* 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. [PRESENTATIONS] [00:00:07] MY SENTIMENTS. UH, GOOD AFTERNOON. UH, WE ARE GOING TO MOVE INTO OUR PROCLAMATIONS. UH, THE FIRST PROCLAMATION WILL BE COUNCIL MEMBER MARTINEZ, RECOGNIZING THE UNIVERSITY OF HOUSTON'S HISPANIC ALUMNI NETWORK. THANK YOU MAYOR PRO. TIM, IF I CAN HAVE THE PRESIDENT MYRA CASTILLO COME UP AND WHOEVER YOU THINK SHOULD COME UP AS WELL. SO, UH, MY TO THE COLLEAGUES AS HISPANIC HERITAGE MONTH COMES SOON IN, I'M TRULY HONORED TO RECOGNIZE THE UNIVERSITY OF HOUSTON HISPANIC ALUMNI NETWORK. THIS IS A GROUP OF, UH, A GROUP FULL OF PASSIONATE, DEDICATED ALUMNI WHO POUR THEIR HEARTS INTO THE NEXT GENERATION OF COUGARS. UH, TO SUCCEED U OF H HISPANIC, UH, ALUMNI NETWORK HAS BECOME A TRUE PILLAR OF GENEROSITY AND COMMUNITY HOSTING EVENTS, BUILDING CONNECTIONS, AND RAISING VITAL FUNDS SO THAT THE FINANCIAL BARRIERS DON'T STAND IN THE WAY OF STUDENTS, UH, STUDENTS' DREAMS. WHAT'S MOST INSPIRING IS SEEING HOW MANY MEMBERS GENERALLY ENJOY GIVING THEIR TIME AND TALENT TO THIS CAUSE. EACH PERSON BRINGS SOMETHING SPECIAL TO THE TABLE, AND TOGETHER THEY MAKE IMPACTFUL, POWERFUL, IMPACTFUL, UM, UH, SUPPORTIVE, UH, UM, EXCUSE ME, LOST MY TRAIN OF THOUGHT. IT'S OKAY. VERY POWERFUL AND IMPACTFUL, UH, MOMENTS IN, IN YOUNG COUGAR'S LIVES, HELPING MORE STUDENTS WALK THE STAGE AT GRADUATION AND REMINDING US ALL WHAT WE CAN ACHIEVE WHEN WE LIFT EACH OTHER UP. SO I'M GONNA READ THE PROCLAMATION NOW. WHEREAS THE UNIVERSITY OF HOUSTON HISPANIC ALUMNI NETWORK IS A DISTINGUISHED SOCIAL AND PHILANTHROPIC ORGANIZATION COMPRISED OF COMMITTED, UH, ALUMNI WHO GENEROUSLY VOLUNTEER THEIR TIME, ENERGY, AND RESOURCES TO HOST IMPACTFUL EVENTS FOSTERING COMMUNITY AND RAISE FUNDS TO SUPPORT STUDENT SCHOLARSHIPS. WHEREAS U OF H HISPANIC ALUMNI NETWORK HAS CONTINU CONTINUALLY DEMONSTRATED ITS DEDICATION TO HIGHER EDUCATION BY BRINGING TOGETHER ALUMNI AND SUPPORTERS TO INVEST IN STUDENTS ACROSS SUCCESS, ENSURING ENSURING FINANCIAL BARRIERS DO NOT HINDER THE ACADEMIC ASPIRATIONS OF DESERVING STUDENTS. AND WHEREAS ON JUNE 21ST, 2025, THE UU OF H HISPANIC ALUMNI NETWORK HOSTED ITS ANNUAL SCHOLARSHIP BANQUET FOR THE 20 24, 20 25 ACADEMIC YEAR AWARDING $20,000 IN SCHOLARSHIPS AND CELEBRATING THE GROWTH OF ITS ENDOWMENT BEYOND $50,000 A TESTAMENT TO THEIR LONG-TERM VISION AND DEDICATION. AND WHEREAS WITH THIS YEAR'S CONTRIBUTION, THE U OF H HISPANIC ALUMNI NETWORK HAS SURPASSED 105,000 IN TOTAL SCHOLARSHIPS, AWARDED, MAKING A SIGNIFICANT ACHIEVEMENT THAT REFLECTS THE STRENGTH AND COMMUNITY, THE POWER OF GIVING AND SHARED COMMITMENT TO UPLIFTING THE NEXT GENERATION. AND WHEREAS THE BOARD MEMBERS OF THE U OF H HISPANIC ALUMNI NETWORK CONTINUE TO INSPIRE THROUGH THEIR UNWAVERING SERVICE USING THEIR TALENT, TIME, TALENT AND HARD TO CREATE LIFE-CHANGING OPPORTUNITIES AND EXPAND THE ACCESS TO THE EDUCATION OF U OF H STUDENTS. SECOND, THEREFORE, I, MARTHA CASTEX TATUM MAYOR PRO TEM OF THE CITY OF HOUSTON, ON BEHALF OF JOHN WHITMEYER, MAYOR OF THE CITY OF HOUSTON, HEREBY PROCLAIM OCTOBER 14TH, 2025 AS, UH, HISPANIC ALUMNI NETWORK DAY IN HOUSTON, TEXAS. CONGRATULATIONS. WHO'S HOUSE BOO HOUSE? THEY DIDN'T HEAR ME. I KNOW. BOO HOUSE. COS HOUSE WAFER COME BACK. , GO AHEAD. ON BEHALF OF THE UNIVERSITY OF HOUSTON HISPANIC ALUMNI NETWORK, I WANTED TO EXPRESS OUR DEEPEST GRATITUDE TO MAYOR WHITMEYER THE COUNCIL, THE CITY OF HOUSTON, AND COUNCILMAN MARTINEZ FOR THIS INCREDIBLE HONOR, UH, FOR US TO BE RECOGNIZED WITH A PROCLAMATION FOR OUR CITY, A CITY THAT IS BUILT ON DIVERSITY, CULTURE, AND OPPORTUNITY. THIS IS A VERY TRULY SPECIAL MOMENT FOR OUR ORGANIZATION. UM, THIS MEANS SO MUCH TO US BECAUSE OUR ORGANIZATION WAS REVIVED JUST A LITTLE UNDER 10 YEARS AGO, BUT WITH BY A SMALL BUT PASSIONATE GROUP OF ALUMNI WHO BELIEVED IN REBUILDING A COMMUNITY THAT ELLIPSE CONNECTS AND CELEBRATES HISPANIC COUGARS. IN THAT DECADE, WE'VE GROWN INTO ONE OF THE UNIVERSITY'S MOST VIBRANT ALUMNI NETWORKS, RAISING THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS IN SCHOLARSHIPS, CREATING MENTORSHIP OPPORTUNITIES FOR OUR FIRST GEN STUDENTS, AND BUILDING BRIDGES BETWEEN ALUMNI AND THE NEXT GENERATION OF LEADERS. AS WE CELEBRATE HISPANIC HERITAGE MONTH, THIS PROCLAMATION REMINDS US OF THE VITAL ROLE IN OUR COMMUNITY PLAYS NOT JUST AT, UH, A PROUD HISPANIC SERVING INSTITUTION, BUT THROUGHOUT HOUSTON, OUR CULTURE, OUR RESILIENCE, AND OUR COMMITMENT TO EDUCATION, OUR WOVEN INTO THE FABRIC OF THIS CITY TO OUR MEMBERS. THIS RECOGNITION, THIS RECOGNITION IS A REFLECTION OF YOUR DEDICATION, THE LONG NIGHTS PLANNING EVENTS, MENTORING STUDENTS, AND FINDING WAYS TO GIVE BACK AND TO THE CITY OF HOUSTON. THANK YOU FOR SEEING [00:05:01] THIS VALUE IN WHAT WE DO. WE ARE PROUD TO STAND ALONGSIDE SO MANY OTHERS WHO MAKE HOUSTON ONE OF ITS MOST VIBRANT AND INCLUSIVE CITIES IN THE NATION. GO KS AND THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THIS HONOR. YEAH, THE CHAIR RECOGNIZES COUNCIL MEMBER CASTILLO FOR A PROCLAMATION TO GINGER BERTRAND IN CELEBRATION OF HER RETIREMENT FROM THE GREATER NORTHSIDE MANAGEMENT DISTRICT. THERE WE GO. GOOD AFTERNOON, COLLEAGUES. UH, I'M EXCITED TODAY TO RECOGNIZE A VITAL MEMBER OF THE GREATER NORTHSIDE MANAGEMENT DISTRICT, UH, AND CONGRATULATE HER ON HER RETIREMENT. THE MANAGEMENT DISTRICT'S, UH, BEEN A KEY PARTNER FOR DISTRICT H UH, FOR MANY YEARS, BUT IT'S THE PEOPLE BEHIND THE MANAGEMENT DISTRICT THAT MAKE ALL THE WORK HAPPEN. AND TODAY, UM, WE'RE CELEBRATING GINGER BERTRAND AS SHE, UH, EMBARKS ON A RETIREMENT AFTER 15 YEARS OF SERVICE AND, UH, NOT TO JUST THE MANAGEMENT DISTRICT, BUT ALSO TO A NUMBER OF OTHER CHARITABLE ORGANIZATIONS THAT WE'RE GONNA RECOGNIZE. SO WHERE THE CITY OF HOUSTON RECOGNIZES GINGER BERTRAND ON THE OCCASION OF HER RETIREMENT AND HONORS HER CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE GREATER NORTHSIDE MANAGEMENT DISTRICT AND THE HOUSTON COMMUNITY. WHEREAS FOR THE PAST 15 YEARS, GINGER HAS SERVED AS A VITAL MEMBER OF THE GREATER NORTHSIDE MANAGEMENT DISTRICT LEADING MARKETING AND COMMUNICATION EFFORTS THAT HAVE STRENGTHENED LOCAL BUSINESSES, ELEVATED COMMUNITY PRIDE, AND INCREASED ECONOMIC ACTIVITY THROUGHOUT THE DISTRICT. WHEREAS GINGER IS THE FOUNDER OF BERTRAND COMMUNICATIONS AND HAS ALSO WORKED AT EXXON, A GRADUATE OF THE UNIVERSITY OF LOUISIANA MONROE, WITH A DEGREE IN JOURNALISM. SHE COMBINES HER EXPERTISE IN TECHNICAL AND NON-PROFIT WRITING WITH EDITING AND STRATEGIC COMMUNICATIONS. AND WHEREAS GINGER HAS SERVED IN LEADERSHIP ROLES IN NUMEROUS NONPROFIT AND CIVIC ORGANIZATIONS, INCLUDING MOTHERS AGAINST CANCER, THE NATIONAL CHARITY LEAGUE, AND THE INTERNATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF BUSINESS COMMUNICATORS AS A DEAF INDIVIDUAL, SHE HAS ALSO CONTRIBUTED HER TIME AND EXPERIENCE TO THE HOUSTON EAR RESEARCH FOUNDATION, WHICH HELPED WITH HER COCHLEAR IMPLANT SURGERIES AND TO CAMP FOR ALL WHERE SHE CO-CHAIRED THE 2022 GALA, RAISING OVER 1.1 MILLION TO HELP BRING CHILDREN AND ADULTS WITH CHALLENGING ILLNESSES AND SPECIAL NEEDS TO A BARRIER FREE CAMP. WHEREAS GINGER HAS BEEN HONORED FOR HER SERVICE TO THE COMMUNITY, INCLUDING BEING NAMED A FAMILY TIME CRISIS AND COUNSELING CENTER, WOMEN OF DISTINCTION, AND IABC, HOUSTON VOLUNTEER OF THE YEAR, AND A EASTERSEALS GREATER HOUSTON HATS OFF TO MOTHER'S LUNCHEON HONOREE. WHEREAS AS SHE RETIRES FROM THE GREATER NORTHSIDE MANAGEMENT DISTRICT, GINGER BERTRAND BEQUEATHS, A LEGACY OF LEADERSHIP, GENEROSITY, AND ADVOCACY THAT WILL CONTINUE TO INSPIRE THE GREATER NORTHSIDE COMMUNITY AND BEYOND. EXCUSE ME, THEREFORE, I, MARTHA CASTEX TATUM, MAYOR OF THE MAYOR PRO TEM OF THE CITY OF HOUSTON, ON BEHALF OF JOHN WHITMEYER, MAYOR OF THE CITY OF HOUSTON, HEREBY PROCLAIM OCTOBER 14TH, 2025 AS GINGER BERTRAN DAY IN HOUSTON, TEXAS. CONGRATULATIONS. THANK YOU. [00:10:02] THANK YOU SO MUCH. COUNCIL MEMBER CASTILLO AND THANK YOU INTO MY FRIENDA CARTER. AND, UM, I AM JUST SO HONORED TO RECEIVE THIS FROM YOU. I HAVE BEEN AS HOUSTON AREA RESIDENT FOR 50 YEARS AND I HAVE HAD MY COCHLEAR IMPLANTS HERE IN HOUSTON. I HAVE BENEFITED FROM SHOPPING AT THE GALLERIA ON MANY OCCASIONS. , I LOVE HOUSTON AND I'VE WATCHED IT GROW AND DEVELOP AND I LOVE THE GREATER NORTH SIDE. IT'S THE BEST TEAM I'VE EVER WORKED WITH, SO I THANK ALL OF YOU FOR RECOGNIZING ME. I AM JUST OVERWHELMED AND HONORED. THANK YOU. WE HAVE A FEW COUNCIL MEMBERS IN THE QUEUE, COUNCIL MEMBER CAYMAN MAMA BERTRAND, I JUST HAVE TO SAY THANK YOU FOR EVERYTHING. UM, AND YOU HAVE SOME VERY, VERY SPECIAL GUESTS WITH YOU TODAY. UH, DID YOU WANNA INTRODUCE THEM? I DO. I HAVE MY TWO DAUGHTERS WITH ME, AMY BERTRAN, WHO USED TO WORK HERE AT CITY HALL AND ALSO REBECCA ALER. SO AMY IS MY OLDEST DAUGHTER, REBECCA'S MY BABY, THEY'RE 16 MONTHS APART, SO I OFTEN WAS CARING BOTH OF THEM AT THE SAME TIME, BUT I'M SO GLAD THAT THEY CAN BE HERE. THANK YOU. I AM TOO. UM, AND YOU DID A HELL OF A JOB WITH THEM BECAUSE THEY ARE EXTRAORDINARY WOMEN IN THEIR OWN RIGHT. WE LOVE WORKING WITH THEM, BUT IT'S REALLY, I KNOW ABOUT FAMILY AND, UH, YOUR FAMILY IS VERY SPECIAL, SO IT'S GREAT TO BE HERE. COUNCIL MEMBER, THANK YOU FOR THE PROCLAMATION. THANK YOU. COUNCIL MEMBER CARTER, WHAT AN EXCITING DAY. COUNCIL MEMBER CASTILLO, THANK YOU FOR RECOGNIZING MY GOOD FRIEND. AND I'M GONNA TELL YOU THERE ARE FEW PEOPLE THAT I'M TALLER THAN, BUT GINGER'S ONE OF THEM. ALL THAT TO SAY THAT RIGHT THERE, EVEN THOUGH YOU LISTED ALL OF WHAT SOME OF THE THINGS SHE'S DONE, SHE IS SMALL BUT MIGHTY AND I WILL TELL YOU, SHE GETS THINGS DONE AND HAS AN AMAZING REPUTATION IN MY COMMUNITY FOR BEING THE GO-TO. IF YOU WANT SOMETHING DONE, YOU GET GINGER BREWER TREND ON IT, AND SHE'S A PRETTY GOOD TRAVEL BUDDY TOO. WE'VE TRAVELED ACROSS THE COUNTRY AND BACK ON A FEW OCCASIONS, SO LOVE YOU SO MUCH AND SO HAPPY THAT YOU'RE HERE AND CONGRATULATIONS ON YOUR DAY. THANK YOU, COUNCIL MEMBER INGER, CONGRATULATIONS AND YOU MUST HAVE PASSED IT DOWN TO THE NEXT GENERATION. I WORKED WITH AMY QUITE A BIT AND THRILLED TO WORK WITH HER AND NICE JOB. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. OKAY, THE CHAIR RECOGNIZES COUNCIL MEMBER JACKSON FOR A PROCLAMATION TO JAMES JB THIBODAUX FOR HIS CONTRIBUTIONS IN REVITALIZING COMMUNITIES THROUGH CREATIVE HOUSING SOLUTIONS, SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT, AND CULTURALLY ROOTED DESIGN. IT IS TRULY AN HONOR TO PRESENT THIS PROCLAMATION TODAY TO SOMEONE I'VE HAD THE PLEASURE OF WORKING WITH OVER THE YEARS. UM, WHEN, WHEN JAMES THIBODAUX WORKED AT SUPER NEIGHBORHOOD, HE WAS A VOLUNTEER, I KNEW I ALREADY SAW HIS COMMITMENT IN MAKING SURE THAT OUR COMMUNITIES HAD EXACTLY WHAT THEIR NEED AND, AND MAKING SURE [00:15:01] THAT OUR COMMUNITIES WERE STRONGER. AND SO IT COMES TO NO SURPRISE, ALL THE GREAT WORK THAT YOU'VE BEEN DOING, FOCUSING ON ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, AFFORDABLE HOUSING, AND JUST MAKING SURE THAT RESIDENTS AND DISTRICT B HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO THRIVE. SO I'M HONORED, UM, TO BE ABLE TO PRESENT THIS PROCLAMATION TO YOU TODAY. AND IT READS, WHEREAS THE CITY OF HOUSTON RECOGNIZES JAMES THIBO, JAMES JB THIBODAUX, A HOUSTON NATIVE REAL ESTATE DEVELOPER AND COMMUNITY LEADER, BORN AND RAISED IN THE HISTORIC ACRES HOMES NEIGHBORHOOD. AND WHEREAS THROUGHOUT HIS COMPANY, JB THIBODAUX HOMES AND PROPERTIES, JP HAS BECOME A FORCE FOR TRANSFORMATIVE CHANGE, REVITALIZING COMMUNITIES THROUGH CREATE CREATIVE HOUSING AND SOLUTIONS, SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT, AND CULTURALLY ROOTED DESIGN. TO DATE, HIS DEVELOPMENTS HAVE EXCEEDED A HUNDRED MILLION IN SUSTAINABLE HOUSING, EARNING HIM THE TITLE, THE DUPLEX KING FOR HIS INNOVATIVE POCKET, UM, POCKET DEVELOPMENT MODEL. AND WHEREAS JB WORKS EXTENDS BEYOND CONSTRUCTION INTO EMPOWERMENT, HIS COMMUNITY FIRST APPROACH NOT ONLY ADDRESSES THE NEED FOR AFFORDABLE HOUSING, BUT ALSO STRENGTHENS NEIGHBORHOODS AND CREATES PATHWAYS FOR GENERATIONAL WEALTH FOR HOUSTONIANS. AND WHEREAS HIS MOST RECENT INITIATIVE, THE DUPLEX FLEX GIVEAWAY, A GROUNDBREAKING COLLABORATIVE WITH PRO PROSPERITY BANK AND THE NAACP PROVIDES AN INSPIRING INVESTOR WITH A BRAND NEW INCOME PRODUCING PROPERTY AND A SIX WEEK FINANCIAL LITERACY AND WEALTH BUILDING COHORT AT NO COST, ENSURING LONG TERM SUCCESS THROUGH EDUCATION AND OPPORTUNITY. AND WHEREAS JAMES JB THIBODAUX EXEMPLIFIES SERVICE, INNOVATION AND VISIONS IN ACTION, INSPIRING A NEW GENERATION OF ENTREPRENEURS, DEVELOPERS, AND COMMUNITY ADVOCATES THROUGHOUT THE CITY OF HOUSTON, MAYOR PRO TEM, THEREFORE, I, MARTHA CASTEX TATU MAYOR PRO TEM OF THE CITY OF HOUSTON, ON BEHALF OF JOHN WHITMEYER, MAYOR OF THE CITY OF HOUSTON, HEREBY PROCLAIM OCTOBER 14TH, 2025 AS THE JAMES JB THIBODAUX DAY IN HOUSTON, TEXAS. HOUSTON, CONGRATULATIONS. WELL, FIRST OFF, UH, COUNCILWOMAN JACKSON, I HAVE A GIFT FOR YOU AND THANK YOU FOR ALL YOUR WORK AND YOUR SUPPORT OVER THESE YEARS, YOUR DEDICATION ON THE GROUND AND HERE IN THE HORSESHOE. I AM APPRECIATIVE TO SAY THAT I KNOW YOU AS A FRIEND MM-HMM. AND JUST AS A GREAT COUNCILWOMAN. SO THANK YOU FOR OUR COMMUNITY AND MYSELF. UH, I LIKE TO TAKE THIS TIME TO MOST IMPORTANTLY, SHARE THIS DAY WITH MY TEAM AND ESPECIALLY MY MOM WHOSE BIRTHDAY IS TODAY. HAPPY BIRTHDAY. INGRID THIBO. YES. I HAVE MY FATHER AND MY SISTER AND MY WIFE, UH, AND OUR PARTICIPANTS AND ALL OF MY TEAM. I JUST WANTED TO INVITE Y'ALL UP HERE AND JUST SAY THANK YOU. Y'ALL GIVE 'EM A HAND. Y'ALL MAY WORK REALLY, REALLY HARD. CONGRATULATIONS CONGRAT, ALL OF YOU GUYS. CONGRATULATIONS MR. BEARD. GONNA TAKE, WHERE'S MAMA? THE PROCLAMATION. WHERE'S SHE WORKING? MS. [2:00 P.M. – INVOCATION AND PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE] [00:20:02] THIS COUNCIL MEMBER THOMAS FOR THE INVOCATION. THANK YOU MAYOR PROTE. UM, COLLEAGUES AND THOSE WHO ARE JOINING US IN CHAMBERS, I WANT TO INTRODUCE TO YOU, UH, PASTOR RICKY BRADSHAW, UH, WHO WILL SHARE THE INVOCATION ON BEHALF, UM, OF THE CITY. PLEASE WELCOME HIM AS HE APPROACHES THE CHAMBER. HE AND I HAD THE PLEASURE OF, UH, ACQUAINTING, UM, DURING MY SERVICE AS AN A EAF ISD TRUSTEE MEMBER WHERE HE SERVED AS A BOARD MEMBER OF THE A EAF YMCA, UM, AND CONTINUES TO LEAD THROUGHOUT THE CITY AND THE REGION. HAPPY TO HAVE YOU WITH US TODAY. THANK YOU. COUNCILWOMAN TIF. TIFFANY THOMAS, TURN ON YOUR MICROPHONE. OH, SORRY. THANK YOU. I SHOULDN'T HAVE A PROBLEM WITH MICROPHONES. RIGHT? VERY GOOD. IT'S A BLESSING TO BE HERE AMONGST YOU, OUR LEADERS IN OUR CITY. AND I KNOW THAT GOD HAS A WORD FOR YOU TODAY THAT I WOULD LIKE TO SHARE WITH YOU, IF YOU DON'T MIND. IT IS LOCATED IN ONE TIMOTHY CHAPTER TWO, AND YOU PROBABLY HAVE HEARD THIS BEFORE, BUT IT WOULD BE GOOD TODAY TO BE REMINDED WHY WE SHOULD PRAY THE LETTER OF PAUL TO TIMOTHY IN ONE TIMOTHY CHAPTER TWO. HE SAYS, THEREFORE, TIMOTHY, I EXHORT FIRST OF ALL, THAT SUPPLICATIONS PRAYERS AND INTERCESSIONS AND GIVING OF THANKS BE MADE FOR ALL MEN AND WOMEN TOO, FOR KINGS AND ALL WHO ARE IN AUTHORITY, THAT WE IN THE CITY OF HOUSTON MAY LEAD A QUIET AND PEACEABLE LIFE IN ALL GODLINESS AND REVERENCE, FOR THIS IS GOOD AND ACCEPTABLE IN THE SIGHT OF GOD, OUR SAVIOR, WHO DESIRES ALL MEN TO BE SAVED AND COME TO THE KNOWLEDGE OF THE TRUTH FOR THERE'S ONLY ONE GOD BETWEEN MAN AND GOD AND MEDIATOR THE MAN CHRIST JESUS, WHO GAVE HIMSELF A RANSOM FOR ALL EVERYBODY TO BE TESTIFIED IN DUE TIME FOR WHICH I WAS APPOINTED A PREACHER AND AN APOSTLE. AND I AIN'T LYING. I'M TELLING THE TRUTH IN CHRIST. LET US PRAY. LORD JESUS, WE THANK YOU FOR THIS GLORIOUS DAY. YOU, THE CREATOR OF THE UNIVERSE WHO SAID TO PRAY FOR ALL MEN, AND ESPECIALLY THOSE WHO LEAD IN OUR CITY AND OUR NATION IN AUTHORITY, PRAY FOR THEM THAT THEY WOULD BE BLESSED AND PROTECTED AND PROSPEROUS IN THEIR ROLE, AND THAT THEY WOULD SUBMIT TO THE AUTHORITY AND THE WAYS OF GOD AND YOUR HOLY WORD, THAT THEY WILL COME TO THE KNOWLEDGE OF THE TRUTH, THAT THERE'S ONLY ONE MEDIATOR BETWEEN MAN AND GOD. AND THEY WOULD LEAD, ACCORDING TO YOUR WORD, WOULD HONOR, RESPECT, WISDOM, COMPASSION, AND GODLINESS. AND THEY WOULD USE GOOD JUDGMENT AND PURSUE JUSTICE AND LOVE MERCY, AND WALK ULY BEFORE YOU AND ALL OF THOSE WHO ARE IN AUTHORITY WITH THEM, AND THAT THEY WILL WALK IN INTEGRITY AND KEEP THEIR PROMISES AND FULFILL THEIR COMMITMENTS, AND THAT THEY WOULD NOT GET DISTRACTED OR COWER INTO PASSIVITY, BUT EMBRACE RESPONSIBILITY THAT THEY WOULD WATCH OVERPROTECT AND LEAD AND SERVE THOSE IN THEIR CARE. WE PRAY THAT THEY WOULD RESPECT ALL PEOPLE WITHOUT REGARD TO THEIR GENDER, RACE, THEIR RELIGION, OR THEIR SOCIAL STATUS. AND WE ALSO ASK THAT THEY WOULD HATE EVIL, PRIDE, AND INJUSTICE AND TURN AWAY FROM SATAN'S LIES AND SCHEMES. WE ALSO ASK THAT YOU WOULD HELP THEM TO ESTABLISH RULES AND LAWS THAT HONOR YOU AND STRENGTHEN FAMILIES AND CITIES. WE PRAY THAT YOU'LL REWARD THOSE WHO DO NOT DO WRONG, BUT DO RIGHT AND PUNISH THOSE WHO DO DO WRONG ACCORDING TO YOUR WORD IN ROMANS 13, ONE THROUGH FIVE. WE PRAY ALSO, LORD, ACCORDING TO YOUR WORD, THAT THEY WOULD REFUSE TO TAKE A BRIBE OR ALLOW FAVORITISM IN THEIR JUDGMENTS. WE PRAY ACCORDING TO YOUR WORD, THAT THEY WILL BECOME HARD WORKERS WHO FAITHFULLY FULFILL THEIR DUTIES. AND WE ALSO ASK YOU, FATHER, THAT THEY WILL MAKE CHOICES BASED UPON THE FEAR OF GOD AND NOT THE FEAR OF MAN. AND THEY WILL BE GOOD AND GODLY EXAMPLES IN THEIR ROLES AND RESPONSIBILITIES FOR OUR FAMILIES AND OUR CHILDREN. WE THANK YOU, GOD, THAT WE CAN LEAD A QUI, A QUIET AND TRANQUIL LIFE IN ALL GODLINESS BECAUSE OF THESE KINDS OF LEADERS. HELP THEM TO DO SO. AND THANK YOU FOR THIS CITY COUNCIL [00:25:01] AND THE MAYOR AND ALL WHO ARE IN AUTHORITY IN OUR CITY. YOUR BLESSINGS BE UPON HOUSTON, TEXAS TODAY. WE PRAY IN JESUS' NAME. AMEN. AMEN. THANK YOU SO MUCH. PLEASE STAND FOR THE PLEDGE TO THE FLAG OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA AND TO THE REPUBLIC FOR WHICH IT STANDS, ONE NATION UNDER GOD, INDIVISIBLE, WITH LIBERTY AND JUSTICE FOR ALL [ROLL CALL AND ADOPT THE MINUTES OF THE PREVIOUS MEETING] NEXT COUNCIL MEMBERS WILL MOVE TO THE ROLL CALL. MR. SECRETARY, IF YOU'LL PLEASE CALL THE ROLL, MAYOR WHITMEYER. COUNCIL MEMBER PECK HERE. COUNCIL MEMBER JACKSON HERE. COUNCIL MEMBER KAMAN PRESENT, COUNCIL MEMBER EVAN SHABAZZ. COUNCIL MEMBER FLICKINGER HERE. COUNCIL MEMBER THOMAS PRESENT, COUNCIL MEMBER HUFFMAN PRESENT. COUNCIL MEMBER CASTILLO. COUNCIL MEMBER MARTINEZ. HERE. COUNCIL MEMBER POLLARD. HERE. COUNCIL MEMBER CASTEX TATUM. HERE. COUNCIL MEMBER RAMIREZ. HERE. COUNCIL MEMBER DAVIS. HERE. COUNCIL MEMBER CARTER PRESENT. COUNCIL MEMBER PLUMMER AND COUNCIL MEMBER ALCORN HERE NEED A MOTION TO DELAY THE ADOPTION OF MINUTES. PEC MOVE CAME IN SECOND. IT'S BEEN MOVED. AND SECOND. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR? ANY OPPOSED? THE MOTION CARRIES. YOU GOOD? [PUBLIC SPEAKERS] OKAY. ANY PROCEDURAL MOTIONS? COUNCIL MEMBER MARTINEZ. COUNCIL MEMBER MARTINEZ. WE'LL START WITH YOU. THANK YOU MAYOR PRO TAM. I MOVE TO SUSPEND THE RULES TO ADD OSA AND CHRIS WHITE TO THE BOTTOM OF THE TWO MINUTE NON AGENDA. THIS IS THERE A SECOND. SECOND. IT'S BEEN MOVED IN SECOND. ALL IN FAVOR? ANY OPPOSED? THE MOTION CARRIES. COUNCIL MEMBER DAVIS. OH NO, THAT'S POINT OF PURPOSE REPORT. OH, SORRY. COUNCIL MEMBER DAVIS. COUNCIL MEMBER KAMAN. THANK YOU. I I WITHDRAW MY MOTION AS CESAR ESPINOZA WAS JUST ADDED, BUT IT IS VERY COOL THAT WE ARE USING THE NEW SYSTEM. JUST FOR THE RECORD. COUNCIL MEMBER RAMIREZ, DO YOU HAVE A PROCEDURAL MOTION? I DO. MAYOR PROTE. THANK YOU. UH, MOVE TO SPIN THE RULES TO MOVE AMY OR ADD, EXCUSE ME, AMY DEBY AND ROBERT GALLEGOS TO THE BOTTOM OF THE THREE MINUTE AGENDA LIST. THREE MINUTES OR ONE MINUTE? THREE. MINUTE THREE. IS THERE A SECOND? IT'S BEEN MOVED IN SECOND. ALL IN FAVOR? ANY OPPOSED? MOTION CARRIES ANY OTHER PROCEDURAL MOTIONS? WE DO HAVE A POINT OF MOTION FROM DAVIS. WE DO HAVE A POINT OF PERSONAL PRIVILEGE FROM COUNCIL MEMBER DAVIS. THANK YOU MAYOR PROTI AND COLLEAGUES. IT'S OCTOBER AND THE COMBINED MUNICIPAL CAMPAIGN. THE CITY'S WORKPLACE GIVING PROGRAM IS IN FULL SWING AND TRADITIONALLY CITY DEPARTMENTS HOST A NUMBER OF FUNDRAISERS DURING THIS MONTH TO RAISE MONEY FOR THE CHARITY OF THEIR CHOICE. AND I'M HONORED THIS YEAR TO HAVE BEEN ASKED TO SERVE AS CHAIR OF THIS YEAR'S CITY COUNCIL COMBINED MUNICIPAL CAMPAIGN. THE NONPROFIT ORGANIZATION THAT I HAVE CHOSEN TO RECEIVE THE CITY COUNCIL CMC FUNDS WE RAISE IS NO AUTISM. UM, NO AUTISM WAS CREATED WITH THE GOALS OF PROVIDING, UH, INFORMATION ABOUT AUTISM, ON OFFERING A ROADMAP FOR DIAGNOSIS AND INTERVENTION, RAISING AWARENESS IN OUR COMMUNITY AND WORKING WITH SCHOOLS AND OTHER ORGANIZATIONS TO DEVELOP PROGRAMS THAT MEET THE EVOLVING NEEDS OF CHILDREN AND FAMILIES AFFECTED BY AUTISM. AND MY, UH, 10-YEAR-OLD, UH, GRANDSON, UH, IS AUTISTIC. AND SO, UH, I'VE WORKED MUCH WITH AUTISM AND ORGANIZATIONS AND THAT EFFORT, AND SO I CHOSE THAT ONE TO, UM, TO THANK THOSE WHO ARE VOLUNTEERING TO DO THIS, BUT THAT'S THE ONE I CHOSE. AND ALL OF THOSE, I WANT TO THANK THOSE WHO VOLUNTEERING TO THOSE WHO SUPPORT OUR FUNDRAISERS AND ESPECIALLY CORINA VALLA SQUARES OF THE ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICE OF CITY COUNCIL, WHO IS REALLY A SUPERSTAR IN ORGANIZING THE CITY COUNCIL FUNDRAISERS. WITH THAT IN MIND, CARINA WOULD LIKE TO ANNOUNCE THAT OUR NEXT FUNDRAISER, MEXICAN CORN, IN A CUP DAY, UH, WILL BE TOMORROW, WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 15TH AT 1215 AT THE GROUND LEVEL OF THE CITY HALL. AND PLEASE COME OUT AND ENJOY. AND MANY THANKS TO ELITIST BRAVOS, WHICH IS [00:30:01] GENEROUSLY DONATED THE DELICIOUS FOOD. AND KEEP AN EYE OUT FOR FUTURE EVENTS, UH, THROUGH THE END OF THE MONTH. THANK YOU ALL SO MUCH. WE DO HAVE ONE 50 COUNCIL MEMBER DAVIS, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR HIGHLIGHTING, UH, THE CMC PROGRAM. WE ALL, UM, ARE PARTICIPATING AND WE'LL CONTINUE TO PARTICIPATE TO MAKE SURE WE CAN DONATE TO A VERY WORTHY ORGANIZATION, UH, ESPECIALLY IN SUPPORT OF YOUR, YOUR DEAR GRANDSON. ABSOLUTELY. THANK YOU SO MUCH, MAYOR PRO TIM COUNCIL AND, UH, MEMBERS IN THE CHAMBERS. WE DO HAVE A VERY LONG LIST OF SPEAKERS SIGNED UP TODAY BECAUSE WE DO HAVE MORE THAN 150 MINUTES WORTH OF SPEAKERS. OUR RULES REQUIRE US TO ONLY GIVE EACH OF YOU ONE MINUTE TO SPEAK. EVEN IF YOU'VE SIGNED UP FOR THREE MINUTES OR YOU HAVE BEEN SCHEDULED FOR TWO MINUTES, UH, YOU WILL BE, UM, ALLOWED TO SPEAK FOR ONE MINUTE AND, UH, WE WILL, UM, TRY TO ADDRESS YOUR CONCERNS IN A, IN A TIMELY MANNER. UH, MR. SECRETARY, IF YOU WILL, PLEASE CALL OUR FIRST SPEAKER, TINA BRADY. TINA BRADY TO BE FOLLOWED BY KAREN LANCASTER. HI. HELLO, MS. BRADY. EITHER ONE. THIS ONE. EITHER ONE. OKAY. HELLO ALL. HELLO, MR. MARTINEZ, COUNCIL MEMBER MARTINEZ. UM, MY NAME IS, UM, TINA BRADY. I'M A FELLOW HOUSTONIAN AND I LIVE IN EASTWOOD. UM, I'M HERE TODAY TO BE SURE THAT YOU KNOW THAT I'M OPPOSED TO THE ABANDONMENT OF POLK STREET. HOUSTON FIRST CORPORATION CONDUCTED ZERO PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT DURING THE DESIGN PHASE. WHEN INPUT COULD HAVE MEANINGFULLY SHAPED THE PROJECT, THEY REVEALED THEIR PLANS ONLY WHEN SEEKING APPROVAL, PRESENTING THE COMMUNITY WITH A DONE DEAL. AND THAT'S NOT ENGAGEMENT, IT'S NOTIFICATION. REAL PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT HAPPENS EARLY WHEN ALTERNATIVES CAN BE EXPLORED AND DESIGNS MODIFIED. HOUSTON FIRST HAS SINCE REFUSED MEANINGFUL INPUT, DECLINED TO DISCUSS ALTERNATIVES, AND WON'T COMMIT TO INVESTING IN INFRASTRUCTURE OF IMPACTED NEIGHBORHOODS. BACK CHANNEL CONVERSATIONS WITH SELECT INDIVIDUALS DON'T CONSTITUTE PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT. DEMOCRATIC GOVERNANCE REQUIRES TRANSPARENCY AND GENUINE COMMUNITY PARTICIPATION. IF YOU VOTE YES TOMORROW, YOU'LL BE ENDORSING THIS EXCLUSIONARY PROCESS AND TELLING YOUR CONSTITUENTS THEIR INPUT. DOESN'T MATTER WHEN MAYOR WHITMEYER IN THE OFFICE, YOUR TIME HAS EXPIRED. HE, HE MADE A COMMITMENT TO GENERAL PUBLIC PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT. THIS PROCESS, THIS PROJECT IS A PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT. MS. BRADY FAILURE. MS. BRADY, WE DO HAVE A COUNCIL MEMBER THAT'D LIKE TO ADDRESS YOU. COUNCIL MEMBER KAMAN. THANK MS. YES. SORRY, I HIT THAT, THAT BUTTON, NOT THIS BUTTON. UM, MS. BRADY, WE HAVE A LOT OF SPEAKERS ON POE STREET TODAY, AND ONE OF THE QUESTIONS, IF ANYBODY, I'M JUST SETTING THIS SO THAT AS YOU'RE SPEAKING, UH, WE CAN HEAR FROM YOU. IF WE HAVE AN AGREEMENT FROM, UM, HOUSTON FIRST AND THE CITY OF HOUSTON, THAT LELAND WILL BE A TWO-WAY STREET UP TO LOUISIANA, FOR EXAMPLE, UM, AND OTHER THINGS THAT ARE IN THE WORKS. UM, WHAT ELSE IS THE ASK? UH, FOR EXAMPLE, I KNOW WE HAD A CONVERSATION ABOUT DOWNTOWN HOUSTON PLUS, WHICH IS A TERRIFIC ENTITY THAT FOCUSES AND UNDERSTANDS MOBILITY IF THEY TAKE OVER THE COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT AND THE MOBILITY COMPONENTS OF GRB EXPANSION, THINGS LIKE THAT. UM, I THINK THAT'S A GOOD COMPROMISE. THAT'S A GOOD PATH FORWARD TO MAKE SURE RESIDENTS ARE ENGAGED TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE FINDING, UM, WAYS TO MAKE THIS WORK. IF I, I DON'T WANNA PUT YOU ON THE SPOT, CERTAINLY, BUT AS WE HEAR OTHER SPEAKERS, FOR THE SAKE OF TIME, IT WOULD BE HELPFUL TO KNOW WHAT ARE THE ASKS THAT AREN'T BEING MET SPECIFICALLY? UM, BECAUSE I, I THINK WE'RE GETTING TO SOME OF THOSE THINGS THAT I HOPE WILL CREATE A GOOD RESOLUTION. GREAT. THANK YOU SO MUCH. WE'LL MAKE SURE THAT WE ADDRESS THOSE QUESTIONS. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. NEXT SPEAKER, KAREN LANCASTER. KAREN LANCASTER TO BE FOLLOWED BY CHARLES WATTS. COUNCIL MEMBERS, THOUSANDS OF HOUSTON RESIDENTS HAVE VOICED OVERWHELMING OPPOSITION. NOT TO THE EXPANSION ITSELF, BUT TO THIS SPECIFIC DESIGN. OVER 230 COMMENTS WERE SUBMITTED TO THE JOINT REFERRAL COMMITTEE, A PROCESS THAT TYPICALLY RECEIVES TWO OR THREE, NEARLY 600 PETITION SIGNATURES. TOWN HALLS OVERFLOW WITH CONCERNED CITIZENS. YET HOUSTON FIRST CORPORATION HAS REFUSED TO MEANINGFULLY ENGAGE WITH THESE CONCERNS. THEY'VE DECLINED TO SIT DOWN AND DISCUSS ALTERNATIVES. THEY'VE IGNORED REQUESTS FOR COMMUNITY INPUT DURING THE DESIGN PHASE. WHEN DID HOUSTON'S GOVERNMENT STOP LISTENING TO HOUSTONIANS? YOUR [00:35:01] CONSTITUENTS ARE BEGGING TO BE HEARD. TOMORROW'S VOTE WILL SHOW WHETHER THEIR VOICES MATTER. WE URGE YOU TO REPRESENT THE PEOPLE WHO ELECTED YOU RESPECTFULLY REMIND THAT THE PEOPLE YOUR TIME HAS EXPIRED. THE PEOPLE ARE THE CITY. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. COUNCIL MEMBER POLLARD FOR A PROCEDURAL MOTION. THANK YOU MAYOR PRO TIM. AND GOOD AFTERNOON TO EVERYONE. I MOVE TO SUSPEND THE RULES TO MOVE, UH, THE FORMER HPD CHIEF CHARLES MCCLELLAN UP TO BE AT THE TOP OF THE ONE MINUTE NON AGENDA LIST. SECOND, IT'S BEEN MOVED IN SECOND. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR? ANY OPPOSED? ITEM CARRIES. HELLO, MR. WATTS. HELLO. HOW ARE YOU DOING? GOOD AFTERNOON ESTEEM MEMBERS OF THE HOUSTON CITY COUNCIL. MY NAME IS CHARLES WATTS AND I REPRESENT THE MARRIOTT HOUSTON SOUTH AT JAVIER AIRPORT, AND I'M ALSO A MEMBER OF THE JAVIER BUSINESS DISTRICT. UM, TODAY I URGE YOU TO CHAMPION THE EXPANSION OF THE GEORGE R. BROWN CONVENTION CENTER. IT'S A GENERATIONAL INVESTMENT THAT WILL CEMENT HOUSTON STATUSES OF PREMIER GLOBAL DESTINATION FOR MEETINGS, CONVENTIONS, AND MAJOR EVENTS. IMAGINE A MORE VIBRANT CONVENTION CENTER, DRAWING THOUSANDS OF VISITORS FILLING OUR HOTELS TO CAPACITY BUILDING, BOOSTING SPENDING AT LOCAL RESTAURANTS, ATTRACTIONS, AND GENERATING VITAL HOTEL, OCC OCCUPANCY AND SALES TAX REVENUE. THIS ISN'T JUST AN ECONOMIC UPLIFT, IT'S FUEL TO OUR ARTS, OUR SPORTS, AND OUR ESSENTIAL CITY SERVICES THAT MAKES HOUSTON THRIVE. BUT HESITATION MEANS FALLING BEHIND. AUSTIN AND DALLAS ARE ALREADY POURING RESOURCES INTO MASSIVE RENOVATIONS. LOWERING PLANNERS WHO DEMAND MODERN, FLEXIBLE, AND CONNECTED SPACES WITHOUT ACTION WILL WILL WATCH HIGH VALUE CONVENTIONS SLIP TO COMPETITORS ERODING OUR EDGE. THIS PROJECT CHANGES THAT THE NEW SOUTH BUILDING ALONE PROMISES $20 BILLION IN ADDITIONAL SPENDING $6 BILLION AND NEW PAYROLL ACROSS 30 YEARS. CLOSING POLK STREET IS ESSENTIAL. IT'S A LINCHPIN CONNECTING THE NEW STRUCTURE TO THE GEORGE R. BROWN. YEP, YOUR TIME HAS EXPIRED. THANK YOU FOR YOUR COMMENTS. NEXT SPEAKER, MICHAEL SCHEIN. MICHAEL SCHE TO, TO BE FOLLOWED BY SUSAN SUSAN WINGFIELD. GOOD AFTERNOON, COUNSEL MAYOR PRO. TIM, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR BEING HERE. I AM MICHAEL SCHE. I AM THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE HOUSTON REGION OF THE TEXAS RESTAURANT ASSOCIATION. MANY OF YOU KNOW ME AND I KNOW YOU. THANKS FOR THE OPPORTUNITY. ON BEHALF OF THE GREATER HOUSTON CHAPTER OF THE RESTAURANT TEXAS RESTAURANT ASSOCIATION, I AM PLEASED TO EXPRESS OUR STRONG SUPPORT FOR THE PLANNED EXPANSION OF THE GEORGE R. BROWN CONVENTION CENTER. THIS PROJECT REPRESENTS A SIGNIFICANT AND STRATEGIC INVESTMENT IN HOUSTON'S CONVENTION DISTRICT AND BROADER REGIONAL ECONOMY. THE PROPOSED EXPANSION WILL ENHANCE HOUSTON'S ABILITY TO ATTRACT GREATER NUMBER AND HIGHER CALIBER OF CONVENTIONS, TRADE SHOWS AND CORPORATE EVENTS. THESE GATHERINGS ARE VITAL TO EXPOSING GLOBAL BUSINESS LEADERS TO HOUSTON AND GENERATING BOTH IMMEDIATE ECONOMIC ACTIVITY AND LONG-TERM INVESTMENT. WE KNOW THAT PROGRESS IS PAINFUL. WE RECOGNIZE THERE ARE DECISIONS THAT HAVE TO BE MADE REGARDING STREETS AND CITIZENS AND ACCESS. WE UNDERSTAND THAT PROGRESS IS PAINFUL. FINALLY, THE BROADER VISION FOR THE CONVENTION DISTRICT, INCLUDING FUTURE RENOVATIONS AND ENHANCED CONNECTIVITY, WILL STRENGTHEN THE LINK BETWEEN DOWNTOWN AND SURROUNDING NEIGHBORHOODS DELIVERING BENEFITS THAT EXTEND ACROSS THIS CITY. THE GREATER HOUSTON CHAPTER OF THIS RESTAURANT ASSOCIATION IS PROUD TO ENDORSE THIS PRIDE THE HAS EXPIRED. THANK YOU. THANK YOU FOR YOUR COMMENTS. NEXT SPEAKER, SUSAN WINGFIELD. SUSAN WINGFIELD TO BE FOLLOWED BY HANK RILEY. GOOD AFTERNOON COUNCIL MEMBERS. UM, I'M, I'VE BEEN A, UH, HOMEOWNER. I'M SORRY, I HAD A TWO MINUTE PREPARED. SO THIS IS OFF THE CUFF. UH, I AM TOTALLY AGAINST CLOSING POLK. WE DON'T AS AN, AS, UM, A HOMEOWNER ON THE FROM THE EAST END. I'VE BEEN TRYING TO GET THROUGH POLK AND THROUGH LELAND. AND RIGHT NOW IT'S PRACTICALLY IMPOSSIBLE. WHY NOT GO OVER, WHY NOT BUILD SOMETHING WALKWAYS ABOVE THE STREET? WHY CLOSE OFF A MAJOR INTERSECTION AND CUT OFF THAT MANY THOUSANDS OF RESIDENTS FROM THE EAST END? I THINK THERE ARE BETTER ALTERNATIVES. AND I THINK CLOSING POLK IS NOT ONE OF 'EM. WE HAD VERY FEW STREETS LEFT AND IT'S ONE OF THE ONLY STREETS THAT GOES THROUGH THAT. ALSO, WE CAN GO AROUND THE RAILROAD TRACKS ON THE OTHER END. WE NEED THAT STREET. THANK YOU. THANK YOU FOR YOUR COMMENTS. NEXT SPEAKER, HANK RILEY. HANK RILEY TO BE FOLLOWED BY AND PARDON MY JELLY VAN DEBRA MAYOR PRO TEM CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS, THANK YOU FOR ALLOWING ME TO SPEAK. I'M HANK RILEY. [00:40:01] I'M THE GENERAL MANAGER OF THE LAURA HOTEL. I'M HERE TO EXPRESS OUR STRONG SUPPORT FOR THE PROPOSED EXPANSION OF THE GEORGE R. BROWN CONVENTION CENTER AND THE BROADER CONVENTION DISTRICT TRANSFORMATION PROJECT. YOU'VE HEARD FROM SOME OF MY COLLEAGUES TODAY. THIS IS A GENERATIONAL INVESTMENT. IT'LL STRENGTHEN HOUSTON'S POSITION AS A PREMIER GLOBAL DESTINATION FOR MEETINGS FOR CONVENTIONS, MAJOR EVENTS. A MORE ACTIVE CONVENTION CENTER MEANS MORE GUEST FILLING HOUSTON HOTELS, WHICH IS A DIRECT IMPACT FOR THE HOURS FOR MY HOTEL STAFF AS WELL. IF HOUSTON DOESN'T MOVE FORWARD, UH, WE RISK FALLING BEHIND OUR COMPETITORS IN AUSTIN, DALLAS. THEY'RE CURRENTLY INVESTING MAJOR CONVENTION CENTER EXPANSIONS. YOU'VE ALSO HEARD THAT THE NEW SOUTH BUILDING ALONE IS PROJECTED TO GENERATE MORE THAN 20 BILLION IN ADDITIONAL SPENDING AND 6 BILLION IN NEW PAYROLL OVER THE NEXT 30 YEARS. YOUR TIME HAS EXPIRED. THANK YOU FOR YOUR COMMENTS. NEXT SPEAKER Y YELL VANDEN BROCK TO BE FOLLOWED BY CYNTHIA SINGLETON. GOOD AFTERNOON, CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS, THANK YOU FOR ALLOWING ME TO SPEAK. I AM YA VAN BRUKER, GENERAL MANAGER AT THE JW MERRITT HOUSTON DOWNTOWN ON MAIN STREETS. I'M HERE TO EXPRESS OUR STRONG SUPPORT FOR THE PROPOSED EXPANSION OF THE GEORGIA BROWN CONVENTION CENTER AND THE BROADER CONVENTION DISTRICT TRANSFORMATION PRODUCT. THIS EXPANSION OF THE GEORGIA BROWN CONVENTION CENTER IS A GENERATIONAL INVESTMENT THAT WILL SECURE HOUSTON'S PLACE AS A PREMIER GLOBAL DESTINATION FOR MEETINGS, CONVENTIONS, AND MAJOR EVENTS. BUT THE REALITY IS THIS, IF WE DON'T MOVE FORWARD WITH RISK FALLING BEHIND, BOTH AUSTIN AND DALLAS ARE INVESTING HEAVILY IN THEIR CONVENTION CENTERS TO ATTRACT MAJOR EVENTS, MEETING PLAN STATUS. THEY CHOOSE CITIES WITH MODERN, FLEXIBLE, AND CONNECTED FACILITIES. WITHOUT COMPARABLE UPGRADES, HOUSTON WILL LOSE VALUABLE CONVENTION BUSINESS TO MARKETS, OFTEN NEWER, MORE INTEGRATED SPACES. A CRITICAL PIECE OF THIS PLAN IS THE CLOSURE OF POLK STREETS, WHICH ALLOWS THE NEW BUILDING TO CONNECT DIRECTLY TO THE EXISTING ONES. THIS SEAMLESS DESIGN IS EXACTLY WHAT MEANING PLANNERS WANT. AND HOUSTON HOTELS COMMUNITY STRONGLY SUPPORTS US. BEYOND THAT, THIS INVESTMENT WILL CATALYZE NEW GROWTH ON THE EAST SIDE OF DOWNTOWN FROM HOTELS AND RETAIL TO RESTAURANTS AND ENTERTAINMENT. THANK YOU. THANK YOU FOR YOUR COMMENTS. NEXT SPEAKER, CYNTHIA SINGLETON. CYNTHIA SINGLETON. NEXT SPEAKER, ROBERT GALLEGOS. ROBERT GALLEGOS TO BE FOLLOWED BY AMY DEBY. HELLO, COUNCIL MEMBER. HI, HOW YOU DOING? GOOD AFTERNOON. THANK YOU FOR THIS OPPORTUNITY. UM, I WAS ASKED BY STATE REPRESENTATIVE JOLANDA JONES TO READ HER LETTER, UH, TO THE MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL. DEAR MAYOR WHITMEYER AND MEMBERS OF THE HOUSTON CITY COUNCIL. AS A STATE REPRESENTATIVE FOR HOUSE DISTRICT 1 47, I'M JOINING MY COLLEAGUE IN EXPRESSING CONCERN REGARDING THE PROPOSED CLOSURE OF POLK STREET FOR THE GEORGE R. BROWN CONVENTION CENTER EXPANSION. THE NORTH HOUSTON HIGHWAY IMPROVEMENT PROJECT. RESIDENTS FROM THE EAST END AND SURROUNDING COMMUNITIES HAVE RAISED VALID CONCERNS ABOUT THE LACK OF TRANSPARENCY, LIMITED PUBLIC INPUT, AND THE NEGATIVE IMPACTS THIS CLOSURE COULD HAVE ON MOBILITY, SAFETY, AND EQUITABLE ACCESS ACROSS OUR CITY, POLK STREET SERVES AS A VITAL EAST WEST CORRIDOR AND ANY DECISION TO ABANDON IT WARRANTS CAREFUL CONSIDERATION AND COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT. I ATTENDED A PUBLIC MEETING WITH RESIDENTS WHERE MY CA WHERE MANY CAME PREPARED WITH THOUGHTFUL QUESTIONS AND CONCERNS. WHAT UNFOLDED, HOWEVER, WAS DEEPLY DISAPPOINTING. CITY REPRESENTATIVES WERE DISMISSIVE AND ARROGANT, REFUSING YOUR TIME HAS EXPIRED. COUNCIL MEMBER CAYMAN, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER. IT'S GREAT AS ALWAYS TO HAVE YOU BACK IN CHAMBERS. IF YOU WANT TO FINISH UP THE LETTER OUT OF RESPECT FOR YOU AND THE REPRESENTATIVE, PLEASE PROCEED. THANK, THANK YOU. COUNCIL MEMBER. WHAT UNFOLDED, HOWEVER, WAS DEEPLY DISAPPOINTING. CITY REPRESENTATIVES WERE DISMISSIVE AND ARROGANT, REFUSING TO ANSWER QUESTIONS AND DISREGARDING THE VOICES OF THE VERY PEOPLE WHO WILL BE MOST AFFECTED BY THIS PROJECT. I DO NOT CONSIDER THAT EVENT A LEGITIMATE PUBLIC MEETING AS A, AS IT LACKED TRANSPARENCY, RESPECT, AND MEANINGFUL DIALOGUE. FOR MONTHS, MY OFFICE HAS MADE MULTIPLE ATTEMPTS TO COORDINATE A GENUINE PUBLIC MEETING TO ENSURE THAT CONSTITUENTS HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO BE HEARD AND TO RECEIVE CLEAR INFORMATION. DESPITE THESE REPEATED EFFORTS, THAT MEETING HAS YET TO BE SCHEDULED. I UNDERSTAND THAT COUNCIL'S VOTE ON THIS MATTER IS FORTHCOMING. THEREFORE, I RESPECTFULLY URGE THE COUNCIL TO DELAY ANY VOTE UNTIL A COMPREHENSIVE TRAFFIC AND COMMUNITY IMPACT PLAN IS COMPLETED AND PUBLICLY RELEASED. ONE THAT INCLUDES PEDESTRIAN, BICYCLE AND TRANSIT ALTERNATIVES, UPDATED TRAFFIC STUDIES AND CLEAR COMMUNITY [00:45:01] BENEFITS FOR AFFECTED NEIGHBORHOODS. ONLY AFTER THIS INFORMATION IS MADE AVAILABLE SHOULD A TRANSPARENT AND INCLUSIVE PUBLIC MEETING BE HELD. ONE WHERE RESIDENTS QUESTIONS ARE ANSWERED AND THEIR CONCERNS ARE MEANINGFULLY ADDRESSED. LARGE SCALE PROJECTS MUST BE GUIDED BY EQUITY, TRANSPARENCY, AND ACCOUNTABILITY TO ENSURE THEY TRULY SERVE ALL HOUSTONIANS. THANK YOU FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION. SINCERELY, JOLANDA JONES, STATE REPRESENTATIVE HOWARD, DISTRICT 1 47, HOUSTON, TEXAS. AND AGAIN, SHE REPRESENTS DOWNTOWN HOUSTON. SO THANK YOU. THANK YOU. COUNCIL MEMBER NEXT SPEAKER, AMY DEBY. AMY DEBY TO BE FOLLOWED BY CHARLES MCCLELLAN. HELLO, MY NAME IS AMY PIBY. I'M A RESIDENT OF MAGNOLIA PARK AND I'M ASKING THAT YOU VOTE NO OR POSTPONE THE VOTE FOR HOUSTON FIRST. TOMORROW I AM FOR THE EXPANSION OF THE GEORGIA BROWN CONVENTION, BUT I'M ALSO FOR KEEPING POLK STREET OPEN. UM, HOUSTON FIRST HAS ADMITTED THAT A BRIDGE OVER POLK STREET IS FEASIBLE AND THAT SOLUTION SOUNDS LIKE A WIN-WIN FOR EVERYBODY. AND SO I DON'T UNDERSTAND WHY THAT IS NOT BEING EXPLORED MORE. UM, THERE'S A LACK OF TRANSPARENCY BETWEEN HOUSTON FIRST AND THE RESIDENTS OR CITIZENS OF HOUSTON. YOU KNOW, HOUSTON FIRST SAYS THEIR THAT PUTTING PEOPLE FIRST IS THEIR TOP CORE VALUE, BUT THIS WHOLE PROCESS HAS SHOWN US THAT THAT IS ABSOLUTELY NOT THEIR TOP CORE VALUE. I DON'T EVEN THINK IT'S A PART OF THEIR CORE VALUES AT ALL. SO AGAIN, I'M ASKING YOU GUYS TODAY TO PLEASE VOTE NO OR POSTPONE THE VOTE ON HOUSTON FIRST PLANS, UH, REGARDING POLK STREET. AND WE ASK THAT YOU EXPLORE THE ALTERNATIVE OF KEEPING POLK STREET OPEN WITH THE BRIDGE. THANK YOU. THANK YOU FOR YOUR COMMENTS. NEXT SPEAKER, CHAR CHARLES MCCLELLAN TO BE FOLLOWED BY TARSHA WRIGHT. GOOD AFTERNOON, UH, MAYOR PRO, TIM AND COUNCIL, IT'S AN HONORS OH ARE TO SPEAK BEFORE YOU TODAY. UH, I'M GONNA TRY TO BE AS QUICK AS I CAN AND DO JUSTICE TO THE SUBJECT. I'M HERE TODAY. UH, I WANNA APPLAUD YOU FOR APPROVING THE, UH, PURCHASE OF A NEW BUILDING FOR HPD, BUT I ALSO WANT TO REMIND YOU THAT WHEN THEY TRANSFER AND LEAVE, 1200 TRAVIS, THAT SENIOR POLICE OFFICER, EDWARD A THOMAS' NAME, TRANSFER TO THE NEW BUILDING, UM, MR. THOMAS JOINED, UH, THE HOUSTON POLICE DEPARTMENT IN 1948. UH, HE WAS THE FIRST ONE AFRICAN AMERICAN THAT COULD KEPT HIS JOB AFTER RECONSTRUCTION, UH, FACED EXTREME DISCRIMINATION. HE COULDN'T ATTEND ROLL CALL WITH HIS WHITE COUNTERPARTS, COULDN'T ARREST A WHITE PERSON, WASN'T ALLOWED TO DRIVE A VEHICLE, COULDN'T DRINK OUT OF THE SAME WATER FOUNTAIN, COULDN'T GO IN THE POLICE CAFETERIA. BUT LET ME TELL YOU WHAT HE COULD DO. HE SERVED TWO YEARS, THREE AND A HALF YEARS IN WORLD WAR II. HE FOUGHT IN THE BATTLE OF THE BULGE, THE LONGEST BATTLE OF WORLD WAR II. HE WORKED FOR THE UNITED STATES POSTAL SERVICE AND LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA FOR TWO YEARS. AND AFTER JOINING HPD IN 1948, HE WORE THAT UNIFORM FOR 63 YEARS. YOUR YOUR TIME HAS EXPIRED. THE ONLY PERSON THAT OUTLASTED HIM WAS MS. ANNA RUSSELL IS 68 YEARS . SO I HOPE THAT YOU FOLLOW THE CITY ORDINANCE THAT SAYS THAT ANY BUILDING THAT CONTAINED POLICE HEADQUARTERS MUST BEAR HIS NAME. THANK YOU, CHIEF. WE DO HAVE A COUPLE OF COUNCIL MEMBERS IN QUEUE THAT WOULD LIKE TO ADDRESS YOU. OKAY. WE'LL START WITH COUNCIL MEMBER RAMIREZ. THANK YOU MADAM CHAIR. UH, GREAT TO SEE YOU AGAIN, CHIEF. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. YOU, YOU, YOU LOOK LIKE YOU, UH, JUST RETIRED. WELL, , MY EYESIGHT IS FAILING, BUT MY MIND IS SHARPER THAN EVER. WELL, THANK YOU FOR BRINGING THIS TO OUR ATTENTION AND WE WILL CERTAINLY GIVE IT, UH, GOOD CONSIDERATION. GOOD TO SEE YOU. THANK YOU. COUNCIL MEMBER EVAN SHABA. THANK YOU MAYOR PROAM. AND THANK YOU CHIEF MCCLELLAN. IT'S ALWAYS GOOD TO SEE YOU. I MISS YOU ON THE EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE OF THE NAACP, BUT I DO UNDERSTAND CERTAINLY YOU HAVE HIT ON SOMETHING THAT IS VERY, VERY IMPORTANT TO ME. I HAVE, UH, WITNESSED NAMES CHANGING FOR PEOPLE WHOSE WERE VERY WORTHY, SUCH AS EO SMITH WAS CHANGED TO MICKEY LELAND. UM, MY ELEMENTARY SCHOOL WAS, WAS CHANGED FROM TURNER TO LOCKHART. UH, AND CERTAINLY I I I AGREE WITH YOU. ONCE THOSE NAMES ARE FIXED, I SEE NO REASON TO REMOVE THOSE NAMES. AND SO I FULLY SUPPORT WHAT YOU'RE HERE TO SPEAK ABOUT. THANK YOU. WELL, THANK YOU VERY MUCH. MR. THOMAS WAS IN CADET CLASS NUMBER ONE MONDAY CADET CLASS NUMBER 2 74 WILL START SINCE HE WAS THE FIRST THERE. IF HE WASN'T THE FIRST, THERE WOULD BE NO SECOND, THIRD, OR FOURTH. SO MY FEET ARE FIRMLY PLANTED ON MR. THOMAS'S SHOULDERS. THANK YOU. COUNCIL MEMBER POLLARD. WE DO HAVE TWO MORE SPEAKERS. COUNCIL MEMBER POLLARD. THANK YOU MAYOR [00:50:01] PRO, TIM AND CHIEF, THANK YOU FOR COMING FORWARD. THANK YOU FOR, UH, THE CALL THAT WE HAD YESTERDAY AND YOUR LEADERSHIP IN THIS CITY. UH, I TOO AGREE WITH YOU THAT THAT NAME SHOULD BE TRANSFERRED AND THERE SHOULD REALLY BE NO, UH, I THINK PUSHBACK ON THAT IS, IS THERE ANYTHING THAT WOULD LEAD YOU TO BELIEVE THAT THERE WOULD BE ANY PUSHBACK ON THAT? WELL, I HOPE NOT, BUT I, I KNOW THAT THIS IS A NEW COUNCIL AND PEOPLE MAY NOT BE AWARE WHY MAYOR DENISE PARKER AND, AND THE CURRENT COUNCIL MEMBERS AT THAT TIME STYLED THE ORDINANCE THE WAY THEY DID. THEY ANTICIPATED THAT 1200 TRAVIS WOULD NOT BE THE FINAL HOME FOR THE HOUSTON POLICE DEPARTMENT HEADQUARTERS. SO THEY DID NOT WANT HIS HISTORY AND HIS LEGACY TO BE ERASED. THANK YOU, CHIEF. THANK YOU. COUNCIL MEMBER KAMAN. CHIEF, I DO WANNA THANK YOU AS WELL. UM, NOT ONLY FOR HOLDING US ACCOUNTABLE, BUT SHARING THE HISTORY FOR THE REST OF THE CITY OF HOUSTON. UH, BECAUSE IT'S INCUMBENT UPON ALL OF US TO EDUCATE ABOUT THAT HISTORY OF WHO CAME FIRST, WHO BLAZED THOSE TRAILS AND WHO STOOD OUT, UM, AND STOOD STRONG IN THE FACE OF DISCRIMINATION AND THE RELICS OF JIM CROW. UM, SO AGAIN, THANK YOU. I BELIEVE YOU HAVE OUR COMMITMENT, UM, TO MAKE SURE THAT THAT HAPPENS. BUT I APPRECIATE YOU BEING HERE AND YOUR VOICE ON THIS. WELL, THANK YOU VERY MUCH. HE'S A GREAT AMERICAN HERO. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. APPRECIATE YOUR COMMENTS AND BEING HERE TODAY. NEXT SPEAKER TARSHA WRIGHT. TARSHA WRIGHT. TARSHA WRIGHT. NEXT SPEAKER, CESAR ESPINOSA. CESAR ESPINOSA. GO AHEAD AND CALL THE NEXT SPEAKER. RANDALL CALLAN. RANDALL CALLAN. RANDALL CALLAN. NEXT SPEAKER, KAREN KNAPP. KAREN KNAPP TO BE FOLLOWED BY MICHELLE STEEL. HELLO, MS. KNAPP. HELLO, UM, MY NAME IS KAREN KNAPP AND I'M A RESIDENT OF DISTRICT H AND I'M SO PLEASED THAT US SECRETARY OF TRANSPORTATION, DUFFY AND GOVERNOR ABBOTT WANT TO IMPROVE SAFETY AND MOBILITY FOR OUR TRAFFIC. HOUSTON CONSISTENTLY RANKS HIGH ON LISTS OF US CITIES WITH THE WORST TRAFFIC INGESTION, ROAD RAGE, SHOOTINGS AND DRUNK DRIVING INCIDENTS. BUT ELECTED OFFICIALS DEMAND TO DESTROY THE RAINBOW CROSSWALK WILL MAKE NO DIFFERENCE AT ALL BECAUSE THE INTERSECTION OF WESTHEIMER AND TAFT IS NOT ON ANY LIST OF THE MOST DANGEROUS INTERSECTIONS IN HOUSTON. THE CITY'S INSTANT AND UNQUESTIONING COMPLIANCE WITH THAT DEMAND IS UNACCEPTABLE. HOUSTON TAXPAYERS EXPECT THE AGENCIES WE FUND TO STAND UP FOR THIS COMMUNITY. AND I WOULD ADD THAT DISRUPTION FROM MASSIVE TRAFFIC OR MASSIVE CONSTRUCTION PROJECTS IS GOING TO JUST MAKE ALL OF THESE PROBLEMS WORSE. I'M A MEMBER. I'M, I'M A RESIDENT OF E UH, SECOND WARD AND NO ONE HAS TOLD IDO AND SECOND WARD WHAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN WITH TRAFFIC WHEN THE REROUTE STARTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION STARTS IN EARNEST, AND HUNDREDS OF CARS ARE DRIVING THROUGH OUR NEIGHBORHOODS EVERY DAY TRYING TO GET A WORKAROUND. SO I WOULD ASK THAT, UM, YOU GUYS TELL US WHAT YOU'RE GONNA DO. THANK YOU. REMEMBER CASTILLA? GOOD AFTERNOON. UM, MY NAME IS MICHELLE STILL. I'M A RESIDENT OF MONTROSE. I WAS DEEPLY DISAPPOINTED TO HEAR OUR PLANS FROM THE PRIDE CROSSWALK AT THE INTERSECTION OF WESTHEIMER AND TAF STREETS. THIS CROSSWALK HAS DEEP MEANING SINCE IT WAS THE FIRST PRIDE CROSSWALK CREATED IN TEXAS AND WAS INSTALLED TO HONOR THE MEMORY OF A COMMUNITY MEMBER WHO WAS KILLED NEAR THE INTERSECTION. I'M ALSO ANGRY THAT THIS IS BEING DONE USING PUBLIC SAFETY AS A COVER FOR BLATANT HOMOPHOBIA. I HAVE A HARD TIME BELIEVING THERE'S CLEAR DATA THAT SHOWS THAT THIS CROSSWALK IS MORE DANGEROUS THAN OTHERS BECAUSE A RAINBOW IS PAINTED ON IT. IF THAT IS THE CASE, THEN MAYBE WE USE TAXPAYER DOLLARS TO REMOVE ALL THE PUBLIC ART IN OUR CITY MURALS, DOWNTOWN ELECTRICAL BOXES PAINTED THROUGHOUT NEIGHBORHOODS 'CAUSE THEY TOO ARE A DISTRACTION TO DRIVERS. THIS IS PERFORMATIVE POLITICS TO DESIGNED TO HARM THE LGBTQ PLUS COMMUNITY. ALTHOUGH I HAVE DOUBT THERE'S ANY CLEAR DATA THAT SHOWS THAT THIS IS A PARTICULARLY DANGEROUS CROSSWALK. THERE'S CLEAR DATA THAT SHOWS THAT LGBTQ PLUS COMMUNITY IS AT GREATER RISK OF VIOLENCE AGAINST THEM. MONTROSE HAS HISTORICALLY BEEN A SAFE HAVEN FOR THEM, A WELCOMING PLACE FOR THEM TO BE THEIR TRUE SELVES. THIS STUNT HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH PUBLIC SAFETY, AND IT'S MORE ABOUT CRUEL POLITICAL. YOUR TIME HAS EXPIRED. COUNCIL MEMBER MC. UM, MICHELLE. MICHELLE. MICHELLE. MICHELLE, SORRY. AS YOU'RE COMING UP, UM, I KNOW BOTH, I THINK COUNCIL MEMBER CASTILLO WAS ALSO IN QUEUE FOR KAREN. I WANTED TO THANK Y'ALL. WE DO HAVE ADDITIONAL SPEAKERS ON THE RAINBOW CROSSWALK BECAUSE OF THE EXTENT, UH, THE LIMITED TIME WE HAVE TODAY. I'M NOT GOING TO COMMENT ON IT. WE DID HOLD A PRESS CONFERENCE THERE TODAY. UH, WE WILL CONTINUE TO SPEAK OUT ABOUT THIS. THIS IS, UM, IN MY OPINION, COMPLETE STATE OVERREACH. THEY HAVE NO BUSINESS GETTING INVOLVED IN LOCAL COMMUNITIES. [00:55:01] UM, AND WE HAVE A RESPONSIBILITY TO NOT ONLY SPEAK OUT, BUT DO SOMETHING, UH, TO MAKE SURE THAT THE COMMUNITY KNOWS WE ARE STANDING WITH THEM. AND WE'LL CONTINUE TO FIGHT FOR NOT ONLY OUR LGBTQIA PLUS COMMUNITY, BECAUSE THIS IS NOT JUST ABOUT THE PRIDE FLAG. AND I WANNA BE CLEAR, ALTHOUGH THAT IS A JUST AND WORTHY CAUSE ALONE. THIS IS ABOUT OUR BLACK COMMUNITY, OUR IMMIGRANT COMMUNITIES, EVERY COMMUNITY THAT TRUMP AND ABBOTT ARE TRYING TO ERASE AND ERASE THE HISTORY OF. SO WE WILL CONTINUE TO STAND AND FIGHT. BUT I WANNA THANK YOU FOR THE COMMUNITY'S VOICE IN THIS BECAUSE THIS WAS A COMMUNITY LED PROJECT THAT IS TRYING TO BE REMOVED. THANK YOU. AND JUST THE HYPOCRISY WHEN GOVERNOR ABBOTT DOESN'T WANT THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT TO TELL HIM WHAT TO DO, WHY HE THINKS HE CAN TELL LOCAL GOVERNMENT WHAT TO DO. JUST ONE SECOND. COUNCIL MEMBER . MICHELLE. MICHELLE, WE LOVE, WE LOVE TALKING TO YOU. THIS IS MY FIRST TIME. UM, IT'S REALLY GOOD TO SEE YOU. GOOD TO SEE YOU. I KNOW MICHELLE. UM, AND THANKS FOR WHAT YOU SAID. AND I AGREE WITH YOU. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. NO, YEAH. NO, WE'RE GOOD. NEXT SPEAKER, ART WAGER. ART WEGER TO BE FOLLOWED BY LAURA GALLIER. THANK YOU, COUNSEL. MY NAME IS ART WEGER. I'M A RESIDENT HOMEOWNER TAXPAYER OF HOUSTON, TEXAS. I'M HERE TO TALK VERY BRIEFLY ABOUT THE, UH, ACQUISITION OF FOUR 19 EMANCIPATION AS THE HOMELESS SUPER HUB. IT'S GONNA BE LOCATED, OKAY. IT'S GONNA BE LOCATED RIGHT BEHIND MY HOUSE. UH, I LIVE ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE TRACKS ON SPERBER. UM, FIRST THE COST 16,000,002 LOTS. IT'S BEEN APPRAISED AT 6.7 MILLION AS RECENTLY AS, UM, JANUARY OF 2025 BY THE COUNTY WHERE THE 60 MILLION COMES FROM. WE DON'T KNOW. UH, THE CITY'S BROKE 227 MILLION IN DEBT BY THE YEAR 2027. WE, I DON'T THINK WE CAN AFFORD 16 MILLION FOR, UH, THIS PROJECT, ALTHOUGH WE DO NEED SOME TYPE OF HOMELESS OUTREACH. I AM NOT SAYING THAT WE DON'T. THERE'S ALSO, THIS IS, UH, ASSIGNED AS A NO BARRIER FACILITY. I AM A RETIRED LIEUTENANT WITH THE SAN DIEGO COUNTY SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT. I RETIRED HERE A COUPLE YEARS AGO. OH, YOUR TIME HAS EXPIRED. COUNCIL MEMBER POLLARD, YOU HAVE MY TIME. OH, THANK YOU. UH, UH, NO BARRIER FACILITY, WHICH MEANS THE INTENT IS VERY ALTRUISTIC AND INCLUSIVE. UM, I ARGUE THAT THE BARRIERS ARE FOR SAFETY. WHEN YOU DON'T HAVE BARRIERS, YOU ALLOW PEOPLE IN THAT ARE GONNA CAUSE ISSUES. UH, I ARGUE THAT, UH, NO BACKGROUND CHECKS, NO SOBRIETY REQUIREMENTS, NO TIME LIMITATIONS AT CHECK-IN AND NO, UH, RULES AGAINST PETS AND PARTNERS IS A CLEAR RECIPE FOR CHAOS. ADMITTING INDIVIDUALS ACTIVELY UNDER THE INFLUENCE OF DRUGS AND ALCOHOL, OR THOSE THAT ARE, UH, HAVE MENTAL CURRENT MENTAL HEALTH CRISES GOING ON, HEIGHTENS THE POTENTIAL FOR VIOLENCE, THEFT, SEXUAL ASSAULT AND HARASSMENT WITHIN THE FACILITY. THIS IS CLEAR THROUGHOUT THE NATION THAT HOSTS THESE TYPE OF IN INTAKE FACILITIES. UH, I CAN SEND YOU SOME, SOME, UH, UH, DOCUMENTATION ON THAT. THANK YOU. THANK YOU SO MUCH. I'M AGAINST YOU CAN, YOU CAN SEND THAT DOCUMENTATION TO OUR OFFICES IF YOU'D LIKE. I WILL. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. NEXT SPEAKER. LAURA GALLIER. LAURA GALLIER. LAURA GALLIER, YOU NEXT SPEAKER, ANDREW STROTHER. ANDREW STROTHER TO BE FOLLOWED BY JUAN HAAS. GOOD AFTERNOON COUNCIL MEMBERS. MY NAME IS ANDREW STROTHER. I'M A LIFELONG HOUSTONIAN SMALL BUSINESS OWNER, RESIDENT OF DISTRICT D AND AN AVID GOLFER. UH, GIVEN THAT I WAS BEYOND EXCITED WHEN I SAW THE PLANS FOR THE NEW AND IMPROVED COURSE LAYOUT AT HERMAN PARK GOLF COURSE. UM, AND EVEN MORE THRILLED TO HEAR THAT THE ASTROS FOUNDATION WOULD BE GENEROUSLY FUNDING THE PROJECT TO THE TUNE OF OVER $30 MILLION, UM, A WIN FOR EVERYONE AND THE TAXPAYERS WOULDN'T EVEN HAVE TO FUND IT. SO I WAS INCREDIBLY CONFUSED WHEN THESE FANTASTIC PLANS HAD BEEN PLACED ON DEFINITE HOLD. AND I WAS SHOCKED TO HEAR THAT MY OWN COUNCIL MEMBER WAS QUOTE, ELATED ABOUT THE PAUSE AND WAS QUOTE, TOTALLY IN FAVOR OF SQUASHING THE RENOVATIONS. THE REASONS GIVEN WERE THAT RESIDENTS AND GOLFERS WERE NOT GIVEN THE OPPORTUNITY TO PROVIDE INPUT INTO THE CHANGES. AND YET, OVER SIX WEEKS NOW SINCE THE PLANS WERE PAUSED, NO EFFORTS HAVE BEEN MADE TO ENGAGE THE COMMUNITY TO GENERATE FEEDBACK. AND ACCORDING TO A MEMBER OF THE PARKS DEPARTMENT I SPOKE WITH YESTERDAY, NO PLANS HAVE BEEN MADE TO FACILITATE THAT FEEDBACK. THIS UPDATE TO THE COURSE WOULD BE NOTHING BUT A NET POSITIVE FOR THE CITY AND THE COMMUNITY THAT USES THESE FACILITIES ALL WHILE BEING GENEROUSLY FUNDED BY THE ASS FOUNDATION, WHOSE POSITIVE IMPACT CAN EASILY BE SEEN BY ANYONE WHO'S USED A MEMORIAL [01:00:01] PARK GOLF COURSE, WHERE THEY FOLLOW, UH, PERFORM SIMILAR RENOVATIONS IN THE PREVIOUS YEARS. I STRONGLY ENCOURAGE THE COUNCIL TO MOVE FORWARD WITH THESE PLANS FOR THE BETTERMENT OF OUR COMMUNITY. COUNCIL MEMBER RAMIREZ. THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR. I APPRECIATE YOUR COMMENTS. CUR, JUST CURIOUS, YOU'RE A GOLFER. DID YOU, HAVE YOU PLAYED MEMORIAL PARK AFTER THE ASTROS FOUNDATION RENOVATED IT? YEAH. I ACTUALLY GO EVERY WEEK. I DRIVE 20 MINUTES THERE. 'CAUSE FOR THE SAME PRICE. IT'S A SIGNIFICANTLY BETTER COURSE. AND CAN YOU TALK ABOUT WHAT, WHAT IT WAS LIKE BEFORE AND WHAT IT WAS LIKE AFTER? YEAH. BOTH MYSELF AND THE, UH, PROS WHO WORKED THERE. I'VE COMMENTED ON THE, UH, CONDITIONS BEFORE. IT'S SIGNIFICANTLY BETTER MANAGED THE QUALITY OF THE DRIVING RANGE, UM, ALLOW IT'S BETTER FACED SO YOU'RE NOT FACING INTO THE SUN. UM, AT THE END OF THE DAY WHEN YOU TRY AND COME IN AFTER WORK, THE COURSES ARE KEPT IN BETTER CONDITION, PARKING IS IMPROVED. THE GENERAL FEEL OF THE COURSE IS LIKE YOU'RE WALKING INTO A HIGH QUALITY FACILITY. YOU WOULD NEVER GUESS IT'S A MUNICIPAL COURSE. AND WHAT, HOW DOES IT COMPARE TO THE EXPERIENCE AT HERMAN PARK RIGHT NOW, GOOD TOWN. HOW DO YOU COMPARE MCDONALD'S TO PERRY'S? UM, , QUITE FRANKLY, UH, THE COURSE AT HERMAN PARK IS OVERCROWDED. YOU'RE AS LIKELY TO FIND ANOTHER GOLFER'S BALL ON YOUR FAIRWAY HEADING FROM THE 17TH HOLE WHEN YOU'RE ON THE SIXTH, AS YOU ARE TO FIND YOUR OWN. IT'S TOO CROWDED. IT ALLOWS FOR NO NIGHT PLAY. IT DOESN'T ALLOW FOR, UM, CHILDREN AT THE LOCAL HOSPITAL TO COME AND PLAY. IT DOESN'T EVEN RECOGNIZE THE FACT THAT IT WAS THE FIRST, UH, FULLY INTEGRATED MUNICIPAL COURSE IN THE CITY OF HOUSTON. THERE'S NO ACKNOWLEDGEMENT OF THAT. I KNOW THE NEW PLANS SPECIFICALLY ALLOW FOR THAT. SO, SO SOME HAVE COMPLAINED ABOUT, UH, TAKING NINE HOLES AND MAKING THEM THREE PAR. UH, YOU HAVE ANY THOUGHTS ON THAT? THE FACT THAT IT'S GONNA BE AN ILLUMINATED THREE PAR IT INCREASES THE AMOUNT OF TIME THAT, UH, PEOPLE CAN PLAY AFTER WORK. THAT'S A HUGE LIMITATION. IT INCREASES THE ACCESSIBILITY FOR PEOPLE IN THE COMMUNITY WHO WOULD NOT BE ABLE TO PLAY OTHERWISE. QUITE FRANKLY. UM, GOLF HAS BECOME A LITTLE INACCESSIBLE AS OF RECENT YEARS, IN MY OPINION. AND THIS HAS ACTUALLY LOWERED THE BARRIER OF ENTRY FOR PEOPLE TO COME AND PLAY AN EASIER COURSE. HAVE A GREAT TIME. AND FOR THOSE OF US WHO WANT A FULL 18, YOU CAN STILL PLAY THAT. THANK YOU. THANK YOU SO MUCH. I APPRECIATE IT. I DO WANNA QUICKLY SAY, UH, COUNCILWOMAN PECK. UH, YOU WERE PREVIOUSLY MY REPRESENTATIVE WHEN I LIVED IN YOUR DISTRICT. YOUR OFFICE WAS FANTASTIC. I ALWAYS APPRECIATED THE, UH, EFFORT THEY PUT INTO COMMUNICATION AND OUTREACH. AND SO I JUST WANTED TO THANK YOU PERSONALLY FOR THE WORK THAT YOU DO NEXT. JUAN HAAS, DORIS PENNINGTON, TY SMITH, VALENCIA SANDERS, ANTHONY HUBBARD, ESP IS HERE. ARE YOU ANTHONY TO BE FOLLOWED BY CESAR ESPOSA. UM, A RAINBOW IS NOT A POLITICAL IDEOLOGY. IT IS A SYMBOL. SYMBOL OF OCCLUSION AND OF ACCEPTANCE. I, I APPRECIATE YOUR SHOW SUPPORT AT CITY, UH, AT THE CROSSWALK TODAY. AND I HOPE THAT THIS COUNCIL WILL CONTINUE THE SUPPORT AND MORE MEMBERS WILL VOICE THE SUPPORT THIS ISSUE THAT AFFECTS ALL OF US AND OUR COMMUNITY. ABBOTT HAS TARGETED NOT ONLY THE L-G-B-T-Q COMMUNITY, BUT ALSO MANY OTHERS IN OUR COMMUNITY. HPD IS ALIGN THEMSELVES WITH ICE. AND HPD IS ALSO TRYING TO LIMIT THE AMOUNT OF FREE SPEEDS AT THIS CROSSWALK WHEN WE'RE JUST TRYING TO VOICE THE SUPPORT, VOICE OUR OPINION AND VOICE, OUR ACCEPTANCE OF PEOPLE IN THE COMMUNITY. IT SHOULDN'T BE A FIGHT TO SAY THAT WE STAND WITH OTHERS. IT SHOULDN'T BE A FIGHT TO SAY THAT WE CAN ACCEPT PEOPLE IN OUR COMMUNITY. THERE'S THE BARE MINIMUM WE SHOULD DO AS PEOPLE. AND BARE MINIMUM WE SHOULD DO AS A SIGN OF EMPATHY. I WILL. YOUR YOUR TIME HAS EXPIRED. THANK YOU. ARE YOU SAY SO? YES. GOOD AFTERNOON, COUNSEL MAYOR, WE ARE HERE WITH EMMANUEL GONZALEZ'S MOM. EMMANUEL GONZALEZ IS A AUTISTIC 15-YEAR-OLD THAT WENT MISSING IN NORTHWEST HOUSTON LAST SATURDAY, OCTOBER 4TH. MOM BEGAN LOOKING FOR HIM AND REALLY QUICKLY CONTACTED THE HOUSTON POLICE DEPARTMENT TO FILE A MISSING PERSONS REPORT. WE HAVE BEEN LOOKING FOR EMMANUEL FOR EIGHT DAYS AS OF FRIDAY. ALL TO GET A CALL FROM A DETECTIVE FROM HPD [01:05:01] SAYING THAT EMMANUEL HAD BEEN OVER, TURNED OVER TO FEDERAL AUTHORITIES UNDER THE APARTMENT ORGANIZATION, REFUGEE AND RESETTLEMENT OFFICE OF REFUGEE RESETTLEMENT. SO INSTEAD OF LOOKING FOR THE MISSING PERSONS REPORT, INSTEAD OF TRYING TO FIND HIS MOM, BECAUSE EMMANUEL IS NOT AN UNACCOMPANIED YOUTH, HIS MOM IS RIGHT HERE. YOUR OFFICE, YOUR DEPARTMENT, YOUR POLICE DEPARTMENT, MAY WHITMEYER DECIDED TO CALL ICE INSTEAD OF JUST MAKING THE CALL TO THE MISSING PERSON'S REPORT, INSTEAD OF ISSUING AN AMBER ALERT, WHAT IS IT GONNA BE? ARE YOU GONNA BOW DOWN TO DONALD TRUMP AND CONTINUE TO WORK WITH ICE? WHY ARE YOU GONNA STAND UP AND SHOW TRUE LEADERSHIP AND PROTECT HOUSTONIANS? WE JUST GOT A CALL BECAUSE EMMANUEL WENT INTO EMERGENCY SURGERY FOR APPENDICITIS. YOUR, YOUR TIME HAS EXPIRED AND HE'S NOW UNDER OR R CUSTODY. AGAIN, THANK YOU. LOOK AT HER IN THE EYE. MEMBER HUFFMAN, TELL HER YOU DID THIS. COUNCIL MEMBER HUFFMAN. UH, THANK YOU MAYOR. AND, UM, I HAVE, I HAVE CHILDREN MYSELF. AND SO IF ANY MY KIDS WENT MISSING. UM, I CAN'T IMAGINE WHAT THAT, WHAT THAT FEELS LIKE. ALTHOUGH I FEEL LIKE, UH, YOU'RE BEING A LITTLE DISINGENUINE WHEN YOU KNOW, WHEN YOU'RE SAYING THE FACTS HERE. NO, THERE'S NO DISINGENUITY. WHEN, WHEN HE WAS REPORTED MISSING THE NAME THAT WAS PUT INTO THE SYSTEM, UM, DIDN'T NECESSARILY MATCH THE NAME WHEN THEY FOUND HER SON. THAT'S A FIRST MISTAKE BY HPD. STRIKE ONE. SO, SO THE NAMES DIDN'T MATCH UP. IT DIDN'T COME UP. IT'S NOT LIKE THEY FOUND THIS KID AND IMMEDIATELY TOOK HIM TO THE OFFICE OF, UM, REFUGEE SETTLEMENT. OKAY. UM, AND SO THAT DIDN'T CLICK. I BELIEVE THAT WHEN THE HUMAN AND UM, THE HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES DEPARTMENT GOT INVOLVED, THEY TOO LOOKED THROUGH THE, THE MISSING PEOPLE'S REPORTS AND STILL DIDN'T MAKE THE CONNECTION. WAS IT MISSING A PICTURE? AND SO WAS THERE NOT A PICTURE THERE? IT WASN'T NECESSARILY THAT HPD FOUND THIS KID AND IMMEDIATELY DIDN'T TRY TO RECONNECT HIM WITH HIS MOTHER. UM, THAT WOULD ALWAYS BE THE FIRST STEP THING. YOU, YOU NEED TO TALK TO HPD AND EVERYBODY INVOLVED BECAUSE HPD SAID IT THEMSELVES THAT THEY CALLED FEDERAL AUTHORITIES ON THIS UNACCOMPANIED MINOR. THEY COULDN'T IDENTIFY HIM. IDENTIFY, THEY SAID THAT THEY TALKED TO HIM FOR FOUR HOURS, SIR. AND HE'S NONVERBAL. SIR, YOU'VE DONE A GOOD JOB. LET THE COUNCIL MEMBER I SPEAK. I'M JUST, I JUST DON'T LIKE LIES. I UNDERSTAND. WITH UNDERSTAND. I UNDERSTAND. I DON'T LIKE LIES. UNDERSTAND. WELL, AND I DON'T EITHER. AND SO THAT'S WHY I'M TRYING TO PUT IT OUT HERE. OKAY. THEY DIDN'T SAY THAT. THEY TALKED TO HIM FOR FOUR HOURS. THEY SAID THAT THEY SPENT FOUR HOURS, UM, TRACKING DOWN LEADS, WATCHING BODY CAMERA, ALL SORTS OF THINGS. OFFICERS DID TALK TO HER SON, UM, FOR A LONG TIME. HE CAN'T TALK. HOW CAN HE TALK TO HIM FOR FOUR HOURS? OKAY, WE'RE NOT GONNA BE SUCCESSFUL IF YOU DON'T ALLOW HER TO DO HER ROLE. AND THEN YOU CAN HAVE YOUR ROLE. SO I'M JUST SAYING THAT WE WANT EVERYONE TO HAVE THE, THE FULL PICTURE. HPD DIDN'T FIND THIS KID AND TURN HIM OVER TO ICE. UM, THAT'S NOT HOW IT WENT DOWN. SO I JUST WANTED TO PUT THAT ON THE RECORD. THANK YOU. PRO VICE MAYOR PROTE PECK. THANK YOU MAYOR. UM, AND I ALSO HAVE SPOKEN WITH HPD ABOUT THIS, UM, AND GOT THE SAME INFORMATION. IT SOUNDS LIKE FROM THAT COUNCILOR HUFFMAN HAS AS WELL. THIS, UM, IT, IT SOUNDS LIKE HE WENT MISSING FROM MY DISTRICT. I DON'T KNOW IF IF SHE LIVES IN MY DISTRICT OR NOT, BUT WE'RE HAPPY TO HELP FACILITATE BETWEEN HER AND HPD SOME MORE INFORMATION. SO MY OFFICE IS HAPPY TO WORK WITH YOU ON THAT. SO IF YOU WANNA REACH OUT TO OUR OFFICE, WE'LL HELP NAVIGATE THAT WITH YOU. WE, WE, THERE'S NAME OF TRANSPARENCY. WE WOULD LOVE TO SEE A REPORT. WE WOULD LOVE TO SEE BODY CAMERAS. IF THEY DID TALK TO HIM FOR FOUR HOURS, WE WOULD LOVE TO SEE HIM SAYING, I'M HOMELESS AND I'M NOT FROM THIS COUNTRY. 'CAUSE HE CANNOT ARTICULATE THAT. COUNCILMAN MARTUS. THANK YOU MAYOR. UM, AND THAT ASK SAYS THAT ASK IS NOT A HEAVY LIFT. I THINK THAT'S, WE SHOULD DO THAT. UM, AND THIS IS DEFINITELY DISTURBING TO HEAR. I UNDERSTAND THAT THERE'S SOME PROTOCOLS. I HAVEN'T SPOKEN TO HPD, SO I'M GONNA LEAN INTO SOME OF MY COLLEAGUES, BUT ALSO CHALLENGE, UH, CHIEF DIAZ TO ENSURE THAT THESE TYPES OF SITUATIONS DON'T HAPPEN. UM, WHEN THE CHILD, ESPECIALLY THOSE THAT ARE, YOU KNOW, IT'S A LOT MORE CHALLENGING. HE HAS AUTISM. I THINK WE NEED TO DO A BETTER JOB AS A CITY. UM, SO I'M GONNA LEAN INTO COUNCIL MEMBER PECK AND SEE WHAT I CAN DO TO BE HELPFUL AS WELL. THANK YOU. WHEN I START, MARIA GONZALEZ'S MOM, [01:10:02] MY SON NEEDS ME AT THIS MOMENT. HE IS NOT A HOMELESS CHILD. I'M HIS MOM. I'M HERE. MAYBE THIS HAPPENED, BUT IT'S NOT THAT I WASN'T THERE WITH HIM. CURRENTLY. ASK YOU AS A MOM TO PUT YOURSELF IN MY PLACE IN THIS SITUATION. MY SON JUST LEFT SURGERY. UH, HE MUST BE TAKEN CARE OF. AND I WOULD ASK KINDLY THAT GET INTO A MOTHER'S HEART THAT MOMENT. ALL I WANNA DO IS GIVE MYSELF THE LOVE AND CARE THAT I, THAT I DESERVE. AND HIS MOM, AND HE WAS JUST RECAPTURED BY, OR MAKE NO MISTAKE ABOUT IT, ORR IS OF CHILDREN'S DETENTION CENTER BECAUSE HE IS NOT ALLOWED TO EVEN VISIT WITH MOM. AND UP UNTIL YESTERDAY, WE DIDN'T KNOW WHERE HE WAS. DAVIS SIR. SECOND SIR. COUNCILOR DAVIS. THANK YOU, MAYOR. UM, LEMME JUST SAY TO YOU, MA'AM, I'M SORRY TO, OF YOUR INCIDENT OF YOUR SON. I GOT A COUPLE MORE QUESTIONS. UM, YOUR SON AUTISTIC? AUTISTIC? YES. HER SON IS AUTISTIC. HOW OLD IS HE? HE'S 15 YEARS OLD WITH A COGNITIVE, UH, CAPACITY OF A FOUR OR 5-YEAR-OLD. I, I KNOW IT VERY WELL. MY GRANDSON, IT'S ARTISTIC AND HE'S 10 GOING ON 11. AND ONE OF THE MAJOR CONCERNS IS PARTICULARLY WITH LAW ENFORCEMENT TO IDENTIFY CHILDREN WHO ARE AUTISTIC. MYSELF AND COUNCIL MEMBER HUFFMAN PARTICIPATES WITH A GROUP OF MOTHERS AND FATHERS WHO HAVE AUTISTIC KIDS. SO WERE YOUR SON IN YOUR POSSESSION? WHAT WAS YOUR QUESTION? I'M SORRY. I WAS ASKING WAS HER SON IN HER POSSESSION? WITNESS? YES. I'M, I APOLOGIZE. I'M NOT NO, NO, NO. FAMILIAR WITH THE ISSUE, BUT NO, OF COURSE, OF COURSE, OF COURSE. COUNCIL MEMBER. SURE. UH, HER FAMILY WAS, UM, SHE WAS SELLING FRUIT AT THE CORNER OF CLAY AND HEMPSTEAD. UM, AND HER SON ASKED TO GO TO THE RESTROOM. SHE TURNS AROUND TO FINISH HANDING THE FRUIT OFF TO SOMEBODY WHEN SHE TURNS AROUND, HER SON IS NO LONGER THERE. SO SHE WAS WITH HIM WHEN THIS INCIDENT OCCURRED. OKAY. WELL, I'M, I'M SORRY OF THAT, BUT I'LL LOOK INTO THE FACTS AND CERTAINLY WE'LL BE PRAYING THAT THIS GET RESOLVED. THANK YOU. THANK YOU SO MUCH FROM, FOR THE BOTTOM OF MY HEART, FOR UNDERSTANDING ME, FOR UNDERSTANDING MY PLEA. AND I'M A FIRM BELIEVER IN GOD, AND I BELIEVE IT UP TO HIM. AND I KNOW THAT DEEP DOWN MY SON WILL RETURN TO HIM. AND THANK YOU FOR LISTENING TO ME. I KNOW THAT ALL OF YOU'RE GOOD HEARTED PEOPLE THIS MOMENT. YOU, SIR? COUNCILMAN PLUMMER. THANK YOU, MAYOR. JUST, JUST FOR ME TO UNDERSTAND, 'CAUSE I'M NOT REALLY, UM, CLEAR ON THE CASE. SO WHY HASN'T, AND MAYBE MAYBE COUNCILOR RO HUFFMAN, SINCE YOU'VE KIND OF DONE A LITTLE BIT OF RESEARCH ON THIS, WHY HASN'T THE SON BEEN GIVEN BACK TO HIS MOM? I, I'M NOT SURE ABOUT THAT, BUT I KNOW THAT BECAUSE HE DID HAVE TO HAVE SURGERY, I'M NOT SURE IF THAT PLAYED A ROLE IN THAT OR NOT. THAT STILL DOESN'T, THAT DOESN'T JUSTIFY WHY HE'S NOT BEEN RELEASED. I MEAN, I DON'T KNOW WHY HIS MOM COULDN'T GO TO THE HOSPITAL AND PICK UP HER SON. WE WERE JUST, SHE WAS AT THE HOSPITAL WITH HIM. BUT WHY, BUT WHY DIDN'T SHE, WHY DID HE GO BACK IN THE SAME WAY THAT MY KID WOULD GO HOME WITH ME? WHY WOULDN'T, WHY WOULDN'T HER SON GO HOME WITH HER? WE WERE JUST, WE WERE JUST AT THE HOSPITAL AND THEY WAITED FOR US TO LEAVE, TO TAKE EMANUEL BACK. SHE JUST BACK, BACK LATER. SHE LITERALLY JUST GOT A CALL RIGHT OUTSIDE OF CHAMBERS, UH, TELLING EMMANUEL WAS SAYING GOODBYE TO HER ONCE AGAIN BECAUSE THEY WERE TAKING HIM BACK TO THE DETENTION CENTER WHERE HE'S AT. AND BECAUSE NOW SHE HAS TO UNDERGO AN ENTIRE PROCESS, INCLUDING ATTORNEYS AND ALL THESE LEGAL THINGS THAT SHE HAS TO JUMP THROUGH IN ORDER, ORDER TO BE ABLE TO GET HER SOMEBODY. HAVE THEY EXPLAINED, HAVE THEY, HAVE THEY GIVEN A REASON WHY THEY'RE HOLDING HIM? HE'S, 'CAUSE THEY MISCLASSIFIED HIM AS AN UNACCOMPANIED MINOR AFTER HPD CALLED ICE AND ICE [01:15:01] DEFERRED HIM TO RCI. I MEAN, I REALLY WANNA WORK. WE'VE, WE'VE BEEN TEXTING BACK AND FORTH TODAY. I REALLY WANNA LOOK AND TRY TO FIGURE THIS OUT BECAUSE THERE'S AN INCREDIBLE MISSTEP. AND THIS THE SECOND CONVERSATION, THIS IS NOT ACCEPTABLE ANY INCREDIBLE THERE SHOULD HAVE BEEN. OKAY, IN INSTEAD OF ICE BEING CALLED, I MEAN, I DON'T KNOW. I THINK INSTEAD OF ICE BEING CALLED, THERE SHOULD HAVE BEEN AN AMBER ALERT PUT OUT FOR THIS CHILD WHO WAS IN DANGER. I JUST CAN'T IMAGINE THE LEVEL OF FEAR THAT HE'S IN THAT HE CAN'T EVEN EXPRESS. SO WHEN, WHEN WE LEFT EMANUEL JUST A FEW MINUTES AGO, HE LOOKED UP AT MOM AND KIND OF SAID LIKE, MOM, DON'T LEAVE. BUT, UH, THEN HE PUT HIS HEAD DOWN AND WE JUST GOT A CALL. LITERALLY, WE JUST GOT A CALL OUTSIDE THAT EMANUEL HAS BEEN PICKED UP BY THE OFFICE OF REFUGEE RESETTLEMENT. AGAIN. I SPENT THE NIGHT WITH HIM LAST NIGHT WATCHING WHEN HE WOULD GO TO THE RESTROOM, BUT IN A CERTAIN TIME HE FELL ASLEEP. AND I WENT, I WAS GONNA GO TO THE RESTROOM. SO I WENT, I PICKED AND I WOKE, AND HE WOKE UP, HE UNCOVER HIS FACE AND HE SAID, MOM, WHY ARE YOU LEAVING? WHERE ARE YOU GOING? AND HE SAID, MOM, I'M GOING. I'M SON. I'M GOING TO THE RESTROOM. I'LL BE RIGHT BACK. I STAYED WITH HIM AND I DIDN'T, I KNOW I DIDN'T EVEN GO USE THE RESTROOM. MAYOR, I HAVE A QUESTION. IF THERE'S ANY WAY THAT WE, I MEAN, UNTIL WE FIGURE ALL OF THIS OUT, IF THERE ANY WAY THAT YOU COULD HAVE A CONVERSATION WITH LEADERSHIP JUST TO MAKE SURE THAT HE'S, YOU KNOW, PROTECTED IN A WAY BECAUSE HE CAN'T COMMUNICATE. JUST THAT HE GETS A LITTLE BIT MORE CARE UNTIL WE CAN ALL FIGURE OUT WHAT'S GOING ON. BUT I CAN'T IMAGINE HIM BEING, COMING OUTTA SURGERY, CAN'T COMMUNICATE VERBALLY, AND HAVING A, A MENTAL CAPACITY OF A 4-YEAR-OLD. I THINK THAT'S A REALLY TOUGH SITUATION FOR ANY CHILD TO BE IN. I MEAN, WE'RE ALL MOTHER, I MEAN, WE'RE, ALL OF US ARE PARENTS ON THIS HORSESHOE PRETTY MUCH. AND I CANNOT IMAGINE WHAT THEY'RE EXPERIENCING RIGHT NOW. UH, AND I DO WANNA POINT OUT THAT EMMANUEL IS A, A STUDENT WAS A FORMER STUDENT IN LAS MEDIC. HE'S A CURRENT STUDENT IN NORBROOK HIGH SCHOOL. SO EVEN LOOKING TO HIS SCHOOL RECORDS, THEY WOULD'VE FOUND OUT THAT HE WAS NOT, IN FACT, AN UNACCOMPANIED MINOR. HE DOES KNOW HIS MOM'S NAME, BY THE WAY. ALSO, I WANTED TO SAY, THERE'S LOT OF PEOPLE THAT KNOW AS A MOTHER, IT'S NOT BECAUSE IT'S ME SCHOOL. THEY KNOW THAT I'VE NEVER LEFT MY, HOW ALWAYS WORKED FOR THEM. I ALWAYS MAKE SURE TO WORK WHEN THEY'RE AT SCHOOL. IF I DON'T HAVE A JOB AT A RESTAURANT FOR ANOTHER JOB, STUDY JOB, BECOME AN ENTREPRENEUR AND SELL FRUITS AND MAKE FOOD. BUT I'VE NEVER LEFT, LEFT MY KIDS WITHOUT A ROOF OR FOOD. UH, 'CAUSE I HAVE TWO KIDS HERE, COUNCIL MEMBER JACKSON, THANK YOU, MAYOR. AND, UM, I JUST WANT HER TO KNOW MY HEART. MY HEART GOES OUT TO YOU AS A MOTHER. I KNOW EXACTLY WHAT YOU'RE DEALING WITH TO HAVE A SYSTEM PULL YOUR CHILD FROM YOU, AND THEN ONCE THEY GET YOUR CHILD, THEY WANT TO BLAME YOU FOR THE SITUATION. AND SO I JUST WANNA KNOW, LIKE, SAY, SO WHAT IS HAPPENING? I KNOW, UM, COUNCIL MEMBER PLUMER MEANT ASKED THE QUESTION, BUT WHAT, WHAT'S HAPPENING TO GET THIS CHILD HOME? UM, BECAUSE AT THE END OF THE DAY, IF HE DO NOT BELONG IN A SYSTEM, WE NEED TO GET HIM OUT OF THE SYSTEM IMMEDIATELY. BECAUSE THE LONGER HE HE IS IN THERE, THE HARDER IT IS TO GET HIM OUT. AND SO, I MEAN, HE DOESN'T DESERVE TO BE THERE. THANK YOU COUNCIL. COUNCILMAN POLLARD. THANK YOU. THANK YOU, MAYOR. UH, WELL, I'M STILL TALKING. NO. OH, YES. YEAH, I'M, I'M, I WAS GONNA ANSWER HER QUESTION. I'M TRYING TO FIND OUT WHAT'S GOING ON HERE. WELL, I APOLOGIZE. THAT'S ALL RIGHT. COUNSEL. JACKSON UHHUH. SO WHAT NEEDS TO HAPPEN NOW IS, UH, IS, UH, AND WE'VE BEEN TOLD, UM, I MEAN, CAN YOU IMAGINE THIS MOM BEING TOLD, UH, YOU KNOW, WE'RE, WE'RE READY TO, WE HAVE ALL HER PAPERWORK. OUR OFFICE HAS DONE THE OH, THE JOB OF GETTING THE PAPERWORK. I KNOW. UH, BIRTH CERTIFICATES, YOU NAME IT. YOU TELL ME. GO GET IT RIGHT NOW. I'LL, WE WILL GO GET IT RIGHT NOW. I KNOW. AND, UH, WE STILL DON'T EVEN KNOW WHO SOCIAL WORKER IS. YEAH. SHE'S ON VACATION SINCE FRIDAY. YEAH. SO LET ME KNOW WHAT I CAN DO TO HELP. SO, OKAY. SO WE NEED TO KNOW, [01:20:01] WE NEED TO GO THROUGH THAT STEP. BUT EVEN THE SOCIAL WORKERS IN THE CENTER HAVE TOLD US IT COULD TAKE WEEKS OR MONTHS FOR THIS CHILD TO BE RETURNED AND HE'S NOT GETTING THE CARE. ONE OF THE THINGS YOU TALKED ABOUT IS THE CARE THAT HE NEEDS. MM-HMM . HE'S NOT GETTING THE SPECIAL EDUCATION CLASSES AND DETENTION. HE'S, HE'S JUST BEEN SITTING THERE. YEAH. AND, AND HE NEEDS TO GO BACK TO NORTHBROOK. THEY'RE WAITING FOR HIM AT NORTHBROOK. NO. AND HE HAVEN'T COMMITTED A CRIME. HE WAS JUST A KID THAT AT NOT AT ALL. HE'S JUST A KID. AND IT'S UNFAIR. A FUN LOVING KID. YEAH. BUT WE WERE SUPPOSED TO GO BACK RIGHT NOW AND BRING HIM CHICKEN NUGGETS. JUST LET ME KNOW HOW I CAN SUPPORT YOU. THANK YOU. I'M SORRY. HOLLER. MAY I KNOW USUALLY WHEN WE A CHICKEN NUGGET, I KNOW USUALLY WHEN WE HAVE, UM, ISSUES WITH CHILDREN AND THEIR PARENTS ARE PRESENT, AND WE'RE TRYING TO FIGURE OUT A RESOLUTION, YOU ASSIGN SOMEONE IN YOUR OFFICE TO BE ABLE TO LOOK INTO THAT, IS CAN WE ENSURE THAT SOMEONE IN YOUR ADMINISTRATION THAT CAN WORK DIRECTLY WITH THE, THE, THE MOTHER, UH, AND, UH, THOSE WHO ARE LOOKING INTO THIS MATTER, TO ENSURE THAT NOT ONLY, UM, THEY'RE GETTING THE RESOURCES AND COMMUNICATION THAT ARE NECESSARY, BUT WE AS A COUNCIL ARE GETTING FEEDBACK ON WHAT IS HAPPENING WITH THIS SITUATION. IT'LL BE GOOD TO GET SOME FEEDBACK FROM YOU ON WHAT YOU'VE BEEN HEARING, UH, REGARDING THIS MATTER, SO THAT WE CAN BE AWARE. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. WE WILL IMMEDIATELY PUT A TEAM TOGETHER, UH, LEGAL AND, UH, CHIEF OF STAFF. I'LL BE INVOLVED AND WE WILL, UH, DISCUSS WHAT OPTIONS ARE AVAILABLE FOR THIS. UH, OBVIOUSLY A TRAGEDY. UH, I THINK, AND I'M NOT GOING TO DEBATE THE ISSUE RIGHT NOW, BUT THERE IS A LOT MORE CIRCUMSTANCES THAT WE JUST HAVEN'T BEEN MADE AVAILABLE AT THIS TIME. BUT IT'S A TRAGEDY. WE ALL HAVE CHILDREN, WE EMPATHIZE. UH, IT'S A TERRIBLE TIME FOR OUR COMMUNITY TO HAVE TO GO THROUGH THESE CIRCUMSTANCES. BUT, UH, WE'LL HOLD EVERYONE ACCOUNTABLE AND, UH, BE VERY TRANSPARENT. SO, THANK YOU. THANK YOU. COUNCILMAN POLLARD. OH, COUNCILOR KAMAN. COUNCILMAN CAMAN. THANK YOU, MAYOR. UM, AND AS WE, YOU KNOW, AWAIT THAT INFORMATION AND THOSE ANSWERS, UH, CESAR, I JUST WANT TO SAY TO YOU, TO THE ENTIRE COMMUNITY, BUT REALLY TO, TO YOU MA'AM, UH, THAT WE ARE THINKING OF YOU WE'RE WITH YOU. UM, I'M PERSONALLY CANNOT IMAGINE WHAT YOU'RE GOING THROUGH. I HAVE A LITTLE BOY, BUT YOU ARE HIS VOICE RIGHT NOW AND YOUR STRENGTH. WE'LL GET YOUR ENTIRE FAMILY THROUGH THIS, AND WE'RE HERE TO HELP. THANK YOU. COUNCIL MEMBER KAMAN. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. NEXT, ROBERT CAMPBELL. ROBERT CAMPBELL, INGRID, JOHN INGRID ROBINSON. NICOLE RAINA. YES. TO BE FOLLOWED BY ANDREA HOEY. GOOD EVENING COUNCIL MEMBERS. MY NAME IS SELENA REYNA, AND I'M HERE ONCE AGAIN TO ADDRESS AN ONGOING CONCERN ABOUT SPEED BUMPS IN OUR NEIGHBORHOOD. SONG WOOD. I'VE RAISED THIS ISSUE BEFORE, AND UNFORTUNATELY, MY CONCERNS HAVE BEEN IGNORED DESPITE MY EARLIER COMMUNICATION. I HAVE NOT RECEIVED A RESPONSE OR SEEN ANY PROGRESS ON THIS MATTER IN OUR NEIGHBORHOOD SAFETY. FEBRUARY, EARLIER OF THIS YEAR, I STOOD IN FRONT OF YOU, SPOKE TO JOAQUIN MARTINEZ, WHERE YOU ASSURED ME THAT YOU WOULD SEE THAT I WOULD RECEIVE AN IMMEDIATE RESPONSE AFTER WE LEFT THIS MEETING. I HAD RECEIVED, I HAD RECEIVED AN OFFICE, I MEAN A PHONE CALL FROM YOUR OFFICE, STATING THAT WE WERE NEXT IN QUEUE, THAT THE SPEED BUMPS WOULD BE THERE, IMPLEMENTED BY JULY. WE'RE ALREADY IN OCTOBER. THEY'RE STILL NOT THERE. YOU SHOWED UP TO OUR HOA MEETING WHERE WE DISCUSSED IT, WHERE ONCE AGAIN, YOU IGNORED OUR ISSUE AGAIN. OR I HAVE A VIDEO INTERACTION WITH YOU AND YOU CONTINUOUSLY [01:25:01] TO IGNORE THE SITUATION. WE NEED TO KNOW WHAT'S GOING ON WITH THE SPEED BUMPS DUE TO THE SAFETY OF OUR KIDS, BECAUSE WE DO LIVE NEXT TO A HIGH SCHOOL. SO, BEING A FORMER SCHOOL TEACHER, I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW WHAT'S GOING ON AND WHAT'S THE STATUS OF THAT. THANK YOU. NEXT, ANDREA HOEY. ANDREA ROBIN UNDERWOOD. TOM UNDERWOOD, JAYLEN BLOCKER TO BE FOLLOWED BY KYRIE MCCOLLUM. GOOD AFTERNOON, EVERYONE. I AM JAYLEN BLOCKER, AND I'VE LIVED IN HOUSTON OH ONE TWO. SHOULD I SING A SONG? NO, NOT QUITE. UH, GOOD AFTERNOON EVERYONE. MY NAME IS JAYLEN BLOCKER. I'VE LIVED IN HOUSTON FOR ABOUT FOUR YEARS NOW. UM, I CAME HERE TODAY TO CALL FOR SOME GREATER TRANSPARENCY, UH, REGARDING THE BODIES THAT HAVE BEEN DISCOVERED IN THE BAYOU. UH, TOO OFTEN THESE DEATHS ARE VAGUELY ATTRIBUTED TO ACCIDENTS, INTOXICATION, OR MENTAL HEALTH ISSUES, UH, EACH OF WHICH ARE EXPLANATIONS THAT DO NOT GIVE THE PUBLIC CLARITY, UM, OR PEACE OF MIND. AND WITHOUT THIS DETAILED INFORMATION, UH, HOUSTONIANS CANNOT HAVE A FULL UNDERSTANDING OF WHAT'S HAPPENING. WE CANNOT PROTECT OURSELVES, UH, NOR CAN WE WORK WITH OFFICIALS TO IMPROVE SAFETY HERE IN THE CITY. UM, IF THESE ACCIDENTS, FOR INSTANCE, UM, MAYBE WE WANT TO TALK, IF THEY ARE JUST ACCIDENTS, MAYBE WE WANT TO TALK ABOUT A NEED FOR, UH, STRONGER PATROL, FENCING OR PUBLIC WATER SAFETY EDUCATION, UH, IN OUR SCHOOLS, IN OUR CITY. UM, IF DRUGS OR INTOXICATION ARE INVOLVED, WE NEED TO KNOW WHAT SUBSTANCES ARE CIRCULATING. LIKEWISE, AS A MENTAL HEALTH PROFESSIONAL HERE, UM, I WANT US TO BE VERY WEARY ABOUT JUST, UH, UH, ATTRIBUTING THESE ISSUES TO MENTAL HEALTH ISSUES ARE ALSO HOMELESSNESS. AND IF I COULD HAVE 30 MORE SECONDS, I'M THE ONLY ONE I BELIEVE TALKING ON THIS ISSUE, I WOULD APPRECIATE IT. IS THAT OKAY WITH YOU ALL? GO AHEAD. THANK YOU SO MUCH. UM, AND I JUST WANNA URGE US TO REALLY BE AWARE OF THAT BECAUSE, UH, MENTAL HEALTH IS NOT SOMETHING THAT WE SAY, UM, CAN JUST SAY, JUST BECAUSE SOMEONE HAS A MENTAL HEALTH DISORDER, THEY'RE IMMEDIATELY, UH, VIOLENT. AND SO I REALLY, UM, URGE SOME TRANSPARENCY ON THIS ISSUE, UH, SO THAT WE CAN ALL WORK TOGETHER TO MAKE OUR CITY SAFER FOR OURSELVES AND OF COURSE, FOR THE PEOPLE THAT WE LOVE THE MOST. VERY GOOD. THANK YOU. MM-HMM . NEXT. TYRIE. MCCULLUM TO BE FOLLOWED BY ROBERT. OY. HEY, HOW ARE YOU GUYS DOING? UM, SO I'M COMING HERE ABOUT A, A MATTER THAT I CAME AND SPOKE WITH YOU GUYS BACK IN APRIL ABOUT, UH, ME AND MY FAMILY. UM, SO I'M A RESIDENT OF, UH, HOUSTON. UH, WENT TO TEXAS SOUTHERN UNIVERSITY IN 2008. UM, I JUST CURRENTLY MOVED BACK HERE LAST YEAR, AND I, IT WAS A SITUATION WHERE, UM, I WAS ON A HOUSING SECTION EIGHT VOUCHER, ME AND MY FAMILY, AND WE WAS WRONGFULLY STRIPPED FROM THAT. I CAME HERE IN APRIL AND SPOKE WITH YOU ALL BEFORE, AND IT WAS SUPPOSED TO BE SOMETHING DONE, SOME TYPE OF JUSTICE THAT WAS DONE BECAUSE I PROVIDED ALL TYPE OF EVIDENCE THAT, UM, MY CASE WAS DISMISSED IN COURT BY A COUNTY JUDGE. AND, UM, I HAD EVIDENCE PROVING THAT, UM, THAT IT WAS, UH, UH, IT WAS FRAUDULENT, UH, DOCUMENTS SUBMITTED FROM MY LANDLORD TO THE HOUSTON HOUSING AUTHORITY AND HOUSTON HOUSING AUTHORITY. A LADY OVER THERE, UM, BY THE NAME OF NICOLE WENT ON AND ACCEPTED THE, UH, I MEAN THE, UH, FRAUDULENT LEASE. AND FROM THERE, I BASICALLY GOT, UH, KICKED OFF THE PROGRAM. YEAH, YOUR TIME HAS EXPIRED. NEXT POLL, SIR. I'M SORRY, SIR. COME BACK UP. SORRY ABOUT THAT. COUNCIL MEMBER POLLARD. THANK YOU, MAYOR. UH, I, I WANT YOU TO, FOR ONE, KNOW THAT WE WE'RE LISTENING TO YOU AND, UH, WE UNDERSTAND YOUR CON CONCERN AND YOUR NEED. WHAT FEEDBACK HAVE YOU, YOU RECEIVED FROM THE, THE HOUSING AUTHORITY? I HAVEN'T GOT ANY FEEDBACK. UM, I CAME HERE AND I, UM, SUBMITTED THE, UH, PAPERWORK THAT YOU ALL REQUESTED FAR AS ON MY END. UM, AND WHO WHO ARE YOU SPEAKING TO? UH, MS. MICHELLE INGRAM. INGRAM, MICHELLE, OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT. OR MITCHUM. YEAH. OKAY. ALRIGHT. SO, UM, LET'S DO A FOLLOW UP SINCE SHE'S HERE, UH, TO SEE WHAT COULD BE THE NEXT STEPS. OKAY. UH, AND THEN WE WILL FOLLOW UP WITH HER TO SEE HOW WE CAN ASSIST. [01:30:01] OKAY. ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU SO MUCH. YOU'RE WELCOME. ALRIGHT, THANKS. NEXT, ROBERT O JULIA ARUNA TO BE FOLLOWED BY RI VENTURA. GOOD AFTERNOON, JUNIA, TEXAS HOUSERS. I STAND BEFORE YOU TODAY TO ASK ABOUT THE APARTMENT INSPECTION ORDINANCE. LANDLORDS CONTINUE TO EVICT THEIR TENANTS IN TRANCHES WHILE BREACHING THEIR OWN LEASE. THE CITY HAS THE DUTY TO PROTECT PEOPLE. TENANTS CANNOT BE FORCED TO PAY RENT AND BE FIGHTING FOR THEIR HEALTH AND WELLNESS. THE REALITY IS THAT THOUSANDS OF TENANTS LIVE IN CLASS C AND D APARTMENTS ACROSS THE CITY, MOLD, PESTS, RATS, BROKEN ELEVATORS, NO AIR CONDITIONING IN TEXAS, HEAT AND THE ENTITLEMENT TO RETALIATE BY PROPERTY MANAGEMENT AND LANDLORDS THEMSELVES, UH, KEEP TENANTS FROM ADVOCATING FOR THE FEAR OF LOSING THE ONE PLACE THAT SHOULD BE THEIR SAFE HAVEN. THEIR HOME PROPERTIES IN EVERY DISTRICT ARE IN THE NEWS REPORTED FOR THEIR UNLIVABLE CONDITIONS AND HOW THE PROPERTY IS ABUSING OF THEIR TENANTS. HOW LONG ARE YOU GONNA ALLOW THESE CON YOUR CONSTITUENTS TO LIVE IN DEPLORABLE CONDITIONS? WE'VE BEEN WAITING ON THIS PROMISE FOR FOUR YEARS. HOW LONG ARE TENANTS GONNA CONTINUE TO WAIT FOR APPROPRIATE CODE ENFORCEMENTS IN THIS CITY? WHAT IS IT GONNA TAKE FOR YOU TO STAND UP AND STAND UP AGAINST THE SLUMLORDS THAT ARE RUNNING HOUSING SCHEMES AND PROFITS? YOUR TIME HAS INSPIRED TO EXPLOIT THE THOUSANDS OF RENTERS THAT ARE COST BURDENED AND DESERVE. COUNCIL MEMBER HOUSING COUNCIL MEMBER, OVER 58% OF THE POPULATION ARE RENTERS WITH 50% OF THEM COST BURDENED. PLEASE BRING THIS ORDINANCE TO A VOTE. THANK YOU. WELL, THANK YOU. THANK YOU, MAYOR TIM. THANK YOU, HOLY FOR BEING HERE. UM, JUST TO GIVE YOU A QUICK UPDATE, WE DID SUBMIT IT TO LEGAL. I WANNA ACKNOWLEDGE COUNCILMAN SHABAZZ, COUNCILLOR POLLARD, AND COUNCILMAN MARTINEZ FOR SIGNING ON TO THE ORDINANCE. AND SO TODAY IS DAY SEVEN. SO THEY HAVE TYPICALLY SEVEN DAYS TO REVIEW THE DOCUMENT TO ENSURE THAT IT'S LEGAL AND THEN IT SHOULD GO ON THE AGENDA. SHOULD WE EXPECT TO SEE SOMETHING BY TODAY? I SURE HOPE SO. I DON'T WANNA OVER PROMISE, BUT YOU KNOW, WE'RE IN DIRECT COMMUNICATION. SO WE WILL, AT FIVE O'CLOCK, I WILL DOUBLE CHECK AND SEE WHAT'S GOING ON, AND THEN WE'LL SEE IF WE CAN GET OFF THE AGENDA FOR NEXT WEEK. YES, WE WOULD APPRECIATE THAT TRANSPARENCY. THANK YOU. I APPRECIATE YOU. NEXT RI VENTURA TO BE FOLLOWED BY LOU SANCHEZ. GOOD AFTERNOON. MY NAME IS RI AND I'M A PROUD HOUSTONIAN AND DACA RECIPIENT. RIGHT NOW, THOUSANDS OF DREAMERS LIKE ME ARE LIVING IN UNCERTAINTY. WE GREW UP IN THIS COUNTRY, WE WORK HERE, WE PAY TAXES, AND YET WE TREAT AS TEMPORARY GUESTS IN THE ONLY HOME WE'VE EVER KNOWN. DID YOU KNOW THAT OVER 80,000 DACA RECIPIENTS LIVE IN RIGHT HERE IN THE GREATER HOUSTON? THAT'S 80,000 PEOPLE WHO ARE CONTRIBUTING TO THE VERY COMMUNITIES THAT MAKE THE CITY THRIVE. AND HERE IN TEXAS ALONE, WE CONTRIBUTE TO MORE THAN 58 MILLION IN STATE AND LOCAL TAXES ANNUALLY. WE'RE NOT JUST PART OF THE SYSTEM. WE ARE HELPING SUSTAIN IT TO OUR LEADERS. I'M ASKING YOU TO USE YOUR PLATFORM AND PUBLICLY ASKED TO PROTECT AND PUSH FOR PERMANENT LEGALIZATION OF DACA. THIS PROGRAM ISN'T JUST POLICY, IT'S PEOPLE. IT'S YOUNG PROFESSIONALS WHO CALL HOUSTON HOME. IT'S TIME FOR OUR LEADERS TO BE BOLD AND SHOW THAT HOUSTON IS NOT FOR UNCERTAINTY. IT'S NOT FOR FEAR, BUT HOPE. THANK YOU. NEXT CASTILLO. OH, I'M SORRY. COUNCILMAN MA'AM. COUNCILMAN CASTILLO. THANK YOU MAYOR. AND THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR BEING HERE TO SPEAK UP FOR DACA RECIPIENTS. UM, I KNOW YOU'RE A DISTRICT H RESIDENT AND I APPRECIATE YOU AND YOUR COMMENTS. I DO HAVE SOMEBODY FROM MY TEAM THAT'S GONNA COME VISIT WITH YOU TO SEE HOW WE CAN WORK TOGETHER AND, AND GET MORE OF YOUR IDEAS. YES. THANK YOU. NEXT LU SANCHEZ TO BE FOLLOWED BY LUCRECIA WYNN. GOOD AFTERNOON EVERYONE. MY NAME IS LUPE, UH, LU SANCHEZ. OUR CITY BOAST ITSELF AS THE ENERGY AND HEALTHCARE CAPITAL OF THE WORLD, WHILE ALSO BEING ONE OF THE MOST DIVERSE ACROSS THE NATION. BUT HOW CAN WE BE PROUD OF THIS WHILE SIMULTANEOUSLY GOING AFTER THE MEMBERS OF OUR DIVERSE COMMUNITY? THIS IS CLEARLY RACIAL PROFILING UNDER THE GUISE OF ENFORCING IMMIGRATION LAW. BUT LET ME BE CLEAR, THERE'S NOTHING LEGAL ABOUT WHAT OUR HPD OFFICERS ARE SOMETIMES ASSISTING IN NO FEDERAL LAW. OBLIG OBLIGATES OUR LOCAL POLICE TO REPORT SUBJECTS WITH AN ADMINISTRATIVE WARRANT, WHICH IS NOT THE SAME AS A CRIMINAL WARRANT. THERE'S A DEEP DISCONNECT BETWEEN RHETORIC AND REALITY. US CITIZENS ARE ACTUALLY MORE THAN TWICE AS LIKELY TO BE CHARGED WITH A CRIME IN HARRIS COUNTY THAN ADULTS WHO DON'T HOLD US CITIZENSHIP. THE FEDERAL ADMINISTRATION CONSISTENTLY LIES ABOUT ONLY GOING AFTER THE WORST OF THE WORST. YET OVERWHELMINGLY, THE PEOPLE THEY'RE TARGETING FOR ARREST HAVE ZERO CRIMINAL HISTORY. IF THE DATA DOESN'T APPEAL TO YOU, THEN LET ME SHARE HOUSTONIAN PUBLIC OPINION. [01:35:01] NEARLY 10,000 HOUSTON AREA RESIDENTS WERE SURVEYED THIS YEAR, AND MAJORITY ARE AGAINST MASS DEPORTATIONS. THE RECORD SHOWS THAT IN A POLICE FORCE OF MORE THAN 5,200 OFFICERS, JUST A DOZEN OFFICERS ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR ROUGHLY ONE THIRD OF THE CALLS THAT THE DEPARTMENT HAS. YOUR, YOUR TIME HAS EXPIRED. CAN I HAVE 30 MORE SECONDS PLEASE? ONE OFFICER ALONE HAS CALLED IMMIGRATION AGENTS AT LEAST EIGHT TIMES SINCE JANUARY. NONE OF THE INCIDENT REPORTS, UH, THAT HE HAS FILED INCLUDE ANY DETAILS ABOUT WHY HE STOPPED, UH, THE SUBJECT. SO IT IS VERY CLEAR THAT THIS IS MORE OF THE SAME RHETORIC THAT WE'RE HEARING FROM THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT COMING DOWN TO OUR LOCAL GOVERNMENT. AND WE NEED TO OPPOSE THIS AND WE NEED TO STEP UP AND BE, YOU KNOW, SUPPORTIVE OF ALL OF OUR DIVERSITY THAT WE HAVE IN OUR COMMUNITY. AND I WOULD TRULY APPRECIATE EVERYONE'S BUY-IN ON THIS BECAUSE WE SHOULD NOT BE GUIDE GUIDED BY HAPPENING FEDERALLY. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. NICK RECIA WYNN. THAT'S ME. HI, I AM RECIA ALLEN WYNN. UM, I WAS HOPING TO SPEAK WHILE MY COUNCILMAN WAS IN THE ROOM, BUT HE'S MIA AS USUAL. UM, I'M A RESIDENT OF THE EAST END AND PLACED IN A SUPER HUB HOMELESS SHELTER THAT SERVES SEVERELY ADDICTED INDIVIDUALS AND MENTAL ILL AND SEXUAL OFFENDERS. JUST A FOURTH OF A MILE FROM BAYLOR COLLEGE OF MEDICINE, RUSSELL MIDDLE SCHOOL. IT'S NOT JUST IRRESPONSIBLE, IT'S DANGEROUS. YOU'RE CREATING A SITUATION WHERE THE CITIZENS OF THE EAST END WILL BECOME PREY TO PREDATORS. THIS COMMUNITY HAS CARRIED MORE THAN ITS SHARE OF THE CITY BURDENS. LESS THAN 10 YEARS AGO, THE EAST END WAS OVERRUN BY HOMELESS, AND NOW THE CITY SEEMED DETERMINED TO TAKE US BACKWARDS. WE'VE ALREADY WITNESSED TRAGEDY. AN ELDERLY MAN IN THE AREA WAS STABBED TO DEATH BY A MENTALLY I HOMELESS MAN. DESPITE REPEATED COMPLAINTS FROM RESIDENTS ABOUT THE GROWING HOMELESS POPULATION, THE ONLY SOLUTION BEING OFFERED IS TO ADD MORE. HOW DOES THAT MAKE SENSE? THE MAYOR CAMPAIGNED ON A PROMISE TO SUPPORT THE HISPANIC COMMUNITY TO LIFT UP NEIGHBORHOODS LIKE THE EAST END, BUT INSTEAD OF HELPING THESE PLANS WILL DRIVE DOWN PROPERTY VALUE AND STRAIN OUR LIMITED RESOURCES, YOUR TIME HAS EXPIRED STREETS UNSAFE FOR MOTHERS WALKING THEIR CHILDREN AND STUDENTS BIKING TO SCHOOL. THANK YOU. NEXT AND NO RESPONSE. REBECCA JONES TO BE FOLLOWED BY ALMA HARRIS THOMPSON. UH, GOOD AFTERNOON. I WOULD ACTUALLY LIKE TO PROPOSE AN ALTERNATIVE TO THE, UM, HOMELESS SHELTER IN THE EAST END. UH, I KNOW, UM, UP IN AUSTIN, THERE IS A GROUP CALLED COMMUNITY FIRST, WHICH HAS ACTUALLY ESTABLISHED A HOMELESS VILLAGE MILES OUT OF THE DOWNTOWN AREA AND OUT THE SEA, WHERE ALL THEIR, THEY CAN HAVE ALL OF THEIR HOMELESS PEOPLE WITH, UH, COMMUNITY HOUSING, UH, RESIDENTIAL, LIKE FOR, UH, MENTAL, TO HELP THEM DEAL WITH THEIR MENTAL ISSUES. UM, THEY CAN HAVE THEIR PETS AND THEIR PARTNERS. THEY DO LIKE ALLOW THEM TO DO, I GUESS PRETTY MUCH WHAT THEY WANT TO DO. BUT SINCE IT'S OF THE SEA, IT WOULD BECOME, YOU KNOW, OF OUR PROBLEM. AND I THINK A SOLUTION LIKE THAT WOULD BE A GOOD THING FOR HOUSTON TO CONSIDER ADOPTING. UH, ESPECIALLY SINCE, UM, HAVING THE HOMELESS IN LIKE IN AROUND THE DOWNTOWN MIDTOWN AREAS MAKES IT DIFFICULT FOR REGULAR TAX PAYING HOUSTONIANS TO WALK IN THE STREETS, DRIVE PROPERLY WITHOUT PEOPLE HARASSING THEM BY COMING OUT. SORRY. THANK YOU. YOUR, YOUR TIME HAS EXPIRED. COUNCILMAN CARTER? ONE SECOND, MA'AM. SORRY. COUNCIL MEMBER. THANK YOU, MAYOR. UM, JUST WANNA SPEAK TO THE SUPER HUB FOR JUST A MINUTE. UM, YOU KNOW, DATA SHOWS AND, AND YOU LIVE IN THE EAST END THAT THE LARGEST CONCENTRATION OF HOMELESS INDIVIDUALS IN THE CITY OF HOUSTON IS IN YOUR AREA. IS THAT CORRECT? UH, I ENCOUNTER THEM EVERY DAY. I SEE FECES AND OTHER DETRIMENTS ON THE SIDEWALK, RIGHT? SO IN, IN, IN ORDER TO, TO, UH, SOLVE A PROBLEM, WE HAVE TO TRY TO PROVIDE SOLUTIONS. YES. SO I TALKED TO SOME OF YOUR COMMUNITY MEMBERS THIS MORNING AND HAPPY TO TALK TO YOU OFFLINE AND GO INTO FURTHER DETAIL WITH ANYONE WHO'S INTERESTED. UM, WITHIN A LESS THAN A HALF MILE RADIUS, WHERE THIS PROPOSED SUPER HUB IS AT FOUR 19 EMANCIPATION. YOU HAVE THE COUNTY JAIL, THE BEACON. YOU FAMILIAR WITH THE BEACON? UH, MY MOM IS, SHE WORKS WITH, UM, YEAH. SO THE BEACON SERVES 250 TO 300 PER DAY ON MEALS. THEY GO AND TAKE SHOWERS THERE, THEY GET MAIL THERE, THEY CAN DO LAUNDRY THERE. NOW, KEEP IN MIND, WITHIN A HALF MILE RADIUS, OKAY? MM-HMM . SO THE BEACON, WE'VE GOT THE JAIL, WE'VE GOT THE SOBERING CENTER. ARE YOU FAMILIAR WITH THAT? NO, BUT I AM FAMILIAR WITH, WE HAVE CAREER AND [01:40:01] RECOVERY. WE HAVE LORD OF THE STREET, RIGHT? BUT RIGHT WITHIN A HALF A MILE OF THIS, OF THE, OF THE FOUR 19 EMANCIPATION SOBERING CENTER, WE'VE GOT, UH, THE HOT TEAM WORKS RIGHT OUT OF THAT SAME FACILITY. MM-HMM . UH, WE'VE GOT SEARCH HOMELESS, UM, YOU KNOW, NO ONE'S FAILED TO, TO ACKNOWLEDGE THAT LOAVES AND FISHES STOPPED THEIR, UH, SERVICE ON APRIL 1ST. THAT WAS KIND OF THE FIRST DOMINO IN ADDRESSING THE STREET HOMELESS. YOU KNOW, THIS PROJECT, UM, HAS BEEN, YOU KNOW, FINDING THE RIGHT PLACE HAS BEEN IN THE WORKS FOR A LONG TIME. IT'S ONE OF MANY LOCATIONS. YOU CAN'T VERY WELL ADDRESS A PROBLEM IN A COMMUNITY UNLESS YOU GO INTO THE COMMUNITY. WE CAN'T TAKE HOMELESS OUT OF YOUR COMMUNITY AND TAKE THEM OUT TO FORT BEND COUNTY OR TO KATY OR SOMETHING TO SOLVE THAT. WE'VE GOT TO ADDRESS THAT TO GET THEM OFF THE STREETS, THOSE, AND GET THEM TO THE RIGHT RESOURCES. RIGHT? IT'S, UH, THIS IS, THE PROPOSAL IS NOT A SHELTER, IT'S A NAVIGATION CENTER. IT'S A COMPASS FOR PEOPLE TO FIND THE WAY TO FIND, TO TRY TO DIRECT PEOPLE AND TO WHERE THEY NEED TO BE TO SEEK HELP. WHETHER IT'S MENTAL HEALTH, WHETHER IT'S SUBSTANCE ABUSE, SECURITY IS THE NUMBER ONE PRIORITY FOR THIS FACILITY. AND THIS IS ONE OF MANY FACILITIES. IF WE'RE GOING TO ADDRESS RESPITE CARE, WE NEED TO GO TO THE MEDICAL CENTER WHERE THEY'RE TURNED OUT EVERY DAY, RIGHT? MM-HMM . SO, YOU KNOW, CLEARLY I CAN PROBABLY TALK ALL DAY ABOUT IT BECAUSE I'M VERY PASSIONATE ABOUT IT, BECAUSE I KNOW THAT IN YOUR COMMUNITY IT IS A PROBLEM. YOU JUST DETAILED WHAT YOU WALK THROUGH, WHAT YOU WALK AROUND. YEAH. AND WE ARE DESPERATELY TRYING TO ADDRESS THAT ONE STEP AT A TIME. I KNOW THAT THE MAYOR IS COMMITTED AND DIRECTOR NICHOLS, CHIEF SATTERWHITE AND MANY OTHERS WORKING TOGETHER TO GET THIS SOLVED. SO I THINK IF RATHER THAN, YOU KNOW, WE, WE TEND TO SEE WHAT THE MEDIA POST AND WHAT THE MEDIA SHARES, BUT WE REALLY NEED TO TAKE A, A HARD LOOK AT TO WHAT WE'RE AS TO WHAT WE'RE TRYING TO DO VERSUS WHAT THE PERCEPTION MAY BE BASED ON MEDIA COVERAGE. THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE. OH, THANK YOU. UM, MAY I RESPOND TO THAT OR? OF COURSE. UH, SO WHAT, WHAT I WAS LIKE HOPING TO PROPOSE WAS ALSO MOVING ALL OF THOSE SOCIAL SERVICES OUT OF THE DOWNTOWN MIDTOWN AREA, BECAUSE THAT'S THE REASON WHY THEY'RE THERE. BECAUSE THEY HAVE ALL THOSE SOCIAL SERVICES LIKE RIGHT DOWN MAIN STREET, CAROLINE STREET TEAMING WITH HOMELESS PEOPLE. THEY DON'T WANNA GO IN THE SHELTERS BECAUSE THEY CAN'T DO DRUGS THERE OR, YOU KNOW, EVERYTHING ELSE THAT THEY WANNA DO. BUT IF WE MOVE ALL OF THAT OUT INTO A, LIKE THE BOONIES KIND OF, IT DOESN'T NECESSARILY HAVE TO BE A DIFFERENT KIND OF JUST OUT THE HEART OF THE CITY WHERE PEOPLE LIKE ME PAY EXTRA TAXES TO LIVE WHERE I LIVE AND STILL HAVE TO DEAL WITH ALL OF THIS. IF WE MOVE ALL OF THAT OUT, ALL THOSE SOCIAL SERVICES, ALL THOSE THINGS THAT, YOU KNOW, THAT THEY NEED TO, AND HAVE IT AS A COMMUNITY JUST FOR THEM AWAY FROM OUR PUBLIC TRANSPORT, SO THAT THOSE OF US WHO DO LIVE IN THE CITY CAN ACTUALLY ENJOY LIVING IN THE CITY AND FEEL LIKE THE EXTRA TAXES THAT WE PAY TO LIVE IN PROXIMITY TO DOWNTOWN ARE ACTUALLY, YOU KNOW, WORTH IT. THAT WOULD BE A VERY NICE THING TO DO. WELL, WELL, I, UH, I WOULD IMAGINE THAT IF WE COULD MOVE ALL THE SERVICES ELSEWHERE, WE COULD CHOOSE TO DO THAT, BUT I THINK THE COMMUNITIES WOULDN'T LIKE THAT EITHER. BUT I THINK, YOU KNOW, WE'RE, WE'RE LOOKING AT DEALING WITH HOMELESSNESS AROUND THE CITY. WE'VE GOT TO START SOMEWHERE. YEAH, WE DO. AND WE START WHERE THE CONCENTRATED PRO, YOU KNOW, PROBLEM IS AND TRY TO ADDRESS THAT AS WE CAN. AND SO UNDERSTANDING YOUR SUGGESTIONS ARE ALL FINE. AND WELL, I SEE COUNCIL MEMBER THOMAS OVER THERE IS KINDA CONCERNED ABOUT HER NEIGHBORHOOD A LITTLE BIT BECAUSE YOU CAN'T JUST MOVE PEOPLE OUT AND MOVE RESOURCES OUT. UM, I'M HAPPY TO DON TO TAKE TOO MUCH TIME. I'M HAPPY TO NO, IT'S OKAY. I DON'T THINK ANYBODY'S GONNA CHANGE YOUR MIND TODAY, BUT THANK YOU. YOU'RE ENTITLED TO YOUR OPINION. BUT HAVING SPENT LITERALLY HOURS, I CAN ALMOST GUARANTEE YOU THAT YOU WILL LIKE THE OUTCOME OF CREATING THE LIFESTYLE RESIDENCES THAT WE ARE, YOU WON'T BE DEALING WITH URINATION ON THE STREET, YOU WON'T BE DEALING WITH NUDITY. THESE FOLKS ARE GONNA GET THE HELP THAT THEY SO BADLY NEED. AND I WOULD HOPE YOU'D COME BACK IN SIX MONTHS AND TELL US WE WERE RIGHT. PUBLIC SAFETY WILL BE THE HIGHEST PRIORITY. WE'VE TALKED TO RESIDENCES, BUT I DON'T KNOW IF YOU'RE A PART OF THE INITIATIVE, BUT DISRUPTORS HAVE BEEN HIRED TO COME AND SPREAD MISINFORMATION. IF IT WAS THE WAY YOU'RE DESCRIBING IT, COUNCILMAN CARTER, I AND OTHERS WOULD NOT BE PROPOSING THIS IS GONNA MAKE THE COMMUNITY CLEANER, SAFER, AND WE'RE GONNA BE HELPING THE HOMELESS POPULATION. I I DO HOPE THAT, THAT, UM, THAT THAT HAPPENS. I JUST, UM, YOU KNOW, I KNOW LIKE [01:45:01] A GREAT THING THAT YOU WERE TALKING ABOUT WAS LIKE MOVING A BUNCH OF PEOPLE. BUT THE THING IS, WE DO MANAGE TO MOVE PEOPLE EVERY TIME WE HAVE A MAJOR EVENT LIKE THE SUPER BOWL OR LIKE JUST MASTER UP, WE MANAGE TO MOVE THEM OUT. THIS IS NOT A PART OF THAT. WHERE DID THEY GO? ? NO MA'AM. THIS IS A LIFESTYLE RESIDENCE AND AS THE COUNCIL MEMBER MENTIONED, THERE'S GONNA BE SEVERAL MORE. WE'RE BEING VERY DELIBERATIVE ABOUT WHERE THEY'RE LOCATED. THIS WAS A SHELTER WHEN IT WAS BROUGHT TO OUR ATTENTION, AND NOW IT'S GONNA BE A LIFESTYLE RESIDENCE. AND I THINK YOU'LL SEE A POSITIVE OUTCOME. OH, I, I HAVE TO AND IF NOT, COME TELL ME I WAS WRONG. OH, WE'LL DO THAT. BUT, BUT WE ARE DOING ALL TYPES OF SAFETY NETS, PUBLIC SAFETY, PROFESSIONAL HELP, AND THEY'RE GONNA BE INSIDE GETTING THE CARE THEY NEED. AND ALSO IT WILL IMPROVE THE QUALITY OF LIFE OF HOUSTONIANS. ALRIGHT. OKAY. THANK YOU. I RESPECT, THANK YOU FOR THAT. I RESPECT YOU. OF COURSE. THANK YOU. OH, COUNCIL CAMAN, JUST A SECOND. THANK YOU, MAYOR. I KNOW THERE'S BEEN A LOT OF BACK AND FORTH. I JUST WANNA ADDRESS THE PERCEPTION IN THE ROOM THAT LOW BARRIER HOUSING CREATES MORE PEOPLE ON THE STREETS BECAUSE, AND MAYOR, YOU HAVE HEARD ME ADVOCATE TIME AND TIME AGAIN FOR THE NEED FOR MORE ZERO BARRIER AND LOW BARRIER HOUSING. WHY? IF SOMEBODY IS USING DRUGS AND WE KNOW THAT THAT IS A MEDICAL ADDICTION THAT NEEDS HELP AND AN INS UH, A NONPROFIT THAT WE LOVE AND RESPECT SAYS, NOPE, YOU CAN'T BE IN HERE. THEY DON'T GO THERE. THEY END UP ON THE STREET WHEN WE HAVE NO BARRIER HOUSING AND WE'RE GETTING PEOPLE INTO HOUSING FIRST. WE KNOW THAT THAT WORKS. AND THAT'S HOW THE CITY OF HOUSTON HAS BEEN ABLE TO LEAD THE COUNTRY IN REDUCING HOMELESSNESS 60% SINCE I BELIEVE 2011. AND WE HAVE A HELL OF A LOT MORE TO DO. BUT WHEN IT COMES TO LOW BARRIER HOUSING, THAT IS THE TYPE OF MODEL THAT WE NEED TO GET PEOPLE OFF THE STREET. WHEN WE SAY, NO, YOU CAN'T BRING YOUR PET OR NO, YOU NEED TO GO TO X NUMBER OF RELIGIOUS SERVICES. AND THAT INDIVIDUAL MAY NOT ABIDE BY THAT PARTICULAR, UH, METHOD OF FAITH THAT IS A RESTRICTION TO THEM GETTING INTO HOUSING AND OFF THE STREET. AND THIS IS THE MODEL WE KNOW WORKS. SO, AND I, I HEAR THE CONCERNS OF THE COMMUNITY. I'M GONNA DEFER, UM, TO THOSE THAT HAVE BEEN VERY INVOLVED IN THESE CONVERSATIONS FOR OVER A YEAR, I BELIEVE, ON THIS PARTICULAR PROPERTY. BUT WHEN WE'RE TALKING ABOUT THE TYPES OF HOUSING THAT WE NEED, I WANNA MAKE SURE WE'RE RESPONSIBLE WITH OUR WORDS BECAUSE LOW BARRIER AND ZERO BARRIER HOUSING IS CRITICAL TO ADDRESSING THE ROOT PROBLEMS OF HOMELESSNESS TO GET PEOPLE OFF OF THE STREETS INTO HOMES AND STABILIZED. YES. THANK YOU. HAVE A GOOD DAY. THANK YOU. COUNCIL MEMBER, UH, NEXT ALMA HARRIS THOMPSON TO BE FOLLOWED BY HAN WYNN. GOOD AFTERNOON EVERYONE. IT'S AN HONOR TO COME BEFORE YOU. MAYOR WHIT MARGO COGS, HUH? ALL RIGHT. YES. , I'VE SEEN YOU AT RELIANT NRG I'VE SEEN YOU AT UNIVERSITY OF HOUSTON AND I SAID THAT TO SAY THIS, I AM A SECURITY GUARD. I AM ALSO A UBER DRIVER. I AM ALSO A FORMER HOMELESS INDIVIDUAL. I AM THE PERSON THAT FORMER MAYOR ANISE PARKER CHOSE ME TO TALK ABOUT HER IN HER LAST STATE OF THE CITY ADDRESS. UH, BEING THAT I WAS HOMELESS, I WAS A ASSISTANT TO A SENIOR VICE PRESIDENT. EVERYBODY HAD THEIR STORY. I GOT LAID OFF THAT THE MERGER, I GOT LAID OFF. I ENDED UP LOST EVERYTHING I OWNED AT 63 YEARS OLD, BEING BLACK WITH DREADLOCKS. I COULD NOT FIND A JOB. SO I LOST EVERYTHING. I ENDED UP HOMELESS. I WAS AT THE STORE OF HOPE WHERE YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT HAVING THIS FACILITY AT, I SAW THE CIRCUMSTANCES THERE. THAT IS NOT GONNA WORK BECAUSE IT'S RIGHT THERE BY THE SOCCER STADIUM. THEY HAVE RULES AT THESE SHELTERS THAT SAY YOU HAVE TO BE SO MANY FEET AWAY FROM THE SHELTER. RIGHT? THESE PEOPLE WOULD GO TWO BLOCKS THIS WAY OR TWO BLOCKS. THAT WAY YOUR TIME MAY FIRED. THE MODEL YOU'RE DESCRIBING IS NOT THE MODEL THAT WE'RE INTRODUCING AS PART OF THE SOLUTION. THERE'S NEVER BEEN ANYTHING LIKE WHAT WE'RE PROPOSING. YES, SIR. IF YOU FEEL THAT IT'S GONNA WORK, THEN I'LL COME BACK AND APOLOGIZE. AND I HOPE AND PRAY THAT IT DOES WORK. I'LL, I'LL STAY IN TOUCH WITH YOU. I'LL GIVE YOU A TOUR OF IT. I WOULD TO HAVE YOUR, I WOULD BE GLAD TO DO THAT. LIKE TO HAVE YOUR FEEDBACK. MM-HMM . I'D BE GLAD TO DO THAT. BUT SINCE WE'VE HAD SO MANY PEOPLE, WE BEST PROFESSIONALS. HMM. WE GOT THE BEST PROFESSIONALS IN THE MED CENTER HELPING US. THAT'S A GOOD THING. YES MA'AM. SAFETY, BECAUSE LIKE Y'ALL SAY, YOU GOTTA [01:50:01] GET TOUGH. THE HIGHEST PRIORITY SAFETY. YOU WILL BE PROUD. I, I WANNA BE PROUD. AND JUST LIKE I SAID, Y'ALL SAY GET TOUGH ON CRIME. WE LIKE, I NEED TO GET TOUGH ON HOMELESSNESS AND QUIT MAKING EXCUSES BECAUSE NOT ALL OF THESE PEOPLE ARE MENTALLY ILL. BEING THAT I WAS IN THAT. SEE, HAVE ANY ONE OF YOU EVER BEEN HOMELESS? I SAW IT FROM THIS SIDE. 80% OF THESE PEOPLE DON'T WANT RESPONSIBILITY. YEAH. I HEARD YOUR STATEMENT THAT YOU CAN'T FORCE 'EM OFF THE STREET. MAYOR LEE P BROWN PUT AN ORDINANCE IN TO SAY THERE WAS NO, NO PANHANDLING. DID THAT HAVE AN EXPIRATION DATE ON IT. SO, BUT ANYWAY, LIKE I SAID, I HOPE IT WORKS AND I HOPE I CAN COME BACK AND SAY THAT I'M PROUD OF, OF WHAT YOU'VE DONE. OKAY. WE'RE TRYING TO PREVENT PEOPLE FROM, SHE WAS THE FIL THAT'S IN OUR STREET. IF Y'ALL DON'T GET THIS CITY CLEANED UP, HOUSTON IS IN FOR A MAJOR FLOOD. THANK YOU. YOU GOT ENOUGH MATTRESSES ON THE STREET IN HOUSTON AND IF THEY WERE WORTH ANYTHING, WE PUT MATTRESS MAX OUTTA BUSINESS. Y'ALL HAVE NEXT HAN WIN. OH, JOSEPH BALLARD. CHRISTOPHER JENKINS. ANNETTE JEFFERSON MANISHA GATE TO BE FOLLOWED BY CHANEL THREADGILL. OKAY. AND THE IS GONNA BE HERE. YEAH. SO THEY CAN HEAR YOU. GOOD AFTERNOON ALL. AND BEL MAYOR, JUST, I WANNA MYSELF, MANISHA GARY, I JUST WANNA INTRODUCE MYSELF AS A, JUST NOW I'M LEGALLY BLIND BECAUSE OF THE SURGERY WAS DONE IN THE 2021. AND BECAUSE OF THAT I LOST MY EYESIGHT. AND THE THING IS, DOCTOR MASTER SURGERY, UH, WITH THE REASON OF THE SPREAD OIL IN MY EYE FROM THAT TIME, I'M NOT ABLE TO SEE IN MY LEFT, UH, RIGHT EYE AND THE LE LEFT EYE. I HAVE 20% VISION, BUT I'M LOOKING FORWARD OPPORTUNITY FOR, TO SURVIVE MYSELF ON MY FEET. SO I'M LOOKING FORWARD FOR A SMALL JOB AND THE OPPORTUNITY TO LIVE A SIMILAR LIFE WITH OTHERS AS A SOCIAL MEMBER OF THE COMMUNITY. AND THE THING IS, THE ISSUE WAS HAPPENED ON THE MONTH OF MARCH WITH MY HUSBAND WAS DEPORTED FROM SECOND TIME WITH THE ABUSE OF THE CBP OFFICER. AND HE HAVE A APPROVED VISA. AND JUST FOR HE WANNA, YOUR, YOUR TIME HAS EXPIRED. I REQUEST FOR ONE MINUTE, ONLY THE LAST POINT I WANNA COVER. JUST, UH, HE ABUSE WITH THAT. AND THE, UH, OFFICER, UH, DENIED HIS ENTRY WITH THE APPROVED VISA AND HE HAVE A WRITTEN TICKET TOO. SO EVERYTHING WAS THERE AND HE IS DEPORTED HIS ENTRY AND HE WAS HOME BACK. SO I REALLY LEGALLY WANT HIS HELP WITH THE APPROVAL AND BECAUSE I RESPECT THE LAW AND EVERYTHING, SO ALWAYS HE COME WITHIN A TIME PERIOD. HE FOLLOW THE RULES AND REGULATION AND THEY DENY HIS ENTRY. SO THE REASON I REQUEST TO AL MAYOR JUST GIVE ME A PARTICULAR DIRECTION AND A SMALL PART-TIME JOB OR TO SURVIVE MYSELF. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. NEXT CHANEL THREADGILL, CYNTHIA SINGLETON TO BE FOLLOWED BY SHEDRICK PATTERSON. UM, I HAVE, SORRY, I BELIEVE I HAVE, DO I HAVE A MINUTE OR THREE MINUTES? OKAY. SO, UM, SO I'M HERE TO SPEAK AGAINST THE ABANDONMENT OF POLK STREET. AND MY QUESTION IS, UH, TO SEE WHETHER THE COUNCIL HAS ACTUALLY DONE AN ANALYSIS ON CURRENT GRB ATTENDING NUMBERS AND CONFERENCE CONTRACT REVENUE FOR THE PERIODS OF 2016 TO 18 AND 22 TO 24, I DID SOME RESEARCH AND OF THE 14 GRB EVENTS THAT I RESEARCHED AND DOCUMENTED IN THE CHART THAT I'VE PROVIDED FROM PUBLICLY AVAILABLE DATA, IT SHOWS THAT FIVE EVENTS EITHER HAVE FLAT OR DECREASING ATTENDANCE AND ONLY THREE EVENTS SHOW MODEST INCREASED ATTENDANCE AND ONLY ONE EVENT, WHICH WAS A SMALL ONE DOUBLED ITS NUMBERS TWO, 3,500 PARTICIPANTS. PROJECTED ATTENDANCE NUMBERS FOR EVENTS AT THE GRB ARE CONSISTENTLY INFLATED BY [01:55:01] BOTH HOUSTON FIRST AND EVENT PROMOTERS. MOST CLEARLY. WE SAW THIS WITH THE OT RAMA IN 2024 WHEN THEY SAID 140,000 WERE COMING WHEN ONLY 80,000 WERE REPORTED. BUT THAT'S NOT CONFIRMED REPORTED ATTENDEES. FOR EXAMPLE, THE QUILT SHOW IS REGULARLY PREDICTED TO HAVE TH 55,000 PEOPLE WHEN ONLY YOUR TIME HAS EXPIRED. ONLY ATTENDANCE IS 35,000. SO UNLESS THE COUNCIL HAS ACTUALLY LOOKED AT REAL NUMBERS OF ATTENDANCE FOR PAST EVENTS AND THE AMOUNT THAT THOSE EVENTS PAID IN THE CONTRACT TO RENT THE GRB, THERE'S NO JUSTIFICATION TO SADDLE THE CITY WITH $2.9 BILLION. THANK YOU. NEXT SHERICK PATTERSON, TAMARA PAGE. MARIAN SCOTT, CHRISTOPHER CATO, LSA MAUK TO BE FOLLOWED BY STEVE WILLIAMS. HELLO, . GOOD AFTERNOON, Y'ALL. UM, HEY MAYOR JOHN MEYER AND EVERYONE HERE, UH, SUCH AN HONOR TO BE HERE. UM, NOBODY HAVE BEEN FOLLOWING UP WITH ME. I'VE SEEN HPD CARS ILLEGALLY PARKED, WHICH HAVE PICTURES OF IT ILLEGALLY PARKED IN A SIDEWALK. AND I'M JUST WALKING, I'M A RESIDENT, UH, IN MIDTOWN. AND SO I CALL IT KIND OF A LITTLE BIT 9 1 1 BECAUSE THAT IS A CON MAJOR CONCERN AROUND THE CITY. 'CAUSE YOU KNOW, ENOUGH, AN AN OFFICER EVEN VIOLATED THE DEPARTMENT'S POLICY BECAUSE THE CASE WERE INSIDE, THAT'S A VIOLATION OF THE DEPARTMENT'S POLICY. WHAT IF SOMEBODY STOLE A CAR THAT IS, THAT IS A VIOLATION THAT NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED. AND SO, YEAH, I JUST FILED A LAWSUIT ON THE CITY AND I'M REQUESTING BODY-WORN CAMERAS BECAUSE I REQUESTED, UM, YOUR TIME IS EXPIRED. SORRY ABOUT THAT. BUT I REQUESTED TO THE RECORDS THEY'RE OVER. YOU GUYS NEED TO CHECK OVER THE, YOU KNOW, THE RECORDS. THEY'RE OVER EXCEEDINGLY CHARGING ME AND WAITING 220 DAYS JUST TO GET A DELAY. OKAY? AND I'M HERE. I, I NEED, I NEED TO GET WITH THE SENIOR ATTORNEY TO GET THIS RESOLVED, OKAY? THIS, THIS, THIS DISPUTE BECAUSE WE WE'RE GOING COURT ON MONDAY AND GOOD LUCK. THIS IS NOT RIGHT. I SEE EVERYONE, THEIR RIGHTS ARE BEING VIOLATED. THAT IS INCORRUPTIBLE. THAT'S NOT RIGHT. THANK YOU. OUR RIGHTS ARE NEEDS TO BE PROTECTED. YOU'RE OKAY. THANK YOU. YOU'RE WELCOME. KEEP THE CITIZENS' RIGHTS THE RIGHT WAY AND PROTECT THEM. NEXT STEVE WILLIAMS, I THINK IS HERE. SARAH HIRSCH AND ANOTHER THING TO BE FOLLOWED BY MARCY INGER. HELLO, MY NAME IS SARAH HIRSCH AND I WANNA EXPRESS MY SUPPORT FOR THE SPEAKERS TODAY WHO SPOKE AGAINST HPDS COOPERATION WITH ICE. WE ARE THE MOST DIVERSE CITY IN THE NATION, AND WE SHOULD BE STANDING TOGETHER AGAINST WHAT ICE IS DOING ON PRINCIPLE ALONE. BESIDES THAT, UM, THE POINT OF MY PREPARED REMARKS WAS THAT TXDOT IS PUBLICLY STATING THAT THEY INTEND TO KEEP POLK OPEN DESPITE HOUSTON FIRST CLAIMS THAT THEY ARE, UH, HAVING WEEKLY MEETINGS WITH TXDOT. WE SUPPORT THE GRB TRANSFORMATION, BUT ONLY IF POLK STAYS OPEN. UH, YOU GUYS ALSO GOT HANDED MAPS. THOSE ARE OFFICIAL MAPS FROM TDOT. UM, MIKE ZEC IS A CONTACT AND PUBLIC LIAISON FOR TEXDOT, IF YOU WANNA CHECK UP AND SEE IF THEY'RE REAL. UM, AND THEY'RE LITERALLY TITLED, UH, TDOT'S REROUTE OF POLK. SO THAT'S ALL. SECOND, LOOKING AT THE MAP, THIS CONFIRMS WHAT I WAS TOLD. SO POLK WILL NO LONGER BE A THOROUGH THREAD THE WAY IT IS ACCORDING TO TDOT. CORRECT. POLK, YOU'LL HAVE TO, YOU'LL HAVE TO DETOUR BACK ON A POLK, GO GO TO THE EAST, GO BACK NORTH, AND THEN GO FURTHER THE WEST. WELL, YOU HAVE TO GO WHERE POLK IS U-TURN AND THEN CONTINUE WHERE POLK IS. BUT IT DOES CLOSE AT THE NEW EXPANSION. THE TDOT'S COMPLETING, I MEAN, DEFER WITH T THE THE STREET IS CLOSING UNDERNEATH THE EXISTING FREEWAY. CORRECT. [02:00:01] AND A BLOCK EAST FROM THAT. BUT THAT IS NOT WHERE, UH, HOUSTON FIRST WANTS TO BE CLOSING POLK. UH, UNDERSTOOD. IT'S, THIS IS ESSENTIALLY A QUESTION OF TIMING AND THE LOCATION WHERE YOU WOULD BE ABLE TO PICK BOTH POLK BACK UP AT, I MEAN, ARE YOU GONNA BUILD A BRIDGE OVER GRB IF WE, IF THEY BUILD THERE? NO, WHAT I'M SAYING IS THAT THEY, YOU WOULD HAVE TO PICK POLK BACK UP A BLOCK LATER THAN WHAT YOU WOULD DO ACCORDING TO THE OWN MAP THAT YOU'VE SHOWN US. I DON'T UNDERSTAND WHAT YOUR POINT IS. WHAT, WHAT I'M SAYING IS POLKS NOT GONNA BE A THOROUGHFARE REGARDLESS OF WHAT HAPPENS AT GRB. NO, HE'S CORRECT. HE'S SAYING THAT THERE WAS AN AGREEMENT BETWEEN TDOT AND THE CITY, UH, TO KEEP PORK OPEN. YES, MA'AM. JUST LIKE THE, THE MAP SAYS, YEAH, TDOT IS KEEPING POLK OPEN. THE ONLY PEOPLE WHO ARE TRYING TO CLOSE POLK IS, UH, HOUSTON FIRST AND THE MAYOR. SURE. WELL, THAT'S NOT WHAT THE FACTS SHALL AS THE COUNCIL. I'M LITERALLY SHOWING YOU FACTS. OFFICIAL MAPS FROM T. YES MA'AM. THANK YOU. NEXT. MARCY INGER. HI EVERYONE. I'M MARCY INGER. PEOPLE FOR POLK HAS SHOWN FACTUALLY HOW THE PLAN FAILS TO ADDRESS TRANSPORTATION ACCESS AND ALSO HOW THE LEGAL REQUIREMENTS ARE NOT YET COMPLETE. VOTERS HAVE SPOKEN OUT TO INSTAGRAM SHOWS A WHOPPING 60,000 SOCIAL MEDIA ENGAGEMENTS IN JUST THE LAST 30 DAYS. REDDIT POSTS ON THIS TOPIC AVERAGE 25,571 EACH. AND OF COURSE YOU GUYS KNOW THERE WERE OVER 200 JRC COMMENTS AGAINST THE PLAN. STATE REP JOLANDA JONES, SENATOR BORIS MILES, ANDRE, CHRISTINA MORALES HAVE WEIGHED IN ON OUR SIDE AS WELL. PUBLIC WORKS HAS ACKNOWLEDGED THAT THE JRC PROCESS WAS NOT DESIGNED FOR A PROJECT OF THIS SCALE. MICHAEL HECKMAN HIMSELF SAID, AND I QUOTE, PEOPLE KEEP ASKING ME IF WE CAN BUILD OVER POLK STREET. AND THE ANSWER IS YES, OF COURSE WE CAN. THERE IS A BETTER WAY. PLEASE PUT HOUSTONIANS FIRST AND KEEP POLK OPEN. AMY ERICKSON TO BE FOLLOWED BY IAN LAVA. GOOD AFTERNOON, MAYOR AND COUNSEL. SPECIAL INTEREST IN SUITS WERE LURED HERE TODAY WITH CANNED TALKING POINTS BECAUSE THEY STAND TO GAIN FROM THE RECOMMENDED 800 ROOM HOTEL AND THE FE. THE FEASIBILITY STUDY ASSUMES WILL BE OPERATIONAL IN THREE YEARS. IF THERE'S NO SITE, NO DEVELOPER, NO TAX ABATEMENT. DETAILS THAT PROJECTED $20 BILLION IN SPENDING DEPENDS ON BOTH THE GRB SOUTH BUILDING AND THE 800 ROOM HOTEL. WHAT HAPPENS IF THAT HOTEL DOESN'T MATERIALIZE THE CITY? AND, UH, TO FURTHER HIGHLIGHT THE DISTINCTION BETWEEN THE HAVES AND THE HAVE NOTS, THE CITY AND TEXT DOT WERE PREVIOUSLY SUED OVER I 45 EXPANSION IMPACTS ON MINORITY COMMUNITIES. A CONSENT DECREE RESULTED PRESERVING POLK STREET ACCESS. ABANDONING POLK CONTRADICTS THAT LEGALLY BINDING AGREEMENT AND EXPOSES THE CITY TO LITIGATION RISKS. THESE SAME COMMUNITIES ALREADY BEAR THE BRUNT OF HIGHWAYS AND INDUSTRIAL FACILITIES. THIS IS ENVIRONMENTAL INJUSTICE. A REDESIGN, GRB THAT BUILDS OVER AND OR UNDER POLK WOULD BE A WIN FOR HOUSTON FIRST IN THE COMMUNITY. UM, TO, TO ADDRESS COUNCIL MEMBER CAYMAN'S QUESTION EARLIER ARE ASKED THAT, UH, POLK WOULD NOT BE CLOSED UNTIL THERE'S MEANINGFUL COMPROMISE FOR HOUSTON COMMUNITIES. YOUR TIME HAS EXPIRED. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. NEXT IAN LAVA TO BE FOLLOWED BY LISA HUNT. GOOD AFTERNOON. UH, RECENTLY A NUMBER OF MY PROFESSIONAL COLLEAGUES IN TRANSPORTATION AND PUBLIC SAFETY HAVE REACHED OUT PERSONALLY THANKING ME FOR SPEAKING UP PUBLICLY ABOUT THE PO CLOSURE. THEY, UH, CAN'T SEE ANY REASON WHY THIS CLOSURE IS EVEN ON THE TABLE. UNFORTUNATELY, THEY CAN'T SPEAK OUT BECAUSE THEY'RE FEARFUL OF LOSING THEIR JOBS OR THEIR CONTRACTS WITH ALL THE GOVERNMENT ASSOCIATIONS. SO THIS IS THE PROFESSIONAL ORGANIZATIONS. AND THE REASON I'VE COME OUT AGAINST THIS IS THAT THIS WILL CAUSE SO MANY PROBLEMS FOR HOUSTON, FOR THE EAST END AND THE TRAFFIC STUDY OF WHICH I AM AN EXPERT CURRENTLY IS IN REVIEW WITH PUBLIC WORKS MAYOR, I'M A TRAFFIC ENGINEER CERTIFIED BY TEXAS, UM, IS IN REVIEW AND IT DID NOT COVER THE EAST END. WE WANT THE TRANSFORMATION TO HAPPEN. WE WANT THIS TO BE A GOOD THING FOR HOUSTON, BUT HOUSTONIANS HAVE TO GET TO IT WITH ALL OF, I HOPE Y'ALL CAUGHT THE VIDEO WE POSTED TODAY THAT OUTLINES HOW THIS WILL CAUSE MAJOR PROBLEMS FOR TXDOT. YOU'VE ALSO HEARD THESE LETTERS FROM STATE REPRESENTATIVES. THIS IS CAUSING UNNECESSARY FRICTION WITH OUR STATE GOVERNMENT. WE NEED A LITTLE BIT MORE TIME TO WORK ALL OF THIS OUT. THERE'S NO REASON TO [02:05:01] RUSH THIS. THANK YOU. YEP. NEXT. GOOD AFTERNOON. I'D LIKE TO, MY NAME IS LISA HUNT AND I'D LIKE TO READ A LETTER FROM SENATOR BORIS MILES, WHO REPRESENTS THIS DISTRICT, MAYOR WHITMEYER, MEMBERS OF THE HOUSTON CITY COUNCIL. AS THE STATE SENATOR REPRESENTING SENATE DISTRICT 13, I'M WRITING AT THE REQUEST OF COMMUNITY LEADERS WHO HAVE EXPRESSED DEEP CONCERN OVER THE PROPOSED CLOSURE OF POLK STREET TIED TO THE GEORGE R. BROWN CONVENTION CENTER EXPANSION AND THE NORTH HOUSTON HIGHWAY IMPROVEMENT PROJECT. THESE NEIGHBORHOODS HAVE MADE IT CLEAR THAT THEY ARE NOT AGAINST PROGRESS, BUT THEY HAVE FELT THAT THE PROCESS HAS NOT BEEN TRANSPARENT AND THAT THEIR VOICES HAVE GONE UNHEARD. POLK STREET IS NOT JUST A ROADWAY, IT IS A VITAL EAST WEST CONNECTOR FOR WORKERS, FAMILIES, EMERGENCY ACCESS AND SMALL BUSINESSES THROUGHOUT THE EAST END AND SURROUNDING COMMUNITIES. I RESPECT RESPECTFULLY URGE THE COUNCIL TO DELAY ANY VOTE ON THE ABANDONMENT OF POLK STREET UNTIL MEETINGS CAN BE HELD WITH THOSE FROM THE AFFECTED COMMUNITY, ALLOWING FOR THEIR INPUT. IT IS IMPERATIVE THE COMMUNITY MUST BE INCLUDED IN THE PROCESS ON PROJECTS SUCH AS THIS. PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT IS A MUST. THANK YOU. COUNCIL JACKSON? MA'AM? MA'AM. COUNCIL MEMBER JACKSON. UM, THANK YOU MAYOR. I HAVE A, UM, QUESTION MAY BEFORE COUNCIL MEMBER MARTINEZ. UM, I KEEP HEARING THAT THERE HAS BEEN NO COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT. AND SO FROM CONVERSATIONS THAT I'VE HAD WITH YOU AND HOUSTON FIRST THAT THERE HAS BEEN, THEY HAVE HAD CONVERSATIONS WITH THE COMMUNITY AND THERE WAS AN AGREEMENT TO, UM, THE COMMUNITY BASICALLY SAID, IF, YOU KNOW, WITH THE LELAND THAT CAN BE, IF THEY CAN GET THAT RUNNING BOTH WAYS, THAT WAS ONE OF THE, UM, SUGGESTIONS THAT THEY MADE. AND SO CAN YOU JUST CLEAR UP, BECAUSE I KEEP HEARING YEAH. NO COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT AND SO YEAH. SO THERE THERE HAS BEEN, UH, COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT. I'VE BEEN IN THREE LARGE PUB PUBLIC MEETINGS. ACTUALLY, UH, LISA, WHO'S WITH US RIGHT NOW, UM, HAS SAT AT THE GRB AS WELL MM-HMM . WITH HOUSTON FIRST. UM, AT LEAST TWO TIMES, MAYBE THREE, UH, WITH MULTIPLE FOLKS THAT HAVE BEEN HERE AS THAT HAVE BEEN SPEAKING. UM, I'VE HAD SEVERAL COFFEES AS WELL, UM, WITH SOME, SEVERAL OF THE FOLKS THAT HAVE BEEN HERE THAT HAVE SPOKEN TODAY. UH, THERE'S BEEN SEVERAL COMM COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT. AND WHAT I HAVE BEEN VERY CLEAR ON, UH, FROM THE GET GO IS THAT EAST WEST CONNECTION IS A PRIORITY. LELAND IS A PRIORITY. UH, WE'RE ALSO LOOKING AT WAYS TO, UH, ADDRESS GRADE SEPARATION. UM, I THINK I SPOKE TO, UH, IAN NOT, UH, A COUPLE WEEKS AGO. UH, WE HAVE THE TERRA 24 THAT IS GONNA LOOK AT A STUDY TO LOOK AT WHAT GRADE SEPARATION AT LELAND, UH, LOOKS LIKE. UM, AND THIS IS NOT THE LAST OF, OF, UH, COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT. UM, I'M WORKING ON SOMETHING WITH THE MAYOR AND HIS TEAM, UH, TO ADDRESS SEVERAL OF THE, UM, UH, NEXT STEPS. MM-HMM . WHEN IT COMES TO LELAND, WHETHER IT'S EAST WEST CONNECTION DOWNTOWN PLUS WHO I'VE SPOKEN TO, UH, CHRIS LARSON SEVERAL TIMES, UH, TO ALSO, UM, YOU KNOW, I BE AT THE TABLE WHEN IT COMES TO MOBILITY STUDY FOR EAST WEST CONNECTION. I'VE SPOKEN TO SEVERAL OF MY COLLEAGUES. SO, UM, I I THINK IT IS PERSPECTIVE AS FAR AS WHAT, WHAT, UM, HOW MUCH COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT, WHAT TYPE OF COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT. UM, I HAVE NOT SHIED AWAY FROM IT. I'VE ADDED, I ADDED CHRIS WHITE, UH, RIGHT TO THE, TO THE SPEAKERS LIST. I'VE, I'VE ADDED SEVERAL PEOPLE FOR POKE TO THE SPEAKERS LIST MM-HMM . UM, SO WE'RE NOT STOPPING ANY OF THIS CONVERSATION. SO I I, I APPRECIATE YOU ASKING. AND THERE ARE SEVERAL FOLKS THAT ARE COMING THAT HAVE BEEN KNOCKING ON MY DOOR THAT I'VE SPOKEN TO. UM, AND SO YEAH, IT, IT, I KNOW THIS IS A TOUGH DECISION, BUT I ALSO, UM, HAVE BEEN VERY CLEAR AND TRANSPARENT ABOUT WHERE I STOOD AND WHAT ARE THOSE STEPS TO MAKE SURE THAT, THAT, WHERE ARE THOSE STEPS TO MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE SEEING EAST WEST CONNECTION. MM-HMM . AND GREAT SEPARATION. OKAY. THANK YOU. NEXT SCOTT SINGLETON TO BE FOLLOWED BY SAVANT MOORE MAYOR AND COUNCIL. THANK YOU FOR ALLOWING ME TO SPEAK TODAY. I'M NOT SPEAKING ON POLK STREET, DESPITE WHAT IT SAYS ON THE LIST. I LIVE LESS THAN HALF A MILE FROM FOUR 19 EMANCIPATION, WHICH TOO MANY PEOPLE KNOW IS THE BABY JAIL. A PATTERN HAS BECOME PAINFULLY APPARENT, SIGNIFICANT DEVELOPS, ADVERSELY AFFECTING THE EAST END, OR NEGOTIATED IN BACK ROOMS WITH PEOPLE WHO FINANCIALLY GAIN FROM THESE DEVELOPMENTS. THE COMMUNITY IS INFORMED LATE AND THOSE DEVELOPMENTS ARE SERVED UP AS DONE DEALS. THE EAST END IS TOLD, SORRY, THE PLANS CAN'T CHANGE. AT THIS LATE DATE. I'D LIKE TO FOCUS ON THE FINANCIAL ASPECTS OF THE PROPOSED TRANSACTION. FOUR 19 HOPE PARTNERS LLC STANDS TO ALMOST TRIPLE ITS MONEY. IN THE SEVEN YEARS IT'S HELD THE PROPERTY TO OUTSIDE VIEWERS. HCD IS USING THE STALKING HORSE BIDDER [02:10:01] IS JUSTIFICATION FOR BUYING THE PROPERTY RIGHT NOW FOR 60% HIGHER THAN ITS INITIAL OFFER AT THE PROPOSED $16 MILLION OFFER. THE WAY IT STANDS, THE CITY IS GOING TO LEAVE MONEY ON THE TABLE. THE CITY IS GOING TO REWARD THE OWNER FOR ALMOST PARTICIPATING IN HUMAN RIGHTS ABUSES. THERE'S A COMMUNITY. YOUR YOUR TIME HAS EXPIRED GAS PARK TONIGHT. CHIEF SATTERWHITE HAS GRACIOUSLY AGREED TO BE THERE TO ADDRESS OTHER COMMUNITY CONCERNS. THANK YOU FOR THE TIME. THANK YOU. YOU OH, COUNCIL RAMIREZ. THANK YOU MAYOR. UH, THANK YOU SCOTT. JUST A QUESTION. WHAT, WHAT DO YOU BELIEVE IS THE VALUE OF THE PROPERTY? I BELIEVE THE VALUE OF THE PROPERTY IS $6.7 MILLION. THE WAY THE HC A'S GOT IT. ALRIGHT. THE $3.5 MILLION THAT THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT THREW IN FOR THE, UH, IMPROVEMENTS WAS MONEY THAT 4 1 9 EMANCIPATION PARTNERS DIDN'T EVEN PAY. SO WHY SHOULD THE CITY BE PAYING THEM FOR IMPROVEMENTS THAT THEY DIDN'T PAY FOR? ALRIGHT, THANK YOU. THANK Y'ALL. NICK SAVANT MOORE TO BE FOLLOWED BY ROY HIRSCH WHEN IT STARTED. MOORE EMMANUEL GONZALEZ GARCIA SEDO MADRE DE JESUS FELICE. MS. DELA REYA. EMMANUEL GON GARCIA BE RETURNED TO HIS MOTHER IN JESUS' NAME. GOOD AFTERNOON. MY NAME IS AVON MOORE. HAPPY HISPANIC HERITAGE MONTH. I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR LAST WEEK FOR TAGGING THIS, UM, COUNCIL MEMBER MARTINEZ. I GOT CALLS, I GOT A TEXT. THEY WERE SO SURPRISED. AND I SAID THAT YOU ACTUALLY DO CARE ABOUT YOUR DISTRICT. I WANT TO THANK OUR STATE LEADERS, REPRESENTATIVE MORALES, REPRESENTATIVE JONES, SENATOR MILES FOR NOT STANDING SILENT, EVEN THOUGH IT'S NOT POPULAR. LET US BE CLEAR. WE DO SUPPORT PROGRESS, BUT NOT AT THE EXPENSE OF ACCESS. IN 1978, THERE WERE EIGHT WAYS TO GET INTO HOUSTON, AND NOW WE ONLY HAVE THREE. WE CANNOT AFFORD TO LOSE ANOTHER. POLK STREET MUST BE OPEN. AND WITH FULL RESPECT, WE MUST NOT DISREGARD THE HARD WORK OF TEXDOT. THERE ARE PEOPLE AND WORKERS WHO MAKE HOUSTON RUN YOUR TIME VISIT LAST WEEK, YOUR TIME COMPROMISE WITH THE STRIKERS. PLEASE CO FIND COMPROMISE WITH THESE PEOPLE, THEIR NEIGHBORHOODS, AND WHERE THEY LIVE. THANK YOU. AND LASTLY, I WOULD LIKE TO THANK THE MAYOR AND MY COUNCIL MEMBER SHABAZZ. 'CAUSE MY CHURCH IS IN SUNNYSIDE. WE'LL CELEBRATE 79 YEARS THIS COMING UP SUNDAY. THANK YOU. TWO, TWO CHILDREN HAD GOT HIT BY A CAR AND BECAUSE OF THEM WITH HOUSTON PUBLIC WORKS, THERE IS NOW A SCHOOL ZONE BEACON. AND SO WHEN WE'RE UP HERE AND WE'RE ADVOCATING, IT'S THE PARTNERSHIP BETWEEN THE GOVERNMENT AND US AS CONSTITUENTS. VERY GOOD. SO I'M GRATEFUL FOR Y'ALL LISTENING. GOD BLESS YOU. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. NEXT ROY HIRSCH TO BE FOLLOWED BY RICHARD GILMORE. MAYOR COUNCIL MEMBERS, THE HUNDRED, UH, ECONOMIC FEASIBILITY STUDY PROVIDED YOU, UH, TO YOU ASSUMES POLK STREET IS CLOSED. BUT WHAT IF IT REMAINS OPEN? HAS ANYONE STUDIED THE ECONOMIC IMPACT OF KEEPING POLK ACCESSIBLE? OF COURSE NOT. BECAUSE HOUSTON FIRST ONLY WANTED ONE ANSWER, A LEGITIMATE FEASIBILITY STUDY EXAMINES MULTIPLE SCENARIOS, COMPARING OPTIONS OBJECTIVELY. THIS STUDY WAS DESIGNED TO JUSTIFY A PREDETERMINED CONCLUSION. WE URGE YOU TO DIRECT HOUSTON FIRST TO COMMISSION AN INDEPENDENT FEASIBILITY STUDY EXAMINING THE ECONOMIC IMPACT OF KEEPING POLK STREET OPEN, BUILDING OVER IT AND PURSUING OTHER ALTERNATIVES. WITHOUT COMPARATIVE ANALYSIS, YOU'RE MAKING A MULTI-BILLION DOLLAR DECISION WITHOUT, WITH INCOMPLETE INFORMATION. GOOD GOVERNANCE REQUIRES EXAMINING ALL REASONABLE OPTIONS, NOT JUST RUBBER STAMPING THE FIRST PROPOSAL PRESENTED. DEMAND BETTER ANALYSIS WITH MORE COMPREHENSIVE INFORMATION AVAILABLE BEFORE VOTING. WE SUPPORT THE GI GRB TRANSFORMATION, BUT ONLY IF POLK REMAINS OPEN. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. NEXT. RICHARD GILMORE, ALEXANDER CARRANZA TO BE FOLLOWED BY MICHELLE EBO. HELLO, MY NAME IS ALEX . TALK ABOUT THE CLOSURE OF POLK STREET. JUST DON'T DO IT. VOTE NO NEXT WEEK. UM, IT'S THAT SIMPLE. REALLY LIKE, UH, CAME IN, COUNCIL MEMBER CAME IN, UH, MENTIONED. WHAT ARE WE ASKING? THAT'S IT, IT IS THAT SIMPLE. REALLY. AND YOU'VE HEARD LIKE WEEKS ON, WEEKS ON WHY THAT IS. RIGHT. AND I MEAN, THEY SEEM LIKE PRETTY IMPORTANT REASONS AND IT JUST DOESN'T MAKE ANY SENSE. I WORK, I'M AN ENGINEER IN THE, IN THE PUBLIC SECTOR. UM, AND I'M CONSTANTLY ATTENDING THESE MEETINGS. AND COMMUNICATION MEANS LISTENING [02:15:01] TO THE PEOPLE, LITERALLY SHOWING THEM THE DESIGN, NOT JUST THE POWERPOINT, ATLANTA, OH, YOU CAN SPEAK FOR A LITTLE BIT, BUT ACTUALLY SHOWING THEM THE DESIGN, TAKING IN THEIR, UH, FEEDBACK AND THEN GOING BACK TO THE DRAWING BOARD AND SAYING, OH, THIS IS WHAT PEOPLE WANT. THIS IS WHAT PEOPLE DON'T WANT. THIS IS HOW WE'RE GONNA BE AFFECTED. BUT THE FACT THAT THEY'RE JUST, Y'ALL ARE JUST GONNA ACCEPT CLOSING. PO STREET IS UNFATHOMABLE WITH ME. LIKE, HOW, LIKE HOW COULD YOU, HOW COULD YOU LET THAT WITHOUT ACTUALLY LISTENING TO US AND GIVING US ALTERNATIVES TO, AND, AND ALTERNATIVE IS NOT JUST, OH, LELAND IS GONNA BE A TWO-WAY STREET. NO, THAT'S NOT HOW IT WORKS. RIGHT? LIKE, THERE NEEDS TO BE TRAFFIC IMPACT ANALYSIS, RIGHT? THERE NEEDS TO BE DESIGN CONSIDERATIONS. SO MANY THINGS. ALSO, YOUR TIME HAS CUSTOMER. MARTINEZ. UM, IF YOU COULD MEET ME OUTSIDE LATER, I WANNA TALK ABOUT, UH, SUNNYLAND, UM, CIVIC ASSOCIATION. UM, THANK YOU. THANK YOU. NEXT, MS. MICHELLE IOR. JACOB CLEMENTI. JACOB BEST, SIR. TODAY I BEGIN WITH AN I IY JOKE, AND THAT IS, AND I WAS WITH THE PRO POKE STREET PEOPLE, AND HE SAID, DON'T TURN POKE INTO A JOKE. YOU DIDN'T HEAR IT? WHAT? I SAID, HEY, I SAID, DON'T TAKE, DON'T TURN, POKE INTO A JOKE. AND ANYWAY, UM, I WANTED TO TALK ABOUT NRG RIGHT NOW BECAUSE, UM, WHILE THE HOTEL WORKERS, THEY GOT A PAY RAISE, BUT WE'RE IN THE HOSPITALITY. AND ALSO BEING A HOST, ALSO US GATEKEEPERS, UM, GATE ATTENDANTS. AND, UM, WHILE WE WOULD LIKE TO SEE MAX GREEN ALSO. THANK YOU, JACOB. IT'S COMING. IT'S COMING. THANK YOU. HAVE A GOOD DAY. I THANK YOU. WORD. HAVE A GOOD DAY. YOUR TIME HAS EXPIRED. HAT'S OFF. ALL RIGHT. WELL, IF YOU AS HAIR'S OFF, THANK I LIKE YOUR SHIRT. I LIKE TO DO CAN DO. IS CUT THAT. OKAY. JOSEPH, AMARI X. WHERE ARE WE DOING TODAY? UH, THIS EVEN FASHION COMPANY, BREAST FIRE AND NEED DESIGN CONCEPT ARE USED BY MANY BRAND NAMES AND HAVE MANY SAYINGS, BUT JUST THE FASHION CONCEPT THEY LOVE THE MOST. ALSO, IN ORDER TO DESIGN PRODUCT, UH, ANYWAY, YOU CAN, BLACK BALL, BLUE BALL, GREEN BALL, DON'T CARE. YOU DON'T PAY ME MONEY, PUT OFF FORM AND YOU CAN'T EVEN HAVE IT ANYWAY. UH, SOMETIMES MY BIGGEST FANS ARE MY BIGGEST HATERS, AND MY HATERS ARE MY BIGGEST FANS. UH, I END UP WITH A GENESIS 19 PROBLEM. BUT WHEN IT COMES TO GLOBAL CREATIVE EXCHANGE, AMERICA'S STANDARD OF LAW MUST BE KEPT WHEN IT COMES TO COPYRIGHT INFRINGEMENT, INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY, TRADEMARKS, AND TRADE SECRETS. WE ALL KNOW OLD R AND B HIT SONGS AND PUNK SONGS COULD BE TRANSFORMED INTO A HIP, HIP HOP, RAP, GANGSTER RAP SONG THAT MUST GET PERMISSION AND A CONTRACT AGREEMENT FOR ANYBODY THAT COULD DUPLICATE THE ORIGINAL ORDER WORK. THEY ALL KNOW IN THE BLACK AMERICA ARTS ENTERTAINMENT BUSINESS COMMUNITY, THAT EVERY STARVING ARTIST COMMUNITY, YOUR, YOUR TIME HAS EXPIRED. CAN I JUST FINISH? I WE GOTTA SPEND TIME. 20 SECONDS. OKAY. 20 SECONDS, 30 SECONDS. THE MOST SECONDS YOU'RE EATING UP. GOOD TIMES. GO FOR IT. OKAY. UH, AT EVERY STARVING ARTIST COMMUNITY, THOSE REQUIREMENTS ARE THE SAME. PROFESSIONAL ARTISTS DO NOT DO THE WORK FOR ART OR SAKE. THEY DO IT FOR THE LOVE OF THE ART FORM MONEY, AND TO MAKE A LIVING WHEN IT COMES. JUST THE FACT COMES DESIGN CONCEPT. IT'S LIKE THE BOOK ONE 101 SEXUAL POSITION. BUT AT THE END OF THE DAY, I ALREADY DID A 1000 DIFFERENT VARIATIONS. I DON'T NEED NO HELP WITH THAT. OKAY. HURRY UP. WE, WE'VE GOT A LONG DAY. BUT WHEN IT COMES TO, WHEN, WHEN IT COMES TO, WHEN IT COMES, NO MATTER HOW MANY CHECKS POSITION UNION WIFE DO IN MAY, SHE'S THE SAME WOMAN WITH OR WITHOUT THE MAKEUP THE NEXT DAY. THANK YOU. WE STAY IN RECESS TILL NINE O'CLOCK IN THE MORNING. ONE MORE SPEAKER. I'M SORRY. WHAT? NO, ONE MORE SPEAKER WHO YOU'VE BEEN THROUGH THE LIST. SHE'S NOT ON THE LIST. AM I COMING UP OR NOT? YEAH, COME ON DOWN, PLEASE. ONE MINUTE. OH, OR 30 SECONDS. STATE YOUR NAME FOR THE RECORD. WHO ARE YOU? MY NAME IS CHRIS WRIGHT. UH, I LIVE, I LIVE OVER IN THE EAST END. OKAY, GO FOR IT. THANKS. UH, SO GOOD AFTERNOON. MY NAME IS CHRIS. UH, AND I'M HERE TO REMIND US OF ONE SIMPLE TRUTH. CITIZENS SHOULD ALWAYS COME FIRST. THIS POLK STREET SITUATION IS A PRIME EXAMPLE OF WHAT HAPPENS WHEN RESIDENTS ARE NOT MEANINGFULLY [02:20:01] CONSIDERED BEFORE MAJOR PLANS MOVE FORWARD. WE'RE LEFT WITH CONFUSION, FRUSTRATION, AND MISTRUST. NOT BECAUSE PEOPLE DON'T SUPPORT GROWTH OR PROGRESS, BUT BECAUSE THEY WERE NEVER INVITED INTO THE PROCESS EARLY ENOUGH TO SHAPE IT. WHEN DECISIONS LIKE STREET CLOSURES, REROUTES, AND WERE REDEVELOPMENT WITHOUT DEEP COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT, THE VERY PEOPLE WHO LIVE, WORK, AND TRAVEL HERE END UP PAYING THE PRICE FOR A PLAN. THEY DIDN'T HELP DESIGN. AND THAT IS WHAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT TO YOUR QUESTION. IT'S NOT ABOUT PROGRESS, OKAY? IT IS ABOUT THE FACT THAT THE PEOPLE WE'RE NOT AT THE TABLE MEANINGFULLY IN THE BEGINNING. AND SO NOW THE CONFUSION THAT Y'ALL FACE IS ABOUT THAT, AND NOTHING MORE THAN [RECESS] THAT. OKAY? HAVE A GOOD EVENING. WE STAND AND RECESS AT NINE IN THE MORNING. OKAY. SEAT YOUR MOTION. COUNSEL, PLEASE [RECONVENE] COME TO ORDER. MAYOR PROTE FOR A MOTION. UH, [MISCELLANEOUS] GOOD MORNING. THANK YOU, MAYOR. I'D LIKE TO, UH, SUSPEND THE RULES AND, UH, TAKE ITEM FOUR, FIVE, AND SIX OUT OF ORDER. I SECOND. MOTION MADE. AND SECOND. ALL IN FAVOR? SAY YES. THOSE OPPOSED NO. MOTION PASSES. I, ITEM FOUR IS, UH, THE CONFIRMATION OF MR. SECRETARY. IS HE GONNA CALL HIS OWN ITEM? I, I AM, I I AM. ITEM FOUR ON ITEM FOUR. IS THERE A MOTION? CASTEX, TM MOVE. SECOND. MOTION MADE AND SECONDED BY ALL OF US. UH, ALL IN FAVOR SAY YES. THOSE OPPOSED NAY. WHERE DID PAT GO? , TROY. TROY, YOU'LL, YOU'LL NEVER BE A PAT, BECAUSE THOSE WERE BIG SHOES TO FILL, BUT I, WE'VE ALL BEEN SO PLEASED. YOU HAVE A TOUGH JOB, A LOT TOUGHER THAN YOU MAKE IT APPEAR. AND I WANNA PERSONALLY THANK YOU FOR YOUR PUBLIC SERVICE ON BEHALF OF ALL OF US. AND, UH, THE BEST IS YET TO COME. YES, SIR. THANK YOU. YES, SIR. THANK Y'ALL. COUNCIL, LOOK AT THERE. Y'ALL NOT GOING TO OUTDO US. , CONGRATULATIONS. CONGRATULATIONS. COUNCILMAN POLLARD. THANK YOU MAYOR. AND GOOD MORNING TO EVERYONE. TROY, I JUST WANT TO, UH, CONGRATULATE YOU ON A WELL DESERVED APPOINTMENT. UH, I KNOW THIS IS SOMETHING, UM, THAT YOU WERE HOPING WOULD COME TO PASS. UH, YOU HAVE AN INCREDIBLE STAFF. I SEE PAT DANIELS OUT THERE AS WELL. I WANT TO GIVE YOU A SHOUT OUT. UM, BUT THIS IS SOMETHING MAYOR, THAT I THINK, UH, NEEDED TO BE DONE. SO THANK YOU FOR MAKING IT HAPPEN. UH, TROY, YOU'VE BEEN, UM, A SUPREME PROFESSIONAL IN EVERYTHING THAT YOU'VE DONE. UH, THE WAY THAT YOU CARRY YOURSELF, THE WAY THAT YOU MOVE THESE MEETINGS, THE WAY THAT YOU COMMUNICATE, IT'S A VALUE TO US ALL. SO, CONGRATULATIONS, AND I THINK THIS MAKES YOU THE FIRST AFRICAN AMERICAN MALE, ONLY THE SECOND MALE TO EVER HAVE THIS POSITION. SOMEONE A LONG TIME AGO, UH, WAS, UH, THE FIRST MALE, BUT YOU'RE THE FIRST AFRICAN AMERICAN MALE. SO YOU'RE MAKING HISTORY TODAY AND CONGRATULATIONS. GOD BLESS YOU. COUNCIL MEMBER CASTEX TATUM. THANK YOU, MAYOR. FIRST OF ALL, LET ME JUST SAY TO OUR FORMER CITY SECRETARY, PAT DANIELS, YOU SET THE STANDARD BECAUSE I WATCHED YOU PREPARE TROY. WE WOULD COME IN AND, UH, EVEN WHEN HE DIDN'T WANNA DO IT, YOU WOULD TELL HIM, NO, YOU'RE DOING IT TODAY. AND HE WOULD GET THERE AND YOU WOULD, YOU WOULD LOVINGLY BE BEHIND HIM AND MAKING SURE HE KNEW EVERY SINGLE THING TO DO. AND THAT SPEAKS TO THE IMPORTANCE OF SUCCESSION PLANNING, BECAUSE THIS POSITION IS SO IMPORTANT TO US IN THE CITY OF HOUSTON, THAT WE NEEDED SOMEONE WHO HAD THE EXPERIENCE, UH, NOT ONLY TO LEAD A TEAM, BUT ALSO TO HANDLE THE WORKLOAD THAT COMES WITH BEING OUR CITY SECRETARY. AND SO TO YOU, THANK YOU FOR HAVING THE FORESIGHT TO PREPARE SOMEONE BECAUSE YOU KNEW YOU WERE PLANNING TO RETIRE. UH, AND TO TROY, THANK YOU FOR BEING WILLING, UH, [02:25:01] TO STEP UP AND STEP INTO THAT POSITION. UH, YOU DEFINITELY, UM, HAVE WHAT IT TAKES TO DO THE JOB. UH, AND WE ARE VERY EXCITED ABOUT YOUR ROLE AS OUR MR. SECRETARY HERE IN THE CITY OF HOUSTON. CONGRATULATIONS TO YOU AND THE ENTIRE, UH, TEAM COUNCIL MEMBER ALCORN, MR. SECRETARY, I'VE WORKED WITH YOU FOR A LONG TIME, AND YOU ARE AWESOME. AND THIS IS SO WELL DESERVED. PAT, GREAT TO SEE YOU. THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE. COUNCILMAN PLUMMER. THANK YOU, MAYOR. CONGRATULATIONS, TROY. REALLY PROUD OF YOU. AND, UM, IT'S, IT'S BEEN GREAT WORKING WITH YOU. AND, UM, YOU, MS. PAT, YOU DEFINITELY SET THE STANDARD AND YOU TAUGHT HIM WELL. COUNCILOR ON CAMAN, MR. SECRETARY, CONGRATULATIONS. UH, WE LOVE WORKING WITH YOU. AND I JUST WANT TO SHOUT OUT THE ENTIRE TEAM IN THE OFFICE. I KNOW EVERYONE IS DECKED OUT IN BLUE RIGHT NOW. UH, Y'ALL ARE ONE BIG FAMILY, AND IT IS SO INSPIRING TO SEE THE TYPE OF TEAMWORK, THE TYPE OF LEADERSHIP THAT YOU BRING. MS. PAT, IT IS SO GOOD TO HAVE YOU BACK. UM, REALLY, IT'S WONDERFUL TO SEE YOU, BUT THANK YOU TO EVERYONE BECAUSE WITHOUT YOU ALL, HE CAN'T DO WHAT HE DOES. SO REALLY THANK YOU TO EACH OF YOU AND MR. SECRETARY, IT'S OFFICIAL. COUNCIL MEMBER DAVIS. THANK YOU, MAYOR. UH, TROY, I MUST SAY, YOU KNOW, BEING NEW ON COUNCIL TO SEE THE HISTORICAL MOMENT, UH, IS CERTAINLY WORTH IT. AND, UH, YOU SUCH AN ASSISTANT TO EVERYBODY. EVERY TIME WE COME, YOU ARE ALWAYS HELPFUL. YOU ARE ALWAYS, UH, HELPING OUT EVERYBODY NO MATTER WHAT THE ISSUES ARE BECAUSE YOU WAS TRAINED BY THE BEST. SO, UH, YOU CAN'T EXPECT NOTHING ELSE. BUT I'M JUST HAPPY TO BE HERE ON COUNCIL AT THE TIME WHEN THIS HISTORY MOMENT IS BEING MADE. CONGRATULATIONS TO YOU, MY FRIEND. YES, SCHRIER, EVAN SHABBAT. THANK YOU MAYOR. AND CONGRATULATIONS, TROY. I NEVER KNEW YOUR LAST NAME WAS LEMON, BUT NOW YOU ARE MR. SECRETARY, SO NOW YOU JUST NEED TO MOVE THE DISTRICT D TO GO FULL CIRCLE, JUST LIKE THE FORMER, UH, CITY SECRETARY. SO GOOD. CONGRATULATIONS. VERY GOOD. CONGRATULATIONS. CONGRATULATIONS. NEXT ITEM, NEXT ITEM, ITEM FIVE. IS THERE A MOTION CAST? NEXT TATUM, MOVE I SECOND. MOTIONS MADE IN SECOND. ALL IN FAVOR SAY YES. THOSE OPPOSED NAY. MOTION PASSES, I WOULD ASK OUR APPOINTEES IF THEY'RE PRESENT. UH, CLAUDE CUMMINGS, THE THIRD, UH, SHELLY KENNEDY, CHARLES CAVE, AND JUSTIN MITCHELL. WE APPRECIATE YOUR PUBLIC SERVICE AND, UH, GO TO WORK. . THANK YOU, EVAN SHABA. COUNCILMAN EVAN SHABA. THANK YOU MAYOR. AND I, I CERTAINLY THANK, UM, EVERYONE FOR THEIR SERVICE, BUT I CERTAINLY HAVE TO HIGHLIGHT CHARLES CAVE, WHO IS A DISTRICT D CONSTITUENT, WHO IS JUST EVERYWHERE. AND HE DOES SO MUCH FOR NOT ONLY HIS AREA, BUT FOR THE ENTIRE DISTRICT DEED. SO I CERTAINLY WANTED TO, TO, UM, GIVE HIM A SHOUT OUT. THANK YOU. COUNCIL MEMBER CASTILLO. COUNCIL MEMBER CASTILLO. THANK YOU, MAYOR. I ALSO WANT TO CONGRATULATE, UM, THOSE FOR SERVING AND RECOGNIZE ONE OF OUR DISTRICT H CONSTITUENTS, SHELLY KENNEDY OUT THERE, WHO HAS SERVED IN MULTIPLE CAPACITIES, UH, FOR CITY BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS, AND APPRECIATE HER DEDICATION TO SERVICE. UH, NEXT ITEM SIX. IS THERE A MOTION CAST, TA MOVE SECOND. MOTION MADE. AND SECOND. ALL IN FAVOR, SAY YES. THOSE OPPOSED NAY. MOTION PASSES OUR PARKS, BOARD APPOINTEES UNDERSTAND. DOMINGO BARRIOS IS PRESIDENT. UM, MR. WILLIAMS, ELIJAH, THANK YOU. MARGARET ELKINS DAVIS, ALBERTO CARDENAS, AND TAYLOR CHAPMAN. ALL FINE PUBLIC SERVANTS. AND UH, THANK YOU. THIS IS A, A CRITICAL BOARD. UH, WE'RE MAKING EXCITING THINGS HAPPEN AND YOU'RE TO CARRY OUT OUR, UH, OUR OPPORTUNITY. THANK YOU, UH, FOR BEING HERE. COUNCIL MEMBER ALCORN. THANK YOU MAYOR. GREAT. APPOINTEES, GREAT TO SEE THE NEXT GENERATION COMING UP. TAYLOR AND MARGARET. ELIJAH, I DON'T KNOW HOW OLD YOU ARE, BUT YOU SEEM KIND OF YOUNG. . UM, UM, THIS IS SUCH AN IMPORTANT BOARD. I SEE BETH WHITE OUT THERE. UM, WHAT A GREAT LUNCHEON YESTERDAY. WHAT A HUGE CONTRIBUTION YOU'VE MADE TO THE CITY OF HOUSTON OVER THE LAST DECADE. I KNOW WE'LL CONTINUE TO HONOR YOU FOR THE NEXT COUPLE MONTHS, BUT, BUT THANK YOU TO THE PARKS BOARD. WE HAVE TO FIGURE OUT WAYS TO CREATE MORE SUSTAINABLE FUNDING FOR PARKS. [02:30:01] UM, WE NEED MORE PUBLIC. WE CERTAINLY HAVE A LOT OF PRIVATE INVESTMENT IN PARKS. WE NEED MORE PUBLIC INVESTMENT IN PARKS. YOU GUYS ARE SO KEY IN THIS AND, UH, REALLY APPRECIATE YOUR SERVICE. IT'S A WORKING BOARD, I KNOW. SO THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR, FOR STEPPING UP. THANK YOU, COUNCILMAN CAYMAN. THANK YOU MAYOR, AND CONGRATS TO OUR PREVIOUS APPOINTEES WHO WERE RECOGNIZED AS WELL. BUT I, I DO WANNA THANK YOU ALL FOR YOUR SERVICE ON THE PARKS BOARD. UM, YOU ALL PLAY AN INSTRUMENTAL ROLE IN THE NOT ONLY QUALITY OF LIFE, BUT ECONOMIC VITALITY OF OUR CITY. UM, OUR GREEN SPACES ARE WHAT MAKE HOUSTON SO INCREDIBLE. UM, AND BETH, IF YOU DON'T MIND STANDING, I WANNA RECOGNIZE YOU. I KNOW COUNCIL MEMBER ALCORN HAS TOO, UM, FOR EVERYTHING YOU'VE DONE, THE VISION THAT YOU HAVE BROUGHT, UM, TO OUR CITY, AND IT HAS BEEN AN HONOR TO WORK WITH YOU. UH, YOUR LEGACY CONTINUES, UH, THROUGHOUT THE GENERATIONS. BUT REALLY TO ALL OF YOU, CONGRATULATIONS, UH, WE'RE REALLY EXCITED TO WORK WITH OUR NEW APPOINTEES. WE HAVE A LOT OF GREAT FOLKS COMING BACK AS WELL. THANK YOU. AND BETH, THANK YOU COUNCILMAN CAYMAN FOR RECOGNIZED BETH. LIKE I WAS TELLING TROY, THERE'S SOME BIG SHOES THAT YOU'VE LEFT BEHIND. I'M CONFIDENT MS. NAGLE THAT WAS WITH US YESTERDAY, HAD SUCH KNOWLEDGE ALREADY OF HOUSTON'S PARK SYSTEMS, PATHWAYS, OUR WATERWAYS. SO THINGS ARE GOING FORWARD VERY SUCCESSFULLY. THANK YOU FOR YOUR PUBLIC SERVICE. AND DON'T GO FAR, 'CAUSE WE'RE GONNA STILL USE YOU IN A ADVISOR CAPACITY. MARTINEZ. THANK YOU MARTINEZ. COUNCILMAN MARTINEZ. THANK YOU MAYOR. AND I JUST ALSO WANNA PUBLICLY THANK YOU ALL, UH, BETHEL, TAYLOR, MARGARET, AND ELIJAH FOR YOUR COMMITMENT TO GREEN SPACE IN THE CITY OF HOUSTON. UM, BETH, WE'VE WORKED ALONGSIDE FOR SEVERAL YEARS. I WANNA SAY JUST THANK YOU, UH, YOU KNOW, PUBLICLY AND TO YOUR TEAM FOR ALL THE WORK FOR CREATING MORE GREEN SPACES IN DISTRICT EYE ALONG THE BAYOU. WE'VE COMPLETED ALL OF THE GREENWAY BAYOU. WE HAVE ABOUT FIVE OF THOSE PROJECTS IN DISTRICT EYE. UM, BUT ALSO, UM, JUST, UH, PUT THIS TASK ON YOU ALL. I KNOW WE, WE UTILIZE YOU ALL FOR SUPPORT ON MAJOR, UH, PUBLIC PARK, UM, REHABS RESTORATION, UH, MASON PARK IS, IS, UH, ON ITS WAY TO SEEING GREAT THINGS HAPPEN. AND I WOULD LOVE TO HAVE THE HOUSTON PARKS BOARD BE A PART OF THAT PROCESS AS WELL. SO THANK YOU. THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE. THANK EACH OF YOU. COUNCIL MEMBER HUFFMAN. OH, COUNCIL MEMBER HUFFMAN. THANK YOU MAYOR. AND THANK YOU BETH FOR EVERYTHING THAT YOU HAVE DONE IN YOUR YEARS OF SERVICE. AND CONGRATULATIONS TO THE NEW APPOINTEES, ESPECIALLY YOU. MARGARET DAVIS, DISTRICT G RESIDENT. IF YOU DON'T KNOW MARGARET, IT IS TIME TO GET TO KNOW THIS WOMAN. SHE IS A WOMAN OF ACTION AND HAS DONE SO MUCH ALREADY TO IMPROVE OUR PARK SPACES. SO THANK YOU SO MUCH. CONGRATULATIONS TO EVERYONE. COUNCILMAN CASTILLO. THANK YOU MAYOR. AND CONGRATS TO THE APPOINTEES AND THOSE THAT ARE COMING BACK TO SERVE THE CITY IN SUCH A VITAL ROLE. THE LUNCHEON YESTERDAY WAS, UH, A FANTASTIC TRIBUTE TO, TO YOU BETH, AND ALL THE CONTRIBUTIONS THAT HAVE BEEN MADE TO THE CITY AND TO DISTRICT H PARKS IN GREEN SPACE. AND I WANT TO, UH, HIGHLIGHT TAYLOR CHAPMAN, A DISTRICT H CONSTITUENT, WHO, UH, IS VERY DEDICATED TO THE WORK, UH, VERY PASSIONATE AND, AND DOES A LOT FOR WOODLAND PARK AS WELL. IF YOU EVER WANT TO GO WALK THROUGH THE FOREST IN THE BACK OF WOODLAND PARK, HE WILL TAKE YOU. UH, HE WILL ALSO TAKE YOU ON A KAYAK DOWN THE BAYOU. UH, SO TAKE HIM UP ON THAT OFFER. UH, I HAVEN'T YET, BUT I, I WILL ONE DAY. CONGRATS TO YOU ALL. WELL, I PROMISED TO DO IT TOO. MAYBE WE CAN ARRANGE WE'D DO IT TOGETHER. THAT'D BE FUN. THAT'S ALL. THANK Y'ALL FOR YOUR PUBLIC SERVICE AND UH, YOU CAN GO TO WORK NOW. MAYOR MEMBERS, UH, [MAYOR'S REPORT] A LOT OF ACTIVITY IN THE CITY THAT HAVE KEPT US BUSY AND SUCCESSFUL. SOMETHING I'D LIKE TO BRING FOR COUNCIL THIS MORNING IS THE ISSUE THAT QUITE FRANKLY, WAS MANMADE. THERE WAS NOTHING BROKEN. WE WERE ALWAYS, ALWAYS GOING TO REPLACE THE RAINBOW STRIPES, THE LB LGBTQ PLUS RECOGNITION ON WESTHEIMER WHEN IT WAS FINISHED. YOU KNOW, I RAN ON A CAMPAIGN OF DIVERSITY AND INCLUSION AND OBVIOUSLY WON SIGNIFICANTLY. AND WE'LL DO AGAIN, ALL [02:35:01] INDICATORS. BUT DIVERSITY INCLUSION MEANS OUR FAITH, OUR ETHNICITY, AND OUR SEXUAL ORIENTATION. AND I WANNA PUBLICLY THANK SOME COMMUNITY LEADERS, CITY LEADERS. I CAN'T SAY ENOUGH ABOUT TAMMY WALLACE, WHO'S MET WITH ME IN MY OFFICE TO DISCUSS THE SERIOUSNESS OF RESOLVING THIS SUCCESSFULLY FOR THE COMMUNITY. AVERY VALUE WITH THE MONTROSE CENTER IS MAKING SUCH PROGRESS DEPENDS ON LARGE AMOUNTS OF FEDERAL FUNDING. MY ADVISORY BOARD, THE CHAIR, CLAY MELDER, HAS BEEN A VALUABLE ADVISOR. SO WE'VE COME TOGETHER AND HOW WE COULD HAVE A GROWNUP PUBLIC DISCUSSION OF WHY THE STRIPES WERE PLACED THERE, WHY THEY'RE IMPORTANT, WHILE WE REPLACED THEM AFTER THE CONSTRUCTION. AND THEN WE WERE HANDED THIS MANMADE MADE CHALLENGE TO PART OF OUR SUCCESS FOR THE LGBTQ PLUS COMMUNITY AND AND QUITE FRANKLY, ALL OF HOUSTON. ALL OF HOUSTON MONTROSE GETS THE RECOGNITION, BUT IT'S REALLY OAK FOREST AND GARDEN OAKS, MARYLAND, THIS ENTIRE CITY ACRES HOME. ALSO, I'D LIKE TO THANK MICHAEL GOTT, WHO'S PASTOR AT UNITY CHURCH, WHERE I ATTEND OPENLY GAY MINISTER THAT BRINGS PEOPLE TOGETHER, PREACHES LOVE. AND THEN OF COURSE, I WAS AT THE TABLE AND I FIND IT INTERESTING THAT AFTER 50 YEARS OF BEING THE VOICE FOR EQUALITY ON THE SENATE AND HOUSE FLOORS THAT I HAVE TO BRING TO THE ATTENTION OF SOME OF OUR RECENT ARRIVALS TO HOUSTON IN THE PRESS AND IN OUR COMMUNITY EVEN. I ENJOYED TALKING TO MY ADVISORY BOARD ABOUT WHY THEIR ADVICE AND THIS ISSUE IS SO IMPORTANT. 50 YEARS OF BEING THE VOICE FOR EQUALITY WITH THE EQUITY CENTER, USING MY OFFICE TO ORGANIZE, I DEFENDED TRANSGENDER FAMILIES AND THEIR HEALTHCARE ON THE SENATE FLOOR. I WAS A COMMITTEE CHAIRMAN, COULD HAVE BEEN REMOVED AT A MOMENT'S NOTICE, DIDN'T DETER ME. I KNEW I WAS DOING THE RIGHT THING. AND I TRIED TO REACH OUT TO PEOPLE THAT DON'T UNDERSTAND THE COMMUNITY, ASKING SENATORS FROM WEST TEXAS, WOULD THEY PLEASE SIT DOWN AND TALK TO THESE FAMILIES READING A LETTER FROM A FAMILY THAT MADE ALL 31 SENATORS HERE AND THE LEADERSHIP INCLUSION WORKS. NOW HOW DO WE GET TO THIS POINT? I GOT A CALL FROM A HIGHWAY COMMISSIONER LAST WEEK SAYING, NOT ABBOTT, BUT THE SECRETARY OF TRANSPORTATION HAD NOTIFIED TRANS THOUGHT THAT IF WE DIDN'T REMOVE THE RAINBOW CROSSWALKS, THAT WE WOULD LEAVE LOSE OUR FEDERAL FUNDING. METRO'S GONNA GET OVER A BILLION IN THE NEXT FIVE YEARS. WE HAVE ONGOING PROJECTS. FRIENDS, THIS WAS A MANMADE ISSUE. NOTHING WAS BROKEN. GOVERNOR ABBOTT JOINED BECAUSE HE'S A VERY AMBITIOUS GOVERNOR LOOKING AT THE PRESIDENTIAL RACE. THE STRIPES HAVE BEEN IN PLACE FOR THE LAST EIGHT YEARS OF HIS ADMINISTRATION. I'VE HAD CONTACT WITH HIM. IT'S NEVER BEEN AN ISSUE. IT WAS A MANUFACTURED ISSUE, BUT IT'S A REAL ONE IN TERMS OF FEDERAL AND STATE FUNDING. OUR HEALTH DEPARTMENT GETS $98 MILLION IN GRANT FUNDING FROM THE FEDS AND THE STATE. THEY SPEND 18 MILLION OF FEDERAL FUNDING ON HIV PREVENTION AND TREATMENT. HAVE AN EXCELLENT HEALTH DEPARTMENT PROGRAM GOING INTO OUR COUNTY JAILS. [02:40:02] THIS WAS ALL AT JEOPARDY. I'M NOT A LEGISLATOR ANYMORE. I TALKED ABOUT MY LEGISLATIVE RECORD, BUT NOW I'M RESPONSIBLE FOR THIS ENTIRE CITY. EVEN THOSE THAT DISAGREE WITH THE RAINBOW STRIKES. IN FACT, I'M GONNA REACH OUT TO THEM THIS MORNING, TRY TO UNDERSTAND THE PASSION THAT SOME MEMBERS OF OUR COMMUNITY BRING TO THIS ISSUE. IT'S A SYMBOL OF SO MUCH FOR SO MANY. WHAT WAS THE ORIGIN OF THE STRIPES? ELLEN COHEN, SUCH AN OUTSTANDING, WISE, PUBLIC OFFICIAL STEPPED UP WHEN WE LOST A YOUNG MAN TO A HIT AND RUN AT THIS LOCATION AND TO TRY TO BRING HEALING TO THE COMMUNITY AND CLOSURE FOR HIS FAMILY WITH PRIVATE MONEY. SHE HAD THE STRIPES PAINTED AND WHEN SHE DID IT, IT WAS A NON-ISSUE IN THIS GREAT CITY. AS I SAID, THIS ISSUE'S BEEN MANUFACTURED. THAT WAS EIGHT YEARS AGO. ELLEN HELPED US, SINCE I'VE BEEN IN OFFICE WITH THE POLICE SCANDAL, CHAIRING THE REVIEW, HELPING US RUN A PROGRAM OF HOLDING DANGEROUS PEOPLE ACCOUNTABLE THAT HAD BEEN PLACED IN A SUSPENDED POLICE FILE. SO I WANT EVERYONE TO KNOW THAT WE HAVE A LOT TO BE PROUD OF IN THE CITY. MY CAMPAIGN AND EVERYTHING I'VE DONE, EVEN TO MY APPOINTMENTS, IS TO BRING UNITY TO THIS GREAT CITY. I KNOW PEOPLE THAT SUPPORT ME DISAGREE WITH MY POSITION, BUT THEY STILL WANT THEIR GARBAGE PICKED UP. . I COULD GO AROUND THE COMMUNITIES THAT MIGHT NOT UNDERSTAND THIS, BUT IN AN EFFORT TO UNIFY THE CITY EVEN OVER AN ISSUE SUCH AS PAINTING RAINBOW COLORS ON WESTHEIMER, THAT IT MEANS SO MUCH TO SO MANY, EVEN IF YOU DON'T UNDERSTAND, TRY TO UNDERSTAND THAT'S WHAT UNITY'S ABOUT. AND NOT ONLY THE MONTROSE COMMUNITY, BUT I'VE ALREADY SAID IT CROSSES THE CITY. OAK FOREST, GARDEN OAKS, I CAN NAME ALL OF OUR COMMUNITIES. THERE ARE SYMBOLS IN ALL THESE COMMUNITIES THAT WE RESPECT. THERE ARE SYMBOLS OF OUR SOCIETY AND WE RESPECT THOSE SYMBOLS. BUT TO POLITICIZE SOMETHING. SO UNFORTUNATELY JUST, JUST COUNTERPRODUCTIVE, THERE'S PROBABLY A YOUNG MAN IN PASADENA THIS MORNING, A GAY YOUNG MAN THAT HASN'T COME OUTTA THE CLOSETS AND THE RAINBOW MEANS SOMETHING TO HIM. SO IT'S NOT JUST THE MONTROSE COMMUNITY, IT'S OUR REGION, IT'S OUR STATE, IT'S OUR SOCIETY. BUT I KNOW FROM MEETING WITH THESE ADVISORS, I KNOW FROM BEING ON THE SENATE FLOOR, THE PASSION, THE LOVE FOR ASSEMBLES, SUCH AS THE STRIPES. SO WHERE DO WE GO FROM HERE? WORKING WITH THE ADVISORS AND COUNCILMAN CASTILLO AND ANYONE? COUNCILMAN CAYMAN. HOW DO WE STILL T THE IMPORTANCE OF THE STRIPES? I'M WELCOME TO ANY SUGGESTION. I THINK WE DEFINITELY HAVE TO STAY AWAY FROM PUBLIC PROPERTY TO NOT JEOPARDIZE MOST OF OUR DEPARTMENT'S FUNDING BECAUSE THEY WILL COME AFTER IT. OUR HEALTH DEPARTMENT, CRIMINAL JUSTICE HOUSING. SO LET'S WORK TOGETHER. LET'S REACH OUT TO PEOPLE THAT DON'T UNDERSTAND OUR POSITION. ASK THEM PERHAPS TO TALK TO THEIR GAY OR LESBIAN CHILDREN. SEE WHAT IT MEANS TO THEM AND GROW FROM THIS PERHAPS. CERTAINLY [02:45:01] WE'RE GONNA HAVE OUR PRIDE PARADE NEXT SUMMER, JUNE. I'M PROUD TO SAY WE'RE ONLY GONNA HAVE ONE THROUGH LEADERSHIP. WE WERE ABLE TO BRING THE GROUPS TOGETHER AND HAVE A PRIDE PARADE THAT'S MORE SIGNIFICANT THAN WHEN YOU DIVIDE THE ATTENDANCE. SAME AS WE'RE GONNA DO WITH THE MLK, BY THE WAY. BUT THAT'S ANOTHER DISCUSSION THAT WE'RE CELEBRATING THE LIGHTING OF CITY HALL COME JUNE 1ST, MAKING IT A PRIDE MONTH. THERE'S JUST SO MANY THINGS THAT WE'RE GOING TO ATTEMPT TO DO TO KEEP THE RAINBOW COLORS ALIVE AND WELL. YOU CAN DO AWAY WITH THE STRIPES, BUT YOU'RE NOT GONNA DO AWAY WITH THE ISSUE OR THE PEOPLE THAT ARE VALUABLE CITIZENS OF HOUSTON. I REGRET THAT THIS ISSUE HAS BEEN BROUGHT UP UNNECESSARILY, BUT IT DOES GIVE ME AN OPPORTUNITY TO TALK ABOUT THE PROGRESS WE'RE MAKING IN THE CITY OF HOUSTON THROUGH DIVERSITY AND INCLUSION. WE'RE DOING WELL. I HEAR IT EVERYWHERE I GO. WE SUCCESSFULLY CONCLUDED THE HOTEL WORKERS STRIKE A FAIR RESOLUTION, WHICH ALWAYS KNEW WOULD OCCUR IF WE WOULD KEEP EVERYBODY AT THE NEGOTIATING TABLE. WE WERE AT THE PARKS BOARD YESTERDAY CELEBRATING OUR SUCCESSFUL PARK SYSTEM AND TALKING ABOUT MY INITIATIVE OF LET'S PLAY WITH 25 COMMUNITY PARKS HOUSTON CENTER YESTERDAY. CUT THE RIBBON ON A RESIDENTIAL FACILITY, SOLID WASTE. I STARTED AT SIX O'CLOCK YESTERDAY MORNING, ROLLING OUT 19 NEW HEAVY DUTY TRUCKS. WE GOT A GREAT PUBLIC WAKE WORKS DIRECTOR, BY THE WAY. WE'RE DOING CONTRACTS WITH OUTSIDE VENDORS TO GET THE BACKLOG OF ILLEGAL DUMPING ADDRESSED POLICE PUBLIC SAFETY. YOU KNOW, IT'S MY HIGHEST PRIORITY, IS NEVER BEEN HEADED IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION BEFORE LIKE IT IS TODAY. OUR RESPONSE TIME IS BELOW SIX MINUTES FOR CODE ONE. IT'S FIRST TIME IN RECENT MEMORY, WE'RE AT 5.7 MINUTES FOR RESPONSE ON CODE ONE DALLAS IS AT 12, A HOMELESS ISSUE, WHICH WE'RE DISCUSSING. CERTAINLY WE'RE MAKING STRIDES AND GETTING RESIDENTIAL FACILITIES FOR THEM. WE JUST DID THE GROUNDBREAKING ON ELI LILLY'S PHARMACY MANUFACTURING. THEY DEPEND ON HOUSTON WATER. SO THERE IS A LONG LIST, TOO MANY TO NAME TODAY THAT PEOPLE RECOGNIZE WE'RE FIXING TO ROLL OUT A SIDEWALK PLAN INITIATIVE. RANDY PUBLIC WORKS CONTINUE TO DO AMAZING WORK DOWN TO 400 BROKEN WATER MAINS FROM 19 WHEN HE TOOK 1900 WHEN HE TOOK OVER. SO ANYWAY, IT'S A GREAT OPPORTUNITY. I'M DISAPPOINTED I DIDN'T GET TO DO THE STATE OF THE CITY AS WAS SCHEDULED IN OCTOBER OUTTA RESPECT FOR THE HOTEL WORKERS. BUT I LOOK FORWARD TO DOING THAT IN JANUARY. THERE WILL BE SO MUCH TO TALK ABOUT. AND YES, THE BUDGET AND FINANCES WILL BE A TOP PRIORITY. WE DO HAVE A PLAN. DO OUR CRITICS REALLY THINK THAT WE'D BE SITTING UP HERE WITHOUT A PLAN FOR HOW WE'RE GOING TO FUND THE CITY? IT'S IN HIS FINAL CONSIDERATION, BUT WE'LL DO IT WITHOUT RAISING TAXES BECAUSE I UNDERSTAND THE PAIN THAT OUR RESIDENTS HAVE OVER AFFORDABILITY. TAXES, HARM AFFORDABILITY, RENTERS RENT WILL GO UP IF YOU RAISE PROPERTY TAXES. THERE WILL BE A TIME AND PLACE FOR GOING AFTER MORE REVENUE FROM SOME OF THE SOURCES THAT PEOPLE AT THE HORSESHOE PROPOSE. BUT I'M STILL COMMITTED TO CUTTING OUT WASTE, DUPLICATION, CONFLICTS OF INTEREST. AND WHEN WE CAN TELL THE PUBLIC WE'VE DONE EVERYTHING WE CAN, THEN WE WILL DEAL WITH ADDITIONAL REVENUE. RIGHT NOW IT'S EFFICIENCY. I THINK SOLID WASTE IS DOING AN AMAZING JOB. AND WE'LL TELL YOU RIGHT NOW, THEY'RE HEADED IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION. SO I WILL [02:50:01] CONCLUDE BY TELLING YOU IT'S A GREAT DAY TO BE A HOUSTONIAN. I'M HONORED TO BE THE MAYOR. LET'S RECOGNIZE OUR DIVERSITY AND CERTAINLY WALK AWAY FROM OUR JOB TODAY UNIFIED THAT WE'RE GONNA WORK TOGETHER TO SOLVE OUR PROBLEMS. BUT IT IS FRUSTRATING WHEN WE'RE TRYING TO ADDRESS QUALITY OF LIFE ISSUES THAT THE LEADERSHIP AT OTHER LEVELS OF GOVERNANCE BRING US AN ISSUE THAT WAS NOT NECESSARY, BUT WE'RE GOING TO ADDRESS IT LIKE WE ALWAYS DO. WE'RE GONNA FIX IT. COUNCILMAN CAYMAN? OOH, THANK YOU MAYOR. UM, AND I, I REALLY APPRECIATE YOUR WORDS. AS SOMEBODY THAT HAS BEEN FIGHTING THIS FIGHT FOR THE LGBTQI PLUS COMMUNITY, UM, I THINK THAT, AND I'LL GET TO, YOU KNOW, YOU ASKED WHAT ARE THINGS THAT THE CITY CAN DO? AND I APPRECIATE THE ENGAGEMENT ON THAT. I APPRECIATE COUNCIL MEMBER CASTILLO WORKING WITH ME. I APPRECIATE ALL THE COMMUNITY LEADERS THAT YOU, UM, HAVE BEEN SPEAKING OF THAT WE HAVE BEEN WORKING WITH THE NEIGHBORHOOD GROUPS THAT HAVE BEEN COMING TOGETHER AGAIN IN THE FACE OF WHAT I BELIEVE IS INAPPROPRIATE STATE OVERREACH INTO LOCAL CONTROL. UH, WHICH I CHALLENGE THE AUTHORITY OF THE GOVERNOR TO DO THAT. UM, THAT SO MANY PEOPLE ARE COMING TOGETHER, I SPEAK, THINK SPEAKS TO THE TRUE SPIRIT OF HOUSTON. UH, I DO WANNA MAKE SURE IT'S CLEAR BECAUSE WE HAVE HEARD, WELL, IT'S JUST PAINT. WELL, ONE, I DON'T KNOW WHY THE GOVERNOR IS OBSESSING ABOUT PAINT OR TRUMP IS OBSESSING ABOUT PAINT, BUT TO SO MANY, THIS IS NOT JUST ABOUT PAINT. AND WHILE IT IS ABOUT THE PRIDE FLAG AND THAT ALONE WOULD BE A JUST AND WORTHY CAUSE. THIS IS ABOUT ALL OF OUR COMMUNITIES. WHAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN TO THE MURALS ON OUR STREETS THAT HONOR GEORGE FLOYD OR THE EVEN THE BASIC PAW PRINTS THAT ARE PAINTED THAT MAYOR PARKER HAD PUT IN LEADING UP TO BARK. THERE ARE EXAMPLES THROUGHOUT THE CITY, AND IF WE DO NOT FIND WAYS AS A CITY TO TAKE A STAND, WHAT'S NEXT? BECAUSE WE HAVE SEEN THE OVERREACH. WE HAVE SEEN THE USURP OF LOCAL CONTROL OVER AND OVER AGAIN. AND IT CONTINUES TO GET WORSE AS THEY CONTINUE TO TARGET SOME OF OUR MOST VULNERABLE COMMUNITIES. AND I KNOW YOU SAW THE EMAIL. WHEN SOMETHING IS ERASED LIKE THIS, THAT MEANS SO MUCH TO SO MANY. THERE IS A REAL TOLL ON THE COMMUNITY. WE HAVE PEOPLE REACHING OUT TO US. AND I WANNA EMPHASIZE THE RESOURCES THAT ARE AVAILABLE FOR THE COMMUNITY AT THIS TIME BECAUSE IT'S NOT JUST ABOUT THE PAINT. THERE ARE OTHER ATTACKS, RIGHT ON OUR LGBTQI PLUS COMMUNITY. SO PLEASE REACH OUT TO GROUPS LIKE THE MONTROSE CENTER OR HARRIS HEALTH IF YOU DO NEED SUPPORT RIGHT NOW. UH, BUT I DO THINK MAYOR, IT'S INCUMBENT UPON ALL OF US TO LOOK AT WAYS TO CHALLENGE THE THREATS OF WITHHOLDING FUNDING WHEN THEY'RE NOT AFFILIATED WITH THAT FUNDING. SO THE, THESE ARE NOT TECH STOCK BASED PROJECTS. THESE ARE NOT FEDERALLY FUNDED PROJECTS. THESE ARE PRIVATE DOLLARS THAT THE CITY ALLOWED THE COMMUNITY TO COME FORWARD WITH. AND I UNDERSTAND THE POSITION THAT THE CITY'S BEING PUT IN, BUT IF WE DO NOT DO SOMETHING NOW, WHAT WILL THEY THREATEN US WITH NEXT? AND SO I WOULD HOPE THAT WE ARE ABLE TO EXPLORE OPPORTUNITIES LIKE OTHER CITIES ARE DOING TO SUBMIT FOR SAFETY EXCEPTIONS FOR THE CROSSWALK, BECAUSE THAT IS AN OPTION. AND AGAIN, I WANNA REMIND EVERYONE, WHEN YOU HAVE BRIGHTER COLORS ON A CROSSWALK, IT MAKES IT SAFER. THESE ARE SAFETY FEATURES AS WELL AS COMMUNITY FEATURES, RIGHT? THIS WAS ABOUT VISIBILITY FOR THE LGBTQIA PLUS COMMUNITY, BUT IT WAS ALSO ABOUT VI VISIBILITY FOR PEDESTRIANS. SO I HOPE THAT WE CAN WORK WITH METRO TO ACTUALLY SEEK THOSE EXCEPTIONS. UH, I WANT TO EXPLORE WAYS. WE HAVE A BANNER DISTRICT FOR MONTROSE. UH, IT KIND OF WENT DORMANT WHEN WE LOST THE MANAGEMENT DISTRICT, BUT THE CIVIC CLUBS AND SUPER NEIGHBORHOODS ARE WILLING TO STEP IN. UH, I WANT TO LOOK AT WHETHER OR NOT WE CAN QUICKLY ACTIVATE A HISTORICAL HERITAGE DISTRICT. WE LAID THE GROUNDWORK FOR THAT IN FOURTH WARD FRIEDMANS TOWN. ANYTHING THAT WE HAVE DONE IN OTHER COMMUNITIES SHOULD BE ABLE TO APPLY, UH, TO OUR LGBTQIA PLUS COMMUNITY AS WELL AS OTHER COMMUNITIES. SO THERE ARE [02:55:01] MANY OPTIONS, BUT I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT. YES, WE ARE TALKING WITH BUSINESSES, YES, WE WANNA SEE THE ENTIRE HOUSTON COMMUNITY STAND UP AND WE WILL CONTINUE TO CALL ON RESIDENTS AND BUSINESSES. WHATEVER YOUR FLAG MAY BE, WHATEVER IS IN YOUR HEART, SHOW THAT RIGHT NOW. SHOW YOUR PRIDE FLAGS, SHOW YOUR HERITAGE. WE SHOULD NOT BE BACKING DOWN. AND AT THE SAME TIME, I DO THINK IT IS IMPORTANT AS A CITY THAT WE ARE LOOKING AT WHAT CAN BE DONE ON CITY PROPERTY. THE STATE DOES NOT HAVE A RIGHT TO SAY WE CANNOT DO SOMETHING ON OUR OWN PROPERTY. AND IF WE DO, WE SHOULD BE LEGALLY CHALLENGING THAT. UH, SO AGAIN, MAYOR, I WANNA THANK YOU FOR SPEAKING OUT TODAY. 'CAUSE I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT THAT THE COMMUNITY HEARS FROM US AS LEADERS OF THIS CITY, SO THAT THEY KNOW THEY'RE NOT ALONE. SO THAT THEY KNOW WE SEE YOU. WE ARE IN THIS FIGHT WITH YOU. BUT WE AS HOUSTON, THE MOST DIVERSE CITY IN THE NATION. WE CELEBRATE OUR INDIVIDUALITY. WE CELEBRATE WHAT MAKES EACH AND EVERY ONE OF US SO SPECIAL BECAUSE WE WELCOME ALL HERE. AND THAT INCLUDES OUR IMMIGRANT COMMUNITY, THAT INCLUDES OTHER GROUPS THAT ARE BEING MARGINALIZED AND TARGETED. UM, AND I APPRECIATE THE OPPORTUNITY TO CONTINUE TO WORK WITH YOU, WITH COUNCIL MEMBER CASTILLO, WITH OUR COMMISSIONERS, WITH OTHER ELECTEDS. I SPOKE WITH CONGRESSWOMAN FLETCHER ABOUT THIS. WE'RE SPEAKING WITH OTHER CITIES ABOUT WHAT THEY'RE DOING. BUT I HOPE THAT WE WILL JOIN TOGETHER UNITED WITH OTHER CITIES, BECAUSE TOGETHER WE ARE STRONG. AND THIS IS ABOUT LOCAL CONTROL. UH, AND THIS IS ABOUT THE PEOPLE IN OUR COMMUNITIES THAT NEED US NOW MORE THAN EVER. AND THANK YOU. AND I CERTAINLY RESPECT YOUR OPINION AND, AND KNOW OF YOUR BACKGROUND AND YOUR PASSION. I DISAGREE WITH YOU. THAT'S A BATTLE WE WOULD LOSE. AND IT'S NOT SO MUCH THE SPECIFICS THAT YOU MENTIONED ON BEING ON CITY PROPERTY. WE CAN DO WHAT WE WANT TO. ABBOTT HAS A VETO LINE ITEM VETO. SO EVERYTHING WE WERE SUCCESSFUL IN GETTING THIS YEAR AND PLAN TO GET IN THE FUTURE WOULD BE IN JEOPARDY AND BEYOND JEOPARDY. THEY WOULD BE CUT. AND THAT'S HEALTH DEPARTMENT MONEY. THAT'S TRANSPORTATION MONEY, PUBLIC SAFETY. SO IT'S MY RESPONSIBILITY TO BRING A RESOLUTION OF THIS TOGETHER. IT'LL KEEP HOUSTON PROTECTED, SAFE AND IMPROVED OUR QUALITY OF LIFE. WE GOT MORE PARK MONEY THIS YEAR THAN EVER BEFORE. I'M NOT GONNA JEOPARDIZE THAT. WHEN WE CAN USE OTHER MEANS TO SHOW OUR SUPPORT FOR THOSE THAT SUPPORT AND ARE PASSIONATE ABOUT THE SYMBOL OF THE RAINBOW. THAT DIVERSITY THAT WE CELEBRATE MEANS PEOPLE THAT DISAGREE WITH US. AND SOME PEOPLE RIGHT HERE, THIS HORSESHOE DISAGREE. I'VE BEEN VERY PROUD THAT WE WERE ABLE TO REINSTITUTE THE MAYOR'S MINISTERS, ADVISORS TO SHOW OUR UNITY. I REALLY HAVEN'T HEARD FROM THEM BECAUSE THEY RESPECT OUR DIVERSITY AND THE EFFORT TO UNIFY THIS GREAT CITY. BUT IT'S NOT JUST MONTROSE. I'VE ALREADY DOCUMENTED. IT'S THE ENTIRE CITY. LGBTQ PLUS COMMUNITY THAT YOU PROUDLY REPRESENT ALONG WITH ME. PROBABLY HAVE MORE MEMBERS IN OAK FOREST OR CERTAINLY THE HEIGHTS AS WE CROSS THE CITY. SO THAT'S A LEGAL BATTLE. AUSTIN, THE MOST LIBERAL CITY IN TEXAS, HAS ALREADY BEGUN PULLING UP THEIR RAINBOW STRIPES. THEY HAVE A GEORGE FLOYD MEMORIAL UP AT UT THEY'RE MAKING PLANS TO BRING IT UP. SO YOU HAVE TO BE SMART. YOU HAVE TO LOOK OUT FOR THE COMMON GOOD, MAKE YOUR POSITION KNOWN, YOUR CONVICTION'S KNOWN. I DON'T RETREAT FROM THAT AT ALL. I RAISED MY DAUGHTERS AND I'M PROUD OF THEIR CHARACTER AND SUPPORT ON THIS ISSUE. I WORSHIP AT UNITY. I COULD GO ON ON THAT I'VE ALREADY EXPRESSED THIS MORNING. SO ALL I CAN SAY IS WE'RE NOT GONNA GET AN LEGAL BATTLE WITH THE FEDS OR THE STATE ONE THAT WOULD HARM THE CITY, CERTAINLY ALL OF US. AND, UH, THERE'LL BE OTHER ISSUES THAT WE DON'T WANT TO GO TO BATTLE WITH THE FEDS OVER ELECTIONS MATTER. WE OUGHT TO USE THIS. [03:00:01] AND I WOULD URGE YOU TO LEAVE, LEAD THE EFFORT TO INCREASE THE MEMBERSHIP OF THE LGBTQ PLUS CHAMBER. THE CAUCUS IS LOST. SO MUCH OF ITS INFLUENCE. THERE'S WAYS THAT YOU CAN BRING THE COMMUNITY TOGETHER AND PROTECT YOUR VIEWS WITHOUT GOING TO THE COURTHOUSE. IT COULD BE DONE WITH MEMBERSHIP DRIVES, IT COULD BE DONE WITH OTHER SYMBOLS, OTHER ACTIVITIES. AND THAT'S WHAT I PLAN TO WORK WITH. THIS OUTSTANDING GROUP OF ADVISORS THAT I MENTIONED THAT HAVE BEEN WITH ME AND, UH, REALLY COMING UP WITH SOME VERY APPROPRIATE MEASURES. AND MAY OR MAY I RESPOND. YOU SURE? I DON'T INTEND TO DEBATE THIS MORNING. IT'S NOT, I IT'S NOT A DEBATE, BUT I RESPECT YOU. BUT 50 YEARS OF DOING LEGISLATIVE BATTLES, THAT'S NOT WHAT THIS IS THIS MORNING. THIS IS ABOUT BRINGING HOUSTON TOGETHER, RESPECTING PEOPLE THAT DISAGREE WITH THE STRIPES REPRESENTING ALL OF HOUSTON, BUT PROTECTING OUR RESOURCES. AND I CAN'T BEGIN TO TELL YOU ALL THE RESOURCES WE'VE GOTTEN FROM THE STATE. THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT CANNOT RUN WITHOUT FEDERAL GRANT MONEY. $98 MILLION. AND I WAS THERE LAST WEEK. AND THEY'RE SO ACTIVE WITH THEIR HIV PREVENTION TREATMENT. AND IT'S OUR JOB TO LET THE STRAIGHT COMMUNITY KNOW HOW IMPORTANT THOSE SERVICES ARE BECAUSE IT'S A PUBLIC HEALTH ISSUE. SO I'M NOT GONNA JEOPARDIZE THE GOOD THINGS THAT ARE COMING THROUGH COLLABORATION WITH THE STATE, THE COUNTY, AND THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT. I YIELD TO YOU. NO, AND I APPRECIATE THAT. I WANTED TO MAKE IT CLEAR, YES, THIS PARTICULAR FIGHT IS ABOUT. I SAID, I WANT TO BE CLEAR, AS I SAID PREVIOUSLY, THAT THIS, YES, THIS PARTICULAR FIGHT IS ABOUT MONTROSE. 'CAUSE THIS WAS THE KNEE JERK REACTION TO THE PAINT BEING RESTORED IN MONTROSE. BUT IT IS ABOUT THE ENTIRE CITY. AND THAT'S WHY I TALKED ABOUT OTHER VULNERABLE COMMUNITIES OR OUR MONUMENTS, NOT OUR MONUMENTS, OUR RECOGNITIONS AND HONORINGS TO, UH, INDIVIDUALS LIKE GEORGE FLOYD, THAT MATTER. BUT TO SAY THAT BECAUSE WE'RE GETTING MONEY, WE ARE NOT GOING TO CHALLENGE SOMETHING THAT IS ILLEGAL. I DO BELIEVE THERE ARE. IT IS IMPORTANT TO FIGHT IN THE COURTS. I DO BELIEVE IT IS IMPORTANT TO STAND UP FOR THE CITY AND WHETHER IT'S ON THIS OR SOMETHING ELSE, JUST BECAUSE WE'RE GETTING SOMETHING THAT WE NEED DOESN'T MEAN WE DON'T STAND UP FOR WHAT IS RIGHT. AND I'M NOT INFERRING THAT YOU ARE NOT. BUT I WANNA MAKE SURE IT'S CLEAR TO THE PEOPLE OF HOUSTON THAT THINGS ARE DONE EITHER BY THE LAW OR NOT. AND WHEN THEY'RE NOT. AND WE ARE SEEING THAT HAPPEN MORE AND MORE AND MORE. WE ARE RESPONSIBLE BECAUSE WE TOOK AN OATH TO UPHOLDING THE LAW AND UPHOLDING AND HOLDING THOSE ACCOUNTABLE THAT DO NOT FOLLOW THE LETTER OF THE LAW IN BAD FAITH WITH HATE IN THEIR HEART AND BIGOTRY. I DO WANNA, ON A POSITIVE NOTE, IF PEOPLE ARE LOOKING FOR A WAY TO LIFT UP THE COMMUNITY AND STAND IN SUPPORT RIGHT NOW, WE DO IN THIS JUST TIMING, UH, WISE. I WANNA INVITE EVERYONE AGAIN TO JOIN US FOR FAMILIES WITH PRIDE THIS SATURDAY AT DISCOVERY GREEN, TO LIFT UP OUR COMMUNITIES AS ALLIES, AS FRIENDS. AND THAT IS A GREAT FAMILY FRIENDLY OPPORTUNITY TO SHOW YOUR SUPPORT RIGHT NOW. SO I WANNA ENCOURAGE, UH, MY COLLEAGUES ON COUNCIL, PLEASE JOIN US. UM, IT SHOULD BE A WONDERFUL EVENT. AND WE DO WANNA, I DO WANNA THANK OUR LAW ENFORCEMENT PARTNERS BECAUSE IT'S SUCH A HEIGHTENED TIME. HPD AND ALL OF OUR LAW ENFORCEMENT HAVE BEEN THERE EVERY STEP OF THE WAY TO MAKE SURE THAT OUR COMMUNITIES IN THE L-G-B-T-Q-I-A AND OUR L-G-B-T-Q-I-A FAMILIES ARE SAFE RIGHT NOW. COUNCIL MEMBER CASTILLO, THANK YOU MAYOR. AND THANK YOU FOR YOUR, YOUR WORDS THIS MORNING AND, AND YOUR COMMITMENT TO SUPPORTING THE COMMUNITY. I KNOW IT GOES A LONG WAY TO HAVE THE MAYOR SAY WHAT YOU SAID AT THIS TIME. THE RAINBOW CROSSWALK AT WESTHEIMER AND TAFT WAS MORE THAN JUST A CROSSWALK. UH, YOU, YOU KNOW, YOU, YOU TALKED ABOUT THE FACT THAT IT WAS THERE AS A MEMORIAL FOR A YOUNG MAN THAT TRAGICALLY LOST HIS LIFE AT, AT THAT INTERSECTION. IT'S ALSO WHERE THE PRIDE PARADE USED TO END AT WESTHEIMER AND TAFT. AND THAT WAS A PARADE THAT [03:05:01] WE FOUGHT REALLY HARD TO GET. AND WE FACED SETBACKS, WE FACED ATTACKS, BUT WE GOT IT IN THE HEART OF MONTROSE RIGHT DOWN. WESTHEIMER ENDED RIGHT THERE. AND THESE TRIBUTES TO THE COMMUNITY THAT ARE NOW BEING TARGETED, THEY HAVE SO MUCH MORE MEANING THAN JUST PAINT. I MEAN, YOU HINTED AT IT, BUT TO THE FOLKS THAT ARE NOT EVEN COMFORTABLE WITH THEIR IDENTITIES, TO THE PEOPLE THAT CAN'T EVEN SAY TO THEIR FRIENDS AND TO THEIR FAMILY, I'M GAY, I'M A LESBIAN. THESE THINGS MEAN SO MUCH TO THEM. IN FACT, THEY SAVE LIVES. THEY DO. WE LOSE LIVES EVERY YEAR TO PEOPLE WHO CANNOT SAY THOSE WORDS TO THE FOLKS THAT ARE THE CLOSEST TO THEM. AND TO HAVE OUR ELECTED OFFICIALS ATTACK US, RIP THESE THINGS UP, WITHHOLD OUR FUNDING, IT'S A KICK TO THE GUT. AND THIS YEAR HAS BEEN FULL OF KICKS TO THE GUT FOR THE L-G-B-T-Q COMMUNITY. SO TO HAVE YOUR SUPPORT AND TO HAVE YOUR WORDS, IT MEANS A LOT. AND, UM, THERE ARE IDEAS THAT, THAT WE CAN WORK WITH YOU ON, WORK WITH YOUR ADVISORS ON. BUT THE FACT THAT THE CITY IS GOING TO DO SOMETHING TO SUPPORT THE COMMUNITY, UH, IT GOES A LONG WAY. AND THANK YOU FOR, FOR YOUR COMMITMENT AND YOUR WORDS. WELL, THANK YOU FOR YOUR VERY RESPONSIBLE LEADERSHIP. IT'S NEEDED RIGHT NOW TO BE RESPONSIVE TO THE COMMUNITY, BUT ALSO UNDERSTAND AND BE LOOKING FOR ALTERNATIVES THAT'LL REPRESENT THE COMMUNITY SHORT OF RISKING, UH, OR LOSING OUR FUNDING. AND I WAS PROUD TO HAVE BEEN IN THE VERY FIRST PRIDE PARADE IN 1981. I STILL MISS IT DOWN WESTHEIMER. MM-HMM . BUT IT'S REALLY TAKEN OFF DOWNTOWN. AND I'M SORRY WE HAD A LITTLE BUMP IN THE ROAD FOR A WHILE, BUT IT'S, IT'S BEEN FIXED. AND, UH, THANK YOU FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP COUNCIL MEMBER EVAN SHABA. THANK YOU, MAYOR. UH, CERTAINLY WE ARE BEING STRONG ARMED AND THERE IS A LOT AT STAKE. BUT I WANTED TO SAY THAT WHEN YOU DELETE SOMETHING ON A COMPUTER, IT NEVER GOES AWAY AND REMAINS ON THE CLOUD. AND REMOVING THESE SYMBOLS OF LOVE FROM THE SIDEWALKS OR THE STREETS WILL NEVER REMOVE THEM FROM THE HEARTS AND MINDS OF THOSE WHO CREATED THEM. AND WHAT ALSO WILL NOT GO AWAY IS THE INSECURITIES OF THOSE WHO ORDERED THEM REMOVED, WHICH WILL ALWAYS REMAIN UNTIL THEY ARE FACED AND ADDRESSED. AND I DON'T KNOW WHAT THE OUTCOME IS GONNA BE, BUT OUR STORY IS NOT WRITTEN IN PAINT. IT'S WRITTEN IN THE PEOPLE. AND SO CERTAINLY IN GOOD CONSCIENCE, THEY, THEY HAVE TO KNOW THAT THIS IS NOT A GOOD THING. BUT THE TIME TO REALLY LET THEM KNOW IS WHEN WE GO TO THE POLLS BECAUSE WE CAN MAKE THE DECISIONS ON THOSE WHO ARE THE DECISION MAKERS, WHO ARE TRYING TO DISENFRANCHISE AND REMOVE PEOPLE. AND SO I IMPLORE PEOPLE TO USE THAT MEANS, REGARDLESS OF THE OUTCOME. THANK YOU. ANYONE ELSE? THANK YOU. MEMBERS. MEMBERS. UH, ANOTHER THING HEAVY ON MY HEART AND HAS MY FULL ATTENTION IS A REPORT THAT WE HEARD ON THE YOUNG MAN YESTERDAY AFTERNOON. THE VERSION WE HEARD WOULD UPSET ANYONE. AND I'VE BEEN WANTING TO SAY THIS TO YOU FOR PROBABLY SINCE I GOT HERE. THERE'S ALWAYS THE REST OF THE STORY. WE HAVE SUCH A TENDENCY TO WANNA BELIEVE INDIVIDUALS IN THEIR CAUSE, BUT I KNEW BETTER. IT'S SO FRUSTRATING TO SIT HERE WHEN I HAVE THE DATA. EVEN SOME OF YOU HAVE THE INFORMATION AND KNOW THAT SOMEONE FOR POLITICAL PURPOSES AND BUILDING A FOLLOWING STANDS THERE AND TELLS US SOMETHING THAT THEY KNOW IS NOT TRUE. IT INFLAMES THE COMMUNITY, VIOLATES THE UNITY THAT I STAND FOR. IT INCREASES THE PARANOIA, THE ANXIETY [03:10:02] OF OUR IMMIGRANT COMMUNITY. WHY I COULD UNLOAD TO USE A CRYING MOTHER WHO HAS EXTREME EXPOSURE. AND I WON'T GO INTO HER STATUS FOR POLITICAL GAIN AND THEN LEAVE HERE AFTER MISREPRESENTING A FINE POLICE DEPARTMENT. THEN I'M GONNA ASK EACH OF YOU TO LOOK AT THE TAPE. A DEPARTMENT THAT TREATED HIM LIKE THEIR SON, THEIR CHILD. HE COULD COMMUNICATE. HE WASN'T A, A SMALL CHILD. HE'S GOT TREMENDOUS PROBLEMS. BUT THE MISREPRESENTED HOW HE WAS TREATED AND HANDLED. YOU NEVER HEARD THEM MENTION THE CPS DID YOU? WHO OUR FINE DEPARTMENT APPROACHED FIRST AND THEN THE RESETTLEMENT DEPARTMENT, THEIR COMPASSIONATE POLICE OFFICER SPEAKING THE YOUNG MAN'S NATIVE LANGUAGE, WORKED WITH HIM FOR FOUR HOURS. I'M, I ASKED THE POLICE CHIEF TO COME HERE TODAY, AND I DON'T WANT TO, I DON'T WANNA SPEAK FOR HIM, BUT IT IS SO DISGUSTING ON SUCH AN EMOTIONAL, SERIOUS ISSUE THAT WE'RE HANDLING SMARTER THAN ANY MAJOR CITY IN AMERICA. THE WAY HPD HANDLED THIS YOUNG MAN SHOULD BECOME THE MODEL FOR THE UNITED STATES. AND IT'S ALL DOCUMENTED. THE MAYOR PRO TEM AND I SAW IT THIS MORNING, AND THEN TO LEAVE HERE AFTER INFLAMING THINGS AND JEOPARDIZING THE MOTHER AND THE YOUNG MAN, QUITE FRANKLY, HE'S IN THE HOSPITAL FOR A PITIS, APPENDICITIS, APPENDICITIS BEING GIVEN THE SAME CARE THAT WE WOULD ANY HOUSTONIAN. AND THEN LEAVE AND GO ON THE STEPS OF CITY HALL AND HAVE A POLITICAL CAMPAIGN FOR A CANDIDATE FOR CITY COUNCIL. SO MISHANDLED BECAUSE IT JUST FEEDS INTO MY BELIEF. THERE'S ALWAYS THE REST OF THE STORY. AND IT'S NOT JUST ON THIS ISSUE, IT'S IT'S INFRASTRUCTURE ISSUES. I THINK SOME WAY WE'VE GOT TO BE ABLE TO HOLD FOLKS ACCOUNTABLE IN THE LEGISLATURE. YOU SWEAR THAT YOU'RE TELLING THE TRUTH. BUT ANYWAY, WE'LL DISCUSS HOW WE HOLD PEOPLE AND PUT 'EM ON NOTICE THAT WE WANT THE FACTS. BUT THE SAD NEWS IS THIS IS SUCH A CURRENT ISSUE AND SO INFLAMMATORY THAT WE HAVE SOMEONE BUILDING A FOLLOWING, HELPING A CANDIDATE AND ATTACKING SOME OF US. WITH THAT SAID, I'VE ASKED THE POLICE CHIEF WHO I'M SO PROUD OF, I KNOW HOW RESPONSIBLE AND SMART AND COMPASSIONATE THEY'RE DEALING WITH THE IMMIGRATION ISSUE. SAME THING WE SAID IN JANUARY. WE'RE NOT IMMIGRATION, WE'RE NOT ICE. WE'RE ENFORCING STATE AND CITY LAWS. I'VE ASKED HIM TO COME GIVE US AN ACCURATE ACCOUNT OF THE YOUNG MAN'S TRAGIC LIFE AND CHIEF, WE CAN EITHER LET YOU ADDRESS IT OR I CAN RECESS FOR 20 MINUTES TO ALLOW MY COLLEAGUES TO LOOK AT YOUR TAPE. AND I CAN'T SAY ENOUGH TO YOU PUBLICLY. I DON'T KNOW IF THE MEDIA WILL REPORT IT, BUT YOU'RE ONE FINE, HONORABLE POLICE CHIEF, A MAN OF FAITH, A A FATHER. AND WHAT YOU'RE GONNA DOCUMENT FOR THE MEMBERS SHOULD BE THE NATIONAL MODEL FOR DEALING WITH A VERY, VERY DELICATE SUBJECT. WOULD YOU LIKE TO SHOW IT TO THE MEMBERS? AND THEN YOU CAN DESCRIBE OR YOU WANT TO TELL 'EM WHAT THEY'RE GONNA SEE. MAYBE THAT WOULD EVEN BE A, A GOOD ORDER. I'LL TELL THEM AND THEN SHOW THEM, UH, OUR VIDEO. YEAH, WHY DON'T YOU, BECAUSE I KNOW, I KNOW YOUR PASSION, YOUR EMOTION, AND ALSO KNOW YOUR FACTS. SO WHY DON'T YOU DESCRIBE, BECAUSE I ASKED YOU TO COME HERE TODAY. YES, SIR. BECAUSE I HAD BEEN TOLD THE SPEAKER WAS TOTALLY MISREPRESENTING THIS FINE DEPARTMENT AND THIS GREAT CITY. SO I YIELD TO YOU THAT. THANK YOU MAYOR. UH, COUNSEL, THANK YOU FOR, FOR ALL THAT YOU DO. SORRY. THANK YOU FOR ALL THAT YOU DO FOR THIS GREAT CITY. UH, IT, YOUR DECISIONS HERE ARE VERY IMPORTANT TO US BECAUSE [03:15:01] WE WORK COLLECTIVELY WITH EACH OF YOUR DISTRICTS EVERY SINGLE DAY. THIS OFFICE HAS BOOTS ON THE GROUND SERVING THE PEOPLE THAT YOU REPRESENT, DAY SHIFT, EVENING SHIFT, NIGHT SHIFT, HOLIDAYS, STORMS. THE HOUSTON POLICE DEPARTMENT IS HERE TO GO TO WORK. SO I'M JUST GONNA GIVE YOU A BRIEF OVERVIEW OF WHAT TRANSPIRED AND THEN I'LL SHOW YOU AS COUNCIL MEMBERS, COUNCIL PERSONS THE ACTUAL VIDEO. SO JUST, JUST BEAR WITH ME. I'M GONNA GIVE YOU A TIMELINE OF WHAT ACTUALLY HAPPENED. THE HOUSTON POLICE DEPARTMENT RESPONDED TO A CALL FOR SERVICE REGARDING MISSING PERSON JUVENILE IN THE 3,900 BLOCK OF HOLLISTER STREET IN HOUSTON, TEXAS ON SATURDAY, OCTOBER 4TH. WE WERE DISPATCHED AT 8:51 PM UNITS ARRIVED AT 8:56 PM BECAUSE OF THE IMPORTANCE OF A MISSING KID. THE REPORT IS 1 3 0 1 9 4 3 DASH 25. IT'S AN ORIGINAL MISSING PERSON REPORT. THE REPORTEE MARIA GARCIA, THE MOTHER OF THE YOUNG MAN THAT WE'RE DISCUSSING INFORMED OFFICERS THAT HER SON, MANUEL GONZALEZ GARCIA WAS LAST SEEN AT APPROXIMATELY 3:00 PM SO YOU CAN GAUGE THE HOURS. WHEN SHE DECIDED TO CALL US AT THE INTERSECTION OF CLAY ROAD AND HEMPSTEAD ROAD, SHE ADVISED OFFICERS THAT EMMANUEL HAD WANDERED OFF IN THE PAST AND WAS RECOVERED BY HPD. THE REPORTING MADE STATEMENTS THAT EMMANUEL DID NOT TAKE MEDICATION BUT WAS SPECIAL NEEDS AND PERHAPS AUTISTIC. BECAUSE OF THIS STATEMENT, THE MISSING PERSONS UNIT DEPLOYED DETECTIVES FROM THEIR HOMES TO THE ACTUAL LOCATION. THE LADY PROVIDED THE PHOTO. THE MEMBERS OF THE HOUSTON POLICE DEPARTMENT ARE THE ONES THAT GENERATED THAT MISSING PERSON PHOTO FOR THE MOTHER. THE MISSING PERSONS BUREAU. OUR PATROL BUREAU WENT AROUND THE AREA POSTING THE FLYERS, KNOCKING ON DOORS, TRYING TO FIND THIS YOUNG MAN WITH NO SUCCESS OF AGAIN, HE HAD A HEAD START FROM 3:00 PM TO 8 45 WHEN MOM CALLED US THE MISSING PERSON. DETECTIVES RESPONDED TO THE SCENE AT AROUND 10 30 AND ASSUMED THE ENTIRE RESPONSIBILITY OF THE INVESTIGATION. THEY MET THE REPORTEE AT THE SCENE, SEARCHED THE AREA, AND PLACED FLYERS AT CLOSE TO A DOZEN NEARBY LOCATIONS. THIS RESEARCH ALSO INCLUDED AVAILABLE DATABASES FOR US THAT INCLUDED LOCATING AND REVIEWING SEVERAL PREVIOUS HPD REPORTS INVOLVING THE MANU. THIS INCLUDED ONE RUNAWAY REPORT IN 2024 AND TWO MISSING PERSONS REPORT IN APRIL AND MAY OF THIS YEAR. ALTHOUGH THE MOTHER STATED IN THIS INCIDENT THAT I I MANELA WAS AUTISTIC DETECTIVES REVIEWED THE PRIOR INCIDENTS AND IDENTIFIED I MANELA AS NOT BEING AUTISTIC WITH ANY MEDICAL OR COGNITIVE ISSUES. I MANELA WAS ABLE TO ARTICULATE HIMSELF WELL AND CLEARLY AND WAS ABLE TO FUNCTION AS A NORMAL PERSON. FURTHERMORE, THE MOTHER COULD NOT PRODUCE ANY MEDICAL RECORDS OR DOCUMENTATION OF A TREATING PHYSICIAN TO CONFIRM HIS DIAGNOSIS OF SPECIAL NEEDS. FAST FORWARD, WE THE HOUSTON POLICE DEPARTMENT 10 MILES AWAY ON AIRLINE ON SUNDAY, OCTOBER THE FIFTH AT 4:30 PM WE GET HIM MEET THE FIREFIGHTER. CALL AT A MCDONALD'S HPD IS HAS LOCATE HFD LOCATED A 15-YEAR-OLD JUVENILE WHO CLAIMED TO BE HOMELESS FROM ANOTHER COUNTRY, HAD NO PARENTS OR FAMILY IN THE AREA, AND COULD NOT PROVIDE CONTACT INFORMATION FOR ANYONE. OFFICERS WORKED FOR FOUR HOURS, A SUPERVISOR, FOUR PATROL CARS. WE REVIEWED THE BODY CAM FOOTAGE. THESE YOUNG MEN AND WOMEN WERE PULLING OUR GENERAL ORDERS, OUR PROCESSES TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY DID IT RIGHT. ONCE WE WERE NOT ABLE TO CONFIRM THE IDENT IDENTITY PROVIDED BY THE JUVENILE ON SCENE AND TO FIND AN ACCEPTABLE PARTY TO LEAVE THEM WITH FOR THEIR SAFETY AFTER EXHAUSTING ALL OPTIONS, [03:20:01] WE CONTACTED CPS LOCALLY AND CPS SOLA SINCE THE YOUNG MAN HAS TOLD YOU THAT HE HAS NO PARENTS HERE, WE CAN'T HOLD SOMEONE THAT IS NOT FROM HERE INDEFINITELY. THAT'S THE RULE AT CPS, THEY REFERRED US TO THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES, OR THE OFFICE OF REFUGEE RESETTLEMENT, HPD PATROL OFFICERS OF RIGHT AT 4:43 PM AND RELEASED THE YOUNG MAN AFTER HOURS AFTER FINGERPRINTING HIM, AFTER GIVING HIM CARE. AFTER TALKING THROUGH HIS PROCESSES, WHAT WHAT WE BELIEVED WE NEEDED TO IDENTIFY HIM AT 8:45 PM BECAUSE OF THE FEDERAL SITUATION, THEY DIDN'T HAVE AN ACCEPTABLE MEANS OF TRANSPORTATION TO TAKE HIM TO THE FACILITY. SO HPD TOOK HIM TO THE FACILITY AT 8 45. HE WAS RELEASED TO THE OFFICE OF REFUGEE RESETTLEMENT ON OCTOBER 10TH, 2025. AT 10:27 AM JUVENILE INTAKE RECEIVED A PHONE CALL FROM A FEMALE CALLER, ALEXA SANAS, WHO WAS AN AD LITEM REPRESENTATIVE FOR THE KID STATING SHE IS AN ATTORNEY FOR THE OFFICE OF REFUGEE RESETTLEMENT AND REPRESENTING IN MANUEL IN THE FACILITY. THE ATTORNEY INFORMED US THAT IMMANUEL DID NOT WANT HIS MOTHER TO KNOW WHERE HE WAS. SO THE ATTORNEY DID NOT ADVISE THE MOTHER OF IMMANUEL BEING IN CUSTODY INTAKE OFFICERS NOTIFIED DETECTIVE DE LEON OF THE FINDINGS. WE, THE HOUSTON POLICE DEPARTMENT DECIDED NO MOM'S GOTTA KNOW WHERE THE YOUNG MAN IS 'CAUSE SHE'S CONCERNED. SO WE NOTIFY THE MOTHER OF WHERE A MANELA IS BEING CARED FOR. DETECTIVE DE DETECTIVE DE LEON NOTED THAT IMMANUEL WAS INSIDE THE OFFICE OF REFUGEE RESETTLEMENT AND COMMUNICATED THE INFORMATION WITH A MOTHER. HOWEVER, HE GAVE US A DIFFERENT NAME AND IT DIDN'T HIT ON ANY OF OUR SYSTEMS. SOUND X IT DIDN'T HIT, THIS ALL OCCURRED AT APPROXIMATELY 11:00 AM THE PRESS CONFERENCE THAT THE MAYOR REFERRED TO WAS IN PROGRESS. AT THE SAME TIME, DETECTIVES NOTIFIED THE MOTHER THAT I WAS LOCATED SHORTLY AFTER THEIR PRESS CAMP CONFERENCE. SHE WAS THANKFUL AND DETECTIVE DETECTIVES CONNECTED HER TO THE OFFICE OF REFUGEE RESETTLEMENT. NEITHER HPD OR THE OFFICE OF REFUGEE RESETTLEMENT RECEIVED A MISSING PERSONS HIT WHEN THEY RAN THE NAME PROVIDED BY THE MISSING JUVENILE. SO THAT'S JUST, THAT'S ACTUALLY WHAT HAPPENED. AND THAT'S WHERE WE'RE AT TODAY. WHILE IN THE CARE OF THE FACILITY, THE YOUNG MAN HAS A MEDICAL EPISODE AND THEY HAVE STAFF, MEDICAL STAFF AT THAT FACILITY. AND THEY MADE THE DETERMINATION THAT HE NEEDED TO GO TO THE HOSPITAL TO HAVE AN APPENDECTOMY. AND THEY TOOK THEM TO TEXAS CHILDREN'S JUST LIKE THEY WOULD'VE TAKEN MY SON AND HE WAS CARED FOR. THEIR STATUS IN THIS COUNTRY IS NONE OF OUR RESPONSIBILITY AT THE HOUSTON POLICE DEPARTMENT WE'RE HERE TO SERVE. NO ONE AT THE HOUSTON POLICE DEPARTMENT DENIED ANY SERVICES TO THE MOTHER WHEN SHE CALLED INITIALLY. IN FACT, WE SENT 10 UNITS TO HELP HER TO FIND THE MISSING KID. SO THIS IS WHERE WE'RE AT. THIS IS, WE'RE NOT HERE TO GET LIKES OR APPLAUSE. WE'RE HERE TO TELL THE TRUTH AND MAKE SURE THAT THIS OFFICE, THAT THE MEN AND WOMEN THAT I REPRESENT, THAT I WORK FOR ARE DOING THEIR VERY BEST UNDER SOME EXTREMELY DIFFICULT CIRCUMSTANCES IN OUR COMMUNITY. THAT'S THE TRUTH. AND WE DID OUR VERY BEST WITH THE RESOURCES AND THE INFORMATION THAT THE CHILD HAD GIVEN US. AND I'LL LET YOU SEE THE VIDEO OF THE CHILD COMMUNICATING WITH US. SO THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME, MARY. IF YOU HAVE ANY OTHER QUESTIONS, I'D PREFER THAT YOU LOOK AT THE VIDEO YOURSELF. THAT WAY YOU SEE IT AND YOU'RE NOT TAKING IT FROM ME, YOU'RE TAKING IT FROM THE YOUNG MAN'S MOUTH. SO THANK YOU FOR YOUR AUDIENCE AND THANK YOU FOR THE T THE TREMENDOUS TERRIFIC JOB THAT YOU DO FOR THE GREAT CITY OF HOUSTON. THANK YOU. THANK YOU, NOY. BEFORE WE REVIEW THE TAPE, UH, EXCELLENT REPORT, DOCUMENTING IT. THE ONLY THING I HEARD LEFT OUT WAS YOU WERE WAKING DETECTIVES UP AT THREE 30 IN THE MORNING AT THEIR RESIDENCES TO GO ASSIST WITH THIS CASE. MAYOR, THE, THE WORK NEVER STOPS, RIGHT? OUR, OUR TEAMS ARE DOING YEOMAN'S WORK [03:25:01] WITH A 5,300 MAN DEPARTMENT, RIGHT? THEY, THE CALLS FOR SERVICE ARE HOLDING. SO THE CALL MAY BE A, WE MAY BE A LITTLE LATE TO A NUMBER, UH, LEVEL TWO OR LEVEL THREE CALL. BUT WE'RE WORKING. AND THIS IS A PRIORITY TO US. KIDS ARE OUR PRIORITY. 'CAUSE WE ALL HAVE KIDS. EVERY ONE OF THOSE MEN AND WOMEN DEALING WITH THIS YOUNG MAN FELT THE SAME WAY. YOU KNOW? SO IT IT, IT IS, UH, UH, IT'S A TRAVESTY FOR ME THAT SOMEONE WOULD COME UP HERE BEFORE THIS AUDIENCE AND TELL HALF TRUTHS, MISINFORMATION, WHEN IN FACT, UH, THEY DON'T HAVE THE INFORMATION. SO WE'RE HERE TO HELP. WE'RE HERE TO HELP THE COMMUNITY AND WORK THROUGH THESE PROCESSES BECAUSE THEY'RE DIFFICULT. EVERYBODY HERE FEELS THE SAME WAY. I'M, I DON'T KNOW IF EVERYBODY HAS KIDS, BUT YOU ALL HAVE KIDS. SO OUR PRIORITY IS TO MAKE SURE THAT THIS YOUNG MAN IS CARED FOR. NOW HE'S NOT IN OUR CARE NOW, HE'S IN A FEDERAL AGENCY'S CARE. SO THAT'S WHERE WE'RE AT, MAYOR, AND, AND WE'RE WORKING THROUGH IT. AND WE WILL CONTINUE TO DO THIS VERY SAME THING, FOLLOW OUR PROCESSES, FOLLOW OUR GUIDELINES TO ENSURE THAT THE OFFICE IS PROVIDING EXCEPTIONAL POLICE SERVICES AND CARING FOR THE COMMUNITY. WE'RE, WE ARE A VERY GOOD COMMUNITY FACING POLICE DEPARTMENT. THANK YOU. COUNCIL MEMBER DAVIS? YES, SIR. THANK YOU, MAYOR. I, CHIEF, I WANT TO FIRST THANK YOU FOR COMING AT THE REQUEST OF THE MAYOR AND CLARIFYING THIS SITUATION AND IT AND ALL THAT YOU DO BECAUSE THERE'S NEVER AN OPPORTUNITY WHENEVER WE ASK YOU THAT HPD AND YOU PARTICULARLY, WELL, YOU KNOW, FOR ME, I'VE HELD LIKE ALMOST EIGHT TOWN HALL MEETINGS. YOU'VE BEEN AT EVERY ONE OF THEM ALONG WITH OUR FIRE CHIEF AND OTHER DEPARTMENT HEADS. UM, AND I WANT TO THANK THE MAYOR FOR BRINGING THIS TO THE LIGHT. IT'S VERY DISTURBING BECAUSE ON ON YESTERDAY, I ASKED SPECIFIC QUESTIONS TO THIS MOTHER AND THE PERSON REPRESENTING HER ONE ABOUT THE ISSUE OF AUTISM. 'CAUSE I TAKE THAT VERY SERIOUSLY. YES, SIR. MY GRANDSON IS AUTISTIC. YES, SIR. HE WALKED ON THE STAGE WITH ME WHEN I GOT SWORN IN IN THIS COUNCIL. I SUPPORT THAT SITUATION. I WOULD THINK IT REALLY DIS REALLY DISRESPECTFUL FOR SOMEONE TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THAT TYPE OF ISSUE GOING ON IN OUR WORLD, IN THE LIVES OF MANY PARENTS. AS I SAID ON YESTERDAY, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER HUFFMAN, UM, AND I BOTH WORKED WITH CRIME STOPPERS WITH THE NEEDS PROGRAM THAT IDENTIFY AUTISTIC PEOPLE. SO LET ME JUST SAY, HERE'S A DOUBLE ISSUE BECAUSE THIS TYPE OF STUFF CREATES A FEAR AND A, AND A UNWANTED AND NOT JUSTIFIABLE FREE IN OUR COMMUNITY. AND I THINK THIS IS THE TYPE OF THING THAT, AND EVERYONE AROUND THIS HORSESHOE HAD COMPASSION FOR THE SITUATION, BUT NOT TO DISRESPECT OUR POLICE DEPARTMENT. AND I TAKE THAT VERY SERIOUSLY AND I FEEL VERY UPSET ABOUT THAT FACT BECAUSE OUR POLICE DEPARTMENT DO AN EXCELLENT JOB. I REACHED OUT TO YOU ON FRIDAY NIGHT TO THE DEPARTMENT OF AN ISSUE THAT WAS GOING ON, UH, IN ONE OF OUR PASTOR CHURCHES, WAS A THREAT TO THE CONGREGATION. AND IMMEDIATELY, CHIEF, YOU GOT ON IT, GOT DETECTIVES ON IT. WE, WE DEALT WITH THE SITUATION. AND I JUST WANT TO SAY THIS PUBLICLY, THAT WE NEED TO BE VERY MINDFUL OF PEOPLE COME HERE. THERE'S NO ONE AROUND THIS. YOU WORK MORE IN COMPASSION THAN I AM, BUT A LOT OF TIMES WE ELEVATE ISSUES THAT REALLY DOES NOT WARRANT DISRESPECT, ESPECIALLY TO OUR FINE MEN AND WOMEN OF HPD. AND I JUST THINK, MAYOR, I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR BRINGING THIS TO LIGHT BECAUSE THIS IS SOMETHING THAT I THINK THAT WE NEED TO BE VERY MINDFUL IN THE FUTURE. BUT THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME, CHIEF CUMMIN AND GIVING US AN EXPLANATION ON THIS MATTER. THANK YOU PASTOR DAVIS. THANK YOU. COUNCIL MEMBER CAYMAN. THANK YOU MAYOR. UM, AND CHIEF AND AND I, I APPRECIATE A PUBLIC DIALOGUE AND PRESENTATION ABOUT TIMELINE AND FACTS AND, YOU KNOW, MAKING SURE IT'S CLEAR THAT HPD DID EVERYTHING THAT THEY COULD. I THINK EVERYONE RECOGNIZES THE VERY UNFORTUNATE AND TRAGIC SITUATION THAT IS UNFOLDED, RIGHT? WE'RE NOT SAYING, OR I AM NOT SAYING, I DON'T WANT THIS CHILD WITH THIS MOTHER AND I WANNA BE VERY CAUTIOUS ABOUT US GOING INTO TOO MANY DETAILS TOO PUT AT RISK, RIGHT? WHATEVER DEFENSE THE MOTHER HAS IN TERMS OF A CUSTODY ISSUE, IMMIGRATION ISSUE. SO I'M, I'M HESITANT TO ASK ALL OF THE QUESTIONS THAT I HAVE AND THAT'S WHY I APPRECIATE WE MAY HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY AS WELL BEHIND [03:30:01] CHAMBERS OR AFTERWARDS. YES. 'CAUSE AGAIN, OUR JOB IS TO PROTECT FAMILIES RIGHT NOW. ABSOLUTELY. UM, I HAD SEVERAL QUESTIONS BECAUSE I THINK IT'S ALSO IMPORTANT TO DISPEL SOME, SOME MYTHS. SO WHEN IT COMES TO REPORTING MISSING PERSONS, RIGHT, THERE'S A MYTH OUT THERE THAT YOU HAVE TO WAIT 24 HOURS OR YOU HAVE TO WAIT A CERTAIN TIME PERIOD. AND THE CITY OF HOUSTON, IF THERE IS A MISSING INDIVIDUAL, IS THERE ANY TIME PERIOD WHATSOEVER THAT YOU HAVE TO WAIT TO REPORT SOMEBODY MISSING? EVERY CIRCUMSTANCE IS DIFFERENT TO YOUR NEED AS YOU CALL. SO TO TRY AND BOX US INTO SOMETHING, IF YOU HAVE A TEENAGER THAT'S RUNNING AWAY FREQUENTLY, AND WE PROBABLY ALREADY HAVE DEALT WITH THAT TEENAGER, THEN WE WILL OBVIOUSLY DO THE VERY SAME THING WE DO FOR THE NEXT PERSON, RIGHT? WE'RE, WE'RE GOING TO RESPOND ACCORDINGLY TO MAKE APPROPRIATE, UH, UH, MAKE APPROPRIATE DECISIONS TO HELP THE PARENT. LIKE IN THIS CASE, THE MOM GAVE US THE PHOTO AND WE WENT BACK TO THE OFFICE AND PRODUCED THE IMAGE SO THAT WE COULD HELP, RIGHT? UH, SO, SO THERE ISN'T, UH, YOU CAN REPORT A MISSING PERSON. WE HAVE A MISSING PERSONS, UH, DETECTIVE BUREAU THAT CAN TAKE CARE OF ALL THAT STUFF. SO FOR US, IT'S JUST CONSTANTLY TRYING TO PROTECT THE COMMUNITY. AND, AND I UNDERSTAND IT'S MORE SO I UNDERSTAND THERE'S HESITANCY TO REACH OUT IN SOME, THERE'S HESITANCY IN SOME COMMUNITIES RIGHT NOW TO REACH OUT TO LAW ENFORCEMENT. I'M NOT SAYING THAT THAT'S, LET'S JUST SAY THAT THERE IS HESITANCY FOR SOME IN REACHING OUT TO LAW ENFORCEMENT, BUT I WANNA ENCOURAGE, IF THERE IS A MISSING PERSON FOR PEOPLE TO REACH OUT IMMEDIATELY. I, I ENCOURAGE EVERYBODY TO CALL THE POLICE DEPARTMENT FOR ANY NEED. THAT'S, THAT IS WHAT I'M SAYING. BUT I ALSO RECOGNIZE THAT THERE IS HESITANCY, THERE IS FEAR IN REACHING OUT RIGHT NOW, UM, BECAUSE OF WHAT IS HAPPENING AT THE NATIONAL LEVEL, BECAUSE OF WHAT IS HAPPENING IN OTHER CITIES. UH, WHEN, WHEN YOU, UH, JUST A TECHNICAL QUESTION, BECAUSE AGAIN, MOM REACHES OUT, Y'ALL HAVE THE MISSING PERSON. I'M ASSUMING THERE'S EBOLA, WE HAVE THE IMAGES AND THINGS LIKE THAT. AND WE HAD THE YOUNG MAN, THIS WOMAN'S CHILD, EVEN THOUGH HE SAID THERE'S NO, I DON'T KNOW ANYONE'S NUMBERS. I DON'T HAVE ANY INFORMATION. I DON'T HAVE ANY FAMILY HERE. DO OUR SYSTEMS ALLOW US TO CROSSCHECK? BECAUSE RIGHT. WE KNEW THAT THERE WAS A KID THAT WAS MISSING. LIKE HOW MANY MISSING CHILDREN AT A TIME OR WITHIN A 24 HOUR PERIOD IS HPD DEALING WITH, WAS THERE AN OPPORTUNITY TO MATCH THAT UP TO SAY, OH, HE MAY NOT HAVE INFORMATION, BUT THE SYSTEM HAS THAT INFORMATION. IF YOU, HOW DOES THAT WORK? IF YOU INPUT YOUR NAME, FOR EXAMPLE, AND AS A MISSING PERSON OR YOUR CHILD, AND THEN YOUR CHILD GIVES US A DIFFERENT NAME SOMEWHERE ELSE 10 MILES AWAY, IT'S NOT GONNA CONNECT. OUR SYSTEMS WILL NOT CONNECT. WE, WE ACTUALLY APHIS THE YOUNG MAN TO, AS A, AS A THIRD CHECK TO MAKE SURE IF ANYONE HAD COME IN CONTACT WITH HIM. NOTHING. SO I UNDERSTAND WHAT YOU'RE SAYING. UH, AND WE AS AN ORGANIZATION HAVE TO ALWAYS BE ON TOP OF THESE KINDS OF THINGS BECAUSE WE CAN'T, WE, WE CAN'T MESS UP THIS TIME. IT DID NOT CHECK, BECAUSE FORGIVE ME, HE GAVE THE WRONG NAME. RIGHT. AND I GET THAT. AND I, AGAIN, I'M NOT POINTING A FINGER. I'M TRYING TO FLUSH OUT SOME OF THE PROCESSES, RIGHT? THE, YOU KNOW, IF WHEN MY SON WAS TWO, HE MAY NOT HAVE BEEN ABLE TO SAY WHAT HIS NAME WAS, BUT IF YOU, YOU HAVE A, A, I CALLED GOD FORBID AND SAID, I HAVE A 2-YEAR-OLD, THIS IS HIS DESCRIPTION. HOPEFULLY THOSE WOULD, WOULD MATCH. SO IF THERE'S A SYSTEM IMPROVEMENT THAT WE NEED, UM, I WANNA BE SUPPORTIVE OF THAT. AND WE'RE WORKING WITH OUR NEW RMS SYSTEM, RIGHT? HOPEFULLY THAT'LL FIX ITSELF, BUT WE'RE NOT THERE YET WITH THE SYSTEM THAT WE HAVE NOW. AND THEN LASTLY, JUST 'CAUSE WE KEEP TALKING ABOUT, UM, SOMEONE THAT MAY OR MAY NOT HAVE A DISABILITY, AND I WANNA BE VERY, UH, SENSITIVE TO THAT, UH, WITH INDIVIDUALS THAT ARE ON THE SPECTRUM. UM, YOU HAD MENTIONED THAT OFFICERS HAD ENGAGED WITH HIM AND MADE A DETERMINATION THAT HE DID NOT HAVE A DISABILITY, BUT ARE OFFICERS LICENSED TO MAKE A MEDICAL DETERMINATION OF THAT NATURE? WE DIDN'T MAKE A MEDICAL DETERMINATION. HE COULD COMMUNICATE. HE WAS SEEN BY OUR MEDICS, AND THEY TOO, UH, COMMUNICATED WITH A YOUNG MAN IN, IN A SPANISH LANGUAGE, OBVIOUSLY. BUT EVERYBODY, HE COULD COMMUNIC HE COMMUNICATED WITH EVERYONE. SO THERE WAS, RIGHT, BUT JUST 'CAUSE SOMEONE COMMUNICATES, I JUST WANNA BE CAREFUL THAT WE'RE NOT SAYING SOMEONE DOESN'T HAVE, IF YOU DON'T, AS A PARENT OF A SPECIAL NEEDS CHILD, RIGHT. HAVE A BRACELET, SOMETHING SEWN INTO THEIR CLOTHES, OR LET US KNOW AT THE POLICE DEPARTMENT THAT ON YOUR STREET THERE'S A SPECIAL NEEDS CHILD. AND WE DON'T KNOW. SO WE ARE NOT CLINICIANS. [03:35:01] WE ARE JUST HERE TO RECOGNIZE WHEN THERE'S A NEED. UH, I UNDERSTAND. BUT TO MAKE THAT JUST BECAUSE AGAIN, I HAVE, I HAVE COUSINS WHO ARE ON THE SPECTRUM. THEY DO NOT HAVE ANYTHING IN, IN THEIR CLOTHES. RIGHT. I JUST WANNA MAKE SURE THAT IF WE'RE PRESENTING PUBLIC INFORMATION, WE'RE NOT SAYING, NO, THIS, THIS YOUNG PERSON IS NOT, DOES NOT HAVE A DISABILITY. RIGHT. WE DON'T HAVE ACCESS TO THAT INFORMATION. WE DO NOT. THERE'S HIPAA RULES. YEAH. OKAY. CHIEF, THANK YOU VERY MUCH. THANK, THANK YOU. THANK YOU FOR THE CONCERN. SEE, CHIEF, ONE POINT YOU MIGHT WANNA SHARE IS THE MOTHER'S PHOTO WAS SEVERAL YEARS OLD. WE BELIEVE IT'S, UH, WHEN THE CHILD WAS 10 YEARS OLD AND THE CHILD, BECAUSE HIS INFORMATION IS 15 NOW. SURE. BUT THAT'S RELEVANT, RIGHT? THE MAYOR PRO TIM, CASTING STATE. THANK YOU, MAYOR. UH, CHIEF, THANK YOU FOR BRINGING THE VIDEO. I DID HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO SEE THE VIDEO. IT WAS DISTURBING TO ME THIS MORNING BECAUSE I WATCHED WHAT WAS PRESENTED TO US YESTERDAY. AND PART OF MY STRUGGLE WAS THE LANGUAGE BARRIER. AND I WAS DEPENDING ON SOMEONE WHO WAS TRANSLATING THAT INFORMATION. AND I THOUGHT THE PERSON SAID THAT THIS YOUNG MAN WAS NONVERBAL. UM, I ALSO THOUGHT, UM, THERE WAS SEVERAL THINGS THAT WAS SAID THAT WE DIDN'T SEE IN THE VIDEO. UM, AND SO I'M CONCERNED THAT THE STORY HAD SOME MISHAPS. UM, AND SO IT'S HARD FOR PEOPLE TO TRUST WHAT ACTUALLY HAPPENED BECAUSE THE MOTHER ALSO SAID SHE SPENT THE NIGHT WITH HER SON, AND THE SON WAS SAYING GOODBYE TO HER. I MEAN, IT WAS A, IT WAS A, A, A PULL ON YOUR HEARTSTRINGS STORY. UM, DID THE MOTHER SPEND THE NIGHT WITH HER SON? I DIDN'T HEAR ANY OF THAT IN THE, IN THE TIMELINE. UM, IS THAT A DIFFERENT SCENARIO? AND, AND, AND NONE OF THAT IS SHOWN ON THE, ON THE VIDEO. BUT SHE STOOD HERE AND SAID SHE SPENT THE NIGHT WITH HER SON, AND HER SON SAID GOODBYE TO HER. THAT THAT WAS THE TRANSLATION THAT I I DID NOT HEAR HER SAY THAT. UH, I KNOW THAT WHEN HE WAS IN THE CARE OF THE OFFICE OF REFUGEE RESETTLEMENT, SHE DID NOT SPEND THE NIGHT THERE. SO HE WENT, SHE, HE DID GO TO THE HOSPITAL. I'VE SEEN PHOTOS THAT PEOPLE HAVE SHARED WITH ME WHERE SHE BROUGHT SOME SORT OF GIFT TO THE YOUNG MAN AT THE HOSPITAL. I AM NOT SURE IF SHE SPENT THE NIGHT AT THE HOSPITAL. I DOUBT IT, BUT I'M NOT, I'M NOT POSITIVE. YEAH. OKAY. MAYBE SHE, MAYBE SHE VISITED HIM MAY, MAYBE AT THE HOSPITAL, AND THEN THEY SAID THEY CALLED HIM AND THEN THEY RELEASED HIM, BUT THEY RELEASED HIM ONCE SHE WAS GONE INSTEAD OF WHEN THEY WERE THERE. SO THE, THE TIMELINES KIND OF ARE, ARE A LITTLE DIFFERENT. BUT I APPRECIATE, I APPRECIATE THE TIMELINE THAT, THAT YOU GAVE. BUT I THINK THE, THE THING THAT STOOD OUT THE MOST TO ME WAS I COULDN'T FIGURE OUT HOW, IF WE HAD A MISSING PERSON'S REPORT, THAT WE DIDN'T MAKE THE CONNECTION. BUT YOU EXPLAINED THAT VERY CLEARLY TO, TO US. WHEN WE WATCHED THE VIDEO THIS MORNING, THE YOUNG MAN'S NAME IS EMANUEL, BUT WHEN WE ASKED HIM WHAT HIS NAME WAS, HE SAID, MANUEL, AND IT'S A HYPHENATED NAME. SO GARCIA GONZALEZ. SO HE, IT WAS THE REVERSAL ORDER, RIGHT? AND SO THERE WAS NO WAY THAT THE SYSTEM PICKED UP SIMILAR NAMES, BUT NOT THE EXACT SAME NAME. IN THIS CASE, IT DID NOT. RIGHT? YES. YEAH. EVERYONE'S GONNA GET A CHANCE TO SEE IT. ABSOLUTELY. THAT'S WHY I'M HERE. I JUST WANTED TO POINT OUT THAT NAME THING. 'CAUSE THAT'S WHAT STOOD OUT TO ME YESTERDAY WAS WHY COULDN'T WE MAKE THAT CONNECTION? BUT THERE'S A VERY GOOD EXPLANATION YES. AS TO WHY THAT WAS NOT DONE. UM, AND THE NAMES WERE SIMILAR, BUT NOT THE SAME. THANK YOU, VICE MAYOR PROTE PECK. THANK YOU, MAYOR. AND THANK YOU CHIEF. UM, IT'S A VERY SAD SITUATION AS A MOTHER. I CAN'T IMAGINE NOT KNOWING WHERE MY CHILD IS, BUT ALSO AS A MOTHER, I CAN'T IMAGINE USING SOMEBODY ELSE'S CHILD TO DISPARAGE HPD AND FOR MEDIA ATTENTION. I APPRECIATE HP D'S WORK. UM, THE PROFESSIONALISM OF THE OFFICERS THAT WENT OUT TO THE SCENE THAT PUT IN ALL OF THE EFFORT TRYING TO FIND HIM AND WORKING WITH HIM. UM, THIS DID OCCUR IN MY DISTRICT. SO I AM HAPPY TO CONTINUE TO, YOU KNOW, ANY SUPPORT THAT THEY NEED. UM, WE WILL PROVIDE THAT. BUT AGAIN, I WANNA THANK HPD FOR EVERYTHING THAT YOU DO EACH AND EVERY DAY. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. THANK YOU, COUNCILWOMAN. COUNCILMAN MARTINEZ. THANK YOU, MAYOR. UM, CHIEF, I APPRECIATE YOU BEING HERE AND SHARING THESE WORDS AND THE TIMELINE. I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO WATCHING THE VIDEO AS WELL. UM, I THINK IT'S, IT'S DEFINITELY WELL NOTED THAT WE'RE IN SOME COMPLEX AND SENSITIVE TIMES AT THE MOMENT. THE MAYOR SPOKE TO, YOU KNOW, THE L-G-B-T-Q COMMUNITY [03:40:01] AS WELL. AND AS, UH, TEMPERATURE CONTINUES TO HEIGHTEN, RIGHT? UM, I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT FOR OPPORTUNITIES LIKE THIS TO CONTINUE TO HAPPEN. I KNOW THIS COULD BE EXHAUSTING TO TRY AND EXPLAIN EVERY SITUATION, CHIEF, BUT I THINK IT, WE NEED TO GET AHEAD OF THESE, THESE STORIES A LOT, A LOT FASTER. UM, BECAUSE FOLKS ARE SCARED, QUITE FRANKLY. YOU KNOW, UH, FOLKS ARE, ARE SCARED OF, YOU KNOW, A TRAFFIC STOP TURNING INTO A NICE CALL, TURN INTO DEPORTATION. AND I, I FEEL, I FELT IT ALREADY. MY NEIGHBOR, QUITE FRANKLY, HAS BEEN PICKED UP AND DEPORTED. SO THE MORE THAT WE CAN GET AHEAD OF THESE CONVERSATIONS, UM, NOT ALLOWING FOR ANY, ANY, UM, AND I DON'T WANNA SAY MISINFORMATION 'CAUSE I WANNA SEE FOR MYSELF, YES SIR, AS WELL, BUT NOT ALLOWING FOR THESE, UM, UH, THESE SITUATIONS TO GET THE FULL TRANSPARENCY THAT IT DESERVES, THAT FOLKS WILL CONTINUE TO BE SCARED IN OUR CITY. FOLKS THAT LOOK LIKE ME, FOLKS THAT LOOK LIKE MY MOM. I APPRECIATE THE WORK YOU'RE DOING AND THE WORK THAT ALL HPD OFFICERS ARE DOING. UM, MY CHALLENGE, MY TO YOU, AND I APPRECIATE AGAIN, THE WORK THAT YOU'RE DOING IS HOW DO WE GET AHEAD OF THESE CONVERSATIONS? HOW DO WE MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE HOLDING OTHER FOLKS ACCOUNTABLE TO WHAT THEY'RE SAYING AS WELL? UM, I DON'T EXPECT THAT WE HAVE YOU SHOWING UP EVERY COUNCIL MEETING TO DO THESE KIND OF DEBRIEFS. UM, BUT THE PRIORITY SHOULD BE THE SAFETY OF EVERYONE. AND I KNOW THAT Y'ALL, Y'ALL ARE DOING THAT AS WELL. UM, JUST WANNA SAY THANK YOU TO THE OFFICERS THAT WERE THERE. UH, THANK YOU FOR YOUR WORK. UM, I APPRECIATE COUNCIL MEMBER PECK, CONTINUE TO FOLLOW UP, AND I'M HERE TO ALSO BE SUPPORTIVE IN WHATEVER WAY I CAN. SO, COUNCIL MEMBER, WE, WE DON'T LIVE IN THE SHADOWS. THIS OFFICE IS COMMUNITY FACING. WE'RE AT EVERY MEETING THAT YOU HAVE. WE SHOW UP, I SHOW UP AND THE MAYOR WON'T ADMIT IT, BUT SOMETIMES IT'S A SEVEN DAY A WEEK JOB AND IT'S A GRIND, RIGHT? BUT BECAUSE IT'S PASSION DRIVEN, WE WANNA BE RESPONSIVE TO THE COMMUNITY AND SOLUTION DRIVEN, NOT, UH, TELL PEOPLE HALF TRUTHS. THE TRUTH IS THIS IS THE TIMES THAT WE'RE IN. AND THE TRUTH IS THAT THIS OFFICE HAS TO FOLLOW THE LAW AND WE'LL CONTINUE TO FOLLOW THE LAW. SO I APPRECIATE THE CONNECTION THAT WE HAVE BECAUSE IT IS A DIFFICULT TIME, A DIFFERENT TIME. AND THIS ISN'T GOING TO GO AWAY ANYTIME SOON, RIGHT? SO WE ARE FOCUSED AS AN ORGANIZATION TO PROVIDE THE VERY BEST SERVICES. WE TRACK TWICE A WEEK IN THE OFFICE WITH THESE CONCERNS. IT TAKES UP A LOT OF TIME FOR US BECAUSE IT'S IMPORTANT. IT'S IMPORTANT TO THE GOOD PASTOR. IT'S IMPORTANT TO THE MAYOR, OBVIOUSLY, WHO IS OUT WITH US A LOT. AND IT'S IMPORTANT TO YOU, TO YOUR FAMILY, MY FAMILY. IT'S VERY IMPORTANT THAT WE AS AN ORGANIZATION GET IT RIGHT AND DO OUR VERY BEST TO MAKE SURE THAT THE COMMUNITY, I CAN ASSURE YOU, PEOPLE ARE STILL CALLING US. THIS LADY IS A PERFECT EXAMPLE. SHE CALLED US, WE RESPONDED, YOU KNOW, SO, AND THAT'S HAPPENING ALL OVER THE COMMUNITY EVERY SINGLE DAY. AND IF YOU DON'T KNOW, I'M SURE YOU DO, THIS COMMUNITY SPEAKS 80 DIFFERENT LANGUAGES, RIGHT? SO THAT IT'S NOT JUST SPANISH SPEAKING PEOPLE THAT ARE GOING THROUGH THESE STRESSES. IT'S, IT'S, IT'S EVERYWHERE IN OUR COMMUNITY AT DIFFERENT LANGUAGES. THANK YOU FOR YOUR COMMENTS AND THANK YOU FOR ALL YOU DO FOR US. THANK YOU FOR YOUR COMMENTS. UH, THE CHIEF'S CORRECT. WE VISIT EACH AND EVERY DAY TO BE TRANSPARENT. WHEN WE DO THE AFTER HOUR CLUB SURGES WHERE THERE'S HUMAN TRAFFICKING, DRUGS ABUSING THE IMMIGRANT COMMUNITY, WHEN UNDERCOVER MAKES THE CONTACT. AND WE GO IN AND THERE ARE A LARGE NUMBER OF IMMIGRANTS, HP D'S NOT CONCERNED. THAT'S NOT THEIR JOB. THEY'RE AFTER THE DRUGS AND HUMAN TRACT VICTIMS, AND THEY DO THEIR JOB. AS WE'VE STATED SINCE THE WASHINGTON ISSUES DEVELOP. WE ARE ENFORCING STATE AND CITY LAWS, DOMESTIC ABUSE CASES. WE ENCOURAGE PEOPLE TO CALL HPD AND WE'RE NOT THERE TO ENFORCE IMMIGRATION. NOW, LET ME QUICKLY SAY, WE HAVE TO BE SMART EVEN HAVING THIS CONVERSATION BECAUSE IT CANNOT [03:45:01] APPEAR THAT WE'RE NOT FOLLOWING BEST POLICIES. BUT THE REASON I JUST, AND IT MAY BECOME A COMMON OCCURRENCE TO HAVE THE CHIEF COME CLEAR UP, OBVIOUS DIRECT, MISLEADING INFORMATION. AND IT'S UNBELIEVABLE THAT THEY WOULD EXPOSE THIS MOTHER WHO HAS ISSUES OF HER OWN. IT'S JUST DUMB TO DO WHAT WAS DONE YESTERDAY TO TRY TO BUILD SOME KIND OF MOVEMENT, WHICH WE'RE ACTUALLY TRYING TO BE RESPECTFUL OF AND KEEP THE LID ON. SO THESE ARE CHALLENGING TIME. WE KNOW PEOPLE ARE SCARED. THE ANXIETY IS TERRIBLE, BLESS YOU, BUT YOU'RE NOT GONNA GET THERE BY PLAYING POLITICS WITH IT OR INFLAMING THE COMMUNITY. WAIT TILL YOU SEE THIS TAPE THE WAY YOU'D WANT HIM TO TREAT YOUR SON. SO ANYWAY, IT JUST REALLY IS DISGUSTING WHILE WE'RE TRYING AND ARE DOING THE RIGHT THING, THAT WE'VE GOT DISRUPTORS IN THE COMMUNITY WITH A SEPARATE AGENDA. COUNCILMAN CARTER? THANK YOU, MAYOR. CHIEF, I JUST WANTED TO SAY THANK YOU. AND YOU KNOW, I HAVE SUCH GREAT RESPECT FOR LAW ENFORCEMENT AND, AND WHAT YOU GUYS DO EVERY DAY. I TRULY CAN'T IMAGINE. YOU KNOW, I THINK THAT CERTAINLY TO BE, UH, TOO FEARFUL TO CALL AND YOUR CHILD IS MISSING FOR SEVERAL HOURS. AND IF FEAR KEEPS YOU FROM CALLING, THAT'S ONE THING. BUT YET TO BE MADE SECURE ENOUGH BY YOUR OWN COMMUNITY MEMBER TO COME IN FRONT OF COUNSEL. AND, YOU KNOW, YESTERDAY HE WAS VERBAL, NONVERBAL. THEY WENT BACK AND FORTH. I MEAN, THAT WAS CLEAR IN THE CONVERSATION. AND THE REAL CRIME HERE IS WHAT WAS DONE TO THAT MOTHER AND THAT CHILD IN FRONT OF US YESTERDAY. AND GOD BLESS YOU FOR THE WORK THAT YOU ALL DO OUT THERE ON THE STREETS EVERY DAY. AND TO COME HERE TO EXPLAIN SOMETHING TO THIS LEVEL. AND IN THIS TIME THAT WE'VE BANTERED BACK AND FORTH, YOU KNOW, WITH WHAT WAS DONE AND WHAT WAS NOT. YOU DO YOUR JOB AND YOU DO IT WELL. AND SO DO THE MEN AND WOMEN WHO WORK FOR YOU. AND GOD BLESS YOU FOR WHAT YOU DO EVERY DAY, TO KEEP THIS ENTIRE COMMUNITY SAFE AND TO DEAL WITH EVERYONE RESPECTFULLY AND IN THE WAY THAT THEY SHOULD BE. AND THAT, THAT YOU, THAT YOU WOULD WANT YOUR OWN FAMILY, AND I WOULD WANT MINE TO BE TREATED. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. COUNCIL MEMBER WITH SOMETHING THAT WE PUSH EVERY DAY FROM TRAVIS TO, UH, WILCREST, RIGHT? SO THE KIDS, THE PEOPLE THAT WE SERVE, ARE GETTING THE VERY BEST OUT OF OUR YOUNG PEOPLE DOING THIS JOB WITHOUT JUDGMENT OF THE COMMUNITY AND WITHOUT BIAS. WE'RE HERE TO FOLLOW THE LAW AND TAKE CARE OF THE COMMUNITY WHO TAKES CARE OF US. COUNCILMAN JACKSON? OH, THANK YOU, MAYOR. UM, AND THANK YOU MAYOR FOR ALLOWING CHIEF TO COME IN AND, UM, EXPLAIN THE SITUATION. THANK YOU, CHIEF, UM, FOR THE EXPLANATION. THANK YOU, MAYOR. BUT I REALLY WANT TO LOOK AT THE VIDEO. UM, JUST LISTENING TO VICE MAYOR PRO TIM. SHE MENTIONED, UM, THE NAME AND SHE SAID HIS NAME WAS, HE SAID HIS NAME WAS MANUEL. AND MY DAD NAME IS MANUEL. EMMANUEL. EMMANUEL. AND SO, YOU KNOW, JUST DOING A DIFFERENT SEARCH, ESPECIALLY WHEN IT'S A KID MM-HMM . THAT YOU HAVE IN CUSTODY, OR A KID THAT IS MISSING, YOU KNOW, I JUST THOUGHT, YOU KNOW, THINK THAT THAT WOULD BE, YOU KNOW, WE, WE COULD HAVE LOOKED A LITTLE BIT FURTHER. UM, IT SOUNDS SIMPLE. WE, WE WE'RE IN A VAST CITY. YEAH. YEAH. AND SO I REALLY WOULD LIKE TO SEE THE VIDEO, IF THAT WAS, WOULD BE GREAT. THAT'S WHY WE BROUGHT IT. OKAY. THANK YOU. THANK YOU COUNCIL MAYOR FOR YOUR, FOR YOUR TIME. VERY GOOD. MEMBERS. I'M GONNA CALL A 20 MINUTE RECESS. WHY DO YOU LIE? WHY DO YOU LIE? WHY DO YOU LIE? CHIEF DIAZ, WE'VE BEEN TRYING TO MEET WITH YOU. YOU HAVE YET TO MEET WITH US. WHY DO YOU LIE? WHY DO YOU ALL LIE? NO, IT IS NOT RESPECTABLE. WHY DO YOU, WHY DO YOU LIE? THIS TOWN IS AUTISTIC FOR 20 MINUTES TO REVIEW IN THE CONFERENCE. HE DOESN'T HAVE THE PROPER CARE THAT DESERVE AND RECESS BECAUSE OF FAITHING ADMINISTRATIONS THAT THE FEDERAL COUNTY AT DIFFERENT LEVELS DON'T LIE. LIE COUNCIL, COME TO ORDER MEMBERS, UH, THANK YOU FOR DOING YOUR JOB THIS MORNING. UH, ANOTHER PIECE OF MISINFORMATION THAT I'VE SAT HERE AND LISTENED TO AND WOULD LIKE, WE HAD A GREAT HEARING IN FINANCE, I BELIEVE WITH, UH, MICHAEL HECKMAN OVER THE EXPANSION OF GEORGE BROWN. MICHAEL, YOU COME FORWARD AND GIVE US A CONDENSED VERSION OF THE FACTS AND FIGURES AND CONSIDERATIONS, THE COLLABORATION [03:50:02] THAT'S GONE INTO THIS PROPOSAL. SURE, MAYOR, BE GLAD TO DO SO. UM, THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME THIS MORNING. COUNCIL MEMBERS, UM, GREAT TO SEE YOU. UH, I APPRECIATE YOU MAKING TIME FOR US THIS MORNING WITH ALL THE VITAL WORK THAT YOU UNDERTAKE EVERY SINGLE DAY, UM, FOR THIS COMMUNITY. UM, I WANT TO REWIND A LITTLE BIT BACK TO MARCH, UM, THE BEAUTIFUL DAY, UH, DOWN IN OUR CONVENTION DISTRICT WHERE, UM, UH, MAYOR WHITMEYER ROLLED OUT THE VISION, REALLY A 15 YEAR VISION FOR TRANSFORMING NOT JUST OUR CONVENTION CAMPUS, BUT THE EASTERN EDGE AND REDEFINING THE EASTERN EDGE OF DOWNTOWN, CONNECTING IT TO THE EAST END, CREATING A SPACE THAT WILL MAKE HOUSTON AT THE TOP OF THE PACK, WHICH IS WHERE WE DESERVE TO BE. WHAT WE WILL BE DEVELOPING, UH, AND ARE DEVELOPING, UM, WITH THE TRANSFORMATION OF THE GEORGE R. BROWN, WITH THE ADDITION OF AN ADJACENT ENTERTAINMENT DISTRICT WITH THE EVENTUAL WORK THAT'S GONNA BE DONE AT N-H-H-I-P FOR THE HIGHWAY PROJECT I 69, I 45, WITH EVENTUALLY A CAT PARK THAT WILL BE ON TOP OF THAT WORK. WHAT WE WILL END UP WITH IS SOMETHING, UH, THAT THERE IS NOTHING LIKE IT IN THE UNITED STATES FROM THE DYNAMO STADIUM, ASTROS ROCKETS CONVENTION CAMPUS CONNECTED GREEN SPACES. AS PART OF THAT WAS OUR DELIBERATE WORK WITH PUBLIC WORKS AND THE CITY THROUGH THE JRC PROCESS, WHICH YOU WILL CONSIDER TODAY THIS ITEM ABOUT WHAT IS REQUIRED TO BE DONE TO GET THERE IN ABANDONING POLK STREET FOR A TWO BLOCK SECTION. IMPORTANT TO GO BACK THAT THE CITY AND TXDOT AND OTHERS AGREED TO WHAT THAT PLAN WOULD BE. YEARS AGO, WE CONCEIVED OUR PLANNING AFTER THE TXDOT PLANNING HAD BEEN PUT IN PLACE UNDER THAT PLANNING, POLK WOULD NO LONGER CROSS OVER THE FREEWAY. THERE WOULD BE A WORKAROUND TO, AND A DETOUR TO BE ABLE TO CROSS THROUGH POLK. WE UNDERSTAND THE, UM, PASSION FROM THE COMMUNITY, THANKS TO COUNCIL MEMBER MARTINEZ AND WORKING THROUGH HIS OFFICE. UM, WE HAVE ENGAGED WITH THE PUBLIC FOR SIX MONTHS, UM, IN EXCEPTIONALLY GOOD FAITH TO LISTEN, TO HEAR. AND WE MADE ADJUSTMENTS BASED ON WHAT WE HEARD FROM THE COMMUNITY. THAT IS WHERE THE ADDITION OF LELAND INTO A TWO-WAY CAME OUT OF THOSE DISCUSSIONS. I THINK IT WAS IN PART OF OUR EARLY CONVERSATIONS RECOMMENDATION BY COUNCIL MEMBER MARTINEZ. AND THE CITY READILY ENDORSED THAT PLAN. UM, SO WE RECOGNIZE THAT. I'M ALSO HERE TO TELL YOU THAT HOUSTON FIRST TAKES VERY SERIOUSLY OUR MISSION AND OUR ROLE IN CREATING VALUE FOR THIS COMMUNITY. WHEN HOUSTON FIRST SUCCEEDS IN ITS JOB, THIS COMMUNITY BENEFITS THROUGH JOBS, ECONOMIC EXPANSION, QUALITY OF LIFE ITEMS. AND WE TAKE THAT SO SERIOUSLY. UM, EVERY DAY AS PART OF THIS PROJECT I MENTIONED TO THE COMMITTEE WILL BE DONE AT THE HIGHEST SAFETY STANDARDS AS A REQUIREMENT FROM OUR BOARD ALL THE WAY DOWN TO OUR DEVELOPMENT TEAM AND OUR CONSTRUCTION FIRM, WE ESTABLISHED A MINIMUM 30% MWBE GOAL FOR THIS PROJECT, WHICH WE ARE CURRENTLY EXCEEDING. AND I'M HERE TO TELL YOU THAT WE WILL EXCEED WHEN THE PROJECT IS COMPLETE, PARTICULARLY FOR PHASE ONE, WHICH IS, WHICH IS WHAT WE ARE, UH, IN THE PROCESS OF TODAY. UM, IN OUR BUSINESS, IT IS A COMPETITIVE LANDSCAPE. TOURISTS, CONVENTIONS HAVE A CHOICE WHERE TO SPEND THEIR MONEY. COMPANIES HAVE A CHOICE AS TO WHERE TO EXPAND BUSINESSES AND RELOCATE BUSINESSES. THE MAYOR REPORTED THIS MORNING, GREAT PROGRESS AS THE CITY IS MAKING. HOUSTON HAS BEEN MY HOME FOR 23 YEARS, AND I'M PROUD TO LIVE HERE. I'M PROUD TO PROMOTE IT EVERY SINGLE DAY. AND THERE, UM, UH, IS PART OF WHAT I DO EVERY DAY. I AM PROUD TO TALK ABOUT THE PEOPLE HERE. OUR DIVERSITY, UM, [03:55:01] THE POWER OF TOGETHER, WHICH IS WHAT WE TALK ABOUT, IS OUR BRAND. IT'S NOT A MONUMENT. IT'S NOT THE GOLDEN GATE BRIDGE. IT'S THE POWER OF TOGETHER. AND THAT'S OUR PEOPLE. UM, BUT WE HAVE TO INVEST. IF WE'RE NOT INVESTING, WE'RE NOT BUILDING FOR THE FUTURE. WE WILL FALL BEHIND. OTHER COMMUNITIES AROUND THIS COUNTRY ARE INVESTING BILLIONS OF DOLLARS TO TRY TO PUT THEM AHEAD. THANKS TO SENATE LEGISLATION. AND THEN DEAN OF THE SENATE, WE RECEIVED A FUNDING STREAM FOR THIS PROJECT. AND I'M PROUD TO SAY THAT NO GENERAL FUND DOLLARS WILL HAVE TO GO INTO THIS PROJECT, BE FUNDED BY THE INCREMENT OF STATE HOTEL OCCUPANCY TAX. AND THE OUTFLOW OF THAT, AS WE REPORTED, WILL BE A $20 BILLION ECONOMIC IMPACT OVER THE NEXT 30 YEARS. AND IN MY VIEW, THAT IS JUST THE BEGINNING. THAT IS ONLY FOR PHASE ONE, WHICH IS THE GRB SOUTH BUILDING. WE'LL BE CREATING A 100,000 SQUARE FOOT PEDESTRIAN PLAZA. WE HEAR SO MUCH FROM PEOPLE, WHETHER THEY BE HOUSTONIANS VISITORS, I WANT WALKABILITY, WE WANT CONNECTED SPACES. WE WANT GATHERING PLACES WHERE WE CAN GET TOGETHER. THAT IS WHAT HOUSTON FIRST DID. WHEN IT DID THE IMPROVEMENTS OF THE GEORGE R. BROWN FINISHED BACK IN 2016 AND CREATED THE PLAZA IN FRONT OF THE GRB. WENT FROM EIGHT LANES ON AVENUE OF DE LOS AMERICAS TO TWO LANES THAT HAS BEEN AN UNQUALIFIED SUCCESS. WE HOST FREE EVENTS, COMMUNITY EVENTS ON THAT PLAZA. WE WILL DO THE SAME AT THE GRB SOUTH PLAZA THAT WILL CONNECT TOYOTA CENTER AND THE GRB AND BE A GATEWAY TO WHAT WILL EVENTUALLY BE AN ADJACENT ENTERTAINMENT DISTRICT. I WANT TO THANK THE MAYOR FOR HIS LEADERSHIP TO DRIVE THIS PROJECT AHEAD. I WANNA THANK EVERY ONE OF YOU FOR YOUR TIME MEETING WITH US, LISTENING, HEARING YOUR FEEDBACK, NOT JUST ON THIS TOPIC, BUT THE WORK THAT WE DO EVERY DAY ON BEHALF OF HOUSTON. YOUR SUPPORT IS VITAL. UM, HOPEFULLY WE'RE ALWAYS RESPONSIVE. YOU CAN ALWAYS REACH ME, UH, MY TEAM. BUT WE'RE VERY PROUD OF THE WORK THAT WE ARE DOING AND MORE IMPORTANTLY, WHAT WE HAVE AHEAD OF US FOR HOUSTON, BECAUSE I BELIEVE THIS IS A, THIS IS A CRITICAL PROJECT THAT WILL HELP US BUILD THE FUTURE FOR HOUSTON. COUNCILMAN POLLARD. THANK YOU MAYOR. AND MICHAEL, THANK YOU FOR COMING BEFORE US AND YOUR LEADERSHIP. UM, YOU HAVE BROUGHT US THROUGH SOME CHALLENGING TIMES. WHEN I FIRST GOT HERE, UM, THE COVID PANDEMIC HIT AND THE ENTIRE CONVENTION AND TOURISM SPACE, UH, FELT A LOT OF UNCERTAINTY. AND THERE WAS A LOT OF BUDGET DEFICITS AND BUDGET GAPS THAT WE HAD TO GET THROUGH RESCHEDULING, REBRANDING, UM, AND ENSURING THAT PEOPLE FELT SAFE, UH, IN THIS NEW MODERN POST PANDEMIC WORLD. AND A LOT OF THAT CREDIT GOES TO YOU AND YOUR TEAM, UH, FOR USHERING US THROUGH. AND SO I WANT TO POINT THAT OUT. UM, ON THIS MATTER REGARDING POLK STREET, I THINK WE ALL UP HERE ARE EXCITED ABOUT THE FUTURE OF HOUSTON, THE FUTURE OF HOW WE CAN BRAND HOUSTON, UM, HOW WE'RE MAXIMIZING THIS SPACE AND HOW WE'RE MAKING IMPROVEMENTS, UM, TO THE CONVENTION CENTER. THE ISSUE THAT I THINK IS, UM, GETTING THE MOST TALK IS THE ENGAGEMENT PIECE. ENSURING THAT WE REACH OUT TO COMMUNITIES THAT WILL BE IMPACTED BY THESE CHANGES SO THAT THEIR VOICES ARE HEARD. NOW, YOU MENTIONED IN YOUR, UM, TALKING POINTS JUST NOW THAT BACK IN MARCH THERE WAS A ROLLOUT OF THIS, UM, NEW CONVENTION CENTER. UP UNTIL THAT POINT, I DON'T THINK THERE WAS MUCH ENGAGEMENT WITH THE COMMUNITY ON WHAT WAS FORTHCOMING. AND SO IT LEFT THEM OUT OF THE DISCUSSION ON WHAT THEIR PERSPECTIVES MAY BE ON IT. AND THEN SUBSEQUENTLY THERE STARTED TO BE MORE ENGAGEMENT, BUT THE PLANS WERE ALREADY PRETTY MUCH DONE. AND SO IT LEFT A LOT OF PEOPLE WHO ARE VERY MUCH INTERESTED IN HOW THIS IS GOING, GOING TO IMPACT THEIR DAILY LIVES OUTSIDE OF THE ABILITY TO PUT FORTH THEIR VOICE AND THEIR PERSPECTIVE ON THIS NEW [04:00:01] PLAN. AND THAT IS SOMETHING THAT, UM, NOT ONLY WITH THIS PARTICULAR ISSUE, BUT ACROSS THE BOARD, IT SEEMS AS IF WE'RE GETTING AWAY FROM DOING, UM, THE PRE-WORK WITH THE COMMUNITY BEFORE WE ACTUALLY COME OUT AND UNVEIL WHAT HOUSTON HAS IN STORE. AND BECAUSE OF THAT, UM, I THINK WE HAVE TO REALLY SHIFT OUR MINDSETS ON HOW WE VIEW COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT, HOW WE LOOK AT BRINGING FORTH THESE NEW PLANS AND ENSURING THAT THE COMMUNITIES THAT WILL BE IMPACTED ARE AT THE TABLE ON THE FOREFRONT. UM, AND THEY DESERVE TO BE HEARD. AND THEIR, THEIR, THEIR COMMENTS AND THEIR EFFORTS, UH, ARE MERITORIOUS. THEY HAVE A LOT OF MERIT IN WHAT THEY'RE SAYING. THEY HAVE A LOT OF PERSPECTIVE BASED ON THEM BEING THE ONES THAT LIVE THERE. WE HAD PUBLIC TESTIMONY YESTERDAY FROM A LOT OF FOLKS THAT CAME BEFORE US, BUT MOST OF THEM REPRESENTED ENTITIES AND CORPORATIONS, THE FOLKS THAT ARE COMING BY SAYING THAT WE HAVE AN ISSUE WITH THIS LIVE THERE EVERY SINGLE DAY. AND I THINK WE HAVE TO CARRY THEIR AND, AND HOLD THEIR VOICES AT A, AT A, AT A HIGH LEVEL. AND SO, UH, I WANT THEM TO KNOW THAT I DO HEAR YOU. UM, AND I WANT YOU TO KNOW THAT I DO HEAR YOU AND I UNDERSTAND THE BENEFITS, UH, THAT THIS COULD BRING TO THE CITY OF HOUSTON. AND HOPEFULLY GOING FORWARD, UM, WE WILL SEE SOME OF THE MISSTEPS I THINK WE MADE IN THE ROLLOUT OR THE ENGAGEMENT PIECE OF THIS AND ENSURE THAT WE HOLD MORE ENGAGEMENT MEETINGS BEFOREHAND WITH THE COMMUNITY. THANK YOU. THANK YOU COUNCILMAN. MR. CAYMAN. THANK YOU, MAYOR. UM, I WAS, WOULD YOU PREFER, MAYOR, THAT WE ASK QUESTIONS? I DON'T WANNA PUT MICHAEL ON THE SPOT. I KNOW A LOT OF US WERE PLANNING TO HAVE DISCUSSION ON THIS, ON THE ITEM ITSELF WHEN IT COMES UP. SO HOW WOULD YOU LIKE, I THINK THIS IS A GREAT OPPORTUNITY. THE BEST RESOURCE WE HAVE IS RIGHT THERE. GREAT. HI MICHAEL. AND THEN WE'LL HI COUNCIL MEMBER. UM, SO FIRST AND FOREMOST, I, MICHAEL, I APPRECIATE WE RECEIVED THIS MORNING AN MOU, UM, PROPOSAL, UH, BETWEEN HOUSTON FIRST, UM, AND THE CITY OF HOUSTON. IS THAT ACCURATE? YES. OKAY. AND I KNOW THAT THAT'S ALSO NOW THANKS TO, UH, THE COUNCIL MEMBER BEING CIRCULATED TO THE COMMUNITY. UM, I APPRECIATE, I'M JUST SKIMMING IT. 'CAUSE AGAIN, WE JUST GOT THIS, UM, THAT Y'ALL WILL EVALUATE AND IMPLEMENT HOW TO ENSURE SAFE PEDESTRIAN ACCESS, PEDESTRIAN ACCESS ON POLK STREET, WHICH IS, UH, I, I THINK A GOOD THING THAT THERE WILL BE A 13 MEMBER COMMUNITY ADVISORY BOARD, UM, APPOINTED BY COUNCIL OFFICES, IH AND D. UM, AND IT LISTS A BUNCH OF OTHER, UM, PARAMETERS FOR THOSE APPOINTMENTS. SO THERE'LL BE A COMMUNITY BASED BOARD. THE ONE QUESTION I HAD, UM, AGAIN, WE'VE BEEN TALKING A LOT AND ONE OF THE THINGS I HAVE HEARD FROM THE COMMUNITY IS IF WE DON'T HAVE POLK STREET, WE NEED LELAND TO BE TWO WAY ALL THE WAY TO LOUISIANA. AND I, UH, I TRUST YOUR WORD. I TRUST THE CITY'S WORD. UH, WE HAD REQUESTED THAT THIS BE, UH, MEMORIALIZED IN WRITING SO THAT THERE'S SOMETHING WE CAN POINT TO ON THAT. THE LANGUAGE, HOWEVER, JUST SAYS, UM, TO DEVELOP FINANCE AND IMPLEMENT A PLAN TO EVALUATE THE BEST UTILIZATION OF LELAND IS A THOROUGHFARE, INCLUDING POSSIBILITIES OF A TWO-WAY OR REVERSIBLE LAW STREET. YEAH. ARE WE ABLE, CAN YOU SPEAK TO THE COMMITMENT? LIKE, IS THIS HAPPENING? YEAH. DO WE KNOW THAT THIS IS HAPPENING? YEAH. UH, I DON'T WANNA SPEAK FOR, UM, UH, DIRECT REPUBLIC WORKS, BUT I CAN TELL YOU THAT, UM, UH, WE HAVE BEEN WORKING WITH THE CITY FOR SOME TIME ON, ON THIS ISSUE. UM, IT IS A LINE ITEM IN THE PROJECT BUDGET. OKAY. AND THAT IT IS IN ENGINEERING RIGHT NOW. SO WE ARE WORKING AS EXPEDITIOUSLY ON THAT, ON THAT ITEM AS YOU DESCRIBED, AT THE TWO-WAY CONDITION FOR, FOR LELAND. OKAY. UNDERSTOOD. AND I MAY ASK A, A QUESTION OF CITY LEGAL THEN, IF I MAY. 'CAUSE AGAIN, IT'S SURE IT'S CONTRACT LANGUAGE. UM, CITY ATTORNEY. WAS THERE SOME WAY TO CREATE MORE CONCRETE LANGUAGE THAT IDENTIFIES THAT THIS IS MOVING FORWARD AS A TWO-WAY FOR LELAND STREET UP TO LOUISIANA? I THINK AT THIS TIME, PRACTICALLY, NO. WHAT YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE TO NEED IS SOME FLEXIBILITY IN THIS. AND WHAT THIS DOCUMENT PROVIDES IS AN AGREEMENT TO COLLABORATE AND INVOLVE THE PUBLIC. BUT I'M NOT SURE THAT THERE'S ENOUGH KNOWLEDGE OF WHAT CAN AND CAN'T BE DONE TO HAVE SOMETHING MORE CONCRETE AT THIS POINT IN TIME. AND IF SOMETHING WAS NOT ABLE TO BE DONE, IT'S MY UNDERSTANDING THAT THE ITEM WE'RE GONNA VOTE ON TODAY, UH, IS THE FIRST [04:05:01] STEP, BUT THERE WILL BE ANOTHER VOTE THAT COMES BEFORE COUNSEL AT A LATER TIME TO FINALIZE, UM, THE STREET CONDEMNATION PERTAINING TO POLK. IS THAT CORRECT? THAT'S CORRECT. IT'S IN THE RCA, NOT UNTIL THE SECOND VOTE DOES THE, UH, ABANDONMENT BECOME EFFECTIVE. SO IF THERE ARE PROBLEMS AS IT RELATES TO THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THIS MOU IS, AGAIN, I THINK THIS IS WHAT I DON'T WANNA SPEAK FOR THE COMMUNITY, I WANNA BE CLEAR ABOUT THAT. BUT THERE WILL BE ANOTHER OPPORTUNITY IF SOMETHING GOES ASTRAY OF WHAT WE BELIEVE IS FEASIBLE TO ADDRESS THAT PRIOR TO IT COMING BACK TO COUNCIL. YES. OKAY. YES. YES. THERE'LL BE ANOTHER COUNCIL VOTE. OKAY. AND, UM, ON THAT NOTE, MICHAEL, I DO LIKE MY COLLEAGUES WANNA SHARE, ASIDE FROM THE MOBILITY CHALLENGES THAT I THINK WE DO NEED, YOU KNOW, ADDITIONAL SUPPORT FROM, WHETHER IT'S FROM DOWNTOWN HOUSTON PLUS OR WHOEVER, UM, I DON'T THINK ANYONE DISAGREES THAT SOMETHING EXCITING AND BENEFICIAL TO THE CITY OF HOUSTON IS COMING WITH THE EXPANSION. UH, YOU AND I HAVE GONE BACK AND FORTH A LOT ON SOME OF THE FEATURES OF THIS BUILDING THAT I AM ABSOLUTELY THRILLED ABOUT THAT I THINK REPRESENT HOUSTON. IT'S A GOOD THING THAT WE ARE DOING. BUT WHEN IT COMES TO THE SURROUNDING STREETS AND ACCESS FOR THE NEIGHBORHOOD, UM, OF COURSE WE ALL TAKE THAT VERY SERIOUSLY. AND COUNCILMAN WE AGREE WITH THAT. UM, FRANKLY, FROM THE STAKEHOLDERS THAT, THAT WE ENGAGE WITH, TALK WITH. I MEAN, IT, IT IS IMPORTANT FOR US NOT ONLY JUST BEING A GOOD NEIGHBOR, BUT FOR OUR BUSINESS TO GET PEOPLE INTO DOWNTOWN. OKAY? IT IS NOT THE GOAL TO, TO CREATE A WALL, WHICH, YOU KNOW, SOME FOLKS HAVE THE VIEW THAT, THAT THAT'S WHAT THE GEORGE R. BROWN HAS BEEN FOR A LONG TIME. AND I THINK THAT THAT'S DECISIONS THAT WERE MADE A LONG TIME AGO AND THE FREEWAY AND OTHER THINGS. BUT THE FREEWAY COMING DOWN, US, YOU KNOW, REFACING, THE EASTERN SIDE OF THE GRB, CREATING THE WALKABLE PROMENADE THAT WILL CONNECT GREEN SPACE TO GREEN SPACE. WHEN WE ENTERED INTO THINKING ABOUT WHAT THE MASTER PLAN CAN LOOK LIKE, IT WAS VERY MUCH WITH OUR NEIGHBORING COMMUNITIES IN MIND. COUNCIL MEMBER RAMIREZ. THANK YOU MAYOR, AND THANK YOU, UM, MICHAEL FOR BEING HERE. A QUESTION FOLLOWING UP ON COUNCIL MEMBER CAYMAN'S QUESTIONS TO ARTURO ARTURO, WHEN, WHEN IS THAT RCA VOTE? EXPECT IT TO COME? UM, I WOULD THINK IT WOULD TAKE, UH, UH, A COUPLE MONTHS. IT'S ESSENTIALLY DUE DILIGENCE IS WHAT HAPPENS IS THEY HAVE TO, UM, GET THE AGREEMENT OF THE PRIVATE UTILITIES THAT, UH, UH, THAT THEY'RE, THEY'RE ABANDONING IT SHOW PLANS FOR THE NEW ONES, UH, THOSE SORTS OF ASSESSMENTS. UH, SO I'M NOT EXACTLY SURE HOW LONG THAT TAKE, MR. MAY KNOW BETTER, BUT THERE ARE SOME STEPS THAT, THAT ARE INVOLVED. OKAY. THANK YOU. AND, AND AGAIN, UH, MICHAEL, WE'VE, WE'VE HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO VISIT SEVERAL TIMES OVER THE LAST FEW MONTHS ABOUT THIS PROJECT AND, UH, ESPECIALLY ABOUT MOBILITY. AND I'VE EXPRESSED TO YOU A NUMBER OF TIMES THAT, THAT I HOPE THE CITY AND HOUSTON FIRST WILL CONTINUE TO EXPLORE OTHER, OTHER STREETS BESIDES LELAND AS POTENTIAL TWO-WAY, UM, CHANGES TO ALLOW MORE ACCESSIBILITY BY FOLKS ON, ON THE EAST SIDE. WILL, WILL YOU, UH, COMMIT TO DOING THAT ON BEHALF OF HOUSTON FIRST? IF THIS VOTE PASSES TODAY, WE WILL ABSOLUTELY. UH, COUNCIL MEMBER, I, UM, WE HAVE HAD EXCELLENT DIALOGUE AND DISCUSSION. I APPRECIATE YOU COMMITTING YOUR, YOUR TIME TO, UM, UM, BE PART OF AND UNDERSTAND THE ISSUE THERE. UM, UH, AND AS I EXPRESSED TO YOU PRIVATELY, WE WOULD ABSOLUTELY, ABSOLUTELY DO THAT. ALRIGHT. AND I NOTE THAT DIRECTOR MAC, HE HERE FROM PUBLIC WORKS AS WELL, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER CAYMAN MENTIONED THE, THE MOU, THE MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING. AND, AND I HAVE A COPY IN FRONT OF ME. AND, UH, BASICALLY THE TWO PARTIES TO THE MOU ARE HOUSTON PUBLIC WORKS AND, UH, HOUSTON FIRST. IS THAT YOUR UNDERSTANDING? MY UNDERSTANDING, YES. AND, UM, SOME OF THE BULLET POINT, UH, THINGS THAT, UH, YOU ALL WILL UNDERTAKE INCLUDE, COLLABORATE WITH NEIGHBORHOOD ORGANIZATIONS, OTHER GOVERNMENTAL ENTITIES AND DOWNTOWN HOUSTON TO IDENTIFY MOBILITY AND CONNECTIVITY ALTERNATIVES IN THE AREA AND IDENTIFY FUNDING OPTIONS FOR THE SAME. OKAY. AND SO, UM, I I HOPE THAT YOU ALL WILL WILL DO THAT AND WE WILL, YOU KNOW, CONTINUE TO LOOK TO SEE, UH, WHAT KIND OF PROGRESS IS BEING MADE THERE. UM, AND WITH REGARD TO LELAND, UM, YOU KNOW, THE ASSUMPTION HAS BEEN [04:10:01] THAT, UH, WE WOULD BE ABLE TO DO THE DESIGN WORK IN SUCH A WAY THAT IT COULD BE MADE TWO-WAY. UM, THAT'S WHY I WAS ASKING ABOUT THE TIMING ON THE RCA VOTE. UH, IT, IT WOULD BE NICE TO HAVE SOME CERTAINTY THAT THE DESIGN WOULD IN FACT ALLOW FOR IT TO BE MADE TWO-WAY. BUT FROM WHAT I'M TAKING IN THIS DISCUSSION, THAT'S NOT A HUNDRED PERCENT CERTAINTY AT THIS POINT. WHAT, WHAT'S YOUR UNDERSTANDING OF THAT? SO, UM, UH, AGAIN, UM, WE HAVE HIRED ENGINEERS THAT ARE WORKING ON THAT. WE ARE WORKING WITH THE GOAL OF TURNING LELAND INTO A TWO-WAY. THAT IS, THAT IS OUR INTENTION. WE HAVE IT IN OUR PROJECT BUDGET AND WE ARE WORKING TOWARDS THAT, THAT GOAL COUNCIL MEMBER. OKAY. ALRIGHT. THANK YOU. COUNCIL MEMBER CASTILLO. THANK YOU, MAYOR MICHAEL, THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE. SURE. UM, LIKE IT'S BEEN SAID, I, I AGREE THIS IS A TRANSFORMATIONAL PROJECT FOR THE CITY. IT'S GOING TO, YOU KNOW, REALLY ENHANCE OUR ABILITY TO MAINTAIN OUR STATUS AS A WORLD CLASS CONVENTION CENTER. UH, I ALSO AGREE THAT THE ENGAGEMENT OF THE COMMUNITY, YOU KNOW, PRIOR TO FEBRUARY AND, AND THINGS COULD HAVE BEEN DONE BETTER AND WE'VE, YOU KNOW, HEARD FROM NEIGHBORHOODS, UH, ABOUT THAT. NOW, THIS MOU DOES ADDRESS A NUMBER OF THE THINGS THAT WE HAVE HEARD FROM THE COMMUNITY AS THEY'VE ENGAGED US HERE AT COUNCIL. UM, WITH RESPECT TO LELAND, IT'S, THE ENGINEERS ARE ALREADY STUDYING IT, IT'S IN YOUR PROJECT BUDGET. WHAT IS THE TIMELINE ON THAT, UH, BEING CONVERTED AND COMPLETED? I, I, I WOULD, I WOULDN'T WANT TO GIVE YOU A, A A TIME CERTAINTY 'CAUSE I DON'T KNOW THAT WE HAVE THAT, BUT WE WOULD HOPE THAT WE WOULD BE ABLE TO HAVE THAT DONE WITHIN A YEAR. WITHIN A YEAR. OKAY. AND ON THE BULLET POINT FOR COLLABORATE WITH NEIGHBORHOOD ORGANIZATIONS, OTHER GOVERNMENT ENTITIES DOWNTOWN HOUSTON, TO IDENTIFY MOBILITY AND CONNECTIVITY ALTERNATIVES IN THE AREA AND IDENTIFY FUNDING OPTIONS FOR THE SAME, UH, WITH Y'ALL AND PUBLIC WORKS, BEING THE ONES THAT ARE, THAT ARE SIGNING THIS, UH, DOCUMENT, HOW DOES THE COLLABORATION WORK THERE WITH THE, UH, ENTITIES THAT ARE, THAT ARE MENTIONED HERE, BUT ARE NOT SIGNING THE DOCUMENT? YEAH. SO, UH, THAT WILL TAKE A LITTLE BIT OF TIME TO WORK OUT. I THINK WHAT THIS DOES IS, IS, IS LAYS FORWARD THE, UH, THE ROADMAP, UH, OF THE, OF THE THINGS THAT WE HAVE TALKED ABOUT DOING AND MEMORIALIZES THEM INTO WRITING. I THINK THAT'S REALLY THE, THE, THE IDEA OF THIS, OF THIS MOU. SO COUNCIL MEMBER, I DON'T HAVE THE, UM, UH, THE EXACT WORKFLOW TODAY OF WHAT THAT WILL LOOK LIKE. WE'RE HAPPY TO SHARE THAT AFTER WE GET IT SET UP AS TO WHAT THAT LOOKS LIKE. BUT THE WAY THAT YOU DESCRIBED IT THERE IS EXACTLY THE WAY THAT WE INTEND IT TO BE DOWNTOWN HOUSTON PLUS AND, AND, UH, UH, HAD CONVERSATION WITH CHRIS LARSON. THEY'RE, THEY'RE VERY GOOD AT THIS, UH, WITH THE STREETS AND OTHER THINGS THAT THEY DO BRING IN THE RIGHT RESOURCES TO FIND. MANY OF YOU HAVE, HAVE, HAVE, UM, OFFERED SIMILAR, UM, SIMILAR SENTIMENTS THAT, YOU KNOW, CAN WE STUDY THESE THINGS? HOW CAN WE, HOW CAN WE MAKE IT BETTER? AGAIN, THAT'S SOMETHING THAT WE SHARE. IT, IT'S JUST THE, THE PROCESS OF, OF GETTING THAT DONE. AND WITH, WITH, WITH THE RIGHT PEOPLE. I WOULD SAY THAT WE ARE NOT EXPERT AT THAT. I, NONE OF YOU WILL BE SURPRISED TO HEAR THAT WE'RE IN FACILITY, UM, FACILITY, UH, OPERATION AND SALES, MARKETING AND PROMOTION. BUT WE CAN BRING THE RIGHT, THE RIGHT RESOURCES TO, UH, TO EFFECTUATE THAT. AND, AND I THINK THAT IS IMPORTANT. YEAH. 'CAUSE YOU KNOW, THEY HAVE A REPUTATION AND THEY HAVE PRODUCED GREAT PROJECTS WITH INTENSIVE COMMUNITY, UH, ENGAGEMENT. AND SO I DO THINK THEY'RE WELL SUITED, UH, TO STUDY SPECIFICALLY IN DOWNTOWN, UH, THESE POTENTIAL EAST, EAST WEST CONNECTIONS. AND, YOU KNOW, THIS ALSO CALLS FOR THE CREATION OF A, UM, STAKEHOLDER AND RESIDENT ADVISORY COMMITTEE, WHICH WILL ALSO HELP, UH, ON THE ENGAGEMENT SIDE, THE ADVISORY BOARD, UH, WITH THE REPRESENTATIVES FROM THE DIFFERENT DISTRICTS. MY QUESTION FOR CITY LEGAL, UM, TO COUNCIL MEMBER CAYMAN'S POINT ABOUT, YOU KNOW, ANOTHER OPPORTUNITY TO, TO HAVE A VOTER A CHECK ON THIS. WHAT ARE THE ACCOUNTABILITY MECHANISMS FOR A DOCUMENT LIKE THIS? WELL, UPON EXECUTION, IT WOULD BE A BINDING DOCUMENT. THE ACTIONS HERE ARE ADMINISTRATIVE, WHICH MEANS THEY FALL WITHIN THE MAYOR'S PURVIEW AND ONE OF HIS DIRECTORS CAN SIGN. AND THEN THERE'S A SIGNATURE FOR HOUSTON FIRST, SO IT WOULD BE A BINDING DOCUMENT. SO IT IS A BINDING DOCUMENT. THANK YOU. COUNCILMAN EVAN SHABA. THANK YOU, MAYOR. I THINK I'LL WITHHOLD MY COMMENTS UNTIL THE ITEM. THANK YOU, DAVIS. THANK YOU MAYOR. THANK MIKE FOR COMING DOWN AND SHARING WITH US. UH, I KNOW THIS HAS BEEN A, UH, [04:15:01] A MOMENT AND OPPORTUNITY WHAT WE ARE FACED WITH, WITH THE BUILDING OF OUR CONVENTION CENTER AND THE ISSUES AROUND THE, UM, THE, THE POLK STREAK AS WELL. BUT LET ME JUST BE ON RECORD TODAY. UH, I WANT TO THANK YOU AND THANK THE MAYOR FOR THIS. I, I'M HOUSTON PROUD AND I HAVE HOUSTON PRIDE AND, AND EVERYTHING THAT ALWAYS ADVANCES HOUSTON FORWARD IS WORTHY OF SUPPORTING. I'M CERTAINLY NOT MINIMIZING THE, UH, CONCERN AND THE OBJECTION TO THE PLAN THAT HAS BEEN PUT BEFORE US. UH, WE NEED TO BRING DOLLARS INTO THIS CITY. WE HEAR THIS ROUND, THIS HORSESHOE EVERY WEEK, PRIMARILY ABOUT THE DOLLARS AND ADVANCEMENT OF OUR CITY. BUT, BUT LET ME JUST SAY, UH, WE NEED THE DOLLARS TO ACCOMMODATE NOT ONLY VISITORS, MAY I SAY TO OTHERS, NOT ONLY VISITORS, BUT ALSO RESIDENTS. PEOPLE TALK ABOUT HOW WE ARE SO MULTICULTURE AND HOW WE OUGHT TO BE PROUD AND PRIDE OF ALL OF THESE THINGS. WELL, GUESS WHAT? THERE'S A COST THAT IS EQUATED WITH THAT TO DO ALL OF THESE THINGS. WE DO. WE HAVE A LOT TO OFFER TO THE, TO THE WORLD, AND WE NEED TO BE ATTRACTIVE TO OTHERS. BUT IN ORDER TO DO IT, YOU'VE GOTTA HAVE SOMETHING THAT DOES IT. I'VE BEEN IN THIS CITY ALL MY LIFE, AND I COULD HAVE NEVER, I WOULD'VE NEVER BEEN MORE PROUD AS A, AS A CITIZEN AND AS A PASTOR WHEN I WAS ASKED TO HOST A 10,000 ATTENDEE NATIONAL CONVENTION IN THIS CITY. AND WHAT ATTRACTED THE NATIONAL CONVENTION WAS THE FACT THAT WE HAD A HOTEL THAT CONNECTED WITH THE CONVENTION CENTER. IT BROUGHT A TREMENDOUS AMOUNT OF MONEY AND ACTIVITY IN THE CITY. SO WHEN YOU HAVE LEADERSHIP THAT HAS A VISION FOR THAT, I'VE LIVED ALL MY LIFE IN THIS CITY, AND I'VE EXPERIENCED, AND I UNDERSTAND THOSE ON THE EAST SIDE BECAUSE THAT'S WHERE I WAS BORN AND RAISED, AND I'VE EXPERIENCED CHANGE IN THIS CITY THAT ELIMINATED MUCH OF MY COMMUNITY DON'T EVEN EXIST TODAY. BUT THAT'S THE PRICE YOU PAY WHEN YOU LIVE IN A CITY OF THIS, OF THIS MAGNITUDE. SO I, I WANT TO JUST BE ON THE RECORD TO SAY I ACCEPT THE FACT THAT THERE ARE TIMES WHEN WE HAVE TO SUFFER AND SACRIFICE THE ELIMINATION OF THINGS FOR THE, A ADVANCEMENT OF OUR, OF OUR CITY. BUT IT'S NOT GOING TO IT, IT IS NOT GOING TO PUT US IN A BAD POSITION. IT'S GOING TO ADVANCE US. YOU KNOW, AND I'LL SAY THIS LASTLY, WHEN THE PLANNER, THE MEETING PLANNERS OF OUR NATIONAL CONVENTION CAME HERE, THAT WAS A TOSS UP. AND I WAS THE HOST, I WAS THE HOST OF THIS. I'D NEVER DONE IT BEFORE, BUT IT GAVE ME AN OPPORTUNITY TO BRAG ON MY CITY. BUT THAT WAS A DISCUSSION THAT WAS MADE ABOUT DO WE DO IT IN THE GALLERIA OR DO WE TAKE IT DOWNTOWN HOUSTON? AND THE THING THAT SOLD IT WAS THE FACT THAT WE HAD A DOWNTOWN THAT WAS ATTRACTIVE AND WAS MORE AVAILABLE TO OTHERS BECAUSE THE HOTELS, RESTAURANT, AND OTHERS. SO I I I JUST WANT TO SAY THAT CERTAINLY FOR ME ON RECORD, I DON'T MIND PUBLICLY SAYING IT. I'M NOT IN A DISAGREEMENT WITH PEOPLE CONCERNED OR THE OBJECTION TO THE PLAN. BUT I DO WANT TO SAY THAT IN THE LONG RUN, WHEN WE ARE QUESTIONING ABOUT THE ADVANCEMENT OF OUR CITY AND WHAT WE CAN DO, WE ARE NUMBER 11TH IN THE NATIONAL VENUE OF CONVENTION HOSTING. WE ARE NUMBER 11, AND HOUSTON IS A LOT BETTER THAN THAT. WE SHOULDN'T BE NUMBER 11, WE OUGHT TO BE NUMBER ONE IN MY PERSONAL OPINION. SO THAT'S MY PROUD AND PRIDE AS A CITIZEN OF HOUSTON. BUT THANK YOU AND, AND HOUSTON FIRST AND THE MAYOR FOR THIS, THIS OPPORTUNITY. THANK YOU. COUNCIL MEMBER COUNCILMAN MARTINEZ. I'M SORRY, POLLARD'S ACTUALLY AHEAD OF YOU. COUNCILMAN POLLARD. THANK YOU MAYOR. UH, I WANT US TO, TO TO REALLY, UM, UNDERSTAND THE POINT OF THE PEOPLE WHO HAVE ISSUES WITH THE PROCESS. WE HAVE TO ENSURE THAT PEOPLE IN COMMUNITIES WHO WILL BE IMPACTED ARE A PART OF THE PROCESS THAT THEY ARE BEING HEARD. SO WHEN WE PUT FORTH THE MOU, ALTHOUGH IT MAY BE HAVE SOME BULLET POINTS THAT THEY AGREE WITH OR THEY DON'T AGREE WITH, THE FACT IS THEY WEREN'T CONSULTED FROM A MEANINGFUL STANDPOINT IN MY PERSPECTIVE ON THE DRAFTING AND THE OFFERINGS THAT ARE PROVIDED WITHIN THAT DOCUMENT. AND SO WHEN I SPOKE TO INDIVIDUALS WHILE WE'RE AT RECESS, YOU KNOW, WHAT WAS YOUR CONTRIBUTION [04:20:01] TO THIS DOCUMENT? THEY DIDN'T HAVE ANY. AND THE BIGGEST ISSUE I THINK, THAT WE'RE PRESENTED WITH IS ENSURING THAT THE PEOPLE WHO ARE IMPACTED BY THE DECISIONS THAT WE MAKE ARE HEARD AND A PART OF THE PROCESS UPFRONT. IT'S NO POINT TO THEN GIVE THEM AN MOU AFTER THE FACT. AND THEN THEY SAY, WELL, WE WEREN'T EVEN A PART OF THIS EITHER. LIKE, WE APPRECIATE THE EFFORTS, BUT IT IS NOT INCLUSIVE OF US BEING AT THE TABLE. AND SO THAT IS THE ISSUE. THE ISSUE IS NOT I, HOW GREAT THE GEORGE R. BROWN IS GOING TO BE. I'M SURE IT'S GONNA BE EXCITING AND IT IS GOING TO BE TRANSFORMATIVE. THE ISSUE IS PEOPLE ARE FEELING LIKE THEY'RE NOT HEARD AS DECISIONS ARE BEING MADE THAT IMPACT THEIR DAILY LIVES. AND I THINK THAT'S WHERE THE FOCUS OF THE CONVERSATION HAS TO BE. AND IF WE RECTIFY THAT REGARDLESS OF WHAT SIDE OF THE ISSUE YOU FALL ON, THEY WILL RESPECT IT AND SAY, YOU KNOW, WE'LL LIVE TO FIGHT ANOTHER DAY, BUT NOT BEING A PART OF THE PROCESS AT ALL MAKES THEM FEEL LIKE THEIR VOICE IS NOT VALUED. AND AS OFFICE HOLDERS AND THOSE WHO ARE ELECTED TO BE UP HERE, WE'RE ELECTED BY THEM. WE KNOCK ON THEIR DOORS, RIGHT? REGARDLESS OF WHAT COMMUNITY WE REPRESENT, WE'RE REALLY NOT KNOCKING ON THE DOOR OF THE CORPORATIONS. WE'RE KNOCKING ON THE DOOR OF THE PEOPLE. AND SO WHEN WE KNOCK ON THEIR DOORS UP FRONT TO PUT US IN THESE POSITIONS, WE THEN HAVE TO BRING THEM TO THE TABLE AS WE MAKE THE DECISIONS. THANK YOU. COUNCILMAN MARTINEZ. THANK YOU MAYOR. UM, AND I APPRECIATE MY COLLEAGUES' WORDS. UH, YOU KNOW, WHEN WE HOLD THESE POSITIONS, I THINK WE SHOULD ALWAYS HAVE CONVERSATIONS WITH THE COMMUNITY. UM, QUITE FRANKLY, IF YOU SAY THAT, THEN IF YOU PUT FORWARD A PARKING METER AMENDMENT, YOU PUT FORWARD A DRESS CODE AMENDMENT AND NOT TALKING TO ALL STAKEHOLDERS, I THINK IT'S CONTRADICTIVE AT AT THAT POINT. UM, THIS IS A COMBINATION OF WHAT THE, WHAT THE COMMUNITY HAS BEEN ASKING FOR. SOME OF Y'ALL HAD A CBA IN FRONT OF YOU. THIS MLU TAKES IN THE CBA AS WELL. SO THERE HAS BEEN SOME COMPROMISE ON EVERYONE, AND I THINK, UH, IT'S IMPORTANT FOR ME TO SHARE WITH Y'ALL THAT Y'ALL MIGHT NOT KNOW, BUT MY FAMILY ESTABLISHED ROOTS IN THE EAST END IN THE FORTIES WHERE I WAS BORN AND RAISED. MY SIBLINGS AND I, WE WALKED TO CAGE JACKSON, AUSTIN HIGH SCHOOL THAT ARE ALL PART OF THE END COMMUNITY. I KNOW THIS COMMUNITY VERY WELL, VERY WELL. AND A MEETING OR TWO THAT YOU SHOW UP TO DOESN'T MEAN THAT YOU KNOW THE COMMUNITY. I CAN TELL YOU THAT MY NEIGHBORS, WHERE THE LOCAL, WHERE MY NEIGHBORS ARE, WHERE THE LOCAL BREAKFAST SPOT IS, WHO THE LITERAL LEAGUE COACHES ARE AND WHERE THEY STILL LIVE. UH, I CAN SPEAK TO MR. RAMIREZ WHO LIVES ON PO NETTON, UH, WHO STILL COMMITTED TO THE CHURCH THAT I GREW UP IN AT BLESSED SACRAMENT AS AN USHER. I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT WHEN WE START TALKING ABOUT THE COMMUNITY, WE ASK OURSELVES, WHO IS THIS COMMUNITY? RIGHT? WE WONDER WHO THE COMMUNITY IS BECAUSE AS FAR AS I KNOW, THE COMMUNITY IS THE PEOPLE THAT I HAVE STILL LIVING THERE. MY BROTHER WHO LIVES IN THE EASTWOOD, I HAVE MY SISTERS THAT LIVES IN THE SECOND WARD AREA, UM, NOT TOO FAR FROM EASTWOOD PARK. HAVE FAMILY AND FRIENDS THAT STILL RESIDE IN THE EAST END MAGNOLIA PARK, WHERE MY DAD IS BORN AND RAISED FROM MANCHESTER PECAN PARK. I HAVE A FRATERNITY BROTHER THAT LIVES IN PECAN PARK THAT I'VE HAD THE CONVERSATIONS WITH. THEY ALSO ARE PART OF THIS COMMUNITY AND THE COMMUNITY THAT HAS, HAS VISITED AND PRESSING FOR CONCERNS AT AT DIFFERENT CIVIC CLUB, CIVIC CLUB MEETINGS THAT I'VE BEEN AT ABOUT POLK, UH, WHEN IT'S BEEN BROUGHT UP, THE RESIDENTS DON'T SHARE THIS CONCERN. I WAS AT EAST LAWNDALE DURING MY CIVIC CLUB TOUR WHERE THEY WANTED BASIC SERVICES. THEY WANTED PUBLIC SAFETY, THEY WANTED INFRASTRUCTURE ADDRESS. ALTHOUGH MANY OF MY COLLEAGUES HAVE HAVEN'T ASKED ME DIRECTLY THE DISTRICT COUNCIL MEMBER WHAT MY THOUGHTS ARE AND WHY I'M NOT OPPOSED TO THIS ITEM TODAY. LEMME TELL YOU WHY. AS A FORMER MEMBER OF THE DISTRICT HIGH OFFICE, I ATTENDED MEETINGS, MANY MEETINGS RELATED TO THIS PROJECT. THIS PROJECT ISN'T NEW. TEXTILE PROJECT IS NOT NEW. THE CLOSURE OF POLK WAS DISCUSSED AND ONLY ONE PUBLIC MEETING WAS HA WAS LED BY SENATOR ALVARADO YEARS BACK. QUESTIONS ABOUT THE FUTURE OF POLK HAVE FLOATED AROUND FOR YEARS. FOR YEARS. I REMEMBER ATTENDING MEETINGS AS EARLY AS 2014 AND 2015 ABOUT THE REALIGNMENT AND THE POTENTIAL IMPACTS THAT THE, THAT THIS WAS GONNA HAVE TO LOCAL STREETS. THIS IS WHEN CONVERSATIONS ABOUT LELAND PEACE, TEXAS FRANKLIN AND COMMERCE WERE DISCUSSED. I THINK WHAT PERHAPS WAS, HAS BEEN MORE DISAPPOINTING, UM, FOR ME THROUGHOUT THIS PROCESS IS THE MISREPRESENTATION BY SOME WHO KNEW ABOUT [04:25:01] THIS PROJECT 10 YEARS AGO ON COUNCIL, AND EVEN AS A HOUSTON FORD, A HOUSTON FIRST BOARD MEMBER, THE DISCUSSION OF THE GEORGE R. BROWN EXPANSION BEGAN TO GEAR UP YEARS AGO. THIS IS NOT SOMETHING THAT HAD JUST HAPPENED IN MARCH OR FEBRUARY, AND THERE WAS NO PUBLIC MEETINGS AT THAT TIME. IF THERE IS ANYTHING THAT I HOLD RESPONSIBLE FOR, THAT I HOLD HIGH IS FINDING SOLUTIONS TO THESE REAL CHALLENGES, NOT JUST PROTESTS. I'M ALSO DISAPPOINTED WITH ANY ELECTED OFFICIAL WHO HAS ACTED PREMATURELY TO PUBLICLY OPPOSE THIS ITEM WITHOUT UNDERSTANDING THE FACTS. QUITE FRANKLY, NEVER REALLY ENGAGING ANYONE OVER THE NINE MONTHS, NINE MONTHS. I KNOW THAT THERE'S LEGISLATIVE SESSION, BUT EVEN THEN, FOLKS CAME HOME FROM AUSTIN. WE RECEIVED LETTERS FROM SOME OF THESE INDIVIDUALS. THEY HAD NINE MONTHS TO TALK TO THESE INDIVIDUALS VISUALS. AND LET'S BE CLEAR, THIS, THIS IS NOT A TDO PROJECT AND WE NEED TO CONTINUE TO CLARIFY THIS. TDO CONTINUES TO BE BROUGHT UP. IT'S BEEN BROUGHT UP TO ME BY RESIDENTS, AND I'M NOT PULLING THAT BANDAID OFF THE CITY. WENT THROUGH A LAWSUIT WITH THE COUNTY. AGAIN, THIS IS SOMETHING THAT'S BEEN ONGOING THAT FOLKS SHOULD HAVE BEEN AT THE TABLE, QUITE FRANKLY, FOLKS AROUND THIS COURSE HERE AS WELL. NOW, I'LL BE HONEST, HOUSTON FIRST, AND I'VE HAD SEVERAL CONVERSATIONS WITH MICHAEL AND I WANNA THANK THE MAYOR FOR ALSO BEING SUPPORTIVE, SHOULD HAVE DONE A WAY BETTER JOB OF COMMUNICATING THEIR VISION, ENGAGING STAKEHOLDERS, PROVIDING A TIMELINE OF THIS PROJECT. AND AT FIRST, I, I WAS ALSO VERY DISAPPOINTED, FRUSTRATED, SHOWING UP TO A CIVIC CLUB MEETING IN EASTWOOD THAT MORNING, LATE AFTERNOON, FINDING OUT THROUGH A TEXT THAT POLK WAS GONNA BE GOING THROUGH THE JRC PROCESS. SINCE THEN, I'VE REMAINED ENGAGED NOT ONLY HOUSTON FIRST, BUT WITH CONCERNED RESIDENTS. AND I HAVE A TIMELINE AS WELL THAT DATES BACK TO FEBRUARY OF 2025 WHEN THE, WHEN THE SIGNAGE FIRST CAME UP, THE FIRST MEETING THAT WE HAD, IT WAS A JOINT MEETING AS WELL WITH HOUSTON. FIRST AT EASTWOOD, COUNCIL MEMBER DAVIS WAS THERE, COUNCILLOR RAMIREZ WAS THERE, AND COUNCIL MEMBER CASTILLO WAS THERE. WE HAD FOLKS FROM METRO. WE HAD PUBLIC WORK SPEAK ABOUT THE JRC PROCESS. IT WAS A JOINT MEETING WITH SUPER NEIGHBORHOODS, EAST LAWNDALE, UM, MAGNOLIA PARK, AND THE SECOND WARD, BECAUSE ALTHOUGH IT'S IN DISTRICT H, IT'S IMPORTANT THAT EVERYBODY ON THE EAST SIDE KNOWS WHAT'S GOING ON. I'VE HOSTED SEVERAL, SEVERAL INTERNAL MEETINGS WITH HOUSTON FIRST, WHERE QUITE FRANKLY, SOME OF THE FOLKS THAT ARE IN THIS CHAMBER HAVE BEEN IN THOSE MEETINGS AS WELL. SUPER NEIGHBORHOOD PRESIDENTS, COMMUNITY MEMBERS. UM, AT LEAST THREE. WE HOSTED THE HOUSTON FIRST, HOSTED ANOTHER MEETING AT THE GEORGE R. BROWN. UM, AND I WANNA SAY, I WANNA SAY THAT THERE WERE SOME OF MY COLLEAGUES THAT WERE THERE AT THAT MEETING. BUT NOT EVERYONE, NOT EVERYONE. I'VE HAD FOLLOW UPS WITH THE PEOPLE FOR POLK WHEN THEY INITIATED THE CBA. THE CBA, THAT THAT THEY SHARED WITH ME AGAIN IS PART OF THIS MOU. AND LET'S NOT FORGET THAT. SO THERE HAVE BEEN SOME WINS. I'VE BEEN ON A DOZEN CALLS, COFFEES, THIS IS NINE MONTHS, NINE MONTHS OF OTHER THINGS THAT WE'VE ADDRESSED AROUND THIS HORSESHOE. BUT FOR NINE MONTHS I'VE BEEN IN THE NEIGHBORHOODS TALKING TO FOLKS AS WELL. AND AT EVERY ONE OF THESE MEETINGS, I'VE EXPRESSED MY COMMITMENT TO CHAMPIONING EAST WEST CONNECTION TO ENSURE CONNECTIVITY. I'VE ALSO BEEN FOCUSED ON GREAT SEPARATION AND I'M THANKFUL, THANKFUL FOR ALL OF THOSE WHO UNDERSTAND THIS IS A PRIORITY MOVING FORWARD AND IT NEEDS TO BE A VIABLE, VIABLE SOLUTION. THE MAYOR'S BEEN SUPPORTIVE. METRO HAS BEEN SUPPORTIVE. I SHARED WITH ONE OF THE RESIDENTS ABOUT TWO WEEKS AGO, THE GREATER, UM, TUR GREATER HOUSTON TUR CHURCH 24 IS WORKING THROUGH A, UM, A STUDY RIGHT NOW FOR LELAND TO HAVE GREAT SEPARATION TO FURTHER MY COMMITMENT TO THE COMMUNITY. AND I WILL TAKE OWNERSHIP BECAUSE THERE'S NOT JUST TWO PARTIES ON THIS MOU, MY NAME IS ON THIS MOU AS WELL BECAUSE THIS HAS BEEN SOMETHING THAT IS IMPORTANT TO ME AND IT TAKES THE COMMUNITY INTO CONSIDERATION. MANY OF Y'ALL READ SEVERAL OF THE BULLET POINTS, SO I WON'T BELABOR IT. BUT IT DETERMINES THE SCOPE OF THE AREA TO BE STUDIED. IT ESTABLISHES AND MAINTAINS EFFECTIVE ONGOING PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT. IT ESTABLISH EFFECTIVE COMMUNICATION METHODS TO PROVIDE UPDATES. IT COLLABORATES WITH NEIGHBORHOOD ORGANIZATIONS AND OTHER GOVERNMENT ENTITIES, SPECIFICALLY DOWNTOWN HOUSTON. 'CAUSE I THINK THAT'S IMPORTANT TO STRESS FOR MOBILITY AND CONNECTIVITY. IT EVALUATES AND IMPLEMENTS HOW TO ENSURE SAFE PEDESTRIAN [04:30:01] ACCESS ON POLK, ON POLK STREET FOR A YEAR. POST CLOSURE, IF I CAN REPEAT THAT AGAIN, POST CLOSURE OF POLK. THERE WILL STILL BE PEDESTRIAN ACCESSIBILITY ON POLK. AND I WANT TO THANK MICHAEL FOR CHAMPIONING THAT WITH PUBLIC WORKS AS WELL. THIS IS THROUGH ONGOING CONVERSATIONS THAT WE'VE HAD. IT ESTABLISHED A 13 MEMBER COMMUNITY ADVISORY BOARD APPOINTED BY COUNCIL MEMBER FOR THE DISTRICT, FOR DISTRICT IH AND D. WE KNOW THIS IS NOT GONNA BE A TWO YEAR PROJECT TEXT OUT PROJECT, WHICH IS ULTIMATELY GONNA BE COMING ON IMMEDIATELY AFTER THIS GEORGIA BROWN EXPANSION IS FOR THE NEXT SEVEN, EIGHT YEARS. UNDERSTANDING THAT THIS DOES NOT ONLY IMPACT DISTRICT I, I TOOK COUNCIL MEMBER SHABAZZ, COUNCIL MEMBER CASTILLO'S, UM, COMMUNITY ALSO INTO CONSIDERATION IN THIS MOU BECAUSE THIS IS NOT JUST A DISTRICT I ISSUE. WE'RE GONNA WORK WITH THE APPROPRIATE TRANSPORTATION AUTHORITIES AND COMMUNITY STAKEHOLDERS TO DEVELOP, FINANCE AND IMPLEMENT A PLAN TO EVALUATE THE BEST UTILIZATION FOR LELAND. THESE ARE THE FACTS. I WANT TO TAKE THIS OPPORTUNITY TO THANK EVERYONE WHO REACHED OUT TO ME TO BETTER UNDERSTAND THIS PROJECT, INCLUDING CONGRESSWOMAN GARCIA. SENATOR ALVARADO, WHO I HAD A CALL WITH LAST NIGHT ASKING FOR THE COMMITMENT OF LELAND. I ALSO WANT TO THANK YOU, MAYOR. THIS HAS BEEN TOUGH. THIS HAS PROBABLY BEEN ONE OF THE HEAVIEST THINGS I'VE CARRIED THIS YEAR, UH, BUT JUST STAYED ENGAGED WITH ME THROUGHOUT THE ENTIRE PROCESS. I'VE BEEN ABLE TO LEAN INTO YOU TO ENSURE THAT THE COMMUNITY IS CONTINUOUSLY BEING HEARD. I ALSO WANNA MAKE SURE THAT WE DON'T MISS THE FOREST FOR THE TREES PASSING. THIS ITEM IS NOT THE END. IT'S ONLY THE BEGINNING. AND THIS MOU SERVES AS A PREVIEW OF MANY OF THE BENEFITS THAT WILL COME FROM THIS PROJECT. I HOPE TO COUNT ON YOUR SUPPORT COLLEAGUES. AND WITH THAT, I WOULD WANNA PULL THIS ITEM OUT OF ORDER TO VOTE. SO I, I MOTION TO TAKE THIS ITEM OUT OF ORDER. SECOND, MOTION PAID. AND SECOND. ALL IN FAVOR? SAY YES. THOSE OPPOSED NA MOTION PASSES. THANK YOU FOR DEMONSTRATING LEADERSHIP. UH, YOU AND I REPRESENT THE SAME PEOPLE AND, UM, I APPRECIATE YOUR INCLUSION. UM, FOR INDIVIDUALS SAY THEY DIDN'T KNOW ABOUT IT WHEN I WAS LAYING IT OUT MONTHS AGO, THEY WERE ACTUALLY INDIVIDUALS TRYING TO DISRUPT THE EXPLANATIONS AND THE PRESENTATION. THEY KNEW ABOUT IT. AND UNFORTUNATELY WE DO USE THE TERM THE COMMUNITY SOMETIMES TOO LOOSELY BECAUSE I KNOW FOR A FACT SOME OF THE PROTESTORS CAME FROM OTHER AREAS OF HOUSTON BECAUSE THEY JUST SAW AN OPPORTUNITY TO DISRUPT, UH, PROGRESS. SOME PEOPLE DON'T WANT US TO PROGRESS, BUT LET ME JUST ALSO TELL YOU AND SHARE THE SAME CONVERSATION TOOK PLACE WHEN WE DID GEORGE BROWN AND I CAN PARK IN TOYOTA STADIUM. THE EXCITING THING ABOUT THIS WHEN WE LAID IT OUT EVEN BACK IN AUSTIN, WAS WE KNOW FREEWAYS DIVIDE COMMUNITIES. THAT FREEWAY IS DISAPPEARING AND THE FRONT DOOR AND ACCESS TO GEORGE BROWN WILL BE FACING THE EAST END. IT'LL BE WALKABILITY WITH JOBS AND RETAIL UNHEARD OF. AND IT WILL BECOME A DESTINATION CITY MUCH MORE THAN IT IS NOW BECAUSE IT'S SO SPECIAL WITH THE SPORTS FACILITIES ON EACH END AND TALKING ABOUT JOBS, AND REVEREND DAVIS MENTIONED THE HOTEL CONNECTED GEORGE BROWN. THERE'S VISION AND PLANS FOR ANOTHER CONVENTION HOTEL, SO IT'S REALLY GONNA TRANSFORM THE EAST SIDE. I CAN'T IMAGINE IRMA'S AND MEMPHIS AND, AND THE RESTAURANTS ON NAVIGATION ARE JUST GOING TO TAKE OFF. IT'LL BE A PLACE EVERYONE, NOT ONLY GUESTS, BUT HOUSTONIANS. WE NEED A PLACE FOR HOUSTONIANS TO GATHER AND WALK AND SHARE IN THE PROUD HISPANIC CULTURE. AND SO I THINK WE'LL LOOK BACK 10, 20 YEARS FROM NOW, AS I LOOK BACK AT MINUTE MAID PARK AND DAIKIN PARK, WHAT A HUGE DEVELOPMENT THAT WE'VE CREATED. NOT TO MENTION THE REVENUE STREAM, IT WOULD BE BILLIONS [04:35:01] OF DOLLARS OF HOTEL OCCUPANCY TAX AND SALES TAX. SO THANK YOU FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP. THANK, THANK YOU. COUNCIL. COUNCIL, YOUR DISTRICT. YES. COUNCIL MEMBER DAVIS. YES. ONE LAST, REAL QUICKLY, MAY. I JUST WANTED TO, UM, SAY TO COUNCIL MEMBER, UM, MARK MARTINEZ, THAT, UH, I REALLY, UM, WANTED TO SAY TO YOU, I APPRECIATE YOUR LEADERSHIP IN THIS MATTER. I WAS AT BOTH OF YOUR MEETINGS. I WAS IN THE EAST END MEETING WHEN YOU HELD IT. UH, I WAS ALSO AT THE GEORGE BROWN CONVENTION MEETING WHEN YOU HELD IT. SO THE, SO I JUST WANNA SAY THE COMMUNITY HAS NOT BEEN IGNORED. IT'S NOT THAT IT HAVEN'T BEEN HEARD. I WAS THERE WHEN YOU BASICALLY TESTIFIED AND ADMITTED TO SOME OF THE MISHAPS IN THE, IN THE INTERIM BEING ON THE BOARD. AND, UH, AND MICHAEL AND HOUSTON FIRST DID THE SAME THING. SO IT IS NOT REMISS OF US TO THINK THERE ARE OTHER PROJECTS THAT COME BEFORE US THAT HAVE NOT BEEN RESEARCHED OR WENT TO THE COMMUNITY. SO I THINK IT'S PART, YOU KNOW, PARTISAN OF, OF US TO ACCEPT THOSE THINGS. BUT THANK YOU FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP AND I ABSOLUTELY, UH, UH, SUPPORT THIS ITEM. THANK YOU. TROY. WILL YOU BRING UP MR. SECRETARY? ITEM 46? AND WE DO HAVE FURTHER COMMENTS ON THE ITEM. ITEM 46. IS THERE A MOTION CAST? YOU HONOR? YES. YOU MARTINEZ, MOVE COUNCILOR EVANS BOS. WE RECOGNIZED. THANK YOU, MAYOR. I WAS TORN COMING HERE THIS MORNING AS I USUALLY AM WHEN THERE'S A CONFLICT BETWEEN THE PEOPLE AND THE PLANS. CLOSING POLK STREET IS NOT SUPPORTED BY MY STATE SENATOR, MY STATE REPRESENTATIVE DISTRICT, I AS STATE REPRESENTATIVE OR LULAC, AND NOTABLY NOW ONE SPEAKER FROM DISTRICT I SPOKE IN FAVOR OF THE CLOSURE. THE PROPOSED CHANGE WILL ALSO IMPACT ACCESS AND TRAFFIC WITHIN MY DISTRICT. SO WE WILL UTILIZE APPOINTMENTS PROVIDED BY THE MOU. I DON'T WANNA REPEAT OF BLO BIKE LANES 2.0 WITH THE LACK OF SUBSTANTIVE ENGAGEMENT AND COMPROMISE, IF POSSIBLE. MAYOR, I RESPECTFULLY ASK THAT YOU DIRECT HOUSTON FIRST DURING TODAY'S VOTE TO TRULY HEAR THE COMMUNITY AND EXPLORE EVERY ALTERNATIVE POSSIBLE BEFORE FINALIZING THIS DECISION. I WOULD ALSO GREATLY APPRECIATE IT IF IGR COULD CONVENE A POST VOTE MEETING WITH THE AFFECTED ELECTED OFFICIALS SO THAT THEY CAN BE BROUGHT UP TO SPEED REGARDING THIS PROJECT, TO ENSURE ALL PERSPECTIVES ARE HEARD, AND THAT WE CAN WORK TOGETHER TOWARD A BALANCE WELL-INFORMED SOLUTION MOVING FORWARD. CLEARLY THIS EXPANSION WILL MAKE US MORE COMPETITIVE AND CREATE JOB OPPORTUNITIES. NOT SURE, ALTHOUGH INCONVENIENT THAT CLOSING POLK STREET WILL IMPACT THE QUALITY OF LIFE FOR THE PEOPLE. ADMITTEDLY, THERE WAS NOT ADEQUATE ENGAGEMENT UPFRONT. BUT NOW HOW DO WE MOVE FORWARD? AS THIS IS NOT THE FINAL VOTE, THERE IS NOW AN OPPORTUNITY TO ENGAGE THE STAKEHOLDERS WITH A WATCHFUL EYE. I'LL THEREFORE WITHHOLD MY NO VOTE UNTIL WE GET TO THE FINAL VOTE, WHICH WILL DEPEND ON THE STEPS TAKEN TO ENGAGE AND COMPROMISE THAT HAVE BEEN REQUESTED BY ME AND MY COLLEAGUES. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. BLOT IS OBVIOUSLY NOT BEFORE US, BUT YOU KNOW, I'M, WE'LL WORK VERY CLOSELY WITH YOU, AND I LOOK FORWARD TO YOU, UH, STATING WHAT YOU WANT TO OCCUR ON BLOT ON BEHALF OF THAT COMMUNITY. DO YOU WANT TO LEAK IT OUT NOW? , IT'S, IT'S PUBLIC RECORD NOW. MAYOR. THANK YOU . COUNCILMAN RAMIREZ. THANK YOU, COUNCILMAN RAMIREZ. THANK YOU, MAYOR. UH, ONE THING THAT'S BECOME APPARENT TO ME OVER THE LAST 21 MONTHS HERE AT CITY HALL IS THAT PROCESS IS EVERYTHING. YOU CAN REACH THE RIGHT RESULT, BUT IF A BAD PROCESS WAS FOLLOWED, THEN PEOPLE END UP WITH HARD FEELINGS AND FEEL THAT REAL ENGAGEMENT DID NOT OCCUR. UH, THEY WEREN'T SEEN, THEY WEREN'T LISTENED TO. THEY WEREN'T HEARD. AND I THINK THAT UNFORTUNATELY IS WHAT WE HAVE HERE. WHILE THERE HAVE BEEN A HANDFUL OF MEETINGS WITH COMMUNITY LEADERS, REAL COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT HAS BEEN AN AFTERTHOUGHT. A RESPONSE TO COMMUNITY ADVOCATES RAISING THEIR CONCERNS. IT'S NOT REAL ENGAGEMENT WHEN ALL THE IMPORTANT DECISIONS HAVE ALREADY BEEN MADE. WITHOUT LISTENING TO RESIDENTS IN THE IMMEDIATE AREA, REAL ENGAGEMENT WOULD'VE BEEN ALLOWING THE COMMUNITY INPUT THAT THEY DESERVE TO HAVE ON DESIGN AND MOBILITY CONSEQUENCES. IT WOULD'VE MEANT POSSIBLY PRESENTING OPTIONS, SOMETHING MORE THAN JUST YES OR NO. WE'VE BEEN TOLD THAT CHANGING THE DESIGN NOW WOULD MEAN GOING BACK TO THE DRAWING BOARD, CAUSING AN UNACCEPTABLE DEAL, BREAKING DELAY. [04:40:02] ONE THING IS SURE THE CITY AS A WHOLE, AND I REPRESENT EVERY BIT OF THE CITY NEEDS FOR THIS PROJECT TO GO THROUGH NOW, NOT LATER. WHEN YOU OPERATE UNDER THE WEIGHT OF A STRUCTURAL BUDGET DEFICIT AND YOU CAN'T PRINT MONEY, YOU NEED THE SALES TAX REVENUE. THAT DEVELOPMENT WILL BRING, OUR ECONOMY NEEDS, THE VISITORS WHO WILL FILL OUR RESTAURANTS IN OUR HOTEL ROOMS. WE NEED THE JOBS IT WILL CREATE AND THE BUSINESS THAT WILL BE BROUGHT TO OUR CITY. AND WE NEED TO KEEP UP WITH OTHER CITIES THAT ARE DOING THE SAME THING. SO I WILL SUPPORT THIS, BUT I DON'T WANT EAST SIDE RESIDENTS TO THINK I DIDN'T LISTEN, I LISTENED. I HAVE PUSHED FOR MONTHS NOW FOR CITY OFFICIALS FOR HOUSTON FIRST TO ENTER INTO AN MOU TO FORMALIZE A COMMITMENT IN WRITING TO ADDRESS SOME OF THE IMPORTANT CONCERNS THAT YOU'VE BEEN RA RAISING OVER THE LAST SEVERAL MONTHS. IT'S THE LEAST I THINK THAT WE CAN DO. IT MAY NOT BE ENOUGH, BUT IT'S SOMETHING. THANK YOU. THANK YOU COUNCILOR CAYMAN. THANK YOU, MAYOR. UM, TWO OTHER QUESTIONS FOR OUR CITY ATTORNEY, IF I MAY, ON, UM, THE MOU SPECIFICALLY, UM, CITY ATTORNEY, THE MOU ITSELF IS, UH, AS COUNCILOR MARTINEZ SAID, WHICH I THINK IS TERRIFIC. HE IS A SIGNATORY, UM, TO THIS MOU AS WELL AS HOUSTON FIRST, UH, THROUGH THE PRESIDENT AND CEO AND THE DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC WORKS. DOES THAT RENDER IT ENFORCEABLE, UH, FOR THE CITY OF HOUSTON AS A WHOLE? THAT WE HAVE THE DIRECTOR SIGNING, NOT THE MAYOR. YES. YES. THIS IS UP. IT IS BECAUSE THIS INVOLVES ADMINISTRATIVE ACTION THAT THE MAYOR CAN DELEGATE. SO, UH, RANDY MCKAY'S SIGNATURE SUFFICES. OKAY. THANK YOU. AND, UH, ON THE SUBJECT OF MOUS, I I WOULD ASK, I'VE RAISED THIS PREVIOUSLY, THERE HAS, RIGHT, WE HAVE WHAT'S HAPPENING AT GRB, AND THEN WE HAVE, HAVE WHAT'S HAPPENING ALONG 45 N-H-H-I-P GOING ALL THE WAY UP 45, RIGHT? UM, THERE WAS A SETTLEMENT AGREEMENT EXECUTED, UH, PREVIOUSLY BETWEEN THE CITY OF HOUSTON, TDOT, AND I BELIEVE OTHER PARTIES AS WELL PRIOR TO THE NEXT VOTE. BEFORE THAT COMES, I WOULD REQUEST CONFIRMATION THAT WE HAVE REVIEWED THAT, UH, SETTLEMENT AGREEMENT IN FULL, UH, TO ENSURE THAT NOTHING IN OUR PLANS CONFLICTS WITH THAT LEGAL AND BINDING AGREEMENT AS WELL. SO, I KNOW I NOW HAVE A COPY OF THAT AGREEMENT, BUT I WOULD ASK THAT WE, UM, ENSURE THAT THERE HAS BEEN A THOROUGH REVIEW OF THAT SO THAT WE HAVE CROSSED OUR T'S AND DOT DOTTED OUR I'S BECAUSE AGAIN, WE, I DON'T WANNA SEE A CONFLICT IN DESIGN WITH WHAT THE CITY FOUGHT VERY, VERY HARD TO SECURE, UM, FOR THE BENEFIT OF THE CITY OF HOUSTON. SO WOULD THAT BE POSSIBLE? YES. THANK YOU. AND LASTLY, IS, UH, ARE BOTH OF THE, THOSE MOUS, THE ONE I JUST REFERENCED PERTAINING TO THIS, THAT IS INCLUDED IN THE VOTE TODAY AND THE PREVIOUS ONE EXECUTED BY THE CITY OF HOUSTON, ARE THOSE, UH, ABLE TO BE MADE PUBLIC? FOR EXAMPLE, CAN WE SHARE OUT PREVIOUS MOUS THAT HAVE BEEN EXECUTED? I KNOW THE COMMUNITY NOW HAS THIS MOU, BUT ARE THOSE PUBLICLY AVAILABLE? YEAH, THE TEXT ONE IS A PUBLIC DOCUMENT. THANK YOU. COUNCILMAN POLLARD. THANK YOU, MAYOR. UM, THERE'S BEEN A LOT OF DISCUSSION ON THIS. UM, AND I AGREE WITH COUNCIL MEMBER RAMIREZ ABOUT PROCESS. PROCESS I THINK IS ESSENTIAL AND CRITICAL TO HOW WE GO ABOUT GETTING TO WHATEVER RESULT WE GET TO. UM, THERE HAVE BEEN FOLKS THAT HAVE COME BEFORE US. THERE HAVE BEEN FOLKS WHO'VE BEEN SENDING US EMAILS, UH, GIVING US CALLS. I'M NOT SURE HOW MANY CALLS I'VE TAKEN FROM, UH, THIS GROUP, UH, REGARDING THIS ISSUE. UM, I, I DO WANT YOU ALL TO KNOW, UH, THAT I DO HEAR YOU. UM, AND YOU DESERVE TO HAVE A VOTE IN YOUR FAVOR. AND SO MY VOTE TODAY WILL REPRESENT, UH, LISTENING AND HEARING, UH, YOUR PERSPECTIVE AND WHAT YOU HAVE BROUGHT TO THE TABLE, THE EFFORTS YOU HAVE MADE, AND THE SACRIFICE TO GET OTHERS INCLUDED THAT AREN'T REPRESENTED HERE TODAY. AND SO, I DON'T WANT YOU TO THINK THAT BASED ON THE VOTE, UH, THAT YOU HAVEN'T BEEN HEARD, EVEN FOR THOSE WHO MAY VOTE DIFFERENTLY, UH, I BELIEVE EVERYONE UP HERE HAS, UM, DONE THEIR BEST TO HEAR EVERYONE'S PERSPECTIVE. AND I WANNA THANK YOU ALL FOR YOUR EFFORTS. THANK YOU. [04:45:01] WE HEAR A MOTION ROLL CALL. A MOTION. WE DO STILL NEED A MOTION. AND A SECOND. YEAH. MOTION. AND A SECOND. MOTION TO MOTION'S MADE AND SECONDED. CAN GET A SECOND? NO, SIR. SECOND. ALL IN FAVOR? SAY YES. ROLL CALL. A ROLL CALL VOTE. ROLL CALL PLEASE. MAYOR WHITMEYER. YES. COUNCIL MEMBER PECK. YES. COUNCIL MEMBER JACKSON? YES. COUNCIL MEMBER CAYMAN? YES. COUNCIL MEMBER EVAN SHABAZZ. YES. COUNCIL MEMBER FLICKINGER? YES. COUNCIL MEMBER HUFFMAN? YES. COUNCIL MEMBER CASTILLO? YES. COUNCIL MEMBER MARTINEZ. YES. COUNCIL MEMBER POLLARD? NO. COUNCIL MEMBER CASTEX TATUM? YES. COUNCIL MEMBER RAMIREZ? YES. COUNCIL MEMBER DAVIS? YES. COUNCIL MEMBER CARTER? YES. AND COUNCIL MEMBER ALCORN? YES. OKAY. 14 TO ONE, I MEAN 14 YESS. ONE. NO, THE, UH, ITEM PASSES. MR. UH, SECRETARY, WOULD YOU MOVE TO THE NEXT ITEM, PLEASE? A PUBLIC PUBLIC HEARING? YES, SIR. ITEM NUMBER ONE, THE PUBLIC HEARING? YES. [HEARINGS] ITEM NUMBER ONE. ITEM ONE IS A PUBLIC HEARING TO PLACE THE PROPOSED TAX RATE OF 0.5 1 9 1 9 0 ON EACH $100 OF TAXABLE VALUE. AND WE DO HAVE TWO PUBLIC SPEAKER. WE HAVE TWO WITNESSES THAT WOULD LIKE TO TESTIFY COME FORWARD FIRST. DOMINIQUE MAZO. YEAH, DOMINIQUE, WHY DON'T YOU? THANK YOU. THANKS FOR WAITING PATIENTLY. WHAT'D YOU GET FOR RUNNING TRANSIT? ANYWAY? UH, THANK YOU. UH, THE THING I WANNA TALK ABOUT IS NOT THE, NOT THE TAX RATE. I GOT AN EMAIL FROM VIA, WHICH IS SAN ANTONIO AREAS VERSION OF METRO. AND THE THING WAS, THEY HAD A PUBLIC HEARING, NOT A PUBLIC HEARING AT THEIR OFFICE OFF NORTH MYRTLE AND SAN, UH, SAN PEDRO STREETS ABOUT CHANGE IN THEIR SCHEDULING, WHICH YOU HAVE TO HAVE. METRO HAS ALSO, IT, IT WAS IN THEIR PLACE, BUT THEY HAD POP-UP CENTERS THROUGHOUT THE AREA. UH, IT LOOKS LIKE THEY WERE HAVING THEM AT THEIR VARIOUS TRANSIT CENTERS. AND, YOU KNOW, WE, WE JUST DISCUSSED A WHILE AGO, UH, HOUSTON FIRST NOT BEING, HAVING COMMUNICATION ISSUES. I THINK THE HORSESHOE ITSELF HAS COMMUNICATION ISSUES, PARTICULARLY TODAY. I KNOW YOU HAVE TO HAVE A PUBLIC HEARING ON THE FACTORY THAT'S, YOU KNOW, THE CITY LAW, THAT'S TEXAS LAW, I GET IT. BUT I DON'T THINK HAVING A PUBLIC, JUST ONE PUBLIC HEARING EMBEDDED IN A CITY COUNCIL MEETING WHERE NOBODY ELSE CAN COME TO IS NOT A GOOD IDEA. I DON'T THINK JUST TODAY WAS A GOOD FORUM FOR IT BECAUSE OF OTHER ISSUES WHICH HAVE TO BE TAKEN CARE OF. I DON'T, I GET IT. AND I THINK FROM HERE ON OUT, UH, I DON'T KNOW IF IT'S, UH, GOVERNOR AFFAIRS OR THE, UH, PROPOSITION A GROUP, BUT I THINK THERE NEEDS TO BE A METHOD COMING UP WITH PARTICULARLY BUDGET ITEMS. YOU KNOW, WE'RE GONNA HAVE, YOU SAID, WE'RE GONNA BE A QUARTER OF A BILLION IN THE WHOLE IF THINGS DON'T CHANGE. SO I THINK IN THE FUTURE FOR THINGS, PARTICULARLY WITH THE BUDGET THAT YOU HAVE, HEARINGS HERE, THAT'S UNDERSTANDABLE. IT NEEDS TO BE IN THIS ROOM, BUT IT NEEDS TO BE TAKEN OUT INTO THE FIELD. WE HAVE MULTIPLE, THE CITY OF HOUSTON HAS MULTIPLE PLACES WHERE YOU CAN HAVE PUBLIC HEARINGS. AND I THINK, MARIO, YOU'VE SHOWN IT, I THINK WILL, YOU'VE SHOWN IT. I KNOW ABBY HAS SEEN DONE IT, HAVING PUBLIC MEETINGS IN THE OFF HOURS OR ON THE WEEKENDS IN THE, IN THE AREA. AND I THINK THIS, THIS IS SOMETHING, MAYOR, I KNOW YOU'VE, YOU'RE THIS, THIS WHOLE HORSESHOES GONNA BE UP AGAINST A CURVE CURVE BALL COMING UP. BUT I THINK WE NEED MORE PUBLIC HEARINGS, NOT JUST HERE, BUT IN THE, IN THE WHOLE, WHOLE AREA OF HOUSTON. REMEMBER, CITY HOUSTON COUNTY COVERS INTO THE AREA OF FOUR COUNTIES. SO I THINK THIS IS SOMETHING THAT NEEDS TO BE, UH, LOOKED AT CONCURRENTLY WITH MONEY ISSUES ITSELF. WITH THAT, I HAVE NO OTHER COMMENTS. THANK YOU. [04:50:01] NEXT, I THINK, BILL, YOU'RE SIGNING UP. BILL KELLY, THANK YOU VERY MUCH. UM, MY NAME IS BILL KELLY. I'M WITH ENVIRONMENT TEXAS. UH, THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO TESTIFY ON WHAT IS SOMEHOW THE LEAST CONTROVERSIAL ITEM Y'ALL ARE HEARING TODAY ON THE TOP PROPERTY TAX RATE. I WANTED TO START OFF BY THANKING COUNCIL MEMBER SALLY ALCORN, UM, WHO'S ALSO OUR BUDGET AND FISCAL AFFAIRS CHAIR FOR HER HEARING LAST TUESDAY. HEARING FROM FINANCE DIRECTOR MELISSA DEBOWSKI ON THE HISTORY OF OUR TAX RATE REDUCTIONS SINCE FIRST HITTING THE REVENUE CAP IN 2015 WAS EXCELLENT CONTEXT. ADDITIONALLY, DEPUTY CONTROLLER WILL JONES PROVIDED STRONG INSIGHT INTO ADDITIONAL REVENUES COLLECTED BY OTHER MUNICIPALITIES IN TEXAS. I KNOW COUNCIL MEMBERS ARE GONNA BE MORE WELL-INFORMED BECAUSE OF THAT DISCUSSION. ANYONE WHO HAS EVER WORKED IN LOCAL GOVERNMENT UNDERSTANDS THE SENSITIVITY THAT COMES WHEN IT COMES TO PROPERTY TAXES. THEY PROVIDE THE MAIN SOURCE OF REVENUE FOR THE CITY OF HOUSTON'S GENERAL FUND AND CAN BE DETERMINATIVE ABOUT WHAT LEVEL OF SERVICES CAN BE PROVIDED BY LOCAL GOVERNMENT. SURVEYS HAVE SHOWN A STRONG INTEREST IN ALTERNATIVES TO INCREASED PRESSURE ON PROPERTY TAXES. SPECIFICALLY COUNCIL MEMBER SALLY ALCORN'S. MY 2 CENTS SURVEY CONDUCTED BY RICE UNIVERSITY FOUND TWO OUTTA THREE RESIDENTS SUPPORTING A SOLID WASTE FEE. BY ESTABLISHING AN ENTERPRISE FUND THAT WILL FUND SOLID WASTE COLLECTION, RECYCLING EDUCATION AND OUTREACH, IT WOULD RELIEVE PRESSURE TO INCREASE PROPERTY TAX RATES FROM ILLEGAL DUMPING TO ON-TIME COLLECTION. THE SERVICES OF THE SOLID WASTE DEPARTMENT ARE VITAL TO CITY OPERATIONS. TO THAT END, WE ARE STRONGLY ENCOURAGED BY THE ACTIONS OF THE NEW SOLID WASTE DIRECTOR AND SUPPORT THE CONTINUED INVESTMENT OF NEW TRUCKS AND MORE TRANSFER STATIONS THAT PROVIDE MORE DEPENDABLE SERVICES. AND MAYOR, WE SAW YOU, UH, WITH THE 50 NEW TRUCKS THAT HAVE BEEN PURCHASED AT A COST OF 12 MILLION AND, AND THE RESIDENTS CELEBRATING THAT AS THEY SAW THEM IN THE NEIGHBORHOODS. THE HARD WORK OF CITY EMPLOYEES WHO WE ASK TO WORK DAILY IN DIFFICULT CIRCUMSTANCES DESERVES TO BE VALUED ALONG WITH WHAT HOUSTONIANS WANT FUNDED. WE SHOULD NOT FUND WHAT IS NOT SUPPORTED. THE CHEMICAL RECYCLING OF PLASTICS INCLUDES MANY EMISSION CONSEQUENCES THAT IS TOO HIGH A PRICE FOR US TO PAY. SO OUR ASK IS THIS, AS THE MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL LOOK TO SET THE PROPERTY TAX RATE TODAY, YOU ARE LOOKING TO ANSWER THE QUESTION OF WHAT KIND OF CITY YOU WANT HOUSTON TO BE. WE WOULD ASK YOU JOIN HOUSTONIANS WHO HAVE OVERWHELMINGLY SUPPORTED, UH, BETTER SOLID WASTE SERVICES BY CREATING A SOLID WASTE FEE. THE MATH CLEARLY DICTATES THAT A SOLID WASTE FEE WILL EASE PRESSURE FOR INCREASING PROPERTY TAX RATES. WE HOPE YOU STRONGLY CONSIDER THIS AS YOU VOTE ON THE RATE TODAY ENVIRONMENT. TEXAS WILL CONTINUE TO WORK WITH COUNCIL MEMBERS AND AREA CIVIC CLUBS TO INCREASE, INCREASE BOTH IN AWARENESS AND EDUCATION, UH, FOR A SOLID WASTE FEE. AND WE LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING WITH YOU TO PROVIDE BETTER SERVICES FOR HOUSTONIANS. THANK YOU. UH, COUNCILMAN CAYMAN. THANK YOU, MAYOR. UM, MR. KELLY, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR BEING HERE FOR YOUR, UM, INPUT, BUT ALSO YOUR WORK IN THE SOLID WASTE AND ENVIRONMENTAL AND RECYCLING SPACE. UM, SPEAKING ON WHAT YOU ARE TODAY, COULD YOU TALK ABOUT THE, UM, PROS AND CONS OF PUBLIC SOLID WASTE SERVICE WHEN IT COMES TO THINGS LIKE DISASTER RECOVERY? THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR THE QUESTION. COUNCIL MEMBER I KNOW IN TODAY'S CHRONICLE, THEY HAVE, UH, OPPOSING OP-EDS ONE BY, UH, UH, GABRIELA, UH, WHO'S A 2025 GRADUATE OF THE UNIVERSITY OF HOUSTON. AND, UH, UH, PUBLISHED OUR OP-ED ON BEHALF OF ENVIRONMENT TEXAS. UH, AND THEN BILL KING, UH, FORMER, UH, CANDIDATE FOR MAYOR, UM, KING'S. OP-ED SAYS WE SHOULD PRIVATIZE EVERYTHING. UH, I'VE HAD THE UNFORTUNATE EXPERIENCE OF WORKING WITH THE CITY OF HOUSTON, UH, IN SEVEN, DECLARED SEVEN FEDERALLY DECLARED DISASTERS IN EIGHT YEARS. AND LEMME TELL YOU, WHEN HURRICANE HARVEY HAPPENED, ONE OF THE BIGGEST FRUSTRATIONS, UH, THAT'S SIMILAR TO I THINK A FRUSTRATION THAT THE MEMBERS AROUND THIS HORSESHOE FELT. WHEN YOU HAVE CENTER POINTERS, YOUR TDU, YOU HAVE A PRIVATE COMPANY THAT'S PROVIDING A VITAL SERVICE. YOU GUYS DON'T HAVE AN ELECTRIC CREW TO SEND OUT, RIGHT? YOU ARE AT THAT PRIVATE COMPANY'S, UH, UH, MERCY TO BE ABLE TO PROVIDE THOSE SERVICES. IF YOU WERE TO PRIVATIZE ALL OF YOUR SOLID WASTE, YOU ARE NOW AT THE MERCY OF WHAT THAT PRIVATE COMPANY CAN PROVIDE. AND FOR THOSE THAT ARE AROUND THE HORSESHOE DURING HURRICANE HARVEY, YOU CAN REMEMBER HOW HOW GREAT A JOB THAT OUR PUBLIC SERVANTS DID IN BEING ABLE TO RESPOND TO THAT. IN FACT, PUBLIC SERVANTS FROM SAN ANTONIO HELPED OUT OUR FRIENDS IN KINGWOOD ON PROVIDING SERVICES, MUNICIPALITIES PROVIDING THE SERVICE IS REALLY, REALLY VITAL. AND THERE IS A REASON I'VE SAID THIS A COUPLE TIMES, SO SORRY IF IT SOUND LIKE A BROKEN RECORD. FEMA CATEGORY A, THE FIRST THING THAT THEY TRY AND MAKE SURE YOU GET REIMBURSED FOR SOLID WASTE DEBRIS REMOVAL. SO THAT'S WHY I THINK [04:55:01] IT'S, UH, THE OP-ED THAT MR. KING WROTE IS A LITTLE SHORTSIGHTED ON ACTUAL APPLICABILITY AND WHAT A LOT OF FOLKS HAVE UNFORTUNATELY EXPERIENCED HERE IN HOUSTON. THANK YOU, BILL. THANK YOU. I NEED A MOTION TO CLOSE THE HEARING. CANT TO MOVE TO CLOSE THE HEARING. I SECOND. MOTION MADE. AND SECOND TO CLOSE THE HEARING. ALL IN FAVOR SAY YES. THOSE OPPOSED NAY. CLOSE. NOW, ITEM TWO, ITEM TWO IS AN ORDINANCE. JUST NEED A VOTE. ALL IN FAVOR. SEE YOU COUNCILOR POLLARD BEFORE OR AFTER COUNCILMAN POLLARD. THANK YOU, MAYOR. UM, YOU KNOW, TODAY WE, WE, WE'VE BEEN HAVING A LOT OF, SOME DISCUSSION AND SOME WE'RE JUST LISTENING. UM, TO YOUR PERSPECTIVE, UM, THE NARRATIVES THAT WE'RE PUTTING OUT TO THE PUBLIC AND THIS TAX RATE, UM, IS SOMETHING THAT WE ARE AS PUBLIC OFFICIALS AROUND THIS HORSESHOE NOT BEING AS TRANSPARENT WITH THE PUBLIC AS I THINK WE NEED TO BE. WHEN WE PUT FORTH A BUDGET, OR YOU PUT FORTH A BUDGET A FEW MONTHS AGO THAT I VOTED AGAINST, IT HAD THE TAX RATE AT A CERTAIN LEVEL WITH CERTAIN EXPECTATIONS THAT MANY PEOPLE AROUND THIS HORSESHOE VOTED FOR. AND BASED ON THAT BUDGET, OUR DEFICIT WAS AT ONE LEVEL. AND BASED ON WHAT WE MAY VOTE ON TODAY, OUR BUDGET DEFICIT WILL GROW BY WHAT THE CONTROLLER AND THE FINANCE DEPARTMENT HAS SAID, ESTIMATED ABOUT $53 MILLION. THE ISSUE IS, WHY WOULDN'T WE BE TRANSPARENT WITH THE PUBLIC UPFRONT ABOUT THE CITY'S FINANCES AT THE TIME OF THE BUDGET? WHY ARE WE USING A DIFFERENT TAX RATE TODAY THAN WHAT WAS PROPOSED IN THE BUDGET? I'M NOT SURE IF THAT'S JUST SMOKE AND MIRRORS TO GET THE VOTE. I'M NOT SURE IF THAT'S JUST TO SATISFY THE PUBLIC WHO IS CONCERNED ABOUT OUR FINANCIAL FUTURE. I'M NOT SURE IF THAT'S BECAUSE WE DON'T WANT TO SHOW AS LARGE OF A DEFICIT AT THE TIME THAT THE BUDGET IS BEING PRESENTED. BUT WHATEVER THE CASE MAY BE, BY NOT KEEPING THAT SAME RATE THAT'S PRESENTED IN THE BUDGET, WE'RE NOW IN A DEEPER HOLE. AND I'M NOT FOR RAISING THE TAXES AT THIS MOMENT, SO I'M GONNA VOTE WITH YOU ON THIS. HOWEVER, I THINK IT'S VERY DISINGENUOUS TO PUT OUT INITIALLY WHAT THE BUDGET WILL BE BASED ON A CERTAIN TAX RATE AND THEN NOT FOLLOW IT. AND SO, IF WE'RE GONNA BE AN OR IF YOU'RE GONNA HAVE AN ADMINISTRATION THAT IS TRANSPARENT, THEN YOU CAN'T PRESENT TO THE PUBLIC JUST TO GET SATISFACTION DURING THE BUDGET DEBATE ONE FIGURE. AND THEN WHEN IT'S TIME TO ACTUALLY VOTE, DON'T GO FORWARD WITH THOSE NUMBERS, HAVE A DIFFERENT RATE THAT PUTS US IN A LARGER FINANCIAL HOLE BECAUSE IT JUST ADDS TO THE DEFICIT THAT WE'VE BEEN SHOWN BY YOUR FINANCE DEPARTMENT THAT OVER THE NEXT FIVE YEARS IS GONNA CONTINUE TO BALLOON. IF WE DON'T DO ANYTHING TO CHANGE, UM, THE FINANCIAL CONDITIONS OF THE CITY, AND IT'S ALREADY BEEN POSITIONED THAT WITHIN THE NEXT FIVE YEARS, WE MAY BE SITTING AT NEARLY A $500 MILLION DEFICIT. AND SO THE DECISIONS THAT WE MAKE TODAY IMPACT TOMORROW, AND THAT'S WHAT I'M FOCUSED ON THE MOST, IS TOMORROW. SOMEONE'S GOING TO HAVE TO DEAL WITH ALL OF THESE DECISIONS THAT WE ARE MAKING TODAY, AND WE'RE PUTTING OURSELVES IN A DEEPER AND DEEPER HOLE WITHOUT ANY REAL EXPLANATION ON HOW WE'RE GONNA GET OUT OF IT. NOW, I'M SURE YOU HAVE SOME IDEAS, AND I'M SURE YOU HAVE A PLAN, BUT AS I'VE BEEN SPEAKING ABOUT TODAY, MANY TIMES WE DON'T HEAR ABOUT THESE THINGS UNTIL AFTER THE FACT. WE'RE NOT INVOLVED IN THE DISCUSSION. THE COMMUNITY'S NOT INVOLVED IN THE DISCUSSION. AND SO WE'RE JUST SUPPOSED TO GO ALONG AND SAY, I GUESS WE'LL SOMEHOW FIGURE IT OUT. BUT I'M NOT COMFORTABLE IN DOING THAT WHEN IT COMES TO OUR FINANCIAL FUTURE. AND SO IT WOULD BE GREAT TO HEAR FROM YOU ON WHAT ARE THE PLANS TO BE ABLE TO FILL IN THAT GAP THAT WE ARE THAT'S BEING CREATED BY THIS TAX RATE, UM, THAT WILL PUT US FURTHER BEHIND IN A LARGER DEFICIT THAN WE ANTICIPATED. [05:00:02] THANK YOU COUNCILOR ALCORN. THANK YOU MAYOR. THE NUMBERS REALLY SHOW US ALL WE NEED TO KNOW ABOUT THIS ISSUE. THE NUMBERS TELL THE TALE. IT'S NOT EMOTIONAL OR POLITICAL, IT'S JUST MATH. THE CITY'S REVENUE GROWTH DOES NOT KEEP UP WITH SPENDING TO SUPPORT THE VITAL SERVICES PROVIDED BY OUR PROPERTY AND SALES TAX SUPPORTED GENERAL FUND, POLICE, FIRE, TRASH, PARKS, LIBRARIES, THE POLICE AND FIRE CONTRACTS RAISE COSTS 36.5% AND 34% OVER THE NEXT FIVE YEARS. THE MUNICIPAL CONTRACT RAISES SALARIES 3.5% THIS YEAR AND 3.5% NEXT YEAR. THE CITY IS A SERVICE ORGANIZATION. OUR BUSINESS BIGGEST EXPENSE IS OUR PEOPLE. ALL OF THESE RAISES WERE DESERVED. I SUPPORTED THEM. WE HAVE TO RECRUIT, HIRE, AND RETAIN GOOD EMPLOYEES, AND SALARIES COMPRISE THE BULK OF OUR GENERAL FUND SPENDING. BUT I SUPPORTED THESE CONTRACTS WITH A CLEAR-EYED UNDERSTANDING THAT WE WOULD HAVE TO RAISE REVENUES TO AFFORD THEM THESE CONTRACTUAL OBLIGATIONS TOGETHER WITH THE ADDITIONAL PROPERTY TAX REVENUE WE MUST PUT TOWARDS STREET AND DRAINAGE IMPROVEMENTS DUE TO THE LAWSUIT ADD IN THE RISING COSTS OF INFLATION, WE SIMPLY ARE NOT KEEPING UP. AND OUR BUDGET GAP CONTINUES TO GROW. FINANCE DEPARTMENT PROJECTIONS SHOW OUR BASELINE BUDGET GAP. IF WE CALCULATE REVENUES UP TO OUR ALLOWABLE CAP AT $227 MILLION IN THE NEXT FISCAL YEAR AND $463 MILLION IN 2030, WE MUST COLLEAGUES PAY ATTENTION TO THESE NUMBERS. MAYOR, LAST WEEK YOU SAID RAISING THE TAX RATE SHOULD NOT BE OUR FIRST OPTION. I WOULD ARGUE THAT SINCE 2015, BECAUSE OF THE PROPERTY TAX CAP RAISING, THE RATE HAS NOT EVEN REALLY BEEN AN OPTION. YOUR ADMINISTRATION AND PAST ADMINISTRATIONS HAVE DONE A LOT OF WORK ON THE EXPENSE SIDE OF THE BUDGET, MOST NOTABLY PENSION REFORM, OP REPORT REFORM, AND NOW ALL OF THE IMPORTANT WORK YOU ARE DOING WITH THE ERNST AND YOUNG EFFICIENCY STUDY. WE HAVE DONE MANY, MANY THINGS BEFORE GOING TO THE TAX RATE, CERTAINLY NOT A FIRST OPTION. LAST YEAR, EVEN WITHOUT FACTORING IN THE DISASTER VALUATIONS WERE SUCH THAT THE REVENUE CAP CALCULATIONS ALLOWED THE CITY TO RAISE THE TAX RATE BY 1.7%, 1.70 CENTS. WE DID NOT DO THAT. MY COLLEAGUES AND I WITHDREW A PROP, A MEASURE AIMED AT RAISING FUNDS FOR THE DISASTERS AND VOTED UNANIMOUSLY TO KEEP THE TAX RATE AT 51 CENTS. WE THEN HAD TO REDUCE OUR BUDGET BY $40 MILLION THIS YEAR. THE REVENUE CAP CALCULATION PROVIDES THE CITY WITH THE OPTION TO RAISE THE RATE BY 1.86 CENTS. THIS TRANSLATES TO A $2 AND 85 CENTS A MONTH INCREASE FOR THE AVERAGE HOMEOWNER AND A 68 CENT INCREASE, MONTHLY INCREASE FOR THOSE OVER 65. YOUR PROPOSAL IS TO KEEP THE TAX RATE FLAT. AND BY DOING THIS, WE WILL NEED TO DRAW DOWN AN ADDITIONAL $53 MILLION FROM OUR SHRINKING FUND BALANCE TO COVER THE BUDGET WE PASSED IN JUNE BECAUSE NEXT YEAR'S CAP IS CALCULATED USING PRIOR YEAR, PRIOR YEAR ACTUALS COLLECTING LESS THAN THE FULL AMOUNT ALLOWED THIS YEAR WILL LOWER OUR REVENUE CAP FOR NEXT YEAR. IN OTHER WORDS, NOT COLLECTING UP TO THE CAP NOW WILL REDUCE THE MAXIMUM AMOUNT OF REVENUE WE'RE ALLOWED TO COLLECT IN THE FUTURE. OTHER TEXAS CITIES BRING IN ADDITIONAL REVENUES THROUGH HIGHER RATES, TAX, TRASH FEES, UTILITY TRANSFERS, AND OTHER MEASURES. I WON'T BELABOR OUR COMPARISON TO OTHER CITIES. WE HAVE THE LOWEST TAX RATE OF OTHER LARGE TEXAS CITIES AND THE LOWEST COMPOSITE TAX RATE COMBINING CITY, COUNTY, MAJOR SCHOOL DISTRICT, COMMUNITY COLLEGE AND HOSPITAL DISTRICTS. OUR COUNTY RATES ARE HIGHER THAN OTHER ENTITIES BECAUSE THEY RAISED THEIR RATE LAST YEAR. BUT OUR REGION FALLS ON THE LOWER END ON THE, IN THE OTHER TAXING CATEGORIES. MAYOR, I KNOW YOU SHARE MY CONCERNS. THEY KEEP YOU UP AT NIGHT TOO. AND I KNOW YOU HAVE PLANS TO BALANCE THE BUDGET, DRAW DOWN, FUND BALANCE, GETTING WHAT YOU CAN FROM THE COMBINED UTILITY SYSTEM, WHICH COULD POTENTIALLY AFFECT OUR WATER RATES AND BOND RATINGS, SEEKING MONEY FROM METRO, THE COUNTY, STATE, AND FEDERAL GOVERNMENT, CONTINUING WITH THE EFFICIENCIES AND RESTRUCTURING. RESTRUCTURING. BUT YOU KNOW, AS WELL AS WE ALL DO, AT SOME POINT, THE REVENUE SIDE OF THE EQUATION MUST BE ADDRESSED. YOU'VE STATED THAT TODAY THERE WILL BE A TIME, THERE WILL BE THE RIGHT TIME AFTER YOU'VE DONE EVERYTHING YOU WANNA DO TO ADDRESS THE REVENUE SIDE OF THE EQUATION. I JUST GROW A LITTLE WEARY BECAUSE IT'S BEEN THREE MAYORS NOW THAT HAVE SAID SIMILAR THINGS AND NOBODY'S REALLY DONE ANYTHING SINCE BELL WHITE RAISED THAT 90 MILLION DEXTER. SO I GROW A LITTLE WEARY WHEN I HEAR THAT BECAUSE WHEN PUSH COMES TO SHOVE, SOMETIMES IT SEEMS LIKE IT, IT DOESN'T HAPPEN. I ONLY HAVE TWO MORE YEARS HERE AT THE HORSESHOE AND I WANT TO DO EVERYTHING I CAN TO PUT HOUSTON ON A STRONGER FINANCIAL FOOTING. SO WHILE I HAVE RESPECT AND TRUST AND [05:05:01] YOU AND YOUR TEAM AND YOUR PLANS TO RIGHT THE SHIP, I THINK IT'S A SWING. AND A, TO NOT BRING IN THE REVENUE, WE NEED TO COVER OUR BUDGET. WHAT I KNOW TODAY, TODAY, WHEN I HAVE TO TAKE THIS VOTE, WHAT I KNOW WITH CERTAINTY IS THAT DIPPING FURTHER INTO OUR FUND BALANCE BY $53 MILLION WEAKENS THE CITY FINANCIAL CITY CITY'S FINANCIAL POSITION AND BALLOONS FUTURE DEFICITS. AND THAT IS WHY I WILL BE VOTING NO ON THIS PROPOSAL. COUNCILMAN POLLARD. THANK YOU MAYOR. AND I, I TOLD MY COLLEAGUE HERE THAT I WOULD LET HER HAVE THE, THE, THE FINAL SAY. BUT I'M, I'M SITTING HERE AND OKAY, IF, IF THE BUDGET PASSED AT A CERTAIN RATE AND, AND, AND MOST OF YOU ALL VOTED FOR THAT, THERE HAS TO BE MORE DISCUSSION ON HOW DO WE THEN, IF WE'RE NOT GONNA, IF WE'RE NOT GOING TO VOTE ON THAT RATE THAT WAS PROPOSED IN THE BUDGET, HOW ARE WE GONNA FILL THAT GAP, THAT $53 MILLION IF WE'RE ALREADY SITTING AT A BUDGET DEFICIT? NOW WE'RE ADDING $53 MILLION TO IT. WE'VE TALKED ABOUT ALL THESE OTHER THINGS GOING ON IN THE CITY FROM STREETS TO MORE STREETS. AND THEN WHEN IT COMES TO OUR BUDGET DEFICIT, RIGHT? THERE'S, THERE, THERE DOESN'T SEEM TO BE AS MUCH DISCUSSION. AND MAYOR, THIS IS WHERE I I I'M LEANING ON YOU TO BE ABLE TO EXPLAIN WHAT ARE WE GOING TO DO TO, TO FILL THAT GAP. AND THERE HASN'T BEEN ANY SPECIFICS THAT ARE REALLY GIVEN. WE JUST GIVEN A LOT OF GENERALITIES. AND IT'S, IF WE LOOK AT THE CITY AS A SERVICES CORPORATION, A $7 BILLION SERVICES CORPORATION, AND ALL OF THE BUSINESS FOLKS WHO ARE SITTING AROUND THIS, THIS HORSESHOE, LIKE HOW DO YOU JUSTIFY I VOTING FOR A BUDGET AT A CERTAIN TAX RATE AND THEN NOT BE ABLE TO SCRUTINIZE VOTING FOR A TAX RATE? THAT DOES NOT COMPLIMENT WHAT YOU VOTED ON BEFORE. THAT PUTS US IN A LARGER FINANCIAL HOLE. I I JUST DON'T GET THAT. I UNDERSTAND ME WHO VOTED AGAINST THE BUDGET, BUT WHEN YOU VOTE FOR THE BUDGET, WHAT ARE, MAYBE YOU ALL HAVE THE ANSWERS THAT I DON'T HAVE, BUT WE'RE GOING BACKWARDS AND IT DOESN'T SEEM LIKE WE ARE THAT CONCERNED. AND THERE'S GONNA COME A TIME WHEN YOU'RE, YOU'RE GONNA HAVE TO FIND REVENUE SOMEWHERE TO BALANCE THE BUDGET. AND WHEN THE BULK OF OUR REVENUE IS PEOPLE AND YOU START LOOKING AT THE PEOPLE, THEY ARE GOING TO PUSH BACK IN SUCH A WAY THAT THEY'RE GONNA SAY, WHAT WERE YOU ALL THINKING? WHY WASN'T THERE ANY PLANNING AHEAD FOR THIS? AND THAT'S WHERE WE ARE TODAY. SO IT, IT WOULD SEEM AS IF WE WOULD GET SOME, SOME MORE CLARITY AND SOME DIRECTION ON HOW DO WE NOW JUSTIFY NOT VOTING FOR THE TAX RATE AT THE, AT THE RATE PROPOSED IN THE BUDGET THAT NOW CREATES THIS LARGER HOLE. AND TO DATE, I HAVE NOT HEARD SPECIFICS ON HOW WE'RE GOING TO DO THAT. AND THAT'S CONCERNING. COUNCIL MEMBER CAMAN. THANK YOU MAYOR. AND I, I WANNA THANK COUNCIL MEMBER ALCORN FOR HER LEADERSHIP. UM, YOU HAVE CALLED STRIKE STRIKES AND BALLS. BALLS AND, UH, YOU HAVE DONE SO THROUGHOUT YOUR TIME ON COUNCIL. YOU HAVE BECOME A TRUSTED VOICE WHEN IT COMES TO THE BUDGET AND OUR CITY FINANCES, UH, TO TRULY THANK YOU BECAUSE YOU HAVE NOT SHIED AWAY FROM THE HARD CONVERSATIONS. UM, AND YOU HAVE DONE IT WITH THE KNOWLEDGE BASE THAT IS NEEDED AT THIS HORSESHOE. I DID WANNA BRING ATTENTION TO THE FACT THAT, AND I DO THIS EVERY YEAR, MAYOR, WHEN WE TALK ABOUT TIME TO RAISE THE RATE OR NOT, THE FACT THAT WE ARE UNDER NOT ONLY A STATEWIDE REVENUE CAP, WHICH DOES ALLOW FOR AN INCREASE ANNUALLY UP TO A CERTAIN PERCENTAGE. AND IF WE WANT MORE, YOU GO TO THE VOTERS. NO PROBLEM WITH THAT. BUT THE CITY OF HOUSTON IS THE ONLY CITY IN THE STATE OF TEXAS WITH AN ADDITIONAL LAYER OF THE MOST STRINGENT REVENUE CAP, PROPERTY TAX CAP, WHATEVER YOU WANT TO CALL IT, IMPOSED ON A MAJOR CITY IN THE COUNTRY. AND BECAUSE OF THAT, LAST YEAR ALONE, THE CITY LOST OVER $361 MILLION. THAT'S IN ONE FISCAL YEAR. SINCE IT CAME INTO EFFECT IN 2015, THE CITY HAS LOST 2.59 BILLION WITH A B. SO I'LL SAY THAT AGAIN. SINCE 2015, THE CITY OF HOUSTON HAS NOT BEEN ABLE TO TAKE IN 2.59 BILLION. AND IF YOU THINK ABOUT THAT MONEY, IF YOU THINK ABOUT THE CONSENT DECREES, WE HAVE FALLEN OVER [05:10:01] UNDER THE INFRASTRUCTURE CHALLENGES THAT WE HAVE, THE SERVICE OR LACK OF SERVICES WE'VE BEEN ABLE TO PROVIDE THAT IS CRITICAL DOLLARS THAT GO TO CITY OF HOUSTON SERVICES. AND I BELIEVE, BUT I'M, I'M LOOKING AT DIRECTOR, UH, DEBOWSKI. MY UNDERSTANDING IS, BUT I DON'T WANNA GET IT WRONG EVERY YEAR, IT ONLY SAVES THE AVERAGE TAXPAYER ABOUT, I THINK IT'S A HUNDRED DOLLARS, BUT I DON'T WANNA MISQUOTE THAT. UM, SO I'LL, I'LL WAIT FOR THAT NUMBER. BUT AGAIN, WHEN I TALK TO RESIDENTS, IT'S ABOUT WHAT ARE THE RE SERVICES THAT WE ARE GETTING AND HOW MUCH MONEY ARE WE LOSING IN THE FLEXIBILITY AND ABILITY OF A CITY TO OPERATE. WE HAVE ONE OF THE LARGEST SQUARE MILES OF ANY CITY IN THE COUNTRY THAT IS A LOT OF LANE MILES THAT WE HAVE TO COVER. IT'S A LOT OF PEOPLE THAT WE NEED TO TAKE CARE OF. UH, SO THE CONSTRAINTS UPON THE CITY OR UNLIKE ANY OTHER CITY IN TERMS OF WHAT WE GRAPPLE WITH. AND AT THE SAME TIME, WHEN WE'RE NOT INCREASING THE RATE, WE'RE CUTTING OUR LEGS OUT FROM UNDER US AS WELL, BECAUSE WE DON'T ALWAYS HAVE THAT OPTION. I HAVE BEEN AT THIS HORSESHOE WHEN WE HAVE REDUCED THE RATE, UH, AND I SUPPORTED THAT. UH, WE HAVE BEEN AT THIS HORSESHOE WHEN WE HAVE INCREASED THE, UH, SENIOR EXEMPTION AMOUNT. UH, SO ALL OF THOSE THINGS ARE IMPORTANT, BUT WE HAVE TO HAVE A REAL CONVERSATION ABOUT THE CONSTRAINTS. THE FACT THAT WE HAD PROJECTIONS THAT ARE NO LONGER THE CASE. WE'RE GONNA DIP EVEN LOWER IN OUR GENERAL FUND, LESS 53 MILLION. UH, THOSE ARE ALL VERY CONCERNING NUMBERS TO ME. AND I WANNA BE VERY REAL WITH THE PEOPLE OF HOUSTON ABOUT WHERE WE STAND WITH THAT. UH, SO I DO THINK WE NEED MAYOR TO MOVE OUR BUDGET SCHEDULE, AS I SAID LAST WEEK TO THE FALL WHEN WE HAVE ACTUAL NUMBERS TO GO OFF OF IN THE BUDGET SO THAT WE'RE WORKING OFF OF REAL NUMBERS, NOT PROJECTIONS. UH, AND THERE'S A HOST OF OTHER THINGS, BUT I, I JUST WANNA BRING ATTENTION TO THE LOSS OF $2.959 BILLION IN CITY SERVICES SINCE 2015, WHICH HOUSTONIANS VOTED FOR. YOU LEFT OUT THAT CRITICAL POINT. IT WAS AN ACTION BY THE PUBLIC, WHICH WE HAVE A REAL CHALLENGE TO EDUCATE THEM TO ALL OF OUR COMMENTS. BUT THE, UH, LIMITATION AND THE LOSS OF REVENUE WAS BROUGHT TO US BY THE PUBLIC, WHICH IS ONE REASON IT'S ESSENTIAL THAT WE ESTABLISHED A CREDIBILITY TO GO BACK AND ASK THEM TO CHANGE THAT VOTE. AND WE'RE NOT THERE YET IN MY JUDGMENT. RIGHT. AND, AND MAYOR, I I COMPLETELY UNDERSTAND THAT. AND, AND, AND WHEN THE GO AHEAD, WHEN THE, WHEN THE STATE OF TEXAS, AND I'M, YOU KNOW, YOU WERE THERE, I KNOW THAT PASSED THE STATEWIDE CAP. WE WERE THE ONLY CITY WHERE ONE OF OUR STATE SENATORS FILED AN EXCEPTION TO DO A CARVE OUT SO THAT WE APPLY FOR TWO RATHER THAN UNIFORMITY WITH THE STATE OF TEXAS. AND THAT'S A BIG PROBLEM. AND I FOUGHT THAT. BUT HE DID THAT BECAUSE HE THOUGHT, YOU CAN'T OVERTURN A VOTE OF HOUSTONIANS. I AGREE WITH YOU. IT WAS WRONG. WE OUGHT TO BE AT THE SAME LEVEL OF THE OTHER CITIES, UH, PARTICULARLY WHEN THEY HAVE REVENUES THAT WE DON'T HAVE. BUT I THINK SENATOR BENTON COURT FELT LIKE HIS CONSTITUENTS HAD VOTED A PARTICULAR WAY AND HE WANTED TO BACK THAT UP. OUR JOB IS TO CHANGE HIS MIND TOO. AND WE'RE GONNA HAVE TO ESTABLISH, ESTABLISH A CREDIBILITY TO DO THAT. AND WE'RE NOT THERE YET. UH, COUNCIL MEMBER, THE MAYOR PROTE. THANK YOU, MAYOR. WE'VE HAD, UH, EXTENSIVE CONVERSATION ABOUT THE, THE TAX RATE. I WANTED TO ALSO, UM, THANK COUNCIL MEMBER ALCORN. UM, SHE HAS DEFINITELY BEEN A TRUSTED SOURCE ON, UM, THESE CONVERSATIONS. AND, UH, ALSO DIRECTOR, UH, DEBOWSKI AND THE CONTROLLER'S OFFICE FOR THE INFORMATION THAT THEY'VE PROVIDED US AS WE LOOK AT THIS, UM, THIS VERY DIFFICULT VOTE. AND YOU KNOW, I'VE SAID TO YOU ON A COUPLE OF OCCASIONS, YOU KNOW, I HAVE ANXIETY ABOUT IT. AND, UM, YOU KNOW, AND, AND YOUR COMMENT WAS, YOU KNOW, YOU DON'T HAVE MORE ANXIETY THAN ME. UH, AND I GET THAT BECAUSE I UNDERSTAND THAT YOU TOLD HOUSTONIANS, UH, THAT YOU WOULD NOT RAISE THE TAX RATE UNTIL YOU FELT THE TIME WAS RIGHT. UM, BUT WE'RE ALSO ALL LOOKING AT THESE NUMBERS. AND I THINK, YOU KNOW, EVERYONE AROUND THE TABLE HAS ANXIETY ABOUT IT. AS A COUNCIL MEMBER, WE HAVE [05:15:01] RESIDENTS WHO ARE, ARE SAYING, I LIKE WHAT THE MAYOR SAID, THAT HE'S NOT GONNA RAISE THE TAXES BECAUSE I CAN'T AFFORD ANOTHER DIME. MM-HMM . UH, WE ALSO HAVE RESIDENTS WHO ARE SAYING, OH MY GOD, HOUSTON IS BROKE THE SINK. THE SHIP IS SINKING. WE NEED A GARBAGE FEE. UM, SO IT IS A PUSH AND PULL ON EVERYONE AROUND THIS TABLE TO MAKE THIS DECISION. AND I THINK FOR ME, AS HARD AS THE DECISION SEEMS, AND I MATH IS MATH, MATH IS MATH, UM, WE AREN'T BRINGING IN ENOUGH MONEY TO COVER OUR EXPENSES AND TO, UM, THE FUTURE DOES LOOK BLEAK. AND I ALSO UNDERSTAND WHEN YOU GIVE PEOPLE YOUR WORD, UM, AND IT'S A PUSH AND PULL, AND I, I, YOU KNOW, I, AND TO THE, AT THIS MOMENT, I'M STILL PUSHING AND PULLING AND TRYING TO DECIDE WHAT, WHAT IS, IS THE RIGHT VOTE. UM, I THINK THAT MAYOR, I KNOW BECAUSE I'VE WORKED WITH PREVIOUS ADMINISTRATION AND THAT I SERVED AS A STAFFER, THAT WHEN THE MAYOR HAS A PLAN, SOMETIMES YOU CAN'T GIVE THE DETAILS OF THE ENTIRE PLAN BECAUSE OF THE WAY POLITICS UNFORTUNATELY HAPPENS IN NOT ONLY OUR CITY, OUR STATE, AND OUR GOVERNMENT. UM, AND SO QUITE FRANKLY, I THINK, YOU KNOW, AT THIS POINT, IT, THIS IS A, IT, IT'S, IT'S A TOUGH CALL. IT IS A TRUST, UM, VOTE. I'VE, I'VE SEEN YOU, I'VE HEARD YOU TALK, UM, ABOUT HOUSTON AND WHAT WE NEED FOR OUR CITY. UM, AND QUITE FRANKLY, WHEN YOU GIVE PEOPLE YOUR WORD, I, I UNDERSTAND WHEN YOU GIVE PEOPLE YOUR WORD THAT YOU WANT TO UPHOLD YOUR WORD. AND THEN THE, THE DIFFICULT PART IS THE MATH. AND SO I DON'T THINK IT IS, UM, I THINK EVERYONE IS, IS STRUGGLING. YOU KNOW, THE COUNCIL MEMBERS THAT I'VE TALKED TO HAVE ALL SAID, WHERE ARE YOU WITH THIS? HOW, HOW DO YOU THINK WE NEED TO HANDLE THIS? UM, SO WE ALL SIT HERE ANXIOUS, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER ALCORN. I THINK WE'VE ALL HAD SLEEPLESS NIGHTS THINKING ABOUT YOUR LETTERS, YOUR COMMENTS, UM, AND THEN ALSO, UM, HEARING THE MAYOR SAY, WE AREN'T THERE YET BECAUSE I'VE GIVEN MY WORD AND I WANNA MAKE SURE I DO EVERYTHING POSSIBLE BEFORE I GO TO THE VOTERS. BECAUSE THERE ARE STILL THOUSANDS AND THOUSANDS OF OUR RESIDENTS WHO ARE SAYING, I CAN'T AFFORD ANOTHER DIME. MM-HMM . SO IT IS A TOUGH VOTE. AND MAYOR, I DON'T KNOW IF YOU, IF IF THERE'S SOMETHING ELSE THAT YOU CAN SHARE, UM, WE'VE HEARD FROM THE DIRECTOR, FROM THE CONTROLLER'S OFFICE, FROM OUR, OUR BUDGET MEETINGS, ALL OF THE OPTIONS THAT ARE ON THE TABLE. AND I THINK THAT EVERYBODY'S ANXIETY IS HIGH . IT IS HIGH BECAUSE IT IS A VERY TOUGH PUSH AND PULL WITH THIS DECISION. WELL, YOU KNOW, I RESPECT YOU AS A FOOL, AS A PARTNER, AND IF YOU'VE GOT ANXIETY, NOW I WONDER WHAT IT WAS THE FOUR YEARS BEFORE I GOT HERE. AND IT'S AMAZING. BEFORE WE GET TO FLICKINGER, SO FAR, EVERYONE THAT'S SHOWING ANXIETY HAD BEEN HERE FOUR YEARS LONGER THAN ME. AND WHEN I WAS SWORN IN, THERE WAS $160 MILLION DEFICIT WITH THE JONES WATSON LAWSUIT. OUTSTANDING. THE SETTLEMENT OF THE FIREFIGHTERS OUTSTANDING. SO I CAN GO ON AND ON WITH THE DYSFUNCTION AND THE DEFICIT THAT WAS THERE COME JANUARY THAT HAD BEEN THERE. Y'ALL KNOW THAT YOU FUNDED THE CITY ON ARPA MONEY AND YOU, AND, AND, AND LEMME JUST SAY THIS ABOUT THE ARPA MONEY, THOUGH. EVERYBODY IN THE COUNTRY GOT ARPA MONEY. I UNDERSTAND. AND I DON'T THINK THAT WE HAVE TO MAKE THAT LIKE IT WAS A BAD THING. NO. 'CAUSE THE ARPA MONEY FROM GETTING MARRIED FOR US. I TOTALLY AGREE. I MEAN, NOT, THANK GOD THAT WE GOT THE APA MONEY OR THE CITY WOULD HAVE BEEN IN, IN REAL DIRE STRAIT. SO, BUT YOU, BUT THE OTHER CITIES DID NOT. AND OF COURSE THEY'RE IN, A LOT OF THEM ARE IN THE SAME DILEMMA. DID NOT USE IT FOR ONGOING EXPENSES. IT WAS TO GET US OUT [05:20:02] OF COVID RIGHT. HAVE CAPITAL IMPROVEMENTS, BUT WE BALANCED THE BUDGET IN THE CITY. I WATCHED Y'ALL RIGHT? I I HAVE PEOPLE THAT SAID, WHY WOULD YOU WANT TO TAKE ON THAT CHALLENGE? YEAH. IF YOU CERTAINLY WANT TO PUT IT IN THE CONTEXT OF BEING A STATE SENATOR AND MAKING A DIFFERENCE. WHY WOULD I COME TO THIS POINT? BECAUSE HOUSTONIANS, WERE LOOKING FOR NOT SOMEONE TO KEEP THEIR WORD. I WOULD HOPE ALL OF US DO THAT. YEAH. THEY WERE LOOKING FOR LEADERSHIP. AND THERE ARE OPTIONS STILL IN FRONT OF US THAT WILL BE USED INSTEAD OF RAISING TAXES. I'M NOT AFRAID OF RAISING TAXES. I'VE RAISED 11 AT THE STATE LEVEL ON EVERYTHING THAT THE PUBLIC WAS ASKING FOR. AND THERE'S LIFE AFTER RAISING TAXES. I'VE RAISED MORE, I'VE HAD MORE TAX VOTES THAN ALL OF Y'ALL PROBABLY PUT TOGETHER. 11 CRIMINAL JUSTICE EDUCATION, HIGHWAYS, WATER. IT'S THE THING TO DO WHEN YOU HAVE THE CONFIDENCE OF THE PUBLIC. THE PUBLIC IS ASKING US NOT TO RAISE TAXES, THE GARBAGE FEE TALK. I'LL GET HIM OVER HERE NEXT WEEK TO TALK ABOUT HOW HE'S OPERATING WITHOUT GOING TO A FEE. HE'S NOT READY TO PROPOSE THAT. AND THERE'S OPTIONS TO ASSUME THAT RESPONSIBILITY, MAYBE IN OTHER DEPARTMENTS, THERE ARE A LOT OF THINGS TO BE DONE. I'D LOVE TO GO AHEAD AND, AND DISCLOSE EVERYTHING THAT'S IN MY MIND. BUT ALL IT'S GONNA DO IS POLITICIZE THE PROCESS BECAUSE WE GOT PEOPLE AROUND THE HORSESHOE THAT ARE GONNA VOTE AGAINST EVERYTHING THAT I BRING FORWARD, EVEN IF IT'S A GREAT SOLUTION. AND WE'RE JUST NOT THERE. IT'S NOT A TIME FOR POLITICS. IT'S TIME TO ROLL UP YOUR SLEEVES AND GO TO WORK. OF COURSE THERE'S ANXIETY, BUT IT'S GONNA GET DONE. WE WERE HAVING THE SAME DISCUSSION LAST YEAR. COULDN'T DO IT. COULDN'T DO IT. WE DID WITHOUT RAISING TAXES. SO ALL I'D SAY IS IT'S, IT'S A CHALLENGE. WE ALL KNOW WHY MELISSA HAD A DIFFERENT RATE IN MAY THAN SHE DOES NOW. A CHANGE IN CIRCUMSTANCES, A CHANGE IN VALUE. SO IF YOU WANNA POLITICIZE IT, NOT YOU BUT OTHERS, GO FOR IT. I'VE NEVER HAD ANYBODY CAMPAIGN AGAINST SOMEONE 'CAUSE THEY DIDN'T RAISE TAXES. BUT I GUESS THERE'S A FIRST FOR EVERYTHING. UH, I'M READY COUNCIL, AND THANK YOU FOR YOUR, YOUR WISE, UH, OBSERVATION. AND NO ONE RESPECTS COUNCIL MEMBER ALCORN. I HAVE LEARNED SO MUCH LISTENING TO HER. I UNDERSTAND HER WISDOM AND HER EXPERIENCE, BUT ALSO I HAVE WISDOM AND EXPERIENCE OF HOW WE'RE GONNA CROSS THE FINISH LINE, GAINING PUBLIC SUPPORT. THEY'RE NOT THERE. THEY'RE WORRIED ABOUT THEIR INSURANCE RATES. THEY'RE GONNA GO OVER A HUNDRED PERCENT THIS YEAR. THEY'RE WATER RATES, INFLATION, YOU NAME IT. FOLKS ARE WORRIED ABOUT AFFORDABILITY. AND I'M MM-HMM . WANT TO BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE. AND WHETHER I RAISED PROPERTY TAXES WHEN THERE WERE OTHER OPTIONS, WE HAD A SIMILAR DISCUSSION ON DEBRIS PICKUP MEMBERS WERE READY TO VOTE FOR PROPERTY TAXES LIKE THE COUNTY DID. AND I SAID, NO, THERE'S ANOTHER OPTION. WE DIDN'T RAISE PROPERTY TAXES IN. I THINK WE HAVE A CHALLENGE NOT ONLY THE LOCAL REVENUE CAP, BUT WE'RE BUMPING UP AGAINST THE STATE. AND WE'VE GOT TO MAKE THIS A STATEWIDE ISSUE THAT YOU CANNOT STARVE LOCAL GOVERNMENT TO DEATH. WE ALL WANT EFFICIENCIES. WE ALL HATE PROPERTY TAXES, BUT YOU CAN'T STARVE LOCAL COMMUNITY, WHETHER IT'S A PUBLIC SAFETY DISTRICT, CITY SCHOOLS. IF YOU'RE GOING TO AUSTIN, AND I'VE SAID THIS EVEN BEFORE I LEFT, I KNEW WHERE I WAS COMING. IF YOU'RE GONNA TAKE PROPERTY TAXES AWAY FROM US, THAT FOR, FOR AS LONG AS WE'VE HAD PROPERTY TAXES TO RUN LOCAL GOVERNMENT, YOU TAKE THAT AWAY FROM US, WHAT ARE YOU GONNA REPLACE IT WITH? AND THAT'S THE DISCUSSION WE NEED TO HAVE IN UNISON TALK TO OUR LEGISLATIVE DELEGATION. BUT, YOU KNOW, I'VE BEEN WATCHING CITY GOVERNMENT, HELL, 50 PLUS YEARS AS A STATE REP, SENATOR, NINE MAYORS, BOB LANIER GOT 500 MILLION FROM METRO BILL WHITE SOLD PROPERTIES. LET [05:25:01] THE WOODLANDS OUT FROM OUR ETJ BY THE WAY. SO I CAN GO ON TOUGH DECISIONS. THAT'S WHY WE'RE HERE. WE'VE MADE SOME TOUGH ONES TODAY AND THIS IS A GREAT CITY WITH GREAT PEOPLE. BUT WE'RE MEETING OUR CHALLENGES OTHER CITIES IN ARE IN TURMOIL RIGHT NOW. YOU WANNA TALK ABOUT SHORTFALLS? LOOK AT CHICAGO, LOOK AT LA NEW YORK. WE ALL HAVE CHALLENGES AND I RAN TO MEET THOSE CHALLENGES AND THE PUBLIC IS AWARE, WATCHING AND APPROVE, BUT THIS IS A GREAT DISCUSSION. IN FACT, OUGHT TO BE DONE IN A COMMITTEE HEARING SOME OF OUR MEMBERS THAT ARE CRITICAL RIGHT NOW. DIDN'T EVEN GO TO THE FINANCE COMMITTEE HEARING. WE'RE ALL IN THIS TOGETHER. COUNCIL MEMBER FLICKINGER. THANK YOU MAYOR. YOU'VE BEEN VERY CONSISTENT IN WANTING TO MAKE SURE THAT WE REDUCE OUR EXPENSES, WE GET MORE EFFICIENT OPERATING BEFORE WE GO BACK TO THE VOTERS AND TELL 'EM WE NEED MORE MONEY. I THINK THAT'S THE RIGHT APPROACH. UH, I THINK THAT, UH, IMPLEMENTING THE ERNST AND YOUNG STUDY, THE, THE PARTS OF IT THAT WE ALREADY HAVE, UH, HAS GONE A LONG WAY TO THAT. I I THINK WE ALSO CAN CONTINUE TO REDUCE OUR OPERATING EXPENSES QUITE A BIT. UH, SOME OF THE THINGS LARGE, SOME OF 'EM SMALL. I MEAN EVEN THE, THE, UH, NEW GARBAGE TRUCKS WE GOT NOT PAINTING THEM BLUE, $3,000 A POP. I MEAN, ALTHOUGH THAT SEEMS INCREDIBLY INSIGNIFICANT, YOU START ADDING THAT UP OVER AND OVER AGAIN AND WE CAN MAKE A REAL DIFFERENCE ON HOW MUCH IT IS. AND I ALSO THINK THAT IF WE DO THAT, WE'LL GAIN THE TRUST OF THE VOTERS. THEY WON'T BE NEARLY AS CYNICAL AND THEY'LL BE OPEN TO THE IDEA THAT IN ORDER FOR US TO CONTINUE FUNDING SERVICES AT THE LEVEL THAT THEY WANT, THAT WE NEED TO RAISE THE TAXES. BUT WE, I THINK WE DO HAVE TO CONVINCE 'EM, UH, OBVIOUSLY ALL THE, UH, ISSUES WE HAD WITH THE EMERGENCY, UH, PURCHASE ORDER LAST YEAR FOR THE WATER LINES. I MEAN, THAT DOESN'T HELP WHEN THE CITIZENS SEE THAT MONEY HAS JUST BEEN FLAT STOLEN. SO YEAH, WE DO NEED TO GAIN THEIR TRUST. UH, I ALSO COMPLETELY DISAGREE WITH THE PREMISE THAT BY NOT RAISING TAXES, WE'VE MISSED OUT ON MONEY. I MEAN, THAT'S MONEY THAT WAS KEPT IN THE POCKETS OF THE HOMEOWNERS. SO, YOU KNOW, I THINK WE NEED TO LOOK AT IT A LITTLE DIFFERENTLY. YOU ALMOST HAVE TO, UH, TAKE THE PREMISE THAT ALL THEIR MONEY BELONGS TO US TO SAY WE LOST OUT ON IT. UH, YOU KNOW, AGAIN, I THINK THE, THE VOTERS AND THE RESIDENTS OF HOUSTON ARE WILLING TO PAY WHAT HAS TO BE PAID AS LONG AS THEY'RE CONVINCED THAT WE'RE DOING THE RIGHT THING WITH THEIR MONEY. I MEAN, THE ONLY TIME SINCE THE VOTERS IMPOSED THE CAPS, THE ONLY TIME WE'VE GONE BACK TO ASK FOR MONEY, THE VOTERS APPROVED IT. SO OBVIOUSLY THEY'RE WILLING TO DO SO IF THEY THINK WE'RE DOING THE RIGHT THING. SO I, I THINK WHAT YOU'RE DOING IS CORRECT AND I APPLAUD YOU FOR IT. THANK YOU. WHILE I WAS LISTENING TO YOU, YOU'RE SO CORRECT. THE PUBLIC'S WATCHING AND WE DON'T OPERATE IN A SILO. WHAT THE COUNTY DOES IMPACTS WHAT WE WILL ULTIMATELY DO IN TERMS OF OUR OPTIONS. THE TOLL ROAD, WHEN THE PUBLIC READS ABOUT THE TOLL ROAD HAVING A $300 MILLION SURPLUS, WHAT DO YOU THINK THAT DOES TO THEIR CONFIDENCE IN LOCAL GOVERNMENT? THEY DON'T UNDERSTAND THAT THAT'S A COUNTY OPERATION BECAUSE IT RUNS ALL ACROSS OUR CITY OF HOUSTON. NO MAY WHAT HISD DOES. WE SAW WHAT FOLKS DID WITH THAT BOND. THE COUNTY PASSED HIS FLOOD CONTROL DISTRICT A TWO AND A HALF BILLION DOLLARS FLOOD CONTROL PLAN AFTER GOING THROUGH MOST OF IT. NOW, THEY SAID IT DIDN'T ACCOMPLISH IT, WHAT THEIR MISSION WAS. SO WE DO HAVE TO CONTINUE TO EXPRESS OUR POSITION. Y'ALL ALL HAVE COMMUNITY MEETINGS. WE NEED TO TALK ABOUT IT. IT HASN'T LOST ME WHAT OUR CHALLENGES ARE, BUT ALSO KNOW THAT THERE'S STILL SOME EFFICIENCIES AND DUPLICATIONS AND CONFLICTS THAT HAVE TO BE ADDRESSED. YOU KNOW, ONE OF THE OTHER THINGS, MAYOR, I HAD A TOWN HALL LAST NIGHT IN FACT, AND WE TALKED ABOUT TAXES AND THE TAX RATE. AND ONE OF THE THINGS I THINK WE REALLY HAVE TO BRING INTO VIEW OF THE TAXPAYERS IS THE CONTRAST BETWEEN WHAT IS HAPPENING AT THE CITY AND [05:30:01] WHAT'S HAPPENING WITH THE OTHER TAXING ENTITIES. MM-HMM . UM, WE'VE GOT APPROXIMATELY $40 MILLION IN ADDITIONAL REVENUE. WE HAVE YEAR OVER YEAR. ALMOST 90% OF THAT HAS COME FROM NEW CONSTRUCTION. ONLY 10% OF THAT IS ACTUALLY AN INCREASE YEAR OVER YEAR IN, IN WHAT THE INDIVIDUAL TAXPAYERS ARE PAYING, WHICH IS SIGNIFICANTLY LESS THAN INFLATION IN, YOU KNOW, WITH INFLATION. I MEAN, YOU NEED TO HAVE AT LEAST INFLATION IN ORDER TO HAVE THE SAME SPENDING POWER YOU HAD THE YEAR BEFORE. SO, I MEAN, WE TALKED ABOUT THE FACT OF WHAT THAT WAS GOING, UH, HOW THAT WORKED OUT WITH THE TAXES. UH, 'CAUSE I, I THINK UNFORTUNATELY AS A TAXPAYER, YOU GET YOUR TAX BILL. THAT'S WHAT YOU SEE. YOU DON'T SEE, WELL, THE SCHOOL DISTRICT DID THIS, THE COUNTY DID THIS AND, AND ALL THE INDIVIDUAL ENTITIES. AND WE'VE REALLY GOTTA DISCUSS WITH THEM, THIS IS WHAT'S GOING ON AT THE CITY. THIS IS WHAT THE CITY DID. SURE. SORRY, WE CAN'T CONTROL THE OTHERS. AND OF COURSE, WE HADN'T EVEN DISCUSSED THE EXPENDITURES OF, OF THE TURS. YOU KNOW, YOU ALSO REMEMBER ABOUT MAYOR PROTE PECK, WE'RE FIXING TO BUILD A FIRING POLICE STATION ON GASNER WITH THE TURS. SO WE HAVE SOME COST SAVING MEASURES THAT ARE GONNA BE NOTICED BY THE PUBLIC AND WHEN THEY BELIEVE WE HAVE USED EVERY POSSIBLE RESOURCE. YOU KNOW, WE ROLLED OUT 200 POLICE CARS THIS WEEK PAID FOR BY THE STATE OF TEXAS. SO WE NEED TO CONTINUE TO DEMONSTRATE SAVINGS, EFFICIENCIES. I MEAN, EVERYBODY ALMOST WAS READY TO VOTE FOR A GARBAGE FEE WHEN WE GOT A NEW DIRECTOR THAT FOUND OUT THEY WEREN'T WORKING WEDNESDAY OFFICIALLY, SO THEY COULD WORK OVERTIME AND DRAW DOWN MILLIONS OF DOLLARS BROKEN TRUCKS. I COULD GO ON AND ON. HE'S RUNNING IT. I'LL BE GLAD TO BRING HIM, LET HIM SPEAK FOR HIS DEPARTMENT. HE'S IMPROVING AND GETTING THE SCHEDULE WHERE IT SHOULD HAVE BEEN ALL ALONG, BUT IT'S BEING FIXED AND THE PUBLIC NOTICES IT. SO I'M, I'M GLAD WE'RE HAVING THIS CONVERSATION. IT OUGHT TO PROBABLY TAKEN PLACE IN A COMMITTEE HEARING. COUNCIL MEMBER ALCORN DOES SUCH A GREAT JOB OF BEING TRANSPARENT AND OPENING THE DISCUSSION, BUT, UH, THERE'S A LOT OF MISINFORMATION AND, AND NOT BY RESPONSIBLE PEOPLE, BUT, UH, THE PUBLIC'S A LOT SMARTER THAN WE'RE GIVING THEM CREDIT. THEY UNDERSTAND WHAT IT'S GONNA TAKE TO TURN THE CITY AROUND FINANCIALLY. IT'S BEEN A DISCUSSION. WHO WAS, IT MENTIONED ALL THE MAYORS THAT WORKED WITH I MAYBE WERE STAFF MEMBERS FOR THOSE FOLKS. AND, UH, WE'RE BEING AS TRANSPARENT THAN EVER BEFORE ON ALL OF OUR PROJECTS. UH, VICE MAYOR PROTE PECK, THANK YOU MAYOR, AND THANK YOU COUNCIL MEMBER ALCORN. UM, I MEAN, YOU ARE ABSOLUTELY RIGHT THAT, UM, LONG TERM THIS, IF NOTHING CHANGES, THIS IS UNSUSTAINABLE AND YOU'RE SOUNDING THE ALARM AND YOU SHOULD, UM, I'M GOING TO SUPPORT THIS TAX RATE BECAUSE WE ARE NOT THERE YET TO ASK FOR MORE MONEY. FOR YEARS, I'VE ADVOCAT ADVOCATED FOR, UM, EFFICIENCY STUDIES, AND I'VE SAID THE SAME THING AS THE MAYOR. THAT UNTIL WE RUN THE CITY EFFICIENTLY AND EFFECTIVELY, WE CAN'T GO TO THE VOTERS TO ASK FOR MORE MONEY BECAUSE WE DON'T KNOW WHAT WE'RE ASKING FOR. CAN WE JUSTIFY AN ADDITIONAL $50 MILLION? SURE. CAN WE JUSTIFY AN ADDITIONAL $100 MILLION? ABSOLUTELY. I NEED MORE THAN THAT FOR FLOODING MITIGATION IN MY DISTRICT ALONE. SO THERE'S ALWAYS GOING TO BE JUSTIFICATIONS FOR MORE MONEY INTO THE CITY OF HOUSTON. BUT WE HAVE TO BALANCE THAT CORE SERVICES AND ALSO THE TAXPAYERS AND THE COST OF LIVING TO LIVE HERE. PEOPLE DON'T COME TO HOUSTON BECAUSE THE WEATHER IS SO GREAT. PEOPLE COME HERE BECAUSE THE COST OF LIVING IS LOW. THEY WANT TO LIVE HERE FOR THAT REASON. AND SO EVERY LITTLE INCREASE IT ADDS UP OVER TIME. SO WE NEED TO REALLY THINK ABOUT THAT. UM, I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT TO EFFICIENT TO FINISH THE EFFICIENCY STUDIES. UM, I THINK THAT THIS APPROACH IS PRAGMATIC AND IT IS, YOU KNOW, TAKING MY ANXIETY DOWN AS FAR AS GOING TO THE TAXPAYERS FOR MORE MONEY. SO I AM GOING TO BE VOTING IN FAVOR OF THIS COUNCIL MEMBER DAVIS. THANK YOU. UH, MAYOR PRO. TIM, I WANT TO SAY FIRST COMMEND OUR, UH, BUDGET COMMITTEE CHAIR SALAD FOR THE INFORMATION AND HER LEADERSHIP IN THE AREA OF THE MATH. WHAT IS OBVIOUS? YOU CAN'T DENY WHAT IS OBVIOUS. IT'S, IT'S IT'S OBVIOUS EFFECT. [05:35:01] BUT I ALSO WANT TO, UM, KIND OF PIGGYBACK ON A LITTLE OF WHAT OUR MAYOR, PRO TEM STATED ABOUT THE DECISION THAT WE ARE FACING AND HOW CRITICAL THAT DECISION IS. NOW COMING ON BOARD ON COUNCIL, AS ONE OF THE NEW COUNCIL MEMBERS, UH, LEARNING MY OBJECTIVE, PEOPLE ASK ME, WELL, WILLIE, WHAT IS YOUR OBJECTIVE PASTOR? FIRST? I TELL 'EM ONE. WELL, THREE OF THEM. LOOK, LISTEN, AND LEARN. 'CAUSE A LOT OF TIMES WE COMMENT, WE MAKE COMMENTS WITHOUT HAVING A COMPLETE UNDERSTANDING ABOUT ALL OF WHAT WE TALKING ABOUT. WELL, I CAME HERE AS A CITIZEN, LOVED MY CITY, UH, WANT TO SUPPORT MY CITY AND ALL OF US WHO HELPED TO GET ME HERE. BUT ON THE, ON THAT NOTE, LET ME JUST SAY TWO THINGS. I CAME AS A PASTOR AND I'M STILL ONE, THERE ARE TWO SCRIPTURES THAT COME TO MIND WHEN IT COMES TO US DEALING WITH THE MUNICIPALITY AND THE GOVERNING ONE. WE WALK BY FAITH, NOT BY SIGHT, BUT SECONDLY, THERE'S ANOTHER SCRIPTURE. SAY YOU HAVE TO COUNT THE COST. OKAY? SO IN REGARDS TO THAT, WE ALL KNOW THAT IN TRUST, A LOT OF THINGS WENT ON PRIOR TO MANY OF US BEING HERE. A LOT OF THINGS. BUT THE FACT IS, IS THAT WE DO ALSO KNOW THAT WHAT THE MAYOR AND THIS ADMINISTRATION HAS TRIED TO DO WAS TO TRY TO ANSWER THE CONCERN OF THE CITIZEN ABOUT HOW DO WE, WE BROKE COMING IN. SO HOW DO WE, HOW DO WE BYPASS THE FACT OF MISUSE OF FAS FAS THAT WENT ALL DIFFERENT DIRECTIONS. THAT WAS A LEARNING PROCESS FOR ME. AND MOST OF US HAVE TO CONSIDER, AND I'D SAID THIS BEFORE IT, EVEN IN COMMITTEES, THE COUNTY, AND I'M GLAD THE MAYOR BROUGHT THE STATEMENT UP ABOUT WORKING IN SILOS. THAT'S ONE OF THE THINGS I TELL AS A COUNCIL, WE CAN'T WORK IN A SILO. THE COUNTY DOES, BUT WE CAN'T. AND BECAUSE OF THAT, IF WE DON'T, WE, IN MY MIND, AND, UH, IT, IT WOULDN'T MAKE, IT WOULDN'T MAKE US EFFECTIVE. BUT IT, LET ME JUST SAY , WHAT, WHAT CHALLENGE WILL WE FACE WITH THE COUNTY, WITH THE RAISE THAT THE TAX THAT THEY RAISED AND THEN WE RAISE PROPERTY TAX AT THE CITY? I THINK THE MAYOR MADE IT PRETTY CLEAR THAT WHAT IT WOULD DEVASTATE THE LIVES OF MANY PEOPLE IN THIS CITY. SO I I I TAKE INTO CONSIDERATION ALL OF IT. I'VE BEEN LISTENING, LOOKING, AND LEARNING. THERE ARE MANY OF YOU HERE THAT WERE BEFORE US, THOSE OF US WHO KNEW. BUT AT THE SAME TIME, IN MY MINDSET, I TRY TO FIND, UH, HOW DID SO MUCH MISAPPROPRIATION OR WHATEVER, DOLLARS, AND I'M NOT TRYING TO, YOU KNOW, BE NEGATIVE, ACCUSE ANYBODY. BUT WE DO KNOW THAT A LOT HAS BEEN DONE IN THE FIRST YEAR, GOING TO SECOND YEAR ABOUT WHERE SOME OF THIS DOLLARS COULD HAVE BEEN MORE EFFECTIVE. AND SO I WOULD, THAT WE AS A COUNCIL WOULD CERTAINLY TAKE THAT INTO CONSIDERATION. AND I TRUST, AND LET ME JUST ON RECORD, I TRUST THAT THIS ADMINISTRATION IS PROVEN TO DO A LOT OF THINGS THAT PEOPLE DIDN'T THINK WOULD HAPPEN, BUT IT DID. AND, UH, WHATEVER THE PLAN AND THE, THE GOING FORWARD OF OUR MAYOR, I TRUST THAT IT WILL HAPPEN AND IT WILL GET DONE. AND SO, UH, I HOPE TO, UH, GIVE MY SUPPORT, UM, TO, TO THIS PARTICULAR ITEM. THANK YOU MARTINEZ. COUNCILMAN MARTINEZ. THANK YOU, MAYOR. UM, I, I DEFINITELY APPRECIATE, UH, COUNCILMAN ALCORN. UM, I KNOW SHE'S BEEN GETTING A LOT OF ACCOLADES, BUT IT'S WELL DESERVED, QUITE FRANKLY. UM, AS A FRESHMAN COUNSELOR, BUT SOMEONE THAT'S BEEN HERE IN THIS CITY HALL FOR 10 YEARS AS A STAFFER, WE'RE HEARING, SEEING THERE IS ANXIETY. UH, WHEN I DECIDED TO RUN, I KNEW THAT THIS WAS PROBABLY GONNA BE THE FIRST AND FOREMOST CHALLENGE THAT WE'LL BE SEEN AS A CITY. AND SO IT'S IMPORTANT THAT WE CONTINUE TO MOVE IN A WAY. WE'RE, WE'RE PUTTING, YOU KNOW, FOUNDATIONS FIRST CORE SERVICES. UM, THE, THERE STILL ARE OPPORTUNITIES, I THINK TO, TO SEE, UH, IMPROVEMENTS, YOU KNOW, EFFICIENCIES. THERE'S, THERE'S OPTIONS. BUT I ALSO WANNA SAY PUBLICLY TO, TO THE LARGER PUBLIC THAT WE'RE RUNNING OUT OF OPTIONS THOUGH. AND I KNOW YOU'RE, YOU RECOGNIZE, RECOGNIZE THAT MAYOR, UM, THIS IS GONNA BE A TRUST VOTE FOR ME AS WELL. [05:40:01] I, I KNOW AND SPOKEN TO THE DIRECTOR FOR SOLID WASTE DIRECTOR HASSEN AND TRUST THAT HE ALSO WILL CONTINUE TO RUN THAT DEPARTMENT MORE EFFICIENT. UM, THERE'S, THERE'S STILL OPPORTUNITIES TO MOVE INTO A HEAVY TRASH ON DEMAND CYCLE, WHICH I'M PUSHING FOR THAT COULD SAVE DOLLARS, THAT COULD REDIRECT RESOURCES INTO ENSURING BETTER SERVICES. I'VE PUSHED FOR A TRASH FEE AND I, QUITE FRANKLY, I WISH FOLKS 10 YEARS AGO WOULD'VE PASSED THE TRASH FEE. I'VE ASKED THE DIRECT PREVIOUS DIRECTORS, UH, AT BUDGET WORKSHOPS, WHEN SHOULD WE HAVE PASSED THE TRASH FEE? WE SHOULD HAVE PASSED THE TRASH FEE WHEN WE STARTED PICKING UP HEAVY TRASH. QUITE FRANKLY, WE ARE IN A TOUGH SITUATION. I THINK IT NEEDS TO BE LOUD AND CLEAR TO THE COMMUNITY. I HAVE THESE CONVERSATIONS, VERY HONEST AND TRANSPARENT WITH RESIDENTS. EVERY TIME I'M IN A CIVIC CLUB, EVERY TIME I'M QUITE, YOU KNOW, WHENEVER WE'RE IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD, UH, A REV CAP IS DETRIMENTAL TO WHAT WE'VE BEEN DOING. AS COUNCIL MEMBER CAME IN, JUST, JUST, UH, SHARED WITH US $2.59 BILLION SINCE 2015 THAT WE'VE LOST, THAT COULD BE GOING BACK INTO SERVICES. UM, I GET QUESTIONED ABOUT A TRASH FEE AS WELL, AND I'M VERY HONEST ABOUT IT. WE ULTIMATELY WILL NEED A TRASH FEE BECAUSE WHAT WE'RE DOING RIGHT NOW IS UNSUSTAINABLE. WE'RE GONNA NEED MORE TRUCKS. THE TRUCKS THAT WE'RE, THAT WE JUST PURCHASED ARE EVENTUALLY GONNA BE OUTTA SERVICE. AND IF WE DON'T GET THE RIGHT MECHANICS TO CONTINUE TO WORK ON THESE TRUCKS BECAUSE WE ARE, YOU KNOW, WE HAVE A LACK OF MECHANICS AT FLEET, THEN THESE TRUCKS WILL CONTINUE TO BE, GO GET BACK TO WHERE WE WERE, UH, JUST A FEW YEARS AGO. UM, THIS IS A TOUGH VOTE FOR ME, AND I APPRECIATE OUR MAYOR PRO TIM'S LEADERSHIP AS WELL, BECAUSE I'VE BEEN TALKING TO HER. I'M LIKE, WHAT'S GOING ON? WHERE WE AT? AND I WANNA HAVE TRUST IN WHAT WE WERE ABLE TO DO LAST YEAR, MAYOR, WHEN WE PROVIDED THE PROP A FOR THE TAX RATE, YOU SAID YOU WERE GONNA BRING SOME MONEY, YOU BROUGHT IT THAT DAY OF PULLED THE PROP. A JUST WANNA MAKE SURE THAT, UM, AS WE CONTINUE TO MOVE FORWARD, WE'RE HAVING THESE HONEST CONVERSATIONS, NOT JUST AROUND THE HORSESHOE, BUT IN THE COMMUNITY AS WELL. UM, AND SO FOR THAT, I WILL BE CASTING A TRUST VOTE WITH YOU. MAYOR. COUNCILMAN CASTILLO. THANK YOU, MAYOR. I WANT TO, UH, I'M SORRY. AHEAD. YOU GOT SENIORITY. GO AHEAD, . WELL, THANK YOU, MAYOR. THANK YOU, MAYOR. AND, UM, AND THANK YOU ALL FOR THE DISCUSSION. I MEAN, THIS HAS BEEN VERY HELPFUL. UM, COUNCIL MEMBER ALCORN FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP AND MAYOR PRO TE UM, FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP AS WELL. WHEN I CAME TO THE TABLE, I WAS LIKE A NO, BECAUSE I HAD SUPPORTED THE BUDGET, UM, THIS BUDGET, PAST BUDGET CYCLE BECAUSE OF THE ISSUES THAT DISTRICT B FACE ILLEGAL DUMPING AND POOR INFRASTRUCTURE, ET CETERA. AND SO, BUT AS I'M SITTING HERE, I'M THINKING ABOUT A TAX INCREASE AND HOW IT WOULD IMPACT THE RESIDENTS. AND DISTRICT B, THE RESIDENTS IS ALREADY STRUGGLING, UM, TO PAY THEIR RENT AND TO PAY THEIR UTILITY BILL. I JUST HAD A, A $600 LIGHT BILL, SO I CAN IMAGINE WHAT, UM, THE RESIDENTS ARE DEALING WITH, AND WE HEAR IT EVERY DAY. AND SO, UM, AND THEN JUST THINKING ABOUT YOU MAYOR AND YOUR, YOUR ADMINISTRATION AND THE SUPPORT THAT YOU GUYS HAVE GIVEN, UM, OUR OFFICE, YOU KNOW, THROUGH YOUR ADMINISTRATION, WE'VE BEEN GETTING SOME THINGS DONE. UM, AND SO JUST LIKE YOU, COUNCILMAN MARTINEZ, THIS IS GONNA BE A TRUST VOTE BECAUSE YOU, UM, THE MAYOR HAS BASICALLY, UM, YOU KNOW, HIS, HE HAVE AN OPEN DOOR. UM, HIS OFFICE HAVE BEEN VERY COLLABORATIVE AND SO, AND HE, YOU'VE BEEN ABLE TO DO SOME THINGS THAT, YOU KNOW, YOU SAID YOU WERE GONNA DO IMMEDIATELY. AND SO I'M GOING TO SUPPORT THIS AGAIN BECAUSE I WANT TO PROTECT OUR RESIDENTS FROM ADDITIONAL FINANCIAL STRAIN. UM, YES, DISTRICT B IS STILL DEALING WITH ILLEGAL DUMPING AND FLOODING AND AGING INFRASTRUCTURE, BUT I ALSO BELIEVE THAT THROWING MONEY, UM, AT BROKEN SYSTEMS ISN'T THE ANSWER. SO AS WE CONTINUE TO LOOK AT WAYS TO BE MORE EFFICIENT, UM, I'M OPEN TO JUST HOLDING OFF AND KEEPING THE, THE, THE, THE TAX RATE FLAT. UM, WITH THAT BEING SAID, MAYOR, THANK YOU AND I'M GONNA SUPPORT, SUPPORT THIS ITEM. COUNCILOR CASTILLO. THANK YOU, MAYOR. I, I WANNA START BY ALSO ECHOING THE COMMENTS, UM, THAT EVERYONE'S MADE TO COUNCIL MEMBER ALCORN FOR HER LEADERSHIP. IT, IT'S BEEN A, A WONDERFUL EXPERIENCE TO SERVE UNDER HER ON THE BUDGET COMMITTEE. I'VE [05:45:01] LEARNED A LOT AND I'VE REALLY SEEN HOW SHE HAS CONSISTENTLY APPROACHED OUR FISCAL MATTERS AS A CITY. SHE DOES IT, UM, WITHOUT ANY, ANY BIAS OR WITHOUT ANY POLITICS. SHE CARES ABOUT OUR FINANCES. AND YOU SEE IT IN THE COMMITTEE MEETINGS, YOU SEE IT IN THE QUESTIONS. AND SO, UH, HER WORDS AND AND COMMENTS DO MEAN A LOT. AND I APPRECIATE, UH, SERVING UNDER HER. YOU KNOW, ARE THERE STILL WAYS TO FIND EFFICIENCIES, DUPLICATIONS, WAYS? I, I THINK THERE ARE. UM, BUT I HEAR INCREASINGLY FROM MY CONSTITUENTS, YOU KNOW, THEIR CONCERNS ABOUT SERVICES. I HEARD IT YESTERDAY AT A COMMUNITY MEETING AROUND THE SUPER HUB AND, UH, YOU KNOW, SOME REASSURANCES THAT MORE SECURITY WOULD BE PROVIDED TO THE NEIGHBORHOOD AND THIS AND THAT. AND A LOT OF FOLKS SAID, HEY, WAIT, WE'RE BROKE. HOW ARE WE GONNA DO THAT? YOU KNOW, HOW ARE WE GONNA MAKE SURE THE NEIGHBORHOOD ISN'T NEGATIVELY IMPACTED? WE'VE HAD SOME IMPROVEMENTS IN SOLID WASTE AND IMPERIAL VALLEY, YOU KNOW, THEY WENT ALMOST THREE MONTHS WITHOUT HEAVY TRASH COLLECTION. WE HAVE WORK TO DO THERE. I KNOW WE'RE GETTING MORE TRUCKS. I KNOW WE'RE MAKING PROGRESS. BUT, UM, MORE INFORMATION I DO THINK WOULD BE HELPFUL AS WE, AS WE GO DOWN THIS ROAD AND HELP FOLKS UNDERSTAND THAT, YES, WE'RE GONNA LOOK AT MORE EFFICIENCIES. YES, WE'RE GONNA LOOK AT DUPLICATION, BUT THERE ARE OTHER THINGS COMING THAT WILL HELP GET US ACROSS THE FINISH LINE WITH RESPECT TO OUR BUDGET AND THAT CITY SERVICES WILL IMPROVE AND NOT BE, UM, NEGATIVELY IMPACTED. SO I WILL BE SUPPORTING THE RATE, UM, AND LOOK FORWARD TO CONTINUING TO WORK WITH COUNCIL MEMBER ALCORN AND, AND THE TEAM AND, UH, REALLY FIGURE, FIGURE THINGS OUT FOR THE CITY MOVING FORWARD. BECAUSE FOLKS, FOLKS DO HAVE CONCERNS AND RAISING A TAX RATE ALSO BRINGS CONCERNS AS WELL. AND SO THOSE ARE THINGS THAT WE HAVE TO ADDRESS SIMULTANEOUSLY MOVING FORWARD. THANK YOU FOR YOUR COMMENTS. AND I UNDERSTAND EXACTLY WHAT YOU'RE REPORTING. I'M IN THE COMMUNITY ON A DAILY BASIS, OFTEN AT THE INVITATION OF A COUNCIL MEMBER. UH, WE HAVE CHALLENGES. I WOULDN'T RUN FOR MAYOR IF THINGS WERE WORKING WELL. THE CITIZENS FROM NORTHEAST TOLD US MORE THAN ONCE, DON'T RAISE MY TAXES. OF COURSE, THEY WANT BETTER SERVICES ON DRAINAGE AND CURBING. AND I UNDERSTAND THAT TOO. THAT'S WHY WE'RE COLLABORATING WITH THE COUNTY COMMISSIONERS, THE TURS, YOU KNOW, THE SECOND MONTH I WAS HERE, I SAID WE WERE BROKE. AND EVERYBODY CAN'T BELIEVE THAT THE CITY MAYOR SAID PUBLICLY WE'RE BROKE BECAUSE THE SPIN HAS ALWAYS BEEN, OH, WE'RE DOING THIS, WE'RE DOING THIS. WE WERE BROKE THEN. WE'RE PROBABLY BROKER NOW. 'CAUSE WE HAD SOME MAJOR LAWSUITS, COUNTIES BROKE. I THINK THEY'VE ACTUALLY GOT MORE RESOURCES THAN, THAN WE SEE SUCH AS THE TOLL ROAD AND OTHER MATTERS. BUT THEY FACED THE DILEMMA A COUPLE WEEKS AGO, AND TWO THAT I RESPECT, THREE I RESPECT, VOTED AGAINST RAISING PROPERTY TAXES. AND THEY WERE FACED WITH SOME OF THE SAME DILEMMAS WE HAVE. AND IN FACT, MORE THAN ONE OF MY FRIENDS SAID THAT TWO OF 'EM SOUND LIKE WHITMAR, BRIANIS GARCIA. WE'RE TALKING ABOUT EFFICIENCIES, DUPLICATION, AND THEY LISTENED TO THE PUBLIC. AND WHAT I WOULD SUGGEST, PARTICULARLY THE DISTRICT COUNCIL MEMBERS, BETWEEN NOW AND NEXT MAY, WHEN WE HAVE TO SUBMIT A BUDGET, START OUT YOUR TOWN HALL MEETINGS, ASK 'EM IF THEY WANT TO INCREASE PROPERTY TAXES. WE ALREADY KNOW THEY'RE CONCERNED ABOUT THE SERVICES. NOW ASK 'EM IF ONE OF THE REMEDIES WOULD BE BEFORE WE GO FORWARD WITH EFFICIENCIES AND CUT OUT DUPLICATION. SEE, A LOT OF THE FOLKS ARE A LOT, A LOT QUICKER ON SUNDAY ISSUES. LIKE THEY SEE TWO OF EVERYTHING, YOU KNOW, THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT MM-HMM . IS IN ACTIVE DISCUSSIONS ABOUT CUTTING OUT DUPLICATION WITH HARRIS HEALTH COMMISSIONER BRIANIS HAS TAKEN OVER SOME CITY PARK MANAGEMENT. WE'RE MEETING WITH COMMISSIONER GARCIA. THERE ARE STILL THINGS THAT WE WILL BE ABLE TO POINT TO THE PUBLIC WHEN WE SAY WE'VE DONE EVERYTHING WE CAN. THEY'RE NOT THERE YET, [05:50:01] FOLKS. I KNOW IT. AND I WOULD EVEN SUGGEST POLLING DEMONSTRATES THAT. BUT I'M NOT GOVERNED BY POLLING. IT'S BEING A HOUSTONIAN AND GOING OUT IN PUBLIC AND BEING ACCESSIBLE. PEOPLE BELIEVE WE CAN DO BETTER. AND THEN WHEN WE BUILD UP THAT TRUST AND CREDIBILITY, WE WILL CHANGE THE, WE'LL CHANGE THE REVENUE STREAM. METRO HAS TO DO BETTER. THEY NEED TO TRANSFORM THEIR USE OF MONEY, AND THE PUBLIC KNOWS THAT AS WELL. SO WE'RE MOVING IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION. THIS IS A CHALLENGE, THERE'S NO QUESTION, BUT IT'S ALSO AN OPPORTUNITY. EVERY TIME I GET ANOTHER CHALLENGE, I SAY IT'S AN OPPORTUNITY TO SHOW LEADERSHIP. AND THAT'S WHAT WE'RE DOING TODAY. COUNCILMAN KAMAN. THANK YOU, MAYOR. AND, UM, I WAS JUST AT A CIVIC CLUB MEETING TWO NIGHTS AGO, AND I DID NOT BRING UP THE TAX RATE. I WAS ASKED ABOUT THE TAX RATE AND RESIDENTS SAID, HOW ARE Y'ALL GONNA BALANCE A BUDGET IF YOU DON'T INCREASE THE RATE? AND I SAID, WELL, WHAT DO YOU THINK WE SHOULD DO? I ASKED THE QUESTION, EVERYONE THERE SAID, YOU NEED TO INCREASE THE RATE. NOW, I RECOGNIZE THAT THAT'S NOT EVERY NEIGHBORHOOD. I RECOGNIZE THAT THROUGHOUT THE CITY WHEN WE TALK ABOUT DIVERSITY, THERE IS SOCIOECONOMIC DIVERSITY, RIGHT? WE JUST HAD THE REPORT OUT THAT LISTED HOUSTON IS ONE OF THE TOP POOREST, AND THAT'S VERY REAL. SO I WANT TO BE SENSITIVE TO THAT. BUT I ALSO DON'T WANT TO PAINT OVER THE RESIDENTS THAT ARE SAYING, COMING TO US AND SAYING, NO, WE UNDERSTAND THIS BECAUSE I DO THINK THE VOTERS ARE SMART ENOUGH TO UNDERSTAND SOME OF THIS. I WANTED TO CORRECT WHAT I SAID EARLIER, AND I APPRECIATE DIRECTOR DEBOWSKI GETTING BACK TO ME. UM, IN TERMS OF WHAT WAS SAVED ON AVERAGE ANNUALLY BEFORE WE LOWERED THE TAX RATE, PREVIOUSLY, $45 ANNUALLY IS WHAT THE AVERAGE HOUSTONIAN WAS SAVING. NOW, AGAIN, I RECOGNIZE $45 CAN MEAN EVERYTHING. MAYOR COUNCILMAN JACKSON BROUGHT UP HER ELECTRICITY BILL CENTER POINT, JUST INCREASED THEIR RATES ASTRONOMICALLY TO RECOUP FOR THE DISASTER. AND AN, IN MY OPINION, IN AN UNCONSCIONABLE WAY THAT IS HITTING PEOPLE MUCH HARDER. WE HAVE AN ITEM ON COUNCIL TODAY, ITEM 27, WHERE MATERIALS HAVE INCREASED. I BELIEVE, UH, IT'S IN THE LISTED AS 20 TO 50% UNDER ONE CITY CONTRACT. SO HOW MANY CONTRACTS ARE WE HAVING TO PAY MORE FROM FOR MATERIALS BECAUSE THEY'RE COSTING MORE, WHETHER THAT'S FROM TARIFFS, WHETHER THAT'S FROM WHATEVER THE CIRCUMSTANCE. SO WE ARE HAVING TO PAY MORE, BUT WE'RE NOT BRINGING IN ENOUGH. AND I DO WANNA RESPECTFULLY CORRECT THE RECORD BECAUSE WE KEEP REFERRING TO PRIOR COUNCILS. AND ON PRIOR COUNCILS, WE ALSO REDUCED PENSION LIABILITY FROM EIGHT POINT, I BELIEVE APPROXIMATELY 8 BILLION, DOWN TO 1 BILLION, WHICH IS A TREMENDOUS FEAT. WE HAVE OPED REFORM, WE HAVE ALL OF THESE DIFFERENT MEASURES, AND I BELIEVE IT IS THE RESPONSIBILITY OF EVERY COUNCIL TO ADDRESS THE ISSUES THAT COME BEFORE US AT THE TIME THAT WERE THERE AND DO THE BEST THAT WE CAN. PREVIOUS COUNCILS WERE FACED WITH HARVEY, WITH AMELDA. WE HAD WINTER STORM, YURI, WE HAD A PANDEMIC. SO WHEN WE TALK ABOUT ARPA DOLLARS, YES, THOSE WERE CRITICAL FOR BALANCING THE BUDGET, BUT WE ALSO HAD INCREASED EXPENSES THAT WE HAD TO ACCOUNT FOR AS WELL. SO I PREFER TO FOCUS ON THE HERE AND NOW AND WHAT WE CAN DO NOW TO MAKE THINGS BETTER, BECAUSE I DO BELIEVE IT IS THE BEST OF INTENTIONS OF EVERY SINGLE COUNCIL TO TAKE THE ISSUES AS THEY FACE THEM AND DO EVERYTHING THEY CAN WITH THE TOOLS THAT THEY ARE GIVEN. AND THAT INCLUDES FACING UNPRECEDENTED, ASTRONOMICAL COSTS RELATED TO PANDEMICS, NATURAL DISASTERS AND A RECESSION. SO IN FOCUSING ON TODAY AND WHAT WE HAVE BEFORE US, UM, I AM STILL TORN. I'M LISTENING TO WHAT EVERYONE IS SAYING, UH, BUT WE ARE STILL CONTINUING TO ALSO, WHEN WE TALK ABOUT ARPA AS A STOP STOPGAP, I'M GRATEFUL FOR THE STATE DOLLARS THAT WE GOT FOR THOSE, FOR THOSE VEHICLES. WE NEED THAT. BUT THAT IS ALSO A ONE-TIME COST. SO I CONTINUE TO ASK THE QUESTION TO COUNCIL MEMBER ALCORN'S POINT, WHAT ARE WE DOING TO CONSISTENTLY ADDRESS THIS RATHER THAN THOSE STOPGAP MEASURES? AND THIS IS AN EXERCISE IN TRUST. THIS IS AN IMPORTANT DIALOGUE WE'RE HAVING, BUT WE ARE STILL CONTINUING TO USE [05:55:01] ONE-TIME FUNDS. AND THAT'S NOT A CRITICISM. THAT'S TO SHOW THE CITY CONTINUES TO DO WHAT IT CAN, WHERE IT CAN. BUT THAT'S NOT TO LOOK BACK AND SAY SOMEONE DIDN'T DO SOMETHING BECAUSE THERE WERE TREMENDOUS STEPS THAT WERE TAKEN TO ADDRESS SOME OF THESE CHALLENGES AS WELL. THANK YOU. WE'RE TALKING ABOUT DEMANDS FOR SERVICES PARKS. OBVIOUSLY WE NEED MONIES FOR ADDITIONAL GREEN SPACE BARK. LET ME GIVE BARK A FOCUS FOR A MOMENT. WE'RE ONLY MAKING 54% OF OUR DANGEROUS ANIMAL RESPONSES. MM-HMM . THIS IS THE KIND OF DIALOGUE WE WILL HAVE WITH THE PUBLIC. THEY ALSO KNOW THAT THERE'S A ANIMAL SHELTER IN THE COUNTY THAT IF YOU SHOW UP AS A COUNTY RESIDENT, BUT YOU HAPPEN TO LIVE IN THE CITY OF HOUSTON AND SHOW 'EM YOUR ID, THEY TELL YOU HAVE TO GO BACK TO THE CITY OF HOUSTON. SO FOLKS, WE GOT A LOT OF WORK TO DO. COUNCILMAN POLLARD. THANK YOU, MAYOR. I, I'M GLAD MY, MY COLLEAGUE, COUNCIL MEMBER KAMAN BROUGHT UP, UM, WHAT HAS BEEN DONE IN THE PAST, BECAUSE I SOMETIMES THINK THAT IT'S BEING PORTRAYED AS IF THE WORK THAT WAS DONE BEFORE THIS ADMINISTRATION LEFT US IN A PREDICAMENT THAT YOU REFERRED TO AS THE CITY BEING BROKE WHEN I THINK WE HAD THE HIGHEST FUND BALANCE IN THE CITY'S HISTORY WHEN YOU CAME INTO OFFICE. AND SINCE THEN, WE'VE CONTINUED TO SPEND AND SPEND AND SPEND WITHOUT BRINGING IN ADDITIONAL REVENUE. UM, AND IT'S, IT'S KIND OF CONFUSING WHEN MANY FOLKS UP HERE ALREADY VOTED ON A DIFFERENT TAX RATE. I MEAN, YOU'RE ALREADY ON RECORD FOR VOTING ON A DIFFERENT TAX RATE, IT'S JUST NOW IS THE TAX RATE TO BE SOLIDIFIED, RIGHT? IT WAS ALREADY BAKED INTO THE BUDGET. AND SO NOW THAT IT'S NOT THERE, WE HAVE THIS GAP AND IT IS, OR IT SHOULD BE MORE THAN JUST TRUSTING THAT WE'LL FIGURE IT OUT. THAT THAT HAS TO BE MORE DIALOGUE ON WHAT ARE THOSE SPECIFICS. I MEAN, THIS IS, WE'RE, WE'RE, WE HAVE A $7 BILLION BUDGET, RIGHT? AND IN NO OTHER CIRCUMSTANCE WITH, WITH THE CEO, JUST SAY, JUST TRUST ME. WE'LL, WE'LL FIGURE IT OUT. AND THERE'LL BE NO REAL SPECIFICS BEHIND THAT. AND WE CAN'T TALK ABOUT, OH, WE DON'T WANT TO PUT IT OUT THERE BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, SOME FOLKS MIGHT POLITICIZE IT. I MEAN, I, YOU CAN'T THINK ABOUT ME ALL THE TIME. I MEAN, YOU HAVE TO THINK ABOUT THE CITY, BUT YOU HAVE TO THINK ABOUT THE PEOPLE WHO ARE DEPENDING ON US TO MAKE THE RIGHT DECISIONS BASED ON THEIR OWN QUALITY OF LIFE. AND WE DON'T HAVE ANYTHING TO PRESENT TO THE CITY ON HOW WE'RE GONNA CLOSE THIS BUDGET GAP. SO IT, IT SOUNDS VERY STRANGE TO ME THAT WE'RE ALL HAVING THIS TRUST VOTE WHEN WE TRUST YOU ALL TRUSTED DURING THE BUDGET PROCESS. SO I, I DON'T KNOW WHAT YOU CAN GO BACK AND TELL YOUR COMMUNITIES OR YOUR DISTRICTS WHEN THEY ASK YOU SPECIFICS ON HOW YOU'RE GONNA CLOSE THE GAP, OTHER THAN, YOU KNOW, I TRUST THE MAYOR. UH, WE'VE ALL GIVEN OUR, YOU KNOW, APPLAUSE TO OUR CHAIR OF BUDGET AND FISCAL AFFAIRS, AND SHE MAKES A LOT OF SENSE. UM, NO PUN INTENDED, BUT, UM, I DO SEE YOUR VISION ON THAT, AND YOU ARE PUTTING FORWARD SPECIFICS. ONE OF THE ONLY FOLKS PUTTING FORWARD SOME SPECIFICS AND SOME REAL NUMBERS. AND SO, BASED ON THIS DISCUSSION, I'M GONNA DO MORE THAN JUST, UH, SAY THANK YOU. BUT I'M GONNA VOTE WITH YOU. THANK YOU. ANYONE ELSE? IF NOT, UH, PLEASE MISS SEC TO HAVE A ROLL CALL ON ITEM NUMBER TWO. MAYOR WHITMEYER. YES. COUNCIL MEMBER PICK. YES. COUNCIL MEMBER JACKSON. COUNCIL MEMBER KAMAN? NO. COUNCIL MEMBER EVAN SHABAZZ. YES. COUNCIL MEMBER FLICKINGER? YES. COUNCIL MEMBER HUFFMAN? YES. COUNCIL MEMBER CASTILLO? YES. COUNCIL MEMBER MARTINEZ. YES. COUNCIL MEMBER POLLARD? NO. COUNCIL MEMBER CASTEX TATUM? YES. COUNCIL MEMBER RAMIREZ? YES. COUNCIL MEMBER DAVIS? YES. COUNCIL MEMBER CARTER? YES. AND COUNCIL MEMBER ELKHORN? NO. 11 TO THREE BE 11. YES. HISTORY NOS MOTION. UH, ADAM PASSES PUBLIC HEARING. NUMBER THREE. RAMIREZ IS IN THE QUEUE. HMM. COUNCIL RAMIREZ IS IN THE QUEUE. MAYOR, MOVE TO TAKE OUT OF ORDER. [06:00:01] ITEM 47, AN ITEM THAT WAS TAGGED LAST WEEK BY COUNCIL MEMBER CAYMAN AND MYSELF. YES. ALL IN FAVOR? THERE'S SECOND. MOTION MADE. SECOND. ALL IN FAVOR SAY YES. THOSE OPPOSED NAY. MOTION PASSES. DO YOU WANNA DO THAT NOW BEFORE THE HEARING? SURE. CAN TAKE IT UP NOW. OR DO YOU WANT TO HAVE A PUBLIC HEARING? YEAH, BRING UP THAT ITEM. [MATTERS HELD] ITEM 47 IS AN ORDINANCE. JUST NEED A VOTE. COUNCILMAN RAMIREZ. THANK YOU, MAYOR. SO, I, I TAGGED THIS ITEM LAST WEEK, UH, TO GET SOME, AN ANSWERS REGARDING THE EMINENT DOMAIN PROCEDURE THAT IS IMMINENT, UH, ON THE PART OF, UM, HOSPITAL DISTRICT. AND I WAS ABLE TO VISIT WITH LEGAL YESTERDAY AND GET SOME ANSWERS. REGARDLESS OF WHAT PEOPLE THINK ABOUT THE, UH, TAKEOVER OF PARKLAND IN HERMAN PARK BY THE HOSPITAL DISTRICT. THE CITY NEEDS GOOD LEGAL REPRESENTATION ON THAT MATTER, AND SO I'LL BE SUPPORTING THIS ITEM. OKAY. COUNCILLOR CAYMAN. THANK YOU. UM, I, I DO WANNA THANK CITY LEGAL MAYOR AND YOUR TEAM FOR MEETING WITH ALL OF US AND BRIEFING US ON WHERE THINGS STAND, UM, AGAIN, REGARDING THE, UH, CONDEMNATION PROCEEDINGS PERTAINING TO, UH, HERMAN PARK LAND, UH, FOR THE PURPOSES OF BEN TODD. AND, UH, I, IN THOSE CONVERSATIONS, MAYOR, I THINK WE HAD A VERY PRODUCTIVE DISCUSSION ABOUT HOW WE CAN PRESENT THIS TO THE PUBLIC WITHOUT, UM, RISKING LEGAL PROCEDURES AND NEGOTIATIONS OR, UM, THE POSITIONS OF THE CITY IN DOING SO. SO I, I WOULD RESPECTFULLY, UM, REQUEST THAT WE ARE ABLE TO MOVE FORWARD ON THOSE PRESENTATIONS SO THAT THE PUBLIC UNDERSTANDS WHAT'S GOING ON, WHAT THE TIMELINE IS, UH, AND I KNOW THAT CITY LEGAL IS COMFORTABLE WITH THAT AS WELL. SO I JUST WANNA EMPHASIZE THE IMPORTANCE OF THIS, UH, FOR PUBLIC DISCUSSION IN THE PROCESS. THIS ITEM, AS COUNCIL MEMBER RAMIREZ SAYS, WILL ALLOW THE CITY TO NEGOTIATE AND GO AFTER OPPORTUNITIES TO ADDRESS THE POTENTIAL LOSS OF PARKLAND TO MITIGATE FOR THAT LOSS. SO I WILL BE SUPPORTING THIS ITEM AGAIN, IT'S PRIMARILY FOR TWO UNRELATED MATTERS FOR CONDEMNATION, BUT IT IS ALSO FOR FUNDING TO CONTINUE THOSE PROCEEDINGS AND ADVOCATE ON BEHALF OF THE CITY, UM, FOR THAT PARKLAND MITIGATION. AND I'M EMPHASIZING PARKLAND MITIGATION BECAUSE WHAT WE WOULD LIKE TO SEE IS WHAT ARE WE GETTING IN RETURN THAT EITHER MAKES THE PARK WHOLE OR EVEN GREATER THAN BEFORE. UM, I THINK THAT IS VERY IMPORTANT AND I THINK WE ALL TAKE THE LOSS OF PARKLAND VERY SERIOUSLY. UH, SO I WILL BE SUPPORTING THIS, BUT LOOKING FORWARD TO THE PUBLIC PRESENTATIONS THAT ARE FORTHCOMING, UH, PERTAINING TO THIS MATTER VERY WELL. UH, COUNCIL MEMBER EVAN SHAVA. THANK YOU, MAYOR. AND I JUST WANNA MAKE IT CLEAR TO THE PUBLIC THAT WHEN THIS WAS LAID OUT, IT WAS LAID OUT RIGHT ALONGSIDE THE GOLF COURSE INFORMATION. SO I JUST WANNA BE VERY, VERY CLEAR THAT I DO NOT SUPPORT THE CHANGES WITH THE GOLF COURSE, BUT, UH, AT THIS TIME, UH, BUT I CAN SUPPORT THIS ITEM. THANK YOU. VERY GOOD. COUNCILMAN KAMAN? I FORGOT ONE OTHER QUESTION. FOR CITY LEGAL, UH, IT IS MY UNDERSTANDING, AND I'M ASKING THIS ON BEHALF OF RESIDENTS SIMILAR TO POLK STREET, RIGHT. THAT THERE WILL BE AN ADDITIONAL VOTE ON COUNCIL PERTAINING TO, UM, THE MATTER AT HAND WITH HERMAN PARK AND BEN TAUB AND THE COUNTY, AND THAT WOULD INCLUDE AN INTERLOCAL AGREEMENT THAT WOULD BE COMING TO COUNCIL. SO THIS IS NOT THE FINAL VOTE OF COUNSEL PERTAINING TO THIS MATTER, IS THAT CORRECT? YEAH. A A ANY AGREEMENT TO, UH, OBTAIN LAND OR ANY OTHER CONSIDERATION WOULD COME TO COUNCIL? THERE WILL BE A CHAPTER 26, NOT ONLY BY THE CITY, BUT ALSO BY THE COUNTY. THAT I UNDERSTAND HAS TO ALSO BLESS US. OKAY, THANK YOU. SO THERE WILL BE ADDITIONAL OPPORTUNITIES FOR COUNCIL AND THE PUBLIC'S ENGAGEMENT. THANK YOU. VERY GOOD. ALL IN FAVOR OF ITEM 47. SAY YES. THOSE MOTIONS NAY. MOTION PASSES. MEMBERS, IF THERE'S NO OBJECTION, COUNCIL [06:05:01] MEMBER JACKSON WOULD LIKE TO BE SHOWN. VOTING YES ON ITEM NUMBER TWO, YES. DOES NOT CHANGE THE OUTCOME OF THE VOTE. GOT IT. NO OBJECTION OR VOTE WILL BE RECORDED. MAKING IT 12. 12 TO THREE. THANK YOU, SIR. NEXT, AND NOW BACK TO THE PUBLIC HEARING. ITEM NUMBER THREE. ITEM THREE IS A PUBLIC HEARING TO PROVIDE A RESOLUTION OF NO OBJECTION FOR TWO APPLICANTS SEEKING 4% HOUSING TAX CREDITS. ATION FROM HOUSING. COME ON DOWN. OH MY GOD. POOR GUY. HE BEEN WAITING ALL THIS TIME. SORRY SIR. . NOT A PROBLEM. I WAS GONNA SAY GOOD MORNING. BUT, UH, IT'S GOOD AFTERNOON, MAYOR AND UH, COUNCIL MEMBERS. MY NAME IS PAUL YDI. MARK, I'M WITH A HOUSING AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT. UM, TODAY I'M HERE TO PRESENT TWO IMPORTANT AFFORDABLE HOUSING PROJECTS THAT ARE SEEKING A RESOLUTION OF NO OBJECTION FROM THE CITY COUNCIL. THE NAME OF THE PROJECTS ARE IDLE WILD APARTMENTS AND LAFAYETTE VILLAGE AS PART OF THE 4% HOUSING TAX CREDIT PROCESS ADMINISTERED BY T-D-A-C-A. AND THE STATE REQUIRES THAT LOCAL GOVERNING BODY ISSUE A RESOLUTION OF NO OBJECTION. UH, THIS RESOLUTION IS NOT A REQUEST FOR CITY'S FUNDS. IT IS SIMPLY AN ACKNOWLEDGEMENT THAT THE CITY COUNCIL HAS BEEN INFORMED OF THE PROJECT AND DOES NOT OBJECT TO USE OF THE FINANCING TOOLS WITHIN THE CITY LIMITS. UH, THE STEPS WILL ALLOW DEVELOPER TO MOVE FORWARD IN SECURING 4% NON-COMPETITIVE HOUSING TAX CREDIT TO IMPROVE THESE PROPERTIES AND MAINTAIN THE LONG-TERM AFFORDABLE AFFORDABILITY FOR OUR LOCAL FAMILIES. UH, BOTH OF THESE DEVELOPMENTS ARE DESIGNED TO PROVIDE MUCH NEEDED AFFORDABLE HOUSING OPTIONS FOR THE FAMILIES IN HOUSTON. WITH YOUR APPROVAL, WE CAN PROCEED WITH THE ACQUISITION AND REHABILITATION OF THESE PROPERTIES TO BETTER SERVE OUR COMMUNITY. UM, THANK YOU. ANY QUESTIONS? IF NOT THE PUBLIC WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK TO IT, IF NOT, NOT. IS THERE A MOTION TO ACCEPT TA MOVE TO CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING. SECOND. MOTION MADE. AND SECOND TO CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING. ALL IN FAVOR? SAY YES. THOSE OPPOSED NAY. THANK YOU, SIR. THANK. THERE WE GO. OH, [CONSENT AGENDA] CONSENT. MR. SECRETARY, YOU WANNA MOVE TO CONSENT? ALRIGHT. SINCE YOUR LIST WAS DISTRIBUTED, UM, ALL ITEMS LABELED NOT IN HAVE BEEN RECEIVED UNDER THE MISCELLANEOUS CATEGORY. IS THERE A MOTION FOR ITEMS SEVEN AND EIGHT? SEVEN AND EIGHT. SEVEN AND EIGHT. CAST SIX. SAY TO MOVE SECOND. MOTIONS MADE. AND SECOND. ALL IN FAVOR? SAY YES. THOSE OPPOSED NAY. MOTION PASSES UNDER THE ACCEPT WORK CATEGORY, IS THERE A MOTION FOR ITEMS 9, 12, 13, AND 15 CASTEX A T MOVED. I SECOND. ALL IN FAVOR? SAY YES. THOSE OPPOSED NAY. MOTION PASSES UNDER THE PURCHASING AND TABULATION OF BIDS CATEGORY. ITEM 27 HAS BEEN REMOVED FOR SEPARATE CONSIDERATION. IS THERE A MOTION ON THE BALANCE? CASTEX TATUM, MOVE SECOND. MOTION MADE IN SECOND. ALL IN FAVOR SAY YES. AS OPPOSED TO NAY MOTION PASSES [ORDINANCES] UNDER THE ORDINANCES CATEGORY. ITEM 32 HAS BEEN PULLED BY THE ADMINISTRATION WILL NOT BE CONSIDERED. ITEMS 35 AND 42 HAVE BEEN REMOVED FOR SEPARATE CONSIDERATION. IS THERE A VOTE ON THE BALANCE? ALL IN FAVOR SAY YES. THOSE OPPOSED NAY. MOTION PASSES, [CONSIDERATION OF MATTERS REMOVED FROM CONSENT AGENDA] ITEMS REMOVED FOR SEPARATE CONSIDERATION. ITEM 10, IS THERE A MOTION, UH, ON BEHALF OF COUNCIL MEMBER THOMAS? UH, I'D LIKE TO, UH, TAG THAT ITEM. ITEM 10 IS TAGGED. TAGGED. NEXT ITEM 11. IS THERE MOTION CASTEX TATUM, MOVE SECOND. ALL IN FAVOR SAY AYE. THOSE OPPOSED NAY. MOTION PASSES. ITEM 14, IS THERE MOTION CASTEX. TATUM, [06:10:01] MOVE. SECOND. MOTION MADE. AND SECOND. ALL IN FAVOR? SAY YES. THOSE OPPOSED NAY. MOTION PASSES. ITEM 16. IS THERE A MOTION CAST? NEXT? STATE A MOVE. SECOND. ALL IN FAVOR? SAY YES. THOSE OPPOSED NAY. MOTION PASSES. ITEM 27. IS THERE A MOTION? A MOVE? I SECOND. MOTION MADE. AND SECOND. ALL IN FAVOR? SAY YES. THOSE OPPOSED NAY. MOTION PASSES. ITEM 35 IS AN ORDINANCE. JUST NEED A VOTE. ALL IN FAVOR, AL. COUNCIL MEMBER ALCORN. THANK YOU MAYOR. AND, AND I'M DEFINITELY EXCITED ABOUT RENOVATIONS AT BARK AND WHAT WE HAVE PLANNED THERE. EVERYBODY THAT'S BEEN OVER THERE KNOWS THAT, THAT THOSE BUILDINGS NEED A LOT OF HELP. THERE WAS A, UM, THIS IS A TOTAL $16 MILLION APPROPRIATION. THERE WAS A BOND IN 2022 FOR 47 MILLION FOR OUR BARK FACILITIES. AND, UM, IT'S MY UNDERSTANDING THAT PERHAPS A SECOND LOCATION IS BEING CONSIDERED FOR THE, THE REMAINING ABOUT TH THIS WILL TAKE US SOME OF THE MONEY, BUT THERE'LL BE ABOUT 30 MILLION LEFT. UM, AND IS THERE ANY, ARE THERE ANY DETAILS THAT CAN BE SHARED ABOUT THAT OR JUST LOOKING FOR WHAT WOULD PROBABLY BE CONCEPTUALIZED AS AN ADOPTION? MM-HMM . UH, AREA. CONTINUE THE EXISTING SITE WITH THESE MONIES FOR THE CARE AND WELFARE OF ANIMALS. CERTAINLY SICK, UH, DANGEROUS ANIMALS, BUT THEN EITHER GET, WE'RE LOOKING, THEY'RE LOOKING AT A NUMBER OF SITES OKAY. THAT THE PUBLIC AND AND INTERESTED PARTIES WOULD ACCESS EASILY. SO THAT'S WHAT, BUT THAT'S, THAT'S THE IDEA THAT THIS SECOND LOCATION WILL BE FOR ADOPTIONS FOR YES. FOR PUBLIC FACING ADOPTION. GOT IT. THANK YOU. SURE. I THINK, I THINK IT'S A GREAT MODEL. OKAY. JUST NEED A VOTE. ALL IN FAVOR SAY YES. THOSE OPPOSED NAY. MOTION PASSES. ITEM 42 IS IN ORDINANCE. JUST NEED A VOTE. ALL IN FAVOR SAY YES. THOSE OPPOSED NAY. MOTION PASSES. ITEM 45. IS THERE A MOTION CAST? SIX. STATE A MOVE. SECOND. MOTION MADE. AND SECOND. ALL IN FAVOR? SAY YES. AS OPPOSED TO MOTION PASSES. THIS COMPLETES THE ITEMS ON THE AGENDA. THANK YOU MEMBERS FOR PRODUCTIVE MORNING AND EARLY AFTERNOON. AND, UH, WE STAND ADJOURNED. YOU DON'T WANT US TO HAVE NOTHING TO SAY TODAY, HUH? ? JUST Y'ALL [NON CONSENT - MATTERS TO BE PRESENTED BY COUNCIL MEMBERS] CAN HAVE POP OFF JACKSONS FIRST. OH, THIS WILL BE A REAL INTERESTING, I HAVE AN, I HAVE AN ANNOUNCEMENT. , YOU GO ON COUNCIL. YEAH. THANK YOU MARY. GO AHEAD, POP OFF. YEAH, I JUST NEED TO ANNOUNCE TOMORROW WE WILL BE CELEBRATING THREE YEARS OF OUR BE SUCCESSFUL COMMUNITY CAPACITY BUILDING INITIATIVE, UM, WITH A SPECIAL FOCUS ON ONE OF OUR TOP PRIORITIES, AND THAT IS CONNECTING RESIDENTS TO GOOD PAYING JOBS. SO JOIN US TOMORROW, 10:00 AM TO 2:00 PM WE'LL BE AT FRANK SEALS GYM, LOCATED AT TIDWELL PARK. WHAT ABOUT YOU? UM, 97 20 SPALDING STREET. UM, THE JOB FAIR, WE'LL HAVE FOOD DOOR PRIZES. MUSIC DRINKS IS GONNA BE A FAMILY FUND, BUT MOST IMPORTANTLY, WE'D BE ABLE TO CONNECT PEOPLE TO JOBS. I WANT TO THANK INTEGRA FOR THEIR PARTNERSHIP. THEY'VE BEEN DOING A REALLY GREAT JOB, UM, WITH CONNECTING OUR RESIDENTS TO JOBS, GOOD PAYING JOBS, YOU KNOW, AS I KEEP SAYING, JOBS, JOB JOBS. AND SO IF YOU'RE LOOKING FOR A JOB, COME ON OUT. WE GOT SOME JOBS FOR YOU. SO THANK YOU . HAVE A NICE DAY. THANK YOU. MAYOR PROTE, CAST SIX STATE. I'LL SAVE, UH, MY COMMENTS UNTIL NEXT WEEK. BUT DO WANT TO, UH, LET EVERYONE KNOW THAT WE ARE GOING TO RESCHEDULE THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE MEETING THAT WAS SCHEDULED FOR TODAY IN, UH, 25 MINUTES. UH, WE'LL, WE'LL PUT OUT THE NEW DATE. GREAT VICE MAYOR PRO, TIM PECK. PASS MY GOOD FRIEND. COUNCILMAN MARTINEZ. THANK YOU, MAYOR. UH, I JUST HAVE ONE AND I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT TO SHARE WITH EVERYONE. I WANNA THANK YOU FOR YOUR CONSISTENT COMMUNICATION ON THIS ONE. UH, MAYOR, UH, UNITE HERE. THE HOTEL WORKERS AT HILTON REACHED AN AGREEMENT. UM, IT WAS A GREAT, UM, GREAT VICTORY. IT WAS ACTUALLY EMOTIONAL AS WELL, MAYOR. UM, I WAS ABLE TO BE WITH THEM AT THE PRESS CONFERENCE AND YOU KNOW IT, I KNOW SOMETIMES WE, WE THINK OF, UM, YOU KNOW, MAYBE $4 IS NOT MUCH, BUT AS WE'RE TALKING ABOUT TAX RATE AND INCREASING RENT AND INSURANCE, UH, THESE HOTEL WORKERS ARE VERY APPRECIATIVE OF THAT AGREEMENT. I WANT TO THANK THE HILTON AMERICAS. UH, I WANNA THANK UNITE HERE, LEADERSHIP, UH, [06:15:01] WILLIE GONZALEZ AS WELL. AND AGAIN, JUST WANNA APPRECIATE, I KNOW YOU TOLD ME TO HAVE FAITH IN THE PROCESS. I DID. UM, AND WITH A COUPLE OF NUDGES, I THINK WE WERE ABLE TO SEE SOMETHING REALLY GOOD FOR EVERYONE. THANK YOU FOR DEMONSTRATING LEADERSHIP. AND WILLIE DID A OUTSTANDING JOB AND WE'RE MOVING FORWARD WITH A, WITH A GOOD CONTRACT. THEY ARE VERY DESERVING. UH, COUNCIL MEMBER SHABA, I'LL MAKE IT QUICK. UH, THANK YOU MAYOR, UH, THE KINDER FOUNDATION, UH, H PART FOR YOUR SHARED COMMITMENT TO PRESERVING THE EMANCIPATION PARK AND FOR THAT EXPANSION. AND SO, UH, WE ARE VERY EXCITED ABOUT IT. UM, AND SO I'LL, UH, THANK RAMON MANNING. KENNETH ALLEN, AND CERTAINLY MRS. JACQUELINE BOSTIC, UH, THE GREAT GRANDDAUGHTER OF, UH, THE REVEREND JACK YATES. AND YOU ALL KNOW HIM, JY FOR LIFE. AND SO JUST ALWAYS WANNA LIFT HER UP AND HER FAMILY. I WANNA, UM, SAY THAT I DID JOIN SENATOR BORIS MILES ON SATURDAY AT THE FAMILY HOME WORKSHOP, PROTECTING THE FAMILY HOME. I WANNA THANK BRANDON COFIELD, OUR PUBLIC PROBATE ADMINISTRATOR, MICHAEL CROCKETT, A ESTATE PLANNER, UH, THE CITY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE, HARRIS COUNTY CLERK, TAX OFFICE AND ENGINEERING DEPARTMENT. IT'S VERY IMPORTANT THAT PEOPLE HAVE THEIR AFFAIRS AND ORDER IN WRITING SO THAT YOU CAN PRESERVE YOUR FAMILIES AFTER YOU ARE GONE. AND THEN FINALLY, I WANNA HIGHLIGHT THAT THIS WEEKEND WILL BE THE HOMECOMING OF THE TEXAS SOUTHERN UNIVERSITY. UH, THE GAME WILL BE ON TWO O'CLOCK AT THE DURLEY STADIUM, WHICH IS ON CAMPUS. SO I KNOW WE'LL HAVE A GREAT, UH, TURNOUT AND A BIG PROBLEM WITH THOSE BIKE LANES, HOPEFULLY FOR THE LAST YEAR. AND, UH, , THE HOMECOMING PARADE WILL BE AT 10:00 AM ON SATURDAY. SO COME OUT AND JOIN US. UH, IT'S ALWAYS A WONDERFUL AND FESTIVE EVENT. AND THAT CONCLUDES WHAT'S GOING ON IN THE DISTRICT OF DESTINATION. THANK YOU. THANK YOU, MA'AM, FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP. COUNCIL MEMBER DAVIS. THANK YOU, MAYOR. I JUST WANNA REAL BRIEFLY ANNOUNCE THAT ON FRIDAY, UH, OUR OFFER WILL SEND IT OUT TO EVERYONE. UH, THE INVITE TO OUR BIO, UH, AT THE, UH, FINANCIAL SYMPOSIUM THAT WE ARE HOSTING, UH, ON FRIDAY MORNING AT THE BAYOU EVENTS CENTER. WE'VE EXTENDED THIS, UH, OUT TO EVERYONE AND WE WILL CONTINUE TO SEND IT OUT. SKIPPING THROUGH SOME OF THE OTHER PRELIMINARY ANNOUNCEMENTS WE HAPPEN TO HAVE OUR MAYOR GOING TO BE THE, UH, OPENING AND KEYNOTE SPEAKER ALONG WITH OUR MAYOR PRO TEM, WHO WILL BE ONE OF OUR MODERATORS, UH, FOR FINANCES AND BANKS WILL BE IN ATTENDANCE, IS FREE TO THE PUBLIC. AND WE'D LOVE TO SEE YOU ALL THERE FROM 11 TO ONE O UH, NINE, I'M SORRY, 9:00 AM TO ONE O'CLOCK. THAT'S IT. THANK YOU. WE'RE REALLY ADJOURNED. * 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.