[00:00:16]
I THINK IT'S STILL GOOD MORNING.
SO GOOD MORNING, UH, TO ALL OF OUR PARTNERS AND OUR, OUR FRIENDS IN MEDIA THAT ARE HERE, UH, TO RECOGNIZE DOMESTIC VIOLENCE AWARENESS MONTH AND TO CELEBRATE THE 45TH ANNIVERSARY OF ABDA, WHICH STANDS FOR AID FOR VICTIMS OF DOMESTIC ABUSE, AS WELL AS TO, UH, UNVEIL THE NEW BILLBOARDS AS PART OF THE ANNUAL CAMPAIGN.
UH, I WAS FIRST ASKED, THOUGH, TO SHARE A LITTLE BIT, UH, IN RECOGNIZING 45 YEARS OF ABDA TO SHARE A LITTLE BIT ABOUT MY INVOLVEMENT, UH, IN HISTORY WITH WHAT IS AN INCREDIBLE AND LIFESAVING ORGANIZATION.
SO I ACTUALLY LEARNED ABOUT ABNA ABDA AS A TEENAGER, UH, WORKING IN MY AUNT'S LAW FIRM, AND THE LESSONS THAT I SAW, THE WORK THAT THEY DO HAS STUCK WITH ME, UH, EVER SINCE.
SO THIS IS AN INCREDIBLE ORGANIZATION THAT WAS CREATED BY A VERY SMALL GROUP OF BOLD WOMEN WHO SAW OTHER WOMEN SUFFERING FROM ABUSE, WHO HAD LITTLE ACCESS TO LEGAL HELP, OR EVEN BASIC INFORMATION.
SO WHEN RESOURCES DIDN'T EXIST, AN ORGANIZATION CALLED NATIONAL COUNCIL OF JEWISH WOMEN DECIDED TO FIGHT THIS INJUSTICE TO GIVE FAMILY VIOLENCE SURVIVORS A VOICE AND MEANINGFUL LEGAL REPRESENTATION.
SO, IN THEIR HONOR, I DO WANNA, UM, CREDIT NORMA TR AND BETTY PEIKOFF, DIDI OSTFELD, RHONDA GERSON, AND DR.
TOBY MYERS, UH, WHO REALLY CREATED THIS.
AND 45 YEARS LATER, WOW, THE IMPACT THAT ABDA CONTINUES TO HAVE.
UM, IT IS ONE OF THE MOST RESPECTED AND EFFECTIVE ORGANIZATIONS, ORGANIZATIONS OF ITS KIND IN THE NATION, SAVING THOUSANDS OF LIVES THROUGH LEGAL AID SERVICES AND PROTECTIONS THROUGH OUR COURTS, THROUGH COUNSELING, PREVENTION AND INTERVENTION TRAININGS FOR BOTH YOUTH AND ADULTS.
AND BEFORE I, UM, AGAIN, I DO WANNA THANK ALL OF OUR PARTNERS THAT ARE HERE.
UM, I'M JOINED BY OUR CEO OF ABDA MAISHA COULTER, WHO WILL BE SPEAKING IN JUST A MOMENT.
UH, MS. TREVINO ABDI, MANAGING ATTORNEY FOR THE HARRIS COUNTY OFFICE.
OF COURSE, UM, OUR INCREDIBLE PARTNER, COUNCIL MEMBER FLICKINGER, COME ON UP.
UM, WE'LL, I'LL RECOGNIZE OUR COUNCIL MEMBERS IN JUST A SECOND, BUT WE HAVE OUR DISTRICT ATTORNEY HERE WITH US.
UM, DISTRICT ATTORNEY TIER HAS BEEN UNWAVERING IN THE FIGHT TO HOLD ABUSERS ACCOUNTABLE.
UM, HIS STORY, YOUR PERSONAL STORY IS ABSOLUTELY INCREDIBLE.
UM, BUT YOU FIGHT EVERY SINGLE DAY, UH, FOR THE RESIDENTS OF HARRIS COUNTY, AND WE ARE GRATEFUL FOR YOU.
WE HAVE CAPTAIN JOHNSON FROM OUR HARRIS COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE.
THANK YOU CAPTAIN FOR BEING HERE.
AND OF COURSE, CHIEF JESSICA ANDERSON WITH HPD.
UH, I'LL TALK ABOUT THE IMPORTANT ROLE THAT HPD PLAYS IN A MOMENT, AS WELL AS LEE VELA, UH, OUR CLEAR CHANNEL OUTDOORS VP OF PUBLIC AFFAIRS.
AND I'M ALSO JOINED, UH, NOTHING ON COUNCIL HAPPENS WITHOUT COLLABORATION.
AND I'M JOINED BY COUNCIL MEMBERS CARTER, COUNCIL MEMBER HUFFMAN, COUNCIL MEMBER RAMIREZ, AND COUNCIL MEMBER FLICKINGER.
UM, FOR THE REST OF MY REMARKS, I'M GONNA ASK Y'ALL TO STAND WITH ME.
UH, IF YOU DON'T MIND, DON'T WORRY.
IT'S NOTHING TOO EARTH SHATTERING.
SO, AGAIN, AS I SAID, NOTHING HAPPENS ON COUNCIL WITHOUT INCREDIBLE COLLABORATIONS, AND I'M GRATEFUL TO ALL OF YOU FOR THE WORK THAT YOU EACH DO IN THIS SPACE.
UM, THREE MONTHS INTO SERVING, IN MY FIRST TERM ON COUNCIL COVID HIT, AND WITH IT CAME WHAT WE CALL A SHADOW PANDEMIC.
FAMILIES THAT WERE TRAPPED AT HOME, UH, WITH ABUSERS, SHELTER SHORTAGES AND UNPRECEDENTED BARRIERS TO REACHING THOSE IN NEED.
THE FACT OF THE MATTER IS DOMESTIC VIOLENCE SKYROCKETED.
SO BY THE END OF AUGUST 21, HOUSTON SAW A 78% INCREASE IN DOMESTIC VIOLENCE RELATED HOMICIDES, AND WE DID EVERYTHING WE COULD TO MEET THE CHALLENGE HEAD ON.
WE EXPANDED HPDS DOMESTIC ABUSE RESPONSE TEAM.
I WANNA GIVE THEM A SHOUT OUT.
UM, THAT IS ONE OF THE EFFORTS I'M MOST PROUD OF.
UH, AND RESPONDING TO A DOMESTIC ABUSE SITUATION IS THE MOST VOLATILE AND DANGEROUS SCENARIO FOR LAW ENFORCEMENT.
UH, SO I REALLY WANNA THANK THEM FOR THEIR CONTINUED WORK AND THE IMPORTANCE OF DART.
UH, BUT WE ALSO LAUNCHED COVID ERA DOMESTIC VIOLENCE AWARENESS CAMPAIGNS, AND THE KEY WORD BEING AWARENESS.
ABDA AND COALITION PARTNERS WERE THERE EVERY STEP OF THE WAY, AND THEY STILL ARE.
ABDA WAS INSTRUMENTAL IN THE SUCCESSFUL EFFORT AT THE SUPREME COURT TO OVERTURN THE FIFTH CIRCUIT'S DISASTROUS DECISION IN USV RAHIMI, UH, BECAUSE THEY KNOW FIRSTHAND HOW IMPORTANT IT'S TO HAVE THE ABILITY THROUGH DUE PROCESS TO REMOVE A FIREARM FROM A KNOWN ABUSER.
BECAUSE A FIREARM IN A DOMESTIC VIOLENCE SITUATION MAKES IT
[00:05:01]
FIVE TIMES MORE LETHAL.SO TODAY, WHERE WE STAND IN HOUSTON, ROUGHLY ONE IN FOUR HOMICIDES IN OUR CITY IS RELATED TO FAMILY AND DOMESTIC VIOLENCE.
SO OUT OF THE, I BELIEVE THIS COUNT IS RECENT, OUT OF THE 197 MURDERS THIS YEAR, 54 OF THOSE WERE ATTRIBUTED TO DOMESTIC VIOLENCE.
WITH A QUARTER OF ALL HOMICIDES BEING CONNECTED TO DOMESTIC AND FAMILY VIOLENCE THAT DOESN'T BEGIN TO PAINT THE PICTURE.
WE'RE SEEING AN INCREASE IN VIOLENT INCIDENTS AND THE PRESENCE OF FIREARMS THROUGHOUT THE CITY.
THERE HAVE BEEN 1300 REPORTED CASES OF BREATH AND STRANGULATION INCIDENTS ALONE THIS YEAR.
AND AGAIN, THAT'S NOT CAPTURED IN HOMICIDE NUMBERS, UH, WHICH ARE USUALLY THE ONES THAT GET HEADLINES.
UNFORTUNATELY, AT THE SAME TIME, REPORTING OF INCIDENTS IS DOWN.
AND THAT DOES NOT MEAN THAT IT IS NOT HAPPENING.
IT MEANS FEWER PEOPLE ARE FEELING COMFORTABLE COMING FORWARD AND REPORTING.
AND THAT'S WHY TODAY IS SO IMPORTANT.
SILENCE AND STIGMA AROUND FAMILY VIOLENCE IS WHAT ENABLES THIS DESPICABLE AND COWARDLY VIOLENCE TO CONTINUE.
AND AWARENESS IS THE ANTIDOTE.
SO AGAIN, THAT IS WHAT TODAY IS ABOUT.
WE CANNOT DO THIS WITHOUT OUR PARTNERS THAT ARE STANDING WITH ME, UM, TO EVERYONE.
BUT I ALSO WANNA MAKE SURE THAT THE MEDIA UNDERSTANDS HOW IMPORTANT THE ROLE THAT MEDIA PLAYS IN THIS.
YOU ARE THE ONES THAT CAN REACH THE MOST PEOPLE AND SHARING THIS INFORMATION THAT WE ARE TRYING TO GET OUT, UH, THROUGH OUR BILLBOARDS, THROUGH HOTLINES.
BUT WE NEED YOUR HELP TO EDUCATE OTHERS SO THAT PEOPLE DO FEEL COMFORTABLE FOR, FOR COMING FORWARD.
PEOPLE DO KNOW ABOUT THE RESOURCES AVAILABLE AND HOW TO SAFELY SEEK HELP.
SO, WITH THAT, UM, COLLEAGUES, I HAVE TWO PROCLAMATIONS, UH, TO START WITH.
SO I'M GONNA ASK YOU ALL TO JOIN ME FOR THIS.
THE FIRST IS TO RECOGNIZE ABDA FOR 45 YEARS OF SERVICE, ADVOCACY AND UNWAVERING COMMITMENT TO PROTECT HOUSTON'S FAMILY.
SO ON BEHALF OF MAYOR, ON BEHALF OF MAYOR WHITMEYER, IT IS MY HONOR, UH, TO PRESENT THIS CITY PROCLAMATION OF AS, AS A TOKEN OF OUR APPRECIATION TO THE STAFF, THE VOLUNTEERS, AND EVERYTHING THAT ABDA DOES TO SAVE LIVES IN OUR COMMUNITY.
UH, SO WE HAVE PROCLAIMED IT A DAY, AND I WOULD ASK THAT EVERYONE COME TOGETHER FOR A QUICK PHOTO REAL QUICK.
AND THEN, UH, WE HAVE A LITTLE BIT OF A SURPRISE, AND COUNCIL MEMBER CARTER IS GONNA JOIN ME FOR THIS HERE, ACTUALLY, MAISHA, I'M GOING TO HAND THIS TO Y'ALL, IF THAT'S OKAY.
YOU DIDN'T KNOW ABOUT THIS? NO, NO, THANK YOU.
UM, WE WANNA RECOGNIZE YOU, LEE.
BUT REALLY, LEE, FOR THE CONSISTENT PARTNERSHIP, THE ABILITY OF YOU TO STAND AND USE THE PLATFORM THAT YOU HAVE, AND THAT CLEAR CHANNEL HAS TO SAVE LIFESAVING MESSAGES, UM, INCLUDING DOMESTIC VIOLENCE AWARENESS.
BUT THIS GOES EVEN DOMESTIC VIOLENCE, UH, DISASTER RESPONSE, YOU NAME IT, HUMAN TRAFFICKING.
UM, SO AGAIN, WE DIDN'T KNOW THAT HE WAS GONNA BE RECOGNIZED TODAY, BUT FOR NEARLY 35 YEARS, YES.
YOU HAVE STOOD FIRMLY AS A FORCE OF GOOD LIFTING UP MESSAGES LIKE TODAY IN EVERY CORNER OF THE CITY AND BEYOND.
WE ARE SO GRATEFUL TO YOU, AND IT IS SO NICE.
DID YOU WANNA SAY ANYTHING? WELL, CERTAINLY I WOULD SAY THAT LEE, UH, YOU'RE, YOU WERE SO INSTRUMENTAL IN ALLOWING THE TEXAS COUNCIL ON FAMILY VIOLENCE AND PARTNERSHIP WITH MY OFFICE TO TAKE OUR CAMPAIGN STATEWIDE.
STATEWIDE CAMPAIGN FOR DOMESTIC VIOLENCE AWARENESS AND THE VALUE ON ONE LIFE SAVED.
SO I KNOW WE'LL BE HEARING FROM YOU LATER IN THE PROGRAM TODAY, BUT WE LOVE YOU AND WE WANTED TO TAKE A MOMENT TO RECOGNIZE HOW MANY LIVES YOU HAVE MADE A DIFFERENCE IN.
UH, WITH THAT, I AM SO HONORED TO INTRODUCE ABDA, CEO MAISHA COULTER.
MAISHA HAS BEEN WITH ABHA FOR NEARLY 15 YEARS.
I'M THROWING OUT YEARS AND LIKE JUST GIVING UP EVERYONE'S AGE RIGHT NOW.
UH, AND SHE'S GONNA SPEAK TO THE INCREDIBLE GROWTH THAT SHE HAS SEEN OVER HER TIME IN THE ORGANIZATION.
UM, THEN WE WILL HEAR FROM, UH,
[00:10:01]
MS. TREVINO, THEN FROM OUR, UM, DISTRICT ATTORNEY, THEN FROM THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE, THE POLICE DEPARTMENT, AND THEN TO CLOSE US OUT FROM LEE, A CLEAR CHANNEL.ON BEHALF OF ABDA AID TO VICTIMS OF DOMESTIC ABUSE, I WANTED TO THANK COUNCIL MEMBER, UM, CAYMAN, OUR PARTNERS AT CLEAR CHANNEL AND ALL OF YOU FOR BEING HERE TO CELEBRATE 45 YEARS OF SAFER HOMES ACROSS HOUSTON.
AS YOU HEARD, COUNCIL MEMBER, UH, CAME AND MENTIONED THAT THE NATIONAL COUNCIL OF JEWISH WOMEN SAW A NEED.
UM, WOMEN IN OUR COMMUNITY WERE SUFFERING IN SILENCE WITHOUT LEGAL PROTECTION FOR FROM ABUSE.
THEY DECIDED TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE.
THOSE VOLUNTEERS BEGAN OFFERING FREE LEGAL REPRESENTATION TO SURVIVORS OF, UM, DOMESTIC ABUSE, HUMBLY USING A CONVERTED BROOM CLOSET AT GULF COAST LEGAL AID 45 YEARS AGO.
FROM THOSE MODEST BEGINNINGS, ABDA HAS GROWN INTO A THRIVING NONPROFIT WITH THE DOWNTOWN HOUSTON HEADQUARTER QUARTER AND TWO SATELLITE OFFICES SERVING FAMILIES ACROSS BOTH URBAN AND RURAL COMMUNITIES.
TODAY, ABDA PROVIDES A CONTINUUM OF LIFE CHANGING SERVICES.
WE REPRESENT SURVIVORS IN LEGAL, UH, PROCEDURES IN FAMILY COURT.
WE HOLD THOSE WHO ARE ABUSIVE ACCOUNTABLE THROUGH BATTERING INTERVENTION AND PREVENTION PROGRAMMING.
WE REACH ADULTS AND YOUTH THROUGH OUR COMMUNITY AWARENESS AND PREVENTION PROGRAM.
AND WE OFFER HEALING THROUGH OUR TRAUMA COUNSELING PROGRAM, HELPING SURVIVORS AND THEIR CHILDREN REBUILD FROM THE EMOTIONAL WOUNDS OF ABUSE.
OUR WORK IS ROOTED IN COMPASSION, COURAGE, AND COMMUNITY.
AND EVERY SURVIVOR'S JOURNEY REMINDS US WHY ABDA EXISTS.
I WANNA READ SOMETHING FROM ONE OF OUR CLIENTS WHO SHARED THIS WITH ME.
THINGS WERE SO CLOUDY AND FUELED WITH EXHAUSTION JUST A FEW MONTHS AGO, BUT I GIVE GLORY TO GOD.
I WAS AMAZED TO FIND THAT I GOT MY RIGHTFUL SHARE FROM THE SALE OF OUR HOME.
I WAS FRUSTRATED MANY TIMES, BUT I COULDN'T GIVE UP.
EVERYTHING I GO THROUGH IN LIFE IS ORDAINED FOR A PURPOSE.
I'M SO THANKFUL FOR YOU AND ABDA FOR STICKING WITH ME.
IF I DIDN'T HAVE THE CONVICTION OF DOING WHAT WAS RIGHT, I WOULDN'T BE AT PEACE.
TODAY, I FEEL LIKE I WAS CHOSEN, A CHOSEN VESSEL TO PUT ON AN IN TO PUT AN END TO FEAR THAT HAS LASTED MORE THAN 30 YEARS.
AT THE END, I'M STANDING IN POWER.
THAT IS WHAT 45 YEARS OF SAFER HOMES LOOKS LIKE.
PEOPLE FINDING SAFETY, JUSTICE, PEACE THROUGH THE POWER OF COMMUNITY THAT REFUSES TO GIVE UP AS WE UNVEIL, UNVEIL THESE, THIS YEAR'S BILLBOARD CAMPAIGN, MAY THESE IMAGES REMIND EVERYONE IN HOUSTON THAT HELP IS HERE.
HOPE IS REAL, AND ABDA IS STILL STANDING STRONG, JUST AS WE HAVE FOR 45 YEARS, AND WILL CONTINUE TO DO SO UNTIL EVERY HOME IS SAFE.
DO WE? THE CLEAR CHANNEL OUTDOOR AND THE IN HOUSTON REPRESENTS NA
[00:15:04]
DECIA.FIRST OF ALL, I, I WANT TO THANK COUNCILWOMAN CAYMAN, UM, THE REST OF OUR CITY COUNCIL, UH, AND THE MAYOR AND ALL THE CITY FOR HOSTING THIS VERY IMPORTANT ANNOUNCEMENT.
UM, I LOVE TO SEE THE COLLABORATION BOTH INSIDE GOVERNMENT AND ON OUR PRIVATE SECTOR IN ATTACKING THIS, THIS PROBLEM, LEE, YOU AND CLEAR CHANNEL.
ARE ONE OF THE MOST INCREDIBLE PARTNERS THAT, THAT WE IN GOVERNMENT HAVE.
I AM SO GRATEFUL FOR YOUR WORK.
UM, ABDA, I, I CANNOT TELL YOU WHAT ABDA DOES FOR US IN THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM, UM, IN, IN BOTH MAKING THE OUTCOMES MORE JUST FOR THE ACCUSED AND THE SURVIVORS OF THIS.
INTIMATE PARTNER VIOLENCE AND DOMESTIC PAR DOMESTIC VIOLENCE AS A WHOLE ARE CRIME DRIVERS, NOT JUST FOR THOSE INVOLVED, BUT WE'VE ALREADY HEARD ABOUT THE HOMICIDE RATE.
BUT I'VE PERSONALLY HANDLED MULTIPLE POLICE OFFICER FATALITIES WHEN THEY WERE RESPONDING TO DOMESTIC VIOLENCE CALLS.
IT BLEEDS OUT INTO OUR ENTIRE COMMUNITY.
IT IS A SICKNESS THAT AFFECTS OUR ENTIRE COMMUNITY, AND WE HAVE GOT TO STOP IT.
SINCE JANUARY, THANKS TO AN INCREDIBLE INVESTMENT BY OUR COMMISSIONERS, WE WERE ABLE FOR THE FIRST TIME EVER TO ELEVATE OUR DOMESTIC VIOLENCE DIVISION TO AN ENTIRE BUREAU WHERE WE HAVE LICENSED SOCIAL WORKERS, WE HAVE VICTIM ADVOCATES, AND WE HAVE TRAUMA-INFORMED PROSECUTORS WHO HANDLE OUR MOST VIOLENT AND HIGH RISK CASES WHERE WE HOLD THE ABUSERS ACCOUNTABLE.
BUT MORE THAN THAT, WE ARE BACK OUT IN THE COMMUNITY GETTING PROTECTIVE ORDERS FOR SURVIVORS THAT ARE EITHER INCAPABLE OR TOO SCARED TO COME DOWNTOWN TO TALK WITH US.
WE HAVE DONE OVER 850 PROTECTIVE ORDERS SINCE JANUARY.
WE'VE GOT TO CONTINUE TO DO MORE.
BUT FIRST OF ALL, WE'VE GOT TO ADMIT THAT THIS PROBLEM IS NOT UNDER CONTROL.
THERE'S NO QUESTION AND HAS BEEN DOWN, BUT IT IS NOT AFFECTING THE OUTCOMES OF THOSE THAT ARE BEING ABUSED IN OUR CITY AND OUR COMMUNITY.
SO WE ARE WORKING AND DAYS LIKE THIS AND, AND PARTNERSHIPS LIKE THE ONES YOU'VE HEARD ABOUT TODAY, ARE ONE OF THE KEY STEPS IN MAKING SURE THAT WE ARE GOING TO HOLD ABUSERS ACCOUNTABLE AND GET THE SURVIVORS ON TRACK TO GETTING BACK INTO LIFE.
SO THANK YOU ALL SO MUCH FOR HAVING US.
MY NAME IS LIEUTENANT MATTHEW MURPHY.
I'M WITH THE HARRIS COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE.
I ANNOUNCED THE WRONG PERSON EARLIER.
I'M STEPPING IN FOR CAPTAIN JOHNSON, SO PLEASE DON'T HOLD THAT AGAINST ME.
UM, I'D LIKE TO THANK ADVA FOR HOSTING THIS EVENT AND SUPPORTING
[00:20:01]
ALL THE FAMILY AND SURVIVORS.I WOULD ALSO LIKE TO ADD SOME OF THE STATISTICS THAT WE HEARD EARLIER THAT FROM JANUARY TO AUGUST, 2025, THE HARRIS COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE HOMICIDE UNIT RESPONDED TO 67 MURDERS.
23 OF THOSE WERE RELATED TO DOMESTIC VIOLENCE.
THAT'S FAR TOO, TOO MUCH, IN MY OPINION.
UM, AS FAR AS THE FAMILY VIOLENCE, WE HAVE WORKED SO FAR THIS YEAR, 6,222 CASES THAT WE REVIEWED, 229 CRIMINAL CHARGES, 70 CALL OUTS FROM OUR UNIT.
AND WE ARE STILL TRYING TO EXPAND WITH TWO MORE DETECTIVES THAN A SERGEANT AS WE SPEAK TO COMBAT THOSE NUMBERS.
UM, I JUST WOULD LIKE TO ADD THAT THROUGH OUR PARTNERSHIPS WITH THE HARRIS COUNTY DISTRICT ATTORNEY'S OFFICE THROUGH THE ORGANIZATION HERE TODAY, ABDA THE BRIDGE, UH, THE FAMILIES TO FREEDOMS IN THE HOUSTON WOMEN'S CENTER, AND THE COORDINATING COUNSEL OF THE HARRIS COUNTY SHERIFF'S, OR SORRY, THE HARRIS COUNTY.
UM, WE'RE HOPING TO GET RID OF ALL THE FAMILY VIOLENCE AND TO EDUCATE AND MOVE FORWARD TO PROVIDE SERVICES FOR THE SURVIVORS.
I'M AN EXECUTIVE ASSISTANT CHIEF WITH THE HOUSTON POLICE DEPARTMENT.
I'M HERE ON BEHALF OF, UH, CHIEF NOI DIAZ, AND I'M PRESENTING THE MEN AND WOMEN OF THE HOUSTON POLICE DEPARTMENT.
I WANNA SAY THANK YOU TO THE COUNCIL MEMBERS AND LEE FOR THIS EVENT.
UM, AS YOU'VE HEARD, INTIMATE PARTNER VIOLENCE AFFECTS APPROXIMATELY 10 MILLION PEOPLE EVERY YEAR.
THAT'S ONE IN FOUR WOMEN, AND ONE IN NINE MEN WILL EXPERIENCE IT IN THEIR LIFETIMES.
DOMESTIC VIOLENCE IS MORE THAN PHYSICAL VIOLENCE.
IT INCLUDES THREATS, HARASSMENT, PUTTING SOMEONE DOWN, CONTROLLING FINANCES, AND PRESSURING FOR SEX.
THIS DOESN'T ALWAYS HAPPEN BEHIND CLOSED DOORS, AND WE CAN'T AFFORD TO SAY THAT IT'S NOT OUR PROBLEM.
AND ANECDOTALLY, AS YOU'VE HEARD, WE SEE THAT THOSE ARRESTED FOR THE MOST VIOLENT OFFENSES, SUCH AS ROBBERY AND OTHER CRIMES, OFTEN HAS HISTORY OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE.
WE ALL HAVE AN INTEREST IN ADDRESSING THIS CRIME.
AND WE'RE GRATEFUL FOR THE PARTNERS HERE WITH US TODAY.
UNLIKE VICTIMS OF OTHER CRIMES, NOT EVERYONE IN A DOMESTIC VIOLENCE SITUATION MAY RECOGNIZE OR ARE IN A POSITION TO CALL FOR HELP.
IF YOU BELIEVE SOMEONE IN YOUR LIFE IS AFFECTED BY DOMESTIC VIOLENCE, TALK TO THEM AWAY FROM THEIR ABUSER.
OFFER TO OFFER, TO AID IN A WAY THAT ALLOWS THEM TO MAKE THE DECISION ON THE BEST WAY TO MOVE FORWARD.
CONSIDER THEIR PERSPECTIVE, BUT DON'T GIVE UP ON THEM.
AND REMEMBER THAT THE MOST DANGEROUS TIME FOR A VICTIM IS WHEN THEY'RE ESCAPING THEIR ABUSER.
IF YOU ARE ASSISTING THEM, MAKE SURE TO PLAN FOR YOUR SAFETY AS WELL.
MAKE NO MISTAKE, HPD AND THE DA'S OFFICE ARE COMMITTED TO ENSURING JUSTICE THROUGH ARREST AND PROSECUTION OF ABUSERS.
BUT THERE'S MORE TO THE STORY AND MORE TO DO.
VICTIMS ARE OFTEN LEFT TO WONDER WHAT'S NEXT AND WORRY ABOUT THE WHAT IFS.
WE EQUIP ALL OUR OFFICERS WITH INFORMATION ON HOW TO FACILITATE REFERRALS TO LOCAL SHELTERS AND CENTERS.
AND WE HAVE THE HPD DART TEAM AS WELL, THAT INCLUDES TRAINED ADVOCATES THAT GO OUT TO THESE SCENES TO ASSIST VICTIMS WITH NEEDED RESOURCES.
THESE INCLUDE FINDING PLACES TO STAY HELP WITH PROTECTIVE ORDERS, AND GOING TO COURT AND CONNECTING WITH OTHER SUPPORT, SUCH AS WORKING WITH THE ATTORNEY GENERAL'S OFFICE FOR VICTIMS' COMPENSATION TO HELP WITH MOVING EXPENSES AND OTHER EXPENSES.
WE ARE COMMITTED TO HELPING VICTIMS AND RELY ON OUR PARTNERS TO BRING AWARENESS, SUPPORT, AND RESOURCES.
LAW ENFORCEMENT CAN ONLY DO SO MUCH.
SO WE ARE GRATEFUL FOR THE PUBLIC AND OUR PARTNERS WHO RECOGNIZE THAT THIS IS A COMMUNITY PROBLEM AND REQUIRES A COMMUNITY SOLUTION.
SO COUNCIL MEMBERS CAYMAN, THANK YOU SO VERY MUCH.
COUNCIL MEMBERS, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR ALL THAT YOU DO FOR THE CITY OF HOUSTON.
I'M WITH CLEAR CHANNEL OUTDOOR.
UM, AND AS YOU HEARD EARLIER, I'VE BEEN DOING THIS FOR QUITE A LONG TIME.
UM, BUT YOU KNOW, OUR PHILOSOPHY IS WE GIVE BACK TO THE COMMUNITIES IN WHICH WE OPERATE, UH, NOT ONLY HERE IN THE HOUSTON AREA, BUT IN DALLAS, SAN ANTONIO, AND EL PASO.
AND WE'VE LIKE TO DO PROJECTS THAT ACTUALLY MOVE THE NEEDLE.
AND THIS IS ONE THAT WE HAVE BEEN ASSOCIATED WITH FOR, WE'RE TRYING TO FIGURE OUT THE DAYS, BUT I THINK IT'S MORE THAN AT LEAST A DECADE AT LEAST.
AND SO WE ARE COMMITTED TO THIS PARTICULAR PROGRAM AND TO THE TEXAS FAMILY OF COUNCIL ON FAMILY VIOLENCE WITH COUNCIL MEMBER CARTER, UH, WHICH, UH, I'M ALSO PRESIDENT OF THE OUTDOOR ADVERTISING ASSOCIATION OF TEXAS.
SO WE'RE TAKING THAT PARTICULAR CAMPAIGN, WHICH SEEKS OUT,
[00:25:01]
UH, VICTIMS TO OFFER HELP, UH, JUST LIKE AVA DOES TO, TO OFFER LEGAL HELP.UH, BUT WE'RE TAKING IT STATEWIDE.
AND WITH OUR DIGITAL BILLBOARDS IN, UH, WE CAN REACH OVER 100 TEXAS CITIES WITH THAT PARTICULAR CAMPAIGN.
UH, THIS CAMPAIGN WILL BE A COMBINATION OF TRADITIONAL BILLBOARDS THAT YOU SEE AROUND THE AREA.
UH, AND THEY WILL BE TARGETED IN CERTAIN AREAS WHERE WE KNOW STATISTICS, UH, BEAR IT OUT.
UM, AND THERE'LL BE IN ENGLISH AND IN SPANISH.
THEY'LL ALSO BE ON OUR DIGITAL BILLBOARDS AROUND THE AREA AS WELL.
SO WE HAVE AN UP TO, IT'LL BE UP ON, UP TO 56 DIGITAL BILLBOARDS THROUGHOUT THE SUBURBAN AREAS.
UH, AND THAT OFFERS US SO MUCH MORE, UH, FLEXIBILITY IN GETTING THESE KIND OF MESSAGES OUT TO THE PUBLIC.
AND OUR SINCERE HOPE IS IT MAKES A DIFFERENCE.
THE CONTINUAL SEEING OF THIS MESSAGE.
UH, WITH, WITH, UH, THE TEXAS COUNCIL OF FAMILY VIOLENCE, WE LOOKED AT THE STATISTICS.
WE'VE CREATED OVER 85 MILLION MARKET IMPRESSIONS WITH THAT PARTICULAR PROGRAM.
WITH THIS ONE, WE WILL, WE WILL AT LEAST, UH, EQUAL THAT AS WELL THROUGHOUT THE HOUSTON AREA.
SO WE, WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT THIS MESSAGE CONTINUES TO BE SEEN.
THAT IF, IF YOU HAD NEED HELP COME FORWARD, ADVA IS THE PLACE TO, TO FIND HELP.
YOU CAN CERTAINLY FIND HELP THERE.
AND WE ARE COMMITTED TO CONTINUING TO, TO HELP NOT ONLY THIS PROGRAM, BUT OTHER PROGRAMS. UH, WHETHER IT'S FINDING MISSING CHILDREN OR IT'S, UH, HUMAN TRAFFICKING OR, UM, UH, WEATHER RELATED ISSUES.
WE ARE THERE FOR THE CITY AND THE AREA TO MAKE SURE THAT PEOPLE ARE INFORMED ABOUT WHAT'S IMPORTANT TO OUR AREA.
SO I WANT TO THANK YOU AGAIN, COUNCIL MEMBER CAMAN.
UM, AND I'VE, UM, I'VE BEEN IN THE PUBLIC RELATIONS BUSINESS FOR OVER 53 YEARS NOW, SO THIS IS ONE OF THE HIGHLIGHTS OF IT.
I REALLY APPRECIATE YOUR, YOUR ACKNOWLEDGEMENT, BUT IT'S, IT'S REALLY UP TO ALL OF US, UH, NOT JUST US, THE CLEAR CHANNEL, BUT TO ALL OF US IN THE COMMUNITY TO STAND UP AND DO SOMETHING.
UM, WE, LAW ENFORCEMENT CAN'T DO EVERYTHING.
WE CAN'T DO EVERYTHING, BUT IT'S UP TO ALL OF US TO DO WHATEVER YOU CAN TO MAKE SURE THESE MESSAGES ARE SEEN.
UM, WITH THAT, I THINK BEFORE WE OPEN IT UP TO QUESTIONS, A FEW PEOPLE JOINED US.
I DO WANNA RECOGNIZE, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER, UH, MARTINEZ, THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE.
WE ALSO HAVE STAFF FROM COUNCIL MEMBER CASTILLO'S OFFICE.
AND WHEN WE TALK ABOUT LAW ENFORCEMENT, AGAIN, I WANNA EMPHASIZE, UM, OUR GRATITUDE, UM, AND APPRECIATION FOR THESE TYPES OF PARTNERSHIPS.
AND ALSO TO THANK, UH, JULIE PLEASANT, WHO OFTENTIMES IS, UH, BEHIND THE SCENES, UM, WITH HPD, BUT REALLY CHAMPIONING, UM, THIS WORK, UH, TO SAVE LIVES.
UH, WITH THAT, I DO, AGAIN, WANNA EMPHASIZE CLEAR CHANNEL IS STEPPING UP AS YOU ALWAYS DO, BUT WE NEED OUR MEDIA PARTNERS THROUGHOUT THE CITY IN THE REGION TO ALSO HELP US AND STEP UP.
SO ON THE BILLBOARDS, YOU WILL SEE THE WEBSITE, ABDA A VDA.ORG OR THE NUMBER TO CALL FOR ASSISTANCE, (713) 224-9911.
AND EACH TIME THERE'S COVERAGE WHEN WE TALK ABOUT HOMICIDES, BECAUSE THAT IS WHAT GETS THE MOST HEADLINES, ALTHOUGH THERE ARE SO MANY OTHER INSTANCES OF DOMESTIC AND FAMILY VIOLENCE.
BUT IMAGINE, INSTEAD OF A HEADLINE TO CATCH SOMEONE'S ATTENTION, YOU STILL HAD THE SCROLLING OF RESOURCES AND INFORMATION TO EDUCATE OTHERS THAT MAY BE LISTENING OR READING.
SO AGAIN, OUR ASK IS TO PLEASE HELP SPREAD THE WORD, BUT I WANNA THANK ALL OF OUR PARTNERS FOR BEING HERE.
UM, WITH THAT, ARE WE READY TO OPEN IT UP TO QUESTIONS, PLEASE.
ANY QUESTIONS? AND I KNOW WHAT YOUR QUESTION IS, SO I'M GONNA CALL UP MA AND LEE, BUT GO AHEAD.
LAST YEAR WE LAUNCHED, UH, THE I'M OKAY.
UM, AND I JUST WANTED TO ASK, HOW HAS THAT HELD VICTIMS? HOW MANY SIGNUPS WERE THERE? AND WHAT METRICS ARE IN PLACE TO, YOU KNOW, INCREASE AWARENESS ABOUT THAT CAMPAIGN? DIFFERENT CAMPAIGN? I'M GONNA DEFER TO, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER, UH, CARTER CARTER, PLEASE.
UM, I'D LOVE TO GET WITH YOU OFFLINE AND SEND YOU THE ACTUAL DATA, BUT, SO, UM, MY OFFICE HAS, UH, LAUNCHED THE CAMPAIGN LAST OCTOBER, CERTAINLY IN PARTNERSHIP WITH, UH, LEE ON THE BILLBOARDS.
BUT WE ALSO HAVE THE STICKER CAMPAIGN, ALSO DIGITAL.
WE'VE GOT IT IN NEWSLETTERS AND SUCH.
AND, UM, THE, I CAN'T REALLY QUOTE THE EXACT NUMBER, BUT I'LL JUST TELL YOU FROM OCTOBER LAST YEAR, LIKE THROUGH FIRST 30 DAYS, THE INCREASE TO THE WEBSITE WAS UP 1200%.
AND SO I CAN GET, GET YOU THE DATA, BUT YOU KNOW, WE, IT'S
[00:30:01]
THE BILLBOARD CAMPAIGN, CERTAINLY.I MEAN, THE BILLBOARD PIECE IS PART OF IT, BUT CERTAINLY THE IKE SMART CITY KIOSK, THE, UH, DIGITAL IMAGES ACROSS NEWSLETTERS AND, UH, THE, YOU KNOW, THE QR CODES AND THE RESTROOMS AND THE FACILITIES AROUND HARRIS COUNTY AND THE CITY OF HOUSTON.
AND, UM, I'LL ASK NO, NO, NO, THANK YOU.
I'LL ALSO ASK ABDA TO SHARE, BECAUSE AGAIN, ABDA DOES THESE PARTNERSHIPS FOR AWARENESS, BUT THEY ALSO PROVIDE CRITICAL LEGAL REPRESENTATION.
THE NUMBERS ARE IN THE THOUSANDS AND MAISHA WILL SHARE THOSE SURE.
SO WE HELPED 6,946 ADULTS AND CHILDREN WITH LEGAL REPRESENTATION.
WE PROVIDED 26,228 ADULT AND YOUTH WITH EDUCATION RELATED TO DOMESTIC VIOLENCE.
WE ALSO PROVIDED 1043 PEOPLE WHO ARE IDENTIFIED AS ABUSIVE WITH OUR BIP SERVICES.
THAT IS THE BATTERING INTERVENTION AND PREVENTION PROGRAM.
THOSE ARE OFTEN PEOPLE WHO HAVE BEEN PROSECUTED BY THE DA'S OFFICE AND REFERRED TO US FOR EDUCATION AND INTERVENTION SO THAT THEY NO LONGER CONTINUE TO PERPETRATE DOMESTIC VIOLENCE IN THEIR RELATIONSHIPS.
AND ON TOP OF THAT, ONE OF THE NUMBERS I'M MOST PROUD OF IS OVER 26,000 YOUTH AND ADULTS LAST YEAR ALONE, JUST THROUGH ABDA, WHO HAVE BEEN TRAINED IN INTERVENTION AND PREVENTION.
SO THEY ARE IN SCHOOLS, THEY ARE WORKING WITH ADULTS TO IDENTIFY THOSE NEEDS.
BUT WHEN YOU HEAR THOSE NUMBERS, WHAT, AGAIN, COMING FROM A BROOM CLOSET TO TODAY, WHAT 45 YEARS CAN ACCOMPLISH IS LIFESAVING WORK.
LIKE THESE NUMBERS THAT WE'RE SEEING TODAY.
AND WITH ALL OF THAT SAID, WE STILL HAVE A LONG WAY TO GO BECAUSE AGAIN, VIOLENT CRIME IS TRENDING DOWN BECAUSE OF THE HARD WORK OF A LOT OF PEOPLE.
BUT DOMESTIC VIOLENCE, WE'RE NOW AT, I'VE HEARD THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE SAY, CAN I, I'LL GIVE YOU THE NUMBERS IF YOU WANT, THIS YEAR.
YEAH, I HAVE SOME OF THOSE NUMBERS.
AND THE COUNCIL MEMBER ALSO HAS SOME OF THOSE NUMBERS.
BUT WHEN A THIRD OF HOMICIDES IN THE COUNTY HAVE A NEXUS WITH DOMESTIC VIOLENCE, WE NEED TO BE DOING A HELL OF A LOT MORE.
CAN I GIVE THIS STATE? OH YEAH.
ONE, ONE LAST, UM, ON BEHALF OF THE TEXAS COUNCIL ON FAMILY VIOLENCE, I'M BOARD CHAIR FOR TCFE.
AND UH, IN, UH, THIS FRIDAY WE RELEASED THE VICTIMS, THE 2024 VICTIMS REPORT.
SO STATEWIDE, THE NUMBERS WERE 2 0 5 IN 2023.
THIS YEAR IT'S 1 61, BUT IN HARRIS COUNTY.
SO IT WENT DOWN STATEWIDE, THE FATALITIES.
BUT IN HARRIS COUNTY, IT WENT UP.
LAST YEAR, HARRIS COUNTY HAD 38 FATALITIES.
AND I THINK THAT NUMBER'S GONE UP EVEN.
AND THIS YEAR IT'S GONE UP HIGHER.
PHOTOS, THAT THING, LET'S, LET'S GO DOWN HERE AND.