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VICE[PRESENTATIONS]
MAYOR PRO DIEM CASTEX TATUM TO CHAIR WHILE WE RECOGNIZE OUR GUESTS.THE CHAIR RECOGNIZES COUNCIL MEMBER HUFFMAN FOR A PROCLAMATION TO JUDGE ANGELA L. GRAVES HARRINGTON HONORING HARRIS COUNTY'S INAUGURAL FAMILY REUNIFICATION CELEBRATION.
TODAY I'M EXCITED TO PRESENT THIS PROCLAMATION ON BEHALF OF COUNCIL MEMBER CARTER, TO JUDGE ANGELA GRAVES HARRINGTON HONORING HARRIS COUNTY'S INAUGURAL FAMILY REUNIFICATION, CELEBRATION, AND RECOGNITION OF THEIR CASEWORKERS, ATTORNEYS AND OTHER CHILD WELFARE PROFESSIONALS EFFORTS.
SO WHEREAS THE MONTH OF JUNE IS RECOGNIZED NATIONALLY AS FAMILY REUNIFICATION MONTH, A TIME TO HONOR THE DEDICATED PROFESSIONALS WHO WORKED TIRELESSLY TO PRESERVE, STRENGTHEN AND REUNIFY FAMILIES.
AND WHEREAS EVERY CHILD DESERVES TO GROW UP AT A SAFE, STABLE, NURTURING, AND FAMILIAR ENVIRONMENT SUPPORTED BY A STRONG NETWORK OF CARING ADULTS FOR CHILDREN WHO EXIT THE CARE OF THE DEPARTMENT, A FAMILY AND PROTECTIVE SERVICES FAMILY, REUNIFICATION REMAINS A SIGNIFICANT CHALLENGE.
AND WHEREAS FAMILY REUNIFICATION MAY TAKE MANY FORMS, INCLUDING REUNIFICATION WITH PARENTS, KINSHIP OR FICTIVE KIN PLACEMENTS, AND ADOPTION BY RELATIVES, EACH OUTCOME A TESTAMENT TO THE COLLABORATION, STRENGTH, PERSEVERANCE, AND VISION OF THOSE SERVING IN THE CHILD WELFARE SYSTEM.
AND WHEREAS REUNITING FAMILIES SIGNIFICANTLY ENHANCES THE WELLBEING OF CHILDREN IN THE CHILD WELFARE SYSTEM AND THEIR PARENTS AND FOSTERS A HEALTHIER COMMUNITY OVERALL.
AND WHEREAS HARRIS COUNTY PROUDLY CELEBRATES ITS INAUGURAL FAMILY REUNIFICATION MONTH CELEBRATION, HOSTED BY THE 2 46 HARRIS COUNTY DISTRICT COURT TO RECOGNIZE THE INSPIRING EFFORTS OF THE CASEWORKERS, ATTORNEYS, LEGAL ADVOCATES, AND CHILD WELFARE PROFESSIONALS WHOSE COMMITMENT MAKES REUNIFICATION POSSIBLE.
AND WHEREAS THE CITY OF HOUSTON JOINS THE 200 6246 HARRIS COUNTY DISTRICT COURT LED BY THE HONORABLE JUDGE ANGELA GRAVES HARRINGTON.
IN CELEBRATING THE SIGNIFICANCE OF FAMILY REUNIFICATION MONTH, THE CITY COMMENDS ALL JUDGES FOR THEIR TIRELESS EFFORTS TO INCREASE THE RATE OF FAMILY REUNIFICATION AND CHILD WELFARE, WE WELFARE CASES, AND THE INDIVIDUALS AND ORGANIZATIONS WHO EFFORTS UPLIFT FAMILIES AND EXEMPLIFY THE HIGHEST IDEALS OF JUSTICE, EMPATHY, AND COMMUNITY CARE.
THANK YOU, COUNCIL MEMBER HUFFMAN.
AND YOUR HONOR, I WISH TIME ALLOWED FOR YOU TO TELL THE WONDERFUL STORIES THAT YOU'VE EXPERIENCED IN THE DIFFERENCE YOU'VE MADE.
UH, SO MANY OF US IN DIFFERENT POSITIONS HAVE WITNESSED THE NEED TO REUNIFY NEIGHBORS AND FAMILIES.
UH, ACTUALLY AS A YOUNG LAWYER IN THE FAMILY COURTS, I'VE WATCHED SOME TERRIBLE UNHAPPY SITUATIONS WHERE YOU HAVE A CPS CHILD.
YOU WANT ME TO HEAR YOU WANT TO HEAR A REAL MIRACLE
SO I WAS IN THE COURT IN THE THE CPS CHILD 14, STAYING WITH A FOSTER FAMILY, AND SHE WAS PREGNANT.
AND I HAD TO WITNESS A JUDGE TRY TO KEEP THIS 14-YEAR-OLD FROM KEEPING HER CHILD, EVEN THOUGH THE FOSTER FAMILY WANTED TO UNITE THE TWO.
SO I DO KNOW THE HEARTACHE AND SO MANY OF US HAVE WITNESSED IT IN OUR RESPONSIBLE POSITIONS, BUT I CAN'T THANK YOU ENOUGH AND YOU GO ABOUT DAILY MAKING A DIFFERENCE.
AND THAT'S WHAT IS SO NICE ABOUT THIS PROCLAMATION.
THE CITY OF HOUSTON GETS TO PAUSE AND RECOGNIZE YOU.
SO IT'S JUST EXCITING FOR ME TO KNOW WHAT MAKES THIS A GREAT CITY IS PEOPLE LIKE YOURSELF, JUDGE, THAT GO BEYOND THE CALL OF DUTY TO HELP OUR RESIDENTS BE THE FAMILIES THEY CAN BE AND THE INDIVIDUALS.
AND IT'S I, JOHN WHITMEYER, MAYOR OF THE CITY OF HOUSTON, HEREBY PROCLAIM JUNE 25TH AS FAMILY REUNIFICATION MONTH IN THE CITY OF HOUSTON.
AND I WANT TO GO AHEAD AND MENTION BROUGHT TO US BY JUDGE GRAVES HARRINGTON.
HEY, JUDGE, WOULD YOU LIKE TO SAY A FEW WORDS? JUST A FEW WORDS? YES.
HONORABLE MAYOR WHITMEYER, ESTEEMED MEMBERS OF CITY COUNCIL, DEDICATED COMMUNITY LEADERS, FELLOW CITIZENS, MY MOTHER WHO TRAVELED FROM GULFPORT, MISSISSIPPI TO WITNESS THIS TODAY.
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MY SON.WHERE'S YOUR MOM? MY MOM IS RIGHT HERE.
IT IS WITH IMMENSE GRATITUDE AND A PROFOUND SENSE OF HOPE THAT I STAND BEFORE YOU TODAY.
ON BEHALF OF THE HARRIS COUNTY FAMILY DISTRICT COURTS, I WANT TO EXTEND OUR DEEPEST THANKS TO MAYOR WHITMEYER AND THE ENTIRE CITY COUNCIL FOR THIS INCREDIBLY MEANINGFUL PROCLAMATION, RECOGNIZING JUNE, 2025 AS OUR INAUGURAL FAMILY REUNIFICATION MONTH HERE IN THE CITY OF HOUSTON.
THIS PROCLAMATION IS MORE THAN JUST A PIECE OF PAPER.
IT'S A TESTAMENT TO OUR CITY'S COMMITMENT TO THE FOUNDATIONAL IMPORTANCE OF FAMILY AND THE INCREDIBLE EFFORTS MADE EVERY DAY TO BRING FAMILIES TOGETHER AND SUPPORT THEM IN THEIR JOURNEY TOWARDS HEALING AND WHOLENESS.
FOR MANY IN OUR COMMUNITY, THE PATH TO FAMILY REUNIFICATION IS ONE FILLED WITH CHALLENGES, RESILIENCE, AND ULTIMATELY PROFOUND JOY.
IT IS ABOUT RESTORING BONDS, REBUILDING TRUST, AND CREATING STABLE LOVING ENVIRONMENTS WHERE CHILDREN CAN THRIVE AND FAMILIES CAN FIND STRENGTH.
THIS INAUGURAL FAMILY REUNIFICATION MONTH PROVIDES US WITH A DEDICATED TIME TO SHINE A LIGHT ON THOSE STORIES, TO CELEBRATE THE SUCCESSES, AND TO RAISE AWARENESS ABOUT THE RESOURCES AND SUPPORT SYSTEMS AVAILABLE.
WE BELIEVE THAT STRONG FAMILIES ARE THE BEDROCK OF A COMMUNITY.
BY OFFICIALLY RECOGNIZING FAMILY REUNIFICATION MONTH, YOU ARE SENDING A CLEAR MESH MESSAGE THAT HOUSTON VALUES THE HARD WORK, DEDICATION AND LOVE THAT GOES INTO MENDING AND STRENGTHENING FAMILY TIES.
THIS RECOGNITION WILL UNDOUBTEDLY INSPIRE MORE INDIVIDUALS AND ORGANIZATIONS SUCH AS FRIENDS OF THE CHILDREN HOUSTON, TO GET INVOLVED, OFFER SUPPORT, AND LEARN MORE ABOUT THE CRITICAL ROLE FAMILY REUNIFICATION PLAYS IN THE WELLBEING OF OUR CITY.
WE LOOK FORWARD TO A MONTH FILLED WITH EVENTS AND ACTIVITIES WITH THAT WILL EDUCATE, CELEBRATE, AND INSPIRE.
STARTING WITH THE 2 46 6 DISTRICT COURT'S FAMILY REUNIFICATION CELEBRATION ON JUNE 5TH, WE ARE SO GRATEFUL FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP AND YOUR BELIEF IN THE POWER OF FAMILY.
CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS, YOUR SUPPORT MEANS THE WORLD TO US AND THE COUNTLESS FAMILIES YOU ARE HELPING TO UPLIFT WITH THIS PROCLAMATION.
WE ARE EXCITED TO MAKE THIS INAUGURAL FAMILY REUNIFICATION MONTH A RESOUNDING SUCCESS AND WE COULDN'T HAVE TAKEN THIS SIGNIFICANT FIRST STEP WITHOUT YOU ALL.
UH, JUST, JUST A MINUTE, MAYOR.
WE DO HAVE COUNCIL MEMBERS IN QUEUE.
WE'LL START WITH COUNCIL MEMBER CAYMAN.
UH, MAYOR, THANK YOU FOR THIS PROCLAMATION.
JUDGE, I JUST WANNA THANK YOU AND THE ENTIRE FAMILY COURT FAMILY FOR ELEVATING THE NEED AND THE IMPORTANCE OF FAMILY REUNIFICATION.
MARY, YOU SHARED YOUR STORY DURING THE 85TH I WAS AT THE STATE LEGISLATURE DEALING WITH THE VERY ISSUE OF OUR FOSTER CARE CRISIS.
AND THIS ISN'T A DIG AT OUR CASEWORKERS OR ANYONE, BUT WE KNOW THAT THE STATE SYSTEM IS FAILING US.
SO TO HAVE YOU ALL AS JUDGES STEPPING UP TO REALLY ELEVATE THE NEED AND ADVOCATE FOR THESE CHILDREN RIGHT NOW MEANS A LOT.
SO AGAIN, THANK YOU FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP JUDGE, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER, THANK YOU FOR PRESENTING.
I KNOW IT'S ALSO ON BEHALF OF COUNCIL MEMBER CARTER, BUT REALLY JUST WANNA LIFT UP THE WORK AND CONGRATS.
I THINK Y'ALL GOT A PAY RAISE THANKS TO THE STATE LED YESTERDAY, SO CONGRATULATIONS.
UH, JUDGE, I'M SO EXCITED TO SEE YOU HERE.
WHEN I SAW YOUR NAME ON THE LIST, I SAID, LET ME GET OVER THERE SO I CAN CELEBRATE WITH YOU, UH, MY DEAR SORROW.
UH, THE WORK THAT YOU DO TAKES IMMENSE CARE AND KNOWING THAT WE HAVE A JUDGE WHO CARES, UH, A FAMILY WHO CARES, UM, AND A SUPPORT SYSTEM, WHO CARES? I CAN LOOK IN THE AUDIENCE AND SEE THAT YOU DIDN'T COME ALONG WITH JUST YOUR FAMILY.
YOU CAME WITH A FAMILY OF JUDGES AS WELL, AND THAT SPEAKS VOLUME.
SO CONGRATULATIONS ON THE WONDERFUL STELLAR WORK THAT YOU CONTINUE TO DO FOR OUR GREAT CITY.
WE'RE SO VERY PROUD OF YOU AND LOOK FORWARD TO SUPPORTING THIS WONDERFUL INITIATIVE.
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COUNCIL MEMBER CAYMAN FOR A PROCLAMATION RECOGNIZING MOM'S DEMAND.ACTION TO HONOR WEAR ORANGE WEEKEND.
HOW ARE YOU? WE'RE GONNA WAIT JUST A SECOND WHILE EVERYONE CLEARS OUT OF THE ROOM.
YEAH, I NEED THAT IN THE BIG RED ONE.
ALL RIGHT, WE'LL GO AHEAD AND GET STARTED.
UH, THIS FRIDAY, JUNE 6TH IS THE 11TH ANNUAL NATIONAL GUN VIOLENCE AWARENESS DAY LAUNCHING WEAR ORANGE WEEKEND, WHICH FOLLOWS IT.
I'M HERE WITH SOME OF OUR STRONGEST ALLIES IN THE FIGHT TO END GUN VIOLENCE.
MOMS DEMAND ACTION, AND WE'RE ALSO JO JOINED BY CARLTON HARRIS, FOUNDER OF THE FORGOTTEN THIRD, FOCUSED ON REDUCING CRIME AND GUN VIOLENCE AMONG YOUTH AND YOUNG ADULTS IN HARRIS COUNTY
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BY HELPING THEM EARN THEIR HIGH SCHOOL DIPLOMA AND PURSUE POST-SECONDARY EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES.FIREARMS ARE STILL THE LEADING CAUSE OF DEATH FOR CHILDREN IN THE UNITED STATES WITH OVER 2,500, SO 2,500 CHILDREN KILLED IN 2023 AND TEXAS ALONE, AN AVERAGE OF 480 CHILDREN AND TEENS DIE BY GUNS EVERY SINGLE YEAR.
I REMEMBER AS CHAIR OF PUBLIC SAFETY IN OUR FIR MY FIRST TERM, WE HAD HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS AT THE FIRST COMMITTEE MEETING FROM BEL AIR COME TO TALK ABOUT THE TRAUMA THAT THEY INCURRED BY A STUDENT BRINGING A FIREARM AND ANOTHER ONE OF THEIR STUDENTS TRAGICALLY DYING AS A RESULT.
AND THAT WAS JUST ONE INCIDENT.
THIS PROCLAMATION SHARES A LOT OF STARTING STARTLING NUMBERS THAT I'M ABOUT TO READ, BUT ONE OF THE CHALLENGES WITH NUMBERS IS IT DOES NOT CONVEY WHO THOSE PEOPLE THAT LOST THEIR LIVES WERE OR THE MILLIONS UPON MILLIONS OF LIVES THAT HAVE FOREVER BEEN IMPACTED BY GUN VIOLENCE.
THE NEED HAS NEVER BEEN GREATER TO PRIORITIZE GUN SAFETY IN OUR CITY.
MY OFFICE IS PROUD TO PARTNER WITH VOLUNTEERS DEPARTMENTS, INCLUDING HPD AND OUR HEALTH DEPARTMENT ON GUN VIOLENCE PREVENTION PROGRAMS. WE'VE DISTRIBUTED FREE GUN LOCKS AND GUN SAFES TO KEEP GUNS FROM FALLING INTO THE HANDS OF PEOPLE THAT SHOULDN'T HAVE THEM, SPECIFICALLY CHILDREN AND CRIMINALS.
AND WE'RE MAKING EXCITING HEADWAY ON THE MOST COMPREHENSIVE GUN INJURY DASHBOARD IN THE COUNTRY THAT WILL ALLOW HEALTH-BASED INTERVENTIONS TO BE DRIVEN BY DATA.
SO MUCH OF WHAT WE CAN NOW DO AND ARE DOING IS THANKS TO THE ACTION AND THE VOICE OF MOMS DEMAND ACTION.
EVERY TOWN FOR GUN SAFETY AND GROUPS LIKE THE FORGOTTEN THIRD.
AND WE ARE INCREDIBLY GRATEFUL TO EACH AND EVERY VOLUNTEER WHO DEDICATES THEIR TIME TO MAKING HOUSTON A SAFER PLACE.
AND WITH THAT, WHEREAS EVERY DAY, 125 PEOPLE IN THE UNITED STATES ARE KILLED BY GUN VIOLENCE, AND MORE THAN 260 ARE SHOT AND WOUNDED WITH AN AVERAGE OF MORE THAN 19,000 FIREARM HOMICIDES EVERY YEAR.
TEXAS HAS APPROXIMATELY 4,330 GUN DEATHS AND APPROXIMATELY 7,726 GUN INJURIES EVERY YEAR.
A CRISIS THAT COSTS THE STATE OVER 51 BILLION EVERY SINGLE YEAR, OF WHICH APPROXIMATELY 1.1 BILLION IS PAID BY TAXPAYERS.
TEXAS HAS THE 25TH HIGHEST RATE OF GUN DEATHS IN THE UNITED STATES.
IN JANUARY, 2013, HADIA PENDLETON WAS TRAGICALLY SHOT AND KILLED AT THE AGE OF 15 THIS YEAR ON THE 11TH NATIONAL GUN VIOLENCE AWARENESS DAY.
AND TO RECOGNIZE THAT HADIA WOULD'VE BEEN 28 YEARS OLD, PEOPLE ACROSS THE UNITED STATES WILL WEAR ORANGE ON JUNE 6TH IS A TRIBUTE TO HADIA AND THE MILLIONS OF OTHER VICTIMS OF GUN VIOLENCE AS WELL AS THEIR LOVED ONES.
THE IDEA TO WEAR ORANGE WAS INSPIRED BY A GROUP OF HAD IDEA'S, FRIENDS WHO ASKED THEIR CLASSMATES TO WEAR ORANGE, BECAUSE THIS IS THE COLOR THAT HUNTERS WEAR TO ANNOUNCE THEMSELVES TO OTHER HUNTERS WHEN OUT IN THE WOODS.
ORANGE IS A COLOR THAT SYMBOLIZES THE VALUE OF HUMAN LIFE AND OF SAFETY, WEARING ORANGE ON NATIONAL GUN VIOLENCE AWARENESS DAY OBSERVED EVERY FIRST FRIDAY OF JUNE WILL RAISE AWARENESS ABOUT GUN VIOLENCE, THE MEMORY OF HADIA, HONOR THE LIVES OF GUN VIOLENCE VICTIMS AND SURVIVORS, AND REMIND ALL ABOUT RESPONSIBLE GUN OWNERSHIP TO HELP KEEP FAMILIES AND COMMUNITIES SAFE.
THANK YOU, COUNCILOR CAMAN AND IS SUCH A SERIOUS PROCLAMATION, UM, SUCH AVOIDABLE DEATH THAT WE'VE ALL WITNESSED FOR TOO LONG.
UH, I GUESS I'LL EMPHASIZE BECAUSE I'VE WORKED IN THE POLITICAL ENVIRONMENT IN WHICH YOU HAVE TO TRY TO HAVE COMMON SENSE LEGISLATION SUCH AS RED FLAG LAWS.
SO LET'S, LET'S EMPHASIZE TODAY THAT ELECTIONS MATTER, THAT WE'LL CONTINUE THE EDUCATION PROCESS AND HAVE FAMILIES SAFEGUARD THEIR WEAPONS, BUT LET YOUNG PEOPLE KNOW YOU DON'T RESOLVE DISPUTES LIKE THEY DID WHEN WE WERE GROWING UP WITH FIST FIGHTS.
NOW THEY REACH FOR THEIR FIREARMS, WHICH IS TOTALLY UNACCEPTABLE.
SO THANK YOU FOR ALLOWING US TO REDEDICATE OURSELF TO GUN SAFETY AND THANK ALL THE STAKEHOLDERS INVOLVED.
COUNCILMAN CAYMAN, THANK YOU FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP.
THEREFORE, I, JOHN WHITMEYER, MAYOR OF THE CITY OF HOUSTON, HEREBY PROCLAIM JUNE 6TH, 2025.
IT'S NATIONAL GUN VIOLENCE AWARENESS DAY THROUGHOUT THE CITY OF HOUSTON.
AND IT'S MY PLEASURE TO INTRODUCE ISHA ARCHER, KAREN KNAPP,
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UH, JULIE, AND THEN CARLTON, OF COURSE, FROM FOUNDER OF THE FORGOTTEN THIRD, JEFF.GOOD AFTERNOON, MAYOR WHITMEYER, COUNCIL MEMBER CAYMAN AND OTHER CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS.
THANK YOU FOR TAKING THE TIME TO ACKNOWLEDGE GUN VIOLENCE AWARENESS DAY, WHICH IS THIS FRIDAY, JUNE 6TH.
MY NAME IS AISHA ARCHER AND I'M A VOLUNTEER WITH MOMS MAN ACTION HERE TODAY TO HONOR WEAR ORANGE WEEKEND.
I CAME HERE TODAY WITH COMMUNITY PARTNERS FROM THE FORGOTTEN I THIRD CARLTON HARRIS.
BUT I'M HAPPY TO SEE TODAY 50 50 FATHERS MOVEMENT, COGNITIVE JUSTICE, INTERNATIONAL AND PURE JUSTICE IN THE, UH, IN THE COUNCIL CHAMBERS TODAY.
ALSO, ENGAGED IN THE WORK OF GUN VIOLENCE PREVENTION, WHERE ORANGE AND NATIONAL GUN VIOLENCE AWARENESS DAY COMMEMORATE THE LIFE OF HADIA PENDLETON AND MILLIONS OF OTHER VICTIMS OF GUN VIOLENCE ACROSS THE COUNTRY.
HADIA WAS SHOT AND KILLED IN CHICAGO AT THE AGE OF 15 AS COUNCILMAN BECAME IN MENTIONED JUST ONE WEEK AFTER PERFORMING AT PRESIDENT OBAMA'S SECOND INAUGURAL PARADE IN 2013, IT BEARS REPEATING THAT HADIA WAS JUST 15 YEARS OLD WHEN SHE WAS SHOT AND KILLED.
I EMPHASIZE THIS BECAUSE IN HOUSTON AND ACROSS TEXAS, WE HAVE A GROWING PROBLEM OF TEEN INVOLVED GUN VIOLENCE.
IN FACT, GUN VIOLENCE IS THE LEADING CAUSE OF DEATH FOR CHILDREN AND TEENS IN TEXAS WITH 62% OF THOSE DEATHS BEING BY HOMICIDE AND 33% BY SUICIDE.
THIS IS A UNIQUELY AMERICAN PROBLEM COMPARED TO OTHER HIGH INCOME COUNTRIES.
AMERICAN CHILDREN AGED FIVE TO 14 ARE 21 TIMES MORE LIKELY TO BE KILLED BY GUNS AND ADOLESCENTS AND YOUNG ADULTS AGE 15 TO 24 ARE 23 TIMES MORE LIKELY TO BE KILLED WITH GUNS.
WE WERE ORANGE DURING THIS TIME, NOT ONLY TO RAISE AWARENESS ABOUT GUN VIOLENCE, BUT TO DEMAND A FEATURE FREE FROM GUN VIOLENCE.
AND SO WE WANT TO THANK THE CITY FOR ITS LONGTIME WORK IN THE MAYOR'S OFFICE OF GANG PREVENTION AND INTERVENTION.
AND MAYOR WHITMEYER COUNCIL MEMBERS CAME IN AND CASTILLO FOR BEING GUN SENSE CANDIDATES AND PLEDGING TO GOVERN WITH GUN SAFETY IN MIND.
WE'D ALSO LIKE TO THANK THE COUNCIL FOR SOME OF YOUR RECENT WORK FOCUSED ON THE TRAGEDY OF YOUTH GUN VIOLENCE.
WE THANK CITY COUNCIL MEMBER WILLIE DAVIS FOR RAISING AWARENESS OF THE PROBLEM OF YOUTH INVOLVED VIOLENCE DURING A FEBRUARY PRESS CONFERENCE ATTENDED BY MAYOR WHITMEYER, CHIEF DIAZ AND OTHER CONCERNED STAKEHOLDERS AND FOR OFFERING LOCAL PASTORS AS INTERMEDIARIES BETWEEN THE COMMUNITY AND LAW ENFORCEMENT.
WE ALSO THANK CITY COUNCILMAN NATASHA TASHA JACKSON FOR SPEARHEADING THE FUNDING OF A PILOT CREDIBLE MESSENGER PROGRAM WITH COLLECTIVE ACTION FOR YOUTH.
THIS PROGRAM AIMS TO INTERCEPT YOUNG PEOPLE BEFORE VIOLENCE OCCURS THROUGH MENTORSHIP FROM INDIVIDUALS WITH SIMILAR LIVED EXPERIENCES.
I KNOW MANY FAMILIES LIKE MINE THAT HAVE TRIED AND FAILED TO REACH A YOUNG PERSON BEFORE THEY DIED BY GUN VIOLENCE.
WISH THEY HAD ACCESS TO THE OUTREACH AND CONNECTION PROVIDED BY CREDIBLE MESSENGERS WHO SPEND THEIR DAYS INVESTING IN THE LIVES OF YOUNG PEOPLE, DOING THE HARD WORK OF MAKING BETTER CHOICES AGAINST THE ODDS.
AND THANK YOU TO CITY COUNCIL MEMBER CAYMAN FOR DISTRIBUTING GUN LOCKS AND SAFES AT SCHOOLS AND OTHER COMMUNITIES EVENTS THROUGHOUT HOUSTON.
IN THE PAST DECADE, FIREARM SUICIDE AMONG CHILDREN AND TEENS HAS INCREASED BY 36% NATIONALLY, AND NEARLY 80% OF CHILD GUN SUICIDES INVOLVE A GUN BELONGING TO A PARENT OR A RELATIVE SECURELY STORING FIREARMS CAN PREVENT THESE DEATHS.
THIS WHERE ORANGE WEEKEND, WE WILL REMEMBER THE MILLIONS OF LIVES STOLEN OR IMPACTED BY GUN VIOLENCE AND TAKE ACTION IN THEIR HONOR.
HERE IN HOUSTON, WE ARE CO-HOSTING THE CHARLES DREW BLOOD DRIVE WITH THE MOON, MOON, MOON, NEW CHAPTER OF OMEGA SCI-FI INC.
THIS SATURDAY, JUNE 7TH FROM 11:00 AM TO 5:00 PM AT NEW PLEASANT GROVE BAPTIST CHURCH IN CASHMERE GARDENS.
WE INVITE EVERYONE TO TAKE THE LIFESAVING ACTION OF DONATING BLOOD.
AT THIS TIME, I'D LIKE TO ASK CARLTON HARRIS, FOUNDER AND EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE FORGOTTEN THIRD TO SAY A FEW WORDS IN PARTICULAR ABOUT THE RISK OF, UM, YOUTH GUN VIOLENCE DURING THE SUMMER.
GOOD AFTERNOON, MAYOR COUNCIL MEMBERS.
UH, MY NAME IS CARLTON HARRIS.
I'M THE FOUNDER AND EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE FORGOTTEN THIRD, UH, FORMERLY THE YOUTH OF VIOLENCE PREVENTION CITY LEAD FOR THE CITY OF HOUSTON.
I DID THAT ROLE FOR SIX YEARS.
UM, WELL, WE WORK AT, IN UNDERSERVED COMMUNITIES PROVIDING OPPORTUNITIES TO YOUTH AND YOUNG ADULTS WHO HAVE BEEN IMPACTED BY THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM AS WELL AS BY GUN VIOLENCE.
UH, DECEMBER OF LAST YEAR, I LOST A YOUNG MAN IN MY PROGRAM NAMED GIOVANNI CRUZ.
IT BROKE MY HEART TWO HOURS BEFORE HE WAS KILLED, I TALKED TO HIM ON THE PHONE.
HE WAS MURDERED BY ANOTHER 17-YEAR-OLD.
HE NEVER MADE IT TO SEE HIS 18TH BIRTHDAY.
IT IS VERY IMPORTANT THAT WE TALK ABOUT GUN VIOLENCE AND THE THINGS THAT CAN BE DONE TO PREVENT GUNS FROM FALLING TO THE HANDS OF THE WRONG INDIVIDUALS.
NUMBER ONE, WE'RE ENTERING INTO A HUNDRED DAYS OF DEADLY SUMMER RIGHT NOW BETWEEN
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MEMORIAL DAY AND LABOR DAY, THESE ARE A HUNDRED DAYS THAT ARE VERY DEADLY FOR OUR YOUTH AND YOUNG ADULTS, NOT JUST WITH DRIVING, BUT ALSO GETTING INVOLVED IN CRIMINAL AND GANG BEHAVIOR BECAUSE THE PROTECTIVE FACTORS OF BEING ENGAGED IN SCHOOL AND MENTORSHIP HAS DIMINISHED AFTER SCHOOL PROGRAMS HAVE DIMINISHED.SO I REALLY WANT TO URGE THE COMMUNITY AND THE COUNCIL AND THE MAYOR THAT WE CONTINUE TO INVEST IN UNDERSERVED COMMUNITIES.
THEY MAKE BAD CHOICES AT TIMES, BUT IT'S UP TO US TO CORRECT THEM AND GIVE THEM THE TOOLS THAT THEY NEED TO BECOME SUCCESSFUL.
AND AGAIN, I WANT TO EMPHASIZE THE SAFETY OF SAFE STORAGE FOR WEAPONS.
THE MAJORITY OF WEAPONS THAT FALL INTO THE HANDS OF WRONG INDIVIDUALS ARE STOLEN OUT OF VEHICLES.
MAKE SURE YOUR, YOUR WEAPONS IN YOUR VEHICLES ARE PROPERLY STORED, YOUR WEAPONS AT HOME ARE PROPERLY STORED.
SO A CHILD IS NOT GETTING AHOLD TO A WEAPON ACCIDENTALLY KILLING THEMSELF, THEIR SIBLING OR PARENT.
AND MAYOR PATAM, I SEE YOU WEARING ORANGE.
RECOGNIZES COUNCIL MEMBER MARTINEZ FOR A PROCLAMATION TO TO HONOR STEVE TIMS ON THE OCCASION OF HIS RETIREMENT.
UM, AND I'M HAPPY TO SEE, UH, STEVE HERE.
UM, BELIEVE IT OR NOT, HE, HE REALLY WOULDN'T WANT THIS, BUT I HAD TO.
UM, I REMEMBER IN 2014 AS A STAFFER, OUR FIRST, OUR FIRST FEW DAYS, OUR CONVERSATIONS WERE ABOUT TWO THINGS.
YOU CAN'T LEAVE ONE WITHOUT THE OTHER.
GUS WORTHHAM, UH, RENOVATION OF GUS WORTHHAM AND ALSO THE BOTANIC GARDEN.
UH, ULTIMATELY, UH, DISTRICT, I ENDED UP RECEIVING TWO GREAT ASSETS.
ONE IN THE, IN, UH, GUS WORTHHAM RENOVATION.
UH, BUT IT COULDN'T HAVE BEEN DONE WITHOUT STEVE, HIS LEADERSHIP AND HIS TEAM.
UM, ALSO, UM, NOT JUST THE, THE GOLF COURSE, BUT ALSO THE FIRSTT PROGRAM, WHICH IS SOMETHING THAT I'M INTIMATELY, UH, INVOLVED WITH.
MY 19-YEAR-OLD JOAQUIN WAS A PART OF THE FIRSTT PROGRAM.
AND NOW MY 9-YEAR-OLD JULIAN, HE'S A PART OF THE FIRSTT PROGRAM AT FM LAW.
SO I, I'M ACTUALLY SUPER HONORED TO HAVE, UH, STEVE HERE.
I'M GONNA READ THROUGH THE PROCLAMATION IF EVEN IF WE CAN DO THIS AS WELL.
UM, WE ALL KNOW THIS, THAT WE CAN'T DO A LOT OF THE WORK THAT WE DO WITHOUT FAMILY.
AND SO I REALLY WANNA MAKE SURE THAT SUSAN, THIS IS YOUR PROCLAMATION AS WELL MM-HMM
WHEREAS STEVE TIMS HAS FAITHFULLY SERVED AS, AS PRESIDENT AND CEO OF THE HOUSTON GOLF ASSOCIATION.
AND FIRST HE GREATER HOUSTON FOR 25 YEARS, DEDICATING HIS CAREER TO THE GROWTH OF YOUTH DEVELOPMENT THROUGH THE GAME OF GOLF.
WHEREAS STEVE BEGAN HIS JOURNEY WITH HGA AS A VOLUNTEER IN 1991, EVENTUALLY CHAIRING THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS IN NINE, FROM 95 TO 97 BEFORE BEING APPOINTED PRESIDENT AND CEO IN 2001.
WHEREAS UNDER HIS LEADERSHIP, HGA EXPERIENCED SOME OF THE MOST TRANSFORMATIVE YEARS IN ITS HISTORY, ELEVATING ITS STATUS AS ONE OF HOUSTON'S MOST IMPACTFUL NONPROFIT ORGANIZATIONS AND RAISING NEARLY 80 MILLION FOR LOCAL CHARITIES AND COMMUNITY INITIATIVES THROUGH THE THROUGH GOLF.
AND WHEREAS STEVE DEDICATED HI TO EXPANDING ACCESS TO GOLF TO THE GAME LED TO THE ADVANCEMENT OF THE MUNICIPAL GOLF INITIATIVE AND THE REVITALIZATION OF GUS WORTHHAM PARK GOLF COURSE, TEXAS OS CONTINUOUSLY OPERATED 18 HOLE GOLF COURSE, TRANSFORMING IT INTO A PREMIER PUBLIC GOLF DESTINATION THAT NOW HOSTS MORE THAN 55,000 ROUND, UH, ROUNDS ANNUALLY AND HAS BEEN RECOGNIZED AS ONE OF HOUSTON'S TOP PUBLIC COURSES BY TEXAS MONTHLY.
AND WHEREAS STEVE ALSO SERVED AS PRESIDENT AND CEO OF FIRST T GREATER HOUSTON, A CHARTER OBTAINED BY HGA IN 2004, WHICH IS WHICH HE GREW INTO ONE OF NATION'S LARGEST CHAPTERS NOW SERVING OVER 35, UH, 350,000 YOUTH ANNUALLY ACROSS NINE GREEN GRASS FACILITIES.
HOPEFULLY WE CAN INCREASE THAT AROUND THE CITY, UM, INCLUDING ANOTHER ANCHOR SITE AT FM LAW PARK.
AND WHEREAS THROUGH ALL HIS, ALL OF HIS ENDEAVORS, STEVE HAS REMAINED STEAD STEADFAST IN HIS MISSION TO CHANGE LIVES AND SERVE COMMUNITIES THROUGH GOLF, LEAVING BEHIND A LEGACY OF EXCELLENCE, INTEGRITY, AND SERVICE THAT WILL CONTINUE TO SHAPE THE FUTURE OF HDA AND THE FIRST TEE GREATER HOUSTON.
AND WHEREAS THE CITY OF HOUSTON EXTENDS ITS HEARTFELT THANKS
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TO STEVE THAS FOR THIR 25 YEARS OF EXTRAORDINARY LEADERSHIP, TRANSFORMATIVE IMPACT AND DEDICATION TO THE SPORT OF GOLF, AS WELL AS TO THE YOUTH AND COMMUNITIES OF GREATER HOUSTON, AND OFFERS ITS BEST WISHES FOR FULFILLING RETIREMENT AND MORE, AND MANY MORE ROUNDS OF GOLF AHEAD.THANK YOU, COUNCILMAN MARTINEZ.
UH, OUR LAST PROCLAMATION WAS VERY SERIOUS LIFE AND DEATH MATTER.
THIS PROCLAMATION IS A CELEBRATION OF A SUCCESSFUL EXPERIENCE FOR ALL OF US BECAUSE OF YOUR LEADERSHIP.
I KNOW YOU'VE KIND OF WATCHED MY GAME PROGRESS
WITHOUT YOUR PERSISTENCE AND LEADERSHIP, WE WOULDN'T HAVE A CLASSIC GOLF COURSE EARTH IN OUR COMMUNITY ON THE EAST SIDE.
AND I'M GLAD YOUR SONS ARE TAKING ADVANTAGE OF IT.
BUT ANYWAY, YOU, AS FAR AS I'M CONCERNED, YOU SAVED THE GHOST WORTH.
AND I'VE BEEN THERE WHEN WE NEEDED TO PAVE THE ROAD OR THE ENTRANCE, AND YOU TOLD ME JUST, WE'RE GETTING THERE.
AND I KNOW YOUR FAMILY HAS PLAYED CERTAINLY A ROLE, BUT REALLY YOU'RE AN EXAMPLE OF HOUSTONIANS THAT GO ABOUT MAKING OUR CITY THE GREAT CITY.
WITHOUT A LOT OF RECOGNITION, YOU JUST PLOW AHEAD.
AND I KNOW YOU'VE STILL GOT SOME, UH, SOME DUTIES AND ADVENTURES TO GO FORWARD.
I KNOW IT'S NOT, PUBLIC SERVICE IS NOT VERY FAR AWAY FROM YOU, SO I'M EXCITED FOR THIS RESOLUTION PROCLAMATION, AND THEREFORE, I, JOHN WHITMEYER, MAYOR OF THE CITY OF HOUSTON, HEREBY PROCLAIM JUNE 3RD, 2025, IS STEVE TIMS DAY IN THE CITY OF HOUSTON.
THANK YOU MAYOR WHITMEYER AND MEMBERS OF CITY COUNCIL, COUNCIL MEMBER MARTINEZ, UM, QUITE AN HONOR.
UM, AND THIS HAS BEEN A, AN AMAZING JOURNEY, UM, WITH THE HOUSTON GOLF ASSOCIATION, 35 YEARS VOLUNTEERING AND ALSO IN SERVICE.
UM, MY WIFE SUSAN WITH ME ALL THAT TIME.
UM, I'M ALSO JOINED BY A NUMBER OF CURRENT HGA BOARD MEMBERS AND SOME FORMER HGA BOARD MEMBERS.
UM, MY SUCCESSOR, OUR NEW CEO CLAIRE BAY, OUR EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE FIRST GREATER HOUSTON, BRIAN LADETTE.
UM, THEY KNOW THEY STILL HAVE A LOT OF WORK TO DO, AND I'M HERE TO HELP THEM DO THAT.
UM, WE JUST LAUNCHED A CAPITAL CAMPAIGN TO RENOVATE FM LAW PARK, WHICH, UH, IS IN COUNCIL MEMBER EVAN SHABAZZ'S DISTRICT, BUT JOAQUIN'S KIDS HAVE, UH, PARTICIPATED DOWN THERE.
AND IT REALLY WILL BE JUST LIKE GUS WORTHHAM TRANSFORMATIVE, A TRANSFORMATIVE PROJECT THAT WHEN THAT CAPITAL CAMPAIGN IS COMPLETE, UH, WE'LL, WE WILL HAVE IMPACTED THE COMMUNITY OVER 80 YEARS OF A HUNDRED MILLION DOLLARS.
BUT MORE IMPORTANTLY, WE WILL HAVE CREATED REALLY THE PREMIER FIRST TEE CAMPUS, UH, IN THE COUNTRY DEDICATED SOLELY TO YOUTH, UH, WHICH IS REALLY UNHEARD OF.
AND HOUSTON SHOULD BE THE OWNER OF, OF THAT KIND OF FACILITY, UH, IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE PARKS DEPARTMENT.
SO, UH, THERE'S STILL A LOT OF WORK TO BE DONE.
UM, THESE FOLKS ARE, ARE VERY FOCUSED ON IT.
UM, THEY'RE NOT RID OF ME YET.
UM, AND IF I CAN HELP SERVE THE COMMUNITY THROUGH HELPING WITH THE GOLF COURSES, GOLF PROJECTS, AND HELPING THE HGA HELP DO WHAT WE DID AT GUS WORTHHAM WITH THIS MODEL THAT IS REALLY THE ENVY OF OTHER CITIES IN THE COUNTRY, UH, THIS NONPROFIT MODEL THAT ALLOWS US TO RAISE PRIVATE FUNDS, PARTNER WITH THE CITY AND IMPROVE CITY ASSETS AND IN THE GAME OF GOLF THAT IS IMPACTING, UH, THE COMMUNITY IN A VERY POSITIVE WAY.
SO A LOT OF PEOPLE DESERVE THIS.
I'M THE ONE THAT HAPPENED TO BE THE, THE HEAD OF THE ORGANIZATION FOR THOSE YEARS, BUT THERE'S THOUSANDS OF VOLUNTEERS THAT ARE CONTINUING TO GIVE THEIR TIME AND REALLY WITH THE FOCUS ON IMPACTING OUR, OUR YOUTH THROUGH THE GAME OF GOLF.
SO I THANK YOU ALL AND I THANK YOU FOR THE RECOGNITION.
[2:00 P.M. – INVOCATION AND PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE]
[00:35:52]
CHAIR RECOGNIZES, COUNCIL MEMBER THOMAS FOR THE INVOCATION.UM, WOULD EVERYONE PLEASE BOW YOUR HEADS? DEAR GOD, IT IS AN HONOR TO COME BEFORE YOUR THRONE AND SAY THANK YOU, GOD.
YOUR WORD SAYS THAT PROMOTION COMES FROM YOU.
SO WE KNOW THAT WE DON'T SIT IN THESE SEATS LIGHTLY, AND WE KNOW BECAUSE YOU HAVE PROMOTED US, YOU CAN ALSO TAKE IT AWAY.
SO GOD REMIND US TO DO THE WILL THAT YOU HAVE CALLED US TO DO.
REMIND US TO THINK OF THE LEAST.
AND THE LOST AND THE HUNGRY REMIND US TO STAND BOLDLY FOR RIGHTEOUSNESS FOR PEOPLE.
AND WHEN WE ARE DRUNK OFF OF OUR FAME, AND WE ARE DRUNK OFF OUR PROMOTION, GOD YANK US DOWN.
REMIND US THAT WE ARE HERE FOR BUT A PURPOSE AND FOR SUCH A TIME AS THIS, BLESS THIS BODY.
BLESS EVERY PERSON THAT HAS CHOSEN TO TAKE THEIR TIME AND COME TO THEIR CITY HALL.
GIVE AN EXTRA BLESSING TO THOSE THAT HAVE AN ACHE IN THEIR HEART, A COMPLAINT, AN ISSUE THAT IT MAY BE RESOLVED TODAY.
AND BLESS OUR MAYOR, THE LEADER OF OUR CITY.
GIVE HIM A DOUBLE DOSE OF LEADERSHIP AND ENHANCE HIS SENSITIVITY TO THE PEOPLE THAT HE REPRESENTS.
IF ANYONE WILL DO IT, GOD IT IS YOU.
I THANK YOU FOR THE MIRACLES THAT THE CITY HAS TAKEN, HAS EXPERIENCED, AND I THANK YOU FOR WHAT COMES TO THIS CITY IN ADVANCE AT A DOUBLE BLESSING TO THE LISTENERS AND THOSE UNDER THE SOUND OF MY VOICE.
AND FOR THOSE IN EVERY CITY DEPARTMENT DOING THE WORK, AND WE MAY NEVER KNOW THEIR NAME, I WANT TO TELL THEM THANK YOU.
GOD, SHOW THEM AN EXTRA BLESSING, A MIRACLE THIS WEEK.
PLEASE STAND FOR THE PLEDGE NEXT, MS. SECRETARY,
[ROLL CALL AND ADOPT THE MINUTES OF THE PREVIOUS MEETING]
WOULD YOU CALL THE ROLE PLEASE? MAYOR WHITMEYER.PRESENT, COUNCIL MEMBER PECK HERE.
COUNCIL MEMBERS CARTER AND PLUMBER WILL BE ABSENT.
COUNCIL MEMBER ALCORN HERE NEED A MOTION TO ADOPT THE MINUTES OF MAY 20 AND 20.
MOTION PASSES NOW FOR PROCEDURAL MOTIONS.
[PUBLIC SPEAKERS]
YOU MAYOR.UH, I'D LIKE TO SUSPEND THE RULES, UH, TO MOVE TO HERE, CHARLES, TO THE TOP OF THE THREE MINUTE AGENDA LIST.
ANYONE ELSE? IF NOT, UH, MR. SECRETARY, YOU WANNA CALL THE FIRST SPEAKER? YES, SIR.
YOU'LL KNOW 'CAUSE NOBODY WILL BE HERE.
[00:40:01]
AND COUNCIL MEMBERS.I'M HERE REPRESENTING ELIJAH RISING.
UM, IT'S BEEN FIGHTING HUMAN TRAFFICKING FOR 10 YEARS HERE IN THE GREAT CITY OF HOUSTON.
I'M HERE TO VOICE OUR SUPPORT FOR THE BUDGET AMENDMENT PROPOSED BY COUNCIL MEMBER RAMIREZ.
AND THIS, UM, BUDGET AMENDMENT IS TO FUND TWO ATTORNEYS, UM, TO FIGHT NUISANCE IN HUMAN TRAFFICKING.
AND ONE PARALEGAL, I BELIEVE A LITTLE BIT.
I'VE GOT SOME EXPERIENCE IN THIS WORK.
I SPENT SIX YEARS IN ASIA FIGHTING HUMAN TRAFFICKING BEFORE COMING BACK TO HOUSTON.
AND BEFORE I WENT, I WAS A, UM, ADJUNCT PROFESSOR AT UT LAW AND AN ADMINISTRATIVE LAW JUDGE FOR THE STATE OF TEXAS.
AND I WAS A LOT LESS NERVOUS WHEN I WAS SITTING OVER THERE THAN I AM SITTING HERE, LET ME TELL YOU.
BUT, UM, I THOUGHT I NEEDED TO MOVE TO ASIA TO FIGHT HUMAN TRAFFICKING.
AND WHEN I WAS OVER THERE WORKING WITH THE GOVERNMENT, I TRACKED A HUMAN TRAFFICKER BRINGING GIRLS FROM NEPAL RIGHT INTO HOUSTON.
I LEARNED THAT HIS WIFE LIVED IN HOUSTON AND RAN THAT SIDE, THE AMERICAN SIDE OF THE BUSINESS.
UM, I LEARNED THAT HOUSTON IS OFTEN REFERRED TO AS THE WORST CITY IN THE UNITED STATES FOR HUMAN TRAFFICKING.
YOU SEE, WE HAVE A SILENT, HIDDEN CRISIS.
WE HAVE OVER 300 ILLICIT MASSAGE BUSINESSES THAT WOMEN AND GIRLS ARE SUFFERING IN.
IT'S SO SAD THAT PEOPLE DON'T WANT TO TALK ABOUT IT.
THEY DON'T WANNA KNOW ABOUT IT.
BUT WE'VE GOT MORE OF THOSE THAN WE HAVE MCDONALD'S AND STARBUCKS COMBINED.
SO WE'RE FIGHTING THESE CRIMINAL ENTERPRISES.
IT'S BIG BUSINESS, BILLIONS OF DOLLARS.
IT'S THE DRUG CARTELS RUNNING IT.
THEY LEARN THAT THEY CAN SELL DRUGS ONCE, GET OVER THE BORDER, SELL IT ONCE, AND THEY HAVE TO GO BACK FOR RESTOCK.
BUT WITH GIRLS, YOU GET 'EM OVER THE BORDER AND YOU JUST SELL 'EM DAY AFTER DAY AFTER DAY AFTER DAY.
SO I WOULD ASK THAT YOU SUPPORT THIS AMENDMENT AND UM, I'M HERE TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS.
AND THANK YOU FOR WHAT YOU AND ELIJAH RISING DO TO STOP THE SCOURGE THAT IS HUMAN TRAFFICKING IN HOUSTON.
IT IS SHAMEFUL THAT WE ARE KNOWN AS A HUB FOR, UH, HUMAN TRAFFICKING.
AND, UH, I APPRECIATE YOUR SUPPORT OF THE AMENDMENT.
IT IS A SMALL STEP TO TRY TO TURN THINGS AROUND IN HOUSTON AND IT ADDRESSES A NUMBER OF, UH, ENFORCEMENT OF OTHER VIOLATIONS AS WELL.
BUT CERTAINLY THIS IS SOMETHING WORTHY OF OUR ATTENTION AND SOMETHING THAT WE NEED TO TRY TO CHANGE.
I WOULD LIKE TO JUST LET MY COLLEAGUES KNOW.
UM, I I WILL BE AMENDING, UH, THE PROPOSED AMENDMENT TO CHANGE THE FUNDING SOURCE FROM HUMAN RESOURCES TO GENERAL FUND BALANCE AFTER THE SUGGESTION OF THE ADMINISTRATION LAST WEEK.
BUT THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR WHAT YOU'RE DOING AND FOR WHAT YOU FOR BEING HERE.
WELL, THANK YOU COUNCIL MEMBERS, AND THANK YOU IN PARTICULAR, COUNCIL MEMBER RAMIREZ FOR YOUR HARD WORK ON THIS ISSUE.
ANYBODY HEAR ME? ALRIGHT, MY NAME IS TAHIR CHARLES, AND, UM, I AM A ELECTED OFFICIAL DIRECTOR AT WCID 89 WATER CONTROL AND IMPROVED AND IMPROVEMENT DISTRICT RIGHT DOWN THE STREET.
AND I WANNA DO SOMETHING DIFFERENT.
I AM COMING TO OFFER OUR BUILDING, UM, IF NEEDED FOR HURRICANE SAFETY.
UM, DURING, DURING THE LAST HURRICANE, UH, FOR BERYL, UM, THE, I'M SORRY, UH, RODNEY ELLIS AND HIS STAFF, THEY DONATED SUPPLIES TO OUR LOCATION SO WE COULD PASS OUT, PASS OUR SUPPLIES.
THE DAY AFTER THE STORM, NOBODY WAS TURNED AWAY.
THERE'S A LOT OF APARTMENT COMPLEXES THAT ARE ACTUALLY IN THE CITY OF HOUSTON, BUT THE, THESE RESIDENTS, THEY DON'T KNOW WHERE TO COME TO GET THESE SUPPLIES FROM.
SO THE DAY AFTER THE HURRICANE, WE WERE DEFINITELY THERE PASSING OUT, UM, SUPPLIES, BOOTS ON THE GROUND.
ALSO, I UNDERSTAND THAT THIS IS A DRAFT POLICY OF THE, UM, IT'S A DRAFT POLICY FOR THE HURRICANE.
BUT I DO HAVE A, A COUPLE OF CONCERNS AND I UNDERSTAND AS A DRAFT, THERE'S ROOM FOR CHANGE.
THE FIRST CONCERN THAT I HAVE IS THE TIMES IN WHICH PEOPLE COULD COME SPEAK ON, UM, WHAT I NOTICED AND WHAT I SAW.
THEY'RE DURING THE DAYTIME, SOME OF THESE COMMUNITIES, THEY'RE, THEY'RE BLUE COLLAR COMMUNITIES.
THEY'RE WORKING DURING THE DAYTIME.
SO THEY DON'T HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY.
WELL, A LOT DON'T HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO COME AND TAKE OFF DURING THE DAY AND MAKE THEIR VOICES HEARD AND KNOWN.
AND THE SECOND THING I WANT TO TALK ABOUT IS THE, WHAT IS THE FUNDING GOING FOR, FOR THE HOMELESS? I SAW THERE WAS AN ALLOCATION OF FUNDS
[00:45:01]
FOR THE HOMELESS POPULATION.I'D LIKE TO KNOW WHAT THAT'S, WHAT THAT'S USED FOR.
AND I ALSO, WHAT I DID NOT NOTICE WAS I DIDN'T SEE ANYTHING ABOUT HOUSING.
I DIDN'T SEE ANYTHING RELATED TO HOUSING FOR A HURRICANE.
AND THAT'S QUITE CONCERNING TO ME.
I NOTICED THAT A LOT OF MONEY WAS GOING TO INFRASTRUCTURE.
AND SO IF THIS MONEY, IF THESE FUNDS DON'T GO TO THE INFRASTRUCTURE, WILL, WHERE WILL THE REMAINING FUNDS GO TO? IF I READ THIS, IF I, IF I DIDN'T READ THIS CORRECTLY, PLEASE LET ME KNOW.
BUT IT LOOKS LIKE THERE'S MONEY GOING TO BUY POLICE VEHICLES AND AMBULANCES AND WHATNOT.
SO IS THAT DIRECTLY FOR THE HURRICANE OR IS THAT JUST, JUST TO HELP, HELP THE, THOSE FORCES OUT IN GENERAL.
BUT ONCE AGAIN, I'M NOT AS AN ELECTED OFFICIAL.
I'M HERE TO OFFER MY SERVICES.
I UNDERSTAND BEING IN YOUR POSITION.
UM, JUST IN CASE YOU ALL MIGHT NOT KNOW, TAHIR TAHIR IS ONE OF THE PEOPLE THAT WAS VERY INSTRUMENTAL IN MAKING SURE THAT THE SUNNYSIDE HEALTH AND MULTI-SERVICE CENTER WAS NOT PLACED ON THE DUMP SITE BECAUSE OF HIS RESEARCH RE REGARDING CONTAMINATION.
AND SO I, I CERTAINLY THANK YOU FOR THAT.
HE ALSO HAS A FEEDING PROGRAM.
HE FEEDS THE HOMELESS ONCE A MONTH, UH, AND PROVIDES SUSTENANCE FOR PEOPLE, SOMETIMES OUT OF, A LOT OF TIMES OUT OF HIS OWN POCKET.
YOU KNOW, HE GETS SOME DONATIONS, BUT HE'S OUT THERE COOKING AND, AND REALLY, REALLY, UH, PROVIDING THIS WONDERFUL SERVICE.
AND SO I THANK YOU, UH, YOU KNOW, FOR COMING FORTH.
AND OF COURSE HE IS AN ELECTED OFFICIAL.
I WAS GONNA TELL HIM THAT, BUT I'M GLAD THAT YOU DID 'CAUSE I HAD TO WRITE IT DOWN 'CAUSE IT WAS SUCH A LONG TITLE.
BUT CERTAINLY, UH, I DO APPRECIATE WHAT YOU'RE DOING AND WE WILL TAKE INTO CONSIDERATION THOSE THINGS THAT YOU HAVE PRESENTED.
NEXT, CRYSTAL CASEY TO BE FOLLOWED BY LAURA.
HELLO, HONORABLE MAYOR AND COUNCIL MEMBERS.
UM, I JUST FIRST WANNA SAY I'VE HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO HAVE PERSONAL TIME WITH EACH OF YOU, AND YOU ARE ALL AMAZING AND YOU CARE SO DEEPLY ABOUT THIS CITY.
UM, AS A THIRD GENERATION FROM DISTRICT CA GRADUATE OF WALTRIP HIGH SCHOOL, UM, I HAD AN UNDERSTANDING THAT THERE WAS A HUMAN TRAFFICKING PROBLEM.
AND THEN I WENT ON A VAN TOUR WITH ELIJAH RISING, UM, WHICH I HAVE INVITED.
SOME OF YOU HAVE BEEN, BUT IF YOU ARE INTERESTED, WE ARE HAPPY TO SET THAT UP.
UM, AND I WAS DEVASTATED LESS THAN, UM, WALKING DISTANCE FROM MY HOME.
WERE THREE TRAFFICKING LOCATIONS THAT I DROVE BY EVERY DAY AND HAD NO IDEA THAT THEY WERE THERE.
UH, MANY OF YOU HAVE EXPRESSED SUPPORT AND WANT AN INTEREST IN GETTING, GETTING ACTIVE.
UH, COUNCIL MEMBER RAMIREZ AND YOUR CHIEF OF STAFF, LEAH, HAVE BEEN AMAZING.
WE HAVE MONTHLY MEETINGS WITH ELIJAH RISING TO FIGURE OUT WHAT WE CAN DO AT THE CITY LEVEL TO JUST MITIGATE THIS PROBLEM.
THEN IT IS A REALLY, REALLY BIG, DEVASTATING PROBLEM.
SO I'M HERE TO SPEAK FOR, FIRST OF ALL, JUST THANK YOU.
THANK EACH OF YOU BECAUSE I KNOW IT MEANS SOMETHING TO EACH OF YOU.
AND THANK YOU FOR GETTING INVOLVED.
AND IN THIS, I KNOW IT'S A SMALL THING, BUT IT'S NOT A SMALL THING TO DEDICATE SOMEBODY THAT CAN LOOK INTO ALL OF THESE COMPLAINTS AND ALL OF THESE INVESTIGATIONS AND SEE WHAT WE CAN DO, ESPECIALLY BEFORE THE WORLD CUP GETS HERE.
IT'S VITALLY IMPORTANT THAT WE EDUCATE THE PUBLIC ON WHAT'S GOING ON.
AND ELIJAH RISING HAS ALSO OFFERED TO, UH, PROVIDE EDUCATION TO ANYONE IN PUBLIC WORKS OR THE CITY THAT IS INTERESTED, JUST SO THEY KNOW THE THINGS TO LOOK FOR.
SO I JUST THANK YOU ALL, THANK YOU ALL FOR CARING.
THANK YOU ALL FOR THE WAY THAT YOU HAVE RESPONDED.
AND, UM, THANK YOU FOR THIS BUDGET AMENDMENT COUNCIL MEMBER AM MAYORS.
I'M VERY GRATEFUL AND THANK YOU, MAYOR.
I KNOW WE HAVE A LOT OF SPEAKERS.
JUST REALLY QUICKLY, CRYSTAL, THANK YOU FOR JUST BEING SUCH A BEAUTIFUL HUMAN BEING.
UH, MANY OF US ON COUNCIL KNOW CRYSTAL'S WORK IN MANY FORMS, BUT YOU HAVE JUST DIVED RIGHT IN ON THIS ISSUE, UM, AS WELL AS MANY OTHERS IN OUR CITY.
SO IT'S GREAT TO HAVE YOU AND THANK YOU.
THANK YOU MAYOR CRYSTAL, I JUST WANT TO SAY THANK YOU AS WELL, UH, FOR COMING FORWARD, UH, ON THIS TOPIC AND MANY OTHERS.
YOU STAY VERY ENGAGED IN OUR CITY.
UH, YOUR LEADERSHIP IS INVALUABLE AND I APPRECIATE THE INSIGHT.
THANK YOU CRYSTAL, SO MUCH FOR BEING HERE.
THANK YOU FOR ARRANGING THAT VAN TOUR.
IT OPENED MY EYES TO WHAT'S GOING ON IN OUR NEIGHBORHOODS ALL ACROSS THE CITY.
UH, AND I APPRECIATE YOUR, YOUR LOVE FOR THE CITY AND EVERYTHING THAT YOU DO, NOT JUST ON HUMAN TRAFFICKING, BUT ON PERMITTING AND SO MANY OTHER, UH, TOPICS WHERE WE CAN IMPROVE.
[00:50:03]
WILL BE FOLLOWED BY BENJAMIN BROADWAY.I'M A LONGTIME MEMBER OF PURE JUSTICE AND I'M IN SOLIDARITY WITH THEIR MESSAGE.
I'M THE THIRD OF FIVE GENERATIONS TO CALL HOUSTON HOME.
I'M BLESSED TO LIVE IN THE HEIGHTS WHERE EVERYTHING I COULD HOPE FOR IN A COMMUNITY IS AVAILABLE TO ME WITHIN A FIVE MINUTE WALK.
I WANT EVERYONE IN HOUSTON TO HAVE ALL THE RESOURCES I HAVE.
THIS BUDGET DOES NOT ALLOCATE ENOUGH TO THE THINGS THAT MAKE HOUSTON A SAFE PLACE TO LIVE.
THE CITY HAS CHRONICALLY DISINVESTED IN WHAT THE COMMUNITY REALLY NEEDS TO SURVIVE WITH DIGNITY AND INSTEAD CRIMINALIZES VULNERABLE.
PEOPLE WHEN DENIED ACCESS TO RESOURCES, PEOPLE STAY ALIVE IN ANY WAY THEY CAN.
AND OFTEN THESE WAYS DON'T MAKE THEM OR ANYONE ELSE SAFE.
MANY RESPOND WITH MENTAL ILLNESS AND SUBSTANCE ABUSE DISORDERS, DISEASES OF DESPAIR, HEALTH CONDITIONS WHICH HAVE BEEN CRIMINALIZED.
POLICING VULNERABLE PEOPLE DOES NOT MAKE THE COMMUNITY SAFER.
IT MERELY CREATES A PERPETUAL JOB PROGRAM FOR POLICE.
THIS BUDGET SAYS THAT SURVEILLANCE, POLICING AND INCARCERATION ARE THE HIGHEST PRIORITY OF THE CITY.
AND MOST OTHER DEPARTMENTS ARE BEING CUT, LEAVING LARGE PORTIONS OF THE CITY AS SACRIFICE ZONES.
THE RESPONSES TO MY QUESTIONS ABOUT THE BUDGET CAME DOWN TO ONE ISSUE.
WE COULD SERVE THE CITY BETTER IF WE HAD MORE CITY.
THAT PLEA ONLY WORKS FOR THE POLICE.
WE REJECT THIS MODEL OF COMMUNITY.
INSTEAD, WE'RE ASKING FOR A BOLD VISION TO IMAGINE A COMMUNITY WHERE EVERYONE CAN THRIVE AND EVERYONE HAS ACCESS TO OPPORTUNITY.
COMMUNITIES LIKE THIS EXIST, AND WE CAN DO IT HERE TOO, ESPECIALLY CONSIDERING FUNDING CUTS AT THE FEDERAL AND STATE LEVEL.
WE REJECT AN AUSTERITY BUDGET IN ALL PARTS OF THE CITY.
WE WANT THE FOLLOWING AND MORE PROPER DRAINAGE AND STORM RESILIENCE, CLEAN AIR, SOIL AND DRINKING WATER DUE PROCESS IN ALL LEGAL PROCEEDINGS LIKE EVICTIONS AND ACCESS TO LEGAL ASSISTANCE.
PEDESTRIAN BRIDGES OVER TRAIN TRACKS NEAR SCHOOLS AFTER SCHOOL PROGRAMS, A LIVING MINIMUM WAGE.
RESPITE CENTERS DURING POWER OUTAGES EMPOWER COMPANIES TO FACE REAL ACCOUNTABILITY, ACCESS TO FRESH FOOD, MENTAL HEALTH, MEDICAL ATTENTION AND SUBSTANCE USE TREATMENT, AFFORDABLE HOUSING AND TRANSPORTATION TRAINING FOR GOOD JOBS, SUPPORT FOR SMALL BUSINESS STARTUPS, ENDING OR CLEANING UP ILLEGAL DUMPING REPAIRS TO INFRASTRUCTURE, INCLUDING WATER, PIPES, BRIDGES, STREETS, LANGUAGE ACCESS TO CITY SERVICES, TRAINS BEAUTIFICATION AND CLIMATE REMEDIATION AND CREDIBLE MESSENGERS.
WE SAY NO TO ANY INCREASE IN THE LAW ENFORCEMENT BUDGET AND YES TO A BUDGET THAT INVESTS IN THE COMMUNITY.
WE ASK YOU TO REJECT THIS BUDGET.
NEXT BENJAMIN BROADWAY TO BE FOLLOWED BY MARIE PUSAN.
MY NAME IS BENJAMIN BROADWAY AND Y'ALL KNOW ME AND I KNOW YOU ALL NOW, I WOULD LIKE TO SAY, I WOULD LIKE TO VOTE YES FOR THE AMENDMENTS THAT MS. JACKSON HAS PROPOSED THE CITY BUDGET.
UM, IT NEEDS TO BE DECLINED BECAUSE IT'S PUTTING THE CITY INTO DEBT.
MAYOR, I'M NOT TRYING TO BE FUNNY, BUT 25 YEARS AFTER YOU'RE GONE, WE'RE STILL GONNA BE PAYING FOR THAT MAN.
WE NEED TO WORK ON INFRASTRUCTURE FLOODING AND GETTING SOME OF THESE AREAS THAT WERE HEAVILY HIT DURING FLOODING DURING A LIGHT RAIN MAYOR, A LIGHT RAIN.
YOU SAID THAT WE WERE BROKE, BUT YOU FOUND $1.4 BILLION THAT WE'RE GONNA BE PAYING FOR THE NEXT 27 TO 30 YEARS.
AND THEN WE STILL HAVE ONGOING RAINING AND FLOODING ISSUES.
MAN, I THINK THAT DISTRICT I, DISTRICT B AND DISTRICT H AT LEAST NEED TO TEAM UP BECAUSE THOSE WERE THE MOST HARDEST HIT ONES TO DECLINE YOUR BUDGET.
I HAVE FAMILY MEMBERS THAT ARE POLICEMEN THAT ARE FIREMEN, BUT I ALSO BELIEVE THAT FAIR IS FAIR.
WE HAVE DITCHES THAT DON'T WORK.
[00:55:01]
THAT DON'T WORK.WE HAVE TRIBUTARIES THAT DON'T WORK, NOT JUST IN DISTRICT B.
IT'S ALL OVER THE CITY OF HOUSTON.
WHEN I COME HERE TO FIGHT, I FIGHT FOR THE WHOLE CITY OF HOUSTON, NOT JUST DISTRICT B.
I STAND UP HERE AND FIGHT FOR THE LITTLE PEOPLE, THE KIDS THAT CAN'T, THAT DON'T HAVE A VOICE.
SO WHEN YOU SIT UP THERE AND YOU TALK ON YOUR RADIO SHOW ABOUT HOW WE GET PAID TO COME UP HERE AND CAUSE A RUCKUS.
NO, I DO THAT FOR FREE JUST BECAUSE IT'S TO TALK TO YOU TO LET YOU KNOW WHAT'S GOING ON REALLY IN OUR NEIGHBORHOODS.
SO WHEN YOU SIT UP THERE AND YOU SAY THAT WE GET PAID TO DO THIS, I DON'T IF THAT'S THE CASE.
WHERE'S MY MONEY FOR THE HOUSTON READY PROGRAM THAT I ATTENDED THAT YOU WERE JUST, THAT WHERE ARE ALL MY MONEY FROM THE DISTRICT B MEETINGS, THE, UH, MEETINGS THAT ASHA JACKSON HELD, THE MEETINGS THAT, UM, MR. JOAQUIN MARTINEZ HELD.
MAN, I DON'T DO THAT FOR MONEY.
SO WHEN YOU SIT UP THERE AND SAY THAT WE'RE DOING IT FOR MONEY, WE'RE NOT, WE'RE NOT MAYOR.
WE'RE DOING IT FOR OUR KIDS, FOR OUR FAMILIES, FOR OUR COMMUNITIES.
THAT'S WHY WE STAND AND WE SAY THE WAY AND WE DO THE THINGS THAT WE DO.
I JUST LEFT HBOI SHOULD NOT BE HERE TRYING TO ARGUE WITH YOU AND TELL YOU WHAT'S GOING ON IN YOUR CITY, MAN.
YOU'RE TAKING MONEY FROM US, MAN.
YOU'RE RAISING TAXES FOR SOMETHING THAT WE DON'T, MA'AM.
AND OUR DITCHES DON'T EVEN WORK.
AND, AND, UH, THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE.
I I CAN'T IMAGINE WHO TOLD YOU THAT.
I WOULD SAY YOU'RE BEING PAID TO BE HERE.
YOU SAID IT ON THE RADIO STATION AND LIVE IN HOUSTON.
WHICH RADIO? UH, HU HOUSTON LIVE.
NOW I CAN SEND YOU A COPY OF THE CUT OF THE TAPE, SIR.
I I'VE JUST NEVER SAID IT BECAUSE I DON'T BELIEVE IT AND SOMEBODY MISINFORMED YOU.
SO ANYWAY, I'M NOT GONNA DEBATE THE DATE.
IT'S JUST OH, THAT'S ALL RIGHT.
I'LL SEND YOU A COPY SO, SO MUCH I COULD ADDRESS, BUT I WON'T BECAUSE I RESPECT YOU.
BUT THAT'S JUST ONE I COULDN'T LET SLIDE BY BECAUSE I, IT'S NOT EVEN IN MY IMAGINATION THAT YOU WOULD BE PAID TO COME TO CITY HALL 'CAUSE YOU'RE A REGULAR THAT WE VALUE AND I JUST HAD TO ADDRESS AND CORRECT THAT MISINFORMATION THAT YOU RECEIVED.
I'M PART OF A FAMILY WITH SEVERAL GENERATIONS WHO'VE CALLED HOUSTON HOME SINCE THE EARLY 19 HUNDREDS.
WE LIVE IN COMMUNITIES THAT HAVE EVERYTHING WE NEED TO THRIVE AND BE SAFE.
THIS IS NOT THE CASE FOR ALL HOUSTONIANS HOUSTON GENERALLY BUDGETS FOR ITS IDEA OF PUBLIC SAFETY BY FOCUSING ON SURVEILLANCE AND CRIMINALIZATION BY LAW ENFORCEMENT.
BUT THAT'S NOT WHAT REALLY MAKES PEOPLE SAFE.
I'M WITH PURE JUSTICE AND HAVE BEEN A SUPPORTER FOR SEVERAL YEARS.
I STAND IN SOLIDARITY WITH THEIR CALL FOR A DIFFERENT IDEA OF PUBLIC SAFETY.
WHY NOT? WITH HPDS NEW CONTRACT, TENS OF MILLIONS ARE BEING DIVERTED FROM NEEDED CITY SERVICES.
CITY BUDGETS HAVE HISTORICALLY SPENT DISPROPORTIONATELY WAY MORE ON LAW ENFORCEMENT THAN OTHER DEPARTMENTS.
WHAT'S MORE? THE CITY SHOULD NOT USE DISASTER RELIEF DOLLARS TO FUND NEW POLICE VEHICLES OR SEND GENERATORS TO POLICE STATIONS.
DISASTER RELIEF MONEY SHOULD SERVE FAMILIES AFFECTED FOR HOME REPAIR AND DISASTER, LIKE THE DERECHO OR BARREL BUDGETS SHOULD ENSURE RESOURCES FOR HOUSTONIANS.
HERE'S ONE RESOURCE NEAR AND DEAR TO MY FAMILY.
DRAINAGE, IT'S HURRICANE SEASON AGAIN AND I WORRY.
I WOKE UP ONE NIGHT, COMPLETELY FLOODED IN MY HOME IN ALLISON.
IN 2001, WE QUALIFIED FOR AN SBA LOAN THROUGH FEMA.
IN 2017, WE HAD WATER UP TO OUR FRONT DOOR FROM HARVEY.
BY THEN, WE HAD NATIONAL FLOOD INSURANCE.
BUT MANY OTHERS IN OUR CITY CANNOT AFFORD REPAIRS OR FLOOD OR FLOOD INSURANCE.
[01:00:01]
BEFORE HARVEY AND IN 2018 AFTER HARVEY, VOTERS TOLD THIS CITY TO PUT OUR TAX DOLLARS TOWARDS STREETS AND DRAINAGE.YET SEVEN YEARS LATER, YOU ESTONIANS STILL DON'T KNOW WHEN AND WHERE THESE DRAINAGE PROJECTS WILL BE DONE.
PRIORITIZE SAFETY FOR THOSE VULNERABLE TO FLOODING BY BUDGETING FOR WHAT WE APPROVED ON OUR BALLOTS.
I'M NOT THE ONLY ONE WORRIED ABOUT THE NEXT BIG RAIN EVENT IN HOUSTON.
OTHER PLACES TO BUDGET FOR THE WELLBEING OF PEOPLE, DEPARTMENT OF NEIGHBORHOODS, MORE MENTAL HEALTH FACILITIES AND DRUG TREATMENT CENTERS.
MENTAL ILLNESS IS NOT A CRIME.
AFFORDABLE, SAFE HOUSING ACCOUNTABILITY FOR LANDLORDS WHO DON'T PROVIDE SAFE HOUSING.
CREDIBLE MESSENGER PROGRAMS, WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMS TIED TO LOCAL JOBS.
RELIABLE PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION.
INCREASED LIBRARY STAFF WHEN COOLING AND HEATING CENTERS ARE NEEDED.
BUDGET FOR PEOPLE THRIVING AND YOU WILL ENSURE PUBLIC SAFETY.
OH, AND THANK YOU FOR ENDING SHOT SPOTTER AND TRAFFIC QUOTAS.
NEXT, CAMERON ADAMS. HEY, UH, THANK YOU FOR OPENING THE FLOOR.
MY NAME IS CAMERON ADAMS AND I WORK WITH TEXAS RISING AND THE TEXAS FREEDOM NETWORK.
I'M LUCKY TO BE A RENTER IN ACRES HOMES FOR OVER FOUR YEARS NOW.
UH, I LIVE ON A STREET WITH A FAMILY THAT OWNS SEVERAL HOMES RIGHT NEXT TO EACH OTHER, UH, FAMILY OF MISSIONARIES RIGHT NEXT DOOR.
AND, UM, ACROSS THE STREET IS A GRANDMOTHER WHO THROWS PARTIES FOR HER FAMILY IS LIKE WHAT FEELS LIKE MONTHLY, BUT FORTUNATELY IT USUALLY ENDS BY 8:00 PM UM, IT'S HONESTLY MY DREAM NEIGHBORHOOD.
BUT WE'RE BASICALLY THE LAST ON THE LIST OF EMERGENCY SERVICES OR ATTENTION FROM THE CITY.
UM, IT'S FAIRLY LITERATE IN THE POTHOLES HAVE BEEN THERE FOR YEARS.
UH, THE LACK OF PROPER DRAINAGE PUTS MY ELDERLY NEIGHBORS IN DANGER AND IN DEBT EVERY HURRICANE SEASON.
UH, DURING THE TORNADO LAST YEAR, WE LOST POWER FOR SEVEN DAYS WHILE OUR FRIENDS ARE IN GARDEN OAKS, LESS THAN FIVE MINUTES AWAY.
LOST IT FOR LESS THAN 36 HOURS.
WE WERE LUCKY TO BE ABLE TO STAY WITH THEM, BUT EVERY TIME I WENT TO GO CHECK ON OUR ANIMALS, I OBVIOUSLY SAW ALL MY NEIGHBORS JUST SITTING OUTSIDE WAITING.
UM, BOTH NEIGHBORS AT THE END OF MY STREET STILL HAVE STORM DAMAGE FROM BARROW.
UM, ONE OF MY NEIGHBORS THAT'S A NATIVE ESTONIAN HAS C-P-C-O-P-D.
AND, UH, THERE'S TWO OR THREE HOUSES ON THE STREET THAT REGULARLY CHOOSE NOT TO HAVE ELECTRICITY OR AC UH, JUST TO GET THE OTHER BILLS PAID.
UM, I'M REALLY LUCKY NOT TO SEE, YOU KNOW, THE CRIME THAT YOU HEAR AROUND BEING DISCUSSED IN N HOMES.
UM, BUT I DEFINITELY SEE THE CONSEQUENCES OF POVERTY AND LACK OF EFFECTIVE CITY SERVICES EVERY DAY.
UM, LAST MONTH Y'ALL UNANIMOUSLY VOTED TO PASS A ALMOST $900 MILLION CONTRACT WITH HPD DESPITE THE $200 MILLION OPERATING DEFICIT.
UH, THIS IS UNACCEPTABLE WITH SO MANY HOUSTONIANS ARE DEALING WITH THE SOCIOECONOMIC CONSEQUENCES OF THE CURRENT E ECONOMIC SITUATION, THE MULTIPLE RECORD BREAKING STORMS THAT WE FACE EVERY YEAR, AND THE IMPROPER HEALTH, UH, HEALTHCARE.
UH, WHEN CANCER CLUSTERS ARE SPROUTING IN AND AROUND OUR NEIGHBORHOODS, TENS OF MILLIONS ARE BEING DIVERTED FROM NECESSARY SERVICES TO FUND AN ALMOST 37 TH PERCENT PAY INCREASE FOR AN AGENCY THAT CRIMINALIZES AND HERTZ HOUSTONIANS EVERY DAY.
UM, THIS YEAR HAS PERSONALLY BEEN ONE OF THE TOUGHEST YEARS I'VE EXPERIENCED AS AN ADVOCATE IN TEXAS, WATCHING MY NEIGHBORS LOSE FAMILY MEMBERS TO, UM, ICE DEPORTATIONS, UM, WITH HOUSTON POLICE THERE LOSE FEDERAL CAREERS.
UM, AND WATCHING MY TRANS FRIENDS FEAR LEAVING THEIR HOUSE HAS BEEN EMOTIONALLY DRAINING.
I FEEL THAT WEIGHT ON MY SHOULDERS DAILY, AND I KNOW THAT SOME OF YOU DO TOO.
UM, I'VE BEEN HONORED TO BE A HOUSTONIAN SINCE I MOVED HERE ALMOST 10 YEARS AGO BECAUSE I'VE SHOWN UP HERE AND I'VE SHOWN UP AT THE COMMISSIONER'S COURT SPEAKING ABOUT SOMETHING THAT I CARE ABOUT.
AND A LOT OF TIMES Y'ALL LISTEN.
UM, I'VE SEEN ACTUAL PROGRESS FROM ME AND THE CO MY COLLEAGUES HARD WORK, AND I'VE SEEN LOCAL LEADERS PROVIDE LIFE CHANGING OPPORTUNITIES AND RESOURCES TO THEIR CONSTITUENTS.
I'M ASKING YOU TO PLEASE RECONSIDER THE BUDGET, FREEZE IT, AND USE THIS MONEY TO INVEST IN MY NEIGHBORHOOD AND YOURS.
UH, MR. ADAMS, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR FEEDBACK.
AND I KNOW YOU'RE NOT IN DISTRICT C, BUT YOU DID BRING UP DISTRICT C WITH GARDEN OAKS AND OAK FOREST.
AND I DO WANT, JUST FOR THE RECORD, UH, IT TO BE CLEAR IN GARDEN OAKS AND OAK FOREST AND FOR EXAMPLE, SHEPHERD FOREST HAD SOME OF THE LARGEST AND LONGEST OUTAGES IN THE ENTIRE CITY, UH, UP TO TWO WEEKS.
SO I THINK WE'RE ALL IN THIS TOGETHER.
UM, I APPRECIATE WHAT YOU'RE SAYING.
I JUST WANTED THE RECORD TO REFLECT, UM, THE IMPACT TO OTHER NEIGHBORHOODS AS WELL THROUGH THIS.
UH, YOU ALSO MENTIONED YOUR NEIGHBORS WERE,
[01:05:01]
UH, DEPORTED BY ICE.IS THAT CORRECT? I HAVE A NEIGHBOR WHO HAS A FAMILY MEMBER.
UH, IT JUST, IF YOU HAD ADDITIONAL INFORMATION ON THAT, I WAS, I WAS INTERESTED IN, IN, IN LEARNING ABOUT THAT.
THANK YOU VERY BECAUSE THOSE STORIES NEED TO BE TOLD.
MY NAME IS TIFFANY CHEVERIA AND I'M THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF COLLECTIVE ACTION FOR YOUTH, A NONPROFIT DEDICATED TO COMMUNITY ORGANIZING.
I'M ALSO A RESIDENT OF DISTRICT B.
I CAME TODAY TO ADD MY VOICE TO THOSE CALLING TO SEE HOUSTON CONTINUE TO BE A CITY OF INNOVATION AND TO SEE HOUSTON GROW TO BE A CITY THAT LEADS THE WAY WHEN IT COMES TO PUBLIC SAFETY.
BY THE BUDGET, BY WAY OF THE BUDGET.
JUNE OF LAST YEAR, MY ORGANIZATION RECEIVED A GRANT TO PILOT THE CREDIBLE MESSENGERS PROGRAM.
IT ALSO ALLOWS FOR A COMMUNITY VIOLENCE INTERRUPTION PROGRAM AS WELL.
AND I'M EAGER TO SHARE A FULL UPDATE TO THE PUBLIC SAFETY COMMITTEE BECAUSE YOU ALL ARE SO BUSY.
I KEEP GETTING BUMPED OFF THE AGENDA, BUT I KNOW IT'S GONNA HAPPEN SOON.
AND I'M EXCITED TO SHARE THE BRIGHT SPOT THAT IS THIS PROGRAM.
THERE ARE LOCAL AND EFFECTIVE STRATEGIES HERE.
THE PASSION IS HERE, AND WE NEED TO SEE MORE RESOURCES GO TOWARDS OUTTA SCHOOL.
TIME TO SECOND CHANCE OPPORTUNITIES, CAREER COACHES WITH LIVED EXPERIENCE.
I ENCOURAGE YOU ALL TO TAKE A LOOK AT EVERY DECISION POINT AND FIND NEW WAYS TO BE STRATEGIC AND BOLD WHEN IT COMES TO THE BUDGET AND PUTTING RESOURCES BACK INTO THE COMMUNITY.
LEVERAGE THE POWER OF COMMUNITY WHEN IT COMES TO TACKLING PUBLIC SAFETY.
WE'RE HERE, WE'RE KNOWLEDGEABLE, AND WE WANNA WORK IN PARTNERSHIP WITH YOU ALL.
I MOVE TO SUSPEND THE RULES TO ADD AVERY BEU, ROBERT MICHAELS AND STEVEN MIRANDA TO THE BOTTOM OF THE THREE MINUTE AGENDA LIST.
MOTION PASSES BILL KELLY TO BE FOLLOWED BY GRACIE ISRAEL.
GOOD AFTERNOON, MAYOR AND COUNCIL MEMBERS.
I'M A DISTRICT H RESIDENT, AND HERE TODAY ON BEHALF OF ENVIRONMENT TEXAS, UM, DOESN'T SURPRISE FOLKS.
UH, THAT ENVIRONMENT, TEXAS REALLY CARES A LOT ABOUT OUR SOLID WASTE DEPARTMENT, UH, AS WELL AS OUR HOUSTON PARKS DEPARTMENT.
SO UP HERE, UH, FIRST WANTED TO REALLY THANK COUNCIL MEMBER ALCORN, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER CASTILLO, AND ALL THOSE WHO WORKED EXTRAORDINARILY HARD ON OUR BUDGET HEARINGS.
IT WAS VERY, VERY HELPFUL TO BE ABLE TO GO THROUGH, UM, AND, AND BE ABLE TO, UH, HIGHLIGHT DIFFERENT NUMBERS, UH, WITHIN EACH OF THOSE.
HOWEVER, FOR BOTH THE SOLID WASTE AND FOR OUR PARKS DEPARTMENT, THERE WERE, UH, ONE NUMBER IN EACH DEPARTMENT THAT I REALLY HOPE YOU CONSIDER SOME OF THE AMENDMENTS THAT YOUR COLLEAGUES HAVE OFFERED TO BE ABLE TO ADDRESS.
FIRST OF ALL, IN THE SOLID WASTE DEPARTMENT, THE, AND I SAW, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER MARTINEZ LOOK UP, UH, THE GOAL, UH, AS STATED FOR FY 26 FOR COLLECTION RATES IS 18%.
TO PUT THAT IN CONTEXT, THE NATIONAL AVERAGE IS 34.7.
UH, I KNOW WE OFTEN TALK ABOUT KICKING THE CAN DOWN THE ROAD.
IF WE DON'T INCREASE OUR RECYCLABLE DIVERSIONS, WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO HAVE ANOTHER LANDFILL THAT IS NOT IN THE INTEREST OF HOUSTONIANS, THAT IS GONNA COST FOLKS A LOT OF MONEY.
SO OUT OF ALL THE AMENDMENTS HERE, FRANKLY, COUNCIL MEMBER MARTINEZ IS 14.02, IS PROBABLY MY FAVORITE ONE.
IT'S A PAY AS YOU THROW PROGRAM THAT WAS TAKEN FROM THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO.
AND I'LL REMIND FOLKS, UH, OF COUNCIL MEMBER FLICKINGER, UH, YOUR, UH, COLLEAGUE DAVE MARTIN LOVES THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO BECAUSE OF WHAT THEY DID FOR KINGWOOD POST HARVEY ON BEING ABLE TO COLLECT HEAVY TRASH.
SO JUST A SHOUT OUT FOR THAT AMENDMENT.
THE ONLY THING I MIGHT OFFER ON THAT COUNCIL MEMBER IS TO ENUMERATE RECYCLING AND EDUCATION PROGRAMS. THAT WOULD HELP.
YOU'VE GOT A NUMBER OF THINGS LISTED WITHIN THAT AMENDMENT.
THE OTHER ONES TOO, ABOUT REASSESSING THAT $28 FEE FOR NEW DEVELOPMENTS, UH, AS WELL AS THE, UH, UM, UH, CREATION OF THE ON-DEMAND HEAVY TRASH.
I THINK THAT WOULD WORK EXTREMELY WELL.
AND THEN WANTED TO GIVE A SHOUT OUT TO COUNCIL MEMBER PECK FOR HER GREAT AMENDMENT ABOUT REAL TIME, UH, WAITING TIMES FOR OUR, UH, UH, DROP OFF FACILITIES.
I THINK THAT MAKES COMMON SENSE AND, AND REALLY WOULD HELP OUT, UH, A NUMBER OF FOLKS.
SO THOSE ARE FOUR, UH, SPECIFICALLY ON SOLID WASTE THAT ARE, UH, CONTAINED WITHIN THE WRITTEN INFORMATION THAT CIRCULATED.
UH, NEXT DEPARTMENT WE WANNA TALK ABOUT WAS PARKS.
UH, AND I KNOW WHEN WE STARTED OFF THAT HEARING COUNCIL MEMBER ALCORN HAD, UH, A LOT OF CONCERNS ABOUT MOWING.
THAT'S WHY WE'RE PROUD TO SUPPORT HER AMENDMENT AS WELL AS THAT OF COUNCIL MEMBER FLICKINGER ABOUT BEING ABLE TO, UH, LOOK AT WHAT WE'RE
[01:10:01]
DOING AS FAR AS COORDINATION, UH, BETWEEN PUBLIC WORKS AND ESPLANADES AND PARKS ON OVERALL MAINTENANCE.UH, LOVE TO BE ABLE TO LOOK AND SEE IF, UH, THE CONSOLIDATION OF SOME OF THOSE SERVICES, WHAT WE COULD DO WITH NEW PURCHASING ON ELECTRIC LAWN AND EQUIPMENT.
ONCE, UH, THEY COME BACK WITH THAT REPORT WITHIN 90 DAYS PER YOUR AMENDMENT COUNCIL MEMBER ALCORN AND COUNCIL MEMBER FLICKINGER, YOUR, YOUR AMENDMENT WAS TERRIFIC BECAUSE WE REALIZE THINGS DON'T GET DONE UNLESS YOU PUT RESOURCES TOWARD IT.
YOURS PUT RESOURCES TOWARD IT, BUT DOES NOT RAISE TAXES AT ALL BY BEING ABLE TO HAVE THAT SHIFT FROM THE T FUNDING.
SO VERY, VERY PROUD TO BE ABLE TO SUPPORT THAT, UH, AS WELL AS THE LAST TWO.
ANOTHER ONE FROM COUNCIL MEMBER MARTINEZ ON VOLUNTEER WORK WITH OUR NEIGHBORHOOD ORGANIZATION ON GATE GATE CLOSURES.
AND THEN FINALLY, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER CASTILLO'S AMENDMENT ON BEING ABLE TO COORDINATE WITH OUR COUNTY FRIENDS AND BEING ABLE TO LOOK AT ANY RESOURCES THAT ARE AVAILABLE.
UH, THE NUMBER THAT I, I THINK IS MOST CONCERNING FOR FOLKS ABOUT PARKS, JUST LIKE THAT RECYCLING DIVERSION IS FOR SOLID WASTE IS THE MOWING SCHEDULE.
UH, AND I THINK THAT'S REFLECTED IN THE NUMBER OF AMENDMENTS THAT WERE OFFERED.
SO HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS.
UH, I WANTED TO THANK YOU AND ENVIRONMENT TEXAS, UH, FOR LEADING ON SO MANY CRITICAL ISSUES RIGHT NOW.
UH, I KNOW, I THINK YOU JUST TOUCHED ON IT, BUT I WANTED TO MAKE SURE WE LIFT IT UP.
UH, WHILE IT'S NOT IN THIS SPECIFIC BUDGET, CAN YOU TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT OPPORTUNITIES WITHIN OUR PARKS DEPARTMENT WHEN IT COMES TO MOWING IN ENVIRONMENTALLY FRIENDLY WAYS THAT COULD ALSO END UP WITH COST SAVINGS FOR US? I KNOW IT'S A BIG ISSUE FOR THIS COUNCIL, UH, AND FOR MAYOR WHEN WE WERE, UH, IN 20, UH, EARLY 2020, UM, WHEN WE WERE AT A, UH, PROTEST ABOUT A CONCRETE BATCH PLANT THAT WAS IN A NEIGHBORHOOD AND THE AMOUNT OF PARTICULATE MATTER THAT THAT CONCRETE BATCH PLANT WOULD WOULD'VE DONE RIGHT IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD.
FOLKS MAY NOT REALIZE HOW MUCH PARTICULATE MATTER IS PUT OUT BY GAS POWERED LAWN EQUIPMENT.
UH, BEING ABLE TO LOOK AT VERY USER-FRIENDLY COST COMPETITIVE ELECTRIC OPTIONS, I THINK IS INCREDIBLY IMPORTANT.
I KNOW THAT'S, UH, HOPEFULLY A TOPIC OF DISCUSSION IF COUNCIL MEMBER ALCORN'S AMENDMENT PASSES THAT WE CAN LOOK AT.
UM, AND, AND FRANKLY, WHEN YOU WALK INTO A HOME DEPOT, THAT'S THE FIRST THING YOU SEE IS A BUNCH OF ELECTRIC LAWN EQUIPMENT.
'CAUSE THAT'S WHERE THE MARKET'S MOVING TO.
SO BEING ABLE TO LOOK AT PROCUREMENT GOING FORWARD, I THINK MAKES A LOT OF SENSE.
WELL, I WOULD CERTAINLY SUPPORT THAT, AND THANK YOU FOR BRINGING UP ABOUT THE NEED, CRITICAL NEED OF WASTE DIVERSION.
WE HAVE LAUNCHED THE MULTI-FAMILY RECYCLING PILOT, BUT I DO WANNA SEE US MOVING, FOLLOWING THIS PILOT TO A MULTI-FAMILY RECYCLING ORDINANCE WHERE RIGHT NOW HALF OF HOUSTONIANS DO NOT HAVE ACCESS TO RECYCLING.
AND AS YOU SAID, OUR LANDFILLS, UH, I JUST SPOKE TO SOMEONE IN, UH, OUR, THE WASTE INDUSTRY SEVEN TO 10 YEARS, WE'RE COMING UP ON THE LIFESPAN END OF LIFE FOR ONE OF OUR LANDFILLS AS WE SPEAK.
THAT IS A LOT OF TAXPAYER DOLLARS THAT WILL HAVE TO GO INTO A NEW LANDFILL.
AND, AND COUNCIL MEMBER, TO YOUR POINT, GETTING MULTIFAMILY AS AN OPTION FOR, UH, BEING ABLE TO RECYCLE THAT WAY.
THE ONUS ISN'T ON JUST HOMEOWNERS TO PAY THE FEE TO DO THE RECYCLABLE DIVERSION.
I MEAN, IT'S, IT'S JUST A KIND OF AN OVERALL EQUITY DEAL.
GOOD AFTERNOON COUNCIL MEMBERS.
MY NAME IS GRACIE ISRAEL AND I'M WITH TEXAS RISING.
I'M A RESIDENT OF DISTRICT 38 AND LIVE IN UPTOWN BY THE GALLERIA.
I'M HERE TODAY TO ADDRESS THE CITY BUDGET BECAUSE I'M SICK OF WATCHING THIS CITY POUR MONEY AND TO POLICING WHILE IGNORING THE REAL ISSUES OUR COMMUNITY SPACE.
I WANT TO ADDRESS DIFFERENT PROGRAMS OUR COMMUNITY'S ASKING FOR AND ADDRESS HOW IRRESPONSIBLE THIS BUDGET IS.
RIGHT BEFORE HURRICANE SEASON, JUST WEEKS BEFORE HURRICANE SEASON, YOU ALL JUST APPROVED A $832 MILLION CONTRACT WITH HPD.
KNOWING THIS CITY RA HAS A $200 MILLION DEFICIT, THAT'S A SLAP IN THE FACE.
SAY EVERY HOUSTONIAN STRUGGLING TO MAKE ENDS MEET, WAITING ON BASIC CITY SERVICES, TRYING TO STAY AFLOAT SOMETIMES, LITERALLY.
AND WHERE WILL THIS MONEY COMING FROM? COME FROM? WILL YOU RAISE OUR TAXES, OUR WATER AND SEWAGE FEES? DURING HURRICANE BARREL, MY APARTMENT CEILING HAD A TERRIBLE LEAK.
THERE WEREN'T ENOUGH WORKERS TO RESPOND, SO I WAITED OVER TWO WEEKS FOR REPAIRS, MAINTENANCE REQUESTS PILED UP ACROSS THE CITY.
AND BY THE TIME SOMEONE GOT TO MY APARTMENT, BLACK MOLD HAD ALREADY SPREAD.
I GOT MOLD POISONING AND HAD TO MOVE OUT ENTIRELY.
THAT'S JUST ONE OF THE THOUSANDS OF HARDSHIPS HOUSTONIANS FACED AFTER BARREL.
MY STORY IS SMALL COMPARED TO WHAT SO MANY OTHERS WENT THROUGH, BUT IT'S A DIRECT RESULT OF A CITY THAT FAILS TO INVEST AND CARE.
[01:15:01]
THAT FAILURE I CARRY WITH ME INTO THIS NEXT HURRICANE SEASON.SO I WANT YOU GUYS TO STOP FUNDING POLICE INVEST IN WHAT ACTUALLY KEEPS PEOPLE HEALTHY AND SAFE.
SAFETY ISN'T POLICE ON EVERY CORNER.
IT'S FUNCTIONING DRAINAGE, MODERN INFRASTRUCTURE, ELECTRICITY THAT STAYS ON HOMES THAT DON'T FLOOD.
IT IS A CITY THAT PLANS AHEAD INSTEAD OF SCRAMBLING AFTER THE FACT.
PEOPLE IN THE CITY AREN'T JUST ASKING FOR SAFER INFRASTRUCTURE TO PREPARE FOR HURRICANE SEASON.
THEY'RE ASKING FOR AFFORDABLE CLINICS, YOUTH PROGRAMS, AFFORDABLE MENTAL HEALTHCARE, FLOOD PROTECTION, AND RELIABLE TRANSIT.
THESE ARE LIFESAVING SERVICES.
INSTEAD, WE GET MORE HELICOPTERS IN THE SKY AND MORE HARASSMENT ON THE STREET.
LET'S CALL THIS WHAT IT REALLY IS.
NOT PUBLIC SAFETY, BUT A POWER GRAB AND A FAILURE OF PRIORITIES.
YOU'RE CHOOSING TO FUND BLOATED SALARIES AND EXPANDING SURVEILLANCE SET OF PROGRAMS THAT ACTUALLY KEEP US SAFE.
IT'S DANGEROUS 'CAUSE SAFETY ISN'T MORE COPS WITH HIGHER SALARIES.
SAFETY IS STABLE HOUSING, CLEAN WATER, HEALTHCARE YOU CAN'T AFFORD.
SAFETY MEANS HAVING A CITY THAT PRIORITIZE THE NEEDS OF ITS PEOPLE.
WE'RE NOT ASKING FOR POLICE MORE POLICE ENGAGEMENT OR NEW COMMUNITY PARTNERSHIPS.
WE'RE SAYING NO MORE MONEY TO HPD.
ARE ARE YOU FINISHED? I HAVE A COUPLE MORE SENTENCES IF THAT'S OKAY.
THEIR VIOLENCE THERE, MEANING HPD ISN'T DECREASING.
CIVILIAN SHOOTINGS BY HPD MORE THAN DOUBLED IN TWO YEARS FROM 65 AND 2021 TO 1 57, 20 23, WHERE OTHER CITY DEPARTMENT COULD FAIL THIS BADLY AND STILL GET A RAISE.
YOU WERE ELECTED TO SERVE THE PEOPLE.
SO PLEASE STOP GIVING INTO POLICE PRESSURE AND START LISTENING TO THE COMMUNITIES THAT PUT YOU IN THOSE SEATS.
IF YOU KEEP INVESTING IN PUNISHMENT AND POLICING INSTEAD OF PROTECTION, YOU ARE FAILING HOUSTON, YOU'RE FAILING US.
NEXT, LAYLA KALI TO BE FOLLOWED BY KAVANAUGH IN WEEZY.
HELLO, MY NAME IS LAYLA AND I'M A RESIDENT OF DISTRICT A.
I WANNA START BY SAYING THAT I'M REALLY DISAPPOINTED IN HOW THIS BUDGET PROCESS HAS UNFOLDED AND IN HOW THIS BODY IS TREATING THE PEOPLE WHO'VE DONE THE WORK TO ST TO STUDY THE BUDGET AND SHOW UP TO ENGAGE.
IT HASN'T BEEN TRANSPARENT, IT HASN'T BEEN ACCESSIBLE, AND IT FEELS LIKE WE'RE SUPPOSED TO BE GRATEFUL FOR THE BARE MINIMUM EFFORT TO INCLUDE US.
BUT YOU SHOULD BE GRATEFUL THAT WE'RE HERE AND ORGANIZED AND FIGHTING FOR THE CITY THAT WE DESERVE.
REMEMBER THAT YOU WORK FOR US.
SO I'M URGING YOU DO NOT VOTE FOR THIS BUDGET TOMORROW.
NOT BECAUSE IT'S IMPERFECT, BUT BECAUSE IT'S HARMFUL.
IT CUTS MILLIONS FROM CRITICAL SERVICES AT A TIME WHEN PEOPLE ARE STRUGGLING TO MAKE ENDS MEET.
AND HURRICANE SEASON IS NOW UPON US.
DESPITE WHAT THE HEAD OF FEMA THINKS, THE MAYOR CLAIMS THIS BUDGET IS ABOUT EFFICIENCY AND WON'T HURT, WON'T HURT CITY SERVICES.
IN REALITY, IT FORCES FRONTLINE DEPARTMENTS TO OPERATE WITH FEWER PEOPLE AND FEWER RESOURCES.
AND EARLY RETIREMENTS MEAN FEWER WORKERS TO REPAIR ROADS, MAINTAIN DRAINAGE, KEEP LIBRARIES AND PARKS OPEN, OR PROVIDE TRANSIT, HOUSING AND HEALTH SERVICES.
BRANCHES WILL CLOSE, POOLS WON'T OPEN, FLOOD RISK WILL RISE.
VULNERABLE RESIDENTS WILL BE LEFT WITHOUT RESOURCES.
THEY ARE ESSENTIAL CITY SERVICES.
GUTTING THEM DOESN'T MAKE THE CITY LEANER, IT MAKES IT WEAKER.
AND YET, EVEN WHILE ESSENTIAL SERVICES ARE BEING SLASHED, POLICE SPENDING IS INCREASING.
DESPITE NO EVIDENCE THAT MORE POLICING MAKES US SAFER.
REAL SAFETY COMES FROM STABLE HOUSING, WORKING INFRASTRUCTURE, ACCESSIBLE HEALTHCARE, WHILE STAFFED LIBRARIES, MAINTAINED PARKS AND SUPPORT FOR THE ARTS AND CULTURE THAT BRING OUR COMMUNITIES TOGETHER.
IF YOU VOTE FOR THIS BUDGET, YOU'RE NOT JUST GETTING YOUR PRIORITIES WRONG, YOU'RE HELPING DISMANTLE THE FOUNDATION OF A LIV, A LIVABLE AND VIBRANT CITY.
THIS ISN'T JUST BAD POLICY, IT'S UNDEMOCRATIC.
I'M REPEATING WHAT'S BEEN SAID BEFORE BECAUSE IT BEARS REPEATING.
THE CITY HAS BEEN LEGALLY DIVERTING DRAINAGE FUNDS FOR OVER A DECADE, IGNORING TWO CITYWIDE VOTES AND A TEXAS SUPREME COURT RULING MANDATING COMPLIANCE, THE BUDGET SHORTCHANGES DRAINAGE BY $93 MILLION, RELYING INSTEAD ON A CLOSED DOOR DEAL THAT LEAVES ALL HOUSTONIANS MORE VULNERABLE TO FLOODING AND DEFIES THE WILL OF THE VOTERS.
THIS IS NOT JUST A BUDGETING ISSUE, IT IS A BETRAYAL.
ALL THIS IS HAPPENING UNDER AN INSCRIPTION IN THIS VERY ROOM THAT READS, THE PEOPLE ARE THE CITY.
[01:20:01]
SO WHY ARE THE PEOPLE BEING SIDELINED? WHY ARE PUBLIC SERVICES PUBLIC WORKERS BEING PUSHED OUT? SERVICES CUT AND DEMOCRATIC MANDATES IGNORED? IF YOU APPROVE THIS BUDGET, YOU ARE TELLING EVERY CITY WORKER IN HOUSTON THAT THEY DO NOT MATTER.YOU'RE TELLING EVERY FAMILY WHO RELIES ON PUBLICLY FUNDED SERVICES, THAT THEY'RE ON THEIR OWN.
YOU'RE TELLING FUTURE GENERATIONS THAT THE CITY THEY INHERIT WILL BE LESS PREPARED, LESS EQUITABLE, AND LESS VIBRANT BECAUSE YOU CHOSE AUSTERITY AND POLICING OVER CARING COMMUNITY COUNCIL MEMBERS.
WE NEED YOU TO STAND UP FOR US AND DO WHAT IS RIGHT FOR THE WORKERS WHO POWER THE CITY, FOR THE FAMILIES WHO CALL IT HOME AND FOR OUR FUTURE, WHERE SAFETY IS NOT JUST A SLOGAN, BUT A LIVED REALITY.
NEXT SPEAKER, KAVANAUGH N WEEZY, KAVANAUGH, AND WEEZY TO BE FOLLOWED BY AIDEN PEREZ.
I, I AM A CITIZEN OF DISTRICT D.
AND WHILE I WAS THINKING ABOUT HOW TO COME AND SPEAK TO YOU ALL ABOUT HOW TO SAY NO ABOUT THE BUDGET, A PARTICULAR SONG KEPT PLAYING IN MY HEAD AND I'M A BIG PRINCE FAN.
AND THEN I WAS LIKE, UM, IT'S A SONG HE HAS CALLED ILLUSION, UH, EXCUSE ME.
IT'S CALLED ILLUSION, COMA, PIMP AND CIRCUMSTANCE.
AND AS I LISTENED TO IT, I STARTED TO FEEL IT.
IT'S ABOUT THE SONG AND THE BAD RELATIONSHIP.
AND I FEEL THAT THIS BUDGET IS FORCING THE CITY, THE CITIZENS OF MY, OF THIS DISTRICT, OF THIS CITY INTO A RELATIONSHIP WITH A BAD BUDGET.
AND I KNOW YOU ALL ARE VERY CAPABLE HUMAN BEINGS AND AND ARE VOTED AND ARE HERE TO REPRESENT US.
AND YOU KNOW THAT WE NEED MORE THAN JUST POLICE, MORE POLICE IN OUR COMMUNITIES.
UM, UM, AS A, AS A CITIZEN OF YOUR UH, DISTRICT, I ASK YOU AND I IMPLORE YOU TO VOTE, TO USE YOUR VOICE TO SAY NO TO THIS BUDGET.
UH, COUNCIL MEMBER POLLARD, I ADMIT, I ADMIRE YOUR WORK AND WHAT YOU'VE DONE ON THE THIS AND THAT STRIP AND YOUR WORK IS A TESTIMONY TO SHOW THAT WE NEED MORE THAN JUST POLICE, MORE POLICE PRESENCE IN THESE COMMUNITIES AND ALL.
AND I'M PRETTY SURE ALL OF YOU UNDERSTAND THIS AND NUMEROUS OF OUR COMMUNITY MEMBERS HAVE CAME AND TO REPEAT THE SAME THING.
SO PLEASE SHOW ME THAT THIS, UH, CIRCUMSTANCE, OR AT LEAST THIS PRESENTATION IN THIS FORM, IS NOT JUST AN ILLUSION THAT YOU ARE HERE TO ACTUALLY LISTEN TO US AND SAY NO TO THIS BUDGET.
I APPRECIATE YOU REPRESENTING US AND VOICING OUR, UH, OPINION OR TAKING OUR OPINIONS INTO CONSIDERATION IN THIS MATTER.
UM, I'M NOT COMING ON BEHALF OF NO ORGANIZATION.
I SPECIFICALLY AM TRYING TO COME TALK FOR THE YOUTH.
UM, OBVIOUSLY THAT IS NOT IN THE CITY HALL AT ALL.
UM, I AM VERY UPSET AS A 19-YEAR-OLD.
I HAVE JOAN OVER AN HOUR JUST TO COME AND TRANSFER MY FRUSTRATION TO Y'ALL.
UM, IT'S HARD NOT TO BE UPSET AND EMOTIONAL ABOUT THE BUDGET CUT GOING TO THE POLICE WHEN I KNOW ALL THE MONEY COULD GO TO MULTIPLE DIFFERENT THINGS.
THERE'S NO ART CENTERS THAT ARE PUBLIC TO US.
AND ON QUEER MONTH, I DON'T KNOW IF THE CITY MAYOR IS HERE, BUT HE HAD RECENTLY POSTED A, UM, PRIDE MONTH CELEBRATION POST.
AND I JUST WANNA CALL THAT PERFORMATIVE ACTIVISM.
WHY IS THERE NO MONEY GOING TO ART CENTERS THAT LIBERATE THE THE QUEER YOUTH? ME, I'M A DANCER.
I HAVE GONE INTO MUSIC WRITING, TO MUSIC PRODUCING AND DJING.
THERE IS NO ART CENTERS THAT CAN NURTURE US AND SAID, YOU ARE SCARING US AWAY FOR BEING NURTURED IN THE CITY.
YOU ARE GIVING MONEY TO THE POLICE WHO HAVE SPECIFICALLY VIOLATED OUR FIRST AMENDMENT RIGHTS HISTORICALLY FOR THE PAST GENERATIONS TO COME, SPECIFICALLY QUEER AND PEOPLE OF COLOR, YOU ARE SCARING THE YOUTH AWAY FROM GROWING.
YOU ARE NOT LISTENING, PLEASE.
I'M SPEAKING BEYOND THE YOUTH.
THIS IS NOT A POLITICAL ISSUE.
IT'S NOT ABOUT BEING A DEMOCRAT OR REPUBLICAN.
IF A 19-YEAR-OLD HAS TO COME WITH A TABLE FULL OF 40 TO 60 YEAR OLDS TO TELL THEM HOW TO LEAD THE CITY, YOU ARE BASICALLY, YOU ARE DESTRUCTING OUR FOUNDATION.
YOU ARE NOT NURTURING THE YOUTH OR THE ARTISTRY THAT HAS BEEN PIONEERED IN HOUSTON, LIKE CHOPPED AND SCREWED MUSIC HAS BEEN HERE.
WE HAVE CURATED SUCH ICONS SUCH AS BEYONCE.
WE HAVE THIS BECAUSE WE HAVE LIBERATION IN THE CITY, BUT Y'ALL ARE TAKING AWAY FROM IT.
IF Y'ALL SEE ANY YOUTH, IF Y'ALL SEE ANY NEPHEWS, NIECES IN ME
[01:25:01]
THAT Y'ALL CAN RELATE, RELATE TO, PLEASE LISTEN TO US.INSTEAD, Y'ALL ARE GIVING THE MONEY TOWARDS METRO SYSTEMS WITHIN DOWNTOWN.
WHY IS THERE HUNDREDS OF METRO BUSES IN DOWNTOWN? BUT THERE'S NO METRO BUSES TO GET YOU FROM, UM, LET'S SAY CONROE TO HOUSTON TO SUGAR LAND FROM HOUSTON TO MISSOURI TO HOUSTON.
WHY THERE'S NO PUBLIC TRANSPORTING.
BUT YET Y'ALL WANNA PUT ALL THE PUBLIC TRANSPORTING IN DOWNTOWN WHERE ALL THE FINANCIAL DISTRICTS ARE AND RIVER OAKS AND POST OAK.
AND THEN THERE'S Y IS SO DISHEARTENING.
AS A 19-YEAR-OLD, Y'ALL SHOULD BE ASHAMED OF YOURSELF ASHAMED.
IF I HAVE TO COME AND DRIVE AN HOUR JUST TO TALK TO PEOPLE WHO ARE DOUBLE TIMES, THREE TIMES AS OLD AS ME.
Y'ALL ARE UN UN AS UNEDUCATED AS US.
Y'ALL HAVE REALIZED Y'ALL ARE SCARED, ARE TALKING ABOUT THE YOUTH AND THE ANTI-INTELLECTUALISM LEVELS IN THE YOUTH.
MAY I PLEASE FINISH? MAY I PLEASE FINISH? GO AHEAD AND WRAP IT UP.
Y'ALL ARE TALKING ABOUT THE ANTI-INTELLECTUALISM AND THE YOUTH.
IT'S BECAUSE THE PEOPLE THAT ARE RUNNING THE YOUTH IS AS DUMB AS THE YOUTH.
Y'ALL CANNOT NOT LEAD WHEN Y'ALL DON'T EVEN KNOW WHAT Y'ALL ARE DOING.
REBECCA SALE TO BE FOLLOWED BY SELENA HARBOR.
I WORK AT WEST STREET RECOVERY AND ORGANIZED WITH THE NORTHEAST ACTION COLLECTIVE.
I'VE SEEN Y'ALL OVER THE LAST EIGHT YEARS AS WE'VE BEEN HERE TO TALK ABOUT EXACTLY THE SAME THING.
AND EVERY YEAR WE'RE PROMISED THAT Y'ALL ARE GONNA MAKE THIS PROCESS MORE TRANSPARENT.
YOU'RE GONNA WORK WITH US, YOU'RE GONNA IMPROVE CITY SERVICES, ET CETERA, ET CETERA.
AND YET HERE WE ARE AGAIN AND WE'RE ASKING Y'ALL TO, TO SHOW YOUR TRUE COLORS.
SHOW US IF YOU ACTUALLY MEAN THAT OR NOT BY YOUR VOTE TOMORROW.
OVER THE LAST FEW YEARS, WE'VE HAD SOME WINS FOR DRAINAGE.
THESE ARE TINY WINDS COMPARED TO WHAT IS HAPPENING IN THE MONEY THAT'S BEEN SPENT IN THE WRONG PLACES.
FARTHER ALL THOSE CHANGES AND SMALL VICTORIES WE'VE HAD HAVE BEEN DESTROYED THIS YEAR.
Y'ALL KNOW ABOUT THE VOLUNTARY RETIREMENT EARLY RETIREMENT PROGRAM AND HIRING FREEZE.
AND THAT IS BEING SOLD AS SAVING MONEY IN THE BUDGET, RIGHT? THAT MEANS NONE OF THOSE PEOPLE ARE GONNA BE REHIRED.
HOW CAN YOU SAVE MONEY IF YOU'RE GONNA HIRE THEM AGAIN? SO PUBLIC WORK WAS HIT THE HIGHEST CAN.
CAN YOU RAISE YOUR HAND IF YOU THINK OUR TRACK SERVICE IS, IS GOOD, IS WHERE IT SHOULD BE? CAN YOU RAISE YOUR HAND IF YOU THINK OUR DRAINAGE IS ADEQUATE? CAN YOU RAISE YOUR HAND IF YOU THINK WE DON'T HAVE TOO MANY WATER LEAKS? CAN YOU RAISE YOUR HAND IF YOU THINK OUR RESPONSE TO DISASTERS AND GETTING TREES OFF OF PEOPLE'S HOUSES IS ADEQUATE? GUYS, THAT'S WHAT PUBLIC WORKS DOES.
HOW ARE YOU NOT GONNA PUT MORE MONEY THERE? DO YOU KNOW? IT ALSO TAKES PEOPLE TO DO THAT WORK.
HEY, Y'ALL THAT ARE ON YOUR PHONES.
WE'RE TALKING ABOUT SOMETHING LIKE REAL SERIOUS RIGHT NOW.
IF YOU CARE ABOUT THIS AT ALL, CAN YOU PUT IT DOWN AND LOOK, YOU DON'T RESPOND TO OUR EMAILS WITH REAL ANSWERS.
YOU DON'T RESPOND TO US HERE WITH REAL ANSWERS.
YOU JUST KEEP SAYING, WE'RE SMARTER THAN YOU.
THAT'S WHY WE'RE ALL STILL HERE.
THE COUNCIL MEMBER POLLARD, PUT OUT THE MAYOR IS PROMISING EFFICIENCY AND THAT NO SERVICES WILL BE COMPROMISED.
BUT I, ALONG WITH OTHERS IN MY COMMUNITY AND MULTIPLE CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS DON'T BELIEVE THAT.
DOES ANYONE HERE AGREE WITH COUNCIL MEMBER POLLARD? TIFFANY THOMAS? I THINK YOU AGREE.
WE'RE ASKING Y'ALL TO VOTE NO TOMORROW UNLESS THERE'VE BEEN CHANGES TO THE BUDGET THAT ARE GONNA MAKE OUR CITY ACTUALLY HELP THE PEOPLE.
IF YOU VOTE YES, IT SHOWS WHERE YOU STAND OR Y'ALL NEED TO BREAK IT DOWN.
'CAUSE APPARENTLY THE ANSWER IS THAT WE'RE JUST TOO DUMB TO UNDERSTAND WHAT'S HAPPENING.
NEED TO BREAK IT DOWN FOR US, HOW THE CURRENT CITY BUDGET AND EVERYTHING MOVING IS ACTUALLY GONNA MAKE THINGS HAPPEN.
UH, WHILE I'M UP HERE, CAN WE HAVE, UH, ASKED FOR MACKENZIE TATE TO BE MOVED UP IN THE SPEAKER? SHE'S A 12-YEAR-OLD WITH US, UM, BEHIND JUDITH.
COUNCIL MEMBER KAMATH? NO, I I I'M HAPPY TO MAKE THE MOTION TO MOVE MACKENZIE TATE TO YOU SAID MACKENZIE
[01:30:01]
TATE? YES.UH, AND I, WE'VE HEARD FROM A FEW SPEAKERS THAT I'M NOT SURE WHO IS SAYING THIS, THAT THE SPEAKERS ARE NOT EITHER INTELLIGENT ENOUGH OR I THINK THE WORD YOU USED WAS DUMB AND DON'T UNDERSTAND WHAT'S HAPPENING.
I CERTAINLY DO NOT BELIEVE THAT, BUT I WANNA MAKE SURE THAT I KNOW WHERE THAT IMPRESSION WAS GIVEN, UH, PREVIOUSLY.
SO AGAIN, I, I THINK I SPEAK FOR THE MAJORITY, IF NOT ALL OF COUNSEL IN THOSE SITTING HERE, THAT THAT IS NOT BY ANY MEANS WHAT WE VIEW OR PERCEIVE OF OUR PUBLIC SPEAKERS THAT HAVE BEEN HERE AND THOSE THAT HAVE BEEN PARTICIPATING DAY IN AND DAY OUT WITH THE BUDGET.
I THINK, I THINK IT'S OUR OPTIMISTIC READ OF WHAT'S HAPPENING.
AND Y'ALL MIGHT NOT USE THE WORDS, YOU ARE DUMB, BUT WE COME UP HERE, SAY THINGS THAT MAKE TOTAL SENSE.
YOU NOD ALONG AND THEN EITHER YOU DON'T CARE ABOUT PEOPLE, SO YOU'RE FINE WITH ALL THESE SERVICES BEING CUT, OR YOU THINK THERE'S LIKE SOME SMARTER PLAN AND SOME OTHER THEORY HERE ABOUT WHAT'S GOING ON.
SO IT'S, WE COME, WE ASK REALLY GOOD QUESTIONS AND WE DON'T, WE DON'T GET GOOD ANSWERS.
ANY, UH, DISCUSSION IF NO DISCUSSION? ITEM PASSES.
HOW YOU DOING? UM, HELLO, UH, COUNCIL MEMBERS AND MAYOR TIP PRO TEMP.
UM, MY NAME IS SELENA HAR FROM, I'M A COMMUNITY OUTREACH COORDINATOR FOR PW IN GREATER HOUSTON AREA.
I'M HERE TODAY TO SPEAK ABOUT THE BUDGET ON THE AGENDA.
UM, I'M A NATIVE HOUSTONIAN WHO LIVED IN, WHO LIVES IN DISTRICT B.
I'M AWARE THAT THERE IS $832,000,832 MILLION CONTRACT WITH H WITH HPD FOR PUBLIC SAFETY.
I UNDERSTAND THAT THE BUDGET IS THERE TO INCREASE HPD OFFICERS ON THE STREET AND INCREASE THEIR PAY, AND, BUT I BELIEVE THAT YOU SHOULD RECONSIDER ALLOCATING THESE FUNDS.
I ALSO UNDERSTAND THAT NOT PUTTING THE MONEY IN AREAS THAT NEED IT THE MOST, LIKE HOUSING, LIKE HIV, HOUSING, HOUSING, UM, HOMELESS HOUSING, UH, CITY HEALTH SERVICES, UM, MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES AND INFRASTRUCTURE.
WHEN I MEAN INFRASTRUCTURE, I MEAN KEEPING THE ELECTRICITY ON FOR MILLIONS OF, OF HOUSTONIANS, INCLUDING THE EL ELDERLY AND THE DISABLED.
ALSO TO FIXING THEIR HOMES OF, UH, FROM THE H FROM THE HURRICANES FROM THE LAST, UM, THREE HURRICANES FROM THE LAST NUMBER OF YEARS, UM, YEARS AGO.
MY MOM'S HOME FLOODED OVER 10 YEARS AGO, AND YET MY FAMILY IS STILL WORKING ON GETTING HER HOME BACK TO NORMAL BECAUSE OF, UM, JUST LACK OF SERVICES AND, UM, STILL AND STILL IN THE PROCESS GETTING HER HER HOME NORMAL AGAIN.
YOU KNOW, SHE'S ELDERLY AND, UH, SHE HAS MENTAL ISSUES.
SHE HAS OTHER, YOU KNOW, JUST A LOT OF INTER INTERSECTIONAL THINGS GOING ON.
OKAY? UM, AND SECOND OF ALL, OUR STREETS ARE CURRENTLY IN BAND OF REPAIR.
AND I'M A PROUD HOUSTONIAN WHO LOVES HOUSTON.
I BELIEVE IN THE SAFETY OF HOUSTON, YET I ALSO BELIEVE IN OUR WELLBEING AND OUR QUALITY OF LIFE AS A WHOLE.
ALSO, INCREASING THE POLICIES, THE THIS, THIS BUDGET ONLY INCREASES HIGHER SURVEILLANCE OF BLACK AND BROWN INDIGENOUS PEOPLE OF COLOR, INCLUDING TRANS COMMUNITIES AND THE L-B-G-T-Q COMMUNITIES.
NOW, IF YOU REALLY LOVE HOUSTON, LIKE I LOVE HOUSTON
UM, YOU SAID THAT YOUR MOM'S HOME WAS STILL IN DISREPAIR.
DID SHE APPLY FOR THE HOME REPAIR PROGRAM THROUGH THE CITY OF HOUSTON? SHE DID.
I HELPED HER APPLY FOR IT SEVERAL TIMES, AND THEY CAME IN AND FIXED, KIND OF FIXED IT HALFWAY.
UM, SHE STILL HAVE HOLES IN HER, IN HER HOME TO WHERE, YOU KNOW, WHERE WE HAD TO FIX OURSELVES, PUT PLANKS WHERE HER, WHERE, WHERE THEY TOOK OUT THE, UM, HAVE HER HOME
SO YEAH, HER HOME IS STILL IN DISARRAY.
WHO, SO, OKAY, LET, LET ME, LET ME FIND OUT WHICH ONE IS YOUR COUNCIL MEMBER AND WE CAN FOLLOW UP WITH YOU ON THAT.
[01:35:01]
YOU.ON WEST 34TH, NEXT SPEAKER MACKENZIE.
TATE MACKENZIE TATE IS HIS DISTRICT DI THINK.
HELLO AND GOOD AFTERNOON, MAYOR WHITMEYER AND ALL THE MEMBERS OF CITY SAY SOMETHING.
MAYOR WHITMER AND ALL THE MEMBERS OF CITY COUNCIL.
I'M A RESIDENT OF THE CITY GAS, TEXAS SUPER NEIGHBORHOOD 49 50.
I'M SO EXCITED TO, TO BE HERE TO ASK YOU NOLL TO THE NEW CITY'S BUDGET.
MY PARK IS THE HOBAR TAYLOR, AND MY LOCAL COMMUNITY CENTER IS THE NORTHWEST SIDE, O-Y-M-C-A.
PLEASE BELIEVE ME WHEN I TELL YOU I LOVE THOSE PARKS AND I NEED THE CITY'S BUDGET TO GO TOWARDS THE, THE CONTINUED SUPPORTING OUR POOLS.
MAINTENANCE AND SERVICE, PLEASE.
AT HOBAR TAYLOR, THERE IS A SWIMMING POOL THAT I'M DYING TO USE.
THE BUDGET COULD HELP MAINTENANCE AND PUT IT BACK IN SERVICE.
AND YES, MY, ME AND MY COMMUNITY LOVE TO SWIM EVERY DAY ON MY WAY TO SCHOOL, I PASS BY THE OLD YMCA ONTO WELL AND NORTHWEST SIDE.
IAII SEE ALL MY NEIGHBORS WALKING AND ENJOYING THE TRAILS AND THE COMMUNITY CENTER.
PLUS THEY HAVE A SWING POOL TO AS, AS WELL AS WE CAN'T USE EVEN USE.
PLEASE CAN YOU USE THE CITY'S BUDGET TO BRING OUR POOLS SERVICE BACK TO MY COMMUNITY? MAYOR, I'M ACTUALLY BOLD ENOUGH TO COME DOWN HERE ON MY SUMMER BREAK TO ASK YOU TO PUT MY COMMUNITY POOLS BACK IN SERVICE THAT WILL REALLY MEAN YOU REALLY CARE ABOUT MY COMMUNITY AND ALL OUR MEMORIES THAT WE COULD BY HAVING OUR POOL PRIVILEGE BACK AGAIN.
THANK YOU MAYOR FOR LISTENING TO ME, AND I'M AVAILABLE FOR MORE DIALOGUE ANYTIME.
WE DO HAVE A COUPLE OF COUNCIL MEMBERS THAT WOULD LIKE TO ADDRESS YOU.
WE'LL START WITH COUNCIL MEMBER CAYMAN MCKENZIE, IS THIS YOUR FIRST TIME COMING TO COUNCIL? NO, IT'S MY SECOND.
WELL, YOU ARE DOING SUCH A BEAUTIFUL JOB.
NOT ONLY ADVOCATING FOR YOURSELF, BUT, UH, YOUR ENTIRE COMMUNITY.
WHAT POOL DID YOU SAY AGAIN WAS CLOSED RIGHT NOW? HOBAR TAYLOR.
AND DO YOU THINK IT'S CLOSED ALL SUMMER? I KNOW THAT SOME OF THEM HAVE NOT OPENED YET, AND IF YOU DON'T KNOW, THAT'S OKAY.
WAS IT OPENED LAST YEAR? I THINK SO.
WELL, WE'LL LOOK INTO IT, BUT AGAIN, I JUST WANTED TO SAY CONGRATULATIONS.
ARE YOUR EITHER OF YOUR PARENTS HERE? YES, MY MOM.
I'M JUST SO IMPRESSED AND, AND IT'S SO HEARTWARMING TO SEE YOU HERE.
IT'S VERY IMPORTANT THAT PARENTS TEACH THEIR CHILDREN THAT THEY NEED TO BE INVOLVED IN THIS PROCESS.
AND YOU HAVE DONE A FANTASTIC JOB.
AND SO CERTAINLY FOR THANK YOU FOR GIVING UP YOUR SUMMER BREAK TO COME AND, AND GIVE US YOUR OPINION, WHICH IS VERY, VERY IMPORTANT.
AND THANK YOU FOR JUST BEING HERE.
WELL, EVENTUALLY YOU MAY OCCUPY SOME OF THESE SEATS, AND SO CERTAINLY IN BEING A, IN A POSITION TO MAKE SOME OF THESE DECISIONS.
WE'RE GONNA LOOK UP AND SEE, UH, WHEN THAT POOL'S GONNA OPEN OR IF THERE'S A PROBLEM AT THE POOL.
AND WE'LL LET YOU KNOW BEFORE YOU LEAVE.
HI, ARE YOU JUDITH? WE'RE READY TO HEAR FROM YOU.
WHAT DO I DO? SAY YOU READ YOUR SPEECH.
YOU READ IT LOUD, CLEARLY INTO THE MICROPHONE.
GOOD AFTERNOON, CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS.
MY NAME IS JUDITH REVO AND I LIVE IN EAST HOUSTON.
[01:40:01]
YEARS OLD, AND WHILE I MAY NOT UNDERSTAND EVERY PART OF THE CITY BUDGET, I DO KNOW WHEN SOMETHING ISN'T FAIR AND THIS BUDGET DOESN'T FEEL FAIR TO MY COMMUNITY.EAST HOUSTON FLOODS ALL THE TIME AND HAS NEVER GOTTEN THE SUPPORT IT NEEDS TO STAY SAFE FROM FLOODING, AND THIS BUDGET STILL DOESN'T FIX IT.
RECENTLY I DID A BOOK REPORT ON ROSA PARKS.
I LEARNED HOW BRAVE SHE WAS TO STAND UP FOR WHAT WAS RIGHT, EVEN WHEN IT WAS HARD OR UNPOPULAR.
TODAY I'M ASKING FOR YOU TO BE BRAVE LIKE ROSA PARKS TO STAND UP FOR WHAT'S RIGHT AND VOTE NO ON THIS CITY BUDGET.
THIS BUDGET PUTS MORE MONEY INTO POLICING, BUT IT CUTS MONEY FROM THINGS PEOPLE REALLY NEED, LIKE PUBLIC WORKS, LIBRARIES AND PARKS.
MY FRIENDS AND I WANT TO GROW UP ENJOYING HOUSTON SUMMERS, NOT WORRYING ABOUT IF THE HEAT WILL BE TOO DANGEROUS OR IF OUR STREETS WILL FLOOD AGAIN.
WE NEED A BUDGET THAT PROTECTS OUR COMMUNITIES, NOT LEAVES THEM BEHIND.
YOU CAN RAISE THAT MICROPHONE UP.
UM, IT'S BEEN A WHILE SINCE I'VE BEEN UP HERE TO SEE ALL OF YOU.
UH, ONCE AGAIN, UH, MY NAME IS BEN.
I'M THE FOUNDER OF 50 FATHERS MOVEMENT, CREDIBLE MESSENGER.
ONE OF THE THINGS WE WANTED TO COME TO AND TALK ABOUT AND JUST HIT A KEY ABOUT HIS AGENDA 37.
AND YES, A LOT OF THE PEOPLE ARE SPEAKING THEIR HEARTS.
UH, THE YOUNGSTER CAME UP HERE.
REMINDED ME OF WHEN WE WERE ADVOCATES BACK THEN AND WE HAD THAT PASSION LIKE THAT.
BUT THE THING IS, WE, IS THAT MONEY GOING TO, AND WHERE IS IT COMING FROM? IF THEY'RE GONNA GIVE MONEY TO POLICE FOR WHAT THEY'RE ALREADY DOING AND THE INADEQUACIES OF WHAT THEY'RE ALREADY CAPABLE OF DOING, WHY NOT GIVE IT TO ORGANIZATIONS SUCH AS OURS, 50 FATHERS MOVEMENT, CREDIBLE MESSENGERS, USA GRASSROOTS ORGANIZATIONS LIKE OURS THAT DEAL WITH THE MESS-UPS, THAT DEAL WITH THE CLEANUPS, THAT DEAL WITH THE AFTERMATHS.
TODAY, I CAME IN HERE AND I WITNESSED A FAMILY UNITY PROCLAMATION.
THAT WAS A MIRACLE THAT I PRAYED FOR BEFORE.
BUT WE'RE GOING TO BE FUNDING THE SAME ORGANIZATIONS THAT DESTROY FAMILIES.
SO IF WE'RE GONNA BE GIVEN MONEY, IF WE'RE GONNA BE ALLOCATING FUNDS, WHY NOT DO IT TO GRASSROOTS ORGANIZATIONS WHO ARE DOWN HERE ON THE FLOOR? WE HAVE TO GO INTO THE HOMES, WE HAVE TO DEAL WITH THE FAMILIES.
I WAS HERE LAST BEFORE AND I WASN'T AS ORGANIZED BEFORE, BUT NOW I'M ALIGNED.
AND WE'RE ALIGNED WITH ORGANIZATIONS SUCH AS MOMS DEMANDS ACTION ORGANIZATIONS LIKE BLACK, UM, UM, BLACK, UH, ASSOCIATION ENFORCEMENT, BLACK LEAGUE ASSOCIATION ENFORCEMENT.
UH, WE'RE ALSO ALIGNED WITH, UM, TEXAS FEDERATION OF THE PEOPLE.
THERE ARE SO MANY ORGANIZATIONS THAT WE'VE ALIGNED WITH BECAUSE WE KNOW POWER, VOTING POWER AND PEOPLE POWER.
WE ARE THE ORGANIZATIONS THAT PUT COUNCIL MEMBERS IN SEATS.
WE ARE THE ORGANIZATIONS THAT PUT JUDGES IN SEATS.
PARTICIPATORY DEFENSE LED BY JOY DAVIS OF PEER JUSTICE.
WE ARE THE ORGANIZATIONS THAT GO INTO THE COURTROOMS. WE ARE THE ONES THAT SIT THERE AND MAKE SURE AND ENSURE THAT EVERYONE HAS A FAIR CHANCE.
WE'RE THE ONES THAT GO INTO THE HOMES AFTER THEY'VE BEEN ASSAULTED OR AFTER THEY'VE HAD POLICE VIOLENCE.
WE ARE THE ONES WHO GET THE THE WORD.
AND WE ARE THE ONES WHO ARE ON THE STREETS, BOOTS ON THE GROUND.
WE ARE CONNECTED TO OVER 400 ORGANIZATIONS HERE IN OUR CITY.
AND WE DO NOT GET FUNDING FROM OUR CITY.
THIS IS 50 FATHERS MOVEMENT IN CREDIBLE MESSENGER.
WE DON'T GET FUNDING FROM THIS CITY.
AND WE DO EVERYTHING WE CAN FOR OUR CITY WITH WHAT WE HAVE.
SO WE ALIGN, WE BUILD, WE COALITION.
I REMEMBER LAST TIME I WAS SPEAKING WITH YOU, BROTHER EDWARD, AND YOU A REAL ONE BECAUSE YOU WERE PART OF THIS.
LAST TIME I WAS HERE IN 2022, I TOLD YOU I NEEDED HELP WITH MY DAUGHTER BECAUSE I NEEDED TO GO SEE HER.
AND I DIDN'T HAVE FATHER RIGHTS.
THE DAY THAT I LEFT HERE IN 2022, ON FEBRUARY 14TH, WHICH WAS VALENTINE'S DAY, I WENT TO THE HOSPITAL TO SEE MY DAUGHTER.
THAT WAS THE VERY LAST DAY THAT I SAW MY DAUGHTER.
I NEVER CAME BACK HERE SINCE THE 2022 TO SPEAK AND TO SAY THAT THAT'S WHAT HAPPENED.
'CAUSE I DIDN'T HAVE MY FATHER RIGHTS.
THEY DIDN'T WANT ME IN A ROOM.
[01:45:01]
AND EVENTUALLY THE MOTHER, SHE HAD MY DAUGHTER CREMATED AGAINST MY WILL BECAUSE I DIDN'T HAVE FATHER RIGHTS TO SAY I WANT IT.THAT'S WHAT TRANSPIRED FROM THE LAST TIME WE WERE HERE.
I BILL AND I PROVIDE ASSISTANCE FOR FATHERS WHO GO THROUGH THE SAME THING FOR MEMBERS OF THE CITY WHO HAVE TO ENDURE THE SAME TYPE OF TREATMENT.
NOW, A LOT OF TIMES I WON'T SAY, OH, POLICING IS BAD.
BUT I WON'T SAY WE GONNA DEFUND THE POLICE 'CAUSE THAT'S NOT GONNA HAPPEN.
BUT WHAT WE CAN DO IS WE CAN WORK TOGETHER.
WE CAN STOP TALKING ABOUT, OH, Y'ALL OVER THERE AND WE OVER HERE.
LET'S MAKE THIS THING HAPPEN TOGETHER.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR COMMENTS AND FOR YOUR PASSION.
UM, MY CONDOLENCES ON THE LOSS OF YOUR DAUGHTER.
UM, BUT I DO, UM, I HEAR WHAT YOU'RE SAYING AND I I DO WANT YOU TO KNOW THERE ARE SOME OTHER AVENUES FOR FUNDING FOR PROGRAMS LIKE YOURS.
UM, I'M NOT SURE IF YOU'RE, YOU'RE FAMILIAR WITH OUR CASE FOR CASE FOR KIDS AFTER SCHOOL PROGRAMMING AND THEN ALSO THE, UM, AVENUE OF RECEIVING FUNDING THROUGH OUR COUNCIL DISTRICT SERVICE FUNDS, UM, THROUGH, UM, POTENTIALLY YOUR YOUR COUNCIL DISTRICT OFFICE.
SO, UM, JUST WANTED TO MAKE SURE YOU, YOU HAD THAT INFORMATION, UM, TODAY AS WELL AS, UM, ALLOWING US TO HEAR YOUR STORY.
I DIDN'T HAVE THAT INFORMATION BEFORE.
AND I JUST WANNA SAY IT'S GOOD TO SEE YOU UP HERE.
YOU, MR. SECRETARY, MIKE SECRETARY, AND I WILL SAY YOU THE GURU.
YOU'VE BEEN HERE, YOU'VE SEEN HIM COME AND GO EVERY TIME WHEN IT'S COME TIME TO SPEAK OR SIGN UP FOR THIS, GOTTA COME THROUGH YOU.
A LOT OF PEOPLE KNOW YOU AND YOU'VE MADE A MARK ON A LOT OF PEOPLE.
I JUST WANT, I'M GLAD TO SEE YOU IN YOUR LANE, BROTHER.
UM, I I ALSO WANNA SHARE MY CONDOLENCES AS WELL FOR YOUR, FOR YOUR DAUGHTER.
UM, AND I WANNA REACH OUT TO YOU.
UH, WE'VE, WE'VE BEEN WORKING WITH A FEW OTHER GROUPS THAT ARE WORKING WITH JUVENILE JUSTICE, UH, RIGHTS.
AND SO I WANT TO, YOU KNOW, KIND OF SIT DOWN AND SEE WHAT, SEE WHAT YOU'RE DOING AND SEE HOW WE COULD POSSIBLY HELP.
UM, SAYS THAT YOU'RE IN MANCHESTER AREA, SO YES.
DISTRICT I, DISTRICT I, SO EVEN MORE SO I WOULD WANNA SIT DOWN YES.
TO MAKE SURE THAT WE CAN CONNECT.
SO, SO IF YOU DON'T MIND, WE CAN MEET OUTSIDE.
AND WE HELP WITH OTHER ORGANIZATIONS.
UNITED COLLECTIVE ACTION FOR YOU.
WE'RE ALSO A PART OF THEIR TABLE.
UH, THE HIHA, WHAT WE'VE DONE IS REALLY TRULY CONSOLIDATE AND BUILD A COALITION WITH HOUSTON SO THAT WE'RE ALL CONNECTED.
SO WE'RE NOT JUST SAYING, OKAY, WE ARE DOING THE WORK TO PUT YOU IN OUR VOTER.
OUR GET OUT TO VOTE INITIATIVE WAS IN THE MILLIONS, OUR PRIMARY NUMBERS WAS SKY ROOF.
SO THE WORK THAT WE'RE DOING WITH THE LITTLE THAT WE HAVE CAN BE EXPANDED.
AND THAT'S WHAT I'M SAYING TO YOU.
WE ALL TOGETHER IN THE CAHOOTS AND UNDERSTANDING THAT, LOOK, IF YOU'RE GONNA GIVE MONEY TO A CERTAIN ORGANIZATION, WHY NOT SPREAD THE WEALTH SO THAT WE CAN ALL BE TOGETHER IN THIS COUNCIL MEMBER? POLLARD, HANG ON.
THANK, THANK YOU MAYOR PRO TIM, AND, UM, MY CONDOLENCES AS WELL.
BUT IT IS GLAD TO SEE YOU BACK HERE IN THE CHAMBERS.
UM, I, I THINK THE WORD THAT YOU MENTIONED, WHICH RESONATES MOST WITH ME IS BALANCE.
AND, UM, THERE, THERE SHOULD BE DOLLARS ALLOCATED TO POLICE TO KEEP US SAFE IN OUR COMMUNITIES, BUT THERE ALSO SHOULD BE DOLLARS TO LOOK AT ROOT CAUSES FOR WHAT CAUSES CRIME IN SOME OF OUR COMMUNITIES.
WHEN YOU LOOK AT EDUCATION, WHEN YOU LOOK AT HOUSING, WHEN YOU LOOK AT JOB OPPORTUNITIES, TRAINING, WHEN YOU LOOK AT DISCIPLINE, MENTORSHIP, UM, THOSE ARE THE ROOT CAUSES THAT CAN CAUSE UH, FOR POLICE TO NEED TO BE IN OUR COMMUNITIES TO REACT TO A CIRCUMSTANCE OR A SITUATION THAT THEY'RE CALLED UPON.
AND SO THE BALANCE HAS TO BE THERE AND WE HAVE TO RECOGNIZE THAT THE BALANCE IS NECESSARY AND THE BALANCE IS REAL.
UH, YOU CAN'T PUT EVERYTHING TOWARDS ONE, UM, ASPECT AND THINK THAT WILL BE A CURE-ALL.
IT HAS TO BE A, THINK A COMPREHENSIVE APPROACH.
AND, UH, YOUR WORDS WERE INSIGHTFUL.
I JUST WANT TO THANK EVERYBODY FOR HAVING THESE DIVERSE, UH, PROGRAMS. 'CAUSE I REMEMBER THE YEARS THAT WE WERE SPEAKING ABOUT, CAN WE GET SOME DIVERSITY PROGRAMS? CAN WE GET SOME PROGRAMS TO, UH, STOP PEOPLE FROM GOING TO JAIL? SO WE WERE PART OF THE, UH, UH, THE MISDEMEANOR, UM, BAIL REFORM.
REMEMBER THOSE YEARS SO THAT WE COULD JUST STOP PEOPLE FROM JUST GOING TO JAIL.
WE ALL FELT LIKE, YOU KNOW WHAT? OUR VOICES MATTER.
AND I JUST APPRECIATE THE TIME THAT Y'ALL SPEND LISTENING AND THE TIME THAT Y'ALL ACTUALLY SPEND ALLOWING US TO HAVE THESE VOICES.
UH, WE'LL SEE Y'ALL AT OUR NEXT FORUMS. WE'LL SEE Y'ALL AT OUR NEXT, UH, SESSIONS, BROTHER WILLIE.
NOW, THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE.
NEXT SPEAKER, MICHAEL SCHAFER.
MICHAEL SCHAFER TO BE FOLLOWED BY MANUEL COHEN.
[01:50:10]
HELLO, MR. SCHAEFFER.I HOPE TO ADDRESS MAYOR WHITMEYER HIMSELF.
I WAS LOOKING FORWARD TO THAT THE FIRST TIME I'VE BEEN IN A SITUATION LIKE THIS.
MADAM PRO TAM, I TRUST THAT YOU'RE A VERY WORTHY SIT IN FOR HIM AND THAT YOU'LL PASS MY WORDS ONTO HIM.
MEMBERS OF THE COUNCIL, OTHER EXCUSE ME, AND OTHER DISTINGUISHED PERSONS.
I'M A RETIRED PLASTIC SURGEON.
ALL MY PRACTICE YEARS WERE IN CHICAGO.
WE MOVED TO HOUSTON 10 YEARS AGO, AND ONE OF THE BEST THINGS WE DID WAS TO JOIN THIS AMAZING GROUP OF, OF CARING AND BUSY PEOPLE CALLED PURE JUSTICE.
I'M HERE NOW TO ASK RESPECTFULLY THAT THIS LARGE SUM OF MONEY BEING DISCUSSED AND DEBATED AT THIS TIME IS SPENT IN MAKING COMMUNITIES SAFER AND MORE SUSTAINABLE.
AND TO ENSURE THAT ALL HOUSTONIANS GET A FAIR SHAKE, I'M GOING TO MAKE MY PLEA TO YOU ON A SLIGHTLY DIFFERENT TONE.
NOW, I DON'T HAVE A LOT OF DATA AND A LOT OF FACTS.
WELL, I WOULDN'T SAY I DON'T HAVE FACTS, BUT I DON'T HAVE A LOT OF DATA.
UM, I'M GOING TO COMPARE THE CITY OF HOUSTON TO OURSELVES.
THE HUMAN PERSON WITHOUT EXCEPTION, HAS TWO SIDES.
ONE IS THE EAGLE DRIVEN SIDE THAT WE PRESENT TO THE WORLD.
IT HAS TO DO WITH WHO WE ARE IN SOCIETY, OUR JOBS, AND MAKING A LIVING, RAISING A FAMILY, MAKING A NAME FOR OURSELVES AND BEING SUCCESSFUL.
THE OTHER SIDE IS REFERRED TO IN PHILOSOPHICAL TERMS AS THE SHADOW SIDE.
IT IS THAT SIDE OF US THAT WE DON'T OFTEN CAN'T OR OFTEN DON'T WANT TO CONFRONT BECAUSE IT IS SO ANTITHETICAL TO THE IMAGE WE WANT TO PORTRAY.
THIS IS A SIDE THAT ADMITS TO OUR IMPERFECTIONS, NON-VIOLENCE, WEAK WEAKNESS AND SYMPATHY.
OUR VERY MUCH A PART OF THAT SHADOW SELF.
NOW, I WOULD LIKE TO EQUATE THE CITY OF HOUSTON WITH OURSELF.
THAT IS, THERE IS A BRIGHT SIDE TO OUR CITY WHERE THE LIGHTS ARE ON, THE STREETS ARE CLEAN, HOUSING IS SECURE, PEOPLE HAVE JOBS AND THERE'S FOOD ON THE TABLE.
THE KIDS GO TO GOOD SCHOOLS AND MOST GO ON TO COLLEGE.
IT IS NOT EXPECTED THAT ANY OF THEM WILL GO TO JAIL.
AND IF SOMEONE IS MENTALLY ILL, IT'S KEPT QUIET.
THEN THERE'S THE SHADOW SIDE OF TOWN, OR JUST THE OPPOSITE IS THE WAY OF LIFE.
PEOPLE ARE HOMELESS OR CAN'T WRITE RENT OR BUY HOMES BECAUSE THEY HAVE A RECORD.
PEOPLE HAVE NO FOOD, SO THEY STEAL FOR THEMSELVES OR FOR THEIR KIDS.
THERE ARE NO JOBS AVAILABLE TO THEM FOR WHO KNOWS HOW MANY REASONS THEY HAVE BEEN BORN INTO POVERTY AND HAVE LITTLE CHANCE OF EVER DIGGING OUT.
AND THEIR WORST NIGHTMARE IS BEING CONFRONTED BY A MEMBER OF THE HPD OR SOMETHING THEY DID OR DID NOT DO PROPERLY.
IT MAY EVEN HAVE BEEN BAD OR WRONG, NOT HAVE BEEN BAD OR WRONG, BUT THEY'RE PULLED OVER, HANDCUFFED, TOSSED TO THE GROUND AND TROTTED OFF TO JAIL.
JUST FINALLY, I BELIEVE THAT UNTIL WE TAKE CARE OF THE LA THE LEAST OF OUR PEOPLE, THIS CITY WILL NEVER REALIZE THE FULL POTENTIAL FOR WHICH IT WAS DESTINED.
BY DOING SO BY TAKING CARE OF OUR PEOPLE, PERHAPS WE CAN MAKE HOUSTON THAT PROPHETIC CITY WRITTEN ABOUT BY STEPHEN KLEINBERG, THE SOCIALIST SOCIAL SCIENTIST FROM RICE UNIVERSITY, LET US BECOME PERHAPS A MODEL FOR OTHER CITIES BY TAKING CARE OF THE LEAST OF OUR PEOPLE.
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR COMMENTS TODAY.
I WANTED TO MAKE ONE FINAL COMMENT.
I THINK YOU'RE SEEING THE OTHER EXTREME OF THE AGE SPECTRUM HERE TODAY IS DELIGHTFUL
WE APPRECIATE YOU BEING HERE ON THAT SIDE.
UH, MY NAME IS MANUEL COHEN AND I LIVE IN DISTRICT D THE DISTRICT OF DESTINATION.
I'M HERE TODAY BECAUSE THIS BUDGET WORSENS THE FISCAL HEALTH OF HOUSTON, AND I'M URGING Y'ALL TO VOTE AGAINST IT.
[01:55:01]
UPON A CURSORY READING, YOU'LL FIND THAT IT FAILS TO MEET THE DEFINITION OF A BALANCED BUDGET.THE EXPENDITURES ARE HIGHER THAN THE REVENUES TO MAKE UP FOR THE SHORTFALL.
THE BUDGET PULLS A SIGNIFICANT AMOUNT FROM THE GENERAL FUND BALANCE.
THIS ONE TIME FIX PLACES HOUSTON'S CREDIT RATING AT RISK OF A DOWNGRADE AND IS SOMETHING THAT THE CITY CONTROLLER HAS CONFIRMED.
THE CLAIM THAT THIS BUDGET PRESERVES SERVICES THAT ARE FACING CUTS IS SIMPLY NOT TRUE.
THE CUTS THAT THESE DEPARTMENTS ARE FACING ESSENTIAL DEPARTMENTS ARE SIGNIFICANT TO WHERE THERE WILL BE A REDUCTION IN SERVICES.
WE WILL SEE THE QUALITY OF PARKS OF DRAINAGE GO DOWN BECAUSE OF THIS BUDGET.
SEVERAL OF THE SAVINGS MENTIONED IN MAYOR WHIT MEYER'S BUDGET SEEMINGLY COME WITHOUT EXPLANATION.
THIS IS A BUDGET THAT WORSENS THE FISCAL HEALTH OF THE CITY AND WORSENS THE QUALITY OF OUR SERVICES.
THIS IS A PROBLEM THAT MAYOR WHITMEYER COULD HAVE AVOIDED HAD HE TAKEN UP CONTROLLER HOLLAND'S OFFER TO FORM A BUDGET TASK FORCE WITH ALL OF Y'ALL TO ACTUALLY PLACE HOUSTON ON THE PATH OF FISCAL RESPONSIBILITY AND PROTECT OUR KEY SERVICES.
I CANNOT IMAGINE WHY THE MAYOR WOULDN'T WANT TO COLLABORATE WITH THE CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER OF THE CITY ON THE ISSUE OF THE BUDGET.
AND HIS REJECTION OF THAT OFFER BY ACCUSING THE CONTROLLER OF PLAYING POLITICS WITH THAT ISSUE JUST MAKES THIS MORE CONFUSING.
HOW IS IT PLAYING POLITICS WHEN THE CONTROLLER WANTS TO WORK WITH YOU? IT FEELS LIKE THE OPPOSITE.
MAYOR, WHIT MEYER'S OPAQUE CREATION OF THIS BUDGET AND GENERALLY MORE OPAQUE STYLE OF GOVERNANCE, PLAYS POLITICS WITH THE BASIC ISSUES THAT HOUSTON IS FACING.
I APPRECIATE THE AMENDMENTS THAT MUCH OF Y'ALL ON THE CITY COUNCIL PUT FORWARD TO PROTECT SOME OF THESE SERVICES AND TO ADDRESS THE DRAINAGE PROJECTS.
THERE'S STEP IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION.
HOWEVER, THE FISCAL RISKS OF THE BUDGET CREATES DOUBTS AS TO WHETHER THE CITY CAN ACTUALLY FINANCE THOSE PROJECTS.
I WOULD URGE COUNCIL MEMBERS TO PLACE MORE SCRUTINY ON MAYOR WHIT MEYER'S ACTIONS.
THE CITY COUNCIL DOES NOT HAVE TO ACCEPT THIS BUDGET COUNCIL MEMBERS.
YOU HAVE THE POWER TO DRAFT THE BUDGET.
YOU CAN REJECT WHAT MAYOR WHITMEYER IS FORCING ON THE CITY AND CREATE A BUDGET THAT IS ACTUALLY REPRESENTATIVE OF WHAT THE CITY WANTS AND PROTECTS OUR FISCAL HEALTH.
TOMORROW THE CITY COUNCIL SHOULD VOTE AGAINST MAYOR WHIT MEYER'S BUDGET AND PROPOSE A NEW ONE THAT PUTS HOUSTON ON THE PATH TO FINANCIAL RESPONSIBILITY THAT FUNDS OUR ESSENTIAL SERVICES.
AVERY BEU TO BE FOLLOWED BY ROBERT MIC MICHAELS.
GOOD AFTERNOON, MAYOR PRO TEM AND CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS.
I AM THE CEO OF THE MONTROSE CENTER.
FOR FOLKS WHO DON'T KNOW WHO THE MONTROSE CENTER IS, WE ARE AN SOCIAL SERVICES ORGANIZATION WITH THE MISSION TO EMPOWER OUR COMMUNITY TO LIVE HEALTHIER AND MORE FULFILLING LIVES.
WE'VE BEEN SERVING THE HOUSTON COMMUNITY SINCE 1978 AND WE'RE PROUD TO SERVE OVER 6,500 CLIENTS A YEAR ACROSS A SPECTRUM OF CLINICAL SERVICES, AN ADDITIONAL 48,000 HOUSTONIANS A YEAR THROUGH OUR PUBLIC HEALTH EVENTS AND COMMUNITY PROGRAMMING, BOTH AT OUR CENTER IN THE MONTROSE NEIGHBORHOOD AND AT OUR LAW HARRINGTON SENIOR LIVING FACILITY IN THE THIRD WARD.
THE MONTROSE CENTER SERVES ALL HOUSTONIANS AND HAS A SPECIAL FOCUS ON SERVING L-G-B-T-Q INDIVIDUALS AND THEIR FAMILIES.
I WANNA SAY THANK YOU TO YOU ALL FOR THE WAY THAT YOU SUPPORT THE L-G-B-T-Q COMMUNITY, ESPECIALLY DURING PRIDE MONTH AND THE WAYS THAT YOU SUPPORT THE MONTROSE CENTER.
UH, AS WE HEARD IN THE COMMENTS TODAY, OBVIOUSLY THERE'S STILL A LOT OF WORK TO BE DONE.
I'M PLEASED TO SPEAK IN SUPPORT OF MARIO CASTILLO'S SUPPORT, UH, UH, PROPOSED AMENDMENT TO FUND A PILOT L-G-B-T-Q, ECONOMIC EMPOWERMENT COORDINATOR.
OUR WORK WITH L-G-B-T-Q HOUSTONIANS HELPS US TO UNDERSTAND THAT THE L-G-B-T-Q COMMUNITY FACES SIGNIFICANT ECONOMIC CHALLENGES, INCLUDING HIGHER RATES OF POVERTY AND UNEMPLOYMENT WORKING ACROSS THE LIFESPAN AS WE DO FROM YOUTH ALL THE WAY TO SENIORS.
WE SEE EVERY DAY THE UNIQUE CHALLENGES AND THE VULNERABILITIES THAT BOTH OF THESE GROUPS ESPECIALLY FACE.
IN OUR HOLISTIC APPROACH TO OUR WORK, WE UNDERSTAND THAT ACCESS TO ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITY IS ACTUALLY A HEALTHCARE ISSUE.
IT'S A HEALTH AND WELLNESS ISSUE.
IT'S A KEY SOCIAL DETERMINANT OF HEALTH.
THIS PILOT PROGRAM WILL LAY THE GROUNDWORK FOR A MORE INCLUSIVE HOUSTON AND PROVIDE MUCH NEEDED TARGETED SUPPORT, ESPECIALLY TO YOUTH AND SENIORS THAT WILL MAKE A MEANINGFUL IMPACT ON THE LIVES OF L-G-B-T-Q HOUSTONIANS AND THEIR FAMILIES.
ALL HOUSTONIANS, I'M SURE YOU ALL WOULD AGREE, WOULD DESERVE ACCESS TO HOUSTON'S THRIVING ECONOMY AND THE RESOURCES AVAILABLE THROUGH OUR CITY.
THE CREATION OF THIS PILOT WILL SEND A SIGNIFICANT AND IMPORTANT MESSAGE TO A VULNERABLE GROUP OF HOUSTONIANS THAT WE MATTER, THAT THE CITY FULLY AND PROACTIVELY
[02:00:01]
WELCOMES ALL, AND THAT OUR LEADERSHIP IS INVESTED IN REMOVING BARRIERS TO OUR SUCCESS.I HOPE THE CITY COUNCIL WILL AFFIRM ITS COMMITMENT TO THE HEALTH AND WELLBEING OF OUR LGBTQ PLUS COMMUNITY WITH YOUR SUPPORT OF THIS AMENDMENT, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR TIME AND HAPPY PRIDE MONTH.
WE DO HAVE SOME COUNCIL MEMBERS IN QUEUE.
THANK YOU MAYOR PRO TEM AVERY, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR BEING HERE AND FOR SPEAKING IN SUPPORT OF THE AMENDMENT.
YOU KNOW, THE MONTROSE CENTER DOES SO MUCH TREMENDOUS, IMPACTFUL, VITAL WORK IN HOUSTON FROM YOUTH TO SENIORS.
AND SO THIS POSITION, UM, CAN DIRECTLY SUPPORT THE WORK THAT Y'ALL ARE DOING.
AND THE PERSPECTIVE THAT YOU BRING, UH, AROUND IT IS, IS CRUCIAL, UH, BECAUSE YOU KNOW, THROUGH THE PROGRAMS THAT Y'ALL HOUSE, UM, WHERE THE GAPS ARE AND WHERE THE NEEDS ARE.
AND, AND JUST LIKE YOU SAID, YOU KNOW, IT IS A, A HEALTH ACCESS HEALTHCARE ISSUE WHEN WE TALK ABOUT ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITY.
AND SO, UM, I HOPE THAT THAT THIS CAN COME TO FRUITION AND I GREATLY APPRECIATE YOU BEING HERE TO SUPPORT IT.
UH, I KNOW THIS IS A BUSY TIME OF YEAR, UH, FOR THE MONTROSE CENTER, UH, BUT Y'ALL CONTINUE TO STEP UP AND SHOW UP FOR THE COMMUNITY AND, AND THANK YOU SO MUCH.
FIRST AND FOREMOST, HAPPY PRIDE.
UH, I WANT TO THANK THE MONTROSE CENTER, UH, FOR EVERYTHING Y'ALL DO, THE VOICE THAT YOU PROVIDE, THE COMMUNITY THAT YOU CREATE, UH, BUT THE WORK THAT YOU DO, LITERALLY SAVING LIVES EVERY SINGLE DAY.
SO PLEASE PASS ALONG MY APPRECIATION, UH, ESPECIALLY DURING PRIDE MONTH, BUT ALSO GIVEN THE CONTEXT OF WHAT IS HAPPENING RIGHT NOW AND THE ATTACKS ON THE COMMUNITY, PLEASE RELAY MY GRATITUDE AND APPRECIATION.
I COULDN'T THINK OF ANY OTHER HOME THAN IN THE HEART OF DISTRICT C, UH, FOR THE MONTROSE CENTER.
UH, AND I DO WANNA THANK YOU FOR COMING TODAY IN SUPPORT OF COUNCIL MEMBER CASTILLO'S AMENDMENT.
UM, EARLY ON, I THINK MY FIRST OR SECOND YEAR, WE WORKED REALLY HARD TO GET THE L-G-B-T-E CERTIFICATION WITHIN OBO.
BUT TO SEE THE STRIDES THAT HAVE BEEN MADE, BUT STILL HOW MUCH MORE WE HAVE TO GO IS ALSO IMPORTANT TO RECOGNIZE.
WE APPRECIATE YOU BEING HERE TODAY.
NEXT SPEAKER, ROBERT MICHAELS.
THANK YOU MAYOR PRO TEM AND THE CITY COUNCIL.
UH, THIS IS MY FIRST TIME SPEAKING, SO I HOPE I DON'T BUDGET IT.
UH, I AM ALSO IN SUPPORT OF THE, UH, PILOT FOR THE LGBT COORDINATOR.
UH, BEING A BUSINESSMAN MYSELF, AN MBA AND HAD PROFESSIONAL TRAINING, I HAD MANY PRIVILEGES AS A CHILD AND AS AN ADULT, I KNOW WHAT THE MANTRA CENTER DOES 'CAUSE I VOLUNTEER FOR THEM AND MANY OTHER ORGANIZATIONS.
AND I CAN TELL YOU THAT THE YOUTH ARE UNCERTAIN RIGHT NOW BECAUSE THEY DON'T KNOW WHAT THEY CAN DO IN THEIR OWN COMMUNITIES.
AND WE ALSO HAVE SUPPORT HERE.
BUT ACCESS TO RESOURCES DOES NEED TO BE GIVEN A SLIGHT TWINGE, A TOUCH, AN ADJUSTMENT TO HOW YOU EXPLAIN THINGS.
THE YOUTH DO NOT EXACTLY UNDERSTAND HOW TO ACCESS THESE THINGS.
AND I'VE HAD TO, AND A FEW TIMES BEING EXPERIENCED IN RESEARCH HOW TO EXPLAIN THINGS AND TRY TO ACCESS.
BUT EVEN AS A CITIZEN, A REGULAR CITIZEN, I FAIL OFTEN TO BE ABLE TO EXPLAIN THIS AND TO HAVE SOME AVATAR THAT CAN COME IN AND SAY TO THE CH TO THE YOUTH AND EVEN TO THE ELDERLY THAT WILL SOMEHOW AGE OUT OF THE WORKFORCE AND NO LONGER HAVE NORMAL ACCESS TO THE THINGS WE TAKE FOR GRANTED.
IT'S IMPORTANT, AND I ADVOCATE FOR THIS BECAUSE WHEN I FIRST SAW THIS, I CRIED BECAUSE I CAN'T IMAGINE NOW THAT WE HAD GONE SO LONG WITHOUT THIS.
HAVING SOMEONE THAT CAN BE INTERFACED TO US AND ACTUALLY WE CAN TALK TO AND EXPLAIN AND BUILD THE TRUST, GOES A LONG WAY.
AND I KNOW THE MANTRA CENTER DOES SOME GREAT WORK AND OTHER ORGANIZATIONS DO AS WELL, BUT THIS IS ONE THING THAT OTHER CITIES WILL LUCK OUT AND THEY ALSO EMULATE.
I WANT US TO BE MORE INCLUSIVE AND I WANT US TO ALSO HELP BUILD THE NEXT I'M ECONOMIC POWERHOUSE AND I'M HOPING THIS DOES A LOT OF GOOD.
ROBERT, THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR COMING DOWN HERE TO SPEAK, UH, AND SHARE YOUR THOUGHTS.
I KNOW YOU, UM, MENTIONED THE MONTROSE CENTER AND YOU SERVE ON THE GOVERNING BOARD FOR HRC.
UM, SO I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR YOUR WORK THERE.
I KNOW Y'ALL JUST HAD A, A BIG EVENT THIS PAST WEEKEND AND WE DO HAVE WORK TO
[02:05:01]
DO AS A CITY WHEN IT COMES TO OUR, UM, OUR EQUALITY, OUR, AND, AND YOU THINK ABOUT THE HR HRC EQUALITY INDEX SCORE THAT MUNICIPALITIES GET.THIS IS A WAY TO HELP MEET THAT NEED AND IN A, A STATE THAT HAS BEEN HOSTILE TO THE LGBTQ PLUS COMMUNITY AND SUPPORT OUR YOUTH AND SUPPORT OUR SENIORS WITH RESPECT TO ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITY AND ECONOMIC EMPOWERMENT.
AND SO, UM, I APPRECIATE YOUR SUPPORT, THE WORK THAT YOU DO FOR THE COMMUNITY AND, AND THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE.
THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE AND YOU DID A GOOD JOB ON YOUR FIRST TIME.
STEVEN MIRANDA TO BE FOLLOWED BY KELLY CATHERINE.
FOR THOSE OF YOU WHOM I'VE NOT MET, MY NAME IS STEVEN MIRANDA AND I AM THE CHAIR OF THE BOARD OF THE GREATER HOUSTON LGBTQ PLUS CHAMBER OF COMMERCE.
WE ARE THE FIFTH LARGEST CHAMBER IN THE CITY AND SECOND LARGEST DIVERSE CHAMBER WITH 548 MEMBERS AND 67 CORPORATE PARTNERS.
OUR CEO TAMMY WALLACE REGRETS THAT SHE CANNOT BE HERE TODAY AS SHE'S CURRENTLY AT A FLAG RAISING CEREMONY FOR PRIDE MONTH.
I HOPE TO SEE YOU AT OUR PRIDE AND BUSINESS LUNCHEON THIS FRIDAY.
I'M HERE ON BEHALF OF THE CHAMBER TO SPEAK IN SUPPORT OF COUNCIL MEMBER CASTILLO'S BUDGET AMENDMENT PROPOSAL TO PILOT AN LGBTQ PLUS ECONOMIC EMPOWERMENT COORDINATOR FOR HOUSTON.
WHILE THERE'S INCOMPLETE RESEARCH TO DEFINE THE FULL STATISTICS OF THE DISPARITY IMPACT OUR COMMUNITY FACES, WHICH IS SOMETHING WE AIM TO FIX AS A CHAMBER, HOPEFULLY IN CONJUNCTION WITH THIS COORDINATOR, WE SEE THE CHALLENGES THAT OUR CHAMBER AND OUR COMMUNITY MEMBERS FACE EVERY DAY.
SPECIFICALLY FROM A SMALL BUSINESS LENS, WE CONTINUE TO SEE OUR MEMBERS LEFT OUT OF CONTRACTING AND PROCUREMENT OPPORTUNITIES, BOTH PRIVATE AND GOVERNMENT THAT ARE STRATEGICALLY OFFERED TO OTHER MINORITY DEMOGRAPHICS.
WE SEE PUBLICLY FUNDED LOAN PROGRAMS CREATED TO PROVIDE LOW COST CAPITAL TO MINORITY BUSINESS OWNERS IN THE REGION THAT DO NOT INCLUDE OUR COMMUNITY.
THESE PROGRAMS ARE TARGETED AND HAVE FUNDING TO REACH THESE CONSTITUENTS, AND THE RESULTS ARE TRACKED FOR FUTURE OPPORTUNITIES.
YET WE ARE NOT INCLUDED IN THESE EFFORTS.
FROM A WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT PERSPECTIVE, WE KNOW THAT THE BEST WAY TO PROTECT AND ADVANCE OUR COMMUNITY IS VIA EMPLOYMENT.
'CAUSE IF YOU HAVE A GOOD JOB, YOU CAN AFFORD BASIC NEEDS LIKE FOOD, HOUSING, AND TRANSPORTATION, AND YOU'LL LIKELY HAVE ACCESS TO HEALTH INSURANCE.
IT'LL COVER YOUR MEDICAL NEEDS THAT ARE SPECIFIC TO L-G-B-T-Q PEOPLE AND THEIR FAMILIES, WHETHER THAT'S GENDER AFFIRMING CARE, FAMILY PLANNING, ET CETERA, SO THAT NO MATTER WHAT HAPPENS TO FEDERAL BENEFITS OR MEDICAID, THEY WILL BE COVERED.
AND AS A COMMUNITY THAT FACES HIGHER POVERTY AND UNEMPLOYMENT RATES, THIS IS A WAY WE CAN TANGIBLY CHANGE THOSE STATISTICS IN HOUSTON.
AND WHAT BETTER PARTNER THAN THE CITY AND OBO, WHICH ALREADY HAS TARGETED MINORITY PROGRAMS LIKE ACCELERATE LATINX? THERE ARE A LOT OF GREAT SERVICES BEING PROVIDED BY THE CITY AND HAVING A LIAISON AND AN ADVOCATE TO HELP OUR COMMUNITY GET ACCESS AND TRACK THE PROGRESS WILL BE TRANSFORMATIVE.
IN 2023, CLEVER REAL ESTATE RESEARCH TEAM PUT OUT A STUDY OF THE MOST LGBTQ PLUS FRIENDLY CITIES IN THE US REVIEWING OF THE 50 MOST POPULOUS METRO AREAS.
AND HOUSTON RANKED 49 OUT OF 50.
NOW, THAT'S NOT TO SUGGEST THAT OUR LEADERSHIP IS NOT LG BT Q FRIENDLY, BUT IT REALLY DOES HIGHLIGHT HOW MUCH WORK WE HAVE TO DO TO MAKE THIS A BETTER AND MORE EQUITABLE PLACE FOR LGBTQ PLUS PEOPLE TO LIVE AND WORK.
AND I THINK THAT THIS AMENDMENT IS A TERRIFIC STEP IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION THAT'LL MAKE A PROFOUND IMPACT.
STEVEN, I WANTED TO THANK YOU FOR COMING, UH, ON BEHALF OF THE CHAMBER FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP IN THE CHAMBER.
EARLIER WHEN I TALKED ABOUT L-G-B-T-E CERTIFICATION, THAT IS WHAT THE CHAMBER HAD CHAMPIONED.
UH, AND Y'ALL PARTNER WITH US FOR FAMILIES WITH PRIDE THERE.
THERE'S SO MANY THINGS THAT THE CHAMBER DOES NOT ONLY UNDER TAMMY'S LEADERSHIP, BUT THE STAFF, THE VOLUNTEERS, THE BUSINESS COMMUNITY DOES, UH, TO SUPPORT.
SO AGAIN, I I WANNA APPRECIATE THE TIME YOU'VE TAKEN TODAY, BUT ALSO THE WORK THAT YOU ARE DOING EVERY SINGLE DAY, UH, TO MAKE SURE THAT THE LGBTQI PLUS COMMUNITY IS REPRESENTED.
THANK YOU MAYOR PRO TEM, AND STEVEN, THANK YOU AND THE CHAMBER FOR THE WORDS YOU'VE OFFERED TODAY.
YOU KNOW, I'M GLAD YOU, YOU TALKED ABOUT THE, THE DATA SIDE OF THIS BECAUSE THERE IS A LACK OF DATA AND THAT IS SOMETHING THAT I KNOW THE CHAMBER'S BEEN WORKING ON.
I KNOW THAT'S SOMETHING THAT OBO WISHES THEY HAD MORE OF.
AND THAT'S SOMETHING THAT THIS COORDINATOR CAN DIRECTLY WORK ON, UH, WITH EXTERNAL STAKEHOLDERS LIKE THE CHAMBER WITHIN, UM, OUR OWN ORGANIZATION
[02:10:01]
HERE AT THE CITY.UH, IT'S A VITAL PIECE TO SHOW US WHERE THE GAPS ARE AND WHAT IT WILL TAKE TO ADDRESS THEM SO THAT WE'RE NOT RANKED 49TH OUT OF 50, UH, IN TERMS OF LGBTQ PLUS, YOU KNOW, FRIENDLINESS AS A CITY BECAUSE WE ABSOLUTELY NEED TO DO BETTER THERE.
UM, YOU KNOW, OUR, OUR RESIDENTS DESERVE THAT.
SO, UH, I HOPE WE CAN CONTINUE TO WORK ON THIS TOGETHER AND, AND ABSOLUTELY APPRECIATE ALL THE CHAMBER DOES AND THE SUPPORT.
WELL, AND, AND I'LL JUST SAY THERE, IN HAVING SOMEONE TO PUT THE PIECES TOGETHER, THE CITY HAS A LOT OF THOSE PIECES, RIGHT? WE HAVE OBO, WE HAVE THIS L-G-B-T-P-E CERTIFICATION THAT HASN'T GONE FAR ENOUGH.
AND SO I THINK THAT THAT REALLY SPEAKS TO THE VALUE PROPOSITION.
SO THANK YOU FOR BRINGING THIS.
NEXT SPEAKER, KELLY CATHERINE.
NEXT SPEAKER, OBIE GOME, ARE YOU DOING? HELLO, MR. GONI.
MY NAME IS, UH, UH, OBIE GONI.
I'M A, UH, NATIVE AND UH, UH, I HAVE A DISPUTE WITH, UH, UH, MY NEIGHBOR, UH, MELISSA TAN.
SHE GOT THE PROPERTY ON THE LEFT SIDE OF ME AND THE RIGHT SIDE OF ME, AND I'M IN THE MIDDLE AND, UH, SHE WANT, UH, GET MY PROPERTY, BUT SHE DON'T WANT TO PAY.
SHE GOT HER TREES AND STUFF GROWING ALL OVER THE PLACE, OR DAMAGING MY PROPERTY, DAMAGING MY FENCE AND STUFF.
AND I TELL YOU, HEY, WHY DON'T YOU JUST CUT YOUR TREES DOWN? BUT SHE WON'T DO IT.
AND, UH, UH, SHE DOING EVERYTHING TO ME TO STOP ME FROM BUILDING MY PLACE, STOPPING THAT SHE HAD NO BUSINESS OR, OR WORRY ABOUT.
BUT SHE DOING ALL SHE CAN TO TRY TO STOP ME FROM, UH, UH, BUILDING MY PROPERTY.
I WANNA MOVE BACK HOME TO TAKE CARE OF MY DAD.
MY DAD NINE YEARS OLD, HE'S SICK.
WELL, WE, I COULD BE MORE CLOSER TO HIM, AND SHE DOING EVERYTHING THAT SHE CAN TO STOP THAT.
AND I, SHE WOULD LEAVE ME ALONE AND SHE WOULD CUT HER TREES DOWN HER TREES, ABOUT AS TALL AS WHAT THE CEILING IS WHEN YOU GET A STORM OR SOMETHING.
IT, IT CAUSED A LOT OF DAMAGE TO MY HOUSE.
AND THEN SHE DON'T WANT TO PAY FOR IT.
SHE, UH, GAVE ME PERMISSION TO GO CUT HER TREES DOWN.
SHE DIDN'T SAY NOTHING ABOUT MOVING THEM, SO I JUST CUT 'EM DOWN.
SAID, NAH, YOU DIDN'T SAY NOTHING ABOUT MOVING.
SO SHE HIRED SOMEBODY TO THROW HER TREES IN MY YARD, AND THEN I HAD TO HIRE SOMEBODY TO PUT THE TREES OUT ON THE STREET.
AND THEN SHE SENT ME A BILL FOR $850.
AND I SAY, HEY, YOU KNOW, WE DIDN'T AGREE ON THIS.
SO, SO I SAID, IF YOU PAY ME FOR THE DAMAGE TO MY PLACE, I PAID FOR THE DAMAGE TO YOURS, SHE OWED ME ABOUT LIKE 20,000.
I'D BE MORE THAN HAPPY TO PAY $850 IF SHE WOULD JUST, UH, LEAVE ME ALONE AND KEEP HER TREES ON HER SIDE.
AND I, I HAVE A LOT OF PICTURES IF YOU WANT TO SEE 'EM.
MR. GONER, WE'RE HAPPY TO LOOK AT THE PICTURES, BUT I DO WANT TO TELL YOU THAT WE'RE NOT GONNA HAVE THE JURISDICTION TO DETERMINE BETWEEN NEIGHBOR TO NEIGHBOR.
UM, I DO WANT YOU TO, I DO WANT YOU TO, UM, TALK TO OFFICER, OFFICER CARR, AND, AND HE CAN, HE CAN HELP YOU.
UM, IF YOU AND YOUR NEIGHBOR ARE UNABLE TO, UM, SETTLE THE DISPUTE, UH, YOU, YOU MAY CONSIDER GOING TO, UM, JP COURT.
UM, BUT THAT'S, THAT'S UNFORTUNATELY NOT AN ISSUE THAT WE CAN RESOLVE AS A CITY COUNCIL BETWEEN NEIGHBOR AND NEIGHBOR.
UH, I WISH Y'ALL WOULD'VE, UH, DO SOMETHING TO, UH, UH, TO MAKE IT A LITTLE BIT BETTER.
UH, WELL, ME AND HER DON'T HAVE TO BUTT HEADS WITH EACH OTHER, RIGHT? SHE, UH, UH, THE NEIGHBORHOOD BULLY TO ME, AND I WISH
[02:15:01]
SHE WOULD STOP.SHE KEEP CONSISTENTLY CALLING THE CITY ON ME.
AND THEY SHUTTING ME DOWN WHEN I'M TRYING TO BUILD, UH, MY HOUSE.
RIGHT? MY HOUSE DOES NOT HAVE NOTHING TO DO WITH HER AT ALL.
RIGHT? AND THEN SHE CALLED THE POLICE ON ME AND SAID, I'M TRESPASSING.
BUT PEOPLE WALKED THROUGH A YARD ALL THE TIME GOING TO THE STORE, AND SHE DON'T SAY NOTHING TO THEM.
SO SHE PUT UP A CAMERA, SAY, I GOT A CAMERA UP HERE.
DON'T Y'ALL CROSS, UH, THROUGH MY YARD? BUT, AND SHE CONSISTED, JUST WATCH WHAT I'M DOING.
SHE BROKE IN MY CONTAINER, LOOKING IN THERE THINKING SHE GONNA FIND SOMETHING ILLEGAL UP IN THERE.
ALL THE STUFF IN MY CONTAINER GOES TO MY HOUSE.
I AIN'T NOTHING IN THERE ILLEGAL.
THAT'S NOT SUPPOSED TO BE UP IN THERE.
SHE MESSED WITH MY WORKERS GETTING THEIR LICENSE PLATES, GETTING THEY NORMALS AND STUFF, YOU KNOW, DISTURBING THEM.
WHEN SHE THREW HER TREES IN MY YARD.
I COULDN'T EVEN WORK THAT DAY.
THOSE, THOSE WHEN HER TREES HIT MY HOUSE, IT'S A LOT OF TREES, AND I WISH SHE WOULD STOP.
I DO WANT YOU TO, UM, VISIT WITH OFFICER CARR, AND WE CAN TRY TO HELP GET YOU IN THE RIGHT PLACE TO TRY TO GET THIS RESOLUTION, UH, BETWEEN YOU AND YOUR NEIGHBOR.
UM, HOPEFULLY Y'ALL CAN WORK IT OUT AND NOT HAVE TO GO TO JP COURT, BUT IF NOT, I, I'M GOING TO MAYBE SUGGEST THAT MAY BE THE NEXT STEP.
UM, BUT I DO WISH YOU THE BEST AND OFFICER CARR CAN CAN VISIT WITH YOU.
UH, I'M THE PRESIDENT OF OAKLAND FULLERTON CIVIC ASSOCIATION, ALSO THE PRESIDENT OF AFA EARLY START, UH, CHILDHOOD CENTER.
I WANNA FIRST BY THANKING, UH, HONORABLE MAYOR, UH, WHITMEYER, ALONG WITH, UM, COUNCIL MEMBER MARTINEZ, COUNCIL MEMBER CASTILLO, COUNCIL MEMBER PLUMMER, COUNCIL MEMBER RAMIREZ, AND COUNCIL MEMBER CARTER.
AND BECAUSE OF ALL OF Y'ALL, Y'ALL MADE A REALLY MEMORABLE ZOO TRIP FOR OUR PRE-K THREE AND PRE-K FOUR SCHOOL.
AND, UM, I SENT SOME OF Y'ALL PICTURES AND THANK YOU CARDS THAT CAME FROM THE KIDS IN THE SCHOOL FOR THE COUNCIL MEMBERS WHO HELPED ME, AND I REALLY APPRECIATE IT.
I DON'T KNOW, I, I TRIED SINCE AUGUST TRYING TO SET UP OUR SCHOOL TO GO TO THE ZOO, AND, AND IN AUGUST WHEN WE STARTED SCHOOL, THEY SAID, OH, WE'RE ALREADY BOOKED UP FOR THE YEAR.
BUT I THINK WE, US AS A CITY BEING THE FOURTH LARGEST CITY OF THE UNITED STATES, WE NEED TO DO A BETTER JOB AT MAKING THE ZOO MORE ACCESSIBLE TO CHILDREN AND THE SCHOOLS, UH, ALONG WITH THE CHILDREN'S MUSEUM.
I MEAN, DO Y'ALL REALIZE IT COSTS $50 FOR AN ADULT TO GO TO THE ZOO? $27 PER A CHILD? IMAGINE IF YOU WERE THE HUSBAND AND WIFE AND THREE KIDS, THAT'S $200 JUST TO WALK IN THE DOOR.
AND YET THEY DO OFFER SOME, UH, DISCOUNTS.
BUT I DO ENCOURAGE Y'ALL TO TRY TO WORK WITH THE HOUSTON CITY ZOO TO MAKE IT MORE ACCESSIBLE FOR CHILDREN.
AND I DIDN'T EVEN WANT TO TOUCH ON THE, UH, MAYOR'S BUDGET THING, BUT I'M GONNA GO AHEAD AND TOUCH ON IT BECAUSE I WANTED TO MAKE THIS A POSITIVE THING.
AND I DO APPRECIATE EVERY COUNCIL MEMBER WHO HELPED US WITH THE ZOO TRIP PUBLIC SAFETY.
PUBLIC SAFETY TO ME MEANS A LOT.
IT MAKES ME FEEL THAT MY WIFE AND CHILD CAN GO TO THE STORE WHILE NOT HAVING TO WORRY ABOUT SOMEBODY HARASSING THEM OR SOMEBODY, YOU KNOW, STEALING FROM THEM.
IT TOOK A LOT FOR ME TO GET HPD TO GO PATROL IN FRONT OF OUR SCHOOL.
AND, AND I THINK WE, WE COULD DO A BETTER JOB.
AS FOR THEY'RE TALKING ABOUT INFRASTRUCTURE.
THERE'S FEDERAL FUNDS THAT HELP WITH THE FLOODING, NOT JUST THE CITY FUNDS.
AND I THINK WE NEED TO GET WITH OUR PEOPLE IN CONGRESS TO TRY TO GENERATE MORE MONEY FOR, FOR THE INFRASTRUCTURE OF THE COMMUNITIES, BECAUSE FOR THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT'S GOT, YOU KNOW, A LOT TO HELP WITH.
UM, AND I DO APPRECIATE HPD BECAUSE THEY DO NEED A RAISE ALONG WITH THE FIREMEN.
AND I THINK OUR COUNTY COMMISSIONERS NEED TO WORK ON THE COUNTY PART, ALONG WITH EVEN METRO PD TO MAKE IT, YOU KNOW, WHERE ONE AGENCY AIN'T GETTING THAT MUCH MORE THAN THE OTHER.
BUT I REALLY WANT TO THANK ALL OF Y'ALL WHO MADE THIS ZOO TRIP A POSITIVE THING.
AND I WANTED TO THANK MAYOR WHITMEYER, OF COURSE, ALL THE OTHER COUNCIL MEMBERS THAT HELPED ME.
[02:20:01]
AND ACTUALLY, UM, MEMBER MARTINEZ, HE HELPED US WITH TWO SCHOOLS, UH, ALSO WITH LANTRIP ELEMENTARY, NOT JUST A NEED FOR EARLY START.AND THE PRINCIPAL WANTED ME TO PERSONALLY THANK YOU TO COUNCIL MEMBER ALONG WITH COUNCIL MEMBER CASTILLO HELPING US TO GET OUR THING.
AND I WORKED DILIGENTLY WITH HIS OFFICE, GETTING THE SCHOOL ZONES DOWN.
UM, EVERY, A LOT OF THINGS THAT I WORK WITH HIS OFFICE ON, ON, DO NOT ENTER SIGNS AROUND THE SCHOOL.
UH, BUT I APPRECIATE COUNCIL MEMBER AND YOUR STAFF.
THANK YOU'ALL AGAIN, COUNCIL MEMBER CASTILLO.
AND MARK, THANKS FOR COMING DOWN AND, AND, YOU KNOW, SHOWING US THE, THE KIDS WHO HAD A GREAT TIME AT THE ZOO.
UM, I KNOW YOU, YOU DO A LOT FOR OUR SCHOOLS AND APPRECIATE YOUR, YOUR FEEDBACK ON THEIR EXPERIENCE AND, AND YOU KNOW, YOUR THOUGHTS AROUND THE, THE ACCESSIBILITY AND, AND HOW WE CAN HELP IMPROVE THE ZOO SO MORE, MORE KIDS AROUND THE CITY CAN EXPERIENCE IT.
I'M AN ADVOCATE WITH DECADES OF EXPERIENCE WORKING ACROSS THE TABLE.
I'M HERE TODAY WITH A SERIOUS CONCERN ABOUT HPV DECISION TO DECENTRALIZE THE OFFICE OF COMMUNITY AFFAIRS.
FOR OVER EIGHT YEARS, I VOLUNTEER UNDER THE MUNICIPAL CULTURAL AFFAIRS WITH CADETS IN POLICE ACADEMY, TOURING THEM INTO THE NEIGHBORHOODS, INTRODUCING THEM TO THE COMMUNITY DYNAMICS, AND SHARING THE HISTORY OF HOW DIVERSE GROUPS INCLUDING THE LATINO COMMUNITY, HAVE MADE HOUSTON THEIR HOME.
HOUSTON IS THE THIRD LARGEST CITY WITH 145 LANGUAGES, AND OVER 90 NATIONS REPRESENTED IT.
SO WHY DISMANTLE THE ONE DIVISION THAT CONNECTS HPD DIRECTLY TO THE COMMUNITIES? THESE LIAISONS HAVE SPENT YEARS BUILDING TRUST AND NETWORKS.
THIS ISN'T A PART-TIME ROLE, IT IS A FULL-TIME COMMITMENT.
HOW CAN THESE OFFICERS BE EXPECTED TO PATROL AND ALSO SERVE AS LIAISONS ACROSS A CITY? THIS LARGE WASN'T THE GOAL OF HPD CONTRACT TO RETAIN, RECRUIT, AND COMMIT COMPETE, AND YET WE'RE SHRINKING ONE OF THE MOST EFFECTIVE DIVISIONS WE HAVE FOR THE COMMUNITY OUTREACH.
THE MUSLIM LIAISON POSITION IS STILL VACATED.
WHY ARE WE WAITING FOR A TRAGEDY LIKE BOULDER, COLORADO TO REMIND US WHY THESE ROLES MATTER.
LET'S NOT FORGET JOE CAMP POST TORES MURDER AND THE MOODY PARK RIOT RIOT.
THOSE TRAGEDIES ARE EXACTLY WHAT CREATED THE OFFICE OF COMMUNITY AFFAIRS IN THE FIRST PLACE.
MAYOR RECENTLY, A WOMAN STOOD HERE HEARTBROKEN ASKING FOR HPD TO CATCH HER SON'S KILLER.
YOU REFERRED HER TO THE LIAISON IN PRESENT.
WELL, GUESS WHAT? NEXT TIME THAT LIAISON MIGHT BE OUT ON PATROL DECENTRALIZING THIS DIVISION REMOVES A VITAL SOURCE THAT PEOPLE LIKE ME DEPEND ON KEEPING COMMUNICATIONS WITH BETWEEN HPD AND THE PUBLIC.
NOT EVERYONE CAN BUILD RELATIONSHIPS, RESOLVE CRISIS, OR BUILD A BRIDGE THAT TAKES YEARS OF TRUST AND CONSISTENCY.
AND IF YOU THINK, AND IF YOU THINK THIS ISN'T
AND IF YOU THINK VITAL, UH, ASK YOURSELF, WHY IS SHERRA GONZALEZ MODELING THIS COMMUNITY AFFAIRS DIVISION AFTER HPD? WHY DID HE RECRUIT ONE OF THE HPDS OWN LIAISONS? EVEN WITH A SMALLER BUDGET, HE UNDERSTANDS THE VALUE OF A CENTRALIZED COMMUNITY AFFAIRS DIVISION.
ERNST AND YOUNG'S REPORT MAY SAY ONE THING, BUT IT DOESN'T MEASURE THE HUMAN ELEMENT.
THE HOUSTON ELEMENT, YOU ALL KNOW MUCH WORK GOES INTO EVENTS LIKE NATIONAL NIGHT OUT, THAT KIND OF COORDINATION WILL SUFFER UNDER DECENTRALIZATION.
THIS IS NOT ABOUT POLITICS, IT'S ABOUT PEOPLE.
AND I WILL NOT STAND BY WHILE THIS DIVISION WILL, WHICH HAS SERVED OUR COMMUNITY SO WELL, IS DISMANTLE.
WHEN I REGISTERED TO SPEAK TODAY, I LEFT THE SUBJECT LINE, VAGUE LACK OF COMMUNITY RESOURCES BY 4:00 PM YESTERDAY.
I RECEIVED CALLS FROM DIFFERENT DEPARTMENTS AND DIVISIONS ASKING IF IT WAS THEIR ISSUE.
GUESS WHO WAS MAKING THOSE CALLS? THE LIAISON TO THOSE DEPARTMENTS AND DIVISIONS.
I HOPE THAT ILLUSTRATES MY POINT.
CLEARLY, THANK YOU FOR THIS OPPORTUNITY AND COUNCIL MEMBER CAYMAN FOR BRINGING THIS ISSUE TO LIGHT.
[02:25:01]
ME, ADDRESS THE, THE ISSUE AROUND COMMITTEE AFFAIRS MM-HMMWHICH IS A DEFINITELY CONCERN.
I'VE ALREADY PUT IN SOME, UH, QUESTIONING ABOUT IT BECAUSE BEING THE DIVERSE CITY THAT WE ARE VERY DIVERSE AS, AS THE WORLD KNOWS THAT ALSO WITH SOME OF THE IMPLEMENTATIONS OF WHAT WE NEED TO DO IN OUR COMMUNITIES OVERALL IS ESSENTIAL.
AND SO I'M VERY CONCERNED ABOUT THAT BECAUSE SOME OF THE CRIME ISSUES THAT I'VE INTRODUCED IS VERY VITAL WHEN I TALKED ABOUT THE PROGRAM WITH THE POLICE PASTORS AND PEOPLE MM-HMM
WHICH IS ALL A PART OF COMMUNITY FAIR FAIRS PROJECT.
ALSO BECAUSE WE KNOW, UH, AS WE INTRODUCE THE DATA ON TEENAGE CRIME IN OUR CITY AND HOW THAT NUMBER'S GOING UP.
UM, AND NOT ONLY IS I HEARD EARLY AS THEY WERE TALKING ABOUT GUN VIOLENCE, AND, BUT IT'S ALSO, AND THAT'S TRUE, BUT IT'S ALSO ESSENTIAL ABOUT GANG VIOLENCE.
YOU KNOW, WE HAVE TO LOOK AT ALL OF THE THINGS THAT CONTRIBUTE TO THAT TYPE OF CRIME.
SO IT'S ESSENTIAL THAT WE LOOK AT THIS ISSUE OF DECENTRALIZING THE OFFICE OF COMMUNITY AFFAIRS BECAUSE IT CAN BE DETRIMENTAL.
AND THE PASTORS MINISTRY ADVISORY BOARD OF PREACHERS HAVE STEPPED UP AND MADE THAT ONE OF THE ESSENTIALS.
SO WE WANT TO PARTNER WITH THOSE GROUPS IN ORDER TO HELP ALL OF US BE INVOLVED.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR, YOUR CONCERN WITH THAT.
IT IS ONE THAT CERTAINLY NEED A LOT OF ATTENTION TO.
NEXT SPEAKER, PAULINE CHEATHAM.
CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS ON BEHALF OF, UH, DISTRICT B WITH TASHA JACKSON.
I HAVE SOME COMMUNITY PROBLEMS WITH, UH, OVER WEEDED PROPERTIES THAT'S NOT BEING CARED FOR, A GARBAGE BEING DUMPED.
AND, UH, I'VE SENT YOU SOME PICTURES FOR THE MAYOR'S OFFICE.
AND MS. JACKSON'S OFFICE 2301 HAS BEEN CITED SEVERAL TIMES OVER THE YEARS, AND SHE DOESN'T KEEP HER PROPERTY UP.
AND IT'S ENCROACHING OVER ON MY PROPERTY IF I'M 75 AND I CAN GET OUT AND CUT MY YARD, SURELY SHE CAN KEEP THAT PROPERTY UP AND SHE'S CREATING A DUMPING GROUND.
THEN THE FRIDAY, THE GARBAGE PEOPLE CAME THROUGH AND HE DUMPED ABOUT SIX GARBAGE CANS IN THE DITCH INSTEAD OF LANDING THEM UP.
SO I HAD TO REACH OVER AND PULL MY GARBAGE CAN OUT OF THE DITCH.
THERE'S, UH, CARS AND TRUCKS, UH, THAT'S NOT RUNNING ON THE PROPERTY AT 2304 THROUGH 2312 STEVENS AT THE ROYAL HOUSES.
AND THE, UM, MR. LITE NEIGHBORHOOD PROTECTION HAS BEEN OUT AND, UH, ABOUT THREE MONTHS AGO, AND THEY SAID IT WAS GIVING 'EM TWO WEEKS.
THOSE CARS HAVE BEEN SITTING THERE FOR ABOUT THREE YEARS.
EVERY TIME THEY COME OUT AND SAY THEY'RE GONNA DO SOMETHING, NEIGHBORHOOD PROTECTION ISN'T DOING WHAT THEY'RE SUPPOSED TO DO.
AND I WANTED TO KNOW HOW IS 2301 STEVENS STREET, HOW IS SHE GETTING AWAY WITH UNKEMPT PROPERTY LIKE SHE DOES? AND AS I CUT MY FENCE LINE, THEN HERS IS COMING OVER POISONING IVY.
WE HAVE POSSUM RATS, THE RACCOONS, IT, IT'S PITIFUL.
AND SO I WANNA SEE WHAT THE CITY'S GONNA DO ABOUT THAT, BECAUSE IN THE STREETLIGHTS, THEY HAVE TWO STREETLIGHTS OUT AT 2314, THERE'S A NEW POLE, BUT THEY DIDN'T PUT UP LIGHT THERE.
AND AT THE BACK END OF 2301 STEVENS AT CAMPBELL STREET, THAT LIGHT I REPORTED AT THE CENTER POINT ABOUT THREE MONTHS AGO, AND THEY HAVE YET TO REPLACE THAT LIGHT, AND IT'S DARK.
AND WITH THE OVERGROWN WEEDS, IT'S JUST A SAFETY HAZARD.
SO I'M WANTING TO KNOW, WHAT ARE YOU ALL GONNA DO ABOUT 2301 ALI RIGHT NEXT DOOR.
AND YOU CAN SEE I KEEP MY PROPERTY UP REALLY WELL, AND I, I, I'M REALLY LOOKING FORWARD TO YOU ALL SEEING THAT SHE, UH, DOES WHAT SHE'S SUPPOSED TO DO AS THE REST OF US IN THE COMMUNITY.
MS. CHEATHAM, I, I KNOW THIS IS VERY FRUSTRATING FOR YOU, UM, ESPECIALLY WHEN, UH, YOUR NEIGHBORS ARE NOT KEEPING THEIR YARDS UP THE WAY YOU KEEP YOURS UP.
UM, I KNOW THAT YOUR COUNCIL MEMBER IS NOT HERE TODAY, BUT HER STAFF IS HERE.
UM, AND HE, HE CAN TALK TO YOU.
UM, ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE'VE DONE, UM, IS, UH, PARKING MANAGEMENT CAN DO A SWEEP IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD.
WE DONE IT IN TWO NEIGHBORHOODS IN THE LAST MONTH.
UM, AND THEY COME OUT AND THEY GIVE THEM THE CITATIONS, AND IF THEY DO NOT, UH, REMOVE THE CARS, THEY WENT BACK OUT AND TOLD 'EM.
[02:30:01]
UM, SO I THINK THAT, THAT THAT CAN BE AN OPTION FOR THE, THE CARS THAT ARE, UM, INOPERABLE IN THE COMMUNITY AS FAR AS THE TRASH CANS THAT ARE, UM, PUT IN THE, IN THE DITCH AFTER THE, UM, TRUCKS HAVE GONE BY.WE CAN DEFINITELY, UM, EXPRESS YOUR CONCERN TO THE SOLID WASTE DEPARTMENT TO SEE IF WE CAN DO A BETTER JOB OF MAKING SURE THOSE TRASH CANS LAND UPRIGHT, UM, YOU KNOW, WHEN THEY'RE USING THOSE, UM, UH, AUTOMATIC ARMS. SOMETIMES THAT MAY BE DIFFICULT, ESPECIALLY IF WE HAVE NEW DRIVERS.
BUT WE WILL DEFINITELY EXPRESS YOUR CONCERNS TO THE SOLID WASTE DEPARTMENT AS WELL.
BUT I DO, THE DISTRICT B UM, STAFF IS HERE.
DO YOU WANT TO, UH, MEET WITH, WITH HER? AND, AND HE CAN HELP YOU WITH THE OTHER CONCERNS YOU HAVE IN THE DISTRICT.
AND WE CAN, UM, GET THE DIRECTOR OF THE DEPARTMENT OF NEIGHBORHOODS TO ASSIST AS WELL.
THANK YOU ALL SO MUCH FOR YOU'RE VERY WELCOME, LISTENING TO MY CONCERNS.
HE DOESN'T SPEAK ENGLISH, SO, UM, MOVED TO SUSPEND THE RULES.
AND SECOND TO, UH, SUBSTITUTE DIEGO NAVARRO FOR ENRIQUE NAVARRO.
UH, ANY DISCUSSION IF NO DISCUSSION ITEM PASSES.
OKAY, SO, PARDON OF MY ENGLISH
UM, A CHEF BUSINESS OWNER AND I LEASE A PROPERTY ON THE CORNER OF SHEPHERD DRIVE AND FIGAN STREET ON 2018.
WE OPENED ON, UH, APRIL, 2019, AND THEN COVID HIT, UH, WE DIDN'T GET ANY FUNDS OR HELP.
UH, WE STOOD BY AND THEN THE ROADWORK STARTED ON 2021, AND IT LASTED TWO YEARS.
WE LOST A, A LOT OF, UH, BUSINESS BECAUSE OF THAT.
AND THEY TOOK FROM THREE LANES TO, NO, FROM FOUR LANES TO THREE, AND THEY ADDED A BIKE LANE.
AND THEY TOOK A LOT OF, UH, FOOTAGE FROM OUR PROPERTIES, UH, FOR THE BIKE LANE.
SO WE LOST LIKE EIGHT PARKING SPACES.
AND THOSE PARKING SPACES WERE WHERE, UH, VERY IMPORTANT FOR US, FOR OUR BUSINESS.
AND SINCE THEN, A LOT OF PEOPLE DRIVE BY AND THEY JUST DON'T WANNA, UH, COME BY BECAUSE WE DON'T HAVE ENOUGH PARKING SPACES.
UH, WE'VE BEEN STRUGGLING BECAUSE OF THAT.
AND I'M JUST HERE, UH, FOR YOUR HELP TO RECOVER THOSE PARKING SPACES.
AND THE ENGINEER IN CHARGE OF THAT PROJECT WAS STEVE CAMPANA.
SO HE'S NO LONGER WORKING FOR THE CITY.
AND, UH, WE DON'T KNOW WHAT, WHAT ELSE TO DO, UH, TO GET MORE BUSINESS.
AND I'M HERE FOR YOUR HELP SO WE CAN GET MORE, UH, CREATE MORE JOBS, GET MORE BUSINESS, AND WE JUST DON'T WANT TO CLOSE BECAUSE OF, UH, THE LACK OF PARKING SPACES.
AND WE'RE ALSO AWARE OF, UH, FAMILY OWNED BUSINESS.
SO WE'RE JUST HERE, UH, FOR HELP.
UM, DIEGO, THIS IS, UH, RELATING TO DISTRICT C.
UM, WE HAVE TRIED TO REACH OUT TO YOUR OFFICE, UH, BUT WE, I MEAN TO OUR OFFICE HAS TRIED TO REACH OUT TO YOU, BUT WE HAVEN'T GOTTEN A CALL BACK.
SO IF YOU CAN, UH, I DON'T THINK I HAVE STAFF.
I THINK THEY'RE IN THE BACK DEALING WITH THE, THE DISTRICT EMERGENCY THAT JUST CAME UP.
BUT WE WILL TRY TO REACH OUT TO YOU AGAIN.
NO PRIVATE SPACE WAS TAKEN DURING, UH, THE DURHAM SHEPHERD RECONSTRUCTION.
NOW, IF THERE WERE ILLEGAL ENCROACHMENTS ON CITY PROPERTY, THAT WAS ABSOLUTELY ADDRESSED.
BUT THE, THE WIDER SIDEWALKS AND IMPROVED INFRASTRUCTURE CAME FROM THE STREET ITSELF.
AND THEN, UH, THE REASON YOU SEE THREE LANES WHEN THE TRAFFIC HAS NOT DECREASED, UH, I'M SORRY, TRAFFIC JAMS HAVE ACTUALLY DECREASED IN TRAFFIC IS FLOWING SMOOTHER.
WE HAVE SAFER TURNS AND CROSSES, AND A LOT OF BUSINESSES ARE ACTUALLY SEEING MORE.
WE ABSOLUTELY WANNA HELP YOU, BUT I WANNA MAKE SURE YOU KNOW,
[02:35:01]
THAT NO PRIVATE PROPERTY WAS, WAS TAKEN IN ANY WAY DURING THIS.NOW, IF THERE WERE ILLEGAL ENCROACHMENTS, THOSE WERE DRESSED JUST LIKE IN ANY OTHER CITY PROJECT AND CONSTRUCTION THAT OCCURS.
YOU CAN ALSO, AND WE'LL MAKE SURE YOU GET THE INFORMATION, REACH OUT.
I THINK WHO YOU'RE REFERRING TO IS NOT A CITY ENGINEER, BUT ACTUALLY A TS ENGINEER.
THE, THE, THE HEIGHTS TURS MANAGE THIS PROJECT.
AND YOU CAN GO ON THEIR WEBSITE AND REACH OUT TO THEM DIRECTLY, OR WE CAN HELP FACILITATE, IS THAT, THAT AS WELL, TO MAKE SURE THAT YOUR QUESTIONS GET ANSWERED.
DURING THE PREVIOUS, UM, GOVERNMENT, WE, WE, UH, RE TRIED TO REACH THE ENGINEERS AND NOTHING HAPPENED.
AND WELL, ON MY CORNER, A LOT OF PEOPLE JUST CRASH THEIR CARS WITH A BIKE LANE.
AND YEAH, I, WE WILL LOOK AT THE CRASH AGAIN.
UM, THIS HAS ACTUALLY CREATED ADDITIONAL SAFETY IMPROVEMENTS.
THERE'S STILL ONGOING CONSTRUCTION, BUT WE WANNA MAKE SURE, UM, THAT YOU'RE GETTING ALL YOUR QUESTIONS ANSWERED.
SO AGAIN, UM, I'M GOING TO SEND A NOTE TO MY STAFF RIGHT NOW TO COME MEET YOU TO MAKE SURE WE HAVE THE RIGHT NUMBER.
UH, BUT PLEASE REACH OUT TO OUR OFFICE SO WE CAN GET YOU THE RIGHT CONTACT INFO.
ALSO, IN THE AREA WHERE THEY, UH, DUG UP INSIDE THE PROPERTY, THEY IT, BUT IT WAS LIKE VERY POORLY DONE, AND IT'S CRUMBLING DOWN AND IT'S CREATING A LOT OF GARBAGE.
OKAY, WE'LL, WE'LL MAKE SURE THAT THE TURS IS AWARE OF THAT.
AGAIN, ALL THE UTILITIES, SO IMPROVED DRAINAGE WENT IN.
UTILITIES WERE, UH, SO BADLY INSTALLED BEFORE THE CONSTRUCTION THAT EVEN CARS OR HEAVY EQUIPMENT WAS HITTING GAS LINES.
SO ALL THE UTILITIES WERE REDONE IN THAT.
BUT WE'LL MAKE SURE THAT WE CONNECT YOU.
GOOD AFTERNOON, UH, MAYOR PROTI AND COUNCIL MEMBERS, AND THANK YOU AGAIN FOR ALLOWING ME TO SPEAK THREE MINUTES THIS WEEK AND FOR ALLOWING ME ONE MINUTE FOR THE REST OF THE TUESDAYS IN THIS MONTH, I WANNA MAKE A CORRECTION ON YOUR SCHEDULE.
THE ADDRESS IS 1619 WILBERFORCE.
I'M HERE REPRESENTING MY 95-YEAR-OLD MOTHER.
ON MY WAY HERE, I SAID A PRAYER TO GOD, AND I ASKED HIM TO ORDER MY WORDS AND STEPS THAT THEY WOULD BE RECEPTIVE.
I'VE BEEN TRYING TO GET A CASE NUMBER AND TRYING TO GET HELP WITH THIS MATTER.
EVER SINCE AUGUST OF LAST YEAR, THE CITY IS TELLING ME THAT IT'S A CIVIL MATTER.
THIS IS A CRIMINAL AND A CIVIL MATTER.
A COUPLE OF WEEKS AGO, I SPOKE AT THE COUNTY COMMISSIONER'S COURT TO GET THIS DEAD BODY OFF OF MY MOTHER'S PROPERTY.
IT'S GOING TO TAKE A JOINT EFFORT BETWEEN THE CITY AND THE COUNTY.
WE'RE SPENDING FUNDS, WE ARE PAYING FOR LAWYERS, BUT I DO NEED HELP.
16, 19 WILBERFORCE IN DISTRICT B COUNCIL MEMBER JACKSON IS NOT HERE.
I LIVE IN DISTRICT A EVERY TIME I SHOW UP, MY COUNCIL MEMBER IS CONCERNED ENOUGH TO CALL ME, TO CHECK ON ME, AND TO OFFER ANY TYPE OF SUPPORT SHE CAN GIVE ME.
MY 95-YEAR-OLD MOTHER WAS BORN IN HOUSTON.
SHE RAISED HER FAMILY IN HOUSTON.
SHE AND MY FATHER HAD BUSINESSES IN HOUSTON.
AND I'M BEGGING FOR ANY KIND OF ASSISTANCE FOR SOMEONE FRAUDULENTLY FILING DEEDS AT THE COUNTY CLERK'S OFFICE, WHICH IS CRIMINAL.
AND I'M ASKING FOR SOMEONE FROM HPD TO HELP US GET ON OUR PROPERTY.
WE ARE LOCKED OUT OF OUR PROPERTY.
WE CAN'T GO ON BECAUSE THEY'RE ARMED PEOPLE THERE, THEY'RE RELATIVES.
AND MY AUNT WHO PASSED, HER DAUGHTER OWNS A FUNERAL HOME.
MY AUNT'S DEATH CERTIFICATE SAYS SHE'S PROCLAIMED THIS PROPERTY AS A CEMETERY IN THE CITY OF HOUSTON WITHOUT FILING FOR ANY PERMITS.
[02:40:01]
DEPARTMENT, I'M PUT ON HOLD.I'M ASKING FOR SOME ASSISTANCE.
I DON'T CARE IF IT'S AN AT LARGE COUNCIL MEMBER, BUT CAN SOMEONE PLEASE ASSIST US? WE HAVE ANOTHER EVICTION COURT DATE LATER IN THE MONTH, BUT WE CAN'T DO THIS BY OURSELF.
AND IT IS CIVIL, BUT IT IS ALSO CRIMINAL, AND IT WILL TAKE A JOINT EFFORT FROM THE CITY OF HOUSTON AND FROM HARRIS COUNTY.
THE POPULATION IN THE CITY OF HOUSTON'S THE FOURTH LARGEST IN THIS COUNTRY.
HARRIS COUNTY IS THE THIRD LARGEST COUNTY IN THE UNITED STATES.
AND SOMEONE CAN WALK INTO A COUNTY OFFICE AND FILE A FRAUDULENT DEED AND THEN DECIDE TO TAKE THEIR BUSINESS LICENSE AND BURY A BODY IN A LAND GRAB.
AND I'M, I HAVE COMMITTED MYSELF TO ADDRESSING THIS ISSUE EVERY WEEK UNTIL I GET SOME ACTION.
UH, COUNCIL MEMBER, UH, VICE MAYOR, PRO TEM PAC, THANK YOU MAYOR PRO TEM, MS. CAMPBELL, LET'S GO TALK OUT IN THE HALL AND LET'S SEE WHAT WE CAN DO TO GET THIS RESOLVED FOR YOU.
UH, MAYOR PRO TEM AND CITY COUNCIL.
MY NAME IS JOHN NICKS, I LIVE OVER IN THE HEIGHTS AND THE AWESOME DISTRICT C OF COURSE, I CAYMAN COUNCILWOMAN.
I CAYMAN IS MY CITY COUNCIL MEMBER.
I AM KIND TO, UH, MY MAIN TOPIC IS TODAY THAT I WANNA SEE THE TALK Y'ALL DO IS TO BRING BACK A HERO 2.0 FOR ANY OF YOU THAT REMEMBER BACK 10 YEARS, ACTUALLY, 10 YEARS AGO OR SO, WE HAD THE USED
AND THAT MADE A WHOLE BIG MESS OF IT.
AND I'VE REALIZED, YOU KNOW, HOUSTON HAS GOTTEN A LOT MORE PROGRESSIVE.
I BELIEVE THAT, YOU KNOW, IT'S TIME NOW.
IT WOULD BETTER PROTECT, YOU KNOW, A LOT OF, YOU KNOW, GIVE US EQUAL PROTECTIONS, YOU KNOW, FOR LIKE, PEOPLE LIKE MYSELF THAT DO FACE DISCRIMINATION, YOU KNOW, AS, AS A CITY, AS A CITY RESIDENT, NOT JUST, YOU KNOW, THE LGBT, BUT ALSO, YOU KNOW, IF IT FOCUS, YOU KNOW, PEOPLE LIKE MYSELF, IT ISN'T JUST THE BATHROOM BILL, YOU KNOW, I BELIEVE IT'S TIME AND IT'S TIME LIKE THAT.
I DO ALSO SUPPORT THE AMENDMENT WITH THE BA, THE LGBT AMENDMENT.
WE NEED TO DO MORE PROTECTION WITH THE LBGT AS WELL.
AND ON THE OTHER THING TOO, WE DESPERATELY NEED TO FIND SOME SORT OF MONEY TO REPLACE THIS CARPET.
IT IS HORRIBLE FOR PEOPLE IN MY WHEELCHAIRS.
IF YOU EVER WANT TO, I'LL MOVE TO A CHAIR AND YOU CAN TRY TO MANEUVER IN MY, IN MY WHEELCHAIR TO SEE HOW AWFUL IT IS.
AND JUST, THE CITY HALL HAS A LOT OF ISSUES TOO, TO GET AROUND ON THAT ISSUE.
AND I COULD GO ON AND ON ABOUT ISSUES WITH THE CITY BEING THAT IT COULD DO BETTER FOR DISABILITIES ON THAT ISSUE AND THAT THE CITY COULD DO BETTER AS A RESIDENT, OF COURSE, THAT THE CITY COULD DO BETTER ON IT.
AND I'M DISAPPOINTED THAT MAYOR TURNER'S HERE, BUT I HOPE HE'S DOING BETTER WHEREVER HE'S AT AND THAT HE GETS TO HEAR MY SPEECH.
AND I HOPE Y'ALL ENJOY AND GET TIME TO HEAR MY, AND THAT Y'ALL HAVE TIME.
I KNOW Y'ALL ARE VERY TIRED AND I HOPE Y'ALL HAVE A GREAT DAY.
WE NEED TO JUST TO BREAK THE FIRE EMS AWAY FROM THE FIRE DEPARTMENT.
IT TAKES CRAZY HOW LONG YOU HAVE TO WAIT FOR EMS SERVICE IN THE CITY.
EMS SERVICE IN THE CITY, ESPECIALLY IF YOU'RE DOWNTOWN AND THEY SEND SOMEONE FROM ACRES, ACRES, HOMES, OR IF YOU'RE IN THE HEIGHTS AND THEY SEND SOMEONE FROM LIKE, FAR, FAR AWAY, IT'S RIDICULOUS.
MR. NICKS, THANK YOU AGAIN FOR COMING.
I KNOW THAT, UH, MAYOR WHITMEYER HAD OFFERED TO DO A TOUR WITH THE CITY HALL AT THAT.
AND HE SAID, COME BACK IN TWO WEEKS, WHICH I DID, AND HE DIDN'T.
AND, AND I, I'M, I, I SEE SOME STAFF NODDING.
I HOPEFULLY WE'LL GET THAT SCHEDULED.
THE ONLY REASON I BROUGHT IT UP WAS TO MAKE SURE Y'ALL LET ME KNOW WHEN IT IS SO I CAN JOIN YOU.
[02:45:01]
UM, WITH DIRECTOR PON SAY, UH, RIGHT ABOUT THE CARPET AND THE ISSUES THAT YOU RAISED RELATED TO A DA ACCESSIBILITY AT SEA HALL.RIGHT? SO, AGAIN, I APPRECIATE IT AND I JUST WANNA MAKE SURE THAT RIGHT.
AND I'M GONNA LIVE, HE SAID TWO WEEKS, WHICH I DID, YOU KNOW, I PAID THE APPOINTMENT TO SEE HIM AND HOPEFULLY THAT I COULD GRAB HIM AND THEN THAT HE WILL, HE'S NOT HERE.
OKAY, WELL, WE'LL, WE'LL, WE'LL MAKE SURE I, I SEE A THUMBS UP FROM HIS STAFF WHO I KNOW IS WORKING REALLY HARD, SO WE'LL ALL, 'CAUSE I DIDN'T EVEN KNOW WHO TO REACH OUT TO, TO PHONE HIM TO PHONE CALL OR WHO TO EMAIL OR ANYTHING.
SO I JUST, YOU KNOW, MADE AN APPOINTMENT, YOU KNOW, MADE A THING TO REGISTER, TO SPEAK ON THE SAME TOPICS AREA.
SO I THINK THERE'S, THERE'S STAFF, UH, AS SOON AS YOU'RE DONE, UH, THEY'LL GET WITH YOU, BUT MAKE SURE I'M INCLUDED.
OKAY? THANK YOU AND HAVE A GREAT DAY AND GOD BLESS TEXAS.
AND GO TEAM WITH WHATEVER TEAM YOU'RE IN FOR AND HAVE A GREAT DAY.
JOHN, THANK YOU FOR COMING DOWN HERE AND FOR YOUR COMMENTS AROUND THE, UM, ECONOMIC EMPOWERMENT COORDINATOR POSITION AND FOR HIGHLIGHTING THE RANGE OF CLASSES THAT WERE PROTECTED, UH, UNDER THE OLD HERO ORDINANCE, UH, AND FOR YOUR CONTINUED ADVOCACY.
RIGHT? BECAUSE THERE'S A LOT OF THINGS TOO.
I MEAN, I'VE BEEN DISCRIMINATED AGAINST, YOU KNOW, AS A DISABLED INDIVIDUAL.
I LIVE IN, UH, MY APARTMENT'S NOT A, IN THE VEST OF CONDITION, YOU KNOW, AND IT, IT'S IMPORTANT TO HIGHLIGHT THAT.
RIGHT? AND ALL THE REPUBLICANS WANNA DO IS JUST CALL IT THE BATHROOM BILL AND THEN GET IT ON THE BALLOT.
AND THEN THAT'S ALL THEY WANNA DO IS JUST TRY TO DO IT CRAZY.
OF COURSE, YOU, YOU KNOW WHAT I'M MY VOTING RECORD AND WHAT I'M PROUD TO BE.
IS THERE ANOTHER WILLIE DAVIS IN THE ROOM?
GOOD EVENING TO THE MAYOR PRO TIM.
I WAS HOPING TO MEET JOHN WHITMEYER, MAYOR JOHN WHITMEYER BECAUSE THIS IS MY FIRST TIME COMING THIS YEAR, UHHUH, TO ADDRESS THIS MATTER.
I'M LISA JACKSONS, I'M AN AUTHOR AND I AM A CEMETERY PRESERVATIONIST.
I HAVE BEEN DOING THIS WORK FOR 20 PLUS YEARS.
UH, MY MISSION IS TO MAKE SURE THAT THESE HISTORIC PLACES AND RESOURCES ARE FOR GOD NO MORE.
UM, WITH THOMAS JEFFERSON SAID, HISTORY IS A THING RARE.
THAT IS ALWAYS VALUABLE HISTORY.
IT IS A MONTH THAT OUR HISTORY SHOULD BE TOLD.
WE ARE DEDICATED THAT SHARING OUR HISTORY FROM THE GRAVE, IT'S VERY IMPORTANT.
MY CONCERNS TODAY, I GUESS WITH THE BUDGET CUTS, THE AROUND THE CEMETERY USED TO BE CUT BY THE COUNTY, THE OUTER PERIMETERS.
BUT NOW THAT THEY'VE TAKEN THAT AWAY, IT IS IN DISARRAY.
WE HAVE PROBLEMS WITH THE MEDIUM AND I'M NOT GONNA ADDRESS THAT UNTIL YOU GET THE REPORT FROM THE ARCHEOLOGIST.
THE MEDIAN IS WHERE THOSE BODIES WAS LEFT THERE WHEN THEY WERE SUPPOSED TO BE REMOVED DURING THE 1950S.
AND I HAVE, WE HAVE DONE EXTENSIVE RESEARCH AND I HAVE ALL THE RESEARCH.
I HAVE TEAMED UP AND BROUGHT PROFESSIONALS TOGETHER FROM UNIVERSITY OF HOUSTON WHO ARE ARCHEOLOGISTS, ANTHROPOLOGISTS AND GEOPHYSICS.
AND WE'VE DONE THESE, UH, DEEP RESEARCH IN THIS AREA.
AND WHAT WE NEED, WHAT I'M COMING HERE TODAY IS TO ADDRESS THE PROBLEM THAT IS OVERGROWN ON THE PARAMETERS.
WHAT USED TO HELPED US, BECAUSE WE GET NO FUNDING, OUR FUNDING COMES FROM VOLUNTEERS AND IN KIND DONATIONS WE HAVE HAD SOMEONE DO AN IN KIND DONATION WITH A PERIMETER FENCE.
THAT'S WHERE THE LINDA CARE SHEFFIELD'S FOUNDATION AND THAT WAS THE KEY VIOLATORS OUT OF THAT PLACE.
OUR GOAL IS TO MAKE THIS A PLACE WHERE PEOPLE CAN COME AND IT'S LOCATED IN THE GREATER FIFTH WARD WHERE THEY CAN COME AND LEARN ABOUT THE COMMUNITY.
ALSO, MEL TURNER, WHEN HE WAS HERE, HE HELPED AND DONATED THAT BRICK FENCE THAT COST THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS.
SO WE ARE TRYING TO MAINTAIN AND KEEP THAT UP.
WE ARE COMING TO REQUEST TO MAKE SURE THAT YOU CONTINUE, YOU THE CITY, START CUTTING THAT PERIMETER BECAUSE
[02:50:01]
THAT BELONGS TO THE CITY.THROUGH OUR RESEARCH, THE MEDIAN IS OVERGROWN TALL AS ME, IT BELONGS TO THE CITY.
AND ALSO WITH THE COUNTY STOPPING AND HELPING US CUT ONCE A MONTH.
AND THAT'S ONE OF THE MAINTENANCE.
IT'S OVERGROWN AND WE HAVE NO FUNDING.
BUT IN THE MEDIAN, THOSE REMAINS HAVE BEEN DISTURBED YEAR, UH, SEVERAL YEARS AGO.
IT STARTED IN THE 1930S, IF YOU LOOK BACK IN HISTORY OF THAT.
AND THE CEMETERY ACQUIRED THAT MEDIAN AND THE 1958 TO 1960 TO WIDEN LOCKWOOD.
SO WE FEEL THAT HISTORY IS IMPORTANT.
WE FEEL THAT OUR ANCESTORS ARE IMPORTANT.
IT IS JUNETEENTH MONTH AND EVERY DAY IS HISTORY.
SO WE WOULD LIKE TO ASK YOUR HELP AND CONTINUING TO PRESERVE THIS HISTORIC PIECE OF PROPERTY FOR NOT ONLY FOR US TODAY, FOR MANY YEARS TO COME THROUGH OUR YOUTH AND TEACHING THEM.
AND WE'LL DISCUSS THE MEDIUM 'CAUSE THAT IS A BIGGER STORY.
AFTER YOU GET THE REPORT FROM THE ARCHEOLOGIST, THANK YOU FOR ALLOWING ME TO COME.
AND I HOPE, AND ALSO IF YOU, SINCE THEY'VE STOPPED, I JUST WANT TO REQUEST MAYBE YOU CAN GIVE US SOME ZERO TURN LAWNMOWER, SOME EQUIPMENT OURSELVES THAT WE CAN CONTINUE TO WORK.
LET ME ASK A QUESTION CONCERNING HOW MANY, YOU NAMED SEVERAL CEMETERIES YOU SAID THAT YOU WERE WORKING ON, IS IT MORE THAN ONE? YES.
IN THE PAST WE USED TO WORK ON HARRISBURG AND I ADMIRE WITH THE CITY COUNCILWOMAN AND THE PEOPLE IN THAT AREA HAVE TAKEN ON THE OWNERSHIP OF THE HARRISBURG CEMETERY.
WHERE THEY'RE HELPING THEM PRESERVE THAT PIECE OF PROPERTY.
SO, SO THIS ONE THAT YOU'RE SPEAKING ABOUT, THIS PARTICULAR ONE IS LOCATED WHERE? IT'S LOCATED ON MARKET BETWEEN MARKET AND LOCKWOOD.
IT'S IN THE GREATER FIFTH WARD RIGHT OFF OF I 10.
IT'S A EVERGREEN NEGRO CEMETERY.
BUT THERE ARE SEVERAL CEMETERIES ALSO.
OAK PARK, WHEN THE HURRICANE CAME, YEAH, IT WAS DESTROYED.
SO WE, I'VE BEEN DOING THIS 25 PLUS YEARS.
I'M HELPING PEOPLE IN JASPER AROUND THE STATE AND PRESERVING THESE HISTORIC PROJECTS.
SO IS THERE ORGANIZATION THAT YOU LEAD TO DO THIS? YES.
THE ORGANIZATION THAT I STARTED WITH IN THE NINE WAS PROJECT RESPECT WITH DR.
NOW THE ORGANIZATION, WE HAVE COLLABORATED WITH THEM 'CAUSE A LOT OF THEM HAVE PASSED AWAY.
IS WHY NOT LEGACY, INHERITANCE? ALL OF US ARE NONPROFIT ORGANIZATION.
AND I'M LEADING PER DR. JONES 'CAUSE HE'S STILL HERE.
HE JUST CAN'T COME OUT LIKE HE USED TO.
AND HIS PERMISSION TO WRITE, IT'S TO CONTINUE SINCE I'VE BEEN WITH HIM SINCE THE BEGINNING.
CONTINUE THE EFFORTS OF THESE CEMETERIES.
WELL I'D LIKE TO, I'D LIKE TO MEET WITH YOU, UM, IF BRIEFLY AND UH, SEE IF WE CAN GET SOME PEOPLE WHO CAN VOLUNTEER.
'CAUSE YOU WERE ASKING FOR PEOPLE VOLUNTARILY TO COME OUT AND YEAH, I'M, I'M ASKING FOR VOLUNTEERS, BUT NOT ONLY, I WANT THAT AROUND THE MEDIUM.
AND WHEN WE, UM, WHEN AFTER THIS RESEARCH IS DONE, BECAUSE THE MEDIUM, THERE'S A BIG PROBLEM.
AND YOU'LL HEAR ABOUT THE PROBLEM.
AND THERE ARE SEVERAL BODIES STILL THERE.
NEXT SPEAKER STEVE WILLIAMS. STEVE WILLIAMS. NEXT SPEAKER SARAH REMAN.
NEXT SPEAKER, CAESAR ESPINOSA.
UH, BASICALLY, UM, I GOT A CALL, UH, ABOUT TWO WEEKS AGO FROM THE HOUSTON CHRONICLE, UH, WITH STARTLING NEWS THAT THEY WERE DISMANTLING, UH, THE COMMUNITY LIAISON PROGRAM AT HPD OR DECENTRALIZING IT.
PEOPLE ARE ALREADY SCARED OF THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT.
PEOPLE IN HOUSTON ARE ALREADY SCARED OF THE STATE GOVERNMENT AND IF WE DON'T DO MORE TO REACH OUT TO THE COMMUNITY, LET THEM KNOW THAT HPD IS THERE FOR THEM, THAT H THAT THEY SHOULD CALL HPD, THEN PEOPLE ARE GONNA BE FURTHER SCARED OF HPD.
AND THAT DOESN'T ONLY PUT COMMUNITIES OF COLOR AT RISK, BUT THAT PUTS ALL OF US AT RISK.
[02:55:01]
I, I REALLY WANT THERE TO BE SOME DEEPER IN THOUGHT BECAUSE THE PERCENT OF PEOPLE WHO ARE PART OF THIS LIAISON PROGRAM ARE 0.007% OF HPD.THE NUMBERS SHOULD ACTUALLY BE, IN MY OPINION, A LOT BIGGER.
AND I ALSO DON'T BUY INTO THE NOTION THAT ALL, ALL POLICE OFFICERS ARE LIAISONS.
AND THAT'S NOT BECAUSE I HATE POLICE OFFICERS 'CAUSE I'VE BEEN ON RIDEALONGS WITH HPD AND THOSE OFFICERS HAVE ENOUGH TO WORRY ABOUT TO AFTER THEIR SHIFT, GO OUT AND DO RADIO SHOWS OR TRANSLATE OR GO OUT INTO SPECIFIC CRIME SCENES AND DO THE WORK THAT SOME OF THESE LIAISONS DO.
SO REALLY, REALLY, REALLY RECONSIDER.
COUNCIL MEMBER CAYMAN? NO, I CESAR I WANTED JUST MAKE SURE YOU HAD ENOUGH TIME TO COMPLETE YOUR REMARKS.
I THINK YOU DID, BUT THANK YOU.
MY NAME IS JOY DAVIS AND I'M THE SENIOR FIELD ORGANIZER AND VOTER ENGAGEMENT ORGANIZING MANAGER OF PURE JUSTICE, WHERE WE TURNED OUT 47,912 HOUSTONIANS TO VOTE.
UH, MY FAMILY HAS BEEN HERE SINCE THE 18 HUNDREDS.
I'M A PROUD HOUSTONIAN AND I'M ALSO A CONSTITUENT OF DISTRICT HI STAND BEFORE YOU TODAY AS A MOTHER, A DAUGHTER, AND A WOMAN WHO HAS LIVED AND LIVES IN AREAS WITH HIGH LEVELS OF POVERTY.
I ALSO LOVE MY COMMUNITY VERY MUCH.
PEOPLE BELIEVE THE FALSE NARRATIVE THAT MORE POLICE MAKE US SAFER.
BUT THE TRUTH IS INCREASED POLICING IN OUR COMMUNITIES, HAVING BROUGHT US MUCH PEACE.
IN FACT, IT HAS BROUGHT FEAR EVERY MORNING WHEN I WOULD LEAVE TO GO TO WORK, TRAFFIC WOULD BE AT A STANDSTILL BY BURBANK ELEMENTARY.
WHEN THE NEWS OF LAW ENFORCEMENT WAS IN OUR AREA, THE TRAFFIC THAT NORMALLY FILLED THE STREETS IN THE MORNINGS AND THE MANY STUDENTS GOING TO SCHOOL WERE NO LONGER AS PACKED AS THEY ONCE WERE.
IT WAS SO ODD BECAUSE FOR YEARS THAT AREA WAS ALWAYS CROWDED IN THE MORNINGS.
IT WASN'T SUMMER SCHOOL AND THE AREAS WERE BARE.
PEOPLE WERE IN FEAR OF BEING DEPORTED WHILE TAKING THEIR KIDS TO SCHOOL.
PARENTS WERE IN FEAR OF BEING STOPPED, FEAR OF THEIR CHILDREN BEING STOPPED, OF THEIR LOVED ONES BEING TREATED AS SUSPECTS AND OF THEIR SCHOOLS POSSIBLY BEING RATED.
DO YOU NEED SOME MORE TIME? YES.
UH, FOR FAR TOO LONG, UM, PEOPLE HAVE BELIEVED THAT OUR VOICES, OUR NEEDS AND OUR HUMANITY ARE INVISIBLE TO THOSE IN POWER.
THIS ALSO IMPACTS VOTER APATHY WHEN VOTERS WATCH AND FEEL LIKE THEY AREN'T BEING LISTENED TO AND ELECTED OFFICIALS ARE GOING TO KEEP CONTINUING TO DO WHAT THEY WANT TO DO ANYWAY WITHOUT ADDRESSING THE CONCERNS OF THEIR CONSTITUENCY.
OUR NEIGHBORHOODS LACK AFFORDABLE HOUSING QUALITY AFTERSCHOOL AND COMMUNITY PROGRAMS FOR CHILDREN AND TEENAGERS TO ACTUALLY KEEP THEM SAFE AND OUT TROUBLE.
THERE'S ALWAYS A NEED FOR FUNDING FOR MENTAL HEALTH CARE.
THESE ARE THE THINGS THAT KEEP US SAFE, NOT MORE OFFICERS ON THE STREET.
NEXT SPEAKER O MAYOR AMED O MAYOR AMED.
NEXT SPEAKER SSA LEGETT TEASER LEGETT MAYOR PRO.
TIM, I KNOW THIS IS A DANGEROUS SPOT TO BE IN BECAUSE IT'S RIGHT TIME TO GO HOME AND BEAT THE TRAFFIC RIGHT NOW, SO I'LL MAKE SURE TO KEEP IT AT A MINUTE IF THAT'S OKAY.
SO I'M ADDRESSING YOU TODAY NOT AS A DISGRUNTLED FORMER EMPLOYEE, BUT AS A NEW DISTRICT H HOUSTONIAN, SOMEONE WHO MOVED TO THE CITY TO SERVE FOR A JOB.
I NO LONGER HAVE COUNCIL MEMBERS, ALCORN AND CASTILLO.
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR ROLLING FOR THE ROLLING BUDGET TOWN HALLS.
AND I NEED Y'ALL TO HEAR ME THOUGH RIGHT NOW.
NOT WITH POLITICS, BUT WITH PURPOSE IN YOUR HEART.
I COULD BE SILENT RIGHT NOW, BUT I CHOOSE TO SERVE AS A FORMER DIVISION MANAGER IN SOLID WASTE.
I THINK THEY LEFT ALREADY TO KNOW THAT WE WERE ABSOLUTELY WORKING ON RECYCLING EDUCATION.
PROACTIVE COMMUNICATIONS FOR INACCURATE INADEQUATE OPERATIONS.
UM, INADEQUATE OPERATIONS WITH ABSOLUTELY INADEQUATE.
AND COUNCIL CASTILLO ASKED THE QUESTION AND HE ASKED ABOUT PROACTIVE COMMUNICATIONS, BUT REACTIVE RESPONSES WITH CUSTOMER SERVICE WAS THE RESPONSE NOT BEING FORTHCOMING WITH THE RESIDENTS OF HOUSTON.
MANY OF THE AMENDMENTS THAT YOU ALL TALKED ABOUT WITH SOLID WASTE CAME FROM UNDER THE PREVIOUS DIRECTOR.
UM, AND I ALSO SUPPORT THOSE WHO ARE SPEAKING AGAINST THIS BUDGET BECAUSE WITHOUT TRANSPARENCY, THERE'S NO DEMOCRACY.
AND AT THE BUDGET HEARING, YOU HEARD A LOT OF SMOKE AND MIRRORS.
LAST YEAR'S BUDGET WAS APPROXIMATELY 97 MILLION.
THIS YEAR'S BUDGET IS 101 MILLION.
HOWEVER, WITH RISING COST FOR PERSONNEL, INSURANCE DISPOSAL SERVICES AND CONTRACTORS, WHAT YOU EFFECTIVELY
[03:00:01]
DID WAS AUTHORIZE LEADERSHIP TO CUT STAFF LIKE MYSELF.THAT'S HOW THEY FOUND THEIR SAVINGS.
AND ESSENTIALLY THE DEPUTY DIRECTOR'S ROLE IS NOW VACANT DESPITE BEING LABELED CRITICAL.
AND YOU HAVE A CITY'S A CITYWIDE HIRING FREEZE COLLECTION, DELAYS ARE GONNA RISE.
WORKERS ARE BLAMED FOR A SYSTEM THAT IS FAILING AND IT'S CAUSED BY SHRINKING RESOURCES.
STORM SEASON IS HERE, Y'ALL AND THE DEPARTMENT'S NOT, IS NOT PREPARED.
ASK FOR THEIR EMERGENCY RESPONSE PLAN.
ASK THEM RIGHT NOW, WHAT IS YOUR EMERGENCY RESPONSE PLAN? 'CAUSE I DON'T THINK THERE IS ONE.
I WAS ON THE COMMITTEE FOR THAT TOO.
I THINK I'M LAST SO I'LL TRY TO BE BRIEF, BUT, UM, I I WANNA LEAVE YOU OUT WITH A, WITH A COUPLE OF NUMBERS.
UH, MY NAME'S ALFRED DOMINGUEZ.
I AM AN EMPLOYEE OF PEOPLE'S COUNCIL AND ALSO A RESIDENT OF DISTRICT JI THINK, UM, SOMETHING I'M CONTINUALLY THINKING ABOUT AS I THINK ABOUT THIS BUDGET I IS WHAT WE'RE KIND OF CONSIGNING OURSELVES TO AS A CITY.
NOT JUST WHAT HOUSTONIANS ARE CONSIGNING THEMSELVES TO.
IF, IF THIS BUDGET DOESN'T EVENTUALLY GO THROUGH BOARD ELECTED OFFICIALS AND ALL OF YOU THAT WILL CONTINUE TO SIT ON COUNCIL AND EVENTUALLY WILL RUN AGAIN FOR OFFICE.
I'M SURE SOME OF YOU'LL RUN FOR MAYOR ARE CONSIGNING YOURSELVES INTO FOR THE FUTURE.
HOUSTON IS GETTING DANGEROUSLY CLOSE TO BEING BELOW THE AMOUNT THAT IT'S REQUIRED TO HAVE IN ITS READY DAY FUND AT ALMOST SITTING, I THINK AT A 220 MILLION AFTER THE DEFICIT OF THIS YEAR.
THIS YEAR'S DEFICIT IN THE BUDGET IS THE SECOND BIGGEST DEFICIT ONLY BEHIND THE DEFICIT OF THE BUDGET FROM LAST YEAR.
WE NEED TO CONTINUE TO THINK ABOUT HOW WE'RE GONNA CONTINUALLY INCREASE A POLICE BUDGET, WHICH WE KNOW BASED ON STATE LAW IS ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE TO REDUCE ANY, ANY INCREASES THAT WE'RE GIVING TO THE POLICE NOW WILL BE ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE TO TAKE AWAY.
EVEN AS THE CITY FACES CONTINUING BUDGET CONSTRAINTS IN THE NEXT FIVE YEARS, ESPECIALLY WHEN WE'RE GIVING A HPD, WE JUST GAVE THEM $832 MILLION OVER THE COURSE OF THE NEXT FIVE YEARS TO INCREASE THEIR SALARIES.
THESE NUMBERS ARE NOT MAKING SENSE.
CREDIT AGENCIES, TWO OF THE THREE MAJOR CREDIT AGENCIES HAVE ALREADY DOWNGRADED HOUSTON'S LIKE LONG-TERM CREDIT HEALTH OUTLOOK.
WE'RE VERY CLOSE TO GETTING A FULL DOWNGRADE WHERE WE'RE MAKING IT ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE FOR US TO GET NEW DEBT.
THESE ARE THE QUESTIONS WE NEED TO CONTINUE TO THINK ABOUT AS WE CONTINUE TO THINK ABOUT HOW ARE WE GONNA FUND THE CITY AND HOW IS THE CITY GONNA WORK IN THE FUTURE.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR COMMENTS TODAY.
NEXT SPEAKER, THIS COMPLETES THE LIST OF SPEAKERS COUNCIL MEMBERS.
[RECESS]
WE STAND IN RECESS UNTIL TOMORROW MORNING AT 9:00 AM IN URBAN DEVELOPMENT FOR COMMUNITY PROJECT FUNDING.CONGRESSIONALLY DIRECTED SPIN AWARD UNDER THE HOOD ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT INITIATIVE.
ITEM 20 ORDINANCE APPROVED AND AUTHORIZED A MODIFICATION TO LOAN BETWEEN CITY OF HOUSTON AND MCGREGOR GROCERY LLC ITEM 21 ORDINANCE APPROVED AND AUTHORIZING DIRECTOR OF CITY OF HOUSTON HEALTH DEPARTMENT TO ACCEPT GRANT AWARD FROM THE CENTERS FOR DISEASE CONTROL AND PREVENTION FOR THE STRENGTHENING VACCINE PREVENTABLE DISEASE PREVENTION AND RESPONSE GRANT.
APPLICATION ITEM 22, ORDINANCE APPROPRIATING $2,164,879 20 CENTS AWARD AND CONSTRUCTION CONTRACT TO INTEX UNITED INC.
FOUR TERMINAL C GARAGE SIGNAGE AND WAY FINDING AT GEORGE BUSH INTERCONTINENTAL AIRPORT.
ITEM 23 ORDINANCE APPRO AND AUTHORIZED AN AMENDMENT TO INCREASE SPENDING AUTHORITY FOR TOWER LICENSE AGREEMENT BETWEEN CITY OF HOUSTON, TEXAS AND CROWN COMMUNICATION LLC ITEM 24 ORDINANCE AMENDING ORDINANCE NUMBER 2018 DASH FIVE 11 TO INCREASE MAXIMUM CONTRACT AMOUNT AND APPROVING AND AUTHORIZING SECOND AMENDMENT TO CONTRACT BETWEEN CITY OF HOUSTON AND BIO AQUATIC TESTING INC.
ITEM 25 ORDINANCE DE APPROPRIATING $5 MILLION PREVIOUS APPROPRIATED UNDER ORDINANCE 2023 DASH 8 0 7 AND APPROPRIATING $5 MILLION FOR THE HOUSTON POLICE DEPARTMENT PARAPET, DEMOLITION AND RECONSTRUCTION PROJECT ITEM 26, ORDINANCE APPROPRIATING $888,386 37 CENTS APPRO AND AUTHORIZING PROFESSIONAL ARCHITECTURAL SERVICES CONTRACT WITH RD LR ARCHITECTS.
ITEM 27 ORDINANCE ESTABLISHING THE NORTH AND SOUTH SIDES OF THE 1900 BLOCK OF CANTERBURY STREET BETWEEN STAFFORDSHIRE
[03:05:01]
BOULEVARD AND CAMBRIDGE STREET AS A SPECIAL MINIMUM LOT SIZE BLOCK PURSUANT TO CHAPTER 42 OF THE COURT OF ORDINANCES.ITEM 28 ORDINANCE RENEWING THE ESTABLISHMENT OF THE 400 BLOCK OF SOUTH SIDE AND THE 500 BLOCK NORTH AND SOUTH SIDES OF EUCLID STREET BETWEEN NORTHWOOD AND FLORENCE STREETS.
AND THE 500 BLOCK OF WOODLAND STREET SOUTH SIDE BETWEEN NORTHWOOD AND HELEN STREETS WITHIN THE CITY OF HOUSTON, TEXAS AS A SPECIAL MINIMUM LOT SIZE BLOCK PURSUANT TO THE CODE OF ORDINANCES.
ITEM 29 ORDINANCE APPROPRIATING $2,234,629 APPROVED AND AUTHORIZING PROFESSIONAL ENGINEERING SERVICES CONTRACT BETWEEN CITY OF HOUSTON AND BROWN AND CALDWELL.
ITEM 30 ORDINANCE APPROVED AND AUTHORIZING CONTRACT BETWEEN CITY OF HOUSTON AND COROLLA ENGINEERS INC.
ITEM 31 ORDINANCE APPROPRIATING $3,690,085 35 CENTS APPROVING AND AUTHORIZING PROFESSIONAL ENGINEERING SERVICES CONTRACT BETWEEN CITY OF HOUSTON AND LJA ENGINEERING INC.
ITEM 32 ORDINANCE APPROPRIATING $3,374,549 85 CENTS APPROVING AND AUTHORIZING PROFESSIONAL ENGINEERING SERVICES CONTRACT BETWEEN CITY OF HOUSTON AND IDS ENGINEERING GROUP INC.
ITEM 33 ORDINANCE APPROPRIATING $262,967 APPROVING AND AUTHORIZING SECOND AMENDMENT TO PROFESSIONAL ENGINEERING SERVICES CONTRACT BETWEEN CITY OF HOUSTON AND CANAL INC.
ITEM 34 ORDINANCE APPROPRIATING $3,340,348 AWARD AND CONTRACT TO CSI CONSOLIDATED LLC DOING BUSINESS AS AMES COMPANIES.
ITEM 35, ORDINANCE WARDEN CONTRACT TO TEX COTA ENTERPRISES LLC FOR MISCELLANEOUS SMALL DIAMETER WATERLINE FIRE HYDRANT VALVE REHAB AND REPAIRS.
ITEM 36, CONSIDERATION OF PROPOSED AMENDMENTS TO ITEM 37.
ITEM 37 ORDINANCE RELATED TO THE FISCAL AFFAIRS OF THE CITY APPROVING THE ANNUAL BUDGETS OF THE CITY OF HOUSTON, TEXAS FOR FISCAL YEAR 2026.
ITEM 38, ORDINANCE RATIFYING THE ADOPTION OF FISCAL YEAR 2026 ANNUAL BUDGETS RAISING MORE REVENUE FROM AVALOR AND PROPERTY TAXES.
AND THIS WAS ITEM WAS TAGGED BY COUNCIL MEMBER ALCORN WAS ITEM 13 ON THE MAY 28TH AGENDA.
ITEM 39, ORDINANCE APPRO AND AUTHORIZING PAYMENT TO ETHAN HEALTH LGC FOR FULL FISCAL YEAR 2026 OPERATING EXPENSES.
THIS ITEM SHOULD BE ONLY CONSIDERED AFTER PASSAGE OF ITEM 37, ITEM 40 ORDINANCE APPROVING AND AUTHORIZING PAYMENT TO HOUSTON RECOVERY CENTER LGC FOR FULL FISCAL YEAR 2026 OPERATING EXPENSES.
THIS ITEM SHALL ONLY BE CONSIDERED AFTER PASSAGE OF ITEM 37.
ITEM 41 ORDINANCE APPROVED AND AUTHORIZING PAYMENT TO HOUSTON FORENSIC SCIENCE CENTER, INC.
FOR FULL FISCAL YEAR 2026 OPERATING EXPENSES.
THIS ITEM SHOULD BE ONLY CONSIDERED AFTER PASSAGE OF ITEM 37.
THIS CONCLUDES THE READING OF THE CAPTIONS OF THE AGENDA FOR JUNE 3RD AND JUNE 4TH, 2025.
STAY TUNED FOR THE NEXT SECTION, NEXT COUNCIL SESSION TO BEGIN AT 9:00 AM AND WITH THAT I WISH EVERYONE A VERY BLESSED WEDNESDAY.
[
REPORT FROM CITY CONTROLLER AND THE CITY ADMINISTRATION REGARDING THE CURRENT FINANCIAL STATUS OF THE CITY including but not limited to, a revenue, expenditure and encumbrance report for the General Fund, all special revenue funds and all enterprise funds, and a report on the status of bond funds
]NOW FOR THE MONTHLY FINANCIAL REPORT, WE RECOGNIZE OUR CONTROLLER, CHRIS HOLLINS AND THE FINANCE DIRECTOR MELISSA DEBOWSKI.I'M HERE TODAY TO PRESENT TO YOU THE MONTHLY FINANCIAL REPORT FOR APRIL, 2025.
THE CONTROLLER'S OFFICE IS PROJECTING AN ENDING FUND BALANCE OF $354 MILLION OR 13.7% OF EXPENDITURES LESS DEBT SERVICE AND PAY AS YOU GO FOR FISCAL YEAR 2025.
THIS IS $26.8 MILLION LOWER THAN THE PROJECTION OF THE FINANCE DEPARTMENT DUE TO A LOWER REVENUE PROJECTION THAN FINANCE.
BASED ON OUR CURRENT PROJECTIONS, THE FUND BALANCE WILL BE APPROXIMATELY $159.7 MILLION ABOVE THE CITY'S TARGET OF HOLDING 7.5% OF TOTAL EXPENDITURES, EXCLUDING DEBT SERVICE AND PAY AS YOU GO IN RESERVE.
WE HAVE INCREASED OUR REVENUE PROJECTION BY $17.3 MILLION FROM THE MARCH, 2025 REPORT TO REFLECT HIGHER THAN ANTICIPATED SALES TAX RECEIPTS.
WE HAVE REDUCED OUR EXPENDITURE PROJECTION BY $92 MILLION FROM THE MARCH, 2025 REPORT TO REFLECT A LOWER
[03:10:01]
CAPTURED REVENUE TRANSFER TO THE DEDICATED DRAINAGE AND STREET RENEWAL FUND AT VALOREM, RESULTING FROM COURT APPROVAL OF THE DRAINAGE SETTLEMENT LAST WEEK.MOVING TO THE CITY'S ENTERPRISE FUNDS DEDICATED DRAINAGE AND STREET RENEWAL FUND AT VALOREM REVENUES DECREASED BY $92 MILLION DUE TO LOWER TRANSFER FROM THE GENERAL FUND RESULTING FROM THE DRAINAGE SETTLEMENT.
WE'RE PROJECTING NO CHANGES FROM THE PREVIOUS MONTH'S AMOUNTS IN THE AVIATION OPERATING FUND, CONVENTION AND ENTERTAINMENT OPERATING FUND, STORMWATER FUND, AND THE OTHER DEBT AND THE OTHER DEDICATED DRAINAGE AND STREET RENEWAL FUNDS FOR OUR COMMERCIAL PAPER AND BONDS.
THE CITY'S PRACTICE HAS BEEN TO MAINTAIN NO MORE THAN 20% OF THE TOTAL OUTSTANDING DEBT FOR EACH TYPE OF DEBT IN A VARIABLE RATE STRUCTURE, WHICH IS IN LINE WITH RATING AGENCY GUIDANCE OF 25% FROM TIME TO TIME.
THE CITY'S ENTERPRISE CREDITS HAVE EXCEEDED THIS THRESHOLD ON AN INTERIM BASIS AS THEY HAVE UNDERTAKEN LARGE CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PROJECTS OR MAJOR EXPANSIONS AS OUR CONVENTION CENTER IS DOING RIGHT NOW, AS OF APRIL 30TH, 2025, THE RATIO OF UNAGED VARIABLE RATE DEBT FOR CONVENTION AND ENTERTAINMENT WAS 13.77%.
AND FOR THE OTHER FUNDS, UH, THOSE RATES ARE WELL BELOW THE 20% THRESHOLD.
AS WE NEAR THE END OF WHAT IS MY SECOND BUDGET PROCESS AS THE CITY'S CONTROLLER AND THE SECOND GO AROUND FOR MANY OF US HERE, I WANNA REFLECT ON WHERE WE'VE BEEN, WHERE WE ARE, AND HOW THIS PROCESS CONTINUES TO FALL SHORT OF WHAT HOUSTONIANS DESERVE AS THE CITY'S INDEPENDENTLY ELECTED FINANCIAL WATCHDOG WHOSE JOB IT IS TO ENSURE THAT YOU AND THE PUBLIC HAVE A TRUE UNDERSTANDING OF WHAT'S GOING ON WITH THE CITY'S FINANCES.
IT'S CONCERNING THAT MY OFFICE RECEIVED THE DRAFT BUDGET JUST TWO WEEKS BEFORE MY PRESENTATION TO YOU ALL AND ONLY A FEW WEEKS BEFORE YOUR FIRST OPPORTUNITY TO VOTE ON IT.
IN MOST INSTANCES, THAT'S NOT NEARLY ENOUGH TIME FOR THOUGHTFUL REVIEW, COLLABORATION, OR PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT.
AND THERE'S NO SUCCESSFUL PRIVATE COMPANY IN THE WORLD WHO WOULD HOLD ITS CFO OUT OF THAT PROCESS FOR THAT LONG OR WOULD HOLD THIS BOARD, WHICH IS YOU ALL OUTTA THAT PROCESS FOR THAT LONG LAW.
THIS BUDGET HAS BEEN PROMOTED AS BALANCED WITH NO ADDITIONAL TAXES OR FEES AND SOME MEDIA OUTLETS HAVE REPORTED IT AS SUCH.
THE BUDGET IS OF COURSE NOT STRUCTURALLY BALANCED.
IT CONTAINS A PROJECTED SHORTFALL OF OVER A HUNDRED MILLION DOLLARS TO BE COVERED BY SPENDING DOWN THE CITY'S SAVINGS ACCOUNT TO NEAR OUR RESERVE THRESHOLD.
THE BUDGET ALSO INCLUDES A PROPERTY TAX RATE INCREASE AND A WATER RATE HIKE.
WITH THE LIMITED TIME WE WERE GIVEN, MY OFFICE DID WHAT HOUSTONIANS ELECTED ME TO DO.
WE GOT TO WORK TO BRING TRANSPARENCY TO THE PROCESS.
WE HELD FOUR COMMUNITY TOWN HALLS ACROSS HOUSTON AND WE PUBLISHED 10 HARD TRUTHS ABOUT THE PROPOSED BUDGET, WHICH PROVIDES CLEAR FACTUAL INSIGHTS TO HELP HOUSTONIANS UNDERSTAND WHAT'S AT STAKE FOR OUR CITY TODAY AND FOR FUTURE GENERATIONS.
ONE OF THE HARD TRUTHS HAS BEEN ADDRESSED FOLLOWING THE COURT'S APPROVAL OF THE DRAINAGE FEE SETTLEMENT.
THIS IS A SIGNIFICANT STEP FORWARD AND I'M GRATEFUL THAT IT HAPPENED.
BUT AS ONE TRUTH WAS TACKLED, ANOTHER CHALLENGE EMERGED.
THE STATE LEGISLATURE PASSED A PENSION BILL HB 2 2 6 8 8, WHICH WAS SHROUDED IN SECRECY AND IT COULD CON AND IT COULD SIGNIFICANTLY IMPACT HOUSTON'S LONG TERM FINANCES.
MY OFFICE HAD NO NOTICE ABOUT THE BILL'S EXISTENCE.
AND I ASSUME THAT INDIVIDUAL COUNCIL MEMBERS WEREN'T MADE AWARE EITHER.
THIS IS A HUGE ISSUE WITH BILLIONS OF DOLLARS IN POTENTIAL FINANCIAL IMPACT THAT COULD AFFECT NOT ONLY OUR CHILDREN AND GRANDCHILDREN, BUT ALSO HARDWORKING POLICE AND FIREFIGHTERS WHO DESERVE SECURITY IN RETIREMENT.
WHEN HOUSTON MADE SUBSTANTIAL CHANGES TO PENSIONS IN THE PAST, THE PROCESS WAS DELIBERATE AND INCLUSIVE.
THE CONTROLLER'S OFFICE WAS AT THE TABLE.
THE GREATER HOUSTON PARTNERSHIP, THE URBAN LEAGUE, THE ARNOLD FOUNDATION AND THE HISPANIC CHAMBER OF COMMERCE WERE ENGAGED JUST TO NAME A FEW.
AND COUNCIL VOTED IN FAVOR OF TAKING ACTION.
ONLY THEN DID THE CITY, ALONG WITH EARLY SUPPORT FROM EACH OF THE THREE PENSIONS GO TO THE LEGISLATURE FOR APPROVAL.
THERE'S STILL A PUBLIC CITY WEBSITE UP FROM THAT TIME AND I HOPE IT STAYS UP.
THAT DETAILS THE ANALYSIS AND THE COLLABORATION THAT LED TO THOSE REFORMS. THE PROCESS REQUIRED REAL COMPROMISE AND SACRIFICE BY EVERYONE INVOLVED AND ULTIMATELY IT REDUCED THE CITY'S UNFUNDED PENSION LIABILITIES BY OVER $6 BILLION.
THIS TIME AROUND, I SUSPECT THAT MOST OF YOU AROUND THIS HORSESHOE WERE NOT CONSULTED.
WE FOUND OUT ON A RANDOM THURSDAY THAT THE BILL WAS ON ITS WAY TO BECOMING STATE LAW WITH THE MAYOR'S SUPPORT.
MORE IMPORTANTLY, WE AS A CITY HAVEN'T EVEN
[03:15:01]
CONDUCTED OUR OWN ANALYSIS TO UNDERSTAND HOW MUCH THIS BILL WILL COST US AND WILL COST FUTURE GENERATIONS.NOW WE'VE SEEN THIS MOVIE BEFORE IN THE LATE NINETIES.
THE CITY INCREASED BENEFITS BASED ON PROJECTIONS FROM FUND ACTUARIES WITHOUT CONDUCTING INDEPENDENT ANALYSIS.
THE RESULT WAS AN $8.2 BILLION UNFUNDED LIABILITY THAT NEARLY BANKRUPTED THE CITY.
NOW WE COULD SEE A SEQUEL TO THAT MOVIE.
AND I WANNA BE CLEAR, I TAKE NO COMFORT IN STATEMENTS THAT, YOU KNOW, ACTUARIAL PEOPLE HAVE SAID THAT THIS BILL IS COST NEUTRAL.
WE'VE SEEN HOW THOSE ASSUMPTIONS CAN UNRAVEL.
IF MARKET RETURNS ARE JUST HALF A PERCENT LOWER THAN WHAT'S BEING PROJECTED, HOW MUCH WILL OUR UNFUNDED LIABILITY GROW? RIGHT NOW WE HAVE NO IDEA 'CAUSE WE HAVEN'T DONE THE WORK.
THAT'S WHY A THIRD PARTY ACTUARIAL REVIEW IS ESSENTIAL.
IT MUST INCLUDE RIGOROUS STRESS TESTING FOR MARKET VOLATILITY, DEMOGRAPHIC TRENDS, AND INFLATION.
SO WE UNDERSTAND THE FULL RISK AND THE IMPACT TO THE CITY AS WELL AS OUR RETIREES.
CITY COUNCIL NEEDS TO UNDERSTAND THE IMPLICATIONS AND HAVE A VOICE IN IMPROVING ANY CHANGES TO THIS CRITICAL ASPECT OF CITY GOVERNMENT BEFORE A LAWMAKER IN LUFKIN OR ODESSA MAKES BILLION DOLLAR DECISIONS ON OUR BEHALF.
MAYOR, I URGE YOU TO LEAN ON YOUR RELATIONSHIP WITH THE GOVERNOR TO HOLD OFF ON SIGNING THIS BILL INTO LAW UNTIL THE THIRD PARTY ACTUARIAL REVIEW IS COMPLETE AND HOUSTONIANS AND THIS COUNCIL TO HAVE BEEN GIVEN AN OPPORTUNITY TO WEIGH IN.
NOW, THE OTHER HARD TRUTH STILL REMAIN, YET WE'VE HEARD LITTLE TO NO EXPLANATION, AND IN MY OPINION, ONLY LIMITED PUBLIC CONCERN FROM THIS BODY.
THAT'S ESPECIALLY TRUE FOR THOSE WHO OFTEN SPEAK ABOUT FISCAL RESPONSIBILITY.
IF THERE WERE EVER A TIME TO SHOW IT, THAT TIME IS RIGHT.
NOW, SINCE TIME IS SHORT AND YOU HAVE A BUSY DAY AHEAD, I'LL FOCUS ONLY ON THE PROPERTY TAX INCREASE.
THE BUDGET YOU'RE VOTING ON TODAY IS BASED ON A 9% INCREASE IN PROPERTY TAX REVENUE.
WHILE PROPERTY VALUATIONS AS OF NOW ARE ONLY EXPECTED TO RISE BY ABOUT 2%, THAT GAP MEANS A TAX RATE HIKE OF AT LEAST FIVE TO 8% WOULD BE REQUIRED TO MAKE THE MATH WORK.
LAST YEAR, COUNCIL ALSO PASSED A BUDGET THAT WOULD'VE REQUIRED A TAX INCREASE TO REACH REVENUE PROJECTIONS, BUT YOU ULTIMATELY HELD THE TAX RATE STEADY.
THOSE DECISIONS COUPLED TOGETHER RESULTED IN INCREASING THE CITY'S BUDGET DEFICIT BY $50 MILLION.
SO WHEN YOU RETURN TO YOUR COMMUNITY AFTER TODAY'S VOTES, RESIDENTS MAY ASK YOU, DID YOU JUST VOTE FOR A TAX INCREASE? OR DID YOU JUST VOTE TO FURTHER INCREASE THE CITY'S DEFICIT? AND I'M NOT BEING FLIP HERE, AND BETTER INTAX PROCESS WOULD GIVE YOU AND THE PUBLIC THE TIME TO WEIGH THESE IMPLICATIONS THOUGHTFULLY AND TRANSPARENTLY.
YOU HAVEN'T HAD THAT TIME, BUT THAT'S HOW SOUND BUDGETING AND TRUST IN GOVERNMENT IS BUILT.
NOW, WE'RE GONNA HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO REVISIT THIS CONVERSATION IN THE SPRING OF NEXT YEAR WHEN WE TRUE UP THE BUDGET.
MY HOPE IS THAT BY THEN WE HAVEN'T SEEN A CREDIT DOWNGRADE OR BEEN FORCED TO COURSE CORRECT, BECAUSE PROJECTIONS THAT ARE IN THIS BUDGET PROVE TO BE TOO OPTIMISTIC.
I REMAIN COMMITTED TO WORKING WITH EACH OF YOU TO DESIGN A BETTER PROCESS, ONE ROOTED IN ACCOUNTABILITY, TRANSPARENCY, AND RESPONSIBILITY.
BUT WHAT WE CURRENTLY HAVE, AIN'T IT.
THAT CONCLUDES MY REPORT BOARD.
THIS IS THE 10 PLUS TWO FINANCIAL REPORT FOR THE PERIOD ENDING APRIL 30TH, 2025.
FISCAL YEAR 25 PROJECTIONS ARE BASED ON 10 MONTHS OF ACTUAL RESULTS IN TWO MONTHS OF PROJECTIONS FOR THE GENERAL FUND, OUR REVENUE PROJECTION IS 68.4 MILLION HIGHER THAN THE ADOPTED BUDGET, AND REMAINS UNCHANGED FROM THE PRIOR MONTH.
I'LL JUST TOUCH ON SALES TAX PERFORMANCE, ALTHOUGH WE'RE NOT MAKING A CHANGE IN OUR PROJECTION.
THE SALES TAX RECEIPTS FOR THE MONTH OF MARCH WERE 85.4 MILLION, WHICH IS ABOUT 5.8 MILLION OR 7% HIGHER THAN THE SAME PERIOD LAST YEAR, AND ABOUT 1.5% HIGHER THAN WE BUDGETED.
SO TO MEET THE CURRENT ESTIMATE, THE REMAINING PERIODS NEED TO COME IN ABOUT 4.6% BELOW THE PRIOR YEAR.
SO WE FEEL COMFORTABLE WITH THE PROJECTION AND WILL, UH, MOST LIKELY INCREASE THE PROJECTION IN FUTURE PERIODS FOR THE EXPENDITURES.
OUR EXPENDITURE PROJECTION IS 61 MILLION HIGHER THAN THE ADOPTED BUDGET, BUT REMAINS UNCHANGED FROM THE PRIOR MONTH.
SO WITH THOSE CHANGES, UH, WE'RE PROJECTING THE ENDING FUND BALANCE TO BE 380 MILLION, WHICH REMAINS UNCHANGED FROM THE PRIOR MONTH AND REPRESENTS 14.7% OF ESTIMATED EXPENDITURES, LESS DEBT SERVICE AND PAY AS YOU GO.
THAT FUND BALANCE IS 186 MILLION ABOVE THE TARGET OF HOLDING 70, UH, 7.5% OF EXPENDITURES, EXCLUDING DEBT SERVICE AND PAY AS YOU GO.
UM, I WANTED TO ADDRESS THE CONTROLLER'S 10 HARD TRUTHS DOCUMENT THAT HE CIRCULATED.
UM, ONE OF THE THINGS HE DIDN'T PUT ON HERE, BUT HE ADDRESSED TODAY WAS THE PUBLIC
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ENGAGEMENT PROCESS FOR THE BUDGET.UM, WE HAD WHEN THE BUDGET WAS RELEASED OVER A TWO HOUR PRESENTATION WITH THIS BODY, UM, ON A SPECIAL CALL BUDGET AND FISCAL AFFAIRS COMMITTEE MEETING WHERE I WENT THROUGH THE FIVE YEAR FORECAST FOR THE BUDGET.
AND THAT WAS FOLLOWED UP BY A WEEK PERIOD OF TIME FOR BOTH THE PUBLIC AND THE COUNCIL MEMBERS, UH, TO REVIEW THE PROPOSED BUDGET BEFORE THE DEPARTMENT BUDGET WORKSHOPS BEGAN.
UH, WE ADDED THAT EXTRA WEEK AT THE REQUEST OF, UM, SOME OF THE COUNCIL MEMBERS AS WELL AS THE PUBLIC THAT WANTED ADDITIONAL TIME TO REVIEW THE BUDGET BEFORE THE WORKSHOP STARTED.
SO WE HAVE BUILT MORE TIME INTO THE PROCESS COMPARED TO THE PREVIOUS YEAR.
AND THOSE BUDGETARY WORKSHOPS OCCURRED.
EVERY SINGLE DEPARTMENT DIRECTOR WAS HERE, UH, ABOUT 20 DIFFERENT BUDGET WORKSHOPS OVER THE COURSE OF TWO WEEKS.
UM, WE ALSO PARTICIPATED IN COUNCIL MEMBER ALCORN, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER CASTILLO, UH, HOSTED BUDGET TOWN HALLS, UM, BOTH IN THE COMMUNITY AND VIRTUALLY THAT WE ATTENDED AND PARTICIPATED IN.
UM, AND YOU SAW THE, UM, THE BUDGET SURVEY THAT, UH, RESULTS THAT COUNCIL MEMBER ALCO AND, AND HER STAFF INITIATED.
UM, THOSE RESULTS WERE YESTERDAY.
SO I THINK TO SAY THAT THERE'S NOT ENOUGH PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT IS DISINGENUOUS.
UM, WE'VE BEEN IMPROVING ON THAT AND WE SEEK TO IMPROVE ON IT IN THE FUTURE.
UM, SOME OF HIS OTHER, UM, ITEMS THAT HE PUT IN HIS HARD TRUTHS DOCUMENT, UM, HE STATED THAT INSTEAD OF CUTTING SPENDING OR IDENTIFYING SUSTAINABLE REVENUE, THE PROPOSAL IS TO DRAW DOWN FROM THE FUND BALANCE.
UM, WE CERTAINLY ARE DRAWING FROM FUND BALANCE TO CLOSE THE REMAINING BUDGETARY GAP.
BUT WHAT HE FAILED TO MENTION IS THAT THIS PROPOSED BUDGET ACTUALLY IS A DECREASE FROM THE PREVIOUS YEAR OF A 2% EXPENDITURE DECREASE, UM, THAT WE ACHIEVED THROUGH ALL THE EFFICIENCY SAVINGS, THE PROPOSED IMPLEMENTATION OF THE ERNST AND YOUNG STUDY, THE VOLUNTARY RETIREMENT PROGRAM, UM, THE CONSOLIDATION AND THE EFFICIENCIES THAT WE'RE GONNA BE WORKING ON THROUGH THE YEAR.
UM, HE MENTIONS THE PROPERTY TAX INCREASE.
HISTORICALLY, WE HAVE ALWAYS PROPOSED A BUDGET AND ADOPTED A BUDGET BASED ON THE PROPOSITION ONE CAP.
UH, WE DO GET A ESTIMATE FROM THE APPRAISAL DISTRICTS OF WHAT THEY THINK THE APPRAISED VALUE WILL BE AT THIS POINT IN TIME, BUT WE DON'T KNOW THAT FINAL APPRAISED VALUE UNTIL IT'S TIME TO SET THE TAX RATE.
AND SO THE, THE BUDGET IS ALWAYS BASED ON PROPOSITION ONE.
UM, TO SAY THAT IT'S GOING TO BE A TAX RATE INCREASE AT THIS POINT IN TIME IS INCREDIBLY PREMATURE.
UM, THE TIMING OF OUR FISCAL YEAR AND THE TIMING OF WHEN WE SET THE TAX RATE, WHICH IS DICTATED BY STATE LAW, UM, DEFINITELY CREATES A SITUATION WHERE WE DO THE BEST WE CAN WITH THE BUDGET AS WE ALWAYS HAVE BUDGETED WITH THE PROP ONE CAP AND WILL TRUE UP.
UM, THE ESTIMATE AT THE POINT IN TIME WHEN WE SET THE TAX RATE AS WE HAVE IN THE PAST, UM, HE TALKS ABOUT A WATER RATE INCREASE OF 6%.
UM, WHAT HE DOESN'T MENTION IS THAT THIS RATE INCREASE WAS APPROVED BY CITY COUNCIL BACK IN 2021 THE LAST TIME WE DID A WATER RATE STUDY.
AND REALLY HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH ANYTHING THAT'S HAPPENING CURRENTLY OTHER THAN WHAT THE WATER RATE STUDY STUDIED ALMOST FIVE YEARS AGO.
UM, HE MENTIONS THAT THE BUDGET QUIETLY REDUCES SERVICES.
EACH DEPARTMENT DIRECTOR SAT HERE IN FRONT OF YOU ALL AND DISCUSSED, UM, WHAT WAS GOING ON IN THE BUDGET, THE EFFICIENCIES THAT THEY HAVE FOUND, UM, AND HOW THEY'RE GOING TO CONTINUE TO, UM, PERFORM THE SERVICES WHILE FINDING THE EFFICIENCIES AND THE SAVINGS THAT'S REASONABLE.
UM, HE MENTIONED THAT IT INCLUDES SAVINGS FROM A, AS YET COURT APPROVED SETTLEMENT.
WELL, WE ADDRESSED THAT AS WE'VE BEEN TALKING FOR THE LAST COUPLE MONTHS, THAT WE WERE IN NEGOTIATIONS WITH THE PLAINTIFFS AND CAME TO A, UH, AGREEMENT THAT NOT ONLY INCREASES DRAINAGE FUNDING IN THE FUTURE AND IS GOING TO, UH, IMPROVE THE DRAINAGE AT THE CITY.
UM, HE MENTIONS THAT THERE'S VAGUE SAVINGS WITH NO EXPLANATION.
UM, HE MUST HAVE MISSED WHEN WE ROLLED OUT THE ERNS AND YOUNG CITYWIDE DEFICIENCY EFFICIENCY STUDY.
UM, HE MENTIONS AN OVERTIME MISCALCULATION.
UM, I DISAGREE WITH THAT AS WELL.
UM, HE MENTIONS THAT IT'S OVERTIME CHANGE IS ACHIEVABLE IF THERE'S MEANINGFUL OPERATIONAL CHANGES.
WELL, WE HAVE BEEN WORKING WITH THE DEPARTMENTS THAT HAVE, UH, OVERTIME, UM, BOTH OF THOSE DEPARTMENTS FOR POLICE AND FIRE.
UM, AS YOU CAN SEE IN THE PROPOSED BUDGET, ARE PROPOSING TO, UH, RECRUIT AND RETAIN ADDITIONAL STAFF AS THOUGH, UH, WE'VE ALREADY SEEN AND HEARD FROM THE DEPARTMENTS THAT MORE PEOPLE, AND YOU SEE IT IN THE NEWS THAT MORE PEOPLE ARE COMING TO SIGN UP TO WORK AT THE CITY OF HOUSTON.
AND AS YOU INCREASE HEADCOUNT AS A RESULT, OVERTIME WILL DECREASE.
WE'RE ALSO WORKING AND YOU SEE IN THIS PROPOSED BUDGET, UM, THE WAY THAT WE BUDGET FOR THE FIRE DEPARTMENT IS GOING TO BE BUDGETED BASED ON SHIFT SO THAT THERE'S MORE VISIBILITY INTO WHERE THE OVERTIME IS OCCURRING.
AND WE'RE MAKING, UH, WORKING WITH THE FIRE DEPARTMENT TO MAKE MORE DATA AVAILABLE TO THEM WHERE
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THEY CAN SEE AND BETTER TRACK WHERE THE OVERTIME IS OCCURRING.