[Mayor's Press Conference]
[00:00:04]
GOOD MORNING, AFTERNOON.Y'ALL CAN TAKE YOUR PRESS HAT OFF FOR A MOMENT AND BE OBJECTIVE ABOUT THE CONDITION OF THE AGENDA THIS MORNING.
ONE ITEM, AND I KNOW I JUST ASKED FOR AN UNREALISTIC REQUEST, BUT LISTEN, WE'VE HAD SUCH A BUSY MORNING.
I WANNA BRING YOU ATTENTION TO ITEM 33.
IT NEEDS TO BE RECOGNIZED AS THE SYSTEM THAT WE'VE PUT IN PLACE OF COLLABORATION WITH THE STATE OF TEXAS AND OTHER AGENCIES.
AND I'VE ASKED ACTUALLY, RANDY, TO COME HERE AND TALK.
YOU KNOW, NOT ENOUGH TRANSPARENCY HAS BEEN USED TO TALK ABOUT HOW DEFICIENT OUR WASTEWATER TREATMENT SYSTEM IS, AND QUITE FRANKLY, OUR FRESH WATER SUPPLY.
BUT NEARLY 400 LIFT STATIONS FOR WASTEWATER, PART OF THE CONSENT DECREE AGREEMENT, BUT MORE IMPORTANTLY, TO PREVENT OUR WASTE FROM GOING INTO OUR BIOS AND NEIGHBORHOODS HAS BEEN NEGLECTED FOR AS LONG AS ANYONE CAN REMEMBER.
ONE OF THE REASONS I RAN FOR MAYOR IS TO FIX THINGS, TO BE TRANSPARENT.
AND ON ITEM 33, WORKING WITH THE EMERGENCY CENTER IN AUSTIN, THE M KID, WE GOT A $700,700,000 GRANT.
WE WILL SOON HAVE OUR FIRST LIFT STATION WITH A GENERATOR.
NOW, YOU KNOW, WE TALK ABOUT A LOT OF THINGS IN HERE, AND WE READ AND LISTEN ABOUT A LOT OF THINGS, FOLKS, THAT'S WHAT MAKES CITIES WORK, THE COLLABORATION, AND WE CAN'T JUST PASS OVER THAT.
AND I WANT RANDY TO POINT OUT THE SERIOUSNESS OF WHAT WE ADDRESSED THIS MORNING.
THEN WE'LL GET BACK AND OPEN IT.
AND MY TIME IS YOUR TIME TODAY, RANDY.
TELL US, UH, THE STATUS OF OUR LIFT STATIONS AND WHAT THE, UH, NEAR FUTURE LOOKS LIKE.
UH, AS MAYOR SAID, $700,000 GRANT.
UM, CLOSE COORDINATION IN CONJUNCTION WITH TEEM.
THIS IS ACTUALLY A PROCESS WE'D STARTED MANY YEARS AGO, 2022, BUT IT JUST DIDN'T GET VERY FAR.
AND I THINK WHEN THE MAYOR TALKS ABOUT HOW RELATIONSHIPS MATTER, EXPERIENCE MATTERS, THIS IS SOME OF THE FRUITS THAT WE GET TO SEE THE BENEFIT THAT AS A CITY WE GET TO ENJOY AS A RESULT OF IT.
BECAUSE THOSE CONVERSATIONS NOW PROGRESS TO THE POINT WHERE WE ACTUALLY RECEIVE THE AWARD THAT WE NEED TO DO THINGS.
UH, WE HAVE NEARLY 400 LIFT STATIONS ACROSS HOUSTON.
OUR WASTEWATER SYSTEM, OUR COMBINED UTILITY SYSTEM ITSELF.
IT'S THE LARGEST UNI, UH, MUNICIPAL UTILITY IN THE COUNTRY FOR WATER AND WASTEWATER.
UH, THE WASTEWATER SIDE OF THAT INCLUDES MORE THAN 6,000 MILES OF WHAT WE CALL THE COLLECTION SYSTEM OR WHERE YOUR WASTE FLOWS.
AND BECAUSE OF OUR GEOGRAPHY, IT REQUIRES US TO HAVE A SYSTEM OF LIFT STATIONS TO MOVE IT FROM ONE PLACE TO ANOTHER.
YOU KNOW, MANY AREAS THAT HAVE LARGE SYSTEMS ENJOY THINGS LIKE GRAVITY TO BE ABLE TO MOVE THOSE THINGS.
UH, WE DON'T EVEN HAVE THE SAME ADVANTAGE THAT YOU'D FIND OUT IN SAN ANTONIO, FOR INSTANCE, IN THE HILL COUNTRY, WHERE THEY ARE ABLE TO USE GRAVITY TO, UH, TO PROPEL WASTE ALONG THEIR COLLECTION SYSTEM.
WE HAVE A HUGE NUMBER OF LIFT STATIONS.
AND THE WAY HOUSTON HAS GROWN THROUGH ANNEXATION MEANS THAT WE INHERITED THROUGH THAT GROWTH A LOT OF INFRASTRUCTURE THAT SOMETIMES HASN'T WORKED VERY WELL TOGETHER.
IT DOESN'T MESH PARTICULARLY WELL.
SO IT'S NO SURPRISE THAT IN 2013, THE EPA HIT US UP WITH SOME ISSUES REGARDING SANITARY SUE OVERFLOWS.
AND THAT'S WHAT THE CONSENT DECREE, THE FEDERAL CONSENT DECREE IS ALL ABOUT.
YOU KNOW, FROM 2013 UNTIL 2019, UH, WAS JUST NEGOTIATIONS ON WHAT WOULD BE INCLUDED IN THAT CONSENT DECREE.
AND, AND MUCH OF THAT INCLUDES THE NECESSARY REHABILITATION, SOMETIMES REPLACEMENT OF LIFT STATIONS, OF WASTEWATER TREATMENT PLANTS.
UM, BUT ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THAT CONSENT DECREE WAS THE NECESSITY OF BACKUP POWER TO ANY OF THOSE STATIONS ALONG THE WAY.
AND WE SAW FIRSTHAND AFTER HURRICANE BURL LAST YEAR, WHAT HAPPENS WHEN OUR LIFT STATIONS DON'T HAVE POWER? THERE WERE SSOS ALL ACROSS THE CITY.
WE SAW RIGHT HERE, DOWNTOWN, UH, A MAJOR SSO GOING DIRECTLY INTO THE BAYOU.
UH, AND, AND YOU KNOW IT BECAUSE YOU CAN SMELL IT.
AND SO I'M SUPER EXCITED ABOUT THIS.
I CAN'T THANK, UH, AUSTIN ENOUGH CHIEF KIDD FOR THE COLLABORATION THERE AND, AND CERTAINLY APPLAUD THE MAYOR FOR HIS EFFORTS IN MAKING SURE THAT WE HAVE THAT KIND OF COORDINATION TO HAPPEN.
WE'RE HAVING DISCUSSIONS ABOUT MANY, MANY MORE OPPORTUNITIES THAT ARE NEEDED.
OBVIOUSLY, ONE OUT OF 400 DOESN'T MOVE THE NEEDLE A WHOLE LOT, BUT IT'S ONE BETTER THAN WHAT WE HAD.
[00:05:01]
US OVER THE NEXT FEW YEARS IS TO HAVE ALL OF THEM WITH BACKUP POWER.AND AS WE DO REHAB PROJECTS AND AS WE CONSOLIDATE AND AS WE BUILD NEW THINGS, THAT'S A CRITICAL COMPONENT OF THE DESIGN STANDARDS THAT HAVE TO BE INCLUDED, THAT WE HAVE BACKUP POWER FOR IT.
WE, WE LIVE IN AN AGE THAT THERE CAN BE NO EXCUSE TO NOT INCLUDE THAT MOVING FORWARD.
THAT'S WHAT OUR RESIDENTS DEMAND.
IT'S WHAT THEY DESERVE, IT'S WHAT THEY'RE PAYING FOR, UH, OR CERTAINLY IT'S AT LEAST WHAT THEY THINK THEY'RE PAYING FOR.
AND SO WE'RE GONNA DELIVER ON THAT.
WHAT IS THE, UH, IN HOW MANY LIFTS DOES THE 700,000 SIR COVER? HOW MANY LIFTS DOES THE $700,000 COVER? SO IT, IT, IT COVERS ONE LIFT STATION.
IT'S THE LOCKWOOD LIFT STATION.
AND DO YOU VIEW THIS MAYOR AS SEED MONEY? BASICALLY, IF THIS IS LIKE A BUSINESS VIEW, THIS IS THE STATE.
WELL, JUST THE START OF THE SUCCESS OF WORK WORKING WITH AUSTIN RELATIONSHIPS, AND WE HAVE A LOT OF WORK LEFT.
UH, FOLLOWING UP HIS COMMENT ABOUT THE LIFT STATIONS BEING SO IMPORTANT, WE GOT FIRE AND POLICE STATIONS THAT DO NOT HAVE BACKUP POWER, THE SO-CALLED HUB THAT NOW WE'RE MAKING REALITY.
WHEN I GOT HERE, IT WAS CALLED A HUB.
REAL PROBLEM IS IT HAD NO BACKUP ENERGY.
THE MULTI-SERVICE CENTERS ARE COOLING AND OUR HEATING CENTERS NO BACKUP ENERGY.
SO ANGELA BLANCHARD, THE RESILIENCE AND RECOVERY DIRECTOR, AND I WILL BE GIVING A PRESENTATION SOON ABOUT WHAT WE INTEND TO DO, LIKE A HUNDRED LOCATIONS, ARE GONNA GET THEIR FIRST GENERATOR.
WE JUST CANNOT AFFORD TO NEGLIGENT IN PROVIDING ENERGY TO ESSENTIAL SERVICES.
AND THE LIFT STATIONS ARE IN THAT CATEGORY.
HUNDRED PLACES ARE GONNA BE GETTING IT.
BEG PARDON? YOU SAID A HUNDRED PLACES ARE GONNA BE GETTING GENERATED.
THAT'S THE, UH, OVER A PERIOD OF TIME.
WHAT LOCATIONS ARE THOSE? IT'S GONNA BE LIBRARIES.
ALL THE ESSENTIAL CITY SERVICES ARE COOLING, HEATING CENTERS, FIRE, POLICE, BARK, YOU KNOW, BARK DIDN'T HAVE A BACKUP.
AND OF COURSE, SOME SAID WE WEREN'T READY FOR, UH, THE
WE WERE READY ALL HANDS ON DECK.
THE FIRE CHIEF HAD JUST NOT TOLD US THAT 10 OF THE FIRE STATIONS DIDN'T HAVE BACKUP GENERATIONS.
SO, YOU KNOW, YOU CAN'T FIX SOMETHING IF YOU DON'T KNOW ABOUT IT.
BUT, UH, IT'S ESSENTIAL THAT FIRE AND POLICE STATIONS AND CITY SERVICES HAVE BACKUP POWER.
WHERE ARE THOSE GENERATORS COMING FROM? UH, A VARIETY OF SOURCES, LARGELY, UH, FOUNDATIONS, UH, CORPORATE HOUSTON PHILANTHROPY.
AND, AND I, I DON'T WANT TO, UH, PREEMPT, UH, ANGELA.
SHE'S REALLY, REALLY GOT AN EXCITING PROGRAM.
AND WE'LL SOON ANNOUNCE IN THE NEXT, UH, THREE YEARS.
BY THE END OF MY FIRST TERM, WE'LL HAVE A HUNDRED GENERATORS IN SITES THAT HAVE HAD NONE.
MAYOR, UH, GIVEN THE CONTROLLER'S REPORT ABOUT, UH, OVERTIME, UH, SURE.
YOUR THOUGHTS ABOUT ISSUING AN EDICT TO TRIM, UH, OVERTIME AND EITHER FIRE OR POLICE OR SOLID WASTE.
WELL, FIRST OF ALL, IT'S NOT NEARLY, AS WE HEARD THIS MORNING, THE DEGREE IN WHICH HIS, UH, MR. JONES PRESENTED YESTERDAY.
YOU'LL ASK TO ASK THEM IF THEY KNEW THEY WERE NOT USING APPLES AND APPLES.
BUT MR. JONES WAS THE CITY FINANCE DIRECTOR WHEN SO MUCH OF THE DECISIONS AND, AND THE, THE ORANGES THAT HE PRESENTED YESTERDAY WERE PART OF REALITY, HE LEFT THE CITY FINANCE DIRECTOR POSITION A DAY, A WORKING DAY BEFORE MR. HOLLANDS AND I WERE SWORN IN, UH, TOOK A MILLION AND A HALF ADDITIONAL MONIES FOR ASSISTANCE, UH, IN, IN COMMUNITY OUTREACH FOLKS THAT FRIDAY BEFORE I WAS SWORN IN.
SO HE'S VERY FAMILIAR WITH THE WORKINGS OF THE CITY.
HE KNOWS FOR A FACT, OR SHOULD, AND MR. HOLLAND SHOULD HAVE BEEN BRIEFED THAT THE NUMBERS HE USED YESTERDAY WAS NOT THE ONES THAT WE LAID OUT FOR FULL TRANSPARENCY.
THEY USED FEDERAL FUNDING, THEY USED UNFILLED POSITIONS THAT THEY COULD, UH, USE FOR OVERTIME.
SO, YOU KNOW, WE ARE VERY, UH, PROFESSIONAL.
MELISSA IS VERY, SHE, WE'RE ON IT.
THIS HAS BEEN AN UNUSUAL YEAR WITH THE NEED FOR OVERTIME.
UH, BUT WE'VE GOT NEW DIRECTORS IN THE THREE DEPARTMENTS THAT WERE HIGHLIGHTED.
WE'VE HAD SEVERAL STORMS. WE'VE HAD THE SUSPENDED POLICE CASES.
WE'RE MEETING THE PUBLIC'S DEMAND FOR ADDITIONAL SERVICES.
AND IT WAS JUST, IN MY JUDGMENT, UNFORTUNATE THAT A DIFFERENT SET OF SIT, UH, INFORMATION WERE PROVIDED YESTERDAY.
VERSE STATE, YOU KNOW, SCARE TACTICS AND POLITICS JUST HAVE NO ROLE
[00:10:01]
IN US TRYING TO RUN THIS CITY.MAYOR, WHY HAVE THE FINDINGS FROM THE BURNS AND MCDONALDS, I'M SORRY, WHAT? WHY HAVE THE FINDINGS FROM THE BURNS AND MCDONALD'S STUDY? NOT THAT THEY PROBABLY, YOU KNOW, THAT'S A, THAT'S A, THAT'S A GOOD QUESTION AND I'LL GET YOU AN ANSWER TO THAT.
UH, I DON'T NEED THE STUDY TO KNOW THAT IT'S BROKEN.
UH, BUT WE'LL, WE'LL GET YOU AN ANSWER TO THAT REAL QUICK.
OBVIOUSLY THE PEOPLE THAT WERE ASKING ABOUT IT BEEN HERE FOUR YEARS LONGER THAN ME, SO MAYBE YOU OUGHT TO ASK ONE OF THEM.
WHERE WAS IT BEFORE I GOT HERE? BE A REAL FAIR QUESTION.
WHAT CAN YOU TELL US ABOUT THE FINDINGS SINCE WE'VE BEEN TALKING ABOUT THE, WELL, OBVIOUSLY WHAT THE ERNS AND YOUNG REPORT SHOWED, YOU KNOW, WE'RE NOT EFFICIENT ACROSS CITY GOVERNMENT.
YOU KNOW, YOU GET OVER THERE AND SUPERVISORS IN SOLID WASTE ARE SUPERVISING THREE OR LESS PEOPLE.
AND THAT'S THE REASON WE HAVE A NEW DIRECTOR, AND THAT'S WHY WE'RE GONNA BE VERY TRANSPARENT ABOUT WHAT WE FIND.
AND HOUSTONIANS WILL SEE THE RESULTS.
AND YOU KNOW, THE STUDY IS THE STUDY, BUT REAL TIME EXPERIENCES COMES FROM ME REPRESENTING MY CONSTITUENTS, AND IT'S A CRITICAL NEED UNDERFUNDED.
BUT WE ALSO DON'T BELIEVE JUST THROWING MORE MONEY AT IT IS THE SOLUTION.
WE DON'T LIKE THE MODEL THAT SOLID WASTE IS USING.
IT JUST SEEMS LIKE THERE'S NO CONSISTENCY.
THEY KIND OF GO WHERE THE HOT, YOU KNOW, HOTSPOTS ARE WHO'S CALLING THEM.
AND I, I APPLAUD THE PREVIOUS DIRECTOR.
HE, UH, HE WAS DOING THE VERY BEST HE COULD, BUT WE'VE GOT TO TAKE A NEW APPROACH TO GOVERNING THIS CITY.
THE OLD MODELS, YOU KNOW, SOMEBODY SAYING HOW, HOW YOU GONNA FUND THE CITY? WHICH, WHICH MODEL DO YOU WANT TO FUND? THE OLD BROKEN IN OFFICIAL ONE OR THE ONE THAT WE'VE, UH, LAID OUT GOING FORWARD? YOU SAY YOU DON'T WANNA THROW MORE MONEY AT IT.
WHERE DO WE STAND ON THE GARBAGE FEE? THE GARBAGE FEE IS NOT ON THE TABLE AT THIS TIME.
I'VE ALREADY INSISTED WITHOUT ADDRESSING THE WASTE, SOLID WASTE DUPLICATION, SOLID WASTE.
I DON'T KNOW OF THE CORRUPTION IN THAT PARTICULAR DEPARTMENT, BUT ACROSS THE CITY, I'M NOT GOING FOR MORE REVENUE FROM TAXPAYERS UNTIL WE ELIMINATE THE WASTE DUPLICATION, FOR SURE.
AND WE HAVE SEVERAL CITY EMPLOYEES, CERTAINLY THE TURS MEMBERS THAT ARE UNDER INDICTMENT.
ONCE I CAN GO TO THE PUBLIC AND ASSURE THEM THAT I'VE DONE EVERYTHING I CAN, THEN WE'LL START LOOKING FOR ADDITIONAL REVENUE.
BUT THE GARBAGE FEE IS NOT ONE OF MY FIRST ALTERNATIVES.
UH, I'M NOT, THAT IS NOT ON THE TABLE AT THIS TIME, BUT WE'RE GONNA MAKE THE CITY WORK.
THAT'S THE REASON I RAN FOR OFFICE.
NO MORE KICKING THE CAN DOWN THE ROAD, WHETHER IT'S SOLID WASTE, PUBLIC SAFETY, OBVIOUSLY THERE'S SO MANY THINGS I COULD SPEND THE REST OF THE DAY WE THAT WE'RE WORRIED ABOUT THE, THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT GRANTS.
OUR HEALTH DEPARTMENT IS SO DEPENDENT ON THEM.
AND YOU KNOW WHAT, IT'S WORKING.
I STILL GOTTA DEAL WITH THE, UH, MIDDLE STREET PROJECT.
YOU KNOW, IT'S AMAZING HOW THINGS WILL BE SO CRITICAL AMONG SOME OF MY COLLEAGUES.
I'VE GOT TO 7 24, BE WORRIED ABOUT WHAT ARE WE GONNA DO WITH YOU TALKING ABOUT CONFLICTS, INVESTIGATIONS OF THAT PROJECT ON MIDDLE STREET.
WE COULD HAVE UP TO 400 FAMILIES FAMILY IN RESIDENCIES IF THAT HAD NOT BEEN SO CONFLICTED WITH WHERE THEY PUT IT.
MAYOR, WHEN YOU'RE LOOKING AT THE OVERTIME SYSTEM, I KNOW THERE HAVE BEEN WAYS THAT THE CITY HAVE, HAS BASICALLY PADDED THAT IN THE PAST, WHETHER THAT BE THROUGH FEDERAL FUNDS OR OPENING UP VACANCIES, BUT SPECIAL FUNDS.
BUT WHEN YOU'RE LOOKING AT UN STAFF, UNFILLED STAFF POSITIONS, OH, CORRECT.
BUT WHEN YOU'RE LOOKING AT LIKE THE BUDGET SEASON THAT'S COMING UP, OBVIOUSLY WE'RE DEALING WITH A $330 MILLION SHORTFALL.
WELL, WHAT WAYS ARE YOU ALL LOOKING AT EITHER INCREASING REVENUE OR CHANGING THE SYSTEM TO MAKE SURE THAT OVERTIME SYSTEM IS WELL, WHAT WE, FIRST WE GOTTA SEE WHAT WE, WHAT WE NEED TO FUND AND WHAT ARE THE OVERTIME NEEDS? AND WE TOOK A GIANT STEP TODAY BY USING TRANSPARENCY TO LET YOU KNOW THAT WE'RE DEALING WITH REALITY TODAY.
WE'RE NOT GONNA BE ABLE TO USE UNFILLED POSITIONS AS HPD IN THE FIRE HAS IN THE PAST.
NO ONE WAS TOLD THAT COUNCIL MEMBERS SEEMED TO ACT LIKE THEY WERE SURPRISED.
THAT'S WHERE THE PREVIOUS ADMINISTRATION WOULD NOT TALK ABOUT OVERTIME.
THEY JUST REACHED DOWN AND USED SOME OF THE UNFILLED POSITION REVENUE.
THEY WOULD USE FEDERAL FUND REPEATEDLY.
SO AS WE GO FORWARD, WE'RE GONNA HAVE THE APPROPRIATE BUDGET AMOUNT FOR OVERTIME.
[00:15:01]
EFFICIENT.THE THREE DEPARTMENTS THAT, UH, THE REPORT MENTIONED HAVE ALL BEEN, THE DIRECTORS HAVE ALL BEEN REPLACED IN THE LAST SIX MONTHS, GIVE THEM AN OPPORTUNITY TO USE THEIR MODEL AND OPERATIONS USING ERNS AND YOUNG REPORT.
AND, UH, WE'RE, WE'RE VERY POSITIVE ABOUT GOING FORWARD.
MAYOR, MAYOR, CAN I ASK YOU AND THAT, AND THAT AMOUNT THAT, YEAH, THAT'S OUR SHARK FALL, BUT IT'S NOT GONNA BE THE AMOUNT THAT WE END UP DEALING WITH MAYOR, UH, AFTER.
BUT, BUT, BUT THE, BUT YOU, BUT THE SAD THING IS, AND IT'S REPORTED, IS USE FAIR APPLES AND APPLES COMPARISON.
MAYOR, YOU'VE, UH, CRITICIZED THE 11TH STREET PROJECT A FEW TIMES, WHO YOU'VE CRITICIZED THE 11TH STREET PROJECT A FEW TIMES.
I KNOW THE PUBLIC HAS HOUSTON FIRE HAS HOUSTON POLICE HAS THE BUSINESSES, THE DONUT SHOP.
SO YOU'RE SAYING THE RESIDENTS CAN'T GET THEIR GARBAGE OUT ON 11TH STREET? SO WE'RE REVIEWING IT.
I'VE GOT EMAILS WHERE THE PREVIOUS FIRE DEPARTMENT SAID IT'S GOING TO INCREASE RESPONSE TIME.
I DON'T GO LOOKING TO CREATE DISAGREEMENT.
I LIKE TO THINK I'M A CONSENSUS BUILDER TRYING TO DO THE BEST JOB.
BUT WHEN I HAVE FIRE DEPARTMENT OFFICIALS TELL ME, WE DON'T, WE WON'T GO DOWN A LEVEL.
A RESIDENTIAL NEIGHBORHOOD PARKING ON BOTH SIDES IN OUR VEHICLES CANNOT GO DOWN BECAUSE OF THE MURALS.
SO IT'S NOT MY CONTROVERSY, I'M JUST TRYING TO SOLVE IT.
IT SOUNDS LIKE YOUR PLAN IS TO REMOVE IT.
NO, I HAVE NO, I'M LISTENING TO THE PUBLIC AND TO THE PUBLIC SAFETY OFFICIALS.
IT'S ALL DRIVEN BY PUBLIC SAFETY.
IS THERE GONNA BE FORMAL ENGAGEMENT WITH THE PUBLIC? BECAUSE THERE WASN'T WITH AUSTIN, WE DO IT ALL, ALL THE TIME.
THAT'S ALL I DO ALL DAY LONG IS PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT.
CAN YOU EXPLAIN HOW THE AUSTIN STREET REMOVAL WILL BENEFIT THE FIREFIGHTERS AT STATION SEVEN, AS YOUR ADVISOR SAID? WELL, YOU'D HAVE TO TALK TO THEM.
AND THEY SAID THEY, IT'S NOT ANY DIFFERENT TO THAT.
WELL, THEY CAN'T USE THEIR STATION TRAINING FACILITIES NEXT DOOR.
AND THAT WAS BROUGHT TO ME BY THE RESIDENTS.
SO THAT'S NOT, THAT'S NOT CREATED.
THAT'S, THAT'S A PROBLEM THAT'S BEEN IN EXISTENCE FOR YEARS.
IT WAS ONE OF THE FIRST THINGS BROUGHT TO ME WHEN I GOT TO CITY HALL.
WE HAVE A FIRE STATION ON AUSTIN THAT CAN NO LONGER TRAIN THERE.
AND NO ONE TOOK THAT, WHAT TRAINING BE DONE THERE? BECAUSE OF THE BIKE LANE, BECAUSE I PASS BY THERE ALL THE TIME AND SEE THEM OUT RUNNING LADDER DRILLS.
WELL, I LISTEN TO THE FIREMEN PULLING WHITE POLAND HOSE.
AND THEY'RE SAYING THAT IT'S NOT A PROBLEM.
WELL, WE'RE, WE GOT A DIFFERENT SET OF FIREMEN.
CAN, CAN YOU, UH, AND PERHAPS THE, UH, PUBLIC WORKS DIRECTOR COULD ANSWER THIS.
WHAT'S THE PLAN FOR SOUTHBOUND CYCLISTS ON AUSTIN STREET? IT'S A BI-DIRECTIONAL BIKE LANE BEING REPLACED WITH SHEROS ON A ONE WAY NORTHBOUND STREET.
HOW DO PEOPLE GET HOME WHEN THEY COMMUTE TO DOWNTOWN? YEAH, THERE'S, THERE'S LOTS OF OPTIONS DOWN ALL THOSE STREETS.
SO FIRST OF ALL, IT'S IMPORTANT TO REMEMBER THAT, UH, YOU KNOW, THE LAW ALLOWS BIKES AND CARS TO USE THE SAME THOROUGHFARES.
AND, AND WHAT WE'VE DONE IN A LOT OF INSTANCES, WE'VE APPROPRIATED GENERAL MOBILITY LANES FOR, FOR BICYCLISTS TO USE.
YOU KNOW, AUSTIN STREET'S A ONE WAY STREET, AND WE'VE GOT LOTS OF GREAT EXAMPLES OF FOLKS WHO DON'T UNDERSTAND THIS BIDIRECTIONAL BIKE LANE ON A ONE WAY STREET.
AND WHAT HAPPENS, THAT INCLUDES MOTORISTS AS WELL.
MOTORISTS WHO ACTUALLY DRIVE DOWN THE BIKE LANE BECAUSE IT'S WIDE ENOUGH FOR CARS TO BE DRIVEN DOWN.
SO WE'RE EVALUATING AS WE GO THROUGH THIS.
UM, THERE'S BEEN A LOT OF DISCUSSION ABOUT, THIS IS THE REMOVE THE BIKE LANE FROM AUSTIN STREET PROJECT.
THAT'S NOT ACTUALLY WHAT THIS WAS.
NOW THAT IS A RESULT OF WHAT WE'RE DOING.
BUT THIS IS A DRAINAGE PROJECT THAT WE'RE, WE'RE FIXING MUCH NEEDED DRAINAGE IN THAT AREA.
THE STREET CONDITION'S BEEN POURED.
THERE ARE WATER LINES THAT OH, IS THE DRAINAGE PROJECT AGAIN, I'M SORRY, DRAINAGE PROJECT.
WHAT ARE THE, UH, DYNAMICS ABOUT? IT'S GONNA BE DOWN THAT ENTIRE, IT'S GONNA BE THROUGH MOST OF THAT CORRIDOR.
UH, IT DOESN'T GO ALL THE WAY TO GRAY, BUT IT GOES THROUGH A LOT OF THAT CORRIDOR.
SO THEN WHY ARE WE REMOVING THE BIKE LANES DOWN ALL THE WAY GRAY? 'CAUSE WE'RE REPLACING THE SURFACE OF THE STREET ALL THE WAY DOWN THERE UNDER THE MAYOR'S GENERAL MOBILITY GUIDELINES.
WELL, UNDER THE FACT THAT HOUSTON NEEDS BETTER STREETS EVERYWHERE.
AND, AND I'LL TELL YOU RIGHT NOW, THE MAYOR AND I HAVE TALKED ABOUT THIS, YOU KNOW, UH, BY THE END OF HIS SECOND TERM, IN SEVEN YEARS, WE WILL HAVE FIXED MORE THAN HALF OF ALL OF THE LANE MILES THROUGHOUT THE ENTIRE CITY OF HOUSTON.
THAT'S NEVER BEEN DONE BEFORE BECAUSE WE HAVE NOT TAKEN OUR FOCUS TO HOW DO WE TAKE CARE OF THE MAJORITY OF OUR INFRASTRUCTURE.
WE'VE GOT AN AGGRESSIVE PLAN ON HOW WE DO THAT.
WE'RE GONNA MAKE THE PLANS TO UNDERSTAND EXACTLY WHERE WE'VE GOTTA PUT THOSE RESOURCES AND ASSETS.
BUT, UH, BUT WE'RE GONNA BE AGGRESSIVE IN DOING IT.
UH, YOU KNOW, WE TALK A LOT ABOUT HOW DO WE GET PRAYER, UH, READY FOR THE WORLD CUP.
UH, IT'S NOT ABOUT THE WORLD CUP.
IT'S ABOUT HOUSTONIANS EVERY SINGLE DAY.
WHAT KIND OF CONDITIONS THEY HAVE TO DO.
YOU KNOW, THE MAYOR'S TALKED ABOUT HOW WE GROW BY THE CITY OF ATLANTA EVERY BUSINESS DAY DURING THE WEEK.
YOU KNOW, THAT NUMBER IS NOT GONNA GO DOWN.
AND SO WE'VE GOTTA FIGURE OUT HOW WE SOLVE THOSE MOBILITY PROBLEMS. WE HAVE A LOT OF DISCUSSIONS AT THE TRANSPORTATION POLICY COUNCIL ABOUT HOW DO WE REDUCE EMISSIONS AND COMBAT AIR POLLUTION.
WELL, I CAN TELL YOU ONE OF THE WAYS NOT TO DO IT IS TO HAVE CARS SIT IN QUEUES BECAUSE WE'VE TAKEN AWAY
[00:20:01]
THE MOBILITY LANES FOR THEM.SO WE HAVE TO FIND THE BALANCE FOR THAT.
THERE'S NOT A PERFECT SOLUTION YET, BUT WE'RE GONNA EVALUATE.
AND, UH, AND WE'RE CONFIDENT THAT THE BICYCLISTS STILL HAVE ENOUGH ROUTES THAT THEY CAN GET BACK AND FORTH SAFELY.
RIGHT NOW IT SEEMS LIKE A LOT OF THE RECENT, UH, STREET IMPROVEMENT PROJECTS HAVE BEEN IN AREAS WHERE THERE'S EITHER AN UPCOMING MOBILITY STUDY COMING OR WHERE THERE'S A BIKE LANE THE WHOLE CITY'S COVERED BY, COULD YOU DO THAT ON THE MIC? IF YOU CAN ANSWER.
I'M SAYING THE ENTIRE CITY HAS MOBILITY CHALLENGES, AND WE'RE TRYING TO PROTECT, AS RANDY JUST SAID, EVERYONE'S INTEREST.
SO MANY BOB STEIN PEOPLE LIKE THAT.
I, IF IT WEREN'T FOR ALL THESE CHALLENGES IN A BROKEN CITY SERVICE MODEL, I'D BE IN AUSTIN ON THE SENATE FLOOR THIS MORNING.
I WAS ASKED TO COME HERE TO FIX THINGS.
AND WE'RE NOT, WE'RE NOT LETTING UP.
WE HAVE A LOT OF WORK IN FRONT OF US AS IT COMES TO AUSTIN STREET.
WHO, WHO SHOULD I LISTEN TO? EVAN SHABAZZ, THE COUNCIL MEMBER WHO'S IN HER SECOND TERM THERE, SHE WAS ONE OF THE FIRST PERSON, AND SHE'S GOT OTHER LOCATIONS.
THERE'S GONNA BE OTHER LOCATIONS THAT SHE'S ASKED ME TO CORRECT.
I'VE BEEN A FIXER OF PUBLIC SERVICE.
I'M LISTENING TO THE COUNCIL MEMBER WHO GOT ELECTED THERE.
SHE'S THE VOICE OF THE COMMUNITY.
SHE CAME TO ME SOON AS I WAS SWORN IN, SAID, YOU GOTTA LOOK AT AUSTIN.
SHE ACTUALLY SAYS THAT SOME OF THE RESIDENTS ARE MORE AFRAID OF THE BIKERS BECAUSE OF THE TWO-WAY TRAFFIC.
SO LET'S BE REASONABLE AND LISTEN OBJECTIVELY TO WHAT PEOPLE ARE SAYING.
STARTING WITH THE COUNCIL MEMBER.
SO WE'RE TALKING ABOUT HEIGHTS BOULEVARD AND REMOVING THE ARMADILLOS ON HEIGHTS BOULEVARD.
DID YOU CONSULT WITH THE COUNCIL MEMBER IN THAT DISTRICT BEFORE THAT? NO.
I, I, I REPRESENTED THAT AREA.
BUT DID YOU TALK WITH THE MEMBER THERE? CERTAINLY.
I'M FAMILIAR WITH HER VIEWS ON THAT MATTER BEFOREHAND.
IT SOUNDED LIKE YOU SAID THERE'S GONNA BE MORE REMOVALS FOR BIKE PROTECTIONS.
I SAID WE'RE SAID ALL AT TABLE, ALL BROUGHT TO YOU.
WE'RE WORKING WITH THE PARKS BOARD DIRECTOR.
I WOULD URGE YOU TO TALK TO MS. WHITE.
SHE'S GOT AN ELABORATE TRAIL AND BIKE, UH, PLAN THAT WE'RE, THAT WE'RE CONDUCTING RIGHT NOW TO GET A NORTH SOUTH CONNECTION THAT DOESN'T EXIST.
I MENTIONED YESTERDAY, THERE'S SO MANY OF Y'ALL.
I'M GLAD, UH, THERE'S, THERE'S THINGS WE'RE DOING RIGHT NOW TO GET BIKERS IN MEMORIAL PARK THAT WE CAN'T EVEN REVEAL RIGHT NOW.
IT'S GONNA BE MAJOR BECAUSE WE'VE GOTTA ACQUIRE SOME PROPERTY.
YOU KNOW, I REPRESENT ALL HOUSTONIANS AND THE BIKERS ARE IMPORTANT, BUT NOT MANY PEOPLE LEAVE THE HEIGHTS EVERY DAY AND RIDE TO RICE TO WORK.
I HAVE CONSTITUENTS THAT PICK UP CLEANERS.
YOU KNOW, WE'RE ALL IN THIS TOGETHER.
BUT MOBILITY IS CRITICAL FOR A MAJOR CITY WITH THE RESPECT OF ALL THE BIKERS CONSIDERED.
THAT LIKE EXISTING BIKE PROTECTIONS, WOULD YOU SAY THEY'RE NOT GONNA BE REMOVED ACROSS THE CITY? LET, OR ARE YOU STILL REVIEWING IT? LET PROTECT YOU TO HARDY STREET AND JENSEN.
PEOPLE SAY, PLEASE CONSIDER WHAT THESE BIKE LANES, THE ARMADILLOS ARE DOING TO OUR COMMUNITY.
MILLIONS OF DOLLARS WERE SPENT ON SOME OF THOSE ITEMS WITHOUT ANY CONSULTATION WITH THE PUBLIC.
WE NEED 'EM TO PROVIDE SAFETY FOR ALL OF OUR FOLKS.
THE PROBLEM IS, EVEN ON AUSTIN STREET, THERE WAS NO CONSIDERATION FOR MAINTENANCE.
YOU GO ON HARDY LORRAINE AND OTHER STREETS, THE ARMADILLOS ARE IN PEOPLE'S YARDS.
THERE WAS NO MAINTENANCE PROVIDED.
THEY OBJECTED AND COMMISSIONER ELLIS SAID, TELL 'EM TO GET OVER IT.
THAT'S NOT WHAT YOU DO WHEN YOU'VE MADE A CAREER YOUR WHOLE LIFE.
ADULT LIFE AS A PUBLIC SERVANT, I LISTEN TO FOLKS, I LISTEN TO COUNCIL MEMBERS.
WE DON'T HAVE MONEY TO WASTE, BUT WE ARE FOCUSING AS, WHEN I WAS SCREENED BY BIKE, I CAME OUTTA MY SCREEN WITH BIKE HOUSTON.
NOW THEY'LL SAY THEY'VE HAD A CHANGE OF MIND.
WHO'S DONE WHAT TO GET 'EM INTO MEMORIAL PARK.
WE GOT A GREAT BIKE PATH UP TO SHEPHERD THEN WHAT ARE YOU GONNA DO, BOB? YOU KNOW, I'M WORKING ON IT SO I DON'T GET PULLED DOWN BECAUSE PEOPLE ARE DOING WHAT THEY THINK IS IN THE BEST INTEREST OF THEIR ORGANIZATION.
DON'T UNDERESTIMATE THE CONFLICTS OF INTEREST OF PEOPLE RAISING HELL BECAUSE IT'S BUILDING THEIR MEMBERSHIP.
MAYOR, YOU STARTED ABOUT, UH, A CONVERSATION TODAY WITH REGARDS TO AUSTIN AND THE CAPITAL YES.
[00:25:01]
TAXPAYERS.WORKING ON A REPORT WITH REGARDS TO A SENATE BILL.
AND YOU'RE UNIQUELY QUALIFIED TO SPEAK TO THIS, OF PERHAPS TAKING SOME OF THE AGENCIES AND SOME OF THE BUILDINGS IN THAT SPACE THAT THEY'RE PAYING RIGHT NOW IN AUSTIN, ONE OF THE HIGHEST OFFICE SPACES, COMMERCIAL REAL ESTATE CITIES IN TEXAS, IF NOT THE HIGHEST.
AND PERHAPS MOVING SOME OF THOSE AGENCIES TO AREAS THAT MAKE SENSE.
FOR EXAMPLE, TIA TO THE GULF, GULF COAST, MEANING YOU COULD FIND A HOME SOMEWHERE IN THE HOUSTON AREA.
WE SPOKE TO SOMEBODY YESTERDAY ABOUT THIS, T-E-T-C-E-Q.
THEY'RE LIKE, IT'S RIGHT HERE.
WHAT ARE YOUR THOUGHTS ON, ON SUCH A PROPOSAL? WELL, OBVIOUSLY EVERYONE'S FOCUSING ON EFFICIENCY.
I THINK THEY'RE FOLLOWING OUR LEAD.
WE STARTED IT ON DAY ONE, SAW LAST MAY, THAT WE NEEDED PROFESSIONAL EXPERT ADVICE.
WE DID A CONTRACT WITH ERNST AND YOUNG.
WE, OUR, OUR, UH, EXPERIENCE MATTERED IN THAT.
WE KNEW, AND ONE REASONS I RAN, HAVING WORKED WITH NINE MAYORS, THE, THE, UH, EFFICIENCY JUST DIDN'T EXIST.
THAT DISCUSSION STARTED YEARS AGO.
'CAUSE STATE OFFICE BUILDINGS WERE ALL OVER AUSTIN.
NOW, IF YOU GO NORTH OF THE CAPITOL, THEY'RE SPENDING HUNDREDS OF MILLIONS OF DOLLARS BETWEEN THE CAPITOL AND UT TO HAVE OFFICE, UH, OWNERSHIP BY THE STATE OF TEXAS.
WOULD THEY COME INTO OUR COMMUNITY? CERTAINLY THAT NEEDS TO BE REVIEWED.
UH, I'M WATCHING THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT VERY CAREFULLY AS THEY TRY TO DECENTRALIZE THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT.
WE'D LOVE TO HAVE THE ENERGY DEPARTMENT RELOCATED TO HOUSTON.
MAKES A HELL OF A LOT OF SENSE.
SO YOU REACHED OUT TO THE FEDS ABOUT THE ENERGY DEPARTMENT? YES, YES, YES, YES.
AND MOVED THE DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY TO HOUSTON.
SOME OF THEIR GENERAL SERVICES FOLKS HAVE TALKED WITH US.
UH, WE ARE GOING THROUGH OUR CONTACTS AT EVERY LEVEL OF GOVERNMENT TO COLLABORATE.
IF THEY'RE GONNA RELOCATE SOME MAJOR AGENCIES AT THE STATE, WE, WE WILL REQUEST A, WE BE CONSIDERED AND AT THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT, THE DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY, IF IT GOES FORWARD, WHICH WE HAVE NO CONTROL OVER, UH, WOULD THEY CONSIDER RELOCATING THE ENERGY DEPARTMENT IN HOUSTON? THEY'RE GIVEN THOSE.
SUBSTANTIAL STAFFING DEFICITS.
AND HPD AND HFD WAS THE EXPENDITURE OF OVERTIME NECESSARY TO PROVIDE AN ACCEPTABLE LEVEL OF SERVICE, BOTH BY HFD AND HPD GREG, GIVEN THAT YOU RAN ON PUBLIX SAFETY.
IT'S BEEN THAT WAY FOR AS LONG AS ANYONE CAN REMEMBER.
I DIDN'T INTERJECT THIS MORNING, BUT I WAS REALLY, REALLY WANTING TO.
BOB LANIER IN 93 GOT $500 MILLION FOR HPD AND POLICE OVERTIME.
THAT WAS THE EQUIVALENT OF 600 ADDITIONAL OFFICERS.
YOU HAVE TO BE SMART IN THIS BUSINESS.
LOOK AT THE REAL TIME NEEDS AND ASSESSMENTS.
OF COURSE, THERE'S BEEN OVERTIME USED IN HPD FOR AS LONG AS ANYONE CAN REMEMBER.
THE ONE THAT STANDS OUT IN MY MIND IS LANIER, WHO TODAY IS CONSIDERED BY MANY, MANY, ONE OF OUR GREATEST MAYOR.
HE PUT 500 MILLION IN POLICE OVERTIME.
CRIME WAS AT AN ALL TIME HIGH, MUCH HIGHER THAN IT IS NOW.
AND THEN I SIT AROUND THIS HORSESHOE AND WE ALL ACKNOWLEDGE THAT WE HAVE DEMANDS THAT ARE NOT BEING MET.
THAT WASN'T A STREET TAKEOVER, BY THE WAY, ON WASHINGTON.
THAT CLUB WAS JUST HAD SOME SPECIAL CELEBRATION.
I, UH, WAS URGING EVERYONE TODAY TO GO WATCH SOME COUGARS AT DISCOVERY GREEN AND GEORGE AT THE BROWN.
TAKE A LOOK AT THE LACK OF ENFORCEMENT OF THE SCOOTERS AND THE DANGERS.
WE'VE REALLY CREATED SOME WALKABILITY IN DOWNTOWN HOUSTON.
I WAS DOWN THERE SEVERAL TIMES WHEN THIS BEAUTIFUL WEATHER.
BUT YOU CAN'T WALK FROM YOUR HOTEL TO HILTON TO A RESTAURANT WITHOUT 'EM WEAVING IN AND OUT OF YOU.
DRUGS ARE INVOLVED, YOUNG PEOPLE ARE INVOLVED.
I'M TALKING ABOUT 11, 12 YEAR OLDS NOW.
SOMEONE SAID, WELL, LET'S REGULATE IT.
WHERE ARE YOU GONNA GET THE RESOURCES TO ENFORCE IT? WE'RE DOING THE VERY BEST WE CAN.
YOU DON'T WANNA PUSH 'EM OUT ON THE STREET.
SO ANYWAY, BACK TO YOUR QUESTION.
UH, TO HEAR PEOPLE DEBATE WHETHER WE NEED OR WON'T POLICE OVERTIME, TO ME IS TOTALLY RIDICULOUS.
MAYOR, WHAT'S THE STATUS OF, UH, NEGOTIATIONS WITH THE POLICE UNION? IT'S MOVING FORWARD.
I THINK I'VE GOT A THREE O'CLOCK MEETING.
[00:30:01]
A MATTER OF, UH, LOOKING AT, UH, OUR OPTIONS.BUT, YOU KNOW, NO ONE'S CLOSER TO THE POLICE DEPARTMENT HISTORICALLY THAN JOHN WHITMEYER.
SO I KNOW HOW I DIDN'T NEED A WELL THIS POLICE OR FIRE.
I DIDN'T NEED A LA TRAGEDY, A FIRE TRAGEDY.
KNOW THAT HOW CRITICAL FIREFIGHTERS ARE.
I DON'T HAVE TO GET TO A NEGOTIATIONS TO KNOW HOW IMPORTANT THEY WERE.
IN FACT, I WAS ON THE FIRST NEGOTIATING TEAM IN 98 AFTER WE PASSED MEET AND CONFER.
SO I'M VERY CLOSE TO THE NEEDS, WHAT'S AVAILABLE, HOW WE'RE GONNA GET IT, AND WE'LL HAVE A SATISFACTORY, UH, NEW CONTRACT.
AND, UH, BY THE WAY, WE'LL HAVE THAT BUDGET, THAT BALANCED BUDGET THAT PEOPLE ARE SO CONCERNED ABOUT.
NOBODY'S MORE CONCERNED THAN ME.
YOU'VE SAID BEFORE THAT YOU WANTED TO MAKE POLICE PAY AND BENEFITS EITHER COMPARABLE OR BETTER THAN OTHER IN THE STATE.
IS THAT STILL THE CASE? THERE'S NO, NO DOUBT.
AND IT'S NOT ONLY TO FOR RECRUITING, IT'S FOR RETENTION.
SO CERTAINLY IT'S NOT ONLY GO, UH, WE'RE GONNA DO IT, IT'S GONNA BE COMPARABLE.
AUSTIN JUST WENT TO THE FIRST, TO THE FRONT OF THE LINE, UH, STILL NOT HELPING THEIR RECRUITING THAT SIGNIFICANTLY BECAUSE LARGELY THEY'RE THEIR WORKING ENVIRONMENT.
AND YOU'VE TALKED ABOUT EFFICIENCIES IN HPD.
ARE YOU TAKING ANY OF THE RECOMMENDATIONS FROM THE EY STUDY SURE.
INTO HPD, SUCH AS THEIR KEY PERFORMANCE INDICATORS? SURE.
WE'RE, WE'RE SCRUBBING IT VERY CAREFULLY.
AND I CAN'T SAY ENOUGH ABOUT CHIEF DIAZ, THE USE OF TECHNOLOGY, THE USE OF COLLABORATION.
YOU KNOW, I GO WITH HIM ON A SURGE AND WE HAVE A HUNDRED ADDITIONAL OFFICERS IN THESE AREAS OF CONCERN.
AND THE CURRENT PLAN IS WE'VE IDENTIFIED THAT WE PROBABLY WILL SAY LIKE A SEVEN THAT WOULD MEET THE THRESHOLD.
WE WANT TO KEEP THAT VERSION OF THAT SURGE IN ALL SEVEN LOCATIONS.
'CAUSE NOW WE GO ONE, WE GO TO ANOTHER ONE, WE GO HERE AND WE WANT TO KEEP THAT PRESENCE.
AND THAT WILL HAPPEN WHEN WE INCREASE THE NUMBER OF OFFICERS.
AND OUR RECRUITING IS BEING VERY SUCCESSFUL.
NOT ONLY IN, IN, UH, POLICE, BUT CERTAINLY IN FIRE.
BUT THE REAL CHALLENGE IS GONNA BE THE INTAKE.
WE CAN'T HAVE OUR OFFICERS DOING THEIR JOB, PUTTING THEIR LIVES ON THE LINE.
THEN THEY TAKE 'EM TO INTAKE AND THEY MAKE 'EM SIT THERE TWO AND THREE HOURS.
THEN IT TAKES A YEAR OR MORE TO GET PEOPLE TO COURT.
YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT THE, THE REAL CRUELTY IN OUR EXISTENCE IS THE CRIME VICTIMS. THE WIDOW OF THE DEPUTY SHERIFF THAT WAS SHOT WHEN HE FOUND THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER THEFT THIEF.
SHE HAS TO GO TO COURT EVERY OTHER MONTH AND FACED THE PEOPLE THAT KILLED HER HUSBAND.
A FIRST RESPONDER DOING HIS JOB ON HIS OWN TIME, BECAUSE THEY WON'T GET THE CASE TO TRIAL.
WE'VE GOT TO ADDRESS THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM.
IF PEOPLE ARE NOT GUILTY, SET 'EM FREE.
AND, AND WHILE I'M ON A A ROLL HERE, LOOK AT THE CONDITIONS IN THE HARRIS COUNTY JAIL, I DON'T KNOW HOW Y'ALL ALLOW THAT TO EXIST.
AND THAT'S ALSO IMPACTING INTAKE BECAUSE THEY DON'T HAVE ANYWHERE TO PUT 'EM.
AND IN THE MEANTIME, THEY'RE SPENDING MILLIONS OF DOLLARS IN LOUISIANA AND MISSISSIPPI, CONFINING HOUSTON, HARRIS COUNTY RESIDENTS AWAY FROM THEIR FAMILY, AWAY FROM THEIR DEFENSE ATTORNEY.
BUT GETTING BACK TO THE CITY, WE'RE MAKING HUGE PROGRESS.
THE SOLID WASTE INTERIM DIRECTOR'S GONNA KNOCK IT OUTTA THE PARK.
WE'RE GONNA GIVE HIM SOME RESOURCES.
WE'RE GONNA HELP HIM WITH THE ERNST AND YOUNG REPORT.
I COULDN'T BE MORE PLEASED WITH THE LEADERSHIP TEAM THAT WE PUT IN PLACE.
WHY NOT RELEASE THE RESULTS OF THE STUDY FOR PUBLIC, UH, EXCUSE ME, FOR SOLID WASTE.
I'M GONNA BE, I'M GONNA BE THE FIRST TO LET YOU KNOW WE'RE GONNA, WE'RE GOING TO GET A HOLD OF IT AND RELEASE IT TO YOU.
OH, YOU DON'T HAVE THE RESULTS YET? I SAID I DON'T, YEAH, THEY'RE STILL WORKING.
AND MAYOR, I DON'T, THE POINT IS I DON'T NEED A STUDY, SO WE'LL SHARE IT WITH YOU.
IF I HAD IT HERE, I'D HAND IT TO YOU.
YOU KNOW, I GETS TO OPEN RECORDS.
NOBODY'S BETTER AT IT THAN I AM.
JUST YOUR THOUGHTS OR REACTION ON THE ORGANIZING FOR RECALL EFFORT FROM TARGETING YOU.
I THINK IT'S, WHEN IT'S SILLY.
DOESN'T EVEN DESERVE A, A RESPONSE, QUITE FRANKLY.
UH, I'M VERY PLEASED WITH OUR POSITION, THE TEAM WE PUT IN PLACE, THE PROGRESS.
I'VE TRAVELED ACROSS HOUSTON OFTEN BY MYSELF.
AND, UH, THAT'S THE BEST REVIEW THAT I NEED.
I'LL, IF YOU WANT GO, I'LL FIND
[00:35:01]
OUT THE STATUS OF THAT REPORT THAT YOU NEED.THE REASON I DON'T HAVE TO MA'AM.