* This transcript was created by voice-to-text technology. The transcript has not been edited for errors or omissions, it is for reference only and is not the official minutes of the meeting. [00:00:29] WELCOME TO CITY PULSE. YOU MIGHT NOTICE A FEW CHANGES WITH TODAY'S SHOW, BUT NOT ME. I'M STILL YOUR HOST, TRAVIS LEMON, WITH HTV HOUSTON TELEVISION. I REFER TO MYSELF AS A JACK OF ALL TRADES AND A MASTER OF NONE. THE SAME CANNOT BE SAID FOR MY NEW COLLEAGUE, REBECCA WILLIAMS. SHE IS THE SENIOR ADVISOR TO MAYOR WHITMEYER FOR COMMUNITY RELATIONS. I WOULD LIKE TO WELCOME YOU TO THE SHOW AND GIVE YOU A BRIEF MOMENT TO TALK ABOUT WHAT YOU DO FOR THE MAYOR'S OFFICE. WELL, THANK YOU TRAVIS. THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME HERE AT THE CITY POST I I AM REBECCA WILLIAMS AND I SERVE AS A SENIOR ADVISOR FOR COMMUNITY RELATIONS. UM, AND I PROUDLY SERVE IN THIS POSITION TO MAYOR WHITMEYER ADMINISTRATION, UM, MAKING SURE THAT WE ARE ENGAGING OUR INTERFAITH COMMUNITIES, UM, ENGAGING, UM, AND ADDRESSING COMMUNITY CONCERNS AND BUILDING AND SUSTAINING RELATIONSHIPS WITH OUR NONPROFIT PARTNERS. WHETHER IT'S RESPONDING TO CALLS FROM THE CLERGY OR ADDRESSING CONCERNS THAT ARE ASSIGNED TO ME BY THE MAYOR AT CITY COUNCIL. MY ROLE, UH, MY PASSION IS TO LISTEN, UH, ADVOCATE AND HELP EVERY CONCERN THAT COMES OUR WAY AND MAKE SURE ALL IN ALL, THE HEART OF THE MAYOR OF THE CITY OF HOUSTON IS FELT THROUGH HIS PASSION TO FIX HOUSTON. NOW, REBECCA MAYOR WHITMEYER IS FOCUSING ON BUILDING A TRANSPARENT, MORE EFFICIENT CITY GOVERNMENT AND IMPROVING CONSTITUENT SERVICES. BY WORKING WITH CITY DEPARTMENTS, THOSE CITY DEPARTMENTS ARE RESPONDING DAILY AND WITH YOU COMING ON BOARD TO CITY PULSE, YOU WILL BE SHARING STORIES ON HOW THE CITY HAS FIXED THE PROBLEM. THAT'S RIGHT, TRAVIS. THE FILES WILL BE AN ONGOING SERIES THAT SHOWCASES WHAT HAPPENS WHEN RESIDENTS COME TO CITY COUNCIL OR TO THE CITY WITH A PROBLEM AND HOW THE CITY FIXES IT. NOW WE'LL GO TO A CONVERSATION WITH THE RESIDENT AT THE GALA OF MCGREGOR SENIOR LIVING FACILITY, WHO HAD A CONCERN AND HAD AN ISSUE, BROUGHT IT TO CITY COUNCIL AND THE MAYOR'S ADMINISTRATION IN THE CITY OF HOUSTON WENT IN TO ASSIST. HELLO AND WELCOME TO THE FIXIT FILES. I'M REBECCA WILLIAMS. I'M HERE AT THE GALA AT MCGREGOR WITH THE ONE AND ONLY MR. DUNKINS. MR. DUNKIN, A WHILE AGO, UH, SOME TIME AGO. MM-HMM . YOU CAME TO CITY HALL AND EXPRESSED SOME CONCERNS. I'M HERE REPRESENTING THE GALA OF MCGREGOR. I'VE BEEN HERE BEFORE. NOW LATELY, CARS ARE BEING VANDALIZED. SATURDAY, THE MAIN OFFICE WAS BROKEN INTO. THERE IS NO SECURITY THERE AT THE FACILITY FOR THE SENIORS. WHAT WERE THOSE CONCERNS AND HOW DID THE ADMINISTRATION ASSIST FLOORS? FOUR, FIVE, AND SIX. THE HALLWAY WAS STILL CEMENT, CEMENT, JUST WHITE DESK. WE WERE TRACKING THE WHITE DESK FROM THE HALLWAY INTO OUR APARTMENT. SO THAT'S WHY I CAME TO THE CITY, I THINK THREE TIMES I CAME DOWN THERE TO TRY TO GET SOME HELP. WE'VE GOTTA HOLD PEOPLE ACCOUNTABLE AND THE HOUSING AUTHORITY NEEDS TO HOLD PEOPLE ACCOUNTABLE, BUT WE'RE GONNA BE OUT THERE. I'VE ALREADY HEARD TWO ALLIES COME FORWARD. WE, WE'LL COME BACK WITH A REPORT. HOW'S THAT? THAT'LL HOLD US ACCOUNTABLE. SO LET'S GO ON A JOURNEY. LET'S GO AND SEE SOME OF THESE SPACES. THE ELEVATORS. ELEVATORS. OH MY GOD. AND IT LOOK, THEY LOOK SHINY. IT LOOKS LIKE BETWEEN THEY WOULD, THEY WOULD, THEY WOULD STAY WORKING FOR A MONTH AND THEN THEY'D BE OUT FOR A MONTH OR TWO. BUT IT'S A NEW DAY. OH, IT IS A NEW DAY. AND WE'RE GLAD TO SEE THAT THE ELEVATORS ARE WORKING PROPERLY. YEAH, WE HAVEN'T HAD THAT PROBLEM IN A WHILE. YES, IN A LONG WHILE. AND ALSO, I REMEMBER, UM, YOU SHOWED US WHERE, I THINK IT WAS IN THE TRASH UNIT YEAH. WHERE SOMETIMES THE HOME WITH, WITH STAYING TRASH. YES. YES. BUT HAVE YOU ALL, WE HAVE NOT HAD THAT PROBLEM. THAT IS AMAZING. WE HAVE NOT HAD THAT PROBLEM. MY OFFICE WENT WITH THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT, THE HOUSING COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT. THE BUILDER WAS THERE AND WE REACHED AN AGREEMENT WHERE TODAY HE'S REPLACING THE FLOOR, WHICH WAS CREATING THE DUST SECURITY CAMERAS WILL BE RESTORED BY THE END OF THIS MONTH AND CERTAINLY WANT TO THANK COUNCIL MEMBER EVAN SHABAZZ FOR WORKING WITH MY OFFICE, DEALING WITH THE GALA MCGREGOR SENIOR LIVING FACILITY. MAYOR, I REALLY APPRECIATE [00:05:01] YOU. I APPRECIATE YOUR FOLLOW THROUGH. I APPRECIATE YOU WITH THE PEOPLE THAT YOU HAVE AROUND YOU. AND AGAIN, THIS IS HOW WE DO IT IN THE CITY OF HOUSTON. THIS IS THE FIX IT FILES. I'M REBECCA WILLIAMS AND YOU'LL BE NEXT. ALRIGHT, , THE HUMAN INTEREST SIDE IS A GOOD TOUCH AND DEPARTMENT RESPONSE TIES IN NICELY WITH THE MAYOR'S. LET'S GO TO WORK APPROACH. OKAY. REBECCA, I'M SURE YOU ARE FAMILIAR WITH THE IDEA OF WORK SMART, NOT HARD, RIGHT? YES. HOW ABOUT WORK SAFETY? LET'S CHECK OUT THIS RECENT EMPLOYEE SAFETY FAIR PUT ON BY THE HUMAN RESOURCES DEPARTMENT. WE ARE HERE EDUCATING ALL CITY OF HOUSTON EMPLOYEES ON HOW THEY CAN BETTER EQUIP THEMSELVES WHEN IT COMES TO SAFETY COMMUNICATION. BADGING. I AM PART OF THE SAFETY MANAGEMENT TEAM. WE'RE HERE AT THE SAFETY FAIR. MY STATION IS FOR CPR FIRST AID. JUST GIVE YOU AN EXAMPLE OR A LITTLE TASTE OF WHAT'S NECESSARY IN ORDER TO SAVE A LIFE. SO WE BROUGHT OUT A COUPLE OF FLYERS ON BURGLARIES OF MOTOR VEHICLES AND PREVENTION OF BURGLARY HOMES. AND THEN, UH, ACCIDENTS, WEAPONS AND PERSONAL SAFETY. ONE OF THE PRIMARY OBJECTIVES FOR HUMAN RESOURCES RISK MANAGEMENT IS TO CONTINUOUSLY STRENGTHEN THE SAFETY CULTURE FROM WITHIN THE CITY OF HOUSTON. IT MAKES A HUGE DIFFERENCE, NOT JUST HERE IN THE WORKPLACE, BUT AT HOME. PEOPLE KNOW, YOU KNOW, THIS CHEMICAL'S NOT SAFE TO USE WITHOUT A MASK, OR, I NEED A RESPIRATOR, OR I NEED SAFETY GLASSES. SO TO PROTECT THEM. A LOT OF CITY OF HOUSTON EMPLOYEES DON'T KNOW THAT WE OFFER THESE SERVICES. AND SO EVENTS LIKE THIS GIVES THEM THE IMPETUS TO ASK QUESTIONS, GO IN YOUR TALENT MANAGEMENT SYSTEM, SIGN UP AND BE A PART OF GETTING YOU EDUCATED ON HOW TO BETTER POSITION YOURSELF AS AN EMPLOYEE FOR THE CITY. SO WE'RE DEFINITELY MAKING AN IMPACT. WE ARE DEFINITELY GETTING THE MESSAGE ACROSS FOR ZIP. I COULD TELL YOU THAT AS A PART OF THE MAYOR'S HOMELESS INITIATIVE, CITY OF HOUSTON DEPARTMENTS, THE COALITION FOR THE HOMELESS T DOT, THE HARRIS CENTER, AND OTHER PARTNERS RECENTLY DECOMMISSIONED A HOMELESS ENCAMPMENT LOCATED UNDER US 59 AT NANCE AND ROCKWELL STREETS, UNHOUSED PERSONS WERE OFFERED BEDS AND OTHER RESOURCES FOR FOOD AND HEALTH SERVICES. THIS IS AN ONGOING EFFORT TO SAVE LIVES. SEPTEMBER MARKS THE BEGINNING OF HISPANIC HERITAGE MONTH. MAYOR WHITMEYER AND THE MAYOR'S HISPANIC ADVISORY COUNCIL KICKED OFF THE CELEBRATION HERE AT CITY HALL. IT'S OUR PLEASURE TO WELCOME YOU HERE TODAY AS WE KICK OFF HISPANIC HERITAGE MONTH. HISPANIC HERITAGE MONTH IS AN NATIONAL ANNUAL CELEBRATION TO RECOGNIZE THE RICH CULTURAL HERITAGE AND SIGNIFICANT CONTRIBUTIONS OF THE HISPANIC COMMUNITY IN AMERICAN SOCIETY. THE MAYOR'S HISPANIC ADVISORY BOARD SERVES AS A LIAISON BETWEEN THE HISPANIC COMMUNITY AND MAYOR JOHN WHITMEYER AND ADVISES THE MAYOR ON ISSUES OF SIGNIFICANCE TO THE COMMUNITY HERE IN HOUSTON. ALMA'S MISSION IS CLEAR TO HELP THE NATION UNDERSTAND AMERICAN LATINOS TO SHOWCASE OUR SOUL THROUGH ARTS AND CULTURE AND THROUGH AND TO INSPIRE NEW GENERATIONS. WE ARE AIMING AT BECOMING THE NATIONAL SEAT OF US LATIN. LET'S DO THIS TOGETHER AND LIKE MY IDOL, DOLORES HUERTA SAYS ON THIS, THE INAUGURAL DAY OF HISPANIC HERITAGE MONTH 2025. THE CITY OF HOUSTON IS PROUD TO RECOGNIZE AND CELEBRATE ALMA AND ITS STAFF AND SUPPORTERS FOR THEIR CONTRIBUTIONS TO OUR CULTURAL PRESERVATION, INNOVATION ARTISTICALLY IN COMMUNITY EMPOWERMENT. THEREFORE, I, JOHN WHITMEYER, MAYOR OF THE CITY OF HOUSTON, HEREBY PROCLAIM SEPTEMBER 15TH ALMA DAY IN THE CITY OF HOUSTON, AND IT'S SIGNED BY MAYOR JOHN WHITMEYER. MEANWHILE, CITY CONTROLLER CHRIS HOLS HOSTED HIS SECOND ANNUAL HISPANIC HERITAGE MONTH CELEBRATION. THE EVENT SHOWCASED VIBRANT DANCERS, MARIACHI, MUSIC, AND GREAT FOOD. THE CELEBRATION WAS AIMED AT HONORING THE DIVERSE TAPESTRY THAT IS THE HISPANIC CULTURE HONOREE. ANGELICA RASO SUMS UP WHY THE CELEBRATION IS SO IMPORTANT. , IT'S SO AMAZING TO BE HERE IN THE ROOM WITH FRIENDS, WITH COLLEAGUES, WITH NEW FACES, AND IT'S TRULY AN HONOR TO GET TO CELEBRATE JUST ONE PIECE OF HISPANIC HERITAGE MONTH [00:10:01] WITH EVERYONE. YOU KNOW, I LOVE BEING ABLE TO REPRESENT MY CITY, TO REPRESENT MY STATE, NOT JUST HERE LOCALLY, BUT ALSO IN NATIONAL CONVERSATIONS BECAUSE HOUSTON IS ON THE FRONT LINES OF INCREASING ACCESS TO DEMOCRACY, TO PROTECTING IMMIGRANT FAMILIES, TO DOING ALL THE THINGS THAT WE KNOW ARE RIGHT TO MAKE OUR COMMUNITIES STRONGER. BECAUSE WHEN WE UPLIFT EACH OTHER, WHEN WE MAKE SURE EVERYBODY'S VOICES ARE HEARD, WE ARE CREATING NOT JUST THE COMMUNITIES WE NEED RIGHT NOW, BUT WE ARE CREATING THE COMMUNITIES THAT ARE GONNA BE STRONGER FOR GENERATIONS TO COME. SO THANK YOU FOR ALLOWING ME TO DO THIS WORK, AND THANK YOU FOR ALLOWING US TO CELEBRATE TOGETHER. AFTER THIS QUICK BREAK, REBECCA AND I WILL BE GOING TO A NEW PAVILION IN HAYDEN PARK. STAY TUNED. THE KENNEDY BAKERY BUILDING IS SAID TO BE ONE OF THE OLDEST HAUNTS IN HOUSTON. SHAKE UP YOUR EVERYDAY AND COME EXPLORE DOWNTOWN. FROM NEW ART INSTALLATIONS TO FAMILY FUN, SWEAT SESSIONS AND MOVIE NIGHTS, WE'RE KEEPING HOUSTON INSPIRED AND ENTERTAINED. JOIN US. WE ARE DOWNTOWN ST. ARNOLD TEXAS'S, OLDEST CRAFT BREWERY SHIPPED THEIR FIRST KEG OF BEER IN 1994. SAM HOUSTON PARK IS PICTURESQUE WITH WADDLING DUCKS AND NINE FROZEN IN TIME HISTORIC BUILDINGS. WELCOME BACK. SPRING BRANCH IS KNOWN AS THE HEART OF HOUSTON, AND THE REVITALIZATION OF HAYDEN PARK MAY BE A BIG REASON WHY. RECENTLY THE PARK UNVEILED A NEW KOREAN INSPIRED PAVILION. THE FINISHED PRODUCT IS ABSOLUTELY MAJESTIC. IT'S A TRADITIONAL KOREAN ORNAMENTAL STRUCTURE. AN OCTAGONAL PAVILION. ITS HOME IS HAYDEN PARK AND SPRING BRANCH, BUT EVERY OUNCE OF THIS IMPRESSIVE STRUCTURE WAS SHIPPED HERE FROM KOREA. THIS IS A TRADITIONAL STRUCTURE. IT'S MORE LIKE A PAGODA STYLE GABO. MARK SHIM IS THE SENIOR VICE PRESIDENT OF THE KOREAN AMERICAN ASSOCIATION OF HOUSTON. IT IS A PLACE WHERE BRING PEOPLE TOGETHER, AND THIS IS A, A A A COMPLETELY TRADITIONAL, UH, STYLE THAT FOLLOWS EVERY RULE. AND, AND THERE ARE ONLY FEW PEOPLE WHO ARE ABLE TO DO THIS. THIS WAS A MASSIVE PROJECT. THE ROOF ALONE WITHOUT THE TILE WEIGHS 10 TONS. AND ONCE IT WAS COMPLETED, THE STRUCTURE WEIGHED 50 TONS. KIM VOLUNTEERED HIS SERVICES ON THIS PROJECT, BUT ALL OF THE OTHER CRAFTSMEN WERE FLOWN IN FROM KOREA TO DO THE SPECIALIZED WORK ON THIS PAVILION FROM THE INTRICATE WOODWORKING TO THE METICULOUS PAINTING. AND ALL OF THIS WAS DONE IN AN EFFORT TO BUILD A SYMBOL OF LASTING FRIENDSHIP BETWEEN HOUSTON AND ITS SISTER CITY, UAN KOREA. THIS UAN OCTAGONAL PAVILION IS STANDS [00:15:01] HERE IN HAYDEN PARK FOR THE PEOPLE AROUND HERE, NEIGHBORS. AND, UH, THIS IS THE GIFT FROM SYRIA. WARSAN TO SYRIA OF HOUSTON AND KOREAN AMERICAN ASSOCIATION WILL MAINTAIN. BUT WHY PUT THIS PAVILION IN SPRING BRANCHES? HAYDEN PARK, SPRING BRANCH IS WHERE THE HIGHEST CONCENTRATION OF KOREAN AMERICAN BUSINESSES. ALSO, HAYDEN PARK IS ONE OF 25 NEIGHBORHOOD PARKS SELECTED BY MAYOR WHIT MYERS. LET'S PLAY INITIATIVE. IT'S A PARTNERSHIP WITH A GREAT CITY, GREAT COUNTRY, AND YOU KNOW WHAT THE BEST IS YET TO COME. THE KOREAN ART PAVILION IN HAYDEN PARK. IT'S JUST ONE MORE REASON WHY WE LIKE TO SAY HOUSTON PARKS AND REC, WHERE YOU BELONG. THIS LAST STORY COMES FROM OUR COLLABORATORS, SPECTRUM FUSION STUDIOS WORKING WITH THE DEPARTMENT OF NEIGHBORHOODS. HERE THEY ARE WITH HIGHLIGHTS FROM THIS YEAR'S NATIONAL DAY OF SERVICE AT HOUSTON MEMORIAL CEMETERY. IT'S NOT THAT I CRY OUT OF SADNESS, IT'S THAT I CRY OUT OF JOY. BUT HERE TODAY I WILL SHED TEARS OUT OF PRIDE. PRIDE FOR MY COUNTRY, PRIDE FOR THOSE I HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO WORK WITH, BUT ALSO PRIDE FOR THOSE THAT I HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO SERVE. THE IMPORTANCE OF, OF NINE 11 IN THEIR DAY OF SERVICE AND REMEMBRANCE IS IMPORTANT TO OUR NATION TO BE ABLE TO, YOU KNOW, REALLY PROVIDE AN OPPORTUNITY TO CONTINUE TO EDUCATE THE YOUTH AS TO THE CHANGES. AND, YOU KNOW, NINE 11 AND, AND WHAT HAPPENED AND THAT, YOU KNOW, FREEDOM IS JUST A, A MINUTE AWAY AND WE NEED TO CONTINUE TO HONOR THOSE WHO HAVE SERVED OUR COUNTRY. IT'S JUST THE PRIDE IN THAT I FEEL FOR MY COUNTRY AND AS AN AMERICAN, UH, TO GIVE BACK AND TO, TO CONTINUE TO HONOR THOSE WHO SACRIFICE THEIR LIVES AND FORTUNES FOR OUR FREEDOM. ALL I CAN DESCRIBE IT AS, IT JUST FEELS GOOD. IT FEELS RIGHT TO BE HERE TRYING TO CONTRIBUTE SOMETHING THAT'S A LITTLE BIT BIGGER THAN MYSELF. AND TO BE AROUND OTHER LIKE-MINDED PEOPLE TOO. IT'S AMAZING. IT'S REALLY FUN TO SEE EVERYBODY HERE THAT'S COME OUT TODAY. I JUST GOT A TEXT FROM MY NIECE THAT LIVES IN KATY AND THEIR FAMILY'S HERE SOMEWHERE TOO. SO IT'S FUN TO BE ALL TOGETHER DOING A GOOD CAUSE. BEING HERE JUST MAKES US HAPPY AND WE'RE PROUD TO BE HERE. TO ME, YOU KNOW, NINE 11 WAS A, A MOMENT THAT I STILL REMEMBER. I REMEMBER EXACTLY WHERE I WAS WHEN I HEARD ABOUT IT. OUR CONGREGATION REGULARLY COMES OUT TO HELP AND FOR ME IT'S, UH, YOU KNOW, I'VE HAD FAMILY THAT MY DAD AND OTHER FAMILY MEMBERS THAT HAVE SERVED IN THE ARMED SERVICES AND FOR ME, IT'S A CHANCE TO GIVE BACK. I ALSO LOOK AT THE, THE FREEDOMS THAT WE ENJOY AND THE SAFETY AND SECURITY THAT WE HAVE RELATIVE TO A LOT OF OTHER PLACES IN THE WORLD. AND I FEEL INTENSE GRATITUDE FOR THOSE WHO HAVE GIVEN THE ULTIMATE SACRIFICE. AND SO FOR ME IT'S A, IT'S IT'S SACRED GROUND TO BE HERE AT THE CE CEMETERY. IT'S A POSITIVE EXPERIENCE THAT I, THAT, YOU KNOW, I KEEP COMING BACK AGAIN FOR MORE, WHAT A SACRED OPPORTUNITY FOR US TO REMEMBER ALL THOSE THAT GAVE THEIR LIFE, BUT ALSO ALL THOSE THAT CONTINUE TO SERVE IN THEIR COMMUNITIES AND SERVE US AND BLESS OUR LIVES. AND SO IT'S JUST AN AWESOME OPPORTUNITY FOR ME TO BE HERE WITH MY FAMILY, EXPRESSING OUR FAITH AND OUR LOVE FOR OUR FELLOW MAN. IT FEELS REALLY GOOD BECAUSE ALL THESE PEOPLE HAVE DONE SERVICE FOR US AND IT'S A WAY THAT WE CAN GIVE BACK TO THEM FOR ALL THE SERVICE THAT THEY'VE DONE. IT'S DEFINITELY A SOLEMN EXPERIENCE, HOLLOWED GROUND HERE. SO MANY PEOPLE THAT HAVE GIVEN THEIR LIVES. AND YEAH, IT'S A VERY SMALL TOKEN THAT WE CAN GIVE UP SOME OF OUR TIME TO, TO GIVE BACK TO OUR COMMUNITY AND TO THESE FAMILIES THAT HAVE GIVEN SO MUCH FOR OUR FAMILIES. THANKS FOR WATCHING THIS EPISODE OF THE CITY PULSE FOR HTV HOUSTON TELEVISION, HOUSTON PARKS AND RECREATION SPECTRUM FUSION AND THE CITY OF HOUSTON. THIS IS REBECCA WILLIAMS. AND I'M TRAVIS LEMONS. REMEMBER, WE CAN ALWAYS DO BETTER AND KINDNESS IS FREE. WE NOW LEAVE YOU WITH SOME MORE HIGHLIGHTS FROM THIS YEAR'S HISPANIC HERITAGE MONTH CELEBRATION. * This transcript was created by voice-to-text technology. The transcript has not been edited for errors or omissions, it is for reference only and is not the official minutes of the meeting.