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PROCLAMATION ONE? YES.IF THE CITY COUNCIL WILL COME TO ORDER.
[PRESENTATIONS]
COUNCIL AND MAYOR.TODAY WE RECOGNIZE, UH, MAYOR WHITMEYER FOR A PROCLAMATION RECOGNIZING HOLOCAUST REMEMBRANCE DAY MAYOR.
THANK YOU, UH, MAYOR PROTE CASTEX TATUM, THANK YOU FOR RECOGNIZING ME AND MEMBERS.
I'M VERY PARTICULAR ABOUT THE PROCLAMATIONS THAT I PRESENT TO YOU.
THIS IS ONE OF THE MORE MOVING AND IMPORTANT PROCLAMATIONS THAT WE WILL DEAL WITH WHILE WE ARE MEMBERS OF COUNCIL AND SERVE AS MAYOR.
WHEREAS JANUARY 27TH IS DESIGNATED BY THE UNITED NATIONS GENERAL ASSEMBLY AS THE INTERNATIONAL HOLOCAUST REMEMBRANCE DAY.
AND WHEREAS THIS YEAR, 2025 MARKS THE 80TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE LIBERATION OF OSTRICH AL CONCENTRATION CAMP AND 80 YEARS SINCE THE END OF WORLD WAR II.
SINCE 2005, THE UNITED NATIONS AND MEMBER STATES HAVE HELD COMMEMORATION CEREMONIES TO MARK THE ANNIVERSARY OF THE DELIBERATION OF OSTRICH
AND WHEREAS THE PURPOSE OF THE INTERNATIONAL HOLOCAUST REMEMBRANCE TODAY IS TWOFOLD TO SERVE AS A DATE FOR OFFICIAL COMMEMORATION OF THE VICTIMS OF THE NAZI REGIME AND TO PROMOTE THE HOLOCAUST EDUCATION THROUGHOUT THE WORLD.
AND WHEREAS SINCE 2010, THE UNITED NATIONS HAS DESIGNATED SPECIFIC THEMES FOR THE ANNUAL COMMEMORATIONS THAT FOCUS ON TOPICS SUCH AS COLLECTIVE EXPERIENCES, UNIVERSAL HUMAN RIGHTS, AND ACKNOWLEDGING THIS MILESTONE.
THIS YEAR, THE HOLOCAUST AND UNITED NATIONS OUTREACH PROGRAM HAS CHOSEN HOLOCAUST REMEMBRANCE AND EDUCATION FOR DIGNITY AND HUMAN RIGHTS AS HIS SCOUTING THING FOR 2025, REFLECTING THE CRITICAL RELEVANCE OF THE HOLOCAUST REMEMBRANCE FOR THE PRESENT, WHERE THE DIGNITY OF HUMAN RIGHTS AND OUR FELLOW GLOBAL CITIZENS ARE UNDER DAILY ATTACK, WHEREAS THE ANTISEMITISM HATRED AND VIOLENCE AGAINST THE JEWISH PEOPLE REMAIN A REAL THREAT IN OUR SOCIETY.
THE CITY OF HOUSTON STANDS IN SOLIDARITY WITH THE PEOPLE WORLDWIDE ON JANUARY 27TH, INTERNATIONAL HOLOCAUST REMEMBRANCE DAY TO REFLECT ON THE LESSONS LEARNED FROM THE HOLOCAUST AND TO EARN HONOR ITS VICTIMS AND SURVIVORS.
NOW MORE THAN EVER, IT IS ESSENTIAL FOR US TO COMBAT DISCRIMINATION VALUE ONE ANOTHER AND UPHOLD OUR SHARED HUMANITY.
THEREFORE, I, JOHN WHITMEYER, MAYOR OF THE CITY OF HOUSTON, HEREBY RECOGNIZE JANUARY 27TH, 2025 AS INTERNATIONAL HOLOCAUST REMEMBRANCE DATE.
WE HAVE SOME REPRESENTATIVES OF THE HOLOCAUST REMEMBRANCE DATE RECOGNITION.
WE HAD A GREAT MOVING CEREMONY LAST NIGHT.
I DID TELL THE GATHERING LAST NIGHT THAT I WOULD NEVER, EVER ATTEMPT TO SAY, I CAN ONLY IMAGINE HOW YOU FEEL.
I THINK YOU WOULD HAVE TO BE A SURVIVOR, A RELATIVE OF THE SURVIVOR TO KNOW THE PAIN AND THE HORRORS THAT THE VICTIMS AND SURVIVORS WENT THROUGH.
TODAY WE HAVE THE CHAIR OF THE HOLOCAUST MUSEUM BOARD, MS. ELLIS CUON, IF YOU'LL, UH, LET ME YIELD TO YOU.
THANK YOU, MAYOR WHITMEYER AND THANK YOU CITY COUNCIL.
MY NAME IS ELISE SPECTER KALMAN, AND I'M THE BOARD CHAIR OF HOLOCAUST MUSEUM HOUSTON.
I'M ALSO THE FIRST GRANDCHILD OF HOLOCAUST SURVIVORS TO CHAIR OUR MUSEUM.
AND, UM, MY GRANDMOTHER WAS, UM, AT AUSCHWITZ FOR TWO YEARS, WAS ULTIMATELY, UM, LIBERATED FROM BERGEN-BELSEN BY THE BRITISH AND CAME TO MAKE HOUSTON HER HOME AND, UM, SUCCESSFULLY, UM, THRIVE.
AND, AND, UM, SO I'M VERY PROUD TO BE HERE TODAY AND I WANNA THANK ALL OF YOU AND ESPECIALLY YOU MAYOR, FOR BEING WITH US LAST EVENING AND FOR, UM, ENSURING THE SAFETY AND SECURITY OF THE JEWISH COMMUNITY.
AND I'D NOW LIKE TO INTRODUCE RENEE WIZI BARRIOS, WHO IS THE CEO OF JEWISH FEDERATION OF GREATER HOUSTON.
THANK YOU MAYOR FOR ISSUING THIS PROCLAMATION AND COUNCIL MEMBER ABBY CAYMAN FOR IN SHARING LAST NIGHT, THE LIGHT, THE YELLOW CAMPAIGN, UH, WAS
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DONE.WE'RE GRATEFUL THAT THE CITY WAS ILLUMINATED YELLOW AND COMMEMORATION LAST NIGHT OF THE INTERNATIONAL HOLOCAUST REMEMBRANCE DAY.
AS THE MAYOR SHARED, THIS DAY IS OBSERVED ANNUALLY.
IT IS AMAZING TO BELIEVE THAT IT IS THE 80TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE DAY OF THE LIBERATION, UH, OF AUSCHWITZ BIRKENAU.
WE REALIZE THAT MANY SURVIVORS OF THE HOLOCAUST WILL NOT BE WITH US THAT MUCH LONGER TO SHARE THEIR STORIES.
THAT MAKES IT MORE INCUMBENT UPON EACH OF US TO REMEMBER THOSE DARKEST DAYS IN OUR HISTORY AND ENSURE THEY ARE NEVER REPEATED IN A TIME WHEN ANTISEMITISM AND JEW HATRED IS INCREASINGLY RAPIDLY AROUND THE WORLD.
WE MUST STAND UP AGAINST HATE IN ALL OF ITS FORMS BECAUSE WE KNOW THAT HATE IS LIKE A VIRUS WHEN IT'S DIRECTED AT ONE GROUP, IT DOESN'T STOP THERE.
IT IS THE MISSION OF THE JEWISH FEDERATION OF GREATER HOUSTON TO ENSURE THAT ALL JEWS IN THE GREATER HOUSTON AREA CAN LIVE OPENLY AND FREELY AND PROUDLY.
WE ARE FORTUNATE TO LIVE IN THE MOST DIVERSE CITY IN AMERICA, A CITY WHERE MINORITY COMMUNITIES ARE SEEN AND HEARD, AND WE ARE GRATEFUL TO MAYOR WHITMEYER AND THE MEMBERS OF THIS COUNCIL WHO REMAIN DEDICATED TO ENSURING A SAFE AND VIBRANT FUTURE FOR ALL OF US.
OUR CITY LEADERS HAVE A REALLY IMPORTANT ROLE IN PROTECTING THE JEWISH COMMUNITY AND ALL OF OUR COMMUNITIES IN ENCOURAGING THE PEACEFUL COEXISTENCE OF SO MANY IN THIS GREAT CITY.
TOGETHER, WE CAN ENSURE THAT A TRAGEDY LIKE THIS NEVER HAPPENS AGAIN.
AND I WOULD LIKE TO INTRODUCE RACHEL SCHNEIDER, DIRECTOR OF THE AMERICAN JEWISH COMMITTEE.
MY NAME IS RACHEL SCHNEIDER, AND I'M THE DIRECTOR OF AMERICAN JEWISH COMMITTEE'S HOUSTON REGION.
AND I'M HONORED TO REPRESENT A JC TODAY FOR THIS IMPORTANT PROCLAMATION.
AT A JC, WE ARE DEEPLY COMMITTED TO ENSURING THAT THE LESSONS OF THE HOLOCAUST REMAIN A CORNERSTONE OF OUR COLLECTIVE CONSCIENCE.
THE HOLOCAUST WAS NOT ONLY AN UNPARALLELED TRAGEDY FOR THE JEWISH PEOPLE, BUT A WARNING TO ALL HUMANITY ABOUT THE CONSEQUENCES OF UNCHECKED HATRED AND INDIFFERENCE.
TODAY AS ANTISEMITISM AND BIGOTRY SURGE GLO GLOBALLY, THIS PROCLAMATION REMINDS US OF OUR SHARED RESPONSIBILITY TO UPHOLD THE VALUES OF TOLERANCE, DEMOCRACY, AND HUMAN RIGHTS.
THROUGH AJCS WORK LOCALLY HERE IN HOUSTON AND GLOBALLY ACROSS MORE THAN 110 COUNTRIES, WE STRIVE TO BUILD BRIDGES BETWEEN COMMUNITIES, ADVOCATE AGAINST HATE, AND EDUCATE LEADERS ABOUT THE URGENT NEED TO STAND AGAINST DISCRIMINATION IN ALL OF ITS FORMS. IN HOUSTON, WE ARE FORTUNATE TO COLLABORATE WITH INSTITUTIONS LIKE THE HOLOCAUST MUSEUM, WHO PERISH DURING THE HOLOCAUST, ARE HONORED THROUGH ACTION AND ADVOCACY ON BEHALF OF A JC, THANK YOU TO THE CITY OF HOUSTON AND MAYOR WHITMEYER FOR THIS MEANINGFUL PROCLAMATION AND FOR REAFFIRMING YOUR DEDICATION TO REMEMBERING THE PAST AND TO SECURING A MORE INCLUSIVE FUTURE FOR ALL.
IT'S NOW MY HONOR TO INTRODUCE THE ISRAELI COUNCIL GENERAL OF THE SOUTHWEST UNITED STATES LIVIA LINK IV.
MY NAME IS LIVIA LINK IV AND I'M PROUD TO REPRESENT MY COUNTRY HERE IN THIS BEAUTIFUL CITY OF HOUSTON.
THANK YOU MEMBERS OF THE HOUSTON CITY COUNCIL FOR TAKING THE TIME, UH, TO COMMEMORATE THE INTERNATIONAL HOLOCAUST REMEMBRANCE DAY.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR UNWAVERING COMMITMENT FOR THIS CRUCIAL TASK OF HOLOCAUST REMEMBRANCE THROUGH EDUCATION AND AWARENESS.
THANK YOU ALSO TO THE JEWISH FEDERATION, TO THE HOLOCAUST MUSEUM OF HOUSTON.
WE ARE GATHERED HERE TO MARK THE INTERNATIONAL HOLOCAUST REMEMBRANCE DAY AND THE 80TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE LIBERATION OF AUSCHWITZ, A SYMBOL OF EXTREME CRUELTY, BUT ALSO UNBREAKABLE STRENGTH OF THE HUMAN SPIRIT.
80 YEARS AGO, THE GATES OF AUSCHWITZ WERE OPENED, EXPOSING THE HORRORS OF THE SHOAH, THE SYSTEMATIC MURDER OF 6 MILLION JEWS.
THE LIBERATION OF AUSCHWITZ WAS NOT MERELY AN END, BUT ALSO BUILDING AND A UNIVERSAL CALL TO REMEMBER, TO EDUCATE AND TO UPHOLD THE VOW NEVER AGAIN.
YET THE SACRED VOW HAS BEEN TESTED, IS BEING TESTED, AND WE'RE WITNESSING AN ALARMING RISE OF ANTISEMITISM.
80 YEARS AFTER AUSCHWITZ, JEWS ARE ONCE AGAIN BLAMED, TARGETED, VILIFIED SYNAGOGUES AND SCHOOLS ARE GUARDED LIKE FORTRESSES AND ANTISEMITISM
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FESTERS ON COLLEGES CAMPUSES IN THE MEDIA, IN INTERNATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS, AND ON SOCIAL PLATFORMS. ONCE AGAIN, WE ARE REMINDED OF THE PAINFUL TRUTH.HATRED OF JEWS PERSISTS THE A DL GLOBAL 100, THE WORLD'S MOST EXTENSIVE, EXTENSIVE STUDY OF ANTI-SEMITIC ATTITUDES GLOBALLY PUBLISHED ONLY TWO WEEKS AGO SHOWS THAT ANTI-JEWISH SENTIMENTS ARE AT AN ALL TIME HIGH.
MANY HAVEN'T HEARD ABOUT THE HOLOCAUST AT ALL, AND OTHERS QUESTION.
IT IS NOT ONLY A THREAT TO JEWS AND TO ISRAEL, BUT ALSO AN ASSAULT ON THE VERY VALUES THAT DEFINE HUMANITY.
HERE IN HOUSTON, WE ARE VERY FORTUNATE TO HAVE A VIBRANT JEWISH COMMUNITY THAT EMBODIES RESILIENCE NOT ONLY BY REMEMBERING, BUT ALSO EDUCATING, BUILDING, AND WORKING VERY HARD FOR THE, FOR THE DIGNITY AND SECURITY OF ALL COMMUNITIES.
LET US RECLAIM TODAY THE POWER BEHIND THE WORDS, NEVER AGAIN.
LET US MAKE SURE IT IS NOT MERELY A PHRASE, BUT A WAY OF LIFE.
LET US JOIN ARMS OF ALL THE COMMUNITIES THAT MAKE UP THIS BEAUTIFUL TAPESTRY OF THE CITY OF HOUSTON, AND CONFRONT TOGETHER ALL VOICES OF HATE.
MAY THE MEMORY OF THOSE WHO PERISHED BE A BLESSING AND A SOURCE OF STRENGTH TO ALL OF US.
WE DO HAVE SOME COUNCIL MEMBERS THAT WOULD LIKE TO ADDRESS YOU.
WE'LL START WITH COUNCIL MEMBER CAYMAN.
YES, MR. THANK YOU, UH, MAYOR, THANK YOU FOR BRINGING FORWARD THIS, UH, CRITICAL PROCLAMATION.
I HEARD, UH, MAYOR, THAT YOUR REMARKS LAST NIGHT, UH, WERE BEAUTIFUL AND, UH, THANK YOU FOR THE SENSITIVITY, BUT THANK YOU THAT AS A CITY WE CAN STAND HERE TODAY TO RECOGNIZE, UM, WHAT WE SHOULD RECOGNIZE EVERY DAY, BUT ESPECIALLY, UH, DURING HOLOCAUST REMEMBRANCE DAY.
UH, I WOULD RESPECTFULLY ASK BEFORE WE GET TO THE PICTURE PORTION OF THIS, AFTER ALL OF OUR COMMENTS, THAT WE TAKE A MOMENT FOR SILENCE, UH, AND MEMORY OF THOSE WHO WERE LOST IN THE SHOW OFF.
UM, DURING THE PANDEMIC, WE ACTUALLY LEARNED, I KNOW MANY OF YOU, UH, HAVE FAMILY MEMBERS THAT WERE SURVIVORS, OR IF NOT SURVIVORS PERISHED.
UH, AND IT'S INCUMBENT UPON ALL OF US TO SHARE THOSE STORIES.
WE ACTUALLY LEARNED ABOUT AN ENTIRE BRANCH OF OUR FAMILY, UH, THAT WE LOST, THAT WE HAD NO IDEA ABOUT.
NOW IT'S JUST A FEW YEARS AGO.
UH, BUT AS YOU ALL RECOGNIZED AND AS WE RECOGNIZE OUR HOLOCAUST SURVIVORS, WE ONLY HAVE A FEW MORE YEARS WITH THEM, AND IT BECOMES EVER MORE IMPORTANT TO CARRY THAT TORCH.
UH, SOME OF YOU KNOW THIS STORY, BUT I LIKE TO SHARE IT PUBLICLY.
UH, THE LESSONS OF BEARING WITNESS, BUT ALSO ACTIVELY PARTICIPATING IN THE PLEDGE OF NEVER AGAIN.
AND SO I SHARE THIS STORY OF MY OWN FATHER WHO ACTUALLY, UH, HUNTED NAZIS HERE IN THE UNITED STATES FOLLOWING OPERATION PAPERCLIP AND THAT GENERATION, AND MANY OF YOU IN THE AUDIENCE, YOUR GENERATION TAKING ON THAT PLEDGE OF NEVER AGAIN, BUT REMINDING THE NEXT GENERATION, MY GENERATION, AND THOSE THAT COME AFTER ME, THAT IT IS OUR BURDEN AND OUR ROLE TO ALSO, UH, CARRY THAT TORCH AND CONTINUE TO ACTIVELY, UH, COMBAT AGAINST ANTISEMITISM THAT IS ON THE RISE.
AND WHEN YOU HEAR THAT ANTISEMITISM IS ON THE RISE, IT'S NOT JUST A SAYING, IT'S REAL.
WHEN YOU HEAR THAT HOLOCAUST DENIAL IS ON THE RISE, IT IS AT UNPRECEDENTED LEVELS WHERE PEOPLE ARE ACTIVELY DENYING THAT THE HOLOCAUST ACTUALLY HAPPENED.
SO I WANNA THANK ALL OF THE ORGANIZATIONS THAT ARE HERE TODAY AND THOSE THAT ARE NOT HERE.
UH, A JC JEWISH FEDERATION, CONSUL GENERAL, YOUR OFFICE, UH, BUT THE HOLOCAUST MUSEUM, HOUSTON, UH, BECAUSE YOU ARE THE NAME BRAND CARRYING THIS IN PARTNERSHIP.
BUT I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT THAT YOU ARE ALL HERE TODAY BECAUSE AS A JEWISH COMMUNITY, WE ARE UNITED IN THE FACE OF THE HATE, IN THE FACE OF THE RISE OF ANTISEMITISM.
WHATEVER COMES OUR WAY, WE ARE UNITED AND WE WILL OVERCOME AND WE WILL SPREAD THE MESSAGE OF PEACE AND LOVE, UM, AND REMEMBRANCE FOR EVERYONE.
SO WITH THAT, UH, THANK YOU ALL FROM THE BOTTOM OF MY HEART FOR THE WORK YOU DO.
I'M, YES, HI, COUNCIL, UH, VICE MAYOR PRO TEM PECK.
AND THANK YOU MAYOR SO MUCH FOR THIS PROCLAMATION.
UM, MY GRANDPARENTS WERE HOLOCAUST SURVIVORS, AND SO I KNOW FIRSTHAND HOW IMPORTANT IT IS TO CONTINUE THE EDUCATION, CONTINUE THE MESSAGE, CONTINUE TELLING
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THE STORIES OF NOT JUST THOSE WHO WERE KILLED, BUT THOSE WHO WHO SURVIVED AS WELL.SO THANK YOU ALL FOR BEING HERE, AND THANK YOU AGAIN, MAYOR.
YES, THANK YOU, MAYOR, FOR HAVING THIS, UM, THIS WEEKEND, UH, ATTENDED A RIBBON CUTTING FOR A HOLOCAUST GARDEN IN KINGWOOD THAT ROSALIE J ROME.
AND, AND, UH, HER GROUP HAD PUT TOGETHER, UH, IN FACT, ONE OF, UH, THE PEOPLE THERE WAS A HOLOCAUST SURVIVOR.
AND TO EVERYBODY'S POINT, YOU KNOW, THIS WAS AS A CHILD AND SHE LOST BOTH HER PARENTS, BUT SHE'S 92 NOW.
SO THERE'S, THERE'S NOT A LOT OF TIME LEFT FOR A LOT OF THESE PEOPLE, AND IT'S IMPORTANT TO REMEMBER IT.
IT'S WONDERFUL TO SEE YOU HERE IN YOUR CITY HALL, UM, REPRESENTING HERE OUT IN THE OPEN.
AND, UM, MAYOR, I WANNA THANK YOU FOR BRINGING THIS PROCLAMATION FORWARD.
WHAT THE PROCLAMATION SAYS IS THAT, AS A CITY, WE REMEMBER COUNCIL MEMBER CARTER, THANK YOU MAYOR PROTE, ON BEHALF OF MY WORLD WAR II GRANDFATHER, WHO WAS SO PROUD TO HAVE BEEN PART OF SOMETHING THAT FREED YOUR PEOPLE.
AND THANK YOU, MAYOR, FOR BRINGING THIS.
UM, CERTAINLY, UH, YOUR HISTORY IS VERY IMPORTANT TO OUR FUTURE BECAUSE IT IS, IT IS OUR HISTORY IN A DIFFERENT WAY.
AND, YOU KNOW, GOD BLESS YOU ALL FROM MY HEART TO YOURS.
THANK YOU FOR WHAT YOU DO EVERY DAY TO KEEP THAT ALIVE.
COUNCIL MEMBER CASTILLO, THANK YOU MAYOR PROTI, AND THANK YOU MAYOR FOR, FOR SUCH AN IMPORTANT PROCLAMATION AND TO EVERYONE THAT IS HERE TODAY, UM, IT'S SO IMPORTANT THAT WE CONTINUE TO HONOR AND REMEMBER, UH, WHAT HAS TRANSPIRED.
UM, HATRED, IF IT'S ALLOWED TO EXIST, WILL SPREAD.
AND, YOU KNOW, YOU TALK ABOUT THE DIVERSITY OF HOUSTON AND HOW MANY DIFFERENT GROUPS WE HAVE, WE JUST CAN'T TOLERATE HATRED TOWARDS ANY ONE GROUP AT ALL.
UM, AND SO IT'S IMPORTANT THAT WE CONTINUE TO, UH, REMEMBER WHAT HAS HAPPENED AND, AND NOT LET THAT HAPPEN AGAIN.
THANK YOU MAYOR PRO, TEM MAYOR, THANK YOU AGAIN FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP AND YOUR RECOGNITION OF MANY OF THOSE IN OUR COMMUNITY THAT WE LOVE AND SUPPORT.
AND COUNCIL GENERAL, I'M HAPPY TO SEE YOU AGAIN AS WE HAVE MET ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS.
SOME OF YOU I KNOW AND HAVE COME TO KNOW AND CERTAINLY, UH, WE THANK GOD TO IT'S GOOD TO REMEMBER ABRAHAM TAUGHT, NEVER FORGET, ALWAYS TEACH YOUR CHILDREN TO REMEMBER WHICH WE'VE COME.
UH, COUNCIL GENERAL, UH, I JUST WANTED TO SAY THAT WE'RE VERY HONORED TO HAVE YOU BACK IN CHAMBERS.
I DID SEE, UH, THE DEAN OF THE COUNCIL OF CORE COME IN AND SUPPORT COUNCIL.
GENERAL BARON HAS ALSO JOINED US TODAY.
UM, YOU HIT THE NAIL ON THE HEAD WHEN YOU SAID, UH, THAT HOUSTON IS ONE OF THE MOST DIVERSE CITIES IN THE COUNTRY, BUT WE HAVE TO BE MORE THAN JUST ONE OF THE MOST DIVERSE CITIES IN THE COUNTRY.
AND WE HAVE TO TALK ABOUT MORE THAN JUST BEING A DIVERSE CITY, UH, IN THIS COUNTRY.
BUT WE HAVE TO DO ALL THAT WE CAN TO NOT ONLY PROTECT OUR DIVERSITY, BUT ALSO PROTECT OUR HISTORY.
SO MAYOR, THANK YOU FOR BRINGING FORTH THIS PROCLAMATION.
UH, AND WE LOOK FORWARD TO CONTINUING TO TELL THE STORY SO THAT THERE NEVER WILL BE, UM, THIS SITUATION TO COME BACK FOR US TO LIVE THROUGH AGAIN.
SO WE WILL CONTINUE TO NEVER FORGET.
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CHAIR RECOGNIZES MAYOR PROTE.CAS SIX TATUM FOR THE INVITATION.
UH, COUNCIL MEMBERS, I'D LIKE TO INTRODUCE
[2:00 P.M. – INVOCATION AND PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE]
YOU TO PASTOR JOHN RICHARDSON, JR.JOHN RICHARDSON IS THE SON OF MARVA RICHARDSON AND THE LATE GREAT PASTOR JOHN RICHARDSON, SENIOR, THE FOUNDING PASTOR OF FIRST OUTREACH CHURCH IN THE HARAM CLARK COMMUNITY.
I'VE GOT THIS WHOLE PAPER OF WHAT I SHOULD READ ABOUT, UH, JOHN RICHARDSON.
AND I DON'T EVEN WANNA READ IT BECAUSE I WANT Y'ALL TO KNOW THIS IS MY MIDDLE SCHOOL CLASSMATE.
UH, HIS, UH, DAD USED TO SEND THE SCHOOL BUS TO PICK US UP ON SUNDAYS AROUND THE NEIGHBORHOOD TO BRING US TO CHURCH ON SUNDAYS.
UH, HIS MOTHER IS HERE, MS. MARVA, SHE IS ONE OF THE NICEST, MOST CARING AND KIND PEOPLE IN THE COUNTRY, AND SHE LOVED ALL OF US.
LIKE WE WERE HER OWN CHILDREN.
UH, HIS SISTERS, UH, MARVELLA AND GWEN WERE TWO OF MY VERY BEST CHILDHOOD FRIENDS.
AND SO IT IS MY EXTREME HONOR TO WELCOME PASTOR JOHN RICHARDSON HERE, UH, TODAY TO PRAY FOR US BEFORE OUR CITY COUNCIL MEETING TODAY.
PASTOR RICHARDSON, GET BEHIND THE MICROPHONE WAS TOO LONG, SO GOD, IT'S GOOD.
AND IT IS GOOD TO BE HERE WITH Y'ALL.
I LOVE Y'ALL SO MUCH FOR TAKING CARE OF OUR CITY.
LET US PRAY AS JESUS TAUGHT US TO PRAY.
AND I'M GONNA DO IT IN A WAY THAT DAVID, KING DAVID WOULD DO IT.
THERE'S NO ACCIDENT THAT I'M HERE RIGHT NOW.
I THANK GOD FOR THE OPPORTUNITY.
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OUR FATHER, WHICH HEAVEN HALL WOULD BE THY NAME, THY KINGDOM TH BE DONE ON EARTH AS IT IS ON GIVE US THIS DAY, OUR DAY DELIBERATE.AND FORGIVE US OUR DEATH AS WE FORGIVE OUR DEATH TO, AND LEAD US NOT INTO TEMPTATION, BUT DELIVER US FROM EVIL.
FOR THY IS THE KINGDOM AND THE PALM AND THE GLORY IN JESUS.
IF YOU'LL STAND 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 FRAUD.
[ROLL CALL AND ADOPT THE MINUTES OF THE PREVIOUS MEETING]
SECRETARY, YOU PLEASE CALL THE MAYOR WHITMEYER PRESENT.COUNCIL MEMBER CAYMAN PRESENT.
WE NEED A MOTION TO ADOPT THE MINUTES OF JANUARY 14TH AND 15.
WHO'S THE SECOND FAVOR? SECOND.
BEFORE WE HEAR FROM OUR SPEAKERS, I'D LIKE TO PAUSE A MOMENT, ASK THE SHARPSTOWN HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS TO RISE AND LET US THANK THEM FOR VISITING.
WE HOPE IT'LL INSPIRE YOU TO STAY INVOLVED.
COME BACK AND VISIT US AND FOR SURE, REGISTER, VOTE, AND, UH, PARTICIPATE IN OUR GREAT PROCESS.
THANK YOU TO YOUR INSTRUCTOR FOR BEING HERE.
PROCEDURAL COUNCILMAN CAYMAN? UH, THANK YOUR HONOR.
UH, I MOVE TO SUSPEND THE RULES TO MOVE IAN FORTNEY TO FOLLOW CAROLYN WEBSTER AND MOVE DREW WILEY TO FOLLOW STEPHANIE MICHAEL, I'M SORRY IF I MISPRONOUNCED YOUR LAST NAME, UH, ON THE THREE MINUTE NON AGENDA LIST.
WE'RE JUST CHANGING THE ORDER A BIT.
[PUBLIC SPEAKERS]
MADAM SECRETARY, UH, FIRST SPEAKER PLEASE.I'M BOB CHOATE, A LOCAL ADVOCATE FOR RESPONSIVE AND RESPONSIBLE LOCAL GOVERNMENT.
I'M HERE TO SPEAK ABOUT AGENDA ITEM 41 THAT WAS TAGGED BY MS. CAYMAN AND MS. JACKSON THANK YOU TWO WEEKS AGO.
AND IT'S ABOUT PURCHASING GOODS AND PRODUCTS FROM AMAZON SERVICES.
AND I'M GONNA READ FROM THE BACKGROUND DOCUMENTATION APPROVED SPENDING AUTHORITY AND AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED $8.24 MILLION TO AMAZON.COM SERVICES, LLC FOR THE PURCHASE OF VARIOUS GOODS AND PRODUCTS THROUGH THE CHOICE PARTNERS COOPERATIVE CONTRACT FOR A TERM THROUGH AUGUST 17TH, 2027 FOR VARIOUS CITY DEPARTMENTS.
THE CITY PILOTED AN AMAZON BUSINESS PRIME ACCOUNT BEGINNING IN 20 19, 5
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YEARS AGO.AND DUE TO THE SUCCESS IS THIS DOCUMENTED OF THE BUSINESS PRIME ACCOUNT, WE ARE NOW EXTENDING THIS MULTIPLE MULTI-YEAR AWARD.
AMAZON OFFERS MANY GOODS AND SERVICES AT COMPETITIVE RATES.
AND THE BUSINESS PRIME ACCOUNT PROVIDES SPEND VISIBILITY DASHBOARDS AND GUIDED BY WHERE RULES ARE APPLIED TO GUIDE EMPLOYEES TO APPROVE PRODUCTS.
KEY WORDS THERE WHERE RULES ARE APPLIED AND PREVENT PROCUREMENT VIOLATIONS.
FURTHERMORE, IT OFFERS FAST FREE SHIPPING ON ALL ORDERS.
I DON'T UNDERSTAND WHY WE HAVE TO SPEND $8.2 MILLION FOR UNSPECIFIED GOODS AND SERVICES WITH AMAZON THROUGH THIS CO-OP AGREEMENT WITH CHOICE PARTNERS.
MY CONCERNS, THE DOCUMENTATION LACKS SPECIFIC SPECIFICITY AS TO WHAT ITEMS MIGHT BE PROCURED BY THE 14 DEPARTMENTS THAT ARE LISTED.
IT COULD BE ANYTHING FROM PAPERCLIPS PROCURED BY HUMAN RESOURCES TO $700 GATE VALVES BY PUBLIC WORKS OR CUSTOMIZED APPAREL OR LAPEL PINS.
THROUGH THIS AGREEMENT, THE CITY MAY BE RE, UH, RELINQUISHING ANY AND ALL CONTROL OF THE SUPPLY, ORIGIN AND CONSISTENCY.
AN EXAMPLE, A WIDGET PURCHASE LATER THIS YEAR BY PUBLIC WORKS COULD BE MADE FROM ALL AMERICAN PARTS BY A MANUFACTURER IN WISCONSIN WHEN THAT DEPARTMENT NEEDS THE SAME ITEM NEXT YEAR, AMAZON MIGHT SOURCE IT FROM A FOREIGN MANUFACTURER AND THE COM COMPATIBILITY MAY NOT BE THERE.
AS PEOPLE COMMENTED TO ME ON SOCIAL MEDIA THROUGH THIS AGREEMENT, HOUSTON BASED DEALERS MIGHT BE CIRCUMVENTED FOR NO GOOD REASON OTHER THAN CONVENIENCE AND UBIQUITOUS DASHBOARD.
LET'S NOT OVERLOOK THE FACT THAT BUSINESSES WITH BRICK AND MORTAR OPERATIONS IN HOUSTON PAY TAXES TOO, THE CITY OF HOUSTON, THEIR EMPLOYEES MOST LIKELY PAY SOME LEVEL OF TAXES IN HOUSTON, EVEN IF IT'S ONLY THE SALES TAX OF THEIR MORNING COFFEE AND LUNCH.
AS WITH NEARLY ALL CO-OP AGREEMENTS HAS BEEN POINTED OUT MANY TIMES BY THIS BODY, THE CRITICAL MWBE AND HIGHER HOUSTON PROVISIONS ARE EXEMPTED.
NEXT, COUNCILMAN POLLARD HAS A PROCEED.
NO, ITS PROCEDURAL MOTION PROCEDURAL.
I'D LIKE TO SUSPEND THE RULES TO MOVE TAMMY RODRIGUEZ UP TO BE THE FIRST SPEAKER ON THE THREE MINUTE NON-AG AGENDA LIST.
THANKS FOR, UM, ALL BEING HERE AND BEING ABLE TO HAVE A BOARD WITH YOU GUYS.
UM, I REPRESENT, I HAVE A FOOD TRUCK BUSINESS AND I'VE BEEN IN THIS BUSINESS SINCE 2007, UM, LATELY, SINCE LAST YEAR.
MOST OF IT, IT IS BEEN REALLY HARD FOR US TO GET THE BLUEPRINTS APPROVED BY THE CITY OF HOUSTON HEALTH DEPARTMENT.
UM, IT TAKES USUALLY BETWEEN TWO TO THREE WEEKS TO APPROVE THE BLUEPRINTS AND NOW IT'S GOING ON, SORRY, FROM THREE TO FOUR MONTHS.
AND ALSO, UM, WE HAVE TO WAIT AS SOON AS SHE APPROVES RENEE BECKHAM, SHE APPROVES THE, UH, BLUEPRINTS AND THE CITY OF HOUSTON.
WE HAVE TO DO ANOTHER APPOINTMENT TO GET THE TRUCKS INSPECTED AT THE CITY BY THE INSPECTOR, FOOD INSPECTOR TO MAKE SURE THAT EVERYTHING IS CORRECT.
AND NOW THEY'RE KEEP ON ANOTHER MONTH TO GET THE APPOINTMENT.
SO THIS COMPLETES FOUR MONTHS OR FIVE MONTHS FOR US TO GET APPROVED BY THE CITY AND GET OUR TRUCKS RUNNING.
AND IT'S MAKING US MISSING A LOT OF MONEY, UM, BY ME SIGNING.
AND HERE TODAY, I GOT A CALL YESTERDAY AND THIS MORNING AND MY ISSUE IS RESOLVED FOR THESE TWO TRUCKS THAT I PUT THE BLUEPRINTS ON IT.
BUT THIS IS AN ONGOING ISSUE AND I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW, OR IF ANYTHING YOU GUYS CAN DO FOR US, BECAUSE THIS IS THE ONLY WAY THAT I WAS ABLE TO FIND MY VOICE TO BE HEARD AND GET SOMEONE TO CALL ME, AT LEAST FROM THE CITY, SAYING, OKAY, I WISH I KNEW THIS BEFORE, BUT IT'S AN
[00:35:01]
AN ONGOING ISSUE.I HAVE FOOD TRUCKS AND HERE WITH ME SINCE LAST YEAR STARTING, UM, APRIL ALL THE WAY TO DECEMBER, WHICH IT TAKE FOUR MONTHS FOR HER TO JUST APPROVE SOME PAPERWORK.
AND IT'S ONLY FIVE, FIVE TO SIX PAGES TO APPROVE OR JUST TO CHECK IT OUT.
AND MA'AM, THANK YOU FOR COMING FORWARD.
UM, I'M SORRY THAT YOU HAD TO HAVE THAT EXPERIENCE.
I'M GLAD THAT IT, IT IS WORKING OUT FOR YOU.
BUT, UH, MAYOR, THIS IS SOMETHING THAT, UH, NOT JUST THIS, UM, PERSON, BUT MANY FOOD TRUCK OPERATORS WHO ARE TRYING TO DO THINGS THE APPROPRIATE AND RESPONSIBLE AND LEGAL WAY, UH, THEY'RE HAVING TROUBLE, UM, BEING ABLE TO GET, UH, INSPECTIONS AND PERMITS.
AND IT HAPPENS IN MY DISTRICT FREQUENTLY.
AND ON THE FLIP SIDE, WE HAVE A LOT OF ILLEGAL STREET VENDORS CORRECT, WHO ARE NOT DOING IT THE PROPER WAY, WHO ARE, UM, OUT ON THE STREETS ALL HOURS OF THE NIGHT BLOCKING THE SIDEWALKS, BLOCKING THE RIGHT OF WAYS, NOT DOING IT, UH, LEGALLY.
AND IT'S TO THE DETRIMENT OF THOSE, LIKE, UH, THIS PERSON WHO IS TRYING TO DO IT THE RIGHT WAY.
AND SO THERE HAS TO BE A WAY IN WHICH WE CAN EXPEDITE, UH, THIS PROCESS, UM, BECAUSE THESE ARE SMALL BUSINESSES WHO THEIR FAMILIES AND COMMUNITIES ARE DEPENDENT ON THEM.
AND THEN WE, WE AS A CITY, UH, REAP THE BENEFITS OF THEIR BUSINESSES AS WELL.
SO, UH, WHATEVER WE CAN DO, UH, TO LOOK INTO THAT DEPARTMENT TO ENSURE THAT THOSE, UH, APPLICATIONS ARE BEING PROCESSED, UH, IN A PROMPT FASHION, I THINK WILL DO, UM, ALL PARTIES.
UM, I AM THE COUNCIL MEMBER THAT REPRESENTS THAT AREA.
SO IS THE 82 65 ADDRESS THAT'S LISTED, IS THAT THE BUSINESS LOCATION? CORRECT.
UH, SO THIS IS RICHMOND AND DUNVILLE? YES.
SO THIS IS THE FIRST TIME THAT I'VE HEARD ABOUT THIS ISSUE.
I'LL GIVE YOU MY CONTACT, UM, SO I CAN, UM, TALK THROUGH WHAT ADDITIONAL ITEMS YOU HAVE.
BUT I THINK FOR, UM, CONTEXT, WHAT'S IMPORTANT TO KNOW IS THAT ON THE WEST SIDE, PARTICULARLY IN THAT AREA, AS YOU KNOW, WE HAVE A LOT OF FOOD TRUCK, UM, UH, PARKING LOTS THAT HAVE EMERGED ON THAT SIDE, ON RICHMOND AND ON WESTHEIMER.
AND THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT HAS BEEN WORKING WITH US, UM, UM, BECAUSE WE HAVE, YOU KNOW, WE HAVE TO ADDRESS THAT AS THIS INDUSTRY GROWS, UH, THERE'S ALSO A DEMAND ON TRASH.
WE HAVE TRASH AND DRAINS, WE HAVE, UM, DOCUMENTED EVIDENCE OF FOLKS POURING OIL INTO OUR DRAINAGE SYSTEM.
SO I THINK THERE MAY BE A REASON WHY THERE'S A SLOWER PROCESS THAT THEY'VE BEEN WALKING THIS THROUGH.
SO THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT CAN VALIDATE TO MAKE SURE THAT ALL PROTOCOLS ARE IN PLACE.
BECAUSE WHAT'S BEEN HAPPENING IS THAT WE'VE HAD TO EXPEND THEIR RESOURCES AND OVEREXTEND THEM BECAUSE THINGS WEREN'T CAUGHT ON THE FRONT END.
SO NOW THAT IT'S RESOLVED THAT THIS IS GREAT, AND THIS IS NOT PARTICULARLY TOWARDS YOU, BUT OVERALL ON THE WEST SIDE, UH, WE HAVE BEEN WORKING WITH THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT SOLID WASTE, HPD TO REALLY MITIGATE A LOT OF WHAT'S BEEN HAPPENING BECAUSE WE DON'T HAVE PRO CERTAIN PROTOCOLS IN PLACE, BUT WE'LL WORK TOGETHER.
I'LL GIVE YOU MY CARD, IT HAS MY DIRECT INFORMATION, UH, LET ME KNOW, HOWEVER WE CAN WORK WITH THE OTHER, UM, FOOD TRUCKS IN THE AREAS IF THEY HAVE BARRIERS.
UM, AND YOU CAN ALWAYS REACH OUT TO MY OFFICE, UM, FOR ANY OF THAT INFORMATION.
AND I WANNA MAKE SURE THAT WE, UH, GET THIS TO SUCCESS.
AND SO YOU CAN GET STOOD UP AND, AND I, AND I AGREE WITH COUNCIL MEMBER POLLARD ON THAT.
WE DO HAVE A LOT OF ILLEGAL STREET VENDOR VENDORS, BUT WE ALSO JUST HAVE, WE NEED TO JUST LOOK AT THE FOOD TRUCK PROTOCOL IN THE CITY PERIOD.
AND JUST KIND OF EVALUATE THAT BECAUSE WE DO HAVE, OUR DEPARTMENTS ARE WORKING OVERTIME TO, UM, SELF-CORRECT SOME ISSUES.
SO I'M GONNA WALK OVER AND GET AND GET THIS TO YOU.
AND THANK YOU FOR, UM, COMING IN AND, UM, SHARING YOUR CONCERN.
UM, MAYOR, I ACTUALLY BOUGHT ME A COUPLE OF FOOD TRUCKS AND I'VE BEEN TALKING TO, UM, YOUR TEAM ABOUT IT.
UM, AND OF COURSE I STARTED MY APPLICATION TO GET THE PERMIT BACK IN WHAT AUGUST.
AND IN THE PROCESS ONE OF THE FOOD TRUCKS GOT STOLEN.
SO IT'S JUST, AND THEN YOU HIRE A COMPANY TO COME IN AND HELP YOU, UM, MAKE SURE THAT THE PAPERWORK IS CORRECT AND YOU STILL JUST WAITING.
AND SO I WOULD LOVE, LOVE TO, YOU KNOW, UNDERSTAND THE PROCESS, WHY IT'S TAKING SO LONG, BECAUSE IT'S JUST THE FOOD TRUCK.
UM, AND OF COURSE I KNOW THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT HAVE TO MAKE SURE THAT, YOU KNOW, THEY'RE COMPLIANT WITHIN HEALTH GUIDELINES, ET CETERA.
BUT IT IS JUST A LONG, TEDIOUS PROCESS AND I JUST REALLY, UM, SINCE THE TRUCK GOT STOLEN AND JUST THE PROCESS HAVE JUST DISCOURAGED ME TO CONTINUE TO MOVE ON.
SO I, I, I SINCERELY APOLOGIZED THAT YOU'RE GOING THROUGH IT.
UM, BUT IT IS, YOU KNOW, IT TAKES TOO LONG, UM, TO GET THESE PERMITS AND I'M EXPERIENCING IT MYSELF.
AND HOPEFULLY WE CAN DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT.
[00:40:01]
DAVIS.UM, SALAZAR, THANK YOU FOR COMING AND UH, AND CERTAINLY AS YOU REACHED OUT AND WE WERE TRYING TO HELP AND ASSIST YOU OUTTA MY OFFICE IN GETTING THANK YOU.
THIS PROCESS DONE, MAYOR, THIS, THIS IS A PROBLEM THAT WE REALLY NEED TO GIVE A LOT OF ATTENTION TO YOU.
I HEAR YOU UNDERSTAND YOU TO SAY 2007 17.
I, I ESTABLISHED THE FIRST FOOT STRUCK IN 2007.
SO I'VE BEEN THROUGH THE WHOLE THING AND I KNOW IT'S A LOT OF CHANGES AND HOUSTON IS GROWING SO MUCH, AND I COMPLETELY UNDERSTAND THAT THEY TAKING LIKE A PERIOD OF TIME AND I'M LIKE, I KNOW IT'S PROBABLY ONE PERSON AS FAR AS I KNOW, BUT EVERY TIME THAT I TRY TO GO FARTHER, I GET A WALL.
OH, RE RENEE IS THE HEAD AND I'M LIKE, MA'AM, CAN YOU PLEASE AT LEAST ANSWER MY EMAILS OR MY CALLS? YEAH.
RIGHT? WELL, WE WELL WE CERTAINLY WILL DO THAT.
UH, YOUR, YOUR DISTRICT COUNCIL PERSON, A MEMBER, UH, TIFFANY THOMAS WILL FOLLOW THROUGH.
AND I I WANTED TO THANK YOU AGAIN, BUT THEY DID GET RESOLVED.
I GOT THE MESSAGE THAT IT GOT SETTLED THROUGH OUR CONSTITUENT SERVICE.
AND SO, UM, WE HOPEFULLY THAT'D BEEN DONE.
WE'LL TALK TO PASTOR CASTANO TO MAKE SURE THAT YOU, UH, GET THE PROPER, UH, FOLLOW.
COUNCIL FLICKINGER, THE FOOD TRUCKS THAT YOU HAVE OPERATING NOW, I ASSUME YOU COLLECT SALES TAX ON THOSE YEAH.
SALES, WHICH OBVIOUSLY THE CITY GETS A PIECE OF, SO RIGHT.
THE LONGER THAT YOUR TRUCKS ARE NOT OPERATING, THE MORE WE CAN SALES TAX REVENUE THE CITY'S MISSING OUT ON.
UH, I WOULD ALSO GUESS TO COUNCILMAN POLLARD'S POINT AND COUNCILWOMAN THOMAS' POINT THAT THE BAD ACTORS PROBABLY ARE THE ONES THAT ARE NOT LICENSED, AREN'T COLLECTING THE SALES TAXES.
SO NOT ONLY ARE THEY CAUSING US MORE PROBLEMS, BUT THERE'S REVENUE THAT'S BEING LOST AS WELL.
SO IT'S KIND OF LIKE THERE 14 POINT TURNAROUND GOING THE OTHER DIRECTION.
I'D LIKE TO SUSPEND THE RULES TO MOVE RASHEEM MUHAMMAD UP TO THE TOP OF THE THREE MINUTE LIST.
I DON'T KNOW WHO'S THERE ALREADY, BUT WHOEVER'S THERE, I'D LIKE TO MOVE HIM BEHIND THEM.
DID YOU GET SOME SECOND ON THE MOTION? I HEARD IT.
I AM AN, UH, RESIDENT OF HOUSTON AND AN ACTIVIST.
I'M HERE TO INQUIRE ABOUT PRESIDENT TRUMP'S EXECUTIVE ORDER TO IMPLEMENT DEPORTATION EFFORTS AND THE POTENTIAL IMPACT THAT IT HAS ON OUR COMMUNITY.
UNDER YOUR LEADERSHIP MAYOR, WHAT ROLE WOULD THE HOUSTON POLICE DEPARTMENT, METRO PD PD, UH, HOMELAND SECURITY PLAY RESPONSE TO THIS EXECUTIVE ORDER? HOW WOULD YOUR ADMINISTRATION ADDRESS THE FEAR AND UNCERTAINTY RESIDENTS FEEL REGARDING POTENTIAL DEPORTATION ACTIVITIES? I ADVOCATE FOR THE, FOR THE GULFTON COMMUNITY, ONE OF THE MOST DIVERSE AREAS IN HOUSTON WITH 80,000 RESIDENTS IN THE COMMUNITY ALONE.
64 APARTMENT COMMUNITIES, FOUR CONDOMINIUMS, ONE TOWN HOME COMMUNITY, AND 254 HOUSES.
THIS PAST WEEKEND, REPORTS OF ICE AGENTS SPOTTED, ENGULFED IN AND IN WESTWOOD APARTMENTS CAUSED ALARM AND PANIC, UH, AMONGST RESIDENTS.
THE FEAR OF DEPORTATION IS DIRECTLY AFFECTING COMMUNITY PARTICIPATION AT A RECENT COMMUNITY EVENT FOR PETS, WHICH WAS OFFERED FREE SERVICES TO RESIDENTS IN ATTENDANCE.
THIS WAS NOT NOTABLY LOW DUE TO THE FEAR OF ICE PRESENCE.
MISINFORMATION AND MEDIA GOSSIP HAVE HEIGHTENED THE FEAR IN CREATING CHALLENGES FOR COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT.
ON MARCH THE 22ND, WE WILL HOST OUR FOURTH ANNUAL MARCH ON CRIME EVENT, AND WE, WHICH HAS GROWN WITH COMMUNITY PARTICIPATION EACH YEAR.
THE EVENT AIMS TO FOSTER TRUST AND COLLABORATION BETWEEN THE COMMUNITY AND LAW ENFORCEMENT WITH A MULTITUDE OF RESOURCES AT THE END OF THE MARCH AT BURNETT BAY PARK PARKING LOT, BUT CURRENT FEARS AND MAY JEOPARDIZE ITS SUCCESS.
COULD YOU PROVIDE A CLEAR, TRANSPARENT MESSAGE TO THE RESIDENTS OF HOUSTON REGARDING THE CITY'S STANCE ON DEPORTATION EFFORTS, THE ROLLS, HPD, METRO PD, HOMELAND SECURITY, AND THESE EFFORTS? AND CAN YOU ENSURE THAT THE MENTIONED DEPARTMENTS RESPOND TO THIS
[00:45:01]
INQUIRY TO HELP DISPEL RUMORS AND PROVIDE ACCURATE FACTUAL INFORMATION TO OUR RESIDENTS? CLEAR AND PROACTIVE COMMUNICATION IS ESSENTIAL TO MAINTAIN TRUST AND FOSTERING PARTICIPATION IN COMMUNITY EVENTS AND INITIATIVES.WHILE WE HAVE SEEN CONTINUAL SUCCESS IN OUTREACH AND COMMUNITY PARTICIPATION, THERE IS A CONCERN THAT FEAR AND MISINFORMATION COULD HINDER PROGRESS AND GET CAUSE REGRESSION IN BRIDGING THE GAP BETWEEN LAW ENFORCEMENT AND RESIDENCE.
PARTICULARLY FOR VICTIMS OF SITUATION LIKE DOMESTIC VIOLENCE WHO FEAR REPORTING INCIDENTS WILL LESS THAN 500 DAYS UNTIL FIFA WORLD CUP IN HOUSTON.
IT IS CRUCIAL THAT WE DEMONSTRATE THE CITY'S LEADERSHIP AND COMMITMENT TO SAFETY, INCLUSIVITY, TRANSPARENCY, AND BOTH TO THE RESIDENTS AND INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY.
THANK YOU MAYOR, FOR YOUR TIME AND ATTENTION AND LEADERSHIP ON THESE IMPORTANT ISSUES.
I LOOK FORWARD TO HEARING FROM YOU AND THE RELEVANT DEPARTMENTS REGARDING THIS REQUEST.
ONE THING MORE THING, CAN I ADD, IF I WAS IN AN APARTMENT COMMUNITY AND I LEFT MY PURSE IN THE CAR AND HI, WELL HIDDEN, BELIEVE IT THAT, AND I'M DRESSED IN MY HERITAGE ENSEMBLE AND I'M VISITING A CLIENT, A DOMESTIC VIOLENCE CLIENT, I SHOWS UP AND I WOULD BE PROFILED AND CONSIDER COLLATERAL DAMAGE, NOT BE GIVEN THE OPPORTUNITY TO GET MY ID.
SO I, MY THING I'M SPEAKING FROM EXPERIENCE IN 2011, I WAS PROFILED IN BEAUMONT, TEXAS BY GOING TO MY CAR WHERE THEY, I HAD, UH, IMMIGRANTS, UH, LEANED UP AGAINST MY CAR AND THEN I WAS PROFILED SAYING THAT I WAS COMING TO THE SITUATION.
THEY ASKED FOR MY, UH, MY PAPERS BLUNTLY.
UH, I WAS BORN IN NEW ORLEANS, SO I'M A MEXICAN ES UH, AND IT WAS NOT FAIR TO ME THAT I HAVE TO CARRY MY BIRTH CERTIFICATE EVERY TIME I GO SOMEWHERES.
SO MY OUTREACH FOR OUR DOMESTIC VIOLENCE, WE HAVE 12 IN LINE RIGHT NOW TO EMPOWER THEM TO DO SOMETHING ABOUT THEIR DOMESTIC VIOLENCE SITUATION.
THEY HAVEN'T SHOWED UP FOR A MEETING THIS WEEK.
AND SO I AM, I NEED TO GET A CLEAR MESSAGE TO THE RESIDENTS TO LET THEM KNOW THAT IT IS OKAY THAT THEY'RE COMING AFTER CERTAIN PACIFIC ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS.
AND I JUST DON'T KNOW HOW TO GET THAT MESSAGE PASSED TO THE MEDIA INSTEAD OF EXPLOITING, YOU KNOW, INCIDENTS THAT ARE NOT EVEN IN OUR NEIGHBORHOODS.
MY PHONE DIDN'T STOP RINGING THIS WEEK, THIS WEEKEND.
UM, TAMMY, THANK YOU FOR, YOU KNOW, YOUR REMARKS AND, UM, I SHARE YOUR CONCERNS.
WE HEARD REPORTS OF, UM, STUDENTS BEING PULLED OUT OF A SCHOOL, OUT OF A CLASSROOM, UH, AND INTERROGATED.
UH, WE'VE HEARD OF OTHER THINGS HAPPENING, UH, IN AND AROUND THE CITY AND OUTSIDE OF THE CITY AS WELL.
UH, MY CONCERN IS, YOU MENTIONED IS WHO WERE, WHO IS BEING FORCED BACK INTO THE SHADOWS AND BACK INTO SILENCE WHEN MAYOR, WE DO HAVE, UH, IT'S ALREADY HARD ENOUGH TO HAVE DOMESTIC VIOLENCE SURVIVORS COME FORWARD TO ASK FOR HELP BECAUSE OF THE STIGMA, BUT NOW THERE'S AN ADDED LAYER OF THAT.
UH, TAMMY, ARE YOU ASKING FOR THE CITY OF HOUSTON TO CLARIFY WHETHER OR NOT OUR LAW ENFORCEMENT RESOURCES WILL BE, UM, SOLELY FOCUSED ON VIOLENT CRIME, UH, IN RESPONSE TO THAT, GIVEN OUR RESOURCES ARE, ARE STRAINED AT THE MOMENT TO, AS RELATES, RELATES TO UNDOCUMENTED INDIVIDUALS? YEAH.
WELL, THIS IS REALLY MY, MY QUESTION BECAUSE I WORK REAL, REAL CLOSE TO THE HPD AND BRIDGING THAT GAP BETWEEN THEM AND HAVING EVENTS IN OUR NEIGHBORHOOD.
WE HAVE SEVERAL SCHEDULED THIS YEAR THAT WE DON'T HAVE THE PARTICIPATION THAT WE USUALLY HAVE BECAUSE THEY'RE IN FEAR NOT KNOWING THAT HPD IS NOT IMMIGRATION.
SO I NEED TO CLARIFY THAT TO THEM AND HAVE THAT BROUGHT TO THEM WITH ACTUAL, ACTUAL FACTS.
YOU KNOW, WHO ARE THEY LOOKING FOR? WHO ARE THEY TO BE, YOU KNOW, WHO CAN THEY ASK FOR HELP OR IF THEY CAN ASK FOR HELP, PERIOD.
WE HAVE, WE HAVE HAD 12 VICTIMS, YOU KNOW, FOR THE PAST YEAR.
WE'VE EMPOWERED, YOU KNOW, WE'VE HAD 40 VICTIMS SINCE 2019 AND WE'VE EMPOWERED EIGHT EIGHT.
THAT'S STILL ONE MORE THAN WHAT WE WOULD LOVE TO HAVE.
WE WOULD LOVE TO HAVE ALL 12 THAT WE HAVE IN, IN THE PIPELINE NOW, AND THEY'RE, THEY'RE NOT WANTING TO DO ANYTHING.
THEY JUST GAVE UP LIKE OVERNIGHT.
UH, TAMMY, THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE AND THANK YOU FOR YOUR ADVOCACY IN SOUTHWEST PART OF HOUSTON.
UM, I CAN DEFINITELY, UH, SHARE MY CONCERNS WITH YOU AS WELL.
UH, WE'VE HAD FOLKS IN THE EAST END AND HOBBY AREA THAT HAVE ALREADY REACHED OUT AND ASKING THE SAME QUESTIONS.
UH, WHAT IS THE ROLE? UM, RECEIVED SOME PICTURES OF FOLKS IN THE BELFORT, UM, BROADWAY AREA WHERE, UH, I THINK THERE'S ICE ICE AGENTS AS WELL.
[00:50:01]
I THINK THERE NEEDS TO BE SOME CLARITY AS, UH, TO YOUR POINT, UM, BECAUSE THE REVERSE EFFECT IS HAPPENING WHERE FOLKS ARE NOW, UH, GONNA BE GOING BACK INTO THE SHADOWS AND NOT, UH, PROVIDING ANY OF THE SUPPORT THAT HPD NEEDS TO KEEP OUR COMMUNITY SAFE.UM, UH, I, I HELD A KNOW YOUR RIGHTS, UH, WORKSHOP ABOUT A WEEK AND A HALF AGO.
I KNOW CONGRESSMAN GARCIA'S HAVING ONE, UH, THIS WEDNESDAY AT SIX O'CLOCK.
UH, IT'LL BE AT, UH, HOUSTON COMMUNITY COLLEGE, NORTHLINE CAMPUS.
UH, WE DEFINITELY NEED TO MAKE SURE FOLKS ARE INFORMED OF THEIR RIGHTS FIRST AND FOREMOST.
ARE THEY COMING? SO THAT'S, THAT'S TO, TO YOUR POINT EARLIER, RIGHT? UM, WILL THEY COME, WE WE'RE HAVING SEVERAL EVENTS COMING IN THE, YOU KNOW, IN THE COMING COMING WEEKS IN THE COMMUNITY.
AND MY, MY TEAM AND I WERE HAVING JUST THAT SAME DISCUSSION.
ARE THEY GONNA BE FOLKS GONNA BE COMING OUT TO THESE EVENTS, COMMUNITY EVENTS? UM, SO I, I SHARE, UH, YOUR CONCERNS AS WELL.
AND, AND MY HOPE IS THAT, UM, WE CONTINUE TO FOCUS ON, ON, UH, ENSURING THAT OUR COMMUNITIES ARE SAFE, RIGHT? BUT AT THE SAME TIME, UH, NOT FORGET, YOU KNOW, WHAT, WHAT THIS COUNTRY'S BEEN BUILT OFF OF.
RIGHT? UM, AND SO MY, MY HOPE WITH THE ADMINISTRATION IS THAT, YOU KNOW, WE COULD CONTINUE TO WORK, UH, WITH THE COMMUNITY, UM, TO MAKE SURE THAT THAT VALID TRUE INFORMATION IS BEING SHARED, UM, AND CONTINUE WORKING WITH, UH, OUR LOCAL LAW ENFORCEMENT TO ADDRESS, UH, CRIMINALS.
UH, WE'VE, WE'VE HAD A LOT OF ISSUES WHEN IT COMES TO PUBLIC SAFETY AND THAT SHOULD, SHOULD BE THE FOCUS.
MAYOR, COULD I, UH, ASK YOU SOMETHING? YOU WENT TO ONE OF OUR EVENTS AT THE ALLIANCE AGAINST CRIME AND WE HAD QUITE A BIT OF PEOPLE.
WE HAD A SAME EVENT SIMILAR TO THAT LAST WEEK, AND WE ONLY HAD 30 PEOPLE PARTICIPATE.
AND YOU KNOW, THE TYPE OF PROPERTY THAT IS, YOU SAID YOU LIVED THERE, SO WE HAD HARDLY NOBODY COME OUTSIDE.
SO THAT'S MY MAIN CONCERN, IS TO GET THAT MESSAGE BACK TO THE RESIDENTS.
AND, UH, TAMMY, THANK YOU FOR YOUR ADVOCACY, UH, ALL OF YOUR EFFORTS AND LEADERSHIP, ESPECIALLY IN THE GULFTON AREA, WHICH IS, UH, THE COMMUNITY THAT I REPRESENT.
LIKE YOU, I TOO RECEIVED, UH, MANY, UM, PICTURES AND TEXT MESSAGES REGARDING, UM, ICE AGENTS.
AND I THINK THE BIGGEST THING IS JUST A MESSAGING COMMUNICATION.
UH, WE, WE TOO IN DISTRICT J ARE GOING TO HAVE, UH, A KNOW YOUR RIGHTS, UM, EVENT, UM, IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE YMCA, BUT MAYOR FROM A MESSAGING STANDPOINT, WHEN THE CONSTITUENTS REACH OUT TO US ABOUT WHAT THE EXPECTATIONS ARE FROM OUR LOCAL LAW ENFORCEMENT, WHAT, WHAT IS THE CITY'S POSITION THAT WE SHOULD BE PUTTING FORWARD? WELL, FIRST I THINK POLITICIZING IT IS THE WORST THING YOU CAN DO.
YOU HAVE FULL ACCESS TO TALKING TO THE POLICE CHIEF AS I HAVE.
HPD HAS NOT PARTICIPATED IN FEDERAL EFFORTS, UH, HPD FORCES STATE LAWS AND WILL HOLD VIOLATORS OF STATE LAW VIOLENT OFFENDERS ACCOUNTABLE REGARDLESS OF YOUR IMMIGRATION STATUS.
WE'VE BEEN VERY CLEAR ABOUT THAT.
I KNOW THE ANXIETY OF OUR COMMUNITIES AND, UH, I THINK THE BEST THING TO DO, OBVIOUSLY AS YOUR LEADERSHIP IS DEMONSTRATING, REASSURE THEM THAT THE CURRENT RAIDS ARE FOR WARRANTED CRIMINAL VIOLENT OFFENDERS.
NOW, THAT DOESN'T MEAN THAT THAT IS GONNA MAKE ANYONE FEEL, UH, MORE COMFORTABLE, BUT ELECTIONS MATTER AND, UH, WE'VE GOT TO, UH, CONTINUE OUR BUSINESS AT THE LOCAL LEVEL.
WE HAVE AN OUTSTANDING POLICE CHIEF DEPARTMENT THAT KNOWS WHAT THEIR DUTIES ARE.
UH, ICE FBI AND OTHERS WERE ACTIVE LAST WEEKEND, UH, SERVING WARRANTS.
AND, UH, AND I THINK IT, I THINK IT WOULD BE CLEAR FROM YOU.
THANK YOU FOR REASSURING THE, UH, RESIDENTS THAT, UH, IN TERMS OF LAW ABIDING INDIVIDUALS, THAT'S NOT WHO THEY'RE LOOKING FOR.
NOW I UNDERSTAND THE ANXIETY AND I UNDERSTAND, UH, PEOPLE ATTEMPTING TO POLITICIZE IT, BUT THAT'S NOT THE BEST THING TO DO.
I THINK RIGHT NOW, QUITE FRANKLY, BEING AWARE, UH, YOU'VE GOT A GREAT POLICE DEPARTMENT, THEY KNOW WHAT THEIR DUTIES ARE AND THEY'RE GONNA CARRY OUT THEIR DUTIES AS THEY HAVE HISTORICALLY.
SO LET'S, UH, STAY IN TOUCH AND, UM, LET HPD DO ITS LOCAL JOB AND THEN THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT, WE HAVE NO CONTROL OVER IT.
SO THANK YOU FOR GIVING US THE OPPORTUNITY TO ADDRESS THIS.
UM, AND THANK YOU FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP.
[00:55:01]
CONCUR LAST THURSDAY.UH, TAMMY, THANK YOU FOR COMING IN AND BRINGING AWARE IT IS AN ISSUE REGARDING THE FEAR AND THE ANTICIPATION OF WHAT PEOPLE ARE HEARING.
AND LET ME JUST EMPHASIZE THE CHIEF, UH, IN A MEETING WE HAD WITH MINISTERS LAST WEEK, THURSDAY AT FIRST BAPTIST CHIEF DIAZ MADE IT PERFECTLY CLEAR THAT THE OBJECTIVE THAT HOUSTON POLICE DEPARTMENT WAS ON TARGET WITH THAT ISSUE AND THAT THERE WAS NOTHING OUT THERE THAT THEY WERE LOOKING THEMSELVES FOR PEOPLE.
HE ASSURED US THAT HE GOT ALL THE INFORMATION FROM A STATEWIDE PERSPECTIVE IN REGARDS TO THAT.
NOW, ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE WANTED TO DO IS THAT I'M IN THE PROCESS NOW.
WE HAVE A GROUP CALLED THE MINISTRY ADVISORY BOARD TO THE MAYOR.
IT IS A MULTIRACIAL CULTURAL PASTOR, A LARGE NUMBER OF HISPANIC PASTORS.
AND WE ARE ALREADY IN THE PROCESS BECAUSE WE GOT A LOT OF CALLS FROM A LOT OF PASTORS WITH CONCERNS OF THAT BECAUSE OF HEARING THAT ICE WAS COMING INTO THAT CHURCHES AND PULLING PEOPLE OUT.
AND NONE OF THAT HAS GONE ON IS REGARD, LET ME LET IT BE KNOWN.
BUT WHAT WE'RE DOING, WE'RE MEETING WITH THESE PASTORS SO THAT THAT FEAR CAN GO AWAY.
AND SO THERE IS SOME THINGS IN PLACE, BUT BE ASSURED THAT HPD IS DOING, UH, WHAT THEY'RE DOING AS BUSINESS, AS NORMAL AND, UH, AND THAT THEY'RE ON TOP OF IT.
AND SHAVAN HAS A PROCEDURAL, PROCEDURAL COUNCIL MEMBER, EVAN SHABA.
I'D LIKE TO SUSPEND THE RULES TO MOVE CAROLYN WEBSTER UP AFTER, UH, RASHEEM MUHAMMAD.
MAYOR, MAYOR, PRO TEM, CITY COUNCIL AND THE CITY OF HOUSTON CITIZENS.
UH, I'M HERE TODAY JUST TO GIVE, UH, A BRIEF, UH, UPDATE TO, UH, OUR PROGRAM.
I AM RASHE MOHAMED WITH EDS TECH.
UH, WE ARE THE COMPANY THAT ACTUALLY WROTE UP TELECOM CONSTRUCTION FOR THE STATE OF TEXAS AND WAS AWARDED FUNDING FOR IT.
UH, I'M HERE TODAY TO KIND OF FOLLOW UP ON GETTING A MEETING WITH THE MAYOR.
I'VE HAD A CHANCE TO MEET WITH THE STAFF OF THE CITY.
UH, WE WERE ABLE TO, UH, HAVE OUR MEETING WITH C UH, HCC AND THE CITY OF HOUSTON'S, UH, EVOLVE, WHICH IS CASEY BROWN.
UH, JUST TODAY WE JUST RECEIVED AN EMAIL.
WE'RE NOW LICENSED IN TENNESSEE AND NEW MEXICO.
AND I WOULD LOVE THE CHANCE AN OPPORTUNITY TO OPEN UP THAT PROGRAM HERE IN THE CITY OF HOUSTON.
AND ACTUALLY, UH, ONE OF THE SCHOOLS WAS, UH, SOUTHTOWN HIGH SCHOOL, WAS ONE OF THE SCHOOLS WE WERE SUPPOSED TO ACTUALLY, UH, WORK WITH, UH, HISD TO OPEN UP OUR PROGRAM.
JUST TO TELL YOU A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THE PROGRAM, THE PROGRAM WILL FOCUS ON THREE MAJOR AREAS, UH, SPACE OPERATIONS BEING ONE, EV INFRASTRUCTURE BEING ANOTHER IN TELECOM CONSTRUCTION.
UH, WE WERE JUST DONATED A CAR FROM MIMS MOTORS TO ACTUALLY BREAK THAT CAR DOWN AND, UH, CREATE CERTIFICATION PROGRAMS FOR THE CITY OF HOUSTON TO ALLOW COMPANIES TO COME IN AND HAVE CERTIFIED WORKING INDIVIDUALS THAT, UH, CAN ACTUALLY WORK IN OUR INDUSTRY.
THE GOAL IS TO THE THREE MAIN GOALS OF THIS, UH, PROPOSAL THAT I ACTUALLY PUT IN YOUR PACKAGE.
I GAVE A PACKET TO THE MAYOR, MAYOR PRO TEM, AND DR.
IT ACTUALLY OUTLINES, UH, PROBABLY ABOUT 30 LETTERS OF SUPPORT FROM MULTIPLE STATES AND MULTIPLE, UM, CITY REPRESENTATIVES AND, UH, THE COUNTY AS WELL TO SUPPORT THE BRI INITIATIVE TO MOVE FORWARD.
UH, THAT AREA IS FOCUSED ON IS WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT, ECONOMIC GROWTH, AND SUSTAINABILITY.
SO I'M HERE TODAY TO TRY TO GET THAT MEETING, UM, AFTER I MET WITH EVERYBODY AND SHOOK HANDS, AS YOU CAN TELL, I'M PRETTY SURE THEY WOULD JUST GET US A TIME SO WE CAN SIT DOWN AND JUST TALK TO YOU ABOUT THE PROPOSAL AND WHAT WE THINK WE CAN BRING TO THE CITY OF HOUSTON TO MOVE FORWARD.
I JUST WANTED TO MAKE A COMMENT.
I, I MET RASHEEM MANY, MANY YEARS AGO.
HE HAS AN AWESOME PERSONAL STORY, BUT HE IS SUCH A HARDWORKING YOUNG MAN AND HE HAS DONE A LOT.
AND I'M TELLING YOU, HE HAS A STACK OF LETTERS OF PEOPLE WHO SUPPORT HIM AND HIS PROGRAMS. SO IT WOULD REALLY BE, UH,
[01:00:02]
A GREAT IDEA IF THE CITY WOULD MEET WITH HIM, AND I APPRECIATE IT.BUT I WANTED TO MAKE SURE THAT YOU KNOW THAT AS A COUNCIL MEMBER, I, I HIGHLY RECOMMEND HIM.
UM, THANK YOU FOR HIS PROGRAM AND I DO APPRECIATE HIM COMING.
HE'S, HE'S MET WITH THE STAFF.
WE'LL GET YOU TO THE TOP REAL QUICK.
JUST WANTED TO GET IT ON THE RECORD, MAYOR.
TALK TO, UM, MS. WILLIAMS. REBECCA, SCHEDULE SOMETHING PLEASE.
CAROLYN WEBSTER, WHERE ARE WE? GOOD AFTERNOON.
CAN YOU STEP BEHIND THE MICROPHONE? GOOD AFTERNOON.
I AM NOW GONNA TURN 80 YEARS OLD IN SIX MONTHS.
AND MY, MY THING IS I WORKED 32 IN HARRIS COUNTY.
I WORKED EIGHT YEARS FOR MR. BARK.
AND I DO A LOT OF VOLUNTEER ON MY OWN BECAUSE THIS IS WHAT GOD WANTS ME TO DO.
I AM NOT SATISFIED AT MY AGE GOING INTO THE MOTHER SERVICE CENTER.
'CAUSE I DON'T LIKE TO WEIGH THE EMPLOYEES TREAT US.
I DON'T, I GOT SICK ABOUT THREE WEEKS AGO BECAUSE OF THE, THE CHEMICAL YOU USE IN THE, IN THE KITCHEN.
I AM, I TOOK THE TEST, I PASSED AND I LOVE MY KITCHEN, BUT I DON'T LOVE USING ALL BRAND PRODUCT.
I FEEL LIKE THAT SOMEBODY IS PASSING, DROPPING THE BALL.
I LIKE CLEANLINESS TO THE TOP.
AND THAT, THAT FOO TOOK ME BACK TO MY ASPEN AND THAT'S WHERE I'M AT NOW.
I JUST GOT OUTTA THE HOSPITAL.
BUT TELLING PEOPLE JUST DON'T GET IT.
AND IT'S TOO COLD IN THAT BUILDING FOR AS I'M CONCERNED AS A CITIZEN AT PAYING TAX AND DOING WHAT I'M SUPPOSED TO DO, THEY JUST THROW THAT BUILDING TOGETHER, TOGETHER.
I HAVE PICTURES OF LITTLE THINGS IN THAT BUILDING THAT SHOULD BE DONE, BUT THE ATTITUDE OF THE BUILDING IS NOT FOR ME ANYMORE.
LET ME ASK YOU, YOU TALKING ABOUT THE SUNNYSIDE SUNNYSIDE MOTHER SEARCH IN THE 44 10 REVO AND COUNCIL EVAN SHAVA, IS THAT PARKS AND WILDLIFE OR HEALTH RUNNING THAT? IS IT THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT OR PARKS AND WILDLIFE? YEAH, IT, THAT'S THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT? YES.
I AGREE WITH YOU TOO, MAYOR, WHEN YOU SAID THAT SOME PEOPLE ARE IN PLACE, SHOULD NOT BE THERE.
AND I DEFINITELY AGREE TO THAT.
I MAY NOT HAVE A PHD, BUT I GOT PLENTY COMMON SENSE AND I RESPECT THAT.
AND WE'LL FOLLOW UP ON YOUR, UM, YOUR CONCERNS.
NEXT CONCERN I HAVE IS MY NEIGHBORHOOD.
I'VE BEEN OVER IN MY NEIGHBORHOOD FOR 45 YEARS UP UNTIL THEY RIGHT AWAY BOUGHT ME OUT.
SO ALL I DID IS TURN AROUND THE CORNER AND WENT BACK OVER ON REED ROAD IN MY NEIGHBORHOOD.
I DO, I HAVE SAID THIS SEVERAL TIMES.
I WANNA LOOK LIKE BRAIDWOOD WHEN I LOOK OUTTA MY DOOR.
I DON'T WANT THAT GRASS ALL THE WAY UP LIKE THAT.
CHILDREN AT GARDENVILLE HAVE TO WALK DOWN THAT STREET.
WEEDS ARE ALL OVER THE SIDEWALK.
TWO OF MY NEIGHBORS FELL RIGHT IN SINCE MR. ROCHE DAY.
AND ONE DAY ADAM DAY, THEY FIXED THAT SIDEWALK.
THE GAS PEOPLE OVER THERE, THEY JUST TEARING UP MY YARD.
I, I'VE BEEN FUSSING WITH 'EM.
SO THEY KIND OF COOL IT OFF A LITTLE BIT.
I CUT MY YARD, I EDGE MY YARD.
[01:05:01]
GARBAGE IN THE GARBAGE WITH TIED UP.I'M TIRED OF THESE RENTERS COMING IN HERE.
BUT I TELL YOU WHERE YOU CAN MAKE SOME MONEY, THE PERSON THAT OWNS THE HOUSE NEEDS TO BE CHARGED FOR ALL THAT GARBAGE.
IT IS SO RIDICULOUS ON REED ROAD.
6, 8 23 TO GO DOWN LIKE IT'S GOING DOWN.
AND I'M NOT GONNA STOP UNTIL SOMEONE HELPED ME.
NOW EVERYBODY, LIKE I SAY, EVERYBODY IN THESE PLACES NOT DOING WHAT YOU SHOULD BE DOING.
LET ME, UH, ASK YOU TO YIELD TO COUNCIL MEMBER EVAN SHABBAT.
UH, THANK YOU MS. MS. CAROLYN.
UH, CERTAINLY SHE'S GIVEN A LOT OF SERVICE TO DISTRICT D AS WELL.
I DID GET A REPORT ABOUT SOME ODOR WAS THIS LAST WEEK THAT WAS IN THE AIR.
UH, THAT THEY WERE TRYING TO FIND OUT WHAT WAS GOING ON.
I THINK, UH, THAT WAS SOMETHING I HAD BEEN BACK YET THAT THEY FIGURED OUT WHAT IT WAS.
BUT CERTAINLY WE'RE GOING TO, AND CERTAINLY IN REGARDS TO THE AIR, I MEAN, THERE ARE A LOT OF SENIOR CITIZENS YEAH.
AND SO IF THAT BUILDING IS TOO COLD, THEN THAT IS CERTAINLY A PROBLEM.
AND SO, UM, I'M TRYING TO THINK, ARE YOU, DO YOU LIVE IN DISTRICT D OR DO YOU LIVE IN DISTRICT? I I HAVE A HOUSE IN DISTRICT D, BUT I GAVE IT OVER TO MY DAUGHTER.
I, I DON'T EVEN KNOW WHO DISTRICT I IS.
WHO IS DISTRICT I? WELL YEAH, I AIN'T SEEN YOU YET.
OH, YOU THE ONE WITH THE, THE YARD CUTTING THE YARD.
YOU CUT YOUR YARD, YOU HAVE A BUSINESS.
I CAN COME BY AND HELP YOU CUT YOUR YARD.
I CAN COME BY AND HELP YOU CUT YOUR YARD.
WELL, YOU THE ONE, YOU THE ONE CAME BY MY HOUSE THEN AND I AIN'T SEEN YOU SINCE.
AND YOUR DON'T ANSWER THE TELEPHONE.
IIII DIDN'T MEAN TO THROW YOU UNDER THE BUS.
OFFICER GONNA, I PROMISE YOU I DIDN'T, BUT I WAS GONNA GET HIM.
BUT I WAS GONNA GET YOU ANYWAY.
ALRIGHT, MS. WE, BECAUSE YOU TOLD ME HERSCHEL, LET ME ASK YOU TO YELL TO YOUR COUNCIL MEMBER.
I THOUGHT WE WERE SO I DON'T HAVE A YARD, UH, YARD CUTTING COMPANY.
AND I'LL GIVE YOU A PHONE NUMBER IF YOU WANT IT, BUT I AM YOUR COUNCILMAN AND I CAN HELP FIND SOMEBODY THAT CAN HELP CUT YOUR YARD IF YOU NEED THAT.
BUT I, I DO WANNA JUST GET SOME CLARIFICATION MS. WEBSTER MY OWN YARD.
BUT EVEN THAT, IF WE WITH THAT PROGRAM, Y'ALL HAVE THAT.
THEY'D BETTER NOT EVER COME BACK TO MY SO YOU HAVE MS. WEBSTER, COUNCILMAN MARTINEZ PHONE NUMBER, OKAY? YES.
YOU'RE MAKING A BIG DIFFERENCE.
REAL QUICK IF I DON'T, IF YOU DON'T MIND, AND YOU AND I NEED TO MAKE ANOTHER DIFFERENCE TOGETHER.
YOU AND I NEED TO TEAM UP MS. WEBSTER.
WE THINK ALIKE MS. WE I KNOW THAT'S RIGHT.
SO, UH, I JUST WANNA GET SOME CLARIFICATIONS BECAUSE IT USED TO, THERE USED TO BE HIGH WEEDS ALONG REED ROAD, BUT ONCE THE HIKING BIKE TRAIL GOT PUT IN, IT IS BEEN MOWED.
YOU STILL GOT 'EM? GOT GROW BACK.
ONLY THING I'LL COME, I'LL COME OUT AND VISIT WITH YOU.
I'LL COME OUT AND VISIT WITH YOU.
I AGREE WITH YOU A HUNDRED PERCENT.
HELLO MAYOR AND COUNCIL MEMBERS, UH, TRUMP IS IN NOW.
UH, THIS IS THE UPDATE OF, UH, SOME INFORMATION, UH, ADD ADDED SOME MORE CELEBRITIES ONTO THE FLYER.
UH, EON MUSK AND KIRK FRANKLIN.
[01:10:01]
FROM FOUR FOURTH TEXAS.I HEARD OF KIRK FRANKLIN AND EON MUSK.
I GOT SOUTH AFRICA ON THERE, BUT HE'S BASICALLY FROM TEXAS.
BUT I JUST REALIZED MY MINISTRY THERE, THE BRANCH TO RIGHTEOUSNESS.
THIS IS THE FIRST MISSION AFTER 34 YEARS THAT ACTUALLY I'M WILLING TO DO SOMETHING WITH MY MINISTRY.
MY INTEGRITY IS STRAIGHT, PURE.
I'M, I'M THANKFUL FROM THE BAY AREA.
EVERYBODY KNOW ME IN THE BAY AREA.
BASICALLY ALL THE MINISTERS AND CHURCHES VERY CLEAN.
SO BASICALLY I'M JUST INTERESTED IN THAT.
UH, I WANT TO GET THIS TO THE, UH, GOVERNOR OF TEXAS.
SEEM LIKE HE'S A FRIEND OF TRUMP.
SO I DON'T KNOW IF YOU GUYS GET HOW I CAN GET HIS ADDRESS, THE GOVERNOR OF TEXAS, BUT, UM, IF YOU GUYS CAN MAKE A COPY SOMETIME.
I WANT, I ALREADY SENT TRUMP ONE AT THE, UH, IN NEW YORK.
BUT THIS ONE IS AN UPDATE AND I THINK I'M GONNA KEEP ON UPDATING BECAUSE I KEEP GETTING CELEBRITIES DIFFERENT, MORE, MORE PEOPLE, FAMOUS PEOPLE THAT WANT TO HELP ME AND THEY LIKE ME.
SO, UH, I'M ABOUT TO DO UPGRADE MY ADVERTISING.
I'M ABOUT TO START GETTING ON TV AND STUFF.
I'M GONNA GET WITH KIRK FRANKLIN, DO A, DO SOME MUSIC, UH, GOSPEL RAP, PROBABLY CD.
WHAT DO WHAT? GET KIRK FRANKLIN.
WHY NOT? HE'S ONE OF THE BEST GOSPEL UH, ARTISTS.
AND I'VE BEEN VERY PATIENT TRYING TO CHOOSE ONE.
AND I REALLY WANNA DO IT MYSELF.
GOD SAID, LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR AS YOU LOVE YOURSELF.
BUT THAT'S ONE OF THE KEY THINGS WITH MY MINISTRY TOO.
I DESIGNED THIS MINISTRY TO BE USED TO HELP.
AND IT SEEM LIKE HOUSTON IS IN A FINANCIAL PROBLEM.
HOUSTON IS A BEAUTIFUL PLACE, BUT YOU GUYS DON'T HAVE THE MONEY.
I HEARD IN THE NEWSPAPER THAT, UH, FROM THE MAYOR THAT THEY GUY HIS CONNECTIONS, THEY BASICALLY LOOK AT HIM NOT REALLY QUALIFIED TO GET, HANDLE A LOT OF MONEY.
AND I SAID, SO I'M GONNA TALK TO TRUMP WHEN I GET THE CHANCE TO MENTION THAT AND GIVE HIM YOUR, FIND OUT YOUR CONNECTION THAT YOU HAVE IN, UM, DC AND WE'RE GONNA TALK TODAY.
I WANNA GO BACK TO CALIFORNIA.
CALIFORNIA IS ALL BURNT OUT, YOU GUYS, MY WHOLE CALIFORNIA BUSINESS.
HOUSTON IS, I WANNA BUILD MY FIRST, THE FIRST MEGA SKYSCRAPER HERE.
I GUESS MOST LIKELY IT'S GONNA BE IN THE CENTER OF THE UNITED STATES.
THE OTHER FOUR IS GONNA BE BUILT AROUND THE WORLD.
BUT, UH, THERE'S A LOT OF, YOU NEED A LOT OF MONEY.
I LIKE TO GET YOU GUYS ALL RAISES UP.
YOUR UP YOUR GUYS PAY WITH YOU GUYS IS KIND OF RICH.
THAT'S WHAT MY DESIRE IS FOR ALL THE COUNCIL MEMBERS IN HOUSTON.
I WANNA TRY AND MAKE YOU GUYS RICH.
GIVE ME, UH, IF YOU CAN GET THAT FLYER TO, I DON'T KNOW.
I WANT TO GET INTO THE GOVERNOR.
I WANT CON I WANT TO GIVE THE GOVERNOR ONE.
ACTUALLY, YOU GOING, UH, I GOT MY, MY NUMBER ON ACCOUNT.
YEAH, I GOT IT ON THIS SHEET OF PAPER.
I'M GONNA GET, I'M, I'M GONNA SEND YOU.
I'M JUST INFORMING YOU GUYS LISTEN.
SO YOU GUYS WON'T BE LOOKING AT ME.
I MOVE TO SUSPEND THE RULES TO MOVE IAN FORTNEY, UH, BEFORE JEANETTE PEEVY.
GOOD AFTERNOON, MAYOR WHITMEYER AND COUNCIL MEMBERS.
I'VE BEEN BORN AND RAISED IN HOUSTON.
I'VE BEEN THE PRESIDENT OF THE COTTAGE GROVE CIVIC ASSOCIATION THE PAST FIVE YEARS.
THINK OF COTTAGE GROVE AS A SMALL TOWN WITHIN HOUSTON.
WE'RE RIGHT NEXT TO I 10 TC JESTER.
AND OUR NEIGHBORHOOD HAS BEEN HERE FOR OVER A HUNDRED YEARS.
IN THE LAST 20 YEARS, WE'VE GROWN SO MUCH THAT WE NOW HAVE OVER 6,000 NEIGHBORS LIVING CLOSER TOGETHER THAN ALMOST ANYWHERE ELSE IN HOUSTON.
THAT GROVE SHOULD BE SOMETHING WE SHOULD CELEBRATE, BUT INSTEAD WE'RE WORRIED.
WHY? BECAUSE OUR NEIGHBORHOOD, UH, LACKS BASIC NEEDS.
OUR STRAIGHT OUR STREETS DRAINS AND SIDEWALKS ARE ALL FALLING APART.
LET ME PAINT YOU A PICTURE OF WHAT THIS MEANS FOR OUR FAMILIES.
IMAGINE YOU NEED AN AMBULANCE, BUT THE STREETS ARE SO NARROW THAT EMERGENCY VEHICLES STRUGGLE TO REACH YOU.
THAT'S NOT JUST A SCARY THOUGHT, BUT IT'S REAL.
WE MEASURED 104 PLACES WITHIN OUR NEIGHBORHOOD, AND 81% OF OUR STREETS ARE TOO NARROW FOR FIRETRUCKS IS SAFELY
[01:15:01]
PASS THROUGH AND DO NOT MEET HOUSTON FIRE DEPARTMENT MINIMUMS. WHEN IT RAINS, MANY OF US CANNOT SLEEP BECAUSE WE'RE WATCHING THE WATER RISE.MORE THAN ONE IN FOUR OF OUR DRAINAGE DITCHES HAS COMPLETELY FALL, UH, FAILED.
THEY'VE EITHER CAVED IN OR FILLED UP WITH DIRT AND WALKING AROUND COTTAGE GROVE THAT'S LIKE PLAYING HOPSCOTCH WITH MISSING SIDEWALKS.
ONE OUT OF EVERY FIVE SECTIONS OF OUR SIDEWALKS ARE COMPLETELY GONE.
LET ME TELL YOU ABOUT MR. HEMMER, ONE OF OUR NEIGHBOR NEIGHBORS WHO LOST HIS EYESIGHT IN 2017.
A FEW YEARS AFTER HE APPLIED FOR A SEEING EYE DOG TO HELP HIM REGAIN HIS INDEPENDENCE.
HE WAS DENIED BY THE AGENCY, UH, FOR HIS APPLICATION.
WHY? BECAUSE OF HER BROKEN SIDEWALKS OR BROKEN SIDEWALK NETWORK MADE IT ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE FOR A SERVICE DOG TO GUIDE HIM SAFELY THROUGH THE NEIGHBORHOOD.
THAT AGENCY SAID IT WAS TOO DANGEROUS THAT BOTH MR. HAMMER AND THE DOG COULD GET HURT TRYING TO NAVIGATE THE STREETS PRIOR TO HIS PASSING IN 2020.
HE REMAINED HOME BOUND IN HIS FINAL YEARS UNTIL A FAMILY MEMBER COULD DRIVE HIM SOMEWHERE.
THIS ISN'T JUST ABOUT CONVENIENCE, IT'S ABOUT BASIC HUMAN DIGNITY.
COUNCIL MEMBER CAYMAN HAS BEEN A TRUE FRIEND TO COTTAGE GROVE.
WE HAVE FIXED A LOT OF THE PROBLEMS IN THE EASTERN PART OF OUR NEIGHBORHOOD AND ADDED SOME NEW SIDEWALKS.
IF IT WASN'T FOR HER COTTAGE GROVE, UH, IS CIP WOULDN'T HAVE SURVIVED.
SHE'S BEEN HER CHAMPION AND WE'RE GRATEFUL FOR EVERYTHING THAT SHE HAS DONE.
BUT FIXING OUR NEIGHBORHOOD IS TOO BIG OF A PROBLEM FOR JUST ONE PERSON.
THIS SOUNDS EXPENSIVE, AND YOU'RE RIGHT, IT'S GONNA COST MONEY TO FIX THESE PROBLEMS. BUT HERE'S THE THING.
EVERY DAY WE WAIT, THERE'S PROBLEMS THAT ARE GONNA GET WORSE AND MORE EXPENSIVE TO FIX.
MORE IMPORTANTLY, EVERY DAY WE WAIT.
WE'RE PUTTING FAMILIES AT RISK.
THINK ABOUT YOUR OWN NEIGHBORHOOD.
WOULD YOU FEEL SAFE IF YOUR STREETS WERE TOO NARROW FOR FIRE TRUCKS? WOULD YOU WANT YOUR CHILDREN WALKING TO SCHOOL IN THE STREET? WOULD YOU ACCEPT THAT YOUR NEIGHBOR CAN'T GET A SERVICE DOG BECAUSE YOUR SIDEWALKS ARE TOO DANGEROUS? THAT'S WHAT WE FACE EVERY SINGLE DAY IN COTTAGE GROVE.
WE'RE NOT ASKING FOR ANYTHING FANCY.
WE'RE ASKING FOR BASIC RIGHTS THAT EVERY NEIGHBORHOOD DESERVES.
STREETS WIDE ENOUGH FOR EMERGENCY VEHICLES, DRAINAGE THAT WORKS WHEN IT RAINS, AND SIDEWALKS THAT CONNECT RATHER THAN STOP.
THE 6,000 PEOPLE OF COTTAGE GROVE ARE COUNTING ON YOU TO MAKE THE NEIGHBORHOOD SAFE.
AND WE CAN'T KICK THIS PROBLEM DOWN THE ROAD ANY LONGER.
PLEASE HELP US FIX COTTAGE GROVE BEFORE SOMEONE GETS HURT.
I'M ALSO PART OF ABOUT EIGHT OTHER FOLKS THAT ARE GONNA BE SPEAKING LATER.
I JUST, I HOPE EVERYONE IS ABLE TO STATE AND HEAR THEIR IMPACTFUL STORIES, INCLUDING ONE WHERE A KID FELL IN A STORM DRAINAGE DITCH DUE TO NEGLIGENCE OF THE CITY.
UH, AND THANK YOU FOR COMING EARLY.
A SCAFFOLDING HAS BLOCKED A METRO RAIL LINE, AND I'VE BEEN ASKED TO APPEAR.
BUT LET ME, UH, JUST EMPHASIZE YOU AND THE OTHER COLLEGE GROVES RESIDENTS.
I'VE LOOKED AT YOUR INFRASTRUCTURE REQUESTS IN 2021, WHERE YOU WERE CHALLENGING THE CITY'S POSTPONEMENT OF IT TO THE NEXT YEAR.
SO, AS YOU KNOW, I'VE REPRESENTED THE AREA FOR MANY YEARS, EITHER AS A STATE REP OR SENATOR.
SO I KNOW, I KNOW OF YOUR YEARS OF NEGLECT BY THE CITY OF HOUSTON.
IT'S ONE OF THE REASONS I RAN FOR MAYOR.
AND, UH, MY ADMINISTRATION IS FOCUSED ON IT.
WE'LL WORK WITH THE COUNCIL MEMBER, BUT, UH, IT'S WELL DOCUMENTED GOING BACK FOR YEARS.
SO BE HONEST WITH YOU, THE, UH, DESIGN OF THE STREETS AND THE OPEN DITCHES WERE NEVER REALLY MEANT FOR THE DEVELOPMENT THAT HAS BEEN PRESENTED TO COTTAGE GROVE.
SO THANK YOU AND YOUR, AND YOUR NEIGHBORS.
AND, UH, I WANTED TO GET THAT UNDERSTOOD BEFORE I HAVE TO LEAVE IN A MOMENT TO ATTEND TO AN EMERGENCY.
AND, UH, WE DISCUSSED IT IN MY OFFICE TODAY.
COUNCIL MEMBER CAMAN MAYOR, THANK YOU FOR THE ATTENTION ON THIS, UH, COLLEAGUES.
AS SOME, AS OF YOU'LL REMEMBER, EVERY YEAR DURING THE CIP PROCESS, I BRING UP THE CHALLENGE OF COTTAGE GROVE WEST.
THAT IT IS SO BIG, BUT SO DESPERATELY NEEDED THAT IT KEEPS GETTING BUMPED YEAR AFTER YEAR.
BUT YOU'LL SEE FROM THE PICTURES, SCHOOL BUSES, FIRE TRUCKS ENDING UP IN DITCHES AGAIN.
WE HAD A CHILD THAT FELL THROUGH A MANHOLE.
WE'RE DOING WHAT WE CAN, UH, FUNDING DISTRICT BASED DRAINAGE, PUTTING IN SOME SIDEWALKS.
BUT THE ENTIRE COMMUNITY MAYOR, TO YOUR POINT, UM, DESPERATELY NEEDS HELP.
AND ITS FLOODING, UH, IT'S SAFETY ON MULTIPLE LEVELS.
SO AGAIN, THANK YOU TO THE RESIDENTS WE'LL HEAR FROM.
BUT MAYOR, THANK YOU FOR THE ATTENTION ON THIS.
'CAUSE WE DO NEED, WE GOTTA FIND A WAY FORWARD.
[01:20:01]
SPEAKER.YOU CAN GET BEHIND THAT MICROPHONE.
UM, THANK YOU FOR ALLOWING ME TO COME IN TODAY AND SPEAK.
UM, MY NAME IS CHRISTINA OWENS.
I'M CURRENTLY, UM, A SUBSTANCE ABUSE COUNSELOR.
I'VE BEEN A COUNSELOR FOR 11 YEARS, UM, HERE IN HARRIS COUNTY.
I ALSO WORK FOR HARRIS COUNTY HOSPITAL DISTRICT, UM, PREPARING PRIOR AUTHORIZATIONS FOR MENTAL HEALTH INDIVIDUALS AND SUBSTANCE ABUSE INDIVIDUALS.
UM, TODAY I'M HERE TO TALK ABOUT THE HOMELESS POPULATION.
I JUST HAD AN IDEAL OF, UM, JUST ABOUT IT.
I JUST WANTED TO SPEAK TO YOU ABOUT, UM, THIS IS ABOUT THE, AND, UM, MAYBE A FUTURE, UM, HOMELESS ENCAMPMENT SITE.
UM, I NORMALLY GO DOWN AND I VOLUNTEER MY TIME.
I GIVE IT TO THEM PERSONALLY 'CAUSE I DON'T LIKE DONATING TO THE, UM, THE OTHER AREA PEOPLE THAT SAY THAT THEY'RE GONNA GIVE IT TO 'EM.
SO I WANNA MAKE SURE THAT THEY GET 'EM.
BUT, UM, IF THE LATER ON WE LIKE FUTURE, UM, LIKE FUTURISTIC, THEY CAN HAVE ENCAMPMENTS.
LIKE, UM, SIMILAR TO, UM, CAMPSITES.
I WAS IN THE GIRL SCOUTS WHEN I WAS YOUNGER.
SO THE CAMPSITES CAN BE SOMETHING WITH AMENITIES SIMILAR TO, UM, THE CAMPGROUNDS.
UM, MAYBE WITH STANDUP SHOWERS.
UM, I KNOW YOU CAN'T HAVE THE COMMODE AREAS 'CAUSE THEY'RE PROBABLY OVER FLOOD 'EM, BUT LIKE PORTA POTTIES, FORUM 'EM AND HAVE THEM VENTURE OFF INTO A AREA SO THEY DON'T, UM, CAUSE HAVOC TO THE COMMUNITY THAT'S DOWNTOWN.
I DO SEE HPD WORKING TIRELESSLY TRYING TO MOVE THE HOMELESS PEOPLE, ESPECIALLY WHEN THERE'S EVENTS IN TOWN.
AND I THINK LIKE IF THERE WERE LIKE, UH, MAYBE LIKE PACIFIC AREAS LOCATED IN HOUSTON, MAYBE A HANDFUL OF AREAS FOR THEM, THESE SITES FOR THEM THAT THEY CAN BE HOUSED AT THOSE SITES AT THEIR OWN FREE WILL.
AND IF THEY ARE, UM, CAMPING ON THE, UM, GROUNDS, UM, IN THE BUSINESS AREA, THAT THEY WILL HAVE TO REAP THE CONSEQUENCES.
SO IT'S JUST A GENERAL IDEA THAT I JUST WANTED TO BRING.
THANK YOU FOR SHARING YOUR THOUGHTS.
MS. OWENS, THANK YOU FOR COMING DOWN TODAY.
UH, WE WERE OUT, MY TEAM WAS OUT WITH THE COALITION FOR THE HOMELESS, UH, ON THE PIT COUNT THIS MORNING.
AND, UH, NEEDLESS TO SAY, YOU KNOW, EVERYBODY'S HEAD'S KIND OF SPINNING AS TO HOW TO ATTACK THIS, LITERALLY.
UM, YOU KNOW, THE PROBLEM WITH, WITH OUR, A PROBLEM WITH THAT TYPE OF, OF, UH, CAMPSITE IS YES MA'AM, WHERE DO YOU PUT IT? YES, MA'AM.
YOU KNOW, AND ALSO TOO, UH, YOU KNOW, WE WERE OVER ON THE UNIVER SIDE OF LIFE AND, YOU KNOW, THERE'S SUCH A PROBLEM WITH MENTAL HEALTH AND YES.
AND, UM, YOU KNOW, LIKE I SAID, IT'S A, IT, IT IS A HUGE, HUGE PROBLEM AND WE ALL ARE AWARE, BUT YES, MA'AM, IT'S NOT A, AS, YOU KNOW, IT'S NOT A SIMPLE SOLUTION.
BUT YES, I'M HAPPY TO VISIT WITH YOU.
I'VE GOT SOME IDEAS MYSELF, BUT IT TAKES FUNDING AND, UM, IT, IT'S JUST A, I THINK IT'S SOMETHING THAT WE ALL, YOU KNOW, CERTAINLY IT'S A PRIORITY FOR THE MAYOR AND IT'S SOMETHING WE ALL NEED TO WORK ON TOGETHER AND, AND FIGURE OUT.
BUT IT'S, IT'S A, IT'S A TOUGH SITUATION OUT THERE.
I'LL BE HONORED TO WORK WITH YOU AND GIVE IDEAS.
UM, MA'AM MAYA, I'VE GOT SEVERAL STAFF.
IF YOU'LL TURN AROUND IF YOU WANT TO, UH, TALK TO HIM IN THE BACK AND WE'LL, WE'LL GET WITH YOU.
AND APPRECIATE YOUR CONCERNS, THANK YOU MUCH AND YOUR CARING AND YOUR IDEAS, BECAUSE IT MAKES, IT'S GONNA TAKE EVERYBODY WORKING TOGETHER TO YES, MA HELP SOLVE THIS.
THANK YOU FOR BEING THANK YOU EVERYONE ELSE.
NEXT SPEAKER GWENDOLYN JOHNSON.
PEARSON GWENDOLYN JOHNSON PEARSON.
[01:25:01]
NAME IS ALICIA BROWN.AND FIRST I JUST WANNA SAY THANK YOU GUYS FOR PUTTING ME ON, UM, THIS BEAUTIFUL PANEL TO COME AND SHARE WHAT I HAVE TO SAY.
UM, TODAY I WANNA BRING, UM, TO THE INTENTION TO YOU GUYS' ATTENTION.
UM, AN INCIDENT THAT HAS LEFT A PROFOUND AND DEVASTATING IMPACT ON MY LIFE, AS WELL AS A LARGER ISSUE THAT REQUIRES IMMEDIATE ACTION IN OUR COMMUNITY.
ON NOVEMBER THE 29TH OF 2024, I WAS SUBJECTED TO THE UNIMAGINABLE VIOLATION OF MY HUMAN RIGHTS.
I WAS DRUGGED AND TAKEN AGAINST MY WILL AND SEXUALLY ASSAULTED.
THIS HAPPENED AFTER I WAS VISITING A LOCAL BAR IN THE 4,800 BLOCK OF ALAMEDA.
I LAST REMEMBER ABOUT MAYBE SEVEN 30, 6:00 PM I DON'T REMEMBER WALKING OUT THE BAR NOR GETTING TO MY CAR.
BUT I WAS DROPPED OFF IN THE 4,900 BLOCK OF EMANCIPATION.
A MAN WHO CLAIMED TO BE AN ANGEL WHO FOUND ME EMPHASIZED THAT THIS ACT WAS MEANT AS A MESSAGE TO ME.
I WAS FOUND, UM, PANTS DOWN, UM, PUKE, UM, FECES COMING FROM MY BACKSIDE.
SORRY TO BE VERY VIVID FOR YOU GUYS.
UM, THIS HAS NOT BEEN AN, UM, ISOLATED INCIDENT FOR ME, UNFORTUNATELY, BUT A PATTERN OF HARASSMENT, INTIMIDATION, AND DEFAMATION THAT I HAVE FACED HERE IN HOUSTON, ALLEGEDLY TIED TO SOME TYPE OF UNDERGROUND NETWORK TARGETING INDIVIDUALS LIKE MYSELF.
I MOVED TO THE CITY IN 2018 WITH A DREAM TO MAKE A POSITIVE DIFFERENCE IN THE EDUCATION, SPECIFICALLY ADJUSTING THE LOW PERFORMANCE IN STAR MATHEMATICS.
I'VE WORKED VERY HARD, TIRELESSLY AND RELENTLESSLY TO SUPPORT OUR YOUTH AND THEIR FUTURES.
BUT INSTEAD OF BEING WELCOMED, I HAVE BEEN FACED WITH BASELESS CHARACTERIZATION AND DEHUMANIZATION ACTIONS THAT HAVE ENDANGERED MY SAFETY AND COMPROMISED MY ABILITY TO ACHIEVE MY GOALS.
WHAT HAPPENED TO ME IS NOT JUST A PERSONAL VIOLATION, IT REFLECTS A DEEPER SYSTEMATIC ISSUE IN OUR CITY.
A CULTURE THAT ALLOWS SECRETIVE MOVEMENTS AND VIOLENT ACTIONS TO THRIVE UNCHECKED.
UM, NO ONE SHOULD HAVE TO ENDURE WHAT I HAVE BEEN THROUGH OUR RIGHT TO SELF-EXPRESSION AND PERSONAL SAFETY SHOULD NEVER BE COMPROMISED, NOR SHOULD IT BE WEAPONIZED TO DEHUMANIZE OR CONTROLLED INDIVIDUALS.
SO I AM PLEADING TO MAYOR WHITMORE IN HIS ABSENCE AND THE COUNCIL, BY THE WAY, SHOUT OUT TO, UH, UH, DISTRICT COUNCILMAN EDWARD POLLARD.
I AM LIKE FLABBERGASTED AT THE WORK THAT YOU ARE DOING THERE IN YOUR CITY.
I AM A RESIDENT OF MONTGOMERY COUNTY.
I WISHED I LIVED IN YOUR CITY, IN YOUR, IN, IN YOUR DISTRICT.
UM, DOING AMAZING THINGS OVER THERE.
SO THIS IS MY PLEA TO MAYOR WHITMORE.
I AM ADDRESSING, I'M ASKING THAT YOU, UH, ADDRESS THIS ISSUE WITH URGENCY NUMBER ONE, ACCOUNTABILITY AND JUSTICE.
I ASK THAT A FULL INVESTIGATION INTO THIS NETWORK ENABLING THESE TYPE OF CRIMES.
UM, NUMBER TWO, SUPPORT FOR, I JUST HAVE ONE POINT.
DID YOU REPORT THESE INCIDENTS OF THIS INCIDENT TO THE POLICE? YOU KNOW, TRANSPARENTLY SPEAKING, I'M AFRAID OF THE POLICE HERE.
UM, I WAS BRIBED, UM, JUST AT THE BEGINNING OF THE YEAR, RIGHT AT THE WHITE OAK MUSIC HALL.
AND YOU KNOW, THESE POLICE, UNFORTUNATELY, THEY'RE BAD APPLES HERE IN, IN, IN, IN, IN, IN THE POLICE DEPARTMENT.
AND SO I AM AFRAID OF CONTACTING THE POLICE BECAUSE THE MORE I CONTACT THE POLICE, THE MORE I AM HARASSED.
I GUESS I'M, I'M, I'M, BUT I DID SPEAK TO SOMEWHAT A LOSS A POLICEMAN, BECAUSE I DON'T KNOW, KNOW ANY OTHER WAY TO GET YOU ANY PROTECTION OR, YOU KNOW, OTHER THAN HAVING YOU TO REPORT THIS ISSUE TO THE POLICE.
AND SO, UM, BECAUSE THIS DID HAPPEN, YOU SAY IN DISTRICT D, UH, UH, INGRAM IS OVER THERE, AND PERHAPS SHE CAN HELP YOU TO DO A REPORT.
HOW LONG AGO WAS THIS? THIS HAPPENED? UM, NO, UH, NOVEMBER THE 29TH.
DO YOU HAVE ANY IDEA OF WHO, WHO THE PERPETRATOR WAS, OR, I KNOW WHO YEAH.
WELL, INGRAM IS SITTING THERE PERSON, PERHAPS SHE CAN HELP YOU PERSON.
I KNOW THE, THE, THE, THE, THE PEOPLE WHO'S RUNNING THIS, THIS UNDERGROUND OKAY.
WELL, MAYBE SHE CAN HELP YOU TO, TO DO A, GET A POLICE REPORT DONE, BECAUSE THERE'S NO OTHER WAY THAT I KNOW THAT YOU COULD POSSIBLY, UH, BRING THE PERSON WHO HAS DONE THIS TO YOU, ALLEGEDLY DONE THIS TO YOU, UH, TO JUSTICE.
AND SO I DO UNDERSTAND, YOU KNOW, YOUR APPREHENSION IN SOME CASES.
UH, BUT THAT IS THE ONLY MECHANISM THAT I KNOW OF THAT CAN POSSIBLY PROTECT YOU.
[01:30:01]
INGRAM RIGHT THERE IN THE DOOR, RIGHT THERE, SHE MAY BE ABLE TO HELP YOU DO TO AT LEAST DO A POLICE REPORT AND JUST, JUST STAY SAFE.AND WHERE WERE YOU COMING FROM AGAIN? I WAS AT, UM, TIPSY BAR AND LOUNGE.
DO YOU THINK THAT SOMEBODY PUT SOMETHING IN YOUR DRINK? OH, I'M ALMOST CERTAIN THAT I THINK WHAT THEY DID, I DON'T THINK THEY PUT IT IN MY DRINK.
I THINK THEY CAUGHT ME COMING OUTSIDE AND MAYBE PUT SOME SORT OF CHEMICAL.
BECAUSE ALAMEDA AND EMANCIPATION, THAT'S TWO DIFFERENT AREAS.
WELL, YOU GOTTA BE REALLY, REALLY CAREFUL AND CERTAINLY COMING OUT OF AN ESTABLISHMENT BY YOURSELF, YOU KNOW, IT'S UNFORTUNATE THAT, YOU KNOW, I, I KEEP GETTING THAT, BUT I WAS NOT INEBRIATED.
I KNOW I WAS GOING TO A BAR, BUT I GO TO BARS TO DANCE
WELL, I'M JUST SAYING NOT INEBRIATED.
YOU'RE GONNA HAVE TO MAYBE CHANGE YOUR PRACTICE AND COME OUT WITH SOMEONE OR ASK SOMEONE IN THE BAR TO WALK YOU OUT OR WATCH YOU YEAH.
TILL YOU GET TO YOUR CAR BECAUSE THINGS DO HAPPEN.
AND SO APPARENTLY, YOU KNOW, SOMETHING HAPPENED.
COUNCIL MEMBER SERGEANT CARR IS ALSO HERE.
SO I THINK IF INGRAM AND, AND TALK TO HER, THAT WOULD BE HELPFUL TO MOVE FORWARD.
IN ABSENCE OF MR. MAYOR, MY NAME IS KATIE ENA.
I AM HERE WITH MY HUSBAND, MICHAEL ARNOLD.
WE ARE HERE TODAY TO BRING ATTENTION TO THE LACK OF CONCERN, RESPONSE, AND SERVICE OF THE HPD.
APPROXIMATELY ONE AND A HALF YEARS AGO, OUR LIVES WERE TURNED UPSIDE DOWN WHEN MY HUSBAND'S BUSINESS WAS STOLEN FROM HIM BY MR. ED CALLAN.
DURING THE FIRST WEEK OF AUGUST, 2023, WHILE WE WERE ON VACATION, WE ARRIVED AT OUR STORAGE UNIT LOCATED AT 1 0 5 1 5 SOUTHWEST FREEWAY, WHICH IS THE U-HAUL STORAGE ON THE CORNER OF BELTWAY EIGHT AND SOUTHWEST, OR ON 59 SOUTH.
WHEN WE ARRIVED ON SEPTEMBER 11TH, WE NOTICED OUR CARGO TRAILER FULL OF OUR TOOLS AND EQUIPMENT IN THE APPROXIMATE AMOUNT OF $40,000 WAS STOLEN.
OFFICER REAGAN WAS OUR RESPONDING OFFICER, ONLY VIA PHONE CALL, TOOK OUR REPORT OVER THE PHONE AND GAVE US A CASE NUMBER OF 1 3 0 3 7 7 0 DASH 23.
WHILE WE WERE MAKING THE REPORT, WE WERE NOTIFIED VIA LETTER, UM, THAT A IMPOUND VEHICLE STORAGE FACILITY HAD OUR CARGO TRAILER BECAUSE IT WAS ABANDONED AT THE 10,000 BLOCK OF WEST PARK DRIVE, WE WENT TO THE IMPOUND LOT, PROVIDE THE PROOF OF OWNERSHIP.
WE STILL HAD TO PAY THE $500 IN FEES TO GET OUR CARGO TRAILER BACK.
BUT OF COURSE, OUR TOOLS AND EQUIPMENT WERE MISSING MISSING.
WE, OVER THE NEXT COUPLE NIGHTS, WE KIND OF FELT LIKE WE WERE NOT A CONCERN OF HPD.
WE WERE MORE OF A BURDEN TO THEM ON THIS.
SO WE STARTED TO DO OUR OWN LITTLE INVESTIGATIONS, STARTED SEARCHING FACEBOOK MARKETPLACE, OFFER UP, YOU KNOW, ALL THE LOCAL MARKETPLACE, UM, PLATFORMS. WE FOUND OUR TRAILER.
WE FOUND OUR EQUIPMENT, WE FOUND OUR TOOLS, ALL, ALL POSTED BY THIS ED CALLEN.
UM, WE ACTUALLY FOUND AN ADDRESS HE POSTED ON HIS PUBLIC FACEBOOK PAGE OF 1 0 1 1 1 THIRDLY STREET IN HOUSTON, TEXAS.
WE ASKED HPD TO MEET US THERE ON SEPTEMBER 13TH.
WHEN THEY ARRIVED, THEY APPROACHED MR. ED CALLEN.
MR. ED CALLEN ADMITTED TO HAVING OUR PROPERTY AT THAT LOCATION ADMITTED TO HAVING OUR TRAILER POSTED FOR SALE ON FACEBOOK, ADMITTED TO HAVING OUR OTHER EQUIPMENT, OUR BIGGER TOOLS AND EQUIPMENT AT A WAREHOUSE LOCATED OFF OF HARWIN AND GAS SOUTH GASNER NEXT TO A CAR WASH.
THOSE RESPONDING OFFICERS THAT EVENING TOLD US THEY WERE NOT GOING TO TAKE ANYTHING.
ED, ED CALLEN OVER TO HARWIN TO RETURN THE ITEMS TO US BECAUSE THAT WAS NOT THEIR JURISDICTION.
WE WOULD HAVE TO TRANSPORT HIM OURSELVES IN OUR PERSONAL VEHICLE.
OF COURSE, WE DID NOT FEEL SAFE BY DOING THAT BECAUSE HE IS A THIEF.
WE DON'T WANT HIM IN OUR PERSONAL VEHICLE.
WE DON'T WANT HIM TO KNOW ANY MORE DETAILS OF OUR PERSONAL LIFE.
OVER THE NEXT COUPLE MONTHS, I HAVE PROVIDED MANY SCREENSHOTS, MANY MUCH PROOF DOCUMENTATION, INCLUDING SECURITY FOOTAGE FROM U-HAUL OF ED CALLAN, PULLING OUR TRAILER OUT OF OUR UNIT SLOT, UM, TAKING IT OFF PROPERTY PLUS HIS ADMISSION TO THE OFFICERS.
I STILL DO NOT GET ANY RESPONSE FROM HPD.
WE HAVE ACTUALLY BECAME HOMELESS BECAUSE OF THIS, BECAUSE WE'VE LOST OUR 80% OF OUR INCOME.
CAN YOU REPEAT THE, UM, ADDRESS FOR 59 IN BELWAY? EIGHT? I THINK THIS IS PROBABLY BETWEEN DISTRICT J AND F.
SO IF YOU CAN, UM, WITH RENEE, LEAVE THE, UH, DETAILS
[01:35:01]
AND THEN, UH, HE AND I BETWEEN OUR OFFICES, GESNER, HARWIN 59, BELTWAY EIGHT, THAT'S US.AND SO THEN WE CAN GET WITH OUR COMMAND STATIONS THAT ARE, UM, ASSIGNED TO THIS TO GET SOME DETAILS AND SOME RESOLVE FOR YOU ALSO, OFFICER ERIC CARR, UM, CAN ASSIST AS WELL WITH HPD.
UM, AND SO, UM, I, I'LL GIVE YOU MY, MY CARD AT THE END, BUT IF YOU CAN GET THOSE DETAILS AND THEN WE CAN FOLLOW UP DIRECTLY.
AND, AND MA'AM, UH, FOR ONE, I WANNA SAY WE'RE SORRY TO HEAR THAT THAT HAS HAPPENED TO YOU AND, UM, THAT RESPONSE NEEDS TO BE MUCH BETTER AND MORE, MORE PROFESSIONAL.
WE WILL GET AN OFFICER TO, UH, MAKE THIS PRIORITY.
IF A, IF, IF SOMEONE ADMITS TO HAVING ADMITS TO TAKING THE, THE PROPERTY AM ADMITS IT TO HAVING IT ON THEIR PROPERTY, WHY WASN'T, WHY WASN'T NOTHING DONE RIGHT THEN AND THERE? THAT'S WHAT WE DON'T UNDERSTAND.
HOW YOU GUYS DOING? HELLO, MR. CARPENTER.
ALRIGHT, I, GOOD AFTERNOON, MAYOR WHITMER.
AM I SAYING THAT RIGHT? WHITMEYER, WHITMEYER AND ESTEEM DISTRICT LEADERS.
I AM THE CEO AND FOUNDERS OF BROTHERS AND ELECTRICAL AND ELECTORAL MASTERY.
ALL ORGANIZATION SERVES AS A HUB FOR TRANSFORMATIVE TRADE EDUCATION.
WE OPERATE AS A TRADE CAMP FOR YOUTH IN THE GRADES OF FIFTH GRADE TO 12TH AND OFTEN ADULT TRADE PROGRAM TAILORED TO INDIVIDUALS FACING EMPLOYMENT CHALLENGES, INCLUDING THOSE REENTERING SOCIETY AFTER INCARCERATION.
OUR MISSION IS TO UPLIFT UNDERSERVED COMMUNITIES BY EQUIPPING INDIVIDUALS WITH ESSENTIAL TRADE AND LIFE SKILLS THAT LEAD TO SUSTAINABLE EMPLOYMENT AND PERSONAL GROWTH.
KENDRICK PER IS MBN CHAMPION AND RENOWNED ESPN OPERATOR.
COMMENTATOR IS OUR BRAND AMBASSADOR.
HE'S AMPLIFYING AND IMPACTING AND REACHING MORE LIVES ACROSS HOUSTON.
THROUGH OUR, THROUGH OUR WORK, WE AIM TO REDUCE UNEMPLOYMENT, DECREASED RECIDIVISM, AND PROVIDE YOUNG PEOPLE WITH A SENSE OF PURPOSE AND CLEAR PATHWAY TO SUCCESS.
TODAY I AM SEEKING PARTNERSHIPS AND SUPPORT TO OVERCOME CRITICAL BARRIERS THAT LIMIT OUR ABILITY TO MAXIMIZE OUR IMPACT.
THIS INCLUDE CURR AND APPROVALS TO COLLABORATE WITH THE TEXAS WORKFORCE COMMISSION, BUILDING ALLIANCES WITH MAJOR NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATIONS, ESTABLISHING BROTHERS AND ELECTRICAL INTELLECTUAL MASTERY AS A TRUSTED GO-TO RESOURCE FOR CREATING MEANINGFUL LASTING CHANGE IN OUR COMMUNITY.
TOGETHER WE CAN CREATE TRANSFORMATIVE OPPORTUNITIES FOR SCHOOL DISTRICTS, UNEMPLOYED INDIVIDUALS, AND FORMERLY INCARCERATED CITIZENS, EQUIPPING THEM WITH THE TOOLS THEY NEED TO THRIVE.
WHILE BUILDING AN INITIATIVE OF THIS SCALE IS NOT WITHOUT CHALLENGES, I AM CONFIDENT THAT WITH THE BACKING OF THE MAYOR'S OFFICE AND DISTRICT LEADERS, WE CAN ACHIEVE PROFOUND AND LASTING RESULTS.
TO SUPPORT THIS CONVERSATION, I PROVIDED A DOCUMENT OUTLINING IN OUR VISION AND THE MEASURABLE BENEFITS OF TRADE DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMS. WHY TRADE TO ADDRESS USE AND CHALLENGES WITH CRIME AND EDUCATION, WE MUST ADOPT INNOVATIVE COMMUNITY FOCUSED SOLUTIONS.
PARTNERING WITH ORGANIZATIONS LIKE OURS OFFERS A PROVEN EFFECTIVE WAY TO DRIVE INFORMATIVE CHALLENGES, TRADE DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMS, AND DIRECTLY FOSTER ECONOMIC GROWTH.
NOW, I LEFT A DOCUMENT FOR ALL YOU GUYS, SO I'M NOT GONNA JUST SIT UP HERE AND READ IT.
THE REAL TRUTH IS THAT WE HAVE A HUGE INCARCERATING RATE IN OUR, IN UNDERSERVED COMMUNITIES.
OUR YOUNG MEN AND WOMEN ARE NOT GRADUATING FROM HIGH SCHOOL.
WE KNOW THAT AI IS MOVING FASTER AND, AND IT IS MOVING QUICK.
I'M EDUCATED, SO I'M ALWAYS GOING TO BE, AND I'M A TRADESMAN AND I'M EIGHT YEARS MILITARY.
SO I'M ALWAYS GOING TO HAVE A JOB.
I'M ALWAYS GONNA BE EMPLOYABLE.
BUT THERE'S A GROUP OF YOUNG PEOPLE OUT HERE WHO ARE WITH NO MOTHERS, NO FATHERS, AND NO DIRECTION.
I I DON'T COME HERE TO ASK YOU FOR NO MONEY.
'CAUSE INSTITUTIONS LIKE THIS CAN'T GIVE OUT MONEY.
SO WHAT I CAME FOR IS TO ASK FOR YOUR RESOURCES.
[01:40:01]
KENDRICK PERKINS AND SEVERAL NBA PLAYERS HAVE COME TOGETHER AND WE SIT OUTSIDE OF HOUSTON.BUT WE SEE THE PROBLEM IS IN HOUSTON.
UH, WE HAVE ANOTHER, UH, NBA PLAYER WHO JUST CAME ON BOARD, WHO PLAYED 14 YEARS IN THE NBA THAT LIVES OUT IN THE SPRING.
AND WE HAVE OTHER COUPLE NBA PLAYERS WHO JUST WANT TO DO SOMETHING BUT DON'T GOT THE TIME TO SIT OUT IN FRONT OF Y'ALL OR SIT AT THE TABLE AND EAT WITH Y'ALL.
SO I'M ASKING THAT EACH DISTRICT SUPPORT THIS, MAKE THIS AN INITIATIVE IN YOUR COMMUNITY.
BECAUSE WHEN I'M FINDING OUT I'M AN EDUCATOR OVER AT A SECRETARY COLLEGE, WELL, OF COURSE $24,000 TO GO TO MY SCHOOL, THE AVERAGE YOUNG PERSON CAN'T AFFORD THE MONTHLY PAYMENT EVEN AFTER FINANCIAL AID.
SO HOW DO WE ADDRESS BY USING YOUR RESOURCE? DON'T NEED YOUR MONEY, JUST YOUR RESOURCE.
AND IF YOU COULD DO THAT FOR ME.
HAS EXPIRED MY NUMBER'S ON YOUR TABLE.
LET ME BE THE VESSEL TO MAKE CHANGE.
MR. CARPENTER, WE DO HAVE A COUPLE OF COUNCIL MEMBERS IN Q UH, COUNCIL MEMBER KAMAN.
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR COMING AND THANK YOU FOR WHAT YOU'RE DOING THROUGH APPRENTICESHIP PROGRAMMING.
UM, WE'RE AT THE CITY OF HOUSTON TAKING A HARD LOOK AT APPRENTICESHIP PROGRAMS AND TRYING TO SPOTLIGHT THEM ON, UH, WEDNESDAY.
UH, WE'RE ACTUALLY GONNA HAVE A-F-L-C-I-O FOR THE GULF COAST COME AND PRESENT ON ALL OF THE UNION BASED APPRENTICESHIP PROGRAMS THAT ARE AVAILABLE.
UH, AND THAT'S IT THIS WEDNESDAY AT TWO O'CLOCK, BECAUSE YOU'RE ABSOLUTELY RIGHT.
UH, THERE'S A, THERE'S A PLACE FOR EVERYONE.
AND, UH, AS OUR YOUTH ARE FINDING IT HARDER AND HARDER TO FIND THAT EMPLOYMENT WITH A LIVABLE WAGE, UH, YOU ARE DOING THE WORK AND OTHERS ARE DOING THE WORK.
SO I JUST WANNA SAY THANK YOU.
AND MAKE SURE, YOU KNOW, MANY OF US ARE LOOKING AT, UH, THIS TYPE OF PROGRAMMING AND WHAT WE CAN DO.
MAYOR PRO TIM, UH, BROTHER CARMEN, THANK YOU FOR COMING.
UH, FOR ONE, I, I CERTAINLY SUPPORT WHAT YOU ARE DOING IN A MAJOR WAY.
I RECEIVED THIS, YOU EMAILED THIS OUT TO ALL OF THE COUNCIL.
AND WE WERE SETTING UP SOME TIME.
THERE'S A TRAINING, UH, ORGANIZATION THAT OUR OFFICE IS WORKING WITH, WITH DEALING WITH INCARCERATED, UH, THOSE COMING OUT.
'CAUSE WE LOOKED AT YOUR ADDRESS.
AND SO, UH, I LIKE TO MEET WITH YOU, UH, SHORTLY AND, UH, AND SO THAT WE CAN DO ALL THAT WE CAN TO HELP IN THIS, BECAUSE EVERYBODY'S NOT GOING TO COLLEGE.
A LOT OF TRADES THAT COULD BE, UH, ACQUIRED THAT'S RIGHT.
BY YOU, BECAUSE THAT IS A PROBLEM.
AND, AND I JUST WANNA SAY THAT, AND I APPRECIATE THAT.
I USED TO WORK WITH JIM BROWN.
I USED TO TRAVEL THE COUNTRY GOING INSIDE THE STATE PRISONS.
AND, UM, BEFORE JIM BROWN PASSED AWAY, I USED TO BE A FACILITATOR OF INFORMATION TO THE INMATES ACROSS THE COUNTRY.
SO WE WAS IN 22 PRISONS, AND WE CREATED A LIFE SKILL PROGRAM CALLED AMERICA ICAN AMERICA CAN WAS A PROGRAM WHERE THE STATE, UM, PAROLE BOARD SAID, IF YOU DON'T GO THROUGH THIS PROGRAM, YOU CAN'T RELEASE.
BUT ME, AND ME AND MR. BROWN, WE WAS TALKING ABOUT PUTTING TRAYS INTO THE PROGRAM, BUT HE PASSED AWAY.
BUT THE LONG TERM I'M SAYING IS THAT, UH, IF I CAN SUGGEST SOMETHING TO YOU.
YOU HAVE A PROGRAM CALLED TEXAS WORKFORCE AND THEY PUT A BARRIER ON PROGRAMS LIKE THIS TO GET THROUGH TO THE FINANCIALS.
SO THESE OTHER PROGRAMS COME IN WHO ARE JUST DRIVEN TO TAKE THE MONEY.
SO ME BEING AN EDUCATOR IN THE TRADE FIELD, THE INSTITUTION I WORK IN, THEY DO $34 MILLION A YEAR.
THEY NEVER GET BACK TO THE COMMUNITY, BUT THEY TAKE FROM THE COMMUNITY.
RIGHT NOW, IF THEY HEARD ME SAY THIS, THEY FOLLOW ME TOMORROW ABOUT REAL CARE.
BUT THE THING IS THAT HOW DO WE ALLOW THESE SMALL PROGRAMS NOT HAVE TO JUMP OVER THESE BARRIERS AND GET INTO AND DO SOMETHING GOOD? BECAUSE THEY UNDERSTAND THE COMMUNITY BETTER THAN THE GUY WHO LIVE IN LA WHO DON'T EVEN LIVE HERE.
AND HE, MR. CARPENTER, MR. CARPENTER, WE, WE GET IT.
AND I DO WANT YOU AND, UM, COUNCIL MEMBER DAVIS TO CONNECT SO THAT Y'ALL CAN CONTINUE THIS CONVERSATION.
WE DO HAVE SOME PROGRAMS LIKE CASE AFTER SCHOOL PROGRAM FOR KIDS THAT I THINK IF YOU FOSTER SOME RELATIONSHIPS WITH SOME INDIVIDUAL COUNCIL MEMBERS AND, AND DETERMINE SOME SCHOOLS
[01:45:01]
YES MA'AM.THAT MAYBE WE CAN START GETTING THE, THE PROGRAM IN.
I THINK THAT, UM, YOU KNOW, WE WENT TO THE GREATER HOUSTON BUILDERS ASSOCIATION TODAY, AND THEY TALKED ABOUT THE IMPORTANCE OF TRADES AND, UM, MAKING SURE THAT OUR WORKFORCE IS PREPARED FOR THE AMOUNT OF WORK THAT WE WILL NEED AS A GROWING CITY.
UM, WE DEFINITELY WANNA MAKE SURE WE PARTNER.
BUT I THINK THAT IF YOU CAN GET, UM, THE CONTACT INFORMATION FROM COUNCIL MEMBER DAVIS, UM, Y'ALL, Y'ALL CAN CONTINUE, UM, HAVING THAT CONVERSATION.
THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE AND BEING WILLING TO DO THIS WORK.
I'D LIKE TO SAY WELCOME TO TO THE COUNCIL MEMBERS AND, UH, COUNCIL WOMEN.
MY NAME IS HAROLD STANTON AND I'M HERE TO SPEAK TO EACH AND EVERY LAST ONE OF YOU.
LET'S ADDRESS THE COST OF LIVING RAISE.
IT'S BEEN NOT A COST OF LIVING RAISE GIVEN TO EX RETIRED CITY EMPLOYEES FOR 10 YEARS.
NOW, I DON'T KNOW IF THE MAYOR, THEIR COUNCILWOMAN, THE COUNCILMAN'S VOTE ON THIS ISSUE, BUT IT'S SOMETHING MAYBE YOU CAN LOOK INTO.
THIS IS GOING TO AFFECT THOUSANDS.
THE FIRE DEPARTMENT WAS ABLE TO CONSTRUCT THEIR DEAL WITH THE CITY.
WHAT HAPPENED TO THE EX CITY RETIREES? I HAVE ONE MORE ISSUE AND IT'S BASED UPON SIX 11 WALKER.
YOU KNOW, I HOLD THREE LICENSE IN THE SAME BUSINESS.
I HOLD AN AIR CONDITIONING CONTRACTOR'S LICENSE.
I HOLD A EPA FEDERAL GOVERNMENT LICENSE.
AND I HAVE A THIRD GRADE STATION ENGINEER'S LICENSE.
BUT WHEN I APPLY OVER THERE, I'M FIVE 13.
SO I'M GONNA ASK EACH ONE OF YOU, CAN YOU SPEAK TO THAT PLACE OVER THERE? 'CAUSE I CAN'T, I CAN'T DO IT ON MY OWN.
I JUST WANNA BUILD ON WHAT, UH, MR. IAN FORTNEY SAID EARLIER.
UM, HE MENTIONED A CHILD FALLING INTO A SEWAGE DRAIN.
UH, MY 3-YEAR-OLD FELL INTO A
UM, THIS WAS A FEW YEARS AGO WHEN I CALLED THE CITY TO TELL THEM
THE LADY ACTUALLY LAUGHED AND SAID, OH, WELL IT MUST HAVE JUST BEEN AN ACCIDENT.
WHICH, OKAY, I'M, HOPEFULLY IT IS.
UH, BUT WITH THAT BEING SAID, REALLY MY UPMOST CONCERN IS SAFETY.
UM, AND RIGHT NOW, WELL THAT'S OBVIOUSLY ONE THING IS HOPEFULLY THE CITY WILL MAKE SURE THE MANHOLE COVERS ARE ON CORRECTLY.
UM, BUT ALSO REALLY OUR ROADS.
UM, WE LIVE REALLY CLOSE TO THE WHITE OAK BIKE TRAIL AND OUR KIDS CAN'T EVEN BIKE TO THE BIKE TRAIL.
WE LITERALLY HAVE TO PICK UP THEIR BIKES AND TAKE THEM TO THE TRAIL.
THEY COULD JUST, YOU KNOW, BIKE THERE INSTEAD OF US HAVING TO DO THAT.
UM, WHEN YOU'RE OUT IN COTTAGE GROVE, YOU'RE SEEING WOMEN WITH, UH, BUGGIES.
I CALL IT A BUGGY, BUT I GUESS IT'S A STROLLER, REALLY.
UM, WITH THEIR KIDS AND THE BUGGY, IT'S JUST KIND OF GOING WRONG.
'CAUSE YOU CAN'T EVEN GO ON THE
[01:50:01]
SIDEWALKS.YOU HAVE TO GO ON THE STREETS.
SO REALLY JUST SHORT AND SWEET FOR ME IS THE SAFETY.
AND IT'S JUST WE'RE ASKING FOR HELP TO MAKE SURE THAT OUR STREETS ARE SAFER.
UM, AND THAT'S WHAT IT COMES DOWN TO.
UH, ESPECIALLY THOSE OF US THAT HAVE CHILDREN IN THE AREA WHO JUST WANNA MAKE SURE YOU KNOW, THAT WE CAN HAVE AN EASY BIKE RIDE.
UH, COUNCIL MEMBER KAMAN, DID YOU WANNA RESPOND? NO, I JUST WANTED TO LET RESIDENTS KNOW.
I'LL SPEAK AT THE END AFTER EVERYONE IS FINISHED.
BUT I REALLY APPRECIATE YOUR STORY AND YOUR ADVOCACY.
AND I'M, I'M GLAD YOUR CHILD'S OKAY.
BUT WHAT IS FORTIFYING? SHE BY THE SITUATION? SHE WAS BY THE GRACE OF GOD, SHE LANDED ON HER FEET 10 FEET DOWN.
I DON'T KNOW HOW, BUT SHE DID.
HI, COUNCIL MEMBERS MAYOR PRO TEM.
I'M ALSO WITH IN DISTRICT C WITH COTTAGE GROVE WEST.
I'VE BEEN A RESIDENT THERE FOR NINE YEARS.
I'M HERE WITH MY COATES TO ECHO THE NEED TO APPROVE AND FUND A CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PROJECT FOR OUR NEIGHBORHOOD.
IT WAS VERY CLEAR, IAN HAD SOME GREAT STATISTICS THERE.
ROADS, SIDEWALKS, DRAINAGE ARE NOT UP TO PAR FOR CITY OF HOUSTON STANDARDS, BUT WE JUST HAD SOME VERY GREAT ANECDOTAL EMOTIONAL APPEALS TO YOU.
I'LL GO A LITTLE FURTHER AS WELL.
SIDEWALKS, WE HAVE 13 MAJOR ROADWAYS AND 30 FOUR-WAY INTERSECTIONS.
OUT OF THOSE 13 MAJOR ROADWAYS, HOW MANY OF THEM HAVE A FULL SIDEWALK FROM MEN TO END? ONE OF THEM ON ONE SIDE OF THE STREET.
SO WE GOT 25 OF THEM THAT DON'T.
THAT PUTS PEOPLE INTO THE ROAD WHEN THEY'RE WALKING AND WHEN THEY HAVE TO DO ANY DAILY BUSINESS, THAT'D BE NO BIG PROBLEM, EXCEPT THE ROADS ARE NOT WIDE ENOUGH FOR EMERGENCY VEHICLES OR FOR PASSENGER VEHICLES.
THIS MIGHT SEEM LIKE A RARE OCCURRENCE, BUT I GUESS WHAT HAPPENS EVERY THURSDAY? TRASH PICKUP, TRASH AND RECYCLING.
AND WHAT HAPPENS WHEN THE BINS ARE ON THE STREET? IT'S A 1 1 1 LANE ROAD.
I HAVE A, I HAD A SITUATION LAST THURSDAY WHERE I PULLED DOWN THE STREET AND THERE WAS A FATHER AND A MOTHER WITH THEIR TWO KIDS IN A STROLLER IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD THAT I HAD TO SLAM ON THE BRAKES FOR BECAUSE THEY WERE GOING AROUND TRAFFIC BINS BECAUSE THERE WAS NO SIDEWALK FOR THEM.
AND THEN FINALLY, THE DRAINAGE DITCHES.
RIGHT? THERE'S PLENTY MORE ABOUT CARS IN THE DITCHES.
EVERY TIME WE HAVE A RAIN, WE GO AND LOOK AND WE SEE IF THERE'S ANOTHER CAR IN THE DITCH SOMEWHERE.
BUT, SO I'LL COME IN FROM ANOTHER ANGLE.
LAST FALL, WE HAD A SIMPLE RAIN.
THIS WASN'T BARREL, THIS WASN'T THE DERECHO.
THIS WAS A AVERAGE HOUSTON RAIN.
AND WE HAD HUNDREDS OF FEET OF STAGNANT WATER IN DRAINAGE DITCHES.
WHILE OTHER AREAS WERE FINE IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD, IT'S BECAUSE OF LOCAL BLOCKAGES, CRUMBLING INFRASTRUCTURE IN LOCALIZED AREAS.
THE CITY TWO YEARS AGO HAD A HUGE CRACKDOWN ON TIRES AND TRASH AND VACANT LANDS BECAUSE WHY? 'CAUSE OF STAGNANT WATER CAUSING MOSQUITOES.
WHAT ARE WE GONNA DO ABOUT A THREE FOOT WIDE, A HUNDRED FEET LONG DRAINAGE DITCH WITH STAGNANT WATER FOR OVER A WEEK AFTER OUR AVERAGE STORM AMONGST OUR POPULATION? I THINK YOU'RE GONNA HEAR A LOT MORE STORIES.
DON'T KICK THE CAN APPROVE AND FUND A PROJECT FOR OUR NEIGHBORHOOD.
HELLO HOUSTON COUNCIL MEMBERS.
MY NAME IS TATIANA STEIN AND I HAVE BEEN A RESIDENT OF COTTAGE GROVE SINCE 2014 BEFORE WE SAW THE TOWN HOMES POP UP, LEFT AND RIGHT AND NOW OVERPOWER THE OLD BUNGALOWS.
HAPPY TO SEE MANY NEW FRIENDS JOIN OUR COMMUNITY AS WELL AS BUSINESSES, BUT THE PUBLIC INFRASTRUCTURE HAS YET TO STEP UP AT THE SPEED OF THE NEW RESIDENTS.
IT'S BEEN REALLY WONDERFUL TO SEE THIS COMMUNITY GROW AND EXCITED TO SEE THE IMPROVEMENTS THAT ARE ALREADY IN PLAY.
BUT I'M HERE TO KEEP PUSHING THE ENVELOPE WITH YOU.
A FEW ISSUES I'D LIKE TO RAISE TODAY, UM, RELATED TO THE ROADS AND DITCHES IN COTTAGE GROVE WEST.
ONE EXAMPLE I CONTINUOUSLY SEE IS 18 WHEELERS TRAVELING THROUGH OUR TINY STREETS AND MAKING AN ATTEMPT TO MAKE THE CORNER AT DARLING AND LANGSTON.
I THINK THE GPS ROUTES BRING 'EM INTO THESE STREETS.
[01:55:01]
A PRETTY EASY WAY TO RESOLVE THIS IS BY PUTTING UP NO TRUCK SIGNS ON THE OUTSKIRTS OF THE COTTAGE GROVE WEST COMMUNITY.THEM MAKING THE TIGHT TURNS, THEY FALL INTO DITCHES, THEY RUIN PEOPLE'S FRONT YARDS, AND THEY TAKE DOWN STOP SIGNS.
IT'S DEFINITELY MORE WORK FOR THE CITY TO HAVE TO REPAIR THAT INFRASTRUCTURE IN THE LONG RUN.
AS WELL AS OUR NEIGHBORS JUST BEING FRUSTRATED WITH THE SYSTEM.
NOT ONLY ARE THESE TRUCKS GOING THROUGH OUR STREETS RUINING, UM, OUR ROADS, BUT THEY'RE CAUSING US TO SPEND MORE MONEY AND THEN JUST CAUSING AGAIN, UH, POTENTIAL SAFETY ISSUES WITH PEOPLE, UH, WALKING THE STREETS WITH THEIR DOGS OR THEIR KIDS.
SO MY ASK TO YOU IS PRETTY SIMPLE.
IT'S TO PUT COTTAGE GROVE WEST INTO THE CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PLAN SO THAT WE CAN ENSURE OUR ROADS, DITCHES, AND INFRASTRUCTURE ARE SUPPORTING OUR COMMUNITY GROWTH AND DEVELOPMENT WHILE BEING SAFE FOR OUR KIDS, OUR ELDERLY, OUR PETS, AND OUR FAMILIES.
AND, AND THAT'S MY, MIGHT BE FOR COUNCIL MEMBER KAMAN, BUT WAS THIS, WAS IT ALL IN THE CIP AND THEN THEY JUST SEPARATED OUT EAST BEFORE? I MEAN, FOR NOW.
SO EAST REMAINS AND THEN THE OTHER PART'S NOT IF, IF I RECALL CORRECTLY, AND WE'LL MAKE SURE WE GET THE FACTS CORRECT, BUT THERE WERE TWO SEPARATE CIP PROGRAMS, COTTAGE GROVE EAST AND COTTAGE GROVE WEST.
AND COTTAGE GROVE WEST WAS LIKE THE BIG KAHUNA RIGHT.
AND SO IT KEPT GETTING DEFERRED AND DEFERRED.
COTTAGE GROVE EAST IS CURRENTLY HAPPENING, UM, TO A CERTAIN EXTENT, BUT IT'S COTTAGE GROVE WEST THAT IS JUST, OKAY.
SUCH A BIG BITE OUT OF THE APPLE.
THE CITY'S KIND OF SAID, YEAH, WE'RE NOT GETTING TO THIS.
UH, IT, IT'S A BIG CHALLENGE AND I RECOGNIZE THE, THE FINANCIAL CONSTRAINTS THAT THE CITY IS UNDER.
BUT AGAIN, WHAT YOU'RE SEEING IS AN ENTIRE COMMUNITY THAT NEEDS, THAT NEEDS HELP HERE.
AND I APPRECIATE YOU'RE DRAWING ATTENTION TO THE, TO WHAT THE, THE PROBLEM WE SEE ALL OVER THE PLACE.
THE WEAR AND TEAR OF THE STREETS BY THE TRUCKS AND THE KIND OF IGNORING THE, THE TRUCKS IGNORING THAT, THE NO THROUGH TRUCK SIGNS AND ALL THAT.
KATIE NEMAN, MAYOR PRO TEM AND COUNCIL MEMBERS, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK WITH YOU TODAY.
UM, AS YOU'VE HEARD, COTTAGE GROVE IS FACING A CRISIS.
OUR INFRASTRUCTURE'S FALLING APART, AND I CANNOT OVERSTATE THE URGENT NEED FOR REPAIRS, PARTICULARLY WHEN IT COMES TO OUR STREETS AND DITCHES.
OUR COMMUNITIES MORE THAN A CENTURY OLD.
AND CARS WERE JUST BECOMING POPULAR WHEN OUR NEIGHBORHOOD WAS BEING PLANNED.
AND LOTS WERE CLEARLY FAR MORE SPACIOUS THAN THEY ARE TODAY.
SO, FAST FORWARD TO A COUPLE OF YEARS AGO WHEN A GAS LEAK OCCURRED RIGHT IN FRONT OF MY HOUSE DURING ROUTINE ROAD WORK ON KANSAS STREET, RIGHT IN THE MIDDLE OF COTTAGE GROVE, THE FIRE DEPARTMENT WAS CALLED.
BUT BECAUSE OF OUR NARROW STREETS AND OUR PARKED AND THE PARKED CARS, THEY COULDN'T ACCESS THE SCENE IN TIME.
THEY WERE STUCK WHEN THE FIRETRUCKS FINALLY ARRIVED, ONLY AFTER SQUEEZING THROUGH IN A SMALLER VEHICLE THAN WHAT THEY FIRST INTENDED.
THAT PHOTOS IN YOUR PACKET, THE FRUSTRATION WAS PALPABLE.
STATION 11 LEADERSHIP MADE IT CLEAR OUR STREETS ARE DANGEROUS AND THEY'RE ALMOST IMPASSABLE FOR EMERGENCY VEHICLES WITH 81% OF OUR STREETS FAILING TO MEET THE MINIMUM 20 FOOT WIDTH RE REQUIREMENT.
WHAT HAPPENS WHEN THERE'S A REAL EMERGENCY? AND GOD FORBID IT'S A FIRE.
LATER THAT EXACT SAME DAY IN THE EXACT SAME SPOT, A SCHOOL BUS CARRYING CHILDREN FELL INTO THE DITCH WHILE TRYING TO NAVIGATE AROUND THIS SAME ROAD WORK.
THIS WAS RIGHT IN FRONT OF MY DRIVEWAY.
ANOTHER PICTURE IN YOUR PACKET.
IT WAS A SCARY MOMENT, BUT FORTUNATELY EVERYONE WAS UN UNHARMED.
BUT HOW MANY MORE INCIDENTS LIKE THIS MUST HAPPEN BEFORE WE TAKE ACTION BEYOND THE IMMEDIATE DANGERS? THIS LACK OF INFRASTRUCTURE PRE PREVENTS US FROM BUILDING THE COMMUNITY WE WANT AND GIVING OUR KIDS THE FREEDOM WE HAD WHEN WE WERE YOUNG.
I WISH I COULD, BUT I CAN'T ALLOW MY TWO BOYS TO PLAY OUTSIDE OR TAKE A WALK WITHOUT SUPERVISION AND NEITHER WILL ANY OTHER PARENT I KNOW IN OUR NEIGHBORHOOD, WE'RE CONSTANTLY WORRIED ABOUT KIDS GETTING HIT WHILE BEING PUSHED INTO TRAFFIC.
IN THE PROCESS OF TRYING TO NAVIGATE THE INCOMPLETE SIDEWALKS, WE ARE ASKING WITH URGENCY THAT COTTAGE GROVE WEST BE ADDED TO THE CIP THIS YEAR.
WE UNDERSTAND IT'S A BIG TASK AND WE'RE WILLING TO WORK WITH YOU ON PHASING THE IMPROVEMENTS.
PERHAPS JUST IMPROVING KANSAS AND CONE STREETS WOULD BE A GOOD START, BUT LET'S NOT WAIT ANYMORE.
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR TIME AND FOR CONSIDERING THIS CRITICAL REQUEST.
HI, MY NAME'S RUTH GAYLER AND THIS IS MY SON PETER GAYLER.
UM, WE ARE RECENT RESIDENTS OF COTTAGE GROVE.
WE MOVED IN JUNE AND UH, HE'S ONLY FOUR MONTHS OLD.
BUT, UM, AS YOU'VE HEARD AND YOU'RE GONNA CONTINUE TO HEAR, IS LIKE, I JUST WANNA BE ABLE TO WALK MY KID SAFELY AND, UM, I CAN'T.
[02:00:01]
JUST THE BEGINNING AND END OF IT.UM, UH, YEAH, I HAVE A MILE LOOP FROM MY HOUSE THAT I TRY TO WALK DAILY WITH HIM AND MY DOG.
AND BETWEEN DODGING POTHOLES AND COMPLETE SIDEWALKS AND SPEEDING CARS, IT GETS DICEY.
UM, BUT, UH, AND THEN AS OTHERS HAVE MENTIONED, THE DETERIORATION OF THE ROADS.
UM, MY CORNER SPECIFICALLY CARS FALL EVERY TIME THEY TRY TO TURN RIGHT BECAUSE THE LANES BASICALLY A ONE LANE STREET AT THIS POINT BECAUSE OF HOW MUCH THE, UM, CORNER OF THE ROAD HAS FALLEN INTO THE DITCHES INSTEAD.
SO IF YOU WOULD PLEASE JUST CONSIDER US.
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR BEING HERE, BOTH OF YOU.
MY NAME IS OMAR BED AND I'M HERE AS A RESIDENCE OF COTTAGE GROVE NEIGHBORHOOD.
UH, TO VOICE, TO VOICE SOME OF MY CONCERNS ABOUT THE ROADS AND SIDEWALKS AS WELL.
UH, WE'VE BEEN DEALING WITH THIS CONDITION FOR QUITE A WHILE AND IT IS DANGEROUS FOR EVERYBODY IN OUR COMMUNITY.
OUR ROADS ARE FULL OF POTHOLES AND UNEVEN SURFACES, CREATING AN UNNECESSARY WEAR AND TEAR IN OUR VEHICLES.
NOT TO MENTION, UH, AVOIDABLE ACCIDENTS.
ON TOP OF THAT, OUR SIDEWALKS ARE CRACKED AND INCOMPLETE OR NON-EXISTENT IN SOME AREAS, MOST AREAS ACTUALLY FORCING PEDESTRIANS, INCLUDING CHILDREN AND SENIORS WITH MOBILITY ISSUES TO NAVIGATE UNSAFE STREETS ALONG WITH UNSAFE DRIVING CONDITIONS.
IT AFFECTS ALL OF US DRIVERS, PEDESTRIANS, CYCLISTS, AND FAMILIES.
WHAT MAKES IT EVEN MORE CONCERNING IS THAT WE'RE ONE OF THE LARGEST CITIES IN THE US.
INFRASTRUCTURE IS FALLING SHORT FROM WHAT IS BEING EXPECTED FROM A CITY THIS SIZE.
UM, IT'S ACTUALLY EMBARRASSING WHEN I HAVE PEOPLE LIKE MY FATHER WHO'S FROM EGYPT THAT COMES AND VISITS US.
UM, HE CONTINUALLY ASKS ME EVERY TIME WE WALK INTO THE NEIGHBORHOOD OR DRIVES INTO THE NEIGHBORHOOD, HE SAYS, OH, THAT'S WHY TEXAS HAS A LOT OF TRUCKS.
AND MY ANSWER ALWAYS IS, TWO TRUCKS WOULDN'T PASS BY IN OUR STREETS 'CAUSE THE THROATS ARE SO NARROW.
I'M GONNA REPEAT EVERYTHING ELSE THAT EVERYBODY SAID, BUT THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR GIVING ME THE OPPORTUNITY.
THANK YOU FOR TAKING TIME TO BE HERE TODAY.
STEPHANIE MIGEL, NEXT SPEAKER.
THANK YOU FOR LETTING ME, UH, SPEAK TODAY.
I'M COTTAGE GROVE'S FRIENDLY CIVIL ENGINEER.
SO I'M COLLECTED A LOT OF THE DATA YOU'VE BEEN LOOKING AT.
UM, YOU'VE HEARD A LOT OF GREAT STORIES HERE TODAY.
UH, THESE ARE FOLKS WHO LOVE OUR NEIGHBORHOODS, BUT ARE JUST BEING FAILED BY THE MOST BASIC INFRASTRUCTURE NEEDS.
UH, OUR NEW LITTLE FAMILY LOVES TO GO ON WALKS IN THE EVENINGS.
HE'S NOT QUITE WALKING YET, BUT WE'RE GETTING CLOSE.
UM, BUT THOSE HAPPY MOMENTS ARE JUST RUINED BY THE OBSTACLE COURSE THAT IS OUR NEIGHBORHOOD.
NARROWLY BEING HIT BY A CAR, TRYING TO FIND A SIDEWALK DODGING DITCHES THAT ARE FULL OF STAGNANT WATER.
IT'S JUST STRESSFUL TO WALK AROUND.
WHEN MY SON IS OLDER, IT MAKES ME SAD BECAUSE HE WON'T BE ABLE TO, UH, SAFELY PLAY OUTSIDE WITH HIS FRIENDS.
WE HAVE SUCH A DENSE NEIGHBORHOOD.
THERE'S THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE ON COTTAGE GROVE, TONS OF CHILDREN NOW, AND THE INFRASTRUCTURE IS A BARRIER BETWEEN US CONNECTING AND FORMING A COMMUNITY.
I KNOW A MAJOR CAPITAL PROJECT IS GONNA BE EXPENSIVE, BUT THAT'S NO EXCUSE.
IT'S ONLY GONNA GET WORSE AND IT'S ONLY GONNA COST MORE DOWN THE LINE.
SPLIT IT INTO PHASES IF YOU HAVE TO.
I I'VE GOT THE DETAILED DATA ABOUT THE WORST STREETS.
YOU CAN TACKLE THOSE AND WORK YOUR WAY ACROSS THE NEIGHBORHOOD.
ANY PROGRESS YOU CAN MAKE WILL BE SO APPRECIATED BY THE RESIDENTS OF COTTAGE GROVE.
THANK YOU FOR HEARING US TODAY, AND, UH, HOPE YOU'LL TAKE OUR STORIES TO HEART AND ACT ON BEHALF OF COTTAGE GROVE COUNCIL MEMBER KAMAN, THANK YOU MAYOR PRO TEM, UM, DREW TO, TO YOU.
BUT TO EVERYONE, I WANNA THANK YOU FOR COMING DOWN HERE BECAUSE IT'S NOT EASY, UH, THAT YOU ALL ORGANIZE, THAT YOU TOOK THE TIME.
UH, YOU ADVOCATE FOR YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD IN SUCH A MEANINGFUL AND EFFECTIVE WAY.
AND LOOK OUT FOR OTHERS THAT DON'T NECESSARILY HAVE THE TIME OR THE VOICE TO BE HERE.
RUTH, IT'S OKAY TO GET EMOTIONAL.
UM, AND YOU SHOULD BECAUSE AS A MOM HAVING TO NAVIGATE THOSE STREETS, IT IS SCARY AND IT IS NOT SAFE.
UM, SO I, I WANT ALL OF THE PARENTS TO KNOW, BUT ANY FAMILY, ANY RESIDENT IN COTTAGE GROVE, UH, YOUR WORDS ARE NOT LOST ON ME.
AND I WANNA THANK YOU FOR CONTINUING TO PARTNER WITH MY OFFICE AND WE HAVE MADE HEADWAY IN LITTLE WAYS THAT WE CAN, BUT AGAIN, THIS TAKES
[02:05:01]
A BODY, NOT JUST AN INDIVIDUAL AT THIS POINT, TO MOVE FORWARD ON WHAT IS REALLY NEEDED TO TACKLE THE RISKS AND DANGERS THAT YOU ALL ARE FACING IN THE COMMUNITY.BUT IT IS A BEAUTIFUL COMMUNITY BECAUSE OF THE PEOPLE THAT LIVE THERE.
SO THANK YOU AGAIN FOR YOUR TIME.
WE'RE NOT GONNA GIVE UP, UH, TATI.
I DID WANNA MENTION WITH THE TRUCKS THAT ARE COMING THROUGH, WE DID SPECIFICALLY REQUEST THAT, UH, COTTAGE GROVE BE INCLUDED IN THE TRUCK ROUTE PILOT PLAN.
I'M NOT SURE WHERE THE PILOT PLAN STANDS RIGHT NOW, BUT WE HAVE REQUESTED THAT TO BE INCLUDED.
UH, BUT THERE'S AGAIN, THAT'S ONE TINY LITTLE THING WHEN WE HAVE A WHOLE COMMUNITY, UH, THAT NEEDS OUR ATTENTION RIGHT NOW.
AND I, AGAIN, FROM THE BOTTOM OF MY HEART, THANK YOU ALL FOR THE TIME.
COUNCIL MEMBER ALCO, THANK YOU.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR COMING EVERYONE, AND I APPRECIATE THE EMAIL YOU SENT TO THE OFFICE.
AND, AND A PICTURE IS WORTH A MILLION THOUSAND WORDS OR WHATEVER THE SAYING IS WITH THAT BUS, YOU KNOW, IN THE DITCH.
YOU KNOW, THIS MAKES ME REALLY SAD BECAUSE I REMEMBER LIKE BACK IN 2016 THERE WAS THAT RICE UNIVERSITY, UM, LOW INCOME, LOW IMPACT DEVELOPMENT, GREEN STORM WATER PROJECT ALONG.
DARLING, IS THAT JUST GONE OR, YOU KNOW, IS ANYBODY MAINTAINING IT? HOW, WHAT'S THE STATUS OF THAT? IT, IT, IT'S STILL THERE.
WE KIND OF POINT TO IT AS WHAT WE WOULD LIKE TO SEE FOR THE REST OF IT.
OKAY, SO THAT'S STILL THERE AND GOOD.
'CAUSE I, I REMEMBER THAT AND I WAS JUST LOOKING AT PICTURES OF IT AND I LIKE, OH, I HOPE THAT'S STILL THERE.
UH, THIS IS EMAIL TO THE MAYOR AND ALSO A COPY THAT TO YOU, SIR.
I'VE, UH, SPOKE TO DAVID EARLIER ABOUT THIS.
UM, SO, SO MY NAME IS BENJAMIN BROWARD AND I'M ASKING YOUR HELP IF YOU SAY YES.
WHAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN IN MAY IS THIS AN ANNUAL CELEBRATION OF NATIONAL NURSES DAY WILL BE HELD AT RICE STADIUM HONORING THE NURSES IN THE TEXAS MEDICAL CENTER USING THE STADIUM AS THE FOREGROUND FOR THE FESTIVAL.
IF WE CAN DO A PRESS RELEASE ABOUT THIS EARLY, THEN WE'LL BE ABLE TO RAISE MONEY FOR THE EVENT, WHICH WE'LL DO IS WE'LL TAKE THAT MONEY AND EACH ONE OF YOU WILL JOIN ME AND WE'LL GO AROUND HOSPITAL TO HOSPITAL THREE TIMES A DAY AND WE'RE GONNA PAY OFF CERTAIN STUDENT NURSES STUDENT LOANS LIVE ON YOUTUBE.
OKAY? WE DO THIS DAY AND NIGHT BECAUSE THE SHIFTS ARE DAY AND NIGHT.
THE GOAL OF DOING IS WE'LL BE THE FIRST CITY EVER TO RECOGNIZE NATIONAL NURSES DAY.
WHY SHOULDN'T WE? WE GO TO THE TEXAS MEDICAL CENTER.
WE'RE THE LARGEST MEDICAL CENTER IN THE WORLD.
SO WHAT'S GONNA HAPPEN IS, IS AFTER WE TAKE ALL THESE NURSES AND PAY OFF ALL THEIR DEBTS, THE MONEY WE RAISE AFTER THAT, WE'LL STILL CONTINUE TO GO TO THESE SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAMS OF ALL THE COLLEGES IN INSIDE TEXAS MEDICAL CENTER.
WHEN THAT'S COVERED, MORE MONEY WILL BE THEN GIVEN TO ALL THE HOSPITALS IN SOUTHERN TEXAS MEDICAL CENTER SO THAT THEY WILL BE ALLOWED TO GIVE THE MONEY TO HIRE THE BEST OF THE BEST TO COME WORK FOR THEM.
MY GOAL IS FIVE BUCKS A MONTH, 1 MILLION PEOPLE, THAT'S $5 MILLION A MONTH, $60 MILLION A YEAR.
IT WON'T BE HARD TO PAY OFF EVERY DEBT IN ONE YEAR'S TIME.
IT WON'T BE HARD TO SUPPLY THESE HOSPITALS WITH FUNDING SO THAT THEY DON'T HAVE TO KEEP ON GOING TO THEIR PEOPLE TO RAISE MORE MONEY.
WE CAN SUPPLY IT BY JUST ONE FUND AND THIS WAY, BRINGING THIS, BRINGING THE WORLD TO HOUSTON.
'CAUSE RIGHT NOW WE ARE NOTHING.
BUT WE'RE LIKE, WHAT THE MOST, WHAT'S THE WORD? WHAT'S THE WORD? GOD, I CAN'T THINK OF THE WORD.
WE'RE LIKE THE BIGGEST, BADDEST CITY IN THE NATION.
OKAY? 'CAUSE IF WE HAVE MORE PEOPLE FROM THE COUNTRY IN THIS CITY, UH, GOD, I CAN'T THINK OF THE WORD NOW.
UM, THE IDEA TO DO THIS JUST MAKES SENSE.
UM, I HATE COMING AND SPEAKING IN PRAYER 'CAUSE THEN I JUST GET NERVOUS AND I LOSE TRACK, MAN.
UM, MY GOAL IS, BECAUSE THE REASON I WANNA DO THIS IS, UM, FOR ONE, THREE YEARS OLD, I WAS TOLD I'D BE DEAD IN THREE DAYS.
I'M NOW 62 BECAUSE OF HERMAN HEALTH SYSTEM.
I'VE GONE THROUGH TWO OPEN HEARTS.
I'M HANGING OUT WITH A, UH, 4.7 CENTIMETER, UH, A ANEURYSM.
SO I'LL HAVE ANOTHER OPEN HEART.
12 YEARS AGO AFTER MY SECOND OPEN HEART, MY WIFE AND I WENT BACK TO THE NURSES INSIDE THE, UM, UH, ICU.
NO ONE HAD EVER COME BACK TO A NURSE AND GIVEN THEM A GIFT.
OKAY? SO IN THAT FOR 12 YEARS, MY CLINIC HAS CAUGHT TODAY AMIGOS IN THE HARRIS HEALTH SYSTEM.
MY WIFE AND I HAVE BEEN DOING.
WE'VE CONSTANTLY GONE EVERY YEAR, EVERY HOLIDAY, EVERY VALENTINE'S, EVERY WHATEVER IT IS THAT YOU GET A GIFT.
WE BRING GIFTS, OKAY? THEY ENJOY IT.
IF I CAN GIVE THIS TO MERE PRO TEMP TO SEE WHAT'S WHAT'S, UH, TO ME, WHAT YOU SEE HERE IS AFTER ALL THE YEARS
[02:10:01]
OF MY WIFE AND I GIVING TO THIS, UH, TO THE NURSES THERE AND SAYING THANK YOU AND SHOWING APPRECIATION.WHEN MY MOTHER DIED TWO YEARS AGO, THAT WAS SENT TO ME.
THIS IS A CARD THAT WAS SIGNED BY EVERY SINGLE EMPLOYEE AT THE CO D AMIGOS CLINIC SENT TO ME.
HAVE YOU EVER HEARD OF A CLINIC? THE WHOLE STAFF NURSING, UH, EXECUTIVE OFFICE SECURITY, SIGNING A CARD.
THIS IS WHAT THEY MEANT TO ME.
'CAUSE THAT'S WHAT I MEAN TO THEM.
I WANT TO MAKE THIS BIGGER AND BETTER.
WHY SHOULDN'T HOUSTON BE IN THE HOME THROUGH THE TEXAS MEDICAL CENTER? BE THE LARGEST RECRUITING SYSTEM BECAUSE HERE'S WHAT'S GOING, MAY I HAVE ANOTHER MINUTE? GO AHEAD AND, UH, WRAP UP MR. ROBERT.
SO WHAT'S GONNA, THIS IS NEXT MAY.
THIS IS GONNA BE A RECRUITING EFFORT, MEANING EVERY COLLEGE WILL HAVE A, A, A PLACE AT RICE UNIVERSITY BECAUSE THEY'LL BE RECRUITING FOR STUDENTS.
EVERY HOSPITAL WILL HAVE A PLACE THERE BECAUSE THEY'RE GOING TO BE RECRUITING FOR MORE WORKERS.
SO WE'LL BE THE ONLY CITY THAT WE OPENING OUR ARMS TO, DOCTORS OR NURSES AND DOCTORS AROUND THE WORLD COME WORK IN HOUSTON.
SO ALL I'M ASKING IS, CAN YOU HELP ME BRING THE BEST OF THE BEST TO THE CITY OF HOUSTON? THANK YOU FOR SHARING THAT.
THANK YOU MAYOR PRO, TIM AND MR. BROER, THANK YOU FOR COMING FORWARD.
I DID SPEAK WITH DAVID IN MY OFFICE, UH, ABOUT THIS ISSUE.
AND WE WILL CONTINUE TO SPEAK WITH YOU FURTHER ABOUT YOUR IDEAS AND HOW WE CAN COLLABORATE.
ANYBODY HERE WITH THE PARKS DEPARTMENT? ANYBODY HERE CAN SPEAK WITH THE PARKS DEPARTMENT? GO AHEAD AND, AND WRAP THAT UP.
SO MY NEXT PROPOSAL IS THE FACT THAT WE CAN SAVE TENS OF THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS EVERY YEAR BY HAVING THE PARKS DEPARTMENT GO INTO THESE COMMUNITIES, LIKE THIRD WARD ACRES, HOMES, ALL THIS GOOD STUFF.
AND WE HIRE THE YOUNG MEN AND WOMEN TO BECOME CONTRACTORS.
INSTEAD OF BRINGING IN THE CITY, SPENDING THOUSANDS UPON THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS TO KEEP THE NEIGHBORHOODS CLEAN, LET'S GO OUT TO THESE COMMUNITIES.
LET'S HIRE SOME OF THESE YOUNG MEN AND WOMEN WHO ARE 13, 14, 15 YEARS OLD.
GIVE THEM CONTRACTS AND SHOW THEM WHAT IT'S LIKE TO HAVE THE JOB.
NEVER TOLD TO THESE PEOPLE AT ALL.
THEY'RE ALWAYS TOLD THEY'RE UNDER SOMETHING, BUT THEY'RE NEVER TOLD.
IT'S JUST NOTED BY SHOWING THESE KIDS THE APPRECIATION.
THEY'RE SOMETHING NOW WHEN THEY GO OUT AND DO THEIR WORK, THEY'LL BE APPRECIATED BY IT.
THEY'RE GONNA SEE HOW WELL THEY TAKE CARE OF THESE.
THEY'RE GONNA HAVE PEOPLE PROBABLY MAYBE COME BACK TWO ACRES, SOMETHINGS COME BACK INTO THIRD WARD, COME BACK INTO SUNNYSIDE AND SAY, WOW, THIS NEIGHBORHOOD'S CHANGED.
HOW, WHAT HAPPENED? THE KIDS 13 AND 14-YEAR-OLD KIDS WHO GOT CONTRACTS FROM THE CITY WHO ARE GOING TO GO OUT THERE AND MOW THESE LAWNS AND NOT MAKE A WHOLE CITY CREW GO OUT AND SPEND TENS OF THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS A DAY ON PAYROLL.
WE APPRECIATE YOU SHARING YOUR THOUGHTS WITH US.
UM, AND I KNOW THAT THE DIRECTOR OF PARKS AND REC IS PROBABLY WATCHING AND WE CAN FOLLOW UP WITH HIM WITH YOUR IDEA.
THANK YOU GUYS FOR ALLOWING ME TO BE HERE.
UM, MY FIRST CONCERN IS WITH MENTAL HEALTH, UM, I AM ONE THAT STRUGGLES WITH IT.
I HAVE PTSD AND NOT AFRAID TO TELL YOU I HAVE BIPOLAR, BUT MANAGED.
WHAT I WANT THE CITIZENS TO KNOW THAT WHEN YOU GUYS AS CITIZENS AND US AS PEOPLE THAT DEAL WITH A MENTAL ILLNESS, WHEN IT'S CONTROLLED, IT'S SAFE.
BUT WHEN IT'S NOT, IT WILL GET ME TO HAVE ANXIETY.
LIKE I HAD A COUPLE OF WEEKS AGO ON THE METRO BUS STOP ALSO, WHEN WE GUYS AS CITIZENS WORK WITH MENTAL ILLNESS, WE'RE NOT MAKING AN EXCUSE FOR IT.
'CAUSE WHEN YOU TAKE YOUR MEDICINE, YOU'RE FINE.
BUT IF WE'RE EXPOSED TO PEOPLE THAT AREN'T TAKING THEIR MEDICINES AND THEY'RE IN PUBLIC AND THEY'RE OFFENDING THE BUS DRIVERS OR THEY'RE ASSAULTING US, WHAT DO WE DO AS PEOPLE THAT ALWAYS GET PULLED OUT TO SAY WE HAVE A MENTAL ILLNESS.
IF I FEEL LIKE THE POLICE NEED TO BE TRAINED MORE, NOT TO SAY THAT THEY'RE NOT DOING THEIR JOBS.
I COMMEND THE POLICE OFFICERS.
I COMMEND THE SERGEANTS, I COMMEND ALL OF YOU GUYS.
BUT IF WE'RE TRAINING MORE WITH MENTAL ILLNESS AND WE'RE NOT PUT UNDER A CAP TO SAY THAT WE CAN'T PROVIDE SERVICES FOR CERTAIN PEOPLE, I THINK THAT'S WRONG.
BECAUSE AT THE END OF THE DAY, A LOT OF PEOPLE DEAL WITH ANXIETY.
ARE THEY GONNA ADMIT THEY HAVE OTHER ISSUES? NO.
BUT IF YOU'RE PARANOID SCHIZOPHRENIC AND YOU'RE DANGEROUS TO THE COMMUNITY, WE NEED TO START DOING SOMETHING.
BECAUSE EVEN WHEN I GO TO THE HOSPITAL AS AN INPATIENT, IT TAKES ME ABOUT THREE DAYS TO ADJUST.
THAT'S FINE BECAUSE THEY'RE COMING UP WITH NEW MEDICATIONS.
BUT IF WE'RE NOT AS A CITY TRYING TO HELP WITH MENTAL ILLNESS, WHEN IT STARTS EARLY, LIKE WHEN IN CHILDHOOD, OKAY, YOUR COUNSELOR SEES IT, WE NEED TO START ADMITTING SOMETHING SO THERE WON'T BE HIGH SUICIDE RATES.
WHAT I'M EXPOSED TO NOW IS LITTLE KIDS WANTING TO KILL THEMSELVES AND THE PILLS NOW THAT THEY'RE TAKING AND BEING EXPOSED TO, WE NEED TO DO SOMETHING.
I HAD A LITTLE GIRL THAT I KNEW
[02:15:01]
SHE WAS SEVEN YEARS OLD, TOOK 17 PILLS BECAUSE SHE SAID HER MOM IS A PILL HEAD.WE NEED TO JUST START EDUCATING PEOPLE MORE ABOUT MENTAL ILLNESS AND PILLS OVERALL.
THANK YOU FOR SHARING YOUR CONCERNS.
NEXT SPEAKER PASTOR JAMES WILLIAMS. PASTOR JAMES WILLIAMS. NEXT SPEAKER.
SO I KNOW I'M PROBABLY THE MOST, UH, REJECTED PERSON, WHOEVER COMES TO THIS PODIUM, BUT, UM, SPEAKING OF MENTAL ILLNESS, I GUESS I HAVE THREE MINUTES TO GO AHEAD AND JUST SAY WHATEVER I'M GONNA SAY.
YOU KNOW, SEEMINGLY PROBABLY DOESN'T EVEN MATTER, BUT IT DEFINITELY MATTERS AS FAR AS MENTAL ILLNESS AND A LOT OF PEOPLE THAT I'VE ACTUALLY SPOKEN TO ABOUT WHAT I'VE WRITTEN BECAUSE CERTAINLY I MADE EVERY EFFORT TO GO AHEAD AND ACTUALLY STATED SO ABOUT WHAT IT IS EXACTLY WHETHER I EXPERIENCED IT, WHETHER IT'S BEEN SAID, WHETHER IT IS PART OF THE MEDIA, WHETHER IT'S PART OF THE PSYCHOLOGICAL, EXCUSE ME IF I SAY THE, THE AWFUL WORD, RIGHT.
WARFARE TACTICS ON SOCIAL, ON ON SOCIETY ITSELF.
CALLING IT, BECAUSE IT IS PROPER DEFINITION, IT'S WELL UNDERSTOOD TO BE, IT'S IN THE DICTIONARY.
NOW THAT DOESN'T PUT PUT ME IN THE, IN THE SEAT OF BEING MENTALLY ILL, BUT IT JUST PUT ME IN THE SEAT OF BEING, HOW DO YOU CALL IT, POSSIBLY TARGETED.
'CAUSE ANYONE WHO'S ACTUALLY SAYING ANYTHING ABOUT SOMETHING LIKE THAT WILL BE PERSECUTED.
SO ANYWAYS, JAPAN DOES NOT HAVE THIS RACIAL DEMOGRAPHIC.
THIS IS ONE, THIS IS FROM, FROM ONE OF THE PAPERS, WHICH I, I DID SEND TO ALL OF YOUR OFFICES.
HOPE I DIDN'T, I I JUST GOT OUTTA THE, OUT OF THE HOSPITAL.
UM, JAPAN DOES NOT HAVE THE RACIAL DEMOGRAPHIC OF COMPETITIVE TRIBALISTIC SOCIOLOGY ATTACHED TO IT AS AMERICA ALSO KNOWN AS RACISM.
AS RACISM IS EVEN DIVISIVE WITHIN PEOPLE OF SAME SKIN, SAME FACIAL FEATURES, SAME COUNTRY LINEAGE, AND SUBDIVIDED BY NE NEGATION OF CULTURAL DIFFERENTIATION AND FOREIGN INTELLECTUAL DISCOMFORT, COHABITING WITH OTHERS WHO ARE HUMAN, BUT DIFFERENT FROM YOU IN SOME MANNER.
A TRUE SPIRITUAL DILEMMA WITH THE EDIFICE OF RESOLVE, APPROPRIATED BY AUTHENTIC MISPOSITIONED MATURITY WORDS HAVING MEANING OR MEANING, MEANING SOMETHING, OR WORDS INDEED BEING SPECIAL AS LANGUAGE IS INDEED SACRED SINCE EVERYTHING IS MADE UP OF LANGUAGE.
IF WE TAKE RESPECT OUT OUT OF THE DICTIONARY, WHAT WILL WE HAVE LEFT? THE SUBSTANCE OF WHAT WE CANNOT TAKE WITH US.
AND IT'S NOT UNDERSTOOD BECAUSE WHAT CANNOT BE APPRECIATED TODAY, IN THIS DAY AND AGE DOESN'T BECAUSE IT ISN'T ESPECIALLY THANKSGIVING, WHICH IS THE AUTONOMOUS BEARING TOWARDS OPPOSITE OF NARCISSISM.
IN DOING SO, FORMING THE, THESE, THE SAME PROCLIVITIES OF VICARIOUS INTRIGUE AND GARNERING OF TASTE OF THE STARK THEMES, INTEREST AND WHAT HAS, WHAT WAS NOT PART OF THE PERSON'S VIEWER'S, TEMPERAMENTS AS IN THE INDIVIDUAL WAS MUCH HEALTHIER BEFORE BEING CONSISTENTLY PROMOTED A FALSE ART FORM THAT CANNOT OBJECTIVELY BE CALLED ENTERTAINMENT.
BECAUSE THIS PAPER COMES DIRECTLY FROM, FROM SOMETHING CALLED I, I DISCUSSED ANIMATE, AND A LOT OF DIFFERENT ASPECTS OF WHAT EXACTLY THE, WHAT THE HELL THEY'RE SHOWING US ON, ON TELEVISION, DESTROYING PRETTY MUCH THE ENTIRE MINDS OF EVERYONE.
ANYWAYS, YOUR TIME HAS EXPIRED, MR. DURAN.
WE APPRECIATE YOU COMING AND SHARING YOUR THOUGHTS WITH US TODAY.
WELL, ALL I CAN DO IS CONTINUE TO BRING EXCERPTS, UH, WEEK AFTER WEEK, RIGHT? UH, I MEAN, THAT'S ALL I CAN DO.
I WENT AHEAD AND SENT Y'ALL THE TWO PAPERS, WHICH ARE RIGHT.
WE RECEIVED THAT QUITE EXTENSIVE, THANK YOU.
AND, UH, TO EVERY ONE OF Y'ALL'S OFFICES.
AND I AM NOT TALKING OUT OF JUST, YOU KNOW, AS THEY WOULD CALL A KAREN OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT, RIGHT? I AM.
I'M, I MEAN, IF YOU LOOK AT THE ENTIRE PAPER, IT'S VERY MUCH ME PINPOINTING EVERYTHING THAT IS ACTUALLY GOING ON, RIGHT? MR. DURAN, WE DO HAVE TO MOVE ON TO THE NEXT SPEAKER, BUT WE APPRECIATE YOU SHARING THOSE COMMENTS AND FOR THE WHITE PAPERS THAT YOU'VE SHARED WITH OUR OFFICES, I KNOW THAT THE COUNCIL MEMBERS WILL ALL TAKE A LOOK AT THAT.
ALRIGHT, I'LL, I'LL HAVE, I'LL HAVE ACTUAL WHAT COPIES NEXT WEEK.
IT'S JUST THAT I, UM, I WAS IN THE HOSPITAL FOR IT, SENDING IT TO US VIA EMAIL WORKS.
UM, IT LET, UH, WE'LL TAKE A PAGE OUTTA COUNCIL MEMBER ALCORN'S BOOK, UM, AND WE'LL, AND WE'LL SAVE A TREE.
IT DOES, WE DO RECEIVE IT WHEN YOU SEND IT TO US VIA EMAIL.
THE THING IS SAID, I WAS IN THE HOSPITAL FOR TWO WEEKS BECAUSE THEY WENT AHEAD AND TOTALLY LIED ABOUT ME, ME FIRST COMING IN THERE RIGHT, AND SAYING THAT WHILE I WAS FASTING FOR ONLY THREE DAYS.
THEY SAID THREE MONTHS, AND THEN THE PSYCHOLOGIST
[02:20:01]
CAME AND YELLED AT ME, MR. DURAN, WE GOT IT.WE APPRECIATE YOU BEING HERE TODAY.
SO, SO, I'M, I'M ALSO ASKING FOR SOME, SOME HEALTH, HEALTH SUPPORT HERE.
IF SOMEONE CAN ACTUALLY HELP THAT, HELP ME WITH THAT, WE CAN DEFINITELY DO THAT.
UM, SOME PHYSICAL HEALTH PROBLEMS. YES, SIR.
NOT, NOT MENTAL, BECAUSE NO, I UNDERSTAND.
BECAUSE ALL, I MEAN, THEY, THEY WENT REGARDLESS OF A HOUSE SEVERE, I WAS CLO CLOSE, UH, LYSIS.
THEY WERE LIKE, NO, GIVE HIM INTRAMUSCULAR INJECTIONS.
AND THEY'RE LIKE, I CAN'T HAVE OR RECEIVE THAT WHEN I HAVE THAT.
AND WE WANNA MAKE SURE THAT YOU GET THE HELP THAT YOU NEED, JAMES, IF YOU CAN HELP HIM AND MAKE SURE THAT HE GETS, UH, THE INFORMATION THAT HE'S REQUESTING.
DID YOU WANNA MAKE A MOTION TO ADD, UH, ANDREW CAN, UH, COUNCIL MEMBERS? I, I SAW HIM IN THE, IN THE HALLWAY.
CAN SOMEBODY MAKE A MOTION TO ADD MR. ANDREW CAN TO THE SPEAKER'S LIST? CA CA AND MOVES TO ADD MR. CAN TO THE SPEAKER'S LIST.
ANY OBJECTIONS? ALL IN FAVOR? ITEM PASSES.
HELLO? UM, FIRST OFF, THANK YOU SO MUCH AND CITY COUNCIL.
THANK Y'ALL FOR ALLOWING ME TO SPEAK.
CURRENTLY I'M CONSIDERED HOMELESS HERE IN HOUSTON.
UNFORTUNATELY, I MADE SOME DECISIONS WHERE I WAS PLAGUED, WELL, DECIDED TO DO DRUGS THROUGHOUT MY LIFE.
HOWEVER, UM, HOUSTON HAS GRANTED ME AN OPPORTUNITY TO GET MY LIFE BACK TOGETHER THROUGH VARIOUS PROGRAMS HERE.
BUT UNFORTUNATELY, FINDING A JOB, EVEN WITH THE COLLEGE DEGREE AND SOME LEGAL EXPERIENCE HAS BEEN EXTREMELY DIFFICULT.
AND PRESIDENT DONALD TRUMP HAS ELIMINATED THE REQUIREMENT FOR FEDERAL CONTRACTORS TO MAINTAIN AFFIRMATIVE ACTION PROGRAMS. THIS ORDER ENDING ILLEGAL DISCRIMINATION AND RESTORING MERIT BASED OPPORTUNITIES.
REVOKES EXECUTIVE ORDER 1 1 2 4 6, WHICH WAS SIGNED BY PRESIDENT LYNDON JOHNSON IN 1965.
MERIT BASE MEANS SOMETHING IS BASED ON A PERSON'S SKILLS, ABILITIES, OR PERFORMANCE.
IT CAN BE USED TO DESCRIBE SCHOLARSHIPS, HIRING PRACTICES, OR COMPANY CULTURE.
AFFIRMATIVE ACTION IN UNITED STATES WAS AN ACTIVE EFFORT TO IMPROVE EMPLOYMENT OR EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES FOR MEMBERS OF MINORITY GROUPS.
ACCORDING TO THE COALITION FOR THE HOMELESS PEOPLE WHO ARE AFRICAN AMERICAN ARE DISPROPORTIONATELY REPRESENTED.
THEY MAKE UP 62% OF THE POPULATION EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS IN THE REGION.
BUT ONLY 21% OF THE TOTAL POPULATION OF HARRIS COUNTY.
ACCORDING TO THE OFFICE OF MANAGEMENT AND BUDGET, HARRIS COUNTY FISCAL YEAR 2024, BUDGET, TWO OF THEIR OBJECTIVES WERE MAKE OUR ECONOMY MORE INCLUSIVE BY GROWING THE NUMBER OF MINORITY BUSINESSES AND PROVIDE WORKERS WITH TRAINING AND OTHER SUPPORT TO PARTICIPATE FULLY IN THE LOCAL ECONOMY.
MY QUESTION WITH EXECUTIVE ORDER 1, 1 12 4 6, NO LONGER BEING IN THE FOREST IS THE CITY OF HOUSTON PLAN TO COLLABORATE WITH PRIVATE AND PUBLIC BUSINESSES TO ENSURE QUALIFIED AFRICAN AMERICANS OR GUARANTEED JOBS IN VARIOUS SECTORS TO HELP LOWER THE POVERTY SLASH HOMELESS RATE.
AND DOES THE CITY COLLABORATE OR PLAN TO COLLABORATE WITH SCHOOLS OF HIGHER EDUCATION, PUBLIC AND PRIVATE AND OR TRADE SCHOOLS TO GUARANTEE THE ACCEPTANCE AND FUNDING OF AFRICAN AMERICANS SO WE CAN FULLY PARTICIPATE IN OWNING AND OPERATING MINORITY BUSINESSES AND EMPLOYMENTS HERE.
THANK YOU MR. KAHAN FOR BEING HERE.
UM, COUNCIL MEMBER CAYMAN, DID YOU, WERE YOU IN THE QUEUE? YES, GO AHEAD.
UH, I KNOW THAT SEVERAL COUNCIL MEMBERS HAVE DIFFERENT INITIATIVES FOR JOB, UM, OPPORTUNITIES, INCLUDING MY COLLEAGUE NEXT TO ME.
AND, UM, I WOULD ENCOURAGE YOU TO REACH OUT TO THE DISTRICT COUNCIL MEMBERS.
UH, I SHARE YOUR CONCERN ABOUT WITH, UH, THE, THE NEW, UH, FEDERAL EXECUTIVE ORDERS AND THE SUSPENSION, EVEN IN OUR OWN MWBE PROGRAMS, THE CONTRACTS AND THE FUNDING THAT IS ALREADY THERE WITH THOSE MWBE REQUIREMENTS, EVEN IN TERMS OF STATE GRANTS AND ALL OF THAT BEING ON PAUSE.
BUT FOR YOU SPECIFICALLY, MAKING SURE THAT YOU'RE ABLE TO FIND WORK, UM, PLEASE REACH OUT TO THE DIFFERENT COUNCIL MEMBERS, INCLUDING COUNCIL MEMBER JACKSON.
THERE'S SEVERAL OTHERS, UM, THAT DO HAVE THOSE PROGRAMS I HAD MENTIONED.
AND I DON'T THINK WITH YOUR EXPERIENCE, UH, YOU MAY BE LOOKING FOR SOMETHING DIFFERENT.
BUT AGAIN, UH, ON WEDNESDAY, THE LABOR COMMITTEE IS GONNA BE HAVING A PRESENTATION ON OTHER APPRENTICESHIP PROGRAMS AND, UM, HOW TO ACCESS THOSE PROGRAMS AS WELL.
SO I KNOW MANY COUNCIL, I SEE COUNCIL MEMBER DAVIS OVER HERE READY TO GIVE YOU HIS CARD.
UH, BUT THERE'S MANY OF US THAT WILL DO WHAT WE CAN TO ASSIST YOU PERSONALLY.
BUT THANK YOU FOR THINKING NOT JUST OF YOURSELF, BUT FOR A, UH, BROADER COMMUNITY AND THOSE IN NEED OF JOBS RIGHT NOW.
THANK YOU MR. KAHAN, FOR BEING HERE.
OH, AND THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR TEMPORAL MAYOR FOR THAT.
[02:25:01]
NEXT SPEAKER, STEVE WILLIAMS. STEVE WILLIAMS, NEXT SPEAKER IVA EVAR.NOW, I JUST WANTED TO ITERATE AND CLARIFY THE PROBLEMS WITH THIS CATEGORY.
THE PROBLEM COMES FROM NOT ONLY WHAT IS AVAILABLE TO BE EXERCISED WITHIN THIS PREEMPTIVE INVESTIGATIVE STAGE, LIKE ELECTRONIC SURVEILLANCE AND ASSESSMENTS, WHICH IS A VERY INTRU SURVEILLANCE PROCEDURE THAT GOT AMENDED FOR THE FBI AS A PREVENTATIVE MEASURE, MEANING THAT THEY DON'T HAVE TO PUT PEOPLE UNDER A FORMAL INVESTIGATION FOR IT TO BE EXERCISED.
AN INTRUSIVE SURVEILLANCE MEASURE THAT AUTHORIZED THE FBI TO FOLLOW PEOPLE AROUND WITH THEIR INFORMANTS AS A MEANS OF INTELLIGENCE GATHERING, WHICH IN ITS RIGHT INTO THE ALLEGATIONS THAT ARE COMING OUT ABOUT THIS CATEGORY, IS BEING ALLEGED TO BE ABUSED.
A TROUBLING FORESEEN OUTCOME THAT LED JAMIE RASKIN AND NANCY MACE IN 2015 TO REACH OUT TO THE GOVERNMENT ACCOUNTABILITY OFFICE TO INVESTIGATE THE FBI'S USE OF THIS TECHNIQUE AND ITS INTENDED APPLICATIONS FOR THIS NEW EFFORT FOR FEAR AND CONCERNS ABOUT THE POTENTIAL ABUSES THAT ARE NOW WIDELY BEING ALLEGED.
NOW, THE MAIN CRUX OF THIS ISSUE LIES NOT ONLY ON THESE CONTROVERSIAL TACTICS, BUT ALSO IN THE ILLEGAL CLASSIFICATION OF THE INDIVIDUALS AS SUSPECTED TERRORIST WITHIN THE GOVERNMENT DATABASE, AND SPECIFICALLY THE NCIC, OTHERWISE COLLOQUIALLY OR INFORMALLY REFERRED TO AS THE NATIONAL CRIME DATABASE.
AND THIS IS WHERE THE MOST PROFOUND DANGERS TO OUR LEGAL SYSTEM AND INDIVIDUAL RIGHTS EMERGE BY STIGMATIZING INDIVIDUALS WHO ARE NOT UNDER INVESTIGATION, NEITHER CONNECTED TO ANY CRIMINAL ACTIVITY, AND A DATABASE THAT'S SPECIFICALLY DESIGNED, DESIGNED TO TRACK INDIVIDUALS WITH PROBABLE CAUSE OR DEMONSTRABLE TIES TO ILLEGAL CONDUCT.
THE FBI BYPASSES THE ESSENTIAL LEGAL SAFEGUARDS AND STANDARDS REQUIRED FOR SUCH LISTINGS.
THIS CREATES AN ENVIRONMENT RIGHT FOR GOVERNMENT OVERREACH AND ABUSE, WHERE INNOCENT CITIZENS AT THIS STAGE CAN BE WRONGFULLY LABELED AND DEPRIVE CERTAIN CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHTS DUE TO THEIR LEGAL LISTING WITHIN THE STATE.
MEMBER POLLARD, YOU CAN HAVE MY TIME.
AND THAT'S WITHOUT ANY SUFFICIENT EVIDENCE OR THE LEGAL ADHERENCE TO DUE PROCESS REQUIREMENTS.
THE NATIONAL CRIME INFORMATION CENTER WAS ESTABLISHED AS A CRITICAL TOOL TO SUPPORT LAW ENFORCEMENT AND LEGITIMATE INVESTIGATIONS INVOLVING INDIVIDUALS WHO POSE A CLEAR AND CREDIBLE THREAT TO NATIONAL SECURITY, NOT TO SERVE AS A VEHICLE FOR UNLAWFUL SURVEILLANCE OR THE INCLUSION OF INDIVIDUALS BASED ON SPECULATIVE OR UNFOUNDED CLAIMS. ENTERING NON INVESTIGATIVE SUBJECTS IN THE NCIC FLAGRANTLY VIOLATES ITS LEGAL AND INTENDED USE, BYPASSING ESSENTIAL SAFEGUARDS AND DUE PROCESS REQUIREMENTS, SUCH MISUSE NOT ONLY SUBVERTS THE SYSTEM'S PURPOSE, BUT ALSO CONSTITUTES A SEVERE ABUSE OF AUTHORITY, UNDERMINING THE RULE OF LAW AND INFRINGING ON THE RIGHTS OF INNOCENT INDIVIDUALS.
THE BROADER IMPLICATIONS OF THESE ACTIONS ARE DEEPLY TROUBLING, BOTH FOR THE INDIVIDUALS WRONGFULLY LISTED AND FOR THE INTEGRITY OF OUR JUSTICE SYSTEM.
FOR THOSE WRONGFULLY FLAGGED, THE CONSEQUENCES ARE SEVERE, THAT INCLUDING REPUTATIONAL DAMAGE, DENIAL OF ESSENTIAL SERVICES AND EMPLOYMENT CHALLENGES, AND THAT ASPECT TO EMPLOYMENT CHALLENGES IS SO SIGNIFICANT.
THE LAWYER THAT'S CURRENTLY WORKING ON THIS CASE HAS LIKENED THIS PRIVATE CATEGORY TO THE MCCARTHY AIR BLACKLIST DUE TO THE FBI'S ILLEGAL INCLUSION OF THESE INDIVIDUALS WITHIN THE DATABASE.
ALSO REVEALING THE FACT THAT 14% OF THE NOMINATIONS WITHIN THIS CATEGORY HAVE BEEN MADE HOMELESS BECAUSE OF THESE ACTIONS.
IT'S ONE THING FOR THE FBI TO CLAIM TO BE IMPLEMENTING PRE-CRIME OR PREDICTIVE POLICING MEASURES, BUT IT'S AN ENTIRELY DIFFERENT MATTER TO BE ENGAGING IN UNLAWFUL ACTIVITIES WITHIN THOSE ACTIONS.
IT'S HIGHLY ILLEGAL TO BE INCLUDING INDIVIDUALS WHO HAVE NO TIES TO CRIMINAL ACTIVITY WITHIN THE NCIC.
AND I'M ASKING FOR CONGRESS TO DO AN INVESTIGATION WITHIN THIS CATEGORY.
AND LASTLY, I'LL JUST LEAVE IT HERE, WHAT THE FBI'S ELICITING BEHIND THE SUBSET IS A LEGAL PROGRAM AND CONGRESS REALLY NEEDS TO TAKE A LOOK AT THIS.
NO, ANY QUESTIONS? COUNCILOR
NEXT SPEAKER, GLADYS HOUSE L HELLO, MS. HOUSE.
I'VE COME TO APOLOGIZE TO ALL OF THE CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS
[02:30:01]
BECAUSE THANKS TO YOUR COLLEAGUE, COUNCIL MEMBER WILLIE DAVIS, HE CLARIFIED THAT REALLY YOU ALL HAVE NO MORE POWER THAN ME IN ADDRESSING COMMUNITY ISSUES AND THAT THE POWER REALLY RESTS WITH THE MAYOR.WE'VE BEEN TRYING TO MEET WITH THE MAYOR ALL OF LAST YEAR AND NO RESPONSE, DIDN'T GET ANY RESPONSE WHEN HE WAS STATE SENATOR TO MEET US.
SO MY QUESTION, MAYOR PRO TEMP, IF YOU CAN MAKE SURE THE MAYOR GETS IT DIRECTLY, IS ONE IF HE'S GOING TO MEET US WHEN, WHEN YOU SAY US, MS. MS. HOUSE, WHO ARE YOU REFERRING TO? THE MEETING WITH YOU OR ORGANIZATIONS IN FREEMANS TOWN.
AND UM, SO AGAIN, IF HE'S GOING TO NOT MEET WITH US, WE WANNA KNOW WHY.
I AND THE MAYOR STAFF IS HERE.
I'M GONNA ASK, UM, MS. REBECCA, IF SHE CAN GET YOUR CONTACT INFORMATION AND RELAY THAT MESSAGE AND WE CAN MAKE SURE THAT THE MAYOR KNOWS YOU WERE HERE AND REQUESTING THAT MEETING.
NEXT SPEAKER THAT COMPLETES THE LIST OF SPEAKERS MEMBERS.
[RECESS]
WE STAND IN RECESS UNTIL TOMORROW MORNING AT NINE.ITEM ONE, RECOMMENDATION FROM THE DIRECTOR OF HOUSTON PUBLIC WORKS.
REVIEWED AND APPROVED BY THE JOINT REFERRAL COMMITTEE ON REQUEST FROM CHRISTIAN LEBLANC, THE CITY DECLINED THE ACCEPTANCE OF REJECT AND REFUSED THE DEDICATION OF MORE OR LESS.
13,310 SQUARE FEET OF CLEARVIEW DRIVE FROM KELLOGG STREET TO THE SOUTHERN BOUNDARY LINE OF LOT ONE BLOCK TWO OF THE RECREATION FORM SUBDIVISION ITEM TWO APPROVED, SPENDING AUTHORITY FOR PROFESSIONAL GRANT CONSULTING SERVICES THROUGH THE INTER LOCAL AGREEMENT WITH HARRIS COUNTY FLOOD CONTROL DISTRICT WITH GRANT WORKS INC.
ITEM TWO, CHASTAIN ENTERPRISES, HOUSTON, L-L-C-D-B-H, CHASTAIN FORD, HOUSTON FREIGHTLINER, INC.
HOLT TRUCK CENTERS OF TEXAS LLC AND RUSH TRUCK CENTERS OF TEXAS LLC FOR MEDIUM AND SUPER DUTY TRUCKS.
ITEM FOUR APPROVED SPINING AUTHORITY FOR PURCHASE OF X-RAY MACHINES, METAL DETECTORS, AND A THREE YEAR SERVICE PLAN FROM RAPID SCAN SYSTEMS INC.
ITEM FIVE APPROVED SPENDING AUTHORITY FOR FULL AND FINAL SETTLEMENT INDEMNITY AGREEMENT THAT REACHED BETWEEN THE CITY OF HOUSTON AND BAYLOR COLLEGE OF MEDICINE.
ITEM SIX APPROVED SPENDING AUTHORITY FOR ADVERTISEMENT SERVICES FOR HOUSTON PUBLIC WORKS.
WATERTON HOUSTON BUSINESS JOURNAL.
ITEM SEVEN, MOBILE MODULAR MANAGEMENT COURT FOR PURCHAS OF ONE MODULAR OFFICE.
FOR SUPPLY OF LIQUID POLYMER FLOCCULENT.
ITEM NINE, APPROVED SPINNING AUTHORITY FOR PAVEMENT PRESERVATION SERVICES WITH THE SUPPLIER VIKING CONSTRUCTION, LLC.
ITEM 10, ORDINANCE AUTHORIZING PARTICIPATION WITH OTHER ENTERGY SERVICES AREA CITIES CONCERNING IN MATTERS CONCERNING ENTERGY TEXAS INC.
ITEM 11 HAS BEEN PULLED AND WILL NOT BE CONSIDERED.
ITEM 12, ORDINANCE APPROPRIATING TWENTY THOUSAND THREE HUNDRED TWENTY MILLION THREE HUNDRED FORTY NINE THOUSAND TWO HUNDRED SIXTY FIVE DOLLARS AND 40 CENTS IN TAX INCREMENT REINVESTMENTS ON AFFORDABLE HOUSING FUNDS FOR SINGLE FAMILY ACTIVITIES.
ITEM 13, ORDINANCE APPROVING AND AUTHORIZING FIFTH AMENDMENT TO MASTER CONTRACT AGREEMENT FOR CITY OF HOUSTON HOME REPAIR PROGRAM TO BE EXECUTED BY CITY OF HOUSTON AND EACH OF THE FOLLOWING CONTRACTORS, PMG CONSTRUCTION INC.
AND REBUILDING TOGETHER HOUSTON ITEM 14, ORDINANCE APPROVING AND AUTHORIZING GRANT AWARD BETWEEN CITY OF HOUSTON AND THE DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE FOR THE COMMUNITY REENTRY GRANT PROGRAM.
ITEM 15, ORDINANCE AUTHORIZING GRANT APPLICATION TO THE STATE OF TEXAS OFFICE OF THE GOVERNOR, PUBLIC SAFETY OFFICE, CRIMINAL JUSTICE DIVISION.
ITEM 16 ORDINANCE SUBMITTING ORDINANCE 20 24 9 73 AS AMENDED RELATING TO RESCHEDULING OR POSTPONEMENT OF CERTAIN CITY COUNCIL MEETINGS.
ITEM 17 ORDINANCE IS RENEWING THE ESTABLISHMENT OF THE SOUTH SIDE OF THE 1200 BLOCK OF OXFORD STREET BETWEEN EAST 12TH AND 13TH EAST
[02:35:01]
13TH STREETS.ITEM 18, ORDINANCE APPROVING AND AUTHORIZING CONTRACT WITH THE LET GO GROUP.
L-L-C-D-B-A LIVING EARTH ITEM 19 ORDINANCE APPROVING AND AUTHORIZING AND AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE CITY OF HOUSTON AND JP MORGAN CHASE BANK NA ITEM 20, ORDINANCE APPROVING AND AUTHORIZING CONTRACT WITH RUBICON, L-L-C-D-B-A TEXAS RUBICON TRANSPORT ITEM 21 ORDINANCE APPROVING AND AUTHORIZING CONTRACT WITH ANOVA CONSULTING INC.
ITEM 22, ORDINANCE AWARDING CONSTRUCTION CONTRACT TO TIMES CONSTRUCTION INC.
ITEM 23 ORDINANCE AUTHORIZING THE SALE OF 81,465 SQUARE FOOT RIGHT OF WAY EASEMENT OUT OF CITY FEE OWNED LAND LOCATED OUT OF A PORT OF WHITE OAK BIO SITUATED IN THE JOHN AUSTIN SURVEY.
ABSTRACT NUMBER ONE, HARRIS COUNTY, TEXAS, SELLING THE EASEMENT TO TEXAS DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION.
ITEM 24 ORDINANCE APPROPRIATING $1,014,369 AND 63 CENTS OUT OF DEDICATED DRAINAGE AND STREET RENEWAL CAPITAL FUND DRAINAGE CHARGE AS AN ADDITIONAL APPROPRIATION.
THE CONTRACT BETWEEN THE CITY OF HOUSTON AND PEAL INC.
ITEM 25 ORDINANCE APPROPRIATING $12,386,000 AND NO CENTS OUT OF WATER AND SEW SYSTEM.
CONSOLIDATED CONSTRUCTION FUND AWARDING CONTRACTOR GRAVA, LLC ITEM 26, ORDINANCE APPROPRIATING $3,233,008 AND 80 CENTS OUT OF WATER AND SEW SYSTEM.
CONSOLIDATED CONSTRUCTION FUND FOR PROFESSIONAL ENGINEERING SERVICES CONTRACT BETWEEN THE CITY OF HOUSTON AND RG MILLER ENGINEERS INC.
ITEM 27 ORDINANCE APPROPRIATING $550,000 IN THOSE CENTS OUT.
CONSTRUCTION, D-D-S-R-F APPROVING AND AUTHORIZING PROFESSIONAL ENGINEERING SERVICES CONTRACT BETWEEN THE CITY OF HOUSTON AND KBH TRAFFIC ENGINEERING LLC ITEM 28.
ORDINANCE APPROPRIATING $2,355,581 AND 6 CENTS OUT OF METRO PROJECTS CONSTRUCTION, D-D-S-R-F AWARDING A CONSTRUCTION A A CONTRACT TO DCE CONSTRUCTION INC.
ITEM 29, ORDINANCE APPROVING AND AUTHORIZING PROFESSIONAL SERVICES CONTRACT BETWEEN THE CITY OF HOUSTON AND HEWITT ZOLES INC.
ITEM 30 ORDINANCE APPROPRIATING $4,400,000 IN OH CENTS OUT OF DEDICATED DRAINAGE AND STREET RENEWAL CAPITAL FUND DRAINAGE CHARGE OF AWARDING CONTRACT.
DL GLOVER UTILITIES, L-C-L-L-C ITEM 31 ORDINANCE APPROPRIATING $3,366,313 AND NO CENTS.
CONSOLIDATED CONSTRUCTION FUND AWARDING CONTRACT TO CSI CONSOLIDATED L-L-C-D-B-A AIMS COMPANIES.
ITEM 32, ORDINANCE NUMBER 2025 DASH 30 PAST FIRST READING JANUARY 15TH, 2025.
FIRST READING JANUARY 15TH, 2025.
THESE ARE THE SECOND READINGS.
THIS IS ORDERS GRANTING TO AMBER PAR.
RESPONSE, TEXAS, LLC AT TEXAS LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY.
SECOND READING OUT OR ITEM 33, ORDINANCE NUMBER 2025 DASH 31.
PAST FIRST READING JANUARY 15TH, 2025.
ORDINANCE GRANTED TO ARROW SERVICES 1 2 3 INC.
SECOND READING ITEM 34, ORDINANCE NUMBER 20 25 32.
PAST FIRST READING ORDINANCE GRANTED TO AZTEC, PORT OF CANS AND CONTAINERS.
LTDA TEXAS LIMITED PARTNERSHIP.
ITEM 35, ORDINANCE NUMBER 20 25 33 PASS.
FIRST READING ORDINANCE, GRANITE TO BIG R TRUCKING, LLC, TEXAS NUMBER TO LIABILITY COMPANY.
ITEM 36, ORDINANCE 20 25 34 PASS.
FIRST READING ORDINANCE GRANTING TO JACK ENVIRONMENTAL, LLCA, TEXAS LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY.
ITEM 37, ORDINANCE 20 25 35 PAST FIRST READING ORDINANCE GRANTING TO NATION WASTE INC.
ITEM 38, ORDINANCE 2025 DASH 36 PAST FIRST READING ORDINANCE GRANTING TO TEXAS PRIOR DISPOSAL SOLUTIONS, LLCA, TEXAS LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY.
AND ITEM 39, ORDINANCE 2025 DASH 37 PASS.
FIRST READING ORDINANCE GRANTING TO TWISTER WASTE INC.
THIS IS THE END OF THE CONSENT AGENDA FOR THE MATTERS HELD ITEM 40, MOTION BY COUNCIL MEMBER CASTEX TATUM, SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER PEC TO APPROVE SPENDING AUTHORITY ON A CONTRACT AWARDED TO LANDING ADVISORS LLC.
THIS WAS TAGGED BY COUNCIL MEMBER CARTER.
THIS WAS ITEM SIX ON AGENDA OF JANUARY 15TH, 2025.
ITEM 41 IS A MOTION BY COUNCIL MEMBER CASTEX TATUM, SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER PECK TO APPROVE SPENDING AUTHORITY ON A AWARD TO CHOICE PARTNERS COOPERATIVE CONTRACTOR AMAZON.COM SERVICES, A LC TAGGED BY COUNCIL MEMBER JACKSON AND CAYMAN.
THIS IS ITEM 14 ON THE AGENDA OF JANUARY 15TH, 2025 AND ITEM 1442, ORDINANCE APPRO AND AUTHORIZING FINAL SETTLEMENT RELEASE AND INDEMNITY AGREEMENT BETWEEN CITY OF HOUSTON AND AP ENVIRONMENTAL AND INFRASTRUCTURE LLC.
THIS WAS TAGGED BY COUNCIL MEMBER CASTILLO.
[02:40:01]
ITEM 18 ON AGENDA OF JANUARY 15TH, 2025.THIS COMPLETES THE READING OF THE AGENDA FOR THE CITY COUNCIL SESSION OF JANUARY 29TH, 2025.
STAY TUNED FOR THE NEXT SESSION OF HOUSTON CITY COUNCIL SCHEDULE.
TO BEGIN AT 9:00 AM I'D LIKE TO TAKE APPOINT A PERSON PRIVILEGE TO REACH FOR MY OLDEST SISTER, A HAPPY 73RD BIRTHDAY ON TODAY, AND MY BROTHER A 71ST BIRTHDAY WHO WAS BATTLING CANCER.
UH, HIS BIRTHDAY WAS THE 23RD.
AND IN THE WORDS OF THE CITY SECRETARY, PAT JEFFERSON.
DANNY, I'D LIKE TO LEAVE YOU WITH THIS.
ALWAYS, ALWAYS, ALWAYS TREAT EVERYONE THE WAY YOU WOULD LIKE TO BE TREATED.
HAVE A BLESSING FANTABULOUS DAY.
[RECONVENE]
COUNSEL, PLEASE COME TO ORDER[MAYOR'S REPORT]
FIRST UP THE MAYOR'S REPORT.I COULD SPEND ALL MORNING TALKING ABOUT ACTIVITIES AND ACCOMPLISHMENTS AND CONCERNS, BUT I THINK OUR TIME BEST SPENT THIS MORNING IS TO RECOGNIZE A NEW TEAM MEMBER.
UM, I PRIDE IN MYSELF IN THE QUALITY AND THE COMPETENCE AND DIVERSITY OF OUR TEAM.
RANDY, IF YOU AND MR. MCCOY WILL COME FORWARD.
MEMBERS, I'M EXCITED ABOUT OUR NEW TEAM MEMBER, MR. MC FOY, WHO, UH, I THINK IS AN EXCELLENT CHOICE.
AND, UM, I WILL YIELD TO RANDY.
UH, I KNOW THERE'S BEEN A LOT OF DISCUSSION ABOUT WHO'S THE ENGINEER, UH, IN PUBLIC WORKS AND WHO, UH, WHAT THE TITLES LOOK LIKE.
UH, FIRST OF ALL, RANDY, YOU'RE DOING AN EXCELLENT JOB.
THANK YOU FOR HELPING US DURING OUR RECENT ARCTIC BLAST CHALLENGE.
UH, YOUR PEOPLE SLEEPING ON THE FLOOR IN THE EMERGENCY CENTER AT THE, UH, WATERWORKS.
UH, YOU ARE SUCH THE PERFECT CHOICE AS AN ADMINISTRATOR AND SURROUNDING YOURSELF WITH SMART PEOPLE, UH, AND PROFESSIONAL PEOPLE.
AND I CAN'T SAY ENOUGH ABOUT YOUR SEARCH FOR A CITY ENGINEER.
I'VE HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO, TO MEET AND WATCH MR. MC FOY.
AND, UH, I JUST WANNA KNOW HOW IN THE WORLD YOU PERSUADE HIM TO LEAVE A VERY RESPONSIBLE JOB IN BUFFALO AND COME JOIN OUR TEAM.
BUT HOUSTONIANS WILL BE THE BENEFACTORS.
YEAH, THANK YOU MAYOR, AND GOOD MORNING COUNCIL MEMBERS.
IN FACT, I MAYBE EVEN STEAL ONE OF THE MAYOR'S LINES.
I'M PRETTY FIRED UP THIS MORNING TO INTRODUCE TO YOU OJ MC FOY, UH, AS OUR NEW CITY ENGINEER, UH, YOU KNOW, I, I HAD THE PRIVILEGE TO SPEAK WITH MANY, MANY OF YOU OVER THE LAST FEW MONTHS AS PUBLIC WORKS HAS BEEN UNDERGOING A TRANSFORMATION.
I CONTINUE TO CALL IT A TRANSFORMATION, NOT NECESSARILY A TRANSITION, BECAUSE WE KNOW THAT THE THINGS THAT WE'VE BEEN DOING, WHICH ARE OF THE HIGHEST AND UTMOST IMPORTANCE TO THE CITY ARE SO CRITICAL.
BUT WE ALSO RECOGNIZE THAT WE HAVE A LOT OF WORK TO DO.
WE FEEL LIKE WE CAN DO IT A LOT BETTER.
AND A BIG PART OF THAT IS MAKING SURE THAT WE'VE GOT TEAM MEMBERS WHO CAN LEAD WITH THAT SAME SORT OF PASSION AND ZEAL AND EXPERTISE.
UM, AND SO BRINGING OJ IN HAS BEEN A WONDERFUL OPPORTUNITY.
WE CONDUCTED A NATIONWIDE SEARCH IN OUR, IN OUR QUEST FOR A CITY ENGINEER.
WE WERE LOOKING FOR SOMEONE NOT JUST WITH THE RIGHT TECHNICAL EXPERTISE, BUT SOMEONE THAT HAD THE RIGHT, UH, ATTITUDE AND PASSION FOR THE WORK THAT WE WERE DOING IN ALIGNMENT WITH THE VISION AND WHERE WE WERE GOING.
UM, REALLY WE WERE LOOKING FOR A CHANGE AGENT BECAUSE WE KNOW THAT THERE ARE MANY THINGS THAT WE CAN IMPROVE UPON, AND WE NEED SOMEONE WHO CAN LEAD WITH THAT KIND OF PASSION AND ZEAL.
AND SO, UH, WE, WE ENGAGED WITH A NATIONWIDE RECRUITING FIRM, THE GIDDINGS GROUP, TO HELP US IN OUR SEARCH FOR OJ.
WE HAD MANY DISCUSSIONS AND INTERVIEWS AND, UH, AND I WAS JUST SO DELIGHTED THAT HE WAS WILLING TO ACCEPT THIS CHALLENGE, WHICH AS YOU ALL KNOW, IS, UH, MONUMENTAL IN WHAT WE HAVE IN FRONT OF US TO DO.
UM, AS FAR AS THE PUBLIC WORKS ORGANIZATION GOES, UM, LET THERE BE NO QUESTION WHO THE ENGINEER IS.
HE IS THE CITY ENGINEER FOR THE CITY OF HOUSTON.
AND IN OUR ORGANIZATION, HE'S, HE'S SECOND IN COMMAND.
SO HE IS MY RIGHT HAND MAN WHEN IT COMES TO THE THINGS THAT WE HAVE IN FRONT OF US TO DO.
AND I'M JUST SO EXCITED TO HAVE HIM HERE.
UH, AND JUST REALLY, I'M EXCITED TO BE HERE COMING FROM, UH, WESTERN NEW YORK
[02:45:01]
AND COMING DOWN TO HOUSTON.UM, I WOULD JUST ASK ONE THING THAT YOU DO NOT BLAME ME FOR THE SNOW THAT FOLLOWED ME, UH, FROM BUFFALO.
UM, BUT I'M JUST HONORED, UH, REALLY TO WORK ALONGSIDE RANDY AND UNDER, UH, OUR MAYOR'S GREAT VISION FOR JUST MAKING SURE THAT WE GET BACK TO THE BASICS OF INFRASTRUCTURE AND MAKING THINGS RIGHT FOR THE PEOPLE.
AND THAT IS, YOU KNOW, MAKING SURE THAT WE HAVE WALKABLE SIDEWALKS AND DRIVABLE STREETS, AND THEN MAKING SURE THAT OUR WATER IS, IS WHERE IT SHOULD BE.
AND WE UNDERSTAND THAT WE HAVE A FRAGILE SYSTEM.
AND SO I AM BRINGING MY EXPERTISE, I'M BRINGING MY PASSION, AND I AM READY TO WORK ON THIS TEAM AND BE FIRED UP ALONGSIDE RANDY AND THE MAYOR TO MAKE SURE THAT WE CAN GET THINGS DONE FOR HOUSTONIANS.
I LOOK FORWARD TO MEETING EACH AND EVERY ONE OF YOU.
AND I, I JUST LOVE YOUR PASSION AND, AND COMMITMENT TO, UH, MAKE A DIFFERENCE.
AND WE'VE GOT A LOT OF WORK TO DO.
WE'VE DONE GREAT THINGS WITH OUR WATER BILLING AND, UH, I COULD GO THROUGH THE LIST OF THINGS THAT, THAT RANDY AND HIS TEAM'S ACCOMPLISHED, BUT, UH, CERTAINLY OUR INFRASTRUCTURE, OUR WATER TREATMENT SUPPLY, OUR STREETS, LOTS OF WORK.
SO I'VE OBSERVED YOU IN THE, THE WEEKS THAT YOU'VE BEEN HERE AND YOU ARE FIRED UP.
I'M GONNA YIELD SO YOU CAN GO TO WORK.
BUT, UH, FIRST AND COUNCIL MEMBERS, COUNCIL MEMBER POLLARD, YOU'RE RECOGNIZED.
UM, YOU HAVE BEEN HYPING OJ UP FOR SOME TIME, AND, UM, THE DIRECTOR HAS PROVEN TO BE VERY RESULTS DRIVEN, WHICH IS, UM, SOMETHING I REALLY RESPECT AND ADMIRE AND WE LOOK FORWARD TO, UH, WORKING WITH YOU, UH, UNDERSTANDING YOUR EXPERTISE.
UH, IF YOU'VE DRIVEN OUR STREETS, YOU SEE THAT WE NEED SOME, WE NEED SOME, UM, CREATIVITY AND, AND WE NEED SOMEONE, UH, THAT BRINGS AN OUTSIDE PERSPECTIVE TO HELP US, UH, WITH SOME OF OUR INFRASTRUCTURE CHALLENGES.
SO I LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING WITH YOU.
LOOK FORWARD TO GETTING TO KNOW YOU AND WELCOME TO HOUSTON.
UH, CONGRATULATIONS, RANDY, ON COMPLETING THE TEAM.
UM, UM, YOU KNOW, UH, OJ UH, WELCOME TO HOUSTON, FIRST AND FOREMOST, BUT ALSO, UM, JUST A LITTLE DUCKTAIL OFF OF, UH, WHAT MY COLLEAGUE WAS SAYING.
YOU KNOW, THERE'S BEEN HISTORICAL INFRASTRUCTURE JUST, YOU KNOW, DEFERMENT FOR, FOR DECADES.
AND SO, UM, AS YOU WRAP YOUR HANDS AND YOUR HEAD AROUND ALL OF THAT, UH, KNOW THAT YOU CAN LEAN ON.
OF COURSE, YOU KNOW, THIS COUNCIL HORSESHOE, UM, YOU KNOW, A LOT OF US, MYSELF PERSONALLY, ARE BORN AND RAISED IN HOUSTON.
AND SO, UH, HAVE SEEN HOW IT'S DETERIORATED.
AND AS YOU MENTIONED, WE DO HAVE A FRAGILE WATER, WATER SYSTEM AS WELL.
UM, SO I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO WORKING WITH YOU, UM, AS WELL, UM, OVER THE NEXT COMING YEARS TO SEE THAT WE REALLY PUT OUR CITY IN A, IN A POSITION WHERE, UM, INFRASTRUCTURE DOES NOT HAVE THE DEFERMENT THAT WE'VE BEEN HAVING FOR, FOR DECADES.
SO THANK YOU FOR YOUR COMMITMENT TO HOUSTON, AND AGAIN, LOOKING FORWARD TO WORKING WITH YOU.
WE'RE SO GLAD THAT YOU'RE HERE.
AND I KNOW YOUR, YOUR RESPONSIBILITIES ARE VAST.
I KNOW YOU'RE GONNA DO A GREAT JOB.
I MAINLY DEAL WITH THE CITY ENGINEER AT, UH, WHEN IT COMES TO PERMITTING.
UM, SO LOOKING FORWARD TO YOUR WORK AT PERMITTING OVER TRAFFIC AND STORM AND ALL THE KIND OF HANGUPS THAT, THAT GET, YOU KNOW, ALL THE THINGS THAT GET HUNG UP OVER THERE.
UM, AND ALSO YOUR ATTENTION TO THE INFRASTRUCTURE DESIGN MANUAL THAT I KNOW SOME CHANGES ARE COMING ON DETENTION AND OTHERS.
AND WE WERE KIND OF WAITING FOR YOU TO GET HERE TO GET YOUR, UM, TAKE ON ALL THAT.
SO, UH, LOOKING FORWARD TO THAT.
ALL MOVING AHEAD AND, AND WELCOME TO HOUSTON.
I MEAN, I BET YOU GOT HERE AND SAID, OH MY GOSH, IT'S SNOWING.
IT'S NOT SUPPOSED TO SNOW HERE.
UH, WHAT A, WHAT A GREAT, WHAT A GREAT OPPORTUNITY TO CHOICE.
WELCOME MY FRIEND TO THE CITY.
I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO MEETING YOU, OJ 'CAUSE UH, ANDY GETS A LOT OF CALLS FROM ME, FROM A LOT OF PEOPLE, BUT HE ANSWERS EACH ONE.
BUT WE'RE SO GRATEFUL AND PROUD OF ANDY'S LEADERSHIP SO FAR.
AND, UH, CERTAINLY THIS IS A POSITION THAT, UH, IS DEFINITELY NEEDED.
WE IN THE CITY OF HOUSTON AND IS ALREADY PROVEN.
HE'S BROUGHT IN SOME OF THE BEST PEOPLE AND IN SOME OF THE AREAS IN, IN THE WATER DEPARTMENT AND OTHERS.
SO, UH, CONGRATULATIONS AND THANK YOU.
AND CONGRATULATIONS, ANDY, FOR YOUR DIRECTOR FOR BRINGING OJ INTO HOUSTON.
WE, WE WE'RE GLAD THAT YOU'RE HERE, AND I JUST WANNA COMPLIMENT THE DIRECTOR IN TERMS OF JUST YOUR TRANSPARENCY AND YOUR ACCESSIBILITY, UM, FOR ALL OF US.
I MEAN, WE HAVE GONE THROUGH A GOOD BIT OF STUFF IN THE LAST COUPLE OF MONTHS, AND YOU'VE REALLY BEEN, UM, REALLY ACCESSIBLE TO US.
AND I THINK OJ HOPEFULLY HAS THE PLAN, RIGHT, OF HOW TO MAKE THIS THING HAPPEN.
OJ I'M SURE YOU HEAR OUR CONSTITUENTS TALKING ALL THE TIME ABOUT WHAT'S HAPPENING IN DIFFERENT SECTORS OF OUR CITY.
[02:50:01]
AND HOPEFULLY YOU CAN BRING THAT PUZZLE TOGETHER AND MAKE IT ALL WORK IN A WAY THAT WE CAN ALL MOVE AROUND IN THE WAY THAT WE NEED TO.BUT BY THE SAME TIME, FIXING THE, THE FRAGILE INFRASTRUCTURE THAT WE HAVE.
ANYTHING THAT OUR AT LARGE FOUR OFFICE CAN DO TO HELP YOU NAVIGATE, UM, PLEASE LET US KNOW.
AND WE'RE JUST REALLY, REALLY GLAD THAT, UM, THAT, AND I'M NOT SURPRISED THAT YOU BROUGHT A TEAM PLAYER TO, TO HOUSTON.
SO THANK YOU SO MUCH, DIRECTOR, AND WELCOME AGAIN.
THANK YOU FIRST AND FOREMOST FOR EVERYTHING THAT YOU HAVE BEEN DOING.
UH, OTHER COUNCIL MEMBERS SAID, TAKING OUR CALLS AT PRETTY MUCH EVERY HOUR AT THIS POINT, BUT I REALLY HAVE TO GIVE KUDOS TO OUR NEW CITY ENGINEER.
UM, WHILE YOU'RE COMING BEFORE US TODAY, UH, ON DAY ONE, YOU HIT THE GROUND RUNNING.
I THINK I MUST HAVE BEEN ONE OF YOUR FIRST, UH, COUNCIL MEETINGS.
UH, MAYOR, HE WAS FULLY ENGAGED WORKING THROUGH SOME OF THE CHALLENGES IN DISTRICT C.
OF COURSE THERE ARE CHALLENGES THROUGHOUT THE CITY.
UH, BUT AGAIN, THANK YOU FOR THE ENERGY THAT YOU'RE BRINGING, THE PROFESSIONALISM, UH, AND EXPERTISE AS IT RELATES TO THE ENGINEERING PERSPECTIVE OF WHAT IS THE LARGEST PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT IN THE ENTIRE COUNTRY.
UH, I KNOW COUNCILOR ALCORN, YOU MENTIONED THE IDM.
UH, WE'RE, WE'RE CHOMPING AT THE BIT FOR THAT, ESPECIALLY THE GREEN STORM WATER INFRASTRUCTURE WE'RE INCLUDING, BUT LOOKING FORWARD TO WORKING WITH YOU AND WELCOME.
ANYONE ELSE? THANK YOU, RANDY, AN OUTSTANDING CHOICE, AND WE LOOK FORWARD OJ, TO SPENDING MANY, MANY YEARS WITH YOU.
UH, I, I'M GONNA BE SHOCKED IF YOU'RE NOT A UNANIMOUS, UH, CHOICE HERE.
I AM SITTING HERE MAKING NOTES ABOUT, UH, YOU KNOW, YOU HAVE TO BECOME A TEXANS FAN.
I DON'T KNOW ABOUT THOSE BUFFALO.
YOU GOT TO LEAVE THAT BUFFALO BILLS CAP IN YOUR OFFICE SOMEWHERE,
BUT, UH, YOU CAN, I'M STILL SPIED STILL.
YOU CAN ROOT FOR THE BILLS, EXCEPT WHEN THEY'RE PLAYING THE TEXAS.
ALRIGHT,
[CONSENT AGENDA]
NEXT.UH, MADAM SECRETARY, WOULD YOU PLEASE CALL THE CONSENT AGENDA UNDER THE PROPERTY CATEGORY? ITEM ONE NEEDS A MOTION,
MOTION PASSES UNDER THE PURCHASING AND TABULATION OF B CATEGORY.
ITEM SIX WILL BE REMOVED FOR SEPARATE CONSIDERATION.
ITEMS 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, AND NINE.
NEED A MOTION? MC, MOVE HUFFMAN.
THOSE OPPOSED NAME MOTION PASSES UNDER THE ORDINANCES CATEGORY.
ITEM 11 HAS BEEN PULLED AND WILL NOT BE CONSIDERED.
ITEMS 13 AND 19 OR NOT IN AND WILL BE CONSIDERED IF THEY ARE RECEIVED BEFORE THE END OF THE MEETING.
ITEMS REMOVED FOR SEPARATE CONSIDERATION ARE 12, 15, 16, 23, 24, AND 26.
NEED A VOTE ON THE BALANCE? ALL IN FAVOR SAY YES.
[CONSIDERATION OF MATTERS REMOVED FROM CONSENT AGENDA]
ITEMS REMOVED FOR SEPARATE CONSIDERATION.SO, UH, THIS ITEM PERTAINS TO, UH, FUNDING FOR OUR, UH, AFFORDABLE HOUSING EFFORT.
AND, UH, IT WAS DUE TO BE DISCUSSED IN COMMITTEE, UH, LAST WEEK.
HOWEVER, THE FREEZE REQUIRED THAT WE, UH, CANCEL OR RESCHEDULE A NUMBER OF OUR MEETINGS.
SO I SEE IT'S ON THE AGENDA FOR HOUSING COMMITTEE THIS FRIDAY.
SO IN VIEW OF THAT, UH, LOOK FORWARD TO DISCUSSION ON IT AND WE'LL TAG IT.
HE'S GONNA TAG, BUT HE'S GONNA RELEASE FOR COMMENT, I'M SURE.
UH, COUNCILOR THOMAS, THANK YOU MUCH.
AND JUST TO UNDERSCORE AND JUST TO REMIND COLLEAGUES, THIS IS AN ANNUAL ALLOCATION TO THE HOUSING DEPARTMENT.
UM, BUT FOR, UH, THE TURS DOLLARS, THE HOUSING ACTIVITIES THAT WE, UM, UH, PUT OUT WOULD NOT BE SUPPORTED.
ALSO, JUST IN LIGHT OF WHAT THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION HAS INSTRUCTED OOMB TO DO IN TERMS OF FREEZING FEDERAL PROGRAM, FEDERAL DOLLARS TO PROGRAMS DIRECTLY DISRUPTS THE HOUSING DEPARTMENT'S ACTIVITIES.
THESE TURS DOLLARS, THESE LOCAL DOLLARS SUPPORTS DOWN PAYMENT ASSISTANCE, UH, HOMELESSNESS EFFORTS.
UH, AND THEN THERE'S A DELTA, WHICH YOU'LL SEE TYPICALLY IT'S AROUND 17 MILLION, YOU'LL SEE 20 MILLION ON THE AGENDA.
THAT $3 MILLION IS FROM OUR AFFORDABLE
[02:55:01]
HOME DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM.THAT REVENUE, AS THOSE HOMES ARE SOLD, RETURNS BACK TO THE DEPARTMENT TO SUPPORT SINGLE FAMILY ACTIVITIES.
WE'LL TALK ABOUT THIS AT LENGTH.
UM, WE SHOULD HAVE HAD, SHOULD HAVE BEEN BRIEFED BEFORE, BUT WE HAD A STORM.
SO ONCE THIS COMES BACK ON THE AGENDA, LOOKING FOR UNANIMOUS SUPPORT, ALSO THE, UH, 20 MILLION WAS A RECOMMENDATION FROM THE OFFICE OF ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT.
UM, AND SO, UM, AS WE CONTINUE OUR HOUSING ACTIVITIES, IT JUST UNDERSCORES HOW IMPORTANT OUR LOCAL DOLLARS ARE SO IMPORTANT IN, IN INVESTING IN THESE PROGRAMS, UH, BECAUSE WE WILL BE CAUGHT, UM, UH, IN A PAUSE, UH, TOTALLY RE RELYING ON, ON FEDERAL DOLLARS.
COUNCILMAN ALN, COUNCIL MEMBER ALCORN.
AND THANK YOU COUNCIL MEMBER THOMAS.
UM, YOU KNOW, I'VE ALWAYS HAD AN ISSUE WITH THE, THE, THE PERCENTAGE OF, UH, ADMINISTRATION THAT THESE TOUR DOLLARS HAVE, BUT THEY, WE PUT ZERO, PRETTY MUCH ZERO GENERAL FUND DOLLARS TO HOUSING.
UM, OTHER CITIES ALLOCATE SOME, SO A HUNDRED PERCENT OF THAT, THAT ADMIN MONEY ISN'T GOING TO EVEN SUPPORT THESE DISASTER RECOVERY SINGLE FAMILY ACTIVITIES.
IT'S GOING TO SUPPORT ALL THE OTHER GRANTS BECAUSE WE DON'T, I MEAN, WE DON'T HAVE ENOUGH TO SUPPORT THOSE OTHER GRANTS I'VE COME AROUND TO THAT.
IT USED TO REALLY FREAK ME OUT.
LIKE, THAT'S, YOU KNOW, WHAT, 40% OF THE, OF THE, OF THE TURS DOLLARS IS GOING TO ADMIN.
UM, UNTIL YOU RECOGNIZE THAT THERE, THERE ARE NO OTHER LOCAL FUNDS.
THERE ARE NO OTHER FLEXIBLE FUNDS TO, TO SUPPORT OUR HOUSING ACTIVITIES.
OKAY, ITEM TWELVE'S TAGGED BY CONSTABLE RAMIREZ.
SO WE GOT TO VOTE OUT OF 16 IS TAGGED BY COUNCILMAN P*****K.
WE'RE TALKING ABOUT THE PRESIDENT NATIONAL DAY.
UH, THIS WAS REQUESTED BY AN OVERWHELMING GROUP OF, UH, COUNCIL MEMBERS TO BE IN THEIR DISTRICT ON THESE SPECIAL EVENTS.
SO, UH, YOU WANT PLAY POLITICS WITH IT.
UH, IT'S, UH, TAGGED BY OUR COUNCILMAN POLLARD.
THIS ITEM, UH, SIMILAR TO ONE THAT WE CONSIDERED LAST YEAR, UH, WITH TDOT AND, AND THE LAND SALE NEAR THE WHITE OAK BAYOU.
UM, I STILL DO BELIEVE THE BEST PATH FORWARD WITH THESE ITEMS IS, IS THROUGH ARIEL EASEMENTS.
UM, SPECIFICALLY LAND THAT ABUTS HIKING BIKE TRAILS THAT ARE HIGHLY, HIGHLY UTILIZED.
AND WHEN WE AS A CITY ARE ADOPTING POLICIES AND, AND PROJECTS THAT ARE ENCOURAGING FOLKS TO UTILIZE THOSE TRAILS MORE FOR, FOR RECREATION.
AND SO I WILL BE VOTING NO ON THIS ITEM.
AND I SUPPORT MY COUNCIL MEMBER, UM, ON THIS ITEM AS WELL.
UH, YOU KNOW, WHITE OAK BAYOU IS A RECREATION FACILITY FOR MANY, MANY HOUSTONIANS.
AND, UM, SELLING OUR PROPERTY, I DON'T BELIEVE IS A REALLY GREAT DECISION.
SO I'M GONNA BE VOTING NO ON THIS ITEM AS WELL.
NO CASTILLO, NO PLUMBER, NO POLL OR NO? OH, HOLD ON.
CALL, HAVE, YEAH, CALL THE ROLE THAT ROLL.
[03:00:02]
NINE NA.NEXT, ITEM 24 IS AN ORDINANCE.
[MATTERS HELD]
ITEM 40 HAS A MOTION.AND JUROR NO SHALL COUNCILMAN FLICK AND JUROR NO OTHERS? YES.
UM, I TAGGED THIS ITEM LAST WEEK, UH, TO LEARN MORE ABOUT, UM, THIS ITEM AND, AND GET SOME QUESTIONS ANSWERED AROUND, UH, SUBS GETTING PAID.
AND I KNOW WE HAVE HAD SUBS COME TO COUNCIL AND WE HAVE LEARNED DIRECTLY FROM THEM ON THE IMPACTS THAT THEY DEAL WITH, UH, WITHOUT GETTING PAID ON TIME.
AND SO I APPRECIATE LEGAL FOR, UH, MEETING WITH ME AND, AND GIVING ME INFORMATION AND, AND UPDATE ME ON HOW ALL THAT PROCESS WORKS.
AND, UM, I'LL BE SUPPORTING THIS ITEM.
ANYONE ELSE JUST NEED A VOTE? ALL IN FAVOR SAY YES.
AND ITEM 13 HAS BEEN RECEIVED.
THIS COMPLETES THE ITEMS ON THE AGENDA.
[NON CONSENT - MATTERS TO BE PRESENTED BY COUNCIL MEMBERS]
COUNCILMAN HUFFMAN TO START POP OFF.UH, THIS WEEK, UM, MADAM CHAIR JACKSON HERE HAD, UH, DIRECTOR AL COME TO THE SERVICE DELIVERY COMMITTEE TO TALK ABOUT SOLID WASTE AND TRASH PICKUP.
YOU KNOW, DISTRICT G WE CONTINUE TO HAVE RESIDENTS THAT ARE CONCERNED ABOUT THE TIMELINESS OF THE TRASH PICKUP.
BUT MORE THAN THAT, OF COURSE, WE HEAR ABOUT THE RECYCLING.
YOU KNOW, WHEN WE ARE BEHIND, RECYCLING GETS PUSHED.
AND SO WE JUST HAVE RESIDENTS THAT ARE FRUSTRATED.
SO I HOPE THAT WE CAN FIND A WAY TO DELIVER, YOU KNOW, MORE TIMELY SERVICES AND MAKE SURE THAT EVERYTHING'S PICKED UP.
I JUST WANT TO, UH, MENTION THAT LAST WEEK GOT TO PARTICIPATE IN A SERVICE PROJECT AT THE LDS PEANUT BUTTER CANNERY, WHICH IS OFF OF HAYFORD ROAD, UH, ACTUALLY NORTH OF THE CITY.
ALONG WITH A GROUP FROM, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER CARTER'S OFFICE.
THE CANNERY, UM, PRODUCES THOUSANDS AND THOUSANDS OF JARS OF, OF PEANUT BUTTER THAT GO TO ADDRESS OUR FOOD INSECURITY, UH, ISSUES.
AND SO WHILE WE WERE THERE IN THE SPACE OF LESS THAN FIVE HOURS, UH, WE WERE ABLE TO MAKE MORE THAN 10,000 JARS OF PEANUT BUTTER, MANY OF WHICH WILL GO TO THE HOUSTON FOOD BANK AND OTHER LOCAL PANTRIES.
THE REST WILL GO TO PANTRIES ACROSS THE, UH, THE, UH, THE WORLD ACTUALLY.
AND SO, MEMBERS, UH, HAVE PLACED A JAR OF THE PEANUT BUTTER THAT'S PRODUCED THERE AT THE CANNERY.
AND, UH, WE'LL HAVE ADDITIONAL OPPORTUNITIES TO PARTICIPATE IN THE FUTURE.
BUT I WOULD INVITE ANYONE WHO'S INTERESTED, UH, TO JOIN US.
UH, PRIOR TO THE STORM, I, UH, WAS IN DC ON A PANEL, UM, REPRESENTING THE CITY OF HOUSTON FOR THE NATIONAL LEAGUE OF CITIES.
UH, THE MOMENT FOR HOUSING IS NOW DISCUSSING THE INTERSECTION OF HOUSING, HEALTHCARE, AND CLIMATE.
[03:05:01]
AS I RETURNED TO THE CITY, WE PREPARED FOR AN EXTREME, UH, WEATHER EXPERIENCE, UH, WITH THE SNOW, WHICH I THINK WE HANDLED VERY WELL.UNFORTUNATELY, ON THE WEST SIDE, WE DID NOT HAVE A WARMING CENTER, BUT DUE TO THE PARTNERSHIPS THAT WE'VE CREATED OVER THE YEARS, WE WERE ABLE TO OPEN UP AGAPE CHRISTIAN FELLOWSHIP, UH, AND THEIR PARTNERSHIP IN THE A LEAF YMCA, WE, UH, PROVIDED FRESH HOT MEALS FOR BREAKFAST AND LUNCH TO EIGHT TO 10 ENCAMPMENTS ON THE WEST SIDE, WHICH REALLY, UM, SHOWED THAT WE HAVE, UH, BEYOND A VULNERABLE POPULATION, WE DON'T HAVE AN INFRASTRUCTURE ON THE WEST SIDE OF TOWN TO REACH THESE UNH, THE UNHOUSED UNSHELTERED.
UM, BUT I WILL TELL YOU THAT THEY WELCOMED US EACH TIME WE WERE ABLE TO PROVIDE THEM WITH MEALS.
OUR PARTNERS, UH, WITH, UH, WALMART AND THE BUDDHIST CHIEF FOUNDATION, UM, PROVIDED BLANKETS, SOCKS, AND SNACKS.
AND SO I WANT TO THANK THEM FOR THEIR ONGOING PARTNERSHIP, BUT IT JUST, UH, PROVES TO ME THAT THERE'S SO MUCH WORK THAT WE HAVE TO DO IN TERMS OF INVESTING IN THAT INFRASTRUCTURE.
AND I LOOK FORWARD TO CONTINUING TO DO THAT.
AND I REALLY APPRECIATED THE DASHBOARDS AND THE DATA THAT CAME FROM OEM OR THE MAYOR'S OFFICE.
I'M NOT SURE WHICH ONE, UPDATING US ON HOW THE NUMBERS AT THE WARMING CENTER SO WE CAN HAVE A GRASP OF, UH, OUTREACH.
UH, UH, THE IMPERIAL POINT RESIDENTS, UNFORTUNATELY, THAT HOA HAS DISSOLVED.
THERE'S A, UH, AND THERE'S A NOTE, UM, UM, IN THE COMMUNITY SAYING, CALL THE DISTRICT HEALTH OFFICE.
UNFORTUNATELY, WE CAN PROCESS YOUR, UM, HOA DUES WOULD LOVE TO DO SO UNFORTUNATELY, WE'RE NOT ABLE TO DO SO.
BUT THERE ARE, UH, HOMEOWNERS AND, UH, PAST BOARD MEMBERS THAT ARE ORGANIZING TO, UH, REESTABLISH THE HOA, YOU CAN CONTACT OUR OFFICE FOR THEIR INFORMATION SO YOU CAN, UM, REALIGN WITH YOUR HOA PAYMENTS SO YOU CAN, UM, UH, MOVE FORWARD WITH THAT, UH, MEETING.
UM, ALSO JUST WANNA REMIND COLLEAGUES, WE DID HAVE TO RESCHEDULE OUR HOUSING AND AFFORDABILITY COMMITTEE MEETING.
UM, DON'T GET MAD, BUT IT'S ON FRIDAY, JANUARY 31ST AT 10:00 AM THIS IS A VERY IMPORTANT MEETING.
AS WE APPROACH OUR 9% TAX CREDIT DEALS, WE'LL HAVE, UM, A SPECIAL GUEST FROM THE TDCH TALKING ABOUT THE CRITERIA AND WHAT THEY'RE LOOKING FOR AT THE STATE FOR LOW INCOME TAX CREDIT DEALS, UM, UM, ON FRIDAY, JANUARY 31ST.
AND HE WILL BE WITH US VIRTUALLY.
AND THEN WE'LL HAVE A SPECIAL CALL MEETING ON FEBRUARY 4TH, WHERE THE HOUSING DEPARTMENT WILL PRESENT THE SCORED PROJECTS FOR OUR CITYWIDE, UH, 9% DEAL.
AND SO WE KNOW THIS IS THE SUPER BOWL OF HOUSING IN THE SUPER CITY OF HOUSTON.
SO WE NEED EVERYONE TO, UH, PARTICIPATE IN THOSE MEETINGS.
COUNCIL MEMBERS, IF YOU COULD JOIN US IN CHAMBERS ON FRIDAY AT 10:00 AM AND THEN ALSO FOR FEBRUARY 4TH, UM, SO YOU CAN REVIEW THE PROPOSED APPLICATIONS AND PROJECTS IN YOUR DISTRICT.
AND BEFORE I CALL OUR NEXT COUNCILMAN, I WANNA SLIP IN HERE AND WISH OUR ASIAN COMMUNITY AND FRIENDS A HAPPY LUNAR NEW YEAR.
THE YEAR OF THE SNAKE, YEAR OF THE SNAKE SHALL BE AWARE, BUT THE YEAR THE DRAGON IS, IS CLOSING OUT VERY SUCCESSFULLY.
COUNCIL VICE MAYOR PROTE PECK.
UM, I WANNA TAKE THIS TIME TO THANK YOU AND YOUR, UM, STAFF FOR THE SNOWSTORM LAST WEEK, HOW IT WAS HANDLED.
I THINK THE MESSAGING WAS REALLY CLEAR TO PEOPLE TO STAY OFF THE ROADS.
THE FIRST RESPONDERS DID AN AMAZING JOB.
ALL OF THE DEPARTMENTS, OEMI MEAN, PUBLIC WORKS.
EVERYBODY THAT WE SENT ANY QUESTIONS TO OR CONCERNS, EVERYTHING WAS JUST HANDLED RIGHT AWAY.
I KNOW I'VE BEEN CRITICAL IN PREVIOUS STORMS OF, YOU KNOW, HOW CERTAIN THINGS WERE HANDLED, BUT THIS ONE WAS JUST REALLY, EVERYTHING WAS HANDLED REALLY WELL.
UM, WE DID HAVE ONE ISSUE WITH AN APARTMENT COMPLEX ON PITNER ROAD.
MAYOR, AS YOU REMEMBER, UM, DURING THE DERECHO, UM, YOU WERE OUT THERE WITH US ON PITNER ROAD, ONE OF THE APARTMENT COMPLEXES.
WE, UM, HEARD THAT THEY DIDN'T HAVE ANY WATER.
SO WE ASKED PUBLIC WORKS TO GO OUT THERE.
THEY, YOU KNOW, RISKED THEIR SAFETY TO GO OUT THERE AND CHECK THAT OUT, TO MAKE SURE IF THERE WAS SOMETHING ON THE CITY'S END.
WELL, IT SEEMS LIKE ALLEGEDLY THE PROPERTY OWNER, UM, SHUT OFF THE WATER BECAUSE THEY WERE WORRIED ABOUT, UM, ANY OF THE PIPES BURSTING, WHICH IS NOT OKAY, UM, FOR ANYONE TO JUST SHUT OFF WATER IN AN APARTMENT COMPLEX LIKE THAT BECAUSE THEY WERE CONCERNED ABOUT THE FINANCIAL IMPACT THERE.
SO, UM, IT IS SOMETHING THAT WE ARE GOING TO CONTINUE, UM, INVESTIGATING AND LOOKING INTO.
BUT I JUST WANTED TO THANK ALL OF THE, UM, PUBLIC WORKS INDIVIDUALS WHO WENT OUT THERE AND RISKED THEIR SAFETY, YOU KNOW, DRIVING ON THE ROADS TO GO LOOK AT THAT.
UH, FIRST I JUST WANT TO GIVE A SHOUT OUT TO THE ADMINISTRATION AND THE PARKS DEPARTMENT FOR, UM, A SUCCESSFUL, UM, GRANT OPPORTUNITY THROUGH TEXAS PARK AND WILDLIFE.
WE, WE WERE RECEIVING $2 MILLION FROM MASON PARK.
I KNOW THAT'S, YOU KNOW, WE'VE HAD SEVERAL FOLKS, UH, COME, UH, VISIT OR CALL OUR OFFICES, UH, ABOUT MASON PARK AND THE IMPROVEMENTS THAT ARE NEEDED.
AND SO WE'RE LOOKING FORWARD TO THOSE DOLLARS BEING PUT INTO THE MASTER PLAN THAT IS CURRENTLY, UH, UH, THAT WE HAVE AT, AT MASON PARK.
UM, SECONDLY, UH, THIS SATURDAY MY OFFICE IS HOSTING OUR SECOND, UH, RESOURCE FAIR WE'LL HAVE LIFE HOUSTON, IT'S AN INFANT FORMULA, NONPROFIT SAN JOSE CLINIC,
[03:10:01]
UH, THE HOUSTON HEALTH DEPARTMENT AND OTHERS.UH, PLEASE JOIN US THIS SATURDAY, THE FIRST FROM, UH, NINE TO 11 AT YES PREP HOBBY ELEMENTARY, UH, FOR THIS EVENT.
THERE WILL ALSO BE AN OPPORTUNITY TO, FOR ENROLLMENT, UH, FOR THOSE PARENTS THAT ARE INTERESTED.
UM, LASTLY, UH, YOU KNOW, AS, AS YOU WE ALL KNOW, UM, WITH THIS, THE NEW ADMINISTRATION, THERE'S, UH, YOU KNOW, WE'RE IN UNCERTAIN TIMES, UH, CURRENTLY IN OUR COMMUNITIES.
AND I JUST WANNA REMEMBER, UH, REMIND FOLKS THAT REGARDLESS OF YOUR IMMIGRATION STATUS, UH, INDIVIDUALS HAVE RIGHTS THAT INCLUDE THE RIGHTS TO DUE PROCESS, THE RIGHT TO LEGAL REPRESENTATION, THE RIGHT AGAINST UNREASONABLE SEARCHES AND SEIZURES.
I APPRECIATE HPD FOCUSING ON LOCAL LAW, UH, ENFORCEMENT AND LEAVING FEDERAL LAW ENFORCEMENTS TO, TO THE MATTERS OF FEDERAL AGENTS.
UM, THIS EVENING, WE WANNA MAKE SURE THAT WE HIGHLIGHT AS WELL THAT CONGRESSWOMAN GARCIA WILL BE HOSTING A KNOW YOUR RIGHTS TOWN HALL.
UH, IF YOU'RE INTERESTED OF LEARNING MORE ABOUT YOUR CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHTS, PLEASE JOIN US THIS EVENING AT SIX TO SIX, UH, 6:00 PM AT HCC NORTH LINE CAMPUS.
THAT'S AT 8,001 FULTON STREET, UH, 7 7 0 2 2, UH, IN BUILDING E.
AND, UH, MY OFFICE WILL CONTINUE TO SHARE, UH, INFORMATION, MAKING SURE THAT COMMUNITY IS INFORMED.
I THINK THAT'S THE MOST IMPORTANT THING, IS THAT, UH, WE CAN GET AWAY FROM A LOT OF THE, THE, UM, THE NOISE THAT IS BEING OUT THERE AND JUST ENSURING THAT COMMUNITY STAYS INFORMED AND VIGILANT AS WELL.
UM, OVER THE PAST, UH, FEW MONTHS, MY OFFICE HAS SENT YOUR OFFICE, UM, APPROVALS FOR OUR CDSF DOLLARS.
AND, UH, SOME OF THOSE, UM, PROPOSALS HAVE NOT BEEN SIGNED.
SO I'M ASKING IF YOU ALL COULD REVIEW THOSE AND SO WE CAN GET THE REVIEW AND THE APPROVAL.
THEY'VE GONE THROUGH THE PROPER CHANNELS AND BEEN CLEARED BY LEGAL.
UM, BUT JUST WAITING ON THAT FINAL APPROVAL FROM YOUR OFFICE.
SO IF THERE'S ANY QUESTIONS OR CONCERNS THAT YOU HAVE, UH, WE CAN TALK ABOUT IT.
BUT, UM, THESE ARE RENEWALS FOR MOST OF THE PROGRAMS THAT YOUR ADMINISTRATION OR THE PREVIOUS ADMINISTRATION IS ALREADY, UM, SIGNED OFF ON.
SO WE'RE JUST TRYING TO GET THE PROGRAMS, UH, TO CONTINUE FOR JAY CITY.
UM, ALSO, I WANT TO GIVE A SHOUT OUT TO, UH, THE DIRECTOR AND THE PRESIDING JUDGE, ELAINE MARSHALL.
I WAS TOLD THAT SHE SENT IN HER LETTER OF RETIREMENT, UM, AND SHE SERVED THIS, THIS CITY VERY WELL, UM, AS A LAWYER.
UH, SHE'S VERY WELL RESPECTED WITHIN THE LEGAL COMMUNITY AND SHE'S DONE AN OUTSTANDING JOB AS A DIRECTOR AND A JUDGE FOR THE MUNICIPAL COURTS LED US THROUGH SOME VERY TOUGH TIMES AND NATURAL DISASTERS.
UH, SO, UM, TO THE JUDGE, THANK YOU FOR YOUR CONTRIBUTIONS AND YOUR SERVICE TO THE CITY.
AND I WISH YOU WELL IN RETIREMENT.
UH, I'M SAD THE MAYOR PRO TEMS NOT HERE 'CAUSE SHE'S ALL OVER THE BANDIT SIGN THING.
I MEAN, EVERYWHERE IT HAPPENS A FEW TIMES A YEAR, IT LOOKS LIKE IT'S THE US GOVERNMENT.
I'VE CALLED THIS NUMBER A THOUSAND TIMES.
I ACT LIKE I WANNA BUY A PICASSO OR WHATEVER THEY'VE GOT HERE.
YOU KNOW, THAT IT'S SO, IT'S SO EGREGIOUS.
THEY'RE, I MEAN, BLANKETED ALL OVER THE PLACE.
SO WE'RE GONNA FIND THESE GUYS, AND THEY'RE NOT GONNA DO THIS ANYMORE.
THEY SAY THEY TAKE 'EM DOWN RIGHT AFTER THEY EVEN SAY IT ON HERE.
SIGNS WILL BE PICKED UP AFTER AUCTION.
SOME OF 'EM ARE, BUT MANY, MANY ARE STILL UP.
THEY MUST HAVE A THOUSAND SIGNS.
LIKE LITERALLY YOU'VE SEEN THEM.
UM, UM, COUNCIL MEMBER HUFFMAN, YOU GOT, YOU GUYS HAVE ALL SEEN 'EM.
THEY, THEY, I'M GONNA GET WHOEVER YOU ARE OUT THERE, DO NOT PUT THESE SIGNS ALL OVER THE RIGHT OF WAY.
I KNOW JOHN PICKED UP A TON OF 'EM, BUT THERE'S STILL, THERE'S TONS MORE.
SO DON'T GET YOUR ROLEX OR FIND JEWELRY AT THIS PLACE.
I JUST WANTED TO, UH, MENTION, YOU KNOW, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER RAMIREZ, UH, TALKED ABOUT THE PEANUT BUTTER.
AND I'VE BEEN AFFILIATED WITH THE VOLUNTEER SIDE OF THE LDS CHURCH FOR MANY, MANY YEARS.
AND WHEN THERE'S A STORM, WHEN THERE'S A CRISIS IN HOUSTON THAT THEY STEP UP AND SERVE.
DURING HARVEY, THEY HAD OVER 16,000 INDIVIDUALS HERE DAILY AND THEY PROVIDED OVER A MILLION SERVICE HOURS DURING HURRICANE HARVEY.
AND SO, UH, I ALWAYS TAKE THE OPPORTUNITY TO GIVE BACK TO THEM AT THE CANNERY, BECAUSE AS A COUNCIL MEMBER, RAMIREZ SAID THEY, THEY REALLY DO A GREAT SERVICE, AND THEY MAKE OVER 1.1 MILLION JARS OF PEANUT BUTTER A YEAR THAT GOES OUT INTO THE COMMUNITIES, AND THEY PROVIDE ALL OF THE FOOD BANK TO, I MEAN, ALL OF THE PEANUT BUTTER TO OUR HOUSTON FOOD BANK.
BUT ASIDE FROM THAT, WANTED TO MENTION MAYOR THAT, UH,
[03:15:01]
AT SATURDAY, COUNCIL MEMBER JACKSON HAD A MEETING.SHE'LL TALK ABOUT IT AT, UH, CASHMERE MULTI-SERVICE CENTER.
AND THE ONGOING CONVERSATION OUT THERE, AS YOU KNOW, AND I KNOW YOU ALL ARE WORKING ON IT, BUT GENERATOR AND WHAT'S THE TIMING? AND SO WHILE THERE, YOU KNOW, HASN'T BEEN A, A SOLID TIME PUT OUT REALLY, UM, THE COMMUNITY IS REALLY ON IT, AND THEY, THEY, THEY REALLY WANNA KNOW TIMING AND, AND OF COURSE, THAT, AS I ALWAYS SAY, WHAT'S THE PLAN IN THE MEANTIME? AND I, I KNOW THAT, UH, YOUR DIRECTOR IS WORKING ON IT, AND WE'VE HAD CONVERSATION, BUT I JUST WANTED TO, TO BRING THAT BACK.
UM, BUT IT WAS REALLY WELL ATTENDED AND, AND GLAD TO BE A PART OF IT.
BUT THERE ARE MANY ISSUES IN THAT AREA, SO HAPPY TO HELP OUT.
UH, I WANNA CERTAINLY TAKE A MOMENT TO COMMEND YOUR STAFF FOR THEIR INCREDIBLE WORK DURING THIS WINTER STORM.
UH, THEIR DEDICATION AND COORDINATION ENSURE SAFETY FOR PEOPLE IN THE, PARTICULARLY IN THE DISTRICT D COMMUNITY.
I KNOW THAT THERE WERE SOME CONCERNS THAT ALL THAT THE OTHER MULTI-SERVICE CENTER WASN'T USED.
BUT I THOUGHT THAT THE USE OF THE Z TRIPS WAS AWESOME, AND IT ALLOWED PEOPLE TO BE ABLE TO GO TO THE ONE THAT WAS CLOSEST TO THEM TO ALLOW US TO BE ABLE TO COORDINATE BETTER SERVICES.
SO, I UNDERSTAND YOU CAN'T EXPAND THIS TO ALL, UH, LOCATIONS, BUT I REALLY DO APPRECIATE THAT YOU DID THAT IN DISTRICT D.
UH, I WOULD LIKE TO RECOMMEND MAYBE IF WE COULD INVEST IN SOME COTS OR SOME PALLETS OR SOMETHING, BECAUSE IT'S NOT VERY, UH, UH, YOU'RE WARM, CERTAINLY, BUT IT'S NOT VERY COMFORTABLE, YOU KNOW, WITH THE FLOOR.
AND SO IF WE COULD LOOK INTO DOING SOMETHING LIKE THAT, AND THEN SOME OF THE PEOPLE WERE ABLE TO BRING FOOD, BUT THEY WEREN'T ABLE TO USE THE MICROWAVE.
AND SO I WOULD LIKE TO MAYBE HAVE A DEDICATED MICROWAVE THAT COULD BE MONITORED, UH, WHERE PEOPLE COULD USE THOSE SO THAT THEY COULD CERTAINLY WARM THE FOOD THAT THEY DO HAVE.
BUT I, I DO WANNA THANK YOU AND YOUR STAFF FOR THE TREMENDOUS RESPONSE.
AND CERTAINLY, UH, I, I'M VERY THANKFUL FOR THE PEOPLE THAT DID COME, UH, THERE, BECAUSE CERTAINLY WE WANT YOU TO BE SAFE AS WELL.
AND JUST TO LET THEM KNOW THAT THEY ARE SO WELCOME.
AND IF THERE'S ANYONE THAT DOES NOT KNOW ABOUT IT, YOU KNOW, BECAUSE THERE WILL BE OTHER TIMES, CERTAINLY LET THEM KNOW THAT THEY ARE WELCOME AND, UH, WE APPRECIATE THEM COMING TO, TO USE THOSE SERVICES.
I WANT TO HIGHLIGHT AN EVENT THAT'S COMING UP ON SUNDAY, FEBRUARY THE SECOND.
IT'S THE COLUMBIA TAP TRAIL COMMUNITY MEETING.
IT WILL BE AT 4:00 PM AND IT'S GONNA BE AT THE ST.
JAMES EPISCOPAL CHURCH, WHICH IS 31 29 SOPHOMORE BOULEVARD.
AGAIN, IT'S AT 4:00 PM ON SUNDAY, AND IT'S TO CELEBRATE THE HISTORY AND FUTURE OF THE COLUMBIA TAP TRAIL, LEARN ABOUT FORTHCOMING ENHANCEMENTS TO THE TRAIL, AND TO CERTAINLY KICK OFF BLACK HISTORY MONTH BY EXPLORING THE TRAIL'S IMPORTANCE IN HOUSTON'S BLACK HISTORY.
AND IT'S, UM, HOSTED BY THE METROPOLITAN ORGANIZATION OR TMO AND THE ST.
I TOO WOULD LIKE TO, UH, WISH JUDGE MARSHALL WELL AND KNOW THAT LIFE FOR HER WILL CERTAINLY BE EVEN BETTER.
UH, RETIREMENT CAN BE A GREAT THING IF YOU HAVE SENSE ENOUGH TO SIT DOWN LIKE I DIDN'T.
BUT, UH, I, I LOVE WHAT I DO, BUT IT DOES GIVE YOU AN OPPORTUNITY TO DO THOSE THINGS ON YOUR BUCKET LIST.
BUT SHE HAS DONE A TREMENDOUS SERVICE TO THE CITY AND WILL BE VERY MUCH MISSED.
I CERTAINLY WANT TO HIGHLIGHT THE LIFE OF RAIM JERNIGAN RAI JERNIGAN IS A YOUNG MAN THAT WAS SO VERY INVOLVED IN THE SOLAR FARM PROJECT.
HE, HE OFFERED TRAINING, UH, FOR PEOPLE TO COME AND LEARN ABOUT HOW TO INSTALL THE SOLAR PANELS, WHICH ARE GOING TO BE GREAT OPPORTUNITIES FOR PEOPLE TO, TO HAVE, UH, YOU KNOW, A GREAT INCOME.
BUT HE ENGAGED SO MUCH WITH THE YOUNG PEOPLE IN THE COMMUNITY.
HE WORKED ALMOST UP UNTIL THE DAY THAT HE PASSED.
AND HIS SERVICES ARE THIS, UH, SATURDAY AT 11:00 AM AT THE BELFORT CHURCH OF CHRIST.
SO IF YOU HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO COME OUT AND LIFT UP HIS LIFE AND SUPPORT HIS BEAUTIFUL, BEAUTIFUL FAMILY, HIS PARENTS, HIS CHILDREN, HIS BEAUTIFUL WIFE, THAT WOULD CERTAINLY BE AN AWESOME THING FOR THEM TO SEE HOW MUCH HE IS LOVED, PARTICULARLY IN THE SUNNYSIDE COMMUNITY.
SO MY HAT AND MY HEART IS OFF TO EPHRAIM JERNIGAN.
THANK YOU SO VERY MUCH, COUNCIL.
I WANT TO START BY, UM, ALSO THANKING ALL THE CITY DEPARTMENTS, YOUR TEAM, UH, AND HOUSTONIANS, WHO LISTENED TO, TO THE WARNINGS AND THE ADVICE TO STAY OFF THE ROADS AND STAY HOME FOR HELPING US GET THROUGH THE STORM.
UM, YOU KNOW, THAT WAS A, AN EFFORT THAT IT TOOK COORDINATION ON ALL LEVELS, AND WE SAW HOW WELL IT WORKED.
UM, AND WE SAW HOW WE CAN COME THROUGH EVENTS LIKE THIS WHEN WE HEED THE WARNINGS AND PREPARE
[03:20:01]
AND, AND COMMUNICATE.THIS PAST SATURDAY, I HOSTED MY SECOND TOWN HALL AT THE WOODLAND PARK COMMUNITY CENTER.
UM, I WANT TO THANK COUNCIL MEMBERS, ALCORN AND DAVIS FOR, UH, STOPPING BY AND, UH, PARTICIPATING.
WE HAD A GREAT TURNOUT AND HEARD FROM THE RESIDENTS, UM, ON A NUMBER OF, OF THINGS THAT HAVE IMPACTED THEIR NEIGHBORHOOD.
BUT ALSO, UM, THINGS THAT ARE COMING FOR, FOR 2025 IN DISTRICT H.
WE WILL HAVE OUR NEXT TOWN HALL, FEBRUARY 8TH, AT THE BELLA VISTA BAPTIST CHURCH IN INDEPENDENCE HEIGHTS, AND WANT TO INVITE EVERYONE TO COME ON OUT AND ATTEND THAT.
UM, THIS COMING SATURDAY, I WILL BE PARTICIPATING IN A EASTON COMMUNITIES HOUSING RESOURCE FAIR.
THIS WILL BE SATURDAY AT THE DENVER HARBOR MULTI-SERVICE CENTER FROM 10 TO 11:30 AM UH, WE'RE GONNA HAVE A NUMBER OF RESOURCES THERE AROUND HOUSING, UM, OPPORTUNITIES, REPAIR, FINANCING.
UM, THERE'S A LOT OF INFORMATION THAT'S GONNA BE THERE.
SO I WANNA ENCOURAGE FOLKS TO COME OUT THIS SATURDAY AT THE DENVER HARBOR MULTI-SERVICE CENTER FROM 10 30 TO FROM 10 TO 11:30 AM AND THEN TONIGHT I WILL BE ATTENDING A CONGRESSWOMAN SYLVIA GARCIA'S.
KNOW YOUR RIGHTS TOWN HALL AT HCC NORTHLINE CAMPUS STARTS AT 6:00 PM.
UM, I ALSO WANT TO LET FOLKS KNOW THAT IF YOU'RE SEEKING THIS INFORMATION BUT YOU DON'T WANT TO COME TO THIS EVENT, UH, DEFINITELY REACH OUT TO MY OFFICE.
YOU CAN CONTACT MY OFFICE DIRECTLY.
YOU CAN REACH OUT ON SOCIAL MEDIA.
WE'RE HAPPY TO SHARE EVERYTHING THAT WE LEARNED, EVERYTHING THAT THE CONGRESSWOMAN'S PUTTING OUT AROUND THIS ISSUE.
UH, IF YOU YOURSELF DON'T WANT TO SHOW UP TO THIS, DON'T LET THAT STOP YOU FROM GETTING, UH, CRITICAL INFORMATION.
JUST WANTED TO ECHO, UH, ALL OF MY COLLEAGUES FOR THE, UM, DOING THE, THE SNOW STORM WE HAD.
THE OEME OFFICE DID EXCELLENT JOB IN RESPONDING MAYOR AND THE LEADERSHIP THAT YOU PUT TOGETHER WITH THAT GROUP.
I ALSO WANT TO GIVE A SHOUT OUT TO ALL OF THE PASTORS WHO OPENED THEIR FACILITIES ADDITIONAL WITH THE ONES THAT WE HAD FOR WARMING CENTERS.
UH, AND HOPEFULLY WITHIN THE NEXT MONTHS TO COME, WE HOPE TO HAVE A LARGER, LONGER LIST AS WE PUT TOGETHER THROUGH THE MINISTER ADVISORY BOARD SO THAT WHEN THE NEXT STORM COME, WHATEVER IT WILL BE, THAT WE WILL HAVE MORE, UH, OF THE LEADERS IN OUR COMMUNITY STEP UP, WHICH WILL TAKE THAT BURDEN OFF OF THE CITY, UH, FOR THOSE BEING ACTIVE IN OUR COMMUNITIES.
WE KNOW OUR CHURCHES DO A LOT OF THINGS THAT OFTENTIMES IS NOT TALKED ABOUT, BUT THEY ARE THERE.
SO JUST WANT TO THANK, UH, OUR CITY FOR STEPPING UP.
LAST FRIDAY, I WAS AT THE QUASAR BANQUET DOWN IN CLEAR LAKE, AND I RECEIVED MULTIPLE COMPLIMENTS ABOUT WHAT A GREAT JOB THE CITY DID IN HANDLING THE WEATHER.
UH, JUST WANT TO GIVE KUDOS TO YOU AND YOUR TEAM, ESPECIALLY BRIAN MASON, UH, WHO'S THE DIRECTOR THERE, AND THEN RUTH TOVAR.
UH, I MEAN, THEY'VE ALL DONE AN EXCELLENT JOB.
UH, IN FACT, I WAS WITH, UH, STEVEN AND CHRIS NEWPORT YESTERDAY, AND WE TALKED ABOUT, UH, HOMELESS.
AND, YOU KNOW, I WAS WONDERING HOW MUCH WE ACTUALLY DEALT WITH THE HOMELESS SINCE WE HAD THEM AS A CAPTIVE AUDIENCE DURING THIS TYPE OF EVENTS.
SOUNDS LIKE THEY WERE ALL OVER THAT.
SO E EVERYTHING SOUNDED REALLY GOOD.
JUST, YOU GUYS DID A GREAT JOB, AND THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
UH, I ALSO WANT TO INTRODUCE, UH, TALIA TO OUR STAFF.
UH, SHE'S ONE OF THE SECOND CHANCE PROGRAM PEOPLE WHO IS AND I BELIEVE TALIA.
UH, SO SHE'S COME ON BOARD WITH US THROUGH THE SECOND CHANCE PROGRAM.
WE'RE THRILLED TO HAVE HER ON BOARD.
UH, THEN, UH, LASTLY, UH, ALONG WITH, UH, THE PARKS DEPARTMENT, WE'RE HAVING A MEDIAN MADNESS IN KINGWOOD ON FEBRUARY 22ND FROM EIGHT 30 TO NOON.
UH, WE'RE GONNA BE ON KINGWOOD DRIVE FROM KINGS CREEK TO FOREST SHORES.
UM, OBVIOUSLY ANYBODY'S WELCOME TO COME OUT AND JOIN US, SO THANK YOU VERY MUCH, SIR.
UH, AS A REMINDER, WE HAVE A LABOR COMMITTEE MEETING, UH, TODAY AT 2:00 PM WE'RE GONNA BE O DOING AN OVERVIEW OF APPRENTICESHIP PROGRAMS THAT ARE AVAILABLE, UM, THROUGH A FL CIOS IN ALL OF THE UNIONS HERE IN HOUSTON.
I TOO WANT TO EXPRESS MY APPRECIATION TO THE SERVICE OF JUDGE MARSHALL.
UH, JUST TODAY WE PASSED, UH, OUR SUPPORT AGAIN FOR THE INNOVATIVE, UM, TRUANCY PREVENTION PROGRAM.
UH, JUDGE MARSHALL HAS CREATED AND DRIVEN THROUGH SO MANY PROGRAMS, WHETHER IT'S FOR OUR YOUTH TO KEEP THEM OUT OF THE JUVENILE JUSTICE SYSTEM, WHETHER IT'S TO HELP THOSE IN NEED WITH NIGHT COURT, THE LIST GOES ON.
SO MY HEARTFELT APPRECIATION TO
[03:25:01]
HER, UH, EXTENSIVE CAREER OF SERVICE AS IT RELATES TO THE FREEZE.THERE ARE WAY TOO MANY THANK YOUS.
UH, WE WOULD BE HERE ALL DAY, AND I'M GOING TO MISS SOME FOLKS.
BUT, UH, MAYOR FROM YOUR TEAM, UH, STEVEN DAVID'S COMMUNICATION WITH COUNCIL.
UH, WAS EXCEPTIONAL, UH, LETTING US KNOW WHAT WAS GOING ON, AND WE APPRECIATE THAT VERY MUCH.
UH, ANGELA BLANCHARD AND KELLY WORKING WITH ME SPECIFICALLY AT WEST GRAY.
UH, I'LL GET TO MIKE NICHOLS IN A SECOND.
UH, CJ MESSIAH, I SAW A DIRECTOR EARLIER.
UH, BUT THE GSD TEAM, SPECIFICALLY AT WEST GRAY, WE HAVE SO MANY, UH, STRUCTURAL ISSUES.
BUT WHEN WE NEEDED MORE JANITORS, THEY GOT ON THE PHONE TO EXPAND THE CONTRACT SO WE COULD GET MORE IN SO THAT WE COULD KEEP UP WITH CLEANING WHEN THE BATHROOMS WERE FAILING.
UM, HIS STAFF, THEY EVEN STATIONED OVERNIGHT WITH US TO MAKE SURE NOTHING WENT WRONG WHEN WE WERE SHORT ON STAFF.
UH, THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT, THE WORK THAT THEY DID, UH, WITH HOUSING, WORKING UNDER, OF COURSE, MIKE NICHOLS WAS INCREDIBLY RESPONSIVE.
I WAS ON THE PHONE, AND I'LL GET TO WHY IN A SECOND.
BUT NICK ABELS, UH, MAN, HE DOES SO MUCH GOOD AND SO MUCH HELP.
WE WERE LITERALLY SITTING ON A FLOOR TRYING TO ACTIVATE CELL PHONES FOR, UH, AN UNHOUSED FAMILY.
I HAD GOTTEN THEM CELL PHONES 'CAUSE THEY NEEDED TO BE ABLE TO COMMUNICATE.
THAT'S THE LEVEL OF SERVICE IN TRYING TO GET THEM HOUSED AS WELL.
ISLAMIC SOCIETY OF GREATER HOUSTON WAS PROVIDING WARM MEALS, UH, AT WEST GRAY.
KENNETH FROM SALVATION ARMY AND ALL OF THE SALVATION ARMY TEAM, LISA AND STAR OF HOPE, UH, JEWISH FAMILY SERVICE, CARL JOE'S HEART AND MORGAN, OF COURSE, OEM AND E-M-S-E-M-S WAS RESPONDING LIKE THAT TO, UH, CALLS AT OUR WARMING CENTERS.
AND WE APPRECIATE THEM VERY MUCH.
CREWS IN OUR OFFICE HAD THE MOST STEER CALLS OF ANY, UH, OFFICE MEMBER ON THE COUNCIL FLOOR.
AND ALL, I BELIEVE WE REACHED OVER 200 VULNERABLE RESIDENTS.
AND I APPRECIATE THE OTHER OFFICES STEPPING IN TO MAKE THOSE CALLS AS WELL.
WE HAD MOMS COMING TO WEST GRAY TO BRING IN CLOTHES AND GAMES FOR THE LITTLE ONES.
AND WHEN I TALK ABOUT THE LITTLE ONES I REALLY WANNA HIT HOME, UH, WE HAD UNHOUSED FAMILIES WITH LITTLE CHILDREN SHOW UP AT WEST GRAY AGING FROM ONE TO FIVE TO SEVEN TO 10, UH, WITH PARENTS THAT LOVE THEIR CHILDREN AND ARE JUST DOWN ON THEIR LUCK.
AND WE WERE ABLE TO GET TWO OF THE THREE INTO HOUSING THANKS TO, UH, THE SUPPORT MAYOR OF YOUR TEAM THROUGH MIKE, THROUGH ANGELA.
UH, WE'RE STILL WORKING TO STABILIZE ONE OF THE OTHER FAMILIES, BUT IT WAS SO EYE-OPENING TO GO HAND IN HAND WITH THEM, UH, THROUGH THIS PROCESS.
AND WE'RE CONTINUING TO WORK THROUGH THAT.
BUT I JUST WANNA REMIND PEOPLE OF THE COMPASSION THAT IS REQUIRED WHEN WE ARE DEALING WITH OUR UNHOUSED POPULATION AND A SPECIAL THANK YOU MAYOR TO THE PARKS DEPARTMENT.
THEY WERE THE STAFF THAT REALLY WAS ON THE GROUND THE ENTIRE TIME.
WE HAD A TENNIS COACH AT WEST GRAY THAT WAS THERE FROM 6:00 AM TO 6:00 PM UH, DID NOT TAKE A BREAK PROVIDING MEALS, CHECKING ON THOSE IN THE GYM, LITERALLY WITH THEM THE ENTIRE TIME.
THE STAFF AT WEST GRAY MULTI-SERVICE CENTER FOR WENT THEIR DAYS OFF AFTER THEY HAD BEEN WORKING THERE 24 HOURS PLUS TO STAY BECAUSE THEY KNEW THEY NEEDED TO BE THERE TO HELP.
UH, THE SERVICE THAT THEY PROVIDE, WHETHER IT'S CHUCK FRENCH, UH, HANNAH WALKER, UH, THE FRONT DESK RECEPTIONIST, THEY PROVIDE SO MUCH CARE AND THEY LOVE WEST GRAY.
WE SAW THE FACILITIES CONTINUE TO FAIL THERE.
AND I'M VERY CONCERNED EVEN WITH, WE'VE RECEIVED SOME FEDERAL DOLLARS, EVEN FOR THE BATHROOMS. SO WE HAD TWO BATHROOMS FOR MEN TO TOILETS FOR WOMEN, AND THEY CONTINUED TO FAIL THROUGHOUT.
THAT'S WHY GSD WAS THERE TO CONTINUE TO FIX THEM.
THOSE FEDERAL DOLLARS, MAYOR, WITH THE HELP OF CONGRESSWOMAN FLETCHER THAT WE'VE SECURED, ARE GOING TOWARDS THAT.
UH, I'M CONCERNED WITH THE FEDERAL FREEZE RIGHT NOW BECAUSE WE'RE SUPPOSED TO BE GETTING THOSE DOLLARS JUST TO REPAIR THE BATHROOMS. MUCH MORE IS NEEDED AT WEST GRAY, AND WE'RE CONTINUING TO WORK ON THAT.
UH, BUT I AM CONCERNED ABOUT ALL OF THE IMPLICATIONS THAT THESE FEDERAL HOLDS ARE PUTTING WHEN IT COMES TO DISASTER RESPONSE.
WE DON'T OFTEN THINK OF THAT NEXUS, BUT IT IS THERE.
WEST GRAY REMAINS IMPERATIVE TO THE CITY.
UH, AND WE WILL CONTINUE TO WORK ON THAT.
UH, BUT I DID WANNA JUST EXPRESS MY GRATITUDE.
MY HOPE TODAY WAS TO SOLELY BE ABLE TO FOCUS ON MY APPRECIATION AND LIFTING UP THE WORK OF THE LIVES THAT WERE SAVED, UH, DURING LAST WEEK'S FREEZE.
BUT MY CONSCIENCE CALLS UPON ME TO POINT OUT ONE OTHER ISSUE THAT WE'RE FACING MANY OTHER ISSUES, BUT ONE IN PARTICULAR WE'RE FACING RIGHT NOW.
AND THAT'S THE VILE ANTISEMITISM THAT WE ARE CONTINUING TO SEE.
[03:30:01]
HERE IN HOUSTON.AND I'M NOT GOING TO GET INTO THE SPECIFICS BECAUSE THAT'S WHAT THESE PEOPLE WANT.
THEY DON'T DESERVE THE ATTENTION THEY'RE HOPING WILL COME FROM THIS.
BUT THE PROPAGANDA MATERIALS THAT ARE BEING DISTRIBUTED RECENTLY, UH, THAT WERE BROUGHT TO MY ATTENTION WERE WROUGHT WITH THE MOST UN CENTURIES OLD TROPES ABOUT JEWS MONEY AND DUAL LOYALTIES.
AND TO BACK UP FOR A MINUTE THIS WEEK, WE COMMEMORATED HOLOCAUST REMEMBRANCE STAY.
WE SHOULD ALL KNOW WHAT THAT MEANS.
BUT FOR ME PERSONALLY, AS THE DAUGHTER OF A FATHER WHO WAS RECRUITED BY HOLOCAUST SURVIVORS TO HUNT NAZI WAR CRIMINALS RIGHT HERE IN HOUSTON, AND YES, THAT REALLY HAPPENED, I TAKE VERY SERIOUSLY THE DUTY TO ENSURE THAT ON ONLY DO WE SAY NEVER AGAIN, BUT THAT WE CALL OUT WHEN WE SEE IT.
THE HATE, THE PROPAGANDA, THE BRAINWASHING THAT HAS SEEPED INTO THE MINDS OF EVERYDAY FOLKS.
AND THAT'S EXACTLY WHAT LED TO THE HOLOCAUST.
THAT'S WHAT LED TO POGROM AFTER POGROM.
AND THAT HAS LED SOME TODAY WHO FEEL EMBOLDENED TO SPEW ANTI-SEMITIC TROPES TO HARASS AND INFECT THOSE AROUND THEM WITH HATE.
AND THAT RHETORIC IS RAMPING UP.
AND IN THAT INCLUDES ALSO AT THE FEDERAL LEVEL.
AND WHEN THAT HAPPENS, WE CANNOT STAY SILENT.
SO THAT ALSO MEANS ADDRESSING THE RHETORIC AND FEARMONGERING THAT IS TARGETING HOUSTON'S FAMILIES.
WHETHER THAT IS OUR JEWISH COMMUNITY, OUR MUSLIM COMMUNITY, OUR IMMIGRANT COMMUNITY, OUR LGBTQIA PLUS COMMUNITY, THE FEAR THAT FAMILIES ARE FACING RIGHT NOW, UNSURE WHERE THEY ARE AND WHO WILL PROTECT 'EM.
IT IS INCUMBENT UPON ALL OF US TO SPEAK UP AND TO SAY THAT WE STAND WITH YOU.
WE ARE HERE FOR YOU, AND WE WILL PUSH BACK AGAINST THE HATE WE ARE SEEING.
AND MY COMMITMENT REMAINS TO DO EXACTLY THAT.
UM, AND I WANT TO ECHO MY COLLEAGUES IN SAYING CONGRATULATIONS ON, UM, YOU KNOW, JUST HELPING US GET THROUGH THE STORM SMOOTHLY.
UM, IN DISTRICT B, WE HAD THREE, UM, WARMING STATIONS, OPEN CENTERS OPEN.
UM, THEY HAD A ISSUE WITH THE, THE WHAT, THE HEAT WENT OUT, BUT IT WAS IMMEDIATELY FIXED.
UM, THANKS TO STEVE AND DAVID FOR KEEPING ME INFORMED ABOUT IT.
UM, ALSO DURING THE STORM, WE HAD SEVERAL, NOT TOO MANY INCIDENTS, JUST ONE, UM, ONE WHERE WE HAD A RESIDENT WHO HER HEATER WENT OUT, AND SO OFFICE OF EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT WENT OUT AND DELIVERED HER A HEATER.
UM, ALSO HUEY GER GERMAN WILSON AND, UM, MEET THE STREETS FOR PREPARING FOOD, UM, TO GET INTO THE, TO MAKE SURE THAT PEOPLE THAT WAS IN THE CENTERS, UM, HAD A HOT MEAL.
UM, DIRECTOR WILLIAMS ACTUALLY OFFERED A WAIVER SO THAT THEY COULD GET THE FOOD IN.
AND SO WE WERE ABLE TO, UM, JUST MAKE SURE EVERYBODY WAS COMFORTABLE, UM, AND OF COURSE, UM, SAFE DURING THE STORM.
UM, ALSO I WANT TO THANK THE, THIS, THE, UM, HPD HEALTH DEPARTMENT, UM, UM, UM, SOLID WASTE, THE PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT, THE DEPARTMENT OF NEIGHBORHOODS FOR JOINING OUR DISTRICT B BRIEFING ON THIS PAST SATURDAY.
UM, IT WAS A LOT OF INFORMATION GIVEN OUT TO THE COMMUNITY.
UM, COUNCILMAN MCCARTER, THANK YOU FOR, UM, JOINING AND SHARING, YOU KNOW, YOUR UPDATE ON THE, UM, THE, UM, THE, THE, THE, WHAT WAS THE, THOSE, WHAT IS IT? THE, YOU KNOW, GENERATORS? THANK YOU.
THE GENERATORS, YOU KNOW, GIVING UPDATE ON THE GENERATORS, THE CONVERSATIONS THAT YOU'VE HAD.
AND SO THEY ARE LOOKING, YOU KNOW, THE RESIDENTS WANNA KNOW WHEN THE GENERATORS WILL BE INSTALLED, AND I'M SURE THAT ONCE WE GET MORE INFORMATION, WE WILL UPDATE THEM ON THAT.
AND ON TOMORROW, JUST AN UPDATE.
WE WILL BE HAVING A, UM, UPDATE ON THE CRISO, UM, IN THE FIFTH WARD COMMUNITY.
SO WE ENCOURAGING THE COMMUNITY TO COME OUT TO LEARN ABOUT, TO GET THE LATEST INFORMATION ON THE COUNCIL CLUSTERS IN THE FIFTH WARD AREA.
UM, WE WILL HAVE DR. KING, UM, COUNCIL MEMBER, UM, PLUMMER WILL BE AVAILABLE.
JOTA STEVENS, UM, AMY DUNN WITH LONE STAR LEGAL LEGAL AID, UM, AND MANY OTHERS.
UM, UNION PACIFIC, RICHARD WOULD BE THERE AS WELL.
SO IT WOULD BE TAKE, IT WOULD TAKE PLACE AT THE CARL WALKER JUNIOR MULTIPURPOSE CENTER, UM, LOCATED AT 4,300 NOBLE STREET.
UM, THE MEETING, IT'S AT BETWEEN 5:00 PM AND 7:00 PM SO WE ENCOURAGE THE RESIDENTS TO COME OUT SO THAT YOU CAN GET UPDATED ON WHAT'S HAPPENING, UM, WITH THE CANCER CLUSTER IN FIFTH WARD.
AND LET ME, UH, BEFORE WE ADJOURN, THANK EACH AND EVERY ONE OF YOU FOR YOUR COMMENTS.
I COULD SPEND THE REST OF THE DAY WITH SHOUT OUTS.
UH, OUR FIRST RESPONDERS, WHO I INCLUDED PUBLIC WORKS IN THAT GROUP, WERE OUTSTANDING, LEFT THEIR HOMES, THEIR FAMILIES TO PROVIDE FOR US, BUT REALLY EVERY DEPARTMENT AS A COUNCILMAN CAME AND LIST THEM, WHETHER IT BE PARK, THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT, ALL HANDS ON DECK.
AND, UH, IT WAS A TEAM EFFORT.
THE COLLABORATION WITH THE COUNTY, THE STATE, TXDOT DID A TREMENDOUS JOB OF KEEPING OUR HIGHWAYS
[03:35:01]
AND, AND, UH, LOOPS, UH, TREATED AND SCRAPED.THEY, THEY ALLOWED US TO GET INTO THE MED CENTER DURING THE, THE, UH, MIDDLE OF THE NIGHT COMING OFF 2 88 MCGREGOR WITH SNOWPLOWS.
UH, I CAN'T SAY ENOUGH ABOUT ALL OF OUR RANK AND FILE CITY EMPLOYEES SLEEPING ON THE FLOOR, THE EMERGENCY CENTER EMPLOYEES, OUR DISPATCHERS, WE GOTTA DO SOMETHING FOR THE DISPATCHERS.
I WAS OUT THERE, THEY HAVE THEIR BED ROLLS.
WE HAVE TO DO SOMETHING IN TERMS OF COMPENSATION, MAYBE SLEEPING QUARTERS.
SO WE WERE NOT PERFECT, BUT WE WERE DARN NEAR PERFECT.
AND I SAW SOME AREAS THAT WE CAN, UH, ADDRESS SUCH AS PROVIDING FOR OVERNIGHT, UH, SERVICE BY SOME OF OUR EMPLOYEES.
AND, UM, LIKE I SAID, THE GOOD NEWS WILL NOT GET REPORTED OF HOW WELL WE DID.
SO I THANK YOU FOR MENTIONING IT.
UH, IT'S BETTER FOR ME TO HEAR IT FROM YOU THEN YOU WOULD EXPECT ME TO, UH, TO BE PROUD BECAUSE I KNOW IT STARTS AT THE TOP IN ALL THESE DEPARTMENTS AND CERTAINLY IN CITY GOVERNMENT.
BUT LET ME FINISH BY SAYING THANK YOU HOUSTONIANS.
THANK YOU HOUSTONIANS, FOR STAYING OFF THE ROAD AND LOOKING OUT FOR YOUR PETS AND PLANTS AND THE MOST VULNERABLE.
EVERYONE THAT NEEDED A WARMING CENTER WAS GIVEN TRANSPORTATION THERE.
I THINK AS A GROUP, WE'VE GOTTA WORK ON THOSE THAT JUST REFUSE TO GO TO A WARMING CENTER.
WE'VE GOT TO ADDRESS THE ORDINANCE THAT ALLOWS SLEEPING ON THE STREETS FROM 11 TO SEVEN, MAYBE IT'S NINE TO SEVEN.
UH, WE'VE JUST GOT TO DO BETTER TO GET FOLKS THAT ARE NOT LOOKING OUT FOR THEMSELF.
WE'VE GOTTA LOOK OUT FOR THEM.
SO THAT WAS CERTAINLY SOMETHING I WAS AWARE OF.
BUT DURING THE SNOWSTORM IT BECAME REALLY VERY NOTICEABLE.
UH, WITH THAT SAID, UM, I'M JUST GLAD THAT THE CITY HAD THE CREDIBILITY TO ASK HOUSTONIANS TO STAY AT HOME.
AND, AND THEY REACTED NO FATALITIES FROM TRAFFIC OR MONOXIDE, UH, HAD JUST REALLY GREAT RESULTS.
AND I'M HEARING ABOUT IT CITYWIDE.
AND SO I SHARE THAT TEAM EFFORT WITH EACH AND EVERY ONE OF YOU IN YOUR OFFICE IS A COMMUNICATION, COLLABORATION.
AND THAT CAN DO ATTITUDE THAT WE'RE EXHIBITING IS, UH, PRETTY REMARKABLE FOR A BIG CITY, GREAT CITY, GREAT PEOPLE.
WE HAVE CHALLENGES, BUT WE CERTAINLY MEET THEM.
AND LET ME JUST GO AHEAD AND END ON ANOTHER REAL POSITIVE NOTE.
WE HAD A GREAT WORLD CUP ANNOUNCEMENT.
500 DAYS TILL NOW, IT'S DOWN TO 4 97.
WE'RE DOING ALL THE RIGHT THINGS TO GET READY THERE.
BUT AS I SAID THERE, WE CAN'T BE IN MEETINGS TALKING ABOUT HOW WELL WE'RE GONNA GET THE CITY RUNNING FOR THE WORLD CUP.
LIKE EVERY DAY IS A WORLD CUP FOR HOUSTONIANS.
WITH THAT SAID, LET'S GO TO WORK AND BE SAFE.