[00:00:21]
NOW I KNOW HOW MUCH HOUSTONIANS LOVE A LUNCHEON, ESPECIALLY THE GRAND LUNCHEON OF THEM ALL.
BUT I PROMISE WE WILL HAVE PLENTY OF TIME TO NETWORK, TO FELLOWSHIP TOGETHER TO GET THOSE PHOTOS AS WELL.
SO I ASK YOU AT THIS TIME TO PLEASE NOW TAKE YOUR SEATS.
WE HAVE A ROBUST AGENDA THIS AFTERNOON AND WE WANNA MAKE SURE WE HAVE TIME FOR EVERYTHING.
SO IF YOU'LL PLEASE TAKE YOUR SEATS AT THIS TIME SO WE CAN COMMENCE.
I KNOW IT'S A LITTLE TRICKY GETTING INTO THE HOTEL AT TIMES, BUT WE'RE GONNA RUSH AND TAKE OUR SEATS SO WE CAN GET STARTED.
IT'S LIKE THE COUNTDOWN TO A NEWSCAST.
IT'S A BIG HURRY AND A SCURRY AND A RUSH TO GET IN, GET SETTLED, AND GET GOING.
AND JUST LIKE THE NEWSCAST, IT IS SHOWTIME.
I WANT TO EXTEND A GOOD AFTERNOON TO EVERYONE.
IT IS MY PLEASURE TO SERVE AS THE MC FOR THIS YEAR'S STATE OF THE CITY.
I WANNA START BY RECOGNIZING THE AMAZING TALENT, THE INCREDIBLE WALL TRIP HIGH SCHOOL ROARING RED RAM DRUM LINE THAT ENTERED INTO THE ROOM AND WELCOMED EVERYONE, THE WALTRIP HIGH SCHOOL BAND PROGRAM.
YES, GIVE THEM THEIR APPLAUSE AND I'M GOING TO GIVE YOU EVEN MORE REASON TO APPLAUD THE BAND, THE WALTRIP HIGH SCHOOL BAND PROGRAM UNDER THE DIRECTION OF BRENDA CORRAL SMITH IS RECOGNIZED AS ONE OF THE TOP FIVE TITLE ONE MUSIC PROGRAMS IN THE UNITED STATES IN THE COUNTRY.
THE RAM BAND HAS REPRESENTED THE STATE OF TEXAS TWICE IN WASHINGTON DC FOR THE 2013 PRESIDENTIAL INAUGURATION CELEBRATION AND ALSO THE 2015 NATIONAL 4TH OF JULY PARADE.
NOW, WE ALSO HEARD FROM THE AMAZINGLY AND INCREDIBLY TALENTED MARIACHI OR E TRADITION PERFORMING WITH THE DRUM LINE.
LET'S GIVE THEM A HAND AS WELL.
NOW YOU MAY HAVE NOTICED MARIACHI OR JEAN E TRADITION IS STILL HERE ON STAGE.
WELL THAT'S BECAUSE, OH, NO, NO, NO.
BUT WE HAVE AN AMAZING YOUNG, TALENTED GUEST THIS AFTERNOON LAST YEAR AT JUST 11 YEARS OLD.
EDUARDO ANTONIO TREVINO BURST ONTO THE NATIONAL SCENE THROUGH HIS PERFORMANCE ON AMERICA'S GOT TALENT.
HIS JAW DROPPING APPEARANCE ON THAT SHOW HAS BEEN VIEWED ONLINE MILLIONS OF TIMES.
PLEASE WELCOME TO THE STAGE EDUARDO ANTONIO TREVINO WITH MARIACHI ORION.
[00:05:58]
THIS WHAT'S A MAN? WHAT HAS HE NOT THEN? HE HAS NOT TRULY.AND THE WOO, WHAT AN OPENING MEDLEY.
YOU KNOW, I SHOULD HAVE BEEN BACK THERE DOING VOCAL WARMUPS WITH HIM BEFORE I CAME OUT.
HERE ARE, ARE YOU BUSY LATER FOR THE NEWSCAST? JUST CHECKING EDUARDO.
OH, THEY GOT US STARTED IN SUCH A BIG WAY.
EDUARDO IS A MULTI AWARD-WINNING PERFORMER WITH BIG LANDS AND HE IS REPRESENTING HOUSTON WELL, IS HE NOT EDUARDO? IN FACT, PLEASE COME OUT HERE, JOIN ME BACK ON STAGE AS WE GIVE YOU ANOTHER HAND.
WELL THANK YOU AND MUCH CONTINUED SUCCESS TO YOU YOUNG MAN.
AND I WANNA THANK MAYOR WHITMEYER FOR ALL HIS SUPPORT AND HAVING ME AT HIS EVENTS.
AND THANK YOU FOR ALL YOU'VE DONE WITH OUR CITY.
NOW I WOULD LIKE TO ASK EVERYONE TO PLEASE STAND FOR THE PRESENTATION OF COLORS BY THE HOUSTON POLICE AND FIRE DEPARTMENTS.
JOIN HONOR GUARD, FOLLOWED BY THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE, RECITED BY JADE SWAN, UNIVERSITY OF HOUSTON, GRADUATE AND PROUD NATIVE HOUSTONIAN AND THE NATIONAL ANTHEM PERFORMED
[00:10:01]
BY KENNETH GALE, DIRECTOR OF MUSIC AND FINE ARTS AT UNITY OF HOUSTON.AFTER PLEASE REMAIN STANDING FOR THE INDICATION BY REVEREND MICHAEL, GOT SENIOR MINISTER AT UNITY OF HOUSTON.
TELL, ATTEND JUMP CARRY COLORS, FORT WORTH, MARK DETAIL, HALT LEFT FACE, ALL OFFICERS AND COLORS FREEZE.
AND A PLEASE JOIN ME FOR THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE.
I PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE TO THE FLAG OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA AND TO THE REPUBLIC FOR WHICH IT STANDS, ONE NATION UNDER GOD, INDIVISIBLE, WITH LIBERTY AND JUSTICE FOR ALL.
OH SAY, CAN YOU SEE BY THE DAWNS EARLY WHAT SO PROUD AT THE TWILIGHT LAST WHOSE BROAD STRIPES AND BRIGHT STARS THROUGH THE OR THE PARTS WE WATCHED WERE SO AND THE AND THE HOME OF THE BRIDGE ORDER RIGHT? FAITH FOR WHAT MARCH.
INFINITE GOD KNOWN BY MANY NAMES, BUT BEYOND ALL NAMES.
INFINITE PRESENCE OF LOVE AND LIGHT, POWER AND PEACE.
BLESS THIS EVENT, BLESS THIS MEAL, BLESS ALL WHO HAD A PART IN BRINGING US TOGETHER TODAY.
WE ASK YOUR BLESSING UPON MAYOR WHITMEYER AND ALL OF OUR LEADERS, THAT THEY CONTINUE TO BE GUIDED BY YOUR WISDOM AND ALL THAT THEY DO.
WE ASK YOUR BLESSING UPON THIS CITY AND ALL HOUSTONIANS GIVE US A VISION HE DO.
HEBREW SCRIPTURES SAY THAT WITHOUT A VISION, THE PEOPLE PERISH.
SO LET US RISE IN A VISION OF A POSSIBLE HOUSTON, A PLACE BEYOND ALL LIMITATIONS OF SEPARATION AND THOUGHT OF DIFFERENCE.
MAY WE SEE EACH OTHER NOT AS OTHER OR STRANGER, BUT AS NEIGHBOR AND SISTER AND BROTHER WORTHY OF COMPASSION AND LOVE.
MAY WE REALIZE WE ARE ALL IN THIS TOGETHER.
GOD, MAY WE ALL RISE IN THIS VISION TO CREATE THAT PLACE OF POSSIBILITY WHERE ALL OF US ARE INVITED INTO A FUTURE, WHERE WE LIVE AND CREATE AND THRIVE TOGETHER.
GO AHEAD AND PLEASE BE SEATED AND THANK YOU REVEREND GOD FOR THAT BLESSING.
[00:15:01]
A GROUP THAT WE HAVE HERE TODAY.THIS ROOM IS ABSOLUTELY PACKED.
NOT MUCH SPACE LEFT, AND THAT'S BECAUSE ALL OF THE EXCITEMENT AND ALL OF THE ENERGY THAT IS BUILDING HERE IN THE CITY OF HOUSTON.
THANK YOU ALL FOR BEING HERE WITH US THIS AFTERNOON.
I GET THE PRIVILEGE OF BRINGING YOU THE NEWS EACH AND EVERY EVENING.
SO I AM HONORED TO PLAY A ROLE INTO TODAY'S EVENT AND LOOKING AT WHERE HOUSTON IS AND WHERE HOUSTON IS HEADED IN THE FUTURE.
THE STATE OF THE CITY IS CO-HOSTED THIS YEAR BY HOUSTON FIRST CORPORATION AND THE GREATER HOUSTON PARTNERSHIP, THE TWO ORGANIZATIONS CHARGED WITH SHARING THE HOUSTON MESSAGE ACROSS THE COUNTRY AND AROUND THE WORLD.
THESE TWO GROUPS KNOW JUST HOW IMPORTANT IT IS FOR HOUSTON TO BE A PLACE PEOPLE RECOGNIZE THAT THEY WANT TO VISIT, AND YES, PERHAPS EVEN A PLACE THEY MOVE TO LIVE AND WORK, LAYING THE GROUNDWORK FOR SUCH A CITY AS THE JOB OF OUR ELECTED OFFICIALS LED BY MAYOR WHITMEYER.
I KNOW WE ARE ALL EAGERLY ANTICIPATING WHAT THE MAYOR HAS TO SAY LATER THIS AFTERNOON IN THE PROGRAM, BUT FOR NOW, I'D LIKE TO ASK JAY ZEIDMAN, BOARD CHAIR OF HOUSTON FIRST CORPORATION TO SAY A FEW WORDS.
IT'S MY PLEASURE TO WELCOME YOU TO THE 2024 STATE OF THE CITY ADDRESS, THE FIRST FOR OUR NEWLY ELECTED MAYOR, JOHN WHITMEYER AS CHAIR OF HOUSTON.
FIRST, I'M HONORED TO BE STANDING BEFORE THIS INCREDIBLE AUDIENCE OF CIVIC AND BUSINESS LEADERS, COMMUNITY ADVOCATES, AND OF COURSE SOME OF THE MANY PEOPLE WHO MAKE HOUSTON THE VIBRANT CITY THAT IT IS TODAY.
WE'VE COME TOGETHER HERE TO CELEBRATE THE REMARKABLE JOURNEY OF OUR GREAT CITY AND DISCUSS THE CHALLENGES AND OPPORTUNITIES THAT REMAIN BEFORE US.
BUT AS WE REFLECT ON THE FACTORS THAT HAVE MADE OUR CITY A TRULY GLOBAL DESTINATION, I'M INCREDIBLY PROUD OF THE ROLE THAT HOUSTON FIRST AND OUR INCREDIBLE TEAM HAS PLAYED IN GETTING US HERE.
OUR ORGANIZATION HELPS SHAPE THE CITY'S IDENTITY, DRIVES ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITY IN OUR INDUSTRY AND POSITIONS HOUSTON ON THE WORLD STAGE.
BUT OUR ROLE GOES BEYOND THE BRICKS AND MORTARS OF CONVENTION CENTERS, HOTELS, THEATERS, AND PARKS.
HOUSTON FIRST FOSTERS A TRUE SENSE OF COMMUNITY, BRINGS PEOPLE TOGETHER TO ILLUSTRATE THE EXTRAORDINARY POTENTIAL OF OUR GREAT CITY, THE TEAM, AND ALONG WITH OUR PARTNERS, LIKE THE GREATER HOUSTON PARTNERSHIP TAKES GREAT PRIDE IN PROMOTING THIS PLACE THAT WE CALL HOME FROM OUR WORLD CLASS, FOOD AND CULTURE AND ART SCENES TO THE UNIQUE NATURE OF OUR ECLECTIC NEIGHBORHOODS AND THE ENERGY AND INNOVATION OF OUR BUSINESSES, BOTH BIG AND SMALL.
HOUSTON IS ALWAYS A CITY IN MOTION, ONE THAT EMBRACES GROWTH AND DIVERSITY AND OPPORTUNITY.
THIS YEAR'S STATE OF THE CITY COMES AT A VERY PIVOTAL TIME.
AS HOUSTON GROWS, NEW CHALLENGES EMERGE WHILE OTHERS BECOME MORE ACUTE FROM PUBLIC SAFETY AND INFRASTRUCTURE AND DEVELOPMENT TO HOW WE BREAK DOWN TRADITIONAL BARRIERS AND COLLABORATE AS OUR COMMUNITY DOES IN NEW WAYS.
IN RECENT MONTHS, MAYOR WHITMEYER HAS BEEN AT THE FOREFRONT OF THESE CHALLENGES.
I KNOW WE'LL HEAR MORE ABOUT HIS PLANS LATER IN THE PROGRAM, BUT WHAT WE'VE SEEN TO DATE IS SOMEONE WHO'S WILLING TO ROLL UP HIS SLEEVES AND GET TO WORK FOR THE PEOPLE OF HOUSTON.
AS WE LOOK FORWARD TO THE FUTURE, WE KNOW THAT THERE IS A UNIQUE ROLE FOR OUR ORGANIZATION AND ALL OF YOU IN THIS ROOM TO FOSTER COLLABORATION BETWEEN PUBLIC AND PRIVATE ENTITIES AND ENSURE THAT HOUSTON REMAINS A CITY WHERE INNOVATION AND PROGRESS THRIVE.
IN SHORT, HOUSTON FIRST CORPORATION IS NOT JUST A PLAYER AND THE GROWTH OF HOUSTON, IT WILL REMAIN A CATALYST.
BEFORE I LEAVE, I WANT TO TAKE A MOMENT TO THANK EVERYONE IN THIS ROOM.
ALL 1500 PLUS OF YOU FOR YOUR DEDICATION TO THE CITY.
IT'S YOUR WORK, YOUR EFFORTS, YOUR PUBLIC SERVICE, YOUR EDUCATION, YOUR BUSINESSES, YOUR COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT IS WHAT DRIVES OUR CITY FORWARD.
AND I HOPE THAT OUR ORGANIZATION AND OTHERS LIKE THE GREATER HOUSTON PARTNERSHIP CAN CONTINUE TO BE A RESOURCE FOR YOU AND FOR ALL OF US AS WE ELEVATE OUR GREAT CITY, THIS WONDERFUL PLACE THAT WE CALL HOME.
NEXT I'D LIKE TO ASK GREATER HOUSTON PARTNERSHIP PRESIDENT AND CEO STEVE KANE TO OFFER SOME REMARKS AS WELL.
[00:20:02]
AND ALL OF OUR GUESTS HERE TODAY.THE GREATER HOUSTON PARTNERSHIP IS PROUD TO CO-HOST TODAY'S EVENT WITH OUR FRIENDS AND COLLEAGUES AT HOUSTON.
FIRST, UH, THE WORKING RELATIONSHIP'S BEEN EXTRAORDINARY.
THANK YOU MICHAEL HECKMAN, AND ESPECIALLY THANK YOU TO YOUR TEAM AT THE HOUSTON DAY EVENT THAT THE PARTNERSHIP HOSTED FOR TEXAS LEGISLATORS.
EARLIER THIS YEAR, MAYOR WHITMEYER EXPRESSED THIS GOAL TO MAKE HOUSTON THE BEST RUN BIG CITY IN AMERICA.
THE PARTNERSHIP AND ALL OF US IN THIS ROOM, I THINK CAN EAGERLY GET BEHIND THIS VISION.
THE PEOPLE OF OUR COMMUNITY MAKE HOUSTON STRONG, PRODUCTIVE AND VIBRANT.
VERY SIMPLY, WE ARE HERE BECAUSE WE KNOW WE CAN MAKE OUR FUTURE HERE.
THAT GROUP OF PEOPLE WITH THAT UNIFYING BELIEF IS WHAT GIVES US OUR UNIQUE, DIVERSE, AMBITIOUS, JUST GET IT DONE CULTURE.
WHEN I TALK TO PEOPLE IN OTHER METROS AROUND THE COUNTRY, I TELL 'EM THIS.
WE HAVE A MAYOR WHO IS A DEMOCRAT AND WHO IS ALL ABOUT PUBLIC SAFETY, WORKING INFRASTRUCTURE, GOOD FINANCES, AND PICKING UP THE TRASH.
HE ALSO HAS GREAT RELATIONSHIPS IN OUR STATE LEGISLATURE AND WITH OUR RED STATE LEADERSHIP.
I CONCLUDE WITH SOMETHING LIKE THIS.
SO WHAT'S IT LIKE IN YOUR CITY? THEY OFTEN RESPOND, YOU'RE LUCKY.
WE WILL WORK TOGETHER TO ACHIEVE THE VISION OF THE BEST RUN BIG CITY IN AMERICA.
AND WHILE WE'RE AT IT, WE WILL BUILD TOMORROW TOGETHER.
THANKS AGAIN EVERYONE FOR JOINING US HERE TODAY.
THANKS SO MUCH FOR YOUR WORDS, STEVE.
NOW, AS PROMISED, AS I TOLD YOU AT THE START, IT'S TIME TO ENJOY EACH OTHER'S COMPANY NETWORK AND DIVE INTO YOUR LUNCH.
WE'RE GOING TO TAKE A QUICK, QUICK BREAK, RATHER FOR YOU TO ENJOY YOUR FOOD AND COME BACK IN JUST A FEW MINUTES.
PLEASE ALSO ENJOY THE ENTERTAINMENT PROVIDED BY THE JAZZ HOUSTON YOUTH ORCHESTRA ALL STARS.
I KNOW YOU ARE ALL ENJOYING EACH OTHER'S COMPANY AND WE'LL HAVE MORE TIME TO DO THAT AS WELL.
BUT AT THIS POINT, WE WANT TO INVITE YOU BACK TO YOUR TABLES SO THAT WE CAN RESUME OUR PROGRAM.
PLEASE HOWEVER, CONTINUE TO ENJOY YOUR LUNCH AS WELL.
YOU'LL WANNA TAKE YOUR SEAT SO WE CAN RECOGNIZE A FEW PEOPLE.
THERE ARE SO MANY PEOPLE HERE IN THE CITY OF HOUSTON WHO WORK SO HARD TO ENSURE THE CITY'S SUCCESS, AND AT THIS TIME, WE WOULD LIKE TO ACKNOWLEDGE THE ELECTED OFFICIALS WHO ARE HERE WITH US TODAY.
THERE ARE MANY, SO I ASK THAT ALL ELECTED OFFICIALS AT THE LOCAL, STATE, AND FEDERAL LEVEL TO PLEASE STAND AND BE RECOGNIZED AT THIS TIME.
THANK YOU FOR ALL THAT YOU DO.
ON BEHALF OF HOUSTON AND OUR REGION AS WELL, AS I MENTIONED, OUR JOINT HOSTS THIS AFTERNOON ARE HOUSTON FIRST AND THE GREATER HOUSTON PARTNERSHIP.
I WANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE THE BOARDS OF THESE TWO IMPORTANT ORGANIZATIONS.
IF YOU ARE A MEMBER OF THE BOARD OF HOUSTON FIRST OR THE GREATER HOUSTON PARTNERSHIP, PLEASE STAND AND ALSO BE RECOGNIZED.
WE ALSO WANT TO THANK THE MANY SPONSORS WHO HAVE HELPED MAKE TODAY POSSIBLE.
FIRST AND FOREMOST, OUR HOUSTON VISIONARIES, CHEVRON AND THE KINDER FOUNDATION.
WE THANK YOU FOR ALL THAT YOU DO FOR OUR CITY.
WE WOULD ALSO LIKE TO RECOGNIZE OUR VIP RECEPTION SPONSOR, ENCHANTED ROCK,
[00:25:02]
OUR COMMUNITY CHAMPIONS AS WELL, COMCAST, DOWNTOWN HOUSTON PLUS HINES MEMORIAL, HERMAN HARRY HOLMES, T-D-E-C-U, AND THE PRIZE TRILOGY GROUP, AND OF COURSE, RECOGNITION TO OUR CORPORATE ALLIES AS WELL.AT THIS TIME, I'D LIKE TO WELCOME HOUSTON FIRST PRESIDENT AND CEO MICHAEL HECKMAN TO THIS STAGE.
THANK YOU AND GOOD AFTERNOON EVERYONE.
WHAT A PLEASURE TO BE WITH YOU HERE TODAY TO HEAR MAYOR WHIT MEYER'S VISION FOR OUR CITY.
IT'S ALWAYS A PRIVILEGE FOR ME AND MY COLLEAGUES AT HOUSTON FIRST TO BE ABLE TO PLAY A PART IN THIS SPECIAL EVENT AND AN EVENT AS IT SHOULD BE IN THE FOURTH LARGEST CITY WITH THE ROOM.
THIS PACKED WITH MORE THAN 1600 PEOPLE AND A WAIT LIST TO BUY TABLES TO GET INTO THIS EVENT.
AS JAY ALLUDED TO EARLIER, ONE OF THE PRIMARY GOALS OF OUR ORGANIZATION IS TO ENSURE THAT THIS GREAT CITY IS KNOWN ACROSS THE GLOBE FOR ITS CULTURAL RICHNESS, ECONOMIC VITALITY, AND UNMATCHED HOSPITALITY.
IN RECENT YEARS, HOUSTON HAS FACED EXTRAORDINARY CHALLENGES FROM WEATHER EVENTS TO THE DEEP EFFECTS OF THE PANDEMIC.
NEVERTHELESS, WE HAVE PROVEN AGAIN AND AGAIN, OUR ABILITY TO NOT ONLY OVERCOME ADVERSITY, BUT TO INNOVATE AND CONTINUE TO PROSPER.
THIS IS A TESTAMENT TO ONE OF THE A GREATEST STRENGTH AND BRAND DIFFERENTIATORS THAT WE HAVE AS A CITY, AND THAT'S OUR PEOPLE.
HOUSTON FIRST, IN PARTNERSHIP WITH OUR MANY INDUSTRY STAKEHOLDERS, HAS WORKED TO ENSURE THAT OUR HOSPITALITY AND TOURISM SECTORS HAVE REMAINED STRONG.
WE HAVE IMPLEMENTED NEW STRATEGIES TO DRAW TOURISTS, SUCCESSFULLY GROWN OUR CONVENTIONS AND MEETING BUSINESS AND WORK TO MAKE HOUSTON A DESTINATION OF CHOICE FOR PEOPLE AROUND THE WORLD BY HELPING BRING TENS OF MILLIONS OF VISITORS HERE EVERY YEAR, INCLUDING A RECORD 51 MILLION.
JUST LAST YEAR, WE ARE DRIVING ECONOMIC GROWTH FOR THE VISITOR ECONOMY, WHICH IS THE REGION'S FOURTH LARGEST EMPLOYER, TOURISM CONVENTIONS, MAJOR EVENTS AND BUSINESS TRAVEL COMBINED TO GENERATE AN ECONOMIC IMPACT OF MORE THAN $25 BILLION FOR OUR REGION LAST YEAR.
AS PART OF THAT HOTEL REVENUE TO THE HOUSTON MARKET SET AN ALL TIME RECORD IN 2023, AND WE ARE SET TO SUBSTANTIALLY SURPASS THAT RECORD THIS YEAR.
BUT HOUSTON FIRST ROLE EXTENDS BEYOND JUST ATTRACTING VISITORS.
ONE EXAMPLE IS THE WORK WE HAVE LED TO CREATE, SUSTAIN, AND PROMOTE A UNIFIED BRAND FOR HOUSTON.
THESE EFFORTS HAVE SHOWN MEASURABLE AND MEANINGFUL PROGRESS OVER THE PAST TWO YEARS SINCE WE IMPLEMENTED THE STRATEGY.
A RECENT SURVEY FROM RESEARCH FIRM OMNITRACK SHOWS THAT AWARENESS OF HOUSTON AND ITS MESSAGE AMONG OUT-OF-STATE RESIDENTS IS UP SIX PERCENTAGE POINTS OVER THE LAST TWO YEARS.
ALSO IMPROVING OUR MORE CONSISTENT THEMES OF WHAT WHAT FOLKS THINK OF WHEN THEY HEAR HOUSTON STATEMENTS SUCH AS A CITY THAT SUPPORTS BUSINESS, A VIBRANT PLACE TO VISIT WITH LOTS TO DO AN INNOVATIVE FOOD SCENE AND A STRONG SENSE OF COMMUNITY TOPS.
SOME OF THESE DE DESCRIPTIONS, THESE RESULTS ARE CERTAINLY STEPS IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION, BUT MUCH MORE CAN ALWAYS BE DONE.
THEY ALSO ILLUSTRATE WHAT IS POSSIBLE WHEN WE WORK TOGETHER AND COLLABORATE WITH OUR COMMUNITY PARTNERS, INCLUDING THE TEXAS MEDICAL CENTER, DOWNTOWN HOUSTON PLUS THE ARTS COMMUNITY, OUR PROFESSIONAL SPORTS TEAMS, AND OF COURSE, THE GREATEST HOUSTON PARTNERSHIP.
CO-HOSTING TODAY'S EVENT IS MERELY ONE EXAMPLE OF OUR TWO ORGANIZATIONS WORKING HAND IN HAND FOR THE BENEFIT OF OUR COMMUNITY, BUT IT'S NOT JUST OUR ORGANIZATIONS.
EVERYONE IN THIS ROOM SELLS HOUSTON EVERY DAY IN ONE WAY OR ANOTHER.
SO IT'S OUR COLLECTIVE RESPONSIBILITY TO SHARE THE MESSAGE OF WHO WE ARE.
HOUSTON IS BUILT ON THE POWER OF, TOGETHER WITH PARTNERSHIPS BETWEEN THE PUBLIC AND PRIVATE SECTORS, OUR COMMUNITIES AND THEIR LEADERS, AND OUR BUSINESSES AND THE RESIDENTS WHO MAKE THEM RUN.
WE ARE CONSTANTLY SETTING THE BAR HIGH AS AS A CITY.
SO THE WORK IS NEVER DONE AT HOUSTON.
FIRST, WE ARE DOUBLING DOWN ON OUR EFFORTS TO DRAMATICALLY IMPROVE
[00:30:01]
OUR HOSPITALITY INFRASTRUCTURE, SUPPORT CULTURAL DEVELOPMENT, AND MAKE HOUSTON AN ENVIABLE WORLD-CLASS DESTINATION.EVEN AS OUR CONVENTION DISTRICT HAS BEEN IMPROVED TIME AND AGAIN OVER THE YEARS, WE HAVE ALWAYS DREAMED HOW WE COULD MAKE IT TRULY SUPERIOR TO ALL OF OUR COMPETITOR CITIES ACROSS THE UNITED STATES.
A VISION FOR NOT JUST MODERNIZING THE CONVENTION CENTER, BUT MORE BOLDLY TRANSFORMING THE BROADER DISTRICT IN WHICH WE SIT TODAY.
DOING THAT BY REMAKING AND TRANSFORMING THE EASTERN EDGE OF DOWNTOWN, TAKING ADVANTAGE OF THE GREEN SPACE CAT PARK THAT WILL SIT ATOP THE I 45 I 69 UNDERGROUND FREEWAY TO RECONNECT DOWNTOWN TO THE EAST END AND BY ADDING AN ADJACENT ENTERTAINMENT DISTRICT.
BUT SUCH VISIONS WOULD'VE REMAINED A DREAM AND SIMPLY RENDERINGS ON A SLIDE DECK UNLESS WE COULD PASS A LANDMARK FUNDING BILL FROM THE STATE OF TEXAS.
TO DO THAT, WE NEEDED A BILL SPONSOR, A CHAMPION, AND SOMEONE WHO COULD DELIVER.
SO NEARLY TWO YEARS AGO, IN OCTOBER OF 2022, IN A BOARDROOM JUST ACROSS THE STREET OF GEORGE R. BROWN, I MET WITH THEN DEAN OF THE SENATE, JOHN WHITMEYER, AFTER SEEING A PRESENTATION OF THE VISION FOR WHAT COULD BE ACCOMPLISHED IF WE HAD THE FUNDING, HE SAID TO ME, MICHAEL, THIS IS TOO IMPORTANT FOR HOUSTON.
SO HE AGREED TO AUTHOR AND LEAD THE LEGISLATION AND HE LOOKED AT ME WITH A RESOLVE IN HIS EYE AND HE SAID, I'LL GET IT DONE.
LEGISLATIVE SESSIONS ARE ALWAYS DIFFICULT, BUT DUE TO HIS HARD WORK LEADERSHIP AND THE SUPPORT OF OUR HOUSTON DELEGATION, THE BIPARTISAN BILL PASSED AND WILL DELIVER ROUGHLY $2 BILLION IN STATE FUNDING FOR A GENERATIONAL ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT OPPORTUNITY.
LATER THIS YEAR, MAYOR WHITMEYER AND HOUSTON FIRST WILL UNVEIL FURTHER DETAILS ON THE DEVELOPMENT AND WE AIM TO BREAK GROUND SOMETIME NEXT YEAR WHEN COMPLETE.
IT WILL BE A TRANS TRANSFORMATIONAL PROJECT THAT VISITORS AND CONVENTION GOERS WILL LOVE AND THAT HOUSTONIANS WILL BE PROUD OF AND BE ABLE TO ENJOY FOR GENERATIONS TO COME.
IN CLOSING, AND AS WE LOOK FORWARD, I HAVE TO TELL YOU, AS I LOOK ACROSS THIS ROOM, I'M FILLED WITH OPTIMISM FOR THE PEOPLE THAT ARE IN THIS ROOM AND WHAT THE FUTURE HOLDS FOR OUR COMMUNITY.
HOUSTON FIRST IS PROUD AND HONORED TO BE ABLE TO PLAY A PART IN HELPING SHAPE THE FUTURE OF THIS INCREDIBLE CITY.
I WANNA THANK MAYOR WHITMEYER FOR HIS LEADERSHIP, HIS COMMITMENT, AND HIS CONSTANT WORK TO MAKE THIS A CITY OF ENDLESS OPPORTUNITY.
THERE WAS A GROUP OF LADIES THOUGHT LEADERS, IF YOU WILL, HAVING BREAKFAST.
WE WERE TALKING ABOUT WHO WAS GONNA BE THE NEXT MAYOR.
AS WE WERE IN DISCUSSION, WE THOUGHT WE SHOULD GO OUT AND RECRUIT THE BEST PERSON TO RUN FOR MAYOR, A MAYOR THAT'S GONNA REPRESENT US, GONNA REPRESENT THE COMMUNITY, AND THAT'S REALLY GONNA TAKE ON TOUGH ISSUES.
SENATOR WHITTIER'S NAME KEPT COMING UP, SO WE WENT AND APPROACHED HIM.
HE EVENTUALLY AGREED, ESPECIALLY WHENEVER WE TOLD HIM WHAT A DIFFERENCE HE COULD MAKE.
I JOHN WHITMEYER, I JOHN WHITMEYER, DO SOLEMNLY SWEAR, DO SOLEMNLY SWEAR THAT I WILL FAITHFULLY EXECUTE.
SO WHEN THE MAYOR FIRST GOT ELECTED, HE CALLED ME AND HE SAID, WE'RE GOING ON A DRIVE.
I WAS EXPECTING HIM TO HAVE HIS SECURITY, BUT NO, IT WAS HIM IN THE CAR AND SAID, I'M GONNA SHOW YOU WHAT NEEDS TO CHANGE IN HOUSTON.
AND I FINISHED THE DRIVE AND I SAID, MAYOR, YOU'RE EXACTLY RIGHT.
MAYOR WHITMEYER REALLY CARES ABOUT THE COMMUNITY.
IF YOU TELL HIM THERE'S A PROBLEM, HE'S GONNA GO CHECK IT OUT AND GO TALK TO PEOPLE.
A GOOD EXAMPLE ON NEW YEAR'S, HE WANTS TO BE WITH HPD, MAKING SURE THAT THE CITY IS SAFE.
HE WAS DOING THIS BEFORE HE WAS MAYOR, AND HE WAS ALSO HAVING DINNER WITH THE FIREFIGHTERS.
SO FOR HIM, THAT'S NOT PART OF THE JOB.
IT'S ACTUALLY JUST WHAT HE DOES.
HE IS SOMEBODY WHO WANTS TO GET TO WORK ALL DAY EVERY DAY.
HE IS A NO-NONSENSE TYPE OF PERSON.
[00:35:01]
WORK AND MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE ADVANCING THE HEALTH AND SAFETY OF ALL HOUSTONIANS AND ALL HARRIS COUNTY RESIDENTS.I WAS APPOINTED BY MAYOR WHITMEYER TO SERVE ON AN INDEPENDENT REVIEW COMMITTEE FOR HOUSTON POLICE DEPARTMENT.
IT WAS AN APPOINTMENT OF FIVE CITIZENS.
FIRST, I WANT TO APOLOGIZE TO THOSE VICTIMS. IT SAYS THAT HE IS HIGHLY CONCERNED ABOUT THE CITIZENS OF HOUSTON, TEXAS.
HE HAS A DESIRE FOR FAIRNESS TO BE SHOWN WHENEVER THERE'S A PROBLEM, AND IT WAS VERY CLEAR IN THE TASK THAT HE NEEDED PERFORMED, AND HE WANTED TO MAKE SURE WE WOULD GET THE JOB DONE WITHOUT BIAS.
IF I WAS TO CHOOSE A CEO OF MY COMPANY, MAYOR WHITMEYER CHECKS EVERY BOX.
HE KNOWS HOW TO GET THINGS DONE, AND HE KNOWS HOW TO WORK IN A COLLABORATIVE EFFORT, WE CAN ALWAYS DO BETTER.
WE CAN ALWAYS, MAYOR WHITMEYER HAS MADE GOOD ON THE PROMISE TO WORK COLLABORATIVELY WITH THE COUNTY IN MANY WAYS, ONE OF WHICH HAS BEEN OUR SHARED RESPONSE TO THE DISASTERS OF THE RECHO AND HURRICANE BERYL.
MAYOR WHITMEYER AND I WERE TOGETHER IN EAST SPRING BRANCH WHERE THERE WERE OVER 900 CHILDREN THAT WERE SEVERELY IMPACTED.
THESE WERE APARTMENT COMPLEXES THAT WERE DEVASTATED BY THE STORM.
WE'RE MEETING WITH FEMA DIRECTOR THIS AFTERNOON BY HAVING THE CITY OF HOUSTON AND HARRIS COUNTY PARTNER IN THIS AREA.
WE WERE ABLE TO DEPLOY MORE RESOURCES.
THE MORE HOUSTON AND HARRIS COUNTY CAN WORK TOGETHER, THE MORE WE ARE ABLE TO ACHIEVE.
A GOOD EXAMPLE OF METRO AND THE MAYOR WORKING TOGETHER IS THE WESTHEIMER PROJECT.
YOU KNOW, METRO WAS GONNA COME IN AND FIX ONE SIDE OF THE ROAD, AND THEN TWO YEARS LATER, THE CITY OF HOUSTON WAS GONNA COME IN AND FIX THE OTHER SIDE OF THE ROAD AND WE SAID IT'S ONE ROAD.
WE SHOULD BE FIXING IT ALL AT ONE TIME.
WE HAVE 6.1 BILLION OF CONSTRUCTION PROJECTS GOING ON IN GREATER HOUSTON.
THAT'S 275 DIFFERENT PROJECTS UNDER CONSTRUCTION.
WE HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO CHANGE THE INFRASTRUCTURE, SOME OF THE FREEWAYS AND SOME OF THE FLOODING PROBLEMS. HE HAS BEEN A GREAT PARTNER IN PLANNING THAT AND EXECUTING THAT AND TRYING TO GET TO BUREAUCRACY OUT OF THE WAY SO THAT IT CAN HAPPEN SOONER RATHER THAN LATER.
ONE OF THE BIGGEST COMMITMENTS THAT HE MADE WAS TO MAKE HOUSTON LOOK LIKE HOUSTON, MAKING SURE THAT THE PEOPLE IN LEADERSHIP POSITIONS ARE REFLECTIVE OF THE HOUSTON POPULATION.
I'M REALLY PROUD TO BE THE FIRST HISPANIC FEMALE TO BE METRO CHAIR.
THE AMAZING THING ABOUT MAYOR WHITMEYER IS THAT HE'S CONCERNED ABOUT ALL OF THE CITIZENS WOVEN WITH THIS FINE TAPESTRY OF ALL NATIONALITIES.
YOU HAVE TO HAVE A LEADER WHO'S CONCERN FOR ALL OF THOSE PEOPLE IN HIS APPOINTMENTS.
HE'S ALWAYS CONCERNED ABOUT DIVERSITY.
WE'VE GOT TO MAKE THE ENERGY CAPITAL OF THE WORLD ECONOMICALLY PROSPEROUS, SAFE AND CLEAN.
I'M REALLY EXCITED ABOUT THE COLLABORATION WITH THE MAYOR LEADING THE CHARGE.
ALL OTHER STAKEHOLDERS BEING INVOLVED IN MAKING HOUSTON ONE OF THE PRETTIEST CITIES IN TEXAS, WHICH IN ESSENCE IS ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT.
SO ONE THING I REALLY APPRECIATE ABOUT MAYOR WHITMEYER IS HE'S ALWAYS ENCOURAGING ME TO PUT FAMILY FIRST.
ONE SUNDAY, MY YOUNGEST DAUGHTER, ANNA LUCIA, WHO'S IN FIRST GRADE, DREW A PICTURE.
SHE SAID THAT SHE WAS PRAYING FOR MAYOR WHITMEYER BECAUSE HE WAS OUR MAYOR AND HE LOVED ALL CHILDREN.
SO I TEXT A PHOTO OF THE PICTURE TO MAYOR WHITMEYER AND HIS RESPONSE WAS SO INCREDIBLY GRACIOUS.
ONE THAT MOVES ME NOT ONLY AS A MOTHER, BUT AS SOMEBODY WHO GETS TO SERVE ALONGSIDE HIM, BECAUSE THAT'S WHAT IT'S ALL ABOUT.
IT'S ABOUT MAKING SURE THAT WE ARE LEAVING THE CITY, THIS COUNTY BETTER FOR ALL OF OUR CHILDREN AND GRANDCHILDREN.
AND THANK YOU HOUSTON FIRST, AND NOW TO HELP INTRODUCE MAYOR WHITMEYER, A HOUSTONIAN WHO NEEDS LITTLE INTRODUCTION, CHANCELLOR OF THE UNIVERSITY OF HOUSTON SYSTEM AND THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNIVERSITY OF HOUSTON RENEW COUTURE.
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I AM HONORED AND HUMBLED TO PROVIDE FORMAL INTRODUCTION TO A MAN WHO NEEDS NO INTRODUCTION IN HOUSTON AND NO INTRODUCTION IN TEXAS.WHEN I WAS PREPARING FOR THIS INTRODUCTION, I MADE ONE DECISION THAT I WAS NOT GOING TO TELL YOU ANYTHING THAT YOU ALREADY KNOW.
SO I'M NOT GOING TO TELL YOU THAT HE HAS BEEN A LIFELONG PUBLIC SERVANT IN 40 YEARS IN THIS TEXAS SENATE AND 10 YEARS PRIOR TO THAT IN TEXAS HOUSE.
I'M NOT GONNA TELL YOU THAT HE HAS BEEN LONGTIME CHAIR OF CRIMINAL JUSTICE COMMITTEE.
I'M NOT GONNA TELL YOU THAT HE HAS PASSED MANY LEGISLATIONS GIVING VOICE TO THOSE WHO WERE MARGINALIZED OR UNDERSERVED FROM ANY AND EVERY CATEGORY.
I'M NOT GONNA TELL YOU THAT HE HAS HAD A TOUGH CHILDHOOD, BUT THO THOSE ARE THE EXPERIENCES THAT TRANSFORMED HIM FOR THE MAN HE'S TODAY.
AND I'M DEFINITELY NOT GONNA TELL YOU THAT HE'S AN ALUM OF THE UNIVERSITY OF HOUSTON, BUT I DECIDED, I'M GONNA TELL YOU THREE THINGS THAT YOU MAY NOT KNOW ABOUT JOHN WHITMEYER.
SO I MET, UH, WHITMEYER FOR THE FIRST TIME IN MY OFFICE 17 YEARS AGO WHEN I HAD JUST ARRIVED IN HOUSTON.
I KNEW HE WAS COMING TO MY OFFICE.
BUT AT THE SAME TIME, I WAS VERY NERVOUS TOO BECAUSE AFTER ALL DEAN OF THE SENATE WAS COMING.
HE WALKED IN, HE WAS UNHAPPY, AND HE WAS ANGRY.
AND THEN THE NEXT 25 MINUTES, THE CONVERSATION WENT SOMETHING LIKE THIS WHERE HE TOLD ME THAT UNIVERSITY OF HOUSTON IS NOT LIVING UP TO ITS POTENTIAL THAT YOU UFH IS NOT REALLY LIVING FOR THE EXPECTATIONS OF HIS STUDENTS.
THAT NOBODY WAS STAYING HERE AND COMMITTED TO WORK, AND THEREFORE HE WASN'T REALLY COMMITTING BECAUSE NOBODY ELSE WAS COMMITTING AT.
UH, SO I TOLD HIM, I HAVE ARRIVED NEW.
I HAVE EVERY INTENTION OF STAYING HERE AND COMMITTING AND WORKING.
AND HE SAID, IF YOU WANNA WORK, IF YOU ARE GONNA BE COMMITTING, THEN I ALSO COMMIT.
AND HE GAVE ME HIS CELL PHONE.
IT WAS THE LAST DAY OF THE SESSION.
THERE WAS A BILL, OUR TIER ONE FUNDING BILL.
HOWEVER, THE BILL WAS ATTACHED TO ANOTHER LEGISLATION, AND I WAS, I WAS TOLD THAT THE OTHER LEGISLATION WAS NOT SOMETHING THAT WHITMEYER LIKED AND THAT HE WASN'T SUPPORTING IT, AND HE WASN'T ABOUT TO PASS.
HOWEVER, I PICKED UP THE PHONE AND CALLED HIM BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, WHAT DO YOU DO WHEN YOU HAVE NO OTHER OPTION LEFT? I WAS ABSOLUTELY SHOCKED.
AT 9:30 PM FROM THE SENATE FLOOR AT THE LAST DAY OF THIS SESSION, HE PICKED UP THE PHONE, HE LISTENED TO ME, AND I TOLD HIM, SENATOR, I REALLY NEED THIS BILL BECAUSE THIS IS IMPORTANT TO U OF H.
I DON'T KNOW WHAT HE DID OR WHAT HE DID NOT DO, BUT THE FACT IS THAT THAT BILL WAS PASSED, PUTTING THE UNIVERSITY OF HOUSTON ON A ROAD FOR TOWARD TRANSFORMATION THAT YOU SEE TODAY.
SO THE FIRST TRAIT I WANT YOU TO KNOW ABOUT HIM IS THAT WHITMEYER IS A MAN OF HIS WORD.
IF HE SAYS SOMETHING, YOU CAN COUNT ON IT, THAT HE WILL DO IT.
THE SECOND TRAIT IS I LEARNED BECAUSE HE WAS GRACIOUS ENOUGH TO INVITE ME TO HIS OFFICE IN AUSTIN, AND HE TOLD ME THAT I COULD USE HIS OFFICE DURING MY DOWNTOWN DOWNTIME.
AND IF YOU'VE BEEN IN HIS OFFICE, THERE'S A LOFT UPSTAIRS AND THERE WAS A DESK THERE.
IT'S AMAZING WHAT YOU CAN LEARN WHEN YOU ARE FLY ON THE WALL.
I SAW HIS INTERACTIONS WITH HIS STUDENT INTERNS, WITH HIS STAFF, WITH VISITORS, WITH CONSTITUENTS.
I SAW HIS INTERACTIONS WITH HIS COLLEAGUES.
AND I CAN TELL YOU, HE IS AN AUTHENTIC PERSON.
I NEVER MET ONE PERSON DURING ALL OF MY INTERACTIONS IN 17 YEARS IN AUSTIN, WHO HAD ANYTHING BAD TO SAY ABOUT WHITMEYER.
HE DOES NOT JUST GET, I CAN TELL YOU THAT HE COMMANDS RESPECT FROM BOTH SIDES OF THE AISLES AND FROM EVERY GROUP OF THE PEOPLE.
SO THAT IS HIS SECOND TRAIT NOW FOR HIS THIRD TRAIT, WHICH IS REALLY A SECRET.
BUT I'M GONNA LET YOU IN ON THAT.
DESPITE ALL HIS EXTERIOR OF BEING REALLY TOUGH AND ROUGH AND HAVING VERY SERIOUS DEMEANOR, I TELL YOU, HE HAS A VERY SOFT HEART.
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HE CARES ABOUT PEOPLE, HE CARES ABOUT ISSUES.HE GOES BACK, OKAY, HE COMES TO OUR UNIVERSITY OF HOUSTON GAMES TO JUST WATCH COUGARS, BEAT UP EVERYBODY ELSE
AND, AND HE DOES THAT WITHOUT MAKING ANY KIND OF SCENE BECAUSE HE DOESN'T WANT TO BE INTRODUCED.
HE'S A PERSON WHO HAS VALUES JUST LIKE YOU AND ME.
SO HOUSTON IS REALLY FORTUNATE TO HAVE A PERSON LIKE JOHN WHITMEYER TO BE OUR MAYOR.
WITH ALL THE HONOR AND PRIDE AND JOY AND GRATITUDE IN MY HEART, I PRESENT TO YOU TODAY A VISIONARY LEADER, A COMPASSIONATE PUBLIC SERVANT, AND A DEDICATED MAYOR FOR THE CITY OF HOUSTON.
PLEASE WELCOME MAYOR JOHN WHITMEYER.
OH, WE GOT, WE GOT MIKED THERE.
I FORGOT WE GOT THE REAL DEAL HERE.
SO, UM, FIRST MAYOR, THIS IS GOING TO BE AN INTERVIEW LIKE NEVER BEFORE.
UM, I'M GONNA START OUT WITH THIS PICTURE.
DO YOU KNOW WHO THIS GENTLEMAN IS? YOU SHOULDN'T.
HE'S A SWISS PSYCHIATRIST THAT WOULD PERFECTED A WAY IN WHICH SHOWING YOU PICTURES, INK, BLOTS, 10 OF THEM.
WE COULD TEST YOUR, YOUR, YOUR ABILITY TO ACQUIRE KNOWLEDGE, YOUR PERSONALITY, AND MAYBE EVEN DIAGNOSE SOME PSYCHOLOGICAL CONDITIONS.
SO WHAT DO YOU SEE, MAYOR? TELL US WHAT YOU SEE A MESS.
UH, SOMEBODY SPILLED SOMETHING, UH, INK, I ASSUME, BUT, UH, I DON'T KNOW, MAN.
I'D BE AFRAID, YOU KNOW HOW PREPARED I GOT FOR THIS AFTERNOON,
AND YOU'RE MAKING ME DEAL WITH THIS
WELL, I'M A I'M ACTUALLY SMART ENOUGH TO KNOW NOT TO ENGAGE.
WELL, I KNOW THERE'S, THERE'S A SERIES OF 10, BUT WE'RE NOT GONNA TAKE YOU THROUGH THIS.
WHAT I DO WANT TO TELL THE AUDIENCE IS THE MAYOR HAS NOT BEEN PREPARED FOR ANY OF THE THINGS THAT HE'S GONNA SEE FOR THE REST OF THIS PRESENTATION.
WE WANTED TO HAVE HIM BE ABLE TO FIRE FROM THE HIP, SHOOT FROM THE HEART, HOWEVER YOU WANT TO CALL IT.
SO, WE'RE GONNA START OUT FIRST WITH THE FIRST PICTURE.
TELL US ABOUT THIS, IF YOU RECOGNIZE IT.
THAT'S HILLSBOROUGH, TEXAS, WHERE I WAS BORN.
WE MOVED TO HOUSTON WHEN I WAS FOUR.
MY FAMILY DIVORCED WHEN I WAS SEVEN.
MY MOTHER REMARRIED AN ELDERLY GENTLEMAN.
AND IN THE FIFTH GRADE, I MOVED BACK ACTUALLY 12 MILES FROM HILLSBOROUGH IN WHITNEY, TEXAS.
ABOUT 12 MILES OFF THE HIGHWAY.
I RODE A BUS ABOUT 12 MILES, NO RUNNING WATER.
I KNOW, UH, MANY OF MY FRIENDS HAVE A HARD TIME UNDERSTANDING IT OR BELIEVING IT 'CAUSE I'VE HAD A VERY BLESSED LIFE.
BUT, UH, WE DIDN'T HAVE RUNNING WATER.
NO ONE IN THE RURAL COMMUNITY DID.
IT WAS BEFORE A CO-OP WAS DEVELOPED.
AND I GUESS I'LL BE REALLY TRANSPARENT.
ONE OF MY GREATEST ENJOYMENTS IN LIFE IS RUNNING WATER, PARTICULARLY A SHOWER, BECAUSE I HAD TO TAKE A TUB BATH THAT'S PROBABLY NOT MUCH LARGER THAN THIS CHAIR.
BUT THAT'S HILLSBOROUGH, TEXAS.
MY FATHER WAS A COUNTY CLERK WHEN I WAS FOUR, WHICH I DON'T REMEMBER.
I ASSUME THAT'S WHERE I GOT THE PUBLIC SERVICE INTEREST.
THEY MUST HAVE BEEN DISCUSSING IT AT THE EVENING TABLE.
BUT, UM, WE MOVED TO HOUSTON AND, UH, LIVED IN THE HEIGHTS FOR TWO YEARS.
THEN WE MOVED TO GLAMOROUS PASADENA, UH, BECAUSE THAT WAS A GROWING SUBURB, GREAT PEOPLE, PASADENA.
I WENT TO THE, I'M GETTING AWAY FROM HILLSBOROUGH, BUT IT'S A HECK OF A STORY.
I, I WENT TO THE FIRST AND SECOND GRADE IN GARDENS ELEMENTARY IN PASADENA.
MY MOTHER WORKED AT FOLEY'S DOWNTOWN.
[00:50:01]
A SOCIAL WORKER DOWNTOWN.AND BELIEVE IT OR NOT, THEY'RE STILL WORKING ON THE GULF FREEWAY,
BUT, UH, ANYWAY, UH, WE'LL GET TO, WE'RE PASADENA IN A MINUTE BECAUSE IT, UH, IT MADE A DIFFERENCE IN MY LIFE AND HILLSBOROUGH GAVE ME REAL VALUES.
AND THEN WHEN WE MOVED BACK TO HOUSTON IN THE NINTH GRADE, BIG CITY OPPORTUNITIES.
SO I'M VERY PLEASED WITH, UH, HOW IT ALL TURNED OUT.
WE'RE NOT GONNA MOVE YOU OUTTA HILLSBOROUGH YET.
WE'RE GONNA TEST YOUR KNOWLEDGE.
YOU KNOW WHO THESE TWO, THIS COUPLE IS? YEAH.
IT LOOKS LIKE BONNIE AND CLYDE.
BONNIE AND CLYDE ROBBED THE HILLSBOROUGH GAS STATION.
THEY ROBBED THE HILLSBOROUGH GAS STATION AND PAWN SHOP WHEN YOU WERE EARLY DAYS.
DO YOU KNOW WHAT THIS BUILDING IS? THAT LOOKS LIKE THE HILLSBOROUGH OR HILL COUNTY JAIL.
YOU'VE NEVER BEEN THERE OFFICIALLY.
UM, HOWEVER, HOWEVER, ELVIS HAS, ELVIS WAS ARRESTED FOR DRUNKEN MISCONDUCT IN 1958.
WE KEEP MOVING ALONG 'CAUSE WE WANNA WE WANNA MOVE THIS QUICKLY.
THIS IS YOUR, SO THIS IS GONNA BE AN AUDIO TEST.
I CAN, I'M SURE YOU KNOW THAT'S WILLIE.
BUT WHY IS THAT RELEVANT TO HILLSBOROUGH? WILLIE NELSON GREW UP IN ABBOTT, TEXAS, WHICH WAS ABOUT SIX MILES FROM HILLSBOROUGH.
AND WHEN THE HILL COUNTY COURTHOUSE WAS DESTROYED OR CERTAINLY GUTTED BY FIRE IN ABOUT 93, BOB BULLOCK WAS THE LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR WHO WAS FROM HILLSBOROUGH.
UH, GOT WILLIE TO DO A CONCERT TO START THE REPAIRS AND, UH, TRANSFORMATION OF THE COURTHOUSE.
AND OF COURSE, HE RAISED SERIOUS MONEY, BUT IT WAS NOT ENOUGH.
SO BOB BULLOCK BEING A PROBLEM SOLVER, THAT HAD A HUGE IMPACT ON MY PUBLIC SERVICE, GOT THE HIGHWAY DEPARTMENT TO USE THEIR FUNDS TO RESTORE THE COURTHOUSE.
AND THAT WAS THE BEGINNING, STEVE, OF THE COURTHOUSE RESTORATION PROGRAM, WHICH HAS BEEN SO SUCCESSFUL ACROSS RURAL TEXAS COMMITTEES THAT DIDN'T HAVE MONEY, BUT THEY HAD A HISTORIC COURTHOUSE.
NOW WE HAVE A HILL, UH, UH, HISTORICAL COURTHOUSE REPAIRS, UH, A TECH STOCK.
SO TELL US ABOUT THIS PICTURE.
THAT'S MY MOTHER, UM, WHO WORKED AT FOLEY'S.
SHE GOT A DIVORCE AND, UH, ACTUALLY THE BUCKNER BAPTIST JUST, UH, HOME IN DALLAS HAD HIRED HER FOR A DORM MOTHER.
SHE COULDN'T CONTINUE TO SUPPORT US.
YOU KNOW, WHAT CHILD SUPPORT WAS IN 1955.
BUT ANYWAY, SHE WAS ON HER WAY UP TO DALLAS TO FINALIZE THE AGREEMENT.
THEY WOULD PUT MY BROTHER AND I IN THE YOUNG MALE DORM AS PART OF HER COMPENSATION.
AND SHE RAN INTO MY STEPFATHER, WHO SHE HAD KNOWN BACK IN HILLSBOROUGH ABOUT 30 YEARS BEFORE HIS WIFE HAD JUST DIED OF CANCER.
AND SIX WEEKS LATER THEY WERE MARRIED.
SO ON MY EIGHTH BIRTHDAY, MY FATHER WHO HAD ME FOR VISITATION DROPPED ME OFF AT THE HOUSE.
AND I WALKED IN AND MET THE STEPFATHER, MAINE, M-A-Y-N-E BENNETT, WHO HAD A HUGE IM, UH, IMPRESSION ON, IN, ON MY LIFE.
I NEVER SAW HIM HAVE AN ARGUMENT, BUT MY MOTHER BEING IN RURAL TEXAS COULDN'T DRIVE.
SO SHE WOULD GET THE NEIGHBORS, TAKE HER AT A RURAL HOSPITAL IN WHITNEY.
THEY NEEDED NURSES PROBABLY STILL DO IN THAT RURAL SETTING.
SHE TOOK AN LVN COURSE AND BECAME AN EXCELLENT NURSE AND CARED FOR INDIVIDUALS.
BUT, UH, SHE PROBABLY GAVE A GOOD SHOT.
NO, I DON'T RECOGNIZE THIS CHILD.
I WAS LOOKING AT THIS ONE AND DECIDING, IS THAT YOU IN THE UPPER LEFT? YEAH, THAT'S WHAT I THOUGHT.
UH, GET TOGETHER WITH MY BROTHER WHO'S THE TALL, THE TALL.
THAT'S JIM WHITMEYER, WHO MARRIED KATHY WHITMEYER WHEN THEY WERE, UH, STUDENTS OUT AT U OF H.
HE DIED OF JUVENILE DIABETES WHEN HE WAS 31.
AND, UM, SUBSEQUENTLY SHE RAN FOR OFFICE.
AND, AND, UH, I WORKED WITH HER FOR MANY YEARS.
THESE ARE MY NEPHEWS AND MY SISTER'S BOYS, SO.
[00:55:01]
THAT'S GREAT.I HADN'T SEEN THAT PICTURE IN A LONG, LONG TIME.
ALRIGHT, THIS IS GONNA BE A LITTLE TEST BUCKET OF SUGAR, SOME CLOTHES AND MONEY.
HOW DOES THAT, DOES THAT RESONATE ON ANY CHILDHOOD? I UNDERSTAND YOUR HOUSE BURNED.
OH, IT WAS A, IT WASN'T THAT FANCY A BUCKET.
IT WAS LIKE A COFFEE CAN
AND WE DIDN'T HAVE CELL PHONES IN THOSE DAYS, OF COURSE, BUT THE HOUSE, THE RURAL HOUSE BURNED DOWN ON A SATURDAY AFTERNOON.
EVERYONE IN THE RURAL AREA GOES TO TOWN ON SATURDAY.
SO MY STEPFATHER AND MOTHER HAD GONE TO HILLSBOROUGH.
THAT'S WHERE WE DID OUR SHOPPING.
AND, UH, THEY GOT NOTICE THAT THE HOUSE HAD BURNED TO THE GROUND.
I DID NOT KNOW ABOUT IT TILL MY FATHER DROPPED ME OFF AT NINE O'CLOCK THE NEXT MORNING.
AND THERE WAS NOTHING BUT A CHIMNEY.
AND I GOT OUT AND CRIED BECAUSE I THOUGHT IT HAD HAPPENED DURING THE NIGHT.
AND THERE WAS SOME BURNT CLOTHING THERE.
SO WHAT HAPPENED TO ME IN A RURAL SETTING WAS THE NEIGHBORS, AND I'M NOT TALKING ABOUT NEXT DOOR NEIGHBORS, I'M TALKING ABOUT PROBABLY A HALF A MILE TO A MILE, AND FURTHER STARTED BRINGING ITEMS, UH, DONATIONS.
MY LE MY SIXTH GRADE CLASS COLLECTED $11.
THEY KEPT SENDING ME OUT TO PUT THE FLAG UP.
AND I, I WONDERED WHAT THE DEAL WAS.
THEY WERE GETTING ME OUTTA THE CLASSROOM EVERY DAY FOR ABOUT A MONTH.
THE BLANKETS AND OTHER ITEMS WERE BROUGHT BY THE NEIGHBORS.
BUT I WAS SHOCKED BY THE BUCKET OF SUGAR, WHICH WAS ACTUALLY IN A COFFEE CAMP.
WHATEVER THEY HAD, THEY WERE WILLING TO SHARE.
AND IT'S MADE A PROFOUND IMPACT ON MY LIFE.
I SPEND MY DAYS TRYING TO REPAY THOSE RURAL LOW INCOME.
MY STEPFATHER LIVED OFF SOCIAL SECURITY.
THAT'S THE REASON THE MOTHER GOT THE LVN LICENSE.
SO ANYWAY, UH, I THANK YOU FOR REMINDING ME OF THAT.
SO YOU MADE THE JOURNEY, UH, FROM, UH, HILLSBOROUGH DOWN TO HOUSTON.
UH, WHAT PROMPTED THAT? WHAT LED TO THE THE MOVE? I WAS A, UM, NINTH GRADE HIGH SCHOOL QUARTERBACK.
I DIDN'T, I DIDN'T WANNA LEAVE WHITNEY.
I WAS ENJOYING A GOOD LIFE, UH, SLOW QUARTERBACK, BUT I COULD THROW THE BALL
AND AT TWO WEEKS AFTER MIDTERM OF THE NINTH GRADE, MY MOTHER CALLED ME AND SAID, WE'RE MOVING TO HOUSTON.
I WAS, I ONLY HAD 30 KIDS IN THE CLASS.
BUT THAT'S,
SO TWO WEEKS AFTER MIDTERM, WE MOVED BACK TO PASADENA.
SHE HAD TO LIVE BECAUSE SHE COULDN'T DRIVE RIGHT ACROSS THE STREET FROM PASADENA GENERAL HOSPITAL.
MY BROTHER GOT A CAR, WORKED HIS WAY THROUGH U OF H.
BUT EVERY WEEKEND, THIS IS SIGNIFICANT IN HOW I GOT HERE TODAY.
EVERY WEEKEND MY FATHER WOULD PICK ME UP FOR VISITATION.
'CAUSE I DIDN'T WANNA STAY IN THAT APARTMENT.
WE LIVED IN APARTMENTS WITH MY MOTHER AND, AND THE STEPFATHER, UH, EXCEPT FOR THE, THE RURAL AREA.
BUT EVERY FRIDAY WE WOULD GO TO LAZY BROOK, WHICH IS OFF OF SIX 10 AND TC JESTER EVERY FRIDAY NIGHT WE ATE AT WHITE'S CAFETERIA AT MERCHANT'S PARK AT 11TH AND SHEPHERD EVERY FRIDAY NIGHT.
AND THE SUMMER ROLLED AROUND IN JUNE.
I DIDN'T WANT TO GO SPEND THE SUMMER IN AN APARTMENT IN PASADENA.
SO I WENT OVER AND ASKED THE MANAGER ABOUT A BUSBOY JOB.
HE SAID, WELL, HOW OLD ARE YOU? I SAID, WELL, I'LL BE 16 IN AUGUST.
AND OF COURSE, THIS WAS 1ST OF JUNE.
HE SAID, WELL, YOU HAVE TO BE 16, BUT IF YOU'LL TELL ME YOU'RE 16, I'LL HIRE YOU
YOU KNOW, I WAS TRAINED TO KIND OF BEND THE RULES A LITTLE BIT FOR THE RIGHT PURPOSE.
SO I WORKED ALL SUMMER AND, UH, SAVED MONEY.
AND THEN COME SEPTEMBER, I DIDN'T WANNA GO BACK TO PASADENA.
SO I TOLD MY MOTHER I WANTED TO MOVE IN WITH MY FATHER, WHICH HAD MIXED RESULTS AND GO TO WALTER PASCAL.
GREAT BEGINNING, BECAUSE THE 10TH GRADE WAS THE FIRST YEAR IN HIGH SCHOOL IN HISD.
SO DID THAT AND THEN WORKED EVERY WEEKEND AT WHITES.
AND SO 90 CENTS AN HOUR THE FIRST SUMMER, DOLLAR 10, THE NEXT SUMMER, AND A DOLLAR 25, I THINK I TOPPED OUT, BUT GRADUATED.
AND WE HAD THEIR BAND HERE EARLIER TODAY.
SO I WAS GONNA GO TO NACODOCHES, UH, STEVEN F FALLSTON BAR MONEY ROOM WITH A HIGH SCHOOL BUDDY.
BUT EVERYBODY SAID, YOU NEED TO GET FRESHMAN ENGLISH OUTTA THE WAY.
SO THERE WERE SOUTH TEXAS COMMUNITY COLLEGE WHERE THE U OF H IS DOWNTOWN NOW.
SO I TOOK FRESHMAN ENGLISH, DID O DID OKAY.
I STAYED HERE AND GOT TWO YEARS OF A TWO YEAR DIPLOMA ASSOCIATE'S DEGREE FROM
[01:00:01]
THAT COMMUNITY COLLEGE.AND THEN I WENT TO U OF H AND THE REST IS HISTORY.
THERE'S A SENIOR PICTURE AT WALTER.
EVERY STAGE OF MY LIFE, I'VE HAD ASSISTANCE IN MENTORING BY OTHER SUCCESSFUL PEOPLE OR COMPASSIONATE PEOPLE.
UM, YOU KNOW, I, I KNOW WHAT IT'S LIKE TO NOT HAVE AIR CONDITIONING.
SO MY MOTHER COULD WALK, COULD WORK AT NORTHWEST.
MY MOTHER KNEW I WAS NOT REALLY GETTING ALONG WITH A, A STEPMOTHER WHO KIND OF RESENTED MY FATHER BEING CLOSER TO ME THAN HER, WHICH I GUESS SHE HAD A POINT
BUT MY MOTHER KNEW I WAS UNHAPPY MY JUNIOR YEAR, AND SHE MOVED IN AN APARTMENT ACROSS FROM MEMORIAL NORTHWEST.
I SUBSEQUENTLY MOVED IN WITH HER MY JUNIOR YEAR.
THAT OLD RUNDOWN APARTMENT WOULD GO A MONTH WITHOUT AIR CONDITIONING.
SO I IDENTIFY WITH THE PEOPLE YEAH.
THAT ARE CHALLENGED AND STRUGGLED IN HOUSTON.
AND I WILL ALWAYS BE TRYING TO PAY BACK PEOPLE THAT WERE NICE AND AND COMFORTING TO ME.
WHICH BRINGS ME THE NEXT THING.
YOU WORKED IN THE FOOD STAMPS STORE AND USED TO TRAVEL TO HOMES TO DELIVER THEM.
TELL US ABOUT THAT EXPERIENCE.
WELL, THE JOB WHEN I WAS GOING TO THE COMMUNITY COLLEGE DOWNTOWN WAS TO WORK IN THE MAIL ROOM AT THE WELFARE OFFICE.
IT WAS CALLED NOW HUMAN RESOURCES.
AND AFTER GETTING 60 YEARS OF COLLEGE CREDITS, I BECAME A CASEWORKER IN THE FOOD STAMP PROGRAM IN 1971.
IT WAS A NEW NUTRITION PROGRAM BY THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT.
SO I WOULD, UH, DO CASE WORK AND DO HOME VISITS ALL ACROSS HOUSTON LINES AVENUE IN WACO.
I MAKE A, A HOME VISIT TO VERIFY THE DATA THAT HAD BEEN FILLED OUT IN THE APPLICATION.
SO I, I HEARD PEOPLE'S HARDSHIP.
YEAH, I CAN RECALL ONE THAT I'VE NEVER FORGOTTEN.
THE LADY SAID, I WAS ASKING HER ABOUT HER LIGHT BILL, WHY IS YOUR LIGHT BILL SO HIGH? I HAD TO, I HAD TO VERIFY MANAGEMENT OF THE FAMILY.
SHE SAID, I HAVE TO LEAVE THE LIGHTS ON 24 7 SO THE RATS DON'T CHOOSE.
CHEW THE NIPPLE OFF OF THE BABY'S BOTTOM.
I CAN'T GET THAT VISION IN THAT LADY'S DISCUSSION OUTTA MY MIND.
OH, SHE COULD NOT LEAVE, TURN THE LIGHTS OFF BECAUSE THE BABY WOULD DROP THE BOTTLE AND THE RATS WOULD CHEW THE NIPPLE.
SO I WORKED THERE ALL THROUGH U OF H.
SO, UM, BEFORE YOU RESPOND TO HIM, I WANNA READ A QUOTE FIRST.
'CAUSE I WANNA READ THIS QUOTE.
HE AS DR. MURRAY, WHO I HAD AS A POLITICAL SCIENCE PROFESSOR, WHO HAD A, OBVIOUSLY A HUGE IMPACT ON MY CAREER.
SO HE SENT US A QUOTE, I JUST WANNA READ IT.
IN ONE CLASS WE FOCUSED ON RECENTLY ENACTED TEXAS STATE LEGISLATURE PLAN POURING OVER THE MAP WITH ME.
JOHN NOTED THAT A NEW STATE HOUSE DISTRICTS INCLUDED HIS HOLD ICE HIGH SCHOOL AND ADJACENT NEIGHBORHOODS.
IT WAS, HE THOUGHT, THIS IS A DISTRICT WHERE A LOCAL BOY COULD WORK HARD WITH LITTLE MONEY.
JOHN WHITMEYER SUCCESSFUL SHOE LEATHER CAMPAIGN IN THE SPRING OF 1972 WAS FOLLOWED BY 50 YEARS PLUS IN AUSTIN, INCLUDING MORE THAN A DECADE.
AS THE DEAN OF THE STATE OF TEXAS, THAT SERVICE LAID THE GROUNDWORK FOR HIS SUCCESSFUL MARITAL RACE.
IN 23, HIS OLD PROFESSORS MIGHTY PROUD OF JOHN'S ACHIEVEMENT AND HUMBLED TO HAVE PLAYED A VERY SMALL PART IN LAUNCHING HIS DISTINGUISHED CAREER.
YES, DR. MURRAY, UH, RETIRED LAST YEAR.
I CAN'T BEGIN TO TELL YOU THE HUNDREDS, IF NOT THOUSANDS OF STUDENTS THAT HE GOT INTERESTED IN GOVERNMENT SHOWED ON THE INS AND OUTS OF, UH, POLLING, CAMPAIGNING AND REALLY DOING IT FOR THE RIGHT REASON.
HE WAS A VERY QUIET, WHEN HE SPOKE, PEOPLE LISTENED.
BUT, UH, WHEREVER HE IS TODAY, I SALUTE HIM FOR, UH, PUTTING ME ON A PUBLIC SERVICE CAREER.
LIKE IN MY JUDGMENT, THERE'S NOTHING LIKE IT.
IF YOU LOVE PEOPLE AND YOU WANNA MAKE A DIFFERENCE, I, UH, WOULD URGE EVERYONE TO CONSIDER RUNNING FOR OFFICE.
AND IF YOU DON'T, ANYONE THAT CAN HEAR MY VOICE, I BELIEVE IS A PUBLIC SERVANT.
WHETHER YOU'RE EVER ON A BALLOT OR NOT.
AND I BELIEVE SOMEDAY WE'RE GONNA BE JUDGED.
WHAT DID YOU DO WHILE YOU WERE A PUBLIC SERVANT AND, UH, I WAS 22 WHEN I WENT BY HIS OFFICE.
I NEEDED MORE TIME FOR A PAPER.
I WAS NOT AN OUTSTANDING STUDENT.
AND HE WAS LOOKING AT HIS MAP AND ASKED ME WHERE I LIVED.
MY MOTHER WAS A NURSE THERE, WALTER HIGH SCHOOL.
I WISH I HAD THE TIME TO TELL YOU.
WHEN YOU KNOCK ON PEOPLE'S DOOR,
[01:05:01]
VIETNAM WAR WAS WINDING DOWN.AND PEOPLE SAY, I'M GONNA VOTE FOR YOU BECAUSE I CAN'T GET MY SON TO WEAR HIS HAIR LIKE YOURS.
OR THEY WOULD SAY, I WENT TO WALTER.
AND THEY'D SAY, MY DAUGHTER GRADUATED IN 65.
DID YOU KNOW BETTY LEWIS? AND I SAID, OH YES.
HOW IS SHE
I DIDN'T KNOW, I DIDN'T KNOW BETTY.
BUT I I GOT IT DOWN PRETTY QUICK.
EVERYBODY THOUGHT I WAS DOING IT AS A CLASS PROJECT, BUT I WAS DEAD SERIOUS.
I KNOCKED EVERY DOOR BETWEEN HEMPSTEAD HIGHWAY AND 45 11TH STREET AND PINE ROCK.
BUT I DO BELIEVE $5,000 I'D SAVED TO GO TO LAW SCHOOL.
I DO BELIEVE IT WAS A DIVINE INTERVENTION.
YOU'D JUST NOT SUPPOSED TO GET ELECTED TO LEGISLATURE FOUR YEARS OUTTA HIGH SCHOOL WITH LIMITED RESOURCES, EXCEPT A DESIRE TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE.
SO THE NEXT FEW PICTURES I'M GONNA RACE THROUGH 'CAUSE I WANT TO GET TO CURRENT STATE.
SO NO, YOU'RE NOT, YOU'RE DOING A GREAT JOB.
WE ALREADY KNOW YOU'RE A BIG COUGAR FAN.
HERE'S FIRST IN 73 TEXAS HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.
LOOK AT THAT SWAGGER THAT YOU'RE MOVING THROUGH ALL.
DO YOU REM YOU MUST HAVE THAT A TERRIBLE THING HAPPEN TO YOU AND YOUR FAMILY THAT I THINK REALLY SHAPED YOU OR AT LEAST MANY OF THE THINGS YOU FEEL ABOUT.
WE'D HAD A GREAT DAY AT MY MOTHER'S HOUSE.
WE LIVED, UH, MY TWO DAUGHTERS AND WIFE UP NEAR, UH, ON NORTH SHEPHERD.
SHE PARK TERRACE ON THE END OF THE CORNER OF A, OF A MIDDLE INCOME NEIGHBORHOOD.
SO AFTER A GREAT DAY AT MY MOTHER'S, WE WERE PULLING IN THE GARAGE.
AND, UH, WHITNEY, MY OLDEST DAUGHTER, WAS WITH HER GRANDPARENTS VISITING SARAH, THE 9-YEAR-OLD.
AND I WERE AT THE, UH, FRONT OF THE CAR FIXING TO DISENGAGE A, A BURGLAR ALARM, WHICH WE PUT IN BECAUSE PEOPLE JUST KEPT STEALING BICYCLES AND OTHER ITEMS. SO ANYWAY, AS WE WERE GOING OUT AND I WAS JUST ABOUT TO DISENGAGE THE ALARM, I'D GIVEN MY WIFE BECKY, MY KEYS SO SHE COULD GET THE DISHES OUTTA THE TRUNK.
AND SHE LETS OUT A BLOOD CURDLING SCREAM.
I'D NEVER HEARD SUCH A OUTCRY FROM HER.
I THOUGHT I'D RUN OVER SOMEBODY.
SO I RAN THE LENGTH OF THE CAR AND I DIDN'T KNOW.
BUT A MASS ROBBER HAD BLOCKED THE DRIVEWAY, GOT OUT WITH A GUN AND ASKED HER FOR HER PURSE.
SHE GAVE HIM THE PURSE, SHE STATED, AND THEN WHEN THEY REACHED FOR HER, SHE LET OUT THE SCREAM.
SO I RAN THE LENGTH OF THE CAR.
THE LORD WAS LOOKING OUT FOR ME.
'CAUSE I DON'T THINK THEY KNEW IT WAS A DARK GARAGE.
BUT HE SWUNG THE GUN INTO MY FACE AND I BACKED UP THE LENGTH OF THE CAR BEGGING HIM, BEGGING HIM NOT TO SHOOT.
DON'T SHOOT THE, MY DAUGHTER SARAH HID AT THE FRONT OF THE CAR.
I QUITE FRANKLY, DON'T KNOW WHAT BECKY DID OTHER THAN I DID EVERYTHING RIGHT.
AND I THINK, AGAIN, DIVINE INTERVENTION SAVED ME BECAUSE THEY HAD, THE LORD HAD BIGGER PLANS FOR ME.
I, I REACHED IN MY POCKET AND GAVE HIM MY MONEY CLIP.
AND I SAID, JUST TAKE THIS AND LEAVE.
AND SOMEBODY IN THE CAR SAID, GET HIS WALLET.
I REACHED OVER AND HIT THE PANIC BUTTON ON THE ALARM, AND STROBE LIGHTS AND SIREN START.
AND MY WIFE IS SCREAMING, THEY'RE GONNA COME BACK.
WE COULDN'T GO INTO THE HOUSE BECAUSE THE KEYS WERE IN HER PURSE THAT THEY TOOK.
YOU GO ACROSS THE YARD, YOU PUSH YOUR FAMILY OVER AN EIGHT FOOT FENCE.
YOU GO TO A FAMILY NEXT DOOR AND YOU DON'T EVEN WAIT FOR 'EM TO OPEN THE DOOR.
UH, I NEVER PULL IN MY DRIVEWAY AT NIGHT THAT I DON'T RELIVE THAT.
IT WAS A HUGE MOTIVATION FOR MY, MY ADVOCACY FOR PUBLIC SAFETY.
AND I'LL EVEN TELL YOU THE REST, IT LED BOB BULLOCK, THAT POWERFUL LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR KNEW WHAT IT DID TO ME AND MY FAMILY.
YOU GET ANOTHER ALARM SYSTEM, YOU GET A GUARD DOG, YOU GET A GUN, YOU DO EVERYTHING RIGHT, BUT YOU NEVER ARE THE SAME.
AND I WAS FORTUNATE BECAUSE PHYSICALLY I WAS NOT HARMED PSYCHOLOGICALLY.
I LIVE IT EVERY TIME I GO INTO MY GARAGE.
BUT BOB BULLOCK SAID, WE NEED A NEW CHAIRMAN OF CRIMINAL JUSTICE.
I'D NEVER BEEN ON CRIMINAL JUSTICE.
BUT WE HAD A HUGE PROBLEM IN THE STATE PRISON SYSTEM OF HAVING A REVOLVING DOOR FOR LACK OF CAPACITY.
CRACKED COCAINE HAD BEEN INTRODUCED TO THE STREETS OF OUR CITIES IN THE EARLY NINETIES, AND
[01:10:01]
WE COULDN'T KEEP UP WITH THAT, UH, GROWTH.SO WE WENT INTO A HUGE EXPANSION.
I THOUGHT THE FIX WAS ON TO RUIN MY CAREER.
IT'S ALMOST AN IMPOSSIBLE TASK.
WE HAD 60,000 INMATES SLEEPING ON COUNTY JAIL FLOORS.
WE HAD 150,000 PEOPLE WAITING TO GET IN.
BUT I SURROUNDED MYSELF WITH SMART PEOPLE, WHICH I CURRENTLY AM DOING.
TEAM PLAYERS, EXPERTS IN THE FIELD.
AND WE WENT INTO A HUGE EXPANSION.
BUT THEN I SOON REALIZED, YOU CAN'T BUILD YOUR WAY OUT OF THIS PROBLEM.
SO I CAME UP WITH THE POLICY AND IT GOT NATIONAL ATTENTION.
YOU LOCK UP PEOPLE YOU'RE AFRAID OF, NOT THOSE THAT YOU'RE MAD AT.
THE GUY, THE FELLOW THAT ROBBED ME GOT 25 YEARS SENTENCE.
IN FACT, WE, WE, IF I HAD TIME, I'D TELL YOU THIS, WHAT WE NEED TO BE DOING AND, AND WE CAN PUT MORE POLICE ON THE STREET, WHICH WE'RE GONNA DO, BUT THE COURTHOUSE HAS TO PROCESS IT.
WE'VE GOT WAY TOO MANY VIOLENT OFFENDERS OUT ON BOND FUGITIVES.
WE'VE GOTTA, WE'VE GOT TO ADDRESS THAT.
BUT BACK TO 92, WE WERE SUCCESSFUL IN DOING DRUG AND ALCOHOL TREATMENT, MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES.
AND WE SIGNIFICANTLY REDUCED THAT POPULATION.
AND WE PUT VERY DANGEROUS PEOPLE BEHIND BARS FOR LONG PERIODS OF TIME, WHICH I DON'T APOLOGIZE FOR.
SO THAT'S WHAT I'VE DONE FOR THE LAST 30 YEARS.
AND IT WAS SO SUCCESSFUL THAT WHEN I RETIRED FROM THE SENATE LAST YEAR, CERTAINLY I DARN SURE DIDN'T RETIRE.
BUT, UH, I WAS THE ONLY DEMOCRATIC CHAIR IN A VERY REPUBLICAN CONTROLLED LEGISLATIVE BODY.
SO I STILL, YOU KNOW, I WENT TO A SECOND CHANCE BREAKFAST FOR INMATES THE OTHER DAY.
I KNOW TREATMENT AND REHABILITATION WORKS, AND I ALSO KNOW BEING TOUGH ON CRIME.
IN FACT, SOMEBODY SAID YOU SHOULD HAVE COPYRIGHTED IT.
I CAME UP AND WAS INVITED TO THE OBAMA WHITE HOUSE AT A ROUND TABLE TO DISCUSS, FIRST OF ALL, REENTRY, WE GOTTA HELP INMATES COMING OUTTA THE HARRIS COUNTY JAIL AND THE PRISONS BACK INTO SOCIETY WITH HEALTHCARE AND APARTMENTS AND JOB OPPORTUNITIES.
BUT I CAME UP WITH A STATEMENT, WE NEED TO BE TOUGH AND SMART ON CRIME.
AND THAT'S WHAT I JUST DESCRIBED FOR YOU.
AND THAT'S WHY WHEN I RAN AND PEOPLE ELIZABETH BROCK ASKED ME TO RUN, I SAID, PUBLIC SAFETY WILL BE MY HIGHEST PRIORITY.
THAT IF WE DON'T SOLVE PUBLIC SAFETY, THE THE INFRASTRUCTURE, AND I COULD GO THROUGH THE LIST OF THINGS, QUITE FRANKLY, I'M ANXIOUS TO TALK ABOUT 'CAUSE WE ARE GONNA ADDRESS THE HOMELESS ISSUE AND WE'RE GONNA DO IT SUCCESSFULLY.
CITY GETS RECOGNIZED FOR AFFORDABLE HOUSING AND PERMANENT HOUSING FOR THE HOMELESS, BUT THEY'RE MISSING THE PART OF GETTING PEOPLE OFF THE STREETS, SLEEPING ACROSS THIS CITY.
AND IT'S CERTAINLY NOT GOOD FOR THE PUBLIC.
MIKE NICHOLS, PROBABLY THE EXPERT IN TOWN ON HOMELESS.
I GOT HIM FROM THE HOMELESS COALITION TO HEAD UP THE HOUSING DEPARTMENT, WHICH WILL MAKE HOUSING THE ULTIMATE GOAL.
THEN I TAKE CHIEF SATTERWHITE PUT HIM AT, UH, HOMELAND SECURITY.
THAT'S PART OF HELPING WITH THE HOMELESS ISSUES.
SO, QUITE FRANKLY, I WOULD LOVE TO TALK CITY ISSUES.
IN FACT, LET ME GO AHEAD WHILE I'M ON A ROLL, TELL YOU ABOUT THE STATE OF THE CITY.
WE HAVE A GREAT CITY, GREAT PEOPLE, BUT WE HAVE CHALLENGES JUST LIKE ALL MAJOR CITIES DO.
THE DIFFERENCE IS HOUSTON FIXES ITS PROBLEMS, CHALLENGES.
AND SO IF YOU LEAVE HERE TODAY, WHAT'S THE STATE OF THE CITY OF HOUSTON? IT'S A GREAT CITY, GREAT PEOPLE.
AND WE'RE GONNA ADDRESS OUR CHALLENGES IN 1912, CIVIC AND BUSINESS LEADERS.
WE'RE SITTING AROUND, WE NEED TO DO SOMETHING BOLD FOR HOUSTON.
SOMEONE SAID, WELL, WHITE OAK BIO.
IF BUFFALO BIO KEEP FLOODING DOWNTOWN, WHY DON'T WE, WHY DON'T WE JUST LET 'EM EXTEND THEM ALL THE WAY TO THE GUFF? 1912, WE GOT ONE OF THE FINEST PORTS IN THE COUNTRY BECAUSE PEOPLE WERE BOLD AND VISIONARIES, WHICH MOST OF US IN THIS ROOM ARE 1945.
BILL, LET ME JUST SPEND SEVERAL MINUTES ON YOUR SUCCESS.
IF YOU HAVEN'T SEEN TM C3, YOU NEED TO GET OUT THERE LIKE I WAS TWO WEEKS AGO.
THEY HAD 122 OFFICERS ON THEIR POLICE DEPARTMENT.
IT'S ONE OF THE SAFEST PLACES TO BE.
WE'RE GONNA LET THAT BE OUR MODEL.
BUT 1945, MD ANDERSON HAD MADE ENOUGH MONEY IN THE COTTON BUSINESS.
HE WANTED TO CONTRIBUTE BACK TO SOCIETY.
HE PURCHASED A PIECE OF LAND, WHICH IS TODAY THE MED
[01:15:01]
CENTER, THREE MILES FROM DOWNTOWN.YOU OUGHT TO GET A PICTURE OF IT, BUT THAT'S WHAT BOLDNESS AND VISIONARY AND PROBLEM SOLVING CAN'T ACCOMPLISH.
AND, AND THE BEST IS YET TO COME.
NOW, LET ME CLOSE WITH THIS ON THIS PARTICULAR PART OF THE DISCUSSION, WHEN I WAS TALKING TO THE ME SITTER OFFICIALS THE OTHER DAY, BILL AND HIS TEAM, I WAS GOING ON AND ON.
THEY'RE CHANGING PEOPLE'S LIVES WITH RESEARCH.
BY THE WAY, ONE OUT OF FIVE EMPLOYEES IN THE MED CENTER, WERE NOT BORN IN THE US, KEEP THAT AS AN ITEM TO BE FOCUSED ON.
BUT I TOLD THEM, YOU'VE GOT SUCH A MODEL CITY, BUT WE GOTTA LEAVE HERE IN A MINUTE.
SO I ACTUALLY LEFT AND GOT TO ALAMEDA HOLCOMB IN, IN NORTH MCGREGOR TO GO AND GET A DAK COPE.
AND THERE WAS A HOMELESS GUY PASSED OUT ON HIS BICYCLE.
I TOOK PICTURES OF IT TO SHARE WITH MY TEAM IN THE COMMUNITY.
THE MANAGER FOLLOWS ME OUTTA THE STORE AFTER GETTING DAK CO.
HE SAID, MAYOR, YOU'VE GOT TO DO SOMETHING.
IT'S KILLING MY BUSINESS FOLKS.
WE'RE ALL IN THIS TOGETHER AND I APPLAUD MED CENTER MICHAEL HECKMAN DESCRIPTION OF WHAT WE'RE GONNA DO IN CENTRAL HOUSTON.
AND LET ME TELL YOU ABOUT THAT BOLDNESS.
WHEN THEY PUT THE FREEWAY, STEVE UNDERNEATH GEORGE BROWN, THERE'S GONNA BE 31 ACRES ON THAT CAP.
COMPLETELY OPEN UP THE EAST SIDE.
BUT WHAT DO WE DO WITH THAT 31 ACRES? WE'RE ACTUALLY IN DISCUSSION OF THAT.
UT RENEW YOU AND I TEAMED UP AND TOLD 'EM LEAVE U OF H ALONE A COUPLE YEARS AGO.
BUT OUR FRIENDS AT UT STILL OWN 300 ACRES AT SOUTH MAINE IN SIX 10.
CAN YOU IMAGINE HOW WE CONTINUE TO GROW? MEMORIAL AND HERMAN ARE JUST ABOUT AT CAPACITY.
WHERE'S HOUSTON GONNA BE 20, 30 YEARS FROM NOW WITH GREEN SPACE? I'M TALKING TO THE STATE ABOUT A STATE CITY PARTNERSHIP FROM ANOTHER MEMORIAL OR HERMAN PARK ON SOUTH MAIN.
I AM SO FIRED UP AND I THANK YOU FOR GIVING ME THE OPPORTUNITY TO USE MY EXPERIENCE AND CONTEXT TO LEAD THIS GREAT CITY.
AND I THANK YOU FOR WHAT YOU'RE DOING OUT THERE BECAUSE IT'S JUST, EVERYBODY'S GOTTA GO SEE IT.
YEAH, I'M, I'M SORRY I DON'T GIVE SHORT ANSWERS.
SO I WANNA TALK ABOUT COLLABORATION BECAUSE ONE OF THE THINGS THAT YOUR MAJOR FOCUS IS COLLABORATION STATE, COUNTY, CITY.
WHAT'S YOUR STRATEGY TO DO THAT? MY STRATEGY IS CONTINUE DOING WHAT I'VE BEEN DOING IN AUSTIN.
THE SAD NEWS IS THE CITY OF HOUSTON, WHEN I TOOK OVER IN, IN RECENT YEARS AND THE COUNTY HAD NO RELATIONSHIP WITH STATE GOVERNMENT, IT BECAME SO PERSONAL BETWEEN THE ELECTED OFFICIALS OF DIFFERENT PARTIES, THEY WOULDN'T TALK, THEY WOULDN'T COLLABORATE.
HARVEY RECOVERY MONEY DIDN'T COME TO HOUSTON BECAUSE THEY CALL EACH OTHER NAMES.
I WILL WORK WITH ANYONE IF IT'S IMPROVING PEOPLE'S LIVES.
AND THAT'S HOW I REMAIN CHAIRMAN OF CRIMINAL JUSTICE.
DAN PATRICK, I THANK YOU FOR TAKING SOME HEAT FROM HIS PARTY.
SOME REALLY HARD-NOSED FOLKS SAID YOU CAN'T HAVE A DEMOCRATIC CHAIRMAN.
HE SAID, WELL, THE REPUBLICAN SENATORS WANT HIM THERE.
HE'S THE BEST ON THAT SUBJECT.
SO COLLABORATION WORKS IN THE BUSINESS WORLD AND ELECTED PUBLIC OFFICIALS.
WE WERE SO PREPARED FOR THE STORMS. I DON'T CARE WHAT THE CHRONICLE SAYS.
WE WERE VERY PREPARED FOR ALL THE STORMS. DERECHO WAS SUDDEN AND INTENSE, BUT WE WERE READY.
I WORKED MY WAY FROM A LITTLE LEAGUE GAME WHERE WE THOUGHT WE WERE GONNA GET BLOWN AWAY OVER TO THE EMERGENCY CENTER.
I GOTTA TELL YOU, THIS IS A GOOD ONE.
SO I GET THERE AND IT IS REALLY STORMING.
WE'D GONE TO A LITTLE LEAGUE GAME, GRANDSONS, I GET UP TO THE GUARDHOUSE AND THE LADY WON'T COME OUTTA THE GUARDHOUSE AND LET ME IN THE EMERGENCY CENTER.
AND I'D ALREADY BEEN IN OAK FOREST AT A BALLPARK.
SHE KEPT POINTING TO HER ID, I NEED AN ID TO GET IN.
BUT THAT WAS A SUDDEN INTENSE STORM.
AND OUR FIRST RESPONDERS, OUR EMERGENCY CENTER, THE COLLABORATION WITH THE COUNTY, AND THANK YOU COMMISSIONER BRIANIS.
I'LL GIVE YOU THIS SHOUT OUT FOR THE COLLABORATION, NOT ONLY ON STORM RECOVERY, BUT ALSO WE'RE SHARING FACILITIES.
SHE AND I ARE ABOUT TO ANNOUNCE A MAJOR MULTIPLE SERVICE CENTER IN MEMORIAL PARK SO FAMILIES CAN GO THERE IN THE RECOVERY DEBRIS PICKUP.
TOM, THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE.
[01:20:01]
INSIDE MY PRECINCT WITHIN THE CITY OF HOUSTON.HE AND I ARE SHARING THE COST OF REDOING CAMPBELL AND I 10 THE TRUCKS TORE IT UP.
HE'S TOLD ME, AND THIS IS AN EXCELLENT EXAMPLE OF COLLABORATION.
THE CITY ROADS IN MY PRECINCT, I'LL SHARE THE COST 50 50 WITH YOU.
WE ARE GONNA MAKE A DIFFERENCE.
NOW, I COULD GO ON BACK TO, UH,
THE, THE, THE REASON IT IS SO IMPORTANT, I GET ALONG WITH FOLKS THAT WANT TO HELP HOUSTON.
AND LEMME TELL YOU ABOUT DURING THE STORM, I GOT SIDETRACKED THERE FOR A MINUTE DURING THIS LAST STORM, BERYL, JUST TALK ABOUT THE PREPARATION THERE.
AND THANK YOU TOM MUNOZ AND ALL OUR FIRST RESPONDERS DURING THE MIDDLE OF THE STORM.
FIRST OF ALL, SATURDAY MORNING WE WERE TOLD BY THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE THAT IT WAS GOING INTO MEXICO OR SOUTH TEXAS.
IF YOU CAN'T, YOU KNOW, I KNOW WEATHERMEN ARE GUESSING AT IT A LOT.
CHIEF SATTERWHITE AND I WERE OUT MONDAY MORNING AT TWO O'CLOCK ON THE STREETS OF HOUSTON ON PATROL WAITING FOR THE STORM.
AND HE AND I LOOKED AT EACH OTHER AT TWO.
WE MADE A SCENE, A CRIME SCENE.
WE WENT HOME AT THREE AND ALL HELL BROKE LOOSE.
I COULDN'T GET BACK TO THE EMERGENCY CENTER TILL LATER THAT MORNING.
WE LOST ONE OF OUR CIVIL EMPLOYEES, HPD GOING THROUGH WATER.
BUT LET ME TALK ABOUT COLLABORATION, BECAUSE WE WERE WITHOUT ELECTRICITY.
THE MED CENTER, AS YOU KNOW, WE'RE NOT RELEASING PEOPLE THAT WERE RECOVERING FROM SURGERY.
YOU DON'T SEND SOMEONE IN RECOVERY FOR A MAJOR SURGERY TO A HOUSE WITHOUT, WITHOUT ELECTRICITY.
SO OUR AMBULANCES ON EMERGENCY CALLS WERE BACKING UP AT MEMORIAL HERMANN AND BEN TOP.
I WISH I COULD TELL, SHARE WITH Y'ALL MY, ALL MY EXPERIENCES SINCE, SINCE TAKING OFFICE.
WE HAD 4% OF OUR AMBULANCE INVENTORY ON CALL.
THE REST WERE BACKED UP AT THE EMERGENCY ROOM DOOR.
SO WE GOT ON THE PHONE COLLABORATION WITH THE STATE EMERGENCY CENTER.
I TALKED TO NIM KID WHO'S ONE OF THE BEST EMERGENCY CENTER OPERATORS.
I SAID, KIM, WE GOTTA HAVE AMBULANCES.
MM-HMM
THE CHIEF SATELLITE MOBILIZED HPD, THEY WERE WORKING 12 HOUR SHIFTS.
SOME WERE NOT GOING HOME, BUT THEY COULDN'T GET INTO OUR DARK NEIGHBORHOODS LIKE WE WANTED.
I NEED, I NEED LAW ENFORCEMENT.
THE TRAFFIC LIGHTS ARE NOT OPERATING, NO TRAFFIC ENFORCEMENT.
WE GOT A HUNDRED OFFICERS FROM FORT WORTH AND ACROSS THIS STATE THAT WORKS.
AND WE'RE GONNA CONTINUE THAT.
I'VE GOT THREE COUNTY COMMISSIONERS, GARCIA, BS AND RAMSEY THAT ARE MY FULL-TIME PARTNERS THAT ARE WANTING TO SOLVE PROBLEMS. WE DON'T CARE WHAT PARTY YOU BELONG TO, WHERE YOU COME FROM.
IF YOU LOVE HOUSTON, YOU LOVE PEOPLE, WE WELCOME YOU AND LET ME GIVE A SHOUT OUT.
ALSO, LEMME GIVE YOU A SHOUT OUT.
YOU KNOW WHY HOUSTON IS SUCH A GREAT CITY? YOU KNOW, I COULD TALK ABOUT WHAT I'VE DISCOVERED AT THE CITY, BUT I DON'T WANNA WASTE ANY TIME ABOUT WHAT I INHERITED.
BUT LEMME TELL YOU, AFTER EIGHT MONTHS WHAT I'VE DISCOVERED, AND I WANT YOU TO REALLY THINK ABOUT THIS IN A, IN A CITY GOVERNMENT THAT HAS TO BE IMPROVED AND WE'RE DOING IT REGULARLY WITH GREAT LEADERSHIP.
ANGELA BLANCHARD, WHO RAN BAK RIPLEY FOR YEARS IS WORKING FOR US IN RESILIENCY.
BUT LEMME TELL YOU WHAT MAKES THIS CITY SO GREAT WHILE WE'RE TRYING TO IMPROVE CITY GOVERNMENT.
IT'S INSTITUTIONS, HOUSTON, FIRST HOUSTON PARTNERSHIP, THE ACADEMIC COMMUNITY, OUR FAITH COMMUNITY, THE MED CENTER, THE PORT NASA.
I CAN'T BEGIN TO TELL YOU HOW ON A DAILY BASIS I SEE HOW WELL WE'RE DOING IS BECAUSE OF THE COLLABORATION OF ALL THE STAKEHOLDERS.
NOW, CAN YOU IMAGINE, CAN YOU IMAGINE IF WE GET THE CITY OF HOUSTON GOVERNMENT AT THE LEVEL THAT WE HAVE A RIGHT TO EXPECT, WE'LL DEAL WITH THE FINANCES.
I'M WORKING THROUGH COLLABORATION TO DEAL WITH THE FINANCES.
WE'RE DOING EVERYTHING WE CAN TO RECRUIT ADDITIONAL POLICE OFFICERS AND FIREFIGHTERS SINCE WE HAD TO SETTLE THE FIREFIGHTER, DISAGREE WITH THE PREVIOUS ADMINISTRATION, EIGHT YEARS, THEY DIDN'T TALK TO EACH OTHER.
THEY DON'T KNOW THEIR CAREER PLAN.
IT WAS ALWAYS GONNA BE EXPENSIVE.
THE PARTNERSHIP INTERNALLY WAS SAYING 800 TO A BILLION DOLLARS TO GO BACK EIGHT YEARS AND DEAL WITH BENEFITS AND GET A FIVE YEAR CONTRACT GOING FORWARD.
WE WERE FAIR TO HOUSTONIANS TAXPAYERS AND FAIR TO THE FIREFIGHTERS.
YOU CANNOT HAVE A GREAT CITY IF YOU DON'T HAVE
[01:25:01]
SUFFICIENT POLICE AND FIRE AND EMS AND ALL THE THINGS THAT GO INTO QUALITY OF LIFE.SO ANYWAY, I APPRECIATE YOU FOR ALLOWING ME TO GIVE A LONG ANSWER.
LEMME TELL YOU WHAT, IF WE WORK TOGETHER, AND I'M PREPARED TO GIVE YOU EIGHT YEARS OF SOME OF THE BEST YEARS LEFT IN MY LIFE.
I LOVE THE CHALLENGE, CONNECTIONS, COLLABORATION, EXPERIENCE MATTERS.
AND I LOOK FORWARD TO GOING TO WORK.
I'VE NEVER WORKED HARDER IN MY LIFE.
IT HAS CUT IN TO GRANDKIDS TIME.
AND I JUST THINKING OF GRANDKIDS THAT I THINK OF MY TWO BEAUTIFUL DAUGHTERS HERE, AND WHITNEY TOLD ME, CAN YOU IMAGINE THIS? MY, THEIR ENTIRE LIFE, I'VE BEEN A PUBLIC OFFICIAL.
CAN YOU IMAGINE THAT WHITNEY WAS BORN IN 81, SARAH IN 82, THEIR WHOLE LIFE, THEIR FATHER'S BEEN A PUBLIC OFFICIAL.
DO YOU KNOW WHAT THOUGH? I'LL BRAG UP.
THEY'RE NORMAL AS THEY CAN BE.
THEY NEVER GREW UP, THEY NEVER GREW UP UP THINKING BECAUSE THEIR DAD WAS THE MOST SENIOR STATE SENATOR, THAT THEY WERE ENTITLED TO ANYTHING.
AND I'VE GOTTA SHARE THIS PERSONAL NOTE.
YOU CAN'T IMAGINE HOW MUCH ADVICE YOU GET BEFORE YOU COME DOWN HERE.
THE BEST ADVICE I GOT TODAY WAS FROM WHITNEY, MY OLDEST DAUGHTER.
SHE SAID, DAD, YOU HAVE TO SMILE MORE.
ANYWAY, UH, I'M EXCITED TO BE HERE.
I'M FIRED UP WHEN I LEAVE HERE, WE'RE GONNA GO BACK TO WORK.
I WOULD ADVISE YOU THAT A HPD OFFICER WAS SHOT THIS MORNING MAKING A HOUSE INVASION CALL.
HE WAS VERY UNFORTUNATE TO GET SHOT, BUT IT WENT THROUGH HIS LEGS.
BUT, UH, FOLKS, I CAN'T TELL YOU IF WE WORK TOGETHER AND WE COLLABORATE WITH THESE OTHER LEVELS OF GOVERNMENT, OH, THE PRIVATE SECTOR, CHEVRON, YOU'RE ALWAYS WELCOME TO MOVE YOUR CORPORATE HEADQUARTERS.
SO YOU AND, AND, AND STEVE, STEVE, KATE, AND I, AND THANK YOU FOR, YOU KNOW, SOME ENERGY RIDER FOR THE CHRONICLE, WHICH I, I SHOULDN'T EVEN GIVE HIM AN ADVERTISEMENT.
I CERTAINLY DON'T INTEND TO SAID CHEVRON.
MOVING TO HOUSTON REALLY IS NOT IMPORTANT.
THEY DID IT AND ANNOUNCED IT AFTER THE STORMS. PEOPLE WANT TO COME TO HOUSTON.
PEOPLE WERE WORRIED ABOUT OUR IMAGE.
YOU CAN'T PICK UP A MED CENTER AND MOVE IT ANYWHERE.
PEOPLE ARE COMING FROM AROUND THE WORLD TO OUR MED CENTER, THE ROYAL FAMILIES SEND THEIR FAMILY MEMBERS TO THE MED CENTER, OUR REFINERIES, OUR PORT.
WE'VE BEEN DISCOVERED, FOLKS FROM ACROSS THIS NATION AND THE WORLD.
PEOPLE KNOW ABOUT HOUSTON AND THEY WANT TO COME HERE.
'CAUSE YOU CAN BE SOMEBODY IN HOUSTON.
I LOVE THAT THAT GRAFFITI OVER ON THE RAIL DEAL THAT DRIVES UNION PACIFIC.
BUT
EACH AND EVERY ONE OF YOU HAVE SUCH AN OPPORTUNITY AND SO MANY ESTABLISHED SUCCESSFUL PEOPLE HERE.
NOW WE'VE GOTTA DO IT FOR OUR CHILDREN AND GRANDCHILDREN.
THAT'S WHO I GO TO WORK FOR EVERY DAY.
WE'VE GOT TO JUST DO QUALITY OF LIFE ISSUES TILL WE GET IT TO THE STANDARD WE WANT.
LA CHICAGO, NEW YORK, THEY KEEP THEIR PROBLEMS. THEY, YOU KNOW, THEY JUST COVER 'EM UP.
OR YOU READ ABOUT, WE FIX THINGS.
AND DON'T FORGET THOSE INDIVIDUALS THAT DID THE PORT, THE MED CENTER, AND LET ME ONE MORE.
YOU GOTTA SEE THAT OUT AT NA AT NASA.
I'M CONVINCED AS I'M SITTING HERE SOMEDAY, SOMEDAY SOMEBODY GONNA SAY, HOUSTON, WE'VE LANDED AND THIS IS GONNA BE MARS.
WE'RE TALKING TO ALL THE NEW SCIENTIFIC, UH, SPACE.
HELL, I JUST FORGOT WHAT'S MUST TEAM SPACEX.
WHY WOULDN'T SPACEX HAVE A ROLE IN THE MED CENTER? THEY'RE BRINGING OUR, OUR ASTRONAUTS HOME NOW.
WE MIGHT AS WELL USE THEIR EXPERTISE.
ANYWAY, I'M, UH, MAYOR, I'M, I'M RUNNING TOO LONG.
I JUST, UH, I'VE JUST FOUND BEHALF OF EVERYONE.
I WANNA THANK YOU FOR 51 YEARS OF ACTIVE SERVICE AND I COULDN'T BE MORE EXCITED FOR THE NEXT EIGHT YEARS.
LET JUST HAVE OUR WARM WELCOME TO.