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I AM TRAVIS LEMONS, AND THIS WEEK WE ARE BACK IN STUDIO FIRST CITY PULSE SINCE WE'VE BEEN GONE, HERE ARE A FEW THINGS THAT HAVE OCCURRED.
THE HOUSTON COUGARS CAME UP SHORT AND WINNING A NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP IN MEN'S COLLEGE BASKETBALL.
THE HOUSTON ROCKETS CLINCHED THE SECOND SEED IN THE NBA PLAYOFFS, AND THE CITY HAD A GINORMOUS ART CAR PARADE.
LET'S CHECK OUT COUNCIL MEMBER EDWARD POLLARD AND THE MAYOR'S OFFICE OF VETERANS AND MILITARY AFFAIRS HONORING SERVICEMEN AS PART OF NATIONAL VIETNAM WAR VETERANS DAY.
MY FATHER WAS THE INSPIRATION FOR ME, UH, WHEN IT CAME TO, UM, CONSTRUCTING THIS MEMORIAL.
HE TOLD ME, SON, WHEN, UH, WHEN I GOT BACK FROM VIETNAM, UH, WE WEREN'T WELCOMED LIKE THE HEROES THAT WE WERE.
WE WEREN'T WELCOMED WITH RESPECT, WITH DIGNITY.
WE WEREN'T WELCOMED WITH A SENSE OF PRIDE, UH, BUT SOME CRITIQUE, SOME RIDICULE, SOME JUDGMENT AND I THAT, THAT HAS LIVED WITH HIM, UH, FOR HIS ENTIRE ADULT LIFE.
WE THANK YOU FOR THE FAMILY MEMBERS.
WE KNOW THAT IT WAS HARD WHEN THEY CAME BACK.
HIS DAD OR MOM OR UNCLE WAS SITTING IN THE CORNER WAS ISOLATING BECAUSE I DIDN'T WANNA TALK ABOUT WHAT THEY WENT THROUGH.
AND SO, 20 AND 30 OR 40 YEARS LATER, MANY OF THEM STILL AREN'T TALKING ABOUT WHAT THEY WENT THROUGH.
BUT YOU SEE THE EVIDENCE BECAUSE YOU'RE SEEING THEM GETTING ILL, YOU'RE SEEING THEM PASS AWAY.
SO THAT'S WHY I ALWAYS SAY, PLEASE MAKE SURE THAT YOU ARE HONORING THEM AND GIVING THEM THEIR FLOWERS WHILE THEY ARE STILL HERE.
SO EVERY YEAR, AGAIN, WE TAKE A MOMENT TO JUST SAY THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE, AND WE ALWAYS WANT TO SAY WELCOME HOME.
SO AFTER THE CEREMONY, WE'RE GONNA PIN EACH AND EVERY VIETNAM, BUT WHETHER YOU, WHETHER YOU'VE GOT A GOTTEN A PEN OR NOT, TODAY, WE'RE GONNA HONOR YOU YET AGAIN AND GIVE YOU YOUR LAPEL PEN.
AND FOR THOSE WHO SERVED, UM, WE PURPOSELY PUT WELCOME HOME ON THE BACK OF THAT MEMORIAL.
AND WE WANT YOU ALL TO KNOW THAT ALTHOUGH YOU DID NOT RECEIVE THE RECEPTION THAT YOU WERE DUE WHEN YOU RETURNED FROM THE WAR, UH, WE RECOGNIZED IT AND WE SAY WELCOME HOME.
AND WE SAY, THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
ONE OF MAYOR WHIT MEYER'S, TOP PRIORITIES IS ENDING STREET HOMELESSNESS.
THESE NEXT TWO STORIES ARE A BIT OF SHOW AND TELL.
FIRST, HTV INTERN E BUSH CATCHES UP WITH MAYOR WHITMEYER, CHIEF OF STAFF, CHRIS NEWPORT, WHO TALKS ABOUT THE CHALLENGES AND PROGRESS MADE SO FAR.
I, I RECOGNIZE THAT IT'S VERY REAL CIRCUMSTANCE.
HOMELESSNESS IN HOUSTON IS MULTIFACETED, BUT THERE ARE MANY SOLUTIONS IN THE MAYOR'S PLAN.
AS PART OF THAT, WE TOUCHED ON, UM, THE DIFFERENT ELEMENTS OF MAYOR WHITTIER'S PLAN TO END STREET HOMELESSNESS AND THE CHALLENGES THAT WE HAVE TO CONTINUE TO, TO WORK THROUGH TO MAKE AN EFFECTIVE IMPACT ON THAT ISSUE.
LIKE WHEN I WAS ON THE BRIDGE 10 YEARS AGO, I PRAYED TO THE LORD LIKE 30 YEARS AGO.
I PRAYED TO THE LORD TO GET ME FROM UNDER THE BRIDGE AND OFF THE GROUND, AND HE NEVER HAS TURNED BACK ON HIS PROMISE TO DEATH.
HOWEVER, THROUGH COLLABORATIVE EFFORTS IN TARGETED INITIATIVES, HOUSTON HAS ACHIEVED REMARKABLE PROGRESS IN REDUCING HOMELESSNESS.
THE FACT OF THE MATTER IS, IS THAT HOUSTON HAS BEEN SUCCESSFUL IN ITS APPROACH TO HOMELESSNESS, AND WE'RE RECOGNIZED AROUND THE COUNTRY FOR THE PROGRESS THAT WE'VE ALREADY ACCOMPLISHED HAS WORKED WELL AT BROAD SCALE FOR US IS GONNA CONTINUE TO BE HELPFUL.
LIKE, UM, LIKE RAPID REHOUSING AND THE WONDERFUL PROGRAM THE WAY HOME HOUSTON'S FIGHT AGAINST HOMELESSNESS IS FAR FROM OVER.
BUT WITH THESE SOLUTIONS MAKING A REAL IMPACT, THE CITY IS PROVING THAT CHANGE IS POSSIBLE.
FOR HTV CITY PULSE, I'M MALAYSIA BUSH.
NOW ON THE PREVIOUS STORY, CHRIS NEWPORT MENTIONS RAPID REHOUSING, A PROGRAM THAT PROVIDES HOMELESS FAMILIES WITH IMMEDIATE SHORT-TERM HOUSING ASSISTANCE.
RECENTLY, THE HOUSING AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT UNVEILED ROSEMARY'S PLACE IN MIDTOWN EFFICIENCY APARTMENTS THAT ARE MEANT TO EMPOWER.
AND WE'RE HERE TO CELEBRATE THE RIBBON CUTTING FOR ROSEMARY'S PLACE.
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THIS IS 149 UNIT EFFICIENCY BUILDING THAT WAS SPECIFICALLY DESIGNED TO HOUSE PEOPLE WHO ARE EXITING INTO THE CRISIS OF HOMELESSNESS.FIRST OF ALL, WE ALWAYS TRY TO PROVIDE SHELTER FOR THOSE FOR LOW-INCOME FAMILIES, BUT THIS GOES EVEN FURTHER THAN THAT.
THIS IS TRYING TO PROVIDE THE SERVICES THAT PEOPLE NEED IN ORDER TO LIVE DAY-TO-DAY LIVES.
UM, AND THESE ARE SERVICES THAT ARE NOT READILY ALWAYS AVAILABLE, OR THE SHELTER AND THE SERVICES ARE NOT AVAILABLE.
UM, WITH THE CITY, WE KNOW THAT A LOT OF PEOPLE ARE FACING HARD TIMES RIGHT NOW, THE AFFORDABILITY CRISIS, IT'S HITTING THE COUNTRY AND IT'S HITTING THE CITY, AND IT'S MAKING IT HARDER AND HARDER FOR PEOPLE TO BE ABLE TO AFFORD JUST THEIR BASIC RENT.
AND THAT IMPACTS COMMUNITIES, VERY LOW INCOME COMMUNITIES, EVEN MORE SPENDING MORE THAN 50% OF THEIR INCOME JUST JUST TO HAVE A PLACE TO LIVE.
UM, THIS BUILDING SPECIFICALLY BRINGS TOGETHER THE VISION OF ROSEMARY BADAMI, WHO WAS THE FOUNDER OF MAGNIFICO HOUSE.
AND HER PASSION IN LIFE REALLY WAS REACHING OUT TO THOSE WHO ARE THE MOST VULNERABLE.
AND SO THIS HOUSING REPRESENTS AN OPPORTUNITY FOR PEOPLE TO MOVE OUT OF DIFFICULT LIFE CIRCUMSTANCES, PARTICULAR TO HOMELESSNESS AND INTO THEIR OWN PERMANENT HOUSING WHERE THEY'LL HAVE ACCESS TO CASE MANAGEMENT AND OTHER SERVICES ON SITE IN ORDER TO STABILIZE.
SO WE'VE INVESTED $18.6 MILLION IN COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT BLOCK GRANT AND DISASTER RECOVERY FUNDING TO MAKE THIS HAPPEN.
AND WE'VE WORKED WITH OTHER PARTNERS LIKE THE, LIKE THE COUNTY, HARRIS COUNTY, AND WE SENT HOUSING AUTHORITY JUST TO MAKE THIS HAPPEN.
UH, WE WORKED TOGETHER WITH THE CITY OF HOUSTON, WITH HARRIS COUNTY, UH, WITH THE TEXAS GENERAL LAND OFFICE, WITH T-D-H-C-A, ALONG WITH MAGNIFICO HOUSE, WHO ARE OUR LANDOWNER PARTNERS AND OUR SUPPORTIVE SERVICE PARTNERS.
WHEN CITY PULSE RETURNS, SPECTRUM FUSION SPOTLIGHTS THE ARTIST AND ARTWORK AT HTV STUDIOS.
YOU COULD EAT EVERY NIGHT OF THE WEEK IN HOUSTON AND ONLY SCRATCH THE SURFACE OF ALL THE DIFFERENT TYPES OF CUISINES THAT WE HAVE HERE.
THE BEST WAY TO TAKE IT IS THIS NEIGHBORHOOD AT A TIME.
EACH NEIGHBORHOOD HAS ITS OWN SPECIALTY AND THERE'S JUST SO MUCH TO LEARN.
IT'S ONE OF THE BEST THINGS ABOUT FOOD IS THAT YOU CAN NEVER LEARN AT ALL.
HCV HOUSTON TELEVISION PRIDES ITSELF AS AN INCUBATOR FOR COLLABORATION AND ENDORSEMENT.
SPECIAL TO OUR STUDIOS IS THE ARTWORK ON DISPLAY FOR VISITORS AND CITY PERSONNEL.
ALL THANKS TO CHARLES WASHINGTON AND THE HARAMBE ART GALLERY.
HTV IS ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT MEDIA DIVISIONS REGARDING THE CITY OF HOUSTON.
KNOWN FOR PROVIDING LIVE COVERAGE OF CITY COUNCIL MEETINGS WITH OTHER DEPARTMENTS AND MUNICIPAL SERVICES.
ONE OF THEIR GREATEST TREASURES IS THEIR ENDORSEMENT OF CULTURAL ART.
AND THEIR BEST EXAMPLE IS HOSTING A BEAUTIFUL ARTWORKS IN THEIR HALLWAYS, DETAILING AFRICAN AMERICAN CULTURE THAT HELP SHAPE MUCH OF THE DIVISION'S HISTORY.
A LOT OF THESE ARTWORKS WERE DONE BY A SELECTED GROUP OF TALENTED ARTISTS.
ONE OF THE OLDEST ARTISTS, CHARLES WASHINGTON IS KNOWN FOR HIS GULLAH HERITAGE, HIS MIXED MEDIA VISIONS, AND ENVIRONMENTAL BELIEFS THAT EXPLORE AFRICAN CULTURE.
HIS METHODS INVOLVE USING RECYCLED FUNCTIONAL AND WEARABLE ART, AS WELL AS SCULPTURE DOORS, CANVAS, AND UNIQUE CARDS TO HELP EXPRESS HIS ART.
ANOTHER FAMOUS ARTIST IS IO DELE OWO LOBBY, WHO'S KNOWN FOR HIS NIGERIAN HERITAGE AND COMPLETE VIBRANCE THAT HE USES TO EXPRESS THE TAPESTRY OF AFRICAN CULTURE AND THE FABRIC OF NEW ORLEANS EE HONEY
AHAI, WHO TOO IS A MEMBER OF PRODIGIES OF AFRICA AS HIS ARTWORKS PROVIDE AN EXPRESSION OF THE DOWNTURN OF THE GLOBAL ECONOMY AND THE RISE OF HOPE OVER DEPRESSION.
MANUEL VENTERA WAS KNOWN FOR HIS LIN HERITAGE AND BEING A MEMBER OF THE TRANSHUMAN STUDIO AS HIS SURREAL ARTWORKS CONTAINED VIBRANT COLORS AND ANGLE AND SYMBOLISM TO HELP HIM REPRESENT THE SURROUNDING WORLD.
CHIEF EO IS A NEW ORLEANS NATIVE WHO'S KNOWN FOR HIS OWN SURREALISTIC
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PAINTINGS AND UNIQUE JEWELRY, WHICH INCLUDES S LABELS AND PAT PINS.ANTHONY R TRUMAN TWO IS A NEW ORLEANS NATIVE WHOSE DEEP INTELLECTUAL THOUGHT AND CREATIVITY HELPED HIM CREATE HIS OWN SERIAL PAINTINGS BASED ON MYTHOLOGY, FILM, COMIC BOOKS, AND BIBLICAL STORIES.
ANOTHER ARTIST IS DARRYL HUGHES, WHO HAPPENS TO BE THE CURRENT CAPABLE ACCESS PROGRAM SUPERVISOR AT HTV.
WITH THAT BEING SAID, IT'S SAFE TO SAY THAT HTV TRULY ENDORSES THE TREMENDOUS IMPACT THAT THESE ARTWORKS HAVE GIVEN AS PEOPLE WALK DOWN THE HALLWAYS AND IN TIME, THERE WILL BE OTHER ARTWORKS TO BE HUNG ON THE WALLS FOR FUTURE GENERATIONS TO SEE.
OKAY, NOW IT IS TIME TO TEST YOUR KNOWLEDGE OF DOWNTOWN HOUSTON AND SPECTACULAR STRUCTURES.
JANUARY BRINGS RUNNERS TO HOUSTON, BUT WHEN APRIL ARRIVES, IT'S TIME TO CRUISE THE STREETS AND TAKE PART IN THE TOUR TO HOUSTON BIKE RIDE.
OUR FRIENDS WITH THE PARKS DEPARTMENT CAPTURES THE FUN AND EXCITEMENT HAD BY THE CYCLISTS.
10 MINUTES ON THE STARTER 2025 TOUR DE HOUSTON PRESENTED BY APACHE CORPORATIONS.
MEDIUM, ABSOLUTELY READY TO GO.
THE JERSEY HOUSTON IS JUST ANOTHER DEMONSTRATION OF HOW GREAT OUR CITY IS.
IT'S A GREAT OPPORTUNITY FOR PEOPLE TO COME TOGETHER, THE DIVERSITY AND THE OPPORTUNITY TO, UH, REALLY JUST CELEBRATE HOUSTON'S UH, OPPORTUNITIES TODAY.
THEY, SOME PEOPLE FORGOT THEIR HELMET, SOME PEOPLE FORGOT THEIR WATER BOTTLE BOTTLES.
AND THEN TAKE CARE OF THEM IN ANY LABOR, UH, THAT THEY'RE NEEDING RIGHT NOW.
UH, IT'S A INCREDIBLE ATMOSPHERE.
WHAT I LIKE MOST ABOUT THIS RIDE IS JUST THROUGH THE ENVIRONMENT, THE ATMOSPHERE AND, AND FRANKLY, THE FACT THAT IT REALLY, IT REALLY, UM, IS BENEFITING THE REFORESTATION OF OUR GREEN SPACES.
THAT'S SOMETHING THAT'S NEAR AND DEAR TO APACHE.
WE HAVE THE APACHE TREE GRANT PROGRAM.
WE'VE PLANTED OVER 5 MILLION TREES IN PLACES WE OPERATE HALF A MILLION HERE IN HOUSTON.
AND THE FACT THAT, UH, THIS SUPPORTS THAT EFFORT IS AMAZING.
STILL EARLY, BUT LOOKING FORWARD TO A GOOD RIDE OUT HERE, IT'S FOR A GOOD, UH, GOOD CAUSE, YOU KNOW, KEEPING HOUSTON CLEAN AND GREEN AND ALL THAT GOOD STUFF.
ONE GREAT THING ABOUT THIS EVENT, WHETHER YOU ARE JUST AN AVID, UM, RECREATIONAL CYCLIST OR YOU ARE AN ENTHUSIAST AND YOU RIDE FOR COMPETITION, THIS RACE HAS A LOT FOR EVERYBODY.
I THINK IT'S A VERY NICE ROUTE THAT THEY HAVE PLANNED FOR US, AND ESPECIALLY THAT IT'S SHORTER THAN THE REST BECAUSE I BELIEVE THERE'S 20 AND 45.
I DON'T THINK I CAN HANDLE THAT YET.
WHAT ARE YOU LOOKING FORWARD TO MOST? THE END
WHERE, ALRIGHT, THE COUGARS MAY HAVE DROPPED THE BALL, BUT I GOT IT BACK.
THAT'S GONNA DO IT FOR CITY POLLS FOR HTV HOUSTON TELEVISION SPECTRUM FUSION, HOUSTON PARKS AND RECREATION, AND THE CITY OF HOUSTON.
UNTIL NEXT TIME, REMEMBER THAT WE CAN ALWAYS DO BETTER AND KINDNESS IS FREE.