[City Pulse]
[00:00:16]
WELCOME TO CITY POLLS ON HOUSTON TELEVISION.
I'M YOUR HOST TRAVIS LEMONS AS A HIGHLIGHT REEL FOR ACTIVITIES AND EVENTS WITHIN CITY DEPARTMENTS AND HOUSTON AS A WHOLE.
THIS MONTH WE GIVE THANKS TO FRIENDS, FAMILY, AND VETERANS, BUT LET'S START WITH MAYOR JOHN WHITMEYER, APPOINTING BAND TM AS THE NEW METRO POLICE CHIEF.
IT IS A HISTORY MAKING HIRE AND WE'LL BOOST REGIONAL SECURITY MOVING FORWARD.
I COULD ASK MANY OF YOU TO JOIN ME IN THIS SWEARING IN ACTUALLY GIVEN THE OATH, BUT NONE MORE APPROPRIATE THAN ONE OF THE BEST APPOINTMENTS THAT I'VE MADE.
E BROCK AND HER BOARD MEMBERS HAVE A VISION, A MISSION TO MAKE THIS THE BEST TRANSIT SYSTEM IN THE UNITED STATES.
TODAY'S A VERY IMPORTANT DAY BECAUSE AS WE SWEAR IN CHIEF BANIN TO THE METRO POLICE DEPARTMENT, WE ARE SENDING A STRONG MESSAGE THAT OUR TRANSIT SYSTEM WILL NO LONGER BE A PLACE FOR BAD GUYS.
I, BEN 10, I, BEN, YOU SOLEMNLY SWEAR OR AFFIRM, WE WILL WORK TOGETHER TO KEEP EVERYONE SAFE, WHETHER YOU ARE A RIDER LIVE OR WORK NEAR TRANSIT OR OUR, OUR VERY OWN METRO EMPLOYEES.
I AM READY AND I STAND READY EVERY DAY TO SERVE OUR CITY IN OUR REGION IN THIS NEW CAPACITY TO ENSURE THAT WE HAVE EFFECTIVE STRATEGY, LIKE THE MAYOR AND BOARD CHAIR JUST SAID, TO PROTECT OUR METRO RIDERS, OUR EMPLOYEE, AND MOST IMPORTANTLY, EVERYWHERE WHERE THERE'S A METRO PRESENCE, WE COULD NOT HAVE A MORE OUTSTANDING PERSON TO TAKE OVER, UH, METRO.
AND OUR THEREFORE, JOHN WITTMEYER, MAYOR OF THE CITY OF HOUSTON, DEAR HEREBY RECOGNIZE ON NOVEMBER 15TH IS 2024 AS CHIEF BANTY, 10 DAY IN THE CITY OF HOUSTON.
AND CHRISTMAS USUALLY MEAN BIG GATHERINGS, BUT HOUSTON'S GREEN GURU, STEVE STELZER, HAS THE PERFECT SOLUTION FOR PEOPLE WHO WOULD RATHER THINK SMALL AND THINK GREEN.
ALL RIGHT, SO, UH, I DO HAPPEN TO HAVE A DISPLAY HERE ABOUT TINY HOUSE AND, UM, SHIPPING CONTAINERS CAN ALSO BE A TINY HOUSE AS WELL.
UM, THE ADVANTAGE OF A TINY HOUSE, OF COURSE, IS THAT YOU'RE GOING TO, YOU'RE GONNA USE LESS ENERGY AND IT'S A HUGE OPPORTUNITY TO USE LESS ENERGY.
UH, THE BIGGER THE BUILDING, THE MORE ENERGY IS GOING TO USE IN ORDER TO BE, TO MAKE US COMFORTABLE.
SO A LITTLE HOUSE HAS LESS SPACE, LESS, UH, PERIMETER, YOU KNOW, LESS TO MAINTAIN.
AND, UM, YOU KNOW, AS LONG AS YOU, YOUR EXPECTATIONS ARE SUCH THAT YOU DON'T NEED A RAMBLING MANSION, THEN PERHAPS A TINY HOUSE IS PERFECT FOR YOU.
UM, IT'S NOT GONNA BE SO GOOD THE MINUTE YOU INVITE, UH, YOU KNOW, YOUR 10 COUSINS OVER BECAUSE WHERE ARE THEY GONNA SLEEP? BUT YOU KNOW, HEY, THAT'S WHY WE HAVE HOTELS.
AT ANY RATE, UM, YOU KNOW, A TINY HOUSE IS NOT GONNA BE FOR EVERYONE.
BUT, UM, I THINK PEOPLE ARE STARTING TO REALIZE THE VALUE OF NOT HAVING SUCH A GREAT BIG HOUSE, WHICH, YOU KNOW, A LOT OF TIMES THIS ENDS UP FOR, THEN YOU GOTTA HAVE MORE FURNITURE, YOU GOT MORE STUFF, AND MAYBE THAT'S NOT BRINGING YOU ANY HAPPINESS AND HAVING A NICE SMALL HOUSE MIGHT JUST BE PERFECT FOR YOU.
OKAY, HERE'S A QUICK TEST TO SEE IF SLOGANS REALLY WORK.
WHEN YOU HEAR THE PHRASE JUST DO IT OR BREAKFAST OF CHAMPIONS, WHAT DO YOU THINK? NIKE AND WHEATIES RIGHT NOW.
CHECK OUT THIS NEXT STORY FROM SPECTRUM FUSION.
THEY MET SOME CHAMPIONS AT A BREAKFAST RECEPTION FOR SPECIAL OLYMPICS, TEXAS.
MY FAVORITE SPORT IS BASKETBALL.
IT'S A VERY POPULAR SPORT, AND I LOOK TO USE BASKETBALL AS A PLATFORM
[00:05:01]
TO EXPAND SPECIAL OLYMPICS IN A BIG WAY.IT'S AN AMAZING FEELING TO BE HERE AND MAKE THIS KIND OF IMPACT.
WANTED TO THANK YOU ALL SO MUCH FOR COMING UP, AND I LOOK FORWARD TO SEEING YOU ALL IF YOU JUST SPECIAL OLYMPICS.
SO I'M HERE TO MAKE SURE THAT I CAN BE A SOUNDING BOARD FOR SPECIAL OLYMPICS, UH, TEXAS TO ENSURE THAT OUR FAMILIES CAN GET CONNECTED TO RESOURCES.
THIS EVENT IS JUST ANOTHER OPPORTUNITY TO SHOWCASE AND BRING AWARENESS TO THE NEEDS OF YOUTH AND YOUNG ADULTS WITH DISABILITIES THAT ARE PARTICIPATING IN, IN ALL FORMS OF ACTIVITIES GIVEN SPORTS EMPLOYMENT.
AND SO THIS IS JUST ANOTHER WAY OF US TO SHOWING UP TO THESE TYPES OF EVENTS TO LET THE HOUSTON COMMUNITY KNOW THAT WE'RE HERE TO SUPPORT FAVORITE SPORT EQUESTRIAN.
I STARTED HORSEBACK RIDING AT THE END OF FOURTH GRADE.
MY FAVORITE MEMORY IS I GOT TO THROW OUT THE FIRST PITCH AT THE ASTROS GAME ON AUGUST 16TH OF THIS YEAR, AND I WAS REPRESENTING SPECIAL OLYMPICS FOR THAT.
I AM HAPPY, BE OUT HERE WITH MY FRIENDS AND COMPETING.
I HAVE A LOT OF MEMORIES WITH SPECIAL OLYMPICS.
I'M IN LOVE, I LOVE MY BEST FRIENDS AT SPECIAL OLYMPICS.
THESE KINDS OF EVENTS ARE VERY IMPORTANT BECAUSE IT LETS FOLKS KNOW THAT PEOPLE BELONG IN ALL, IN ALL TYPES OF PUBLIC SPACES.
I'M WANTING MORE ORGANIZATIONS, CELEBRITIES, AND MANY INDIVIDUALS TO BE INVOLVED WITH SPECIAL OLYMPICS BECAUSE IT REALLY IS A GREAT ORGANIZATION.
I'M SO GRATEFUL TO HAVE THE OUTREACH FOR LETTERS FOR CELEBRITIES AND THE PEOPLE I'M REACHING OUT TO, TO BRING MORE AWARENESS TO THIS MEETING.
JUST WANNA SAY, UH, CONGRATULATIONS ON THE GREAT EVENT.
UH, IT'S A LOT OF GREAT SUPPORT.
I THINK THERE'S A OPPORTUNITY TO CONTINUE TO MAKE SURE THAT SPECIAL OLYMPIC TEXAS CONTINUES TO DO GREAT WORK BECAUSE OF THE SUPPORT YOU HAVE AROUND YOU.
TO FIND OUT MORE ABOUT SPECIAL OLYMPICS, TEXAS, YOU CAN VISIT SO TX.ORG.
WHEN WE COME BACK, WE HONOR VETERANS WITH THE CITY OF HOUSTON, MORE CITY PULSE.
AFTER THIS, HOUSTON IS ROLLING OUT THE RED AND GREEN CARPET AND THE HOLIDAY SPIRIT IS OVERFLOWING ICE SKATING, LIGHTING DISPLAYS, DELICIOUS SWEETS AND SHOPPING.
LET THE LIGHTS ABOVE CAST A TWINKLE IN YOUR EYE AS YOU EMBRACE THE WONDER OF THE HOLIDAY SEASON IN 12 DIFFERENT VILLAGES THAT SPAN DOWNTOWN.
WHEN WE CELEBRATE, WE CELEBRATE TOGETHER.
THE ONLY THING MISSING IS YOU MORE INFO AND HOTEL DEALS@VISITHOUSTON.COM.
NOVEMBER 11TH IS A DAY FOR OBSERVATION, A DAY TO HONOR VETERANS FOR THEIR SERVICE FOR THE BRAVERY.
MATT MUSEL, THE COMMUNICATIONS DIRECTOR FOR THE HOUSTON PARKS AND RECREATION DEPARTMENT, PROFILES SOME OF THE MILITARY VETERANS THAT MAKE HOUSTON PARKS AND REC THE PLACE WHERE EVERYONE BELONGS.
I WAS IN AVIATION, I WAS PART OF A SQUADRON.
A LOT OF PRIDE, A LOT OF GRATITUDE FOR THE OPPORTUNITIES THAT THIS COUNTRY HAS GIVEN.
I WAS IN SIX YEARS, IT WAS TO FIGHT FOR THIS COUNTRY, UNITED STATES MARINE CORPS.
IF I COULD DO IT AGAIN TODAY, I'LL GO BACK IN TODAY.
THE HOUSTON PARKS AND RECREATION DEPARTMENT IS RECOGNIZED AS ONE OF THE NATION'S FINEST AND A NUMBER OF THE GREAT MEN AND WOMEN THAT KEEP IT THAT WAY ARE MILITARY VETERANS.
TIM FERMI CURRENTLY WORKS FOR FLEET IN THE MECHANIC SHOP AS A WELDER AND METAL WORKER SKILLS.
HE LEARNED WHILE IN THE NAVY, YOU KNOW, THE NAVY IS NOT JUST A JOB, IT'S AN ADVENTURE.
I WANTED SOME OF THAT BESIDES A TRADE.
OKAY? THE CAMARADERIE IN BOOTCAMP, MEETING ALL THESE OTHER GUYS, JUST ALL OF US DOING WHAT WE HAD TO DO TOGETHER, IT MADE ME A REAL MAN.
JOHN DAVIDSON IS AN ACCOUNTANT MANAGER FOR PARKS AND REC.
JOHN IS KNOWN FOR HIS CALM DEMEANOR, BUT DURING HIS TIME IN THE MILITARY, I WAS IN THE UNITED STATES MARINE CORPS, BUT ATED ROADS AROUND, I REALLY DO FEEL THAT WE ARE STILL BEEN APPRECIATED COMPARED TO, LIKE YOU JUST SAID, FROM THE ERA OF THE VIETNAM, THE SOLDIER RETURNED HOME AND THEY DIDN'T RECEIVE THE RESPECT.
[00:10:01]
ARE VETERANS ARE RECEIVING RESPECT, WHICH IS OVERDUE.THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE, MAN.
ANTHONY AGUILAR IS CURRENTLY A SENIOR BUYER FOR PARKS AND REC.
HE SERVED IN THE NAVY FOR EIGHT YEARS AND HAD SEVEN DIFFERENT DUTY STATIONS, INCLUDING YOKOSUKA, JAPAN WHILE ABOARD THE USS SHA PORT, HIS SHIP PROVIDED SUPPORT FOR THE MARINE BASE AND BARUCH LEBANON.
HE SAYS HE'LL NEVER FORGET THE LOVING SUPPORT THAT HE RECEIVED FROM HIS FAMILY AND FRIENDS WHILE SERVING OVERSEAS.
HECTOR HERNANDEZ CURRENTLY WORKS IN THE OFFICE OF THE FLEET MECHANICAL SHOP, BUT WHILE IN THE NAVY, HE WAS PART OF AN F 18 SQUADRON FOR NINE YEARS.
HIS JOB WAS TO WORK ON JET ENGINES.
I WAS STATIONED IN CALIFORNIA AND NEVADA.
UH, AND THEN ON OUR DEPLOYMENTS, WE PULLED INTO SINGAPORE, AUSTRALIA, BA, RAIN, DUBAI.
BEEN TO GUAM, HAWAII A COUPLE TIMES.
ENJOYED ALL THE TIMES I SPENT THERE.
AND YEAH, I GOT WHAT I WANTED OUT OF IT.
HOW MANY PARTICIPANTS WILL YOU HAVE? ALICIA COOPER IS AN EXECUTIVE OFFICE ASSISTANT WHO MAKES SURE THAT PARKS AND REC HAS RELIABLE TRANSPORTATION EVERY DAY.
BUT IN THE ARMY, SHE WAS A UNIT SUPPLY SPECIALIST, DEPLOYED IN KUWAIT AND IRAQ, AND ALICIA SAYS SHE'LL NEVER FORGET THE FIRST TIME SHE LANDED IN A WAR ZONE.
AND THEN ONCE THE PLANE, UH, TOUCHED DOWN AND THEY OPENED THE DOORS, WHEN THEY OPENED THE DOORS, IT WAS LIKE ANOTHER WORLD OUT THERE.
YOU COULD SEE SMOKE CLOUDS, YOU COULD HEAR THE AMMO, UH, YOU COULD, YOU KNOW, UM, IT FELT LIKE AN ING ALICIA EXPERIENCED A LOT DURING HER SIX YEARS IN THE ARMY, AND SHE SAYS SHE CAN'T HELP BUT TAKE A MOMENT EACH VETERAN'S DAY TO REFLECT ON THOSE DAYS.
AND EVEN IF I TRY NOT TO, THE FRIENDS THAT YOU GAINED ALONG THE WAY FROM BEING IN THERE, THEY'RE GONNA MAKE SURE YOU REMEMBER THAT'S MET SOME OF THE MOST AMAZING PEOPLE WHEN I WAS IN THE MILITARY THAT I'M STILL FRIENDS WITH UNTIL THIS VERY DAY.
EVERY TIME DARRYL LINDON IS FACILITY MANAGER AT THE JUDSON ROBINSON SENIOR COMMUNITY CENTER, BUT BEFORE THAT, HE WAS IN THE NAVY FOR 10 YEARS, REPRESENTING THE THIRD GENERATION OF A NAVY FAMILY.
SO OPERATION DESERT STRIKE WITH PIT FITZGERALD'S WHEN WE SHOT TOMAHAWK MISSILES IN IRAQ RIGHT OFF THE COAST, IRAQ.
SO THAT WAS, UH, KIND OF WHAT MADE ME WANNA DO, UH, MY JOB AT PARK TODAY WAS BECAUSE WE SHOT THOSE MISSILES AND I SAT NEXT TO THE CAPTAIN IN COMBAT.
AND I KNEW SOME OF THOSE TARGETS HAD KIDS, AND I SAID, THESE KIDS ARE NEVER GONNA HAVE A CHANCE.
YOU KNOW? SO THAT WAS, THAT WAS KIND OF TOUGH, YOU KNOW, PLUS WE HAD SOME CASUALTIES ON OUR SIDE, BUT I SAID, YOU KNOW WHAT? I SAID, IF I MAKE IT HOME, YOU KNOW, YOU GOTTA DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT.
YOU SEE HOW, HOW LOW IT IS OVER THERE.
MOSES BECERRA IS A DIVISION MANAGER OVERSEEING 15 DIFFERENT COMMUNITY CENTERS.
BUT BEFORE THAT, HE SERVED IN THE ARMY.
FOR ME, IT WAS IMPORTANT BECAUSE I HAD TO FIND A WAY TO GIVE BACK.
I GAVE BACK, BUT I GAINED MORE.
YOU KNOW, IT DID A LOT FOR ME.
IT CHALLENGED ME PHYSICALLY, IT CHALLENGED ME MENTALLY.
I, I THINK I GOT THE BETTER SIDE OF THE DEAL 'CAUSE I WAS ABLE TO SERVE AND ALSO, YOU KNOW, UM, BENEFIT FROM IT.
AND LIKE ALL THE OTHER MILITARY VETERANS THAT WE SPOKE WITH, MOSES HAS A SENSE OF SATISFACTION ON THIS VETERAN'S DAY.
IT FEELS GOOD TO BE APPRECIATED AND IT FEELS REALLY GOOD.
I WANT TO THANK EVERYBODY FOR JUST COMING THIS MORNING AS WE HONOR VETERANS WHERE YOU LOOK AT THE GUYS SITTING IN THIS CHAIR, THE SACRIFICES THAT THEY'VE MADE FOR OUR COUNTRY.
WE ARE PROUD OF THESE MILITARY VETERANS WHO HAVE SERVED OUR COUNTRY.
AND NOW WHILE WORKING AT HOUSTON PARKS AND REC, THEY SERVE THE CITIZENS OF HOUSTON EVERY DAY.
THAT'S GONNA DO IT FOR ME AND CITY PULE.
I'M GONNA GO HAVE A BOWL OF WHEATIES, TRY ON A PAIR OF AIR JORDANS AND SEE IF I CAN APPLY GRAVITY LIKE A WICKED WITCH FOR HTV HOUSTON TELEVISION AND THE CITY OF HOUSTON.
UNTIL NEXT TIME, REMEMBER, WE CAN ALWAYS DO BETTER AND KINDNESS IS FREE.