[INVOCATION AND PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE]
[00:00:07]
COUNCIL MEMBER HUFFMAN FOR THE INVOCATION.
THANK YOU, MAYOR, IF YOU WILL BOW YOUR HEADS.
HEAVENLY FATHER, WE COME BEFORE YOU TODAY WITH GRATITUDE FOR THE GIFT OF COMMUNITY AND THE LEADERS WHO SERVE IT.
WE LIFT UP OUR CITY COUNCIL ASKING FOR YOUR WISDOM, GUIDANCE, AND PROTECTION OVER EACH MEMBER.
GRANT THEM THE DISCERNMENT TO MAKE DECISIONS THAT HONOR TRUTH, PROMOTE JUSTICE, AND SERVE THE COMMON GOOD.
GIVE THEM COURAGE TO LEAD WITH INTEGRITY, COMPASSION TO LISTEN WITH OPEN HEARTS AND HUMILITY, TO SEEK WHAT'S BEST FOR ALL PEOPLE, ESPECIALLY THE MOST VULNERABLE AMONG US.
LORD, BLESS THE WORK THAT HAPPENS AT CITY HALL WITH CLARITY OF MIND AND UNITY OF PURPOSE.
MAY THE EFFORTS TODAY BRING PEACE, PROSPERITY, AND HOPE TO OUR CITY SHIELD, THE CITY COUNCIL AND THIS MAYOR FROM DIVISION, SELFISH AMBITION AND DISCOURAGEMENT.
INSTEAD, FILL THIS CHAMBER WITH YOUR SPIRIT OF COOPERATION, FAIRNESS, AND LOVE.
WE ENTRUST THIS COUNCIL, OUR CITY, AND OUR FUTURE INTO YOUR HANDS.
MAY EVERYTHING DONE HERE BRING GLORY TO YOUR NAME AND LASTING GOOD TO THIS COMMUNITY.
I PLEDGE TO THE FLAG OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA AND TO REPUBLIC ONE NATION UNDER GOD IN LIBERTY.
YOU KNOW, MINUTES IN THE MAYOR'S REPORT.
[9:00 AM - ROLL CALL]
MS. SECRETARY, WOULD YOU CALL THE ROLE MAYOR WHITMEYER, PRESENT, COUNCIL MEMBER PECK HERE.COUNCIL MEMBER CAYMAN WILL BE ABSENT.
COUNCIL MEMBER THOMAS WILL BE ABSENT.
COUNCIL MEMBER HUFFMAN PRESENT.
PRESIDENT, COUNCIL MEMBER PLUMMER WILL BE ABSENT AND COUNCIL MEMBER ALCORN WILL BE ABSENT.
[ADOPT MINUTES OF PREVIOUS MEETING]
NEED A MOTION TO ADOPT THE MENACE OF SEPTEMBER 16TH AND 17TH? CASTEX, MOVE SECOND.MEMBERS, UM, I WANT BRING TO YOUR ATTENTION THAT WE LOST SEVERAL LEADERS LAST WEEK, UH, EARLIER THIS WEEK.
UH, LET ME FIRST MENTION HUGO MECA, CHIEF OF STAFF OF COUNCILMAN CARTER, THE BELOVED PUBLIC LEADER THAT I KNOW IS SUCH A PERSONAL LOSS FOR COUNCIL MEMBER CARTER, BUT WE JOIN HER IN OUR CONDOLENCES TO, TO OUR COUNCIL MEMBER, HIS FAMILY, AND WHAT A PUBLIC SERVANT.
AND HE'S MADE A DIFFERENCE, CERTAINLY SINCE WE'VE BEEN ON COUNCIL.
HE BROUGHT A WORLD OF EXPERIENCE AND INTEGRITY TO THIS BODY.
SO WE'LL, UH, WE'LL KEEP HIM IN OUR PRAYERS AND MEMORY AND WHEN YOU'RE, I WILL YIELD TO YOU COUNCILOR CARTER, WHEN YOU'RE, WHEN YOU FEEL YOU WANT, YOU WANT TO SPEAK? IF, IF NOT NOW.
IF YOU WANT TO WAIT LATER, I'M GOOD.
UM, YEAH, YOU KNOW, UM, CANCER'S A TERRIBLE THING AND, UH, CERTAINLY, UH, HUGO MANY, UH, HE'S VERY WELL KNOWN AROUND THE POLITICAL WORLD LONG BEFORE I KNEW HIM.
AND, UM, HE WAS KIND OF A QUIET SOLDIER.
MOST PEOPLE DON'T KNOW THAT HE CAME TO THIS COUNTRY AT AGE EIGHT WITH HIS PARENTS AND COULDN'T SPEAK ENGLISH, LEARNED THE LANGUAGE, AND HE ATTRIBUTES IT TO, UH, THE TEACHERS THAT HE HAD AND EDUCATORS.
IN HISD, HE HELD TWO MASTER'S DEGREES AND A BACHELOR'S.
UM, I ALWAYS HAVE TO READ IT BECAUSE I'M NOT SMART ENOUGH TO MAINTAIN ALL OF IT, BUT, UM, HE HAD A BACHELOR'S OF POLITICAL SCIENCE FROM THE UNIVERSITY OF HOUSTON, A MASTER'S IN ARTS AND INTERNATIONAL ADMINISTRATION FROM THE UNIVERSITY OF MIAMI, AND A MASTER'S OF PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION FROM FLORIDA INTERNATIONAL UNIVERSITY.
[00:05:01]
TRULY JUST A SILENT SOLDIER THAT ENJOYED POLITICS.HE, YOU KNOW, CITY GOVERNMENT, HE VERY WELL KNOWN, VERY WELL RESPECTED, AND CERTAINLY ONE THAT AS, AS YOU OR YOU SAY, OFTEN MAYOR COULD WORK BOTH SIDES.
HE'D SAY, YOU DON'T UNDERSTAND BECAUSE YOU'RE RED.
AND I SAID, NO, YOU'RE HOLDING YOUR BREATH AND YOUR BLUE.
SO, YOU KNOW, WE JOKED A LOT, BUT HE WAS A, HE WAS A GOOD SPIRIT, A VERY KIND, COMPASSIONATE DRIVEN INDIVIDUAL, UH, THAT CERTAINLY, UM, MANY AROUND THE CITY WILL MISS HIS LEADERSHIP.
AND SO I I THANK YOU FOR YOUR KINDNESS.
UM, IN OUR OFFICE, IT CERTAINLY IS, UM, IS SUFFERING A SIGNIFICANT LOSS.
WE CERTAINLY SHOWED THE STRENGTH OF THE IMMIGRANT COMMUNITY, AND FOR THAT WE RECOGNIZE HIM.
AND GOD DOES NOT ALLOW US TO CHOOSE WHEN WE LOSE A LOVED ONE, BUT HE DOES ALLOW US TO CELEBRATE THEIR LIFE.
AND THAT'S WHAT, UH, WE'LL CONTINUE TO DO.
ALSO, MEMBERS, UH, IT'S WITH SADNESS THAT I MENTIONED THAT WE LOST TWO OF OUR HERO, UH, FIRST RESPONDERS LAST WEEK.
LAST WEDNESDAY, UH, HOUSTON POLICE DEPARTMENT, SENIOR OFFICER ALEX ROBERTS, WAS TRAGICALLY KILLED WHILE CONDUCTING A TRAFFIC ESCORT.
OFFICER ROBERTS WAS ASSIGNED TO THE TRAFFIC ENFORCEMENT DIVISION, SOLO MOTORCYCLE DETAIL, AND STARTED WITH HPD IN 2010.
HIS FUNERAL SERVICE WILL TAKE PLACE THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 25TH, TOMORROW AT 11:00 AM AT THE COMMUNITY OF FAITH CHURCH ON BECKER ROAD IN HOCKLEY, TEXAS.
ALSO, LAST WEEK, HOUSTON FIREFIGHTER PARAMEDIC STEVEN SCOTT, PASSED AWAY FOLLOWING AN ON-DUTY MEDICAL EMERGENCY.
THE FIREFIGHTER PARAMEDIC SCOTT STARTED WITH HOUSTON FIRE IN 1997 AND STARTED OUT OF STATION.
UH, HE WORKED OUT OF STATION 1 0 2 IN KINGWOOD.
HIS SERVICE, UH, WILL BE FRIDAY AT THE CHURCH, UH, AT JERSEY VILLAGE ON NORTHWEST FREEWAY.
I PLAN TO REPRESENT THE CITY AT BOTH OF THESE SERVICES.
PLEASE KEEP THE FAMILIES, UH, IN YOUR PRAYERS AND THOUGHTS.
UH, I BELIEVE THAT COMPLETES MY COMMENTS.
IF YOU WANT TO START ON OUR AGENDA, THAT AGENDA ON OUR SPEAKERS, I BELIEVE YOU CAN'T GO TO SPEAKERS YET.
I'M INFORMED OUR RULES SAY WE CAN'T START SPEAKERS TILL NINE 30, MAN.
SORRY, MAYOR, YOU CAN DO ANYTHING.
CHERRY, WHATEVER YOU WELCOME, WELCOME TO GOVERNMENT.
YEAH, LET'S GO AHEAD AND GET ON THE, UH, AND THEN WE, IF IT'S ALL RIGHT, THE MEMBERS, WE'LL START ON THE, UH, COUNCIL AGENDA AND COME BACK TO SPEAKERS AT NINE 30.
WHERE IN THE WORLD DID THAT RULE COME FROM? SAME ONE THAT SAYS, IF YOU WORK PAST NOON, YOU GOTTA GET PERMISSION
ANYWAY, WE'RE MAKING PROGRESS.
[CONSENT AGENDA]
YOU WANNA CALL UP THE, THE AGENDA UNDER THE PURCHASING TABULATION OF BIDS CATEGORY.NEED A MOTION FOR ITEMS ONE AND TWO, CAST TAX TA, MOVE I SECOND.
MOTION PASSES SINCE YOUR LIST WAS DISTRIBUTED UNDER THE RESOLUTIONS CATEGORY, ITEMS THREE AND FOUR HAVE BEEN REMOVED FOR SEPARATE CONSIDERATION UNDER THE ORDINANCES CATEGORY.
ITEMS 13 AND 22 HAVE NOT BEEN RECEIVED, BUT WILL BE CONSIDERED IF THEY'RE RECEIVED BEFORE THE END OF THE MEETING.
UH, ITEMS 15, 24, 28 AND 29 HAVE BEEN REMOVED FOR SEPARATE CONSIDERATION.
AGAIN, THOSE NUMBERS ARE 15, 24, 28, AND 29.
NEED OF VOTE ON THE BALANCE? JUST NEED A VOTE.
ALL IN FAVOR SAY YES AS OPPOSED NAY.
[CONSIDERATION OF MATTERS REMOVED FROM CONSENT AGENDA]
ITEMS REMOVED FOR SEPARATE CONSIDERATION.UM, I'M SUPPORTIVE OF THIS, UH, THIS ITEM.
IT'S IN THE NORTHEAST PART OF THE NEIGHBOR, UH, THE DISTRICT.
UH, AND IT'S AN OPPORTUNITY TO, UM, REHAB THESE APARTMENTS
[00:10:01]
AND THEN PROVIDE SOME AFFORDABLE HOUSING.AND SO I JUST WANTED TO THANK, UH, ALL THE PARTIES THAT ARE, UH, PARTICIPATING IN THIS PROJECT AND LOOKING TO CREATE A, A SAFE SPACE, CLEAN ENVIRONMENT FOR FOLKS TO LIVE IN THAT'S AFFORDABLE AS WELL.
SO, I APPRECIATE MY COLLEAGUE SUPPORT RAMIREZ.
I WANT TO ECHO WHAT MY COLLEAGUE, COUNCIL MEMBER MARTINEZ HAS SAID ABOUT THIS PARTICULAR, UH, PROJECT.
UH, IT REINFORCES THE CITY'S COMMITMENT TO HELP PROVIDE AFFORDABLE HOUSING TO HOUSTONIANS HOUSING COSTS HAVE, UH, OUTSTRIPPED RISES IN INCOME IN THE LAST FEW YEARS.
AND, UM, THIS IS WHERE MOST OF THE AFFORDABLE HOUSING, UH, GETS DONE.
UH, AND SO, UH, I FULLY SUPPORT THIS ITEM.
ALL IN FAVOR, SAY, COUNCIL HUFFMAN.
UM, I JUST WANTED TO TAKE A MOMENT TO HIGHLIGHT SOME OF THE CONCERNS THAT MY RESIDENTS ARE FACING, UM, WITH THESE PROBLEMATIC PFCS.
THERE ARE PUBLIC FACILITY CORPORATIONS IN HOUSTON THAT ARE RECEIVING TAX EXEMPTIONS IN RETURN FOR PROVIDING AFFORDABLE HOUSING.
AND UNDER HOUSE BILL 2071, THAT WAS PASSED IN THE 88TH LEGISLATIVE SESSION, WHICH BECAME EFFECTIVE IN 2023, PFCS HAVE TO FILE AUDITS TO T-D-H-C-A AND IF A FILING'S MISSED, THEN T-D-C-H-T-D-H-C-A ISSUES, A 60 DAY NOTICE TO SUBMIT THE FILING.
AND SHOULD THEY FAIL TO COMPLY, THEN HCA HAS THE AUTHORITY TO REVOKE THIS TAX EXEMPTION.
WE HAVE PFCS THAT AREN'T COMPLYING WITH THESE NEW REPORTING REQUIREMENTS.
AND NOT ONLY HAVE THEY FAILED TO FILE AUDIT REPORTS, BUT SOME OF THESE PUBLIC FACILITY CORPORATIONS, THEY'RE BAD ACTORS, THEY'RE HARBORING CRIMINAL ACTIVITY.
THEY HAVE NUMEROUS HEALTH, UM, HABITABILITY CODE VIOLATIONS.
WE HAVE ONE OWNER RIGHT NOW IN THE DISTRICT WHO HAS A WARRANT OUT FOR HIS ARREST, FOR FAILURE TO APPEAR BEFORE A JUDGE TO ADDRESS SOME OF THESE HABITABILITY ISSUES.
SO, AT WHAT POINT ARE WE GONNA GET SERIOUS ABOUT REVOKING SOME OF THESE TAX EXEMPTIONS IN THE CITY FOR THESE PROBLEMATIC PFCS? UM, IT'S COMPLETELY UNACCEPTABLE FOR THE TAXPAYERS IN HARRIS COUNTY TO CONTINUE TO SUBSIDIZE THESE SLUMLORDS AND HCAD NEEDS TO TAKE ACTION.
SO I AM, I'M NOT GOING TO TAG THIS ITEM TODAY.
WE CAN GO AHEAD AND TAKE A VOTE ON IT, BUT MAYOR, I'D LIKE TO HAVE HCD COME BEFORE THIS BODY AND DISCUSS WHAT'S BEING DONE TO REVOKE SOME OF THESE TAX EXEMPTIONS WHEN THESE PFCS AREN'T COMPLYING, WHEN THEY'RE NOT FILING THIS, UM, PAPERWORK THAT'S NOW REQUIRED, UM, AFTER HB 2071 PASSED.
UM, YOU KNOW, PEOPLE LIVING IN AND AROUND THESE PFCS SHOULDN'T HAVE TO DEAL WITH SOME OF THE LIVING CONDITIONS THAT I'VE SEEN.
AND, UM, THEY SHOULDN'T BE AFRAID TO GO OUTSIDE THEIR APARTMENT COMPLEXES.
UM, THAT'S FACILITATING, YOU KNOW, SOME OF THIS CRIMINAL ACTIVITY AND SOME OF THESE TERRIBLE LIVING CONDITIONS.
YEAH, I JUST WANTED TO DOVETAIL ON COUNCILWOMAN HUFFMAN'S COMMENTS.
UM, SEVERAL MONTHS AGO, THE, UH, TAXING, UH, THE APPRAISAL DISTRICT CAME IN HERE AND, UH, TALKED ABOUT THIS.
I BROUGHT THIS UP AS THEM NOT COMPLETING THE REPORTS THEY WERE SUPPOSED TO.
I, I GOT SOME COMMUNICATION AFTERWARDS BASICALLY SAYING, WELL, YOU NEED TO BE CAREFUL BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, WITHOUT THESE TAX ABATEMENTS, SOME OF THESE BUSINESSES ARE NO LONGER VIABLE, AND WE CERTAINLY DON'T WANT TO END UP WITH A BUNCH OF HOMELESSNESS.
I'M REALLY CONFUSED AS TO HOW A REPORT CAN BE SO CRITICAL TO YOUR BUSINESS THAT IT COULD MEAN WHETHER OR NOT YOU'RE ABLE TO CONTINUE IN BUSINESS AND YOU FAIL TO FILE IT.
MY GUESS IS THE REASON A NUMBER OF THESE OF NOT FILING THEM IS BECAUSE THEY'RE NOT IN COMPLIANCE WITH WHAT THEY WERE SUPPOSED TO BE DOING IN THE FIRST PLACE.
OTHERWISE, THEY'D BE FILING THEM, CERTAINLY IF THEY'RE THAT CRITICAL TO THEIR BUSINESS.
WELL, I THINK WE OUGHT TO PURSUE IT BY HAVING THOSE OFFICIALS EITHER FOR COUNCIL.
I COULD USE THE MAYOR'S REPORT FOR THAT PURPOSE AND OR, UH, AGAIN, I KEEP EMPHASIZING IF WE WOULD DO THE COMMITTEE SYSTEM A LITTLE MORE INTENSE, UM, THAT WOULD BE A GOOD FORUM TO HEAR FROM THEM.
SO FIRST YOU'LL GET ME THAT ADDRESS.
I'D BE INTERESTED IN IT TOO, IF THERE'S, IS THERE ONE YOU MENTIONED, OR MORE THAN ONE, BUT, WE'LL, WE'LL DISCUSS IT.
WE WON'T TAKE COUNSEL, BUT WE'LL GET H CAT OVER HERE.
WHERE'D YOU HAVE A DISCUSSION? WHERE, WHERE'D YOU IT WAS HERE.
UM, I FORGET WHICH MEETING IT WAS, BUT, UH, SHE CAME IN.
I THOUGHT IT WAS THE PAST ASSESSOR LETTER ACTUALLY.
MUST HAVE BEEN A, UH, COMMITTEE MEETING.
MAKE SURE SECOND, WE'RE NOT GETTING THE INFORMATION FROM STATE.
[00:15:01]
IT.UM, I'LL, I'LL ECHO WHAT MY COLLEAGUES, UM, COUNCIL MEMBER HUFFMAN AND COUNCIL MEMBER FLICKINGER HAVE TALKED ABOUT.
UM, A NUMBER OF THESE PFCS ARE PROBLEMATIC, AND THIS WAS BROUGHT UP LAST FALL WHEN THREE WERE BROUGHT BEFORE COUNCIL ACTUALLY VOTED AGAINST ONE OF THEM.
UH, SINCE THEN, JAMIE BRYANT, THE NEW DIRECTOR OF THE HU UH, HOUSTON HOUSING AUTHORITY, WHICH IS A SEPARATE ENTITY FROM FROM THE CITY, UH, HAS INDICATED THAT HE'S TAKING A HARD LOOK AT THESE.
AND THAT'S WHY WE HAVEN'T SEEN ANY MORE OF THESE PFCS COME BEFORE COUNCIL, BECAUSE OFTENTIMES THEY DON'T PROVIDE THE AMOUNT OF AFFORDABLE HOUSING, UH, THAT, THAT THEY CLAIM.
AND THEY END UP TAKING HUNDREDS OF MILLIONS OF DOLLARS OFF THE TAX ROLLS.
UH, AND, AND THEY PROFIT FROM THESE ABATEMENTS.
AND, AND THE TAX BURDEN FOR THE REST OF US IS INCREASED.
SO, UH, MY COLLEAGUES' COMMENTS ARE WELL TAKEN IN, IN THIS INSTANCE.
UH, BUT TO BRING IT BACK TO THIS PARTICULAR ITEM, THIS IS ACTUALLY FOR THE NOMINATION OF MELISSA NORIEGA, UH, REAPPOINTMENT TO THE HCA BOARD.
UM, I HAVE INQUIRED ABOUT HOW, UH, MS. NORIEGA HAS BEEN DOING ON THE BOARD AND HAVE BEEN TOLD SHE'S BEEN DOING A GREAT JOB FOR THE CITY.
AND SO I FULLY SUPPORT, UH, VOTING YES ON THIS ITEM.
AND, UH, MELISSA NORIEGA'S RENOMINATION.
WE DON'T HAVE ANY OTHER SPEAKERS.
UH, JUST WANT TO, UH, THANK THE GULF GATE TURS MAYOR, UH, THIS, THIS PARK, CHARLTON PARK HAS BEEN NEEDING SOME, UH, SOME LOVE.
AND, UH, WE'RE, WE'RE LOOKING AT, UH, MOVING FORWARD ON, ON A LOT OF RENOVATIONS.
SO ALSO JUST GIVE A HEADS UP TO THE PARK PLACE, UH, NEIGHBORHOOD, UM, AS CONSTRUCTION BEGINS.
UM, WE HAVE A NEW PLAYGROUND ALREADY, BUT AS CONSTRUCTION BEGINS, UH, JUST BE MINDFUL.
UH, AND, AND OF COURSE CONSTRUCTION IS, UH, USUALLY PRETTY UGLY, BUT BE PATIENT AND THEN YOU'LL HAVE A BEAUTIFUL PARK TO CELEBRATE, UH, ONCE WE'RE DONE.
I WANT TO ECHO WHAT MY COLLEAGUE, COUNCIL MEMBER MARTINEZ SAID.
THIS IS AN EXAMPLE OF T IS DOING GOOD WORK.
CERTAINLY A LOT OF OUR, OUR PARKS IN HOUSTON ARE IN BAD CONDITION.
AND SO ONE WAY THAT, UH, THEY CAN BE IMPROVED IS THROUGH THE USE OF THESE TOURS THAT EXIST.
UH, THE PLANS FOR THIS PARK WILL MAKE IT, UH, A LOT MORE ATTRACTIVE AND WALKABLE, WHICH IS IMPORTANT TO OUR SENIORS AND TO ALL HOUSTONIANS.
MOTION PASSES AND SWITCH TO PUBLIC
[9:30 AM - PUBLIC SPEAKERS]
MEMBERS.LET'S MOVE TO, UH, PUBLIC SPEAKERS.
I THINK WE'RE CLOSE ENOUGH TO NINE 30.
COUNCIL MEMBER CASTILLO FOR PROCEDURAL MOTION.
I MOVE TO SUSPEND THE RULES TO ADD LINDA MORALES TO THE THREE MINUTE NON AGENDA SPEAKER LIST TO FOLLOW TRAVIS MCGEE AND ALSO MOVE WILLIE GONZALEZ UP TO FOLLOW HANNIE KIL ON THE SPEAKER'S LIST.
I MOVE TO SUSPEND THE RULES TO ADD, UH, THREE SPEAKERS.
IAN HEAVILY CHECKED CHRISTINA GALVAN AND SCOTT SINGLETON TO THE TOP OF THE ONE MINUTE NON AGENDA LIST.
ALL IN FAVOR? SAY YES OPPOSED NAY.
CALL OUR FIRST SPEAKER, PLEASE.
HE IS AT THE TOP OF THE, TOP OF THE ONE MINUTE.
I THINK HE'S STILL DOWNSTAIRS.
[00:20:01]
HE CALL WHEN HE UP HERE.GALVAN V TO BE FOLLOWED BY SCOTT SINGLETON.
MY NAME IS CHRISTINA GALVAN AND I HAVE PROUDLY SERVED FOR YEARS AS BOTH A VOLUNTEER AND EMPLOYEE AT THE G-R-B-C-C.
I HAVE SEEN INCREDIBLE ENERGY OUR EVENTS BRING TO HOUSTON, YET I MUST STRONGLY URGE YOU TO PLEASE DENY THE ABANDONMENT OF POLK STREET.
THE GRB ALREADY OFFERS ALMOST JUST, JUST A LITTLE BIT, ALMOST 2 MILLION SQUARE FOOTAGE OF SPACE.
AND ALL OF MY EXPERIENCE, NO EVENT HAS EVER COME CLOSE TO FILLING IT.
NOT ONLY IS UNNECESSARY, IT RISK THE HARM, IT RISK HARMING THE VERY PEOPLE WHO KEEP THE CENTER THRIVING.
CLOSING POLK STREET WOULD DISRUPT THE LIFELINE THAT CONNECTS US THE 40 BUS LINE AND THE UBER AND LYFT PICKUP ZONE SIT RIGHT AT POLK IN AVENUE.
VOLUNTEERS, EMPLOYEES, VENDORS, AND VISITORS RELY ON THAT CORRIDOR EVERY SINGLE DAY.
I HAVE RELIED PERSONALLY ON POLK JUST TO GET HOME.
LOSING IT WOULD MEAN DELAYS, CONFUSION, AND REAL FINANCIAL STRAIN FOR WORKERS IN THE DOWNTOWN ECONOMY.
HOUSTON'S GROWTH IS NOT, IS NOT MEASURED BY HOW MANY SQUARE FEET THAT WE BUILD.
IT'S MEASURED BY HOW WELL WE CARE FOR THE PEOPLE AND JOBS THAT MAKE OUR CITY VIBRANT.
WE CAN GROW SMARTER WITHOUT SACRIFICING A CRITICAL STREETS.
I ASK YOU TO STAND WITH THOSE OF US WHO SERVE THE GEORGIA BROWN CONVENTION CENTER, PROTECT POLK STREET AND PROTECT THE LIVELIHOODS THAT DEPEND ON IT.
PLEASE DENY THE ABANDONMENT OF POLK STREET.
SCOTT SINGLETON TO BE FOLLOWED BY IAN LAVA.
MAYOR, THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME UP HERE.
UM, MAYOR WHITMEYER, THE GEORGE R. BROWN CONVENTION CENTER.
EXPANSION COULD BE YOUR SIGNATURE ACHIEVEMENT, BUT UNLESS YOU ACT NOW, HOUSTON FIRST WILL TURN IT INTO A REPUTATIONAL DISASTER.
ONE THAT DEFINES YOUR ADMINISTRATION FOR ALL THE WRONG REASONS.
HOUSTON FIRST WANTS TO CLOSE POLK STREET, A VITAL EASTWEST CONNECTOR THAT SERVES EAST END NEIGHBORHOODS AND SMALL BUSINESSES.
THEY'RE RUSHING THIS CLOSURE WITHOUT MEANINGFUL COMMUNITY INPUT, PROPER TRAFFIC ANALYSIS OR CONSIDERATION OF MAJOR EVENTS LIKE THE WORLD CUP.
NO OTHER TEXAS CITY IS CLOSING MAJOR STREETS FOR THEIR CONVENTION CENTER EXPANSIONS.
NOT AUSTIN, NOT SAN ANTONIO, NOT DALLAS.
THIS IS HOUSTON FIRST UNIQUELY RECKLESS APPROACH AND IT'S ABOUT TO BECOME YOUR LEGACY PROBLEM.
NICK IAN LAVA TO BE FOLLOWED BY JANIN PETERSON.
THANK Y'ALL AGAIN FOR HAVING ME.
GOOD MORNING, MAYOR WHITMEYER.
SO I'M FOLLOWING UP WITH SCOTT 'CAUSE I WANTED TO FOLLOW UP THAT WITH A LITTLE BIT MORE.
AM I THE WRONG ONE? THIS IS THE RIGHT ONE.
AS, AS WE ALL KNOW, FIFA'S GONNA COME INTO TOWN AND WE HAVE A MAJOR CELEBRATION IN EDDO.
WE'RE ALL LOOKING FORWARD TO THAT.
BUT WHAT I'M CONCERNED ABOUT IS WITH HOUSTON FIRST SCHEDULE, THEY'RE GONNA HAVE ALL THAT TORN UP RIGHT WHEN THE WORLD IS WATCHING US.
AND POLK IS THE STREET THAT THOSE PEOPLE WILL TAKE TO GET FROM ETO INTO DOWNTOWN.
THE WHOLE WORLD WILL BE WATCHING WHEN THAT STREET IS CLOSED AND THERE ARE CONSTRUCTION BARRICADES UP.
UH, THAT'S NOT GONNA REFLECT POORLY ON JUST HOUSTON FIRST.
THAT'S GONNA REFLECT POORLY ON, ON OUR, OUR, OUR CITY.
THE WHOLE WORLD WILL BE WATCHING.
SO I BEG, IF YOU PLEASE PICK UP THE PHONE, CALL HOUSTON FIRST AND SAY, LET'S SLOW THIS DOWN.
AT LEAST THROUGH THE WORLD, WORLD CUP.
EVERYBODY WILL BE WATCHING US.
DO WE WANT ROAD CLOSED SIGNS WHERE PEOPLE ARE TRYING TO WALK? SO THAT'S ALL.
[00:25:01]
JANIN PETERSON, IS HE, ARE YOU JANIN? JAYDEN? JAYDEN.UH, TO BE FOLLOWED BY ED PETIT.
I'M HERE FOR, UH, CITY COMMUNITY VALUE AND CITY VALUE.
I'M A HOUSTON BARBER DAD AND INSPIRING COMMUNITY ACTIVIST.
I'M HERE BECAUSE OUR CITY VALUE ISN'T JUST IN THE BUILDINGS, BUT IT'S IN THE PEOPLE.
WHEN WE INVEST IN THE PEOPLE, BLOCKS, RISES, BUSINESS OPENS, AND KIDS WANT TO BELIEVE AGAIN.
EVERY DAY I SEE YOUNG MEN AND YOUNG WOMEN WITH SKILLS, BUT NO LANE.
THEY CAN CUT HAIR, FIX, ACS, DESIGN, LOGOS, AND EVEN INVENT, BUT THEY DON'T SEE THE BRIDGE FOR TALENT CAN GO INTO OWNERSHIP.
HERE ARE THREE WAYS THAT I FEEL LIKE THAT WE CAN BUILD AND HAVE THAT BRIDGE.
ONE, WE CAN OPEN THE DOORS AND MAKE IT EASIER FOR BUSINESS IDEAS WITHOUT THE RED TAPE.
PERHAPS JUST GIVING A ONE DAY VENDORS PERMIT SO THEY CAN TEST THEIR BUSINESSES.
TWO, WE CAN BUILD A PIPELINE BY USING BARBERSHOPS CHURCHES, LIBRARIES AS NEIGHBORHOOD OPPORTUNITY HUBS WHERE PEOPLE CAN LEARN THE BASICS OF LICENSES.
THREE, SEE THE FIRST CONCEPT, CONNECT THE COMMUNITY MENTORS WITH SMALLER STARTER OPPORTUNITIES THAT GIVE DIRECTION, WHETHER THAT'S GUIDANCE, PARTNERSHIP, OR CITY SUPPORT.
COUNCIL MEMBER DAVIS HAS THE FLOOR.
UM, THANK YOU MR. PETERS FOR COMING DOWN.
AND, UM, I'M VERY, UM, ENCOURAGED BY SOME OF THE STATEMENTS YOU MADE IN TERMS OF, UH, BUSINESSES, CREATIVITY OF BUSINESSES.
I ALSO WANT TO, UH, GIVE YOU MY INFORMATION BECAUSE WE ARE GOING TO PUT TOGETHER A FINANCIAL SYMPOSIUM, UH, NEXT MONTH, WHICH IS GOING TO, UH, ADDRESS SOME OF THE THINGS YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT.
AND WE'RE LOOKING TO JOIN TOGETHER WITH ABOUT 20, 30 BANKS.
UH, AND I LIKE TO MAKE SURE THAT YOU BE THERE SO THAT YOU CAN SPEAK TO THEM ABOUT SOME OF THE THINGS THAT YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT.
UH, SO JUST WANT TO COMMEND YOU FOR COMING AND CERTAINLY, UM, YOUR INTERESTS IN THE COMMUNITY, AND ESPECIALLY WITH YOUNG PEOPLE AND ADVANCING THAT BUSINESS.
I WANT TO CHANGE THE WHOLE IMAGE FOR OUR COMMUNITY.
I WANT, I WANT PEOPLE TO BE MORE INSPIRATIONAL SO EVERYONE COMES MORE WITH THE YOUNGER GENERATION OR GEN Z.
I'LL ACTUALLY GET YOUR INFORMATION.
ONE MORE COUNCILMAN FLICKINGER.
I'M JUST CURIOUS, CAN YOU ELABORATE ON WHAT YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT, THE CHURCHES AND THE BARBER SHIP? AND YOU MENTIONED SOMETHING ABOUT EINS.
ARE YOU BASICALLY KIND OF WANTING TO GIVE PEOPLE INSTRUCTIONS ON HOW TO START A BUSINESS SINCE THESE YES.
BECAUSE I FEEL LIKE A LOT OF PEOPLE IN OUR GENERATION DON'T HAVE LIKE THE, LIKE THEY DON'T KNOW ABOUT THE BUSINESS, LIKE TOOLS THAT WE CAN GET.
AND I'M ACTUALLY A BARBER MYSELF, SO I ALREADY BUILT MY WHOLE BARBER BUSINESS AND EVERYTHING.
BUT I, ME AND MY BUSINESS PARTNER AND EXCLUSIVE FADES, WE ACTUALLY PREACH ALL OF THIS ALREADY AND WE ALREADY HAVE IT IN A MOVEMENT.
BUT I FEEL LIKE THAT WE CAN GET IT INTO A WIDER ASPECT.
AND I WANT MORE OF MY PEOPLE IN MY GENERATION AND EVEN OLDER PEOPLE TO, TO, WHAT'S IT CALLED, TAKE ON THESE TOOLS THAT WE CAN ACTUALLY JUST IMPROVE THE CITY MORE, IF THAT MAKES SENSE.
WE PUT MORE MONEY INTO THE, WE PUT MORE MONEY INTO THE DOLLARS AND EVERYTHING INTO IT.
HEY JAYDEN, HOW ARE YOU? THANK YOU FOR COMING AND SPEAKING TODAY.
ARE YOU FAMILIAR WITH THE OFFICE OF BUSINESS OPPORTUNITY AND DIRECTOR HORDE? UM, NO, I'M NOT.
I'M ACTUALLY AN OPEN BOOK, SO I'M DOWN TO LEARN EVERYTHING.
UM, I WOULD SUGGEST THAT, UM, IF WHEN YOU GET ONLINE TO GO TO THE CITY OF HOUSTON'S OFFICE OF BUSINESS OPPORTUNITY, UH, THE DIRECTOR, UH, HER NAME IS, UH, LENCIA HORDE AND THEY HOST A LOT OF PROGRAMMING FOR STARTUP BUSINESSES.
UM, AND OPPORTUNITIES FOR YOU TO MEET WITH LENDERS, OPPORTUNITIES TO EXPAND CAPACITIES FOR STARTUP BUSINESSES.
UM, I WOULD DEFINITELY ENGAGE WITH THE OFFICE OF BUSINESS OPPORTUNITY.
UM, I THINK YOU'LL FIND THAT VERY, UH, MUCH VALUE ADDED FOR WHAT YOU'RE TRYING TO DO.
SOME, THERE'LL BE SOME SYNERGIES THERE, UM, AND YOU CAN FIND A COMMUNITY OF PEOPLE THAT WOULD BE WILLING TO WORK WITH YOU AS WELL.
I JUST WANTED TO REMIND I DID, I FAILED TO MENTION I WANT TO THANK MAYOR PRO TEM FOR BRINGING, UH, THE, UH, OBO OFFICE UP BECAUSE SHE
[00:30:01]
IS PARTNERING WITH US FOR THE, FOR THE FINANCIAL SYMPOSIUM.NO, ED TO BE FOLLOWED BY JAMES CHAMBERS.
I'VE LIVED IN THE EAST END FOR 60 YEARS AND WORKED MY ENTIRE 40 YEAR CAREER IN DOWNTOWN HOUSTON.
ONE OF THE BEST PARTS OF LIVING HERE HAS ALWAYS BEEN THE QUICK EASY COMMUTE TO DOWNTOWN USING THE BACK STREETS, POLK, LELAND LAMAR, MCKINNEY WALKER, RUSKIN CAPITAL I COULD GET FROM MY FRONT DOOR TO MY OFFICE IN 10 MINUTES, NEVER TOUCHING A FREEWAY.
THAT'S A MAJOR QUALITY OF LIFE BENEFIT AND A BIG SELLING POINT FOR OUR NEIGHBORHOOD.
BUT OVER THE YEARS, THOSE STREETS HAVE BEEN CUT OFF FOR DISCOVERY GREEN FOR TOYOTA CENTER, FOR DAIKIN PARK FOR THE DYNAMO STADIUM.
OF THE SEVEN I JUST MENTIONED, ONLY TWO REMAIN.
AND NOW THERE'S A REQUEST TO CLOSE POLK FOR THE GEORGE R. BROWN EXPANSION.
THAT EXPANSION MAY BENEFIT OUT OF TOWNERS FOR A FEW DAYS, BUT WHAT ABOUT HOUSTONIANS WHO LIVE AND WORK IN THIS CITY EVERY SINGLE DAY? WE PAY THE TAXES, WE RAISE OUR FAMILIES.
EVEN TODAY TO GET TO THIS MEETING, MY GPS TOLD ME TO COME STRAIGHT UP POLK CLOSING.
IT WILL CAUSE MAJOR DISRUPTIONS AND ISOLATE AN ENTIRE AREA OF OUR CITY.
I'M NEARLY 70 YEARS OLD AND IT WILL FORCE ELDERLY PEOPLE LIKE ME TO USE THE FREEWAY TO GET DOWNTOWN.
BELIEVE ME, YOU DO NOT WANT ME CLOGGING YOUR FREEWAYS.
COUNCIL MEMBERS, THIS IS YOUR CHANCE TO PUT HOUSTONIANS FIRST.
LIKE THE WORDS OVER YOUR DOORS, YOUR TIME HAS EXPIRED, THAT PEOPLE ARE THE CITY.
PLEASE PUT KEEP PEOPLE FIRST AND KEEP POLK STREET OPEN.
UHHUH, I SHARE YOUR CONCERN THAT, THAT OVER A PERIOD OF OF YEARS YES.
UNINTENTIONALLY, I'M SURE, UH, A WALL HAS ESSENTIALLY BEEN CREATED BETWEEN, UH, EAST HOUSTON AND DOWNTOWN.
AND, AND I'VE ASKED, UM, FOR A FEW MONTHS NOW FOR PUBLIC WORKS AND HOUSTON FIRST TO IN INVESTIGATE SERIOUSLY, UH, OTHER STREETS THAT MIGHT BE TURNED INTO TWO-WAY STREETS TO ALLOW FOR MORE ACCESS.
I, I UNDERSTAND THAT LELAND, TURNING LELAND INTO TWO-WAY IS, IS THE PLAN RIGHT NOW.
AND LAST I HEARD IT WAS PROBABLY GONNA BE FEASIBLE, 90% FEASIBLE.
MAYBE THAT'S BEEN BEEN UPDATED, UH, BUT I THINK RESIDENTS ON THE OTHER SIDE SHOULD HAVE AT LEAST ANOTHER OPTION TO GET FROM EAST, UH, OF DOWNTOWN INTO DOWNTOWN.
JAMES CHAMBERS, VALENCIA LANDRUM SYLVESTER JONES TO BE FOLLOWED BY AMOS SIMS. GOOD MORNING.
I CAME BEFORE, UH, YOU APPROXIMATELY, UH, SIX MONTHS AGO ABOUT AN ISSUE WITH METRO INVOLVING THOMAS JASON, THE INTERIM PRESIDENT AND CEO OF METRO.
YOU TOLD ME, UH, SUGGESTED I GET A LAWYER.
HERE'S MY, UM, LIST OF PAPERS OF MAKING ATTEMPTS TO CONTACT LAWYERS.
UM, I FILED WITH THE EEOC AND THEY COULD DO NOTHING ABOUT IT.
SO IN THE PROCESS OF SEEKING LEGAL COUNSEL, I DOING MY RESEARCH AND I COME TO UNDERSTAND FIRST EEOC FOUND IT AS A CHARGE OF DISCRIMINATION.
I THOUGHT IT WAS, UM, A TORTIOUS INTERFERENCE.
[00:35:01]
AND AS I KEPT DOING MY RESEARCH, I COME TO FIND OUT THAT IT IS THAT ADMINISTRATIVE, UH, ULTRA THAT, UM, DEFINED THE ACT OF THE ACTIONS OF THOMAS JASON THAT WAS INFLICTED UPON ME.I MY SEPARATION CAME FROM METRO.
UH, MY SEPARATION CAME, UH, WITH METRO.
TRANS DEV HAS A CONTRACTUAL RELATIONSHIP.
AND I'M SAYING THAT THOMAS JASON INDUCED DEL TO TERMINATE ME, TO DISSUADE ME FROM SEEKING REIMBURSEMENT, A REIMBURSEMENT THAT'S HAS MERIT.
AND I DO HAVE A COUPLE OF FACTS THAT I WANT TO PRESENT.
THERE'S AN EMAIL THAT MIKE MANKIN, WHO IS THE DIRECTOR OF, OF, UH, HUMAN RELATIONS.
IN THIS EMAIL, HE SAYS, YOU, YOU, YOU NEED TO SUCCESSFULLY COMPLETE THE D-O-T-S-A-P PROGRAM IN ORDER TO BE ELIGIBLE FOR REHIRE WITH METRO.
OKAY? THEN, AS I STATED IN COMMUNICATION WITH THEM, OTHER EMAILS, UH, THAT, THAT WAS SENT INDICATING THE SAME THAT I, THAT I HAD A POSSIBILITY OF RETURNING TO METRO.
UM, SO THE, UM, SO THAT, BUT JUST GOING OFF THAT ONE EMAIL SAYING THAT I WOULD BE ELIGIBLE TO RETURN TO METRO IF I TAKE THIS DOT, THEN THAT'S IN 2022.
THEN IN 2025, 'CAUSE I STAYED IN CONTACT WITH THEM.
MIKE MACKIN TELLS ME EMPHATICALLY THAT THERE IS NO COMING BACK TO METRO.
ONCE YOU HAVE, UM, HE'S, I'M GONNA QUOTE HIM.
HE SAYS, A NEGATIVE TEST, A FAILURE TO TEST ANYTHING ALONG THOSE LINES IS A ONE STRIKE AND YOU'RE DONE AT METRO.
BUT IF YOU TELL ME THAT I CAN COME BACK TO METRO AND IF I TAKE UN UNDER CERTAIN CONDITIONS OF TAKING THIS DEAL, THIS SAP PROGRAM, THEN TELL ME LATER I CAN'T COME BACK.
I THINK THAT WARRANTS AT LEAST A REQUEST FOR, UM, A REIMBURSEMENT.
AND I'M SAYING THROUGH THAT PROCESS OF ASKING FOR THAT REIMBURSEMENT, GOING TO METRO BOARD OF DIRECTORS TWICE THAT SECOND TIME I MET WITH THOMAS JASON AFTER MEETING WITH HIM, RETURN BACK TO WORK.
I'M TERMINATED FOR NO, JUST CAUSE.
WHAT DID, UH, SO I'M, I'M, I'M APPEALING TO YOU ALL BECAUSE I WANT SOME LEGAL COUNSEL.
COUNSEL MEMBER FLICKINGER, QUICK QUESTION.
WHAT TEST ARE YOU REFERRING TO? THIS? THIS WAS, UM, THE SA THE, UM, A DRUG AND ALCOHOL TEST.
NO OTHER SPEAKERS? NO OTHER SPEAKERS REALLY ON THE SPEAKER? NO, NO MEMBERS.
MY QUESTION IS, AM I, I THINK AGAIN, YOUR RESOLUTION'S GONNA BE THROUGH AN ATTORNEY.
THERE'S NO WAY WE CAN RESOLVE IT HERE.
YOU'VE APPEARED BEFORE THE METRO BOARD, YOU'VE HAD EXCESS.
UH, MANY OF US ONLY GOT HERE IN 24.
UH, AND I'M, I'M SORRY ABOUT YOUR CHALLENGE, BUT IT IS A LEGAL MATTER THAT YOU'RE GONNA HAVE TO RESOLVE.
CERTAINLY WE CAN'T RESOLVE IT AT, AT CITY COUNCIL.
SO I WOULD, I WOULD URGE YOU TO SEEK THE COUNCIL LEGAL COUNSEL.
AMOS SIMS, ASHTON, POPE, ANNIE, JOHN, ANNIE JOHNSON, CYNTHIA FARMS
[00:40:04]
TO BE FOLLOWED BY DORIS MARTINEZ.GOOD MORNING COUNCIL, MAYOR, UH, THANK YOU ALL FOR ALLOWING ME TO SPEAK TODAY.
UH, MY NAME IS CYNTHIA FARMS. I AM THE, UH, VICE PRESIDENT OF, UH, COUNCIL NUMBER 72 SUPER NEIGHBORHOOD.
AND I'M ALSO THE, UH, PRESIDENT OF PRECINCT 2 39 CIVIC CLUB.
FIRST OF ALL, I WANT TO THANK YOU ALL FOR, UH, YOUR HELP WITH EDGEWOOD PARK CENTER.
WE DID HAVE THE ARCHITECTS TO COME OUT.
THEY CAME AND THEY, UH, SHOWED US HOW THE BUILDING WOULD BE WITH EVERYTHING.
SO I WANT, I WANT TO THANK YOU ALL FOR YOUR SUPPORT FOR THAT, FIRST OF ALL.
UH, SECONDLY, WE JUST HAVE A MAJOR CONCERN.
WE GETTING A BEAUTIFUL BUILDING, BUT THE PARKING LOT IS TERRIBLE.
WE DON'T HAVE NO FUNDING FOR THE PARKING LOT.
AND THE PARKING LOT HAS BIG, BIG MAJOR POTHOLES, UH, WHICH WILL TEAR YOUR CAR AS YOU'RE GOING IN THE PARKING LOT.
SO IT DON'T MAKE NO SENSE TO HAVE A BEAUTIFUL BUILDING AND NOT HAVE A PARKING LOT DONE.
SO, I DID SPEAK WITH SOMEBODY FROM THE GENERAL MANAGEMENT OFFICE, I THINK HER NAME WAS YVETTE ON YESTERDAY, AND SHE SAID SOMETHING ABOUT THEY WERE LOOKING AT DOING A OVERLAY, BUT THAT, I DON'T THINK THAT WOULD DO IT FOR THAT PARKING LOT BECAUSE IT IS REALLY TERRIBLE.
UM, LIKE I SAID, THANK YOU ALL FOR YOUR SUPPORT.
UH, THAT DID SAY THAT IT WASN'T IN THE BUDGET WITH THE CIP, SO WE WANT TO SEE MAYBE IF, IF YOU ALL CAN FIND SOME FUNDING SOMEWHERE OR, OR SOMEBODY TO HELP GET US THAT PARKING LOT FIXED.
ALSO, UH, THE SECOND CONCERN IS WE NEED A GENERATOR FOR OUR NEW CENTER DURING, UH, NATURAL DISASTERS OR SOMETHING FOR COOLING AND WARMING FOR THE PEOPLE IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD.
WHEN OUR LIGHTS GO OUT, WE WAS JUST ASKING, YOU KNOW, IF WE CAN GET A GENERATOR FOR OUR CENTER AND PROBABLY GET SOME SPONSORS OR SOMEONE FOR THAT AS WELL.
THEN MY OTHER CONCERN IS I'M STILL CONCERNED ABOUT THE ILLEGAL DUMPING ON VASSAR ROAD AND ON WAYSIDE.
NOW NATIONAL NIGHT IS COMING UP AND I DON'T KNOW HOW WE GOING TO RESOLVE THIS PROBLEM, BUT EVERY TIME THAT WE HAVE SOMEBODY TO CLEAN IT UP, THEY PUT SOME STUFF RIGHT BACK OUT THE NEXT DAY.
UM, AND THEN, SO WE NEED THAT, YOU KNOW, I DON'T KNOW IF WE HAVE TO GET CAMERAS OR ANYTHING OVER THERE ON WAYSIDE, ON WAYSIDE BETWEEN VASSAR AND BELFORT AND ON VASSAR ROAD, BUT THAT IS A BEAUTIFUL PARK OVER THERE AT FM LAW PARK AND THAT'S WHERE WE'RE GONNA HAVE OUR NATIONAL NIGHT OUT.
IT'S VERY EMBARRASSING FOR YOU ALL TO COME AND LOOK AT OUR BEAUTIFUL PARK, BUT HAVE TO LOOK AT ALL THIS TRASH TO GET THERE.
SO THAT WAS MY, MY OTHER CONCERN.
UH, AND THE GRASS NEED TO BE CUT AGAIN 'CAUSE IT'S STILL TALLER THAN THE KIDS RIGHT NOW, AND THEY'RE STILL GOING TO SCHOOL EVERY DAY.
AND LASTLY, UH, THE, THE, THE, THE, THE, WELL, WE, WE, WE SAID IT WAS A JUNKYARD.
THE MAN, WE DON'T, WE DON'T KNOW IF IT'S GONNA BE A JUNKYARD OR IMPORT EXPORT, BUT WE HAD A MAJOR, THIS GUY THAT PUT THE, UH, THE, THE, THE FENCE UP ON, ON WAYSIDE, THE GUY THAT PUT THE FENCE UP ON WAYSIDE, THAT'S BUYING THE PROPERTY BECAUSE THE COMMUNITY IS CONCERNED BECAUSE, UH, WE MET WITH THE OWNER AND FIRST HE TOLD US THAT IT WASN'T OUR BUSINESS WHAT HE WAS GONNA PUT THERE.
THEN THEY SAID THAT THEY, IT WASN'T GONNA BE A JUNKYARD, IT WASN'T GONNA BE A STORAGE YARD, THEN THEY SAID IT WAS GONNA BE AN IMPORT EXPORT.
SO WE REALLY DON'T KNOW WHAT WE ARE GONNA HAVE IN OUR COMMUNITY, BUT WE ARE MA WE ARE CONCERNED ABOUT THE PROPERTY AT 60 53 BELFORD AS WELL.
UH, WE HAD MET, HE MET WITH US IN THE COMMUNITY, WAS PROBABLY ABOUT 60 RESIDENTS THAT CAME OUT THAT WAS CONCERNED.
SO THAT'S MY OTHER CONCERN AS WELL.
AND, UH, MOST OF THOSE CONCERNS THAT YOU'RE SPEAKING OF, WE HAVE ADDRESSED, AND I'M GONNA START WITH THE PARKING LOT.
WE ARE, WE HEARD YOU AND YOU ARE ABSOLUTELY CORRECT, HAVE A BEAUTIFUL BUILDING.
EVEN IF IT WASN'T A BEAUTIFUL BUILDING, NOBODY WANTS TO GO INTO A RAGGEDY PARKING LOT.
SO I THINK WE HAVE IDENTIFIED A RESOURCE TO BE ABLE TO TAKE CARE OF THAT ISSUE.
UH, WE HAVE NOT FOUND ANYBODY IN REGARDS TO THE GENERATOR, BUT WE, YOU KNOW, WHEN YOU TEXT AND CALL, WE REALLY TRY TO GET IT DONE.
AND SO YOU HAVE BEEN ENGAGED IN, IN SOME, A LOT OF MEETINGS AND WE ARE LOOKING AT A RESOLUTION IN REGARDS TO THAT, THAT PROPERTY ON BELFORT AS WELL.
AND SO, UH, I I THINK YOU COULD BE ENCOURAGED AT, UH, BECAUSE WE ARE WORKING, WE DO HEAR YOU FIRST AND FOREMOST, YOU IN THE COMMUNITY AND
[00:45:01]
WE ARE TRYING TO WORK OUT, I MEAN, YOU HAD A GROCERY LIST HERE, BUT I'M GONNA TRY TO GET AS MUCH DONE AS I CAN,UH, THANK YOU CYNTHIA FOR COMING.
I WANNA JUST REITERATE, UH, WHAT COUNCILMAN SHABA HAS SAID.
WE, WE, SHE AND I BOTH HAVE HAD SEVERAL CONVERSATIONS ABOUT, YOU KNOW, THE ACTIONS ON THE LIST OF THINGS.
AND YOU AND I HAVE TALKED ABOUT IT AS MUCH.
LET ME JUST KIND OF ADD A LITTLE TO IT.
I WAS GOING TO ASK COUNCIL MEMBER, UH, MARTINEZ, IF BE ON THE ISSUE OF THE PARKING LOT, AND I KNOW COUNCILMAN SHABAZZ AND I, SHE'S STARTING THE PROCESS OF TRYING TO RECTIFY THE PARKING LOT ISSUE, THE GULF GATE TOUR DEVELOPMENT.
DO THEY COME AS FAR? I THINK THEY DO DOWN, UH, YEAH, BELFORD, THEY DO ACTUALLY THAT THEY'RE PART OF A FUNDING SOURCE FOR THE COMMUNITY CENTER.
SO THEY'VE BEEN ENGAGED AT THE PARK, RIGHT, RIGHT, RIGHT.
ARE YOU FAMILIAR WITH THE GULF GATE DEVELOPMENT? I'LL LET THE CAT OUT THE BAG.
COUNCIL MEMBER JUST, HUH? YOU GONNA LET THE CAT OUT THE BAG? WE ARE WORKING WITH THEM.
I I JUST, WELL, I, I JUST WANNA MAKE SURE THAT WE, WELL, THE REASON I'M SAYING, AND, AND THANK YOU FOR THAT, COUNCILMAN.
THE REASON WHY I'M SAYING THAT IS BECAUSE THE COMMUNITY NEED TO KNOW, SO THAT WAY THEY'RE AWARE OF WHAT IS TAKING PLACE IN ORDER TO SOLIDIFY THAT.
AND, UH, AND OF COURSE, UH, I JUST WANT TO SAY THAT I TRY TO, YOU KNOW, MY JOB BASICALLY IS TO HELP OUT WITH THE DISTRICT COUNCILMAN TO DO WHATEVER THAT WE CAN TO HELP THEM MOVE THAT PROCESS ON.
SO, UH, I WILL TELL YOU THAT WE ARE DOING EVERYTHING POSSIBLE TO DO THAT.
AND DON'T, DON'T FAIL TO REACH OUT.
WE, WE HERE, I, I KNOW I CALL YOU GUYS A LOT AND TEXT YOU GUYS A LOT, BUT I HAVE A LOT OF PEOPLE TO ANSWER TO.
SO, YOU KNOW, AND I JUST WANNA MAKE SURE THAT YEAH, WE, WE CONTINUE TO GET COMMUNICATION BACK AND FORTH TO MAKE SURE THAT I BE ABLE TO RESPOND BACK TO THE COMMUNITY TO GIVE UPDATES.
BUT I DO APPRECIATE THAT EVERYTHING.
THE BUILDING IS GONNA BE BEAUTIFUL.
I APPRECIATE, I REALLY APPRECIATE, UH, WHAT YOU'RE DOING FOR OUR COMMUNITY.
NEXT, UH, GOOD MORNING EVERYONE.
I AM A CONCERNED COMMUNITY MEMBER FROM THE SHARPSTOWN AREA, AND I AM HERE TO ASK FOR ASSISTANCE IN RESOLVING A PROBLEM THAT IS AFFECTING MY COMMUNITY IN A VERY NEGATIVE WAY.
HOMELESS MEN, URINATING PUBLIC WITH NO REGARDS ON HOME IS AROUND.
THEY DO IT IN THE MORNING, IN THE AFTERNOON.
AND EVEN AF ON HOURS THAT WERE CHILDREN ARE COMING OUT FROM SCHOOL, THEY LIT LOITER AND ARE LOWERING THE STANDARD OF LIVING IN MY COMMUNITY.
I EVEN TRIED TO HELP AN ELDERLY LADY TO GET HER OFF THE STREET, BUT SHE REFUSED TO HELP.
I FIRST REACHED OUT TO THE OFFICE OF MR. POLLER BACK ON MARCH OF 2024 ABOUT THIS ISSUE, AND I WAS TOLD I COULD REPORT THIS THROUGH THE DISTRICT J PATROL WEBSITE, WHICH I'VE BEEN DOING.
I ALSO REACHED OUT TO THE MAYOR'S OFFICE BACK IN OCTOBER OF 2024, BUT CANNOT NO REPLY.
EVEN THOUGH THE DISTRICT J PATROL AND THE DRT TEAMS ARE BEEN WORKING VERY, VERY HARD TO STOP THIS PROBLEM, THEY CANNOT BE THERE 24 7.
THERE'S ONE IMPORTANT PART MISSING, AND IT IS THE INVOLVEMENT OF COMMERCIAL PROPERTY OWNERS.
THEY SHOULD DO THEIR BEST TO PREVENT AND NOT ALLOW ACTIVITIES THAT DISRESPECTS AND CREATES UNSANITARY CONDITIONS FOR THE COMMUNITY.
MOST RECENTLY, NOT ONLY HOMELESS MEN GATHERED TO DRINK ON PARKING LOTS AND SIDEWALKS, BUT NON-HOMELESS MEN AS WELL.
BAD BEHAVIOR ATTRACTS MORE BAD BEHAVIOR AND TRASH ATTRACTS MORE TRASH.
THE ONLY PEOPLE BENEFITED FROM THIS IS THESE TWO STORES THAT KEEP SELLING THE ALCOHOL THROUGHOUT THE DAY TO THE SAME MEN.
AND I READ SOMETHING ON THE SOUTHWOOD MANAGEMENT DISTRICT WEBSITE THAT I LIKE VERY MUCH, AND I WOULD LIKE TO SHARE WITH YOU, BY INVESTING IN CLEANLINESS.
IN CLEANLINESS, WE ENHANCE THE QUALITY OF LIFE.
'CAUSE I'VE SEEN IT WITH MY O MY OWN EYES.
UH, MY, THIS STREET IS, IS JUST GETTING WORSE.
THIS, I BROUGHT THIS, IF I MAY LEAVE THIS TO THE MAYOR, AND I'M JUST SAID THAT MR. EDWARD POLLER IS NOT HERE, THIS TRASH, AND I WILL LEAVE IT WITH YOU.
IT'S BEEN THERE FOR MORE THAN A YEAR.
UM, IT MAY NOT SEEM NOT A LOT TO YOU, BUT IF YOU HAVE TO WALK THE STREETS LIKE I USED TO, GOING TO WORK IS DISGUSTING ACROSS THAT MAIN URINATE THERE.
AND WHEN YOU ARE WALKING, YOU CAN SMELL THE URINE.
THERE'S ALSO GLASS BECAUSE THEY, I GUESS, THROW THEIR BEER CONTAINERS ON THE SIDEWALK AND FURTHER DOWN THE STREET.
I MEAN, IT'S A, IT'S A REALLY BIG PROBLEM.
IT ALSO INCLUDES A PUBLIC LIBRARY.
I CHOSE NOT TO WALK ANYMORE BECAUSE I'VE SEEN SEVERAL MEN DOING THIS, LIKE PLAIN SIGHT.
SO NOW I'M SPENDING MONEY IN UBER SO THAT I CAN JUST GET TO WORK.
AND I LEFT DETAILS AND ADDRESSES.
[00:50:01]
EDWARD AND THE MAYOR OR WHOEVER'S, WHOEVER'S INTERESTED IN GETTING INVOLVED IN TRYING TO SOLVE THIS.AS I, AS I MENTIONED, I I BROUGHT THIS UP SINCE BACK OF MARCH, 2024.
SO IT'S BEEN MORE THAN A YEAR.
AND THE TRASH IS JUST GROWING AND GROWING AND THAT'S ALL.
UH, MAYOR PRO, MS. MARTINEZ, WHAT'S THE ADDRESS OF THE, THE LOCATION WHERE THE TRASH IS? DO YOU HAVE THAT ADDRESS? UH, IT'S, IT, IT'S, IT BELONGS TO A PARKING LOT.
I TRY, IT'S A VACANT LOT REACHING OUT TO DIFFERENT PEOPLE, BUT ONE SAYS THAT IT BELONGS TO THE OTHER.
I DON'T KNOW WHO THE REAL OWNER IS.
UH, CAN YOU, DO YOU KNOW THE LOCATION RIGHT ACROSS 7 6 0 4 CLEARWOOD DRIVE, 7 6 0 4 CLEARWOOD DRIVE.
BUT THAT STREET IS JUST, AND IT'S GETTING, THAT'S WHERE THE TRASH IS LOCATED.
I TRIED REACHING OUT TO EVEN 3 1 1.
WHERE'S THE HOMELESS LOCATED? I'M SORRY? WHERE IS THE HOMELESS LOCATED? IT'S ALL ALONG THIS STREET.
AND I LIVE SOMETHING HERE FOR YOU SO THAT YOU CAN SEE THERE ARE DIFFERENT PLACES THEY'RE URINATING.
BUT AS I MENTIONED, THEY JUST DO, LIKE, I'M, I'M WALKING.
I'VE SEEN LIKE THREE OF THEM EVEN WAITING FOR UBER.
SO REBECCA, IT'S ON, ON CLARE WOOD DRIVE? YES.
AND I KNOW THAT, UM, THE COUNCIL MEMBER STAFF IS LISTENING AND WE'LL, WE'LL TRY TO GET SOME HELP.
AND THE MAYOR'S, UM, TEAM WILL ALSO TRY TO SEND SOME HELP OUT THERE.
UM, YOU, YOU ARE, YOU ARE NOT ALONE, UNFORTUNATELY, WITH THIS TYPE OF COMPLAINT.
UM, AND WE WILL CONTINUE TO TRY TO ADDRESS IT.
AND, AND I JUST WANNA THANK, AGAIN, I'M VERY GRATEFUL FOR THE DISTRICT J PATROL TEAM AND ALSO THE DRT TEAM, I THINK.
THE DRTI RECENTLY MET, UH, UH, LIKE TWO MONTHS AGO, SERGEANT MORRIS, I THINK.
AND THEY'VE BEEN, YOU KNOW, WORKING VERY HARD.
I DO SEE AN IMPROVEMENT, BUT THE THING IS THAT, YOU KNOW, ONCE THEY LEAVE OR RIGHT, IT GOES BACK, THEY COME BACK.
AND THIS IS WHERE, WHERE, WHERE THE PROPERTY OWNER CAN DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT.
ACTUALLY, ONE OF THEM GOT INVOLVED AND HE HIRED A SECURITY GUARD.
AND THE, THE AREA WAS JUST REALLY NICE, CLEAN.
BUT APPARENTLY THREE MONTHS AGO, HE GOT RID OF, OF THE SECURITY GUARD.
AND IT'S JUST GOING BACK TO THE SAME THING.
STARTS WITH ONE MAN DRINKING AND THEN TWO, AND THEN, AND THAT'S HOW HE GOES.
SO, MAY I LEAVE THIS WITH YOU? SURE.
AND, UH, PAUL YOUNG IS THE CHIEF OF STAFF FOR DISTRICT J AND HE SAID HE'LL TAKE THAT INFORMATION AND TALK TO YOU.
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR TIME.
MATTHEW DIETRICH TO BE FOLLOWED BY TRAVIS MCGEE.
GOOD MORNING MAYOR AND DISTINGUISHED MEMBERS OF THE CITY COUNCIL.
MY NAME IS MATTHEW DIETRICH, UH, FOUNDER, DIRECTOR AND VIOLINIST OF APOLLO CHAMBER PLAYERS.
NOW ON OUR 18TH SEASON, APOLLO'S MISSION IS TO CONNECT COMMUNITIES AND CULTURES THROUGH GLOBALLY INSPIRED MUSIC.
AND OUR VISION IS TO CREATE CULTURAL HARMONY HERE IN HOUSTON AND BEYOND.
THIS YEAR, WE ARE HONORED AS CHAMBER MUSIC, AMERICA'S ENSEMBLE OF THE YEAR, A NATIONAL RECOGNITION FOR OUR BOLD, INNOVATIVE PROGRAMS AROUND CENSORSHIP AND DEMOCRACY.
WE'VE ALSO PERFORMED FOR SOLD OUT AUDIENCES AT CARNEGIE HALL AND THE KENNEDY CENTER.
WHILE HERE AT HOME, WE'VE LAUNCHED COMMUNITY PROJECTS LIKE LIBRARY VOYAGE AND HOLIDAY VOYAGE, AN INTERFAITH PROGRAM WHICH RAISES FUNDS FOR LOCAL CHARITIES LIKE HEALTHCARE FOR THE HOMELESS HOUSTON.
FIRST, I WISH TO EXPRESS MY DEEP GRATITUDE FOR THE CITY'S CONTINUED SUPPORT OF THE HOUSTON ARTS ALLIANCE.
APOLLO'S GROWTH HAS BEEN PROFOUNDLY SHAPED BY HAA FUNDING AND CAPACITY BUILDING PROGRAMS. I ALSO THANK YOU FOR SUPPORTING HARMONY IN THE AIR THROUGH THE HOUSTON AIRPORT SYSTEM.
UH, APOLLO HAS BEEN PART OF THIS PROGRAM SINCE 2015, PERFORMING OVER 500 CONCERTS FOR THOUSANDS OF TRAVELERS FROM AROUND THE WORLD.
WE WERE EVEN FEATURED IN THE NEW YORK TIMES FOR THIS WORK, AN INCREDIBLE WAY TO SHOWCASE HOUSTON AS A WORLD CLASS ART CITY.
SECOND, I'D LIKE TO HIGHLIGHT OUR NEW ALBUM BAN STORIES OF CENSORSHIP RELEASED LAST MONTH.
IT SPEAKS DIRECTLY TO TODAY'S MOMENT AND FEATURES HOUSTON ARTISTS, COMPOSERS AND POETS, INCLUDING FORMER POET LAUREATE DEBORAH DEEP MUAN ALONGSIDE STAR TREK ACTOR AND ACTIVIST GEORGE DECAY.
SINCE ITS RELEASED, BAND HAS BEEN FEATURED ON MORE THAN A HUNDRED MEDIA OUTLETS WORLDWIDE, AND I INVITE YOU TO EXPERIENCE IT ON ANY STREAMING STREAMING PLATFORM.
AND ALSO HAVE SOME CDS FOR YOU IF YOU'D LIKE.
THE STUBBORNNESS OF DESCENT IS NOT BOLDER.
IT IS MORE AVALANCHE, OVERWHELMING THE SCALES.
THESE WORDS FROM HOUSTON'S POET LAUREATES CAPTURED THE SPIRIT OF OUR SEASON OPENING PROGRAM.
DECLARE, FOR THE FIRST TIME EVER, ALL HOUSTON POET LAUREATES, PAST
[00:55:01]
AND PRESENT WILL SHARE ONE STAGE, COLLABORATING WITH APOLLO, UH, HOUSTON COMPOSERS, TEXAS POET LAUREATE, LUPE MENDEZ, AND VISUAL ARTISTS MARLO SDO.TOGETHER WE EXPLORE AMERICA'S FOUNDING IDEALS AND THEIR RESONANCE TODAY CULMINATING IN A NEW DECLARATION.
DECLARE WILL TAKE PLACE SATURDAY, OCTOBER 4TH AT 7:00 PM AT ZKO HALL OVER HERE AT THE HOBBY CENTER.
AND IN SUPPORT OF THIS HISTORIC PROGRAM, WE RESPECTFULLY REQUEST THAT THE CITY OF HOUSTON UNDERWRITE THE EVENT BY WAIVING OUR RENTAL FEE FOR ZKO HALL.
WE UNDERSTAND THE CITY RECEIVES A NUMBER OF FREE DAYS EACH YEAR, AND WE HOPE THIS CAN BE APPLIED TO SPOTLIGHT THIS VERY HOUSTON AFFIRMING PROGRAM.
WE HOPE TO SEE YOU AT DECLARE AND THANK YOU SINCERELY AND GALACTICALLY FOR YOUR SUPPORT OF HOUSTON'S VIBRANT ARTS COMMUNITY.
COUNCILOR DAVIS, UH, MATTHEW, UH, GOOD TO SEE YOU AGAIN.
I, I JUST WANTED TO, I THANK YOU FOR COMING AND MAKING YOUR PRESENTATION AND THANK YOU FOR THE INVITE.
I'VE ATTENDED A COUPLE OF YOUR PROGRAMS SO THAT I COULD AT LEAST GET A GOOD LOOK AND THANK YOU FOR THE, UH, UH, UPCOMING EVENT THAT'S GOING TO BE HELD.
AND THANK YOU FOR THE CITY PROCLAMATION, CERTAINLY FOR YOUR ACTIONS AND WHAT YOU DO WITH A LOT OF, UH, HIGH SCHOOL AND STUDENTS AND, UH, WHICH WAS AT THE CHURCH THAT SUNDAY IN THE PROGRAM.
UH, SO, UM, CERTAINLY I WOULD ENCOURAGE THAT, YOU KNOW, WE TRY TO DO WHAT WE CAN SURE.
IN ORDER TO ENHANCE IT, UH, UH, FROM MY STANDPOINT.
BUT THANK YOU FOR WHAT YOU DO AND WHAT YOU'RE DOING TO ENHANCE THE, UH, THE HOUSTON ALLIANCE.
I KNOW A LOT OF PEOPLE HERE ARE HERE FOR INFRASTRUCTURE AND PUBLIC SAFETY, AND I FEEL THE ARTS ARE A PART OF THE INFRASTRUCTURE OF HOUSTON.
YOU KNOW, NOT ONLY HERE IN HOUSTON, BUT ON THE GLOBAL STAGE.
SO THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR SUPPORT OF ALL THESE.
THANK YOU COUNCILOR EVANS SHAVA.
AND THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR COMING AND REALLY APPRECIATE THE ARTS AND CULTURE COMMUNITY.
BUT WHAT I'D LIKE FOR YOU TO DO, THE LADY AT THE DOOR, I WANNA MAKE SURE THAT SHE HAS THAT ANNOUNCEMENT SURE.
UH, BUT CERTAINLY APPRECIATE YOU COMING TODAY AND WE'LL TRY TO GET IT OUT AND, UH, THROUGH SOCIAL MEDIA SO THAT PEOPLE CAN COME TO SUPPORT.
'CAUSE THEY WILL BE BLESSED WITH WHAT THEY HEAR AND SEE.
AND AGAIN, ALL THE POET LAUREATES OF HOUSTON, IT'S, THIS IS THE GEM OF HOUSTON AND WHAT THEY HAVE TO SAY ABOUT WHAT'S GOING ON HERE AND AROUND OUR COUNTRY RIGHT NOW.
SO I HOPE THAT EVERYBODY CAN JOIN US.
AM I ALLOWED TO TAKE A SELFIE? THANK YOU SO MUCH.
AM I ALLOWED TO TAKE A SELFIE? OKAY.
YEAH, HE WASN'T, YOU KNOW, GOTTA DO IT EVERYONE.
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR, FOR EVERYTHING.
SAY, UH, LET ME TAKE A MOMENT.
REBECCA, WOULD YOU GET MARTIN MS. MARTINEZ NUMBER OFF THE AGENDA SHEET? CALLER, LET HER KNOW THAT THE DRT TEAM CHIEF DIAZ WAS WATCHING COUNSEL, THEY'RE ON THEIR WAY.
WOULD SHE PLEASE STAY IN CONTACT WITH YOU TO GIVE US A TIMELY REPORT, BUT THE DRT TEAM IS THERE, OR HEADED THAT WAY, I SHOULD SAY.
AND, UH, KEEP ME, KEEP ME POSTED.
COUNCILMAN, YOU NEED SOMETHING? EVAN SHABAZZ, UH, JUST TO HOLD UP, I JUST WANTED TO SUSPEND THE RULES TO, TO, UH, MOVE CHARLES BRANDI BIRD RIGHT AFTER TRAVIS MCGEE.
I THINK THEY ALREADY MOVED INTO MORALE AFTER HIM, SO IT, OKAY.
WELL, AS CLOSELY AS YOU CAN BEHIND TRAVIS MCGEE.
I'M TRAVIS MCGEE, THE PRESIDENT OF THE SOUTH PARK SUPER NEIGHBORHOOD AND THE CIVIC LEAD IN THE SUNNY SIDE AREA AS WELL.
UH, I WANT TO PIGGYBACK OFF OF, UH, MS. FARMS. WE ALSO NEED A UPDATE ON THE POSSIBLE, UH, AMENDMENT TO THE JUNKYARD ORDINANCE, WHICH I THINK IT WAS VERY SIMPLE TO PUT THAT, JUST ADD THE CONTAINERS IN THERE.
WE HADN'T GOT AN UPDATE ON THAT, BUT I'M HERE TO TALK ABOUT PUBLIC SAFETY.
UH, I'M JUST ONE OF MANY HOUSTONIANS THAT ARE VERY CONCERNED ON WHAT'S GOING ON IN OUR BIOS RIGHT NOW.
I DON'T THINK IT'S SMART FOR US TO ASSUME THAT EVERYONE IS HOMELESS, EVERYONE IS SUICIDAL, EVERYONE IS DYING OF NATURAL CAUSES AND THINGS LIKE THAT.
WE KEEP HEARING WE SHOULDN'T BE ALARMED, BUT WHEN SHOULD WE BE ALARMED? IT'S 14 BODIES NOW.
UM, I THINK CLEANING THE BIO SHOULD BE A PART OF HURRICANE PREPAREDNESS AND WE MIGHT FIND SOME OF THESE BODIES AND THINGS LIKE THAT, BUT AS A FATHER, A PAWPAW, A HUSBAND, A BROTHER, SISTER, TO HEAR ANYBODY GET ON SAY, WE SHOULDN'T BE ALARMED
[01:00:01]
ABOUT IT.I HAVE A DAUGHTER AT AT TSU RIGHT NOW, AND SHE'S BEEN KIND OF SHAKY ABOUT GOING BACK TO SCHOOL, EVEN THOUGH WE, WE ENCOURAGE HER TO, EVERYTHING'S GONNA BE ALL RIGHT.
AND WHEN WE SEE THE, THE BIOS ON THE NEWS, THEY TAKE THE PRI THE PICTURES OF THE, OF THE PRETTY BAES THAT HAVE THE CONCRETE WALLS AND STUFF.
NOT THE ONES WITH THE SIX FEET OF GRASS, THE 10 FEET OF GRASS AND THINGS LIKE THAT.
IF YOU GO TO BUFFALO BAO, WHICH IS THE BIGGEST ONE, THE DEEPEST ONE, ALL THE STUFF FROM THE PREVIOUS STORM, THEY JUST PUSHED INTO THE BAO.
BUT WE HAVE ENOUGH RESOURCES IN HOUSTON TO START GOING THROUGH THESE BIOS VERSUS JUST SAYING THAT IT'S A HOMELESS PERSON.
WHAT IT, IT'S JUST A HOMELESS PERSON.
THAT COULD BE ANYBODY UP HERE IN THOSE SAME BIOS.
AND PEOPLE GOING TOWARDS THE BA DON'T MEAN THEY SUPPOSED TO END UP IN THE BIO.
SO IT'S SOMETHING GOING ON WRONG.
I DON'T KNOW WHAT, WE JUST HAD TWO PEOPLE TO BE IDENTIFIED THIS YEAR.
IT'S BEEN GOING ON SINCE APRIL OF THIS YEAR.
THE COMMUNICATION HAS BEEN VERY VAGUE TO THE PUBLIC KNOW WHO, WHAT, WHEN, WHERE, HOW, YOU KNOW, THE THING WE LEARNED IN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL, WE JUST, SOMETIMES WE JUST SEE A MALE OR FEMALE, SO EVERYBODY SHOULD BE CONCERNED ABOUT IT.
I DON'T THINK WE SHOULD RULE THAT.
WE, WE EVERYTHING SHOULD BE ON THE TABLE, WHETHER IT'S SERIAL KILLER, WHETHER IT'S KILLER.
WELL, FIRST OF ALL, THAT'S THAT.
WHILE SPECULATION IS WHAT IS HARMING THE COMMUNITY.
IF WE HAD A PRESS CONFERENCE YESTERDAY, I DON'T KNOW IF YOU SAW IT.
NO, I, I SAW THE PRESS CONFERENCE MAIL.
BUT WHAT I'M SAYING, WELL, THERE IS NO SERIAL KILLER LOOSE IN HOUSTON.
I I KNOW WE DON'T KNOW THAT AND WE DON'T, WE DON'T KNOW WHAT TO DISCUSS.
WELL, I'M NOT GONNA ARGUE WITH YOU, BUT NO, I'M NOT GONNA ARGUE WITH EITHER THE SPECULATION, BUT I THOUGHT IT WAS MY TIME TO SPEAK AND MISINFORMATION HARMS THE COMMUNITY.
I THOUGHT IT WAS MY TIME TO SPEAK THOUGH.
BUT IT'S ALSO MY TIME TO SET THE RECORD STRAIGHT.
RIGHT? I MEAN, THAT'S YOUR OPINION THOUGH.
NO, IT'S THE, THAT'S YOUR OPINION.
IT'S WHAT THE, IT'S WHAT THE EVIDENCE SHOWS.
I DON'T KNOW WHAT A, UH, SERIAL KILLER EXPERT LOOK LIKE, BUT WHAT I DO KNOW IS 14 BODIES THAT BEEN FOUND IN THESE BODIES, THERE WAS 26 LAST YEAR AND EVEN MORE THAN NEXT YEAR.
AND, AND WE, AND THAT NEEDS TO BE COMMUNICATED TO THE COMMUNITY AS WELL.
ALL OF THOSE BODIES SHOULD BE PULLED OUT.
THEY HAVE FAMILIES TOO, BUT WE CAN'T ASSUME THAT THEY'RE HOMELESS.
WE CAN'T ASSUME THAT WE, WE CAN'T ASSUME THAT THEY WAS, UH, DROWNED.
THEY'VE TALKED TO THE FAMILIES.
THEY, THEY HAVE TALKED TO THE FAMILIES.
AGAIN, I'M GOING BY WHAT'S BEEN ON OUR LOCAL CHANNELS.
NO INFORMATION HAS BEEN FORTHCOMING AT THIS PARTICULAR POINT.
KNOW WHO, WHAT, WHEN, WHERE, AND HOW.
YES, YOU HAD A, UH, A PRESS CONFERENCE YESTERDAY, BUT THIS BEEN GOING ON SINCE APRIL THIS YEAR.
I'M NOT HERE TO ARGUE, FUSS, AND FIGHT WITH YOU.
IT IS JUST A CONCERN THAT EVERYBODY HAVE.
EVEN PEOPLE ON COUNCIL HAVE THIS CONCERN.
BUT AT THE END OF THE DAY, WE HAVE TO FIND OUT WHAT'S REALLY GOING ON ON THESE BIOS AND STUFF LIKE THAT.
BUT IT'S, IT IS NOT NORMAL FOR PEOPLE.
JUST KEEP POPPING UP IN FIVE, WITHIN FIVE DAY SPAN, PLEASE.
UH, THANK YOU MAYOR, AND THANK YOU TRAVIS FOR YOUR COMMENTS.
I, I DO WANNA POINT OUT THAT IT IS, UH, IT IS ALARMING.
HOWEVER, AS, AS THE MAYOR HAS POINTED OUT WITH STATISTICS, UH, SADLY THIS HAPPENS EVERY YEAR.
AND, UM, I DO ALSO WANNA NOTE THAT STATE LAW REQUIRES EVERY, UH, BODY THAT IS FOUND IN THOSE KINDS OF CIRCUMSTANCES GOES TO THE MEDICAL EXAMINER'S OFFICE AND THEY DETERMINE WHAT THE CAUSE OF DEATH IS.
THEY ALSO TRY TO IDENTIFY THE BODY BECAUSE OFTENTIMES THE BODY DOESN'T HAVE ANY IDENTIFICATION ON IT.
UM, WHERE FOUL PLAY IS INVOLVED, OBVIOUSLY THE POLICE DO AN INVESTIGATION.
IF THEY NEED INFORMATION FROM THE PUBLIC, THEN, UH, THEY'LL CERTAINLY APPROACH THE PUBLIC THAT THAT HAP HAPPENS COMMONLY.
BUT SOMETIMES, UH, THE MEDICAL EXAMINER'S INVESTIGATION WILL ANSWER A LOT OF THE QUESTIONS.
AND, UM, WHEN NEXT OF KIN IS, IS IDENTIFIED AS WELL, UH, THEN THE POLICE CAN, UH, FIND OUT WHAT THE CIRCUMSTANCES WERE.
AND SO WHEN THE MAYOR SAYS, UM, THERE IS NO REASON TO BELIEVE AT THIS POINT THAT THERE IS A SERIAL KILLER INVOLVED.
THAT'S BASED ON, UH, INFORMATION THAT THEY HAVE EVIDENCE FROM THE MEDICAL EXAMINE EXAMINER'S OFFICE AND, UH, WHATEVER POLICE INVESTIGATION HAS OCCURRED AND, AND WHATEVER NEXT OF KIN HAS BEEN IDENTIFIED, UH, I CAN ASSURE YOU WE HAVE, UM, VERY PROFESSIONAL POLICE DEPARTMENT
[01:05:01]
WITH TRAINED INVESTIGATORS.AND WHEN THEY BELIEVE A SERIAL KILLER IS INVOLVED, NOT NECESSARILY IN THIS CIRCUMSTANCE, UH, AND INFORMATION IS, IS NEEDED, THEN THEY WILL SEEK THAT INFORMATION FROM THE PUBLIC IF NECESSARY.
BUT, UM, MY, MY BELIEF IS THAT, UM, THESE, THESE SITUATIONS ARE BEING INVESTIGATED THOROUGHLY AND, UM, UH, AND, AND THAT'S WHAT THIS IS ALL BASED ON.
BUT THANK YOU FOR YOUR COMMENT.
EVAN SHABAZZ, I RESPOND TO THAT COUNCILMAN, REVEREND SHA, EVAN SHABAZZ.
UH, CERTAINLY I WANT TO TAKE THIS TIME TO GIVE MY SINCERE CONDOLENCES TO THE FAMILY OF JADE MCKISSICK, RIGHT? WHO WAS THE MOST RECENT BODY THAT WAS FOUND IN UNIVERSITY OF HOUSTON, STUDENT.
I, UM, LIVE WITHIN BLOCKS OF THE BAYOU MYSELF.
AND JUST AS ANY OTHER CRIME, WE HAVE TO BE CAUTIOUS AND AWARE OF OUR SURROUNDINGS.
I REALLY DON'T KNOW HOW WE CAN RESOLVE IT, BUT CERTAINLY, UM, I DON'T WANNA SAY, UH, THAT ANY OF, I, I DON'T KNOW THAT ANY OF THESE DIFFERENT SITUATIONS RELATE TO EACH OTHER, WHICH WOULD INDICATE A SERIAL KILLER.
BUT ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT THINGS IS TO LET PEOPLE KNOW THAT THINGS ARE GOING ON.
AND I APPRECIATE YOU, UH, IN THAT RESPECT, BUT I REALLY DON'T KNOW.
AND I'M ALWAYS WILLING TO LISTEN TO, UH, THE SOLUTIONS THAT MAY BE AVAILABLE, BUT I, I JUST DON'T KNOW HOW WE CAN, CAN STOP, UM, PEOPLE'S BODIES ENDING UP IN THE BAYOU OR PEOPLE BEING KILLED ON A DAILY BASIS, OTHER THAN TRYING TO GET A MINDSET OF PEOPLE TO CHANGE THOSE BEHAVIORS.
AND SO, AGAIN, I THANK YOU FOR COMING.
UH, BUT I, I DIDN'T WANT, I THOUGHT I WOULD BE REMISS IF I AT LEAST DIDN'T GIVE, I GIVE CONDOLENCES TO ALL OF THE, THE PEOPLE WHO HAVE LOST THEIR LOVED ONES, REGARDLESS OF WHETHER THEY'RE HOMELESS OR WHATEVER, BECAUSE AGAIN, AS YOU SAID, THEY ARE HUMAN BEINGS.
BUT I PARTICULARLY HAVE A, A, A, A REAL CONCERN, UH, WHEN YOU HEAR THAT IT'S A STUDENT.
AND SO, UM, AND, AND WE ALSO NEED TO BE MINDFUL THAT IT MAY BE SOME, SOME PROBLEMS THAT THEY'RE HAVING SOME, SOME, SOME SUICIDAL ISSUES.
SO WE HAVE TO STAY ON TOP OF OUR MENTAL HEALTH AND, AND ENCOURAGE OUR YOUNG PEOPLE.
SOMETIMES WE ASSUME THAT, OH, THEY'RE YOUNG, THEY DON'T HAVE A PROBLEM, AND THEY ARE REALLY, REALLY STRUGGLING.
AND SO WE REALLY HAVE TO BE MINDFUL OF THOSE THINGS TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY CAN ACCESS THOSE SERVICES TO, THAT THEY HAVE.
AND I THINK YOU WANTED TO SAY SOMETHING ELSE, SO YOU COULD GO ON.
I, I WILL ALSO THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE.
UH, I CAN CLEARLY CATEGORICALLY TELL YOU THAT THE FIVE DROWNINGS ARE NOT CONNECTED TO HAVE BEEN IDENTIFIED.
HPD HAS BEEN IN CONTACT WITH THE FAMILY OUTTA RESPECT FOR THE FAMILY AND THEIR PRIVACY.
I CAN ONLY SAY IT'S AN ACTIVE INVESTIGATION, IF YOU WILL CONTINUE SOUNDING THE ALARM IF YOU WANT TO.
BUT, UH, HPD IS ON IT ACTIVE INVESTIGATION.
AND, UM, I THINK YOU'LL UNDERSTAND IF YOU ALLOW THE POLICE TO DO THEIR WORK AND LET THE MORGUE AND THE MEDICAL EXAMINER COMPLETE THEIR WORK, YOU WILL SEE CLEARLY WHAT THE SITUATIONS WERE.
AND SO THERE'S NO REASON FOR ALARM BY YOUR DAUGHTER OR OTHER U OF H STUDENTS THAT WILL BE FORTHCOMING AND BE VERY CLEAR THAT THIS WAS A UNFORTUNATE TRAGEDY AS WELL AS THE OTHER THAT WERE DISCOVERED LAST WEEK.
A VERY UNIQUE INDIVIDUAL CIRCUMSTANCES THAT YOU HAVE TO ALLOW HOMICIDE TO DO THEIR WORK.
AND THEY'LL BE VERY TRANSPARENT.
I WISH, I WISH I COULD REVEAL THE EARLY STAGES OF THEIR INVESTIGATION, BUT I CAN'T.
AND I WILL TELL YOU, PUTTING MY WORD ON THE LINE THAT YOU'LL UNDERSTAND IF YOU'LL ALLOW THEM TO COMPLETE THEIR WORK AND REVEAL ALL THE ELEMENTS OF THE TRAGEDY.
I'M A FATHER, I UNDERSTAND THE CONCERNS THE OTHER INDIVIDUALS, UM, UNFORTUNATE ALSO.
AND YOU'LL SEE CIRCUMSTANCES THAT TRAGICALLY LED THEM TO THE BOW.
AND I WOULD JUST SAY THE WILD SPECULATION,
[01:10:01]
SOCIAL MEDIA MISINFORMATION BY THE MEDIA SERVES NO GOOD PURPOSE, BUT EVERYONE DOES HAVE FIRST AMENDMENT RIGHTS IN HOUSTON, TEXAS.MR. MCGEE? UH, COUNCIL FLICKER.
YEAH, JUST WANTED TO REMIND YOU OF ALL OVER PLACE.
I MEAN, YOU SAID THAT IT STARTED BACK IN APRIL, YET WE HAD A COUPLE OF DOZEN LAST YEAR.
HAD 'EM BEFORE THAT, THE YEAR BEFORE THAT, RIGHT? THE YEAR BEFORE THAT.
AND OBVIOUSLY ANY UNNATURAL DEATH, WHETHER IT BE MURDER OR SUICIDE, IS A TRAGEDY.
UH, OBVIOUSLY I'M GRATEFUL THAT IT APPEARS THIS YEAR WE'RE GONNA HAVE CONSIDERABLY LESS THAN WE DID LAST YEAR.
UH, WE'D ALLOW LIKE THAT NUMBER TO BE ZERO.
UM, BUT, YOU KNOW, AND THEY CAN'T GO AND LOOK FOR SOMETHING UNLESS THEY KNOW SOMETHING'S MISSING.
UH, SO NO, I MEAN, THEY'RE NOT GOING TO DREDGE THE, THE VALUES THROUGHOUT THE CITY EVERY YEAR LOOKING FOR SOMETHING THAT THEY DON'T KNOW IS MISSING.
OBVIOUSLY, IF THEY KNOW SOMEONE'S GONE MISSING AND THEY'VE GONE INTO THE BAYOU, THEN THEY LOOK FOR IT.
BUT, BUT THEY'RE NOT GONNA LOOK FOR SOMETHING UNLESS THEY ACTUALLY KNOW IT'S MISSING.
SO HOPEFULLY WE CAN CONTINUE ON A TREND WITH LESS MURDERS AND, YOU KNOW, WE CAN HAVE LESS BODIES SHOW UP.
BUT UNFORTUNATELY, I MEAN, THIS IS SOMETHING THAT, UH, IS, IS A PIECE OF SOCIETY.
COUNCIL CARTER, WHAT I'M SAYING.
I NEVER GOT TO HIM, BUT I'M GONNA GET TO, YOU'LL HAVE ALL THE OPPORTUNITIES YOU NEED.
MR. MCGEE, THANK YOU FOR COMING DOWN.
YOU KNOW, I JUST WANTED TO ADD, AS I SIT HERE AND LISTEN, YOU KNOW, ONE DEATH IS ONE DEATH, TOO MANY, TOO MANY, RIGHT? BUT, YOU KNOW, WITH OUR STREET HOMELESS, AND IT'S NOT JUST A HOMELESS PERSON.
I, I HEARD YOU SAY JUST A HOMELESS, IT'S NOT JUST A HOMELESS PERSON, BUT THESE INDIVIDUALS ALSO, YOU KNOW, THEY DESERVE THEIR DIGNITY.
BUT WHEN, YOU KNOW, WHEN, WHEN THEY'RE SOMETIMES THAT THE STREET HOMELESS ARE NOT IDENTIFIED AS TO WHAT THEIR PROBLEMS ARE, OR EVEN THAT THEY'RE OUT THERE AND THAT THEY'RE HOLED UP SOMEWHERE.
AND, UM, YOU KNOW, WE HAVE TO, TO BE, TO BE PATIENT WITH HPD AND, AND LET THEM REVEAL THEIR FINDINGS.
UM, QUITE FRANKLY, WHEN, YOU KNOW, WITH THE NUMBERS, I'M NOT SURPRISED THAT THERE'S, I MEAN, I WAS SURPRISED THAT THERE'S NOT MORE, BECAUSE WHEN YOU GO OUT TO ON THE STREETS AND YOU SEE SOME OF THE WAYS THAT THESE INDIVIDUALS ARE LIVING, AND THAT'S WHY WE NEED TO CONTINUE TO WORK TOWARDS SOLVING THE PROBLEM OF THE HOMELESS.
AND, YOU KNOW, I DON'T LOOK AT THEM AS JUST A HOMELESS INDIVIDUAL, NOR DOES HPD NOR ANYONE AROUND THIS HORSESHOE.
UM, I THANK YOU FOR BRINGING, YOU KNOW, YOUR THOUGHTS TO, TO US, BUT I, I, YOU KNOW, I BELIEVE THAT, THAT THE, THE EVIDENCE WILL COME OUT SOON.
AND, AND, YOU KNOW, WE JUST HAVE TO ALL WORK TOGETHER TO CONTINUE TO STAY SAFE, KEEP OUR FAMILIES SAFE, BUT ALSO TO, TO REALIZE THAT THINGS HAPPEN OUT THERE EVERY DAY THAT YOU KNOW, THAT WE JUST DON'T HAVE ANY CONTROL OVER UNTIL WE LEARN THE PROBLEM, THEN WE CAN ADDRESS THE PROBLEM.
YOU, YOU, I NEVER GOT BACK TO YOU, BUT IN, IN OTHER WORDS, ALL I'M SAYING IS THAT WE JUST CAN'T ASSUME WE DON'T, UM, IF THEY HAPPEN AN AREA THAT'S MORE REASON WHY WE SHOULDN'T JUST ASSUME THAT THEY'RE HOMELESS, THEY'RE SUICIDAL, OR THEY THIS, THEY'RE THAT.
UM, THEY, LIKE I SAY, THEY, IT'S STILL HUMAN LIFE.
AND WHEN WE TALK ABOUT THE EVIDENCE, WE'VE BEEN HAVING EVIDENCE SITTING IN THE CRIME LAB FOR YEARS NOW.
SO THAT DOESN'T MAKE ME FEEL TOO GOOD WHEN WE ALWAYS WANNA SAY, WELL, WHAT EVIDENCE WE HAVE.
WELL, WE'VE BEEN HAVING EVIDENCE FOR THE LAST 10, 20 YEARS.
YOU'VE DONE A REALLY GOOD JOB OF MAKING YOUR POINT AND BRINGING IT TO THE DISCUSSION.
NEXT, CHARLES BRANDENBURG TO BE FOLLOWED BY LINDA MORALES.
THANK YOU, LADIES AND GENTLEMEN FOR ALLOWING ME TO COME UP TODAY.
THANK YOU EVERYBODY FOR LETTING ME BE UP HERE TODAY.
UH, I'M PART OF EDGEWOOD PARK.
GET A LITTLE BIT CLOSER TO THE MIC.
OKAY, WELL, I'LL BEND IT DOWN.
THAT WORK? CAN YOU HEAR ME? YES, THAT'S FINE.
UH, MY THING IS, UH, WE GET IN A NEW BUILDING AND EVERYTHING, AND THEY REDOING THE PARK.
UH, I HAVE A PROBLEM WITH THE DETENTION POND THAT THEY'RE SUPPOSED TO BE DIGGING IN FOR THE KIDS.
WE HAVE KIDS 60 AND 12 YEARS OLD, PLAY FOOTBALL IN THAT PARK, OVER 200 SOMETHING KIDS.
THEY DON'T WANNA PUT A BARRIER AROUND THAT.
I DON'T WANT NONE OF OUR KIDS IN OUR NEIGHBORHOOD TO GET DROWNED WHEN THEY START THIS POND.
SO IF WE DON'T ADDRESS IT NOW, WE NOT GONNA GET NOTHING DONE AFTER THIS DUG.
AND I KNOW NONE OF Y'ALL WANT YOUR CHILDREN OR GRANDCHILDREN IN THOSE PREDICAMENTS.
AND I LIVE ONE BLOCK FROM THE PARK, AND I'M OVER THERE ALL THE TIME.
SO I APPRECIATE IF Y'ALL COULD PUT IT IN YOUR BUDGET OR FIND A WAY
[01:15:01]
TO FIX IT TO WHERE THESE KIDS WON'T WANDER OFF AND GET INTO THAT POND.AND I HAVE ONE OTHER SUGGESTION.
UH, THEY HAVE ALREADY ADDRESSED IT AT THE PARKING LOT.
THEY'VE SAID EVERYTHING ABOUT THE PARKING LOT.
UH, WHAT ABOUT THE PAVILION THAT'S WE'RE GONNA HAVE FOR OUR BUILDING BESIDES THE HELP GET US A GENERATOR FOR THE ELDERLY? I'M 71, SO, YOU KNOW, IT'S A LOT OF SENIORS RIGHT THERE IN OUR AREA.
SO WHEN THE LIGHTS AND STUFF DO GO OUT AND WE HAVE A STORM, WHERE WOULD THEY GO? THAT WOULD BE THE IDEAL PLACE, RIGHT? IN OUR OWN NEIGHBORHOOD.
SO WE'D APPRECIATE IF Y'ALL COULD HELP US.
NEXT, LINDA MORALES TO BE GOOD MORNING MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL.
LINDA MORALES, REPRESENTING THE GULF COAST AREA LABOR FEDERATION.
ALSO BOARD MEMBER WITH HARRIS COUNTY HOUSTON SPORTS AUTHORITY, BUT NOT REPRESENTING THEIR VIEWS.
HOUSTON, WE KNOW IS SET TO HOST SOME PRETTY BIG EVENTS, THE KINDERS TEXAS BOWL, THE WORLD BASEBALL CLASSIC, AND 2026 FIFA WORLD CUP.
THE LAST THING WE NEED IS TO SHOWCASE A LABOR DISPUTE RIGHT NOW.
AS YOU KNOW, HILTON, AMERICA'S HOUSTON FIRST OWNED FLAGSHIP HOST HOTEL IS ON STRIKE.
THE WORKERS ARE NOT ASKING FOR THE WORLD OR FOR THE MOON.
THEY JUST WANT FAIRNESS, A LIVING WAGE, SAFE CONDITIONS, AND DIGNITY ON THE JOB.
AND INSTEAD, HILLSTON AMERICAS HAS DUG IN.
AND HOUSTON FIRST IS DENYING RESPONSIBILITY DESPITE THE FACT THAT THEY OWN THE HOTEL.
SO LET'S BE CLEAR THAT WITHOUT THESE WORKERS, THERE IS NO HILTON AMERICAS WITHOUT THESE WORKERS, THERE IS NO HOUSTON FIRST SUCCESS STORY.
THIS ISN'T A CONTRACT FIGHT, IT'S A TEST OF HOUSTON'S VALUES.
DO WE STAND FOR DIGNITY AND RESPECT, OR DO WE LET EXPLOITATION DEFINE OUR CITY? HOUSTON FIRST MUST STEP UP.
HILTON AMERICAS MUST COME TO THE TABLE WITH REAL OFFER THAT SHOWS WORKERS THE RESPECT THEY'VE EARNED.
WHEN WORKERS WIN, HOUSTON WINS.
TELL HOUSTON FIRST TO GIVE WORKERS WHAT THEY DESERVE.
UH, JUST WANNA SAY THANK YOU FOR ALL THE ADVOCACY YOU'VE DONE.
UH, YOU'VE BEEN A PILLAR IN LABOR COMMUNITY FOR DECADES.
YOU'RE LIKE 21, SO TWO DECADES
UM, BUT, BUT I REALLY APPRECIATE SOLIDARITY AS WELL.
UM, YOU KNOW, WE HAD A LABOR COMMITTEE LAST WEEK YES.
UH, WHERE WE WERE TALKING ABOUT WHAT LIVABLE WAGE MEANS.
UM, I'M, I, I APPRECIATE YOUR LEADERSHIP AND I LEAN INTO YOU AS WELL, UM, AS SOMEONE THAT, AS A MENTOR.
AND SO, UH, JUST HEARING YOUR VOICE, UH, REAFFIRMS MY COMMITMENT AND DEDICATION TO ENSURE THAT A LIVABLE WAGE WITH SOME, WHICH IS INTERESTING BECAUSE SOME FOLKS DON'T UNDERSTAND, UH, WHY, RIGHT? YOU KNOW, YOU HAVE FOLKS THAT GET PAID, UM, YOU KNOW, SALARY, AND EVEN THEN WE'RE STRUGGLING, RIGHT? WITH MM-HMM
INSURANCE, INCREASING GROCERY PRICES INCREASING, AND SO ON.
AND SO, UM, JUST, JUST WANNA SAY THANK YOU, THANK YOU FOR YOUR VOICE AND, YOU KNOW, CONTINUE TO SUPPORT UNITE HERE AND THE WORK THAT THEY'RE DOING TO WELCOME FOLKS IN HOUSTON, UH, AND MAKE SURE FOLKS HERE IN HOUSTON, UH, HAVE A, A GREAT EXPERIENCE AS WELL, AND THEY COME BACK AND CONTINUE TO SPEND THOSE DOLLARS.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP, SIR.
AND LINDA, IT'S ALWAYS A PLEASURE TO SEE YOU.
YOUR FACE IS ONE THAT HAS BEEN SEEN FOR MANY, MANY YEARS FIGHTING VERY, VERY HARD FOR THE RIGHTS OF PEOPLE, UH, IN TERMS OF THEIR BEING FAIRLY TREATED ON IN THE JOB AND, AND WORK ENVIRONMENT.
SO I JUST WANT TO THANK YOU PERSONALLY.
UM, YOU KNOW, I CONSIDER YOU TO BE A FRIEND AS WELL, AND SO I CAN'T ALWAYS CONTRIBUTE EVERY TIME YOU SEND ME AN EMAIL, BUT I DO TRY.
BUT CERTAINLY, AND I APPRECIATE THAT YOUR, YOUR FACE AND YOUR ACTIVISM IS SO APPRECIATED.
AND WE KNOW WITHOUT YOUR HARD WORK AND, AND OTHERS SUCH AS NEY, UM, THERE WOULD BE A LOT OF PEOPLE WHOSE VOICES WOULD NOT BE HEARD.
THANK YOU ALL FOR JUST YOUR LEADERSHIP, UM, UNITE HERE.
THANK YOU FOR WHAT YOU DOING FOR YOUR COMMITMENT AND YOUR DEDICATION AND YOUR
[01:20:01]
SACRIFICE FOR FIGHTING FOR FAIR WAGES.UM, I WAS PART OF THE FIGHT FOR 15, SO, YOU KNOW, WE GOT IT TO 15.
JUST KEEP, STAY ENCOURAGED AND KNOW THAT WE WILL GET EXACTLY WHAT YOU WANT AND WHAT YOU NEED TO BE ABLE TO LIVE A SUCCESSFUL LIFE.
AND SO, I, I SUPPORT YOU A HUNDRED PERCENT.
UM, DON'T GIVE UP THE FIGHT BECAUSE THESE TYPE OF FIGHTS ARE HOW WE GET TO THE NEXT LEVEL.
SO CONGRATULATIONS IN ADVANCE.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR VICTORY, HANNIE.
GOOD MORNING COUNCIL MEMBERS, UH, HANNIE HAIL, I BRING YOU GREETINGS FROM THE 85 UNIONS AND 60,000 UNION MEMBERS AFFILIATED WITH THE TEXAS GULF COAST AREA LABOR FEDERATION.
UM, YOU KNOW, YESTERDAY OUR EXECUTIVE BOARD SENT A LETTER TO HOUSTON, FIRST AFFIRMING OUR SUPPORT FOR STRIKING HILTON WORKERS AND URGING THEM TO RESOLVE THE STRIKE.
AND I FORWARDED THAT LETTER TO YOU THIS MORNING, AS THE OWNER OF HILTON AMERICA'S, HOUSTON FIRST CAN END THIS STRIKE TO TODAY BY ENSURING WORKERS GET THE CONTRACT THEY DESERVE FAIR WAGES, BENEFITS, AND RESPECT ON THE JOB.
I'VE HEARD STORIES FROM THESE WORKERS ABOUT HOW THEY'VE ENABLED HILTON AND HOUSTON FIRST TO BE SUCCESSFUL, YET THEIR FAMILIES STILL STRUGGLE.
AND THOSE STORIES, FRANKLY, HAVE ANGERED ME AS I KNOW THEY'VE ANGERED MANY OF YOU.
BUT MOSTLY IT'S THEIR BRAVERY AND THEIR DETERMINATION TO STAND UP AND FIGHT FOR JUSTICE THAT HAVE INSPIRED ME.
I KNOW MOST OF YOU, OR MANY OF YOU HAVE SPOKEN ABOUT YOUR COMMITMENTS TO UNIONS AND WORKING PEOPLE IN OUR HALLS OR IN OUR EVENTS.
YOU'VE SPOKEN ABOUT YOUR COMMITMENT TO ENSURING THE CITY USES ITS POWER TO ENSURE THAT ALL WORKING PEOPLE HAVE A FAIR SHOT.
AND SO, I'M HERE TODAY TO JOIN LINDA, JOIN WILLIE AND THESE WORKERS IN ASKING YOU TO ACT NOW UPON THAT COMMITMENT CALL HOUSTON.
FIRST, TELL THEM TO END THE STRIKE.
GIVE WORKERS THE RESPECT THAT THEY HAVE EARNED OVER THEIR MANY, MANY DECADES OF SERVICE.
LEMME SAY A LITTLE BIT IN HOUSTON.
NEXT WILLIE GONZALEZ TO BE FOLLOWED BY MARTIN
GOOD, GOOD MORNING, MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL.
SO I JUST WANNA POINT OUT A WHOLE LOT OF OUR MEMBERS ARE ACTUALLY DOWNSTAIRS IN THE OVERFLOW ROOM.
THERE'S A LOT OF RED OUT THERE WAITING.
THEY JUST DIDN'T FIT IN AND WE COULDN'T GET 'EM ALL IN HERE.
UM, UNFORTUNATELY, I'M HERE TO TALK TO YOU TODAY ABOUT DAY 24 OF A STRIKE AT A HOUSTON FIRST OWNED HOTEL.
ONE OF THE LONGEST STRIKES IN HOUSTON HISTORY AND STILL ONGOING, FORTUNATELY FOR THESE WORKERS.
AND I MAKE NO MISTAKE ABOUT IT, THE COMMUNITY IS WITH THEM.
I JUST WANNA POINT OUT, WE ARE GETTING DONATIONS TO THE STRIKE FUND FROM CITIZENS OF HOUSTON.
NON-UNION MEMBERS, OUR PICKET LINES IN THE EVENING ARE BEING STAFFED BY VOLUNTEERS FROM THE COMMUNITY.
OKAY? UM, SO THIS IS NOT ANY MORE A UNITE HERE ISSUE.
PEOPLE IN THIS CITY, AND PLEASE DON'T MISUNDERSTAND THIS, PEOPLE IN THIS CITY ARE NOT MAKING IT.
AND IF YOU DON'T THINK SO, AS WE WALK IN THIS BUILDING, PEOPLE WHO WORK IN THIS BUILDING ARE TELLING US, GO FIGHT.
THEY'RE TELLING US THAT GO FIGHT, GO WIN.
AND YOU ALL HAVE TO UNDERSTAND THAT I UNDER, YOU KNOW? YEAH.
SO FOR US, IT'S IMPORTANT AS ALL THESE EVENTS, AND I'VE SAID IT MANY TIMES, THE EXPANSION OF THE CONVENTION CENTER, BRINGING MORE TOURISM BUSINESS IS A GOOD THING, CAN BE A VERY GOOD THING.
BUT ONLY IF IT'S DONE IN PARTNERSHIP.
[01:25:01]
ONLY IF IT'S DONE SITTING DOWN AND SAYING, EVERYBODY WINS.AND THE HILTON, AND I WILL SAY, HOUSTON FIRST HAS TAKEN A POSITION, NO, ONLY ONE SIDE WINS.
AND I WILL REITERATE, WHILE HOUSTON FIRST DOES NOT NEGOTIATE THE CONTRACT, IT IS A FACT.
IT IS A FACT OF LAW, AND IT IS A FACT.
UNDISPUTABLE AS THE OWNER, THEY CAN PUSH AND MAKE THE DECISION ON THOSE WAGES.
OTHER OWNERS IN THIS CITY THAT HAVE CONTRACTS WITH THE CITY HAVE DONE IT.
HOUSTON FIRST HAS THAT ABILITY, BECAUSE I JUST WANNA BE CLEAR, WE'RE NOT GOING AWAY.
SOME PEOPLE MAY HAVE THOUGHT, OH, THIS WAS GONNA BE NINE DAYS AND WE EXTEND 11 DAYS.
PEOPLE HAVE BEEN DONATING TO THE STRIKE FUND.
WE HAVE PLENTY OF MONEY TO LAST FOR A LONG TIME.
AND NOW I END IT WITH SAYING THIS, OUR GOAL, OUR GOAL IS TO SIT DOWN, REACH A FAIR AGREEMENT, AND WORK IN PARTNERSHIP WITH HOUSTON FIRST.
BUT THEY CANNOT DENY THAT THEY ARE THE OWNER AND THEY'RE RESPONSIBLE.
BECAUSE WHEN WE HAVE OTHER HOTEL CONFLICTS, THE OWNERS OF THOSE HOTELS GET INVOLVED.
IT'S HAPPENED IN ANOTHER HOTEL IN THIS CITY, AND THE OWNER SAYS, I OWN IT.
SO, UM, WE JUST WANNA END WITH THANKING YOU.
EVERYONE WHO'S GIVEN US SUPPORT, MANY OF YOU HAVE COME OUT, BROUGHT WATER, BROUGHT FOOD DONE A LOT OF GREAT THINGS.
WE WANT TO THANK THE HOUSTON POLICE DEPARTMENT BECAUSE ALL 24 DAYS HAS BEEN TAXING ON THEM.
THEY'VE BEEN VERY PROFESSIONAL.
WE'VE WORKED COOPERATIVELY WITH THEM.
YOU HEAR FROM THE MEMBERS, THEY UNDERSTAND.
SO, UM, BUT THAT'S OUR CALL IS WE GOTTA FIND A WAY SO THESE PEOPLE CAN MAKE A WAGE THEY CAN LIVE ON.
BECAUSE AT THE END OF THE DAY, FOR ALL THOSE BIG EVENTS THAT ARE COMING, THEY'RE THE ONES YOU'RE GONNA COUNT ON.
THESE ARE THE PEOPLE YOU'RE GONNA COUNT ON TO MAKE THOSE EVENTS A SUCCESS.
UM, AND WILLIE AND HANNIE, JUST WANNA SAY THANK Y'ALL FOR YOUR ALL CONTINUED SUPPORT AND, AND VOICE.
I JUST WANNA MAKE IT PERFECTLY CLEAR AROUND THIS HORSESHOE.
UH, WE HAD A HOUSTON FIRST BOARD MEETING LAST WEEK, AND I SHARED WITH THEM, UH, WHAT I WAS HAVE BEEN SHARING AROUND THIS HORSESHOE, UH, FOR THE PAST, ALMOST, ALMOST A MONTH.
UM, AND LET THEM KNOW THAT I STAND WITH, WITH THE SERVICE INDUSTRY, SPECIFICALLY THE HOTEL WORKERS.
UM, IT WAS GREAT AND COMFORTING AS WELL TO HEAR A FEW OF MY COLLEAGUES, MY BOARD MEMBER, BOARD MEMBERS THAT I SIT WITH ON HOUSTON FIRST, UH, RYAN MARTIN AND ELIZABETH BROCK ALSO, UH, FIND EMPATHY AND, AND SHARE THEIR SUPPORT AS WELL.
AND SO, I, I JUST WANNA LET YOU ALL KNOW THAT, UM, CONTINUE TO, UH, ADVOCATE FOR A LIVABLE WAGE.
I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT THAT WE REALLY START HAVING A REAL DIALOGUE OF WHAT LIVABLE WAGE MEANS HERE IN HOUSTON, WHERE FOR A LONG TIME, SEVERAL FOLKS HAVE BEEN MOVING HERE BECAUSE IT'S MORE AFFORDABLE.
WE'RE SEEING THAT BECOME LESS AFFORDABLE.
WE'VE GOTTEN KINDER, UH, INSTITUTE THAT HAD A REPORT THAT IS SHARING JUST SOME VERY, UM, SOME THINGS THAT WE PROBABLY DON'T EVEN TALK ABOUT.
HOME INSURANCE, YOU KNOW, THE PRICE OF, UH, RENT, UH, MORE AND MORE, UH, WHEN WE START TALKING ABOUT, UH, WHAT IT IS TO HAVE A SUCCESSFUL, UH, COMMUNITY HERE IN THE CITY OF HOUSTON.
AND SO, UM, WE KNOW HOUSTON FIRST IS NOT AT THE TABLE.
AND I MENTIONED THIS LAST WEEK, BUT WE ALSO KNOW THAT THERE'S INFLUENCE IN WORDS THAT WE USE AS WELL.
AND SO MY HOPE IS THAT WE CAN SEE THE VALUE OF THE FOLKS THAT ARE STANDING HERE.
UH, AND I SPEAK TO MY COLLEAGUES, UH, THE WORK THAT THEY HAVE, UH, IN MAKING THE CITY WHAT IT IS AND STAND WITH THEM AS WELL.
[01:30:26]
MARTIN ALMA, AMAZON TO BE FOLLOWED BY OR LEASE GREEN? CAN CAN Y'ALL HEAR ME? CAN Y'ALL HEAR ME OKAY? ALRIGHT.UH, GOOD MORNING MAYOR WHITMEYER, COUNCIL MEMBERS AND, UH, HOUSTON.
UH, THANK YOU FOR GIVING ME THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK TODAY.
MY NAME IS, UH, MARTIN ALMA, AND I'M A RESIDENT OF HOUSTON'S WESTCHASE DISTRICT.
AND I'M HERE TO SPEAK TO YOU ABOUT ONE OF THE MOST PRESSING CHALLENGES FACING OUR CITY.
AND IT IS THE EMBARRASSING INADEQUACY OF OUR PUBLIC TRANSIT SYSTEM.
NEARLY 8 MILLION RESIDENTS CALL THIS METRO HOME, AND HOUSTON HAS A GDP OF $697 BILLION LARGER THAN MANY OTHER COUNTRIES.
AND YET OUR TRANSIT SYSTEM STRETCH, OUR RAIL SYSTEM STRETCHES ONLY 22 MILES.
THAT IS A FAILURE FOR THE CITY OF HOUSTON, GIVEN ITS SIZE, WEALTH, AND GLOBAL STANDING.
THE CITY OF HOUSTON PROUDLY DECLARES ITSELF A GREAT PLACE TO WORK AND A GREAT PLACE TO LIVE, CALLING ITSELF ONE OF THE WORLD'S GREATEST CITIES.
AND YET, HOW CAN WE MAKE THIS CLAIM WHEN OUR PUBLIC TRANSIT SYSTEM IS SO LIMITED? HOW CAN WE CALL OURSELVES A GLOBAL CITY WHEN OUR INFRASTRUCTURE FAILS TO MEET THE NEEDS OF OUR RESIDENTS HERE AT HOME? HOUSTON IS THE FOURTH LARGEST CITY OF THE WEALTHIEST NATION IN THE WORLD.
THIS IS NOT AN ISSUE OF MONEY.
SO I MUST ASK THIS MAYOR AND THIS COUNCIL DIRECTLY.
WHEN WILL YOU TAKE ACTION TO DEVELOP AND BUILD A PUBLIC TRANSIT SYSTEM WORTHY OF HOUSTON'S SIZE, WEALTH, AND GLOBAL STANDING, AND ONE THAT SERVES ITS RESIDENTS? THIS IS NOT ABOUT CONVENIENCE.
AND THIS IS NOT ABOUT ONE GLOBAL SPORTS EVENT.
THIS IS ABOUT UPWARD MOBILITY FOR THE AMERICAN PEOPLE STARTING HERE IN HOUSTON.
FOR EXAMPLE, A STUDENT ENGULFING CAN'T MAKE IT TO CLASS BECAUSE TWO BUS TRANSFERS MEAN MISSING THAT START OF A LECTURE.
A NURSE IN SUNNYSIDE CANNOT RELIABLY REACH THE MEDICAL CENTER WHERE SHE WORKS BECAUSE SHE DOESN'T OWN A CAR.
A FATHER IN ALE MAY HAVE TO MISS HIS DOCTOR'S APPOINTMENT BECAUSE A BUS RIDE TAKES OVER AN HOUR EACH WAY, AND HE MIGHT NOT MAKE THE CONSULTATION.
A TRAVELER STEPPING OFF A PLANE AT BUSH OR HOBBY AIRPORT IS LEFT STRANDED AT THE AIRPORT CURB.
THIS IS WHAT PUBLIC TRANSIT DOES.
IT PROVIDES UPWARD MOBILITY AND ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITY.
RAILWAY IS NOT A LUXURY, IT IS A NECESSITY.
EXPANDING AND MODERNIZING HOUSTON'S RAIL SYSTEM AND TRANSIT SYSTEM WOULD REDUCE CONGESTION CONNECT COMMUNITIES.
CITY THAT IS PREPARED TO LEAD.
NEXT ARLIE GREEN TO BE FOLLOWED BY CHRISTOPHER CATO.
THANK YOU MAYOR AND THE COUNCIL MEMBERS FOR LETTING ME COME AND PRESENT THE SBA PROGRAM.
I HAVE A LONG TITLE, SO I'M GOING TO SHORTEN IT.
I WROTE DISASTER ASSISTANCE FOR SBA.
THAT MEANS THE SMALL BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION.
I'M HERE BECAUSE WE HAVE TWO PROGRAMS, UH, FOR THE, UH, INCIDENT, THE SPRING BRANCH APARTMENT COMPLEX FIRES.
WE HAVE A PROGRAM FOR THE RENTERS THAT WERE AFFECTED BY THE FIRES.
[01:35:01]
WE HAVE A, A PROGRAM FOR THE BUSINESS OWNERS THAT HAS BUSINESSES IN THEIR AREA.UM, THEY DO NOT HAVE TO HAVE ANY PHYSICAL DAMAGES.
THE DAMAGES COMES THE LOSS OF REVENUE, OF COURSE, WITH THE RENTERS, THEY MUST HAVE PHYSICAL DAMAGES TO BE ELIGIBLE TO APPLY FOR THIS LOW INTEREST RATE LOAN.
NOW THE DEADLINE TO APPLY FOR PHYSICAL DAMAGE IS GONNA BE NOVEMBER THE 10TH, 2025.
AND FOR THE BUSINESS, WHICH IS CALLED THE ECONOMIC INJURY, WE GIVE THEM JUNE 11TH, 2026.
'CAUSE IT TAKES A LITTLE TIME BEFORE THEY KNOW THEY HAVE BEEN IMPACTED.
NOW THEY CAN APPLY IN PERSON, UM, AT MA'AM.
AND THAT'S LOCATED AT 1625 BULLOCK ROAD.
I HOPE I'M NOT BUTCHERING THAT NAME.
UM, THAT'S MONDAY THROUGH FRIDAY, 12:00 PM TO 6:00 PM AND ON SATURDAY, 10:00 AM TO 2:00 PM.
NOW FOR THE RENTERS, THEY CAN BORROW UP TO A HUNDRED THOUSAND, 50,000 OF IT IS NO COLLATERAL.
WITH THE BUSINESSES, THEY CAN BORROW UP TO 2 MILLION AND THAT'S 50,000 WITH NO COLLATERAL, NO PAYMENTS FOR THE FIRST 12 MONTHS, NO INTEREST OCCURRED FOR THE FIRST 12 MONTHS.
AND WE HAVE, UH, REALLY GREAT INTEREST RATES.
UM, IF THEY WANT TO APPLY ONLINE, THEY CAN GO TO SBA.GOV/DISASTERS, OR AGAIN, THEY CAN GO TO, UH, THE MIMS, UH, LOCATION THAT I PRESENTED.
AND ALSO THEY CAN CALL THE ONE 800 NUMBER 1 806 5 9 2 9 5 5.
AT THIS TIME, I WILL OPEN THE FLOOR FOR ANY QUESTIONS THAT YOU MAY HAVE FOR ME.
AND THANK YOU MS. GREEN, UM, FOR HIGHLIGHTING THIS, UM, THIS APARTMENT COMPLEXES IN MY DISTRICT.
UM, AND I KNOW A LOT OF PEOPLE ARE, UM, GOING TO BE VERY HAPPY WITH THIS INFORMATION, BEING ABLE TO APPLY.
A LOT OF PEOPLE LOST EVERYTHING.
SO THIS IS GOING TO BE REALLY HELPFUL FOR A LOT OF FAMILIES.
UM, AND THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR EVERYTHING THAT YOU DO.
NEXT, CHRISTOPHER CATO, PAULINO KELON.
JOSEPH SMITH, STEVE WILLIAMS, ROY HIRSCH.
OH, HOUSTON FIRST IS FOLLOWING THE CONVENTION CENTER PLAYBOOK.
IGNORE THE ANALYSIS PROMISE EVERYTHING WILL WORK OUT.
OTHER CITIES ARE PUSHING BACK.
SAN ANTONIO'S MAYOR GINA ORTIZ JONES DEMANDED ANALYSIS OF THEIR $2 BILLION EXPANSION DESPITE PRESSURE FROM THE SPURS.
SHE SAID, DUE DILIGENCE IS NOT ANTI-PROGRESS.
HOUSTON WON'T LOSE AN ANCHOR TENANT OR A PROFESSIONAL SPORTS TEAM, UH, SPORTS TEAM.
YET HOUSTON FIRST CALLS THIS A DONE DEAL.
MAYOR WHITMEYER, YOU'VE PRIORITIZED EMERGENCY ACCESS.
BUT HOUSTON FIRST HAS IGNORED IT.
THEIR FAILURE TO COORDINATE WITH TDOT WHOSE PLANS SHOW POLK OPEN WILL FORCE COSTLY REDESIGNS AND DAMAGE A RELATIONSHIP WITH THE STATE.
YOU OWE HOUSTONIANS MINDFUL LEADERSHIP.
YOU DON'T OWE HOUSTON FIRST BLIND LOYALTY SHOW HOUSTON FIRST AND THE STATE WHO'S IN CHARGE HERE.
KEEP POLK OPEN DESIGN AROUND IT.
YOUR CREDIBILITY IS ON THE LINE, AND HOUSTONIANS ARE WATCHING TO SEE HOW YOU LEAD.
RICHARD GILMORE TO BE, TO BE FOLLOWED BY JOSEPH AMARI.
MAYOR WHITMEYER, THE EXPANSION SHOULD BE A CELEBRATION.
INSTEAD, IT FEELS LIKE DAMAGE CONTROL.
HOUSTON FIRST KNOWS CLOSING POLL IS UNPOPULAR.
SO THEY'RE TRYING TO SLIP THROUGH QUIETLY, BUT IT'S TOO LATE.
23 RESIDENTS SPOKE AGAINST IT LAST WEEK.
NEIGHBORS, BUSINESS OWNERS, PEOPLE WHO LIVE THIS REALITY.
THE REASON WE'RE HERE IS BECAUSE HOUSTON FIRST PUBLISHED A DESIGN THAT ASSUMED THE ABANDONMENT OF PUBLIC ROADS.
SAY THE WORDS, KEEP POKE OPEN AND DESIGN AROUND IT.
IT'S LEADERSHIP PICTURE OF THE RIBBON, CUTTING YOU STANDING ALONG WITH EAST END NEIGHBORS.
PROUD OF A CONVENTION CENTER THAT CONNECTS COMMUNITIES INSTEAD OF DIVIDING THEM.
THAT'S THE LEGACY THAT YOU STILL HAVE TIME TO BUILD.
THAT'S THE HOUSTON THE WORLD DESERVES TO SEE.
NOW, OR LET HOUSTON FIRST MISTAKES DEFINE YOUR ADMINISTRATION.
WE'RE COUNTING ON YOU AND WE'RE READY TO STAND WITH YOU WHEN YOU CHOOSE A BETTER PATH.
[01:40:05]
NEXT.THIS COMPLETES THE LIST OF SPEAKERS NOW TO RETURN TO THE AGENDA.
I JUST WANTED TO CELEBRATE THE THIS EASTWOOD NEIGHBORHOOD.
UH, THEY SUBMITTED THEIR MINIMUM SIZE, UH, BUILDING LINE IN SIZE AND LOT SIZE AS WELL.
UH, THIS IS ONE OF THE FIRST APPLICATIONS THAT WE'VE BEEN ABLE TO PASS IN A LOT OF YEARS, ACTUALLY.
AND SO I ENCOURAGE, UH, NOT JUST EAST END RESIDENTS, BUT UH, ANY OTHER DISTRICT GUY NEIGHBORHOODS.
IF THEY'RE INTERESTED IN THE, UM, BUILDING LINE AND MINIMUM SIZED LOT, UH, APPLICATION, PLEASE REACH OUT TO MY OFFICE.
UH, THIS ONE, I JUST WANT TO THANK THE ADMINISTRATION PUBLIC WORK FOR, UH, PROVIDING SOME, SOME ADDITIONAL FUNDING.
THIS IS A PROJECT THAT WE'RE IN PARTNERSHIP WITH, UH, COMMISSIONER GARCIA'S OFFICE.
IT'S, UH, A HUGE DRAINAGE PROJECT THAT IT WILL CONTINUE TO, UM, UH, BE AN ADDED ADDITION FOR THE MAGNOLIA PARK AREA.
WE'RE CURRENTLY WRAPPING UP, UH, SECTION TWO A AND THIS WILL GO UP NORTH OF HARRISBURG.
AND SO, UM, JUST THANK, THANK EVERYBODY FOR THEIR SUPPORT.
THOSE OPPOSED TO NO MOTION PASSES.
[37.
SAVE WATER CO for Purchase of a Water Conservation Program Incentive for Houston Public Works - $250,000.00 - Enterprise Fund
TAGGED BY COUNCIL MEMBER RAMIREZ
This was Item 10 on Agenda of September 17, 2025
]ITEM 37 NEEDS A MOTION COUNCIL, YOU NEED A MOTION CAST ITEM, MOVE SECOND.UH, LAST WEEK JUST TO GET SOME MORE INFORMATION.
UM, THIS, UH, ITEM PROPOSES TO SAVE WATER, UM, THROUGH THE INSTALLATION OF, UM, SHOWER HEADS AND TOILETS IN STRATEGIC LOCATIONS.
UM, I WAS ABLE TO LEARN THAT, UH, LABOR FOR THE INSTALLATION OF THESE DEVICES IS GOING TO BE, UH, DONE BY THE VENDOR THROUGH THIS CONTRACT.
AND THAT, UH, EACH, THE INSTALLATION, UM, EACH DEVICE WILL COME DOWN TO ABOUT A HUNDRED DOLLARS A PIECE.
SO, UM, UH, I'LL, I'LL SUPPORT IT.
I STILL HAVE QUESTIONS ABOUT IT.
WE'LL SEE HOW THIS PROGRAM, UH, GOES, UH, GOING FORWARD.
UM, BUT IT'S NOT A, A HUGE SUM OF MONEY.
UM, I'VE HAD SOME CONCERNS ABOUT THE SELECTION CRITERIA FOR WHICH, UM, UNITS ARE GOING TO RECEIVE THE SHOWER HEADS AND TOILETS.
SO I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE REALLY TAKING A LOOK AT THE SELECTION CRITERIA, UM, BECAUSE THIS IS A LOT OF MONEY, AND SO, UM, IT'S, WELL, IT'S GOING TOWARDS A GOOD CAUSE.
IF WE AREN'T TARGETING THE RIGHT UNITS HERE, THEN WE'RE WASTING A LOT OF MONEY.
SO, UM, I WANNA MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE FOCUSING ON THE UNITS WITH THE MOST CONSUMPTION AND THE OLDEST SHOWER HEADS AND TOILETS, AND NOT NECESSARILY JUST UNITS WHERE, YOU KNOW, PEOPLE ARE USING WHERE IT'S BECAUSE OF THE END USER.
BECAUSE IF THEY MOVE, THEN WE'RE REALLY NOT HELPING THE SITUATION.
SO, UM, I'M GOING TO VOTE YES ON THIS, BUT JUST WANNA MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE REALLY FOCUSING ON THE CORRECT UNITS HERE.
AND I WOULD LIKE TO SEE A REPORT ONCE THIS PROGRAM IS DONE ABOUT, YOU KNOW, WHAT WE'RE ACTUALLY ABLE TO ACCOMPLISH.
THIS COMPLETES THE ITEMS ON THE AGENDA.
[NON CONSENT - MATTERS TO BE PRESENTED BY COUNCIL MEMBERS]
FOR PAPA.UH, THIS PAST WEEK I WAS ABLE TO ATTEND SEVERAL EVENTS THAT WERE QUITE THE CONTRAST, UM, SHOWING BOTH THE, THE WORST OF OUR PROBLEMS AND THE BEST OF OUR, OUR FUTURE.
UH, SUNDAY WENT TO THE NATIONAL DAY REMEMBRANCE THAT THE, UH, CRIME SHOPPERS HAD, UH, WAS ALSO ATTENDED.
UH, COUNCILMAN DAVIS, COUNCILMAN RAMIREZ, COUNCILMAN PECK, CHIEF DIAZ, WERE ALL OUT THERE.
AND THIS IS A DAY TO, TO REMEMBER THE PEOPLE WHO HAVE LOST THEIR LIVES VIOLENTLY OVER THE PREVIOUS YEAR.
UH, A CHANCE TO, TO SUPPORT THESE PEOPLE AND HOPEFULLY, UH, HELP LIFT THEM UP A LITTLE BIT IN, IN THEIR TIME IN NEED.
[01:45:01]
WITH, UH, ONE OF THE PEOPLE, APRIL, GARY, UH, NOT SURE IF EVERYBODY'S FAMILIAR.SHE'S A REGULAR, UH, PANELIST ON WHAT YOUR POINT.
UM, AND THERE WAS KIND OF AN ODD THING THAT HAPPENED WITH HER AND HER LOVED ONE, THE DEFENSE ATTORNEY ACTUALLY LISTED HER AS A WITNESS, EVEN THOUGH SHE HAS NO KNOWLEDGE OF THE CRIME, NO INFORMATION AS TO WHAT HAPPENED, AND IT WAS DONE SIMPLY TO KEEP HER OUTTA THE COURTROOM.
UH, SO I, I THINK WE NEED TO REALLY FOCUS ON THE VICTIMS OF CRIME AND, AND DO EVERYTHING WE, WE CAN FOR THEM.
UH, ALSO HAD THE OPPORTUNITY IN, IN MONDAY TO, UH, SEE THE, UH, 2025 ASTRONAUT CADET CLASS, UH, THAT, THAT IS COMING IN.
10 NEW, UH, ASTRONAUT CANDIDATES THAT WILL BE GOING THROUGH THE TRAINING.
AND, UH, TWO OF 'EM WERE FROM TEXAS.
UH, ONE OF 'EM IN FACT WAS FROM HOUSTON.
UH, AND THESE PEOPLE WERE SELECTED OUT OF 8,000 APPLICANTS.
SO, YOU KNOW, THAT, UH, THEY HAVE REALLY MET THE CRITERIA IN ORDER TO BE ABLE TO, TO HIT THAT.
AND THEN, UH, YESTERDAY I WAS OUT AT THE ELI LILLY ANNOUNCEMENT WITH THE YOUTH MAYOR, UH, A SIX AND A HALF BILLION DOLLAR INVESTMENT INTO, UH, THE NORTHEAST PART OF OUR COMMUNITY, JUST OUTSIDE OF THE CITY LIMITS IN THE ETJ.
UM, IT WAS REALLY GOOD TO SEE THAT.
AND ACTUALLY THAT IS PHASE ONE.
UH, IF THINGS GO WELL, THAT, UH, THERE'S GONNA BE MORE THAT'S BROUGHT OUT, UH, TO US MORE INVESTMENT.
AND THIS IS A, A HUGE DEAL, NOT JUST FOR, UH, OUR AREA AND THE STATE, BUT ACTUALLY THE ENTIRE COUNTRY IS THIS LOOKS TO ONSHORE PHARMACEUTICAL PRODUCTION TO WHERE WE'RE NO LONGER, UH, MANUFACTURING THESE COMPONENTS OVERSEAS AND IN CHINA AND THAT TYPE OF THING.
SO IT'S, UH, A REALLY BIG DEAL.
SO, YOU KNOW, UH, A GREAT THING FOR THE FUTURE OF THE, THE AREA.
AND THEN, UH, LASTLY I'LL WRAP UP WITH, UH, WE'VE GOT OUR TOWN HALLS SLATED.
UH, KING ONE'S GONNA BE NEXT TUESDAY AT THE COMMUNITY CENTER, AND THEN, UH, CLEAR LAKE, OCTOBER 14TH AT SPACE CENTER HOUSTON, AND THEN THE 21ST AT EDGEBROOK, AT THE ONE MOVEMENT BIBLE CHURCH.
SO EVERYBODY'S WELCOME, UH, COME ON OUT AND, UH, HOPE TO SEE YOU.
UM, WANTED TO REMIND PEOPLE ABOUT THE JOB FAIR, THE DISTRICT B INTEGRA MISSION, JOB FAIR THIS FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER THE 26TH AT 10:00 AM TO 2:00 PM UM, THE ADDRESS IS 1 5 5 0 MANOR ROAD.
IF YOU WANT MORE INFORMATION, CONTACT OUR OFFICE AT 8 3 2 3 9 3 3 0 0 9.
UM, FOLKS NEED TO BE AT LEAST 18 YEARS OR OLDER HAVE A GED.
UM, IT'S ENTRY LEVEL JOBS, BUT THEY'RE HIRING ON THE SPOT.
SO IF YOU'RE LOOKING FOR EMPLOYMENT, EMPLOYMENT, UM, COME ON OUT TO THE INTEGRA AND DISTRICT B, UM, JOB FAIR THIS FRIDAY.
I JUST WANNA GIVE A HUGE THANK YOU TO HOUSTON PUBLIC WORKS.
YESTERDAY, UH, AFTER SOME OF THE BUSES DEPARTED FOR SCHOOL, THERE WAS A, A TREE THAT FELL OVER, UM, AN ENTRANCE TO ONE OF THE NEIGHBORHOODS, AND IT WAS GONNA AFFECT BUSES COMING HOME FROM HISD SCHOOLS AND SPRING RANCH, INDEPENDENT SCHOOL DISTRICT SCHOOLS AND PUBLIC WORKS GOT OUT THERE.
IT WAS BLOCKING BOTH SIDES OF THE STREET.
UM, IF YOU WERE STANDING ON THE STREET, YOU COULDN'T EVEN SEE TO THE OTHER SIDE BECAUSE THIS TREE WAS SO BIG AND THEY GOT IT, UM, TAKEN CARE OF.
ALL THE SCHOOL BUSES WERE ABLE TO GET IN IN THE AFTERNOON.
AND SO, I JUST WANNA SAY THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR BEING SO RESPONSIVE.
EVERY TIME WE NEED SOMETHING, YOU ARE THERE.
AND THE SCHOOLS, THE PARENTS, EVERYBODY REALLY APPRECIATES IT.
I JUST WANTED TO TALK FOR A MOMENT ABOUT, UM, A TRAGEDY THAT OCCURRED RECENTLY, AND THAT WAS THE ASSASSINATION OF CHARLIE KIRK.
UM, REGARDLESS OF WHAT YOU THOUGHT OF HIS POLITICS, I THINK WE CAN ALL AGREE THAT NO ONE DESERVES TO BE MURDERED FOR EXERCISING THEIR FREEDOM OF SPEECH.
AND YET, THAT'S EXACTLY WHAT HAPPENED.
AND TO ME, IT'S A SIGN THAT OUR POLITICAL DISCOURSE, UM, IN THESE TIMES HAS GOTTEN OUT OF CONTROL IN SOME RESPECTS.
UH, AND THAT'S VERY DISAPPOINTING AND ALARMING TO SEE.
AND THIS IS JUST THE LATEST IN A NUMBER OF, OF VIOLENT INCIDENTS WHERE, UH, PEOPLE ACTIVE IN POLITICS, ELECTED OFFICIALS, PUBLIC OFFICIALS, HAVE BEEN MURDERED, UH, BECAUSE SOMEONE DIDN'T AGREE WITH THEIR POLITICS.
IT'S HAPPENED TO DEMOCRATS, IT'S HAPPENED TO REPUBLICANS, AND, UH, IT, IT'S NOT REFLECTIVE OF WHO OR WHAT THIS COUNTRY SHOULD
[01:50:01]
BE.AND, UM, LAST YEAR I STARTED ALONG WITH MY CHIEF OF STAFF, LEAH AL, AN INITIATIVE CALLED BRINGING HOUSTON TOGETHER.
UH, AND EARLIER THIS YEAR, WE HAD AN EVENT AT THE HOLOCAUST MUSEUM WHERE WE BROUGHT HOUSTONIANS FROM ACROSS THE POLITICAL SPECTRUM TO TALK ABOUT, UH, DIFFICULT SUBJECT.
IMMIGRATION WAS THE TOPIC OF THAT EVENT.
AND, UM, CIVIL DISCUSSION AT EACH TABLE WAS, HAD, UM, PERSPECTIVES WERE SHARED.
AND THAT IS WHAT WE NEED IN ORDER TO CONFRONT THE, UH, THE ISSUES THAT WE FACE IN THIS COUNTRY TODAY.
AND SO WE'RE GONNA CONTINUE THIS BY HAVING A SECOND EVENT, NOVEMBER THE 10TH IN CONNECTION WITH COMPASSION WEEK, WHICH IS SPONSORED EVERY YEAR BY COMPASSIONATE HOUSTON.
THIS WILL BE THE 10TH ANNIVERSARY OF COMPASSION WEEK.
IT WILL BE HELD NOVEMBER THE 10TH THROUGH THE 16TH.
AND, UH, OUR EVENT WILL BE HELD ON NOVEMBER, THE EVENING OF NOVEMBER THE 10TH AT INTERFAITH MINISTRIES GREAT HALL.
AND, UM, I WOULD INVITE HOUSTONIANS IF YOU'RE INTERESTED IN PARTICIPATING, TO GO TO THE WEBSITE, BRINGING HOUSTON TOGETHER.COM.
UM, I'M ALSO PLEASED TO SAY THAT, UH, ONE OF MY COLLEAGUES, COUNCIL MEMBER SALLY ALCORN, HAS SIGNED ON AS WELL AND WILL BE COLLABORATING WITH US ON THIS, UH, NEXT STEP IN THIS INITIATIVE.
BUT AGAIN, WE'LL GATHER ON THE EVENING OF NOVEMBER THE 10TH.
HALL, IF YOU'D LIKE TO REGISTER, PLEASE GO TO BRING HOUSTON TOGETHER.COM.
WANTED TO GIVE A SHOUT OUT TO PUBLIC WORKS, HPD, YOUR TEAM, UH, MAYOR, UH, MANY OF YOU MAY BE SAW THE, UM, STORY ON CHANNEL TWO IN 11 ABOUT THE 1022 TIRES DUMPED ON A LOT, UH, IN DISTRICT A LAST WEEK, UH, WE WERE SWIFT IN GETTING THESE TIRES PICKED UP.
UH, THERE HAS BEEN AN INVESTIGATION BY HPD, UM, ON THE SITE.
UH, WE ARE LOOKING, UH, WORKING WITH PUBLIC WORKS IN THE DEPARTMENT OF NEIGHBORHOODS TO PUT A LIEN ON THIS PROPERTY, UH, MAYOR.
AND IT JUST REALLY AMPLIFIES WHAT WE'VE BEEN TALKING ABOUT, THE ILLEGAL DUMPING THROUGHOUT THE ENTIRE CITY OF HOUSTON, AND REALLY STARTING A STOP TRASHING HOUSTON CITYWIDE CAMPAIGN BECAUSE WE HEAR IT FROM CONSTITUENTS THAT COME TO TALK TO US EACH WEEK.
WE SEE IT IN OUR NEIGHBORHOODS.
I MEAN, WE CAN ASK ANY COUNCIL MEMBER, YOU KNOW, WHERE ARE THOSE LOCATIONS IN YOUR DISTRICT? AND THEY KNOW RIGHT OFF HAND WHERE PEOPLE TEND TO JUST ILLEGALLY DUMP THROUGHOUT OUR CITY.
AND, UM, THIS WAS JUST ANOTHER EXAMPLE OF TRASH BEGETS TRASH.
UH, IT WAS OUT THERE FOR TWO DAYS AND WE SAW A BATHTUB JOIN THE TIRES.
WE SAW OTHER CAR PARTS AND OTHER TRASH, UM, JUST ILLEGALLY DUMPED ON THAT PARTICULAR LOT.
SO I DID WANT TO THANK PUBLIC WORKS, HPD, UM, YOUR ADMINISTRATION, MAYOR, AND OUR, OUR DISTRICT K HOT TEAM, AND EVERYONE WHO WORKED EXPEDITIOUSLY TO GET THOSE 1022 TIRES PICKED UP, UM, SO QUICKLY, UM, FOR THE BETTERMENT OF OUR COMMUNITY.
SO AGAIN, WE ARE ENCOURAGING RESIDENTS TO UTILIZE OUR NEIGHBORHOOD DEPOSITORIES, UM, AND TO PUT YOUR TRASH OUT, UM, AND DISPOSE OF YOUR DEBRIS PROPERLY.
AND THEN WANT TO REALLY AMPLIFY A, A AN EXCITING ANNOUNCEMENT THAT WE ARE MOVING TOWARDS OUR WEST RIDGE AND BRAISED TERRACE DRAINAGE IMPROVEMENT PROJECT RESIDENTS IN THOSE NEIGHBORHOODS HAVE BEEN LOOKING FORWARD TO THIS PROJECT FOR A WHILE.
UM, SO IN LATE OCTOBER, EARLY NOVEMBER, UM, WE WILL START THAT PROJECT, AND IT'S ANTICIPATED TO BE COMPLETE BY THE FALL OF 2026.
UH, IT WILL BE DONE IN FIVE PHASES.
UM, IT INCLUDES THE INSTALLATION OF A 120 INCH STORM WATER PIPE TO REALIGN EXISTING DRAINAGE SYSTEMS. SO, UH, VERY EXCITED TO KEEP RESIDENTS UP TO DATE ON THAT PROJECT.
AND THEN FINALLY, WANNA GIVE A SPECIAL SHOUT OUT TO COUNCIL MEMBER WILLIE DAVIS, WHO CAME TO OUR MEET THE TEAM EVENT, UH, THAT WE HAD ON LAST SATURDAY.
IT WAS DEFINITELY A JOY TO ENGAGE WITH OUR RESIDENTS AND INTRODUCE OUR NEW TEAM MEMBERS, BE KIND TO EACH OTHER AND MAKE IT A GREAT DAY.
UM, I WANT TO INVITE EVERYONE TO THE NEXT CIGNA SUNDAY IN THE PARK.
IT WILL BE THIS SUNDAY AT SCHWARTZ PARK, 8 2 0 3 VOGUE LANE, UM, FROM NOON TO FOUR O'CLOCK.
IT'S A FREE CELEBRATION IN THE COMMUNITY, MUSIC, DANCING, FREE FOOD AND GAMES.
[01:55:01]
JOIN US ON SUNDAY.AND, UH, I'LL PASS WITH, UH, MY PRAYERS GOING TOWARDS HUGO MOCA, HIS FAMILY FRIENDS, AND OF COURSE, COUNCILMAN CARTER AND, AND AT LARGE THREE STAFF, COUNCILMAN CARTER.
AND THANK YOU COUNCILMEMBER MARTINEZ.
SO, UH, THIS THURSDAY AT 4:00 PM IN THE LEGACY ROOM, WE WILL BE HOSTING A RECEPTION TO HONOR HUGO MOJICA.
AND IF YOU'RE AVAILABLE, PLEASE JOIN US AT, WE'LL CONSIST OF COMMUNITY MEMBERS AND MANY OF OUR ASTROS FRIENDS AND FOLKS THAT, YOU KNOW, WANNA COME BY AND JUST, UH, TO TALK ABOUT WHAT THEY, THEIR EXPERIENCES IN LIFE OF HUGO.
AND, AND CERTAINLY WE'RE, WE'RE HAPPY TO CELEBRATE HIS, HIS LEGACY.
UM, ADDITIONALLY, A COUNCIL MEMBER RAMIREZ, I WANTED TO SAY THANK YOU FOR THE WORK YOU'RE DOING, UM, REGARDING, YOU KNOW, CONVERSATIONS AND, AND REALLY TRYING TO GET ALONG.
I I HAVE TO SHARE THAT, UH, WE'VE HAD A LOT OF OUTREACH THIS WEEK, AS YOU CAN IMAGINE, FROM ACROSS THE CITY REGARDING, UH, THE LOSS OF HUGO.
AND I RECEIVED A, A, AN EMAIL FROM SOMEONE IN DISTRICT C AND HER COMMENT, AND SHE WAS BOLD ENOUGH TO, TO GIVE HER NAME.
I'LL SAVE HER THE EMBARRASSMENT OF DOING SO.
BUT, UH, HER RESPONSE TO THE ANNOUNCEMENT OF HUGO'S DEATH WAS DYING YOUNG TO AVOID INVESTIGATION.
AND, UH, YOU KNOW, WHEN I SAW THAT FIRST REACTION IS, YOU KNOW, YOU JUST WANNA, UH, I, I CAN'T EVEN IMAGINE
BUT ALL THAT TO SAY, YOU KNOW, WHAT IS WRONG IN THIS COUNTRY WHEN WE ARE SO EMBOLDENED BEHIND A SCREEN TO, TO SAY THINGS AND, AND TO, UH, I MEAN, I, I CAN'T EVEN IMAGINE HOW SUBHUMAN THAT IS.
YOU KNOW, SOMEONE YOU DON'T KNOW, SOMEONE YOU DON'T KNOW THE CIRCUMSTANCES.
AND, YOU KNOW, UH, MY MY PRAYER IS THAT NO ONE IS EVER IMPACTED BY CANCER.
AN INNOCENT CHILD OR AN ELDERLY, YOU KNOW, PERSON, ANYONE, YOU KNOW, IT'S A HORRIBLE, TERRIBLE THING.
BUT TO, TO COME BACK WITH RESPONSES SUCH AS THAT JUST SHOWS THE, UM, YOU KNOW, KIND OF THE DIVISIVENESS IN OUR COUNTRY.
AND THANK YOU FOR YOUR WORK COUNCIL MEMBER RAMIREZ.
AND, AND CERTAINLY, UH, I'D LIKE TO LEARN MORE AND HAPPY TO SUPPORT ON THAT.
UM, ON SEPTEMBER 30TH, I'M HOSTING A BACK ON WHAT WE'RE CALLING BACK ON TRACK HOUSTON, AND IT'S APPROXIMATELY, UH, 50 ORGANIZATIONS THAT WORK IN REENTRY, HOMELESSNESS, AND, UM, DOMESTIC VIOLENCE AND REALLY RESOURCES TO COME TOGETHER FOR A ROUND TABLE DISCUSSION TO TALK ABOUT HOW WE CAN WORK TOGETHER AND REALLY, UM, MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE NOT DOUBLING UP AND, AND, UM, YOU KNOW, OVERLAPPING ON, ON, UH, RESOURCE, UM, ON WHAT WE'RE PROVIDING, BUT ALSO TO IDENTIFY RESOURCES AND HOW WE CAN WORK TOGETHER.
AND THEN, UH, UH, NEXT WEEK, UH, OCTOBER 1ST, CERTAINLY WE'RE KICKING OFF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE AWARENESS MONTH FROM 11 TO TWO.
I'LL BE CO-HOSTING AT CRIME STOPPERS PANEL DISCUSSION, UM, YOU KNOW, SURROUNDED BY TEEN DATING VIOLENCE AND DOMESTIC VIOLENCE, INVITE ANYONE TO JOIN.
AGAIN, THAT'S CRIME STOPPERS 11 TO TWO.
AND THEN WE'LL BE AT THE TEXAS TRIBUNE ON OCTOBER 3RD, KICKING OFF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE AWARENESS MONTH WITH TEXAS COUNCIL ON FAMILY VIOLENCE AND THE PARTNERS FROM THE TEXAS OUTDOOR ADVERTISING AGENCY AND HOUSTON AREA APARTMENTS ASSOCIATION.
AND WE'RE TAKING MY, UH, STATEWIDE, UM, TAKING STATEWIDE MY DOMESTIC VIOLENCE AWARENESS CAMPAIGN.
AND SO I'M VERY, UH, MUCH LOOKING FORWARD TO, TO DOING THAT.
AND, UM, ANYWAY, AND THANK YOU FOR YOUR OUTREACH, YOUR PRAYERS, YOUR CONDOLENCES REGARDING HUGO AND, UM, YOUR KINDNESS.
I'M APPALLED AT THAT COMMENT, BUT I GUESS, YOU KNOW, WITH THE TIMES AS THEY ARE, THOSE THINGS, YEAH, IGNORANCE AND JUST ABOUNDS, BUT CERTAINLY I WANT TO THANK YOU MAYOR AND COLLEAGUES.
THIS PAST WEEK IN DISTRICT D, WE CELEBRATED GRANDPARENTS DAY AT ST.
JOHN'S DOWNTOWN, WHERE I WAS PROUD TO PRESENT A CERTIFICATE, RECOGNIZING THE IMPORTANCE OF GRANDPARENTS IN OUR FAMILIES AND COMMUNITIES.
ON MONDAY, WE RECOGNIZE FALLS PREVENTION AWARENESS DAY AT THE SUNNYSIDE HEALTH AND MULTI-SERVICE CENTER.
THIS EFFORT IS SO VITAL TO KEEPING OUR SENIORS SAFE, HEALTHY, AND INDEPENDENT.
I ESPECIALLY WANT TO THANK COUNCIL MEMBER AL ALCORN FOR ALL HER WORK AND FOR HOSTING THIS EVENT IN DISTRICT D.
I WANNA THANK COUNCIL MEMBER DAVIS AND COUNCIL MEMBER POLLARD, WHO CAME OUT TO SUPPORT.
I ALSO WANNA THANK COUNCIL MEMBER DAVIS FOR HIS HELP AND ASSISTANCE AND PARTNERSHIP AND WORKING WITH EDGEWOOD PARK.
I REALLY APPRECIATE, UM, THE INTERACTION AND WHAT YOU BRING TO THE TABLE.
UH, UPCOMING EVENTS IN DISTRICT D, THE AGAPE
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DEVELOPMENT AND FAMILIAL COMPANY'S RIBBON CUTTING CEREMONY WILL BE TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER THE 30TH FROM 10:00 AM TO 11:00 AM 68 0 9 LIVERPOOL, UH, IN 7 7 0 2 1.SO IF YOU WANT TO COME OUT AND ENJOY THAT WONDERFUL, UH, COMMUNITY, UH, PLEASE DO.
UH, THERE WILL BE A VIRTUAL DESIGN UPDATE MEETING AT EDGEWOOD PARK.
UM, HILL DETENTION BASED IN PROJECT, ALSO ON TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER THE 30TH FROM FIVE 30 TO SIX 30.
AND IT WILL BE VIRTUAL AND HOSTED BY HOUSTON PUBLIC WORKS UPCOMING, UH, DISTRICT D UH, PASSING THE TORCH, A CIVIC JUSTICE ARTS EXPERIENCE, WHICH WILL BE TONIGHT.
UH, THE DOORS WILL OPEN AT 5:30 PM AT THE EL DORADO BALLROOM.
2310 ELGIN IS HOSTED BY THE HOUSTON AREA URBAN LEAGUE AND PARTNERS, INCLUDING DISTRICT D.
THIS EVENT FUSES PERFORMANCE POLICY AND COMMUNITY VOICE TO SPARK CIVIC ENGAGEMENT, PARTICULARLY WITH OUR YOUNG PEOPLE, CREATIVE EXPRESSION AND MULTI-GENERATIONAL DIALOGUE.
I ALSO WANT TO GIVE MY CONDOLENCES TO THE FAMILY OF HUGO MOJICA, WHO I'VE KNOWN FOR MANY YEARS.
CERTAINLY THE ONLY THING I COULD THINK TO DO WAS GIVE COUNCIL MEMBER CARTER A HUG THIS MORNING, BECAUSE I KNOW HOW CLOSELY SHE WORKED WITH HIM AND HOW SHE HAD HIM AT A PLACE WHERE HE WANTED TO BE.
SO HE ENDED HIS LIFE IN, IN PUBLIC SERVICE, AND CERTAINLY, UH, THAT'S WHERE HUGO WANTED TO BE, BECAUSE THAT'S WHAT HIS HEART WAS ABOUT.
UH, I ALSO WANT TO CONGRATULATE BISHOP JAMES DIXON ON HIS 44TH PASTORAL ANNIVERSARY AT THE COMMUNITY OF FAITH CHURCH.
NOW, I MAY NEED SOME TISSUE, BUT TODAY I RISE WITH BOTH GRATITUDE AND EMOTION TO HONOR SOMEONE WHO HAS MEANT SO MUCH TO ME PERSONALLY.
AND TO DISTRICT D, MY CHIEF OF STAFF, MR. STEVEN JAMES, WHO IS RETIRING.
STEPHEN HAS BEEN THE HEARTBEAT OF OUR OFFICE, HIS STEADY PRESENCE, HIS QUIET STRENGTH, AND HIS UNWAVERING COMMITMENT TO SERVING THE PEOPLE OF DISTRICT D HAVE BEEN NOTHING SHORT OF EXTRAORDINARY.
THROUGH CHALLENGES AND VICTORIES ALIKE, STEPHEN HAS BEEN RIGHT BY MY SIDE OFFERING WISDOM, ENCOURAGEMENT, AND ALWAYS PUTTING THE NEEDS OF OUR RESIDENTS FIRST.
HE, HE USED TO WORK FOR SHEILA JACKSON LEE.
AND HE BROUGHT ALL OF THOSE SKILLS TO DISTRICT D.
HE IS NOT ONLY MY CHIEF OF STAFF, HE IS MY PARTNER IN THIS WORK, MY CONFIDANT AND MY FRIEND STEVEN, HAS POURED HIS HEART INTO THIS JOB.
AND HIS IMPACT WILL BE FELT FOR YEARS TO COME IN THE LIVES HE HAS TOUCHED, THE RELATIONSHIPS HE HAS BUILT AND THE DIFFERENCE HE HAS MADE.
WHILE I'M SAD TO SEE THIS CHAPTER CLOSE, I AM FILLED WITH JOY KNOWING THAT HE BEGINS A NEW JOURNEY, ONE THAT IS SO WELL DESERVED ON BEHALF OF DISTRICT D AND WITH MY DEEPEST PERSONAL THANKS, I WANNA SAY, STEPHEN, WE LOVE YOU.
WE HONOR YOU, AND WE WILL NEVER FORGET THE LEGACY OF SERVICE YOU HAVE, YOU LEAVE BEHIND.
AND I'M ALSO ELATED THAT HE'S GETTING READY TO MOVE INTO DISTRICT D
I GUESS HE DIDN'T DO THAT AT FIRST.
HE DIDN'T WANT TO BE BUGGED AFTER DEATH, BUT HE'S GONNA BE MY CONSTITUENT AS WELL.
AND WE WILL CELEBRATE, UH, STEVEN ON NEXT WEDNESDAY, I BELIEVE, AT THE LEG, AT THE LEGACY LEGACY ROOM.
UH, AND WE WILL TALK MORE ABOUT THOSE DETAILS, UH, NEXT WEEK.
COUNCILOR DAVIS PASS, UH, ITEM 22, JUST ARRIVED.
ANYTHING ELSE? WE STAND, ADJOURN.