[00:00:19]
AND GO AHEAD AND START YOUR MEAL.WE'RE RUNNING ABOUT FIVE MINUTES BEHIND, SO I WANNA GET US CAUGHT UP.
[TAG Houston Region: State of Mobility 2025]
OR ALMOST GOOD AFTERNOON.LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, GOOD MORNING.
MY NAME IS CHRISTINA CABAL AND I'M THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF TAG HOUSTON.
WELCOME TO THE STATE OF MOBILITY.
I LOVE APPLAUSE BETTER THAN BOEN.
WE ARE HONORED TODAY TO HOST THIS EVENT AND TO FEATURE THE MAYOR OF HOUSTON, OUR DEAR FRIEND AND GREAT LEADER, THE HONORABLE JOHN WHITMEYER.
THIS IS MAYOR WHITTIER'S SECOND APPEARANCE AT OUR STATE OF MOBILITY.
AND WE ARE ONCE AGAIN, EAGER TO HEAR HIS VISION FOR THE FUTURE, TRANSPORTATION AND INFRASTRUCTURE FOR HOUSTON AND OUR ENTIRE REGION.
LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, I AM VERY PROUD TO ANNOUNCE THAT WE ARE SOLD OUT AND APPARENTLY EVEN OVERSOLD BECAUSE I HAVE PEOPLE WAITING OUT IN THE LOBBY.
AND WHEN, WHEN THE BOARD HIRE, WHEN I LOVE THAT PROBLEM, AND I APPRECIATE YOUR PATIENCE BECAUSE WHEN, AND THIS IS A GOOD SIGN, RIGHT? 'CAUSE WHEN THE BOARD HIRED ME, I SAID TO THEM, MY GOAL IS TO MAKE TRANSPORTATION SEXY AND EXCITING.
I THINK TODAY'S A TESTAMENT TO THAT WITH THE CROWD THAT'S HERE IN THIS ROOM.
I, I'D LIKE YOU TO TAKE A MOMENT TO LOOK AROUND THE ROOM, LOOK TO YOUR LEFT, TO YOUR RIGHT BEHIND.
AND I WANT YOU TO SEE THE GREAT PEOPLE THAT ARE HERE, BECAUSE THEY'RE ALL INDUSTRY LEADERS IN OUR REGION OF, IN OUR, IN OUR INDUSTRY OF TRANSPORTATION.
THERE'S PROFESSIONALS, COMMUNITY ADVOCATES, ELECTED OFFICIALS.
WE'RE ALL GATHERED HERE TODAY SO WE CAN SHARE BECAUSE WE HAVE THE SAME PURPOSE.
WE ARE HERE TO LISTEN, LEARN, AND COLLABORATE ON HOW WE CAN SECURE MORE CRITICAL FUNDING AND ADVANCE TRANSPORTATION INVESTMENT IN OUR RAPIDLY GROWING REGION.
WE HAVE A FULL AGENDA, SO I'M JUST GONNA JUMP RIGHT INTO IT, YOU KNOW, AND, AND I WANNA THANK FIRST START BY OFFERING GRATITUDE.
AND I OFFER GRATITUDE EVERY DAY.
I, I THANK GOD FOR ALL OF OUR BLESSINGS.
AND I WOULD BE REMISS IF I DIDN'T START WITH MY FIRST BLESSING, WHICH IS MY HUSBAND, WHO, UH, IS A GREAT SUPPORTER.
HE'S HIDING SOMEWHERE IN THE BACK.
ARTURO MICHEL, AND MANY OF YOU, UM, ARTURO MEJIA, MY HUSBAND, ARTURO MEJIA IS A PROUD 30 YEAR VETERAN OF HPD AND WORKS EVERY DAY TO MAKE THIS COUNTRY THIS CITY SAFE.
BUT IN PRACTICING GRATITUDE, I REALLY ALSO WANNA THANK THE MANY, MANY PEOPLE THAT MAKE THIS HAPPEN EVERY DAY.
I FIRST WANNA THANK OUR INCREDIBLE BOARD TAG BOARD.
CAN I HAVE OUR TAG BOARD MEMBERS PLEASE STAND.
THANK YOU FOR ALL THAT YOU DO AND FOR SUPPORTING ME.
I DON'T KNOW IF MANY PEOPLE KNOW THIS, IT'S MYSELF, ONE OTHER PER AND TWO OTHER PEOPLE THAT MAKE THIS HAPPEN EVERY DAY, ALL DAY.
SO KYLE'S SHOULDERS AND SAN MEDINA,
UM, I ALSO WANNA THANK, UM, THE MANY, MANY VOLUNTEERS AND I AND I SPECIFICALLY WANNA CALL OUT THE ORGANIZATION THAT ORGANIZATIONS THAT ARE MEMBERS OF TAG WHO LOAN THEIR FOLKS, WHO LET ME AND OUR TEAM GO TO THEIR OFFICES AND TAKE OVER IN PREPARATION FOR ALL THESE EVENTS.
SO I DEFINITELY WANNA CALL OUT D-C-C-M-L-A-N-L-J-A RAY TECH AND OUTREACH STRATEGIES.
I KNOW THE ENTIRE STAFF, I KNOW THE CLEANING STAFF, I KNOW EVERYONE THAT WORKS THERE.
AND I JUST WANNA THANK YOU GUYS 'CAUSE WE WOULD NOT BE HERE IF IT WASN'T FOR YOU.
WISH TO LAN WHO BROUGHT ALL THE VOLUNTEERS FOR OUR, UH, MOST OF OUR VOLUNTEERS FOR OUR CHECK-IN.
UH, I WOULD BE REMISS IF I DIDN'T ACKNOWLEDGE OUR MOBILITY PARTNERS AND MOBILITY CHAMPIONS, WHO YOUR, THEIR NAMES ARE ON OUR SLIDESHOW AND BE SHOWING THROUGHOUT THE LUNCHEON AND JUST WANNA THANK THEM AGAIN.
AND MANY OF THEM, ALONG WITH 25 OTHER ORGANIZATIONS AND ENTITIES GENEROUSLY SPONSOR TODAY'S EVENT.
YOU ARE OUR PARTNERS EVERY DAY, BUT REALLY ALSO APPRECIATE THE GENEROSITY THAT YOU SHOWED.
[00:05:01]
I'M GONNA, I WANNA ESPECIALLY CALL THEM OUT AND HOLD YOUR APPLAUSE IF YOU CAN TILL THE END OR ANY WOO WOOS AFTER THAT.FIRST IT WOULD BE OUR UNDERWRITER, HNTB, PLATINUM.
GOLD WOULD BE EAST GOLD SPONSORS OUR EAST ALDING ENERGY CORRIDOR, GREATER NORTHSIDE MANAGEMENT, GULFTON MANAGEMENT DISTRICT, HOUSTON AIRPORT, KU AND ASSOCIATES, RRP ENGINEERING, DELION AND ZAEN KE FOR SILVER.
WE HAVE BOWMAN, CEC, CIVIL AND ENVIRONMENTAL CONSULTING.
COBB FINLEY, EHRA, HOUSTON PUBLIC WORKS, HOUSTON HEWITT, ZOLA, EXCUSE ME.
KCI, TERRACON UPTOWN AND WHITMAR MUNOZ.
BEFORE WE BREAK, TO GIVE YOU A QUICK BREAK TO FINISH YOUR LUNCH, I DID WANNA SHOW A QUICK VIDEO FROM OUR UNDERWRITER, HNTB.
FOR MORE THAN A CENTURY, HNTB HAS BEEN AT THE FOREFRONT OF DELIVERING INFRASTRUCTURE SOLUTIONS THAT PROVIDE SAFE, EFFICIENT, AND RELIABLE MOBILITY FOR LOCAL COMMUNITIES.
BY CREATING INNOVATIVE AND DIVERSE INFRASTRUCTURE THAT REFLECTS THE SPIRIT OF THIS DYNAMIC CITY, WE ARE BRINGING HOUSTONIANS TOGETHER AND EXPANDING OPPORTUNITY.
OUR LEGACY IS BUILT ON A FOUNDATION OF UNPARALLELED TECHNICAL EXCELLENCE AND STRONG PARTNERSHIPS TO ACHIEVE SUCCESS ON THE MOST COMPLEX AND AMBITIOUS PROJECTS.
FROM PLANNING TO DESIGN TO CONSTRUCTION, HN, TBS, INDUSTRY LEADING PROFESSIONALS ARE COMMITTED TO COLLABORATING WITH OUR CLIENTS TO MEET THE HIGHEST STANDARDS OF QUALITY AND DELIVER INNOVATIVE, RESILIENT, AND SUSTAINABLE SOLUTIONS THAT HELP SHAPE INFRASTRUCTURE TODAY WHILE MEETING THE CHALLENGES OF TOMORROW.
H AND DB, THANKS FOR ALL THAT YOU DO FOR TAG.
OKAY, SO I'M GONNA GIVE YOU ABOUT FIVE MINUTES, 10 MINUTES TO FINISH YOUR LUNCH AND WE'LL COME BACK AND CONTINUE THE PROGRAM.
SO I HOPE EVERYONE'S ENJOYED THEIR LUNCH AND GONNA MOVE IT ON TO DESSERT.
AND WE'RE GONNA GO AHEAD AND MOVE ON WITH THE PROGRAM.
UM, THE NEXT PART OF OUR PROGRAM IS A DANGEROUS PART FOR ME, BUT JUST BEAR WITH ME BECAUSE I WOULD LIKE TO ACKNOWLEDGE ALL THE ELECTEDS IN THE ROOM.
IF I MISS YOU, LET COME BACK, 'CAUSE I'VE GOTTA CLOSE IT.
I'LL MAKE SURE I SAY YOUR NAME, BUT IF YOU WOULD YOU, IF YOU CAN HOLD YOUR APPLAUSE AND IF THE, UH, OUR PHENOMENAL ELECTED OFFICIALS COULD PLEASE STAND AS I SAY YOUR NAME.
AND THIS IS NOT AN EXHIBIT ORDER, THE ORDER WE CHECKED IN, SO JUST BEAR WITH US.
SO COUNCILWOMAN SALLY ACORN COM.
COMMI COMMISSIONER BECKENDORF, COMMISSIONER JONES COUNTY JUDGE KEHO, MARK KEHO.
COMMISSIONER GRADY, PRESTIGE COUNCIL MEMBER JULIAN RAMIREZ.
COUNCIL MEMBER TIFFANY THOMPSON.
[00:10:01]
MEMBER JOAQUIN MARTINEZ.COUNCIL MEMBER MARIO CASTILLO AND AND COUNT AND MAYOR.
THE MAYOR, SARAH COUNTRYMAN, CITY OF MONTGOMERY.
CAN WE GIVE AND COUNCIL MEMBER HUFFMAN, THANK YOU SO MUCH.
WOULD YOU PLEASE STAND? COUNCIL MEMBER COULD ALL OUR ELECTED STANDS AND OF ALL APPOINTED, IF I MISSED ANYONE, THERE'LL BE ROUND TWO RAD FOR THE MAYOR SPEAKS.
SO LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, I WANNA ALSO TAKE A MOMENT OF THIS PART AND MAKE SURE YOU'RE LOOKING AT THE SLIDES.
ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE'VE DONE AT TAG IS WE ALWAYS HAD A FELLOWSHIP PROGRAM, BUT WE'VE REALLY UPPED IT THIS YEAR, THESE LAST TWO YEARS.
AND I'M VERY PROUD OF THE FELLOW PROGRAM THAT WE HAVE.
AND I JUST WANNA SHOUT OUT SOME THAT ARE HERE TODAY.
OUR FULBRIGHT SCHOLAR AND TWO OF OUR OTHER U OF H GRADUATES, UM, ARE BOTH, UH, FULBRIGHT SCHOLAR GRADUATED AND HE'S GAINFULLY EMPLOYED, AND THEN TWO OF OUR U OF H GRADUATES, UM, ARE HEADED TO LAW SCHOOL.
SO THREE MORE ADVOCATES FOR TRANSPORTATION.
SO THANK YOU FOR BEING ROLE MODELS.
THANK YOU FOR GIVING OF YOUR TIME.
WE ALSO HAVE A NEW SL, A WHOLE SLEW OF NEW INTERNS, INCLUDING FROM MY ALMA MATER AND LBJ INTERN, AND WE'LL SHARE HIM WITH THE GOODMAN GOODMAN GROUP.
UM, FOR THE NEXT PART OF OUR PROGRAM, IF YOU CAN INDULGE ME, I WOULD LIKE TO INVITE OUR TAG BOARD MEMBER, JACK DRAKE, TO THE PODIUM.
JACK IS GONNA TAKE A MINUTE TO RECOGNIZE, UM, OUR DEAR FRIEND, UH, CONGRESSMAN SYLVESTER TURNER.
THANK EACH OF YOU FOR BEING HERE.
WE'RE PROUD TO HAVE YOU AS MEMBERS, FRIENDS, PARTNERS, SYLVESTER TURNER, BORN IN ACRE'S HOMES, UH, AND HARVARD EDUCATED REPRESENTED US SO WELL IN AUSTIN, HERE IN OUR CITY AND HIS CITY, AND EVER SO BRIEFLY IN WASHINGTON.
WE APPRECIATE HIS CHIEF OF STAFF, MARETTE HUNTER, WHO WITH OTHERS HERE TODAY, SERVED HIS ADMINISTRATION.
MAYOR WHITMEYER ADDRESSED CITY COUNCIL ON HIS PASSING WITH THESE WORDS, A REMARKABLE PUBLIC SERVANT WHO IMPACTED MILLIONS OF PEOPLE.
HE ROSE FROM POVERTY, BUT NEVER FORGOT WHERE HE CAME FROM.
IT IS A TERRIBLE LOSS FOR THE CITY AND A PERSONAL LOSS FOR ME.
I ASKED JOHN CONTINUED ALL HOUSTONIANS TO CELEBRATE HIS LIFE.
TAG SHARES THESE FEELINGS AS WE REMEMBER HIS TIMES WITH US ON THE SCREENS.
TURNER WAS COMFORTABLE GREETING, CONNECTING WITH PEOPLE, WHETHER ROYALTY OR ANOTHER HUMAN ON THE STREETS OF OUR CITY.
AND IN PULPITS THROUGHOUT OUR COMMUNITY FROM THE TAG PULPIT, HE BEGAN OUR STATE OF MOBILITY FORUMS IN 2016.
AND WE ARE GRATEFUL THAT OUR MAYOR JOHN WHITMEYER IS CONTINUING THIS SIGNATURE EVENT AS WE REFLECT ON TURNER'S PARTNERSHIP WITH TAG ITS INCREDIBLE LIFE AND LEGACY.
I ASK YOU TO JOIN ME IN AROUSING APPLAUSE FOR THE LIFE AND CONTRIBUTIONS OF SYLVESTER TURNER.
[00:15:17]
THANK YOU JACK, AND THANK YOU TO ALL OF YOU.NEXT, I WOULD LIKE TO IN PART PROGRAM, I WOULD LIKE TO INVITE THE TWO CO-CHAIRS OF OUR TAG BOARD, JIM RUSS AND GREG RES, WHO WILL GIVE A SPECIAL PRESENTATION TO OUR, SOME OF OUR BOARD MEMBERS.
WE, WE WERE SO HAPPY THAT WE COULD FIT YOU ALL INTO THIS BIG ROOM.
THANK YOU CHRISTINA AND STAFF.
THEY DID A GREAT JOB OF, UH, GETTING US IN HERE.
I WANT TO FIRST, UH, JUST A LITTLE ELEVATOR SPEECH HERE.
IF YOU ARE NOT A MEMBER, WE WOULD LOVE FOR YOU TO BECOME A MEMBER.
THERE'S A QR CODE ON THE TABLE, UM, AND WE NEED ALL THE HELP WE CAN GET.
AS YOU KNOW, OUR JOB IS TO ADVOCATE FOR OUR FAIR SHARE OF TRANSPORTATION DOLLARS FOR OUR REGION.
AND SO WE NEED ALL THE VOICES WE CAN GET.
AND SO IF YOU HAVEN'T JOINED JOIN, WE WOULD REALLY APPRECIATE IT.
AS MOST OF YOU KNOW, UH, TAG HOUSTON'S MISSION IS TO IMPROVE REGIONAL MOBILITY BY ADVOCATING FOR TRANSPORTATION INFRASTRUCTURE FUNDING.
THE MISSION AND THE VERY FOUNDATION OF OUR ORGANIZATION WAS MADE POSSIBLE THROUGH VISIONS AND FORESIGHT OF OUR CITY'S LEADERS, INCLUDING THREE IMPORTANT TAG BOARD MEMBERS, UM, WHO WE ARE PROUD TO RECOGNIZE TODAY.
AND I'VE HAD THE PRIVILEGE OF SERVING WITH, UM, ALL THREE OF THEM, UM, AND HAVE LEARNED, UM, SO MUCH FROM THEM TOGETHER, THEY'VE CONTRIBUTED NEARLY 40 YEARS OF DEDICATED SERVICE TO TAG.
PLEASE TAKE A MOMENT TO WATCH THIS SHORT VIDEO HIGHLIGHTING THE PROFOUND IMPACT OF THEIR LEADERSHIP AND COMMITMENT TO OUR GREAT REGION.
I'VE HAD AN INCREDIBLE ADVENTURE WITH TAG.
I'M PROUD TO HAVE BEEN A PART OF THE CREATION AND THE ADMINISTRATION, UH, OF TAG FOR THESE PAST 14 YEARS AND LOOK FORWARD TO GROWING NEW LEADERS EVERY YEAR AS WE BRING NEW PEOPLE ON OUR BOARD OF DIRECTORS AND EXPAND.
OUR MEMBERSHIP TAG HAS BEEN GOOD TO ME AND I'VE BEEN VERY PLEASED TO BE ABLE TO SERVE TAG IN OUR BROADER COMMUNITY.
I'M JEFF COLLINS, CO-CHAIR AT ONE TIME WITH, WITH CAROL LEWIS.
I REALLY BECAME REALLY INVOLVED IN TAG BECAUSE I WOULD GET ON ON TWO 90 TO GO HOME TO GO TO MY DAUGHTER'S SOCCER GAME OR MY SON'S BASEBALL GAME.
AND I COULD NEVER GET THERE BECAUSE I WAS IN TRAFFIC FOR AN HOUR.
AND THAT'S REALLY WHAT SPURRED ME TO REALLY GET INVOLVED IN TAG.
IT DOES HELP FROM A BUSINESS SIDE, BUT MORE IMPORTANTLY, PEOPLE GETTING HOME TO ENJOY THE THINGS THEY ENJOY IN THEIR LIVES.
MY ROLE HAS BEEN TO WORK ON, AND REALLY TO CHAIR THE MOTION MAP.
IT'S IMPORTANT THAT WE WORK TOGETHER SO THE MORE OUR MEMBERSHIP IS STRONG AND WE CAN REPRESENT THE MORE ENTITIES IN HOUSTON, THE MORE BUSINESSES IN HOUSTON, THE MORE, UH, SMALL BUSINESSES, BIG BUSINESSES, MULTIMODAL BUSINESSES, THE MORE THAT THAT MEMBERSHIP REFLECTS ALL OF THOSE NEEDS IN HOUSTON, THE STRONGER WE ARE AS WE ADVOCATE FOR OUR TRANSPORTATION FUNDING.
WHILE THEY'RE NOT GOING ANYWHERE AND WE CONTINUE TO, THEY'LL CONTINUE TO PROVIDE GUIDANCE AND SUPPORT.
UH, THEY'RE TRANSITIONING INTO AN EMERITUS STATUS.
UH, THEIR ROLE IS TO, UM, IS TO MAKE SPACE FOR THE NEW LEADERS, THE YOUNGER, UM, FOLKS WHO ARE JOINING OUR BOARD.
AND WE'RE SO EXCITED, UM, TO HAVE A GROUP OF NEW, UM, YOUNGER BOARD MEMBERS WHO HAVE, UH, CONTRIBUTED, UH, TO THEIR, TO THEIR COMMUNITIES AND SUPER EXCITED, UH, TO HAVE THEM ON BOARD.
AND SO THEY'RE NOT GONNA GO ANYWHERE.
AND THEY, I'VE MADE IT CLEAR TO ALL OF THEM.
UH, WE, WE, WE'VE GOT TO CONTINUE TO HAVE THEIR, UM, THEIR EXPERTISE AND EXPERIENCE, UH, IN IN IN THIS ORGANIZATION.
IF YOU'LL INDULGE ME, UH, JIM, UH, INDULGE JIM RUS AND I, UH, FOR A MOMENT WE'D LIKE TO SAY A FEW WORDS ABOUT EACH AND ONE,
[00:20:01]
EACH ONE OF THESE FINE LEADERS AS WE CALL HIM UP TO RECEIVE A SMALL TOKEN OF TAGS, APPRECIATION FOR THEIR MANY YEARS OF SERVICE TAG.ALRIGHT, AT THIS TIME IF I COULD ASK, UH, JACK AND DR. LEWIS AND JEFF TO COME JOIN US HERE ON THE STAGE.
WE'VE GOT A LITTLE, LITTLE RECOGNITION, UH, THAT WE WOULD LIKE TO PRESENT TO Y'ALL.
SO JUST FOR A LITTLE HOUSE CLEANING, WHAT WE'LL DO IS INDIVIDUALLY PRESENT THE, THE, UH, RECOGNITION AND TAKE A PICTURE AND THEN WE'LL ALL GET A GROUP PHOTO AFTERWARDS.
SO, SO WITH THAT BEING SAID, UH, WELCOME EVERYBODY.
SO, UM, FOR 23 YEARS, JACK DRAKE WAS THE PRESIDENT OF NORTH OF THE NORTH HOUSTON DISTRICT, WHICH PROVIDES SERVICES AND IMPROVEMENTS INCLUDING PARKS, TRAILS, TRANSPORTATION, AND PUBLIC SAFETY TO ENSURE THE GROWTH AND PROSPERITY OF THE COMMERCIAL AND RESIDENTIAL CENTER.
AT IF 45 IN THE SAM HOUSTON PARKWAY, IN RECOGNITION OF HIS SERVICE, THE DISTRICT DEVELOPED AND NAMED 12 WOODED ACRES ALONG GREEN'S BIO AS JACK DRA.
JACK HAS BEEN, UH, WAS ONE OF THE ORIGINAL CO-FOUNDERS OF TAG IN 2010 AND HAS SERVED ON THE BOARD SINCE ITS INCEPTION, INCLUDING ROLES AS VICE CHAIR AND CHAIRMAN.
SO JACK, THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE.
UM, IT'S, IT'S MY HONOR AND PRIVILEGE, UH, TO INTRODUCE A, A PERSON THAT I ALWAYS, I'VE ALWAYS LOOKED UP TO THIS, THIS WOMAN IS ONE OF THE SMARTEST WOMEN I'VE, UH, WOMAN I'VE EVER KNOWN.
UM, AND SHE'S JUST SO CALM AND SHE'S SO SKILLFUL ABOUT HOW WE GET THINGS DONE.
UM, DR. LEWIS IS A PROFESSOR IN TRANSPORTATION STUDIES AND, UH, EMERITUS DIRECTOR OF THE CENTER OF TRANSPORTATION AND TRAINING AND RESEARCH AT TEXAS SOUTHERN UNIVERSITY.
PRIOR TO JOINING TSU IN 1992, DR. LEWIS SPENT 15 YEARS AS A MANAGER, MANAGER AND DIRECTOR OF PLANNING AT METRO, COMPLETING 13 YEARS OF SERVICE.
DR. LEWIS JOINED THE TAG BOARD IN 2012.
ALL RIGHT, UH, NEXT IS, UH, A FELLOW, UH, FIGHTING TEXAS.
AGGIE ALONG WITH ME AND SEVERAL OTHER IN THIS ROOM.
SO GOOD WHOOP IS, UH, IS DEFINITELY NEEDED FOR JEFF.
SO JEFF COLLINS COMPLETED OVER 40 YEARS IN THE ENGINEERING PLANNING DESIGN, OPERATIONS MANAGEMENT EXPERIENCE FOR TRANSPORTATION, PUBLIC WORKS, WATER WASTEWATER, AND WATER RESOURCES PROJECTS BEFORE RETIRING IN 2022.
HE JOINED THE TAG BOARD IN 20 20, 20 13 AND HAS FAITHFULLY, FAITHFULLY SERVED IN THIS CAPACITY BOTH AS VICE CHAIR AND CO-CHAIR ROLE.
SO JEFF, THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR YOUR SERVICE.
THEN WE'LL GET THIS OTHER SECOND PART GOING.
[00:25:19]
UM, I'M, I'M, I'M JUST GONNA HAVE TO, I'M JUST GONNA HAVE TO TELL Y'ALL ALL ABOUT, UH, THIS GREAT LEADER.
HE SAID TO ME, WE GOTTA MAKE THIS SHORT, GREG.
MAYOR WHITMEYER HAS DEDICATED HIS ENTIRE CAREER TO PUBLIC SERVICE AS A STATE REPRESENTATIVE, AS WELL AS HIS MANY YEARS IN THE TEXAS SENATE.
WHILE WE ARE THRILLED TO HAVE THE MAYOR HERE AS A STRONG ADVOCATE FOR INFRASTRUCTURE AND TRANSPORTATION FUNDING TO IMPROVE HOUSTON AND ITS COMMUNITIES, MAYOR WHITMEYER, WELCOME.
IF I NEED A LONG INTRODUCTION, THEN I'M IN TROUBLE.
OKAY? THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME.
UH, THIS IS NOT JUST AN EVENT LIKE SO MANY OF US ATTEND.
THIS IS A SPECIAL EVENT AND I LOOK FORWARD TO, UH, SHARING WITH YOU THE STATE OF MOBILITY IN OUR COMMUNITY.
AND YOU NOTICE I SAID OUR COMMUNITY BECAUSE ONE OF THE FIRST MISSIONS I WAS ON WHEN I WAS SWORN IN IS REPAIR THE RELATIONSHIP WITH OUR REGION.
HGAC CONSTANTLY WAS HAVING TO KNOCK HEADS WITH THE CITY OF HOUSTON REPRESENTATIVES.
I UNDERSTAND FOR MANY YEARS IN PUBLIC SERVICE, WE'RE ALL IN THIS TOGETHER.
OUR LOCAL PARTNERS AT, QUITE FRANKLY, AT THE COUNTY, AT THE STATE, I KNOW COLLABORATION WORKS.
SO I IMMEDIATELY GOT ON THE PHONE AND TALKED TO THE OFFICERS AND THE MEMBERS OF HGAC.
AND NOW WE HAVE A VERY, VERY GOOD RELATIONSHIP.
AND FOR THAT IT'S GONNA SERVE OUR REGION.
YOU KNOW, TAG WAS CREATED AND I WAS IN THE SENATE AND CHRISTINA AND MUSTAF AND OTHERS DELEGATION MADE ROUTINE STOPS TO MY SENATE OFFICE.
I WAS THINKING OF DRIVING OVER HERE.
THAT TAG WAS FORMED QUITE FRANKLY FOR THE SAME REASON I RAN FOR MAYOR.
WE WERE CONCERNED ABOUT NOT ONLY TRANSPORTATION, BUT EVERYTHING REVOLVES AROUND TRANSPORTATION.
SO LET ME JUST EMPHATICALLY SAY RIGHT NOW, THE STATE OF MOBILITY IN THE CITY OF HOUSTON IS GOOD, BUT IT'S FIXING TO GET A HELL OF A LOT BETTER BECAUSE OF THE TEAM THAT I'VE PUT IN PLACE.
EXPERIENCED PEOPLE, HONEST PEOPLE, PEOPLE THAT JUST WANT TO GET IT DONE.
YOU KNOW, CHRISTINA, THANK YOU.
OFFERED TO GIVE ME A, UH, FIRESIDE CHAT WITH SOME EASY QUESTIONS.
I DIDN'T RUN FOR MAYOR TO GET EASY QUESTIONS.
I KNOW ONE OF 'EM WAS GONNA BE, ARE YOU HAVING FUN
I DIDN'T RUN FOR MAYOR TO HAVE FUN.
I DO THAT AT MY GRANDSON'S LITTLE LEAGUE GAME, BUT I ENJOY IT.
I'M ENJOYING BEING HERE IN FRONT OF YOU AND I'M GONNA TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THIS DAY TO SHARE WITH YOU OUR CHALLENGES.
ANOTHER EASY QUESTION WAS GOING TO BE HOW DO YOU COMPARE BEING MAYOR WITH THE LONGEST SERVING STATE SENATOR FOR 40 YEARS ON FINANCE, CHAIRING CRIMINAL JUSTICE, MAKING A DIFFERENCE? HOW DO I COMPARE THE TWO? NO COMPARISON.
THE LEGISLATURE ONLY MEETS EVERY OTHER YEAR, 140
[00:30:01]
DAYS.DO Y'ALL REALIZE THE LAST 50 YEARS OF MY LIFE, MY WHOLE ADULT LIFE, I WAS ON A LEGISLATIVE HOUSE OR SENATE FLOOR TODAY, JUST TWO YEARS AGO.
CAN YOU IMAGINE? BUT LET ME JUST ACKNOWLEDGE I AM WHERE I NEED TO BE.
I'M GLAD I'M HERE AND THEY'RE THERE.
I HAVE MANY FRIENDS STILL THERE AND IT'S MAKING A DIFFERENCE TO THE RELATIONSHIPS.
BUT THE MAYOR'S JOB, YOU HAVE TO BE IN THE MAYOR'S JOB TO REALLY APPRECIATE AND UNDERSTAND.
I KNOW MOST OF YOU HAVE BEEN AROUND MAYORS AND UNDERSTAND WHAT I'M ABOUT TO SAY, BUT FRIENDS, YOU NEVER GET OFF DUTY 7 24, EARLY TO LATE.
YOU GET A TWO O'CLOCK CALL AND WE'VE LOST A FIREFIGHTER.
THEY PICK YOU UP AND YOU HAVE TO GO TO THE MOTHER'S HOME.
NEVER, NEVER IN THE LEGISLATURE DO YOU HAVE THAT RESPONSIBILITY.
THEN THEY CALL YOU AT FOUR IN THE MORNING AND SAY A WATER MAIN, A 40 INCH WATER MAIN ON FAN'S BROKEN.
AND IF WE DON'T GET A CREW OVER THERE, METHODIST HOSPITAL CANNOT DO ITS SURGERIES TODAY.
YOU NEVER GET AWAY FROM THE JOB.
YEARS OF EXPERIENCE, COLLABORATION, RELATIONSHIPS DURING BARREL, WE WERE SHORT ON AMBULANCES.
SEE THE MED CENTER WAS NOT RELEASING PEOPLE POSTOPERATIVE TO A HOME WITH NO ENERGY.
THE AMBULANCES PICKING UP EMERGENCIES COULD NOT ADMIT ANYONE.
AND WE WERE DOWN TO 4% OF OUR AMBULANCE INVENTORY EXPERIENCED RELATIONSHIPS MATTER.
I CALLED NIM KID IN AUSTIN EMERGENCY CENTER FOR THE STATE OF TEXAS.
HE SENT US 25 FROM OTHER CITIES.
LIKEWISE, HPD WAS STRETCHED THIN.
WE HAD TO GET INTO ALL THE DARK COMMUNITIES THAT HAD LOST POWER.
I CALLED NIM KID IN THE STATE EMERGENCY CENTER AND WE GOT A HUNDRED OFFICERS FROM AROUND THE STATE.
SO I COULD SPEND THE REST OF THE DAY TALKING ABOUT WHAT I DO AS MAYOR.
SOME OF YOU COME UP TO ME TODAY AND SAY, THANK GOODNESS YOU GOT ELECTED.
WELL LET ME JUST TELL YOU, IF YOU WENT TO WORK WITH ME ONE DAY, YOU'D BE DAMN GLAD I GOT ELECTED.
BECAUSE THE COLLABORATION THAT WE'RE USING, I CAN'T SAY ENOUGH ABOUT MY PARTNERS AT THE COUNTY.
COMMISSIONER BRIANIS HAS BEEN ONE OF THE MORE REFRESHING PUBLIC OFFICIALS TO COME ON OUR SCENE.
SHE DOES IT FOR THE RIGHT REASON.
SHE WORKS CLOSELY IN HER PRECINCT WITH ME AS MAYOR.
ADRIAN AND I HAVE BEEN WORKING TOGETHER FOR YEARS.
HE HELPED ME IN THE DEBRIS PICKUP.
AND OF COURSE TOM RAMSEY, A FRIEND WHEN I GOT ELECTED, HE SAID, I WILL SPLIT THE COST 50 50 WITH THE CITY TO REPAIR STREETS IN MY PRECINCT.
WE'RE NOT GONNA GET OUTTA THIS CHALLENGES WITHOUT COLLABORATION.
WE ALL KNOW WE HAVE A GREAT CITY, GREAT PEOPLE, BUT LIKE ALL MAJOR CITIES, WE HAVE CHALLENGES.
THE DIFFERENCE IS IN HOUSTON, WE'RE MEETING OUR CHALLENGES.
FRIENDS, WE'VE BEEN DISCOVERED INTERNATIONALLY, THE TRAGEDY IN LA, 10,000 FAMILIES LOST THEIR HOME.
THEY'RE NOT REBUILDING BECAUSE THE INSURANCE WILL NOT PAY FOR THE COST OF REPLACEMENT.
WHERE DO YOU THINK THE DATA SHOWS THEY'RE HEADED TO? TEXAS, HOUSTON, TEXAS.
GETTING BACK TO MOBILITY, WE'VE GOT HUGE CHALLENGES, BUT WORKING TOGETHER, WORKING WITH TAG
[00:35:01]
AND OTHER ELECTED OFFICIALS, THANK YOU.ELECTED OFFICIALS THAT ARE HERE.
I THINK PUBLIC SERVICE IS A CALLING.
IN FACT, I THINK EVERYONE THAT CAN HEAR MY VOICE RIGHT NOW IS A PUBLIC SERVANT.
WHETHER YOU'RE EVER ON THE BALLOT OR NOT.
AND I THINK SOMEDAY EACH OF US WILL BE JUDGED.
WHAT DID YOU DO WITH YOUR PUBLIC SERVICE? I CHALLENGE YOU TO HAVE A GOOD REPORT AND MANY OF YOU IN THIS ROOM, I KNOW WHAT YOU DO ON A DAILY BASIS, BUT WE HAVE CHALLENGES.
AND I'M GONNA GO INTO A COUPLE OF 'EM.
I'M GONNA TALK ABOUT THE CITY FINANCES.
I NEED YOUR HELP IN ALL THE ORGANIZATIONS THAT YOU GO BACK TO.
SOMETIMES I GO HOME AFTER A TOUGH DAY AND BACK TO BACK MEETINGS AND TOUGH DECISIONS.
AND I WONDER HOW ARE WE SUCH A GREAT CITY? WITH THE DYSFUNCTIONS THAT I WITNESSED IN SOME OF MY DEPARTMENTS.
FIRST THING WE HAD TO DEAL WITH WAS WATER BILLS, 10 AND $20,000 WATER BILLS.
AND THE CITIZENS DIDN'T KNOW WHAT TO DO.
I KNEW I HAD A PROBLEM IN PUBLIC WORKS.
RANDY MICAH TOOK THAT ON HIMSELF.
THE PREVIOUS FOLKS HAD A FIVE YEAR PLAN TO REPLACE THE COMPUTER SENSORS ON ALL THE WATER METERS.
A HUNDRED THOUSAND PLUS THAT WERE BROKEN.
RANDY HAD IT DONE IN THE FIRST YEAR.
I KNEW THAT RANDY WAS A LEADER.
THANK YOU RANDY, FOR STRAIGHTENING OUT PUBLIC WORKS.
BUT WHEN I'M WONDERING ABOUT HOW ARE WE SUCH A GREAT CITY WHEN THE GARBAGE ISN'T GETTING PICKED UP ON TIME TODAY WE HAVE A THOUSAND BROKEN WATER MAINS.
THE MESSAGE IS WE'RE MOVING IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION.
BUT WHY ARE, WE'RE SO GREAT? BECAUSE OF OUR INSTITUTIONS, OUR GROUPS THAT COME TOGETHER, LIKE TAG OUR MED CENTER, OUR PORT SPACEPORT, OUR INSTITUTIONS, TSUU OF H, RICE, OUR PHILANTHROPIC COMMUNITY, OUR NONPROFITS.
LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, IF WE CAN GET CITY SERVICES TO THE STANDARDS THAT HOUSTONIANS DESERVE AND EXPECT NOTHING WILL HOLD US BACK.
AND THAT'S WHY I'M HERE TODAY.
WE HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY LIKE NEVER BEFORE.
AND UNDERSTAND MOBILITY IS WHAT REALLY BRINGS US TOGETHER.
BUT IT'S BIGGER THAN MOBILITY.
WE WON'T NEED MOBILITY IF WE DON'T FIX OUR EAST SIDE WATER PLANT.
I'M THE FIRST MAYOR THAT'S GONNA STAND UP HERE AND BE TRANSPARENT ABOUT, WE GOT A MESS, WE GOT A REALLY DANGER ON OUR HANDS.
I CHALLENGE YOU ENGINEERS AND STAKEHOLDERS TO VISIT IT.
IT WAS BUILT IN 1954 AND IT LOOKS AT, IT OPERATES LIKE IT WAS 1954.
60% OF HOUSTON'S WATER, OUR REGION, OUR REFINERIES.
IT'S ACTUALLY, I WAS TELLING GREG A HOMELAND SECURITY ISSUE.
WE'VE BEEN TALKING TO SENATOR CRUZ AND ADMINISTRATION.
WE NEED HELP WITH OUR WATER TREATMENT THAT FURNISHES ALL THE REFINERIES.
FRIENDS, 90% OF OUR NATION'S JET FUEL, DOMESTIC AND MILITARY COMES OUT OF OUR REFINERIES.
SO THAT'S THE HOMELAND SECURITY CONCERN.
BUT HOW ABOUT THE MED CENTER? THAT DEPENDS ON IT.
ALL OF OUR INSTITUTIONS, OUR FAMILIES, NOBODY WILL TALK ABOUT IT BECAUSE YES, WE'RE TRYING TO ATTRACT MORE BUSINESS TO HOUSTON AND WE'RE BEING SUCCESSFUL.
BUT IF WE'RE EVER GONNA SOLVE A PROBLEM, MY EXPERIENCE IN THE LEGISLATURE WAS, IF YOU DON'T IDENTIFY AND ADMIT YOU HAVE A PROBLEM, YOU'LL NEVER FIX IT.
SO I NEED YOUR HELP AND I CAN MOVE INTO OTHER AREAS.
[00:40:01]
SO YES, LET'S COME TOGETHER.LET'S LOBBY FOR BETTER MOBILITY, TRANSPORTATION.
BUT WE'VE GOTTA TAKE AN INTEREST IN CITY GOVERNMENT.
YOU KNOW, SO MANY OF YOU ARE MY FRIENDS.
IN FACT, MOST OF YOU
THIS IS READING TAG WAS FORMED.
YOU GO TO WASHINGTON, YOU BUR ABOUT COUNTY GOVERNMENT.
YES, YOU GIVE SOME SERVICE AND TALK ABOUT THE CITY.
YOU'VE GOT TO REALIZE IT'S GONNA BE SO IMPORTANT GOING FORWARD TO HELP HOUSTON.
I WOULD LOVE TO GO OVER WHAT I HAVE ADDRESSED IN MY FIRST YEAR.
TIME WON'T ALLOW, BUT PUBLIC SAFETY IS STILL MY HIGHEST PRIORITY.
WHEN I WAS SCREENED BY MANY OF YOUR GROUPS AND COMPANIES ABOUT INFRASTRUCTURE, ONE OF YOUR MEMBERS WOULD PULL ME OVER THE SIDE AND SAY, MY WIFE KNEW I WAS MEETING WITH YOU TODAY.
AND SHE WANTED TO BRING UP PUBLIC SAFETY.
IF WE'RE NOT SAFE, NOTHING ELSE MATTERS.
AND WHEN THAT GUN'S IN YOUR FACE, YOU'RE NOT WORRIED ABOUT YOUR POCKETBOOK.
AND I UNDERSTAND WE WANT GOVERNMENT TO BE EFFICIENT, NOT WASTEFUL.
SPEND IT ON WHAT YOU YOU COMMITTED IT TO.
AND WE'RE DOING THAT IN MY ADMINISTRATION.
I COMMITTED EARLY, NO MORE INCREASE IN TAXES OR FEES WITHOUT FIXING THE WASTE.
DUPLICATION AND YES, CORRUPTION AND FOR SURE CONFLICTS OF INTEREST.
AND I SEE 'EM AND PEOPLE ARE LOOKING AT 'EM.
THE BOTTOM LINE IS WE HAVE CHALLENGES THAT WE HAVE TO ADDRESS.
NOT ONLY PUBLIC SAFETY, QUITE FRANKLY, I THINK, AND LORD KNOWS I'M NOT IN CHARGE OF HISD, BUT FOLKS, WHEREVER YOU LIVE, PUBLIC SCHOOLS HAVE TO BE IMPROVED.
DO YOU KNOW HOW MANY PEOPLE TRAVELED TO HOUSTON EACH DAY? WHEN WE WOKE UP THIS MORNING, THERE WERE 2.3 MILLION HOUSTONIANS.
TODAY, 700,000 PEOPLE TRAVEL TO HOUSTON TO WORK AND ATTEND EVENTS SIZE OF ATLANTA.
WE HAVE TO PROTECT AND SERVE THAT CITY OF ATLANTA.
SO I NEED YOUR HELP TO ADDRESS THE CITY CHALLENGES.
WE HAVE A GREAT CONTRACT FOR OUR FIRST RESPONDERS.
WHEN I FIRST GOT THERE, THE FIREFIGHTERS HAD BEEN IN LITIGATION WITH THE CITY FOR EIGHT YEARS.
THEY COULDN'T RECRUIT ANYBODY, THEY COULDN'T RETAIN ANYBODY.
THEY WERE DANGEROUSLY LOW ON EMS AND FIREFIGHTERS CITY ATTORNEYS.
ARTURO DID A GREAT JOB, MELISSA, IN FINANCE.
WE GOTTA GET OUT OF THE COURTHOUSE, WE'VE GOTTA TURN AROUND THE MORALE OF FIRE SO WE CAN RECRUIT AND RETAIN.
THE PARTNERSHIP SAID IT WOULD TAKE 800 MILLION TO 1.2 BILLION TO GET OUTTA THE COURT.
THEY WERE IN A VERY FRIENDLY JUDGE ON BEHALF OF THE FIREFIGHTERS.
NOT THAT JUDGES ARE NOT OBJECTIVE.
WE SETTLED IT AT $650 MILLION.
FAIR TO TAXPAYERS, FAIR TO FIREMEN.
WE NEGOTIATED A CITY EMPLOYEE CONTRACT AND YES, THE POLICE WERE UP.
SHORT, I KNOW WHAT MORALE MEANS TO ANY ORGANIZATION.
CERTAINLY OUR POLICE, THEY HAVEN'T FELT APPRECIATED FOR YEARS BECAUSE THEY ALWAYS GOT WHAT WAS LEFT.
NOW WE'RE COMPETITIVE WITH ANY MAJOR CITY IN TEXAS.
IN FACT, FORT WORTH WAS AHEAD OF US.
ARLINGTON SAID MOST AND EVEN OUR LOCAL JURISDICTIONS, IT PASSED WITH 97%.
IT MAKES A DIFFERENCE HOW POLICE OFFICERS RESPOND IF THEY'RE FIRED UP AND THEY KNOW ONE, THEY GOT A MAYOR THAT WILL STAND BEHIND THEM.
[00:45:01]
IF THEY FOLLOW THE LAW IN THEIR TRAINING, WE'RE HEADED IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION.NOW LET'S TALK ABOUT CITY FINANCES FOR A MINUTE.
YOU KNOW, WHEN I GOTTA CITY HALL, A LOT OF THE CITY MATTERS AND THE ISSUES WERE BEING HANDLED BY SPIN.
I'M NOT A SPIN SPIN GUY, IF YOU CAN TELL.
THE LAST SPIN GIVEN OUT WAS THAT WE HAD A SURPLUS.
THE LAST TWO CITY BUDGETS, FRIENDS WERE FINANCED WITH FEDERAL COVID FUNDING.
WHEN I WAS SWORN IN, WE HAD $160 MILLION.
SHORTFALL BEEN BEEN A A SHORTFALL FOR YEARS.
AS LONG AS ANYONE CAN CAN REMEMBER.
I'VE WORKED WITH SEVEN MAYORS.
HELL, BOB LANIER IN 93 GOT 500 MILLION FROM METRO FOR POLICE OVERTIME.
OTHER MAYORS SOLD OFF REAL ESTATE.
OTHER MAYORS LAID OFF 700, 1700 PEOPLES.
WHAT AN DENISE DID, GAVE 'EM TWO WEEKS NOTICE.
OUR CITY'S FINANCES HAVE BEEN CHALLENGED AND CERTAINLY THE REVENUE CAP MADE IT WORSE.
BECAUSE OF OUR PROPERTY VALUES.
WE'VE LOST $2.5 BILLION IN CITY REVENUE SINCE 2015.
THAT'S THE REASON AND CONDITION OF OUR STREETS AND OUR DRAINAGE AND A LOT OF CITY SERVICES.
SO WHEN I GOT THERE, I HAD ALREADY MADE A COMMITMENT THAT WE WOULDN'T RAISE TAXES OR FEES UNTIL WE ELIMINATED WASTE DUPLICATION, CONFLICTS OF INTEREST, AND YES, CORRUPTION.
AND WE SOON REALIZED, AND I GOT A GREAT STAFF IN THE MAYOR'S OFFICE, GREAT FINANCE DIRECTOR, CHRIS NEWPORT'S, ONE OF THE BEST.
STEVE AND DAVID, I COULD GO ACROSS THIS.
WE KNEW WE'D RUN INTO A HUGE CHALLENGE THAT WE NEEDED PROFESSIONAL HELP.
SO LAST MAY, WE CONTRACTED WITH ERNST AND YOUNG TO DO A FORENSIC AUDIT OF CITY GOVERNMENT.
I KNEW THERE WAS A LOT OF WASTE AND DUPLICATION.
THEY CAME BACK IN DECEMBER WITH A REPORT THAT IS ALLOWING US TO REORGANIZE CITY GOVERNMENT.
YOU KNOW, MY CRITICS, SOME THAT WOULD LIKE TO BE MAYOR SAID, HOW YOU GONNA PAY FOR, HOW YOU GONNA PAY FOR THIS? I NEVER SAID IT PUBLICLY BECAUSE WHEN THEY'RE WANTING ATTENTION, I LET 'EM HAVE IT.
PAY FOR WHAT? THE OLD MODEL THAT ERNS AND YOUNG DISCOVERED, OR THE NEW MODEL THAT MY ADMINISTRATION'S GOING TO USE GOING FORWARD.
THEY CAME BACK AND SAID, WE HAVE MORE CITY EMPLOYEES THAN ANY OTHER MAJOR CITY IN AMERICA.
THEY SAID, YOU HAVE 2,800 PEOPLE ELIGIBLE FOR RETIREMENT.
YOU ALSO HAVE 1700 WORKING AT HOME.
AND WORST OF ALL DATA IS 40% OF YOUR SUPERVISORS SUPERVISE THREE.
SO WE GOT BUSY AND WE'RE IN THE PROCESS OF REORGANIZING CITY GOVERNMENT.
WE WERE VERY COMPASSIONATE AND METHODICAL ABOUT OFFERING AN INCENTIVE PLAN FOR THOSE RETIREES TO RETIRE.
ELIGIBLE RETIREES, THREE MONTHS PAID, MAINTAIN YOUR HEALTH COSTS AT WHAT OTHER CITY EMPLOYEES WILL CONTINUE TO PAY.
WE'RE TURNING THIS CITY AROUND.
WE'RE GONNA BE HONEST AND TRANSPARENT.
SO NOW, 'CAUSE I DON'T WANT Y'ALL NOT TO BE ABLE TO BE ON TIME OR YOU VIOLATE MY MODEL OF BEING ON TIME BACK AT WORK.
LET ME CLOSE BY SAYING I'M EXCITED TO BE MAYOR AND I THINK IT'S AN EIGHT YEAR ENDEAVOR.
SOME OF MY CRITICS SAY, OH, HE WILL.
NO, I WOULDN'T BE WORKING THIS HARD IN TURNING THINGS AROUND, BUT WE'LL WORRY ABOUT A CAMPAIGN ANOTHER DAY.
[00:50:01]
TO DO IS REALIZE I'VE JUST ABOUT DONE EVERYTHING I CAN.SOMETIME NEXT FALL I'M GONNA GO PUBLIC.
I'LL BE HERE AND SAY, I'VE DONE THE BEST I CAN WITH A REORGANIZATION.
THERE WERE 90 EMPLOYEES AT HPD DOING THE SAME THING THAT THE CITY GOVERNMENT DOES.
THEIR IT DEPARTMENT, THEIR HUMAN RESOURCES DEPARTMENT, THEIR FINANCE DEPARTMENT.
WE ACCEPTED ALL THOSE DUTIES AT CITY HALL.
WE'VE CUT OUT WASTE AND DUPLICATION.
AND YES, THE CORRUPTION'S BEING VERY WELL INVESTIGATED.
THE AUTHORITIES ARE ACROSS HOUSTON, READ THE CHRONICLE, WHICH I CAN'T BELIEVE I JUST SUGGESTED,
THE HEADLINE IS ALL THE CONFLICTS AND CORRUPTIONS OVER AT THE HOUSING AUTHORITY AT CUNY HOMES, WHICH NEEDS OUR SERVICES.
SO BAD AIR CONDITIONERS WERE BOUGHT, NEVER INSTALLED.
YOU GO OVER HERE ON MIDDLE STREET, WE GOT $130 MILLION AFFORDABLE HOUSING PROJECT THAT COULD HAVE 400 FAMILIES LOCATED ON MIDDLE STREET.
IT'S ONLY THERE BECAUSE OF A CONFLICT OF INTEREST.
IT'S SITTING ON AN ENVIRONMENTALLY ENDANGERED AREAS.
WE'RE NOT GONNA MOVE FAMILIES IN THERE TO TABC.
TELL NOT THE, NOT THE LIQUOR FOLKS.
THE CONFLICTS AND CORRUPTION IS BEING HANDLED BY THE AUTHORITIES.
SO HERE I'M GONNA CLOSE BY SAYING, HOW CAN YOU HELP ME? MANY OF YOU OFFER IS WHEN I GO TO THE PUBLIC AND ASK FOR SOME MORE REVENUE AND I TELL 'EM I'VE DONE EVERYTHING I CAN.
TO BE HONEST, TRANSPARENT, WE'VE GOTTA DEAL WITH THAT EAST SIDE WATER PLANT.
I GOT CRITICIZED THE OTHER DAY BY SOME OF MY OLD FRIENDS BY SAYING, WHY WOULD YOU GO TO REPUBLICAN RECEPTION? WHY WOULDN'T I? CRENSHAW IS HELPING US GET SOME RESOURCES.
HE'S A SUBCOMMITTEE CHAIR OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY.
I'M TALKING TO SENATOR CRUZ ABOUT OUR WASTEWATER PLANT.
SO AT SOME POINT IN TIME, I'M GONNA BE HERE BEFORE YOU, SOMETIME LATER THIS YEAR, SAY WE'RE ALL IN THIS TOGETHER.
WE'RE HONEST, TRANSPARENT, I GOT THE BEST TEAM THAT WE CAN FIND THE BEST EVER AT CITY HALL.
AND THEN I'M GONNA NEED YOUR HELP.
I'M GOING BACK TO CITY HALL TO GO BACK TO WORK.
LET'S GIVE THE MAYOR A SECOND ROUND OF APPLAUSE.
THAT WAS PHENOMENAL, MAYOR, THANK YOU SO MUCH.