[Press Conference: "'I'm OK. Are You OK?' Domestic Abuse Initiative"]
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THANK YOU ALL FOR BEING HERE TODAY FOR SUCH AN IMPORTANT CAUSE.
I CANNOT TELL YOU HOW EXCITED I AM.
I HAVE THE HONOR OF CHAIRING THE BOARD FOR THE TEXAS COUNCIL ON FAMILY VIOLENCE, AS WELL AS SERVING AT FOR THE CITY OF HOUSTON AS COUNCIL MEMBER AT LARGE POSITION THREE.
BUT I THINK Y'ALL KNOW THAT WE'RE GATHERED HERE TODAY TO LAUNCH AN INITIATIVE THAT BRINGS AWARENESS ON AN ISSUE THAT IS OFTEN HIDDEN IN THE SHADOWS THAT TOUCHES EVERY CORNER OF OUR SOCIETY, IN OUR CITY, AND THROUGHOUT HARRIS COUNTY.
DOMESTIC VIOLENCE IS A SILENT EPIDEMIC THAT AFFECTS INDIVIDUALS AND FAMILIES FROM ALL WALKS OF LIFE.
TODAY WE COME TOGETHER TO RAISE AWARENESS OF RESOURCES AVAILABLE FOR THOSE WHO ARE IMPACTED BY DOMESTIC VIOLENCE.
THE REALITY IS THAT ONE IN THREE WOMEN AND ONE IN FOUR MEN HAVE EXPERIENCED SOME SORT OF PHYSICAL VIOLENCE BY AN INTIMATE PARTNER IN THEIR LIFETIME.
IN HARRIS COUNTY, THE NUMBERS ARE EQUALLY ALARMING.
EVERY YEAR, THOUSANDS OF INDIVIDUALS EXPERIENCE THE TRAUMA OF ABUSE WITHIN THEIR HOMES.
THE VERY PLACE THAT SHOULD BE A REFUGE OF SAFETY PREVENTION IS KEY.
WHILE IT'S CRUCIAL THAT WE SUPPORT SURVIVORS AND PROVIDE RESOURCES, WE MUST ALSO FOCUS ON PREVENTION.
IF WE WANT TO BREAK THE CYCLES OF VIOLENCE, WE MUST ADDRESS THE ROOT CAUSE AND EQUIP OUR COMMUNITIES WITH THE KNOWLEDGE AND TOOLS TO BREAK THE SILENCE CYCLE.
UM, I WANT TO BRING TO YOU NOW THE CEO OF THE TEXAS COUNCIL ON FAMILY VIOLENCE.
THE TEXAS COUNCIL ON FAMILY VIOLENCE IS A STATEWIDE COALITION COMPRISED OF OVER A HUNDRED DIRECT SERVICE PROVIDERS.
UM, I WOULD LIKE TO INVITE EVERYONE THAT IS HERE WITH A DOMESTIC VIOLENCE ORGANIZATION TO PLEASE STAND.
IT IS A PRIVILEGE TO SERVE YOU, TO REPRESENT YOU.
THANK YOU FOR THE WORK THAT YOU DO EVERY SINGLE DAY.
UM, TCFE WAS FOUNDED BY THE MEMBERS FOR THE BENEFIT OF THE MEMBERS.
SO AGAIN, IT IS A PRIVILEGE TO ELEVATE THE VOICES OF SURVIVORS THROUGH THE AGENCIES THAT SERVE THEM.
I'M HERE, UH, TO, UH, PRIMARILY TO GIVE YOU SOME INFORMATION.
EVERY YEAR, THE TEXAS COUNCIL ON FAMILY VIOLENCE ISSUES A REPORT CALLED HONORING TEXAS VICTIMS. IT IS THE ONLY COMPREHENSIVE ANALYSIS OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE HOMICIDES IN THE STATE OF TEXAS.
WE, WE ANALYZE THIS DATA TO MAKE SURE THAT WE CAN INFORM AND CHANGE POLICY, PRACTICE AND TRAINING.
WE WANT TO ELIMINATE THESE HOMICIDES FROM OCCURRING.
UM, SO IN, IN OUR, OUR LATEST REPORT, UM, THE INFORMATION PROBABLY DOES NOT SURPRISE MANY OF US IN THIS ROOM.
IN THE LAST YEAR, OVER 200,000 CALLS WERE MADE TO LAW ENFORCEMENT BECAUSE HOME WAS NOT SAFE.
IN THE LAST YEAR, OVER 87,000, PRIMARILY WOMEN AND CHILDREN SOUGHT SERVICES FROM THE PEOPLE WHO YOU, WHOM YOU JUST SAW STAND FROM THE AGENCIES THEY REPRESENT, BECAUSE HOME WAS NOT SAFE.
THOSE VERY AGENCIES ACROSS THE STATE OF TEXAS PROVIDED OVER 1.5 MILLION SERVICES, LIFESAVING CRITICAL SERVICES TO FAMILIES IN CRISIS IN TEXAS.
AND THEN WITH HONORING TEXAS VICTIMS, WE KNOW THAT IN THE LAST YEAR, 205 TEXANS WERE KILLED BY AN INTIMATE PARTNER.
AND SO I'LL JUST LET THAT SINK IN, UH, FOR A SECOND.
WE BELIEVE THAT EACH ONE OF THESE HOMICIDES WAS KNOWABLE, IDENTIFIABLE, AND PREVENTABLE.
IF WE COULD MOVE TO THE NEXT SLIDE.
SO WE WANT TO KNOW WHAT PARTS OF THE STATE ARE AFFECTED.
SO AGAIN, WHERE DO WE CONCENTRATE EFFORTS? AND IT IS PROBABLY NOT A SURPRISE TO YOU.
EVERY YEAR THAT WE'VE PUBLISHED THIS REPORT FOR A COUPLE OF DECADES, HARRIS COUNTY LEADS THE, THE, THE COUNT OF HOMICIDES.
AND OFTENTIMES WE SAY THE WAY THAT HOUSTON GOES, THE REST OF THE STATE WILL FOLLOW YOU BECAUSE OF, OF THE WAY YOU'RE CONSTRUCTED, BECAUSE OF THE, THE LIFELINES THAT ARE OFFERED HERE IN THIS COMMUNITY.
YOU BECOME A PETRI DISH TO US.
AND WE LOOK AT THE DATA SPECIFICALLY TO HARRIS COUNTY, HOUSTON PROPER, AND THE GREATER OUT OUT OUTLYING AREAS TO SEE WHERE CHANGE CAN HAPPEN, WHERE INNOVATIVE APPROACHES AND BARRIERS TO ACCESS FOR SAFETY CAN BE FURTHER ELIMINATED.
UM, BUT YOU CAN SEE BY OUR CHART, HARRIS COUNTY WAS NOT ALONE.
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WHAT ARE SOME AREAS THAT WE NEED TO IDENTIFY, AGAIN, EITHER MAKING CHANGES TO POLICY, LEGISLATIVE POLICY, ADMINISTRATIVE POLICY, HOW ARE WE TRAINING OUR COMMUNITIES AND OUR OTHER SAFETY NETS LIKE LAW ENFORCEMENT, JUDICIAL PROSECUTION OFFICES, SO THAT WE CREATE THOSE, THOSE SAFETY NETS.SO WE ANALYZE WHAT WERE THE METHODS OF DEATH AND THESE HOMICIDES SO THAT WE CAN BEGIN, BE, CONTINUE TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE.
THE CHART, CLEARLY ART ARTICULATES, UM, THAT THE SINGLE BIGGEST METHOD OF, OF HOMICIDE THAT IS USED IS THROUGH THE USE OF A FIREARM.
UM, AND, YOU KNOW, WE FURTHER EXPOUND ON THAT TO SAY, WHAT ARE THE DYNAMICS THAT ARE LEADING EXACTLY TO THAT? THERE ARE LAWS ON OUR BOOKS THAT PROVIDE SOME, UM, SAFETIES AND SOME MECHANISMS. OFTENTIMES, THOSE LAWS ARE NOT, ARE NOT, UM, COMPLETELY ENFORCED.
SO WHILE WE DON'T HAVE DATA TO EVERY SINGLE PERPETRATOR OF THOSE 205 HOMICIDES, WE KNOW THAT AT LEAST 20 OF THEM WERE PROHIBITED POSSESSORS.
AND THAT'S WHERE WE THINK WE CAN MAKE REMARKABLE CHANGE.
IF YOU'VE ALREADY LOST YOUR PRIVILEGE, THEN WE NEED TO BE ABLE TO LEVERAGE EVERY OPPORTUNITY TO MAKE SURE THAT YOU DON'T HAVE ACCESS TO A FIREARM.
AND WE KNOW THAT THERE ARE, UH, SIGNIFICANT CONSEQUENCES IN A DOMESTIC VIOLENCE INCIDENT AND ACCESS TO A FIREARM.
WE ALSO ANALYZE WHAT IS, WHAT, WHAT AGES ARE BEING AFFECTED.
AND ALTHOUGH WE KNOW THIS ANECDOTALLY, THE THE DATA VALIDATES WHAT, WHAT WE SUSPECT, IT HAPPENS ACROSS THE LIFESPAN.
WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE YOUNGEST VICTIM, WHEN YOU, IN TERMS OF, OF, UH, FEMALE VICTIMS, THE YOUNGEST ONE WAS 15 YEARS OLD.
AND AGAIN, LET THAT SINK IN FOR A MOMENT.
SOMEBODY'S DAUGHTER, SOMEBODY'S GRANDDAUGHTER.
AND WHEN YOU THINK ABOUT THE ELDEST VICTIM, SHE WAS 88 YEARS OLD.
AND AGAIN, WE IMAGINE SOMEBODY THAT'S REFLECTING ON THEIR GOLDEN YEARS, AND UNFORTUNATELY SHE WAS KILLED BY HER HUSBAND.
UM, AND SO THIS IS IMPORTANT TO CONTINUE TO CONVEY WHEN WE'RE TA TALKING ABOUT PREVENTION EFFORTS, WHAT AGE GROUP DO WE NEED TO TARGET EVERY ONE OF THEM? UM, WE ALSO, UM, LOOK AT THE, THE, UM, AGES OF MALE VICTIMS, AND THE INFORMATION IS SLIGHTLY DIFFERENT, BUT AGAIN, IT ALLOWS US TO IDENTIFY WHO DO WE NEED TO MAKE THOSE ENTRY POINTS AND MAKE THOSE EMPHASIS FOR PREVENTION TO REDUCE AND ELIMINATE THESE HOMICIDES.
YOU KNOW, THERE'S THIS BIG MISCONCEPTION THAT, UM, AND I'M SURE MANY OF YOU IN THIS ROOM MAY HAVE EVEN SAID IT OR THOUGHT IT.
WHY DIDN'T SHE JUST LEAVE? OR WHY DIDN'T HE JUST LEAVE? IT SEEMS LIKE SUCH A LOGICAL, RATIONAL THOUGHT, BUT IN FACT, LEAVING DOES NOT EQUAL SAFETY.
UH, AGAIN, ANALYZING THE DATA, YOU'LL BE ABLE TO SEE THAT 92 HAD TAKE, HAD SEPARATED OR HAD TAKEN STEPS TO END THE RELATIONSHIP.
49 HAD SOUGHT HELP AND 52% HAD TAKEN STEPS TO END THE RELATIONSHIP.
UM, AGAIN, WHAT WE KNOW IS THAT THE MOST, UM, UM, THE HEIGHTENED TIME OF DANGER IS WHEN WE'RE ABOUT TO END THAT RELATIONSHIP.
SO AGAIN, UM, A A POINT TO REALLY CONSUME IS THAT LEAVING DOES NOT AUTOMATICALLY TRANSLATE INTO SAFETY.
SO CERTAINLY ALL OF THIS INFORMATION IS DIFFICULT TO DIGEST.
AND WHAT, WHAT THE, THE SIDE OF THE STORY THAT THIS DOESN'T TELL IS THOSE VERY SAME, UH, AGENCIES THAT ARE REPRESENTED HERE THAT STOOD UP AT THE BEGINNING ACTUALLY SAVE COUNTLESS LIVES, RIGHT? I MENTIONED 80,000 HAVE SOUGHT HELP.
1.5 MILLION SERVICES HAVE BEEN ADMINISTERED.
IT IS BECAUSE OF THEM THAT THESE NUMBERS AREN'T HIGHER.
SO WHAT DO WE NEED TO DO TO INTERRUPT, UH, AND REMOVE BARRIERS OF ACCESS TO SAFETY? AND THAT'S THE CONVERSATION THAT WE NEED THAT, THAT LEADS US TO WHERE WE ARE TODAY.
SO TWILA, I'M, I'M NOT STEALING YOUR THUNDER.
I GET TO BE THE PERSON IN THE, IN THE, IN THE ROOM THAT TALKS ABOUT GLOOM AND DOOM.
BUT I LEAVE YOU WITH THIS FINAL THOUGHT.
IF WE CAN ENVISION A WORLD FREE OF VIOLENCE, THEN WE CAN HELP CREATE IT.
SO WHAT CAN WE DO TO PREVENT, DO DOMESTIC VIOLENCE? WE CAN STRENGTHEN OUR LEGAL PROTECTIONS.
HARRIS COUNTY HAS MADE GREAT STRIDES IN IMPROVING PROTECTIONS FOR SURVIVORS.
BUT WE MUST CONTINUE ADVOCATING FOR STRONGER LAWS AND POLICIES THAT HOLD ABUSERS ACCOUNTABLE AND PROTECT THOSE AT RISK.
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THAT PROTECTIVE ORDERS ARE ENFORCED AND THAT LAW ENFORCEMENT AND THE JUSTICE SYSTEM HAVE THE TRAINING NEEDED TO RESPOND APPROPRIATELY, AND THAT WE PROVIDE LONG-TERM SUPPORT FOR SURVIVORS AS THEY REBUILD THEIR LIVES.WE MUST BE DILIGENT AND PROVIDE LAW ENFORCEMENT WITH THE NECESSARY RESOURCES.
WE MUST PUT PUBLIC SAFETY FIRST.
WE MUST ADDRESS THE ROOT CAUSES.
WE MUST PREVENT DOMESTIC VIOLENCE.
AND IN DOING SO, IT MEANS ADDRESSING THE ROOT CAUSES, WHICH ARE OFTEN LINKED TO BROADER ISSUES LIKE ECONOMIC INSECURITY, SUBSTANCE ABUSE, MENTAL HEALTH CHALLENGES.
BY INVESTING IN SOCIAL SERVICES, JOB TRAINING, AFFORDABLE HOUSING, AND MENTAL HEALTH CARE, WE CAN ADDRESS SOME OF THE UNDERLYING CONDITIONS THAT CAN LEAD TO VIOLENCE.
WE MUST WORK TOGETHER TO BREAK THE CYCLE OF VIOLENCE BY SUPPORTING THOSE WHO ARE AT RISK OF BECOMING ABUSERS.
DOMESTIC VIOLENCE IS OFTEN A LEARNED BEHAVIOR PASSED DOWN THROUGH GENERATIONS BY PROVIDING EDUCATION, COUNSELING, AND INTERVENTION PROGRAMS. FOR THOSE WHO HAVE EXPERIENCED VIOLENCE OR EXHIBITING VIOLENT BEHAVIOR, WE CAN STOP THE CYCLE BEFORE IT CONTINUES.
WE MUST PROVIDE COMMUNITY SUPPORT AND RESOURCES.
DOMESTIC VIOLENCE OFTEN GOES UNREPORTED BECAUSE VICTIMS FEEL ISOLATED, ASHAMED, AND AFRAID OF THE CONSEQUENCES.
WE MUST CREATE A CULTURE OF SUPPORT IN OUR COMMUNITIES WHERE SURVIVORS FEEL SAFE TO COME FORWARD KNOWING THEY WILL BELIEVE, BE BELIEVED AND SUPPORTED.
THIS MEANS ENSURING THE RESOURCES ARE EASILY ACCESSIBLE, WHETHER IT'S HOTLINES, SHELTERS, COUNSELING SERVICES, OR LEGAL SUPPORT.
BUT IT ALSO MEANS BUILDING A NETWORK OF SUPPORT AT THE GRASSROOTS LEVEL, NEIGHBORS, FRIENDS, COWORKERS, ALL FAMILY MEMBERS.
YOU HAVE TO BE AWARE OF THE SIGNS AND KNOW HOW TO OFFER HELP.
EDUCATION IS ONE OF THE MOST POWERFUL TOOLS WE HAVE IN THE FIGHT AGAINST DOMESTIC VIOLENCE.
PREVENTION STARTS WITH UNDERSTANDING WHAT DOMESTIC VIOLENCE REALLY IS, HOW IT MANIFESTS, AND WHAT HEALTHY RELATIONSHIPS LOOK LIKE.
WE NEED TO ENSURE THAT OUR SCHOOLS, OUR COMMUNITY CENTERS AND PUBLIC SPACES PROVIDE EDUCATION ABOUT AVAILABLE RESOURCES.
THIS IS ESPECIALLY CRITICAL FOR OUR YOUNG PEOPLE WHO MAY BE ENTERING RELATIONSHIPS FOR THE FIRST TIME AND THEY NOT MAY NOT RECOGNIZE ABUSIVE BEHAVIOR.
WE ALSO NEED TO CHALLENGE THE HARMFUL NORMS AND BELIEVE BELIEFS THAT ALLOW ABUSE TO THRIVE, SUCH AS THE NOTION THAT THE VI THAT VIOLENCE IS ACCEPTABLE IN ANY WAY.
TODAY IS A STEP TOWARDS MAKING OUR COMMUNITIES, OUR CITY AND OUR COUNTY, A PLACE WHERE NO ONE MUST LIVE IN FEAR IN THEIR OWN OWN HOME.
A PLACE WHERE EVERY INDIVIDUAL, REGARDLESS OF THEIR BACKGROUND, GENDER, AND ECONOMIC STATUS, CAN LIVE FREE.
TWO INDIVIDUALS THAT HAVE SUPPORTED THE TEXAS COUNCIL, BUT ALSO SUPPORTED SURVIVORS IN THEIR EFFORTS OVER MANY YEARS THAT ARE BEHIND ME.
I'LL INTRODUCE ONE, OUR GOOD MAYOR, JOHN WHITMEYER, WHO IS SO SUPPORTIVE AS, AS SENATOR WHITMEYER, BACK IN THE DAY LAST YEAR, YEAR BEFORE
AND THANK EVERYONE THAT IS PRESENT THIS MORNING.
UH, I DO HAVE A LONG WORKING RELATIONSHIP WITH THE TEXAS COUNCIL ON FAMILY VIOLENCE AND WHAT'S NEEDS TO BE DOCUMENTED IS HOW FAR WE'VE COME.
SINCE MY EARLY DAYS IN LEGISLATURE, THIS JUST WASN'T A TOPIC.
SO WE'VE COME A LONG WAYS, BUT WE CERTAINLY HAVE A LONG WAYS TO GO.
I HAVE A STANDARD, UH, UNDERSTANDING FROM YEARS OF EXPERIENCE IN GOVERNMENT.
YOU CAN'T SOLVE SOMETHING IF YOU DON'T ADMIT IT EXISTS.
FAMILY VIOLENCE, QUITE FRANKLY, IS A SI UH, SILENT, SILENT KILLER.
UH, THERE'S SO MANY, UH, SURVIVORS, VICTIMS THAT IF THEY'D HAD GOTTEN CASUALTIES, I WILL CALL THEM, UH, THEIR LIVES WOULD'VE BEEN TAKEN WITH EARLY INTERVENTION.
UH, I APPLAUD ALL THE STAKEHOLDERS ARE HERE, THE ELECTED OFFICIALS.
I SEE COUNCILMAN FLICKINGER AND ALCORN THOMAS.
AND WHAT I WANT TO EMPHASIZE IS EVERY LEVEL OF GOVERNMENT PLAYS A ROLE.
CERTAINLY THE CITY OF HOUSTON, WHEN WE NOTICED THE SUSPENDED CASES, UH, WE MADE FAMILY VIOLENCE CHARGES ONE OF OUR HIGHEST PRIORITY, AUSTIN.
WE'VE GOT TO MAKE SURE THAT RAPE KITS ARE PROPERLY FUNDED.
I CAN'T EMPHASIZE ENOUGH AT THE STATE LEVEL.
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CITY WILL ENCOURAGE THE PASSING A RED FLAG.UH, LEGISLATION WHEN YOU HAVE A DOMESTIC, UH, VIOLENCE IN THE FAMILY OR SOMEONE BRINGS IT FORWARD, AN EMERGENCY ROOM, PERHAPS WE NEED THROUGH PROPER LEGAL SAFEGUARDS TO INTERVENE AND GET WEAPONS OUT OF THE THOSE THAT WOULD BE ABUSERS.
SEXUAL ASSAULT NURSE EXAMINERS IS UNDERFUNDED.
SO LIKE I SAID, WE'VE COME A LONG WAYS.
WE DIDN'T HAVE DISCUSSIONS LIKE THIS WHEN I GOT TO THE LEGISLATURE, SO NOW WE'VE EXPOSED IT FOR WHAT IT IS.
I'VE PUBLICLY SAID WHEN MY FAMILY GOT A DIVORCE WHEN I WAS SEVEN YEARS OLD, IT WAS NOT A PEACEFUL TRANSITION.
SO IT AFFECTS ALL OF US, OUR CHILDREN, OUR NEIGHBORS, ALL OF US.
SO LET'S REDEDICATE OURSELF TO TODAY TO PROTECT SURVIVORS.
BUT MORE IMPORTANTLY, THE PREVENTION ASPECT BY, UH, EARLY INTERVENTION COUNSELING SERVICES.
OUR, THERE'S SO MANY STAKEHOLDERS HERE.
I THINK ALL THE AGENCIES THAT COME TOGETHER, BUT ULTIMATELY I THINK IT'S GONNA BE A HUGE RESPONSIBILITY OF CITY GOVERNMENT, STATE FEDERAL, AND OUR COUNTY COMMISSION PARTNERS THAT WE PUT PUBLIC RESOURCES IN TO, UH, SURVIVOR SERVICES.
AND I'M HERE TODAY REPRESENTING THE CITY OF HOUSTON AND COUNCIL TO SAY WE'RE GONNA DO EVERYTHING WE CAN TO WORK IN COLLABORATION WITH EVERY LEVEL OF GOVERNMENT AND CERTAINLY THE FAMILY VIOLENCE COUNCIL AND TWAH AND I REALLY GOT TO KNOW EACH OTHER.
WE KNEW EACH OTHER, BUT IT WAS WHEN SHE WAS RUNNING THE FOUNDATION, SHE MADE THE ASTRO FOUNDATION.
ONE OF THEIR HIGHEST PRIORITIES WAS FAMILY VIOLENCE.
SO I THANK YOU FOR BRINGING THIS TOGETHER AND THE CORPORATE COMMUNITY, AND WE COULD GO ON.
THE BOTTOM LINE IS LET'S CONTINUE TO COLLABORATE ON THIS SERIOUS VIRUS THAT'S IN SOCIETY.
I, I MUST SAY THAT, UH, I HAD AN IDEA AND AS I STARTED TO THINK ABOUT THAT IDEA AND WHAT IT LOOKED LIKE, ONE OF THE FIRST CALLS I MADE WAS TO COMMISSIONER BRIANIS.
HAVING READ ABOUT, UM, HER UPBRINGING AND JUST LIFE IN GENERAL AND HER FOCUS ON DOMESTIC VIOLENCE, I THOUGHT, OKAY, I'M GONNA PHONE A FRIEND OR SOON TO BE FRIEND FOR SURE.
SO I'D LIKE TO BRING UP HARRIS COUNTY PRECINCT FOUR COMMISSIONER LESLIE BRIANIS.
I'M LESLIE BRIANIS, AND I'M GRATEFUL TO SERVE AS YOUR HARRIS COUNTY COMMISSIONER FOR PRECINCT FOUR.
I WANNA THANK OUR MAYOR, JOHN WHITMEYER, FOR YOUR DECADES OF LEADERSHIP ON THIS ISSUE AND SO MANY.
AND COUNCIL MEMBER CARTER, THANK YOU FOR EVERYTHING YOU HAVE DONE IN A VARIETY OF ROLES TO CHAMPION SAFETY, EDUCATION, PREVENTION, AND RESOURCES.
AND TO ALL OF OUR PARTNERS UP HERE, ESPECIALLY OUR LAW ENFORCEMENT PARTNERS, HPD AND OUR SHERIFF GONZALEZ OF HARRIS COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE, AND ALL OF OUR COUNCIL MEMBERS WHO ARE HERE, WE'VE LISTENED TO THE UNACCEPTABLE STATISTICS.
AND AS SOMEBODY WHO IS HELPING TO LEAD HARRIS COUNTY, I FIND IT DEEPLY UNACCEPTABLE THAT HARRIS COUNTY LEADS THE STATE IN INTIMATE PARTNER VIOLENCE HOMICIDES.
IT IS UNACCEPTABLE THAT HARRIS COUNTY HAS SO FEW SHELTER BEDS.
IN FACT, WE HAVE APPROXIMATELY 380.
NEW YORK CITY HAS DOUBLE THE POPULATION, BUT HAS 10 TIMES THE NUMBER OF BEDS DOUBLE THE POPULATION.
THEY HAVE 10 TIMES THE NUMBER OF BEDS.
AND WE CAN GO THROUGH NUMEROUS STATISTICS TALKING ABOUT HOW THE HOMICIDE RATE DOUBLED BETWEEN 2019 TO 2022.
THERE'S NUMEROUS UNACCEPTABLE FACTS, AND I AGREE WITH MAYOR WHITMEYER.
WE NEED TO BE BRUTALLY HONEST ABOUT ADMITTING WHAT THE PROBLEM IS, AND THEN EQUALLY TRANSPARENT, FOCUSED, AND PURPOSEFUL ON WHAT SOLUTIONS WE ARE TRYING TO DRIVE.
AND DOING IT IN PARTNERSHIP WITH ALL OF THE NONPROFIT GROUPS, DOING IT IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE FEDERAL, STATE, COUNTY, AND CITY GOVERNMENTS.
IT'S ONLY THROUGH PARTNERSHIPS.
AND THIS IS WHAT ENERGIZES ME TODAY, IS THAT THIS IS SHOWING THE POWER OF PARTNERSHIPS TO HELP DRIVE PREVENTION AND PROTECTION.
I'M VERY THANKFUL THAT COUNCIL MEMBER CARTER REACHED OUT.
AND IF I MAY TALK ABOUT THE PILOT THAT WE WILL SOON BE LAUNCHING IN PRECINCT FOUR AND THE CITY OF HOUSTON IN PARTNERSHIP WITH OUR TEXAS LEADERS.
IT IS THE I'M OKAY, ARE YOU OKAY, PROGRAM, WHICH IS AN EDUCATION AND
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RESOURCE HOTLINE PROGRAM.WHAT WE ARE GONNA DO IN PRECINCT FOUR IN OVER 300 SITES IS PUT INFORMATION, A QR CODE LINKED TO RESOURCES WHERE THEY CAN HAVE TOOLKITS INFORMATION IN AREAS.
THANKS AGAIN TO YOUR LEADERSHIP IN THE ASTROS FOUNDATION.
SO WE WILL BE PUTTING OUT THIS INFORMATION AT OUR PARKS, AT OUR COMMUNITY CENTERS TO AMPLIFY THE EDUCATION WE'RE TAKING TO THE COMMUNITY.
SO THAT IS A STEP FORWARD, AND I LOOK FORWARD TO SEEING THE PROGRESS THERE.
HARRIS COUNTY, AND I WANNA THANK THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT, PARTICULAR PRESIDENT BIDEN AND VICE PRESIDENT HARRIS FOR THE ARPA INVESTMENTS.
SO HARRIS COUNTY, VERY BRIEFLY, I'LL GIVE YOU A FEW EXAMPLES.
APPROXIMATELY 5 MILLION WAS INVESTED IN ARPA FUNDS IN THE DOMESTIC VIOLENCE ASSISTANT FUND.
AND THAT WAS TO PROVIDE DIRECT ASSISTANCE TO DOMESTIC VIOLENCE SURVIVORS AND THEIR FAMILIES.
WE ALSO HAVE INVESTED OVER 6 MILLION IN FEDERAL ARPA FUNDS TO A RESILIENCY FUND.
AND THIS IS FOCUSED ON YOUTH GROWING UP IN HOMES WITH INTIMATE PARTNER VIOLENCE BECAUSE WE KNOW THE CYCLE OF VIOLENCE AND THOSE WHO ARE ABUSED ARE MORE LIKELY TO BECOME ABUSERS.
AND SO WE WANNA DOUBLE DOWN FOCUSING THE RESOURCES, TRAUMA BASED CARE AND RESOURCES ON THOSE FAMILY MEMBERS, SPECIFICALLY THE CHILDREN.
AND WE'VE ALSO INVESTED NEARLY A MILLION IN ARPA FUNDS FOCUSED ON THE DOMESTIC VIOLENT COURT DOCKETS IN HARRIS COUNTY.
SO THOSE ARE A FEW OF THE EXAMPLES OF STEPS FORWARD WE HAVE TAKEN.
AND WE NEED TO KNOW THAT THIS IS UP TO ALL OF US TO COME TOGETHER TO MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE UNITING AS A COMMUNITY AND OFFERING THE SUPPORT TO INDIVIDUALS THAT WE KNOW MIGHT BE ENDURING THIS ABUSE.
AND THE DAUGHTER OF TEACHERS IN ME AND THE FORMER EIGHTH AND 10TH GRADE TEACHER IN ME, THIS IS DEEPLY PERSONAL BECAUSE SO MANY OF MY STUDENTS WRESTLED WITH THIS ISSUE AND LITERALLY WOULD ASK ME FOR DETENTION BECAUSE THEY DIDN'T WANNA GO HOME.
AND IT'S UP TO ALL OF US TO UNITE AS A COMMUNITY, TO MAKE SURE THAT ALL OF OUR CHILDREN AND ALL PEOPLE CAN GROW UP IN A SAFE ENVIRONMENT WHERE THEY CAN ALL THRIVE.
SO THANK YOU FOR THE LEVELS OF PARTNERSHIP WE SEE TODAY IN THE FOR-PROFIT COMMUNITY, ALL LEVELS OF GOVERNMENT, NONPROFIT SECTOR.
AND I BELIEVE THAT WE CAN KEEP BUILDING ON THE PROGRESS BECAUSE WE MUST.
AND TO ALL OF THOSE WHOSE LIVES WE LOST, WE ARE DOING THIS IN YOUR NAME TO DO AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE.
AND TOGETHER LET'S KEEP AMPLIFYING THE EFFORTS.
I'M AN EXECUTIVE ASSISTANT CHIEF WITH THE HOUSTON POLICE DEPARTMENT.
COUNCIL MEMBER TWILA, UM, CARTER FOR HAVING US HERE TODAY.
UM, WE ARE COMMITTED TO DOMESTIC VIOLENCE AWARENESS PREVENTION.
THIS IS NOT SOMETHING THAT LAW ENFORCEMENT CAN SOLVE BY OURSELVES.
SO WE'RE GRATEFUL FOR THE COMMITMENT OF ALL THE PARTNERS HERE TO HELP US IN THAT EFFORT.
UM, I WANNA HIGHLIGHT A COUPLE DIFFERENT THINGS.
MANY OF YOU IN THE ROOM ALREADY KNOW ALL THESE THINGS, BUT WE'D BE REMISS IF WE DIDN'T USE THIS PLATFORM AS A PLATFORM TO MAKE SURE THAT EVERYBODY IS AWARE OF THE IMPACT OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE.
EVERYBODY KNOWS SOMEONE, AND THIS IMPACTS ALL OF US.
IT DOMESTIC VIOLENCE IS UP ACROSS OUR CITY BY APPROXIMATELY 20%.
AND DOMESTIC VIOLENCE REPORTS ACCOUNT FOR 10% OF ALL REPORTS, APPROXIMATELY ONE OUT OF FOUR HOMICIDES IN HOUSTON SINCE JANUARY ARE RELATED TO DOMESTIC VIOLENCE.
BUT THIS IS NOT SOMETHING THAT'S JUST IMPACTING FOLKS BEHIND CLOSED DOORS.
ANECDOTALLY, WE SEE THAT THOSE ARRESTED FOR OTHER VIOLENT CRIMES SUCH AS ROBBERY, OFTEN HAVE DOMESTIC VIOLENCE INCIDENTS IN THEIR BACKGROUND.
AND SO THIS IS NOT JUST SOMETHING THAT IMPACTS THE FAMILY, IT IMPACTS ALL OF US WHO ARE DEALING WITH VIOLENT CRIME IN OUR COMMUNITIES.
SO WE ALL HAVE AN INTEREST IN ADDRESSING THIS CRIME.
UM, AS WE'VE HEARD, DOMESTIC VIOLENCE IS MORE THAN JUST PHYSICAL VIOLENCE.
IT CAN INCLUDE THREATS, HARASSMENT, PUTTING SOMEONE DOWN, CONTROLLING FINANCES, PRESSURING FOR SEX.
BUT UNLIKE VICTIMS OF OTHER CRIMES, DOMESTIC VIOLENCE VICTIMS MAY NOT ALWAYS RECOGNIZE OR BE ABLE TO CRY FOR HELP OR CALL FOR HELP, WHICH IS WHY IT'S IMPORTANT THAT WE RECOGNIZE THAT WE ALL HAVE A ROLE TO PLAY AND ARE RECOGNIZING THESE SIGNS SO THAT WE CAN TAKE STEPS TO HELP THOSE WHO NEED IT.
UM, IF YOU BELIEVE SOMEONE IN YOUR LIFE IS AFFECTED BY DOMESTIC VIOLENCE, TALK TO THEM AWAY FROM THEIR PARTNER.
UM, OFFER AID IN A WAY THAT ALLOWS THEM TO MAKE THE NEXT BEST DECISION FOR THEM.
UM, WE RECOMMEND A SAFETY PLAN, BOTH FOR THE PERSON INVOLVED AS WELL AS THE PERSON WHO IS ATTEMPTING TO HELP THEM.
UM, LOTS OF RIGHTS AND RESOURCES
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FOR VICTIMS. THE HOUSTON POLICE DEPARTMENT HAS THE DOMESTIC ABUSE RESPONSE TEAM.THEY RESPOND TO DOMESTIC VIOLENCE SCENES IN THE MOMENT TO, UM, ALONG WITH THE UNIFORMED OFFICER, PROVIDE A VICTIM ADVOCATE TO HELP THEM WALK THROUGH THE SYSTEM, UM, AND HOLD THEIR HAND TO GET RESOURCES, WHETHER IT'S A BED THAT NIGHT OR IF IT'S FILLING OUT THE VICTIM'S COMPENSATION FORMS. WE HAVE RESOURCES AVAILABLE.
AND FINALLY, I WANNA JUST ADD THAT VICTIMS ARE NOT ALONE.
AS I SAID, THERE ARE THESE RESOURCES AVAILABLE, WHETHER IT'S, UM, BEDS, SHELTER, SPACE, VICTIMS, COMPENSATION.
WE ARE ALL HERE COMMITTED TO PROVIDE AN OPPORTUNITY AND THE AVENUES TO GET PEOPLE OUT OF THESE SITUATIONS AND TO SAFETY.
AGAIN, UM, THIS MATTERS TO EVERYBODY.
IT'S NOT SOMETHING THAT WE CAN SOLVE ALONE.
AND SO WE'RE GRATEFUL FOR THE COMMITMENT BY ALL OF OUR PARTNERS AND STAKEHOLDERS, AND GRATEFUL FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO PROVIDE AWARENESS THROUGHOUT DOMESTIC VIOLENCE AWARENESS MONTH.
I'M HARRIS COUNTY SHERIFF GONZALEZ.
AND THANK YOU ALL FOR BEING HERE.
UH, THANK YOU COUNCIL MEMBER CARTER, UH, FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP IN LAUNCHING THIS IMPORTANT DOMESTIC VIOLENCE PREVENTION INITIATIVE.
THANK YOU MAYOR WHITMEYER FOR HOSTING US AND GREATLY APPRECIATE THE MAYOR'S, UH, COLLABORATIVE PERSPECTIVE AND VISION ON PUBLIC SAFETY.
UH, CHIEF NO IDEAS IS A GOOD FRIEND AND A GREAT COLLABORATOR AND PARTNER.
WE ENJOY OUR PARTNERSHIP WITH CHIEF DIAZ AND THE ENTIRE HOUSTON POLICE DEPARTMENT, AND I KNOW IT'LL PAY OFF AND MAKE A POSITIVE DIFFERENCE.
OCTOBER IS DOMESTIC VIOLENCE AWARENESS MONTH, A TIME TO BRING ATTENTION TO THE DEVASTATED IMPACT OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE ON OUR COMMUNITY.
AND SO I REALLY, UH, WELCOME THIS OPPORTUNITY FOR US TO DO JUST THAT, TO BRING AWARENESS.
AND I THINK WE'VE HEARD CERTAIN KEY POINTS.
EVERYTHING YOU'VE HEARD TODAY IS IMPORTANT.
BUT WANNA POINT OUT THAT, UH, THE LIFESPAN THAT WE HEARD ABOUT FROM THE TEENS ALL THE WAY TO OLDER ADULT JUST HERE RECENTLY, IT'S PRESSED ON MY MIND THAT, UH, WE HAD A 17-YEAR-OLD, UH, THAT WAS KILLED AT THE HANDS OF HER BOYFRIEND IN THE BAY TOWN AREA, ONLY 17 YEARS OLD.
THAT'S ON THAT LOWER END OF THE LIFESPAN THAT WE, THAT WE HEARD.
AND I'D LIKE TO SAY THAT THAT'S LIKE AN, AN ANOMALY OR SOMETHING.
BUT HAVING INVESTIGATED HOMICIDES FOR MANY YEARS, MYSELF, I TELL YOU, IT'S NOT, UNFORTUNATELY, IT HAPPENS FAR TOO OFTEN.
UH, I THINK IT'S ALSO IMPORTANT TO NOTE, AS A MAYOR AND COMMISSIONER BRIANIS AND OTHER HAVE STATED THE IMPACTS THAT IT HAS ON OUR CHILDREN.
I PROMISE YOU THAT TODAY THERE'S A CHILD SITTING IN OUR COMMUNITY IN SOME CLASSROOM THAT WITNESSED DOMESTIC VIOLENCE IN THEIR HOME.
AND SO THEY WILL LIKELY BECOME THOSE FUTURE ABUSERS THAT WE TALK ABOUT.
YOUNG LADIES WILL LEARN WHAT AN UNHEALTHY RELATIONSHIP IS ABOUT AND AND END UP PERHAPS GETTING CAUGHT UP IN AN UNHEALTHY, INTIMATE PARTNER TEEN VIOLENCE TYPE OF RELATIONSHIP.
MAYOR WHITMEYER SPOKE ABOUT RED FLAG GUN LAWS.
WE NEED THAT HERE IN OUR STATE.
AND I CONTINUE TO SUPPORT AND ADVOCATE FOR THAT HERE IN HARRIS COUNTY.
WORKING WITH THE DA'S OFFICE UNDER KIM GAN AND SOME OF THE JUDGES, WE WERE ABLE TO ESTABLISH A GUN SURRENDER PROGRAM HERE IN OUR COUNTY.
UH, IT'S MODEST, BUT, BUT WE NEED TO BUILD THAT UP.
WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT IT STRETCHES INTO ALL THE COURTROOMS WE COULD MAKE A POSITIVE DIFFERENCE WHEN WE WORK TOGETHER AND COLLABORATIVELY AT THE HARRIS COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE, WE REAFFIRM OUR UNWAVERING COMMITMENT TO ENSURING THE SAFETY AND WELLBEING OF ALL VICTIMS AND SURVIVORS OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE AND SEXUAL ASSAULT.
WE ARE DEDICATED TO PROTECTING OUR RESIDENTS AND HOLDING PERPETRATORS OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE ACCOUNTABLE.
I COMMEND COUNCIL MEMBER CARTER AND ALL OUR PARTNER ORGANIZATIONS FOR THEIR PROACTIVE EFFORTS AND ADDRESSING DOMESTIC VIOLENCE AND OUR COMMITTEE THROUGH THIS PROJECT AND THESE INITIATIVES.
COLLABORATION IS REALLY THE KEY.
LAW ENFORCEMENT, ELECTED OFFICIALS, NONPROFITS, COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS, CORPORATIONS IN OUR COMMUNITY CAN MAKE A MORE SIGNIFICANT IMPACT IN PREVENTING VIOLENCE, PROVIDING SUPPORT FOR SURVIVORS, AND FOSTERING A SAFER COMMUNITY FOR ALL.
WE CANNOT OVERLOOK THE CRITICAL ISSUE OF TEEN DATING VIOLENCE.
AS I JUST MENTIONED, YOUNG PEOPLE OFTEN FACE EMOTIONAL, PHYSICAL, EVEN DIGITAL FORMS OF ABUSE, AND THEY MAY NOT HAVE THE TOOLS TO RECOGNIZE UNHEALTHY BEHAVIORS.
WE MUST EDUCATE OUR TEENS ON THE IMPORTANCE OF HEALTHY, HEALTHY RELATIONSHIPS AND EMPOWER THEM TO SEEK THE HELP WHEN NEEDED.
PARENTS, SCHOOL AND COMMUNITY LEADERS MUST BE INVOLVED IN THE CONVERSATION TO PREVENT PATTERNS OF ABUSE FROM TAKING HOLD AT AN EARLY AGE.
I WANNA REMIND EVERYONE THAT HELP IS AVAILABLE.
IF YOU OR SOMEONE YOU KNOW IS EXPERIENCING DOMESTIC VIOLENCE, REACH OUT THIS DOMESTIC VIOLENCE AWARENESS MONTH.
WE RECOMMIT OURSELVES TO FIGHTING DOMESTIC VIOLENCE IN ALL ITS FORMS. AND IT DOES COME IN MANY FORMS. IT'S NOT JUST PHYSICAL, IT'S ALSO PSYCHOLOGICAL, EMOTIONAL, SO MANY OTHER FORMS. WE ARE PROUD
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TO STAND WITH OUR PARTNERS AND WITH COUNCIL MEMBER, UH, CARTER IN THIS ESSENTIAL ROLE TO SUPPORT SURVIVORS AND PREVENT FUTURE VIOLENCE.TOGETHER, WE WILL CONTINUE WORKING TOWARD A COMMUNITY WHERE EVERYONE FEELS SAFE IN THEIR HOME, FREE FROM THE THREAT OF ABUSE.
LET'S USE THIS MONTH AS A CATALYST TO PUSH FOR EVEN GREATER AWARENESS, STRONGER PARTNERSHIPS, AND A RENEWED SENSE OF URGENCY IN ADDRESSING DOMESTIC VIOLENCE IN THE GREATER HARRIS COUNTY, UH, COMMUNITY AND BEYOND.
WELL, I'VE ALWAYS THOUGHT IF YOU'RE GONNA DO SOMETHING, YOU MIGHT AS WELL DO IT BIG OR JUST GO HOME, GO BIG OR GO HOME.
SO WHEN I STARTED THINKING ABOUT PARTNERS, I IMMEDIATELY REACHED OUT TO MY FRIENDS AT THE HOUSTON DEPARTS ASSOCIATION, WHICH CASEY MORGAN, THE CEO.
THAT ORGANIZATION REPRESENTS OVER 700,000 UNITS, 700,000.
SO I'D LIKE TO WELCOME CASEY AND THANK THEM FOR THEIR PARTNERSHIP.
UM, AS, UH, THE COUNCIL MEMBER SAID, I'M, I'M CASEY MORGAN.
I'M THE HOUSTON DEPARTMENT, CEO, AND I'M JOINED HERE TODAY BY OUR ASSOCIATION PRESIDENT GINA IRWIN AND FELLOW BOARD OFFICER AT MONICA GRACIA.
UM, COUNCIL MEMBER CARTER STOLE MY THUNDER A LITTLE BIT.
I WAS GONNA INCLUDE THAT, UH, STATISTIC OF, OF REPRESENTING OVER 700,000 UNITS.
WE'RE VERY EXCITED ABOUT THAT.
UM, WE REPRESENT THE LARGEST APARTMENT ASSOCIATION IN THE COUNTRY, AND TODAY WE ARE VERY EXCITED TO PARTNER WITH COUNCIL MEMBER CARTER ON THIS LAUNCH.
UM, AT HAA, WE ARE COMMITTED TO PROVIDING EDUCATIONAL RESOURCES TO OUR MEMBERS SO THAT THEY CAN BE BETTER EQUIPPED TO PROVIDE SAFE COMMUNITIES FOR THEIR RESIDENTS.
IN FACT, JUST THIS MORNING, WE HELD OUR FIRST DOMESTIC VIOLENCE AWARENESS SEMINAR LED BY ROY RIOS AND LISA MEDINA THAT ARE RIGHT BACK THERE.
UM, IT WAS A, IT WAS A GREAT SEMINAR.
WE HAD OVER 60 REGISTRANTS ATTEND, WHICH WAS REALLY EXCITING FOR US BECAUSE THIS WAS THE FIRST TIME THAT WE ROLLED OUT SUCH A SEMINAR.
UM, THE INFORMATION WAS VERY IMPACTFUL AND WE A REALLY APPRECIATED THE OPPORTUNITY TO EDUCATE OUR MEMBERS IN THE ROOM.
WE HAD LEASING MANAGERS, ONSITE PROPERTY STAFF, AND THEY WERE EDUCATED ABOUT HOW TO IDENTIFY THESE CERTAIN VERY CRITICAL, FRAGILE SITUATIONS, AND THEN WHAT RESOURCES TO PROVIDE TO BOTH VICTIMS AND SURVIVORS.
UM, SOMETHING THAT ROY SAID THIS MORNING REALLY STRUCK ME.
IT WAS VERY SIMPLE, BUT YET VERY POWERFUL.
AND, UM, HE DID THAT, UM, WARNING US THAT THE MATERIAL THAT WE WERE ABOUT TO REVIEW WOULD BE VERY GRIM AND VERY HARD.
BUT HE SAID THAT ULTIMATELY THERE IS ALWAYS HOPE.
AND, UM, THAT REALLY STUCK WITH ME.
AND THAT'S WHY WE'RE SO GRATEFUL TO PARTICIPATE, UM, IN THIS PROGRAM BECAUSE WE WANT TO BE A PART OF THAT HOPE.
UM, SO WITH THAT, COUNCIL MEMBER CARTER, THANK YOU AGAIN.
AND, UH, MAYOR WHITMEYER AND COMMISSIONER BRIANIS, SHERIFF GARCIA GONZALEZ, WE APPRECIATE, UM, THESE OPPORTUNITIES TO PARTNER WITH YOU ALL AND TO, TO MAKE THIS POSITIVE CHANGE.
SO, TOGETHER WE CAN CREATE A FUTURE WHERE DOMESTIC VIOLENCE IS JUST, IT'S, IT'S NOT JUST HIDDEN, BUT IT'S ERADICATED.
THIS IS WHY WE'RE EXCITED TO LAUNCH THIS INITIATIVE TODAY.
IT MAKES ME EMOTIONAL BECAUSE I'M SO EXCITED ABOUT IT.
UH, AS THE MAYOR MENTIONED, UM, AT THE ASTROS, IF YOU'VE BEEN TO A GAME ON THE BACK DOOR OF THE RESTROOMS, YOU SEE A STICKER, EVERYONE SHOULD FEEL SAFE AT HOME.
SO I'VE RACKED MY BRAIN SINCE JANUARY, IF YOU'VE BEEN WONDERING WHAT I'M DOING AROUND CITY COUNCIL, TRYING TO THINK OF WHAT MESSAGE FIT ACROSS OUR CITY, ACROSS OUR COUNTY.
AND IT HIT ME LIKE A TON OF BRICKS ABOUT 60 DAYS AGO.
AND FROM 60 DAYS UNTIL NOW, WE'VE BROUGHT IT TO LIFE, BUT WE COULDN'T DO THAT ALONE.
SO WE'RE EXCITED TO LAUNCH THIS COLLABORATIVE INITIATIVE WITH LAW ENFORCEMENT, WITH DOMESTIC VIOLENCE AGENCIES AND IN AND AROUND OUR COMMUNITY.
THE MESSAGE IS SIMPLE, YET SO POWERFUL.
WE'RE ABOUT TO SEE WHAT YOU CAN EXPECT TO SEE IN AND AROUND TOWN IN THE COMING DAYS, WHETHER IN THE SIGN A SIZE OF A STICKER ON A RESTROOM DOOR, OR PERHAPS EVEN LARGER AROUND TOWN.
WE'RE LAUNCHING IN, UH, ENGLISH AND SPANISH.
AND WE'LL ULTIMATELY INCLUDE CHINESE, VIETNAMESE, AND KOREAN LANGUAGES.
AND, UH, I'M GONNA INVITE LEE VELA, WHO IS THE VP OF PUBLIC AFFAIRS FOR CLEAR CHANNEL OUTDOOR.
AND I THINK LEE WILL NEVER ASK ME AGAIN WHAT I'M WORKING ON, BECAUSE ONE DAY HE WAS IN MY OFFICE ASKING ME, WE WERE TALKING, AND HE SAID, WELL, WHAT ARE YOU WORKING ON? AND I SAID, GLAD YOU ASKED LEE ELA.
THANK YOU SO MUCH, COUNCIL MEMBER, UM, AND MAYOR, COUNCIL MEMBER AND, AND, UM, UH, COMMISSIONER, WE ARE SO PROUD TO BE A PART OF THIS EFFORT.
UH, I SEE ADVERS HERE TODAY, AND WE JUST LAUNCHED ADVA
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LAST WEEK AS A MATTER OF FACT.SO ON BEHALF OF CLEAR CHANNEL AND CLEAR CHANNEL, UH, WORLDWIDE, I WILL TELL YOU THAT WE ARE COMMITTED TO MAKING CHANGES IN OUR COMMUNITIES, IN THE COMMUNITIES IN WHICH WE OPERATE.
AND ONE OF THE WAYS WE CAN DO THAT IS TACKLING THIS ISSUE TO LETTING PEOPLE KNOW THROUGH OUR MESSAGING THAT THERE IS HELP.
THERE IS HOPE, THERE IS A WAY OUT FROM A, A DOMESTIC VIOLENCE SITUATION.
SO WHAT YOU'RE GOING TO SEE IN THE NEXT FEW DAYS IS OVER A HUNDRED BILLBOARDS THROUGHOUT THE HARRIS COUNTY AREA.
MANY OF THEM IN PRECINCT FORWARD COMMISSIONER, UH, AND BOTH THEIR TRADITIONAL TYPE BILLBOARDS, BUT ALSO ON OUR DIGITAL BILLBOARDS AS WELL.
UH, WE HAVE 12 OF THOSE IN HARRIS COUNTIES.
THAT'LL BE ON THOSE BOARDS, BUT THEY'LL ALSO BE ON DIGITAL BILLBOARDS AROUND THE AREA.
SO WE'RE GONNA BE REACH FIVE COUNTIES WITH THIS MESSAGE.
UM, AND I'M GONNA ANNOUNCE HERE TODAY THAT WE'RE GOING TO, THROUGH THE OUTDOOR ADVERTISING ASSOCIATION OF TEXAS, WE'RE GOING TO TAKE THIS CAMPAIGN STATEWIDE, WOO, WITH OUR DIGITAL ASSETS IN THE STATE OF TEXAS.
AND OUR MEMBER ORGANIZATIONS SUCH AS LAMAR ADVERTISING AND OUTFRONT MEDIA, WILL BE ABLE TO REACH OVER A HUNDRED TEXAS CITIES WITH THIS MESSAGE, BOTH IN ENGLISH AND IN SPANISH AND OTHER LANGUAGES AS WE FOLD THEM INTO THIS.
SO THIS WILL CREATE MILLIONS UPON MILLIONS OF MARKET IMPRESSIONS THROUGHOUT THIS, THIS REGION, WHICH IS OBVIOUSLY VERY NEEDED, UH, BUT ALSO THROUGHOUT THE STATE AS WELL.
SO WE ARE VERY, VERY PROUD TO BE A PART OF THIS.
TO, TO, UH, AND THANK, THANK YOU COUNCIL MEMBER CARTER.
UH, I, I I'LL STILL ASK YOU WHAT'S GOING ON
AND, AND I KNOW, MAYOR, YOU'D KNOW THAT WE CAN HELP THE CITY.
WE WILL CERTAINLY STEP UP AND, AND APPROVE OUR ASSETS TO BE ABLE TO, UH, HELP THE CITY IN MAKING OUR CITY A MORE LIVABLE, BETTER PLACE TO BE AND SAFER FOR EVERYONE.
SO WITHOUT FURTHER ADO, WE'RE GONNA TAKE A LITTLE TRIP OVER HERE, UH, SPEAKERS, AND WE'RE GONNA ACTUALLY UNVEIL THE BILLBOARDS AND, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER, FLICKING JURY, WOULD YOU LIKE TO COME UP AS WELL? AND, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER THOMAS, IS SHE STILL HERE? OKAY, SO EV EVERYBODY COULD STEP OVER HERE BY THE, BY THE BOARDS.
WE'RE GONNA START WITH THIS ONE ON THIS SIDE.
WE'LL COUNT THIS DOWN FOR YOU.
EVERYBODY GRAB A CORNER? NO, WE'RE GONNA DO ONE AND THEN WE'LL MOVE TO THE OTHER ONE.
SO ON, UH, WE'LL DO THIS ON 3, 1, 2, AND THREE.
THIS IS ACTUALLY HALF OF THE SIZE OF WHAT WAS GOING TO BE ON THE STREETS.
SO THIS WILL BE, THERE'LL BE 12 BY 24 AND, AND LARGER.
SO EVERYBODY SHIFT DOWN TO THE OTHER ONE AND WE'LL DO THREE ON THREE.
AND, AND WE'RE PROUD TO BE A PART OF THIS.
AND THANK YOU, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER CARTER FOR, FOR, UH, INCLUDING US IN THIS.
UH, JUST WANNA MENTION THAT, UH, SO YOU HAVE THE BILLBOARDS AND YOU SEE THE WEBSITE TCFE.ORG/OK.
UM, IN A STICKER FORMAT, YOU'LL SEE A SIMPLE MESSAGE WITH A QR CODE.
SO THE IDEA BEHIND THIS IS THAT IT CREATES A SENSE, SENSE OF CURIOSITY.
SO IF YOU, YOU ALL HAVE STICKERS ON YOUR CHAIRS.
IF YOU CLICK ON THAT QR CODE OR HIT THAT LINK, YOU WILL SEE THAT THE FIRST LANDING PAGE ASKED, IF YOU NEED IMMEDIATE HELP, CALL 9 1 1.
OR IF YOU'RE IN DANGER, YOU CAN GO AND SEE.
BUT IT ALSO ASKED IF YOU HAVE A MENTAL HEALTH NEEDS FOR MENTAL HEALTH.
I'M NOT QUOTING IT EXACTLY, BUT IT, IT, IT, YOU HAVE TO GO THROUGH THAT PAGE IN ORDER TO GET TO THE RESOURCES.
BUT IT'S A REAL SIMPLE, SMALL MESSAGE.
YOU HAVE TO ACKNOWLEDGE THE MESSAGE AND IT TAKES YOU FURTHER.
BUT THAT LIVES ON THE TCFV, UH, WEBSITE.
IT IS IN CURRENTLY IN ENGLISH AND SPANISH, AND WE'RE WORKING ON CHINESE, VIETNAMESE, AND KOREAN TRANSLATIONS.
SO ULTIMATELY IT'S, IT'S A RESOURCE FOR OUR COMMUNITY.
UM, AND I WILL TELL YOU, I'M GONNA GO AHEAD AND SAY THIS.
WE'VE, I'VE BEEN TALKING TO ANYBODY WHO COMES TO MY OFFICE GETS TO HEAR THIS SERMON, BUT HOUSTON COMMUNITY COLLEGE IS ON BOARD, UH, HAPPENED TO SEE, UH, MELISSA GONZALEZ,
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UH, FROM LONE STAR AT A LUNCHEON FRIDAY.AND I SAID, HCC, AND SHE SAID, WE'RE IN.
SO ANYWAY, LOTS OF, UH, COMMUNITY EFFORTS OUT HERE, BUT YOU'LL SEE IT.
BUT IT'S, IT'S REALLY A GREAT MESSAGE.
I ENCOURAGE YOU EACH TO TAKE SOME STICKERS AND TAKE A LOOK AT IT.
I'M SO EXCITED TO LAUNCH THIS AND BE ON THE LOOKOUT FOR THE BILLBOARDS.