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[PRESENTATIONS]
I'M GONNA ASK, UH, I COULD HAVE YOUR ATTENTION.I'M GONNA ASK THE, UH, VICE MAYOR PRO TEMP TO PRESIDE WHILE I JOIN OUR FRIENDS.
THE CHAIR RECOGNIZES COUNCIL MEMBER CAYMAN FOR, OH, FOR A PROCLAMATION, RECOGNIZING UNIONS IN CELEBRATION OF LABOR DAY.
THERE'S TAMMY, ALL OF OUR LABOR LEADERS, AND IF THE REST OF Y'ALL WANNA STAND, HOW ARE YOU? ALRIGHT.
HOW WE GOT IT? WE GOT ALL OUR FRIENDS HERE, MAYOR, IN HONOR OF LABOR DAY.
UH, WE'RE BRINGING FORWARD A PROCLAMATION TO RECOGNIZE ALL OF OUR LOCALS IN HOUSTON.
UM, HOW SPECIAL IS IT THAT OUR VERY FIRST EVENING COUNCIL SESSION? UM, THANKS IN LARGE PART TO COUNCIL MEMBER CASTILLO'S LEADERSHIP, UH, WHICH IS DESIGNED TO GIVE WORKING FAMILIES GREATER ACCESS TO LOCAL GOVERNMENT IS BEING HELD RIGHT BEFORE LABOR DAY.
AND THE FIRST PROCLAMATION WE GET TO PRESENT IS HONORING THOSE IN LABOR.
SO IT IS AN HONOR, UH, TO STAND HERE WITH OUR LOCALS, OUR FRONTLINE CHAMPIONS FOR EVERYDAY WORKING FOLKS.
AND I'M GONNA TAKE A MOMENT TO RECOGNIZE EVERYONE STANDING WITH ME, AND IT'S GONNA TAKE A MOMENT.
BUT I THINK IT'S VERY IMPORTANT FOR US TO RECOGNIZE EVERYONE IN LABOR BECAUSE THEY ARE OUR CITY.
OF COURSE, WE HAVE HANNIE WITH GULF COAST, A-F-L-C-I-O, WHO WILL BE PROVIDING REMARKS IN A MOMENT.
WE HAVE OUR GULF COAST BUILDING AND CONSTRUCTION TRADES COUNCIL, PLUMBERS LOCAL 68, OUR PAINTERS, I-U-P-A-T, DISTRICT 10 PIPE FITTERS, IUEC, I'M, I'M SKIPPING SOME OF THE NUMBERS.
OUR FIREFIGHTERS C FARES, LONGSHOREMEN, HOPE, AND I GOTTA GIVE A SHOUT OUT TO HOPE FOR THIS AWESOME SHIRT.
MAYOR, A WOMAN'S PLACE IS IN HER UNION, SO THANK YOU FOR THIS LIMITED EDITION.
WE HAVE SCIU, TEXAS II HOUSTON FEDERATION OF TEACHERS, AND AS WE GO BACK TO SCHOOL, THANK YOU TO ALL OUR TEACHERS, CWA, AM I MISSING ANYONE? THAT'S WHAT I GOT.
UH, AS MANY OF YOU KNOW, BUT FOR OUR PUBLIC, UH, ORGANIZED LABOR HAS VERY DEEP ROOTS HERE IN HOUSTON, STRETCHING BACK NEARLY TWO CENTURIES.
AND WITHOUT UNIONS IN OUR COUNTRY, WE WOULD NOT HAVE THE 40 HOUR WORK WEEK MINIMUM WAGE PAID TIME OFF.
AND I'LL ALSO SHOUT OUT PAID PARENTAL LEAVE FOR ALL CITY OF HOUSTON EMPLOYEES, WORKPLACE HEALTH AND SAFETY REGULATIONS, EMPLOYER SPONSORED HEALTH INSURANCE, AND THE LIST GOES ON.
AND WHILE WE'VE MADE STRIDES, THERE'S STILL WORK TO DO WHEN IT COMES TO FAIRNESS IN THE WORKPLACE, ESPECIALLY HERE IN TEXAS.
AND FOR ME, THAT MEANS INCREASING OUR SAFETY STANDARDS FOR WORKERS, INCLUDING AT THE CITY, ENSURING FAIR WAGES AND BENEFITS FOR ALL EMPLOYEES, INCLUDING CONTRACTORS.
HEALTHCARE ACROSS ALL SECTORS, AND MORE WORKERS ACROSS EVERY TRADE DESERVE TO BE RECOGNIZED BECAUSE THEY HAVE STEPPED UP TIME AND AGAIN FOR OUR CITY, AND NOT JUST ON THE JOB, BUT AS WE ALL KNOW ON COUNCIL AND MAYOR, THROUGH YOUR WORK IN TIMES OF DISASTER AND RECOVERY.
I'M GONNA GIVE A FEW EXAMPLES, BUT THERE'S TOO MANY TO NAME OUR PLUMBERS DURING WINTER STORM MURRY, ELECTRICIANS DURING BARREL, THEY FOLKS THROUGH A-F-L-C-I-O ARE REMOVING TREES AND DEBRIS AND THE LIST GOES ON.
AND THEY'RE ALSO SUPPORTING OUR ECONOMY AND MAKING SURE THAT HOUSTONIANS NOT ONLY HAVE LIVING WAGES AND HEALTHCARE, BUT ACCESS TO JOBS.
AND I ENCOURAGE EVERYONE TO LEARN ABOUT ALL OF THE INCREDIBLE APPRENTICESHIP AND JOB TRAINING PROGRAMS THAT OUR LOCALS ARE PUTTING FORWARD.
THEY ARE ABSOLUTELY INCREDIBLE WITH STATE-OF-THE-ART FACILITIES AT THANK YOU, PAUL, AT NO COST.
HOUSTON'S WORKERS ARE THE BACKBONE OF THE CITY.
AND ORGANIZED LABOR HAS MADE SURE THAT THAT BACKBONE REMAINS STRONG.
SO WITH THAT, WHEREAS LABOR DAY IS A TIME HONORED TRADITION IN AMERICA, ESTABLISHED TO CELEBRATE THE ACHIEVEMENTS, CONTRIBUTIONS, AND SACRIFICES OF WORKING PEOPLE WHOSE DEDICATION AND SKILL FORM THE BACKBONE
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OF OUR ECONOMY AND OUR COMMUNITIES.HOUSTON'S PROUD AND DIVERSE LABOR MOVEMENT DATES BACK TO AS EARLY AS 1838 WITH ORGANIZED LABOR UNIONS NOW REPRESENTING WORKERS ACROSS HOSPITALITY, CONSTRUCTION, PUBLIC SERVICE, THEATRICAL STAGE, PRODUCTION, FIRST RESPONSE, COUNTLESS OTHER TRADES THAT KEEP OUR CITY STRONG, SAFE, AND THRIVING.
OUR UNIONS HAVE PLAYED A VITAL ROLE IN ADVANCING FAIR WAGES, SAFE WORKING CONDITIONS, AND PROTECTIONS THAT SAFEGUARD NOT ONLY THEIR MEMBERS, BUT ALL WORKING FAMILIES.
THE COLLECTIVE VOICE OF ORGANIZED LABOR HAS STRENGTHENED OUR CITY BY ENSURING THAT THE DIGNITY OF WORK IS RESPECTED AND THAT ECONOMIC GROWTH IS SHARED BY THOSE WHOSE EFFORTS MAKE IT POSSIBLE.
LABOR DAY IS A CELEBRATION OF THESE ACHIEVEMENTS AND A REMINDER OF THE CONTINUED IMPORTANCE OF SOLIDARITY ADVOCACY AND UNITY IN THE PURSUIT OF JUSTICE FOR ALL WORKERS.
THE CITY OF HOUSTON IS PROUD TO HONOR THE CONTRIBUTIONS OF LABOR UNIONS AND THEIR MEMBERS WHOSE COMMITMENT TO EXCELLENCE, FAIRNESS, AND SERVICE REFLECTS THE VERY SPIRIT OF OUR CITY.
GIVE IT UP FOR COUNCILMAN CAYMAN AND THE, UH, FRIENDS THAT ARE HERE TODAY.
BUT SURELY EVERYONE KNOWS THERE'S THOUSANDS MORE RANK AND FILE THAT ARE WORKING AS WE GATHER HERE, UNITED, HERE, OUR HOUSEKEEPERS AIRPORT EMPLOYEES, OUR AT WORK, OUR CITY EMPLOYEES.
HOPE WE WOULDN'T BE HAVING THIS EVENING MEETING SUCCESSFULLY WITHOUT THEM.
SO I COULD GO THROUGH OUR FIREFIGHTERS, OUR CERTAIN TEACHERS ARE PREPARING THEIR LESSON PLAN FOR TOMORROW, CUSTODIANS APRIL, SO WE COULD GO ON AND ON.
THIS IS JUST A GREAT REPRESENTATION OF THE SUCCESS, UH, OF ORGANIZED LABOR, NOT ONLY IN HOUSTON, BUT YOU KNOW, OUR NATION.
UH, WE ARE A GREAT NATION, GREAT STATE AND CITY BECAUSE OF ORGANIZED LABOR.
I CERTAINLY WANT TO THANK PERSONALLY THANK LABOR FOR SHAPING MOLD IN ME.
I CAN REMEMBER 1972, ANY, UH, ROSA WALKER, DON HORN, I COULD NAME LABOR LEADERS AND SCREENED A 22-YEAR-OLD COLLEGE STUDENT AND SAW SOMETHING THAT THEY COULD SHAPE AND MOLD.
IT'S, UH, I WOULDN'T BE HERE TODAY IF IT WASN'T ORGANIZED LABOR, AND I'M PROUD TO BE A UNION MEMBER WITH THE PUBLIC EMPLOYEES.
SO WITH THAT SAID, IT'S, UH, GREAT THAT WE COME TOGETHER.
I'LL SEE YOU SATURDAY MORNING EARLY, AND I WOULD INVITE ALL OF OUR COLLEAGUES TO CELEBRATE PICNIC LABOR DAY WITH, UH, WOMEN IN LABOR.
LINDA MORALES CERTAINLY WILL GET US KICKED OFF, AND THEN THERE'LL BE EVENTS ALL DAY LONG.
PAUL AND I ARE IN MEETING TODAY TRYING TO IMPROVE CONDITIONS FOR OUR EMPLOYEES.
SO THEREFORE, I, JOHN WHITMEYER, MAYOR OF THE CITY OF HOUSTON, HEREBY PROCLAIM AUGUST 28TH AS, UH, HEREBY PROCLAIM SEPTEMBER 1ST, 2025 IS LABOR DAY IN THE CITY OF HOUSTON.
I GOT A LITTLE AHEAD OF, AND I'M GONNA, I'M GONNA HAND IT OFF TO HANNAH KHALIL.
THANK YOU MAYOR WHITMEYER FOR THIS, UH, WONDERFUL PROCLAMATION ON BEHALF OF, UM, ON BEHALF OF THE 60,000 UNION MEMBERS, 75 UNIONS IN THE HOUSTON GULF COAST REGION.
IT'S AN HONOR TO BE ABLE TO RECEIVE THIS.
I THINK TODAY YOU'VE JUST SEEN HERE THE BREADTH OF THE LABOR MOVEMENT, THE, UM, ABOUT WHO WE REPRESENT, THE INDUSTRIES THAT ARE HERE.
EVERYONE HAS ACCESS AND SHOULD HAVE ACCESS TO A UNION.
AND WE, I THINK WE'RE HERE IN HOUSTON, WE'RE DEDICATED TO ENSURING THAT EVERY PERSON GETS THAT SO THAT THEY CAN HAVE A BETTER LIFE.
UM, YOU KNOW, WE'RE, WE'RE FACING AT THIS POINT.
UM, I THINK ONE THING WE HAVE HAVE BEEN LEARNING IS THAT AS MUCH AS WE HAVE BEEN ABLE TO MAKE PROGRESS IN THE UNITED STATES ON BEHALF OF WORKING PEOPLE, PROGRESS IS NOT GUARANTEED.
IT CAN BE TAKEN AWAY AT ANY TIME.
AND THAT MEANS THAT WHILE WE SHOULD CELEBRATE TODAY, WE HAVE TO REDEDICATE OURSELVES TO THE STRUGGLE FOR LIFTING UP WORKERS' VOICES AND THE, AND THE POWER OF WORKING PEOPLE THROUGH COMING INTO THE ORGANIZED LABOR MOVEMENT.
UM, YOU KNOW, JUST IT'S FEDERAL EMPLOYEES THAT HAVE BEEN BEARING THE BRUNT OF THIS.
BUT JUST EVEN LAST WEEK, WE HAD A COURT RULE IN SUCH A WAY THAT MAY FUNDAMENTALLY UNDERMINE THE NATIONAL LABOR RELATIONS ACT, WHICH IS THE MOST IMPORTANT LAW THAT HAS GUARANTEED WORKERS' RIGHTS AND ACCESS TO A UNION SINCE THE 1930S.
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SO WE'RE IN BAD TIMES, AND WE DON'T HAVE A LOT OF HELP AT THE STATE LEVEL EITHER.SO IT IS VERY GOOD TO HAVE THIS CITY OF HOUSTON STEP FORWARD AND SAY, WE STAND WITH UNIONS, WE STAND WITH ORGANIZED WORKERS, AND WE WANT TO CONTINUE TO SUPPORT THAT BY WORKING OUT GOOD AGREEMENTS WITH OUR CITY EMPLOYEES, BUT ALSO EXTENDING AND USING THE CITY'S POWER TO LIFT UP WORKERS THROUGH APPRENTICESHIP UTILIZATION REQUIREMENTS AND HEALTH AND SAFETY REQUIREMENTS, AND MAKING SURE THAT WORKERS AT THE AIRPORT THAT WORK IN CONCESSIONS ARE EARNING A LIVING WAGE.
THAT'S THE KIND OF TOOLS THAT THIS CITY CAN UTILIZE TO LIFT UP WORKERS AND ENSURE THAT THE PROMISE OF LABOR DAY CONTINUES TO GET EXTENDED TO MORE AND MORE WORKING PEOPLE IN OUR REGION.
SO THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR THIS HONOR.
WE LOOK FORWARD TO SEEING EVERYBODY ON SATURDAY.
IT'S GONNA BE LABOR DAY BAR, COOKOFF BARBECUE.
IT'S GONNA BE IN, UH, IN CROSBY FAIRGROUNDS.
SO I DON'T WANT ANYBODY TO GET LOST.
WE HAVE A FEW, I THINK WE HAVE A FEW COUNCIL MEMBERS AND WHO TO ADDRESS US.
UM, FIRST UP, COUNCIL MEMBER MARTINEZ, THANK YOU VICE, VICE MAYOR PRO TOO.
UM, JUST FIRST AND FOREMOST, THANK YOU COUNCIL MEMBER, MAYOR, MAYOR FOR ACKNOWLEDGING, UH, OUR LABOR, OUR LABOR GROUPS INTO ALL OF OUR FRIENDS THAT ARE OUT, OUT IN THE AUDIENCE.
THANK YOU FOR EVERYTHING YOU'VE BEEN DOING.
AND AS, AS COUNCIL MEMBER KAY, UH, MENTIONED, THERE WAS A LOT OF WORK THAT'S BEEN DONE.
UM, BUT THEN TO WHAT YOU'RE SAYING, AND THERE'S STILL A LOT OF WORK TO BE DONE, UH, WHETHER IT'S, UH, NEGOTIATIONS FOR HOTELS IN DOWNTOWN, WHETHER IT'S A RESPONSIBLE BID ORDINANCE, UH, JUST KNOW THAT YOU HAVE A COUNSELOR THAT'S HERE TO SUPPORT YOU ALL IN, IN THAT PATHWAY.
I'M GLAD WE WERE ABLE TO SEE A CONTRACT WITH, WITH, UH, THE FIREFIGHTERS POLICE OFFICERS AND HOPE.
UH, BUT AGAIN, UH, THIS IS ABOUT WORKING FAMILIES.
UH, MY DAD WAS A STEEL WORKER, UH, RAISED 12 KIDS.
AND SO WE UNDERSTAND WHAT THE IMPORTANCE IS THAT LABOR DOES FOR THESE, UH, FOR FAMILIES.
AND SO, UH, I JUST WANNA HONOR YOU ALL.
UM, AND AS YOU CONTINUE YOUR, YOUR, YOUR PATHWAY, JUST KNOW THAT YOU HAVE FRIENDS HERE AS WELL.
THANK YOU FOR EVERYTHING THAT YOU DO.
HANEY, I THINK YOU JUST MENTIONED THAT YOU HAVE 60,000 MEMBERS, BUT YOU HAVE TO ALSO INCLUDE THEIR FAMILIES, RIGHT? I MEAN, WHAT YOU'RE DOING, MAKING SURE THAT PEOPLE CAN GO TO WORK IN A SAFE PLACE, GET LIVABLE WAGES AND MAKE, AND THE RESPECT IN THEIR COMMUNITIES, UM, AND THEIR JOBS IS SO IMPORTANT.
SO WHAT WE'RE DOING TODAY, THANK YOU SO MUCH, COUNCIL MEMBER, UM, CAYMAN, FOR BRINGING THIS FORWARD.
YOU HAVE MY FULL SUPPORT ALWAYS, AND PLEASE LET ME KNOW.
BUT WHAT YOU'RE DOING IS A LOT MORE THAN JUST ADVOCATING.
YOU ARE CHANGING THE FUTURE FOR PEOPLE'S LIVES.
CERTAINLY UNIONS HAVE ALWAYS BEEN VERY IMPORTANT, AND I'VE ALWAYS BEEN A MEMBER AS A FORMER TEACHER.
AND I SEE MY FRIEND OVER THERE, JACKIE ANDERSON, WHO IS ONE HARD WORKING WOMAN.
SHE'S ACTIVE IN THE NAACP AND SHE SPEAKS UP AND SHE SPEAKS OUT.
AND I HAVE TREMENDOUS RESPECT FOR HER.
AND CERTAINLY HAN I'VE KNOWN YOU FOREVER.
SO CERTAINLY I, ZEV CAPO INVITED ME TO THE BREAKFAST AND I CAN'T COME, BUT I PROMISED HIM I WOULD MAKE A DONATION, OKAY.
BECAUSE CERTAINLY I DO SUPPORT, I DO SUPPORT UNION, AND I'M ALSO A UNION MEMBER, BUT Y'ALL DON'T COLLECT WITH $2 A MONTH.
WE, WE CAN CHANGE THAT IF YOU NEED
BUT CERTAINLY THANK YOU AND THANK YOU, MAYOR.
THANK YOU, COUNCIL MEMBER CAYMAN, FOR CERTAINLY ACKNOWLEDGING SUCH A WONDERFUL, WONDERFUL GROUP THAT MAKES LIFE BETTER FOR SO MANY PEOPLE.
COUNCIL MEMBER CASTILLO, THANK YOU.
VICE MAYOR, PRO TEM, AND COUNCIL MEMBER CAYMAN AND MAYOR WHITMEYER FOR THE PROCLAMATION.
I APPRECIATE THE REMARKS AROUND ALL THE WORK, ALL THE HELP THAT'S OFFERED TO HOUSTONIANS WHEN THERE ARE DISASTERS, WHEN THERE ARE TIMES OF NEED, BECAUSE WE'VE, WE FACE THOSE TIMES SOMEWHAT FREQUENTLY, AND THOSE ARE VULNERABLE FOLKS THAT Y'ALL ARE OUT THERE HELPING REBUILD, RECOVER, PROTECT FOR THE FUTURE.
UH, AND IT JUST SPEAKS TO YOUR VALUES.
IT SPEAKS TO HOW MUCH YOU CARE ABOUT THE CITY, UH, BEYOND JUST WHAT YOU'RE DOING DAY TO DAY.
AND IT'S, IT'S VERY HOUSTON STRONG.
UM, AND SO I CONGRATULATE Y'ALL ON YOUR RECOGNITION.
SINCE THERE'S SO MANY OF US, MAYOR, CAN WE STEP,
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I'D LIKE TO RECOGNIZE ANOTHER ELECTED OFFICIALHOW ARE YOU? I KNOW, I, I JUST WANTED TO RECOGNIZE ANOTHER ELECTED OFFICIAL.
WHY YOU DOING HEY, COUNCIL MEMBER FOR IOWA COLONY.
UM, CHAIR RECOGNIZES COUNCIL MEMBER CASTILLO FOR A PROCLAMATION TO HEALTH DEPARTMENT DIRECTOR STEVEN WILLIAMS ON HIS RETIREMENT.
UM, WE, A NUMBER OF US TALKED ABOUT THE IMPACT DIRECTOR WILLIAMS HAS HAD ON THE CITY LAST WEEK AT COUNCIL.
UH, I KNOW I, I SHARED MY STORY AND, AND MY EXPERIENCE WITH HIM.
UM, SO I'M GONNA GO STRAIGHT INTO THE PROCLAMATION, SO, SO THAT WE CAN HEAR, UM, ABOUT HIS IMPACT OVER HIS ENTIRE CAREER.
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AND IT, I'LL JUST SAY IT IS AN HONOR TO BE HERE TO, TO BE ABLE TO DO THIS, UH, FOR SOMEONE THAT I HAVE GREAT RESPECT FOR AND HAS HAD SUCH AN IMPACT ON THE CITY.WITH RESPECT TO PUBLIC HEALTH, STEVEN LAWRENCE WILLIAMS HAS DEDICATED OVER 45 YEARS TO PUBLIC HEALTH, INCLUDING MORE THAN 21 YEARS AS DIRECTOR OF THE HOUSTON HEALTH DEPARTMENT, WHERE HIS VISIONARY LEADERSHIP HAS LEFT A LASTING IMPACT ON HOUSTON.
BEFORE JOINING HHD IN 2004, HE SPENT 24 YEARS IN PUBLIC HEALTH LEADERSHIP ROLES IN MARICOPA COUNTY AND AUSTIN, TRAVIS COUNTY.
AT HHD, HE OVERSAW 1300 EMPLOYEES AND MANAGED A $180 MILLION BUDGET LEADING SERVICES AND MATERNAL AND CHILD HEALTH, ACCESS TO CARE, DISEASE PREVENTION, ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH, DISASTER RESPONSE, AND MORE.
UNDER HIS LEADERSHIP, HOUSTON BECAME THE FIRST CITY IN TEXAS, THE SECOND LARGE CITY IN THE NATION TO BE ACCREDITED BY THE PUBLIC HEALTH ACCREDITATION BOARD IN 2014, WITH RE-ACCREDITATION IN 2021.
IN 2016, HE LED THE DEPARTMENT'S REBRANDING, RENAMING IT FROM THE HOUSTON HEALTH DEPARTMENT AND HUMAN SERVICES TO THE HOUSTON HEALTH DEPARTMENT.
HE SIGNIFICANTLY STRENGTHENED HH D'S FINANCIAL CAPACITY, SECURING MILLIONS IN STATE FUNDING AND WAIVERS FOR INITIATIVES SUCH AS THE SOBERING CENTER, ETHAN PROJECT, HEALTHY FAMILIES NURSE FAMILY PARTNERSHIP, SEE TO SUCCEED AND PROJECT SAVINGS MILES TO ENSURE LONG-TERM SUSTAINABILITY.
HE ALSO ESTABLISHED THE HOUSTON HEALTH FOUNDATION AS THE DEPARTMENT'S NONPROFIT PARTNER.
HE LED HH D'S RESPONSE TO MAJOR EMERGENCIES, INCLUDING HURRICANES, KATRINA, RITA, IKE, AND HARVEY, DELIVERING CRITICAL SERVICES SUCH AS SHELTERS, HEALTHCARE, AND WARMING AND COOLING CENTERS.
DURING THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC, HE OVERSAW CITYWIDE TESTING, CONTACT TRACING, VACCINATIONS, COMMUNICATIONS, AND DEVELOPED A NATIONALLY RECOGNIZED WASTEWATER SURVEILLANCE SYSTEM.
EXPANDED LAB CAPACITY TO 1300 TESTS PER DAY, AND ESTABLISHED THREE PUBLIC SUPPORT CALL CENTERS.
HE'S BEEN A CHAMPION FOR EMPLOYEES INITIATING A $10 MINIMUM WAGE FOR HHD, WHICH WAS ADOPTED CITYWIDE IN 2004.
HE ALSO FOUNDED THE OFFICE OF PERFORMANCE MANAGEMENT AND INTRODUCED A TRAINING PROGRAM FOR MANAGERS AND SUPERVISORS.
IN 2023, HE LAUNCHED THE OFFICE OF SERVICE IN INTEGRATION PROGRAM QUALITY AND EFFECTIVENESS TO IMPROVE HH D'S ACCOUNTABILITY AND SERVICE DELIVERY, AN ADVOCATE FOR EQUITY AND COLLABORATION.
HE HELPED LAUNCH MY BROTHER'S KEEPER.
HOUSTON FOUNDED A SICKLE CELL COALITION AND CHAMPIONED PUBLIC PRIVATE PARTNERSHIPS.
HE HAS SERVED AS THE CHAIR OF THE TEXAS DEPARTMENT OF STATE HEALTH SERVICES, PUBLIC HEALTH FOUNDATION FUNDING AND POLICY COMMITTEE.
AND AS A MEMBER OF THE NATIONAL PHAB ACCREDITATION COMMITTEE AND THE BIG CITIES HEALTH COALITION, HE WAS HONORED WITH THE MARKS OF EXCELLENCE AWARD BY THE NATIONAL FORUM FOR BLACK PUBLIC ADMINISTRATORS.
ON AUGUST 28TH, 2025, WILLIAMS' FAMILY, FRIENDS, AND COLLEAGUES WILL GATHER AT THE CHERRY FLORES GARDEN PAVILION TO CELEBRATE HIS CAREER AND CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE CITY OF HOUSTON.
AND THE HOUSTON HEALTH DEPARTMENT PROUDLY RECOGNIZES AND THANKS STEVEN LAWRENCE WILLIAMS FOR HIS OUTSTANDING DEDICATION AND SELFLESS SERVICE.
HIS LEGACY HAS GREATLY BENEFITED HOUSTONIANS AND WILL CONTINUE TO FOR YEARS TO COME.
THERE ARE A LOT OF OUTSTANDING PUBLIC SERVICE WALK THROUGH THE HALLS OF THIS BUILDING.
COME BEFORE COUNSEL, BUT NONE ARE MORE RESPECTED THAN STEVE WILLIAMS. IF YOU GOOGLE PUBLIC SERVANT, YOU'LL SEE HIS PICTURE.
NO, WE, WE, WE RECOGNIZE THE PUBLIC SERVANT.
UH, SO ON BEHALF OF 2.3 MILLION HOUSTONIANS, THANK YOU FOR GETTING US THROUGH CHALLENGES, WHETHER IT'S STORMS OR MEASLES EPIDEMIC, MONKEY VIRUS, I CAN GO ON AND ON TIME DOESN'T ALLOW.
AND ON A PERSONAL NOTE, I WANT TO THANK YOU.
I'VE REPRESENTED YOU FOR OVER 50 YEARS.
YOU'VE ALWAYS BEEN THERE FOR ADVISING COUNSEL.
AND YOUR CALMNESS IN THE MIDDLE OF, UH, OF CHRIST IS, IS, IS WHAT STANDS OUT IN MY MIND.
AND, UH, WE WISH YOU THE BEST.
UH, YOU LOOK GREAT, YOUR HELP.
SO I THEREFORE, I, JOHN WHITMEYER, MAYOR OF THE CITY OF HOUSTON, HEREBY PROCLAIM AUGUST 28TH, 2025, IS STEVEN LAWRENCE WILLIAMS DAY ACROSS HOUSTON, TEXAS.
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UH, THANK YOU MARIO.UH, COUNCIL MEMBER
WE ACTUALLY LEARNED A LOT FROM HIM 'CAUSE HE WAS A LOT YOUNGER, AND HE WAS ABLE TO TELL US EXACTLY WHERE, WHERE TO GO.
UH, I'M REALLY GRATEFUL FOR THE PROCLAMATION, ACTUALLY, AS HE WAS READING IT, I SAID, SOMEBODY DID THEIR HOMEWORK.
UH, BECAUSE THE FIRST THING THAT I WAS GONNA SAY IT BEFORE YOU READ IT WAS THAT IT'S REALLY APPROPRIATE FOR THIS TO HAPPEN AT, AT, AT THIS TIME FOLLOWING, UH, YOUR RECOGNITION OF UNIONS AND, AND LABOR DAY, BECAUSE WE, IN THE HOUSTON HEALTH DEPARTMENT, DID ESTABLISH A MINIMUM WAGE FOR THE CITY OF HOUSTON.
AND IT WAS THOSE HEALTH DEPARTMENT EMPLOYEES THAT ACTUALLY CARRIED THAT CHAMPION THAT DURING THE NEGOTIATIONS WITH, WITH THE UNION.
AND SO, I'M GRATEFUL ALL OF THE THINGS THAT YOU MENTIONED COULD NOT HAVE HAPPENED WITH THE, WITHOUT.
THE PEOPLE THAT ARE STANDING AROUND ME, THESE ARE THE FOLKS THAT DIRECT THE SERVICES.
THESE ARE THE, THE FOLKS THAT DIRECT THE WORK.
AND THEY WERE WILLING TO, TO FOLLOW MY LEAD, EVEN THOUGH THEY DIDN'T AGREE WITH ME A LOT OF THE TIMES.
AND, AND I REALLY APPRECIATE THAT AS A LEADER, THAT THEY WERE WILLING TO.
BUT OF COURSE, WHEN THINGS TURNED OUT THE WAY THAT THEY SAID THEY WOULD, THEY WOULD TELL ME, I TOLD YOU SO.
BUT, BUT I'M GRATEFUL FOR THAT.
I CAME HERE THINKING THAT I WAS GONNA WORK THREE AND A HALF YEARS BECAUSE I DIDN'T PARTICULARLY LIKE HOUSTON.
AND, AND ALL I WANTED TO DO WAS TO PROVE TO THE, THE FOLKS IN MY FIELD THAT I COULD ACTUALLY KEEP A JOB.
AND I THOUGHT THE THREE AND A HALF YEAR MARK WILL ACTUALLY PROVE THAT, AND THEN I COULD GO SOME SOMEWHERE ELSE.
BUT SOMETHING HAPPENED WHEN I GOT HERE.
THIS WAS AN A, A WELCOMING COMMUNITY.
PEOPLE REALLY WERE WILLING TO LISTEN TO SOMEONE THAT HAD A DIFFERENT IDEA AND, AND, AND, AND IN A DIFFERENT WAY.
AND SO IT SEEMS LIKE EVEN THROUGH EVERY ADMINISTRATION WE WERE ABLE TO CREATE.
AND SO IT BECAME INTOXICATING.
UH, AND, AND IT IS REALLY GONNA BE DIFFICULT LEAVING, LEAVING FOR, FROM A PSYCHOLOGICAL STANDPOINT BECAUSE THIS IS FERTILE GROUND FOR CREATIVITY.
I THINK THAT WE HAVE A LONG WAY TO GO, THOUGH.
I THINK THAT WE HAVE TO FIGURE OUT HOW WE CAN PULL TOGETHER TO REALLY GALVANIZE OUR ENERGY AND OUR RESOURCES ABOUT CREATING OPPORTUNITIES FOR THE PEOPLE THAT ARE IN THE CITY.
THERE'S NO REASON THAT WE CANNOT DO THAT.
BUT I THINK KEY TO THAT IS REALLY COMING TOGETHER WITH ONE OR TWO GOALS IN MIND AND WORKING TOWARD THAT, BEING FOCUSED ON THAT.
I'M REALLY THANKFUL FOR THE FOLKS.
I THINK BILLY IS HERE, UH, AND, AND THE FOUNDATION THAT SUPPORTED C TO SUCCEED, BECAUSE WE KNOW THAT Y'ALL DID NOT GIVE ME ALL THE MONEY THAT I WANTED.
AND YOU CUT MY BUDGET
BUT BECAUSE OF THE PEOPLE THAT YOU SEE HERE, WE WERE ABLE TO GO OUT AND FIND ADDITIONAL MONIES TO MAKE IT WORK.
I'M HOPING THAT THE DEPARTMENT WILL CONTINUE TO DO THAT.
UH, I WILL STILL BE IN PUBLIC HEALTH.
I'LL STILL, UH, BE A MEMBER OF THE PUBLIC HEALTH ACCREDITATION BOARD AND ON THE NATIONAL HEALTH LAW PROGRAM, BECAUSE THOSE ARE THINGS THAT MATTER TO ME.
I THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY.
I AM TIRED, BUT, UH, NOT SO TIRED THAT I WON'T KEEP MY INTEREST IN PUBLIC HEALTH.
FIRST STEP IS COUNCIL MEMBER CAYMAN.
UM, FOR EVERYTHING THAT WAS LISTED IN THE PROCLAMATION, THERE ARE DOZENS OF MORE WAYS IN WHICH YOU AND THE DEPARTMENT HAVE SAVED THE LIVES OF HOUSTONIANS AND SET THE PRECEDENT OR THE EXAMPLE FOR THE REST OF THE COUNTRY.
SO WHEN YOU TALK ABOUT THE WASTEWATER TESTING, THAT'S ONE EXAMPLE.
BUT FOR EVERY ONE OF THOSE, Y'ALL IMPLEMENTED SO MANY MODELS FOR WHICH OTHER PEOPLE DO THINGS BECAUSE IN HOUSTON, WE SHOW THEM HOW IT'S DONE.
AND THAT'S BECAUSE OF YOUR LEADERSHIP.
AND THERE'S NOT ONE MOMENT IN TIME WHERE I CAN'T THANK THAT YOU DID NOT STAND UP FOR AND LOOK OUT FOR THE EMPLOYEES OF THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT.
AND WHEN YOU TALK ABOUT 21 YEARS, IT'S NOT JUST 21 YEARS ON, ON CRUISE CONTROL.
WE DEALT WITH A GLOBAL PANDEMIC, AND THAT'S WHEN WE FIRST GOT TO INTERACT.
AND I CAN STILL REMEMBER WE WERE STILL SOCIAL DISTANCING AND FIGURING THIS WHOLE THING OUT.
SO I THINK WE MET UP IN A PARKING LOT AND YOU WERE ON YOUR WAY TO GO BIKE WITH SOMEONE, AND YOU WERE ALWAYS ON CALL AND ALWAYS THERE.
AND YOU GOT THE CITY THROUGH WHAT WE WENT THROUGH.
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TO STAND UP, FREE TESTING ON THE SCALE THAT WE DID, PRETTY MUCH.AND VACCINES, WE DID EVERYTHING IN THE WAY THAT IT SHOULD BE DONE.
AND BEYOND THAT, THE INNOVATIVE PROGRAMMING THAT YOU HAVE DONE AND WORKED WITH ALL OF US ON COUNCIL, I KNOW COUNCIL MEMBER JACKSON ISN'T HERE TODAY, BUT I KNOW THAT YOU HAVE WORKED WITH EVERY SINGLE ONE OF US TO MOVE THE BALL FORWARD.
SO YOUR LEGACY DOESN'T JUST END TODAY.
AND I KNOW WE'LL BE ANNOUNCING SOME OF THE WORK WE'VE BEEN DOING IN THE FALL, BUT YOUR YOUR PART OF THAT, SO TO YOU AND TO THE ENTIRE FAMILY AND THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT THAT HAS LIFTED UP AND CARRIED ON THE WORK AND WILL CONTINUE TO, UM, MY HEARTFELT APPRECIATION AND GRATITUDE.
COUNCIL MEMBER POLLARD, THANK YOU, VICE MAYOR, PRO TIMM.
AND, UH, GOOD EVENING TO EVERYONE, MAYOR, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER CASTILLO, THANK YOU FOR BRINGING THIS FORWARD DIRECTOR.
UM, I JUST WANNA SAY THANK YOU AND, UH, I WANNA WISH YOU WELL AND, AND YOUR NEXT ENDEAVORS.
UM, BUT WHAT COMES TO MIND FOR ME IS WHEN WE FIRST GOT ON COUNCIL, AS COUNCIL MEMBER CAME AND SAID, A FEW MONTHS LATER, WE GET HIT WITH THIS PANDEMIC.
AND I CAN TELL YOU, I DIDN'T KNOW WHAT WE WERE GOING TO DO.
AND THERE WAS A LOT OF UNCERTAIN TIMES, UH, BUT YOU WERE STEADY AND YOU HAD A, A CALM ABOUT YOURSELF.
AND, UM, YOU REASSURED US THAT WE WOULD BE ABLE TO GET THROUGH THIS IF WE ALL STUCK TOGETHER AND WE WERE HAVING THOSE DAILY PRESS CONFERENCES EVERY SINGLE DAY, YOU KNOW, UM, DAILY BRIEFINGS.
BUT I THINK THAT WAS IMPORTANT BECAUSE IN UNCERTAIN TIMES, WE HAD TO COMMUNICATE PROPERLY TO THE PUBLIC, AND WE HAD TO SHOW THAT AS A CITY, THAT WE WERE TRYING TO DO EVERYTHING WE COULD TO KEEP PEOPLE SAFE.
AND YOU CANNOT HAVE A THRIVING CITY WITHOUT A THRIVING PUBLIC HEALTH DEPARTMENT.
UH, AND SO TO YOU AND YOUR ENTIRE TEAM, I WANT TO THANK YOU ALL FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP.
THANK YOU ALL FOR YOUR DILIGENCE.
THE CITY LEANS ON YOU AS WE GO FORWARD.
AND, UH, WE HOPE TO CONTINUE TO LEAN ON YOU EVEN OUTSIDE OF YOUR OFFICIAL CAPACITY BECAUSE YOUR KNOWLEDGE IS SOMETHING THAT WILL BE VALUABLE FOR US, UH, GOING FORWARD.
SO THANK YOU VERY MUCH, AND GOD BLESS YOU ALL.
UM, DIRECTOR, JUST WANNA JUST SAY THAT I WAS A STAFFER FOR A BIG MAJORITY OF THE TIME THAT, THAT, UH, THAT I'VE BEEN ABLE TO WORK WITH YOU.
BUT THROUGHOUT THAT TIME, I DO RECOGNIZE THAT EVEN UNDER SOME VERY STRESSFUL MEETINGS, YOU ALWAYS WERE PROFESSIONAL, KEPT YOUR COOL.
UM, AND THEN SEEING THE REST OF YOUR TEAM HERE, UM, I, I JUST WISH I COULD HAVE WORKED WITH YOU A LITTLE BIT LONGER.
UM, THERE'S A COUPLE THINGS, AS YOU SAY, UH, THE, THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT HAS A LOT OF THINGS GOING ON, BUT THERE'S A COUPLE THINGS THAT I WANNA COMMIT TO YOU AND TO YOUR TEAM THAT I WILL CONTINUE TO ADVOCATE FOR, UH, THE COMMUNITY CENTERS, WHICH REALLY IS A, A SPACE FOR, UM, NEIGHBORS TO COME FOR NOT JUST SOCIAL SERVICES, BUT TO, YOU KNOW, COME AND A COOLING CENTER, A WARMING CENTER, UH, BUT TO ALSO CELEBRATE COMMUNITY AS WELL.
UM, SECOND CHANCE IS SOMETHING THAT, YOU KNOW, I'VE BEEN ABLE TO GO SEVERAL GRADUATIONS AS A COUNCIL MEMBER.
UH, THE WORK THAT YOU'RE DOING THERE TO MAKE SURE THAT FOLKS COMING BACK, UH, CAN ACCLIMATE THEMSELVES BACK INTO SOCIETY.
AND THEN ALSO, UH, HOLD US ACCOUNTABLE AS INDIVIDUALS THAT ARE TO WELCOME THEM BACK.
UM, AND THEN THE LAST ONE, WHICH I WAS, UH, HAPPY TO SEE YOU, I DON'T KNOW IF YOU'RE DOING A TOUR THIS WEEK, UH, THIS LAST WEEK, BUT, UH, MY BROTHER'S KEEPER, UM, HEARING YOU SPEAK ABOUT THAT PROGRAM, UH, JUST AGAIN, JUST REAFFIRMS HOW MUCH, UH, HOW MUCH YOU CARE ABOUT THE CITY.
UH, IT'S SOMETHING THAT I APPRECIATE, YOU KNOW, CHAZ BEING HERE AS WELL, THAT I WANNA MAKE SURE THAT ADVOCATING FOR YOUNG FOLKS, UM, CREATING THE SPACE FOR THEM TO BE EMPOWERED, UH, TO HAVE THE RIGHT RESOURCES, UH, TO BE ABLE TO LEAD OUR CITY AFTER WE'RE GONE AS WELL, UM, IS IMPORTANT TO ME.
AND SO I JUST WANTED TO MAKE SURE I SHARED WITH YOU PUBLICLY THAT THERE'S A LOT OF WORK THAT Y'ALL ARE DOING THAT YOU, THAT ARE UP, EVERYBODY THAT'S UP HERE WITH YOU.
BUT I, I WANNA MAKE SURE THAT YOU KNOW THAT I'M GONNA COMMIT MYSELF TO THOSE THREE THINGS FOR YOU.
COUNCIL MEMBER PLUMMER, THANK YOU.
UM, WOW, DR. WILLIAMS, THANK YOU SO MUCH.
I, I LIKE COUNCIL MEMBER POLLER.
WE GOT ELECTED AND THEN COVID HAPPENED, AND AFTER THAT EVERYTHING WAS JUST DUST.
UM, BUT YOU DID, YOU WERE, YOU GUIDED THE SHIP.
WE ALL CAME TO YOU FOR ADVICE.
WE CAME TO YOU FOR DIRECTION, UH, FOR TRANSPARENCY WHEN A COMMUNITY, MILLIONS OF PEOPLE HAD NO CLUE WHAT WAS GOING ON.
YOU HELPED US MAKE SURE THEY WERE SAFE.
AND, UM, I'M JUST FOREVER GRATEFUL FOR THAT.
YOU KNOW, PUBLIC HEALTH IS A BIG THING, BUT WHAT YOU UNDERSTAND IS SOCIAL HEALTH.
AND THAT'S WHEN THAT MY BROTHER'S KEEPER PROGRAM AND THAT SECOND CHANCE PROGRAM COMES IN.
'CAUSE YOU UNDERSTAND THAT PUBLIC HEALTH IS PEOPLE BEING ABLE TO THRIVE.
AND, UM, SO I'M SO INCREDIBLY GRATEFUL TO YOU AND GRATEFUL FOR YOUR TEAM.
[00:35:01]
AND YOU'VE GOT OUR WORD.WE'RE GONNA KEEP ALL THIS STUFF GOING FOR YOU.
THANKS FOR YOUR DEDICATION AND, UM, AND JUST GIVING YOUR LIFE TO THE CITY OF HOUSTON.
THANK YOU, UH, DIRECTOR WILLIAMS. YOU ARE ONE OF ONE.
AND, UM, IT IS EVIDENT BY, UH, YOUR TEAM FLANKING YOU, UH, TO THE LEFT AND RIGHT AND BEHIND YOU AND THOSE THAT ARE WATCHING ON HTV, UM, YOUR LEADERSHIP, YOUR CHARACTER, UM, AND YOUR, YOUR PRINCIPLED VISION FOR THE DEPARTMENT.
UM, UM, SO I WANNA THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE TO THIS CITY.
I ALSO WANT TO THANK YOU FOR YOUR CONTRIBUTION TO THE ALE NEIGHBORHOOD CENTER.
UM, BEING AT THE TABLE IN THE BEGINNING, UM, THERE ARE FAMILY MEMBERS AND, AND CHILDREN AND SENIORS THAT WILL, MAY NEVER KNOW YOUR NAME, BUT YOUR FINGERPRINTS ARE ALL OVER THAT BUILDING AND WHAT THEY'RE ABLE TO DO.
AND WITH THE DON PROGRAM, UH, DEMONSTRATIONS OF MEALS, HELPING PEOPLE WITH, YOU KNOW, GROWING THEIR FOOD AT, WITH THE RAISED BEDS IN THE GARDEN, THAT'S BECAUSE YOUR HAND FIRMLY GUIDED TO MAKE SURE THAT THE PEOPLE'S VISION WAS EXECUTED.
SO I WANNA PERSONALLY THANK YOU ON BEHALF OF THE 300,000 RESIDENTS THAT GET TO ENJOY, UH, THAT CENTER.
UM, I HAD WHIPLASH WHEN COUNCIL MEMBER POLL TALKED ABOUT THOSE DAILY BRIEFINGS, LIKE, AH, I FORGOT ABOUT THAT, BECAUSE IT WAS A LOT, AND IT WAS DEFINITELY UNCERTAIN.
BUT YOUR, UH, FIRM CONSISTENT LEADERSHIP, UM, REAFFIRMED ALL OF US THAT WERE ABLE TO GO BACK OUT TO COMMUNITY TO SAY, YOU CAN TRUST US.
YOU CAN TRUST THIS INFORMATION.
AND BECAUSE OF THAT, DISTRICT F HAD TO FIRST WALKUP COVID TESTING SITE.
UM, BECAUSE WE, WE REALIZED EVERYONE DIDN'T HAVE A CAR AND WE HAD MULTIPLE LANGUAGES AND PEOPLE HAD TO GET THERE.
I REMEMBER THAT AT A ELEMENTARY SCHOOL.
AND IT WAS ONE OF THE, THE LONGEST LINES OF WALKUPS.
I WANNA THANK YOU FOR THE INNOVATION, THANK YOU FOR THOSE WHO, UM, HAD BARRIERS.
AND, UM, I LOOK FORWARD TO YOUR LEADERSHIP IN THE CITY TO CONTINUE TO HELP, YOU KNOW, LEAD US IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION.
AND THEN YOU HAVE YOUR LIEUTENANTS THAT WILL CONTINUE TO CONTINUE WITH THE VISION OF WHAT YOU HAVE IMPLEMENTED.
SO I JUST WANNA THANK YOU AND THANK YOU TO EVERYONE WHO SUPPORTED HIM AND HIS LEADERSHIP, EVEN WHEN YOU DISAGREED
CONGRATULATIONS ON YOUR RETIREMENT COUNCIL MEMBER, EVAN SHABAZZ, THANK YOU, VICE MAYOR PROAM, AND CERTAINLY DIRECTOR WILLIAMS. I ECHO THE SENTIMENTS OF MY COLLEAGUES AS TO HOW CALM AND STEADY YOU WERE, BUT I, I, I CAME TO KNOW YOU ON A MORE PERSONAL NOTE.
BACK IN FEBRUARY WHEN, UM, ONE OF YOUR EMPLOYEES HAD A STROKE, YOU STEPPED UP.
AND I'M GONNA HONESTLY SAY HOPEFULLY WITHOUT CRYING, I COULD NOT HAVE DONE ALL THE THINGS I WAS ABLE TO DO WITHOUT YOUR LEADERSHIP AND YOUR GUIDANCE.
I WAS HER PERSON, SHE NAMED ME.
I DON'T KNOW WHY, BUT WITHOUT THIS MAN RIGHT HERE, I DON'T KNOW WHERE SHE WOULD BE RIGHT NOW.
SHE IS GETTING THE BEST OF CARE.
AND I'M JUST TELLING YOU, YOU AND YOUR TEAM WERE JUST PHENOMENAL.
AND I DON'T MEAN TO BE CRYING, BUT I'M JUST REALLY, REALLY, I JUST REALLY AM GLAD THAT I'M GETTING THE OPPORTUNITY TO TELL YOU PERSONALLY, YOU HELPED ME TO CLEAN HER APARTMENT OUT.
YOU HELPED ME TO GET HER THINGS IN ORDER.
YOU HELPED ME TO MAKE SURE THAT SHE HAD ALL OF HER MEDICAL COVERAGE AND ALL OF THE THINGS THAT SHE NEEDED.
AND I AM SO VERY THANKFUL FOR THAT YOU AND YOUR TEAM, AND THE TRUE MARK OF A LEADER IS HOW THEY TREAT THE PEOPLE THAT WORK FOR THEM AND WITH THEM.
AND YOU HAVE BEEN STELLAR, AND I THANK YOU MAYOR AND COUNCIL MEMBER CASTILLO, FOR GIVING US THE OPPORTUNITY TO THANK THIS WONDERFUL MAN WHO WE WILL CERTAINLY MISS.
THANK YOU SO MUCH TO YOUR, FOR YOUR SERVICE TO OUR CITY.
[00:42:08]
YEAH, I'M A GOOD GUY.[2:00 P.M. – INVOCATION AND PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE]
COUNCILMAN DAVIS, WILL YOU PLEASE LEAD US IN THE INVOCATION? LET US PRAY.GRACIOUS, FATHER, WE DO THANK YOU FOR THIS DAY, AND WE THANK YOU FOR YOUR MERCY AND COVERING OF US, WE PRAY FOR THIS DAY, AND ALL THOSE WHO ARE GATHERED HERE IN THIS GREAT CITY OF HOUSTON THAT WE ALL LOVE, BLESS US THROUGHOUT THIS EVENING, LET ALL OF OUR CONCERNS AND COMMENTS BE FOR THE BETTERMENT OF OUR CITY.
THANK YOU FOR AMIR AND OUR COLLEAGUES.
BLESS EACH AND EVERY ONE OF THEM INDIVIDUALLY AND COLLECTIVELY LEAD US AND GUIDE US IN THE DIRECTION THAT WILL BE BEST SERVED THROUGHOUT THIS CITY.
FOR ALL OF THOSE CONSTITUENTS THAT MAKE UP THE CITY OF HOUSTON, HARRIS COUNTY, THESE BLESSING, WE ASK IN THE NAME OF JESUS OUR CHRIST.
WOULD YOU PLEASE STAND FOR THE PLEDGE?
[ROLL CALL AND ADOPT THE MINUTES OF THE PREVIOUS MEETING]
MR. SEXER, YOU PLEASE CALL THE ROLL.MAYOR WHITMEYER, PRESENT, COUNCIL MEMBER PECK HERE.
COUNCIL MEMBER JACKSON WILL BE ABSENT.
COUNCIL MEMBER KAMAN PRESENT, COUNCIL MEMBER EVAN SHABAZZ.
HERE, COUNCIL MEMBER FLICKINGER WILL BE ABSENT.
COUNCIL MEMBER HUFFMAN PRESENT, COUNCIL MEMBER CASTILLO.
COUNCIL MEMBER CASTEX TATUM WILL BE ABSENT.
COUNCIL MEMBER CARTER PRESENT.
AND HERE, COUNCIL MEMBER THOMAS IS PRESENT.
I NEED A MOTION TO ADOPT THE MINUTES OF AUGUST 19TH AND 20TH.
[PUBLIC SPEAKERS]
UH, LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, WE HAVE A VERY LONG LIST OF SPEAKERS BECAUSE WE HAVE OVER 150 MINUTES OF SPEAKERS REGISTERED.THE RULES REQUIRE US TO GIVE EACH OF YOU ONE MINUTE.
WITH THAT SAID, ARE THERE ANY PROCEDURAL MOTIONS? COUNCIL MEMBER RAMIREZ.
MOVE TO SUSPEND THE RULES AND MOVE BENJAMIN BROADWAY TO THE TOP OF THE AGENDA.
IS THERE A SECOND? MOTION MADE.
[00:45:01]
SAY YES.MR. SECRETARY, YOU CALL OUR FIRST SPEAKER, PLEASE.
BENJAMIN BROADWAY TO BE FOLLOWED BY DOMINIQUE MAOP.
UM, MAN, I'D LIKE TO THANK, UH, SOLID WASTE FOR FINALLY PICKING UP, UH, TWO WEEKS AFTER.
I KNOW THEY'RE RUNNING BEHIND, BUT THAT'S SOME OF THE PROBLEMS IN DISTRICT B, IS THAT SOME OF OUR CONSTITUENTS DON'T KNOW THE RULES AND THE REGULATIONS.
SO I'D LIKE TO THANK YOUR STAFF FOR HELPING ME OUT WITH THAT SITUATION.
I MEAN, THERE'S ANOTHER SITUATION THAT I NEED HELP WITH IS THE WATER SYSTEM.
I MEAN, THIS PAST WEEKEND, MY WATER GOT SHUT OFF.
I DIDN'T KNOW THEY LEFT A FLYER ON MY DOOR.
IF THEY CAN SEND MY BILL AND IT READ IT OUT TO ME, THE CITY OF HOUSTON CAN FIND A MEDIAN TO HELP THEIR BLIND CONSTITUENTS WITH THIS MAYOR.
UM, I DIDN'T KNOW I HAD TO GET A FAMILY MEMBER.
UM, AND I'M NOT THE ONLY HOME MEMBER IN THE CITY OF HOUSTON.
NEXT, DOMINIQUE MAZO TO BE FOLLOWED BY KELLY SADLER.
I'M DOMINIC MC MAZO AND THERE'S A COUPLE THINGS I AM VERY PLEASED ABOUT.
AS YOU, MOST OF THE COUNCIL KNOWS, I'VE BEEN PUSHING, PUSHING, PUSHING FOR MORE CITIZEN PARTICIPATION.
ONE OF THE THINGS I WAS SUGGESTING IS NIGHT COURT AND WITH MARIO'S PROPOSITION A IT WORKED.
THIS IS SHOWING I FOUGHT C HALL ONE.
THE THING IS, THE ONLY THING I'M CONCERNED ABOUT ON ACTUALLY MATCH 51 AND 52, MY THING IS, AND I MENTIONED THIS, IF THE LEADING EARLIER TODAY, YOU PUT THE AGENDA AND THEN YOU HAVE A LITTLE PIECE OF PAPER, IF YOU GO TO TRANSPORTATION POLICY COUNCIL, THC, YOU GET A BIG PACKET WHERE CITIZENS CAN LOOK THROUGH THIS AND, AND, YOU KNOW, SOMETIMES A CITIZEN CAN GET AN IDEA OR IT WON'T WORK IN MY NEIGHBORHOOD.
SO MY THING IS WE NEED MORE DOCUMENTATION ON THE AGENDA ITEMS FOR THE COMMITTEES AND FOR, UH, ITEMS THAT ARE PRESENTED TO THE HORSESHOE.
NEXT, KELLY SADLER TO BE FOLLOWED BY IAN LAVA.
HI, GOOD EVENING, COUNCIL AND MAYOR WHITMEYER.
I'M A MEMBER OF THE HOUSTON, UH, DEMOCRATIC SOCIALISTS.
I'M A MEMBER OF THE CAUCUS AND ALSO PEOPLE FOR POLK.
UH, PLEASE DO NOT SHUT DOWN POLK STREET
UH, THAT'S A, I'M A MEMBER OF.
UH, I, WE HAVE A THRIVING COMMUNITY.
WE HAVE, UH, WE'VE ACTUALLY BUILT A REALLY GOOD NEIGHBORHOOD, UH, COMMUNITY THROUGH THIS, THROUGH PEOPLE FOR POLK.
UM, WE USE POLK STREET, ALL THE BUSINESSES THAT ARE ALONG POLK STREET.
UM, BUT I'M ALSO HERE BECAUSE I'M AFRAID, I'M AFRAID THAT A ROUTINE TRAFFIC STOP, UH, COULD RESULT IN A NEIGHBOR'S DEPORTATION.
AND THE FEAR IS A DIRECT RESULT OF HOUSTON'S COMPLICITY WITH ICE STATE LAW SENATE BILL FOUR, WHICH YOU CO-AUTHORED.
UH, MAYOR MANDATES THAT COMPLIANCE WITH OUR JAILS, BUT WE ALSO HAVE A CHOICE.
WE HAVE A CHOICE BETWEEN BEING A CITY THAT FOSTERS TRUST OR A CITY THAT SOWS FEAR.
[00:50:01]
I'VE BEEN CALLED GOOD EVENING MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL.AT FIRST, I'D SAY THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE TONIGHT.
THIS IS AN AMAZING SHOW OF DEMOCRACY.
WE'VE GOT A FULL HOUSE ALL AROUND, SO THANK YOU FOR THIS.
UM, I'M HERE TODAY AS A MEMBER OF PEOPLE FOR POLK.
A LONG STORY SHORT, MAYOR WHITMEYER, WE NEED YOUR HELP IN THE EAST END.
UH, THE GRB TRANSFORMATION COULD HAVE BEEN AND WILL BE IF WE HAVE THE RIGHT LEADERSHIP BE A UNITING FORCE FOR ALL OF HOUSTON.
BUT RIGHT NOW, HOUSTON FIRST IS RECKLESSLY RUSHING FOR IT IN A WAY THAT WILL UNDERMINE ITS OWN SUCCESS AND COUNTLESS HOUSTONIANS FOR DECADES.
THIS IS COMPLETELY UNNECESSARY.
THE GRB CAN BE AND SHOULD BE TRANSFORMED, BUT ALL OTHER MAJOR CONVENTION CENTERS IN THE UNITED STATES DO NOT CLOSE ROADS.
I HAVE NOT FOUND A SINGLE ONE.
THEY ALL BUILD OVER IT OR THEY CITE SO THEY DO NOT IMPACT ROADS.
I WILL SAY PEOPLE FOR POLK IS NOT BEHOLDEN TO THE NAME POLK.
THIS IS SO IMPORTANT FOR US THAT IF WE CAN GET SOME HELP, I WOULD BE HAPPY TO RENAME IT WHITMEYER STREET.
SO IF ONE DAY WE COULD BE PEOPLE FOR WHITMEYER.
NEXT PATRICIA CHEN TO BE FOLLOWED BY ROB BLOCK.
HELLO, MY NAME IS PATRICIA CHEN.
I'M HERE TO TALK ABOUT THE CURRENT COLLABORATIONS BETWEEN ICE AND HPD.
YOU KNOW, COMPARED TO THE CU CUMULATIVE, UM, NUMBER IN THE PAST FOUR YEARS, HPD HAS CALLED ICE THREE TIMES AS MANY TIMES IN THIS YEAR ALONE.
BUT AFTER THAT, THE DETAILS ARE MURKY.
WE DON'T KNOW WHY ICE IS BEING CALLED.
WE DON'T KNOW WHAT IS HAPPENING TO PEOPLE, AND THAT IS VERY SCARY TO ME.
MR. CASTILLO, WHEN YOU SHOWED UP AT MY DOOR IN 2023, YOU SAID YOU WANTED TO PUT MORE POLICE OFFICERS IN THE STREETS AND THAT WAS SUPPOSED TO MAKE US FEEL SAFE.
AND IF WE DIDN'T FEEL SAFE, THEN WE COULD JUST HAVE MORE CONVERSATIONS.
BUT HOW CAN WE HAVE MORE CONVERSATIONS IN ANY KIND OF MEANINGFUL WAY IF WE DON'T KNOW ANY KIND OF COMMON BASIS OF INFORMATION FROM WHICH WE CAN HAVE THOSE, WHICH WE CAN HAVE THOSE CONVERSATIONS.
SO I'D LIKE TO ASK THE COUNCIL MEMBERS TODAY IF FOR MORE TRANSPARENCY AROUND THE AGREEMENTS BETWEEN HPD AND ICE.
MAYBE A DASHBOARD TRACKING WHY A, WHY ICE IS BEING CALLED, WHAT IS HAPPENING TO PEOPLE AND WHAT IS HAPPENING TO THE PEOPLE WHEN THEY'RE CALLED AND, AND, AND SO WE CAN HAVE INFORMATION.
THANK YOU MITCH ROB BLOCK TO BE FOLLOWED BY SARAH REMAN.
I'M A MEMBER OF HOUSTON LEADS HOUSTON DSA.
I'M A NEAR NORTHSIDE RESIDENT.
UM, I SPENT A NUM A COUPLE OF YEARS WORKING WITH SUPER NEIGHBORHOOD 51, WHICH DID A LOT OF WORK TRYING TO GET THE COMMUNITY COMFORTABLE WITH CALLING HPD FOR CRIME CONCERNS, WHICH ARE OFTEN UNREPORTED UNDERREPORTED IN OUR NEIGHBORHOOD.
UM, CONSTANT HEADLINES OF THE WAYS THAT THE CITY AND HPD ARE COLLABORATING WITH ICE ARE FRUSTRATING AND THE QUOTES FROM CITY OFFICIALS ARE FREQUENTLY UNDER INFORMED AND DISCOURAGING PEOPLE FROM WHO MIGHT WANNA REPORT CRIME BUT ARE CONCERNED ABOUT THEIR IMMIGRATION STATUS.
IT'S URGENT THAT THE CITY OF HOUSTON TAKE PROACTIVE ACTION IS RECOMMENDED BY HOUSTON LEADS AND CREATE A TRANSPARENCY PROCEDURE, UM, THAT REGULARLY DISCLOSES TO THE PUBLIC, UM, THE INFORMATION THAT ICE IS REQUESTING OF THE CITY AND WHAT INFORMATION HOUSTON IS GIVING TO ICE CITY COUNCIL.
AND THE PUBLIC SHOULD NOT LEARN FROM THE FRONT PAGE OF THE HOUSTON CHRONICLE, THAT THE CITY COURTS ARE GIVING INFORMATION TO ICE, OR THE HPD IS CALLING ICE ON DOMESTIC VIOLENCE SURVIVORS.
YOU SHOULD BE COMPILING THIS INFORMATION AND EXPLAINING TO THE PUBLIC WHAT YOU ARE DOING TO PROTECT YOUR CONSTITUENTS.
PLEASE WORK WITH HOUSTON LEADS TO ENACT THESE POLICY RECOMMENDATIONS.
I JUST WANNA SAY THAT HAVING AN, MY NAME IS SARAH, I'M A TEACHER.
I LIVE HERE IN HOUSTON, AND I JUST WANNA SAY THAT HAVING AN EVENING MEETING, I HOPE THAT YOU SEE ALL THE CHILDREN THAT ARE HERE SHOWS THAT LIKE, IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT TO HAVE THESE EVENING MEETINGS SO THAT ALL OF HOUSTON CAN ENGAGE.
UM, I WANNA SAY THAT CITY COUNCIL NEEDS TO CANCEL ALL CONTRACTS AND CONNECTIONS THAT HPD HAS WITH ICE BY REMOVING HPD FROM LAWN, FROM LOW LEVEL NON-SAFETY TRAFFIC STOPS.
THIS IS ONE WAY OF KEEPING IMMIGRANT FAMILIES SAFE AND TRAFFIC STOPS HAVE BEEN ABUSED AS A TOOL ACROSS ALL OF TEXAS, AS WE ALL KNOW, TO RACIALLY PROFILE DEPORT AND SEPARATE FAMILIES TARGETING BLACK AND BROWN COMMUNITIES OF HOUSTON.
SO OTHERWISE, ANY CONTINUED CONTRACTS OF HBD AND ICE IS JUST ANOTHER PART OF THE STATE'S WAR ON POOR PEOPLE.
AND WHEN IMMIGRANTS SHOULD, WHEN IMMIGRANTS HAVE SHOULDER THE BURDEN MAKING THIS COUNTRY A HEAVEN FOR THE WHITE MAN.
NEXT KATHERINE MEZA TO BE FOLLOWED BY DAVID SONS.
HI, I'M KATIE MEZA WITH THE IMMIGRANT LEGAL RESOURCE CENTER AND THE HOUSTON LEADS COALITION.
A GROUP OF OVER 30 ORGANIZATIONS FIGHTING FOR HOUSTON, UH, IN WHICH WE DON'T HAVE TO FEAR THE DEPORTATION OF OUR FAMILY, FRIENDS, AND NEIGHBORS.
THERE'S A LOT OF MISINFORMATION ABOUT TEXAS
[00:55:01]
STATE LAW REGARDING LOCAL COLLABORATION WITH ICE.SO I WANT EVERYONE HERE TODAY TO UNDERSTAND ONE THING THAT MY ORGANIZATION HAS DONE EXTENSIVE LEGAL RESEARCH ON.
A HUGE AMOUNT OF THIS COLLABORATION IN TEXAS IS AT THE DISCRETION OF LOCAL GOVERNMENT AND LAW ENFORCEMENT, MEANING IT GOES ABOVE AND BEYOND THE REQUIREMENTS OF STATE LAW.
WHAT IS TRUE IS THAT WE DO HAVE TO BRING OUR EXPERIENCE TOGETHER TO FIND WHAT WILL WORK BEST FOR OUR COMMUNITY UNDER SOME EXISTING LIMITATIONS.
AND THAT'S WHY HOUSTON LEADS WORKS AS A COALITION.
WE BRING TOGETHER MEMBER BASED ORGANIZATIONS, ADVOCACY ORGANIZATIONS, LEGAL ORGANIZATIONS, AND INDIVIDUAL IMPACTED COMMUNITY MEMBERS, ALL OF WHICH HAVE SOMETHING DIFFERENT TO BRING TO THE TABLE.
SO IN THAT SAME SPIRIT, I ASK EACH OF YOU TO MEET WITH OUR COALITION TO WORK OUT SOLUTIONS THAT WILL BEST PROTECT OUR COMMUNITY.
IF HOUSTON TRULY STANDS WITH IMMIGRANT COMMUNITY MEMBERS, WE MUST MAKE IT OUR UTMOST PRIORITY TO PUT AN ANY DISCRETIONARY COLLABORATION.
ALL HOUSTONIANS SHOULD BE SAFE TO LIVE THEIR LIVES.
IF EVEN ONE PERSON HAS RISK OF BEING TORN AWAY BY THE COMMUNITY, BY DEPORTATION, WE ALL LIVE FEARING THAT THROUGH THE STORY OF KILMORE ABREGO GARCIA, THE NIGHTMARE THAT AWAITS ANYBODY DETAINED BY ICE TO MAKE OUR BLOOD BOIL.
THE FACT THAT ANY INTERACTION WITH THE POLICE CAN LEAD TO SUCH SUFFER AND CREATE FEAR IN ALL OF US.
THIS IS ANTITHETICAL TO WHAT HOUSTON, TEXAS, AND THE UNITED STATES CLAIMS TO STAND FOR.
YOU HAVE THE POWER TO PREVENT THESE TRAGEDIES OCCURRING TO HOUSTON IN THE COLLABORATION BETWEEN HPD AND ICE.
AND STOP AVAILABLE A S FROM OPERATING IN HOUSTON.
MAKE HOUSTON SAVER FOR ALL AND RETURN DIGNITY TO EVERYONE LIVING HERE.
THANK YOU, ALANDRA AND DRIVING BEAT LOFTON.
MY NAME IS AANDRA AND I'M HERE AS A PROUD HOUSTONIAN TO EXPRESS MY STRONG OPPOSITION TO OUR CITY'S COLLABORATION WITH ICE.
I WAS BORN AND RAISED IN THE CITY.
HOUSTON IS MY HOME AND IT DEEPLY PAINS ME TO SEE IT PLAY A ROLE IN SUPPORTING THE HARMFUL, OFTEN INHUMANE POLICIES DRIVEN BY A FEDERAL GOVERNMENT, STATE GOVERNMENT, AND EVEN AT THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT LEVEL AS WE'RE SEEING RIGHT NOW.
THESE POLICIES DO NOT REFLECT THE VALUES OF A DIVERSE AND RESILIENT COMMUNITY THAT MAKE UP THE CITY.
IT'S OUR COMMUNITIES THAT HAVE ALWAYS PROTECTED AND UPLIFTED ONE ANOTHER, ESPECIALLY WHEN BROADER SYSTEMS HAVE FAILED US.
AND NOW I SEE REPORTS OF POLICE CALLING ICE ON SURVIVORS OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE IN MY OWN CITY.
WE HAVE THE RESPONSIBILITY TO PROTECT OUR OWN, TO PRIORITIZE THE WELLBEING OF OUR RESIDENTS OVER FEAR, OVER PUNISHMENT, AND OVER POLITICS.
ENDING HOUSTON'S COOPERATION WITH ICE IS NOT JUST A POLICY, POLICY DECISION, IT'S A MORAL ONE.
YOUR CONSTITUENTS DESERVE BETTER.
HELLO, MY NAME IS DRIA LOFTON AND I'M A BUSINESS OWNER IN HOUSTON, TEXAS.
WE HAVE A HOMELESS INVASION AND I'M ASKING FOR THE CITY TO HELP.
I ASKED THE COUNCIL MEMBER MARTINEZ, WHO ADVISED ME THERE'S NOTHING HE CAN DO.
I'VE CALLED HPD, I'VE CALLED THE CONSTABLES, I'VE CALLED HOBBY DISTRICT, WHO'S SUPPOSED TO BE A MANAGEMENT TEAM FOR OUR DISTRICT.
HE'S DEFECATING, URINATING AND, UH, E*********G ALL AROUND.
SO I'M ASKING, PLEASE, CAN I GET THE CITY TO GET ME SOME HELP OUT HERE FOR THIS INDIVIDUAL THAT'S A HEALTH HAZARD TO ME FOR THE WHOLE COMMUNITY.
AND HE'S DOING IT EVERY DAY, TWO AND THREE TIMES A DAY.
SO I'M ASKING THE CITY TO PLEASE GIVE ME SOME HELP.
GIVE THAT GENTLEMAN, UH, LEWIS ON THE FRONT ROW YOUR, UH, THE ADDRESS.
UM, AND YOU CAN, YOU CAN STILL GIVE, UH, LUIS YOUR CONTACT AS WELL.
UH, BUT JUST, YOU KNOW, WE'VE BEEN HAVING CONVERSATIONS.
YOU'VE BEEN SPEAKING WITH JUAN PABLO, WHO'S ALSO HERE AND STEP OUT AS WELL WITH LUIS.
UH, WE'VE HAVE JERRY CONSTABLE JERRY GARCIA, WHO HAS A ONE MAN HOT TEAM, HOMELESS OUTREACH TEAM.
WE'RE CONTINUING TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE GOING OUT THERE.
THEY REMOVE THE BUS SHELTER AS LOFTON.
[01:00:01]
UH, WE JUST, I KNOW IT'S A, IT'S A TOUGH THING.IT'S A, IT'S A HARD, IT'S A DIFFICULT CHALLENGE WHENEVER YOU'RE DEALING WITH, UH, OR YOU HAVING CH I'M LOSING CUSTOMERS BEHIND THIS WHEN YOU'RE HAVING A WORK, WORK TO, UH, FIND THAT SUPPORT FOR SOMEBODY THAT'S MENTALLY ILL AS WELL.
AND SO, WELL HE IS NOT MENTALLY ILL.
SO WHAT WE'LL CONTINUE TO DO IS WE'LL MAKE SURE THAT H HPDS OUT THERE AND MAKE SURE THAT THEIR HOMELESS OUTREACH TEAM IS CONTINUING TO PROVIDE THE SERVICES THAT THEY, THEY NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT HE, FOR HIM TO BE ABLE TO, UH, BE REMOVED FROM THAT SPECIFIC LOCATION AS WELL.
SO WE'VE BEEN THROUGH THIS A WHOLE YEAR NOW.
AND ALL I'M ASKING THE CITY TO DO IS GIVE ME SOME HELP WITH THIS.
WE'RE CONTINUOUSLY WORKING ON IT.
WE'RE CONTINUOUSLY WORKING ON THIS.
MS. LA YOU'RE NOT WORKING ON IT.
IF YOU GIVE THIS GENTLEMAN YOUR ADDRESS, YOU'LL SEE A DIFFERENCE.
REGINALD REGINALD LOFTON TO BE FOLLOWED BY THOMAS SUTHERLAND.
UH, MY NAME IS REGINALD LOFTON.
WE ARE THE OWNERS OF A RETAIL CENTER AND A RESTAURANT CALLED LORD HAVE MERCY IN HOUSTON, UH, SOUTHEAST HOUSTON.
UH, I KIND OF WANTED TO REITERATE ON WHAT SHE WAS SPEAKING OF PERTAINING TO, UH, TRYING TO GET SOME HELP.
WE HAVE THE HOUSTON HOBBY DISTRICT IN OUR AREA, AND EVERY TIME WE CALL THEM, UH, UH, FROM MY UNDERSTANDING, THEY ARE SUPPOSED TO BE ENHANCING THE COMMUNITY.
THEY'RE SUPPOSED TO BE THERE DOING THINGS LIKE THIS.
THEY'RE RECEIVING SUPPLEMENTAL SERVICE SUPPLEMENTAL FEES TO DO A SUPPLEMENTAL SERVICE.
BUT EVERY TIME WE CALL THEM, THEY POINT AT THE CITY OF HOUSTON.
CALL CALL NINE ONE ONE CALL HPD CALL METRO.
WE'RE TRYING TO FIND OUT WHAT ARE WE PAYING YOU PROPERTY TAXES FOR? WHAT IS IT THAT YOU'RE GONNA DO THAT THEY, THEY REALLY DON'T WANNA DO ANYTHING.
UM, IT HAS COME TO THE POINT TO WHERE THEY DON'T EVEN WANT TO HEAR YOU COMPLAIN ABOUT IT.
UH, THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR FOR HOUSTON, UH, HOBBY DISTRICT HAS TAKEN IT UPON HERSELF TO HIRE A CONSULTING FIRM THAT SHE OWNS.
HOW IS THAT NOT ILLEGAL? HOW IS IT NOT A CONFLICT OF INTEREST? THANK YOU.
NEXT THOMAS SUTHERLAND TO BE FOLLOWED BY NELO AZAR.
GOOD EVENING COUNCIL MEMBERS, MAYOR WHITMER, MEMBERS OF THE COMMUNITY.
I WAS BORN IN COUNCILWOMAN CASTEX TATUM'S DISTRICT, AND I CURRENTLY RESIDE IN COUNCILWOMAN HOFFMAN'S DISTRICT.
FROM A YOUNG AGE, I WAS RAISED TO BELIEVE THAT HOUSTON STATUS AS A CENTER OF GLOBAL MIGRATION IS A NET POSITIVE.
OUR IMMIGRANT COMMUNITIES ARE THE LIFEBLOOD OF THIS CITY.
I WAS APPALLED WHEN I FOUND OUT ABOUT ICE'S RELATIONSHIP WITH HPD AND I AM FRANKLY DISGUSTED BY CITY COUNCIL'S COMPLICITY IN THIS MATTER.
NOT ONLY DOES HPDS COLLABORATION WITH ICE STAND AGAINST EVERYTHING, I BELIEVE IT MAKES OUR COMMUNITIES LESS SAFE.
I AM CALLING ON THIS COUNCIL TO ACT IN THE INTERESTS OF OUR IMMIGRANT POPULATION.
MATCH HARRIS COUNTY'S CONTRIBUTION TO THE ILSF AND OF AVELOS AIRLINES CONTRACT AT HOBBY AIRPORT.
BRING US SOME TRANSPARENCY BETWEEN HPD AND ICE AND THEIR RELATIONSHIP AND WORK WITH COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS LIKE HOUSTON LEE, YOUR TIME HAS INSPIRED TO MAKE OUR COMMUNITY SAFE AGAIN.
GOOD EVENING, COUNCIL MEMBERS, HOUSTONIANS ARE BEING BETRAYED.
A WOMAN IN OUR CITY SUFFERING FROM DOMESTIC ABUSE CALLED THE POLICE FOR HELP.
AND INSTEAD OF PROTECTION, HBT TRIED TO HIDE HER OVER TO ICE.
HER BRAVERY WAS MET WITH PUNISHMENT AND NOW HER NEIGHBORS LIVE IN FEAR.
AND NOW WHEN CRIMES, UH, OCCUR, VICTIMS STAY SILENT.
TOO MANY PEOPLE DON'T DIAL 9 1 1.
NOT BECAUSE, BECAUSE THEY DON'T NEED HELP, BUT BECAUSE THEY BELIEVE HPT WILL TREAT THEM AS SUBSTAN SUSPECTS FOR DEPORTATION INSTEAD OF AS MEMBERS OF THE COMMUNITY WHO DESERVE SAFETY, THESE PRACTICES MAKE OUR CITY LESS SAFE.
HPD ALREADY TAKES UP AN ABSURDLY HIGH SLICE OF THE BUDGET, ALMOST 50%.
AND YET, INSTEAD OF FOCUSING ON SOLVING CRIMES AND BUILDING TRUST, THEY'RE DRIVING FAMILIES INTO HIDING.
WHOSE SAFETY ARE THEY SERVING? I SHOULD NOT HAVE A BACK DOOR INTO OUR CITY.
I'M CALLING ON THIS COUNCIL TO IMPLEMENT PRIVACY PROTECTIONS TO THE EXTENT NOT REQUIRED BY SENATE BILL FOUR.
THIS MEANS NON-CRIMINAL RECORDS SHOULDN'T BE VOLUNTARILY HANDED OVER TO TARGET FAMILIES, INCLUDING SCHOOL ENROLLMENTS, MEDICAL VISITS, AND CERTAINLY A CRY FOR HELP
[01:05:01]
WITH THE RESOURCES THE HPD IS GETTING.WE AS OF A DEPARTMENT THAT STANDS WITH THE PEOPLE NOT AGAINST THEM, YOUR TIME HAS EXPIRED.
I AM A COMMUNITY ORGANIZER IN THE GREATER HOUSTON AREA.
I'M HERE TODAY IN SOLIDARITY WITH THE PEOPLE OF HOUSTON.
YOUR CONSTITUENTS TO RESPECTFULLY CALL ON THIS BODY TO END THE COLLABORATION BETWEEN HPD AND ICE.
HOUSTON IS KNOWN ACROSS THE COUNTRY AS A DIVERSE, WELCOMING CITY.
A PLACE WHERE IMMIGRANTS AND REFUGEES HAVE BUILT LIVES, RAISED FAMILIES, AND CONTRIBUTED TO EVERY FACET OF OUR COMMUNITY.
THE CITY'S STRENGTH LIES IN ITS DIVERSITY AND INCLUSIVENESS, BUT THE ONGOING COORDINATION BETWEEN HBD AND ICE UNDERMINES THAT VERY IDENTITY.
TO THOSE OF YOU WHO HAVE PUBLICLY IDENTIFIED AS CHAMPIONS OF PROGRESS AND EQUITY, ESPECIALLY DURING THE CAMPAIGN SEASON, THIS IS A MOMENT TO LIVE UP TO THOSE COMMIT COMMITMENTS.
CAMPAIGN PROMISES MEAN LITTLE WITHOUT FOLLOW THROUGH.
STANDING UP FOR IMMIGRANTS IMMIGRANT COMMUNITIES IS NOT A RADICAL ACT.
IT IS A GOOD MORAL OBLIGATION AND REFLECTIONS OF OUR CITY'S CORE VALUES.
MAYOR WHITMEYER, WHEN I FIRST MET YOU AT THE TEXAS LEGISLATURE, YOU SPOKE WITH DEEP CONVICTION ABOUT BUILDING A BETTER FUTURE FOR OUR CITY AND STATE.
AS FELLOW ALUMNI OF AN INSTITUTION THAT REPRESENTS DIVERSITY AND RESILIENCE, I URGE YOU TO CARRY THAT SAME ENERGY.
THANK YOU TO WYNN, TO BE FOLLOWED BY CARTER JEFFERSON.
I'M AN ORGANIZER WITH THE DEMOCRATIC SOCIALIST OF AMERICAN.
I WANNA SAY I'M VERY THANKFUL FOR A COUNCIL MEMBER THAT STANDS UP FOR PALESTINE, FOR IMMIGRANT RIGHTS FOR THE RIGHT TO PROTEST IN THIS COUNTRY.
BECAUSE ACROSS THE COUNTRY RIGHT NOW WE SEE CITIES COMING UNDER OCCUPATION.
THE SAME THREATS HAVE BEEN MADE TO CHICAGO, LA, AND NEW YORK.
THERE'S A MAJOR CITY THAT STANDS OUT AS AN OUTLIER AND THAT'S HOUSTON AND I'D WAGERED.
THE REASON WHY IS BECAUSE EVEN WITHOUT OUTRIGHT, EVEN WITH ITS COLLABORATION OF ICE, JOHN WHITMEYER REFUSES TO EVEN SUGGEST THAT HE REF COLLAB WILL COLLABORATE WITH ICE.
THERE'S NOT EVEN THE INSINUATION TO PROTECT IMMIGRANTS.
WHENEVER WE CALL HPD, THEY THROW US TO THE MAYOR'S OFFICE.
WHEN WE CALL THE MAYOR'S OFFICE, THEY TELL US TO GO TO THE THE HPDS OFFICE.
THERE IS NO CLARITY IN THIS CITY.
IN WORLD WAR I, MANY CITIES ADOPTED A POLICY OF BEING OPEN CITIES TO AVOID BEING CONQUERED.
THEY WOULD SIMPLY ELECT THE ENEMY IN AND OCCUPY THE CITY.
AND I'D LIKE TO ASK JOHN WHITMEYER, OUR MAYOR, IS THIS AN OPEN CITY? ARE WE ALREADY UNDER OCCUPATION? BECAUSE IT SEEMS THAT THAT'S EXACTLY WHAT'S HAPPENING.
HPD IS COLLABORATING ABOVE AND BEYOND ATTACKING PALESTINE PROTESTERS WHEN CHILDREN'S BRAINS ARE ON GROUND, PALESTINE AND CHILDREN ARE IN, THERE IS NO ANSWER BUT JUSTICE.
ALRIGHT, I'M HERE TO TALK ABOUT HYPOCRISY.
IF ICE TRULY CARED ABOUT LEGAL DOCUMENTATION, THEN THEY WOULD HAVE RECORDS OF THE ARREST AVAILABLE TO THE PUBLIC.
THEY WOULD HAVE CARS WITH LICENSE PLATES, FACES WITHOUT MASKS AND NAMES, WHICH YOU COULD ACTUALLY ASK FOR.
IF ICE HAD ANY RESPECT FOR THIS COUNTRY AT ALL, THEY WOULD OPERATE IN THE SAME WAYS UNDER THE SAME JURISDICTION AS HPD.
AS CITY COUNCIL, YOU SHOULD CARE AND BE CONCERNED ABOUT THESE ICE THUGS AS THEY ATTEMPT TO INFILTRATE YOUR POLICE FORCES AND DETAIN NONVIOLENT PEOPLE AS THEY GO ABOUT THEIR DAYS GOING TO SCHOOLS, HOSPITALS, COURT HEARINGS, AND CHURCHES.
YES, THEY HAVE DETAINED PASTORS AT THEIR OWN CHURCHES.
70% OF DETAINEES HAVE COMMITTED NO VIOLENT CRIMES, NO CRIMES AT ALL.
THEREFORE, CITY COUNCIL SHOULD BE WORKING TOWARDS SEVERING TIES WITH ICE AND DISCOURAGE POLICE CHIEF DIAZ FROM WORKING WITH THIS CORRUPTION.
FURTHERMORE, WE NEED A VELO AIRLINES REMOVED FROM HOUSTON AIRPORTS.
WE NEED TO FOCUS MORE FUNDING TOWARDS THINGS THAT ACTUALLY BENEFIT THE CITY, SUCH AS COMBATING HOMELESSNESS WITH MAYOR WHITMEYER RATHER THAN FURTHER DISPLACING HARDWORKING IMMIGRANTS.
MIKEL COLE TO BE FOLLOWED BY MARISSA BOSLEY.
ALRIGHT, THANKS DEAR COUNCIL MEMBERS, MAYOR WHITMEYER.
I'M A HOUSTON RESIDENT AND FACULTY IN THE COLLEGE OF EDUCATION AT THE UNIVERSITY OF HOUSTON.
ALTHOUGH TONIGHT I'M HERE TO SPEAK AS A PRIVATE PRESIDENT.
UH, HOUSTON IS BEAUTIFUL PRECISELY BECAUSE OF ITS FLOURISHING.
DIVERSITY AND IMMIGRANTS ARE A CRUCIAL PART OF WHO WE ARE.
ROUGHLY 25% OF HOUSTON RESIDENTS ARE FOREIGN BORN.
30% OF ALL WORKING AGE CITIZENS ARE FOREIGN BORN.
[01:10:02]
OF ALL STEM WORKERS IN HOUSTON ARE FOREIGN.BORN IN 2021, IMMIGRANT FAMILIES IN HOUSTON CONTRIBUTED $50.2 BILLION TO COLLECTIVE SPENDING POWER AND TOGETHER PAID $5.2 BILLION IN TAXES AT THE STATE AND LOCAL LEVEL AND 11.1 BILLION IN FEDERAL TAXES.
TO SAY THE VERY LEAST, IMMIGRANTS REPRESENT A CRUCIAL PART OF THE BEATING HEART OF OUR COMMUNITY.
AND NOW MASSED INDIVIDUALS HARMED WITH MACHINE GUNS ARE TERRORIZING OUR SCHOOLS AND CHURCHES AND OTHER FORMERLY SAFE SPACES.
THEY ASSAULT PEOPLE ON THE STREETS, TAKE THEM TO JAILS AND IMMIGRANT DETENTION CENTERS.
AND INCREASINGLY ARE YOUR TIME HAS EXPIRED WITHOUT DUE PROCESS.
BOSLEY, WE BARELY GOT A QUORUM HERE.
WHAT'S THE QUORUM? NINE PEOPLE NINE.
LEMME SEE WHO'S IN TO BE FOLLOWED BY VIRGINIA DUKE.
GOOD EVENING MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL.
UH, MY NAME IS EKE INAN, BUT THANK YOU.
I APPRECIATE THAT TEMPT OUT PRONOUNCING MY NAME.
UH, I WANT TO THANK YOU ALL, ESPECIALLY YOU, COUNCIL MEMBER CASTILLO FOR THE EVENING SESSION PILOT PROJECT.
SO MANY PEOPLE ARE EXCITED ABOUT IT.
I'M TAKING ADVANTAGE OF THE EVENING SESSION TO SPEAK IN STRONG SUPPORT OF THE THREE TRANSPARENCY AMENDMENTS THAT WERE PUT FORTH BY COUNCIL MEMBER RAMIREZ DURING THE TIME OF THE CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PROJECT.
OBVIOUSLY THOSE HAVE BEEN, UH, HAD BLACK TO BE, UH, DISCUSSED SOME MORE AS WOULD BE ORDINANCES.
I BELIEVE THAT THE FIRST TWO WOULD BE ORDINANCES ARE ESPECIALLY CRUCIAL BECAUSE THEY'LL HELP WITH THE FLOW OF INFORMATION, FEEDBACK, AND ACTION FROM COUNCIL TO CONSTITUENTS, AS WELL AS FURTHER BETWEEN CITY DEPARTMENTS.
UH, SO MANY PEOPLE IN THE CITY ARE PASSIONATE ABOUT THEIR DISTRICTS AND THEIR CITIES, AND BEING ABLE TO GIVE THESE PEOPLE ADDITIONAL OPPORTUNITY FOR FEEDBACK AND SPEAKING WITH THEIR COUNCIL MEMBERS WOULD BE REALLY WONDERFUL.
UH, I HOPE YOU ALL REACT FAVORABLY TO THESE WOULD BE ORDINANCES WHEN IT'S TIME TO DISCUSS THEM AGAIN.
THANK YOU ALL VERY MUCH, VIRGINIA DUKE TO BE FOLLOWED BY RYAN ANDERSON.
I AM A RESIDENT OF LINDE PARK.
I HAVE LIVED THERE FOR LOTS OF DECADES.
LINDE PARK IS ONE OF THE NEIGHBORHOODS IN THE CITY OF HOUSTON THAT IS PROTECTED BY SPECIAL MINIMUM LOT SIZE.
WHEN MINIMUM LOT SIZES WERE ESTABLISHED, ANY PIECE OF PROPERTY THAT WAS DESIGNATED RESIDENTIAL WAS TO THE MAIN RESIDENTIAL.
WE HAVE HAD A COUPLE OF CASES WHERE THEY HAVE BECOME COMMERCIAL TYPE DEVELOPMENTS.
IE LAW OFFICES, PHOTO STUDIOS, ET CETERA.
THERE IS NO LEGAL ENFORCEMENT FOR SPECIAL MOMENTUM LOT SIZE.
WHY IS NOT A BUSINESS THAT COMES UNDER SPECIAL AMENDMENT LOT SIZE CREATED THE SAME AS A DEED RESTRICTION VIOLATION BY THE LEGAL DEPARTMENT.
IT CURRENTLY, IF WE HAVE A PROBLEM, WE IT IS TURNED OVER TO PERMITTING WITH ONE OF OUR SITUATIONS.
THE PREVIOUS ADMINISTRATIONS PEOPLE ALLOWED, THE GUY KEPT APPLYING FOR A PERMIT.
SO THEY GAVE YOUR, YOUR TIME HAS EXPIRED.
AND VIRGINIA, THANK YOU FOR, FOR COMING DOWN HERE.
I KNOW THIS IS SOMETHING YOU'VE BEEN WORKING ON, UH, FOR SOME TIME.
AND MAYOR, WE RUN INTO THIS PROBLEM WHERE INSPECTORS ARE NOT WORKING AT NIGHT OR ON THE WEEKENDS AND A LOT OF VIOLATIONS ARE OCCURRING AND THIS SITUATION AND IN OTHERS, UH, WITH SPECIAL MINIMUM LOT SIZES BEING USED AS PARKING LOTS, UH, IN OTHER NEIGHBORHOODS NEAR THE WHITE OAK MUSIC HALL.
SO I, I DO HAVE A MEETING WITH THE DIRECTOR IN A COUPLE WEEKS.
THIS IS A TOPIC I WANT TO DISCUSS WITH HIM, WITH, UH, DIRECTOR MACKAY.
BUT IT IS SOMETHING THAT WE'RE SEEING ACROSS THE DISTRICT WITH THE ENFORCEMENT NOT BEING ABLE TO TAKE PLACE IN, UH, ON THE WEEKENDS AND AT NIGHTS, UM, WHEN WE'RE SEEING VIOLATIONS POP UP.
NEXT RYAN ANDERSON TO BE FOLLOWED BY CAMILLE BURROW.
HELLO, MY NAME IS RYAN ANDERSON.
I AM A MEMBER OF DSA AND A CONSTITUENT OF DISTRICT C.
I'M SPEAKING BECAUSE I CARE DEEPLY ABOUT DUE PROCESS AND THUS THE SAFETY OF OUR COMMUNITY.
BUT I FEAR THERE ARE STEPS BEING TAKEN TO ENSURE MANY HOUSTONIANS DO NOT GET DUE PROCESS IN THEIR LEGAL AFFAIRS.
HPD CURRENTLY STATES IT MUST CALL ICE.
WHEN HPD IDENTIFIES AN ICE ADMINISTRATIVE WARRANT IN THE NCIC DATABASE,
[01:15:01]
EVERYONE HERE SHOULD KNOW THIS IS FALSE.ICE ADMINISTRATIVE WARRANTS ARE NOT THE SAME AS NOR DEMAND THE SAME RESPONSE AS AN ICE DETAINER.
REGARDLESS, THE HPD HAS SIGNALED THEY WOULD RATHER CAPITULATE TO THESE UNNECESSARY DEMANDS RATHER THAN STAND UP FOR THE COMMUNITY BY SIMPLY NOT MAKING A PHONE CALL WHEN HELPING A VICTIM OF DOMESTIC ABUSE.
AS LEADERS OF THIS CITY, OUR NEIGHBORS ARE BEING KIDNAPPED, KIDNAPPED AT TRAFFIC STOPS OVER CIVIL INFRACTIONS.
BECAUSE THESE ARE CIVIL INFRACTIONS, DEFENDANTS ARE NOT GUARANTEED A LAWYER, THEREFORE DENYING THESE PEOPLE THE RIGHT TO A LAWYER.
ALL BUT GUARANTEE THERE WILL BE NO DUE PROCESS.
THERE WILL BE NO FACT FINDING.
THERE WILL ONLY BE DEPORTATIONS AS THIS COUNCIL'S COMPOSED OF RESIDENCE OF THE MOST DIVERSE CITY IN THE STATION NATION.
I HOPE YOU CAN SEE THE INJUSTICE IN THIS.
I ASK THIS COUNCIL TO MATCH HARRIS COUNTY'S CONTRIBUTION TO THE ILSF.
MY NAME IS CAMILLE BRO AND I'M THE MOTHER OF TWO CHILDREN IN HISD.
RIGHT NOW, 186 HISD SCHOOLS HAVE NO FUNCTIONING LIBRARIES.
MY CHILDREN'S LIBRARY HAS BEEN TURNED INTO A TEAM CENTER WHERE CHILDREN SIT IN SILENCE COMPLETING WORKSHEET AFTER WORKSHEET.
THIS IS JUST ONE THIRD GRADER STACK OF WORKSHEETS.
THIS IS JUST FROM LAST YEAR, ONE CHILD.
WHAT DOES IT MEAN FOR HOUSTON'S CHILDREN TO LOSE ACCESS TO BOOKS, TO SPEND THEIR DAYS FILLING OUT WORKSHEETS WITH SUCCESS REWARDED BY MORE OF THE SAME? WHAT DOES IT MEAN FOR THE FUTURE OF TEACHING WHEN CHILDREN SEE IT REDUCED TO SOMETHING ROBOTIC AND JOYLESS? LAST FALL, HOUSTON VOTERS REJECTED A DESPERATELY NEEDED BOND TO REPAIR OUR SCHOOLS BECAUSE THEY DID NOT TRUST MR. MILES AND HIS ADMINISTRATION WITH TAXPAYER DOLLARS.
OUR CHILDREN CANNOT AFFORD MORE TIME, MORE SILENCE, OR MORE SHUTTERED LIBRARIES.
I URGE THIS COUNSEL TO PUT RENEWED PRESSURE ON MR. MILES.
BRING HIM BACK HERE AND ASK THE HARD QUESTIONS OUR FAMILIES NEED ANSWERED.
VIA STOKELY TO BE FOLLOWED BY JOSEPH PANZA.
I'M A PROUD AFRICAN AMERICAN MOTHER OF FIVE AND A HOMESCHOOL EDUCATOR IN HOUSTON.
INNER CITY SPORTS ARE LIFELINES IN OUR NEIGHBORHOODS.
THEY TEACH DISCIPLINE AND OPEN DOORS TO SCHOLARSHIPS.
BUT HOMESCHOOL STUDENTS ARE LOCKED OUT OF PUBLIC SCHOOL SPORTS EVEN THOUGH OUR FAMILIES PAY THE TAXES THAT FUND THEM.
I'VE SEEN THIS WITH MY OWN KIDS.
THEY DREAM OF REPRESENTING A TEAM AND WEARING SCHOOL COLORS, BUT THAT DOOR IS CLOSED.
I URGE OUR LEADERS TO CREATE A PATHWAY THROUGH PARTNERSHIPS AND UIL PROGRAMS. THIS IS ABOUT EQUITY, OPPORTUNITY AND COMMUNITY.
JOSEPH PANZA, LEE PERRY, WANDA HAWK.
I THINK YOU ALL SEEN ME COMING HERE.
I'VE BEEN COMING FOR ABOUT THE PAST YEAR NOW.
UH, I, UH, WAS SENT THIS DEED AND A CHECK FOR $21,000 TO PURCHASE MY MENTAL RIGHTS.
NOW I SIGNED THE DEED, AS YOU CAN SEE ON THE BACK.
I SIGNED, I SOLD MY MINERAL RIGHTS TO THIS COMPANY.
I TOOK THE CHECK TO THE BANK AND THEY SAID IT WASN'T WORTH ONE PENNY.
NOW IF YOU GOOGLE CHAD GPT OR ASK ANY ATTORNEY, IS IT CRIMINAL TO PURCHASE REAL ESTATE WITH A FRAUDULENT CHECK AND IT WOULD SAY YES.
SO ALL YOU GOT TO DO, AND WHEN I APPEARED, WELL, WE BOTH APPEARED IN CIVIL COURT.
THE JUDGE IN CIVIL COURT, WHEN I PRESENTED THIS IN CIVIL COURT, SHE SAID, YOU NEED TO WORK ACROSS THE STREET, THE CRIMINAL COURT.
NOW THE FIRST THING YOU'RE SUPPOSED TO DO WHEN YOU'VE BEEN SCAMMED REPORT POLICE, YOUR TIME HAS EXPIRED.
NOW, I'VE BEEN TALKING TO THE POLICE FOR SINCE SEPTEMBER THE SIXTH OF LAST YEAR.
NOW, IF IT TOOK YOU A WHOLE YEAR TO FIGURE OUT THAT I'VE BEEN SCAMMED,
[01:20:01]
AND THEN YOU CALL ME AND SAY, I DON'T THINK YOU'VE BEEN SCAMMED.WAIT A MINUTE, WHAT'S WRONG WITH YOU? WE GOT A PROBLEM BECAUSE I'M NOT THE ONLY ONE.
GET THESE CHECKS, THEY SIT OUT A THOUSAND EVERY MONTH.
AND IF THE CHECKS ARE FRAUDULENT, YOU, YOU AIN'T JUST SCAMMING ME, YOU SCAM IN THE COUNTY CLERK TOO.
BUT YOU KNOW, THE SIDE IS ON THE WALL AT EVERY COUNTY, EVERY COURTHOUSE IN THE WHOLE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA.
TO MAKE SURE YOU DON'T BE BRILLIANT.
NOTHING FRAUDULENT OFF IN HERE.
BUT THAT BIRD SENT US IN EVERY DEED BY CELL DEED SPECIFICALLY SAYS, OKAY, THANK YOU.
WELL, I'LL BE FOLLOWED THOUGH.
NEXT WANDA HALL TO BE FOLLOWED BY JOHNNY JEREMIAH.
GOOD EVENING, MAYOR AND COUNCIL.
MY NAME IS WANDA HAWK AND I'M COMING BEFORE YOU BECAUSE FOR THE PAST NINE YEARS SINCE I'VE LIVED IN MY HOME, I'VE BEEN HARASSED BY MY NEXT DOOR NEIGHBORS.
THREATENED, BULLIED, VICTIMIZED, INCLUDING PEOPLE WHO COME TO VISIT ME.
I REPORTED IT TO MY CITY COUNCIL MEMBER, MARTHA CASTEX TATUM.
I'VE BEEN FALSELY ARRESTED TWICE BY HER.
SHE COMMITTED PERJURY DURING TRIAL AND WAS NOT ARRESTED BY THE FOR BEND DA.
I'M HERE BECAUSE I WROTE A LETTER TO YOU.
I WROTE A LETTER TO EACH ENTITY IN THE STATE OF TEXAS.
THE ONLY PERSON THAT RESPONDED TO ME WAS DONNA BRAZIL.
THE FORMER DNC CHAIRMAN WHO REPRESENTED SEVERAL OF OUR PRESIDENTS.
SHE WROTE A HANDWRITTEN LETTER TO ME, WHICH I CAN GIVE EACH OF YOU ALL A COPY.
TAKING AN INTEREST IN MY CASE BECAUSE I'M ELDERLY.
I JUST HAD KNEE REPLACEMENT SURGERY AND I'M IN FEAR OF MY LIFE.
THAT'S WHY I BROUGHT THIS TO YOU, JOHNNY JEREMIAH, TO BE FOLLOWED BY ROBIN UNDERWOOD.
HOW YOU DOING MAYOR? I LIKE, I HAVE A, A FAMILY HERE THAT'S A FAMILY MEMBER.
I SHOOK YOUR HAND THE OTHER DAY WITH, UH, KATHY GRIFFIN BECAUSE I THINK WE CAN WORK TOGETHER BECAUSE I KNOW FOR A FACT IS ONE OF THE BEST PLACE TO LIVE.
WE HAVE A BUNCH OF GOOD POLICE OFFICERS IN THE CITY, BUT WE GOT ABOUT FIVE TO 7% THAT CANNOT DO WHAT THEY DID.
I WANT THOSE UNDERWOOD FAMILY TO STAND UP PLEASE.
MAYOR, I KNOW YOU DON'T KNOW NOTHING ABOUT IT LIKE THIS.
THERE'S NO REASON TO SHOOT NOBODY.
'CAUSE YOUR LIFE IS NOT IN FEAR.
HIS HANDS DOWN, HEAD TO THE GROUND.
ALL THE OTHER POLICE OFFICERS DID NOT SHOOT HIM.
BUT JUST ONE HAPPY POLICE OFFICER THAT GOT THAT RACISM, SYSTEMIC RACISM, SHOT THE BOY IN THE BACK.
HE LIVED 79 DAYS AND BEN TAR MALE.
HIS MAMA BEEN WANTING TO COMMIT SUICIDE.
WE HAD TO WATCH HER EVERY NIGHT BECAUSE SHE DON'T WANNA BE ALIVE.
SHE'S TRYING TO FIGURE OUT DID THIS HAPPEN IN HOUSTON.
UH, ILLEGAL USE OF A CAR OF HIS GIRLFRIEND.
ILLEGAL USE OF CAR OF A GIRLFRIEND AND THEY SHOT HIM IN THE BACK MIRROR.
I AIN'T BEEN DOWN THERE BECAUSE YOU'VE BEEN DOING A GOOD JOB.
SO I'M ASKING YOU, LET'S TAKE THIS ONE POLICE OFFICER PAY, UH, SEAN PALIN AND INVESTIGATE HIM.
AND IF HE'S GUILTY, WE GOT TO GET RID OF HIM.
WE CANNOT LET ONE POLICE OFFICER CREATE A PROBLEM.
AND HOUSTON, HOUSTON HAS BEEN TAKING CARE OF THEIR BUSINESS, ALL OF US.
AND WE CAN'T LET ME OR NOBODY TO PAY TAX IN HIS CITY.
HIS HAND WAS OUT LIKE THIS HIP.
THERE WAS NO REASON TO SHOOT HIM IN THE BACK.
THEY WOULDN'T LET THE MAMA IN FOR 30 DAYS.
TOLD HER SHE'D COME BACK TO VENT TO HER.
AND I KNOW YOU WOULDN'T DO THAT.
THAT SHE IS RIGHT THERE, MS. ROBERT.
'CAUSE SHE DON'T UNDERSTAND WHY A PHONE OUT HERE AND ALL HIS CHILDREN, ALL THE CHILDREN STAND UP, STA UP THERE, GO HIS CHILDREN RIGHT THERE.
HE DON'T EVEN WANNA BE A FIREFIGHTER NO MORE.
SO MAYOR, I'M ASKING YOU TO HELP US GET RID OF THAT DIRTY COP.
WE DON'T NEED DIRTY COPS IN HOUSTON.
[01:25:02]
HELLO, MY NAME IS ROBIN UNDERWOOD.I'M THE AUNT OF TONY UNDERWOOD.
I'M THE AUNT OF TONY UNDERWOOD.
LET'S TAKE A MOMENT TO REFLECT ON THE PHRASE PROTECTED SERVE.
IT'S NOT JUST A MOTTO, IT'S A PROMISE, IT'S A COMMITMENT, A RESPONSIBILITY.
FROM WHAT I'VE LEARNED, IT TAKES 18 TO TWO, TWO YEARS TO BECOME A FULLY TRAINED POLICE OFFICER IN HOUSTON.
THERE'S A LONG APPLICATION PROCESS FOLLOWED BY SIX MONTHS OF, UH, ACADEMY TRAINING.
AND THEN YOU HAVE TO GO UP UNDER A FIELD TRAINING OFFICER.
I ASK Y'ALL TODAY, WHY DO PEOPLE ON THE STREET HAVE MORE, UH, TACTICS AND DEESCALATION OF PROBLEMS THAN POLICE OFFICERS? WHY IS IT THAT POLICE OFFICERS ARE ABLE TO GO INTO EXTENSIVE TRAINING AND GET TRAINED ON THIS, BUT STILL ABLE TO SHOOT SOMEBODY IN THEY BACK AND IT IT IS OKAY.
UM, THE TRUTH IS HARD TO SAY, BUT I MUST IT MUST BE SAID.
WHEN SOMEONE CARRIES HATE, WHETHER IT'S ETCHING THEIR SKIN THROUGH RACIST TATTOOS ARE ROOTED IN THEIR IDEOLOGY.
THEY ARE NOT FIT TO WEAR A BADGE.
WHEN THE OFFICER SEES A BLACK MAN AS IMMEDIATELY ASSUMES THAT HE IS A THREAT, HE'S NOT PROTECTING ANYONE.
AND THAT'S EXACTLY WHAT HAPPENED TO MY NEPHEW, TONY UNDERWOOD.
HE WAS LAYING FACE DOWN ON THE GROUND WITH HIS HANDS SPREAD OUT.
HE DID WHAT THE OFFICER SAID, AND YET HE WAS STILL SHOT.
OKAY, ETHAN HALE TO BE FOLLOWED BY JERRY REPO.
MY NAME IS ETHAN HALE AND I'M RUNNING FOR CITY COUNCIL.
ON AUGUST 19TH, 27, PEACEFUL PROTESTORS WERE ARRESTED FOR STANDING AGAINST A GENOCIDE OUTSIDE THE ISRAELI CAMP.
MEN AT OUTSIDE THE AN OAL SHARIF CAMP MEN OUTSIDE THE ROSA ISRAELI CONSULATE.
DURING THIS EVENT, A NUMBER OF THEIR SUPPORTERS ACROSS THE STREET WERE TRAMPLED BY HPD OFFICERS ON HER HORSEBACK.
I'M HERE TODAY TO CALL FOR THE SUSPENSION AND INVESTIGATION TO THE OFFICERS, OFFICERS THAT ESCALATED THIS FORCE.
NO OTHER PROTEST IN THE CITY I'VE BEEN TO HAS BEEN MET WITH THE SAME LEVEL OF FORCE.
IS THIS REALLY ABOUT PUBLIC SAFETY OR PROTECTING YOUR ISRAELI BONDS? JUST AS WE TOLD YOU, JUST AS WE'VE TOLD YOU WHEN YOU GAVE BI ABOUT A BILLION DOLLARS TO HPD, YOU WERE GONNA TURN OUR CITY INTO A FASCIST POLICE STATE.
AND THAT'S JUST WHAT'S HAPPENING.
YOU ARE ALL COMPLICIT IN THE RISE OF FASCISM HERE.
ICE OUTTA HOUSTON, FREE PALESTINE.
MY NAME IS JERRY
HOUSTON IS BY FAR ONE OF THE MOST DIVERSITIES IN THE REDS, AND A LARGE PORTION OF OUR POPULATION IS FOREIGN BORN.
ANYONE WHO IS IN HOUSTON CAN ATTEST TO THIS MANY OF OUR HARDEST WORKING, UH, MANY OF OUR HARDEST WORKERS RANGING FROM ENTRY LEVEL LABORERS TO HIGHLY SKILLED AND WELL EDUCATED PROFESSIONALS ARE EITHER FOREIGN BORN OR BELONG TO IMMIGRANT FAMILIES.
WITH THAT BEING SAID, HPD HAS BEEN CALLING ICELAND RESPONSE TO PHONE CALLS ENTIRELY UNRELATED TO IMMIGRATION.
EVEN CALLING ICELAND A WOMAN WHO CALLED THE POLICE TO REPORT HER DOMESTIC ABUSER.
THE PROBLEM IS MADE EVEN WORSE BY WHAT CAN BE ASSUMED TO BE INTENTIONAL.
LACK OF TRANSPARENCY REGARDING ANY INFORMATION, UH, REGARDING HPDS COOPERATION WITH ICE.
I THEREFORE PROPOSE THAT HOUSTON CITY COUNCIL ENCOURAGES POLICE CHIEF DIAZ TO HAVE AT MINIMUM, UH, PUBLICLY ACCESSIBLE INFORMATION ABOUT PHONE CALLS MADE BY HPD OFFICERS OR MORE IDEALLY THAT HPD STOPS CALLING ICE ENTIRELY.
THANK YOU, SOLOMON KNEE, SOLOMON KNEE, DIEGO CASTILLO TO BE FOLLOWED BY GERARD LYNCH.
MY NAME IS RO CASTILLO, PROUDLY BORN AND RAISED IN SOUTHWEST A LEAVE TEXAS.
AND I'M HERE WITH THE MAN THAT JOHN WHITMEYER STOPPED LYING ABOUT HPD COLLABORATION WITH ICE AND THAT THE CITY SEIZES ALL HPD COLLABORATION WITH ICE.
NOW HAVING FUNDING ON PAUL WITH THE WORLD'S LARGEST MILITARIES AND WITH TRUMP TALKING ABOUT SUSPENDING PEOPLE'S RIGHT TO TRIAL, I'M HERE TO ASK, WHEN WILL THE CITY COUNCIL PUT THEIR FOOT DOWN? 58 CALLS BEEN MADE BY ICE TO HPD AND WE MIGHT HAVE LIED ABOUT IT WHILE GETTING DONATION.
PRIVATE PRISONS THAT PROFIT FROM ICE DETENTIONS, WHEN WILL THE CITY COUNCIL PUT THEIR FOOT DOWN? 12 PEOPLE HAVE DIED IN ICE CUSTODY THIS YEAR.
WHEN WILL THE CITY COUNCIL PUT THEIR FOOT DOWN? 65% OF THOSE IN ICE DETENTION HAVE NO CRIMINAL CONVICTIONS.
WHEN WILL THE CITY COUNCIL PUT THEIR FOOT DOWN AND ALL COLLABORATION WITH ICE RELEASE TRANSPARENT DATA COLLABORATION AND USE THE HOUSTON AIRPORT SYSTEM TO FORCE HOBBY AIRPORT TO CUT OUT AVE AIRLINES, WHICH MAKES BILLS WITH DEPORTATIONS.
WE'RE A CITY OF LOVE, AND WE MUST REFUSE TO GIVE INTO
[01:30:01]
TRUMP'S FASCIST TAKEOVER.AND THE SECRET, HIS RACIST SECRET POLICE AILEY WOULD NOT BE AI WITHOUT CHINATOWN, WITHOUT US.
NOW WITHOUT THOSE NIGERIANS, MY GUS, MY DOMINICANS, MY MEXICANS WITHOUT ALL MY PEOPLE AND REFUSE TO STAND BY, TAKE THEM AND ABOUT IT.
GERARD LYNCH TO BE FOLLOWED BY AUBREY CON CONTRERAS.
I'M AN ATTORNEY AND AT LONGTIME DSA MEMBER, I KNOW THERE'S SOME GOOD PEOPLE ON HERE.
I KNOW YOU'RE YOU, YOU ALL, THERE'S BEEN A LOT OF REASONS WHY ICE IS CRITICIZED AND THEY'RE ALL VALID, BUT WHAT I WANT TO TALK ABOUT IS YOUR OWN INDIVIDUAL CONSCIENCES.
I KNOW YOU'RE AFRAID, BUT I WANT TO TELL YOU AS A PIECE OF ACTUALLY ADVICE, 30,000 OR 40,000 HISD STUDENTS, MANY OF THEM IMMIGRANTS ARE AGING UP AND THEY'RE CITIZENS AND THEY'RE GONNA VOTE AND THEY'RE GONNA REMEMBER THIS AGAINST YOU AS LONG THEIR FAMILIES, EVEN THE ONES THAT HAVE BEEN DEPORTED, BUT ALONG WITH THEIR FAMILIES, THEY'RE GONNA COME BACK AS CITIZENS AND THEY'RE GONNA REMEMBER AND THEY'RE GONNA TAKE THE NAMES OF PEOPLE HERE.
AND I KNOW YOU'VE SCARED AND I KNOW MANY OF YOU HAVE GOOD MORAL BACKGROUND.
YOU WILL ACTUALLY, PROBABLY, AND YOU'RE GONNA BE TERM LIMITED.
IF YOU THINK YOU'RE TRYING TO HAVE A LONG TIME POLITICAL CAREER IN HOUSTON, YOU'RE MAKING A MISTAKE BY NOT BEING HALFWAY BOLD AND GOING TO YOUR OWN CONSCIENCES.
I'M HERE TO TALK ABOUT WHY I SHOULD NOT WORK WITH A WHY I CITY SHOULD NOT WORK WITH ICE.
AND OUR OFFICERS SHOULD NOT, SHOULD COMMIT TO NOT TAKE CONTRACTS WITH ICE, ESPECIALLY AFTER THE BIG WAVE THEY'RE GETTING.
FIRST ICE IS TAKING INNOCENT, INNOCENT PEOPLE AND LITTLE KIDS RIPPING THEIR FAMILIES APART FROM EACH OTHER AS A PART OF THE LATINO COMMUNITY.
I'M SCARED FOR HUMANITY, WHICH SHOULD NOT HAPPEN AT MY AGE.
I'M STILL YOUNG AND I KNOW A LOT ABOUT INJUSTICE.
FOR THE RECORD, I'M ONLY 11 YEARS OLD.
I KNOW, I KNOW WHAT SOME OF Y'ALL MIGHT BE THINKING.
BUT NO KIDS MATTER JUST AS MUCH.
JULIA BUSTOS TO BE FOLLOWED BY IRANI.
TRAVINO, CAN YOU TELL ME WHAT TO SAY? YOU TELL ME WHAT TO SAY.
YOU TELL THEM WHAT YOU TOLD ME EARLIER TODAY.
TELL, TELL THEM WHO YOU'RE, TELL THEM WHAT YOUR NAME IS.
YOU WANNA SAY ANYTHING? YOU WANNA TELL THEM SOMETHING HOW YOU FEEL? HMM? YOU COULD TALK TO US.
WHERE DO YOU LIVE? HOUSTON TAX.
THE HOLOCAUST PEOPLE ARE TAKING NO.
SO YOU WANTED TO, SO WE WANTED TO GIVE HER A CHANCE.
BUT YEAH, OBVIOUSLY IT'S TOUGH NOW TO DO WHAT YOU'RE ASKING HER TO DO.
SO WHY DON'T YOU, WHY DON'T YOU, GEORGE, TRY.
SHE'S GETTING BETTER AND BETTER.
WELL, YEAH, SHE'S ONLY SIX BY THE TIME SHE'S 21.
WHAT'S HER NAME? OH, UM, HER NAME'S JULIA.
[01:35:01]
SORRY.IT'S REALLY SPECIAL TO HAVE YOU HERE.
THANK YOU FOR COMING TODAY AND WHENEVER YOU'RE READY TO TALK WITH US, WE'RE GONNA LISTEN.
YOU TAKE YOUR TIME AND IF YOU WANNA GO SIT DOWN YOU CAN.
MY NAME IS ANDY TINO AND THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE RAS COLLAB PROJECT.
A GRASSROOTS ORGANIZATION BORN OUT OF SOUTHEAST HOUSTON.
AS A RESPONSE TO THE OPPRESSIVE REALITIES THAT A LOT OF COMMUNITIES FACE ACROSS TEXAS, A LOT OF THOSE COMMUNITIES ARE HERE IN HOUSTON AND A LOT OF THOSE BURDENS ARE CARRIED BY UNDOCUMENTED PEOPLE.
AND SO I WANNA TALK ABOUT A LITTLE BIT ABOUT MY STORY AND WHY I THINK, UM, IT'S RELEVANT.
SO WHEN I WAS GROWING UP, I WAS TAUGHT ABOUT THE BERLIN WALL, AND WE WERE TAUGHT ABOUT HOW OVERNIGHT, ESSENTIALLY THERE WAS A WALL IN BETWEEN THE HOME OF FAMILIES AND PEOPLE HAD SISTERS AND BROTHERS AND AUNTS THAT WERE ON THE OTHER SIDE AND THEY COULDN'T SEE THEM ANYMORE.
THAT'S THE REALITY I GREW UP WITH.
IT WASN'T A WALL, IT WAS A RIVER, BUT IT WAS ALWAYS THE CONVERSATION OF, OH, THEY'RE ON THE OTHER SIDE, BUT THEY'RE STILL THE SAME PEOPLE.
I IMMIGRATED HERE WHEN I WAS SEVEN YEARS OLD, BUT NOT, I'M FROM NORTHERN MEXICO AND I'M ALSO FROM SOUTHERN TEXAS.
NEXT NICK NICHOLAS LEMUR TO BE FOLLOWED BY JESUS NEPO NEPO.
THANK YOU FOR LAYING ME SPEAKER TODAY.
UH, I CANVASSED FOR SOME OF YOU, UH, EVEN AS MEMBERS OF ONE OF THE LARGEST CITIES IN THE US, US HOUSTONIANS STILL HAVE PRIDE IN THE COMMUNITY.
JUST LIKE WE'RE A SMALL TOWN FROM NEIGHBORHOODS LIKE MONTROSE, NORTHSIDE, THIRD WARD, MORE CLOSE KNIT KINSHIPS CAN BE FOUND WITHIN AND BETWEEN HOUSTONIANS FROM THESE AREAS.
THE MUTUAL RESPECT AND TRUST ARE WHAT MAKE HOUSTON FEEL LIKE HOME TO SO MANY COMMUNITIES.
HOWEVER, THROUGH THE FLAGRANT OVERREACH OF OUR FEDERAL GOVERNMENT, VIA MILITARIZED ABUSE OF ORGS LIKE ICE, THESE COMMUNITIES ARE BEING DESTROYED.
FURTHERMORE, THE ALREADY SHAKY TRUST IN THE HPD IS BEING ERODED BY THEIR COLLUSION WITH ICE.
IN JUST ONE MAY OF MAY CASES, A WOMAN CALLED HPD TO PROTECT HERSELF FROM DOMESTIC VIOLENCE.
INSTEAD, HPD PRIORITIZED REPORTING HER TO ICE FOR DEPORTATION.
ASK YOURSELVES, DOES THIS FOSTER TRUST, DOES THIS MAKE OUR CITY SAFER? WOULD YOU COOPERATE WITH AUTHORITIES? IF YOU KNEW DOING SO WOULD ENDANGER YOU AND YOUR FAMILY? YOUR TIME HAS EXPIRED AS CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS, YOU HAVE DIRECT POWER.
WILL YOU STAND UP FOR OUR CITY? WILL YOU DRAFT A RESOLUTION TO END HPD COOPERATION WITH ICE? THANK YOU SO MUCH.
ARE YOU ANTHONY TO BE FOLLOWED BY JEFF HARMON? WHEN DID WE BECOME AFRAID? USED TO BE A NATION OF IMMIGRANTS? WE USED TO BE PROUD OF THE FACT THAT WE STOOD ON THE ELLIS ISLAND AND WELCOMED ANYBODY HERE, NO MATTER WHERE THEY CAME FROM.
AND NOW WE'RE AFRAID OUR NEIGHBORS, COMMUNITY MEMBERS, NOT FELLOW HOUSTONIANS, ARE LIVING IN FEAR BECAUSE Y'ALL LET ICE INTO OUR NEIGHBORHOODS, INTO OUR BACKYARDS, INTO OUR HOMES.
AND HERE IN OUR CITY, WE KNOW IT'S NOT BECAUSE THEY COMMIT MORE CRIMES.
Y'ALL KNOW IMMIGRANTS GRANT LESS CRIMES THAN ACTUAL RESIDENTS HERE.
THERE'S NO GOOD REASON TO ALLOW ICE HERE.
HOW MANY DEMOCRATS HERE ARE GONNA STAND UP FOR THIS? Y'ALL ALLOW ICE INTO OUR NEIGHBORHOODS? Y'ALL LETTING THIS HAPPEN? Y'ALL KNOW WHAT TRUMP IS GOING TO DO? YOUR TIME HAS EXPIRED.
WHAT HAPPENED? UNDERWOOD IS A TRAGEDY.
[01:40:01]
WHY ARE YOU INVITING HERE TO US? HI, I AM JEFF HARMON.UH, AND I'M HERE TO SPEAK ABOUT, UH, ENDING THE COOPERATION WITH ICE.
UH, I THINK YOU'VE HEARD ENOUGH REASONS.
I DON'T NEED TO GO INTO ANY OF THAT.
UH, MY TWO BIGGEST REASONS, UM, I'M AN ACCOUNTANT.
SO THE FIRST ONE I LIVE WITH IS MONEY.
IT JUST SEEMS LIKE IT'S A LOT OF WASTED TIME AND MONEY, UH, TO HAVE THEM CALL ICE EVERY TIME THEY STOP SOMEBODY FOR A MANNER, HONOR, TRAFFIC, UM, OFFENSE.
AND THEN THE OTHER IS JUST INTIMIDATION.
SO ANYWAY, I'D ASK YOU TO END ALL THE AGREEMENTS, CHANGE THE RULES, STOP THE POLICE FROM CALLING ICE IMMEDIATELY.
THANK YOU RICHARD GILMORE, TO BE FOLLOWED BY CHRISTOPHER CATO.
THANK YOU FOR ALLOWING FOR THE EVENING SESSION, GIVING WORKING PROFESSIONALS LIKE MYSELF A CHANCE TO HAVE THEIR VOICES HEARD IN PERSON.
I'M RICHARD GILMORE, A PROUD RESIDENT, A SECOND WARD, AND A STRONG PROPONENT FOR KEEPING POLK OPEN.
SINCE THE SIGNS WENT UP IN FEBRUARY, WE'VE ASKED SIMPLE AND STRAIGHTFORWARD QUESTIONS ONLY TO BE MET WITH UNCLEAR ANSWERS AND A LACK OF TRANSPARENCY, SUCH AS HAVE YOU DONE A TRAFFIC STUDY? HOUSTON FIRST WAITED TO RELEASE ITS TRAFFIC STUDY THAT DID NOT EFFECTIVELY CAPTURE THE IMPACT ON THE EAST END UNTIL AFTER THE JRC PROCESS CLOSED ON JUNE 27TH.
WE'VE ASKED MULTIPLE TIMES, WHY CAN'T THE CONVENTION CENTER EXPANSION BUILD OVER POLK RATHER THAN ABANDON IT? THE ANSWER PROVIDED BY MULTIPLE TIMES BY CEO MIKE HECKMAN HAS STATED IT IS NOT AN OPTION AS IT DOES NOT WORK WITH OUR BUSINESS MODEL OF CONTIGUOUS SPACE.
THIS ANSWER FALLS SHORT AND IS NOT SATISFACTORY.
RESIDENTS DO NOT HAVE TO ACCEPT THIS POOR EXCUSE OF AN ANSWER.
WHEN A LIST OF CITIES THAT HAVE EXPANDED OVER THE MAJOR ROADWAYS INCLUDE SUCH EXAMPLES AS LOS ANGELES, KANSAS CITY, PENNSYLVANIA, AND WALTER E. WASHINGTON UP IN DC SPANNING MULTIPLE STREETS AND ADDITIONAL EXAMPLES AROUND THE COUNTRY, WHY SHOULD CONNECTIVITY TO MY NEIGHBORHOOD BE SACRIFICED? WHAT IS SO UNIQUE ABOUT HOUSTON'S FIRST BUSINESS MODEL WHERE POLK ABANDONMENT IS VITAL FOR YOUR TIME, HAS EXPIRED.
WE DEMAND MEANINGFUL TRANSPARENCY AND ANSWERS.
CHRISTOPHER CATO, DEBORAH ELDRIDGE.
UM, MAYOR AND COUNCIL MEMBERS.
I'M A RESIDENT AND A COMMUNITY LEADER IN THE SECOND WARD.
I AM HERE TO URGE IMMEDIATE ACTION ON THE HARRISBURG SUNSET HIKE AND BIKE TRAIL.
THE RECENT TRAGEDY ON THE TRAIL UNDERSCORES HOW URGENTLY WE NEED LIGHTING.
THET FUNDS HAVE ALREADY ALLOCATED FOR THE TRAIL, BUT THEY'RE STILL SITTING IN THE ACCOUNT THAT WE ASK.
THESE FUNDS BE USED IMMEDIATELY TO INSTALL PROPER LIGHTING TO PROTECT OUR FAMILIES AND PREVENT FURTHER TRAGEDIES.
WE NEED TO TEAM UP WITH PARKS AND PUBLIC WORKS IN A PARTNERSHIP AGREEMENT TO GET THET MONEY TO SPEND ALLOCATED FUNDS FOR THE TRAIL.
IT IS CRUCIAL, MAYOR, FOR THE SAFETY OF OUR COMMUNITY.
WE ALSO NEED ATTENTION TO OUR STREETS.
THE 5,700 BLOCK TO THE 6,300 BLOCK OF SHERMAN AT OLDHAM NEAR THE RAILROAD TRACKS REQUIRES MILLING, PAVING OVERLAY CURB APPEAL FOR AREA THREE, JUST AS IT WAS DONE IN AREA ONE AT SHERMAN IN YORK.
FINALLY, I WOULD LIKE TO THANK LORENA TORRES, MARTHA ESCALANTE PARKS, UM, WITH PARKS IN ARMANDO PENA.
ALSO, THERE'S AN ENGINEER THAT I WOULD REALLY LIKE TO THANK FROM THE CITY OF HOUSTON THAT WORKED DILIGENTLY WITH ME TO REPLACE OVER 17 SIGNS FROM THE EAST WEST ALONG THE TRAIL THAT LETS PEOPLE KNOW WHERE YOU ARE ON THE TRAIL.
BECAUSE AT THE TIME THAT WE LOST THE SIGNAGE DUE TO GENTRIFICATION AND PEOPLE JUST STEALING METAL, UM, YOU DIDN'T KNOW WHERE YOU WERE ON THE TRAIL.
SO IT'S A HUGE SAFETY CONCERN.
MARIO, PLEASE, WE NEED TO LIKE, GET LIGHTING AND IF WE CAN GET AN AGREEMENT WITH PARKS AND PUBLIC WORKS TO GET THIS LIGHT, WE HAVE FUNDING.
I WAS GONNA LET YOU, UH, CONTINUE YOUR, YOUR THANKS THERE 'CAUSE I KNOW A LOT OF FOLKS HELPED OUT.
UM, OH, ALI, PLEASE THANK HIM.
HE GAVE US 17 SIGNS, MAYOR 17 SIGNS THAT WE NEEDED ON THE TRAIL FOR EAST TO WEST.
THANK YOU FOR FLAGGING THE, UH, THE LIGHTS AND THE FUNDING.
'CAUSE THAT IS SOMETHING, UM, THAT WE NEED TO KEEP PUSHING ON.
AND I WILL BE MEETING WITH DIRECTOR ALLEN ON THURSDAY TO DISCUSS THE, THE TRAIL MAINTENANCE.
SO WE'LL BE KEEPING YOU POSTED ON THAT.
BUT THANK YOU, THANK YOU FOR, FOR
[01:45:01]
ALL YOUR ADVOCACY AND THE WORK YOU DO IN THE SECOND WARD.TO BE FOLLOWED BY WILLIE KING.
I BOUGHT THESE COPIES IF YOU GUYS WANTED THEM.
HONORABLE MAYOR JOHN WHITMEYER AND THE COUNCIL.
WELL, KING, I'M GONNA CUT MY LETTER SHORT.
THE PURPOSE OF ME BEING HERE TODAY IS TO ASK THE CITY OF HOUSTON FOR HELP TOWARD BRINGING A SOLUTION TO BETTER SERVE OUR HOMELESS POPULATION.
ONE OF MY, MY PROPOSALS IS THAT THE CITY WOULD ALLOW ORGANIZATIONS TO APPLY FOR RESOURCES TO CREATE AN AREA THAT WOULD HELP THE WHOLE PERSON.
WE COULD WORK WITH THE LOWER LOTS OR HOUSTON LAND BANK TO LOCATE A PIECE OF PROPERTY ACROSS THE CITY.
WE DON'T NEED, WE DON'T, WE DO NOT BELIEVE THE POLICE IS THE ANSWER.
WE KNOW AND UNDERSTAND THAT THEY HAVE A SHORTAGE.
AND BESIDES MOST OF THESE POPULATIONS ARE NOT CRIMINALS.
I WAS ONCE ONE OF THEM HOMELESS IN LOS ANGELES, ANGELES IN 1988.
I BELIEVE WHAT SAVED ME WAS THAT THE FACT THAT THEY HAD A SHOWER, SOUP LINE, CLOTHING, CHURCH, AND MUCH MORE.
NOW I MANAGED TO GET OVER WHAT MY, WHAT MY PROBLEM, WHAT MY, WHAT WAS TROUBLING ME.
AND I SAVED $3,000, GOT A PLACE OF MY OWN.
I WENT ON TO BECOME A CULINARY CERT, GOT MY CULINARY CERTIFICATION, BECAME A HEAD CHEF AT 22 YEARS OLD.
YOUR TIME HAS EXPIRED, WHATEVER, 30 EMPLOYEES.
I JUST WANNA CLOSE, I EVEN PREACHED MY FIRST SERMON ON SKID ROW.
WE STRONGLY BELIEVE THAT THIS MISSION SHOULD BE THE HANDS OF THE CHURCH.
EVERY DOLLAR SHOULD BE ACCOUNTED FOR JUST LIKE ANY OTHER FUNDING.
WE KNOW IT COSTS, BUT THIS PATHWAY WOULD BE A PERMANENT VERSUS TEMPORARY SOLUTION.
MAYOR JOHN WHITMEYER, WE ASK THAT YOU STRONGLY CONSIDER HAVING A DIALOGUE WITH THE GROUPS SUCH AS OURS AND CHURCHES THAT SUPPORT OUTREACH MINISTRY.
THE COMMUNITY NEEDS TO STEP UP.
SIR, WE DO HAVE A COUNCIL MEMBER IN THE QUEUE.
JUST WANTED TO, I KNOW MY, MY STAFF REACHED OUT TO YOU.
WANTED TO SET UP A MEETING SO WE CAN DISCUSS, UH, A LITTLE BIT OF MORE, MORE OF WHAT YOU WANT TO WORK ON, UM, SPECIFICALLY IN THIS SPACE.
UM, IT'S SOMETHING THAT WE KNOW ACROSS THE CITY.
WE HAD A SPEAKER COME UP, UH, THAT IS JUST, YOU KNOW, ALSO SEEING HOMELESSNESS, UM, ACROSS THE STREET FROM HER BUSINESS.
SO I APPRECIATE YOUR WILLINGNESS TO WORK WITH US.
UM, LOOK FORWARD TO SITTING DOWN WITH YOU SHORTLY.
JUAN PABLO FROM MY OFFICE IS HERE.
IF YOU CAN, UH, MEET WITH THEM OUTSIDE OKAY.
AND JUST FIGURE OUT WHEN WE CAN MEET.
THANK YOU FOR CALLING AS WELL.
MY NAME IS WILLIE VALDES KENYA.
AND I'M ORIGINALLY FROM CAMEROON.
UH, I RECENTLY BECAME US CITIZEN AND I'M HONORED TO CALL THIS VIBRANT AND DIVERSE CITY OF HOUSTON, MY NEW HOME.
AND I THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK TODAY.
SO AS A NEW CITIZEN, MY FIRST QUESTION IS TO KNOW WHAT ARE THE OPPORTUNITY, UH, CITY OF HOUSTON PROVIDE TO NEW CITIZEN, YOU KNOW, TO SUPPORT THEIR INTEGRATION AND ACTIVE PARTICIPATION IN THE SOCIAL, CULTURAL, AND ECONOMIC LIFE OF THE CITY.
IN ADDITION, OURSELF AS A RESIDENT REPRESENTATIVE OF AN ORGANIZATION CALLED ORGANIZATION FOR AFRICAN DEVELOPMENT, UH, THAT WORKS, UH, TO BUILD BRIDGES BETWEEN AFRICAN COMMUNITY AND THE DIASPORA.
OUR MISSION IS TO STRAIGHTEN COLLABORATION IN AREAS SUCH AS HEALTH, EDUCATION, CULTURAL EXCHANGE, AND YOUNG, YOUNG, UH, YOUTH ENTREPRENEURSHIP.
BY CONNECTING RESOURCES, KNOWLEDGE, AND OPPORTUNITIES BETWEEN AFRICAN AND DIASPORA, WE SEEK TO FOSTER.
MY SECOND QUESTION, IF I GO PAST YOUR TIME HAS EXPIRED, DOES THE CITY OF HOUSTON CURRENTLY HAVE A PLATFORM OR INITIATIVE THAT FOSTER COLLABORATION WITH THE MUNICIPALITIES IN AFRICA, PARTICULARLY IN AREA OF HEALTH EDUCATION AND CULTURAL COUNCIL MEMBER THOMAS.
UH, THANK YOU FOR YOUR, YOUR COMMENTS.
THE DEPARTMENT OF NEIGHBORHOODS, I DID SEE DIRECTOR HERB S OKAY.
THEY HAVE A, A DIVISION OF NEW AMERICANS, UM, UH, TO, TO ASSIST YOU WITH, UM, UH, HOUSTONIANS THAT ARE NEW AMERICANS.
AND THEN SECONDLY, AS YOUR COUNCIL MEMBER, WE RECENTLY HOSTED AN, UM, AFRICAN IMMIGRATION ROUND TABLE.
UM, SO MY CHIEF OF STAFF IS IN THE BACK.
SHE WILL, UM, MEET YOU OUT THERE TO MAKE SOME CONNECTION SO WE CAN CONNECT YOU TO WHAT WE'RE DOING IN THE DISTRICT TO CONNECT WITH THE DIASPORA AND SOME OTHER, UM, AFRICAN CENTERED, UH, COMMUNITY GROUPS ON THE WEST SIDE.
NEXT SPEAKER, DANIEL ARGON TO BE FOLLOWED BY JERRY SOLIS.
[01:50:01]
I FEEL, UH, THAT I NEEDED TO COME LAST WEEK.I KNOW IF YOU MAYBE SAW THE NEWS, YOU SAW THAT A STUDENT WAS HIT CROSSING THE STREET TO GO TO HIS HIGH SCHOOL.
AND WHENEVER THERE'S A CRISIS OF HEALTH, A CRISIS OF CRIME, THE CITY ACTS RIGHT NOW.
PEOPLE ARE DYING, PEOPLE ARE BEING HIT BY CARS.
PEOPLE ARE BEING SERIOUSLY INJURED.
AND YOU HAVE PEOPLE LIKE THE MAYOR AND AND HIS PEOPLE CANCELING PROJECTS, ALTERING PROJECTS THAT, UH, ARE MEANT TO INCREASE OUR SAFETY.
SHEPHERD MONTROSE TELEPHONE, UH, AUSTIN, UH, 11TH STREET, UH, EQUIPMENT, UH, THE BIKE LANE, THAT, THAT'S GONNA BE PUT THERE.
WE, WE ARE IN CRISIS AND WE NEED TO DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT.
AND I KNOW SOME OF YOU COUNCIL MEMBERS MIGHT BE SCARED TO CONFRONT THE MAYOR 'CAUSE HE MIGHT THREATEN YOU WITH ALL YOUR MONEY OR, OR NOT ALLOW YOU TO SPEAK OR WHATEVER.
AND ONE MORE THING, TWO SECONDS.
I KNOW THE MAYOR'S NOT HERE, BUT I HOPE HE CAN HEAR ME.
WE WANT HIM TO STAND WITH US, NOT WITH EYES, NOT WITH MAGA POLITICIANS LIKE DAN CRENSHAW.
WE WANT A MAYOR THAT MARCHES WITH US.
AND THANK YOU TO THE, OUR COUNCIL MEMBERS WHO WERE AT THE NO KINGS PROTEST A FEW MONTHS AGO.
UM, I'M HERE TO TALK ABOUT PEDESTRIAN SAFETY.
I'VE GOT 40 YEARS COMBINED EXPERIENCE IN RESIDENTIAL CONSTRUCTION, HENCE I'VE WORKED ALL OVER HOUSTON, HARRIS COUNTY, GALVESTON, AND THROUGH, UH, LOCAL UNION 22.
I'VE GOT A LOT OF EXPERIENCE IN THE PETROCHEMICAL INDUSTRIES AND I WANTED TO LET YOU ALL KNOW THAT, UH, A SAFETY VEST, WHICH IS A HIGH VISIBILITY VEST THAT HAS REFLECTIVE, UH, MATERIALS, IT ONLY COSTS FIVE OR $10, WILL, WILL DEFINITELY SAVE THE LIFE OF ALL OF THESE CHILDREN OR EVEN ADULTS.
I SEE IT ALL OVER HOUSTON THAT, UH, WHETHER IT'S THE BREAK OF DAWN OR, OR AT, UM, LATER IN THE EVENING, YOU CAN'T SEE 'EM SOMETIMES BECAUSE OF THE WEATHER.
AND IF THEY WOULD JUST WEAR THAT LITTLE VEST, IT WOULD HELP, YOU KNOW, UH, SAVE THEM FROM, UH, FROM EITHER, UH, OKAY.
NEXT SPEAKER, LAURA CONLEY TO BE FOLLOWED BY KEVIN STRICKLAND.
GOOD EVENING, MEMBERS OF COUNCIL.
UM, LAST YEAR, A RECORD NUMBER OF 345 HOUSTONIANS DIED IN CAR CRASHES.
TO PUT THAT NUMBER IN PERSPECTIVE, EVEN WHEN THE, UM, COUNCIL CHAMBER WAS OVERCROWDED EARLIER TONIGHT, THAT WOULDN'T HAVE HELD ALL OF THOSE PEOPLE WHO DIED IN CAR CRASHES LAST YEAR.
UM, THIS CHAMBER SEATS ABOUT HALF OF THAT.
THE PEOPLE LEFT NOW IN THE CHAMBER.
IT'S ABOUT THE NUMBER THAT WERE PEDESTRIANS THAT WERE KILLED OUTSIDE OF CARS, WHICH WAS 119 PEOPLE.
SO I CHALLENGE YOU SITTING HERE AND THOSE OF YOU IN THE CHAMBER TO LOOK AROUND YOU, LOOK AT THE PERSON YOU'RE SITTING NEXT TO AND IMAGINE THEM NOT GETTING HOME BECAUSE THEY WERE WALKING TO THE BUS, THEY WERE WALKING TO SCHOOL, THEY WERE WALKING TO THEIR JOB.
THIS HAPPENS TO PEOPLE OF ALL AGES, OF ALL RACES, CREEDS AND SOCIOECONOMIC LEVELS.
THERE ARE PARENTS, OUR SIBLINGS, THEY'RE CHILDREN, THEY'RE FRIENDS AND OUR NEIGHBORS.
THEY'RE HUMAN BEINGS WHO ARE LOVED.
ONE OF THOSE WAS 2-YEAR-OLD EMMANUEL MOLINA KILLED IN HIS STROLLER WHILE BEING PUSHED BY HIS GRANDMOTHER IN A SCHOOL ZONE IN A MARKED CROSSWALK.
YES, IT WAS A MID-MORNING TRIP TO THE GROCERY STORE.
HE WAS GOING TO GET A BIRTHDAY CAKE FOR HIS BROTHER.
I ATTENDED THE MEMORIAL THE DAY AFTER.
IF YOU COULD UP YOUR COMMENTS, YOUR TIME HAS EXPIRED.
AND WE'LL NEVER FORGET THE SCREAMS AND CRIES OF HIS MOTHER HAVING LOST HER 2-YEAR-OLD CHILD.
I IMPLORE YOU TO THINK ABOUT PEDESTRIAN SAFETY OVER SPEED OF VEHICLES AND THIS MOBILITY THING IN TOWN.
MY SAFETY, MY CHILDREN'S SAFETY, THE SAFETY OF ALL OF MY FRIENDS AND NEIGHBORS HERE.
WE NEED TO MOVE ON TO THE NEXT SPEAKER.
THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE TODAY.
VEHICLE, PLEASE PRIORITIZE PEDESTRIANS AND PEOPLE OVER SPEED.
OKAY, THANK YOU COUNCIL MEMBER CASTILLO FOR MAKING THIS HAPPEN.
THIS IS WHAT DEMOCRACY LOOKS LIKE.
ON DECEMBER 19TH, EMMANUEL MOLINA, TWO YEARS OLD AND HIS GRANDMOTHER WERE HIDDEN A CROSSWALK.
WE ORGANIZED A PRESS CONFERENCE.
WE INVITED THE COUNCIL MEMBER FOR DISTRICT K, WHO IS NOT HERE.
SEVERAL NEWS STORIES WERE DONE.
WE DISCUSSED WITH THE CITY COUNCIL MEMBER.
[01:55:01]
EMAILED HER OFFICE TWICE.I MENTIONED IT HERE AT CITY COUNCIL.
NOTHING ON THE SAME DAY THAT THE COUNCIL MEMBER FOR RIVER OAKS MENTIONED A LAMAR STUDENT WAS HIT AND A CROSSWALK.
THE MAYOR RACED OVER THERE ON THE SAME DAY TO DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT.
THE MAYOR IS NOT A TRAFFIC ENGINEER.
THERE'S ALREADY A HAWK TWO BLOCKS AWAY WHERE A RUNNER WAS HIT JUST UM, IN APRIL OF 25.
REMEMBER HIS NAME? EMMANUEL MOLINA.
HIS FATHER TOLD THE MEDIA HE DIDN'T EXPECT YOUR TIME, HAS ANY ATTENTION OR JUSTICE FOR HIS SON? WHEN IS THAT COMMUNITY GONNA GET THEIR NEEDS ADDRESSED? THANK YOU.
NEXT SPEAKER VIVIAN SONG TO BE FOLLOWED BY JASMINE AKBARI.
THANK YOU FOR OPENING UP A PUBLIC COMMENT SESSION AFTER WORK.
I'M HERE TODAY TO TALK ABOUT VISION ZERO AND SAFETY.
I WAS JUST ONSITE AT A MANUFACTURING FACILITY AND IN MANUFACTURING.
SAFETY FOR EMPLOYEES AND PEOPLE IS AN OBVIOUS PRIORITY.
ANY QUOTE UNQUOTE, ACCIDENTS ARE NOT ACCIDENTS.
THERE ARE FAILURES OF AN INEFFECTIVE PROCESS.
THIS PAST WEEK, THERE WERE TWO BICY BICYCLIST DEATHS, AND THERE WAS ALSO A KID WHO WAS HIT ON HIS WAY TO SCHOOL.
I ONCE CALL OUT WHERE I'VE OBSERVED INEFFICIENCIES IN OUR CURRENT INFRASTRUCTURE.
FIRST ON LOUISIANA STREET, THERE ARE FOUR ONE-WAY LANES.
I'VE ONLY LIVED IN THIS AREA FOR TWO YEARS, BUT I'VE COUNTED AT LEAST FIVE ACCIDENTS.
THERE'S STREET PARKING ON THE OUTER TWO LANES.
AND THE PROBLEM IS, IF YOU LIVE ON A SIDE STREET, YOU CAN'T SEE THE VEHICLES COMING OFF FROM THE HIGHWAY, I'D RECOMMEND YOU ELIMINATE THE STREET PARKING HERE.
AT LEAST TAKE OUT ONE PARKING SPACE FROM SIDE STREETS.
SO PEOPLE TURNING ONTO LOUISIANA CAN SEE THE ONCOMING TRAFFIC.
SECOND, DESPITE OUR CITY BUDGET DEFICIT, THE CITY HAS WASTED TAX DOLLARS ON RIPPING OUT SAFETY BIKE INFRASTRUCTURE.
ONE RECENT EXAMPLE IS AUSTIN STREET.
ANOTHER MORE INSIDIOUS EXAMPLE IS REPLACING THE MONTROSE TOURS BOARD MEMBERS IN AN ORIGINAL DESIGN OF MONTROSE BOULEVARD, WHICH HAD ALREADY BEEN PAID FOR AND INCLUDED A SEPARATE WALKING AND BIKING PATH.
NOW WITH NEW THE NEW BOARD MEMBERS IN PLACE, THE NEW DESIGN OF MONTROSE BOULEVARD HAS DEPRIORITIZED SAFETY.
SO PLEASE CONSIDER SAFETY A PRIORITY.
VICE MAYOR PROAM, UM, WANTED TO MOVE TO SUSPEND THE RULES TO MOVE UP CAROLINA BUSTOS AFTER THE NEXT SPEAKER.
ALL IN FAVOR OF THOSE OPPOSED.
EVERY DAY HOUSTON PROFITS OFF THE LABOR OF IMMIGRANTS.
OUR FATHERS BUILT YOUR SKYLINE AND OUR MOTHERS TOOK CARE OF YOUR FAMILIES.
MY MOM DIDN'T JUST TAKE CARE OF ME.
SHE KICKED, SHE COOKED YOUR MEALS AND SHE CLEANED YOUR HOMES.
AND TONIGHT, SOMEONE'S MOTHER, IT WILL CLEAN THESE CHAMBERS TOO WHILE WE SLEEP.
BUT NOW, THE PEOPLE WHO BUILT HOUSTON ARE BEING HUNTED, TREATED AS EXPENDABLE BY THE SAME SYSTEMS THAT PROFIT OFF THEIR LABOR.
I'M HERE TODAY TO NAME ONE OF THESE PROFITEERS AVELO AIRLINES.
THEY GET RICH BY ABDUCTING OUR FAMILY MEMBERS IN THE NIGHT.
AND BY ALLOWING THEM AT HOBBY AIRPORT, YOU MAKE US COMPLICIT, CONDEMN AVELO AIRLINES AND DENY THEM OUR AIRPORTS.
IT'S SAD BECAUSE EVEN IF YOU MEET OUR DEMANDS AS HOUSTON LEADS, I KNOW THAT THAT'S NOT GONNA STOP OUR NEIGHBORS FROM BEING HUNTED.
THAT JOB WILL ALWAYS FALL TO US, THE PEOPLE.
WE WILL BE ON THE FRONT LINES PROTECTING OUR OWN.
SO THE REAL QUESTION ISN'T, WILL YOU MEET OUR DEMANDS? IT'S WHOSE SIDE ARE YOU ON? WE HAVE CHOSEN, WE FIGHT.
WILL YOU JOIN US OR WILL YOU BE COMPLICIT? THANK YOU, LADY ORTEGA TO BE FOLLOWED BY ANNA MCN.
I AM A RESIDENT OF DISTRICT C AND I ORGANIZE WITH THE TEXAS ORGANIZING PROJECT WHERE I WORK WITH BLACK AND LATINO IMMIGRANT MEMBERS ACROSS THE CITY WHO ARE DIRECTLY IMPACTED BY HOUSTON POLICE DEPARTMENT'S QUIET COLLABORATION WITH US.
OUR MEMBERS ARE WORKERS, STUDENTS, PARENTS, AND SURVIVORS OF VIOLENCE WHO ARE AFRAID TO REPORT CRIMES, AFRAID TO CALL FOR HELP AND AFRAID TO SIMPLY MOVE THROUGH THE CITY.
THAT IS NOT WHAT PUBLIC SAFETY SHOULD LOOK LIKE.
THAT IS WHY WE ARE CALLING ON THE CITY TO INVEST IN LEGAL DEFENSE AND KNOW YOUR RIGHTS.
EDUCATION FOR IMMIGRANT COMMUNITIES.
HARRIS COUNTY HAS ALREADY COMMITTED 2 MILLION.
THE CITY MUST STEP UP AND MATCH THAT INVESTMENT.
WE ARE ALSO DEMANDING THAT THE CITY TAKE A PUBLIC STAND AGAINST AVELO AIRLINES, WHICH IS PROFITING OFF THE PAIN OF OUR COMMUNITIES.
[02:00:01]
HOLDS A CONTRACT WITH ICE AND OPERATES DEPORTATION FLIGHTS DIRECTLY OUT OF HOUSTON.NO COMPANY THAT RECEIVES TAX BREAKS USES OUR AIRPORTS OR DOES BUSINESS IN OUR CITY SHOULD BE PROFITING FROM THE SEPARATION OF FAMILIES.
HOUSTON SHOULD NOT BE COMPLICIT IN DEPORTATION AND YOU, THE TIME HAS EXPIRED AS OUR MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL HAVE THE POWER AND RESPONSIBILITY TO SAY SO AND TO PROTECT US BECAUSE LIKE COUNCIL MEMBER SHABA STATED EARLIER, A LEADER'S TRUE MARK IS IN HOW THEY TREAT THE PEOPLE.
MY SON FASO AND I ARE HERE TO GIVE THIS, UH, COMMENT ON BEHALF OF MY FRIEND.
SOME WEEKS AGO, MY PARTNER RAN TO ME BECAUSE SHE SAW A STRANGER APPROACHING HER HOUSE.
I LOOKED THROUGH THE WINDOW AND BREATHED A SIGH OF RELIEF WHEN IT WAS JUST A DELIVERY GUY.
BUT THE EMOTIONS WE BOTH SHARED STAYED WITH ME.
BOTH MY PARTNER AND I ARE UNDOCUMENTED.
I STILL REMEMBER THE FEELING WHEN I PICKED UP OUR NEWBORN AND I WEPT.
SOMETIMES WE DON'T KNOW WHAT WE CARRY UNTIL WE ARE FACED WITH IT.
AND NOW WE ARE FACED WITH THIS THREAD EVERY DAY, NO MATTER WHERE WE GO, WE ARE LOOKING OVER OUR SHOULDERS.
NEVER SURE WHERE ICE IS LURKING.
THE FASCIST DESIRES FROM THIS ADMINISTRATION ARE AT OUR CITY DOORSTEPS.
AND THE PEOPLE SITTING IN LEATHER CHAIRS HAVE A RESPONSIBILITY TO THE PEOPLE THAT LIVE HERE.
I HOPE THAT ONE DAY MY CHILD CAN LOOK AT ME WITHOUT WORRY.
HE'S ONLY A FEW MONTHS OLD AND I DREAD THE DAY.
THE BRIGHTNESS IN HIS BEAUTIFUL EYES FADE AWAY BECAUSE HIS PARENTS WERE TAKEN.
ONE DAY MY SON WILL GROW UP AND HEAR ABOUT OUR STRUGGLE THAT PEOPLE STOOD STRONG AND SPOKE FOR HIS FATHER WHEN HE COULDN'T.
STOP THE COLLABORATION WITH ICE.
I AM TO BE FOLLOWED BY CHARLES VAUGHN.
UM, I AM HERE WITH THE RACISTS COLLABORATIVE.
UM, I DO COMMUNITY OUTREACH, BUT NOT ONLY DO I DO COMMUNITY OUTREACH, I AM ALSO A MEMBER OF THE COMMUNITY.
UM, I JUST WANT YOU ALL TO KNOW THAT, UM, IT IS VERY IMPORTANT THAT, UM, THAT HOUSTON DOES NOT, UH, RENEW OR, UH, MAINTAIN A, A CONTRACT WITH ICE.
UM, NOT ONLY WILL IT HURT OUR COMMUNITY, BUT IT'LL ALSO HURT OUR FELLOW COMMUNITY MEMBERS.
UM, YOU KNOW, I AM A FIRST GENERATION MEXICAN AMERICAN.
UM, AND SO MY DUTY IS TO BE HERE TO BE ABLE TO, UM, FIGHT FOR THOSE WHO DO NOT HAVE THE SAME RIGHTS AS I DO.
UM, IT IT IS OUR DUTY AS, UM, AS PART OF OUR COMMUNITY.
YOU KNOW, EVERYONE IS A HUMAN BEING.
AND, UM, I HOPE THAT YOU ALL CAN TAKE SOMETHING FROM EVERYONE THAT HAS CAME HERE AND SPOKEN UP.
CHARLES VAUGHN TO BE FOLLOWED BY GIA LONGWORTH.
I COME TO YOU TODAY AS A NATIVE HOUSTONIAN OF 33 YEARS.
ABOUT 11 YEARS AGO, MY CAR BROKE DOWN AND I HAD TO FIGURE OUT HOW TO GET AROUND THIS CITY FOR NINE OF THOSE YEARS.
SO FAR, THAT'S BEEN MY BICYCLE.
IT FEELS NOW MORE THAN EVER, AS IF THE CITY OF HOUSTON IS ACTIVELY ADDING TO THE BURDEN OF TRAVELING AROUND THIS CITY.
PEOPLE ASK ME EVERY DAY, WHY DO I RIDE A BICYCLE EVERYWHERE? I RIDE A BICYCLE EVERYWHERE? ONE 'CAUSE I NEED TO GET PLACES.
THE BUS AS IT CURRENTLY EXISTS, ISN'T ENOUGH.
AND ALSO I BELIEVE THAT IT CAN BE EASIER TO LIVE A LIFE WITHOUT A PERSONAL AUTOMOBILE BECAUSE I PUT MY FAITH IN CITY PROJECTS LIKE THE TELEPHONE ROAD REDESIGN, AUSTIN STREET, BIKE LANE, POLK STREET, 11TH STREET, HOUSTON AVENUE.
ALL PROJECTS DESIGNED WITH THE SAFETY OF THE MOST VULNERABLE USERS AROUND PEDESTRIANS AND BICYCLES AS A PRIORITY.
WE'VE SEEN WHAT'S COME OVER THE PAST YEAR, WORK PAID FOR UNDONE BIKE LANES, DESTROYED ACCESS POINTS, THREATENED PLANS CHANGED.
[02:05:03]
GOOD EVENING.AND AS A SOON TO BE MOTHER, I FELT THE NEED TO SPEAK TODAY ON STREET SAFETY AFTER A STUDENT WAS HIT BY A CAR ON THE WAY TO SCHOOL.
HERE'S THE THING, I DON'T DREAM ABOUT SITTING IN A CARPOOL LINE BECAUSE THE ROADS ARE TOO DANGEROUS FOR MY KID TO WALK TO SCHOOL.
BUT WE WON'T SOLVE THE ISSUE OF TRAFFIC INJURIES USING FLASHY HAWK SIGNALS AS BAND-AIDS.
I'VE SEEN SOMEONE GET THIS CLOSE TO BEING KILLED RIGHT IN FRONT OF MY EYES TWICE.
DRIVERS JUST DON'T RESPECT HAWKS.
WHAT IF WE DESIGN STREETS IN A WAY THAT ACTUALLY RESULTS IN SAFER DRIVING? ONLY THIS ADMINISTRATION HAS DONE EXACTLY THE OPPOSITE.
INSISTING THAT WE KEEP LANES HIGHWAY SIZED, MAKES US LESS SAFE.
RIPPING OUT PEDESTRIAN ISLANDS AND ELEVATED CROSSWALKS MAKES US LESS SAFE.
THE MAYOR'S WEIRD CRUSADE AGAINST BIKE LANES AND LANE REDUCTIONS MAKES US LESS SAFE.
IT SHOULD GO WITHOUT SAYING THAT SCUFF MARKS ON CONCRETE BARRIERS ARE NOT A BIGGER DEAL THAN PEDESTRIAN IN INJURIES.
YOU CAN SEE SCUFF MARKS ON THE SIDEWALLS OF ANY FREEWAY INTERCHANGE, AND I DON'T THINK EVEN THE MAYOR WOULD ARGUE FOR THEIR REMOVAL, BUT IT APPEARS THAT THE MAYOR'S GUIDING MOBILITY PRINCIPLES, VALUES PAINT JOBS OVER PEOPLE, CARS OVER KIDS.
THERE WILL ALWAYS BE PEOPLE TOO YOUNG, TOO OLD OR UNABLE TO DRIVE, AND THEY DESERVE SAFETY TOO.
ALEX KALIN TO BE FOLLOWED BY RYAN LESTER.
I LIVE AND WORK IN DISTRICT H BETWEEN THE HEIGHTS AND THE SECOND WARD EVERY DAY.
UM, THANK Y'ALL FOR THIS EVENING.
UH, I WANTED TO SPEAK TONIGHT TO ADD MY FRUSTRATION TO THE DIRECTION THE CITY'S HEADED.
UM, WITH REGARDS TO OUR PEDESTRIAN BIKE INFRASTRUCTURE.
UH, MAYOR, I'VE HEARD YOU SPEAK ABOUT IMPROVING QUALITY OF LIFE HERE IN THE CITY.
UM, BUT WHEN I HEAR NEWS STORIES ABOUT KIDS GETTING HIT, CROSSING THE STREET, GONNA THEIR HIGH SCHOOL OR THE CYCLIST THAT WAS KILLED ON EQUIPMENT THIS PAST WEEKEND, UM, THAT IS THE OPPOSITE QUALITY OF LIFE THAT ANYONE IN THIS CITY DESERVES.
UH, AND I FEEL THAT VERY PERSONALLY BECAUSE I GREW UP WALKING TO SCHOOL ALONG FOUR LANE ROAD, SO I UNDERSTAND HOW SKETCHY THAT CAN BE.
UM, AND WHILE I APPRECIATE, UH, CHANGES ON WESTHEIMER TO MAKE CROSSWALK MORE SAFE, THE EXACT SAME STREET DESIGN ON WESTHEIMER IS NOW BEING IMPLEMENTED ON TELEPHONE.
AND THERE ARE SCHOOLS THERE AS WELL.
THERE'S ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS OVER THERE.
AND SO I DON'T UNDERSTAND THE LOGIC BEHIND PUSHING THAT, UH, WHEN THE SAFETY OF THOSE KIDS SHOULD BE THE, THE THING THAT THIS CITY PRIORITIZES ABOVE ALL ELSE.
THANK YOU RYAN LESTER BINDU JOSE TO BE FOLLOWED BY LYDIA DAVIES.
UM, GOOD LAW ABIDING NON-CRIMINALS ARE BEING KIDNAPPED FROM OUR COMMUNITIES WITH NO ACCESS TO DUE PROCESS.
EVERYONE HAS A RIGHT TO DUE PROCESS.
EVEN UNDOCUMENTED PEOPLE, WE ALL SHOULD BE CONCERNED BECAUSE IT'S IMMIGRANTS NOW.
EVEN IF YOU DON'T CARE ABOUT IMMIGRANTS, I KNOW YOU LOVE SOMEONE, FIGHT FOR THAT PERSON'S RIGHTS BECAUSE IT'S THEIR RIGHTS WHICH WILL BE VIOLATED.
NEXT I'M ASKING CITY COUNCIL TO MATCH THE 2 MILLION HARRIS, $2 MILLION HARRIS COUNTY ALLOCATED FOR ILSF.
THERE'S A SERIOUS SCARCITY WITHIN THE POOL OF IMMIGRATION ATTORNEYS AND THE IMMIGRATION LEGAL SERVICE PROVIDERS WE HAVE ARE MAXED OUT IN THEIR CAPACITY.
DUE TO THE OVERWHELMING NUMBER OF IMMIGRANTS WHOSE RIGHTS ARE VIOLATED, THE ALLOCATION OF FUNDS WILL TREMENDOUSLY EQUIP OUR LEGAL SERVICE PROVIDERS WITH THE ABILITY TO HIRE MORE IMMIGRATION ATTORNEYS AND DEDICATE MORE TIME TO MENTORING NON IMMIGRATION ATTORNEYS TO FILL THE VOID.
PLEASE REMEMBER YOUR HUMANITY AND EMPATHIZE WITH THOSE WHO ARE SUFFERING.
TO BE FOLLOWED BY CHRIS MULLINS.
A FEW MONTHS AGO, I SPOKE ON HOUSTON'S ABILITY TO LEAD OR LAG IN THE FIGHT FOR JUSTICE AND HOW THE SAME SYSTEMS THAT DENY PALESTINIANS FREEDOM OR TESTING GROUNDS FOR TOOLS THAT CAN STRIP OUR OWN.
I SET BRIDGES OVER CHECKPOINTS.
YET SINCE THEN, WE'VE MADE IT CLEAR THAT WE WILL DO MORE THAN JUST LAG IN THE FIGHT FOR JUSTICE.
YOU DECIDED TO TURN OUR CITY INTO A MARTYR JUST LIKE THE ONES YOU WON'T ACKNOWLEDGE ABROAD.
WE HAVE A CITY OVER 14 BILLION IN DEBT, CRIMINALIZING HOMELESSNESS INFRASTRUCTURE WITH A NEED FOR RENEWAL.
YET WE HAVE MORE PLANS MADE FOR THE WORLD CUP THAN OUR CRUMBLING COMMUNITIES OF THE EAST AND HOUSTON AS A WHOLE.
[02:10:01]
WORST OF IT IS NOT YOUR FISCAL IRRESPONSIBILITY WITH THE CITY, BUT IS BRINGING THE SAME SYSTEMS, TECHNOLOGIES, AND TRAUMAS TO FAMILIES HERE AT HOME.THE CHILD WHOSE IMMIGRANT FATHERS THAT LEAVE FOR WORK HERE FEEL NO DIFFERENT THAN THOSE WHOSE FATHERS LEAVE FOR BREAD IN GAZA.
SO AGAIN, IF YOU'LL NOT FIGHT FOR THOSE ABROAD, WILL YOU FIGHT FOR THOSE AT HOME? WILL WE USE THE RESOURCES WE ACTUALLY HAVE TO PROTECT THOSE WHO FEED AND BUILD OUR CITIES? STOP THE CAPITULATION AND CONTRACTS BETWEEN ICE AND HPD.
WE HAVE A RIGHT TO PROTECT THE DATA, WHETHER FINANCIAL, MEDICAL, OR BIOMETRIC OF OUR IMMIGRANT WORKERS.
THERE IS NO WORKERS' RIGHTS WITHOUT IMMIGRANTS RIGHTS.
THERE IS NO FREEDOM UNTIL WE ARE ALL FREE.
WE'RE KIND OF A LOCAL ADVOCACY GROUP.
UM, I WANNA START OFF BY SAYING THANK YOU FOR LETTING ME SPEAK.
THIS IS MY FIRST TIME SPEAKING AT CITY COUNCIL.
THAT'S ALL DUE TO YOUR GOOD WORK HERE, ALLOWING US TO HAVE ONE EVENING OR A FEW EVENING SESSIONS TO TRY.
UM, I ALSO WANNA SAY THANK YOU TO CM CAYMAN.
SHE'S MY CM, I'M IN DISTRICT C.
UH, HER OFFICE HAS DEMONSTRATED NOTHING BUT PATIENTS IN DUE DILIGENCE WITH ALL THE REQUESTS THAT, UM, I HAVE SENT HER ON BEHALF OF MYSELF, MY HUSBAND, AND MY NEIGHBORHOOD.
UM, THAT BEING SAID, I'M PRIMARILY HERE TO TALK ABOUT THE CIP AMENDMENTS INTRODUCED BY, UH, CM RAMIREZ.
UM, WE'RE IN SUPPORT OF THESE.
BASICALLY, UM, A LOT OF THE CONVERSATION TODAY IN TODAY'S COMMITTEE MEETING TALKED ABOUT HOW, UM, IS THE CURRENT SYSTEM ENOUGH, UH, WHAT CAN BE DONE BETTER? AND ESSENTIALLY THAT'S KIND OF WHAT WE ARE LOOKING FOR HERE.
WE'RE KIND OF LOOKING FOR A WAY TO SET A KIND OF STATUTORY MINIMUM TO MAKE SURE THAT, UH, WHEN CHANGES HAPPEN, FEEDBACK, UH, GETS PASSED TO THOSE WHO ARE LIKELY TO BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE SUCH AS OUR CMS, AND THEY IN TURN CAN BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE BY THEIR CITIZENS.
REUBEN GARZA TO BE FOLLOWED BY ANNETTE FRANK.
GOOD EVENING MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL.
I FIRST WANNA SAY, UH, UH, SORRY.
I AM A LOCAL CONVERSATION LEADER FOR STRONG TOWNS HOUSTON.
UH, I WOULD LIKE TO ECHO, UH, MY COLLEAGUE CHRIS'S COMMENTS AS WELL AS FIRST THANK EVERYONE HERE.
UH, WITHOUT YOUR SUPPORT AND WITHOUT YOUR INITIATIVE, WE WOULDN'T HAVE A 6:00 PM EVENING SESSION.
SO, QUITE HONESTLY, GIVE A ROUND OF APPLAUSE FOR YOURSELVES.
UM, I WOULD, I WOULD DEFINITELY DO THAT.
BUT YOU KNOW,
BUT THANK YOU GUYS SO MUCH FOR HAVING THIS SESSION.
UH, STRONG TOWNS HOUSTON, UH, BELIEVES IN A PRODUCTIVE DEVELOPMENT PATTERN.
WE HAVE MANY PRIORITY CAMPAIGNS, TWO OF WHICH I WANT TO EMPHASIZE.
ONE OF 'EM IS PARKING REFORM AND ANOTHER ONE IS, UH, SAFE AND PRODUCTIVE STREETS.
WITH RESPECT TO PARKING REFORM, THERE IS NO NEED TO HAVE MINIMUM PARKING STANDARDS THROUGHOUT THE CITY OF HOUSTON.
UH, WE'VE SEEN EXEMPTIONS, UH, TAKE PLACE IN DOWNTOWN MIDTOWN AND EDO AND IT'S BROUGHT A LOT OF ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AND PROSPERITY IN THOSE REGIONS THAT SHOULD BE EXPANDED CITYWIDE.
OUR ORGANIZATION HAS A LOT OF LITERATURE.
I HAVE THREE BOOKS UP HERE IF YOU'D LIKE TO COME TALK TO ME ABOUT IT.
ANNETTE FRANK TO BE FOLLOWED BY IZZY LOPEZ.
I LIVE IN THE EAST END COUNCILMAN S UH, DISTRICT.
I WEAR IT WHEN I BIKE ABOUT TOWN.
I BIKE, UH, FROM THE EAST END TO THE MEDICAL CENTER 'CAUSE PARKING IS REALLY EXPENSIVE.
I CAN DO THAT BECAUSE I HAVE TRAILS AND I HAVE SEPARATED, UM, PROTECTED, UM, TRAILS FROM CARS EVEN WHEN I WEAR THE SAFETY VEST.
THE SAFEST THING IS TO HAVE ON STREET INFRASTRUCTURE THAT MAKES IT SO I DON'T HAVE TO COMPETE WITH CARS.
I ALSO WALK AND I USE A HAWK ON A MONTROSE BY THE MFAH.
I COUNT THE AMOUNT OF CARS THAT JUST GO BY.
THE BEST YOU CAN DO IS GIVE PEDESTRIANS AND CYCLISTS ON STREET SAFETY INFRASTRUCTURE.
TRUST THE EXPERTS, NOT WHATEVER GUIDING MOBILITY PRINCIPLES ARE.
I'M HERE TO TALK ABOUT CONTINUED CUTS TO PUBLIC SERVICES AS POLICE FUNDING CONTINUOUSLY INCREASES AND HOW IT RELATES TO METRO'S FUNDING.
SINCE LAST YEAR, THE CITY ADMINISTRATION HAS WORKED TO UNDERMINE METRO NEXT, WHICH HARRIS COUNTY VOTERS
[02:15:01]
APPROVED BY TWO THIRDS MAJORITY.MEANWHILE, METRO POLICE FUNDING HAS SKYROCKETED.
THE AGENCY HAS ALSO INCREASED COLLABORATION WITH HPD, WHICH AS MANY PEOPLE HAVE BROUGHT UP, HAS BEEN COLLABORATING WITH ICE INSTEAD OF MORE FREQUENT BUSES.
WELL, RESIDENTS IN NEIGHBORHOODS LIKE GULFTON BE TERRORIZED BY ICE AT BUS STOPS.
I WORRY BECAUSE LAST YEAR WHEN DISCUSSING METRO NEXT PLANS ENGULF, THE MAYOR WAS QUOTED AS SAYING THEY'RE LARGELY UNDOCUMENTED IMMIGRANTS.
YOU THINK THEY'RE GOING TO BE WELCOME IN THE GALLERIA.
HOUSTON DESERVES BETTER THAN THIS.
COUNCIL MEMBERS USE PROP A TO TAKE A STAND AGAINST THIS.
STOP THE CUTTING OF PUBLIC SERVICES AND USING OF TRANSIT DOLLARS AS A WALLET FOR A BAD AGENDA.
LEADERS WITH IMAGINATIONS, RANDALL BAXLEY.
THANK YOU, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER FOR AND STAFF FOR AND THOSE OF THE OTHERS THAT, UH, HAVE BROUGHT US TO BE ABLE TO BE HERE TONIGHT.
UH, JUST WANT TO PUT ON THE RECORD THAT, UH, THINGS THAT ARE ALREADY BEING WORKED ON HARDY STREET BETWEEN I SIX 10 NORTH, BETWEEN SIX, NOT I 66 10 NORTH AND DOWNTOWN IS A MESS AND THE ATTEMPTS TO REPAIR IT ARE NOT WORKING.
AND I KNOW THAT Y'ALL ARE WORKING ON IT.
I KNOW THAT THE CON COMMISSIONER'S OFFICE WILL BE TRYING TO HELP Y'ALL AND THAT Y'ALL WILL REACH OUT TO THEM AND EVERYBODY WILL GET TOGETHER.
AND ALSO THE STATE, UH, WILL TRY TO DO WHAT THEY CAN OUR IN ON.
THE OTHER PIECE THAT I HAVE TO PUT ON THE RECORD TONIGHT IS THAT OVER THE LAST 10 YEARS, I HAVE TURNED IN WATER MAINS MANY TIMES THAT WE'RE LEAKING, YOUR TIME HAS EXPIRED.
REPAIRS ARE RE ARE RETURNING THE RE THE WATER IS RETURNING TO THOSE PLACES REPAIRED.
SANDRA WEER, SHARON MARSHALL HALL.
GOOD EVENING MAYOR AND COUNCIL MEMBERS ON BEHALF OF SUPER NEIGHBORHOOD 22.
THANK YOU FOR PILOTING EVENING PUBLIC SESSIONS.
IT MAKES A REAL DIFFERENCE IN ALLOWING WORKING HOUSTONIANS TO PARTICIPATE IN CITY GOVERNMENT, AND IT'S EVIDENT BY THE NUMBER OF SPEAKERS HERE TONIGHT.
SO IT'S VERY MUCH APPRECIATED.
AND I KNOW THE DISTRICT H OFFICE AND COUNCIL MEMBER CASTILLO HAVE DONE A LOT OF WORK IN ORDER FOR US TO BE ABLE TO COME HERE TONIGHT.
AND I SEE YOU'RE TIRED, BUT I APPRECIATE YOUR COMMITMENT TO SEEING THIS TO THE END OF TONIGHT AND HOPEFULLY MORE TO COME.
UM, JUST A COUPLE OF OTHER THANK YOUS.
UH, MAYOR, THANK YOU FOR THE EFFORTS ON WASHINGTON AVENUE.
WE KNOW THAT MORE WORK CAN BE DONE THERE, UH, BUT WE DO RECOGNIZE AS RESIDENTS ALONG THE CORRIDOR THAT THINGS ARE IMPROVING IN TERMS OF BAR NOISE.
UM, ALSO TOO, AS IT PERTAINS TO THE BOOST 85 PROJECT, WE VERY MUCH APPRECIATE IT, GREAT IMPROVEMENTS, BUT I DID SEND, UH, THROUGH METRO A LETTER TO YOU REQUESTING A FEW MORE IMPROVEMENTS TO BE ADDED TO YOUR TIME HAS EXPIRED.
IT WAS A COUPLE OF WEEKS AGO, AND I'M HAPPY TO SEND IT TO YOU AGAIN IF YOU HAVEN'T SEEN IT.
BUT METRO SAYS THAT THEY CAN INCORPORATE THE IMPROVEMENTS NOW, BUT THEY'RE WAITING FOR YOUR APPROVAL.
COUNCILMAN CAYMAN, I SAFETY COVERED IT.
MARY, I JUST WANTED TO HEAR THE REST OF HER ASK IN CASE THERE'S ANYTHING WE CAN DO TO SUPPORT.
THERE ARE FOUR ITEMS, UH, WE'RE JUST LOOKING FOR YOUR YES.
AND LASTLY, UM, THE DIRECTOR OF SOLID WASTE.
HE DID A PHENOMENAL JOB AT OUR LAST WEEK'S MEETING.
UH, WE HAD THREE OTHER SUPER NEIGHBORHOOD PRESIDENTS THERE, AND THEY WERE IN AWE OF, UH, HOW OF HIS CANDOR, HIS WILLINGNESS, HIS HONESTY TO MAKE SURE THAT RESIDENTS TRASH, UH, WERE, YOU KNOW, WAS BEING PICKED UP, THAT THEIR VOICES WERE HEARD, UH, THAT, UH, THEIR PROBLEMS, THEIR CONCERNS IN DETAIL WERE HEARD.
AND, UH, AS A RESULT OF THAT, WE'VE SEEN, UH, AN INCREDIBLE
[02:20:01]
CHANGE, UH, TO AT LEAST ALONG THE NEIGHBORHOODS, ALONG THE CORRIDOR.AND ONE LAST THING, MAYOR, THIS CONCRETE BATCH PLANT AT 1100 NORTHWEST FREEWAY, ANYTHING YOU CAN DO TO HELP US GET THAT RELOCATED WOULD BE MUCH APPRECIATED.
SO, YOU KNOW, CALLING THE GOVERNOR WOULD BE HELPFUL.
THANK YOU, MARGARET POISSANT TO BE FOLLOWED BY MARIE CARLISLE.
COUNSEL, FIRST OF ALL, I WANT TO THANK ALL MY FELLOW RESIDENTS FOR SPEAKING UP TONIGHT AS THE BLACK ACTIVIST BARNYARD RUSSELL STATED IN 1942, IS IMPORTANT TO SPEAK TRUTH TO POWER, AND YOU ALL HAVE A LOT OF POWER, AND YOU HAVE THE POWER TO MAKE THIS A BETTER CITY.
I AM HERE, MAYOR, AS YOU KNOW, AGAIN, PROBABLY REGARDING THE CRIME ON THE NORTH SIDE OF WASHINGTON AVENUE.
WE ARE ALWAYS ONE WEEKEND AWAY FROM THE NEXT HOMICIDE OR THE NEXT SHOOTING ON SUNDAY NIGHT ALONE, NEXT TO MY HOME.
THERE WAS A FIGHT WITH MULTIPLE PEOPLE INVOLVED.
THERE WERE CARS BROKEN INTO AND GUNS STOLEN BECAUSE IT SEEMS LIKE WHEN PEOPLE GO TO BARS, THAT'S WHAT THEY DO.
THEY BRING THEIR GUNS WITH 'EM AND LEAVE THEM IN THEIR CARS.
AND ALSO THE HOUSE NEXT TO ME WHERE THERE WAS AN ATTEMPTED BREAK-IN ALL IN THE SPACE OF AN HOUR AND A HALF.
THE CRIME HAS NOT ABATED ON THE NORTH SIDE OF WASHINGTON, ESPECIALLY FROM 1:00 AM TO 4:00 AM IN THE MORNING.
AND BEFORE MY TIME RUNS OUT, I WANNA THANK COUNCIL MEMBER RAMIREZ.
I WANNA THANK COUNCIL MEMBER ALCORN.
I WANNA THANK THEIR STAFFS AND CAPTAIN KENNEDY BECAUSE I KNOW HOW HARD YOU ARE TO SOLVE THIS PROBLEM, BUT WE NEED HELP BETWEEN ONE AND 4:00 AM WHEN PEOPLE LEAVE THE BARS AND STAY IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD AND COMMIT THESE CRIMES.
REALLY QUICKLY, JUDGE, I WANTED TO THANK YOU, JUDGE.
I WANTED TO THANK YOU FOR CONTINUING, UM, ALONG WITH STACEY TO ADVOCATE FOR THE COURT AND MAYOR.
IN ADDITION TO THE CRIME WE SAW, WE DID HAVE A RESIDENCE HOME WITH, UH, MORE BULLETS THROUGH THEM OVER THE PAST WEEKEND.
UM, AND THAT IS A VERY, VERY BIG CONCERN.
UM, WE'RE CONTINUING TO SEE THIS HAPPEN.
UH, AND THEN ON COUNCIL TOMORROW, I DID WANNA FLAG, UM, THE STATE IT APPEARS, HAS PREEMPTED US WHEN IT COMES TO SOME OF THE REGULATIONS AROUND FOOD TRUCKS.
AND THAT HAS BEEN ANOTHER HUGE ISSUE THAT WE'VE BEEN TALKING ABOUT.
SO WE'LL TALK MORE ABOUT THAT TOMORROW.
BUT JUDGE, I DID WANNA RECOGNIZE YOU AND STACEY AND THE, THE NEIGHBORHOOD AS A WHOLE.
AND I KNOW WE HAVE MARIE COMING ON SOMETHING TOTALLY DIFFERENT, BUT THANK YOU ALL FOR CONTINUING TO BE THE VOICE.
WELL, I APPRECIATE THAT VERY MUCH.
AND AS YOU ALL KNOW, I HAVE HOLLOW POINT BULLETS THROUGH THE SIDE OF MY HOUSE WHERE I SLEEP AND A NINE MILLIMETER THROUGH MY GUEST ROOM.
THE PROBLEM IS SERIOUS, BUT I, I THANK ALL OF YOU SO MUCH.
THANK YOU, ABBY, FOR MAKING THIS EFFORT.
GOOD EVENING, MAYOR WHITMEYER AND COUNCIL MEMBERS.
UM, MY NAME IS MARIE CARLISLE AND I'M PRESIDENT OF SUPER NEIGHBORHOOD 14 LAZY BROOK TIMBER GROVE, WHICH IS IN DISTRICT C.
AND IN THAT CAPACITY, I WANNA FIRST THANK COUNCIL MEMBER RAMIREZ FOR COMING TO OUR MEETING LAST WEEK.
AND I ALSO WANNA THANK YOU ALL AND ALL THE CITY EMPLOYEES WHO ARE HERE THIS EVENING FOR HAVING AN EVENING, AN EVENING SESSION.
I KNOW IT DOES PROVIDE ALLOW ACCESS AND OPPORTUNITY FOR A LOT OF MY COMMUNITY MEMBERS TO SPEAK, SO I APPRECIATED THAT.
BUT I'M HERE PRIMARILY THIS EVENING IN A DIFFERENT CAPACITY.
I ALSO SERVE AS THE BOARD CHAIR FOR OPEN DOOR MISSION.
IT'S A SHELTER FOR HOMELESS MEN ON THE EAST SIDE OF TOWN.
IT'S IN ACTUALLY IN CASTILLO'S DISTRICTS.
UM, WE HELP THOSE, THOSE HOMELESS MEN OVERCOME ADDICTIONS AND RECOVER THEIR LIVES.
AND I'M HERE TO FORMALLY INTRODUCE YOU TO OUR NEW CEO BRANDON THOMAS.
HE CAME TO US FROM THE CITY GATE NETWORK IN A LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT ROLE AND HAS 10 YEARS OF BOOTS ON THE GROUND EXPERIENCE IN IN MISSION LEADERSHIP IN WEST WINCHESTER, VIRGINIA.
AND I KNOW I HAVE SOME OF YOU ON OUR CALENDARS TO COME OUT THIS THURSDAY.
I'VE GOT COUNCIL MEMBER ALCORN, COUNCIL MEMBER DAVIS WHO HAS LEFT AND COUNCIL MEMBER RAMIREZ.
BUT WE'D LOVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO INVITE EACH OF YOU TO COME TO ONE OF OUR UPCOMING EVENTS OR IF THAT THOSE DON'T WORK A PRIVATE MEETING AND TOUR WITH BRANDON SO THAT YOU CAN LEARN MORE ABOUT WHAT WE DO AND HOW WE CAN WORK WITH YOU.
WE HAVE AN OPEN HOUSE THIS DAY, THURSDAY, YOUR TIME HAS EXPIRED.
OUR ANNUAL GALA ON SEPTEMBER 25TH, AND THEN A THIRD OPPORTUNITY THAT I'M GONNA ALLOW BRANDON TO SPEAK ABOUT.
ONCE AGAIN, THANK YOU ALL FOR EVERYTHING.
AS MARIE SAID, MY NAME IS BRANDON THOMAS, AND I GET THE PRIVILEGE NOW OF SERVING AS THE, UH, CEO AT OPEN DOOR MISSION.
UH, AND I'M REALLY EXCITED TO BE IN HOUSTON.
I'VE ALREADY FELT A GREAT WELCOME THE LAST TWO YEARS.
I GOT TO SPEND WORKING WITH A NATIONAL ORGANIZATION SERVING LARGE SHELTERS ALL ACROSS THE COUNTRY.
UH, IN FACT, I GOT TO MEET MINISTER SADDLE WHITE JUST LAST WEEK AND INTRODUCE HIM TO MY FRIEND ROBERT MARBUT, WHO JUST, UH, ENTERED THE WHITE HOUSE WORKING ON HOMELESSNESS.
UH, ON OCTOBER 9TH AND 10TH, I'M GONNA BE SITTING ON A BENCH IN FRONT OF OUR MISSION FOR 24 HOURS AND INVITING, UH, THE COMMUNITY TO COME AND SPEAK TO ME ABOUT HOW WE CAN BETTER SERVE OUR COMMUNITY.
[02:25:01]
WHOLE THING AS AN OPPORTUNITY FOR ME TO HEAR FROM THE COMMUNITY AS WELL AS GET TO KNOW YOU GUYS AND WOULD LOVE FOR YOU AT SOME POINT IN THAT 24 HOURS, UH, TO COME AND SIT WITH ME.I'LL LEAVE INFORMATION ABOUT THAT.
UH, AND, UH, I'VE DONE THIS IN PREVIOUS COMMUNITIES, AND I'LL BE JOINING, UH, 75 OTHER, UM, CEOS ALL ACROSS THE COUNTRY DOING THIS IN DALLAS, SEATTLE, UH, DC, NEW YORK CITY, LA UH, ALL AT THE SAME TIME.
SO WE'D LOVE FOR YOU TO COME AND JOIN ME ON, UH, THE NINTH AND 10TH
THANK YOU MAYOR, AND THANK YOU, BRANDON, FOR COMING DOWN HERE TO EXTEND THIS INVITATION TO EVERYONE.
I HAVE HAD A CHANCE TO TOUR YOUR FACILITY.
UM, Y'ALL DO SOME GREAT WORK OUT THERE, AND, UM, I REALLY, UH, AM GLAD THAT YOU KNOW, YOU'RE REACHING OUT TO OTHERS AND ALSO, UH, INTRODUCING YOURSELF TO, TO THE CITY.
THANK YOU SISTER MAMA SONYA, TO BE FOLLOWED BY TIFFANY VEIL.
I'M SISTER MAMA SONYA, A PROUD MEMBER OF DISTRICT D COUNCILWOMAN.
YOU KNOW, WE BELIEVE KRYPTON AND GOLD GOING TO YATES.
WHEN HE FIRST CAME TO HOUSTON, YOU HAD MIKE MILES THE TAKEOVER KINGPIN OF HSD TO DISCUSS HIS PLANS FOR A SCHOOL DISTRICT.
SINCE HE'S BEEN HERE, THE SCHOLARS, TEACHERS, SCHOOL EMPLOYEES ARE ALL SUFFERING AT THE HANDS OF F MIKE MILES AND THE BOARD OF MANAGERS WERE ASKING THAT YOU HAVE HIM BACK TO EXPLAIN.
WHILE CUSTODIANS WERE LAID OFF AND REHIRED AT LOWER SALARIES AND NO BENEFITS, WHILE THE SHUTDOWN WRAPAROUND SERVICES, SOCIAL SERVICES TO SCHOLARS WERE JUST DISMISSED, WHY DATA IS MANIPULATED TO SHOW THE PROGRESS OF HISD.
WHY SCHOLARS, TEACHERS, SCHOOL PERSONNEL, EVERYONE IN HISD IS DISRESPECTED, DEVALUE, DOMINATED, DISREGARDED, AND DECIMATED BY F MC MILES.
PLEASE BRING HIM BACK TO CITY COUNCIL LIKE YOU DID BEFORE, AND ASK HIM THESE QUESTIONS AND OTHERS I WOULD BE GLAD TO TELL TO YOU THAT'S WHY YOUR TIME HAS EXPIRED SHIRT.
IT'S BECAUSE THIS IS HOW WE FEEL IN HISD.
ALSO, WE, WE WANT TO ASK YOU TO PLEASE COME BY.
PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE, HALF AND BACK THAT THE SONG THAT I SING AT THE END OF EVERY COUNCIL MEET AT AT EVERY HISD MEETING MS. HUGHES AS DISREGARD US.
I HOPE Y'ALL REALLY CARE ABOUT US.
HELLO, MY NAME IS TIFFANY VIA, AND I'M AN EASTWOOD RESIDENT.
YESTERDAY THE HARRISBURG TEARS VOTED TO APPROVE A REDESIGN OF TELEPHONE ROAD BETWEEN LOCKWOOD AND LAWNDALE, A REDESIGN PROMPTED BY NEW GUIDELINES FOR ROAD DESIGN THAT WERE INTRODUCED BY THIS ADMINISTRATION AT A COMMUNITY MEETING HELD LAST WEEK.
THANK YOU COUNCIL MEMBER MARTINEZ FOR BEING THERE REGARDING THIS CHANGE.
FROM A DESIGN TO THE COMMUNITY APPROVED TO A MORE DANGEROUS DESIGN, WE WERE INFORMED THAT THE GUIDELINES CAME FROM THE MAYOR AND NO OTHER INFORMATION ABOUT THE AUTHORS OR THE DATA IN THE GUIDELINES TO SUPPORT SUCH MEASURES WERE GIVEN.
WHEN ASKED, I WOULD LIKE TO REQUEST THAT THESE GUIDELINES BE MADE PUBLICLY AVAILABLE, AS THE INFORMATION WITHIN THEM IS HAVING A VERY REAL IMPACT ON OUR COMMUNITY'S FREEDOM TO MOVE SAFELY AND SETS A PRECEDENT FOR EVEN MORE CORROSION OF PUBLICLY APPROVED MOBILITY PROJECTS.
YOU HAVE ALREADY HEARD FROM MANY OTHERS BEFORE ME PLEADING FOR SAFETY ON OUR ROADS.
PLEASE DON'T FORGET THAT THE PEOPLE ARE THE CITY AND WE DESERVE FULL TRANSPARENCY.
THANK YOU SAMUEL WAGNER TO BE FOLLOWED BY ISAAC AFI.
I'D LIKE TO START BY SAYING THANK YOU TO COUNCIL MEMBER CASTILLO FOR GETTING THE, UH, PROP A, UH, AMENDMENT PASSED TO ALLOW FOR US TO HAVE A CHANCE TO SPEAK LATE AT NIGHT.
UM, I'M HERE TO ADVOCATE FOR THE RETURN OF THE AUSTIN STREET BIKE LANE.
UM, CONVERTING IT BACK TO WHAT IT WAS BEFORE IT WAS UNCEREMONIOUSLY RIPPED OUT AND LEFT AS A OPEN DITCH BASICALLY FOR THE WHOLE SUMMER.
UM, THANKS TO THE, THE REPORTING, BYRON, IT WAS CLEAR THAT THERE'S SOME DECISIONS, WEIRD DECISIONS BEING MADE BY CITY HALL RIGHT NOW.
AND I DON'T KNOW WHAT FEUD THE CURRENT MAYOR HAS WITH COMMISSIONER ELLIS, BUT PLEASE STOP TAKING IT OUT ON HOUSTONIANS.
UH, IT'S, YOU KNOW, SOMEONE DIED TODAY.
PEOPLE KEEP DYING AND WE'RE BEING
[02:30:01]
TOLD WE CAN'T DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT BECAUSE OF GUIDING MOBILITY PRINCIPLES THAT AREN'T REALLY BASED IN FACTS OR SCIENCE OR DATA OR ANYTHING.THERE'S NO NUMBERS ATTACHED TO THESE THINGS, SO I JUST PLEASE RECONSIDER IT AND MAKE YOUR TIME HAS EXPIRED.
UH, I HAVE A SO HERNANDEZ, SHE'S PART OF, UH, MY TEAM.
CAN SHE JOIN ME SO WE CAN BE BACK TO BACK? IT'S THE SAME SUBJECT WE ASK TO BE PRESENT.
BOTH OF OUR CASE TOGETHER CAME, CAME AND MOVES TO SUSPEND THE RULES TO MOVE UP.
UM, JUST, I'M GOING TO TALK ABOUT THE SUBJECT AND SHE'S GONNA COME OFF, NO, WAIT, WHAT'S HER NAME? OKAY.
WHAT, WHAT'S HER NAME? SARAH HERNANDEZ.
TO MOVE SARAH HERNANDEZ TO FOLLOW THE CURRENT SPEAKER.
NOT AT THE SAME TIME, BUT TO BE AFTER SECOND.
MY NAME IS ISAAC FI APPROVE IAN FOR THE LAST, UH, 14 AND A HALF YEARS.
CO-OWNER OF E VITA CABINETS, A MILLWORK MANUFACTURER.
VITA CABINET IS A, IS A WOMAN OWNED MINORITY BUSINESS CERTIFIED BY THE CITY OF HOUSTON AND STATE OF TEXAS.
BACK AT 2022 E VITA CABINETS DECIDED TO GO ON THE ROUTE OF GOVERNMENTAL JOBS, OR, UH, IN ORDER TO HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO PARTICIPATE IN BUILDING HOUSTON AND TEXAS AND GAIN SIGNIFICANT GROWTH WITH THE SUPPORT OF THE CITY OF HOUSTON.
AFTER TWO YEARS, WE RECEIVED, UH, TWO JOBS.
ONE IS, UH, TWO TECHNOLOGY TECHNOLOGY CENTER, THE FIFTH WARD, 76,000, UH, DOLLARS PROJECT, NO DOWN PAYMENT.
WE FUNDED AT THE BEGINNING OF OCTOBER, 2024.
FINISHED, THEY INSTALL IT NOVEMBER 24.
UH, MARCH 25TH WAS THE FIRST PAYMENT THAT WE RECEIVED.
STILL WE ARE OWED 27,000 SINCE APRIL, MAY, UH, 25.
WE HAD BEEN TRYING TO RECEIVE ANSWERS FROM THE CITY OF HOUSTON.
REPRESENTATIVE KATHY TO TOGO TONO AND KATHY FLANAGAN FROM THE FIFTH WARD.
COULDN'T PROVIDE US A STRAIGHT ANSWERS.
UH, SINCE APRIL 25, EH, THE GENERAL CONTRACTOR COMPLETELY IGNORING US.
UM, RIGHT NOW, UH, IT'S BEEN GOING FOR LIKE 10 MONTHS.
SECOND JOB, 16,000 AND NO DOWN PAYMENT.
MY, I'M JUST WONDERING, MY QUESTION IS, WHY DO WE HAVE A SUBCONTRACTOR, A WOMAN OWNED MINORITY HAVE TO COME TO THE CITY COUNCIL TO GET PAID.
GOOD EVENING, MAYOR AND COUNCIL MEMBERS.
MY NAME IS SARAH ESTHER HERNANDEZ AND I'M THE OWNER OF AVITA CABINETS.
I'M A CERTIFIED M-B-E-S-B-E-W-B-E SECTION THREE AND HOP BUSINESS.
I PURSUE CERTIFICATION BECAUSE I HAD THE CITY PROMISE THAT I WOULD BE HELPING FOR MY BUSINESS AND A SMALL BUSINESS LIKE MINE.
INSTEAD, IT HAS LEFT ME FINANCING CITY PROJECTS WITHOUT PAYMENT.
IN 2024, WE GOT AWARD TWO PROJECTS, ONE FOR TWO FIFTH WORD TECHNOLOGY CENTER UNDER THE PRIME CONTRACTOR, GSD.
UH, WE COMPLETED THE JOB AND THEY STILL OWE, OWE US 26,000 440 46.
THEN WE HAVE THE OTHER PROJECT ON THIRD JOBS WORKFORCE TRAINING ON THEIR PAT CONTRACT CONTRACTING.
THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR ALMA PEREZ, SHE REFERRED HERSELF AS THE OWNER OF THIS PROJECT AND SHE DECIDED TO CHA TO MAKE A CHANGE ORDER, USE A THIRD PARTY CONTRACTOR, AND THEN DEDUCT IT FROM MY BALANCE.
AND SHE DOESN'T WANNA PAY THE BALANCE DUE TO THE LACK OF COMMUNICATION, I REACH OUT.
IS THIS BEEN THREE MINUTES? YOUR TIME IS, TIME HAS EXPIRED.
I JUST DON'T GET SUPPORT FROM THE, FROM THE DEPARTMENTS ON THE CITY THAT THEY SUPPORT.
MINORITY WOMEN OWNED A SMALL BUSINESS LIKE MYSELF.
UH, AND THANK YOU BOTH FOR COMING FORWARD.
I THINK MY OFFICE HAS REACHED OUT TO YOU ALL SINCE YOUR BUSINESS IS LOCATED IN, UH, MY DISTRICT.
AND MAYOR, YOU PROBABLY HAVE THE SAME 'CAUSE I THINK WE GOT IT FROM, FROM YOUR ADMINISTRATION.
THAT DOES SAY THAT THE FIFTH WARD COMMUNITY RE REDEVELOPMENT CORPORATION SUCCESSFULLY CLOSED ON A LOAN ON AUGUST 14TH AND HAS BEEN SINCE, UH, GIVEN NOTICE TO YOUR BUSINESS THAT DUE TO GSD USING FUNDS CONTROL A FUNDS CONTROL COMPANY, IT TAKES A BIT FOR FUNDS TO BE DISTRIBUTED.
HOWEVER, IT IS MY UNDERSTANDING THAT YOUR CHECK SHOULD BE AVAILABLE THIS THURSDAY, AUGUST 28TH.
SO HOPEFULLY, UH, YOU SHOULD BE GETTING CONTACT, UH, FROM THE CITY OR PAYMENT RECEIVED THIS WEEK.
IF THAT IS NOT THE CASE, YOU CAN REACH BACK OUT TO MY OFFICE AND WE WILL FOLLOW UP ON THIS TO ENSURE THAT YOU DO GET PAID.
UH, I DO WANNA APOLOGIZE TO YOU FOR, UH, WHATEVER WAS DONE, UH, WITHOUT OUR KNOWLEDGE THAT DROPPED THE BALL AND,
[02:35:01]
AND HAS BROUGHT YOU TO THIS POINT THAT YOU HAVE TO COME TO US AND ASK FOR PAYMENT AFTER AN EXTENDED PERIOD OF TIME.THAT'S NOT HOW WE WANT TO DO BUSINESS.
UH, BUT HOPEFULLY THIS WILL GET RESOLVED THIS WEEK AND WE WILL CORRECT THESE, UH, GOING FORWARD.
I JUST WANNA HIGHLIGHT ACCOUNTABILITY FOR THE PRIME CONTRACTORS AND COMMUNICATION WITH THE CITY DEPARTMENTS.
WILL HILL, STEVE WILLIAMS, HALEY ROGERS TO BE FOLLOWED BY LIZETTE PRESTWICH.
HELLO, MY NAME IS HALEY ROGERS.
I AM AN ORGANIZER WITH THE DEMOCRATIC SOCIALISTS OF AMERICA.
I'M ALSO AN ORGANIZER WITH HOUSTON LEADS AND I LIVE IN A LEAF.
UM, I JUST WANNA SAY THAT THE COMPLACENCY THAT I SEE ON THIS BODY TODAY IS ABSOLUTELY DISGUSTING.
UH, THE OUTRIGHT LACK OF URGENCY IS APPALLING.
AND THE HALF MEASURED ATTEMPTS AT PLACATION TOWARDS HOUSTON, LEEDS AND THEIR DEMANDS IS VERY TELLING OF THIS BODY.
I FIND IT IRONIC THAT ON THIS SIDE OF THE WALL, IT SAYS, THE PEOPLE ARE THE CITY.
WELL, THE PEOPLE ARE HERE, AND THE PEOPLE ARE HERE TELLING YOU TODAY WHAT IS HAPPENING IN OUR COMMUNITIES AND WHAT HPDS COLLABORATION WITH ICE USING THE NCIC DATABASE IS DOING.
THEY ARE TERRORIZING OUR COMMUNITIES, AND YOU SIT HERE AND DO NOTHING.
ALL I SEE ON THIS BODY TODAY ARE DO NOTHING.
DEMOCRATS AND FASCIST SYMPATHIZERS WHO DO NOT HAVE ANY COURAGE TO STAND, STAND UP YOUR TIME HAS EXPIRED AND DO WHAT IS RIGHT.
IF YOU DO NOT HAVE THE COURAGE TO STAND UP AND DO WHAT IS RIGHT, THEN YOU NEED TO PREPARE YOURSELF TO STEP ASIDE AND BE REPLACED.
LIZETTE LIZETTE PRESTWICH CODY ZEL TO BE FOLLOWED BY CHRISTOPHER RIVERA.
HELLO, MY NAME IS CODY ZELL AND I'M A SENIOR AT THE UNIVERSITY OF HOUSTON.
UH, CURRENTLY THE RESIDENTS OF HOUSTON ARE LIVING IN A STATE OF FEAR BECAUSE OF THE CITY'S COLLABORATION WITH ICE ROUTINE TRAFFIC STOPS RUN THE RISK OF UNJUSTLY TEARING RESIDENTS AWAY FROM THEIR FAMILIES.
AND THE CITY IS COMPLICIT IN THESE PREDATORY OPERATIONS.
HOUSTON CITY COUNCIL, PLEASE END ALL COLLABORATION WITH ICE.
NOT ONLY THAT, BUT IN THE CONTRACT WITH THE HOUSTON HEADQUARTERED OF AIRLINES, UH, THAT HAS A CONTRACT WITH ICE AT A JAVI AIRPORT.
I ATTENDED THE LAST CITY COUNCIL MEETING AND THE CROWD HAS ONLY GROWN.
SO I EXPECT THIS PRESSURE TO CONTINUE SO LONG AS YOU REMAIN COMPLICIT.
CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS, YOU INDIVIDUALLY HAVE GREAT SWAY OVER WHAT HAPPENS WITH OUR CITY.
PLEASE USE IT TO DEFEND OUR CITY'S VITAL RESIDENCE.
AND I WANTED TO TALK TO MY REPRESENTATIVE, JOAQUIN MARTINEZ.
UH, I ACTUALLY MET YOU AT, UH, THE CIVIC HOUSTON INTERNSHIP PROGRAM, UH, ONE OF THE MEETINGS AT, UH, AND YOU SAID THAT YOU, UH, BELIEVE THAT YOU TRULY REPRESENT THE RESIDENTS OF, OF, UH, YOU KNOW, SECOND WARD IN EAST END.
I TRULY, GENUINELY HOPE THAT YOU USE YOUR ABILITY THAT PROP A HAS GIVEN YOU TO SPEAK OUT YOUR TIME HAS EXPIRED, AND PUSH A RESOLUTION TO STOP THIS COLLABORATION.
THANK YOU, CHRISTOPHER RIVERA.
HEY, HOW'S IT GOING? MY NAME IS CHRISTOPHER RIVERA.
I WORK WITH THE TECH CIVIL RIGHTS PROJECT.
I'M HERE IN SUPPORT OF HOUSTON LEEDS DEMAND TO STOP THE ICE.
POLICE DEPARTMENTS ACROSS THE NATION HAVE BEEN USING TRAFFIC STOPS TO HELP ICE WITH DEPORTATION EFFORTS.
THE HOUSTON POLICE DEPARTMENT IS NO DIFFERENT IN USING TRAFFIC STOPS TO SEPARATE FAMILIES REPORTS AS EARLY AS MARCH REVEALED.
THE COORDINATION BETWEEN ICE AND HPD ONE SPECIFIC REPORT STATED THAT A MAN STOPPED FOR BROKEN WINDSHIELD, WHICH RESULTED IN HIS DEPORTATION.
THIS IS NOT PROMOTING PUBLIC SAFETY.
POLICE NEED TO STOP USING NON-SAFETY TRAFFIC STOPS LIKE BUSTED TAILLIGHTS OR BROKEN WINDSHIELDS TO DEPORT PEOPLE.
OUR COALITIONS HAVE MET WITH SEVERAL CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS AND WARNED OF THIS GROWING PROBLEM.
THE PROPOSED SOLUTIONS ARE ENDING THE COLLABORATION ADVICE FUNDING IMMIGRANT LEGAL SERVICES, AND ACCEPTING THE HARRIS COUNTY IN, UH, ENHANCED LIBRARY CARD.
ANOTHER SOLUTION IS TO LIMIT NON-SAFETY TRAFFIC STOPS.
CITY COUNCIL CAN PASS AN ORDINANCE THAT PREVENTS POLICE FROM PATROLLING
[02:40:01]
FOR THESE LOW LEVEL NON-SAFETY TRAFFIC STOPS.WE CAN REDUCE THE RACIAL DISPARITIES TIED TO TRAFFIC ENFORCEMENT AND HELP LOWER THE CHANCES OF DEPORTATION.
ALFREDO DOMINGUEZ TO BE FOLLOWED BY TEAL DORO ARGUOUS.
HI, MY NAME'S, UH, ALFREDO DOMINGUEZ.
UH, I'M AN EMPLOYEE OF PEOPLE'S COUNCIL AND I'M HERE IN SUPPORT OF THE HOUSTON LEADS DEMANDS.
THE ONE OF THE THINGS THAT, UH, IT COMES AND STICKS OUT TO ME IS THIS, THIS IDEA THAT THERE'S NOTHING THAT THIS COUNCIL CAN DO, THAT THEY'RE JUST ABIDING BY THE WARRANTS.
AND THERE'S KIND OF, THE HANDS ARE TIED HERE, BUT THE FACT OF THE MATTER IS THAT EVEN IF THAT WERE TRUE, THE COUNCIL CAN STILL MOVE TO REDUCE THE AMOUNT OF POLICE INTERACTIONS THAT PEOPLE ARE HAVING BY REDUCING THE AMOUNT OF NON-SAFETY TRAFFIC STOPS.
WHAT WE'RE SEEING WHEN PEOPLE ARE BEING TURNED OVER TO ICE IS THAT THIS IS HAPPENING BECAUSE OF LOW LEVEL TRAFFIC ENFORCEMENT.
AND BY REDUCING THE NUMBER OF THOSE STOPS, HPD CAN MOVE TO CURB THE, EVEN IF YOU CAN BELIEVE THAT HPD HAS TO DO THIS KIND OF ENFORCEMENT, YOU CAN TAKE STEPS TO REDUCE THE AMOUNT OF INTERACTION AND AER GO REDUCE THE AMOUNT OF PEOPLE BEING DEPORTED.
SO, DO NOT ACT LIKE, AND DO NOT TELL US THAT THERE ARE NO OPTIONS AVAILABLE TO THIS COUNCIL TO REDUCE THE AMOUNT OF DEPORTATIONS HAPPENING OR TO REDUCE THE AMOUNT OF PEOPLE IN ICE DETENTION, BECAUSE THAT'S SIMPLY JUST NOT TRUE.
AND, AND, AND WE'RE GONNA CONTINUE TO SHOW UP.
I'M, I'M HAPPY TO SEE EVERYBODY HERE ON A A PM ON A ON A TUESDAY, AND WE'RE GONNA CONTINUE TO SHOW UP EVERY MONTH UNTIL THESE DEMANDS ARE MET, AND I'M REALLY EXCITED TO JOIN YOU FOR THAT PROCESS.
MEMBER DE CONCILIO HOUSTON MAYOR WHITMEYER AND HOUSTON CITY COUNCIL.
I AM HERE TO DENOUNCE THE CRUEL AND INHUMANE PRESENCE OF ICE, WHICH CONTINUES TO SPREAD FEAR IN OUR MIGRANT COMMUNITY AND AMONG THE CITIZENS OF HOUSTON.
WE ALSO DENOUNCED THE PRESENCE OF MASS ACTORS WHO, WITHOUT SHAME OR MORAL CONSCIENCE, CARRY OUT THIS DISHONEST WORK FOR A FEW MISERABLE DOLLARS.
THAT IS WHY WE ARE ASKING IMPLORING THAT ALL COLLABORATION WITH ICE COME TO AN END.
OTHERWISE, YOU WILL BE GUILTY OF NOT HAVING ACTED WHEN HISTORY.
AND WE, THE COMMUNITY ARE DEMANDING IT ICE OUT OF HOUSTON.
MARIAN WRIGHT TO BE FOLLOWED BY ILI MONTOYA.
UM, I WANNA THANK YOU FOR ADDRESSING THE HAWK AND PUTTING IT BY THE HIGH SCHOOL.
WE REALLY NEEDED THAT AND I'M VERY PROUD THAT YOU DID IT AS QUICKLY AS YOU DID IT.
UM, I KNOW YOU'RE GETTING A LOT OF HEAT FOR PUTTING HAWKS UP.
I THINK IT'S KIND OF SILLY AND I THINK THAT IT IS A SAFETY MEASURE.
I KNOW THAT ON 11TH STREET, IT'S WORKING.
I DRIVE BACK AND FORTH TWO AND THREE TIMES A DAY.
MY MOM LIVES IN COUNCIL MEMBER ABBY CAME INS RIGHT OFF OF 11TH.
AND I LIVE IN THE WOODLAND HEIGHTS.
I'M UP AND DOWN THAT CORRIDOR EVERY DAY AND PEOPLE ARE STOPPING AND PEOPLE ARE CROSSING SAFELY.
AND, UM, I WANT TO, AS FAR AS THE EVENING SESSIONS, IT'S THE REGULAR SUSPECTS THAT ARE HERE.
I WENT TO COMMISSIONER'S COURT, HALF THE PEOPLE THAT WERE AT COMMISSIONER'S COURT ARE ALSO HERE.
I CAN COME DURING THE DAY OR AT NIGHT BETTER, REALLY DO A ROLE CHECK AND SEE HOW MANY NEW PEOPLE YOUR TIME HAS EXPIRED.
YOU MIGHT BE INTERESTED IN FINDING THAT OUT.
LY MONTOYA RIVAS TO BE FOLLOWED BY JACOB CLEMENTI.
UH, MOST RECENTLY THEY CONTACT ME FROM THE COMMISSIONER'S COURT AND BASICALLY THEY WANT ME TO ATTEND DUE TO
[02:45:01]
PAST SITUATIONS.I DON'T THINK IT'S SAFE BECAUSE I'M GONNA BE WEARING THAT COLOR, UH, MEASURE, UH, WITH MA UH, BECAUSE WE HAD A SITUATION WITH ESCOBAR, UM, PO PABLO COVAR AND ALGO HAS NEXUS WITH, UH, THE COLUMBIA CARTELS ANOTHER STUFF FROM THE PAST.
SO BASICALLY, IT'S NOT THAT I DON'T WANT TO GO, IT'S THAT I DON'T THINK IT'S SAFE, UH, DUE TO SITUATIONS THAT TOOK PLACE MANY YEARS AGO.
UH, I DON'T WANNA LOSE MY DRIVER'S LICENSE, MY LICENSE TO CARRY, AND I DON'T WANNA LOSE MY US PASSPORT.
AND ACCORDING TO THEM, UH, CONSTITUENTS ARE NOT WELCOME EVEN TO BRING THEIR WEAPONS TO LIVE IN, CONCEAL IN THE PARKING LOT, BLAH, BLAH, BLAH, BLAH.
I UNDERSTAND WHEN WE ARE IN FEDERAL BUILDING AND WHEN THERE ARE CERTAIN SIGNS, I TOOK THE COURSE.
I MEAN, I DON'T UNDERSTAND WHAT IS THE SITUATION.
I'M GONNA BRING TO Y'ALL SOME GOOD NEWS.
I MEAN, A LOT OF COMPLAINTS WERE MADE RIGHT NOW, BUT I'M GONNA, I WAS IN AUSTIN EARLIER TODAY, AND THEN I GOT A, I'M ON THE BUS, UH, FROM AUSTIN AND I PICKED UP THIS LETTER FROM, UH, STATE SENATOR CAROL ALVARADO, AND HE SAYS, I WANTED TO TAKE THIS OPPORTUNITY TO THANK YOU FOR YOUR THOUGHTFUL ASTROS AND RODEO GIFTS.
IT IS ALWAYS GREAT TO ALWAYS HAVE A PROUD HOUSTONIAN IN THE BUILDING THAT IS A STATE, STATE CAPITAL.
AND THIS COMES FROM AN AGGIE NAMED PETER FLORES.
HE SAID, JACOB, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THE IGE PILLOWCASE.
I TRUST THAT GOD WILL BLESS YOU ALL THE DAYS OF, OF YOUR LIFE TIME.
AND HE SAYS THAT MAYOR WILMAR IS ONE OF THE BEST MARRIAGES HOUSTON HAS EVER HAD.
THIS IS AN OFFICIAL STATE OF TEXAS BIBLE.
DO YOU KNOW WHY THE EVENING SESSIONS AREN'T TOO ISH? BECAUSE THEY'RE NOT AM.
AND JACOB, WE GOTTA WRAP IT UP.
OMAR, YOU GOT IT? I DON'T, DON'T SEE HIM.
[RECESS]
HE, HE WALKED OUT.WE STAND, UH, RECESS UNTIL NINE O'CLOCK IN THE MORNING FOR HOUSTON
[RECONVENE]
HEALTH DEPARTMENT.ITEM 29, ORDINANCE APPROPRIATING $5,744,000 FOR A HOLCOMB LAB EXPANSION PROJECT.
ITEM 30, ORDINANCE APPROVED AND AUTHORIZING PARKING LICENSE AGREEMENT BETWEEN WIND PARK MANAGEMENT, LLC ITEM 31, ORDINANCE AWARD AND CONTRACT TO ODIGO SERVICES.
LLC SOUTHERN BROTHERS PROPERTIES, LLC NL CONCRETE SERVICES, LLC HOGAN CONSTRUCTION AND CONCRETE, LLC, EX CIRCUIT MECHANICS, LLC ROMAN IMPER, ROMAN EMPERORS ROAD, LLC, TRUE CON CON CONTRACTORS, LLC, SKILLED CONSTRUCTION SUBS UNLIMITED, LLC, KANEY CREEK, CAPITAL LLC, DOING BUSINESS AS KANEY CREEK LAND SERVICES AND ZETA ENGINEERING LLC FOR A SMALL CONTRACTORS ROTATION PROGRAM 3.0.
ITEM 32, ORDINANCE APPROVED AND AUTHORIZING CONTRACT WITH HOMETOWN VETERAN VETERINARY HOSPITAL, PLLC, DOING BUSINESS AS VIRGIE TO PROVIDE VE VETERINARY SERVICES.
ITEM 33, ORDINANCE, APPROV AND AUTHORIZING CONTRACT BETWEEN THE CITY OF HOUSTON AND HIGHWAY SIX TRANSMISSION CENTER, INC.
ITEM 34 ORDINANCE APPROVING AND AMENDING ORDINANCE NUMBER 2024 DASH 7 76 TO INCREASE THE MAXIMUM CONTRACT AMOUNT AUTHORIZING FIRST AMENDMENT WITH UNIVERSITY OF HOUSTON ON BEHALF OF ITS COLLEGE OF OPTOMETRY AND OPTOMETRY AND VISION SERVICES.
ITEM 35, ORDINANCE APPRO, AN AWARD AND INTERLOCAL AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE CITY OF HOUSTON AND LONE STAR COLLEGE.
ITEM 36, ORDINANCE APPRO AN AUTHORIZING DERIVATIVE AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE
[02:50:01]
CITY OF HOUSTON AND RESCO INC.ITEM 37 ORDINANCE APPROVED AND AUTHORIZING DERIVATIVE AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE CITY OF HOUSTON AND TDI, TD INDUSTRIES INC.
ITEM 38 ORDINANCE APPROVED AND AUTHORIZING IN A LOCAL AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE CITY OF HOUSTON AND NORTH CENTRAL TEXAS COUNCIL OF GOVERNMENTS.
ITEM 39, ORDINANCE AMENDING ORDINANCE NUMBER 2024 DASH 5 98 TO SET MAXIMUM CONTRACT AMOUNT APPROVING AND AUTHORIZING FIRST AMENDMENT TO CONTRACT WITH EFI GLOBAL INC.
ITEM 40 ORDINANCE APPROVING AND AUTHORIZING DIVIV DERIVATIVE AGREEMENT WITH OTIS ELEVATOR COMPANY.
ITEM 41 ORDINANCE APPROVING AND AUTHORIZING AG AGREEMENT AMONG THE CITY OF HOUSTON, TEXAS.
TAX INCREMENT REINVESTMENT ZONE NUMBER 28, CITY OF HOUSTON, TEXAS AND MEDICAL CENTER AREA REDEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY.
ITEM 42, ORDINANCE APPRO AND AUTHORIZE AN INTER-LOCAL AGREEMENT FOR MULTI STREET MOBILITY AND SAFETY IMPROVEMENTS BY IN BETWEEN THE CITY OF HOUSTON, TEXAS, AND OLD SPANISH TRAIL ALAMEDA CORRIDORS REDEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY ITEM 43 ORDINANCE APPROVING AND AUTHORIZING THE SUBMISSION OF GRANT APPLICATION TO THE TEXAS DIVISION OF EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT FOR FUNDING FROM THE FEDERAL EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT AGENCY'S HAZARD MITIGATION GRANT PROGRAM FOR EIGHT HOME ELEVATIONS.
ITEM 44, ORDINANCE APPROVING THE ACCEPTANCE OF FUNDS THROUGH A GRANT AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE CITY OF HOUSTON AND THE TEXAS WATER DEVELOPMENT BOARD FOR THE REIMBURSEMENT FOR THE ELEVATION OF SEVEN FLOOD PRONE STRUCTURES AS PART OF THE FEDERAL EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT AGENCIES FLOOD MITIGATION ASSISTANCE PROGRAM.
ITEM 45 ORDINANCE APPROVING THE ACCEPTANCE OF FUNDS THROUGH A GRANT AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE CITY OF HOUSTON AND THE TEXAS WATER DEVELOPMENT BOARD FOR THE REIMBURSEMENT FOR THE ELEVATION OF 24 FLOOD PRONE STRUCTURES AS PART OF THE FEDERAL EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT AGENCY'S FLOOD MITIGATION PROGRAM.
ITEM 46 ORDINANCE APPROVING AND AUTHORIZING THE SUBMISSION OF GRANT APPLICATIONS TO THE TEXAS DIVISION OF EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT FOR FUNDING THROUGH THE FEDERAL EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT AGENCY HAZARD MITIGATION GRANT PROGRAM FOR DRAINAGE IMPROVEMENT PROJECTS.
ITEM 47 ORDINANCE APPROVED AND AUTHORIZING SUBMISSION OF GRANT APPLICATION TO THE TEXAS WATER DEVELOPMENT BOARD FOR FEDERAL EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT AGENCY'S FISCAL YEAR 2024.
FLOOD MITIGATION ASSISTANCE FOR THE FREEWAY MANOR GULF TERRACE NEIGHBORHOODS FLOOD RISK REDUCTION PROJECT ITEM 48, ORDINANCE APPROPRIATING $5,400,849 AWARD AND CONTRACT TO VORTEX LINING SYSTEMS, LLC FOR WESTRIDGE AND BRAZE BRAISE TERRACE AREA DRAINAGE AND PAVEMENT IMPROVEMENTS.
ITEM 49, MOTION TO RECEIVE NOMINATIONS FOR POSITIONS 10, 11, 12, AND 13 OF THE HOUSTON ARCHEOLOGICAL AND HISTORICAL COMMISSION BOARD OF DIRECTORS.
ITEM 50, MOTION TO RECEIVE NOMINATIONS FOR POSITION EIGHT OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF THE HOUSTON CIVIC EVENTS INC.
ITEM 51 ORDINANCE APPROV IN AUTHORIZING INTERLOCAL AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE CITY OF HOUSTON AND HARRIS COUNTY, TEXAS FOR OPERATION AND MAINTENANCE OF VARIOUS PARKS.
THIS ITEM WAS TAGGED BY COUNCIL MEMBERS CAYMAN, HUFFMAN, AND POLLARD, AND WAS ITEM 24 ON THE AGENDA OF AUGUST 20TH.
ITEM 52 IS AN ORDINANCE AMENDING CHAPTER 45, ADDING SECTION 45 DASH ONE 11 PROHIBITING SITTING, STANDING, AND WALKING ON MEDIAN STRIPS, MEASURING SIX FEET OR LESS IN WIDTH AND ON DIVIDED ROADWAYS WHERE NO MEDIAN STRIP EXISTS.
THIS COMPLETES THE READING OF THE CAPTIONS FOR THE AGENDA OF AUGUST 27TH, 2025.
STAY TUNED FOR THE NEXT SESSION OF HOUSTON CITY COUNCIL SCHEDULED TO BEGIN AT 9:00 AM AND WITH THAT, I WISH EVERYONE A WONDERFUL AND BLESSED WEDNESDAY.
[CONSENT AGENDA]
WOULD YOU PLEASE PROCEED TO THE CONSENT AGENDA UNDER THE MISCELLANEOUS CATEGORY? ITEM ONE NEEDS A MOTION.UH, JUAN, YOU CAN COME FORWARD.
YOU ARE THE RIGHT PERSON AT THE RIGHT TIME TO LEAD THE SPORTS AUTHORITY.
YOU'VE BEEN SUCH A BREATH OF FRESH AIR, UH, WORKING WITH THE CITY, UH, THE COUNTY, THE HOST COMMITTEE FOR THE WORLD CUP, AND JUST THANK YOU FOR YOUR PUBLIC SERVICE, BUT ALSO WHAT YOU BRING TO THE TABLE.
SOME COMMON SENSE, SOME LET'S GET IT DONE ATTITUDE.
[02:55:01]
SO PROUD FOR YOU TO BE AN APPOINTMENT OF THIS BODY.AND, UH, ANYTHING YOU WANNA SAY, UH, I UNDERSTAND THIS IS A GOOD LITTLE MOMENT TO TO, TO GIVE A REPORT ON THE, UH, WORLD CUP FIFA, WHO WE MEET WITH REGULARLY SAYS WE'RE AHEAD OF ALL THE OTHER CITIES AND, UH, RYAN WASH AND, AND, AND YOUR TEAM, UH, KEEP US INFORMED.
I KNOW YOU HAVE A, A REAL LIFE, A BEAUTIFUL FAMILY, AND A LAW PRACTICE, BUT WE'RE SO FORTUNATE AND, UH, THANK YOU FOR WHAT YOU DID AT THE RODEO TOO, BY THE WAY.
SO ANY COMMENTS FROM YOU OTHER THAN NO, WELL, WELL, YOU, YOU YOU WANT ME TO KEEP TALKING ABOUT I WILL
YOU KNOW, BUT, BUT ALSO, LET'S, LET'S JUST GO TO WORK.
WHEN THE JUDGES ON YOUR SIDE, YOU LEAD 'EM, KEEP TALKING, RIGHT?
BUT NO, THANK YOU FOR THE APPOINTMENT.
THANK YOU FOR THE TRUST AND CONFIDENCE TO THE MAYOR AND THE COUNCIL MEMBERS.
UH, WE DO HAVE A LITTLE SOCCER TOURNAMENT COMING, UH, NEXT SUMMER HERE TO THE, UH, CITY OF HOUSTON, LITTLE BITTY, AND, AND AS THE, THE, YOU MENTIONED MAYOR, WE ARE THE EXAMPLE OF NORTH AMERICA.
THE CITY OF HOUSTON IS THE EXAMPLE OF NORTH AMERICA.
FIFA USES HOUSTON TO COMPARE IT TO THE REST OF THE CITIES.
AND FRANKLY, WE ARE NO COMPARISON.
UH, WE ARE WHAT THE STANDARD HERE, UH, FOR EXAMPLE, ON OUR FAN FEST THAT WE'RE HANDLING AT THE EAST END.
WE ARE HAVING 39 DAYS OF A FAN FEST FOR OUR COMMUNITY, WHERE OTHER CITIES ARE NOT EVEN HAVING IT.
UH, OR THEY'RE HAVING IT ONLY ON, ON DAYS THAT THEY'RE HAVING A SOCCER TOURNAMENT.
WE'RE HAVING IT EVERY SINGLE DAY.
BUT IT COULDN'T HAVE HAPPENED WITHOUT YOUR ASSISTANCE MAYOR AND TO THE COUNCIL MEMBERS BECAUSE THE COLLABORATION WITH THE CITY, THE COUNTY, THE, THE HOUSTON POLICE DEPARTMENT, THE FIRE DEPARTMENT, METRO, THE, THE AIRPORT SYSTEM, ALL OF THAT, WORKING TOGETHER WITH THE, THE SPORTS AUTHORITY, RYAN WALSH, CHRIS CONNET, AND THE TEAM HERE HAS BEEN A TREMENDOUS EFFORT ALONG WITH THE REST OF OUR BOARD.
SO I WANTED TO THANK YOU, MAYOR COUNCIL MEMBERS, YOUR STAFF, BECAUSE Y'ALL BEEN TREMENDOUS IN MAKING SURE THAT THAT HAS HAPPENED.
SO WE, WE ARE PREPARED, WE ARE MORE PREPARED THAN ANYBODY, BUT NOW WE HAVE TO EXECUTE.
AND I WILL TELL YOU, IT'S NOT JUST FIFA.
A FEW WEEKS AGO WE HOSTED THE A A U JUNIOR OLYMPICS.
WE HAD AN ECONOMIC IMPACT OF ALMOST 90 MILLION PEOPLE.
AGAIN, THEY WOULD LOVE TO HAVE IT HERE EVERY YEAR BECAUSE WE ARE THE EXAMPLE OF THE NATION.
JUST THIS WEEKEND WE HAD THE NATIONAL BATTLE OF THE BANDS HERE, UH, WHERE WE HOSTED EIGHT, UH, EIGHT, YOU KNOW, HISTORICALLY BLACK COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES AT, AT NRG.
AND THAT'S WHAT THE SPORTS AUTHORITY DOES, BRING OUR COMMUNITY TOGETHER.
AND THAT WAS WHAT THE STAFF DOES.
SO AGAIN, I WANTED TO THANK YOU FOR THE TRUST AND CONFIDENCE, BUT MORE IMPORTANTLY, THANK YOU FOR WORKING WITH THE SPORTS AUTHORITY AND ALLOWING US THE OPPORTUNITY TO BE SUCCESSFUL BECAUSE OF YOUR COLLABORATION, UH, AND YOUR ASSISTANCE.
DO YOU WANNA REPEAT EVERYTHING YOU'VE SAID? WELL, DO YOU WANT TO START OVER? I'LL GIVE YOU TIME TO REPEAT IT.
NO, BECAUSE IT WAS A BOLD MOVE, UH, LOOKING AT THE CALENDAR OF FIFA COMING NEXT SUMMER.
BUT WE WERE RESPONDING TO THE VENUES, THE SPORTS AUTHORITIES, THAT SOMETHING HAD TO BE DONE IN TERMS OF THAT CAN-DO ATTITUDE INSTEAD OF TRAVELING THE WORLD.
YOU BUCKLE DOWN WITH YOUR LEADERSHIP TEAM AND, UH, WE'RE GETTING GREAT REVIEWS AS YOU JUST MENTIONED.
AND I, AND I, YOU KNOW, THE, THE CREDIT OBVIOUSLY GOES TO RYAN WALSH, HIS TEAM, CHRIS CNET, JOHN ARNOLD, AND HIS TEAM WITH FIFA.
AND AS YOU MENTIONED, WE STARTED TALKING TO THE ROCKETS AND THE ASTROS ON THE FACILITIES BECAUSE WE SHOULD BE SECOND TO NONE IN OUR FACILITIES FOR THOSE FANS, THE CITY, THE CITIZENS OF HOUSTON, AND THE COUNTY THAT GO AND VISIT THOSE.
AND TO OUR SISTER ORGANIZATIONS WITH HOUSTON FIRST AND THE, THE GREATER HOUSTON PARTNERSHIP.
SO WE CAN ATTRACT THESE, UH, CONVENTIONS TO COME TO HOUSTON.
WE NEED TO GET OUR FACILITIES WHERE THEY NEED TO BE, AND WE NEED TO PARTNER WITH THESE ORGANIZATIONS.
SO WE STARTED WORKING WITH THAT AS WELL, WHICH IS OUR CORE MISSION THERE AT THE AUTHORITY.
SO WHILE WE'RE STILL BRINGING THESE EVENTS TO HOUSTON, WE'RE ALSO WORKING ON OUR CORE MISSION TO MAKE SURE OUR FACILITIES ARE WHERE THEY NEED TO BE.
WELL, WE KNOW THAT WE HAD, WELL ACTUALLY IT'S BEFORE YOU CAME ON BOARD.
YOU'RE THE RESULT OF A MEETING OF EVERY STAKEHOLDER SAID, WE'RE NOT GETTING READY.
WE'RE NOT KEEPING UP WITH THE OTHER CITIES ON FIFA.
WE'RE NOT FOCUSING ON OUR VENUES.
YOU HAVE TO DO SOMETHING, MAYOR.
AND, UH, WE HAD FRIENDS THAT WERE IN SOME LEADERSHIP POSITIONS, BUT QUITE FRANKLY, YOU MAKE THE CITY, YOU MAKE MY DECISION LOOK GOOD, AND I APPRECIATE IT.
AND THANK YOU FOR INCLUDING OUR COMMUNITIES, TAKING THE WORLD CUP
[03:00:01]
EXPERIENCE INTO OUR COMMUNITIES WITH OUR YOUNG PEOPLE AND THE, UH, ALLOWING THE, THE POTENTIAL TEAMS TO UNDERSTAND NOW THEY WANT TO, UH, CAMP ON 2 88 FOR THE, UH, THE, UH, OTHER COUNTRY'S TEAMS ARE LOOKING TO HOUSTON TO BASE OUT OF FOLKS.UH, NOW WE'RE LOOKING DOWN 2 88 FOR EIGHT MORE SOCCER FIELDS, UH, BECAUSE OF OUR CENTRAL LOCATION THEY WANT TO BASE OUTTA HOUSTON.
SO IT'S AN EXCITING TIME, UH, TO BE A HOUSTONIAN AND THE REGION AND, AND THE WORLD.
AND, UM, YOU KNOW, I I STARTED OUT GIVING YOU A, A, A SHOUT OUT, BUT MAN, YOU ARE, YOU AND RYAN ARE MAKING IT HAPPEN.
WELL, AND OUR COUNTY PARTNERS ARE SO PLEASED IN THE SPORTS STAKEHOLDERS, OUR COMMUNITY, SO IT'S A GREAT WAY TO START A COUNCIL MEETING.
MAYOR PROM, COUNCIL TATUM, APPRECIATE, UH, MAYOR PROM, MAYOR PROTE, CASTEX TATUM.
UH, THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE AND YOUR VOLUNTEERISM.
UM, HOUSTON SPORTS ECONOMY IS SO CRITICAL TO WHAT WE DO AS A CITY, SO WE DEFINITELY WANNA MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE, UM, HAVING PEOPLE ON THE, UM, BOARD THAT CAN HELP US TO AMPLIFY THE IMPORTANCE OF OUR, OUR SPORTS ECONOMY.
UM, BUT I DID WANT TO, UH, RECOGNIZE RYAN WALSH AND HOLLY AND THE, THE ENTIRE TEAM, UM, WHO WORK SO DILIGENTLY TO MAKE SURE THAT THESE EVENTS THAT WE ARE HOSTING ARE STELLAR, UM, FOR NOT ONLY, UM, THE CITY OF HOUSTON, BUT FOR EACH OF THE RESIDENTS AND THE VISITORS THAT COME THROUGH TO PARTICIPATE IN THOSE EVENTS.
SO CONGRATULATIONS ON, UH, IN INCREDIBLE BALLOT BANDS THIS WEEKEND, UM, AND ALL OF THE OTHER EVENTS THAT YOU, UM, LEAD ON AND HELP US TO HOST AS A CITY.
YEAH, I, I AGREE THAT, THAT IT, WE HOUSE THESE EVENTS, BUT AFTER WHAT WE DON'T SEE IS THE LEGACY THAT THEY LEAVE.
AND RYAN AND HOLLY MAKE SURE THAT HAPPENS.
UH, THE, THEY OTHER CITIES ARE TAKING OUR STUFF, CUTTING OUT THE CITY OF HOUSTON AND USING OUR MATERIAL THAT HOLLY AND THE TEAM DESIGNED.
UH, AND SO THEY CONTINUE TO DO THAT.
AND THE LEGACY THAT WE WILL, UH, SHOWCASE FOR FIFA AFTER, FOR YEARS TO COME WILL BE AMAZING.
AND WHAT THIS TEAM IS DOING, I JUST, IT'S, IT, IT BLOWS ME AWAY.
THE OTHER THING, MAYOR AND COLLEAGUES, THE, UM, FIFA WILL GIVE AN UPDATE AT ONE OF OUR UPCOMING, UH, ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE MEETINGS.
SO WHEN WE SCHEDULE THAT, WE'LL LET EVERYONE KNOW SO WE CAN GET, UM, THE LATEST UPDATE FROM THE ORGANIZATION AND HOW THINGS ARE PROGRESSING FOR THE CITY.
UH, JUAN, GOOD TO SEE YOU AGAIN.
AND LISTEN, IT, IT, YOU KNOW, I CAN'T SAY ENOUGH.
I'M GENERALLY, UH, THE OPPORTUNITY TO CONGRATULATE YOU.
IT'S BEEN SEVERAL TIMES, SEEMED LIKE ALMOST EVERY TWO OR THREE EVENTS THAT YOU PROMOTED OR APPOINTED TO.
I'M THERE TO, UH, CONGRATULATE YOU AND, AND EVEN NOW.
AND YOU, YOU DEFINITELY ADD A LOT TO THE SPORTS AUTHORITY.
THOSE OF US WHO ARE NATIVE HOUSTONIANS, WE BRAG ON OUR CITY AND, UH, YOU ARE GOOD REASONS WHY WE BRAG ON IT, WHETHER IT'S THE RODEO OR HOUSTON SPORTS START.
AND I AGREE WITH THE MAYOR, YOU COULDN'T HAVE PUT A BETTER PERSON.
I'M JUST HAPPY TO BE HERE ON COUNCIL AT THE TIME, UH, WHEN YOU GUYS ARE HERE AND SOME OF THE WORK THAT YOU'RE DOING.
AND, UH, IT'S BEEN JUST GREAT.
AND I LOOK FORWARD TO WHAT'S COMING IN HOUSTON, ESPECIALLY DURING, UH, THE WORLD CUP.
UH, 'CAUSE I GOT SOME OTHER INVESTMENT INTO THAT MYSELF.
BUT, UH, CONGRATULATIONS AND, UH, GOD BLESS YOU.
AND CONGRATULATIONS, JUAN ON YOUR REAPPOINTMENT.
AND THANK YOU FOR AGREEING TO SERVE ANOTHER TERM.
YOU'VE BEEN PROVIDING FANTASTIC LEADERSHIP, UH, IN THIS ROLE, AND I APPRECIATE THAT YOU HIGHLIGHTED ALL THE CITY DEPARTMENTS THAT ARE INVOLVED AND MENTIONED ALL THE OTHER SIGNATURE EVENTS THAT ARE HAPPENING BETWEEN NOW AND THE WORLD CUP.
'CAUSE WE ALL ARE GETTING EXCITED ABOUT THE WORLD CUP, BUT THERE ARE A NUMBER OF THINGS THAT Y'ALL ARE ENSURING GO OFF WITHOUT A HITCH AND ARE SUCCESSFUL BETWEEN NOW AND THEN.
AND SO, UH, THANK YOU FOR YOU TO YOU AND YOUR, TO YOUR TEAM AND, AND ALL THE PARTNERS THAT YOU WORK WITH BECAUSE IT IS A, A BIG EFFORT AND, UH, WE'RE GLAD THAT YOU'RE IN THE POSITION YOU ARE.
UH, JUAN, I, YOU KNOW, ALL OF MY COLLEAGUES SAID IT BEST, WHETHER IT'S THE ECONOMIC IMPACT OR JUST THE SPOTLIGHT ON HOUSTON, OR THE FACT THAT THIS GIVES US YET SOMETHING ELSE TO BE PROUD OF HOUSTON FOR.
WE HAVE SO MUCH THAT WE LOVE ABOUT OUR
[03:05:01]
CITY, BUT TO BE ABLE TO SPOTLIGHT IT, UM, GIVES ALL OF US THAT EXTRA SENSE OF PRIDE.UH, I WANNA THANK YOU AND I APPRECIATE YOU RECOGNIZING THE ENTIRE TEAM THAT WORKS THROUGH THIS.
RYAN, YOU AND YOUR TEAM, UH, CHRIS HAS BEEN DOING YEOMAN'S WORK.
UM, THE ENTIRE BOARD, JOHN HOLLY, THE LIST GOES ON.
UM, BUT YOUR LEVEL OF COMMUNICATION AND ENGAGEMENT WITH NOT JUST COUNCIL, BUT THE COMMUNITY, UH, MAKES ALL THE DIFFERENCE IN THE WORLD.
AND I KNOW THAT IN ADDITION TO ALL THE GOOD THINGS, Y'ALL ARE ALSO TACKLING SOME OF THOSE REAL CHALLENGES THAT WE HAVE WHEN YOU MENTION FACILITIES AND WORKING WITH OUR PARTNERS AT THE COUNTY.
YOU, WE ARE RIGHT THERE WITH YOU AND WE JUST ARE GRATEFUL FOR EVERYTHING.
PLEASE THANK YOUR FAMILY, UH, FOR LENDING YOU TO ALL OF US IN THE CITY.
UH, MR. SECRETARY, THE CONSENT AGENDA UNDER THE PURCHASING AND TABULATION OF BIDS CATEGORY ITEMS SIX AND NINE HAVE BEEN REMOVED FOR SEPARATE CONSIDERATION.
NEED A MOTION FOR ITEMS 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, AND EIGHT.
THOSE NAY MOTION PASSES UNDER THE RESOLUTIONS CATEGORY.
ITEM 10 HAS BEEN REMOVED FOR SEPARATE CONSIDERATION UNDER THE ORDINANCES CATEGORY SINCE YOUR LIST WAS DISTRIBUTED.
ITEM 40 HAS BEEN PULLED BY THE ADMINISTRATION AND WILL NOT BE CONSIDERED.
ITEMS 29, 31, 47 AND 48 HAVE BEEN RECEIVED.
ITEMS 12, 13, 19, 25, 26, 31, 36, 37, 39, 43, 44, 46, AND 48 HAVE BEEN REMOVED FOR SEPARATE CONSIDERATION.
AGAIN, THOSE NUMBERS ARE 12, 13, 19, 25, 26, 31, 36, 37, 39, 43, 44, 46, AND 48.
NEED A VOTE ON THE BALANCE? ALL IN FAVOR SAY YES.
[CONSIDERATION OF MATTERS REMOVED FROM CONSENT AGENDA]
REMOVED FOR SEPARATE CONSIDERATION.AND, UM, I'M EXCITED ABOUT THIS ITEM.
WE HAVE SOME AREAS IN DISTRICT G WHERE WE COULD REALLY BENEFIT, UM, FROM LANE STRIPING AT KIRKWOOD AND MEMORIAL, UM, ON KIRBY LANE, NORTH OF SAN PHILIPPI UP TO SHEPHERD.
UH, THERE'S LANE CONFUSION AND SO WE'RE REALLY EXCITED TO, TO HAVE THIS.
GREG, COUNCIL MEMBER ALCORN, MY FAVORITE AGENDA ITEM OF ALL TIME.
WE'RE VERY EXCITED ABOUT THIS.
THERE'S A TON OF AREA IN DISTRICT G THAT, UM, NEEDS STRIPING AS FAR AND ALSO ACROSS THE CITY.
SO THANK YOU TO THE ADMINISTRATION FOR GETTING NOT JUST ONE, BUT TWO LANE STRIPING MACHINES.
WE ARE STILL WORKING ON LANE STRIPING FROM 2023 REQUESTS FROM 2023.
AND, UH, WE, UH, HAVE DETERMINED THAT IT'S MUCH CHEAPER FOR US TO DO IT IN HOUSE WITH OUR OWN TRUCK THAN IT WAS TO CONTRACT OUT.
MAYOR, PRO, CAST, STATE, STATE.
UH, I THINK THAT WE CAN ALL AGREE THAT WE NEED LANE STRIPING ACROSS THE ENTIRE CITY COUNCIL MEMBER.
ALCORN, I KNOW YOU'VE BEEN ADVOCATING FOR THIS FOR YEARS, AND I KNOW YOUR BUDGET AMENDMENT FOR THE LANE STRIPING, UM, MACHINE.
UM, BUT I WANTED TO GIVE A SPECIAL SHOUT OUT TO DIRECTOR MACKEY MM-HMM
UM, FOR, UM, NOT ONLY ONE LANE STRIPING MACHINE, BUT FOR, UH, TWO LANE STRIPING MACHINE.
AND, UM, EVEN THOUGH IT SEEMS LIKE, UM, WE COULD PROBABLY USE 10 IN THE CITY OF HOUSTON, WE ARE GRATEFUL FOR THE TWO THAT WILL BE, UM, UTILIZED TO MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE KEEPING OUR ROADS SAFE.
SO CONGRATULATIONS TO EVERYONE THAT WAS INVOLVED IN IT.
I WAS GONNA SAY, RANDY'S DONE AN OUTSTANDING JOB OF LISTENING TO YOU, UH, COUNCIL MEMBERS.
AND LIKE I SAID, NOT ONE, BUT TWO.
AND I KNOW HE HAS OTHERS, UH, IN THE PLANNING, SO, GOOD.
[03:10:01]
JOB, RANDY.AND, AND MEMBERS, DO YOU SEE THE VOTE? ALL IN FAVOR? SAY YES.
ITEM NINE NEEDS A MOTION CAST.
UM, THIS ITEM IS FOR A JANITORIAL CONTRACT FOR ONE YEAR WITH A ONE YEAR EXTENSION.
AND MAYOR, I'M GONNA SUPPORT THIS ITEM BECAUSE IF WE DON'T, UH, THIS WEEK, THE CURRENT CONTRACT ENDS.
SO IT'S EXTREMELY TIME SENSITIVE.
BUT I WOULD ASK WHEN IT BECOMES TIME TO LOOK AT THIS AGAIN, TO MAKE SURE ALL THE STAKEHOLDERS ARE AT THE TABLE, INCLUDING THOSE THAT REPRESENT OUR JANITORS, LIKE SCIU.
UM, IN ADDITION TO THAT, WE DON'T REQUIRE IN OUR RFPS DISCLOSURE OF THINGS LIKE WHAT THE ACTUAL WAGE IS THAT THEY ARE PAYING.
SO WE SET A FLOOR THAT WE'RE REQUIRED TO, THAT THEY'RE REQUIRED TO MEET, BUT WE DON'T KNOW WHAT THEY'RE ACTUALLY BEING PAID.
WE DON'T KNOW WHAT THEIR BENEFITS ARE.
SO HOW MANY VACATION DAYS ARE THEY GETTING? OR SICK DAYS MORE IMPORTANT.
WELL, IT'S ALL IMPORTANT, THE BENEFITS WE SHOULD BE AWARE OF, AND THAT SHOULD BE A PART OF THE RFP PROCESS.
SO, UM, AGAIN, I'LL SUPPORT THIS TODAY, BUT I WOULD REALLY HOPE THAT WE CAN HAVE A MUCH A COLLABORATIVE APPROACH FOR THOSE LONG-TERM CONTRACTS.
YES, THANK YOU FOR YOUR WORDS.
AND, UH, I'M VERY INTERESTED IN IT.
UH, ONE BECAUSE IT'S, UM, HANDLED BY THE HARRIS COUNTY DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION.
I DID NOT KNOW THAT THEY WERE AS DIVERSE WITH THEIR RESPONSIBILITIES AND THEIR REALLY RUNNING A BUSINESS.
UH, WE'VE DISCUSSED IN YEARS PAST IN THE LEGISLATURE ABOUT THE PURPOSE OF THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION AND, UH, THEY DO A GOOD JOB OF DESCRIBING THEIR RESPONSIBILITY TO ALL THE AREA SCHOOL DISTRICTS, BUT THEY ALWAYS LEFT OUT THAT THEY WERE ALSO A BUSINESS ENTERPRISE.
SO THAT MEANS WE NEED TO GET INVOLVED, YOU AND I AND ANYONE ELSE ON COUNCIL THAT WANTS TO REVIEW THE PROCESS AND SEE THAT THEY'RE TREATING THESE EMPLOYEES PROPERLY.
UM, CERTAINLY WE WILL MAKE THAT AN AGENDA ITEM, A WORK IN PROGRESS.
UH, NORMALLY I KNOW COUNCIL MEMBER FLICKINGER, UM, WOULD WANT TO SPOTLIGHT, UH, THE FACT, ANYTHING ABOUT THE SPACEPORT AND HOW BIG IT IS FOR HOUSTON.
SO THIS IS JUST A, UM, CORRECTION IN SOME OF THE LANGUAGE IN THE CONTRACT.
UM, BUT AGAIN, THAT WE HAVE SPACEPORT THAT WE'RE COM CONTINUING TO INVEST.
I KNOW IT MEANS A GREAT DEAL TO THE ENTIRE CITY.
THOSE OPPOSED NA MOTION PASSES.
WHILE I'M DON'T THINK THERE'S ANYTHING WE CAN DO ABOUT IT, I AM, UM, PRETTY DISHEARTENED THAT THIS STATE LAW NOW WILL NOT ALLOW US TO ENFORCE OUR SOUND REGULATIONS, DECIBEL LEVELS, ANYTHING FROM A FOOD ESTABLISHMENT.
WE DON'T GET A WHOLE LOT OF COMP, UH, OF COMPLAINTS ABOUT RESTAURANTS, UM, BRICK AND MORTAR RESTAURANTS THAT ABOUT SOUND.
IT'S MAINLY ABOUT NIGHTCLUBS AND BARS.
BUT, BUT WE SURE DO GET A LOT OF COMPLAINTS FROM FOOD TRUCKS AND THE, THE LOUD NOISE AND, AND BASICALLY THIS JUST TIES OUR HANDS.
WE, WE CAN'T EVEN GO THERE AND SAY, YOU'RE PLAYING ABOVE THE DECIBEL LEVEL.
SO I DO HAVE CONCERNS ABOUT THIS.
MAYBE THINGS CAN BE WORKED OUT AS THE RULES ARE DEVELOPED, AND, UH, BUT I'M NOT SURE.
BUT I DID JUST WANNA VOICE THAT CONCERN.
IT'S A PRETTY BROAD BRUSH TO JUST SAY WE CAN'T PERMIT, WE CAN'T INSPECT, WE CAN'T ENFORCE ORDINANCES ON, ON, UH, FOOD TRUCKS.
WE'RE ALL FAMILIAR WITH THE, UH, NOISE VIOLATIONS, CHALLENGES ENFORCEMENT, WHETHER IT'S, UH, WASHINGTON STATE, FAIRCHILD WILL GIVE US A GOOD REPORT THAT WE WERE MAKING A DIFFERENCE.
UH, SHADY ACRES IS A CHALLENGE, MAN, I CAN'T BELIEVE THE 19TH AND 20 STREET EXPLOSION FOR, UH, ENTERTAINMENT VENUES.
AND THEN OF COURSE, EMANCIPATION.
UH, WE'VE MADE PROGRESS THERE, WORKING WITH THE COMMUNITY.
SO NOW WE'RE GONNA HAVE TO DEAL WITH THIS.
UM, IT'S ANOTHER EXAMPLE OF AUSTIN GETTING IN.
WHEN I WENT TO LEGISLATURE MANY YEARS AGO, UH,
[03:15:01]
LOCAL CONTROL WAS THE DOCTRINE THAT EVERYONE RAN ON LOOKED OUT FOR, WHETHER IT'S A SCHOOL DISTRICT OR MUNICIPAL GOVERNMENT.WE'VE GOTTA SPEAK OUT AND, UH, GET PEOPLE TO REGISTER AND VOTE AND PROTECT OUR NEIGHBORHOODS.
BUT THIS IS A STATE EFFORT TO DICTATE TO LOCAL COMMUNITIES ACROSS THE STATE.
SO IT IS WHAT IT IS, BUT THAT DON'T MEAN WE, WE LIKE IT.
COUNCILMAN, COUNCILMAN CAYMAN.
AND, UM, I, TO ADD MY CONCERNS TO THIS, ONE OF THE THINGS THAT I WOULD LIKE IF LEGAL IS ABLE TO LOOK INTO OR ENTER IGR IS WHEN YOU BRING UP WASHINGTON, WE HAVE HAD INSTANCES WHERE BARS THAT ARE OPERATING AS NIGHTCLUBS, I'M THINKING OF ONE IN PARTICULAR, HAS OPENED UP A PORTION OF THEIR CLUB AS A RESTAURANT.
AND WHAT IS, DOES THIS CREATE A FURTHER LOOPHOLE WHERE NIGHTCLUBS AND BARS ARE STARTING TO SAY, NO, THEY'RE A FOOD ESTABLISHMENT.
AND CAN WE ADD SOMETHING INTO OUR ORDINANCE THAT ISN'T PREEMPTED RELATING TO HOW WE DEFINE A FOOD ESTABLISHMENT OR A NIGHTCLUB SO THAT MORE BARS AREN'T, AND NIGHTCLUBS AREN'T JUST SAYING, OH NO, WE'RE A FOOD ESTABLISHMENT, WE'RE ON IT.
UH, WHEN THE POLICE CHIEF, UH, HAS ONE OF HIS SURGES, AND I'M RIDING WITH HIM, HE HAS THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT, THE FIRE DEPARTMENT, TABC, FIRE MARSHAL.
AND THEY'RE LOOKING TO SEE IF PEOPLE HAVE PERMITS.
THEY'VE SHUT DOWN SEVERAL ON WASHINGTON, CERTAINLY THE FOOD TRUCKS, UH, JIMMY ROCK AND WESTHEIMER, WE WERE OUT ONE NIGHT AND THE GENTLEMAN RUNNING A FOOD TRUCK LEFT FOOD BEING COOKED AND TOOK OFF AND, UH, PROBABLY LEFT HIS LARGEST ASSET IN HIS LIFE, BUT HE WAS OPERATING WITHOUT THESE PERMITS.
SO THERE WILL BE AN OPPORTUNITY TO EXPLORE OTHER OPPORTUNITIES TO DEAL WITH THIS INTERVENTION, BUT IT WILL INVOLVE THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT, TABC, FIRE, AND THE ENTIRE CITY GOVERNMENT.
SO IT'S ALSO A $3 MILLION BUDGET HIT, WHICH IS, UH, SIGNIFICANT.
COUNCIL, UH, MAYOR PRO TEM CAST DICTATUM.
THAT'S EXACTLY WHAT I WAS ALSO GOING TO LIFT UP.
THAT THIS SENATE BILL, UM, ALSO PREEMPTS THE CITY OF HOUSTON FROM, UH, CONTINUING TO COLLECT OUR, OUR ALCOHOL FEES.
UM, WHICH IS GOING TO BE, UM, AN ESTIMATED $3 MILLION, UM, LOSS FOR THE CITY OF HOUSTON.
AND THAT WE NEED TO CONTINUE TO ADVOCATE FOR LOCAL AUTHORITY WITH THE, UM, LEGISLATURE.
BECAUSE EVERY TIME WE HAVE THESE SENATE BILLS OR, UM, HOUSE BILLS THAT PASS, THAT USURP OUR AUTHORITY AS A CITY, UM, IT'S, YOU KNOW, THESE ARE UNFUNDED, UNFUNDED MANDATES.
THESE ARE OPPORTUNITIES FOR, UM, OUR ORDINANCES TO BE PREEMPTED.
UM, WE'VE, WE'VE GOT TO STAY, TRY TO STAY A STEP AHEAD OF THIS.
UM, AND I AGREE WITH COUNCIL MEMBER CAYMAN THAT WE'VE GOT TO ADD SOMETHING TO OUR ORDINANCES TO PROTECT, UM, THE FOOD SERVICE ESTABLISHMENTS SO WE CAN CONTINUE, UM, TO REGULATE THAT, THAT SOUND.
I, I NEIGHBORHOODS WILL BE JUST UP IN ARMS IF WE DON'T HAVE SOME TYPE OF ENFORCEMENT.
AND I KNOW FOR THE, UM, DISTRICT COUNCIL MEMBERS THAT ARE, UM, GETTING THOSE CALLS AND THOSE COMPLAINTS, IT, IT, IT IS GOING TO EXACERBATE.
SO WE, WE MUST, UM, FIGURE OUT HOW WE CAN PUT IT IN OUR ORDINANCES TO STILL, UM, ENFORCE THE SOUND.
VICE MAYOR PRO, UH, VICE MAYOR PRO.
THIS IS RELATING TO, UM, AIR QUALITY MONITORING EQUIPMENT AT TWO LOCATIONS.
AND SINCE WE'RE TALKING ABOUT THE TCQ AND AIR QUALITY, I JUST WANTED TO USE THIS AS AN OPPORTUNITY TO MENTION, YOU KNOW, THE OTHER LOCATIONS AROUND THE CITY THAT ALSO NEED AIR QUALITY MONITORING, INCLUDING THE CONCRETE BATCH PLANT SITUATION BY THE AUDI SCHOOL.
[03:20:01]
SO, AND I KNOW THAT THAT'S NOT THE ONLY LOCATION IN THE CITY OF HOUSTON, BUT IT'S THE NEWEST ONE THAT HAS COME UP.SO ANYTHING WE CAN DO TO GET OTHER, UM, LONG-TERM AIR QUALITY TESTING IN CERTAIN LOCATIONS WOULD BE APPRECIATED.
AND I KIND OF WANNA CHIME IN AS WELL.
UH, THIS IS A GOOD EXAMPLE OF JUST GETTING THE DATA THAT WE NEED TO SUPPORT THE DISPARITIES IN HEALTH, THE HEALTH DISPARITIES IN A LOT OF THESE COMMUNITIES.
WHAT WE SEE OFTENTIMES IS THE CUMULATIVE EFFECT OF HAVING MULTIPLE FACILITIES.
AND THAT'S ANOTHER PIECE THAT WE HAVE TO KIND OF KEEP IN MIND.
BUT THIS IS DEFINITELY A STEP IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION, ESPECIALLY, UM, AS WE KNOW THAT THESE, UM, PM TWO POINT FIVES AND PM TENS, UM, AND MANY OTHER CARCINOGENS REALLY DO CAUSE CHALLENGES IN PEOPLE THAT ARE ALREADY SUFFERING FROM COMORBIDITIES IN HEALTHCARE.
SO, UM, I'M EXCITED TO SEE THIS HAPPENING AND I REALLY WANT US TO DO WHAT WE CAN, UM, TO GET MORE OF THESE, THESE MONITORS IN PLACE.
AND ALSO TO LET COMMUNITY UNDERSTAND TOO THAT WE DON'T HAVE CONTROL OF THE PERMITS TCQ DOES AND STATE MANDATED.
AND SO A LOT OF FOLKS THINK THAT WE AS A BODY CAN, UM, CAN PREVENT THESE FOLKS FROM COMING IN IN OUR COMMUNITIES AND WE REALLY CAN'T.
BUT WHAT WE CAN DO IS THINGS LIKE THIS.
SO THANK YOU MAYOR FOR, FOR GETTING THIS DONE FOR US.
THOSE OPPOSED A MOTION PASSES.
MAY I PLEASE TAKE A POINT OF PERSONAL PRIVILEGE AND MAKE A COMMENT ON ITEM NUMBER 31? I APOLOGIZE.
IT KIND OF MOVED A BIT SWIFTLY ON ME.
THIS IS JUST AMAZING AND I WANNA JUST COMMEND, UM, DIRECTOR MACKAY AND UM, AND, AND JED FOR, FOR MAKING THIS HAPPEN.
THIS AWARDS 10 SMALL FIRMS, UM, IT'S CONTRACTS THAT ARE $50,000 OR LESS.
IT GIVES THEM AN OPPORTUNITY TO GET BONDED AND BIG FOR LARGER CONTRACTS, WHICH HAS BEEN SUCH A BIG ISSUE, UM, IN TERMS OF SMALL TO MID-SIZED BUSINESSES.
AND ALSO THAT THIS PROGRAM IS DESIGNED TO EXPAND OPPORTUNITY FOR SMALL CONTRACTORS TO COMPETE FOR CITY WORK, PARTICULARLY IN PUBLIC INFRASTRUCTURE AND MAINTENANCE AND REPAIR.
I JUST WANTED TO GIVE HUGE KUDOS, UM, TO MAKING THIS HAPPEN.
THIS IS DEFINITELY A MOVE IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION WHEN IT COMES TO OUR MINORITY, UM, SMALL BUSINESSES AND MID SIDE BUSINESSES.
THANK YOU FOR ALLOWING ME TO CHIME IN ON THAT ITEM.
SO, BACK, BACK ON 46, 30, 46, 46.
MOTION PASSES VICE MAYOR APPROACH.
JUST WANTED TO, UM, LET THE RESIDENTS, UM, IN WEST RIDGE EMBRACE TERRACE AIR AREA, KNOW, UM, ABOUT THIS PROJECT.
THEY HAVE BEEN, UM, ADVOCATING FOR THIS PROJECT SINCE 2017 WHEN IT GOT ON THE CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PLAN.
SO THANK YOU COLLEAGUES FOR THE SUPPORT OF THIS.
THIS IS GONNA GO A LONG WAY FOR THE DRAINAGE AND PREVENTING, UM, STRUCTURAL FLOODING IN THIS AREA.
SO, UM, THEY HAVE BEEN CALLING AND THEY HAD A CIVIC CLUB MEETING ON YESTERDAY.
UM, WE WERE ABLE TO GIVE THEM AN UPDATE THAT WE WERE VOTING ON THIS ITEM TODAY.
UM, SO I THINK THAT THEY WILL BE PLEASED THAT WE, YOU KNOW, THE PROCESS MAY BE SLOW SOMETIMES, BUT THESE PROJECTS ARE BIG AND IT IS MOVING IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION.
SO I APPRECIATE YOUR SUPPORT ON THIS ITEM.
ITEM 49 IS A MOTION TO RECEIVE NOMINATIONS FOR POSITIONS 10, 11, 12, AND 13 OF THE HOUSTON ARCHEOLOGICAL AND HISTORICAL COMMISSION BOARD OF DIRECTORS.
JUST NEED A MOTION CAST TATUM, MOVE.
[03:25:01]
PASSES.I'VE DISTRIBUTED, UM, A MEMO AND A RESUME IS GOING AROUND NOW TO NOMINATE ROBERT BROWNING TO POSITION 10 ON THE HOUSTON ARCHEOLOGICAL AND HISTORICAL COMMISSION.
COUNCIL MEMBER COUNCILMAN ALCORN.
I NOMINATE JOSH BROBECK TO POSITION 11 OF THE HOUSTON ARCHEOLOGICAL AND HISTORICAL COMMISSION.
UH, MAYOR PROAM, UH, MAYOR AND COUNCIL.
I'D LIKE TO NOMINATE CRAIG A GARCIA TO POSITION 12 TO THE HOUSTON ARCHEOLOGICAL AND HISTORICAL COMMISSION.
UH, WE HAVE, UM, PASSED OUT A MEMO AND ATTACHED HIS RESUME FOR YOUR REVIEW.
I MOVE TO NOMINATE BECKY DAVIS STANDRIDGE TO POSITION 13 OF THE HOUSTON ARCHEOLOGICAL AND HISTORICAL COMMISSION BOARD OF DIRECTORS.
YOU HAVE, UM, THOSE ITEMS BEFORE YOU, AND I WANNA THANK COUNCIL MEMBER CASTILLO FOR THE RECOMMENDATION ON THAT.
ANYONE ELSE? UH, IS THERE A MOTION TO CLOSE THE NOMINATIONS? CASTEX TATUM? MOVE TO CLOSE THE NOMINATIONS I SECOND.
MOTION MADE AND SECOND OF CLOSED NOMINATIONS.
ITEM 50 IS A MOTION TO RECEIVE NOMINATIONS FOR, FOR POSITION EIGHT OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF THE HOUSTON CIVIC EVENTS INC.
COUNCILMAN CARTER FOR NOMINATE.
UH, I NOMINATE THERESA TR FOR, UH, POSITION EIGHT FOR THE HOUSTON CIVICS EVENTS BOARD.
ON BEHALF OF COUNCIL MEMBER FLICKINGER, WHO IS ABSENT TODAY, YOU HAVE THE, UH, RESUME AND A MEMO IN FRONT OF YOU.
ANYONE ELSE? CASTEX TATU, MOVE TO CLOSE NOMINATIONS.
MOTION MADE, AND SECOND TO CLOSE NOMINATIONS.
THOMAS TAG, UH, 51 IS TAGGED BY COUNCIL MEMBER THOMAS.
NEXT, SINCE THE MEETING ITEMS 26 AND 33 HAVE BEEN RECEIVED, ITEM 26 IS AN ORDINANCE.
AND NOW WE HAVE THE PROPER A ITEM 52.
UH, ITEM 52, COUNCIL MEMBER HUFFMAN.
UH, PUBLIC SAFETY HAS TO BE A TOP PRIORITY IN OUR CITY, AND THAT'S WHY, UM, I, ALONG WITH MY COLLEAGUES, COUNCIL MEMBER FLICKINGER AND VICE MAYOR PRO TEM PECK HAVE DRAFTED THIS ORDINANCE TO PROHIBIT SITTING OR STANDING ON MEDIANS THAT ARE LESS THAN SIX FEET WIDE.
BY ENACTING THIS ORDINANCE, WE CAN TAKE A PROACTIVE STEP TOWARDS PREVENTING AVOIDABLE INJURIES AND FATALITIES EVERY YEAR IN HOUSTON, TOO MANY PEOPLE, THEIR LIVES ARE LOST ON STREETS, UM, AND MANY OF THESE TRAGEDIES ARE PREVENTABLE.
IN 2020, WHEN THE MAYOR ANNOUNCED THE CITY'S VISION ZERO INITIATIVES, UM, THE GOAL WAS TO END TRAFFIC DEATHS AND SERIOUS INJURIES.
AND DESPITE PROGRESS THAT WAS MADE, UM, WE'VE REGRESSED A LITTLE BIT.
AND SO IN 2024, HOUSTON RECORDED ITS HIGHEST NUMBER OF TRAFFIC FATALITIES, WHICH WAS OVER 300.
UM, HPD REPORTED THAT 33.9% OF THOSE KILLED IN TRAFFIC ACCIDENTS WERE PEDESTRIANS.
THE AMERICAN ASSOCIATION OF STATE HIGHWAY AND TRANSPORTATION OFFICIALS DEVELOPED A STANDARD, WHICH BASICALLY PROVIDED THAT MEDIANS AND URBAN AREAS THAT WERE INTENDED TO SERVE AS PEDESTRIAN REFUGES SHOULD BE AT LEAST SIX FEET WIDE.
UM, NARROW MEDIANS WERE NEVER MEANT TO BE A PLACE FOR PEOPLE TO WALK, SIT, STAND.
UM, THEY LEAVE INDIVIDUALS INCHES AWAY FROM FAST MOVING TRAFFIC WITH NO PROTECTION.
UM, THESE ARE SOME OF THE PICTURES THAT, UM, WE'VE TAKEN,
[03:30:01]
UM, THROUGHOUT THE DISTRICT AND THROUGHOUT THE CITY OF EXAMPLES OF, OF NARROW MEDIANS.THIS PICTURE WAS TAKEN ON A, A SUNDAY MORNING, UM, AND YOU CAN STILL SEE THAT, THAT THERE'S A LOT OF TRAFFIC.
THIS COUNCIL HAS PRIORITIZED SIDEWALKS IN THE PAST WITH THINGS LIKE THE SAFE SIDEWALK PROGRAM.
MANY OF US, UM, USE OUR COUNCIL DISTRICT SERVICE FUNDS TO BUILD SIDEWALKS AS WELL, AND WE WANT PEOPLE TO UTILIZE SIDEWALKS.
MEDIANS AREN'T DESIGNED TO BE WALKWAYS.
UM, THIS CONCERN WAS BROUGHT BY MULTIPLE RESIDENTS BY HPD OFFICERS ON THE FRONT LINES.
UM, AND THE LANGUAGE BEFORE YOU IN THIS ORDINANCE HAS BEEN VETTED BY THE CITY'S LEGAL DEPARTMENT AND IS SUPPORTED BY THE HOUSTON POLICE OFFICERS UNION.
AND FOR THOSE OF YOU THAT MAY HAVE CONCERNS, UM, ABOUT THIS ORDINANCE, LET ME ASSURE YOU THAT THIS ORDINANCE ISN'T ABOUT LIMITING ANYBODY'S FREEDOM.
AND THIS IS WHAT THE COURTS HAVE SAID TOO, IN BOTH WAGNER VIA THE CITY OF DALLAS AND BROWN VIA THE CITY OF HEARST, UM, WHICH HAVE BEEN DISTRIBUTED TO ALL OF YOU, UH, VIA THE LEGAL DEPARTMENT'S MEMO REGARDING THIS ITEM.
THE PROPOSED ORDINANCE LANGUAGE BEFORE US TODAY HAS BEEN CAREFULLY TAILORED TO MIRROR THESE PREVIOUSLY UPHELD ORDINANCES IN THESE CITIES, DALLAS HEARST, AND NOT JUST CITIES IN TEXAS, BUT WE'VE SEEN ORDINANCES PASS LIKE THIS IN RALEIGH, NORTH CAROLINA, SANTA FE, NEW MEXICO, ARIZONA.
UM, BECAUSE THESE CITIES ARE RECOGNIZING THAT THAT SAFETY IS IMPORTANT ALSO, I'D LIKE TO POINT OUT THAT THIS ITEM WAS LAID OUT AND DISCUSSED AT THE PROPOSITION A COMMITTEE THAT, UM, I CHAIR ALONG WITH VICE CHAIR EVAN SHABAZZ.
THAT MEETING WAS HELD ON MAY 27TH.
AND DURING THAT DISCUSSION, UM, THERE WERE NO COUNCIL MEMBERS THAT RAISED CONCERNS OR OBJECTIONS OR, UM, EXPRESSED PUSHBACK.
AND I THINK THAT THIS JUST DEMONSTRATES THE COMMON SENSE NATURE OF THIS MEASURE, THAT RESIDENTS, COUNCIL MEMBERS FIRST RESPONDERS RECOGNIZE THIS NECESSARY FOR PUBLIC SAFETY.
WE KNOW THAT THIS ORDINANCE ISN'T GOING TO SOLVE THE PROBLEM A HUNDRED PERCENT, BUT IT'S A STEP IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION.
AND, UM, FOR THAT, I MOVE THAT THIS ORDINANCE BE ADOPTED.
AND I'D CERTAINLY SUPPORT THIS.
I THINK IT'S CERTAIN AT, UH, NOT ONLY PUBLIC SAFETY IS, IS EXTREMELY IMPORTANT, BUT ALSO TOO, YOU KNOW, OFTEN, YOU KNOW, IN COMMUNITIES YOU HEAR, OH, YOU KNOW, THE HOMELESS PEOPLE ON THE CORNER AND THERE ARE HOMELESS PEOPLE, YOU KNOW, VIA THE PANHANDLER.
AND I KNOW THAT THIS, UH, PART OF THIS, UH, ORDINANCE ALLOWS US TO, UM, REALLY ADDRESS THE, THE FOLKS WHO ARE OUT THERE.
UM, PUBLIC SAFETY, YOU KNOW, WHEN YOU'VE GOT SOMEONE WALKING UP TO A CAR WINDOW, YOU KNOW, SELLING FLOWERS WITH A CHILD AND THE TRAFFIC, THE LIGHT TURNS GREEN AND EVERYBODY TAKES OFF, THAT THAT CHILD IS IN DANGER AND YOU SEE IT ALL THE TIME.
AND, YOU KNOW, THE OTHER CITIES THAT YOU'VE, UH, YOU'VE MENTIONED WHO, PA DALLAS IN 2022, I THINK THAT, YOU KNOW, WE'RE CERTAINLY LONG OVERDUE ON, ON DOING THIS, SO I CERTAINLY SUPPORT IT.
AND THANK YOU ALL FOR, FOR BRINGING IT FORWARD.
COUNCILMAN POLLARD? COUNCILMAN COLLIN? OH, POLL POLLARD.
UH, I APPRECIATE THE THOUGHT OF THIS, UH, MEASURE.
AND, UM, I DO THINK IT IS, UH, A BENEFIT TO THE CITY OF HOUSTON TO HAVE SOMETHING LIKE THIS ON THE BOOKS.
UM, ALONG WITH THIS, UH, PROPOSAL.
AND I, I'M ASKING THE QUESTION.
IT IS, IT IS NOT LIMITING A PERSON'S ABILITY TO, UH, TRY TO CROSS THE STREET AND HAVE TO STAND ON THE MEDIAN FOR A SHORT PERIOD OF TIME JUST TO GET TO THE OTHER SIDE, CORRECT? THAT'S CORRECT.
AND MY OTHER QUESTION IS, FROM AN ENFORCEMENT STANDPOINT, WHAT HAS LAW ENFORCEMENT, UM, MENTIONED TO YOU ALL ON HOW THEY WOULD ENFORCE? WHAT IS THE CONSEQUENCE OF SOMEONE WHO IS IN VIOLATION OF THIS PROPOSAL? AND, AND HOW DOES THIS, HOW DOES THAT IMPACT THE CITY AS WELL? THE ORDINANCE IS A CLASS C MISDEMEANOR WITH A FINE UP TO $500.
ALTHOUGH WHEN WE LOOK AT OTHER CITIES LIKE SANTA FE AND RALEIGH, NORTH CAROLINA, THE MAYORS IN THOSE CITIES SAID, YOU KNOW, ONCE THE ORDINANCE IS IN EFFECT, UM, THERE IS A GRACE PERIOD TO EDUCATE THE PUBLIC ABOUT THESE ORDINANCES.
SO PEOPLE KNOW THAT IT'S, IT'S ON THE BOOK AND OFFICERS HAVE DISCRETION, YOU KNOW? SO I THINK THE FIRST PIECE OF THIS IS EDUCATING THE PUBLIC THAT THIS ORDINANCE IS NOW IN EFFECT.
UM, AND, AND THEN AFTER THAT, UM, ONCE PEOPLE KNOW, THEN, THEN FINES COULD HAPPEN.
COUNCILOR RAMIREZ, THANK YOU, MAYOR.
AND, UH, TO YOUR POINT, COUNCIL MEMBER POLLARD, UM, IT DOES NOT PROHIBIT FOLKS FROM STANDING ON A MEDIAN MOMENTARILY AS
[03:35:01]
THEY'RE CROSSING A DIVIDED ROADWAY IN THE MOST DIRECT ROUTE POSSIBLE, ACCORDING TO THE LANGUAGE, UH, THAT WOULD BE ADOPTED IN THIS ORDINANCE.UH, SO THERE ARE EXCEPTIONS THAT IS ONE EMERGENCY SITUATIONS WHERE SOMEONE IS RENDERING AID OR IS A VICTIM OR IS OTHERWISE COMPLYING WITH, UH, DIRECTIONS OF A PEACE OFFICER WOULD BE ANOTHER.
AND I HAD A QUESTION ABOUT, UH, WHETHER THE DEFENSE OF NECESSITY IN THE PENAL CODE WOULD APPLY IN A CASE LIKE THIS.
AND, UH, OUR LEGAL DEPARTMENT HAS TOLD ME THAT IT WOULD.
SO IN, IN DIRE CIRCUMSTANCES WHERE SOMEBODY BELIEVES, UH, THEY HAVE TO STAND ON THE MEDIAN IN ORDER TO AVOID, FOR INSTANCE, BEING STRUCK BY A CAR OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT, SOME SORT OF IMMINENT HARM, IT WOULD BE LEGAL, UH, EVEN IF WE PASSED THIS ORDINANCE AS WELL.
SO I, I THINK IT'S, UM, A GOOD SAFETY MEASURE.
WE HEAR A LOT ABOUT HOW UNSAFE OUR ROADS ARE FOR PEDESTRIANS, AND THIS, UH, COULD POTENTIALLY SAVE LIVES IF FOLKS KNEW THIS WAS A NEW RULE AND WERE IN COMPLIANCE.
AND JUST TO CLARIFY, THIS APPLIES TO ONLY TO MEDIANS THAT ARE LESS THAN SIX FEET WIDE.
WE HAVE MEDIANS THROUGHOUT THE CITY THAT SOME ARE MORE THAN THAN SIX FEET WIDE.
SO THIS IS REALLY NARROWLY TAILORED TO NARROW MEDIANS UNDER SIX FEET.
AND I, I DO, I DO SEE THE PIECE IN THIS IN TERMS OF THE SAFETY PERSPECTIVE.
MY ONLY CONCERN IS MANY OF THESE PEOPLE THAT ARE HERE ARE LOW INCOME, PROBABLY POTENTIALLY HOMELESS.
UM, YOU, THEY GET A CLASS, YOU KNOW, I MEAN, THEY GET A MISDEMEANOR, DON'T HAVE AN ADDRESS TURNED INTO A WARRANT, NOW THEY'RE ARRESTED.
I THINK THE UNINTENDED CONSEQUENCE COULD POTENTIALLY BE, UM, PEOPLE THAT JUST DON'T HAVE THE MEANS TO BE ABLE TO GO TO COURT AND TO REPRESENT THEMSELVES.
SO I THINK THAT'S GONNA BE ONE OF THE UNINTENDED CONSEQUENCES.
DO YOU HAVE ANY SOLUTIONS TO THAT? AND THEN, AND LET ME SAY ONE MORE THING TOO.
AND THEN IN TERMS OF THE OUTREACH AND GIVING PEOPLE AN OPPORTUNITY TO KNOW ABOUT IT, THESE FOLKS AREN'T ON SOCIAL MEDIA.
THEY'RE NOT, THEY'RE NOT KEEPING TRACK.
YOU KNOW, THESE ARE THE PEOPLE THAT ARE NOT GONNA KNOW ANYTHING THAT'S GOING ON.
AND SO THE FOLKS THAT ARE DIRECTLY AFFECTED ARE NOT GONNA KNOW THE OUTREACH.
UM, AND SO I'D LOVE TO SEE WHAT YOUR THOUGHTS ARE ON THAT.
WELL, AND THIS DOESN'T, UM, PROHIBIT PANHANDLING.
WE KNOW THAT SOME PEOPLE MAKE THEIR LIVING THAT WAY, BUT WE WANT PEOPLE TO DO IT IN A SAFE MANNER.
WE WANT THEM TO BE IN SPACES THAT ARE SIDEWALKS THAT ARE MEANT FOR PEOPLE TO BE ON.
UM, OR IN SAFE SPACES THAT ARE BIGGER THAN SIX FEET.
IF YOU'RE ON A TWO FOOT MEDIAN AND A CAR CROSSES THAT DIVIDER, THERE'S REALLY NOWHERE TO GO.
YOU'RE FALLING INTO TRAFFIC EITHER ONE WAY OR THE OTHER.
SO WE WANNA ENCOURAGE PEOPLE TO UTILIZE SAFE SPACES TO BE, I I MIGHT ADD, UH, THERE'S NO DOUBT THERE'S SOME HARDSHIP CASES, BUT IF YOU GET, HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO, TO DISCUSS IT WITH SOME OF THE, UH, PEOPLE COLLECTING FUNDS TO SOME, IT'S A BUSINESS AND THEY STAKE OUT, UH, THE, IF YOU GO TO, UH, I'VE BEEN TOLD BY THOSE ON THE INTERSECTIONS, HEIGHTS IS, UH, AND I TEN'S A $300 A DAY, UH, TAKE HOME, IF YOU GO DOWN TO WASHINGTON AND I 10 A LITTLE SLOWER CORNER, UH, IT'S A $200 A DAY, UH, SESSION.
SO YOU VISIT WITH THESE FOLKS, THEY GO HOME, UM, THEY COLLECT SSI, IT'S JUST LITERALLY AN OCCUPATION OF SOME, AND LET'S, LET'S GIVE HPD SOME, SOME CREDIT.
THEY WILL USE THEIR JUDGMENT AND, AND ADDRESS HARDSHIP CASES.
AND, UH, NOT ONLY RELY UPON THEM AND THEIR TRAINING TO BE, UH, STEWARDS OF, UH, ALL OF US.
AND, AND LET'S DON'T FORGET THE TRAVELERS.
SOME OF THE PANHANDLER, UH, ARE BECOMING MORE AGGRESSIVE REPORTS OF THEM BANGING ON WINDOWS.
UH, SOME MENTAL HEALTH IS A FACTOR.
SO THIS IS A GOOD REASONABLE PROPOSAL, AND CERTAINLY WE CAN ALWAYS, UH, ADJUST IT.
BUT, UH, THERE'S GONNA BE SOME HARDSHIP CASES THAT THERE AGAIN, WE'LL, UH, MONITOR IT VERY CAREFULLY, BUT IT EXPOSES YOUNG PEOPLE, UH, THE KIDS, THE DANGERS, THE TRAVELERS.
[03:40:01]
I THINK IT'S A GREAT IDEA THAT CAN BE IMPLEMENTED.I DO THINK ARTURO WILL MONITOR IT VERY CAREFULLY.
THE, THE DALLAS ORDINANCE THAT I KNOW WE MONITORED, UH, AND MODELED THIS AFTER, IS STILL BEING LITIGATED.
SO IT'S PROBABLY NOT THE LAST TIME WE'LL HAVE THIS DISCUSSION, BUT IT'S CERTAINLY A, A GREAT START.
UH, COUNCIL MEMBER ALCORN, THANK YOU.
AND THANK YOU COUNCIL MEMBER HUFFMAN, YOU'VE DONE YOUR HOMEWORK ON THIS, AND THIS DOES SOUND LIKE A VERY REASONABLE, UH, PROPOSAL.
I GUESS MY, I'M A LITTLE CONFUSED ABOUT, AND MAYBE THE CITY ATTORNEY COULD WEIGH IN ON WHAT CURRENT PANHANDLING RULES ARE.
IT'S MY UNDERSTANDING THAT THE TEXAS TRANSPORTATION CODE DISALLOWS, UH, YOU KNOW, STANDING IN A ROADWAY TO SOLICIT FUNDS, AND ALSO THE CITY OF HOUSTON ITSELF HAS AN AGGRESSIVE PANHANDLING ORDINANCE, WHICH, WHICH BASICALLY, UH, YOU AGGRESSIVE PANHANDLING, LIKE FOLLOWING SOMEONE BLOCKING THEIR PATH OR CONTINUING AFTER BEING TOLD NO IS ILLEGAL.
SO WHAT, WHAT EXACTLY ARE OUR CURRENT RULES ON THE BOOKS REGARDING PANHANDLING? WELL, THE, THE PRACTICAL DISTINCTION IS YOU, UNDER THE TRANSPORTATION CODE, THE STATE TRANSPORTATION CODE, YOU CANNOT BE IN, IN THE ROADWAY.
SO THE MEDIAN DOESN'T COUNT AS THE ROADWAY COR CORRECT.
AND SO THIS, SO THAT'S, SO THIS IS GONNA SET UP, UH, FOR THESE NARROW, UH, MEDIANS, THE INABILITY TO, TO STAND THERE, UH, OTHER THAN PASSING THROUGH OR NECESSITY OR SOME OF THE OTHER EXCEPTIONS.
AND ARE, ARE, THERE ARE OUR STANDARD MEDIAN, I MEAN, IS THERE LIKE A, I DON'T KNOW WHAT OUR STANDARD MEDIAN SIZE IS, OR, YOU KNOW, WE'VE GOT 7,000 MEDIANS, I THINK, AND IS THIS, ARE THERE MANY THAT ARE, AND THAT MIGHT BE A PUBLIC WORKS QUESTION.
I MEAN, I'M SUPPORTIVE OF THIS, BUT IT, IT'D BE INTERESTING FOR ME TO KNOW KIND OF WHAT, WHAT OUR UNIVERSE IS OF THESE, YOU KNOW, KIND OF MORE NARROW MEDIANS.
I DON'T KNOW THE ANSWER TO THAT.
YOU KNOW, WHAT PERCENTAGE ARE, UM, LESS THAN SIX FEET WIDE.
BUT REALLY WHAT I THINK WHEN WE'RE TALKING ABOUT A MEDIAN THAT IS SMALLER THAN SIX FEET, THESE ARE REALLY MEDIAN OR TRAFFIC DIVIDERS, RIGHT? THEY'RE NOT REALLY EVEN MEDIANS, I WOULD SAY THEY'RE TRAFFIC DIVIDERS TO KEEP PEOPLE SAFE.
MY QUESTION, UM, COUNCIL MEMBER HUFFMAN, UH, SOME OF THESE OTHER CITIES THAT YOU DID THIS RESEARCH IN, HOW DID THEY GET THE MESSAGE OUT TO THE FOLKS TO ADVERTISE THIS? BECAUSE SIMILAR TO, UM, A COMMENT THAT COUNCIL MEMBER PLUMMER MADE, THE, THE FOLKS THAT ARE STANDING ON THESE TRAFFIC DIVIDERS PROBABLY WON'T BE WATCHING THE NEWS.
THEY PROBABLY WON'T GET OUR NEWSLETTER.
THEY PROBABLY WON'T SEE THIS COMMUNICATION ON SOCIAL MEDIA.
SO I'M CURIOUS TO KNOW DURING THE, UM, GRACE PERIOD, HOW DO WE GET THE MESSAGE TO THEM? SO IN SOME OF THESE OTHER CITIES, IT WAS A PROACTIVE APPROACH.
IT WAS OFFICERS APPROACHING PEOPLE THAT WERE ON NARROW MEDIANS, LETTING THEM KNOW THAT THIS ORDINANCE NOW EXISTS.
BECAUSE, LIKE YOU SAID, THEY'RE NOT ON SOCIAL MEDIA, THEY'RE NOT WATCHING THE NEWS, THEY'RE NOT GETTING THE NEWSLETTER.
SO IT REALLY WAS A PROACTIVE APPROACH OF EDUCATION.
SO DO WE ANTICIPATE THAT THAT'S GONNA HAPPEN IN HOUSTON? DO WE HAVE A PLAN OF IMPLEMENTATION? BECAUSE I'M JUST THINKING ABOUT ENFORCEMENT, UH, OF THIS AND MAKING SURE THAT WE USE THE GRACE PERIOD TO GET THE MESSAGE OUT.
AND, UM, THE HOUSTON POLICE OFFICERS UNION IS SUPPORTIVE OF THIS ORDINANCE, AND IT'S DEFINITELY SOMETHING THAT, UM, YOU KNOW, WE CAN TALK WITH HPD ABOUT THAT EDUCATION PIECE.
THANK YOU, VICE MAYOR, PRO TEAK, UH, VICE MAYOR, PRO TEAK.
UM, I JUST WANTED TO THANK COUNCIL MEMBER HUFFMAN FOR HER LEADERSHIP ON THIS ORDINANCE.
UM, IT'S DEFINITELY IMPORTANT FOR PUBLIC SAFETY, NOT ONLY FOR THE PEOPLE STANDING IN THE MEDIANS, BUT ALSO DRIVERS AS WELL.
THERE ARE MANY TIMES WHERE, UM, PEOPLE ARE DRIVING AND THEY CAN'T SEE PAST SOMEONE WHO'S STANDING IN A PLACE WHERE THEY SHOULDN'T BE, AND IT CAUSES TRAFFIC CONCERNS AND SAFETY ISSUES.
SO THANK YOU FOR BRINGING THIS FORWARD.
AND, AND, UH, ANY OTHER COMMENTS? MAYOR PROTE, I THINK HPD SHOULD USE WARNINGS TO TILL IT'S WELL BROADCAST AND ACCEPTED AS A NEW ORDINANCE.
SO THERE AGAIN, WE'LL BE IN CONTACT WITH HPD AND THEIR TRAINING.
ANYONE ELSE? IF NOT, UH, ALL IN FAVOR SAY YES.
[03:45:05]
MAYOR MEYER? YES.COUNCIL MEMBER CASTEX TATUM? YES.
COUNCIL, THOMAS, DO YOU WANNA COMMENT? YES.
RECOGNIZED, UH, THANK YOU, MAYOR.
UM, UH, IT'S CLEAR THAT THERE'S CLEARLY BEEN DISCUSSION AROUND THIS ITEM, AND I I WANT TO, UH, SHARE MY NO VOTE AT THE, THE ITEM DEFINITELY HAS MERIT.
UM, AND I'VE OFTEN MENTIONED HOW I EXIT ON MY WAY HOME.
I EXIT BINET AND BELTWAY EIGHT.
SO IF YOU KNOW ANYTHING ABOUT THAT SIDE OF TOWN, THAT'S WHERE I EXIT TO GO HOME.
AND I'M, I HAVE EXPERIENCED INDIVIDUALS WALKING UPON MY CAR AT NIGHT.
UM, YOU SEE THIS ON BEL AIR AND WILCREST COOK AND BEACH SNUT, WEST TIMER AND STONY BROOK.
UM, SO I THINK IT'S SOMETHING THAT, UH, DEFINITELY HAS MIRRORED.
HOWEVER, UM, THE CHILLING EFFECT OF THE CIVILITY ORDINANCE THAT WE, UH, PASSED A COUPLE OF WEEKS AGO, MY OFFICE HAS RECEIVED A MATTER OF FACT, WHILE I WAS SITTING IN THIS SEAT, I RECEIVED PHOTOS IN AN, UH, IN MY FACEBOOK MESSENGER ABOUT RESIDENTS SAYING THAT THEY'RE SEEING INCREASED, UM, ACTIVITY WITHIN RESIDENTIAL NEIGHBORHOODS BECAUSE OF WHAT WE'RE PUTTING ON THE BOOKS AND WHAT WE ARE, UH, HOW WE ARE DIRECTING HPDS TIMES AROUND THE UNHOUSED.
UM, I ALSO THINK THAT WE CAN'T POLICE OUR WAY OUT OF POVERTY, AND WE CANNOT POLICE OUR WAY OUT OF PO INTO PUBLIC SAFETY.
THAT IS NOT THE EXCLUSIVE WAY THAT WE DO THIS, UH, ESPECIALLY WHEN WE HAVE, UM, AT LEAST IN, IN ON, ON THE WEST SIDE, UH, APARTMENT COMPLEXES THAT HAVE YOUNG PEOPLE, UM, DYING BY RANDOM GUNFIRE.
SO THERE'S, THERE'S MERIT TO IT.
UM, I THINK IF WE WANT TO TALK ABOUT PEDESTRIAN SAFETY, WE HAVE A CURE FOR THAT.
I THINK IF WE WANT TO TALK ABOUT, UM, UM, MAKING SURE THAT THOSE WHO ARE UNHOUSED AND HOMELESS, THERE'S A CURE FOR THAT.
THE $40 MILLION THAT WE PASSED IN THE DR 24 PACKAGE, THAT $40 MILLION HAD INDIVIDUALIZED CASE MANAGEMENT, SHORT TERM RENTAL ASSISTANCE, UM, TO MAKE SURE THAT THESE INDIVIDUALS HAVE THE ACTUAL, THE, THE RESOURCES.
AND SO I THINK IT'S, YOU KNOW, IT, IT, IT'S INTERESTING THAT WE HAD $40 MILLION AND THE AUTHORS OF THIS VOTED AGAINST THE $40 MILLION FOR THE UNHOUSED, UM, TO MOVE FORWARD TO, TO, TO RESPOND TO THE NEEDS AT THE INTERSECTION.
SO IF THERE'S AN OPPORTUNITY, IT'S RARE THAT ORDINANCE COME BACK UP FOR REVIEW.
BUT IF THERE'S AN OPPORTUNITY, I DO THINK WE NEED TO OFFER FEEDBACK ONCE THIS THING HITS THE STREET, BECAUSE I DO THINK THAT THERE'S GONNA BE AN EXPECTATION IN OUR NEIGHBORHOODS THAT HPD WILL ENFORCE THIS.
WE'LL CONTINUE TO SEE, UM, THESE INCIDENTS AT THE INTERSECTIONS, AND THEN, UM, COUNCIL MEMBERS WILL BE LEFT HOLDING THE BAG ABOUT A UNMET EXPECTATION.
SO, UM, UH, IF WE CAN CONTINUE TO WORK THROUGH THAT, MAYOR, IF YOU, IF YOU'RE WILLING TO BRING THIS BACK UP, UM, UH, I WOULD LOVE TO MAKE SURE WE HAVE FEEDBACK AFTER THIS GOES LIVE.
ANYONE ELSE, UH, THAT COMPLETES OUR AGENDA, POP
[NON CONSENT - MATTERS TO BE PRESENTED BY COUNCIL MEMBERS]
OFF.I HOPE EVERYONE HAS A SAFE AND ENJOYABLE, UH, LABOR DAY WEEKEND.
HPD IS BUSY, SO KEEP KEEP ON YOUR BEST BEHAVIOR.
ON MONDAY, THE ANNOUNCEMENT OF THE MY BROTHERS KEEPER HOUSTON 2025 LOCAL ACTION PLAN WAS HELD AT EMANCIPATION PARK CULTURAL CENTER.
THE PLAN SHAPED BY COMMUNITY VOICES AND LEADERS SETS BOLD ACTIONS THAT WILL GUIDE MBK HOUSTON THROUGH 2030, AND REFLECTS THE PARTNERSHIP OF GOVERNMENT, NONPROFITS, EDUCATORS, BUSINESSES, AND RESIDENTS TO EXPAND OPPORTUNITIES FOR BOYS AND YOUNG MEN OF COLOR.
UH, TODAY, DISTRICT D IS PROUD TO JOIN THE SENIOR CINDERELLA FAIR BALL AND ROYAL COURT 2025, HOSTED BY THE HONORARY MAYOR OF SUNNYSIDE, SANDRA MASSEY HINES.
OF COURSE, SHE DID TELL ME SHE'S GONNA MISS HER PRINTS THIS YEAR, BUT I'M CERTAIN THAT IT'S GOING TO BE A FESTIVE AFFAIR.
AND SHE IS CERTAINLY DUE ALL HONOR FOR ALL OF THE WORK THAT SHE PUTS IN, PARTICULARLY FOR THE SENIORS IN SUNNYSIDE.
AND IT'S, UH, TODAY STARTING AT 10:00 AM AND ENDING AT 2:00 PM AT THE SUNNYSIDE HEALTH AND MULTI-SERVICE CENTER, 44 10
[03:50:01]
REED ROAD.UH, LATER THIS WEEK, WESLEY, A ME CHURCH WILL HOST ITS ANNUAL GREEK SUNDAY SERVICE, A FELLOWSHIP HONORING THE LEGACY AND SERVICE OF BLACK GREEK LETTER ORGANIZATIONS.
IT WILL BE SUNDAY AT 9 45 WESLEY, A ME CHURCH.
I THOUGHT IT SAID EIGHT 30, AND I WAS LIKE, OH MY GOD.
ANYWAY, 1 2 8 5 0 CITYSCAPE AVENUE.
AND MAYOR, I AM SO VERY HAPPY TO ANNOUNCE THAT ON FRIDAY, A HUNDRED PERCENT OF THE APARTMENTS IN CULLEN PARK AND WESLEY SQUARE WOULD HAVE BEEN INSPECTED.
AND SO I PLAN TO BE THERE ON FRIDAY TO SEE WHAT THEY FOUND, TO SEE HOW AND WHEN THEY WILL ABATE IT.
AND ALSO TO LET THEM KNOW THAT IF IT'S NOT A SAFE CONDITION FOR THE TENANTS TO BE THERE WHILE THEY DO IT, THAT IT IS THEIR RESPONSIBILITY, THE, THE COMPLEX, RATHER, TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY ARE IN SAFE HOUSING WHILE THIS IS GETTING DONE.
AND SO, I'M, I'M REALLY ELATED ABOUT, ABOUT THAT, AND I HAVE TO LIFT UP DR.
CANDACE MATTHEWS, WHO BROUGHT THIS TO MY ATTENTION WITH THOSE HORRIBLE VIDEOS OF ALL OF THOSE RATS.
AND WE HAVE SEEN A LOT, AND CERTAINLY YOU ALL, I'M SURE, SAW MY ENGAGEMENT WITH THE RAT.
YOU ALL SEE, I CAN LIFT MY LEGS PRETTY FAST IF I NEED TO, BUT CERTAINLY, UH, IT WAS, YOU KNOW, JUST APROPO THAT HE SHOWED UP TO, TO HIS MEETING, UH, BECAUSE HE KNEW WE WERE TRYING TO GET RID OF HIM AND HIS FAMILY.
SO HE THOUGHT HE WOULD COME AND SPEAK UP, AND HE DID.
AND SO, UM, DISTRICT D ALSO LOOKS FORWARD TO CONTINUED WORK WITH THE ADMINISTRATION ON IMPROVEMENTS.
AND I WANNA PUT THAT IN QUOTES.
IMPROVEMENTS AT HERMAN PARK GOLF COURSE INCLUDED NEEDED UPGRADES TO FACILITIES AND GROUNDS THAT WILL MAKE THE COURSE MORE ACCESSIBLE AND WELCOMING FOR RESIDENTS.
AND JUST VERY, VERY CLEARLY, I HAVE BEEN ENGAGED WITH A LOT OF GOLFERS, AND THEY DO NOT WANT THAT COURSE CHANGED, JUST WANNA MAKE THAT PUBLIC.
AND SO I CERTAINLY AM, UH, BELIEVE THAT IT CAN ALWAYS BE UPGRADED, BUT THIS IS THE FIRST PARK THAT AFRICAN AMERICAN GOLFERS WERE ALLOWED TO ENGAGE.
AND SO CERTAINLY I WANT THEM TO CONTINUE TO ENGAGE AS WELL AS ALL OTHERS.
I SPOKE WITH COUNCIL MEMBER HUFFMAN, AND SHE SAID THAT HER CONSTITUENTS ALSO USE HERMAN PARK.
AND SO THE GOLF COURSE, AND WE WANNA KEEP IT ACTIVE AND ACCESSIBLE, AND WE WANT THE GOLFERS TO CONTINUE TO ENJOY IT.
AND I MAY EVEN TAKE UP THE GAME.
AND I THANK YOU, UH, MAYOR WHITMEYER FOR YOUR COMMITMENT TO ADDRESSING THESE CONCERNS AND ENSURING THAT THIS HISTORIC SPACE CONTINUES TO SERVE THE COMMUNITY WELL, AND THANK YOU.
AND THAT CONCLUDES WHAT'S GOING ON IN THE DISTRICT OF DESTINATION.
I WANT TO START BY CONGRATULATING THOMAS FARADAY ON HIS EAGLE SCOUT SERVICE PROJECT, WHICH WAS A PEDESTRIAN BRIDGE INSTALLED IN WOODLAND PARKS WOODED AREA THAT, UH, HELPS FOLKS GET, UH, AND ACCESS THE TRAIL.
UM, IT TOOK SOME WORK WITH PARKS DEPARTMENT AND WITH PUBLIC WORKS TO GET THAT THROUGH PERMITTING AND APPROVED, BUT IT WAS ABLE, UH, TO GET DONE AND COMPLETED ON TIME.
AND WE HELD THE RIBBON CUTTING LAST THURSDAY, AND NOW IT'S GONNA HELP FOLKS UTILIZE, UM, A REALLY NEAT PART OF THE CITY, JUST, JUST A STONE THROW FROM DOWNTOWN.
IF YOU HAVEN'T GONE BACK INTO THE WOODS OF WOODLAND PARK, I ENCOURAGE YOU TO DO IT.
UM, AND NOW THERE'S A PEDESTRIAN BRIDGE BACK THERE THAT HELPS YOU GET THROUGH THE TRAIL, AND WE'LL BE PART OF A LARGER EXPANSION, UH, AS WE LOOK AT, UM, CONNECTING WOODLAND PARK TO MOODY PARK THROUGH THE LITTLE WHITE OAK BAYOU AND, AND A POTENTIAL FUTURE BAYOU GREENWAY.
I ALSO, UH, WANT TO THANK EVERYONE FOR COMING LAST NIGHT FOR OUR FIRST EV EVENING PUBLIC SESSION.
UM, I WANT TO THANK COUNCIL MEMBERS ALCORN AND VICE MAYOR PRO TEMP PECK FOR SIGNING ON TO THAT, UH, PROP A ORDINANCE.
AND, UH, THINK THAT, YOU KNOW, WE, WE SAW A LOT OF ENGAGEMENT, UM, FROM HOUSTONIANS AND LOOK FORWARD TO THE, THE REMAINING EVENING SESSION MEETINGS, UH, AND HOPE THAT THEY'RE, UH, HIGHLY UTILIZED AND WELL ATTENDED.
AND THEN, UH, EVERYONE HAVE A SAFE LABOR DAY WEEKEND.
UH, FIRST AND FOREMOST, UH, I WANNA THANK HP'S BOMB SQUAD.
UM, BUT AT MEMORIAL PARK, I'M SURE SOMEBODY, Y'ALL SAW THE HEADLINES, UM, IS THE CONSERVANCY CONTINUES TO CREATE THIS INCREDIBLE SPACE CALLED MEMORIAL GROVES, RIGHT? WHICH, AND AGAIN, THE REASON WHY WE CALL MEMORIAL PARK, MEMORIAL PARK IS TO HONOR THAT THIS WAS A MILITARY SITE IN TRAINING CAMP.
[03:55:01]
AND, UH, SO OVER, UH, EARLIER THIS WEEK, UH, THERE'S LOTS OF ARTIFACTS AROUND.AND OF COURSE, SOME CREWS UNCOVERED, UH, A WORLD WAR I ERA.
UH, HPD CALLS IT AN ORDINANCE, I SAY BOMB, UH, BUT IT AGAIN, WAS NOT NECESSARILY A THREAT.
BUT HPD OBVIOUSLY TOOK IT VERY SERIOUSLY.
UH, THERE WAS A CONTROLLED DETONATION AND, UH, WORK WAS ABLE TO CONTINUE.
SO, UH, AGAIN, I WANNA THANK HPD FOR THEIR QUICK RESPONSE, BUT ALSO JUST LIFT UP THE HISTORY OF MEMORIAL PARK, AND THAT'S WHY MEMORIAL GROVES IS SO IMPORTANT IN COMMEMORATING ALL OF THIS HISTORY AS WELL.
UH, THERE'S A, A FEW OTHER THINGS, UM, I DO WANNA RECOGNIZE, UM, SINCE COUNCIL MEMBER HUFFMAN RAISED THE ISSUE OF THE STUDENT THAT WAS STRUCK, THANK GOD, NOT KILLED LAST WEEK IN FRONT OF LAMAR.
UM, AND I APPRECIATE YOU MAYOR, HEADING OUT THERE.
UM, WE'VE HAD AT LEAST THREE PEOPLE I BELIEVE, KILLED IN THIS PAST WEEK ALONE.
UH, JUST YESTERDAY IN DISTRICT CA 70-YEAR-OLD CYCLIST WAS STRUCK AND KILLED BY A TRUCK, UM, THAT FAILED TO YIELD THE VEHICLE, FAILED TO YIELD TO RIGHT OF WAY, UM, AND KILLED THE 70-YEAR-OLD CYCLIST.
IT'S A VERY, UM, HEAVILY USED PEDESTRIAN AND CYCLIST AREA, UM, ALONG THOSE TRAILS.
UH, SO I WILL CONTINUE, UM, TO ADVOCATE AND PUSH FOR SAFETY FOR ALL HOUSTONIANS ON OUR ROADS.
UH, MAYOR, I DID WANNA BRING UP, UM, I KNOW WE ARE CONTINUING TO WORK THROUGH THE CHALLENGES RELATED TO SOLID WASTE.
UM, OUR OFFICE IS CONTINUING TO GET AN UNPRECEDENTED AMOUNT OF CALLS, UH, RELATED TO TRASH BINS THAT ARE NOT BEING DELIVERED TIMELY.
UH, IN DISTRICT C, WE PULLED FROM 3 1 1, THERE ARE 1,517 OPEN SOLID WASTE CONTAINER CASES.
THESE HAVE BEEN OPEN FOR THIS YEAR.
UM, I'M CONTINUING TO SPEAK WITH OTHER COUNCIL MEMBERS.
WE APPRECIATE THE WORK OF THE DEPARTMENT.
I'M NOT POINTING FINGERS, BUT WE HAVE A PROBLEM WHEN PEOPLE CANNOT GET A TRASH BIN.
UM, AND IT, IT'S, HONESTLY, IT'S A HEALTH SAFETY ISSUE AS WELL AS A ABSOLUTE INCONVENIENCE AND STRUGGLE, UH, WHEN YOU CAN'T DISPOSE OF YOUR TRASH, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER, PECK AND I ARE DISCUSSING OPTIONS FOR HOW WE CAN ALSO HELP.
WE DON'T WANT TO JUST SAY THERE'S A PROBLEM AND NOT DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT.
SO WE ARE CONTINUING TO, BUT I DID PROMISE RESIDENTS THAT I WOULD RAISE THE ISSUE TODAY BECAUSE OVER 1500 OPEN CASES IN DISTRICT SEAL ALONE, UH, IS, IS JUST, IT'S NOT OKAY RIGHT NOW FOR OUR RESIDENTS.
UM, THERE COULD BE SOME DUPLICATIONS IN THAT SYSTEM.
I WANNA POINT THAT OUT AS WELL.
UH, BUT AGAIN, WE'RE HEARING FROM RESIDENTS THAT THEY'RE NOT GETTING THEIR TRASH BINS.
LASTLY, UH, I DO WANNA SAY HAPPY LABOR DAY.
AND AGAIN, THANK ALL OF OUR, UM, FOLKS IN LABOR AND UNIONS AND EVERYDAY WORKERS IN HOUSTONIAN IN HOUSTON.
UH, ALSO THOUGH, I WANNA RECOGNIZE THE ANNIVERSARY.
IT'S BEEN EIGHT YEARS SINCE HARVEY, AND 20 YEARS SINCE KATRINA.
AND, UH, BOTH OF THOSE STORMS HAD A PROFOUND IMPACT, UM, ON HOUSTON AND ON OUR SISTER CITY OF NEW ORLEANS.
I KNOW OTHERS AROUND THE HORSESHOE WERE IMPACTED DURING KATRINA.
UM, SO I, I JUST WANNA REMEMBER EVERYONE THAT WAS LOST DURING KATRINA AND EVERYTHING WE HAVE GONE THROUGH IN HARVEY AS WELL.
I, I'LL GIVE YOU A REPORT ON THE CONTAINERS.
HE WILL BE CAUGHT UP VERY SOON.
WE ALL KNOW THE WORK HE'S DOING, BUT ALSO MOST OF THE BACKLOG ARE NEW, NEW RESIDENCES, THE NEW CONDOS, THE NEW, WHICH ARE IMPORTANT, BUT, UM, HE'S COMMITTED TO IT.
UH, ANY DISCUSSION? ITEM 39 IS AN ORDINANCE.
NEXT WOULD BE COUNCILMAN HUFFMAN.
UM, THERE'S A PROJECT THAT IS ANTICIPATED TO START SOON.
IT'S NOT IN DISTRICT G, BUT IT'S, UM, JUST SOUTH OF WESTHEIMER ON HILLCROFT.
AND THE PROJECT IS GOING TO BE DONE BY METRO.
IT INCLUDES MILLING THE EENT SURFACE OF THE ROAD, CLEANING AND SEALING THE PAVEMENT, LAYING AND LEVELING COURSE, WHICH IS DEFINITELY NEEDED ON HILLCROFT.
HOWEVER, JUST NORTH OF WESTHEIMER, THAT HILLCROFT BECOMES VOSS, WHICH IS ALSO IN NEED OF THE SAME TYPE OF WORK.
AND SO I WOULD LOVE FOR METRO TO EXTEND THEIR PROJECT JUST ONCE THEY'RE DONE WITH THE SOUTHERN PORTION OF HILLCROFT TO, TO MOVE NORTH
[04:00:01]
AND CONTINUE METRO.UH, A FEW ITEMS I'D LIKE TO HIGHLIGHT.
ONE IS THE MARIACHI FESTIVAL, SIXTH DANIEL, WHICH WAS HELD THIS PAST WEEKEND AT THE WORTHHAM CENTER.
UH, JUST WANT TO GIVE A SHOUT OUT TO BEN MENDEZ, THE MENDEZ FAMILY, THE DIRECTORS OF THE MARIACHI FESTIVAL AND PERFORMANCE ARTS, ARTS HOUSTON, ESPECIALLY MEG BOOTH, UH, THE PRESIDENT FOR AN OUTSTANDING SHOW.
THIS IS THE SIXTH YEAR THEY STARTED IN VERY HUMBLE CIRCUMSTANCES, AND FOR THE LAST THREE YEARS, THEY'VE BEEN IN THE WORTHHAM THEATER.
A WONDERFUL PLACE TO SHOWCASE, UM, THIS, UH, MUSIC THAT IS A PART OF, PART OF OUR HERITAGE, FRANKLY.
UH, WE SAW SOME WONDERFULLY TALENTED PERFORMERS, PROFESSIONAL SOME, UM, ELEMENTARY SCHOOL KIDS.
UH, YOU MAY BE SURPRISED TO KNOW THAT A NUMBER OF OUR HIGH SCHOOLS HAVE MARIACHI PROGRAMS, AND THERE WAS AN ALL STAR HIGH SCHOOL BAND THAT PERFORMED FRIDAY NIGHT AND, AND AGAIN ON SUNDAY, AND JUST DID A WONDERFUL JOB.
I KNOW YOU WERE THERE SUNDAY AFTERNOON, MAYOR, SO YOU GOT, YOU GOT TO ENJOY THAT.
SO LOOK FORWARD TO THAT CONTINUING AND BECOMING EVEN MORE SUCCESSFUL IN THE FUTURE.
SECOND, YESTERDAY WE TOOK UP, UH, THE CAPITAL IMPROVEMENTS PROCESS AND, UH, AMENDMENTS THAT HAD BEEN OFFERED.
I APPRECIATED THAT WHOLE, UH, PROCESS YESTERDAY.
I UNDERSTAND IT IS AN ONGOING THING.
WE WILL CONTINUE TO DISCUSS, UH, THE AMENDMENTS THAT HAVE BEEN OFFERED, AND THE, THE PROCESS IN GENERAL, I WANT TO SAY I UNDERSTAND THAT IT, IT DOES CAUSE PUBLIC WORKS TO SORT OF STRETCH AND, UH, POSSIBLY DO THINGS DIFFERENTLY THAN, THAN THEY HAVE IN THE PAST.
BUT I AM VERY RESPECTFUL AND APPRECIATIVE OF THE JOB THAT PUBLIC WORKS DOES.
THEY HAVE A LOT ON THEIR PLATE.
THEY WORK VERY HARD UNDER DIFF DIFFICULT CIRCUMSTANCES, AND I APPRECIATE THE JOB THEY DO.
WE HAVE TWO ITEMS ON THE AGENDA TODAY THAT WE PASSED THAT WILL HELP US, UH, THAT, THAT REALLY, UH, GO BACK TO PUBLIC WORKS.
ONE WAS THE LANE STRIPERS THAT WE, WE TALKED ABOUT TWO LANE STRIPERS.
AND THEN ANOTHER ONE THAT DIDN'T GET TALKED ABOUT WAS THE WATER METERS THAT WE'RE GONNA BE REPLACING.
AND SO BOTH OF THOSE WILL HELP US TREMENDOUSLY.
BUT, UH, I, I DO APPRECIATE PUBLIC WORKS.
LOOK FORWARD TO THEIR COLLABORATION IN THE NEAR FUTURE ON THESE, ON THESE AMENDMENTS THAT WE'VE BEEN TALKING ABOUT.
UM, MENTION WAS MADE BY COUNCIL MEMBER EVAN SHABAZZ ABOUT, UH, CHANGES COMING TO THE HERMAN PARK GOLF COURSE.
AND I WANT TO CONTINUE, UH, ENCOURAGE THE PUBLIC TO CONTINUE TO SPEAK OUT ABOUT HOW THEY FEEL ABOUT THESE PROPOSED CHANGES.
UH, IT IS, IT WOULD BE A MAJOR CHANGE TO CHANGE THE GOLF COURSE FROM AN 18 HOLE COURSE, TRADITIONAL TO, UM, A NINE HOLE COURSE PLUS A THREE PAR NINE HOLES AS WELL.
UM, THE REALITY IS IT'S REALLY HARD TO FUND OUR PARKS ADEQUATELY AND, AND, UH, UH, THE GOLF COURSE IN PARTICULAR.
AND, UM, THE CHALLENGE IS WHERE DOES THAT MONEY COME FROM? AND SO I KNOW THE PROPOSED CHANGES COME FROM, UH, A REALIZATION THAT WE NEED A SOURCE OF FUNDING TO TAKE CARE OF THE GOLF COURSE.
AND SO I WOULD JUST CONTINUE, UH, CONTINUE TO URGE FOLKS TO OFFER THEIR, THEIR INPUT PROCESSES ONGOING AS I, AS I UNDERSTAND IT.
ALSO, A SHOUT OUT TO THE LEADERSHIP OF THE HERMAN PARK CONSERVANCY, WHICH DOES, UH, AN EXCELLENT JOB OF MAINTAINING THAT PARK WHILE, WHILE DEALING WITH, UH, SOME SIGNIFICANT HEADWINDS.
AND FINALLY, UM, EARLIER THIS WEEK, WE TA TALKED ABOUT, UH, OR WAS IT LAST WEEK? WE TALKED ABOUT, UM, A COUPLE OF, UM, CAMPAIGN FINANCE PROPOSALS.
UH, AND, AND SPECIFICALLY WITH REGARD TO THOSE FOLKS WHO, WHO DON'T FILE ON TIME OR DON'T FILE AT ALL.
AND WHAT WE DO ABOUT THAT, UH, THAT SAME DAY WE HAD THAT DISCUSSION COMMITTEE.
UH, AN IMPORTANT CASE CAME DOWN FROM THE COURT, TEXAS COURT OF CRIMINAL APPEALS, WHICH IS OUR HIGHEST COURT IN THE STATE FOR CRIMINAL MATTERS THAT, ACCORDING TO MY READING, WILL ALLOW COUNTIES AND CITIES TO PROSECUTE CAMPAIGN FINANCE VIOLATORS.
SO, UH, THE WAY I READ THAT CASE, IT WOULD BE POSSIBLE FOR THE CITY IN THE FUTURE TO PROSECUTE IN MUNICIPAL COURT FOLKS WHO VIOLATE, UM, CAMPAIGN FINANCE, UH, RULES.
SO, UH, I EXPECT AND HOPE THAT WE'LL HAVE CONVERSATIONS IN THE NEAR FUTURE ABOUT, UH, WHAT WILL HAPPEN IN THOSE SITUATIONS.
[04:05:01]
COUNCILMAN THOMAS.COUNCIL MEMBER HUFFMAN FOR, UH, SHARING ABOUT THE METRO PROJECT.
UH, METRO IS A, A LEADING THE, UH, RECONSTRUCTION OF HILLCROFT, UM, AT WESTHEIMER TILL TO WEST PARK.
THE PROJECT IS SLATED TO START AUGUST 25TH.
UH, THERE IS ANOTHER PROJECT THAT'S ON RICHMOND FROM HILLCROFT TO DUNVILLE.
THIS PROJECT, UH, UH, THE NOTICE TO CON PROCEED STARTED IN THE SPRING.
WE WERE, SHOULD HAVE BEEN DONE AT THIS TIME, AND WE ARE NOT.
AND SO MY OFFICER HAS RECEIVED A SERIES OF INQUIRIES ABOUT THE DELAY.
RICHMOND BETWEEN DUNVILLE, DUNVILLE, AND HILLCROFT IS A MAJOR THOROUGHFARE.
AND SO I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO DISCUSSING THAT WITH HPW DURING MY QUARTERLY REPORT.
I ALSO WANNA HIGHLIGHT THAT WE HAD A MAJOR WATER LEAK IN THE ZIP CODE OF 7 7 0 7 2 ON SUNDAY.
ACTUALLY ON SATURDAY EVENING, MY OFFICE WAS NOTIFIED ON SUNDAY.
I LIVE IN THE ZIP CODE OF 0 72.
UM, AND I WASN'T NOTIFIED BY PUBLIC WORKS.
I WAS NOTIFIED FROM AN EMAIL ON A SUNDAY MORNING AND ON SOCIAL MEDIA BY RESIDENTS.
AND SO MY ASK TO PUBLIC WORKS IS, IS WHEN THERE'S AN EMERGENCY HAPPENING OVER THE WEEKEND OR OVERNIGHT FOR COUNCIL OFFICES TO BE INCLUDED IN THE PROTOCOL.
UM, SO I DON'T HAVE TO ON A SUNDAY, UH, UM, BIRD DOG AND TRACK DOWN INFORMATION, UH, THAT DISRUPTED THREE SUBDIVISIONS, COMMERCIAL BUSINESSES, UH, AND POTENTIALLY SCHOOLS AS FAMILIES.
WERE GETTING READY TO, UH, PREPARE FOR THE NEW SCHOOL WEEK.
UM, BUT I APPRECIATE HOUSTON PUBLIC WORKS, UH, UH, PRIORITIZATION OF MAKING SURE THAT THE WATER WAS TURNED ON LATE SUNDAY EVENING.
SO I APPRECIATE YOUR DILIGENCE A AROUND THAT.
UM, AND SPEAKING OF PUBLIC SAFETY, UM, UH, UH, HOUSTON CHRONICLE AND OTHER MEDIA SOURCES HAS, UH, COVERED THE CLOSING OF FUNPLEX.
AND I KNOW FOR, FOR MANY, IT IS A FEEL-GOOD NOSTALGIA STORY, BUT REALLY IT'S A PUBLIC SAFETY ISSUE.
UM, THE, UH, IT, THE, UM, UH, ISSUE AROUND FUNPLEX WAS BROUGHT TO MY OFFICE BY OUR SKATING CREW, UM, BECAUSE THEY WERE CONCERNED THAT THIS LOCATION WOULD BE TURNED INTO A DATA CENTER.
UH, AND WE, UM, ARE ALREADY SEEING THE COMPLICATED NATURE AROUND DATA CENTERS IN COMMUNITIES.
UH, THAT AREA HAS A LOW TO MODERATE INCOME, UH, COMMUNITY.
UH, THEY ARE CONCERNED ABOUT THE POSSIBLE, UM, ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS TO OUR WATER INFRASTRUCTURE, OUR, UH, ELECTRICAL INFRASTRUCTURE, AND OUR POWER INFRASTRUCTURE.
UM, AND ALTHOUGH THIS IS A, A PRIVATE PROPERTY ISSUE, AND THEY'RE WAITING TO SEE WHAT THE MARKET INFORMS THEM OF, I THINK WE HAVE A RESPONSIBILITY.
AS THIRD SPACES CONTINUE TO CLOSE IN OUR COMMUNITY, FROM ASTROWORLD WATER WORLD CELEBRATION STATION, YOU NAME IT, UH, MANY OF OUR YOUNG PEOPLE DON'T HAVE PLACES TO GO.
AND WHEN OUR YOUNG PEOPLE DON'T HAVE PLACES TO GO, WE'LL SEE INTO UPTICKS OF CRIME WITH OUR YOUNG PEOPLE, UH, IN OUR COMMUNITY.
SO WE HAVE TO WORK TO MAKE SURE THAT OUR CITY PROGRAMS, UM, UM, WE CAN EXPAND THOSE WAIT LISTS SO THOSE YOUNG PEOPLE HAVE SOMEWHERE TO GO WHERE THOSE NEIGHBORHOODS ARE SAFE.
AND IN KEEPING WITH THE SAME VEIN OF OUR YOUNG PEOPLE, UH, MANY OF YOU PROBABLY, UM, HEARD THE NEWS THAT THERE WAS A 13-YEAR-OLD BOY SHOT ON SOUTH DAIRY ASHFORD TWO WEEKS AGO.
THE SUNDAY BEFORE SCHOOL WAS SUPPOSED TO START IN A LEAF ISD IT WAS A RANDOM GUNSHOT.
UH, HE WAS SITTING ON HIS COUCH, HE WAS SHOT IN HIS THIGH.
HE WENT TO THE HOSPITAL AND LATER PASSED AWAY.
UH, THE LEADERSHIP AND THE FOCUS OF WEST SIDE HPD WAS ABLE TO APPREHEND THE SUSPECT WITHIN FIVE DAYS.
UM, SO MY OFFICE HAS BEEN WORKING WITH LAW ENFORCEMENT ON THOSE TYPES OF CRIMES, UH, AND INCIDENTS IN OUR NEIGHBORHOOD.
AND WE ARE COORDINATING A COMMUNITY MEETING, UM, WITH THE, UH, SUBDIVISION, UM, IMMEDIATELY BEHIND THE APARTMENT COMPLEX AND THE OTHER STAKEHOLDERS BECAUSE THIS, UH, CORRIDOR, UM, IS UNDER A PUBLIC SAFETY CRISIS.
UH, AND SO WHERE WE KNOW THERE'S GUNFIRE, THERE'S ALSO LACK OF RESOURCES AND OTHER INFORMATION.
SO WE'RE WORKING TO DO THAT, AND THAT IS PENDING.
AND SO, UM, I WILL BE AT SUPER NEIGHBORHOOD 17, OCTOBER 8TH TO PROVIDE AN UPDATE, UH, WITH YOU.
AND WE HAVE A SCHEDULED MEETING WITH OUR WEST SIDE COMMANDER TO TALK ABOUT THAT.
UH, WE CONTINUE TO HAVE A PAR, UM, INCIDENTS OF CRIME IN OUR MULTI-FAMILY PROJECTS.
UH, ON AUGUST 18TH, THERE WERE THREE YOUNG CHILDREN THAT WERE WANDERING AN APARTMENT COMPLEX ASKING FOR FOOD BECAUSE THEIR PARENTS, UM, WERE DEAD ON THE INSIDE OF THE APARTMENT.
UM, AND SO WE ARE ALSO WORKING WITH, UH, WORKING TO TRACK DOWN THE STATUS OF THE INDIVIDUALS, THE BABIES WITH CPS.
UH, MANY COMMUNITY MEMBERS HAVE REACHED OUT TO THE OFFICE WANTING TO SUPPORT WITH DONATIONS AND IN-KIND SUPPORT, AND WE WILL WORK TO MAKE SURE THAT THAT INFORMATION IS SHARED.
UM, I JUST ALSO WANNA HIGHLIGHT THE IMPORTANCE OF MAKING SURE THAT PEOPLE UNDERSTAND THAT THERE'S RESOURCES AVAILABLE FOR DOMESTIC VIOLENCE.
UM, IF YOU OR SOMEONE THAT YOU KNOW, EXPERIENCED DOMESTIC VIOLENCE, PLEASE, PLEASE REACH OUT TO THE HOUSTON AREA WOMEN'S CENTER.
THERE'S A 24 7 HOTLINE BECAUSE THERE'S SO MUCH AT STAKE WITH YOUR SAFETY.
I HAVE A SITE VISIT AT CROSSVIEW COURTS APARTMENTS ON THE EAST SIDE, UM, UH, OF THE DISTRICT.
UH, WE HAVE EXPERIENCED SEVERAL HOMICIDES, UH, QUALITY OF LIFE
[04:10:01]
DISRUPTION AT THAT APARTMENT COMPLEX.WE'RE VISITING WITH THE OWNERS.
THE RESIDENTS, UH, PRE NIGHTCLUB IS RIGHT NEXT DOOR, UH, ACROSS VIEW APARTMENTS HAS INUNDATED OUR INBOX OVER THE YEARS, TALKING ABOUT, UH, THE QUALITY OF LIFE ISSUES, LOITERING, THE UNHOUSED, RANDOM GUNFIRE, YOU NAME IT.
IT IS HAPPENING AT THIS COMPLEX.
AND I LOOK FORWARD TO WALK WORKING WITH THE LAND, UH, THE, UH, OWNER OF THE PROPERTY, UM, AND MIDWEST HPD.
WE'LL ALL BE ON SITE TOGETHER.
UM, THANK YOU, COUNCIL MEMBER CAYMAN FOR MENTIONING HURRICANE HARVEY.
UM, SOMEONE WITH NEW ORLEANS BLOOD, UH, UH, THIS, UH, STORM WAS, UH, DEFINITELY DISRUPTIVE.
AND MATTER OF FACT, LAST WEEK I WAS IN MY FAMILY CHAT GROUP, AND WHEN I WAS TALKING ABOUT, UH, THE MEMORIES OF THE HOME, UH, AND HOW IT'S GONE.
AND SO WHEN I LOOKED ON GOOGLE MAPS, I WAS CRYING, AND BY THE END, I OF THE TEXT CHAT, I WAS, I WAS SMILING WITH MY FAMILY, THINKING ABOUT OLD NEW ORLEANS AND THINKING ABOUT, UM, THAT CITY AND WHAT IT HAS, UH, MEANT TO THIS CITY.
AND, UM, HOUSTON DID WHAT ONLY HOUSTON CAN DO.
UH, THE CITY OF HOUSTON OPENED ITS DOORS, OUR HEARTS, OUR SCHOOLS, OUR COMMUNITIES, AND OUR CITY IS BETTER FOR IT.
AND THEN ALSO THE EIGHTH ANNIVERSARY OF HURRICANE HARVEY, WHICH WAS THE COSTLIEST STORM IN US HISTORY, WHICH FORCED THE CITY OF HOUSTON TO BECOME MORE RESILIENT AND INTENTIONAL AROUND PUBLIC INFRASTRUCTURE, UH, SAFETY RES RAPID RESPONSE AROUND RECOVERY.
AND I'M SO EXCITED TO SHARE THAT.
THE LAST HOUSING AND COMMUNITY AFFAIRS, UH, MEETING, UM, THERE WAS AN UPDATE ON THE DOWN PAYMENT ASSISTANCE RELATED TO THE HURRICANE HARVEY.
UH, 12 APPLICATIONS HAVE BEEN APPROVED.
NOW REMEMBER, THIS IS DOWN PAYMENT ASSISTANCE UP TO $125,000.
150 DOWN PAYMENT ASSISTANT CASES ARE ACTIVELY OPEN.
THEY'RE REVIEWING AN ADDITIONAL THREE.
AND THE GOAL IS TO PROVE 250 A TOTAL OF $19.8 MILLION.
AND SO, JUST GOES TO SHOW YOU, UM, THAT RECOVERY TAKES A VERY LONG TIME.
UM, AND KUDOS TO THE DEPARTMENT FOR MOVING THIS PROGRAM DOWN THE LINE.
UM, I JUST WANT TO, YOU KNOW, UH, ENCOURAGE THOSE, UH, RESIDENTS THAT ARE IN COMMUNITIES TO PLEASE STAY ENGAGED WITH YOUR CIVIC CLUBS, STAY ENGAGED WITH YOUR SUPER NEIGHBORHOODS.
THANK YOU FOR BEING AN EXTRA SET OF EYES AND EARS, UM, IN THE COMMUNITY, AND SHARING THIS INFORMATION WITH OUR OFFICE SO WE CAN THEN RAPIDLY RESPOND TO YOUR NEEDS AND COME UP WITH THE PLAN.
LOOK FORWARD TO MEETING AND GREETING WITH YOU IN A SERIES OF WAYS AT APARTMENT COMPLEXES, CIVIC CLUBS.
UM, AND THEN I WANNA ALSO ANNOUNCE THE SECOND ANNUAL FAITH AND AFFORDABLE HOUSING, WHICH IS SATURDAY, OCTOBER 11TH.
WE ARE EXCITED TO ROLL OUT THAT PSA, WE HAVE LISTENED TO YOUR FEEDBACK, AND WE'RE CURATING, UH, BETTER PANELS, BETTER INFORMATION, AND EVEN BETTER SPEAKERS.
NO, I'M JUST SEEING WHAT YOU WANTED.
UH, WE DO HAVE ITEM 24 THAT'S COME IN MEMBERS, UM, ALL IN FAVOR OF ITEM 24.
LET'S SEE WHAT IT'S, GIVE US A MINUTE.
AND NOW, MAYOR PROAM, CAST SIX TATUM FOR, THANK YOU, MAYOR.
THIS SUNDAY, UH, I, I WOKE UP TO A BUNCH OF TEXT MESSAGES ABOUT A BIG WATER, UM, ISSUE AT THE CORNER OF WEST ORM AND WHITE HEATHER.
SOMEONE HAD RUN INTO A, A FIRE HYDRANT, SO THE WATER WAS ALL OVER THE PLACE.
AND, UH, PUBLIC WORKS DID A, A GOOD JOB OF RESPONDING.
SO, UM, I, I DEFINITELY, UM, FELT THAT ON SUNDAY AS WELL.
UM, DO WANT TO LET RESIDENTS AND MEREDITH MANOR KNOW THAT THE PLANNING COMMISSION WILL BE HOSTING A PUBLIC HEARING, UM, THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER THE FOURTH.
AND THIS APPLICATION IS, UM, FOR A PROPERTY, UM, THAT IS LOOKING TO EXPAND, UM, AND CHANGE THE REQUEST FROM BEING A, UM, RESIDENTIAL AREA TO A BUSINESS.
UM, SO IF YOU LIVE IN MEREDITH MANOR, ARE OFF OF BROOK MEAD, UH, YOU MAY BE INTERESTED IN THIS VARIANCE THAT THE COMMUNITY, UM, BUSINESS IS ASKING FOR.
UM, AGAIN, THEY ARE WANTING TO CHANGE 0.38 ACREAGE TO FROM SINGLE FAMILY RESIDENTIAL TO A COMMERCIAL RESERVE.
SO THAT IS ON THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER
[04:15:01]
THE FOURTH AT 2:00 PM UM, PLANNING COMMISSION RESIDENCE AND MEREDITH MANOR.WE WILL SEND THAT IN OUR, OUR NEWSLETTER AS WELL.
UM, FORT BEND RESIDENTS WANNA LET YOU KNOW THAT THE, UM, HPL LIBRARY, STEMLY BLUE WILL BE TEMPORARY CLOSED.
UM, WE ARE LOOKING FORWARD TO THE REPLACEMENT OF THE ROOF.
WE'VE BEEN HAVING, UM, SOME CONCERNS WITH THAT AND VERY EXCITED THAT, UH, WE HAVE NOW MOVED TO, UM, GETTING THAT ROOF REPLACED ON SEPTEMBER THE FIRST.
WE ARE PROJECTED TO REOPEN THE LIBRARY MID-OCTOBER.
SO DURING THIS TIME WHEN THE LIBRARY IS CLOSED, RESIDENTS CAN DEFINITELY VISIT VINCENT BRANCH OR ANY OTHER OF THE OTHER LIBRARIES IN THE, IN THE HPL SYSTEM.
AND THEN I JUST WANNA GIVE A SPECIAL SHOUT OUT TO JOHNNY MOOCH OF BRIDGING THE DIGITAL DIVIDE.
HE HAS WORKED WITH THE HOUSTON PARKS AND RECREATION DEPARTMENT ON HIS PARTNERSHIP, UM, WITH, UH, BRIDGING THE DIGITAL DIVIDE.
AND OTHER COUNCIL MEMBERS HAVE PROBABLY HAD HIS PROGRAMMING IN YOUR COMMUNITIES AS WELL.
BUT HIS DRONE PROGRAM, UM, AND THE, UM, COMPUTER SYSTEMS THAT HE IS TEACHING TO THESE YOUNG PEOPLE IS STELLAR.
UM, HE, HE DOES A REALLY GOOD JOB OF MAKING SURE OUR KIDS HAVE, UM, ACCESS TO PROGRAMS THAT THEY TRADITIONALLY WOULD NOT HAVE ACCESS TO.
AND I LOVE THAT HE IS REALLY RECRUITING YOUNG GIRLS TO PARTICIPATE IN, UH, THE STEM PROGRAMS AND THE DRONE PROGRAMS. MONDAY IS LABOR DAY.
WE'VE ALL SAID HAPPY LABOR DAY.
WE DEFINITELY HONOR THE HARD WORK AND DEDICATION, UH, THAT CONTINUES TO KEEP OUR COMMUNITY STRONG.
SO WISHING EVERYONE A SAFE AND RESTFUL HOLIDAY, BE KIND TO EACH OTHER AND, UH, MAKE IT A GREAT DAY.
UM, FIRST THANK YOU COUNCIL MEMBER CAYMAN FOR YOUR COMMENTS ABOUT THE TRASH CANS.
UM, MAYOR, I KNOW THAT DIRECTOR HASSAN IS WORKING ON THIS, AND I'M CONFIDENT THAT HE WILL GET THAT PROGRAM UP TO SPEED.
BUT IN THE INTERIM, YOU KNOW, WE'RE THREE MONTHS BEHIND ON DELIVERING THE CANS.
SO WHATEVER WE CAN DO WHILE HE'S WORKING ON IT, I KNOW THAT HE HAS A LOT OF CHANGES THAT HE HAS TO MAKE TO GET THIS, UM, WORKING PROPERLY.
UM, BUT WE HAVE SOME IDEAS TO SHARE WITH HIM TO TRY TO, AT LEAST IN THE INTERIM, YOU KNOW, GET THE CANS DELIVERED.
UM, AND THEN, UM, I WANT TO ANNOUNCE THAT.
DO YOU HAVE HIS PHONE NUMBER? YES.
BECAUSE I, 'CAUSE HE'S, HE'D BE GLAD TO HEAR FROM YOU.
YES, WE'VE, WE'VE REQUESTED HIM MEETING AND HE'LL ALSO TELL YOU HE'S ON IT AND GONNA BE CAUGHT UP VERY SOON.
AND HE'S ONLY BEEN THERE THREE MONTHS.
BUT, WHICH IS WHY I SAY THAT HE'S WORKING ON IT AND I'M CONFIDENT THAT HE WILL GET THERE.
UM, AND I HAVE REQUESTED A MEETING WITH HIM TO TALK ABOUT THAT AND MANY OTHER
YES, HE WENT TO, UH, SUPER NEIGHBORHOOD MEETINGS OTHER NIGHT.
WELL, YOU HEARD STATE'S FAIRCHILD TALKING ABOUT THE GENTLEMAN.
GET THE PROGRAM UP AND RUNNING FOR SURE.
UM, AND THEN, UM, THIS COMING TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 9TH IS OUR PUBLIC SAFETY COMMITTEE MEETING.
WE WILL HAVE A PRESENTATION FROM METRO POLICE DEPARTMENT, CHIEF 10, WE'LL TALK ABOUT THE WORK THEY ARE DOING, UM, AND IN COLLABORATION WITH THE CITY OF HOUSTON.
SO PLEASE JOIN US FOR THAT COMMITTEE MEETING.
UM, WE WILL BE HAVING A JOB FAIR TOMORROW IN JAY CITY.
UM, IT WILL BE AT THE END OF YOUR HOUSE, UH, FROM 10:00 AM TO 1:00 PM.
UH, WE'LL BE IN CONJUNCTION WITH, UH, WORKFORCE SOLUTIONS GULF COAST.
UM, AND WE WILL HAVE ABOUT ESTIMATED 40 DIFFERENT EMPLOYERS THAT WILL BE THERE, ALL DIFFERENT INDUSTRY SPACES.
SO IF YOU OR SOMEONE YOU KNOW IS LOOKING FOR A JOB, PLEASE COME OUT TO THE JOB FAIR, UH, BRING YOUR RESUMES.
THERE WILL BE INTERVIEWS ON SPOT.
UM, AND ALSO FOR THOSE WHO CANNOT MAKE IT, UH, YOU CAN GO TO MORE JOBS HOUSTON.COM.
UH, THAT IS A ONE STOP SITE FOR, UH, JOB SEEKERS THAT HAVE THOUSANDS OF JOBS ALL OVER THE GREATER HOUSTON AREA, UH, THAT THOSE JOBS GET UPDATED ON A WEEKLY BASIS.
UM, SO EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES WILL CONTINUE TO BE, UM, ONE OF OUR TOP PRIORITIES IN, IN JAY CITY.
UH, MAYOR, WE HAD SPOKE LAST WEEK ABOUT, UH, THE RETIREES THAT TOOK THAT PENSION PACKAGE.
UH, WE WERE TOLD THAT, UM, THOSE RETIREES WOULD BE RECEIVING THEIR CHECKS, UM, BY THE END OF EITHER LAST WEEK OR THIS WEEK.
UH, I'VE CONTINUED TO GET CALLS ON THAT, A LOT OF INFORMATION AND MAYBE MISINFORMATION IS GOING OUT REGARDING, UH, THESE EMPLOYEES AND WHAT THE EXPECTATIONS ARE FOR THEIR PAYMENTS.
BUT I WAS TOLD THAT ABOUT A THIRD OF THEM STILL WILL NOT RECEIVE THEIR PAYMENTS UNTIL POSSIBLY NEXT MONTH.
UM, AND THAT WOULD BE ABOUT 120 DAYS BEYOND, UH, WHEN THEY FIRST INITIALLY TOOK THAT PACKAGE.
[04:20:01]
IS SOMETHING THAT, UM, IS CONCERNING.IT IS SOMETHING THAT HAS PUT SOME OF OUR MOST LOYAL AND TRUSTED, HARDWORKING CITY EMPLOYEES IN A BIND.
UM, AND SOMETHING THAT THEY RELIED UPON BASED ON THE PROMISES THAT WE MADE AS A CITY, UH, THAT WE'RE NOT FULFILLING AT THIS MOMENT.
AND SO THAT'S SOMETHING THAT I THINK NEEDS TO CONTINUE TO BE A TOP PRIORITY.
AND IF WE SAY WE'RE GONNA DO SOMETHING, UH, WE HAVE TO STAND BY THAT.
AND, UM, AT THE MOMENT, AT THE MOMENT, AT THE MOMENT, WE'RE NOT, EXCUSE ME FOR INTERRUPT, BUT HAVE YOU TALKED TO THE PENSION SYSTEM? YES.
BECAUSE THEIR DATA IS COMPLETELY DIFFERENT FROM YOURS.
UH, AND THE ONLY REMAINING ARE SOME THAT ARE TRYING TO CALCULATE THE TIMING.
SO IT'S JUST A MATTER OF, UH, THE BEST INFORMATION.
UH, IT'S NO WAY IN THE WORLD THAT THEY'RE THAT BEHIND.
WELL, WHEN I, WHEN I, AND FURTHERMORE, YOU KNOW, BECAUSE I GUESS, YOU KNOW, THEY ARE INDEPENDENT FROM THIS BODY AS BY DESIGN, UH, BECAUSE THEY DIDN'T WANT COUNCIL MEMBERS TELLING THEM HOW TO INVEST THEIR MONEY.
SO THEY'RE INDEPENDENT, WE'RE MONITORING IT, WE'RE IN CONTACT WITH 'EM.
AND, UH, SO ARE YOU SAYING THAT, AND VERONICA ALSO IN OUR OFFICE IS SAYING, I'M NOT SAYING ANYTHING.
I'M GIVING YOU THE FACTS, SO THANK YOU.
NO, I'M, WELL THE FACTS ARE, YOU MENTIONED LAST WEEK THAT THIS ISSUE WOULD BE RESOLVED AT THE END OF THIS MONTH.
I'VE TOLD YOU WHAT THE PENSION FUND, WHO'S AN INDEPENDENT BODY CASE AND FROM WHAT I'M HEARING FROM THE PENSION BOARD, IS THAT THERE WILL BE NEARLY 300 EMPLOYEES GIVEN THIS, THAT WILL STILL NOT BE RECEIVING PAYMENT BEYOND THIS MONTH.
YOU MUST HAVE A DIFFERENT PICTURE.
MAYBE JAY CITY HAS ITS OWN PENSION FUND.
IT WOULD BE MUCH MORE EFFICIENT THAN WHAT YOU'RE RUNNING.
SO WHAT I CAN SAY IS WE WILL FIND OUT BY THE END OF THIS WEEK IF THESE EMPLOYEES WILL BE PAID OR NOT.
BUT FROM WHAT I'VE BEEN HEARING FROM THE PENSION BOARD IS THAT THEY HAVE ONE MEETING PER MONTH TO APPROVE THOSE PAYMENTS.
THEY WILL BE APPROVING ABOUT 300 PAYMENTS THIS MONTH, BUT IT STILL WILL HAVE NEARLY 300 MORE PAYMENTS THAT THEY HAVE TO MAKE NEXT MONTH.
AND THERE'S NO, UM, ANTICIPATION OF ANY SPECIAL CALL MEETINGS BEING CALLED IN THE INTERIM.
I DON'T KNOW WHAT IS GOING TO HAPPEN.
I DIDN'T MAKE THE PROMISE, I DIDN'T PUT OUT THE PACKAGE.
THAT'S WHY I'M ASKING YOU NOW.
IF YOU'RE SAYING THAT ALL THOSE PAYMENTS WILL BE MADE BY THE END OF THIS WEEK, WE WILL TAKE YOUR WORD FOR IT.
AND I APPRECIATE THE EFFORTS OF NOT ONLY THOSE IN YOUR OFFICE, BUT THE PENSION BOARD FOR MAKING IT HAPPEN.
UH, I DID WANNA HIGHLIGHT THE MEETING WE HAD YESTERDAY.
I THINK MAYOR, I, YOUR, YOUR EXPERIENCE AS COMMITTEES DO WORK AND, YOU KNOW, EVENTUALLY COME UP WITH THINGS.
SO WE'RE SEEING THIS AS A FIRST IN SOME SUBSEQUENT MEETINGS WHERE WE'LL ACTUALLY TAKE VOTES ON RECOMMENDATIONS TO MAKE TO THE ADMINISTRATION.
UM, THESE HAVING TO DO WITH THE CIP PROCESS.
SO I WANNA WORK THESE ISSUES THROUGH COMMITTEE AND WE'LL DO THAT WHERE WE CAN AND APPRECIATE THE GOOD WORK OF COUNCIL MEMBERS RAMIREZ AND PECK FOR OFFERING THOSE AMENDMENTS AND, AND STILL WELCOMING AT A SUBSEQUENT MEETING.
OTHER IDEAS FOR, UM, IMPROVEMENTS TO THE CIP PROCESS? UH, COLLEAGUES, AS YOU KNOW, THE, THE, UM, CAREER AND RECOVERY RESOURCES IS HELPING THE CITY WITH THE MOWING AND OTHER THINGS AROUND TOWN WITH DON HELPING, UM, AT A LOT LESS EXPENSIVE COST, HELPING, IT'S GIVING PEOPLE A JOB AND IT'S HELPING THE CITY OUT AND MOWING MEDIANS AND OTHER THINGS AROUND HELPING SENIORS AT THEIR HOUSES, DAWN REQUESTS.
AND SO GEORGE AND I ARE HONORED TO BE HONORARY CO-CHAIRS OF THEIR FIFTH ANNUAL TEE OFF FOR GOLF.
SO ANY GOLFERS IN THE IN THE ROOM.
UM, IT'S OCTOBER 9TH, IT'S ALSO BENEFITING OUR CMC, OUR COMBINED MUNICIPAL CAMPAIGN.
SO EIGHT, UH, NINE TO TWO ON OCTOBER 9TH AND AT SAT MEMORIAL PARK.
UM, I DID WANNA GIVE A SHOUT OUT.
I SEE THE HONORABLE JERRY DAVIS IN THE AUDIENCE, SO IT'S GOOD TO HAVE YOU BACK IN CHAMBERS.
UM,
AND A FIREARM IN A DOMESTIC VIOLENCE SITUATION MAKES IT FIVE TIMES MORE LETHAL.
UH, WE HAVE TO CONTINUE TO PROVIDE RESOURCES FOR PREVENTION, BUT ALSO RESPONSE TO SAVE THE
[04:25:01]
LIVES OF WOMEN AND FAMILIES PRIMARILY IN DOMESTIC ABUSE SITUATIONS AND CONTINUE TO DESTIGMATIZE THAT.UM, AND IN THAT SAME VEIN, I WANNA THANK THE COUNCIL MEMBERS THAT ATTENDED A PRESS CONFERENCE YESTERDAY BROUGHT TOGETHER BY, UH, THE INTERFAITH COMMUNITY, UM, UNDER AN UMBRELLA ORGANIZATION THEY HAVE FORMED CALLED HOUSTON GUN SAFETY.ORG.
AND IT'S ALL ABOUT SAFE STORAGE.
UH, WE HAD THE CHIEF OF POLICE REPRESENTATION FROM THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE, DA, UM, SEAN TIER, WHO HAS BEEN INCREDIBLE ON THIS ISSUE, BUT ALSO COUNCIL MEMBER ALCORN MAYOR, PRO TEM, UH, CASTEX HAYDEN, AND COUNCIL MEMBER RAMIREZ.
THANK YOU ALL FOR JOINING THE TRAINING.
UM, I DO WANNA ALSO THANK BE SMART AND, UH, MOMS DEMAND ACTION AS WELL AS CLEAR CHANNEL.
AGAIN, AN ENTIRE COALITION TALKING ABOUT SAFE STORAGE, THIS IS A BIPARTISAN ISSUE.
UM, AND WE ARE CONTINUING TO GIVE AWAY FREE GUN LOCKS AND GUN SAFES FOR ANYONE THAT WOULD LIKE THEM.
YOU CAN REACH OUT TO OUR OFFICE, BUT YOU CAN ALSO REACH OUT TO HPD OR VISIT BE SMART FOR KIDS.ORG, AS WELL AS HOUSTON GUN SAFETY.ORG.
AND WE'RE ASKING THE MEDIA TO CONTINUE TO EDUCATE THE PUBLIC ON THE IMPORTANCE OF SAFE STORAGE.
UH, IT WILL SAVE OUR CHILDREN'S LIVES.
ANYONE ELSE? I DON'T THINK WE APPRECIATE OR SHOW IT ENOUGH.
OUR CITY SECRETARY, MR. LEMON, FIRST.
BUT HE HANDLES A LOT OF MOVING PARTS AND, AND I'M JUST ALWAYS IMPRESSED.