* This transcript was created by voice-to-text technology. The transcript has not been edited for errors or omissions, it is for reference only and is not the official minutes of the meeting. RECOGNIZES COUNCIL [00:00:01] MEMBER THOMAS FOR A PROCLAMATION. [PRESENTATIONS] LET'S GO TO WORK. MAYOR, WHO'S BRINGING ME TO PROCLAMATION CHAIR RECOGNIZES COUNCIL MEMBER THOMAS FOR A PROCLAMATION TO SIGMA GAMMA ROSE SORORITY INCORPORATED TO RECOGNIZE THE NONPROFIT SORORITY FOR THEIR SERVICE TO THE COMMUNITY. THANK YOU, MAYOR PROM. THANK YOU MAYOR PRO TEM. MR. MAYOR, I APPRECIATE YOU WEARING YOUR BLUE TODAY FOR THIS WONDERFUL OCCASION. HE'S RIGHT ON TIME, Y'ALL. HE KNEW Y'ALL WAS COMING. UM, SO BEFORE I SHARE ABOUT SIGMA GIRO, A SORORITY AND, AND, UH, FOR MAYOR WHITMEYER PROCLAIM THE TODAY I DO WANNA SHOUT OUT, UH, THE SAM HOUSTON STATE CHAPTER, THE CAPITAL MU CHAPTER OF SIGMA GIRO, UH, WHERE I ATTENDED UNDERGRAD IN THE PRAIRIE VIEW A AND M CHAPTER DELTA ALPHA IN THE HOUSE. AMEN. GOTTA SHOW LOVE, NO HATE TO ANYONE ELSE. I GOTTA SHOW LOVE TO MY, UH, MY ALMA MATERS. AND THEN A SPECIAL SHOUT OUT TO, UH, SEVERAL MEMBERS OF YOUR ILLUSTRIOUS ORGANIZATION THAT, UM, ARE DOING AMAZING THINGS. DR. JULIA ANDREWS, TUCKER WILSON, ONE OF MY FAVORITE FORMER GRADUATE STUDENTS. AND KIM BALLARD, A REESE, A NEWER MEMBER OF THE ORGANIZATION, AND SO COLLEAGUES AND MAYOR, AND TO THOSE THAT ARE WATCHING ONLINE TODAY. SIGMA GAMMA SORORITY IS A NON-PROFIT SORORITY OF OVER A HUNDRED THOUSAND INDUCTED COLLEGIATE AND PROFESSIONAL WOMEN, WITH OVER 500 CHAPTERS DEDICATED TO ENHANCING THE QUALITY OF LIVES OF WOMEN, YOUNG PEOPLE IN THE COMMUNITIES THAT THEY SERVE GLOBALLY, INCLUSIVE OF THE UNITED STATES, THE BAHAMAS, BERMUDA, CANADA, GHANA, GERMANY, JAPAN, SOUTH KOREA, THE US VIRGIN ISLANDS, AND THE UAE. WHEREAS SIGMA GAMMA SORORITY, THROUGH ITS COMMITMENT TO THE MISSION, GREATER SERVICE, GREATER PROGRESS FOR OVER 100 YEARS SEEKS TO ADDRESS ITS COMMUNITIES THROUGH PROGRAMS AND PROJECTS THAT IMPACT SOCIETY EDUCATIONALLY, SOCIALLY, POLITICALLY, AND ECONOMICALLY. AND AS AN ASIDE WORD ON THE STREET IS THE VICE PRESIDENT SPEAKING AT Y'ALL'S LUNCH AT Y'ALL PUBLIC MEETING. I GOT TO GET, Y'ALL GOT TO LET ME IN THE LINE, LET ME IN THE LINE. WHEREAS SIGMA GAMMA ROW SORORITY IS HOSTING ITS 60TH, INTERNATIONAL BIENNIAL BOLE IN HOUSTON, TEXAS STARTING WEDNESDAY, JULY 31ST THROUGH SUNDAY, AUGUST 4TH AT THE HOUSTON LANDMARK, GEORGIA BROWN CONVICTION CENTER WITH A GLOBAL DELEGATION OF OVER 5,000 PARTICIPANTS. WHEREAS SIGMA GAMMA SORORITY THROUGH ITS FIVE ESSENTIAL NATIONAL PROGRAMS, WILL IMPACT THE LOCAL COMMUNITIES WITH OVER $250,000 IN PHILANTHROPIC IMPACT THROUGH SERVICE PROJECTS THAT ADDRESS SUCH ISSUES SUCH AS MATERNAL HEALTH, HEALTH AND WELLNESS, EDUCATION, VOTING RIGHTS, MENTAL HEALTH, FOOD DISPARITIES, AND UNDERREPRESENTED POPULATIONS IN YOUNG PEOPLE. AND WHEREAS THE CITY OF HOUSTON COMMENDS SIGMA GAMMA ROSE SORORITY FOR ITS EVENTS, ACTIVATIONS, SERVICE PROJECTS WHICH PROMOTE OPPORTUNITIES FOR PERSONAL AND PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT, ENHANCE QUALITY OF LIFE WITHIN THE HOUSTON COMMUNITY AND THE CITY OF HOUSTON, CONGRATULATE SIGMA GAMMA ROSE SORORITY, INCORPORATED ON ITS 60TH, BIENNIAL BOLE AND EXTENDS BEST WISHES. BEST WISHES FOR CONTINUED SUCCESS. MR. MAYOR. THANK YOU COUNCILMAN THOMAS. AND I THINK I SHOULD GIVE YOU MORE TIME YOU WITH, WITH THIS KIND OF ATTENDANCE, , WITH THE KIND OF ATTENDANCE THAT'S DISPLAYED TO HERE TODAY AND THEIR RECORD OF SERVICE, UH, TO NOT JUST HOUSTON, BUT SOUND LIKE THE WORLD. YEAH. SO, SO I JUST AM EXCITED TO BE HERE. IT'S A GREAT WAY TO START OUR DAY TO RECOGNIZE AN OUTSTANDING SORORITY. SO I, JOHN WHITMEYER MAYOR, THE CITY OF HOUSTON HERE BY PROCLAIM JULY 30TH, 2024, IS A SGA GORO SORORITY DAY IN HOUSTON, TEXAS. ALL RIGHT, THANK YOU. AND I'LL YIELD, UH, ONE OF THE OFFICERS BATTLE PRO TWO. OKAY. I AM THE INTERNATIONAL PRESIDENT OF SIGMA GAMMAR ROLL SORORITY, INCORPORATED RASHIDA AS LIBERTY, WE ARE HAPPY TO BE CELEBRATING IN WHAT I CALL HOME HOUSTON, TEXAS. THAT'S RIGHT. UM, OUR 60TH BOLE, WE, AS YOU ANNOUNCED, WE DO HAVE A SPECIAL GUEST TOMORROW, VICE PRESIDENT HARRIS, WHO WILL BE ATTENDING OUR PUBLIC MEETING AND BRINGING REMARKS. WE HAVE BEEN IN THIS BUSINESS FOR MANY, MANY YEARS, A HUNDRED YEARS AND ESTABLISHED AT BUTLER UNIVERSITY. WE'VE DONE THE GREAT WORK FOR NOT ONLY THE US BUT FOR THE WORLD. AND I'M EXCITED ABOUT WHAT WE HAVE TO BRING. OUR MOTTO IS GREATER SERVICE, GREATER PROGRESS. AND THAT IS EXACTLY WHAT WE WILL DO IN REPEAT HERE IN THE CITY OF HOUSTON. I HAVE SOME UPDATED NUMBERS FOR YOU. WE ARE GOING TO GIVE TO THIS CITY $550,000 IN PHILANTHROPY. WOW. THAT'S RIGHT. AND [00:05:01] WE'LL ALSO BE BRINGING IN REVENUE, HOTELS, SPEND, ET CETERA. WE HAVE CALCULATED A FIGURE OF $10 MILLION. THAT'S RIGHT. SO WE'RE EXCITED. ALRIGHT. SPEND THAT MONEY. THANK YOU. THANK YOU, MR. MAYOR. I KNOW THAT'S SOMETHING THAT WE CAN DEFINITELY, I I KNOW YOU APPRECIATE THAT. UH, THE SALES TAX. UH, ENJOY GEORGIA BROWN. ENJOY AL THE PLAZA. I THINK WE OUGHT TO START OVER. . I'VE GOT MORE REMARKS NOW. . THAT'S AMAZING. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR CONTRIBUTION. UM, MADAM PRESIDENT, UM, MEDICAL TO THE, WE DID HAVE A COUPLE OF COUNCIL MEMBERS IN QUEUE. WE'LL START WITH COUNCIL MEMBER MARTINEZ. THANK YOU. MAYOR PRO TIM. COUNCILOR THOMAS. THANK YOU FOR BRINGINGS GAMMA. UM, YOU KNOW, I, THIS YEAR IS MY FIRST YEAR BEING ON COUNCIL AND I'M PART OF A LATINO FRATERNITY, AND I JUST WANT TO REALLY HIGHLIGHT THE WORK THAT YOU ALL HAVE DONE TO SET THE FOUNDATION. UM, AND I WAS ABLE TO BRING MY FRATERNITY BROTHERS HERE FOR THE FIRST TIME. AND, AND, UM, JUST TO SEE THE ACCOMPLISHMENTS, THAT'S SOMETHING THAT I PERSONALLY WANNA STRIVE FOR, UM, AS AN ORGANIZATION AS WELL. WE'RE VERY YOUNG, 1986, BUT IT, IT COULDN'T HAVE BEEN DONE WITHOUT THE WORK THAT YOU ALL HAVE HAVE DONE. SO THANK YOU FOR ALL YOUR WORK. FOR SURE. THANK YOU MUCH. COUNCIL MEMBER, UH, THOMAS, WE WANT TO THANK YOU FOR BRINGING, UH, FORTH THIS PROCLAMATION ALONG WITH MAYOR WHITMEYER, UH, FOR THIS AMAZING GROUP OF WOMEN. UH, 100 YEARS DESERVES TO BE CELEBRATED. UH, NOT MANY ORGANIZATIONS CAN SAY THAT THEY HAVE BEEN IN EXISTENCE FOR 100 YEARS. WE ARE EXTREMELY EXCITED THAT YOU HAVE CHOSEN HOUSTON FOR YOUR 60TH, UH, NATIONAL CONVENTION. WE APPRECIATE ALL OF YOUR EFFORTS AND ALL OF THE WORK THAT YOU HAVE DONE ACROSS THE COUNTRY. AND I WILL TELL YOU, GOVERNMENT CANNOT DO THIS WORK ALONE. WE HAVE TO HAVE PARTNERS IN THE FIGHT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE IMPROVING THE QUALITY OF LIFE FOR EVERY SINGLE PERSON IN OUR WORLD. AND SIGMA GAMMA ROW PLAYS AN EXTRAORDINARY PART IN MAKING SURE WE ARE DOING THAT. SO, AS A MEMBER OF THE DIVINE NINE, IT IS MY EXTREME HONOR TO WELCOME YOU TO YOUR CITY HALL AND TO THE CITY HALL HERE IN HOUSTON AND TO THE CITY OF HOUSTON AS YOU CELEBRATE YOUR 60TH, UH, BOLE HERE IN OUR GREAT CITY. SO, CONGRATULATIONS AND WE LOOK FORWARD TO AN EXTRAORDINARY WEEK AS YOU, UM, TAKE CARE OF THE BUSINESS OF SIGMA GAMMA ROW SO WE CAN CONTINUE TO CELEBRATE, UH, GREATER SERVICE AND GREATER PROGRESS FOREVER. YEP. COUNCIL MEMBER THOMAS. COUNCIL MEMBER MARTINEZ. HE WANTED TO ADD SOMETHING THAT I FORGOT, YOU KNOW, SO Y'ALL PROBABLY WERE LIKE, WHAT ORGANIZATION IS THAT? IS SIGMA LAND BETA? SO WE'RE AT SAM HOUSTON AS WELL. WE'RE AT PRAIRIE VIEW, AND SO JUST WANTED TO MAKE SURE I SHARED THAT NAME WITH YOU ALL AS WELL. , CONGRATULATIONS. YEAH. JUST WITH THIS GROUP. AND THEN WE'RE GONNA [00:16:05] RECOGNIZES [00:16:06] COUNCIL MEMBER FLICKINGER FOR A PROCLAMATION TO THE US COAST GUARD TO CELEBRATE ITS 234TH BIRTHDAY. WHEREAS ON AUGUST 4TH, 9/17/90, THE OLDEST CONTINUOUS SEAGOING SERVICE OF THIS NATION WAS FORMED. THE UNITED STATES COAST GUARD WAS ORIGINALLY ORGANIZED AS A FLEET OF CUTTERS TO STOP ILLEGAL SMUGGLING FROM THE SEA AND COLLECT REVENUE DUE ON GOODS COMING TO THE YOUNG NATION LATER CALLED THE REVENUE CUTTER SERVICE. THIS SMALL ORGANIZATION COMBINED WITH LIFESAVING SERVICE IN 1915 AND ASSUMED ITS NOW FAMOUS NAME, THE UNITED STATES COAST GUARD. IN 1967, THE COAST GUARD WAS TRANSFERRED TO THE DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION. AND IN 2003 TO THE DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY. TODAY, THEY ARE BOTH FEDERAL LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCY AND A MILITARY FORCE. THE COAST GUARD RESERVE WAS ESTABLISHED ON JUNE 23RD, 1939 AS A CIVILIAN RESERVE. IT WAS RENAMED THE US COAST GUARD AUXILIARY IN 1941. AND WHEREAS THE CITY OF HOUSTON IS PROUD TO HAVE THE US COAST GUARD SECTOR, HOUSTON, GALVESTON, COAST GUARD, AIR STATION, HOUSTON, AND 23 OUTLYING UNITS, INCLUDING 41 SMALL BOATS, EIGHT CUTTERS AND THREE HELICOPTERS, WITH OVER 1700 PERSONNEL TO INCLUDE 927 ACTIVE DUTY PERSONNEL, 210 RESERVE PERSONNEL, 105 CIVILIAN EMPLOYEES, AND 420 AUXILIARY WORKING ALONGSIDE OUR LOCAL GOVERNMENT PARTNERS, INCLUDING HPD, TO ENSURE THE NATION'S LARGEST PORT COMPLEX REMAINS SAFE, SECURE, AND CLEAN BY PERFORMING THE COAST GUARD'S 11 STATUTORY MISSIONS. AND WHEREAS ON AN AVERAGE YEAR, OUR LOCAL COAST GUARD CONDUCTS 400 SEARCH AND RESCUE CASES. SAVING OR ASSISTING 846 LIVES IN PROTECTING OVER $30 MILLION IN PROPERTY 762 MARINE ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION RESPONSES, PROVIDING TIMELY CLEANUP OF OIL SPILLS AND HAZARDOUS MATERIAL RELEASES 7,141 REGULATORY INSPECTIONS, ENSURING COMPLIANCE OF THE AREAS COMMERCIAL AND VESSEL TRAFFIC SERVICE FOR 288,974, MARITIME TRANSIT AND MAIN MAINTENANCE ON 625 AIDS NAVIGATION TO PRESERVE SAFETY ON THE NATION'S BUSIEST WATERWAYS. AND WHEREAS THE UNITED STATES COAST GUARD CELEBRATES 234 YEARS OF HONOR, RESPECT, AND DEVOTION TO DUTY AS THE NATION'S PREMIER MARITIME LAW ENFORCEMENT COMMUNITY, COAST GUARD PERSONNEL SERVE TO SAVE LIVES, PROTECT THE ENVIRONMENT, AND DEFEND THE HOMELAND. THE COAST GUARD'S MOTTO IS SIMPLE APPARATUS, ALWAYS READY TO PROTECT OUR NATION AND CARRY OUT THE DH MISSION. THANK YOU, COUNCILMAN FLICKINGER. AND, UH, I'M SITTING HERE REFLECTING ON, ON THE COAST GUARD AND ITS NAME BRAND. I CAN'T IMAGINE SOMEONE WITH A HIGHER FAVORABLE, UH, THAN THE COAST GUARD BECAUSE WHEN YOU'RE IN DESPERATE SITUATIONS, IN FACT, LAST WEEK WE HAD A COLLISION IN THE PORT OF HOUSTON, THE CHANNEL, IT'S THE COAST GUARD THAT IS THE FIRST CALL. SO YOU'RE VERY MUCH PART OF OUR FIRST RESPONDERS. SO I JUST, UH, WANT TO THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE. THANK YOU FOR RECOGNIZING THEM. AND ALL I CAN SAY IS KEEP UP [00:20:01] THE GOOD WORK BECAUSE WE DEPEND ON YOU. THANK YOU, YOUR HONOR. OH, AND WHAT I'M SUPPOSED TO DO, , I, JOHN MEYER, MAYOR OF THE CITY OF HOUSTON, HEREBY PROCLAIM AUGUST 4TH IS UNITED STATES COAST GUARD DATE. HAPPY BIRTHDAY. YOUR BIRTHDAY. 234. YEAH. THANK YOU. CAPTAIN RODRIGUEZ HAS BROUGHT ALONG A COUPLE OTHER PEOPLE SHE WANTED TO INTRODUCE. I HAVE. SURE. THANK YOU. I'D LIKE TO INTRODUCE JANELLE KENDRICK AGAIN. SHE'S THE COMMAND MASTER CHIEF FOR SECTOR HOUSTON GALVESTON, UH, AND ENSON WILLIAM MCOWEN. HE'S OUR INCIDENT MANAGEMENT, UH, CHIEF FOR SECTOR HOUSTON GALVESTON. AND WE VERY MUCH APPRECIATE OUR PARTNERSHIP WITH THE CITY OF HOUSTON, UH, AND BEING PART OF THIS GREAT CITY. UM, IT'S AN HONOR TO BE HERE. THANK YOU. THANK YOU, MA'AM. GOOD. MEMBER CASTILLO FOR A PROCLAMATION TO AMANDA LYNN FRAGA ON HER GRADUATION FROM THE UNITED STATES AIR FORCE ACADEMY WITH ATHLETIC DISTINCTION. I KNOW. HOW ARE YOU? THANK YOU. GOOD AFTERNOON, COLLEAGUES. I AM EXCITED. STAND HERE TODAY TO PRESENT A PROCLAMATION TO AMANDA FRAGO, ONE OF THE MANY MEMBERS OF THE FRAGA FAMILY WHO HAS CHOSEN A LIFE OF PUBLIC SERVICE. UM, SHE SPENT MUCH OF HER CHILDHOOD MOVING AROUND THE COUNTRY AS PART OF A MILITARY FAMILY WITH HER FATHER SERVING IN THE MILITARY. SHE FOLLOWED IN HER FAMILY'S FOOTSTEPS AND JOINED THE MILITARY OF THE US AIR FORCE ACADEMY, GRADUATING ON MAY 30TH. UM, AND IN ADDITION, HER OLDER BROTHER, NICHOLAS FRAGA, IS A FIRST LIEUTENANT IN THE AIR FORCE. HE'S AN RPA PILOT STATIONED AT GRAND FOLKS AIR FORCE BASE. AND HER MIDDLE BROTHER, DAMIEN FRAGA, IS A FIRST LIEUTENANT IN THE ARMY CHEMICAL OFFICER STATIONED AT FORT CARSON AND COLORADO. UH, WITHIN THE YEAR, THEY'VE BOTH COMPLETED DEPLOYMENTS TO ASIA. SO AS A GRADUATE OF THE ACADEMY, AMANDA HAS HAD THE PRIVILEGE OF ENJOYING TWO MONTHS OF VACATION BEFORE STARTING HER FIRST POST. UM, AND PART OF THAT WAS COMING DOWN TO SPEND TIME WITH FAMILY. UH, YOU KNOW, UNFORTUNATELY, THAT ALSO COINCIDED WITH THE PASSING OF FORMER COUNCIL MEMBER FELIX FRAGA. UM, SO I DO WANT TO TAKE A MOMENT, YOU KNOW, JUST TO SPEAK BRIEFLY ABOUT, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER FRAGA AND COMMUNITY CHAMPION. YOU KNOW, UM, THE DISTRICT H COMMUNITY HAS SPENT THE LAST FEW DAYS HONORING HIS LIFE AND LEGACY. UH, YESTERDAY I JOINED COUNCIL MEMBERS ALCORN AND MARTINEZ AT HIS CELEBRATION OF LIFE, UM, AT BAKER RIPLEY. AND THROUGHOUT HIS LIFE, UH, FELIX WAS DEDICATED TO COMMUNITY AND C COMMITTED TO SERVICE. HE INSTILLED THESE VALUES IN FAMILY, ENCOURAGING THEM TO SERVE, BE IT IN THE COMMUNITY OR IN THE MILITARY. AND HE WAS IMMENSELY PROUD OF HIS SONS AND FAMILY MEMBERS WHO SERVED IN THE ARMED SERVICES. AND I BELIEVE THAT TODAY HE'S LOOKING DOWN WITH PRIDE FROM THE CHAMBER. HE ONCE SAT IN AS HE WATCHES ONE OF HIS OWN, HONORED FOR THEIR SERVICE TO THE COMMUNITY. SO, WHEREAS AMANDA LYNN FRAGA IS A HOUSTONIAN BY FAMILY, BEING A MEMBER OF THE FRAGA FAMILY GRANDDAUGHTER TO FORMER DISTRICT H COUNCIL MEMBER FELIX FRAGA AND NELLY ANO FRAGA TWO HOUSTONIANS, WHO HAVE GIVEN GREATLY IN WAYS TO THIS CITY. AND AS THE DAUGHTER OF US AIR FORCE LIEUTENANT COLONEL CARLOS FRAGA, A NATIVE HOUSTONIAN WHO SERVICE TO HIS COUNTRY INCLUDED BEING A CHEMICAL WEAPONS INSPECTOR IN IRAQ. AND PATRICIA MARSHALL FRAGA OF TYLER, TEXAS, WHO IS AN EDUCATOR IN PUBLIC EDUCATION. WHEREAS AMANDA LYNN FRAGA, HAVING GRADUATED FROM THE US AIR FORCE ACADEMY ON MAY 30TH, 2024, CONTINUES A GREAT LEGACY OF SERVICE FOLLOWING IN THE FOOTSTEPS OF HER FATHER CARLOS FRAGA AIR FORCE ACADEMY OF 1993. AND HER UNCLE BOLIVAR, BO FRAGA, US AIR FORCE ACADEMY CLASS OF 1996. WHEREAS AMANDA GRADUATED FROM THE AIR FORCE ACADEMY WITH ATHLETIC DISTINCTION, HAVING BEEN A MEMBER OF THE AIR FORCE ACADEMY TRACK AND FIELD TEAM, AND EXCEEDING ALL ACADEMIC, MILITARY AND PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS FOR GRADUATION. WHEREAS AMANDA LYNN FRAGA, UPON GRADUATING [00:25:01] FROM THE AIR FORCE ACADEMY, WAS COMMISSIONED A SECOND LIEUTENANT IN THE AIR FORCE AND WILL SERVE HER COUNTRY AS A CYBERSPACE OPERATIONS OFFICER. AND WHEREAS THIS GREAT ACHIEVEMENT REFLECTS HER GRIT AND DETERMINATION IN SUCCESSFULLY COMPLETING THE CHALLENGING FOUR YEARS AT THE AIR FORCE ACADEMY AND REFLECTS POSITIVELY ON THE HOUSTON COMMUNITY, THE CITY OF HOUSTON CONGRATULATES AMANDA LYNN FRAGA ON HER ACHIEVEMENTS AND EXTENDS BEST WISHES FOR CONTINUED SUCCESS. THANK YOU. COUNCIL MEMBER CASTILLO. AND, UM, AS A YOUNG PUBLIC SERVANT STATE REPRESENTATIVE IN EARLY SEVENTIES, THE FROG FAMILY HAS SHAPE AND MOLDED ME. AND I COULD GO THROUGH THE LIST OF, UH, PUBLIC OFFICIALS I SERVED WITH. THE THING THAT STANDS OUT IN MY MIND IS I CAN'T THINK OF A CONTROVERSY BECAUSE FELIX AND, AND THE ENTIRE FAMILY WOULD BRING PEOPLE TOGETHER. AND LORD KNOWS WE NEED A, A DOSE OF THAT TODAY. SO I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO THE NEXT GENERATION OF BRINGING US TOGETHER. CERTAINLY AS WE SEE THE PROUD HISPANIC COMMUNITY CONTINUE TO GROW AND GROW AND HAVE INTEREST, WE NEED THE YOUNG LEADERSHIP THAT YOU ARE PRESENTING US WITH TODAY. SO THANK YOU FOR BEING A TRAILBLAZER AND, UH, KIND OF A MENTOR FOR SO MANY YOUNG PEOPLE. CERTAINLY JUST, I WAS YOUNG ONE TIME TOO, , BUT I CAN START NAMING PEOPLE THAT REALLY, AS YOU'RE GETTING STARTED, MAKE SUCH IMPRINT ON YOUR, ON YOUR PUBLIC SERVICE AND YOU DON'T HAVE TO BE ON THE BALLOT TO BE A PUBLIC. MM-HMM . YES, THAT'S RIGHT. SO MANY OF YOUR FAMILY MEMBERS HAVE DEMONSTRATED THAT. SO THANK YOU VERY MUCH AND CONGRATULATIONS AND BEST WISHES. THANK YOU. AND I, JOHN WHITMEYER, MAYOR OF THE CITY OF HOUSTON, HEREBY PROCLAIM JULY 30TH, 2024, IS AMANDA LIN PGA DAY IN HOUSTON, TEXAS. A FEW DAYS. YEAH, GO AHEAD, PLEASE. UM, I WOULD JUST LIKE TO THANK COUNCIL MEMBER CASTILLO FOR PUTTING IN THIS REQUEST FOR THIS PROCLAMATION. UM, IT MEANS A GREAT DEAL TO ME COMING FROM YOU SPECIFICALLY BECAUSE YOU SERVE IN THE SAME OFFICE AS, UH, MY BELOVED GRANDFATHER, ALITO FELIX FRAGA. UM, SO THANK YOU FOR THAT. AND THANK YOU, UH, MAYOR WHITMEYER FOR THIS PROCLAMATION. MY ALITO LOVED THE CITY VERY MUCH SO IT'S AN HONOR TO BE RECOGNIZED IN THIS WAY. RIGHT. WELL, WE GOT ROOM FOR YOU DOWN HERE, . WE DO HAVE A COUPLE OF COUNCIL MEMBERS IN HERE. WE'LL START WITH COUNCIL MEMBER MARTINEZ. COUNCIL MEMBER MARTINEZ. UM, AND WITHOUT TRYING TO GET TOO MOTION THOUGH, JUST, UH, AMANDA, UH, CONGRATULATIONS. WHAT, UH, YOUR GRANDFATHER HAS DONE FOR THE CITY, FOR THE EAST END, UH, IS VERY IMPACTFUL. AND I THINK IT'S, UH, I THINK IT'S, UH, DEFINITELY A, A TESTAMENT TO WHAT YOU'RE DOING NOW, GRADUATING, UM, SIMILAR TO YOUR FATHER AND YOUR UNCLE. UM, YEAH, THERE IS SPACE FOR YOU UP HERE, . UH, AND I KNOW YOU, UM, WE SPOKE YESTERDAY, YOU WERE SAYING TALK ABOUT MY, MY GRANDFATHER, BUT I THINK RIGHT NOW IT'S IMPORTANT TO TALK ABOUT YOUR ACCOMPLISHMENTS, UM, WHAT HE POURED INTO YOU, AS I MENTIONED TO YOU YESTERDAY, AND WHAT YOU CAN NOW POUR INTO OTHER FOLKS. UM, AND THEN FRAGA, UM, GRA UM, BO AND CARLOS. UM, YOU KNOW, THEY USED TO DANCE, UH, WITH MY OLDER BROTHERS AND SISTERS. AND SO THE FAMILY, AS YOU MENTIONED, UH, MAYOR, UM, THEY DEFINITELY HAVE HUGE IMPACT ON SEVERAL OF US. UH, SOME OF 'EM THEY MIGHT KNOW, A LOT OF 'EM THEY DON'T KNOW. UM, WORKING AT NEIGHBORHOOD CENTERS NOW, BAKER RIPLEY, UM, THERE'S STORIES OF HOW FELIX DROVE, UH, A VAN TO PICK UP KIDS FOR AFTER SCHOOL PROGRAMMING SOMETHING THAT I DID 15, 20 YEARS AGO AS WELL, UH, WORKING FOR NEIGHBORHOOD CENTERS AND, AND TO BE IN A, YOU KNOW, AS I WAS REFLECTING AT THE MASS, UM, JUST TO BE IN THE OFFICE THAT HE'S IN NOW. I'M VERY GRATEFUL, HONORED, UH, TO KNOW THE FRAGA FAMILY. AMANDA, CONTINUE THE LEGACY, UH, AND WE'RE ALL HERE TO SUPPORT YOU, JUST THE SAME WAY THAT, UH, FELIX SUPPORTED EVERYONE, EVERYONE THAT CAME TO HIM. THANK YOU. THANK YOU SO MUCH. COUNCIL MEMBER ALCORN. OH BOY. THANK YOU, AMANDA. CONGRATULATIONS. WHAT'S YOUR, WHAT'S YOUR RANK NOW? WHAT DO WE CALL YOU? I'M A SECOND LIEUTENANT. SECOND LIEUTENANT. RIGHT ON. THAT IS AWESOME. UM, I KNOW THAT'S HARD AS ANYTHING AND, AND COMPUTER, WHATEVER YOU ARE. I CAN'T EVEN SAY IT. WHATEVER. THE MAJOR WAS WAY TOO HARD. BUT THANK YOU SO MUCH. AND, UM, THE OTHER COUNCIL MEMBERS HAVE SAID IT, I WAS LUCKY ENOUGH TO ATTEND THE, THE CELEBRATION OF LIFE YESTERDAY. I, I WANNA BE A FROGGER. IT WAS THE, IT'S THE GREATEST FAMILY. I MEAN, SIX BROTHERS, ALL THE KIDS. AND, AND THEY WERE TALKING ABOUT THEIR UNCLE. THEY WERE TALKING ABOUT THEIR GRANDDAD. UM, IT'S, IT'S WHAT A, WHAT A MODEL FOR OF SERVICE FOR YOUR ENTIRE FAMILY. EVERYBODY'S ONE'S MORE OUTSTANDING THAN THE NEXT. AND, UH, I JUST HAVE [00:30:01] TO RECOUNT THE STORY THAT ONE OF YOU TOLD ABOUT THE, A BURGLAR WENT IN THEIR HOUSE AND, AND FELIX BRAGA CAUGHT THE BURGLAR AND ASKED HIM IF HE WAS HUNGRY AND, AND THEY SAT DOWN AND GAVE HIM A MEAL. AND LIKE, YOU KNOW, I MEAN, IT WAS JUST LIKE, THEY'RE LIKE THE NICE NIGHT. I DON'T RECOMMEND THAT FOR EVERYBODY. MAKE SURE, MAKE SURE. BUT, UM, BUT WHAT A BEAUTIFUL FAMILY. THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE TO OUR COUNTRY, AND, UM, WHAT AN HONOR TO, UH, SIT AT THIS TABLE WHERE YOUR GRANDFATHER ONCE DID ALL MY LOVE TO YOU. I KNOW YOU'LL MISS HIM LIKE CRAZY. COUNCIL MEMBER RAMIREZ. WELL, THANK YOU. AND, UH, LIEUTENANT FRAGA, CONGRATULATIONS ON YOUR STELLAR RECORD OF SERVICE AT THE, UH, AIR FORCE ACADEMY. AND IT'S SO NICE TO SEE THE FRAGA FAMILY HERE. I WAS PRIVILEGED TO ATTEND, UH, THE FUNERAL SERVICE YESTERDAY. AND, UH, I KNOW IT'S BEEN A, A TOUGH LAST FEW DAYS, BUT, UH, ALL SMILES TODAY, AND THAT'S WONDERFUL TO SEE. AND, UH, I WAS SO PRIVILEGED TO LEARN MORE ABOUT YOUR GRANDFATHER'S, UH, LIFE OF SERVICE AND, UM, IT'S FITTING THAT YOU GUYS SHOULD BE HERE IN THE ROOM WHERE HE SERVED, UH, FOR, FOR SEVERAL YEARS, YOU KNOW, THE CITIZENS OF HOUSTON AND, AND, AND THAT DISTRICT. AND SO IT'S JUST GREAT TO SEE YOU GUYS, AND AND I WANT YOU TO KNOW THAT, UM, YOUR, YOUR FATHER'S GRANDFATHER'S LEGACY WILL CONTINUE TO INSPIRE US FOR A LONG TIME. SO THANK YOU, COUNCIL MEMBER DAVIS. THANK YOU, MAYOR PRO TEM. CONGRATULATIONS. UH, SECOND LIEUTENANT, I SALUTE YOU AS A FELLOW VETERAN AND TO ALL OF THE VETERANS AND TO MY GOOD FRIEND BROTHER FARGO. I WAS, WAS, I HAD THE OPPORTUNITY, WAS GRATEFUL TO BE THERE WITH YOU ALL FOR GUYS ON SUNDAY, UH, WHEN WE HAD THE, UH, VISITATION. AND I GOT A CHANCE TO MEET, UH, MANY OF YOU. OF COURSE, I KNEW BROTHER FRAGER FOR MANY, MANY YEARS WORKING IN THE CITY AND LIVING ON THE EAST END, UH, WHERE I GREW UP AND GRADUATED FROM STEPHEN F. AUSTIN HIGH SCHOOL. SO WE, WE KNOW ABOUT ALL OF THAT ON THOSE DAYS, BUT I WANT TO CONGRATULATE YOU CERTAINLY FOR, UH, YOUR SERVICE AND CERTAINLY THE HONOR THAT YOU GIVE TO YOUR GRANDFATHER. UH, LAST QUESTION. HOW MANY, HOW MANY JUMPS DO YOU MAKE? FIVE. MM-HMM . WOW. . WOW. OKAY. FELLOW, FELLOW, FELLOW PARATROOPER. . YOU GOT A LONG WAYS TO CATCH UP WITH MINE. THAT'S OKAY. GOD BLESS YOU. TAKE CARE. THANK YOU SO MUCH. VERY GOOD. LIEUTENANT FRAGER, CONGRATULATIONS TO YOU AND BEST WISHES IN ALL THAT YOU DO. AND WE ARE SO PROUD OF YOU, AND CONGRATULATIONS, YOU WILL ALWAYS HAVE THIS DAY IN THE CITY OF HOUSTON. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. THANK YOU SO MUCH. THANK YOU. COUNCIL MEMBER JACKSON FOR THE INVOCATION. [2:00 P.M. – INVOCATION AND PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE] LET'S BOW YOUR HEADS. HEAVENLY FATHER, THANK YOU FOR BRINGING US HERE TODAY. LORD, WE ASK YOU TO GUIDE THIS MEETING, TO TOUCH OUR HEARTS, TO MAKE SURE THAT EVERYTHING THAT WE DO IS IN THE BEST INTEREST OF THE CONSTITUENTS, OF THE PEOPLE THAT WE SERVE. IN JESUS' NAME WE PRAY, AMEN. TO TESTIFY OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA TO THE REPUBLIC FOR WHICH HE STANDS, ONE NATION UNDER GOD, INDIVISIBLE, WITH LIBERTY AND JUSTICE. PEARL, PRETTY GOOD ON THE FLY. I KNOW, RIGHT? I'M, I'M ABOUT TO FUSS AT MAYOR . THANK YOU, MA'AM. SECRETARY, YOU PLEASE CALL THE ROLE [ROLL CALL AND ADOPT THE MINUTES OF THE PREVIOUS MEETING] MAYOR WHITMEYER. PRESENT, COUNCIL MEMBER PECK. HERE. COUNCIL MEMBER JACKSON. HERE. COUNCIL MC CAMAN. COUNCIL. EVAN SHABA. COUNCIL FLICKINGER. HERE. COUNCIL THOMAS PRESENT. COUNCIL HUFFMAN PRESENT. COUNCILOR CASTILLO. HERE. COUNCILOR MARTINEZ. HERE. COUNCIL [00:35:01] POLLARD. CONSTABLE CASTEX TATUM. HERE. CONST RAMIREZ. HERE. CONSTABLE DAVIS. HERE. CONST CARTER. PRESENT. CONSTABLE PLUMMER HERE. AND CONSTABLE ALCORN. HERE NEED A MOTION TO ADOPT THE MINUTES OF FEBRUARY 20 AND 21ST AND 27TH AND 28TH. CASTEX TATUM, MOVE. SECOND. MOTIONS MADE. AND SECOND. ALL IN FAVOR? SAY YES. THOSE OPPOSED NAY. MOTION PASSES. UH, ANY PROCEDURAL, ANY PROCEDURAL [PUBLIC SPEAKERS] MOTIONS MEMBERS? JACKSON, COUNCIL MEMBER JACKSON. UM, THANK YOU MAYOR. I MOVE TO SUSPEND THE RULES TO MOVE, UM, ERICA HUBBARD TO THE TOP OF THE THREE MINUTE, NONE. AGENDA, SECOND MOTIONS MADE. AND SECOND. ALL IN FAVOR? SAY YES. THOSE OPPOSED NAY. MOTION PASSES. MEMBER DAVIS. COUNCIL MEMBER DAVIS. THANK YOU MAYOR. I'D LIKE TO, UH, MAKE RULE OF SUSPEND THE RULES TO REMOVE, TO MOVE BOB ETTE TO THE THREE MINUTE, UM, NON-AG AGENDA LIST. SECOND BOB. CO MOTIONS MADE AND SEGMENT. ALL IN FAVOR? SAY YES. THOSE OPPOSED MAY THREE. WAIT. ON BOB COLLETTE. BOB CHO. BOB CHO. AND TO ADD CORRECT NOT THE, TO, TO THE TOP OF THE THREE MINUTE. YES. FOLLOW, TO FOLLOW ERICA? OKAY. YEAH. TO FOLLOW ERICA HUB. OKAY. EVERYBODY KNOW WHAT WE'RE VOTING ON? ALL IN FAVOR? SAY YES. THOSE OPPOSED NAY. MOTION PASSES. NEXT. ANY OTHERS? NO ONE ELSE? NO, SIR. OKAY. MADAM SECRETARY, IF YOU'LL CALL THE FIRST SPEAKER. JESS FEELER. RIGHT. HELLO? UM, MY NAME IS JESS SPEER. I USE HE THEY PRONOUNS. I'M A HEALTHCARE WORKER HERE IN HOUSTON, TEXAS, AND I HAVE THE PRIVILEGE OF SPEAKING WITH YOU ALL TODAY ON BEHALF OF THOSE WHO CANNOT BE HERE. TO IMPLORE THAT YOU DO NOT PASS THE AMENDMENT TO ADD A NEW SECTION TO CHAPTER 28 AND AMEND CHAPTER 30, SECTION NINE OF OUR CITY ORDINANCES. ON PICKETING. THIS AMENDMENT WOULD MEAN THAT ANY CITIZEN COULD BE ARRESTED FOR PROTESTING ON PUBLIC PROPERTY THAT IS LOCATED WITHIN QUOTE, 200 FEET OF PRIVATE PROPERTY, OR A TARGETED DWELLING END QUOTE, IN A CITY LIKE HOUSTON WITH NO ZONING, THIS INCLUDES A LOT OF PUBLIC SPACE THAT WOULD BECOME OFF LIMITS TO US. THIS AMENDMENT IS A THREAT TO OUR FIRST AMENDMENT RIGHT TO FREEDOM OF SPEECH, ASSEMBLY, AND OUR RIGHT TO PETITION OUR GOVERNMENT. THIS AMENDMENT WAS ADDED TO THE DOCKET YESTERDAY, AND IF YOU KNEW ABOUT THIS, YOU NEEDED TO HAVE YOUR REQUEST TO SPEAK SUBMITTED BY 3:00 PM I FOUND OUT ABOUT THIS AT 2:55 PM BECAUSE A COLLEAGUE AND HEALTHCARE WORKERS FOR PALESTINE SENT THIS INFORMATION TO ME. SO YOU MIGHT ASK, WHY ARE OUR DEMOCRATIC LEADERS VOTING ON OUR AMENDMENT TODAY? BECAUSE OUR COLLECTIVE POLITICAL RIGHTS ARE AN INCONVENIENCE TO THOSE WHO ARE IN PROXIMITY TO POWER. RECENTLY, THERE HAVE BEEN PROTESTORS OUTSIDE OF TED CRUZ AND JOHN WHIT MEYER'S HOMES URGING THEM TO SUPPORT A CEASEFIRE IN PALESTINE. THESE PROTESTORS URGE FOR PEACE TO THE END OF THE SUFFERING OF 2.3 MILLION PALESTINIANS WHO HAVE BEEN DRIVEN FROM THEIR HOMES SO THEY CAN FINALLY BE GIVEN THE OPPORTUNITY TO MOURN THE NEAR UNCOUNTABLE DEATHS OF APPROXIMATELY 168,000 PALESTINIANS AND 15,000 CHILDREN. HERE ARE SOME FACTS FROM DOCTORS WITHOUT BORDERS ON THE GENOCIDE IN GAZA. THERE ARE NO SAFE SPACES IN GAZA. THERE'S A FULL ELECTRICAL BLACKOUT, AND APPROXIMATELY 2 MILLION PEOPLE ARE SUFFERING IN A HUNDRED DEGREE WEATHER. AND SURELY WE KNOW WHAT THIS FEELS LIKE. FEWER THAN HALF OF THE HOSPITALS ARE OPERATIONAL AND MEDICAL SUPPLIES CANNOT GET IN. 500 HEALTHCARE WORKERS HAVE BEEN KILLED, INCLUDING SIX, FROM DOCTORS WITHOUT BORDERS. AND THIS IS JUST SCRATCHING THE SURFACE. SO SHOUTING OUTSIDE IN OUR PARKS ON OUR PUBLIC SIDEWALKS MIGHT BE INCONVENIENT, BUT IF OUR FREEDOM OF SPEECH CAN BE INFRINGED ON ITS CONVENIENCE, THEN WE HAVE NO REAL FREEDOM. IF THIS ORDINANCE PASSES, IT WILL HURT THE AVERAGE HOUSTONIAN AND MY COLLEAGUES HERE IN THIS ROOM. ANY RESIDENT COULD BE ARRESTED FOR PROTESTING ON PUBLIC PROPERTY THE NEXT TIME A HURRICANE ROLLS THROUGH. SO TELL ME, WHERE IN HOUSTON, A CITY WITH NO ZONING? CAN I GO TO PROTEST THAT'S NOT WITHIN 200 FEET OF PRIVATE PROPERTY? TELL ME, WHERE SHOULD WE BE COMFORTABLY OUT OF SIGHT WHERE WE EXPRESS OUR FIRST AMENDMENT RIGHT? YOU DON'T WANT TO SEE US PROTEST. WHEN TWO POINT MILLION PEOPLE, 2.2 MILLION PEOPLE LOSE POWER WHEN CENTER POINT, A NEGLIGENT FOR-PROFIT COMPANY FAILS US WHEREVER WE YELL ABOUT THIS NEGLIGENCE AS WE EXPRESS OUR GRIEF. WHEN 11 [00:40:01] FELLOW HOUSTONIANS, WHO COULD BE YOUR GRANDPARENTS, YOUR CHILDREN DIE BECAUSE OF HEAT STROKE IN THE DAYS FOLLOWING HURRICANE BARREL, WE'LL CERTAINLY NOT BE ABLE TO PROTEST IN FRONT OF MAYOR WHIT MEYER'S HOUSE, BUT SURELY HE WOULDN'T BE ABLE TO HEAR US OVER THE SOUND OF HIS GENERATORS. ANYWAY, DO NOT TABLE THIS AMENDMENT AND CARE ABOUT THE FUNDAMENTAL RIGHTS OF YOUR CONSTITUENTS VOTE. NO. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. NEXT, THANK OH, I'M SORRY, MA'AM. IS THIS FOR HER ARE MOUNTAIN, SIR? I'M SORRY. THANK YOU. WERE YOU, DO YOU HAVE A QUESTION? COUNSELOR JACKSON? FOR FOR HER? FOR HIM, FOR HER AND FOR YOU, MAYOR. UM, THANK YOU FOR COMING AND SPEAKING. UM, I HEARD ABOUT THIS AMENDMENT ACTUALLY TODAY, THIS NEW ORDINANCE TODAY. MAYBE I SHOULD HAVE HEARD ABOUT IT SOONER, BUT I DIDN'T. AND IT WAS A REPORTER WHO ASKED ME ABOUT, UM, PICKETING IN FRONT OF PEOPLE HOUSES. AND OF COURSE I WAS UNDER AN IMPRESSION IT WAS JUST IN FRONT OF A PERSON'S HOUSE, BUT IT'S MORE BROAD. I HADN'T READ THE ORDINANCE. AND SO MY QUESTION IS, IS THE ORDINANCE AVAILABLE FOR US TO READ? YEAH, IT'S A RESIDENCE AND, AND THE, AND IT HAS TO BE THE RESIDENCE OF THE PERSON THAT THE PROTEST. AND IT'S NOT PICKETING. IT'S, UH, 11 O'CLOCK AT NIGHT DRUMS, BULLHORNS BLOCKING THE DRIVEWAY. UH, QUITE FRANKLY, I THINK IT PROBABLY VIOLATES PROVISIONS OF THE PENAL CODE, BUT THIS IS MODELED AFTER DALLAS. IT JUST PUTS ANOTHER TOOL IN THE TOOLKIT TO TRY TO PRESERVE THE INTEGRITY OF THE NEIGHBORHOOD. OKAY. IT'S, UH, LIZZIE FLETCHER. I COULD START GOING THROUGH A LIST OF INDIVIDUALS THAT HAVE, UH, KIND OF BEEN DENIED THE USE OF THEIR RESIDENTS BECAUSE OF THE PROTESTS. MUCH MORE, UH, THAN PICKETING, BUT, UH, GETTING VERY AGGRESSIVE. ALRIGHT, THANK YOU. AND IT WILL STILL BE ALLOWED. IT JUST, YOU GOTTA JUST GIVE A LITTLE SPACE FROM THE RESIDENCE AND IT'S JUST THE RESIDENCE. IT'S NOT, YES, MA'AM. I MEAN, BECAUSE WHAT SHE'S SAYING IS PARKS AND, OR HE, I'M SORRY. HE IS PARKS AND, UM, AREAS. I HAVE A QUOTE FROM THE AMENDMENT, UM, WHICH IS THAT, UM, ANY, UH, PUBLIC PROPERTY LOCATED WITHIN 200 FEET OF PRIVATE PROPERTY OR A TARGETED DWELLING, I COULD NOT FIND A DEFINITION FOR TARGETED DWELLING IN OUR CITY ORDINANCES. OH, THE TARGETED DWELLING IS THE PERSON THAT YOU'RE PROTESTING. SO LIKE, IF YOU COME TO MY HOUSE, THEN IT'S, AND AGAIN, LIKE I WAS TELLING THE REPORTER I WAS, I MEAN, I KNOW IT WASN'T PROTEST, BUT I HAD SOMEONE THROW TRASH CANS AT ME ON FRIDAY, SATURDAY AT THE ASTROS GAME BECAUSE I'M A COUNCIL MEMBER AND IT BECOMES A LITTLE FEARFUL. SO I'M JUST, AT SOME POINT WE HAVE TO HAVE BOUNDARIES TO PROTECT US HUMANS, HER US COUNSEL AND, AND LEADERSHIP. BUT I UNDERSTAND YOU HAVE A RIGHT TO PROTEST. UM, BUT IF IT'S DISTURBING OTHER PEOPLE, I WOULD LIKE TO LEARN MORE ABOUT THE ORDINANCE. I HAVEN'T READ IT, SO, BUT THANK YOU FOR COMING AND SPEAKING ABOUT IT. THANK YOU. IT'S MY FIRST TIME. UM, MAY I RESPOND? SURE. UM, SO WITHOUT TARGETED DWELLING BEING DEFINED IN OUR CITY ORDINANCES, I FEEL THAT THIS WASN'T WRITTEN, UM, WITH A SPECIFIC SCOPE IN MIND. AND ALSO I'M SORRY THAT THAT HAPPENED TO YOU. AND, UM, THAT TYPE OF DEMONSTRATION THAT IS VIOLENT OR BLOCKING PEOPLE'S ACCESS, UM, TO PROPERTY IS ALREADY, UH, PROHIBITED. SO, UM, THAT IS NOT, UH, WHAT I AM ADVOCATING AGAINST HERE. AND THANK YOU ALL FOR YOUR TIME. THANK YOU, MA'AM. NEXT SELIMA, GO. RACHEL MY HILL. HI EVERYONE. MY NAME IS RACHEL MYHILL. I STAND EITHER ONE. CHOOSE THIS ONE. AND THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME IN HAVING ME HERE TODAY. IT'S MY FIRST TIME HERE AND I'D LIKE TO ADDRESS AGENDA NUMBER 36, WHICH I BELIEVE REFERENCES THE EXTENSION OF THE CONTRACT FOR EVOLV HOUSTON. UM, AND THAT'S SORT OF PROVIDING ECO-FRIENDLY ELECTRIC RIDE SHARE ON DEMAND SERVICES. I WANNA COMMEND THE WORK THAT THEY'RE DOING. I WANNA SHOW MY SUPPORT FOR THAT. AND IT'S MY UNDERSTANDING THAT METRO HOUSTON IS GONNA BE TAKING ON SOME OF THAT SPONSORSHIP AND FINDING FINANCIAL BURDEN. AND I'M JUST WORRIED THAT THIS POTENTIALLY WILL AFFECT METRO HOUSTON'S PLAN TO HAVE A BIKE SHARE PROGRAM. I DO WANNA EXPRESS MY DISAPPOINTMENT THAT THE B CYCLE BIKE SHARE PROGRAM WAS DISCONTINUED. [00:45:02] AND IN SEPTEMBER OF LAST YEAR, THE METRO HOUSTON, UH, DID UNANIMOUSLY SUPPORT THEIR OWN NEW BIKE SHARE PROGRAM TO REPLACE BCYCLE. THEY SAID THAT THAT WOULD THEN BE, UH, INITIATED FOR THE PUBLIC IN THE SUMMER OF 2024. NOW OBVIOUSLY WE ARE IN SUMMER OF 2024 NOW, AND THERE'S NO NEWS ABOUT WHAT THAT BIKE SHARE PROGRAM WILL LOOK LIKE. SO I WANNA JUST EXPRESS MY SUPPORT FOR AGENDA 36 TO CONTINUE THAT FUNDING. BUT I JUST WANNA MAKE SURE THAT IT DOESN'T COME AT THE COST OF NOT HAVING A BIKE SHARE PROGRAM, BECAUSE JUST AS MUCH AS THE EVOLVE HOUSTON CAN HELP PEOPLE IN THE SECOND AND THIRD WARD GET TO THEIR CONNECTIONS TO PLACES, FOOD, SHELTER, WORK, ALL SORTS OF THINGS. SO CAN CYCLING. IF YOU'RE ABLE BODIED AND YOU HAVE 24 7 ACCESS TO A BIKE AND WE IMPROVE AND IMPROVE UPON OUR BIKE LANES, THAT IS ALLOWING PEOPLE AGENCY TO GET TO THE PLACES THEY NEED TO GO WHEN THEY NEED TO GO. I THINK EVOLVE HOUSTON IS GREAT AND THE WORK THAT THEY'RE DOING WITH THIS RIDESHARE PROGRAM, BUT AS FAR AS MY UNDERSTANDING, IT'S ONLY MONDAY THROUGH FRIDAY, UM, UNTIL 4:00 PM AND SO MAYBE THAT FUNDING CAN EXPAND THOSE TIMES AND IT CAN BE ON WEEKENDS AS WELL. SO I JUST WANNA MAKE SURE THAT THIS FUNDING AND EXTENSION DOESN'T COME AT THE COST OF, UH, INVESTING IN OUR BIKE SHARE PROGRAM. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME AND, UH, HEARING MY THOUGHTS. APPRECIATE IT. NEXT. TURNELL JONES. TERRY RICHARDSON. GOOD AFTERNOON. I AM, UH, TERRY RICHARDSON. I'M A SMALL, UH, BUILDER. I OWN SOME PROPERTY IN, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER JACKSON'S, UH, DISTRICT, UH, THE, UH, 7 7 0 26, UH, PROPERTY'S LOCATED AT, UH, 26 0 1 AND 26 0 3 WAYNE STREET. UM, I, I, I BOUGHT THESE PROPERTIES, UH, WITH THE INTENT TO DEVELOP, UH, THE INNER CITY, UH, HOMES THAT ARE LOW COST. SO THEY, THEY WERE INTENDED TO BE, UH, IN THE, THE, THE VERY LOW TWO, TWO HUNDREDS. UM, AFTER I BOUGHT THEM, WE SOON STARTED THE, THE, THE, THE NARROW LOT, UH, DEVELOPMENT TYPE THINGS. UH, I, I GOT, UH, ONE OF THEM THROUGH, UH, WITH THE UTILITY ANALYSIS. WHEN I WENT BACK TO GET THE OTHER LOT THROUGH WITH THE UTILITY ANALYSIS. UM, I WAS TOLD THAT THE, THAT, THAT THEY COULDN'T PROCESS THEM BECAUSE NOW THIS IS AN ENVIRONMENTAL HAZARD AREA. SO, UM, WHAT HAS HAPPENED SINCE THEN? THIS, THIS HAPPENED BACK IN FEBRUARY. SO WHEN I GO TO THE CITY, UH, DEVELOPMENT, THEY, THEY TELL ME, WELL, WE DON'T, WE DON'T HAVE ANY INFORMATION THAT'S COMING FROM HIGHER. IT'S STILL IN PLACE, UM, FOR SMALL BUSINESSES TO HAVE, YOU KNOW, THIS TYPE OF MONEY OUT, UH, REPL MONEY LOT, MONEY PLAN DEVELOPMENT MONEY. AND THEN TO JUST HAVE THE STUFF SIT FOR A HALF A YEAR AND, AND WE DON'T KNOW WHAT'S GOING ON AND NO ONE CAN TELL US ANYTHING. SO I'M HERE TO TRY TO GET SOME INFORMATION BECAUSE NO ONE CAN, CAN, CAN TELL US ANYTHING. TAX WILL BE FORCED TO PAY TAXES AT THE END OF THE YEAR ON STUFF THAT WE, WE CAN'T EVEN USE YOU. UH, ARE YOU CONCERNED ABOUT IT BEING LOCATED IN THE CANCER CLUSTER DESIGNATED AREA? WELL, WHEN WE BOUGHT THIS BECAUSE OF THE LAWS, UH, THE SELLERS, THEY'RE NOT REQUIRED, THEY WEREN'T REQUIRED TO TELL US ANY OF THIS INFORMATION. SO YEAH, WE, WE, WE BOUGHT THIS, UH, THE, THE LOTS HAD WE KNOWN WE POSSIBLY WOULD, WOULD NOT HAVE, HAVE DONE THAT. AND WHEN WE TALK ABOUT THE, THE CANCER CLUSTER, THEY'VE, THEY'VE BEEN DEVELOPING NEW STUFF IN THIS AREA FOR, FOR, FOR, FOR YEARS. AND IT'S, IT'S, IT'S BEEN GOING ON. THEY CAN'T, FROM WHAT I UNDERSTAND, UH, REALLY EVEN DETERMINE WHO'S AT FAULT, WHO'S GONNA COMPENSATE US FOR OUR PROPERTIES. UH, WE'RE MOVING PEOPLE OUT OF THE NEIGHBORHOOD OR GIVING THEM THE OPPORTUNITY TO MOVE. I, I DON'T THINK MANY OF THEM ARE, ARE, ARE, ARE MOVING. UM, BUT THERE ARE INCENTIVES FOR THEM TO, TO MOVE. BUT I HAVE NOT HEARD ANYTHING FOR JUST PROPERTY OWNERS THAT DO NOT [00:50:01] LIVE THERE. SO, I MEAN, I'M, IT, IT DOESN'T MATTER TO ME IF I BUILD SOMEWHERE ELSE IN, IN FIFTH WARD THAT'S, YOU KNOW, BLOCKS AWAY OR, OR WHATEVER. BUT YEAH, I WOULD PREFER NOT TO ACTUALLY BUILD SOMETHING THERE IF THAT IS IN CASE, UH, A, A A TRUE STATEMENT THAT, YOU KNOW, THEY'RE GONNA GET CANCER OR, YOU KNOW, IF IT'S, IF IT'S REALLY PROVEN THAT THAT'S WHAT'S, WHAT'S CAUSING IT. BUT, BUT I WOULD, I WOULD TAKE LAND SOMEWHERE ELSE THAT WHEN DID YOU BUY YOUR PROPERTY? DO THAT, WHEN YOU, UM, LAST YEAR? UM, PROBABLY OCTOBER OR SEPTEMBER TIMEFRAME LAST YEAR, POSSIBLY. YEAH. YEAH. AND WHEN DID YOU APPROACH THE CITY ABOUT A PERMIT? UH, WELL, WHEN I GOT THE PROPERTY, THEN I HAVE TO DO, BECAUSE IT'S IN THE 500 YEAR FLOODPLAIN, I HAD TO DO ALL THAT, THAT MITIGATION. THEN I HAD TO GO THROUGH THE, THE REPL PROCESS AND, YOU KNOW, MY, MY, UH, THE, THE COMPANY THAT DOES MY RELAS, HE THEN TOLD ME, WELL, THE LAWS HAVE JUST NOW CHANGED. SO WHAT I WAS REALLY PLANNING TO DO WAS PUT FOUR, THEN I CAN ONLY DO THREE. AND, AND THEN IT ACTUALLY ENDED UP TO WHERE NOW I CAN ONLY DO, DO TWO. SO ONCE, UM, I THINK IT WAS PROBABLY JANUARY, JANUARY WAS THE FIRST TIME I APPROACHED THE CITY WITH, UH, TWO UTILITY ANALYSIS, UH, THE CITY APPROVED ONE. AND THEN WHEN I SUBMITTED THE SECOND ONE FOR APPROVAL, UH, WITH THE CORRECTIONS THAT THEY HAD REQUESTED, THEN THAT'S WHEN THEY SAID, WELL, WE CAN'T APPROVE IT NOW BECAUSE OF THAT. BUT EITHER WAY, THE ONE THAT I HAD THE UTILITY ANALYSIS ON, IF I WERE TO GO NOW WITH THAT UTILITY ANALYSIS AND SUBMIT PLANS, UM, THEY, THEY, THEY CAN'T DO IT IS WHAT THEY TELL ME BECAUSE EVERYTHING IN THAT AREA IS ON HOLD. YEAH. THERE'S TWO STUDIES BEING DONE BY TECQ AND THEN UNION PACIFIC'S DOING THIS STUDY. AND I'M SORRY THAT YOU GOT CAUGHT UP IN, UH, THE BUREAUCRACY. YOU SHOULD HAVE BEEN NOTIFIED BY THE CITY LONG BEFORE YOU CLOSED ON YOUR PIECE OF PROPERTY. BUT IN FACT, HAS IT BEEN YOUR OBSERVATION THAT PEOPLE ARE STILL MOVING INTO THE DESIGNATED AREA? UM, I, I DIDN'T QUITE UNDERSTAND. ARE PEOPLE MOVING THERE? YOUR NEIGHBORS? I MEAN, THE OTHER RENT PROPERTIES? OH, I DON'T LIVE THERE, SIR. I DON I DON'T, I DON'T LIVE THERE. NOW. THERE'S A, THE, THE NEIGHBOR NEXT DOOR TO ME. YES, SIR. UH, HIS PROPERTY WAS ENCROACHING ON THE, THE LOTS THAT I BOUGHT. AND SO HE'S REALLY THE ONLY PERSON THAT I TALKED TO BECAUSE I WAS CARVING OUT THAT LITTLE AREA TO JUST GIVE HIM SO THAT, YOU KNOW, IF HE WERE TO SELL HIS PROPERTY, HE COULD ACTUALLY SELL IT. 'CAUSE HE CAN'T SELL IT. AND HALF OF IT'S ON MY PROPERTY. SO THAT IS, I DON'T, I I DON'T GO OVER THERE ALL THE TIME. WHERE DO YOU LIVE? I LIVE, UH, OFF ELLA, UM, JUST NORTH OF THE SIX 10 LOOP. OKAY, WELL I'LL GET WITH MY OFFICE AND WE'LL GIVE YOU A STATUS REPORT, CHECK IN WITH THE PROPER DEPARTMENTS. ACTUALLY WE NEED TO GET A UPDATE FROM TECQ TO TRY TO GIVE YOU SOME INSIGHT OF THE STATUS. IS ARE THEY, I I MEAN WE WE'RE, WE'RE NOT IN POSITION TO REFUND YOU. UH, WHO'D YOU BUY THE PROPERTY FROM? JUST A, UH, ANOTHER, WELL, TWO DIFFERENT COMPANIES. COMPANIES SOLD IT TO YOU? YES. OKAY. THEY WEREN'T VERY TRANSPARENT. NO, THEY DIDN'T. THEY DIDN'T. OKAY. I'M SORRY. WE'LL, I'LL GET BACK WITH YOU AFTER WE GET A STATUS REPORT. OKAY. ALRIGHT. THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE NEXT. ERICA HUBBARD. HELLO COUNSEL. THANK YOU ALL FOR ALLOWING ME TO TALK TODAY. MY NAME IS ERICA HUBBARD. I'M A RESIDENT OF FIFTH WARD. I'M A COMMUNITY LEADER THERE. UM, SPEAKING OF THE GENTLEMAN THAT JUST, JUST MAKE A SIDE NOTE ABOUT WHAT HE'S TALKING ABOUT, PEOPLE ARE STILL MOVING INTO THE CANCER CLUSTERS. THERE, THERE ARE NO SIGNS TO SAY, NO, DON'T MOVE HERE. UM, BUT I'M HERE TO TALK ABOUT ANOTHER THING. OUR COMMUNITY HAS BEEN TRYING TO GET A-T-C-E-Q ORDAINED AIR MONITOR SINCE 2021. SO WE'VE BEEN WORKING WITH COMMUNITY [00:55:01] MEMBERS. WE SIGNED PUBLIC COMMENTS, WE RALLIED PEOPLE, WE WERE ABLE TO SUCCESSFULLY GET TCEQ TO INCLUDE FIFTH WARD AND ALSO TO INCLUDE PLEASANTVILLE IN ITS ANNUAL AIR MONITORING PROGRAM. THAT WAS IN 2021. SO AFTER YOU MAKE THAT, AFTER YOU'RE ABLE TO SECURE THAT, YOU HAVE TO FIND A LOCATION. SO WE WERE ABLE TO IDENTIFY FINNEGAN PARK, A CITY OWNED PARK AS THE LOCATION FOR THE AIR MONITOR AT THAT POINT. IT'S OUT OF OUR HANDS. TCEQ WILL THEN GET VENDORS, THEY'LL GET CONTRACTORS TO MOVE FORWARD TO GET THE AIR MONITOR INSTALLED. SO FAST FORWARD SEVERAL YEARS LATER, WE HAVE BEEN ASKING AND ASKING AND TRYING TO FIGURE OUT WHERE IS THE BOTTLENECK, WHY DO WE NOT HAVE THE TCEQ ORDAINED AIR MONITOR? AND AFTER, I MEAN, I WAS READY TO GO TO AUSTIN AND THROW TOMATOES AT THEM THINKING THEY'RE TRYING TO BACKED BACKPEDAL OUT OF THIS. BUT COME TO FIND OUT IT'S NOT THEM, IT'S US. THEY'RE TELLING US THAT PERMITTING AND THE PARKS DEPARTMENT REFUSED TO SIGN THE AGREEMENT TO ALLOW THEM TO MOVE FORWARD WITH INSTALLING THE AIR MONITOR. SO I'M HERE ASKING YOU AND ASKING EVERYONE FOR YOUR HELP TO HELP US FIGURE OUT HOW TO MOVE PAST THIS BOTTLENECK AND GET OUR AIR MONITORS INSTALLED. YOU KNOW, WE HAVE COMPROMISED AIR QUALITY IN FIFTH WARD. WE'RE, WE'RE COUCHED BETWEEN I 10 59. WE HAVE A LOT OF DIESEL EMISSION. WE HAVE A LOT OF CONCRETE BATCH PLANT POLLUTION. WE HAVE, UH, HEAT ISLAND EFFECT COURTESY OF UNION PACIFIC. WE HAVE SEVERAL ISSUES THAT WOULD DICTATE WHY WE NEED TO KNOW WHAT'S IN OUR AIR FOR OURSELVES. SO I'M HERE TO ASK FOR YOUR HELP. OKAY? AND I HEAR YOU. WE'LL GET BACK WITH YOU. LET US CHECK ON THE TCQ. I THINK IT SOUNDS TO ME LIKE THEY'RE JUST PASSING A BUCK. CERTAINLY IF THEY NEED A PERMIT, UH, WE TALK TO 'EM ON A REGULAR BASIS. SO THEY HAVEN'T BROUGHT THAT UP. WE TALKED TO 'EM ABOUT A VARIETY THING. THE MIDDLE STREET PROJECT, I CAN GO ON AND ON. THAT JUST HASN'T BEEN BROUGHT TO MY ATTENTION. OKAY. BUT YOU SAID YOU'VE BEEN TALKING TO THE CITY SINCE 21? WE, SO AFTER THEY IDENTIFIED THE LOCATION, I THINK THAT PROCESS STARTED IN 22. OKAY. 22. OKAY. SO I KNOW YOU'RE, YOU'RE NEW. I KNOW IN TERMS OF YOUR ADMINISTRATION. I, I, YOU KNOW, I I I WASN'T GONNA COME HERE. THAT'S THE MOST, THAT'S THE MOST CORRECT THING YOU'VE SAID, . I WASN'T GONNA COME HERE UNTIL YOU GOT GOT SITUATED, BUT I MEAN, AT THIS POINT WE, WE REALLY NEED SOME HELP. NO, THAT'S THE REASON, THAT'S THE REASON WE HAVE THIS FORUM FOR YOU TO COME FORWARD. WE'RE GONNA CHECK ON IT AND GET BACK WITH YOU. COUNCIL MEMBER JACKSON. BUT I CAN'T IMAGINE THE CITY BLOCKING TECQ. IT. THEY'RE PUTTING IT IN WRITING, MA'AM. THEY, THEY'VE PUT IT IN WRITING THAT THE CITY IS THE PROBLEM. COUNCIL MEMBER JACKSON, WHO PUT IT IN WRITING THE CITY. TCQ. WELL, DON'T BELIEVE EVERYTHING YOU READ. OKAY. COUNCIL MEMBER JACKSON. MAYOR. THANK YOU MAYOR. AND THANK YOU ERICA, FOR YOUR, UM, FIERCE ADVOCACY. MM-HMM . YOU'RE CONSTANTLY TRYING TO MAKE SURE THAT OUR COMMUNITIES HAVE CLEAN AIR. WE HAVE A WAY TO MONITOR IT, TO MAKE SURE OUR, OUR AIR IS CLEAN. AND SO I WILL CONTINUE TO WORK WITH YOU AND PUT PRESSURE ON THE PARKS DEPARTMENT AND WORK WITH THE ADMINISTRATION TO TRY TO GET THIS AIR MONITOR, UM, PLACED BECAUSE YOU GUYS HAVE DONE ALL THE WORK. YOU GOT THE PETITIONS YOU'VE BEEN GOING BACK AND FORWARD WITH, UM, WITH TCEQ AND IT'S UP TO THE CITY RIGHT NOW TO GO AHEAD AND SIGN OFF ON IT. SO, UM, I WILL CONTINUE TO PUSH THAT. THANK YOU. OKAY, THANK YOU. YEAH, A LETTER I'M LOOKING AT SAYS THAT THERE IN THE PROCESS OF REVIEWING IT. SO WE'LL MONITOR IT AS WELL AS YOU DO. OKAY. ALRIGHT. THANKS FOR BEING HERE. NEXT, BOB CHOATE. GOOD AFTERNOON AND THANK YOU COUNCIL MEMBER DAVIS FOR DOING WHAT MY ALLEGED COUNCIL REPRESENTATIVE REFUSED TO DO LAST WEEK. I SAW THAT YOU FOLKS HAD A RATHER ROBUST DISCUSSION ABOUT COMMITTEES. SO BEING A SELF-APPOINTED ADVOCATE FOR RESPONSIVE AND RESPONSIBLE LOCAL GOVERNMENT, I DECIDED TO KIND OF DIG INTO IT. 'CAUSE I'VE BEEN KIND OF FOLLOWING THIS COMMITTEE THING. AND EVEN THOUGH YOU'RE NEW, YOU'RE NEW MAYOR WHITMEYER, UM, YOU KNOW, I KIND OF THOUGHT THE COMMITTEES WOULD'VE BEEN ROLLED OUT A LITTLE, LITTLE EARLIER THIS YEAR. SEEMED LIKE THAT THOSE DECISIONS COULD HAVE BEEN DONE DURING ORIENTATION WEEK. BUT BE THAT AS IT MAY, I SEE THAT WE HAVE 12 COMMITTEES AND WE SEE A LITTLE CHART, SIMPLE CHART, WE'RE PASSING OUT TWO, I'VE SCORED HIGH ON MY END. THE BUDGET AND FISCAL AFFAIRS AND THE [01:00:01] ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEES. YOU GUYS ARE BEASTS GETTING AT IT AND DOING THE WORK. BUT WE HAVE SEVEN COMMITTEES, ETHICS AND GOVERNANCE AND GOVERNANCE, GOVERNMENT OPERATIONS, HOUSING AND AFFORDABILITY, LABOR, PUBLIC SAFETY, RESILIENCE AND SERVICE DELIVERY, I THINK ARE FALLING BEHIND. YES, WE HAD A DEROCHER. YES, WE HAD, UH, HURRICANE BERTHA, BUT YOU KNOW, LIFE STILL GOES ON. AND PART, PARTICULARLY, WE TALK ABOUT PUBLIC SAFETY. WE'RE STILL IN A CRISIS. RESILIENCE. WE'RE IN A DEEP CRISIS. WE NEED TO HAVE THESE MEETINGS, MAYBE NEED TO STEP IT UP TO TWICE A MONTH. NOW. LOOK AT SERVICE DELIVERY. WHAT DO PEOPLE COMPLAIN ABOUT THE MOST? GETTING THEIR DAMN TRASH PICKED UP. THAT'S A SERVICE DELIVERY OR PICKUP, I GUESS. BUT WE'RE NOT EVEN SCHEDULED TO HAVE MEETINGS IN NOVEMBER AND DECEMBER WHEN THE CRAP IS GONNA HIT THE FAN BECAUSE THE HOLIDAYS ARE COMING UP AND THEY'RE GONNA BE, BE SKIPPING WEEKS AGAIN. PLEASE FOLKS, TAKE A GOOD LOOK AT THIS. I KNOW IT'S A LOT OF WORK, BUT THAT'S WHY YOU RAN, THAT'S WHY SOME OF YOU EVEN RAN FOR REELECTION. SO PLEASE HELP US OUT. BEFORE MY TIME RUNS OUT, I WANNA TALK ABOUT TWO OTHER QUICK THINGS. THE HOUSTON ARTS ALLIANCE, AS I UNDERSTAND IT, THE BIG BRIGHT LIGHTS AS YOU LEAVE THE AIRPORT ARE PART OF ART. I DROPPED MY WIFE OFF AT O DARK 30 THE OTHER DAY. AND THOSE, THOSE, UH, SCULPTURES WERE MISSING AN AWFUL LOT OF LIGHT BULBS. THOSE FOLKS NEED TO GET ON THAT JOB. AND NUMBER THREE ON MY LIST HERE, ACCESS TO CITY HALL. DO I REALLY HAVE TO TAKE OFF MY WATCH, MY BELT, MY SHOES TO HAVE ACCESS TO MY ELECTED REPRESENTATIVES? IT'S AS BAD AS THE AIRPORT WHEN I CAN WALK INTO THE CYNTHIA WOODS MITCHELL PAVILION AND THEY'VE GOT A LITTLE MORE SOPHISTICATED DEVICES WHERE, YOU KNOW, MAYBE WE NEED TO STEP THAT UP TOO. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME. THANK YOU. NEXT NACIO, DO DOD JESUS NACIO, DOD KIM CLICKER. HELLO EVERYBODY. THANK Y'ALL FOR BEING HERE. UM, YOU'RE REALLY HELPING THE HOUSTON CITY. I SAW YOU LAST WEEK AND I COULD TELL THAT YOU REALLY CARED. AND, UM, I CAME ACROSS A BIT OF KNOWLEDGE, A NEW BASE OF KNOWLEDGE THAT I THINK COULD HELP. IT COULD HELP IN TWO WAYS. IT GIVES A STRATEGY FOR GROUP DECISION MAKING. UH, THE FIRST BIG ONE IS CALLED SMOOTH KEYS AND THE SECOND ONE IS CALLED TRIBES. AND IT'S A, UH, TO ME A LEVEL UP ON ORGANIZING THINGS, FOR EXAMPLE, IN EMERGENCIES. AND IF YOU LIKE THE IDEA, UM, I CAN GET THE PRIVATE DONATIONS. I WOULD GO AFTER THOSE PRIVATE DONATIONS, PERSON TO PERSON. UM, ALL THE DETAILS ARE IN A BOOK ONLINE FREE CALLED SHOE LANGUAGE.COM, ONE WORD, ONE WORD, SHOE LANGUAGE.COM. AND THE FIRST CHAPTER HAS EVERYTHING, A SUMMARY OF THE WHOLE BOOK. AND IF YOU COULD READ THE FIRST HALF OF THE CHAPTER, IT WOULD GIVE, UH, REALLY TO ME, UH, HELP NOT ONLY FOR HOUSTON, BUT THAT SAME SYSTEM COULD BE MODELED WITH, UH, BY OTHER NATIONS. AND THAT WOULD BE VERY HELPFUL. UM, IT, IF ENOUGH PEOPLE READ MY BOOK, WE COULD END WARS THIS YEAR. AND, UM, SOME OF THE THINGS THAT I PUT IN FOR SMOOTH KEYS IS I WANT TO GET THE MONEY AND MAKE, UH, IN EACH COUNCIL DISTRICT EIGHT GEODESIC DOMES OF 50 FEET. AND THEY CAN BE USED IN EMERGENCY SITUATIONS BECAUSE THEY'LL BE SOLAR POWERED. THEY'LL, UH, EXTRACT WATER FROM AIR AND PART OF THAT WATER WILL BE USED TO MAKE ICE WILL HAVE ICE MACHINE. AND EACH OF THOSE 88, SO THE CITY OF HOUSTON WILL KNOW WHERE TO GO IN TIMES OF EMERGENCY WHEN THE GRID IS DOWN. SO I ENCOURAGE YOU TO READ THAT, UH, FIRST CHAPTER OF SHOE LANGUAGE.COM, A ZERO ONE CALLED YOUNG MARIA WANG. AND PART OF THAT KNOWLEDGE BASE STARTED HERE IN 2014. I WAS IN THE LIBRARY RIGHT ACROSS THE STREET AND I CAME ACROSS A PICTURE THAT SHOULD NOT BE THERE, A STATUE IN THE, UH, IN THE CONTINENTS OF THE UNITED STATES. I WAS LOOKING AT THE ATLAS FOR SOME REASON. AND, UM, THERE ARE DIFFERENT ICONS IN THE CONTENTS AND YOU PUT THESE PIECES OF PUZZLE TOGETHER AND IT GIVES AN ELEVATED KNOWLEDGE BASE. AND UH, LAST WEEK [01:05:01] AFTER I WAS HERE, I WENT AND GOT THIS PRINTED. IT'S THE FIRST, ONE OF THE FIRST FEW PAGES JUST, AND I DON'T KNOW IF YOU CAN, IF YOU CAN SEE THIS, BUT CAN YOU SEE, UH, MEXICO AND, UH, CENTRAL AMERICA AND I, I WANNA PASS THIS AROUND SO YOU CAN SEE IT CLOSER, BUT, UM, MEXICO AND CENTRAL AMERICA. OKAY, GOOD TIME HAD EXPIRED. THANK YOU. I MOVED THE ATLA AROUND. IT HAS A PICTURE OF SNOOPY. OKAY, THANK YOU. WE'LL CHECK IT OUT. THANK YOU ALL. THANK YOU. NEXT CHERRY YORK. CHERRY YORK. BRIAN OWEN. THANKS RENEE. BRIAN OWEN, AVIS SCOTT. GOOD AFTERNOON, HONORABLE MAYOR AND COUNCIL MEMBERS. I AM AVIS D SCOTT. I AM A TENANT AT REGENCY LAW, 32 30 DIXIE DRIVE. I AM HERE TODAY FOR JUSTICE. CAN YOU PULL THAT MICROPHONE DOWN A LITTLE BIT? I AM HERE TODAY FOR JUSTICE. THE CONDITIONS OF MY LIVING ENVIRONMENT IS NOT THE HIGHEST DEGREE TO SUSTAIN THE BEST QUALITY OF LIFE. ON DECEMBER THE FIFTH, 2023, I EXPERIENCED SEVERAL WATER LEAKS IN THE LIVING ROOM CEILING THAT WAS ONGOING UNTIL JUNE 25TH. ON JUNE 25TH, MR. DANIEL, THE MAINTENANCE GUY, CAME IN AND CUT A HOLE IN THE CEILING AND HE WRAPPED A CLEAR TAPE AROUND THE AC CONDENSER PIPE. IT DID STOP THE LEAK, BUT IT WAS NOT APPROPRIATE AND HE DID NOT DO THE MOLD AND MILDEW REMEDIATION. THE BIG ISSUE IS I LIVE IN AN APARTMENT COMPLEX THAT STANDS ON LAND ONCE OCCUPIED BY FOUR PETROLEUM TANKS, TWO DIESEL AND TWO CRUEL OIL. IT IS UNDENIABLE THAT THE PLACE IS DRIPPING WITH THE DARK RAYMOND OF ITS PAST. IT IS CONTAMINATED AND I BEAR THE BURNT OF IT EVERY DAY. MY THROAT HAS SHRIVELED TO THE SIZE OF A DIME. MY HEALTH HAS DETERIORATE. I FIGHT LIVER ISSUES, ENDURE RENT, LESS HEADACHES, CHRONIC CONJUNCTIVA AND LEG SWELLING. THE WATER IS BARELY DRINKABLE. EVERY DAY I SEEK A NEW HOME TO ESCAPE THIS LIVING NIGHTMARE. THE MISERY I EXPERIENCE, IT'S NOT ONLY PERSONAL BUT WORLDLY COMMENT. MANY DEVELOPERS AND THE AND THE COUNTRY SHOWS A STARTING DISREGARD FOR SAFETY AND ENVIRONMENTAL REGULATION. BY CHOOSING PROFIT OVER PUBLIC HEALTH, IT IS ESSENTIAL THAT THIS CARRIER ATTITUDE IS IMMEDIATELY CHECKED AND APPROPRIATELY PENALIZED. WE IMPLORE OUR LAW MAKERS TO CREATE STRINGENT LAWS THAT CATEGORICALLY MAKE IT A CRIMINAL OFFENSE TO BUILD RESIDENTS COMPLEX, NOT INCLUDING HOMES ON CONTAMINATED LAND. THE AUTHORITY MAY TAKE URGENT STRIVES IN CONDUCTING REGULAR FULL SPECTRUM CHECKS ON DEVELOPERS HISTORY AND ONGOING PROJECT. THE ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY HAS DISCOVERED THOUSANDS OF CONTAMINATED SITES ACROSS THE COUNTRY. THIS FIGURE HAS LED TO THE NATIONAL PRIORITY LIST, WHICH UNFORTUNATELY MARKS AN INCREASE RATHER THAN A DECLINE IN THE PERCENTAGE OF ENDANGERED SITES YEAR AFTER YEAR. MAY I CONTINUE? PLEASE? YOUR TIME HAS EXPIRED. UH, THERE'S A QUESTION, MA'AM. YES SIR. COUNCIL MEMBER EVAN SHABA. THANK YOU MS. SCOTT. AND CERTAINLY I'LL GIVE YOU SOME OF MY TIME. YES, THANK YOU MUCH AND MUCH AND I'LL LET YOU KNOW HOW WE ARE WORKING ON THE PROBLEM. THANK YOU. YES. OKAY, CARRY ON. CARRY ON. THANK YOU SO MUCH. ALRIGHT, MISS START ALL OVER. THIS FIGURE HAS LED TO THE NATIONAL PRIORITY LIST, WHICH UNFORTUNATELY MARKS AN INCREASE RATHER THAN A DECLINE IN THE PERCENTAGE OF ENDANGERED SITES YEAR AFTER YEAR. IT IS AN INDICATION OF A CLEAR AND PRESENT THREAT TO COUNTLESS CITIZENS REFLECTED IN THE CRISIS I FACE IN MY DAILY EXISTENCE. THOSE GUILTY MUST FACE THE FULL BORN OF THE LAW AND RESIDENT LIKE ME SHOULD [01:10:01] RECEIVE THE PROTECTION WE DESERVE. THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR ALLOWING ME. AND IS THERE ANY QUESTIONS? THANK YOU, MAYOR, IF I COULD FOLLOW UP. I BELIEVE YOU SPOKE WITH EITHER CORY OR INGRAM IN MY OFFICE. YES, THEY'RE GONNA FOLLOW UP WITH YOU TOMORROW. THERE IS NOTHING MORE IMPORTANT THAN YOUR HEALTH. THANK YOU SO MUCH AND CERTAINLY THE HEALTH AND SAFETY OF THE OTHER, UH, RESIDENTS THERE. AND SO WE ARE GONNA WORK ON THIS PROBLEM TO SEE IF WE CAN GET, COME TO A RESOLUTION AND SEE IF WE CAN EVEN PERHAPS MEET YOUR, UH, REQUEST. I NEED TO BE OUT THERE, SO EXCUSE. I NEED TO BE OUT THERE SOON AS POSSIBLE 'CAUSE I'M SLOWLY DYING IN THIS PLACE. NO, INDEED. WE GOING CANCEL THAT ASSIGNMENT. THANK YOU SO MUCH. THANK YOU MA'AM. ALRIGHT, THANK YOU. THANK YOU MA'AM. NEXT, MATT JACKSON, SOMEBODY ON MY TEAM. MATT JACKSON. LINDSEY ROWE, HONORABLE MAYOR WHITMEYER, ESTEEMED MEMBERS OF COUNCIL. THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME. UM, I AM LINDSEY ROWE. UH, COUNCIL MEMBER THOMAS. I WISH THAT BASED ON THE TURNOUT AND DATA YOU'VE SHARED, I WAS LINDSEY SIGMA GAMMA ROWE, BUT, AH, I'LL, I'LL DEICE . UM, SO I AM HERE. I'M PRESIDENT OF ALLIES AND ENERGY. UH, IT'S A NONPROFIT FOCUSED ON SUPPORTING ENERGY EDUCATION AND CLIMATE LITERACY, BUT ALSO I'M AN OIL AND GAS BUSINESS LEADER. UM, I AM JOINED TODAY BY ABOUT A DOZEN OF THE 200 BUSINESS LEADERS, COMMUNITY LEADERS, INNOVATORS, EDUCATORS, VOLUNTEERING THEIR TIME AND THEIR ENERGY TO CREATE HOUSTON ENERGY AND CLIMATE WEEK. UM, AS WE KNOW, HOUSTON IS THE ENERGY CAPITAL OF THE WORLD. UH, WE HAVE THE POWER, THE EXPERTISE, THE RESPONSIBILITY TO LEAD THE GLOBAL TRANSITION TO A CLEANER, MORE DEPENDABLE ENERGY FUTURE. UM, IN 2017, AFTER HURRICANE HARVEY, THE CITY GOT THE CLIMATE ACTION PLAN OFF THE GROUND. AND IN 2020 YOU HELD A VIRTUAL, UH, CLIMATE OR CLIMATE WEEK TO HAVE THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE CLIMATE ACTION PLAN. ALLIES AND ENERGY AIMS TO GALVANIZE THE WORK THAT'S ALREADY BEEN DONE BY THE CITY. WE WANNA MAKE SURE THAT WE, WE HAVE SOMETHING THAT ENDURES THROUGH ADMINISTRATIONS AND IS SOMETHING THAT IS A MAINSTAY OF THE CITY AND A PART OF THE COMMUNITY. UM, WE HAVE PEOPLE HERE GATHERED THAT WANNA GIVE THIS AS A GIFT TO THE CITY. UH, MAYOR WHITMEYER AT A PRAYER BREAKFAST. YOU HAD A CALL TO ACTION AND YOU ASKED US TO UNITE AND GET STUFF DONE. AND THAT'S A RESULT OF THIS. THIS IS A UNITED ACTION. UM, CITIES AROUND THE WORLD HAVE HOSTED CLIMATE WEEKS FOR DECADES, AND THE STRUCTURE OF HOUSTON ENERGY AND CLIMATE WEEK IS VERY SIMILAR. IT'S A WEEK OF SELF-ORGANIZED EVENTS THAT ARE BOOKCASE BY AN OPENING AND CLOSING CEREMONY THAT WILL BE HOSTED BY ALLIES IN ENERGY. WE ARE, HOWEVER, THERE'S ONE STRATEGIC THING THAT'S DIFFERENT ABOUT WHAT WE'RE TRYING TO DO HERE, AND THAT IS THE UNITY COMMITMENT ON THE QR CODE ON WHAT WE GAVE YOU. THAT WILL TAKE YOU TO THE UNITY COMMITMENT. BUT WHAT YOU CAN SEE THERE IS THAT WE EXPRESS THAT WE BELIEVE THE WORLD MUST BE A LIVABLE AND, UM, SAFE, HEALTHY PLACE, AND THAT EVERYBODY HAS A STEWARD STEWARDSHIP TO THAT, WHETHER THAT'S AN INDIVIDUAL OR AN INDUSTRY. BUT HOW WE THINK UNIQUELY, WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT THE SUSTAINED DEVELOPMENT AND THE GROWING PROSPERITY IS, UM, SOMETHING THAT REQUIRES A COLLABORATION OF EVERYONE. THE OIL AND GAS COMMUNITY HEAVY INDUSTRY, UH, WHAT WE SEE FROM CLIMATE TECH, ZERO WASTE INITIATIVES, RENEWABLE ENERGY COMMUNITY MEMBERS. WE ALL NEED TO COME TOGETHER TO CREATE A PLATFORM OF UNITED ACTION SO THAT EVERY VOICE IS HEARD AND EVERY SECTOR IS ENGAGED IN OUR SHARED MISSION. I URGE YOU TO TAKE AN ACTIVE ROLE IN THE HOUSTON ENERGY AND CLIMATE WEEK, ATTEND EVENTS, HOST SOMETHING IN YOUR DISTRICT, SHARE INFORMATION ON SOCIAL MEDIA, ENGAGE WITH YOUR CONSTITUENTS ABOUT THE IMPORTANCE OF THIS WEEK TO TOGETHER WE CAN MAKE HOUSTON A MODEL FOR SUSTAINABLE ENERGY GROWTH AND FOR COMMUNITY RESILIENCE. FEEL FREE TO COME SPEAK TO ME AFTER, I'M HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS IF YOU WANNA LEARN MORE ABOUT WHAT WE'RE DOING. AND THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME AND YOUR COMMITMENT TO THE CLEANER AND BRIGHTER FUTURE FOR HOUSTON COUNCIL MEMBER, UH, MARTINEZ. THANK YOU MAYOR. UH, LINDSEY, THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE. UH, I'VE BEEN IN COMMUNICATION WITH KATIE AND A FEW OTHER FOLKS WITH THE, WITH THE ORGANIZATION. UM, I PLAN ON PARTICIPATING AS WELL. UH, LOOKING FORWARD TO MAKING SURE FOLKS IN DISTRICT I CAN, UH, BE ENGAGED IN WHAT Y'ALL ARE DOING. UH, AT THE END OF THE DAY, GOVERNMENT CAN'T DO IT ALL. AND SO WE NEED TO LEAN ON PARTNERS LIKE YOURSELF, UH, TO MAKE SURE THAT WE HIGHLIGHT, UH, WHAT'S WHAT'S, WHAT'S OUR, OUR BEST ASSET, WHICH IS, WHICH IS OUR COMMUNITY, RIGHT? AND SO JUST WANNA SAY THANK YOU FOR THE WORK Y'ALL ARE DOING, FOLKS THAT ARE HERE, JESSE MARTINEZ, WHO'S HERE, DOES THINGS AT ES PERSON AS WELL WITH, WITH CLIMATE TECH AND JUST TECH IN GENERAL. AND SO, UH, THANK YOU FOR THE WORK Y'ALL ARE DOING AND JUST LOOKING FORWARD TO PARTICIPATING. THANK YOU. COUNCIL POLLARD. COUNCIL MEMBER POLLARD. THANK [01:15:01] YOU MAYOR. AND I TOO WANT TO ECHO, UH, MY COLLEAGUES SENTIMENTS. THANK YOU. AND EVERYONE WHO'S, UH, HERE WITH YOU, UH, THIS IS IMPORTANT WORK THAT YOU ALL ARE DOING AND HIGHLIGHTING FOR US TO KNOW, UH, CONTINUE TO KEEP OUR OFFICES IN THE LOOP ON WAYS IN WHICH WE CAN ENGAGE AND PARTICIPATE, AND WE LOOK FORWARD TO SUPPORTING. THANK YOU. YEAH. THANK YOU. VERY GOOD. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. NEXT, EILEEN FAM. GOOD AFTERNOON, MEMBERS OF THE HOUSTON CITY COUNCIL. MY NAME IS EILEEN. FAM, I AM AN ENERGY PROFESSIONAL, A PROUD BOARD MEMBER OF A NONPROFIT SUPPORTING STEM EDUCATION, AND MOST IMPORTANTLY, A MOTHER OF TWO YOUNG BOYS. I'M HERE TO ADVOCATE FOR HOUSTON ENERGY AND CLIMATE WEEK, ALSO SUPPORTING KATIE AND LINDSEY. THIS INITIATIVE IS TO HELP FOSTER THE CLIMATE AWARENESS IN OUR COMMUNITY AND TO GATHER YOUR, AND I'M ALSO HERE TO GATHER YOUR SUPPORT, TO EXTEND AWARENESS TO OUR GRADE SCHOOLS. IT BRINGS ME MUCH SADNESS THAT THE WORLD IS GETTING WARMER AND EXTREME WEATHER EVENTS ARE BECOMING THE NORM, AND THIS IS THE WORLD I'M LEAVING BEHIND FOR MY BOYS AND GENERATIONS AHEAD. THE IMPACT OF CLIMATE CHANGE IS ALREADY BEING FELT. IT IS OUR DUTY TO ACT DOWN, TO EDUCATE AND EMPOWER OUR COMMUNITY AND DEMONSTRATE THAT WE HOUSTON, STAND IN UNITY, ARE COMMITTED TO DOING HARD THINGS TO CREATE A SUSTAINABLE AND RESILIENT FUTURE FOR GENERATIONS AHEAD. STARTING WITH THE HOUSTON ENERGY AND CLIMATE WEEK, I WAS BORN AND RAISED HERE IN HOUSTON AND HAVE LONG KNOWN THAT HOUSTON WAS THE ENERGY CAPITAL OF THE WORLD. BUT IT WASN'T UNTIL I WAS WELL INTO MY ADULT YEARS THAT I LEARNED THAT ENERGY IS NOT USED SIMULTANEOUSLY SYNONYMOUSLY WITH OIL AND GAS. IT WASN'T UNTIL I WAS PREPARING FOR A JOB INTERVIEW AT A RETAIL ENERGY COMPANY THAT I REALIZED HOW NAIVE I WAS WITH THE VASTNESS OF THE ENERGY SECTOR. ITS CONTRIBUTION TO OUR DAILY LIVES AND ITS CRITICAL IMPACT ON OUR CLIMATE. HOUSTON ENERGY AND CLIMATE WEEK IS OUR OPPORTUNITY TO BRIDGE THE GAP IN UNDERSTANDING IN OUR COMMUNITY. ONE WEEK IN THE ENERGY CAPITAL OF THE WORLD, DEDICATED TO EDUCATING OUR COMMUNITY ABOUT THE DIVERSE ENERGY LANDSCAPE, THE IMPORTANCE OF ENERGY INNOVATION, THE ROLE HOUSTON PLAY IN THE ENERGY TRANSITION. THIS INITIATIVE WILL NOT ONLY BRING TOGETHER OUR COMMUNITY, BUT ALSO ENGAGE OUR YOUTH, OUR LEADERS, OUR FUTURE LEADERS. HOUSTON ENERGY AND CLIMATE WEEK WILL INSPIRE THEM, PROVIDING THEM OPPORTUNITIES TO LEARN ABOUT CUTTING EDGE TECHNOLOGY, SUSTAINABLE PRACTICES, AND THE CRITICAL ROLE THEY CAN PLAY IN SHAPING A GREENER FUTURE. ALSO, BY INTEGRATING THIS ENERGY AND CLIMATE AWARENESS IN OUR SCHOOL, WE CAN EQUIP OUR CHILDREN WITH THE KNOWLEDGE AND SKILLS THEY NEED TO TACKLE THE CHALLENGES TOMORROW. THIS EARLY EXPOSURE WILL NOT ONLY INSTILL A LIFELONG COMMITMENT TO ENERGY STEWARDSHIP, BUT ALSO EN ENACT PASSION TO INNOVATE PAVING THE WAY FOR THE NEXT GENERATION OF SCIENTISTS, ENGINEERS, AND LEADERS TO CREATE A SUSTAINABLE AND RESILIENT FUTURE. HOUSTON ENERGY AND CLIMATE WEEK IS MORE THAN JUST AN EVENT. IT'S A CALL TO ACTION. IT'S OUR OPPORTUNITY FOR OUR CITY TO SHOWCASE OUR UNITY COMMITMENT, OUR LEADERSHIP IN NOT JUST ENERGY, BUT ENERGY INNOVATION AND PRESERVE OUR LEGACY AS THE ENERGY CAPITAL OF THE WORLD. THANK YOU. THANK YOU, MA'AM. THANK YOU. NEXT BUTLER. GOOD AFTERNOON, MAYOR WHITMEYER, MEMBERS OF THE COUNCIL. MY NAME IS BRODERICK BUTLER. I'M A RESIDENT OF THE CYNIC WOOD COMMUNITY IN NORTHEAST HOUSTON. I STAND BEFORE YOU TODAY TO EMPHASIZE THE CRITICAL IMPORTANCE OF HURRICANE PREPAREDNESS TRAINING IN OUR CITY. AS HURRICANE SEASON CONTINUES, THE NEED FOR PREPAREDNESS BECOMES EVEN MORE URGENT. I RECENTLY HAD THE PRIVILEGE OF PARTICIPATING IN A HURRICANE PREPAREDNESS TRAINING ORGANIZED BY THE NORTHEAST ACTION COMMITTEE AND WEST STREET RECOVERY. THE TRAINING COVERED VITAL SKILLS SUCH AS OPERATION OF SOLAR BATTERIES, WHICH ARE CRITICAL AND CRUCIAL FOR MAINTAINING POWER DURING OUTAGES, DEMONSTRATION OF SAFELY USING A GAS GENERATOR INSTRUCTIONS ON PREPARING MEALS SAFELY WITH CAMPING STOVES DURING POWER OUTAGES. THESE SKILLS ARE NOT MERELY TECHNICAL, THEY ARE LIFESAVING. THE TRAINING ALSO INCLUDED ESSENTIAL SURVIVAL TECHNIQUES SUCH [01:20:01] AS BASIC MEDICAL TRAINING, EQUIPPING PARTICIPANTS TO PROVIDE LIMITED MEDICAL CARE IN THE CHALLENGING CONDITIONS OF A BLACKOUT. THE TRAINING IS PRACTICAL HANDS-ON EXPERIENCE, WHICH IS CRUCIAL FOR CONFIDENCE AND COMPETENCE IN EMERGENCIES. WHILE WE CANNOT LOGISTICALLY TRAIN EVERY RESIDENT OF THE CITY OF HOUSTON, WE CAN REACH HUNDREDS OR THOUSANDS WHO WILL SHARE THIS KNOWLEDGE WITH THEIR NEIGHBORS, CREATING A RIPPLE EFFECT OF PREPAREDNESS THROUGH OUR COMMUNITY. IT IS ESSENTIAL THAT OUR ELECTED OFFICIALS PARTNER WITH COMMUNITY-BASED ENTITIES THEY TRUST, SUCH AS CIVIC CLUBS, NONPROFITS, AND SUPER NEIGHBORHOOD COUNCILS. THESE GROUPS ARE BEST POSITIONED TO ORGANIZE AND FACILITATE TRAINING SESSIONS ENSURING THAT THIS VITAL KNOWLEDGE REACHES THOSE WHO NEED IT MOST. I WANNA SPECIFICALLY THANK COUNCIL MEMBER TASHA JACKSON FROM DISTRICT B FOR HER SUPPORT IN PROVIDING TOOLS AND GENERATORS TO COMMUNITY LEADERS AND GROUPS LIKE THE NORTHEAST ACTION COALITION THROUGH THE TOOL BANK INITIATIVE. I WHOLEHEARTEDLY ENDORSE THIS TYPE OF COMMUNITY TRAINING. IT IS NOT JUST ABOUT EQUIPPING OURSELVES WITH TOOLS AND TECHNIQUES. IT IS ABOUT BUILDING A RESILIENT AND SELF-SUFFICIENT COMMUNITY. THE TRAINING LEFT ME WITH THE BEST FEELING I HAD EMOTIONALLY AND MENTALLY IN WEEKS SINCE THE STORM. IT ASSURED ME THAT WE DO NOT HAVE TO SUFFER AND WAIT NINE DAYS WITHOUT POWER FOR HELP. WE CAN HELP OURSELVES AND EACH OTHER. IN CONCLUSION, HURRICANE PREPAREDNESS TRAINING IS NOT JUST A NECESSITY. IT IS A RESPONSIBILITY WE OWE TO EACH OTHER. LET US ACT NOW TO ENSURE THAT EVERY RESIDENT HAS THE OPPORTUNITY TO LEARN, PREPARE, AND PROTECT THEMSELVES AND THEIR LOVED ONES. THANK YOU. UH, COUNCIL MEMBER DAVIS, THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE. COUNCIL MEMBER DAVIS. THANK YOU, MAYOR. THANK YOU. UH, MS. BUTLER, AGAIN FOR YOUR INSIGHT. UH, WE HEARD, UH, SOME OF WHAT YOUR CONCERNS WERE IN THE TOWN HALL THAT WE, THAT WE HAD, UH, BACK IN JUNE. UH, AND LET ME JUST SAY THAT THE INITIATIVE THAT YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT IS NEEDED, SERIOUSLY NEEDED FOR TRAINING OF PEOPLE, WHETHER YOU LIVE IN A HOME, WHETHER YOU LIVE IN APARTMENTS. BUT I DO BELIEVE THAT, UH, THERE IS THINGS IN PLACE COMING OUT OF THE OFFICE OF EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT THAT WE ARE BRINGING UP THE COLLEAGUES, ALL OUR COLLEAGUES AROUND THIS HORSESHOE AS OUR MAYOR, ARE LOOKING INTO EVERY ASPECT OF HOW WE CAN MAKE THAT HAPPEN. I'M AN ADVOCATE FOR THE FACT THAT IF WE COULD TELL PEOPLE BY BUYING ITEMS FOR PREPARATION, STORMS AND HURRICANES, BUT THERE ARE ALSO METHODS BY WHICH WE CAN EDUCATE PEOPLE ON HOW TO PREPARE THEMSELVES. SO I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR COMING AND BRINGING THIS TO OUR ATTENTION. AND I KNOW WE CAN'T, AS YOU SAID, YOU KNOW, TRAIN EVERY RESIDENT, BUT THERE IS A WAY I BELIEVE THAT WE CAN DO MORE IN ORDER THAT WE PREPARE OUR COMMUNITY AND OUR CITIZENS. EACH INDIVIDUAL ON THIS COUNCIL HAS TRUSTED PEOPLE THAT THEY ABSOLUTELY DEAL WITH IN THEIR COMMUNITY. ABSOLUTELY. THEY WILL PICK UP A PHONE AND CALL AND SAY, I NEED YOU. I NEED YOU IN THOSE STREETS. I NEED YOU TO DO X, Y, Z FOR ME. SO ONE OF THE THINGS THAT I THINK IS ESSENTIAL IS TO CALL A PASTOR, A CIVIC CLUB PRESIDENT OR A NONPROFIT CHAIR AND SAY, I WILL PERSONALLY SUPPORT, I DON'T KNOW ABOUT FINANCIALLY. I DON'T KNOW WHAT THE COUNCIL CAN DO, BUT IN CERTAIN CASES, THERE WERE TOOLS MADE AVAILABLE FOR INDIVIDUALS TO CALL COMMUNITY TRAININGS TO LITERALLY SHOW OUR SEASONED INDIVIDUALS YES, PEOPLE THAT DON'T DEAL WITH GENERATORS AND TECHNICAL ISSUES, BUT THEY SOAKED IT UP. AND I KNOW THEY MADE PHONE CALLS THAT NIGHT IN THEIR NEIGHBORHOODS TO TELL PEOPLE, WE DON'T HAVE TO SUFFER. WE CAN TAKE CONTROL OF THIS. AND THE ISSUE IS SURVIVE UNTIL HELP COMES. VERY GOOD. THANK YOU. YOU'RE WELCOME. JACKSON, COUNCILOR JACKSON. THANK YOU MAYOR. AND THANK YOU MR. BUTLER, FOR YOU JUST COMING IN AND SHARING YOUR, UM, VISION, UM, THINGS THAT WE CAN DO. UM, I REALLY APPRECIATE WEST STREET RECOVERY AND NORTHEAST ACTION COLLECTIVE. I MEAN, WITH THEIR HELP, THEIR SUPPORT, THAT'S HOW WE'VE BEEN ABLE, THAT'S HOW WE WERE ABLE TO MAKE IT THROUGH THE STORM. AND OUR OFFICE HAS BEEN WORKING REALLY CLOSELY WITH THEM. IN FACT, YOU KNOW, PROVIDING SOME RESOURCES AND THE PLAN IS TO EXPAND TO, YOU KNOW, EXPAND THE RESOURCES THAT WE'RE, UM, GIVEN TO, UM, GIVEN TO THESE ORGANIZATIONS. UM, SO I AGREE WITH YOU A HUNDRED PERCENT. I'M GLAD THAT WE HAVE 'EM AND WE NEED TO LIKE, HELP BUILD THEM UP SO THAT THEY CAN DO A WHOLE LOT MORE WHEN, UM, THE NEXT STORM HITS. SO THANK YOU. YOU'RE RIGHT. WELL, IT'S NOT REALLY MY VISION, IT'S MY KUDOS TO YOU MM-HMM . FOR THE STEPS THAT YOU GUYS TOOK. AND SO THE THOUGHT IS, WELL, WAIT. THAT WORKED. MM-HMM . THAT IS WORKING. RIGHT? LET US SPREAD IT AND ASK EACH MEMBER, YOU ARE OUR POLITICAL LEADERS. SO COULD OUR POLITICAL LEADERS REACH IN AND FIND OUR COMMUNITY LEADERS AND SAY, I WILL TRUST YOU WITH FIVE GENERATORS. YOU [01:25:01] DO WHAT YOU NEED TO DO WITH THEM. YOU HAVE A HUB IN YOUR COMMUNITY. YOU ALLOW PEOPLE TO COME OVER. THEY WERE INDIVIDUALS THAT DID IT. DID IT ON SOCIAL MEDIA. COME TO MY HOUSE, DON'T COME IN MY HOUSE, BUT I'LL PUT, PUT ELECTRICAL CORD. MM-HMM . TO LET YOU CHARGE YOUR DEVICES. I'LL PROVIDE ICE. I'LL PROVIDE WATER. IN OTHER WORDS, EMPOWER NEIGHBORS TO BE THERE FOR EACH OTHER, BUT NOT JUST WITH WELL WISHES, BUT WITH TECHNICAL HANDS-ON SKILLS. YEAH. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. THANK YOU, SIR. YOU'RE WELCOME. NEXT HAKEEM TO AFTERNOON MAYOR WITH MAYOR AND THE HONORABLE MEMBERS OF THE HOUSTON CITY COUNCIL. I AM DR. HAKEEM TIJANI, THE COMMUNITY MEMBER IN THE AFRICAN DIASPORA COMMUNITY. I STAND BEFORE YOU TODAY TO HIGHLIGHT THE SIGNIFICANCE OF THE AFRICAN DIASPORA COMMUNITY AND THE NEED FOR COLLABORATION WITHIN OUR GREAT CITY. HOUSTON IS HOME TO THE LARGEST AND MOST DYNAMIC AFRICAN DIASPORA COMMUNITY IN THE COUNTRY FOR DECADES. THE CITY OF HOUSTON HAS BEEN VERY SUPPORTIVE OF THE AFRICAN COMMUNITY, AND WE APPRECIATE THAT, UH, AND WE HOPE THAT WILL CONTINUE. UH, NOTABLY, HOUSTON SERVES AS AFRICA'S SECOND LARGEST TRADING PARTNER, UH, WITH OIL AND GAS, WITH MEDICAL, WITH HEALTHCARE. AND WE AIM TO BECOME THE FIRST. AND I HOPE THAT THIS WILL BE BY THE TIME THIS TURN IS OVER WITH YOUR SUPPORT TO ACHIEVE THIS. IT'S CRUCIAL AND IMPORTANT THAT WE CONTINUE TO WORK WITH THE AFRICAN DIASPORA AND THE AFRICAN CONTINENT TO GROW AND PROSPER OUR CITY. UH, THE LAST MAYOR WAS IN KO DEVO, NIGERIA, AND I THINK GHANA, UM, ON A TRIP TRIP. AND WE REALLY LOVE THAT, AND WE HOPE THAT CAN HAPPEN MORE OFTEN. I'D LIKE TO ADDRESS A CONCERN, MAYOR, WITH MAYOR. UH, WE WERE PREPARED TO RECEIVE YOU AT THE LAST AFRICA DAY, UM, AND WE KNOW THAT YOU WERE SERVING THE CITY BECAUSE OF THE, OF THE HURRICANE OR THE WHATEVER THAT HAPPENED. BUT IT SHOULD HAVE BEEN AN OPPORTUNITY FOR YOUR ADMINISTRATION TO ENGAGE WITH OUR DEMO DEMOGRAPHY. AND THIS A NOTION THAT YOU HAVE, YOU ARE INTENTIONALLY IGNORING AFRICAN DIASPORA COMMUNITY. I REFUSE TO BELIEVE THAT. AND I, AND INSTEAD I'M EXTENDING AN INVITATION ON BEHALF OF MY COMMUNITY TO YOU AND YOUR TEAM TO KINDLY COME WITH US. EVERY SINGLE COUNCIL MEMBER HERE HAS AFRICANS IN THEIR DISTRICT, FORT BEND, HARRIS COUNTY, UM, BRAZORIA, WHATEVER YOU WANNA MENTION, MAGNOLIA SPRING, TEXAS WOODLANDS, UM, GALVESTON, UM, EVEN IN COAL STATION. UH, LET'S WORK TOGETHER SO THAT WE CAN SUPPORT AFRICAN OWNED BUSINESSES, ENHANCE MORE INTERNATIONAL TRADE INVESTMENT, ADDRESS SOCIAL ECONOMIC DISPARITIES IN OUR COMMUNITY. UM, LET'S BUILD BRITISH BRIDGES BARRIERS, NOT NO BARRIERS. LET'S EMBRACE THE RICHNESS OF OUR COLLECTIVE UNIQUE DIVERSITIES AND CREATE A BRIGHTER FUTURE FOR OUR CHILDREN WHO HAVE LEARNED TO FOUND HOUSTON AS A HOME. I LOOK FORWARD TO RESPONSES FROM EACH AND EVERYONE. SINCE I FEEL AFTER TIME, I WANT TO PLEASE THANK, UM, COUNCILMAN, UH, WILLIE DAVIS FOR BEING AT THE PRAYER THAT HAPPENED AT GEORGIA AL BROWN CENTER ON SATURDAY. IT WAS OVER 40,000 PEOPLE COMING TOGETHER TO PRAY FOR THIS NATION AND THIS CITY. THERE'LL BE ANOTHER PRAYER, UH, CONFERENCE NEXT WEEK THAT I, UM, PERSONALLY PUTTING TOGETHER A GSH UH, CENTER IN, UM, UM, ALONG THE BELTWAY BY WEST AIRPORT. I'VE SENT INVITATIONS TO YOU, MR. POLLARD. I KNOW, UH, WE'VE BEEN FRIENDS. THANK YOU SO MUCH, LINDA, MARTHA, FOR ALL THAT YOU DO. WE APPRECIATE YOU AND EVERYONE OF YOU. THANK YOU SO MUCH. UH, COUNCILOR THOMAS. THANK YOU, MR. MAYOR. UH, THANK YOU, SIR FOR COMING AND, UM, REPRESENTING YOUR COMMUNITY. JUST WANT TO EXTEND AN INVITATION TO YOU ON THE WEST SIDE OF HOUSTON APAC AND MY OFFICE AND SEVERAL OTHER AFRICAN ORGANIZATION AND, UM, BUSINESS OWNERS WE'RE HOSTING OUR VERY FIRST, UM, AFRICAN COMMUNITY EVENT FOCUSED AROUND CIVIC ENGAGEMENT FOR THE ENTIRE DIASPORA. AFRO PAC HAS BEEN VERY ACTIVE. THANK YOU. UH, AND, UM, WHENEVER YOU HOST SOMETHING, MAYOR WHITMEYER WILL BE MORE THAN WILLING, UH, TO COME ON THE WEST SIDE AND TOUR ZOIA AND ALL TYPES OF, WE'D LIKE TO SEE ZOIA, WE'LL BRING HIM TO THE MARKET. WE'LL DO ALL OF THOSE THINGS. THANK YOU, MAX. UM, BUT YOU'RE ABSOLUTELY RIGHT. UM, OUR AFRICAN BROTHERS AND SISTERS DEFINITELY HAVE A PRESENCE IN THE CITY. YES. UM, BUT AS YOU KNOW, WITH UH, DISASTERS COMES, WE SHIFT THE, SHIFT OUR, OUR SCHEDULE. I TOTALLY UNDERSTAND THAT. AND, UM, AND MAKE SURE THAT, UM, OUR AFRICAN BROTHERS AND SISTERS AND ALL HOUSTONIANS ARE TAKEN CARE OF. THANK YOU. SO, UH, POST RECOVERY, SO WE CAN CONTINUE TO CELEBRATE AFRICA DAY AT THAT DAY, BUT THANK YOU, BUT ALL THROUGHOUT THE CITY. UM, SO HOPEFULLY WE'LL SEE YOU AFTER THE MAYOR'S BACK TO SCHOOL DRIVE. UM, I'LL TRY, TRY MY BEST . COME ON, COME ON OVER TO THE WEST SIDE . UM, AND, AND COME HANG OUT WITH THEM. I LIVE IN RICHMOND, SO, I MEAN, I'M SURE IT'S NOT GAS UP FROM, COME ON UP TO THE WEST SIDE AND WE GONNA SEE YOU THERE. YOU WANT US TO COME HANG WITH YOU. COME HANG WITH US. I'M A CITY BOY. TRUST ME. YEAH. COME HANG WITH US. UM, [01:30:01] BUT THANK YOU FOR YOUR COMMENTS TODAY. THANK YOU SO MUCH. UH, COUNCIL DAVIS. THANK YOU, MAYOR. THANK YOU, DR. KING. IT'S GOOD. THANK YOU SO MUCH TO SEE YOU AGAIN, SIR. YEAH, GOOD TO SEE YOU. YOU, SIR. WHAT AN AWESOME, UH, PRESENTATION OF PRAYER, SIR, FOR CITY. AND AS YOU ALL DID, PRAY FOR THE MAYOR AND MAYOR, ALL OF THE COUNCIL AND ALL OF OUR, UH, ELECTED OFFICIALS. THANK YOU VERY MUCH, SIR. AND I CERTAINLY WANT TO ASSURE YOU, I WAS GRATEFUL FOR THE INVITATION. THANK YOU, SIR. TO BE THERE. AND CERTAINLY, UH, I CAN ASSURE YOU THAT NONE OR ANY OF US AROUND HERE WOULD DARE NOT, WOULD IGNORE OUR AFRICAN BROTHER AND SISTERS COMMUNITY. THANK YOU SO MUCH, SIR. BECAUSE WE INCLUSIVE ON EVERYTHING WE DO. YES, SIR. SO, UH, I JUST WANT TO COMMEND YOU. THANK YOU FOR COMING. THANK YOU, SIR. BECAUSE OFTENTIMES WE HAVE TO BE REMINDED OF SOMETHING THAT WE SOMETIMES, UH, NOT INTENTIONALLY OVERLOOK, BUT DUE TO CIRCUMSTANCES, BUT THANK YOU THE SAME. AND GOD BLESS YOU. THANK YOU SO MUCH. I APPRECIATE THAT, SIR. THANK YOU. YES, MA'AM. COUNCILOR POLLARD. THANK YOU MAYOR HAKEEM. I JUST WANT TO SEE YOU NEXT SATURDAY. . YES, SIR. UH, I WAS GONNA SAY, RESEND THOSE DETAILS OVER TO ME SO I CAN HAVE 'EM ON THE TOP OF MY, MY INBOX. THANK YOU VERY, VERY MUCH. I APPRECIATE THAT. AND, UH, JUST CONTINUE, UH, SUCCESS AND THANK YOU FOR YOUR CONTINUED ADVOCACY AROUND THE CITY. THANK YOU. APPRECIATE IT. I APPRECIATE THAT, SIR. THANK YOU, SIR. THANK YOU. THANK YOU SO MUCH. ANGELIQUE, AYA. GREETINGS, CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS AND ELECTED OFFICIALS. I FEEL SO BLESSED TO BE HERE. MY NAME IS ANGELIE, AND I'M SPEAKING ON BEHALF OF THE INDIAN IMMIGRANTS WHO WILL NEVER BE ABLE TO RECEIVE AN EMPLOYMENT BASED GREEN CARD IN THEIR LIFETIME IN PERHAPS MOVING FORWARD. PERSONALLY, I HAVEN'T SEEN MUCH MEDIA COVERAGE ON THIS MATTER, SO I'M HERE TO BRING IT TO YOUR ATTENTION. EARLIER THIS YEAR, I LEARNED THAT DISTRESSING NEWS THAT OVER 1.2 MILLION INDIVIDUALS FROM INDIA WILL NOW NEVER BE ABLE TO RECEIVE A GREEN CARD DUE TO A STAGGERING 134 YEAR WEIGHT BACKLOG. YES, YOU ALL HAVE HEARD THAT NUMBER CORRECTLY. IT WILL TAKE 134 YEARS TO BE ABLE TO ELIMINATE THE BACKLOG, WHICH IS EFFECTIVELY A LIFE SENTENCE FOR THESE GREEN CARD ASPIRANTS. OF THE 1.2 MILLION INDIVIDUALS, OVER 400,000 INDIANS WILL PASS AWAY WITHOUT RECEIVING OUR RECEIVING THEIR GREEN CARDS. AND THOSE NEWLY ADDED TO THE QUEUE WILL SPEND THEIR ENTIRE LIVES WAITING IN LINE FOR AN EMPLOYMENT-BASED GREEN CARD. AS A NATURAL BORN US CITIZEN AND THE DAUGHTER OF INDIAN IMMIGRANTS, MYSELF, I AM ABSOLUTELY UNEQUIVOCALLY ASHAMED AND TROUBLED BY THE DECADES LONG INHUMANE GREEN CARD BACKLOGS THAT HIGHLY SKILLED IMMIGRANTS HAVE BEEN FORCED TO HINDER, ENDURE WITH NO SUBSTANTIAL EFFORTS BEING MADE TO RESOLVE THIS ISSUE. ALTHOUGH I'M ONLY 16 YEARS OLD, I'M PASSIONATE ABOUT MAKING A DIFFERENCE IN OUR SOCIETY. I BELIEVE THAT AS CITIZENS AND RESIDENTS OF THIS COUNTRY, WE MUST ADVOCATE FOR CHANGE AND WORK TOWARDS, FOR A FAIR AND MORE EFFICIENT IMMIGRATION SYSTEM THAT RECOGNIZES AND REWARDS THE CONTRIBUTIONS OF THESE TALENTED INDIVIDUALS. I SINCERELY HOPE TO COLLABORATE WITH THE CITY COUNCIL MEMBER OR ANOTHER REPRESENTATIVE TO CREATE AN INITIATIVE, A CAMPAIGN, OR EXPLORE OTHER WAYS TO ADDRESS THIS PRESSING PROBLEM. THANK YOU FOR YOUR ATTENTION IN CONSIDERING THIS CRUCIAL ISSUE. MAYOR PROAM CASSIDY TATUM, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR BEING HERE. UM, I HEARD YOU SAY YOU WERE 16 YEARS OLD. YES. I WANT TO COMMEND YOU FOR BEING ACTIVE, ENGAGED, AND INVOLVED. TELL ME, WHAT WOULD YOU LIKE TO SEE THE CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS DO? WHAT, WHAT ACTIVITY? HOW, HOW CAN WE ASSIST YOU IN WHAT YOU'RE INTERESTED IN? UM, I, I JUST WISH FOR THIS TO GO AS FAR AS IT CAN. UM, I'M NOT REALLY SURE AS TO HOW TO RESOLVE THIS ISSUE, BUT, UM, I JUST REALLY HOPE THAT ONE OF, I CAN COLLABORATE WITH SOMEBODY TO SEE WHAT THINGS WE CAN DO TO HELP GET RID OF THIS PROBLEM. OKAY. I'M GONNA, I'M GONNA HAVE, UM, ONE OF THE INTERNS IN MY OFFICE TO REACH OUT TO YOU AND WE CAN WORK WITH MY OFFICE AND WE'LL COME UP WITH SOME IDEAS TO HELP YOU BECAUSE I THINK THAT THE MERE FACT THAT YOU CAME HERE AND THAT YOU, YOU FOUND SOMETHING THAT YOU BELIEVE IN AND YOU WANT TO ENGAGE, I THINK THAT WE CAN TRY TO COME UP WITH SOME IDEAS TO HELP MOVE THIS FORWARD FOR YOU. THANK YOU. THANK YOU SO MUCH. THANK YOU MA'AM. NICK, ABOVE YOU PO HELLO, UH, MAYOR COUNCILMAN. UM, BASICALLY HERE TO JUST PIGGYBACK OFF MY SISTER'S POINT, [01:35:01] UH, TALK ABOUT THE GREEN CARD CRISIS IN AMERICA TODAY. A LITTLE BACKGROUND INFORMATION ON ME. I'M A RECENT STEM GRADUATE FROM OUR, UH, UNIVERSITY OF DOWNTOWN CAMPUS. UM, MOVED HERE IN 2005 AT SIX YEARS OLD. AND BASICALLY WHETHER IT WAS SHEER LUCK, DESTINY, GOD'S GRACE, OR YOU KNOW, MY PARENTS' HARD WORK, I WAS ABLE TO LIVE THE AMERICAN LIFE AND, UH, REALLY BE A BENEFIT TO THE COMMUNITY SO FAR, AT LEAST, UM, THE 134 YEARS, YOU KNOW, YOU GUYS HAVE TAKEN TIME OUT OF YOUR DAYS TODAY, UH, TO SPEAK WITH ME. THESE PEOPLE HAVE 50,000 MORE DAYS, YOU KNOW, TO REALLY GO THROUGH IN ORDER TO GET, UH, THE GREEN CARD 134 YEARS. IT'S REALLY HARD TO PUT INTO PERSPECTIVE. I WOULD SAY HOW LONG THAT IS. THAT'S TWO LIFETIMES. YOU KNOW, IF YOU SIGN UP TODAY, TWO GENERATIONS WILL GO BY BEFORE YOU EVEN HAVE A CHANCE. AND THESE PEOPLE ARE LIKE WORKING CLASS, YOU KNOW, NOT TO LIKE SUPPORT MY INDIAN COMMUNITY, BUT, YOU KNOW, WORKING CLASS, THE DOCTORS, BUSINESS OWNERS, THEY WANNA COME OVER HERE AND THEY WANNA PAY TAX DOLLARS, YOU KNOW, AND BASICALLY ALL I ASK IS A STEP IN THE RIGHT PLA UH, DIRECTION. YOU KNOW, ANY ONE OF YOU, ANY WAY THAT CAN, UH, LEAD ME AND MY SISTER IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION, SOME GUIDANCE, WE'D REALLY APPRECIATE IT. BUT THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME. THANK YOU. NEXT PJ JONES. I OKAY. GOOD AFTERNOON, MAYOR WHITMEYER AND ESTEEM COUNCIL MEMBERS. FIRST OF ALL, I WANNA SAY MAYOR WHITMEYER, YOU TRULY INSPIRE ME. I AM PHILIP PJ JONES, THE FORMER DIRECTOR OF CONSTITUENT SERVICE FOR DISTRICT B AND THE CURRENT VICE PRESIDENT OF THE GLENWOOD FOREST COMMUNITY CIVIC CLUB. I STAND BEFORE YOU TODAY TO EXTEND MY HEARTFELT INVITATION TO MAYOR WHITMEYER AND ALL COUNCIL MEMBERS TO VISIT GLENWOOD FOREST FOR OUR TOUR OF OUR COMMUNITY AND SEE FIRSTHAND THE IMPACT OF OUR PATROL CAR. AFFECTIONATELY NAME THE WIT MOBILE. OUR COMMUNITY PREDOMINANTLY IS GERIATRIC, HAS BEEN A TARGET FOR CRIMINALS IN THE PAST, WE TOOK THE INITIATIVE TO NAME OUR PATROL CAR, THE WIT, MOBILE AND HONOR OF MALE WIT MA. A DECISION MADE PREMATURELY, BUT NOT WITHOUT PURPOSE. THE PRESENCE OF THE PATROL CAR HAS BECOME A DETERRENT. WHEN CRIMINALS HEAR YOUR NAME MAY , THEY RUN. WE ARE SEEKING YOUR SUPPORT TO HELP US LAUNCH A PILOT PROGRAM THROUGH A CITIZEN PATROL CLASS FROM THE NORTHEAST STATION. OTHER COMMUNITIES HAVE SOUGHT OUR ASSISTANCE, RECOGNIZING THE EFFECTIVENESS OF OUR EFFORTS. HOWEVER, WE NEED PUBLIC SAFETY FUNDING TO MAINTAIN OUR PATROL CAR AND PROVIDE MORE SUPPORT FOR THE HOUSTON POLICE DEPARTMENT. WE REQUEST MORE HELP FROM HHPD AND MORE RESOURCES FOR THEM. THE CITY OF HOUSTON CANNOT TACKLE THESE CHALLENGES ALONE. A MEAL, 15, 20 MINUTES, MAYOR OF YOUR TIME, ALONG WITH CHIEF SADDLE WHITE, WE, WE WOULD LOVE, WE WOULD ALLOW, WOULD ALLOW US TO SHOWCASE THE BLIGHTED AREAS IN OUR COMMUNITY. SINCE THE INTRODUCTION OF OUR PATROL CALL, ILLEGAL DUMPING HAS DROPPED 0%. COUNSEL, I WILL REPEAT 0%. THE RED MOBILE HAS BECOME A SYMBOL OF SAFETY AND PRIDE IN OUR COMMUNITY. WE BELIEVE OUR PROGRAM CAN BE THE FLAGSHIP INITIATIVE, NOT ONLY FOR DISTRICT B, BUT FOR THE ENTIRE CITY OF HOUSTON. WE ARE PROBLEM SOLVERS. YOU'LL SEE ME AGAIN AND WE'LL BE BACK. AND WITH MORE SOLUTIONS, WE COME WITH 10% OF THE PROBLEM AND 90% OF THE SOLUTION. IN CLOSING, I WOULD LIKE TO PRESENT ONE MALE WITH MY, WITH A KEY TO OUR PATROL CAR AND A COMMEMORATIVE T-SHIRT, SYMBOLIZING OUR GRATITUDE AND ONGOING PARTNERSHIP. BUT BEFORE I DO THAT, COUNSEL, I HAVE PROVIDED YOU GUYS, IF YOU GUYS CAN JUST TAKE A QUICK LOOK. WE'RE GONNA MOVE VERY, VERY QUICK DUE TO TIME, RESPECTFULLY. THE, THE SECOND PAGE IS A MAP. I'M SORRY, THE THIRD PAGE YOU SHOULD HAVE, YOU SHOULD GO TO A MAP. THAT WOULD BE, I'M SORRY. THE SECOND PAGE REALLY, REALLY QUICK. GLENWOOD FOREST IS CONSISTS OF SIX, SIX SECTIONS. WE HAVE HIGHLIGHTED, IF YOU LOOKING RED, THAT'S WHERE MOST OF OUR CRIMINAL ACTIVITY HAS BEEN GOING ON. WE ARE WORKING IN GLENWOOD FOREST. WE HAVE IDENTIFIED PROSTITUTION, ILLEGAL DUMPING AND CRIME ALSO TOO. IF YOU WERE TO GO AHEAD AND LOOK AT THESE, THE NEXT PAGE I WANNA DIRECT YOUR ATTENTION TO NUMBER NINE. THE QUESTION READS, DO YOU NOTICE ENFORCEMENT PRESENCE IN YOUR GLENWOOD FOREST COMMUNITY? WE HAVE BEEN BOOTS ON THE GROUND, HAVE DONE SURVEYS IN GLENWOOD FOREST. THESE ARE LIVE NUMBERS. WE CANNOT CONTINUE TO KEEP BLAMING HPD. WE GET IT. WE NEED HELP, BUT WE'RE NOT GONNA KEEP COMPLAINING ABOUT IT. ASK FOR MORE TIME, PLEASE. I WILL WRAP IT UP. GO AHEAD. [01:40:01] THANK YOU. WE NEED, WE HAVE PUT THIS WITH MOBILE OUT AND TRULY THIS IS NOT AN ACT. DAY ONE WITH THOSE GREEN FLASHING LIGHTS HAVE STOPPED ILLEGAL DUMPING. THERE'S TWO HOMES WE HAD, WE HAVE NOT HAD ANY MORE DRUG ACTIVITY AND NO MORE PROSTITUTION. IT IS FACT. HOWEVER, THE LAST PAGES, I WILL NOT GO OFF TO THOSE. MAYOR WITH MIND. YOUR TEAM, WE WANNA SHOW YOU THE GREAT WORK THAT WE'RE DOING AT GLENWOOD FOREST, THE RED MOBILE. WE HAVE SOME BLIGHTED, UM, HOUSES IN GLENWOOD FOREST. WE TOOK THE INITIATIVES AT THE PACIFIC CLUB TO CUT THOSE YARDS. AND WE HAVE BEEN BOOTS ON THE GROUND WITH VOLUNTEER WORK, WALKING THESE HOMES AROUND THE CLOCK, MERELY WITH OUR OWN TIME. AND WE HAVE MOVED THE SQUATTERS, WE HAVE GOT ILLEGAL DUMPING FROM OUR COMMUNITY AND WE ARE VERY, VERY TRULY EXCITED. MAYOR WITH MINE TODAY. HERE'S YOUR SHIRT. WE ASK YOU FOR 15 TO 20 MINUTES WHENEVER YOU WANNA GET IN THE CAR. YOU CAN DRIVE AT THREE, 3:00 AM 5:00 PM GET IN THERE. WE DON'T CARE, BUT RIGHT THING, WEGS, MAKE SURE YOU PUT SOME MORE GAS IN IT. OKAY. ALRIGHT. THIS IS MAYOR WHITMEYER SHIRT. WHEN HE GO ON PATROL WITH US. I HAVE GLEN WITH, FOR HERE TODAY. THIS IS YOUR SHIRT. I KNOW THIS IS A BIG KEY AND WE'RE GONNA HAND THIS OVER. THIS IS THE KEYS TO GLENWOOD AND THIS IS THE KEYS TO THE PATROL CAR. WE WELCOME YOU AND CHIEF SADDLE WHITE. GIVE IT TO REBECCA AND UH, WE'LL BE OUT TO SEE YOU. YOU OUGHT TO BE A, WHAT DO YOU DO? ARE YOU A SALESMAN? WHAT ARE YOU, ? DID I SELL YOU? WELL, ACTUALLY, I, I WAS FORMALLY THE DIS UH, DISTRICT B UH, CONSTITUENT SERVICE DIRECTOR. I'M NO LONGER THERE. OKAY, WELL, WE'LL BE OUT TO SEE. OKAY. YEAH, WELL, I, I'M JUST, I'M JUST, LEMME KNOW. GET MY SCHEDULE. IT'S PRETTY FULL, BUT I WOULD NEVER TURN YOU DOWN. ALRIGHT, WELL, WHERE'S YOUR CAR? IT'S YOUR KEY. I CAN'T, I CAN'T WAIT. ALRIGHT, WELL WE LOOK FORWARD TO SEEING YOU. ALRIGHT, BE SAFE. I APPRECIATE YOU. YES, THANK YOU. BE SAFE. YES, SIR. THANK YOU. COUNSELOR. JACK. I'M SORRY. COUNSELOR JACKSON. JONES. JACKSON, YOU CAN GO WITH ME. CONGRATULATIONS ON YOUR WI MOBILE. THANK YOU. THANK YOU ALL. THE RESIDENT, THE, YOU GUYS HAVE ALWAYS BEEN FIRECRACKERS AND INNOVATIVE AND COMING UP WITH LIKE, CREATIVE IDEAS. SO, UM, CONGRATULATIONS ON THAT. BUT SINCE YOU'RE HERE, I WANTED TO JUST, UM, GIVE AN UPDATE TO THE, UM, NORTHWOOD NORTH, NOT NORTHWOOD MOUNTAIN, GLENWOOD FOREST, UM, COMMUNITY THAT YOUR SPEED BUMPS, UM, YOU KNOW, YOUR SPEED BUMPS SHOULD BE COMING. WE JUST TALKED TO, UM, PUBLIC WORKS HALLELU WITHIN THE NEXT TWO TO THREE MONTHS. UM, MAYOR, OUT OF THE $500, 500,000 METRO DOLLARS THAT WE GET, WE SPEND $182,000 FOR SPEED BUMPS SPECIFICALLY FOR YOUR NEIGHBORHOODS. SO THAT'S HOW MUCH WE CARE ABOUT YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD. AND OF COURSE, OTHER NEIGHBORHOODS ARE GETTING SPEED CUSHIONS AS WELL, BUT YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD IS AS WELL. AND THEN THAT FIRE STATION LIGHT RIGHT THERE ON THE CORNER, T WELL IS ALREADY INSTALLED. IT SHOULD BE GOING LIVE WITHIN THE NEXT MONTH OR SO. OF COURSE, OUR DISTRICT OFFICE COVERED THE, UM, THE, THE, THE DESIGN COSTS OF THAT AND KEPT PUTTING, AND THAT WAS SOMETHING THAT YOU GUYS PUSHED, SO YOU SHOULD BE CELEBRATING. YOU GUYS ARE REALLY ROCKING THE ROAD. WE ARE EXCITED. AND SO YES, WHATEVER YOU NEED. I KNOW WE, UM, OFFERED YOU GUYS, WE GAVE YOU GUYS A, A GRANT FROM THE DISTRICT SERVICE FUNDS BEFORE. WHATEVER YOU, WE NEED, YOU NEED TO SUPPORT WHAT YOU GUYS ARE DOING. OKAY. WE ARE HERE FOR YOU. SO THANK YOU. THANK YOU FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP AND EVERYONE IN, UM, NORTHWOOD MAN, GLEN FOREST, THEY BACKWOOD MAN HAVE BEEN HERE UPHILL LOT, YOU KNOW, MR. SO LIKE, YEAH. YEAH. SO THANK YOU GUYS. WE TOOK, WE TOOK, WE TOOK A BUS DOWN HERE. ALWAYS TAKE, WE TRAVEL LIGHTLY, BUT UH, WE COME IN CLUSTER. BUT I APPRECIATE YOU. THANK YOU. WE ARE VERY EXCITED IN G GLENWOOD FOREST AND THEY JUST RECENTLY DID A FUNDRAISER YOU RAISED. HOW MUCH DID YOU RAISE AT THE FUNDRAISER? IS IT OKAY? IS IT SAFE TO SAY? YEAH, IT'S RAISED 31,355. THAT COMMUNITY'S WORKING HARD, SO YEAH. HARD WORK. SO YOU GUYS ARE DOING A GREAT JOB. CONGRATULATIONS. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. CONGRATULATIONS. THANK YOU. THANK YOU FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP. THANK YOU. SEE YOU SOON. YES SIR. NEXT FRANK ALLEN. GOOD AFTERNOON, MAYOR. YOU SPEAK DIRECTLY. GOOD AFTERNOON, MAYOR WHITMEYER, CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS. I'M FRANK ALLEN. I LIVE IN GLENWOOD FOREST FOR OVER 40 YEARS, SERVING ON THE ADVISORY BOARD OF OUR CIVIC CLUB. AND AS STREET CAPTAIN, WE HAD A ROUND TABLE DISCUSSION ABOUT NAMING OUR PATROL CAR. THE WHI MOBILE PJ BROUGHT IT UP. AND MAY I TELL YOU, JUST THE NAME ITSELF MADE A HUGE DIFFERENCE. SINCE THE NAMING OF THE WHI MOBILE, WE HAVEN'T HAD ANY CRIME SO FAR. WHEN THOSE GREEN LIGHTS ARE FLASHING, WE FEEL A SENSE OF SAFETY AND PRIDE IN OUR COMMUNITY. [01:45:02] BEFORE THE WOOD MOBILE, I HAD AN ILLEGAL DUMPING SPOT IN FRONT OF MY HOUSE. NOW THE ILLEGAL DUMPING HAS STOPPED ENTIRELY. THE WOOD MOBILE HAS BECOME A SYMBOL OF SECURITY AND COMMUNITY SPIRIT. IT'S BEEN A MORE, IT'S BEEN MORE THAN JUST A PATROL CAR. AFTER HURRICANE BURL, WE TRIED THE TIE ROPE TO THE BACK OF THE WOOD MOBILE AND USED IT TO MOVE HEAVY TREES AND TO DEBRIS AND THE STREET. AT THE TIME, NO, NO ONE ELSE HAD A TRUCK. SO IT CAME IN A HANDY, VERY HANDY FOR US. AS NEEDED, WE NEED TO CONTINUE SUPPORT FROM THE CITY OF HOUSTON, HPD. ADDITIONAL RESOURCES FOR OUR PATROL, CAR AND PUBLIC SAFETY FUNDING WOULD HELP SU SUSTAIN SUTA SUSTAIN US AND EXPAND OUR EFFORTS. OUR SUCCESS CAN BE A MODEL FOR OTHER COMMUNITIES. FINALLY, PLEASE SUPPORT OUR REQUEST. TAKE BRIEF TOOLS OF OUR COMMUNITY TO SEE THE POSITIVE CHANGE IN OUR AREA. THANK YOU FOR YOUR, YOUR DEDICATED SUPPORT AND ATTENTIONS. THANK YOU, SIR. THANKS FOR COMING. NO SPEAKERS. NEXT. BELINDA TAYLOR. GOOD AFTERNOON, MAYOR. GOOD MORNING TO THE CITY COUNCIL. I STAND TODAY BEING A REPRESENTATIVE FOR SUPER NEIGHBORHOOD 49 50 EXECUTIVE COUNCIL. ALSO, UH, THE NEWLY PRESIDENT FOR VERDE FOREST CIVIC CLUB, SECTION TWO. I'M ALSO THE HONORABLE WIFE FOR PASTOR CHARLES H. TAYLOR SENIOR IN THE NORTHEAST COMMUNITY. WE ALSO HAVE, UM, A NONPROFIT, WHICH IS GC COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION. AND WE ARE THE OWNERS OF COMMA GRACE SENIOR APARTMENT HOMES, WHICH HAS 108 UNITS. BUT I STAND TODAY AND THANKING OUR COUNCILWOMAN TASHA JACKSON FOR ALLOW ME TO BE HERE. YOU TOO, MAYOR. UM, IF YOU GET A CHANCE, I WANNA RIDE IN THAT WHI PILL JUST TO BREAK THE ICE. AND I STAND TODAY BECAUSE I'M A CONCERNED CITIZEN. UM, THERE'S SOME PROBLEMS DOWN TIDWELL ROAD STREETLIGHTS. THERE'S APPROXIMATELY 33 STREETLIGHTS THAT HAS BEEN OFF FOR A WHILE. WE FIRST REPORTED IT BACK ON FEBRUARY THE 16TH. UH, ME AND MS. VICKI, WHO'S THE SUPER NEIGHBORHOOD, 49 50, UM, VICE PRESIDENT THAT WAS REPORTED WITH, SENT ON TO CENTER POINT BECAUSE WE WANTED TO MAKE SURE WE DO OUR DUE DILIGENCE TO MAKING SURE THAT WE FOLLOW THE RIGHT CHANNELS, UM, ON THAT DAY. AND I GOT COPIES FOR COUNCIL WOMAN'S OFFICE AND ALSO A COPY FOR YOUR OFFICE OF MAIL. UM, IN THIS FINDING, UM, TRAVELING THAT ROAD, DAY IN AND DAY OUT WITH MY GRAND BABIES, UM, IT'S VERY FEARFUL, UM, TO TRAVEL THAT ROAD AT NIGHT BECAUSE THE OTHER SIDE RAISED THEIR HIGH BEAM LIGHTS AND YOU CAN'T SEE IT'S A BLIND SPOT. UM, BUT WE MADE A REPORT TO CENT POINT, LIKE I STATED ON FEBRUARY THE 16TH. AND WE SPOKE WITH SOMEONE THERE, ONE OF THE CHIEF MANAGERS AT CENT POINT, WHICH THEY LOOKED ON THE CENT POINT MAP TO BE A CONSISTENT, UH, DETAIL HOW MANY LIGHTS WAS OFF, WHICH WAS A TOTAL OF 33 FROM TIDWELL TO BAUM FROM TIDWELL TO JOHN ROSTON. ON MARCH, THEY SENT US A REPORT BACK, 'CAUSE WE GOT AN EMAIL FROM THEM ON FEBRUARY THE 23RD THAT THE PROBLEM WAS RESOLVED. BUT THAT WAS NOT TRUE. ON MARCH, THERE WAS STILL ANOTHER TOTAL OF 22, UM, LIGHTS THAT WE DID STILL FIND IN, IN THE AREAS THAT WAS VERY UNSAFE. COUNCILWOMAN JACKSON. UM, WE REPORTED THAT ON MARCH 11TH, AND WE DIDN'T HEAR ANYTHING BACK FROM THEM. SO ME AND MS. VICKY, WE KEPT DOING SOME DIGGING. AND ON MARCH 13TH, I DID MAKE IT TO, WELL, LET ME BACK UP. MARCH NIGHT I DID ATTEND THE MEETING AT, UM, THE DISTRICT B MEETING WITH COUNCIL, UH, WOMAN JACKSON AND MADE IT A NOTE, UM, IN THAT MEETING. CAN I HAVE MORE TIME NOW JUST TO GIVE YOU MA'AM, THE TIME? YES, MA'AM. THANK YOU SO MUCH. TO GIVE HER THE INFORMATION ABOUT, WE REPORTED THIS TO CENTER POINT AND IMMEDIATELY COUNCILWOMAN JACKSON [01:50:01] HAD ME TO GET WITH HER OFFICE SO THAT WAY THEY CAN START WORKING ON THIS PROBLEM. MM-HMM . WELL LEAST TO BE KNOWN. MARCH 13TH, THERE WAS AN ACCIDENT ON THAT ROAD, WHICH LED AN AMBULANCE TO TAKE THOSE PEOPLE BY AMBULANCE. THEN ON MARCH 26TH, WHICH WAS A TUESDAY, THERE WAS ANOTHER ACCIDENT WHERE THEY HAD TO, UH, THE, UH, HPD AND THE, UM, ONES THERE TO, TO TRY TO HELP PULL THOSE VEHICLES FROM OUT THE GROUND AT OUTSIDE OF THE ROAD. SO WE HAVE BEEN REPORTING THIS AND THEN WE REPORT IT AGAIN ON APRIL, APRIL 5TH, SOME MORE LIGHTS BECAUSE I DON'T UNDERSTAND ON TIDWELL, IT'S VERY UNSAFE FOR US TO TRY TO GET THE STREET POLL NUMBER BECAUSE CENTER POINT TOLD US THAT THEY CAN'T DO ANYTHING UNTIL WE GET STREET POLL NUMBER. SO THAT'S WHY IT'S, IT HAS TAKEN US A LITTLE TIME TO TRY TO GET, TO GATHER ALL THIS INFORMATION. BUT I DO WANNA KNOW TO YOU THAT, UM, COUNCILWOMAN JACKSON DID REACH BACK OUT TO ME LAST WEEK. MARY DID. AND THAT IT WAS HAVING TO DO WITH POSSIBLY A CIP PROJECT BECAUSE THERE'S STILL SOME CONSTRUCTION RIGHT THERE IN MESA AND TIDWELL, WHICH IS KIND OF THE DANGEROUS AREA THERE. BUT, UM, TODAY I STAND FOR THE SAFETY OF OUR PEOPLE IN THE NORTHEAST COMMUNITY AND I JUST WANTED TO BRING TO YOUR ATTENTION THAT WE ARE HERE TO JUST ASK FOR SUPPORT TO SEE HOW WE CAN GET CENTER POINT TO WORK WITH US AND SEE HOW WE CAN GET THESE LIGHTS ON BECAUSE PEOPLE DRIVE THAT STREET DAY IN AND DAY OUT. THANK YOU SO MUCH MR. MAYOR, FOR ALLOWING ME TO SPEAK. YES MA'AM. BECAUSE COUNCILWOMAN JACKSON, COUNCILOR JACKSON HAS A QUESTION. YEAH. THANK YOU MAYOR. THANK YOU LADY TAYLOR FOR COMING IN AND BRINGING, JUST REITERATING THE NEED TO GET THOSE LIGHTS UP. UM, AS WE ALL KNOW THAT THERE IS A CIP PROJECT THAT'S HAPPENING OVER, THERE'S A LOT OF DEVELOPMENT THAT'S HAPPENING. I THINK IT'S WHOLE WHAT BRINGS LANDING ROBERT'S LANDING IS, UM, BEEN DEVELOPED. AND SO, UM, AND WITH THE RECENT STORMS THAT SLOWED DOWN THE PROCESS. AND SO JUST KNOW THAT WE'RE CONTINUING TO PUT PRESSURE ON, UM, PUBLIC WORK, CENTERPOINT, WHOEVER'S RESPONSIBLE FOR GETTING THOSE LIGHTS UP, AND WE WILL CONTINUE TO COLLABORATE, OKAY. UM, WITH THE SUPER NEIGHBORHOOD, UM, AND, YOU KNOW, AND YOURSELF, UM, ABOUT THE PROGRESS. OKAY? OKAY. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. Y'ALL BE BLESSED. YES. NEXT, CAN I LEAVE THIS MAYOR FOR YOUR OFFICE AND COUNCIL WOMAN'S OFFICE? SOME OF THE REPORT YOU THAT YOUR RIGHT. THANK YOU SO MUCH, VENA RANDOLPH. GOOD AFTERNOON, MAYOR WHITMEYER AND CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS. GOOD AFTERNOON, MAYOR WHITMEYER AND CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS. I'M ALVIN RANDOLPH, AN HONORARY MEMBER OF THE GLENWOOD FOREST COMMUNITY CIVIC CLUB. AND I BELIEVE ACTIONS SPEAK LOUDER THAN WORDS. WITH OVER 20 YEARS OF MILITARY SERVICE, I KNOW THE IMPORTANCE OF PUBLIC SAFETY AND GETTING CRIMINALS OFF THE STREETS. MAYOR, WE SHARE A COMMON GOAL. IF YOU DON'T WANT TO DRIVE THE WHIP MOBILE, I'LL GLADLY DRIVE IT FOR YOU AND MAKE SURE YOU'RE PROTECTED. JUST IN CASE YOU WANT TO GIVE YOUR SECURITY A BREAK. I'M EXCITED TO PRESENT YOU WITH A GLENWOOD FOREST STRONG T-SHIRT TO YOU, MAYOR WHITMEYER. AS A TOKEN OF OUR APPRECIATION, I LOOK FORWARD TO ESCORTING YOU AND CHIEF SADDER WHITE ON YOUR TOUR OF GLENWOOD FOREST. THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT AND DEDICATION. THANK YOU SPEAKERS. HOW IN THE WORLD AM I GONNA CATCH UP WITH YOU? I MEAN, THERE'S SO MANY. ARE Y'ALL GONNA HAVE A MEETING? AND I'LL JUST GO TO IT AT I'M RETIRED SO I'M ALWAYS AVAILABLE. SO MANY OF YOU'RE READY? ANYTIME. WELL, I'M NOT RETIRED. I KNOW, BUT WE'LL, UH, WE'LL LET YOU HAVE NOTICE AND WE'LL GET A COALITION TOGETHER. YES, SIR. ALRIGHT. THANK YOU MA'AM. THANK BE SAFE. NEXT. DENISE MCCLENDON. GOOD AFTERNOON. THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME. UM, I WANT TO START OFF BY PLAYING THE, UH, RECORDING I HAVE OF THE EMS DOCTOR. OOPS, HOLD ON. [01:55:05] OH, MY VOLUME'S DOWN SIR. SEE HOW HER BODY TEMPERATURE WOULD BE. UH, 96.7 IS SEVEN 12 IN THE MORNING WHEN, UM, THIS REPORT STATES, UH, THE EMS REPORT STATES THAT HER SKIN, HER EXTREMITIES WERE SHOWING SIGNS OF AND MORTARS AND HER SKIN WAS COLD. UH, THE ONLY COMMENT I CAN MAKE ABOUT THAT AS TEMPERATURES OUTSIDE, I, I UNDERSTAND. I WASN'T THERE. I COULDN'T TELL YOU, BUT IT'S, FROM WHAT I'M READING, IT SOUNDS LIKE, YOU KNOW, SHE HAD SIGNS THAT SHE HAD BEEN, UH, BEEN THERE FOR A WHILE. OKAY. I HAVE THE WHOLE RECORDING WHERE YOU CAN HEAR HIM SAY HE IS THE EMS DOCTOR. UM, BUT ON JULY 19TH, 2020, MY 22-YEAR-OLD DAUGHTER, EXCUSE ME, ALIA WILSON, THESE ARE THE TOP RESULTS, I'M SORRY, WAS FOUND HUNG IN HOUSTON, TEXAS HOLDING A CELL PHONE IN HER HANDS. I HAVE OBTAINED A PICTURE OF HER HOLDING A CELL PHONE. Y'ALL COULD PROBABLY SEE IT IF, UH, YOU LYING IN THE PICTURE UP, BUT YOU COULDN'T SEE IT. SO, UM, OKAY. UM, SHE WAS FOUND HANGING IN A BAD PART OF HOUSTON, HOLDING THAT CELL PHONE. THE CELL PHONE WAS IN HER HAND. WHY DID THIS TAKE, WHO TOOK, WHO TOOK THE PHONE OUT OF HER HAND? WHY DID THEY TAKE THE PHONE OUT OF HER HAND AND WHO TOOK IT OUT OF HER HANDS? IF YOU LIGHTEN UP THE PICTURE, YOU WILL BE ABLE TO SEE IT. UM, WHY DIDN'T THEY PUT THE BRUISES ON HER ARM OR BLOOD ON HER HAND IN THE AUTOPSY REPORT? WHY WAS THIS MARKED AS A HOMICIDE THEN ALL OF A SUDDEN CHANGED TO A SUICIDE? WHAT WAS THE REASON FOR THAT? AND WHEN DID THAT CHANGE? WHY DID THE SECURITY GUARD THAT TOOK THE PICTURE OF MY DAUGHTER? UM, WHY DIDN'T HE TELL THE POLICE? HE TOOK THE PICTURE OF HER IN HIS STATEMENT? HE DIDN'T TELL THE POLICE. HE TOOK THAT PICTURE. UM, THE BED SHEET THAT THEY SAID SHE ALLEGEDLY USED AS A LIGATURE, THAT SHEET WAS PREVIOUSLY CUT TO 21 INCHES. WHERE'S THE OTHER PIECE AT? HOW COME THE POLICE DIDN'T INVESTIGATE THIS CASE WHEN THIS WAS CLEARLY THIS WAS CLEARLY POSSIBLE CAUSE AND REASON FOR, TO BELIEVE MY DAUGHTER DIDN'T HANG HERSELF, BUT SHE WAS MURDERED. HOW DID YOU GO FROM A HOMICIDE TO A SUICIDE? WHAT PROOF DO YOU HAVE? I AM COMING TO YOU ALL TRYING TO GET MY DAUGHTER'S CASE REOPENED. MY DAUGHTER DIDN'T HANG HERSELF. SHE WAS CLEARLY MURDERED. I AM SURE YOU ARE PARENTS AND I'M COMING TO YOU AS A PARENT THAT MY DAUGHTER DIDN'T DO THIS TO ITSELF. SO WHAT TOOK MY BABY'S LIFE? I KNOW THAT SOME OF YOUR PARENTS AND ALL I WANT IS WHOEVER DID THIS TO BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE. AM SHE GONNA UNDERSTAND WHERE I'M COMING FROM AS A PARENT, MY DAUGHTER DESERVES JUSTICE. THANK YOU FOR THIS OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK. AND, UM, I HAVE THIS LETTER FROM THE CITY OF HOUSTON THAT READS GOOD AFTERNOON. THE REPORT NUMBER FOR LEAH NICOLE WILSON IS NOT RELEASABLE. IT IS A CONFIDENTIAL HOMICIDE REPORT, HOMICIDE AND SUICIDE. TWO DIFFERENT THINGS. YOU ARE ABLE TO CONTACT OPEN RECORDS TO SEE IF YOU ARE ABLE TO GET THE REPORT PRINTED. AND THEN I WOULD LIKE TO ALSO STATE THAT I HAVE CONTACTED OPEN RECORDS, UM, SEVERAL TIMES AND I HAVE AN EMAIL AND PROOF I CAN, THE ONE I GIMME THE BODY CAM FOOTAGE. UM, I HAVE AN EMAIL FROM MS. BARRY OF OPEN RECORDS WHO SAID THAT, 'CAUSE I WAS SUPPOSED TO GET IT IN MAY AND THEN ALL I CALLED AND ASKED WHY IT WASN'T AVAILABLE. CAN I FINISH PLEASE? BUT I ASKED HER WHY IT WASN'T AVAILABLE AND IN THIS EMAIL SHE TOLD ME ON JUNE 14TH AT 5:00 PM I WOULD HAVE THE FOOTAGE. NOW THEY DON'T ANSWER THEIR PHONE FOR US. OKAY. WELL, I'M SORRY ABOUT YOUR TRAGEDY. UH, CYNTHIA, WILL YOU AND OFFICER CARR AT LEAST GET THE, UH, CONTACT AND MAKE AN INQUIRY AT HPD AS TO STATUS? THANK YOU, MA'AM. [02:00:01] THANK YOU, SIR. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME. NEXT, GEORGE LEBLANC, MILITIA HASSON, I, UM, MEYER, UH, MAYOR WHITMORE AND COUNCIL, THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME HERE TODAY AND TO LISTEN TO WHAT I HAVE TO SAY. SO I'M FROM THE MONT PARK AREA. MY ADDRESS IS 5 1 5 1. DO MORE DRIVE. UM, I HAD A HOME THAT WAS BUILT FOR ME THROUGH THE GLOBE PROJECT. THE HOUSE WAS DONE BACK IN, UM, OCTOBER, 2023. BUT I WAS HAVING ISSUES WITH THE HOME. I STATED TO MY CASEWORKER ALL THE ISSUES THAT I HAD, BUT I WAS IGNORED. THE BUILDER TOLD THEM THAT THERE WAS NOTHING WRONG, SO THEY WANTED ME TO FILE SOME LEVEL ONE COMPLAINT OR A WARRANTY CLAIM. I TOLD THEM, WHY DO I NEED TO FILE A WARRANTY CLAIM ON A HOME THAT I'VE NEVER LIVED IN? TO ME, I CONSIDERED THAT AS BEING FRAUD. SO AFTER THAT, IT BECAME A LEVEL TWO WARRANTY COMPLAINT WITH AUSTIN. SO NOW IT IS JULY AND THERE'S STILL NOTHING BEING DONE. I PAID $500 AND HAD AN INSPECTION, DONE A THIRD PARTY INSPECTION. THEY SAID THEY WOULD LOOK AT IT AND ACKNOWLEDGE IT, BUT ONCE THEY LOOKED AT IT AND SEEN ALL THE FLAWS AND THE ISSUES, THEN IT WAS, OH, IT'S A COMMON COURTESY TO LOOK AT THIS. WE USUALLY DON'T DO THIS. SO UNTIL NOW, I HAVE HAD NOTHING DONE. MY PROPERTY HAS DUMPED A TON OF WATER ON IT. UM, ALL THE BOARDS ARE COMING LOOSE. THE FLOORS ARE UP IN MY HOME. I, UM, THE ONLY REASON WHY ONE OF THE BUILDERS IN THE CONSTRUCTION CAME OUT WAS BECAUSE I WAS GONNA GO TO THE FIRE DEPARTMENT BECAUSE MY DOORS WERE SEALED SHUT, COULD NOT GET OUT. I HAD TO PRY THEM OPEN EVERY DAY TO, TO LEAVE FOR WORK. SO AS OF NOW, NOTHING HAS BEEN DONE TO MY HOME. WHAT'S THE, WHEN'S THE LAST CONTACT YOU HAD WITH A GLO YESTERDAY AND THOSE PICTURES? UM, I GAVE SOMEONE HAS THE PICTURES IN HAND? YEAH, WE HAVE 'EM RIGHT HERE. THAT'S THE INSPECTION REPORT. HOW, HOW'D YOU CONTACT THEM? BY PHONE. OKAY. DID YOU MEET WITH 'EM OR WHAT'S HIS NO. GLO SAID THEY DO NOT COME OUT TO YOUR HOUSE AT ALL. THEY WILL NOT MEET WITH ME AT ALL. THEY'RE ONLY DEALING WITH THE BUILDER AND LISTENING TO WHAT THE BUILDER HAS TO SAY. AND THE BUILDER IS BEING FALSE. I WAS TOLD IT'S NOT MY PROBLEM. YOU DON'T HAVE AN HOA IN YOUR COMMUNITY? WE JUST HAVE A CIVIC CLUB. YEAH. AND THAT'S IT. A REPRESENTATIVE. OKAY, WE'LL TAKE YOUR INFO AND, AND CONTACT GLO. SO SEE WHAT HAPPENS. THE ROOF IS LACKING. ALL THE CONCRETE IS COMING UP WHEN THEY BUILD IT, THEY, UH, THEY FINISHED BUILDING IT OCTOBER THE 23RD. I MOVED IN IN NOVEMBER, BUT I WAITED A WHOLE MONTH BEFORE I EVEN MOVED IN THE HOME. I JUST NOW PUT FURNITURE IN THE HOME ONLY BECAUSE MY SON WAS GRADUATING IN JUNE FROM MAY FROM, UM, NOVEMBER OF MOVING IN THE HOME TILL MAY, I SLEPT ON AN AIR MATTRESS. AND SO DID HE. YEAH, I PAID MY OWN STORAGE BILL OUTTA MY POCKET BECAUSE THEY WERE LIKE, OH, WELL THAT WAS A THING. THEY'LL TAKE MY HOUSING AWAY, THEY'LL TAKE THE STORAGE AWAY. BUT LUCKILY I HAVE A JOB, SO I PAY FOR MY OWN STUFF. OKAY. LOUIS, WILL YOU GET THIS LADY'S INFO AND LET'S REACH OUT TO OUR CONTACT OVER AT GLO. WE'LL TRY MA'AM. MAYOR. MAYOR, IF I COULD, WE DO HAVE A CONTACT, EVAN, FOR HER. THANK YOU, MAYOR. UH, UH, MR. CHARLES, THIS IS REALLY, REALLY OVERWHELMING. DO YOU, DO YOU SEE THAT? I I DO SEE THAT. THAT'S HOW I'M LIVING RIGHT NOW. YEAH. ANYWAY, WE HAVE, UH, HAVE YOU SPOKEN WITH CLARISSA PEREZ? I SPOKE WITH, I HAD THE, IT'S A WHOLE LIST. I EVEN, UH, TALKED WITH CJ, UH, ROW. NO. HAVE, HAVE YOU SPOKEN WITH CLARISSA PEREZ IS MY QUESTION? YES. I SPOKE WITH EVERYBODY ON THAT LIST, BUT NO, NO, NO, NO. [02:05:01] SPECIFICALLY THIS PERSON, BECAUSE SHE HAS PROVIDED HER CELL PHONE AND ALL, WE'RE GONNA WORK YOU THROUGH THIS. OKAY? I HAVE INGRAM OVER THERE IN THE CORNER. SHE'S GONNA PROVIDE YOU WITH THIS INFORMATION. AND I, I CAN'T IMAGINE THE FRUSTRATION THAT YOU'RE GOING THROUGH YES. AND THE CONDITIONS YOU'RE LIVING IN. BECAUSE MY GRADUATION PARTY WAS RUINED BECAUSE JUST A LITTLE AMOUNT OF RAIN, JUST YOUR QUALITY OF LIFE, WHOLE PROPERTY TERRIBLY IMPACTED. YES. YES. SO GET WITH INGRAM OVER THERE, AND AS ALONG WITH THE MAYOR, UH, HE'S GONNA HELP US TO, UH, GET THROUGH THIS. BUT THEY KEEP SAYING THAT THE CITY SIGNED OFF ON ALL OF THIS, THE DRAINAGE, EVERYTHING. THEY, THEY KEEP PUTTING IT BACK ON THE CITY. THE CITY SIGNED OFF ON IT. THE BUILDER SAYS, OH, UM, GLOW HAD TWO INSPECTORS THAT CAME OUT. MY HOUSE SHOULD HAVE NEVER PASSED INSPECTION. EVEN IN, UH, OCTOBER WHEN I PULLED ON MY PROPERTY, I COULD SMELL THE GAS AND IT WAS COLD OUTSIDE. I CALLED THE GAS COMPANY. THE GAS COMPANY SAID, HOW DID YOUR HOUSE PASS INSPECTION? YOU HAVE A LEAK. THEY LEFT A GAS LINE STICKING UP OUT OF THE GROUND AND I CAN WALK UP UNDER THE GAS LINE. IT'S IN THE PICTURES, EVERYTHING. THEY JUST DESTROYED MY PROPERTY, MY HOME, AND MY LIFE. OKAY. BUT IF YOU DO WITH INGRAM, MISS, MISS HASSEN, SHE'S GONNA HELP YOU TO GET IN CONTACT WITH THIS PERSON. IT'S Y ARE MY LAST RESORT. WELL, WE ARE GONNA TRY TO MAKE THIS YOUR LAST AND THE BOOK NEEDS TO STOP. WHO'S YOUR BUILDER? SLS. THIS WAS THEIR, I WAS MY, THEY WERE THE FIRST HOME TO BUILD IN MY COMMUNITY. THEY MADE THAT KNOWN, BUT I WANT THEM TO BE THE LAST PEOPLE TO BUILD A HOME IN THE, IN THE COMMUNITY. MM-HMM . THE GUY COMES, HE THINK HE'S ALL THAT. HE HAS HIS SHADES ON AND HIS NEW TRUCK JUST, AND JUST THERE TO DESTROY. THAT'S WHAT IS HE, IS HE DOING OTHER HOMES IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD? YES. AND THEN I THINK HE WENT OFF TO LOUISIANA TO GO BUILD HOMES. HE CAME OUT, THEY BUILT THE DECK ON, THEY FORGOT TO SEAL MY DECK. HE SAYS, OH, THEY FORGOT TO SEAL IT. I'LL SEND SOMEBODY OUT. I SAID, IT'S ROTTEN ALREADY. IT'S IN THE INSPECTION REPORT. NOBODY WILL PAY ATTENTION TO IT. I EVEN HIRED AN ENGINEER. THEY'RE IGNORING THAT. HE SAID IT WAS, UH, POOR CRAFTSMANSHIP. HE SAYS THE WATER IS CAUSING YOUR HOUSE TO SINK. YES. THEY'RE JUST FLOODING MY HOME. AND IT'S NOT EVEN FROM THE HURRICANE. THEY, THEY DIDN'T CUT DOWN CERTAIN TREES ON THE PROPERTY. THEY SAID IT WASN'T IN THE PERIMETER. BUT I CAN LOOK OUT MY MASTER BEDROOM. AND THERE'S A BIG OLD TREE SITTING RIGHT THERE. THE AC UNIT IS FALLING. HE PUT THERE, THEY SAID SOME SWELLS. WHAT SWELLS? THEY DIDN'T PUT ANYTHING. MY YARD JUST SLOPES LIKE THIS AND GOES UNDERNEATH. I HAVE A, UM, TEXT MESSAGE FROM THE MANAGEMENT. HE SAYS, OH, IT'S OKAY IF THE WATER GOES UNDER YOUR HOME. THAT'S WHY WE BUILT IT UP LIKE THAT. BUT NO, I DON'T LIVE ON A BEACH OR A CONROE ON A LAKE. WHY SHOULD I HAVE A LAKE IN THE BACK OF MY YARD? MAYOR, SHE HAS PROVIDED COUNCIL INFORMATION. I CAN PASS THIS ON TO YOUR OFFICE. YEAH, BUT CERTAINLY WE, THE DOOR ON, ON. HOLD ON. MS. MS. ING IS CUT OUT. HO HOLD ON. YOU HAVE SO MANY CONCERNS THAT IT, AND I MEAN YOUR PICTURES, YOU HAVE SO MUCH DOCUMENTATION A LONG TIME. SO JUST GIVE US AN OPPORTUNITY TO TRY TO RESOLVE IT. UH, I'M, I'M GONNA PASS THIS ON TO YOU, MAYOR, PASS IT ON THAT WAY TO MY STAFF. I'LL PASS IT THAT WAY. MAYOR . AND THEN AGAIN, IF YOU WILL GET WITH INGRAM IN THE CORNER, WE'RE GONNA WORK YOU THROUGH THIS. GIVE THAT TO REBECCA IF YOU WOULD. OKAY. SO THANK YOU SO VERY MUCH FOR COMING. I HATE THAT YOU HAD TO, BUT CERTAINLY, UH, THE BUCK STOPS HERE AND WE ARE GONNA GET THIS STRAIGHT FOR YOU. OKAY. AND YOU CERTAINLY DESERVE THAT. THANK YOU. THANK YOU FOR COMING. OH, HER NAME IS MELISSA . I AM SORRY. NEXT ARI OPPO. WHAT'S HER NAME AND ADDRESS? OKAY. PUT HER NAME ON THERE. WHAT A MESS. HELLO, MAYOR AND MEMBERS OF THE CITY COUNCIL. UM, FIRST I WANNA APOLOGIZE FOR THE NOISE. I'LL BRING MY CHILDREN'S TODAY WITH ME AND IT'S ALSO PART OF THE, UM, WHY I STAND HERE TODAY. OKAY? I WOULD LIKE TO LAY WRITE, UM, READ MY STATEMENT [02:10:01] AND HOPEFULLY GET SOME ANSWERS. AND, YOU KNOW, SOLUTIONS I WOULD LIKE TO ASK YOU GUYS, WHAT ARE THE BENEFITS OF SPORTS IN THE, IN THE LIFE OF OUR YOUTH? ACCORDING TO A UN 2005 REPORT ON THE IMPORTANCE OF SPORTS. I QUOTE, SPORTS AND PHYSICAL EXERCISE ARE CRUCIAL FOR A LONG AND HEALTHY LIFE. CURRENTLY, WE HAVE MORE THAN 48 MILLION AMERICAN YOUNGSTERS WITHOUT ACCESS TO A SPORTS ARENA. CLOSE TO 300,000 OF THEM ARE HERE IN HOUSTON. IN VIEW OF THIS ISSUE, FREE GYM, A 5 4 1 C3 NONPROFIT HAS AND WISH TO PROPOSE A SOLUTION TO THIS SITUATION IN HOUSTON. KNOW THAT AT THIS STAGE, YOU'LL BE WONDERING THE COST OF THIS PROJECT TO THE CITY COUNCIL. I CANNOT ASSURE YOU THAT THE COST WILL BE $0. THANK YOU. THANK YOU, SIR. NEXT? NOPE. COUNCILMAN POLLARD. THANK YOU, MAYOR. THANK YOU SIR, FOR COMING FORWARD. NOW, NOW TELL, TELL US WHAT, WHAT YOU'RE PROPOSING. WELL, THAT COSTS $0. WE ALREADY, UM, MEET WITH, UM, PARK RECREATIONS. CLEARLY THEY DON'T, THEY CAN DO MORE THAN WHATEVER THEY ARE DOING. THE FUNDS IS NOT ENOUGH. 'CAUSE THEY DON'T HAVE THE RESOURCES, MEANING KNOWLEDGE ABOUT SPORTS OR ESPECIALLY, UH, SOCCER. WHICH ONE OF THE MA MY MAJOR, UM, SUBJECTS, AND THEY HAVE MANY ISSUES. THEY HAVE. WHAT, WHAT ARE YOU PROPOSING FOR US TO, TO LOOK THIS? THE CITY DON'T NEED, UH, RESOURCES TO BRING KIDS TO SPORTS. THEY JUST HAVE A SPACE AND ORGANIZATION. WE HAVE, I'VE BEEN, I MEAN, I'M NOT FROM HERE. I'M, I'M A CITIZEN OF UNITED STATES, BUT, UM, I GREW UP IN SPAIN, MADRID, AND I'VE BEEN GROW UP IN GRANDMA ACADEMY, SO I KNOW PROFESSIONALS, COACHES, TRAINERS. I'VE BEEN FORMED FROM MORE THAN 20 YEARS TRAINING AND GROWING KIDS ON SPORTS, ESPECIALLY SOCCER. BECAUSE SOCCER IS A, A BIG, UH, GIVE YOU THE OPPORTUNITY TO MAKE MORE THAN A SPORT. IT'S A FAMILY, IT'S A WORLD, WORLD SPORT. BUT WHAT I WANT YOU TO DO IS OUR EMAILS ARE ONLINE. I WANT YOU TO EMAIL US ON WHAT YOU BELIEVE THE CITY OF HOUSTON CAN DO TO COLLABORATE WITH YOU. AND IF IT'S SOMETHING OF INTEREST, WE'LL FOLLOW UP WITH YOU. YES. I ALREADY HAVE, I ALREADY BEEN STUDIED HOUSTON FOR MORE THAN 10 YEARS. OKAY? SO THE NUMBERS ARE NOT JUST CREATED. UM, WE ALREADY SENT SOME EMAILS TO SOME OF YOU GUYS. UM, SOME PEOPLE RESPOND, SOME PEOPLE DIDN'T HAVE THE TIME YET. I BELIEVE. UM, LIKE I SAY, THERE IS A LOT OF STUFF. IT'S A 300 PAGES. I DON'T THINK IT, IT WILL FIT IN A EMAIL. YEAH. SO I WOULD LIKE TO SEE IF IT'S POSSIBLE THIS HAPPENED ON ALL THE DISTRICTS. HOW WHEN YOU GUYS WANT ME TO, YOU KNOW, MEET AND SAW YOU GUYS, WHAT IS THE PROJECT AND HOW WE CAN GET KIDS OUTTA THE STREET AND BE ABLE TO HAVE IN A BETTER PLACE? UH, SIR, YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT YOU LIVE IN AMBLE? YES, MA'AM. YES, SIR. OKAY. WHEN YOU TALK ABOUT THE PARTS DEPARTMENT, YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT HUMBLE OR HOUSTON? WE'RE TALKING ABOUT ALL HOUSTON, NOT ONLY IN HUMBLE, I HAVE CAPACITY AND TRAIN AN ORGANIZATION TO NOT ONLY FORMAT HUNDREDS OF NEW TRAINERS, HUNDREDS OF NEW, I MEAN, LIKE I SAY, I CAN BE HERE ALL DAY AND ALL DAY. ALL OTHER PEOPLE, I DON'T WANNA BE THE CENTER OF THIS, BUT I DO BELIEVE IT'S TIME FOR HOUSTON TO HAVE A BETTER ORGANIZATION ON THE SPORTS. A REALISTIC AND PROFESSIONAL. YOU GUYS GOING TO THE PARKS ARE BORING KIDS ON LONG LINES. MOST OF THE TIMES THEY DON'T KNOW WHAT THEY'RE DOING. IT'S ALMOST HIGHLY, VERY EXPENSIVE COST. THIS CAN ALMOST REDUCE THE COST TO MANY OF THE PARENTS TO HAVE ACCESS TO THE CHILDREN'S. AND I BELIEVE IT'S A REALLY IMPORTANT THING FOR ALL THE DISTRICTS. EXCUSE. OKAY. COUNCILOR OBJECTION. UM, THANK YOU MAYOR. AND I WAS JUST WANTING TO GET THE INFORMATION AS WELL AND WAS GONNA ASK, WERE YOU AND HUMBLE, UM, BUT YOU SAID YOU'RE COVERING THE WHOLE CITY BECAUSE MY DISTRICT SERVES HUMBLE PART OF IT AS HUMBLE. SO I WOULD LOVE TO LEARN MORE INFORMATION, GET MORE INFORMATION ABOUT YOUR PROGRAM, PARKS FREE. WE'D LIKE FREE. UM, SO YEAH, THANK YOU. JUST SHARE THAT AND WHATEVER WE CAN DO, UM, TO WORK WITH YOU FOR FREE. FREE. YEAH. WE WANNA DO, I WOULD LIKE TO ANSWER TO THAT. IF YOU KNOW WHAT YOU'RE DOING, YOU DON'T NEED MONEY IF YOU KNOW WHAT YOU'RE DOING, THE COMMUNITY ACTUALLY ARE INVOLVED ON, HAVE, ACTUALLY ACCESS FOR, FOR EDUCATION, WHICH IS A SPORTS. OKAY. I THINK YOU GOT THE ANSWERS WE WANT. I'M LOOKING FOR FREE, SO COME ON. NOPE. ALL RIGHT. I'LL BE THERE. . ALRIGHT. I'M, I'M, I'M GLAD TO SHOW YOU TO YOU, YOU SIR. NEXT, THANK SONOIO MALDONADO. [02:15:02] OKAY, MAYOR. MAYOR, I'M HERE TO PRESENT TO YOU THE PROBLEM THAT WE'RE HAVING WE'RE EXPERIENCING IN MY COMMUNITY. ON THE, WE EXPERIENCED A STORM, A STORM ON THE 26TH OF MAY, WHICH CAUSED A CENTER POINT TO COME OUT AND REPLACE A, A, UH, A POLE, UM, BEHIND OUR COMMUNITY AND CAUSED A, UM, CAUSED DAMAGE. MM-HMM . AFTER THE REPLACEMENT OF THE POLE, 10 HOMES EXPERIENCED A SEWAGE BACKUP DUE TO THE POLE, UH, DAMAGING THE SEWER LINE THAT RUNS BEHIND OUR HOMES. WE'VE BEEN TWO MONTHS AND TWO WEEKS WITHOUT, UH, PROPER DRAINAGE. ANYTHING THAT GOES INTO THE DRAIN IS NOW BEING, UM, IS BACK FLOWING ONTO THE PROPERTIES. AND SO WE'RE HAVING THE PROBLEM OF THE BACKFLOW COMING ONTO THE PROPERTIES AND, AND ESCAPING. I DON'T UNDERSTAND WHY THE, UM, WHETHER COMING BACK AND SAYING THAT IT'S A COMMUNITY LINE WHEN THE DEVELOPMENT WAS, UH, PLANNED OUT BY THE CITY. ADDITIONALLY, THEY'VE COME IN TO RENEW THE, THE CLEAN WATER LINES THAT ARE THERE, UTILITY EASEMENT. THE PLAN OF THAT COMMUNITY WAS, UH, CONSTRUCTED IN, WHAT'S THE MARCH 16TH, 1978. YEAH, I HAVE A COPY OF, UH, PHOTOGRAPHS OF THE DAMAGES AND OF THE SURVEY OF THE AREA WHERE THE HOMES HAVE BEEN AFFECTED. I'M LOOKING AT IT RIGHT NOW. SO WE'LL ASK, WE'LL ASK, UH, PUBLIC WORKS, CHECK IT OUT AND BRING CENTER POINT, UH, INVOLVEMENT AS WELL. COUNCIL MEMBER CASTILLO. THANK YOU, MAYOR. UM, WE WILL ALSO BE, UH, WORKING WITH THOSE NCS LEGAL PUBLIC WORKS, UM, AND KEEPING YOU UP TO DATE ON THIS AS WELL. AND, UH, I'LL ALSO ASK TO MEET WITH CENTER POINT TO, UH, DISCUSS THIS WITH THEM SPECIFICALLY AND KEEP YOU UP TO DATE ON THAT. OKAY. UM, CENTER A, THE PUBLIC WORKS. OKAY. I'M GONNA REACH OUT TO CENTER POINT TODAY AND SEE HOW QUICKLY WE CAN GET TOGETHER. AND WE MAY JUST GO OUT AND VISIT THE SITE DIRECTLY, BUT EITHER WAY WE'RE GONNA WORK WITH YOU. WE'VE GOT YOUR INFORMATION. WE'LL KEEP YOU UP TO DATE ON, ON HOW THIS PROGRESSES. [02:20:13] NO, I, I UNDERSTAND THEN WE WILL, WE WILL MAKE THIS A PRIORITY AND, AND SELIA WILL BE THE ONE TO, UH, KEEP IN TOUCH WITH YOU ON THIS. OKAY? THANK YOU. YEAH. THANK YOU MAYOR. THANK YOU COUNCILORS. THANK NEXT. STEVE WILLIAMS, SHA SMITH. HELLO EVERYONE. I, UH, I COME IN PEACE TODAY. I KNOW I CAMP OUT ON A LOT OF YOUR MENTIONS AND DMS, BUT I COME IN PEACE TODAY. UM, GOOD AFTERNOON, ESTEEMED COUNCIL, MAYOR WHITMEYER, MY OWN COUNCILWOMAN OF DISTRICT D. UH, MY NAME IS SHAY JORDAN SMITH, A LIFETIME HOUSTON RESIDENT BY WAY OF MISSOURI CITY ON THE EVENING. I'M FROM MISSOURI CITY, BUT I LIVE IN HOUSTON NOW. BUT ON THE EVENING OF JULY 19TH, WE LOST A BASHED IN A PUBLIC SERVICE, A TOWERING FIGURE IN OUR COMMUNITY AND OUR NATION. THE CONGRESSWOMAN SHEILA JACKSON LEE. FOR THREE DECADES, SHE WAS A RELENTLESS ADVOCATE FOR HOUSTON AS A MEMBER OF CONGRESS. HER COMMITMENT TO JUSTICE, EQUALITY, EQUITY, AND THE BETTERMENT OF OUR CITY AS A WHOLE HAS LEFT AN INDELIBLE MARK ON OUR HEARTS AND OUR HISTORY FROM HER TIRELESS WORK IN WASHINGTON, TO HER HANDS-ON APPROACH TO LOCAL ISSUES AS SHE WALKED THROUGH THESE VERY HALLS. AS A ONCE AT LARGE MEMBER OF THIS BODY, SHE EXEMPLIFIED THE VERY SPIRIT OF PUBLIC SERVICE. SHE WAS MORE THAN A POLITICIAN. SHE WAS A CHAMPION FOR THE VOICELESS. A BEACON OF HOPE FOR THOSE IN NEED. A GLASS CEILING SHADOWER, A GROUNDBREAKER. WHETHER YOU WERE ON HER SIDE OF THE ISSUE, ON HER, ON HER SIDE OF THE AISLE, OR EVEN FACED HER IN POLITICAL COMBAT OR HOPE TO ONE DAY FILL HER SHOES, YOU KNEW OF HER UNWAVERING DEDICATION TO CIVIL RIGHTS, HEALTHCARE, EDUCATION, AND DISASTER RELIEF. EVEN UNTIL HER LAST DAYS, HAVING HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO WORK UNDER HER LEADERSHIP, I WAS ABLE TO SEE FIRSTHAND HOW HARD SHE FOUGHT FOR WHAT SHE BELIEVED IN. AND, AND THE UNPARALLELED FERVOR AND UNYIELDING COMMITMENT TO HER CONSTITUENTS, A POWERHOUSE IN A SMALL FRAME SHE TOWERED AMONGST KINGS, QUEENS, DIGNITARIES, AND STATESMEN, BUT WAS ALWAYS REACHABLE AND ATTAINABLE FOR HER CONSTITUENTS. THEREFORE, I WOULD LIKE TO PROPOSE AND ASK COUNSEL, UM, THAT DURING ONE OF THESE MOST SOLEMN OF WEEKS WHERE WE REMEMBER HER LIFE, THAT WE LOOK AT RENAMING THE UNDER CONSTRUCTION TERMINAL B AT IAH TO BE NAMED AFTER OUR LATE CONGRESSWOMAN, AS WE REMEMBER HER CONTRIBUTION TO CELEBRATE HER LIFE. IT IS ONLY FITTING THAT WE HONOR HER LEGACY IN A WAY THAT REFLECTS THE IMMENSE IMPACT SHE HAD ON OUR CITY. JUST AS WE, JUST AS WE HAVE CELEBRATED THE LEGACY OF MICKEY LELAND, ONE OF HER PREDECESSORS BY NAMING TERMINAL D AFTER HIM, I PROPOSE THAT WE EXTEND THIS TRADITION OF RECOGNITION AND GRATITUDE TO SHEILA JACKSON LEE. NOT ONLY COMMEMORATING HER REMARKABLE SERVICE, BUT ALSO SERVING AS A LASTING REMINDER TO THE DEDICATION TO HOUSTON AND THE VALUE SHE CHAMPIONED HER PIONEERING SPIRIT, HER TIRELESS ADVOCACY, HER UNWAVERING LOVE FOR OUR CITY WILL BE A TESTAMENT TO THE PROGRESS WE HAVE MADE IN THE WORK THAT STILL HAS TO BE DONE. A BEACON OF INSPIRATION FOR FUTURE GENERATIONS WHO WILL FLY IN AND OUT OF OUR CITY AND SEE HER NAME EMBLAZONED. CAN I HAVE, AM I CLOSING? PAM HAS EXPIRED. COUNCIL MEMBER SHABBAT, EVAN SHABA. THANK YOU, SHAY. IF YOU WANNA TAKE A COUPLE OF MINUTES AND THEN I'LL MAKE A COMMENT. YES. THANK YOU. YEAH. SO, IN CLOSING, ALLAH, A BAPTIST PREACHER LET US NOT ONLY WARN HER PASSING, BUT CELEBRATE HER LIFE BY ENSURING HER NAME AND CONTRIBUTIONS ARE FOREVER ETCHED IN THE FABRIC OF HOUSTON. BY RENAMING TERMINAL B, WE WILL HONOR HER LEGACY AND REMIND OURSELVES OF THE POWER OF DEDICATED PUBLIC SERVICE. AS IT SAYS IN TWO TIMOTHY FOUR AND SEVEN, I HAVE FOUGHT THE GOOD FIGHT. I HAVE FINISHED THE RACE, I HAVE KEPT THE FAITH. THAT'S THE NIV VERSION. I THINK THE SJL VERSION WOULD BE, SHE HAS FOUGHT THE GOOD FIGHT. SHE HAS FINISHED HER TERM, AND SHE HAS KEPT THE FAITH. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. ANYTHING ELSE? THANK YOU, SHAY. I THINK THAT WE ALL, UH, ECHO YOUR SENTIMENTS IN REGARDS TO, UH, COMMEMORATING THE LIFE OF THE LATE CONGRESSWOMAN. CERTAINLY, UH, IN DISTRICT D, WE PLAN TO DO SOMETHING AND CERTAINLY LIFT HER NAME UP. I, I COULD CERTAINLY AGREE WITH YOUR PROPOSAL [02:25:01] FOR A TERMINAL IN, UH, THE AIRPORT. AND SO, WHAT, WHAT TERMINAL DID YOU, WHAT LETTER DID YOU SAY? TERMINAL? DID I SAY B? WAS THAT THE CORRECT? YOU SAID B LIKE ONE. THAT'S THE ONE THAT'S JUST BEING RE REDONE, IF I'M NOT MISTAKEN. OKAY. SO THAT'S WHY, THAT'S WHY THAT WAS THE ONE I DECIDED TO CHOOSE. OKAY. I JUST WANTED TO MAKE CLEAR OR CLEAR. EXCUSE ME. IT DOESN'T MATTER. IT IT IS, IT'S ONE OF THE TERMINALS. RIGHT. I, I WOULD CERTAINLY AGREE WITH THAT. AND THANK YOU FOR COMING AND FOR SURE WE DID HEAR YOUR LITTLE ASPIRATIONS THROWN IN HERE AS WELL. AND SO IT IS AN OPEN SEAT. AND SO YOU CERTAINLY, UM, NOT FOR ME, BUT OKAY. , UM, ARE WELCOME TO MOVE FORWARD ON THAT. BUT THANK YOU. I, I LOVE LEADERSHIP COMING FROM, FOR SURE YOUNG PEOPLE. UH, AND CERTAINLY, UH, WE HAVE TO RESPECT THE OLDER PEOPLE AND WHAT THEY BRING TO THE TABLE AS WELL. I TRY TO, I TRY TO AVOID AGEISM MM-HMM . BUT CERTAINLY I AM VERY, VERY HAPPY THAT YOU HAVE ASPIRATIONS FOR SERVING OUR PUBLIC. THANK YOU. THANK YOU, SIR. NEXT QUICK, YOU HAVE PROCEDURE PROCEDURAL MOTION. NO, NO, NO, NO. WE'RE FINE. PROCEDURAL MOTION. COUNCILMAN CASTILLO. THANK YOU, MAYOR. I MOVE TO SUSPEND THE RULES TO ADD SAVANT MOORE TO THE, UM, BOTTOM OF THE THREE MINUTE LIST. A SECOND. MOTION MADE. SECOND. ALL IN FAVOR SAY YES. MS. OPPOSED? NATE. MOTION PASSES. THANK YOU. AALIYAH NEWMAN, SAVANT MOORE. GOOD AFTERNOON TO MY MAYOR, TO THE COUNCILMAN. UM, YESTERDAY I WAS AT THE SENATE. I REALLY APPRECIATE, UM, MAYOR WHITMEYER FOR BEING THERE, AND IT'S LIKE, MAN, I NEED IV FOR COFFEE. IT TOOK EIGHT HOURS JUST TO BE ABLE TO SPEAK, BUT TODAY I'M SPEAKING ON BEHALF OF, UM, COUNCILMAN CASTILLO AND COUNCILMAN JACKSON IN DENVER HARBOR AT THE PARK, AND AT, UM, AT THE SELENA PEREZ PARK AND IN PLEASANTVILLE AT ROBERTSON PARK. OUR POOLS HAVE BEEN CLOSED FOR YEARS, SO I'M WONDERING, I KNOW YOU KNEW AND YOU SAY YOU AND INHERIT THE PROBLEMS, BUT WHAT CAN WE DO TO MAKE SURE THAT THOSE CHILDREN HAVE ACCESS TO A POOL? LIKE FOR ME, I WAS SPECIAL OPS AND OFTENTIMES A LOT OF AFRICAN AMERICANS WEREN'T ABLE TO BE SPECIAL OPS 'CAUSE THEY COULDN'T SWIM. BUT AT HOWARD, IT WAS A REQUIREMENT FOR ME TO GRADUATE. I, THEY TAUGHT US HOW TO SWIM, SO I HAD THAT OPPORTUNITY, BUT I SHOULDN'T HAVE TO WAIT TILL COLLEGE TIME. SO I'M ADVOCATING FOR THE YOUNG PEOPLE TO HAVE A POOL THAT ACTUALLY WORKS. THEY SAY IT'S JUST PIPES THAT NEED TO BE FIXED UNDERNEATH. SO THAT'S WHY I CAME HERE TODAY JUST TO ADVOCATE FOR THEM. APPRECIATE IT. UH, IT'S A PRIORITY AND PARKS OF MY LIFE IS WORKING, OBVIOUSLY, UH, HIRING LIFEGUARDS. SO WHY DON'T YOU ASSIST MR. ALLEN IN MAYBE HIRING SOME LIFEGUARDS? THAT'S, THAT'S A HOLD UP. YES, SIR. AND HE'S GOT A FULL COURT PRESS TRYING TO DO IT. OKAY. AND HE'S DOING A GOOD JOB, BUT IT'S A CHALLENGE. SO THANK YOU FOR BRINGING IT UP. THANK YOU. APPRECIATE IT. NEXT, MICHELLE EGEN. LAST TIME I CAME, I EXPRESSED MY GRAVE CONCERNS REGARDING THE FBI'S NON INVESTIGATIVE SUBSET. AND TODAY I THOUGHT TO FURTHER EXPLAIN WHAT THE SUBSET IS AND WHY IT'S SO ALARMING. THE NON INVESTIGATIVE SUBSET IS A SUBSET THAT CONTAINS THE NAMES OF INDIVIDUALS WHO THE FBI DOES NOT CLASSIFY AS BEING UNDER AN OFFICIAL INVESTIGATION, BUT YET STILL SUBJECTS TO OTHER NON INVESTIGATIVE SURVEILLANCE ACTIVITIES WITH ONE OF THEM BEING AN ASSESSMENT IN OPERATION WHERE THE FBI IS ALLOWED TO FOLLOW A SUSPECTED CITIZEN AROUND DAY IN AND DAY OUT FOR, FOR AN UNLIMITED AMOUNT OF TIME, A SURVEILLANCE ACTIVITY THAT'S CONDUCTED BY BOTH AGENTS AND INFORMANTS. NOW, THE PROBLEM WITH THIS PARTICULAR CATEGORY IS THAT THEY WERE NEVER AUTHORIZED TO CREATE IT AS APPROVAL WAS NEITHER GIVEN BY THE EXECUTIVE BRANCH OR CONGRESS. THIS EXCLUSIVE CATEGORY THAT THE FBI OPERATES FOR THE WARREN TERRORISM CONTAINS THE NAMES OF CITIZENS WHO ARE BEING SUBJECTED TO SURVEILLANCE ACTIVITIES THAT'S BEING DONE OUTSIDE OF THE OVERSIGHT AND REGULATION OF DOJ. THE DO J'S REGULATION OVER SURVEILLANCE CATEGORIES IS A PROVISION THAT WAS SET BY CONGRESS AFTER THE ABUSES THAT WAS EXPOSED DURING THE NEXT ADMINISTRATION IN TELPRO. YOUR TIME HAS EXPIRED. CAN I CONCLUDE? UH, BRIEFLY? YEAH. UM, AND THAT IS WHY IT'S SO ALARMING THAT THIS CATEGORY IS WITHOUT ANY FORM OF EXTERNAL OVERSIGHT OR REGULATION. THIS SUBSET CODE NAMED BY FEDERAL, STATE, AND LOCAL LAW ENFORCEMENT AS A SILENT HIT LIST IS WHAT RAISES ADDITIONAL ALARMS FOR THE PRACTICES THAT ARE TAKING PLACE WITHIN IT IN THE DOJS ABSENCE OF REGULATORY CONTROL AND STOPPING THE ABUSES HAPPENING FOR THE WAR ON TERRORISM. I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT THAT WE LOOK AT THE FACTS AND DOCUMENTS THAT LAY IN FRONT OF US [02:30:01] TODAY WITHOUT ONLY CONSIDERING THE SUBSET, BUT ALSO THE SURMOUNTING REPORTS OF CITIZENS COMPLAINING ABOUT THE ABUSES REVOLVING AROUND THESE ASSESSMENT AUTHORITIES. I THINK IT'S TIME FOR CONGRESS TO STEP IN AND CONDUCT AN OFFICIAL INVESTIGATION. OKAY. IS ANYONE MISSING A FOLDER FROM LAST WEEK? BEG PARDON? IS ANYONE MISSING A FOLDER WITH THE DOCUMENTS FROM LAST WEEK? NO, MA'AM. I THINK, I THINK WE UNDERSTAND. OKAY. THANK YOU. OKAY. ANY QUESTIONS? NO, MA'AM. I THINK WE UNDERSTAND. OKAY. I WOULD REALLY LIKE AN INVESTIGATION INTO THIS CATEGORY. OKAY. I'VE BEEN HARASSED FOR THE LAST TWO YEARS AND A HALF. OKAY. PLEASE, THANK, THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE. THANK YOU. NEXT. SANDRA EVANS. RODNEY UNDERWOOD. MR. UNDERWOOD, GOOD AFTERNOON. SPEAKING TO THE, THE PER THE PERSON I WANTED TO SPEAK TO. I THINK THEY'RE HERE ALREADY. AND, UH, I THINK I CAN, UH, NOT TIE UP ANY MORE TIME. I NEED TALK TO SOMEBODY IN PARTICULAR, AND THEY'RE ALREADY HERE, SO, UH, THANK YOU VERY MUCH AND HAVE A GOOD DAY. THANK YOU, SIR. BE SAFE. UH, ANYONE ELSE? IF NOT, WE STAND. [RECESS] UH, RECESS. RECESS. COMPLETE FINANCIAL [RECONVENE] REPORT. RECOGNIZED [ADMIN REPORT] CONTROLLER HOLLINS AND DEPUTY DIRECTOR OF LICHEN PENNETT WHO, UH, IS FILLING IN FOR MELISSA, WHO'S ON VACATION. YES, SIR. LEMME SEE THAT DOWN. IS THAT BETTER? CONTROLLER HIGHLANDS, UH, FLOOR IS YOURS. GOOD MORNING MAYOR. UH, HONORABLE MEMBERS OF COUNCIL. I'M PLEASED TO PRESENT THE MONTHLY FINANCIAL REPORT FOR THE PERIOD ENDED JUNE 30TH, 2024 IN THE GENERAL FUND. THE CONTROLLER'S OFFICE IS PROJECTING AN ENDING FUND BALANCE OF $483.4 MILLION FOR FISCAL YEAR 2024. THIS IS $2.2 MILLION LOWER THAN THE PROJECTION OF THE FINANCE DEPARTMENT DUE TO A LOWER REVENUE PROJECTION THAN FINANCE. BASED ON OUR CURRENT PROJECTIONS, THE FUND BALANCE WILL BE APPROXIMATELY $297.8 MILLION ABOVE THE CITY'S TARGET OF HOLDING 7.5% OF TOTAL EXPENDITURES, EXCLUDING DEBT SERVICE AND PAY AS YOU GO IN RESERVE. OUR REVENUE PROJECTION INCREASED BY 7.4 MILLION FROM THE MAY, 2024 MONTHLY FINANCIAL REPORT. THE MAIN DRIVERS OF THIS INCREASE ARE LARGELY ATTRIBUTED TO THE FOLLOWING. INDUSTRIAL ASSESSMENTS INCREASED BY $3.3 MILLION DUE TO HIGHER THAN ANTICIPATED TAXABLE VALUATIONS LICENSES AND PERMITS INCREASED BY $1.4 MILLION, PRIMARILY DUE TO HIGHER THAN ANTICIPATED SPECIAL FIRE PERMITS, FOOD DEALER PERMITS AND BURGLAR ALARM PERMITS. INTEREST INCOME INCREASED BY $1.2 MILLION DUE TO HIGHER THAN ANTICIPATED EARNINGS ON DEPOSIT INVESTMENTS AND TRANSFERS FROM OTHER FUNDS DECREASED BY $1.9 MILLION DUE TO LOWER THAN ANTICIPATED TRANSFERS FROM PARK HOUSTON FUND. OUR EXPENDITURE PROJECTION DECREASED BY $9.8 MILLION FROM THE MAY, 2024 REPORT DUE TO YEAR END SAVINGS AND PERSONNEL SUPPLIES AND SERVICE COSTS. MOVING OVER TO OUR ENTERPRISE FUNDS AND AVIATION, OPERATING REVENUES INCREASED BY $8 MILLION DUE TO HIGHER THAN ANTICIPATED GARAGE PARKING REVENUES, GROUND RENTAL FEES AND CONCESSIONS. OPERATING EXPENSES INCREASED BY $8.8 MILLION DUE TO HIGHER THAN ANTICIPATED SUPPLIES AND SERVICE COSTS. NON-OPERATING REVENUES INCREASED BY $10.9 MILLION DUE TO HIGHER THAN ANTICIPATED INTEREST INCOME AND OPERATING TRANSFERS FROM THE REVENUE FUND TO THE AIRPORT IMPROVEMENT FUND INCREASED BY $10 MILLION. AND THE COMBINED UTILITY SYSTEM FUND OPERATING REVENUES DECREASED BY $77.2 MILLION DUE TO A DECREASE IN WATER AND SEWER REVENUES, WHICH WAS DUE TO THE IMPLEMENTATION IMPLEMENTATION OF THE NEW WATER BILL IMPROVEMENT PLAN. OPERATING EXPENDITURES DECREASED BY $111.1 MILLION DUE TO CONTRACT IMPLEMENTATION. DELAYS AND SAVINGS AND PERSONNEL AND SUPPLIES. NON-OPERATING REVENUES INCREASED BY $14.1 MILLION DUE TO HIGHER INTEREST INCOME. [02:35:02] OPERATING TRANSFERS DECREASED BY $26.2 MILLION DUE TO LOWER THAN ANTICIPATED DEBT SERVICE TRANSFER, LESS TRANSFER TO THE STORM WATER FUND AND DELAYS IN EQUIPMENT PURCHASES FOR THE DEDICATED DRAINAGE AND STREET RENEWAL FUND AT VALOREM EXPENDITURES DECREASED BY $32.9 MILLION, PRIMARILY DUE TO LESS TRANSFER TO CAPITAL PROJECTS AND DELAYS IN VEHICLE PURCHASES AND THE DEDICATED DRAINAGE AND STREET RENEWAL FUND. DRAINAGE CHARGE REVENUES INCREASED BY $3.1 MILLION DUE TO HIGHER THAN ANTICIPATED DRAINAGE CHARGE REVENUE. AND HIGHER THAN ANTICIPATED INTEREST INCOME EXPENDITURES DECREASED BY $49.7 MILLION DUE TO LESS TRANSFER TO CAPITAL PROJECTS AND LOWER THAN ANTICIPATED CLAIMS AND JUDGMENT IN THE DEDICATED DRAINAGE AND STREET RENEWAL FUND. METRO EXPENDITURES DECREASED BY $5.8 MILLION DUE TO LOWER THAN ANTICIPATED SPENDING ON PERSONNEL AND SERVICES AND LESS TRANSFER TO DEBT SERVICE IN THE STORMWATER FUND. REVENUES DECREASED BY $12.1 MILLION, PRIMARILY DUE TO LESS TRANSFER FROM THE COMBINED UTILITY SYSTEM. EXPENDITURES DECREASED BY $13.8 MILLION DUE TO DELAYS IN VEHICLE PURCHASES AND INFRASTRUCTURE MAINTENANCE SERVICES. FOR OUR COMMERCIAL PAPER AND BONDS. THE CITY'S PRACTICE HAS BEEN TO MAINTAIN NO MORE THAN 20% OF THE TOTAL OUTSTANDING DEBT FOR EACH TYPE OF DEBT IN A VARIABLE RATE STRUCTURE. AS OF JUNE 30TH, 2024. THE RATIO OF UNH VARIABLE RATE DEBT FOR EACH TYPE OF OUTSTANDING DEBT CONTINUES TO BE WELL BELOW THAT THRESHOLD. MOVING OVER TO OUR QUARTERLY INVESTMENT REPORT. AS OF JUNE 30TH, 2024, THE CITY HAD $5.74 BILLION INVESTED IN OUR GENERAL INVESTMENT POOL. THE CHARACTER OF THIS POOL IS THAT OF A SHORT TERM BOND FUND THAT HOLDS INVESTMENTS OF VERY HIGH CREDIT QUALITY. FITCH RATINGS REVIEWED THIS POOL AND ASSIGNED THE POOL ITS HIGHEST RATING. AAA, OUR INVESTMENT STRATEGY IS TO MATCH ASSETS AND LIABILITIES FOR A TIME PERIOD OF ONE YEAR INTO THE FUTURE AND TO EXERCISE DISCRETION FOR THE BALANCE OF REMAINING FUNDS. INVESTMENTS ARE $87 MILLION HIGHER THAN LAST YEAR, AND THIS IS PRIMARILY ATTRIBUTABLE TO THE COMMERCIAL PAPER ISSUANCES IN THE COMBINED UTILITY SYSTEM. AS OF JUNE 30TH, 2024. THE GENERAL INVESTMENT POOL WAS YIELDING 3.778%, WHICH IS UP FROM 3.572% IN THE PRIOR QUARTER. IN ADDITION TO THE GENERAL INVESTMENT POOL, WE HAVE TWO SMALL INVESTMENT POOLS THAT TOTAL ABOUT $16 MILLION. THOSE POOLS EXIST TO COMPLY WITH TAX REQUIREMENTS OF THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT. A DETAILED LISTING OF ALL OF THE SECURITIES OWNED BY THE CITY APPEARS AT THE BACK OF THE INVESTMENT REPORT. MOVING TO OUR QUARTERLY SWAP REPORT, THE WRITTEN SWAP REPORT THAT APPEARS IN THE MOER OFFERS A COMPREHENSIVE DESCRIPTION OF OUR TWO SWAP POSITIONS. THE CITY HAD A NET PAID FOR THE 12 MONTH FISCAL YEAR ENDING JUNE 30TH, 2024, FROM ITS SWAPS OF $14.6 MILLION. THE FAIR VALUE FOR BOTH SWAPS COMBINED AS OF JUNE 30TH, 2024, WAS NEGATIVE $69.5 MILLION, WHICH IS AN IMPROVEMENT OF APPROXIMATELY $16.8 MILLION OVER LAST QUARTER. BOTH OF THE CITY SWAPS ARE TRENDING IN A POSITIVE DIRECTION. UH, AS YOU KNOW, THE CITY SWAPS ARE FAIRLY COMPLEX. IF YOU HAVE QUESTIONS REGARDING OUR REPORT, PLEASE CONTACT MY OFFICE. MAYOR, IF YOU ALLOW ME A BRIEF MOMENT OF PERSONAL PRIVILEGE TO TOUCH ON A FEW POINTS I MADE YESTERDAY DURING THE BUDGET AND FISCAL AFFAIRS COMMITTEE MEETING. UH, FIRST WE LEARNED LAST WEEK OF THE DEPARTURE OF FIRE CHIEF SAN PENA, UH, FOLLOWING YEARS OF DEDICATED SERVICE TO OUR COMMUNITY. ON BEHALF OF EVERY HOUSTONIAN, I EXTEND MY APPRECIATION TO CHIEF PENA AND I JOIN OTHER CITY LEADERS IN WELCOMING THOMAS MUNOZ TO THE ROLE AS WE CONTINUE TO ADVANCE THE MISSION OF PROTECTING THE SAFETY AND WELLBEING OF HOUSTON RESIDENTS. I ALSO WANNA TAKE THIS MOMENT TO ACKNOWLEDGE THE LIFE AND LEGACY OF OUR CONGRESSWOMAN, THE HONORABLE SHEILA JACKSON LEE. WE CONTINUE TO LIFT HER FAMILY UP IN PRAYER AS WELL AS ALL THOSE WHO CHERISHED AND KNEW HER, AND WE WILL FOREVER REMAIN GRATEFUL FOR HER LIFE OF SERVICE. LASTLY, MAYOR, SINCE MY PREVIOUS REPORT, OUR TREASURY DIVISION LED BY VERNON MIDDLETON LEWIS, ALONG WITH THE CITY'S, UH, PARDON ME, ALONG WITH THE CITY'S FINANCE WORKING GROUP, COMPLETED THE MARKETING PRICING AND SALE OF $734 MILLION IN GENERAL OBLIGATION REFUNDING BONDS. SPECIAL THANKS TO DIRECTOR DEBOWSKI AND OTHER MEMBERS OF THE FINANCE TEAM FOR THEIR SUPPORT. $650 MILLION OF THOSE PROCEEDS FROM THE BOND ISSUANCE ARE BEING USED TO COMPENSATE HOUSTON'S FIREFIGHTERS. BASED ON THE DEAL THIS COUNCIL APPROVED LAST MONTH, WE'LL BE PAYING ON THESE BONDS UNTIL THE YEAR 2051 AT A TOTAL COST OF $1.35 BILLION. AND AS YOU KNOW, MAYOR, THIS AGREEMENT WAS APPROVED WITH NO CORRESPONDING PLAN FOR HOW TO PAY FOR IT. PREDICTABLY, RATINGS AGENCIES HAVE NOT RESPONDED POSITIVELY. [02:40:01] EARLIER THIS MONTH, STANDARD AND EMPLOYERS REVISED ITS RATING OUTLOOK FOR THE CITY'S GENERAL OBLIGATION DEBT FROM STABLE TO NEGATIVE. AND WHILE THIS IS NOT YET A CREDIT RATING, DOWNGRADE S AND P NOTED THAT ITS NEGATIVE OUTLOOK REFLECTS AT LEAST A ONE IN THREE CHANCE THAT THEY COULD DOWNGRADE THE CITY'S DEBT. BASED ON ONE, THE FACT THAT WE'RE SPENDING DOWN OUR RESERVES, TWO, THE ANTICIPATED BUDGET SHORTFALLS RELATED TO INCREASED DEBT SERVICE AND SALARY INCREASES, AND THREE, NO ARTICULATED PLAN TO RAISE REVENUE. WE NEED TO RECOGNIZE THAT THIS IS A PROBLEM. AS I SAID YESTERDAY, IT'S NOT FIREFIGHTER'S FAULT THAT WE'RE IN THIS POSITION. FIREFIGHTERS ARE WELL WITHIN THEIR RIGHT TO FIGHT FOR HIGHER PAY, AND I'VE MADE MY POSITION CLEAR THAT WE HAVE TO MAKE EMPLOYEE PAY COMPETITIVE ACROSS THE BOARD IN ORDER TO CONTINUE TO ATTRACT TALENT TO THE CITY OF HOUSTON. THE PROBLEM IS THAT THERE'S NO PLAN IN PLACE TO PAY FOR THESE AND OTHER INCREASED COSTS, AND THE MARKETS ARE BEGINNING TO DEMAND GREATER FISCAL RESPONSIBILITY. SO WE HAVE TO TAKE THIS SERIOUSLY AND WE HAVE TO TAKE THE STEPS NECESSARY TO PUT THE CITY ON A STRONG FINANCIAL FOOTING, NOT JUST FOR THE SAKE OF OUR CREDITORS, BUT FOR THE PEACE OF MIND IN HOUSTONIANS. MAYOR, THAT CONCLUDES MY REPORT. THANK YOU. UH, PROBABLY DON'T HAVE TIME TO RESPOND TO ALL OF YOUR CONCERNS, BUT TO ASSURE YOU THAT WE'RE FULLY AWARE OF OUR RESPONSIBILITIES AND, UH, WE'RE IN CONTACT WITH STANDARDS OF POORS AND MOODY'S. AND IF SOME OF OUR ELECTED OFFICIALS WOULD QUIT FRIGHTENING THEM AND SCARING THEM WITH MISINFORMATION, UH, WE'D BE IN A LOT STRONGER FINANCIAL PICTURE. I HAD A VERY PRODUCTIVE MEETING MONDAY, UH, IN THE GOVERNOR'S OFFICE, UH, MAKING PLANS TO GET ADDITIONAL RESOURCES TO MEET OUR OBLIGATIONS. AS YOU WELL KNOW, WHEN I WAS SWORN IN, THE CITY WAS 160,000, 160 MILLION SHORT OF, UH, NECESSARY FUNDING. SO WE ALL HAVE A CHALLENGE. I THINK WE ALL HAVE A HUGE RESPONSIBILITY TO BE VERY TRANSPARENT. UH, IF WE'D HAVE NEVER HEARD OF THE FIREFIGHTERS AGREEMENT, UH, WHICH WAS SETTLED TO AVOID A COSTLY AND RISKY TRIAL, UH, IF WE WOULD HAVE, UH, NOT BEEN FUNDING THE CITY THE LAST TWO BUDGET CYCLES ON ONE TIME FEDERAL FUNDING, BUT BEING VERY TRANSPARENT, UH, WE WOULDN'T BE HAVING PROBABLY THIS CONVERSATION, BUT AS YOU WELL KNOW, WE HAD A SEVERE SHORTFALL JANUARY ONE. UH, WE AVOIDED A COSTLY, RISKY COURT HEARING. UH, JUDGE WAS READY TO GO TO TRIAL. UH, OUTSIDE ATTORNEYS, THE PARTNERSHIP, OTHERS SAID IT WAS PROBABLY GONNA BE OVER A BILLION DOLLARS. WE SETTLED FOR SIX 50. AND LIKE I SAID, WE DON'T HAVE TIME TO LITIGATE THAT THIS MORNING, BUT, UH, I ASSURE YOU THAT THERE WILL BE SUFFICIENT FUNDS TO MEET OUR OBLIGATION BEFORE WE ADDRESS NEXT YEAR'S BUDGET. BUT I APPRECIATE THE JOB YOU DO. ABSOLUTELY. AND, UH, I, UH, YOUR, YOUR PERSONAL PRIVILEGE AND POLITICAL STATEMENTS ARE ALWAYS WELCOME. SURE. I WOULDN'T CALL THIS A POLITICAL STATEMENT. THESE ARE ABOUT THE NUMBERS. MAYOR, UH, IN MY CONVERSATIONS WITH THE RATINGS AGENCIES AS WELL AS PUBLIC FINANCE PROFESSIONALS ACROSS THE COUNTRY, SURE I'VE SOUGHT TO ENSURE THEM THAT WE ARE NOT BROKE. UH, BUT IN FACT, WE HAVE A NEAR RECORD FUND BALANCE. UH, BUT THE FACT REMAINS THAT, AS YOU KNOW, WE CONTINUE TO FUND THESE RECURRING COSTS WITH ONETIME MONEY AND WE GOTTA CHANGE THAT. I APPRECIATE THAT. UM, MS. LICHEN PAN. GOOD MORNING, MAYOR. COUNCIL MEMBER, THIS IS THE 12 PART ZERO FINANCIAL REPORT FOR THE PERIOD ENDING JUNE 30TH, 2024. FISCAL YEAR 2024 PROJECTION ARE BASED ON 12 MONTHS OF ACTUAL RESULT. HOWEVER, INVOICES FOR GOODS AND SERVICES PROVIDED IN FISCAL YEAR 2024 DO CONTINUE TO COME IN. THESE EXPENSES CONTINUE TO BE RECORDED AS ACCRUED TO THE FISCAL YEAR 2024 UNTIL AUGUST 31ST. SO THE RESULTS ARE NOT FINALIZED UNTIL THE PUBLICATIONS OF THE FISCAL YEAR 2024 ANNUAL COMPREHENSIVE FINANCIAL REPORT. SO NEXT MONTH, WE WILL BEGIN PRESENTING THE MONTHLY, THE MONTHLY FINANCIAL REPORT FOR THE FISCAL YEAR 2025. AT THE TIME OF THE 2025 ADOPTED BUDGET FORMULATIONS, THE BEGINNING FUND BALANCE WAS ESTIMATED TO BE 468 MILLION. IN THIS 12 PLUS ZERO FINANCIAL REPORT, WE ARE CURRENTLY PROJECTING THAT THIS FUND BALANCE WILL BE 486 MILLION, AN INCREASE OF 18 MILLION FOR GENERAL FUND, OUR REVENUE PROJECTION IS 50.5 MILLION HIGHER THAN THE ADOPTED BUDGET, AND 1.8 MILLION LOWER THAN PRIOR MONTHS PROJECTION. AND THIS IS MAINLY DUE TO [02:45:01] THE FOLLOWING. 2 MILLION DECREASE IN TRANSFER FROM OTHER FUND DUE TO LOWER THAN ANTICIPATED TRANSFER FROM PARK HOUSTON FUND. 1 MILLION DECREASE IN MISCELLANEOUS DUE TO LOWER THAN ANTICIPATED RECOVERY AND REFUND FOR STANDBY FEES. 895,000 DECREASE IN OTHER TAXES DUE TO LOWER THAN ANTICIPATED MIXED VARIOUS TAX RECEIPT. 428,000 DECREASE IN SALE OF CAPITAL ASSET TO REFLECT LOWER THAN ANTICIPATED LAND SALES. 1.1 MILLION INCREASE IN LICENSE AND PERMITS MAINLY DUE TO HIGHER THAN ANTICIPATED SPECIAL FIREARM FIRE ALARM PERMITS AND LIQUOR LICENSE, 986,000 INCREASE IN CHARGES FOR SERVICES, MAINLY DUE TO HIGHER THAN ANTICIPATED AMBULANCE FEE. AND 319,000 INCREASE IN INTEREST DUE TO HIGHER THAN ANTICIPATED EARNING FOR OUR EXPENDITURE PROJECTION IS 32.6 MILLION HIGHER THAN THE ADOPTED BUDGET AND 9.8 MILLION LOWER THAN PRIOR MONTH. THE VARIANCE FROM PARLIAMENT'S PROJECTION IS DUE TO YEAR END SAVING IN PERSONNEL SUPPLY AND SERVICES. WE ARE CURRENTLY PROJECTING THE ENDING FUND BALANCE OF 485.6 MILLION, WHICH IS 8 MILLION HIGHER THAN THE ADOPTED BUDGET, AND 19.6% OF ESTIMATED EXPENDITURE LISTED DEBT SERVICE AND PAY AS YOU GO. SO THE FUND BALANCE IS 300 MILLION ABOVE THE TARGETED 7.5% OF THE EXPENDITURE, EXCLUDING DEBT SERVICE AND PAY GOAL. WE AGREE WITH THE CONTROLLER FOR EX FOR ENTERPRISE FUND, AND I WILL HIGHLIGHT SOME OF THE CHANGES, UH, IN THE SPATIAL REVENUE FUND FOR HEALTH BENEFIT FUND REVENUE DECREASE BY 11.8 MILLION DUE TO LOWER ENROLLMENT. NON OPERATING REVENUE INCREASE BY 710,000 DUE TO HIGHER THAN ANTICIPATED INTEREST EXPENDITURE DECREASED BY 11.7 MILLION DUE TO LOWER CLAIMS. PROPERTY AND CASUALTY FUND REVENUES AND EXPENDITURE DECREASE BY 8.1 MILLION DUE TO LOWER THAN ANTICIPATED COSTS FOR LEGAL SERVICES AND INSURANCE PREMIUM, AS WELL AS PERSONNEL SAVINGS. WORKER COMPENSATION FUND OPERATING REVENUE AND EXPENDITURE DECREASE BY 2.4 MILLION DUE TO LOWER THAN ANTICIPATED CLAIMS. ASSET FOR FUTURE FUND EXPENDITURE DECREASED BY 2.4 MILLION DUE TO PERSONNEL SAVINGS AND DELAY IN COMPUTER EQUIPMENT PURCHASE AUTO DEALER SPECIAL REVENUE FUND EXPENDITURE DECREASE BY 2.9 MILLION DUE TO DELAY IN VEHICLE PURCHASE. ESSENTIAL PUBLIC HEALTH FUND EXPENDITURE DECREASED BY 2.4 MILLION DUE TO SAVING IN PERSONNEL AND SERVICES. HEALTH. SPECIAL REVENUE FUND EXPENDITURE DECREASED BY 1.3 MILLION DUE TO SAVING IN SERVICES AND DELAY IN EQUIPMENT PURCHASE. HOUSTON EMERGENCY CENTER FUND EXPENDITURE DECREASED BY 1.8 MILLION, MAINLY DUE TO PERSONNEL SAVING, MAINTENANCE RENEWAL AND REPLACEMENT FUND EXPENDITURE DECREASED BY 3 MILLION DUE TO SAVING IN PERSONNEL SUPPLY AND SERVICES. PARK SPATIAL REVENUE FUND EXPENDITURE DECREASED BY 1.2 MILLION DUE TO SAVING IN PERSONNEL SUPPLY AND SERVICES. PARK HOUSTON SPATIAL REVENUE FUND EXPENDITURE DECREASED BY 2 MILLION DUE TO LOWER TRANSFER TO GENERAL FUND. AS I MENTIONED EARLIER, POLICE SPATIAL REVENUE FUND EXPENDITURE DECREASED BY 1.1 MILLION. AND SPECIAL WASTE TRANSPORTATION AND INSPECTION FUND DECREASED BY 2.4 MILLION DUE TO SAVING IN PERSONNEL SUPPLY AND SERVICES. AND THAT CONCLUDE MY REPORT. THANK YOU. THANK YOU POLL. COUNCILMAN POLLARD. THANK YOU MAYOR. THANK YOU BOTH FOR YOUR PRESENTATIONS. UM, THE, UH, FIREFIGHTER SETTLEMENT WAS MENTIONED IN THE PRESENTATION. SO THIS, THIS, UH, QUESTION IS FOR EITHER ONE OF YOU ALL. UM, I RECEIVED AN EMAIL, UM, REGARDING THE SETTLEMENT PAY OF THE FIREFIGHTERS RECENTLY THAT SPOKE TO, UM, THE HOUSTON FIREFIGHTERS RELIEF AND RETIREMENT FUND, WHICH IS THEIR DEFINED BENEFIT PLAN, UM, ASKING THE MEMBERS OF THE HOUSTON FIRE DEPARTMENT WHO RECEIVED, UH, THE SETTLEMENT CHECKS, IF THEY WANT TO DESIGNATE [02:50:01] ANY PAY OF THAT SETTLEMENT TO PENSIONABLE PAY. UM, I'M NOT SURE IF YOU ALL ARE AWARE OF THAT. IF YOU ARE, UH, WHAT ARE YOUR THOUGHTS AND IF THAT HAS ANY IMPACT ON THE CITY AND TO THE CITY ATTORNEY, UM, IF THAT IS THE CASE AND IT IS BEING INQUIRED BY MEMBERS OF THE HOUSTON FIRE DEPARTMENT, IF THEY CAN, UM, ALLOCATE DOLLARS OF THEIR SETTLEMENT PAY TO, UM, PENSION PAYMENTS, HOW DOES THAT IMPACT THE AGREEMENT THAT WE, UH, SETTLED AND NEGOTIATED UPON, WHICH STATED THAT NONE OF THESE PAYMENTS WOULD BE, UH, CORRELATED WITH PENSIONS? I'LL, UH, ASK THE CITY ATTORNEY WHO IS AT THE NEGOTIATING TABLE WHERE THAT WAS ADDRESSED. COUNCIL MEMBER, UH, THE COURT ORDER PROVIDES THAT THE, THE PAYMENT BY THE CITY IS NON PENSIONABLE. SO, UH, I I DON'T BELIEVE THAT THE PENSION SYSTEM AND, UH, CAN CHANGE THAT. IT WAS ALSO THE, IT'S ALSO THE ASSUMPTION UNDER WHICH THE ATTORNEY GENERAL APPROVED THE BONDS. SO WHY IS THERE A, WHY IS THERE CORRESPONDENCE BETWEEN A MEMBER, UH, A PARTY OF THAT NEGOTIATION, WHICH IS THE, UH, FIREFIGHTERS UNION SPEAKING WITH THE RETIREMENT AND RELIEF FUND REGARDING PENSIONABLE PAY BASED ON SETTLEMENT ALLOCATIONS? UH, THAT'S WHAT I'M TRYING TO FIND OUT. BUT WE DID HAVE DISCUSSIONS WITH THE, THE FIREFIGHTER PENSION SYSTEM, UM, DURING NEGOTIATIONS ON THE CHARACTER OF THE PAYMENT. AND IF THAT IS ACCURATE, WOULD THAT IMPACT THE, UH, SETTLEMENT AGREEMENT THAT HAS ALREADY STATED TERMS THAT NONE OF THESE PAYMENTS CAN BE USED FOR PENSION? WELL, YEAH, THE, UH, THE SETTLEMENT AGREEMENT AND MORE IMPORTANTLY, THE COURT ORDER WOULD PROHIBIT THAT CHARACTERIZATION. SO THERE MAY HAVE TO BE CHANGES REVERSING WHAT WAS DONE, IF, IF WHAT YOU'RE SAYING IS IN FACT MOVING FORWARD. ALRIGHT. CAN YOU KEEP ME POSTED ON THAT? YES. AND COUNCIL, THE MAYOR AND, AND SAME WITH THE FINANCE DEPARTMENT AND, AND THE CONTROLLER'S OFFICE. SURE. I WAS LARGELY GONNA DEFER TO THE CITY ATTORNEY ANYHOW, SO THANKS FOR THAT RESPONSE. UH, ARTURO, UH, THE ONE THING I'LL SAY IS THAT MY OFFICE IS PHYSICALLY CUTTING THOSE CHECKS TO FIREFIGHTERS AS WE SPEAK. IN FACT, THE DEADLINE TO TURN THOSE CHECKS OVER TO, UH, FIRE UNION LEADERSHIP IS TOMORROW. AND AS WE ARE CUTTING THOSE CHECKS, THEY, UH, THERE ARE, UH, REDUCTIONS FOR, YOU KNOW, ASSUMED TAXES AND THINGS LIKE THAT. THERE'S NOTHING IN THERE REGARDING PENSIONS. MAYOR, DO YOU HAVE ANY INSIGHT TO MY UNDERSTANDING THAT THERE'S NO EXPOSURE OR LIABILITY FOR THE PENSION THE WAY IT WAS STRUCTURED WITH THE COURT? IF YOU'D, IF YOU'D SHARE WITH US WHO RAISED THE ISSUE, THAT WOULD PROBABLY EXPLAIN THE ANSWER TOO. WELL, I'VE SENT IT OVER TO YOUR ADMINISTRATION. I APPRECIATE IT. THANK YOU. BUT, UH, THE, UH, SOVEREIGNTY AND ANY EXPOSURE, THE PENSION WAS PART OF THE, THE STRUCTURE. YEAH, I MEAN, MY QUESTION WAS BASICALLY, IS THERE ANY MECHANISM TO WHERE ANY OF THESE LUMP SUM PAYMENTS CAN BE ATTRIBUTED TO PENSION PAY, AS WAS DESCRIBED IN SOME OF THE CORRESPONDENCE THAT I'VE RECEIVED? NO. UH, WE'RE IN, AS ARTURO SAID, WE'VE SOUGHT OUT ADDITIONAL INFORMATION. IF YOU'LL SHARE WITH US THE SOURCE, WE'LL GO STRAIGHT TO THE SOURCE. I'M CERTAIN IT'S, UH, IT'S THE HOUSTON FIREFIGHTERS. IT'S SOMEONE THAT IS STILL, UH, CRITICIZING A VERY REASONABLE SETTLEMENT. NO, IT'S THE HOUSTON FIREFIGHTERS RELIEF AND RETIREMENT FUND. YEAH. I MEAN, SEEING THAT, WELL, THEY, THEY HAVE OPINIONS TOO. OKAY, WE STRIKE. THANK YOU. APPRECIATE IT. NO OTHER SPEAKERS. ANY OTHER SPEAKERS? IS THERE A MOTION TO ACCEPT THE REPORT? I MOVE. WE ACCEPT THE MONTHLY FINANCIAL REPORT, UM, FOR THE PERIOD ENDED, UH, JUNE 30TH, 2024, AND THE QUARTERLY INVESTMENT AND SWAP REPORT. SECOND CASTILLO MOTIONS MADE. AND SECOND. ALL IN FAVOR? SAY YES. THOSE OPPOSED NAY. MOTION CARRIES. THANK Y'ALL. THANK Y'ALL. NEXT MEMBER, UH, PUBLIC [1.  9:00 A.M. - PUBLIC HEARING to provide a Resolution of No Objection for the 4% tax credit application for the following multifamily developments: BRITTONS PLACE 3706 LYONS AVE   DISTRICT B - JACKSON PLEASANT HILL VILLAGE 3814 LYONS AVE   DISTRICT B - JACKSON ] HEARING ON THE 4% TAX CREDITS. UM, WE DID NOT HAVE ANYONE SIGNED UP TO TESTIFY. IS THERE ANYONE PRESENT WOULD LIKE TO SEEING NO ONE? WE DO HAVE ONE PROCEDURE. YES, SIR. COME DOWN, PASTOR, EITHER MIKE, I'LL TURN ON WHICHEVER MIC YOU CHOOSE. GOOD MORNING, MAYOR. GOOD MORNING, COUNSEL. UH, HOW ARE YOU? HOW ARE Y'ALL? I APPEAR BEFORE YOU THIS MORNING TO ASK YOU, EXCUSE ME, FOR THOSE THAT ARE NOT AS FAMILIAR WITH YOU AS SOME OF US THAT GREW UP WITH YOU, WHEN YOU [02:55:01] FIRST STARTED YOUR HOUSING. UH, WOULD YOU STATE YOUR NAME AND, AND WHO YOU REPRESENT? OKAY. MY NAME IS HARVEY CLEMONS, JR. I AM HERE REPRESENTING THE PLEASANT HILL COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT COOPERATION AND TWO 4% PROPERTIES THAT WE HAVE UP BEFORE, UH, YOU TODAY, UH, WITH A CONSENT OF, OF RESOLUTION OF NO OBJECTION. UH, THESE TWO PROPERTIES ARE QUITE FRANKLY, BEAUTIFUL PROPERTIES THAT 30 YEARS AGO WERE TOUTED AS THE FIRST MULTIFAMILY PROPERTIES IN FIFTH WARD IN OVER 40 YEARS. AND SO THEY'RE TIRED. THEY WERE, ONE WAS A 9% TAX CREDIT DEAL, AND THE OTHER ONE WAS FUNDED BY HUD FUNDS FROM THE TEXAS DEPARTMENT OF HOUSING COMMUNITY AFFAIRS. I WANNA PAUSE JUST BRIEFLY ENOUGH, MAYOR, TO SAY TO SOME COUNCIL MEMBERS DURING THIS LAST HURRICANE THAT REALLY STEPPED UP FOR US IN FIFTH WARD, COUNCIL MEMBER PLUMMER AND, AND THEN A B, UH, AND, AND OTHER COUNCIL MEMBERS. MY COUNCIL MEMBER, COUNCIL MEMBER FROM DISTRICT B, UH, BROUGHT WATER, ICE, UH, FOOD, ALL KINDS OF THINGS TO HELP US WITH OUR SENIORS. THE 165 UNITS, SENIOR HOUSING COMPLEX IS A FOUR STORY COMPLEX WITH NO GENERATORS. YOU MIGHT IMAGINE THAT WHEN THE LIGHTS WENT OUT FOR FIVE DAYS, WE HAD TO MAKE SURE THAT OUR STAFF WAS WALKING EVERY UNIT ON THE FOURTH FLOOR TO MAKE SURE THAT THOSE SENIORS WERE NOT LEFT IN THEIR PROPERTY. SOME OF THEM WERE NOT ABLE TO COME DOWNSTAIRS IN THIS 4% TAX CREDIT BUNDLE DEAL THAT WE'RE DOING FOR PLEASANT HILL. WHAT IS INCLUDED IN THAT IS A GENERATOR THAT MAKES AT LEAST ONE ELEVATOR WORK. THE KITCHEN WORK, BECAUSE THIS COMMUNITY IS, THIS LOCATION IN FIFTH WARD IS KIND OF THE PLACE WHERE EVERYBODY COME TOGETHER DURING THE POINT OF CRISIS TO LOOK FOR, YOU KNOW, FOOD AND THE THINGS TO GET THROUGH THE CRISIS. SO INCLUDED IN HERE IS A GENERATOR, UH, TO MAKE SURE THAT ONE ELEVATOR'S WORKING, THAT THE KITCHEN IS WORKING, THAT LIGHTS ON IN THE HALLWAY. AND BECAUSE IT'S A PUMP SYSTEM, IT MAKES SURE THAT WATER IS SPREAD THROUGHOUT THE BUILDING. ACROSS THE STREET FROM THAT IS 48 UNITS OF FAMILY HOUSING, ONE, TWO, AND THREE BEDROOM, UH, PROPERTIES BUILT ABOUT THE SAME TIME WITHIN TWO YEARS OF EACH OTHER. IT TOO IS A BEAUTIFUL PROPERTY, IS TIRED. AND SO WHAT WE NEED TO DO NOW IS GO BACK IN AND REFURBISH 'EM BECAUSE THEY, FOR OVER THE LAST ALMOST 30 YEARS, THEY HAVE PROVIDED AFFORDABLE HOUSING TO PEOPLE IN OUR COMMUNITY WHO OTHERWISE WOULD NOT HAVE BEEN ABLE TO AFFORD IT. MUCH OF THAT HAS BEEN BECAUSE OF THE HELP OF PEOPLE LIKE YOURSELF WHO HAVE SAT AROUND THIS COUNCIL TABLE AND WHO HAVE FUNDED THESE PROJECTS OVER THE YEARS, OVER THE LAST 40 YEARS. FOR THAT, I SAY TO YOU ALL, THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE. WE WOULD LIKE TO ENJOY YOUR SUPPORT. UH, YOU WILL BE SUPPORTING THE PROJECTS THAT ARE VERY GOOD AND PROVIDE AFFORDABLE HOUSING FOR PEOPLE IN OUR COMMUNITY THAT ACTUALLY NEED IT. THANK YOU, MAYOR. THANK YOU, SIR. AND, UH, THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE. COUNCILMAN THOMAS. THANK YOU, MAYOR. GOOD MORNING EVERYONE. UH, REVEREND CLEMENTS, GOOD TO SEE YOU. GOOD MORNING. UH, I, I BELIEVE THAT WE NEED MORE DEVELOPERS LIKE YOU THAT VALUE NOT JUST NEW CONSTRUCTION, NEW CONSTRUCTION DEVELOPMENTS, BUT ALSO REHABS. A COUPLE OF YEARS AGO, UM, THE SAME BODY, UM, WE HAD IMPLORED THE HOUSING, UM, DEPARTMENT TO INCENTIVIZE DEVELOPERS TO LOOK AT REHABILITATION PROJECTS. UM, BUT WE KNOW HOW COSTLY IT IS. WE KNOW THE FINANCING THAT'S INVOLVED, UM, BECAUSE MANY OF THEM PURSUE NEW CONSTRUCTION. SO, UM, THANK YOU FOR NOT JUST INVESTING IN THE COMMUNITY YEARS AGO, BUT CONTINUING TO DO THAT. UM, UH, WISH WE HAD MORE OF THAT ON THE WEST SIDE. AND I KNOW YOU HAVE A, A FORMER PROPERTY ON THE WEST SIDE THAT, UM, OFF OF A LEAF CLOTHING THAT MY COUSIN AND HER FAMILY MOVED INTO WHEN IT WAS NEW. SO I, UM, I KNOW YOUR WORK, UM, YOUR WORK SPEAKS TO, UM, OFFERING OPPORTUNITIES TO FAMILY. SO I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR THAT. UM, AND THANK YOU FOR COMING BEFORE THIS BODY. I LOOK FORWARD TO SUPPORTING THIS, UH, ITEM. THANK YOU. COUNCIL MEMBER COUNCILOR JACKSON. THANK YOU MAYOR. AND THANK YOU, UM, REVEREND CLEMONS FOR EVERYTHING THAT YOU'RE DOING FOR THE FIFTH WARD COMMUNITY AND, UM, DISTRICT B. YES, MA'AM. UM, I ECHO MY COLLEAGUE. UM, THE NEED FOR QUALITY, AFFORDABLE HOUSING, UM, IN OUR COMMUNITIES IS DESPERATELY, UM, IN NEED. AND YOU HAVE DOING, BEEN DOING EVERYTHING THAT YOU CAN WITHIN THE FIFTH COURT WAR COMMUNITY, NOT JUST TO, UM, UP UPGRADE, UM, HOUSING, BUT I MEAN, YOU'RE WORKING ON THE [03:00:01] ST. ELIZABETH YES. UM, PROJECT. AND SO YOU'VE BEEN DOING A LOT OF GREAT WORK IN THE DISTRICT. AND SO I SUPPORT THIS PROJECT. WE NEED A WHOLE LOT MORE OF IT. AND I WILL BE ENLISTING YOUR ADVICE ON PROJECTS, UM, ON THE NORTHEAST SIDE AS WELL AS IN THE ACRES HOMES AREA. AND SO ANYTHING ELSE I CAN DO TO SUPPORT, JUST LET ME KNOW. YOU HAVE MY SUPPORT AND ANYTHING I CAN DO TO HELP YOU MEET THE AGENDA OF DISTRICT B, YOU KNOW, YOU CAN COUNT ON ME. YES. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR SERVICE. THANK YOU, MAYOR. MAYOR, MAYOR. I APPROACH JIM CASTEX TATUM. THANK YOU, PASTOR FOR BEING HERE AND FOR SPEAKING AT THE PUBLIC HEARING TODAY. UM, I'M A BIG PROPONENT OF REHABS. UM, WE HAVE, UH, ASKED MORE DEVELOPERS TO COME IN, UM, AND UTILIZE THE OPPORTUNITIES FOR US TO REHAB PROPERTIES THROUGHOUT THE ENTIRE CITY OF HOUSTON. I THINK SOMETHING THAT YOU SAID TODAY THAT YOU WILL BE INCLUDING THAT GENERATOR TO MAKE SURE THAT AT AT LEAST ONE ELEVATOR IS OPERABLE, IS CRITICAL. UM, AS WE KNOW THERE ARE MORE NAMED STORMS EXPECTED, UH, THIS HURRICANE SEASON. AND AS THESE WEATHER EVENTS ARE COMING MORE FREQUENTLY AND THEY ARE STRONGER, UM, WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT AS WE ARE REHABBING AND BUILDING FACILITIES SPECIFICALLY, UM, WITH, UM, SENIORS AND, UM, AFFORDABLE HOUSING IN MIND, THAT WE ARE ALSO CONSIDERING THE SAFETY OF THOSE RESIDENTS THAT WILL BE IN THOSE PROPERTIES. SO THANK YOU FOR LEADING, UH, IN THAT SPACE AND MAKING SURE THAT ALL OF THE TENANTS WHO WILL, UM, LIVE IN THESE PROPERTIES HAVE A SAFETY NET, UM, INCLUDED IN THOSE DEVELOPMENTS. SO WE APPRECIATE YOU AND I LOOK FORWARD TO SUPPORTING THIS. THANK YOU. COUNCILMAN PLUMMER. THANK YOU MAYOR. AND THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR BEING HERE. I'VE SEEN YOU WORK FIRSTHAND AND, UM, AND I SEE THE SMILES AND THE, THE, THE EXPRESSIONS OF RELIEF ON YOUR RESIDENTS FACES. SO THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR LEADING THE CHARGE ON THIS. YOU KNOW, MAYOR, WE TALKED ABOUT WHAT WE NEED TO DO FOR SENIOR FACILITIES AND WHAT WE NEED TO MAKE MANDATORY AND PUTTING THAT GENERATOR IN TO ENSURE THE FIRST, YOU KNOW, AT LEAST ONE AREA IS COOL AND ELEVATOR WORKS. UM, 'CAUSE I KNOW THAT YOUR STAFF WAS LITERALLY HELPING PEOPLE GET DOWNSTAIRS AND YOU WERE WALKING ICE AND FOOD AND EVERYTHING UP TO THEM THAT COULDN'T ACCESS IT. SO, AND KEEPING THAT REFRIGERATOR COOL AND ALL THE INFORMATION YOU GAVE OUT TO LET PEOPLE KNOW HOW MANY DAYS IT SHOULD BE IN THERE, ALL THE OUTREACH YOU DID FOR YOUR SENIOR RESIDENTS IS REALLY PROFOUND AND VERY MUCH APPRECIATED. THANK YOU FOR THE WORK THAT YOU DO. AND I'M FULLY SUPPORTIVE OF THIS PROJECT. YOU KNOW THAT BECAUSE YOU WERE WALKING THOSE STAFF WITH US, AND WE THANK YOU FOR HAVING YOUR STAFF, YOUR HUSBAND, , NO HUSBAND, YOUR FAMILY, NO HUSBAND. DON'T START. NO RUMORS. . NO, NO, NO WORKING. BUT AT GOOD FRIENDS, GOOD FRIEND. YOU DONE MARRIED. YOU DONE MARRIED ME OFF. CAN CAN I BE DISMISSED? WHERE CAN I GO? SLOW DOWN NOW. . NO, THANK YOU. THANK YOU SO MUCH. THANK YOU. COUNCILMAN DAVIS. THANK YOU MAYOR. UH, PASTOR CLEMONS. SO GOOD TO SEE YOU, MY FRIEND. AND CERTAINLY, UM, I WANT TO COMMEND YOU AND CERTAINLY SUPPORT THIS PROJECT THAT YOU'VE BEEN, WE'VE BEEN IN THE BATTLE OF FOUR HOUSING FOR 40 YEARS. REMEMBER IN 19, I'M NOT SAYING ANOTHER WORD. I KNOW YOU'RE NOT GONNA REPLY TO THAT 40 YEAR. BUT, UH, 1988 WHEN WE WERE OUT THERE MARCHING FOR COMMUNITY REINVESTMENT ACT WHEN, UH, UH, WHEN I WENT AGAINST THE BANK IN REGARDS TO THE MERGER, THE COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT HAS BEEN A LONG LENGTH OF TIME FOR BOTH OF US IN WORKING TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE IN OUR COMMUNITY AND COMMEND YOU FOR STAYING IN THE BATTLE. OF COURSE, YOU KNOW, THERE ARE SO MANY CHURCHES THAT PURSUE THE OPPORTUNITY TO MAKE IT BETTER IN OUR COMMUNITIES. AND THIS IS MANY OF ONE OF MANY. UH, BACK DURING THE TIME WHEN THERE WAS LITTLE, UH, PASTOR LAWSON AND JIMMY AND PASTOR ROBERT JEFFERSON, I CAN GO ON AND ON. ED LOCKETT, SO MANY PASTORS WHEN WE WAS FIGHTING TO FIGHT. AND, UH, THANK GOD FOR THOSE PASTORS. I LOOK FORWARD TO SEEING MORE OF THESE TYPE OF PROJECTS SPREAD OUT ACROSS OUR CITY WITH SOME OF OUR, UH, YOU KNOW, UH, RELIGIOUS LEADERS WITH PROPERTIES THAT CAN HELP TO STIMULATE OUR COMMUNITIES. WE NEED THAT. WE NEED THAT. AND SO THAT WE CAN KEEP OUR CITIES AND COMMUNITIES NOT ONLY STIMULATE WITH HOUSING, BUT ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT. THANK YOU, COUNCIL MEMBER. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR BEING COUNCIL MEMBER JACKSON. THANK YOU, MAYOR. UM, AND I ALSO WANTED TO RECOGNIZE KATHY PAYTON, UM, FOR HER AMAZING WORK THAT SHE'S DOING AS SHE GO, UM, IN FIFTH FOUR COMMUNITY. SO WITH, BEHIND EVERY GREAT MAN IS A GREAT WOMAN. SO, UM, WE GOT TO GIVE OUR PROPS OUT TO OUR WOMAN WHO IS MAKING SURE THAT THEY'RE HOLDING DOWN THE FORK. SO THANK YOU FOR EVERYTHING THAT YOU DO. OKAY? OKAY. NOW HE CAN DO THIS. THANK YOU, PASTOR. AND, UH, THANK YOU. I'M NOT SURPRISED THAT YOU CARE FOR YOUR RESIDENTS. [03:05:01] UH, WE NEED TO CONTINUE TO REVIEW THOSE THAT DO NOT. IN FACT, AT THE, UH, SENATE HEARING ON MONDAY, HOLDING CENTER POINT ACCOUNTABLE, WE SPENT CONSIDERABLE AMOUNT OF TIME TALKING ABOUT THE MOST VULNERABLE PART, UH, INDIVIDUALS OF OUR COMMUNITY. UH, WE'VE DISCOVERED DURING THE CRISIS, GOING BACK TO THETO, UNSCRUPULOUS OPERATORS, OWNERS, MANAGERS THAT ABANDONED SENIORS DURING THE STORM. SO HOW DO WE GO ABOUT, UH, EVEN CONCEIVABLY MAKING THAT CRIMINAL, HOLDING THEM ACCOUNTABLE? CERTAINLY, MAYBE EVEN ON THE FRONT END WHEN WE APPROVE THE PROJECTS, UH, THE STATE IS LOOKING AT SOME REQUIREMENT OF GENERATORS. WE ALL KNOW THAT IT IS SUCH A CHALLENGE. BUT, UH, I APPLAUD YOU FOR MAINTAINING YOUR FACILITIES AND CERTAINLY, UH, SINCE INCONCEIVABLE WHAT I SAW, UH, AT INDEPENDENCE HALL THAT WERE AIRLINE AND 45 MANAGEMENT JUST LEFT SENIORS BY HIMSELF WITHOUT POWER FOR DAYS. SO ANYWAY, THANK YOU FOR BEING THE MODEL OF, UH, NOT ONLY BEING A MAN OF FAITH, BUT ALSO A PUBLIC SERVANT EVERY STRETCH OF THE WAY. SO WHEN I SAID WE'D GROWN UP TOGETHER, WE DID MAY MAYBE, MAYBE SOME FOLKS HEAR MY VOICE, DON'T KNOW WHAT IT MEANT. BUT YOU SAID YOU'VE BEEN PROVIDING HOUSING AND, AND COMMUNITY SERVICES FOR 40 YEARS. YES, SIR. YEAH. WELL, I GOT YOU. WE, WE WERE RIGHT THERE. I CAN REMEMBER SOME VERY EARLY MEETINGS TOGETHER. SO YEAH, IT'S BEEN VERY REWARDING TO WATCH YOUR WORK. AND EVEN AS WE TALK TODAY, YOU'RE GOING FORWARD. SO ALLOW, ALLOW ALL OF US TO KNOW HOW WE CAN HELP. WE COULD NOT DO IT WITHOUT THE HELP OF OUR PUBLIC OFFICIALS AND OUR ELECTED OFFICIALS SURE. WHO BELIEVE IN THE WORK THAT WE DO. AND SO, FOR ALL OF YOU, WE SAY THANK YOU SO VERY MUCH. WE APPRECIATE YOU. THANK YOU. THANK YOU, SIR. I WAS BLESSED. DAY. UH, ANYONE ELSE LIKE TO TESTIFY? SEEING NO ONE ELSE? UH, IS THERE A MOTION TO CLOSE THE HEARING CAST ACT TATUM, MOVE TO CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING. SECOND MOTIONS MADE. AND SECOND TO CLOSE THIS PUBLIC HEARING. ALL IN FAVOR SAY YES. THOSE OPPOSED NO MOTION PASSES. I WILL QUICKLY GIVE A ANNOUNCEMENT, UH, AS PART OF MY MAYOR'S ANNOUNCEMENT. UH, REPORT OF THE BACK TO SCHOOL FEST, PRESENTED BY SHELL THIS SATURDAY AT THE GEORGE BROWN CONVENTION CENTER, AUGUST 3RD FROM 8:00 AM TO 2:00 PM IT'S THE ANNUAL BACK TO SCHOOL FEST. WE'LL PROVIDE UP TO 25,000 KINDERGARTENS THROUGH THE FIFTH GRADE WITH THE FOLLOWING, UH, PACKAGES. UM, HOUSTON FOOD BANK IS ALSO A PARTNER, SO I WOULD ENCOURAGE EVERYONE, I WOULD NOT BE SHOCKED TO SEE THAT IT, THAT THERE'S A STRONGER DRAW THAN THE 25,000. BUT, UM, WE THANK SHELL AND THEIR CO-SPONSORS. I'VE GOT OBVIOUSLY, UH, CHIEF SATTERWHITE SCHEDULED TO BRIEF US ON HPDS REPORT ON THE, UH, SUSPENSION OF CASES. I'M GONNA WAIT TILL THE END OF COUNCIL TO DO THAT. SO WE WILL HAVE ADEQUATE TIME NOW. GETTING TO THE AGENDA, MA'AM. SECRETARY, WILL [CONSENT AGENDA] YOU PROCEED WITH THE CONSENT AGENDA UNDER THE ACCEPT WORK ITEMS? TWO, THREE, AND FOUR. NEED A MOTION? A MOVE? SECOND. ALL IN FAVOR? SECOND. UH, ALL IN FAVOR? SAY YES. THOSE OPPOSED NAY. MOTION PASSES UNDER THE PROPERTY CATEGORY. ITEM FIVE. NEEDS A MOTION CAST. STATE A MOVE. MOTION MADE AND SECONDED. ALL IN FAVOR, SAY YES. THOSE OPPOSED NAY. MOTION PASSES UNDER THE PURCHASING AND TABULATION OF BID CATEGORY. ITEM SIX HAS BEEN REMOVED. SEPARATE CONSIDERATION. NEED A MOTION FOR ITEM SEVEN, EIGHT, AND NINE. CAST T MOVE. SECOND. MOTION MADE. AND SECOND. ALL IN FAVOR? SAY YES. THOSE OPPOSED NAY. MOTION PASSES UNDER THE RESOLUTION CATEGORY. ITEM 10 HAS BEEN REMOVED. SEPARATE CONSIDERATION UNDER THE ORDINANCES CATEGORY. ITEM 18 HAS BEEN PULLED AND IT WILL NOT BE CONSIDERED ITEMS REMOVED. SEPARATE CONSIDERATION. 11, 20, 23 AND 30. THOSE NUMBERS AGAIN ARE 11, 20, 23 AND 30. NEED A VOTE ON THE BALANCE? [03:10:02] ALL IN FAVOR SAY YES. THOSE OPPOSED NAY. MOTION PASSES. LEMME WAIT FROM HERE. JEEZ. ITEM MOVE. SEPARATE CONSIDERATION. [CONSIDERATION OF MATTERS REMOVED FROM CONSENT AGENDA] ITEM SIX NEEDS A MOTION. VICE MAYOR. PROTO MAYOR. UH, MAYOR VICE, VICE VICE'S. MAYOR PECK. THANK YOU, MAYOR. UM, I'M GOING TO TAG THIS ITEM. I COMPLETELY SUPPORT MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES FOR HFD. THERE'S JUST SOME QUESTIONS ABOUT WHY WE HAVE NOT CHOSEN A VENDOR IN HOUSTON AND CHOSEN SOMEONE IN AUSTIN TO ONLY BASICALLY DO VIRTUAL APPOINTMENTS. I'LL SHARE SOME OF YOUR QUESTIONS AS WELL. UM, WE DISCUSSED IT AT LENGTH THIS MORNING IN OUR PREPARATION, AND THERE'S SOME VALID QUESTIONS THAT NEED TO BE ASKED, UH, BY FIRE TO MAKE SURE OUR, WE PROVIDING THE SERVICES THAT, UM, THAT ARE EXPECTED AND NEEDED. SO THANK YOU. YEAH, WE ALLOW, I'LL RELEASE FOR DISCUSSIONS. COUNCIL CARTER TO ADDRESS COUNCILOR CARTER. I'LL JOIN THE TAG. I HAVE THE SAME QUESTIONS. THANK YOU. OKAY. THANK YOU. SO P CARTER POLLARD. POLLARD CARTER, AND PECK. EVAN SHABBAT. EVAN SHABBAT TAG DAVIS. HE IS WELL TAGGED. . EVAN SHA. THANK YOU. AND DAVID? YES, SIR. YES MA'AM. ITEM 10 IS A RESOLUTION. JUST NEED A VOTE. ALL IN FAVOR SAY YES. THOSE OPPOSED NAY. MOTION PASSES. ITEM 11 IS AN ORDINANCE. JUST NEED A VOTE. ALL IN FAVOR SAY YES. THOSE OPPOSED NO. THOMAS LOWE. TAG COUNCILOR. PLUMBER TAG. PLUMBER TAG. OKAY. PLUMBER, POLLARD JACKSON. THOMAS. THOMAS, UH, THOMAS. ONE SECOND. MM-HMM . SO WE HAVE CORNER TALLER. JACKSON AND THOMAS TACKING. THOMAS. THOMAS POLLARD, PLUMBER AND JACKSON. PLUMBER AND JACKSON. YES. MA? YES SIR. YEP. FOUR. FOUR. YEP. FOUR. ITEM TAX. ITEM 20 IS AN ORDINANCE. JUST NEED TO VOTE. ALL IN FAVOR SAY YES. THOSE OPPOSED NAY. MOTION PASSES. ITEM 23 IS AN ORDINANCE. JUST NEED TO VOTE. ALL IN FAVOR SAY YES. THOSE OPPOSED TO NAY. MOTION PASSES. DO ITEM 30 IS AN ORDINANCE. THIS NEED A VOTE. COUNCILOR FLICKINGER. COUNCILOR FLICKINGER. YES. I WANNA DRAW ATTENTION TO THIS. UH, CONGRESSMAN CRENSHAW. IT IS BEEN INSTRUMENTAL IN GETTING FUNDS FOR THIS, UH, HAS BEEN A HUGE HELP OUT TO MY DISTRICT, UH, PREVENTING THE FLOODING BOTH IN THE DREDGING AND THESE TYPE OF ITEMS. SO, JUST WANTED TO SAY THANK YOU. THANK YOU. ALL IN FAVOR? SAY YES. THOSE OPPOSED NO. MOTION PASSES. ITEM 35 [NON CONSENT AGENDA - NUMBERING] IS TO SET A PUBLIC HEARING DATE. NEED A MOTION CAST MOVE TO SET THE HEARING DATE FOR 9:00 AM WEDNESDAY, AUGUST THE 14TH. SECOND. MOTION IS MADE. SECONDED. ALL IN FAVOR SAY YES. THOSE OPPOSED NAY. MOTION PASSES. [MATTERS HELD - NUMBERING] ITEM 36 IS AN ORDINANCE. JUST NEED A VOTE. COUNCIL MEMBER PLUMMER. COUNCIL MEMBER PLUMMER. THANK YOU MAYOR. AND I AM SUPPORTIVE OF THIS ITEM. I BELIEVE THAT WE DO NEED TO, I HAD A GOOD CONVERSATION WITH EVOLV. I DO BELIEVE THAT WE NEED TO DIVERSIFY OUR TRANSPORTATION OPTIONS. AND THAT LAST MILE IS VERY CRITICAL. UH, I KNOW THIS IS JUST EXTENDING THE CONTRACT. WHAT I WOULD LIKE TO HAVE IS A DEEPER CONVERSATION ABOUT FUNDING THROUGH METRO. WHAT I DON'T WANT TO HAVE HAPPEN IS I WANNA MAKE SURE THAT I'M VERY HOPEFUL, STILL HOPEFUL THAT WE CAN RENEGOTIATE THIS UNIVERSITY LINE, AND I DON'T WANT US TO USE ANY FUNDING THAT COULD POTENTIALLY AFFECT, UM, THE WAY IN WHICH MASS TRANSIT HAPPENS. AND SO, ALTHOUGH I'M [03:15:01] FULLY SUPPORTIVE OF THIS, I KNOW COUNCIL MEMBER SHABAZZ, UM, HAS, HAS BEEN AN INTEGRAL PART OF MAKING SURE THAT HER COMMUNITY SUPPORTED. I ACTUALLY WAS THERE AND I SAW ONE AND FOUR PEOPLE WERE IN THERE, AND IT WAS REALLY GREAT TO SEE. SO I THINK IT'S, IT'S IMPORTANT TO DO THIS. I WANTED TO HOP ON IT ACTUALLY. UM, BUT, BUT I DO, I WANT DO WANNA ALSO BRING TO, TO UNDERSTANDING THAT THE UNIVERSITY LINE IS IMPORTANT AND THAT AS METRO'S COMMITMENT IS TO MOVE PEOPLE FROM THE WEST SIDE ALL THE WAY DOWN TO LBJ IS CRITICAL. AND THAT, UM, THIS IS AN OPPORTUNITY TO LOOK AT PUBLIC TRANSIT IN A DIFFERENT WAY, IN A MORE POSITIVE WAY IN THE CITY OF HOUSTON. THANK YOU EVAN SHAVA. THANK YOU MAYOR. AND, AND THANK YOU COUNCIL MEMBER FOR YOUR CONCERNS. THIS HAS BEEN A TREMENDOUS OPPORTUNITY FOR THE PEOPLE IN THE THIRD WORLD COMMUNITY. I WANT TO ALSO BE MINDFUL THAT, UH, THE CONTRACT ENDS, I BELIEVE JULY 31ST. SO WE ARE UNDER A TIME RESTRAINT. I WANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE CASEY BROWN, THE CEO OF EVOLVE. UH, I BELIEVE IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS, UH, OR ANYONE HAS ANY QUESTIONS, I THINK THAT, UH, CASEY COULD PERHAPS ANSWER THOSE QUESTIONS. AND SO, UH, IF WITH THE MAYOR'S PERMISSION, CASEY, SHE'S ASKING FOR SOMEONE TO COME UP AND SPEAK. OKAY. GOOD. ALRIGHT. UH, WITH YOUR PERMISSION, MAYOR, UH, UH, YOU WILL ALLOW CASEY BROWN TO COME UP AND ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS. SURE. COME FORWARD. THANK YOU. GIVE US YOUR NAME AND WHO YOU REPRESENT. MY NAME IS CASEY BROWN. I'M THE PRESIDENT, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF V EVOLVE OBJECTIONS COUNSELOR. NO, I DON'T, I DIDN'T KNOW. SO, SO YOU, ARE YOU, YOU'RE JUST CONCERNED ABOUT THE, THE, UH, UNIVERSITY LINE? YEAH. YES, MA'AM. AND NOT, WELL, MY, MY APOLOGIES. HE WAS READY AND WAITING THOUGH. YEAH, NO, NO. FOR CLARIFICATION. JUST TO MAKE SURE. THIS IS SO VERY IMPORTANT. I JUST WANTED TO MAKE SURE THAT IF THERE WERE ANY QUESTIONS THAT HE COULD ANSWER THOSE, BUT IF THERE ARE NO QUESTIONS, UH, I AM CERTAINLY IN FAVOR OF MOVING FORWARD. . THANK YOU, AL. COUNCIL MEMBER ALCO. THANK YOU. I, I'LL, I'LL, I'LL, I'LL MAKE IT WORTH YOUR WHILE TO COME TO THE PROGRAM. . UM, SO I ASKED SOME QUESTIONS ABOUT THIS ITEM TOO, AND, AND WAS REALLY THRILLED TO SEE THAT SINCE ITS INCEPTION, 15,500 RIDES, UM, FOR, AND THE TOTAL MILES DRIVEN UNDER THESE CONTRACTS IS 60,200. UM, I HAD A QUESTION ABOUT COST PER MILE THAT, THAT GOES TO ABOUT 5 65 PER MILE. I DON'T HAVE A GOOD SENSE OF WHAT, UM, WHAT OTHER, AND I KNOW THAT THIS IS DIFFERENT AND YOU'RE OFFERING A SERVICE, SO I DON'T, I DON'T, IT'S NOT REALLY COMPETITIVE, BUT WHAT, WHAT ARE KIND OF OTHER RATES OF, OF, OF RIDE SHARES? YEAH. SO OUR RIDE SHARES REALLY UNIQUE IN THE SENSE OF THE SERVICE ZONE SIZE THAT WE OFFER. AND SO, E EVEN IN THE RIDE SHARE WORLD, COMPARING THIS APPLES TO APPLES WILL APPEAR TO BE A PRETTY LOW NUMBER. UM, BUT THERE'S SOME UNIQUE REASONS WHY. SO, UM, YOU KNOW, AS WE, AS WE MOVE FORWARD AND, AND CONTINUE TO GROW THIS, UM, UH, THIS SERVICE, YOU KNOW, WE'RE EXCITED TO FIND ADDITIONAL COST EFFICIENCIES THAT, THAT PUSH THAT FURTHER DOWN. OKAY. AND IT'S MY UNDERSTANDING THAT THE ADDITIONAL FROM THE 2 81 THAT THE CITY'S PUTTING INTO THE 1.3, THAT THAT FUNDING'S COMING FROM METRO WILL COME FROM METRO. MM-HMM . RIGHT. OKAY. THANK YOU. THAT'S MY UNDERSTANDING. YEAH. COUNCIL MEMBER FLICKINGER THE COMPARISON ON COST PER MILE. WHAT ABOUT THE COST PER PERSON? YEAH. UM, THE COST PER PASSENGER DRIVES EVEN LOWER. UM, WE FOCUS ON A CONCEPT CALLED POOLED RIDES AS WELL. SO YOU'LL SEE FIVE SEATS AVAILABLE, UH, WITH A DRIVER TAKING THE SIX SEAT OF THE VEHICLE. AND SO WHEN WE START TO GET THE VEHICLE, UH, FILLED UP WITH ONE OR TWO TRIPS, WHICH MAY INCLUDE A COUPLE PASSENGERS PER TRIP, UM, YOU START DELIVERING A VERY LOW, UH, COST PER PASSENGER. YEP. ANY MORE QUESTIONS? MR. SHA QUEUE? COUNCIL MEMBER EVAN SHABAZZ. AND TO ALLEVIATE THE CONCERNS, THIS IS A METRO MONEY ITEM, NOT A CITY MONEY ITEM, JUST TO BE CLEAR. VERY GOOD. THANK YOU. MM-HMM . THAT'S ALL. JUST NEED A VOTE? ALL IN FAVOR? SAY YES. THOSE OPPOSED NAY. MOTION PASSES. THANK YOU. THANK YOU, SIR. ITEM 37 [SUPPLEMENTAL POSTING] IS AN ORDINANCE. JUST NEED TO VOTE. SUPPLEMENTAL, JUST NEED TO VOTE ON 37. ALL IN FAVOR? ON ITEM 37, SAY YES. THOSE OPPOSED NAY. MOTION PASSES. THAT'S IT. OKAY, MEMBERS, WE [MAYOR'S REPORT] HAVE THE MAYOR'S REPORT. UH, AND BEFORE I CALL UP CHIEF SATELLITE, [03:20:01] I WANT TO BRIEFLY ADDRESS, UH, AND I RESPECT THE TAGS ON ITEM 11, BUT I WANT YOU TO KNOW THE ORIGIN OF IT. UH, IT'S A VERY SERIOUS MATTER. I WE WON'T MEET NEXT WEEK, AS YOU KNOW, BUT I HOPE YOU'LL BE PREPARED IN A COUPLE OF WEEKS. UH, WITH YOUR QUESTIONS ANSWERED. UH, NO ONE, CERTAINLY I ARE TRYING TO INTERFERE WITH PROTESTORS PICKETERS, BUT I WOULD SUGGEST CITIES ACROSS THE COUNTRY OR ADDRESSING THIS. UH, I BELIEVE IF YOU HAD TO GO THROUGH WHAT I GO THROUGH FOUR TIMES NOW AT NIGHT, AS LATE AS 11 O'CLOCK WITH PROTESTORS, SHINING BEAMS OF LIGHT INTO YOUR HOUSE AND LASERS INTO YOUR HOUSE ON JULY 4TH, BLOCKING YOUR DRIVEWAY SO YOU CAN'T GET TO JULY 4TH EVENTS. UH, IT'S VERY FRIGHTENING. IT'S NOT FAIR TO MY NEIGHBORS. THEY DIDN'T SIGN UP FOR THIS. IT'S, UH, PROFESSIONAL PROTESTORS BEING PAID. I COULD GO ON AND ON. YOU NEED TO BE THERE TO BELIEVE WHAT THEY'RE DOING TO MY NEIGHBORHOOD AS WELL AS LIZZIE FLETCHER'S NEIGHBORHOOD AND SENATOR CRUZ. UM, IT'S REQUIRING A LOT OF HPD RESOURCES. UH, THEY'RE BECOMING MORE AGGRESSIVE, MORE EM BODEN. UM, SO WE'RE FOLLOWING DALLAS'S LEAD, DALLAS'S LEAD, UM, GETTING EVERY LEGAL OPINION WE COULD. JUSTICE O'CONNOR 1988 SAID THAT THERE COULD BE REGULATIONS ON PROTESTING IN FRONT OF RESIDENCES. IT HAS SAFEGUARDS WHERE THE PROTEST, UH, PROHIBITION, UH, OR DISTANCE. ACTUALLY LET ME EMPHASIZE THAT. IT WOULD BE FOUR LOTS DOWN FROM MY HOUSE. UH, JUSTICE O'CONNOR SAID THAT THAT WAS NOT A CHALLENGE TO THE FIRST AMENDMENT. DALLAS HAS DONE IT. PARA LANDS, DONE IT, NEWPORT, CALIFORNIA, SAN JOSE, RIVERSIDE, AND WE'LL SEE OTHERS. IT'S A SAFETY ISSUE. IT PROTECTS LEGITIMATE CONCERNS OF PROTESTORS, BUT ENOUGH'S ENOUGH WHEN THEY START DISTURBING THE ENTIRE PIECE OF THE NEIGHBORHOOD AND MAKING THREATENING, UH, DRUMS, BULLHORNS GETTING THERE AT NINE O'CLOCK AT NIGHT, STAYING THERE TILL 11. IT'S A TERRIBLE WASTE OF POLICE RESOURCES, WHICH HAVE TO MAKE THE CALL. BUT ON JULY 4TH, THEY HAD A PHYSICAL ENCOUNTER WITH ONE OF MY DETAIL FOLKS. SO, YOU KNOW, EVERYBODY NEEDS TO VOTE THEIR CONSCIENCE, THEIR DISTRICTS, BUT I PROMISE YOU, IF YOU LIVE THROUGH WHAT MY NEIGHBORHOOD HAS GONE THROUGH, AND IT'S NOT EVEN A CITY ISSUE, WE'RE ALL SENSITIVE TO THEIR CONCERNS, BUT IT'S NOT A CITY ISSUE. SO WITH THAT SAID, I HOPE YOU'LL FAMILIARIZE YOURSELF WITH THE, UH, CASES THAT SUPPORT THIS AND THE EFFORTS AROUND OTHER CITIES IN AMERICA. THANK Y'ALL. THERE'S A COMMENT FROM POLLARD. COUNCILMAN POLLARD. THANK YOU. THANK YOU MAYOR. AND I, I WAS TOO LOOKING AT THAT, THAT, UH, ITEM, I'M NOT SURE IF WE CAN TALK ON IT SINCE WE TAGGED IT, BUT AREN'T THERE ALREADY SAFEGUARDS IN PLACE FOR DISTURBING THE PEACE AND, AND MEASURES THAT CAN BE TAKEN BASED ON, UH, WHAT LAWS ARE ALREADY ON THE BOOKS THAT CAN SAFEGUARD YOU FROM, OR ANY ELECTED OFFICIAL FROM, UH, SOME OF THE ACTIONS THAT ARE TAKING PLACE BY THE PROTESTORS? UM, THERE'S BEEN MANY INSTANCES WHERE IF YOU USE BULLHORNS OR, OR, OR, OR BEAMS OR ANYTHING LIKE THAT, THAT CAN BE CONSTITUTED AS DISTURBING THE PEACE. IF YOU DON'T FOLLOW CERTAIN PROTOCOL WITH LAW ENFORCEMENT, IT CAN BE DEEMED DISTURBING THE PEACE AFTER CERTAIN HOURS, IT COULD BE DEEMED A CERTAIN, UH, DISTURBING THE PEACE, LIKE ALL THAT PRECEDENT IS ALREADY LAID. SO, UM, NOT SURE WHAT THIS IS ACTUALLY INTENDING TO DO ABOVE WHAT THE LAW HAS ALREADY PROVIDED TO US. AND IF WE CAN GET SOME TYPE OF CLARIFICATION ON THAT OVER THE, OVER THE NEXT COUPLE WEEKS WHILE THIS IS BEING TAGGED, I THINK THAT WILL HELP US UNDERSTAND, UH, THE INTENTION BEHIND THIS. AND SO THAT WE DON'T FIND OURSELVES IN A LEGAL BATTLE OVER A FREEDOM OF SPEECH. I APPRECIATE YOUR CONCERN, BUT I ASSURE YOU EVERY MEASURE POSSIBLE HAS BEEN EXPLORED WITH THE DA'S OFFICE AND HPD, UH, IT'S NOT COVERED BY THE STATUTES. THEY'RE NOT ACCEPTING, UH, SPECIFIC CHARGES. UM, THEY'VE BEEN TICKETING FOR DISTURBING THE PIECE, BUT THE PROBLEM IS THERE WERE 26 1 NIGHT. SO SOME TAKE DIFFERENT MEASURES THAN OTHERS. SO THIS IS AN EFFORT TO NOT USE A, THE ACTIONS OF [03:25:01] A COUPLE. AND YOU, YOU CAN'T CHARGE 'EM UNLESS YOU IDENTIFY 'EM, SEEING 'EM OUT WHEN YOU HAVE A GROUP OF 26 PEOPLE AT 11 O'CLOCK AT NIGHT. UH, I'M JUST TELLING YOU, UH, THE PREVENTION IN THE ORDINANCE IS HIGHLY RECOMMENDED BY LAW ENFORCEMENT AND THE DISTRICT ATTORNEY'S OFFICE. THE SUPREME COURT HAS SUPPORTED IT. SO I DON'T THINK YOU HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT A BIG LEGAL BALLOT BATTLE. IT'S, UH, IT'S BEEN LITIGATED AND AUTHORIZED. IT'S JUST A MATTER OF US MAKING A STATEMENT AND PROTECTING IT MAY BE YOUR HOUSE, UH, TOMORROW. UH, YOU KNOW, IT JUST GOES BEYOND THE GUARANTEES OF THE FIRST AMENDMENT. THERE ARE OTHER REASONABLE MEASURES. WE ALL KNOW SHOUTING IN A, IN A THEATER AND OTHER REASONABLE MEASURES ARE NOT ALLOWED. THIS IS ONE THAT SAYS YOU CAN DO YOUR PROTESTING, BUT YOU CAN'T TAKE MEASURES AGAINST THE PERSON THAT IS RESIDING THERE. THEY HAVE OTHER OPPORTUNITIES. AND THIS ONLY CREATES A VERY REASONABLE DISTANCE, UH, TO KEEP THEM AWAY FROM, UH, SHINING THE LIGHTS INTO THE HOUSE AND, UH, DISTURBING, UH, THE PIECE OF THE NEIGHBORHOOD. SO THANK YOU FOR YOUR CONCERN, COUNCILMAN RAMIREZ. THANK YOU, MAYOR. SEEN, HAS THE ITEMS BEEN TAGGED? I'M NOT GONNA WEIGH IN ON THE SUBSTANCE OF THE PROPOSED ORDINANCE. HOWEVER, I DO NOTE, AND MAYBE THIS IS AN OVERSIGHT, THAT THE EXACT LANGUAGE OF THE ORDINANCE HAS NOT BEEN PO NOT BEEN POSTED ONLINE. AND I THINK THAT'S ESSENTIAL FOR THE PUBLIC TO BE ABLE TO UNDERSTAND THE PROPOSED ORDINANCE, ESPECIALLY SINCE IT REGULATES CONDUCT THAT'S GENERALLY PROTECTED BY THE FIRST AMENDMENT. SO I'D ASK THAT IN THE, IN THE TWO WEEKS WE HAVE, BEFORE WE ACTUALLY HAVE TO DEBATE AND VOTE ON IT THAT, UH, THE ACTUAL LANGUAGE BE PLACED ONLINE AND AVAILABLE TO THE PUBLIC. SURE. WE'LL CORRECT THAT IMMEDIATELY. COUNCIL MEMBER PLUMMER. THANK YOU, MAYOR. AND I THINK THAT WHAT I WANNA MAKE SURE WE ARE VERY CAREFUL DOING IS THAT WE DON'T WANNA THE, THE OPTICS FOR THE COMMUNITY, AND I KNOW THIS ITEM BEEN TAGGED, SO I'M NOT SPEAKING TO THE ITEM. I'M SPEAKING TO THE GENERALIZATION OF IT. WE HAVE TO BE CAREFUL FROM AN OPTICS PERSPECTIVE TO MAKE IT SEEM LIKE WE'RE TARGETING ONE PARTICULAR COMMUNITY. AND I THINK THAT'S WHAT'S GOING ON. AND WE NEED TO CLARIFY THAT THIS CAN BE ANYONE THAT'S PICKETING, ANYONE THAT'S DOING THIS, AND IT'S NOT JUST ONE AND, AND ONE PARTICULAR COMMUNITY FEELS AS IF IT IS BECAUSE OF THEM. THIS IS HAPPENING. AND THAT'S WHAT I WANT TO COMPLETELY DISMANTLE IF POSSIBLE. UM, AND MY OTHER CONCERN IS I WANT THEM TO BE PROTECTED. IT'S THEIR RIGHT TO PROTEST. SURE. I DON'T, A LOT OF THEM THAT PROTESTED AT THE COLLEGES, UNFORTUNATELY, WERE ARRESTED. ONCE YOU'RE ARRESTED, YOU CAN'T TAKE A STATE EXAM AND OFTEN IN MANY TIMES. SO THEIR FUTURES ARE NOW AFFECTED AND THEY HAVE A RIGHT TO EXPRESS THEMSELVES. AND TO BE HONEST, WE HAVE CHOSEN TO BE ELECTED OFFICIALS. SO WE HAVE TO STAND BEHIND OUR BELIEF SYSTEM. AND IF WE ARE PUTTING OURSELVES OUT THERE, THEN UNFORTUNATELY THAT'S AN, THAT'S A RISK THAT WE'RE TAKING AS INDIVIDUALS. NOW, HOW DOES THAT AFFECT OUR NEIGHBORHOODS? DIFFERENT CONVERSATION. BUT I WANNA MAKE SURE THAT THIS IS A BLANKET ORDINANCE. THIS IS NOT AFFECTING ONE PARTICULAR COMMUNITY AND WE'RE NOT TARGETING ONE COMMUNITY. BUT THAT'S, THAT IS WHAT I AM HEARING, UM, AND IN MY OFFICE, AND I THINK A LOT OF OTHERS ARE FEELING THAT WAY TOO. UM, CHANGES HAVE HAPPENED WITH BEING ABLE TO USE OUR VOICES FROM A CIVIL RIGHTS PERSPECTIVE ALL THE WAY MOVING FORWARD. SO, UH, WE JUST WANNA BE CAREFUL, MAYOR, IN HOW WE WORD THIS. AND I, I THINK THAT NEXT TWO WEEKS WILL ALLOW US TO, YOU KNOW, GIVE US AN OPPORTUNITY TO REALLY VET THIS AND MAKE SURE IT'S FAIR ON BOTH SIDES. THANK YOU. AND EXCELLENT POINTS. IT IS NOT DESIGNED TO PROTECT ELECTED OFFICIALS. UH, IT COULD BE A PASTOR NEXT WEEK, A RABBI IMAN. I COULD GO ON AND ON. IT ONLY APPLIES TO THEIR RESIDENCES. AND, UH, IT DOESN'T PREVENT IT. IT JUST SAYS YOU CAN'T THREATEN OR GET INVOLVED AT THE FRONT DOOR OF THE PERSON AND CAN'T PROTEST AGAINST THE PERSON THAT LIVES THERE. SO ANY SUGGESTIONS, UH, CERTAINLY ARE ACCEPTABLE OR, OR WELCOME. BUT, UM, MISINFORMATION IS OBVIOUSLY, UH, A BAD THING. AND I WILL SUGGEST DALLAS IS THE ONE WE MODELED IT AFTER AND IT'S WORKING, IT GIVES LAW ENFORCEMENT A TOOL TO WORK AND REASON, AS YOU SAID, PROTECT THE PROTESTORS. YOU KNOW, WE, WE HAVE 'EM HERE AND I'VE EXTENDED THEIR TIME, AND I COULD GO ON AND ON. I'M VERY AWARE OF THEIR CONCERNS AND WE SHARE THEIR CONCERNS, AND IT MAY BE A DIFFERENT ISSUE TOMORROW, BUT, UH, I JUST THINK YOU HAVE TO [03:30:01] ASK THEM TO BE REASONABLE AND PROTECT THE NEIGHBORHOOD AND THE RESIDENTS OF THE PERSON THEY'RE PROTESTING. COUNCILOR DAVIS. COUNCILMAN DAVIS. THANK YOU, MAYOR. I WANT TO EXPRESS HOW, UH, WELCOMING THE CONCERNS OF MY COLLEAGUES ARE IN THIS MATTER. AND WITHOUT GETTING INTO DETAILS OF IT SINCE IT'S BEEN TAGGED, BUT I WOULD, WITH THE TIME THAT WE HAVE TO LOOK AT THIS IN DEPTH, BUT KEEP IN MIND FOR ONE WHO HAS SERVED THIS NATION TO GIVE PEOPLE THE RIGHT TO BY THE, UH, OPPORTUNITY TO PROTEST AND, UH, SERVING THAT, AND I CERTAINLY WOULD, UH, YOU KNOW, WOULD DO IT AGAIN IF, IF MADE TO GIVE PEOPLE THAT FIRST AMENDMENT RIGHT TO PROTEST. BUT I ALSO SERVE IN ORDER TO GET PEOPLE THE RIGHT TO BE PROTECTED. AND, UM, WE SEE IT AN UPRISING OF A LOT OF THIS TYPE OF ACTIVITY GOING ON. AND IT, AND IT PUTS PEOPLE LIVES IN JEOPARDY. AND SO I THINK THAT WE NEED TO REALLY PRAYERFULLY, UH, AND RESPECTFULLY LOOK IN DEPTH AT THIS SITUATION. BECAUSE AS WE KNOW, MOST, LIKE MANY THINGS HAPPEN IN OUR COUNTRY NOW, IT STARTS OFF WITH THE, WITH THE POSITION AND THE OPTIC OF PROTESTING, UH, RIGHTLY ACCORDING TO CONSTITUTION. BUT GENERALLY, IT, IT, IT TENDS TO EXPAND AND IT GETS GREATER BEYOND. AND IT PUTS PEOPLE LIVES IN JEOPARDY, ESPECIALLY PEOPLE WITH CHILDREN IN THEIR HOMES. THOSE WHO ARE, UH, NOT ONLY COLLEAGUES AROUND THIS HORSESHOE, BUT PEOPLE IN THE PUBLIC HAVE YOUNG PEOPLE IN THEIR HOMES. AND IT CAN BE A NIGHTMARE, UH, TRYING TO EXPRESS, UH, A RIGHT TO PROTEST AND TRYING TO DIFFERENTIATE BETWEEN A PROTEST AND A THREAT. SO I THINK WE NEED TO REALLY LOOK AT THIS IN DEPTH, BECAUSE THIS IS SOMETHING THAT I THINK CAN EXPAND. THANK YOU MATTER CERTAIN, THE DISCUSSION WE'RE HAVING THIS MORNING IS ONLY GOING TO ENCOURAGE IT. AND I'LL WELCOME ANY OF YOU TO COME OVER, GIVE YOU MY ADDRESS, WHICH THE PROTESTORS HAVE ON FRIDAY NIGHT AT NINE O'CLOCK. THEY'LL BE THERE AND THEY WON'T LEAVE TILL AFTER 11. SO WE'VE EM BODEN THEM THIS MORNING WITH THIS DISCUSSION. THEIR RIGHT TO PROTEST IS PROTECTED, BUT WE HAVE, SEE, I COULD GO ON AND ON. YOU GO TO DINNER WITH FOUR FRIENDS WHOSE CARS ARE PARKED IN FRONT OF YOUR HOUSE. SO YOU GET BACK HOME AT NINE 30 WITH YOUR FOUR FRIENDS, YOU OUGHT TO SEE THE CHALLENGE TO GET TO THEIR CARS BECAUSE THEY SURROUND THEM. THEY'RE AT YOUR FRONT DOOR. SO I WELCOME YOU OVER. YOU NEED TO COME LIVE THE EXPERIENCE. WE'VE PROTECTED THEM, BUT WE'VE ALSO GOT A REASONABLE CONSTITUTIONAL REGULATION ON THEM. SO COME ON OVER AND THEN COME BACK ON SATURDAY MORNING. 'CAUSE THEY'LL BE THERE TOO. AND THEN THEY'LL BLOCK YOUR DRIVEWAY AND CONFRONT HPD. THANK YOU HPD FOR TAKING THIS AS SERIOUS AS IT IS. IT'S ACTUAL A PUBLIC SAFETY ISSUE AND CERTAINLY, UH, THE RESIDENTS SAFETY AS WELL. SO I HOPE YOU DON'T HAVE TO GO THROUGH IT. I HAD MY TWO DAUGHTERS WITH ME, AND IT'S A VERY FRIGHTENING, UH, I UNDERSTAND NO ONE MAKES US DO THIS JOB. AND MY NEIGHBORS ARE VERY TOLERANT, BUT ENOUGH, ENOUGH, PROTECT THEIR CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHTS, BUT REGULATE IF THEY WANT TO BE PEACEFUL PROTESTORS. THANK YOU, COUNCIL MEMBER PLUMMER. THANK YOU, MAYOR. AND I DON'T WANNA, I DON'T WANNA MUDDY THE WATERS HERE, BUT IN THE SAME WAY THAT YOU'RE NEGATIVELY AFFECTED BY THIS, WE HAVE PEOPLE COMING HERE DAILY TALKING ABOUT HOW HORRIBLE THEIR LIVING CONDITIONS ARE. AND YOU HAVE THE EXECUTIVE POSITION TO MAKE A DECISION. SO I JUST WANNA MAKE SURE THAT THE OPTICS DON'T LOOK LIKE, BECAUSE WE'RE ON THIS DIET, WE GET TO MAKE AN IMMEDIATE DECISION OF WHAT, BECAUSE IT, IT MAKES US, OUR LIVES FEEL A BIT UNCOMFORTABLE. BUT WHEN PEOPLE ARE LIVING IN PLACES WHERE THEY CAN'T EVEN BREATHE AND THEY'RE SICK, WE CAN'T MAKE AN EXECUTIVE DECISION TO HEAL THEM TOO. SO WE CHOSE THIS JOB, SO WE HAVE TO DEAL WITH WHAT COMES WITH IT. CLEARLY, WE DON'T WANT OUR FAMILIES TO BE UNCOMFORTABLE, BUT SINCE WE HAVE THE POWER TO PUT AN ORDINANCE FORWARD BECAUSE WE NOW FEEL UNCOMFORTABLE, LET'S PUT AN ORDINANCE FORWARD TO MAKE SURE THAT PEOPLE CAN LIVE SAFELY. THANK YOU. IT'S NOT A COMFORT ISSUE, IT'S A SAFETY ISSUE. IT'S ALSO UNSAFE, MAYOR FOR PEOPLE TO LIVE WITH MOLD. I GOT IT. AND, AND YOU KNOW, I'M OUT FRONT ON ALL THOSE ISSUES. WE WERE TALKING ABOUT GENERATORS AT SENIOR CITIZENS. WHILE I'M NOT GONNA DEBATE YOU ABOUT LIVING CONDITIONS, UH, BECAUSE WE'RE ALL WORKING TO IMPROVE EVERYONE'S LIFE IN EVERY COMMUNITY, WE'RE DEALING WITH A SPECIFIC OPPORTUNITY TO ALLOW PEOPLE TO PROTEST, BUT DO IT IN A PEACEFUL MANNER. AND IT'S NOT JUST FOR ELECTED OFFICIALS, [03:35:01] IT'S GONNA BE FOR PASTORS, RABBIS, IMAN, AND WHOEVER GETS ON THE RADAR OF PROFESSIONAL PAID PROTESTORS. SO THANK YOU FOR YOUR CONCERNS, COUNCILOR RAMIREZ, FIRST POINT OF COUNCILLOR RAMIREZ ON A MATTER OF PERSONAL PRIVILEGE, ON A LIGHTER NOTE, I WANNA TAKE A MOMENT TO, UH, RECOGNIZE, UH, OUR INTERN FOR THIS SUMMER. LUCIA ROMO. LUCIA, WHERE ARE YOU? ARE YOU HERE? OH, SHE WAS HERE EARLIER. AT ANY RATE, UH, LUCIA HAS BEEN OUR INTERN FOR THIS SUMMER. AND, UH, WE'LL START HER JUNIOR YEAR AT THE UNIVERSITY OF HOUSTON, MAJORING IN POLITICAL SCIENCE. WE HAD A SECOND INTERN THIS SUMMER NAMED DESHAUN FORD, WHO WAS SORT OF A CASUALTY OF HURRICANE BERYL AND HAD TO END HER, UH, INTERNSHIP, UH, SHORT. UH, BUT I, AND I KNOW THE OTHER COUNCIL MEMBERS HAVE HAD INTERNS AS WELL. THE INTERNSHIP PROGRAM IS, IS IMPORTANT BECAUSE IT, IT ALLOWS OUR, OUR YOUNG FOLKS TO SEE WHAT PUBLIC SERVICE IS LIKE AT CITY HALL AND HOPEFULLY WILL SPUR SOME OF THEM TO, UH, UH, PURSUE CAREERS IN, IN PUBLIC SERVICE. SO GRATEFUL FOR OUR INTERNS THIS SUMMER, ALL OF THEM. AND, UH, WISH 'EM LUCK IN THE FUTURE. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. THANK YOU. NOW, THE MAYOR'S REPORT. I'LL ASK, UH, CHIEF SATTERWHITE, UH, AS TO PRESENT, UH, YOUR REPORT OF HPD DEALING WITH OUR S UH, SUSPENDED DUE TO LACK OF PERSONNEL. UH, MEMBERS ON, I'D BEEN IN OFFICE A MONTH. CHIEF FINNER CALLED ME ON A FRIDAY AT SEVEN O'CLOCK OUT FROM OUT OF TOWN, SAID HE WAS HEADED BACK TO HOUSTON. WE HAD AN URGENT PROBLEM THAT THE PRESS HAD GOTTEN A HOLD OF A POLICY. UH, RESEARCH SHOWS THAT IT WAS OFFICIALLY ADOPTED BY HPD IN 2016. CHIEF NER SAID THERE WAS A CASE THAT WAS BRINGING HIM BACK TO HOUSTON. AND, UH, PROBABLY ONE OF THE MORE SHOCKING DISCOVERIES DURING MY ADMINISTRATION THAT I, UH, WE KNEW PUBLIC SAFETY WAS THE TOP ISSUE, CERTAINLY MY HIGHEST ISSUE AND HIGHEST PRIORITY, BUT HAD NO WAY TO BE AWARE. AND SOME OF YOU THAT HAVE BEEN HERE THE PREVIOUS FOUR YEARS, I'M GONNA ASSUME NO ONE SHARED WITH YOU THAT, UM, 260,000 PLUS CASES HAD NOT BEEN INVESTIGATED BECAUSE THEY WERE SUSPENDED DUE TO LACK OF PERSONNEL. UM, LACK OF PERSONNEL WAS FIRST TOLD A COUNCIL BODY IN 2014. BUT ANYWAY, WE WENT TO WORK. UH, CHIEF FINNER HAD HIS FIRST PRESS CONFERENCE FEBRUARY 22ND. AT THAT TIME, THERE WERE 4,017 SEXUAL ASSAULTS REVEALED, AND THEN SHORTLY THEREAFTER, 264,000. SO I'VE ASKED, UH, HPD TO GIVE US THE REPORT OF THEIR REVIEW. MY INDEPENDENT, UH, GROUP REVIEWING IT IS COMPLETING THEIR DRAFT AS WE TALK. BUT, UH, IT'S PROBABLY THE MOST SHOCKING THING THAT YOU WILL DISCOVER DURING YOUR PUBLIC SERVICE. AND, UH, I WANT TO THANK, UH, THE LEADERSHIP OF HPD, CHIEF NER, CHIEF SATTERWHITE, CHIEF 10. WE HAVE THE COMMAND STAFF HERE THIS MORNING. THEY IMMEDIATELY PUT ADDITIONAL RESOURCES WE GAVE THROUGH THE CITY BUDGETING $3 MILLION FOR OVERTIME. AND ALL THE, UH, CONSULTANTS, CERTAINLY THE SEXUAL ASSAULT VICTIMS, UH, THEY'VE ALL RECEIVED COUNSELING, CONSULTATION, UM, I'M JUST GOING. AND ON 45 OFFICERS WERE PULLED OFF OTHER DIVISIONS THAT HAVE BEEN SPENDING MANY, MANY HOURS. AND I WILL YIELD AT THIS TIME TO, UH, CHIEF SATELLITE. BUT THE COMMITMENT CERTAINLY FOR ME IS THAT WE WILL NOT REST UNTIL THIS IS FIXED. I THINK YOU'LL BE SEEING CHANGES IN OPERATIONS VERY SOON, BUT WE HAVE A VERY GOOD POLICE FORCE. IT IS SHOCKING TO ME AS SOMEONE THAT WAS CHAIRMAN OF CRIMINAL JUSTICE, THAT NO ONE BROUGHT IT TO ME ACTUALLY BEFORE I RAN FOR MAYOR. UH, WE WOULD'VE ADDRESSED IT AT THE LEGISLATURE. WE'D HAVE HAD TO, BUT NO ONE EVER IMAGINED THE NUMBER OF CASES THAT WERE NOT. AND I WILL JUST CLOSE BY THIS, THE MISINFORMATION OF MY COMING IN AND BEING SWORN IN THAT THE PUBLIC WAS TOLD ONE SAFE. HOUSTON, IF YOU LISTEN TO THESE DETAILS, YOU'LL UNDERSTAND WHY THE PUBLIC MADE PUBLIC SAFETY THE HIGHEST PRIORITY LAST NOVEMBER IN THE MAYORS. AND I WOULD SUGGEST TO COUNCIL RACES CHIEF SATTERWHITE. [03:40:03] THANK YOU, MAYOR. UM, THANK YOU COUNCIL FOR HAVING ME HERE TODAY. AND, UM, WANNA ACKNOWLEDGE MY TEAM BEHIND ME, UH, WHO WORKED VERY HARD ON THIS REPORT. SPEAK BEGIN TO THE MIC CHIEF. YES, SIR. IS THAT BETTER? SO THANK YOU ALL FOR HAVING ME HERE TODAY. UH, I THANK MY TEAM BEHIND ME AND ALL THE MEN AND WOMEN IN THE HOUSTON POLICE DEPARTMENT THAT HAVE HELPED, UH, WORKED THROUGH THIS. UM, AND AS WE TRY TO WORK OUT OF THIS, UM, MY ROLE HERE TODAY IS TO TALK ABOUT THE SUSPENDED LACK OF PERSONNEL CODE AND THE INVESTIGATIONS THAT IT REPRESENTS, UH, THAT OCCURRED IN THE DEPARTMENT. I'M GONNA TALK TO YOU ABOUT WHAT HAPPENED. I'M GONNA TALK TO YOU ABOUT HOW IT HAPPENED, WHY IT HAPPENED, AND WHAT WE HAVE DONE IN AN EFFORT TO TRY TO CORRECT THIS, UM, MISTAKE FAILURE THAT OCCURRED IN OUR DEPARTMENT. UM, I TO FIRST AND FOREMOST STATE THAT THERE ARE REAL VICTIMS IN THE PUBLIC THAT WERE AFFECTED BY THIS. AND THAT, UM, IS SOMETHING THAT WE ALL BEAR AND WE ALL KNOW AND WE ALL WANT TO CORRECT AND TAKE CARE OF THOSE REAL VICTIMS OF THIS, UH, THIS ISSUE, THIS, THIS, THIS BAD POLICY THAT WAS ENACTED IN OUR DEPARTMENT AND THE, THE OUTCOMES OF THAT POLICY AND HOW IT AFFECTED THEM. SO FOR THAT, FIRST AND FOREMOST, OUR PRIORITY IS TO THOSE VICTIMS. SO NOW I'LL GO INTO THE POWERPOINT PRESENTATION. I WILL TELL YOU THAT THERE IS AN EXECUTIVE REPORT, UH, THAT IS MUCH MORE COMPREHENSIVE, THAT HAS, WAS RELEASED ONLINE THIS MORNING FOR ALL OF THE PUBLIC. UH, WE'RE NOT RUNNING FROM ANYTHING. WE'RE NOT HIDING FROM ANYTHING WHERE WE MADE MISTAKES OR WE WHERE WE FAILED. WE'RE GOING TO TELL YOU, AND IT'S IN THE REPORT. I WILL SAY THAT THROUGHOUT MY PRESENTATION, AT TIMES, THERE WILL BE NAMES, COLLEAGUES THAT WILL EMERGE. THE REASON FOR THAT IS MOST OF THE, THOSE NAMES ARE ALREADY OUT IN THE PUBLIC. THEY'RE GOOD PEOPLE. THEY'RE GOOD MEN AND WOMEN THAT SERVE THE CITY FOR DECADES AND ALL HAD THE RIGHT INTENT. EVERYBODY WANTED TO DO MORE. EVERYBODY WANTED TO HELP. UM, WERE MISTAKES MADE? YES, THEY WERE, UH, MORE, MOST, MOST, THE MOST BIGGEST MISTAKE THAT I'VE BEEN ABLE TO SEE. IT'S JUST A FAILURE TO RECOGNIZE WHAT WAS GOING ON, AND A FAILURE TO GO IN AND TRULY TRY TO CORRECT IT OR TO VERIFY AND FOLLOW UP AND MAKE SURE THAT IT WAS BEING CORRECTED. THAT'S A FAILURE OF LEADERSHIP, AND IT'S A FAILURE, A SYSTEMATIC FAILURE IN OUR DEPARTMENT. AND I THINK WE ALL HAVE TO OWN IT, UH, FROM SUPERVISORS AT THE SERGEANT LEVEL ALL THE WAY TO THE CHIEF LEVEL. THERE WAS TIMES THAT MAYBE THINGS COULD HAVE BEEN DONE, BUT I WILL TELL YOU PRIMARILY AT THE EXECUTIVE LEVEL IS WHERE WE SHOULD HAVE ASKED MORE QUESTIONS, WHERE WE SHOULD HAVE DONE MORE. AND I'M TALKING ABOUT CHIEF SUNUP, THAT WE COULD HAVE DONE MORE AND SHOULD HAVE DONE MORE THROUGHOUT THIS, UH, EIGHT YEAR PERIOD THAT I'M ABOUT TO DESCRIBE. SO WITH THAT, I WILL GO INTO IT AND TRY TO EXPLAIN IT AS BEST AS I CAN. AND THEN AT ANY GIVEN TIME, IF YOU HAVE A QUESTION, YOU CAN CERTAINLY ASK. AND AT THE END, I'LL ALSO TAKE QUESTIONS. SO THIS NEXT SLIDE, THIS IS JUST THE AGENDA. I WILL TELL YOU RIGHT UP FRONT, THIS IS A RATHER LENGTHY REPORT. UM, I'LL TRY TO GET THROUGH AS QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE, BUT I NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT I DO THE DILIGENCE OF GIVING YOU THE FINDINGS. UM, SO OBVIOUSLY WE'RE GONNA GO THROUGH THE HISTORY OF IT FIRST, THEN THE KEY FINDINGS OF IT, HOW WE RESPONDED, UH, THE MAYOR'S OVERSIGHT BOARD RECOMMENDATIONS COMMITTEE, WHERE WE ARE AT THE MOMENT, AND THEN WHAT WERE NEXT STEPS FOR THIS. SO THE FIRST SLIDE YOU SEE IS A STAFFING SLIDE. MANY OF YOU HAVE SEEN THIS SLIDE MANY TIMES BEFORE IN DIFFERENT PRESENTATIONS. THIS IS GOING TO BE KEY TO HOW OR WHY THIS OCCURRED. FRANKLY, IT JUST COMES LARGELY IN PART TO STAFFING. IN 1998, WE REACHED OUR HIGH NUMBER IN HPD AT 5,500 OFFICERS CLASSIFIED. AT THE SAME TIME, WE HAD ALMOST 2000 CIVILIANS HELPING US DOING ALL THOSE DUTIES THAT ARE REALLY NECESSARY AND CRITICAL TO THE ROLE OF SERVING THE [03:45:01] PUBLIC COMPLIANCE ISSUES, CALLING COMPLAINANTS BACK, ALL THOSE, ALL OF THOSE DUTIES AND TASKS. SO THAT WAS WHAT WE HAD IN 1998. TODAY, TODAY WE HAVE 300 FEWER CLASSIFIED OFFICERS. WE HAVE 12, 1100 TO BE MORE PRECISE, 1100 FEWER CIVILIANS, MEANING THAT OFFICERS NOW HAVE TO DO JOBS THAT THE CIVILIANS WERE DOING BECAUSE THAT'S THE REQUIRED OF THE DEPARTMENT. WE ARE SEVERELY UNDERSTAFFED. AND THAT IS GONNA BE THE BASE, ONE OF THE BASE CAUSES OF HOW THIS HAPPENED. IT DOESN'T EXCUSE IT. WHAT HAPPENED IN OUR DEPARTMENT IS UNEXCUSABLE, AND WE'RE GONNA HAVE TO CORRECT THAT. YOU HAVE A GOOD DEPARTMENT, YOU HAVE FANTASTIC MEN AND WOMEN THAT ARE PUTTING IT ON THE LINE EVERY DAY, TRYING TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE, TRYING TO, TO DO THINGS BETTER. BUT SIMPLY PUT, WE DON'T HAVE ENOUGH OF THEM. NEXT SLIDE. SO THIS SHOWS YOU A DIFFERENT GRAPH, AND IT TALKS ABOUT OUR RECRUITING AND OUR ATTRITION. AS YOU CAN SEE, IN MANY CASES OVER THE YEARS SINCE 2009, ATTRITION, TOPPED, RECRUITING, WE SIMPLY WEREN'T ABLE TO KEEP UP. THERE'S A LOT OF REASONS FOR THAT. UM, IN RECENT YEARS, WE'VE HAD REAL CHALLENGES WITH, UH, THE PANDEMIC AND THE NATIONWIDE. AND OF COURSE, THE CIVIL UNREST THAT OCCURRED AFTER THE MURDER OF GEORGE FLOYD. WE SAW A SIGNIFICANT DROP ACROSS THE COUNTRY IN LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS WERE RETIRING IN DROVES. SO THE EFFORTS WE WERE MAKING TO TRY TO RECRUIT, WE WERE LOSING THAT FIGHT WITH ALL ELSE THAT WAS GOING ON. AND THOSE NUMBERS KIND OF SHOW YOU WHERE THAT IS AND SHOW YOU WHY WE HAVEN'T NOT TRULY GROWN. I WILL TELL YOU IT'S ALSO A FUNDING ISSUE BECAUSE FOR 20 YEARS PLUS, WE HAVE BEEN ASKING FOR MORE OFFICERS. AND IN MANY TIMES, THE FUNDING JUST WASN'T THERE. UH, SO IT WASN'T, IT WASN'T JUST THE CHALLENGES, IT'S FUNDING, IT'S COMPETITION WITH OTHER CITIES. UH, WE HAVE MANY, MANY CITIES RIGHT HERE IN THE STATE OF TEXAS THAT PAY FAR MORE THAN WE PAY. AND IT'S A CHALLENGE TO RECRUIT TO THIS BECAUSE QUALIFIED, CAPABLE YOUNG MEN AND WOMEN WHO WANT TO DO THIS PROFESSION, WHICH WE DESPERATELY NEED, THEY HAVE OPTIONS. THEY HAVE CHOICES. AND WE DON'T, IF WE DON'T FUND FUND, IF WE DON'T RECRUIT, IF WE DON'T PAY WELL ENOUGH, THEN WE ARE NOT IN A GOOD PLACE TO, TO, TO GET THEM TO COME TO US AS OPPOSED TO OTHER LOCATIONS. AND THIS IS ANOTHER CHALLENGE. NEXT SLIDE, PLEASE. SO THIS ONE IS A TABLE OF THE NUMBERS, AND IT'S, IT'S GONNA HAVE RELEVANCE IN THE NEXT COUPLE OF SLIDES FROM 2014 TO 2024 TODAY. AND IT GOES TO SHOW YOU THE EXACT NUMBERS OF ACTUAL OFFICER STAFFING THAT WE HAVE, WE HAD IN 2014, AND THE ACTUAL NUMBER THAT WE HAVE TODAY, BOTH CLASSIFIED AND CIVILIAN. AND THIS IS GONNA MATTER TO YOU IN JUST A MINUTE. NEXT SLIDE. SO I'M GONNA GO THROUGH A LITTLE BIT OF A TIMELINE AS WE BUILD UP TO THIS. AND THAT IS THAT IN 2010 WHEN MAYOR PARKER WAS SWORN IN, YOU CAN SEE CHIEF MCCLELLAN WAS APPOINTED AS CHIEF OF POLICE AT THAT TIME. HE ALREADY KNEW WE WERE SHORT OWNED OFFICERS. HE ALREADY KNEW WE HAD A REAL PROBLEM. HE HAD BEEN ON THE DEPARTMENT FOR 34 YEARS, AS MANY YEARS AS I'VE BEEN ON. NOW, AT THAT TIME, THAT'S HOW MANY YEARS HE HAD BEEN ON, AND HE KNEW WE KNEW MORE. SO WE GOT APPROVED A STUDY, A JUST X PER STUDY THAT WE WENT THROUGH THAT IT WAS CONDUCTED IN 2013 OF THE DEPARTMENT STAFFING AND WHAT WE NEEDED. NEXT SLIDE FROM THAT STUDY CAME THE INFORMATION THAT YOU SEE BEFORE, FOR US, WE WERE VERY CRITICALLY SHORT. UM, AND THERE'S A STATEMENT BY CHIEF MCCLELLAN IN 2014 TO THIS VERY COUNCIL HORSESHOE. UM, AND SO IT WERE, IT WAS DIFFERENT PEOPLE AT THAT TIME, BUT THIS IS WHAT CHIEF MCCLELLAN HAD. NEXT SLIDE. WE ACTUALLY HAVE IT TO PLAY. I'VE BEEN WITH THE HOUSTON POLICE DEPARTMENT OVER 37 YEARS. DURING THAT 37 YEARS, THERE HAS NEVER BEEN A TIME THAT I HAVE BEEN EMPLOYED THERE THAT THE HOUSTON POLICE DEPARTMENT HAS THE CAPACITY TO INVESTIGATE EVERY CRIME THAT'S BEEN REPORTED TO THE AGENCY. THIS IS NOT UNIQUE TO THE HOUSTON POLICE DEPARTMENT. OTHER POLICE DEPARTMENT GIVES US A SEXY NAME, CALL EARLY CASE CLOSURE. IF THERE ARE NO SOLVABILITY FACTORS OR WORKABLE LEADS ON A PROPERTY CRIME, WE DON'T SIGN IT. WE WORK VIOLENT CRIMES FIRST. BUT IF SOMEONE STEALS YOUR TRASH CAN OR YOUR LAWNMOWER OUT OF YOUR GARAGE, THERE'S NO WITNESSES, THERE'S NO EVIDENCE, THERE'S NOTHING FOR A DETECTIVE [03:50:01] TO FOLLOW UP ON. IT'S NOT SIGNED. SO IF WE GO TO 2015, IF YOU NEXT, I'VE BEEN WITH HOUSTON POLICE DEPARTMENT OVER, SORRY, NEXT LINE. WHEN WE GO TO 2015, THIS IS A REAL PROBLEM IN OUR DEPARTMENT, AND CASE INVESTIGATION IS A REAL PROBLEM. AS YOU CAN SEE FROM CHIEF MCCLELLAN'S OWN WORDS 10 YEARS AGO, THAT WE COULDN'T INVESTIGATE ALL OF THE CASES AND ALL THE, ALL THE CRIME THAT IS OCCURRING. AND THEY, AGAIN, I WILL ITERATE AGAIN. AT THAT TIME, THERE WERE MORE HPD CLASSIFIED OFFICERS AND MORE CIVILIANS THAN THERE ARE TODAY. THAT'S JUST WHERE WE ARE TODAY. SO MANY THINGS WERE BEING DISCUSSED AND HOW WE MIGHT OVERCOME SOME OF THAT. ONE OF THE PROBLEMS THAT WE HAD WAS THERE WERE CASES THAT WERE BEING SUSPENDED, BUT IT WAS JUST A GENERAL SUSPENSION, AND THERE WAS NO KNOWLEDGE AND NO UNDERSTANDING OF WAS IT SUSPENDED BECAUSE THERE WERE NO WORKABLE LEADS. WAS IT SUSPENDED BECAUSE THERE WERE A PATROL HAD MADE AN ARREST OR WAS IT SUSPENDED? BECAUSE WE DIDN'T HAVE, WE LIKED THE PERSONNEL TO INVESTIGATE IT, WE JUST DIDN'T HAVE ENOUGH PEOPLE, ENOUGH INVESTIGATORS TO DO IT. SO AT THAT TIME, THE CONVERSATION OCCURRED BETWEEN THEN EXECUTIVE ASSISTANT CHIEF TIM OTTMAR AND ASSISTANT CHIEF DON MCKINNEY, KNOWING THAT THEY HAD, WE NEEDED TO KNOW EXACTLY HOW THE CASES WERE BEING SUSPENDED BECAUSE THE, THE INTENT WAS THAT THOSE CASES THAT WERE SUSPENDED BECAUSE THERE WERE WORKABLE LEADS, BUT WE DIDN'T HAVE ENOUGH PEOPLE, THEIR INTENT WAS TO KNOW THOSE CASES. AND AT THE PROMISE OF MORE INVESTIGATORS, MORE POLICE OFFICERS, THE ABILITY DOWN THE ROAD THAT WE WERE GONNA BE ABLE TO GO BACK INTO THOSE AS WE INITIALLY GOT MORE CA MORE OFFICERS, BECAUSE EVERYBODY THEN AT THE HORSESHOE WAS SAYING THAT WE NEEDED MORE. EVERYBODY AGREED WITH THAT, BUT IT JUST NEVER HAPPENED. BUT THAT WAS THE HOPE, THAT WAS THE INTENT. THEY NEEDED TO KNOW THE DIFFERENCE. AND THAT WAS A POLICY THAT WAS ENACTED. IT WAS ENACTED. AND IT WAS ALSO, UH, IN 2016 BECAME POLICY. AND WE'LL GO TO, UM, BUT I'LL, BEFORE I SAY THAT, UM, AFTER CHIEF'S BUDGET, YOU KNOW, THERE, THERE WAS ALSO A WORK GROUP FUNDING, UM, AT THAT TIME, UM, THAT, UH, STANDARD THAT RECOMMENDED. WE HAD A STUDY DONE AND IT WAS RECOMMENDING STANDARDIZED CODING AND THE NEED FOR, UH, CONSTANT GUIDANCE. AND AGAIN, THAT'S WHY CHIEF MEYER AND CHIEF MCKINNEY CREATED THESE CODES. THOSE CODES WERE THEN CREATED, ENTERED INTO POLICY IN 2016. IT STARTED UNDER CHIEF MCCLELLAN. UH, CHIEF MCCLELLAN RETIRED IN FEBRUARY OF THAT YEAR, 2016. AND CHIEF, UM, MARTHA MONTALVO TOOK OVER HIS INTERIM AND THE POLICY WENT TO HER FOR HER SIGNATURE. SO THEN, AS THE DATE, WE ACTUALLY KNOW THE DATE, IT WAS EARLY MARCH WHEN THE VERY FIRST TIME THE SUSPENDED, LIKE A PERSONNEL CODE WAS USED. AS THE YEAR WENT ON, THERE WAS ANOTHER INSPECTION, ANOTHER AUDIT COMPLETED BY THE INSPECTIONS DIVISION, UH, OF SPECIAL OWNED SPECIAL VICTIMS SPECIFICALLY. AND BASICALLY THE RESULT OF THAT WAS THAT WE HAD A SIGNIFICANT BACKLOG AND THERE WAS INSUFFICIENT STAFFING, AND WE NEED TO INCREASE STAFFING AT THAT TIME IN THE SPECIAL VICTIMS DIVISION. EXCUSE ME. WHEN IT BECAME THE POLICY, WERE OFFICERS ACTUALLY TRAINED IN THE USE OF THIS CODE? YES, SIR. THEY WERE, THEY WERE TRAINED IN THE USE OF IT IN, IN JULY AND AUGUST. OFFICERS WERE TRAINED. I WILL SAY OUR FIRST MAJOR FAILING, UM, WAS THAT THERE WERE NO PARAMETERS OR GUIDELINES ESTABLISHED WHEN THE CODE WAS ESTABLISHED. IN FACT, YOUR TESTIMONY IS, IT WAS BROADLY USED IN NOT DISTINGUISHING THE VIOLENT CASES FROM THE NONVIOLENT OR PROPERTY CRIMES VERSUS PERSONAL ASSAULT. IT WAS JUST A BLANKET. IF YOU CAN'T GET TO THE CASES, YOU LABORED THEM AND MOVED ON. YES, SIR. EFFECTIVELY THAT'S WHAT HAPPENED. I WILL SAY, UM, UH, I DON'T THINK THAT THEY EVER ENVISIONED IT BEING USED THIS WAY. UM, I KNOW 'CAUSE NO ONE WOULD. BUT, UM, WITHOUT THE, THE GUIDANCE, WITHOUT THE GUIDELINES, THE PARAMETERS OR GUARDRAILS, HOWEVER YOU WANT TO SAY THAT, IT DID BECOME AVAILABLE TO EVERY INVESTIGATIVE DIVISION IN THE DEPARTMENT. THE TRAINING DID NOT PUT IN GUARD GUARDRAILS THAT WE CAN TELL OR GUIDELINES. IT JUST SAID, UH, BECAUSE THE VOLUME WAS SO AMASS, UH, INVESTIGATORS COULD NOT POSSIBLY BE UNABLE TO GET TO ALL THE CASES THEY WERE IN TRIAGING. THEY WERE LOOKING AT THE CASES THAT HAD THE MOST SOLVABILITY [03:55:01] AND WE'RE WORKING ON THOSE, TAKING THE CASES THAT WERE WEAKER, HAD WORKABLE LEADS, HAD THE, COULD HAVE LED TO AN ARREST OR CHARGE, BUT WAS GONNA BE MUCH MORE DIFFICULT. THERE WAS NO GUARANTEE OF THAT OR EVEN PROBABILITY OF THAT. AND THEY WERE SUSPENDING THEM WITH THE HOPE OF GETTING MORE PEOPLE OR A DIFFERENT, A BETTER LEAGUE COMING IN THAT COULD BE REOPENED. THAT WAS THE PHILOSOPHY. THAT WAS THE, THE GOAL, THE INTENT IN PRACTICE. VERY FEW OF THOSE CASES ALL THE WAY UP UNTIL THIS YEAR WERE EVER OPENED AGAIN. SO ONCE THEY WERE SUSPENDED, THEY WERE NEVER REVISITED. NEXT SLIDE. AND AND OBVIOUSLY, I, I DON'T WANT TO INTERRUPT YOU, BUT I THINK IT'S, IT'S WORTH EMPHASIZING WE'RE INCLUDING MURDERS AND EVEN THE, THE CASE YES, SIR. THAT ULTIMATELY BROUGHT ALL THIS TO OUR ATTENTION WAS A, WAS A RAPE CASE. YES, SIR. AND NO, I'M MOVING THAT PRIOR, SIR, YOU'RE GONNA COVER THAT. YES, SIR. I JUST THINK WE HAVE TO EMPHASIZE HOW BROAD THIS WAS AND WHAT, IT'S SO SHOCKING THAT IT WAS NEVER BROUGHT TO CERTAINLY THE PUBLIC NOR EVEN DEPARTMENT EXECUTIVE'S ATTENTION. YES, SIR. ANYWAY, GO AHEAD. YES, I'M SORRY. IT'S JUST, IT'S NOT, I JUST WANT TO EMPHASIZE THE SERIOUSNESS OF THIS. THIS IS NOT CAR BREAK-INS OR PROPERTY CRIMES. THESE ARE THE WORST, SOME OF THE WORST OF THE WORST CASES. YES, SIR. THAT, THAT IS TRUE. AND, UM, AND I, I WILL BE COVERING ALL OF THAT. YES, SIR. BUT, UM, SO YES, AND, AND I I JUST THINK THAT THE INVESTIGATORS, UM, THE CODE WAS PART OF POLICY AND THEY WERE, THE CASES WERE STACKING AND THE REQUIREMENTS. AND SO AGAIN, THOSE WITH LESS, LESS SOLVABILITY STILL WORKABLE LEADS WERE SUSPENDED IN THE HOPES OF MORE PEOPLE. BUT, UH, YESTERDAY IT ALSO ENDED UP INVOLVING VERY SERIOUS SEXUAL ASSAULT, UM, AND OTHER PERSONAL AND PERSON VERY SEVERE CRIMES, INCLUDING HOMICIDE ULTIMATELY. SO THAT NEXT SLIDE OF 2017, UM, UH, EXECUTIVE OR CHIEF ACEVEDO, UM, IS APPOINTED, UH, IN 2017. UM, ALSO DURING THAT TIME, I, I'M SORRY, HE'S A, HE'S APPOINTED IN 2016, AT THE END OF 2016. IN 2017, UM, A NEW COMMANDER GOES OVER TO THE SPECIAL VICTIMS DIVISION, WHICH INVESTIGATES SEXUAL ASSAULT, BOTH OF, OF CHILDREN AND OF ADULTS, AND ALSO THE OTHER CRIMES THAT OCCUR OF A SEXUAL NATURE. AND IT COULD BE SERIOUS ENOUGH TO BE AGGRAVATED SEXUAL ASSAULT OF A CHILD, BUT IT ALSO ALL THE WAY DOWN TO, UM, UH, THINGS, YOU KNOW, THREATS OR THINGS OF A SEXUAL NATURE OR EVEN, UH, INAPPROPRIATE TOUCHING. SO IT CROSSES THE BROAD BROADSPECTRUM OF CRIMES. ALL OF THOSE ARE INVESTIGATED THROUGH THEM. SO A NEW CAPTAIN COMES IN, UH, AT THAT TIME, UM, AND RECOGNIZES A BACKLOG IN THE CHILDREN'S SECTION, IN THE CHILDREN'S, UH, CRIMES AGAINST CHILDREN'S, UH, UNIT OF 1600. AND IMMEDIATELY GOES TO THE DEPARTMENT, GOES UP THE CHAIN ULTIMATELY TO, AT THAT TIME, UM, CHIEF MATT SLINKER AND TO CHIEF TROY FINNER, WHO WERE BOTH EXECUTIVE ASSISTANT CHIEFS AT THAT TIME, ASKING FOR MORE OFFICERS BECAUSE WE NEEDED TO CLEAR, THEY NEEDED TO CLEAR THAT BACKLOG OF CHILD CRI UH, SEX CRIMES AGAINST CHILDREN. AND THEY WERE, HE, YOU KNOW, THE SVD WAS ALLOTTED 17 INVESTIGATORS AT THAT TIME, AND THEY DID CLEAR THOSE CASES AND THEY, AND THEY ENACTED A POLICY THAT NO CHILD SEX ASSAULT CASE WOULD EVER BE SUSPENDED AGAIN. UNFORTUNATELY, IT WAS STILL ACTIVE IN THE ADULT SEX CRIME SECTION AND WAS NOT CORRECTED. SO THAT WAS STILL GOING ON AT THAT TIME. IN ADDITION, UM, IN 20, I'M SORRY, FAST FORWARDING TO 2018, UM, THERE WE HAD THE HOMICIDE DIVISION TRADITIONALLY HAD INVESTIGATED, UH, FAMILY VIOLENCE AND MAJOR ASSAULTS. BUT IN 2018, WE CARVED IT OUT AND CREATED THE MAJOR ASSAULT AND FAMILY VIOLENCE DIVISION SEPARATE FROM A HOMICIDE DIVISION. AND THAT'LL HAVE IMPORTANCE DOWN LATER AT THAT SAME TIME IN 2018, UH, WE HIGHLY PUBLICIZED. WE ALREADY KNOW, UM, OF [04:00:01] AN EMAIL THAT THAT WAS, THAT WAS FORWARDED ALL THE WAY UP TO CHIEF ACEVEDO, UH, FROM COMMANDER DEESE AT THAT TIME IN, IN VEHICLE CRIMES DIVISION, UH, INCLUDING ASSISTANT CHIEF CHERYL VICTORIA AND, AND EXECUTIVE ASSISTANT CHIEF TROY FINNER, THAT A CASE WAS SUSPENDED AND HE WAS RAISING CONCERNS ABOUT IT. AND CHIEF NER AT THAT TIME RESPONDED EVER, AND IT'S ALREADY IN PUBLIC THAT IT WAS UNACCEPTABLE, WHICH IS EXACTLY THE RIGHT ANSWER, THAT IT WAS UNACCEPTABLE AND TO FOLLOW UP AND GET BACK WITH HIM. UNFORTUNATELY, AGAIN, IT STOPPED THERE THAT WE CAN TELL THAT NOTHING ELSE WAS DONE AND THE CODE WAS ALLOWED TO CONTINUE TO BE USED IN 2020. WE HAD ANOTHER STATEWIDE AUDIT MANDATED FOR ALL, AND SPECIAL VICTIMS WERE ALL, FOR ALL DIVI DEPARTMENTS INVESTIGATING SEX CRIMES. UM, AND IT WAS ALSO OF THE HOUSTON POLICE DEPARTMENT. UNFORTUNATELY, UH, IT DID TALK ABOUT BACKLOG. IT DID TALK ABOUT THE NEED, BUT IT DID NOT ADDRESS OR FOCUS ON THE SUSPENDED LACK OF PERSONNEL CODE. UM, IT WAS ANOTHER OPPORTUNITY TO DECIDE TO, TO SEE WHAT WAS GOING ON, TO LOOK DEEPER. BUT WE NEVER DID. WE NEVER LOOKED DEEPER. WE NEVER WENT FORWARD TO FIND OUT HOW THIS CODE WAS BEING USED AND WHERE IT SHOULD NOT BE GETTING USED. MOVING ON TO 2021 ON THE TIMELINE, UM, CHIEF ACEVEDO ANNOUNCED HIS RETIREMENT AND CHIEF TROY FINNER, UH, WAS APPOINTED CHIEF OF POLICE. UH, AGAIN, I, I AM, I AM TELLING YOU MANY THINGS THAT HAVE ALREADY BEEN IN THE PUBLIC EYE, BUT WE'RE TRYING TO BE THOROUGH WITH THE TIMELINE. AND, UM, AND THIS REPORT, I WILL ALSO SAY IN THE MIDDLE OF THIS, THAT WHILE A LOT OF PEOPLE ON THE POLICE DEPARTMENT CREATED, HELPED CREATE THIS REPORT AND DID, DID THE INVESTIGATION TO FIGURE OUT WHAT HAPPENED, THERE WAS ALSO INPUT FROM THE INDEPENDENT OVERSIGHT COMMITTEE. THANK YOU, MAYOR. SO THIS IS WHAT YOU ARE SEEING TODAY IS A COMBINATION OF INTERNAL INVESTIGATION, AUDIT, WHAT HAPPENED AND WHY IT HAPPENED AND WHAT WE'RE DOING ABOUT IT, BUT ALSO THE INPUT, AS YOU'LL SEE LATER ON FROM THE OUTSIDE ENTITIES TO INCLUDE, UH, THE HOUSTON AREA WOMEN'S CENTER, UH, A LOT OF OUTREACH COMMUNITIES THAT REACH OUT TO WOMEN AND CHILDREN WHO ARE VICTIMS AS WELL AS THE MAYOR'S INDEPENDENT OVERSIGHT AND OTHERS. SO THIS, THIS REPORT AND EVERYTHING THAT YOU SEE ONLINE IS NOT JUST THE PRODUCT OF HPD, BUT IN 2021, UH, CHIEF, UH, RETIRES AND CHIEF NER BECOMES CHIEF. IN JULY OF THAT YEAR, UH, A SERGEANT, UH, AN EXECUTIVE CHIEF, MATT SLINKER OFFICE, AFTER SPEAKING WITH HIS WIFE, COMES TO HIM AND TELLS HIM ABOUT THE USE OF THE CODE. AND IT'S, THERE'S A BALLOON. IT'S ALL SHOWN THERE, BUT AGAIN, IN THE PUBLIC EYE. AND IMMEDIATELY, UH, CHIEF SLINKER BEGINS WORKING ON TRY TO ADDRESS THE CODE. UM, THERE'S CONVERSATIONS THAT OCCUR BETWEEN HIM AND CHIEF EX EXECUTIVE ASSISTANT CHIEF, UH, JIM JONES, WHO WAS OVER INVESTIGATIVE, INVESTIGATIVE AND SPECIAL OPERATIONS, AS WELL AS DEPUTY DIRECTOR DIANA PORT AT THAT TIME ON THE CREATION OF A CIRCULAR TO STOP USING THE CODE AS WELL AS, UM, AS, AS POLICY TO BE ENACTED. AND THERE WAS A DISCUSSION TO GO, GO INTO A LOT OF DETAIL. UM, IT WAS A BACK AND FORTH, AND THE DECISION BEING IS THAT DID IT NEED, DID CIRCULAR NEED TO GO OUT DEPARTMENT WIDE OR NOT? UM, AND YOU CAN SEE WHAT'S WRITTEN ON THERE FROM DIFFERENT D EACH OF THEM AT DIFFERENT TIMES. AND IT WAS CLEAR FROM THE CIRCULAR. AND WHAT WAS WRITING IS THAT WHILE THE CIRCULAR DID, WAS NOT ELECTED TO GO OUT DEPARTMENT WIDE, IT WAS TO BE PUT IN PLACE IN ALL INVESTIGATIVE DIVISIONS, UM, WITHOUT, AND, AND TO ADDRESS AND NOT USE THE CODE ANYMORE. UH, AND TO ALSO FIX IT IN ALL STANDARD OPERATING PROCEDURES OF OUR DEPARTMENT TO ENSURE THAT IT'S NOT USED AND CERTAINLY NOT USED INAPPROPRIATELY. UH, DURING THAT SAME TIME, WHILE THAT DISCUSSION AND THE CIRCULAR WAS BEING DISCUSSED, WE HAD A NOVEMBER 4TH EXECUTIVE STAFF MEETING ON, IN 2021, ALSO AGAIN, UM, IN THE PUBLIC ARENA ALREADY, EVER, UM, BEEN DISCUSSED. BUT AT THAT TIME WE HAD A COMMANDER OVER OUR SPECIAL VICTIMS DIVISION COMMANDER LEE CONN, WHO PRESENTED AT THAT EXECUTIVE STAFF TO CHIEF NER AND THE EXECUTIVE STAFF ABOUT [04:05:01] THE USE OF THE CODE AND THE BACKLOG. HER INTENT WAS TO GET, WE NEED, THEY NEEDED MORE PEOPLE. IF THEY NEEDED MORE INVESTIGATORS, THEY WERE FALLING BEHIND. CASES WERE HAVING TO BE SUSPENDED. SERIOUS CASES. CHIEF HENDERS ALREADY STATED PUBLICLY THAT HE ORDERED, UM, THE CODE TO STOP BE U BEING USED AT THAT TIME AND TO INVESTIGATE HOW, WHAT, WHAT HAPPENED THERE, UH, WITH EVERY, WITH OTHERS IN THE ROOM. UNFORTUNATELY, AGAIN, UM, APPARENTLY IT DID NOT GET CONVEYED TO EVERYBODY. THE CODE WAS, THE CIRCULAR NEVER WENT OUT. AND THERE, NO ONE WAS EVER TOLD BELOW THAT EXECUTIVE STAFF MEETING THAT WE CAN TELL, WITH THE EXCEPTION OF A FEW, UM, TO STOP USING IT AND TO, AND TO START, THEN TO DIG DEEP INTO IT. I WILL SAY THAT THROUGHOUT THIS WHOLE HISTORY OF THIS IS OF THIS INCIDENT OR THIS, THIS FAILURE IN OUR DEPARTMENT, THE BIGGEST FAIL AGAIN, IS THAT THERE WAS NO FOLLOW UP. THERE WAS NO CHECKING IN, THERE WAS NO LOOKING BACK TO SAY, WHAT ACTUALLY IS GOING ON, UH, AND IS IT THE RIGHT THING TO DO? AND HOW DO WE FIX IT IF WE HAD, YOU KNOW, BECAUSE THIS COULD HAVE BEEN FIXED MANY YEARS AGO, AND IT'S UNFORTUNATE THAT IT DID NOT UNTIL NOW. NEXT SLIDE. SO IN 2023, IN SEPTEMBER OF 2023, WE HAD A ROBBERY OCCUR AT A FIESTA ON THE NORTH FREEWAY. THE SUSPECT BROKE INTO THE BACK THROUGH A GARBAGE CHUTE, WENT IN TO ROB THE FIESTA IN THE EARLY MORNING HOURS AS PATROL CALLED, WAS CALLED. AND AS OFFICERS WERE ARRIVING THE SUSPECT BEFORE THEY WERE ABLE TO GET AROUND TO THE PERIMETER, THE SUSPECT MADE IT OUT OF THE BACK. HE WAS ON A BICYCLE. HE RODE INTO A NEIGHBORHOOD, UH, FORCED HIS WAY INTO A HOME WHERE A MOTHER AND FATHER WERE GETTING READY FOR WORK EARLY AND CHILDREN WERE STILL ASLEEP. AND HE TIED UP THE FATHER, THE HUSBAND, AND HE SEXUALLY ASSAULTED THE WIFE. I MADE THAT SCENE. I FIRST WENT TO THE ROBBERY, I GOT THE CALL, I MADE THAT SCENE. UM, WE GOT VIDEO OF THE SUSPECT. IT WASN'T BEST, BUT WE HAD SOME VIDEO OF THE SUSPECT. I WENT TO THE HOUSE AND EVERYBODY WAS APPALLED AND WE WANTED THIS INDIVIDUAL OFF THE STREET BEFORE HE COULD HURT SOMEBODY ELSE. SO THE INVESTIGATION CONTINUED AND OUR INVEST THROUGH ROBBERY DIVISION WAS TAKING LEAD ON THIS. UM, THE SUSPECT DID LEAVE PHYSICAL EVIDENCE BEHIND THAT WAS ENTERED INTO CODIS. AND WE GOT A, UM, A HIT THROUGH CODIS OF A PRIOR SEXUAL ASSAULT THAT OCCURRED ALMOST ONE TO THE DATE, ALMOST ONE YEAR EARLIER IN 2022 IN SEPTEMBER. AND IN THAT CASE, WE HAD A COMPLAINANT WHO STATED THAT SHE FELT LIKE SHE HAD BEEN SEXUALLY ASSAULTED AFTER STAYING WITH A FRIEND. UM, SHE DIDN'T HAVE A TON OF INFORMATION TO OFFER, BUT SHE DID HAVE A NAME, A DESCRIPTION, AND A VEHICLE PATROL MADE THE SCENE, PATROL TOOK ALL THE INFORMATION, WROTE A REPORT AND FACILITATED HER GETTING A SEXUAL ASSAULT KIT COMPLETED. THE SANE KIT COMPLETED AT THAT TIME, THAT CASE WENT TO OUR SPECIAL VICTIMS DIVISION AND SUBSEQUENTLY WAS SUSPENDED LIKE OF PERSONNEL. SO WHEN WE GOT THE CODIS HIT, WE WENT BACK TO THE ORIGINAL INVESTIGATION AND ULTIMATELY IDENTIFIED THE SUSPECT, GOT HIM IN CUSTODY, GOT HIM OFF THE TREAT, AND GOT HIM CHARGED. AT THAT TIME, THE QUESTION ACROSS EVERYBODY WAS, HOW COULD THIS HAPPEN? WHAT'S GOING ON AND HOW BAD IS IT? AND THIS IS AT THE END OF LAST YEAR. SO WE DID A DEEP DIVE, WHICH FOR THE FIRST TIME INTO HOW IT ACTUALLY HAPPENED AND HOW, UM, THIS COULD HAVE BEEN DONE. AND AT THAT TIME, OVER THE COURSE OF THE NEXT MONTH AND A HALF, WE DISCOVERED OVER 4,000 SEXUAL ASSAULT CASES IN THE SPECIAL VICTIMS DIVISION THAT HAD BEEN SUSPENDED, LIKE OF PERSONNEL. AND WE DISCOVERED OVERALL THROUGHOUT THE DEPARTMENT, 264,000 CASES THAT HAD BEEN SUSPENDED, LIKE OF PERSONNEL. NOW SINCE THEN, YOU'VE SEEN A LOT OF PRESS NEWS CONFERENCES ON THIS. THIS IS THE FIRST TIME WE DID THE DI THE DEEP DIVE TO FIND OUT, [04:10:01] AND THEN ACTUALLY TOOK, UH, ON NOVEMBER ON, ON MARCH 1ST, AFTER CHIEF FINNER HAD GONE BEFORE TO MAKE THIS ANNOUNCEMENT. UM, AN ACTUAL POLICY CAME OUT TO SUSPEND AND ORDER NOT TO USE THE CODE ANYMORE ON MARCH 1ST, WHICH IS THE FIRST TIME UP ACROSS THE DEPARTMENT THAT THIS WENT OUT. OR I WILL ALSO SAY, UM, MAYOR WHITMAR, YOU YOURSELF TOOK OVER AT THE BEGINNING, UM, AFTER THE END, THE, UH, CONCLUSION OF THE EIGHT TWO TERMS FOR, UH, CHIEF, I MEAN, UH, MAYOR TURNER. AND SO I KNOW THAT YOU WERE HEAVILY INVOLVED AT THIS POINT, BUT THE SCOPE OF THIS AND THE MAGNITUDE OF THIS TRULY WASN'T KNOWN UNTIL, UH, EARLY FEBRUARY. UM, WE KNEW ABOUT THE ONE CASE, THE CASE THAT BROKE IT ALL OPEN, BUT WE DIDN'T FIND OUT THE WHOLE STORY UNTIL LATER. SINCE THEN, UH, WE HAVE BEEN WORKING VERY HARD TO CORRECT THIS. SO BEFORE I GO INTO THAT, I'LL COVER SOME KEY FINDINGS THAT WE'VE ALREADY DONE, UM, AND THEN I WILL GO INTO WHAT WE'VE DONE TO CORRECT THAT. UH, SO AS YOU SEE ON YOUR KEY FINDINGS, NEXT SLIDE PLEASE. UM, FIRST THING WAS THAT THE CODE WAS CREATED IN 2016 TO GET INFORMATION ON HOW MORE DETAILED INFORMATION ON HOW CASES WERE BEING SUSPENDED, SPECIFICALLY WORKABLE LEADS. NO WORKABLE LEADS WERE, I'M SORRY, LACK OF PERSONNEL WITH NO WORK, BUT NO WORK, YOU KNOW, NO WORKABLE LEADS OR, OR WORKABLE LEADS. UM, ALSO SUSPENDED, NO WORKABLE LEADS AND SUSPENDED PATROL ARREST. THAT WAS DONE, UM, IN 2016. AND THEN BULLET 0.2, UH, FROM 2016 TO 2024, A TOTAL OF 264,000 CASES WERE SUSPENDED. UH, LACK OF PERSONNEL BUT DID HAVE WORKABLE LEADS, CASES WAS WORKABLE. LEADS BULLET 0.3 OR KEY FINDING NUMBER THREE, UM, THIS IS SOME OF THE ENVIRONMENT THAT WE'RE OPERATING IN. OUR RMS SYSTEM IS TERRIBLY ANTIQUATED. IT DOESN'T WORK FOR WHAT WE ARE TRYING TO DO. I DO HAVE GOOD NEWS THAT WE HAVE A NEW RMS SYSTEM THAT WILL BE GOING LIVE IN MARCH OF 2025, UH, FIRST QUARTER OF NEXT YEAR. BUT WE ARE STILL DEALING WITH AN ANTIQUATED SYSTEM AND TRYING TO DO WORKAROUNDS ON IT. TRULY, WE COULDN'T EVEN ACTUALLY FULLY TAKE THE CODE OUT OF THE SYSTEM 'CAUSE IT WOULD'VE CRASHED EVERYTHING. SO ONCE IT WAS DECIDED YOU CANNOT USE THIS CODE AND DON'T SUSPEND CASES WITH WORKABLE LEADS, WE STILL HAD TO GUARD AGAINST THAT WITH TRAINING AND GUIDANCE TO MAKE SURE IT WAS NEVER USED. KEY FINDING. NUMBER FOUR, UH, THERE WAS A LOT, A LOT OF GOVERNANCE AT THE TIME. UH, WHEN IT COMES TO THE RMS TECHNOLOGY, WE ALSO HAD SIGNIFICANT TRANSFER. UM, I THINK I COULD PROBABLY GO BACK TO THAT. I SHOULD HAVE, UH, ONE OF THE THINGS THAT HAPPENED FROM 2016 TO 2017, BEAR IN MIND IN 2016 IS WHEN THE, UM, WHEN THE CODE WAS CREATED, UM, BY EXECUTIVE STAFF, ALL OF THOSE EXECUTIVE STAFF RETIRED FROM 16 TO 17. THE ONLY ONES STILL REMAINING THAT WERE ON THE EXECUTIVE STAFF AT THAT TIME WERE EXECUTIVES AT THAT TIME. ASSISTANT CHIEF FINNER, ASSISTANT CHIEF, UH, SLINKER, AND ASSISTANT CHIEF CHARLIE VASQUEZ, WHO HAS SINCE RETIRED IN 2017. BUT THOSE ARE THE ONLY ONES EVERYBODY ELSE RETIRED AND IN SOME CASES TOOK WITH THEM A LOT OF INSTITUTIONAL KNOWLEDGE, ESPECIALLY ABOUT THE USE OF THESE CODES THAT MIGHT'VE, THAT COULD HELP. THIS IS SOMETHING THAT WE'RE WORKING TO CORRECT AND ANY TRANSFERS OF, OF AUTHORITY AND ANY TRANSFERS OF LEADERSHIP TO ENSURE THAT THIS DOESN'T HAPPEN AGAIN, KEY FINDING NUMBER FIVE, UM, IT WAS CREATED IN 2016 AND TO ALL INVESTIGATIVE DIVISIONS, UH, COULD USE THIS CODE. AS A MATTER OF FACT, THE ENTIRE DEPARTMENT AND ACTUALLY TRAINING WENT OUT TO EVERYBODY. ALL THE INVESTIGATORS, SPECIFICALLY THE SPECIAL VICTIMS DIVISION AND THE MAJOR ASSAULTS FAMILY VIOLENCE DIVISION FORMALIZED THIS CODE IN THEIR STANDARD OPERATING PROCEDURES. KEY FINDING NUMBER SIX, AND THE PROBLEM FROM ALL OF THIS AGAIN, IS THERE WERE NO GUARDRAILS OR PARAMETERS. I THINK THERE WAS AN EXPECTATION THAT SURELY YOU WOULD NEVER USE IT FOR CERTAIN CASES. UNFORTUNATELY, IT WAS BECAUSE IT WASN'T IN POLICY AND IT ENDED UP BEING USED IN CASES THAT WE SHOULD NEVER HAVE USED IT FOR. [04:15:10] KEY FINDING. NUMBER SEVEN. UM, AND THIS IS AN IMPORTANT NOTE THAT I'LL ALSO END UP CLOSING WITH. WE STILL DON'T HAVE ENOUGH PEOPLE, WE STILL WILL HAVE TO TRIAGE CASES. I'VE GIVEN AN ORDER AND WE EVERYBODY UNDERSTANDS THE ORDER AND THE POLICY THAT NO SERIOUS VIOLENT CRIMES OR PERSONAL AND PERSON CRIMES OF SIGNIFICANT NATURE WOULD EVER BE SUSPENDED JUST BECAUSE YOU DON'T HAVE ENOUGH PEOPLE. WE ARE INVESTIGATING PERSONAL AND PERSON CRIMES NO MATTER WHAT TO THE, WE WILL TAKE IT TO THE EXTENT THAT WE CAN TAKE IT ALL THE WAY THROUGH UNTIL WE EITHER EXHAUST ALL LEADS, FILE CHARGES, MAKE AN ARREST, OR CLOSE IT IN ANOTHER APPROPRIATE FASHION. BUT I WANT TO NOW SAY, AND I'LL CLOSE WITH THIS TOO, THAT WILL COME AT THE EXPENSE OF PROPERTY CRIME. NONVIOLENT CRIME WILL STILL SUFFER BECAUSE WE DO NOT HAVE ENOUGH PEOPLE. WE WILL STILL HAVE CASES WHERE PEOPLE ARE VICTIMS OF A PROPERTY CRIME THAT WILL SIT LONGER AND NOT HAVE THE ATTENTION BECAUSE WE HAVE TO FOCUS ON VIOLENT CRIME. THAT IS OUR NUMBER ONE PRIORITY, AND THAT'S SOMETHING I DON'T WANT TO TELL YOU, UM, AND CERTAINLY IN THIS POSITION. BUT THAT IS HONESTY. NEXT SLIDE. AND IT PRETTY MUCH SUMS THAT UP IN THAT LAST KEY FINDING. WE SIMPLY CANNOT INVESTIGATE ALL CRIMES, NOT UNTIL WE GET MORE PEOPLE AND WE DESPERATELY NEED MORE PEOPLE. NEXT SLIDE IS THE DEPARTMENTAL RESPONSE. AND WHAT WE ACTUALLY DID TO CORRECT THE SUSPENDED LACK OF PERSONNEL, ESPECIALLY IN OUR VIOLENT CRIMES BEING, UM, SPECIAL VICTIMS, DIVISION, MAJOR SALSA AND FAMILY VIOLENCE, HOMICIDE, THOSE, AND ROBBERY, UH, TO A LESSER EXTENT, BUT WE'VE TRIED, WE'VE BEEN WORKING TO CORRECT THAT. SO THE FIRST THING WE DID WAS WE'VE HAD, AND AND SINCE THE BEGINNING OF THIS, WE'VE HAD OPEN AND TRANSPARENT COMMUNICATIONS WITH THE MAYOR. I KNOW THAT CHIEF FINNER IMMEDIATELY CALLED HIM WHEN HE WAS, WHEN THIS WAS COMING ABOUT. AND THEY'VE HAD A CONVERSATION AT THE OUTSET OF WHEN THE MAGNITUDE OF THIS WAS DISCOVERED. AND WE'VE MAINTAINED THOSE OPEN LINES OF COMMUNICATION EVER SINCE. WE'VE ALSO, THE MAYOR ENACTED THE INDEPENDENT REVIEW COMMITTEE, AND WE HAVE BEEN CLOSELY WORKING WITH THEM EVER SINCE. LIKE I SAID, THEY ALSO HAD A PART IN THE CREATION OF WHAT'S OUT HERE. AS A MATTER OF FACT, THEIR FIRST, UH, PRESENTATION THAT HAD A TIMELINE, AS YOU WILL SEE, WILL VERY CLOSELY MATCH WHAT WE HAVE HERE. UH, THEY ARE CONSTANTLY DOING INTERVIEWS, THEY'RE ACTING INDEPENDENTLY, BUT THEY'RE TRYING TO GET TO THE BOTTOM OF IT, AND THEY'RE TALKING TO ALL THE PEOPLE THAT WERE INVOLVED AND TRYING TO GET THE MOST ACCURATE INFORMATION. AND THAT'S WHAT WE HAVE BEEN DOING TOO, TO TRY TO MAKE SURE THAT YOU ARE FULLY APPRISED OF WHAT HAPPENED AND WHAT WE'RE DOING TO FIX IT. WE HAVE AN INTERNAL INVESTIGATION THAT'S ONGOING. I WILL SAY THAT OUR INTERNAL AFFAIRS INVESTIGATIONS ARE MORE RESTRICTED. WE HAVE STATE LAW THAT WE HAVE TO BE IN COMPLIANCE WITH. 1 43 EMPLOYEES DO HAVE PROTECTIONS, AND WE HAVE TO HONOR THOSE AND MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE MAKING SURE THAT WE ARE PROTECTING AND HONORING AND, AND THEIR RIGHTS, UH, TO, TO THIS PROCESS. AND WE DO IT RIGHT. SO WHAT WE CAN STATE, I WILL STATE, BUT WHAT WE CANNOT STATE, THEN WE CANNOT STATE IT. SO THE LEAD GROUP THAT HAVE BEEN WORKING ON THIS NATURALLY HAS BEEN OUR CRIMINAL INVESTIGATIONS. DIVI, UH, COMMAND, OBVIOUSLY, BECAUSE THIS HAS PRIMARILY OCCURRED WITHIN INVESTIGATIONS. WE WENT IMMEDIATELY, WE BROUGHT IN, UH, PERSONNEL TO START REVIEWING. WE ESTABLISHED PRIORITIES. WE DEVELOPED GUIDELINES FOR GOVERNANCE TO ENSURE THAT WE, THE, THIS REVIEW OF ALL THIS 264,000 CASES WAS DONE PROPERLY, TRANSPARENTLY, AND ACCEPTABLE TO YOU ALL. UH, AND TO THE PUBLIC WHO WE ANSWERED TO. UH, WE ACTUALLY CREATED SCRIPTS BECAUSE WE KNEW THAT WE WOULD BE GOING AND KNOCKING ON DOORS OR TALKING TO PEOPLE, ESPECIALLY IN SPECIAL VICTIMS WITH ALL THE THOUSANDS THAT WE HAD WHO WERE VICTIMS OF SOME OF THE WORST CRIMES, UH, POTENTIALLY THAT WE WANTED TO MAKE SURE THAT WHEN WE DID GO TO THEM, WE DID MAKE CONTACT THAT WE WERE NOT MAKING THINGS WORSE FOR THEM BY REOPENING OLD WOUNDS. BUT WE NEEDED TO GET TO THE BOTTOM OF IT. WE NEEDED TO GET THE INVESTIGATIONS DONE. FRANKLY, IF THERE WAS A BAD GUY OUT THERE, WE NEEDED TO GET HIM OFF THE STREET OR GIRL. AND SO WE DEVELOPED, UH, SCRIPTS, WE DID THAT IN CONCERT [04:20:01] WITH A LOT OF OUR OUTREACH GROUPS, UM, EMILY WHITEHURST AND SONIA CAR CORRALES IN HOUSTON, AREA WOMEN'S CENTER, AND SO MANY MORE. UH, WE WANTED TO MAKE SURE WE DID THIS RIGHT. SO WE'VE BEEN WORKING ALL WITH ALL OF THEM SIDE BY SIDE AND THEY'VE BEEN GREAT PARTNERS AS WE TRIED TO OVERCOME THIS AND REACH OUT TO THOSE PEOPLE, ESPECIALLY THOSE WOMEN AND MEN, CHILDREN THAT POTENTIALLY WERE VICTIMS OF THIS. AND WE'VE HAD REGULAR MEETINGS, AND IT'S ALMOST A DAILY MATTER TO MAKE SURE THAT WE WERE DOING THINGS SET RIGHT AND WE WERE FOLLOWING UP AND WE WERE ADJUSTING AS WE NEEDED TO. WE IMPLEMENTED QUALITY ASSURANCE AND QUALITY CONTROL TECH MEASURES PROCESS TO FOR FOLLOW UP ON ALL THESE INVESTIGATIONS TO MAKE SURE THIS NEVER HAPPENS AGAIN. AND WE ARE MONITORING AT EVERY LEVEL POSSIBLE. WE WORK WITH OUR HOUSTON FORENSIC SCIENCE CENTER AND OUR HOUSTON AND OUR HARRIS COUNTY DISTRICT ATTORNEY'S OFFICE, AND THEY HAVE BEEN HEAVILY INVOLVED IN THE RESPONSE TO ALL OF THESE CASES AND HOW WE DO THAT. NEXT SLIDE. SO NOW SOME DIVISION SPECIFIC, UM, THINGS THAT HAVE BEEN GOING ON, UH, THE SPECIAL VICTIMS DIVISION BEING THE ONE THAT WE WERE FOCUSED ON FIRST, THERE WERE OVER 9,000 REPORTS THAT WERE, THAT WERE CLASSIFIED OR CODED, SUSPENDED, LACK OF PERSONNEL, AND YOU'VE ALL HEARD THE NUMBER 4,017, THAT IS THE NUMBER OF CASES THAT WERE TITLED SEXUAL ASSAULT. UH, WE'VE ALSO HAD APPROXIMATELY 94 CODIS HITS, UH, THAT WE'VE INVESTIGATED THAT CAME OUTTA THIS CELL. WE WENT TO WORK ON THOSE FIRST, TRYING TO MAKE SURE THAT WE WERE GETTING, UM, THAT WE WERE TRYING TO SERVE THOSE POTENTIAL VICTIMS OUT THERE AND THERE WERE REAL VICTIMS AS BEST AS WE COULD AND GET ANY PERPETRATORS OFF THE STREET AS QUICK AS POSSIBLE. WE INCREASED THE CAPACITY OF THE DIVISION, UH, BY 32 PEOPLE. AND OVERALL, WE HAVE HAD A CONSTANT 80 PLUS PEOPLE, WORKING OFFICERS WORKING ON THIS ON A DAILY BASIS TO TRY TO GO THROUGH ALL OF THESE CASES. NOT TO MENTION PERSONNEL ASSIGNED TO EACH OF THESE DIVISIONS THAT HAVE BEEN GOING THROUGH IT, BUT THIS IS SPECIAL VICTIMS. I'LL ALSO SAY THAT WE HAVE A PARTNER IN THE TEXAS FORENSIC, UH, CENTER OF EXCELLENCE, WHICH SPECIFICALLY OUR TEXAS, OUR FORENSIC NURSES, CERTIFIED NURSES, AND WE'VE BEEN WORKING WITH THEM, UH, CLOSELY TO TRY TO CREATE, UH, AS MUCH ACCESS BY POTENTIAL VICTIMS AS POSSIBLE SO THAT THEY CAN, UH, SEE A FORENSIC NURSE TO DO A FORENSICS EXAM ANYTIME SEVEN DAYS A WEEK AND NOT JUST DURING BUSINESS HOURS. CONTINUING ON THE NEXT SLIDE, YOU CAN ACTUALLY SEE WHERE WE ARE IN THE SPECIAL VICTIMS DIVISION REVIEWED. WE'VE REVIEWED 79% OF THE CASES THUS FAR, ALL OF THE SERIOUS ONES, WHAT WE CAN TERM PRIORITY ONE AND PRIORITY TWO, THE MOST SERIOUS, WHERE PEOPLE WERE HARMED, WHERE PEOPLE POTENTIALLY WERE SEXUALLY ASSAULTED OR ANYTHING NEAR THAT. WE HAVE, WE'VE REVIEWED ALL THOSE CASES. FIRST WE'VE RECEIVED FINAL DISPOSITION IN 57 OF THE NUMBERS ARE THERE. SO OF THE 9,000 7,100 PLUS HAVE BEEN REVIEWED AND A FINAL DISPOSITION IN 5,000. THERE ARE STILL A LOT OF OPEN CASES. WE ARE THIS, THESE CASES ARE VERY COMPLEX. THEY TAKE TIME. IT'S NOT SOMETHING YOU CAN DO QUICKLY OR, AND, AND SO THERE ARE STILL A LOT OF OPEN CASES. WE HAVE GONE THROUGH THE ONES THAT WE THINK THAT WERE TITLED AND WERE MOST SERIOUS, BUT THAT REVIEW IS GOING ON AND THERE IS A POSSIBILITY WE WILL DISCOVER ONE THAT WAS NOT TITLED APPROPRIATELY, THAT MAY ON ON THE SURFACE DID NOT SEEM SERIOUS. THAT MAY BE WE SIMPLY ARE STILL WORKING OUR WAY THROUGH AND DOING THE BEST PROCESS WE CAN TO MAKE SURE WE GET TO THEM. NEXT SLIDE. SAME THING FOR MAJOR ASSAULTS AND FAMILY VIOLENCE. OVER 109,000 CASES THAT WERE SUSPENDED, LACK OF PERSONNEL, UM, WE REVIEWED THEM, UH, 800 PLUS OF THEM WERE ENTITLED AS FAMILY VIOLENCE. WE'VE BEEN WORKING THROUGH ALL THOSE. WE'VE TOUCHED ALL THOSE THAT WERE SERIOUS, BE IT FAMILY VIOLENCE OR THE MOST SERIOUS, UM, WHAT WE, AGAIN, PRIORITY ONE AND PRIORITY TWO GROUP MAJOR ASSAULT CASES, UH, BY TITLE WE'VE REVIEWED. ULTIMATELY WE'VE REVIEWED OVER HALF OF THE 109,000 AND WHAT WE DEEMED WHAT WE COULD SEE WERE THE MOST SERIOUS, AND WE'VE REACHED FINAL DISPOSITION IN 18% OF THEM. NEXT SLIDE. HOMICIDE DIVISION, AS I SAID EARLIER, USED TO DO INVESTIGATIONS ON, UH, MAJOR ASSAULTS AND FINALLY VANCE TWO UNTIL IT WAS, UNTIL THOSE TWO UNITS WERE CARVED OUT AND THEN MADE THEIR OWN DIVISION, MAJOR ASSAULTS, FAMILY VIOLENCE. SO DURING THAT TIME, MOST OF THE 6,537 REPORTS YOU SEE THERE WERE ACTUALLY MAJOR ASSAULTS AND FAMILY VIOLENCE, UM, BUT STILL AS THEY WERE LISTED AS HOMICIDE AND THE DIVISION HAS BEEN WORKING ON IT, 100% REVIEWED 32% [04:25:01] HAVING REACHED FINAL DISPOSITION. ALL ALONG THE, THE, THE THOUGHT WAS, IS THERE WERE NO MURDERS. WE HAVE SINCE DISCOVERED AT LEAST TWO, UM, THAT WERE SU ULTIMATELY BEING SUSPENDED. THEY STARTED OUT AS DIFFERENT THINGS. THEY STARTED OUT AS A, A LARGE BRAWL IN A PARKING LOT THAT RESULTED IN WHAT WAS FIRST THOUGHT OF AS A, UM, A FATAL ACCIDENT FSRA, WHERE A VAA VICTIM WAS DRIVEN OVER AND KILLED. THE, UM, SUBSEQUENT INVESTIGATION IN VIDEO CONSIDERED, LOOKED AT IT, DEEMED IT TO BE AN INTENTIONAL ACT, MAKING IT A HOMICIDE. SO IT DID GO TO HOMICIDE, UNFORTUNATELY, UH, AT THAT TIME THE THOUGHT WAS IT WAS ABOUT THE ASSAULT AND IT WAS SENT OVER MAJOR SAUL'S FAMILY VIOLENCE AND IT WAS SUSPENDED. THE OTHER ONE WAS A, A PERSON THAT WAS WANTED FOR A NARCOTICS WARRANT OR WAS INVOLVED IN NARCOTICS CRIMINAL ACTIVITY AND WAS FLEEING AND HAD AN ACCIDENT KILLING HIS PASSENGER. AND THAT WAS ALSO ULTIMATELY CONSIDERED TO BE A HOMICIDE. THOSE ARE THE TWO THAT WE KNOW ABOUT RIGHT NOW. WE MAY FIND MORE, BUT THOSE ARE THE TWO WE KNOW ABOUT RIGHT NOW. UM, SO AS YOU CAN SEE, LIKE I SAID, UM, A HUNDRED PERCENT REVIEWED ON THOSE 65, 30 6,537, UH, 32% HAVING REACHED FINAL DISPOSITION, THEY'RE ANTICIPATING BY AUGUST 31ST, ALL THE CASES WILL BE RESOLVED. NEXT SLIDE. PROPERTY AND FINANCIAL ARE CASES THAT ARE NOT VIOLENT. THEY'RE ON PROPERTY 91,484 OF THOSE CASES, WE HAVE 61% REVIEWED AND WE HAVE A FINAL DISPOSITION ON 21%. THEY'RE WORKING THAT IS MOSTLY, UH, FROM 2023 AND 2024 CASES, BUT THEY ARE WORKING AS EXPEDITIOUS AS THEY CAN EVEN ON THE PROPERTY CRIMES TO RE REACH RESOLUTION IN THE FOUND DISPOSITION. NEXT SLIDE. VEHICULAR CRIMES, I DESCRIBED EARLIER, 38,605 REPORTS. MOST OF THESE ARE HIT AND RUN WITH NO REAL SOLVABILITY FACTORS, BUT THEY WERE SUSPENDED. LACK OF PERSONNEL, 95% OF 'EM HAVE BEEN REVIEWED. 69% HAVE REACHED FINAL DISPOSITION AT THIS POINT, AND THE NUMBERS ARE WITHIN THE PRESENTATION. NEXT SLIDE. OTHER DIVISIONS COLLECTIVELY, INVESTIGATIVE PATROL, UM, SPECIAL, UH, HOMELAND SECURITY, ALL OTHER INVESTIGATIONS, UH, APPROXIMATELY 9,000 TOTAL. ALMOST ALL OF THEM HAVE BEEN REVIEWED AND FINAL DISPOSITION AND ALMOST ALL OF THEM TOO, MOST OF THEM BEING MISCODED AND NOT VIOLENT. NEXT SLIDE IS THE RESPONSE RECOMMENDATIONS FROM THE MAYOR'S INDEPENDENT OVERSIGHT OR REVIEW COMMITTEE AND WHAT WE, WHAT WE ARE IN THAT PROCESS OF MEETING, UH, THEIR RECOMMENDATIONS. ONE OF THEIR FIRST RECOMMENDATIONS WAS WRITTEN DIRECTIVES AND POLICY CHANGES AFFECTING THE ENTIRE DEPARTMENT. WE HAVE COMPLETED ALL OF THE COMMAND AND EXECUTIVE COMMAND DIRECTIVES, SOPS TO ENSURE THIS DOESN'T HAPPEN AGAIN AT THE DIVISION LEVEL BECAUSE THERE ARE NUANCES BETWEEN DIVISIONS. THEY'RE STILL WORKING TO COMPLETE THEIR SOPS, BUT EVERYONE IS AWARE THAT VIOLENT CRIME, SERIOUS VIOLENT CRIME WITH WORKABLE LEADS WILL NOT BE SUSPENDED OR INACTIVATED AND THAT WILL BE IN POLICY FOR THEM. IT IS ALREADY IN POLICY AS OVERALL GUIDANCE AT THE COMMAND LEVEL, WHICH IS WHERE THEY DERIVED THEIR DIRECTIVES FOR CREATING THEIR OWN SOPS, ATTENDANCE PROTOCOLS AT ALL. EXECUTIVE STAFF MEETINGS. I KNOW THIS WAS A QUESTION OF WHO WAS AT THE NOVEMBER 4TH MEETING AND WHO WAS NOT, HOW LONG YOU WERE AND WHAT YOU REMEMBER AND WHAT YOU DON'T REMEMBER, WHAT YOU ARE DEFINITIVELY UH, HEARD WAS SAID AND WHAT YOU DON'T. UM, WE DID NOT KEEP RECORDS AT THAT TIME. WE NOW KEEP RECORDS OF WHO, WHO ATTENDS EVERY EXECUTIVE STAFF MEETING AND WE KEEP MINUTES OF THOSE MEETINGS. SO THAT IS A RECOMMENDATION AND THAT IS WHAT WE HAVE ENACTED. AND IT'S COMPLETE GENERAL STANDARD OPERATING PROCEDURES FOR SOPS, LIKE I SAID, AND CASE MANAGEMENT AT THE DIVISION LEVEL ARE STILL IN PROGRESS. BUT I WILL TELL YOU THIS, THAT NO CASE IT WILL BE, UM, INACTIVATED OR SUSPENDED WITHOUT MULTIPLE REVIEW REVIEWS AT DIFFERENT LEVELS TO ENSURE THAT IS A CASE THAT CAN OR SHOULD BE OR SHOULD NOT BE. WHEN A CASE IS CLOSED IN ANY OTHER WAY, WHETHER IT IS ARREST [04:30:01] CHARGES OR THERE ARE NO WORKABLE LEADS OR THE COMPLAINANT DOES NOT WANT TO FILE OR A NUMBER OF OTHER WAYS THAT IT MIGHT BE CLOSED AND CLEARED, IT IS STILL REVIEWED BY MULTIPLE LEVELS TO ENSURE IT WAS DONE RIGHT. OUR PROCESS IS TO ENSURE THIS NEVER HAPPENS AGAIN, SUPERVISORY REVIEW. UM, AND I THINK ALL THAT'S LISTED THERE AT THE LAST BULLET POINT, UH, IS SIMPLIFY THE RMS TITLES, ENSURING THEY'RE CONSISTENT WITH THE TEXAS PENAL CODE AND WE ARE ALIGNING THAT AS WE GO. IT IS AN IMP PROGRESS. I THINK THE NEXT LIST, UM, WHICH IS THROUGH PROCESS TO CONSISTENTLY REVIEW BUCKETED INCIDENTS. AGAIN, THAT IS ONGOING. THAT'S THAT QUALITY ASSURANCE AND QUALITY CONTROL EFFORT THAT WE STILL PULL 'EM OUT ON RANDOM NUMBERS TO MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE DOING EVERYTHING THE RIGHT WAY. 24 HOUR AVAILABILITY OF SPECIAL VICTIMS DIVISION INVESTIGATORS AS IS COMPLETE. WE ALREADY HAVE THAT. IT'S NOT A DAY SHIFT, NINE TO FIVE JOB. IT IS 24 7. IMPROVED COORDINATION WITH VICTIM SERVICES DIVISION. I'VE ALREADY SP SPOKEN ABOUT THAT. WE HAVE OUR OWN VICTIM SERVICES DIVISION WITH THE HPD AND DIRECTOR. UH, JULIE PLEASANT IS BEHIND ME AND IN THE AUDIENCE, BUT WE HAVE ALL THOSE OUTREACH COMMUNITIES, ALL THOSE OUTREACH GROUPS INCLUDING HAWK THAT WE ARE CONSTANTLY IN DIALOGUE WITH WORKING WITH TO TRY TO ALWAYS BE BETTER AND BETTER SERVE. UPDATED VICTIM NOTIFICATION. AGAIN, THAT WAS WITH HAWK. THAT'S ONGOING MANDATORY 55 HOUR TRAINING RECOMMENDED BY HAWK FOR ALL OF OUR SPECIAL VICTIMS DIVISIONS, UH, INVESTIGATORS THAT IS ONGOING AND IN PROGRESS. CO-FACILITATED VICTIM TRAUMA CENTER TRAINING FOR PATROL OFFICERS IN THE ACADEMY. AGAIN, THAT IS IN PROGRESS REGARDING INCIDENT REPORTS WITH FINAL DISPOSITION OF INACTIVE NO LEADS WHERE THE VICTIM SURVIVOR COULD NOT BE REACHED. AND JUST TO CLARIFY, EVERY VICTIM, WE ARE TAKING MULTIPLE EFFORTS TO TRY TO MAKE CONTACT. PHONE, EMAIL, UM, SOCIAL MEDIA, AND WE SEND OFFICERS, WE SEND OFFICERS TWO DOORS TO GO KNOCK IN AN EFFORT TO GET AHOLD OF 'EM, BUT IN THE EVENT THAT WE SIMPLY CANNOT GET AHOLD OF A VICTIM OR REACH THEM IN ANY WAY, THE CASE MAY BE INACTIVATED, BUT IT'S STILL OPEN. AND THE MINUTE WE ARE ABLE TO MAKE CONTACT WITH THAT VICTIM, THEN WE PROCEED WITH THE INVESTIGATION AND THAT IS COMPLETE. NEXT, UH, SLIDE IS THE STATUS. THIS IS AN OVERALL SNAPSHOT OF WHERE WE ARE, 67% OF OUR CASES OR 176,221 OF THE 264 CASES, 264,000 PLUS CASES HAVE BEEN REVIEWED. WE HAVE A FINAL DISPOSITION IN 31% OR 80 1079. IF YOU LOOK TO THE RIGHT, YOU'LL SEE THAT BEFORE FEBRUARY 16TH WHEN THESE PROCESSES WERE UNDER BEING PUT UNDERWAY, WE HAD ALREADY GONE THROUGH 1,384 FELONY AND 2,273 MISDEMEANORS. SO WE WERE ALREADY LOOKING INTO THESE CASES, UH, BEFORE WE EVEN GOT ALL THESE PROCESSES IN PLACE. SINCE THEN, UM, WE HAVE FILED CHARGES IN 111 FELONIES AND 63 MISDEMEANORS. MOST OF THE CASES ARE STILL OPEN AND WE'RE STILL WORKING THROUGH 'EM. SO NEXT SLIDE AND NEXT STEPS. SO WE WILL CONCLUDE, FINALIZING ALL OUR CASE MANAGEMENT SOPS ALL THE WAY DOWN TO THE DIVISION AND UNIT LEVEL. VERY SOON, THE ORDERS AND THE STRUCTURE AND THE GUIDANCE AND THE THE GUARDRAILS ARE ALREADY THERE. THE TRAINING IS ALREADY THERE. WE ARE FINALIZING BECAUSE SOME DIVISIONS HAVE VERY UNIQUE PARTS, UM, DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES. SO IT REQUIRES UNIQUE SUSPEND OPERATING PROCEDURES TO ACCOMMODATE AND TO MAKE SURE WE HAVE IT RIGHT. BUT THE OVERALL ORDER IS NO SUSPENDED WITH WORKABLE LEADS, VIOLENT CRIMES OR SERIOUS VIOLENT CRIMES. AND THEN IMPLEMENTING CASE MANAGEMENT TRAINING THAT'S ONGOING. WE ARE INSTITUTIONALIZING OUR QAQC, OUR QUALITY INSURANCE QUALITY CONTROL THAT'S ALREADY THERE. UH, AND WE'LL CONTINUE TO GROW THAT, UH, EXPLORING WAYS FOR TECHNOLOGY. WE ARE NOT GOING TO GET ENOUGH PEOPLE IN THE NEAR TERM, AND WE KNOW THAT IT TAKES TIME TO HIRE, TRAIN, AND TO RECRUIT, HIRE, TRAIN, AND GET THEM ON THE LINE. TECHNOLOGY MIGHT BE A WAY TO HELP US MAKE A LEAP FORWARD WITH THAT. AND SO WE WERE LOOKING AT ALL KINDS OF TECHNOLOGY TO HELP US IN INVESTIGATIONS SO THAT WE CAN BETTER SERVE THE PUBLIC. THEY WILL ALSO HAVE A PRICE TAG TO THEM TOO. AND SO WHEN WE COME TO YOU, WE WE'LL BE ASKING YOU TO SUPPORT THAT. THE GOAL IS ALWAYS HOW DO WE BEST SERVE THE COMMUNITY WITH THE RESOURCES THAT WE HAVE OR THE RESOURCES THAT WE MIGHT BE ABLE TO ACQUIRE IN A, IN A QUICK FASHION. REVIEWING ALLOCATIONS [04:35:01] FOR CON FOR CONGRUENCE, BASICALLY LOOKING ACROSS THE DEPARTMENT, ARE THERE PLACES WHERE WE CAN MOVE AN OFFICER, AN INVESTIGATOR, OR A CIVILIAN FROM ONE JOB THAT MAY NOT BE A HIGH PRIORITY TO ANOTHER JOB THAT HAS THIS HIGH PRIORITY? AGAIN, WE WANT TO BE THE BEST STEWARDS WITH THE RESOURCES WE ALREADY HAVE, AND WE'RE TRYING TO DO THAT, UH, AND MAKE AS FAR AS MANY LEAPS FORWARD AND MAKE AS MUCH, GET AS MUCH SERVE THE COMMUNITY AS BEST WAY POSSIBLE. AND THAT IS LOOKING ACROSS EVERYBODY'S JOB AND PRIORITIZING WHAT IS MOST IMPORTANT AND WHAT IS MOST NECESSARY. I WILL TELL YOU THAT PATROL IS NECESSARY, OFFICERS IN THE FIELD TO RESPOND WHEN SOMEBODY NEEDS HELP IS CRITICAL. INVESTIGATIONS IS ALSO CRITICAL. UM, MAINTAIN WORKING RELATIONSHIPS WITH ALL OUR PARTNERS THAT IS ONGOING. UM, THE RMS IMPLEMENTATION I'VE ALREADY TOUCHED ON, WILL BE FIRST QUARTER NEXT YEAR WHEN WE HAVE THE NEW, NEW RMS OUT. UNTIL THEN, WE HAVE GUIDELINES AND STRUCTURES IN PLACE TO WORK WITH WHAT WE HAVE, UH, CONSTANTLY MAKING SURE THAT WE ARE IN A LINE AND, AND EVERYBODY'S INVOLVED. WHEN WE SAY FIDELITY IS LISTED ON HERE, IT IS GETTING EVERYBODY INVOLVED, NOT JUST ONE OR TWO PEOPLE MAKING A POLICY DECISION ON RMS. WE WANT ALL THE STAKEHOLDERS THERE SO THAT WE GET IT RIGHT UPFRONT IN THE FIRST TIME. ADDRESSING KNOWLEDGE TRANSFER. I'VE TOUCHED ON THAT TOO. AGAIN, WHEN PEOPLE ARE COMING INTO A DIVISION AND PEOPLE ARE GOING OUT OF A DIVISION, THERE NEEDS TO BE A VERY STRONG HANDSHAKE BETWEEN TO MAKE SURE THAT NOTHING IS LEFT AND THAT OCCURS AT THE OFFICER SERGEANT, LIEUTENANT COMMANDER, ASSISTANT CHIEF EXECUTIVE, ASSISTANT CHIEF AND CHIEF OF POLICE AT EVERY POSITION. WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE ARISING THE PERSON COMING IN THAT ARE, IS ASSUMING THAT RESPONSIBILITY OF EVERYTHING. AND THAT IS ALL. THOSE ARE ALWAYS OPPORTUNITIES TO SEE, IS THERE SOMETHING WRONG? ARE WE MISSING SOMETHING? IT'S BEEN A MISS. IT WAS A MISS IN THIS PARTICULAR CASE FROM 2016 TO 2017 FOR AN ENTIRE EXECUTIVE STAFF CHANGEOVER. BUT WE'RE TRYING, WE'RE PUTTING POLICY IN STRAIGHT PLACE TO MAKE SURE THAT DOESN'T, IT DOESN'T HAPPEN AGAIN. AS MUCH AS WE CAN CONTROL THAT, THAT'S THE END OF THE PRESENTATION. WITH THE EXCEPTION, I'LL CLOSE WITH THIS. UM, YOU HAVE A GOOD POLICE DEPARTMENT. YOU HAVE FANTASTIC MEN AND WOMEN THAT ARE REALLY TRYING VERY HARD TO GO OUT THERE AND MAKE A DIFFERENCE. WHAT HAPPENED HERE? UM, WE HAVE SO MANY SUCCESSES, AND THIS IS NOT THE DAY TO QUOTE THEM OR TO SAY THEM. I UNDERSTAND THAT. BUT YOU HAVE A GOOD POLICE DEPARTMENT. IT'S UNDERSTAFFED. IT NEEDS PEOPLE, IT NEEDS FUNDING, IT NEEDS NEW TECHNOLOGIES, IT NEEDS VEHICLES, IT NEEDS ALL THOSE THINGS, AND THEY'RE ALL COSTING. BUT I'M HERE TO TELL YOU TODAY, THAT'S, THAT'S OUR BEST CHANCE OF BEST SERVING THE PUBLIC. SO WE ASK FOR YOUR HELP IN THAT. WHAT HAPPENED IN THIS PARTICULAR CASE, LIKE I SAID, IS OVERALL IT'S NOT ONE PERSON OR TWO PEOPLE. IT'S NOT EVEN FIVE. IT WAS A DEPARTMENT FAIL. IT WAS A LEADERSHIP FAIL. IT WAS A SYSTEMIC FAIL. AND THAT WE ARE WORKING TO OVERCOME, TO TAKE CARE OF THOSE MEN AND WOMEN, ESPECIALLY THOSE WOMEN AND THOSE CHILDREN WHO POSSIBLY WERE WHO IN SOME CASES WERE OR ANYBODY THAT MIGHT BE A VICTIM. OUR JOB IS TO TAKE CARE OF 'EM AND DO OUR BEST, VERY BEST. UM, AND THERE'S NO GETTING AWAY FROM THAT, AND WE ALL HAVE TO OWN THAT. I WILL ALSO SAY WE HAVE BEEN ASKING FOR PEOPLE FOR 20 YEARS, LIKE I SAID. SO IN SOME CASES, THE CITY MUST ALSO OWN PART OF THIS. PRIOR ADMINISTRATIONS, WE NEED MORE PEOPLE AND EVERYBODY'S KNOWN THAT. SO THE SOONER YOU CAN HELP US GET MORE PEOPLE, I APPLAUD YOU ALL AND THE MAYOR FOR ALLOTTING, THE SIX CADET CLASS THIS YEAR. AND WE, WHILE WE HAVE A LOT OF ATTRITION, WE ARE ACTUALLY GOING TO GROW BECAUSE WE WERE BECOMING A YOUNGER DEPARTMENT, ME WITH THE EXCEPTION, BUT WE ARE BECOMING A YOUNGER DEPARTMENT. AND, UM, THOSE YOUNG OFFICERS WITH THE RIGHT INCENTIVES AND THE RIGHT SUPPORT ARE GONNA STICK AROUND FOR A LONG TIME. SO AS WE DO MORE CADET CLASSES AND WE GROW, WE ARE GOING TO GROW AS AN AGENCY AND BETTER BE ABLE TO HANDLE THE DEMANDS, THE CAPACITY THAT COMES IN. BUT FOR NOW, IT WILL STILL BE A CHALLENGE, UH, AND IT WILL BE FOR SOME TIME IN THE FORESEEABLE FUTURE. THANK YOU ALL FOR HAVING ME. I'LL TAKE QUESTIONS, CHIEF, BEFORE I YIELD TO MY COLLEAGUES. I WANT TO, UH, THANK YOU. I KNOW THIS HAS BEEN PAINFUL FOR YOU BECAUSE OF YOUR LOVE FOR THE DEPARTMENT, YOUR LOVE FOR THE RANK AND FILE, AND YOU HAVE CLOSE FRIENDS THAT HAVE BEEN, UH, IDENTIFIED AND HELD ACCOUNTABLE. AND I KNOW [04:40:01] WHEN I CALLED YOU ON MAY 7TH TO BECOME THE ACTING CHIEF, HOW MOVED YOU WERE IN TERMS OF YOUR MISSION IN FRONT OF YOU. I'VE WATCHED THE MORALE OF THE DEPARTMENT IMPROVE. I'VE WATCHED YOUR TRANSPARENCY AND, UH, I WANT TO THANK YOU ON BEHALF OF ALL HOUSTONIANS. UH, YOU'RE A TRUE PROFESSIONAL AND, UH, I LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING WITH YOU GOING FORWARD. UH, THANK YOU. AS YOU WELL KNOW, WE'RE IN THE RECOVERY FOR BARREL. UM, EVERY AREA OF TOWN WE'RE FOCUSING ON DEBRIS PICKUP. I CAN GO ON AND ON, BUT NOTHING IS MORE IMPORTANT THAN YOUR DESCRIPTION OF THIS MORNING OF WHAT HAPPENED, AND ALSO THE MEASURES THAT HAVE BEEN PUT IN PLACE TO PREVENT IT FROM HAPPENING AGAIN. IT'S SAD THAT IT TAKES WHAT YOU'VE DOCUMENTED TO GET TO THIS POINT. AND OBVIOUSLY I'M SITTING HERE THINKING, WHAT IN THE WORLD? AND I CAN SIMPLY PUT TRANSPARENCY, TRANSPARENCY. I KNOW PREVIOUS CHIEFS AND OTHER CITY OFFICIALS HAVE BEEN AWARE OF YOUR SHORTAGE, BUT IF WE DO NOT ALLOW MEMBERS TO HAVE CHIEFS AND DIRECTORS TO COME FORWARD AND TELL US AN ACCURATE PICTURE, HOUSTONIANS KNEW THE ACCURATE PICTURE. THEY DIDN'T QUITE UNDERSTAND THE REASON. I DIDN'T EITHER. WE KNEW WE WERE SHORTHANDED. THAT'S THE REASON I TALKED ABOUT COLLABORATION. EVEN GOT CRITICIZED FOR SAYING, WE'LL, PARTNER WITH THE DPS IN TRAFFIC CONTROL AND ASSETS, BUT WE HAVE TO BE TRANSPARENT, IDENTIFY THE PROBLEM, OR IT'LL NEVER GET SOLVED. AND I THINK THAT IS A MESSAGE THAT I SEE COMING OUT OF THIS SERIOUS DISCUSSION. WE DISCUSSED EARLIER ABOUT PROTESTORS. WE TALKED ABOUT THE UNIVERSITY LINE. I CAN GO ON AND ON. THAT CONSUMES OUR TIME. BUT IF WE DON'T FIX PUBLIC SAFETY, NOTHING ELSE MATTERS. I HAD NO IDEA WHEN I SAID FIX HOUSTON, THE EXTENT IN GRAVITY OF THE MATTERS. WE DEALT WITH A FREEZE OUR SECOND WEEK. LAKEWOOD SHOOTING KINGWOOD FLOODS THE RED SHOW BARREL, BUT NOTHING COMPARES WITH THE GRAVITY OF WHAT WAS REVEALED ON FEBRUARY 7TH. AND IT STARTED OUT WITH ONE CASE, THE FIESTA CASE, AND THEN GROWN. TO THE EXTENT THAT IT IS. I'M STILL SHOCKED HAVING WORKED WITH HPD CITY LEADERSHIP, THE THAT EMPLOYEE GROUPS, THAT THIS COULD EXIST FOR SO MANY YEARS AND NOT BECOME PUBLIC. I'M JUST SHOCKED BECAUSE YOU'RE NOT GONNA FIX SOMETHING UNTIL YOU EXPOSE IT. THE FACT THAT IT BECAME POLICY IN 2016 AND ACTUALLY STARTED TRAINING OFFICERS HOW TO USE IT, I CAN'T BELIEVE SOMEONE DIDN'T SAY, CAN WE DISTINGUISH NONVIOLENT FROM VIOLENT CASES? BUT THIS IS WHAT WE WERE FACED WITH. I APPLAUD THE MEASURES THAT HAVE BEEN PUT IN PLACE. LET ME, BEFORE I YIELD TO LET THE PUBLIC KNOW, ARE YOU TELLING US THAT THERE'S NO ASSAULTIVE CASES, PERSONAL PERSON THAT HAVEN'T BEEN REVIEWED THAT WOULD INCLUDE DOMESTIC VIOLENCE, SEXUAL ASSAULTS, HAVE THOSE BEEN REVIEWED AND ALSO THEY'VE NOT BEEN LABELED THAT SINCE ORDERS CAME DOWN? YES, SIR. I'LL ANSWER, BUT I'LL ALSO CALL UP, UH, TWO OF MY COLLEAGUES. UM, SO YOU CAN BRIEFLY HEAR FROM THEM ON THOSE TWO. UM, BUT YES, SIR, THE, THE, THE CASES WERE BROKEN DOWN INTO WHAT WE CONSIDER MOST SERIOUS PRIORITIES, ONES AND PRIORITY TWOS, WHETHER IT WAS IN SPECIAL VICTIMS DIVISION OR MAJOR SAUL'S FAMILY VIOLENCE. AND THOSE HAVE BEEN REVIEWED. UH, I'LL [04:45:01] ASK, UH, EXECUTIVE CHIEF BAND, TIM, TO COME UP AND DIRECTOR MELISSA CUMMINS. JUST TO ADD TO THAT, IF, JUST TO MAKE SURE THAT YOU HAVE THE FULL ANSWER, SIR. AND BEFORE WE YIELD TO CHIEF TINT, CAN YOU DESCRIBE FOR MY COLLEAGUES AND THE PUBLIC THE IMPACT OF THIS REVIEW HAS HAD ON OTHER CHALLENGES FOR HBD? WE MEET REGULARLY AND HEAR ABOUT HOTSPOTS. YES, SIR. AND AT THE TIME, IT WAS LABELED HOTSPOTS, WHETHER IT'S POTOMAC, IT'S SAN PHILIPPI OR SOUTH MCG, MCGREGOR, UH, NEIGHBORHOODS OR BINET, PROSTITUTION, THE HOTSPOTS. I ACTUALLY SAID AT THE TIME WE LABELED IT THAT THERE IN MY MIND, HOTSPOTS ACROSS HOUSTON IF IN FACT HOUSTON'S NOT A HOTSPOT BECAUSE OF UNDERSTAFFING. AND SO THIS JUST COMPOUNDED IT, RIGHT, SIR? DID IT NOT? BECAUSE YOU HAD TO PULL RESOURCES FROM EVERY DIVISION TO REVIEW THESE CASES. SO WOULD YOU BE HONEST WITH THE PUBLIC, WHILE WE FOCUS ON THE MOST SERIOUS AND THEY'RE ALL GONNA BE INVESTIGATED, RESPONSE TIME, HOTSPOTS AND OTHERS ARE GONNA SUFFER? YES, SIR. SO, UM, THE WAY THIS, THIS WAS OUR HIGHEST PRIORITY, CHIEF NER, UH, AND THEN MYSELF, WE WANTED, WE, WE OWE THIS TO THE PUBLIC AND TO THOSE VICTIMS. SO WE'VE, WE WORKED AT IT. SO WE DID PULL OFFICERS OUT OF FIELD OPERATIONS, WHICH IS PRIMARILY PATROL AND SOME PROACTIVE UNITS, INCLUDING, UH, DRT, WHICH MANY OF YOU KNOW WHAT DRT IS. BUT FOR THE PUBLIC, IT'S, IT'S OFFICERS THAT HANDLE ALL THOSE OTHER ISSUES, INCLUDING HOTSPOT, INCLUDING, UM, THE NOISE ORDINANCE OR, OR THE, THE, UH, THE CONVENIENT, THE PLACES THAT ARE CREATING PROBLEMS, SOURCES FOR PROBLEMS. AND WE HAD TO PULL THEM IN BECAUSE IT WAS OUR DRT OFFICERS, ALONG WITH COMMUNITY SERVICE OFFICERS THAT WERE ACTUALLY GOING AND KNOCKING ON DOORS AND DOING REVIEWS AND KNOCKING ON DOORS. WE DON'T HAVE ANY MORE PEOPLE. WE DIDN'T SUDDENLY HAVE MORE PEOPLE. SO WE WENT INTO USING OVERTIME AND TO DATE, WE SPENT, UH, ALMOST $2.8 MILLION. I HAVE, UH, DEPUTY DIRECTOR RHONDA SMITH IN THE AUDIENCE WHO CAN SPEAK MORE ABOUT WHAT THE COST IS. AND WE BROUGHT OFFICERS OFF THE STREETS THAT MIGHT HAVE BEEN DOING JOBS OUT THERE FOR YOU ALL AND YOUR COUNCIL DISTRICTS TO WORK ON THIS. SO THERE WAS, THERE'S JUST NO WAY TO DO IT ALL. SO THIS BECAME A PRIORITY, AND THIS IS WHAT WE WORK ON. UH, WE, WE HAVE A LOT OF THEM BACK OUT THERE NOW DOING THE JOBS THAT THEY WERE ORIGINALLY OR THERE, THAT IS OUR PRIMARY JOB, BUT WE DID HAVE TO PULL 'EM IN TO GET TO WHERE WE ARE. AND I'M GONNA DEFER TO, UH, EACS, UH, BAN 10 AND A DIRECTOR. COMMENTS ON THAT? YES, SIR. UH, MAYOR, MAYOR, COUNCIL MEMBERS, SIR, TO ANSWER YOUR QUESTION, UH, YOU'RE ABSOLUTELY ON POINT. WE, UH, AS WE REVIEWED THOSE CASES, THOSE SUSPENDED WITH LACK OF PERSONNEL CASES REPLACED TWO HIGH PRIORITIES, THE HIGHEST PRIORITIES, UH, UPON OUR INITIATIVE. NUMBER ONE IS ALL SEXUAL ASSAULT RELATED CASES WITHIN SPECIAL VICTIMS, AND ALL THOSE HAVE BEEN REVIEWED. AND THE SECOND ONE IS AGGRAVATED ASSAULT TYPE, SPECIFICALLY THOSE WITH A FAMILY VIOLENCE NEXUS. BUT AS WE KNOW, UH, AS WE LOOK FORWARD ON OUR STATS, ALMOST ONE OUT OF FOUR HOMICIDE CASES HAS A, UH, FAMILY VIOLENCE NEXT TO US TO DEATH. SO THAT IS OUR SECOND HIGHEST PRIORITY WITH AS BILL. AND THOSE HAVE BEEN THOROUGHLY BEEN REVIEWED. THANK YOU. DO YOU HAVE ANYTHING TO CONTRIBUTE? I'M SORRY. YES, MA'AM. I'D ALSO LIKE TO ADD THAT THERE WERE OTHER AREAS OF THE DEPARTMENT THAT WERE IMPACTED AS WELL. WHEN WE TALK ABOUT OUR CIVILIAN PERSONNEL AND OUR RECORDS DIVISION. YOU CAN SPEAK A LITTLE CLOSER TO THE MIC. YES, SIR. WHEN WE TALK ABOUT OUR RECORDS DIVISION, OUR CIVILIAN PERSONNEL WHO DO THE FINAL REVIEW AND SUBMISSION OF OUR DATA TO THE STATE, THEY ALSO HAVE BEEN IMPACTED REVIEWING THE ADDITIONAL SUPPLEMENTS. SO IT HAS SOME DOWNSTREAM IMPACTS THAT WE'RE STILL WORKING THROUGH, BUT IT GIVES US AN OPPORTUNITY TO REPUBLISH THE DATA, TO TALK ABOUT THE DIFFERENCES BETWEEN WHAT WE ORIGINALLY HAD AND NOW WHAT WE HAVE AFTER THIS REVIEW, AND TO CONTINUE TO PROVIDE AS ACCURATE DATA AS WE HAVE AVAILABLE TO THE PUBLIC. THANK YOU. WHICH LEADS ME TO THIS QUESTION, CHIEF, WHICH I THINK WE CAN'T OVEREMPHASIZE. WE TALK ABOUT PATROL AND INVESTIGATIONS, BUT THE ADMINISTRATIVE JOBS AT HEADQUARTERS, IT'S SHOCKING THAT YOU HAD 2000 CIVILIANS AT ONE TIME AND THROUGH BUDGET CUTS AT COUNCIL, IT'S NOW TO 900. THOSE JOBS STILL HAVE TO BE FULFILLED. IS THAT THE REASON WHY YOU HAVE SO MANY UNIFORM OFFICERS DOING ADMINISTRATIVE JOBS AT HEADQUARTERS? IT IS A BIG PART OF THAT REASON, YES. FROM MAYOR. I MEAN, WE STILL HAVE COMPLIANCE AT [04:50:01] STATE, FEDERAL THAT WE HAVE TO MEET. WE STILL HAVE THESE OTHER THINGS. YES, ADD ADDING CIVILIANS BACK ON THE TEAM WOULD BE A HUGE HELP TO US. WE NEED MORE OFFICERS. WE NEED MORE CIVILIANS. VERY GOOD. ANYTHING YOU'VE LEFT OUT IN TERMS OF PREVENTION GOING FORWARD? WE'RE, I, I JUST WILL SAY AGAIN, YOU, YOU, THE PUBLIC HAS A GREAT POLICE DEPARTMENT. UM, THIS, THIS ONE HURTS. UM, IT HURTS US ALL, AND, UM, BUT WE ARE GOING TO DO EVERYTHING WE CAN TO MAKE IT RIGHT. WOULD IT BE FAIR TO SAY OUR DEPARTMENT'S IN GOOD HEALTH, IT JUST NEEDS ATTENTION BY THIS COUNCIL BODY AND CERTAINLY THE PUBLIC? YES, SIR. RIGHT. WE, WE ENJOY A LOT OF SUPPORT FROM THE PUBLIC, AND WE A LOT OF SUPPORT FROM ALL THE COUNCIL MEMBERS AT THIS HORSESHOE, AND WE REALLY APPRECIATE THAT. I KNOW EVERYBODY HERE IS TRYING TO DO THEIR BEST, AND EVERYBODY AND THE PUBLIC UNDERSTANDS THIS. UM, SO THE DEPARTMENT WE'RE BLESSED IN THAT REGARD BECAUSE OUR MEN AND WOMEN THAT GO OUT THERE EVERY DAY ARE MET WITH A LOT OF LOVE AND SUPPORT FROM THE COMMUNITY, WHICH I'M VERY THANKFUL FOR. THEY ARE TAXED. THE OVERTIME HOURS GET LONG, THE RESPONSIBILITIES GET LONG. SO, UH, THE CHALLENGES THAT THEY FACE, THE VERY NATURE OF SOME OF THE THINGS THAT THEY HAVE TO GO TO AND RESPOND TO. WE ARE DOING EVERYTHING WE CAN TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY ARE MENTALLY AND PHYSICALLY OKAY. AND OF COURSE, UH, THE SUPPORT FROM ADDITIONAL PEOPLE WOULD BE A HUGE STEP IN THAT DIRECTION. MORE OFFICERS, MORE PARTNERS ON THE STREET, MORE BACKUP, UM, MORE INVESTIGATORS TO TAKE ON THE INCREDIBLE WORKLOAD THAT'S COMING IN. SO THE WORKLOAD'S HIGH AND IT, AND IT CREATES FRUSTRATION AND IT, AND, AND IT DOES WEAR, THERE'S POTENTIAL BURNOUT. SO YOU HAVE THAT, AND WE'VE SEEN THAT. BUT I WOULD ALSO SAY WE ARE BLESSED IN THE SENSE TO HAVE SO MUCH SUPPORT THROUGH IT ALL. WELL, I'M SPEAKING ON BEHALF OF HOUSTONIANS. WE THANK THE FIRST RESPONDERS AND, UH, WE SEE THE DANGERS, THE RESCUES THAT THEY DID IN BARREL. SO THANK THEM, UH, FOR KEEPING US SAFE UNDER VERY CHALLENGING TIMES, UNDERSTAFFED. AND, UH, CERTAINLY WE ALL NEED TO COMMIT OURSELVES TO GOING FORWARD, TO MAKE, UH, OUR FIRE POLICE ALL OF OUR CITY EMPLOYEES, UH, RECOGNIZE HOW MUCH THEY'RE APPRECIATED. THANK YOU. UH, COUNCILMAN POLLARD. THANK YOU, MAYOR. AND, UH, CHIEF, THANK YOU FOR THE PRESENTATION. UM, IT'S AN UNFORTUNATE, UH, CIRCUMSTANCE THAT WE HAVE TO HAVE THIS PRESENTATION. UH, I APPRECIATE YOUR ACCOUNTABILITY ON BEHALF OF ALL THE MEN AND WOMEN OF THE HOUSTON POLICE DEPARTMENT. I AGREE WITH YOU. THIS WAS A SYSTEMATIC FAILURE IN MANY WAYS. UM, AND SOMETHING THAT ALL OF US HEARING THIS REPORT ARE BET ARE PRETTY ALARMED BY SOME OF THE INFORMATION THAT WE ARE RECEIVING. UH, STAFFING CAN NEVER BE AN ISSUE, IN MY OPINION, WHEN IT COMES TO ANY OF OUR RESPONSIBILITIES. THAT'S WITH THE POLICE DEPARTMENT. THAT'S WITH THE HOUSING DEPARTMENT, PUBLIC WORKS, WHOEVER. UM, WE HAVE TO FIND A WAY TO GET THE JOB DONE. AND IF WE CAN'T, WE HAVE TO PROPERLY COMMUNICATE. I THINK THAT AS A CITY, UH, WE'RE NOT GONNA POLICE OUR WAY OUT OF EVERY SINGLE ISSUE. YOU ALL CANNOT DO EVERYTHING ALL THE TIME. WE ALSO HAVE TO LOOK AT JOBS AND EDUCATION, VOCATIONAL TRAINING, HOUSING, MENTAL HEALTH. HOW CAN WE REDUCE THE AMOUNT OF CRIME, UM, THAT IS BEING COMMITTED BY PROVIDING MORE RESOURCES OUTSIDE OF JUST THE DEPARTMENT? AND I THINK THAT'S WHERE WE HAVE TO BE CREATIVE IN DOING. SO, AS IT RELATES TO THIS PRESENTATION, WHAT WAS CONVEYED TO THE PUBLIC AS THE COMPLAINTS WERE COMING IN AND THEIR CASES WERE BEING CODED AS SUSPENDED, LACK OF PERSONNEL, WERE THEY EVER GIVING ANY TYPE OF COMMUNICATION THAT, UM, SOMETHING WAS EITHER HAPPENING OR NOT HAPPENING WITH THEIR CASE, OR WERE THEY JUST LEFT IN THE DARK LIMITED? THERE WAS SOME THAT WERE LIMITED, BUT THERE WERE OTHERS, UH, THAT IT, QUITE FRANKLY, WAS LEFT IN THE DARK. THEY NEVER, THEY MAY NOT HAVE HAD ANOTHER CONTACT. THERE MAY HAVE BEEN A CONTACT, UH, OR AN ATTEMPT, AND THEN IT WAS SUSPENDED. UM, I CAN'T STATE SPECIFICALLY, CERTAINLY FOR EVERY ONE OF THEM. UM, AND I COULD CERTAINLY BRING UP, [04:55:01] UH, ONE OF OUR COMMANDERS OVER AND THEY COULD TALK YOU THROUGH EXACTLY HOW THAT WORKED THEN, AND HOW, OR HOW IT WORKS NOW, IF THAT WOULD BE SATISFACTORY TO YOU. I WANNA MAKE SURE I'M CORRECT. NO, I, I THINK ULTIMATELY, I THINK, I THINK ULTIMATELY SUSPENDED LACK OF PERSONNEL WAS ONE THING, BUT THE, THE LACK OF COMMUNICATION WAS ANOTHER. YES, SIR. A A LOT COULD HAVE BEEN RECTIFIED MM-HMM . IF PEOPLE WOULD'VE JUST COMMUNICATED WHAT THE CIRCUMSTANCES WERE, WHAT THE DILEMMAS WERE TO THE VICTIMS OR THE COMPLAINANTS AND, AND TO THE PUBLIC IN THIS BODY. YOU ARE CORRECT, SIR. UM, AS IT PERTAINS TO 2016, WHEN THIS CODE WAS FIRST BEING INSTITUTED AND INDIVIDUALS WITHIN THE DEPARTMENT WERE BEING TRAINED, WAS THAT JUST FOR THE INVESTIGATIVE DIVISION OR WAS THAT FOR OTHER DIVISIONS AS WELL? IT, IT WAS PRIMARILY FOR INVESTIGATORS. SO MOST OF THEM BEING IN INVESTIGATIVE DIVISIONS. AND, UM, IT WAS, THIS IS, THESE ARE THE CODES THAT, THAT NOW, YOU KNOW, A LITTLE MORE DETAIL. AGAIN, THE GOAL BEING, WELL, HOW MANY CASES ARE BEING SUSPENDED WITH A LACK OF PERSONNEL WITH THE HOPES OF GETTING BACK INTO THOSE AND THE INSIGHT AND FOR BETTER REPORTING. BUT IT WAS ALL TRAINED IN, AS, AS I UNDERSTAND IT, TO INVESTIGATORS THAT WERE IN, IN THAT, UH, ROLE AND RESPONSIBILITY AT THAT TIME. AND ON PAGE 13, YOU, YOU POINT TO A MEMO THAT WAS, THAT WAS PUT OUT, UM, THAT IS SPEAKING TO, UM, IT SAYS IT'S ADDRESSED TO TROY THINNER, BUT IT ALSO HAS, UH, MATT SLINKER, THE EXECUTIVE CHIEF. UH, WAS, WAS CHIEF SLINKER OVER INVESTIGATIONS OR WHO WAS OVER INVESTIGATIONS FOR THE BULK OF THE TIME THAT THIS CODE WAS BEING INSTITUTED? SO OBVIOUSLY AT THE BEGINNING, I BELIEVE IT WAS EXECUTIVE ASSISTANT CHIEF TIM MEYER AND ASSISTANT CHIEF, UM, DON MCKINNEY IN 2016. AND THEN WHEN THAT CONCLUDED, AND WHENEVER THEY RETIRED, UM, THEN EXECUTIVE ASSISTANT CHIEF, UH, TROY FINNER WAS, WAS MADE AS EXECUTIVE ASSISTANT CHIEF OVER FIELD OPERATIONS AND EXECUTIVES, OR MATT SLINKER MADE EXECUTIVE ASSISTANT CHIEF OVER INVESTIGATIONS. AND THAT WAS, UM, IN 2017. THEN, UH, IN 2021, UM, CHIEF FINNER BECAME CHIEF. THAT, THAT WAS UNDER CHIEF ACEVEDO. CHIEF FINNER BECAME CHIEF. AND THEN, UM, MATTHEW SLINKER WAS MADE EXECUTIVE CHIEF, AND THEN EXECUTIVE ASSISTANT CHIEF JIM JONES WAS OVER INVESTIGATIVE SPECIAL OPERATIONS WHILE I WAS PROMOTED AND PUT OVER FIELD OPERATIONS. AND YOU HAD MENTIONED IN YOUR PRESENTATION THAT AT ONE POINT, UM, IT WAS FOUND THAT THIS CODE WAS BEING USED AND IT WAS A DIRECTIVE PUT OUT THAT UNDER NO CIRCUMSTANCES WHEN IT CAME TO YOUTH INVOLVED CRIMES, SHOULD THIS CODE BE, UM, INSTITUTED, BUT IT WAS NOT CONVEYED OVER TO THE ADULTS. YES, SIR. WHY AND WHY, WHO, WHO MADE THAT DECISION? SO, COUNCIL MEMBER, I, I DON'T KNOW. I CAN TELL YOU, THE COMMANDER AT THE TIME, UH, WHO WAS TRYING TO GET THE BACKLOG OF THE CHILD'S, UH, CASES, SEX CRIMES INVESTIGATED. AND AT THAT TIME IT WAS, IT WAS, UH, CLEARED ALL THOSE CASES. AND THE DIRECTIVE WAS, YOU WILL NOT USE THAT. WE DIDN'T, YOU KNOW, WE, WE DON'T BACKLOG ANY OF THOSE CASES FOR CHILDREN. AND I WANNA MAKE SURE I'M SPEAKING PROPERLY. I MIGHT ASK, UH, COMMANDER LORENZANO TO STEP UP, BUT HE, BUT THAT WAS IT. BUT IT WAS NOT CORRECTED AT THE ADULT SEX CRIMES. AND, AND THAT'S ALL WE HAVE RIGHT NOW IN TERMS OF THE INVE, YOU KNOW, HOW THIS HAPPENED AND WHAT HAPPENED. AND I DON'T THINK THAT THEIR FOCUS WAS ON THE SUSPENDED LACK OF PERSONNEL. IT WAS ON GETTING MORE PE MORE OFFICERS FOR INVESTIGATION PURPOSES. AND IN THIS MEMO YOU HAVE ON, ON, ON PAGE 13, SOMEONE WRITES, I THINK IT MAY BE SOMEONE BY THE NAME OF JONES, IT SAYS, DR. POOR, IS THIS A CIRCULAR NECESSARY SINCE IT ONLY APPLIES TO INVESTIGATIONS? AND THEN THERE'S SOMEONE ELSE THAT SIGNS AND SAYS, UH, ROUTE TO EOC JONES PRIOR TO COP. DOES COP MEAN CHIEF OF POLICE? IT DOES. SO IS THESE CONVERSATIONS HAPPENING WITHOUT THE CHIEF OF POLICE AT THE TIME BEING TROY FINNER, KNOWING THAT, UH, THIS COMMUNICATION IS BEING DONE REGARDING IF IT WAS GOING TO BE CITY, UH, DEPARTMENT WIDE, OR JUST FOR THAT DIVISION? I HAVE NO INFORMATION THAT SAYS THAT CHIEF FINNER WAS INVOLVED IN THAT CONVERSATION AT THAT TIME. UM, AND WE'VE, WE'VE ALL EMAILS, AS YOU WELL KNOW, AS A PART OF THE, THIS HAD BEEN LOOKED AT. WE DON'T KNOW. I DON'T, I DON'T THINK SO. CHIEF FINNER HAS [05:00:01] STATED AS SUCH, AND SO I DO NOT THINK CHIEF FINNER WAS INVOLVED IN THIS CONVERSATION REGARDING THE, WHAT YOU SEE ON THIS PIECE, ON THIS, UH, SLIDE DECK, ON THIS PIECE OF PAPER. AND WAS THERE ANYTHING DONE IN YOU ALL'S INVESTIGATION TO SHOW THAT SINCE CHIEF SLINKER WAS OVER INVESTIGATIONS, THAT HE TOOK ANY STEPS TO, UH, NOTIFY, UH, ANYBODY IN THE EXECUTIVE LEADERSHIP OR ANYBODY UNDERNEATH THAT THESE, THIS CODE SHOULD NO LONGER GO FORWARD? LIKE, WHAT WAS THE ROLE OF THE CHIEF OVER INVESTIGATIONS DURING THIS ENTIRE TIME? SO, BERG, JUST TO BE CLEAR, UM, IN 20 17, 2 OF MY COLLEAGUES AT THAT TIME WERE PROMOTED TO EXECUTIVE ASSISTANT CHIEF CHIEF MATT SLINKER, AND CHIEF TROY FINNER, UNDER CHIEF ACEVEDO. SO THAT WAS, UH, THAT TIME CHIEF TROY FINNER HAD FIELD OPERATIONS CHIEF MATT SLINKER HAD INVESTIGATIVE SPECIAL OPERATIONS IN 21. WHEN CHIEF FINNER BECAME CHIEF OF POLICE EXECUTIVE, UH, MATT SLINKER, EXECUTIVE ASSISTANT CHIEF AT THE TIME, WAS PROMOTED TO EXECUTIVE CHIEF, WAS NOT ACTUALLY IN THE CHAIN OF COMMAND, UM, BE, AND THEN, UH, BECAUSE HE WAS HANDLING OTHER DUTIES, UM, PER OUR ORG CHART. UM, AND AT THAT TIME, EXECUTIVE ASSISTANT CHIEF, UH, JIM JONES WAS OVER INVESTIGATIVE SPECIAL OPERATIONS, AND I WAS OVER FIELD OPERATIONS. OKAY. WELL, I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR YOUR THOROUGH, UH, PRESENTATION AND, AND YOUR DILIGENCE INTO ALL OF YOUR COLLEAGUES. MAYOR, I KNOW WE ALSO HAVE, UH, MS. CHRISTINA NOACK IN THE AUDIENCE WITH THE OFFICE OF INSPECTOR GENERAL, AS WELL AS DOUGLAS GRIFFITH WITH THE HOUSTON POLICE OFFICERS UNION. SO IF THERE'S ANYTHING THAT WE BELIEVE THAT THEY CAN ADD TO THE CONVERSATION, UH, I WANT THEM TO BE ABLE TO, UH, HAVE THE FLOOR IF APPROPRIATE AS WELL. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. THANK YOU, SIR. COUNCILMAN ALCORN. THANKS, CHIEF. UM, GREAT REPORT. UM, I, UM, I'M IMPRESSED BY THE HUMILITY AND TRANSPARENCY AND HONESTY. BOTH YOU AND FORMER CHIEF FINNER HAVE, HAVE, UM, EXHIBITED DURING THIS ENTIRE, UM, INVESTIGATION. YOU KNOW, I WAS HERE AS A STAFFER BACK IN, IN 2014. I REMEMBER CHIEF MCCLELLAN, WELL, CHIEF BRADFORD WAS A COUNCIL MEMBER. CHIEF BRADFORD WAS, UH, A BIG PROPONENT OF GETTING A WORK DEMANDS ANALYSIS DONE. FIGURE OUT HOW MANY MORE OFFICERS DO WE NEED. I REMEMBER THE PERF REPORT, UH, I SPENT SOME TIME WHILE YOU WERE TALKING, LOOKING BACK AT IT IN 2014, THE CHIEF SAT HERE, A, A A A STUDY. THE CITY PAID $150,000 FOR, AND THE CHIEF, UM, AND, AND THE, UH, THE PEOPLE PERFORMING THE REPORT. IT WAS DONE BY A GROUP CALLED POLICE EXECUTIVE RESEARCH FORUM AND JUST X SYSTEMS INC. AND, UH, PART OF THE REPORT SAID, UM, VERY CLEARLY, HPD DOES NOT HAVE SUFFICIENT NUMBER OF OFFICERS TO INVESTIGATE THE VOLUME UNDERSCORED OF WORKABLE CASES WITHIN DIVISIONS ASSIGNED TO THE CRIMINAL INVESTIGATIONS COMMAND. IT ALSO WENT ON TO SAY THAT WE NEEDED AN IMMEDIATE, AN AN IMMEDIATE NEED FOR THREE. THIS IS 2014, AN IMMEDIATE NEED FOR 319 MORE OFFICERS, AN IMMEDIATE NEED FOR 101 MORE INVESTIGATIVE, UH, OPERATIONS OFFICERS. AND, UM, 660 MORE OFFICERS, 94 SERGEANTS, THEY HAD THAT ALL LINED OUT. SO 2014, AS YOU AS SOMEWHAT KNOW, UM, OUR TAX RATE FOR THE CITY OF HOUSTON PER A HUNDRED DOLLARS VALUATION WAS 63 CENTS. WHAT HAPPENED IN 2015? WE BUMPED UP AGAINST THE REVENUE CAP, THE VOTER IMPOSED REVENUE CAP. OUR TAX RATE HAS DECREASED EVERY YEAR SINCE IT WENT DOWN TO 60 CENTS IN 2015. RIGHT NOW IT'S 51 CENTS. THIS WAS A HORRIBLE SITUATION AT HPD, BUT THE UNDERLYING ISSUE IS LACK OF STAFFING. AND WE HAVE KNOWN THIS NOW FOR 10 YEARS. AND I THINK THIS IS IMPORTANT FOR THE PUBLIC TO KNOW. I APPRECIATE THE MAYORS, UH, WANTING TO COLLABORATE AND GET MORE OFFICERS WORKING TOGETHER. HOWEVER WE CAN SLICE THIS, BUT ULTIMATELY, THE PUBLIC NEEDS TO KNOW WE CANNOT HAVE IT BOTH WAYS. WE CANNOT HAVE SUPER LOW TAXES WHERE WE'RE DECREASING OUR TAX RATE EVERY YEAR AND DEMAND THAT WE DO A MUCH BETTER JOB AT POLICING. YOU ARE SITTING HERE TELLING US PARTS OF THE DEPARTMENT, PROPERTY PARTS, EVERYTHING WILL SUFFER. WE WILL SUFFER. THOSE WON'T GET INVESTIGATED. WE WILL DEFINITELY DO AS WE SHOULD, THE SPECIAL VICTIMS, THE ASSAULTS, ALL OF THE VIOLENT CRIMES, WE SHOULD DO THAT. BUT OTHER PARTS WILL SUFFER. WE CAN'T HAVE IT BOTH WAYS. [05:05:01] THIS IS, THIS REPORT SAYS NOTHING ELSE TO ME. THEN WE MUST GO TO THE VOTERS TO INCREASE THE REVENUE CAP. MAYOR, THANK YOU. WELL SAID. MAYOR PROTE, CASTEX STATE, THANK YOU, MAYOR AND COUNCIL MEMBER ALCORN, I, I TOTALLY AGREE WITH, WITH, UM, WHAT YOU'VE BROUGHT FORWARD. UM, UH, ACTING CHIEF SAT WHITE, I HAD A COUPLE OF QUESTIONS WHILE YOU WERE GIVING THIS INFORMATION. I MEAN, I KNOW WE GOT THIS TODAY, BUT, UM, WE TALKED A LOT ABOUT SOLVABILITY AND I'M CURIOUS TO KNOW WHO ACTUALLY ASSIGNED CASES AND IS THAT DETERMINED BY SOLVABILITY? UM, I, I, I DON'T KNOW HOW THAT WORKS, BUT YOU WERE TALKING ABOUT, UM, ONCE THE CODE STARTED, UM, AND WAS USED THROUGHOUT THE DEPARTMENT, THAT OFFICERS WERE TRAINED ON THE CODE. AND HOW DO OFFICERS GET ASSIGNED THOSE CASES BASED ON SOLVABILITY? YEAH, THANK YOU, COUNCIL MEMBER. SO TO BE FAIR, THE, THE, THE CASES CASES PRIOR TO 2016 WERE SUSPENDED. AND THERE COULD HAVE BEEN OTHER CASES THAT, UH, MET THIS CRITERIA, BUT AT THAT TIME, THEY CREATED THIS CODE TO DETERMINE WHICH ONES HAD WORKABLE LEADS THAT WERE BEING SUSPENDED, AS OPPOSED TO THOSE THAT WERE ALREADY PATROL HAD ALREADY MADE AN ARREST, OR THERE WERE NO SOLVABILITY FACTORS. SO WHEN A CASE COMES IN AND TO BE, WE HAVE SINCE ENHANCED ALL OF THIS CASE MANAGEMENT PROCESS TO ENSURE AGAINST THIS. BUT TYPICALLY WHAT HAPPENS IS SOMEBODY REPORTS A CRIME AND PATROL RESPONDS TO THAT LOCATION, UH, AND MEETS WITH THE COMPLAINANT, UH, COLLECTS EVIDENCE, GET, DOES AN INVESTIGATION AND A PRIMARY INITIAL INVESTIGATION, AND THEN FORWARDS THAT TO THE APPROPRIATE DIVISION. IF IT'S ROBBERY, THEN IT WILL GO TO ROBBERY DIVISION. IF IT'S, UH, MAJOR, IF IT'S AN ASSAULT, IT'LL GO TO MAJOR ASSAULTS, FAMILY VIOLENCE. IF IT'S SEXUAL ASSAULT, WE'LL GO TO SPECIAL VICTIMS DIVISION. WHEN IT GOES THERE, THERE WILL BE AN INCOMING, UH, PERSONNEL THAT WILL BE RESPONSIBLE FOR TAKING THOSE REPORTS AND READING THEM AND DETERMINING THOSE VERY THINGS. SOLVABILITY, UM, COMPLAINANT WISHES TO COM TO FILE CHARGES, ALL OF THOSE THINGS. IS IT THE RIGHT PLACE FOR IT TO BE? SOMETIMES CASES WILL BE FORWARDED TO ONE DIVISION AND THEY WILL ULTIMATELY LEARN THAT IT HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH THAT. IT HAS SOMETHING TO DO WITH A DIFFERENT DIVISION, OR MAYBE IT'S NO CRIME AT ALL. SO THERE IS A REVIEW, AN INITIAL REVIEW AT THAT DIVISION. NOW, UH, THERE WAS A POLICY IN PLACE WHERE THOSE CASES COULD BE SUSPENDED RIGHT THERE, IF THAT, THAT CASE MANAGER THAT IT WENT TO FIRST IN THE PAST DEEMED IT NO SOLVABILITY FACTORS OR, UM, IT WAS A LOW THRESHOLD POTENTIAL CRIME IN TERMS OF INVESTIGATION AND, AND OUTCOME OF CHARGES OR ANYTHING. IT MIGHT'VE BEEN SUSPENDED. TODAY, WHEN THEY COME INTO ANY DIVISION, ESPECIALLY THE VIOLENT CRIMES, THE DIVISIONS REGARDING VIOLENT CRIME, UM, THEY ARE MULTIPLE, THEY HAVE MULTIPLE REVIEWS. THEY HAVE AN INITIAL REVIEW. AND IF, UH, AN INVESTIGATOR OR A CASE MANAGER DETERMINES THAT THERE'S JUST NOT ENOUGH THERE, THERE'S NO SOLVABILITY FACTORS, OR IF IT'S SOMETHING THAT NEEDS TO BE, MAYBE IT'S NOT THE RIGHT, MAYBE IT'S IT'S THEIR INAPPROPRIATE PLACE, IT STILL HAS TO GO TO A SECONDARY REVIEW OF A SUPERVISOR BEFORE IT CAN EVER EVEN BE INACTIVATED. UM, FOR ANY CASES THAT ARE ACCEPTED, THEY HAVE TO GO THROUGH MULTIPLE REVIEWS TOO. AND THEN THERE'S OVERSIGHT AND MULTIPLE REVIEWS AND SPECIAL VICTIMS DIVISIONS. THERE'S THREE LEVELS OF REVIEW NOW TO ENSURE THIS DOESN'T HAPPEN. SO THE, NOW, TODAY, OUR PROCESSES ARE MUCH MORE, WE'VE PUT IN MUCH MORE WHAT WE CALL BELT AND SUSPENDERS TO MAKE SURE THAT NOTHING GETS THROUGH INAPPROPRIATELY OR IS INACTIVE, IS IN, IS SUSPENDED INAPPROPRIATELY OR INACTIVATED, THAT WE WANT ALL CASES WHERE THERE ARE REAL SOLVABILITY FACTORS ON VIOLENT CRIME TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE DOING EVERYTHING WE CAN TO INVESTIGATE 'EM. SO THAT'S, SO AFTER YOU GO THROUGH THOSE THREE REVIEWS, DOES SOMEONE ASSIGN THOSE CASES TO AN OFFICER? SO, CORRECT. SO WHEN, FOR THOSE CASES THAT ARE GONNA BE ASSIGNED FOLLOWING THAT REVIEW, THEN IT WILL GO TO A DETECTIVE, AND THEN THE DETECTIVE WILL DO THEN GET THE CASE. IT WILL BE ADDED TO HIS OR HER CASELOAD, AND THEY WILL BE RESPONSIBLE FOR INVESTIGATING IT. AND THERE'S A TIMELINE FOR WHICH THEY SHOULD ACCOMPLISH CERTAIN THINGS. IT ADDS TO THE EXTRA WORKLOAD, ALL THE THINGS THAT WE'RE LOOKING AT. BUT THAT'S HOW IT GOES. AND THEN THAT INVESTIGATOR DETECTIVE WILL TAKE THAT CASE TO WHATEVER, UH, END IS APPROPRIATE. IF IT'S, IF IT'S, IF WE IDENTIFY A SUSPECT, WE HAVE A, WE HAVE A CASE, THE EVIDENCE ALIGNS AND WE GET CHARGES, WELL, THAT PERSON IS CHARGED AND THEN THEY GO INTO THE JUDICIAL SYSTEM. IF, UH, RIGHT. I I, I, I'M GONNA STOP YOU 'CAUSE I WANT TO GO BACK TO, SO THE INCOMING PERSONNEL AND THE CASE MANAGER [05:10:01] INVESTIGATION, ARE THOSE HPD OFFICERS? YES. YES MA'AM. SO ORIGINALLY, NOT WHAT WE DO NOW, BUT PRIOR TO US TALKING ABOUT THIS, WERE THOSE HPD OFFICERS, THE INCOMING PERSONNEL, TO MY KNOWLEDGE, THEY WERE STILL AN OFFICER THAT WAS RECEIVING OR A SUPERVISOR. AM I INACCURATE IN THAT? SO, COUNCIL MEMBER, JUST TO FRAME, UH, PUT IN PERSPECTIVE, UH, SO IT'S EASIER TO FOLLOW. WE BASICALLY TASK ORGANIZED OUR OVERARCHING CASE, UH, MANAGEMENT, SOP, AT LEAST FROM MY COMMAND, AS DIRECTED TO SUBORDINATE COMMAND AS FOLLOWS. THERE ARE THREE LEVELS. THE FIRST LEVEL THEY CALL THE SCREENER WHO SCREEN THE CASES. THEN YOU HAVE A CASE MANAGEMENT TEAM WHO'S GONNA MANAGE THOSE CASE RESPECTIVELY. AND THEN YOU HAVE A CASE MANAGEMENT SUPERVISOR. NOW THOSE CONCEPT MAY SHIFT SLIGHTLY BASED ON, CONTINGENT UPON ON THE DIVISIONAL NEED. BUT THOSE ARE THE THREE MAIN THEME AND THREE MAIN CONCEPTS. THE REALITY IS, TO GET BACK TO YOUR QUESTION THAT YOU JUST MENTIONED, MA'AM, WE BASICALLY TASK ORGANIZED INTO THREE DIFFERENT TYPE. THOSE ARE THE MANDATORY TYPE, THAT MANDATORY ASSIGNMENT, BASICALLY THE VIOLENT CRIME AGAINST PEOPLE, ABSOLUTELY SERIOUS CRIME. AND THEN YOU HAVE THOSE DISCRETIONARY, THOSE MAY NOT ELEVATE TO THOSE LEVEL WITH STAFFING PERMIT, YOU GO TO THE DISCRETIONARY. AND A THIRD TYPE IS CALLED THE MONITORING. PERHAPS SOME INFORMATION IS NOT READILY AVAILABLE, A LACK OF WORK RELEASE AT THE TIME. THOSE ARE MONITORS. SO TO PUT IN PERSPECTIVE, STAFFING WISE, PERHAPS MAYBE A COMBINATION OF CIVILIANS AND CLASSIFIED OFFICER ARE DIVIDED SCREENER, CASE MANAGEMENT TEAM AND PERHAPS A CASE MANAGEMENT SUPERVISOR CONTINGENT UPON A DIVISIONAL NEED IN TERMS OF CASE INVESTIGATED, THOSE THAT ARE MANDATORY. AND THERE ARE THOSE THAT ARE DISCRETIONARY. AND THERE ARE THOSE JUST FOR MONITORING PURPOSES, RIGHT? I STILL DON'T KNOW WHO, WHO DETERMINES THE SOLVABILITY OF THE CASE? THE CASE MANAGEMENT TEAM. THEY COME IN, THEY, AND THAT'S AN HPD OFFICER. IT, IT COULD BE A COMBINATION OF HPD OFFICER AND CIVILIANS. 'CAUSE THERE ARE SOME CIVILIANS THAT ARE TRAINED AND QUALIFIED TO DO THOSE TASKS. SO WOULD THE CASE MANAGER DETERMINE IF WE SHOULD USE THE CODE IN TERMS OF WHAT CODE? THE PROPER DISPOSITION CODE? YES. THE CODE WE'RE TALKING ABOUT THE CASE MANAGER, DETERMINED CASE SUPERVISOR APPROVED. OKAY. SO, SO THERE'S A POTENTIAL FOR THREE PEOPLE TO LOOK AT THIS CASE? YES, MA'AM. AND DETERMINE IF THERE IS SOLVABILITY FOR THE CASE? YES, MA'AM. PERHAPS THERE'S EVEN MORE, BECAUSE THE TRUTH IS THE FIRST RESPONDING PATROL OFFICER WOULD BASICALLY TAKE THE REPORT IS A FIRST LEVEL OF REVIEW RIGHT FROM THE GET GO. OKAY. DID WE EVER DETERMINE, UM, WHEN AND WHO CREATED THE CODE FROM THE INCEPTION? THAT'S PART OF THE CODE THAT, UH, CHIEF JUST BRIEFED, DATED BACK TO, UH, 2016. IT'S WAY BEFORE MY TIME AS A, UH, MEMBER OF THE COMMAND STAFF, COMMAND TEAM. BUT, UH, THERE ARE A LOT OF, UH, MOVING PARTS THAT'S GOING AROUND. SO WITH A HIGH LEVEL OF SPECIFICITY, I DON'T SEE HOW WE CAN PINPOINT, BUT PERHAPS THERE'S A LOT OF GAPS WITH DATED BACK TO, DATED PRIOR TO 2016, BUT IT CAME INTO INCEPTION IN 2016 BECAUSE WE TRIED TO CORRELATE WITH THE RL SYSTEM THAT WE HAD AT THE TIME. IS THAT CORRECT, CHIEF? OKAY. UM, AND THEN MY OTHER QUESTION IS ON PAGE 12, WE TALKED CORRECTING A CHILD SEXUAL ASSAULT INVESTIGATION AND WE SAID THAT WE WOULD NEVER, UH, USE THE CODE DURING A CHILD SEXUAL ASSAULT INVESTIGATION. WHY WOULDN'T WE? UM, IF WE THOUGHT THAT WE SHOULD NEVER USE THIS CODE AGAIN FOR A CHILD SEXUAL ASSAULT INVESTIGATION, WHY WOULDN'T WE USE THAT AS A BLANKET SEXUAL ASSAULT INVESTIGATION? WE SHOULD NEVER USE THIS CODE IN ANY SEXUAL ASSAULT INVESTIGATION. COUNCIL MEMBER. I AGREE WITH YOU. AND, UM, THAT WAS ONE OF THE MISSES AT THAT TIME IN 2017 WHEN IT WAS HANDLED FOR CHILD SEXUAL ASSAULT CASES. IT WASN'T APPLIED TO ADULT SEXUAL ASSAULT CASES. AND, AND THAT IS THROUGHOUT MY PRESENTATION, I LISTED DIFFERENT TIMES WHEN THERE WERE, THERE WERE MISSES WHERE WE MIGHT'VE DISCOVERED THIS AND DEALT WITH IT THEN. AND THEY'RE JUST ALL MISSES. AND THIS IS ONE OF THEM. WHOSE, WHOSE DECISION WAS IT TO NEVER USE THE CODE DURING A CHILD SEXUAL ASSAULT INVESTIGATION? I BELIEVE IT WAS PROBABLY THE GONNA BE THE COMMANDER. I WASN'T INVOLVED IN THOSE CONVERSATIONS, BUT IT WOULD'VE BEEN COMMANDER AT THE TIME. UH, DAVID ANGELO. YOU, YOU? OKAY, GREAT. SO THE WAY THAT THE COMMUNICATION STARTED WAS LIEUTENANT COLBURN HAD JUST TRANSFERRED BACK INTO, UM, SPECIAL VICTIMS DIVISION. HE HAD THAT CONVERSATION WITH BACK THEN, CAPTAIN ANGELO, AND ADVISED HIM THERE WAS NO WAY THAT HE, HE COULDN'T STAND BEFORE ANYBODY AND ADVISE ANYBODY THAT HE SUSPENDED A [05:15:01] CASE INVOLVING A CHILD. SO HE WAS THE ONE THAT CONVINCED CAPTAIN ANGELO BACK THEN TO PAUSE UTILIZING IT AND THE CRIMES AGAINST CHILDREN UNIT. UM, AND IT WASN'T TRANSFERRED OVER TO ADULT SEX CRIMES. NOW THAT I DON'T HAVE THE ANSWER FOR, UM, DON'T KNOW WHY THAT MID-MANAGER DIDN'T BRING IT TO THE, UM, COMMANDER'S ATTENTION BACK THEN. SO NOW THE PROCESS IS ALL SEXUAL ASSAULT CASES WILL BE INVESTIGATED. YES, MA'AM. ALL SEXUAL ASSAULTS ARE BEING CHILDREN, ADULTS, FAMILY MEMBERS, EVERY, EVERY AREA OF HPD. WHEN THERE IS A SEXUAL ASSAULT, THERE WILL BE AN INVESTIGATION. YES, MA'AM. THEY WILL BE. AND THE REASON I, I, I'M, I'M HARPING ON THAT IS BECAUSE ON PAGE 14 YOU SAID WE HAD A NAME, A DESCRIPTION, A VEHICLE, AND A KIT FOR A SEXUAL ASSAULT CASE. AND THAT'S TOTALLY DIFFERENT THAN THERE'S A BICYCLE IN MY GARAGE, AND I DON'T KNOW WHO STOLE IT. UM, WE HAD A NAME, A DESCRIPTION, A VEHICLE, AND A RAPE KIT. SO IT, IT'S HARD FOR ME TO PUT A PARALLEL, UM, ON SOLVABILITY FROM A BICYCLE IN A GARAGE WITH NO EVIDENCE AND A NAME, A DESCRIPTION OF VEHICLE AND A KIT. OKAY. I MEAN, IT'S, YES, THERE IS NO CORRELATION MATERIAL. THERE IS NO EQUIVALENCY THERE. I MEAN, THAT'S, THAT'S WHAT I'M SAYING. THIS, THIS CODE WAS INAPPROPRIATELY USED. IT WAS IN POLICY, UNFORTUNATELY, BUT IT WAS INAPPROPRIATELY USED, WHICH IS WHY WE ARE HERE TODAY. UM, AND THAT'S JUST THE TRUTH OF IT, MA'AM. UH, BY THE WAY, I DON'T KNOW. THIS IS COMMANDER ELIZABETH LORENNA. SHE IS OUR COMMANDER OVER OUR SPECIAL, SPECIAL VICTIMS DIVI DIVISION TODAY. SO AT LEAST YOU KNOW THE SOURCE OF THE INFORMATION, WHAT SHE'S GIVEN YOU. THANK YOU. AND THEN ON PAGE 13, UM, WE, WE TALKED ABOUT THIS CIRCULAR ON PAGE 13. IT'S KIND OF SMALL, SO IT'S HARD FOR HARD FOR ME TO READ IT. UM, BUT YOU MADE A COMMENT THAT, UH, CHIEF SLINKER WAS NOT IN THE CHAIN OF COMMAND, BUT I THINK THIS NOTE THAT SAYS, SHOULD WE REFER IT TO THE CHIEF OF POLICE? DID THAT COME FROM CHIEF SLINKER? YES. YES, MA'AM. SO JUST, I'M JUST TRYING TO BE, UH, PRECISE WITH COUNCIL MEMBER POLLARD'S QUESTION. UM, AT THAT TIME, CHIEF SLINKER WAS THE EXECUTIVE CHIEF, UH, UH, RIGHT UNDER, UH, CHIEF NER. BUT IN TERMS OF REPORTING, IN TERMS OF ORGANIZATIONAL CHART, UM, HE WAS NOT THE DIRECT REPORT BY, HE WAS NOT THE PERSON THAT EXECUTIVE ASSISTANT CHIEF JIM JONES REPORTED TO. EXECUTIVE ASSISTANT CHIEF JIM JONES REPORTED DIRECTLY TO CHIEF FINNER, UH, SAME AS ME AS FIELD OPERATIONS EXECUTIVE ASSISTANT CHIEF. I REPORTED DIRECTLY TO CHIEF FINNER AT THAT TIME. SO, SO WHO WROTE, RECOMMEND NOT ISSUING, I, I CAN'T READ THAT HANDWRITING, BUT WHO WROTE, RECOMMEND NOT ISSUING? UM, I BELIEVE THAT WOULD'VE BEEN, UH, CHIEF, UM, JONES, EXECUTIVE ASSISTANT CHIEF, JIM JONES. HIS THOUGHT PROCESS, AS I UNDERSTAND, WAS THIS WAS PRIMARILY AN INVESTIGATIONS THING, AND HE WAS TRYING TO CORRECT IT INVESTIGATIONS. AND THEN OF COURSE, CHIEF SLINKER SAID, AGREED CONCURRED, BUT SAID, FIX IT IN THE, UH, STANDARD OPERATING PROCEDURES. I'M SORRY. UH, THEY BROUGHT A BETTER PRINT FOR ME. SO THAT WOULD'VE BEEN, YES. UH, EXECUTIVE CHIEF JIM JONES, AGAIN, HIS, HIS LOGIC WAS HE WAS GONNA FIX IT IN INVESTIGATIONS WHERE THE PROBLEM PRIMARILY EXISTED. UM, AND THEN IT WAS AGREED UPON, UH, ON THIS PIECE OF PAPER. AND, UM, AND IT WAS SUPPOSED TO BE FIXED IN SOPS. NONE OF THAT EVER HAPPENED. NONE OF THAT EVER HAPPENED. AND THAT'S THEREIN LIES THE PROBLEM. A PART OF THE PROBLEM, YOU KNOW, THAT WE FACE HERE TODAY. IG AND I GUESS FOR ME IT SAYS NO CIRCULAR NEEDED, BUT SHOULD BE IN ALL INVESTIGATIVE DISCUSSIONS AND STANDARD OPERATING PROCEDURES. THAT'S A BIG YES. FLAG. THAT THAT DIDN'T HAPPEN. AND THIS WAS CIRCULATED TO SEVERAL OF PEOPLE IN LEADERSHIP. UM, IT, IT DIDN'T, IT DIDN'T MAKE IT TO THE CHIEF BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, IT SAID TO ROUTE TO EAC JONES PRIOR TO COP, AND I'M ASSUMING THAT'S CHIEF OF POLICE. RIGHT. THE INTENT WAS FOR IT TO GO TO CHIEF JONES AND THEN ULTIMATELY CHIEF FINNER. RIGHT NOW I HAVE, WE, WE DO NOT HAVE ANYTHING THAT SAYS THAT CHIEF FINNER EVER RECEIVED THIS SPECIFIC ONE. IF CONVERSATIONS WERE HAD, WE DON'T HAVE ANY KNOWLEDGE OF THOSE. [05:20:03] THANK YOU. VICE MAYOR PROTE PECK. THANK YOU, MAYOR. AND THANK YOU, CHIEF. I KNOW IT'S BEEN A DIFFICULT TIME FOR HPD, BUT I APPRECIATE YOUR LEADERSHIP IN GETTING US TO THE OTHER SIDE ON THIS. UM, AFTER THE DIRECTIVE WAS TAKEN TO NOT USE THIS CODE ANYMORE, UM, DO WE KNOW HOW MANY TIMES IT WAS USED AFTER THAT, AND IF THERE WERE ANY DISCIPLINARY ACTIONS TAKEN AGAINST ANYONE WHO USED THE CODE AFTER THE DIRECTIVE WAS GIVEN THE DIRECTIVE ON MARCH 1ST OF THIS YEAR IN, IN WRITING OR THE DIRECTIVE IN, I BELIEVE IT WAS NOVEMBER, UM, OR THE NOVEMBER 4TH EXECUTIVE STAFF MEETING? YEAH. IN, NO, IN 2021. UM, WHEN THE CHIEF STATED HE DIRECTED THE, UM, SPECIAL VICTIM'S DIVISION TO STOP USING THE CODE, OR IN ANY ITERATION OF USING THE CODE AND NOT USING THE CODE, DO WE KNOW HOW MANY TIMES IT WAS USED AFTER ANY DIVISION WAS TOLD NOT TO USE IT? AND IF ANY DISCIPLINARY ACTIONS WERE TAKEN AS A RESULT OF THAT OR ANYTHING RELATED TO THE INVESTIGATIONS? I WILL HAVE TO, UH, ASK. I DON'T, I DO NOT HAVE THAT NUMBER POST. WE KNOW IT WAS USED AFTER, AFTER THE EXECUTIVE STAFF MEETING, UH, THAT OCCURRED, UM, WITH CHIEF FINNER STATING HE, HE, HE DID THIS DIRECTIVE, AND THAT WAS A, THAT WAS CONCURRED UPON BY CHIEF SLINKER AND CHIEF JONES AND DIRECTOR POOR. A LOT OF THE OTHER PEOPLE IN THE ROOM HAVE DIFFERENT ACCOUNTS. UH, UNFORTUNATELY, REGARDLESS, IT NEVER WAS, UM, IT NEVER WAS ENACTED 'CAUSE NO POLICY. THE, THE PROCESS WAS STILL STAYED IN PLACE AT THE INVESTIGATIVE LEVEL AT ALL THE DIVISIONS. SO THERE WERE NO DISCIPLINARY, DISCIPLINARY ACTIONS TAKEN AGAINST ANY OFFICER OR ANYONE IN COMMAND STAFF AS A RESULT OF ALL OF THIS. SO IF THEY WERE OPERATING WITHIN POLICY AND THE POLICY STILL ALLOWED IT UNTIL MARCH OF THIS YEAR, THEN THEIR ACTION WITHIN POLICY. AND WE CANNOT HOLD AN INVESTIGATOR ACCOUNTABLE IF THE, IF THEY'RE FOLLOWING THE POLICY AND THE TRAINING. THAT'S WHY I SAY THE REAL FAIL THAT WE HAD WAS NOT FOLLOWING UP, NOT MAKING SURE, AND WE ALL HAVE TO OWN THAT AT THE EXECUTIVE LEVEL. OKAY. UM, WHEN IT COMES TO CRIME RATES AND REPORTS, UM, IS IT CORRECT THAT THE CRIME RATE NUMBERS THAT WE'VE BEEN GIVEN ALL OF THESE YEARS WOULD BE CORRECT BECAUSE THAT STILL INFORMATION WAS TAKEN BY HPD, SO WE WOULD STILL KNOW THE NUMBER OF INCIDENTS THAT HAPPENED, BUT IT'S THE CLEARANCE RATES THAT ARE NOT ACCURATE. IS THAT CORRECT? SO THOSE NUMBERS WILL ADJUST AND THEY WILL ADJUST BECAUSE WE HAVE BRS AND WE ARE WORKING THROUGH THAT AS WE INVESTIGATE THESE CASES. SO THOSE NUMBERS WILL ADJUST. I KNOW I HAVE DIRECTOR CUMMINS THAT CAN, WHY DON'T YOU SPEAK SPECIFICALLY TO THAT? SURE. SO SPECIFIC TO THAT ISSUE, SPECIFIC TO THAT ISSUE, WE HAD APPROXIMATELY 34,000 INCIDENTS THAT WERE MISSED OR THAT WERE RETITLED AFTER THIS INITIAL REVIEW. OUT OF THE 266, 8,000 OF THEM WERE TITLED ORIGINALLY INVESTIGATION TYPE CASES, AND WERE FOUND TO CONTAIN CRIMINAL ELEMENTS THAT NEEDED TO BE REPORTED. SO THOSE 8,000 INCIDENTS WILL THEN BE ADJUSTED IN COUNTS OVER THOSE YEARS, BETWEEN JANUARY OF 2018 AND PRESENT, THEY GET COUNTED IN THE MONTH FOR WHICH THE CRIME OCCURRED. SO THE CRIME RATE ITSELF, GIVEN THE NUMBER WOULD NOT ADJUST, BUT THE CRIME TOTALS WILL, AND THE CLEARANCE RATES CERTAINLY WILL. OKAY. UM, SO AS THE COMMAND STAFF, UM, LOOKED AT THE REPORTS OVER THE YEARS, UM, YOU KNOW, WE'VE BEEN TOLD 10 PLUS YEARS THAT EVERY, UM, WHEN YOU'RE LOOKING AT STAFFING FOR DIFFERENT DIVISIONS, IT'S ALL DONE BY, UM, THE NUMBERS THAT ARE COMING IN AND PEOPLE ARE ALLOCATED BASED ON WHAT THE NUMBERS SHOW. AND SO I'M WONDERING, AS THE COMMAND STAFF WERE LOOKING AT THESE NUMBERS AND SEEING SO-CALLED CLEARANCE RATES, WERE THEY SEEING NUMBERS, YOU KNOW, HERE'S THE NUMBER OF CRIMES AND HERE'S HOW MANY WERE, WERE CLEARED, AND THAT'S GREAT. OR WAS IT BROKEN DOWN INTO, THESE WEREN'T REALLY CLEARED, THEY'RE JUST SUSPENDED, AND DID ANYONE FROM THE COMMAND STAFF KNOW THAT MAYBE WE NEEDED TO BEEF UP INVESTIGATIONS BECAUSE OF THAT? SO I'M JUST WONDERING HOW FAR IT WAS BROKEN DOWN FOR THE COMMAND STAFF TO ACTUALLY SEE WHAT WAS CLEARED AND WHY. VERY EARLY ON THERE WAS A STANDARDIZED DDS REPORT THAT WAS CREATED. YOU'LL READ ABOUT IT MORE IN THE REPORT, AND IT DID STANDARDIZE THE REPORTING OF THOSE CODES. AND OVER TIME, THE DIVISIONS ADJUSTED THEIR REPORTS AND THEY WERE NOT STANDARDIZED CURRENTLY. SO WHILE THEY WERE STILL REPORTING NUMBERS, THEY WERE NOT ALWAYS REPORTING THE SAME THING. UH, THEY ALSO, BECAUSE OF SOME DEFICIENCIES IN OUR RMS, [05:25:01] ARE VERY DEPENDENT UPON DIVISIONAL CASE MANAGEMENT DATABASES, ACCESS DATABASES THAT ARE SEPARATE AND APART FROM OUR RMS, WHICH PUTS US IN A SITUATION WHERE THE DIVISIONS ARE REALLY SOLELY RESPONSIBLE FOR MANAGING THE DATA, REPORTING THE DATA. IT DIDN'T LIMIT OUR DEPARTMENT WIDE ABILITY TO AUDIT TO THE LEVEL THAT I SEE US DOING. SO MOVING FORWARD. OKAY. THANK YOU. COUNCIL MEMBER RAMIREZ. THANK YOU MAYOR. AND THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE, CHIEF, FOR BEING THE NEXT MAN UP, UH, WHEN WE NEEDED SOME LEADERSHIP AND, UH, FOR SITTING IN THE HOT SEAT TODAY. SO I'VE GOT A FEW QUESTIONS FOR YOU. UM, I'M, I'M IMPRESSED WITH THE REPORT. I KNOW A LOT OF WORK WENT INTO IT. I HOPE IT'LL BE THE CATALYST FOR SOME, FOR SOME REAL CHANGE THAT WE NEED. AND SO PERHAPS WE, WE WILL HAVE THAT AS A, A SILVER LINING IN THIS DARK CHAPTER, UH, THAT HPD HAS HAD TO GO THROUGH. UM, TWO THINGS THAT YOU SAID. THIS WAS A FAILURE OF SYSTEMS AND A FAILURE OF LEADERSHIP. IS THAT RIGHT? YES, SIR. SO ALL THE, UH, MEN AND WOMEN WE HAVE PATROLLING OUR STREETS AND KEEPING US SAFE. THIS WAS NOT THEIR FAULT. NO, SIR. THIS IS, THIS IS AT OUR LEVEL. OKAY. RELATIVELY SMALL NUMBER OF FOLKS IN THE UPPER LEVELS OF THE DEPARTMENT. UH, AND I'M TRYING TO UNDERSTAND, UH, CHIEF, AND I HOPE YOU'LL HELP ME, UM, MINDSET OR ATTITUDE THAT EXISTS WHERE SOMEONE DOESN'T JUMP UP AND SAY, YOU KNOW WHAT? IT'S NOT A GOOD IDEA TO ALLOW A VIOLENT CRIME CASE WITH WORKABLE LEAVES TO BE CODED, UH, SUSPENDED TO BE INACTIVATED. AND, AND I'M WONDERING WHY THAT WAS ALLOWED TO HAPPEN. CAN YOU HELP ME UNDERSTAND THAT, SIR? I REALLY CAN'T. I'M IN AGREEMENT WITH YOU MM-HMM . UM, WHAT, WHEN I, WHEN I WAS AT THE DA'S OFFICE, UH, WE HAD A POLICY IN PLACE THAT NO, NO MATTER HOW LONG YOU'D BEEN THERE, NO MATTER HOW HIGH UP IN LEADERSHIP YOU WERE, YOU HAD TO TRY TWO CASES A YEAR, RIGHT? SO YOU NEVER FORGOT WHAT IT WAS LIKE TO WORK WITH A VICTIM. HE NEVER FORGOT WHAT IT WAS LIKE TO DEAL WITH THE DIFFICULTIES, THE PRACTICAL DIFFICULTIES IN, IN PROSECUTING A CASE. AND, UM, I'M WONDERING, MIGHT SOME SORT OF POLICY LIKE THAT REQUIRING HPD LEADERSHIP TO MAINTAIN AT LEAST A SMALL CASELOAD SO THAT THEY, THEY KEEP THEIR HANDS IN IT AND THEY STAY FRESH REGARDING WHO THEY'RE WORKING FOR AND WHAT IT, WHAT IT TAKES TO, TO SOLVE A CASE. WHAT ARE YOUR THOUGHTS ON THAT? I, I THINK IT'S A GREAT IDEA, SIR. I MEAN, GOING BACK INTO THE FIELD OR IN INVESTIGATIONS, UM, IS, IS REALLY IMPORTANT TO MAINTAIN, UH, AWARENESS, CONTACT, TOUCH WITH THE OFFICERS IN THE FIELD, WHETHER IT'S PATROL AND RUNNING CALLS OR IN THE FIELD FOR, FOR ANY TYPE OF EVENT WE MIGHT HAVE OR CATASTROPHE OR AN INVESTIGATION. UM, SO IT'S, I THINK IT'S A, A GREAT IDEA AND CERTAINLY SOMETHING ELSE THAT WE CAN ADD, WHICH IS, YOU KNOW, BY, IN PRACTICE, MANY OF US ALREADY GO INTO THE FIELD AND DO DIFFERENT THINGS. BUT I CAN'T TELL YOU THE LAST TIME I DID PERSONALLY AN INVESTIGATION, UH, WHERE I WAS THE INVESTIGATOR FOR A, UM, CERTAINLY FOR A HOMICIDE OR ANYTHING LIKE THAT. I'M, I'M USUALLY IN A DIFFERENT ROLE WHEN I'M ON THOSE SCENES. SO IT'S, UH, WE COULD, WE CERTAINLY, IT'S WORTH LOOKING AT AND EXPLORING. I WILL ALSO SAY, WHEN YOU ASK ME WHY SOMEBODY WOULDN'T RAISE THEIR HAND ON THIS, AND I UNDERSTAND, SIR, WHAT YOU'RE GOING AT, BECAUSE I FEEL THE SAME WAY, AGAIN, THESE INVESTIGATORS ARE GETTING AN INCREDIBLE NUMBER OF CASES THROWN UP ON THEM. 'CAUSE THERE'S NOT ENOUGH OF THEM. AND SO EVEN THEY ARE DOING SOME TRIAGE WORK CASES WITH WORKABLE LEADS, BUT THEY'RE STILL NOT THAT STRONG. THEY PROBABLY, I CAN ONLY IMAGINE, I'M, I'M A BIT PROBABLY SAID I'M GONNA WORK ON THIS CASE THAT I KNOW I CAN MAKE AND THEY MAY BE SUSPENDED. THE OTHER, IT'S, IT'S NOT AN EXCUSE. I'M NOT TRYING TO MAKE ONE FOR ANY OF US. I'M JUST TRYING TO TELL YOU HOW SOMEBODY MIGHT DO SOMETHING WHERE IT'S A WEAK CASE, BUT STILL GOT WORKABLE LEADS MM-HMM . AND A VIOLENT CRIME, HOW THAT MIGHT HAPPEN. UM, I JUST REALLY DON'T KNOW. I I GET THAT, BUT, BUT IT'S, IT'S THE LEADERSHIP LEVEL THAT YES, SIR, THAT I'M WONDERING ABOUT MM-HMM . SOMEBODY DIDN'T JUMP UP AND SAY, NO, WE CAN'T DO THIS. AND SO I WONDER, UH, IF IT WOULDN'T BE [05:30:01] WISE TO HAVE A VOICE OR TWO IN THE ROOM, YOU KNOW, MAYBE CIVILIANS WITH EXPERTISE IN SYSTEMS, UH, LEADERSHIP, GREAT LEADERSHIP SKILLS, UH, YOU KNOW, TO, TO SOMETIMES BE A VOICE OF REASON AND SAY, WE CAN'T DO THIS. WE SHOULDN'T DO THIS. YES, SIR. THAT I, I ABSOLUTELY 1000% AGREE. HAVING PEOPLE IN THE ROOM TO, TO RAISE THOSE, THOSE, THOSE COUNTER ARGUMENTS IF, OR SUGGESTIONS OR WE, WE NEED THAT ALL THE TIME. YOU ALWAYS NEED SOMEBODY LOOKING AND EVERYBODY ON THE TEAM NEEDS TO BE LOOKING AT CONSEQUENCES SO THAT WE CAN MAKE THE BEST DECISIONS. SO IT'S A PRACTICE THAT WE HAVE THAT WE'RE GONNA INCREASE ALONG WITH THE QUALITY ASSURANCE AND QUALITY CONTROL MEASURES THAT WE PUT IN. AND, AND THE ORDER FOR EVERYBODY IS DON'T BE A YES MAN OR A YES WOMAN. A NEED TO KNOW. GOOD. YOU KNOW, THAT'S THE THING. TH THANK YOU FOR THAT. CHIEF CHIEF 10. DID YOU WANNA ADD SOMETHING? YES, SIR. COUNCIL MEMBER. I, I JUST WANT TO, UH, QUICK POINT WELL TAKEN, BUT I DO WANT TO REALLY DISTINGUISH THE TWO POINTS THAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT. UM, I THINK ONCE THE INVESTIGATOR GETS SIGNED TO THE CASES, THEY ACTUALLY DO AN EXCEPTIONAL JOB. I THINK THE GAP, UH, THE DELINQUENCY IS THE CASE MANAGEMENT, THE UNDERSTANDING OUR CASE MANAGEMENT. SO SERVE TO FULFILL YOUR INTENT, ENVISION WHAT IT SHOULD BE TO MAKE WHAT RIGHT. LOOKS LIKE THE GOAL IS TO TRAIN ALL MANAGEMENT AT EVERY SINGLE LEVEL TO UNDERSTAND CASE MANAGEMENT AND CASE ASSIGNMENT, THE TRAINING THAT WE'LL INCORPORATE IN THE EXTREMELY NEAR FUTURE, NOT JUST TRAINING, BUT RECURRENT TRAINING WILL HAVE THAT COMPONENT TO IT. LIKE THE DIRECTOR AND I HAVE BEEN DISCUSSING, WE'LL INCLUDE EVERY SINGLE CHAIN ALONG THE LEVEL TO UNDERSTAND WHAT CASE MANAGE REALLY IS. I, I UNDERSTAND IT AND I APPRECIATE THAT, BUT I'M THINKING MORE IN TERMS OF SOMEONE TO SAY, LOOK, THIS ISN'T A GOOD IDEA. OR EVEN IF, IF IT IS ACCEPTED THAT SOMEBODY ELSE JUMPS UP AND SAYS, WE NEED TO HAVE PARAMETERS, WE CAN NEVER USE THIS, THIS CODE FOR A VIOLENT CRIME CASE WITH SOLVABLE LEADS, FOR INSTANCE. THAT THAT SORT OF LEADERSHIP. YES, SIR. BUT THANK YOU. AND, UM, YOU SPOKE, UH, ELOQUENTLY ABOUT THE NEED FOR MORE OFFICERS, AND THIS HAS ALWAYS BEEN THE CASE. IT SEEMS LIKE, UH, AS LONG AS I CAN REMEMBER WHEN, WHEN I PROPOSED THE SIXTH ACADEMY CLASS AS, AS A BUDGET AMENDMENT THAT WAS ADOPTED, YOU KNOW, WE TALKED IN BUDGET WORKSHOP ABOUT WHAT WOULD IT TAKE, YOU KNOW, TO FILL A, A SIXTH ACADEMY CLASS. AND IF I RECALL CORRECTLY, YOU WERE IN THE ROOM, THE INITIAL REACTION WAS, WE CAN'T DO IT. WE DON'T HAVE THE RESOURCES, WE DON'T HAVE THE FACILITIES INSTEAD OF WE HAVE TO DO IT. YOU KNOW, AND, AND NOW YOU PRESENTED SOME OF THOSE SAME SLIDES THAT SHOWS IN TWO OF THE LAST FOUR YEARS, WE LOST MORE OFFICERS THROUGH ATTRITION THAN WE GAINED THROUGH THE ACADEMY. AND SO, UM, I'M GLAD WE'RE GONNA HAVE THAT ADDITIONAL ACADEMY CLASS, BUT I HOPE THERE'S, UH, THE MINDSET IN LEADERSHIP AND IN RECRUITING TO, TO DO WHAT'S NECESSARY TO FILL IT. AND, AND I'VE, I'VE TOLD YOU, AND I'VE TOLD YOUR DIRECTOR, YOUR COMMANDER OVER RECRUITING THAT, HEY, THIS IS ON ALL OF US WHEN WE'RE GONNA HELP YOU. SO JUST LET US KNOW HOW WE CAN BEST HELP YOU PUT MORE OFFICERS ON THE STREETS. I KNOW MORE OFFICERS ON THE STREETS NOT GONNA SOLVE ALL OUR PROBLEMS, BUT IT'S, IT'S A PART OF THE SOLUTION. IT YES, SIR. AGREED, SIR. AND YEAH, I VERY CLEARLY REMEMBER WE WERE SITTING RIGHT HERE, UH, WHEN THAT WAS SAID, I CAN'T, BUT, UH, THANK YOU FOR PRESSING BECAUSE WE VERY QUICKLY, UH, AND SAID, WE CAN AND WE WILL, AND, AND YOU AND THE MAYOR, AND THANK YOU ALL FOR APPROVING THAT. SO, BUT YES, WE HAVE TO DO EVERYTHING WE CAN, AND WE RELY ON ALL OF YOU AND EVERYBODY TO HELP US IN RECRUITING. WE NEED GOOD MEN AND WOMEN TO TAKE ON THIS JOB FOR THE FUTURE OF THE CITY AND TO KEEP EVERYBODY SAFE. SO ALL THAT YOU CAN DO IN THAT, I GREATLY APPRECIATE. OKAY. WE HAVE TO. SO LET US KNOW HOW WE CAN HELP. YES, SIR. THANK YOU. MM-HMM . BEFORE I GO ANY FURTHER, DO YOU NEED A BREAK? I'M FINE, SIR, BUT IF EVERYBODY ELSE WOULD LIKE ONE THAT IT IS CERTAINLY FINE TOO. THAT MEANS YES, , IT'S, UH, I DON'T, I DON'T WANNA BREAK UP THE FLOW, BUT I DO NOT WANT YOU TO SIT THERE IF YOU NEED A FIVE MINUTE BREAK. MAYOR, I'M, YOU'LL YOU'LL TAKE ONE. WELL, WE'VE ALREADY, WE'VE ALREADY TAKEN ONE. WE CHEATED. I'M FINE. WE WENT TO THE RESTROOM. I AM, I'M FINE. I KNEW UPFRONT THIS WAS GOING TO BE A LONG MEETING, UM, AND SAID AS MUCH [05:35:01] I FINE. YOU HAVE SOME WATER, THEN I'M, UH, I WILL TAKE ANOTHER BOTTLE OF WATER. THAT WOULD BE AWESOME. WE'LL GET YOU A BOTTLE OF WATER, ALTHOUGH THAT'S GONNA COMPOUND THE OTHER ISSUE. . WELL, SIR, RAISE, RAISE YOUR HAND IF YOU'D LIKE TO TAKE A QUICK BREAK. BUT ANYWAY, COUNCILMAN COUNCILWOMAN MCCARTER. THANK YOU, MAYOR. AND, YOU KNOW, THANK YOU CHIEF SATTERWHITE. UM, FIRST OFF, I'D LIKE TO JUST ACKNOWLEDGE SOMETHING THAT WE HAVEN'T, AND CERTAINLY YOUR, UH, YOUR REPORT'S VERY THOROUGH AND GREAT, UM, HEARTBREAKING, MOST IMPORTANTLY FOR THE VICTIMS. AND I THINK WE NEED TO, UH, CERTAINLY CONTINUE TO ACKNOWLEDGE THAT THE FAMILIES, THE VICTIMS, AND THEIR FAMILIES. CERTAINLY I KNOW, UH, MANY OF THE FACES OUT HERE BEHIND YOU, AND I KNOW THAT YOU ALL CARRY THAT BURDEN EVERY DAY. UM, AND, AND IT'S, IT'S, UH, QUITE SHOCKING, QUITE PAINFUL TO HEAR ALL THIS, YOU KNOW, COMING INTO OFFICE, I WAS AWARE THAT THERE WAS A, UM, A SIGNIFICANT PROBLEM WITH OUR FIRE DEPARTMENT AND TO LEARN THAT, UM, YOU KNOW, NOW WE'RE FACING THE, UH, ISSUES WITH OUR POLICE DEPARTMENT, BUT YOU CAN'T UNRING A BELL. AND IN 2014, AS COUNCIL MEMBER ALCORN POINTED OUT, THAT BELL STARTED RINGING AND HAS BEEN RINGING, RINGING SINCE THE FACT THAT YOU NEED MORE RESOURCES, THAT YOU NEED OFFICERS. AND, AND ALSO TOO, THE REALITY OF WHEN THIS CODE STARTED BEING USED, UH, YOU KNOW, LIKE IT JUST, IT'S POLICY AND SO THE OFFICERS ARE USING IT, WHETHER IT'S RIGHT, WHETHER IT'S WRONG, WE, WE REALLY CAN'T DEBATE THAT NOW, BUT CERTAINLY, UM, IT'S ALMOST A DECADE NOW OF USING THIS, THIS CODE. UM, SO, YOU KNOW, FAST FORWARD HERE WE ARE AND, AND RECOGNIZING THE REPORT IS OUT, WE ALL WANT TO, TO KNOW BETTER, DO BETTER, BE BETTER, UM, TO COUNCIL MEMBER RAMIREZ'S, UH, 0.1 OF MY TWO, UH, A COUPLE OF QUESTIONS FOR YOU. ONE IS, UM, HAS THIS, OR WILL THIS IMPACT YOUR ABILITY TO RECRUIT? AND HOW CAN WE HELP AND ARE, WHAT ARE THE PLANS MOVING FORWARD TO KIND OF CLEAN THIS UP AND, AND REALLY PUSH TOWARDS RECRUITMENT? AND, AND CERTAINLY I THINK EVERYONE AT THE HORSESHOE IS WILLING TO, TO WORK WITH YOU AND WANTS TO WORK WITH YOU TO, TO, UH, TO HELP YOU IN THOSE EFFORTS. UM, AND NOW THAT ONE, AND THEN I'LL WRAP IT ALL UP IN ONE. AND ALSO TOO, UM, ON THE NUMBER OF CASES THAT SOMEHOW I'VE BEEN SITTING ON THE BACK SHELF FOR ALL THIS TIME, WHAT IS THE STATUTE OF, OF LIMITATIONS? HOW DOES THAT IMPACT SOME CASES THAT WILL NEVER, YOU KNOW, HAVE AN ANSWER THAT, THAT WE'VE BEEN, YOU KNOW, WE'VE PASSED THE, UH, THE, UH, LIMIT FOR, UM, CAN YOU HELP HAVE AN ANSWER FOR THAT ONE? YES, MA'AM. FIRST QUESTION IS, HOW DOES IT IMPACT RECRUITING? UM, AND WE ARE HAVING SOME SUCCESS AT RECRUITING. UM, WE ARE GOING TO AS MANY PLACES IN MANY VENUES AS POSSIBLE, UH, IN AN EFFORT TO, TO REACH, UM, POTENTIAL CANDIDATES FOR THIS JOB. UM, THE GOOD NEWS IS, IS UH, IF YOU CAN MEET THE QUALIFICATIONS, WE DON'T HAVE AN UPPER AGE LIMIT. SO I'M LOOKING AROUND NO. UH, BUT TRULY WE, WE CAN. UM, YES, SO AND SO WE'RE GOING TO DO THAT. WE'RE A GOOD DEPARTMENT, OKAY? AND I KNOW I'M TELLING A VERY BAD STORY AND IT HURTS AND IT HURTS BECAUSE, I MEAN, THIS IS MY DEPARTMENT AND IT HURTS SEVERELY, BUT, BUT IT'S A GOOD DEPARTMENT THAT DOES GREAT WORK EVERY DAY. UH, AND IT RESPONDS TO CATASTROPHIC EVENTS AND PEOPLE PUT IT ON THE LINE. AND I THINK THE PUBLIC SEES THAT. YOU KNOW, LIKE I SAID EARLIER, WE ENJOY A LOT OF SUPPORT FROM THE PUBLIC. WE'RE NOT PERFECT, BUT WE ENJOY A LOT OF SUPPORT. AND WITH THAT COMES OTHER, UH, POTENTIAL YOUNG MEN, YOUNG WOMEN OR OLDER, THAT LOOK AT IT AND SAY, YOU KNOW, FOR A SECOND CAREER, THIS IS SOMETHING I MIGHT WANT TO DO. SO WILL THIS HURT US IN RECRUITING? I HOPE NOT. AND I, BECAUSE I KNOW PEOPLE WANT TO BE A PART OF A FIRST CLASS ORGANIZATION, AND WE ARE, UM, THIS HAPPENED, IT HAPPENED PRIMARILY BECAUSE WE JUST DON'T HAVE THE STAFFING. WE'RE TAKING MEASURES TO FIX THAT AND HOPEFULLY WE'LL GET MORE STAFFING AND THAT'S WHAT WE NEED. WE NEED RECRUITS. SO, UM, SO I HAVEN'T REALLY SEEN A DROP OFF YET, AND I HOPE THAT NONE OF US DO. UH, IN TERMS OF STATUTE OF LIMITATIONS THOUGH ARE CRIMES THAT HAVE A STATUTE OF LIMITATIONS. WE ALL KNOW THAT THERE IS NO STATUTE OF LIMITATIONS ON SEXUAL ASSAULT, SO THERE'S NO STATUTE OF LIMITATIONS ON HOMICIDE ON THE MOST SERIOUS, THERE'S NO STATUTE OF LIMITATIONS FOR OTHERS THERE ARE. AND TO BE, YOU KNOW, FULL, FULL HONESTY, THERE ARE CASES THAT ARE ALREADY BEYOND STATUTE OF LIMITATIONS THAT WE WILL NOT BE ABLE TO CHARGE IN. THAT'S TRUE. AND, AND THAT WILL HAPPEN, AND CERTAINLY ON PROPERTY CRIME EVEN MORE BECAUSE IT'S PROPERTY CRIME INVESTIGATIONS THAT ARE GOING TO SUFFER BECAUSE [05:40:01] WE ARE FOCUSED ON VIOLENT CRIME. THANK YOU. AND, AND JUST TO REITERATE, I AM PROUD OF OUR HOUSTON POLICE DEPARTMENT. I'VE ALWAYS BEEN A BIG SUPPORTER. WE'LL CONTINUE TO BE AND WANT TO HELP YOU ALL IN ANY WAY. AND IT, AGAIN, HEARTBREAKING, BUT I CAN ONLY IMAGINE THE LOAD THAT YOU ALL CARRY. SO THANK YOU AND GOD BLESS YOU ALL FOR BEING HERE TODAY TO SUPPORT AND, AND THANK YOU. THANK YOU. COUNCIL MEMBER EVANS SHABBAT. THANK YOU MAYOR. AND THANK YOU, UH, CHIEF SATTERWHITE AND THANK YOU TO ALL THE HPD OFFICERS WHO PUT THEIR LIVES ON THE LINE. UM, JUST CAN'T IMAGINE WHAT YOU FACE DAILY, BUT WE DO KNOW THAT WITHOUT YOU, WE WOULD REALLY HAVE A BIG PROBLEM. AND WE REALLY THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE. UM, MY FIRST QUESTION, I GUESS I WAS GONNA ASK ABOUT THE STATUTE OF LIMITATIONS. SO YOU DON'T REALLY HAVE A ACT AT A ADEQUATE NUMBER AS TO HOW MANY CANNOT BE, UM, INVESTIGATED. UH, I, I KNOW WHICH ONES CAN IN TERMS OF WHETHER THEY'RE CRIMES AGAINST PROPERTY OR CRIME OR SEXUAL ASSAULT, BUT YOU DON'T HAVE DATA REGARDING HOW MANY, UH, CANNOT BE INVESTIGATED DUE TO STATUTE OF LIMITATIONS. CORRECT? UH, SO YES, CORRECT. I DON'T, I DON'T HAVE THE EXACT NUMBER. WE ACTUALLY ARE LOOKING INTO THAT. UM, BECAUSE AS MUCH AS WE CAN, WE WANT THE PUBLIC NEEDS TO KNOW. THAT'S PART OF TRANSPARENCY FOR THOSE CASES THAT, THAT HAVE EXCEEDED THE STATUTE OF LIMITATIONS. BUT I DON'T HAVE AN EXACT NUMBER FOR YOU RIGHT NOW, COUNCIL MEMBER. I'M SO SORRY ABOUT THAT, BUT I CAN FOLLOW UP AND FIND IT FOR YOU. OKAY. ALSO, UM, IN THE SUBSEQUENT INVESTIGATION, HAVE WE DETERMINED THAT THERE WERE CASES THAT THERE WAS LACK OF EVIDENCE, UH, AND SHOULD NOT HAVE BEEN INVESTIGATED, THAT ARE INCLUDED IN THAT NUMBER? UH, YOU KNOW, THAT COULD, I MEAN, NO ONE WANTS TO HAVE A CASE THAT IS NOT INVESTIGATED, BUT IF THERE'S NO EVIDENCE, ARE THERE, DO YOU HAVE DATA REGARDING HOW MANY OF THOSE COULD NOT HAVE BEEN INVESTIGATED DUE TO LACK OF EVIDENCE? SO, YES, MA'AM. UH, I DON'T HAVE IT AT MY FINGERTIPS, BUT I THINK I CAN GET THAT FOR YOU. THE SIMPLE FACT IS, AND YOU BRING UP SOMETHING THAT I REALLY DIDN'T SPEAK A LOT ABOUT, BECAUSE WE HAVE REAL VICTIMS, RIGHT? AND THAT'S OUR FOCUS. BUT YES, OF THAT, THERE WERE THOUSANDS UPON THOUSANDS OF CASES THAT WE'VE ALREADY DISCOVERED WERE JUST MISCODED. THEY ARRESTS WERE MADE, AND FOR SOME REASON IT WAS CODED AS, AS SUSPENDED LACK OF PERSONNEL, OR THERE WERE NO LEADS WHATSOEVER. OR THE COMPLAINANT DID NOT WANNA PRESS CHARGES. IN SOME WAYS, THE CODE WAS USED MORE LIBERALLY THAN, THAN IT REALLY WAS, WOULD'VE EVEN SHOULD HAVE BEEN APPLIED TO, BECAUSE AS WE OPENED UP THOSE CASES, WE FOUND OUT THAT THERE WAS NO WORKABLE LEADS OR NOTHING ELSE, AND IT'S A CASE THAT PROBABLY WOULD NOT HAVE GONE FORWARD ANYWAY. AGAIN, WE HAVE REAL VICTIMS, SO I'M BEING CAREFUL ABOUT THAT. BUT THERE ARE THOUSANDS UPON THOUSANDS OF CASES THAT, UM, WERE JUST IMPROPERLY CODED, FRANKLY. AND, AND MY FINAL QUESTION, BECAUSE THAT 2018 EMAIL WAS DISCUSSED IN THIS REPORT, WAS THERE ANYTHING IN THAT EMAIL THAT REFERRED TO AN SL CODE, UM, TO WHICH, UM, OR WAS IT JUST A REPORT OF AN INCIDENT THAT CHIEF FINNER SAID THAT IT WAS NOT ACCEPTABLE? WAS THERE ANY REFERENCE IN THAT EMAIL TO A SL CODE? SO IT, IT'S, IT WAS A CASE THAT WASN'T WORKED AND WAS HANDLED THAT WAY. AND SO I I I THINK YOU TAKE IT FORWARD. IT, IT IS HERE, UH, HIM STATING IT'S UNACCEPTABLE. I THINK THE REASON BEING IS, IS, UM, IT'S BEEN IN THE NEWS AND WE'RE TRYING TO BE COMPLETELY TRANSPARENT WITH EVERYTHING AND NOT HIDING ANYTHING. OKAY. SO THAT'S WHY EVERYTHING IS HERE, RIGHT. AND EVERYTHING'S IN THE REPORT. SO THE ACTUAL CONVERSATION ABOUT SL SPECIFICALLY, I DON'T THINK IT'S THERE. I THINK IT'S JUST ABOUT THE CASES BEING SUSPENDED WHENEVER IT SHOULDN'T HAVE BEEN CHIEF FINNER APPROPRIATELY SAYING IT'S UNACCEPTABLE. IT WAS AN OPPORTUNITY LIKE ALL OF THE OTHERS TO MAYBE HOPEFULLY SOMEBODY FIGURED OUT SOMETHING OR FOLLOWED UP. IT JUST WASN'T DONE. AND THAT'S WHY I SAY THE FAIL, THE FAIL, THE FAILS IN THIS ARE ALL AT THE LEADERSHIP LEVEL. I'M A PART OF THAT LEADERSHIP. UH, THE FAILS. WE ARE NOT PUTTING THE SAYING THAT THE FELLS LIE AT THE INVESTIGATOR LEVEL. IT'S, IT'S US. OKAY. MY REASON FOR ASKING IS BECAUSE IF THERE WAS NO REFERENCE TO AN SL CODE, THEN THERE WAS NOTHING THAT, UH, WOULD'VE BROUGHT THAT TO LIGHT FOR CHIEF FINNER TO REMEMBER THAT THIS WAS ADDRESSED IN 2018. MY, MY POINT IS, IF THERE, IF IT WASN'T AN SL CODE AND HE WAS ACTUALLY JUST RESPONDING TO A, AN INAPPROPRIATE INVESTIGATION, THEN IS IT FAIR TO SAY THAT HE DID [05:45:01] NOT, HE WAS NOT DISHONEST AND SAYING THAT HE DID NOT KNOW ABOUT THAT, UH, IN THAT PARTICULAR 2018 EMAIL? BECAUSE PEOPLE ARE SAYING, AND IT REALLY KIND OF BOTHERS ME, PEOPLE ARE SAYING THAT HE WAS LYING AND HE WAS NOT BEING HONEST. BUT IF IT WAS NOT MENTIONED IN THERE, AND GOD FORBID REMEMBERING A 2018 EMAIL, UH, I DON'T, I WOULD CHALLENGE ANYBODY TO REMEMBER THAT. UM, BUT CERTAINLY ONE THAT DIDN'T MAKE REFERENCE TO AN SL CODE, THEN PERHAPS HE WAS BEING HONEST AND SAYING THAT HE DID NOT KNOW ABOUT IT AT THAT TIME. IS THAT PRETTY ACCURATE IN 2018? THAT'S, IT'S VERY FAIR COUNCIL MEMBER. AND I'LL SAY THAT LIKE THIS, WE HAVE SO MUCH COMING AT US ALL THE TIME. THE, THE, THE THE THINGS, I MEAN, THE VERY NEXT DAY CAN BE SOMETHING ELSE LARGE THAT WE NEED TO PIVOT AND RESPOND TO, AND WE SEE IT ALL THE TIME. SO I'LL BET CHIEF FINN DID NOT REMEMBER AT ALL THAT EMAIL, YOU KNOW, YEARS EARLIER, OR IT'S LIKE ANYTHING ELSE. IT'S AT EVERY GIVEN POINT. THERE WAS AN OPPORTUNITY THAT WE ALL, THAT WE MISSED. I SAY AT EX WHEN THINGS LIKE THIS HAPPEN IN AN AGENCY, UM, YOU KNOW, THERE'S, THERE'S ALWAYS GONNA BE A LOT OF SCRUTINY AND THOSE OF US AT THE TOP ARE GOING TO RECEIVE THE MOST SCRUTINY AND WE'RE GONNA BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE. I MEAN, IT'S, IT HURTS US ALL. AND, BUT I DO NOT BELIEVE THAT CHIEF FINNER REMEMBERED A 2018 EMAIL AS HE WAS MAKING PUBLIC ANNOUNCEMENT AT ALL. I MEAN, I WOULD NOT REMEMBER EMAIL. I JUST WANTED DISPEL THAT HE WAS BEING DISHONEST. SURE, I UNDERSTAND. AND, AND THAT'S MY POINT, BECAUSE AT THAT POINT, HE WAS VERY EMPHATIC MM-HMM . AND I DON'T KNOW IF ANYBODY ELSE RESPONDED ON THAT EMAIL TO SAY THAT IT WAS INAPPROPRIATE AND TO INVESTIGATE. AND HE'S ALWAYS MAINTAINED HIS RESPONSIBILITY AND MOVE FORWARD TO TRY TO GET THINGS RESOLVED. SO I JUST WANTED DISPEL, YOU KNOW, I'VE GONE TOE TO TOE WITH PEOPLE SAYING, WELL, HE LIED. HE LIED. WELL, I JUST WANTED DISPEL PUBLICLY THAT I DO NOT BELIEVE THAT HE LIED. I DO NOT BELIEVE THAT HE, BECAUSE IT WAS NOT REFERRED TO THAT HE SHOULD HAVE REMEMBERED. AND, UM, ALSO, AND THAT I THOUGHT HE WAS DOING A FINE JOB. AND SO I WANNA SPEAK PUBLICLY REGARDING THAT. AND I APPRECIATE YOU, I'VE KNOWN YOU AND, AND, AND YOUR CHARACTER AND YOUR INTEGRITY, AND I BELIEVE THAT YOU ARE DOING A FINE JOB AS WELL. AND SO THANK YOU SO VERY MUCH FOR YOUR CANDOR. THANK YOU, COUNCIL MAYOR INGER. THANK YOU, MAYOR. I WAS A LITTLE SHOCKED WHEN THE BIG NUMBER CAME OUT AS TO HOW MANY CASES HADN'T BEEN WORKED. UH, I THINK IT WAS THE NEXT DAY THAT, UH, I SAW A POST I THINK FROM CHARLES BLAINE, WHICH I BELIEVE WAS THE SAME CLIP YOU SHOWED EARLIER ABOUT HOW IT HAD BEEN DISCUSSED A DECADE BEFORE, THE NUMBER OF CASES THAT THAT HADN'T BEEN WORKED AND THE FACT THAT YOU DIDN'T HAVE ENOUGH PERSONNEL TO ACTUALLY WORK ALL THE CASES. UH, AND IT WAS ALSO STATED AT THAT TIME THAT EVERY LARGE CITY HAS THE EXACT SAME ISSUE. SO I ASSUME TODAY WE STILL DON'T HAVE ENOUGH PERSONNEL TO WORK ALL THE CASES AS WELL. IS THAT CORRECT? COUNCIL MEMBER? WE HAVE FEWER PEOPLE TODAY THAN CHIEF MCCLELLAN HAD 10 YEARS AGO. OKAY. SO IT'S VERY UNDERSTANDABLE WHERE THIS GAP OCCURRED. I THINK THERE WAS REALLY TWO MISSES. ONE WAS OBVIOUSLY IN THE PRIORITIZATION OF WHAT GOT WORKED AND WHAT DIDN'T GET WORKED, WHICH YOU'VE ALREADY ADDRESSED. YES, SIR. UM, THE SECOND ONE, I BELIEVE IS MORE OF A TRANSPARENCY ISSUE. AND I'M NOT EVEN SURE IF TRANSPARENCY IS THE RIGHT WORD, BUT IT WASN'T HIGHLIGHTED TO THE PUBLIC THAT THIS MANY CASES EVERY MONTH AREN'T BEING WORKED BECAUSE WE DON'T HAVE ENOUGH PEOPLE. UH, I WOULD STRONGLY SUGGEST THAT GOING FORWARD, UNTIL WE HAVE ENOUGH PEOPLE TO WORK ALL THE CASES, AND THAT MAY NEVER BE THE CASE, UM, THAT WE TELL THE PUBLIC MONTHLY WE HAD THIS MANY CASES, THIS IS THE BANDWIDTH WE HAD TO WORK THE CASES, THIS IS WHAT'S LEFT OVER. AND I THINK THAT'LL GET KIND OF TO COUNCILMAN ALCORN'S POINT THAT THE PUBLIC WILL KNOW, YOU KNOW, THIS IS WHAT WE'RE PAYING FOR, THIS IS WHAT WE GET. IF WE WANNA GET MORE, WE'RE GONNA HAVE TO PAY MORE FOR IT. AND IT AT LEAST GIVE THEM A BETTER UNDERSTANDING OF, YOU KNOW, WHAT THE SITUATION IS AND HOW IT IS. AND THEY MAY SAY, WE DON'T WANNA PAY ANY MORE MONEY THAT WE'RE HAPPY WITH THE LEVEL OF SERVICE THAT WE GET. I, I DON'T KNOW. BUT AT LEAST THE PUBLIC CAN BE INFORMED AND, AND ACTUALLY MAKE THAT, MAKE THAT DECISION. UM, THE OTHER THING I, I GOT A QUESTION ABOUT IS THE SLIDE NUMBER FIVE, THE STAFFING LEVELS I, YOU'VE GOT AUTHORIZED, CLASSIFIED AND CIVILIAN [05:50:02] AND THEN ACTUAL CLASSIFIED AND CIVILIAN, I ASSUME AUTHORIZED IS THE SAME AS BUDGETED. WOULD THAT BE CORRECT? NO, SIR. UM, BECAUSE EVERY YEAR, AND OURS IS THE LARGEST PORTION OF THE CITY'S BUDGET, AT A BILLION DOLLARS, 92% OF THAT IS PERSONNEL. SO WE ARE USING UP EVERY DOLLAR Y'ALL ARE GIVING US EITHER FOR PEOPLE OR FOR EQUIPMENT OR FOR OTHER COMPLIANCE AND THINGS THAT WE HAVE TO DO OR FOR OVERTIME. SO IF JUST FOR EXAMPLE, IF YOU LOOK AT TODAY, UM, AND YOU SEE, UM, AUTHORIZED TODAY AT 6,405, IT'S 4,405 OFFICERS, UH, WHERE OUR ACTUAL NUMBER IS 5,211. AND THEN YOU TAKE THAT DELTA, WHICH IS APPROXIMATELY 1200, AND THEN YOU FIGURE WHAT THE COST OF THAT IS. IT'S ABOUT A HUNDRED. AND WHEN IT'S GONNA COST AN EXTRA 170 TO PROBABLY 200 MILLION BY THE TIME YOU ADD THE EMPLOYEE SALARY AND BENEFITS. AND THEN YOU ADD THE TRAINING AND THE EQUIPMENT AND ALL THE OTHER THINGS THAT ARE GONNA GO IN. SO WE NEED AN EXTRA $200 MILLION. OKAY. I, SO THAT'S, BUT I MEAN, I'M JUST, THESE ARE REAL NUMBERS AND WHAT WE HAVE IS WHAT WE'RE TRYING TO HIRE TOWARDS AND GROW. AND SO THAT NUMBER WILL FLUCTUATE. AND YOU KNOW WHAT, I HAVE DIRECTOR SMITH IN THE ROOM MAYBE BRING HER UP. UM, BUT IT'S GOING TO COST MORE. WE HAVE, I MEAN, AND, AND I DON'T KNOW ANY OTHER WAY TO SAY IT. IT'S GOING TO COST A LOT MORE. YES, GO AHEAD. GOOD AFTERNOON. SO I THINK THE QUESTION IS, IS THE AUTHORIZED THE SAME AS THE BUDGETED NUMBER? AND SO FOR CLASSIFIED IT'S UNIQUE BECAUSE UNDER THE AUTHORIZED FOR THOSE INDIVIDUALS, UH, LESS THAN A SERGEANT, AN OFFICER OR A SENIOR OFFICER, THERE ARE ACTUALLY MORE AUTHORIZED NUMBERS BECAUSE OF THE WAY WE MOVE IN OUR SYSTEM. UH, THEY MAY BE A CADET, THEN THEY GO TO, UM, PROBATION, AND THEN THEY GO TO AN OFFICER. SO THEY HAVE TO HAVE MOVEMENT IN ORDER TO DO THAT. AND SO THAT'S WHY YOU SEE A LARGER NUMBER OF AUTHORIZED. AND THEN WE HAVE THE BUDGETED NUMBER, AND THAT IS WHAT WE ANTICIPATE IN TERMS OF THE ATTRITION AND IN TERMS OF THE CADETS COMING IN. AND SO YOU WILL SEE A DIFFERENT NUMBER FOR AUTHORIZED VERSUS BUDGET. IS THAT OKAY? OKAY. THANK YOU. I KNOW IT'S A LOT. AND WHAT ABOUT, DOES THE SAME THING APPLY WITH THE CIVILIAN SIDE OF IT? NO. OKAY. WHAT YOU SEE IS, UH, WHAT'S, BECAUSE YOU'RE ABOUT 10% BELOW YOUR AUTHORIZED NUMBER ON CIVILIAN, A LITTLE OVER 10% AND JUST UNDER 20% LESS FOR CLASSIFIED? NO, FOR CIVILIAN. IT IS ACTUALLY THE NUMBER. IT'S NUMBER TO NUMBER. IF WE WANTED MORE THAN WE WOULD HAVE TO COME TO YOU AND ASK FOR AN ADDITIONAL NUMBER. OKAY. SO FOR CLASSIFIED, IT'S A LITTLE DIFFERENT BECAUSE WE WOULD HAVE TO COME BACK EVERY QUARTER TO ASK FOR MORE. SO THAT GIVES US THAT FLEXIBILITY. SO ARE THE FUNDS THERE TO HIRE THE EXTRA 10% OF CIVILIAN TO GO FROM THE 8 78 TO THE 9 81? SO THE FUNDS ARE THERE WHEN YOU COUNT THE ATTRITION. SO WE HAVE TO BUDGET, WE DON'T BUDGET FOR THE FULL NUMBER. WE HAVE TO BUDGET FOR WHAT WE ANTICIPATE BEING, UH, THE, BEING THE ACTUAL NUMBER THAT WE'RE GOING TO HAVE. SO WE HAVE TO ACTUALLY BOUNCE THAT NUMBER OUT. OKAY. SO THE NINE SEVEN OR NINE 80, I'M SORRY, 9 39 CIVILIAN ARE NOT BUDGETED FOR EITHER. SO YES, IT'S, IT'S BUDGETED. BUT WHAT I AM SAYING IS THAT WE KNOW THAT WE'RE GOING TO HAVE, UH, PEOPLE COMING AND GOING DURING THE YEAR. CORRECT? RIGHT. SO WHEN YOU DO A BUDGET, YOU ANTICIPATE THAT ATTRITION. AND SO WHEN WE BUDGET, WE BUDGET FOR THAT TOTAL NUMBER LESS THE ATTRITION THAT WE ANTICIPATE. OKAY. SO YOU'VE BUDGETED FOR 9 39 LESS THE ATTRITION. YES. SO, OKAY, SO WE DON'T HAVE 9 39 THAT'S BUDGETED FOR, I MEAN, IF WE'VE GOT 5% ATTRITION, IT'D BE 9 39 MINUS 5%. RIGHT? SO YES, BUT WE HAVE TO MANAGE THAT INTERNALLY. OKAY. SO IN THE BUDGET, WE HAVE 9 39, SO THAT MEANS THAT WE HAVE 9 39 POSITIONS THAT WE CAN ACTUALLY, UM, HIRE. BUT WE KNOW THAT WE HAVE TO ACCOUNT FOR ATTRITION. THAT'S JUST THE WAY WE DO THE BUDGET. AND, UH, SO WE [05:55:01] HAVE THAT OPPORTUNITY TO BUDGET FOR THAT 9 39 WITH ANTICIPATION OF SOME ATTRITION. OKAY. THANK YOU. ALRIGHT. WHY DON'T YOU EXPLAIN TO HIM IF YOU WANTED TO INCREASE THAT NUMBER, WE'VE GOTTA FURNISH YOU THE MONEY. YES. BECAUSE YOU'RE WORKING WITHIN THE BOUNDARIES OF WHAT THE COUNCIL BUDGETS YOU. SO IF WE WANTED TO GO BACK, IF YOU WANT TO ADD A COUPLE OF HUNDRED, YOU DON'T HAVE THE RESOURCES FOR THAT. YEAH. AND ESSENTIALLY, I WAS SAYING IF WE GET UP TO TRYING SAY, I MEAN, IT'S NOT NEARLY AS COMPLICATED AS I'M TRYING TO UNDERSTAND. SO THANK YOU. WHERE YOU WORK WITHIN, YOU KNOW, THERE'S GONNA BE SOME ATTRITION. THERE'S GONNA BE COMING AND GOING. BOTTOM LINE IS YOU GOT A FIXED POLICE BUDGET AND THEY CAN ESTIMATE WHAT THEIR NEEDS ARE. WELL, NOT EVEN THEIR NEEDS, WE'VE ALREADY DOCUMENTED THEY'RE NOT GETTING THEIR NEEDS, BUT THE AUTHORIZED AMOUNT IS PRETTY MUCH FIXED AT THAT 900 LEVEL. YES, SIR. SO IF YOU WANT TO GO A HUNDRED, LIKE WE INCREASED THE CADET CLASS, THERE WASN'T MONEY IN THE ORIGINAL PROPOSED BUDGET FOR SIX. SO IT WAS APPROVED. WE HAD TO FIND THE MONEY. NO, ESSENTIALLY I WAS ASKING, DO WE HAVE ENOUGH OR YOU'RE CERTIFIED, YOU GOTTA COME UP WITH THE MONEY. YEAH, I WAS SAYING, DO WE HAVE ENOUGH MONEY TO GET UP TO THE AUTHORIZED AMOUNTS IN THE BUDGET? AND WE DON'T TO, TO GET UP TO THAT FULL AMOUNT BECAUSE WE KNOW WE'RE GONNA BE LESS BECAUSE WE HAVE ATTRITION. ATTRITION. AND THEN WE HAVE, AS THE MAYOR HAS MENTIONED, WE HAVE A CERTAIN DOLLAR AMOUNT THAT WE'RE GIVEN IN TERMS OF THE BUDGET. IT'S, IT'S LIMITED AND THE DOLLAR AMOUNT IS INCLUDED. ATTRITION. RIGHT. AND IF WE KNOW THAT IT'S GOING TO BE DIFFERENT, THEN WE GO TO THE ADMINISTRATION IN FINANCE AND SAY, HEY, WE ACTUALLY ARE SEEING THAT NUMBER GO UP. PLEASE ALLOW US TO HAVE ADDITIONAL FUNDING FOR THAT. WELL, HOPEFULLY Y'ALL WILL BE ASKING FOR THAT. ANOTHER PROBLEM, DIRECTORS AND CHIEFS UNDER OTHER ADMINISTRATIONS ARE NOT ALLOWED TO ASK FOR MORE AND WHAT THEY KNOW THEY'RE GONNA GET, BECAUSE THE POLITICS IS SUCH, AND I'VE EXPERIENCED IN AUSTIN FOR YEARS, IT'S PRESENT HERE COMING INTO OUR ADMINISTRATION. AND THAT'S ONE REASON WE GOT SUCH A MESS. I I MENTIONED TRANSPARENCY. YOU GOTTA ALLOW CHIEFS FIRE, POLICE, PUBLIC WORKS, EVERYONE SHOW YOU WHAT THEIR NEEDS ARE THAT ARE NOT BEING MET, AND THEN IT'S OUR RESPONSIBILITY. BUT YOU'RE NOT GONNA HAVE PREVIOUS CHIEFS SIT DOWN HERE IN THIS HORSESHOE. I MEAN, JUST WATCH IT BEFORE WE GOT HERE AND SAY, I'VE GOT TO HAVE 500 MORE OFFICERS. IT'S GONNA CAUSE THIS OR WE GOT A HECK OF A PROBLEM. THEY'RE JUST NOT ALLOWED TO BE THAT TRANSPARENT UNTIL CERTAINLY NOW I WANT TO KNOW WHAT YOUR CHALLENGES ARE AND WHAT YOU NEED. AND THEN IT'S OUR RESPONSIBILITY NOW IN KIND OF REITERATING THERE'S CONTROLS IN PLACE BEFORE WE EVEN GET TO THIS FIRST SHOOT. KIND OF REITERATING THE TRANSPARENT PIECE. I, I REALLY THINK IF WE PUT OUT A REPORT ONCE A MONTH TELLING THE PUBLIC WHAT WE WEREN'T ABLE TO DO, AND OBVIOUSLY THE PRIORITIZATION NEEDS TO BE RIGHT. YOU KNOW, LET THE PUBLIC DECIDE WHAT THEY WANNA DO. NO COUNCIL MEMBER, I COUNCIL AGREE THERE'S SOME REALLY GREAT IDEAS COMING OUT HERE, COUNCIL MEMBER RAMIREZ, IN TERMS OF US DOING SOME OF THE OTHER THINGS. I MEAN, TO KEEP MAINTAIN THAT CONNECTION TO WHAT WE ALL LEARNED WHEN WE CAME ON THIS DEPARTMENT, YOU KNOW, WHEN, YOU KNOW, MANY YEARS AGO. I MEAN, I AGREE. SO THERE, THANK YOU. THAT'S A GOOD IDEA. THANK YOU. THANK YOU FOR EVERYTHING YOU'VE DONE. REALLY APPRECIATE IT. YOU AND THE WHOLE DEPARTMENT. I APPRECIATE IT, SIR. THANK YOU. I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE TO, TO ASSURE YOU THAT YOU MIGHT YOUNG, BUT I WAS AROUND BECAUSE WE HAD SUCH A SHORTAGE AND THE CRIME RATE WAS GOING SO HIGH IN THE EARLY NINETIES. BOB LANIER, HIS FIRST ADMINISTRATION, CANCELED A MONORAIL BETWEEN DOWNTOWN AND GALLERIA AND PUT THE EQUIVALENT OF 500 OFFICERS ON THE STREET OVERTIME. SO THERE'S WAYS YOU CAN DO IT. OBVIOUSLY AS COUNCILMAN ALCORN ARTICULATED IT, TELL THE PUBLIC THE TRUE PICTURE AND TELL 'EM WE GOTTA HAVE ADDITIONAL FUNDING. ON THE OTHER HAND, WE GOT OTHER POCKETS THAT WE CAN AND WILL LOOK TO FOR SOME IMMEDIATE RELIEF. I'M SORRY, DID YOU, I WAS JUST GOING TO ASSURE THAT WE WORK VERY CLOSELY WITH THE ADMINISTRATION AND IN TERMS OF SHARING WHAT WE, OUR NEEDS ARE, ESPECIALLY ON THE CIVILIAN SIDE, WHICH WE DO SEE THAT THERE'S AN ADDITIONAL NEED FOR THAT. AND SO WE APPRECIATE THAT, UM, COLLABORATION. ONE, ONE LAST THING. THAT'S A GOOD POLITICAL ANSWER, YOU KNOW, GOOD. WELL, YOU KNOW DARN WELL, AND YOU AND I HAVE WORKED TOGETHER FOR 30 YEARS, , I I WOULD ALSO THAT, THAT YOU'RE RESTRICTED FROM GIVING SOME OF THE CHALLENGES PUBLICLY UNTIL THEY'RE WORKED OUT. I I WOULD ALSO THINK PROBABLY THE QUICKEST WAY TO BENEFIT THE SECURITY OF THE CITY IS THROUGH THE CIVILIAN, BECAUSE I WOULD THINK YOU'D BE ABLE TO BRING THEM ON A LOT FASTER THAN WHAT YOU COULD. POLICE OFFICER. YES, SIR. SO WE WOULD LOVE TO REALLY CLIMB, YOU KNOW, IN TERMS OF [06:00:01] CIVILIANS, THEY'RE AWESOME PARTNERS AND THEY DO SO MUCH. UM, I JUST HAD A CONVERSATION, UH, WITH, UM, CONTROLLER CHRIS HOLLINS, AND WE WERE TALKING ABOUT SOME OF THE, THE BUDGETING THINGS THAT WE'VE ALREADY BROUGHT FORWARD. UH, WE TALKED ABOUT, UM, THE MORE PAY FOR CADETS AND, AND HIGHER PAY FOR COMP, YOU KNOW, TO COMPETE. WE ALSO TALKED ABOUT THE EPRO PROGRAM, WHICH ARE, UH, RETIRED POLICE OFFICERS WITH LOTS OF EXPERIENCE HAVE ALREADY BEEN CI, YOU KNOW, MET C REQUIREMENTS AND EVERYTHING ELSE. I MEAN, IT'S, TO ME PERSONALLY, IT JUST SEEMS LIKE SUCH AN OBVIOUS, ANOTHER WAY TO QUICKLY HELP OUR DEPARTMENT. THEY'RE PART-TIME, THEY'RE NOT FULL-TIME, BUT THEY, THEY KNOW THEIR STUFF AND THEY COULD HELP, THEY COULD COME IN, THEY COULD MAKE THOSE CALLS TOO. SO BETWEEN INCREASING CIVILIANS, WHICH WILL GET DO A LOT FASTER AND INCREASING THE EPRO PROGRAM, UH, WHERE, WHICH ARE RETIRED OFFICERS COMING BACK ON A PART-TIME BASIS, WE COULD DO SOME GOOD THINGS. AND THOSE ARE QUICK HITS AND QUICK FIXES. AND DON'T FORGET FORENSICS, YOU KNOW, PATROL OFFICERS CAN MAKE THE ARRESTS, INVESTIGATORS CAN FILE THE CASES, BUT IF THEY GOTTA WAIT A YEAR ON A BALLISTIC TEST, IT'S A HUGE PROBLEM. THAT'S UNDERFUNDED. I, I TOOK A TOUR THROUGH THE DA'S OFFICE YESTERDAY AND THOSE EXACT SAME COMMENTS WERE MADE BY THE DA'S OFFICE. ABSOLUTELY. UH, COUNCILMAN MARTINEZ. THANK YOU, MAYOR. UH, CHIEF, UH, JUST WANNA FIRST START OFF BY SAYING, UH, THANK YOU FOR COM CONTINUING TO SEE THIS REPORT OUT AND SHARING THIS WITH US. IT IS VERY THOROUGH. UM, AS ENLIGHTENING AS IT IS, IT'S ALSO BEEN KNOWN AS YOU MENTIONED WHEN YOU FIRST START. UM, SO I WANT TO THANK YOU, THANK YOUR COMMAND STAFF. UM, I KNOW A LOT OF Y'ALL, WE EITHER EAST SIDE, SOUTHEAST, CENTRAL SOUTH, UH, SOUTH CENTRAL. I, I'VE SEEN THE WORK THAT Y'ALL DO, AND I KNOW Y'ALL ARE COMMITTED TO HOUSTONIAN. SO, UM, UH, IN, IN LIGHT OF THAT, IN, IN THE MINDSET OF BEING TRANSPARENT AND HONEST, UM, YOU'VE, YOU'VE MENTIONED A COUPLE TIMES WHERE, UH, YOU KNOW, SOME OF THE, UH, THE CASES WERE PUT INAPPROPRIATELY OR LIBERALLY OR LIBERAL. UM, WERE THERE INSTANCES WHERE THERE WAS AN ABUSE OF THE SL CODE? UM, AND IF THERE WERE, HAVE THEY BEEN ADDRESSED? SO IT'S NOT, I DON'T, I DON'T HAVE AN INSTANCE OF AN ABUSE OF THE SL CODE, AND I PROBABLY SHOULD BE CAREFUL WITH THAT. WHAT I MEAN BY THAT IS THE CODE WAS THERE, AND I THINK IT MIGHT'VE BEEN A LOT OF CASES WERE BY ACCIDENT, PROBABLY INACCURATELY CODED AS SL PATROL MADE AN ARREST. BUT IT, WE FOUND THAT OUT WHEN WE REVIEWED IT. WELL, PATROL MADE THE ARREST, THIS PERSON WAS ALREADY CHARGED, BUT SOMEHOW OR ANOTHER, UH, IT COULD HAPPEN WHEN YOU'RE SITTING AT THAT TERMINAL AND YOU'RE ENTERING DATA THAT YOU MAKE A MISTAKE AND IT, AND IT GETS ENTERED. SO I'M NOT READY TO SAY THAT ANYBODY NEFARIOUSLY DID ANYTHING. I'M JUST SAYING THAT THERE WERE CASES THAT WERE IMPROPERLY CODED, A LOT OF THEM, AND, UH, AS THEY WERE CODED AS SUSPENSION OR SUSPENDED, LACK OF PERSONNEL WHEN THEY SHOULD HAVE BEEN CODED AS ARREST, PATROL ARREST, OR CODED AS SOMETHING ELSE. AGAIN, THERE ARE LOTS OF WAYS THE CASE CAN BE CLEARED, NOT JUST CHARGES FILED. UM, THERE'S A LOT. AND WE HAVE THAT WHOLE PART OF OUR SOP NOW OF ALL THE WAYS AND AVENUES, AND WE'RE TRAINING OFFICERS ON THAT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE AS ACCURATE AS POSSIBLE. SO, NO, I DO NOT HAVE THAT IN TERMS OF, YOU KNOW, UH, THAT WE'RE DISCIPLINING ANYBODY FOR SPECIFICALLY SUSPENDING IT, UM, IN, WHEN THEY INTENTIONALLY SUSPEND IT. WE DO HAVE A COUPLE OF ADMITTED THIS WAS A MISTAKE. I DIDN'T MEAN TO DO THAT. AND SO THERE THEY WOULDN'T INTENTIONALLY FOLLOWING POLICY. SO THERE MAY BE SOME, YEAH, SOME TYPE OF CITATION SITE FOR THAT. UM, SOMETIMES ACCIDENTS HAPPEN. AND I APPRECIATE THAT ANSWER. AND I THINK AGAIN, UH, TO ENSURE THAT THE PUBLIC, UH, YOU KNOW, WE, AND I, AND I SAY THIS, YOU KNOW, I, I KNOW BEING OUT IN THE COMMUNITY WITH YOU ALL THE, THE COMMUNITY, WE APPRECIATES YOU AND TRUST YOU. BUT I KNOW THAT THERE'S BEEN SOME BREAK IN TRUST. AND SO JUST TO ENSURE THAT, THAT WE DO CONTINUE TO BUILD THAT TRUST, UH, WITH COMMUNITY. UM, AND YOU MENTIONED, UM, YOU KNOW, THAT, THAT THE TRAINING THAT'S HAPPENING AND, AND THE LIST OF RECOMMENDATIONS, UH, I DEFINITELY WOULD LOVE TO SEE, UM, A CONTINUOUS CONVERSATION ABOUT HOW THOSE RECOMMENDATIONS ARE BEING MET WHEN THEY'RE BEING MET. UH, ONE IN PARTICULAR. AND YOU MENTIONED THE 55, UH, HOUR TRAINING WITH HAWK. UM, I'VE HAD SEVERAL CONVERSATIONS WITH, UH, SONYA CUALES, UM, AND SHE'S BROUGHT THIS TO MY ATTENTION THAT HISTORICALLY SHE'S BEEN WANTING TO COME IN AND HAVE THESE CONVERSATIONS WITH HPD. SO I'M, I'M, I'M VERY HAPPY TO SEE, UH, PARTNERSHIPS LIKE THAT HAPPEN. BECAUSE AT THE END OF THE DAY, UH, HPD CANNOT DO IT ALL. AND THERE ARE RESOURCES, THERE ARE COLLABORATIONS, THERE ARE PARTNERSHIPS, EVEN THE COMMUNITY. UM, YOU KNOW, ONE THING THAT, THAT STOOD OUT IS THAT, YOU KNOW, WE'RE GONNA START SEEING A INCREASE IN PROPERTY CRIME POSSIBLY, OR [06:05:01] A LACK OF RESPONSE TO PROPERTY CRIME. AND TO GET AHEAD OF THAT, I THINK WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT THE COMMUNITY, WHO IS I, I BELIEVE IS THE, YOU KNOW, POLICE DEPARTMENT'S FIRST LINE OF COLLABORATION OR INFORMED ABOUT, YOU KNOW, HOW TO AVOID BEING A VICTIM OF PROPERTY CRIME. UH, WHAT DOES THAT LOOK LIKE? HOW DO YOU ROLL THAT OUT? HOW CAN OUR OFFICES HELP SUPPORT YOU ALL WITH THAT AS WELL? UH, SO I LOOK FORWARD TO THOSE, THOSE, UH, THOSE PARTNERSHIPS AS WELL WITH MY OFFICE. UM, AND THEN, UM, I'LL, I'LL JUST WRAP UP WITH THIS. AND IT'S, UH, YOU KNOW, YOU KNOW, UH, COUNCILOR ALQUAN HIT IT, HIT THE NAIL ON THE HEAD. UM, IT'S NOT NEW. AS I MENTIONED TO YOU, WE'VE, WE'RE UNDERSTAFFED AT H-P-D-H-F-D HAS BEEN, UH, GOING THROUGH, YOU KNOW, TOMORROW AS WELL, LACK OF STAFFING IN, IN DIFFERENT SPACES, INFRASTRUCTURE, DEFERRED MAINTENANCE. UM, AND, AND BEING HERE AT, AT CITY HALL FOR THE PAST 10 YEARS, RECOGNIZING THAT, UM, ONE OF THE REASONS WHY I WANTED TO RUN WAS BECAUSE I WANTED TO PUT THAT RESET BUTTON AND REALLY RIGHT SIZE THINGS THAT HAVE BEEN GOING ON AND JUST ALLOWED, UNFORTUNATELY. AND WE CAN BLAME IT ON, YOU KNOW, WE DON'T HAVE THE FUNDS FOR IT. UH, BUT IF WE WANT TO BE VERY HONEST AND TRANSPARENT WITH COMMUNITY ABOUT WHAT SERVICES YOU WANT, STARTING OFF WITH PUBLIC SAFETY, UH, THEN WE GO INTO INFRASTRUCTURE, UH, YOU KNOW, THE DEFERRED MAINTENANCE HAS BEEN GOING ON FOR, AND I, AND I'VE SAID THIS AROUND THE HORSESHOE PLENTY OF TIMES. IT'S NOT JUST EIGHT YEARS AGO, 10 YEARS AGO, 20 YEARS AGO. IT GOES BACK EVEN FURTHER THAN THAT WHEN YOU LOOK AT SOME OF THE DIFFERENT CITY FACILITIES. UM, THERE'S BEEN OPPORTUNITIES HERE AROUND THE HORSESHOE, UH, TO KEEP THE TAX RATE EVEN DURING A DISASTER. AND AS DIFFICULT, I SAW THE CONVERSATION WITH COUNCIL MEMBERS AT THAT TIME. IT WAS A DIFFICULT CONVERSATION, BUT WE'RE PAYING THE PRICE FOR IT NOW, UH, BECAUSE THERE IS NO ACTION TAKEN AT THAT POINT. UM, AND, AND AS AMER, YOU KNOW, HAS STATED JUST, JUST A BIT AGO, YOU KNOW, THIS IS ACROSS EVERY DEPARTMENT. AND, YOU KNOW, I THINK IT'S RISEN TO THE TOP WITH, WITH HFD AND HPD BECAUSE IT'S PUBLIC SAFETY AND IT'S BEEN A PRIORITY FOR COMMUNITY, BUT WE REALLY NEED TO OWN THIS AS A COUNCIL. UM, IT'S PROBABLY NOT THE BEST POLITICAL THING TO SAY THAT, YOU KNOW WHAT? WE NEED A TRASH FEE. WE NEED TO LOOK AT THE, UH, REVENUE CAP. UM, NOBODY WANTS TO DO THAT. 'CAUSE THEN YOU GO BACK INTO THE COMMUNITY AND THEY'RE SAYING, WELL, NOW YOU'RE INCREASING MY, YOU KNOW, MY TAXES. UM, BUT AT SOME POINT, THIS POSITION, UM, SHOULD BE USED IN A WAY WHERE WE ARE ACTUALLY SERVICING COMMUNITY. UM, AND UNFORTUNATELY TO ALL OF US, YOU KNOW, I HAVE A FAMILY OF FOUR, UM, AND A TRASH FEED MIGHT COST ME SITTING DOWN WITH MY SON, UH, FOR COFFEE, YOU KNOW, A FEW TIMES OUT, UH, A MONTH. BUT THOSE THINGS ARE NEEDED. AND I, AND I, I DON'T WANT TO MAKE IT SEEM, YOU KNOW, JUST WITH MY INSTANCE, I KNOW THERE'S CHALLENGES OUT THERE FOR GROWING UP IN A FAMILY OF 12 AND MAKING SURE FOOD'S IMPORTANT AND SHELTER'S IMPORTANT. BUT AT THE END OF THE DAY, THE CITY AS A WHOLE NEEDS TO STEP UP AS WELL. UM, BUT IT STARTS WITH US AND BEING HONEST, UNAPOLOGETIC, SOMETIMES IN THE COMMUNITY TO SAY, THIS IS WHAT IT COSTS. UM, AND SO I, I LOOK FORWARD TO, YOU KNOW, MAKING SURE THAT WE, WE HAVE THIS CONVERSATION, HONEST CONVERSATION. THE CONTROLLER SAID, YOU KNOW, THERE'S NO PLAN. THERE'S BEEN A PLAN, AND IT'S CALLED, YOU KNOW, THE REVENUE CAP, AND IT'S CALLED THE TRASH FEE. I'VE HEARD THE TRASH FEE FOR YEARS. YEARS. IT'S NOT SOMETHING NEW. THERE IS A PLAN. WE JUST NEED TO START ACTING ON THESE THINGS. AND SO, UM, AS, AS I LOOK AT THE STAFFING, THE, YOU KNOW, SLIDE THREE POPULATION CONTINUES TO INCREASE AND SERVICES CONTINUE TO DECREASE. UM, AND AT THE END OF THE DAY, IT'S GONNA COST. AND SO MY HOPE IS THAT, UM, WORKING WITH THIS ADMINISTRATION AND THE MY COLLEAGUES THAT ARE SITTING AROUND THIS HORSESHOE TODAY, CAN ACTUALLY MAKE SOME REAL CHANGES. AND SO, UM, AGAIN, JUST, UM, AS UNFORTUNATE AS, YOU KNOW, THIS HAS BECOME, YOU KNOW, UH, YOU KNOW, THE IMPACTS THAT HAVE MADE TO FAMILIES ACROSS HOUSTON, UM, YOU KNOW, HOPEFULLY WE CAN COME OUT BETTER. AND, AND I THINK WE CAN ONLY DO THAT AGAIN WITH BEING HONEST WITH OURSELVES AND BEING TRANSPARENT WITH THE COMMUNITY. SO, THANK YOU. THANKS. THANK YOU. COUNCIL MEMBER DAVIS. THANK YOU, MAYOR. CHIEF SADDLE WHITE, LET ME, UM, COMMEND YOU FOR SUCH A GREAT PRESENTATION. IT WASN'T EASY. AND AS I COULD VERY WELL SEE, IT WASN'T EASY FOR ANY OF US. UM, I, I, YOU KNOW, YOU AND I HAVE HAD CONVERSATIONS RELATIVE TO, YOU KNOW, UH, HPD, WHO I HOLD IN HIGH REGARDS. WE HAVE, AND I AGREE WITH YOU, WE HAVE THE FINEST DEPARTMENT, BOTH [06:10:01] FIRST RESPONDERS OF HPD, AS WELL AS IN OUR HFD. AND I COMMEND ALL OF THE MANY WOMEN WHO ARE OUT THERE EVERY DAY DOING WHAT THEY DO. I, I JUST HAD A FEW CONCERNS. YOU KNOW, THE OLD SAYING IS NEVER SAY NEVER. UM, AND, AND, AND CERTAINLY, UH, THE PROBLEMS THAT WE HAVE WITHIN HPD, UH, I BROUGHT UP AN ISSUE SOMETIME BACK ABOUT HAVING, UH, HPD TO COME AND MAKE AN ADDRESS TO THIS COUNCIL. AND, AND, YOU KNOW, I INDICATED SOMETIME WEEKLY, BUT EVEN IF IT WAS MONTHLY, JUST LIKE THE, THE, THE, THE CONTROLLER COMES AND MAKE A MONTHLY, UH, REPORT. UH, SO THE CONCERNS AND ISSUES THAT ARE GOING ON WITHIN OUR CITY AND OUR DEPARTMENT NEED TO BE MADE RELEVANT TO THE COUNCIL. UM, I, I ALSO SAY THAT IS NEVER SAYING NEVER, UH, IT HAS BEEN STATED ABOUT DOLLARS AND CENTS. UH, THE ISSUE AROUND THIS CASE IS 10 YEARS STARTED IN 20 14, 20 14, WHEN CHIEF MCCULLOUGH STOOD AND SAID THAT IT WAS 20,000 CASES. THEN THE MAYORS ALWAYS ITERATED ABOUT TRANSPARENCY. IT'S NOT LIKE WE DIDN'T KNOW. IT WASN'T LIKE THIS COUNCIL AT THE TIME DIDN'T KNOW WE TWO ADMINISTRATIONS PASSED TO WHERE WE ARE TODAY WITH THIS 264,000. SO YOU DO THE MATH AT 20,000 CASES, OR WHETHER THERE'S EVIDENCE OR NOT, OVER 10 YEARS, IT'S WELL ABOVE THAT 20,000, PROBABLY 21, 20 2000. SO TRANSPARENCY IS ON THE TABLE. YOU CAN'T IGNORE IT. NOW, WE COULD TALK ABOUT DOLLARS, AND I, I, AND LIKE I SAY, I NEVER SAY NEVER WHEN IT COMES TO WHAT WE DO IN ORDER TO ADEQUATELY SUPPLY THE POLICE DEPARTMENT OR, OR ANY OF OUR DEPARTMENTS WHEN MONEY THEY NEEDED, YOU KNOW, THINGS THAT ARE, WE ALWAYS TALK IN DOLLARS AND CENTS, BUT WE HAVE TO MAKE DOLLARS MAKE SENSE. AND SOMETIMES IT'S, IT'S NOT THE FACT THAT YOU HAVE LACK OF DOLLARS, BUT IT'S HOW YOU UTILIZE THE DOLLARS. AND, AND OF COURSE, THERE'S SO MANY AREAS WHERE THE MAYOR HAS LOOKED INTO WHAT ELSE BEEN JUST RECKLESS SPENDING. SO, BUT WE HAVE TO PRIORITIZE. BUT I DO WANT TO ASK THE QUESTION CONCERNING DEMOTIONS, SINCE THIS INVESTIGATION BEEN DONE INTERNALLY AS WELL AS THIS INVESTIGATION BEEN DONE, UH, SUBSEQUENT THE MAYOR PICKED THE COMMITTEE TO LOOK INTO THIS. TWO OFFICERS HAVE BEEN DEMOTED, CORRECT ME IF I'M WRONG. TWO PEOPLE IN THE ADMINISTRATION INVESTIGATION SIDE HAS BEEN DEMOTED. IS THAT CORRECT? YES, SIR. AND THEN WE'VE HAD THE CHIEF TO RETIRE. NOW, EARLY ON, MAYOR PROTI, UH, TATUM ASKED SOME QUESTIONS PERTAINING TO THE INVESTIGATION OF PEOPLE THERE. UM, I MEAN, DURING THIS WHOLE PROCESS, NOW, CHIEF SLINKER WAS THE CHIEF OVER THE OPERATIONS OF INVESTIGATION. CORRECT. SO HE WAS THE EXECUTIVE ASSISTANT CHIEF OVER INVESTIGATIVE AND SPECIAL OPERATIONS UNDER CHIEF ACEVEDO. GOT IT. UM, WHEN UNDER CHIEF FINNER, HE WAS THE EXECUTIVE CHIEF AND, AND NOT OVER INVESTIGATIONS. OKAY. SO, SO LOOKING AT THE, THE LINE, THE CHAIN OF, OF, OF, OF PEOPLE OF RESPONSIBILITY, SOMEBODY HAS TO KNOW SOMETHING ABOUT WHAT SOMEBODY DOES. I I THINK THAT, THAT, THAT'S MY BIGGEST CONCERN. YOU KNOW, THE, IT'S ALWAYS BEEN THE PROBLEM SOLVING. THREE THINGS IS ALWAYS ASK, HOW DO WE GET HERE? WHAT ARE WE GONNA DO NOW THAT WE ARE HERE? AND WHAT ARE WE GONNA DO SO WE DON'T GO BACK TO IT? CORRECT. IN THIS SITUATION, IT WAS CODING. CODING WAS THE ISSUE, WHICH THE NUMBER OF NON INVESTIGATIVE CASES WASN'T NEW IN 2014, CHIEF MCCULLOUGH SAID 20,000. SO IT WASN'T LIKE THEY DIDN'T KNOW, PEOPLE KNEW, AND THE DEPARTMENT WAS MAKING THAT, THAT MADE KNOWN. SO, SO AGAIN, WHOEVER THAT CAME UP WITH THE IDEA OF USING THE CODING TO SAY, WE'RE NOT, WE ARE ON DEMAND. WE ARE UNDERSTAFFED, WE DON'T HAVE ENOUGH PEOPLE, THEN THAT SHOULD HAVE BEEN SOMEBODY MADE THAT DECISION. I DON'T KNOW WHO, I DON'T THINK IT'S BEEN REVEALED AS TO WHO IT IS. I THINK THAT'S ONE OF THE REASONS WHY, OF COURSE THE MAYOR CAN CORRECT ME WAS THE PROBLEM. AND HE STATED PUBLICLY, WE ARE GOING TO GET TO THE BOTTOM OF THIS. WE ARE GOING TO FIND OUT WHO MADE THIS ISSUE OF CODING. SO THAT'S A CONCERN, A DEEP CONCERN, TRANSPARENCY. UM, LAST THING I WANT [06:15:01] TO, I WANT TO DISCUSS IS THE FACT THAT, YOU KNOW, I WORKED, I, I LITERALLY WORKED IN THE, UH, COUNTY. UH, I DID A VOLUNTEER FOR, UH, GRAND JURY, THE GRAND JURY. I SPENT, YOU KNOW, UH, DAYS WORKING THE GRAND JURY. AND ONE OF THE HORR HORRIFYING THINGS IN THE GRAND JURY YOU SERVE IS THEY BRING IN CASES ON TOP OF CASES OF SEXUAL ASSAULTS THAT HAPPENED YEARS PRIOR. AND THE CASES JUST STACK, STACK, STACK, STACK. AND THERE'S HORRIFIC TO SEE SEXUAL ASSAULT CASES OF MINORS OF CASES THAT NEVER GET SOLVED. SO, BACKLOG OF CASES IS A SERIOUS THING. IT'S REALLY A BLACK MARK ON A DARK MARK, WHICHEVER ON THE DEPARTMENT, WHICH DON'T DESERVE IT. SO I WOULD HOPE IN THE FUTURE THAT WE MAKE SURE THAT NOT ONLY THIS TIME IT WAS CODING, LET'S PRAY THAT THERE'S NOTHING ELSE THAT WOULD CREATE THIS TYPE OF, OF, OF, OF, OF BLACK EYE ON OUR DEPARTMENT WHO IS ONE OF THE BEST IN THE COUNTRY. MY PERSONAL OPINION, AND I HOPE THAT TRANSPARENCY AND REPORTING IS SOMETHING THAT WE ALL REQUIRE BECAUSE IT'S NOT DESERVING OF THE MEN AND WOMEN WHO SERVE THIS DEPARTMENT EACH AND EVERY DAY. THANK YOU, SIR. THANK YOU, COUNCIL MEMBER. THANK YOU, COUNCIL MEMBER. UH, WHAT YOU'RE SAYING IS QUICK KICKING A CAN DOWN THE ROAD. YEAH. WHICH TURNS INTO A BARREL. YEAH, I UNDERSTAND. COUNCILMAN HUFFMAN. THANK YOU, MAYOR. AND JUST BRIEFLY, YOU KNOW, I KNOW THAT THIS DIDN'T HAPPEN FOR LACK OF CARING, BECAUSE NOBODY BECOMES A POLICE OFFICER BECAUSE THEY WANNA MISS EVERY BIRTHDAY, OR EVERY HOLIDAY, OR EVERY ANNIVERSARY. THEY DO IT BECAUSE IT'S A CALLING. AND I KNOW THE COMMITMENT THAT ALL OF YOU HAVE TO THIS DEPARTMENT AND TO THE CITY. AND SO I JUST WANNA SAY THANK YOU FOR TAKING THE STEPS TO RESOLVE THIS, AND JUST MAKE SURE THAT IT, IT DOESN'T HAPPEN AGAIN. THANK YOU. THANK YOU, COUNCIL MEMBER. THANK YOU, COUNCILOR AND CASTILLO. THANK YOU MAYOR. AND THANK YOU CHIEF SATTERWHITE FOR THE VERY THOROUGH AND, AND HARD LOOK INTO WHAT HAS HAPPENED. UM, IT'S A NECESSARY STEP IN FIGURING OUT WHERE THOSE MISSTEPS WERE AND HOW TO MOVE FORWARD ENSURING WE DON'T ENCOUNTER THIS OR SOMETHING SIMILAR. AGAIN, MY QUESTION IS ABOUT, UM, THINKING THROUGH WHAT TRIGGERS AN AUDIT, WHAT TRIGGERS AN INVESTIGATION, UM, WHEN LOOKING AT THE RECOMMENDATIONS, WHEN LOOKING AT THE FINDINGS, HAS THERE BEEN ANY CONSIDERATION INTO LOOKING AT WHAT ALONG THE WAY WOULD HAVE TRIGGERED A AUDIT OR INVESTIGATION, UH, PRIOR TO 2024? YES, SIR. SO, UM, THERE WERE ACTUAL IN, IN AUDITS THAT WERE CONDUCTED STATE AND DEPARTMENT WIDE. YOU KNOW, WITHIN OUR DEPARTMENT, YOU KNOW, THERE ARE, IN TERMS OF COMPLIANCE, THERE ARE SOMETIMES THAT ARE AUDITS THAT ARE REQUIRED EVERY YEAR OR EVERY TWO YEARS DEFENDING ON THE, UM, ON THE, UH, THE DIVISION OR WHAT THEY'RE INVESTIGATING. SO THERE WERE, AND THOSE AS, AS I KIND OF ARTICULATED EARLIER, WERE OPPORTUNITIES THAT WERE MISSED, UH, TO DISCOVER THIS. UM, AGAIN, I THINK UNTIL 21, THE NOVEMBER 4TH MEETING, THERE WASN'T A LOT OF DIALOGUE AT ALL ABOUT THE CODE ITSELF. UH, THERE WAS THE DIALOGUE ABOUT BACKLOGS, ABOUT CHILDREN'S SEXUAL ASSAULT CASES THAT NEEDED TO BE FOLLOWED UP ON ABOUT, YOU KNOW, FSGI OR FAILURE, YOU KNOW, OTHER CASES THAT WERE SUSPENDED. BUT IT WASN'T NECESSARILY THE THOUGHT IT WAS ABOUT, YOU KNOW, WE GOTTA, WE GOTTA INVESTIGATE THESE CASES. IT WASN'T UNTIL THAT NOVEMBER 4TH MEETING AND, AND REALLY THAT, THAT, THAT YEAR, THAT THAT EARLIER CORRESPONDENCE, THAT THE ISSUE OF THE ACTUAL CODE ITSELF, UH, EMERGED. AND SO, UM, SO THERE WERE AUDITS ALONG THE WAY THAT WERE MISSES TO FIND THIS, TO SEE THIS. SO THAT'S A MISS. AND THEN OF COURSE, THERE WAS THE ACTUAL, WHEN IT WAS FINALLY BROUGHT FORWARD, THERE WAS EFFORTS AND WELL-INTENTIONED EFFORTS BY EXECUTIVES TO MAKE CORRECTIONS. UM, UNFORTUNATELY, YOU KNOW, AT ALL OF OUR LEVELS, THEY JUST DID NOT GET DOWN TO THE TROOPS. AND THAT'S A MISS. GOT IT. WELL, I THINK, YOU KNOW, WHAT, WHAT Y'ALL HAVE FOUND AND WHAT IS BEING RECOMMENDED, UM, WILL GO A LONG WAY IN INCREASING THE TRANSPARENCY AND INCREASING OPPORTUNITIES TO PREVENT THOSE MISSES. MM-HMM . UM, AND THAT'S GONNA HELP [06:20:02] RESTORE TRUST TO THE PUBLIC. UM, WHICH, YOU KNOW, AS WE TALK ABOUT SAFETY, AS WE TALK ABOUT, UH, WAYS TO HELP INCREASE OUR, OUR RANKS, UM, THAT MAY INCLUDE GOING TO THE PUBLIC, YOU KNOW, FOR EXEMPTIONS AND, AND WHATNOT. AND TRUST IS GONNA BE VERY VITAL. CORRECT. UM, AND SO I THINK THIS WILL, THIS IS A GOOD FIRST STEP IN, IN THAT REBUILDING PROCESS. THANK YOU. YES, SIR. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. ANYONE ELSE? I KNOW YOU GOTTA HAVE A BREAK. NEED A BREAK NOW? I WILL TAKE ONE, SIR. MAYOR TRANSPARENCY . YES, YOUR HONOR. THANK YOU. AND, UH, THANKS TO YOUR COMMAND STAFF AND, AND EVERYONE INVOLVED. UH, WE HAVE A GREAT CITY AND GREAT PEOPLE, AND A GREAT POLICE DEPARTMENT THAT'S JUST HAD TO DO WITH TWO LITTLE RESOURCES FOR A NUMBER OF YEARS. AND, UH, AND THIS LEADS TO A DISASTER THAT YOU'VE DESCRIBED. BUT WE HAVE, UH, PUT A HALT TO THOSE LABELS, AND WE WILL CONTINUE TO PURSUE THE BACKLOG AND REVIEW 'EM. AND, UH, YOU'VE DONE, YOU'VE REPRESENTED YOURSELF AND YOUR DEPARTMENT VERY WELL TODAY, AND THANK YOU TO YOUR ENTIRE TEAM. MM-HMM . UH, MEMBERS, WE'RE GONNA HAVE POP OFF, I CAN'T IMAGINE. BUT, UH, THEN, BUT, BUT FOR, UH, CHIEF , I'LL BE WITH YOU. AND SHORTLY FOR YOUR PRESS AVAILABILITY IN MY PROCLAMATION ROOM, UH, OUT RIGHT OUTSIDE MY OFFICE. YES, SIR. SO TAKE A, TAKE A BRIEF BREAK AND THEN WE WILL HOOK UP IN A MINUTE. THANKS, SIR. THANK YOU. UH, MEMBERS, THAT'S THE, UH, WE'LL GO TO POPOFF WITH, [NON CONSENT - MATTERS TO BE PRESENTED BY COUNCIL MEMBERS] UH, PASTOR DAVIS. THANK YOU, MAYOR. I JUST WANT TO USE A FEW MINUTES JUST TO, UM, RECOGNIZE A BRIGHT, UH, YOUNG MAN, UH, COZY CHERRY, UH, WHO WAS ONE OF OUR INTERNS. UH, I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR BEING, UH, MY OFFICE INTERN THIS SUMMER. UH, HIS LAST DAY IS TODAY, AND HE'S BEEN A TROOPER SINCE DAY ONE. WE ARE SO APPRECIATIVE OF THIS INTERN. MY OFFICE WANTED TO MAKE SURE THAT HE WAS ABLE TO EXPERIENCE ALL OF THE ASPECTS OF WORKING FOR A CITY COUNCIL OFFICE. SO WE'VE TAKEN HIM TO COMMUNITY MEETINGS, ONE TO ONE FIELD VISITS, UH, CONSTITUENTS, THE HOUSTON EMERGENCY CENTER, METRO AND H GAG BOARD MEETINGS, AND SBA EVENT, AND AN HBD BACK TO SCHOOL, UH, EVENT. HE'S ALSO HELPED US WITH RESEARCH ON CRIME, PUBLIC UTILITIES. AND HE'S ASSEMBLED, UH, AND HE'S ASSEMBLED FOR MY OFFICE, A SPREADSHEET DATABASE OF CHURCHES WHO ARE READY TO ASSIST HOUSTONIANS. HE'S A MAN OF FEW WORDS. SO WE, WE JUST, SO WE GOING TO, UH, SPEAK FOR HIM. I'M CERTAIN HE'S GOING TO GO ON TO BIGGER THINGS, AND WE'RE SO GRATEFUL TO HAVE, UH, BROTHER ZY CHERRY. I DON'T KNOW IF HE'S IN WITH US, IS HE PRESENT? BUT WE CERTAINLY WANT TO THANK HIM FOR HIS SERVICE AT HIS INTERNSHIP DURING THIS, UH, INTERN PERIOD. THANK YOU. COUNCIL MEMBER FLICKINGER. YES. UM, OUR INTERN, TOM SAUNDERS, IS LEAVING, GOING BACK TO FINISH UP HIS NUCLEAR ENGINEERING DEGREE AT A AND M. SO WE WISH HIM WELL. UM, ON A SATURDAY NOTE, IT HAD A CONSTITUENTS, UH, JIM MICKEY, WHO, UH, PASSED AWAY THIS PAST WEEK. UH, JIM WAS VERY PROMINENT IN THE COMMUNITY, UH, SERVED IN THE AIR FORCE, IN FACT, WAS INSTRUMENTAL IN GETTING A MONUMENT DEDICATED TO THE COLD WAR VETERANS IN OHIO A NUMBER OF YEARS AGO. UH, SO HIS FUNERAL'S GONNA BE NEXT WEEK. UH, WE'RE REALLY GONNA MISS JIM AND, UH, CERTAINLY WISH HIS FAMILY THE, THE BEST. THANK YOU. THANK YOU, COUNCIL MEMBER. WE'LL MOVE ON TO, UM, COUNCIL MEMBER MARYANNE HUFFMAN. THANK YOU. AND I, YOU KNOW, I WANNA SAY THANK YOU TO THE MAYOR FOR THE EXTRA CONTRACTORS FOR THE DEBRIS PICKUP. THERE'S STILL A LOT OF PLACES IN DISTRICT G WHERE WE ARE STILL AWAITING DEBRIS PICKUP, AND PEOPLE ARE, ARE GETTING WORN OUT. SO WE LOOK FORWARD TO HOPEFULLY GETTING ALL THE DEBRIS REMOVED. THANK YOU. COUNCIL MEMBER RAMIREZ. UH, THANK YOU, MAYOR PRO TEM. UH, TO THOSE OF YOU WHO ARE HERE FOR THE QUALITY OF LIFE COMMITTEE MEETING, WE WILL START JUST A FEW MINUTES LATE. UH, WE'VE BEEN IN SESSION SINCE NINE O'CLOCK. ONCE THIS CONCLUDES, WE'LL HAVE TO BREAK FOUR OR FIVE TO 10 MINUTES, I THINK, SO THAT HTV, WHICH BROADCASTS OUR MEETINGS CAN MAKE THE TRANSITION. AND SO THANK YOU FOR YOUR PATIENCE. [06:25:02] COUNCIL, ARE YOU, DO YOU HAVE POP OFF? THAT WAS YOUR POP OFF. OKAY. COUNCIL MEMBER THOMAS. THANK YOU, MAYOR PROTI. UM, I AM CONTINUING TO SAY GOODBYE TO CONGRESSWOMAN JACKSON LEE. AND, UH, MONDAY WAS A VERY SPECIAL, UH, MOMENT, NOT JUST FOR HER, BUT FOR OUR CITY AND FOR THOSE THAT, UM, WILL REMEMBER HER AS WELL. UH, FIRST I WANNA SHOUT OUT TO THE DISTRICT F CLEANUP ON SATURDAY, COUNCIL MEMBER RAMIREZ EVEN JOINED US ON THE WEST SIDE, AND, UH, MADE IT THROUGH THE RAIN, UH, QUALITY OF LIFE AND CLEANING UP IN OUR NEIGHBORHOOD IS SOMETHING THAT WE'VE BEEN FOCUSING ON THROUGHOUT THE YEARS. SO JUST SHOUT OUT TO THE 18 VOLUNTEERS THAT WEATHERED THE STORM. UH, THEY PICKED UP 25 BAGS OF TRASH IN THE RAIN. SHOUT OUT TO ELEY SUPER NEIGHBORHOOD 25 SAYA INTERNATIONAL, OF COURSE, AND ELEY VOTES. AND SPECIAL THANK YOU TO OUR DISTRICT F INTERN, JULIAN WYN FOR ORGANIZING THIS VERY SUCCESSFUL EVENT. ON SUNDAY, I WAS AT THE CHURCH WITHOUT WALLS, ELDRIDGE CAMPUS TO THANK THEM FOR THEIR SUPPORT POST HURRICANE BARREL. AND, UM, TO ANNOUNCE OUR EVENT WITH THE US SMALL BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION THAT WAS HELD ON MONDAY, THE ASSOCIATE ADMINISTRATOR, FRANCISCO SANCHEZ, JR. CAME IN FROM DC UM, TO SHARE A PRESENTATION WITH OUR BUSINESS OWNERS. SHOUT OUT TO THOSE THAT CAME FROM THROUGHOUT THE CITY AND THE REGION FROM BRAZORIA COUNTY ALL THROUGHOUT. TO HIT THIS INFORMATION, THAT INFORMATION WENT OUT FOR PARTICIPANTS VIA EMAIL IN THEIR INBOXES, AND WE POSTED THAT ALSO ON SOCIAL MEDIA. UM, I WANT TO THANK THE MEXICAN COUNCIL GENERAL FOR SENDING HER TEAM THE NEXT USB. THE NEXT US SMALL BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION EVENT WILL BE HELD, UM, AT THEIR OFFICES AND MORE TO COME. WE PLAN ON OFFERING THIS IN VARIOUS LANGUAGES, INCLUDING WITH THE FAQS. ON YESTERDAY, I HAD THE PRIVILEGE OF WELCOMING 400 NEW TEACHERS TO ALE, FISD AT THE NEW TEACHER ORIENTATION. WE ARE EXCITED THAT THE SCHOOL YEAR IS BEGINNING TO START. THAT WILL START ON AUGUST 12TH. IT SEEMS LIKE SUMMER HAS GONE VERY QUICKLY. UM, AND SO WE ARE ENERGIZED TO MAKE SURE THAT, UM, OUR STUDENTS ARE STRIVING TO SUCCESS, BUT ALSO THAT OUR TEACHERS ARE SUPPORTED. UH, AND THEN AGAIN, CONGRATULATIONS TO THE LADIES OF SIGMA GAMMA ROW SORORITY ON THEIR 60TH BOLE. COLLEAGUES, THANK YOU FOR CELEBRATING THEM WITH ME ON YESTERDAY, DURING OUR PUBLIC SESSION. I WAS HONORED TO PRESENT THEM, AND I BELIEVE THAT THIS IS THEIR VERY FIRST PROCLAMATION ON BEHALF OF THE CITY OF HOUSTON. SO WE, UM, NOT ONLY CELEBRATED THEM, BUT WE ALSO OFFERED HISTORY. UH, TODAY, THEY WILL BE WELCOMING OUR VICE PRESIDENT KAMALA HARRIS TO THEIR PUBLIC MEETING TONIGHT AT THE GEORGIA BROWN. UM, PLEASE CONTINUE TO WELCOME THE LADIES IN BLUE AND GOLD THROUGHOUT OUR CITY, UM, THROUGH THE, THROUGH SUNDAY. AND I WANT TO, UH, ALSO GIVE MY, UH, WARMEST THANKS TO OUR, TO SAM CH UH, SAM PENA, THE FORMER H HOUSTON FIRE DEPARTMENT CHIEF FOR HIS 28 YEARS OF SERVICE AND CAREER, AND HIS COMMITMENT TO THE CITY OF HOUSTON. UM, I HAVE A, A LOT OF STORIES ABOUT HIM, BUT I JUST WILL ADD THIS. I REMEMBER, UM, DURING THE FREEZE OF 2021, UM, NONE OF US HAD POWER AND WE STILL HAD TO HAVE COUNCIL MEETINGS. UM, HE INSTRUCTED HIS TEAM TO NAVIGATE UP THE ICE TO MAKE SURE THAT WE HAD A CHARGEABLE BATTERY, SO THAT WE CAN, UH, UM, DO OUR DUE DILIGENCE AS COUNCIL MEMBERS. I JUST WANNA APPRECIATE, UM, HIS INTEGRITY, HIS CLASS, AND I WISH HIM NOTHING BUT BLESSINGS AND, UM, MIRACLES IN IN HIS NEXT SEASON IN LIFE. UM, AS MANY OF MY COLLEAGUES ARE CELEBRATING THEIR INTERNS, I WOULD LIKE TO, UM, ADD MY VOICE TO THAT CHORUS AS WELL. UH, THIS SUMMER IN DISTRICT F HAS BEEN FULL OF ACTIVITY. SHOUT OUT TO JULIAN NGUYEN AND OUR SUMMER COORDINATOR, TOMMY JUAN, WHO'S NO STRANGER TO THE WEST SIDE. UH, THEY HAVE BEEN AN INCREDIBLE ASSET TO OUR OFFICE. TOMMY IS A RISING JUNIOR AT THE UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS, AUSTIN. AND HE'LL BE, HE IS ON LOAN. HE IS NOT AN INTERN. HE IS ON LOAN TO THE CONGRESSWOMAN LIZZIE FLETCHER'S OFFICE IN THIS FALL. IS TOMMY AND JULIAN IN THE O IN THE OFFICE? THERE GOES, STAND UP, STAND UP, STAND UP. LET US SHOW YOU LOVE. UM, SO HE'S ON LOAN. SO CONGRESSWOMAN, IF YOUR TEAM IS WATCHING, UH, YOU CANNOT HAVE HIM. UH, JULIAN IS A RISING SENIOR AT IDS, CARNEGIE VANGUARD HIGH SCHOOL, AND HOPES TO ATTEND UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS, AUSTIN AFTER GRADUATION. OF COURSE, YOU KNOW, THE OFFICE EXTENDS DEEP GRATITUDE TO YOU. UH, JULIAN IN PARTICULAR, IMMERSED HIMSELF IN A VERY UNFAMILIAR DISTRICT. UH, NOT FAMILIAR WITH THE WEST SIDE, UH, BUT WE, UH, WE GOT 'EM RIGHT, UM, FORGING PROFOUND CONNECTIONS WITH OUR RESIDENTS AND OUR YOUNG PEOPLE LEADING IN INITIATIVES ALONG WITH TOMMY OF ELEY VOTES. UM, AND WORKING WITH OUR 16, UH, YOUNG STUDENT FELLOWS, UH, HURRICANE BARREL RELIEF, OUR UPCOMING HOUSING SUMMIT, AND MORE. SO I JUST WANNA APPRECIATE YOUR CONTRIBUTION AND, UM, THE REQUIREMENT IS THAT YOU RETURN BACK, UH, NEXT SUMMER. UM, I WAS ABLE TO JOIN, UH, THE [06:30:01] NATIONAL URBAN LEAGUE IN NA IN NEW ORLEANS LAST WEEK FOR THE NATIONAL URBAN LEAGUE CONFERENCE IN SUPPORT OF THE NATIONAL MOU, UM, INCREASING HOME OWNERSHIP AND AFFORDABILITY NATIONWIDE THROUGHOUT ALL OF THE NATIONAL URBAN LEAGUE AFFILIATES. AND I'M SO EXCITED TO JOIN WITH THEM IN THIS BECAUSE COMING THIS FALL, WE'LL BE HOSTING A HOUSING SUMMIT IN THE CITY OF HOUSTON. MORE TO COME FROM THAT. UM, SO WE'RE KEEPING THE WEST SIDE THE BEST SIDE. IF MY OFFICE CAN BE OF ANY SUPPORT OR SERVICE TO YOU, CONTACT US AT 8 3 2 3 9 3 3 0 0 2. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. COUNCIL MEMBER THOMAS, WE'LL MOVE ON TO VICE MAYOR PRO TEM PECK. THANK YOU, MAYOR PRO TEM. UM, FIRST I WANNA THANK, UM, MADDIE FLORES FOR, UM, WORKING WITH US THIS SUMMER AS OUR INTERN. SHE HAS INTERNED WITH US BEFORE AND SHE'S JUST SO AMAZING DOING, YOU KNOW, ANSWERING PHONES, DOING EVERYTHING IN THE OFFICE. AND SO WE'RE SO, SO THANKFUL FOR HER. WE ALSO PUT HER TO WORK A LOT WITH THE RECENT STORMS DOING FOOD DISTRIBUTIONS AND ICE DISTRIBUTIONS, AND SHE REALLY WAS AMAZING AT ALL OF THOSE TWO. SO, THANK YOU, MADDIE, FOR BEING WITH US THIS SUMMER. AND FINALLY, I WANT TO SAY THANK YOU TO THE HFD WILDLAND GROUP. THEY ARE HEADED TO CALIFORNIA FOR TWO WEEKS TO ASSIST IN THE, UM, WILDFIRE RESPONSE. THEY HAVE A STRIKE TEAM LEADER AND TWO ENGINES THAT ARE GOING UP THERE. AND JUST WANNA SAY THANK YOU TO THEM AND TO STAY SAFE. THANK YOU. COUNCIL MEMBER MARTINEZ. THANK YOU, MAYOR PROAM. UM, I'LL BE, I'LL BE BRIEF WITH, UH, WITH THIS AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE, BUT I, I WAS LOOKING FORWARD TO HEARING FROM SOLID WASTE TODAY. YOU KNOW, UNFORTUNATELY, BUT FORTUNATELY, YOU KNOW, THERE'S A LOT OF THINGS THAT NEED TO BE ADDRESSED AT THE CITY. SO, YOU KNOW, THE POLICE, UH, TAKE PRECEDENCE OVER IT. UM, BUT I, I WANNA MAKE SURE THAT SOLID WASTE IS, IS FOLLOWING THROUGH. UM, I KNOW OUR, OUR SOLID WASTE EMPLOYEES, CITY EMPLOYEES ARE WORKING HARD DILIGENTLY, BUT WE HAVE CONTRACTORS. AND AT THE MOMENT IT'S JUST VERY CONFUSING FOR NOT JUST MYSELF, BUT CONSTITUENTS ACROSS DISTRICT GUY, WHEN THE DEBRIS IS GETTING PICKED UP, WHY HASN'T IT BEEN PICKED UP? DO THEY SUBMIT 3 1 1? DO THEY NOT SUBMIT 3 1 1? AND SO I REALLY WANNA, UH, YOU KNOW, HAVE THIS OPEN CON CONVERSATION NEXT WEEK, UH, DURING THE MAYOR'S REPORT TO, TO ENSURE THAT, THAT WE ARE FOLLOWING THROUGH. UH, THERE'S IN THE GIS MAP, UH, WE JUST FOUND OUT THAT NOW THERE'S ACTUAL PINPOINTS OF WHAT'S BEEN PICKED UP. UH, MY OFFICE IS GONNA CONTINUE TO CALL RESIDENTS WHERE, QUOTE UNQUOTE, IT'S BEEN PICKED UP BECAUSE WE KNOW THAT THERE ARE CHALLENGES AFTER THE DICHO STORM WHERE PLACES WERE BEING PICKED UP, BUT THEY REALLY WERE NOT BEING PICKED UP. AND IF IT'S, UH, THE CONTRACTORS THAT ARE, THAT ARE OUT THERE SAYING THAT THEY'RE PICKING UP, THEN WE NEED TO KNOW THIS INFORMATION. SO I LOOK FORWARD, AND I JUST HAD CONVERSATION WITH THE MAYOR BEFORE HE LEFT, SO WE WILL BE HAVING THIS AT THE, NOT NEXT WEEK, 'CAUSE WE'RE OFF, UH, COUNCIL BREAK WEEK, BUT THE FOLLOWING WEEK HOPEFULLY WE'LL HAVE GOOD INFORMATION. AND THEN I'LL, I'LL JUST CLOSE WITH THIS, UH, OUR FIRST, UH, SENIOR, UH, GOLDEN GALA. UH, WE'RE EXPECTING BY 300 SENIORS THIS COMING MONDAY. WE'VE INVITED ALL COUNCIL MEMBERS, UH, WE HOPE FOR YOU TO ATTEND. UM, AND IT'S, IT'S AN OPPORTUNITY TO JUST, UH, UH, ENGAGE AND INTERACT WITH, UH, OUR SENIOR POPULATION, BRING SOME RESOURCES TO THEM. UH, YOU KNOW, I'M EXCITED ABOUT THE OPEN DOOR MISSION, WHICH IS A, UH, NONPROFIT IN THE EAST END THAT WILL BE CATERING, UM, THERE. AND ONE HUGE SHOUT OUT TO THE LL CENTER FOR PARTNERING WITH ME, UH, MY OFFICE TO SEE THIS THROUGH AND THROUGH, AND ALSO TO ALL THE SPONSORS. THANK YOU. COUNCIL MEMBER ALCORN. THANK YOU. I'M GONNA PASS ON MY PREPARED REMARKS. I'M EAGER TO GET TO THE MEETING ON THE SHORT TERM RENTALS. I KNOW WE HAVE PEOPLE WAITING, UM, THAT STARTS AT ONE O'CLOCK. SO LOOKING FORWARD TO WHAT YOU HAVE TO SAY. COUNCIL MEMBER CARTER, I JUST WANNA MAKE A QUICK ANNOUNCEMENT. IF THERE ARE, UM, VIEWERS OUT THERE WHO STILL HAVE TREES ON THEIR HOMES, THE AMERICAN RED CROSS IS TAKING THOSE CASE NUMBER, I MEAN, CREATING CASE NUMBERS AND HELPING ASSIST TO GET THOSE OFF ON MONDAY. UM, I HAD FILED, UH, SIX CASE REPORTS ON SATURDAY, AND BY MONDAY, AMERICAN RED CROSS WAS OUT TO, UH, ASSIST AND TRY TO GET THOSE FOLKS IN. NORTHWOOD MANOR TAKEN CARE OF. SO, AMERICAN RED CROSS, IF YOU NEED TO HAVE TREE REMOVAL. THANKS, COUNCIL MEMBER EVANS CHAVEZ. THANK YOU, MAYOR PRO TEM. UM, UH, BE BRIEF. UH, I WANT TO FIRST THANK THE MAYOR AND OTHER CITY OFFICIALS WHO WERE PRESENT AT THE CUNY HOMES WHERE, UH, WE ACCEPTED A $50 MILLION FEDERAL GRANT, UH, FOR THE PUBLIC HOUSING COMPLEX IN THE HOUSTON'S THIRD WARD. THIS EVENT MARKED A SIGNIFICANT MILESTONE FOR OUR COMMUNITY. UH, THE GRANT WILL TRANSFORM CUNY HOMES FOR, FROM A 553 UNIT PUBLIC HOUSING COMPLEX INTO A 1,115 MIXED INCOME UNITS, INCLUDING MULTIFAMILY RESIDENCES. AND THIS IS JUST SO PHENOMENAL, AND THIS PROJECT AIMS TO DOUBLE OUR HOUSING CAPACITY WHILE ENSURING THAT CURRENT RESIDENTS ARE PRIORITIZED. AND I WANNA CERTAINLY, AGAIN, THANK THE MAYOR. UH, THANK YOU, DAVID NORTHERN SASHA MARSHALL SMITH OF THE HOUSING AUTHORITY, WHO WORKED DILIGENTLY AND DECA AND WITH MUCH DEDICATION AND HARD WORK, UH, WERE INSTRUMENTAL [06:35:01] IN SECURING THIS GRANT. AND I WANNA THANK DOLORES FORD, THE PRESIDENT OF THE CUNY HOMES RESIDENT COUNCIL FOR HER REMARKS AND ONGOING, A ADVOCACY FOR THE COMMUNITY AND ALL THE COMMUNITY MEMBERS AND STAKEHOLDERS THAT CAME AND PARTICIPATED IN THIS WONDERFUL EVENT ON LAST NIGHT, UH, XFINITY AND THE HOUSTON TEXANS DIGITAL LITERACY NIGHT AT THE BOYS AND GIRLS CLUB. IT WAS JUST A GREAT SUCCESS. UH, 50 FAMILIES WERE AWARDED LAPTOPS. THE TEXANS WERE THERE, THE CHEERLEADERS WERE THERE. UM, I TOLD 'EM I USED TO LOOK LIKE THAT, BUT THAT WAS BACK THEN. AND THIS IS NOW. AT ANY RATE, UH, IT WAS A WONDERFUL EVENT. THANK YOU TO BRYCE KENARD, UH, ISHA MCCLURE, TONY BECK, HANNAH GREENWOOD, AND NICHOLAS EZ FROM COMCAST, UH, FOR THEIR INCREDIBLE EFFORTS IN ORGANIZING THIS EVENT. I AM GOING TO ACKNOWLEDGE MY INTERNS. I THINK THEY'RE HERE. UH, SOLOMON EVANS, NO RELATION. ASTORIA THOMAS AND RYAN MAVERY. I WANT TO THANK THEM PUBLICLY FOR THEIR SERVICE, UH, TO THE DISTRICT D OFFICE. THEY WERE PHENOMENAL AND JUST A PLEASURE TO HAVE THEM WORKING WITH US. I ALSO WANT TO, UH, SAY, UH, SAM PENA WAS A PERSON THAT I KNEW. OH, YOU CAN GO SIT DOWN. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. . SAM PENA, UH, WAS CERTAINLY A PERSON THAT I KNEW BACK IN MY HOUSTON COMMUNITY COLLEGE, UH, TRUSTEE DAYS, AND HE WAS ALWAYS A PHENOMENAL PERSON. I APPRECIATE THAT HE WOULD REACH OUT TO ME AND LET ME KNOW WHEN THERE WERE FATALITIES AND THINGS THAT NEEDED TO BE ADDRESSED IN THE DISTRICT. AND I REALLY, REALLY APPRECIATE HIM FOR THAT. AND I'M GOING TO RESERVE MY COMMENTS FOR THE WONDERFUL CONGRESSWOMAN OF THE 18TH CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT. OF COURSE, I HAVE, SHE IS MY LINE SISTER WITH THE ALPHA KAPPA ALPHA, UH, SORORITY INCORPORATED. AND I WILL GET AN OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK TONIGHT AT THE SERVICE AT WHEELER AVENUE. BUT IT'S, YOU CAN'T SAY ENOUGH ABOUT OUR WONDERFUL CONGRESSWOMAN. AND CERTAINLY, I KNOW WHOEVER FEELS THAT SEED WILL NEVER FILL HER FOOTSTEPS BECAUSE SHE IS IRREPLACEABLE. AND SO THANK YOU SO VERY MUCH. AND, UM, HOPEFULLY IF YOU CAN COME BY TO, TO PAY YOUR RESPECTS, THEN PLEASE DO AT THE WHEELER AVENUE, UH, BAPTIST CHURCH. OKAY. OKAY. THANK YOU. COUNCIL MEMBER CASTILLO. IT'S A BELL THAT RING. THANK YOU, MAYOR PRO TEM. I WANT TO START BY THANKING TERRENCE EVANS, THE SUMMER INTERN, UH, THAT WE HOSTED IN THE DISTRICT H OFFICE FOR ALL OF HIS WORK. IT WAS GREAT TO HAVE HIM, AND I WISH HIM ALL THE BEST AS HE HEADS OFF, UH, TO MOREHOUSE FOR THE FALL SEMESTER. I WANT TO THANK EVERYONE WHO CAME OUT AND ALL THE DEPARTMENTS THAT PARTICIPATED IN OUR INDEPENDENCE HEIGHTS TOWN HALL THAT WE HAD THIS PAST MONDAY. AND A SPECIAL THANK YOU TO BELL VISTA MISSIONARY BAPTIST CHURCH FOR HOSTING AND WORKING WITH US AS WE HAD TO RESCHEDULE A FEW TIMES DUE TO, UM, WEATHER ISSUES. THERE ARE A FEW EVENTS, UH, HAPPENING IN THE DISTRICT THIS WEEKEND ON SATURDAY, AUGUST 3RD AT 8:00 AM THERE'S A COMMUNITY CLEANUP THAT WILL, UH, BE STARTING AT EW ELEMENTARY OVER IN DENVER HARBOR. AND ON SATURDAY, AUGUST 3RD FROM NINE TO 12, THE YMCA AND CONJUNCTION WITH A FEW OTHERS. WE'LL BE HOSTING OPERATION BACKPACK TO HAND OUT, UH, BACKPACKS AND SCHOOL SUPPLIES. THAT'LL BE AT SAM HOUSTON HIGH SCHOOL OFF OF IRVINGTON THIS SATURDAY FROM NINE TO 12. AND THEN, UM, THE SUPER NEIGHBORHOOD, 63, 65, 82, 64, AND 88 ARE HOSTING A SUMMER ENGAGEMENT SERIES, UM, THIS SUNDAY FROM EIGHT TO 10 OVER AT SETI GAS PARK TO LEARN MORE ABOUT EVENTS, UH, AND HAPPENINGS IN THE COMMUNITY AND, AND HOW TO BE ENGAGED. UM, THAT'LL BE ON SUNDAY. AND THEN FINALLY, UH, I DO ALSO WANT TO, UH, CONGRATULATE CHIEF PENA FOR, UH, HIS SERVICE. HE WAS, UH, A CLASS ACT, UH, ALWAYS WILLING TO HELP AND, UH, SERVE THE CITY AND THE COMMUNITY. UH, WELL, AND I WISH, UM, CHIEF MUNOZ SUCCESS, UH, IN HIS NEW POSITION. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. THANK YOU. AND I'LL END WITH A COUPLE OF ANNOUNCEMENTS. I DO WANT TO THANK EVERYONE WHO PARTICIPATED IN OUR HELPING HANDS PROGRAM, INCLUDING THE FILL THE FRIDGE INITIATIVE. UH, WE WERE ON THE, UH, GREAT DAY HOUSTON, UH, SHOW YESTERDAY WITH DEBORAH DUNCAN DUNCAN, AND WE WERE ABLE TO HIGHLIGHT THE GREAT WORK THAT WE CONTINUE TO DO WITH KROGER AND HNTB. SO THANK YOU TO EVERYONE WHO HAS HELPED US TO GET SOME IMMEDIATE SUPPORT TO OUR SENIOR RESIDENTS IN DISTRICT K. PLENTIFUL HARVEST IS HOSTING A POP-UP GROCERY EVENT ON SATURDAY, AUGUST THE THIRD, BEGINNING AT 1130. UM, YOU CAN, UM, CHECK OUR SOCIALS FOR ALL OF THOSE ADDITIONAL, UH, INFORMATION ABOUT [06:40:01] THAT, UH, RESIDENTS IN FORT BEND HOUSTON, SPECIFICALLY THE QUAIL RUN COMMUNITY, WILL SOON HAVE RECONSTRUCTED STREETS. UH, CONCRETE PANEL REPLACEMENT CONSTRUCTION WILL BEGIN. THIS WORK WILL START IN AUGUST AND SHOULD BE COMPLETED IN THE LATE FALL. WE LOOK FORWARD TO THESE MUCH NEEDED STREETS BEING FUNDED BY OUR COUNCIL DISTRICT SERVICE FUNDS. ALSO WANT TO REMIND RESIDENTS ABOUT THE JARED VANDERBILT FOUNDATION'S FOURTH ANNUAL BACKPACK GIVEAWAY. IT'S A DRIVE THROUGH EVENT AT MARION PARK COMMUNITY CENTER. UH, RESIDENTS CAN BEGIN, UM, PICKING UP THOSE BACKPACKS AT 10:00 AM THROUGH 2:00 PM AGAIN ON SATURDAY, TUESDAY, AUGUST THE SIXTH. I WILL BE PARTNERING WITH STATE REPRESENTATIVE DR. ALMA ALLEN TO HOST A VOLUNTEER DEPUTY, UH, VOTER REGISTRAR TRAINING SESSION. AND THE HARRIS COUNTY TAX ASSESSOR'S OFFICE WILL MODERATE THIS NONPARTISAN TRAINING SESSION. IT WILL BE HELD AT THE HARC CLARK MULTI-SERVICE CENTER AT 38 10 WEST FUKE WAY. IF YOU NEED MORE INFORMATION, PLEASE REACH OUT TO THE DISTRICT, A OFFICE. THEN I ALSO WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT, UM, I RECOGNIZE THE DISTRICT, A INTERNS JUSTICE PRINCE, WHO IS A SOPHOMORE AT TEXAS TECH AND MATTHEW WHITEHEAD, WHO IS ALSO A, UM, SOPHOMORE AT SOUTHERN UNIVERSITY. SO THEY HAVE DONE A WONDERFUL JOB THIS SUMMER. I SEE. UM, JUSTICE IS IN THE CHAMBER. THANK YOU SO MUCH. UH, THEY HAD A GREAT EXPERIENCE AND I HAD A GREAT TIME, UM, LEARNING FROM THEM AND GETTING TO EXPERIENCE, UH, PUBLIC SERVICE THROUGH THE EYES OF OUR COLLEGE STUDENTS AND MAKING SURE THAT THEY ARE ENGAGING THEIR PEERS AND COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT AND LEARNING MORE ABOUT THEIR GOVERNMENT. SO THANK YOU FOR ALL THE WORK YOU DID. WE WISH YOU THE VERY BEST IN YOUR ENDEAVORS AND ENCOURAGE YOU TO KEEP SOARING. NEXT WEEK. COUNCIL MEMBERS, WE HAVE A BREAK WEEK. THERE'LL BE NO CITY COUNCIL MEETING. UM, I KNOW THAT JUST BECAUSE WE DON'T HAVE COUNCIL, Y'ALL ALL STILL BE WORKING. I ALREADY KNOW HOW IT GOES, BUT I HOPE YOU GET SOME REST, UM, AND TAKE CARE OF YOURSELF. UM, WHILE WE DO HAVE A BREAK WEEK, AND OUR NEXT MEETING WILL BE TUESDAY, AUGUST THE 13TH AT 1:30 PM AND WE STAND ADJOURNED. * This transcript was created by voice-to-text technology. The transcript has not been edited for errors or omissions, it is for reference only and is not the official minutes of the meeting.