNDER CLOSE REVIEW BY ME.
MIC, I, I WANT A LITTLE MORE AGGRESSION, A LITTLE MORE TRANSPARENCY IN THAT OFFICE.
NO, THEY JUST WANTED TO CLOSE, CORRECT ME IF I'M WRONG, BUT YES, AFFIDAVIT LAYS OUT HOW IT WAS LEE WHO WAS IN CHARGE OF VERIFY THE WORK HISTORY AND THE BACKGROUNDING OF THESE COMPANIES THAT WILL GET THESE CONTRACTS.
UM, HOW HAS THE MONEY PROCESS CHANGED TO
UH, YOU KNOW, I'VE ONLY BEEN THERE FIVE MONTHS.
UH, THIS WAS REALLY REVEALED BACK IN NOVEMBER.
UH, WE'VE DONE OUR DUE DILIGENCE IN THAT.
WE TALKED TO RANDY AND OTHERS.
THERE WAS STRONG PRESSURE TO KEEP THIS IN HOUSE, AND WE CAN HOPEFULLY SOMEDAY UNDERSTAND THAT I DON'T, UH, THAT'S WHY WE HAVE SUCH GREAT INVESTIGATORS WITH THE TEXAS RANGERS, A GREAT DA'S OFFICE AND OTHERS.
I'VE BEEN SUPPORTING FOLKS TO LOOK AT IT.
WE HAVE NEW OPERATING OFFICERS, AND I THINK THERE'S A NEW, AND THERE BETTER BE A MESSAGE AT CITY HALL THAT THIS KIND OF NONSENSE WON'T BE TOLERATED OR WE WILL PUT YOU AT THE FOREFRONT OF THE PROBLEM.
AND IT'S NOT JUST CITY HALL, IT'S METRO, IT'S THE AIRPORT.
IT'S, IT'S, IT'S, IT'S DOING FRIENDS WITH YOUR, DOING BUSINESS WITH YOUR FRIENDS AT CITY HALL.
I WANT ARMS LENGTH RELATIONSHIPS AND, AND CONTRACTS WITH VENDORS.
DON'T BE GOING TO YOUR FRIENDS.
AND THERE'S A LOT OF THAT STILL VERY PREVALENT.
RANDY, YOU WANT TO SPEAK TO CHANGES YOU'VE MADE
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AND AND NOTICED SINCE YOU'VE BEEN DOWN THERE? YEAH, SURE.YOU KNOW, THIS BEING AN ITEM THAT WE RECOGNIZE IS THE ULTIMATE BETRAYAL OF PUBLIC TRUST, WHERE NOT ONLY ARE WE RESPONSIBLE FOR ENSURING THAT WE PROVIDE SAFE AND ACCURATE SERVICES TO THE PEOPLE IN TERMS OF PROVIDING GOOD DRINKING WATER.
I MEAN, THE WATER MAIN BREAKS IS ALL ABOUT OUR ABILITY TO DELIVER WATER TO RESIDENTS OF HOUSTON.
SO REPAIRING THEM, OF COURSE, TAKES PRECEDENCE IN ALL THAT WE DO.
THAT'S WHY THERE WAS SIGNIFICANT MONEY INVESTED IN DOING THIS IN THE FIRST PLACE.
AND WHY IT FELL UNDER THE, THE GUISE OF BEING AN EMERGENCY, BECAUSE WHERE WE HAD MORE THAN A THOUSAND BREAKS AT A GIVEN POINT OVER THE SUMMERTIME DURING THE DROUGHT, IT WAS IMPERATIVE THAT WE GET OUT THERE AND WE GOT THE WORK DONE AS QUICKLY AS WE COULD.
THE PROBLEM WITH THAT, OF COURSE, IS THAT IF YOU DON'T HAVE GOOD INTERNAL CHECKS AND BALANCES, WHEN YOU START THAT PROCESS AND WHERE YOU HAVE A PROCESS THAT ALLOWS A SINGLE INDIVIDUAL TO CONTROL THE MAJORITY OF THE WORK AND EVERYTHING THAT'S BEING DONE WITHOUT ANY OVERSIGHT ABOVE THAT, OR EVEN WHEN YOU RELY ON THE PEOPLE ABOVE THAT PERSON TO THEM PROVIDE YOU GOOD AND ACCURATE INFORMATION, YOU'RE ONLY GONNA BE OPERATING WITH AS MUCH AS, YOU KNOW, THE MAYOR ALLUDED TO THAT THE THINGS THAT KEEP US UP AT NIGHT ARE THE THINGS THAT WE DON'T KNOW ABOUT.
YOU KNOW, PUBLIC WORKS AS A DEPARTMENT IN THE CITY IS ONE OF THE LARGEST, IT'S, IT'S THE LARGEST BY PERSONNEL IN TERMS OF NON-UNIFORM INDIVIDUALS.
AND, AND EVEN THAT'S A MISNOMER.
MOST OF OUR PEOPLE WEAR A DIFFERENT TYPE OF UNIFORM.
IT'S JUST NOT ONE WITH A BADGE OUT THERE.
AND SO IT'S REALLY DIFFICULT TO MAKE SURE YOU KNOW WHAT EVERYBODY'S DOING AT ALL TIMES AND IN ALL PLACES AFTER THIS BROKE.
AND, AND, AND THANKS TO AMY FOR THIS, BECAUSE AS SOON AS THAT CAME TO THE ATTENTION, WE OF COURSE KNEW WE HAD TO DO AT LEAST AN INTERNAL INVESTIGATION TO ADDRESS THE PERSONNEL ISSUE, RIGHT? CIVIL SERVICE ISSUES WITHIN THE CITY REQUIRE YOU TO GO THROUGH CERTAIN PROCESSES.
YOU DO HAVE TO DO SOME THINGS INTERNALLY, BUT IT WAS IMPERATIVE TOO THAT WE TAKE IT TO THE NEXT LEVEL.
WE LOOK AT IT FROM THE CRIMINAL STANDPOINT, AND THEN WE START LOOKING AT OUR PROCESSES.
HOW DO WE FIND THE VENDORS THAT WE'RE WORKING WITH? IN THIS INSTANCE AS THE AFFIDAVITS LAYOUT, THERE WAS, UH, SOME FABRICATION OF THE INFORMATION THAT WENT THERE.
UM, THE, AS THIS, AS THE THIS CASE PROCEEDS, WE'LL FIND OUT WHAT ALL OF THOSE DETAILS ARE.
I'M CONFIDENT THAT WE'LL FIND OUT MANY MORE THAT WE STILL DON'T KNOW TODAY BECAUSE THE INVESTIGATION CONTINUES AS IT GOES HERE.
BUT WE CAN DO SIMPLE THINGS, FOR INSTANCE, LIKE MAYBE WE GO AND CHECK OUT WHERE A BUSINESS IS LOCATED AND WE MAKE SURE THAT IT'S A REAL BUSINESS, NOT AN APARTMENT.
UM, THOSE ARE SOME OF THE THINGS THAT MAY ADD ADDITIONAL WORK AND SCRUTINY TO OUR PEOPLE, BUT THERE, IT'S THE LOW HANGING FRUIT, IF YOU WILL, THAT ALLOWS US TO MAKE SURE THAT WE CAN HAVE CONFIDENCE THAT WE'RE WORKING WITH THE PEOPLE WE NEED TO WORK WITH.
IF WE DON'T HAVE A BONAFIDE HISTORY WITH A VENDOR, WHY WOULD WE BRING THAT PERSON IN, FOR INSTANCE, TO DO SIGNIFICANT EMERGENCY WORK FOR SIGNIFICANT DOLLARS? THIS PROCESS THOUGH, AND I HAVE TO EMPHASIZE THIS HAS GOT TO ALWAYS BE UNDER REVIEW.
IT'S NOT SOMETHING WHERE WE CAN SET IT UP AND SAY, OH, WE'RE GOOD AND WE'RE CONFIDENT WITH WHAT WE HAVE RIGHT NOW.
WE'VE GOT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE CONTINUALLY CHECKING OURSELVES TO MAKE SURE THAT THE WORK WE'RE EXPECTING, THE WORK THAT THE PUBLIC IS EXPECTING IS THE WORK THAT'S GONNA BE DELIVERED.
AND SO THAT'S MORE THAN PUBLIC WORKS.
THAT'S US WORKING WITH THE FINANCE DEPARTMENT WITH STRATEGIC PROCUREMENT IN TERMS OF HOW WE SOURCE PEOPLE, HOW WE VET THEM, HOW WE MAKE SURE THAT WE COLLECT A GOOD LOG AND A GOOD HISTORY, AND THEN HOW WE PREVENT BAD ACTORS OR PEOPLE THAT DON'T DELIVER GOOD SERVICES OF THE CITY FROM BEING THE FIRST ONES TO BE ABLE TO SIGN UP TO HELP US IN THE FUTURE.
AND SO WHERE ARE YOU IN THAT PROCESS IN TERMS OF REACHING THOSE IDEALS? IT'S, IT'S, IT'S COMPLETELY ONGOING.
WE STARTED ACTUALLY GOING OUT IMMEDIATELY.
STRATEGIC PROCUREMENT, UH, TOOK THE LEAD ON THIS PARTICULAR INSTANCE OF ACTUALLY PHYSICALLY GOING OUT AND CHECKING LOCATIONS OF PEOPLE, RIGHT? UM, I THINK WE'VE GOT A LOT OF WORK TO DO.
AND IT'S, LIKE I SAID, IT'S BEYOND JUST PUBLIC WORKS.
UM, WE'LL HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO GET TOGETHER WITH LARGER GROUPS OF SOME OF THE CITY'S LEADERS, FOLKS THAT THE MAYOR HAS MADE SURE HAVE THAT COMMITMENT TO TRANSPARENCY ACROSS THE CITY, TO, TO BE ABLE TO PUT THESE PROCESSES FORWARD.
AND IMPORTANTLY TOO, TO MAKE SURE THAT THE PUBLIC UNDERSTANDS WHAT THAT PROCESS IS AS WELL.
WE DON'T WANT TO, NOR DO WE INTEND TO KEEP ALL OF THOSE THINGS SECRET.
UM, BUT IT HAS TO BE A DETAIL AND IT HAS TO BE AN EXHAUSTIVE PROCESS.
WHAT ABOUT THE RESIDENTS? WHAT ABOUT THE PEOPLE AFFECTED, YOU ALREADY IDENTIFIED THE PROBLEM, WHOEVER FAMILIES THAT LOST THAT AMOUNT OF MONEY YOU ALREADY PUT IN PLAN SOMETHING ABOUT WHAT THEY CAN EXPECT FOR, FOR THE FUTURE, FOR THE, THE MONEY THAT THEY LOST.
I THINK THAT'S THE WATER BILL.
YOU ARE YOU SPEAKING ABOUT THE THE HIGH WATER BILLS, THE, THE MAJOR CAN CAN, YEAH.
WELL, WE'VE COMPLETELY REFORMED, TRANSFORMED THE BILLING PROCESS.
UH, WE HAVE, IF YOU WANNA TALK ABOUT OUR, OUR INFRASTRUCTURE, THAT'S A WHOLE NOTHER CONVERSATION.
WE STILL HAVE LOTS OF MILES OF DRAINAGE AND WATER LINES THAT ARE GONNA HAVE TO BE ADDRESSED.
I THINK RANDY EMPHASIZED THE ENVIRONMENT AND THE CIRCUMSTANCES OF THE EMERGENCY NATURE OF THESE VENDORS.
AND THAT WAS BROUGHT ABOUT BY THE DROUGHT,
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THE BROKEN WATER LINES.WILL YOU EVER BE ABLE TO MAKE THE CITIZENS WHOLE IF THROUGH SOME OF THIS CORRUPTION, SHORTCHANGED THEM? NO.
ALL WE CAN SAY TO THE PUBLIC IS WE'VE IDENTIFIED THE PLAYERS, THE BAD PLAYERS, AND THEY'RE GONNA BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE.
AND PUNISHMENT AND IMPRISONMENT IS A PRETTY HIGH PRICE TO REQUIRE THOSE INDIVIDUALS TO PAY.
BUT WE, WE DON'T HESITATE TO HOLD 'EM ACCOUNTABLE.
CAN, CAN I ONE THING? YEAH, SURE, SURE.
YOU KNOW, RANDY TALKED ABOUT RED FLAGS, AND THAT'S REALLY WHAT PUBLIC CORRUPTION INVESTIGATIONS RELY ON.
SOMETHING THAT CAUSES THE MEDIA OR CAUSES ANOTHER PUBLIC OFFICIAL OR AN AVERAGE PERSON TO SAY, YOU KNOW, THAT DOESN'T SMELL RIGHT.
IN THIS INSTANCE, SEVERAL OF THE VENDORS WHO WERE NOT QUALIFIED STARTED THEIR COMPANIES JUST MONTHS BEFORE THEY GOT VERY LARGE CONTRACTS.
WE'VE SEEN THAT AT THE COUNTY LEVEL, AND WE'VE SEEN IT IN OTHER PUBLIC CORRUPTION CASES.
SO THE LENGTH OF TIME THAT A CORPORATION HAS BEEN, UH, ESTABLISHED, THEIR WORK HISTORY, WHO'S ON THEIR BOARD, AND WHETHER THEY HAVE ANY CONFLICTS OF INTEREST OR, UH, FAMILY OR FRIENDLY TIES WITH THE PEOPLE VOTING ON THOSE CONTRACTS, THOSE ARE THE THINGS THAT WE LOOK FOR IN PUBLIC CORRUPTION CASES.
AND, AND I THINK I NEED TO EMPHASIZE HOW MANY GOOD EMPLOYEES, AND I WOULD ENCOURAGE OUR, OUR HONEST, VAST MAJORITY OF CITY EMPLOYEES TO COME FORWARD.
THEY DON'T HAVE TO GO ALONG TO GET ALONG WHEN THEY SEE CORRUPTION, CONFLICTS OF INTEREST, BRING IT TO MY ATTENTION AND WE WON'T TOLERATE.
I THINK COUNCIL'S GONNA HAVE TO DO A BETTER JOB.
YOU KNOW, COUNCIL VOTED THIS THROUGH WITH, BY THE RECOMMENDATION OF THE PREVIOUS ADMINISTRATION, SYLVESTER TURNER.
SO COUNSEL, CONTINUE TO ASK THE RIGHT QUESTIONS AND JUST BE AS TRANSPARENT SO WE DON'T FIND OURSELF IN A MEETING LIKE THIS.
AND THAT'S WHAT, YOU KNOW, I'M SO PROUD TO HAVE RANDY.
HE'S, HE'S A PUBLIC SERVANT THAT'S GONNA HOLD PEOPLE ACCOUNTABLE.
AND THE FINANCE DEPARTMENT AS WELL, THE MAYOR'S TEAM, YOU KNOW, WE DON'T TOLERATE CONFLICTS.
AND SO NOW IT'S SPREADING OVER TO METRO.
IT'S SPREADING OVER TO THE AIRPORT.
YOU KNOW, WE HAVE A NEW AIRPORT DIRECTOR.
WELL, THAT CAME ABOUT BECAUSE OF DISCUSSIONS OF CONFLICTS OF INTEREST.
WE GOT A COMPLETE NEW HOUSING AUTHORITY CAME ABOUT BECAUSE THE AWARENESS OF CONFLICTS OF INTEREST.
WE GOTTA KEEP OUR FRIENDS OUTTA CITY BUSINESS UNLESS THEY'RE QUALIFIED.
IN FACT, QUITE FRANKLY, I DON'T THINK CITY EMPLOYEES OUGHT TO BE HANGING OUT WITH THEIR FRIENDS THAT ARE VENDORS.
THERE OUGHT TO BE A DISTANCE THERE, VERY TRANSPARENT METRO FOR DARN SURE.
YOU START LOOKING AT 29 VICE PRESIDENTS MOST MAKING AROUND 300 GRAND UP UNTIL A MONTH AGO, THEY WERE STILL WORKING AT HOME UNDER COVID CONDITIONS.
THERE'S, THERE'S GONNA BE CHANGES IN THIS CITY.
AND THE PRESS CAN PLAY A REALLY PRIMARY ROLE IN THAT.
UM, I HAVE A, A FEW QUESTIONS, AND, AND RANDY I THINK MIGHT BE ABLE TO ANSWER THESE.
I MEAN, WE'RE RIGHT AT THE BEGINNING OF SUMMER WHERE WE USUALLY SEE THESE, AT LEAST THE LAST COUPLE OF YEARS, THE PROBLEMS WITH THE LINES BREAKING AND LEAKING.
SO KNOWING NOW THAT, THAT EPO PROCESS YEAH, THE ONLY THING THAT SORT OF, WE SAID IN THIS INVESTIGATION THAT ALLOWED FOR SUPERVISORS NOT TO NOTICE THIS, WAS THAT THE VENDORS CHECK THE BOX THAT SAID NO.
SO HOW IS THAT GOING TO CHANGE? ARE WE STILL GOING TO HAVE THESE EMERGENCY PURCHASE ORDERS WHERE THEY CAN JUST SAY, OKAY, LET'S, I MEAN, HOW IS THAT CHANGING? NO, I, I I THINK THAT'S A, NOT JUST A FAIR QUESTION, BUT A GREAT QUESTION.
WE FIND OURSELVES IN A, IN AN INTERESTING SPOT RIGHT NOW BECAUSE WE'RE AT THE END OF OUR FISCAL YEAR, FOR INSTANCE, UH, WE RUN TO THE END OF THE FISCAL YEAR AND THINGS THAT WE HAD APPROPRIATED IN ORDER TO DO AND PERFORM WORK STARTS TO BECOME VERY, VERY THIN.
UM, WATERLINE REPAIR CONTRACTS IS ONE OF THOSE, THAT'S WHY THERE WERE EPOS IN THE FIRST PLACE WAS BECAUSE IN THE PREVIOUS BUDGET CYCLES, THERE WAS NOT ENOUGH MONEY THAT WAS BUDGETED FOR DEDICATED VENDORS THROUGH THE NORMAL PROCUREMENT PROCESS TO BE ASSIGNED TO GO OUT AND PERFORM WATERLINE REPAIRS.
CERTAINLY NOT AT THE VOLUME THAT WE HAD.
NOW, THE WEATHER SO FAR THIS YEAR SEEMS TO INDICATE MAYBE WHO WON'T EXPERIENCE THE DROUGHT THAT WE HAD BEFORE.
UM, IT WAS AT THIS POINT LAST YEAR, IN FACT, JUNE 1ST LAST YEAR, THAT WE WERE UNDER A HUNDRED ACTIVE WATER MAIN BREAKS ACROSS THE CITY.
IT WAS, IT WAS A SIGNIFICANT MILESTONE.
NOW WE HAVE TO ASK OURSELVES THE QUESTION, AND WE'RE STILL GOING THROUGH THIS PROCESS WITH THE THINGS THAT WERE DONE.
HOW ACCURATE WERE THOSE NUMBERS WHEN THEY WERE REPORTED TO US IN THE FIRST PLACE? I CAN TELL YOU, AS OF RIGHT NOW, TODAY WE HAVE NEARLY 1200 ACTIVE BREAKS ACROSS THE CITY.
WE'VE SPENT MONTHS AND MONTHS SINCE THIS INVESTIGATION TO MAKE SURE THAT THE DATA THAT'S COMING INTO US FROM A, FROM A MANAGEMENT PERSPECTIVE, FROM A LEADERSHIP PERSPECTIVE, IS ACCURATE.
SO THAT WE KNOW WHERE TO PUT OUR RESOURCES AND WHAT RESOURCES THAT WE NEED.
[00:30:01]
INTO THE BUDGET CYCLE FOR THIS COMING YEAR, THAT WE DEDICATE THE APPROPRIATE AMOUNT OF MONEY.YOU NOTICE IN THE PUBLIC WORKS BUDGET FOR THIS YEAR, THERE'S AN ADDITIONAL 25 MILLION THAT'S DEDICATED SPECIFICALLY TO REGULARLY PROCURED CONTRACTS FOR WATER MAIN REPAIRS.
AND SO THE REGULAR PROCUREMENT PROCESS VERY DIFFERENT FROM AN EPO, RIGHT? THERE'S AN EXHAUSTIVE APPLICATION THAT GOES THROUGH.
THERE'S INFORMATION, THERE'S TAX, UH, DATA THAT GOES THROUGH BEYOND WHAT I CAN DO BECAUSE THAT'S, THAT'S FRANKLY OUTSIDE OF OUR REALM.
BUT WE HAVE DEDICATED THOSE RESOURCES TO MAKE SURE THAT WE CAN AVOID TO THE EXTENT POSSIBLE EMERGENCY PURCHASE ORDERS.
IT'S NOT POSSIBLE TO COMPLETELY AVOID THEM.
SOMETHING'S GOING TO POP UP FOR WHICH WE DIDN'T ORIGINALLY BUDGET.
UH, A GREAT EXAMPLE OF THAT IS WE HAD A SIGNIFICANT BREAK AT, IN THE MEDICAL CENTER ABOUT SIX MONTHS AGO.
WE'RE STILL GOING THROUGH THE REPAIR PROCESS FOR THAT AT SOMETHING THAT'S COST MILLIONS OF DOLLARS TO REPAIR BOTH WATER AND SANITARY SEWER LINES.
THAT WAS NOT SOMETHING WE WOULD'VE CONTEMPLATED BEFORE.
THOSE ARE THE THINGS THAT WE LOOK AT.
WE SAY, WELL, THIS IS A BONAFIDE EMERGENCY.
BUT HAD THE DEPARTMENT DONE A GOOD JOB IN THE FIRST PLACE OF RECOGNIZING, WELL, WE HAD A THOUSAND LEAKS THIS LAST SUMMER.
WE HAD A THOUSAND LEAKS THE SUMMER BEFORE.
PERHAPS IN THE BUDGET PROCESS, IF WE'D BEEN MORE PREPARED, WE COULD HAVE REGULARLY PROCURED PEOPLE WHEN WE SET OURSELVES UP FOR SUCCESS RATHER THAN FAILURE, RATHER THAN SCRUTINY.
THAT'S NOT NECESSARY BECAUSE WE'RE DOING THE JOB THAT THE PUBLIC'S ASKING US TO DO.
SO IT SOUNDS LIKE HER QUESTION WAS, WHAT ARE YOU DOING RIGHT NOW TO CHANGE THE EPO PROCESS SO THAT IT'S NOT RIGHT FOR GRANT? YEAH, NO, AND THAT'S A FAIR QUESTION.
UH, WHAT'S THE ANSWER? THE EPO PROCESS IS NOT A PROCESS THAT I OWN.
AND SO THAT'S WHY I SAY THIS IS SOMETHING THAT IS COLLABORATIVE BEYOND MULTIPLE DEPARTMENTS.
ULTIMATELY, WHEN THOSE EPOS ARE ISSUED, THAT COMES THROUGH THE FINANCE DEPARTMENT THROUGH STRATEGIC PROCUREMENT.
IN MY DEPARTMENT THOUGH, WHAT WE DO IS WE DON'T ALLOW ONE PERSON ALONE TO BE THE ONLY PERSON VERIFYING THE INFORMATION THAT'S SUBMITTED TO FINANCE FOR APPROVAL IN THE FIRST PLACE.
FINANCE IS PUT IN ADDITIONAL MEASURES THAT, THAT THEY'D BE HAPPY, I'M SURE TO, TO SHARE WITH YOU AT THAT POINT.
BUT FROM OUR SIDE, THERE'S NEVER GOING TO BE A SITUATION WHERE ONE PERSON AND ONE PERSON ALONE IS THE ONLY AUTHOR AND VERIFIER OF THE TRUTH BEING SUBMITTED.
AS WAS THE CASE, AS WAS THE CASE HERE.
UM, CAN YOU TELL ME HOW MANY EMPLOYEES IN PUBLIC WORKS WERE TERMINATED, CONNECTED TO THIS? I KNOW OF THREE THAT WERE TERMINATED, DIRECTLY CONNECTED TO THIS.
CAN YOU TELL US WHO THOSE ARE? THAT SEEMS LIKE A NUMBER.
PATRICE IS THE FIRST ONE THAT I CAN TELL YOU, AND I'M, YOU'LL HAVE TO FORGIVE ME.
I CANNOT REMEMBER THE OTHER TWO NAMES.
UH, ALSO IT IS AN ONGOING INVESTIGATION.
QUESTION FOR TEXAS RANGER, ARE YOU SPEAKING? MM-HMM.
HE'S OUR PRIMARY WITNESS IN THE CASE.
SO I JUST ASK AT A, AS A MATTER OF PROFESSIONAL COURTESY, YOU NOT ASK HIM QUESTIONS, WE'RE HERE AVAILABLE TO YOU.
DISTRICT ATTORNEY OR MIKE, DO WE KNOW WHAT SHE DID WITH THE $750,000, MIKE? UM, WE, WE DO.
IT'S, IT'S ALL GONNA BE COURTROOM EVIDENCE.
I'D RATHER NOT GO INTO IT, BUT, UH, I, I THINK A LOT OF IT HAS BEEN SPENT.
I KNOW THERE'S NEW CARS INVOLVED.
CAN WE SEIZE THEM AT SOME POINT? I MEAN, WHAT HAPPENS NEXT? UH, LIKE I SAID, THE ON THIS INVESTIGATION'S ABSOLUTELY ONGOING AND WE HAVE OTHER SUSPECTS THAT WE'RE INVESTIGATING AS WELL AS OTHER FINANCIAL ISSUES INVOLVING THE SUSPECTS WE'VE ALREADY FILED ON.
YOU ASKED ME ABOUT RESTITUTION.
YOU KNOW, YOU CAN SEIZE CRIMINAL INSTRUMENTS, WHETHER THE AUTOMOBILES, UH, THE DIFFERENT PEOPLE PURCHASED ARE, ARE PART OF THAT IS NOT KNOWN RIGHT NOW.
BUT THIEVES RARELY HAVE SAVINGS ACCOUNTS AND IT'S VERY DIFFICULT FOR THE PUBLIC IN CASES OF PUBLIC CORRUPTION TO BE MADE WHOLE.
AND THAT'S WHAT PUNISHMENT IS ALL ABOUT.
UH, WE WANT TO DETER THIS KIND OF BEHAVIOR.
SURE, WE'D LIKE TO GET THE MONEY BACK.
AND OFTEN WE USE THAT AS A BARGAINING TOOL, UH, WITH CRIMINALLY CHARGED DEFENDANTS.
BUT IN CASES OF PUBLIC TRUST, IT'S IMPORTANT TO MAKE EXAMPLES OUT OF PEOPLE WHO ARE ACTIVELY HARMING THE PUBLIC'S TRUST IN GOVERNMENT.
MAYOR, YOU MENTIONED METRO AND, AND THE AIRPORT A COUPLE OF TIMES, MORE THAN A COUPLE OF TIMES.
UM, ARE THERE INVESTIGATIONS ONGOING THERE? HAVE THEY BEEN GETTING VISITS FROM THE PAINTERS AS WELL? LIKE I SAID, WE WOULD NOT COMMENT ON INVESTIGATIONS.
I JUST AM AWARE OF CONFLICTS OF INTEREST, HOW'S UP? AND THEN IT'S UP TO THE INVESTIGATIVE BODIES TO DETERMINE WHETHER IT'S CRIMINAL IN NATURE AND WHERE THE FACTS WILL LEAD THEM.
UH, YOU KNOW, I'M NOT NEW TO GOVERNMENT, I'M NOT NEW TO HOUSTON.
I KNOW A LOT OF THE PLAYERS AND I'VE WATCHED SOME OF THE PLAYERS DO WELL BEYOND THEIR CITY MEANS I THINK WILLIAM PAUL DRIVING, WHAT THE HELL IS HE DRIVING A MERCEDES OR SOMETHING? YOU KNOW, THERE'S JUST CERTAIN THINGS THAT
[00:35:01]
JUST, YOU KNOW, DON'T MAKE SENSE.AND IF YOU'VE GOT EXPERIENCE LIKE I HAVE AND LIKE THE DISTRICT ATTORNEY HAS, YOU JUST, IT JUST SETS OFF THE ALARMS IN, IN MY WORLD, IN MY TEAM, IT NOT ONLY HAS TO BE RIGHT, IT HAS TO LOOK RIGHT.
AND WHEN I SEE PEOPLE GOING OVER TO THE HOUSING AUTHORITY AND GETTING APPROVAL FOR PROJECTS THAT AN OBJECTIVE PERSON WOULD SAY, NO, WE'RE NOT GONNA BUILD A HOUSING.
WE GOT A PROJECT GOING UP THAT WE DON'T EVEN KNOW WHO'S GONNA OCCUPY IT BECAUSE IT'S SITTING ON A LANDFILL.
AND I WOULD SUGGEST IT WAS ONLY RELATIONSHIPS THAT GOT THAT APPROVED.
IT STARTS AT THE TOP BEFORE THINGS GO ON THE AGENDA.
I LOOK AT 'EM, I'M BRIEFED ON 'EM, RANDY'S IN THE MEETING.
WE, WE ASK PROCUREMENT, WHO'S THIS PERSON? WHAT'S THEIR TRACK RECORD? AND THAT'S WHERE I THINK COUNCIL'S GOTTA DO A BETTER JOB.
WE'VE HAD SOME, UH, OF THE CONTRACTORS THAT WERE INVOLVED, AND I HAVEN'T SEEN THE NAMES, BUT WE HAD A NUMBER OF CONTRACTORS COME BEFORE COUNCIL AND SAID, WE'RE CAUGHT UP IN THIS.
WE DID THE WORK AND WE CAN'T GET PAID.
AND SEVERAL COUNCIL MEMBERS JUST ASSUMED THAT THEY'RE, THEY'RE IN GOOD FAITH.
I'M INTERESTED TO DO A CROSS FILE AND SEE IF ANY OF THE INDICTED INDIVIDUALS WERE THE ONES THAT CAME BEFORE COUNCIL AND GOT SOME SYMPATHY THAT THEY WEREN'T BEING PAID.
BUT, YOU KNOW, METRO, THE AIRPORT, GIVE OUT LARGE NUMBER OF CONTRACTS, UH, AND I'M GOING TO CONTINUE TO REVIEW THAT.
THOSE AGENCIES MAKE SURE THAT THEY'RE, UM, THEY'RE AS PROPER AS, AS WE EXPECT 'EM TO BE.
MARK IS, UH, MR. TURNER PART OF YOUR INVESTIGATION? DO YOU GUYS TALK TO HIM ABOUT THIS? I I'LL ANSWER THAT.
WHEN IT'S AN ONGOING INVESTIGATION, WE JUST, WE RARELY CONFIRM OR DENY JUST AN INVESTIGATION BECAUSE IT'S, IT'S DANGEROUS TO SPEAK TOO QUICKLY.
IT IS ALWAYS UP TO THE PUBLIC AND A GRAND JURY.
SO WE CAN'T ANSWER THAT QUESTION.
SO WE KNOW THAT THIS, THESE INVESTIGATIONS TAKE TIME, THAT THIS INVESTIGATION IS ONGOING.
AND YOU HAVE FIVE MOMENTS IN OFFICE.
WHAT, HOW CONFIDENT ARE YOU THAT THIS, THESE CASES WILL BE PROSECUTED? 'CAUSE WE'RE TALKING, THIS WOULD HAPPEN AFTER YOU LEAVE.
I'M CONFIDENT THAT AS LONG AS I'M THE DISTRICT ATTORNEY, THE PUBLIC CAN EXPECT PUBLIC CORRUPTION TO BE PROSECUTED REGARDLESS OF THE POSITION, THE POLITICAL PARTY OR THE POWER OF THE TARGETS.
AND THOSE ACCUSED AFTER DECEMBER 31ST.
AND WE'LL JUST HAVE TO SEE HOW THE NEXT DISTRICT ATTORNEY DEALS WITH PUBLIC CORRUPTION.
AND BEFORE WE CLOSE OUT, I'D LIKE JUST TO TAKE A MOMENT OF PERSONAL PRIVILEGE TO THANK, UH, THE DEAN OF THE SENATE, FORMERLY MY STATE SENATOR AND DISTRICT 15, WHO FOLLOWED SENATOR JACK HOOG.
MY FATHER, WE'VE BEEN IN POLITICS, UH, THE SENATOR ACTIVELY, AND ME AS A FAMILY MEMBER PARTICIPANT, MUCH OF OUR LIVES, ALMOST ALL OF, OF THE MAYOR'S LIFE AND HIS CHILDREN'S LIFE.
AND WE EXPECT PUBLIC SERVANTS TO
SO WE DON'T HAVE A LOT OF EMPATHY OR MERCY FOR THOSE WHO WOULD STEAL FROM THE PUBLIC OUT OF THEIR POSITION OF POWER GIVEN TO THEM BY THE PUBLIC.
THANK YOU MAYOR, FOR YOUR GOOD EXAMPLE ALL THESE YEARS.