* This transcript was created by voice-to-text technology. The transcript has not been edited for errors or omissions, it is for reference only and is not the official minutes of the meeting. [PRESENTATIONS] [00:00:04] ORDER. I'M GONNA ASK THE MAYOR, PROTE CASTEX TATUM TO PRESIDE WHILE WE, UH, ADDRESS OUR PROCLAMATIONS AND WELCOME OUR FRIENDS. YOU HOLD THAT BACK. THANK YOU. THE CHAIR NOW RECOGNIZES COUNCIL MEMBER CARTER FOR A PROCLAMATION TO CAMP HOPE FOR THE WORK THEY ARE DOING FOR VETERANS WHO SUFFER FROM PTSD. COUNCIL MEMBER CARTER. THANK YOU. ON UP, FRIENDS, HOW ARE YOU? HEY, WHAT'S GOING ON? CAN I GET UP? WELL, THANK YOU. THANK YOU FOR THIS OPPORTUNITY TO RECOGNIZE SUCH A GREAT ORGANIZATION, UM, CAMP HOPE. WE'VE GOT THE BOARD AND EXECUTIVE STAFF HERE TODAY. BUT JUST WANNA TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT SOMETHING THAT IN DOING A LITTLE RESEARCH, I, UM, RAN SOME NUMBERS AND, YOU KNOW, WORLD WAR II VETERANS AND KOREAN WAR VETERANS. IN A LIFETIME THERE WAS A 3%, 3% WOULD SUFFER FROM PTSD. AND YOU GO FORWARD IN CONFLICTS AND, UH, VIETNAM VETERANS 10% IN A LIFETIME. AND YOU LOOK AT THE PERSIAN, UH, GULF, THE PERSIAN, MORE GULF DESERT STORM, 21%, AND NOW OPERATION IRAQI FREEDOM AND ENDURING FREEDOM 30%. SO WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE NUMBERS AND YOU LOOK AT THE NEED, I MEAN, THAT'S A, THAT'S A, THAT'S A, THAT'S A BIG PROBLEM. AND WHEN THESE YOUNG MEN AND WOMEN HEROES, I SAY, COME HOME, THEY NEED A PLACE TO SEEK HELP, TO, TO REALLY ADDRESS THE, UM, YOU KNOW, THE, THE STRESS, THE, AND SHOCK, AND THE, IN MANY CASES, THE NIGHTMARES THAT THEY HAVE LIVED. SO TODAY, UM, IT'S A GREAT DAY FOR, UH, PTSD FOUNDATION OF AMERICA AND CAMP HOPE. UM, THE PTSD FOUNDATION WAS ESTABLISHED IN 2005 WITH A MISSION TO ADDRESS THE NEEDS OF COMBAT VETERANS BATTLING THE INVISIBLE WOUNDS OF WAR POST, POST-TRAUMATIC STRESS DISORDER, AND OTHER, UH, CO OTHER OCCURRING DISORDERS. IN 2020, IN 2012, THE FOUNDATION ESTABLISHED CAMP HOPE, A FACILITY THAT OFFERS NOT ONLY A SAFE HAVEN FOR THOSE ALSO HEALING AND A CENTERED ENVIRONMENT LOCATED ON A SERENE FIVE ACRE CAMPUS IN NORTHWEST HOUSTON CAMP HOPE OFFERS VETERANS A SIX TO NINE MONTH PEER MENTORSHIP PROGRAM AT NO COST TO THE VETERAN OR THEIR FAMILY, INCLUDING ONSITE HOUSING, LICENSED CLINICAL THERAPY, ADDICTION, RECOVERY SUPPORT, AND VOCATIONAL GUIDANCE, ALL GROUNDED IN FAITH-BASED PRINCIPLES AND TRAUMA-INFORMED CARE. WHEREAS THE CAMPUS HAS GROWN INTO A FULLY OPERATION FACILITY WITH MILITARY BAY LIKE HOUSING, COMMUNAL DINING AND LIVING AREAS, COUNSELING SPACES, ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICES AND RECREATIONAL ZONES BUILT THROUGH COMMUNITY DONATIONS AND THE TIRELESS EFFORTS OF VOLUNTEERS AND SUPPORTERS WHO BELIEVE IN RESTORING HOPE TO THE HEARTS OF WARRIORS. WHEREAS THE FOUNDATION HAS PROVIDED OVER 100,000 HOURS OF PEER-TO-PEER MENTORING, SERVING MORE THAN 2300 VETERANS, AND IMPACTED THOUSANDS OF FAMILIES BY OFFERING COMPREHENSIVE SUPPORT THAT HELPS VETERANS FIND EMPLOYMENT, RECONNECT WITH LOVED ONES, AND REGAIN PURPOSE AND DIGNITY AND CIVILIAN LIFE. THROUGH ITS PROGRAM, THE FOUNDATION REDUCES THE RISK OF VETERAN HOMELESSNESS, ADDICTION, AND SUICIDE WHILE OFF, WHILE OFFERING A NEW PATH FORWARD FOR THOSE STRUGGLING TO A REINTEGRATE INTO SOCIETY, RESTORING FAMILIES, EMPOWERING RESILIENCE, AND IN BUILDING A FUTURE GROUNDED IN HONOR AND SERVICE. AND WHEREAS THE FOUNDATION AND CAMP HOPE STAND IS A BEACON OF LIGHT HOPE AND HEALING FOR VETERANS ACROSS THE NATION. AND IN COORDINATION WITH THE VETERANS ADMINISTRATION FOR MEDICAL SERVICES, AS WELL AS LOCAL LAW ENFORCEMENT, CHURCHES, CORPORATIONS, AND NONPROFITS HAVE CREATED A POWERFUL AND UNIFIED RESPONSE TO THE MENTAL HEALTH CRISIS FACING MANY RETURNING SERVICE MEMBERS. AND WHEREAS THE CITY OF HOUSTON HONORS PTSD FOUNDATION OF AMERICA AND CAMP HOPE FOR THEIR COMPASSION AND ONGOING COMMITMENT TO THE WELLBEING OF OUR VETERANS AND CELEBRATES THE LIVES THEY HAVE TRANSFORMED THROUGH THEIR MISSION, THE CITY URGES ALL RESIDENTS TO RECOGNIZE AND SUPPORT THE SANCTUARY OF HEALING AND HONOR, AND TO STAND UNITED WITH THE MEN AND WOMEN WHO HAVE SERVED OUR COUNTRY WITH COURAGE AND SACRIFICE. THANK YOU, COUNCILMAN CARTER, AND THANK YOU FOR BRINGING THIS TO OUR ATTENTION. LET US PAUSE LONG ENOUGH TO THANK THE, UH, SPONSORS, THE PARTICIPANTS [00:05:01] IN THE FOUNDATION AND THEIR CAMP HOPE. UH, ANOTHER EXAMPLE OF A GROUP AND THE FOUNDATION IS HELPING MAKE HOUSTON THE GREAT CITY. IT'S YOU KIND OF QUIETLY GO ABOUT YOUR BUSINESS HELPING THOUSANDS OF INDIVIDUALS. AND AS SOCIETY'S GOTTEN MORE COMPLEX, WE KNOW THE NEED AND THE DEMAND FOR PTSD FOUNDATION, UH, IS EVEN PROBABLY MORE IMPORTANT THAN EVER BEFORE IN OUR SYSTEM. SO THANK YOU FOR ASSISTING OUR VETERANS AND THEIR FAMILIES AND EVERYONE INVOLVED. YOU'RE MAKING THE WORLD A BETTER PLACE, AND THAT'S WHY IT'S SO GREAT TO HAVE THIS PROCLAMATION. AND WHILE I'M EXCITED AS THE MAYOR OF CITY OF HOUSTON, I, JOHN WHITMEYER, HEREBY PROCLAIM JUNE 10TH, 2025 IS PTS, THE FOUNDATION OF AMERICA AND CAMP HOPE DAY IN THE CITY OF HOUSTON. CONGRATULATIONS. OH, YEAH, ABSOLUTELY. UM, I WOULD JUST LIKE TO SAY ON BEHALF OF OUR ORGANIZATION, UH, THANK YOU TO, UH, SO MANY PEOPLE WHO ARE INVOLVED IN THIS. OBVIOUSLY YOU MENTIONED OUR DONORS. UH, WE'RE A PEER TO PEER ORGANIZATION, SO IT'S VETERANS WHO'VE COME THROUGH OUR PROGRAM OR TURN AROUND HELPING THE NEXT VETERANS, AND THAT'S PROVED TO BE VERY, VERY POWERFUL AND EFFECTIVE. UH, CAMP HOPE IS A SIX TO NINE MONTH PROGRAM, SO IT'S A VERY LENGTHY, CAN TAKE UP TO TWO YEARS, ALL AT ZERO COST TO THE VETERAN OR TO THEIR FAMILY. ZERO COST. AND, UH, I WOULD SAY THERE'S LITERALLY NO OTHER PROGRAM LIKE OURS IN THE WORLD. AND WHILE THAT HURTS MY HEART A LITTLE BIT, I THINK WE ALL SHOULD BE PROUD. IF THERE'S ONLY ONE, IT'S IN HOUSTON, TEXAS. PERFECT. WE SHOULD BE EXCITED ABOUT THAT. SO THANK YOU'ALL VERY, VERY MUCH. THANK YOU. WE DO HAVE A COUPLE OF COUNCIL MEMBERS IN QUEUE. UH, WE'LL START WITH COUNCIL MEMBER CAYMAN CAYMAN. COUNCIL MEMBER CARTER, I JUST WANNA THANK YOU, UH, FOR LIFTING UP THE INCREDIBLE WORK OF CAMP HOPE AND TO CAMP HOPE SPECIFICALLY. UH, YOU ALL PARTNER WITH US IN SO MANY WAYS TO BE A VOICE FOR VETERANS AND THEIR FAMILIES. UH, MAYOR, I WAS JUST THINKING BACK THIS LEGISLATIVE SESSION, UM, CAMP HOPE PARTNERED WITH US. I THINK IT WAS CHRIS FAHE THAT WROTE A LETTER HERE. MM-HMM . HE'S BACK HERE. HE'S HIDING IN THE BACK. CHRIS, I WON'T MAKE YOU STAND, BUT THANK YOU, UM, FOR WHEN WE WERE, WE'VE BEEN WORKING REALLY HARD TO ADVOCATE FOR SAFE. HEY, MAN, GOOD TO SEE YOU, UH, FOR SAFE STORAGE INITIATIVES AND PROGRAMS TO SUPPORT OUR VETERANS IN TIMES OF NEED. SO I JUST WANNA THANK YOU FOR ALL THE DIFFERENT WAYS THAT Y'ALL ARE INVOLVED IN SAVING THE LIVES OF OUR VETERANS AND SUPPORTING THEIR FAMILIES. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. VICE MAYOR PRO TEM PECK. THANK YOU MAYOR PRO TE AND THANK YOU COUNCIL MEMBER CARTER FOR BRINGING THIS FORWARD. AND THANK YOU FOR EVERYTHING THAT YOU DO. UM, WHEN I WAS GETTING MY MASTER'S DEGREE IN COUNSELING PSYCHOLOGY, I WORKED AT THE VA HOSPITAL FOR A TIME, UM, COUNSELING PEOPLE WITH PTSD AND SAW FIRSTHAND JUST HOW DIFFICULT IT IS ON NOT JUST THEIR LIVES, BUT ON THEIR FAMILY'S LIVES TOO. SO THE WORK THAT ALL OF YOU DO IS JUST SO NEEDED AND SO DIFFICULT, BUT WE APPRECIATE EVERYTHING THAT YOU DO. THANK YOU. COUNCIL MEMBER CARTER, WE APPRECIATE YOU BRINGING THIS FORWARD TO EVERYONE THAT IS WORKING AT CAMP HOPE. THANK YOU FOR THE SERVICE YOU PROVIDE TO THE MEN AND WOMEN WHO HAVE, UH, REPRESENTED OUR COUNTRY. I DO SEE DR. JONES, UH, IN THE CHAMBER TODAY, AND WE SEE A HOST OF OTHER VETERANS THAT ARE HERE, AND I THINK IT'D BE APPROPRIATE FOR US TO THANK THEM ALL FOR THEIR SERVICE. Y'ALL [00:10:05] THE CHAIR NOW RECOGNIZES COUNCIL MEMBER EVANS SHABAZZ FOR A PROCLAMATION TO SHAPE COMMUNITY CENTER FOR 56 YEARS OF SERVICE. UNBELIEVABLE. 56 YEARS OLD. FIRST. OH BOY. YEAH, WE KNOW HOW FAR BACK. OH GOD. THANK YOU, MAYOR PRO TIM. AND CERTAINLY, I'M JUST GONNA SAY, YOU KNOW, IT'S PEOPLE THAT YOU MEET IN LIFE THAT YOU CAN TRULY SEE THEIR HEART FOR PEOPLE AND FOR THE COMMUNITY. AND DELOITTE PARKER IS ONE OF THOSE, IN SPITE OF HIS SMART MOUTH, I LOVE HIM AND HE LOVES ME BACK, AND I, I POSSESS THE SAME QUALITY. AND HE JUST SAID SOMETHING TO THE MAYOR THAT MADE ME CHUCKLE, BUT I'M NOT GONNA REPEAT IT, . BUT ANYWAY, DID, DID HE MAKE ME FEEL YOUNG OR OR I MADE HIM FEEL YOUNG? I DON'T KNOW, BUT IT WAS PRETTY FUNNY. WE DEFINITELY GREW UP TOGETHER. WELL, YOU, I'LL JUST TELL YOU, THE MAYOR SAID, YOU KNOW, UM, 56 YEARS, YOU MAKE ME FEEL OLD. DELORES SAID, YOU ARE . SO ANYWAY, THAT WAS KIND OF KIND OF FUNNY BECAUSE IT JUST IS WHAT IT IS, RIGHT? YEAH, WE ARE. WELL, YEAH, YEAH, YOU ARE. BUT ANYWAY, SHAPE COMMUNITY CENTER. WHEREAS SHAPE COMMUNITY CENTER, FOUNDED IN 1969 BY DELOITTE, DELOITTE PARKER, JR. HAS PROVIDED 56 YEARS OF CONTINUOUS SERVICE TO THE FAMILIES, YOUTH, AND ELDERS OF THIRD WARD AND THE GREATER HOUSTON COMMUNITY THROUGH CULTURAL EDUCATION, YOUTH LEADERSHIP, FAMILY SERVICES, SENIOR WELLNESS AND ADVOCACY. AND WHERE SHAPE AS ONE OF HOUSTON'S OLDEST AND IMPACTFUL COMMUNITY INSTITUTIONS HAS LONG STOOD AS A PILLAR OF SOCIAL JUSTICE AND EMPOWERMENT WITH SUPPORT FROM VISIONARY LEADERS SUCH AS REVEREND WILLIAM, BILL LAWSON, AND WHEELER AVENUE BAPTIST CHURCH, FOSTERING A LEGACY OF COMMUNITY RESILIENCE, CULTURAL PRIDE, AND CIVIC ENGAGEMENT. WHEREAS ON JANUARY THE FIFTH, 2025 SHAPE SUFFERED A DEVASTATING FIRE THAT CAUSED SIGNIFICANT DAMAGE TO ITS HISTORIC LIVE OAK STREET FACILITY, FORCING THE CLOSURE OF VITAL PROGRAMS THAT SERVE HUNDREDS OF HOUSTONIANS EACH YEAR. AND WHEREAS IN RESPONSE TO THIS CRISIS SHAPE, LAUNCH THE TOGETHER BUILDING BACK BETTER RESTORATION CAMPAIGN, AN URGENT EFFORT TO RAISE $1.4 MILLION FOR IMMEDIATE CONSTRUCTION AND REBUILDING, AND AN ADDITIONAL 3.6 MILLION FOR FAMILY AND YOUTH PROGRAMMING AND TO SUSTAIN ITS MISSION FOR FUTURE GENERATIONS. THE CAMPAIGN IS DRIVEN BY THE TIRELESS LEADERSHIP OF ITS BOARD OF DIRECTORS, CHAIRED BY NEDRA WARD, THE NEWLY FORMED TBBB ADVISORY BOARD, AND A DEDICATED TEAM OF STAFF, VOLUNTEERS, COMMUNITY PARTNERS, AND CONSULTANTS. THROUGHOUT THIS CRITICAL MOMENT, ELDERS, FAITH PARTNERS, CIVIC LEADERS, AND COUNTLESS SUPPORTERS HAVE STOOD BY DEMONSTRATING THE DEEP LOVE, RESPECT, AND COMMITMENT INSPIRED BY THE ORGANIZATION FOREVER, HALF A CENTURY. AND WHEREAS THE CITY OF HOUSTON RECOGNIZES THE CONTRIBUTIONS OF SHAPE COMMUNITY CENTER EXPRESSES GRATITUDE TO ALL WHO ARE WORKING TO RESTORE THIS VITAL INSTITUTION. AND IT ENCOURAGES ALL TO SUPPORT ITS CAMPAIGN. SO IT MAY CONTINUE TO UPLIFT, EDUCATE, AND EMPOWER THE COMMUNITY FOR GENERATIONS TO COME. MAYOR, THANK YOU COUNCIL MEMBER EVAN SHABAS. I'M EXCITED TO RECOGNIZE THE SHAPE CENTER, UH, 56 YEARS. THAT PUTS YOU ALMOST IN PARALLEL WITH MY PUBLIC SERVICE CAREER. I WAS FIRST TAKEN THERE BY THE HONORABLE MIC LELAND CRAIG, WASHINGTON . I COULD GO THROUGH THE LIST OF OTHER INFLUENCERS, BUT YOU HELD US TOGETHER AND I WISH WE HAD TIME FOR YOU TO RECITE THE INDIVIDUALS THAT HAVE COME THROUGH YOUR DOORS AS YOUNG CHILDREN AND LEFT AS YOUNG MEN. [00:15:01] AND, UH, YOU CERTAINLY HAVE PLAYED A ROLE IN MAKING A GREAT CITY. AND I STILL THINK YOU GOT A LOT OF MILES LEFT ON YOU. THE COMMUNITY DID JOIN YOU WITH YOUR RESTORATION AFTER THE FIRE, BUT IT'S BECAUSE YOU'RE AN ICON IN OUR COMMUNITY, AND I DON'T USE THAT LIGHTLY. UH, YOUR NAME ID AND, AND THE POSITIVE BRAND. BUT THE SHAPE CENTER HAS CROSSES ALL COMMUNITIES. SO THAT'S THE REASON IT'S A PLEASURE TO HAVE THIS PROCLAMATION TODAY. AND THEREFORE, I, JOHN WHITMEYER, MAYOR OF THE CITY OF HOUSTON, HEREBY PROCLAIM JUNE 10TH, 2025, IS SHAPED COMMUNITY CENTER DAY IN HOUSTON, TEXAS. CONGRATULATIONS. I'M GONNA END IT BY EXPLAINING TO YOU REAL BRIEFLY, AND I WANT YOU TO REPEAT AFTER ME. OKAY? I AM, I AM. BECAUSE WE ARE, BECAUSE WE ARE, WE ARE, WE ARE. THEREFORE I AM. THEREFORE I AM. THERE'S NO ME, THERE'S NO ME WITHOUT YOU. WITHOUT YOU. AND THERE'S NO YOU. THERE'S NO YOU WITHOUT ME. WITHOUT ME. WE ARE ALL PART OF A FAMILY. WE'RE ALL PART OF A FAMILY OF INTERDEPENDENCE. OF INTERDEPENDENCE, SIMPLY MEANING Y'ALL, THAT WE NEED EACH OTHER SHAPE CANNOT MAKE IT. THE LORD PARKER IS ONE TINY SPOT IN THE HISTORY, THE PRESENT AND THE FUTURE OF SHAPE CENTER. IT'S BECAUSE OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS, NEDRA WARD, OUR CHAIR, OUR PRESIDENT OF THE BOARD, AND ALL OF THE OTHERS INVOLVED THAT WE MADE IT 56 YEARS. WE ARE GONNA BE AROUND ONE. IT TAKES MORE THAN A FIVE TO PUT US OUT. WE ARE GONNA BE AROUND A LONG TIME BECAUSE OF YOU. SO I JUST WANNA LET YOU KNOW, OVER 50 YEARS AGO, WE GOT AN AWARD RIGHT HERE. IT WAS DELOITTE PARKER, JR. DAY. I SAW THAT PLAQUE THAT, THAT IN MY HOUSE THE OTHER DAY ON THE, AND 50 SOMETHING YEARS LATER, WE GET THIS, WE GET IT. SO I WANNA LET YOU KNOW THAT WE EMBRACE SEVEN PRINCIPLES, AND WE WANT YOU TO THINK ABOUT IT. I'M GONNA SHUT UP. I WE HAVE UNITY, SELF-DETERMINATION, COLLECTIVE WORK AND RESPONSIBILITY, COOPERATIVE ECONOMICS, PURPOSE, CREATIVITY, AND A WHOLE LOT OF F-A-I-T-H, A WHOLE LOT OF FAITH. WE ASK YOU TO JOIN US IN PRACTICING THESE SEVEN PRINCIPLES. SO SHAPE WILL BE AROUND ANOTHER 56 PLUS YEARS. SO THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR THIS OPPORTUNITY, AND THE BEST WAY TO SHOW THAT YOU APPRECIATE WHAT WE ARE DOING IS TO SUPPORT IT FINANCIALLY. THANK YOU. WE DO HAVE A COUPLE OF COUNCIL MEMBERS IN QUEUE. WE'LL START WITH COUNCIL MEMBER POLLARD. THANK YOU MAYOR PRO, TIM AND MAYOR, THANK YOU FOR BRINGING THIS FORWARD. AND, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER KELLY, EVAN SHABAZZ TO THE WHOLE CREW. I WANT TO SAY CONGRATULATIONS, BUT SPECIFICALLY TO DELOITTE PARKER, UH, FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP. I KNOW YOU SAID THAT, UH, YOU'RE JUST ONE SMALL SPOT, UH, BUT THAT, THAT SMALL SPOT MUST BE ENORMOUS BECAUSE, UH, YOUR LEADERSHIP, YOUR FORTITUDE, YOUR VISION, UH, OVER THE YEARS HAVE HAS LED SHAPE TO WHAT IT IS TODAY, ALONG WITH YOUR COLLEAGUES AND MANY OTHER VOLUNTEERS AND SUPPORTERS. UM, I RECALL WHEN I WAS IN LEADERSHIP HOUSTON, AND WE HAD TO COME UP WITH A, A PROJECT AND EVERYONE WAS COMING UP WITH THESE IDEAS AND I SAID, WELL, WE NEED TO SUPPORT THE SHAPE COMMUNITY CENTER. AND, UH, WE DID THE RESTORATION OF THE LIBRARY, THE COMPUTER LABS. UH, I REMEMBER BEING IN, IN, AT THE AT SHAPE AND YOU, YOU PUT ME ON THE SPOT WITH THAT, UM, COLLAGE OF BLACK PIONEERS, AND YOU SAID, HEY, YOU NEED TO NAME 20 OF THESE, OR WHATEVER IT WAS, , TO GET YOUR, TO GET YOUR CARD. BUT, UM, AND I, AND I PASS WITH FLYING COLORS, BUT I KNOW YOU ALL HAVE GONE THROUGH SOME, SOME TOUGH TIMES AND SOME CHALLENGES LATELY. UH, EVERYTHING IS PURPOSEFUL AT THE END OF THE DAY. UM, AND I BELIEVE SHAPE WILL CONTINUE TO BE A BEACON BETTER, STRONGER, UH, FOR YEARS TO COME BASED ON YOU ALL'S LEADERSHIP. AND I LOOK FORWARD TO CONTINUING TO SUPPORT YOU. AND CONGRATULATIONS, COUNCIL MEMBER THOMAS. THANK YOU, COUNCIL MEMBER AND MAYOR, THANK YOU FOR PRESENTING, UH, THE WONDERFUL SHAPE CENTER, UM, UH, TO THE BODY. UH, THE SHAPE CENTER IS A CULTURAL, UH, ASSET AND ICON, AND YOU CANNOT BE IN HOUSTON FOR ANY PERIOD OF TIME AND NOT BECOME FAMILIAR WITH THE SHAPE CENTER. AND, UM, AS MY COLLEAGUE MENTIONED, UM, TO THE CHIEF CULTURAL BEARER, UH, MR. PARKER, THANK YOU FOR STANDING FOR LIBERATION. THANK YOU FOR UPHOLDING THE PRINCIPLES, UH, AND, UH, CHALLENGING US TO REFLECT THAT IN COMMUNITY. AND SO, UM, I STAND WITH YOU FOR YOUR 56 IN THE NEXT 56, IN THE NEXT 56, UM, BECAUSE THERE'S A LITTLE PIECE OF YOU IN ALL OF US AND ALL OF THE WORK THAT YOU AND YOUR BOARD AND YOUR LEADERSHIP HAS DONE. SO [00:20:01] JOB WELL DONE. CONGRATULATIONS, AND THANK YOU AGAIN, MAYOR AND COUNCIL MEMBER EVER. SHABAZZ, COUNCIL MEMBER SHABAZZ, THANK YOU FOR BRINGING THIS FORWARD. UM, WHEN WE, WHEN WE LIVED ON ZEPHYR, UH, OFF OF SCOTT STREET, MY MOTHER USED TO BRING US TO THE SHAPE COMMUNITY CENTER. UM, SO THE PROGRAMMING, UH, EVEN AS A YOUNG GIRL, UH, CONTINUES TO RESONATE, UM, IN OUR DAY-TO-DAY LIVES. SO WE APPRECIATE THE WORK THAT YOU DO AND THE COMMUNITY THAT YOU CONTINUE TO FOSTER IN THE CITY OF HOUSTON. AND I THINK ALL PARENTS SHOULD BE BRINGING THEIR KIDS TO THE PROGRAMMING THAT HAPPENS AT THE SHAPE COMMUNITY CENTER, UM, BECAUSE IT DOES CHANGE LIVES. UH, COUNCIL MEMBER DAVIS, ARE YOU IN THE QUEUE? YES. THANK YOU. THANK YOU, MAYOR TIM. THANK YOU, MAYOR AND COUNCIL MEMBER SHABA, OH MY GOD. TALK ABOUT AGE, UH, SINCE ONE WHO HAILS FROM THE BIRTH AGE, WE, WE, WE ARE NOT GONNA GO THERE, THE LORD, WE, WE ARE NOT GONNA GO THERE. BUT, BUT LET ME JUST SAY, I'VE KNOWN THIS GUY FOR SO, SO MANY YEARS FROM OUR CHURCH, FROM THE MINISTER'S GROUPS, FROM ALL KINDS OF THINGS THAT WE'VE DONE. PROTEST YES. FROM THE TOGETHER. OH, YES, BRO, YES, DEFINITELY PROTEST. AND, AND, AND TO SAY ALSO, AND MANY MAY NOT KNOW, BUT HE HELD FROM THE GREAT CITY, UH, PORT ARTHUR, TEXAS DOWN THERE. AND, UH, AMEN. AND SEE THAT PART. MOST PEOPLE MAY NOT KNOW THAT, BUT CONGRATULATIONS, FRIEND, YOU DESERVE IT SO MUCH. GOD BLESS YOU. CONGRATULATIONS. I I JUST WANNA SAY IN CLOSING, YOU KNOW, I'M NOT GONNA GET EMOTIONAL, BUT I, I, I ACTUALLY LOVE DELOITTE PARKER AND HAVE FOR MANY, MANY YEARS, UH, YOU KNOW, I CALL DISTRICT D THE DISTRICT OF DESTINATION. THIS IS ONE OF THE REASONS FOR HAVING THAT MONIKER BECAUSE VERY FEW PEOPLE, PARTICULARLY IN THE THIRD WARD, DO NOT KNOW THE SHAPE COMMUNITY CENTER OR THE DELOITTE PARKER. HE SAYS, IT'S NOT DELOITTE, IT'S DELOITTE . BUT AT ANY RATE, UH, I WENT INTO THE BUILDING WHEN I SAW THAT THERE WAS A FIRE, AND IT IS DEVASTATING AND IT'S VERY EMOTIONAL BECAUSE SOME OF THE THINGS THAT WERE THERE ARE NO LONGER THERE, WHICH ARE NOT REPLACEABLE. BUT THE SPIRIT, THE SPIRIT IS STILL THERE. AND CERTAINLY I LOOK FOR THE SHAPE COMMUNITY CENTER TO RISE LIKE THE PHOENIX AND SOON. AND SO CERTAINLY I AM HONORED TO BE ABLE TO BRING THIS PROCLAMATION. CONGRATULATIONS, , TAKE, TAKE YOUR TIME AS HIS COUNCIL MEMBER CAYMAN FOR A PROCLAMATION, RECOGNIZING THE 50TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE LGBTQ PLUS POLITICAL CAUCUS. ALL RIGHT, WE GOT SOME HEAVY HITTERS. UH, I'D LIKE TO INTRODUCE MY SIBLINGS, AUSTIN RUIZ, BRANDON MACK, MELVIN ROBERTS, AARON ROBLIN. DID I PRONOUNCE YOUR LAST NAME CORRECTLY? AND I ALSO SAW DALTON. WHERE'S DALTON? DALTON DEHART THAT EVERYONE KNOWS IS HERE AS WELL. UM, STANDING WITH ME ARE MY FRIENDS, SOME OF THE LEADERS OF WHAT WE KNOW AS THE CAUCUS, TON'S LGBT, LGBTQIA PLUS POLITICAL CAUCUS. BUT AGAIN, WE KNOW IT AS AND WILL ALWAYS BE THE CAUCUS. UH, I WANTED TO ALSO EXPRESS, UH, ON BEHALF OF COUNCIL MEMBER CASTILLO HIS APPRECIATION. HE IS AT A COMMUNITY RIBBON CUTTING RIGHT NOW, OR HE WOULD BE STANDING WITH US AS WELL. UH, TODAY [00:25:01] WE'RE RECOGNIZING A VITAL PART OF TEXAS'S CIVIL RIGHTS HISTORY AS WE WELCOME THE CAUCUS WHO MAYOR PER TEM, AS YOU MENTIONED, IS CELEBRATING THEIR 50TH ANNIVERSARY THIS YEAR. AND I THOUGHT THAT IT WAS VERY IMPORTANT FOR US AS A COUNCIL TO BE RECOGNIZING THIS ANNIVERSARY IN THE MIDST OF PRIDE MONTH. THE CAUCUS WAS FOUNDED IN 1975 AND HAS BEEN ON THE FRONT LINES OF EQUALITY FOR HALF A CENTURY. THEY'RE ONE OF OUR OFFICES AND DISTRICT C'S STRONGEST PARTNERS, SUPPORTING KEY INITIATIVES AND COLLABORATING WITH US TO UPLIFT INDIVIDUALS AND ADVOCATE IN THE COMMUNITY. WHAT MAKES THE CAUCUS SUCH A POWERFUL FORCE IS THEIR UNWAVERING FOCUS ON COMMUNITY. IN FACT, THE VERY FIRST THING, MAYOR THAT THEY SAID TO ME WHEN WE INVITED THEM HERE TO JOIN US WAS, DON'T FORGET TO MENTION THE OTHER ORGANIZATIONS DOING GREAT WORK LIKE THE LGBTQ PLUS CHAMBER OF COMMERCE. AND THERE'S A WHOLE HOST OF GROUPS THAT WE CAN ALL BE RECOGNIZING, BUT I ALSO FELT THAT THE CAUCUS NEEDED TO BE UP HERE, UH, IN THE MIDDLE OF PRIDE MONTH AS WELL. THEY HAVE BEEN INCREDIBLE PARTNERS COLLABORATING WITH US AND COUNTLESS OTHERS THROUGHOUT HOUSTON. AND THIS YEAR IT'S ALSO IMPORTANT TO RECOGNIZE WE'RE MARKING THE 10TH ANNIVERSARY OF OBERGFEL V HODGES, THE LANDMARK SUPREME COURT DECISION THAT GRANTED MARRIAGE EQUALITY NATIONWIDE. SO AT A TIME WHEN OUR LGBTQI PLUS COMMUNITY IS UNDER ATTACK, THROUGH HARMFUL RHETORIC, DISCRIMINATORY LEGISLATION AND ACTS OF VIOLENCE, IT IS MORE IMPORTANT THAN EVER FOR ALL ELECTED OFFICIALS TO STAND IN SOLIDARITY AND PROTECT THE PROTECTIONS THAT WE DO HAVE IN PLACE AS WE FIGHT FOR EVEN MORE. EQUALITY IS NOT OPTIONAL, IT IS FOUNDATIONAL. AND I WILL CONTINUE TO WORK WITH EVERY HOUSTONIAN, REGARDLESS OF THEIR BACKGROUND, IDENTITY, OR ORIENTATION, TO ENSURE THAT THEY ARE SEEN, RESPECTED, AND PROTECTED. AND I WILL ADD, WE WILL NOT APOLOGIZE FOR CELEBRATING DIVERSITY. WE WILL CONTINUE TO HONOR EVERY INDIVIDUAL WITH DIGNITY AND THE RESPECT THAT THEY DESERVE, BECAUSE HOUSTON IS A CITY WHERE EVERYBODY BELONGS. SO MAYOR, WITH THAT, I'M HONORED TO PRE READ THIS PROCLAMATION. THE HOUSTON LGBTQ PLUS POLITICAL CAUCUS, ALSO KNOWN AS THE CAUCUS, IS THE SOUTH'S OLDEST CIVIL RIGHTS ORGANIZATION DEDICATED SOLELY TO THE ADVANCEMENT OF GAY, LESBIAN, BISEXUAL, TRANSGENDER, AND QUEER RIGHTS. HAVING BEEN FOUNDED IN 1975, THE CAUCUS HAS REMAINED A TIRELESS FORCE FOR JUSTICE, CIVIC ENGAGEMENT AND INCLUSION, HELPING TO ELECT PRO EQUALITY CANDIDATES, HOLDING ELECTED OFFICIALS ACCOUNTABLE IN SHAPING PUBLIC POLICY AT THE LOCAL, STATE AND NATIONAL LEVELS. THE CAUCUS HAS CONTINUALLY SERVED AS A TRUSTED PARTNER TO THE BROADER HOUSTON COMMUNITY, HOSTING LEGAL CLINICS, ORGANIZING, POLL WORKER TRAININGS, LEADING PUBLIC EDUCATION CAMPAIGNS, ALL WHILE ADVANCING EQUITY AND STRENGTHENING CIVIC PARTICIPATION ACROSS COMMUNITIES. FROM THE EARLY ELECTIONS OF LGBTQ PLUS ALLIES TO THE HISTORIC VICTORIES OF OPENLY GAY CITYWIDE, AND I WILL ADD DISTRICT ELECTED OFFICIALS, THE CAUCUS HAS PLAYED AN ESSENTIAL ROLE IN TRANSFORMING HOUSTON POLITICS TO BECOME MORE INCLUSIVE AND REPRESENTATIVE FOR FIVE DECADES. THE CAUCUS CONTINUES TO LEAD WITH GRASSROOTS STRENGTH AND STRATEGIC VISION, MOBILIZING VOTERS, EMPOWERING FUTURE LEADERS, AND ADVOCATING FOR POLICIES THAT PROTECT THE RIGHTS AND DIGNITY OF LGBTQ PLUS HOUSTONIANS AND THEIR FAMILIES. THE CAUCUS IS A TESTAMENT TO THE POWER OF COMMUNITY LED ADVOCACY AND EMBODYING THE SPIRIT OF PROGRESS, RESILIENCE, AND JUSTICE FOR ALL. THE CITY OF HOUSTON WITH DISTRICT C RECOGNIZES THE CAUCUS AND JOINS THEM IN CELEBRATING THEIR 50TH ANNIVERSARY. THANK YOU, COUNCILWOMAN CAYMAN, THANK YOU TO THE CAUCUS, YOUR LEADERSHIP, YOUR MEMBERS, FOR GIVING A VOICE TO THOSE WHO HAD NO VOICE BEFORE THE CAUCUS. AND YOUR 50 YEARS IS VERY PARALLEL WITH MY CAREER. SO I'VE WORKED WITH NEARLY ALL OF YOUR PREVIOUS LEADERSHIP AND CERTAINLY RAY HILL AND DENISE. I COULD GO THROUGH THE LIST AS A SHAPE AND MOLDED THE CULTURE OF OUR CITY. SO THANK YOU FOR WHAT YOU'VE CONTRIBUTED, AND I KNOW EVEN THE BEST DAYS ARE IN FRONT OF US, WE'RE FACING CHALLENGING TIMES, AND TOGETHER I KNOW WE WILL SURVIVE AND BE STRONGER. SO THANK YOU COUNCILMAN KAMAN IN THE LEADERSHIP, AND THEREFORE I, JOHN WHITMAR, MAYOR OF THE CITY OF HOUSTON, HEREBY PROCLAIM JUNE 10TH, 2025 IS HOUSTON, LBTQ PLUS POLITICAL CAUCUS STATE IN THE CITY OF HOUSTON. CONGRATULATIONS. [00:30:06] THANK YOU, UH, MR. MAYOR, UH, THANK YOU. COUNCIL MEMBER CAYMAN. UH, MY NAME IS AUSTIN DAVIS REES, AND I AM THE CURRENT PRESIDENT OF THE HOUSTON LGBTQ PLUS POLITICAL CAUCUS. I'M PROUD TO BE ONE OF THE ORGANIZATION'S YOUNGEST PRESIDENTS IN ITS HISTORY, AND ALSO THE FIRST MALE LATINO TO BE PRESIDENT OF THE ORGANIZATION. UM, COUNCIL MEMBER KIND OF STOLE MOST OF MY TALKING POINTS, I'LL BE QUITE HONEST, BUT IT'S, IT'S REALLY, UM, A GREAT JOY OF MINE TO BE ABLE TO STAND BESIDE THESE FOLKS TO CONTINUE TO LEAD SUCH AN IMPORTANT ORGANIZATION WITHIN OUR CITY'S HISTORY. UM, FOR THOSE THAT DON'T KNOW, THE CAUCUS HAS HAD A VERY HEAVY HAND IN SHAPING HOUSTON'S LGBTQ PLUS COMMUNITY. FROM ORGANIZING A COUNTER PROTEST AGAINST ANITA BRYANT BACK IN 77 TO ORGANIZING THE FIRST, UH, PRIDE WEEK IN 1978, CULMINATING IN TOWN MEETING ONE, WHICH CREATED SUCH LEGACY ORGANIZATIONS LIKE LEGACY, COMMUNITY HEALTH, THE MONT CENTER, THE FIRST ITERATION OF THE LGBTQ PLUS CHAMBER. THE CAUCUS HAS REALLY BEEN AT THE FOREFRONT IN TERMS OF MAKING SURE THAT OUR COMMUNITY IS SEEN, IS HEARD, IS VALUED, AND IS PROTECTED. AND I WOULD BE REMISS IF I DIDN'T ALSO ACKNOWLEDGE THE MOMENT THAT WE FIND OURSELVES IN THIS LEGISLATIVE SESSION. TEXAS FILED A RECORD NUMBER OF ANTI LGBTQ PLUS BILLS, UM, OVER 200 MORE THAN ANY OTHER LEGISLATURE HAS SEEN IN THE NATION IN OUR HISTORY. UH, 120 OF THOSE SPECIFICALLY TARGETING THE TRANS COMMUNITY. AND SO THANK YOU COUNCIL MEMBER CAMAN FOR YOUR UNWAVERING ALLYSHIP. I LOVE YOU. I SEE MANY OTHER ALLIES AROUND THIS HORSESHOE. AND TO YOU ALL I SAY THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR STANDING BESIDE OUR COMMUNITY. THE FIGHT IS NOT YET OVER, BUT WE WILL SUCCEED AND WE WILL PREVAIL. SO HAPPY PRIDE MONTH AND HAPPY JUNETEENTH. THANK YOU SO MUCH. THANK YOU ALL FOR BEING HERE. WE ARE, UM, VERY HONORED THAT, UM, COUNCIL MEMBER CAYMAN, UH, THOUGHT IT APPROPRIATE TO BRING THIS PROCLAMATION DURING PRIDE MONTH. UH, MANY OF US WERE AT THE, UM, CHAMBER'S LUNCHEON LAST WEEK. I THINK THERE WERE ALMOST 60 ELECTED OFFICIALS AND THEN ALMOST A THOUSAND PEOPLE IN ATTENDANCE AT THE EVENT. IT WAS A GREAT SHOWING OF SUPPORT. UM, CONGRATULATIONS FOR ALL OF THE GREAT WORK THAT YOU CONTINUE TO DO, AND WE'LL KEEP FIGHTING FOR EQUALITY AND ALL THAT WE DO. Y'ALL, COUNCIL MEMBER DAVIS FOR A PROCLAMATION RECOGNIZING THE UNITED STATES ARMY'S 250TH BIRTHDAY MAYOR PRO TIM, AND TO ALL OUR COLLEAGUES, THIS IS A DAY THAT WE CERTAINLY, UH, TAKE THE HONOR AND, UM, CERTAINLY WITH A WHOLE LOT OF PROUD AND, UH, AND WITH PRIDE TO MAKE THIS PRESENTATION TODAY BECAUSE I STAND AS ONE OF THOSE WHO, UH, REPRESENT THIS NATION IN SERVICE. UH, THIS PROCLAMATION IS 250TH BIRTHDAY OF THE UNITED STATES ARMY. W ON JUNE 14TH, 1775. THE SECOND CONTINENTAL CONGRESS REPRESENTING THE CITIZENS OF THE 13TH AMERICAN COLONIES AUTHORIZED THE ESTABLISHMENT OF THE CONTINENTAL ARMY. AND WHEREAS THE COLLECTIVE EXPRESSION [00:35:01] OF THE PURSUIT OF PERSONAL FREEDOM THAT LED TO THE AUTHORIZATION AND ORGANIZATION OF THE UNITED STATES ARMY ALSO INSPIRED THE ADOPTION OF THE DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE AND THE CODIFICATION OF THE NEW NATION'S BASIC PRINCIPLE AND VALUES IN THE CONSTITUTION. AND WHEREAS FOR THE PAST 250 YEARS, THE UNITED STATES ARMY'S CENTRAL MISSION HAS BEEN TO FIGHT AND WIN THE NATION'S WARS. AND WHEREAS THE MOTTO THIS WILL DEFEND IS THE CREED BY WHICH THE AMERICAN SOLDIERS LIVES AND SERVICE. WHEREAS NO MATTER THE CAUSE, LOCATION, OR MAGNITUDE OF FUTURE CONFLICTS, THE NATION CAN RELY ON THE UNITED STATES ARMY TO PRODUCE WELL-TRAINED, WELL LED, HIGHLY MOTIVATED SOLDIERS TO CARRY OUT THE MISSIONS ENTRUSTED TO THEM. AND WHEREAS THE COMPONENTS OF THE UNITED STATES ARMY, INCLUDING THE ARMY NATIONAL GUARD, THE US ARMY RESERVE, THE REGULAR ARMY, HAVE CONTRIBUTED IMMENSELY TO PUBLIC HEALTH EFFORTS AND NATURAL DISASTER RESPONSES. AND WHEREAS THE MEMBERS OF THE CITY OF HOUSTON HAVE PROUDLY SERVED, AND SOME HAVE MADE THE ULTIMATE SACRIFICE IN DEFENSE OF OUR NATION'S FREEDOM WHILE SERVING IN THE UNITED STATES ARMY AND OTHER BRANCHES OF THE US MILITARY. AND WHEREAS THE CITY OF HOUSTON ENCOURAGES ALL RESIDENTS TO RECOGNIZE THE 250TH BIRTHDAY OF THE UNITED STATES ARMY AND PROUDLY HONOR THE SERVICE AND SACRIFICE OF ALL AMERICAN SOLDIERS PAST, PRESENT, AND FUTURE WITH THE RELYING THE RALLYING CRIES, PEOPLE FIRST WINNING MATTERS ARMY STRONG. ALL RIGHT, PRAISE GOD. THANK YOU, MAYOR. THANK YOU. THANK YOU COUNCILMAN DAVIS FOR THIS SHOUT OUT OF A GROUP, BUT I THINK LITERALLY WE WOULD NOT BE STANDING HERE TODAY, BUT FOR THE US ARMY. AMEN. THANK YOU. SO THANK YOU. IT SPEAKS FOR ITSELF. AND I'LL JUST SHARE A PERSONAL NOTE TO SOME OF OUR YOUNG SOLDIERS. WHEN I WAS GROWING UP ELEMENTARY SCHOOL AND YOUNGER, WE PLAYED ARMY, RIGHT? CAN YOU BELIEVE THAT? HOW MANY FOLKS WE CALLED? PROBABLY MY GENERATION. WE DIVIDED UP, WE PLAYED ARMY, WE DUG FOXHOLES. THAT'S RIGHT. WE ACTED LIKE WE WERE SOLDIERS. AND UH, NOW THEY'RE PLAYING DIGITAL GAMES AND, AND I CAN GO ON AND ON, BUT THIS IS A GREAT OCCASION TO RECOGNIZE SUCH HEROES THAT ARE SERVING US ACROSS THE WORLD AS WE TALK. SO THANK YOU. AND THEREFORE, I, JOHN WHITMEYER, MAYOR OF THE CITY OF HOUSTON, HEREBY PROCLAIM JUNE 14TH, 2025 AS A 250TH BIRTHDAY OF THE UNITED STATES ARMY IN HOUSTON, TEXAS. CONGRATULATIONS. MIC CHECK. HOW'S IT GOING EVERYONE? GOOD AFTERNOON, LADIES AND GENTLEMEN. I'M CAPTAIN O SPEAKING ON BEHALF OF THE US ARMY HOUSTON RECRUITING BATTALION. UM, WHAT A CROWD TODAY. I THINK EVERYONE CHEERING FOR US THAT IT JUST SPEAKS TO HOW GREAT OUR ARMY IS AND HOW COUNTRY, HOW GREAT OUR COUNTRY IS. UM, I WANTED TO SHARE WITH EVERYONE HERE TODAY THAT OUR ARMY IS STRONG WITH OVER A MILLION SOLDIERS CURRENTLY SERVING AND FIGHTING FOR OUR FREEDOMS EVERY DAY. WE HAVE DEDICATED WAR FIGHTERS AND ALSO ATTORNEYS, ASTRONAUTS, DOCTORS, SCIENTISTS, AND MANY MORE AND INCREDIBLE VETERANS. UH, IN THIS ROOM TODAY, WE ARE ABLE TO DO WHAT WE CAN DO BECAUSE OF EVERYONE IN THIS ROOM. SO THANK YOU VERY MUCH TO ALL THE LEADERS HERE, OUR COMMUNITIES, OUR VETERANS, OUR FRIENDS AND FAMILY. TOGETHER WE CAN CONTINUE TO FIGHT AND WIN OUR NATION'S WARS AND WE PROMISE THAT WE WILL ALWAYS DEFEND THIS GREAT NATION. THANK YOU SO MUCH. ALRIGHT, WE DO HAVE, UH, COUNCIL MEMBERS IN Q. WE'LL START WITH COUNCIL MEMBER EVANS CHAVE. THANK YOU MAYOR [00:40:01] PRO TEM. CERTAINLY I HONOR YOU FOR THE SERVICE THAT YOU HAVE GIVEN THIS COUNTRY. I DON'T SEE HER HERE, BUT I THINK SHE'S IN THE BACK. I WANNA RECOGNIZE SELENA HOOPER EVANS, UH, LINA AND I HAVE BEEN LONG TIME FRIENDS. ARE YOU STILL BACK THERE, LINA? NO, SHE AIN'T, SHE, LEIGH. OKAY. ANYWAY, I WANNA RECOGNIZE HER BECAUSE HER MOTHER, UM, MILDRED HOOPER WAS A, A WACK AND SHE WAS A PART OF THE, THE MOVIE, WHAT IS IT? THE TRIPLE SIX? AA? YES. YEAH. WELL, IT WAS B BASED ON HER AND HER ENGAGEMENT. YES. AND SO I WANTED TO HIGHLIGHT HER, BUT, BUT NICE YOU ALL JUST TELL HER. OKAY. BUT THANK YOU SO VERY MUCH FOR YOUR SERVICE AND THANK YOU COUNCIL MEMBER DAVIS FOR BRINGING THIS TO US. AND MAYOR, THANK YOU. COUNCIL MEMBER CAYMAN. I I JUST WANTED TO THANK YOU ALL SO MUCH FOR YOUR SERVICE AND YOUR CONTRIBUTION, UH, AND YOUR DEFENSE OF OUR NATION. UH, I ALSO MAYOR, WANTED TO RECOGNIZE YOUR STAFF SPECIFICALLY, UH, DIRECTOR DR. JONES. I THINK SHE'S IN THE BACK. I CAN'T SEE. SHE'S RIGHT THERE. OH, I'M SORRY. SHE WAS IN THE BACK EARLIER AND NOW YOU'RE, NO, I REALLY WANTED TO THANK YOU DR. JONES, JUST FOR THE WORK THAT YOU DO TO BRING THROUGH THE CITY, THE VOICE OF OUR VETERANS, AND YOU HAVE NEVER ONCE MISSED AN OPPORTUNITY WHILE WORKING ON VETERANS ISSUES TO ADVOCATE FOR OUR ACTIVE DUTY MEMBERS AS WELL. AND SO THANK YOU FOR THAT. THANK Y'ALL. COUNCIL MEMBER FLICKINGER, JUST WANNA SAY THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE. I MEAN, IT'S A SACRIFICE WHAT YOU DO AND OBVIOUSLY WE ALL BENEFIT FROM YOUR SACRIFICE. SO THANK YOU VERY MUCH. COUNCIL MEMBER POLLARD. THANK YOU MAYOR PRO, TIM AND MAYOR, I WANT TO THANK YOU AND COUNCIL MEMBER DAVIS FOR BRINGING THIS FORWARD. I WANT TO THANK YOU ALL FOR YOUR SERVICE, YOUR SACRIFICE, NOT ONLY YOURSELVES, BUT YOUR FAMILIES. UM, UH, DR. JONES FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP. MY FATHER ACTUALLY SERVED IN THE MARINES, NOT THE ARMY, BUT MY UNCLE SERVED IN THE ARMY AND MY, BOTH MY UNCLES SERVED IN THE ARMY. UM, AND I KNOW THE TREMENDOUS SACRIFICE, NOT ONLY FOR YOURSELVES, BUT YOUR FAMILY. SO, UH, FROM ALL OF US HERE, WE WANNA SAY THANK YOU VERY MUCH. GOD BLESS YOU, COUNCIL MEMBER, UH, DAVIS, THANK YOU FOR BRINGING THIS FORWARD. MAYOR, UH, 250 YEARS DESERVES TO BE CELEBRATED. SO CONGRATULATIONS, UH, TO EACH OF YOU. UH, WE OWE YOU ALL A DEBT OF GRATITUDE, UM, FOR YOUR SERVICE. AND AGAIN, CONGRATULATIONS. [00:45:33] MORE OF THAT . NO, WE DON'T CHAIR [2:00 P.M. – INVOCATION AND PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE] RECOGNIZES, UM, MAYOR PROAM CASTEX TATUM FOR THE IMPLICATION. THANK YOU, MAYOR. UH, VERY EXCITED, UH, COUNCIL MEMBERS TO HAVE REVEREND DR. QUINCY B ROGERS HERE WITH US TODAY. UH, REVEREND ROGERS, IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO COME TO THE MICROPHONE, UH, REVEREND DR. QUINCY ROGERS SERVES AS THE SENIOR PASTOR OF THE NAZARENE MISSIONARY BAPTIST CHURCH IN DISTRICT A, WHERE HE HAS LED THE CONGREGATION WITH HEART, VISION AND SPIRITUAL DEATH. DR. ROGERS IS WIDELY RESPECTED FOR HIS GIFTS AS A PREACHER, TEACHER, AND COUNSELOR. NAZARENE MISSIONARY BAPTIST CHURCH RECENTLY CELEBRATED ITS 150TH ANNIVERSARY, AND I WAS VERY HONORED TO PRESENT A PROCLAMATION AT THEIR CELEBRATION AND RIBBON CUTTING OF THEIR NEW SANCTUARY, UM, IN DISTRICT A FOR YEARS. REVEREND DR. ROGERS HAS CHAMPIONED COMMUNITY OUTREACH INITIATIVES, OVERSEEING FOOD DISTRIBUTION, MENTORING OUR YOUTH, AND ORGANIZING INTERFAITH DIALOGUES ACROSS THE GREATER HOUSTON AREA. HE IS DEEPLY COMMITTED TO BOTH HIS FAMILY AND HIS CALLING AND COUNCIL MEMBERS AND MAYOR. VERY HONORED TO HAVE REVEREND DR. QUINCY B ROGERS HERE TODAY TO DELIVER TODAY'S INVOCATION, DR. ROGERS. YES, SIR. I THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY AND THE PRIVILEGE OF DELIVERING THIS INVITATION. MAYOR AND MAYOR PRO TEMP. OH, FATHER GOD, WE COME TO YOU THIS DAY THANKING YOU, FATHER, FOR OUR MAYOR AND OUR COUNCIL MEMBERS, AND ALL THOSE SUPPORT IN THE DECISION MAKING PROCESS OF THE CITY OF HOUSTON. LORD, I PRAY THAT YOU PROTECT THEM INDIVIDUALLY, KEEP THEM THEIR FAMILIES, THEIR LOVED ONES. LORD, WATCH OVER THEM AND PROTECT THEM LORD. AND FATHER, WE PRAY THAT AS THEY MAKE DECISIONS THAT WILL, WILL REFLECT UPON THE PEOPLE THAT WILL ENRICH THE PEOPLE. LORD, I PRAY THAT YOU GUIDE AND DIRECT THEIR THOUGHTS AND THEIR MINDS. LORD, BLESS THEM, LORD, KEEP THEM. IN JESUS NAME WE PRAY. AMEN. AMEN. PLEASE. THANK YOU, SIR. PLEASE RISE FOR THE PLEDGE. I PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE ONE NATION, UNDER GOD, INDIVISIBLE LIBERTY. [ROLL CALL AND ADOPT THE MINUTES OF THE PREVIOUS MEETING] MR. SECRETARY, IF YOU PLEASE CALL THE ROLE MAYOR WHITMEYER. PRESENT, COUNCIL MEMBER PECK HERE. COUNCIL MEMBER JACKSON WILL BE ABSENT. COUNCIL MEMBER CAYMAN PRESENT, COUNCIL MEMBER EVAN SHABAZZ. HERE. COUNCIL MEMBER FLICKINGER. HERE. COUNCIL MEMBER THOMAS PRESENT. COUNCIL MEMBER HUFFMAN PRESENT. COUNCIL MEMBER CASTILLO. HERE. COUNCIL MEMBER MARTINEZ. HERE. COUNCIL MEMBER POLLARD. HERE. COUNCIL MEMBER CASTEX TATUM. HERE. COUNCIL MEMBER RAMIREZ. HERE. COUNCIL MEMBER DAVIS. HERE. COUNCIL MEMBER CARTER PRESENT. COUNCIL MEMBER PLUMMER WILL BE ABSENT. AND COUNCIL MEMBER ALCORN HERE NEED A MOTION TO ADOPT A MINUTES OF MAY 28TH. CASTEX TATUM, MOVE. NEXT. SECOND. MOTION MADE. AND SECOND. ALL IN FAVOR? SAY YES. THOSE OPPOSED NAY. MOTION PASSES. MEMBERS, I WOULD LIKE TO TAKE A MOMENT TO LET YOU KNOW A WONDERFUL DEVELOPMENT FOR THE CITY OF HOUSTON, AND I WANTED YOU TO HEAR IT FROM ME BEFORE YOU HEARD IT FROM OTHERS. WE REACHED AN AGREEMENT THIS MORNING AFTER MONTHS OF DISCUSSIONS WITH THE TWO SPONSORS OF THE MLK PARADE. I KNEW IT COULD BE DONE. I KNEW IT HAD TO BE DONE FOR SAFETY, FOR EXPENSE, AND TO PROPERLY HONOR DR. KING. IT'S BEEN TRIED FOR 32 YEARS BY NUMEROUS MAYORS, IF NOT EVERY MAYOR, [00:50:01] NUMEROUS COUNCIL MEMBERS PEOPLE SAID IT COULDN'T BE DONE TO GET TWO VERY PROUD ORGANIZATIONS TOGETHER FOR THE PURPOSE OF HAVING ONE UNITY PARADE. AND WHEN PEOPLE ASK ME IN THE COMING DAYS, WHAT ARE YOU MOST PROUD OF? I HAVE A LIST, BUT THIS SOLUTION WILL BE UP AT THE TOP. IT IS JUST SO NEEDED FOR DR. KING. THE WORD IS GOING OUT IN THE AFRICAN AMERICAN COMMUNITY THIS AFTERNOON. WHITMEYER DID IT. IT'LL BE TALKED ABOUT IN THE CHURCHES AND I WANT YOU TO CELEBRATE IT WITH ME. I RAN TO UNITE THIS CITY, AND THIS IS THE BEST EXAMPLE THAT I WANNA POINT TO THANK YOU TO MY TEAM. REBECCA COULDN'T HAVE DONE IT WITHOUT COUNCIL MEMBER DAVIS THAT WAS THERE AT EACH AND EVERY MEETING. CERTAINLY THE ORGANIZERS, MS. THERESA BREWER OF THE BLACK HERITAGE SOCIETY, WHO ORGANIZED THE ORIGINAL MLK PARADE AND CERTAINLY MR. STAMPS THE MLK GRAND PARADE ORGANIZER. IT'S SOMETHING TO RECOGNIZE IS WHAT MAKES HOUSTON GREAT. WE COME TOGETHER FOR THE BETTERMENT OF OUR CITIZENS. IT JUST, I COULDN'T BELIEVE WHEN I LEARNED AFTER BEING SWORN IN THAT SAN ANTONIO HAD A LARGER CELEBRATION OR A LARGER PARADE FOR DR. KING THAN THE CITY OF HOUSTON. AND THEN I LEARNED WHY SEPARATE PARADES STRETCHING OUR RESOURCES AND OUR SAFETY PROTECTION IN TWO LOCATIONS. IT JUST HAD TO COME TOGETHER. SO I'M EXCITED TODAY, COUNCIL MEMBER DAVIS COULDN'T HAVE DONE IT WITHOUT YOU. REBECCA RICARDO IN SPECIAL EVENTS MADE SUCH A PREVAILING ARGUMENT ABOUT THE CHALLENGES THAT HAVE FACED THE CITY FOR YEARS. COSTS STRETCHING OUR SECURITY AFTER THE NEW ORLEANS TRAGEDY OF A PERSON DRIVING INTO CROWDS. I KNEW BY JANUARY WE WERE GONNA HAVE AN AGREEMENT. WE WILL HAVE ONE UNITY PARADE ON THE THIRD MONDAY OF JANUARY, JANUARY 19TH. I ENCOURAGE EVERYONE TO BE THERE AND TO CELEBRATE THIS GREAT CITY AND ITS UNITY AND PLAY PAY PROPER HONOR TO DR. KING. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. COUNCIL MEMBER DAVIS. THANK YOU, MAYOR. UM, I I WANT TO SAY THAT, UH, IN THE OFFSET THAT MANY PEOPLE SAID IT WOULDN'T, IT COULDN'T HAPPEN. AND YOU KNOW, MY LITTLE SMALL INPUT DUE TO THE FACT THAT SO MANY OF THOSE PEOPLE WHO INVOLVED WITH THAT I'VE KNOWN OVER THE YEARS, UH, AS A PASTOR IN THE CITY FOR NOW 40 YEARS. BUT WITH ALL THAT BEING SAID, LET ME SAY FOR THE RECORD, MAYOR, THAT THANK YOU, YOU AND I APPRECIATE YOUR COMMENTS AND INCLUDING ME AND OTHERS, BUT IT, IT REALLY WAS OUR MAYOR. I, I I CANNOT SUBTRACT THAT IT WAS BECAUSE OF YOUR LEADERSHIP, UH, MAYOR WHITMEYER, THAT WE ARE UNIFIED. I THINK IT MAKES A LARGE STATEMENT THE CITIZENS WANTED TO SEE IT HAPPEN. YOU MADE IT HAPPEN IN SPITE OF THE CRITICS, A LOT OF CRITICISM. BUT YOU WERE THE ONE THAT MADE IT HAPPEN. I JUST PARTICIPATED, TRIED TO BRING PEOPLE TOGETHER UNDER WHAT YOU HAD ASKED. YOU ASKED THIS LAST YEAR AFTER THE FREEZE AND THE DANGER, WHAT IT WOULD BE FOR PEOPLE TO BE OUT IN THE COLD ON A DAY THAT UNIFIES THE NATION UNDER THE NAME OF REVEREND DR. MARTIN LUTHER KING, WHO BASICALLY SET A, A PRECEDENT FOR ALL OVER THE WORLD. AND I THINK HOUSTON, WE ARE A FIRST CLASS CITY AND WE OUGHT TO DO THINGS FIRST CLASS. AND SO FOR ONCE, I BELIEVE WE'VE SHOWN THE REST OF THE NATION AND WE WILL HAVE THE BEST PARADE, I BELIEVE, IN THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA. SO THANK YOU MAYOR, FOR YOUR SUPPORT AND MAKING THIS HAPPEN. GOD BLESS YOU. THANK YOU. AT THIS TIME [PUBLIC SPEAKERS] I RECOGNIZE MR. SECRETARY PROCEDURE, MOTION FOR PROCEDURE MOTIONS. COUNCIL MEMBER CAYMAN. THANK YOU MAYOR. I MOVED TO SUSPEND THE RULES TO MOVE SIMON CONTRERAS AND HIS SON PETER CONTRERAS. TO THE TOP OF THE THREE MINUTE NON AGENDA LIST, [00:55:01] PLEASE, COUNCILMAN. SECOND. MOTION MADE. AND SECOND. ALL IN FAVOR, SAY YES. THOSE OPPOSED NAY. MOTION PASSES. NEXT COUNCIL MEMBER THOMAS. UH, THANK YOU. MOTION TO SUSPEND THE RULES TO ADD RICKY MORRIS, BEVERLY VENABLE, AND TO MOVE CHRIS JENKINS TO THE THREE MINUTE UNDER CYNTHIA WARE. MEMBERS, YOU'VE HEARD THE MOTION. THERE'S A SECOND. ALL IN FAVOR SAY YES. THOSE OPPOSED TO MAKE. MOTION PASSES. COUNCIL MEMBER MARTINEZ. YEP. THANK YOU MAYOR. UH, I MOVE TO SUSPEND THE RULES AS WELL TO MOVE ALFREDO BLANCO. SARAH MONTGOMERY, MARIA SALAZAR, OSCAR ANO, ADRIANA, UH, AND CAROLINE VELA. VELASCO. BEHIND ROSIE BRYAN. UM, FOR TWO MINUTES EACH MOTION MADE AND SECOND, ALL FAVOR FOR TWO. I'M SORRY. WHAT? FOR TWO MINUTES. FOR TWO MINUTES. FOR TWO MINUTES. MOTION MADE. AND SECOND. ALL IN FAVOR? SAY YES. THOSE OPPOSED TO NAY. MOTION PASSES. CAST MAYOR PRO TEM MAYOR PRO TEM CASTEX DATUM. THANK YOU MAYOR. I HAVE A TWO PART MOTION. THE FIRST STEP IS TO MOVE MARCY HEISER BEHIND ROY HIRSCH ON THE THREE MINUTE AGENDA LIST. UH, AND THEN AMY ERICKSON TO SPEAK PRIOR TO FORMER COUNCIL MEMBER ROBERT GALLEGOS ON THE THREE MINUTE LIST AS WELL. SECOND. MOTION MADE. AND SECOND. ALL IN FAVOR? SAY YES. THOSE OPPOSED NAY. MOTION PASSES. AND DAVIS, COUNCIL MEMBER DAVIS. THANK YOU MAYOR. I, I MOVE TO SUSPEND THE RULE TO MOVE FRED WOODS UP IN THE THREE MINUTE, UH, SPEAKING LIST. MOTION MADE DO IN THE THREE TO FOLLOW TO FOLLOW PETER CONTRERAS. TO FOLLOW PETER CONTRERAS. OKAY. OKAY. GOT IT. DO WE HAVE A SECOND MOTION MAID. AND SECOND. ALL IN FAVOR SAY YES. THOSE OPPOSED NAY. MOTION PASSES. OKAY, THAT SHOULD BE IT. ANYONE ELSE? NOT MR. SECRETARY, WOULD YOU CALL ON FIRST SPEAKER AN KO? IMAGINE SLEEPING ON THE STREETS IN THE COLD RED RAIN. THAT'S WHY WE ARE HERE TODAY TO HOUSE THE UNHOUSED. MY NAME IS AMAYA LUCA. I CARE ABOUT HELPING THE UNHOUSED BECAUSE IF WE DON'T, THEN BY THE TIME ONE OF US KIDS BECOME MAYOR, THE WHOLE CITY WILL BE FILLED WITH UNHOUSED PEOPLE. IN ORDER TO FIX THIS PROBLEM, WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THE MAYOR INVESTS THE 70, THE $70 MILLION TO THE UNHOUSED LIKE YOU PROMISE. ALSO, BECAUSE SOME OF THE UNHOUSED ARE DEPENDING ON IT. THIS IS IMPORTANT BECAUSE LIKE I SAID, BY THE TIME ONE OF US KIDS BECOME MAYOR, THE WHOLE CITY WILL BE FILLED. AND HAS PEOPLE THINK ABOUT IT THIS WAY. IF YOU HAD TO DIG THROUGH DUMPSTERS FOR FOOD, HOW WOULD YOU FEEL IF YOU HAD TO GO THROUGH A KNOT, THROUGH A TAILORED SCRAPS AND SUCH FOR NOT SO COME FREE BAG AS A BEST HOPE FOR A BLANKET IN THE RAIN SEASON. HOW WOULD YOU FEEL? NOT GREAT, RIGHT? IN CONCLUSION, THERE ARE MANY REASONS TO MAKE A PULSE AND HELMET, BUT ALSO MANY WAYS TO FIX IT. WHAT ARE YOU GONNA DO? THANK YOU COUNCILMAN POLLARD. JUST SECOND MA'AM. AND MA'AM COUNCILMAN POLLARD. AN I WANNA SAY, UH, THAT WAS A GREAT SPEECH THAT YOU GAVE US AND YOU GAVE SOME REALLY EXCELLENT POINTS, MAYOR AND COUNCIL. I MET WITH THIS GROUP EARLIER, UH, THE MAJORITY MINORS AND THEY ARE HERE TO ADVOCATE ON BEHALF OF THEIR COMMUNITY, UH, TO SEE, UH, THE HOMELESS ISSUE ADDRESSED. AND MAYOR, THEY'VE BEEN FOLLOWING YOUR PLAN AND THEY HAVE A LOT OF, UH, DETAILED QUESTIONS, UH, TO ALL OF US ON HOW WE'RE GONNA BE ABLE TO GET THAT DONE. SO TO YOU AND TO ALL YOUR CLASSMATES THAT ARE HERE, UH, I WANNA SAY THANK YOU FOR YOUR ADVOCACY. THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE AND BEING ENGAGED, AND WE LOOK FORWARD TO FINDING WAYS TO WORK TOGETHER HERE AT CHO CITY HALL. AND I HAVE A COUPLE QUESTIONS FOR YOU. UM, WHO PAYS FOR THE MONEY THAT WE [01:00:01] USE TO ADDRESS HOMELESSNESS? EVERYONE. INCLUDING PARENTS. OKAY. AND WHAT MONEY IS COLLECTED TO PAY FOR THAT? TAXES? YOU'RE RIGHT. GOOD. YOU PAID ATTENTION TO OUR LESSON EARLIER. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. NEXT, JOSH ANKA. THANK YOU. HAVE YOU EVER WONDERED WHAT IT'S LIKE TO BE UNHOUSED YOU DEPEND ON OTHERS TO HELP MAKE YOUR LIFE EASIER? MY NAME IS JOSHUA. I CARE ABOUT THE HOMELESS BECAUSE WE SLEEP IN NICE BEDS WITH DELICIOUS FOOD, BUT THE HOMELESS SLEEP ON THE STREETS AND HAVE TO DIG INTO TRASH CANS TO FIND LEFTOVERS TO EAT. I FEEL BAD FOR THEM. AND YOU SHOULD TOO. IN ORDER FOR US TO FIX THIS PROBLEM, WE NEED TO HELP THE MALE MEMBER TO INVEST THE 70 MILLION TO HOMELESS COMMUNITIES LIKE HE PROMISED. IF WE REALLY CARE ABOUT THE UNHOUSED, SHOULDN'T WE HELP THEM? THE REASON THIS IS IMPORTANT IS BECAUSE THE HOMELESS CAN'T HELP THEMSELVES, BUT WE CAN HELP THEM. WE NEED TO HELP THEM HAVE AN EASIER LIFE. HOW ARE YOU GOING TO HELP? THANK YOU. NEXT AVA? HMM. HEY PEOPLE. SOME ARE HOMELESS AND HAVE NO MONEY. WE NEED TO HELP. MY NAME IS ISHA AVA. I CARE ABOUT THE HOMELESS BECAUSE IT'S A BIG PROBLEM. IN ORDER TO FIX THE PROBLEM, WE NEED TO GIVE THEM MONEY. THE REASON, THE REASON IT'S IMPORTANT IS BECAUSE SOME PEOPLE DON'T HAVE THE RIGHT TO HAVE A HOUSE. AND IT'S BIG, AS BIG AS THE WORLD ITSELF. THOUSANDS PEOPLE, PEOPLE THOUSANDS ARE HOMELESS. PLEASE HELP AND FUND HOUSING FOR ALL. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. NEXT. ALESSANDRO MENDEZ. HE'S NOT HERE. NAJE SHANKLIN MACKENZIE EDWARDS. HEY PEOPLE. I AM ADVOCATING FOR UNHOUSED PEOPLE. HAVE YOU EVER HAD NO HOME OR NOWHERE TO SLEEP? I AM HERE TO MAKE SURE THEY HAVE A PLACE TO SLEEP. HI, MY NAME IS MACKENZIE EDWARDS AND I CARE ABOUT HELPING THE HOMELESS BECAUSE IT CAN GET THEM OUT OF POVERTY AND CREATE A SAFER ENVIRONMENT FOR THE UNHOUSED PEOPLE. ALSO, IN ORDER TO FIX THE PROBLEM IS MAKE SURE WE KEEP ADVOCATING FOR UNHOUSED AND THE MAYOR CAN INVEST IN THAT 70 MILLION HE WAS GOING TO GIVE TO THE UNHOUSED PEOPLE. THE REASON THIS IS IMPORTANT IS BECAUSE I WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE GET THAT 70 MILLION TO THE UNHOUSED. I WANT THEM TO, TO AT LEAST BUILD A A THEIR LIFE BACK TOGETHER. GET THEM OUT OF POVERTY. NOW I WILL CLOSE. THANK YOU FOR LISTENING. NEXT. MOTI EDWARDS. URIAH WILLIAMS. RYAN WILLIAMS, ROSIE BRYANT. HI EVERYONE. THANK YOU. MY NAME IS ROSIE BRYANT AND I AM THE FOUNDER AND DIRECTOR OF MAJORITY MINORS. I'VE BEEN A COMMUNITY ORGANIZER FOR A LONG TIME AND I'VE DEALT WITH, UM, HOMELESSNESS AS A YOUNG KID AND I'M EXCITED TO HAVE THEM HERE TO CREATE FUTURE GENERATIONS OF LEADERS, UH, FOR OUR COMMUNITY. AND SO THAT'S WHY I AM HERE AND THAT'S [01:05:01] WHY I HAVE THEM SPEAKING ABOUT THIS ISSUE. ALTHOUGH I'M NEW TO HOUSTON, I DID A, I DID A LOT OF RESEARCH ON THE WORK THAT YOU GUYS ARE DOING FOR THE HOMELESS POPULATION, AND SO I'M EXCITED TO HAVE THEM HERE. ADVOCATE. I WANNA SAY THANK YOU TO DR. EVAN SHABAZZ BECAUSE THE PROGRAM IS ACTUALLY IN HER DISTRICT AND ALL OF THE CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS THAT WE'RE MEETING WITH, UH, THE YOUTH TODAY, BECAUSE THEY REALLY ENJOYED IT. THEY, THEY'RE EXCITED AND THEY LEARNED A LOT, ESPECIALLY FROM, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER POLLARD. SO THANK YOU. THANK YOU. JUST HONOR COUNCIL MEMBER KAMAN. MA'AM, MS. BRYANT, I JUST WANTED TO THANK YOU AND I THINK ANOTHER ONE OF YOUR PARTNERS IS HERE AS WELL FILMING RIGHT NOW. CAN WE JUST HAVE ALL THE KIDS STAND UP FOR A SECOND TO BE RECOGNIZED OVER THERE TOO? Y'ALL WERE AMAZING. WE WERE TALKING EARLIER. THIS IS YOUR FIRST TIME TO CITY HALL AND YOU HAVE BLOWN US ALL AWAY. WE ARE LISTENING TO YOU. WE HEAR YOU AND KEEP GOING. THANK YOU. SORRY, Y'ALL COUNCILMAN POLL. I KNOW, RIGHT? , COUNCILMAN POLLARD. THANK YOU MAYOR. AND MS. BRIAN, I JUST WANT TO THANK YOU AGAIN AND YOUR COLLEAGUE, ALL THE STUDENTS, YOU HAVE AN IMPRESSIVE BUNCH HERE. I KNOW THEY ARE MADE UP OF DIFFERENT SCHOOLS, UH, THAT ARE IN THE SUMMER PROGRAM. UH, BUT THE WAY THAT YOU ARE, UM, TEACHING THEM HOW TO SPEAK UP FOR THEMSELVES AND HOW TO ADVOCATE FOR THEIR COMMUNITY IS VERY IMPRESSIVE. AND I'M VERY, VERY IMPRESSED BY YOU ALL. SO I LOOK FORWARD TO STAYING, UH, IN TOUCH AND WHATEVER YOU NEED FROM US, UH, BE SURE TO REACH OUT. GOD BLESS YOU. ABSOLUTELY. THANK YOU. VERY GOOD. COUNCIL, MAYOR PRO, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER EVANS ABOUT THANK YOU MAYOR . CERTAINLY, IT WAS SUCH A, A HONOR AND A PLEASURE FOR YOU ALL TO COME TO MY OFFICE. SO I SAW LEADERSHIP ALL OVER THE ROOM AND JUST, JUST VERY GLAD THAT IT, THAT YOU ARE HOUSED IN THE DISTRICT OF DESTINATION. UM, AND, AND IT'S JUST SO HEARTWARMING TO SEE SUCH YOUNG PEOPLE TAKE AN INTEREST IN SOMETHING THAT IS VITALLY IMPORTANT. I ALWAYS SAY THAT THEREBY THE GRACE OF GOD GO, I AND SO THEREFORE TO, TO COME TO COUNCIL AND, AND SPEAK TO US REGARDING THAT IS JUST PHENOMENAL. THANK YOU BOTH FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP AND WE ARE JUST LOOKING FOR SOME OF THEM TO FILL SOME OF THESE SEATS IN THE FUTURE BECAUSE THIS IS HOW PUBLIC SERVICE STARTS WITH CIVIC ENGAGEMENT. AND SO THANK YOU VERY MUCH AND YOU ALL HAVE A WONDERFUL AFTERNOON. THANK YOU MA'AM. THANK YOU. NEXT ALFREDO BLANCO TO BE FOLLOWED BY SARAH MONTGOMERY. HI, UH, MY NAME IS ALFREDO BLANCO. THANK YOU FOR ALLOWING US TO COME IN TODAY. UH, ONE THING I HAD, UH, HOW YOU SAY, UH, I WANNA ASK YOU, YOU MAYOR THAT BEFORE YOU LEAVE THIS OFFICE, I DON'T KNOW IF YOU RUN NEXT TIME OR NOT MAKE MASON THE TOP OF YOUR LIST LIKE YOU DO WITH MK BECAUSE THAT'S, MASON IS A REGIONAL PARK THAT BEEN IN TOUCH FOR SIX YEARS. I'M NOT AGAINST ALL THE TEND BE BUILDING IN, IN MASON PARK. WE HAD A BRIDGE BUILT BY THE OTHER ADMINISTRATION, BUT THEY BUILD THAT BRIDGE, DID US TO NOWHERE BECAUSE OUR COMMUNITY, THEY'RE GONNA PLACE TO GO THERE AND PLAY AND DO SOMETHING IN MASON PARK. AND THAT BRIDGE IS A, IS A BRIDGE TO NOWHERE. THERE'S BEEN MONEY SOMEWHERE ELSE. NOW ALSO WE HAVE THE ARC TO TIME COMING UP. I'M NOT AGAINST THAT EITHER. COUNCIL MEMBER MARTINEZ, THANK YOU FOR JULIAN, WHOEVER HELPING YOU IN THIS THING. BUT WHAT WE NEED THE A TO TIME BE MOVING AWAY FROM THAT, IT IS JUST THE KNOCK IT OFF THE STREETS, THERE GONNA BE A BLOCK THERE BLOCKING THE ENTIRE PARK. SO I'D LIKE TO DOG TO HAVE IT AT THE, IN THE NORTH SIDE AND THE OTHER SIDE OF THE BRIDGE, THE BIO. MAYBE YOU CAN RAISE UP THE BIO IF YOU ARE AFRAID TO FLOAT IT, MAYBE YOU CAN RAISE IT UP THE FLOOR. YOU CAN DO THINGS LIKE THAT. BUT I WANT YOU TO DO THIS. LIKE SAY PLEASE MAYOR, PUT THAT ON TOP OF YOUR LIST BEFORE YOU LEAVE. UH, THE, UH, THIS PLACE. I, WE, I AIN'T GET NOTHING AGAINST THAT, BUT MASON PARK BEEN CLOSED FOR ALMOST SEVEN YEARS WHEN NO SERVICES, NOBODY'S THERE. PEOP EVERY TIME WE CALLED THE CITY OR THE PARK, THEY SAY THEY'RE WORKING AND NOBODY SHOW UP AT MASON PARK TO WORK. THE LAST YEAR THERE WAS PEOPLE WORKING TO PUT THE LIGHTS ON. IF THEY PUT THE LIGHTS AROUND THE TRACK, WHAT THEY DO, BECAUSE OUR PEOPLE [01:10:01] FOR THE MASON PARK COMPLAINING THE COMMUNITY DON'T KNOW WHAT YOU GUYS DOING. ONLY SEVERAL PEOPLE DO. I KNOW WE HAVE A MASTER PLAN, WE HAVE A LOT OF STAFF, BUT YOU NEED TO COME AND TALK TO OUR COMMUNITY. YOU LISTEN TO ME, MAYOR, THIS IS VERY IMPORTANT FOR US. MASON PARK IS ORIGINAL. IT'S GOING TO BE ALMOST A HUNDRED YEARS IN EXISTENCE AND NOBODY TOUCH IT. WE CAN DO THE SAME THING YOU DO WITH EMANCIPATION PARK. WHAT THE, WHAT YOU GUYS DOING WITH MCGREGOR? YOU THE PARKS HAVE A BOARD FOR WRITING GRANTS HELP US, MAYOR, HELP US TO WRITE GRANTS FOR OUR COMMUNITY. IT'S OUR PARK. WE WANNA CELEBRATE A HUNDRED YEARS OF MESO PARK AND YOUR TOP LIST SO YOU CAN, WHEN WE REMEMBER BOB MAYOR JAN, DO THIS, THIS MAYOR DO THIS. WE HAVE A PLAZA EVA CREATED THANK TO MAYOR BILL WHITE. WE RAISE CLOSE TO HALF A MILLION FOR THE PLAZA. PLEASE STEP PUT IT ON YOUR TOP OF YOUR LIST. IT'S VERY IMPORTANT FOR OUR COMMUNITY, OUR KIDS, AND GOT NO PLACE TO GO TO PLAY. THANK YOU SIR. THANK YOU. BLANCO. BLANCO. YES SIR. NO, WE'RE ON A FIRST NAME BASIS. FIRST OFF, IT'S GOOD TO SEE YOU AND THANKS FOR YOUR COMMUNITY LEADERSHIP. I'M LOOKING AT A SCHEDULE OF IMPROVEMENT STARTING THIS SUMMER WITH A NEW POOL, CLUBHOUSE, AND COMMUNITY CENTER. SO YOUR HARD WORK AND, UH, ADVERSARY IS IS WORKING, WORKING. SO, BUT THE COMMUNITY, LIKE I SAID, ALMOST SEVEN YEARS WITHOUT PARK. THE PARK IS THERE. I UNDERSTAND. AND I'VE BEEN HERE 17 MONTHS. I KNOW, I KNOW. I, I KNOW. SO WE'RE DOING THE BEST WE CAN. AND YOU HAVE DONE A TREMENDOUS JOB OF STAYING ON CITY GOVERNMENT TO SEE IT DO COMPLETION. SO TO BIG GRANTS. BIG GRANTS. THANK YOU, SIR. YES, THANK YOU. LET'S GO TO WORK NEXT. SARAH MONTGOMERY. UM, I KNOW THAT OUR TIME GOT REDUCED TO TWO MINUTES, BUT I ACTUALLY WROTE FOR THREE MINUTES. I HOPE YOU GUYS WILL ALLOW ME TO READ MY ENTIRE STATEMENT. UM, GOOD AFTERNOON. MY NAME IS SARAH MONTGOMERY AND I LIVE IN THE EAST END. TODAY I STAND WITH MY NEIGHBORS AND THEIR FAMILIES WHO LOVE MASON PARK. UM, I UNDERSTAND SOME OF THIS MAY NOT BE APPLICABLE GIVEN THE UPDATES TO WHAT, WHAT WE'VE HEARD ABOUT WHAT'S GOING TO BE UPDATED TO THE PARK. UM, BUT AS PART AS UNIDOS PER MASON, I'M HERE TO MAKE IT CLEAR THAT OUR COMMUNITY REJECTS THE $20 MILLION ARC OF TIME PROJECT REGARDLESS OF WHERE THE MONEY IS COMING FROM. THIS PROJECT IS NOT WHAT OUR COMMUNITY ASKED FOR. JUANITA'S PER MASON COLLECTED OVER 200 PETITION SIGNATURES LAST YEAR. I HAVE THIS PETITION WITH ME, SOME WITH SOME STRAIGHTFORWARD ESSENTIAL DEMANDS, LIKE MORE LIGHTING, A SAFE PLAYGROUND, STORM RECOVERY, MAINTENANCE, PUBLIC RESTROOMS, AND A FUNCTIONING COMMUNITY CENTER. UM, INSTEAD, COUNCIL MEMBER HAWKEYE MARTINEZ AND DEVELOPERS HAVE CHOSEN TO PUSH FORWARD A $20 MILLION ART PROJECT THAT BENEFITS NO ONE BUT THE CITY COUNCIL'S BUDGET, SAVING A FEW PENNIES ON ELECTRICITY WHILE OUR GOVERNMENT CONTINUES TO SPEND MORE THAN A BILLION DOLLARS ON POLICING. THEY CALL IT INNOVATION, BUT WE CALL IT WHAT IT IS. GENTRIFICATION AND ACTION. THIS ISN'T PUBLIC ART, IT'S A MONUMENT TO DISPLACEMENT. LOOK AT WHAT IS HAPPENING RIGHT NOW TO TONY MARIN PARK, WHICH IS CLOSED FOR 20 UNTIL 2027 NOW FOR RENOVATIONS, UH, WE'RE WORRIED THAT THIS IS WHAT'S NEXT FOR MASON PARK. THE CONSTRUCTION OF THE ARC OF TIME THREATENS OUR COMMUNITY BY DESTROYING GREEN SPACE AND DISRUPTING ACTIVITIES THAT MAKE THE PARK A HUB OF LIFE. WE ARE NOT AGAINST IMPROVEMENT. THAT IS WHY WE MEET WEEKLY TO TALK ABOUT HOW WE IMPROVE OUR COMMUNITY. BUT IMPROVEMENT WITHOUT COMMUNITY INPUT IS NOT PROGRESS. IT'S ERASURE. IF IMPROVEMENT IMPROVEMENTS MEAN DISPLACEMENT AND HARM TO THE PEOPLE WHO LIVE HERE, THEN WE DO NOT WANT THOSE IMPROVEMENTS. SOME SLAY GENTRIFICATION IS JUST ABOUT MAKING THINGS LOOK NICER. BUT WE KNOW WHAT REALLY HAPPENS WHEN PROPERTY VALUES RISE. SO DO RENT AND TAXES, WHICH FORCE PEOPLE OUT OF OUR NEIGHBORHOOD. THIS MAJORITY IMMIGRANT, LATINO AND WORKING CLASS COMMUNITY HAS BEEN NEGLECTED BY THE CITY FOR DECADES. AND NOW BECAUSE SOME PEOPLE SEE PROFIT POTENTIAL, YOU WANNA PAY ATTENTION. IF THE CITY TRULY CARED ABOUT MASON PARK, IT WOULD PRIORITIZE SAFETY OVER SPECTACLE. IT WOULD GIVE US WORKING BATHROOMS. A SAFE PLAYGROUND AND A FUNCTIONING COMMUNITY CENTER. NOT A $20 MILLION MONUMENT THAT NO ONE ASKED FOR. BUILT BY OUTSIDERS. FOR OUTSIDERS, THE RESIDENTS OF MAGNOLIA PARK AND EAST END WILL NOT ALLOW THEIR COMMUNITY AND LIVES TO BE BULLDOZED. IN 10 YEARS, THIS COMMUNITY WILL LOOK LIKE WHAT WE ENVISION WITH EVERYONE WE LOVE STILL THERE, ABLE TO AFFORD AND CONTROL THEIR HOUSING, ENJOYING OUR BEAUTIFUL PARK, AND RAISING THEIR FAMILIES IN PEACE WITHOUT FEAR OF IMMIGRATION, EVICTION, OR INCREASE POLICING. OKAY, WE ARE HERE TO STAY AND WE ARE HERE TO FIGHT. YOU CAN CHOOSE TO DO THE RIGHT THING AND FOCUS ON WHAT IS TRULY BEST FOR RESIDENTS. OR YOU'LL CONTINUE TO SEE US AT NEIGHBORHOOD MEETINGS, CITY COUNCIL, AND OF COURSE AT MASON PARK. MASON PARK IS NOT FOR SALE. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. JUST A SECOND, COUNCILOR. NEXT MARIA SALAZAR TO BE FOLLOWED BY OSCAR ANO. HELLO, MY NAME IS [01:15:01] MARIA. I AM ARRESTED IN THE EAST END. I, I'M NOT SURE IF THREE MINUTES IS ENOUGH TO TALK ABOUT EVERYTHING I WOULD LIKE TO TALK ABOUT, BUT UM, I'M JUST HERE, UM, TO TALK ABOUT MASON PARK. RECENTLY A NEW ADDITION WAS DECIDED ON, IT'S CALLED THE ARC OF TIME. AND OUR ARGUMENT IS QUITE CLEAR, JOAQUIN, OUR ARGUMENT IS THAT WE DON'T WANT IT IN OUR NEIGHBORHOOD. JOAQUIN, YOU ARE VERY AWARE OF THE POINTS LINAS FROM MASON HAS BROUGHT UP TO YOU. MONTHS AGO, YOU CHOSE TO SPEND $20 MILLION INSTEAD ON THIS STRUCTURE, A CHILDREN'S PLAYGROUND WOULDN'T EVEN COST YOU HALF THAT MUCH. UM, WE ARE FRUSTRATED WITH YOU. WE'RE FRUSTRATED WITH YOUR DECISIONS. WE ARE MOSTLY FRUSTRATED BECAUSE THE NECESSITIES OF OUR PARK HAVE BEEN NEGLECTED. NOW JOAQUIN, INSTEAD OF YOU SHOWING US WHAT WE NEED, YOU DECIDED TO SHOW, GIVE US A SHOW AT MASON PARK TO ADVERTISE WHAT YOU THOUGHT WAS NEEDED FOR THE PARK. NO ONE WOULD'VE EVER THOUGHT AN HOUR LIKE THIS WAS NEEDED AT MASON PARK. INSTEAD, WE'VE ASKED YOU FOR A PLAYGROUND. WE'VE ASKED YOU FOR RESTROOMS, WE'VE ASKED YOU FOR A TREES, YOU KNOW, THE MOST BASIC THINGS. A PARK MAKES A PARK, RIGHT? UM, OVERALL THE WORST THING OF THIS IS THAT WE'VE BEEN ASKED, WE'VE ASKED YOU TO BE PART OF THE CONVERSATION. WE ASKED TO MEET WITH YOU. WE'VE ASKED, WE BROUGHT UP THESE CONCERNS THE MOMENT THIS WAS PUT INTO THE, THE PARK. AND GUESS WHAT? WE WILL LOOK PAST US. NOT ONLY DID YOU LOOK PAST US, YOU LOOK PAST YOUR COMMUNITY. NOT ONLY THROUGH THIS, YOU LOOK PAST YOUR COMMUNITY WHEN YOU VOTED FOR WHI MEYER'S BUDGET, BUT YOU ALSO LOOK PAST YOUR COMMUNITY WHEN YOU DECIDED TO PUT CHOOSE THIS STRUCTURE. I COME TO HERE TODAY TO SHOW YOU THAT WE HAVE DRAFTED THIS POINTS. NOT JUST ONLY THIS FOR MASON, BUT HUNDREDS OF PEOPLE AT MASON PARK SIMPLY ASKING FOR THE MOST BASIC NECESSITIES OF THE PARK. WE DO NOT NEED A STRUCTURE THAT'S GOING TO FURTHER GENTRIFY OUR NEIGHBORHOOD. WE NEED RESTROOMS THAT WILL MAKE THE PARK A PARK. WE NEED A PLAYGROUND THAT'S GONNA MAKE A PARK, A PARK WHERE OUR CHILDRENS CAN COME DURING THE SUMMER TO ACTUALLY ENJOY THEIR TIME. THAT IS WHAT WE NEED. WE ARE NOT ASKING YOU, WE ARE DEMANDING THAT YOU NOW CHOOSE WHAT WE ARE ASKING FROM YOU. AND IF YOU CHOOSE NOT TO, WE'LL MAKE SURE THAT NEXT ELECTION YOU ARE NOT SITTING IN THAT CHAIR. THANK YOU. MITCH OSCAR ORA. AND YES, TRANSLATE OSCAR. OH, OKAY. UH, PARK. GOOD AFTERNOON, EVERYBODY. MY NAME IS OSCAR OSCAR ORA, AND I'VE BEEN FIGHTING FOR MASON PARK FOR 20 YEARS. UH, GOD WILLING, I'LL FIGHT FOR THE NEXT 20 YEARS. SO IT'S BEEN ABOUT SEVEN MONTHS SINCE I'VE BEEN HERE, AND I SHARED SOME PHOTOS WITH, UH, MAYOR JOHN WHITMEYER, BUT I BELIEVE IT FELL UNDERNEATH THE DESK 'CAUSE NOTHING HAS HAPPENED. AND I COME TO YOU TODAY TO, UH, MAKE A PLEA TO YOU. JUST TAKE A LITTLE BIT OF MONEY AND FOCUS IT ON MASON PARK PLAYGROUND. AND I'M NOT SURE IF IT'S BECAUSE, UH, MASON PARK IS A HISPANIC PARK, UH, BUT WE'RE SEEKING, UH, ADVANCEMENTS FOR THE YOUTH IN THE AREA AT THE PARK. UM, WE DO NOT HAVE A, UH, FEMALE SPECIFIC RESTROOM. AND THERE'S AROUND 80 TO A HUNDRED, UH, PEOPLE AT THE PARK AT ANY GIVEN TIME. AND I'M MAKING A PLEA TO, UM, ALL THE COUNCIL MEMBERS, UH, HERE, WHO CAN HEAR US OUT THAT WE NEED HELP AT MASON PARK. AND I WOULD ASK THAT, UH, ANYTHING THAT I BRING FORTH TO, UH, THE MAYOR COUNCIL, UH, NOT BE THROWN OUT. [01:20:01] THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME. NICK CAROLINA VELASCO. HI EVERYONE. MY NAME IS CAROLINA VELASCO, AND I ALSO CAME TO TALK ABOUT MASON PARK FOR OVER A YEAR NOW. UH, UNI WAS EMERGED DUE TO THE LACK OF, UM, FUNDING AND, BUT ALSO GROWING CONCERNS OF THE EMPHASIS UNSUFFICIENT FUNDING AND POOR DECISION MAKING FOR YEARS AND GENERATIONS AT THIS POINT, RIGHT? YOU SAW SOME OF MY COLLEAGUES HERE THAT HAVE BEEN FIGHTING FOR OVER 20 YEARS NOW FOR MASON PARK. AND NOW THESE CONDITIONS ARE NOT NEW TO JOAQUIN BECAUSE HE KNOWS EXACTLY WHAT THEY ARE, RIGHT? BUT FOR THOSE THAT DO NOT KNOW, LET ME TELL YOU THAT WE HAVE HAD A, A PLAYGROUND THAT IS NOT INADEQUATE FOR OUR YOUTH, OUR CHILDREN. WE HAVE HAD ACCIDENTS. EVEN ONE, A CHILD GOT HOSPITALIZED DUE TO A BROKEN ARM, RIGHT? AND THIS IS WHAT WE CAME HERE. WE WANT A NEW PLAYGROUND FOR OUR CHILDREN TO BE SAFE AND ENJOY, RIGHT? FOR THE PAST SEVEN YEARS, OUR COMMUNITY CENTER HAS BEEN CLOSED. IT GETS PATCHED UP. EVERY OTHER STORM, HURRICANE, IT'S CRACKED, BROKEN. IT IS CLEARLY NOT FUNCTIONAL TO THE COMMUNITY, RIGHT? THE COMMUNITY CENTER SERVES AS A PLACE FOR OUR COMMUNITY TO GATHER, CELEBRATE, HAVE FUN, RIGHT? ENJOY FOSTER SENSE AND BELONGING, AND SIMPLY BE A COMMUNITY, RIGHT? BUT WHENEVER WE HAVE POOR DECISION MAKING BY OUR LEADERS THAT ARE MEANT TO REPRESENT US, OUR PEOPLE PAY THE CONSEQUENCES. RIGHT? SINCE 2015, WE'VE HEARD OF THIS MASTER PLAN THAT HAS BEEN SITTING AND ROTTING AT THIS POINT, RIGHT? AND SO WE REALLY ARE ASKING FOR YOU TO RECONSIDER YOUR DECISION MAKING, RIGHT? PREVIOUSLY, WE SAW YOU, UH, VOTE IN FAVOR OF A BUDGET THAT CLEARLY DOES NOT SERVE OUR PEOPLE, RIGHT? AND THEY'RE NOT IN FAVOR. YOU, YOU HAD PEOPLE HERE ASKING AND BEGGING YOU TO NOT DECIDE ON IT, AND YOU STILL DID SO, RIGHT? BUT WE'RE GONNA HOLD YOU ACCOUNTABLE TO YOUR DECISIONS BECAUSE JUST LIKE IT MENTIONED, WE WILL MAKE SURE YOU'RE NOT HERE FOR NEXT TERM. THAT'S IT. YEAH. OKAY. COUNCILMAN MARTINEZ. THANK YOU, MAYOR. AND I JUST WA I WAS WAITING TILL EVERYBODY SPOKE ON MASON PARK, AND, UH, I APPRECIATE YOUR, YOUR INPUT. UM, MY OFFICE HAS ALWAYS BEEN OPEN. WE DID HAVE A MEETING, UH, BACK IN MARCH, AND WE ARE LOOKING TO HAVE ANOTHER MEETING JUNE 21ST, AND IT'S OPEN TO EVERYBODY, EVEN THOSE THAT HAVE, HAVE, UH, COME UP TODAY TO SPEAK. PLEASE SHOW UP. UH, THIS IS A SECOND COMMUNITY MEETING THAT WE'LL BE DISCUSSING. THE HEART OF THE PARK, WHICH IS A PRIORITY FOR THE MASON PARK AREA, AND QUITE FRANKLY, THE EAST END, UH, MASON PARK. I AM INTIMATELY, UH, AWARE OF. MY SON PLAYS LITTLE LEAGUE FOOTBALL THERE. UH, WE GO SWIMMING THERE DURING THE SUMMER AS WELL. SO, UM, I UNDERSTAND WHAT Y'ALL ARE SAYING. IT'S SOMETHING THAT, UM, I KNOW I'M TAKING AS A, A HUGE PRIORITY. THE MAYOR'S BEEN VERY SUPPORTIVE. WE HAVE RECEIVED, UH, CLOSE TO ABOUT SEVEN TO $8 MILLION. THESE, THESE PROJECTS ARE NOT GONNA HAPPEN OVERNIGHT. THEY STILL NEED TO BE DESIGNED. THEY STILL NEED TO HAVE BIDS TO BE PUT OUT. UH, BUT JUST KNOW THAT MY OFFICE AND MY TEAM WILL CONTINUE TO FOCUS ON MASON PARK AS A PRIORITY. UH, THE ARCH OF TIMES WHAT, WHAT I WOULD JUST SAY BRIEFLY IS, UM, THIS IS PRIVATE DOLLARS AND THESE ARE DOLLARS THAT, UM, WILL HELP OFFSET OTHER THINGS THAT THE CITY IS IN NEED OF AS WELL. UM, WHEN IT COMES TO THE ASK AND WHO'S BEEN WANTING IT, THE EASTON HAS BEEN WANTING THE ARCH OF TIMES. THIS IS, THIS IS JUST ONE LOCATION THAT WAS, THAT WAS ACTUALLY, UM, AFTER ABOUT A YEAR OR SO OF HAVING CONVERSATIONS, UH, THAT WE WERE ABLE TO FIND AS A, AS A, UM, A GOOD, A GOOD SUIT FOR, FOR THE EAST END. THIS IS NOT THE ONLY LOCATION THAT THEY'RE LOOKING AT. AND SO AGAIN, I JUST WANT TO JUST LET YOU KNOW THAT MY OFFICE IS, IS ALWAYS OPEN TO COME TO MEET. I JUST MET WITH THE MASON PARK CONSERVANCY THIS AFTERNOON, WHICH IS ANOTHER ENTITY THAT IS ALSO ADVOCATING FOR THINGS FROM MASON PARK. I WOULD ENCOURAGE YOU ALL TO HAVE COMMUNICATIONS WITH THEM. UM, AT THE END OF THE DAY, THESE AREN'T EASY DECISIONS, BUT WHAT I WILL DO IS I WILL CONTINUE TO LISTEN TO EVERYONE AND MAKE SURE THAT I MAKE THE BEST DECISION FOR EVERYONE IN THE EAST END. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. X SPEAKER SI SIMON CONTRERAS TO BE FOLLOWED BY PETER CONTRERAS. LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, MY NAME IS SIMON AND I'M 11 YEARS OLD. I GO TO SCHOOL AT THE HOUSTON INDEPENDENT SCHOOL DISTRICT, AND I'M HERE TO TALK TO 'EM ABOUT SOMETHING REALLY IMPORTANT TO ME. SCHOOL LUNCH, LET ME EXPLAIN. EVERY DAY KIDS AT ME ARE READY FOR A GOOD MEAL, BUT I'M ONE OF THE NEW KIDS. AND WITH MY EXPERIENCE AND WITH MY EXPERIENCE OF MY FIRST TIME AT AN HID SCHOOL, I'M DISAPPOINTED. THE FOOD AND THE HISD NUTRITION SERVICES FOCUS ON CHEAP, ULTRA PROCESSED INGREDIENTS, [01:25:01] WHICH CAN CAUSE HEALTH, HEALTH SYMPTOMS ALMOST EVERY TIME I START AND GO HUNGRY RATHER THAN FOOD, EATING THE FOOD. AND THAT'S NOT OKAY. I KNOW YOU CARE ABOUT KIDS IN HOUSTON, THAT'S WHY I'M ASKING YOU YOUR, FOR YOUR HELP TO MAKE SCHOOL LUNCHES BETTER. LET ME TELL YOU ABOUT ONE OF MY MANY EXPERIENCES ABOUT THE STEAMED CARROTS. EVERYBODY KNOWS ABOUT THE NUTRITIONAL VALUE, VALUE THAT VEGETABLES HAVE, AND ESPECIALLY WHEN THEY'RE STEAMED. BUT, BUT ONE DAY, WHENEVER I WAS GETTING, I SAT DOWN JUST TO SEE A MUCUS LIKE SUBSTANCE ON MY CARROTS AND DON'T EVEN GET ME STARTED ON WHAT THEY LOOK LIKE. NOW, ANOTHER, ANOTHER EXPERIENCE I HAD WAS FROM RESEARCH. I WAS ON THE HIT WEBSITE STUDYING SCHOOL LUNCHES IN THE FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS SECTION, WHICH IS WHERE, WHICH IS WHERE I FOUND SOME FALSE ADVERTISING. QUOTE, MENUS ARE PLANNED BY A REGISTERED DIETICIAN USING RECIPES CREATED BY HIC PROFESSIONAL SHIPS. WE NEED FOOD THAT'S FRESH AND HEALTHY, BUT ALSO FOOD THAT TASTES GOOD AND FILLS US UP. KIDS CAN LEARN ON AN EMPTY STOMACH AND WE CAN GROW STRONG IF WE DON'T EAT WELL. EVEN SMALL CHANGES CAN MAKE A BIG DIFFERENCE, LIKE HAVING MORE FRUITS AND VEGETABLES THAT DON'T FROM COME FROM A CAN OR LETTING US HAVE A SAY IN WHAT'S ON THE MENU. I'M NOT HERE TO COMPLAIN. I'M HERE BECAUSE I CAN BELIEVE WE CAN FIX THIS IF WE WEREN'T SMART. IF WE WEREN'T SMART KIDS, WE NEED TO FEED THEM LIKE IT MATTERS BECAUSE IT DOES. THANK YOU FOR LISTENING TO ME. I HOPE YOU CAN MAKE A HOUSTON INDEPENDENT SCHOOL, SCHOOL DISTRICT SCHOOL LUNCHES, SOMETHING WE CANNOT BE PROUD OF. AND I HO AND I HOPE THIS GOES OUT TO JFK JUNIOR. SO IT, AND SO ALL THE KIDS IN AMERICA CAN BE HEALTHY AND FUTURE AND MAKE FUTURE GENERATIONS HEALTHIER. THANK YOU. UH, JUST A NOTE. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. MEMBER DAVIS, SIR, GENERALLY MOTION. OKAY, THERE'S A PROCEDURAL MOTION. COUNCILOR POLLARD POLL. THANK YOU, MAYOR. UH, THAT WAS A, THAT WAS A PHENOMENAL SPEECH THAT YOU GAVE US, AND I WANT TO SAY THANK YOU FOR COMING FORWARD. THANK YOU FOR YOUR ADVOCACY. I THINK THE NUMBER ONE LINE THAT STOOD OUT TO ME, AS YOU SAID, YOU'RE NOT HERE TO COMPLAIN, BUT YOU BELIEVE THAT WE CAN FIX THIS, RIGHT? AND SO YOU ARE HERE PUTTING US ON NOTICE. UH, WE WILL HAVE TO SPEAK WITH OUR REPRESENTATIVES AT HISD AND SOME OF THE SCHOOL DISTRICTS, AND I ADVISE YOU AND YOUR PARENTS TO DO THE SAME, TO REACH OUT TO THOSE BODIES, UH, SO THAT THEY MAY BE AWARE OF YOUR ISSUES THAT YOU HAVE WITH THE, UH, FOOD THAT IS BEING PROVIDED. BUT YOU, UH, HAVE BEEN ABLE TO ARTICULATE YOURSELF VERY WELL. YOU ADDRESS THE PART AND WE SAY THANK YOU FOR COMING. COUNCILOR CAMAN. SIMON, I JUST WANNA THANK YOU. I THINK WE'RE ABOUT TO HEAR FROM DAD AS WELL. NO, IT WAS JUST HIS SPEECH. OH, WELL, AGAIN, I THINK YOUR MOM AND YOUR SISTER ARE HERE TODAY TOO, AREN'T THEY? YEAH. WELL, THANK YOU ALL FOR COMING DOWN. UM, MOM AND DAD, THANK YOU FOR PROVIDING THIS OPPORTUNITY FOR YOUR SON. WHAT SCHOOL DO YOU GO TO? MEMORIAL ELEMENTARY. MEMORIAL ELEMENTARY. AND HAVE YOU TALKED TO ANY OF THE FACULTY OR THE TEACHERS OR PRINCIPAL THERE ABOUT THE FOOD? WELL, I MEAN, I'VE LOOKED, I'VE LOOKED AT THE H UH, I'VE LOOKED NOT QUITE, BUT I'VE LOOKED AT THE HSD WEBSITE AND, AND INFREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS. SO I WAS RESEARCHING ABOUT WHAT, ABOUT WHAT COULD THEY COULD, MIGHT, THEY MIGHT BE HIDING ABOUT THE LUNCH. WELL, I'M REALLY IMPRESSED WITH YOUR RESEARCH AND TAKING UP THE ISSUE, NOT JUST FOR YOU. I KNOW YOU DON'T WANNA EAT BAD FOOD, BUT I'M SURE NOT FOR YOUR FRIENDS EITHER. SO THANK YOU FOR SPEAKING OUT FOR ALL KIDS, UH, AND STUDENTS IN THE SCHOOL. UM, WE WILL CERTAINLY REACH OUT, UH, TO OUR CONTACTS AT THE SCHOOL, BUT I WOULD ALSO SUGGEST, UM, SOME OF OUR HISD BOARD MEETINGS YOU MAY WANT TO GO TO AND ALSO MAYBE ASKING FOR A MEETING WITH YOUR PRINCIPAL TO SEE WHAT THEY CAN DO TOO. SO, GOOD JOB. UH, AGAIN, AS SOME OF MY COLLEAGUES SAID, WE'RE EXTREMELY IMPRESSED. THANK YOU FOR COMING. I, I HOPE THIS GOES OUT TO MA TO MAYBE THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION AND FOOD AND DRUG ADMINISTRATION. WELL NOTED. YOU KNOW WHAT, WE WILL CLIP IT AND I WILL PUT IT OUT TOO. HOW ABOUT THAT? OKAY. ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU. THANK YOU, DEB. NEXT, FRED WOODS. GOOD AFTERNOON, MAYOR AND COUNCIL. SPECIAL THANK YOU TO COUNCIL MEMBER DAVIS. MY NAME IS FRED WOODS. I'M THE PRESIDENT OF NORTHWOOD MANOR CIVIC CLUB. FIRST, [01:30:01] LET ME THANK MAYOR WHITMEYER FOR COMING TO HEAR DIRECTLY FROM RESIDENTS THROUGHOUT DISTRICT B REGARDING THEIR PRIORITY CONCERNS PERTAINING TO FLOODING, ILLEGAL DUMPING, DISASTER PLANNING, RESPONSE AND RECOVERY CRIME, AND THE CITY BUDGET. IT WAS ESPECIALLY IMPACTFUL FOR THOSE COMMUNITY MEMBERS WHO MAY NEVER BE AFFORDED THE OPPORTUNITY TO ADDRESS THIS COUNCIL AT CITY HALL OR SEE THEIR MAYOR IN PERSON. A $7 BILLION BUDGET WAS PASSED WITH THE MAJORITY SUPPORT FROM THIS COUNCIL, YET IT REMAINS UNCLEAR HOW IT BRINGS RESOLUTION OR IMPROVEMENTS TO OUR TOP PRIORITIES. WHAT IS CLEAR IS THAT YOU PLAN TO SPEND MORE OF OUR TAX DOLLARS WHILE THE RESIDENTS OF HOUSTON GET LESS OR REDUCE SERVICES. IT'S NOT OKAY FOR ANYONE'S TRASH OR RECYCLE BIN TO SIT OUT AT THE CURB FOR WEEKS ON END. WAS THERE A PLAN TO ENSURE BASIC SERVICES LIKE TRASH AND RECYCLING PICKUP REMAIN CONSISTENT OR IMPROVE PRIOR TO IMPLEMENTING A VOLUNTARY REDUCTION TO THE CITY'S WORKFORCE? DISCONTINUE TELLING RESIDENTS THAT SOLID WASTE IS BEHIND WITHOUT OFFERING A DATE AND TIME FOR SERVICE. WE NEED A PLAN FOR WHEN THEY WILL CATCH UP, WHEN PRIORITIZING SAFETY AS A TOP PRIORITY IN THE BUDGET. HOW WAS THE CITY'S AGING INFRASTRUCTURE AND MAINTENANCE ADDRESSED? WE WANT OUR STREETS MAINTAINED. WE WANT OUR DRAINAGE IMPROVED AND WE WANT OUR TRASH PICKED UP ON TIME. WE WANT A PLAN TO ADDRESS ILLEGAL DUMPING. WE DESERVE TO SEE AND FULLY EXPERIENCE RECOVERY FROM ALL PAST MAJOR DISASTERS BEFORE THE NEXT ONE OCCURS. WE WANT DIRECT ASSISTANCE WITH HOME REPAIR, PARTICULARLY IN OUR LEAST RESILIENT COMMUNITIES. NOW, IF YOU INTEND TO ASK US FOR AN INCREASE TO OUR TAXES OR OUR FEES, WE'VE BEEN DOWN THAT ROAD BEFORE AND THE A HUNDRED MILLION DOLLARS IS STILL NOT BUDGETED TO ADDRESS OUR NEEDS. SO WE CAN'T GET THERE IF YOU DON'T INTEND TO BUDGET THE NECESSARY RESOURCES TOWARDS OUR PRIORITIES. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. NEXT, THE PROCEDURAL FOR COUNCIL MEMBER DAVIS AS A PROCEDURAL COUNCILLOR DAVIS. THANK YOU, MAYOR. UM, I'D LIKE TO MOVE TO SUSPEND THE RULE TO MOVE MS UH, ANNABELLE RIOS AND MALLORY PATTERSON FOR MEDICAL, UH, REASONS IF THEY COULD BE MOVED UP ON THE THREE MINUTE LIST. YES. AFTER THEY WERE, I THINK, YEAH, IF THEY COULD GO NEXT. YES. ANNABELLE RIOS. OH, SORRY. HOLD ON. THAT'S FINE. MY NAME IS ANNA RIOS. UH, I'M WITH THE HOUSTON CENTER FOR INDEPENDENT LIVING, WHICH ADVOCATES, ADVOCATES AND PROMOTE RESOURCES FOR THE DISABILITY IN COMMUNITY IN HOUSTON, ALONG WITH ADVOCATES IN MOTION. I COME TO YOU TODAY NOT WITH A COMPLAINT, NOT WITH A, UH, ARGUMENT, BUT RATHER A CONCERN, A CONCERN THAT WILL AFFECT 13.7 MILLION AMERICANS ACROSS THE NATION. THE LATEST PIECE OF OF LEGISLATION UNDER THE CURRENT ADMINISTRATION IS BEING PASSED AND POSITIVE REVIEW, KNOWN AS THE BIG BEAUTIFUL BILL, A BUDGET PACKAGE THAT WILL SLASH MEDICAID AND RELATED TO SUSTAINING PROGRAMS, INCLUDING MEDICARE IS N BENEFITS, PUTTING MILLIONS OF AMERICANS HEALTHCARE COVERAGE AT RISK SIMPLY FOR THE SAKE AND BENEFIT OF THE, OF THE WEALTH OF THE WEALTHY. THESE CUTS WILL DIRECTLY AFFECT THE [01:35:01] SAFETY NET OF PROGRAMS LIKE MEDICARE'S NET THAT COVER, UH, THAT ARE ABLE TO PROVIDE FOOD ON THE TABLE FOR MANY LOW INCOME AMERICAN EVERY MONTH. THIS BILL, WHICH HELPS THIS BILL, WHICH IS NOW HAD BY THE HOUSE, IS BEING REVIEWED BY THE SENATE, AND IT WILL AFFECT 800 POINT 80 80 BILLION CUTS IN MEDICARE MEDICAID ALONE ABOUT 10.9%. OVER THE COURSE OF 10 YEARS, PEOPLE WILL LOSE COVERAGE THROUGH THE RECONCILIATION PROCESS. THIS TRANSLATES TO 80 BILLING CUTS HITTING INDIVIDUAL STATES BY OCTOBER THIS YEAR. AND WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO YOU? WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO YOU? HOUSTON, EVERY CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT WILL LOSE 2 BILLION IN HEALTHCARE COVERAGE FUNDING FOR OUR CITY HOSPITALS, OUR MENTAL HEALTH CLINICS, OUR PREVENTATIVE COMMUNITY BASED CENTERS AND INFANT AND CHILDREN SERVICES WILL BE INFECTED. THIS WILL DIRECTLY INFECT AFFECT THE 600,000 AMERICANS WITH DISABILITIES AND SENIORS IN HOUSTON ALONE. ADDITIONALLY, ACCORDING THESE BENEFITS, WILL BAN US THE RIGHT TO BE ABLE TO PURCHASE HEALTHCARE BENEFITS FROM THE AFFORDABLE HEALTHCARE, MAKING IT MORE IN A MORE EXPENSIVE AND IMPOSSIBLE FOR US TO AFFORD IT. SIMPLY, SIMPLY FOR THE MERE BENEFIT OF THOSE WHO WANTED GET WEALTHY ON THE BASIS OF OTHERS OF OTHERS, MOTHERS HAVE BEEN ABLE TO HAVE, UH, A HEALTHCARE COVERAGE. I REFUSE TO GO BACKWARD. THIS IS SIMPLY A WAY, UH, EASY WAY OUT TO PAY FOR TEST COSTS, TAKING, UH, THE BENEFITS AWAY FROM US THAT WE HAVE FOUGHT FOR FOR SO LONG. I DON'T WANT, I DON'T KNOW WHAT IT'S LIKE TO BE A MILLIONAIRE. I DON'T, I DON'T WANNA BE A MILLIONAIRE. I KNOW ONE THING. ME, I, I STRUGGLES AND FOUGHT FOR THE BARE MINIMUM IN DAY ONE. I REFUSE. I REFUSE TO TAKE NO FRIEND OUT ANSWER. AND IF MY FELLOW ADVOCATE, I WILL CONTINUE ADVOCATING FOR THE IMPORTANCE OF HEALTHCARE. AND NOT ONLY IN THE HOUSTON COMMUNITY, BUT IN NATIONWIDE. I REFUSE. I REFUSE. IF WE LOSE MEDICAID, WE WILL DIE. I REFUSE TO DIE. AND EVEN, EVEN IF THAT MEANS THAT I WILL DIE, I WILL DIE TRYING. SO I URGE CITY COUNCIL TO DO JUST THAT WITH ME, TO SPREAD THE WORD ON THE IMPORTANCE THIS BILL WILL. WELL, IF BEST I HAVE ON THE LIVES OF MANY PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES THAT DEPEND ON AFFORDABLE HEALTHCARE AND NATIONWIDE OVER THE LA OVER THE LAST, OVER THE NEXT 10 YEARS, IT'S AGENCIES LIKE THE HOUSTON CENTER FOR INDEPENDENT LIVING AND COALITION FOR AREA FREE LIVING THAT HAVE MADE IT POSSIBLE FOR THE LAST 40 YEARS TO PROVIDE INTEGRATED AND SUPPORTED SETTINGS FOR US TO LIVE IN INTEGRATED LIFE. IN THIS, THIS BILL IS SIMPLY ANOTHER BARRIER INTENDED FOR US NOT TO MAKE THIS HAPPEN AND HAVE THE CHOICES TO LIVE INDEPENDENTLY IN OUR COMMUNITIES. THANK YOU. ALL RIGHTY. THANK YOU, MA'AM. COUNCIL MEMBER RODRIGUEZ RAMIREZ FOR A PROCEDURAL MOTION. RAMIREZ PROCEDURAL MOTION MAYOR, MOVE TO MOVE. STEPHANIE VALDEZ UP TO THE TOP OF THE PREVIOUS ONE MINUTE LIST. MOTIONS MADE IN SEGMENT. ALL IN FAVOR SAY YES. THOSE OPPOSED NAY. MOTION PASSES. [01:40:09] MALLORY PATTERSON. HELLO EVERYBODY. UM, THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME HERE. UM, GOOD MORNING. MY NAME IS MALLORY GARDNER PATTERSON. I'M A HOUSTON RESIDENT AND I LIVE EVERY DAY WITH A RARE, LIFELONG NEUROLOGICAL CONDITION CALLED KEARY MALFORMATION, AND IS LEFT ME WITH A FEEDING TUBE, REQUIRES 24 HOUR CARE AND AFFECTS EVERY PART OF MY DAILY LIFE. CUR MALFORMATION IS A STRUCTURAL DEFECT IN THE SKULL WHERE THE LOWER PART OF THE BRAIN PUSHES INTO THE SPINAL CANAL. IT INTERFERES WITH BALANCE, COORDINATION, BREATHING, AND SPEECH. IT CAUSES SEVERE PAIN, PARALYSIS, DIZZINESS, SWALLOWING ISSUES, AND IN MY CASE, A SPINAL CORD INJURY. THIS CONDITION IS UNPREDICTABLE. AND ONE DAY I CAN WALK THE NEXT I MAY BE PARALYZED, I CAN APPEAR FINE AND 30 SECONDS LATER COLLAPSE. THERE IS NO CURE. I DON'T RECOVER, I ENDEAR. AND YET UNDER THE SO-CALLED BIG BEAUTIFUL BILL, PEOPLE LIKE ME ARE EXPECTED TO WORK 80 HOURS A MONTH AS IF WE'RE FULLY ABLE BODIED, MEDICALLY STABLE. THAT IS NOT JUST UNREALISTIC, IT'S CRUEL. I DON'T QUALIFY FOR MEDICAID IN TEXAS, NOT BECAUSE I DON'T NEED IT, BUT BECAUSE I MAKE JUST ENOUGH TO BE DISQUALIFIED. I'VE BEEN WORKING MY WHOLE LIFE. I WAS 31 WHEN I FINALLY GOT DIAGNOSED WITH THIS BRING DISEASE THAT I WAS BORN WITH. IT FALLS UNDER THE CEREBRAL PALSY UMBRELLA. I HAVE AN INVISIBLE ILLNESS NOW. THIS BILL POSES EVEN STRICTER ACCESS, MORE BARRIERS, MORE WORK REQUIREMENTS, BUT CARE IS WORK, LIVING WITH KIARA'S WORK, MANAGING SEIZURES, HIS WORK FEEDING TUBE FACIAL NERVE DAMAGE AND CHRONIC PAIN THAT IS A FULL-TIME JOB OF LABOR. THIS BILL RAISES PEOPLE LIKE ME. IT PUNISHES US FOR BEING SICK. IT ASSUMES DISABILITY IS VISIBLE, STABLE, OR CONVENIENT. IT'S NOT. IT NEVER IS. SO I ASK YOU WITH THIS BILL, WITH THIS BILL VALUE ONLY THOSE WHO CAN CLOCK IN, WILL IT IGNORE PEOPLE WHO ARE FIGHTING JUST TO STAY ALIVE, WHO DESERVE POLICIES THAT SEE US, NOT JUST WHEN WE CAN WORK, BUT WHEN WE ARE TOO SICK TO STAND. WE DESERVE BETTER. WE DESERVE TO BE SEEN. AND I THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR ALLOWING ME TO BE TRANSPARENT WITH ALL OF YOU TODAY AND HEARING ME, AND THANK YOU SO MUCH. THANK YOU, MA'AM. UH, COUNCILMAN CAMAN. THANK YOU. UM, I JUST WANTED TO THANK BOTH YOU AND THE PREVIOUS SPEAKER FOR COMING, UH, TO SHARE YOUR STORIES, BUT ALSO TO SPEAK ON BEHALF OF OTHERS, UH, THAT ARE GOING TO BE IMPACTED BY, UH, THIS LEGISLATION. AND ONE OF MY CONCERNS AS A CITY IS ALL OF THOSE THAT, UM, DID HAVE SUPPORT THAT ARE NOW GONNA FALL THROUGH THE CRACKS. AND WHERE ARE THEY GOING TO TURN? THEY'RE GONNA TURN TO US AS A CITY AND WE HAVE TO BE ABLE TO PROVIDE THOSE SUPPORTIVE SERVICES. AND, UH, SO AGAIN, I THANK YOU, UH, FOR YOUR VOICE. I KNOW IT'S NOT EASY TO SHARE YOUR LIVED EXPERIENCE AND WHAT YOU GO THROUGH EVERY SINGLE DAY, BUT IT MATTERS BECAUSE YOU'RE SPEAKING ON BEHALF OF MILLIONS OF OTHER PEOPLE THAT ARE EXPERIENCING THESE SAME EXACT THING. SO THANK YOU. AND WE DO, WE SEE YOU. WE HEAR YOU. THANK YOU. THANK YOU FOR SEEING ME AND HEARING ME. I FEEL FELT. THANK YOU. NEXT, ROBERT FINLAND. NANCY HIGGS. THERE WE GO. MAYOR WHITMEYER, COUNCIL MEMBERS [01:45:01] AND STAFF. I HAVEN'T BEEN BEFORE YOU FOR A WHILE IN FRONT OF THE MAGNOLIA CEMETERY IN ADJACENT TO THE FIRST BLOCK LOCK. SERIOUSLY, THOUGH I'M HAPPY TO REPORT THAT ALL OF THEM AND THEIR BOSSES ARE BEING SUPER DILIGENT IN PROTECTING OUR HISTORIC TREE. THEY EVEN HAVE NOT JUST ONE, BUT TWO ARBORIST CONSULTANTS WHO VISIT THE SITE FREQUENTLY. YOU MIGHT RECALL THAT SEVERAL MONTHS AGO I PRESENTED MAYOR WHITMEYER WITH A FRAMED CERTIFICATE FROM THE TEXAS HISTORIC TREE COALITION DECLARING AND DESIGNATING OUR THREE POST OAK SISTERS HISTORIC. SADLY, LATE LAST YEAR, BURL TOOK ONE OF THEM OUT, AND SHORTLY AFTER THE CITY FORESTER DEEMED ANOTHER UNSTABLE. SO NOW WE ARE LEFT WITH ONLY ONE. WE CALL HER OUR SOUL SISTER. ANYWAY, I'M HERE TODAY TO SHARE SOME EXCITING NEWS. HOUSTON NOW HAS ITS FIRST EVER TRUSTEE ON THE TEXAS HISTORIC TREE COALITION. AND THAT'S ME. IT'S QUITE AN HONOR. I'M A NURSE, NOT AN ARBORIST, BUT APPARENTLY MY OBSESSION WITH TREES SPOKE. FOR NOW, I'M THE ONLY TRUSTEE FOR ALL OF SOUTHEAST TEXAS GOING FORWARD. I WILL HELP GUIDE THE PROCESS FOR ANY TREES THAT ARE NOMINATED IN OUR REGION. I HAVE SHARED WITH EACH OF YOU THE GUIDE TO HAVING OUR BIG, OLD, BEAUTIFUL TREES RECOGNIZED AND SPARED FROM DESTRUCTION. SO NOW YOU CAN BETTER ASSIST AND INFORM YOUR CONSTITUENTS ABOUT THE OPPORTUNITY AND THE PROCESS. I'M CERTAIN WE HAVE MANY OTHER TREES IN OUR CITY JUST WAITING TO BE RECOGNIZED. LASTLY, I WANT TO LEAVE YOU WITH THIS. I RECENTLY READ AN INTERESTING NEW YORK TIMES ARTICLE ABOUT FINLAND BEING THE HAPPIEST COUNTRY IN THE WORLD. I'M A NATIVE TEXAN AND I HATE COLD WEATHER, SO I'M NOT MOVING THERE. HOWEVER, I LEARNED THAT WE CAN ALL LEARN FROM THE FINS IN FINLAND. FOLKS GO INTO THE FOREST AND TALK TO TREES. THEY NOT ONLY TALK, BUT THEY LISTEN. TREES DO TALK BACK. ALL WE HAVE TO DO IS LISTEN. THANK YOU. THANK YOU NICK. MICHELLE EOR TO BE FOLLOWED BY A, A VILLA PARLET AVELA. PARLET. CYNTHIA AWARE, I DON'T WANNA BE TOO CLOSE TO THIS, SO NO, YOU'RE FINE. GO AHEAD. I'M FINE. OKAY. GOOD AFTERNOON, MAYOR WHITMEYER AND KELLY FOR INTERVEN INTERVENING ON MY BEHALF BACK IN DECEMBER, AFTER THREE MONTHS OF THAT VIOLATION WAS FINALLY RESCINDED THE DAY AFTER I MADE MY STATEMENT HERE. UNFORTUNATELY, I AM HERE AGAIN BECAUSE NOTHING HAS CHANGED. ON APRIL 2ND, I RECEIVED YET ANOTHER LEASE VIOLATION THAT I BELIEVE TO BE RETALIATORY. I SUBMITTED A RESPONSE, REFUTING THE VIOLATION THE FOLLOWING DAY, ALONG WITH SEVERAL FOLLOW-UP EMAILS TO COLUMBIA'S EXECUTIVE STAFF. IT'S NOW BEEN OVER TWO MONTHS, AND I'VE YET TO RECEIVE A REPLY. I'M NOT SPEAKING ONLY FOR MYSELF, BUT FOR OTHER RESIDENTS FACING THE SAME PATTERN OF RETALIATION AND DISMISSAL. FOR THOSE OF US WHO DARE TO SPEAK UP, OUR COMPLAINTS ARE EITHER DISMISSED, IGNORED, OR PUNISHED [01:50:01] RESIDENTS WHO SPEAK UP OR TREATED LIKE A NUISANCE. INSTEAD OF PEOPLE WITH VALID CONCERNS, WE'VE CONTACTED THE APPROPRIATE CHANNELS, T-D-H-T-T-D-H-C-A, HUD, THE HOUSING AUTHORITY AND THE HOUSING OF COMMUN, UH, HOUSING AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT. WHILE SOME MAY LISTEN OR ACT LIKE THEY'RE LISTENING, THEY ALL SAY THE SAME THING. WE HAVE NO JURISDICTION. THE HOUSTON APARTMENT ASSOCIATION SIMPLY SENDS YOU TO A WEBSITE FORM. THE RESULT IS THE SAME RESIDENTS ARE LEFT WITH NO ONE TO TURN TO. IT FEELS LIKE THE SYSTEM IS DESIGNED TO PROTECT MANAGEMENT AND SILENCE RESIDENTS. THAT CREATES A CLIMATE OF FEAR AND ISOLATION IN PLACES THAT SHOULD FEEL SUPPORTIVE AND SAFE. WHILE WE ARE GRATEFUL TO HAVE A ROOF OVER OUR HEADS, WE ALSO WANT OUR HOMES TO FEEL LIKE A HAVEN, A SAFE HAVEN. THEREFORE, THE HOSTILITY FOR SIMPLY SPEAKING UP NEEDS TO STOP OUR LEASE SAYS WE ARE ENTITLED TO THE PEACEFUL ENJOYMENT OF OUR HOMES. BUT THE CURRENT MANAGEMENT IS OPENLY HOSTILE, RETALIATING WITH BASELESS VIOLATIONS OR IGNORING CONCERNS ENTIRELY. THIS IS UNACCEPTABLE AND SOMETHING NEEDS TO CHANGE. THAT'S WHY I'M ASKING THE CITY TO CONSIDER CREATING A DEPARTMENT OR AGENCY TO ADVOCATE FOR RESIDENTS, ESPECIALLY SENIORS, AND THOSE IN LOW INCOME HOUSING. MAY, MAY I FINISH? GO AHEAD AND WRAP UP. OKAY. THAT'S WHY I'M ASKING. OKAY. I SAID THAT, UM, ESPECIALLY SENIORS AND THOSE IN LOW INCOME HOUSING, SOMEONE WHO WILL STEP IN FOLLOW UP AND MOST IMPORTANTLY HOLD MANAGEMENT ACCOUNT ACCOUNTABLE. I BELIEVE THIS PROBLEM IS ENDEMIC IN MOST, IF NOT ALL, TAX CREDIT PROPERTIES. THE VERY RESIDENTS WHO MAKE THESE COMMUNITIES POSSIBLE ARE TREATED LIKE OBSTACLES INSTEAD OF THE PEOPLE THEY'RE MEANT TO SUPPORT. I HOPE SOMEONE WILL CARE ENOUGH TO NOT ONLY LISTEN, BUT MORE IMPORTANTLY TAKE ACTION TO HELP US. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. MS. WARE, YOU, YOU SAID A COUPLE OF THINGS. ARE YOU CURRENTLY IN MEDIATION WITH THE PROPERTY MANAGEMENT? NO. I'D BE HAPPY TO BE IN MEDIATION, BUT THEY REFUSED IT THE FIRST TIME. OKAY. UM, AND THEN THE OTHER QUESTION I HAD, YOU SAID SOMETHING ABOUT BASELESS VIOLATIONS. WHAT, WHAT'S AN EXAMPLE OF SOME BASELESS VIOLATIONS THAT YOU OH, SO FOR THIS ONE, THE ONE I JUST RECEIVED, I HAD WRITTEN A LETTER OF CONCERN TO THE REGIONAL VP. UM, SHE'S NO LONGER THERE. UM, SHARING CONCERNS ABOUT THE PROPERTY MANAGER. UM, IN IT, I SAID, I'M SO CONCERNED ABOUT HER BEHAVIOR THAT I SHARED HER NAME, THE PROPERTY INFORMATION AND THE CORPORATE INFORMATION WITH BOTH MY SON AND MY BROTHER. AND BY THE WAY, BY THE, AT THE TIME OF RECEIVING THE LEASE VIOLATION, MY SON AND BROTHER HADN'T EVEN READ MY EMAIL. AND I KNOW THEY PROBABLY THOUGHT I WAS KOOKY. IN ANY CASE, THEY SAID I SHARED PERSONAL INFORMATION AND THEY VIEWED IT AS A THREAT. AND THEY HIGHLIGHTED THE EMAIL WHERE IT'S PUBLICLY AVAILABLE INFORMATION. THEY HIGHLIGHTED IT AND THEY STILL ISSUED THE VIOLATION. IN THE FIRST ONE, IT TOOK 'EM THREE MONTHS. IT WAS AFTER THE FIRST ONE WAS RESCINDED TO FIND OUT, THEY'D GIVEN ME A DUPLICATE OF ONE RESIDENCE. AND THEY ALSO, UH, WHAT IT WAS, WAS THEY SAID, I PREVENTED MOVERS FROM MOVING IN. THEY DIDN'T TALK TO ME ABOUT IT. I DIDN'T KNOW FOR THREE MONTHS WHY I RECEIVED THE VIOLATION. OKAY. AND, UH, WITH THE, WITH THE, WITH THE, UH, MOVERS, ALL I HAD SAID WAS, OH, THAT'S THE DRIVEWAY. YOU NEED TO GO TO THE RAMP TO MOVE OUT. AND THAT WAS IT. OKAY. UH, COUNCIL MEMBER SHAVE. THANK YOU, MAYOR PRO TIM. AND THANK YOU. UM, MS. WARE, UH, YOUR COUNCIL MEMBER HAD TO LEAVE, BUT HE WANTED TO MAKE SURE THAT YOUR CONCERNS WERE ADDRESSED. AND I BELIEVE HIS STAFF HAS SPOKEN WITH YOU, BUT YOU WANTED TO, UH, GIVE THIS INFORMATION TO THE COUNCIL. AND I THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR COMING. WELL, THANK YOU, . AND, AND HE'LL FOLLOW UP WITH YOU. OKAY, THANKS. THANK YOU. NEXT SPEAKER, RICKY MORRIS. RICKY MORRIS TO BE FOLLOWED BY BEVERLY VENABLE. HELLO. GOOD. GO AHEAD. GOOD AFTERNOON. UH, MY NAME IS RICKY MORRIS. LORD REVEREND RICKY, DEAN MORRIS JR. I'M YOUR PREVIOUS HOMELAND SECURITY SUPERVISOR TO THE PORT OF HOUSTON. I'M HERE TO SUPPORT THE TEXAS ORGANIZATION PROJECT BECAUSE IT LOOKS LIKE THEY ARE FOCUSED ON THINGS LIKE THIS, $315 MILLION THAT ARE GOING OUT FROM THE CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS PLAN. BUT IT DOESN'T INCLUDE ANYTHING FOR HOUSING. AND I AM ONE OF THOSE THAT I'VE BEEN EXPERIENCING CHRONIC HOUSING SINCE 2017 WHEN HURRICANE HARVEY [01:55:01] TOOK MY HOUSE WITH WATER UP TO THE ROOFTOP. NOW I CAN'T SWIM AND I MOVE ABOUT AS FAST AS A TURTLE. AND SURELY ENOUGH, IF I WAS IN THE BED, I WOULDN'T BE HERE IN FRONT OF ANY OF YOU ALL. I'M NOBODY THAT PUT THE TW CARD IN PLACE IF YOU'RE FAMILIAR WITH IT. AND EVEN THOUGH I MADE $18 AN HOUR, I HAD NO BENEFITS. THAT'S HOW I THINK THAT THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT REALLY THINKS ABOUT ALL OF US, IF THEY'LL DO IT TO ONE OF YOUR HIGHEST ADMINISTRATIVE AUTHORITATIVE TITLES. SO ME BEING ON THE GROUND, EVEN CURRENTLY HOMELESS AND PERMANENTLY DISABLED, I'M ABLE TO TELL YOU FROM EXPERIENCING AMONGST YOUR HOUSTONIANS THAT WE ARE REALLY HURTING AND WE NEED TO CONSIDER THE PEOPLE AND NOT JUST THESE TITLES, BECAUSE WE RESPECT YOU ALL. WE RESPECT YOUR SOULS. WE LOVE YOU ALL AS HUMAN BEINGS. WE WANT THE SAME LOVE BACK. THANK YOU. HAVE A BLESSED DAY. THANK YOU FOR YOUR COMMENTS TODAY. NEXT SPEAKER BEVERLY VENABLE. BEVERLY VENABLE VENABLE TO BE FOLLOWED BY CHRISTOPHER JENKINS. HELLO. HELLO. MY NAME IS BEVERLY VENABLE. I KNOW I SOLEMNLY WEAK. I'VE BEEN SICK FOR THE PAST COUPLE OF MONTHS OR SO. SO, BUT I'M DOING THE BEST I CAN. UH, I'M A COMMUNITY LEADER WITH THE TEXAS ORGANIZING PROJECT IN THE SUNNYSIDE NEIGHBORHOOD IN THE AREA. AND WE ARE HERE TO RAISE CONCERNS ABOUT THE CURRENT ACTION PLAN FOR THE NEEDLE OF 315 MILLION DISASTER RECOVERY DOLLARS, WHICH WE HEARD IS CLOSED. AND WE WOULD LIKE TO TALK ABOUT THE 2024 DISASTER RECOVERY DOLLARS. UH, I WAS IMPACTED BY BERYL AND THAT AT THAT TIME, THAT WAS THE FOURTH HURRICANE FOR ME IN, IN MY HOUSE. GET, GET A HURRICANE, GET SOMETHING FIXED, GET A HURRICANE, GET SOMETHING FIXED. IT WENT ON TO THE FOURTH TIME. THE FOURTH TIME, UM, CAPITAL CHARITY CAME IN AND BROUGHT IN A CONTRACTOR. AND LAST JULY THEY STOPPED WORKING. DIDN'T DO ANYTHING. GOT RULES, NO SHEETS, RIGHT? NO INSTALLATION. THIS IS MY FOURTH TRIP HERE WITH THE SAME PROBLEM. OKAY? UM, I, AND THEN I WENT INTO THE HOSPITAL, I CAME HOME, THE PART THAT THEY HAD PUT ON THE DRIVEWAY WITH ALL OF MY BELONGINGS AND EVERYTHING'S GONE. THAT'S BEEN A YEAR, LAST JULY, IT'S STILL GONE AND NOBODY IS TALKING ABOUT THAT. SO, UH, THE CITY'S CURRENT ACTION PLAN DOES NOT LINE UP WITH THE UNMET NEEDS OF THE PEOPLE NOR, AND THE, UH, RESULTS FROM BERYL, PLEASE HELP THE NEEDED, NOT THE READING. WE NEED HOUSING REPAIRS, PROGRAMS TO HELP THE COMMUNITY, PEOPLE THAT ARE IN NEED THAT REALLY HAVE ACTUAL NEEDS. AND FOR THIS, I WILL THANK YOU COUNCIL MEMBER SHABAZZ. THANK YOU MAYOR PRO, TIM. AND THANK YOU, MS. VENABLE. I BELIEVE I CAME TO VISIT YOUR HOME, UH, A COUPLE OF TIMES AS WELL. I WOULD LIKE TO ACTUALLY HAVE A CONVERSATION WITH YOU TO FIND OUT, YOU KNOW, WHAT IT IS THAT, THAT CATHOLIC CHARITIES IS NOT PROVIDING AND SEE IF WE CAN MOVE PAST THIS, BECAUSE I'M TOLD THAT THEY HAVE DONE EVERYTHING THAT THEY CAN. BUT OF COURSE, I NEED TO HEAR FROM YOU. OKAY. WHAT, WELL, UH, WELL, I'LL INVITE YOU TO LOOK AND SEE FOR YOURSELF. WELL, THAT'S WHAT I'M SAYING. YEAH. I'D LIKE TO HEAR AND, AND TALK DIRECTLY WITH YOU. OKAY. UH, ABOUT THIS TO SEE IF THERE'S SOME WAY THAT WE CAN RESOLVE IT. ALRIGHT? OKAY. I DON'T HAVE A PROBLEM WITH THAT. SO WE'LL SET UP A TIME YOU WOULD PREFER THAT I COME TO YOUR HOME AGAIN. YEAH. I'D RATHER YOU SEE FOR YOURSELF. CERTAINLY WILL. THAT WAY YOU DON'T HAVE TO TAKE MY WORD OF THEIR WORD. YOU, I'M LOOKING AT, WELL, YOUR WORD IS GOOD. AND, AND CERTAINLY I KNOW, YOU KNOW, I'LL, IT IS NOT THERE. YES, MA'AM. SO, I, I WILL CERTAINLY, WE'LL MAKE AN APPOINTMENT TO COME AND SO THAT I CAN ACTUALLY SEE IF THERE'S SOMETHING. SOMETIMES IT'S JUST A, A GLITCH SOMEWHERE AND PEOPLE KIND OF, THIS IS MORE THAN A GLITCH, DECIDED THAT THEY'RE, YOU KNOW, GOING TO GET INTO THIS BATTLE. AND THERE'S A WAY TO GET PAST IT. IT'S MORE THAN A GLITCH. WELL, NO, THE CONTRACT GOT PAID 30,000. NO MA'AM. AND IT'S DONE. NOTHING. NO MA'AM. I'M NOT SAYING IT'S JUST A GLITCH. WHAT I'M SAYING IS IT'S A POINT WHERE PEOPLE COME TO AN IMPASSE AND THEY JUST SAY, WELL, WE'RE NOT GOING ANY FARTHER. AND THEN VICE VERSA. SO HOPEFULLY I CAN HELP NAVIGATE THAT. WELL, YOU KNOW WHAT'S DIFFERENT FOR ME, HAVING LIVED IN HOUSES ALL MY LIFE, I'VE NEVER REALLY LIVED IN AN APARTMENT. UM, I'VE NEVER HAD A CONTRACTOR THAT COME IN AND I'M IN A, A AGENCY THAT COME IN AND BRING A CONTRACT. NORMALLY THEY TAKE BIDS ON IT. THIS WAS NOT DONE THERE. SO THAT WAS FUNNY TO ME. I SPOKE OF THAT [02:00:01] BEFORE WE EVEN GOT STARTED ONTO THIS. AND EVERYTHING ELSE HAS BEEN IN THEY FAVOR. THE CONTRACTORS WALKED AWAY, LIKE I SAID, WITH ALMOST $30,000 THAT I, I HAVE NO FURNITURE, NO CLOTHING, NOTHING. YES, MA'AM. WE'RE CERTAINLY NOT GONNA RESOLVE IT HERE, BUT I'M GONNA MAKE A POINT TO COME TO YOUR HOME, OKAY? MM-HMM . THANK YOU. YOU ARE WELCOME. THANK YOU. IN THE COMMUNITY FROM BEACON OF LIFE, WE, ON SUNDAYS, WE PROBABLY GIVE OUT A HUNDRED, 150, UH, SNACK PACKS AROUND THROUGHOUT THE COMMUNITY. WE RIDE AROUND ON A GOLF, PASSING 'EM OUT. AND YOU'D BE SURPRISED HOW MANY KIDS AND, AND FAMILIES LIVE IN SOME OF THESE, UH, UH, MOTELS UP AND DOWN, UH, YELLOWSTONE. UH, AND, UH, YOU KNOW, IT'S, IT IS, THEY'RE PART OF WHAT WE DO IN THAT COMMUNITY. THEY INSPIRE US TO, TO THAT, THAT WE ARE DOING THE RIGHT THING. WE, WE, WE, WE, WE ARE TRYING TO FIND OUT WHAT KIND OF ASSISTANCE CAN WE GET. UH, YOU KNOW, WE'RE TRYING TO DO THINGS LIKE GIVE OUR CHILDREN IN THAT COMMUNITY A VOICE, A PLACE THAT THEY CAN GO BESIDES SITTING BEHIND IN THEIR HOMES OR INSIDE THE MOTEL ROOM, DOING NOTHING BUT ON THEIR PHONES OR WAITING FOR SOMETHING TO HAPPEN. SO WHAT WE TRY TO DO IS, UH, COME UP WITH PROGRAMS. YOU KNOW, WE WANNA BUILD A MULTIPURPOSE CENTER ACT IS WHAT WE LIKE TO DO. FUNDING IS, IS OUT OF THE QUESTION. WE JUST, BUT, UH, WE LIKE TO BE ABLE TO FIND SOMEWHERE THERE SOMEONE, OR SOME OPPORTUNITY TO HELP BUILD A MULTIPURPOSE, UH, COMMUNITY CENTER IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD. AND, AND WHAT WE ARE LOOKING TO DO IS IF WE CAN GET SOMETHING LIKE THAT, 'CAUSE THE IMPORTANT C OF THE COMMUNITY LIAISONS IS THAT PERSONAL TOUCH. THE, THE RECOGNITIONS. THE SCHOOLS CAN MAKE A PHONE CALL AND THEY'RE THERE. IF THEY HAVE TO TRAVEL A LONG DISTANCE TO TRY TO GET TO SAY STERLING HIGH SCHOOL OR HARTMAN MIDDLE SCHOOL, SOMEWHERE LIKE THAT. I THINK IT'S, IF THEY CENTRALLY LOCATED, THEY, THEY CAN RESPOND. THE RESPONSE WILL BE GREAT IN OUR COMMUNITY, OUR COMMUNITY'S IMPORTANT TO ME. I GREW UP IN THAT COMMUNITY. I LIKE TO SEE THE CHILDREN IN THAT COMMUNITY, YOUNG ADULTS IN THAT COMMUNITY TO BE ABLE TO HAVE A VOICE OTHER THAN, UH, YOU KNOW, THE PARKS ARE FINE, BUT IN A MULTI-PURPOSE COMMUNITY CENTER, I LIKE TO SEE 'EM BE ABLE TO HAVE A VOICE TO SAY, WELL, YOU KNOW, WE LIKE TO PUT 'EM ON, YOU KNOW, YOU KNOW HOW ADULTS HAVE MEETINGS. LIKE WE HAVING A MEETING HERE. THEY COULD HAVE THEIR OWN MEETING, COME UP WITH SOME IDEAS OF SOME THINGS THAT THEY COULD DO IN THEIR OWN COMMUNITY TO MAKE IT FROM A NEIGHBORHOOD TO A COMMUNITY. 'CAUSE RIGHT NOW IT'S KIND OF A NEIGHBORHOOD. WE LIKE TO GIVE THEM CHILDREN THE OPPORTUNITY TO TRANSFORM THAT NEIGHBORHOOD INTO A COMMUNITY. WE JUST LOOKING FOR SOME ASSETS OR SOME WAYS THAT WE CAN GO ABOUT DOING IT. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME. COUNCIL MEMBER SHABAZZ. JUST ONE SECOND, SIR. THANK, THANK YOU MAYOR PORT TIM. THANK YOU MR. DAVIS. I CAN CERTAINLY HEAR THE PASSION IN YOUR VOICE. NOW WE DO HAVE PARKS AND WE DO HAVE MULTI-SERVICE CENTERS THROUGHOUT THAT AREA. UH, BUT, AND WE ALSO HAVE A PERSON THAT IS HOUSED IN THAT PARTICULAR, IN THE SUNNYSIDE HEALTH AND MULTI-SERVICE CENTER. BUT WHAT I WOULD LIKE TO DO IS CONNECT THE TWO OF YOU TO SEE IF THERE'S SOMETHING WE CAN DO. 'CAUSE WE CERTAINLY WANT THE, THE YOUTH TO BE ABLE TO HAVE AN OUTLET, UM, THAT'S VITALLY IMPORTANT TO KEEP THEM OUT OF TROUBLE AND TO HELP THEM TO MOVE FORWARD. AND SO I BELIEVE INGRAM IS OVER THERE, AND MAYBE YOU CAN REACH OUT AND WE CAN SEE IF THERE'S SOMETHING THAT WE CAN DO TO HELP MOVE THIS FORWARD. YEAH. 'CAUSE A LOT, A LOT OF KIDS IN, IN OUR COMMUNITY, THEY, THE, THE COMFORTABILITY OF 'EM GOING TO THE SUNNYSIDE COMMUNITY CENTER, GOING TO THE Y [02:05:01] YOU KNOW, THEY, I JUST, IN MY MIND, I WOULD LIKE TO SEE THEM. I, I'VE HAD CONVERSATION WITH SOME KIDS OVER THERE AND, UH, THEY LIKE TO HAVE A VOICE. THEY LIKE TO BE, THEY THEY WAS TALKING LIKE, TO HAVE WHAT? I'M SORRY, A VOICE. WELL, THE THING IS, THERE ARE CERTAIN SPACES THAT THEY CAN ACCESS YEAH. IN, IN ALL OF THOSE SPACES. BUT IN, IN REALITY, I MEAN, THERE ARE SOME AREAS THAT DON'T EVEN HAVE A MULTI-SERVICE CENTER. RIGHT. SO TO THINK THAT, YOU KNOW, THE CITY IS GOING TO INVEST WHEN THEY HAVE PERFECT BUILDINGS AND VENUES WHERE THEY CAN MEET, IT IS NOT VERY, UH, FEASIBLE. I, I WOULD THINK. BUT CERTAINLY IF YOU COULD SPEAK WITH INGRAM, WE CAN TRY TO INCORPORATE YOUR IDEAS TO SEE IF WE CAN DO SOMETHING TO MOVE THIS VISION FORWARD. YES, MA'AM. OKAY. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. NEXT SPEAKER. MARIO URBANO. MARIO ORO. NEXT SPEAKER. KENDRA LONDON. KENDRA LONDON. NEXT SPEAKER. CHERRY RHODES. CHERRY RHODES. NEXT SPEAKER I, IVAN PRATER. IVAN PRATER. YES. HELLO, MR. PRATER. GOOD AFTERNOON. UM, I'M BACK FOR THE SECOND TIME IN SEVEN MONTHS TO TALK ABOUT SOMETHING THAT I BELIEVE IS SORT OF, UH, IMPORTANT. UM, SO I WANNA SAY POWER TO THE PEOPLE WHO SERVE THE PEOPLE POWER TO THE PUBLIC SERVANTS WHO GIVE, YOU KNOW, 40 HOURS OF THEIR LIFE EVERY WEEK TO WORK FOR THIS GOVERNMENT. UM, I KNOW THERE'S A LOT OF TALK ABOUT, YOU KNOW, UH, IMPROVING EFFICIENCY AND GOVERNMENT CORRUPTION. AND I THINK, YES, THERE ARE MANY THINGS THAT MORE MONEY CAN HELP FIX, BUT THERE ARE ALSO OTHER THINGS THAT DON'T REQUIRE MORE MONEY. THEY JUST SIMPLY REQUIRE US TO APPLY BETTER KNOWLEDGE, BETTER WISDOM, MORE EMPOWERMENT OF THE PEOPLE WHO ARE CLOSEST TO THE PROBLEM, WHO KNOW THE SOLUTIONS, WHO ARE DOING THE WORK, WHO ARE BEING DISEMPOWERED EVERY DAY BY LEADERS OF THIS GOVERNMENT. I KNOW THERE ARE PROCESSES IN PLACE FOR US TO REPORT CORRUPTION AND ABUSIVE LEADERSHIP, BUT THOSE PROCESSES A DO NOT WORK. AND THE WORKFORCE DOES NOT TRUST THOSE PROCESSES. AND IT CREATES A PASSIVE RESISTANCE THAT EATS AWAY AT THE MORALE, AT THE VERY ENTHUSIASM THAT SHOULD BE DRIVING US AS PUBLIC SERVANTS TO GIVE OUR ALL TO THIS WORK. SO I AM ONE OF MANY WHO HAS TAKEN ON THIS CHALLENGE OF SPEAKING TRUTH. UM, EVEN WHEN IT COST, I'VE EXPERIENCED MY OWN RETALIATION, UM, FOR DOING THAT. AND I'M ASKING FOR YOU ALL TO PRIORITIZE THIS ISSUE OF MORALE AND TOXIC WORK CULTURE. UM, I WAS THERE WHEN THE FBI RATED OUR BUILDING. I KNOW WHAT IT FELT LIKE TO HAVE TO ENDURE NOT ONLY THE FEAR OF PEOPLE NOT KNOWING WHAT WAS GOING ON, BUT THE TRUST THAT IT BROKE, NOT ONLY WITH THE CONSTITUENTS AND THE CITIZENS THAT WE SERVE, BUT WITH THE EMPLOYEES. THE LEADERSHIP. UM, THAT TOXIC WORKPLACE STORY ABOUT THE HOUSTON PUBLIC LIBRARY THAT CIRCULATED OUR DEPARTMENT FOR WEEKS AND WEEKS TOOK OVER STAFF MEETINGS. WE SPEND HOURS IN STAFF MEETINGS, NOT TALKING ABOUT SOLUTIONS, BUT TALKING ABOUT THE FRICTION THAT WE HAVE WITH LEADERS WHOM WE DON'T TRUST, WHOM WE DON'T HAVE CONFIDENCE IN, BECAUSE THEY'VE SHOWN US THAT THEY DON'T LIVE OUT THE VALUES THAT WE SAY THAT WE UPHOLD. HOW DO WE GET PAST THAT TO GET TO A PLACE TO WHERE I CAN BE PROUD AGAIN, OF BEING A PUBLIC SERVANT FOR THE CDQ STAND, I'VE BEEN DOING PUBLIC SERVICE FOR 15 YEARS. I'M A VETERAN, DISABLED VETERAN. I WORK HERE NOT BECAUSE I HAD TO. I'M A HUNDRED PERCENT DISABLED. I COULD BE AT HOME RIGHT NOW SOMEWHERE UP ON A LAKE FISHING. BUT I CHOOSE TO COME TO WORK FOR THIS GOVERNMENT BECAUSE I WANT TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE IN MY COMMUNITY. I GREW UP IN FIFTH WARD CASHMAN GARDENS. I UNDERSTAND THE IMPORTANCE OF GOVERNMENT PROGRAMS AND THE PEOPLE WHOSE LIVES DEPEND ON THEM. I DON'T FEEL GOOD ABOUT COMING TO WORK, WASTING TIME, WASTING TALENT, LET ALONE WASTING RESOURCES. SO POWER TO THE PEOPLE WHO SERVE THE PEOPLE. WE CANNOT SERVE THE PEOPLE OF HOUSTON IF WE ARE DISEMPOWERING THOSE WHO ARE COMING TO WORK EVERY DAY TRYING TO DO THE JOB OF IMPLEMENTING YOUR PLANS AND YOUR SOLUTIONS. IT JUST DOESN'T WORK. SO I'M ASKING YOU, I'M BEGGING YOU TO PRIORITIZE THE ISSUE OF ADDRESSING [02:10:01] TOXIC WORK CULTURE. ACCOUNTABILITY OF LEADERS IS IMPORTANT AND THAT ACCOUNTABILITY SHOULD GO NOT ONLY TOP DOWN, BUT BOTTOM UP. HOW CAN I HOLD MY LEADERS ACCOUNTABLE? WHAT IS THE PROCESS FOR THAT? WHAT HAPPENS WHEN WE ARE SHOWING UP EVERY DAY AND WE HAVE LEADERS WHO ARE THE THING THAT IS KILLING OUR SPIRIT, OUR WORKFORCE? THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME, MR. MR. ER, ARE YOU CURRENTLY WORKING AT THE CITY OF HOUSTON? I AM. OKAY. UM, COUNCIL MEMBER POLLARD. THANK YOU MAYOR PRO TIM. AND, UM, THANK YOU FOR COMING FORWARD. I KNOW IT'S, UM, SOMETIMES DIFFICULT TO TO SPEAK UP WHEN YOU'RE IN CERTAIN POSITIONS. UM, HAVE YOU GONE THROUGH CERTAIN, UM, POLICY AND PROTOCOL ALREADY TO, UH, NOTIFY SUPERIORS OF ISSUES THAT YOU MAY BE FACING OR, OR, OR ISSUES THAT YOU THINK NEED TO BE ADDRESSED? YES. FOR THE PAST 18 MONTHS, I HAVE BEEN DOING THAT. I HAVE FILED OIG COMPLAINTS. I HAVE, YOU KNOW, FILED ALMOST EVERY INTERNAL PROCESS THERE IS. AND IN RESPONSE TO THAT, I HAVE BEEN RETALIATED AGAINST. I'VE BEEN TRANSFERRED FROM PROGRAMS. I'VE BEEN TREATED VERY UNFAIRLY. THEY TRIED TO USE MY VA DISABILITY STATUS AGAINST ME. THEY'VE PUT ME ON RELIEF OF DUTY FOR SIX MONTHS UNDER INVESTIGATION. I'VE BEEN ATTACKED IN MORE WAYS THAN I CAN EVEN, I CAN'T EVEN UNDERSTAND WHY. BUT I HAVE TRIED THOSE PROCESSES AND IN RETURN, I'VE GOTTEN NOTHING BUT RESISTANCE AND BEEN TREATED LIKE I'M SOME SORT OF PARIAH BECAUSE I'M SPEAKING WHAT EVERYONE ELSE WANTS TO SAY, BUT ARE TOO AFRAID TO SAY BECAUSE THAT FEAR OF RETALIATION IS SO PERVASIVE IN OUR DEPARTMENT. WELL, I I APOLOGIZE FOR THAT FEEDBACK THAT YOU'VE BEEN GETTING. UH, IF YOU DON'T MIND, UH, EITHER EMAILING OR FINDING A WAY TO CONFIDENTIALITY, UH, BEING CONFIDENTIAL IN YOUR STATEMENTS TO GIVE US SOME INSIGHT INTO WHAT MAY BE GOING ON. 'CAUSE I KNOW YOU'RE SPEAKING IN MORE OF A GENERALITY SENSE AT THE MOMENT. UH, BUT YOU HAVE OUR EMAILS IF YOU WANNA SEND SOMETHING TO US, AND IF YOU THINK THERE'S A BETTER CHANNEL IN WHICH TO GET THAT INFORMATION TO US, UH, WE CAN SPEAK WITH YOU REGARDING THAT AS WELL. THANK YOU. COUNCIL MEMBER FLICKINGER. JUST ONE SECOND. MR. PRATER, THANK YOU FOR COMING DOWN. UH, SO YOU SAID YOU WERE ON LEAVE FOR SIX MONTHS? CORRECT. OKAY. AND CORRECT ME IF I'M WRONG, BUT THE CITY CONTINUED TO PAY YOU FOR THOSE SIX MONTHS. CORRECT. AND AT THE END OF THE SIX MONTHS, WHAT HAPPENED? I GOT A PHONE CALL ONE DAY, SAID, YOU CAN COME BACK TO WORK. SO WE PAID YOU TO STAY AT HOME FOR SIX MONTHS. AT THE END OF THE SIX MONTHS, THERE WAS NO ACTION, NO DISCIPLINE ACTION TAKEN AGAINST YOU? NOTHING. NOTHING. UH, IT'S FUNNY 'CAUSE I WAS MEETING WITH HOPE TODAY AND THEY BROUGHT UP THIS VERY TYPE OF THING SAYING THAT, YOU KNOW, WE'VE GOT MULTIPLE INSTANCES WHERE PEOPLE ARE PUT ON LEAVE, NOT TOLD WHY, OR GONE ANYWHERE FROM A MONTH TO NINE MONTHS. THEN THEY'RE BROUGHT BACK. WE'VE BEEN PAYING 'EM THE WHOLE TIME AND THERE'S NO DISCIPLINE, NO NOTHING. UM, OBVIOUSLY IF THERE WAS NO DISCIPLINE, IT SEEMS TO ME THAT THERE WAS A MISTAKE TO PUT YOU ON LEAVE IN THE FIRST PLACE. UH, I, I UNDERSTAND THINGS NEED TO BE INVESTIGATED, BUT IT, IT SEEMS LIKE THIS IS A BIT OF AN ISSUE. SO I KNOW THAT, UH, WE WON'T SOLVE THIS, THIS ISSUE HERE. UM, BUT IF YOU WOULD JUST GET, GIVE YOUR CONTACT INFORMATION TO REBECCA AND THEN WE CAN HAVE HR TO FOLLOW UP WITH YOU. WHAT, WHAT KIND OF RESOLUTION ARE YOU LOOKING FOR? WHAT, WHAT WOULD YOU LIKE TO SEE HAPPEN? UM, I THINK ONE OF THE THINGS IS, UM, I WOULD LIKE TO SEE MORE, UH, INDIVIDUALS THAT ARE DOING THE WORK ON THE FRONT LINE, UM, HAVE OUR INPUT DATA AND WISDOM TRULY LIKE APPLIED WHEN IT COMES TO DECISION MAKING. AND ALSO FOR THERE TO BE SOME SORT OF WAY FOR US TO IDENTIFY WHEN LEADERS ARE MISSING THE MARK SO THAT LEADERS WHO ARE OVERSEEING UNDERPERFORMING PROGRAMS THAT HAVE BEEN UNDERPERFORMING FOR YEARS ARE NOT ALLOWED TO REMAIN IN THOSE POSITIONS WITHOUT ACCOUNTABILITY. IF THE TEXANS GOES A FEW SEASONS WITHOUT WINNING A GAME, YOU START LOOKING FOR A NEW COACH. I DON'T SEE WHY WE SHOULDN'T APPLY THAT SAME ACCOUNTABILITY AND LOGIC TO OUR PUBLIC PROGRAMS WHO I THINK THE OUTCOME IS MUCH GREATER THAN WINNING A FOOTBALL GAME. OKAY. THANK YOU. IF YOU'LL GIVE YOUR CONTACT, UH, INFORMATION TO REBECCA AND WE CAN HAVE, UH, SOMEONE FROM HR FOLLOW UP WITH YOU TO BE FOLLOWED BY RANDALL SMITH [02:15:12] EACH 31ST AND A HALF STRAIGHT. WILL YOU STEP RIGHT BEHIND THAT MICROPHONE, THAT WAY WE CAN HEAR YOU BETTER. OKAY. YES, MA'AM. OKAY. GO AHEAD. TRY IT AGAIN. HI, GOOD AFTERNOON. MY NAME IS DR. SABRINA NORMAN. I RESIDE AT ONE 14 EAST 31ST AND A HALF STREET. HERE. YOU DOWN THAT STREET AND THEY'RE DANCING LIKE THEY IN MOTOWN. WE HAVE JUST THAT MANY RATS. I'M REACHING OUT TO YOU IN HOPES OF GETTING YOUR ASSISTANCE AND ADDRESSING THE ONGOING ISSUES BECAUSE OF THE BEHAVIOR INNOVATION FACILITY THAT WE HAVE THERE LOCATED ON YALE STREET, THAT IS A $10 MILLION BUSINESS A YEAR. AS A FORMER SPECIAL EDUCATION ADMINISTRATOR, THEY ONLY CATER TO STUDENTS WITH AUTISM. THE PROBLEMS HAVE BEEN PERSISTED FOR SOME TIME EVER SINCE I'VE BEEN THERE. I'VE BEEN THERE SINCE 2022. AND DESPITE MY CONCERNS WITH THE REGIONAL MANAGER SPEAKING WITH THE REGIONAL MANAGER OF THE BEHAVIOR SCHOOL, I'VE TALKED TO MY COUNCILMAN. I'VE TALKED TO THE NEIGHBORHOOD CENTER, AND GUESS WHAT, I RECENTLY GOT A CALL FROM THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH BECAUSE IT GOT THAT FAR WITH NEIGHBORHOOD CENTER. AND AT 1:41 PM HE WAS DRIVING A HEALTH 6 0 3 5 OH. AND THE NUMBER ON HIS IDENTIFYING VEHICLE WAS 4 0 6 3 3. I ACTUALLY TURNED THE STREET AND I SAW HIM SITTING THERE AND I GOT THIS INFORMATION BECAUSE I WANTED TO SEND HIM A THANK YOU NOTE, THANK YOU FOR FINALLY COMING TO SEE ALL THIS TRASH THAT WE HAVE HERE, AND ONLY TO GET A PHONE CALL FROM HIM TELLING ME THAT HE SAW NOTHING. SO I HAVE ENCLOSED IN THE FOLDERS, SOME OF THE FOLDERS AROUND HERE OF THE, OF THE TRASH THAT WE HAVE THERE. UM, IT'S, IT'S HORRIBLE. WE HAVE ELDERS. I AM THE YOUNGEST ON THE STREET AND I'M 69. EVERYBODY ELSE IS OLD. THE BOTTOM LINE IS THAT WE CANNOT GET IT CLEANED UP. THE LACK OF FOLLOW THROUGH HAS LEFT CONTACT NOW TO ENSURE THAT THE RAT INFESTATION IS ADDRESSED. THIS IS AN ISSUE THAT JUST DOES NOT IMP IMPACT ME. IT IN FACT, IT AFFECTS THE ENTIRE 31ST STREET COMMUNITY. I AM THE YOUNGEST, I AM THE 16 9-YEAR-OLD. MOST OF MY 80 AND OLDER AS THE FIRST PROPERTY VISIBLE ENTERED THE STREET. THE CONDITION OF THE SCHOOL REFLECTS POORLY. ALL I WANNA KNOW, LOOK, THAT DOG AIN'T GONNA HUNT. I GREW UP ON A PLANTATION. THAT DOG AIN'T GOING HUNT. CLEAN IT UP AND GIVE US SOME RESPECT. JUST ONE MINUTE. WE DO HAVE A COUNCIL MEMBER IN Q COUNCIL MEMBER SHABAZZ. THANK YOU. DR. SABRINA NORMAN. I'VE KNOWN YOU FOREVER. YES. AND WHEN I SAW YOUR NAME, I SAID, THIS HAS TO BE THE SAME PERSON, BUT CERTAINLY YOUR COUNCIL MEMBER'S NOT HERE. YOU SAY YOU'VE ALREADY ENGAGED WITH HIM. DECEMBER 12TH. I GAVE HIM THE SAME PICTURES THAT I GAVE YOU GUYS. RIGHT. HE LOOKED AT THEM AND LET ME SAY THIS, HE HAD ANOTHER MEETING TO GO. HE LEFT THEM ON THE TABLE THAT LET ME KNOW THEN THAT YOU WERE NOT INTERESTED BECAUSE YOU COULD HAVE TAKEN THEM AT LEAST AND GIMME THE PROFESSIONAL COURTESY OF PUTTING 'EM IN THE TRASH. OKAY, WELL, WE ARE GONNA PASS THIS AROUND. AND I BELIEVE THEY HAVE SPOKEN WITH YOU IN THE OFFICE. I, I DON'T KNOW, YOU KNOW, EVERY TIME I COME TO TALK TO YOU, THEY PLACATE ME. OKAY. I'M TIRED NOW. OKAY, MS. NORMAN, WE'RE GONNA ALL LOOK AT IT AND WE'LL, WE'LL TAKE CARE OF IT. WE CAN CONTACT THE DEPARTMENT OF NEIGHBORHOODS, THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT, AND GET SOMEBODY OUT THERE TO HELP WITH THE, WITH THE RAT INVESTIGATION. THE PICTURES THAT WE SEE ARE AT A SPECIFIC LOCATION AT A SCHOOL. MM-HMM. NO, IT'S SO YOU'RE SAYING THE TRASH THAT'S AT THIS BUILDING? BECAUSE THE PICTURES WE HAVE IS JUST OF THE TRASH, BUT IT DOESN'T TELL ME WHERE THEY ARE. OKAY. IS THIS, SO WHAT IS, WHAT ARE THESE PICTURES OF? OKAY, SO THAT'S THE TRASH. OKAY. SO THE CITY OF HOUSTON HAS, UH, AUTHORIZED THEM TO HAVE FIVE FOUR TRASH CANS. WHERE IS THIS ON YALE STREET? I KNOW THIRD 60 YALE STREET THAT IS BEHIND. OKAY. SO WHEN THAT'S AFTER THE TRASH CANS ARE FILLED, THAT'S WHAT'S LEFT. IS THIS A SCHOOL BEHAVIOR INTERVENTION 30 60 YALE STREET? YES. OKAY. AND SO THEY HAVE A, WHEN THEY PUT THE TRASH OUT THERE, [02:20:01] THEY, THEY DON'T HAVE ENOUGH TRASH CANS. THEY EXPIRED ON FEBRUARY, 2025. WE CAN'T FIND OUT WHY WERE THEY RENEWED. OKAY. WELL, AND SO THAT'S THE TRASH OUTSIDE. THE TRASH, THE TRASH CANS ARE FILLED. AND SO YOU THINK THIS IS THE GENESIS OF THE RATS? MA'AM, YOU THINK THIS IS THE GENESIS OF THE RAT INFESTATION? NO, MA'AM. IT IS. NO. OKAY. UHHUH, BECAUSE WE DON'T HAVE THAT ON OUR STREET. RIGHT. THEY DON'T HAVE ENOUGH TRASH CAN IS WHAT I'M SAYING. AND THEY SAID THEY'VE, THEY'VE ASKED FOR YOU GUY ASKED FOR MORE FROM THE CITY, FROM THE WASTE MANAGEMENT AND THEY WON'T GIVE 'EM. OKAY. SO WHAT THEY DO IS THEY USE THE ONES FROM NEXT DOOR AS WELL. OKAY. FROM THE DOG TRAINING PLACES. BUT THEY DON'T HAVE ENOUGH TRASH. THEY GOT 32 EMPLOYEES. OKAY. YEAH, THEY DEFINITELY NEED A DIFFERENT TRASH SYSTEM. THEY PROBABLY NEED A, UH, A BIN. THEY HAD A BIN INSTEAD OF THEY HAD A BIN. THEY TOOK IT AWAY. OKAY. BECAUSE THEY SAID PEOPLE WERE DUMPING IN IT. OKAY, WE'LL, WE'LL, WE'LL CIRCLE BACK WITH THE SOLID WASTE DEPARTMENT TO SEE WHAT THEY SUGGEST FOR THEIR TRASH, BECAUSE THERE CLEARLY NEEDS TO BE, THEY CAME OUT TO SEE US. THAT'S WHAT I'M SAYING. TRASH. THEY COULDN'T DO ANYTHING BECAUSE IT'S ON THEIR PROPERTY AND IT'S BEHIND A CLOCK. SO THEY CAN'T HELP US. SOMEBODY'S GONNA HELP YOU. MS. MS. NORMAN, THANK YOU. THANK YOU. NEXT SPEAKER, RANDALL SMITH. STEVEN VARGAS. THEY CAN'T BE IN COMPLIANCE TO BE FOLLOWED BY LAURA FIELDER. A SCHOOL SHOULDN'T HAVE THESE KIND OF TRASH CANS. THEY NEED TO GET A BAND. THANK YOU. MAYOR PROAM AND CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS. MY NAME IS STEVEN VARGAS. UH, AND I THANK YOU FOR ALLOWING ME THIS TIME. UH, I AM THE SECRETARY OF HOUSTON'S LATINO HIV TASK FORCE AND ONE OF THE FOUNDING MEMBERS OF THE TEXAS STRIKE FORCE. UH, WE ARE A GROUP OF PEOPLE LIVING WITH HIV, UH, ADDRESSING STATEWIDE ISSUES AND PART AND ALSO LOCALLY AND HERE LOCALLY. I'M HERE TO SAY THAT WE NEED, UH, A LINE ITEM IN OUR CITY BUDGET, UH, FUNDS FROM OUR GENERAL FUNDS TO ADDRESS, UH, HIV CONCERNS, PARTICULARLY THE ONES THAT ARE ABOUT TO EMERGE DUE TO SOME OF THESE FUNDING CUTS SEEN AT THE FEDERAL LEVEL, CDC AND HRSA. UH, THOSE FUNDING CUTS THE ELIMINATION OF HOPPA HOUSING OPPORTUNITIES FOR PEOPLE WITH HIV, WHICH SERVES OVER 1,400 PEOPLE IN HOUSTON ALONE. WHEN THAT PROGRAM IS GONE, WE ARE GONNA HAVE FOLKS STRUGGLING TO MAINTAIN ACCESS TO THEIR MEDICAL CARE AND STRUGGLING TO MAIN HOUSING, MAINTAIN THEIR HOUSING, PERIOD. SO I'M HERE TO ASK, UH, THIS IS THE THIRD ADMINISTRATION THAT WE'VE ASKED THIS AS A COMMUNITY TO DEVELOP A LINE ITEM IN OUR CITY BUDGET TO ADDRESS HIV CONCERNS. IT HASN'T HAPPENED UP TO THIS POINT RIGHT NOW. IT'S ABSOLUTELY DIRE. UH, I AM OF ONE OF FOUR PEOPLE IN MY FAMILY LIVING WITH HIV AND I'M STILL, I'M THE LAST ONE STANDING. MY MOTHER, HER HUSBAND, AND HIS BROTHER ALL DIED IN THE EARLY 1990S. AND BEFORE LIFE SAVING TREATMENTS WE NOW TAKE FOR GRANTED WERE WIDELY AVAILABLE. MY MOTHER PASSED AWAY AT JUST THE AGE OF 47, ONLY MONTHS AFTER I FOUND OUT ABOUT MY OWN HIV STATUS. I HAD, UM, SHE LIVED WITH THE VIRUS FOR ABOUT SIX YEARS COMPARED TO MY 30 YEARS OF LIVING WITH HIV. THAT IS NOT AN ACCIDENT. THAT 24 YEAR DIFFERENCE IN LIFE EXPECTANCY AND SURVIVAL IS NO COINCIDENCE. IT'S THE RESULT OF PUBLIC INVESTMENT IN HIV RESEARCH, TREATMENT AND ACCESS BECAUSE OF THESE BREAKTHROUGHS. THAT'S EXACTLY WHY I'M HERE TODAY. BUT WHILE RESEARCH WAS ABLE TO SAVE MY LIFE, IT WAS TOO LATE WHEN IT CAME TO PROTECTING ME FROM ACTUALLY ACQUIRING HIV. WE DIDN'T HAVE SOMETHING LIKE PREP BACK IN 1990S. WE DO NOW, BUT THE REAL CRUCIAL PIECE OF IT IS ACCESS TO THE, THOSE INNOVATIONS SO THAT PEOPLE CANNOT ACQUIRE HIV AND NOT HAVE TO GO THROUGH THE BURDEN THAT OTHER PEOPLE LIVING WITH HIV HAVE BEEN DOING FOR YEARS. THAT'S WHY LOCAL INVESTMENT MATTERS. NOW MORE THAN EVER, WE CANNOT RELY ON FEDERAL AND STATE FUNDS ALONE. WE NEVER COULD, SHOULD HAVE, AND WE NEVER REALLY HAVE BEEN ABLE TO REALLY MAKE IT WITH JUST THOSE FUNDS. WE NEED FUNDING AT EVERY LEVEL OF GOVERNMENT, PARTICULARLY NOW WE NEED CITY LEVEL FUNDING TO ENSURE THAT THE BREAKTHROUGHS IN SCIENCE ACTUALLY REACH THE PEOPLE WHO NEED THE MOST, ESPECIALLY LOW INCOME COMMUNITIES. PEOPLE OF COLOR, IMMIGRANTS, LBTQ, YOUTH AND OTHERS TOO OFTEN PUSH TO THE MARGINS AND NOT ACCESSING THIS VALUABLE SERVICE. OUR CITY HAS THE POWER TO CLOSE THE GAP BETWEEN INNOVATION AND IMPACT. WE NOW HAVE THE TOOLS TO STOP HIV BEFORE IT STARTS. EITHER DAILY PILLS, LONG-ACTING INJECTABLES, AND TREATMENTS THAT MAKE THE VIRUS UNDETECTABLE LIKE WITHIN MYSELF. AND THEREFORE UNTRANSMITTABLE WITH MY PARTNER FOR 30 YEARS AS A MAN LIVING WITH HIV AND HE STILL IS HIV NEGATIVE. THAT'S A BLESSING TO THE INNOVATIONS AND ACCESS TO THEM. OUR FUTURE IS DEPENDENT ON THIS INVESTMENT. OUR FUTURE IS [02:25:01] DEPENDENT ON THIS LINE ITEM. IT IS LONG OVERDUE. I WANT TO BE THE LAST PERSON IN MY FAMILY TO HAVE TO LIVE AND PERSIST THROUGH LIFE WITH HIV. I WANT MY YOUNGER COUSINS, MY FRIENDS IN OUR COMMUNITIES MOST IMPACTED, ESPECIALLY PEOPLE OF COLOR, TRANS INDIVIDUALS PARTICULARLY, TO GROW UP AND GROW OLDER WITHOUT THE BURDEN OF THIS VIRUS LAYERED ON TOP OF THE MANY CHALLENGES THEY ALREADY FACE IN A COUNTRY WHERE MANY OF US, US STILL HAVE TO NAVIGATE RACISM, STIGMA, POVERTY AND POLITICAL HOSTILITY JUST TO SURVIVE. HIV SHOULD NOT BE ANOTHER BURDEN TO BEAR AND WE CAN PREVENT THAT. THANK YOU. COUNCIL MEMBER POLLARD. THANK YOU MAYOR PROTE. AND MR. VARGAS, UH, THANK YOU FOR COMING FORWARD. I KNOW MY OFFICE HAD REACHED OUT TO YOU BUT WASN'T ABLE TO CONNECT, BUT, UH, YOUR POINTS THAT YOU MADE ARE WELL TAKEN, UH, WELL SPOKEN AND, UH, I BELIEVE IT'LL BE SOMETHING THAT WE'LL CONTINUE TO CONSIDER FOR NEXT YEAR'S BUDGET. THANK YOU. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. UM, DETECTIVE STRIKE FORCE ASKED ME TO RELAY THAT WE WILL BE CONTACTING EACH MEMBER'S OFFICE TO SET UP MEETINGS SO WE CAN DISCUSS THIS FURTHER. THANK YOU. COUNCIL MEMBER MARTINEZ. THANK YOU MAYOR PROTON. STEVEN, JUST WANTED TO SAY IT'S GOOD TO SEE YOU. UH, THANK YOU FOR YOUR ADVOCACY AND, UM, I, I WANNA KNOW MORE ABOUT, UH, THE ORGANIZATION THAT YOU'RE SPEAKING TO. SO I'LL, I'LL TALK TO MY COLLEAGUE MORE ABOUT IT AS WELL SEE HOW WE CAN BE SUPPORTIVE. THANK YOU. LOOK FORWARD TO IT. BEST WISHES TO YOU. THANK YOU. NEXT SPEAKER. LAURA FIELDER. LAURA FIELDER. I JUST, OH, LIKE YOU DROP MY . I WAS GONNA SAY I'M A RETIRED HOSPITAL NURSE AND WORK WITH HIV PATIENTS IN CAN YOU, CAN YOU WAIT TILL YOU GET TO THE MICROPHONE? YOU TAKE YOUR TIME. AND I'M JUST SECONDING WHAT EVERYTHING HE JUST SAID AND THAT'S LY THAT'S YOUR COMMENT. YOU DITTO TO WHAT HE WAS SAYING. OH, YEAH. THAT'S MY CON THAT'S NOT WHY I'M HERE, BUT THAT'S MY COMMENT. OKAY. JUST EVERYTHING HE SAID ABOUT THE FUNDING IS SPOT ON. RIGHT. AND HE CAN'T LET UP. AND ESPECIALLY WITH WHAT'S GOING ON IN WASHINGTON. OKAY. OKAY. SO NOW I START. RIGHT. THERE YOU GO. UM, UH, SO MY NAME IS LAUREN FIELDER. I'M 57 YEAR HOUSTONIAN. UM, MY SON AND MY HUSBAND AND I WERE FIRST DISPLACED, UH, TO THE US FEDERAL DEFINITION OF DISPLACED RESIDENT BY, UH, HURRICANE HARVEY NATURAL DISASTER. UH, THE BUILDING, THE APARTMENT HAD TO BE DEMOLISHED AND REBUILT. WE WERE TEMPORARILY RELOCATED TO THE LOFTS AT BALLPARK 2120 CAPITAL STREET. UM, COVID HIT, WE GOT STUCK THERE. WE WERE SUPPOSED TO ONLY BE THERE FOR LIKE TWO MONTHS AND THEN GET TO A PERMANENT APARTMENT OR HOME FROM THE FIRST DISPLACEMENT COVID HIT. WE WERE THERE, UM, DURING THE FREEZE YURI, AND UM, THEN THE STATE OF TEXAS TOOK IT OVER FOR EMINENT DOMAIN FOR THE INTERSTATE UH, IH 45 NORTH EXPANSION PROJECT, AND WE WERE DISPLACED AGAIN. IN THAT TIME. MY HUSBAND WAS DIAGNOSED WITH STAGE THREE C, NON-SMALL CELL LUNG CANCER WITH AN INOPERABLE TUMOR. UM, WE HAD TO DO RADIATION CHEMOTHERAPY. UM, I BROKE MY BACK, COULD NO LONGER DO BEDSIDE PATIENT CARE. UM, SO OUR T STOP FAILED US IN RELOCATING US, BASICALLY, IN THEIR DEFENSE. UM, THEY COULDN'T INCOME QUALIFY US BECAUSE MY HUSBAND HAD CANCER AND I BECAME DISABLED. SO OUR INCOME WAS NOT SUFFICIENT TO RENT ANYWHERE, BUT THAT DOES NOT RELIEVE THEM OF THE FEDERAL RESPONSIBILITY. UM, UNDER THE UNIFORM RELOCATION ASSISTANCE AND REAL PROPERTY ACQUISITION POLICIES, AKA, THE UNIFORM ACT, WHERE ANYBODY THAT'S DISPLACED OR CERTIFIED, A DISPLACED RESIDENT, UM, AND IF IT'S A FEDERALLY FUNDED BUILDING LIKE THE FIRST APARTMENT WAS, OR IF IT'S A PROJECT LIKE TXDOT IMMINENT DOMAIN FOR THE FREEWAY EXPANSION, THEY HAVE TO ASSIST YOU IN RELOCATION. MM-HMM . AND THEY FAILED. UM, THEY DUMPED US IN A RED ROOF MOTEL. UM, WE'VE FOUGHT CANCER FOR THREE AND A HALF, FOUR AND A HALF YEARS, AND MY HUSBAND JUST PASSED. WE HAD 17 ADMISSIONS AT METHODIST. AND YOU KNOW, I MEAN, THE WHOLE THING, CHEMO, RADIATION, IMMUNOTHERAPY, THE WHOLE THING. UM, AND NOW I'M GONNA BE HOMELESS. UM, I KNOW FROM MY HUSBAND'S BILLS THAT, UM, THE CITY OF HOUSTON AMBULANCE TO COME IS, THE LAST ONE WE HAD WAS IN 2024. DECEMBER, 1788, $1,788 AND EMBALMING, $900 BY THE CITY, 8 95 [02:30:01] CREMATION. THAT'S $2,583 TO THE CITY. AND IT SHOULD BE THE RESPONSIBILITY OF TEX SIDE WHO FAILED US IN OUR RELOCATION. I AM OXYGEN DEPENDENT. I HAVE A HEMATOLOGICAL DISORDER, IMMUNE DISORDER. I REQUIRE MEDICATION THAT'S DELIVERED WITH ELECTRICITY. IN MY YOUNGER DAYS, I WOULD'VE GOT A TENT LIKE EVERYBODY ELSE AND CAMPED OUT AND COULD HAVE DONE IT FOR A WHILE UNTIL I GOT SOME HOUSING. I'VE NEVER DONE IT ON THE STREETS, YOU KNOW, BUT I COULD HAVE. NOW I CAN'T. I WILL BE DEAD. AND I WAS THINKING ABOUT IT AND WHAT IT'S GONNA, BECAUSE I WAS WATCHING THE HARD WORK THAT YOU GUYS WERE DOING WITH THE BUDGET LAST WEEK. GOOD JOB. YOU KNOW, NOT EVERYBODY'S HAPPY. I DIDN'T AGREE WITH EVERYTHING, BUT IT'S THE ART OF COMPROMISE, AND WE'RE MOVING FORWARD AND THERE'S LESS OF A DEFICIT THAN, YOU KNOW, THERE WOULD'VE BEEN. SO, UM, AND I WOULD LIKE TO THANK, UH, MAYOR WHITMEYER IF HE WERE HERE FOR NOT ARRESTING THE PEOPLE WHO WERE HERE LAST WEEK. I THINK THAT WAS A REALLY IMPORTANT SUPPORT AND RESPECT OF THE CONSTITUTION, WHICH IS REALLY IMPORTANT RIGHT NOW. AND TO THAT, I THINK YOU GUYS WERE AMAZINGLY PATIENT AND YOU GUYS ALL LOOK SO TIRED, AND THIS IS A REALLY LONG DAY, BUT YOU WERE SO PATIENT WITH THE YOUNG CITIZENS HERE, AND THAT WAS JUST BEAUTIFUL. I STARTED TO CRY A LITTLE BIT. I MEAN, YOU KNOW, I, I FEEL A LITTLE MORE HOPEFUL IN THIS TIME OF NO HOPE. BUT ANYWAY, UM, BACK TO ME. UM, SO WHEN TEXT OUT COMES IN, I DON'T KNOW IF YOU GUYS ARE FAMILIAR, BUT YOU HAVE, PEOPLE ALWAYS SAY, OH, THEY GAVE YOU MONEY AND THERE'S TWO OPTIONS. UM, THEY RELOCATE YOU TO, UH, WE WERE IN 7, 7 0 0 3, RIGHT ACROSS FROM, UH, THE SOCCER STADIUM BEHIND, UH, MINUTE MAID TWO, BEDROOM, TWO BATH, 1578. ALL BILLS PAID. THEY RELOCATE YOU TO THAT. THAT'S TWO BEDROOM, TWO BATH. AND THESE ARE THE REQUIREMENTS. UM, NOT MORE THAN TWO ZIP CODES AWAY. WELL, THAT WASN'T GONNA HAPPEN BECAUSE WE COULDN'T INCOME QUALIFY AND EVERYTHING. YOU KNOW, THE RENTS EXPLODED. MS. MS. FIELDER. YEAH. WE HAVE A COUPLE OF COUNCIL MEMBERS IN QUEUE THAT WOULD LIKE TO ADDRESS YOU. I THINK WE, WE'VE GOT THE PREMISES OF YOUR, YOUR CONCERN. JUST ONE MORE THING. THEY, THEY HIRE THESE RELOCATORS, IT WAS 375 UNITS AT LOFTS. AT BALLPARK. MM-HMM . THERE WAS FIVE SETS OF RELOCATORS. YOU NEVER HAVE A NAME, AN EMAIL, A PHONE NUMBER, ANY CONTACT WITH ANYONE FROM TECH SIDE. AND I'M SURE THAT'S BY DESIGN. SO LIKE, IF I HAD THAT, I WOULDN'T BE HERE ASKING FOR HELP. OKAY. IF I COULD CONTACT THEM, BUT THEY PEOPLE, HANG ON. HANG ON ONE SECOND. COUNCIL MEMBER THOMAS. UH, THANK YOU, MAYOR PROTE. MA'AM, WHAT WAS THE, UH, NAME OF THE PROPERTY AND THAT YOU WERE DISPLACED FROM FOR HURRICANE HARVEY? HERE, I HAVE THIS FOR YOU. LOFTS AT BALLPARK? NO, THAT WAS WHERE YOU WERE TRANSFERRED TO THE FIRST TIME FOR HAR HARVEY IN 17, PRIOR TO YOU GOING TO LOFTS AT BALLPARK, YOU SAID IN, IN 2017, HURRICANE HARVEY, THERE WAS DISPLACEMENT. YEAH. AND THEN YOU WERE MOVED TO BALLPARK. BUT THAT'S, THAT'S NOT PART OF THIS ISSUE THOUGH. RIGHT. BUT THE QUESTION IS, WHICH, WHAT'S THE NAME OF THAT PROPERTY? I'D RATHER NOT SAY. OKAY. BECAUSE THERE'S THE, THE SAME ACT THAT YOU ARE QUOTING. OH, IT APPLIES. OKAY. I'LL SAY THIS. UM, THERE WAS A HOUSTON HOUSING AUTHORITY MESS. RIGHT. BUT GIVE ME, WHAT'S THE NAME OF THE PROJECT? MAYOR WIMAR FOR CLEANING UP. WHAT'S THE NAME OF THE PROJECT? 2100 MEMORIAL. OKAY. IF IT'S 2100 MEMORIAL, THEN THAT'S A PROJECT BASED PROJECT. YOU HAVE FIRST RIGHT. OF REFUSAL TO RETURN BACK TO THAT PROPERTY, BE NO, NO. I KNOW. IT GOES DOWN THAT, RIGHT? NO. SO YOU, SO YOU, SO HOUSING HAS BEEN MADE AVAILABLE FOR EVERYONE WHO WAS DISPLACED FROM 2100 MEMORIAL WITH THE HOUSING AUTHORITY. THEY WERE ALL, THEY WERE ALL PLACED AT TEMPORARY HOUSING TO HAVE FIRST RIGHT OF REFUSAL TO RETURN BACK TO 2100 MEMORIAL IN ADDITION TO NEW RESIDENTS. SO IF OFFERED THE OPPORTUNITY, WOULD YOU AND YOUR FAMILY LIKE TO RETURN TO 2100 MEMORIAL? WELL, THEY'RE NOT. THERE'S NO, THERE'S NO PETS ALLOWED. AND THEN YOU CAN'T, I HAVE A CAREGIVER THAT'S NOT ABOVE 55 OR 60, WHATEVER THE AGE IS. SO, AND AN IN-HOME CAREGIVER MM-HMM . UH, YEAH. 24 7. OKAY. YEAH. AND SO THAT'S ONE PROBLEM THERE. AND I MEAN, I WAS, IT'S LIKE APPLES AND ORANGES. NO, I GOT IT. I GOT IT. I'M JUST, I'M JUST WANNA MAKE SURE THAT I'M TRACKING WITH YOU. WE'VE BEEN ON THE, THE, THE HOUSING WAIT LIST, UM, FOR SIX YEARS NOW. SEVEN. THE LAST TIME THEY OPENED IT WAS, WHAT, 2015? UM, AND I'VE, I DID, I SERVED MEDICALLY UNDERSERVED POPULATIONS WHEN I AS A NURSE. THANK YOU. AND SO I HELPED A LOT OF THEM WITH SOCIAL WORK. SO I'M LIKE AWARE OF THE AGENCIES AND HAVE MADE ALL THE CALLS. I'VE BEEN ON WAITING LISTS ALL OVER. OKAY. I MEAN, IF I WASN'T ABSOLUTELY DESPERATE, I WOULDN'T HERE. MS. HANG ON ONE SECOND. YEAH. COUNCIL MEMBER. SHABAZZ, DID YOU WANNA MAKE A COMMENT? YES. THANK YOU, MAYOR. I GOT SOUND. UH, AND HOW ARE YOU? AND THANK YOU FOR COMING. UH, THERE'S A, A LADY RIGHT THERE THAT WANTS TO TALK TO YOU OKAY. [02:35:01] TO SEE IF WE CAN HELP IN YOUR SITUATION. OKAY. UM, BUT THANK YOU. HER NAME IS INGRAM. OKAY. AND SHE'S AVAILABLE TO TALK TO YOU NOW. OKAY. I KNOW THAT WAS A LOT OF RAMBLING, BUT I MEAN, REALLY, I JUST WANT SOMEONE TO REACH OUT TO TDOT. WE, HER, HER STAFF MEMBER'S GONNA HELP YOU NAVIGATE THROUGH THAT PROCESS. OKAY. I JUST WANTED TO MAKE SURE THAT THAT WAS CLEAR. OKAY. AND SHE'LL TALK TO YOU AND TO SEE HOW WE CAN HELP YOU. OKAY. THANK YOU. THANK, OKAY. THAT'S WHAT SHE'S TO YOU. OH, NEXT SPEAKER. AMY ERICKSON. AMY ERICKSON. GOOD AFTERNOON. VICE MAYOR, PRO PROM AND COUNCIL MEMBERS. MY NAME'S AMY ERICKSON. I'M HERE TODAY REPRESENTING PEOPLE FOR POLK. FIRST OFF, I'D LIKE TO INVITE EACH OF YOU TO A, UH, TOWN HALL THAT PEOPLE FOR POLK IS HOSTING. THIS IS GONNA BE ON SATURDAY, JUNE 21ST AT, UH, FROM 11:00 AM TO 1:00 PM AND THAT'S AT HOLY FAMILY, HTX. AND THAT'S AT 37 19 NAVIGATION BOULEVARD. THIS WILL BE A COMMUNITY DRIVEN EVENT THAT, UH, WE HOPE TO INFORM RESIDENTS ABOUT THIS CRITICAL ISSUE AND PROVIDE A FORUM FOR FEEDBACK AND IDEAS TO UNDERSTAND EXACTLY HOW HOUSTONIANS USE POLK, OUR COALITION OF VOLUNTEERS. UM, WE DID SOME TRAFFIC COUNTS IN ONE HOUR. WE DOCUMENTED OVER 1000 VEHICLES ON THAT PROPOSED ABANDONMENT SEGMENT. ONE CAR EVERY SEVEN SECONDS EXITS HIGHWAY 59 AND MAKES A LEFT ONTO POLK STREET. THESE ARE RESIDENTS FROM DISTRICT C, DFGJ, AND K WHO RELY ON POLK AS THEIR PRIMARY DOWNTOWN ROUTE. COMBINING OUR TRAFFIC COUNTS WITH METRO RIDERSHIP DATA FOR ROUTES 40 AND 41 POLK STREET SERVES OVER 90,000 WEEKLY USERS. THAT IS 4.7 ANNUAL TRIPS, UH, 4.7 MILLION, EXCUSE ME, ANNUAL TRIPS ON THIS VITAL CONNECTOR. AFTER ATTENDING HOUSTON FIRST'S FINANCE AND ASSET MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE MEETING, UH, ON MONDAY AND THEIR SUBSEQUENT BOARD MEETING THIS MORNING, I MUST SHARE SOME CONCERNING FINANCIAL INFORMATION. HOUSTON FIRST HAS ALREADY SPENT $102 MILLION ON PHASE ONE AND PLANS TO SPEND AN ADDITIONAL 146 MILLION BY THE END OF THIS YEAR. THEIR CEO AND PRESIDENT ADMITTED THEY SHOULD, THEY DON'T HAVE A MARKET INFORMED BUDGET AND WON'T UNTIL THE END OF THE YEAR. THIS BODY SHOULD DEMAND TO BE FULLY INFORMED ABOUT THESE EXPENDITURES. PLEASE BRING THEM BEFORE, UM, A COMMITTEE COUNCIL TO INFORM YOURSELVES BEFORE A COUNCIL VOTE COMES ON THIS ITEM. 228 PUBLIC COMMENTS WERE RECEIVED BY THE JRC. 100% OF THESE COMMENTS WERE IN OPPOSITION. THIS WAS NOT MERELY EAST END RESIDENCE. PEOPLE CALLED IN FROM ACROSS HOUSTON. FROM MONTROSE TO IDLE WOOD, FROM MIDTOWN TO MEYERLAND. AS, AS DOWNTOWN BELONGS TO EVERY HOUSTONIAN. THE OVERWHELMING OPPOSITION REFLECTS MORE THAN CONVENIENCE. IT RE REPRESENTS EQUITY, ACCESSIBILITY, AND COMMUNITY CONNECTION. WHEN WE CONSIDER INFRASTRUCTURE CHANGES, WE MUST ASK WHO BENEFITS, WHO BEARS THE BURDEN? AND WHAT MESSAGE DOES THAT SEND ABOUT HOUSTON'S COMMITMENT TO ALL OF ITS RESIDENTS. MY COLLEAGUES WILL BE COMING UP THE FOLLOW FOLLOWING SPEAKERS, AND THEY'LL BE READING EXCERPTS FROM THESE 228, UH, PUBLIC COMMENTS. THESE HOUSTONIAN VOICES REPRESENT DEEP CARE, LIVED EXPERIENCE, AND THOUGHTFUL ANALYSIS FROM PEOPLE WHO RELY ON THIS STREET DAILY. PLEASE LISTEN TO THESE VOICES AND DENY THE ABANDONMENT OF POLK STREET. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. NEXT SPEAKER, ROBERT GALLEGOS. I THINK SHE HAS A PROCEDURAL, UM, COUNCIL MEMBER, EVAN SHABAZZ. UH, THANK YOU VICE MAYOR PRO TIM. UH, AFTER, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER GALLEGOS, I'D LIKE TO, UM, SUSPEND THE RULES TO ADD CASEY YOUNG TO THE LIST AFTER SECOND, AFTER, AFTER COUNCIL MEMBER, IT'S BEEN MOVED. AND SECOND. ALL IN FAVOR? OPPOSED? MOTION CARRIES. THANK YOU. GO AHEAD, COUNCIL MEMBER. THANK YOU. RACHEL STROM OPPOSES POLK STREET CLOSURE. CONCERNED WITH PEDESTRIAN ACCESS IS FOR MAINTAINING ACCESS TO AND FROM DOWNTOWN SARAH JACKSON PROTESTS. THE STREET CLOSURE WILL CUT OFF THE EAST END FROM COMING IN AND OUT OF DOWNTOWN, UH, WEST MADDOX. THERE ARE VERY LIMITED WAYS OF GETTING FROM EAST END INTO DOWNTOWN. CONCERN, CONCERN THAT RESIDENTS ISSUES ARE NOT BEING TAKEN INTO CONSIDERATION. LISA HUNT THE CUTOFF WILL HAVE A NEGATIVE IMPACT ON THE COMMUNITY BASED ON NOT BEING ABLE TO EASILY ACCESS DOWNTOWN POST POLK STREET IS A DIRECT PATH INTO, DOWN INTO DOWNTOWN. IT'S A BE IT'S A, IT'S A BELL [02:40:01] AND SWITCH BASED ON THE INITIAL PROPOSAL. AND AS IT RELATES TO THE TEXTILE PROJECT ON I 45 EXPANSION, IT CUTS OFF THE VEHICLE OR CONNECTION TO DOWNTOWN. OVERALL, SHE'S OPPOSED TO IT. MO MOHAM PO IS REALLY THE ONLY DIRECT PATH INTO DOWNTOWN PO GOES UNDER THE TRAIN, UH, TAKING AWAY POLK STREET WILL FOCUS RESIDENTS TO GET ON HIGHWAY IN ORDER TO GET TO DOWNTOWN POLK. POLK ALSO HELPS RESIDENTS TO GET AROUND TRAINS AND CAUSES DELAYS. KYLE ROGERS OPPOSED TO THE STREET ABANDONMENT OF POLK, HAS A MAJOR THOROUGHFARE INTO DOWNTOWN AND NEEDS TO REMAIN OPEN. TINA BRADDY. OPPOSED TO THE CLOSURE OF POLK STREET, IT'S ONLY DIRECT ACCESS INTO DOWNTOWN. IT'S A SAFETY CONCERN IF YOU HAVE TO GET ON THE HIGHWAY. UH, COURTNEY MCMILLAN OPPOSES THE ABANDONMENT OF POLK STREET. FEEL THAT IT IS VITAL FOR YOUR TRAVEL AS THEY RELATE TO REOPEN ON THE EAST END. MATTHEW DONOVAN POLK STREET IS A ONLY DIRECT CONNECTION TO DOWNTOWN. AND CLOSING WILL CUT OFF THE COMMUNITY FROM DOWNTOWN BONNIE MILLER. OPPOSE THE ABANDONMENT OF POLK STREET. FEEL THAT IT IS VITAL FOR YOUR TRAVEL AS IT RELATES TO, TO PEOPLE ON THE EAST END. OPPOSES ABANDONMENT OF POKE STREET. SHE USES THE STREET FOR BIKING AND DRIVING FREQUENTLY. AND IT WILL IMPACT THE EAST SIDE OF A 59 HIGHWAY. IT WILL CUT OFF A MAJOR THOROUGHFARE. THE PEOPLE USE IT WILL CUT OFF A ACCESS TO DOWNTOWN. SHE TAKES POLK STREET TO GO TO MIDTOWN AND POLK. AND, AND, UH, THE PARK HEATHER MCGARREN OPPOSES THE ABANDONED OF POLK STREET. TIFFANY VEA OPPOSES THE ABANDONED OF POLK STREET. IT IS A MAJOR ARTERY THAT CON CONNECTS TO DOWNTOWN, AND IT IS THE ONLY STREET THAT HAS A BIKE LANE. LINDSEY WILLIAMS OPPOSES THE STREET ABANDONMENT AND CLOSURE OF POLK STREET. HOUSTON FIRST DID NOT GIVE THE COMMUNITY ENOUGH TIME, UH, UH, TO ACT ON THIS, PAUL. THE ACCESS WILL BE LIMITED IF POLK IS CLOSED. HE USES POLK TO GO INTO DOWNTOWN. IF HE HAS TO TAKE AN AL ALTERNATE ROUTE, IT WILL ADD 30 MINUTES TO HIS TRAVEL TIME. UH, SARAH DENNIS OPPOSES THE CLOSURE OF POLK STREET. THANK YOU. ARE YOU FINISHED? COUNCIL MEMBER? UH, GALLEGOS. DID YOU NEED A FEW MORE MINUTES TO WRAP UP? YES. THANK YOU. APPRECIATE YOU. UH, LET'S SEE HERE. SARAH DENNIS OPPOSES THE CLOSURE OF POLK STREET. SHE LIVES ON THE EAST SIDE, AND PO IS THE ONLY RELIABLE STREET THAT ALLOWS FOR DIRECT ACCESS INTO DOWNTOWN. FROM THE EAST SIDE, OUR FREEWAY FREEWAYS ARE NOT RELIABLE. THE 45 AND 59 ENTRANCE HAS BEEN FLOODING. UH, THE AREA HAVE SEEN RAPID GROWTH. THE CITY HAS SPENT A LOT ON BIKE TRAILS. I JUST WANT TO ADD ALSO IN REGARDS TO THE CLOSURE OF POLK STREET. UH, BEFORE THE, UH, BUILDING OF MINUTE MA PARK, BEFORE THE BUILDING OF TOYOTA CENTER CENTER, UH, AND THE, UH, THE DYNAMO STADIUM, UH, WE, WE HAD SEVERAL STREETS THAT WE COULD GO IN AND OUTTA DOWNTOWN. NOW WE'RE DOWN TO JUST POLK STREET. THAT'S ACTUALLY A TWO-WAY, THE ONLY TWO-WAY IN AND OUTTA DOWNTOWN. UH, NOW THAT, THAT CLOSES, UH, WE'RE, WE'RE BASICALLY LOCKED IN. UH, IT'S GOING TO BE HARD, UH, TO HAVE ACCESS TO AND FROM DOWNTOWN UNLESS YOU GET ON THE FREEWAY. UH, THERE'S TALKS OF MAYBE TURNING IN, TURNING, UH, LELAND INTO A TWO-WAY, BUT THAT'S GONNA TAKE A WHILE BECAUSE YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT TRAFFIC LIGHTS ARE GONNA HAVE TO BE SWITCHED. YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT, UH, THE, UH, THE, UH, LANES HAVING TO BE, UH, UH, SWITCHED. UH, THE PARKING FOR ALONG THE STREET'S GONNA HAVE TO BE SWITCHED. SO ALL THAT NEEDS TO BE TAKEN INTO CONSIDERATION, UH, EMERGENCY VEHICLES, ACCESS TO AND FROM DOWNTOWN IN THE EAST END. UH, SO I'M, I'M, I'M ASKING YOU HOW TO PLEASE LOOK AT THIS CLOSELY. UH, I FEEL THAT THE MONEY'S BEING USED IN REGARDS TO THE HOT TECH SHOULD BE USED, UH, TO DO INFRASTRUCTURE IMPROVEMENTS IN DOWNTOWN HOUSTON. 'CAUSE I KNOW BEING AT CITY HALLS HERE IN DOWNTOWN, UH, IF YOU'RE DRIVING IN DOWNTOWN STREET ON THE DOWNTOWN STREETS, YOU CAN TELL AND THEY, THEY NEED A LOT OF INFRASTRUCTURE IMPROVEMENTS. THERE'S A LOT OF POTHOLES AND WHAT HAVE YOU. UH, AND I THINK THAT'S WHERE WE SHOULD BE FOCUSING. UH, IN ORDER TO HAVE VISITORS COMING TO OUR CITY FOR CONVENTIONS AND WHAT HAVE YOU, UH, THEY WOULD LIKE TO SEE A NICE DOWNTOWN WHERE THERE'S ACTUALLY SOME GOOD INFRASTRUCTURE. AND YOU DON'T HAVE TO TEAR UP YOUR TIRES COIN IN ON THE STREETS IN DOWNTOWN HOUSTON. SO, THANK YOU AGAIN FOR YOUR TIME. COUNCIL MEMBER POLLARD. THANK YOU, MAYOR PRO. TIM. COUNCIL MEMBER. JUST WANTED TO SAY IT'S GOOD SEEING YOU. GOOD TO HAVE YOUR VOICE BACK IN CHAMBERS AND, UH, UH, EVERYTHING YOU SAID WE'RE TAKING NOTE OF. THANK YOU. APPRECIATE YOU. THANK Y'ALL. THANK YOU. NEXT SPEAKER, CASEY YOUNG TO BE FOLLOWED BY MARCY INGER. [02:45:08] GOOD AFTERNOON COUNCIL MEMBERS, ECK AND POLLARD AND OTHER ESTEEM MEMBERS OF THE CHAMBER. I'M CASEY Y AND I REPRESENT THE KOREAN AMERICAN ASSOCIATION OF HOUSTON. AND I CAME HERE TO URGE THE HOUSTON POLICE DEPARTMENT TO KEEP THE CURRENT COMMUNITY AFFAIRS DIVISION ACTIVE, ESPECIALLY THE MINORITY COMMUNITY LIAISON OFFICERS. KEEP THEM IN FULL-TIME. YOU KNOW, UH, WHEN I WAS GROWING UP IN KOREA, IT WAS, UH, RIGHT AFTER THE JAPANESE RULE THAT WE WERE AFRAID OF POLICE OFFICERS. THEY WERE OPPRESSORS SOMEBODY WHO WOULD NEVER HELP US. OKAY. SO WITH THAT IN MIND, MANY OF US OLD KOREANS ARE AFRAID. THE POLICE OFFICERS, THEY CANNOT REALLY TALK TO THEM, REPORT THE EXTENT, AND SO ON. SO, UM, THAT'S WHEN WE NEED OFFICERS LIKE, UH, VO OR LUKE TRAM COME TO, TO US, BECOME OUR FRIENDS, SPEND SOME TIME AND RELATE TO US. SO WE TALK ABOUT OUR FAMILIES, COMMUNITY AFFAIRS AND SO ON. AND WE CAN REPORT OUR EXTENTS, THE ISSUES WE HAVE WITH COM, UH, COMMUNITY OR WITH THE POLICE THROUGH THEM. AND GRADUALLY WE CAN, WE FEEL MORE COMFORTABLE TALKING TO OTHER POLICE OFFICERS AS WELL. YOU KNOW, I KNOW WE, WE NEED MORE PATROL OFFICERS, BUT LOOKING AT THE LONG RUN, THESE ASIAN OFFICERS, BY TALKING TO US, MOTIVATE US TO BE MORE FRIENDLY TO POLICE OFFICERS. AND OUR YOUNGSTERS COULD BE CADETS THAT WAY. SO EVENTUALLY WE'LL HAVE MORE MINORITY OFFICERS THAT WAY. I'LL GIVE YOU AN EXAMPLE. UH, LUKE TRAM, UH, INTRODUCED US TO A CADET CLASS. SO WE INVITED THE ENTIRE CADET CLASS TO OUR COMMUNITY CENTER. SO THEY CAME AND WE THANK THEM FOR FUTURE POLICE OFFICERS. WE FED THEM, WE AND TALK TO JOKES AND SO ON. SO THEY GOT TO KNOW SOME OF US, AND WE GOT TO KNOW THEM. AND OUR YOUNGSTERS FEEL THAT, HEY, THEY'RE JUST LIKE US. YOU KNOW, MAYBE I, I CAN BECOME A POLICE OFFICER. SO THAT'S HOW IT BECOMES, UM, THE PATROL OFFICERS. I THINK THERE ARE DIFFERENT WAYS OF INCREASING THEM. I THINK BY, I, I KNOW IT IS HAPPENING ALREADY BY COORDINATING SOME 80 SOME LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES HERE. I THINK THROUGH THE, UH, USE OF, UH, BUREAU COORDINATION AND MAYBE WITH AI, THEY CAN, UH, INCREASE THE EFFECTIVENESS OF PATROL TOO. SO, IN SUMMARY, THE COMM COMMUNITY AFFAIRS OFFICERS PLAY AN IMPORTANT ROLE IN OUR COMMUNITY AND SHOULD BE RETAINED IN THEIR CURRENT ROLE AS FULL-TIME OFFICERS. THANK YOU. COUNCIL MEMBER PECK, VICE MAYOR PRO TEM PECK. THANK YOU MAYOR PRO TEM CASEY. GOOD TO SEE YOU. UM, I'LL WORK WITH YOU TO SET UP A MEETING WITH HPD FOR THEM TO COME OUT TO THE KOREAN COMMUNITY CENTER SO THEY CAN TALK ABOUT HOW THERE'S BEEN A SHIFT IN THE LIAISON DEPARTMENT, BUT HOW THEY'RE STILL GONNA, UM, CONTINUE TO SERVE THE KOREAN COMMUNITY. SO WE WILL WORK WITH YOU TO SET THAT UP. OKAY. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. COUNCIL MEMBER PECK. COUNCIL MEMBER POLLARD. THANK YOU MAYOR PRO. TIM, I TOO WANT TO THANK YOU FOR COMING FORWARD AND FOR YOUR ADVOCACY. I THINK MANY OF THE THINGS THAT YOU SPOKE ABOUT AND THE IMPORTANCE OF HAVING A LIAISON ARE SOMETHING THAT WE ALL FEEL THE SAME ABOUT, AND THAT WE'LL TRY TO DO OUR BEST TO, UM, UM, IMPART TO THE ADMINISTRATION WHY WE BELIEVE THOSE OFFICERS ARE IMPORTANT TO OUR COMMUNITY. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. COUNCIL MEMBER POLLARD, THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE. MM-HMM . NEXT SPEAKER. MARCY INGER. HELLO, MARCY. HEY EVERYONE. I'M GOING TO CONTINUE WHERE ROBERT GALLEGOS LEFT OFF WITH READING THE COMMENTS, UM, THAT THE JRC RECEIVED REGARDING THE ABANDONMENT OF POLK STREET. KEVIN STRICKLAND SAYS, I OPPOSE THE CELL OF POLK STREET ON THE EAST END. IT'S ONE OF THE FEW STREETS THAT HAS ACCESS INTO DOWNTOWN AND SHOULD NOT BE CLOSED UNTIL THERE IS ANOTHER SAFE AND DIRECT ACCESS INTO AND OUT OF DOWNTOWN. S MOORE WROTE, I AM WRITING EXPRESS MY STRONG OPPOSITION TO THE PROPOSED ABANDONMENT ENCLOSURE OF POLK STREET BETWEEN CHARTRES AND ANITA DELI AMERICAS. AS A RESIDENT OF HOUSTON, I AND MANY OTHERS IN THE COMMUNITY RELY ON POLK STREET AS A KEY ROUTE TO ACCESS DOWNTOWN EFFICIENTLY. CLOSING THIS SEGMENT WOULD CREATE UNNECESSARY HARDSHIP FOR COMMUTERS, [02:50:01] INCREASED TRAFFIC CONGESTION ON ALTERNATE ROUTES AND IMPACT MOTORIST EXITING I 69 AT POLK, WHO MAY BE CAUGHT OFF GUARD BY THIS CHANGE. ASH PALAI SAYS, I WOULD LIKE TO EXPRESS MY EXTREME CONCERN WITH PROPOSED POLK STREET, POLK STREET CLOSURE. SORRY. I'VE BEEN A RESIDENT IN THE EAST END FOR OVER 12 YEARS, AND I UTILIZE POLK STREET NEARLY EVERY DAY. CLOSING POLK STREET WOULD CUT AND CUTTING OFF THE EAST END FROM DOWNTOWN WOULD BE AN UNEQUIVOCAL LOSS TO THE RESIDENTS IN MY COMMUNITY. BILL HACHE SAYS I OPPOSE THIS. POLK IS A PRIMARY ROUTE TO REACH THE CBD BY EAST END RESIDENCE. ALSO, THE I 69 RAMP TO POLK WAS INSTALLED TO ALLOW ANOTHER WAY INTO DOWNTOWN VIA POLK METRO WILL LIKELY NOT SUPPORT THIS EITHER. CHRISTOPHER BARTH SAYS, MY NAME IS CHRIS BARTH. I'M A RESIDENT OF EASTWOOD. I'M WRITING TO EXPRESS MY CONCERN OVER THE CLOSURE OF POLK STREET. ACCESS TO DOWNTOWN. THE CITY IS ALREADY DESTROYING OUR NEIGHBORHOOD WITH THE EXPANSION OF I 59 ENCLOSURE OF THE I 45 DOWNTOWN CORRIDOR PROJECT. WE LIVE IN THE FOURTH BIGGEST CITY IN THE COUNTRY, YET THE CITY REFUSES TO ACCEPT BUILDING ACCESS TO MASS TRANSPORTATION. THAT WOULD BE A MORE PRACTICAL LONG-TERM SOLUTION. THIS POLK STREET CLOSURE IS JUST ANOTHER KICK IN THE BALLS FOR ME AND MY NEIGHBORS IN MY COMMUNITY. ON THE EAST END, PLEASE RECONSIDER A BUILDING, ANOTHER CONVENTION CENTER IN ONE OF THESE SEVERAL ABANDONED BUILDINGS ELSEWHERE, INSTEAD OF DESTROYING ANOTHER ROAD IN OUR ALREADY CONGESTED CITY. NEXT WE HAVE CHRISTINA GIANELLI, WHO SAYS, I OPPOSE THE STREET. A ABANDONMENT OF POLK CONCERNED ABOUT THE REROUTING OF THE BUS ROUTE AND ACCESS TO THE NEIGHBORHOOD. THE FUTURE CHANGES TO 45 AND 69 WILL NEGATIVELY IMPACT ACCESS TO DOWNTOWN ELENA PENSO SAYS, I OPPOSE THE CLOSURE OF POLK STREET. IT WOULD AFFECT BEING ABLE TO GO INTO DOWNTOWN. SHE BELIEVES THAT WHAT THE CITY IS DOING IS WRONG. IT WILL AFFECT THE SMALL BUSINESSES ON THE EAST SIDE. ALSO, YARO MLA SAYS, I OPPOSE THE CLOSURE OF POLK STREET. YOUI IASI SAYS, OPPOSE THE CLOSURE OF POLK STREET. AND SHE USES IT TO GET TO OTHER PARTS OF HOUSTON. SHE LIKES THE PROTECTED BIKE LANE. SHE DRIVES, RIDES THE BUS AND BIKES ALONG POLK STREET. JOSEPH LESKY SAYS, I'M OPPOSED TO THE CLOSURE OF POLK NEAR THE GRB. OVER THE YEARS, THE BUILDING OF THE CONVENTION CENTER, THE TOYOTA CENTER, AND VARIOUS OTHER STREET CLOSURES, HAVE MADE OUR ACCESS TO DOWNTOWN AND POINTS WEST MORE DIFFICULT. ADD TO THAT, THE RIDICULOUS REROUTING OF THE PIERCE ELEVATED. AND THERE'S JUST NO WAY TO EASILY GET THROUGH. THANK YOU. WERE YOU FINISHED? UM, I'LL JUST FINISH HIS COMMENT IF THAT'S OKAY. IF YOU WANNA GO AHEAD AND WRAP IT UP. YEAH. THIS IS JOSEPH CONTINUED. I FEEL THIS IS TAKING ADVANTAGE OF THE CITIZENS OF THE EAST SIDE. I HOPE THE COMMITTEE WILL RECONSIDER AND I HOPE THAT COUNCIL ME MEMBER MARTINEZ WILL TAKE A STAND AGAINST IT. THANK YOU. THANK YOU FOR YOUR COMMENTS. NEXT SPEAKER, ROY HIRSCH TO BE FOLLOWED BY ART SMITH, MAYOR PRO TEM. COUNSEL, I'D LIKE TO CONTINUE READING OR MARCY LEFT OFF. PATRICK MILLER WRITES, I'M WRITING TO EXPRESS MY STRONG OPPOSITION TO THE PROPOSED ABANDONMENT ENCLOSURE OF POLK STREET, BETWEEN CHARTRES AND A A BONITA DILLA AMERICAS. I WORK DOWNTOWN AND LIVE IN THE EAST END. I UTILIZE THIS ROAD BOTH BY CAR AND BY BIKE ON A DAILY BASIS. THIS IS A VITAL THOROUGHFARE. AS MUCH, UM, AS MUCH OF THE EAST END COMMUNITY HAS ALREADY CUT OFF FROM THE DOWNTOWN DUE TO THE GRB. I AM ASKING YOU TO PLEASE PLACE THE INTEREST OF THE COMMUNITY LIVING HERE BEFORE THE COMPANY SLASH CORPORATE INTEREST. MUCH OF WHAT MAKES OUR NEIGHBORHOODS SO WONDERFUL, AND THIS IS THE COMMON SPIRIT WE FIND IN OUR DIVERSE AND RICH NEIGHBORHOODS. THIS ACTION WOULD BE A SLAP IN THE FACE OF A GROWING AND THRIVING NEIGHBORHOOD. AND I SINCERELY HOPE YOU CONSIDER OUR NEEDS OF ACCESS AND CONNECTION. UM, CHRIS PARMA WRITES, REQUESTING APPROPRIATE ALTERNATE ROUTES THAT WILL PROVIDE BIKING AND BUS ACCESS BEFORE THE STREET CLOSURE. AHMAD WAHI WAHI OPPOSE A CLOSURE OF POLK STREET. IT'S AN ESSENTIAL CORRIDOR FOR THOSE WHO LIVE ON THE EAST SIDE OF TOWN TO BE CONNECTED TO DOWNTOWN. AND THE BUSINESS ON POLK STREET WILL BE NEGATIVELY IMPACTED. UH, [02:55:01] SABRINA UH, MARTINEZ JR. UH, PLEASE ABANDON AND DENY THE REQUEST TO CLOSE THE SEGMENT OF POLK STREET BETWEEN CHARTRES AND AVE, UH, DEL AMERICAS. NEXT TO GRBI DON'T DRIVE ON FREEWAYS. I ALWAYS USE SIDE ROADS TO GET TO PLACES THAT ARE, UH, CONGESTED WITH TRAFFIC. UH, TIFFANY CHANG, AS A RESIDENT IN THIS DISTRICT, I WOULD LIKE TO VOICE MY DESCENT AGAINST THIS CHANGE. UM, THIS CHANGE IS FURTHER ISOLATING THE EAST END FROM DOWNTOWN WHEN THERE ALREADY ARE NOT MANY ALTERNATE ROUTES THAT ARE PEDESTRIAN SAFE. IT ALSO ADDS AN ADDITIONAL INCONVENIENCE ON TRAVELING TO DOWNTOWN FROM THE EAST END, ESPECIALLY WHEN TRAINS STOPPED ON THE TRACKS BLOCKING ROADS FOR HOURS AT A TIME. WHAT IS THE JUSTIFICATION FOR THIS PROPOSAL? I CAN'T SEE THIS CHANGE. SERVING THE INTEREST OF THE RESIDENTS OF THE EAST END CONGRESS STREET IS ALSO DANGEROUS DUE TO HIGH SPEED TRAFFIC AND INADEQUATE BIKE INFRASTRUCTURE. POLK STREET IS THE ONLY DIRECT SAFE BIKE ROUTE FROM THE EAST END INTO DOWNTOWN. REMOVING THIS ESSENTIAL CORRIDOR WITHOUT PROVIDING A DEDICATED AND PROTECTED ALTERNATIVE WOULD GREATLY IMPACT THE ACCESSIBILITY AND SAFETY OF HOUSTON CYCLISTS AND PEDESTRIANS. I JUST WANT TO FINISH THE COMMENT. UH, IF CLOSURE IS UNAVOIDABLE, IMPLEMENT A WELL MARKED AND PROTECTED BIKE DETOUR THAT DOES NOT FORCE CYCLISTS INTO HIGH TRAFFIC ROADS LIKE PEAS CAPITAL OR CONGRESS STREET, PRIORITIZE SUSTAINABLE AND MULTI-MODAL TRANSPORTATION PLANNING IN THIS FUTURE INFRASTRUCTURE PROJECT. AND I'M JUST BRIEFLY, IF I MAY ADD, THAT WAS SIX MINUTES OF DEDICATED SPEAKING TIME. AND WE HAVE ONLY COVERED 34 OF THE 228 COMMENTS. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. COUNCIL MEMBER ALCORN. JUST ONE SECOND, SIR. THANK YOU SIR. AND THANKS TO ALL THE SPEAKERS WHO CAME IT, IT DOES HELP WHEN YOU COME AND READ THOSE COMMENTS. YOU KNOW, WE KNOW PEOPLE CAN'T GET DOWN HERE AT TWO O'CLOCK AND SIT ALL AFTERNOON LIKE YOU GUYS HAVE. AND I APPRECIATE YOUR PATIENCE. SO I DO, I THINK IT WAS MORE LIKE NINE MINUTES OR 10 MINUTES. IT WAS, IT WAS A LOT OF COMMENTS. UM, AMY, YOU HAD, YOU TALKED ABOUT SOME OF THE, THE MONIES THAT HAVE BEEN SPENT AND YOU AND I HAVE TALKED AND, AND I HAVE A REQUEST TO HOUSTON FIRST TO COME TO MY COMMITTEE TO, UH, PROVIDE AN UPDATE ON THE SPENDING AND THE OVERALL PROJECT. SO THANK YOU. THANK YOU. THANK YOU FOR YOUR COMMENTS. NEXT SPEAKER. ART SMITH. ART SMITH. NEXT SPEAKER. JOSEPH OMO. AMARI JOSEPH. HELLO, MR. AMARI. GOOD EVENING. HOW Y'ALL DOING TODAY? UH, FIRST, LIKE I SAID TO THE MAYOR OF CITY COUNCIL MAYOR, I'M NOT BLAMING YOU GUYS 'CAUSE YOU MIGHT HAVE EXPERIENCED THE SAME NEGATIVE AND POSITIVE EXPERIENCE I HAVE. JUST THE IMPLICATION OF WELL OUTTA WORK, HOME AND SECURITY OUTSOURCE OF AMERICAN JOBS TO MANUFACTURE TRAINING MILITARY MARTIAL LAW. I GREW UP IN THE LOWER MORNING NEIGHBORHOOD IN SHREVEPORT, LOUISIANA. THE CORONAVIRUS CRISIS IS OVER. MAYOR JULIE SCENE, IF MANAGED BY THIS GOVERNMENT, CANNOT MANAGE THIS GOVERNMENT LIKE MY GRANDMOTHER DID. IF I'M PRAYER, DID WE NEED TO GET THESE PEOPLE OUT OF OFFICE? THEY CAN'T GET MY DRIVER'S LICENSE WITHOUT AN APPOINTMENT. WE NEED GET THESE PEOPLE OUT OF MY OFFICE, CAN'T GET 'EM MY SOCIAL SECURITY CARD, MY SOCIAL SECURITY CHECK BACK IN THE MAILBOX. WE NEED GET THESE PEOPLE OUT OF MY OFFICE. THEY WANT TO KEEP KNOWING WHO I AM ALL THE TIME. I DIDN'T KNOW WHO THEY ARE, WHO KEEP WANTING TO KNOW WHO I AM ALL THE TIME. THERE NO BLACK AMERICANS ON THE 9 1 1 PLANE ON THE OF THE DAY. SO I KEEP WONDERING WHY THEY KEEP, FOLLOW THOSE BLACK AMERICANS AROUND POUND FOR POUND, DOLLAR FOR DOLLAR. I SHOULD BE A VERY SUCCESSFUL, RICH BLACK AMERICAN ARTIST WHO HIPHOP DESIGN FASHION CONCEPT HAS GENERATED BILLIONS OF DOLLARS OF RETAIL SALE. BUT SOME KIND OF WAY ME AND MY COMPANY ENDED UP IN WELFARE OUTTA WORK. MILITARY MARTIAL LAW, OBAMA, PUMA POVERTY TRAP, WHERE I GOT STUCK BETWEEN THIRD WALL, HOUSTON, TEXAS, AND MY HOMETOWN STREET PORT LOUISIANA, ALONG WITH A ART THEFT RING AND A POLITICAL TEST RAT AT A VERY CORRUPT CIVIL COURT SYSTEM. HOWEVER, WHOEVER ENGAGES MY COMPANYS OR OR WARFARE MY COMPANY, THEY HAVE MADE $5 MILLION WORTH OF DEMOS WITHOUT CLOSING ONE [03:00:01] SUCCESSFUL DEAL. A RETAIL MANUFACTURER THAT WAS LAW ATTACHED TO IT. ALSO RECORDE SHARING MY COMPANY. THIS STARTED WHEN I WAS 40 YEARS OLD. 25 YEARS LATER, I'M 65 YEARS OLD. I'VE BEEN ABLE, MY SSI SOCIAL SECURITY BEEN DELAYED. I MORE THREE YEARS OF S-S-I-D-I BACK PAYMENT BECAUSE OF THE LACK OF JOB SECURITY AND A VERY UN UNSTABLE AMERICAN ECONOMY. I TOO EXPERIENCED HOMELESSNESS IN HOUSTON, TEXAS. BUT MY FAMILY STATE WAS VERY ECONOMICALLY SECURE. THAT'S MY DADDY AND MAMA MONEY AND NOT MINE. I ESPECIALLY TO THE NEXT GENERATION OF NEXT GENERATION OF POLITICAL LEADERS, LAND DEVELOP. OF COURSE, MILITARY MARTIAL LAW AND WAY UP OUTTA WORK IS BAD FOR, BAD FOR THE BUSINESS. BUT WE MUST FOCUS OUR EFFORT ON BUILDING MORE LOWER MONEY INCOME HOUSING AND PUBLIC HOUSING STOCK IN HOUSTON, TEXAS AND ALL OF AMERICA. POOR PEOPLE WANT LOW AND MORE INCOME. HOUSES WANT BECOME HOMEOWNERS JUST LIKE OUR PARENTS DID. WHO WAS BABY BOOMERS? WHO WAS UH, WHO WAS BABY BOOM, EX GENERATION PARENTS? OUR GOVERNMENT, ALONG WITH THE LAND DEVELOPER, BUILT US LOWER AND WATER INCOME HOUSING, PUBLIC HOUSING, AND CREATED SECTION EIGHT HOUSING SUBSTITUTE PROGRAM FOR POOR FAMILIES AND CREATED PERMANENT HOUSING. HOMELESS, HOMELESS PROGRAM TOO. CONTINUE. YOU GO AHEAD. DURING THE THIRD WARD GENTRIFICATION PROJECT, WE BUILT SOME VERY EXPENSIVE DESIGNED HOUSE FOR THE AFRICAN AMERICAN FAMILY. COULD NOT AFFORD TO LIVE HERE OR STAY HERE. THE MORTGAGE STORE FINANCE OUR MORTGAGE. WE USED TO BE A MORE LOWER MORTGAGE, NO MORE INCOME HOUSING. HOMES AND APARTMENTS, PUBLIC HOUSING. DURING THE, DURING PUBLIC HOUSING. DURING THE LATE EIGHTIES, LATE DURING THE LATE TEXAS GOVERNOR AND RICHARDSON, PRESIDENT GEORGE BUTCH ERA. MY JOB WAS TO ASSIST M CLIENTS WHO SUFFERED MANY OBTAIN HOMELESS VOUCHER AND PLACED THEM IN 1 1 1 BEDROOM APARTMENTS. WE HELPED WHITE, EVERY, WHITE FAMILIES, EVERY WHITE, EVERY WHITE MEN, SINGLE MEN AND SINGLE WHITE WOMEN AND SINGLE BLACK WOMEN AND SINGLE OBTAIN THEIR HOMELESS. VOUCHER. VOUCHER. BUT SOME KIND OF WAY IN TODAY, THESE HOMELESS VOUCHER ARE BEING THESE HOMELESS VOUCHER. THESE, THESE HOMELESS VOUCHER BE STOLEN FROM THESE, THESE, THESE HOMELESS VOUCHER BEING STOLEN FROM THE RECIPIENTS AS SOON AS THEY GET THEM. AND BECAUSE OF THE POVERTY OF THIS SITUATION, WE SAID THAT THESE HOMELESS VOUCHERS SUPPOSED TO BE PROTECTED. IT MUST MAKE SURE THAT THEY, THAT THAT WE BE PROCURED, THAT THEY ARE SECURED, THAT THEY SHOULD NOT BE STOLEN FROM THE RECIPIENT. THE TRANSGENDER HOUSING PROGRAM IS A VERY GOOD PROGRAM TOO. ALSO VERY GOOD PROGRAM TOO. BUT SOMEHOW SOMEBODY HAS CORRUPT THE HOUSING AUTHORITY, SOCIAL SECURITY. BUT SOMEBODY INSIDE THIS PROGRAM IS STEALING THE HOUSING VOUCHER. AS SOON AS THESE PEOPLE GET IT IMPOSED ON BLACK AMERICANS AND POOR PEOPLE CITIZEN WITH JUSTIFICATION. AND IF PEOPLE MUST BE CHARGED TO RECEIVE JUST TERMINATION, THAT SHOULD BE FIRED ON THE GROUND AND COMMITTING FRAUD AGAINST THE SOCIAL AND CLIENTS. THIS NOT THE WAY HOUSTON TREATS THIS POOR PEOPLE HOMELESS PROGRAM UNDER THE MARTIAL LAW. THEY EXPERIENCED SERIOUS SOCIAL, SERIOUS CORRUPTION. I WANT MY HOMELESS BOUGHT BACK. THEY STOLE FROM ME. I WANT MY S-S-I-D-I BACK PAPER THAT'S TOOK FROM ME. I WANT THE, I KNOW THE MAYOR, THE CITY COUNCIL MEETING MIGHT BE JUST AS OLD AS I AM, BUT I HOPE THEY, I HOPE THEY PAY. THE GOVERNMENT DON'T OWE THEM THREE YEARS OF SSIS AND DI PUBLIC PAPERS BACK. THEY DO BEATING BE I KNOW YOU ELECTED OFFICIALLY DON'T YOU NOT NEED YOUR SSI MONEY, LIKE, AS POOR PEOPLE DO. BUT THAT MONEY IS YOURS. THE SYSTEM IS VERY CLEAR. HARRIS COUNTY FAMILY COURT SYSTEM HAS DENIED LONG CUS STORY. PARENT THEIR REHABILITATION. RIGHT, BUT PARENT RIGHTS, EX PARENT BABY DADDY, MR. OMARI. THANK YOU. I THANK YOU, SIR. I, WE, WE APPRECIATE YOUR COMMENTS. WE DO HAVE, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER, UH, SHABAZZ IN THE QUEUE. THANK YOU. THANK YOU, SIR. AND THANK YOU FOR COMING. IF YOU COULD STEP AND SPEAK TO THE LADY RIGHT THERE. PERHAPS SHE CAN HELP YOU. OKAY. THANK YOU. BECAUSE THAT'S WHY WE HERE, MR. AMARI. WE APPRECIATE YOU BEING HERE. NEXT SPEAKER. STEPHANIE VALDEZ. STEPHANIE VALDEZ. STEPHANIE VALDEZ, NEXT SPEAKER. LINDA GAMBLE. LINDA GAMBLE. GOOD AFTERNOON. HI, MS. GAMBLE. HOW ARE YOU? UH, ABOUT THE SAME AS I WAS LAST WEEK. THANKS MA'AM FOR ASKING MA. I STILL HAVE THE DEAD BODY AT 1619 WILBERFORCE, I DID WHAT I WAS ASKED. I CONTACTED THE CONSTABLE'S OFFICE. I WENT TO THE WEST MONTGOMERY STATION AND THEY GAVE ME A NUMBER OF MAJOR OFFENDERS. MM-HMM . THEY ASKED ME WHEN I SIGNED TO BRING THE DOGS ON THE PROPERTY. I SAID, YES, I WAS SUPPOSED TO CALL. THEY GAVE ME A NUMBER. I CALLED MAJOR OFFENDERS. I WAS GIVEN THE NAME OF SERGEANT CLER. I CALLED A COUPLE OF TIMES AND I JUST STOPPED CALLING AND DIDN'T, IF HE WAS GOING TO CALL ME, HE WOULD'VE CALLED BACK. SO I SPENT THE REST OF MY WEEK DOING RESEARCH [03:05:01] ON MY RELATIVES THAT ARE HOLDING OUR PROPERTY HOSTAGE AND THEN BURIED THE BODY THERE. SHE COMES TO HOUSTON TO DISTRICT B, LEAVES A MILLION DOLLAR RENTAL IN SUGAR LAND AND CAUSES HAVOC IN HOUSTON. THESE REPORT, OR IT, IT, IT'S JUST, IT SMELLS OF ORGANIZED CRIME. THE OTHER COUSIN IS ON CITY OF HOUSTON HOUSING ASSISTANCE, BUT THEY HAVE DRIVER'S LICENSE WITH THIS ADDRESS ON THEM. THEY EVEN HAVE INCORRECT NAMES THAT WERE NOT ON THEIR BIRTH CERTIFICATES. AND THERE'S NOTHING ON FILE TO SAY THAT THEIR NAME WAS ILLEGALLY CHANGED. UH, VICE MAYOR PRO TEMP. THANK YOU. UM, MS. CAMPBELL, THERE WE DO HAVE AN UPDATE FOR YOU AND WE ASK FOR HPD TO CONTACT YOU TO GIVE YOU THAT UPDATE, BUT IT SOUNDS LIKE THEY HAVE NOT DONE SO. SO WE'RE GONNA FOLLOW UP WITH THEM AND MAKE SURE THAT THEY GIVE YOU A CALL TO GIVE YOU THAT INFORMATION. DO YOU, NO. IF I WILL GET THAT PHONE CALL THIS MONTH OR THIS YEAR, WE'RE GONNA ASK FOR THEM TO GIVE YOU A CALL TOMORROW. ALRIGHT. IF NOT TODAY. ALL RIGHT. IF, LIKE I SAID, SOCIAL MEDIA HAS THIS EXTRAVAGANT LIFESTYLE, THE HOMES, THE FLIGHT LESSONS AND EVERYTHING ELSE, BUT YOU COME AND HARASS A 95-YEAR-OLD, UH, RESIDENT IN DISTRICT B AND NOBODY IS TAKING HEED TO THIS. SHE'S ALLOWED TO DO IT. DON'T THINK IT WON'T CONTINUE TO HAPPEN IN THE CITY OF HOUSTON. MS. GAMBLE, WE'RE GONNA DO EVERYTHING WE CAN TO TRY TO HELP YOU. AND I WANT TO UNDERSTAND TOO, LAWYERS AT $450 AN AN HOUR COST A LOT. AND I DO HAVE, I'M NOT ONLY COMING DOWN HERE TO SPEAK TO YOU, I'M GOING TO THE COUNTY AND I WILL BE AT COMMISSIONER'S COURT ON THURSDAY WITH THIS. I'VE MADE A COMMITMENT TO MY MOTHER TO FOLLOW THIS THROUGH. I UNDERSTAND. I THANK YOU. OKAY. AND BEST WISHES TO YOU, MS. CAMPBELL. THANK YOU. YOU GUYS ARE DOING A MARVELOUS JOB. WE APPRECIATE YOUR COMMENTS. WHO BAG IS THAT? NEXT SPEAKER. UH, CLS. JANELLE. CLS. JANELLE NEXT. OH, HELLO, MR. JANELLE. UH, GOOD AFTERNOON. STILL GONNA HAVE A PROBLEM. GO AHEAD. WE'RE READY. YEAH. UH OH. GOOD AFTERNOON, GANG. UM, YOU KNOW, THE OG GANG, YOU KNOW, LOOKING OUT FOR THE, AND ALL, UH, YOU KNOW, WITH LIKE, LOOKING FOR, LOOKING OUT FOR, UH, MILLIONS OF PEOPLE. YOU KNOW, YOU CAN'T SHOOT FIRST ASK, ASK QUESTIONS LATER. YOU KIND OF HAVE TO BE MORE METHODICAL AND KIND OF THINK ABOUT YOUR DECISION AND YOUR ACTIONS AND HOW IT AFFECTS EVERYBODY. SO, YEAH, I'M, YEAH. I JUST KIND OF HAVE A PROBLEM WITH THIS MIC JUST 'CAUSE IT'S LIKE, UH, IT IS LIKE, IF YOU JUST SPEAK UP, WE'LL BE ABLE TO HEAR YOU. YEAH, IT IS LIKE, YOU'RE FINE. GO AHEAD, SIR. AND ALSO JUST SPEAK IN THAT MICROPHONE THAT YOU'RE STANDING BEHIND. WE CAN HEAR YOU. IT. I FEEL LIKE YOU MIGHT, YOU GUYS MIGHT HAVE, HAVE TO, UM, KIND OF LIKE GET THIS KIND OF, WE'LL TAKE A LOOK AT IT. GO AHEAD AND LET US HEAR YOUR COMMENTS. YEAH, YEAH, YEAH. THANK YOU, SIR. UH, YEAH, I'M JUST BASICALLY JUST HERE TO TALK ABOUT, UM, WELL REALLY, UH, FRAMEWORK OF ENERGY. OH, IT'S, UM, SOUNDS A LITTLE FANCY, BUT IT'S REALLY JUST A QUOTE, UM, KIND OF GIVEN TO ME, UH, BY, UH, BY OLD MAN, UH, THAT I, UM, KIND OF, UM, HANG OUT WITH, FOR LACK OF A BETTER, UM, BETTER WORD. UH, BUT IT'S LIKE A FRAMEWORK. SO, YOU KNOW, KIND OF HAVE TO WORK WITH IT A LITTLE BIT. AND, UM, THINK ABOUT IT A LITTLE BIT. I CAN'T REALLY GUIDE YOU GUYS THROUGH IT. UM, WELL REALLY, UM, REALLY WANTED TO GIVE IT TO THE CITY OR WHOEVER'S WATCHING. 'CAUSE UM, YEAH. 'CAUSE I DON'T KNOW WHO REALLY IS THE POPULATION THAT ACTUALLY WATCHES THIS, JUST 'CAUSE, UM, I WOULDN'T SEE, SEE THE YOUNG KIND OF WATCHING THIS AS MORE CATERED KIND OF TO TOWARDS THEM. UH, BUT YEAH. UH, SO THE QUOTE GOES, GOES A LITTLE SOMETHING LIKE THIS. UM, UH, [03:10:01] YEAH, IT IS LIKE THE LIVING HAS TWO HEARTS. UM, SO IF YOU'RE EVER IN THE DARK, UH, BE SURE YOU'RE NOT LIVING IN THE SPACE BETWEEN THE STARS. UH, YEAH, THAT'S PRETTY MUCH HOW IT GOES. UH, I'LL EXPLAIN IT JUST A LITTLE BIT, BUT RIGHT NOW, UM, SO THE, MR. OMAR, IF YOU CAN JUST GO AHEAD AND WRAP IT UP. YEAH. I BOUGHT THE CITY, UM, OH, I'M SORRY. MR. GIMBAL. OH, I'M SORRY. WHAT? JANELLE? MR. JANELLE. JANELLE? YEAH. YES, SIR. I'M SORRY. I APOLOGIZE. GO AHEAD AND WRAP IT UP. IT, IT'S REALLY ABOUT THE QUOTE REALLY TODAY. IT'S REALLY, IF YOU ARE EVER IN THE DARK, UH, YOU KNOW, THE LIVING HAS TOO HARD. SO IF YOU'RE EVER IN DARK, BE SURE YOU'RE NOT LIVING IN THE SPACE BETWEEN THE STARS. UH, THAT'S PRETTY MUCH ALL IT WAS. OKAY. UH, BECAUSE MOVING HERE, UM, WELL, EVEN MOVING HERE, I KIND OF EXPERIENCED A LOT OF, UM, YOU KNOW, EVEN TWISTED HUMOR FROM, UH, EVEN THE ENGINEERS OUT HERE. JUST 'CAUSE, UM, UH, I'VE BEEN LOOKING ALL AROUND THE CITY. UM, I'M SEEING, UM, YOU KNOW, THE INFRASTRUCTURE AND STUFF LIKE THAT, RIGHT? THE BRIDGES, UH, THE WAY, KIND OF LIKE THE WATER KINDA REALLY, UM, OKAY. KIND OF CIPHER. UH, MR. JANELLE, WE, WE GOT IT LIKE THE, THE HIGHWAYS AND WE APPRECIATE YOU BEING HERE TODAY. YEAH. I FEEL LIKE IT'S SERIOUS. IF THERE ARE SOME SPECIFIC COMMENTS. YOU SEE INGRAM SITTING RIGHT THERE. . WHY Y'ALL LAUGHING? INGRAM IS, IS LIKE THE NUMBER ONE STAFF PERSON IN THE CHAMBER TODAY. UM, INGRAM CAN GET YOUR INFORMATION AND YOU CAN FOLLOW UP WITH COUNCIL MEMBER SHABAZZ, UM, WITH YOUR COMMENTS, SIR. YEAH, IT IS DEFINITELY, UM, A PROBLEM GUYS. AND I HAVE TO DEAL WITH, 'CAUSE IT'S THE HYDRO PLANNING AND EVERYTHING, RIGHT? UH, I FEEL LIKE THERE MIGHT BE A, I'M NOT LOOKING, I'M LOOKING, LOOKING INTO IT. OKAY. UM, PER SE, BUT I CAN SEE HOW IT IS. IT'S THE, THE WATER KIND OF. THANK YOU VERY MUCH MR. JANO, AND SHE'LL BE ABLE TO HELP YOU. YOU, WE APPRECIATE YOU BEING HERE TODAY. YEAH. AND ALSO LIGHT RECIPROCALS OUTSIDE THE CITY, UM, RIGHT. JUST, IT SEEMS LIKE IT'S ALL, IT'S ALL, I'VE SEEN A COUPLE BUILDINGS JUST RIGHT. UM, THE RECIPROCALS THAT BUSY ALL OUT. Y'ALL, Y'ALL DIDN'T LET ME, MR. JANELLE, I FEEL LIKE I ASKED GO AHEAD. TWO AND A HALF MINUTES. WE CAN GET YOUR CONTACT INFORMATION AND WE CAN HEAR THE REMAINDER. WE'LL TAKE IT OVER THERE. OKAY? OH GOODNESS. THANK YOU MR. JANELLE. WE APPRECIATE YOU BEING HERE TODAY. SIR, PLEASE TURN AROUND. THAT'S OKAY. I THINK I'M ALL GOOD. THANK YOU. NEXT SPEAKER. JACOB CLEMENTI. JACOB CLEMENTI. HELLO, JACOB. HELLO. WAYNE. HELLO. GO. ASTROS. YEAH. MM-HMM . OKAY. TO WILL DAVIS. REVEREND WILLIE DAVIS. I BRING GOOD MEMORIES OF REVEREND UH, DAVE WELLS BECAUSE UNFORTUNATELY HE PASSED AWAY. AND YOU ARE PROBABLY GOING TO HIS FUNERAL. I CAN'T MAKE IT BECAUSE I HAVE WORK TO GO TO. AND, UM, FOR, FOR YOU, JULIAN RU RAMIREZ, HOW MANY, UH, LOADED QUESTIONS DID I GIVE YOU LAST NIGHT? IT WAS A FEW JACOB, BUT I AVOIDED, UH, ALMOST ALL OF 'EM. I THINK. SO. IT WAS ALL RIGHT. YEAH. AND, AND NOW I'M, UH, SO, SO NICE TO TALK TO, SO OF YOU, . NO, NO, NO. SERIOUSLY. UM, I, UM, I WANNA BE IN BETTER BE HEAVY RIGHT NOW, BUT, UM, UNFORTUNATELY SUNDAY I WAS AT MY WORK AT ENERGY PARK AND I GOT HIT BY A CAR. IT WAS GOING, UH, THE WRONG, WRONG WAY. AND MY ENGINES, IT WAS EXITING AND IT SHOULD HAVE BEEN ENGINE, ENGINE GOING IN, BUT IT WAS GOING OUT AND IT HITTING ME. AND WELL, IT SCARED, BUT THE JEEPS AT ME. AND SO I'M IN SHOCK RIGHT NOW. I'M IN SHOCK RIGHT NOW. OKAY. AND I'M GONNA TELL OTHER PEOPLE ABOUT MY SITUATION. BYE. ALL RIGHT, TAKE CARE, JACOB. NEXT SPEAKER. CHETO REYES. CHETO REYES. GOOD AFTERNOON COUNCIL MEMBERS. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR [03:15:01] STICKING IT OUT. Y'ALL. BRAVE SOULS . MY NAME IS CONTA REYES. I'M HERE TO TALK ABOUT DECENTRALIZING OUR COMMUNITY AFFAIRS. SPECIFICALLY OUR LIAISON, UH, WITH HPD. UH, I'VE BEEN WORKING WITH THEM FOR EIGHT YEARS. IN FACT, I INVITE Y'ALL TOMORROW TO MY SPEAKING ENGAGEMENT WITH THEM, THE CADET ACADEMY AT, UH, 12 NOON. SO YOU'RE WELCOME TO SEE WHAT THEY ACTUALLY DO. THAT IS NOT A PART-TIME JOB. IT'S A LIFETIME COMMITMENT THAT THEY INTERACTED WITH, NOT JUST YOU COUNCIL MEMBERS AND THE MAYOR, BUT ALSO THE HPD, MYSELF AND THE COMMUNITY. THE OTHER TIME I TALKED ABOUT A, A LADY, A HEARTBROKEN MOM THAT WAS TALKING ABOUT HPD WAS NOT MOVING FAST ENOUGH, BEEN FINDING HER SON'S KILLER. WELL, THE MAYOR HAD DESIGNATED HER TO GO SPEAK TO THE LA LIAISON AT THAT MOMENT. THE PERSON THAT WAS PRESENT WAS ABLE TO NOT ONLY MAKE A PHONE CALL TO THE GANG TASK FORCE TO SEE WHERE THEY WERE AT, BUT ALSO FULFILL A WISH OF A DYING OF A MOTHER. SHE WANTED TO SEND HER SON TO MEXICO AND BURY HIM THERE. WITHIN 24 HOURS, OUR LIAISON WAS ABLE TO HAVE THAT BODY TRANSPORT. THAT DOESN'T HAPPEN. IF YOU DE DECENTRALIZE OUR LIAISON, IT TAKES MORE AND IT'S A LOT MORE WORK THAN YOU MAY IMAGINE. AND FOR THEM TO PATROL AND DO THEIR WORK IS INCOMPARABLE AND . WELL, NOT , TO BE HONEST WITH YOU. AND I DON'T UNDERSTAND HOW ANYBODY WOULD SAY THAT IT'S A PART-TIME JOB WHEN YOU, YOURSELF, AS COUNCIL MEMBERS, DON'T SEE THIS POSITION AS A PART-TIME JOB. IT'S A, IT'S A FULL-TIME COMMITMENT. I ASKED YOU TO ALSO REMEMBER, MOST OF Y'ALL WERE THERE FRIDAY AT THE PRIDE LUNCHEON. UH, OUR CHIEF WAS THERE, BUT THE ROCK STAR WAS JOSEPHINE. AND IT WAS THE TRUST AND COMMITMENT THAT SHE HAS IN HER L-G-B-T-Q COMMUNITY THAT TAKES TIME AND COMMITMENT. IT'S NOT SOMETHING OVERNIGHT, IT'S NOT SOMETHING THAT YOU HAVE DONE OVERNIGHT AS COUNCIL MEMBERS. AND SO I ASK YOU TO RECONSIDER AND TAKE FULL THOUGHT OF WHAT YOU'RE DECIDING TO DO BECAUSE IT AFFECTS OUR COMMUNITY. AND LIKE LA WE ARE TRYING TO BE PROACTIVE, NOT REACTIVE. SO LET'S KEEP OUR LIAISONS WHERE THEY ARE CENTRALIZED. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. NEXT SPEAKER. LSA, MORON. LSA, . MURRAN. HOW ARE YOU, SIR? I'M PRETTY GOOD. GOOD. WE'RE READY TO HEAR FROM YOU. . THANK YOU'ALL. UM, THANK YOU LADIES AND GENTLEMEN. Y'ALL PLEASE. TIME. UM, I HAVE A VIDEO OF, UH, JUST THE LIBRARY OF HOW THE MANAGERS ARE TREATING ME. UM, DISRESPECTFUL. MISCONDUCTING ME. UM, I REMEMBER I SHOULD HAVE BEEN CONDUCTED BY THE MAYOR'S OFFICE I LAST TUESDAY. AND, UH, THE ISSUE THAT I HAD IS WE WERE SPEAKING OVER THE PHONE AND I WAS JUST MENTIONING A LITTLE BIT JUST ABOUT A CHURCH, Y'ALL, YOU KNOW WHAT I MEAN? THAT TRESPASSED ME AND WAS HARASSING ME. AND I WAS TELLING THAT TO THE ASSISTANT MAYOR, AND HE SEEMED TO BE HARASSING ME OVER THE PHONE. THAT WAS VERY INCOMPARABLE. AND SO, UM, I WAS JUST HOLDING ON. AND THIS NEEDS, WE NEED THE OFFICE OF THE INSPECTOR GENERAL TO BE INVOLVED IN THIS. UM, AND SO I'M GONNA START TO INFORM THAT. BUT, YOU KNOW, THIS IS JUST NOT OKAY. HE NEEDS TO BE DISCIPLINED TO THE FULL EXTENT OF THE LAW. WE HAVE TO BE HOLDING ALSO OFFICERS. UM, I'M JUST SORRY TO FINISH THIS. UM, I HAVE A, A SERGEANT WITH THE HPD TRUCK ON TRAVIS STREET. YESTERDAY I WAS THREATEN BY, BY A STORE. I WAS LEGALLY AS A CUSTOMER THERE. AND HPD, UM, UH, SERGEANT WAS JUST ABUSING HIS AUTHORITY, UM, AT 1200 TRAVIS STREET. AND I HAVE A FULL RECORDING. HE TOLD ME THAT HE HAD TO, HE DOES NOT HAVE A BADGE NUMBER. AND I HAVE THE FULL RECORDING IF YOU GUYS NEED THAT. OKAY. WHAT I WANT YOU TO DO IS TALK TO OFFICER SIERRA THERE AND, UM, GIVE HIM THAT INFORMATION AND HE'LL TAKE A LOOK AT IT AND SEE WHAT WE TO GUYS DO. SINCE I HAVE A CONSTITUENT SERVICES DIRECTOR AND I FILED A CLAIM AGAINST THE CITY. UM, CAN I LET HIM KNOW ALSO? ABSOLUTELY. OFFICER SIERRA HELP YOU WITH THAT, I THINK WITH JUAN MARTINEZ OFFICE. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THE, YOU KNOW, UH, WANTED TO JUST TO POINT THAT OUT. THANK YOU FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION. THANK YOU FOR WORKING OUT THIS SITUATION. AND WE'RE JUST LOOKING FORWARD TO, UM, THAT DISPOSITION. THANK YOU. UM, AND SO HOPE YOU KNOW, AND IT'S CONTINUING. MISS MR. ELLISON. EVERY DAY WE WANT YOU TO TALK TO MR. OFFICER SIERRA THERE AND HE CAN HELP YOU. SURE. [03:20:01] THANK YOU. ALRIGHT. HAVE A SUPER DAY. BEST WISHES. YOU TOO. AND WE'RE NOT GONNA FINISH UNTIL THIS, WITH THE LIBRARY, HOW THEY TREAT THE HOMELESS PEOPLE. MM-HMM . WE'RE STILL FIGHTING AND WE'LL BE RIGHT BACK. OKAY? BECAUSE WHATEVER'S HAPPENED AT THE LIBRARY, THERE'S DISCRIMINATION, A DA THAT NEEDS TO BE, WE COMPLETE YOU BEING AND ALL THE EMPLOYEES THAT ARE WORKING, SIR, NEEDS TO BE DISCIPLINED. PLEASE. YO. THANK YOU SIR. NEXT SPEAKER. LAYLA. K. K. LAYLA. K. YEAH, IT'S BEEN A LONG DAY. UH, THANK YOU . MY NAME IS LAYLA. I LIVE IN DISTRICT A. I'M HERE BECAUSE THERE ARE NO IN-PERSON COMMUNITY HEARINGS ON THE CITY'S DISASTER RECOVERY PLAN. AND I WANNA MAKE SURE THAT OUR VOICES ARE HEARD. UH, I KNOW THERE WERE SEVERAL OTHER PEOPLE WHO WERE SIGNED UP TO SPEAK TODAY, AND THEY DIDN'T HAVE THE, WHO WEREN'T ABLE TO TO STICK IT OUT AS LONG. SO HOPEFULLY I DO THEM JUSTICE. UH, WHEN THE DERECHO AND HURRICANE BARREL HIT MY SPRING BRANCH NEIGHBORHOOD, LOST POWER AND CELL SERVICE FOR DAYS, IT WAS DANGEROUSLY HOT. NEIGHBORS LOST WAGES, GROCERIES, AND MANY SUFFERED SERIOUS DAMAGE TO THEIR HOMES AND CARS ACROSS HOUSTON. PEOPLE ARE STILL SUFFERING. THE CITY SAYS THAT BECAUSE HOUSING RECOVERY HAS BEEN HARD, IT WILL NOW FOCUS FUNDS ON CITY BUILDINGS AND PUBLIC SAFETY VEHICLES. BUT CHOOSING TO SPEND $0 ON AFFORDABLE HOUSING OR HOME REPAIR IS BOTH UNPRECEDENTED AND IRRESPONSIBLE. STORMS ARE NOT GOING AWAY. AND WITH FEDERAL HOUSING FUNDS BEING SLASHED IN THE DISASTER RECOVERY SYSTEM IN FREE FALL, WE NEED TO GET HOUSING RECOVERY RIGHT NOW, MORE THAN EVER, THERE IS A HUGE UNMET NEED FOR AFFORDABLE HOUSING IN HOUSTON. THE CITY'S OWN REPORTS SAY THAT 230 MILLION IS NEEDED TO REPAIR HOMES DAMAGED BY RECENT STORMS. AND WHEN WE FAIL TO ENSURE PEOPLE HAVE A SAFE, SECURE ROOF OVER THEIR HEADS, WE MAKE OUR CITY LESS SAFE. OVERALL. THAT'S NOT RESILIENCE, IT'S NEGLECT. THE MAYOR'S PLAN GOES TO A VOTE JUST THREE DAYS AFTER PUBLIC COMMENT ENDS. EVEN THOUGH HUD DOESN'T NEED IT UNTIL JULY 20TH, THERE'S NO REASON TO RUSH EXCEPT TO AVOID PUBLIC INPUT AND MEANINGFUL CHANGES. I'M ASKING YOU TO PLEASE DELAY THE VOTE UNLESS THERE ARE FUNDS CLEARLY ALLOCATED TO ADDRESS HOUSING UNMET NEED AND VOTE NO ON ANY PLAN THAT FAILS OUR COMMUNITIES. THANK YOU. THANK YOU FOR YOUR COMMENTS. WE APPRECIATE YOU STICKING IT OUT WITH US TODAY. THANK YOU. NEXT SPEAKER. THIS COMPLETES THE LIST OF SPEAKERS, [RECESS] UH, COUNCIL MEMBERS. WE STAND IN RECESS UNTIL TOMORROW MORNING AT 9:00 AM [RECONVENE] [MAYOR'S REPORT] A SHORT BUT EXCITING MAYOR'S REPORT THAT WE'RE ONE YEAR AWAY FROM THE FIFA CUP CELEBRATION. UH, THERE WILL BE A PRESS CONFERENCE THIS AFTERNOON TO TALK ABOUT FIFA AGAIN, ANNOUNCING THAT HOUSTON IS BETTER PREPARED THAN ANY OF THE OTHER MAJOR CITIES. UH, IS SCHEDULED TO START JUNE 11TH, UH, NEXT YEAR, 2026 IN MEXICO CITY. OUR FAN FESTIVAL WILL TAKE PLACE IN HOUSTON'S EAST END, AND, UH, SHOULD BE A REAL OPPORTUNITY FOR US TO SHOW, ONCE AGAIN, WE CAN HOLD MAJOR EVENTS. A LOT OF ORGANIZATIONS ARE GETTING READY. HOUSTON FIRST, OUR SPORTS AUTHORITY, OUR COUNTY PARTNERS. SO SOMETHING TO CERTAINLY BE EXCITED ABOUT. I KNOW YOUNG PEOPLE ARE LOOKING FORWARD TO IT AT ALL THE SOCCER FIELDS ACROSS HOUSTON. AND, UH, THEY'RE WORKING ON NRG PARK TO GET IT PREPARED. SO IT'S A GREAT TIME TO BE A HOUSTONIAN AND, UH, ALL THE PROPER AGENCIES, METRO CENTRAL HOUSTON, ALL OF OUR SPORTS VENUES ARE GETTING READY, READY TO PARTICIPATE. CERTAINLY THE DINER DYNAMO. WITH THAT SAID, LET'S MOVE [CONSENT AGENDA] TO THE CONSENT CALENDAR. MR. SECRETARY, UNDER [CONSIDERATION OF MATTERS REMOVED FROM CONSENT AGENDA] THE MISCELLANEOUS CATEGORY, ITEM ONE NEEDS A MOTION CAST, MOVE SECOND, MOTIONS MADE, AND SECOND. ALL IN FAVOR, SAY YES. THOSE OPPOSED NAY. MOTION PASSES UNDER THE PURCHASING AND TABULATION OF BIDS. CATEGORY ITEMS THREE AND FOUR. NEED A MOTION, T MOVE. SECOND. MOTIONS MADE IN SECOND. ALL IN FAVOR SAY YES. THOSE OPPOSED NAY. MOTION. MOTION PASSES. WHY IS IT QUIET IN HERE UNDER THE ORDINANCES CATEGORY ITEMS 11, 19 AND 20 HAVE NOT [03:25:01] BEEN RECEIVED, BUT WILL BE CONSIDERED IF THEY RECEIVE BEFORE THE END OF THE MEETING. ITEMS 7, 23, 27 AND 28 HAVE BEEN REMOVED FOR SEPARATE CONSIDERATION. AGAIN, THOSE NUMBERS ARE 7, 23, 27, AND 28. NEED A VOTE ON THE BALANCE? ALL IN FAVOR SAY YES. THOSE OPPOSED NAY. MOTION PASSES. I ITEM TWO. OKAY, ITEM TWO IS A MOTION. I'M SORRY, I ITEM TWO IS, ITEM TWO NEEDS A MOTION. THOMAS TAGS TAGGED BY COUNCIL MEMBER THOMAS. THANK YOU. YOU'RE WELCOME. ITEM SEVEN IS AN ORDINANCE. JUST ME TO VOTE. ALL IN FAVOR SAY YES. THOSE OPPOSED NAY. MOTION PASSES. ITEM 23 IS AN ORDINANCE, JUST ME TO VOTE. ALL IN FAVOR SAY YES. COUNCIL MEMBER FLICKINGER. COUNCILOR FLICKINGER. THANK YOU MAYOR. JUST WANTED TO TALK ABOUT THIS FOR A MINUTE. UM, WE'VE GOT A PROPERTY THAT WE GOT CALLED ABOUT IN FREEWAY MANOR, UH, HERE QUITE A WHILE BACK, UH, WITH SQUATTERS THAT WERE THERE. SO ONE OF THE FIRST THINGS WE DO IS GO INTO, LOOK AT THE TAXES, SEE WHAT'S GOING ON WITH IT. TURNS OUT THAT TAXES HAVE NOT BEEN PAID ON THIS PROPERTY IN OVER TWO DECADES. UH, SO WE WORKED WITH EVERYBODY. IT'S ON, UH, THE COUNTY'S ROLES TO HAVE A PROPERTY TAX SALE. UH, WE THINK EVERYTHING'S GOOD SEVERAL MONTHS AGO, THEN LIKE THE DAY BEFORE IT'S PULLED. COME TO FIND OUT SOMEBODY AT THE COUNTY SAID, OH, WELL, WE'RE CONCERNED ABOUT THE, THE TENANTS THAT ARE, THAT ARE IN THERE AND THEY'RE GONNA BE DISPLACED. AND WE'RE LIKE, NO, THEY'RE SQUATTERS, THEY'RE NOT TENANTS. YOU KNOW, THE OWNER OF THE HOME DIED. UH, THEY HAVEN'T FOUND AN AIR AND THESE ARE SQUATTERS. OH, WE'LL GET IT BACK ON THERE. SO THEY GO TO PUT IT ON THE, FOR THE AUCTION AGAIN. AND THIS WAS JUST LAST WEEK. IT GETS PULLED AGAIN AT THE LAST MINUTE. AND THEY SAY, OH, WELL WE FOUND AN ERROR. THAT'S, THAT'S LOOKING TO, UH, ACTUALLY PURCHASE THE PROPERTY. I'M HIGHLY SKEPTICAL. AFTER 20 YEARS, THIS ERROR IS SUDDENLY POPPED UP RIGHT BEFORE THE TAX SALE AND IS NOW GONNA PAY FOR THIS. YOU KNOW, AND THE PROBLEM IS NOT ONLY ARE WE NOT COLLECTING TAX REVENUE, WE'RE SPENDING MONEY ON LAW ENFORCEMENT RESOURCES, DEPARTMENT OF NEIGHBORHOODS, ALL THAT, DEALING WITH THE ISSUES FROM THE HOME. SO JUST LIKE TRY AND POINT OUT THAT, YOU KNOW, I DON'T WANNA SEE ANYBODY'S HOME SOLD AT AUCTION FOR PROPERTY TAXES, BUT WHEN THE OWNERS ARE DECEASED AND HAVE BEEN DECEASED FOR DECADES, WE'VE GOTTA MOVE MORE EXPEDITIOUSLY TO GET THESE THINGS TAKEN CARE OF. AND, YOU KNOW, I MEAN, I'D HATE TO BE THE NEIGHBORS WITH THIS. UH, I MEAN, THESE PEOPLE OLD, ITS HARM THEM. WHERE'S IT LOCATED? UH, FREEWAY MANOR. SO IT'S IN THE SOUTH SIDE OF TOWN OVER OFF EDGEBROOK. IT'S IN THE MIDDLE PART OF MY DISTRICT. SO, AND THEY'VE GOT PROBLEMS WITH THAT BECAUSE IT'S AN OLDER NEIGHBORHOOD. A LOT OF THE HOMES HAVE BEEN PAID OFF, WHERE OBVIOUSLY IF THE OWNER DIES AND THERE'S A MORTGAGE, THE MORTGAGE COMPANY'S TAKING CARE OF ALL THIS. YOU DON'T HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT IT. UH, SO IF THEY'VE GOT A TITLE FREE AND CLEAR AND THEY PASS AWAY AND THEY DON'T HAVE HEIRS AND ESTATE A WILL, THEN WE START DEALING WITH ALL THIS. AND, YOU KNOW, WE'VE HAD NUMEROUS HOUSES IN THAT PART OF THE DISTRICT WHERE IT KIND OF MEETS THAT CRITERIA. AND OBVIOUSLY THE, BECAUSE IT'S AN OLDER NEIGHBORHOOD, THE PEOPLE ARE OLDER, SO YOU HAVE MORE OF 'EM PASS AWAY AND IT JUST, IT, IT, IT'S AN ISSUE. AND IT JUST SEEMS LIKE WE NEED TO MOVE MORE EXPEDITIOUSLY ON THIS STUFF. SO THAT'S WHY I WANT TO TALK ABOUT IT WITH OUR COMPANIES THAT DO OUR TAX SALES. WELL, THANK YOU FOR BRINGING IT TO OUR ATTENTION. WE'LL CERTAINLY FOLLOW UP. JUST NEED VOTE ON 23. IT, IT DOES SEEM LIKE THERE'S THE REST OF THE STORY, SO WE'LL FOLLOW UP. THANK YOU. ALL IN FAVOR? WE ALL IN FAVOR OF 23? PLEASE SAY YES. THOSE OPPOSED NAY. MOTION PASSES. ITEM 27 IS AN ORDINANCE. JUST NEED A VOTE. COUNCIL AFTER THE VOTE. AFTER THE VOTE. ALL IN FAVOR SAY YES. THOSE OPPOSED NAY. MOTION PASSES. NO. COUNCILMAN CASTILLO. COUNCILMAN CASTILLO. THANK YOU MAYOR AND COLLEAGUES. THIS ITEM IS TO APPLY FOR A TEXT OUT GRANT TRANSPORTATION ALTERNATIVE GRANT FOR A PEDESTRIAN BRIDGE OVER THE TRAIN TRACKS, UH, NEAR MC REYNOLDS MIDDLE SCHOOL. WE'VE HEARD A LOT ABOUT THOSE TRAINS, STALLING ON THE TRACKS, IMPACTING THE ABILITY FOR KIDS TO GET TO AND FROM SCHOOL SAFELY. SOME INSTANCES, KIDS CRAWLING UNDERNEATH THE TRAIN. UM, THIS INCLUDES A SMALL MATCH [03:30:01] FROM, UH, PRECINCT TWO, HARRIS COUNTY, COMMISSIONER GARCIA, CITY OF HOUSTON. AND IF AWARDED T WILL, UH, AWARD A GRANT THAT WILL HELP THE BRIDGE GET CONSTRUCTED, WHICH HAS ALREADY BEEN DESIGNED. UNION PACIFIC HAS COMPLETED THE DESIGN ON THIS. UM, SO I WANNA THANK ALL THE STAKEHOLDERS THAT WERE INVOLVED. UM, I HOPE THAT THIS DOES GET AWARDED AND WE CAN SEE, UH, THIS BRIDGE COME TO FRUITION AND, AND IMPROVE THE, THE SAFETY THERE AT MCREYNOLDS. THANK YOU. VERY GOOD. AND, UH, WE'RE PURSUING THE GRANT MONEY FOR MCREYNOLDS AND ALSO WE GOT AN UPDATE FROM THE HIGHWAY COMMISSIONER THIS MORNING, ALVIS THAT WE'RE READY. AND OUR PUBLIC WORKS IS READY ON THE MELBY BRIDGE. BUT, UM, IT'S AGAIN, UNION PACIFIC, UH, SLOWING THINGS DOWN. SO WE'RE PURSUING THAT AS AGGRESSIVELY AS WE CAN. UH, PUBLIC WORKS HAS A PLAN. TXDOT IS TAKING THE LEAD AND, UH, WE'RE CONTACTING UNION PACIFIC. THEY NORMALLY TAKE A LONG TIME, BUT WE ARE ACTUALLY TRYING TO PUT PRESSURE ON THEM, UH, OUTTA THE DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION, LOCALLY AND AT THE FEDERAL LEVEL. SO WE'LL KEEP YOU POSTED. COUNCILOR RAMIREZ. COUNCILOR MEMBER RAMIREZ. THANK YOU, MAYOR. I JUST WANNA SECOND WHAT COUNCIL MEMBER CASTILLO SAID. THIS IS ONE OF THE MORE EGREGIOUS LOCATIONS WHERE, UH, RAILROAD TRACKS ARE IN CLOSE PROXIMITY, NOT ONLY TO SCHOOLS, BUT TO, UH, HOUSING. AND IN THIS PARTICULAR CASE, THERE IS A MULTIFAMILY APARTMENT COMPLEX ACROSS THE TRACKS FROM MCREYNOLDS MIDDLE, UH, WHICH MAKES FOR A VERY, VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION. AND THERE ARE A NUMBER OF OTHER SIMILAR LOCATIONS THROUGHOUT THE CITY. SO, UM, I'M VERY HAPPY TO SEE THIS AND HOPE WE CAN, UH, FIND A SOLUTION FOR THE OTHER AREAS WHERE WE HAVE, UM, CHILDREN CROSSING TRACKS TO GET TO SCHOOLS. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. NEXT ITEM, NEXT ITEM 28 IS AN ORDINANCE. JUST NEED A VOTE. COUNCILOR KAMAN. COUNCILOR KAMAN. WE WILL NEVER PASS UP AN OPPORTUNITY, UH, TO LIFT UP THE VERY EXCITING AND MEANINGFUL WORK THAT'S HAPPENING, UH, FOR THE CONSTRUCTION OF THE AS SMILEY CENTER, UH, RIGHT AT THE CORNER OF MONTROSE AND ELLEN PARKWAY. UH, THIS IS JUST A STANDARD, UH, VOTE, UH, FOR SOMETHING RELATED TO CONSTRUCTION AND LAND USE. BUT I DID WANNA THANK ALL OF OUR COMMUNITY PARTNERS, UM, WITH OUR ISMAILY COMMUNITY, UH, ALL THE WAY UP, UH, FROM LEADERSHIP, UH, PRESIDENT MOEN, UH, WITH THE ISMAILY COUNCIL'S SOUTHWEST REGION. HE'S THE PRESIDENT. UM, BUT THERE'S SO MANY PEOPLE ON THE GROUND. MAYOR, WE, UH, RECENTLY HAD AN UPDATED TOUR MYSELF, COUNCIL MEMBER ALCORN AND COUNCIL MEMBER PLUMMER, JUST TO SEE THE PROGRESS. AND I ENCOURAGE EVERYONE, UH, TO GO TAKE A LOOK AT WHAT IS, UH, ON THE HORIZON THERE BECAUSE IT IS A JEWEL FOR THE ENTIRE CITY IN THE REGION. SO MY APPRECIATION TO THE IS SMILEY COMMUNITY, UH, FOR THE CONTINUED PARTNERSHIP. OF COURSE, HIS HIGHNESS HAN THE FOURTH, UH, WHO PASSED IN FEBRUARY OF THIS YEAR. UH, BUT ALSO HIS HIGHNESS HAN THE FIFTH, HIS SON, WHO IS ALSO OVERSEEING THIS PROJECT. SO WE APPRECIATE EVERYBODY FOR, UH, THE GIFT THAT THIS IS TO THE CITY OF HOUSTON. THANK YOU. ALL IN FAVOR? SAY YES. THOSE OPPOSED. NAME. MOTION PASSES. ITEM ITEM 30 IS AN ORDINANCE. JUST NEED A VOTE. ALL IN FAVOR SAY YES. COUNCILOR KAMAN. THANK YOU, MAYOR. UH, COLLEAGUES. I TAGGED THIS ITEM LAST WEEK. UH, NOT BECAUSE IT'S NOT AN IMPORTANT ITEM, BUT BECAUSE IT HAD NOT BEEN PRESENTED, UH, TO COUNCIL AS TO WHAT THIS STUDY WILL DO. UH, THE FIRM, AGAIN, THAT'S BEEN SELECTED IS PHENOMENAL. I KNOW THEY WILL DO A GREAT JOB. BUT MAYOR, UH, I THINK THE ASK WAS FOR THIS TO, AS WE PASS IT, BECAUSE OF TIME SENSITIVITY, UH, THAT IT BE BROUGHT TO A COUNCIL COMMITTEE. I, I BELIEVE WE DO HAVE AN AGREEMENT ON THAT. UH, BUT I DO THINK IT'S IMPORTANT ON MAJOR ITEMS LIKE THIS. THE COUNCIL IS BEING BRIEFED AHEAD OF TIME. VERY WELL. ALL IN FAVOR SAY YES. THOSE OPPOSED NAY. MOTION PASSES. THIS COMPLETES THE ITEMS ON THE AGENDA. COUNCIL MEMBER [NON CONSENT - MATTERS TO BE PRESENTED BY COUNCIL MEMBERS] HUFFMAN THE LEAD OFF. POPOFF. I'LL PASS. COUNCILOR RAMIREZ PASS. OH, NO MAYOR. DON'T START NONE. IT WON'T BE NONE. UM, COUNCIL MEMBER THOMAS . UH, I HAVE A COUPLE OF A, A COUPLE OF REMARKS. I DO WANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE OUR INTERNS, UH, TOMMY JUAN AND JULIAN NGUYEN. ARE THEY IN CHAMBERS? NOT YET. IT'S OKAY. ALL GOOD. AND WE DO HAVE ROSA CRUZ, WHO IS JOINING US. SO I CALL THEM THE DREAM TEAM. AND SO WELCOME BACK TO THE WEST SIDE, THE BEST SIDE. LOOK FORWARD TO YOUR CONTRIBUTION. JUST WANNA HIGHLIGHT THIS. UH, OUR FOURTH ANNUAL SUMMER OF [03:35:01] SAFETY INITIATIVE HAS ROLLED OUT. WE'VE ALREADY RELEASED OUR DISASTER PREPAREDNESS. PSA, UH, WE WILL ALSO, UH, ROLL OUT ONE, UH, WITH, UH, EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS IN OUR 9 1 1 SYSTEM. AND AS TEEN VIOLENCE CONTINUES TO INCREASE IN OUR COMMUNITY, UM, A PARTNERSHIP WITH NOBLE THAT IS FORTHCOMING. SO, UH, PLEASE, UH, TAKE A LISTEN, PAY ATTENTION, UM, AND USE THE TOOLS AND RESOURCES, UH, TO THE BENEFIT, UH, BENEFIT OF YOUR COMMUNITY AND SAFETY. WANNA HIGHLIGHT THAT? UH, WE ARE FULLY AWARE THAT THERE'S DELAYS WITH SOLID WASTE. THERE'S SEVERAL TRUCKS THAT HAVE BEEN DOWN, BUT I WANNA SHOUT OUT THE DEPARTMENT FOR, UM, CLEARING MANY OF THE DELAYS IN HUNTINGTON VILLAGE AND VARIOUS NEIGHBORHOODS THAT HAVE REACHED OUT. APPRECIATE YOUR PATIENCE WITH OUR OFFICE AND SOLID WASTE AS THEY WORK TO CLEAR THE DEBRIS, UH, CLEAR THE DELAYS. UM, WITH THAT, I WANNA HIGHLIGHT SOME OF THE EVENTS THAT WE'VE BEEN ABLE TO HAVE PRESENCE AT LAST WEEK. UH, WE CELEBRATED A API RESTAURANT WEEK, WHICH STARTED OUT ORIGINALLY WITH LIKE, MAYBE 20 RESTAURANTS, HAS NOW EVOLVED TO 72 LAST WEEK THAT WE WERE ABLE TO CELEBRATE. AND SO SHOUT OUT TO THEM, UM, FOR THEIR PRESENCE AND THEIR CONTRIBUTION TO OUR COMMUNITY. ON THE 14TH, I AM MEETING WITH HOUSTON PUBLIC WORKS TO TALK ABOUT THE GESNER CIP PROJECT. THAT PROJECT WAS PASSED LAST YEAR. IT'S SLATED. UM, IT'S BEEN PUSHED BACK ON THIS CIP SO I'M GONNA GET SOME INTEL AND COME BACK TO TANGO WILD AND THE WEST CHASE COMMUNITY. I KNOW MANY OF YOU HAVE PARTICIPATED ON THOSE PUB ON THOSE PUBLIC, UH, DISCUSSIONS WHERE GESNER PROPOSED TO HAVE AN ADDITIONAL LANE TO EXPAND GESNER SOUTH OF WESTHEIMER, WHICH I KNOW HAS CAUSED SOME CONCERN FOR MANY OF THE RESIDENTS. UH, SIMILARLY FOR HUNTINGTON VILLAGE, UM, YOU ARE SLATED FOR THE CIP THIS CYCLE, AND IT'S BEEN PUSHED TO 2027. IT WAS SLATED FOR 2026. UH, AND SO I'M GONNA GET SOME INTEL AND, AND BE BACK TO YOU WITH THOSE. WITH THAT INFORMATION I WANNA HIGHLIGHT FOR ALL OF OUR YOUNG PEOPLE, WE WANT TO EXTEND AN INVITATION FOR YOU TO JOIN US ON SATURDAY AT THE A LEAF NEIGHBORHOOD CENTER AT OUR A LEAF VOTES YOUTH CONFERENCE. THERE GO MY INTERNS, THE DREAM TEAM. TOMMY IS HERE. ROSE IS WITH US, AND JULIAN'S ON HIS WAY. UM, IT'S A ROBUST YOUTH LED, UH, YOUNG PEOPLE'S CONFERENCE WHERE THEY HAVE CURATED, UH, THE CONTENT, THE SPEAKERS, AND THE ACTIVITY. SO ALWAYS HAPPY, UH, TO JOIN WITH THEM HAND IN HAND TO MAKE SURE THAT OUR YOUNG PEOPLE HAVE NOT JUST A SEAT AT A TABLE, BUT A VOICE IN THE ROOM. IF MY OFFICE CAN BE OF ANY ASSISTANCE, UH, TO YOU, PLEASE REACH OUT AT DISTRICT F AT HOUSTON, TX. DO GOB. THANK YOU MUCH. THANK YOU FOR BRINGING UP, UH, INTERNS AND YOUNG PEOPLE. IN FACT, I KNOW THE MAYOR'S OFFICE HAS SOME INTERNS, OTHER OFFICES DO. IF YOU'RE AN INTERN, UH, WOULD YOU STAND UP AND LET US THANK YOU FOR YOUR PUBLIC SERVICE. THANK Y'ALL. YEAH, WE HOPE YOU STAY INVOLVED AND, UH, YOU NEVER KNOW. THANK Y'ALL. , YOU NEVERMIND. GO OUT AND MAKE A DIFFERENCE. UH, SPEAKING OF MAKING A DIFFERENCE, MAYOR PROTE TATUM. THANK YOU, MAYOR. I ALSO WANT TO AMPLIFY THE, UH, INTERNS THAT WILL BE JOINING US IN DISTRICT A THIS SUMMER. VERY EXCITED TO HAVE MATTHEW AND JUSTICE RETURNING TO DISTRICT A, UH, THEY'RE COMING BACK WISER, UH, FROM TEXAS TECH AND SOUTHERN UNIVERSITY AND REALLY LOOKING FORWARD TO PUTTING THEM ON SOME SPECIAL PROJECTS IN DISTRICT K. SO THEY WILL HAVE A HANDS-ON EXPERIENCE IN, UH, OUR DISTRICT AND WITH OUR CONSTITUENTS. SO, VERY EXCITED TO HAVE BOTH OF YOU BACK IN THE DISTRICT K OFFICE. THEN I HAVE, UH, ONE ANNOUNCEMENT, UH, ON JUNE THE 21ST. FROM NINE TO 11, WE WILL BE HOSTING A POST LEGISLATIVE DISCUSSION WITH, UH, SUSIE RICE. UH, WE'LL BE TALKING ABOUT DE RESTRICTIONS AND PROPERTY LAWS. UH, WE ARE ENCOURAGING ALL OF OUR NEIGHBORHOOD LEADERS, OUR HOAS, CIVIC CLUBS, SUPER NEIGHBORHOODS TO PARTICIPATE. GO AHEAD AND REGISTER SO WE CAN HAVE A HEAD COUNT ON HOW MANY, UM, FOLKS WILL BE PARTICIPATING IN THAT EVENT. AGAIN, THAT IS ON JUNE THE 21ST FROM NINE TO 11. UH, OUR D RESTRICTIONS IN OUR NEIGHBORHOODS ARE EXTREMELY IMPORTANT. IT'S HOW WE PROTECT OUR NEIGHBORHOODS IN THE CITY OF HOUSTON. UM, SO ANY COMMUNITY MEMBERS THAT WANT TO PARTICIPATE IN THAT DISCUSSION AND KNOW WHAT HAPPENED. THIS LEGISLATIVE SESSION WITH THE PROPERTY LAWS, WE INVITE YOU TO PARTICIPATE JUNE 21ST FROM NINE TO 11, AND THAT WILL BE AT THE NATA STATION IN DISTRICT K. BE KIND TO EACH OTHER AND MAKE IT A GREAT DAY. THANK YOU. VICE MAYOR PROTE PECK. THANK YOU, MAYOR. UM, RECENTLY WE HAD AN ISSUE IN THE DISTRICT WHERE, UM, THERE WAS A STREET WITH A REALLY NICE TREE CANOPY, UM, GOING OVER INTO THE STREET AND THE SOLID WASTE TRUCKS WERE HITTING IT, UM, WHEN THEY WERE GOING DOWN. SO, UM, THE CITY WAS GONNA COME AND, AND TRIM SOME TREES, AND THE NEIGHBORS WANTED TO KNOW, YOU KNOW, EXACTLY WHAT WAS HAPPENING. SO I JUST REALLY [03:40:01] WANTED TO THANK JEREMY AND CODY FROM FORESTRY AND ALSO DESMOND FROM THE SALT WASTE DEPARTMENT. THEY WERE EXCELLENT WHEN THEY, UM, MET WITH US WITH THE CONSTITUENTS AND JUST REALLY WANTED TO THANK THEM FOR THE SERVICE THAT THEY DO, BECAUSE THEY'RE ALWAYS SO GREAT IN ALL OF OUR MEETINGS. SO, JUST WANTED TO THANK THEM. AND THEN MAYOR, UM, WE ARE HAVING A BIG PROBLEM WITH RECYCLING IN OUR DISTRICT, AND I KNOW THAT CITYWIDE, UM, I HAD A MEETING WITH OUR INTERIM DIRECTOR OF THE SOLID WASTE DEPARTMENT YESTERDAY, AND I WAS SO IMPRESSED, UM, AND REALLY THANKFUL FOR THE WORK THAT HE IS DOING. UM, IT REALLY SEEMS LIKE THERE IS A GREAT PLAN COMING, UM, AND THE CHANGES THAT HE'S ALREADY MADE. SO I'M REALLY ENCOURAGED BY THE CHANGES, UM, THAT HE'S MAKING IN THAT DEPARTMENT. AND WHATEVER WE COULD DO IN THE INTERIM, 'CAUSE THAT'S GONNA TAKE SOME TIME TO, YOU KNOW, MAKE ALL OF THOSE CHANGES IN THAT BIG DEPARTMENT. BUT WHATEVER WE CAN DO IN THE INTERIM TO HELP WITH RECYCLING AND COLLECTIONS UNTIL WE CAN GET THOSE CHANGES WOULD BE APPRECIATED. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. I'M IMPRESSED WITH THE DIRECTOR AS WELL. UH, COUNCILOR MARTINEZ. THANK YOU, MAYOR. AND ACTUALLY, THAT LEADS ME INTO MY POP-OFF AS WELL. SO I MET WITH INTERIM DIRECTOR HASSAN AS WELL LAST WEEK. UM, OF COURSE, WE'VE BEEN GETTING CALLS WITH MIS RECYCLING SPECIFICALLY IN THE LAST FEW WEEKS, BUT WE ALSO UNDERSTAND THAT OPERATIONS HAS BEEN HAVING SEVERAL CHALLENGES. UM, WE'RE SHORT STAFFED. WE KNOW THAT THERE'S, WE'RE IN THE MIDDLE OF A RESTRUCTURING, UM, AND REMAPPING ROUTES. UH, BUT I JUST WANNA ALSO, UH, MAKE SURE THAT, UH, PUBLICLY, I, I ALSO SHARE WITH YOU MAYOR, THAT, UH, INTERIM DIRECTOR IS DOING A GREAT JOB, AND I CAN'T WAIT TO SEE HOW WE CAN ROLL OUT, YOU KNOW, ON DEMAND HEAVY TRASH SERVICE, AND THEN START LOOKING AT HOW WE CAN, UH, REALLY RIGHT SIZE THE OPERATIONS AT SOLID WASTE. UM, I ALSO WANNA SHARE, UH, WITH THE DISTRICT EYE COMMUNITY. LAST MONDAY, UH, WE LOST, UH, A GREAT COMMUNITY LEADER, VICTOR VIAL. HE WAS A CIVIC CLUB PRESIDENT FOR MAGNOLIA PARK PINEVIEW CIVIC CLUB, BUT HE ALSO HELPED, UH, ESTABLISH THE, UH, SUPER NEIGHBORHOOD, UH, MAGNOLIA PARK, UH, HARRISBURG AND, AND MANCHESTER COMMUNITIES. UM, HE'S DEFINITELY GONNA BE MISS ON A PERSONAL NOTE, UM, YOU KNOW, HE WAS A, A FRIEND OF MY FATHER, HIS MOTHER AND MY GRANDMOTHER ARE NEIGHBORS, BACKYARD NEIGHBORS. SO THEY SHARED A LOT OF STORIES TOGETHER. AND SO, UM, PERSONALLY I'LL BE MISSING HIM, UH, AS MUCH, UH, AS, AS THE REST OF THE COMMUNITY, JUST BECAUSE OF THE WORK THAT HE'S DONE, UH, TO, TO REALLY LIFT UP THE MAGNOLIA PARK COMMUNITY. UM, AND THEN LASTLY, UM, UNDERSTANDING THAT, THAT WE ARE LOOKING TO HAVE PROTEST THIS WEEKEND. UH, MAYOR, UM, I, I DID SEE THAT THERE IS A LETTER THAT WAS SENT FROM REPRESENTATIVE HUNT, WHICH, UM, I CAN APPRECIATE WANTING TO MAKE SURE THAT, THAT WE'RE, EVERYBODY IS FOLLOWING THE, THE LAW, UH, BUT TO CALL THEM RIOTS BEFORE ANYTHING EVEN HAPPENS, I THINK IT'S, IT'S, UH, DISINGENUOUS. AND I THINK WE SHOULD CONTINUE TO DO WHAT HOUSTON DOES IN EVERY, UM, PROTEST MASS PROCESS THAT WE'VE HAD. I PARTICIPATED IN, WON A FEW MONTHS BACK, UM, AND, AND HPD DOES A HECK OF A JOB MAKING SURE THAT FOLKS ARE SAFE. AND I JUST WANNA MAKE SURE THAT WE CONTINUE TO KEEP OUR EYE ON THE PRIZE WITH THAT, WITH THAT RELATIONSHIP WITH THE COMMUNITY. AND SO, UH, MY HOPE IS THAT THOSE THAT ARE GONNA BE PROTESTING THIS WEEKEND AND KEEP IT PEACEFUL, WE UNDERSTAND THE, YOU KNOW, HOW, HOW IT AFFECTS US INTERNALLY, UH, SOME OF US PERSONALLY WITH FAMILY MEMBERS. BUT, UM, I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT THAT OUR VOICES ARE HEARD AT THE SAME TIME. LET'S JUST MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE SAFE OUT THERE AND KEEPING OTHERS SAFE IN OUR COMMUNITY. THANK YOU. UH, COUNCILMAN POLLARD. THANK YOU, MAYOR. UM, I WANNA START BY THANKING ALL OF THE AT LARGE OFFICES WHO CAME TO THE, UH, DEBUT OF THE SHARPSTOWN TRAIL. WE HAD A RIBBON CUTTING CEREMONY FOR A 1.8 MILE STRETCH THAT RUNS THROUGH A CENTER POINT EASEMENT, UH, THROUGH, THROUGH SHARPSTOWN, SPECIFICALLY FROM SANDS POINT TO BEECHNUT. THIS IS PHASE ONE OF THAT TRAIL. UM, THIS WAS SOMETHING THAT WAS COMMUNITY LED. UH, THE IDEA CAME FROM MEMBERS OF THE SHARPSTOWN CIVIC ASSOCIATION ABOUT SIX YEARS AGO, AND THEY'VE BEEN WORKING WITH, UM, CENTER POINT, THE HOUSTON PARKS BOARD, TUR 20 SOUTHWEST MANAGEMENT DISTRICT, UH, THE PARKS AND RECS DEPARTMENT AND OTHERS, UH, TO DESIGN AND NOW CONSTRUCT, AND NOW HAVE THE ABILITY TO BE ON THIS SHARPSTOWN TRAIL. UH, THE PLANS ARE NOW TO GO TO PHASE TWO, WHICH WILL GO TO BRAISE BAYOU AND BE A PART OF THE BAYOU GREENWAY NETWORK, UH, FOR MORE CONNECTIVITY FROM NEIGHBORHOOD TO NEIGHBORHOODS. SO I WANT TO THANK THE COMMUNITY MEMBERS, SPECIFICALLY, THE SHARPSTOWN CIVIC ASSOCIATION, PAT MENVILLE, CHARMAINE LEBLANC, AND OTHERS, UH, FOR THEIR LEADERSHIP ON THIS PROJECT. AND WE LOOK FORWARD TO PHASE TWO, UH, AND A HAPPY FATHER'S DAY TO ALL THE FATHERS, UH, THAT WILL BE CELEBRATING, UH, THIS WEEKEND. THANK YOU. THANK YOU, SIR. UH, COUNCILMAN ALCORN. THANK YOU, MAYOR. I'D LIKE TO HIGHLIGHT MY TWO INTERNS OUT HERE. WE HAVE LAURALEI HAWKINS. SHE'S AT SYRACUSE UNIVERSITY. STAND UP. YOU HAVE TO STAND UP MAJORING IN POLICY STUDIES AND PSYCHOLOGY. WELCOME, LORELEI AND [03:45:01] MAGGIE HESTER. EVERY YEAR I GET AN INTERN FOR JUST TWO WEEKS FROM ST. JOHN'S SCHOOL, AND SHE'LL BE, SHE'S A RISING SENIOR AND INTERESTED IN FOREIGN AFFAIRS, AND SHE'S MEETING WITH DIRECTOR GIGI LEE NEXT WEEK TO TALK ABOUT FOREIGN AFFAIRS. SO, THANK YOU GUYS FOR JOINING OUR STAFF. AND A BIG SHOUT OUT TO MARIO CASTILLO, WHO I GUESS PITCHED A PERFECT PIT. FIRST PITCH LAST NIGHT AT PRIDE NIGHT. UH, COUNCILMAN CARTER. THANK YOU, MAYOR. UM, I JUST WANTED TO, UH, REALLY HIGHLIGHT, BUT ALSO GIVE A, A HUGE THANK YOU. I PARTICIPATED, OR ACTUALLY NOT PARTICIPATED, JOINED, UH, CHIEF SATTERWHITE AS WELL AS HPD HOT TEAM DOWNTOWN HOUSTON PRECINCT, ONE METRO, UM, SALVATION ARMY, HARRIS HEALTH, A A LARGE NUMBER OF, UM, A, A LARGE GROUP A WEEK AGO FRIDAY IN THE, WORKING TOWARDS DECOMMISSIONING THE, UM, CHART ENCAMPMENT. TWO THINGS. I'VE SPENT A LOT OF TIME AT THE SOBERING CENTER AND THE NAVIGATION CENTER OVER THE PAST TWO WEEKS. ALSO, TOO, A SHOUT OUT TO BARK, UM, MAYOR, YOU'RE AWARE OF THAT WE HAD DOGS AND HOMELESS, AND HOW DO WE SEPARATE THE TWO AND WHAT DO WE DO? UM, YOU KNOW, THESE PEOPLE WHO ARE DOING THE WORK ARE INCREDIBLE. UM, IT WAS POURING RAIN, YOU KNOW, WE'RE SOAKING WET. THEY'RE ACTING, YOU KNOW, I'M TRYING TO STAY DRY, AND THEY'RE ACTING LIKE NOTHING HAPPENED. SO I KINDA HAVE TO PRETEND THAT IT'S NOT BOTHERING ME. BUT I THINK ABOUT THESE PEOPLE LIVING ON THE STREETS, AND, AND ONE OF THE, THE CLEAR PIECES, I THINK OF THE PUZZLE THAT WE REALLY NEED TO ADDRESS IS, UM, REALLY SOME TRANSITIONAL HOUSING. I MEAN, I, I KNOW THAT, THAT, UH, MAYOR, YOU'RE ALL OVER IT AND HAVE THE PLAN, BUT I JUST WANTED TO PUBLICLY SAY I'VE TALKED TO A LOT OF, OF THE NONPROFITS THAT ARE IN THE WORK, AND THAT ONE MISSING LINK IS THE TRANSITIONAL, UM, PIECE. AND I CONTINUE AND WE'LL CONTINUE TO SCOPE OUT LOCATIONS FOR THAT AND PARTNERS FOR THAT. UM, AND GOT A MEETING THIS WEEK WITH ANOTHER GROUP AND HOW WE CAN ALL WORK TOGETHER, BECAUSE I, I, I JUST THINK WE HAVE TO FIND A WAY. UM, I HEARD FROM ONE OF MY, ONE OF MY PEOPLE OVER AT THE NAVIGATION CENTER THIS MORNING WHEN I WAS OVER THERE LAST WEEK, YOU KNOW, I'M THINKING, YOU KNOW, I ASKED, HOW LONG DOES IT TAKE? HOW LONG IS SHE THERE? AND IT COULD BE ANYWHERE, ANYWHERE FROM 30, 60, 90 DAYS OR LONGER. AND WHAT IS THE HOLDUP AND THE WEIGHT IS, WELL, WE WANNA GIVE HER A, GET HER A JOB AND LET HER HANG OUT HERE. IN THE MEANTIME, WE'RE BOARDING THREE DOGS DOWN THE STREET, RIGHT? BECAUSE THESE ARE HER SERVICE DOGS. THERE'S SO MANY ELEMENTS, AND I KNOW THAT, YOU KNOW, WE COULD, YOU KNOW, TALK ALL DAY ABOUT IT. BUT WE, WE REALLY HAVE A MISSING PIECE OF THIS PUZZLE, I BELIEVE, WITH ALL MY HEART. AND THAT IS THE TRANSITIONAL PIECE. SO I WANTED TO SAY THAT. AND THEN ALSO TO HAVE HAD A NUMBER OF CALLS ABOUT, UM, OR TEXTS AND EMAILS ABOUT POTENTIAL PROTESTS, THE MANY SITES THIS WEEKEND, I DID REACH OUT TO CHIEF DIAZ, AND HE SAID THAT, OF COURSE, THEY'RE VERY MUCH AWARE AND, AND HAVE A PLAN. AND SO JUST WANTED TO, I THINK THAT EVERYBODY SHOULD OBVIOUSLY AVOID THOSE PLACES, DATES AND TIMES. UM, YOU KNOW, BUT I, I THINK, UH, WE ALL SHOULD FEEL SAFE KNOWING THAT HPD IS ON IT. SO, THANK YOU. I COULD SPEND THE REST OF THE MORNING TALKING ABOUT THE EFFORT, UH, ADDRESSING THE HOMELESS DOWNTOWN. I WAS THERE, UH, LAST FRIDAY AT FOUR O'CLOCK WITH CHIEF SATTERWHITE AND HIS HOT TEAM. UH, AMAZING. AND THEY ARE GETTING SO INVOLVED WITH THE INDIVIDUALS, THE, THE LADY THAT HAD THE THREE DOGS. UH, WE REACHED OUT TO A CITIZEN THAT IS SHELTERING THE THREE DOGS. THERE WAS A MOTHER WITH FIVE CHILDREN THAT YOU'RE AWARE OF. WE PLACED HER IN A HOTEL. YOUNGEST WAS SIX MONTHS, OLDEST WAS 10. SO IT'S CASE BY CASE. YOU'RE RIGHT, WE STILL ARE PURSUING A TRANSITIONAL FACILITY, UH, AND WE'RE GETTING THERE, BUT IT'S, IT'S A COMPLEX ISSUE BECAUSE WE'RE DEALING WITH HUMAN BEINGS SOMETIME LONG TIME ISSUES OF FAMILY OR HEALTHCARE, CERTAINLY MENTAL HEALTH. BUT, YOU KNOW, I DON'T, I'M NOT SURE THE COUNCIL MEMBERS ARE AS FAMILIAR WITH WHAT YOU'VE DONE. YOU'VE JUST REALLY ALMOST SPENDING FULL TIME, UH, ON BEHALF OF, UH, ORGANIZING AND FOLLOWING THROUGH ON, ON THE HOMELESS CHALLENGE. AND I CERTAINLY THINK ON BEHALF OF HOUSTONIANS, UH, THERE'S NOT MUCH COVERAGE [03:50:01] OF OUR SUCCESS BECAUSE SOMEONE DOESN'T WANT TO COVER IT. BUT, UH, THAT WHOLE SITE NORTH OF THE BALLPARK IS, UM, THERE'S NO HOMELESS THERE. AND THEY'RE NOT JUST BEING MOVED OVER WITH BARRICADES. THEY'RE BEING PLACED IN SHELTERS SUCH AS A SOBRIETY CENTER, NAVIGATION CENTER, SALVATION ARMY, RED CROSS. AND, UH, WE'RE MAKING A DIFFERENCE. BUT YOU REALLY ARE ALMOST SPENDING FULL TIME ON IT. I RECOGNIZE IT, AND I HOPE, UH, I HOPE WE, WE DUPLICATE WHAT YOU'RE DOING. BUT, UH, YOU, YOU AND I KNOW WE'VE GOT OUR SITES ON A COUPLE OF LOCATIONS, THAT WOULD BE THE ULTIMATE LOCATION. AND UNTIL WE CAN GET THE RIGHT, RIGHT PRICE FOR IT, THESE LOCATIONS, UH, WE'RE GONNA CONTINUE TO DO THE BEST WE CAN. BUT YOUR, YOUR PREVIOUS WORK WITH FOUNDATIONS, UH, IS OBVIOUSLY A HUGE BENEFIT TO THE CITY OF HOUSTON. AND WE'RE, I'M JUST PLEASED TO HAVE YOU ON COUNSEL FOR THE REASON THAT I'M, I'M JUST CONTINUE TO BE IMPRESSED WITH YOUR CAN-DO ATTITUDE AND SPECIFICALLY THE HOMELESS. SO THANK YOU FOR WHAT YOU'RE DOING. AND IT'S LIKE THAT, IT'S LIKE CASE WORK. IT IS. YEAH. THANK YOU, MAYOR. MOST OF THE HOMELESS CAN BE RELOCATED WITH PROPER COUNSELING AND CARE, BUT YOU'VE GOT TO MEET THEM, TALK TO 'EM, AND REALLY CARE. SO WELL, THANK YOU. IT'S, IT'S A NEW APPROACH AS THEY WAIT FOR THEIR PERMANENT HOME. BUT SOME OF THESE FOLKS, THEIR CONDITION IS SUCH, THEY'RE NOT READY FOR A HOME. ABSOLUTELY. AND INSTEAD OF BACKING UP SEVERAL THOUSAND PEOPLE WHILE THEY WOULD WAIT FOR A HOME, WE'RE ACTUALLY PLACING THEM AND LIVING PROOF OF IT IS NEAR THE BALLPARK CHANCE CONGRESS 59. WE NEED TO DO A LITTLE MORE FOCUS ON MIDTOWN, THERE'S NO DOUBT. BUT, UH, WE'RE GETTING THERE. SO THANK YOU FOR THE REPORT. WELL, THANK YOU, MAYOR. I, I, UH, JUST WANT TO ADD, I BELIEVE THAT WE ARE MAKING GREAT PROGRESS, AND CERTAINLY IT IS A CASE BY CASE. UH, I MEAN, I'VE SEEN IT FIRSTHAND, IT'S CASE BY CASE. SURE. BUT, UM, YOU KNOW, EVERY LITTLE BIT HELPS. I WANNA ADD THAT I HAVE ALSO TOO, ESPECIALLY OVER IN THAT AREA, BECAUSE YOU HAVE PEOPLE WHO COME TO FEED, PEOPLE DISTRIBUTE BLANKETS. I MEAN, DOWNTOWN HOUSTON, THE TRUCKLOADS OF STUFF THAT WE, THAT THEY TOOK AWAY. I MEAN, THEY WORKED VERY HARD TO CLEAN UP. THEN COME SATURDAY MORNING, I RECEIVE PICTURES THAT HERE'S WHAT'S HAPPENING. AND SO I'M MAKING CONTACT WITH THOSE WHO ARE ACTUALLY DISTRIBUTING, WHETHER IT'S FOOD, WHETHER IT'S BLANKETS, WHETHER IT'S HEALTHCARE, AND, UM, THEY REALLY WANNA BE PART OF THE PLAN. AND SO I, YOU KNOW, I THINK THAT CERTAINLY THAT'S ANOTHER CONVERSATION. BUT TO COLLECT THOSE PEOPLE WHO COME BACK AND ARE WANTING TO FEED AND WANNA HAND OUT BLANKETS AND TENTS AND, AND, AND, UM, WE'RE TRYING TO MAKE CONTACT AND JUST HAVE A CONVERSATION AND MAKE SURE THAT OUR END GOALS ARE, ARE THE SAME, AND HOW WE CAN WORK TOGETHER TO HELP, TO REALLY HELP AND MAKE A DIFFERENCE. SO, THANK YOU. WHILE WE'RE TALKING ABOUT IMPROVING CENTRAL HOUSTON, I THINK WE NEED TO START SERIOUSLY CONSIDERING THE NO SLEEPING ORDINANCE, THE CIVILITY, UH, APPLICATION DOWNTOWN. AND I REALLY, REALLY URGE ALL OF US TO GO DOWN TO, UH, THE CONVENTION AREA ON A LATE NIGHT, OR THE THEATER DISTRICT, THE SCOOTERS AND THREE WHEELERS, IF JUST ABOUT TAKEN OVER THE SIDEWALKS TO THEIR SAFETY CONCERNS IN CERTAIN DOSE OF PEDESTRIANS. I MEAN, MEAN, I, I CAN'T DESCRIBE IT. UM, ALL THE HOTEL MANAGERS ARE CALLING THE CONVENTION CENTERS. UM, WE'VE GOT TO ADDRESS THAT. AND I'M NOT C CERTAIN, I MEAN, YOU SEE YOUNG PEOPLE WITHOUT HELMETS GOING ON AND OFF THE STREETS AND SIDEWALKS. SO TO, TO PREPARE US TO HAVE A REAL SERIOUS CONVERSATION, I THINK YOU OUGHT TO GO DOWN THERE AROUND 11 O'CLOCK ON A FRIDAY, SATURDAY NIGHT, THEN TRAVEL OVER TO THE THEATER DISTRICT IS JUST BECOME A HUGE RECREATIONAL ISSUE [03:55:01] THAT WE'RE, THAT WE NEED TO ADDRESS. IT'S RUINING OUR WALKABILITY THAT HAS BEEN SO DESIGNED AND SUCCESSFUL. BUT NOW, UH, WE'VE, WE'VE GOTTA TAKE SOME STEPS TO PROTECT OUR, OUR VISITORS AND THE PEOPLE HOUSTONIANS THAT ENJOYED THE, UM, VENUES WITH THAT, UH, LET'S GO FORWARD. SPEAKING OF CIVILITY, UH, LAST FRIDAY NIGHT, I WAS IN THE SAVO CLUB AGAIN, DEBARS AGAIN ON EMANCIPATION, UH, BEING WELCOMED BY THE COMMUNITY COUNCIL MEMBER EVAN SHABAZZ. WE STILL HAVE CONGESTION, BUT THE NOISE SEEMS TO BE BETTER, AND THE FOOD COURTS ARE CERTAINLY STILL A CHALLENGE IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD, BUT YOU'VE BROUGHT THAT TO OUR ATTENTION. AND, YOU KNOW, WHAT'S INTERESTING ABOUT SOME COUNCIL MEMBERS COMPLAIN ABOUT THE OVERTIME, YOU CAN'T HAVE IT BOTH WAYS. UH, WE'RE USING POLICE AND LARGE NUMBERS TO ENFORCE THE ORDINANCES, AND THEN ALSO FOR ANY, UH, CHALLENGES OF OUR PEACEFUL DEMONSTRATIONS. SO, YOU KNOW, IT DOES COST POLICE OVERTIME, BUT THAT'S PART OF THE, UH, EXPENSE OF RUNNING A LARGE CITY. SO, EVAN SHABAS, TELL US ABOUT YOUR POP OFF . THANK YOU MAYOR, UH, AND COLLEAGUES, AND GOOD MORNING. AND I HOPE YOU ENJOYED THE BREAKFAST. I WAS UP ALL NIGHT PREPARING IT, WHICH IS WHY I WAS A LITTLE LATE. UH, BUT CERTAINLY MAYOR, YOU AND PROBABLY 5,000 OTHER PEOPLE WERE IN THE SAVOY THE OTHER NIGHT. UH, THAT'S SOMETHING THAT REALLY WE HAVE TO GET A HANDLE ON. UM, AND I'LL TALK A LITTLE BIT MORE ABOUT THAT LATER. UH, BUT LAST THURSDAY, WE CELEBRATED THE REGENCY LAW'S PRE-K GRADUATION CEREMONY, A BEAUTIFUL AND JOYFUL OCCASION THAT REFLECTS THE POWER OF WHAT'S POSSIBLE WHEN HOUSING AND EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION ON INTEGRATED ON SITE. IT STANDS AS A TESTAMENT TO COMMUNITY-BASED DEVELOPMENT THAT UPLIFTS FAMILIES. ON SATURDAY, WE HOSTED THE HAPPY KIDS FESTIVAL AT THE BLUE TRIANGLE COMMUNITY CENTER, BRINGING TOGETHER PARTNERS LIKE THE HOUSTON FIRE DEPARTMENT, BAYLOR COLLEGE OF MEDICINE, AND CURIOSITY CRUISER. THE EVENT WAS A HUGE SUCCESS FILLED WITH GAMES, FOOD, MUSIC, BASKETBALL, UH, BOOTS ON THE GROUND, UH, POOL TIME, A TRUE CELEBRATION OF COMMUNITY JOY AND SUMMER SAFETY. LOOKING FORWARD, UH, TO THIS WEEK, UH, THERE WILL BE A WEATHERING THE STORM DISASTER PREPAREDNESS WORKSHOP THIS SATURDAY, JUNE 14TH, FROM ONE TO FOUR AT HAM MAS NUMBER 45, 44, 43 OLD SPANISH TRAIL. AND IT IS A HANDS-ON COMMUNITY WORKSHOP FOCUSED ON EMERGENCY READINESS, SURVIVAL STRATEGIES, AND DISASTER RESILIENCE, HOSTED BY MOSS NUMBER 45 ON THIS SATURDAY, THE HUNDRED AND 60TH JUNETEENTH PROGRAM AT EMANCIPATION PARK WILL TAKE PLACE. THE PARADE STARTS AT FOUR, AND THE EVENT STARTS AT FIVE AT THE EMANCIPATION PARK, A CELEBRATION OF FREEDOM HOSTED BY THE EMANCIPATION PARK CONSERVANCY. AND I AM HONORED TO, UH, BE INVITED TO DELIVER REMARKS AND TRIBUTE TO THE LATE CONGRESSWOMAN SHEILA JACKSON LEE, AND, UM, STATE REP AL EDWARDS. AND CERTAINLY, UM, I HAVE TO THANK YOU, MAYOR. UH, I DID GET SOME TEXTS AND CALLS ON SUNDAY. I, I GOT IN FROM CHURCH AND YEAH, I WENT AND I, UM, LOOKED AND LOOKED AT MY EMAILS, AND OF COURSE, THERE WAS AN ANNOUNCEMENT THAT THERE WAS GOING TO BE A SLAB PARTY. SO I REACHED OUT TO HPD, AND, UH, THEY ASSURED ME THAT THEY WERE ON IT AS WELL AS PRECINCT SEVEN. AND AT THE TIME THAT THE EVENT WAS GOING ON, I DID RIOT OVER THERE, AND I DID SEE POLICE PRESENCE. UH, BUT I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR THAT SOUTH CENTRAL DIVISION CLUB UNIT, UH, WHICH WE ARE SO LOOKING FORWARD TO. I'M TOLD THAT IT'S GOING TO BE DEPLOYED IN ABOUT A MONTH AND A HALF AFTER THEY GET ADEQUATE TRAINING. AND WE ARE NOT GOING TO RISK OUR QUALITY OF LIFE FOR NIGHTLIFE. AND I, OF COURSE, I CAN ENJOY A PARTY, PARTY LIKE EVERYBODY ELSE, BUT WE'RE GONNA HAVE TO COEXIST AS GOOD NEIGHBORS IN ORDER FOR THIS TO WORK. AND SO I, AGAIN, THANK YOU, UH, FOR THAT. UH, WE ARE, I MEAN, WE ARE REALLY LOOKING FORWARD TO IT BECAUSE PEOPLE ARE, THEIR DRIVEWAYS ARE BEING BLOCKED. AND I'M, I'M TOLD THAT THEY EVEN HAVE THE AUDACITY TO PUT THOSE HORSES UP AND BLOCK THE STREETS AND CHARGE PEOPLE FOR THEM TO GO DOWN THE STREET. AND SO I'M LIKE, YOU ALL ARE REALLY OUTTA HAND. AND SO [04:00:01] CERTAINLY THAT IS NOT, UH, SOMETHING THAT IS GOING TO BE ACCEPTABLE. IT IS NOT ACCEPTABLE. UH, AND WE ARE GONNA DO EVERYTHING THAT WE CAN TO STOP PEOPLE FROM THINKING THAT THEY CAN COME INTO THE DISTRICT OF DESTINATION, BECAUSE MOST OF THEM DON'T LIVE THERE. THEY'RE COMING THERE AND THEY'RE DISRUPTING, AND THEN THEY'RE GOING HOME TO THEIR QUIET QUALITY OF LIFE. AND THAT'S NOT GONNA WORK. AND SO, AGAIN, MAYOR, I THANK YOU. AND THAT CONCLUDES WHAT'S GOING ON IN THE DISTRICT OF DESTINATION. SOUNDS GOOD. COUNCILMAN CASTILLO. THANK YOU, MAYOR. I WANNA START BY THANKING AT AND T AND COMP DO FOR PARTNERING WITH ME ON A LAPTOP GIVEAWAY THAT WE DID EARLIER THIS WEEK WITH THE BOYS AND GIRLS CLUB IN DISTRICT H. WE WERE ABLE TO DISTRIBUTE 50 LAPTOPS TO KIDS THAT ARE PART OF THE BOYS AND GIRLS CLUB, AND A NUMBER OF THEM, UM, DIDN'T HAVE ANY KIND OF COMPUTER AT HOME. SO THIS WAS A, A, A GREAT OPPORTUNITY TO EXPAND THEIR ACCESS TO TECHNOLOGY. WE ALL KNOW HOW IMPORTANT THAT IS TO SCHOOL, TO A NUMBER OF THINGS NOWADAYS. AND, UH, I WANT TO THANK AT AND T FOR, UH, OBTAINING THE LAPTOPS OP FOR, FOR PROVIDING THEM AND THE BOYS AND GIRLS CLUB FOR BEING A GREAT PARTNER IN THE DISTRICT. I WANNA REMIND, UH, FOLKS THAT THROUGH THE MONTH OF JUNE, IF YOU ARE INTERESTED IN, OR HAVE YOU BEEN CONSIDERING ADOPTING A PET, UH, ADOPTION FEES ARE WAIVED AT BARK THIS MONTH, AND YOU CAN GO, UH, CHECK OUT ANY OF THE, THE DOGS, CATS, KITTENS, PUPPIES THAT WE HAVE, AND, UH, ADD A NEW ADDITION TO YOUR FAMILY. WE'VE HAD A FEW SUCCESS STORIES, UM, FROM ADOPTIONS THAT HAVE BEEN SHARED ON SOCIAL MEDIA, AND PEOPLE, UH, ARE REALLY EXCITED. SO THROUGHOUT THE MONTH OF JUNE, UH, GO DOWN TO BARK AND, UH, CHECK OUT ALL OF THE ANIMALS WE'VE GOT THAT WOULD MAKE A GREAT ADDITION TO YOUR HOME. AND FINALLY, I KNOW WE HAVE ALSO GOTTEN A NUMBER OF, UH, FOLKS REACHING OUT ABOUT RECYCLING DELAYS. UM, I WANT TO ENCOURAGE DISTRICT H RESIDENTS TO CONTINUE TO CONTACT MY OFFICE. CALL 3 1 1, SUBMIT THE SERVICE REQUEST NUMBER. WE ARE ROUTING ALL OF THOSE TWO SOLID WASTE. UM, I KNOW THIS IS NOW THE SECOND CYCLE FOR SOME FOLKS, UH, THAT HAVE BEEN EXPERIENCING DELAYS, BUT WE WILL CONTINUE TO WORK, UH, WITH SOLID WASTE TO GET THOSE ADDRESSED. THANK YOU. THANK YOU, SIR. UH, COUNCILMAN DAVIS. THANK YOU, MAYOR. UH, JUST WANT TO, UM, HIGHLIGHT THE, UM, THE EXCITEMENT. THAT EXCITING APP THAT WE ARE GOING TO PARTICIPATE WITH. UH, COUNCIL MEMBER MARTINEZ, UH, IN HIS DISASTER PREPAREDNESS, UH, WORKSHOP, UH, I THINK IS RIGHT NOW IS VERY NEEDFUL FOR EVERYBODY TO BE WELL AWARE OF THE SEASON THAT WE IN AND THAT WE NEED TO GET ALL OF OUR PEOPLE PREPARED FOR HURRICANE DISASTER. THAT'S REALLY, REALLY A CRITICAL THING. WE ARE WORKING WITH, UH, WITH OUR MINISTER ADVISORY BOARD, ALONG WITH, UH, DIRECTOR AS WE'RE PREPARING TO INITIATE THE, UM, UM, PARTICIPATION WITH ALL OF THE CITY TO HAVE PLACES, RESOURCES WHERE PEOPLE WILL STAY, FOOD DISTRIBUTION. UH, SO THAT'S ONE OF THE REASONS WHY WE CREATED OR RECREATED THE, UH, MINISTER ADVISORY BOARD TO GET ALL THE PASTOR AND OTHERS INVOLVED IN HELPING THE CITY, BECAUSE ALL THESE RESOURCES WE KNOW THE CITY DON'T HAVE. BUT FOR US TO PARTICIPATE, I THINK IS VERY IMPORTANT. SO I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO WORKING WITH, UH, COUNCILMAN MARTINEZ AND PARTICIPATING IN HELPING HIM AND GET RESOURCES. 'CAUSE WE ARE UNDERWAY IN THIS HURRICANE SEASON. OKAY. ALSO, UM, I'M PLEASED TO ANNOUNCE THAT, UH, ON THURSDAY, TOMORROW, THIS WILL BE THE SEVENTH, SEVENTH ANNIVERSARY OF THE WOMEN VETERANS. AND, UH, WANT TO THANK DR. JONES. UH, WE'LL BE DOING THIS. THIS WILL BE, UH, HELD AT THE WOMEN'S ARMED SERVICES INTEGRATION ACT, UH, THE SEVENTH, SEVENTH YEAR THAT WITH TEXAS, UH, WOMEN, UH, VETERANS DAY, HONORING THE PAST PRESIDENT AND FUTURE OF AMERICAN SERVICE WOMEN WHO HAVE CONTRIBUTED MUCH TO, UM, THIS NATION IN SHOWING THEIR SERVICES. AND, UM, I ALSO WANT TO TAKE THE OPPORTUNITY TO ANNOUNCE WE EXCITED ABOUT OUR TWO INTERNS WE HAVE THIS YEAR. UH, WE HAVE A NEW ONE JOINING WITH AT LARGE TWO. AND, UH, THAT IS, UH, MELISSA, STAN. MELISSA. MELISSA IS JOINING WITH US. SHE'S A PRAIRIE, A M STUDENT. AND, UH, AND WE WERE JUST SO HAPPY TO HAVE HER TO BE [04:05:01] A PART. AND OUR SECOND INTERN WOULD BE ZY, WHO WE HAD ON LAST YEAR. BUT WE ARE SO EXCITED ABOUT THESE YOUNG PEOPLE. THAT'S ALL OF THE COUNCIL, UH, COLLEAGUES ARE. SO WE ARE JUST SO HAPPY TO HAVE MELISSA WITH US. AND CERTAINLY LAST BUT NOT LEAST, BUT ON TOMORROW, UH, WE WILL BE HOLDING THE SERVICES AT 11 O'CLOCK FOR MY GOOD FRIEND, UH, PASTOR DAVE WELCH OF THE HOUSTON AREA PASTOR COUNCIL. DAVE WAS A TOTAL PACKAGE AND LOVED THE CITY, AND WE LAUNCHED DAVE OVER A WEEK OR AGO. AND, UH, WE WILL BE HOLDING HIS SERVICE AT THE GRACE WOODLAND CHURCH, UH, IN THE WOODLAND. SO WE PRAY FOR DAVE WELCH'S FAMILY, AND, UH, AND WE JUST HOPE AND PRAY TO EVERYBODY HAVE A GOOD, UH, DAY AND, UH, BE A SAFE WEEK. VERY GOOD. COUNCILMAN FLICKINGER. THANK YOU, MAYOR. UH, FIRST OF ALL, A SHOUT OUT TO KINGWOOD HIGH SCHOOL. THEY WON NOT ONLY THE BASEBALL STATE CHAMPIONSHIP, BUT THE SOFTBALL STATE CHAMPIONSHIP AS WELL. SO THEY HAD A BANNER YEAR OUT THERE. UH, ALSO I MET RECENTLY WITH THE, UH, FIRE DEPARTMENT CHIEF AND HIS COMMAND STAFF, AND WE WANTED TO MEET WITH HIM TO TALK ABOUT, UM, A FIRE TRUCKS THAT WE HAD COME ACROSS THAT NASHVILLE WAS USING. UH, THEY'RE ACTUALLY BUILT ON FORD F SIX 50 CHASSIS. UH, SO THEY'RE A LITTLE SMALLER THAN THE NORMAL TRUCK, UH, YET BIG ENOUGH TO, YOU KNOW, UH, SECURE ACCIDENTS ON THE FREEWAYS AND THAT TYPE OF THINGS. AND APPARENTLY NASHVILLE'S BEEN ABLE TO SAVE QUITE A BIT OF MONEY ON THAT. UM, I KNOW ALSO WE TEND TO RUN INTO A LOT OF PROBLEMS WITH SOME OF THESE FIRE TRUCKS, PROCURING PARTS AND THAT TYPE OF THING. SO I WOULD THINK WITH, YOU KNOW, SOMETHING BUILT ON AN F SIX 50 CHASSIS, THAT, THAT MAY NOT BE AN ISSUE. SO MAYBE THAT'S SOMETHING WE COULD LOOK AT IN, IN THE FUTURE. THEY ALSO TALKED ABOUT A NUMBER OF THINGS THEY WERE LOOKING AT TO REDUCE EXPENSES. MAYOR, AND I GUESS THEY'RE WORKING WITH YOU ON THIS, UH, ONE OF THE THINGS THEY BROUGHT UP TO ME WAS THESE LIFT ASSIST THAT THEY DO, UH, WHERE THEY GO OUT AND ACTUALLY LIFT SOMEBODY THAT HAS FALLEN. UH, THEY GET A LOT OF THESE CALLS FROM THE, UH, SENIOR CENTERS, UH, WHERE THE PEOPLE ARE STAYING THERE. IN FACT, THEY'VE GOT SOME OF 'EM, THEY SAID THEY'RE AT EVERY SINGLE DAY, UH, LIFTING SOMEONE UP. AND THERE'S A COUPLE OF PROBLEMS WITH THAT ONE. AND I GUESS THESE CENTERS HAVE ACTUALLY GOT WRITTEN INTO THEIR CORPORATE POLICIES. THEY DO NOT LIFT THAT THEY RECALL 9 1 1, AND THEY LET THE PERSON CONTINUE TO LAY THERE UNTIL THEY ACTUALLY GET ASSISTANCE FROM THE GOVERNMENT. UH, UH, I FIND THAT TO BE A BIT ABHORRENT, UH, TO HAVE SOMEBODY JUST SITTING THERE ON THE FLOOR, YOU KNOW, WAITING TO GET PUT BACK INTO THEIR CHAIR OR WHEELCHAIR OR WHATEVER IT MAY BE. UH, I MEAN, I CERTAINLY CAN UNDERSTAND THAT IF THERE'S A CONCERN OF AN INJURY THAT THEY DON'T WANNA MOVE THEM. BUT, YOU KNOW, THE FIRE DEPARTMENT'S TELLING ME, FOR THE MOST PART, THEY LIFT THEM UP, THEY PUT 'EM BACK IN THE CHAIR AND AWAY THEY GO. UH, THE FIRE DEPARTMENT DOES NOT CHARGE FOR THAT BECAUSE THEY DID NOT ACTUALLY GIVE SOMEBODY A RIDE. SO I THINK WE HAVE KIND OF GOT AN INCENTIVE BUILT INTO THESE SENIOR CENTERS NOT TAKING ON A RESPONSIBILITY THAT I CERTAINLY BELIEVE SHOULD BE THEIRS, AND IT'S COMING AT A SIGNIFICANT EXPENSE TO THE CITY. UM, YOU KNOW, THEY DIDN'T HAVE HARD NUMBERS ON THE LIFT ASSIST BECAUSE THAT WAS BUILT INTO ANOTHER CODE, SO IT WASN'T SEPARATED OUT. THEY ESTIMATED THEY WERE GETTING BETWEEN 30 AND 50 OF THESE A DAY. MY GUESS IS THAT THEY'RE PROBABLY PRETTY CLOSE AND 'CAUSE THEY KNOW WHAT'S GOING ON THERE, I'D LIKE TO SEE THAT, UH, WE SOMEHOW ARE ABLE TO TRACK THESE A LITTLE BETTER WITH A SEPARATE CODE OR WHATEVER IT IS, SO WE CAN ACTUALLY, YOU KNOW, DEFINE IT CLEARLY AS TO WHAT IT IS. AND THEN HOPEFULLY, YOU KNOW, FOR AT LEAST THESE BUSINESSES CHARGE THEM FOR DOING THAT. IF THEY'RE NOT GONNA TAKE ON THE RESPONSIBILITY AND TAKE CARE OF THEIR PATIENTS THEMSELVES, I WOULD MUCH PREFER THEM TO TAKE CARE OF IT THEMSELVES, GET THE PEOPLE OFF THE FLOOR IMMEDIATELY, RATHER THAN WAITING ON US. BUT IF, IF THEY ARE GONNA DEFER THAT RESPONSIBILITY TO US, THEN I THINK WE OUGHT TO CHARGE 'EM FOR IT. UM, SO ANYWAY, THAT, UH, WAS, WAS ONE OF THE THINGS THEY TALKED ABOUT. AND I GUESS A NUMBER OF THE OTHER THINGS THEY'RE ALREADY WORKING WITH YOUR OFFICE ON, SOUNDS LIKE THERE'S A LOT OF GOOD IDEAS ON, ON HOW TO DECREASE THE EXPENSES THERE. AND, UH, LASTLY, UH, IT IS THE 34TH ANNIVERSARY OF MY WIFE'S 29TH BIRTHDAY. AW. SHE STOPPED COUNTING AFTER 29, SO WE JUST CELEBRATE THE ANNIVERSARY OF IT. SO HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO HER. HAPPY BIRTHDAY. THANK YOU. HAPPY BIRTHDAY COUNCILOR AND CAYMAN. THANK YOU, MAYOR. UH, FIRST I WANNA WELCOME ASHLEY, OUR SUMMER INTERN. ASHLEY, PLEASE STAND. ASHLEY IS A RISING SOPHOMORE AT UT AUSTIN, UH, GO LONGHORNS, AND SHE'S MAJORING IN GOVERNMENT AND PSYCHOLOGY. SO WE'RE VERY EXCITED TO HAVE YOU THIS SUMMER. WE HAVE A LOT OF AMAZING INTERNS THAT COME THROUGH OUR OFFICE A LOT, END UP ACTUALLY WORKING FOR OUR OFFICE LATER ON. SO, [04:10:01] VERY HAPPY TO HAVE YOU. UH, MAYOR, I WANTED TO THANK BOTH THE LEGAL DEPARTMENT AND PUBLIC WORKS, UH, CITY ATTORNEY. THANK YOU FOR WORKING WITH OUR OFFICE ON GETTING THOSE TWO CHAPTER ONE 20 FIVES FILED. UM, IT HAS BEEN A VERY LONG TIME COMING. I KNOW YOUR OFFICE IS STRAINED, BUT IN ADDRESSING THOSE PROBLEM APARTMENT COMPLEXES, UH, WE APPRECIATE Y'ALL'S HELP AND SUPPORT. AND THEN MAYOR PUBLIC WORKS, UM, FOR JUMPING ON. WE'VE BEEN ESCALATING FOR A YEAR, A DRAINAGE CONCERN IN MONTROSE. HADDEN STREET HAS BEEN FLOODING REPEATEDLY, UH, AND PUBLIC WORKS, I BELIEVE WE LEARNED THROUGH THE MEDIA, UM, IS GONNA BE TAKING VERY QUICK ACTION, UH, TO REMEDY THAT. FINALLY. SO THANK YOU TO PUBLIC WORKS, UH, IN LIGHT. I, I WANNA JOIN AND ECHO MY COLLEAGUE, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER MARTINEZ'S REMARKS, UM, ABOUT THE FEAR THAT IS TAKING HOLD, UH, IN OUR COMMUNITIES AND IN OUR COUNTRY. UH, THERE WILL BE PEACEFUL PROTESTS THIS WEEKEND. UH, HOUSTON IS A PLACE WHERE WE WELCOME AND CELEBRATE THE OPPORTUNITY AND THE ABILITY TO VOICE YOUR OPINIONS AND FREE SPEECH. AND HPD DOES A PHENOMENAL JOB MAKING SURE THAT EVERYBODY STAYS SAFE DURING THAT. SO I WANNA ENCOURAGE FOLKS, UM, TO LISTEN TO INSTRUCTIONS, LISTEN TO THE ORGANIZERS. DO NOT LET ANY WANNABE AGITATORS DROWN OUT THE VOICES OF THOSE, UM, WHO ARE SPEAKING AND HAVE A RIGHT TO PROTEST. UH, MAYOR, I WAS CONCERNED TO SEE, UH, REPRESENT CONGRESSMAN HUNT'S LETTER THAT HE SENT TO THE COUNTY, UM, AND TO THE CITY OF HOUSTON. I'M NOT SURE IF THE CITY HAS RESPONDED OR IF YOU'VE HAD CONVERSATIONS WITH HIM, BUT, UH, I, I WOULD HOPE THAT, UH, WE ARE BEING TRUE TO HOUSTON, THAT WE CAN, UH, TAKE CARE OF OURSELVES, THAT WE KNOW HOW TO DO THIS, AND THAT WE WELCOME, UH, A DIVERSE ARRAY OF OPINIONS HERE IN THE CITY. HAVE WE HAD ANY ENGAGEMENT OR CONVERSATION SINCE THAT LETTER WAS SENT? NO, IT'S, UH, MY DECISION TO NOT DISCUSS WITH FOLKS WHO JUST THE WRITING ON PAPER WOULD ESCALATE THINGS. YOU KNOW, I MONITOR THIS VERY CAREFULLY. THIS IS MY HIGHEST RESPONSIBILITY. I LISTENED TO SUNDAY'S, UH, PEACEFUL MARCH, MOMENT BY MOMENT ON POLICE SCANNER. UH, I APPLAUD THE ORGANIZERS WHO WORK WITH HPD ONE PERSON WAS ARREST FOR PAINTING GRAFFITI ON A PUBLIC BUILDING. WE WILL NOT TOLERATE CIVIL DISOBEDIENCE. BUT IN TERMS OF THE LETTER, IT WAS SPEAKING ABOUT SOMETHING THAT DOES NOT EXIST IN HOUSTON, TEXAS. I'M SORRY ABOUT THE TURMOIL IN OUR NATION, BUT IT DOES NOT DESCRIBE HOUSTON. SO FROM YEARS OF EXPERIENCE, SOMETIME IT'S BEST TO NOT RESPOND , BECAUSE WE'RE ALL UNITED ENCOURAGING PEOPLE TO USE THEIR FIRST AMENDMENT RIGHTS. I'VE HAD PROTESTORS IN FRONT OF MY HOUSE FOR MOST OF THIS YEAR, AS MANY OF AS MANY AS 30 WITH BULLHORNS DRUMS, NINE TO 11. THEY WERE NEVER INTERFERED WITH, PROBABLY WERE VIOLATING THE SOUND ORDINANCE MORE THAN OFTEN. AND I DON'T KNOW IF YOU REALLY KNOW, BUT MY SIDEWALK'S CLOSER THAN ME AND THE DOOR. I THINK THEY OUGHT TO BE RESTRICTED IN TERMS OF DISTANCE FROM A RESIDENCE, BUT THERE WAS NOT A CONSENSUS ON THAT. SO WE MOVED ON. BUT THESE PROTESTORS HAD THE LIBERTY OF BEING ON MY FRONT SIDEWALK. AND WHEN THEY TRIED TO BLOCK MY EXIT LAST JULY 4TH, HPD INTERVENED PEACEFULLY. SO WE HAVE A GREAT CITY AND WE ENCOURAGE PEOPLE TO EXPRESS THEIR VIEWS AND WE RESPECT THEIR VIEWS, BUT WE'RE NOT OTHER LOCATIONS. I WOULD REALLY URGE AND ALLOW ALL OF US TO STAND UNITED FOR PEACEFUL DEMONSTRATIONS AND DO NOT LET THE DISRUPTORS INFILTRATE THESE GROUPS THAT REALLY HAVE THEIR OWN AGENDA. IT'S NOT ABOUT THE CURRENT ISSUES. SO I FEEL STRONGLY ABOUT IT IN TERMS OF RESPONDING TO THE LETTER KNOW, BECAUSE IT WAS NOT SPEAKING TO THE CITY THAT WE LIVE IN. SO I APPRECIATE THAT VERY MUCH, MAYOR. YOU KNOW, IT WAS JUST NOT RELEVANT TO OUR CITY AND OUR SOCIETY. AND I, AND I VERY MUCH APPRECIATE THAT. UM, AND I KNOW HPD KNOW YOU AND I WILL EXPRESS THAT TO HIM IF I SEE HIM. BUT, YOU KNOW, WE'RE SO PREPARED. WE HAVE SUCH [04:15:01] A GREAT POLICE DEPARTMENT, A DIVERSE POLICE DEPARTMENT THAT HAS SO MUCH EXPERIENCE. WE HAVE A HISTORY OF PEACEFUL DEMONSTRATIONS BROUGHT ABOUT BY THE FAITH COMMUNITY, OUR CIVIC LEADERS, OUR POLITICAL FIGURES. AND, UH, WE'RE GONNA CONTINUE DOWN THAT PATH AND WE'RE NOT GONNA ALLOW OTHERS INTERFERE WITH OUR GREAT CITY AND OUR HISTORY OF EXPRESSION OF DIFFERING DIFFERENT VIEWPOINTS. SO I, I APPRECIATE THAT, MARY. THANK YOU. AND YOU KNOW, WE'RE, WE'RE VERY PREPARED. PEOPLE ASK ME, HOW ARE YOU PREPARED? SOME THINGS YOU BETTER NOT TO TALK ABOUT, BUT WE HAVE, UH, RESOURCES, WE HAVE EXPERIENCE, UM, AND THANK YOU AND MARTINEZ, ALL OF US STAND TOGETHER TO HAVE PEOPLE EXPRESS THEMSELVES PEACE PEACEFULLY. BUT I WILL EMPHASIZE WE MONITOR THINGS VERY CAREFULLY, UH, IN WAYS THAT YOU CAN'T IMAGINE. BUT, UH, WE'RE NOT GONNA LET PEOPLE START VIOLENCE. BEING PROACTIVE REALLY, REALLY IS GOOD ON THESE MATTERS. YES, SIR. AND I, I APPRECIATE HP D'S TIME. I KNOW YOU REFERENCED OVERTIME EARLIER. UM, I KNOW I SPEAK FROM MY OFFICE WHEN I SAY WE'RE NOT OPPOSED TO ANY LAW ENFORCEMENT OVERTIME. IN FACT, OUR OFFICE FUNDS OVERTIME. IT'S THE PROJECTIONS WHEN WE, WE WANNA MAKE SURE WE'RE ACCURATELY BUDGETING FOR THAT. UM, TO THAT END, UH, AND RELATED TO ICE AND HPD, UM, I HAD READ THAT THERE'S STILL A BACKLOG OF, UH, FOOTAGE THAT THE MEDIA IS REQUESTING ACCESS TO THROUGH TPIA AND MY OFFICE WOULD BE MORE THAN HAPPY, UH, TO PAY FOR THE $4,000 THAT'S NEEDED, UH, TO RELEASE THAT FOOTAGE. UH, AND IF ADDITIONAL FUNDING IS NEEDED TO EXPEDITE THE PROCESS THROUGH OVERTIME BECAUSE OF THE BACKLOG, WE WOULD BE MORE THAN WILLING, UH, TO PAY FOR THAT AS WELL. I'M, I'M GLAD YOU ADDRESSED THAT BECAUSE OBVIOUSLY SOME RIDERS WOULD TRY TO USE THAT TO ESCALATE EMOTIONS. UH, THE TAPE IS ONE THAT THE DEPARTMENT WOULD BE PROUD FOR PEOPLE TO REVIEW. THEY'RE VERY PROFESSIONAL. ABSOLUTELY. THE DIFFICULTY IS THERE'S ABOUT A COUPLE OF HUNDRED IN FRONT NOW BECAUSE OF THE SENSITIVITY OF THE TIMES, WE'D BE GLAD TO EXPEDITE REVIEW, BUT THERE ARE PROVISIONS OF PROTECTING PEOPLE'S PRIVACY. THERE'S A LOT OF THINGS YOU JUST DON'T TURN OVER A TAPE. THERE'S A PROCESS THAT DOES TAKE TIME. SO NO ONE IS DELAYING REVIEW THE VIEWING OF THE, OF THE TAPES. THEY'RE WELCOME. BUT THERE IS A COST FACTOR. AND THERE IN NUMBER TWO, THERE'S A BACKLOG. AND, UH, YOU KNOW, SOME FOLKS DON'T APPRECIATE THAT AND THEY TRY TO MAKE AN ISSUE OUT OF THAT. YOU KNOW WHAT, WHAT IS SO AMAZING? WE DON'T HAVE TO POLITICIZE EVERYTHING. AND I'M NOT SPEAKING TO YOU, I'M SPEAKING TO SOME OF OUR CRITICS. IT'S JUST CERTAIN MATTERS NEED TO STAY OUTTA THE POLITICAL ARENA BECAUSE IT'S GOOD GOVERNMENT, IT BRINGS US TOGETHER. IT'S TRANSPARENT. AND THERE'S AN ISSUE, YOU KNOW, , THERE'S, THERE'S RIOT THAT ARE TRYING TO GET PEOPLE TO RALLY AROUND THE FACT THAT THEY'VE HAD TO GO THROUGH A PROCESS TO GET THE VIDEOS. BUT I'M VERY TRANSPARENT. THE DEPARTMENT IS, AND THANK YOU FOR YOUR OFFER. BUT I REALLY THINK THE PROCESS IS GOING FORWARD. AND, UH, IT'S, IT'S A SHAME THAT PEOPLE BEFORE THEY WRITE WOULD JUST PICK UP THE PHONE AND, AND, YOU KNOW, THEY'RE, THEY'RE DEALING WITH MID-MANAGEMENT OF HPD. IF THEY WOULD JUST GO AND REACH OUT, INSTEAD OF TRYING TO MAKE A FEATURE OUT OF IT AND TALK TO YOUR OFFICE OR MY OFFICE, I, I BET YOU WE COULD EXPEDITE THE TAPES. SO THANK YOU FOR BRINGING THAT. YEAH, HAPPY TO AGAIN, AND ALLOW ME TO SPEAK TO THAT, BECAUSE IT'S NOT A CONTROVERSY. IT'S ONE IS BEING MANUFACTURED BY RIDERS THAT WOULD LIKE TO INCITE PEOPLE AROUND THAT DAMN AROUND THAT ISSUE. AND THEY JUST, THEY TRY AND, AND THEY'RE WRONG. UNDERSTOOD. AND AGAIN, I WORK WITH YOUR OFFICE ON THERE, THE OFFICE, THE OFFICE STANDS OFFICE. I'VE, I'VE HEARD THE TAPE IS SOMETHING THAT WE'D ALL BE PROUD OF. THEY FOLLOW THE LAW AND THEY'RE PROFESSIONAL. THANK YOU, SIR. AND, UH, LASTLY, UM, THE MUSIC COMMUNITY NATIONALLY LOST A GIANT, UH, ONE OF MY FRIENDS, DEAR FRIENDS, UH, ONE OF THE FOUNDERS OF, UH, BONNAROO AND SUPERFLY PRODUCTIONS, JONATHAN MAYERS, UH, AND THERE'S [04:20:01] A LOT OF FOLKS THAT ARE HURTING FROM THIS. I WANNA LIFT UP, UH, JONATHAN, HIS FRIENDS, FAMILY. UH, BUT THE PROFOUND DIFFERENCE HE MADE AS ONE OF THE FOUNDERS OF OUR GENERATION OF MUSIC IN THIS COUNTRY AND AROUND THE WORLD, UH, I I THINK IT TAKES, IT'S IMPORTANT TO TAKE A MOMENT TO RECOGNIZE THOSE THAT DON'T NECESSARILY TAKE THE HEADLINES, BUT DESERVE THE HEADLINES AND THE CREDIT, UM, FOR WHAT THEY DO TO CHANGE, UH, THE WAY THAT PEOPLE GATHER, THE WAY THAT PEOPLE CELEBRATE, AND THE WAY THAT PEOPLE, UH, COME TOGETHER AROUND MUSIC. SO, UH, IN HONOR OF JONATHAN MEYERS, UH, I JUST WANNA SEND LOVE, UH, TO THE ENTIRE SUPERFLY FAMILY. ARE YOU THROUGH? YES. NO, I WAS GONNA COMMENT ON SOMETHING, BUT I DIDN'T WANT CUT YOU. I FORGOT TO MENTION TODAY AND TOMORROW, THERE'LL BE VERY INTENSE TRAFFIC ENFORCEMENT ON 59 AND 45. HPD AND DPS ARE DOING A SURGE ON 45 AND 59, THE PEOPLE ON TRAFFIC ENFORCEMENT. SO YOU BE CAREFUL DRIVING HOME. COUNCILMAN THOMAS? COUNCILOR THOMAS. YOU CAN TOLD THE PEOPLE, HUH? YOU SAID BE CAREFUL DRIVING HOME. THERE'S, THEY'RE MAKING PUBLIC ANNOUNCEMENTS. THERE'S A, THERE'S, THERE'S, THERE'S OBVIOUSLY COVERAGE AT 1130. I'M JUST TELLING YOU THAT THEY CAN'T DO THE LEVEL THAT WE WOULD LIKE ACROSS ALL OF OUR ROADS, BUT 59 AND 45 ARE GETTING SOME SPECIAL ENFORCEMENT TODAY. SO BE CAREFUL. AND, AND I'LL ADD, MAYOR, SINCE YOU BROUGHT UP 59. YEAH. I'M GONNA TAKE MEMORIAL MYSELF, , AND NOT WASHINGTON AVENUE. RIGHT? WITH THE CONSTRUCTION. HEY, WASHINGTON'S LOOKING PRETTY GOOD. IT'S LOOKING SMOOTH. IT'S JUST WITH THE CONSTRUCTION AND I 10, BUT MEMORIAL'S GREAT RIGHT NOW. YOU KNOW, IT'S AMAZING. WE WE'RE IMPROVING THE STREETS AND IT DOES CREATE DISRUPTION WHILE THEY DO IT. AND I'M ON THEIR, I'M ON THEIR CASE TO MAKING CERTAIN THAT THEY ONLY DO ONE SIDE OF THE STREET AT A TIME. I HAVE RUN ACROSS SITES AND THEY, THEY GO CURB TO CURB. AND I SAY, NO, NO, NO. ONE AT A TIME ON 59, BECAUSE WE'VE BEEN DISCUSSING THE PROTESTS. I DO WANNA BRING UP THE IMPORTANCE OF SAFETY ON THE MONTROSE BRIDGES. NO DOUBT. UH, WE ARE SEEING A LOT OF ACTIVITY. UH, WELL, THEY TRY TO PUT THE BANNERS DOWN AND FOR THE FREEWAY TRAFFIC AND, YOU KNOW, THAT'S JUST CLOSELY MONITORED AND TRYING TO PROTECT THE MARCHERS AND THE PUBLIC. SO WE'RE ON A ROLL. IT'S JUST ALL BE POSITIVE AND HAVE A SAFE WEEK AND ENJOY THE WEEKEND. THANK YOU. OH, ONE TIME. WHOA. MAYOR PRO TEM MAYOR, UH, YOU HAD, UM, SOME DISCUSSION ABOUT HOMELESSNESS AND I THINK THAT, UM, THE, THE HOMELESSNESS ISSUE DOWNTOWN, WE ARE, YOU KNOW, WORKING ON THAT. BUT I DID WANT US TO, UM, TALK ABOUT IN OUR INDIVIDUAL DISTRICTS MM-HMM . BECAUSE WHAT WE'VE SEEN IS, UM, THERE SEEMS TO BE A PUSH OF SMALLER ENCAMPMENTS IN THE INDIVIDUAL DISTRICTS AND MORE HOMELESS INDIVIDUALS IN SPACES THAT WE TRADITIONALLY HAVE NOT SEEN, UM, OUTSIDE OF DOWNTOWN. UM, AND I'D LOVE FOR US TO, UM, GET WITH DIRECTOR NICHOLS AND DO A COMPREHENSIVE LOOK AT HOW WE CAN HANDLE THOSE INDIVIDUAL SITUATIONS. BECAUSE WHAT WE SEE NOW ARE MORE INDIVIDUALS IN THE METRO BUS STOPS, MORE INDIVIDUALS UNDER SOME OF THE BRIDGES WHERE WE TRADITIONALLY HAVEN'T SEEN, UH, THAT, UH, SO WE CAN TAKE A COMPREHENSIVE LOOK AT HOW WE ARE HANDLING, UM, AS WE DECOMMISSION SOME OF THESE DOWNTOWN, BUT THE MOVE OF, UH, SOME OF OUR UNHOUSED HOUSTONIANS IN OUR INDIVIDUAL DISTRICTS AND HOW WE CAN ASSIST THEM. I, I TOTALLY AGREE. AND LET ME ENCOURAGE YOU, BECAUSE I DO IT, AND I THINK YOU WOULD GET THE SAME RESULTS IF YOU'LL CALL CHIEF SATTERWHITE. MM-HMM . UH, OFTEN I WILL CALL HIM ABOUT SOMEONE, UH, HOMELESS AT A TRANSIT CENTER LOCATION. AND, UH, WE GET QUICK RESPONSE, NOT WHERE WE NEED TO BE. RIGHT? BUT GETTING BACK TO COUNCILMAN CARTER, AS WE GET THESE TRANSITION FACILITIES OPEN, LARGE ONES, UH, I THINK THAT THAT'LL ADDRESS THAT CONCERN. CITYWIDE. THAT'S RAMIREZ. COUNCILMAN RAMIREZ. THANK YOU, MAYOR. I APPRECIATE ALL THE DISCUSSION ON HOMELESSNESS. AND JUST A REMINDER THAT WE WILL TAKE UP HOMELESSNESS AND WE WILL HAVE DIRECTOR NICHOLS AND KELLY YOUNG FROM COALITION, UH, FOR THE HOMELESS, UH, AND OTHERS AVAILABLE, UH, TO DISCUSS ALL THESE AND OTHER ISSUES, [04:25:01] UH, DURING QUALITY OF LIFE COMMITTEE MEETING MONDAY AFTERNOON AT TWO HERE IN COUNCIL CHAMBERS. SO INVITE ALL TO ATTEND. VERY WELL SAID. WHO ELSE? MARTINEZ. COUNCILMAN MARTINEZ. THANK YOU MAYOR. AND I JUST, UM, AS YOU MENTIONED, TRANSITION FACILITIES IN HERE IN, UH, MY COLLEAGUE AS WELL SPEAK TO IT. I JUST WANNA MAKE SURE THAT AS WE'RE HAVING THESE CONVERSATIONS, AND I APPRECIATE THE COMMITTEE MEETING COUNCILOR RAMIREZ. UM, BUT I ALSO WANNA MAKE SURE THAT WHEN WE'RE LOOKING AT THESE TRANSITION FACILITIES, WE'RE BEING EQUITABLE AS WELL. UM, I, WE'VE HAD SEVERAL ALREADY IN THE EAST END, AND, UH, I KNOW THAT THERE'S POSSIBLY SITES THAT ARE BEING LOOKED AT THAT ARE STILL LIKE IN EAST, DOWNTOWN, EAST END, SECOND WARD AREA, BUT THOSE DECISIONS BEFORE THEY'RE, YOU KNOW, SET IN STONE, I THINK IT'D BE GOOD TO, IT'D BE GOOD TO TALK TO THE COUNCIL MEMBERS THAT, THAT ARE IN THOSE AREAS AS WELL. VERY WELL SAID. WE'RE VERY SENSITIVE TO THAT. NOTHING ELSE. THANK Y'ALL. BE SAFE AND LET'S GO. GO FORWARD. * This transcript was created by voice-to-text technology. The transcript has not been edited for errors or omissions, it is for reference only and is not the official minutes of the meeting.