[00:00:18]
WEATHER THIS MORNING TO ANNOUNCE A STRONG INITIATIVE TO PROTECT OUR NEIGHBORHOODS.
FULFILL MY MS. FAIRCHILD, HOW ARE YOU, UH, FULFILL MY, MY NUMBER ONE PRIORITY TO ADDRESS PUBLIC SAFETY.
IT WAS ONE OF THE MAJOR REASONS I RAN FOR OFFICE.
IT CONSTANTLY IS, UH, ON OUR DAILY AGENDA.
I'M SO PROUD OF THE TEAM I'VE PUT IN PLACE WITH OUR NEW POLICE CHIEF, FIRE CHIEF CHIEF OF METRO IS CERTAINLY ALREADY MAKING IT HERE, MR. 10, WHERE IN THE HELL IS CHIEF OF CANCER.
I, I'VE ALREADY STARTED GETTING EMAILS FROM CITIZENS WHERE JUST THE COMMON SENSE OF PUTTING ADDITIONAL LIGHTING AND OFFICERS AT OUR TRANSIT STATIONS IS MAKING PEOPLE FEEL SAFER AND WANT TO RIDE OUR METRO TRAINS AND BUSES.
SO THAT'S MY HIGHEST PRIORITY, ALONG WITH OBVIOUSLY, UM, INFRASTRUCTURE AND DEALING WITH ALL THE OTHER ISSUES THAT WE'RE CONFRONTING.
BUT PUBLIC SAFETY IS OUR HIGHEST PRIORITY.
AND IF WE DON'T MAKE PEOPLE FEEL SAFE AND BE SAFE, HOLD BAD ACTORS ACCOUNTABLE, PROBABLY NOTHING ELSE MATTERS.
SO THIS MORNING I'M EXCITED UNDER THE LEADERSHIP OF, UH, THE MULTIPLE AGENCIES REPRESENTED HERE.
CHIEF DIAZ AND I WILL BE RIDING THE STREETS OF WASHINGTON TONIGHT.
WE'RE DOING A WASHINGTON CORRIDOR INITIATIVE TO, UH, MAKE THE WASHINGTON SHEPHERD DURHAM WESCOTT CORRIDOR KNOW THAT WE CARE.
AND WE'RE ACTUALLY GOING TO ENFORCE THE LAWS THERE, WHETHER IT BE SOUND, DWIS, YOU NAME IT, YOU VIOLATE THE LAW.
I'M EXCITED AGAIN ON THE COLLABORATION THAT I'VE SPOKEN ABOUT IS IN REAL TIME YOU'RE LOOKING AT IT.
H-P-D-D-P-S PROUD TO HAVE THE SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT AND UNDER THE LEADERSHIP OF OUR SHERIFF HERE TODAY.
AND OF COURSE I MENTIONED METRO.
SO WHAT WE'LL DO, AND I'LL LET CHIEF DIAZ COME GIVE YOU THE OPERATIONAL PLANS, BE ON THE STREETS OF THE WASHINGTON CORRIDOR TODAY, LOOKING FOR EVERY TYPE VIOLATION THAT THE PUBLIC CONFRONTS LOUD NOISE.
AND I WISH, QUITE FRANKLY, WE AND I WILL DO IT, ENCOURAGE THE OWNERS OF THE CLUBS TO GET THEIR BARELY CLAD YOUNG LADIES OFF THE STREET ON WASHINGTON.
THIS IS ALL ABOUT QUALITY OF LIFE AND BEING SAFE.
NOT ONLY BEING SAFE, FEELING SAFE.
SO AT THIS TIME, UH, CHIEF DALLAS, WHY DON'T YOU COME TELL US, UH, BRIEF OPERATION PLANS.
IT'S, IT'S, UH, ONE OF THE MORE IMPORTANT THINGS I MIGHT ADD THAT THE CHIEF AND I WERE OVER ON EMANCIPATION ABOUT A MONTH AGO.
SO WE'RE TAKING THIS INITIATIVE ACROSS HOUSTON.
IT IS NOT A, IT'S NOT A SOLVE.
ALL WE'VE GOTTA IN DO IT, INCREASE OUR RECRUITING, GET THE NUMBERS WHERE WE CAN STAY ONCE WE, UH, MAKE OUR PRESENCE KNOWN, THEY KNOW WE'RE COMING BACK AND GONNA STAY PUT.
UH, THE MAYOR'S ACTUALLY SAID EVERYTHING I WAS GONNA SAY THAT I HAD WRITTEN DOWN, BUT, UH, WE ARE VERY EXCITED.
I WANNA THANK SHERIFF GONZALEZ, UH, CHIEF 10, THE STATE POLICE FOR PARTICIPATING ON THIS EVENT.
YOU KNOW, THE MAYOR IS, UH, VERY FOCUSED ON MAKING SURE THAT THIS COMMUNITY IS SAFE AND MAKING SURE THAT THE QUALITY OF LIFE HERE IN THIS COMMUNITY IS PRIORITIZED.
SO THIS INITIATIVE WILL KEEP ROLLING.
IT'LL BE A TWO NIGHT EVENT, UH, TONIGHT AND TOMORROW NIGHT IN THE WASHINGTON CORRIDOR.
UH, AGAIN, WE'RE, WE'RE, WE WANT PEOPLE TO COME TO THE WASHINGTON CORRIDOR, BUT WE WANT THEM TO BE SAFE.
WE WANT THEM TO BE RESPONSIBLE.
WE WANT THEM TO PERHAPS, UH, CHOOSE A RIDE CHAIR IF THEY CAN MAKE GOOD DECISIONS.
I MEAN, IT'S A, IT'S A, IT'S AN AREA FOR YOUNG PEOPLE TO, TO CONGREGATE AND WE WANT THEM TO BE THERE TO CONGREGATE.
BUT WE HAVE TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE, UH, UH, ENFORCING OUR CITY ORDINANCES AND BEING COMPLIANT WITH THE STATE LAWS.
UH, THAT BEING, UM, STREET TAKEOVERS, THE LOUD NOISE, THE EXCESSIVE LOUD NOISE, YOUNG PEOPLE ON DIRT BIKES, THOSE KINDS OF THINGS.
SO WE'RE GONNA TACKLE IT, UH, FROM A, FROM A, FROM A BIGGER PERSPECTIVE.
UH, WE'LL GO INTO THE CLUBS AND ACTUALLY VISIT WITH THE CLUB MANAGERS.
VISIT WITH THE CLUB OWNERS, UH, TABC.
THERE'LL BE A-A-T-A-B-C COMPONENT WITH US AS WELL.
[00:05:01]
SO WE WANNA THANK EVERYBODY, THE MEDIA FOR COVERING IT.'CAUSE IT'S SOMETHING THAT WE'RE GONNA CONTINUE TO DO.
UH, THE, THE MAYOR IS, UH, FOCUSED ON.
I WANNA THANK THE MAYOR AND, AND HIS LEADERSHIP FOR AFFORDING US THE ABILITY WITH THE OVERTIME THAT HE APPROVED.
AND THIS IS AN, AN OVERTIME INITIATIVE THAT'S ACTUALLY GOING RIGHT INTO THE CITY IMMEDIATELY.
RIGHT? IT'S AN IMMEDIATE IMPACT AND WE'RE GONNA TREAT IT AS SUCH.
SO, I WANNA THANK THE SHERIFF.
I'LL YIELD MY TIME TO THE SHERIFF.
UM, I WANNA THANK HIM FOR THE PARTNERSHIP CO-CHAIR.
UH, THANK YOU MAYOR FOR HOSTING.
UH, WHEN MAYOR WHITMEYER OR CHIEF DIAZ CALLS, WE'RE GONNA BE THERE.
I REMEMBER WHEN, UH, MAYOR WHITMEYER FIRST TOOK OFFICE.
ONE OF THE FIRST MEETINGS HE HAD, UH, WAS AT CRIME STOPPERS WHERE HE CONVENED ALL REGIONAL LAW ENFORCEMENT.
AND HE ENCOURAGED AND MOTIVATED US TO MAKE SURE WE WERE WORKING TOGETHER, THAT WE WERE BEING STRATEGIC AND TRYING TO WORK COLLABORATIVELY FOR PUBLIC SAFETY.
AND TRUE TO HIS WORD, HE HAS DONE THIS ALL YEAR WITH CHIEF DIAZ, UH, WITH METRO DPS, EVERYONE WORKING TOGETHER TO TRY TO MAKE SURE WE'RE KEEPING OUR COMMUNITY SAFE.
AND SO, UH, THESE NEXT TWO NIGHTS WE'RE VERY PROUD AND, AND HAPPY TO BE ABLE TO JOIN, UH, THIS INITIATIVE, UH, TO BE ABLE TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE IN PUBLIC SAFETY.
UH, THIS ISN'T JUST ABOUT BREAKING THE LAW.
IT'S ABOUT RECKLESS ACTIONS THAT PUT, UH, LIVES AT RISK.
THE LIVES OF THE DRIVERS, THEIR PASSENGERS, AND INNOCENT BYSTANDERS WHO SIMPLY HAPPENED TO BE IN THE WRONG PLACE AT THE WRONG TIME.
EARLY THIS MORNING, OUR DEPUTIES WERE OUT IN THE FIELD AND THEY ARRESTED A 17-YEAR-OLD FOR DRIVING RECKLESSLY DOING DONUTS.
AND HER PASSENGER, HER COMPANION, WAS ARMED WITH A PISTOL AS WELL.
RECKLESS BEHAVIOR THAT WE DO NOT NEED TO SEE ON THE STREETS, ESPECIALLY DURING THIS HOLIDAY SEASON.
IT'S A TIME TO MAKE SURE EVERYONE IS STAYING SAFE AND WE'RE NOT HAVING ANY TRAGEDIES.
UH, BUT STREET RACING IS NOT MERELY A RECKLESS THRILL.
IT IS A SERIOUS CRIME AND AN ARRESTABLE OFFENSE.
ONE MISTAKE, ONE MISCALCULATION, AND THE CONSEQUENCES CAN BE DEVASTATING.
A CRASH INJURIES, EVEN FATALITIES.
THESE ARE THE RISKS ASSOCIATED WITH THE RECKLESS BEHAVIOR, IMPAIRED DRIVING, DISTRACTED DRIVING.
THESE ARE ALL THINGS THAT WE HAVE TO BE VERY VIGILANT ABOUT.
AND THIS IS A VERY BUSY AND IMPORTANT CORRIDOR.
I USED TO REPRESENT A LARGE PART OF IT WHEN I WAS ON HOUSTON CITY COUNCIL, SO I UNDERSTAND THE CHALLENGE, CHALLENGE OF STATE WAY BACK.
BUT I COMMEND THE MAYOR AND AND CHIEF, UH, DIAZ AS WELL FOR BEING PROACTIVE AND BRINGING RESOURCES TO THIS BEING PRESENT, LIKE HE SAID, VISITING WITH THE PATRONS, VISITING WITH THE RESIDENTS, LETTING 'EM KNOW WE'RE OUT THERE, WE'RE TRYING TO ASSESS IN REAL TIME WHAT'S GOING ON, AND THEN WE COULD SEARCH RESOURCES.
NO ONE COULD DO IT, UH, ALONE.
SO BY US WORKING TOGETHER, IT MAKES A REAL POSITIVE DIFFERENCE.
AND ALSO WANNA JUST REMIND EVERYONE TO BE VERY MINDFUL OF PEDESTRIAN SAFETY AS WELL.
THERE'S A LOT OF FOLKS THAT ARE TRAVERSING BACK AND FORTH FROM DIFFERENT CLUBS, FROM PARKING AREAS AND THINGS LIKE THAT.
IT'S NIGHTTIME, OBVIOUSLY, DRIVE SAFELY.
THERE'S A LOT OF VEHICLE OR TRAFFIC OUT THERE.
WE'VE SEEN A LOT OF INCIDENTS WHERE PEDESTRIANS ARE STRUCK.
UH, LET'S MAKE SURE WE'RE DOING EVERYTHING TO KEEP EVERYONE SAFE.
UM, JUST BRIEFLY, JUST TO GIVE A LITTLE BIT OF PERSPECTIVE, UM, 139 ARRESTS THIS YEAR FOR RACING ALONE ON OUR HIGHWAYS.
THAT'S AN UNINCORPORATED HARRIS COUNTY.
WE'VE TAKEN 139 DRIVERS THAT WE'RE TAKING OFF THE STREETS.
WERE PUTTING EVERYONE AT RISK WITH THE RECKLESS NEED FOR SPEED.
165 ARREST FOR RECKLESS UH, DRIVING.
UM, AND SO BETWEEN RACING AND RECKLESS OVER ALMOST 300 ARRESTS, AND TRAGICALLY 17 ARRESTS WERE THOSE ACTIONS RESULTED IN DEADLY CONSEQUENCES.
17 FAMILIES WHO WILL NEVER BE THE SAME, BECAUSE SPEED WAS A FACTOR AND RAISING WAS A FACTOR.
SO THIS ADMINISTRATION, THIS LEADERSHIP THAT'S UP UP HERE COLLABORATIVELY, IS WORKING TO TRY TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE.
WE CAN'T DO IT ALL BY OURSELVES.
WE NEED OUR COMMUNITY TO BE INVOLVED TO TAKE, UH, RIGHT, SHARING SERIOUS, AND, AND, AND MAKE SURE THEY'RE PLANNING AHEAD.
AND JUST BE RESPONSIBLE FOLKS.
WE WANT EVERYBODY TO HAVE A GOOD TIME.
UH, BRIEFLY GON HOUSTON, WASHINGTON.
I DIDN'T THINK I MENTIONED MY NAME IN THE BEGINNING, BUT HARRIS COUNTY SHERIFF, ED GONZALEZ.
IT'S GREAT TO HAVE A SHERIFF WITH YOUR EXPERIENCE.
IT COMES FROM HVD AND CITY COUNCIL.
AND THAT VAST EXPERIENCE AND COMMITMENT TO PUBLIC SERVICE MAKES A HUGE DIFFERENCE.
CHIEF 10, DID YOU WANT TO, UH, TELL
[00:10:01]
US HOW, UH, MESO IS, IS A TOP PRIORITY? YES, SIR.I'M SO PROUD OF THE WORK YOU'RE DOING AT METRO MAYOR.
THANK YOU FOR THIS OPPORTUNITY.
UH, THE REALITY IS METRO IS HERE TO SUPPORT YOUR INITIATIVE AND YOUR EFFORT, AND THE MOST IMPORTANTLY, YOUR VISION.
UH, THE BIGGEST TAKEAWAY FOR THIS IS THE COLLABORATION IS, IS A GREAT THING.
BUT THE MOST IMPORTANT THING IS, IS TO OPERATIONALIZE YOUR VISION AND TO PUT THAT INTO EFFECT.
AND, UH, YOU'RE OUT THERE HAVING FUN ON SATURDAY, ASK EVERYONE TO BE RESPONSIBLE BECAUSE WE DO BAD THINGS WITH BAD INTENTIONS.
THE RESULT WON'T BE IN YOUR FAVOR BECAUSE WE'RE GONNA HAVE A LOT OF RESOURCES OUT THERE.
AND THIS IS NOT A ONE TIME THING.
IT'S GONNA BE A, A COALITION TYPE, A ALLIANCE.
IT'S GONNA BE ON AND ON FOR A LONG, LONG TIME.
SO, MAYOR, THANK YOU FOR THIS OPPORTUNITY.
UH, DPS IS GONNA PLAY A, A MAJOR ROLE.
UH, MY FRIENDS WITH THE DPS SAID THEY'D RATHER LET THEIR ACTION SPEAK, CONSIDER THEIR WORDS, AND I APPLAUD THAT.
MY VISION OF HAVING THE DPS COLLABORATING WITH LOCAL AGENCIES, AND, UH, IT'S NOT ONLY WORKING, IT'S GOING TO WORK.
WE'RE NOT ONLY NEED THEIR PERSONNEL, BUT CERTAINLY THEIR RESOURCES.
I KNOW FOR A FACT WE'RE TALKING TO THE LEADERSHIP AT DPS ABOUT SHARING HELICOPTERS SO WE CAN REDUCE THE NUMBER OF CHASES THAT ARE SO DANGEROUS INSIDE OUR CITY AND OUR REGION.
UH, ONE OTHER OBSERVATION WAS THE CHIEF AND I WERE RIDING IN DOWNTOWN HOUSTON ABOUT A MONTH AGO.
SOME OF THE TAKEOVER OF OUR STREETS IN THE GEORGE BROWN AREA WAS BECOMING SUCH A DANGER AND NUISANCE THAT THE HOTELS WERE SAYING THAT SOME OF THEIR GUESTS WERE COMPLAINING THAT THEY JUST WEREN'T GONNA STAY DOWNTOWN.
EMANCIPATION BOULEVARD IS ON OUR RADAR TO REVISIT.
AND ANOTHER THING, ALL THE AGENCIES SHOULD BE EXAMINING THE MEMORIAL DRIVE.
THE KINDER BRIDGES ARE BECOMING A NOTED RACETRACK THAT NEEDS TO HAVE SOME, UH, INITIATIVES.
UH, I WANT NOT ONLY THE NEIGHBORHOODS TO KNOW THAT WE'RE NOT GOING AWAY, BUT I WANT THE BAD GUYS TO KNOW WE'RE THE, WE'RE HERE TO STAY.
WE'RE GONNA INCREASE OUR NUMBERS, WE'RE GONNA CONSTANTLY BRING IN OTHER AGENCIES.
IS THIS ADMINISTRATION MY HIGHEST PRIORITY? AND I WANT TO THANK ALL THE STAKEHOLDERS IN THE DEPARTMENT CHIEFS THAT ARE HERE BEFORE US TODAY.
SO BEFORE I OPEN THE QUESTIONS, I'LL SAY, WE'LL GET TO HERE AND WE'RE ALL GOING TO WORK.
UH, CHIEF, YOU TALKED A LOT ABOUT, OR NOT CHIEF MAYOR, I'M SORRY.
UH, I TALKED A LOT ABOUT PUBLIC SAFETY INITIATIVES, NOT JUST ON WASHINGTON, BUT AROUND THE CITY.
UM, YESTERDAY, UH, 2-YEAR-OLD WAS KILLED IN A CAR CRASH.
THAT TRUCK DIDN'T DEAL THE RIGHT OF WAY, HIT A GRANDMOTHER, AND A 2-YEAR-OLD KILLED A 2-YEAR-OLD.
WHY WASN'T THE TRUCK DRIVER ARRESTED? WHICH AGENCY WOULD YOU LIKE TO REFER THAT TO? HP SURE.
I I, I JUST HEARD TO THE NEWS, I DON'T KNOW THE, SO, SO THAT, UH, NOT ARRESTED BECAUSE HE'S, THE, THE DRIVER STAYED ON SCENE AND IT IS STILL ON UNDER INVESTIGATION.
SO ONCE THE INVESTIGATION IS CONCLUDED, PERHAPS THERE WILL BE CHARGES FILED ON.
THE YOUNG MAN ISN'T IN AGAINST THE LAW TO NOT YIELD THE RIGHT OF WAY.
IT IS, BUT IT'S STILL UNDER INVESTIGATION.
OTHER JURISDICTIONS ARREST DRIVERS WHO HIT IN FORT BEND COUNTY, THEY HAVE TWO CASES WHERE A DRIVER'S ACCUSED OF HITTING AND KILLING SOMEBODY IN A CROSSWALK.
THEY WERE ARRESTED THAT DAY AND CHARGED THAT DAY.
THEY HAD THE CRIMINAL NEGLIGENCE OF THE DRIVER, NOT YIELDING, NOT STOPPING, EXCUSE ME.
WHY IS THAT DIFFERENT THAN FROM FORT BEND COUNTY TO HERE TO USE? WE HAVE DIFFERENT DISTRICT ATTORNEYS, RIGHT? SO OUR TEAM WILL LOOK AT IT, WE'LL WORK THROUGH IT COMPLETELY, AND THEN WHATEVER THE OUTCOME IS, IT'LL BE PRESENTED TO THE HARRIS COUNTY DISTRICT ATTORNEYS FOR CHARGES OR NOT CHARGED.
THAT'LL BE A DECISION MADE BY THE DA'S OFFICE.
IS THAT SOMETHING THAT YOU WOULD ASK THE DA TO BE ABLE TO HAVE THE POWER TO DO, TO BE ABLE TO ARREST PEOPLE WHO KILL PEOPLE IN CROSSWALKS? OR IS THAT SOMETHING THAT YOU'RE JUST GONNA LET THEM MAKE THE DECISION? I, I'LL LET THEM MAKE THE DECISION.
'CAUSE IT'S BEEN LIKE THAT FOR, SINCE THE SEVENTIES.
THE DA'S OFFICE ACCEPTS CHARGES.
AND AGAIN, THE, THE, THE, THE FATALITY ACCIDENT IS AN ABSOLUTE TRAGEDY.
UH, IT'S, IT'S A HEARTBREAKING THING FOR THE COMMUNITY, BUT UNDERSTAND THAT WE HAVE TO FOLLOW THE PROCEDURES AND OUR ACCIDENT TEAM IS VERY CAPABLE, AND IF CHARGES ARE ACCEPTED, THEN THE DA'S OFFICE WILL MOVE FORWARD WITH IT.
STATE LAW MAKES IT NOT AN ACT BECAUSE IT'S NOT AN ACCIDENT.
I'M, I'M NOT, I'M NOT GONNA ARGUE WITH YOU ABOUT IT.
WE'RE GONNA, IT'S, IT'S BEING INVESTIGATED.
UH, WHEN WE HAVE AN OUTCOME, I'LL MAKE SURE THAT YOU HAVE FIRST, FIRST BITE AT THAT APPLE.
SO YOU'LL, YOU'LL HAVE THE OUTCOME.
AND I'M NOT GONNA COMMENT ON THE TEAM, STILL WORKING ON AN INVESTIGATION.
UM, WELL, I GUESS CROSSWALK ENFORCEMENT BE PART OF THIS WASHINGTON AVENUE INITIATIVE.
[00:15:45]
OKAY.SHE WANTED TO, SOME OF THE STATISTICS, UH, SOME PERSONAS GIVEN IN MAYOR.
UM, ONE MORE QUESTION ACTUALLY.
UM, THIS INITIATIVE THAT'S COMING UP THE NEXT COUPLE OF NIGHTS, UM, IS CONCENTRATING ON THE WASHINGTON CORRIDOR.
UM, CAN YOU SHARE, UH, ANY STATS, ANY NUMBERS COMPARED TO OTHER RELATIVE AREAS IN HOUSTON THAT ARE ALSO, YOU KNOW,
I MENTIONED THE KINDER BRIDGE IS NOW DISTURBING THE NEIGHBORHOOD WITH RACING AND, AND TAKING OVER THAT CORRIDOR.
SO, YOU KNOW WHAT, WE, WE PASSED CIVILITY NEIGHBORHOODS.
FIRST TIME I HEARD OF THE CONCEPT WHERE THE PETITION CITY HALL TO NOT ALLOW SLEEPING ON THEIR SIDEWALKS.
NO LITTERING, ALL THE TRAFFICKING THAT GOES THROUGH A NEIGHBORHOOD.
I'M, WHEN I HEARD THE CONCEPT, AND WE'VE DONE ABOUT 12 NOW, MOST RECENTLY, THE EAST END, THE HARRISBURG CORRIDOR, THE WHOLE CITY OUGHT TO BE A CIVILITY NEIGHBORHOOD.
AND WE'RE MAKING, UH, IMPROVEMENTS AS WE TALK.
UM, BEFORE I GOT HERE, THERE WAS LITTLE OR NO TRAFFIC ENFORCEMENT, UH, WE'RE ADDRESSING THAT.
I THINK THE NEW DA WHO HAS A BACKGROUND IN TRAFFIC ENFORCEMENT WILL BE VERY AGGRESSIVE.
UH, THE SHERIFF TALKED ABOUT HIS AGGRESSIVENESS IN THE UNINCORPORATED AREA.
WE WANNA BRING THAT INTO HOUSTON.
THAT'S THE REASON WE HAVE MULTIPLE AGENCIES HERE TODAY.
CERTAINLY THE DPS ARE THE, ARE THE PROS AND TRAFFIC ENFORCEMENTS.
SO I THINK YOU'LL SEE MORE PRESENCE ON OUR FREEWAYS.
SO, UM, THERE'S JUST A LOT OF WORK TO, TO GET DONE.
WE NEED ADDITIONAL RESOURCES, NOT JUST PERSONNEL, BUT TECHNOLOGY AND, UH, THE COURTS.
YOU'LL SEE SOME CHANGES MADE AT THE MUNICIPAL COURTS AFTER THE FIRST YEAR, WE'VE GOT TO BEEF UP OUR MUNICIPAL COURTS AND, AND ALLOW THEM TO MOVE MORE CASES.
SO, YOU KNOW, THAT'S THE REASON I RAN FOR OFFICE TO FIX THINGS.
AND, UH, WE'VE HAD A VERY GOOD FIRST YEAR.
CERTAINLY PUBLIC SAFETY IS OUR HIGHEST PRIORITY, BUT, UH, QUALITY OF LIFE ISSUES ARE CRITICAL.
I LIVE NEAR THE WASHINGTON QUARTER.
I TRAVEL COMING IN FROM LATE RECEPTIONS THE WASHINGTON QUARTER.
IT'S BEEN A PROBLEM FOR SOME TIME.
A LOT OF TALK GOES ON AT CITY HALL ABOUT FIXING THINGS IN PREVIOUS YEARS.
NOW WE'RE GONNA SEE THE ACTIONS.
IT'S GONNA TAKE PROBABLY YEARS, IF NOT CERTAINLY MONTHS OR YEARS.
BUT WE'RE, WE'RE MAKING PROGRESS.
THAT'S WHAT WE WANT THE PUBLIC TO KNOW.
UH, MS. FAIRCHILD IS HERE, WHO IS REPRESENTED AT SUPER NEIGHBORHOOD FOR A NUMBER OF YEARS.
SHE'S, SHE'S MADE IT HER MISSION.
AND WE WILL TAKE THE SAME MODEL ACROSS HOUSTON, UH, PARTICULARLY IN THE ENTERTAINMENT AREAS.
IS THE PLAN TO REPLICATE THIS INITIATIVE ACROSS THOSE NEIGHBORHOODS THAT YOU, FOR SURE.
WE, WE WERE, WE WERE ALREADY EMANCIPATION BOULEVARD, THIRD WARD, ALAMEDA.
WE WERE DOWNTOWN HOUSTON, UM, SLOWING DOWN THE LOWRIDERS THAT WOULD JUST TAKE OVER A DOWNTOWN GEORGE BROWN PARKING LOT.
THE CHIEF AND I WERE THERE ABOUT 11 O'CLOCK AT NIGHT, AND THEY WERE ALL GATHERING, THEY'RE VERY PROUD OF EACH OTHER AND THEIR
[00:20:01]
CARS.AND THEY'RE GONNA LOSE THOSE CARS IF THEY GO INTO TAKING OVER ROADS.
AND, UH, WE DO HAVE STATE LAW BACKING US UP THAT WE CAN, UH, MAINTAIN AND TAKE CONTROL OF THEIR, THEY'LL LOSE THEIR CARS.
BUT WE'RE NOT, IT'S NOT JUST TRAFFIC.
IT'S GONNA BE, UH, LOUD NOISE PERMITTING, JUST QUALITY OF LIFE ISSUES.
NOW, I'M NOT GONNA REST TILL WE CONTINUE TO MAKE PROGRESS BECAUSE I'M A HOUSTONIAN AND OBSERVE THIS AS A RESIDENT.
WE NEED TO TALK ABOUT OFFSITE PARKING, MAYBE SHUTTLE PEOPLE.
IF, IF, IF WE HAVE ENTERTAINMENT AREAS LIKE THE WASHINGTON CORRIDOR, MAYBE THEY OUGHT TO PARK, UH, OVER AT THE REGIONAL FARMER STATION PARKING LOT AND WE SHUTTLE FOLKS OVER THERE, IF THAT'S GONNA BE THEIR DESTINATION.
YOU KNOW, UH, I'VE WATCHED AUSTIN SIXTH STREET FOR YEARS.
UH, THEY HAVE A LOT OF POLICE PRESENCE THERE.
NOT TO HARASS PEOPLE, BUT TO MAKE SURE THAT NOT ONLY THE, THE GUESTS ARE SAFE, BUT, UH, THE LAWS ARE ENFORCED.
SO, LEMME TELL YOU WHAT I DEAL WITH ON A DAILY BASIS.
YEARS OF NEGLECT OF CITY QUALITY, OF LIFE ISSUES.
THAT'S THE REASON I WAS WILLING TO COMMIT EIGHT OF THE BEST YEARS OF LAST, LAST YEARS OF MY LIFE.
I'VE GOT A GREAT TEAM, NOT ONLY THE LAW ENFORCEMENT, BUT WHETHER IT GETS TO, UH, WATER MAIN BREAKAGE, OUTRAGEOUS WATER BILLS, YOU NAME IT.
WE DEAL WITH PROBLEMS ALL DAY, EVERY DAY.
AND WE'RE EXCITED TO COME TO WORK EACH AND EVERY DAY BECAUSE WE'RE SEEING THE BENEFITS.
AND THIS IS ONE THAT WE'RE GOING TO CARRY OUT THE NEXT TWO DAYS.
AGAIN, WE WON'T LEAVE THIS SITE AFTER IT'S OVER.
WE'VE GOT OTHER LOCATIONS, BUT WE WANT THE NEIGHBORHOOD AND THE BAD GUYS TO KNOW WE'RE, UH, WE'RE NOT GOING ANYWHERE.
YOU MENTIONED THE, THE DPS COLLABORATION AND THAT WAS A BIG PROMISE IN, IN YOUR CAMPAIGN YES.
THAT THEY WERE GONNA BE HEAVILY INVOLVED TRAFFIC ENFORCE.
HOW MUCH IS THAT HAPPENING AND, AND WHAT IS, I GUESS WHAT'S STILL TO COME IN THAT, IN THAT IT'S, IT'S, IT'S BEEN ACTIVE, BEEN ACTIVE THIS LAST YEAR.
I ACTUALLY SEE 'EM, UH, ENFORCING TRAFFIC LAWS ON OUR FREEWAYS.
WE'RE, UH, TALKING TO THE LEADERSHIP.
WE'RE GETTING THEIR TECHNOLOGY.
WE HAVE TASK FORCE WORKING ON GANGS AND, UH, HUMAN TRAFFICKING.
UH, I KNOW FOR A FACT WE'RE GONNA GET SOME OF THEIR RESOURCES IN TERMS OF CARS, HELICOPTERS, YOU KNOW, IT IS OUR STATE POLICE.
WE ARE THE MAJOR URBAN SETTING FOR THE STATE OF TEXAS.
HOW HOUSTON GOES IS HOW THE REST OF THE STATE GOES.
SO THE LEADERSHIP IN AUSTIN UNDERSTANDS THAT THEY HAVE A NEW DIRECTOR THAT WAS JUST SWORN IN, WHO WAS THE RANGER CAPTAIN FOR THE HOUSTON REGION, AND HAS WORKED WITH HPD AND THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE IN MULTIPLE AGENCIES FOR YEARS.
SO TRUMAN FREEMAN MARTIN IS COMMITTED TO HELPING US MAKE HOUSTON THE SAFEST MAJOR CITY IN AMERICA.
AND WE'RE WELL HEADED IN THAT DIRECTION.
AND AFTER I CUT OUT WASTE, DUPLICATION AND CORRUPTION, AND I THINK I'VE DONE THE BEST I CAN DO WITH THE MONEY AVAILABLE, I WILL NOT HESITATE TO ASK THE PUBLIC FOR ADDITIONAL PUBLIC SAFETY DOLLARS.
WE WILL DO WHATEVER IT TAKES, UH, TO MAKE THIS A SAFE CITY.
WE'RE GONNA SPEAK OUT REGULARLY AND PROBABLY AFTER THE FIRST YEAR, START TALKING MORE AGGRESSIVELY ABOUT SOME OF THE COURTS THAT ARE NOT MOVING THE CASES.
WE'RE DOING A HECK OF A GOOD JOB OF RESTING BAD GUYS, BUT THEY'RE GOING TO THE JAIL AND THEY'RE, YOU KNOW, BACKED UP OVER THERE.
THESE GENTLEMEN THAT PUT THEIR LIVES ON THE LINE, THEY NEED A WARRANT WHEN THEY GO TO PURSUE SOMEONE OR EVIDENCE, AND THEY'RE MADE IN SOME COURTS TO SIT LIKE TWO HOURS AND WAIT FOR THE JUDGE TO SIGN THE WARRANT.
AND WE'RE GONNA START SPEAKING OUT MORE AGGRESSIVELY IF POLICE AND FIRST RESPONDERS ARE DOING THEIR JOB.
WE NEED THE COURT SYSTEM TO DO THEIR JOB.
AND QUITE FRANKLY, THERE ARE CRIMINAL JUSTICE AS A CHARITY FOR 30 YEARS IS A SYSTEM STARTS WITH STREET OFFICERS.
IT GOES ALL THE WAY THROUGH PROSECUTION, CONFINEMENT.
IF THEY GO TO PRISON, UH, REHABILITATION, THE WHOLE SYSTEM.
IF THERE'S ONE LINK IN THE CHAIN THAT'S NOT WORKING, THE WHOLE SYSTEM IS IMPACTED.
SO, UH, IT'S SOMETHING I'M VERY PASSIONATE ABOUT.
MY RESPONSIBILITY AS MAYOR OF HOUSTON IS TO SEE THAT THE STREETS ARE SAFE AND GET THE OFFICERS, MULTIPLE AGENCIES.
AND QUITE FRANKLY, WE'RE JUST, WE'RE REALLY BEEN IN JUST ONE YEAR OF THIS MODEL.
BUT YOU CAN'T SOLVE A PROBLEM IF YOU DON'T IDENTIFY.
YOU HAVE ONE PREVIOUS ADMINISTRATION SAY, OH, ONE SAFE HOUSTON, WE'RE FINE.
CERTAINLY THE DATA SHOW VIOLENT CRIME IS HEADED DOWNWARD.
BUT UNTIL PEOPLE FEEL SAFE, UNTIL SENIORS DON'T COME UP TO ME AT YALE STREET PHARMACY WHERE I WAS THIS MORNING TO SAY, YOU'VE GOTTA DO SOMETHING, MAYOR, WE
[00:25:01]
DON'T FEEL SAFE LEAVING THE HOUSE AFTER NIGHT.UH, CAR BREAK-INS THE BURGLARIES IN, IN THE HEIGHTS ON VIDEO.
YOU SEE PEOPLE REPEATEDLY BURGLARIZING THE, THE ESTABLISHMENT.
SO WE GOT A LOT OF WORK TO DO.
I HOPE YOU'RE AS EXCITED AS I AM ABOUT THIS MULTIPLE AGENT EFFORT AND, UH, WE'LL BE ON THE STREETS TONIGHT.
I I PLAN TO BE THERE AND, UH, WE'RE, WE'RE, WE'RE VERY GONNA LET EVERYBODY KNOW WE'RE NOT PLAYING GAMES.
AND, UH, WE'RE VERY MUCH NO NONSENSE.