[00:00:06]
COUNCIL, PLEASE COME TO ORDER.I'M GONNA ASK THE MAYOR, PROTE TO PRESIDE WHILE WE ATTEND TO SOME BUSINESS.
[PRESENTATIONS]
THE CHAIR RECOGNIZES COUNCIL MEMBER MARTINEZ, WHO WILL RECOGNIZE ARTURO MEJIA FOR HIS 31 YEARS OF SERVICE TO HPD.IF I CAN HAVE ARTURO AND, UH, WE HAVE, UH, JOINED BY MY COLLEAGUE, UH, JULIAN RAMIREZ AS WELL, WHO I WOULD, UH, LIKE FOR HIM TO ALSO SHARE SOME WORDS.
UM, BUT, YOU KNOW, MANY TIMES WE, WE HONOR, WE RECOGNIZE ORGANIZATIONS, UH, EVERY, EVERY SO OFTEN AS, UH, COUNCIL MEMBERS, WE GET TO HONOR SOMEBODY THAT'S A FRIEND.
UM, AND SOMEBODY LIKE ARTURO, UM, HIM AND HIS WIFE, MANY OF Y'ALL KNOW HIS WIFE AS WELL, CHRISTINA, UM, ARE PUBLIC SERVANTS, AND THE MAYOR IS A LOT.
YOU KNOW, HE PUTS A HIGH PREMIUM ON PUBLIC SERVICE.
UM, A FULL, UH, LOCKSTEP WITH, WITH THOSE, UH, SENTIMENTS.
ARTURO HAS, UH, HAS DISPLAYED A LOT OVER HIS 32 YEARS IN HPD.
AND SO IN HIS RETIREMENT, WE WANNA WISH HIM ALL THE BEST.
WE KNOW HE IS NOT GOING TOO FAR, AND AS A FRIEND, I KNOW HE IS NOT GOING TOO FAR, WHETHER IT'S A NATIONALS GAME OR
UM, JUST WANTED TO SAY THAT, UH, I'M, I'M PROUD OF YOU.
UM, I'M HONORED AND BLESSED TO BE ABLE TO HONOR YOU TODAY,
AND SO I'M GONNA GO AHEAD AND START THE PROCLAMATION ON SEPTEMBER 12TH, 2025.
THE CITY OF HOUSTON IS PROUD TO CELEBRATE DETECTIVE ARTURO MEJIA AS HE RETIRES FROM THE HOUSTON POLICE DEPARTMENT.
AFTER A STELLAR 31 YEAR CAREER, MEJIA BROUGHT, UH, BEGAN HIS LAW ENFORCEMENT CAREER AT NORTH SHEPHERD SUBSTATION BEFORE BECOMING A DETECTIVE AND JOINING HPDS ROBBERY DIVISION IN 1995.
IN 1996, MEJIA PLAYED A KEY ROLE IN THE INVESTIGATION OF THE HOUSTON TOURNIQUET, UH, KILLER.
MANY OF Y'ALL, UM, MIGHT, MIGHT REMEMBER THIS AS WELL, HELPING TO IDENTIFY, UH, CRITICAL PATTERNS THAT LINK MULTIPLE MURDERS.
HIS METICULOUS EVIDENCE PRESERVATION LATER LED TO A DNA MATCH AND THE ARREST OF THE SERIAL KILLER.
THE CASE GAINED NATIONAL ATTENTION, AND MEJIA WAS LATER FEATURED IN A AND E DOCUMENTARY.
DURING HIS TIME IN THE ROBBERY DIVISION, MEJIA WAS SWORN INTO A FEDERAL TASK FORCE AS PART OF THE SB FBI'S GANG INITIATIVE, WHERE HE WAS INSTRUMENTAL IN DISMANTLING ORGANIZED CRIME RINGS AND PREVENTING VIOLENT HOME INVASIONS ACROSS THE CITY.
IN 2001, MEJIA WAS HANDPICKED TO JOIN THE SPANISH SPEAKING ROBBERY SQUAD, KNOWN AS THE LATINO SQUAD.
HIS IN HIS FLUENT, HIS FLUENCY IN SPANISH, DEEP KNOWLEDGE OF GANG OPERATIONS, CULTURAL AWARENESS, AND STRONG INVESTIGATIVE INSTINCTS MADE HIM A VITAL TEAM ASSET.
MEJIA TRANS TRANSITIONED TO HOUSTON HPDS MAJOR OFFENDERS DIVISION IN 2008, FOCUSING ON COMPLEX INVESTIGATIONS INVOLVING SWINDLES FRAUD AND HOME INVASIONS BY POLICE IMPERSONATORS.
IN 2012, FOLLOWING A RIGOROUS VETTING PROCESS, MIA WAS RECRUITED AND SWORN IN AS UNITED STATES MARSHAL.
HE JOINED THE BUREAU OF OF ALCOHOL, TOBACCO AND FIREARMS AND EXPLOSIVES, WHERE HE WAS TASKED WITH INVESTIGATING FIREARMS TRAFFICKING AND ASSIGNED TO THE NATIONAL INTEGRATED BALLISTIC INFORMATION NETWORK SQUAD.
IN THIS ROLE, HE HELPED BALLISTICALLY LINK VIOLENT CRIMES ACROSS THE GREATER HOUSTON AND HARRIS COUNTY AREA IN 2023.
HE TESTIFIED BEFORE THE TEXAS LEGISLATIVE SESSION, UH, THE 88 88 SESSION, ADVOCATED ON BEHALF OF HPD FOR ADOPTION OF FELONY CHARGES RELATED TO POSSESSION OF MACHINE GUN CONVERSION DEVICES.
BEYOND THE INVESTIGATIVE ACHIEVEMENTS, MEJIA COMMITTED TO MENTORSHIP AND COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT, HE PARTICIPATED IN CHRIS CHRISTINA MORALE'S F UH, FOUNDATION, CAREER DAYS MENTORING YOUTH, RECRUITING FUTURE OFFICERS FOR HPD.
HE WAS ALSO AN ELECTED REPRESENTATIVE FOR THE HOUSTON POLICE OFFICERS UNION, ADVOCATING ON BEHALF OF HIS FELLOW OFFICERS.
AS DETECTIVE ARTURO MIGUEL RETIRES THE CITY OF HOUSTON, AND THE HOUSTON POLICE DEPARTMENT CONGRATULATE AND HONOR HIM FOR HIS DE DE DECADES OF OUTSTANDING POLICE WORK, DEDICATED SERVICE FOR HOUSTONIANS AND SIGNIFICANT CONTRIBUTIONS TO PUBLIC SAFETY, SAFETY.
THANK YOU, COUNCIL MEMBER MARTINEZ AND COUNCILMAN RAMIREZ.
NICE TO SEE A LONG TIME FRIEND, UH, WORKING TOGETHER, NOT ONLY IN THE COMMUNITY, BUT IN AUSTIN.
AND, UM, THANK YOU FOR HELPING US WITH OUR PUBLIC SAFETY.
SO LET ME JUST EMPHASIZE SOMETHING, EVERYONE THAT CAN HEAR THIS GENTLEMAN, WHEN HE ENTERED THE DEPARTMENT, IT WAS NOT THE CITY OF HOUSTON THAT WE ARE WITNESSING TODAY.
THE LANGUAGE SKILLS ARE NOT WHAT THEY ARE TODAY.
THE DETECTIVE MEJIA HELPED US TRANSITION COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT.
HE GOT THE HISPANIC COMMUNITY TO ENGAGE WITH HPD, AND WE'VE COME A LONG WAYS BECAUSE OF LEADERSHIP, BUT WE HAVE A LONG WAYS TO GO.
[00:05:01]
PUBLICLY THANK YOU FOR HELPING THE CITY AND THE DEPARTMENT TO GROW TO THE DIVERSE CITY THAT IT IS TODAY.AND OUR DEPARTMENT IS DIVERSE, AND, UH, WE DID IT BETTER THAN OTHER LARGE CITIES.
AND SEE,
SO THERE'S A LOT TO CELEBRATE WITH YOUR CAREER, AND I'M SO GLAD THAT YOU'VE GOT THE DROP BENEFIT.
I KNOW FOR A FACT THE DROP BENEFIT DETECTIVE
THEREFORE, I, JOHN WHITMEYER, MAYOR OF THE CITY OF HOUSTON, HEREBY PROCLAIM S SEPTEMBER 12TH, 2025, IS DETECTIVE ARTUR MEJIA DAY IN THE ENTIRE CITY OF HOUSTON.
FIRST OF ALL, THANK YOU, MAYOR.
I'D PARTICULARLY LIKE TO THANK, UH, COUNCILMAN, UH, JOAQUIN MARTINEZ, UH, JUNIOR RAMIREZ, FOR SPONSORING THIS AND MAKING THIS PROCLAMATION A, A REALITY TODAY.
UH, VERY APPRECIATIVE, UH, PERFECT OPPORTUNITY HERE TO TAKE AND, AND, AND ACKNOWLEDGE THE LEADERSHIP.
MAYOR WHITMEYER HAS DEMONSTRATED BY MAKING PUBLIC SAFETY A NUMBER ONE PRIORITY.
AND I KNOW ALL OF YOU PLAYED A HUGE ROLE IN THAT.
UH, WE ARE UNDER A NEW CONTRACT, UH, AND ALSO IN CONJUNCTION WITH THE NEWLY APPOINTED CHIEF, NO DIAZ MORALE AT HPD AT ITS HIGHEST, UH, RECRUITING DIVISION.
'CAUSE I'M VERY INVOLVED STILL WITH RECRUITING.
UH, THEY'RE KNOCKING AT OUR DOORS, AND IT'S BECAUSE OF THE LEADERSHIP OF MAYOR WHITMEYER AND THE BODY OF COUNCIL.
ALSO WOULD LIKE TO ACKNOWLEDGE SALLY ACORN, GOOD FRIEND.
UH, WE, YOU KNOW, RUN INTO EACH OTHER IN A LOT OF EVENTS.
MY CITY COUNCILWOMAN MARY ANNE HUFFMAN, BIG PROMOTER WITH HPD AND BEFORE HPOU, UH, PUBLIC SERVICE RUNS IN OUR FAMILY DEEP DEEPLY, UH, FOR DECADES.
AND IT STARTED MANY YEARS AGO WITH MY FATHER, JUAN MKE, WORLD WAR II, VETERAN, COMBAT VETERAN OF THE BATTLE OF THE BULGE, UH, BY HIS WIFE, MY MOTHER, ANINA LEIA, A NURSE AND THE TRUE SILENT HERO OF OUR FAMILY.
UM, WE HAVE DOCTORS, WE HAVE A JUDGE, WE HAVE ATTORNEYS, WE HAVE FIREFIGHTERS, WE HAVE, UH, WEST POINT GRADS, UH, WE HAVE NURSES, WE HAVE TEACHERS.
AND OF COURSE, TO ROUND IT ALL OFF, WE'VE GOT A COUPLE OF COPS MIXED UP IN THE FAMILY.
UH, SO I'M GOING TO BE TRANSITIONING AND, AND, AND STEPPING INTO ANOTHER ROLE.
UH, UH, AFTER 32 YEARS OF SERVICE, I'M GONNA BE JOINING THE HARRIS COUNTY PUBLIC DEFENDER'S OFFICE, EFFECTIVE, UH, SEPTEMBER THE 15TH.
UH, I'M, I'M, I'M SUPER EXCITED TO TAKE ON THAT NEW, UH, CHALLENGE.
IT'S, UH, UNDER THE DIRECTION AND LEADERSHIP OF A NEWLY APPOINTED CHIEF.
UM, MANY OF YOU MAY KNOW, UH, JUDGE GENESEE DRAPER.
UH, I'M VERY EXCITED TO DO THAT.
AND, AND, UH, LOOKING FOR THE CHALLENGE.
OUR FAMILY, ALL OF OUR FAMILY FOR GENERATIONS, WE'RE LIFELONG LEARNERS, AND WE NEVER STOP GIVING BACK.
AND THAT'S THE LEGACY THAT I WANNA BUILD ON.
AND, AND THAT'S THE REASON WHY MY FAMILY IS HERE.
AND I'D LIKE TO JUST ACKNOWLEDGE THEM IF YOU WOULD ALLOW ME, PLEASE.
UM, I'M GONNA START OFF WITH MY NIECES THAT ARE HERE.
UH, I'VE GOT, UH, MY DAUGHTERS, JESSICA, ERICA, MY GRANDDAUGHTER DANIELLE, MY SON VICENTE, MY SON ALEJANDRO, MY MOTHER-IN-LAW, MARY BRA.
THANK YOU FOR JUST ALWAYS BEING PRESENT.
WHEN YOU GIVE OF YOUR TIME, IT, IT, YOU CAN'T PUT A DOLLAR SIGN ON THAT.
AND OF COURSE, LAST BUT NOT LEAST, UH, MY BIGGEST SUPPORTER, MY ADVOCATE, MY BEAUTIFUL WIFE, CHRISTINA.
AND AGAIN, UH, THANK YOU SO MUCH.
AND I'M GONNA END WITH MAYOR WHITMEYER.
I, I, I HEAR HIM TALK ALL THE TIME, BUT HE ALWAYS ENDS BY LET'S GO TO WORK, BECAUSE THE WORK HAS A MEMBER WORK, HAS A MEMBER.
[00:10:02]
WE DO HAVE TWO COUNCIL MEMBERS IN QUEUE.WE'LL START WITH COUNCIL MEMBER ALCORN.
I, I LOVED HEARING JOAQUIN, ALL THE THING, ALL THE THINGS YOU SOLVED.
AND, AND I DIDN'T KNOW THAT MUCH ABOUT THE DETAILS OF YOUR CAREER, BUT THAT WAS SUPER INTERESTING.
IT'S A, IT'S A HARD, HARD JOB.
AND YOU DID IT FOR 31 PLUS YEARS, AND THANK YOU FROM A VERY GRATEFUL CITY.
UM, TO, TO OUR COUNCIL MEMBERS AND MAYOR, THANK YOU FOR TAKING THE TIME TO, TO DO THIS IMPORTANT RECOGNITION IN ARTURO.
UM, I'M SO HAPPY THAT AS A COMMUNITY, WE STILL GET TO HAVE YOU IN SERVICE.
I WAS JUST WITH OUR PUBLIC DEFENDER, UM, WHO I KNOW IS GOING TO DO INCREDIBLE WORK.
AND TO HAVE YOU THERE, TO HAVE A LAW ENFORCEMENT PERSPECTIVE, COMING TO THE TABLE WITH PUBLIC DEFENSE IS A REALLY BIG DEAL.
SO THANK YOU FOR CONTINUING YOUR FAMILY'S INCREDIBLE LEGACY OF SERVICE BEYOND ANYTHING WE COULD EVER ASK FOR.
UH, I ALSO WANT TO, AS YOU DID, THANK YOUR FAMILY AS WE WERE TALKING EARLIER, UH, WHEN YOU HAVE A FAMILY MEMBER THAT IS IN LAW ENFORCEMENT, IT IS THE FAMILY THAT IS IN LAW ENFORCEMENT.
IT IS THE SACRIFICE OF THE ENTIRE FAMILY.
SO TO YOUR DAUGHTERS, YOUR GRANDDAUGHTER, YOUR BEAUTIFUL WIFE, YOUR MOTHER-IN-LAW, YOUR SONS, THANK YOU ALL FOR THE SACRIFICE AND SERVICE THAT YOU HAVE PROVIDED TO THE CITY OF HOUSTON AS WELL.
AND, UH, OUR, AS, AS A CITY COUNCIL MEMBER, I WANNA SAY THANK YOU FOR GIVING 32 YEARS OF YOUR YOUR LIFE TO THE CITY OF HOUSTON.
WE TALK ABOUT PUBLIC SAFETY A LOT HERE, BUT IT, IT DOESN'T HAPPEN UNLESS WE HAVE GUYS, GUYS AND WOMEN LIKE YOU WHO MAKE THE SACRIFICES AND WORK HARD AND, UH, DO IT RIGHT.
I WAS PRIVILEGED TO WORK WITH, UH, ART, UH, MANY YEARS AGO, ALMOST 30 YEARS AGO, UH, AT THE DISTRICT ATTORNEY'S OFFICE WHEN YOU WERE WITH THE, UH, DIVISIONAL GANG UNIT WORKING THE NORTH SIDE, GOING AFTER SOME OF THE MOST DANGEROUS GANG MEMBERS ON THE NORTH SIDE.
AND, UH, ART WAS ALWAYS PROFESSIONAL, THOROUGH, STEADY.
WHAT YOU SEE HERE IS, IS THE WAY HE'S ALWAYS BEEN.
AND, UM, I JUST, I JUST THANK YOU.
I WAS PRIVILEGED TO WORK WITH YOU.
UH, I'VE GOT STORIES, BUT I WON'T TELL 'EM.
UH, AT YOUR RETIREMENT CELEBRATION AT THE UNION HALL, UH, I'LL SHARE A COUPLE.
BUT, UM, YOU, YOU DID IT THE RIGHT WAY.
AND, UH, YOU WENT ON TO, TO, UH, BIGGER AND BETTER THINGS, UH, AFTER YOU LEFT THAT GANG UNIT, YOU WERE A BETTER OFFICER FOR IT.
AND, UH, I JUST SAY THANK YOU AND BEST OF LUCK TO YOU AS YOU CONTINUE TO SEEK JUSTICE.
YOU, IF YOU WOULD ALLOW ME JUST, AND, AND PLEASE FORGIVE ME, I JUST FORGOT THIS, AND I, I, AND IT'S MY FAULT.
I'D LIKE TO ACKNOWLEDGE MY FRIENDS AND FELLOW, UH, FELLOW WORKERS THAT ARE OUT THERE.
MY SINCERE THANK YOU FOR ALLOWING ME TO LEAN ON YOU FOR YOUR MENTORSHIP, YOUR GUIDANCE, AND MOST IMPORTANTLY, JUST YOUR FRIENDSHIP.
IT MEANS EVERYTHING TO ME FOR YOU TO SACRIFICE THE TIME AND BE HERE.
HOW ARE YOU? CONGRATULATIONS TO YOU TWO.
[00:15:45]
I'M JUST WAITING FOR THE DOORS TO CLOSE.
CAN EVERYONE HEAR ME? ALL RIGHT? UH, WE'RE GONNA TAKE A LITTLE BIT OF A PIVOT, UH, TO CELEBRATE LOCAL FOODS GROUP DAY IN THE CITY OF HOUSTON.
I AM JOINED BY BENJI AND ERICA LEVITT, UH, LOCAL FOODS GROUP, FOUNDERS AND OWNERS, AND DYLAN MURRAY, ONE OF OUR, UH, PARTNERS AND CHEFS.
AND THEN, UH, CARLA GOMEZ, UH, WHO'S ALSO ON STAFF.
SO IT IS MY PRIVILEGE TO RECOGNIZE LOCAL FOODS GROUP.
WE ALL KNOW THEIR RESTAURANTS THAT HAVE DEFINED AN ELEVATED HOUSTON'S DINING CULTURE FOR OVER THREE DECADES, AND COLLEAGUES AND CITY STAFF.
THERE ARE SOME COOKIES IN THE BACK, UH, FROM YOU ALL.
SO THANK YOU FOR THAT SPECIAL TREAT TO CELEBRATE.
UH, LOOK, Y'ALL HAVE BEEN AN ABSOLUTELY INCREDIBLE SUPPORTER OF OUR SCHOOLS, OUR NONPROFITS, COUNTLESS LOCAL ORGANIZATIONS, AND THROUGH THEIR BUSINESS MODEL, THEY SUPPORT OTHER LOCAL BUSINESSES THROUGHOUT THE REGION.
AND THAT'S WHAT YOU'LL HEAR ABOUT IN JUST A MOMENT.
MANY OF HOUSTON'S LEADING CHEFS AND ENTREPRENEURS
[00:20:01]
GOT THEIR START WITH LOCAL FOODS GROUP, WHICH IS A TESTAMENT TO THEIR INVESTMENT IN PEOPLE.AND THEY HAVE THE BEST STAFF AND SOME OF THE BEST EMPLOYEES, SOME WORKING, I BELIEVE, OVER 20 YEARS, UH, WHICH SPEAKS TO JUST THE ENVIRONMENT THAT YOU ALL HAVE IN YOUR RESTAURANTS TODAY.
WE RECOGNIZE THREE DECADES OF THEIR COMMITMENT TO HOUSTON AND LEGACY OF QUALITY.
JUST CLEARING UP A LITTLE MISCOMMUNICATION AS YOU DO VERY WELL, SIR.
WE DON'T WORRY ABOUT WHEREAS WHAT THE ROOM CAN HOLD.
WHEREAS FOR 30 YEARS, LOCAL FOODS GROUP HAS PROUDLY SERVED HOUSTON WITH NOURISHING FOOD MADE FROM LOCALLY SOURCED INGREDIENTS, EXCEPTIONAL HOSPITALITY AND STRONG COMMUNITY PARTNERSHIPS.
BEGINNING WITH BENJI'S IN 1995, THEY CURRENTLY OPERATE BELOVED CONCEPTS SUCH AS MILTON'S, TRATTORIA LEE'S COCKTAIL LOUNGE, MAXIMO, PROGRESSIVE MEXICAN, AND FIVE LOCAL FOODS LOCATIONS.
SHOUT OUT TO THE CRUNCHY CHICKEN SANDWICH.
ALL LOCAL FOODS GROUP RESTAURANTS OFFER A HAVEN OF FRESH SEASONAL INGREDIENTS SOURCED FROM MORE THAN 50 LOCAL FARMERS AND PURVEYORS, ALONG WITH A FAMILY FRIENDLY ATMOSPHERE THAT FOSTERS COMRADERY, CELEBRATES SPECIAL OCCASIONS, AND CREATES POSITIVE MEMORIES FOR MORE THAN 21 MILLION CUSTOMERS OVER MULTIPLE GENERATIONS.
FOUNDERS, CO-OWNERS, AND NATIVE HOUSTONIANS, BENJI LEVITT AND DYLAN MURRAY HAVE FOCUSED ON GIVING BACK TO THE COMMUNITY IN NUMEROUS WAYS, INCLUDING SUPPORTING AND PARTNERING WITH LOCAL BUSINESSES AND NONPROFITS, AS WELL AS CONTRIBUTING OVER $1 MILLION TO CAUSES RANGING FROM CHILDHOOD EDUCATION TO SUPPORTING TEACHERS AND HOSPITALITY WORKER WELLNESS.
AND I THINK THAT'S ESPECIALLY IMPORTANT, MAYOR, TODAY, AS WE HAVE SO MANY OF OUR HOSPITALITY WORKERS HERE.
LOCAL FOODS GROUP HAS PROVIDED EMPLOYMENT FOR ROUGHLY 5,000 INDIVIDUALS THROUGHOUT ITS LEGACY OF HOUSTON DINING INSTITUTIONS, MANY OF WHOM BECAME SUCCESSFUL ENTREPRENEURS SHAPING THE CITY'S HOSPITALITY SCENE SUCH AS BOB BOBBY, HUGO OF ANVIL BAR REFUGE, MATT POCK OF BURGER JOINT, RUSSELL THEOD, TH I'M SORRY, I'M MISPRONOUNCING IT OF LAYLO, CARRIE POLLY OF K'S KITCHEN AND FELIX FLORES OF CHERRY BLOSSOM SMOKE BLOCK SMOKEHOUSE CULTIVATING A CULTURE OF POSITIVITY, LOYALTY AND DEVELOPMENT.
AND ADHERING TO THE PHILOSOPHY THAT INVESTING IN YOUR TEAM MEANS INVESTING IN YOUR BUSINESS, CUSTOMERS, AND COMMUNITY.
IN 2025, LOCAL FOODS GROUP CELEBRATES 30 YEARS OF OPERATION, ADVANCING THE CONCEPT OF LOCAL SOURCING AND SUSTAINABILITY, OFFERING APPROACHABLE, HEALTHIER OPTIONS FOR COMMUNITIES RANGING FROM RICE VILLAGE TO POST OAK TO THE HEIGHTS, AND MORE GIVING BACK TO THE COMMUNITIES IT SERVES IN THOSE BEYOND PROVIDING EMPLOYMENT, TRAINING AND DEVELOPMENT FOR THE HOSPITALITY INDUSTRY, AND WELCOMING GUESTS WITH OUTSTANDING SERVICE AND AMBIANCE THROUGHOUT GREATER HOUSTON.
THANK YOU, COUNCIL MEMBER CAYMAN.
AND, UH, I REGULARLY TALK ABOUT WHAT A GREAT CITY THIS IS.
IT DIDN'T BECOME A GREAT CITY BY ITSELF.
IT'S ENTREPRENEURS AND OUR FRIENDS SUCH AS YOURS AND OUR LOCAL FOOD GROUP.
UH, I'M GONNA BE HONEST WITH YOU, I JUST SAW SOME ESTABLISHMENTS THAT I NEED TO GO VISIT YOU.
EVERYONE'S BEEN TO BENJI'S, AND THANK YOU FOR, UH, THE JOBS THAT YOU'VE CREATED AND ALSO THE QUALITY OF LIFE.
SO, YOU KNOW, I KNOW IT'S A GOOD EXPERIENCE FOR HOUSTONIANS AND OUR GUESTS TO VISIT ONE OF YOUR BUSINESSES.
I, JOHN WHITMEYER, MAYOR OF THE CITY OF HOUSTON, HEREBY PROCLAIM SEPTEMBER 9TH, 2025 AS LOCAL FOODS GROUP STAY IN THE CITY OF HOUSTON.
DID YOU WANNA SAY ANYTHING ON BEHALF OF LOCAL FOODS GROUP? IT'S A TREMENDOUS HONOR TO BE RECOGNIZED BY MAYOR WHITMEYER, COUNCIL MEMBER CAYMAN, AND ALL OF THE CITY OFFICIALS GATHERED HERE TODAY.
IT'S RARE FOR A HOSPITALITY GROUP TO REACH 30 YEARS OF AGE, BECOME BECAUSE RUNNING RESTAURANTS TAKES GRIT, TENACITY, AND A LITTLE BIT OF CRAZINESS.
UM, WE'RE ABLE TO CELEBRATE THIS MILESTONE THANKS TO THOUSANDS OF HOUSTONIANS WHO HAVE FORMED PART OF OUR TEAM AND ENABLED OUR GROWTH AND THE MILLIONS OF GUESTS WHO HAVE COME IN DINE WITH US AND CHAMPION LOCAL FOODS GROUP.
WE HOPE TO HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO CONS CONTINUE SERVING UP DELICIOUS FOOD AND DRINKS, HOSPITALITY AND FUN TIMES TO HOUSTONIANS AT LOCAL FOODS.
MAXIMO, MILTONS, AND LEE'S FOR MANY YEARS TO COME WHILE GIVING BACK TO THE COMMUNITY WHERE WE CAN.
[00:25:55]
PECK, THE CHAIR RECOGNIZES VICE MAYOR PRO TEM PECK, WHO WILL PRESENT A PROCLAMATION TO DR. PETER STOUT AND DR. AMY CASTILLO IN RECOGNITION OF THEIR OUTSTANDING 10 YEARS OF SERVICE AT THE HOUSTON FORENSIC SCIENCE CENTER.IT IS MY HONOR TO, UM, PRESENT THESE PROCLAMATIONS, UM, FOR BOTH DR. STOUT AND DR. CASTILLO FOR THEIR, UM, DECADE OF EXCEPTIONAL, UM, SERVICE TO THE CITY OF HOUSTON.
AND SINCE THERE ARE TWO PROCLAMATIONS, I WILL, UM, READ THE HIGHLIGHTS OF BOTH OF THEM.
FIRST, DR. STOUT, ON SEPTEMBER 9TH, 2025, THE CITY OF HOUSTON JOINS THE HOUSTON FORENSIC SCIENCE CENTER, HFSC, IN CELEBRATING DR. STOUT FOR HIS 10 YEARS OF SERVICE AS PRESIDENT AND CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER OF H-F-S-H-F-S-C.
UM, AND FOR HIS DEDICATED WORK IN THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM.
STOUT'S LEADERSHIP, HFSC SERVED HOUSTONIANS BY PROVIDING FORENSIC ANALYSIS IN SEVEN DISCIPLINES, COMPLETING OVER 25,000 ANALYSIS REQUESTS ANNUALLY, WITH A STAFF OF 200 AND MORE THAN 100,000 SQUARE FEET OF FACILITY SPACE FOR OPERATIONS AND EVIDENCE STORAGE.
DR. STOUT HAS POSITIONED HFSC AS A NATIONAL LEADER IN FORENSIC QUALITY STANDARDS.
HSCS QUALITY ASSURANCE PROGRAM NOW SERVES AS A MODEL FOR OTHER STATES.
DROUT HAS BEEN KNOWN AS AN INNOVATIVE LEADER AND THE GOLD STANDARD IN LABORATORY MANAGEMENT AMONG HIS PEERS IN THE FORENSIC COMMUNITY.
WE ARE ALSO RECOGNIZING DR. AMY CASTILLO FOR, UM, HER TENURE YEARS OF SERVICE AS THE CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER OF HFSC.
DR. CASTILLO PERSONALLY OVERSEES ALL FORENSIC DISCIPLINES AT HFSC, INCLUDING FORENSIC BIOLOGY, DNA, TOXICOLOGY, FIREARMS, LATENT PRINTS, DIGITAL MULTIMEDIA, SEES DRUGS, AND THE CRIME SCENE UNIT.
SHE IS LAUDED BY HER STAFF FOR HER INNOVATIVE APPROACH TO CHALLENGES, ADVOCACY FOR EMPLOYEE WELLNESS, PASSION FOR FORENSICS, HUMILITY, AND GENUINE CARE FOR PERSONNEL.
DR. CASTILLO BEGAN HER CAREER IN FORENSIC SCIENCE WITH THE Q SIM POLICE DEPARTMENT CRIME LABORATORY IN 2010, AND HAS SERVED AS AN ACTIVE MEMBER OF THE GOVERNOR'S TASK FORCE ON SEXUAL ASSAULT SURVIVORS.
CASTILLO'S COMMITMENT TO SOLVING SEXUAL VIOLENCE CRIMES HAS LED TO MAJOR CHANGES IN TEXAS THROUGH HER PASSION FOR IMPROVING THE RESPONSE TO SEXUAL VIOLENCE.
COUNCILMAN PECK, AND THANK YOU, DR. CASTILLO.
I JUST OUT PROBABLY TWO OF THE SMARTEST PEOPLE I KNOW.
AND, YOU KNOW, WITHOUT THE FORENSIC LAB, THERE WOULD BE NO PUBLIC SAFETY.
AND, UH, YOU EACH HAVE PLAYED SUCH A KEY ROLE IN BRINGING TO THE ATTENTION OF THE LEGISLATURE TO THIS COUNCIL, HOW IMPORTANT THE FORENSIC LAB IS, AND, UH, JUST THE FACT THAT YOU WOULD TAKE OVER OUR PROPERTY ROOM FREED UP ABOUT 60 UNIFORM OFFICERS TO BE OUT ON THE STREET.
AND I COULD GO ON AND ON, BUT, UH, I UNDERSTAND YOUR OFFICE, DR.
PEOPLE COME HERE TO SEE HOW YOU DO SO MUCH WITH SO LITTLE AND THE FACT THAT YOU WOULD BE SO OPEN ABOUT THE BACKLOG OF THE SEXUAL ASSAULT KIDS.
AND SO YOU JUST, YOU MAKE OUR CITY, UH, OPERATE A LOT BETTER.
I'D HATE TO THINK WHAT IT'S LIKE WITHOUT YOUR EXPERTISE AND INTELLECT, UH, AT THE FORENSIC LAB.
YOU COUNCILMAN PECK HECK OF A JOB.
UH, NO PARTICULAR ORDER, BUT I, JOHN WHITMEYER, MAYOR OF THE CITY OF HOUSTON, HEREBY PROCLAIM SEPTEMBER 9TH, 2025 IS DR. AMY CASTILLO DAY.
AND AT THE SAME TIME, I WOULD SAY, THEREFORE, I, JOHN WHITMEYER, MAYOR OF THE CITY OF HOUSTON, HEREBY PROCLAIMED SEPTEMBER 9TH
[00:30:01]
IS DR. PETER STOUT DAY.SO THERE'S ENOUGH TO GO AROUND FOR BOTH OF YOU.
I THINK Y'ALL HAVE BEEN SUBJECTED TO WAY TOO MANY OF MY LONG-WINDED STORIES.
UH, BUT I, I THINK ALL OF YOU HAVE ALSO BEEN SUBJECTED TO WHERE I USUALLY START THE STORY ABOUT THE LABORATORY IS THE 2003 NEW YORK TIMES HEADLINE, THE WORST CRIME LAB IN THE COUNTRY.
NOW, AS FLATTERING AS IT IS FOR THE CREDIT TO AMY AND I FOR THE WORK THAT WE'VE DONE, AND APPRECIATE THAT IT DOESN'T HAPPEN, JUST US, IT HAPPENS BECAUSE OF THE 200 PEOPLE IN THE LABORATORY.
AND IT HAPPENS BECAUSE OF YOU ALL, AND IT HAPPENS BECAUSE OF THE CITIZENS OF HOUSTON.
IT IS AN UNUSUAL THING THAT YOU ALL HAVE HAD THE COURAGE TO DO, TO DO SOMETHING DIFFERENT WITH A CRIME LAB.
AND IT SHOWS, UM, YEAH, WE CAN TALK ALL DAY AND I'M SURE I'LL BE TALKING WITH YOU ABOUT OUR BUDGET HERE SOON.
BUT I MEAN, IT IS REMARKABLE TO HAVE DONE SOMETHING DIFFERENT.
SO, UH, CONGRATULATIONS TO ALL OF YOU FOR HAVING TAKEN THE CHANCE TO DO SOMETHING DIFFERENT WITH A CRIME LAB, AND I APPRECIATE THAT.
UM, I NEVER THOUGHT WHEN I STARTED IN 2010, I'D BE STANDING HERE
UM, BUT LIKE PETER SAID, WE HAVE A GROUP OF 200 PEOPLE WHO WORK THEIR TAILS OFF EVERY DAY TO MAKE THIS POSSIBLE AND TO MAKE OUR LAB WHAT IT IS.
AND THE SUPPORT THAT Y'ALL GIVE US TO BE ABLE TO DO THAT IS AMAZING.
UM, I KNOW THAT WE'RE THE GOLD STANDARD BECAUSE WE HAVE THE SUPPORT TO BE THE GOLD STANDARD.
UM, SO THAT'S VERY APPRECIATED.
AND WE DO HAVE OUR SENIOR TEAM BACK THERE WITH US SUPPORTING US.
UM, WE HAVE LOTS OF HARD CONVERSATIONS ALL THE TIME ABOUT HOW TO KEEP DOING THAT.
UM, AND THEY'RE A HUGE PART OF THAT AS WELL.
UM, AND I DO WANNA TO TELL MY HUSBANDS BACK THERE, UM, DR. JUAN CASTILLO, WHO SUPPORTED ME WITH ALL THIS.
SO I JUST WANTED TO SAY THANK YOU TO HIM TOO.
AND OF COURSE, WE WANT TO RECOGNIZE, UH, FORMER MAYOR PRO TIM ELLEN COEN FOR BEING BACK IN CHAMBER AS WELL, AND THE ENTIRE TEAM.
WE DO HAVE A COUPLE OF COUNCIL MEMBERS IN QUEUE.
WE'LL START WITH COUNCIL MEMBER CAYMAN.
UM, THANK YOU MAYOR CHAIRWOMAN PECK, UH, DR. STOUT, UH, DR. CASTILLO.
WE'VE, WE'VE BEEN THROUGH A LOT TOGETHER.
UH, I WAS THINKING BACK TO WHEN WE COULDN'T APPLY CERTAIN ARPA DOLLARS TO ADDRESSING THE BACKLOG AND WORKING TO GET AN ADDITIONAL OVER HALF A MILLION ON THE BUDGET THROUGH AN AMENDMENT.
UM, BUT EVERY STEP OF THE WAY Y'ALL HAVE, UH, STOOD YOUR GROUND IN THE BELIEF OF WHAT YOUR STAFF CAN DO AND HOW IMPORTANT THE FORENSIC SCIENCE CENTER IS.
SO THANK YOU BOTH FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP, OUR APPRECIATION TO YOUR ENTIRE STAFF.
UH, THOSE ARE NOT EASY CONDITIONS THAT THEY HAVE WORKED IN.
UM, BUT AGAIN, THANK YOU FOR BEING THE GOLD STANDARD THAT YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT.
UH, I DO WANNA GIVE A VERY SPECIAL SHOUT OUT TO MY PREDECESSOR, UH, MAYOR PRO TEM CONE FOR EVERYTHING YOU HAVE DONE UNDER YOUR LEADERSHIP.
UH, YOU HAVE BEEN AT THE, THE FOREFRONT OF ADVOCATING, ESPECIALLY WHEN IT COMES TO, UM, ASSAULT SURVIVORS, AND THAT GOES HAND IN HAND WITH THE WORK OF THE HOUSTON PRESENT SCIENCE CENTER.
SO THANK YOU, UH, AND THE ENTIRE BOARD FOR EVERYTHING.
AND EVERYONE STANDING WITH YOU TODAY, COUNCIL MEMBER RAMIREZ, THANK YOU, MAYOR PRO TEM, AND, UH, DR. STOUT.
AND AMY, I JUST WANNA SAY THANK YOU FOR ALL THE HARD WORK THAT YOU DO.
I THINK FEW PEOPLE UNDERSTAND HOW REALLY DIFFICULT, HOW COMPLEX AND HOW IMPORTANT THE WORK IS THAT YOU GUYS AT THE FORENSIC SCIENCE CENTER DO.
UM, AND THE CHALLENGES CONTINUE.
YOU'VE WORKED THROUGH A LOT OF THE CHALLENGES IN THE PAST.
UH, WE ARE LIGHT YEARS, UH, FROM WHERE WE WERE WHEN THE FORENSIC SUN SCIENCE CENTER OPENED, BUT YOU STILL WORK UNDER SOME VERY CHALLENGING CIRCUMSTANCES.
SO I APPRECIATE THE WORK THAT YOU AND ALL OF YOU DO.
I KNOW DR. STOUT, YOU, YOU ARE NATIONALLY RENOWNED NOW FOR HAVING, UH, PUT THE FORENSIC SCIENCE CENTER IN THE POSITION WHERE IT IS.
AND I KNOW YOU'VE BEEN WORKING THROUGH THE LEGISLATIVE PROCESS AS WELL TO TRY TO IMPROVE NOT ONLY OUR OWN LAB, BUT LABS ACROSS THE STATE.
AND SO THANK YOU FOR THAT SERVICE.
THANK YOU FOR ALL EVERYBODY ELSE WHO'S HERE, YOUR BOARD MEMBERS AND STAFF FROM THE FORENSIC SCIENCE CENTER, COUNCIL MEMBER ALCOR.
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THE GREAT WORK YOU'VE DONE FOR SO LONG, DR. STOUT.
YOU'VE REALLY EDUCATED ME ABOUT PROPERTY AND ABOUT EVIDENCE AND ABOUT DISPOSITION OF EVIDENCE, AND ABOUT EV ALL THE LABOR INTENSIVE AND PROBLEMS THAT ARE ASSOCIATED WITH THAT.
AND I LOOK FORWARD TO BUDGET TIME BECAUSE, UH, WE WANNA KEEP THE GOOD PROGRESS THAT YOU'RE DOING AS
[00:35:01]
FAR AS EVIDENCE AND PROPERTY ROOM, EVERYTHING THAT'S GOING ON THERE, KEEP IT GOING.[2:00 P.M. – INVOCATION AND PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE]
CHAIR RECOGNIZES, COUNCIL MEMBER CAYMAN FOR THE INVOCATION.UH, DISTRICT CS HOUSES OF WORSHIP REFLECT, UH, HOUSTON'S RICH RELIGIOUS AND CULTURAL DIVERSITY.
AND TODAY I'M PLEASED TO INTRODUCE, UH, PETITA PAVANA DAS, A RESIDENT MONK OF ISKA HOUSTON, UH, THE INTERNATIONAL SOCIETY FOR KRISHNA CONSCIOUSNESS, WHICH IS RIGHT OFF OF 34TH STREET.
UM, SCON FOCUSES ON A MESSAGE OF COMMUNITY AND PEACE, AND THEY HAVE A VERY RICH HISTORY IN DISTRICT C BEGINNING IN MONTROSE IN 1972.
UH, AND IF YOU KNOW THE LOCATION ON 34TH STREET, IT'S ALSO, UH, HOME TO GDAS WHERE EVERYBODY SHOULD TRY, UH, THE INCREDIBLE VEGETARIAN FOOD THAT IS THERE.
THE TEMPLE AND ITS MEMBERS PROVIDE WONDERFUL PUBLIC PROGRAMS, SCHOOL OUTREACH AND INTERFAITH EVENTS THAT FOSTER UNDERSTANDING AND INCLUSION, LIKE THEIR INAUGURAL FESTIVAL OF BLISS.
I MAY BE PRONOUNCING THIS INCORRECTLY.
SRI RAHA YARA AND THEIR JOHN MASAMI CELEBRATION.
THAT WAS JUST A FEW WEEKS AGO.
THEY'RE A COMMITTED PARTNER IN TIMES OF DISASTER WITH OUR OFFICE STANDING UP DISTRIBUTION POINTS IN CASE THERE'S A NEED.
AND I WANNA THANK PETITA PAVIN DAS, WHO HAS DEDICATED HIS LIFE TO SPIRITUAL PRACTICE AND SHARING THE UPLIFTING POWER OF SACRED SOUND.
AND I BELIEVE YOU'LL NOW LEAD US IN AN OFFERING OF PEACE AND GOODWILL.
YES, I'LL ADDRESS YOUR CITE ONE SANSKRIT AND ENGLISH PRAYER BY A BOY SAINT.
AND THEN WE'LL SING THE NAMES OF THE LORD FOR THE SPIRITUAL UPLIFTMENT OF ALL BEINGS.
MAY THERE BE GOOD FORTUNE THROUGHOUT THE UNIVERSE, AND MAY ALL ENVIOUS PERSONS BE PACIFIED.
MAY ALL LIVING ENTITIES BECOME CALM BY PRACTICING LOVING DEVOTIONAL SERVICE FOR BY ACCEPTING DEVOTIONAL SERVICE, THEY WILL THINK OF EACH OTHER'S WELFARE.
THEREFORE, LET US ALL ENGAGE IN THE SERVICE OF THE SUPREME TRANSCENDENCE.
LORD, SHE KRISHNA, AND ALWAYS REMAIN ABSORBED AND THOUGHT OF HIM.
[00:40:32]
KRISHNA, THANK YOU.WILL YOU PLEASE STAND FOR THE PLEDGE? I PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE TO FLAG OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, AMERICA, AND TO THE REPUBLIC, REPUBLIC FOR WHICH STANDS, ONE NATION UNDER GOD, INDIVIDUAL WITH LIBERTY AND JUSTICE FOR
[ROLL CALL AND ADOPT THE MINUTES OF THE PREVIOUS MEETING]
MS. SECRETARY, YOU PLEASE CALL THE ROLL.PRESENT, COUNCIL MEMBER PECK HERE.
COUNCIL MEMBER EVAN SHABAZZ, YOU, COUNCIL MEMBER FLICKINGER.
COUNCIL MEMBER THOMAS PRESENT, COUNCIL MEMBER HUFFMAN PRESENT, COUNCIL MEMBER CASTILLO.
HERE, MAYOR PROTE CASTEX TATUM.
UH, MAYOR, I'D LIKE TO, UH, SUSPEND THE RULES TO MOVE JACOB CLEMENTE TO THE TOP OF THE AGENDA.
THE NON-AG AGENDA IS MOTIONS MADE AND SECONDED.
THOSE OPPOSED TO NA MOTION IS APPROVED.
COUNCIL MARTINEZ, COUNCILMAN MARTINEZ.
UM, I WOULD MOVE TO SU SUSPEND THE RULES TO ADD UNDER THE THREE MINUTE NON AGENDA BEHIND JACOB CLEMENTE.
THE FOLLOWING SPEAKERS, CARLA MAYFIELD.
KENYATA OTIS, MARCELLA OLETA, AMBER WHITE, BRITTANY LASSO, EILEEN ALVAREZ.
ROSA LEON AND WILLIE GONZALEZ CAME IN SECOND.
[PUBLIC SPEAKERS]
IF NOT MR. SECRETARY, PLEASE CALL OUR FIRST SPEAKER.JACOB, I AM GONNA READ TO Y'ALL A FEW LETTERS THAT I, TAKING NOTES THAT I RECEIVED FROM A TEXAS REP AND THE TEXAS SENATOR.
THE FIRST WAS FROM ARMAND WALLY, AND HE IS FOR THE STATE REPRESENTATIVE FOR HOUSE DISTRICT ONE 40.
MR. S THANK YOU FOR VISITING MY OFFICE AND FOR BRINGING BACK THE, BRINGING BY THE U OF H PLACEMENT.
NOW THE OTHER LAST LETTER THAT I RECEIVED WAS FROM STATE SENATOR BRIAN BURWELL, AND HE SAYS, DEAR JACOB, THANK YOU AGAIN FOR GIVING ME A COPY OF THE WALLS, OUR TALKING.
I AM ENC ENCOURAGED BY YOUR PRO LIFE STANCE, AND I VALUE YOUR FRIENDSHIP.
GOD BLESS YOU, AND GOD BLESS TEXAS.
I RECEIVED A OFFICIAL CONTRACT FROM THE DYNAMO FOR PLAYER OF THE DAY, PLAYER FOR THE DAY.
AND IT'S AN OFFICIAL CONTRACT THAT HAS BEEN SIGNED BY ME AND HECTOR HERRERA.
AND NOW FOR THE AGGIE JOKE, YOU KNOW, YOU ARE REALLY PLAYING A WELL VERSED, WELL EQUIPPED AGGIE AND CHESS WHEN THEY TAKE THEIR PAWN AND GO TO THE OPPOSITE SIDE OF THE CHESS BOARD WHERE THE PAWN IS LINED UP AND SAY, KING ME.
I'VE BEEN A CAFETERIA ATTENDANT FOR 17 YEARS AT THE HILTON AMERICAS HOUSTON.
WHEN I FIRST STARTED, UH, THERE WAS A MANAGER, TWO SUPERVISORS, FIVE ATTENDANTS.
[00:45:01]
FROM ONE SUPERVISOR TO TWO ATTENDANTS.UH, AFTER THE PANDEMIC, THEY ONLY BROUGHT BACK TO ATTENDANCE.
SO I AM ONE OF THE TWO PEOPLE RESPONSIBLE FOR FEEDING ALL THE EMPLOYEES AT THE HOTEL.
MY SCHEDULE, MY SHIFT IS FROM TWO, FROM 6:00 AM TO 2:30 PM FOR SIX OF THOSE HOURS.
UH, I SET UP BREAKFAST, LUNCH, AND HELP WITH MAKE WITH PART OF DINNER.
ALMOST ANYTHING DEALING WITH THE CAFETERIA FALLS ON ME.
UH, I FEEL LIKE, UH, SINCE COMING BACK FROM THE OKAY, I FEEL LIKE I DON'T HAVE THE SUPPORT THAT I NEED.
AND ALSO IT TAKES A PAYCHECK AND A HALF JUST FOR ME TO COVER MY RENT AND MY OTHER BILLS.
I FEEL LIKE IF I CAN PUT MY ALL AND SHOW RESPECT AND APPRECIATION TO THE HILTON, I FEEL LIKE THEY SHOULD BE ABLE TO DO THE SAME FOR ME.
I SHOULDN'T HAVE TO STRUGGLE THE WAY THAT I'M STRUGGLING.
I FEEL LIKE THAT THEY ONLY ARE WORRIED ABOUT THEIR BOTTOM LINE.
THEY'RE NOT WORRIED ABOUT ME OR US.
NEXT KENYATA OTIS TO BE FOLLOWED BY MARCELLA ZELDA.
I AM A PASTRY CHEF AT THE HILTON AMERICA, WHERE I'VE BEEN THERE FOR ALMOST TWO YEARS.
I ALSO HAVE A DEGREE IN PASTRY ARTS IN SEATTLE.
YOU ARE PAID UPON YOUR EXPERIENCE.
UM, WHEN MOVING HERE, I THOUGHT HAVING THAT I WOULD BE ABLE TO MAKE MORE MONEY, AND THAT WAS NOT SO WHEN I FIRST STARTED, I WASN'T ABLE TO GET, I WAS PROMISED 32 HOURS TO 40 HOURS, AND I DON'T GET THOSE HOURS.
SO I STARTED TO FALL BEHIND ON MY BILLS BECAUSE I WASN'T ABLE TO GET THE EIGHT HOURS THAT WAS PROMISED TO ME ONCE I, OH, MY BAD.
UM, SO ONCE I, UH, STARTED EARNING THOSE BENEFITS THAT I GOT AFTER MY YEAR OF BEING AT THE HILTON, THOSE BENEFITS WERE SUPPOSED TO BE USED FOR VACATION TIME.
I HAD TO USE MY VACATION TIME TO MAKE UP FOR THE DAYS THAT I, OR HOURS THAT I DIDN'T GET FROM THE HILTON.
AND VACATION IS SUPPOSED TO BE SPENT FOR US TO ENJOY OUR FAMILIES, ENJOY OUR FRIENDS AND STUFF LIKE THAT, NOT TO COMPENSATE OUR, OUR EARNINGS.
WE'RE ASKING TO BE ABLE TO JUST LIVE AND NOT HAVE TO LIVE PAYCHECK TO PAYCHECK AND TAKE OUT LOANS AND MAX OUT OUR CREDIT CARDS.
I OFTEN DON'T HAVE ENOUGH MONEY TO BUY GROCERIES BECAUSE I CAN'T AFFORD IT.
I EITHER HAVE TO PUT GAS IN MY CAR OR FOOD IN THE FRIDGE, AND A LOT OF TIMES I RELY ON EATING AT WORK BECAUSE I DON'T HAVE THE MONEY TO PAY FOR FOOD.
UM, THIS MONTH I HAD TO SET UP, UM, IT'S CALLED F FLEX, PAY FOR MY RENT BECAUSE I'VE ONLY WORKED FIVE DAYS OUT OF THE WHOLE MONTH OF AUGUST.
WE HERE AT HOUSTON, WE MAKE UP HOUSTON.
WE WANT TO BE ABLE TO ENJOY OUR CITY, COME TO WORK AND DO WHAT WE LOVE WITHOUT WORRYING ABOUT CHOOSING BETWEEN LIGHTS AND FOOD.
AND JUST LIKE THAT SIGN SAYS THE HILTON, WE ARE THE PEOPLE OF THE CITY AND WE WANNA BE RESPECTED AND FELT THAT WAY JUST LIKE THEY ARE.
NEXT MARC TO BE FOLLOWED BY AMBER WHITE.
[00:50:19]
MY NAME IS MARC AND I'M A COOK AT 1600 BAR AND GRILL AT HILTON AMERICAS.I'M A MOTHER OF THREE WHO WORKS THREE JOBS TO BE ABLE TO AFFORD GROCERIES, UTILITIES, AND NECESSITIES FOR MY FAMILY.
WHEN I'M WORKING AT THE, WHEN I'M NOT WORKING AT THE AMERICAS, I'M PICKING UP DOUBLE SHIFTS AT THE TOYOTA STADIUM AND SHELL STADIUM.
IT TAKES AN HOUR IN THE MORNING TO GET MY KIDS TO SCHOOL AND AN HOUR TO GET TO WORK.
WITH THE TIME I HAVE LEFT, I SPEND RESTING AND GETTING READY FOR THE NEXT DAY TO DO IT ALL OVER AGAIN.
EVEN THOUGH I WORK SO MANY HOURS, I'M BARELY MAKING IT.
I'D LIKE TO HAVE ANOTHER JOB TO BE, I'D LIKE TO HAVE ANOTHER JOB TO BE ABLE TO AFFORD EVERYTHING, BUT I JUST DON'T HAVE THE TIME FOR THAT.
IF THEY PAYING ME FAIRLY, I WOULDN'T HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT THAT.
I HAVE NO DAYS OFF TO SPEND WITH MY KIDS IN THE AFTERNOON, IN THE AFTERNOONS, I HAVE TO ASK FOR HELP SO MY KIDS CAN GET PICKED UP FROM SCHOOL WHEN THEY MAKE IT HOME.
I HAVE TO ORDER UBER, UBER EATS BECAUSE I CAN'T BE THERE TO MAKE SURE THEY EAT.
UM, EVERY TIME I GET PAID, I HAVE TO SPEND IT ALL.
AND SOME WEEKS I DON'T HAVE ENOUGH TO COVER EVERYTHING, SO I WAIT UNTIL THE NEXT WEEK TO SEE WHAT I HAVE LEFT.
UM, I'M, I'M OUT HERE WITH MY COWORKERS STRIKING FOR THE SIMPLE FACT THAT WE CAN'T ALL AFFORD TO LIVE.
AND I WOULD LIKE IF YOU GUYS WOULD LISTEN AND HELP.
UM, I WAS GONNA ASK HER A QUESTION, BUT I, I KNOW WE HAVE A FEW OTHER SPEAKERS.
IT'D BE VERY HELPFUL FOR OUR SPEAKERS TO KNOW.
SOME OF YOU HAD MENTIONED HOW MANY HOURS A WEEK THEY ARE GIVING YOU, SO, OR HOURS A DAY THEY ARE GIVING YOU.
AND IT'D ALSO BE HELPFUL TO KNOW HOW MANY VACATION DAYS OR SICK DAYS YOU'RE BEING GIVEN AS WELL.
SO I KNOW WE HEARD FROM SOME THAT SAID THEY'RE ONLY BEING GIVEN SIX HOURS A DAY, WHICH WE KNOW IS NOT ENOUGH.
SO I'D, I'D LIKE TO KNOW THAT WOULD BE HELPFUL INFORMATION FOR US WHEN YOU'RE COMING UP TO SPEAK.
NEXT, AMBER WHITE TO BE FOLLOWED BY BRITTANY LAZO.
MY NAME IS AMBER WHITE, AND I'VE WORKED AT THE HILTON AMERICAS FOR THE PAST THREE YEARS.
AS A PBX OPERATOR, I'M ESSENTIALLY THE VOICE OF THE HOTEL.
WHEN YOU CALL, YOU GET ME, I ANSWER THE GUEST PHONE CALLS, I TALK TO THE GUEST DIRECTLY THROUGH CHAT SYSTEMS. WHENEVER YOU GO IN THE HOTEL, YOU DON'T HAVE ANY INFORMATION ABOUT THE HOTEL.
I'M THE ONE THAT TEXTS YOU THAT INFORMATION.
AND IF I'M NOT THERE TO TEXT YOU, YOU WON'T GET IT.
YOU'LL CALL ME TO ASK, WHAT DO YOU HAVE? WHAT, WHAT ARE THE AMENITIES? SO IF YOU DON'T GET THOSE TEXTS, YOU'RE NOT GONNA GET ANY INFORMATION.
I'M, MY DEPARTMENT IS THE ONE THAT DOES THAT.
ALSO, I DO THE JOB OF CONCIERGE, A LOUNGE ATTENDANT AND A BELL CAPTAIN WHEN NEEDED, THEY STRETCH ME OUT.
IF I'M LOSING HOURS, I'M ASKING WHERE CAN I BE PUT TO WORK
[00:55:01]
SO I CAN MAKE MY HOURS UP.UM, AND AS FAR AS THE, UH, VACATION WE GET 14 DAYS OF VACATION, TWO WEEKS.
UM, AND EVERY YEAR WE THAT WE GET EVALUATED FOR OUR WORK PERFORMANCE.
AND FOR THE PAST THREE YEARS, I'VE EXCEEDED EXPECTATIONS.
I'VE HELPED MAKE THIS HOTEL OVER $3 BILLION IN REVENUE LAST YEAR.
IF WE'RE MAKING $23 AN HOUR, I'D BE MORE EXCITED TO COME TO WORK.
I CARE ABOUT MY JOB, AND I JUST WANT TO HELP THE PEOPLE.
YOU KNOW, I, I WANNA BE PROUD TO SAY I WORK FOR THIS HOTEL.
I LITERALLY TELL MY FAMILY NOT TO COME STAY AT MY HOTEL BECAUSE WE OUR WORK TO THE MAX AND THE HILTON JUST NEEDS TO COME THROUGH.
I'M A MOTHER OF THREE GIRLS AND I ALSO TAKE CARE OF MY MOM.
I'M A FULL-TIME COLLEGE STUDENT STUDYING FOR MY BACHELOR'S.
AND IT GETS REALLY HARD SOME DAYS I DON'T MAKE ENOUGH AND I HAVE TO SACRIFICE EATING JUST SO MY KIDS CAN EAT.
AND I'VE HAD TO DO THAT A LOT THIS PAST YEAR.
HONESTLY, WITH SUCH A BIG COMPANY AS THE HILTON, IT'S TIME FOR THEM TO SHOW THAT THEY CARE AND APPRECIATE THEIR WORKERS.
WE ARE THE OIL AND WE ARE THE GREASE THAT MAKES THIS HOTEL RUN.
IT'S TIME THAT WE, THEY MAKE A REAL OFFER.
WHY NOT START NOW? BRI BRITTANY LAZO TO BE FOLLOWED BY ALAN AL ALVAREZ.
I REALLY APPRECIATE Y'ALL TAKING YOUR TIME TO LISTEN TO US.
WE ARE A FAMILY, AND THAT IS WHAT HOUSTON IS AT, ITS WHOLE.
MY NAME IS BRITTANY LAZO AND I'M A STARBUCKS BARISTA AT THE HILTON AMERICAS.
I'VE BEEN THERE FOR ABOUT TWO YEARS.
UM, I'M A MOTHER OF A 12-YEAR-OLD DAUGHTER.
I ALSO HAVE, UM, ANXIETY DEPRESSION, A DHD.
SO I HAVE INTERNAL STRUGGLES THAT I DEAL WITH EVERY DAY, BUT I PUT THOSE ASIDE TO PROVIDE FOR MY FAMILY.
I SHOULDN'T HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT WHETHER I CAN AFFORD MY COPAY TO GO TO THE DOCTOR OR SEE MY THERAPIST BECAUSE SCHEDULING THERE IS UNFAIR.
THEY DON'T PROVIDE US WITH ENOUGH TIME TO ANTICIPATE OUR NEEDS OF THE FOLLOWING WEEK.
YET THEY KNOW YEARS IN ADVANCE THEY'RE SCHEDULED PROJECTED SALES AND THE BOOKINGS I SHOULDN'T HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT IF I HAVE TO BUY GROCERIES OR CHECK MY CAR'S, UH, CHECK ENGINE LIGHT HAS BEEN ON.
UM, HAVING TO PRIORITIZE MY NECESSITIES, UM, IS REALLY JUST A ROUGH SYSTEM THAT I'M LIVING IN RIGHT NOW.
AND IT'S FRUSTRATING TO KNOW THAT WHILE ME AND MY COWORKERS LIVE LIKE THAT, THERE'S PLENTY OF PEOPLE THAT WORK THERE THAT DON'T EVER DEAL WITH THESE STRUGGLES.
THE MIT LIVING WAGE CALCULATOR SAYS THAT AN AVERAGE ADULT IN THE CITY OF HOUSTON WITH ONE CHILD SHOULD EARN AT LEAST $30 AND 97 CENTS AN HOUR.
SO I KNOW THAT ASKING FOR 23 IS NOT UNREASONABLE AND THAT WE AREN'T, WE COULD BE ASKING FOR MORE.
SINCE I HAVE BEEN ON STRIKE, I ACTUALLY WAS ABLE TO SEE A BEAUTIFUL THING.
I WAS ABLE TO SIT AND HAVE DINNER WITH MY CHILD FOR THE FIRST TIME IN A LONG TIME.
I USUALLY GET HOME FROM WORK AND I'M EXHAUSTED.
AND THEN TO HAVE TO GET READY FOR THE DAY AND COOKING DINNER, I'M JUST EXHAUSTED TO TAKE CARE OF THE BASIC NEEDS FOR HER.
SO IT WAS NICE TO JUST SIT THERE AND HAVE IT.
I ALSO, UM, I'M A FULL-TIME WORKER AND OCCASIONALLY I'M SCHEDULED ONLY FOUR HOURS A DAY, SOMETIMES SIX.
I ALSO PICK UP SHIFTS, BARTENDING OUTSIDE OF THAT.
BUT I HAVE TO MAKE FLEXIBLE THINGS WORK IN ORDER TO HAVE TRANSPORTATION FOR MY CHILD AND CARE.
BUT I ALSO NEED A PAYCHECK SO SHE DOESN'T GO HUNGRY AND SHE CAN HAVE A FUTURE THAT AMERICA PROMISES US.
JUST HAVE A LITTLE BIT PATIENCE FOR ME.
I'VE BEEN WORKING AT HILTON AS A HOUSEKEEPING FOR TWO YEARS ALREADY.
MY, MY PAYMENT, LIKE, WELL, MY HOURLY PAY IS 1650
[01:00:02]
A HOUR.WELL, ONE YEAR AGO WHEN MY SON WAS IN THE NICU, HE WAS BORN WITH A, UM, WITH A BIRTH DEFECT CONDITION.
SO HE HAD TO SPEND, LIKE, HE WAS IN THE NICU FOR ALMOST TWO MONTHS.
SO I WAS OUTTA WORK FOR SIX WEEKS.
SO I HAVE TO, I HAD TO GO BACK TO WORK BECAUSE I DIDN'T HAVE NO MONEY TO COVER UP MY EXPENSES AND MY SON IN THE, IN THE HOSPITAL FOR ALL THIS TIME.
SO, UM, ONE YEAR AGO MY SON HAD A SMALL SURGERY, SO I HAD TO TAKE TWO WEEKS OUTTA WORK SO I COULD STAY WITH MY SON, TAKE CARE OF HIM.
AND, UM, I ASKED FOR THEM IF I WOULD HAVE, UM, WHAT WAS IT CALLED? GIMME A SECOND.
AND THEY TOLD ME THAT I DIDN'T QUALIFY BECAUSE I WAS, WASN'T THE SICK PERSON.
SO I HAD TO TAKE THEM TWO WEEKS AND HOW TO PAY.
I HAVE A, I HAD TO COVER UP MY, LIKE, MY OFF DAYS WITH MY VACATION TIME AND MY SICK DAYS SO I COULD GET A CHECK OR SOMETHING TO COME HOME WITH.
SO I FEEL LIKE IT'S NOT FAIR FOR US TO LEAVE PAY TO, UM, PAYCHECK TO PAYCHECK BECAUSE WE WORK HARD FOR THEM.
AND IT IS REALLY HARD TO LEAVE LIKE THAT, YOU KNOW, LIKE EVERYTHING HAS GO UP LIKE BILLS.
EVERYTHING HAS GO UP AND WE STILL AT THE SAME LIKE WASTE SALARY.
AND IT'S NOT FAIR, YOU KNOW, LIKE, BECAUSE WE ARE POOR PEOPLE.
LIKE, AS YOU CAN SEE, LIKE WE STRUGGLE A LOT.
I HAVE TO PAY FOR DAYCARE FOR MY SON, FOR SOMEBODY TO TAKE CARE OF HIM.
SO I FEEL LIKE HILTON SHOULD BE DO BETTER AND HAVE AND PAY US MORE BECAUSE THEY WIN A LOT OUT OF US.
SO WE, WE DESERVE BETTER ROSA LEON TO BE, TO BE FOLLOWED BY WILLIE GONZALEZ.
UH, THE HOUSEKEEPING, MY NAME IS ROSA LEON.
I AM A HOUSEKEEPER AND I'VE BEEN HOUSEKEEPING FOR 21 YEARS.
I'M NOT GONNA SAY MUCH BECAUSE EVERYTHING THAT THEY'VE ALREADY SAID IS EXACTLY WHAT I'M GOING THROUGH AS WELL.
I WORKED AT A HILTON PRIOR TO THE HILTON AMERICAS, HAD A DIFFERENT HILTON FOR FIVE YEARS AND I ONLY GOT A, UM, A RAISE OF 25 CENTS.
I'VE BEEN WORKING UP THE HI AMERICAS SMELL FOR 21 YEARS.
UM, AND HOW I CAME HERE TO THIS HOTEL WITH EMPTY HANDED, I AM LEAVING EMPTY HANDED AGAIN BECAUSE THEY DID NOT PROVIDE A GOOD RETIREMENT PLAN FOR ME TO LEAVE.
ME BEING THE ONE WITH NO SENIORITY, I'M GETTING READY TO RETIRE, BUT I CAN'T EVEN DO THAT BECAUSE DOESN'T HELP ME RETIRE COMFORTABLY.
I AM HERE TO ASK YOU FOR YOUR HELP.
I'M ALREADY GROWN AND I'M ALREADY READY TO RETIRE.
BUT THESE YOUNG PEOPLE THAT ARE HERE ARE WAITING FOR YOUR GUYS' HELP AND ARE WAITING TO BE HEARD AND HOPEFUL FOR YOUR GUYS' SUPPORT.
AND IF YOU GUYS CAN PLEASE GIVE THEM A GOOD RETIREMENT PLAN BECAUSE I DON'T WANT THEM TO GO THROUGH WHAT I'M GOING THROUGH RIGHT NOW.
GOOD AFTERNOON, MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL.
UM, FIRST OF ALL, I WANT TO THANK EVERYONE HERE WHO'S BEEN SUPPORTING US DURING
[01:05:01]
THE STRIKE.WHETHER THEY'RE BEHIND THE SCENES, WHETHER THEY'RE COMING OUT TO VISIT THE STRIKERS, MARCH THE PICKET LINE, BRING US WATER, BRING US FOOD.
THESE WORKERS, THESE ARE THE WORKERS THAT COVERED, THAT CAME DURING HURRICANES, LEFT THEIR FAMILIES TO TAKE CARE OF THE FIRST RESPONDERS IN THAT HOTEL.
THESE ARE THE WORKERS THAT CAME DURING THE PANDEMIC TO WELCOME THE FEW GUESTS AND HELP THAT HOTEL SURVIVE.
AND THE WAY THEY'RE BEING PAID BACK IS THEY'RE FORCED TO STRIKE BECAUSE OF GREED OF THE HILTON AND OF HOUSTON.
NO ONE CAN DENY THAT HOTEL IS EXTREMELY PROFITABLE.
BUT THE PEOPLE WHO HAVE MADE THAT HOTEL A SUCCESS, THAT HOTEL THAT WAS BUILT WITH PUBLIC MONEY, THAT HOTEL THAT WAS ENTRUSTED TO DO RIGHT BY THE PEOPLE OF HOUSTON, HAS BETRAYED THESE PEOPLE AND THE CITY OF HOUSTON.
SO NOW I, AND I DON'T OFTEN DO THIS, BUT THERE, THERE'S A PASSAGE SOMETIMES IN ORGANIZING.
IT'S A VERY HARD TIME FOR THESE FOLKS.
BUT IT SAYS, WHEN I WALK IN FAITH, I HAVE NO FEAR.
AND YOU'RE LOOKING AT A BUNCH OF PEOPLE THAT MAY NOT HAVE A LOT OF MONEY, MAY NOT HAVE A LOT OF POWER LIKE HILTON DOES.
THEY DON'T HAVE ALL THE NAME RECOGNITION, BUT STANDING TOGETHER, THEY HAVE RESPECT.
THEY HAVE DIGNITY, AND THEY'RE IN THIS FIGHT FOR RESPECT, DIGNITY, AND A LIVABLE WAGE AND DECENT WORKING CONDITIONS.
SO I ALSO THI SO WE'RE STANDING HERE TO ASK YOUR HELP WITH TWO THINGS.
NUMBER ONE, THESE ARE THE PEOPLE YOU COUNT ON.
AS WE TALK ABOUT THE EXPANSION OF THE CONVENTION DISTRICT AND WE SUPPORT IT, THAT CAN BE A GOOD THING.
DON'T FORGET THAT IT'S GONNA BE THESE PEOPLE YOU COUNT ON.
SO NOW THEY'RE ASKING TO BE ABLE TO COUNT ON YOU, TO SUPPORT THEM, TO PUSH HILTON TO THE TABLE AND MAKE A REAL OFFER SO THAT THE CITY CAN SAY WITH PRIDE.
SO THE CITY OF HOUSTON CAN SAY, WITH PRIDE, OUR LARGEST HOTEL, LOOK HOW WELL WE TREAT OUR EMPLOYEES.
AND LOOK HOW WELL THEY TREAT THE GUESTS THAT COME HERE.
SO WE ASKED FOR YOUR HELP WITH THAT.
AND WE ALSO ASKED FOR HELP WITH ANOTHER THING.
SOME OF YOU THAT HAVE BEEN HERE FOR A WHILE, I HAVE SPOKEN HERE BEFORE ABOUT HOUSTON.
FIRST WE HAD A FIGHT 'CAUSE THEY TRIED, THE HILTON TRIED TO MANEUVER SOMETHING 'CAUSE OF LACK OF HOURS TO DROP PEOPLE FROM THEIR HEALTHCARE.
A FEW YEARS AGO, THIS WAS BEFORE YOUR TERM, MAYOR, I WAS RIGHT HERE FIGHTING WITH THEM DURING THE PANDEMIC.
THEY TRIED TO LEAVE THESE FOLKS WITHOUT HEALTHCARE AND WE CAME AND FOUGHT.
OKAY, SO WE'RE, WE'RE ASKING HERE, NUMBER ONE, FOR YOU TO SUPPORT THESE WORKERS AND PUSH HILTON AND HOUSTON FIRST TO COME TO THE TABLE.
AND WE'RE ASKING FOR FOUR THINGS FROM HOUSTON FIRST.
'CAUSE HOUSTON FIRST HAS NOT LIVED UP TO ITS PROMISE.
NUMBER ONE, THIS CITY SHOULD CONDUCT AN AUDIT OF HOUSTON FIRST.
NUMBER TWO, IF HOUSTON FIRST IS A PUBLIC ENTITY, IT SHOULD HAVE REGULAR PUBLIC MEETINGS, NOT THAT ARE POSTED TWO DAYS BEFORE.
AND NOBODY KNOWS WHEN THEY'RE HAPPENING ON SET DAYS, JUST LIKE THE COUNCIL DOES, JUST LIKE YOU DO FOR YOUR COMMITTEES.
NUMBER THREE, THOSE MEETINGS SHOULD BE VIDEO.
WHY IS THERE NO, WHY DOES NO ONE KNOW WHAT ACTUALLY GOES ON IN THOSE MEETINGS? THERE SHOULD BE A VIDEO OF THOSE MEETINGS.
SO ANY CITIZEN OF HOUSTON CAN SEE WHAT IS HAPPENING WITH HOUSTON FIRST, JUST LIKE THEY DO HERE.
AND NUMBER FOUR, THE MEETING MINUTES, THEY SHOULD BE DETAILED AND HAVE THE BACKUP AGENDA.
'CAUSE WHEN I FOUGHT FOR THE HEALTHCARE HERE, WE COULDN'T FIGURE ANYTHING OUT.
IT WAS LIKE A LABRINTH FIGURING OUT WHAT HAD BEEN SAID BY WHO, WHO HAD APPROVED WHAT IT, THERE WAS NO TRANSPARENCY.
SO HOUSTON, FIRST, IF IT SEEKS PUBLIC MONEY, IT GETS TAX MONEY AND OTHER REVENUE.
IT SHOULD BE TRANSPARENT TO THE PUBLIC.
IT SHOULD BE ABLE TO HANDLE AN AUDIT AND SHOW, THIS IS OUR BOOKS, THIS IS WHAT WE'RE DOING.
IT SHOULD BE TRANSPARENT SO PEOPLE CAN ATTEND THE MEETINGS, KNOW WHEN THEY ARE AND SEE THE REPORTS.
AGAIN, I THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME AND I ASK YOU TO REMEMBER THAT THESE ARE THE PEOPLE THAT STOOD UP FOR THE CITY IN THE WORST OF TIMES.
AND NOW IT'S TIME TO REMEMBER THEM.
[01:10:03]
COUNCILMAN MARTINEZ.UH, WILLIE, JUST FIRST WANNA SAY THANK YOU FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP AND TO EVERYONE THAT IS IN HERE, THANK YOU FOR THE RISK THAT YOU'RE TAKING.
UM, AT THIS TIME YOU ARE PICKETING, YOU'RE NOT WORKING.
AND SO THERE IS AN UNCLEAR PATHWAY FORWARD FOR YOU ALL.
BUT I WANTED YOU TO KNOW THAT I STAND WITH YOU WHEN THE VISITORS ECONOMY, THE CONVENTION ECONOMY IS DOING WELL, THEN YOU SHOULD BE ABLE TO REAP THOSE BENEFITS AS WELL.
UM, MAYOR, I JUST WANNA SAY THANK YOU.
UM, THAT EARLY MONDAY MORNING, UH, THERE WERE A WHOLE BUNCH OF PHONE CALLS BEING MADE AND, UM, BECAUSE OF YOUR HELP, WE WERE MAKE, WE WERE ABLE TO MAKE SURE THAT NO ONE WOULD BE ARRESTED FOR PICKETING.
AND BECAUSE OF YOUR SUPPORT, YOUR CAUSE, WE'RE ABLE TO MAKE SURE THAT THESE INDIVIDUALS WERE ABLE TO DO WHAT IS IN THEIR, THEIR RIGHTFUL DUTY TO VOICE THEIR CONCERNS ABOUT HOW, WHAT FAIR WAGES MEANS.
AND SO I, I APPRECIATE THAT, MAYOR, I THANK YOU FOR THAT, UH, FOR YOU ALL OUT THERE.
I JUST WANNA SAY THAT I STAND WITH YOU AND I'LL BE WITH YOU THROUGH THE END.
COUNCILMAN CAYMAN, WHY WOULD YOU BE ARRESTED? I I ALSO WANTED TO, UM, EXPRESS MY SOLIDARITY, BUT ALSO MY GRATITUDE.
FIRST AT THE, I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT TO NOTE THE HISTORICAL NATURE OF THE STRIKE THAT YOU ALL ARE LEADING RIGHT, AS THE FIRST OF ITS KIND IN THE STATE OF TEXAS.
AND THAT ALL EYES ARE ON YOU RIGHT NOW.
NOT ONLY FIGHTING FOR YOURSELVES AND YOUR FAMILIES, BUT ALL HOSPITALITY WORKERS IN THE STATE OF TEXAS.
AND IN THE SAME TIME AS WE TALK ABOUT THE IMPORTANCE OF HISTORY, I WANNA BE VERY CLEAR THAT I, I RECOGNIZE THAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT YOUR LIVELIHOODS AND YOUR LIVES, AND THAT IS VERY PERSONAL AS WELL.
UH, SO I THANK YOU ALL FOR THE COURAGE AND THE VOICE THAT YOU ARE PROVIDING.
I THANK YOU ALL FOR WHAT YOU HAVE DONE.
AND WILLIE, I REMEMBER THE HEALTHCARE FIGHT.
I REMEMBER THE JANITORIAL FIGHTS.
I, I REMEMBER IT AND YOU ARE NOT WRONG.
AND WE'VE TALKED ABOUT Y'ALL BEING THERE THROUGH THE STORMS. WE'VE TALKED ABOUT BEING THERE THROUGH THE PANDEMIC, BUT WE ALSO TALK ABOUT YOU HAVE BEEN THERE FOR THE GOOD DAYS BECAUSE YOU ARE CREATING THE GOOD DAYS FOR HOUSTON AND YOU'RE CREATING THE ECONOMY THAT WE ALL DEPEND ON.
SO I JUST WANNA MAKE SURE THAT EVERYONE HERE TODAY, ALTHOUGH NOT EVERY ONE OF YOU SPOKE, WE HEAR EACH AND EVERY ONE OF YOU AND WE SEE EACH AND EVERY ONE OF YOU.
SO AGAIN, THANK YOU FOR, UM, THOSE THAT DID SPEAK.
BUT THANK YOU FOR THE COLLECTIVE VOICE THAT YOU ARE LIFTING UP AS ALL EYES ARE ON HOUSTON RIGHT NOW.
THANK YOU MAYOR, AND GOOD AFTERNOON TO EVERYONE.
WILLIE, I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP.
I THINK THE FOUR THINGS THAT YOU OUTLINED ARE VERY REASONABLE AND I WILL ASK FOR HOUSTON FIRST TO REALLY, UM, BE REASONABLE IN THAT REQUEST BECAUSE I THINK THAT IS IMPORTANT NOT ONLY FOR YOUR MEMBERS, UH, BUT ALSO FOR THE PUBLIC AT LARGE.
AND I ALSO WANT TO THANK YOU ALL FOR YOUR STANCE.
AND EVEN BEFORE THAT, AS YOU MENTIONED DURING THE STORM, I CAN RECALL, UH, FAMILIES WE'RE TRYING TO FIND, UH, SOMEWHERE TO STAY WHEN THERE WERE POWER HOURS ALL OVER THE CITY AND THE HILTON HAD POWER AND PEOPLE WERE TRYING TO GET INTO THE HILTON.
AND IT WAS THE WORKERS THAT WERE THERE TO BE ABLE TO HELP MAKE THAT HOTEL FUNCTIONAL AND TO MAKE IT COMFORTABLE FOR THOSE WHO WERE IN AN UNCOMFORTABLE SITUATION.
AND SO, EVEN IN THE MIDST OF A STORM, WHILE YOU ALL ARE DEALING WITH SOME OF THE SAME CIRCUMSTANCES THAT EVERYONE ELSE IS DEALING WITH, UH, THE HILTON AND THIS CITY, UH, WAS RELYING ON YOU ALL TO, UH, TO SUPPORT US.
AND IT'S IMPORTANT FOR US TO SUPPORT YOU.
SO CONTINUE TO STAY STRONG AND THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE.
AND WILLIE, THANK YOU FOR YOUR REMARKS.
I THINK YOUR REMARKS, ESPECIALLY AS THEY RELATE TO, UH, TRANSPARENCY OR WELL TAKEN, UH, HOUSTON FIRST PERFORMS A VITAL FUNCTION.
UH, A LOT OF MONEY FLOWS THROUGH HOUSTON FIRST, AND WE TEND TO THINK OF THEM AS A, AS
[01:15:01]
BEING SEPARATE FROM THE CITY.IT'S JUST LIKE ANOTHER DEPARTMENT WITHIN CITY GOVERNMENT AND THEY SHOULD BE TRANSPARENT.
MY UNDERSTANDING IS THEY MEET QUARTERLY, THEY SHOULD BE MEETING MONTHLY AND MINUTES SHOULD BE, UH, PUBLISHED PROMPTLY.
UH, AND SO YOUR POINTS AS THEY RELATE TO TRANSPARENCY ARE WELL TAKEN.
AND, AND I THINK THIS COUNCIL SHOULD LOOK AT, UH, WAYS IN WHICH THEY CAN BE MORE TRANSPARENT.
SO THANK YOU, UH, FOR BEING HERE.
UH, WILLIE, THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE.
I DID WANT TO JUST KIND OF REITERATE THE, UM, FOUR THINGS THAT YOU, UM, SUGGESTED.
UH, COUPLE OF THOSE ARE HAPPENING.
AND I DID WANT TO REMIND EVERYONE THAT WE DO HAVE TWO COUNCIL MEMBERS THAT SERVE ON THE HOUSTON FIRST BOARD THAT REPRESENT, UH, THE COUNCIL BODY, COUNCIL MEMBER MARTINEZ, AND COUNCIL MEMBER CARTER.
UM, SO ANYTIME THAT, UM, YOU OR YOUR MEMBERS HAVE CONCERNS, I WOULD HOPE THAT THOSE CONVERSATIONS WOULD NOT ONLY HAPPEN WITH ALL OF THE COUNCIL MEMBERS, BUT SPECIFICALLY WITH THEM BECAUSE THEY ARE IN THOSE MEETINGS AND CAN GET YOU THE INFORMATION THAT YOU NEED FROM THOSE MEETINGS.
IT IS NOT THE INTENT TO KEEP ANY INFORMATION FROM YOU.
IF THAT IS HAPPENING, WE NEED TO KNOW THAT.
UM, AND SO I HOPE THAT YOU WOULD, UM, LET US KNOW THAT SPECIFICALLY TO OUR TWO REPRESENTATIVES, UH, ON THE HOUSTON FIRST BOARD.
UH, WE WILL DEFINITELY KEEP PUSHING TO MAKE SURE THAT THE INFORMATION THAT YOU'RE LOOKING FOR WE CAN SHARE WITH YOU.
UM, AND THEN I ALSO, UM, I DON'T KNOW HOW HOW IT WORKS WITH YOUR NEGOTIATING, BUT UM, FROM WHAT I HEAR FOLKS ARE CURRENTLY MAKING 1650, UH, WHAT WHAT'S THE, WHAT'S THE ASK NOW? SO WE HAVE ASKED FOR A $23 RATE, OKAY? OKAY.
FOR IT TO BE THE BOTTOM RATE AT THE HOTEL STARTING YEAR ONE.
WE HAVE SET THE TABLE, CAN YOU AFFORD IT? YOU HAVE, AND THEY'VE NOT ARGUED, DEBATED THAT.
SO THAT'S WHAT WE'RE ARGUING ON THE WAGES.
AND THEN THERE ARE OTHER ISSUES MIXED IN THERE, RIGHT? LIKE THE HOURS AND OTHER THINGS THAT ARE PART OF IT.
IS IT, IS IT, UM, FAIR TO SAY WHERE WE ARE NOW WITH THE RATE CAN LEGALLY, CAN THEY TALK ABOUT THE RATE IN PUBLIC WHERE THE HILTON IS? HOW FAR ARE WE APART? I THINK THAT, THAT WE NEED TO FIGURE OUT WHERE THE SWEET SPOT IS.
HOW FAR APART ARE WE WITH THE NEGOTIATIONS? WE ARE QUITE A WAYS APART.
HILTON WAS PROPOSING A DOLLAR NOT EVEN RETROACTIVE TO THE EXPIRATION OF THE CONTRACT, WHICH IS JUST, SO YOU'RE, HILTON WAS OFFERING 1750 $1, $1 RETRO, NOT EVEN RETRO UPON RATIFICATION AND 75 CENTS IN JANUARY AND 50 CENTS EVERY SIX MONTHS, WHICH TO BE CLEAR IS COMPARABLE IF NOT LESS.
WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE OVERALL CONTRACT, THEN WHAT WE SETTLE FOR ON A TWO YEAR EXTENSION COMING OUT OF THE PANDEMIC WHEN THE HOTEL WAS STILL STRUGGLING.
SO IN ESSENCE, THEY HAVE MADE THESE WORKERS STRIKE TO MAKE A PROPOSAL THAT'S COMPARABLE TO WHAT WE GOT DURING THE PANDEMIC COMING OUT OF THE PANDEMIC.
SO THIS IS PART OF A TWO YEAR EXTENSION AND THEY HAVE MADE THEM STRIKE AND WHERE THEY'RE AT IS COMPARABLE, WHERE THEY WERE COMING OUT OF THE PANDEMIC WHEN THE INDUSTRY WASN'T EVEN AS STRONG.
SO RIGHT NOW THE HILTON IS AT 1750 AND YOUR, YOUR ASK IS $23.
THEY'RE MAKING PROPOSING 1650 NOW.
BUT IT'S NOT EVEN RETROACTIVE.
THAT DOLLAR'S NOT EVEN RETROACTIVE, WHICH GENERALLY IN NEGOTIATIONS YOU GET TO RAISE RETRO TO THE EXPIRATION DATE.
I THINK THAT WE, WE, THAT'S HELPFUL INFORMATION TO THE COUNCIL, UM, TO KIND OF KNOW WHERE WE ARE AND WHERE WE CAN, UM, ACTUALLY LAND.
WE'VE GOT TO FIND THE SWEET SPOT FOR IT.
UM, MAYOR, I DON'T KNOW IF YOU HAVE SOME ADDITIONAL INFORMATION AS WE ARE NOT AT THE NEGOTIATING TABLE, BUT WE DO WANT TO ENCOURAGE, UM, A, A RESOLUTION THAT WE CAN ALL BE HAPPY FOR.
WE WANT THE HILTON TO BE, UM, OUR, OUR SHINING JEWEL.
AND WE KNOW THAT IT TAKES, UM, PEOPLE IN OUR CITY TO MAKE THAT HAPPEN.
UH, AND WE WANNA GET TO THE SWEET SPOT OF, UM, THE WAGES THAT YOU'RE ASKING FOR AND CAN LIVE ON.
UM, AND, AND THAT WHAT THE, UM, HOTEL WILL AGREE TO AWARD TO OUR EMPLOYEES.
MAY, MAY I SAY SOMETHING VERY GOOD.
MAY, MAY I SAY SOMETHING? YEAH, GO AHEAD.
NO, IT'S, SO JUST TO BE CLEAR, HILTON'S CAME TO THE TABLE.
WE HAVE 58 PO PROPOSALS, SOME OF WHICH WERE SMALL, IS CHANGED FROM FAX TO EMAIL.
[01:20:01]
THEY REJECTED WITHOUT A COUNTER PROPOSAL.WE'RE SAYING, NO, BUT WE'RE GONNA COUNTER SOMETHING.
THEY REJECTED VERY SIMPLE PROPOSALS BASED ON SENIORITY.
THE HILTON IN THAT HOTEL, THERE WAS A MANAGER IN THE KITCHEN.
WE TALK ABOUT RESPECT, AND I WILL SAY THIS IN FRONT OF THEM.
THERE WAS A MANAGER THAT WALKED IN AND TOLD PEOPLE, YOU CAN'T SPEAK IN ANY OTHER LANG.
YOU CAN'T SPEAK IN SPANISH AMONGST YOURSELVES.
THAT'S JUST, AND WE SAID, AND THEN THEY CAME BACK AND SAID, YEP, THAT WASN'T A POLICY.
WE TOLD THE MANAGER NOT TO DO THAT.
WE QUESTIONED, THAT'S EVEN LEGAL.
AND THEN WE HAD A VERY SIMPLE PROPOSAL TO THEM, OKAY, ABOUT RESPECT, ABOUT ACKNOWLEDGING THE VALUE OF PEOPLE AND, AND ALLOWING THEM, IT'S ACKNOWLEDGES THAT ENGLISH IS THE LANGUAGE YOU SPEAK WITH THE CUSTOMER, AND THEY DIDN'T EVEN WANT TO AGREE TO THAT.
THEY AGREED TO IT LATER ON IN ANOTHER PROPOSAL WE HAVE AROUND IMMIGRATION.
BUT THE SIMPLE THING OF RESPECT, SEE, I HOPE YOU UNDERSTAND WHY THEY'RE OUT HERE.
'CAUSE THEY DIDN'T EVEN BOTHER TO SAY, I'M SORRY.
THEY SAID TO THEM, AH, MOVE ON.
HOW WOULD YOU FEEL? HOW WOULD YOU REACT? THEY, THEY ARE, THEY ARE DOING ALL KINDS OF THINGS IN THAT HOTEL AS AN EXAMPLE.
LASHAY, AFTER 18 YEARS, WHAT HAPPENED TO YOU? WHAT DID THEY DO? I HAD TO GO OUT FOR A TOTAL KNEE REPLACEMENT AND THEY WANTED TO TAKE MY JOB AND TAKE MY INSURANCE, AND MY JOB WASN'T PROTECTED.
LET'S BE CLEAR, THEY FIRED LASHAY.
THE UNION HAD TO FILE A GRIEVANCE TO BRING HER BACK TO WORK AFTER 18 YEARS.
SHE HURT HER KNEE, THEY FIRED HER.
THE REASON THEY FIRED HER, WE HAD TO FILE A GRIEVANCE.
IS THOSE THE DEAL WITH THE LABORERS? SAID NO.
TO SAY, WE'RE NOT GONNA LET YOU FIRE HER BECAUSE YOU'VE BEEN THERE 18 YEARS AND HURT HER KNEE AND WE BROUGHT HER BACK TO WORK.
SO HILTON MAY BE A GOOD THING TO DO IS, AND BRING HOUSTON FIRST TOO.
I'M NOT AFRAID TO TELL THEM THE TRUTH.
SO WE DO HAVE A COUPLE OF OTHER COUNCIL MEMBERS IN Q THAT, SORRY, I JUST WANTED WANT TO ADDRESS YOU AND WE WANNA, WE WANNA BE ABLE TO HEAR EVERYONE THAT WANTS TO SPEAK.
WELL, THANKS FOR COMING AND THANKS TO ALL OF YOU FOR COMING AND I RESPECT YOU AND THE DIGNITY OF WORK IS SO IMPORTANT.
AND I WANNA BETTER UNDERSTAND THE HOURS.
SEVERAL OF THE SPEAKERS SPOKE ABOUT HOURS.
LIKE THEY, THEY CAN'T GET THEIR HOURS.
WILL YOU? I KIND OF REMEMBER THE HEALTHCARE FIGHT WHEN, WHEN THAT WAS GOING ON.
CAN YOU TALK TO ME ABOUT HOW THAT WORKS? LIKE, YOU THINK YOU'RE GETTING EIGHT HOURS, BUT YOU ONLY GET FOUR HOURS.
THAT'S WHERE WHAT THEY DO IS THEY WILL CALL YOU AND YOU HAVE YOUR SCHEDULE, AND FOR THE MOST PART YOU HAVE YOUR SCHEDULED HOURS, BUT THEN THEY TRY AND SEND YOU HOME EARLY.
AND WHAT THEY'LL DO IS THEY'LL ADD MORE WORK TO THE PEOPLE THAT ARE LEFT.
SO THAT'S, THAT'S ONE OF THE WAYS, IN SOME WAYS, THEY JUST SCHEDULE 'EM SHORT HOURS.
SO WE HAVE TO FIGHT ABOUT THAT.
BUT THAT'S ONE OF THE WAYS THINGS WE ARE FIGHTING ABOUT IN THE CONTRACT.
AND YOUR INFORMATION PROVIDED WITHOUT YOU UNDER A CONTRACT.
WE ARE THE CONTRACT'S EXPIRED.
NOW QUESTION YOU MENTIONED ABOUT THE DOLLAR AMOUNT, AND I'M JUST FOR INFORMATION AROUND THE COUNCIL, YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT A DOLLAR AMOUNT THAT YOU'RE ASKING FOR A NEGOTIATIONAL PART.
YOU ALSO INDICATED HOW MUCH MONEY THE HOTEL MAKES OR HAVE MADE.
DO THAT NUMBER, YOU'RE TALKING AN ANNUAL NUMBER EVERY TWO YEARS, THREE YEARS.
WHAT, WHAT, WHAT ARE YOU COMPARING THE ASK TO? I'M SORRY.
THE ASK FOR THE RAISE, RIGHT? WHAT? YEAH.
WELL, WE THINK THE HILTON HAS FALLEN BEHIND, JUST TO BE CLEAR, YOU KNOW, THEY'VE AGREED IN OTHER CITIES IN TEXAS TO SIGNIFICANT RAISES LIKE THIS.
THEY'VE DONE THAT IN OTHER CITIES.
AND THEN HERE THEY COME AND COMPARE TO A HOTEL.
JUST TO BE CLEAR, I NEGOTIATED A CONTRACT IN AUSTIN IN THE HILTON, SAME CONVENTION CENTER HOTEL.
AND THEY WENT FROM 15 TO 23 YEARS AGO, THEY WENT $5.
SO MY QUESTION, THEY WENT $5, BUT I ASKED HILTON, WHAT'S THE DIFFERENCE? OH NO, IT'S A DIFFERENT, AND IT'S, WELL, I GUESS RIGHT HERE MY QUESTION I WAS ASKING IN REGARDS TO YOU WAS THAT YOU, YOU MADE A COMPARISON AS WE ARE LEARNING.
[01:25:01]
WHEN, WHEN MAYOR PRO TEM ASKED YOU, WHAT WAS YOUR ASK? AND YOU INDICATED, BUT YOU ALSO EARLIER INDICATED HOW MUCH MONEY THAT THE HILTON MADE YOU.YOU, YOU QUOTED A NUMBER, RIGHT? YEAH.
SO, SO, SO EXACTLY IT WAS REVENUE.
SO I'M SAYING IS THAT, WAS THAT A ANNUAL REVENUE AMOUNT YOU WERE SPEAKING ABOUT? OR AN OVER A PERIOD OF TIME? I, WE, IT'S NOT, THIS IS NOTHING WITH HOUSTON FIRST, WE DON'T HAVE THE EXACT REVENUE DATA.
WE KNOW THEY HAVE BEEN SUBSTANTIALLY PROFITABLE.
IN THE TENS OF MILLIONS OF DOLLARS SURE.
I CAN'T GIVE YOU THE EXACT NUMBER BECAUSE IT'S NOT TOTALLY OUT THERE.
SO THERE IS NO WAY THAT THEY ABSOLUTELY CAN AFFORD TO DO THAT RAISE AND NOT MISS A BEAT.
THAT WAS THE REASON FOR MY QUESTION.
I'M, YOU SEE WHAT I'M SAYING? YEAH.
THAT WAS THE REASON WHY I WAS ASKING THEIR REVENUE.
WE'RE TALKING ABOUT YEARLY REVENUE.
AND THAT'S WHY I WAS GETTING IT FROM MY INFORMATION TO MAKE THE POINT THAT YOU ASKED THE, THE FOUR THINGS.
AND THE PUBLIC MEETING AND THAT PROCESS.
AND THAT'S THE REASON WHY I WAS ASKING THOSE QUESTIONS.
IF THEY'RE NOT PROVIDING YOU WITH WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW IN ORDER OF PROFIT AND THAT TYPE OF THING, IN ORDER TO MAKE YOUR CASE OR MAKE REACH THE CAUSE OF YOUR CASE, BECAUSE IT WOULD HAVE TO BE PROFIT VERSUS EXPENDITURES VERSUS OTHER, YOU KNOW, YOU KNOW WHAT I'M SAYING? ABSOLUTELY.
AND WE SAID THAT AT THE TABLE.
NOW THEY HAVE NOT, AND THIS WAS, HOUSTON FIRST HAS NOT GIVEN US, EVEN THE OPERATING AGREEMENT IS SO REDACTED.
YOU WOULD THINK IT WAS A CIA DOCUMENT.
IF YOU LOOK AT THE OPERATING AGREEMENT, WHAT THEY GIVE US.
IT'S ONE OF THOSE DOCUMENTS YOU GET SEE ON C NNN THAT THEY, THE FBI GAVE OUT SOME REDACTED DOCUMENT.
SO AS FAR AS HOW MUCH THEY MAKE, I SAID TO AT THE TABLE, TO THE NEGOTIATOR, I SAID, IF AT ANY POINT IN TIME YOU FEEL LIKE THIS IS GOING ABOVE AND BEYOND WHAT YOUR PROFIT LEVEL IS, I'M WELCOME TO, WE'RE WELCOME TO HEAR THAT.
WE'LL OPEN TO YOU COME AND SAY THAT.
HE SAID HE DUCKED THE QUESTION.
BECAUSE WE'VE HEARD NUMBERS OKAY.
INSIDE THAT HOTEL THAT ARE SUBSTANTIAL THAT THEY MADE HIM PROFIT.
SO, AND THESE WORKERS AREN'T ASKING FOR A TON.
THEY'RE JUST ACTUALLY ENOUGH TO MAKE A LIVING.
NO, WE, WE SUPPORT, I I WANT TO SAY THAT I COMMEND ALL OF THOSE THAT HERE, UM, TO STAND FOR WHAT YOU BELIEVE AND WHAT YOU FEEL IS SO, BUT IN THE PROCESS THAT INFORMATION WOULD BE VALID.
WE WOULD LOVE TO SEE THEIR PROFITS.
SO, AND IF, AND IF IT WAS SOMETHING THEY SAID WOULD HURT THE PROBLEM, WE WOULD HEAR IT.
WE WOULD LOVE TO SEE THEIR PROFITS.
REALLY, THANK, THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE.
UH, OBVIOUSLY AS A UNION MEMBER, YOU KNOW WHERE MY HEART AND MY PASSION IS.
I EXPECT ALL THE PARTIES TO DEAL IN GOOD FAITH.
I KNOW NO ONE WITH HILTON, BUT I DO THINK IT WOULD BE BENEFICIAL.
FIRST OF ALL, I DON'T THINK NEGOTIATING IN PUBLIC'S GONNA GET IT DONE.
AND ALL DUE RESPECT TO OUR DISCUSSION, IT'S DIFFICULT FOR US TO APPRECIATE YOUR NEGOTIATIONS BECAUSE WE DON'T KNOW THE HISTORY OF YOU NOT HERE IN HILTON.
I HAVE VISITED WITH YOU IN YEARS PAST, CERTAINLY WATCHED THE STRIKE IN LAS VEGAS.
SO THERE'S A LOT OF PERSONAL FEELINGS AND EXPERIENCE THAT GOES INTO YOUR JOB AND CERTAINLY YOUR INTERNATIONAL PRESIDENT.
I THINK IT WOULD BE BENEFICIAL IF YOU'RE GONNA BRING UP THAT THERE'S BEEN 58 PROPOSALS MADE, AND I THINK YOU SAID THEY IMMEDIATELY DISCORDED 39.
I THINK IT WOULD HELP THIS COUNCIL IF WE SAW WHAT THE 58 PROPOSALS ARE.
IT WOULD START EDUCATING US TO AT LEAST SOME OF THE ISSUES THAT ARE BEYOND THE FINANCIAL PICTURE.
SO I I WOULD WELCOME SEEING IT, UH, AS WE GO FORWARD.
I, I WOULD ASK YOU, WHY DID YOU SET A 10 DAY STRIKE? I, UH, HAVE BEEN AROUND LABOR ENOUGH AND, AND PARTICIPATING IN STRIKES.
WHAT WAS THE NATURE OF SAYING 10 DAYS, WHICH I UNDERSTAND NOW YOU'VE EXTENDED 10 DAYS, BUT I DON'T UNDERSTAND HOW YOU PUT A TIMELINE ON THE STRIKE.
UH, WHAT, WHAT IMPACT THAT HAS, NOT ONLY FOR YOUR MEMBERS, BUT THE NEGOTIATIONS.
SO, UH, AND THANK YOU FOR THAT.
THERE'S A PRESS RELEASE ON THAT.
'CAUSE HILTON HAS DECIDED NOT TO MAKE THE, UM, LOOK,
[01:30:01]
STRIKES ARE HARD, SIR.THESE ARE PEOPLE DON'T HAVE A LOT OF MONEY.
AND WE HAVE A STRIKE FUND AND WE'RE HELPING THEM OUT.
BUT IT'S HARD, IT'S REALLY HARD ON PEOPLE.
AND I WANT TO JUST SAY, WHEN WE TALK ABOUT COURAGE AND HEROES, SURE.
'CAUSE THESE ARE PEOPLE THAT ARE PUTTING IT ON THE LINE THAT DON'T HAVE A LOT OF MONEY.
AND THERE WAS A, I DON'T WANT TO GET INTO ALL THE REASONS FOR IT, BUT GENERALLY, IF A PARTY IS BARGAINING, GOOD FAITH, YOU WOULD THINK IF THERE'S A NINE DAY STRIKE, THEY WOULD REACH OUT AND SAY, LET'S TRY AND GET IT DONE.
THAT MIGHT BE AN IMPETUS TO GET IT DONE.
HILTON NEVER FOLLOWED UP TILL ONE TIME AFTER WE ASKED.
SO TO BE FRANK, I'M GONNA JUST BE FRANK.
IT DOESN'T SEEM LIKE THEY'RE VERY WORRIED ABOUT WHAT HAPPENS, THE IMPACT ON THIS CITY, ON YOUR HOTEL AND YOUR CONVENTION.
THEY'RE WORRIED ABOUT THEMSELVES BECAUSE THEY HAD ONE CONVERSATION AND THEY MOVED ON A COUPLE OF SMALL PROPOSALS, A LITTLE BIT OF THE MONEY, AND THEN I COUNTER BACK WITH SEVERAL, I WITHDREW SOME PROPOSALS.
I HAVE THE DOCUMENTS, SO I WANNA BARGAIN.
WE WANNA GET TO A DEAL WITH HILTON.
OKAY? WE WANNA GET TO A DEAL WITH HILTON.
ARE YOU THE PRIMARY NEGOTIATOR? REALLY? THE, THEY DON'T WANNA DANCE.
THEY WANNA BE A DANCE PARTNER.
THEY WANNA DO THEIR OWN THING.
ARE YOU THE PRIMARY NEGOTIATOR OR IS THE INTERNATIONAL UNION? I AM.
WELL SEND US THOSE PROPOSALS THAT YOU SAID THEY DIDN'T TAKE SERIOUS.
AND, UH, WE'LL, UH, WE'LL STAY IN CONTACT.
THANK YOU FOR ALL YOUR MEMBERS BEING HERE.
IT'S A HARDSHIP AND IT SPEAKS TO YOUR, YOUR NEEDS TO MAKE THE SACRIFICES THAT YOU HAVE.
SO, GOOD LUCK, UM, FROM ALL OF US.
THANK YOU ROY HIRSCH TO BE FOLLOWED BY AMY ERICKSON.
GOOD AFTERNOON, MAYOR WHITMEYER.
I'M A MEMBER OF THE PEOPLE FOR POLK.
THIS IS UNSCRIPTED, SO IT'S GONNA MAKE MY COMMENT RUN A LITTLE BIT LONGER, BUT I HAVE TO, I HAVE TO MAKE A STATEMENT AS TO THE COMMONALITY OF THE THREAD AND THE PURPOSE THAT RUNS THROUGH OUR CAUSE.
AND THE PEOPLE THAT YOU JUST HEARD FROM, I CAN ONLY BEGIN TO VENTURE
[01:35:01]
HOW MANY OF THEM ACCESS THEIR JOBS THROUGH METRO LINE 40 41 AND HOW MUCH OF A HARDSHIP THE CLOSURE OF POLK STREET IS GOING TO ADD TO THEIR SITUATIONS.THANK YOU FOR CONTINUING TO MEET WITH A, OUR ADVOCATES FOR POLK STREET AND THE FUTURE OF HOUSTON DISEASE STAND.
THIS ISN'T JUST ABOUT POLK STREET, IT'S ALSO ABOUT LEGACY.
MAYOR WHITMEYER, YOU HAVE A RARE OPPORTUNITY TO RESHAPE HOW HOUSTON CONNECTS PHYSICALLY AND POLITICALLY.
THIS COULD BE YOUR LEGACY PROJECT, A SYMBOL OF EQUITABLE INFRASTRUCTURE, ECONOMIC VITALITY, AND COMMUNITY PRIDE.
HOUSTON FIRST IS JEOPARDIZING THAT VISION, THEIR REFUSAL TO DESIGN THE GRB TO MAINTAIN POLK STREET ISN'T JUST A BAD PLAN.
IT CREATES UNNECESSARY CONTROVERSY AND UNDERLINES AND, UH, UNDERMINES PUBLIC TRUST.
THIS CLOSURE IS NOT WANTED, IT IS NOT NEEDED, AND IT IS NOT ALIGNED WITH THE VALUES YOU HAVE CHAMPIONED.
PEOPLE FOR POLK HAVE BROUGHT FORWARD REAL SOLUTIONS.
WE'VE SHOWN HOW POLK CAN REMAIN OPEN, UH, WHILE STILL ENHANCING THE CONVENTION DISTRICT.
UM, WE'VE RALLIED SUPPORT FROM ACROSS THE CITY.
AND NEXT WEEK'S EVENING SESSION OVER 50.
HOUSTONIANS WILL SHOW THAT SUPPORT THOSE PEOPLE WHO UNDERSTAND WHY POLK STREET MATTERS AND, AND, UH, AND, AND IT MORE THAN JUST AN EAST END ISSUE.
THE CHORUS OF CONCERN FROM COMMUNITY LEADERS TO ELECTED OFFIC OFFICIALS IS GROWING.
LAST SUNDAY, STATE REPRESENTATIVE YOLANDA JONES MET WITH US FOR SEVERAL HOURS TO BRAINSTORM, STRATEGIZE, AND OFFER HER SUPPORT, REFLECTING THE LEGITIMACY OF OUR CAUSE AND THE URGENCY OF THIS MOMENT.
SHE STANDS WITH US, OUR CHARGE.
HOUSTON FIRST MUST PAUSE THEIR WORK, ESTABLISH A HEALTHY, UH, TWO-WAY DIALOGUE WITH THE COMMUNITY, AND FIND A VIABLE, UH, WIN-WIN SOLUTION FOR POLK MAYOR WHITMEYER.
YOU CAN MAKE THAT ANNOUNCEMENT THIS WEEK EARNING ENORMOUS CREDIBILITY AND SUPPORT.
WHEN CONCERNS AROSE AROUND THE ASTROS PARTNERSHIP FOR THE HERMAN PARK GOLF COURSE, YOU AND COUNCIL MEMBER EVAN CHAZZ, LISTEN, YOU MADE SPACE FOR COMMUNITY VOICES AND YOU PAUSED THE PROCESS THAT WAS REAL LEADERSHIP.
MAKE THIS LEGACY ONE THAT WE CAN ALL BE PROUD OF.
NEXT AMY ERICKSON TO BE FOLLOWED BY WILL JOHNSON.
THANK YOU MAYOR AND COUNCIL MEMBERS FOR THE TIME TO SPEAK TODAY.
I'LL BEGIN BY EXPRESSING SOLIDARITY WITH UNITE HERE, LOCAL 23 WORKERS AND THEIR NEGOTIATIONS AND THEIR CALL FOR REFORM AND ACCOUNTABILITY AT HOUSTON.
FIRST, LOCAL GOVERNMENT CORPORATIONS HOLD GREAT POWER, BUT WITH THAT POWER MUST COME RESPONSIBILITY AND ACCOUNTABILITY TO THEIR WORKERS, TO THIS COUNCIL, AND TO EVERY HOUSTONIAN IN A STATE THAT PRIDES ITSELF ON A TRADITION OF HOSPITALITY, WE SHOULD BE LEADING THE WAY AND UPLIFTING AND SUPPORTING THESE WORKERS.
YOU HEARD FROM, UM, BEFORE ANY ABANDONMENT VOTE HAS EVEN COME BEFORE YOU.
HOUSTON FIRST HAS ALREADY MOVED FORWARD WITH STREET CLOSURES TO CONSTRUCT A $40 MILLION PARKING GARAGE ON BELL STREET.
DID YOU KNOW THAT THEIR PLAN INCLUDES DEMOLISHING THE PERFECTLY FUNCTIONAL HILTON AMERICA'S GARAGE, A GARAGE THAT ACTUALLY HAS MORE SPACES THAN THE ONE THEY'RE BUILDING THE GREET AND NEGLIGENCE WITH THESE PUBLIC DOLLARS SHOULD ALARM ALL OF US, ESPECIALLY AS HOUSTON FIRST ENTERS A $2 BILLION EXPANSION.
CONSIDER THE HOTEL OCCUPANCY TAX THAT FUNDS THIS PROJECT THROUGH SB 10 57.
HOT DOLLARS DO NOT HAVE TO GO SOLELY TO A CONVENTION EXPANSION.
THOSE DOLLARS CAN FUND ART PROJECTS THAT PROMOTE TOURISM AND STRENGTHEN OUR CONVENTION AND HOSPITALITY INDUSTRIES AS WELL.
WHILE HOUSTON FIRST HAVE EXCLUSIVE ACCESS TO THIS REVENUE STREAM, WHILE ARTS AND CULTURAL ORGANIZATIONS
[01:40:01]
ACROSS THE CITY ARE STARVED FOR THE NEXT 30 YEARS AT THE MARCH 6TH PRESS CONFERENCE, HOUSTON FIRST CEO TOUTED A CONVENTION DISTRICT TRANSFORMATION MASTER PLAN.THEIR WEBSITE REFERENCES IT AND HE CITES IT IN THE MEDIA.
BUT WHERE IS IT? THE ONLY MASTER PLAN AVAILABLE DATED 2011 ACTUALLY PRESERVES ACCESS ON POLK.
WHERE IS THE UPDATED VERSION AND WHERE IS THE BUDGET? WILL YOU BE ASKED TO APPROVE STREET ABANDONMENTS BEFORE A BUDGET IS EVEN VETTED? IF HOUSTON FIRST OVERRUNS ITS COST.
IT IS THE CITY AND HOUSTON TAXPAYERS THAT WILL BE ON THE HOOK.
OVER THE PAST SEVEN MONTHS OF ADVOCACY, WE'VE CONSISTENTLY ASKED TO SEE ALTERNATIVES THAT PRE PRESERVE POLK AS A VITAL EAST WEST THOROUGHFARE.
HOUSTON FIRST HAS REFUSED TO PROVIDE THOSE.
PLEASE USE YOUR POSITION TO DEMAND A PRESENTATION OF ALTERNATIVES.
THANK YOU TO THE MANY COUNCIL OFFICES WHO'VE MET WITH PEOPLE FOR POLK OVER THE PAST WEEKS REGARDING A COMMUNITY BENEFITS AGREEMENT TIED TO THIS PROJECT.
YOUR INTEREST, YOUR TIME, AND YOUR ADVOCACY MATTER DEEPLY TO US.
WE ASK YOU TODAY, STAND WITH HOUSTONIANS.
MAKE HOUSTON FIRST ACCOUNTABLE.
ASK THE HARD QUESTIONS AND DEMAND REAL ANSWERS.
PLEASE DON'T ALLOW HOUSTON FIRST TO USE PUBLIC DOLLARS TO CAUSE PERMANENT HARM TO COMMUNITIES.
ELIJAH MARKHAM, ED PETIT KADIAN JONES TO BE FOLLOWED BY JESSICA DUGAN.
HELLO, MY NAME IS KADIAN JONES.
I AM HERE, UM, TO DISPLAY MY DISSATISFACTION WITH THE HOUSTON POLICE DEPARTMENT.
I AM THE MOTHER OF RIA RAYSHAWN JONES, WHO TRAGICALLY AND UNEXPECTEDLY PASSED AWAY IN HOUSTON, TEXAS ON JULY THE FIRST 2023.
IT HAS NOW BEEN OVER TWO YEARS, AND I AM STILL SEARCHING FOR ANSWERS FOR MY VERY FIRST INTERACTION WITH THE HOUSTON POLICE DEPARTMENT.
IT WAS CLEAR THAT THEY HAD PREMATURELY CONCLUDED THAT TAM'S DEATH WAS DUE TO A DRUG OVERDOSE.
SINCE THEN, THE COMMUNICATION FROM HPD HAS BEEN INCONSISTENT AND OFTEN CONFLICTING.
ON APRIL THE 10TH OF 2025, I RECEIVED AN EMAIL FROM CHRISTINA NOACK, THE DEPUTY INSPECTOR GENERAL OF OFFICE OF POLICE AND REFORM AND ACCOUNTABILITY, STATING THAT HHPD HAD OFFICIALLY CLASSIFIED TOM'S DEATH AS A DRUG OVERDOSE, AND THAT NO FURTHER INVESTIGATION WOULD BE CONDUCTED DUE TO THE LACK OF ADDITIONAL EVIDENCE.
HOWEVER, AFTER I FILED A INTERNAL A COMPLAINT WITH THE INTERNAL AFFAIRS, I RECEIVED A LETTER ON JUNE 26TH, 2025 FROM SERGEANT VO INDICATING THAT DUE TO THE NATURE OF THE SUBSTANCE INVOLVED, FURTHER INVESTIGATION WAS WARRANTED.
THESE TWO STATEMENTS DIRECTLY CONTRADICT EACH OTHER.
I AM NOT SEEKING TO PLACE BLAME.
I AM SIMPLY ASKING FOR THE TRUTH.
MY FAMILY DESERVES TRANSPARENCY AND TAMYA DESERVES A THOROUGH AND RESPECTFUL INVESTIGATION REGARDLESS OF ANYONE'S PERSONAL OPINION ABOUT HER.
SHE WAS A DAUGHTER, A SISTER, AND AN AUNT.
THE HOUSTON POLICE DEPARTMENT HAS FAILED TREMENDOUSLY.
IN IS HANDLING OF THIS CASE, I AM ASKING FOR ACCOUNTABILITY, CLARITY, AND JUSTICE.
NO OTHER FAMILY MEMBERS SHOULD HAVE TO GO THROUGH WHAT MY FAMILY WENT THROUGH.
THE HOUSTON POLICE DEPARTMENT STILL HAS YET TO CONTACT ME TO ADVISE ME IF THESE STATEMENTS ARE ACTUALLY TRUE.
AS FAR AS IF HER INVESTIGATION IS OPEN, IS STILL AVAIL OPEN.
MY PLEA IS THAT SOMEONE JUST REACHES OUT TO TRY TO ASSIST TO CLARIFY THE CONTRADICTORY STATEMENTS THAT I HAVE RECEIVED.
FIRST LET ME JUST SAY HOW, UM, SORRY I AM FOR YOUR LOSS.
UM, AND SHE WAS A SHINING LIGHT.
UM, I WILL, UM, SEE WHAT WE CAN FIND OUT.
THO THOSE TWO LETTERS ARE CONTRADICTORY.
UM, AND I KNOW AS A MOM YOU WOULD WANT TO HAVE CLOSURE ON WHAT ACTUALLY HAPPENED.
UM, WE CAN, I DON'T, I DON'T KNOW WHO'S HERE WITH HPD.
UH, WE, WE DO HAVE AN HPD OFFICER HERE.
IF YOU'LL TALK WITH, UM, THE HPD OFFICER THAT'S HERE AND SEE IF WE CAN, UM, GET YOU THE ANSWERS THAT YOU NEED.
THANK YOU, UM, FOR YOUR CLOSURE.
UM, AND IF WE CAN'T DO THAT TODAY, IF YOU'LL JUST REACH BACK OUT TO ME, WE'LL TRY TO GET YOU THE ANSWERS THAT YOU'RE LOOKING FOR.
WON'T YOU TALK TO MY OFFICE? REBECCA WILLIAMS. THEY'LL PUT YOU IN CON WELL, SHE'LL FACILITATE YOU TALKING TO AN INVESTIGATOR.
[01:45:02]
JESSICA DUGAN.CAN I HAND THEM OUT? RIGHT OVER HERE.
I AM A MOM TO TWO TWINS THAT ARE, UH, IN KINDERGARTEN THIS YEAR.
THEY JUST STARTED AT HISD, AND ONE OF THEM IS AUTISTIC AND IS GOING THROUGH THE SPECIAL ED PROCESS RIGHT NOW.
UM, I'M HERE TO TALK ABOUT THE HISD TAKEOVER.
UH, I CAME TO YOU GUYS IN, I THINK IT WAS LAST MONTH OR MAYBE LAST, UH, WEEK OF JULY, UH, ASKING FOR YOU TO CALL SUPERINTENDENT MIKE MILES BACK INTO CITY COUNCIL TO, UH, SINCE HIS CONTRACT HAS BEEN EXTENDED, UH, MUCH TO THE, UH, COMMUNITY'S DISMAY.
UM, WE HAVE SOME QUESTIONS, UH, FOR MR. MILES, AND WE'RE HOPING, UH, THAT WE CAN GET SOME ANSWERS.
SO I BROUGHT YOU A LITTLE HOMEWORK, UH,
IT'S JUST A ARTICLE FROM TEXAS MONTHLY THAT WAS RELEASED THIS SUMMER.
AND I THINK IT DOES A REALLY GOOD JOB OF EXPLAINING, UH, A LOT OF OUR, THE DISCREPANCIES BETWEEN WHAT MIKE MILES IS TELLING EVERYONE AND WHAT THE COMMUNITY BELIEVES TO BE TRUE.
UH, AND SO IF YOU, I, IT'S A LITTLE EXTENSIVE AND A LITTLE, IT'S ABOUT STAR SCORES, SO IT'S A LITTLE BORING.
BUT I THINK
SO IF YOU CAN READ IT, AND I'LL COME BACK NEXT WEEK BEFORE HE COMES IN ON WEDNESDAY, AND HAPPY TO DISCUSS FURTHER IF YOU GUYS HAVE ANY QUESTIONS.
UH, BUT I WANTED TO PROVIDE IT TO YOU TODAY.
I ALSO SENT IT TO YOU GUYS IN THE, IN AN EMAIL AS WELL.
AND THEN ON THE FRONT, IT'S JUST MY LITTLE, LIKE, RECAP OF WHAT THE ARTICLE IS ABOUT, WHAT OTHER QUESTIONS WE HAVE, LIKE, UH, THE FACT THAT TEACHER AND STUDENT RETENTION RATES ARE VERY ALARMING SINCE THE TAKEOVER HAS STARTED.
UH, BUT ANYWAY, ALL THAT CAN BE DISCUSSED NEXT WEEK.
I JUST WANTED TO END TODAY WITH A LITTLE STORY.
UM, LIKE I SAID, I'VE BEEN INVOLVED IN THE FIGHT AGAINST THE HS HISD TAKEOVER FOR TWO YEARS.
I GOT INVOLVED BEFORE MY KIDS WERE EVEN AT HISD BECAUSE I WAS SO HORRIFIED BY WHAT I HAD BEEN READING ABOUT IT.
AND WHEN THEY CUT AUTISM SERVICES, THAT'S WHEN I DECIDED TO STEP UP AND START TALKING.
UM, ANYWAY, NOW IT'S BEEN A LITTLE BIT MORE THAN THAT.
WE WENT AND LOBBIED, UH, TOOK THE BIGGEST GROUP TO LOBBY, UH, THE STATE REPS, UH, THIS PAST BEFORE THE SPECIAL SESSION, UH, YOU KNOW, UH, IN THE SPRING.
AND SO WE'RE WORKING REALLY HARD ON THAT.
BUT THERE'S A LOT OF STUFF THAT CITY COUNCILS CAN DO TO HELP FIGHT TAKEOVERS.
AND SO I'VE BEEN RESEARCHING TAKEOVERS OF THE PAST.
AND, UH, ONE OF THE REALLY IMPORTANT ONES IS NEWARK PUB PUBLIC SCHOOLS IN NEW JERSEY.
UH, JUST TO GIVE YOU A LITTLE BACKGROUND AT THE TIME, UM, THE GOVERNOR WAS CHRIS CHRISTIE, THE MAYOR OF NEWARK, WAS, UH, WHO OH YEAH.
AND ALSO THERE, UH, THERE WAS A REALLY IMPORTANT PRINCIPLE THAT, UH, KIND OF HELPED BRIDGE THE GAP BETWEEN THE COMMUNITY AND THE TEACHERS, UH, AND THE CITY COUNCIL TO START WORKING TOGETHER TO RESTORE LOCAL CONTROL.
AND THAT MAN'S NAME IS ROSS BARAKA.
AND, UH, IF YOU'RE THINKING, HUH, MAYBE I, UH, RECOGNIZE THAT NAME.
HE, UH, YOUR, YOUR TIME HAS EXPIRED.
UH, IT'S, I, I'LL WRAP UP HERE.
UH, HE WAS THE FIRST, HE IS NOW MAYOR OF NEWARK, UH, ONE ON FIGHTING THE NEWARK, UH, PUBLIC SCHOOL TAKEOVER.
AND HE WAS THE FIRST MAYOR TO BE ARRESTED BY ICE, UH, DURING THIS ADMINISTRATION.
UM, SO THAT'S WHY THAT NAME MIGHT SOUND FAMILIAR TO SOME OF YOU.
ANYWAY, I JUST THOUGHT IT WAS A STORY OF HOPE AND SHOWS.
IT GOES TO SHOW LIKE HOW WE CAN ALL WORK TOGETHER.
AND SO I HAVE A LOT MORE IDEAS OF HOW WE CAN DO THAT.
BUT I REALLY DO APPRECIATE YOU GUYS BRINGING IN MIKE MILES.
SO I JUST WANTED TO SAY THANKS.
UH, THE MAYOR PROTE CA SIX TATUM.
UM, COLLEAGUES, UH, SUPERINTENDENT MILES WILL BE AT OUR NEXT ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE MEETING ON THE 17TH.
UH, HE DID REACH OUT AND SAY THAT HE WANTED TO GIVE AN UPDATE FROM THE LAST ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE MEETING.
AND SO HE IS SCHEDULED TO BE HERE ON THE 17TH.
UH, IF YOU'D LIKE TO SEND US SOME INFORMATION YOU'D LIKE FOR US TO REVIEW PRIOR TO THE 17TH, YES, PLEASE SEND THOSE TO OUR OFFICES.
AND, UM, I'LL, YOU KNOW, WITH THE STAR SCORES, UH, THERE'S A LOT OF FOLKS IN OUR COMMUNITY THAT CAN EXPLAIN TO EVEN BETTER THAN ME.
SO WE'LL ALL BE HERE NEXT WEEK TO TALK ABOUT IT DURING THE PUBLIC SESSION, AND I'LL MAKE SURE TO EMAIL YOU GUYS BEFOREHAND.
UM, JESSICA, AS A DISTRICT C RESIDENT, I WANNA THANK YOU.
I KNOW YOU'RE STANDING HERE, BUT THERE'S A WHOLE ARMY OF PARENTS BEHIND YOU THAT YOU HAVE BEEN WORKING WITH, UM, THROUGHOUT THE COURSE OF THE TAKEOVER.
SO, I JUST WANNA MAKE SURE YOU KNOW THAT I KNOW THE WORK THAT YOU HAVE PUT IN AND THE TIME YOU HAVE PUT IN, UM, TO THE MAYOR PRO TEMS POINT.
[01:50:01]
IF THERE ARE SPECIFIC QUESTIONS THAT YOU WOULD LIKE ASKED, I KNOW WE'RE GONNA BE THE ONES UP HERE, UM, FOR THAT MEETING.BUT IF ON BEHALF OF RESIDENTS, THERE ARE QUESTIONS THAT Y'ALL WOULD LIKE ASKED, UM, PLEASE SEND THEM TO US.
I CAN'T PROMISE I'M GONNA GET TO EVERY QUESTION.
BUT, UH, YOU HAVE CONTINUED TO SPEAK WITH OUR OFFICE AND PROVIDE INFORMATION, WHICH HAS BEEN VERY HELPFUL, AND WE WANNA MAKE THAT AVAILABLE TO YOU TOO.
AND I'M HOPING THAT, UH, THE ARTICLE CAN GIVE, SHED SOME LIGHT ON SOME OF OUR QUESTIONS, AND SO THAT WAY WHEN I SEND YOU PARTICULAR ONES TO LOOK AT IT MAKES MORE SENSE.
UH, THANK YOU, MA'AM, FOR YOUR PRESENTATION.
IN YOUR OPENING, YOU MENTIONED, UH, AUTISM MM-HMM
THAT YOU HAVE AN ARTISTIC CHILD.
WELL, LET ME GIVE HONOR TO YOU IN REGARD THAT.
SO IS, IS THAT SOMETHING RELEVANT TO WHAT SUPERINTENDENT MILES ARE DOING NOW THAT FOCUSES ON AUTISM? BECAUSE THAT'S ONE OF THE BIGGER, UH, ISSUES THAT I PERSONALLY, UH, HAVE A GRANDSON WHO'S AUTISTIC AND SOME OTHER ISSUES.
SO I'M ALWAYS IN REGARDS TO THAT.
SO DID I HEAR YOU SAY THAT THAT'S AN ELIMINATION OF THOSE RESOURCES? 'CAUSE I'VE HEARD DIFFERENCE, SO I JUST WANTED TO YES, SIR.
AT THE, AT THE BEGINNING OF THE TAKEOVER, UH, THEY ELIMINATED A PROGRAM CALLED AUTISM SERVICES.
AND IT WAS A TRAINING PROGRAM THAT HELPED TEACHERS LEARN ABOUT HOW TO, UM, YOU KNOW, UH, UH, GET TRAINING ON HOW TO DEAL WITH, UH, AUTISTIC KIDS IN A GENERAL ED ENVIRONMENT.
UM, AND AS FAR, AND I WROTE IN MY LITTLE, SO THAT WAS JUST ONE PART.
DIDN'T REMOVE AUTISM, THEY REMOVED IT, IT GOT CUT, THE PROGRAM GOT CUT.
WHAT I MEAN, THE STUDENTS WITHIN THE SCHOOL, THEY STILL HAVE YEAH.
WITHIN HISD? NO, THEY DON'T, THEY DON'T HAVE THAT ANYMORE.
BUT WHAT, UH, THE, THE OTHER ISSUE THAT I, THAT I WROTE ABOUT IS, UH, SPECIAL EDUCATION.
WE GOT A TWO PAGE UPDATE AT THE BEGINNING OF THE TAKEOVER TWO YEARS AGO.
AND IT IS ONE OF THE PRIMARY REASONS THAT, UH, THE TAKEOVER WILL, YOU KNOW, WHEN WE KNOW IT WILL END, IS TO FIX SPECIAL EDUCATION.
MIKE MILES HAS PROVIDED US WITH A TWO PAGE UPDATE TWO YEARS AGO, AND SINCE THEN IT'S BEEN NOTHING.
THEY'VE TALKED ABOUT A PARENT COMMITTEE, WHICH I WOULD BE HAPPY TO BE ON, YOU KNOW, SO I DON'T HAVE TO COME HERE SO MUCH, AND I CAN JUST TALK ABOUT THAT.
BUT, UH, THERE'S BEEN NO MOVEMENT ABOUT A PARENT COMMITTEE.
AND, UH, AS FAR AS I I, I OFTEN GO TO THE, UM, UH, BOARD OF MANAGERS MEETINGS TO EXPRESS MY CONCERNS.
AND, UH, THERE HAS BEEN NO MOVEMENT FROM ANY OF THE BOARD MEMBERS TO, UH, YOU KNOW, ENGAGE IN THIS INFORMATION.
STEPHANIE CRUZ TO BE FOLLOWED BY LAUREN FIELDER.
GOOD AFTERNOON, MAYOR WHITMEYER AND COUNCIL MEMBERS.
UM, MY NAME IS STEPHANIE CRUZ.
I'M A NATIVE HOUSTONIAN AND A MOM OF TWO AND A MEMBER OF OUR BRIAR MEADOW, HOA BOARD.
AND I ALSO WORK FULL-TIME, THOUGH AT TIMES ADVOCATING FOR MY NEIGHBORHOOD IS FEELING LIKE A FULL-TIME JOB.
I APOLOGIZE FOR READING FROM MY NOTES, BUT I WANNA MAKE SURE THAT I STAY WITHIN MY TIME AND COMMUNICATE CLEARLY ON BEHALF OF OUR NEIGHBORHOOD.
OUR NEIGHBORHOOD HAS TWO MAJOR COMPLAINTS OR CONCERNS FOR TODAY, WHICH INCLUDE CONSTRUCTION SURROUNDING OUR NEIGHBORHOOD AND FLOODING.
RICHMOND AVENUE HAS BEEN UNDER CONSTRUCTION FOR A LONG TIME, BUT WHEN THE EAST AND WEST ENDS OF OUR NEIGHBORHOOD WERE COMPLETED, BRIAR MEADOW HAS SKIPPED OVER UNTIL NOW.
FINALLY, BEGINNING EARLIER THIS YEAR, THE WORK, WHICH IS RESURFACING ASPHALT, REPLACING SOME CURBS AND STORM STORM INLETS AND RES STRIPING IS LIMITED IN SCOPE AND DOES NOT MEET OUR LONG-TERM INFRASTRUCTURE NEEDS.
BUT EVEN WITH THAT SMALLER SCOPE, THE PROJECT FROM DUNVILLE TO HILLCROFT HAS DRAGGED ON FOR MORE THAN SIX MONTHS.
AND INSTEAD OF FINISHING RICHMOND FIRST, THAT SAME CONTRACTOR HAS NOW OPENED UP STONY BROOK, WHICH IS THE MAIN NORTH TO SOUTH ARTERY THROUGH OUR NEIGHBORHOOD, UM, CAUSING ADDITIONAL TRAFFIC CONCERNS AND ISSUES WITH LOW FAITH THAT THEY'LL BE ABLE TO COMPLETE THE PROJECT IN A TIMELY MANNER.
AT THE SAME TIME, METRO HAS REDUCED RICHMOND TO A SINGLE LANE OR HILLCROFT TO A SINGLE LANE EACH WAY FROM WESTHEIMER TO WEST PARK.
THE RESULT IS A PERFECT STORM OF GRIDLOCK FOR OUR NEIGHBORHOOD AND FOR A PORTION OF OUR NEIGHBORHOOD THAT LIES BETWEEN HILLCROFT, STONY BROOK AND RICHMOND.
THAT MEANS ALL THREE SIDES OF OUR NEIGHBORHOOD ARE BLOCKED.
UM, THERE ARE DAYS WHERE THE ACCESS POINTS ARE BLOCKED OR SIGNIFICANTLY RESTRICTED, AND WHEN YOU DO GET OUT OF THE NEIGHBORHOOD, YOU CAN ONLY GET INTO ONE LANE AND YOU'RE LEFT WONDERING WHEN YOU'RE COMING HOME, WHICH WAY TO GO, OR WHICH ONE WILL ACTUALLY BE OPEN ON THAT DAY.
WITH POOR SIGNAGE, YOU DON'T KNOW WHICH WAY TO GO.
AND SO YOU'LL JUST CIRCLE UNTIL YOU FIND AN OPEN ENTRANCE.
ONE MORNING YOU MIGHT NEED 15 MINUTES TO GET TO YOUR DESTINATION, AND THE NEXT DAY IT COULD TAKE AN HOUR.
[01:55:01]
AT EIGHT 30, THE HILLCROFT IN RICHMOND INTERSECTION WAS CLOSED WITH ALL TRAFFIC BEING FORCED ONTO A SINGLE LANE OF HILLCROFT.A SITUATION THAT MAKES TENSIONS RUN HIGH HAS PEOPLE ACTING IRRATIONALLY AND CREATES AN UNSAFE SITUATION FOR COMMUTERS, NEIGHBORS, AND THOUSANDS OF STUDENTS WHO TRAVEL TO AND FROM WISDOM EACH AND EVERY DAY.
WE ARE GRATEFUL FOR YOUR INVESTMENTS IN INFRASTRUCTURE, AND WE UNDERSTAND CONSTRUCTION CAN BE INCONVENIENT, BUT OUR ASK IS NOT THAT THE PROJECTS GET FINISHED OVERNIGHT, OR EVEN THAT THEY MAINTAIN A REASONABLY CLEAN SITE.
WE'VE BEEN PATIENT, BUT WE DO ASK THAT THE CITY SUPPORT, COORDINATION, COMMUNICATION, AND RESOURCES TO REDUCE THE UNSAFE CHALLENGES AND CHAOS THAT RESIDENTS ARE NOW FACING RIGHT NOW.
EVERY AGENCY POINTS TO SOMEONE ELSE AND ACCOUNTABILITY IS ABSENT.
WE'VE GOT THE LIST OF PEOPLE AND PLAYERS FOR EACH PROJECT, BUT IT DOESN'T MATTER WHO'S DOING WHAT PROJECT, WHEN NOBODY WANTS TO HOLD THE HOLE.
SO THAT'S OUR CONSTRUCTION CHALLENGE.
SIMILARLY, WE HAVE MAJOR ISSUES WITH DRAINAGE THAT HAVE BEEN KNOWN FOR YEARS.
UM, AFTER HARVEY, THE CITY IDENTIFIED A $17 MILLION DRAINAGE AND PAVING PROJECT, PROJECT M DASH 4 1 0 0 0 9 DASH 0 0 1, UM, TO PROTECT OUR HOMES AND OUR COMMUNITY.
THAT PROJECT WAS CANCELED AND OUR NEIGHBORHOOD NOW FACES A WHOLE BUNCH OF SYSTEMIC ISSUES.
YOUR TIME HAS EXPIRED THAT HAVE BEEN MADE WORSE.
UM, I'M SORRY, I'M JUST GONNA FINISH THIS ONE PIECE ABOUT THE FLOODING.
SO TO BE CLEAR FOR THE RECORD, TODAY, BRIAR MEADOW HOMES ARE GOING TO FLOOD AND IT IS GONNA BE A RESULT OF THE LACK OF ACTION FROM THE CITY IN A FAILING DRAINAGE SYSTEM, WHICH HAS BEEN KNOWN FOR YEARS.
WE HAVE FILED PLENTY OF 3 1 1 TICKETS.
POOR COUNCIL MEMBER THOMAS IS TIRED OF HEARING FROM US ABOUT THE FLOODING AND IT'S NOT JUST ON HER.
SO TODAY I BRING IT TO EACH AND EVERY ONE OF YOU TO KNOW THE ISSUE AND TO TAKE ACTION.
UH, THANK YOU MS. CRUZ FOR SHOWING UP.
UM, YOU'VE HEARD ME TALK ABOUT, UM, THE DELAY WITH THE RICHMOND PROJECT AS RECENTLY AS A COUPLE OF WEEKS AGO.
THIS IS A LONG, WE WERE REALLY EXCITED ABOUT THIS ASPHALT CONCRETE, UM, PROJECT.
IT'S, I BELIEVE IT'S $15 MILLION, BUT AT THE SAME TIME, METRO HAS THE, THE SAME PROJECT COUNCIL MEMBER HUFFMAN MENTIONED LAST WEEK, TWO WEEKS AGO, METRO INITIATED A A A PROJECT AS WELL.
UH, AND WHEN THEY SENT US THE NOTICE, IT WAS THREE DAYS BEFORE THE START.
SO IN TERMS OF COORDINATION THAT HAS TO IMPROVE.
UM, THERE'S AN LDP PROJECT HAPPENING ON STONY BROOK THAT OUR OFFICE WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF.
WE REQUESTED THE NOTICE TO PROCEED FOR THAT.
WE AS A PRACTICE SEND OUT THE CONSTRUCTION NOTICES SO RESIDENTS CAN BE EMPOWERED TO CONTACT THE PROJECT MANAGER AND HAVE THOSE CONVERSATIONS.
UH, THE PROJECT MANAGER FOR THIS PROJECT, MR. CASTEX, AND I FORGET HIS OTHER COLLEAGUE, HAVE BEEN FIELDING RESPONSES FROM THIS, UH, FROM THIS COMMUNITY COUNCIL MEMBER.
ALCORN IS JUST AS MUCH, UH, INVOLVED WITH THIS, UM, PROJECT AS WELL.
AND, AND IN ADDITION TO, UM, CHRIS STREET.
SO, YOU KNOW, ONE, OFTENTIMES WE HAVE RESIDENTS COME HERE 'CAUSE THEY WANT PROJECTS AND THEY FEEL LIKE THEY DON'T GET ENOUGH PROJECTS.
THE OPPOSITE END OF THAT IS THAT WE HAVE A LOT OF ACTIVITY HAPPENING IN THIS CORRIDOR FROM LOCAL DRAINAGE, STREET REHAB AND CDSF THAT WEST PARK GESNER WE'RE DOING, UH, PANELS AND SIDEWALKS.
SO THAT ENTIRE CORRIDOR, UM, LOTS OF ACTIVITY, IT NEEDS TO BE COORDINATED BETTER.
IN ADDITION TO THAT, THERE'S A BLIGHTED HOME, MS. CRUZ AND A A COME, A FEW OF HER NEIGHBORS PARTICIPATED ON THE DANGEROUS BUILDINGS, UH, HEARING NOT TOO LONG AGO.
CHRIS STREET THAT IS SCHEDULED TO COME DOWN, I BELIEVE.
UM, VERONICA HERNANDEZ OUT OF THE MAYOR'S OFFICE IS COORDINATING ROUTINELY WITH THOSE UPDATES.
AND WE'RE ACTIVELY WORKING ON MITIGATING THE OLD WELLS FARGO ON HILL CROP IN RICHMOND.
UM, WE DO HAVE SAL FROM PUBLIC WORKS HERE.
SAL, CAN YOU RAISE YOUR HAND? AND SO SAL, UM, IS WILLING TO TALK TO YOU ABOUT ANY ADDITIONAL INFORMATION AND THEN ALSO FOR YOUR AWARENESS.
MY OFFICE, UM, PULLED ALL OF THE INQUIRIES TOGETHER FROM THE VARIOUS EMAILS.
I MEAN, IT WAS HOT LIKE FIRE, UM, ORGANIZED, GOT WITH THE PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT AND WE HAVE OUTLINED IN DETAIL THE SCOPE OF THE PROJECT.
UM, GRAVA IS THE FIRM DOING RICHMOND AND STONY BROOK.
YEAH, THEY'RE DOING THE RICHMOND DUNVILLE.
THERE WERE SIGNIFICANT DELAYS.
WE WERE ACTUALLY SUPPOSED TO BE DONE MAY OF 25 BEFORE THE SUMMER.
UM, WORKFORCE HAS BEEN AN ISSUE.
UM, ISSUES WITH SUPPLIES HAVE BEEN AN ISSUE.
WE ARE EXPECTED TO BE COMPLETED OCTOBER 25TH, BARRING WEATHER.
UM, AND SO WE WILL SHARE THAT, UH, CORRESPONDENCE WITH YOUR OFFICES JUST IN CASE, ESPECIALLY FOR AT LARGE MEMBERS, IF YOU RECEIVE ANY INQUIRIES FROM UH, RESIDENTS ABOUT THE UPDATE.
BUT SAL IS HERE, THE DIRECTOR OF THE DEPARTMENT OF NEIGHBORHOODS IS HERE TO TALK ABOUT CHRIS STREET AND ANY UPDATES WITH THAT.
BUT I KNOW, UH, MS. HERNANDEZ FROM THE DEPARTMENT OF NEIGHBORHOODS AND THE MAYOR'S LIAISON HAS BEEN ACTIVELY DOING THAT.
SO WE'LL MAKE SURE THAT YOU, Y'ALL HAVE THAT INFORMATION AS WELL.
[02:00:05]
GENEVA.COLBERT THEODORE CARRERO TO BE FOLLOWED BY CHRIS CHRISTOPHER CATO.
OKAY, GRATUITY, DO YOU LEAVE A TIP AT YOUR CHURCH IN THE 2 88 AREA? MR. DAVIS, DO YOU MAKE A CHOICE TO PARK VALET? MR. COUNCILMAN FLICKINGER? DO YOU TAKE THE TIME, MS. COUNCILMAN, UH, CAME IN TO DINE OUT OR DINE IN? UH, WHAT'S A FAIR HAIR SALON TIP? USUALLY COUN COUNCILMAN UH, ANNE HUFFMAN, DO YOU OFTEN LEAVE A GREAT TIP AT YOUR LOCAL HOUSTON RESTAURANT? COUNCILMAN LETICIA FROMER? DO YOU HAVE A, DO YOU HAVE, DO YOU LEAVE A TIP AS A GOOD CHRISTIAN DURING MASS? MR. RAMIREZ? UM, FOR THE DSF, PARTICULARLY TO YOUR PARENTS THAT YOU FREQUENT, DO YOU LEAVE YOUR STUDENTS? DO Y'ALL LEAVE STUDENT BARBERS AT ACRES HOMES BARBERSHOP COLLEGE, A TIP AFTER THEY CUT YOUR SONS OR DAUGHTERS COUNCILMAN? UH, MS. JACKSON, WHAT DOES A GREAT TIP LOOK LIKE AFTER RECEIVING, UH, UM, AFTER RECEIVING YOUR TAB? COUNCILMAN MRS. PECK, DO OUR VICE MAYOR COUNCILMAN CA KANICK TATUM, LEAVE A GREAT TIP.
AFTER HER MANICURE, PEDICURE GETS DONE, WHAT'S THE BIGGEST TIP THAT A COUNCILMAN MARTINEZ HAS LEFT? WHERE? WHAT'S YOUR FAVORITE ASIAN RESTAURANT TO DINE AT? MRS. THOMAS.
IS IT APPROPRIATE TO LEAVE A TIP AFTER A FACIAL MASSAGE? MRS. ALCORN, DO YOU REMEMBER THE BIGGEST TIP THAT YOU LEFT? COUNCILMAN POLLARD.
WAS IT CASH OR CREDIT? AS AN ADVOCATE FOR PEER JUSTICE COUNCILMAN EVAN SHABAZZ, DO YOU CHOOSE TO MAKE A DONATION TO YOUR CHURCH PARISH WEEKLY, MONTHLY, OR ANNUALLY? HAS THERE EVER BEEN A TIME THAT YOU'VE LEFT A TIP OR A RESTAURANT BEFORE THE SERVICE OR FOOD ISSUE? COUNCILMAN CARTER.
WHAT IS THE BEST LATINO, HISPANIC OR, UM, SPANISH RESTAURANT THAT WE KNOW ABOUT MR. COUNCILMAN CASTILLO? AND FINALLY, MR. MAYOR WHITMER.
HAVE YOU TRIED TO SUE YOUR FOOD RESTAURANT FROM OUR NATIVE AFRICAN CONSTITUENT PRISONERS? UH, NEXT, FINALLY, MR. MAYOR, ARE YOU A GOOD TIPPER? I GOT THAT.
IT WAS MADE TO HAVE FUN AND INCORPORATE ALL THE MEMBERS.
SO IT IS NOTHING PERSON PERSONAL.
IT WAS TRYING TO SEE IF WE CAN GET SOMEBODY TO APPRECIATE GRATUITY ON THIS DAY BECAUSE HE KNOWS, HE KNOWS WHAT KIND OF HEART I HAVE.
IT WAS, IT WAS MEANT TO BE FUN.
AND YOU KNOW, EVERYBODY, YOU GUYS HAD A LOT OF PEOPLE HERE.
SO IT WAS ALL ABOUT GRATUITY, ALL IN FUN.
AND IT WAS MEANT TO KIND OF GET PEOPLE TO BE THINKING ABOUT GRATUITY.
THEY SHOULD HAVE HAD YOU AT THE BARBERSHOP, JAMES JE TO BE FOLLOWED BY KELLY SADLER.
HOW'S IT GOING EVERYBODY? UH, TODAY'S MY LAST DAY WORKING FOR THE CITY OF HOUSTON.
UH, SO I WANTED TO TAKE A MOMENT TO, UH, SAY THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO WORK ALONGSIDE YOU.
THIS HAS TRULY BEEN THE GREATEST HONOR OF MY PROFESSIONAL LIFE.
UH, FOUR YEARS AGO I WAS RUNNING A ONE MAN SWIMMING POOL COMPANY, UH, HARBORING A DREAM OF WORKING IN THE GOVERNMENT.
AND, UH, MY WIFE, AFTER OUR DAUGHTER WAS BORN, SAID, JAMES, IT'S TIME TO GO BACK TO SCHOOL.
SO BEING A SMART HUSBAND, I LISTENED AND WENT BACK TO SCHOOL TO FINISH MY DEGREE.
IT WAS DURING THAT TIME THAT MY LIFE'S TRAJECTORY CHANGED IMMENSELY.
UH, MY FINAL REQUIREMENT IN ORDER TO GRADUATE WAS AN INTERNSHIP.
SO WANTING TO BE INVOLVED IN LOCAL GOVERNMENT.
I COLD CALLED SENATOR WHIT MEYER'S OFFICE AND WAS PROMPTLY TOLD TO SHUT UP
I SAID, WELL, I DON'T HAVE THE CAMPAIGN'S PHONE NUMBER.
SO I GOT A PHONE NUMBER THAT I DEFINITELY SHOULD HAVE GOTTEN.
I GOT AUSTIN'S PHONE NUMBER, I COLD CALLED HIM, TALKED MYSELF UP, AND HE SAID, COME IN TOMORROW AND LET'S SEE WHAT YOU GOT.
SO THAT PHONE CALL LED TO AN INTERNSHIP ON THE CAMPAIGN, WHICH LED TO A JOB ON THE CAMPAIGN, WHICH ALLOWED ME TO FOLLOW YOU HERE TO CITY HALL.
FOR THE PAST 17 MONTHS, I'VE HAD THE PRIVILEGE OF LIVING MY DREAM.
UH, I WOULD BE REMISS THOUGH IF I DIDN'T TAKE A MOMENT TO RECOGNIZE THE INCREDIBLE TEAM AT THE MAYOR'S ASSISTANCE OFFICE.
THESE ARE DEDICATED PUBLIC SERVANTS WHO DEFY THE TIRED STEREOTYPES OF GOVERNMENT WORKERS.
THEY SIMPLY SHOW UP EVERY DAY TO MAKE LIFE A LITTLE BIT EASIER FOR HOUSTONIANS TO CLAUDIA GUERRA, DARNA PARKER, ELDRIDGE
[02:05:01]
PUGH, JESSE CARIO, COCO WILLIAMS, MARIAH, JAY COX, VERONICA HERNANDEZ, AND ANITA IVORY, WHOM I LOVINGLY CALL MY CHILDREN'S THIRD GRANDMOTHER.THANK YOU YOU GUYS, THEIR DEFINITION OF WHAT IT MEANS TO SERVE.
AND I'M HONORED TO HAVE WORKED ALONGSIDE YOU.
DURDA SOLDER, MY DIVISION MANAGER.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR STEADY LEADERSHIP, UNWAVERING SUPPORT, AND THE TRUST YOU PLACED IN ME EVEN WHEN YOU THOUGHT I WAS THE MO
YOU ARE THE MODEL OF WHAT THOUGHTFUL AND COMPASSIONATE LEADERSHIP LOOKS LIKE.
HE'S GONNA KILL ME FOR SAYING NICE THINGS ABOUT HIM IN PUBLIC.
UH, BUT WHAT'S HE GONNA DO? FIRE ME.
I CLOCK
HE'S BEEN AN AMAZING COLLEAGUE TO WORK WITH, BUT MORE THAN THAT, HE'S BEEN A BETTER FRIEND.
SO I WANT TO SAY THANK YOU AGAIN FOR THE BOTTOM OF MY HEART FOR GIVING ME A CHANCE TO SERVE THE CITY ALLAH.
COUNCIL MEMBER PECK, VICE MAYOR PRO PECK.
THANK YOU MAYOR JAMES, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR SERVICE TO THE CITY.
IT'S BEEN SUCH A PLEASURE WORKING WITH YOU.
AND I KNOW THAT THERE'S GOING TO BE A LOT OF DISTRICT A CONSTITUENTS VERY UPSET,
I DON'T KNOW HOW THAT, BUT SINCE YOU ARE A CONSTITUENT, I KNOW YOU'RE NOT GOING VERY FAR.
AND I KNOW ALSO THAT YOU'RE, UM, A DELEGATE NOW FOR THE SUPER NEIGHBORHOOD.
SO WE'RE VERY EXCITED ABOUT THAT.
SO I KNOW WE'LL CONTINUE WORKING TOGETHER, BUT THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR EVERYTHING THAT YOU'VE DONE.
I TOO WANNA SAY THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE.
UH, YOU'VE ALWAYS BEEN A PLEASURE TO WORK WITH.
YOU MAKE NO, NO ISSUES ABOUT SOME OF THE ISSUES THAT WE, UH, TASK UPON YOU ALL ON A WEEKLY BASIS.
AND THEN THIS IS THE OPPORTUNITY JUST TO, TO THANK YOUR COLLEAGUES AS WELL.
I MEAN, YOU ALL DON'T GET THE RECOGNITION, UH, AND SOMETIMES THE APPRECIATION, UH, THAT YOU DESERVE.
BUT, UH, YOU DO A LOT BEHIND THE SCENES FOR A LOT OF PEOPLE AND MAKE REAL IMPACT.
SO, UH, BEST WISHES FOR YOU IN YOUR NEXT CHAPTER.
GOD BLESS YOU, COUNCILMAN CAMAN.
YOU KNOW, I'M SO GLAD YOU CAME FORWARD.
UM, WE DON'T ALWAYS GET TO THANK EVERYONE, UH, WHEN THEY ARE GOING ON TO BIGGER AND BETTER.
UM, AND I JUST WANNA THANK YOU, JAMES, FOR EVERYTHING THAT YOU'VE DONE SPECIFICALLY FOR DISTRICT C UH, REPRESENTING AND SHOWING UP AT MULTIPLE NEIGHBORHOODS, SUPER NEIGHBORHOODS, HELPING US REACTIVATE AND GET RESTARTED.
FOURTH WARD, SUPER NEIGHBORHOOD.
UM, THERE'S RIGHT, THE OVERGROWN LOTS THAT YOU'VE WORKED ON, THE NUISANCE PROPERTIES EVEN ALONG WASHINGTON AVENUE AND THE LIST GOES ON.
BUT I THINK WHAT'S MOST TELLING IS I THINK EVERY SINGLE DISTRICT COUNCIL MEMBER COULD TALK ABOUT THE IMPACT YOU HAVE MADE IN OUR RESPECTIVE DISTRICTS AND WHAT YOU HAVE, THE IMPACT YOU HAVE HAD ON THE CITY.
AND YOU CAN TELL FROM WHETHER IT'S THE DIRECTOR, RENEE, RHONDA, UM, JUST THEM STANDING HERE, BUT ALSO I'M NOT GONNA RHONDA CALL YOU OUT, BUT HOW MUCH YOU KNOW THAT RHONDA CARES, UM, HOW MUCH YOU MEAN TO THE CITY, TO CITY HALL AND TO EACH OF OUR OFFICES.
SO THANKS TO YOU, BUT ALSO THANK YOU TO YOUR FAMILY, YOUR BEAUTIFUL FAMILY.
UH, THERE'S A LOT OF HOURS YOU SPENT AWAY FROM HOME, INCLUDING THE EVENINGS, SO PLEASE RELAY OUR APPRECIATION TO THEM AS WELL.
OH, WELL, THANK YOU COUNCILMAN ALCORN.
JAMES, THAT WAS A BEAUTIFUL SPEECH.
AND PEOPLE LIKE YOU ARE WHY I LOVE CITY GOVERNMENT.
WELL, HOPEFULLY ONE DAY I'LL BE ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THIS HORSE.
COME ON, JAMES, DO YOUR THING.
FIRST OF ALL, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR, UH, THIS KIND OF BEING WHO YOU ARE.
YOU'RE, YOU'RE A VERY PLEASANT PERSON AND IT SHOWS THAT YOU'RE VERY COMMITTED TO, UH, TO THE FOLKS THAT YOU'RE HELPING.
AND, UH, FIRST OF ALL, YOU DO KNOW THEY KEPT IT FROM ME THAT YOU WERE LEAVING OR, YOU KNOW, I WOULDN'T HAVE LET YOU LEAVE
I'M NOT GONNA SAY WHAT I AM, BUT I'M AGGRAVATED.
SOMEBODY STEALS MY GOOD EMPLOYEES AND IT'S ONE OF MY FRIENDS THAT STOLE ONE OF MY GOOD EMPLOYEES,
AND I'LL, I'LL, I'LL REMIND HER.
BUT LISTEN, UH, WE'RE GONNA BE IN TOUCH.
YOU'VE GOT A LOT OF FRIENDS AROUND THE HORSESHOE.
YOU'VE GOT SOME VALUABLE EXPERIENCE NOW TAKE IT AND, AND RUN WITH IT.
BUT, UH, YOU KNOW, YOUR BEST IS IN FRONT OF YOU.
YOU'RE YOUNG ISH, YOU'VE GOT THE PASSION.
SO GO PUT IT IN THE RIGHT PLACE.
I HAVE NO DOUBT YOU'RE GONNA MAKE A DIFFERENCE AFTER YOU LEAVE HERE.
SO STAY IN TOUCH WITH US AND BE SAFE AND, UH, WE'RE ALL CERTAINLY A PHONE CALL AWAY.
[02:10:09]
NEXT.THEY DIDN'T TELL ME
THAT'S WHY THEY DIDN'T TELL YOU.
PARENTAL REHABILITATION RIGHT BETWEEN PARENTS AND CHILDREN SHOULD ALWAYS BE GRANTED AND NEVER BE DENIED.
IN THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA FAMILY COURTS MAINTAINING ABUNDANT RELATIONSHIPS WITH PARENTS, CHILDREN, AND FAMILY MEMBERS, AND NOT ONLY CIVIL RIGHTS OR CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHTS, IT'S ALSO A HUMAN RIGHTS THAT SHOULD ALWAYS BE GRANTED IN UNITED STATES OF AMERICA.
COURSE I WAS TOLD THE WILL OF JUSTICE GRIND CLUB IS ALWAYS DUE GRIND.
I BECAME A VICTIM OF DIGITAL HARASSMENT.
JUST RECENTLY SINCE TALKING TO YOU GUYS, UH, MY FACEBOOK PAGE HAS BEEN DISABLED.
HALF PARTY IN WHICH OF NORTHEAST
RECENTLY I GOT 600 EMAILS STORED OFF MY GMAIL ACCOUNTS.
YEARS OF EMAIL STOLEN OFF BY YAHOO ACCOUNT DICTATED ASKED THE AMERICAN PEOPLE TO GIVE UP SOMETHING WASN'T PRIVACY RIGHT TO PROTECT US AGAINST TERROR.
THE GOVERNMENT REQUESTS A STARSHIP ENTERPRISE TO DROP IT.
VECTOR SHIELDS OUR COMPUTER WALLS, OUR COMPUTER, HOMELAND SECURITY, AND OBAMA MILITARY MARTIAL LAW.
SOMEBODY ALLOWED FINANCIAL ECONOMIC PREDATOR THROUGH OUR SOUTH BAY BACK DOORS.
THEY ALLOW GLOBAL HACKERS BEHIND OUR SOUTH BAY LINES AND SOUTH BY GATES AND SOUTH FAIR ZONE.
30 SECONDS PLEASE IF I FINISHES UP BECAUSE I KNOW YOU GOT A LOT OF TIME LEFT BECAUSE IT'S STILL EARLY TODAY.
IT'S JUST YOU GOT A LOT OF TIME LEFT.
IT AIN'T EVEN FIVE O'CLOCK YET.
UH, THERE PLACE SOCIAL SECURITY NUMBER ON A BANK ACCOUNT.
THEY'RE SUPPOSED TO USE THE ONLY LAST FOUR NUMBERS THEY KIDNAPPED THE DIGITAL HARASS.
DOES DIGITAL HARASS TRACK DOWN SENIOR CITIZENS? MS. CLARK PUT UP THE DEFECTOR SHIELD, PLUG A FIREWALL.
BEAVER
THIS COMPLETES THE LIST OF SPEAKERS.
[RECESS]
WE STAY IN RECESS TILL NINE IN THE MORNING.FIRST MEMBERS I'D LIKE TO RECOGNIZE TODAY'S APPOINTEES.
[MATTERS HELD]
TO TAKE ITEMS 26 1[MISCELLANEOUS]
AND TWO OUT OF ORDER? CASTEX TATUM MOVE TO TAKE ITEM 26 FIRST AND THEN ITEMS ONE AND TWO I SECOND.MR. SECRETARY, PLEASE BRING UP ITEM 26.
LET ME PUBLICLY, UH, THANK YOU FOR JOINING PUBLIC SERVICE.
YOUR RESUME SPEAKS FOR ITSELF.
I PERSONALLY HAVE WORKED WITH YOU IN LEGISLATIVE MATTERS.
I HAVE, UH, WATCHED YOU TEACH A COURSE, WHICH I WANT ALL THE MEMBERS TO, UH, HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO SIT THROUGH.
UH, THE CHIEF IS ALREADY PLANNING TO HAVE YOU SPEAK AND HAVE THE CADETS USE YOUR COURSE, WHICH I THINK YOU OUGHT TO SPEAK TO THE COUNCIL ABOUT.
IT'S, UH, ONE OF THE MORE POPULAR AND IMPORTANT COURSES AT TEXAS MEDICAL SCHOOL HERE IN AUSTIN, UH, HOUSTON.
UM, I'VE WATCHED YOU IN THE EMERGENCY ROOM.
YOUR LANGUAGE SKILLS ARE REMARKABLE.
SO I'M, UH, I'M VERY PLEASED YOU, YOU HAVE SOME HUGE SHOES TO FILL, BUT I THINK YOU CAN TAKE THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT TO THE NEXT GENERATION AND CERTAINLY USING COLLABORATION WITH HARRIS HEALTH AND OTHER PROVIDERS.
SO, UM, YOU'RE JUST ANOTHER EXAMPLE OF THE GREAT TEAM THAT I'VE PUT TOGETHER AND MANY OF 'EM ARE HERE TODAY.
SOME ARE GETTING REAPPOINTED TO OTHER POSITIONS, BUT, UH, YOU'RE A STANDOUT AND NOTHING'S MORE IMPORTANT.
[02:15:01]
TAKEN IN WASHINGTON, GONNA NEED SOMEBODY WITH YOUR SKILL, YOUR MBA EXPERIENCE FROM RICE.I DON'T THINK TOO MANY PEOPLE KNOW THAT AND CERTAINLY YOUR MEDICAL EXPERIENCE.
I COULDN'T BE MORE PROUD AND I WILL YIELD TO YOU AT THIS TIME.
UM, GOOD MORNING, OF COURSE, MAYOR AND COUNCIL MEMBERS.
SO FIRST OFF, THANK YOU MAYOR FOR BELIEVING IN MY ABILITY AND MY JUDGMENT AND FOR GIVING ME THE OPPORTUNITY TO EVEN BE STANDING HERE TODAY.
COUNCIL MEMBERS, THANK YOU FOR MEETING WITH ME, UM, AND FOR OPENLY SHARING WITH ME THE ISSUES THAT MATTER TO YOU AND TO YOUR CONSTITUENTS.
UH, I LOOK FORWARD TO SITTING DOWN WITH EACH OF YOU AND DISCUSSING HOUSTON'S NEEDS IN THE NEAR FUTURE.
I'M GRATEFUL FOR YOUR FAITH IN ME TO LEAD THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT.
THANK YOU TO MY HOUSTON HEALTH DEPARTMENT FAMILY.
UM, THEY'VE REALLY HELPED ME ONBOARD AND HAVE EMBRACED ME AND MADE ME FEEL JUST SO WELCOME.
I'M SO LUCKY THAT THIS TEAM THAT YOU, UM, REALLY LAST WEEK OR TWO WEEKS AGO DURING STEVEN WILLIAMS PROCLAMATION, YOU GAVE THE HIGHEST REGARDS TO THE, UM, HEALTH DEPARTMENT.
UH, THIS IS THE TEAM THAT WAS BEHIND STEVEN WILLIAMS AND I'M SO PROUD TO BE A PART OF IT.
AND I'M SO PROUD TO BE EMPLOYED BY THE HOUSTON HEALTH DEPARTMENT.
UM, THE HOUSTON HEALTH DEPARTMENT'S STRENGTH, OPTIMISM, AND KINDNESS IS REALLY WHAT MAKES PUBLIC HEALTH SUCH A NOBLE PROFESSION IN MY MIND.
I ALSO HAVE TO THANK FAMILY, FRIENDS, PROFESSIONAL COLLEAGUES AND COMMUNITY MEMBERS, SOME OF WHICH ARE WATCHING ON HGTV OR HTV, EXCUSE ME.
I ALSO HAVE SOME VERY SPECIAL PEOPLE WITH ME HERE IN THIS FIRST ROW, UM, THAT I'D LIKE TO THANK.
UM, MIMI MIMI'S NOT HERE, JUDITH, FOR UMDO, IT'S HARRY AND MY HUSBAND BILL.
UM, YOU KNOW, WHEN I SAID THAT I WAS GONNA TAKE THIS JOB, UH, WE KNEW THAT IT WAS GONNA BE A FAMILY EFFORT AND IT'S NOT WITHOUT MY LOVING AND AMAZING HUSBAND WHO NOT ONLY IS ALWAYS SUPPORTING ME AND THE BABY, THAT'S JUST SAYING MAMA RIGHT THERE.
UM, BUT REMINDING ME THAT MY MOST IMPORTANT JOB, EVEN ON THE TOUGHEST DAYS HERE, IS, UH, BEING A WIFE TO HIM AND
SO, UM, YOU KNOW, IN ALL SERIOUSNESS THOUGH, THIS IS A TIME WHEN SCIENTIFIC TRUST AND PUBLIC HEALTH INFRASTRUCTURE, AS YOU KNOW, ARE DANGEROUSLY BEING ROCKED AT THE VERY CORE FROM THE HIGHEST LEVELS OF GOVERNMENT AT THIS TIME.
HOUSTONIANS MORE THAN EVER NEED A STEADY, TRUSTWORTHY SOURCE TO TURN TO FOR EVIDENCE-BASED, EMPATHETIC COMMUNITY, ENGAGED HEALTH INFORMATION AND SERVICES.
AND WE DON'T ALWAYS THINK ABOUT IT THIS WAY, BUT PUBLIC HEALTH IS ONE OF THE PILLARS OF PUBLIC SAFETY AND WE KNOW HOW MUCH YOU CARE ABOUT PUBLIC SAFETY.
MAYOR WITH THIS APPOINTMENT, YOU HAVE MY DEEP COMMITMENT TO PROVIDE THAT SAFETY FOR OUR RESIDENTS.
WHAT DOES THAT LOOK LIKE? THAT COMMITMENT STARTS BY ENSURING THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT'S HEROIC WORKFORCE ARE SUPPORTED IN OUR CRITICAL MISSION BY SUPPORTING AN ENVIRONMENT WHERE THEY FEEL SAFE, EMPOWERED, AND RESPECTED.
AND THAT EXTENDS TO ALL HEALTH WORKERS AND ANYBODY WHO CARES ABOUT HEALTH IN OUR COMMUNITY.
UM, IT MEANS ADVANCING PARTNERSHIPS FROM NEIGHBORHOOD GRASSROOTS EFFORTS TO NATIONAL COALITIONS AND EVERYTHING IN BETWEEN.
EVEN IF THOSE PARTNERSHIPS DON'T ALWAYS TRADITIONALLY FIT INTO THE PUBLIC HEALTH ARENA.
IT MEANS IMPROVING THE DEPARTMENT'S RELIABILITY TO THE CONSUMERS OF OUR ESSENTIAL SERVICES WHILE THINKING CRITICALLY AND INNOVATIVELY ABOUT HOW WE OBTAIN FUNDING STREAMS, MANAGE TAXPAYER DOLLARS AND USE OUR RESOURCES FOR THE MOST MEANINGFUL IMPACT, WHETHER IT'S RESPONDING TO A CRISIS OR EVEN MORE IMPORTANTLY, PREVENTING ONE I'D LIKE TO RECOGNIZE, UM, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR LEAH BARTON OF HARRIS COUNTY PUBLIC HEALTH, WHO'S ALSO HERE TO SUPPORT ME TODAY.
WE TOGETHER UNDERSTAND THAT TEAMWORK MAKES THE DREAM WORK.
I KNOW IT'S CLICHE, BUT IT'S TRUE.
AND I'M COMMITTED TO WORKING WITH HER AND HER COLLEAGUES AT HARRIS COUNTY PUBLIC HEALTH, OUR COLLEAGUES
[02:20:01]
AT HARRIS HEALTH, THE HARRIS CENTER, AND REALLY ANY PUBLIC, PRIVATE ACADEMIC ORGANIZATION OR INDIVI OR INDIVIDUALS THAT WILL ALLY WITH THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT ON OUR MISSION TO FOSTER HEALTHY SELF-SUFFICIENT FAMILIES AND COMMUNITIES IN HOUSTON.I LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING WITH YOU AND YOUR OFFICE MAYOR TO EACH OF YOU COUNCIL MEMBERS AND YOUR STAFFS, AND TO THE OTHER CITY DEPARTMENTS AND ORGANIZATIONS ON A JOINT VISION FOR A HEALTHY, THRIVING HOUSTON NOW AND INTO THE FUTURE.
SO THANK YOU FOR THIS OPPORTUNITY.
WOULD YOU, WOULD YOU BRIEFLY, I, I KNOW IT WASN'T IN YOUR THOUGHTS, BUT WOULD YOU TELL THE COUNCIL MEMBERS A LITTLE BIT ABOUT YOUR SIMULATOR OF WHAT IT'S LIKE TO BE A PATIENT THAT COMES IN THE EMERGENCY ROOM? THANKS FOR GIVING ME THAT OPPORTUNITY, MAYOR, WHICH WAS YOUR CREATION.
GO AHEAD AND, WELL, I BROUGHT A, UM, IT WAS, IT'S A SIMULATOR THAT WAS CREATED BY THE COMMUNITY, UM, ACTION NETWORK OF MISSOURI, BUT WE BROUGHT IT TO UT HEALTH HOUSTON.
IT'S CALLED THE COMMUNITY ACTION POVERTY SIMULATOR.
UH, IT IS A REQUIREMENT FOR ALL CLINICAL STUDENTS TO GO THROUGH.
THAT'S ALL OF YOUR NURSING, DENTAL, DENTAL HYGIENE, AND MEDICAL STUDENTS PROVIDING AN EDUCATION THAT I DIDN'T RECEIVE.
UM, BECAUSE WE JUST DIDN'T THINK AS MUCH ABOUT THESE NON-MEDICAL DRIVERS OF HEALTH BACK IN OUR CLINICAL EDUCATION.
AND SO WHAT WE DO IS, UM, ALL OF THE STUDENTS COME THROUGH, IT'S ABOUT 80 TO 85 STUDENTS AT A TIME, AND IT'S AN INTERPROFESSIONAL COLLABORATION.
AND WE ALSO INVITE COMMUNITY MEMBERS WHO COME IN.
UH, MOST IMPORTANTLY, WE HAVE LIVED EXPERIENCE EXPERTS, UH, THOSE THAT HAVE EXPERIENCED HOMELESSNESS AND, UM, TRAFFICKING AND THE JUSTICE SYSTEM.
AND WE ALSO HAVE COMMUNITY MEMBERS AND, UM, REPRESENTATIVES FROM ORGANIZATIONS AND AGENCIES THAT PROVIDE SERVICES TO HOUSTONIANS, ACTUAL HOUSTONIANS.
AND WE ALL COME TOGETHER DO A SIMULATION TO UNDERSTAND WHAT IT'S LIKE TO WALK IN THE SHOES OF SOMEBODY WHO LIVES IN POVERTY BECAUSE WE TRULY, WE ALL UNDERSTAND THAT POVERTY, UM, IF WE WERE ABLE TO FIX THAT, WE'D FIX SO MANY OF THE RESOURCE AND HEALTH ISSUES THAT PEOPLE FACE.
AND SO THEY WALK IN THESE SHOES NOT ONLY JUST TO WALK IN THE SHOES, BUT TO BELIEVE THE STORIES THAT THEY HEAR FROM THEIR PATIENTS, UH, AND TO UNDERSTAND THE STORIES THAT ARE NOT BEING TOLD, UM, AND, AND TO BE BETTER CLINICIANS.
SO, UH, THANK YOU MAYOR FOR GIVING ME AN OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK ABOUT THAT.
NO, I MEAN, YOU, YOU IMPRESSED ME WITH THE MEDICAL STUDENTS.
MANY OF 'EM ARE PRIVILEGED, HAVE NO CLUE THE BACKGROUND OF THE PEOPLE THAT THEY SEE IN THE EMERGENCY ROOM.
THEY, THEY, THEY KNOW TO TEND TO THEIR HEALTH AND EMERGENCY NEEDS, BUT THEY HAVE NO CLUE WHERE THAT PATIENT'S, UH, WHAT IS HE OR HE OR SHE'S EXPERIENCE THIS.
SO YOU MAKE 'EM LISTEN, YOU BRING GUEST SPEAKERS AND LIKE I JUST SAID, AFTER THE CHIEF HEARD OF YOUR SIMULATOR, HE WANTS OUR CADETS TO HEAR AND PARTICIPATE.
AND I THINK I WOULD INVITE COUNSEL.
IT'S REALLY REMARKABLE TO WATCH THE MEDICAL STUDENTS HAVE TO ABSORB AND CAN NEVER DENY THE HARDSHIP THAT THEY WITNESS, UH, WITH THEIR PATIENTS IN THE, IN THE, IN THE BEN TOP EMERGENCY ROOM.
YOU'VE BEEN WORKING IN THE BEN TOP EMERGENCY ROOM AND THE LBJ EMERGENCY ROOM FOR YEARS AND SO, UH, I'M, I'M REALLY EXCITED THAT YOU'RE NOW GONNA BE LEADING OUR HEALTH DEPARTMENT, MAYOR PRO TEM CASTING STATE.
UH, I READ YOUR RESUME BEFORE I HAD AN OPPORTUNITY TO MEET YOU, AND I WILL TELL YOU THAT, UM, AFTER READING YOUR RESUME, I WAS EXTREMELY EXPRESSED, UH, UH, IMPRESSED WITH YOUR EXTENSIVE EXPERIENCE.
UM, BUT WHEN I HAD AN OPPORTUNITY TO ACTUALLY MEET YOU AND TALK TO YOU, I SAW YOUR HEART FOR SERVICE, AND I HAD AN OPPORTUNITY TO EXPRESS SOME THINGS THAT ARE IMPORTANT TO US IN OUR COMMUNITY AND IN THE DISTRICT AND THROUGHOUT THE CITY OF HOUSTON.
AND YOU IMMEDIATELY WENT BACK TO, UM, YOUR HEALTH DEPARTMENT TEAM AND TALKED ABOUT HOW WE COULD COLLABORATE.
I JUST WANTED TO LET YOU KNOW HOW EXCITED WE ARE TO HAVE YOU LEADING THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT.
UM, AS THE MAYOR SAID THERE, THERE ARE BIG SHOES TO FILL, BUT I THINK THAT, UM, YOU HAVE ALREADY EXPRESSED, UM, HOW MUCH YOU WANT TO, UM, BE INVOLVED IN THE, THE HEALTH OF OUR CITY.
WE ALL KNOW THAT OUR HEALTH IS OUR WEALTH.
UM, WITH WITHOUT OUR HEALTH, WE, WE REALLY, UM, STRUGGLE TO DO ANYTHING.
AND SO TO HAVE YOU AT THE HELM IS A BENEFIT FOR THE CITY OF HOUSTON.
UM, I THINK THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT TEAM IS, UM, VERY EXCITED ABOUT YOUR COLLABORATING SPIRIT.
UM, AND WE ARE VERY HAPPY TO HAVE YOU HERE AND WELCOME TO THE CITY OF HOUSTON, AND WE
[02:25:01]
LOOK FORWARD TO, UH, THE GREAT WORK THAT WE SHOULD DO TOGETHER.UH, DIRECTOR, UH, JUST WANNA SAY CONGRATULATIONS FIRST AND FOREMOST, AND ECHO A FEW SENTIMENT THAT, UH, THE ME PRO TAM HAS ALSO, UH, STATED.
I THINK, UH, THE OPPORTUNITY TO BE ABLE TO SIT DOWN WITH YOU AND JUST HAVE A CANDID CONVERSATION ABOUT, UH, LIFE AND YOU BEING A MOTHER, A WIFE, AND BRINGING THAT PERSPECTIVE, THOSE LENSES TO THE, TO THIS DEPARTMENT, IT'S IMPORTANT.
UM, A LOT OF TIMES WE, WE DIVE INTO THESE JOBS AND, YOU KNOW, WE FORGET ABOUT WHO WE REALLY ARE AT TIMES.
AND I THINK, UH, YOU BRINGING THAT TO THIS, TO THIS, UH, DEPARTMENT'S GONNA BE VERY HELPFUL.
MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE LOOKING AT FAMILIES JUST IN GENERAL, RIGHT? A HEALTHY FAMILY IS A HEALTHY COMMUNITY.
AND SO I'M EXCITED TO ALSO WORK ALONGSIDE WITH YOU.
UH, SOME OF THE THINGS THAT I DEFINITELY WANNA MAKE SURE THAT WE CONTINUE TO PARTNER WITH ARE MY BROTHER'S KEEPER, SECOND CHANCE.
AND JUST MAKING SURE THAT OUR COMMUNITY CENTERS ARE MULTI-SERVICE CENTERS, ARE, ARE WELL EQUIPPED TO, UH, HANDLE ANY, ANYONE THAT WALKS THROUGH THOSE DOORS.
AND SO, JUST CONGRATULATIONS, CONGRATULATIONS TO THE REST OF YOUR TEAM, AND I LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING WITH YOU AS WELL.
COUNCIL MEMBER CASTILLO CASTILLO, THANK YOU MAYOR.
AND DR. TRAN, CONGRATULATIONS TO YOU.
AND THANK YOU FOR YOUR WILLINGNESS TO SERVE AND TO STEP UP AND LEAD OUR HEALTH DEPARTMENT.
IT PLAYS SUCH A VITAL ROLE IN THE CITY, AND YOU BRING, UH, EXCELLENT EXPERIENCE AND CREDENTIALS TO THIS POSITION.
AND, AND I DO THINK YOU'LL BE ABLE TO BE VERY SUCCESSFUL IN TAKING OUR HEALTH DEPARTMENT, UH, TO THE NEXT LEVEL.
AND I, I APPRECIATE, YOU KNOW, IN YOUR REMARKS, YOUR WILLINGNESS TO WORK WITH OTHERS LIKE THE COUNTY, LIKE, UH, HARRIS HEALTH AND, AND, AND, UM, OTHER PARTNERS, BECAUSE AS YOU MENTIONED, THE CHALLENGES THAT ARE FACING PUBLIC HEALTH RIGHT NOW, UM, THAT IS GONNA BE A NECESSARY STEP TO HELP MITIGATE THAT.
AND YOU BEING WILLING TO DO THAT AND LOOK AT IT FROM DAY ONE IS, IS GONNA BE HELPFUL AND, AND HELP GET US THROUGH SOME TOUGH TIMES.
AND I LOOK FORWARD TO CONTINUING TO WORK WITH YOU ON BEHALF OF DISTRICT H.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR WILLINGNESS TO SERVE THE CITY OF HOUSTON.
I ENJOYED MEETING WITH YOU LAST WEEK AND VISITING ABOUT YOUR PRIORITIES, ESPECIALLY END USER OPTIMIZATION AND WORKING WITH, UH, HARRIS COUNTY PUBLIC HEALTH.
I'M GLAD YOU RECOGNIZED, UM, LEAH BARTON, WHO'S HERE FROM, FROM THE COUNTY.
I THINK WE'RE GONNA NEED MORE CITY AND COUNTY COLLABORATION GOING FORWARD, AND I THINK THAT'S A GREAT PRIORITY THAT YOU HAVE.
I ALSO AGREE THAT OUR HEALTH DEPARTMENT NEEDS TO BE A SOURCE OF CREDIBLE INFORMATION ABOUT HEALTH.
I THINK THAT'S MORE IMPORTANT THAN EVER.
I APPRECIATE YOUR LISTENING TO MY CONCERNS, UM, FROM OUR CONVERSATION AND FROM REVIEWING YOUR CURRICULUM VITAE, YOU ARE WELL QUALIFIED TO, TO HOLD THIS POSITION.
AGAIN, I THANK YOU AND LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING WITH YOU IN THE FUTURE.
AND JUST LETTING EVERYONE KNOW ON OCTOBER 7TH AT THE BUDGET AND FISCAL AFFAIRS COMMITTEE, LEAH BARDEN AND THE NEW DIRECTOR WILL BE COMING TO TALK ABOUT ALL THIS COLLABORATION WE'VE BEEN CLAMORING FOR.
SO THANKS AND CONGRATULATIONS, AND I LOVE A BABY IN THE CHAMBER.
I, I THINK IT'D BE APPROPRIATE FOR YOUR PARENTS.
IT'S A WONDERFUL, UH, IMMIGRATION, IMMIGRANT REFUGEE STORY AND, UH, WHAT A, WHAT A SUCCESS STORY AND, AND REMARKABLE TWO LIVES.
SO WHY DON'T YOU ASK YOUR PARENTS TO STAND MOA? PAPA, THANK Y'ALL FOR BEING HERE.
HOW MANY DAUGHTERS DO THEY HAVE? SORRY? UM, FOUR.
FOUR DAUGHTERS AND ALL OF 'EM HAVE BEEN SUCH SUCCESSFUL IN CONTRIBUTING TO OUR, OUR GREAT COUNTRY.
YOU'RE ALWAYS WELCOME TO THE CITY OF HOUSTON.
MR. SECRETARY, YOU WANNA CALL ITEM ONE? ITEM ONE NEEDS A MOTION.
THESE JODY LER, WOULD YOU PLEASE STAND? DON SANDERS ALARM REEL.
[02:30:05]
THANK YOU, JODY, YOU'RE DOING SUCH A SPECTACULAR JOB AT THE HOUSING AUTHORITY, AND I KNOW YOU'RE GONNA BE A CON CONTRIBUTION AT THE, UH, SPORTS STARTING.YOU'RE AN ICON IN HOUSTON IN SPORTS CIRCLES.
YOUR CONTRIBUTION WILL BE APPRECIATED AND IT WILL MAKE THE SPORTS STARTING AND NEXT YEAR'S WORLD CUP EVEN BETTER.
SO THANK YOU FOR YOUR WILLINGNESS TO SERVE COUNCIL MEMBER MARTINEZ.
UH, JUST WANT TO, UH, ALSO GIVE A QUICK SHOUT OUT TO DR.
UH, SHE'S BEEN A GREAT ASSET TO THE SPORTS AUTHORITY, BUT ALSO, UH, JUST A QUICK, UH, UH, THANK YOU AND LIFTING UP, UH, DON SANDERS.
UH, I SHARED WITH THEM EARLIER, MY KIDS GO TO KIPP, UH, EXPLORER, AND I THINK YOU WERE AT THE RIBBON CUTTING MIRROR AS WELL AS A SENATOR WHEN WE OPENED UP THE BALL FIELD OVER THERE AT, UH, KIPP EXPLORER.
AND SO, UH, THANK YOU FOR YOUR CONTRIBUTIONS TO OUR CITY, UH, DON, AND I APPRECIATE YOUR WORK AND LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING WITH YOU AS WELL.
OH, COUNCIL MEMBER RAM COUNCILOR RAMIREZ.
WELL, I JUST WANNA SAY, UH, DON SANDERS HAS DONE SO MUCH FOR THIS COMMUNITY FOR SUCH A LONG TIME.
GRATEFUL FOR YOUR WILLINGNESS TO SERVE, SIR AND JODY PERLER AS WELL.
MAYOR, UH, IS DOING A GREAT JOB AT THE HOUSING AUTHORITY.
WHEN WAS THE LAST TIME WE HEARD ANYTHING ABOUT THE HOLD? HOLD ON.
LET'S, UH, EVERYBODY JUST STAY IN THEIR SEAT FOR THE TIME BEING, CYNTHIA.
NO, HE'S SO, ONE, HIS LIGHT'S NOT LIT UP.
UH, JUST, JUST WANNA SAY THANK YOU AND KEEP, KEEP UP THE GOOD WORK AT THE HOUSING AUTHORITY.
ITEM TWO NEEDS A MOTION CAST EXT TO MOVE.
UH, DON LYNN, WOULD YOU PLEASE STAND? BOBBY
AND, UH, JUST WANNA, AS Y'ALL STANDING, JUST WANNA SAY THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE TO HOUSTON FIRST, UM, AS AN OFFICIAL, UH, UH, MEMBER OF THE BOARD AS WELL.
I LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING WITH YOU ALL.
IT'S, UH, IT'S DEFINITELY GONNA BE A HEAVY LIFT.
THERE'S A LOT OF THINGS GOING ON.
GREAT PROJECTS, THE GEORGE R. BROWN EXPANSION, UH, BUT ALSO, UM, AND JUST WANNA MAKE SURE THAT I, I, UH, RECOGNIZE THIS.
WE ALL KNOW WHERE WE ARE NOW, UH, WHEN IT COMES TO THE VI VISITORS CONVENTIONS AND HOW WE'RE THRIVING.
AND I JUST WANNA MAKE SURE THAT IF YOU CAN ALWAYS KEEP ON TOP OF MIND OUR WORKING FAMILIES, FAMILIES.
UH, BUT WITH THAT, I JUST WANNA SAY APPRECIATE YOU ALL.
UH, AND, AND REALLY LET'S GET TO WORK.
BOBBY AND PAUL, THANK YOU FOR YOUR DESIRE TO CONTINUE SERVING.
DON, YOU DO SUCH GREAT WORK AT THE SOUTHWEST MANAGEMENT DISTRICT.
I KNOW YOU'LL BRING GREAT ENERGY TO, UH, THIS, THIS BOARD.
AND SO THANK YOU FOR YOUR WILLINGNESS TO SERVE SOPHIA.
UH, YOU HAVE DONE SO WELL IN BUSINESS AND YOU'LL BRING GREAT KNOWLEDGE OF WORKFORCE ISSUES, AND SO LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING WITH YOU AS WELL.
[02:35:01]
THANK YOU, MAYOR.I JUST WANTED TO CONGRATULATE THE BOARD AND THOSE NEW APPOINTMENTS, ESPECIALLY TO DON, THE QUEEN OF SOUTHWEST MANAGEMENT.
AND WE ARE SO GRATEFUL TO HAVE YOU ON BOARD AND, UH, GOT A LOT TO DO GOING FORWARD, BUT WE KNOW WE GOT A GOOD GROUP TO DO IT.
BEFORE Y'ALL LEAVE, UH, NEXT WE'RE GONNA DO THE MAYOR'S REPORT, AND IF YOU'LL, UH, WAIT, UH, THEN I WILL JOIN YOU, UH, FOR EXCHANGES OF FRIENDSHIP.
[MAYOR'S REPORT]
HAVE THE MAYOR'S REPORT.UH, THIS IS A SIGNIFICANT DATE.
IT'S A CONTINUATION AND EXAMPLE OF THE DIFFERENCE WE'RE MAKING IN CITY GOVERNMENT.
THE EXPERTISE, THE PROFESSIONALISM, COMPETENCY, HONESTY OF THE PEOPLE THAT I'VE APPOINTED STANDS OUT AND TO OUR DIRECTORS.
WE HAVE JUST ABOUT PUT OUR TEAM IN PLACE THAT I STARTED 20 MONTHS AGO.
I WAS SWORN IN AT THE REQUEST OF HOUSTONIANS TO FIX HOUSTON.
AND I DON'T HAVE ENOUGH TIME TO TALK ABOUT ALL THE DIFFERENT THINGS THAT NEEDED ADDRESSING CERTAINLY PUBLIC SAFETY.
WE'VE DEALT WITH 260,000 SUSPENDED CASES.
THE MORALE HAS NEVER BEEN HIGHER IN HPD OR HOUSTON FIRE.
WE USED TO LOSE MORE TO RETIREMENT IN HPD THAN WE COULD RECRUIT.
THAT'S JUST NOT THE CASE TODAY.
SO TODAY, AFTER 20 MONTHS, I WILL TELL YOU I'M EXCITED TO GIVE THE STATE OF THE CITY, WHICH WILL BE IN A COUPLE OF WEEKS.
BUT TODAY, WITH THE SWEARING IN OF SOME OF OUR LEADERSHIP, IT'S APPROPRIATE THAT I PAUSE AND LET EVERYONE KNOW WE'RE MAKING A DIFFERENCE IN JUST 20 MONTHS.
NOW, I UNDERSTAND SOME OF MY CRITICS THAT ARE UNHAPPY WITH THE RESULTS OF THE LAST ELECTION ARE JUST THAT CRITICS.
BUT WE HAVE A TEAM AND WE'RE MAKING A DIFFERENCE EACH AND EVERY DAY.
AND I COULD GIVE YOU A LAUNDRY LIST OF THE DIFFERENCE WE'VE MADE.
WHEN I GOT HERE IN JANUARY 24, WE HAD 1900 BROKEN WATER MAINS.
PUBLIC SAFETY, FIRING, POLICE, THE MORALES AT AN ALL TIME HIGH.
WE NO LONGER HAVE HPD OFFICERS APPLYING TO GO TO THE DPS.
AND OF COURSE, YOU'VE SEEN WHAT OUR GOOD WORKS HAVE DONE TO THE COUNTY.
DEPUTY SHERIFFS WANNA WORK FOR THE CITY OF HOUSTON.
WHAT DIFFERENCE DOES THAT MATTER? JUST RECENTLY, WE WENT TO LESS THAN SIX MINUTES FOR FIRST RESPONDERS ON A CODE ONE AT HPD, FIRST TIME AND A LONG TIME.
BUT IT'S AN EXCITING TIME TO BE WORKING AT THE CITY OF HOUSTON TO SERVE AS MAYOR.
YOU WON'T READ ABOUT A LOT OF OUR ACCOMPLISHMENTS BECAUSE THAT'S NOT WHAT MAKES THE HEADLINES.
AND NORMALLY I CAN TOLERATE THE CRITICISM, THE MISINFORMATION, THE POLITICS, BUT NOT WHEN IT STARTS AFFECTING CITY GOVERNMENT.
WE HAD AN OUTSTANDING, IN FACT, OTHER CITIES ARE TRAVELING HERE AND CHRIS NEWPORT'S GOING TO OTHER CITIES TO SHOW HOW WE DID AN EFFICIENCY STUDY.
WE ARE THE ONLY MAJOR CITY IN THE US THAT'S NOT IN TURMOIL RIGHT NOW.
WE HAD ACTUALLY HAD THE MOST SUCCESSFUL MARCH A COUPLE OF MONTHS AGO AGAINST THE KING NO DISTURBANCES BECAUSE OUR HPD IS SO PROFESSIONAL.
AND WE ALSO, LET'S SPEAK TO OUR GREAT COMMUNITY.
OUR PEOPLE KNOW THAT WE'RE STRONGER TOGETHER THAN WE ARE SEPARATE.
BUT I CAN NORMALLY HANDLE THE CRITICISM.
BEEN AT THIS 22 YEARS, MY WHOLE ADULT LIFE.
I UNDERSTAND, I UNDERSTAND EVEN THE NEGATIVE STORIES IN THE PRESS.
BUT I'M NOT GONNA SIT BACK ANY LONGER AND LET SOMEBODY DAMAGE THE FINE REPUTATION OF CITY WORKERS, WHETHER IT'S HUMAN RESOURCES OR ANY OTHER DEPARTMENT.
[02:40:01]
TO HELP PEOPLE THAT HAD SERVED THIS GREAT CITY, UNLIKE ANY OTHER CITY.OUR PREVIOUS HOUSTON ADMINISTRATION, WE GAVE THEM A THREE MONTH INCENTIVE PAY, WHICH THEY GOT ON THEIR MAY CHECK.
WHITMEYER RETIREES ARE NOT GETTING PAID.
THEY'RE HAPPY, THEY'RE PLEASED.
NO ONE IN MY ADMINISTRATION MENTIONED HOW LONG THE RETIREMENT SYSTEM WOULD TAKE TO PROCESS 1,058 PEOPLE.
I DON'T HAVE TIME FOR POLITICS OR IMAGINARY CITY.
BUT WHEN YOU START MISREPRESENTING THINGS THAT HUMAN RESOURCES COULD NOT HANDLE THE PAYCHECK OR PROCESS RETIREMENTS, IT'S TIME FOR ME TO STAND UP AND SPEAK UP BECAUSE I HAVE NO CONTROL OVER THE PENSION FUND.
WE'VE EXPLAINED THAT REPEATEDLY, PROVIDED THE DATA TO OUR DAILY PAPER, BUT THAT'S NOT WHAT THEY WANNA WRITE.
ONE OF MY CRITICS WANT TO SHOW THE FACTS.
I'VE HANDED OUT THE PENSION FUND, THE MEMBERSHIP OF THE PENSION FUND.
I DON'T HAVE AN APPOINTMENT THERE.
PREVIOUS MAYOR HAD AN APPOINTMENT AND THAT PERSON IS SERVING.
I RECOMMENDED SOMEONE THAT'S SERVING OVER THERE.
THE MEMBERS THAT WERE HERE WHEN I GOT HERE VOTED ON THIS GROUP.
THE CONTROLLER HAS A MEMBER ON THE PENSION BOARD.
WE DON'T, I DON'T AFFECT THEIR BUDGET.
AND ABOUT ALL I CAN DO IS HAVE FRIENDS OVER THERE.
THE CURRENT CHAIRMAN, SHERRY MOSES, AND THEN RON SMITH, BOTH CITY EMPLOYEES.
I GAVE 'EM A LITTLE TOUGH LOVE OVER THE PHONE.
Y'ALL HAVE GOT TO MAKE THIS MORE URGENT.
THEY SAID, WE'RE THERE, MAYOR, THE ONES THAT WE'RE STILL WORKING ON HAVE NOT RETURNED THEIR PAPERWORK.
SOME ONLY APPLIED FOR THEIR RETIREMENT IN JULY AND AUGUST.
SO ALL I'M SAYING IS TO THE CRITICS, YOU MISSED OUR ERNST AND YOUNG REPORT IS THE MODEL FOR THE NATION.
WE HAVE AN EFFICIENT GOVERNMENT.
WE HAVE FINANCIAL CHALLENGES THAT WE ALL KNOW, BUT ENOUGH'S ENOUGH.
WHEN YOU JUST WANT TO USE CRITICISM FOR YOUR NEXT POLITICAL RACE, THERE'LL BE A TIME FOR THAT.
AND IF YOU WANNA PLAY LIKE YOU'RE RUNNING A CITY, CONTINUE TO DO THAT.
IT'S NOT GETTING ANY TRACTION.
BUT I'M EXCITED TO BE THE MAYOR OF CITY OF HOUSTON.
WE'RE SO MUCH GOING ON WITH THE WORLD CUP.
WE'RE AHEAD OF ALL THE OTHER CITIES IN PREPARATION.
I CAN'T WAIT TO GIVE THE STATE OF THE CITY IN A COUPLE OF WEEKS BECAUSE HOUSTONIANS DON'T GET TO HEAR THE COLLABORATION.
WE'RE GONNA HAVE ONE MARTIN LUTHER KING PARADE FIRST TIME IN 30 YEARS.
I WAS TOLD WHEN I GOT HERE, DON'T TACKLE IT.
THE PARADE'S IN MIDTOWN AND DOWNTOWN, WE'VE BEEN DOING THAT FOR 30 YEARS.
AFRICAN AMERICAN MAYORS COULD NOT CHANGE IT, AND THE WHITE MAYORS WOULDN'T EVEN ATTEMPT.
BUT I KNEW IT WAS A SAFETY ISSUE.
YOU CAN'T SPREAD YOUR LAW ENFORCEMENT THAT WIDE.
IT'S $300,000 TO HPD FOR EACH PARADE.
BUT MORE IMPORTANTLY, IT'S NOT RESPECTFUL TO DR. KING.
YOU CAN'T HAVE TWO PARADES AT THE SAME TIME, HONORING ONE OF OUR COUNTRY'S SPECIAL ICONIC HEROES SAYING, DON'T ADD A LARGER MLK PARADE THAN HOUSTON.
WHAT ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT? SO NOW WE'RE GONNA HAVE ONE.
SO I'M PRETTY FIRED UP THIS MORNING AND I WANT Y'ALL TO BE FIRED UP.
AND I WANT THIS COUNCIL TO BE FIRED UP.
I'VE SEEN POLLS, PEOPLE KNOW IT, AND I DON'T GOVERN BY POLLS.
BUT PEOPLE ARE RESPONDING TO OUR TRANSPARENCY, OUR COLLABORATION.
THEY LOOK AROUND THE COUNTRY AT THE OTHER LARGE CITIES AND SAY, THANK GOD JOHN WHITMEYER IS THE MAYOR.
THEY LOOK OVER AT THE COUNTY TURMOIL.
THANK GOD FOR THE CITY OF HOUSTON STABILITY.
SO QUITE FRANKLY, I WANT TO CALL SHERRY UP TO TELL US ABOUT THE STATUS OF THE PENSION BOARD.
YOU CAN ADDRESS THE MAKEUP OF THE PENSION BOARD OR WHATEVER YOU'D LIKE.
IN FACT, YOU DON'T GET THE CRITICISM.
[02:45:03]
OUR, OUR DAILY PAPER AND SOME MEMBERS PUT IT ON MY BACK.OUR RETIREMENT SYSTEM WORKED WELL.
I CAN'T SAY ENOUGH ABOUT HER PEOPLE.
I WENT DOWN THERE WHEN THEY WERE GETTING THEIR PAPERS.
I NEVER GOT SO MANY HUGS IN ALL MY LIFE.
YOU AND I HAVE KNOWN EACH OTHER 30 YEARS.
IN FACT, YOU'RE FIXING TO RETIRE AFTER 36 YEARS WITH THE CITY FINANCE DEPARTMENT.
AND I APPRECIATE YOUR PUBLIC SERVICE.
BUT SHED SOME LIGHT ON WHAT IS GOING ON IN THE PENSION FUND AND THE MISINFORMATION THAT GOES OUT THAT THIS MAYOR HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH THE OPERATIONS.
ACTUALLY, A LEGISLATOR NAMED JOHN WHITMEYER SEPARATED THE MAYOR'S OFFICE FROM THIS OPERATION.
SO PAST MAYORS WHO WERE TRYING TO INFLUENCE WHERE YOU WOULD INVEST YOUR MONEY, WE WANTED A WALL BETWEEN THE MAYOR'S OFFICE AND CITY GOVERNMENT AND THE PENSION FUND.
YOU'RE ELECTED BY THE RETIREES AND THE ACTIVE MEMBERS.
I YIELD TO YOU, AND THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE.
THANK YOU MAYOR WHITMEYER AND GOOD MORNING COUNCIL MEMBERS.
I KNOW A FEW OF YOU AND I'M CERTAINLY LOOKING FORWARD TO MEETING THE REST OF YOU.
UM, IT'S HARD TO FOLLOW THAT MAYOR, BUT I WILL TRY MY BEST.
AND WHAT I'M GOING TO DO HERE THIS MORNING, JUST GIVE YOU AN UPDATE AS TO WHERE WE ARE WITH THE RETIREMENT INCENTIVE PLAN THAT WAS, UH, PROVIDED TO CITY EMPLOYEES IN APRIL, MAY.
SO MY NAME IS SHERRY MOS AND I'M CHAIRMAN OF THE HOUSTON MUNICIPAL EMPLOYEES PENSION SYSTEM.
I'VE BEEN CHAIRMAN FOR ABOUT 17 YEARS.
I'M DATING MYSELF, BUT 17 YEARS.
AND I'M WORKING WITH A GREAT GROUP OF PEOPLE.
WE HAVE, WE'RE AN 11 MEMBER BOARD.
UH, WE HAVE FOUR APPOINTEES ON THIS BOARD.
THE OTHER MEMBERS ARE RETIREES AND CITY EMPLOYEES, LIKE REST OF US HERE.
THE HOUSTON MUNICIPAL EMPLOYEES PENSION SYSTEM IS A GOVERNMENTAL DEFINED BENEFIT, NOT CONTRIBUTION, BUT A BENEFIT PLAN UNDER THE TEXAS STATUTE AND IS INDEPENDENT AND SEPARATE FROM THE CITY AS THE OTHER TWO PENSION SYSTEMS ARE HERE IN HOUSTON.
H MEETS, AS WE, UH, CALL IT, AS I SAID, IS GOVERNED BY 11 MEMBER BOARD OF TRUSTEES AND ADMINISTERED BY THE H MEETS STAFF.
THE PENSION SYSTEM IS NOT GOVERNED BY THE MAYOR, BUT H MEETS AND THE CITY.
THE MAYOR AND HIS ADMINISTRATION HAVE CERTAINLY DONE THEIR PART.
AS THE MAYOR STATED, UH, DIRECTOR CHEEKS WORKED IN HER STAFF WITH RESPECT TO THE EXTRAORDINARY NUMBER OF RETIREMENTS RELATED TO THE CITY'S INCENTIVE PROGRAM UNDER H MEETS PENSION PLAN.
THE RETIREMENT ELIGIBILITY AND LIFETIME BENEFIT ARE DETERMINED IN LARGE AND PART THROUGH THE CITY EMPLOYMENT RECORDS.
AND I'LL NAME JUST THREE OTHER FACTORS.
THE CITY HAS EXPEDITED DELIVERY OF REQUIRED EMPLOYMENT RE RECORDS TO H MEETS.
AND YOUR STAFF ASSISTED WITH THE EARLY DISTRIBUTION OF RETIREMENT REQUEST FORMS. THE THIRD THING, THE CITY WITH THE HE STAFF SENT OUT AN E-BLAST NOTIFYING WITH NOTIFICATION ABOUT THE RETIREMENT PROCESS TO ALL RETIREMENT ELIGIBLE EMPLOYEES.
WE ARE IN THE FINAL WEEKS OF THE CITY INCENTIVE SURGE IN RETIREMENTS.
HISTORICALLY, H MES HAS AN AVERAGE OF 39 RETIREMENTS A MONTH.
UNDER THIS INCENTIVE PROGRAM, WE RECEIVED 1,052 RETIREMENT REQUESTS IN WHICH THEY WERE ELECTING THEIR RETIREMENT.
H MEETS TRAINED AND EXPERIENCED BENEFIT COUNSELORS HAVE REVIEWED THOUSAND 52 OF THOSE REQUESTS SENT APPLICATION PACKETS OUT, REVIEWED SUBMITTED APPLICATION AND DOCUMENTS.
MET WITH HUNDREDS OF PARTICIPANTS,
[02:50:01]
RETURNED THOUSANDS OF PHONE CALLS, PREPARED PAYROLL SHEETS, AND FOLLOWED AUDIT AND PAYROLL SUBMISSION PROCESSES.WE'RE VERY PROCESS ORIENTED, AS I'M SURE ALL OF YOU KNOW, AND WE DO NOT DEVIATE FROM THAT BECAUSE WHEN YOU'RE RECEIVING THIS BENEFIT AS A LIFETIME BENEFIT, YOU DON'T WANT ANYTHING WRONG WITH THAT.
THIS IS IN ADDITION TO THE MANY HUNDREDS OF OTHER RETIREMENT RELATED TRANSACTIONS OVER THAT SAME TIME PERIOD.
H MES HAS PROCESSED AND PAID OVER 700 OF THESE INDIVIDUALS WITH THIS PROGRAM.
THEIR PAYMENTS WERE RETROACTIVE TO JUNE 1ST.
WE WILL HAVE THE REMAINING CITY INCENTIVE RETIREMENTS ON SEPTEMBER, ON THE SEPTEMBER, 2025 PAYROLL THIS MONTH.
IN SUMMARY, H MEETS LEADERSHIP AND STAFF HAVE WORKED DILIGENTLY HIRED ADDITIONAL STAFF MEMBERS, STREAMLINED PROCESSES, EXTENDED PAYROLL DEADLINES IN ORDER TO PROCESS THE HISTORIC NUMBER OF RETIREMENTS WHILE MAINTAINING A PRUDENT DISCIPLINE PROCESS TO HELP ENSURE THAT AS FIDUCIARIES H MEEPS BOARD AND OF TRUSTEES, WHICH APPROVES AND MAKES SURE ALL BENEFITS ARE CORRECT FOR ALL OF OUR PARTICIPANTS IN THE CITY OF HOUSTON.
MS. MO, THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE TODAY.
UM, THIS IS A GOOD OPPORTUNITY FOR US TO GET SOME REAL CLARITY ON WHAT EXACTLY HAS TAKEN PLACE.
UM, WE'VE SEEN THE STORIES AND AS A COUNCIL, I KNOW THAT NO ONE WANTS OUR RETIREES TO BE WITHOUT THEIR WELL-DESERVED RETIREMENTS.
UM, FROM WHAT I UNDERSTAND, THE RETIREES RECEIVED THEIR THREE MONTH INCENTIVE PAY IN MAY.
DID EVERY 1052 RETIREES RECEIVE THEIR INCENTIVE PAY IN MAY? CORRECT.
EVERY SINGLE RETIREE GOT THE THREE MONTH INCENTIVE PAY IN MAY AFTER THEIR RETIREMENT.
THAT IS MY UNDERSTANDING ALSO.
AND THEN, UM, WHAT WE SAW IN THAT WAS BEING REPORTED WERE OVER 300 RETIREES HAD NOT RECEIVED THEIR RETIREMENT BENEFITS.
WERE, WERE THERE SOME SPECIFIC CIRCUMSTANCES? I MEAN, CAN YOU KIND OF GIVE US SOME INSIGHT INTO WHAT EXACTLY HAPPENED? UM, WAS THERE SOMETHING THAT NEEDED TO TAKE PLACE THAT DIDN'T TAKE PLACE? BECAUSE IF I'M ONE OF THE 300 PEOPLE, I WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT I GET MY RETIREMENT BENEFITS RIGHT.
UM, REGARDLESS OF WHAT'S GOING ON IN THE WORLD, IF I ACCEPTED THE PACKAGE, I WANT TO BE COMPENSATED.
CAN YOU KIND OF TALK US THROUGH WHAT HAPPENED WITH THOSE 300 PEOPLE THAT WERE REPORTING? THEY HAD NOT RECEIVED THEIR BENEFITS, TIMING, A LOT OF THESE INDIVIDUALS DID NOT SUBMIT THE PROPER PAPERWORK IN ORDER TO BE PROCESSED EARLY ON.
AND OF COURSE THERE'S A LOT OF PAPERWORK INVOLVED IN REVIEWING IT.
SOME OF IT WAS COMPLETED INCORRECTLY, SO THEREFORE THE COUNSELORS HAD TO MEET WITH THEM ONE-ON-ONE IN ORDER TO MAKE SURE THE INFORMATION WAS CORRECT.
THERE WAS MISSING DOCUMENTS ATTACHED TO THEIR PAPERWORK.
SO IT'S ALL IN PROCESSING WITH GETTING THAT DONE.
OUT OF THE, UH, 300, THERE ARE OVER 40 OR SO THAT STAFF IS UNABLE TO REACH THEM.
THEY'VE SENT OUT THE NECESSARY PAPERWORK, BUT THEY'RE NOT RECEIVING ANY INFORMATION BACK FROM THOSE INDIVIDUALS.
SO IT'S THINGS LIKE THAT THAT'S HAPPENING.
UM, TO TELL YOU EXACTLY ON THE PARTICIPANTS IN WHY THEY'RE NOT RETURNING THE NECESSARY DOCUMENTS, WE'RE STILL WAITING TO HEAR FROM SEVERAL OF THEM ON THAT.
BUT IT'S ALL A MATTER OF PROCESS.
[02:55:01]
SO RIGHT NOW, HOW MANY RETIREES HAVE NOT RECEIVED THEIR BENEFITS FOR WHATEVER REASONS? UH, WE'RE STILL LOOKING AT ABOUT 2 70, 2 72 80.AND THEN WHAT'S THE DATE THAT EVERY SINGLE RETIREE WILL HAVE RECEIVED THEIR BENEFITS WITH THIS INCENTIVE? FROM THIS INCENTIVE PLAN? YES.
UH, THE END OF SEPTEMBER THIS MONTH.
SO BY THE END OF THIS MONTH, EVERY SINGLE PERSON WHO ELECTED INTO THE RETIREMENT PLAN SHOULD HAVE RECEIVED THEIR INCENTIVE PAY AND THEIR RETIREMENT BENEFITS SHOULD BE KICKED IN.
AND BY THE END OF THIS MONTH, PROVIDED THAT THE, ALL OF THE PAPERWORK IS IN ORDER AND WE'RE ANTICIPATING THAT TO BE THE CASE, UM, AS OF YESTERDAY AFTERNOON, WE RECEIVED, OR EVERYTHING IN ORDER WAS ABOUT 217 OUT OF THAT 300 NUMBER AND STAFF IS PLANNING ON HAVING THE REST OF IT COMPLETED BY THE END OF THIS WEEK.
SO WHAT HAPPENS TO THOSE 40 OR SO INDIVIDUALS THAT HAVE NOT TURNED IN THEIR PAPERWORK? I MEAN, IS THERE, UH, ARE WE, I'M, I'M ASSUMING THERE'S A PROCESS OF SENDING CERTIFIED LETTERS OR, I DON'T KNOW IF SOMEBODY WILL KNOCK ON THEIR DOOR OR WHAT, BUT I MEAN, I DON'T, NO.
WHAT HAPPENS THERE? THEY'LL CONTINUE TO TRY TO REACH OUT TO THOSE INDIVIDUALS LIKE PHONE, UH, EMAILS.
'CAUSE WE HAVE EMAIL ADDRESSES FOR THE ONES THAT WE DO HAVE IT, THEY WILL CONTINUE TRYING TO REACH OUT TO THEM.
SO, UM, SO BY THE END OF THIS MONTH, ALL 1052 OF OUR RETIREES SHOULD BE RECEIVING THEIR BENEFITS LESS THE NUMBER THAT HAVE NOT SUBMITTED, SUBMITTED RESPONDED.
AND I KNOW THAT, UM, GOING FROM 39 ON AVERAGE RETIREES A MONTH YES.
TO 1052, UH, WAS A MONUMENTAL TASK.
SO WE APPRECIATE YOUR LEADERSHIP AS CHAIRMAN OF THE BOARD.
AND YOUR FELLOW COLLEAGUES FROM THE BOARD.
UM, THIS PENSION PACKAGE THAT THE MAYOR PUT OUT TO ELIGIBLE RETIREES, UH, STATED THAT THEY WOULD BE RECEIVING THEIR PAYMENT WITHIN 30 TO 60 DAYS OF ACCEPTING THE PACKAGE ON MAY 1ST.
IS THAT CORRECT? I CAN'T SPEAK TO THAT COUNCIL MEMBER 'CAUSE I DON'T RECALL.
SO WAS THERE, WAS THERE A MESSAGE TO RETIREES THAT THEY WERE EXPECTING TO RECEIVE PAY WITHIN 30 TO 60 DAYS? THE UH, I DO KNOW THE COMMUNICATION.
WE SENT OUT THE PENSION SYSTEM, IT WAS 60 TO 90 DAYS.
SO, AND SO WHAT ALL WAS INCLUDED WAS THAT EVERY SINGLE PAYMENT? THE, THE LUMP SUM PLUS THE, UM, THE ADDITIONAL INCENTIVE, UH, PAY THAT THEY WERE SUPPOSED TO RECEIVE.
UM, WHICH ON THE COMMUNICATION PIECE, WHICH, WHICH PART? ALRIGHT, LET ME SIMPLIFY THIS.
YOU SAY THAT THERE ARE ALMOST 300 PEOPLE THAT STILL HAVE NOT BEEN PAID CORRECT.
FOR PENSION ON THEIR PENSION PAID ON THEIR PENSIONS.
THAT TOOK THE PACKAGE BACK IN MAY.
SO THAT WOULD BE ALMOST 120 DAYS SINCE THEY HAVE RECEIVED THAT PAY BE, KEEP IN MIND MM-HMM
I I UNDERSTAND THEY RECEIVED THE PACKET MM-HMM
BUT THEY HAVE TO RETURN THE INFORMATION.
SO BASED ON WHEN THEY RETURNED THE INFORMATION, THAT COULD BE THE REASON WHY AS COUNCIL MEMBER CAST SIX TATUM POINTED OUT WHY THEY WERE NOT ON AN EARLIER PAYROLL.
SO YOU ALL USUALLY DO AROUND 39 PROCESSING PAYMENTS FOR RETIREES A MONTH ON AVERAGE, CORRECT.
SO WHAT WAS DONE TO ENSURE THAT YOU HAD THE NECESSARY RESOURCES AND PERSONNEL, THE CAPACITY TO DO 1060 TO 90 DAYS? UH, JUST WITH GETTING WITH STAFF AND WE HIRED ABOUT 20% MORE INDIVIDUALS BROUGHT 'EM ON BOARD AND HELPED IN PROCESSING THE PAPERWORK AS THEY WERE RECEIVED.
SO WHY WEREN'T YOU ALL ABLE TO GET IT PROCESSED WITHIN THE 60 TO 90 DAYS? THAT WAS, WAS PUT OUT TO THE RETIREES BECAUSE IF THEY DIDN'T SUBMIT THEIR PAPERWORK WITH THAT PAPERWORK, IT REQUIRES DOCUMENTATION, MARRIAGE LICENSES, BIRTH CERTIFICATES.
A LOT OF PEOPLE DIDN'T SUBMIT THAT.
SO WHEN THAT HAPPENED, THEY WERE ENDING UP BACK TO THE END OF THE LINE.
SO IF IT WAS SUBMITTED IN ORDER, THEY WERE PROCESSED AND PUT ON PAYROLL.
SO IF IT WAS ONLY 39 PEOPLE THERE, LIKE IT
[03:00:01]
USUALLY IS ON A MONTHLY BASIS, THAT LINE WOULDN'T HAVE BEEN AS LONG AND THEY COULD HAVE GOT PROCESSED QUICKER ONLY IF THEY SUBMITTED THE PAPERWORK.BUT IF THEY DID NOT SUBMIT THE RIGHT PAPERWORK AND SOMETHING HAD TO BE REVISED, IF IT WAS ONLY 30 PEOPLE THAT YOU WERE HAVING TO PROCESS, WOULDN'T IT BE A QUICKER PROCESS FOR THEM TO BE BACK IN FRONT OF YOU TO CORRECT THOSE CHANGES TO GET THE PAYMENT OUT? UH, I WOULDN'T SAY THAT BECAUSE THE STAFF, THEY WERE PREPARED, KNOWLEDGEABLE AND THEY KNEW WHAT TO DO IN THE INSTANCES LIKE THAT.
I WAS TOLD THAT ABOUT 10,500 CALLS CAME INTO HE PS REGARDING RETIREES WANTING INFORMATION REGARDING THEIR PAYMENT.
IS THAT CORRECT? THAT'S ABOUT 10,000, 13,000 CALLS.
WHY DO YOU THINK THAT YOU RECEIVED THAT MANY CALLS? UH, THERE COULD BE SEVERAL REASONS.
ONE, THEIR CALLS WERE NOT ANSWERED AT THE TIME THEY CALLED AND A LOT OF PARTICIPANTS CONTINUED TO CALL BACK, CALL BACK WITHOUT LEAVING MESSAGES.
SO THERE COULD BE A NUMBER OF REASONS FOR THAT.
HAVE YOU EVER RECEIVED THAT MANY CALLS BEFORE? WE'VE NEVER HAD AN INCENTIVE PROGRAM LIKE THIS BEFORE.
SO THIS, THE FIRST TIME YOU'VE DONE AN INCENTIVE PROGRAM, WHAT WERE THE COORDINATION EFFORTS BEFOREHAND TO SET UP THE RESOURCES AND CAPACITY NECESSARY TO GET THE PAYMENTS PROCESSED ON TIME WITHIN OUR SYSTEM? WE MET WITH STAFF.
STAFF RECEIVED THE ADDITIONAL TRAINING.
THEY PROVIDED ALL OF THIS INFORMATION AS TO WHAT PROCESSES, IF ANY, NEEDED TO BE ADDED IN.
SO HOW, HOW FAR IN ADVANCE DID YOU START WORKING ON THAT? UH, I WOULD SAY EARLY MARCH.
AND SO WHAT WOULD YOU SAY THE REASON, WERE THERE ANY OTHER REASONS BESIDES, UM, INACCURATE APPLICATIONS THAT LED TO ALMOST 300 PEOPLE TO THIS DAY STILL NOT RECEIVING PAYMENT? NO, THAT'S ABOUT RIGHT.
THANK YOU MS. MOS FOR YOUR PRESENTATION AND EXPLANATION.
UH, I JUST WANTED TO SAY, UH, OF THE DEED OF DOING THIS INCENTIVE, I'M GLAD YOU INDICATED THAT THIS IS THE FIRST TIME THAT THIS WAS DONE, WHICH IS CREDIT, BUT TO, UH, I WOULD PRESENT ADMINISTRATION, MAYOR AND THIS COUNCIL.
THANK YOU FOR THE EFFORTS AND THE WORK THAT YOU'RE DOING.
I PERSONALLY CALLED TO GET INFORMATION CONCERNING THE PROCESS.
'CAUSE IT'S LEGITIMATE TO BE CONCERNED.
ALL OF US AROUND THIS TABLE IS CONCERNED ABOUT THAT.
I WAS AT MY BARBER AND, UM, ONE OF MY
SO I TOOK THE APPROACH TO LOOK INTO IT MYSELF AS A NEW COUNCIL MEMBER, UM, LEARNING ALL OF THESE THINGS.
AND I DON'T, YOU KNOW, CLAIM TO KNOW ALL OF, BUT IT'S A PROCESS OF LEARNING.
SO LOOKING AT IT AT THIS POINT RIGHT NOW, IT BECAME CLEAR TO ME WHEN I SPOKE WITH THE BOARD AND IN TERMS OF WHAT ACTUALLY HAPPENED.
SO WITH WHAT YOU JUST, THE INFORMATION YOU'VE GIVEN US, THE DETAILS THAT THE MAYOR PRO TEM BROUGHT OUT, IT GIVES MORE CLARITY TO THE ISSUE.
I DON'T THINK ANYBODY WOULD INTENTIONALLY NOT PAY PEOPLE RIGHT.
AND I THINK THAT'S, THAT'S THE THING THAT WE'RE TRYING TO GET TO, BUT NOT TRYING TO IGNORE THE FACT, UH, THAT THE FACT IT IS A DEEP CONCERN THAT PEOPLE SHOULD GET THAT MONEY.
BUT I DO WANT TO JUST SAY, I COMMEND YOU AND THE BOARD AND THE, THE PENSION BOARD IN, IN CLARIFYING IT SO THAT WE DON'T, YOU KNOW, GO OUT WITH THE IMPRESSION THAT THESE PEOPLE WHO DOES THAT, WHO WOULD GIVE AN INCENTIVE TO GET PEOPLE, UH, AN OPPORTUNITY.
THANK GOD NOBODY WAS LAID OFF.
THANK GOD THAT THEY GOT A CHECK, SEVERANCE PAY.
BUT WE KNOW THAT OUR CITY IS GOING THROUGH MATTERS UNLIKE BEFORE IN A LOT OF AREAS.
SO THANK YOU AGAIN FOR ME, FOR YOUR CLARIFICATION.
AND I THINK WITH THAT BEING SAID, THEN WE CAN, WE CAN HAVE BETTER DAYS GOING FORWARD AND THANK GOD FOR THE EFFORT THAT'S BEING DONE TO HELP THESE PEOPLE.
THANK YOU MAYOR APPROACH, JIM.
I JUST WANT TO CLARIFY THAT, UM, ALL 1052 OF OUR RETIREES HAVE RECEIVED THEIR INCENTIVE PAY IN MAY, UM, IF THEY HAD VACATION OR SICK PAY.
WAS THAT PAID IN MAY ALSO? I THINK IT WAS, YES.
[03:05:01]
THAT I, I HAD, UM, ONE OF THE MEMBERS AT, AT MY CHURCH WHO TOLD ME SHE, SHE HAD A VACATION IN SICK PAY.I WANNA MAKE SURE THAT ALL OF OUR RETIREES RECEIVED THEIR VACATION AND SICK PAY AND THEY RECEIVED THE THREE MONTH INCENTIVE INCENTIVE.
AND THEN NOW YOU'RE SAYING THAT ALL OF OUR RETIREES THAT ELECTED TO OPT INTO THIS, UM, SYSTEM SHOULD HAVE RECEIVED THEIR RETIREMENT BENEFITS.
THOSE SHOULD KICK IN BY THE END OF THIS MONTH.
SO WE SHOULD NOT HAVE, UNLESS THEY HAVE NOT FILLED OUT THEIR PAPERWORK OR THEY HAVE NOT BEEN IN TOUCH WITH THE DEPARTMENT TO FINALIZE THEIR APPLICATIONS.
AND THEY WILL, WITH THE APPLICATIONS THAT ARE ALL IN ORDER, THEY WILL RECEIVE THEIR CHECK THE LAST, AROUND THE LAST DAY OF THIS MONTH, WHICH I THINK IS SEPTEMBER 28TH OR 29TH.
KEEP AND, AND I KNOW THAT YOU KEEP, OKAY, GO AHEAD.
SO THEY WOULD'VE INITIALLY HAVE BEEN ON PAYROLL JUNE.
SO SINCE FOR THE ONES THAT WERE NOT, IT WILL BE RETROACTIVE.
SO THEY'LL RECEIVE THEIR JUNE, JULY, AUGUST ON THE SEPTEMBER CHECK.
UH, I, AND I KNOW THAT I DON'T WANT TO, YOU KNOW, FEEL LIKE I'M DEPOSING YOU, BUT I WANT US TO BE ABLE TO HAVE THE FACTS RIGHT.
UM, BECAUSE IF PEOPLE CALL US AND THEY ARE SAYING THAT THEY ARE NOT RECEIVING THEIR PAYMENTS, I MEAN, THIS GIVES US THE INFORMATION THAT WE NEED TO SAY, HAVE YOU FILLED OUT YOUR APPLICATION? CORRECT.
HAVE YOU TURNED IN YOUR PAPERWORK? YES.
DID YOU DO ALL OF THE THINGS THAT ARE NECESSARY? UM, 'CAUSE THIS IS A TWO-WAY STREET.
UM, I THINK THE, THE CITY MADE A COMMITMENT TO THESE RETIREES, THOSE CO RETIREES PUT IN YEARS OF SERVICE TO OUR CITY.
UM, AND WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY RECEIVE THE PAYMENTS THAT THEY VERY WELL DESERVE.
SO THANK YOU FOR THE SERVICE THAT YOU'VE PROVIDED, UM, TO MAKE SURE OUR RETIREES GET THE MONEY THEY DESERVE.
AND IF I MAY, I THINK SOME OF MY BOARD MEMBERS ARE HERE, I WOULD ASK IF THEY COULD STAND SURE.
AND SAY, CAN'T STAND WITHOUT THEM.
I JUST WANTED TO TO END BY SAYING, I, I DO WANT TO THANK YOU AND YOUR BOARD FOR THE WORK THAT YOU'VE DONE.
I DON'T THINK THAT IT IS, UH, BASED ON A LACK OF EFFORT THAT, UH, THE SITUATION HAS TURNED OUT TO BE WHAT IT IS AND THAT THERE'S, YOU KNOW, ALMOST 300 PEOPLE WHO HAVE STILL NOT BEEN FULLY PAID.
UH, BUT WE DO NEED TO LOOK AT THE SERIOUSNESS OF WHAT HAS TAKEN PLACE BECAUSE YOU DIDN'T GET 13,000 CALLS FOR NO REASON.
YOU GOT 13,000 CALLS BECAUSE THERE WERE SO MANY PEOPLE WHO WERE EXPECTING A CERTAIN AMOUNT OF PAY WHO FOR WHATEVER REASON WAS NOT GETTING THE PAY.
AND I DO THINK THERE WAS A LACK OF, OR IT MAY HAVE BEEN A LACK OF COMMUNICATION OR SOME MISINFORMATION AND MISINTERPRETATION ON WHAT WAS EXPECTED.
BUT PEOPLE TOOK THIS PACKAGE THAT WAS UP AGAINST THE FISCAL YEAR DEADLINE TO ENSURE THAT THEY COULD RECEIVE A CERTAIN AMOUNT OF MONEY WITHIN A CERTAIN AMOUNT OF TIME.
AND THAT DID NOT FULLY HAPPEN.
AND BECAUSE OF THAT, 13,000 CALLS CAME INTO HE PS BECAUSE OF THAT, ON NUMEROUS MEDIA OUTLETS, YOU HAVE RETIREES SAYING THAT THEY REGRET TAKING THAT PACKAGE.
THEY REGRET TAKING IT BECAUSE THEY DON'T HAVE THE MONEY THAT THEY FELT THAT THEY WERE PROMISED TO GET, TO BE ABLE TO SUSTAIN THEMSELVES.
AND WHEN YOU'RE ALREADY GOING INTO RETIREMENT AND HAVE A CERTAIN LEVEL OF EXPECTATION ON WHAT YOU SHOULD BE ANTICIPATING AND YOU DO NOT RECEIVE IT, THAT IS GONNA PUT YOU IN A BIND.
THE ONLY REASON THAT YOU ARE STANDING BEFORE US IS TO TRY TO GIVE US CLARIFICATION ON WHAT HAPPENED.
BUT WHAT TRULY HAPPENED IS THERE WAS AN ISSUE REGARDING GETTING ALL THE PAYMENTS OUT.
THAT HAS CREATED A LOT OF FINANCIAL BURDEN FOR HUNDREDS OF PEOPLE.
WE'RE ALL GETTING CALLS EVERYWHERE WE GO.
AS THE MAYOR PRO TEM SAID, PEOPLE COMING UP TO YOU AT CHURCH, PEOPLE COMING UP TO YOU AT THE GROCERY STORE, WHY HAVEN'T I BEEN PAID? SO REGARDLESS OF WHAT THE SPECIFICS AND VARIABLES THAT WENT INTO WHY WE ARE WHERE WE ARE TODAY AS A CITY, IF WE MAKE A PROMISE TO RETIREES TO TAKE A PACKAGE, THEN THOSE PROMISES MUST BE KEPT.
AND AT THE MOMENT WE'RE GOING INTO MID-SEPTEMBER, YOU'RE SAYING THAT ALMOST 300 PEOPLE STILL HAVE NOT
[03:10:01]
BEEN FULLY PAID.THAT TOOK THE PACKAGE BACK IN MAY.
AND SO I THINK THIS COUNCIL BODY WITH THE ADMINISTRATION PLUS H MEPS HAS TO DO A BETTER JOB IN COORDINATING AND COLLABORATING WITH ONE ANOTHER TO ENSURE THAT YOU ALL HAVE THE RESOURCES NECESSARY.
ONE, TO HAVE STAFF, TO DO THOSE APPLICATIONS, TO GET OUT THE COMMUNICATION AND MAKE SURE THINGS ARE PROCESSED PROPERLY.
IT'S NOT FAIR FOR A SYSTEM THAT ONLY DOES 39 PROCESSING PAYMENTS A MONTH TO THEN BE ASKED TO DO OVER A THOUSAND IN A SHORT AMOUNT OF TIME.
AND THAT'S ONLY A THOUSAND BASED ON WHO TOOK THE PACKAGE.
WHAT IF ALL 3000 PEOPLE TOOK THE PACKAGE? IF ALL 3000 PEOPLE TOOK THE PACKAGE, WE MAY BE GOING INTO SIX, SEVEN MONTHS OF NO OF, OF SOME PEOPLE NOT GETTING A CHECK.
SO THERE COULDN'T HAVE BEEN PROPER COORDINATION FROM THE BEGINNING BECAUSE THERE'S NO WAY THAT IS REALISTICALLY POSSIBLE TO HAPPEN.
SO IN ORDER FOR US TO HAVE SOME CREDIBILITY AS A CITY WHEN IT COMES TO OUR CITY EMPLOYEES, I THINK WE DO NEED TO DO A MUCH BETTER JOB OF COMMUNICATING REAL AND TO REAL, UM, EXPECTATIONS FOR THEM TO HAVE BEFORE THEY SIGN THEIR LINE, THEIR NAME ON A DOTTED LINE AND GIVE UP THEIR JOB FOR WHAT THEY WERE PROMISED.
AND IN THIS PARTICULAR INSTANCE, IT HAS BEEN SHOWN THAT THAT IS NOT THE CASE.
AND YOUR BOARD MEMBERS, MORE IMPORTANTLY, YOUR RANK AND FILE, YOU'VE CERTAINLY CLEARED UP THAT THE CITY COMMITMENT OF INCENTIVE PAY WAS DELIVERED IN MAY.
YOU NEVER MADE A PROMISE TO THE RETIREES HOW QUICK IT COULD BE PROCESSED BECAUSE THEY'RE ALL VERY UNIQUE AND INDIVIDUALLY TREATED.
EVEN THOSE THAT FILED IN JULY AND AUGUST ARE JUST NOW BEING PROCESSED.
SO I'M SORRY FOR MISINFORMATION THAT YOU HAVE TO DEAL WITH.
UH, YOU'VE TOLD ME 90% OF THEM ARE ACTUALLY DONE THIS WEEK.
SO THIS IS NOT WHAT YOU NORMALLY DO.
AND I'M SORRY THAT PEOPLE TRY TO PUT WORDS IN YOUR MOUTH, BUT YOU'VE GOT A PRODUCT AT THIS POINT, UH, THAT YOU'RE CAN BE PROUD OF.
AND CERTAINLY THE CITY, THE REFERENCE THAT THE CITY DID THIS AND THIS, YOU'VE WELL ESTABLISHED THAT THE PENSION BOARD IS INDEPENDENT AND YOUR BOARD MEMBERS ARE ONLY APPOINTED ONE BY THE MAYOR.
AND I HAVEN'T HAD AN OPPORTUNITY TO MAKE THAT APPOINTMENT.
TWO BY COUNCIL, WHICH THE INCUMBENT COUNCILS APPROVED.
AND THEN MR. HOLLAND'S GOT ONE.
SO THAT INDEPENDENT BOARD IS THE ONE THAT IS PROCESSING AND UNFORTUNATELY BEING UNJUSTLY CRITICIZED.
SO YOU NEED TO, WHEREVER YOU GO, CONTINUE THE DISTINCTION.
YOU'RE PROUD OF YOUR INDEPENDENCE FROM THE CITY OF HOUSTON.
YES, YOU'RE ELECTED BY CITY EMPLOYEES.
YOU'RE NOT CHOSEN OR ELECTED BY THIS.
YOUR METHOD OF PROCESSING THINGS ARE NOT DIRECTED BY THE CITY OF HOUSTON.
THE CITY THROUGH THE ERNST AND YOUNG INCENTIVE PROGRAM WAS COMPLETED IN MAY WHEN EVERYONE GOT THEIR PAYCHECK FROM THE CITY THEN DEPENDING ON THE ACTIONS OF THE RETIREES AND YOUR ABILITIES IS WHAT IS BEING SO MISREPRESENTED.
UH, AND I'M SURE IT'S NOT THE LAST TIME WE'LL HEAR IT, BUT THE, YOU CAN'T REWRITE HISTORY.
THANK YOU TO THE COUNCIL MEMBERS.
AND THANK YOU FOR BE SURE YOUR RANK AND FILE.
AND AGAIN, WE'RE GONNA KEEP THIS TRAIN ON THE TRACK AND KEEP IT MOVING.
AND, AND WE MAY VERY WELL HAVE ANOTHER INCENTIVE PROGRAM AND I'LL LET YOU KNOW WHEN IT'S COMING AS WE DID THIS TIME.
CONSENT AGENDA, CONSENT AGENDA PLEASE.
UNDER THE MISCELLANEOUS CATEGORY, ITEMS THREE AND FOUR HAVE BEEN PULLED BY THE ADMINISTRATION AND WILL NOT BE CONSIDERED.
ITEM FIVE HAS BEEN REMOVED FOR SEPARATE CONSIDERATION.
NEED A MOTION FOR ITEMS ONE AND TWO? WE ALREADY DID.
OH, WE DID THOSE DIDN'T WE? ALRIGHT.
YOU WANT US TO DO IT AGAIN? NO, WE DON'T WANNA DO 'EM AGAIN.
[PROPERTY]
PROPERTY CATEGORY ITEM EIGHT HAS BEEN REMOVED FOR SEPARATE CONSIDERATION.[03:15:01]
ITEMS SIX AND SEVEN? CAST STATE MOVE.[PURCHASING AND TABULATION OF BIDS - NUMBERING]
THE PURCHASING AND TABULATION OF BIDS.CATEGORY ITEMS 10 AND 11 HAVE BEEN REMOVED FOR SEPARATE CONSIDERATION.
NEED A MOTION FOR ITEMS NINE, 12, AND 13 TO MOVE SECOND.
[ORDINANCES]
UNDER THE ORDINANCES CATEGORY ITEM.SINCE YOUR LIST HAS BEEN DISTRIBUTED, ALL ITEMS HAVE BEEN RECEIVED.
ITEM 17 HAS BEEN PULLED BY THE ADMINISTRATION AND WILL NOT BE CONSIDERED.
ITEM 14 HAS BEEN REMOVED FOR SEPARATE CONSIDERATION.
NEED A VOTE ON THE BALANCE? ALL IN FAVOR SAY YES.
[CONSIDERATION OF MATTERS REMOVED FROM CONSENT AGENDA]
FOR SEPARATE CONSIDERATION.ITEM FIVE NEEDS A MOTION CAST.
ITEM EIGHT NEEDS A MOTION CAST.
THIS COMPLETES THE ITEMS ON THE AGENDA.
[NON CONSENT - MATTERS TO BE PRESENTED BY COUNCIL MEMBERS]
CASTILLO FOR PAPA? THANK YOU MAYOR.I WANNA START BY, UM, HIGHLIGHTING AN EVENT I ATTENDED THIS PAST SATURDAY, THE NINE 11 DAY OF SERVICE AND, UH, MEMORIAL CEREMONY AT THE HOUSTON NATIONAL CEMETERY.
IT WAS A GREAT, UM, A GREAT EVENT.
A LOT OF FOLKS OUT THERE TO, UH, PERFORM SERVICE AT THE CEMETERY COUNCIL MEMBER CARTER.
I GAVE SOME VERY MOVING REMARKS AS WELL.
AND, UM, AS WE COME UP ON THE ANNIVERSARY TOMORROW, IT WAS A, IT WAS A GREAT WAY TO HONOR, UH, THE VICTIMS AND, AND GIVE BACK TO THE COMMUNITY.
I WANT TO WELCOME A NEW CHIP INTERN TO THE DISTRICT H OFFICE.
KEONI HOLMAN, WHO STARTS TODAY AND WILL BE WORKING ALONGSIDE OUR DISTRICT H HORIZON'S INTERNS, UH, BRIANNA AND MADISON, AS WELL AS THE REST OF THE DISTRICT H TEAM.
VERY EXCITED TO HAVE KEONI COME ON BOARD THIS EVENING.
I'LL BE HOSTING, UH, ANOTHER PUBLIC SAFETY ROUNDTABLE.
THIS ONE WILL BE IN INDEPENDENCE HEIGHTS.
AND THESE ARE DESIGNED TO REALLY BRING STAKEHOLDERS AND, UH, DIFFERENT RESOURCES TOGETHER FROM, UM, NONPROFITS, SOCIAL SERVICES, LAW ENFORCEMENT, ELECTED OFFICIALS AND OTHERS, AND REALLY WORK WITH SOME OF THE MORE CONSISTENT ISSUES THAT COMMUNITIES ARE FACING.
AND SO WE'VE DONE A NUMBER OF THESE ACROSS THE DISTRICT.
UM, TONIGHT WILL BE INDEPENDENCE HEIGHTS AND LOOK FORWARD TO, UH, ANOTHER GOOD DISCUSSION AND, UH, GETTING SOME TIME WITH THE COMMUNITY THERE.
THIS COMING, UH, NEXT SAT, NOT THIS SATURDAY, BUT THE FOLLOWING SATURDAY ON THE 20TH OF SEPTEMBER.
UM, MYSELF AND COUNCIL MEMBERS MARTINEZ AND RAMIREZ ARE GONNA HOST A COMMUNITY MEETING AROUND THE HISPANIC HISTORY RESEARCH CENTER PROJECT THAT HAS BEEN ONGOING.
SO WE WILL BE, UM, OUT AT THE HCC FELIX FRAGA ACADEMIC CAMPUS.
UH, WE DO HAVE A LOCATION CONFIRMED 10:00 AM TO 1130, AND THIS WILL BE ON SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 20TH.
AND SO, UH, YOU CAN CHECK OUT SOCIAL MEDIA TO RSVP AND GET THE FLYER.
AND WE'LL BE SENDING OUT, UH, A MASS, UM, EMAIL TODAY TO PROMOTE THAT.
BUT NOW THAT WE HAVE A LOCATION, WANNA MAKE SURE, UM, YOU MARK YOUR CALENDARS AND WE'LL BE PROVIDING AN UPDATE ON THE STATUS OF THAT PROJECT.
AND ALSO, UH, HEARING FROM THE COMMUNITY ON THEIR THOUGHTS AND THEIR FEEDBACK.
THANK YOU MAYOR PRO TIMM, AND TO, UH, MY COLLEAGUES.
BRIEFLY, I DO WANT TO, UM, UH, TAKE THE OPPORTUNITY TO THANK, UH, THE PUBLIC WORKS AND THE SOUTHWEST MANAGEMENT DISTRICT FOR THEIR
[03:20:01]
RESPONSE TO, UH, A PUBLIC SAFETY ISSUE.COLLEAGUES THAT WAS BROUGHT TO MY ATTENTION.
A FEW MONTHS BACK, AN ELDERLY PEDESTRIAN WAS KILLED AS SHE, UH, ATTEMPTED TO CROSS THE STREET AT THE BUSY INTERSECTION OF BEL AIR BOULEVARD AND RANCHER DRIVE AT NIGHT.
A DRIVER HAD MADE AN IMPROPER TURN AND HIT HER, AND SHE WAS CROSSING TO THE MEDIAN.
THE PEDESTRIAN CROSSING SIGN WAS ON, AND HE SHOULD HAVE WAITED FOR HER TO FINISH CROSSING, BUT HE WAS DRIVING SO FAST AND HE DID NOT SEE HER IN TIME.
CONSTITUENT BROUGHT THIS TO MY ATTENTION AND I MET WITH HIM PERSONALLY.
UH, THEN I MET WITH THE SOUTHWEST MANAGEMENT DISTRICT, WHO LAUDED IN THE PAST FOR THEIR FOCUS ON PUBLIC SAFETY TO ASK THEM FOR SOLUTIONS TO REDUCE THIS KIND OF TRAGEDY IN THIS AREA, ALONG BE LA BOULEVARD.
UH, THEY THEN WORKED WITH, UM, WORKED WITH PUBLIC WORKS TO HAVE A TRAFFIC STUDY CONDUCTED AND TO IMPLEMENT, UH, COMMENDED PUBLIC SAFETY MEASURES BASED ON THE FINDINGS FROM THE TRAFFIC STUDY.
THE MEASURES BEING IMPLEMENTED NOW BY PUBLIC WORKS INCLUDE REFRESHING, REFRESHING PEDESTRIAN CROSSWALK BUTTONS, RETIMING THE TRAFFIC LIGHTS, AND INSTALLING PEDESTRIAN CROSSING SIGNS ALONG THE BUSY STRETCH ON BE AIR BOULEVARD.
I WANT TO COMMEND, UH, DIRECTOR MACKEY AND PUBLIC WORKS AND THE SOUTHWEST MANAGEMENT DISTRICT FOR WORKING WITH OUR OFFICE.
AND I ALSO WANT TO THANK, UH, HABI THE CONSTITUENT WHO FIRST BROUGHT IT TO MY ATTENTION, UH, IS THIS KIND OF COLLABORATION THAT HELPS MAKE OUR CITY SAFER PLACE FOR EVERYONE.
AND FINALLY, I WANT TO THANK THE HARDWORKING MEN AND WOMEN OF SOLID WASTE DEPARTMENT, MR. JESUS, UH, GONZALEZ AND DEANDRE HUDDLESTON IN PARTICULAR.
THEY WERE KIND ENOUGH TO INVITE ME ON A RIDE ALONG THIS PAST MONDAY MORNING.
UH, WE STARTED OFF ABOUT FIVE 30 IN THE MORNING SO THAT I COULD GET A FIRSTHAND EXPERIENCE OF WHAT IT'S LIKE TO WORK WITH THESE MEN AND WOMEN IN SOLID WAYS IN A TRASH PICKUP ROUTE.
WE GET A LOT OF THAT TO THE CITY.
WE STARTED AROUND THAT TIME AND, UH, IT WAS REALLY AN EYE-OPENING ISSUE THAT I WITNESSED THAT IMPEDED THEIR WORK, THAT A LOT OF THINGS IN REGARDS TO SOLID WAYS.
THEY DO A PHENOMENAL JOB, BUT THERE ARE CHALLENGES THAT THEY HAVE TO ENDURE IN ORDER TO MEET THAT SERVICE.
IF RESIDENTS PARK THEIR CARS RIGHT NEXT TO THEIR GARBAGE CANS, THEIR CANS WON'T BE SERVICED.
AND THEY CALL THE NEWS OR, OR COMPLAIN THE CITY ISN'T DOING THE JOB THAT THE MEN AND WOMEN OF THIS DEPARTMENT AREN'T DOING.
THEIR JOBS WHEN THEY MIX IN HEAVY TRASH WITH REGULAR TRASH IN THEIR GARBAGE CANS, WHEN THEY LEAVE THEIR CANS ONLY INCHES AWAY FROM THEIR NEIGHBOR'S CANS, AND IT'S REQUIRED THAT IT'S A THREE FEET DISTANCE.
SOLID WASTES CAN GET BLAMED FOR NOT PICKING UP THEIR TRASH.
I WITNESSED THIS SO MANY TIMES DOING THE RIDE ALONE.
WE NEED TO IMPROVE PUBLIC AWARENESS OF REGULATIONS RELATED TO GARBAGE AND HEAVY TRASH.
IT IS IMPERATIVE THAT OUR RESIDENTS, WE WANT TO HEAR THEM AND WE WANT TO CERTAINLY SERVE THEM, BUT THEY HAVE TO DO THEIR BEST TO NOT CAUSE THESE ISSUES.
AND SO, UM, I'M SURE TO MENTION ALSO THERE'S TRACKING REPORTING DEVICES IN ALL OF THE SOLID WASTE TRUCKS, GARBAGE TRUCKS, THIS WHOLE NOTION OF TRUCKS GOING INTO NEIGHBORHOODS AND NOT PICKING UP ANYTHING NEEDS TO BE DISPELLED.
IF THE TRUCK ONLY PICKED UP ONE SIDE OF THE BLOCK, IT COULD VERY WELL BE THAT THE TRUCK IS NOT OR IS A, AT A CAPACITY AND THEY HAVE TO DUMP IT, OR THAT WAS AN ISSUE WITH THE CANS ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE BLOCK.
I UNDERSTAND THAT WE NEED TO LISTEN TO OUR CONSTITUENTS, BUT WE ALSO NEED TO UNDERSTAND THE FIELD CHALLENGES THAT ARE FACING THE WORKERS IN SOLID WAYS.
SO WITH THAT, I WOULD SAY THAT WE COULD, UH, REALLY DO BETTER.
ALL OF US ON BOTH SIDES OF THE AISLE.
UM, WE'VE GOT OUR KINDA SEASON OF TOWN HALLS COMING UP.
WE'VE GOT THREE OF 'EM THAT WE'LL BE DOING.
UH, ONE IN KINGWOOD, ONE IN CLEAR LAKE, AND THEN ALSO ONE IN EDGEBROOK.
UH, IF EVERYBODY CAN MARK THEIR CALENDARS, THE KINGWOOD IS GONNA BE SEPTEMBER 30TH AT THE KINGWOOD COMMUNITY CENTER IN, UH, CLEAR LAKE ON THE 14TH AT THE SPACE CENTER HOUSTON.
AND IN, UH, OCTOBER 21ST IN EDGEBROOK AT THE ONE MOVEMENT BIBLE CHURCH.
[03:25:01]
ALL START AT, UH, SIX 30.SO WE'VE GOT, UH, QUITE A FEW OF THE CITY DEPARTMENTS.
UH, OTHER ELECTED OFFICIALS WILL HAVE INFORMATION TABLES OUT THERE.
SO IF THE PUBLIC COULD COME OUT THERE, IT'D BE GREAT.
UH, WE'VE GOT RECYCLING IN CLEAR LAKE THIS SATURDAY, STARTING AT NINE O'CLOCK AT UH, ELLINGTON FIELD UNTIL THE, UH, TRUCKS ARE FULL.
SO, UH, GET OUT THERE EARLY 'CAUSE THEY USUALLY FILL UP.
UM, I JUST WANNA SAY THAT YOUR, OUR THOUGHTS AND PRAYERS GO OUT TO CAPTAIN.
UM, ZACH BECKER, HIS WIFE UNEXPECTEDLY PASSED AWAY ON SUNDAY FROM A SUSPECTED, UH, PULMONARY EMBOLISM.
UM, HE WAS THE, HE WAS THE CAPTAIN AT MIDWEST, DID SO MANY GREAT THINGS FOR DISTRICT G.
NOW HE'S THE CAPTAIN OVER VICE.
UM, BUT JUST WE KEEPING YOU AND YOUR FAMILY IN OUR PRAYERS.
COUNCIL MEMBER RAMIREZ, I PASS THIS MORNING.
COUNCIL MEMBER THOMAS, ARE YOU STAND FOR ME? I THINK YOU ARE.
UH, UH, THOSE THAT ARE WATCHING DISTRICT F CONTINUES TO SET THE TRENDS.
SHOUT OUT TO THE DISTRICT F HOTSPOT TEAM, 90 OF THE 178 REPLACEMENT, BUT BENDS HAVE BEEN DELIVERED TO RESIDENTS ON YOUR FRONT STEP.
KUDOS TO THEM AND KUDOS TO THE SOLID WASTE DEPARTMENT, UM, FOR MOVING, MOVING TOWARDS INNOVATION, UH, AND REDUCING THE BOTTLENECKS SO WE CAN CONTINUE TO SERVE OUR CONSTITUENTS.
UM, ALSO JUST WANNA UNDERSCORE PUBLIC SAFETY.
LAST WEEK, AS, AS I, AS I'VE MENTIONED OVER THE LAST COUPLE OF WEEKS, WE VISITED CROSSVIEW COURTS APARTMENTS, UH, IN MIDWEST HOUSTON OFF OF FOND AND CROSSVIEW WESTHEIMER.
UH, THE, THE PROPERTY OWNER HAS ALREADY FILED SUIT AGAINST THE CONVENIENCE STORE AND PRE THE NIGHTCLUB.
UH, THERE, THE RESIDENTS, THE OWNERS, WE HAD A WHOLE MEETING.
WERE CO-CREATING A COMMUNITY ACTION PLAN TO MITIGATE, SQUATTING, UM, UH, BREAK-INS, YOU NAME IT, PARKING CRISIS ALL ALONG CROSSVIEW.
WE HAVE A FOLLOW-UP MEETING WITH THEM NEXT WEEK.
YESTERDAY MY CHIEF AND I VISITED WITH THE WEST SIDE HPD, SO WE COULD ADDRESS THE ISSUES HAPPENING ON ASHFORD POINT.
ASHFORD POINT IS LOCATED BETWEEN RICHMOND AND WESTHEIMER, AND IT HAS THE HIGHEST CALLS FOR SERVICE IN THE CITY OF HOUSTON AS OF LAST MONTH.
UM, THEY'RE ALSO, UH, DEALING WITH SQUATTING DRUG USE, UM, UNHOUSED POPULATION, VACANT UNITS.
SO WE ARE WORKING WITH THEM, THE DRT TEAM AND THE CRIME SUPPRESSION UNIT.
AGAIN, CO-CREATING A PLAN TO MITIGATE WHAT'S HAPPENING THERE.
ALSO, THERE'S SOME GANG ACTIVITY MORE TO COME.
UM, AS PROMISED, WE ARE SCHEDULED TO MEET WITH THE SUBDIVISIONS, THE SUPER NEIGHBORHOOD, TO PROVIDE AN UPDATE ON THE PLAN.
AS WE ROLL OUT THOSE COMMUNITY MEETINGS, I EXPECT AND HOPE THAT YOU ARE THERE TO HELP US TO CONTRIBUTE TO, UM, UH, REDUCING CRIME IN THAT AREA AND IMPROVING QUALITY OF LIFE.
I WANNA HIGHLIGHT PUBLIC INFRASTRUCTURE.
YESTERDAY WE MET WITH THE PUBLIC WORKS TR UH, TRANSPORTATION AND DRAINAGE TEAM TO REVIEW ALL OF OUR MAJOR PROJECTS FROM SWAT, UH, STREETLIGHTS CONCRETE ASPHALT REPLACEMENT.
WE ARE EXCITED THAT WE HAVE AN, UH, AGGRESSIVE AGENDA IN TERMS OF PUBLIC INFRASTRUCTURE ON THE WEST SIDE.
THAT INFORMATION WILL BE ROLLING OUT IN THE NEWSLETTER THIS UPCOMING FRIDAY.
I WANNA HIGHLIGHT SHELFORD CITY.
THIS HAS BEEN A LONG PROCESS, A THREE PHASE PROJECT ADDRESSING OUR WASTEWATER CRISIS.
WE ARE FACING, UH, WE ARE, UH, UH, CLOSING OUT THAT PROJECT AND THE PANEL REPLACEMENTS THAT WERE DAMAGED WITHIN THE SCOPE HAVE BEEN REPAIRED.
PANEL REPLACEMENTS THAT ARE OUTSIDE THE SCOPE OFF OF RICHMOND AND SENATE, WE HAVE THEM IN THE QUEUE FOR A COST ESTIMATE.
SO PARKLAND SUBDIVISION, WE HEAR YOU, THAT'S IN THE QUEUE.
UM, ALLOW US SOME PATIENCE AND GRACE TO GET A COST ESTIMATE SO WE CAN GET THAT SCHEDULED FOR REPAIR.
UM, AS MENTIONED YESTERDAY DURING THE PUBLIC SESSION, THE RICHMOND CONCRETE ASPHALT PROJECT, WE ARE CLOSE TO COMPLETION.
UM, THAT WILL BE DONE OCTOBER 20, UH, 2025.
UM, WE ALSO HAVE A LOCAL DRAINAGE PROJECT HAPPENING OVER THERE.
UH, A DETAIL UPDATE WILL BE PROVIDED IN THE NEWSLETTER AND HAS BEEN PROVIDED TO ALL OF THE RESIDENTS THAT REACHED OUT TO OUR NEIGHBORHOOD.
SHOUT OUT TO PUBLIC WORKS FOR THEIR DILIGENCE IN WORKING WITH OUR OFFICE TO COMMUNICATE CLEARLY AND ACCURATE INFORMATION, UM, SO WE CAN MAKE SURE THAT RESIDENTS ARE INFORMED.
ALSO, SHOUT OUT TO BRAISE VILLAGE.
WE'RE COMING TO YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD.
WE HAVE $160,000 SIDEWALK IMPROVEMENT, UM, UH, PROGRAM COMING, UM, TO YOUR SUBDIVISION.
SO WE ARE DOING OUR COMMUNITY POPUP TO SHARE WITH YOU THE UPDATES, UH, WITH OUR PUBLIC INFRASTRUCTURE.
I WANNA HIGHLIGHT A PUBLIC HEARING WITH THE, UH, PLANNING COMMISSION ON SEPTEMBER 18TH.
DISTRICT F HAS AN ITEM, UM, ON REVIEW.
THE RESIDENTS OF PINEY POINT, PILGRIM'S REST, UH, MISSIONARY BAPTIST CHURCH, AND THE FRIENDS OF RASMUS PARK.
I'M ENCOURAGING YOU TO PARTICIPATE.
THERE ARE TWO RESIDENTIAL LOTS ON THAT AGENDA, UM, TO BE, UH, TRANSITION REPLANTED TO COMMERCIAL FOR A MECHANIC SHOP TO BE PLACED IN THE MIDDLE OF YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD.
[03:30:01]
MANY OF Y'ALL ARE FAMILIAR WITH ME TALKING ABOUT PINEY POINT AND THAT NEIGHBORHOOD ERASING DUE TO MECHANIC SHOPS AND, UM, UH, YOU NAME IT, TIRE SHOPS IN THAT AREA.AND THIS REMNANT OF A FREEDMAN'S TOWN WILL NO LONGER EXIST.
SO I'M ASKING YOU TO PARTICIPATE, UM, TO MAKE SURE THAT YOUR VOICES ARE HEARD, UM, BECAUSE REMOVING RESIDENTIAL LOTS AND CHANGING THEM TO COMMERCIAL REDUCES OUR HOUSING FOOTPRINT AND OUR NEIGHBORHOODS.
SO I WANNA HIGHLIGHT THAT FOR YOU AS WELL.
AND THEN LASTLY, NATIONAL NIGHT OUT IS COMING UP.
WE ARE WORKING WITH OUR POLICE DEPARTMENTS, OUR WEST SIDE AND MIDWEST TO COORDINATE SO WE CAN HAVE A BETTER REACH SIGN UP.
WE WANNA VISIT WITH YOU, WE WANNA HANG OUT WITH YOU.
AND MORE IMPORTANTLY, WE WANNA CREATE RELATIONSHIP WITH OUR NEIGHBORS SO WE CAN CREATE SAFER NEIGHBORHOODS.
PLEASE REACH OUT TO THE DISTRICT F OFFICE, UM, AT DISTRICT F@HOUSTONTX.GOV.
UM, I WANT TO INVITE EVERYONE.
UM, THIS SATURDAY, COUNCIL MEMBER HUFFMAN AND I ARE DOING A, UM, MORNING AT THE MARQUEE EVENT.
IT IS TO, UM, GET TO KNOW LOCAL PUBLIC SAFETY LEADERS.
HPD WILL BE OUT THERE, A NUMBER OF ORGANIZATIONS.
UM, IT WILL BE FROM 10:00 AM TO NOON THIS SATURDAY AT THE MARQUEE 7 6 2 0 KATY FREEWAY.
IT WILL BE IN THE PARKING LOT BETWEEN COMMONBOND AND LA FITNESS.
SO PLEASE JOIN US FOR THAT EVENT.
AND ALSO WANTED TO WISH A HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO JOSIE IN THE DISTRICT, A OFFICE.
WE'RE SO THANKFUL FOR HER SERVICE TO DISTRICT A.
FIRST I WANNA START OFF BY WELCOMING OUR CHIP, UH, FALL CHIP INTERN, UH, PANELO, UH, ANTE.
HE'S PART, HE'S JOINING OUR DISTRICT I TEAM.
HE IS A SENIOR AT THE UNIVERSITY OF HOUSTON STUDYING PUBLIC POLICY AND NUTRITION.
HE'S ALSO A DISTRICT I RESIDENT.
SO IT'S, IT'S A GREAT OPPORTUNITY FOR HIM TO REALLY, UH, BE HANDS-ON WITH WHAT'S HAPPENING IN HIS SPECIFIC NEIGHBORHOOD, BUT JUST ALSO JUST SEEING WHAT'S HAPPENING IN DISTRICT.
I, SO IF YOU CAN JUST STAND REAL QUICK, PAOS.
I WANNA WELCOME HIM TO THE TEAM.
UM, AND THEN SINCE WE'RE GIVING SHOUT OUTS FOR BIRTHDAYS AS WELL, I DEFINITELY WANNA RECOGNIZE MY AGENDA AND POLICY.
UH, DIRECTOR CHRISTINA CAMARILLO.
UH, IT WAS HER BIRTHDAY THIS PAST MONDAY.
WE'RE WANTING TO CELEBRATE HER AS WELL, AND WE'RE THANKFUL TO HAVE HER ON THE TEAM.
UM, WANT TO JUST REFLECT A LITTLE BIT ON A, UH, RIBBON CUTTING THAT WE HAD, UH, JUST YESTERDAY.
IT WAS A PROJECT THAT I WAS ABLE TO WORK ON AS A BOARD MEMBER FOR THE, THE HANO CENTER.
SO THIS, THIS, UH, HOUSING, UH, PROJECT WAS IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE HANO CENTER, WHO HAS A STANDALONE, UH, EARLY CHILDHOOD CENTER, UH, EDUCATION CENTER.
THERE'S SEVERAL OF, OF MY COLLEAGUES THAT HAVE, UH, SIMILAR PROJECTS.
UH, IT WAS A GREAT OPPORTUNITY TO COME BACK TO A RIBBON CUTTING AFTER SPENDING TIME IN 2023 AT A GROUNDBREAKING.
AND SO TO SEE IT FULL CIRCLE, UH, IT WAS EXCITING.
IT IS GOOD TO SEE, UH, SOME OF THE STORIES OF THE FAMILY MEMBERS THAT HAVE THEIR CHILDREN THAT ARE LITERALLY WALKING DISTANCE TO THE SCHOOL.
UM, AND, AND JUST TO ALSO RECOGNIZE ALL OF THE, THE EFFORTS.
IT WAS A COLLABORATIVE EFFORTS, UH, FROM THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT ALL THE WAY DOWN TO THE COUNTY, AND OF COURSE, THE CITY.
AND SO I JUST WANT TO CONGRATULATE EVERYONE THAT WAS A PART OF THAT PROJECT AND, UH, AND LOOK FORWARD TO THE NEXT ONE, WHICH WE'RE HOPING TO HIT IN THE HOBBY AREA SOON.
UM, AND THEN JUST LASTLY, I JUST WANNA, UM, MAKE SURE THAT, UH, THE CIVIC CLUBS AND DISTRICT, I KNOW THAT I'M IN MY SECOND, UM, PART OF THE YEAR CIVIC CIVIC CLUB TOUR.
I MAKE SURE THAT I SPEND A LOT OF TIME WITH THESE CIVIC CLUBS TO MAKE, TO ENSURE THAT THEY KNOW THAT, UH, THEY CAN ALWAYS SEE MY FACE.
I CAN ALWAYS, UH, YOU KNOW, MY TEAM MEMBERS GO OUT THERE.
AND AS A FORMER STAFFER, I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT FOR, OF COURSE, OFFICE TO SHOW UP, BUT ULTIMATELY, WHENEVER THE ELECTED OFFICIAL SHOWS UP, IT'S OUR RESPONSIBILITY TO TAKE THOSE HARD QUESTIONS.
AND SO WE'RE TALKING ABOUT TRASH FEE, WE'RE TALKING ABOUT THE REV CAP.
WE'RE TALKING ABOUT RIGHT SIZING DEPARTMENTS.
WE'RE HAVING ALL THESE CONVERSATIONS, UH, OPEN, HONEST WITH, UH, CONSTITUENCY.
AND SO I LOOK FORWARD TO SEEING EVERYONE OVER THE NEXT COMING MONTHS.
AS YOU KNOW, YESTERDAY, THE POINT IN TIME HOMELESS NUMBERS CAME OUT.
3,325 INDIVIDUALS, BOTH SHELTERED AND UNSHELTERED.
61% SHELTERED, 39% UNSHELTERED.
UM, NATIONWIDE, SINCE 2022, HOMELESSNESS HAS GROWN 32%.
HOUSTON, SINCE THAT TIME, HAS GROWN JUST 3.3% OVER THAT SAME TIME PERIOD.
SO WE HAVE LAID GREAT GROUNDWORK HERE IN HOUSTON.
I KNOW THESE NUMBERS MEAN NOTHING.
WHEN YOU PASS AN ENCAMPMENT OR YOU HAVE A PROBLEM IN YOUR AREA, IT, IT DOESN'T, IT ONE IS TOO MANY.
UH, BUT I DO WANT TO THANK, UH, EVERYBODY THAT WAS INVOLVED IN THE POINT IN TIME COUNT.
SO MUCH OF OUR FUNDING AND DIFFERENT THINGS ARE, ARE BASED ON THESE NUMBERS.
SO IT'S IMPORTANT TO HAVE THE DATA, VERY INTERESTING DATA TO DIG INTO REASONS WHY PEOPLE ARE HOMELESSNESS IF IT'S THEIR FIRST TIME TO BE HOMELESS.
[03:35:01]
GOOD INFORMATION THERE.SO I ENCOURAGE YOU TO LOOK AT THAT.
AND THEN TO REMIND EVERYBODY ON SEPTEMBER 22ND, THE FIRST DAY OF FALL, I'LL BE IN THE DISTRICT OF DESTINATION WITH COUNCIL MEMBER EVAN CHA, HAVING MY ANNUAL FALLS PREVENTION EVENT.
COUNCIL MEMBER CAROLYN EVANS CHAVEZ.
UM, ON PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT DAY FOR THE HOUSTON INDEPENDENT SCHOOL DISTRICT, UH, THERE WAS A PRESENTATION AT BLACKSHIRE ELEMENTARY, THE ANTI-GANG PRESENTATION, AND I WANNA THANK THE DEPARTMENT OF NEIGHBORHOODS OFFICE OF GANG INTERVENTION AND PREVENTION FOR A TIMELY PRESENTATION.
UH, THE TEACHERS RECEIVE TOOLS AND RESOURCES THAT WILL HELP KEEP STUDENTS SAFE AND SUPPORTED, AND I APPRECIATE THE DEDICATION OF THE DEPARTMENT IN SERVING OUR EDUCATORS AND YOUTH.
ON FRIDAY, WE HAD ZOO DAY AT THE HOUSTON ZOO IN DISTRICT D, UH, AND WE HAD THE PLEASURE OF HOSTING FAMILIES AND ELECTED LEADERS FROM A BEHIND THE SCENES ZOO DAY.
WE WITNESSED THE INCREDIBLE WORK OF THOSE CARING FOR OUR WILDLIFE.
A SPECIAL THANK YOU TO JACKIE WALLACE FOR HER LEADERSHIP, AND A WARM WELCOME TO LISA PETERSON, WHO OFFICIALLY ASSUMED THE ROLE OF PRESIDENT AND CEO.
LOOKING AHEAD TO UPCOMING EVENTS IN DISTRICT D, THE VIRTUAL DESIGN UPDATE MEETING AT EDGEWOOD PARK DETENTION BASIN PROJECT WILL BE THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER THE 11TH AT 5:30 PM HOSTED BY HOUSTON PUBLIC WORKS.
YOU WILL GET THE LATEST ON DESIGN PROGRESS FOR THIS CRITICAL AND LONG AWAITED FLOOD MITIGATION PROJECT.
AND I ENCOURAGE EVERYONE TO ATTEND AND SHARE YOUR INPUT ON SATURDAY.
I HAVE SOMETHING IN THE DISTRICT THAT IS NEAR AND DEAR TO MY HEART BECAUSE I SEE THE CHALLENGES THAT PEOPLE HAVE IN REGARDS TO HAVING THINGS ON THEIR RECORD.
UH, THERE WILL BE AN EXPUNCTION CLINIC AND JOB FAIR ON THIS SATURDAY FROM 10:00 AM TO 2:00 PM AT THE SUNNYSIDE HEALTH AND MULTI-SERVICE CENTER, 44 10 REED ROAD.
YOU WILL GET FREE LEGAL ASSISTANCE, UH, FOR EXPUNG TENANT, LANDLORD GUIDANCE, CHILD SUPPORT QUESTIONS.
THERE WILL BE A JOB FAIR IN COMMUNITY SERVICES, AND I CERTAINLY EXTEND MY GRATITUDE TO DISTRICT ATTORNEY, SEAN TIER, UM, UH, CONSTABLE SMOKEY PHILLIPS, COMMISSIONER RODNEY ELLIS, DEPARTMENT OF NEIGHBORHOODS AND OUR PARTNERS FOR BRINGING THESE RESOURCES TO OUR COMMUNITY.
BUT I WANNA BE CLEAR, I KNOW WHEN WE SAY THAT PEOPLE'S RECORDS CAN BE CLEARED, WE CANNOT CLEAR EVERYONE'S RECORD, UH, BECAUSE OF STATE LAW.
BUT CERTAINLY IF YOU MAY HAVE SOMETHING ON YOUR RECORD, SUCH AS AN ARREST THAT DID NOT GO TO A PROSECUTION AND, UM, JUDGMENT OR THINGS THAT, UH, THERE ARE THINGS THAT CAN BE REMOVED.
BUT IF IT WAS A FINAL JUDGMENT, IN ALL LIKELIHOOD, IT CANNOT.
BUT CERTAINLY YOU CAN COME AND GET SOME LEGAL ADVICE REGARDING THAT.
I KNOW HOW IMPORTANT IT IS TO HAVE A CLEAN RECORD BECAUSE SOME PEOPLE CANNOT GET JOBS AND THEY CAN GET QUALITY HOUSING.
AND SO CERTAINLY WE INVITE EVERYONE TO COME OUT.
AGAIN, THAT'S THIS SATURDAY, UH, THE 13TH FROM 10:00 AM TO 2:00 PM AT THE SUNNYSIDE HEALTH AND MULTI-SERVICE CENTER.
PLEASE COME OUT AND PARTAKE OF ANY LEGAL SERVICES THAT YOU MAY NEED ON A, ON A PERSONAL, NOT A PERSONAL LEVEL, BUT ON THE LEVEL, UH, WHERE PEOPLE HAVE TO GO TO AN ATTORNEY.
THESE SERVICES CAN COST A GREAT DEAL OF MONEY.
SO PLEASE COME OUT AND, AND TAKE ADVANTAGE OF A FREE SERVICE.
UH, COUNCIL MEMBER AND COLLEAGUES, I'LL, UM, FINISH UP WITH MY POPOFF.
UH, DO WANT TO GIVE A SPECIAL SHOUT OUT TO HBDS, DRT, OUR DISTRICT K HI TEAM AND THE DEPARTMENT OF NEIGHBORHOOD STAFF FOR THE EFFORTS AT 14 6 30 WHITE HEATHER.
UM, THIS PARTICULAR LOCATION WAS JUST RIDDLED WITH, UM, TRASH.
THE BUILDING NEEDED, NEEDS TO BE DEMOLISHED.
UM, IT'S BEEN AN ONGOING CONCERN DUE TO TRESPASSING, SQUATTING DRUG USE, UM, AND THEY REALLY DID, UM, PULL OUT SOME COORDINATED EFFORTS TO GET THAT PROPERTY LOOKING BETTER.
UM, THE COMMUNITY MEMBERS ARE, ARE GRATEFUL FOR ENSURING THAT WE HAVE CLEAN SPACES IN DISTRICT K.
UM, THEN I WANT TO JUST KIND OF SHOUT OUT PUBLIC WORKS BECAUSE WE HAVE COMPLETED THE MCNEE STREET, UM, REHAB PROJECT BETWEEN KIRBY DRIVE AND MAIN STREET, NEAR NRG STADIUM.
UH, THIS IS A REALLY GOOD INVESTMENT, UM, SO THAT RESIDENTS CAN HAVE SMOOTH AND SAFE, UH, ROADWAYS TO TRAVEL ON.
SO, SPECIAL THANKS TO PUBLIC WORKS AND OUR PROJECT PARTNERS FOR MAKING SURE THAT PROJECT GOT DONE IN A TIMELY MANNER.
UH, REMINDER, OUR NEXT ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE MEETING WILL BE HELD ON WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER THE 17TH.
UM, WE WILL HAVE A PRESENTATION BY SUPERINTENDENT
[03:40:01]
MIKE MILES, WHO WILL GIVE AN UPDATE ON, UM, HISD, AND WE WILL ALSO HAVE AN UPDATE ON OUR TEXAS ENTERPRISE ZONE.WE ALWAYS TALK ABOUT WHEN DO WE, UM, FIND OUT HOW MANY JOBS WERE ACTUALLY, UM, PRESENTED.
UM, SO THIS WILL BE A GOOD TIME FOR US TO SEE HOW THESE T ZS, UH, HELP US IN THE CITY OF HOUSTON.
UH, JUST A REMINDER, WE ARE HOSTING A MEET THE TEAM EVENT NEXT SATURDAY AT THE STARBUCKS AT 1 0 8 8 8 SOUTH SAM HOUSTON PARKWAY FROM NINE TO 11.
WE'VE GOT TWO, UM, NEW-ISH STAFF MEMBERS IN THE DISTRICT.
A OFFICE WOULD LOVE FOR OUR RESIDENTS TO COME AND GET TO KNOW THEM, UM, AND ENJOY SOME STARBUCKS COFFEE, SOME PASTRIES, FUN GIVEAWAY IS GONNA BE A FUN EVENT.
UH, WE'RE LOOKING FORWARD TO HAVING YOU ALL THERE.
AND THEN I SEE THAT OUR CHIP INTERN HAS ENTERED THE CHAMBER.
UM, COLLEAGUES, UH, WELCOME SEM ASSAN.
SHE IS A U OF H STUDENT MAJORING IN POLITICAL SCIENCE, AND SHE HAS A MINOR IN LEGAL STUDIES.
WE LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING WITH YOU IN THE DISTRICT, A OFFICE.
Y'ALL BE KIND TO EACH OTHER AND MAKE IT A GREAT DAY.