* This transcript was created by voice-to-text technology. The transcript has not been edited for errors or omissions, it is for reference only and is not the official minutes of the meeting. [00:00:06] COUNCIL, PLEASE COME TO ORDER. I'M [PRESENTATIONS] GONNA ASK THE MAYOR TO RESIDE SO WE CAN WELCOME OUR GUEST. THE CHAIR RECOGNIZES COUNCIL MEMBER CAYMAN FOR A PROCLAMATION TO RECOGNIZE DOMESTIC VIOLENCE AWARENESS MONTH AND ABDIS 45TH ANNIVERSARY. COUNCIL MEMBER CAYMAN. HEY, HOW ARE YOU? COUNCIL MEMBER CARTER, DO YOU WANNA STAND WITH US? YOU WANT THE WHOLE TIME? I DO. UH, COLLEAGUES, GOOD EVENING. AS, UH, OUR MAYOR PROTE INDICATED WE ARE HERE TO RECOGNIZE DOMESTIC VIOLENCE AWARENESS MONTH, UH, AS WELL AS ABDA, WHICH STANDS FOR AID TO VICTIMS OF DOMESTIC ABUSES 45TH ANNIVERSARY. I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT TO TAKE A MOMENT TO HONOR THE STRENGTH OF SURVIVORS ACROSS OUR CITY AS WE CONTINUE TO BRING ATTENTION TO THE GRAVITY OF THE SITUATION IN OUR REGION AT A PRESS CONFERENCE EARLIER THIS MONTH IN PARTNERSHIP WITH ABDA. AND I APPRECIATE EVERYONE THAT WAS THERE. AND IN PARTNERSHIP WITH CLEAR CHANNEL, UM, AND MAISHA COULTER, THE CEO, UM, OF ABDA MADE SURE WE ALL REMINDED THE COMMUNITY THAT NEARLY ONE THIRD OF ALL HOMICIDES IN OUR CITY, ONE THIRD ARE RELATED TO DOMESTIC VIOLENCE. WITHOUT SOLUTIONS TO ADDRESSING DOMESTIC VIOLENCE, WE WILL NOT ADDRESS OUR VIOLENT CRIME CHALLENGES IN THE CITY OF HOUSTON. AND FOR EVERY HOMICIDE THERE IS, THERE ARE HUNDREDS IF AND THOUSANDS MORE THAT MAY NOT HAVE DIED, BUT HAVE SUFFERED AND BEEN INJURED AT THE HANDS OF A DOMESTIC ABUSER. I ALSO WANT TO EMPHASIZE THAT REPORTING IS DOWN RIGHT NOW, BUT THAT DOESN'T MEAN THAT IT'S NOT HAPPENING. IT MEANS MORE VICTIMS AND SURVIVORS ARE AFRAID TO COME FORWARD AND ARE BEING FORCED INTO THE SHADOWS. SO IT'S CRITICAL THAT WE NOT ONLY RECOGNIZE TODAY, BUT WE ALL DO OUR PART TO DESTIGMATIZE DOMESTIC VIOLENCE, TO SHARE OUT RESOURCES AND PARTNER WITH INCREDIBLE ORGANIZATIONS LIKE ABDA THAT STARTED OUT LITERALLY WORKING OUT OF A BROOM CLOSET AND TODAY SERVES THOUSANDS AND THOUSANDS OF FAMILIES GET THE LEGAL SUPPORT THAT THEY NEED, NEED, UH, AS WELL AS INTERVENTION PROGRAMS. SO I'M PLEASED TO PRESENT THIS, WHEREAS WHAT BEGAN IN 1980 IS AN ALL VOLUNTEER LEGAL PROJECT. ABDA HAS GROWN INTO A ROBUST HOUSTON NONPROFIT ORGANIZATION THAT TODAY EMPLOYS NINE ATTORNEY PARALEGAL TEAMS, DELIVERS ESSENTIAL COUNSELING AND PREVENTION PROGRAMS, AND SERVES COMMUNITIES ACROSS HARRIS, FORT BEND, AND SURROUNDING COUNTIES. ABDA HAS BEEN A TRAILBLAZER IN BUILDING THE SYSTEMS THAT NOW SAFEGUARD SURVIVORS FROM PIONEERING THE FIRST ACCREDITED BATTERING INTERVENTION AND PREVENTION PROGRAM IN TEXAS TO HELPING ESTABLISH HARRIS COUNTY'S FIRST DOMESTIC VIOLENCE COURT, THE DOMESTIC VIOLENCE COORDINATING COUNCIL, AND THE CITY'S FIRST DOMESTIC VIOLENCE HIGH RISK TEAM. THROUGHOUT ITS HOLISTIC APPROACH, ABDA PROVIDES LIFE-SAVING LEGAL AID, COUNSELING AND OUTREACH, WHILE ALSO TRAINING LAW ENFORCEMENT, HEALTH PROFESSIONALS, SCHOOLS AND UNIVERSITIES TO PREVENT CYCLES OF ABUSE AND FOSTER SAFER COMMUNITIES. ABDA SERVES MORE THAN 30,000 CLIENTS ANNUALLY, SUPPORTING NEARLY 7,000 SURVIVORS AND THEIR CHILDREN THROUGH LEGAL ADVOCACY, REACHING THOUSANDS OF YOUTH THROUGH PREVENTION PROGRAMS, AND EXPANDING AWARENESS TO COUNTLESS OTHERS THROUGH COMMUNITY PARTNERSHIPS. THE CITY OF HOUSTON RECOGNIZES ABDA FOR 45 YEARS OF LEADERSHIP, COMPASSION, AND INNOVATION IN THE EFFORT TO END DOMESTIC VIOLENCE ONCE AND FOR ALL EMPOWERING SURVIVORS, HOLDING ABUSERS ACCOUNTABLE AND STRENGTHENING OUR COMMUNITIES FOR EVERYONE. MAYOR, THANK YOU. COUNCILMAN CAYMAN. UH, EVA DOES THE LORD WORK THAT PLAIN? THANK YOU. DEPENDING ON US, I'LL BE VERY PERSONAL AND SAY MY FAMILY FORCED AT SEVEN, SO I KNOW WHAT VERBAL ABUSE FAMILY VIOLENT SOUNDS LIKE, SO IT'S PHYSICAL, IT'S DANGEROUS, BUT IT CAN ALSO BE JUST YEARS OF ABUSE, VERBALLY BULLYING [00:05:01] AND MISTREATMENT. AND I WANT TO PUBLICLY SAY WE DON'T CARE IN THE CITY OF HOUSTON WHAT YOUR IMMIGRATION STATUS IS. CALL 9 1 1 HPD DOES NOT CARE YOUR IMMIGRATION STATUS. IF YOU'RE SUFFERING FROM DOMESTIC ABUSE, LET THAT GO OUT LOUD AND YOU USE IT IN YOUR WORK. YOU HAVE ANY DIFFICULTIES YOU CALL ME. BUT THAT SAID, THEREFORE, I JOHN WHITMEYER, MAYOR OF THE CITY OF HOUSTON, HEREBY PROCLAIM OCTOBER 8TH, 2025 IS AFTER DATE IN THE CITY OF HOUSTON. CONGRATULATIONS. THANK YOU, MAYOR. AND THANK YOU. COUNCIL MEMBER CAYMAN, AS WELL AS COUNCIL MEMBER, UH, CARTER, WHO WAS A PREVIOUS BOARD MEMBER OF ABDIS. UM, WE ARE GRATEFUL FOR THIS PROCLAMATION AND ACKNOWLEDGEMENT OF THE 45 YEARS OF WORK AND LABOR THAT WE PUT INTO SERVING SURVIVORS OF DOMESTIC ABUSE. UM, HERE WITH ME IS ONE OF OUR BOARD MEMBERS, MARK RUSSELL, OUR MANAGING ATTORNEY AT THE HOUSTON OFFICE. THERESA TIO, OUR DIRECTOR OF MARKETING AND PUBLIC PUBLICITY, ELIZABETH GALLANT AND OUR DIRECTOR OF DEVELOPMENT, KAREN, UH, MC WATER. AND WE AGAIN, JUST THANK YOU FOR THIS ACKNOWLEDGEMENT AND WE CONTINUE TO DO WE COMMIT TO CONTINUING TO DO THE WORK THAT WE KNOW IS SO DESPERATELY NEEDED BY SURVIVORS IN OUR COMMUNITY. SAY, SAY WHERE YOU CAN GET HELP. YES. UM, WE ARE LOCATED, OUR MAIN OFFICE IS LOCATED RIGHT HERE IN DOWNTOWN HOUSTON. OUR NUMBER IS 7 1 3 2 2 4 9 9 1 1. AND AGAIN, YOU CAN REACH US ONLINE AS WELL@WWWAVDA.ORG. THANK YOU SO MUCH. THANK YOU. CONGRATULATIONS. CHAIR RECOGNIZES COUNCIL MEMBER MARTINEZ FOR A PROCLAMATION TO RECOGNIZE TEXAS MUNICIPAL COURTS WEEK. THANK YOU MAYOR PROAM. IF I CAN HAVE PRESIDING JUDGE DELI T SANTOS COME UP AS WELL TODAY, WE PROUDLY RECOGNIZE MUNICIPAL COURTS WEEK TAKING PLACE NOVEMBER 3RD THROUGH THE SEVENTH, 2025, HONORING THE MUNICIPAL COURTS DEPARTMENT FOR HIS CONTINUED COMMITMENT TO PUBLIC SAFETY. SERV AND SERVICE MCD PROVIDES FAIR AND EFFICIENT ACCESS TO JUSTICE, ENFORCES CITY ORDINANCES AND TRAFFIC LAWS, AND WORKS TO BUILD PUB PUBLIC TRUST IN THE JUDICIAL SYSTEM THROUGH COMMUNITY OUTREACH, EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS LIKE TEEN COURT AND PARTNERSHIPS THAT PROMOTE SAFETY AND CIVIC ENGAGEMENT. MCD PLAYS A VITAL ROLE IN ENHANCING THE QUALITY OF LIFE OF HOUSTONIANS. WE EXTEND OUR GRATITUDE TO MORE THAN 200 DEDICATED JUDGES, CLERKS AND STAFF WHO PROF WHOSE PROFESSIONALISM AND DEDICATION KEEP OUR CITY COURT RUNNING WITH INTEGRITY AND EXCELLENCE. AND SO WHEREAS FROM NOVEMBER 3RD THROUGH THE SEVENTH, 2025, THE CITY OF HOUSTON MUNICIPAL COURTS DEPARTMENT WILL BE RECOGNIZED ON MUNICIPAL COURTS WEEK FOR ITS CONTINUED SERVICE IN PRESERVING PUBLIC SAFETY AND ENHANCING QUALITY OF LIFE FOR HOUSTONIANS. AND WHEREAS MCD CONDUCTS OUTREACH PROGRAMS TO PROMOTE PUBLIC SAFETY THROUGH ITS INITIATIVE AS MANY COURT COURT CLINICS, COURT TOURS, AND ITS PARTNERSHIP WITH HOUSTON POLICE DEPARTMENT ON RAISING AWARENESS ABOUT ALCOHOL AND DISTRACTED DRIVING. MCDS TEEN COURT PROGRAM LAUNCHED IN 2012, HAS GROWN FROM 15 TO MORE THAN A HUNDRED STUDENTS PARTICIPATE, OFFERING HOUSTON'S YOUTH MEANINGFUL OPPORTUNITIES TO CIVIC ENGAGEMENT AND LEADERSHIP AND DEVELOP LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT. AND WHEREAS ON ITS IMPORTANT OCCASION, THE CITY OF HOUSTON COMMENCES THE MUNICIPAL COURTS DEPARTMENT AND ALL ITS EMPLOYEES FOR THE PROFE, FOR THEIR PROFESSIONALISM, DEDICATION, AND PUBLIC SERVICE, AND ENCOURAGES ALL HOUSTONIANS TO JOIN IN RECOGNIZING THEIR VITAL CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE CITY, TO OUR CITY. THANK COUNCILMAN MARTINEZ FOR ALLOWING US TO RECOGNIZE OUR CITY EMPLOYEE, THE LEADERSHIP, UH, OUR COURT SYSTEM IS ONE OF OUR VITAL SERVICES FOR QUALITY OF LIFE ISSUES. AND, UH, AS YOU KNOW, I PRIDE MYSELF IN THE APPOINTMENTS I'VE MADE. AND NONE OR BETTER EXAMPLE OF THE PROFESSIONALISM, THE PASSION TO GET IT DONE. BEING CREATIVE IN OUR MUNICIPAL COURT BUILDING IS A LITTLE LESS THAN DESIRABLE. [00:10:01] I KNOW THAT WHEN I'VE SWORN IN, I KNEW THAT THERE WERE FOUR COURTROOMS STILL BOARDED UP FROM HARVEY FLOODING. SO WHEN THE PROCESS OF TRYING TO FIND A NEW LOCATION AND A NEW BUILDING TO HELP THEM, MORALE OF OUR EMPLOYEES AND YOUR TEAM, AND ALSO CITY PARTICIPANTS, OUR CLIENTS BEST, BEST SOLUTION IS DON'T GET PULLED IN TO THE COURT SYSTEM. BUT, UH, THINGS DO HAPPEN, BUT WE'RE TREATING FOLKS RIGHT WITH TEEN COURT. I'VE HEARD YOU MENTION IT. THE ABILITY TO, TO LOOK AT PEOPLE'S FINANCES, FINANCES AND WORK WITH 'EM TO PAY THEIR FINES. AND SO IT'S JUST A GOOD DAY FOR THE MUNICIPAL COURT SYSTEM TO BE HERE. THEREFORE, I, JOHN WHITMORE, MAYOR OF THE CITY OF HOUSTON, HEREBY PROCLAIM NOVEMBER 3RD THROUGH THE SEVENTH. 2025 IS MUNICIPAL COURTS WEEK IN HOUSTON, TEXAS. THANK YOU, JUDGE. THANK YOU SO MUCH. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. AND, UH, OUR PRESIDING JUDGE SANTOS, UH, WE'LL SAY A FEW WORDS, BUT BEFORE THAT, MAYOR, WHENEVER HE SAID THAT IN SELECTING A, UH, YOUR APPOINTMENTS, JUST KNOW THAT FOR 10 YEARS I WAS AN ALTAR BOY AT BLESSED SACRAMENT AND SHE WAS A CONSISTENT, UH, ATTENDEE AT CHURCH ON SUNDAYS AT 10:00 AM SO I CAN VOUCH FOR HER FOR SURE. , ARE YOU SAYING SHE DID A GOOD JOB OR NOT QUITE AS GOOD SHE DID AS SHE NEEDED, OR WHAT AN AMAZING JOB. AMAZING JOB AT CHURCH. A GOOD PEOPLE, NO DOUBT. THANK YOU. THANK YOU MAYOR WHITMAR. THANK YOU. COUNCIL MEMBER MARTINEZ. AND THANK YOU TO ALL CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS. I'M SO EXCITED TO BE HERE TODAY TO RECOGNIZE MUNICIPAL COURT'S WEEK AND MY AMAZING STAFF THAT IS HERE TODAY. IF Y'ALL CAN PLEASE STAND UP. I WANT TO RECOGNIZE THIS IS MY LEADERSHIP TEAM OVER HERE. UM, I'M SO PROUD OF THE WORK THAT WE DO AT THE MUNICIPAL COURTS TO SERVE THE CITIZENS OF HOUSTON. THAT'S WHAT THEY'RE, WE ARE THERE TO ENSURE THAT JUSTICE IS SERVED. I LOVE THAT WE HAVE, UH, COURT SATELLITE COURTS ALL OVER HOUSTON TO HELP THE CITIZENS. WE NEED TO MAKE THEM MORE AWARE THAT THEY CAN ATTEND COURT AT SEVERAL OF THESE LOCATIONS. WE HAVE TWO COURTS THAT ARE OPEN TILL 10:00 PM TONIGHT. SO IF ANY OF Y'ALL FINISH HERE AND YOU HAVE SOMETHING YOU NEED TO TAKE CARE OF AT THE COURTHOUSE, WE'RE OPEN TO ATTEND . YEAH. SO WE'RE OPEN TILL 10 AT THE LUBBOCK LOCATION AND OUR DAIRY ASHFORD LOCATION. WOW. SO, UH, AGAIN, I OWE IT ALL TO THE HEART AND SOUL OF THE MUNICIPAL COURTS ARE THE EMPLOYEES AND THEY'RE DOING A WONDERFUL JOB. SO THANK YOU FOR RECOGNIZING US TODAY. I'M VERY PROUD TO BE THE DIRECTOR AND PRESIDING JUDGE. THANK YOU, MAYOR. YOU BET. THANK YOU, MAYOR. WE DO HAVE A COMMENT FROM COUNCIL MEMBER CAYMAN. NO, MAYOR. I THINK YOU'RE ABOUT TO DO IT. I DON'T WANNA GET AHEAD OF YOU, MAYOR. I JUST WAS GONNA ASK FOR ALL THE STAFF TO STAND UP TO BE RECOGNIZED, BUT I THINK YOU'RE ABOUT TO BRING HIM. WE'RE AHEAD. THANK YOU. YEAH, SHE DID COME ON UP. SHE DO. AND WE DO HAVE TEEN COURT TOMORROW NIGHT AT OUR COURT IF ANYBODY WANTS TO COME AND VISIT. SO THIS IS I KNOW, I KNOW, I KNOW. NEXT THE CHAIR RECOGNIZES MAYOR WHITMEYER FOR A PROCLAMATION RECOGNIZING BRIAN EDWARDS FOR HIS LEADERSHIP THROUGH THE HEAT WAVE HEROES COMMUNITY INITIATIVE. BECAUSE EVERYONE KNOWS I DON'T COME ON IN BRIAN PROCLAMATIONS TOO OFTEN, BUT WHEN I DO, I MEAN IT, UH, BRIAN EDWARDS AND HIS TEAM AT LOCAL TWO 11, UH, PROVIDED AIR CONDITIONING GENERATORS DURING OUR MOST SEVERE HEAT WAVES AND CAME TO BE KNOWN AS THE HEAT WAVES HEROES. SO IT'S WHAT MAKES HOUSTON THE GREAT CITY THAT IT IS, IS THE VOLUNTEERS AND THE PIPE FITTERS COME TOGETHER WITH ORGANIZED LABOR TO HELP NOT JUST THEIR MEMBERS, BUT ALL ESTONIANS. SO BRIAN, IT'S AN HONOR FOR ME TO RECOGNIZE YOU TODAY. BRIAN EDWARDS, BUSINESS MANAGER OF UNITED ASSOCIATION, PIPEFITTERS LOCAL UNION TWO 11, IS DEDICATED TO SERVING HOUSTONIANS IN IMPROVING QUALITY OF LIFE THROUGH HIS COMMITMENT TO ORGANIZE LABOR WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT AND STRONG [00:15:01] COMMUNITY PARTNERSHIPS UNDER HIS LEADERSHIP, UNITED ASSOCIATION. LOCAL TWO 11 PARTNERED WITH COMMUNITY AND LABOR ORGANIZATIONS DURING THE SUMMER OF 2025 THROUGH THE HEAT WAVE HEROES INITIATIVE. HE AND MEMBERS DISTRIBUTED PORTABLE AIR CONDITIONERS AND SMALL GENERATORS TO ELDERLY VETERAN NEIGHBORS IN NEED AND PROVIDING AN IMMEDIATE RELIEF WHILE PROMOTING PATHWAYS TO FAMILIES SUSTAINING CAREERS IN THE SKILLED TRAITS. THE HEAT WAVE EFFORT HIGHLIGHTED BY FOX NEWS REFLECTS THE COMPASSION, PROFESSIONALISM, AND CIVIC RESPONSIBILITY THAT DEFINED HIS LEADERSHIP AND THE MISSION OF UNITED ASSOCIATION OF PIPE FITTEST. LOCAL TWO 11. THE CITY OF HOUSTON PROUDLY RECOGNIZES BRIAN EDWARDS FOR HIS DEDICATION TO THE LABOR COMMUNITY AND TO HIS FELLOW HOUSTONIANS. HIS LEADERSHIP AND THE TRADES EXTENDS BEYOND THE JOB SITE. AND WHEN WE COMMEND FOR HELPING TO BUILD STRONGER, SAFER, AND MORE CARING COMMUNITIES. THEREFORE, I, JOHN WHITMEYER, MAYOR OF THE CITY OF HOUSTON, HEREBY PROCLAIM OCTOBER 28TH, 2025 IS BRIAN EDWARDS DAY IN HOUSTON, TEXAS. THANK YOU, BRIAN. THANK YOU, SIR. APPRECIATE YOU. YES, YES. YEAH, I WOULD LIKE TO SAY THAT'S THE, UH, VERY LEAST WE CAN DO FOR THE ONES THAT FOUGHT FOR OUR FREEDOM AND THEY'RE STILL DOING IT TODAY. SO I ALSO WANT TO, UH, THANK THE HOUSTON GULF COAST BUILDING TRADES, PAUL PUENTE, UH, FOR PARTNERING UP. AND HE GOT FOX 26 INVOLVED AND ALSO GOT A, A TEAM OF, UH, UH, VETERANS THAT NEEDED HELP. SO FOX ENDED UP ASKING US IF WE HAD DO THIS EVERY SUMMER FOR ONE WEEK, FIVE DAYS, AND WE'RE GONNA DO IT EVERY YEAR. BUT I WANNA THANK DALE WITH MC THREE PROGRAM, PAUL PUENTE, HOUSTON GULF COAST BUILDING TRADES. BUT MOST IMPORTANTLY, THIS WOULD NOT HAVE BEEN POSSIBLE IF 4,600 MEMBERS HADN'T VOTED 100% TO DO THIS. SO THANK YOU TO THE MEMBERS OF PIPE'S. LOCAL TWO LETTER. COUNCIL MEMBER. COUNCIL MEMBER KAMAN. REALLY QUICK. MAYOR BRIAN, THANK YOU. AND TO THE ENTIRE LOCAL, UM, THAT'S YOUR FAMILY. THAT'S OUR FAMILY. THEY'RE SAVING LIVES. YOU ALSO HAVE YOUR FAMILY HERE AS WELL. YES. UM, AND I WANNA THANK THEM BECAUSE WHILE Y'ALL ARE OUT DOING THIS, THEY'RE BEHIND THE SCENES SUPPORTING AS WELL. UH, AND PAUL, THANK YOU FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP. UH, BUT IT'S GREAT TO HAVE YOUR ENTIRE FAMILY HERE. THANK YOU. YEAH, THANK YOU. APPRECIATE IT. YEAH. [2:00 P.M. – INVOCATION AND PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE] THIS IS FAST. MAYOR PRO TEM PECK FOR THE INVOCATION. THANK YOU, MAYOR. UM, RICKY HERNANDEZ, IF YOU COULD COME FORWARD PLEASE. RICKY IS A NATIVE HOUSTONIAN AND HE CURRENTLY LIVES IN THE SPRING BRANCH AREA AND IS THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE BRENDA AND JOHN DUNCAN, YMCA. PRIOR TO RUNNING THE Y HE WAS THE YOUTH MINISTER AT ST. ST. JEROME IN DISTRICT A FOR OVER 20 YEARS. RICKY HAS RUN OVER 100 YOUTH RETREATS ALL OVER THE CITY. AND IN NOVEMBER HE WILL BE ASSISTING IN A PRISON MINISTRY RETREAT AT HUNTSVILLE STATE PRISON. RICKY'S GREATEST ACCOMPLISHMENT IS BEING MARRIED TO YVONNE FOR 25 YEARS AND RAISING TWO GREAT KIDS, JACOB AND AUDREY. HE SAYS HE CAN BE LOUD, BUT PREFERS TO CALL IT JOYFUL NOISE, . AND MAYOR, [00:20:01] I JUST WANTED TO TAKE THIS OPPORTUNITY TO, UM, THANK HIM SO MUCH, UM, FOR ALL OF THE SERVICE THAT YOU DO IN OUR COMMUNITY AND THE YMCA ALWAYS OPENING OUR, YOUR DOORS TO OUR COMMUNITY. SO THANK YOU SO MUCH. YEAH, OF COURSE. UM, GUYS, THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME. I HAVE GREAT RESPECT FOR ALL THE THINGS THAT YOU GUYS DO, SO THANKS FOR HAVING ME OUT. AND IF THE YMCA CAN EVER DO ANYTHING FOR ANYBODY, PLEASE, PLEASE ASK. THE YMCA IS HERE TO SERVE. ALRIGHT, IF YOU DON'T MIND, WILL YOU GUYS ALL PRAY WITH ME REAL QUICK? LORD, WE THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THIS DAY. WE COME WITH SUCH GRATEFUL HEARTS. WE'RE THANKFUL FOR THE THINGS THAT WE SEE, AND WE'RE THANKFUL FOR THE THINGS THAT WE DON'T SEE. THANKFUL FOR THE THINGS THAT WE UNDERSTAND. AND AS HARD AS IT IS SOMETIMES THANKFUL FOR THE THINGS THAT WE DON'T UNDERSTAND. LORD, I WANNA PRAY FOR EVERY SINGLE PERSON IN HERE, PRAY FOR THEIR HEALTH, THEIR MENTAL HEALTH, THEIR SPIRITUAL HEALTH, THEIR FINANCIAL HEALTH, UH, THEIR PHYSICAL HEALTH, AND PRAY FOR THEM AND ALL THE THINGS THAT THEY'RE GOING THROUGH. UM, COUNCIL MEMBERS, I WANNA PRAY FOR YOUR FAMILIES. I KNOW THAT FOR YOU GUYS TO DO THE JOB THAT YOU DO, THERE MUST BE GREAT FAMILY MEMBERS SUPPORTING YOU, RIGHT? THEIR SUPPORT ALLOWS YOU TO SERVE. SO I DO WANNA PRAY FOR YOUR FAMILIES AT HOME, UM, AND JUST BE GRATEFUL FOR THEM AS THEY ALLOW YOU TO DO THIS GREAT WORK THAT YOU'RE DOING. AS WE MEET TONIGHT. LORD, I JUST PRAY THAT YOU GIVE US THE HOLY SPIRIT. THE BIBLE TALKS ABOUT GIFTS OF THE HOLY SPIRIT, WISDOM, UNDERSTANDING, COUNCIL KNOWLEDGE. I WANT TO ASK FOR THOSE THINGS AS WE BEGIN THIS MEETING. I PRAY THAT WE HAVE OPEN HEARTS AND OPEN MINDS WHEN IT'S OUR TURN TO TALK. WE SPEAK CONFIDENTLY AND CLEARLY WHEN IT'S OUR TURN TO LISTEN. WE LISTEN WITH GREAT ENTHUSIASM. I WANNA PRAY FOR THE CONSTITUENTS AND FOR THE CITY MEMBERS WHO CAME OUT. UM, I ESPECIALLY WANNA PRAY FOR THE YOUNG PEOPLE IN THE BACK. I HOPE THAT THIS INSPIRES THEM AND ENCOURAGES THEM TO BE INVOLVED IN CIVIC GOVERNMENT AND THE GREATNESS THAT IS DEMOCRACY. AND LORD, I JUST ONCE AGAIN WANNA THANK YOU FOR THE AWESOME ABILITY AND CHANCE TO SERVE. 'CAUSE LORD, WE KNOW THAT IN SERVING OTHERS, WE ARE SERVING YOU. SO BLESSED HIS TIME, BLESSED HIS PLACE. AND PLEASE BLESS THIS GREAT CITY WE CALL HOME. WE PRAY THESE THINGS IN YOUR SON'S NAME. AMEN. THANK YOU. THANK YOU GUYS. THANK YOU. PLEASE STAND FOR THE PLEDGE. I PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE, ALLEGIANCE TO FLAG OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA. AND TWO REPUBLIC FOR WHICH IT STANDS NATION, ONE NATION UNDER GOD, INDIVISIBLE, WITH LIBERTY AND JUSTICE FOR ALL. COUNCILOR CAYMAN. UH, MAYOR, I HAVE ONE PROCEDURAL MOTION. UH, I MOVE TO SUSPEND THE RULES TO MOVE KAREN KNAPP TO THE BOTTOM OF THE AGENDA LIST FOR ONE MINUTE [ROLL CALL AND ADOPT THE MINUTES OF THE PREVIOUS MEETING] HUFFMAN SECONDS. LET ME, UH, CALL THE ROLE FIRST. OH, I'M SORRY. NO, NO PROBLEM. MS. SECRETARY, YOU WANNA CALL THE ROLE? MAYOR WHITMEYER PRESENT. COUNCIL MEMBER PICK HERE. COUNCIL MEMBER JACKSON. COUNCIL MEMBER CAYMAN PRESENT. COUNCIL MEMBER EVAN SHABAZZ. COUNCIL MEMBER FLICKINGER. HERE. COUNCIL MEMBER THOMAS WILL BE ABSENT. COUNCIL MEMBER HUFFMAN PRESENT. COUNCIL MEMBER CASTILLO. HERE. COUNCIL MEMBER MARTINEZ. HERE. COUNCIL MEMBER POLLARD. HERE. COUNCIL MEMBER CASTEX TATUM. HERE. COUNCIL MEMBER RAMIREZ. HERE. COUNCIL MEMBER DAVIS. COUNCIL MEMBER CARTER PRESENT. COUNCIL MEMBER PLUMMER HERE. AND COUNCIL MEMBER ALCORN WILL BE ABSENT. NEED A MOTION TO ADOPT THE MINUTES OF OCTOBER 14TH AND 15TH AND OCTOBER 21ST AND 22ND. CASTEX TATUM, MOVE I SECOND. MOTION MADE. AND SECOND. AND ALL IN FAVOR, SAY YES. THOSE OPPOSED NA. MOTION PASSES. [PUBLIC SPEAKERS] COUNCILMAN KAMAN. THANK YOU MAYOR. CLEARLY I'M ALL OVER THE PLACE. TONIGHT I MOVE TO SUSPEND THE RULES TO MOVE KAREN KNAPP TO THE BOTTOM OF THE AGENDA LIST FOR ONE MINUTE. FOR SECOND. MOTION MADE. AND SECOND. ALL IN FAVOR? SAY YES. THOSE OPPOSED. NAME. MOTION PASSES. COUNCIL MEMBER, UH, MAYOR PROTE, CASTEX TATUM. THANK YOU MAYOR. I'D LIKE TO MOVE TO SUSPEND THE RULES TO MOVE SOPHIA CAMPOS TO FOLLOW ADAM GANOWSKI UNDER THE TWO MINUTE, UH, LIST. AND THEN FOLLOWING SOPHIA CAMPOS, I'D LIKE TO ADD JACKSON MORAN MOTION MADE. AND SECOND. ALL IN FAVOR? SAY YES. THOSE OPPOSED NAY. MOTION PASSES. COUNCIL MEMBER CASTILLO. THANK YOU MAYOR. I MOVE TO SUSPEND THE RULES TO MOVE CHRISTINE COHEN TO FOLLOW ARI ANDERSON ON THE SPEAKER'S LIST. MOTION MADE. AND SECOND AND ALL IN SAY YES. I'LL OPPOSE NAME. MOTION PASSES. COUNCILMAN PLUMMER. THANK YOU, MAYOR. I MAKE A MOTION TO SUSPEND THE RULES TO ADD HOME MY CHRISTOPHER JENKINS, DORIS BROWN, DAVID BRESSLER, AND JULIA, OR JUNIOR TO THE BOTTOM OF THE THREE MINUTE AGENDA LIST. MOTION MADE. AND A SECOND. ALL IN FAVOR? SAY YES. THOSE OPPOSED NAY. MOTION PASSES. COUNCILMAN POLLARD. THANK YOU. THANK YOU MAYOR. I'D LIKE TO MOVE TO SUSPEND THE RULES TO ADD NICHOLAS ARCOS AND ALFREDO DOMINGUEZ TO THE BOTTOM OF THE ONE MINUTE NON AGENDA [00:25:01] LIST. MOTION MAY 2ND. SECONDED. ALL IN FAVOR SAY YES. THOSE OPPOSED NAME MOTION PASSES. UM, MEMBERS AND GUESTS, WE HAVE A VERY LONG LIST OF SPEAKERS SIGNED UP TODAY BECAUSE WE HAVE MORE THAN 150 MINUTES WORTH OF SPEAKERS. THE RULES REQUIRE US TO ONLY GIVE EACH OF YOU ONE MINUTE. EVEN IF YOU SIGNED UP FOR MORE, I REGRET IT. BUT THAT IS THE RULE AND I'M GONNA DO MY VERY BEST TO FOLLOW THE RULE TONIGHT. UH, ANYTHING ELSE YOU'VE DONE BEFORE US? NO, SIR. NOT MR. SPEAKER. YOU WANNA CALL THE FIRST, UH, MR. SECRETARY? YOU WANNA CALL THE FIRST SPEAKER? CLARA BAY. OH, YOU WANNA DO YOUR INTRODUCTIONS? OKAY, WE GOOD? I'M GO AND GET, BEFORE WE CALL OUR NEXT SPEAKER, LET'S TAKE CARE OF SOME REALLY EXCITING INTRODUCTIONS. UH, MAYOR PROTE, WHY DON'T WE INTRODUCE YOUR STUDENTS? THANK YOU, MAYOR. I'D LIKE TO TAKE A POINT OF PERSONAL PRIVILEGE TO WELCOME, UH, SOME STUDENTS FROM RICE UNIVERSITY WHO ARE JOINING US IN THE AUDIENCE TODAY. UH, THESE STUDENTS ARE MASTERS LEVEL, UH, STUDENTS WHO ARE TAKING A POLICY 1 0 1 CLASS. UH, A COUPLE OF THEM HAVE SIGNED UP TO SPEAK ON SOME TOPICS THAT ARE PRETTY IMPORTANT TO THEM, BUT I'D LIKE TO, UM, JUST ASK THEM TO STAND AND WELCOME THEM TO THEIR CITY HALL. THANK Y'ALL. AND I HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY AND PLEASURE TO INTRODUCE OUR YOUTH CITY YOUTH ADVISORS GATHERED HERE TODAY, UH, UNDER DIRECTION OF OUR DIRECTOR OF EDUCATION, AVERA. SO WHAT I ASK THOSE STUDENTS, THEY'RE FROM SURROUNDING SCHOOLS AND, UH, PRETTY EXCITING DISCUSSION WITH 'EM EARLIER. THANK Y'ALL FOR BEING HERE. AND PLEASE STAND. THANK Y'ALL. COME BACK AND SEE US NOW. UH, MR. SECRETARY CLAIRE BAY TORINA LEWIS. I KNOW SHE BEN MCFALL TO BE FOLLOWED BY ADAM GANOWSKI. GOOD EVENING MAYOR WHITMEYER AND COUNCIL MEMBERS. MY NAME IS BENJAMIN MCFALL. I CURRENTLY SERVE AS THE VICE PRESIDENT OF GOVERNMENT AFFAIRS FOR THE HOUSTON APARTMENT ASSOCIATION. OUR MEMBERS STRONGLY SUPPORT PROVIDING SAFE, AFFORDABLE HOUSING TO OUR RESIDENTS, BUT WE HAVE SERIOUS CONCERNS WITH COUNCIL MEMBER PLUMBERS, APARTMENT INSPECTION ORDINANCE IN ITS CURRENT FORM WITH MORE THAN 718,000 UNITS AND OVER 3,300 APARTMENT COMMUNITIES. THE HOUSTON DEPARTMENT ASSOCIATION REPRESENTS 92% OF HOUSTON AND SURROUNDING AREA APARTMENTS. THE HOUSTON DEPART ASSOCIATION IS PROUD TO BE THE LARGEST APARTMENT ASSOCIATION IN THE COUNTRY. WE RESPECTFULLY ASK THAT THIS PROPOSAL BE REFERRED BACK TO COMMITTEE OR TO THE ADMINISTRATION FOR FURTHER REVIEW. CITY STAFF BEGAN WORKING ON THIS PROPOSED ORDINANCE OVER THE SUMMER, AND WE FEEL SHOULD HAVE, SHOULD BE PROVIDED MORE TIME TO FINISH IT WITH STAKEHOLDER INPUT, INCLUDING THAT OF THE HOUSTON DEPARTMENT ASSOCIATION IN ITS CURRENT FORM, WE CANNOT SUPPORT THIS ORDINANCE. SOME OF OUR CONCERNS ARE CENTERED AROUND THE ORDINANCE, INCLUDING DUPLICATIVE REGISTRATION FOR HIGH RISK RENTAL BUILDINGS, RELYING ON POTENTIALLY UNVERIFIED 3 1 1 COMPLAINTS TO IDENTIFY THEM. AND IGNORING PROPERTY SIZE. FOR EXAMPLE, UNDER THIS ORDINANCE, A 400 UNIT COMPLEX WOULD BE TREATED THE SAME AS A 20 UNIT ONE. THIS APPROACH SEEMED FLAWED IN OUR OPINION TIME. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. HOLD ON ONE SECOND. OH, QUESTIONS. COUNCILOR MARTINEZ. THANK YOU, MAYOR. UH, BRIAN, WERE YOU DONE? YEAH. UH, NOT QUITE, BUT IF YOU WANNA WRAP UP AND THEN YEAH, SURE. I HAVE A QUESTION. UM, I HAD JUST TWO THINGS TO ADD. SAID FURTHERMORE, THIS ORDINANCE REQUIRES PUBLIC NOTICE OF PENDING PROPERTY SALES, RAISING CONFIDENTIALITY, AND ENFORCEMENT CONCERNS. OFTEN OUR PROPERTY SALES ARE KEPT CONFIDENTIAL, SO THIS REQUIREMENT IS PROBLEMATIC FOR OUR OWNER MEMBERS. AND THEN AGAIN, UH, WE RESPECTFULLY ASK THE PROPOSED TO BE REFERRED BACK TO COMMITTEE OR TO THE ADMINISTRATION FOR FURTHER REVIEW. WE SUPPORT THE CONCEPT OF THIS ORDINANCE, AND WE WANT TO COLLABORATE WITH CITY COUNCIL AND THE ADMINISTRATION TO MAKE AN ORDINANCE THAT'S FAIR, EFFECTIVE, AND ENFORCEABLE. I JUST WANNA SAY, UH, THANKS FOR COMING. SO I SIGNED ON ON THIS PROP A BECAUSE IN DISTRICT I, IN THE NORTHEAST AND IN THE HOBBY AREA, WE'VE HAD, UH, CHALLENGES WITH SOME LARGER APARTMENT COMPLEXES. UM, I KNOW I HAVEN'T HAD CONVERSATIONS WITH YOU SPECIFICALLY. SURE. WE DID RECEIVE AN EMAIL RECENTLY FROM YOU. MM-HMM. UH, FROM YOU ALL. UM, I'D LIKE TO HAVE MORE OF THESE CONVERSATIONS. UM, IF, IF IT WAS REFERRED BACK TO COMMITTEE OR TO ADMINISTRATION, HOW DO YOU SEE YOURSELF PARTICIPATING IN, IN, UH, ENSURING THAT WE DO SEE SOMETHING COME OUT ULTIMATELY? ABSOLUTELY. THAT WOULD BE HELPFUL. ABSOLUTELY. [00:30:01] I THINK WE HAVE COUNTLESS MEMBERS, UH, WITH, YOU KNOW, DECADES OF EXPERIENCE IN THE PROPERTY MANAGEMENT AND OWNER OF APARTMENT, UM, COMPLEXES THAT WOULD LOVE TO SIT DOWN AND HAVE A CONVERSATION ABOUT HOW DO WE IDENTIFY THE PROPERTIES THAT WE REALLY WANT TO GO AFTER. OKAY. UM, BECAUSE I THINK, YOU KNOW, WE, WE HAD, AGAIN, WE AGREE WITH THIS IN CONCEPT. UM, THERE ARE COMPLEXES THAT ARE NOT RUN WELL AND THEY GIVE A BAD RAP TO THE ENTIRE INDUSTRY AS A WHOLE. UM, SO HAVING MEETINGS WITH YOU GUYS ONE-ON-ONE, BRINGING SOME OF OUR MEMBERS, UH, TO SIT DOWN AND HAVE THOSE CONVERSATIONS TO FIGURE OUT HOW WE ACTUALLY DO THAT, I THINK WOULD, WE WOULD DEFINITELY COME AND, UM, SIT DOWN WITH YOU GUYS. I LOOK FORWARD TO REACHING OUT TO YOU AS WELL. ABSOLUTELY. UM, AND, AND AGAIN, UM, I THINK ULTIMATELY WE ALL HAVE TO, YOU KNOW, WORK TOGETHER. MAKE SURE THAT EVERYBODY, EVERY STAKEHOLDER HAS A SEAT AT THE TABLE. MAKE SURE THAT THERE'S COMMUNICATION, OPEN LINE OF COMMUNICATION. 'CAUSE AT THE END, THE END RESULT IS ULTIMATELY, I THINK IS WHAT WE ALL WANNA SEE HAPPEN. A HUNDRED PERCENT. THANK YOU. COUNCILOR CAYMAN. THANK YOU MAYOR. UM, BEN, I WANNA THANK YOU TOO, AND I APPRECIATE THE APARTMENT ASSOCIATION SAYING IT'S NOT THAT Y'ALL DON'T WANT THIS, I DON'T THINK THERE'S ANYONE AT COUNCIL, AT LEAST DISTRICT MEMBERS THAT DO NOT HAVE CRITICAL APARTMENT ISSUES THAT WE ARE FACING RIGHT NOW THAT MAKE RENDERED THEM UNSAFE AND UNLIVABLE FOR HOUSTONIANS. UH, TO YOUR POINT, I JUST WANNA MAKE SURE I'M CLEAR. HAS THE APARTMENT ASSOCIATION BEEN AFFORDED AN OPPORTUNITY FORMALLY TO PROVIDE INPUT YET AS THIS STANDS? UM, YES AND NO. WE HAVE PROVIDED SOME INPUT BACK IN MAY WHEN THIS ORIGINALLY WENT THROUGH THE PROP A COMMITTEE. UM, WE COMMUNICATED WITH, UH, COUNCILWOMAN PLUMMER'S, UH, CHIEF OF STAFF AND PROVIDED A LIST OF SOME ISSUES THAT WE HAD WITH THE ORDINANCE. UM, IT WAS THEN RESUBMITTED, I GUESS, MAYBE SEVERAL WEEKS LATER. RIGHT. AND IT WAS ALSO, ALSO, BUT SINCE THAT TIME, UM, SINCE THAT TIME. SINCE THAT TIME, NO. OKAY. AND I, AGAIN, I WANNA RECOGNIZE WE TALK A LOT ABOUT STAKEHOLDER ENGAGEMENT, RIGHT. COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT AND THE IMPORTANCE OF MAKING SURE THAT STAKEHOLDERS HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY. THANK YOU. YEAH. THANK YOU. UH, COUNCIL MEMBER INGER. THANK YOU. UH, ONE OF THE FIRST ISSUES I DEALT WITH, UH, AFTER THE ELECTION WAS, UH, WE HAD AN APARTMENT COMPLEX THAT, UH, ESSENTIALLY THE MANAGEMENT WALKED OUT AND ABANDONED IT. THEY DIDN'T PAY THE BILL FOR THE TRASH PICKUP, THE TRASH ENDED UP EVERYWHERE. IN FACT, THE CITY HAD TO COME OUT AND, AND, UH, SOLID WASTE COME OUT AND REMOVE IT ALL. AND I CALLED YOUR PREDECESSOR IMMEDIATELY BECAUSE TO BE HONEST, I DIDN'T KNOW WHAT TO DO. AND, UH, HE WAS A LITTLE SHOCKED AT WHAT HAD HAPPENED. AND COME TO FIND OUT, THIS APARTMENT COMPLEX WAS NOT A MEMBER OF YOUR ASSOCIATION. YEAH. UH, IS THAT TYPICAL FOR THESE HEADLINE BAD EVENTS THAT ARE, ARE THESE PEOPLE USUALLY PART OF YOUR ASSOCIATION OR, UM, I MEAN, I DON'T WANNA SPEAK OUTTA TURN WITHOUT KNOWING EXACTLY THE ANSWER, BUT I DO KNOW WE DID PULL, UM, AT SOME POINT, I THINK, UM, UH, REPRESENTATIVE CARTER'S CHIEF OF STAFF, HUGO REST HIS SOUL, UM, PULLED THE TOP FIVE APARTMENTS THAT WOULD'VE QUALIFIED FOR THIS ORDINANCE UNDER JUST THE TOP 3 1 1 DATA. UM, AND I THINK THREE OF THEM WERE NOT MEMBERS. UH, TWO WERE. UM, BUT AGAIN, IT WAS, WE WERE JUST KIND OF PULLING 3 1 1 DATA. I'M NOT SURE IF WE WERE ACTUALLY PULLING IT THE WAY THIS ORDINANCE WOULD'VE INTENDED FOR IT TO BE PULLED. UM, SO, BUT YEAH, I THINK VERY OFTEN THE ONES THAT WE HAVE A LOT OF ISSUES WITH THAT MAKE THE NEWS ARE TYPICALLY NOT HOUSTON DEPART ASSOCIATION MEMBERS. SO ESSENTIALLY YOU'RE JUST WANTING TO MAKE SURE YOU DON'T GET CAUGHT UP IN US TRYING TO TAKE CARE OF THE BAD ACTORS. I THINK. I THINK, AND I THINK THAT KIND OF THE POINT TO THE, UH, SIZE OF THE OR OR THE SIZE OF THE UNITS OF THE, OF THE COMPLEX, UM, TO ME THERE COULD BE A GOOD CHANCE WHERE IF YOU'VE GOT A UNIT, A 400 UNIT PROPERTY, THAT IF WE'RE JUST LOOKING AT NUMBER OF 3 1 1 VOLUME COMPARED TO A A 20 UNIT PROPERTY VERY WELL COULD HAVE A LOT HIGHER VOLUME. UM, NOT NECESSARILY 'CAUSE IT'S A, IT'S A WORSE RUN PROPERTY, BUT JUST BECAUSE OF THE SHEER VOLUME ON A PERCENTAGE BASIS. YES. YEAH. EXACTLY. OKAY. THANK YOU. COUNCIL MEMBER PLUMBER. PLUMBER. THANK YOU. THANK YOU MAYOR. AND THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE. OF COURSE. AND SO, JUST FOR CLARIFICATION, WHEN WE FIRST HAD THE COMMITTEE MEETING MM-HMM . YOU SAT DOWN WITH Y'ALL AND Y'ALL REDLINED THE DOCUMENT PRETTY HEAVILY. YEP. AND MOST OF THOSE CHANGES THAT YOU RECOMMENDED, WE MADE CHANGES ON, I THINK SOME OF THEM WERE MADE, UM, IT WAS, IT WAS DIFFERENT WHEN IT WAS RESUBMITTED. UM, BUT FOR EXAMPLE, LIKE THE, UH, DISCLOSURE OF THE PROPERTY SALE THAT REMAINED IN, UM, YOU DID ALTER THE WAY IN WHICH WE WERE IDENTIFYING THESE HIGH RISK RENTAL BUILDINGS MM-HMM . BUT AGAIN, WE STILL HAVE CONTENTION WITH THE WAY THAT IT'S, THAT IT IS STILL IN THE ORDINANCE WITH THE 3 1 1 VOLUME DATA. UM, AND SO WE, AFTER IT WAS RESUBMITTED, WE HAD NOT SEEN THIS MOST RECENT VERSION UNTIL IT HAD ALREADY GONE THROUGH THE MOST RECENT LEGAL REVIEW BY THE CITY. OKAY. WELL, I MEAN, WE, WE TOOK ALL OF YOUR RECOMMENDATIONS INTO ACCOUNT, OBVIOUSLY, UM, YOU ARE SAYING IT'S TOO STRINGENT COMMUNITY SAYING IT'S NOT STRINGENT ENOUGH. WE TRY TO FIND A BEST BALANCE. WE ALSO WANTED TO MAKE SURE THAT WE STAY WITHIN THE CONFINES OF CHAPTER 92, WHICH IS A STATE CODE OF HABITABILITY. AND THE, THE CITATIONS HAVE [00:35:01] TO BE CERTIFIED AND THEY'RE SPECIFICALLY REGARDING HEALTH AND SAFETY. SO I JUST WANNA MAKE SURE EVERYONE UNDERSTANDS THAT THEY'RE NOT LIGHT IDEA. THESE ARE THINGS THAT WILL ACTUALLY AFFECT THE WAY THAT OUR RESIDENTS ARE LIVING. AND, UM, I THINK THAT YOU'RE FINE IF YOU ARE, YOU KNOW, IF YOUR MEMBERS ARE RUNNING, UH, FACILITIES THAT ARE SAFE FOR THEIR RESIDENTS, I THINK YOU SHOULD BE OKAY. BUT I RESPECT YOUR POSITION. UM, AND LIKE I SAID, THIS IS IN MY MIND A WATERED DOWN VERSION OF WHAT WE ORIGINALLY PUT OUT FOUR YEARS AGO AND DEFINITELY, UM, A LIGHTER VERSION OF WHAT IT WAS, UM, IN MAY WHEN WE PRESENTED IT. SO THIS HAS DEFINITELY BEEN A COMPROMISE. I JUST WANNA MAKE SURE EVERYONE UNDERSTANDS WE SAT DOWN WITH Y'ALL AND GAVE YOU AN OPPORTUNITY TO YEAH. INCREDIBLY REDLINE OUR DOCUMENT, WHICH YOU DID. YES, MA'AM. ALRIGHT, THANK YOU. OF COURSE. THANK Y'ALL. YOU BET. NEXT MY BAG, NOTHING NEXT. ADAM GANOWSKI TO BE FOLLOWED BY CLAIRE BAY. HELLO. UH, HELLO. MY NAME IS ADAM GANOWSKI AND I'M A CONCERNED COMMUNITY MEMBER SHOWING UP ON BEHALF OF HOUSTON TENANTS UNION. I'M SPEAKING IN SUPPORT OF THE APARTMENT INSPECTION ORDINANCE, ITEM 37 THAT I UNDERSTAND IS TO BE VOTED ON TOMORROW. UH, OUR CURRENT LEGAL MEANS OF TENANTS HOLDING THEIR LANDLORDS TO ACCOUNT REGARDING REPAIR AND REMEDY THROUGH CIVIL LEGAL MATTERS IS INSUFFICIENT. AS THOSE LEGAL PROCESSES ARE ONEROUS AND OPAQUE TO THE AVERAGE TENANT. UM, BY IMPLEMENTING ANOTHER AVENUE BY WHICH LANDLORDS CAN BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE FOR THEIR FAILURE TO MEET THEIR TENANT'S NEEDS AND FULFILL THEIR PART OF THE BARGAIN, THERE IS THAT MUCH GREATER CHANCE THAT TENANTS ACROSS HOUSTON WILL HAVE THE SAFE AND HABITABLE HOMES THAT THEY DESERVE AND NEED. THAT SAID, I BELIEVE THERE ARE SIGNIFICANT LIMITATIONS TO THIS ORDINANCE, SOME OF WHICH I UNDERSTAND HAVE BEEN INTRODUCED RATHER RECENTLY. NAMELY SECTION 1 71, THAT LIMITS ONLY THE TOP FIVE PROPERTIES REPORTED TO 3 1 1 TO BE LABELED AS HIGH RISK RENTAL BUILDINGS. AND SUBJECT TO THE MOST SIGNIFICANT CONSEQUENCES OF THIS ORDINANCE, UH, LIMITING THIS POWER TO ONLY FIVE PROPERTIES AT A TIME IS TOOTHLESS. IF THE ACTUAL INTENT OF THIS ORDINANCE IS TO HOLD LANDLORDS TO ACCOUNT. THANK YOU COUNCIL. COUNCILMAN PLUMMER, AND THANK YOU SO MUCH. I WANNA FIRST ACKNOWLEDGE EVERYONE THAT'S HERE, SUPPORT US. I'LL SPEAK ON THIS SPECIFIC, UM, COMMENT FIRST AND I DON'T WANNA TALK AFTER EVERYONE'S, UM, COMMENTS, BUT SO TO YOUR POINT, YOU'RE RIGHT. YOU KNOW, THE, THE, UM, IF YOU LOOK AT IT IN AS SAYING ONLY FIVE OF THEM IS A CHALLENGE. ONE THING THAT I REALLY WANTED TO MAKE SURE THAT WE OFTEN DO IS PASS ORDINANCE THAT ARE NOT ENFORCEABLE. AND WE PUT BLANKET ORDINANCES DOWN AND THEN THE PUBLIC EXPECTS THINGS TO HAPPEN AND WE DON'T HAVE THE CAPACITY TO MAKE SURE IT DOES. SO THE REASON WHY WE CHOSE THE FIVE WORST ONES LOOKING AT 10, UH, YOU KNOW, SAFETY HABITABILITY COMPLAINTS AT A TIME WITHIN A SIX MONTH PERIOD ALLOWS US TO TRULY FIX THE PROBLEM. AND I KNOW IT MAY NOT SOUND STRINGENT ENOUGH FOR YOU AND FOR A LOT OF OUR RESIDENTS ARE LIVING IN THESE SPACES, BUT WE WANT TO SHOW GOOD FAITH AND WE WANT TO SHOW THAT IT'S WE'RE, THAT WE'RE ACTUALLY CREATING, UM, A BETTER SPACE FOR PEOPLE TO LIVE. AND WE JUST CAN'T DO, WHEN WE HAVE 2,500 APARTMENT COMPLEXES THAT HAVE CHALLENGES, WE DON'T HAVE CAPACITY IN THE CITY OF HOUSTON TO BE ABLE TO TOUCH ALL OF THEM. SO IF WE COULD JUST, THIS IS A FIRST STEP, RIGHT? THIS IS A FIRST STEP, BUT I RECOGNIZE WHAT YOU'RE SAYING. I RECOGNIZE WHAT A LOT OF OUR ADVOCATES ARE SAYING AS WELL. UM, WE HAVE TO GET SOMETHING ON THE BOOKS TO ALLOW US, I MEAN, THE SPECIAL PIECE ABOUT THIS IS THE CREATION OF ASEC, RIGHT? BRINGING ALL OF THOSE PARTNERS IN ONE ROOM TO HAVE A COMMON CONVERSATION AND TO NOT WORK IN SILOS EITHER, YOU KNOW, ANYMORE. AND SO I APPRECIATE THAT. I KNOW THAT WE WANT IT TO BE STRONGER, BUT WE DON'T WANT THE STATE TO COME BA DOWN AND DO LAWSUITS EITHER, RIGHT? WE HAVE TO REALLY MAKE SURE WE DO THIS IN A WAY. AND FINALLY, WE DON'T WANNA CREATE AN UNHOUSED POPULATION. SURE. AND THAT'S ANOTHER PIECE WE HAVE TO THE UNINTENDED CONSEQUENCES. SO WORKING WITH THE ADMINISTRATION, OBVIOUSLY WORKING WITH YOU, THE ADVOCATES AND, AND, AND, UM, AND ALL THE STAKEHOLDERS. THIS, WE FELT LIKE THIS IS THE BEST COMPROMISE TO GET SOMETHING STARTED. THANK YOU. NEXT CLA CLARA BAY TO BE FOLLOWED BY TARINA LEWIS. THANK YOU. UM, I AM THE PRESIDENT AND CEO OF HOUSTON GOLF ASSOCIATION AND FIRST TEE OF GREATER HOUSTON. AND I AM HERE JUST TO, UM, GIVE YOU A LITTLE BRIEF, UH, SYNOPSIS OF WHAT WE'RE TRYING TO DO WITH THE PARKS DEPARTMENT. WE HAVE TWO LONG-TERM LEASES WITH THE CITY OF HOUSTON. ONE IS AT GUS WORTHHAM, THAT'S IN COUNCIL MEMBER MARTINEZ'S DISTRICT. AND ONE IS, UM, COUNCIL MEMBER SHABAS DISTRICT, WHICH IS WHAT WE'RE VOTING ON TOMORROW. AND THAT IS, UH, FM LAW PARK. AND WE SERVE OVER 300,000 KIDS FOR OUR SCHOOL PARTNERSHIPS AND NONPROFIT PARTNERSHIPS IN HOUSTON EVERY YEAR. SO WE'RE TRYING TO DO A CAPITAL CAMPAIGN WHERE WE'RE GONNA UPGRADE THE BUILDING AND THE NINE HOLE GOLF COURSE. AND SO WE'RE EXTENDING THE, TRYING TO EXTEND THE LEASE. AND, [00:40:01] UM, WE ARE ALREADY TWO POINT, NOW WE'RE 2.3 MILLION, UM, IN, IN FUNDS RAISED TOWARDS A $6 MILLION GOAL. AND SO WE'RE JUST LOOKING FOR SUPPORT TO IMPROVE A CITY PROPERTY THAT BENEFITS HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF YOUTH AND FAMILIES EVERY YEAR IN HOUSTON. THANK YOU. YEP. COUNCIL MARTINEZ. THANK YOU MAYOR. UH, CLAIRE, I JUST WANNA SAY THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE. UM, AND GUS WORTHHAM, YOU KNOW, Y'ALL HAVE BEEN ABLE TO TURN THAT, THAT GOLF COURSE AROUND, UH, SINCE HG A'S BEEN, UH, MANAGING AND OPERATING THE, THE FACILITY. UM, I'M FAMILIAR WITH FM LAW PARK, UH, BECAUSE MY KIDS, QUITE FRANKLY, THEY'RE A PART OF THE FIRST C PROGRAM. I HAVE TWO RIGHT NOW, ONE THAT'S 10, ONE THAT'S SEVEN. UM, UNDERSTANDING THAT, UH, THESE TYPES OF YOUTH SPORTS ARE IMPORTANT. AND THEN SPECIFICALLY IN THE, THE SPACE OF GOLF, SOMETHING THAT IS NOT NECESSARILY ACCESSIBLE TO EVERYONE. UH, I WANNA SAY THANK YOU TO OPENING UP THE SPACE FOR, UH, TWO EVENTS THAT WE'VE HAD, WHICH WE CALL THE OTHER GOLF. AND WE'VE INVITED COMMUNITY TO COME OUT AND GET EXPOSED TO THE, TO THE SPORT OF GOLF. UM, THERE AT FM LAW PARK IS SOMETHING THAT I'M HUGELY SUPPORTIVE OF. SO, UM, I JUST WANTED TO SAY, UH, CONGRATULATIONS REALLY TO, TO MY COLLEAGUE FOR HAVING SUCH A AMAZING ASSET IN HER DISTRICT, UH, THAT QUITE FRANKLY, SERVICES, UH, EVERYBODY IN THE CITY. THANK YOU. THANK YOU NICK TORINA LEWIS TO BE FOLLOWED BY SOPHIA CAMPOS. HELLO. HOW YOU DOING? UH, GOOD AFTERNOON. I'M TARINA LEWIS. UM, AND I'M HERE TO PROVIDE COMMENTS ON THE FACILITY AT FOUR 19 EMANCIPATION. I'LL, GIVING MY REMARKS WITH A LITTLE STORY. AFTER SIX MONTHS, ABOUT SIX MONTHS, I WENT ON A JOG IN HERMAN PARK. FELT A LITTLE LIGHTHEADED, AND SO I TOOK A SEAT AT THE NEAREST BENCH. THE PERSON I SAT NEXT TO, HIS NAME WAS DEVIN. HE'S AN UNHOUSED INDIVIDUAL. AFTER TALKING FOR A FEW MINUTES, I THINK DEVIN NOTICED THAT I WAS A LITTLE BIT LIGHTHEADED, SO HE OFFERED ME A BANANA. LITTLE LUCK, RELUCTANT. AT FIRST I ACCEPTED, AND THIS SIMPLE ACT OF KINDNESS CHANGED ME FOREVER. SO FOR THE MONTHS, FOR SIX MONTHS, I'VE BEEN PROVIDING FOOD FOR DEVIN AND HIS FRIENDS AT, UH, HERMAN PARK. SO I FEEL OBLIGATED TO BE HERE, TO BE IN THIS MOMENT WITH YOU BECAUSE I KNOW THEM, I LISTEN TO THEM. AND SO THROUGH THE UNHOUSED, I BEGAN TO UNDERSTAND THAT HOMELESSNESS IS NOT ABOUT HOUSING. IT'S ABOUT HISTORY. SIMILAR SYSTEMS THAT ONCE ENSLAVED MY ANCESTORS CONTINUE TO SHAPE YOUR, YOUR TIME HAS EXPIRED. I THOUGHT IT WAS TWO MINUTES. RAMIREZ, YOU CAN HAVE MY TIME, MA'AM. THANK YOU. SIMILAR SYSTEMS. UH, ONCE ENSLAVED, MY ANCESTORS CONTINUED TO SHAPE, UH, WHO HAS SHELTERED, WHO HAS SAFETY, WHO HAS OPPORTUNITIES. TODAY I MAKE THIS COMPARISON BETWEEN HOMELESSNESS AND SLAVERY BECAUSE THE, BECAUSE BOTH REFLECT A DEF DEPRIVATION OF THE MOST BASIC HUMAN RIGHT, THE RIGHT TO POSSESS AND PROTECT, UM, WHAT SUSTAINS ONE'S LIFE. I HEARD SOME PEOPLE SAY THAT THE UNHOUSED POPULATION DOES NOT WANT SHELTER. AND THAT MAY BE TRUE FOR SOME PEOPLE, BUT IF WE THINK ABOUT IT, AFTER ABOLISHMENT OF SLAVERY, SOME FREED PEOPLE REJECTED FREEDOM AS WELL BECAUSE THEY WERE ACCUSTOMED TO WHAT THEY WERE ACCUSTOMED TO. CHOICES WERE IS THE PART THAT MAKES LIBERATION REAL, JUST AS EMANCIPATION WAS NECESSARY, EVEN WHEN NOT EVERYONE COULD EMBRACE IT. THE EMANCIPATION FACILITY IS NECESSARY EVEN IF EVERYONE DOES NOT ACCEPT IT. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. NEXT SOPHIA CAMPOS TO BE FOLLOWED BY JACKSON MORAN. HI, MY NAME IS SOPHIA CAMPOS. UH, I'M A DISTRICT C RESIDENT AND A NATIVE HOUSTONIAN. I'M HERE TODAY TO URGE THE CITY COUNCIL TO STRENGTHEN HOUSTON'S PROCUREMENT POLICY. HOUSTON'S ECONOMY IS POWERED BY WORKERS WHO OFTEN GO UNSEEN, THE PEOPLE WHO COOK OUR FOOD, CLEAN PUBLIC SPACES, AND BUILD THE INFRASTRUCTURE THAT KEEPS THE CITY RUNNING, YET MANY FACE PROPERTY, WAGES, UNSAFE CONDITIONS, AND LITTLE RECOURSE WHEN THINGS GO WRONG. IN 2023, AN 18-YEAR-OLD WORKER WAS KILLED WHEN A TRENCH COLLAPSED OUTSIDE OF HOUSTON. THEDO CONSTRUCTION COMPANY REFERRED TO BY THE US DEPARTMENT OF LABOR AS A SERIAL VIOLATOR HAD ALREADY BEEN CITED BY OSHA FOR THE SAME HAZARD. A TRAGEDY LIKE THAT SHOWS WHAT HAPPENS WHEN OVERSIGHT FAILS. AND PUBLIC CONTRACTS LACK REAL SCREENING IN SECTORS LIKE CONSTRUCTION AND HOSPITALITY. [00:45:01] THESE STORIES ARE COMMON AND THEREFORE DEMAND THE CITY USE ITS LEVERAGE TO PROTECT THOSE WHO KEEP IT FUNCTIONING. CREATING JOBS IS NOT ENOUGH IF THEY'RE BAD JOBS THAT EXTRACT CHEAP LABOR AND PUSH WORKERS ONTO PUBLIC ASSISTANCE, IT'S A COST TO BE PAID DOWN THE LINE IN A TIME WHEN OUR CITY'S VULNERABILITIES ARE BEING TESTED. KEEP GOING. WE CAN'T JUSTIFY OURSELVES INTO COMPLACENCY. I'M GRATEFUL TO MY COUNCIL MEMBER ABBY CAYMAN, FOR HER LEADERSHIP, BUT THE CHARGE BELONGS TO ALL CITY HALL AND TO MY PROFESSOR AS WELL, UH, TO ACT WITH CLEAR EYES, TO TAKE RISKS WHEN NECESSARY AND TO DEFEND THE DIGNITY OF HOUSTON'S PEOPLE. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME. ALRIGHT, COUNCIL MEMBER KAMAN, COUNCILMAN CAYMAN. UH, SOPHIA, I KNOW WE HAVE SEVERAL OF YOUR CLASSMATES THAT ARE GONNA BE SPEAKING. I'M NOT TO SPEAK TO ALL, I'M NOT GONNA SPEAK TO ALL OF THEM BECAUSE WE HAVE A LOT OF SPEAKERS HERE. BUT I DID WANNA THANK YOU, UM, FOR SPOTLIGHTING A REALLY IMPORTANT ISSUE, WHICH IS WORKER SAFETY, UH, AND THAT WE AS A CITY CAN BE DOING A LOT MORE. BUT I ALSO WANTED TO CREDIT, UH, OUR MAYOR PRO TEM, UH, HOW LUCKY ARE YOU TO BE ABLE TO, UH, BE IN A CLASS LEARNING FROM HER AND, UH, MAYOR PERAM, YOU, YOU ARE CLEARLY DOING A VERY GOOD JOB WITH YOUR STUDENTS. UH, VERY CLEAR, VERY CONCISE, AND VERY PASSIONATE. THANK YOU. WELL, I'M GLAD TO HEAR THAT THAT IS, UH, SUPPORTED AND THANK Y'ALL FOR YOUR TIME. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. NEXT JACK JACKSON MORAN TO BE FOLLOWED BY KAREN KNAPP. HELLO, MAYOR WHITMEYER AND CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS. MY NAME IS JACKSON MORAN AND I'M A RESIDENT OF THE MIDTOWN AREA. UM, I'M HERE TO TALK ABOUT WHAT I CONSIDER TO BE ONE OF THE MOST CHAOTIC INTERSECTIONS IN THE WHOLE MIDTOWN AREA, WHICH IS THE INTERSECTION OF MAINE WHERE WHEELER TURNS INTO RICHMOND AND, UH, THE RAIL CROSSES MAIN TOWARDS THE WHEELER STATION. UM, AT THIS INTERSECTION THERE ARE THREE NORTHBOUND LANES. ONE IS A LEFT TURN LANE TO RICHMOND. ONE IS A STRAIGHT LANE CONTINUING ON MAIN, AND THE OTHER IS A RIGHT TURN LANE ONTO WHEELER. HOWEVER, DUE TO POOR SIGNAGE AND ILLEGIBLE STREET MARKINGS, THE STRAIGHT LANE IS OFTEN A FREE FOR ALL LANE WHERE PEOPLE TURN LEFT OR CUT OFF PEOPLE IN THE RIGHT LANE. UM, AND IF THIS IS ALL SOUNDING PRETTY CONFUSING, IT'S BECAUSE IT IS FOR SO MANY DRIVERS. I'VE SEEN IT. I'VE SEEN HPD MAKE MISTAKES . UM, BUT LASTLY, SOMETIMES THOSE WHO GO FROM THE STRAIGHT LANE, UH, DRIVE STRAIGHT ONTO THE LIGHT RAIL TRACKS. UM, I'VE SEEN MULTIPLE DRIVERS PANIC ONCE THEY REALIZE THEY'RE ON THE TRACKS AND NOT ON THE ROAD. AND I'VE ALWAYS BEEN WORRIED ABOUT THIS INTERSECTION. AND A FEW WEEKS AGO, MY FEARS WERE JUSTIFIED WHEN SOMEONE MADE AN ILLEGAL RIGHT TURN ON RED AND CLIPPED MY BUMPER AS I WAS DRIVING THE STRAIGHT LANE. UM, I WOULD LIKE TO THANK THE CITY FOR RETRIP MAIN STREET, UM, BUT MORE MUST BE DONE WITH BETTER SIGNAGE AND ESPECIALLY EARLIER IN THE INTERSECTION SO DRIVERS CAN PLAN WHICH TURN THEY ARE MAKING IN THIS INTERSECTION. I THINK A LOT OF THE CONFUSION CAN BE ERADICATED. UM, THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME AND I HOPE THIS CAN BE FIXED BECAUSE THE SAFETY OF MANY MIDTOWN COMMUTERS IS ON THE LINE. MAYOR PROAM, CAST SIX TATUM. THANK YOU JACKSON FOR BEING HERE AND FOR EXPRESSING YOUR CONCERN AT THAT INTERSECTION. I WROTE THROUGH THERE TODAY. UM, AND I TOTALLY AGREE THAT WE NEED SOME MORE SIGNAGE THERE. I GUARANTEE YOU IF YOU GIVE THAT INFORMATION TO YOUR COUNCIL MEMBERS, SHE'S GONNA WORK ON MAKING SURE WE HAVE THAT FIXED, UM, FOR HER CONSTITUENTS. THANK YOU. HOLD ON, HOLD ON. OKAY. THANK YOU MAYOR. MAYOR PRO TIMM IS ABSOLUTELY CORRECT, . I, UH, WILL LIKE TO GET MORE INFORMATION, THEN WE CAN DO A TRAFFIC STUDY AND FIND OUT WHAT'S GOING ON THERE TO PREVENT THE CHAOS THAT YOU HAVE DESCRIBED. GREAT. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. NEXT, KAREN KNAPP TO BE FOLLOWED BY FEDERICO SALAS IS NTY. THANK YOU. MY NAME IS KAREN KNAPP. I'M A HOMEOWNER LIVING IN THE SECOND WARD, LESS THAN A MILE FROM THE PROPOSED SHELTER AT FOUR 19, UH, EMANCIPATION. HOMELESS PEOPLE ARE HUMAN BEINGS AND DESERVE TO LIVE A LIFE, A SAFE AND HEALTHY, HEALTHY LIFE. I BELIEVE YOU THOUGHT THROUGH HOW THIS SHELTER DIRECTS THEM TO THE RESOURCES THEY NEED. HOWEVER, I'VE ONLY HEARD VAGUE ASSURANCES TO ADDRESS LEGITIMATE RESIDENT CONCERNS. THIS FACILITY WILL BE MORE THAN A MODEL FOR HOW TO HELP HOMELESS PEOPLE. IT'LL BE THE MODEL FOR HOW TO INTEGRATE SHELTERS INTO OUR NEIGHBORHOODS. AND YOUR ROLLOUT SHOWS THAT YOU DIDN'T THINK THAT THROUGH. I URGE YOU TO TABLE THE VOTE UNTIL YOU CAN PRESENT A FORMAL PLAN FOR SAFEGUARDING SECOND WARD AND EDO BETTER PLANNING WILL ALLEVIATE SOME OF THE PUSHBACK WHEN YOU ROLL OUT SHELTERS IN OTHER NEIGHBORHOODS. THANK YOU. MEMBER CASTILLO. THANK YOU MAYOR KAREN, THANK YOU FOR COMING DOWN HERE TONIGHT, SHARING YOUR WORDS. I KNOW YOU ATTENDED THE COMMUNITY MEETING, UH, THAT WAS HELD LAST WEEK, AND A LOT OF THE SENTIMENTS ARE SIMILAR WITH CONCERNS ABOUT SAFETY, UH, AND IMPACTS TO THE SURROUNDING [00:50:01] COMMUNITY. SO KNOW THAT WE'RE WORKING ON THAT AND, UH, HOPE TO HAVE SOMETHING TO SHARE OUT SOON. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. NEXT FEDERICO'S SALAS IS NARDI TO BE FOLLOWED BY ROSA TIO. HELLO. GOOD EVENING. I'M FEDERICO ZALES CIDI. GOOD TO SEE SOME OF YOU AGAIN. I'M FEDERICO ZALES CI, A RESIDENT OF DISTRICT A. THE LIBRARY SPECIAL REVENUE FUND FOR ADULT LITERACY SERVICES WAS CREATED IN 1988 WITH THE OBJECTIVE OF SUPPORTING COMMUNITY BASED ADULT LITERACY PROVIDERS THROUGHOUT HOUSTON WITH ADVOCACY, COORDINATION AND TRAINING. IN 2019, THE MAYOR'S OFFICE FOR ADULT LITERACY WAS FORMED TO AVOID THE CONFLICT OF INTEREST CREATED BY THE HOUSTON CENTER FOR LITERACY, DIRECTLY COMPETING WITH THE PROVIDERS IT WAS SUPPOSED TO SERVE. THE HOUSTON PUBLIC LIBRARY MADE A COMMITMENT TO THE COMMUNITY NOT TO COMPETE AGAINST, BUT TO WORK ALONGSIDE OTHER ADULT LITERACY PROVIDERS. THIS YEAR, HOWEVER, HBL HAS STOPPED HONORING THAT PROMISE, FOCUSING INSTEAD ON USING THE MONEY TO INCREASE PATRONS TO THE LIBRARY. THIS IS AGAINST THE PURPOSE OF THE SPECIAL REVENUE FUND, AND IT IS ALSO A RETREAT FROM THE PROMISE MADE WHEN THE ADULT LITERACY FIELD WAS TO TRUST THE HOUSTON PUBLIC LIBRARY AND WAS WELL SERVED FOR FIVE YEARS. I HAVE JUST A FEW SECONDS MORE. THE CHALLENGE OF ADULT LITERACY FOR OUR COMMUNITY IS VERY SERIOUS, AND NO SINGLE ENTITY CAN SOLVE IT ALONE. WE MUST WORK TOGETHER IN A BROAD COALITION, NOT FOCUSING ONLY ON OUR OWN INTERESTS. THANK YOU FOR YOUR ATTENTION. THANK YOU. NEXT ROSA TREVINO. NO, NO. SARAH MONTGOMERY TO BE FOLLOWED BY SELENA BRA BULLS. A HOMELESS MAN WAS LYNCHED AND SET ON FIRE LAST WEEK. LET ME REPEAT THAT. A HOMELESS MAN WAS LYNCHED AND SET ON FIRE LAST WEEK IN NORTHEAST HOUSTON. BUSINESS OWNERS COME TO SHARE CONCERNS ABOUT SAFETY AND OPPOSITION TO ITEM 34, BUT AT LEAST THREE UNHOUSED PEOPLE DIE EVERY DAY IN HOUSTON. THE REAL DANGER ISN'T HOMELESS PEOPLE. IT IS THE DEHUMANIZING AND RACIST LANGUAGE THAT FUELS VIOLENCE AGAINST THEM. IT IS THE GENTRIFICATION AND DISPLACEMENT CAUSED BY THESE SAME BUSINESSES THAT PUSH PEOPLE OUT OF THEIR HOMES, ESPECIALLY IN COMMUNITIES LIKE SECOND WARD. I'M HERE TODAY AS A MEMBER OF CONCHO CASTON AND HOUSTON TENANT'S UNION, ACTUALLY TO SPEAK ON ITEM 2037, THE APARTMENT ORDINANCE. IF WE WANT A SAFER, HEALTHY CITY, HEALTHIER CITY, WE MUST HOLD ALL LANDLORDS ACCOUNTABLE FOR THE UNLIVABLE CONDITIONS. TENANTS ARE FORCED TO ENDURE, NOT JUST THOSE THAT ARE THE WORST. A STRONG VERSION OF THIS ORDINANCE WOULD PREVENT HOMELESSNESS AND RAISE LIVING STANDARDS FOR THOUSANDS OF FAMILIES, NOT THIS WATER DOWN VERSION. AS COUNCILMAN PLUMBER STATED, LANDLORDS NOT ONLY MAKE OUR HOMES UN LIVABLE, THEY COLLABORATE WITH ICE TO TARGET FAMILIES, WHETHER BY LANDLORDS OR ICE, THIS COUNSELOR MUST NOT ACT NOW TO PROTECT OUR COMMUNITIES FROM VIOLENCE AND DISPLACEMENT. THANK YOU. THANK YOU MA'AM. NEXT, SELENA BRA BULLS TO BE FOLLOWED BY SANDRA MASSEY HINES. GOOD EVENING MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL. MY NAME IS SELENA. I LIVE IN DISTRICT C AND I'M WITH PURE JUSTICE. I'M HERE SUPPORTING APARTMENT INSPECTION REFORM. WHEN ESTONIANS CAN'T ACCESS HOUSING DUE TO A CRIMINAL LEGAL RECORD, THEY ARE NOT SAFE. WHEN HOUSTONIANS ARE FORCED TO LIVE IN SURVIVAL MODE ON OUR STREETS OR IN OUR PARKS, THEY ARE NOT SAFE. WHEN HOUSTONIANS ARE FORCED TO LIVE IN SUBSTANDARD HOUSING WITH UTILITY ISSUES, INFESTATIONS, MOLD, ET CETERA, THEY ARE NOT SAFE TENANTS. AND THESE PROPERTIES ARE OFTEN IMPACTED AND HAVE FEW RESOURCES TO REPORT NON-COMPLIANT LANDLORDS, ESPECIALLY WHEN THEY'RE FACING POTENTIAL RETALIATION. THE A IR ADDRESSES CONDITIONS THAT LEAD TO EVICTION, HOUSELESSNESS AND HEALTH ISSUES, AND IT COULD BE STRENGTHENS TOO. IN SECTION 1 71, THE ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA FOR THE PROBLEMATIC PROB PROBLEMATIC PROPERTIES REGISTRY IS NOW 10 VERIFIED CITATIONS WITHIN SIX MONTHS, AND A LISTING AS A TOP FIVE SITE FOR 3 1 1 CALLS. THIS PUTS AN UNDUE BURDEN ON FOLKS TO RALLY BY CALL OR TENANT VOLUME, UH, WHICH PITS VULNERABLE TENANTS AGAINST EACH OTHER IN AN UNNECESSARY COMPETITION. EVERY HOUSTONIAN NEEDS A SAFE PLACE TO SLEEP, LAUGH, AND BREAK DOWN. WE DON'T NEED TO BE LESS HEALTHY AND SAFE BECAUSE OF WHAT'S BREAKING DOWN OUR EXPIRED. OUR THIS POLICY DOES [00:55:01] NEED IMPROVEMENTS, BUT PLEASE DON'T LET THE PERFECT BE THE ENEMY OF THE GOOD. YOU HAVE TIME TO MAKE CRITICAL CHANGES BY TAGGING THIS POLICY. AND TRUST ME, MANY HOUSTONIANS ARE COUNTING ON PROGRESS, NOT REGRESSION AT THIS CRITICAL TIME. THANK YOU SO MUCH. THANK YOU. NEXT, SANDRA MASSEY HINES, LAURA GALLIER TO BE FOLLOWED BY HOME MAO. MY GOOD EVENING. MY NAME IS LAURA GALLAGHER AND I LIVE IN DISTRICT CI ENCOURAGE YOU TO PASS A MEANINGFUL APARTMENT INSPECTION ORDINANCE. I THOUGHT THE APARTMENT INSPECTION ORDINANCE AS ORIGINALLY PROPOSED MADE SENSE AND STRUCK A GOOD BALANCE BETWEEN GIVING LANDLORDS AN OPPORTUNITY TO DO RIGHT WHILE GETTING RENTERS INTO A LIVABLE APARTMENT. THE REWRITE, I HAVE A LOT OF QUESTIONS AS IT SEEMS TO HAVE LOST ITS TEETH. I HOPE YOU WILL ALL ALLOW TENANT REPRESENTATIVES TO REDLINE AND MEET WITH YOU PRIVATELY AS YOU DID THE LANDLORDS. UM, MY MY QUESTIONS ARE WHY WOULD ONLY THE FIVE WORST APARTMENTS BE CONSIDERED HIGH RISK? SECONDLY, IF A HIGH RISK PROPERTY DOESN'T GET INTO COMPLIANCE WITHIN SIX MONTHS, WHY WOULD IT BE GIVEN ANOTHER SIX MONTHS? WHY WOULD THE STATUTE REQUIRE INSPECTORS TO WAIT 45 DAYS BEFORE INSPECTING THE 3 1 1 CALLS? DON'T MAKE SENSE TO ME AS A CRITERION. IT WOULD NEVER OCCUR TO ME TO CALL 3 1 1 ABOUT AN INHABITABILITY ISSUE. FOR EXAMPLE, HAS MY CHILDREN WERE STUCK IN THESE APARTMENTS? COUNSEL ALSO, IS THERE A WAY FOR TENANTS IN UNINHABITABLE APARTMENTS TO LEGALLY BREAK THE LEASE? COUNCILOR SBA. THANK YOU MAYOR. UH, I'D LIKE TO SUSPEND THE RULES TO ADD ROHAN. OH, I'M SORRY. WAIT JUST A MINUTE. NO, NO, NO, NO, NO, NO, MA'AM. NO, NO, NO. I, I'M SORRY. NO, I ASKED TO BE RECOGNIZED AND THEY TOLD ME TO. EXCUSE ME, PLEASE. I'M DISMISSED. NO ONE ELSE IS IN THE QUEUE. ASK ME ANYTHING SHE WAS SUPPOSED. OKAY. COUNCILMAN PLUMMER MA'AM. MS. GALLAGHER, ONE MORE. I, SENATOR PLUMMER, THANK YOU SO MUCH. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR COMMENTS. AND I, I DO UNDERSTAND THAT THERE'S, IT'S NOT AS STRONG AS WE WOULD LIKE IT TO BE. AND AS I MENTIONED BEFORE, WE'VE GOT SOME LIMITATIONS FROM THE STATE CODE, UM, THAT, THAT CREATES SOME CHALLENGES FOR US. AND WE ALSO HAVE AN ISSUE WITH ENFORCEMENT, AND WE JUST DON'T HAVE THE CAPACITY TO BE ABLE TO LOOK AT ALL 2,500 APARTMENT COMPLEXES AT ONE TIME. AND I BELIEVE THAT IT'S A START. I BELIEVE THAT IT ORGANIZES THE WAY IN WHICH ALL OF US WORK IN UNISON, AND WE ARE GOING TO MOVE THROUGH THIS SWIFTLY, BUT PEOPLE HAVE TO SEE A CHANGE AND THEY HAVE TO SEE AN IMPROVEMENT. UM, AND THEN A LOT OF THE LANDLORDS ALSO HAVE TO GET THE RESOURCE TO BE ABLE TO FIX IT PROPERLY. IF WE WERE TO GO ALL IN AND PUT A BLANKET ORDINANCE DOWN AND CLOSE ALL THE ONES THAT ARE NOT HABITABLE, WE WOULD HAVE AN UNHOUSED POPULATION THAT WE WOULD NOT BE ABLE TO HANDLE. AND SO THERE IS A, THERE WAS A, WE HAVE TO STRIKE A BALANCE HERE, BUT WE REMEMBER WE HAVE A STATE, WE HAVE, WE HAVE, YOU KNOW, A STATE CODE WE HAVE TO FALL UNDER. OTHERWISE WE'LL BE IN, WE'LL BE, YOU KNOW, WE'LL BE IN LE UM, IN LITIGATION WITH, UM, THE STATE. SO I DO UNDERSTAND WHAT YOU'RE SAYING. I ACKNOWLEDGE THAT. UM, I WISH IT COULD BE STRONGER, BUT WE HAVE TO PUT SOMETHING ON THE BOOKS RIGHT NOW AND I'M HOPING TO HAVE YOUR SUPPORT ON THAT. THE OTHER PIECE HERE IS THAT ALL THE STAKEHOLDERS NOW HAVE A SEAT AT THE TABLE. YOUR TENANT SUPPORT GROUPS, YOUR LANDLORD, YOU KNOW, GROUPS, UM, RESIDENTS HAVE A SEAT ON THE TABLE AT THE TABLE ON ASEC NOW. SO AT LEAST EVERYONE'S VOICES WILL BE HEARD. SO AS WE MOVE FORWARD AND WE SEE HOW THINGS ARE NOT WORKING OR ARE WORKING, UM, EVERYONE CAN SPEAK ON THAT. AND THAT WASN'T THE CASE BEFORE. WILL THE TENANTS BE GIVEN THE ABILITY TO RED LINE? THEY ALREADY HAVE. AND I'VE WORKED WITH, I'VE WORKED WITH TEXAS HOUSERS WITH HOUSTON HOUSE. I MEAN, THIS IS NOT, THIS WAS NOT ME WRITING THIS. I MEAN, I'VE WORKED WITH ALL OF THE GROUPS TO TRY TO STRIKE SOME LEVEL OF BALANCE AND THAT'S WHERE WE'RE ABLE TO GET THE SUPPORT THAT WE GET THAT GOT TO GET THIS THING DONE. OKAY? MM-HMM . THANK YOU. I CAN GO NOW. THE PROCEDURAL MOTION. COUNCILLOR EVANS. SHABA RE CHRISTINA. OKAY. ALRIGHT. UH, I'D LIKE TO SUSPEND THE RULES, MAYOR TO ADD HAN EVANS AND SARAH YE TO THE THREE MINUTE NON AGENDA TO THE TOP OR BEHIND WHOEVER'S ALREADY BEEN MOTIONED FOR THAT POSITION. GOT IT. THANK YOU. DO [01:00:01] YOU HAVE A SECOND? SECOND. ALL IN FAVOR? UH, SAY YES. THOSE OPPOSED NAY. MOTION PASSES. OKAY. THEY WERE IN THE OVERFLOW. THE OVERFLOW, YES. HOME. MY TO BE FOLLOWED BY CHRISTOPHER JENKINS. I HERE MAKES IT FOR ME. GOOD AFTERNOON EVERYBODY. THANK YOU FOR LETTING ME BE HERE. UH, ORIGINAL. I'M NOT A NATIVE AMERICAN, SO MY SPEAKING MIGHT NOT BE VERY FLUENT. HOWEVER, I TRY MY BEST. UH, I AM A RESIDENT OF THE DISTRICT J AND, UH, I'VE BEEN EXPERIENCED THAT, UH, HOUSING, UH, INSPECTION REFORM ACT DOES NOT GOING THROUGH PROPERLY. UH, I BELIEVE THAT, UH, I, I'VE KNOWN THAT SINCE MAY OF THIS YEAR. UH, WE HAD A PROPOSAL, HOWEVER, SINCE THEN UNTIL NOW, OCTOBER, I BELIEVE THAT IT HAS BEEN A SIX MONTHS PERIOD. THERE'S NO MOVEMENT. AND I BELIEVE THAT AS A CITIZEN, WE ALL DESERVE TO LIVE IN THE SAFETY, UH, FRESH AND, UH, JOYFUL COMMUNITY. AND, UH, BECAUSE OF THE, YOUR TIME HAS EXPIRED, THE, UM, INSPECTION REFORM ACT WAS NOT, UH, PROPER, UH, BEHAVES. THAT'S WHY, YOU KNOW, IT LEADS TO OUR, UH, DANGER IN EVERY ASPECT. FOR EXAMPLE, LIKE A PHYSICAL, WE MIGHT HURT OUR OURSELF AND, UH, IN THE BREATHING LIKE A MOLD AREA OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT, WE CAN HAVE BREATHING, UH, PROBLEM FOR THAT. SO IT, IT, IT IS, UH, IT DOESN'T, IT DOESN'T SEEM RIGHT AS AMERICAN BECAUSE WE ARE IN THE RICHEST COUNTRY OF THE WORLD. I BELIEVE THAT'S WHAT, YOU KNOW, I AIM TO BE HERE AND I'M HERE NOW, AND I'M GLAD. HOWEVER, PLEASE JUST MAKE US, YOU KNOW, HAVING A, A MORE SAFETY, UH, APARTMENTS BECAUSE WITHIN THE INSPECTION PROPER PROPERLY, WE DESERVE IT. I BE HERE A WHILE IN OUR COMMUNITY. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. THANK YOU, MA'AM. NEXT, CHRISTOPHER JENKINS TO BE FOLLOWED BY DORIS BROWN. GOOD EVENING CITY COUNCIL. CAN YOU HEAR ME? YES. UH, I'M HERE TO SPEAK ON THE, UH, ORDINANCE. UH, I'M ALL ABOUT THE ORDINANCE, BUT TO ME IT'S A LITTLE BIT TOO LATE. UH, AND THEN JUST LOOKING AT THE AMENDMENTS DUE TO THE REDUNDANCY SECTION 1 52, 1 59, 1 71, 1 73, AND 180. I FEEL LIKE THE RIGHT WORK WAS PUT IN, NOT THE RIGHT WORK WAS PUT IN, BUT A LOT OF WORK AND WITH THE INPUT ALONG WITH REAL DATA WAS NOT PART OF THE DECISION MAKING PROCESS. MEANING NOT NO REAL STORYTELLING, RIGHT? AS FAR AS THE COMMUNITY IS CONCERNED. AS A MATTER OF FACT, IT SEEMS AS SOME TYPE OF AI TOOL WAS USED TO DO THE ANALYSIS, THE PLAN, AND SET THE STANDARDS, WHICH WERE PRETTY LOW. WE ARE IN HOUSTON. THE CITIZEN WITHIN THIS COMMUNITY DESERVE MORE, BETTER SYSTEMATIC APPROACH AND PROCESS TO AVOID ABUSE WITHIN THESE COMMUNITIES. I KNOW THAT HAS BEEN CHALLENGING, BUT IT'S WELL APPRECIATED. BUT THERE HAS TO BE SAFEGUARDS IN PLACE FOR TENNIS STORM WITH PROTECTIVE CLASSES. I'M ALL ABOUT AN ORDINANCE, BUT IT SHOULD BE PROTECTING TENANTS FROM ABUSE. WHAT ABOUT THE LANDLORDS THAT ARE NOT WITH THE HOUSTON APARTMENT ASSOCIATION OR THE TEXAS APARTMENT ASSOCIATION NETWORK? HOW WILL THAT BE ADDRESSED? THANK YOU. THANK YOU. NEXT, DORIS BROWN TO BE FOLLOWED BY DAVID BRESLAUER. MAYOR, WHEN YOU RAN, YOU RAN FOR, YOU SAID YOUR ON YOUR PLATFORM WAS FOR ALL OF HOUSTON. SILENCE IS HOW INJUSTICE SURVIVES. AND FOR TOO LONG, THE RENTERS HAVE, HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO SURVIVE. THEY HAVE MOLD. THEY LIVE IN MOLD. THEIR CHILDREN. ONE LADY TOLD ME SHE WAKES UP IN THE MIDDLE OF THE NIGHT SO SHE'S NOT HAD A RAT IN THE BED WITH HER BABY. THAT IS NOT SECURE. THAT IS NOT SAFE. AND ALL APARTMENTS SHOULD BE SAFE, SANITARY, AND SECURE. THE IMMUNITY BEFORE US CALLS FOR INSPECTORS THAT GO OUT, WE MUST STOP THESE [01:05:01] SLUM LAWS FROM DOING PEOPLE WRONG. EXCUSE ME. I HAVE TO GET MY GLASSES. . WE HAVE A LOT. WE HAVE, THIS IS HOUSTON'S THE FOURTH LARGEST CITY IN HOUSTON, BUT, UH, MOST OF OUR CHILDREN SUFFER FROM ASTHMA. THIS IS FROM LIVING IN MOLD. YOU CANNOT LIVE IN MOLD AND BREATHE AND WELL, YOU KNOW WHAT I'M SAYING? FOR ALL PEOPLE. YEAH. SO THAT'S YOUR PLATFORM MAYOR, AND I WANT YOU TO LOOK OUT FOR THE PEOPLE OF HOUSTON, REGARDLESS OF WHO THEY ARE. THANK YOU. YOU'RE WELCOME. NEXT, DAVID BRESLAUER TO BE FOLLOWED BY JULIA ARUNA. GOOD EVENING. UM, THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME. UM, I'M HERE WITH THE, UH, HOUSTON TENANTS UNION AND I'M HERE TO SPEAK IN SUPPORT OF THE, UH, APARTMENT INSPECTION ORDINANCE, UH, WHICH I WILL HOPE WILL, I HOPE WILL STAY ON THE AGENDA UNTIL TOMORROW. UM, I HOPE IT IS NOT, YOU KNOW, TABLED OR TAGGED DESPITE HAVING SOME IMPERFECTIONS, WHICH I WILL LET YOU KNOW WHAT THEY ARE. RIGHT NOW. THERE ARE MORE THAN FIVE. UM, SOMEBODY MENTIONED ABSENTEE, UM, LANDLORDS, UM, EARLIER, BUT ABSENTEE LANDLORDS OF LARGE APARTMENT COMPLEXES, THERE ARE MORE THAN FIVE OF THOSE IN HOUSTON. UM, WE'VE SEEN MASSIVE FORECLOSURES, MULTI MULTIMILLION DOLLAR FORECLOSURES HERE IN THE CITY WHERE LANDLORDS JUST DISAPPEARED. OKAY. UM, AND THEN MEANWHILE WE HAVE A NUMBER OF, I'M SORRY, NIMBYS OUT HERE TELLING US THAT WE CAN'T HAVE, UM, A HOMELESS SHELTER HERE IN HOUSTON AND IN IN THE INNER LOOP, UM, BECAUSE IT'S GONNA LOWER THEIR PROPERTY VALUES. BUT IF I DON'T HAVE A ROOF OVER MY HEAD, WHERE AM I SUPPOSED TO GO? UM, AND SO WE HAVE TENANTS OF ALL TYPES, WHETHER THEY'RE UNHOUSED OR HOUSED OR PAYING RENT OR NOT PAYING RENT, WHO DON'T HAVE ANY SOLUTION. UM, IT JUST SEEMS LIKE YOU KNOW, THE WILD WEST OR A TOTAL FREE FOR ALL OUT HERE FOR THE LANDLORDS. AND YOU'VE GOT THE APARTMENT, YOUR TIME HAS EXPIRED. APARTMENT OWNER LOBBY OUT HERE TELLING US WHAT TO DO WITH THE CITY. UM, SO THANK YOU. I'M DONE. THANK YOU. UH, SIR, MA'AM, SIR, NO PROCEDURAL MOTION. OH, NO, NO. YOU'RE OKAY. NO, YOU'RE FINE. WE WANNA MAKE A MOTION. GO AHEAD. UH, I'D LIKE TO MOVE TO SUSPEND THE RULES TO ADD, UM, ARTIST COLE TO BE THE NEXT SPEAKER ARTIST COLE. ALL IN FAVOR SAY YES. THOSE OPPOSED NAME MOTION PASSES. YEAH, I HEARD YOU. GOOD EVENING. UH, UH, AS A TESLA OWNER IN HOUSTON, I'VE NOTICED A PROBLEM THAT THERE AREN'T ENOUGH TESLA SUPERCHARGERS IN OUR CITY. UM, I HAVE TO DRIVE ABOUT 15 TO 20 MINUTES EVERY TIME I GO TO A STATION HERE. AND THAT'S JUST NOT TIME EFFICIENT OR, UH, IT'S NOT PUTTING ALL THE THINGS THAT SUPERCHARGERS AND ELECTRIC VEHICLES ARE SUPPOSED TO BE BRINGING, UH, FOR US. UH, I THINK IF HOUSTON TRULY WANTS TO LEAD, UH, IN ENERGY INNOVATION, WE NEED TO INVEST IN, UH, ELECTRIC VEHICLE CHARGING INFRASTRUCTURES NOW AND MAKE IT EASIER FOR RESIDENTS TO MAKE THE SWITCH OVER. COUNCILOR KAMAN, I JUST WANNA THANK YOU FOR ADVOCATING FOR MORE EV CHARGERS. YES, MA'AM. UH, IT IS SO NICE TO HEAR. YES, MA'AM. SO THANK YOU. YES, MA'AM. THANK YOU. NEXT, JULIA ARUNA TO BE FOLLOWED BY KEVIN QUIST. GOOD EVENING, JUA, TEXAS HOUSERS. I ASK TO SPEAK TO EACH OF Y'ALL IN DEPTH ABOUT THIS ORDINANCE AND I'D BE HAPPY TO JOIN THE ASEC BECAUSE WE HAVE NOT BEEN INVITED AND NEITHER HAVE ANY TE TENANTS TO WORK WITH THE DEPARTMENTS ON THE LAND TO LAND ON APPROPRIATE ORDINANCE LANGUAGE THAT SUPPORTS TENANTS CONSUMER PROTECTIONS AND OFFERS APPROPRIATE MEASURES TO IMPROVE THE HOUSING STOCK OF OUR CITY. I'M IN SUPPORT OF THE ORIGINAL INTENTION OF THIS ORDINANCE. HOWEVER, THE NEW LANGUAGE MINIMIZES OR NULLIFIES THE TRANSPARENCY EFFORTS OF THIS ORDINANCE TO THAT WHAT IS ATTEMPTING TO ACHIEVE. YOU JUST HEARD THE APARTMENT ASSOCIATION, THEY HAVE OVER 330,000 APARTMENT BUILDINGS IN THE CITY. THIS IS NOT A GOOD FAITH EFFORT TO TENANTS ACROSS THE CITY TO HOLD FIVE PROPERTIES UP TO A MICROSCOPE WHILE LETTING THOUSANDS OF LANDLORDS CONTINUE TO ABUSE THEIR RENTERS. THIS IS NOT ACCEPTABLE. CAPACITY IS A BUDGET ISSUE. WE LIVE IN A DISASTER PRONE CITY, AND WE KNOW THAT THE HOUSING STOCK IS IN CONSIDERABLE DANGER. WE CANNOT ALLOW TO CONTINUE TO GIVE LANDLORDS INCENTIVES, BUYOUTS, CITY BONDS, ANY TYPE OF HANDOUT WHEN THEY'RE NOT WILLING TO PUT THE FUNDING INTO RESILIENT MEASURES IN APPRO APPROPRIATE CAPITAL, IMPROVE IMPROVEMENT EXPIRED THAT MAKE US HOUSTON STRONG. COUNCILMAN PLUMMER. THANK YOU. AND JULIA, THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE. SO I JUST HAVE A QUESTION FOR YOU. SO THIS HAS OBVIOUSLY BEEN FIVE MONTHS IN THE WORKING. WE HAVE MET WITH YOU, WE'VE MET WITH, UM, [01:10:01] OTHER STATE, AND YOU DO HAVE A SEAT AT THE TABLE. YOU JUST HAVE NOT BEEN INVITED YET 'CAUSE IT HASN'T BEEN SOLIDIFIED. BUT YOU WILL HAVE A SEAT AT THE TABLE. SO YOU'RE REPRESENTING, YOU KNOW, TENANTS OBVIOUSLY. WOULD YOU RATHER NOT HAVE THIS? AND IT MAY BE, BE VERY CAREFUL WHEN YOU ANSWER THIS QUESTION. WOULD YOU RATHER NOT HAVE ANYTHING IN PLACE? EVEN IF IT'S JUST THE BEGINNING AND WE HAVE CONVERSATIONS, ARE YOU WILLING TO, UM, NOT HAVE THIS AT ALL OR, 'CAUSE IF THIS, IF THIS IS SENT BACK TO THE ADMINISTRATION OKAY. OR IF THIS IS SENT TO COMMITTEE, IT IS GOING TO DIE. I, TO BE VERY CLEAR. SO I WANT YOU TO MAKE THE DECISION. 'CAUSE I'M, I'M, I'M WORKING FOR YOU, I'M WORKING FOR MY RESIDENTS. SO IF YOU DON'T FEEL LIKE THIS IS SOMETHING, AT LEAST HAVING SOMETHING TO START WITH, THEN I WANT YOU TO LET ME KNOW. SO WE WERE ALLOWED TO RED LINE THE DOCUMENT IN, IN MAY THAT YOU SAID, PLEASE SEND US COMMENTS. AND SO WE DID. RIGHT? HAVE WE HAD A MEETING? NO. HAVE THE TENANTS HAVE A MEETING? NO. HAVE WE SEEN ANYTHING ELSE SINCE MAY? NO. AND SO THIS IS THE FIRST THING THAT WE'VE BEEN SEEING. WE ARE REACTING TO THE NEW LANGUAGE. AND THE NEW LANGUAGE, AS YOU HAVE MENTIONED, ONLY REALLY THINKS ABOUT FIVE PROPERTIES. WHAT ABOUT THE REST OF THE PROPERTIES? SO YES, I AGREE THAT PERFECTION IS THE ENEMY OF PROGRESS. WE NEED TO MAKE PROGRESS. WE NEED TO ENSURE THAT OUR TENANTS ARE PROTECTED. Y'ALL, THIS IS NOT OKAY TO LEAVE PEOPLE IN SQUANDER WITH THEIR SLUM LORDS REALLY GETTING EVERYTHING WE NEED TO YES. PASS THIS ORDINANCE. IF ANYTHING, WE NEED TO LOOK AT IT IN SIX MONTHS AND ENSURE THAT WHAT IS HAPPENING IS ACTUALLY THE INTENTION OF THIS ORDINANCE. SO YES, I DO SUPPORT IT, BUT I DON'T BELIEVE THAT WE SHOULD ONLY BE THINKING ABOUT THE LANDLORDS THAT HAVE THE MOST CALLS. AND ALSO 10 CITED VERIFIED. THIS, THIS GETS WAY TOO MANY THINGS THAT REALLY ARE, IS ANYONE GONNA BE ON THAT LIST? ABSOLUTELY NOT. MY POINT, ONCE AGAIN, IS AS LONG AS YOU AGREE THAT THIS IS A START, I HAVE AGREED WITH YOU AND TOLD YOU THAT I WOULD LOVE FOR THIS TO BE A LOT, YOU KNOW, STRONGER. UM, IT WENT THROUGH LEGAL, WE WENT THROUGH, WE REDLINED IT, IT WENT THROUGH LEGAL, UM, TO ENSURE THAT WE DON'T HAVE ANY OTHER CHALLENGES FROM A STATE PERSPECTIVE. BUT AS LONG AS YOU'RE WILLING TO BE AT THE TABLE AND IMPROVE THIS ALONG THE WAY, EV THIS IS NEW. THIS HAS NEVER BEEN DONE BEFORE IN THE CITY OF HOUSTON. WELL, THAT'S WHERE WE LIVE. SO IN THE CITY OF HOUSTON BORDER, THERE ARE PLACES HAVE BEEN ABLE TO THIS OTHER PLACES. WHAT WE'RE SITTING RIGHT NOW, THIS HAS NEVER BEEN DONE BEFORE. THIS IS OUR FIRST SO AND SO ASEC, YOU SAID THAT THIS WAS TO CREATE ASEC. CREATE ASEC HAS ALREADY BEEN CREATED THROUGH A DIFFERENT ORDINANCE, WHICH IS SOMETHING THAT YOU'VE MENTIONED BEFORE. ASEC HAS BEEN CREATED LIKE AS A GHOST, BUT IT WASN'T REAL. WE BROUGHT ASEC BACK TOGETHER, BUT WE ALSO CREATED TWO ADDITIONAL SEATS. ONE FOR TENANTS AND ONE FOR LANDLORDS IN THE NEW LANGUAGES. RIGHT? EXACTLY. OKAY. SO ALL I'M SAYING IS I'M IN FULL AGREEMENT WITH YOU. I KNOW THIS IS A GOOD ENOUGH, BUT THIS IS THE FIRST STEP. AND BECAUSE YOU WILL BE HERE, AND I WON'T, YOU WILL BE AT THE TABLE AND YOU WILL BE ABLE TO MAKE IMPROVEMENTS AND WE'LL BE ABLE TO GO THROUGH THE PROCESS. WE'LL MAKE SURE THAT WHEN ENFORCEMENT DOES HAPPEN, THAT THINGS ARE FIXED AND HANDLED, AND WE'LL MOVE THROUGH THIS PROCESS. DO YOU UNDERSTAND? IT TAKES FOUR YEARS FOR INSPECTIONS TO HAPPEN THROUGH EVERY, THAT'S HOW LONG THAT'S, I MEAN, THAT'S HOW LONG IT TAKES TO GO THROUGH THE PROCESS. UNDERSTAND. SO SIX MONTHS IN COMPARISON TO FOUR YEARS IS A WIN. AND SO ALL I'M SAYING TO YOU IS THAT I DO WONDER IF THEY CAN GET SIX MONTHS, 10 CITATIONS IN SIX MONTHS, AND IF IT TAKES THEM A YEAR, LET'S, LET'S GIVE IT A CHANCE. I'M JUST SAYING TO YOU, I AGREE. YOU'RE A LEADER OF THESE ORGANIZATIONS AND EVERYONE IS LISTENING TO YOU, OKAY? AND THEY RESPECT YOU. AND ALL I'M SAYING IS THAT I JUST DON'T WANT TO TRY TO BE PERFECT AND LOSE THE ENTIRE OPPORTUNITY OF MAKING A CHANGE. I FULLY AGREE. OKAY. AND I THINK THAT WE'VE BEEN WAITING SINCE MAY TO HEAR SOMETHING AND IT'S JUST BEEN NOTHING. WELCOME, WELCOME TO POLITICS. I THINK PEOPLE ARE, I'VE BEEN KIND OF FRUSTRATED. I'VE BEEN WAITING TO, I'VE BEEN WAITING RIGHT ALONG WITH YOU, BUT WE'RE HERE NOW, OKAY? MM-HMM . SO LET'S GET IT DONE. THANKS. THANK YOU, MA'AM. THANK YOU. THANKS. KEVIN. QUIST TO BE FOLLOWED BY MICHELLE BLACKWELL. HELLO EVERYONE. ISSAN. UH, MY NAME'S KEVIN QUIST. I'M HERE TO SPEAK IN FAVOR OF REDLINE SIGNAL PRIORITY AND TO ASK FOR, UM, SIGNAL PRIORITY TO BE REINSTATED ALONG THE ENTIRE RED LINE. UM, IT WAS A SUCCESSFUL 20 YEAR SYSTEM. IF IT AIN'T BROKE, DON'T FIX IT. UM, I'M BOTH A TRANSIT AND MOTORIST COMMUTER. UM, MY TRANSIT COMMUTE IS SEVERELY AFFECTED BY LOSING A SIGNAL PRIORITY. AND I REALLY DON'T SEE ANY BENEFIT, UM, IN MY MOTORIST COMMUTE. SO IN MY MIND, THIS IS A NET NEGATIVE FOR THE ENTIRE CITY AND IT'S MORE EFFICIENT TO HAVE THIS, THE TRAIN, THE HOV HAVE PRIORITY. THANK YOU. BYE-BYE. THANK YOU. NEXT MICHELLE BLACKWELL [01:15:01] TO BE FOLLOWED BY NICK ARCOS. OKAY, GOOD EVENING EVERYBODY. MY NAME IS MS. BLACKWELL AND I LIVE IN DISTRICT H, THE NEAR NORTH SIDE AREA. I'M HERE TO TALK ABOUT THE, THE RED LINE. I, I TOOK THE RED LINE ON SUNDAY AND IT TOOK ME 20 MINUTES TO TRY TO GET HOME. THEY MAKE MENTION ABOUT THE TRACK, THE TRAFFIC SIGNALS IT TAKES. EXPECT A 10 MINUTE DELAY, LEAVE YOUR HOUSE EARLY ENOUGH TO, TO EXPECT THAT, BUT NOW IT'S GOING ON TO 20 MINUTES. AND HONESTLY, I STILL WOULD LIKE TO SEE THE RED LINE RUN AS FREQUENTLY ON THE WEEK. I WANT TO SEE THE SATURDAY AND SUNDAY SCHEDULE RUN AS FREQUENTLY AS IT DOES ON MONDAY THROUGH FRIDAY. SO THIS IS THE ONLY WAY I TRAVEL. I DO REALLY DEPEND ON THE, UH, I REALLY DO DEPEND ON THE RED LINE, SO I REALLY WOULD LIKE TO SEE SOMETHING HAPPENING WITH THE TRAFFIC SIGNALS AND SOMETHING, SEEING SOMETHING BEING DONE WITH THE, THE TRANSPORTATION RUNNING A LITTLE BIT FASTER ON SATURDAYS AND SUNDAYS. BUT OTHER THAN THAT, I'M, I'M HAPPY WITH THE METRO, SO. ALRIGHTY. THANK YOU MA'AM. NEXT, NICK ARCOS TO BE FOLLOWED BY MAXIMO CORTEZ. GOOD EVENING MAYOR. CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS. MY NAME IS NICK ARCOS AND I'M A DISTRICT B RESIDENT AND ALSO A DIRECTOR OF COMMUNICATIONS FOR LINK HOUSTON. WE'RE A NONPROFIT THAT ADVOCATES FOR A ROBUST AND EQUITABLE TRANSPORTATION SYSTEM FOR ALL HOUSTONIANS. UM, FOR THE LAST MONTH, IF YOU'RE AWARE, THE METRO RAIL RED LINE HAS BEEN STOPPING AT RED LIGHTS IN MIDTOWN AND DOWNTOWN. AT ITS WORST, IT WAS LEADING TO 10 TO 15 MINUTE DELAYS EACH WAY OF YOUR TRIP. FOR THE 34,000 DAILY RIDERS, WE APPRECIATE THAT THE CITY AND METRO HAVE TO MAKE CHOICES TO BALANCE SAFETY AND USE FOR ALL ROADWAY USERS. BUT THE CHANGES THAT HAVE BEEN IN PLACE, LIKE THE NEW LEADING PEDESTRIAN CROSS SIGNALS, UM, AND SINKING LIGHTS NORTH, SOUTH, DON'T HAVE TO AFFECT THE RED LINE CURRENTLY. UM, RIGHT NOW YOU'RE GETTING A LIST FROM OUR PETITION. WE'VE HAD OVER 670, UM, RED LINE RIDERS SIGN THIS PETITION. WE HOPE YOU'LL READ THEIR STORIES. DOCTORS THAT DON'T WANT TO DRIVE HOME AFTER A LONG SHIFT WHEN THEY'RE FATIGUED. WE HAVE STUDENTS THAT DON'T WANNA BE LATE TO CLASS WORKERS THAT CAN'T AFFORD TO BE LATE TO THEIR JOBS. UM, AND WE JUST WANNA MAKE SURE THAT YOU'LL ALERT THEIR STORIES AND TAKE THE TIME TO WORK WITH YOUR TIME HAS EXPIRED TO RESOLVE THE SITUATION. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. NEXT MAXIMO CORTEZ TO BE FOLLOWED BY ANTHONY HUBBARD. UH, GOOD EVENING, UM, COUNCIL MEMBERS AND MAYOR, UH, MO CORTEZ. I'M AN INTERSECTION TRENDS POLICY AND RESEARCH ORGANIZER FROM GRASSROOTS LEADERSHIP, TEXAS ADVOCATES FOR JUSTICE. AND I'M ASKING YOU TO INTRODUCE AN ORDINANCE TO END ALL NON-SAFETY TRAFFIC STOPS. A SECOND DEMAND IS TO END ALL A-A-L-P-R CONTRACTS, UH, BY 11 11 20 25. AUTOMATIC LICENSE PLATE READERS ARE A NATIONAL SECURITY LIABILITY AND A VIOLATION OF OUR FOURTH AMENDMENT RIGHTS TO PRIVACY. DATA HACKS HAVE BEEN SO COMMON IN OUR SOCIETY THAT EVEN OUR SOCIAL SECURITY NUMBERS HAVE BEEN STOLEN. NO DATA IS EVER SAFE. EVEN IF DATA'S DELETED, IT CAN BE RE RETRIEVED. AND, UM, AND MY IMMIGRANT FRIENDS AND FAMILY ARE AT RISK WITH, UH, HPD. COLLABORATION WITH ICE DATA CAN BE BOUGHT AND SOLD FROM BETA BROKERS, AND THIS WILL MAKE US ALL UNSAFE. AN ABUSIVE, UH, EX-PARTNER OR ZEALOUS POLICE OFFICER CAN FIND MY DRIVING CUSTOMS PATTERNS OR PRACTICES. AND THIS CAN BE WEAPONIZED AGAINST ME OR ANY OF YOU OR ANY OF YOUR CHILDREN. 'CAUSE THAT OF DATA IS AVAILABLE TO BE BOUGHT. THIS WILL FURTHER ACCRUAL PUBLIC TRUST AND WITH POLICE ON THE COMMERCIAL SIDE. HEALTH INSURANCE AGENCIES COULD COMMODITIZE THIS AGAINST US AND EVEN COULD UTILIZE THIS X ANTHONY HUBBARD TO BE FOLLOWED BY ETHAN HALE. I AM TALKING ABOUT THE CROSSWALK IN WESTHEIMER AND TAFT. INSTEAD OF FIGHTING BACK, WE COMPLIED EARLY. WE HAD 30 DAYS TO REMOVE THE CROSSWALK INSTEAD OF FIGHTING THAT, WE REMOVED IT TWO WEEKS EARLY. WHAT DOES THAT SAY ABOUT Y'ALL? HBD AND I HAVE BEEN COLLABORATING. WHETHER Y'ALL EMITTER OR NOT, WE HAVE SEEN MORE AND MORE INSTANCES OF ICE IN HOUSTON AND HOUSTON REGION. WHY NOT FIGHT BACK? WHY NOT OUTLAW HBD COLLABORATING WITH ICE? WHY NOT MAKE THAT THE CITY POLICY? WE DON'T NEED QUESTION WHETHER HPD IS COLLABORATING WITH ICE. WE CAN MAKE A POLICY, WE CAN MAKE CHANGES. THERE SHOULD BE NO DOUBT IN OUR MINDS, IN THE PEOPLE'S MINDS WHERE THE COLLABORATION IS HAPPENING. THIS IS DEMOCRACY. AND I BELIEVE MOST PEOPLE DO NOT, DO NOT SUPPORT ICE IN OUR CITY. [01:20:04] NEXT, ETHAN HALE TO BE FOLLOWED BY VICTOR MENDOZA. HELLO, I'M ETHAN HALE. YEAH, I MEAN, WE REMOVED THE CROSSWALK FOR NO GOOD REASON. AND I'M OUT HERE TODAY. MY VOICE IS KILLING ME. YOU KNOW, A LOT OF DISEASE IN, UH, THE COUNTY JAIL. I MEAN, I SEE WHY THERE'S SO MANY PRISONERS DYING UP IN THERE. I MEAN, THEY WOULDN'T GIVE US, UH, PAIN MEDICATION. NOTHING LIKE THAT. WOULDN'T GIVE US DECENT FOOD. NEARLY VOMITED FROM THE HAM SANDWICHES. Y'ALL GOT GOT UP IN THERE. HERE. WE HAD TO STAND UP FOR THE CROSSWALK AT THIS POINT. WELL, IT'S TOO LATE. YOU DECIDED. WE'RE JUST GONNA RIP IT OUT. GET RID OF THE F WHO CARES? DECIDE THE FUNDING FOR IT. YOU TURNED DOWN OUR FEDERAL FUNDS. WE COULD HAVE DONE OTHERWISE HAVE NOT GIVEN ALL OUR MONEY HPD, BUT THE STATE. WE'RE GONNA JUST SCREW US OVER. COUNCILMAN CAYMAN. THANK YOU, MAYOR. UM, I, I DID WANNA SPEAK TO ETHAN, UH, REALLY QUICKLY. ETHAN, I BELIEVE YOU WERE ONE OF THE INDIVIDUALS THAT WAS ARRESTED AT THE CROSSWALK. UM, AND I DO BELIEVE THAT THE ARREST COULD HAVE BEEN AVOIDED. UM, I DID SPEAK ABOUT MAYOR, THE ISSUE OF, UH, OUR LGBT LIAISON WITH AN HPD HAD NOT BEEN NOTIFIED. UM, I DO NOT BELIEVE I WAS NOT THERE, THAT THE ARRESTS WERE NECESSARY, BUT I DID, ONCE I LEARNED OF THE ARRESTS, UM, REACHED OUT TO THE DA'S OFFICE AND I WANNA THANK, UH, GENESIS DRAPER, OUR PUBLIC DEFENDER, WHO WORKED VERY HARD. UM, THE PROCESSING TOOK WAY TOO LONG. UH, Y'ALL WERE IN THERE TOO LONG. AND THAT IS THE CASE FOR MANY, MANY PEOPLE THAT GO THROUGH THIS. UH, SO I JUST, I WANTED TO RECOGNIZE THAT, UM, BECAUSE I DO THINK IT NEEDS TO BE SAID. AND I DID WANNA GIVE, UH, A, A PUBLIC RECOGNITION TO THE PUBLIC DEFENDER FOR STEPPING IN TO GET THOSE, GET Y'ALL PROCESSED. 'CAUSE I DON'T BELIEVE YOU COULD EVEN MAKE A PHONE CALL UNTIL THAT HAPPENED. SO, THANK YOU COUNCIL. YEAH. COUNCIL MEMBER RAMIREZ FOR A PROCEDURAL MOTION. THANK YOU, MAYOR. MOVE TO SUSPEND THE RULES AND ADD, UH, VIE FAM TO THE BOTTOM OF THE AGENDA LIST. COUPLE SECONDS. MOTION MADE. AND SECOND. ALL IN FAVOR? SAY YES. THOSE OPPOSED NAY. MOTION PASSES. NEXT VICTOR MENDOZA TO BE FOLLOWED BY ALANDRA ANDRATI. GOOD EVENING MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS. MY NAME IS VICTOR MENDOZA. I'M A MEMBER OF PEER JUSTICE AND A RESIDENT OF DISTRICT H. I'M HERE TODAY BECAUSE I'VE SEEN HOW A ROUTINE TRAFFIC STOP CAN TURN INTO SOMETHING THAT CHANGES LIVES FOREVER. ESPECIALLY FOR YOUNG PEOPLE WHO LOOK LIKE ME IN MY COMMUNITY. PEOPLE ARE NOT BEING STOPPED BECAUSE THEY'RE DANGEROUS. THEY'RE BEING STOPPED BECAUSE OF WHO THEY ARE AND WHERE WE COME FROM. THESE AREN'T SAFETY STOPS FOR SPEEDING OR RECKLESS DRIVING. THEY'RE NON-SAFETY STOPS FOR THINGS LIKE A BROKEN TAILLIGHT, EXPIRED TAGS, OR FITTING THE DESCRIPTION. BUT TOO OFTEN THEY LEAD TO POLICE SEARCHES, TO FEAR, TO HUMILIATION, AND SOMETIMES DEATH. THESE STOPS DON'T MAKE US SAFER. BLACK AND BROWN DRIVERS ARE STOPPED AND SEARCHED MORE OFTEN THAN OTHERS. THAT'S NOT SAFETY, THAT'S DISCRIMINATION. EVERY UNNECESSARY STOPS WASTE POLICE TIME THAT COULD BE USED TO RESPOND TO REAL EMERGENCIES. THANK Y'ALL FOR LISTENING. NEXT, ALONDRA ANDREY TO BE FOLLOWED BY ALFREDO DOMINGUEZ. GOOD AFTERNOON. MY NAME IS A AND I'M A PROUD HOUSTON RESIDENT. I'M HERE TO URGE CITY COUNCIL TO END NON-SAFETY TRAFFIC STOPS, TERMINATE HPDS COLLABORATION WITH ICE AND CANCEL THE FOX SAFETY CAMERA CONTRACT. AFTER RECEIVING A CALL FROM HPD TO MY PERSONAL PHONE NUMBER, I'M DEEPLY CONCERNED ABOUT HOW RESIDENTS INFORMATION IS BEING SHARED WITH THEM. I DIDN'T CONSENT TO THAT CONTACT AND FEEL. IT'S A WAY FOR POLICE TO INTIMIDATE US. THE PUBLIC WOULD TRY TO HOLD POLICE ACCOUNTABLE. POLICE SURVEILLANCE OF CITY COUNCIL SPEAKERS CAN CAUSE A CHILLING EFFECT THAT PREVENT PEOPLE FROM EXPRESSING THEIR OPINION AND EXERCISING THEIR FIRST AMENDMENT RIGHT IN 2024. HPD CONTACTED IX NINE TIMES THIS YEAR HAS THIS YEAR. THAT NUMBER HAS ALREADY PASSED A HUNDRED. MOST STUDYING FROM NON-SAFETY TRAFFIC STOPS PRACTICES THAT DISPROPORTIONATELY ARE MARGINALIZED COMMUNITIES. THESE NUMBERS ARE NOT JUST DATA POINTS. THEY REPRESENT FAMILIES BEING SEPARATED, COMMUNITIES BEING DESTABILIZED, AND TRUST [01:25:01] BEING BROKEN BETWEEN RESIDENTS AND THOSE THAT ARE SWORN IN TO PROTECT THEM. HOUSTON HAS THE CHANCE TO LEAD WITH KINDNESS. AS CITIES LIKE CHICAGO HAVE DONE BY ENDING ICE COLLABORATION, YOUR TIME HAS EXPIRED. SO WHERE ARE YOU CENTERING THE PEOPLE THAT MAKE THIS CITY THRIVE OR THE SYSTEMS THAT KEEP HARM HARMING US. NEXT, ALFREDO DOMINGUEZ TO BE FOLLOWED BY VI FAM. EITHER ONE. EITHER ONE IS FINE. OKAY. UH, HI, UH, ALFREDO DOMINGUEZ HERE. UH, THANK YOU MS. UH, COUNCIL MEMBER POLLER PUTTING ME ON THE AGENDA. UM, I'M REALLY HERE TO DISCUSS. I'M A PART OF THE RICE HOUSTON CAMPAIGN. I WORK FOR PEOPLE'S COUNCIL AND WE'VE HISTORICALLY BEEN AGAINST, YOU KNOW, SURVEILLANCE SOFTWARE AS WE'VE STOOD AGAINST THE SHOTS SPOTTER CONTRACT. WE'RE REALLY HAPPY THAT'S CANCELED. BUT I'M EVEN MORE CONCERNED ABOUT THE FACT THAT SHOTS SPOTTER DIDN'T WORK. BUT IT SEEMS LIKE FOX WORKING TOO. WELL. IT SEEMS LIKE IT'S COLLECTING TOO MUCH INFORMATION AND USING AI TO TRACK THESE COMMUNITIES IN WAYS THAT WE CANNOT EVEN BEGIN TO UNDERSTAND. AND IN A MOMENT WHEN AUTHORITARIANISM, WHEN, WHEN MASS SURVEILLANCE IS ON THE RISE ACROSS THE COUNTRY, WHY ARE WE CHOOSING TO THEN INSTALL CAMERAS IN OUR COMMUNITIES THAT MAKE IT REALLY, REALLY EASY TO MONITOR EVERY SINGLE MEMBER IN THIS COMMUNITY? PEOPLE COULD MONITOR EVERY SINGLE PERSON WHO COMES TO CITY COUNCIL. WE COULD HAVE A DETAILED LIST OF EVERY SINGLE PERSON WHO PROTESTED THE MONTROSE CROSSWALK ON THE MAY, ON THE DESK OF ABBOTT TOMORROW IF THEY WANTED TO. RIGHT? AND THAT'S WHAT YOU'RE SIGNING PEOPLE UP FOR TO VIOLATE THEIR FOURTH AMENDMENT RIGHT WHEN YOU'RE INCREASING THE AMOUNT OF AND PRESENCE OF FLOCK CAMERAS, EVEN IF YOU'RE RETURNING ONE SOLD IN CAR EVERY FEW WEEKS. AND WE'RE NOT EVEN REALLY GETTING DATA FROM FLOCK. THE ONLY DATA WE'VE GOTTEN IS THAT PEOPLE ARE NOT USING IT IN THE WAY IT'S INTENDED TO. THE TIME HAS EXPIRED. WE NEED TO HOLD HPD ACCOUNTABLE AND WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THIS SOFTWARE IS WORKING IN THE WAY THAT IT SHOULD. THANK YOU. NEXT VIA FAM. HELLO, MY NAME IS V FAM AND I'M A RESIDENT OF HOUSTON. THERE ARE MANY EFFECTIVE WAYS TO ADDRESS OFFENSES AND ROOT ISSUES OF CRIME. BUT NON-SAFETY TRAFFIC STOPS ARE NOT ONE OF THEM. THEY DISPROPORTIONATELY AFFECT BLACK AND BROWN IMMIGRANT COMMUNITIES AT HIGHER RATES THAN COMPARED TO OTHER DRIVERS. THIS YEAR. CALLS TO ICE HAS SPIKED BY MORE THAN 1000, RESULTING IN 107 CALLS TO ICE IN A CITY WHERE EVERYONE HAS TO DRIVE EVERYWHERE. FLOCK SAFETY IS THE EQUIVALENT OF FACIAL TRACKING SOFTWARE. WHY ARE YOU FORCING MASS SURVEILLANCE ON HOUSTONIANS? WHEN FLOCK SAFETY PRESENTED TO THE PUBLIC SAFETY COMMITTEE, THEY CANNOT PROVIDE A SINGLE DATA POINT ON HOW THEY'VE BEEN SUCCESSFUL IN REDUCING CRIME. I THOUGHT THE CITY WAS FOCUSED ON EFFICIENCY AND CUTTING WASTE. YOU WILL ALMOST PASS AN ORDINANCE THAT ENDS NON SAFE, NON-SAFETY TRAFFIC STOPS AND THE COLLABORATION BETWEEN ICE HPD AND CANCEL THE FLOCK SAFETY CAMERA CONTRACT. THAT IS HOW WE WILL ACTUALLY KEEP OUR COMMUNITY SAFE. THANK YOU. NEXT, ANDREW BOTTA, CHOPPY TO BE FOLLOWED BY ADRIANA ACEVEDO. GOOD EVENING EVERYONE. MY NAME IS ANDREW OPPE. I, UH, WORK IN THE TEXAS MEDICAL CENTER. I'M A RESEARCH SCIENTIST. I WOULD LIKE TO TALK ABOUT THE TRAFFIC PRIORITY FOR THE METRO REDLINE. THE METRO REDLINE IS EXTREMELY IMPORTANT FOR ME TO GET TO WORK. IT'S VERY IMPORTANT FOR MY COWORKERS. I PERSONALLY HAVE EXPERIENCED MANY DELAYS OVER THE LAST SEVERAL WEEKS DUE THE CHANGE THE TRAFFIC PRIORITY. I WORK WITH PEOPLE WHO ARE GETTING TO WORK EFFICIENTLY IS VERY IMPORTANT. I HAVE BEEN USING THE METRO RAIL FOR OVER 15 YEARS. IT'S VERY IMPORTANT TO ME. I HAVE OTHER OPTIONS, BUT I CHOOSE TO USE THE METRO RAIL BECAUSE IT IS SAFE, IT'S EFFICIENT, AND IT'S COST EFFECTIVE FOR ME. AND I WANT FOR THAT TO CONTINUE. IF THAT IS NOT PERSUASIVE ENOUGH FOR YOU, I WANT YOU TO THINK ABOUT THE THOUSANDS OF US THAT WORK IN THE TEXAS MEDICAL CENTER EVERY DAY. AND THAT WILL HAVE TO BEGIN TO DRIVE TO THE MEDICAL CENTER TO LAND CARE FOR PATIENTS. MAKING IT HARDER FOR PEOPLE TO PARK, MAKING CONGESTION HARDER, MAKING IT MORE DIFFICULT FOR PEOPLE TO GET AROUND. YOU DO NOT WANT ALL OF US ON THE ROAD. DRIVING THE FUTURE OF HOUSTON. DEPENDS ON PUBLIC TRANSIT. IF WE WANT THE CITY TO CONTINUE TO GROW, BE MORE EFFICIENT AND BE SAFER. THANK YOU ALL VERY MUCH FOR YOUR ATTENTION. THANK YOU. NEXT ADRIANA ACEVEDO TO BE FOLLOWED BY SAMUEL WAGNER. GOOD EVENING. I'M MAJOR AND A LOCAL NURSE HERE IN HOUSTON. UM, THANK YOU COUNCIL MEMBERS FOR YOUR COMMITMENT TO A RESILIENT HOUSTON AND ITS FUTURE. I ENJOY THE BEAUTIFUL OUTDOORS RUNNING IN, IN OUR LOCAL PARKS, WALKING IN MY NEIGHBORHOOD. BUT GROWING UP IT WASN'T ALWAYS THE CASE. I WAS OFTEN SICK AND STUCK INDOOR. WHEN I STARTED EATING A MORE PLANT FORWARD, UM, A MORE PLANT-BASED FOOD. I GOT SICK LESS OFTEN. I ASK YOU TO REMEMBER THAT FEELING OF WALKING IN GREEN SPACES, BREATHING FRESH AIR AND BEING JUST HEALTHY. I LIKE, UM, THE REALITY IS THAT, THAT FUTURE, THAT OUR FUTURE GENERATIONS MAY NOT GET TO EXPERIENCE MOMENTS LIKE THIS. WE KNOW THAT INDUSTRIAL ANIMAL AGRICULTURE AND ANIMAL AGRICULTURE IS A LEADING GLOBAL SOURCE OF, OF POTENT METHANE EMISSIONS. HOUSTON CANNOT POSSIBLY MEET ITS OWN CLIMATE GOALS WHILE IGNORING THIS KEY DRIVER. THIS IS NOT JUST ABOUT THE ENVIRONMENT, IT'S ALSO ABOUT THE HEALTH OF OURSELVES, OUR LOVED ONES AND OUR COMMUNITY MEMBERS. OUR CITY FACES DEVASTATING RATES OF DIABETES, HEART DISEASE, AND AN INCREASE IN CHILDHOOD OBESITY, ALL IMPACTED [01:30:01] BY THE FOOD CHOICES THAT WE MAKE. SHIFTING TOWARDS A PLANT, SHIFTING TOWARDS A PLANT-BASED RICH ENVIRONMENT IS A MORE PAR. IT MEANS THAT HEALTHIER, AFFORDABLE, AND SUSTAINABLE FOOD OPTIONS FOR OUR COMMUNITY. LET'S COME TOGETHER AND ENDORSE THE PLANT-BASED TREATY. THANK YOU. NEXT SAMUEL WAGNER TO BE FOLLOWED BY LOLA MIKHAIL. UH, HI, I'M, THIS IS REALLY LOW, UH, . I'M S WAGNER. I'M BE A MIDTOWN RESIDENT. I'M HERE TO ASK THE CITY TO, UH, RECONSTRUCT THE AUSTIN STREET BIKE LANE THROUGH MIDTOWN. UM, BEFORE IT WAS REMOVED, WE, WE USED TO HAVE A NICE SAFE ROUTE TO GET TO THE EAST END OF DOWNTOWN AND TO HERMAN PARK. I USED TO TAKE IT ALL THE TIME. THANKFULLY I HAVE OTHER ROUTES, BUT IT'S, IT'S REALLY KIND OF DEPRESSING THAT WE DON'T HAVE A SAFE ROUTE THROUGH THE CENTRAL PART OF HOUSTON. IN ORDER TO GET INTO DOWNTOWN AND, AND TO HERMAN PARK, LIKE I DON'T THINK I'VE BEEN TO DISCOVERY GREEN IN AT LEAST SEVERAL MONTHS BECAUSE I JUST DON'T FEEL SAFE RIDING UP THERE ANYMORE. AND THE AUSTIN STREET BIKE LANE WAS A REALLY CRITICAL PATH. AND WITH THE RED LINE BEING DELAYED NOW TOO, IT JUST FEELS LIKE I'M BEING PUNISHED FOR LIVING IN THE CITY. AND I REALLY WISH I DIDN'T HAVE TO FEEL LIKE I WAS BEING PUNISHED FOR LIVING IN THE CITY. SO I, I HOPE THE CITY RELENTS AND RECONSTRUCTS AUSTIN STREET LIKE IT WAS BEFORE IT WAS REMOVED. THANK YOU. NEXT LOLA ML TO BE FOLLOWED BY TEAL RICHARDSON. GOOD EVENING COUNCIL MEMBERS. I AM LOLA MIKEL, AN INTERN WITH PEER JUSTICE. AND I WOULD LIKE TO ASK YOU ALL TO END NON-SAFETY TRAFFIC STOPS. UM, FOR HPD, UM, THERE ARE DANGERS ASSOCIATED WITH NON-SAFETY TRAFFIC STOPS TO INCLUDE IMPACTING THOSE WHO HAVE BEEN, UM, WHO ARE ALREADY FINANCIALLY IMPACTED. THERE COULD BE LOSS OF LIFE ON THE FREEWAY WITH OUR OFFICERS, OUR COMMUNITY MEMBERS, AS WELL AS IF I WERE ON PAROLE OR PROBATION. THIS WOULD CAUSE UNNECESSARY CONTACT WITH LAW ENFORCEMENT THAT WOULD SEND ME TO AN ALREADY OVERCROWDED CARCERAL SYSTEM. IN THE STATE OF MARYLAND, THEY HAVE ENACTED IN POLICY WHERE NON-SAFETY TRAFFIC STOPS FOR REASONS OF EXPIRED TAGS OR TWO DARK TENT. THEY WOULD BE CLASSIFIED AS SECONDARY VIOLATIONS REQUIRING THAT THE OFFICERS HAVE A PRIMARY REASON FOR PULLING SOMEONE OVER. SO THAT IS MY ASK OF YOU THIS EVENING TO ENACT A POLICY FOR HPD TO HAVE A PRIMARY REASON, NOT A SECONDARY REASON TO PULL FOLKS OVER. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME. NEXT TL RICH RICHARDSON, SARAH REMAN. JOY, YOU SARAH, TO BE FOLLOWED BY JOY DAVIS. HI, CITY COUNCIL. UH, I'M SARAH. I'M A TEACHER. HOW MANY OF YOU HAVE READ? 1984 BY GEORGE ORWELL. COOL. SO I GOT A PHONE CALL TODAY FROM HPD. I DID NOT APPRECIATE THAT. 'CAUSE THAT IS PART OF GOVERNMENT MASTER SURVEILLANCE AND THAT'S NOT COOL. UM, IN HOUSTON, GEORGE ORWELL'S 1984 WARNING HAS COME TRUE. THE EYE OF BIG BROTHER IS A BADGE, A CAMERA, A TRAFFIC STOP, FLOCK, UH, AMERICAN GOVERNMENT MASS SURVEILLANCE AND NO OVERSIGHT ON POLICE POWER FACILITATED BY CORPORATE CONTRACTS LIKE FLOCK IS FASCISM. THIS CONTRACT PROTECTS PROPERTY, PROFIT AND POLICE. NON-SAFETY TRAFFIC STOPS HAVE BECOME A WAY TO CONTROL WHO MOVES, WHO BELONGS, AND WHO DISAPPEARS. THE FREEDOM OF MOVEMENT HAS BEEN CORRUPTED BY THESE BOURGEOISIE INTERESTS AND WITH THE POLICE AND CITY GOVERNMENT PROTECTING THEM. SO THIS CARS FOR LOGIC AND CORPORATE CONTRACT IS A MASTER SYSTEM USED DESPITE AND CRIMINALIZE ACROSS HOUSTON, INSTILLING THE ORWELLIAN FEAR OF OBEDIENCE AND CONTROL. AND AT THE SAME TIME, THESE NON-SAFETY TRAFFIC STOPS, UM, LIKE TINTED WINDOWS OR EXPIRED REGISTRATION IS WEAPONIZED AGAINST BLACK, BROWN AND IMMIGRANT DRIVERS. NEXT PROCEDURAL. NO, COME BACK, MA'AM. SORRY. I THOUGHT IT WAS PROCEDURAL. OH, COME BACK. YES, YOU PLEASE. SORRY. WHAT'S UP? THANK YOU, MAYOR. MR. SHA. UM, YOU KNOW, IT CAME TO MY ATTENTION. SOMEBODY GAVE ME A CALL AND THEY SAID THAT, THAT PEOPLE WERE BEING CALLED AND INTIMIDATED REGARDING COMING TO SPEAK HERE. THAT IS TOTALLY UNACCEPTABLE. UH, YEAH, THAT WAS SO BROWN AT H PDU CHIEF WAS GOING, I'M SORRY. SERGEANT BROWN OF COMMUNITY AFFAIRS FROM HPD CALLED ME. OKAY. I, I SPOKE WITH YOUR CHIEF OF STAFF. SHE SAID THAT THEY'RE GONNA TALK TO THEM. EVERYONE HAS A RIGHT TO COME AND SPEAK HERE. NOW, OF COURSE, THERE ARE ATTEMPTS TO RESOLVE ISSUES AND PEOPLE [01:35:01] ARE CALLING FROM MY OFFICE, OTHER COUNCIL MEMBERS, AND CERTAINLY THE MAYOR'S OFFICE. BUT NO ONE IS TO CALL AND INTIMIDATE ANYONE. AND SO I WAS ASSURED BY THE MAYOR'S CHIEF OF STAFF THAT THAT WOULD BE ADDRESSED. AND THAT IS NOT ACCEPTABLE. OKAY. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. DID SHE HAVE A PROCEDURAL MOTION? DO YOU HAVE A PROCEDURAL MOTION? OH, YES. AND I HAVE A, A PROCEDURAL MOTION AS WELL. MAYOR, UH, I WANT TO ASK THAT BISHOP ARIS HICKMAN BE MOVED, UH, BEHIND SARAH YE UH, ON THE THREE MINUTE NON AGENDA LIST. THANK YOU. MOTION MADE. AND SECOND. ALL IN FAVOR? SAY YES. THOSE OPPOSED THE NAME. MOTION PASSES. OKAY. GOOD EVENING, MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS. MY NAME IS JOY DAVIS. I'M THE SENIOR FIELD ORGANIZER FOR PEER JUSTICE AND A RESIDENT OF DISTRICT H. WE ASK YOU TO STOP NON-SAFETY TRAFFIC STOPS BECAUSE THEY'RE ROUTINELY USED TO AS PRETEXT TO INITIATE POLICING THAT ESCALATION TO VIOLENCE. MANY ASSAULTS BEGIN WHEN OFFICERS LOOK AT SOMEONE AND DECIDE THEY WANT TO FOLLOW THEM WITH THE INTENTION TO HARM THEM. THERE ARE OFFICERS WHO WOULD LOOK FOR INNOCENT AND UNSUSPECTING PEOPLE TO ANTAGONIZE AND TAKE OUT THEIR AGGRESSIONS ACROSS THE COUNTRY. WE HAVE WITNESSED NUMEROUS PEOPLE KILLED AFTER BEING PULLED OVER FROM MINOR EQUIPMENT OR ADMINISTRATIVE INFRACTIONS. FOR EXAMPLE, PHILANDO CASTILE IN MINNESOTA WHO WAS STOPPED FOR A BROKEN TAIL LIGHT AND HIS DEATH WAS LIVESTREAM FIRST. ALL TO SEE WALTER SCOTT, WHO WAS STOPPED FOR A NON-FUNCTIONING BRAKE LIGHT WAS SHOT WHILE FLEEING BECAUSE HE KNEW HIS LIFE WAS IN DANGER. THESE ARE NOT ISOLATED INCIDENTS. THEY ARE PATTERNS SHOWING ROUTINES. NON-SAFETY STOPS CAN BECOME DEADLY TRAFFIC STOPS, AND THEY DO NOT PROTECT PUBLIC SAFETY. AND THEN THERE'S FLOCK MASS SURVEILLANCE OF INNOCENT PEOPLE. THESE SURVEILLANCE CAMERAS ARE SUCH INVASIONS OF PRIVACY AND THE USE OF THEM LEADS TO THE TYPES OF SURVEILLANCE THAT SHOULD REQUIRE SEARCH WARRANTS. THEY RECORD EVERYONE REGARDLESS OF WHETHER A CRIME HAS OCCURRED. WHY SHOULD THE POLICE BE ABLE TO SHARE MY TRAVEL HISTORY WITH OTHERS? THANK YOU. COUNCILMAN JOY, MA'AM? HEY, UH, I DON'T KNOW HOW MANY MORE PEER JUSTICE MEMBERS WE HAVE LEFT, BUT I DID WANNA THANK YOU'ALL FOR COMING AND ORGANIZING AND USING YOUR VOICE. UM, ONE OF THE THINGS I'M INTERESTED IN, HAVE Y'ALL, WE, WE HAD SET UP SEVERAL YEARS AGO, THE POLICE TRANSPARENCY PORTAL, UH, WHICH IS TRACKING EVEN SITE AND RELEASE DATA AND ALLOWS A WAY TO SUBMIT COMPLAINTS AND THINGS LIKE THAT. HAVE Y'ALL BEEN LOOKING AT THAT? I, I HAVE NOT RECENTLY. SO I'M WONDERING, IS THAT BEING UPDATED? IS THERE RELEVANT INFORMATION THERE THAT YOU'RE LOOKING AT RIGHT NOW? WELL, I KNOW WHEN HPD CALLED ME TODAY, I, THAT WAS SOMETHING THAT I ASKED THEM FOR THAT, THAT THEY COULD SEND OVER AS WELL. OKAY. MM-HMM . UM, MY, I PROBABLY OUR STAFF. 'CAUSE AGAIN, IT'S, IT'S LATE. I KNOW IT'S LATE FOR Y'ALL TOO. THAT'S OKAY. THEY'RE NOT THERE. BUT WE'LL FIND A WAY. I'LL MAKE A NOTE AND IF I, I WILL SEE IF WE CAN SEND YOU THOSE LINKS TOO. I JUST WANT YOUR FEEDBACK ON THAT. OKAY. THAT WOULD BE HELPFUL. THANK YOU. NEXT. GABRIEL ISRAEL. JESS SPEER. J THOMAS. THERE'S A MOVEMENT IN THE BACK COURT. WHAT, WHAT'S YOUR NAME? ARE YOU JESS? UM, NOT YOU. WELL, GRACIE ISRAEL. I DON'T KNOW WHO MESSED THAT UP. GOOD EVENING, MAYOR AND COUNCIL MEMBERS GRACIE ISRAEL IN DISTRICT G I'M URGING YOU GUYS TO CANCEL THE FLOCK SURVEILLANCE CONTRACT. PASS AN ORDINANCE ORDINANCE THAT ENDS NON-SAFETY TRAFFIC STOPS AND END HPD COLLABORATION WITH ICE. THE FLOCK SAFETY CONTRACT ISN'T TRUE PUBLIC SAFETY. IT IS JUST MASS SURVEILLANCE THAT VIOLATES OUR FOURTH AMENDMENT RIGHT. THE CITY CURRENTLY HAS NO OVERSIGHT OR CONTROL OVER THE WAY HPD IS USING THIS FLOCK CAMERA ACCESS. AS A RESULT, HPD IS ALREADY ABUSING THEIR POWER IN REVIEWING FLOCK CAMERA FOOTAGE WITHOUT ANY LAWFUL BASIS TO DO SO. FOR EXAMPLE, AN OFFICER STALKED HIS EX-WIFE USING LICENSE PLATE READERS. NON-SAFETY TRAFFIC STOPS LIKE EXPIRED REGISTRATION OR CRACKED WINDSHIELD. DON'T MAKE OUR STREETS SAFER. WHAT THEY DO IS IN DANGER AND TARGET BLACK OR BROWN FOLKS AND OUR UNDOCUMENTED BROTHERS AND SISTERS. THESE STOPS ARE THE STARTING POINT FOR UNNECESSARY ARREST DEPORTATIONS AND VIOLENT ENCOUNTERS. TODAY. HPD HAS EVEN BEEN CALLING COMMUNITY MEMBERS TO DISCOURAGE THEM FROM TESTIFYING TONIGHT, THEY'VE BEEN SAYING SOME OFFENSIVE THINGS TO OUR PEOPLE AND EVEN TRYING TO ARGUE ABOUT OUR PAIN CAUSED BY HPD. THAT'S [01:40:01] INTIMIDATION. IT VIOLATES THEIR RIGHT TO SPEAK FREELY. THEY CLAIM THEY'RE JUST DOING THEIR JOB IN TERMS OF NON-SAFETY TRAFFIC STOPS. HOWEVER, ONCE UPON A TIME POLICING BEGAN AS SLAVE PATROLS THAT WERE JUST DOING THEIR JOBS. BUT LEGALITY DOESN'T EQUAL JUSTICE. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. NEXT. JESS SPEER. J THOMAS. SOPHIA SAGER TO BE FOLLOWED BY SARAH EMRAN. IT IS THIS ONE. RIGHT. HI. GOOD EVENING. COUNCIL MEMBERS. I'M VOICING MY CONCERN ABOUT THE DESTRUCTION OF THE MONTROSE MEMORIAL ON TAFT AND WESTHEIMER COMMEMORATING ALEX HILL. THIS IS A LOSS THAT THE LGBT COMMUNITY OF HOUSTON IS GRIEVING. AND NOW WE ARE CONCERNED ABOUT OTHER MEMORIALS, ESPECIALLY THE ONES OR, UH, HONORING GEORGE FLOYD AND VANESSA GLEAN. UM, AND ESPECIALLY DURING THE CURRENT AND TRYING TIMES, WE ARE EXPERIENCING, I'M URGING YOU TO TAKE LEGAL MEASURES TO POSTPONE OR REQUEST EXEMPTION TO GREG ABBOTT'S NEW DIRECTIVE. THIS IS A WASTE OF TAXPAYER MONEY WITH THE OUTCOME OF LESS LESSENING MORALE OF A LOT OF HOUSTONIANS WHO ARE ALREADY STRUGGLING WITH THE OBVIOUS ISSUES IN OUR CITY THAT A LOT OF US COME, HAVE COME TO SPEAK ABOUT. AND I WANTED TO TALK TO YOU ABOUT SOME OF THE REAL SOLUTIONS WE NEED TO SEE IN HOUSTON. WE SHOULD PROVIDE MORE AFFORDABLE HOUSING, FOOD SECURITY, AND DISASTER RELIEF FUNDS. WE NEED TO SUPPORT THE APARTMENT INSPECTION ORDINANCE AND THE CIVILITY ORDINANCE EXPANSION AND TERMINATE HPDS INVOLVEMENT IN ICE OPERATIONS IN THE CITY. AND I WANNA STRESS THAT THE REMOVAL OF MEMORIALS IS A WASTE OF TIME AND MONEY WHEN THERE ARE MULTIPLE CRISES CURRENTLY STRIPPING US OF OUR INCOME, OUR MOVEMENT, AND OUR FREEDOM AND OUR LIVES. AND I HOPE THAT THESE POINTS ARE CONSIDERED AND THAT THE COUNCIL CHOOSES TO ACT WITH YOUR CONSTITUENTS BEST INTERESTS IN MIND. THANK YOU. NEXT, SARAH IMRAN TO, TO BE FOLLOWED BY CHRISTOS PATELLA. HI, COUNCIL MEMBERS. I'M SARAH AND I'M A RESIDENT FROM DISTRICT C. UM, I LIVE WITHIN 10 MINUTES FROM MONTROSE AND AREA THAT WE ALL KNOW AS THE GABER. UM, I KNOW WHAT IT'S LIKE TO BE A QUEER RESIDENT OF THE CITY AND OF THE STATE, AND I KNOW THAT OUR FIGHT WILL NEVER STOP UNTIL HATE STOPS. UM, BUT I'M HERE TO ADD TO THE VOICES OF ALL THOSE HERE, ALL THOSE WHO CAME BEFORE US AND WHO WILL COME AFTER TO DEMAND OUR RIGHT TO SIMPLY EXIST. WE DEMAND THOSE OF YOU IN POWER TO PUT UP AN ACTUAL FIGHT FOR US. NO MATTER HOW SMALL YOU CONSIDER A SIDEWALK TO BE COMPARED TO THE THREAT OF LOSING FUNDS, WE DO, WE EMPLOY AND INFORM YOU, YOU DO NOT GET TO MAKE THAT DECISION FOR US. WE DEMAND THOSE OF YOU IN POWER TO USE OUR TAX DOLLARS IN WAYS THAT WE ACTUALLY NEED, NOT BY GIVING POLICE OFFICERS MILLIONS OF DOLLARS IN RAISES WHILE CUTTING FUNDS TO CRITICAL SOCIAL SERVICES, WHICH HAVE NOT HELPED OVERALL SAFETY AS WE CONTINUE TO DISCOVER BODIES IN OUR VALUES. NICK CHRISTOS PATELLAS TO BE FOLLOWED BY ROHAN EVANS. GOOD EVENING MAYOR CITY COUNCIL. MY NAME IS CHRISTOS PATELLAS. I'M HERE TODAY AS A CONCERNED MONTROSE RESIDENT. THE DESTRUCTION OF THE MONTROSE PRIDE CROSSWALK WASN'T JUST ABOUT REMOVING PAINT. IT'S CAPITULATION TO HATE THAT SETS A DANGEROUS PRECEDENT WHEN GREG ABBOTT CAME FOR THE L-G-B-T-Q COMMUNITY. WHY DIDN'T WE SHOW THAT HOUSTON THE MOST DIVERSE CITY IN OUR NATION IS FOR EVERYONE. WHEN WE ALLOW ABBOTT TO PAVE OVER OUR PRIDE, WHICH COMMUNITY COMES NEXT? ARE WE JUST SUPPOSED TO ACCEPT THIS? I EMPLOY CITY LEADERSHIP TO STAND WITH US IN CELEBRATING INCLUSIVITY IN OUR DIVERSITY. IF YOU'RE GOING TO MARCH IN OUR PARADES, YOU NEED TO STAND WITH US WHEN THINGS GET TOUGH. SO NOW I'M ASKING HOW ARE YOU COMMITTING TO CREATING A MORE INCLUSIVE, ACCEPTING HOUSTON? BECAUSE IT TAKES ALL OF US TO SHOW THAT IN HOUSTON. YOU'RE WELCOME TO BE SOMEONE AND BE PROUD OF IT. THANK YOU. THANKS ROHAN EVANS TO BE FOLLOWED BY SARAH SAYED. IF THE CRIME RATE IN HOUSTON IS SO HIGH, WHY DON'T WE HA AND WE DON'T HAVE ENOUGH MANPOWER TO FIGHT SERIOUS CRIME, THEN WHY ARE WE WASTING PRECIOUS TIME ON MINOR NON-SAFETY TRAFFIC STOPS, CRIME IS TRENDING DOWN, YET WE'RE STILL FOCUSING OUR LIMITED RESOURCES WHERE THEY, WHERE THEY WHERE THEY ARE NEEDED MOST. WE'VE ALLOWED A LOOPHOLE TO [01:45:01] REINDUCE HARMFUL PRACTICES. TRAFFIC CITATION QUOTAS ARE ILLEGAL YET. HPD FOUND A WORKAROUND. WE ALL KNOW WHO THESE DISCRETIONARY PREDATORY STOPS IMPACT MOST. WE WORK, WE WORKED WITH THE CITY AS WELL AS THE POLICE UNION TO END TRAFFIC STOP QUOTAS. 72 HOURS LATER, HPD UNDER THE DIRECTION OF CITY, UH, CITY LEADERSHIP LAUNCHED A SAFETY TRAFFIC STOP BLITZ TARGETING BLACK, BROWN AND IMMIGRANT NEIGHBORHOODS THAT, THAT SENT A CLEAR MESSAGE TO THE VULNERABLE HOUSTONIANS AND THE QUOTAS WON'T END DISCRIMINATORY POLICING. IF WE GONNA BUILD BETTER RELATIONS BETWEEN LAW ENFORCEMENT COMMUNITY, YOUR TIME HAS EXPIRED. IT STARTS WITH SAFETY AND TRUST, NOT FEAR. THESE NON-SAFETY TRAFFIC STOPS DON'T MAKE US FEEL SAFE OR PROTECTED. THEY MAKE US FEEL HAUNTED. BUT I THANK YOU MAYOR WHITMEYER. THANK YOU. WHAT WILL IT TAKE FOR ME AND OTHER ADVOCATES TO SIT DOWN, GET ON THE CALENDAR WITH YOU, TO GET TO HELP DEVELOP MORE COMMUNITY CENTERED AND DATA DRIVEN SOLUTIONS? THANKS. WE'LL WORK ON IT. OKAY. YOU, BECAUSE I'VE TRIED TO REACH OUT TO YOU A COUPLE TIMES AND IT, IT WAS JUST, I UNDERSTAND. NOTHING. THANK YOU. ALL RIGHT. NEXT SARAH EZ TO BE FOLLOWED BY BISHOP ARIS HICKMAN. GOOD EVENING COUNCIL MEMBERS. MY NAME IS SARA, AND I SERVE AS THE POLICY MANAGER OF URI JUNTOS WORKING ALONGSIDE IMMIGRANT AND WORKING CLASS COMMUNITY MEMBERS. WE SUPPORT THE ORIGINAL INTENT OF THE APARTMENT INSPECTION ORDINANCE BECAUSE EVERY HOUSTON FAMILY DESERVES A SAFE AND HEALTHY HOME, ESPECIALLY WHEN DISASTERS STRIKE. WE'VE SEEN WHAT HAPPENS WHEN APARTMENTS GO UNINSPECTED. FAMILIES LEFT INSIDE UNSAFE CONDITIONS, SENIORS STRUGGLING THROUGH FREEZES AND HEAT WAVES AND TENANTS WITHOUT ANYWHERE TO TURN TO. WE KNOW THIS POLICY IS NOT PERFECT RIGHT NOW, BUT WHAT'S MOST IMPORTANT IS A COMMITMENT FROM CITY COUNCIL TO KEEP PRIORITIZING IT, TO MAKE SURE EVERYONE HAS A SEAT AT THE TABLE AS IT'S IMPLEMENTED AND REFINED. TENANTS, COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS AND PROPERTY OWNERS ALL NEED TO BE A PART OF THAT PROCESS. THAT MEANS TRANSPARENCY, REGULAR PROGRESS, UPDATES, AND ACCOUNTABILITY SO THAT THIS DOES NOT FADE ONCE THE HEADLINES DO. WE KNOW THAT SOME ISSUES TAKE TIME TO MOVE FORWARD, BUT THIS IS SOMETHING THAT YOU HAVE THE UNIQUE OPPORTUNITY TO IMPLEMENT NOW TO HELP US DO BETTER FOR THE FUTURE. IF WE'VE LEARNED ANYTHING FROM RECENT DISASTERS, IT'S THAT WE CANNOT AFFORD TO WAIT TO PROTECT OUR NEIGHBORS. THANK YOU. COUNCILMAN PLUMMER. THANK YOU MAYOR. THANK YOU SARAH. PERFECTLY SAID. I THINK THERE'S ONE THING THAT I HAVE TO MAKE SURE I'M INCREDIBLY CLEAR ON IS THAT THE, THE, THE FIRST RENDITION OF WHAT WE PRESENTED HAD TO GO THROUGH LEGAL. WE HAD TO ENSURE THAT THERE WERE NO ISSUES WHEN IT CAME TO CHAPTER NINE TWO AT THE STATE LEVEL, AND THAT THE CITY OF HOUSTON WOULD NOT BE SUED. AND SO WE HAD TO REMOVE SOME OF THE ITEMS ON THERE BECAUSE WE JUST DID NOT WANT TO BE IN THE SITUATION TO WHERE WE WOULD BE IN JEOPARDY. AND SO WHAT WE SEE RIGHT NOW IS JUST THE BEGINNING. IT'S JUST THE BEGINNING AND WHAT YOU'VE SAID AND HOW YOU'VE SAID IT IS PERFECT. AND I WANNA THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE AND ALWAYS ADVOCATING FOR CITY, FOR THE CITY OF HOUSTON RESIDENTS. THANKS. NEXT. BISHOP ARIS HICKMAN TO BE FOLLOWED BY TRAVIS JOHNS. GOOD EVENING, UH, MAYOR AND, AND COUNCIL. I AM BISHOP ARIS HICKMAN AND I'M HERE, UH, TO REPRESENT AND BE A VOICE FOR THE REPRESENT FOR THE CITIZENS ALONG WEBER CREST ROAD. UH, WE'RE ASKING TWO THINGS THIS EVENING. NUMBER ONE, WE'RE ASKING THAT THE ROAD BE REPAIRED AND REHAB BETWEEN THE 1100 AND $12,000 12,000 BLOCK OF OF WEBER CREST. THERE'S THREE SCHOOLS THERE. UH, ALBERT THOMAS MIDDLE SCHOOL, STERLING HIGH SCHOOL OR INTERNATIONAL LEADERSHIP, A TOTAL OF 2,270 CHILDREN THAT DEPEND ON THEIR PARENTS AND CARRY 'EM DOWN. THAT RICKETY ELABORATED ROAD, A TOTAL OF 508 NEW HOMES HAVE BEEN BUILT WITHIN 10 YEARS. UH, WHICH 257 WERE BUILT BY MEREDITH'S HOME. AGAIN. OUR SECOND THING IS NOT ONLY DO WE WANT THE ROAD REHAB, BUT THE SECOND THING WE'LL ASK IS THAT THERE'LL BE AN ENFORCEMENT OF, UH, ORDINANCE OR THE CREATION OF AN ORDINANCE THAT WILL REQUIRE DEVELOPERS AND HOME BUILDERS TO RE REPAIR OR REPLACE THE ROAD. YOUR TIME HAS EXPIRED THAT THEY, THAT THEY HAVE DESTROYED. I, I'LL BE BRIEF. AND OUR NEIGHBORHOOD, WE SHOP AT, UH, UH, SOME STORES THAT SELL HAIR CARE PRODUCTS. I DON'T HAVE MUCH OF THAT LEFT, BUT I SHOP THERE SOMETIME AND THEY HAVE A SIGN UP THAT, THAT SAYS, IF YOU BREAK, YOU BUY. WE'RE JUST ASKING WHEN DEVELOPERS COME IN AND PULL 2000 LOADS OF, OF SOIL ACROSS THE ROAD AND TEAR IT UP, WE ON THE CITY SIDE, WE DIDN'T COME TO CRITICIZE THE CITY. WHY, WHY COULD WE ASK THOSE [01:50:01] DEVELOPERS TO DEFRAY SOME IT THE COST OF REPAIRING THAT ROAD? I WAS TOLD BY A FRIEND OF MINE THAT A MILE A ROAD COSTS ABOUT A MILLION DOLLARS OF REPAIR. OUR ROAD NEEDS ABOUT A HALF A MILLION DOLLARS WORTH OF REPAIR. I THINK MARRIAGE IS HOME WHO MADE, WHO SOLD $6.4 BILLION WORTH OF HOMES LAST YEAR AND BOUGHT IN $786 MILLION OF NET PROFIT SHOULD BE GIVEN A LITTLE BIT OF THEIR MONEY TO MAKE SURE THE CHILDREN IN THE COMMUNITY HAVE A ROAD THAT'S SAFE AND NOT HAZARDOUS TO COMMUTE BACK AND FORTH ON. ALSO, I REALIZE MY TIME IS LIMITED THIS, SO I BOUGHT SOME, UH, SOME MATERIAL. COUNCIL MEMBER EVAN SHABBAT. THANK YOU, MAYOR. THANK YOU BISHOP HICKMAN. YOU HAVE BEEN WORKING VERY HARD ABOUT THAT ROAD FOR YEARS. CERTAINLY I WOULD LOVE TO GET THE CITY TO LOOK AT IT, BUT I DO BELIEVE THAT BECAUSE THERE'S DEVELOPMENT GOING ON, THOSE THINGS SHOULD BE NEGOTIATED IN THE CONTRACT. THAT WHEN THEY ARE COMING DOWN THE ROADS WITH THOSE VERY HEAVY TRUCKS AND FURTHER, UH, CREATING DAMAGE, THOSE ARE THINGS WE NEED TO LOOK AT. UH, IT'S NOT GOOD ENOUGH TO JUST BUILD BEAUTIFUL HOMES, BUT THEN HAVE RAGGED IN YOUR WORDS, RAGGED AND DILAPIDATED STREETS THAT PEOPLE HAVE TO GO DOWN. SO I WILL CERTAINLY, UH, TRY TO SEE IF WE CAN PERSUADE THOSE THAT CAN MAKE THAT DECISION, UH, TO LOOK AT THAT PARTICULAR ROAD AND SEE IF IT CAN BE, UH, ABATED. THANK YOU, COUNCILMAN. WE APPRECIATE THE TIME, MAYOR. WE APPRECIATE AND YOU'VE BEEN TALKING ABOUT A LONG TIME, SO CERTAINLY I WOULD LIKE TO BE OF ASSISTANCE IF I CAN. THANK WE ON THE SIDE OF THE CITY, WE, WE, WE, WE THINK THAT THOSE PEOPLE WHO TEAR THOSE ROWS UP SHOULD PAY SOME MONEY TO PUT THOSE ROWS BACK. THANK YOU VERY MUCH, NICK. ALWAYS. THANK YOU NICK. TRAVIS JOHNS TO BE FOLLOWED BY MARK HARDY. UH, HI. GOOD EVENING. UM, I'M TRAVIS JOHNS TODAY. UM, AS A 15 YEAR RESIDENT OF MONTROSE, I WAS ALARMED. LIKE, UH, UH, SOME FRIENDS HERE OF THE RECENT, UH, PAINTED CROSSWALKS TO ME. CROSSWALKS REPRESENT WHAT A CITY'S SUPPOSED TO BE ABOUT, STRUCTURE, PURPOSE, AND HISTORICALLY STRAIGHT LINES. AND WITHOUT THEM PEDESTRIAN NIGHTMARE, YOU'D GOT PEOPLE IN CHAOS DARTING IN AND OUTTA TRAFFIC, RISKING LIFE AND LIMB TO GET TO THE OTHER SIDE. THERE'S AN OLD POULTRY JOKE. YOU MIGHT HAVE HEARD ABOUT A CHICKEN WHO'S TRYING TO TRUST, BUT IT FOCUSES ON THE WHY. THE POINT IS, WITHOUT CROSSWALKS, I DON'T EVEN THINK IT WOULD BE FUNNY ANYMORE. BUT THE POINT IS, THE CITY WAS SHOWN SOME REAL LEADERSHIP WHEN GOVERNOR ABBOTT MADE IT CLEAR THE NAME OF PUBLIC SAFETY IS DOING THE WORK. WE'RE NOT GONNA BE DISTRACTED ON OUR, OUR CROSSWALKS. WE'RE GONNA GET TO THE OTHER SIDE. 'CAUSE IT'S ABOUT SAFETY, NOT JUST PHYSICALLY, BUT YOU KNOW, MENTALLY TOO. YOU WANNA PROTECT YOUR MIND FROM COLORS, REPRESENTATION FROM IDEAS. I MEAN, I THOUGHT CROSSWALKS WERE FOR EVERYBODY, WHICH TECHNICALLY, I, I GUESS THAT'S WHAT THE RAINBOW PART WAS FOR, BUT IT'S NOT LIKE ACTIVISTS WERE GETTING ARRESTED OR ANYTHING. BUT THANK YOU VERY MUCH. NICKS MARK HARDY TO BE FOLLOWED BY JOHN NICKS. GOOD EVENING. MY NAME IS MARK HARDY. I HAVE BEEN A PROUD MEMBER OF THE LGBTQIA PLUS COMMUNITY OF HOUSTON FOR MORE THAN 25 YEARS. AND YOU MAY BELIEVE THAT THE INSTALLATION, OR IN THIS CASE THE REMOVAL OR COVERING UP OF A RAINBOW CROSSWALK IS UNIMPORTANT, IS INSIGNIFICANT, BUT YOU WOULD BE WRONG. VISIBILITY MATTERS. REPRESENTATION MATTERS, AND HIDING FORMS OF VISIBILITY AND REPRESENTATION. IT DOESN'T PROTECT ANYONE. IT ONLY CAUSES HARM BY YOU GOING OUT OF YOUR WAY TO COVER UP SOMETHING THAT ALREADY EXISTED. YOU ARE TELLING THE MEMBERS OF THE L-G-B-T-Q COMMUNITY THAT, YOU KNOW, THERE'S SOMETHING THAT SHOULD BE HIDDEN. SOMETHING THAT IS SHOULD BE TREATED LIKE A DIRTY LITTLE SECRET THAT WE CAN'T TALK ABOUT, THAT WE CAN'T SEE. AND AT THE SAME TIME, YOU'RE ALSO TELLING PEOPLE WHO HAVE A PERSONAL PROBLEM OR A PERSONAL VENDETTA WITH PEOPLE WHO IDENTIFY AS LGBT, YOUR YOUR TIME HAS EXPIRED. THAT THEY ARE JUSTIFIED IN ASSAULTING, IN HARASSING, IN KILLING US. AND COVERING THIS UP, YOU ARE HELD LIABLE. THE BLOOD IS ON YOUR HANDS. NICKS JOHN NICKS TO BE FOLLOWED BY ALEXIA HERNANDEZ MAR, CAN WE LOWER A LITTLE BIT? [01:55:01] YES, MR. GR HOWDY, MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL MINUTE'S GONNA BE TOUGH. SEVERAL THINGS I'M GONNA TALK ABOUT. I WANNA SEE THE, UH, EVOLVE RIDE COMMUNITY CONNECTOR SHUTTLES. YOU LIKE, DISCONTINUE ANY TYPE OF PARTNERSHIP. IT'S FAR FROM A DA COMPLIANT, I CAN'T EVEN USE IT AS A WHEELCHAIR USER. TWO, I NEED TO KEEP, WOULD LIKE TO KEEP THE RIGHT, THE RED LINE, RESTORE EVERYTHING BACK TO THE ORIGINAL PLANS, LET IT HAVE SIGNAL PRIORITY FOR THAT. AND EVEN ON THE BUSES, BUT ESPECIALLY THE RED LINE, IT'S RIDICULOUS HOW LONG IT IS. AND THREE, WE NEED TO FIX THE, UH, CITY OF HOUSTON AUDIENCES FOR VEHICLES FOR HIRE, ESPECIALLY FOR TNC FOR NUMBER. IT'S NOT NUMBER 46. THERE'S A LOT OF ISSUES. THERE'S LIKE A LOT OF DISCRIMINATION AND YOU CAN'T EVEN REALLY USE A RIDESHARE FOR A WHEELCHAIR. AND NUMBER FOUR, I KNOW I COULD PROBABLY TALK ABOUT IT MORE, BUT LIKE EVERYONE ELSE, WE NEED THE PRIDE CROSSWALK BACK. AND IF THE CITY THREAT STATE THREATENS TO TAKE MONEY, THEN WE STOP SENDING MONEY ON TO AUSTIN AND WORK ON TRYING TO BE AN INDEPENDENT STATE. BE THE 51ST STATE BECAUSE WHAT WE HAVE RIGHT HERE, THE PEOPLE ARE THE CITY. THE TIME IS EXPIRED. THAT'S NOT THE CASE IN THIS CASE. AND WE NEED THE SIDEWALK BACK. WE'RE NOT THE PEOPLE OF THE CITY WHEN YOU'RE TAKING AWAY A SIDEWALK AND LOADS OF PEOPLE ARE AGAINST IT. AND THAT'S ALL I HAVE. I'M OUT OF TIME. OKAY. GO ON MORE. HOLD ON. THANK YOU. COUNCILMAN KAMAN. JOHN, I JUST, JOHN, I JUST WANTED TO THANK YOU FOR CONTINUING TO ADVOCATE FOR ALL COMMUNITIES, BUT IN PARTICULAR ELEVATING THE CHALLENGES AND THE UNNECESSARY HURDLES THAT OUR DISABILITY COMMUNITY EXPERIENCES. OH, IT'S LIKE THIS BUILDING HERE. THIS ROOM HERE IS NOT 80 A COMPLIANT AT ALL. YEAH. AND, AND I, I WILL CONTINUE TO WORK ALONGSIDE YOU. YOU HAVE FLAGGED CERTAIN ISSUES IN DISTRICT C THAT WE'RE WORKING ON, BUT I JUST, YOU ARE RAISING A VERY IMPORTANT VOICE FOR MANY THAT DO NOT ALWAYS HAVE A VOICE, SO THANK YOU. RIGHT. AND IT'S LIKE THE RIDE SHUTTLE. I MEAN, I CAN'T USE THE RIDE SHUTTLE OR ANY, THE, THE COMMUNITY CONNECTOR. IT'S LIKE NOWHERE THAT, AND A LOT OF IT'S JUST METRO. I KNOW I HAVE A LOT OF OTHER PEOPLE. THANKS SO MUCH. THANK YOU. NEXT ALEXIA R HERNANDEZ DAVIS DEMAN TO BE FOLLOWED BY EMMANUEL MUNOZ. GOOD EVENING. UH, BEFORE I BEGIN, I'D LIKE TO DO A QUICK TEMPERATURE CHECK AND READ THE ROOM. RAISE YOUR HAND IF MAYOR WHITT MEYER'S ADMINISTRATION HAS NEGATIVELY IMPACTED YOU OR YOUR COMMUNITY. THAT'S A LOT OF HANDS. I'M SPEAKING TODAY AS A CONCERNED MEMBER OF HOUSTON'S LGBTQ PLUS COMMUNITY. GOVERNOR ABBOTT GAVE CITIES 30 DAYS TO REMOVE OUR RAINBOW CROSSWALK. BUT YOUR METRO MAYOR WHITMEYER REMOVED IT IN 12 DAYS. WHEREAS MY CAMERA IS THAT THIS ONE CHAT IS THIS REAL? YOU RUSHED IT, MAYOR, WITHOUT ANY PRIOR NOTICE OR CARE FOR OUR COMMUNITY. I BET EVEN GOVERNOR ABBOTT WAS LIKE, DAMN, I DIDN'T THINK THEY'D REMOVE IT THAT FAST. SAN ANTONIO SOUGHT, SOUGHT AN EXEMPTION AND STOOD UP FOR THEIR PEOPLE. SO WHY DIDN'T YOU, FROM COUNCIL MEMBER CAYMAN'S PRESS CONFERENCE WHERE COUNCIL MEMBER CASTILLO AND OTHER ELECTED OFFICIALS STOOD UP FOR A COMMUNITY? YOU, MR. MAYOR, WERE NOWHERE TO BE FOUND. YOU HELD MEETINGS WITH PROMINENT LGBTQ PLUS COMMUNITY LEADERS AND YOUR ADVISORY BOARD, YET YOU CONTINUED TO DRAG YOUR FEET ON BREAKING YOUR SILENCE. IT TOOK YOU HOURS TO CAPITULATE AND A WEEK TO COMMUNICATE. YOU HAD BEEN OUR CHAMPION FOR DECADES IN THE STATE SENATE, BUT YOU QUIT FIGHTING FOR US AS SOON AS YOU BECAME MAYOR. AND YOU WONDER WHY YOUR NICKNAME FROM DECADES AGO PERSISTS TO THIS DAY OF QUI MEYER. SO IF SO, IF YOU WON'T FIGHT TO PROTECT OUR SYMBOLS, IF YOU WON'T FIGHT TO PROTECT OUR PEOPLE, WHO WILL YOU PROTECT OTHER THAN YOUR DONORS AND POLICE UNION? WHEN ARE YOU GOING TO FIGHT FOR US? RAISE YOUR HANDS IF YOU DISAPPROVE OF THE WAY THE MAYOR IS WINNING THIS. THANK YOU. NEXT. EMMANUEL MUNOZ. RIE ANDERSON ARI TO BE FOLLOWED BY JAY THOMAS. MAYOR WHITMEYER, I AM GRAVELY CONCERNED THAT YOU'RE GOING TO ERASE HOUSTON'S BLACK LIVES MATTER ART LIKE YOU DID THE RAINBOW CROSSWALK. I WOULD LIKE TO SHARE HOW WE WOULD PREFER TO SEE OUR TAX DOLLARS USED IN HOUSTON. THE US CENSUS REVEALED THAT HOUSTON HAS THE HIGHEST POVERTY RATE OF ANY MAJOR US CITY, AND ONE IN EIGHT OF US ARE ABOUT TO LOSE SNAP BENEFITS. MY FRIEND ANTHONY IS AN UNHOUSED GENTLEMAN WHO IS DISCHARGED FROM BEN TOP HOSPITAL AFTER HAVING HIS ARM OPERATED ON. THERE IS FUNCTIONALLY ONLY ONE OVERNIGHT SHELTER IN HOUSTON THAT'S STAR OF HOPE AND ANTI-GAY AND ANTI-TRANS RELIGIOUS MISSION CENTER. I'VE CALLED EVERY SINGLE OTHER SHELTER ON THE HOMELESS RESOURCE CARDS AND THEY ONLY SERVE PEOPLE WITH VERY [02:00:01] SPECIFIC QUALIFICATIONS. SO AT 5:00 AM LAST MONDAY, I PICKED UP ANTHONY FROM BEN TAUB AND DROPPED HIM OFF AT STAR OF HOPE SO HE COULD GET IN THE LINE OUTSIDE TWO HOURS EARLY, BUT HE STILL DIDN'T GET A SPOT. FOUR DAYS AGO, AN UNHOUSED HOUSTON MAN WAS FOUND, LYNCHED AND LIT ON FIRE. AND I WONDER HOW MANY OF THE BODIES IN THE BAYOU WERE UNHOUSED PEOPLE. MANY OF YOUR CONSTITUENTS ARE CLOSER TO LIVING IN THE STREET THAN LIVING IN RIVER OAKS. MOST OF MY LOVED ONES HERE HAVE BEEN, TIME HAS EXPIRED. AT SOME POINT YOU ARE A THREAT TO PUBLIC SAFETY. WE DEMAND OUR TAX DOLLARS BE USED FOR PUBLIC HOUSING, APARTMENT INSPECTIONS AND DISASTER RELIEF. THANK YOU. THAT WILL KEEP THE PUBLIC SAFER, NOT YOUR ANTI POOR ANTIQUE AND ANTI-BLACK ATTACKS. NEXT J THOMAS TO BE FOLLOWED BY CHRISTINE COWEN. MOST MAJOR CITIES ARE IN TURMOIL. MR. WHITMEYER SAID WE ARE NOT. THIS IS A QUOTE FROM THE NEW YORK TIMES ARTICLE, THE DEMOCRATIC MAYOR WHO THINKS CITIES ARE HANDLING TRUMP WRONG, PUBLISHED LAST WEEK DISCUSSING HOW A MAYOR WI MEYER RUNS THE CITY OF HOUSTON. IT WAS MIND BOGGLING READING THIS ARTICLE WHEN THE MAYOR ALLOWED TRUMP AND ABBOTT TO REMOVE THE MEMORIAL RAINBOW CROSSWALK. DESPITE THE COMMUNITY OVERWHELMINGLY BEING AGAINST THE REMOVAL. IT'S OFFENSIVE TO HEAR THE MAYOR SAY WE'RE NOT ADDRESSING THAT RIGHT NOW. IN RESPONSE TO A QUESTION ABOUT THE BLM MEMORIAL THAT SITS IN FRONT OF JACKIE YATES HIGH SCHOOL AND HOW IT COULD BE REMOVED, IT'S TERRIBLE TO SEE THE MAYOR NOT HOLDING HPD ACCOUNTABLE FOR THE ICE ENTERTAINMENT OF 15-YEAR-OLD EMMANUEL GONZALEZ. DESPITE HIM SAYING HPD WOULD NOT BE INVOLVED WITH ICE, IT'S DISTURBING TO SEE HIS LACK OF CONCERN TOWARDS THE SHEER NUMBER OF BODIES PILING UP IN THE BAYOU WITH THE HOMELESS MAN BEING FOUND, HANGING AND ON FIRE AT SIX 10. AND SKELETAL REMAINS BEING DISCOVERED IN A PORTABLE RESTROOM SITTING BAYOU IN THE PAST WEEK. THE ONLY THING I'VE SEEN AMIR DO IS JUDGE IN THE ARTICLE HE JUDGED MAYORS BRANDON JOHNSON OF CHICAGO AND KAREN BASS OF LA HE EVEN JUDGED DEMOCRATIC SOCIALISTS. ZORA MOMANI, YOUR TIME HAS EXPIRED. WHO WAS I IN THE MAYOR OF NEW YORK YET? WHAT DO Y'ALL HAVE IN COMMON? A PLAN FOR THE CITY. A BACKBONE. THEY STAND UP TO TRUMP AND HIS CRONIES. THEY ACTUALLY FIGHT FOR THEIR COMMUNITY. WHAT THEY DON'T DO IS HANG OUT WITH THE POLICE CHIEF ON NIGHT RIDES THROUGHOUT THE CITY AND JUDGE SMOKE HOUSELESS, COMPLAIN ABOUT THE YOUTH HAVING FUN AT CLUBS OR ABOUT LANDSCAPING. WHAT WILL IT TAKE FOR THE MAYOR TO FIGHT FOR FIGHT THIS FASCIST TRUMP REGIME? WHEN WILL YOU FINALLY GAIN A BACKBONE AND STAND UP TO ABBOTT? YOU SAID IN THE SAME, UH, NEW YORK TIMES ARTICLE? SOMETIMES THE LOUDER YOU GET, THE LESS PEOPLE LISTEN TO YOU. WELL, LEMME GET CLOSER TO THE MIC SO YOU CAN HEAR ME CLEARLY DO SOMETHING. OKAY. AND IN THE WORDS OF DESMOND TUTU, IF YOU'RE, IF YOU ARE NEUTRAL IN SITUATIONS OF INJUSTICE, YOU HAVE CHOSEN THE CIDER DALE OPPRESSOR. NEXT CHRISTINE COLLINS TO BE FOLLOWED BY JULIE DEBE. DOBY. OKAY. GOOD EVENING, UH, COUNSEL AND MAYOR WHITMEYER. MY NAME IS CHRISTINE COWEN AND I AM A CURRENT RESIDENT OF THE SIXTH WARD NEIGHBORHOOD. NEXT, AND I RAISE MY FAMILY NEXT TO THE PR UH, THE PROPERTY THAT'S FOR THE PROPOSED GAS STATION. OUR NUMBER ONE CONCERN OF OUR NEIGHBORHOOD IS SAFETY. AND A GAS STATION IS A CAR ORIENTED BUSINESS WHERE, UH, CARS ARE GOING IN AND OUT CONSTANTLY ALL DAY. AND THE PROPOSED GAS STATION IS PROPOSING THAT THE GAS TRUCKS MAKE A RIGHT ONTO SILVER STREET NEXT TO MY PROPERTY AND GO DOWN THE RESIDENTIAL STREET. OUR NEIGHBORHOOD IS A WALKABLE, PEDESTRIAN FRIENDLY NEIGHBORHOOD, AND IT'S A COMMUNITY THAT WE'VE WORKED HARD FOR. WE'VE ALSO WORKED WITH COUNCILMAN CASTILLO AND TURS TO ADD TRAFFIC SAFETY AND CROSSWALK LIGHT AT THE INTERSECTION OF WASHINGTON AND SILVER STREET. AND THE GAS STATION WILL REVERSE THESE IMPROVEMENTS. THERE'S ALSO HEALTH AND ENVIRONMENTAL CONCERNS OF OUR NEIGHBORS THAT WERE LIVING SO CLOSE TO GAS STATION WITH BENZENE AND THE CONTAMINATING SOIL AND WATER YOUR TIME, WATER EXPIRED. SO I URGE YOU TO PROTECT THE OLD SIX WORTH NEIGHBORHOOD AND PRO PRIORITIZE THE DEVELOPMENT THAT ALIGNS WITH OUR COMMUNITY VALUES. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME. THANK YOU. COUNCILMAN CASTILLO. WELCOME. THANK YOU MAYOR. AND CHRISTINE, THANK YOU FOR, FOR BEING HERE THIS EVENING. YOU AND ALL THE OTHER RESIDENTS OF THE OLD SIX WARD. MM-HMM . I KNOW WE STILL HAVE A LOT OF SPEAKERS LEFT, SO I WILL LET ALL OF Y'ALL SPEAK AND THEN ADDRESS Y'ALL AS A GROUP AFTER. UH, CHRIS'S COMMENTS. OKAY. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. NEXT, JULIE DOBY TO BE FOLLOWED BY JOE BAILEY, JR. HI, I AM JULIE TOBY AND I ALSO LIVE IN THE OLD SIXTH FORD. I LIVE IN THE BETTY WILLIAMS HOUSE, WHICH IS, WAS BUILT IN 1862 AND WAS DESIGNATED BY CITY COUNCIL AS A HOUSTON HISTORIC PROPERTY IN 1997. UM, CHRISTINE'S AND MY PROPERTY ARE TWO THAT ARE IMMEDIATELY ADJACENT TO, UM, [02:05:01] THIS PROPOSED GAS STATION SERVICE STATION AT 1909 WASHINGTON AVENUE, A GROUP OF US. AND WE FOUND OUT ABOUT THIS IN JUNE, UM, ONLY BECAUSE SOMETHING WAS POSTED BECAUSE THEY'D ALREADY GOTTEN A PERMIT FROM TEXAS DEPARTMENT OF LICENSING AND REGULATION. IT HAD ALREADY BEEN REPLANTED, SO WE DIDN'T HAVE TO BE NOTIFIED AND WE HAD NOT BEEN. UM, WE FOUND OUT ABOUT A GROUP OF US FORMED TO TRY AND, UM, AFFECT THE GAS STATION CONVENIENCE PROJECT TO BE BETTER ALIGNED WITH OUR NEIGHBORHOOD, WHICH IS A WALKABLE NEIGHBORHOOD. THE INTERSECTION CHRISTINE MENTIONED, UM, IS WHERE THE, WE HAVE FOUND OUT. AND THANK YOU COUNCILMAN CASTILLO FOR, UM, INTERFACING OR INTERACTING WITH THE DEVELOPERS FOR US, SO THAT WE FOUND SOME INFORMATION OUT. ONE THING IS THAT THE TANKER TRUCKS WILL BE LOADING THE FUEL INTO THIS UNDERGROUND TANKS, UM, THREE FEET FROM OUR PROPERTY LINES. UM, I HAVEN'T YOUR, YOUR TIME HAS EXPIRED. OKAY. UH, ANYWAY, I HOPE THAT WHAT WE'RE ASKING IS WE ARE STEWARDS OF THESE HISTORIC PROPERTIES. THE CITY HAS RECOGNIZED THAT THOSE ARE IMPORTANT AND WE ASK FOR THE CITY'S HELP IN TRYING TO, UM, AFFECT THIS DEVELOPMENT SO THAT IT WILL BE SOMETHING THAT WE CAN LIVE WITH. THANK YOU, MA. THANK YOU MA'AM. AND PLEASE LOOK AT THE PACKETS THAT OUR GROUP PREPARED BECAUSE THEY HAVE A LOT OF GOOD GRAPHICS AND INFORMATION. IT'S VERY VALUABLE THAT THEY'VE DONE A LOT OF WORK TO PUT TOGETHER JOE BAILEY JR. TO BE FOLLOWED BY TATIANA REPINSKI. OH, GOOD EVENING. THANKS FOR HAVING ME. I JUST WANNA THANK ALL OF YOU FOR YOUR PATIENCE, UH, AND YOUR CONTINUED, UH, PASSION FOR OUR CITY AND ALL THE CITIZENS HERE TONIGHT AS WELL, UH, FOR YOUR TIME. AND, AND, UH, YOUR, UH, RESILIENCE, AND THIS IS A LONG, LONG EVENING. I REALLY APPRECIATE IT. UM, I'VE, UH, I'VE BEEN, I'VE BEEN THE OLD SIX WARD. I'M A, UH, NEIGHBOR OF JULIE'S WHO JUST SPOKE. UH, I GUESS I BECAME CONCERNED BECAUSE OF WHAT WE DISCOVERED ABOUT THE GASPING, UM, A BENZENE EXPOSURE AND BEING SO CLOSE TO HER BEDROOM THERE, LIKE FIVE FEET IS WHERE THE, THE LOADING RELOADING POINT WOULD BE. UM, SO I JUST ASK YOU TO REALLY CAREFULLY CONSIDER THE PACKET THAT OUR NEIGHBORS HAVE ASSEMBLED TO GET BEFORE YOU GUYS. UH, AND, AND, UH, AND THEN I JUST WANNA THANK YOU AGAIN FOR YOUR TIME. I WANTED TO THANK, UH, MAYOR WHITMEYER. YOU INADVERTENTLY SET MY, UH, CAREER AS A DOCUMENTARIAN IN MOTION WHEN YOU CREATED THE TEXAS FORENSIC SCIENCE COMMISSION. AND MORE IMPORTANTLY, YOU, YOU REALLY, UH, ELEVATED, UH, PUBLIC SAFETY AND CRIMINAL JUSTICE IN OUR STATE. AND I APPRECIATE THAT. THANK YOU. NEXT. OH, COUNCILMAN CAYMAN, SIR? NO, IT IS JUST A PROCEDURAL MAYOR. OKAY. UM, IF HE'S HERE, I WOULD MOVE TO SUSPEND THE RULES TO MOVE JOEL HOLSON TO FOLLOW CHRIS VALDEZ. SO AFTER THE, UM, GAS STATION SPEAKERS, SO THAT THEY'RE ALL TOGETHER. THERE. A SECOND. MOTION MADE. AND SECOND. ALL IN FAVOR? SAY YES. THOSE OPPOSED NAY. MOTION PASSES. YES, MA'AM. THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK. UM, I'M HERE TO TALK ABOUT THE PROSE GAS STATION PROJECT AT 1909 WASHINGTON AVENUE IN THE SIXTH WARD. UH, WE PREPARED A PACKET FOR YOU, UH, WITH A LIST OF QUESTIONS THAT WE HOPE YOU WILL ASSIST US WITH. SO, WE'VE COME TO LEARN THAT GAS STATIONS HAVE LARGE UNDERGROUND FUEL TANKS, WHICH MEANT COMPOUNDS LIKE BENZENE, WHICH ARE NOT SAFE FOR US TO BREATHE. CHRONIC EXPOSURE TO THOSE LIVING NEARBY CAN LEAD TO CANCER AND OTHER DISEASES. I WORK FOR A CANCER HOSPITAL, FIGHTING CANCER IS MY CAREER. AND I'M JUSTIT TO LEARN THAT I NOW NEED TO FIGHT IT PREEMPTIVELY IN MY OWN NEIGHBORHOOD. I WANNA BE CLEAR THAT I'M NOT ASKING FOR SPECIAL TREATMENT FOR MY NEIGHBORS. I'M HERE TO ASK THAT WE PUT SAFEGUARDS IN PLACE FOR ALL HOUSTONIANS WHO ARE FORCED TO LIVE NEXT TO DEVELOPMENTS THAT PUT THEIR HEALTH AT RISK. IT'S NOT JUST ABOUT US. WE ASK THAT YOU LOOK AT CITY CODE THAT SPECIFIES THE DISTANCES ALLOWED BETWEEN FUEL IN INFRASTRUCTURE AND LOT LINES, AND LOOK FOR OPPORTUNITIES TO INCREASE THE DISTANCES ALLOWED AROUND RESIDENTIAL LOTS. SOME JURISDICTIONS REQUIRE HUNDREDS OF FEET IN SEPARATION BETWEEN GAS STATIONS AND RESIDENCIES FOR HEALTH AND SAFETY REASONS. BUT AS I UNDER, AS I CAN TELL, HOUSTON REQUIRES JUST 10. YOUR, YOUR TIME HAS EXPIRED. THANK YOU. NEXT JOE UPCHURCH TO BE FOLLOWED BY CHRIS VALDEZ. [02:10:02] HI, GOOD EVENING. UH, MY NAME IS JOB CHURCH, UM, AND WITH MY NEIGHBORS, WE'RE HERE TO TALK TO YOU ABOUT THE GAS STATION PLANNED IN THE SIXTH WARD NEIGHBORHOOD. UH, FIRST I WANNA THANK COUNCIL MEMBER CASTILLO AND HIS STAFF, UH, FOR HEARING US AND BEING ENGAGED ON THIS ISSUE. I ACTUALLY HAD THE CHANCE TO JOIN THE COUNCIL MEMBER. UM, WHEN WE MET WITH THE DEVELOPERS AT ONE OF THEIR GAS STATIONS, WE ASKED THEM HOW THEY PLANNED TO MANAGE A RANGE OF THESE ISSUES THAT OUR NEIGHBORS HAVE RAISED. THINGS LIKE TRAFFIC, CONGESTION, UH, ENVIRONMENTAL CONCERNS, HEALTH AND SAFETY. UH, AND OVER AND OVER THEY REPEATED THAT THEY JUST FOLLOW THE CITY CODES AND THE STATE RULES AND REGULATIONS. YOU KNOW, I WAS STRUCK THAT FROM THEIR PERSPECTIVE, THIS GAS STATION AT, UH, THE CORNER OF TWO COUNTRY HIGHWAYS IS THE SAME AS ONE THAT'S JUST BUILT RIGHT HERE IN THE HEART OF HOUSTON. UM, IN LIGHT OF THE CONCERNS THAT THIS TYPE OF DEVELOPMENT RAISES, I'M ASKING YOU ALL TO CONSIDER INCREASING THE SETBACKS BETWEEN GAS STATIONS AND NEIGHBORING HOMES, UH, BEYOND THE 10 FOOT, UH, LIMIT THAT OUR CURRENT FIRE CODE PERMITS. THESE DEVELOPERS ARE REALLY LOOKING TO YOUR GUIDANCE TO DEFINE WHAT IS AND IS NOT ACCEPTABLE, UH, TO BE BUILT NEAR OUR NEIGHBORHOODS. THANK YOU. ALL. OBJECTION. YOU CAN FINISH YOUR COMMENTS. OH, THANK YOU. UM, I JUST WANTED TO ADD THAT THIS RISK ISN'T, ISN'T OUR COMMUNITY, THE DEVELOPERS BEHIND THIS PROJECT PLAN TO BUILD OVER 250 NEW GAS STATIONS ACROSS HOUSTON IN THE COMING YEARS. AND THAT'S JUST ONE BRAND. UM, AS MY NEIGHBOR SAID, WE'VE PREPARED AN INFORMATION PACKET. WE LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING WITH Y'ALL ON THIS. THANK YOU. AND I ALSO WANT TO, UM, JUST ADD, UM, MAYOR, THE, THE INDIVIDUALS THAT'S COMING IN AND SPEAKING ABOUT THIS. I REALLY APPRECIATE, UM, YOU BRINGING THIS CONCERN UP. THIS IS A CONCERN, UM, THE EXCESSIVE GAS STATIONS IN OUR NEIGHBORHOODS, UM, CLOSE TO, UM, RESIDENTIAL NEIGHBORHOODS. AND SO THE NEED TO PUT A BUFFER, UM, ON, YOU KNOW, MAKING SURE THAT GAS STATIONS ARE NOT LIKE RIGHT UP TO RESIDENTS AND NEIGHBORHOODS. SO WHATEVER I CAN DO TO SUPPORT, UM, THIS, BASICALLY PROBABLY IMPLEMENT AN ORDINANCE TO PUT A BUFFER THERE. JUST LIKE HALFWAY HOUSES, THEY HAVE TO BE A CERTAIN FEET AWAY FROM PARKS, ET CETERA. SO IT SHOULD BE THE SAME THING WITH, UM, GAS STATIONS. AND SO WOULD LOVE TO SUPPORT YOU GUYS ON THIS. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. CHRIS VALDEZ TO BE FOLLOWED BY JOEL HOLSON. HEY THERE, EVERYBODY. UM, CHRIS VALDEZ. I'M THE FATHER OF A FIFTH GEN STICK WITH ME, FIFTH GENERATION, SIXTH WARD, 6-YEAR-OLD. SHE LOVES HER NEIGHBOR SO DEEP, HER NEIGHBORHOOD SO DEEPLY. UH, SHE LOVES THE BUGS AND THE FROGS, THE DITCHES, THE VEGETABLES WE GROW. AND I AGREE WITH HER. IT'S A GREAT SPOT, UH, TODAY, THE SENSE OF SAFETY AND REFUGE THAT ME AND MY FAMILY, UH, SAW IT WHEN WE MOVED INTO THIS NEIGHBORHOOD WALKABILITY, UM, AS BEING CHALLENGED BY THE GAS STATION THAT OUR NEIGHBORS TALKED ABOUT. UM, I WOULD SHARE THAT WHEN I THINK ABOUT THE YOUNG KIDS THAT LIVE WITH MY NEIGHBORS, THAT, THAT LIVE IN MY HOUSE, UH, I'M THINKING ABOUT THE FACT THAT THE EPA RECOMMENDS SCREENING FOR HEALTH RISKS WHEN A SCHOOL IS LESS THAN A THOUSAND FEET FROM A GAS STATION. I THINK ABOUT THE 2018 COLUMBIA STUDY THAT EXAMINED THE RELEASE OF VAPORS AND SHOWED THAT THOSE COULD POSE HEALTH RISKS UP TO 525 FEET AWAY. UM, AND THAT THE EMISSIONS ARE 10 TIMES HIGHER, THAT WERE USED TO DETERMINE HOW THESE FACILITIES SHOULD, HOW FAR THESE FACILITIES SHOULD BE FROM SCHOOL. SO, LIKE MY NEIGHBORS, I DO ASK THAT YOU JOIN US WHEN YOU WORK, YOUR TIME HAS EXPIRED TO IDENTIFY AND DEVELOP OPPORTUNITIES THROUGH CITY CODE OR CITY ORDINANCE TO ADDRESS THESE. COUNCIL MEMBER CASTILLO. THANK YOU, MAYOR CHRIS. UH, GOOD TO SEE YOU AND THANK YOU AND ALL THE OTHER RESIDENTS FOR BEING HERE TONIGHT, UTILIZING ONE OF OUR EVENING PUBLIC SESSIONS TO, TO BRING THIS ISSUE BEFORE THE FULL COUNCIL AND, AND BEFORE THE MAYOR. UH, I KNOW THIS IS ONE THAT WE HAVE BEEN WORKING ON TOGETHER, BUT YOU KNOW, Y'ALL HAVE PRESENTED A LIST OF REQUESTS THAT ARE REASONABLE REQUESTS, UM, I THINK SO THEY'RE NOT JUST ABOUT, UM, Y'ALL, BUT ALSO THINKING ABOUT THE FUTURE. THAT'S RIGHT. AND, AND FUTURE DEVELOPMENTS AND HOW THAT COULD IMPACT NEIGHBORHOODS, WHICH I, I APPRECIATE THAT BECAUSE, UH, THIS IS DIRECTLY NEXT TO HOMES. I MEAN, THE HOMES IN THE GAS STATION ARE ON THE SAME BLOCK. SO THERE'S ABSOLUTELY CONCERN, UH, AS SOMEONE FROM A PUBLIC HEALTH BACKGROUND AND THE TALK ABOUT BENZENE AND ALL THE, THE VAPOR EMISSIONS. IT IS, IT IS CONCERNING. UM, SO, UH, THE PLANNING, UH, DIRECTOR AND I SPOKE EARLIER TODAY, WE ARE GONNA HOST A COMMUNITY MEETING, UH, WHICH IS ONE OF Y'ALL'S REQUESTS ABOUT THIS. WE'RE GONNA INCORPORATE, UH, PUBLIC WORKS FOR THE TRAFFIC STUDY BECAUSE THAT'S, THAT'S IN THEIR SHOP. UM, AND ALL, ALL OF THE THINGS HERE WE'RE GONNA CONTINUE TO WORK ON. AND AGAIN, Y'ALL BEING HERE TO ELEVATE THIS HELPS, UH, BECAUSE PEOPLE AROUND THE HORSESHOE, UH, MAY ALSO BE INTERESTED IN, IN HELPING OUT, UH, WITH SOME OF THESE THINGS, WHICH I GLADLY WELCOME, [02:15:01] UH, BECAUSE I KNOW THAT WE'RE GONNA HAVE THIS HAPPEN AGAIN. I KNOW SOME OF MY COLLEAGUES HAVE SAID THIS HAS HAPPENED TO THEM, UH, IN THEIR DISTRICTS, AND IT'S DIFFICULT WITH, UH, WHAT WE HAVE TO WORK WITH AT THE MOMENT. SO, UM, THANK Y'ALL FOR, FOR BEING HERE, FOR BRINGING, YOU KNOW, SOME, SOME THOROUGH RESEARCH CITED, UH, POINTS AND, UM, UH, REQUESTS. AND I, I WILL CONTINUE TO WORK WITH Y'ALL IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD ON, ON ALL OF THESE. THANK YOU. COUNCIL MEMBER. COUNCIL MEMBER KAMAN. I TOO WANTED TO THANK YOU. I KNOW. LOOK, YOU'RE IN PHENOMENAL HANDS WITH CO COUNCIL MEMBER CASTILLO, BUT IT IS A CITYWIDE ISSUE. THAT'S RIGHT. UH, IT'S, IT HAPPENED MANY TIMES IN DISTRICT C, UH, AND AGAIN, WITH NO ZONING, IT'S LIKE RESIDENTS ARE LEFT TO FEND FOR THEMSELVES AND FEND FOR THEIR FAMILIES. UH, SO I AGAIN, APPRECIATE THE VOICE THAT YOU'RE PROVIDING RIGHT NOW. UM, AND COUNCIL MEMBER CASTILLO, THANK YOU FOR KIND OF WORKING TO ELEVATE THIS SO THAT WE CAN FIND SOME ACTIONABLE ITEMS. AGAIN, YOU'RE IN VERY GOOD HANDS WITH HIM, UH, AS YOU LOOK AT, UH, WAYS TO ADDRESS THIS PARTICULAR LOCATION, BUT WE HAVE TO TACKLE IT CITYWIDE. YEAH. SO, THANK YOU. THANK YOU. OKAY. THANK YOU. AND I'LL, I'LL JUST WANNA ALSO, UH, SAY THANK YOU TO THE STAFF OF COUNCIL MEMBER RAMIREZ'S OFFICE FOR THEIR SUPPORT IN THIS WORK, TOO. THANK YOU. NEXT PROCEDURAL, PROCEDURAL, EVAN SHABA. THANK YOU, MAYOR. I WANNA SUSPEND THE RULES TO PUT CRYSTAL DARLING, SERGEANT BEHIND EBY. CHANDRY. IS THERE A SECOND? THEY SPEAK ON THE SAME TOPIC. YES. SECOND. MOTION MADE. AND SECOND. ALL IN FAVOR, SAY YES. THOSE OPPOSED NAME MOTION PASSES. JOE HOLSON TO BE FOLLOWED BY APHA SQUARE. HIS NAME WAS INADVERTENTLY LEFT OFF THE LIST. GOOD EVENING, MAYOR AND COUNCIL MEMBERS. UH, MY NAME IS JOE HOLSON. I'M A 25 YEAR HOMEOWNER IN SUTTON SQUARE, UH, LOCATED IN DISTRICT C, UH, JUST STEPS AWAY FROM 81 DREW STREET. WE ARE HERE TODAY BECAUSE A FULL SERVICE LIQUOR LICENSE WAS GRANTED AT THAT ADDRESS WITHOUT ANY NOTICE TO THE SURROUNDING PROPERTY OWNERS WITHIN 300 FEET. DESPITE THE STATUTORY REQUIREMENT INTENDED TO PROTECT RESIDENTIAL NEIGHBORHOODS FROM SUCH UNNOTIFIED APPROVALS, WHEN RESIDENTS EVENTUALLY BECAME AWARE OF THE PERMIT THIS MONTH, UH, MONTHS AFTER, UH, IT WAS ISSUED, WE FILED A FORMAL PROTEST WITH THE TEXAS ALCOHOL AND BEVERAGE COMMISSION. THIS PROTEST INCLUDED 19 PROPERTY OWNERS, UM, AS WELL AS THE SUTTON SQUARE HOA, REPRESENTING 339 TOWN HOMES. UNFORTUNATELY, AS OF THIS MORNING, OUR PROTEST WAS DENIED SOLELY ON PROCEDURAL TIMING, NOT ON THE MERITS OF OUR CONCERNS. IN EFFECT, THE COMMUNITY WAS DEPRIVED OF ITS RIGHT TO BE HEARD. THE DREW AND DENTISTRY CORRIDOR IS A DENSE RESIDENTIAL AREA OF FAMILIES AND TOWN HOMES. A LATE NIGHT ALCOHOL ESTABLISHMENT IN THIS SETTING WILL INEVITABLY CREATE PARKING, CONGESTION, SAFETY, RISK, NOISE, AND DISTURBANCES THAT DIMINISH THE QUALITY OF LIFE AND PROPERTY VALUES FOR HUNDREDS OF RESIDENTS. WE RESPECTFULLY REQUEST THAT THE CITY COUNCIL STRONGLY ADVOCATE FOR RECONSIDERATION OF THIS PERMIT TO ENSURE THAT THE NEIGHBORHOOD RIGHTS AND DUE PROCESS IS PROPERLY UPHELD. THANK YOU. COUNCILMAN CAYMAN. THANK YOU. UM, MR. HOLSON, I WANTED TO THANK YOU FOR COMING. I, AS YOU SAID, I DO BELIEVE THE HOA IS CONTINUING TO PROTEST THE LIQUOR LICENSE. UM, THIS IS AN ISSUE COLLEAGUES ABOUT WHETHER OR NOT, UM, TABC, UH, IS GONNA RECOGNIZE THAT THERE WASN'T PROPER NOTICE. AND, UH, WE ARE CONTINUING TO ADVOCATE. I DID WANNA MAKE SURE YOU KNEW THAT COUNCIL MEMBER ALCORN'S OFFICE AND AT LARGE FIVE IS ALSO INVOLVED. AND THE UPDATE I HAVE, WHICH YOU MAY BE AWARE OF ALREADY, UM, THAT WE HAVE ALSO ESCALATED THE CONCERN TO A RA, UH, THROUGH THE MAYOR'S OFFICE, UH, WHO IS ALSO LOOKING INTO THIS. UM, BUT AGAIN, WE'RE, WE CONTINUE TO SEE RESIDENTS HAVING TO FIGHT FOR THEMSELVES, UH, AT TABC, WHETHER IT'S BAD ACTOR BARS, UH, THINGS OF THAT NATURE. AND I APPRECIATE THAT Y'ALL ARE WORKING WITH US, BUT I WANNA ESCALATE THIS FURTHER AND CONTINUE TO FIGHT. BUT JUST LIKE WITH THE GAS STATIONS, THIS CONTINUES TO BE AN ISSUE THAT HAS A VERY REAL IMPACT ON OUR LOCAL NEIGHBORHOODS. WELL, JUST ONE QUICK COMMENT, IF, IF I MAY, UM, IT'S KIND OF HYPOCRITICAL IN THAT A BAR CAN GET A LIQUOR LICENSE AND NOT HAVE TO SHOW DUE DILIGENCE. BUT ONCE THE HOMEOWNERS FIND OUT IF THAT PERIOD, UH, IS EXPIRED FOR US TO ABLE TO PROTEST, THEN WE'RE IMMEDIATELY BARRED. SO, YOU KNOW, FROM NOW ON FOR A LIQUOR ESTABLISHMENT, DON'T TELL ANYONE, DO IT. SEE IF YOU CAN GET THROUGH THE 60 DAYS. YEAH. AND HAVE Y'ALL, UM, BEEN IN COMMUNICATION WITH, UM, OUR STATE REPRESENTATIVES IN THE AREA AND STATE SENATOR? NOT THAT I KNOW OF, BUT OKAY. TOMORROW MORNING, UH, THAT, LET'S MAKE SURE WE'RE [02:20:01] SPEAKING TO THEM AS WELL. I'LL LET MY OFFICE KNOW TO VERIFY, BUT I THINK THEY NEED TO HEAR FROM YOU ON THIS. 'CAUSE AGAIN, IT'S A STATE LEVEL BOARD. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME. THANK YOU, SIR. THANK YOU. NEXT AOL SQUARE TO BE FOLLOWED BY JOSEPH BEN BENSON. UH, FIRST I'D LIKE TO GIVE VIOLENCE FOR GOD. AND, UH, THANK Y'ALL FOR HAVING ME SPEAK TODAY. AND GOD BLESS EACH AND EVERY COUNCILWOMAN AND COUNCILMAN. I'M HERE ON BEHALF OF, UH, HOUSTON HOMELESS HOTEL. AND ON THE, UH, POSSIBLE PROJECT FOR EMANCIPATION. UM, I DON'T KNOW TOO MUCH ABOUT IT, BUT, UH, WRONG TIME. UH, TOO MUCH MONEY. UM, IT'S JUST NOT THE RIGHT TIME. WE PLACED PEOPLE IN HOTELS. WE CAME UP WITH THE CONCEPT OF PETS, STAY TOGETHER WITH THEIR OWNERS, SUPPORT ANIMALS. WE CAME UP WITH THE CONCEPT OF DON'T SEPARATE COUPLES BECAUSE YOU NEED THAT IN THE STREETS OR ANYWHERE. DON'T NOBODY WANNA BE TAKEN AWAY FROM THEIR, UH, PARTNER. WE DON'T DISCRIMINATE. WE DON'T DISCRIMINATE IN ANY COLOR. WE DON'T CARE ABOUT YOUR PERSUASION OR YOUR COLOR. YOU COULD BE LGBT, YOU CAN BE WHATEVER. JUST COME ON. WE, WE ACCEPT IMMIGRANTS ALSO. BUT YOU HAVE TO HAVE AN ID. , YOUR TIME HAS EXPIRED. THANK NEXT. JOSEPH BENSON. COULD YOU LOWER YEP. TO BE FOLLOWED BY TAMARA ALEXANDER. GOOD EVENING MAYOR AND COUNCILMAN. BUT MY NAME IS JOSEPH BENSON. MOST PEOPLE CALL ME COWBOY. UH, I'M A PERSON THAT HAD LIVED EXPERIENCE, MEANING THAT I WAS UNHOUSED AT ONE TIME AND I WAS ABLE THROUGH THE HELP OF HEALTHCARE FOR THE HOMELESS TO WORK MY WAY TO BECOME A VOLUNTEER. AND, AND I'M PROUD TO SAY FOR THE PAST 15 YEARS, I'VE BEEN CERTIFIED BY THE STATE OF TEXAS TO BE A COMMUNITY HEALTH WORKER WORKING FOR HEALTHCARE FOR THE HOMELESS. AND I WOULD LIKE TO THANK THE MAYOR AND CITY HALL FOR RECOGNIZING OUR STREET MEDICINE TEAM. 'CAUSE I'M PART OF THE STREET MEDICINE TEAM ALSO. BUT TODAY, I'M HERE TO INVITE YOU ALL TO COME TO ONE OF THOSE LESS KNOWN FEDERAL HOLIDAYS, WHICH IS HOMELESS MEMORIAL DAY, WHICH IS DECEMBER THE 21ST. THAT'S WHEN WE MEMORIALIZE THOSE INDIVIDUALS THAT'S UNFORTUNATE TO DIE ON THE STREETS WHILE THEY'RE HOMELESS. THE OTHER ONE IS THAT WE TOOK JUNE THE 21ST TO MAKE IT HOMELESS SUCCESS DAY, WHERE WE GO AND WE GET INDIVIDUALS FROM DIFFERENT AGENCIES OTHER THAN HEALTHCARE FOR THE HOMELESS AND HAVE 'EM COME TELL THEIR STORY ABOUT HOW THOSE DIFFERENT AGENCIES HELPED THEM. THANK YOU, SIR. NEXT, TAMARA ALEXANDER TO BE FOLLOWED BY IKA MARTIN. I AM TAMARA ALEXANDER. I AM A RESIDENT OF SOUTH UNION, A COMMUNITY IN DISTRICT D. OUR NEIGHBORHOOD IS DROWNING IN ILLEGAL DUMPING. OUR DITCHES ARE CLOGGED WITH TRASH AND FILLED WITH STAGNANT FOUL WATER THAT BREED MOSQUITOES AND DISEASE. WE ARE SURROUNDED BY OVERGROWN LOTS AND ABANDONED HOMES WHILE THE CITY LOOKS THE OTHER WAY. WE HAVE MADE THE CAUSE TO 3 1 1, BUT 3 1 1 HAS BECOME A GRAVEYARD FOR COMPLAINTS. WE ARE DONE PLAYING THE CITY GAMES. WE ARE NOT, WE ARE NOT ASKING, WE ARE DEMANDING A SUPPLEMENTAL MAINTENANCE PROGRAM THAT BRINGS CONTRACTORS IN, THE CONTRACTORS IN TO CLEAN UP SOUTH UNION. WE'RE NOT ASKING FOR FAVORS. WE'RE DEMANDING ACCOUNTABILITY. WE NEED ACTION AND NOT EXCUSES. AND WE NEED IT NOW. SOUTH UNION WOULD NOT SIT QUIETLY ANY LONGER. WE WILL SHOW UP AND WE WILL SPEAK UP. THE TIME FOR EXCUSES IS OVER. THE TIME IS FOR ACTION IS NOW, AND SOUTH UNION WILL NOT BE SOLID UNTIL WE GET OUR COMMUNITY CLEAN. THANK YOU. JUST A MOMENT. EVAN SHABA, COUNCIL SHABA COUNCILOR EVAN SHABBAT. THANK YOU MAYOR. UM, TAMARA, RIGHT? YES. OKAY. UH, I JUST WANNA SAY THAT YOU ARE ABSOLUTELY CORRECT IN REGARDS TO THE CONDITIONS, BUT THERE ARE LOTS THAT ARE BEING ABATED. AND THEN WHAT HAPPENS? IT'S A WHOLE PROCESS. IT GOES ALL OVER AGAIN. YOU, IN OTHER WORDS, YOU HAVE TO PUT THE CITATIONS ON THERE. AND YOU KNOW, THE CITY IS NOT RESPONSIBLE FOR KEEPING UP LOTS THAT ARE OWNED BY OTHER PEOPLE, BUT WE ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR CONTINUING TO GIVE THEM CITATIONS. BUT IT IS A LOOK AT YOU READY TO GO. UH, BUT IT IS A PROCESS THAT WE ARE TRYING [02:25:01] TO FOLLOW. BUT CERTAINLY, I'M GOING TO TELL YOU AGAIN, YOU HAVE TO CALL THREE ONE ONE, BUT DON'T JUST CALL THREE ONE ONE, CALL MY OFFICE, GIVE US THE SR NUMBER. AND I PROMISE YOU, WE DO RESPOND VERY QUICKLY ONCE IT COMES TO OUR PERSONAL ATTENTION. NO, NO. BUT WE, WE ARE WORKING ON IT. WE BEYOND THAT AND, AND WE DO NEED SOME COMMUNITY CLEANUPS AS WELL. WELL, WE HAVE HAD FOR YOU ALL TO, TO ORGANIZE AND TRY TO HELP US. WE HAVE, BECAUSE IT IS A BAD SITUATION. WE HAVE HAD COMMUNITY CLEANUPS SINCE APRIL OF THIS YEAR. MM-HMM . OKAY. WE HAVE HAD COMMUNITY CLEANUPS SINCE APRIL OF THIS YEAR. I HAVE COMPLAINED ON ONE STREET. IT'S PURELY, UH, PURELY STREET SINCE 2020. AND ALL OF A SUDDEN LAST WEEK IT WAS MAGICALLY CLEAN. I GUESS YOU GUYS HEARD THAT WE WERE COMING DOWN HERE. THAT'S NOT ACCEPTABLE. WE ARE TIRED OF CALLING 3 1 1. IT'S JUST A GAME. AND WE ARE TIRED OF PLAYING THOSE GAMES. SOMETHING NEEDS TO BE DONE NOW. I, I CAN'T, WE CAN'T TAKE THIS ANY LONGER. YOU GUYS NEED TO DO SOMETHING. WE, WE OVER IT. WE ARE OVER IT. I TOTALLY AGREE. MAYOR PRO, MAYOR PROAM CASTING STATE. I, I FEEL YOUR PAIN. UM, BECAUSE UNFORTUNATELY WE DEAL WITH ILLEGAL DUMPING ACROSS THE ENTIRE CITY. MM-HMM . UM, WE HAVE A HOT TEAM. I, I, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER SHABAZZ HAS A HOT TEAM. UM, AND, AND THIS IS, UM, A CHRONIC PROBLEM. AND I KNOW YOU'RE FRUSTRATED AND, AND WE HAVE FRUSTRATED RESIDENTS AS WELL. AND WE'RE TRYING TO, UM, MITIGATE THIS. UM, WE, WE HAVE 12 CAMERAS IN OUR DISTRICT, AND I WILL TELL YOU THAT WHAT WE FOUND IS THE PEOPLE THAT ARE DUMPING IN OUR COMMUNITIES LIVE LESS THAN ONE TO THREE MILES. MM-HMM . FROM THE DUMPING. SO NO ONE'S COMING INTO THE COMMUNITY TO DUMP THE STUFF. UNFORTUNATELY. IT'S THE PEOPLE THAT LIVE IN OUR COMMUNITY THAT'S DUMPING THE STUFF. NOW, I, I UNDERSTAND YOUR FRUSTRATION AND, UM, I KNOW THAT YOUR COUNCIL MEMBER HAS A HOT TEAM THAT WE CAN HELP WITH PICKING THIS STUFF UP BECAUSE WE ALL HAVE TO WORK TO TRY TO CLEAN UP OUR COMMUNITIES. THIS IS NOT AN ISOLATED ISSUE IN DISTRICT D AND THAT PROBABLY DOESN'T MAKE YOU FEEL ANY BETTER, AND IT DOES NOT ALLEVIATE ANY OF YOUR FRUSTRATIONS. BUT I DO WANT TO CONTINUE TO AMPLIFY THAT. WE ALL HAVE TO PITCH IN TO TRY TO, TO CLEAN UP THIS DUMPING. UM, I, AND I WILL WORK WITH YOUR, YOUR COUNCIL MEMBER IN SOLID WASTE TO TRY TO HELP GET SOME OF THIS STUFF CLEANED UP, BECAUSE I KNOW HOW FRUSTRATING IT IS. UM, AND WE SPEND A LARGE PORTION OF OUR COUNCIL DISTRICT SERVICE FUNDS AT THE DETRIMENT OF MORE MEANINGFUL PROGRAMS PICKING UP ILLEGAL DUMPING. AND I THINK THAT, UM, WE, WE, WE'VE GOT TO KEEP SOUNDING THE ALARM AND REALLY TRYING TO HOLD PEOPLE ACCOUNTABLE WHO DO THIS. BECAUSE WHAT WE FOUND IS IT'S A LOT OF CONTRACTOR MATERIALS. THIS IS STUFF THAT PEOPLE THAT ARE REPAIRING HOMES THAT HAVE SMALL BUSINESSES, YOU KNOW, I I, THAT ARE SUPPOSED TO TAKE THEIR STUFF TO THE DUMP. UM, AND THEY DON'T. AND THEY DUMP IT IN THE DEAD ENDS. THEY DUMP IT IN THE, IN THE WATERWAYS. UM, SO I FEEL YOUR FRUSTRATION AND I UNDERSTAND THE, YOU KNOW, THE, I DO UNDERSTAND YOUR FRUSTRATION BECAUSE THEY DUMP, THEY DUMP BY MY HOUSE, THEY DUMP ON OUR STREET, THEY DUMP IN DISTRICT K, UM, YOU KNOW, THEY, THEY DUMP ACROSS THE CITY. UM, WE, WE'LL KEEP WORKING WITH, UM, YOUR COUNCIL MEMBER TO TRY TO HELP, UH, CLEAN IT UP BECAUSE I KNOW IT IS VERY, VERY FRUSTRATING. OKAY. OKAY. SHAMEIKA. OKAY. GOOD EVENING. MY NAME IS SHAMEIKA MARTIN, AND I'M A RESIDENT LONG TIME OF HOUSTON, TEXAS. Y'ALL NOT DOING ENOUGH. WE SPEAKING AT THE END OF THE DAY. YOU GUYS HAVE BEEN SITTING ON COUNCIL FOR MULTIPLE YEARS AND WE'RE STILL TALKING ABOUT TRASH. SO IF WE CAN'T TRUST YOU GUYS TO FIX THE EVOLUTION FOR THE TRASH, HOW CAN Y'ALL FIX ANYTHING ELSE? BECAUSE IF WE CAN'T GET TO THE BASICS OF JUST TRASH BEING PICKED UP AND STOPPED WITH THE ILLEGAL DUMPING, HOW CAN Y'ALL MANAGE ANYTHING ELSE? STOP WITH THE EXCUSES. LIKE, WE DON'T HAVE, BUT YOU BID IN 90 MILLION FOR THE WORLD CUP. TALK TO YOU, MAYOR. 'CAUSE I'VE BEEN WAITING TO CATCH UP WITH YOU. SO THEREFORE, PUT THE MONEY WHERE IT NEEDS TO GO, BECAUSE THAT LITTLE SHOW WITH THE CAMERAS FOR THE LITTLE TRUCKS THAT WE HAD, IT DOESN'T COME BACK. THE ISSUE THAT WE NEED TO BE RESOLVED, WHICH IS ILLEGAL DUMPING. YOU KNEW BEFORE YOU TOOK TURN THAT WE HAD THIS ISSUE. SO YOU AS THE MAYOR, SHOULD HAVE HAD A BETTER RESULT THAT ANYBODY ELSE, YOU SHOULD HAVE HAD A SOLID PLAN SAYING, HEY HOUSTON, THIS IS HOW IT'S GOING TO GO IN ORDER FOR IT TO STOP DUMPING INSTEAD OF US REPLACING ALL THE DIRECTORS AND FIRING ALL THE STAFF. IT STARTS WITH THE LEADERSHIP, SIR. IT STARTS WITH YOU. SO IF YOU CANNOT CORRECT THE SITUATION, THEN HOW IS EVERYBODY ELSE SUPPOSED TO FALL IN LINE? THANK YOU. AND WE DON'T WANNA HEAR NO EXCUSES BECAUSE Y'ALL NOT DOING ENOUGH. YOU GOT MONEY. Y'ALL WAS ALL AT TSU [02:30:01] TURNING UP. EVERYBODY WAS OUTSIDE. SO TURN UP ON THE TRASH, MA'AM. C EVAN, LET GO. WHO WANNA TALK? WHO'S UP? I'M GONNA TALK. LET'S GO. I'M GONNA TELL YOU, WHEN YOU CAN FIGURE OUT A WAY WHERE WE CAN CHANGE A MINDSET OF PEOPLE WHO ARE THROWING THIS TRASH DOWN, THEN WE CAN PROBABLY GET SOMETHING DONE. WELL, BECAUSE WE NO, NO, NO, NO, NO, NO. GO AHEAD. YOU TALK. SO LET ME TALK MM-HMM . THIS IS A MAJOR PROBLEM, BUT IT IS NOT ONE THAT WE SITTING HERE CAN DO. I WALK THROUGH MY NEIGHBORHOOD AND I PICK UP TRASH, BUT I CAN'T COME TO YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD AND PICK UP TRASH. BUT IT'S GOING TO HAVE TO BE THE PEOPLE IN THAT NEIGHBORHOOD THAT ARE GONNA HAVE TO TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR HOW THEY ARE DUMPING. AND SO YOU ARE EXPECTING US TO PERFORM MIRACLES, AND WE CANNOT CHANGE THE MINDS OF THE PEOPLE WHO ARE THERE. ALL WE CAN DO IS HAVE HOT TEAMS, PEOPLE COME OUT. WE CAN CREATE, WE CAN HAVE CITATIONS, DEPARTMENT OF NEIGHBORHOODS, BUT UNTIL THE MINDSET OF YOUR NEIGHBORS CHANGES, THAT'S THE REALITY OF IT. SO I'M DONE, BUT YOU CAN CERTAINLY SPEAK. THANK YOU. OH, WELL, I THINK THE REALITY NEEDS TO START WITH THE CITY FIRST. IF THE CITY CARED MORE ABOUT THE ILLEGAL DUMPING, MAYBE THE PEOPLE WOULD. AND SO HOUSTON, LET'S NOT BE A ONE-SIDED ENTITY. WE DO NEED TO START WITH THE TRASH FEE. WE ARE A ROTATING DOOR WHERE WE HAVE PEOPLE MOVING IN EVERY DAY. AND IF WE DON'T HAVE A TRASH FEE, YOU GUYS DON'T HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT IT BECAUSE IT'S GONNA BE ALL IN THE WOODLANDS. ALL IN ROSENBERG, ALL IN THESE SURROUNDING COUNTIES THAT Y'ALL LOVE TO BRAG ABOUT. OH, WE DON'T HAVE NO TRASH IN A MINUTE. THE TRASH IS GONNA BE RIGHT ON TOP OF YOUR HOUSES AS WELL, BECAUSE WE DON'T HAVE ANYTHING TO DO WITH THE TRASH. WE ARE AT A POINT THAT IT IS A CRISIS IN HOUSTON. AND I WANT EVERYBODY TO PAY ATTENTION THAT WE NEED TO DO SOMETHING ABOUT THE TRASH, NOT ONLY WITH THE ENTITIES, BUT WITH THE PUBLIC AS WELL. SO LET'S BE FAIR AND LET'S BE TRANSPARENT. ANYTHING ELSE? YEAH, IT'S NOT ABOUT THE MONEY. THANK YOU, MA'AM, ABOUT THE MINDSET. THANK YOU. BECAUSE YOU CAN'T THROW MONEY AT EVERY PROBLEM, BUT IF THE MINDSET WOULD CHANGE, THE WHOLE SITUATION WOULD CHANGE YOU. SO HELP US WITH THAT. GET SOME OF THOSE PEOPLE THAT LIVE IN THOSE APARTMENTS TO NOT THROW THEIR TRASH OUT OR DUMP IT. AND, AND YOU KNOW, THAT WOULD HELP RIGHT THERE, BECAUSE IF YOU NOTICE AT THE BEGINNING AND THE END OF THE MONTH, YOU REALLY HAVE A LOT OF TRASH. THANK YOU. SO IT'S THE MINDSET. SO THANK YOU SO VERY MUCH. NEXT, CHRISTINE WYNN TO BE FOLLOWED BY JACK . OH, SISTER. HELLO. THEY HAVE PRETTY MUCH HIGHLIGHTED EVERYTHING I HAVE TO REQUEST. IS THERE ANY KIND OF, OF, UM, THEY, THEY USED TO SEND IN THE MAIL, UH, MATERIAL ON HOW TO, UM, PUT YOUR TRASH IN THE TRASH BAG, TIE IT UP, PUT IT IN A DUMPSTER. AND THEN THE OTHER CONCERN IS THE RECYCLE IS A LARGE PORTION OF THE TRASH. I KNOW WE ARE COVERING THE RECYCLE. UH, JUST A COUPLE WEEKS AGO THERE, THERE WAS A HEAVY WIND. AND WHEN THE RECYCLE IS OUT AND IS NOT PICKED UP ON TIME, ALL THE RECYCLE BINS ARE JUST TUMBLED OVER AND TRASH IS JUST FLYING EVERYWHERE. THE OTHER THING IS, UH, THE CONSTRUCTION IN SOUTH UNION, THERE'S PRETTY MUCH TWO OR THREE CONSTRUCTION SITES ON EVERY STREET. NINE OUT OF 10 OF THE CONSTRUCTION SITES DON'T HAVE A CONTAINER BECAUSE THERE'S NOT A LOT OF SPACE FOR THEM TO PUT A CONTAINER ON A STREET THAT'S POPULATED WITH SEVEN TO 10 HOUSES AROUND IT. WHAT CAN WE DO WHEN THE, WHEN THEY GO AND, UH, REQUEST A PERMIT KNOWING THAT THERE'S, NOTICE A SPACE FOR A CONTAINER SO THAT IT WON'T AFFECT THE OTHER RESIDENTS AROUND THAT AREA BECAUSE, UH, WE'RE, WE'RE STRUGGLING. YOUR TIME HAS EXPIRED THAT WHERE A LOT OF THE TRASH IS COMING FROM TOO. MA'AM, GIVE MS. WILSON YOUR ADDRESS, IF YOU DON'T MIND. OKAY. NEXT. JACK TO BE FOLLOWED BY BECKY EDMONDSON. I'M JACK ULEK. I'M THE HOA PRESIDENT FOR BROOKFIELD SUBDIVISION. SIR, SIR. OH, WHO DO I GIVE THIS TO? I'M NOT GONNA HAVE TIME TO TELL Y'ALL THE WHOLE SPEECH THAT I WROTE, SO I'M GOING TO GIVE IT TO YOU. YOU CAN READ IT. AND I'M SORRY THAT PART OF THE COMMITTEE HAS ALREADY LEFT. I'M, UH, I CAME HOME FROM A, UH, FROM A, A TRIP TRIP AND I FOUND SEPTEMBER 2ND. WE, I WAS HEAVY TRASH PICKUP. AND I WAS GONNA ARGUE WITH THE, WITH WHOEVER THAT LADY WAS OVER HERE THAT WAS, UH, SAYING THAT IT WAS, UH, THE PEOPLE DUMPING. WE ARE ALLOTTED TO, UH, ONE DAY EVERY MONTH, EITHER TREE TRASH OR HEAVY TRASH. ALL JUNK TRASH. WE SPENT NOVEMBER THE TH THIRD, FOURTH WOULD BE THE THIRD TIME THAT THE CITY HAS SKIPPED US, AND IT'S LEAVING PILES OF TRASH CRAP EVERYWHERE. IT'S A HEALTH HAZARD. IT'S A SLUM DEAL. [02:35:01] WE'RE DR. YOU'RE DRIVING DOWN THE, THE PRICE OF THE HOUSES IN OUR NEIGHBORHOODS. AND THIS IS JUST NOT ACCEPTABLE. IT'S NOT ACCEPTABLE. IF YOU GONNA OFFER SERVICES, YOU KNOW, YOU HAVE, YOU HAVE AN OBLIGATION AS OUR SERVANTS, AS ELECTED LEADERS, YOU ARE UP TO HAVE TO GET OUT THERE. YOUR, YOUR TIME HAS EXPIRED. IF IT'S, I DON'T CARE. PUBLIC WORKS. PUBLIC WORKS HAS SOLID WASTE. PUBLIC WASTE IS NOT FUNDED. IT NEEDS TO GO BACK TO Y'ALL TO FIND THE FUNDING. I I'VE BEEN PROMISED SINCE THE WINDSTORM THAT DESTROYED THE HEIGHTS AND BURL RIGHT AFTER THAT, THAT WE WERE GONNA GET BACK ON SCHEDULE AND Y'ALL WERE GONNA BE PICKING UP HEAVY TRASH AND YOU WOULD BE DILIGENT WITH IT. AND WE HAVE, WE'VE HAD AS MUCH AS FOUR MONTHS MISSED RIGHT NOW IN ALE. I KNOW OF ONE SECTION THAT THERE, THIS WILL BE THEIR FOURTH TIME THAT THEY WILL BE MISSED IF THEY'RE NOT PICKED UP IN NOVEMBER. IT'S NOT ACCEPTABLE. IT'S NOT ACCEPTABLE. AND I DON'T KNOW WHO TO YELL AT, BUT I'M GONNA YELL AT Y'ALL IF IT DOES ANY GOOD. I HOPE IT DOES. IF IT DOESN'T KNOW THAT Y'ALL ARE ELECTED, KNOW THAT YOU'RE ELECTED AND THE PEOPLE ARE WATCHING. I'M DONE. COUNCILOR POLLARD. THANK YOU MAYOR. AND SIR, I WANNA THANK YOU FOR COMING FORTH AND, UH, YOU SPEAK ON BEHALF OF MANY HOUSTONIANS AROUND THIS CITY. I SPEAK ON WEST HOUSTON. YES, SIR. YEAH. AND, UM, WE DRIVE THROUGH THESE NEIGHBORHOODS IN OUR DISTRICTS, AND WE SEE TRASH PILED UP ON PEOPLE'S CURBS FOR WEEKS AND WEEKS AND SOMETIMES MONTHS AND MONTHS. AND, UM, WE KEEP GETTING MIXED, MIXED MESSAGES. WE KEEP HEARING ABOUT HOW THE SOLID WASTE DEPARTMENT IS GOING IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION, OR WE HAVE NEW EQUIPMENT OR THINGS ARE, THINGS ARE, UH, BEING RESOLVED, BUT THEY'RE NOT. AND IT'S IMPORTANT FOR US AS A BODY TO HEAR FROM FOLKS WHO ARE IN THE NEIGHBORHOODS WHO ARE TELLING YOU THAT THE TRASH IS OUT THERE WAY BEYOND THE TIMELINE OF WHEN IT'S SUPPOSED TO GET PICKED UP. THERE'S NO PREDICTABILITY, THERE'S NO RELIABILITY. AND, UH, IT IS A CRISIS. AND SO, MAYOR, I WANT YOU TO REALLY UNDERSTAND THAT WHATEVER COMMUNICATION IS COMING FROM THE SOLID WASTE DEPARTMENT, THAT THEY EMAIL US OUR OFFICES, I COULD SPEAK FOR US IN JAY CITY. WE DON'T EVEN SEND THAT, THAT INFORMATION OUT. IT IS, IT IS. SO, UH, OFF THAT ALL IT WOULD DO IS TURN INTO OUR RESIDENCE AND OUR CONSTITUENTS SCREAMING AT US ABOUT, I THOUGHT YOU SAID THE TRASH IS ONLY ONE DAY BEHIND. OR I THOUGHT YOU SAID THAT THE RECYCLING WAS BEING CAUGHT UP. NONE OF IT IS ACCURATE. SO WHATEVER INFORMATION YOU'RE RECEIVING FROM THE SOLID WASTES DEPARTMENT, I CAN TELL YOU THAT THIS GENTLEMAN'S SENTIMENTS ARE THE SAME SENTIMENTS WE HEAR AT EVERY CITY CLUB AND HOA THAT WE GO TO AROUND THE CITY. I I WILL ALSO TELL YOU, I'M A RETIRED CITY OF, UH, CITY OF HOUSTON CONSTRUCTION INSPECTOR. AND THE THING THAT I'M HEARING NOW IS THAT WE HAD A POLICY THAT THE CONTRACTOR WOULD TELL ME A LOT OF THINGS AND THEY COULD TELL ME AND I'D BELIEVE 'EM. BUT I ALWAYS VERIFIED AND I HOLD Y'ALL RESPONSIBLE TO VERIFY WHAT P IS BEING TOLD YOU. YOU ARE THE LEADERS. IF YOU'RE NOT GONNA LEAD, GET OUTTA THE WAY. NEXT. BECKY EDMONDSON TO BE FOLLOWED BY JENNIFER EDMONDSON. GOOD EVENING, MAYOR CITY COUNCIL. THANK YOU GUYS SO MUCH FOR BEING HERE TONIGHT AND LISTENING TO ALL OF US. UM, I DON'T WANNA BEAT A DEAD HORSE, BUT I'M HERE TO TALK ABOUT HEAVY TRASH. UM, MY NAME IS BECKY EDMONDSON. I'VE BEEN A RESIDENT OF MY SOUTHWEST HOUSTON NEIGHBORHOOD FOR 64 YEARS. 46 YEARS AS A HOMEOWNER. UH, AND I'M THE PRESIDENT OF THE WESTBURY SUPER NEIGHBORHOOD. I WAS HERE, YOU MIGHT REMEMBER IN JANUARY, IT HAD BEEN FOUR MONTHS SINCE OUR HEAVY TRASH WAS PICKED UP. UH, JENNIFER DROVE THE NEIGHBORHOOD. 1,235 HOMES, HAD TRASH OUT FOR THANKSGIVING, FOR CHRISTMAS, FOR NEW YEAR'S HALLOWEEN. UH, I'M HERE TODAY BECAUSE WE DON'T WANNA SEE THAT. WE DON'T WANT ANOTHER TRASHY HOLIDAY SEASON. WE WENT LAST WEEK. WE HAD 811 HOMES WITH HEAVY TRASH. UM, WE NEED, WE NEED A SOLUTION. I'M NOT HERE TO YELL. I'M HAPPY TO BE PART OF THE SOLUTION. I SAT ON A SOLID WASTE MASTER PLAN THING, MAYBE LESS THAN A DECADE AGO. I DON'T THINK ANY OF THAT WAS ROLLED OUT. IF YOU [02:40:01] MOVED HEAVY TRASH TO AN AB SCHEDULE LIKE RECYCLING, UM, I DON'T THINK IT WOULD INCREASE ILLEGAL DUMPING. ACTUALLY, THE CITY OF HOUSTON, OUR NEIGHBORHOODS ARE SO UNSIGHTLY. IT'S AS BAD AS HAVING ILLEGAL DUMPING, ILLEGAL DUMPING ON EVERY LOT. EVERY STREET IN WESTBURY HAS HEAVY TRASH ON IT. BUT THANKS TO MAYOR PRO TEM MARTHA CASTEX TATUM, THE TRUCKS ROLLED THURSDAY AND I UNDERSTAND THEY'RE IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD TODAY, BUT I SHOULDN'T HAVE TO CALL CITY HALL TO GET OUR TRASH PICKED UP. SORRY FOR GOING OVER. UH, COUNSEL, GO AHEAD. OKAY. UM, BECKY, I I WANTED TO THANK YOU AND JENNIFER 'CAUSE AGAIN, THE TIME THAT Y'ALL HAVE PUT IN TRACKING ALL OF THIS FOR THE NEIGHBORHOOD, AND I KNOW MAYOR PRO TEM, YOU ARE ON IT. OUR OFFICE HAS BEEN INVOLVED FOR THE, THE PORTION THAT WE REPRESENT. UM, BUT AGAIN, WE'RE CONTINUING TO ESCALATE, BUT Y'ALL ARE THE ONES HAVING TO GO AND TRACK EVERYTHING DOWN AND WE JUST NEED THE SYSTEM TO WORK. UH, I'M SEEING IT ON MY OWN STREET, RIGHT? IT'S NOT WORKING RIGHT NOW. YEAH. SO I WANT TO THANK YOU BECAUSE YOU ARE SPEAKING ON BEHALF OF AN ENTIRE NEIGHBORHOOD IN THOUSANDS OF HOMES THAT ARE CONTINUING TO EXPERIENCE THIS. UM, I KNOW YOU'RE WORKING VERY PROFESSIONALLY AND VERY WELL WITH MAYOR PRO TEM IN OUR OFFICE. UH, BUT I JUST WANNA RECOGNIZE THE EFFORT THAT YOU ARE HAVING TO CONTINUE TO PUT INTO THIS. THANK YOU FOR THAT. AND, AND I APPRECIATE THAT WE'RE A BIPOLAR NEIGHBORHOOD. WE'RE IN C AND K AND WE, IT IS A GOOD THING. YES. COUNCIL MEMBER POLLARD. THANK YOU MAYOR. AND BECKY, THANK YOU FOR COMING FORWARD. UH, AND I JUST WANT TO CONTINUE TO REALLY HIGHLIGHT THIS ISSUE BECAUSE IT'S, IT'S THE NUMBER ONE CALL WE GET. UM, IN MY OFFICE. WE USE OUR COUNCIL DISTRICT SERVICE FUND DOLLARS TO GET A PRIVATE VENDOR TO GO THROUGH EVERY NEIGHBORHOOD AND SWEEP THAT, THOSE NEIGHBORHOODS TO GET THE HEAVY TRASH AND TREE WASTE. AND THEN A COUPLE MONTHS LATER, WE'RE BACK TO THE SAME SITUATION. NOW, WE DID THAT BECAUSE WE WERE HOPING TO SUPPLEMENT THE WORK OF THE SOLID WASTE DEPARTMENT SO THEY CAN GET CAUGHT UP. RIGHT. BUT WE'RE STILL IN THE SAME PREDICAMENT THAT WE WERE IN BEFORE. AND I THINK ONE OF THE BIGGEST ISSUES IS JUST, UM, INACCURATE COMMUNICATION. IF WE COULD JUST, IT WAS NO COMMUNICATION. YES. IF WE COULD JUST TELL OUR RESIDENTS WHAT TO EXPECT OR WHAT NOT TO EXPECT, THEN I THINK WE CAN WORK TOGETHER AND ENSURING THAT PEOPLE AREN'T PUTTING OUT THINGS, IF NO ONE'S COMING BY, THERE'S, THERE'S NO REASON FOR US TO HAVE RESIDENTS PUTTING OUT ALL THIS HEAVY TRASH AND TREE WASTE WITHOUT THE ANTICIPATION THAT A TRUCK WILL COME BY AND PICK IT UP IN A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME. AND WHEN THAT DOESN'T HAPPEN, PEOPLE ARE UNSURE WHAT TO DO. AND THAT'S WHAT'S LEADING TO A LOT OF CONFUSION. AND SO IF WE COULD JUST CLEAR UP THE COMMUNICATION, I THINK THAT IN ITSELF WILL GO A LONG WAY, UH, AS A FOUNDATIONAL STEP TO AT LEAST HAVE PEOPLE UNDERSTAND WHERE WE ARE AS A CITY WITH OUR RESOURCES AND CAPACITY. AND THEN MOVE ON TO A STRATEGY TO ACTUALLY START TO PICK UP THE TRASH IN A TIMELY FASHION. AND, AND THEN HAVE INSPECTORS WHEN THERE ARE VIOLATIONS. BECAUSE RIGHT NOW EVERYBODY'S IN VIOLATION EVERY MONTH. WELL, PEOPLE ARE IN VIOLATION A LOT OF TIMES. 'CAUSE THEY PUT HEAVY TRASH AND TREE WASTE OUT A FEW MONTHS AGO. NOW THEY MAY HAVE SOME MORE AND THEY'RE PUTTING THAT THERE, BUT THEY'RE NOT GONNA PICK IT UP UNTIL DECEMBER NOW. YEAH. IF THAT, IF THAT, YES. THANK Y'ALL FOR YOUR TIME, MAYOR PRO TEAM. THANK YOU MAYOR BECKY, THANK YOU FOR COMING DOWN. I KNOW THAT IT WAS A LOT OF EFFORT, UH, TO COME DOWN. UM, AND I JUST WANTED YOU TO KNOW HOW MUCH WE APPRECIATE THE DILIGENT WORK OF YOU AND THE WESTBURY LEADERSHIP TEAM. UM, I HAVE BEEN IN CONSTANT COMMUNICATION WITH OUR, OUR DIRECTOR. UM, HE'S AWARE OF, YOU KNOW, WHAT'S OUT IN, UH, WESTBURY AND, YOU KNOW, THROUGHOUT THE DISTRICT. UM, HE HAS COMMUNICATED THAT WE ARE GOING TO, UM, GET TO THE PILOT PROGRAM, UM, THE ON DEMAND TRASH. THEY ARE FINALIZING, UM, THAT PROCESS WITH PUBLIC WORKS TO TRY OUT THE PILOT, UM, IN DISTRICT K AND I THINK IN DISTRICT I, UM, AND SO WESTBURY WAS ONE OF THE NEIGHBORHOODS THAT WE ARE LOOKING TO, UM, TRY OUT THE PILOT BECAUSE OF YOUR COMMUNICATION AND THE DILIGENT EFFORTS OF THE NEIGHBORHOOD TO TRY TO HELP US SOLVE THIS ISSUE. SO, UM, AS SOON AS WE HAVE THAT, UM, THE DIRECTOR HAS COMMITTED TO DOING A COMMUNITY MEETING SO WE CAN TALK ABOUT WHAT THAT ENTAILS, WHAT THAT LOOKS LIKE, AND HOW WE NEED THE FEEDBACK, HOW PEOPLE WILL USE THE SYSTEM. UM, AND SO I LOOK FORWARD TO US TRYING TO, TRYING TO SOLVE THE [02:45:01] PROBLEM TOGETHER. RIGHT. THANK YOU SO MUCH. YOU'RE WELCOME. I LOOK FORWARD TO THAT TOO. THANK YOU. NEXT, UH, PLUMMER HAS A PROCEDURAL MOTION. COUNCILOR PLUMMER. THANK YOU, MAYOR. UM, I'D LIKE TO SUSPEND THE RULES TO ADD YUSEF BENSON AFTER JENNIFER EDMONDSON IS OH, OKAY. OKAY. THE NEXT TO BE NEXT. SECOND. SECOND. AND YOUSEF BENSON. YOUSEF BENSON. YOUSEF BENSON. NEXT SPEAKER. SURE. MARCO ROBERTS. MARCO ROBERTS. ARE YOU, MARCO? YOU, YOU, YOU OKAY? OKAY. OKAY. COME ON, YUSEF. HOW ARE YOU SIR? HEY, HOW Y'ALL DOING TODAY? YUSUF BENSON, UH, COMMUNITY SOLUTIONIST AND JUST ALL AROUND ADVOCATE. I WAS ADVOCATE UNDER, UH, MAYOR TURNER, UH, COMPLETE COMMUNITY PROGRAM. UM, THANK THE MAYOR, UH, FOR HAVING THIS, UH, THANK YOU, UH, ISHA PLUMMER FOR BEING ONE OF OUR, UH, MOST ACTIVE, UH, COUNCIL MEMBERS. UH, CAROLYN , SHE'S LEFT. UM, AND THANK YOU, ALL OF YOU COUNCIL MEMBERS FOR, UH, BEING HERE FOR TARSHA, UH, BEING HERE FOR US, UH, WHEN WE CAN BE HERE. RIGHT? UM, ONE WAY, UH, TO, TO DEAL WITH THAT TRASH ISSUE IS, UH, REDEPLOY. YOU KNOW, DON'T HAVE THOSE COPS, UH, DOING THOSE NON-SAFETY TRAFFIC STOPS AND HAVE THEM STAKED OUT AT, UH, THE ILLEGAL DUMPING SPOTS. UM, I, I ALSO, UM, ADVOCATED FOR, UH, SOLAR CAMERAS, UM, SIGNS WITH QR CODES SAYING THE NEAREST DUMP IS OVER THERE. RIGHT? YOU CAN JUST PULL THAT, THAT WAY THEY CAN JUST PULL IT UP AND DO THAT, RIGHT? BECAUSE IT'S ALL ABOUT SOLUTIONS AND COMING UP WITH THEM. AND I ALSO HAVE PROGRAMS AND HAVE PARTNERED, YOU KNOW, WITH THE CITY AND WITH OTHER NONPROFITS TO, UH, TRY TO CLEAN UP IN THE CITY. UM, AS FAR AS THE NONE, UH, SAFETY TRAFFIC STOPS, UM, WE'RE, WE'RE WASTING $10 MILLION. IT, IT IS, WHAT IT SAYS IS WE'RE WASTING ANOTHER, UH, 40 MILLION ON OVERTIME. YOUR TIME HAS EXPIRED AND 10 MILLION ON LAWSUITS A YEAR. UM, LET'S, LET'S REDIRECT THOSE FUNDS TOWARDS HOUSTON, WORK PROGRAMS, THINGS LIKE THAT, THAT MADE THE CITY THRIVE, RIGHT? I USED TO LOVE THAT, YOU KNOW, OUR KIDS HAD SOMETHING TO DO. WE AIN'T HAD JUST PEOPLE JUST RUNNING AROUND RESTLESS AND END UP IN TROUBLE. THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE. NEXT SPEAKER. I MOVE FOR THE PROCEDURAL COUNCIL MEMBER. PLUMMER. YOU HAVE A PROCEDURAL MOTION AGAIN? YES. NO, I'M JUST KIDDING. I KNOW, I KNOW, I KNOW. IT'S GETTING LATE. UM, I, I, UH, MOVE TO SUSPEND THE RULES TO MOVE KEVIN STRICKLAND AFTER OUR NEXT SPEAKER. IS THERE A SECOND? YES. IT'S BEEN MOVED. AND SECOND. ALL IN FAVOR? ANY OPPOSED NEXT SPEAKER? YES. UH, MICHAEL ROBERTS. I'M, UH, FROM BECOME PARK DISTRICT GUY. SAME ISSUE. IT'S, I'VE NEVER SEEN IT AS BAD AS IT IS TODAY. I KNOW WE HEAR ABOUT THESE, UH, ISSUES ABOUT, IT'S ALWAYS THE COMMUNITY. WELL, I'VE BEEN THERE EIGHT YEARS. IT WASN'T THE COMMUNITY BEFORE. AND WE HAVE ALSO A REASON TO BELIEVE THAT SOME OF IT IS ORGANIZED. AND YOU KNOW, THE REASON WE SAY THIS, 'CAUSE WE WERE TOLD DO 3 1 1 CASES. WELL, WE'VE BEEN DOING THAT AND BEEN DOING THAT. AND THIS TIME AROUND WE WENT AND DID IT AGAIN. THIS TIME WE FOUND OUT THAT A LOT OF THE REPEAT OFFENDERS HAD BLURRED THEIR AREAS ON GOOGLE. SO ALL OF A SUDDEN ALL THESE PROPERTIES ARE, NOW WE HAVE TO GO PHYSICALLY ON FOOT TO VERIFY THE ADDRESSES. I'VE NEVER SEEN THAT BEFORE, SO THAT'S WHY I'M THINKING IT'S MORE THAN JUST, WELL, YES, THERE ARE SOMEONE'S PUPILS PEOPLE, SURE, BUT THERE'S MORE TO IT. I THINK IT'S A SERIOUS ISSUE. NOW, THE KIDS IN OUR NEIGHBORHOOD, IT'S A HISPANIC, A HUMBLE, MODEST NEIGHBORHOOD, AND YOU KNOW WHO LIVES THERE. YOU HAVE THESE NEAT LITTLE, UH, UH, HOUSES. EVERYTHING IS PRISTINE. TWO DOORS DOWN, THERE'S A PILE OF GARBAGE THIS HIGH THAT HAS BEEN THERE FOR TWO MONTHS FULL OF RATS AND POPS. UH, CALL IS COMING. WE HAVE KIDS ARE TRICK OR TREAT, AND NOW THEY'RE GONNA HAVE TO NAVIGATE LITERALLY EVERY HUNDRED FEET, ANOTHER PILE OF GARBAGE. AND THAT'S HOUSTON. I, I SAW THE LITTLE THING THAT YOU GUYS HAVE DOWN THERE IN THE, IN THE, UH, OVERFLOW ROOM. THAT'S NOT THE CAMP PARK TODAY. THAT'S NOT WESTBURY TODAY. PLEASE HELP US. COUNCIL MEMBER PLUMMER. NO. OKAY. SORRY. THANK YOU, SIR. NEXT SPEAKER, KEVIN STRICKLAND. KEVIN STRICKLAND TO BE FOLLOWED BY EBY CHANDRY. HELLO, MR. STRICKLAND. HELLO. UM, I REALLY APPRECIATE THE SPEAKERS TONIGHT HAVE USED THEIR WORDS, SO I'M GONNA DO THE SAME. JOHN WHITMEYER DOES NOT GIVE A RATS BEHIND ABOUT THE L-G-B-T-Q COMMUNITY. HE GOES TO OUR PRIDE PARADE AND WAVES THE PRIDE FLAG, BUT THEN HE RUSHED TO DESTROY THE PRIDE CROSSWALK AS SOON AS GREG ABBOTT TOLD HIM TO. HE MAKES VAGUE ILLUSIONS TO WORKING WITH PEOPLE IN THE COMMUNITY TO COME UP WITH A PLAN AS USUAL, NO CONCEPT OF A PLAN. HE TOLD US A COUPLE OF WEEKS AGO THAT HE'S NOT RUNNING THE CITY AS A DEMOCRAT, BUT HE TAKES OUR VOTE FOR GRANTED BECAUSE WE VOTE DEMOCRATIC. HE TOLD US NOT TO CRITICIZE [02:50:01] TRUMP, BUT AFTER 15,000 OF US WENT TO HIS OFFICE AND DID EXACTLY THAT, UH, NOW I'M SPEAKING TO THE COMMUNITY. Y'ALL AIN'T NOBODY COMING TO RESCUE US. WE GOTTA CONTINUE TO ORGANIZE. TAKE DIRECT ACTION. SPEAK YOUR TIME HAS EXPIRED. VOTE FOR PEOPLE WHO WILL REPRESENT US AND TELL OUR LEADERS TO STOP BENDING THE KNEE. UH, ONE MORE QUICK THING, COUNCIL MEMBER CAME IN. I APPRECIATE YOU ACKNOWLEDGING THAT THE ARREST OF THE FOUR PEACEFUL PROTESTORS WAS UNNECESSARY AND HARSH. SO THANK YOU FOR POINTING THAT OUT. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. NEXT SPEAKER, EBY CHANDRY TO BE FOLLOWED BY CRYSTAL DARLING. SERGEANT, A VERY GOOD EVENING. A WARM GREETINGS FROM BATAN RESPECTED ME, MEMBERS OF THE CITY COUNCIL. AND LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, MY NAME IS RAIA AND I'M FROM BHUTAN, OFTEN CALLED AS LAND OF HAPPINESS. AND I'M HERE PROUDLY STANDING IN FRONT OF YOU ALL AS AN INTERNATIONAL FELLOW STUDENT UNDER US DEPARTMENT OF STATE, SO-CALLED COMMUNITY SOLUTION PROGRAM. LET ME TALK SOMETHING ABOUT MY HOME COUNTRY. BHUTAN. BHUTAN IS KNOWN FOR WORLD ONLY CARBON NEGATIVE COUNTRY IN THE WORLD WHERE WE MEASURE PROGRESS, NOT BY WEALTH, BUT BY THE GUIDING PHILOSOPHY OF GRASS NATURAL HAPPINESS. AND WE CARE ABOUT PLACING THE PEOPLE CULTURE AND ENVIRONMENT AT THE HEART OF ANY DEVELOPMENT. AND I FOUND A VERY SIMILAR ASPECT IN THE HOUSTON. I HAVE NOTICED AND GOT INSPIRATION, LIKE THE SAME SPIRIT OF COMMUNITY VITALITY AND THE ORGANIZATION LIKE YOUR TIME HAS EXPIRED. THE FRIENDS OF COLIN MEAB, THEY'RE WORKING TIRELESSLY FOR THE COMMUNITY TO COME TOGETHER AND BUILD A GREENER SPACE TOGETHER. THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME AND WISH EVERYONE A HAPPY HUNDRED AND 90 ANNIVERSARY OF HOUSTON. THANK YOU, . THANK YOU. NEXT SPEAKER, CRYSTAL DARLING. SERGEANT NO, BARB, BARBARA CARMICHAEL. ARE YOU CRYSTAL? I'M CRYSTAL. YOU'RE CRYSTAL. OKAY. YES. SO, UH, GOOD EVENING. MY NAME IS CRYSTAL DARLING. SERGEANT AND I WORK IN CONSERVATION, COMMUNICATION AND ART SUPPORTING COMMUNITY INITIATIVES IN THE BAHAMAS. I'M HERE IN HOUSTON THROUGH THE COMMUNITY SOLUTIONS PROGRAM WITH IRX, WHICH IS SUPPORTED BY THE US DEPARTMENT OF STATE. SINCE SEPTEMBER, I'VE BEEN WORKING WITH ART AND ENVIRONMENTAL ARCHITECTURE INCORPORATED ART FOR CLIMATE RESILIENCE AND FRIENDS OF COLUMBIA TAP ORGANIZATIONS DEDICATED TO COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT AND ENVIRONMENTAL PRESERVATION. A HIGHLIGHT OF MY TIME HERE WAS ATTENDING HOUSTON CLIMATE WEEK, WHERE WE DISCUSS CONSERVATION AND CLIMATE ACTION TOPICS, WHICH ARE CLOSE TO MY HEART AS I DEVELOP A COMMUNITY ACTION PLAN FOR THE BAHAMAS. WITH HURRICANE MELISSA APPROACHING MY COUNTRY, IT'S A STRONG REMINDER OF HOW URGENT CLIMATE RESILIENCE TRULY IS. I'VE BEEN INSPIRED BY HOUSTON'S HOSPITALITY, CREATIVITY, AND CIVIC SPIRIT. THE CITY FEELS LIKE AN OPEN AIR GALLERY, VIBRANT, EXPRESSIVE, AND FULL OF LIFE. THANK YOU HOUSTON FOR WELCOMING ME SO WARMLY AND FOR LEADING WITH BOTH HEART AND CREATIVITY. THANK YOU SO MUCH. NEXT SPEAKER, BARBARA CARMICHAEL TO BE FOLLOWED BY SELENA RENA. GOOD EVENING COUNCIL MEMBERS AND THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK. I AM A HOMEOWNER FROM THE COMMERCE TOWERS CONDOMINIUM CONDOMINIUMS ON MAIN STREET, WHICH IS A HISTORICAL LANDMARK. THERE'S A GROUP OF US HERE, WE ARE HERE TODAY BECAUSE OUR BUILDING HAS FACED SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUES FOR YEARS, INCLUDING FALLING DEBRIS HAZARDS FOR NEARLY SIX YEARS, AND STRUCTURAL INTEGRITY CONCERNS FOR NEARLY TWO. YET THE DEVELOPER WHO REMAINS THE MAJORITY OWNER AND CONTROLS OUR HOA BOARD, HAS TAKEN LITTLE, LITTLE MEANINGFUL ACTION TO ADDRESS THEM. IN JANUARY, 2024, WALTER PP MOORE DELIVERED A FORMAL PRESENTATION TO THE COMMERCE TOWERS BOARD, IDENTIFYING SIX KEY FINDINGS RELATED TO THE BUILDING, STRUCTURAL INTEGRITY, AND THE ONGOING RISK OF FALLING DEBRIS. AS OF THIS POINT, THERE STILL IS NO PROJECT TIMELINE OR DEFINED SCOPE OF WORK. [02:55:01] MEANWHILE, THE BUILDING CONTINUES TO DETERIORATE PUTTING RESIDENTS AND PEDESTRIANS AT RISK. OUR SCAFFOLDING HAS BEEN UP FOR OVER SIX YEARS. WE ARE ASKING THE CITY TO HELP ENSURE ACCOUNTABILITY. YOUR TIME HAS EXPIRED. WE'RE ASKING THE CITY TO HELP ENSURE ACCOUNTABILITY BY PRESSING THE DEVELOPER TO BEGIN PHASE ONE OF THE REMEDIATION PLAN. WE DON'T WANT A SITUATION LIKE HAPPENED IN SURFSIDE FLORIDA. THANK YOU. NEXT SPEAKER, SELENA REYNA TO BE FOLLOWED BY LEONARD BEATY. FIRST OF ALL, I WANNA THANK THE NEWS FOR BEING HERE TODAY TO GO AHEAD AND SHARE AND SHED LIGHT ON WHAT I'M ABOUT TO SAY RIGHT NOW. WE HAVE RECEIVED A LOT OF PUSHBACK FROM OUR HOA AND FROM HERE AS WELL, NOT ALLOWING ME TO JUST TO TO SPEAK OUR, MY FULL TWO MINUTES. THAT'S ALL I'M ASKING FOR. UM, I'M HERE ONCE AGAIN TO ADDRESS AN ONGOING CONCERN ABOUT SPEED BUMPS IN OUR NEIGHBORHOOD. I'VE RAISED THIS ISSUE BEFORE NUMEROUS OF TIMES, AND UNFORTUNATELY MY CONCERNS AS WELL AS THOSE OF MY NEIGHBORS HAVE BEEN IGNORED. DESPITE MY EARLIER COMMUNICATION. I HAVE NOT RECEIVED A RESPONSE FROM JOAQUIN AND MARTINEZ. THIS HAS BEEN AN ONGOING ISSUE FOR EIGHT YEARS NOW. EIGHT YEARS FOR EIGHT YEARS. THIS HAS BEEN AN ISSUE. WE HAVE BEEN AT THIS FOR, SINCE AUGUST 9TH, 2018. I CAN DEFINITELY PROVIDE THE EVIDENCE PROVING, UM, RIGHT HERE THAT WE HAVE ALL OF THE PROPER INFORMATION THAT WAS NEEDED. THE EVIDENCE, THE PETITION THAT WAS SIGNED, SENT TO THE CITY OF HOUSTON BACK IN 2019. AND I'M, I'M HERE TO SPEAK FOR OVER 40 OF OUR NEIGHBORS AS WELL. HE WAS SUPPOSED TO. I'M JUST REQUESTING MORE TIME LADIES AND GENTLEMEN. I'M SORRY, BUT I NEED TO SAY THIS. SO AFTER WE LEFT HERE ON MARCH 1ST, 2005, YOU CAN START WRAPPING IT UP. WE WE'RE TRYING TO STAY ON ONE MINUTE FOR EACH PERSON. SO JUST TO WRAP UP YOUR COMMENTS. THANK YOU. YES. SO AGAIN, I JUST NEED TO KNOW WHAT'S THE STATUS OF OUR SPEED BUMPS. THAT'S IT. JOAQUIN'S NOT HERE. I UNDERSTAND HE'S LEFT, BUT AGAIN, THIS IS HOW IT'S, THIS IS HOW IT'S BEEN CONSTANTLY ABSENT. WE HAVE CONTINUED TO CALL HIS OFFICE. NO RESPONSE. HE'S BEEN TO OUR HOA MEETING. NO RESPONSE AS WELL. SO I'M JUST ASKING FOR THE STATUS OF OUR SPEED BUMPS. THAT IS IT. THANK YOU. NEXT SPEAKER, LEONARD BEATY, 9 1 1 KELLY TODD, WE ARE GOING TO PAUSE COUNSEL FOR A FEW MINUTES ORDER. WE WILL RESUME OUR PUBLIC SESSION. UH, IT LOOKS LIKE WE'VE GOT THE ISSUE UNDER CONCERN, UH, THE CONCERN MANAGED. SO WE WILL RESUME OUR PUBLIC, UH, SPEAKERS LIST. MR. SECRETARY, IF YOU'LL CALL THE NEXT SPEAKER. KELLY. TODD, I DID. KELLY TODD. KELLY, TODD LOUIS. CAN YOU SEE IF KELLY TODD IS HAPPENED TO BE IN THE HALLWAY? OH, I HAVE NEXT SPEAKER. PATRICK HORN. HOLD ON. PATRICK HORN. PATRICK HORN. COUNCIL MEMBER POLL FOR A PROCEDURAL MOTION. THANK YOU MAYOR PROTI. I MOVE TO SUSPEND THE RULES TO MOVE DEMETRIUS WALKER UP TO BE AHEAD OF BANG WIN. IS THERE A SECOND? IT'S BEEN MOVED IN SECOND. ALL IN FAVOR? ANY OPPOSED? ITEM PASSES. MR. SECRETARY. NEXT SPEAKER. THANK YOU. WE HAVE CASTILLO AS WELL. THE NEXT SPEAKER. COUNCIL MEMBER CASTILLO. THANK YOU MAYOR PROTE. I MOVE TO SUSPEND THE RULES TO MOVE MARK RODRIGUEZ TO FOLLOW LINDA RAD ON THE SPEAKER'S LIST. IS THERE A SECOND? IT'S BEEN MOVED IN SECOND. ANY OPPOSED? ITEM PASSES? SIR, CAN YOU TELL ME WHAT YOUR NAME IS? YOU SAID THAT WE CALLED YOU NO, NO, NO. IT'S A DO SQUARE. NO, HE ALREADY SPOKE. HE ALREADY SPOKE. ALRIGHT. ALL RIGHT. WHAT, WHAT YOU TRYING TO TELL ME? I WAS TRYING TO TELL YOU. . OKAY. THANK YOU. YOU TRYING TO HOP? THANK YOU SIR. [03:00:01] NEXT SPEAKER. , YOU DOING NEXT SPEAKER? HOLD ON. DEMETRIUS WALKER? YES. YES. UH, HOW ARE YOU SIR? I'M DOING WELL. GOOD EVENING. GOOD EVENING. UH, SEVEN YEARS AGO I WENT TO THE DENTIST TO GET A ROUTINE CHECKUP AND I WAS SENT HOME BECAUSE MY BLOOD PRESSURE WAS TOO HIGH. THEY SAID IT WAS TOO DANGEROUS. UH, AFTER GETTING MY BLOOD PRESSURE UNDER CONTROL WITH A PLANT-BASED DIET, I OPENED UP MEEK'S VEGAN PIZZA HERE IN MIDTOWN TO HELP OTHER HOUSTONIANS GET ON THE RIGHT PATH TO HEALTH. HEART DISEASE IS THE NUMBER ONE KILLER OF HOUSTONIANS AND WE HAVE TO DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT. I'M HERE WITH PLANT-BASED TREATY AND I THINK IT IS CRITICAL, CRITICAL THAT WE GET THE CITY OF HOUSTON TO ENDORSE THE PLANT-BASED TREATY. AND I THINK IT IS VITAL THAT WE GET THE CITY OF HOUSTON FOR ANY EVENTS THAT INVOLVE FOOD TO MAKE PLANT-BASED OPTIONS THE DEFAULT OPTION FOR ANYTHING THE CITY OF HOUSTON SPENDS THEIR MONEY ON. THANK YOU. THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE. NEXT SPEAKER. BANG, WIN VAN WIN TO BE FOLLOWED BY LINDA HART. GOOD EVENING. UH, CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS. UM, THANK YOU FOR THIS OPPORTUNITY. UM, I GREW UP IN A FAMILY WHO RAN A BUNCH OF SHOP AND WE ATE MEAT EVERY DAY. I KNOW FIRSTHAND THE IMPACT ABOUT FOOD CHOICES ON OUR HEALTH AND HOW CHRONIC DISEASE CAN HURT A FAMILY. AMERICANS ALREADY EAT WAY MORE MEAT AND DAIRY PRODUCTS THAN WE NEED BECAUSE OF OUR CURRENT FOOD SYSTEMS. I DON'T WANT OTHER FAMILIES HAVE TO GO THROUGH WHAT WE HAVE TO GO THROUGH. THAT IS WHY I VOLUNTEER AS A CITY CAMPAIGNER FOR PLANT-BASED TREAT, A GLOBAL GRASSROOTS INITIATIVE DESIGNED TO COLLABORATE WITH CITIES AND INSTITUTIONS TO MAKE PLANT-BASED FOODS MORE AFFORDABLE AND ACCESSIBLE, ESPECIALLY IN UNDERSERVED COMMUNITIES AS A SOLUTION TO PREVENT CHRONIC DISEASE AND PROTECT OUR PLANET. I'D LIKE TO THANK YOU FOR YOUR EFFORTS IN HEALTH AND SUSTAIN BASED PROGRAMS, AND I WANT TO URGE YOU TO TAKE A STEP FORWARD TO ENDORSE THE PLANT-BASED CITY AND JOIN 51 OTHER CITIES AROUND THE WORLD IN CALLING FOR A GLOBAL TRANSITION TO PLANT-BASED. YOUR TIME HAS EXPIRED. I HOPE TO HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO DISCUSS FURTHER WITH YOU ABOUT HOW WE CAN WORK TOGETHER TO SERVE OUR COMMITTEE. THANK YOU SO MUCH. COUNCIL MEMBER HUFFMAN. THANK YOU. AND I JUST WANTED TO THANK YOU, SIR, FOR MR. WYNN. I JUST WANTED TO THANK YOU FOR COMING FORWARD AND BRINGING THIS TO COUNCIL'S ATTENTION. I AGREE 100%. THANK YOU. THANK YOU SO MUCH. THAT MEANS A LOT. NEXT SPEAKER. LINDA HAR. LINDA HART. AND WE'RE BACK. PAGE TWO. LINDA HAR. NEXT SPEAKER MARK. R MARK, MARK RODRIGUEZ. HE GOT MOVED UP. HELLO, MARK. HELLO. UM, MOST OF Y'ALL KNOW ME. MARK RODRIGUEZ, PRESIDENT OF CIVIC GROUP. I HAVE AN ALARMING EMAIL THAT I I RECEIVED COM FROM COMMANDER GWEN WHERE HE SAYS HE DON'T WANT TO PARTICIPATE OR SEND HIS OFFICERS TO COMMUNITY MEETINGS. HOW DO Y'ALL EXPECT A COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT WHEN YOUR OWN COMMANDER IS TELLING YOU, AND, AND I GAVE EVERYONE A COPY OF THIS, THAT HE DON'T WANT TO SEND HIS OFFICERS TO MY COMMUNITY MEETINGS. I HAVE AN ACTIVE GROUP ON A RAINY DAY, 15 PEOPLE ON A GOOD DAY. 25. THAT'S PRETTY GOOD FOR A CIVIC GROUP. SECOND HPDI WAS ON HOLD 29 MINUTES. I SENT IT TO THE COUNCIL MEMBER MARTINEZ AND, UH, MY COUNCIL MEMBER, UH, CASTILE, 29 MINUTES ON HOLD WITH DISPATCH TODAY TO REPORT SOMEBODY URINATING AT THE PARK. I DON'T THINK THAT'S ACCEPTABLE. UM, THE GREATER EASTERN MANAGEMENT DISTRICT, YESTERDAY, I WAS THE ONE OF COUNCIL MEMBER MARTINEZ'S AIDES THERE AND THERE WAS THIS HOMELESS GUY. HE CAME TRYING TO START AN ISSUE WITH BOTH OF US AND A WOMAN. I REALLY ENCOURAGE Y'ALL TO CONSIDER THE 4 1 9 OCCUPATION. LOOK WHAT Y'ALL GONNA DO TO OUR COMMUNITY. WE'RE DEALING WITH THIS NOW. YOUR TIME HAS EXPIRED. GO AHEAD. GO AHEAD AND WRAP UP. IT TOOK US SEVEN YEARS TO GET 250,000 FOR FLORIST LIBRARY. THAT'S PART OF OUR COMMUNITY. I REALLY HOPE Y'ALL CAN CONSIDER HELPING OUR COMMUNITY INSTEAD OF HURTING IT. THANK Y'ALL. I APPRECIATE YOU BEING HERE. NEXT SPEAKER, ANGELINE RENE. ANGELINE RENE TO BE FOLLOW, TO BE FOLLOWED BY LOUIS FLORES. GO AHEAD. GOOD EVENING COUNCIL MEMBERS. I CURRENTLY GO TO ENERGY INSTITUTE HIGH SCHOOL, AND I HAVE LEARNED THAT PLANT-BASED FOODS, IT'S BETTER FOR OUR HEALTH AND OUR PLANET. ADDITIONALLY, ANIMAL FARMING IS THE LEADING CAUSE TO DEFORESTATION, OCEAN, DEAD ZONE, AND METHANE EMISSIONS. BECAUSE OF THIS, I WANTED TO FIND HEALTHIER, MORE SUSTAINABLE PLANT-BASED OPTIONS ON MY CAMPUS. [03:05:01] BUT INSTEAD, I ONLY FOUND BEEF BURGERS, CHICKEN NUGGETS AND CHICK-FIL-A TO ACHIEVE THIS GOAL, IT IS CRUCIAL THAT HEALTHY, SUSTAINABLE EATING PRACTICES ARE ADOPTED IN MY SCHOOL AND OTHER PUBLIC SCHOOLS. CONSEQUENTLY, ACCORDING TO RESEARCH RELEASE FOR WORLD FOOD DAY, TEXAS WAS RANK 43RD OUT OF 50 STATES IN TERM OF THE QUALITY LUNCHES PROVIDED IN PUBLIC SCHOOLS TO ADDRESS THESE CHALLENGES, IS IT IMPORTANT TO ALLOW ORGANIZATIONS LIKE THE PLANT-BASED TREATY TO IMPACT A WIDER AUDIENCE, IMPLEMENT PLANT-BASED MEAL OPTIONS IN SCHOOLS, AND SHOW STUDENTS THAT NOT ONLY ARE THERE HEALTHIER ALTERNATIVES, BUT THEY TASTE JUST AS GOOD TOO. THIS CONNECTS WITH THE GOALS OF OUR CITY BECAUSE THESE STUDENTS ARE OUR FUTURE. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. NEXT SPEAKER, LUIS FLORES, TO BE FOLLOWED BY MEN WIN. ALRIGHT. UH, YES, THANK YOU. THANK YOU FOR ALLOWING ME TO SPEAK TONIGHT. UH, I AM A NATIVE HOUSTONIAN, A FATHER AND A PUBLIC SCHOOL TEACHER, UH, GROWING UP IN THE NORTHEAST SIDE OF HOUSTON, TO BE SPECIFIC, SIX 10 IN VILLE. UH, I SAW FIRSTHAND THE LACK OF ACCESS TO HEALTHY PLANT-BASED FOODS. SOME FELLOW CITIZENS IN UNDERSERVED COMMUNITIES ARE CURRENTLY LIVING IN FOOD DESERTS. UM, AND WE'RE, WE'RE THE ONLY NEAREST, UH, NEARBY OPTIONS ARE PACKAGED ITEMS AND NOT FRESH FRUITS OR VEGETABLES. THE LACK OF ACCESS AND EDUCATION CONTRIBUTES TO SERIOUS HEALTH PROBLEMS LIKE OBESITY, DIABETES, AND HEART DISEASE. I LOST BOTH MY PARENTS TO THESE PREVENTIVE PREVENTABLE CONDITIONS. THAT'S WHY I URGE A CITY TO SUPPORT IN INITIATIVES LIKE PLANT-BASED TREATY, UH, TO BRING EDUCATION AND ACCESSIBILITY TO PLANT-BASED FOODS IN OUR SCHOOLS, IN OUR COMMUNITIES. UH, THE GOAL ISN'T TO TAKE CHOICES AWAY, UH, BUT TO ADD HEALTHIER ONES THAT CAN SAVE LIVES, REDUCE HEALTH COSTS, AND PROTECT OUR PLANET. THANK YOU. THANK YOU FOR YOUR COMMENTS TONIGHT. NEXT SPEAKER, COUNCIL MEMBER JACKSON FOR A PROCEDURAL MOTION. NO PROCEDURAL MOTION. I HAVE A QUESTION ABOUT THE PLANT BASE. SO WHAT DOES IT LOOK LIKE TO SUPPORT THE PLANT BASE? YEAH, I GUESS I, I CAN HELP ANSWER THAT QUESTION. OKAY, THANK YOU. UM, THERE, UH, LIKE AS BANG MENTIONED, THERE ARE 51 CITIES THAT HAVE ENDORSED THE PLANT-BASED TREATY. AND WITH THE PLANT-BASED TREATY IS CALLING FOR CITIES TO, UM, ENDORSED IT, UH, COMMITMENT FOR THE CLIMATE ACTION PLAN FOR SUSTAINABILITY, UH, AND MAKING PLANT-BASED OPTIONS LIKE, AS A DEFAULT OPTION, YOU KNOW, IN SCHOOLS AND, YOU KNOW, CITY FUNCTIONS, UH, EVENTS. UM, LIKE THE CITY WAS HOLLYWOOD AS ENDORSED THE PLANT-BASED TREATY. AND THEY MADE THAT COMMITMENT, UH, TO HELP REDUCE GREENHOUSE GAS EMISSIONS AND ALSO HAVE HEALTHIER OPTIONS, UM, AS WELL. UM, YEAH, MORE INCLUSIVE OPTIONS. SO LIKE IF WE HOST A CONFERENCE, USE PLANT-BASED FOOD AS A DEFAULT. AS A DEFAULT BY DEFAULT. OKAY. EXACTLY. NO PEPPERONI. NO PEPPERONI PIZZA. OKAY. WHICH, UH, YEAH, PEPPERONI, UH, PIZZA IS PROCESSED MEAT. SO, CLASS ONE QUESTION. OKAY. CANCER CAUSING SO BETTER FOR YOUR HEALTH, BETTER FOR THE HEALTH OF THE CITIZENS. THANKS AMY. YEAH. YEAH, YEAH, YEAH. THANK YOU. ARE THOSE YOUR COMMENTS OR YOU WANNA GO AHEAD AND MAKE IT? TELL ME YOUR NAME. MIN MGU. YOU GOT HIM. GREAT. GO AHEAD SIR. ALRIGHT. YEAH, YEAH. UH, GOOD EVENING COUNCIL MEMBERS, UM, HOUSTONIANS, UM, MAYOR PRO TEM. UM, HOPE EVERYONE'S HAVING A GOOD DAY. I APPRECIATE Y'ALL'S, UH, WORK AS PUBLIC SERVANTS. UM, AS I SAID, I'M MEN WHEN I'M A NATIVE HOUSTONIAN. UM, I'M VOLUNTEERING WITH THE PLANT-BASED TREATY, UM, AS A REGISTERED DIETICIAN NUTRITIONIST, I SUPPORT THE PLANT-BASED TREATY, UH, WHICH CAN HA I MENTIONED HAVE SIGNIFICANT HEALTH BENEFITS. UM, AS, UM, MR. DEMITRIUS MENTIONED EARLIER, UM, YOU KNOW, PRO UM, HEART DISEASE IS THE LEADING CAUSE OF DEATH. EVEN THOUGH WE HAVE WARD RENOWNED, UM, MEDICAL CENTERS HERE, YOU KNOW, OBESITY, 70% OF HOUSTONIANS ARE, UH, OVERWEIGHT OR OBESE. CHILDREN OVER THE AGE OF 12, UH, OVER 34% ARE OVERWEIGHT OR OBESE. UM, AND SO THAT'S BECAUSE THESE ARE LIFESTYLE RELATED DISEASES. UH, THE CITY STATISTICS SHOW THAT YOU KNOW THAT, UH, BLACK RESIDENTS HAVE THE HIGHEST DEATH FROM HEART DISEASE FOLLOWED BY, UM, WHITES THAN HISPANICS. AND OTHER HEALTH FACTORS LIKE OBESITY EXPIRED HIGHER RATES. SO MOST HOUSTONIANS AREN'T CONSUMING THE MINIMUM RECOMMENDATIONS FOR THE FRUITS AND VEGETABLES. UH, SO HEALTHY, HIGH QUALITY, PLANT-BASED DIET THAT EMPHASIZE WHOLE PLANT FOODS, UM, THEY LOWER THE RISK OF CHRONIC DISEASES AND MORTALITY. AND SO, UM, YEAH, I, YOU KNOW, MANY PEOPLE ARE NOT AWARE OF THE STRONG LINK BETWEEN DIET AND THE CHRONIC DISEASES. AND SO I ENCOURAGE, UM, YOU KNOW, YOU, YOU KNOW, CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS, PRO UH, MAYOR AND CITY OF HOUSTON WORK WITH US AND ENDORSE THE PLANT-BASED TREATY. AND, UM, NOT JUST FOR SUSTAINABILITY, BUT TO PROMOTE THE HEALTH OF ALL HOUSTONIANS. THANK, THANK YOU, SIR. SO THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME. THANK YOU. THANK [03:10:01] YOU, MAYOR. GOODNIGHT. NEXT JARRISON ASENCIO TO BE FOLLOWED BY TRAVIS RITO. YES. HELLO. I BOUGHT, UH, CANTALOUPE AND I ALSO DO AGRICULTURE. I'M, UH, MY NAME'S JA, SO , YOU CAN CALL ME JA EAR. I WORK, UH, AS THE PRESIDENT OF THE HOUSTON BLACK POLITICAL ACTION EDUCATION COMMITTEE OR SOMETHING. A COUPLE OF YOUNG PEOPLE JUST STARTED TRYING TO PUT TOGETHER. UM, WE, UH, ARE PUSHING FOR THE PLANT-BASED TREATY TOO. BUT THE THING THAT I'M REALLY INTO IS AGRICULTURE AND NATURE-BASED LIVING, HAVING OURSELVES HAVE ACCESS TO, UH, THINGS THAT HELP MAKE NATURAL STYLES OF LIVING MORE, UH, UNDERSTANDABLE AND ACCESSIBLE. WE LIVE IN A, UH, ENVIRONMENT THAT'S VERY, UH, FABRICATED AND NOT REALLY SET UP TO HELP PEOPLE UNDERSTAND THAT THERE'S NATURAL STYLES OF LIVING THAT CONNECT US TO NATURE. UH, RIGHT NOW, UH, DIABETES IS A MAIN ISSUE IN THE SOCIETY. AND I CAN'T SAY THAT YOU UNDERSTAND. OUR PEOPLE UNDERSTAND NUTRITION WHEN OUR MAIN DIGESTIVE ORGAN CALLED THE PANCREAS IS, UH, FAILING IN SO MANY PEOPLE. UM, IN BLACK COMMUNITIES, UH, YOU KNOW, AND IN OTHER COMMUNITIES, GENOCIDE AND OTHER TYPES OF ISSUES HAS BEEN A MAIN PROBLEM. UH, OUR PEOPLE EAT YOUR TIME HAS LIKE CHITLINS, YOU KNOW WHAT I'M SAYING? AND, AND PIG INTESTINES, ALL KINDS OF OTHER THINGS THAT WE REALLY AREN'T CONSIDERING. THEY, WE THINK THAT IT'S A GOOD THING BECAUSE IT'S TRADITION, BUT TRADITION, IT'S BASED OFF SURVIVAL AND OFF A LOT OF BAD THINGS. AND WE AREN'T NECESSARILY MOVING, RIGHT, JUST BECAUSE WE'RE KEEPING TRADITIONS. UM, AND I REALLY PUSH FOR THAT. ALSO, FOOD TREES ARE BETTER THAN FOOD STAMPS 'CAUSE THEY DON'T NEED WORK REQUIREMENTS. VERY GOOD. THANK YOU, SIR. NEXT, TRAVIS DU NEXT SPEAKER JACOB NEWSOM TO BE FOLLOWED BY DR. HILLARY HAYNES. MARY HAYNES, UM, OH, IS IT THIS ONE? OKAY. GOOD EVENING, COUNSEL. MY NAME IS JACOB NEWSOM, AND I THINK IT'S, UM, I THINK I'LL START WHERE THE FOUNDING FATHER STOPPED. WE HOLD THESE TRUTHS TO BE SELF-EVIDENT, BUT NO TRUTH IS SELF-EVIDENT. UNLESS WE EMBODY IT. WE ARE ALL CREATED EQUAL. YET AS YOU'VE HEARD IN THIS ROOM, NOT ALL OF US ARE SEEN BY YOU OR FEEL SAFE. EIGHT IN 10 HOUSEHOLDS OR FAMILIES HAVE CUT FOOD, MEDICINE, AND DAYCARE TO PAY FOR EXPENSIVE UTILITIES. AND I DON'T THINK THAT'S THE EMBODIMENT OF AMERICAN FREEDOM. HOUSTON ISN'T BROKEN BECAUSE WE DON'T KNOW WHAT'S WRONG. IT'S BROKEN BECAUSE SOME PROPHET, WHEN NOTHING IS DONE. SO TODAY I'M NOT HERE TO PLEAD WITH ANY ONE OF YOU. I DON'T PLEAD WITH POWER. I WANNA REMIND THE AMERICAN PEOPLE OF THEIR POWER, AND I WANNA INVITE THEM TO JOIN ME IN A MOVEMENT OF HEALING, HOPE, AND JUSTICE. THANK YOU SO MUCH, COUNSEL. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. NEXT, DR. HILLARY HAYNES TO BE FOLLOWED BY CONSUELO SJI. GOOD EVENING. MY NAME IS HILLARY HAYNES. UM, THAT DOESN'T SOUND LIKE IT'S ON. IS THIS ONE ON? OKAY, WE GO. UM, MY NAME IS HILLARY HAYNES. I'M A RESIDENT AND DISTRICT C AND A APPEAR JUSTICE MEMBER. I'M HERE TO ASK YOU TO END, UH, NON-SAFETY TRAFFIC STOPS THE COLLABORATION BETWEEN ICE AND HPD AND TO CANCEL THE FLOCK SAFETY CAMERA CONTRACT. I WANNA POINT THAT IN 2011, HOUSTONIANS VOTED AND REJECTED RED LIGHT CAMERAS AS A, AS A FORM OF SURVEILLANCE, WHICH ALREADY TELLS YOU WHAT HOUSTONIANS THINK ABOUT SURVEILLANCE WHILE THE CONTRACT IS BEING CANCELED. THIS COUNCIL NEEDS TO IMMEDIATELY, LIKE THIS WEEK, UM, REQUIRE INTENSE OVERSIGHT, LIKE SPECIFIC INVESTIGATION NUMBERS TO TAKE ONE STEP IN KEEPING CITIZENS SAFE AND RESPECTING OUR PRIVACY RIGHTS. AND I WILL, UM, BE FOLLOWING UP WITH MY COUNCIL MEMBERS, UM, OFFICE ABOUT CHANGES, ABOUT OVERSIGHT AS A HEALTHCARE PROVIDER. I WANNA EMPHASIZE THAT THESE THREE DEMANDS ARE CRITICAL TO OUR COMMUNITY'S HEALTH, AS THEY HAVE A RANGE OF IMPACTS ON TARGETED BLACK AND BROWN COMMUNITIES FROM INCREASING STRESS AND INFLAMMATION, UM, WHICH INCREASES CHRONIC CONDITIONS TO DEATH. RIGHT? WE'VE SEEN THE HORRIBLE MURDER OF CITIZENS LIKE PHILO CASTILE FOR A NON TRAFFIC TA, A NON-SAFETY TRAFFIC STOP. YOUR, YOUR TIME HAS EXPIRED. SO I'LL JUST FINISH BY ASKING YOU TO THINK OF MY FRIEND'S MOTHER WHO IS A US CITIZEN WITH LIMITED ENGLISH. SHE IS TERRIFIED OF BEING PULLED OVER BY ICE DETAINED AND DEPORTED TO THE POINT THAT SHE'S CONSIDERING RETIRING EARLY, TO NOT HAVE TO MAKE HER LONG COMMUTE TO WORK. HER BLOOD PRESSURE IS NOW ELEVATED, WHICH PUTS HER AT INCREASED RISK FOR STROKE. SHE'S NOT AN OUTLIER. AND EVERY HOUSTONIAN DESERVES TO BE TRULY SAFE, UH, AND HEALTHY. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. NEXT CONSUELO SJI TO BE FOLLOWED BY WILLIAM SJI. GOOD AFTERNOON, EVERYBODY. [03:15:02] AFTER MY SUICIDE ATTEMPT, I HAVE BEEN STUDYING HUMAN BEHAVIOR FOR SUICIDE PREVENTION NEARLY THREE DECADES. AND THANKS TO, THANKS TO DR. ERWIN CHAPMAN, THE FORCE TO ESTABLISH ICOLOGY, IDENTIFY MYSELF WITH HIM BECAUSE HE SAID SUICIDE IS NOT SIMPLY IMPULSIVE ACT, BUT THE RESULT ON BEARABLE EMOTIONAL PAIN AND THE INCREASE OF SUICIDE IS ALARMING TODAY AND THE WHOLE WORLD. AND THE REASONS ARE MANY. AND ONE OF THOSE IS THAT HIERARCHIES THAT MANIPULATES AT HAVE A BELOW CONFUSED ENVIRONMENT WITH ACCELERATED CHANGES THAT PEOPLE KNOW DON'T HAVE FOCUS, LIKE THE MONKEY'S MIND JUMPING FROM BRANCH TO BRANCH. THAT'S WHY MY SUICIDE PREVENTION FOUNDATION DEVELOP INTEGRATED PROGRAMS FOR MENTAL HEALTH. PEOPLE DON'T WANT TO DIE. THEY DON'T KNOW HOW TO LIVE. AND THAT'S WHY I'M HERE TODAY TO PERSONAL AND BUY YOUR, YOUR TIME HAS EXPIRED. MAJOR JOHN, JOHN WEER AND ALL THE CONCEALED TO GO TO ONE VERY IMPORTANT EVENT FOR PREVENTION SUICIDE. THAT MY HUSBAND IS HERE TO GIVE YOU THE ALL INFORMATION ABOUT THIS PROJECT. THANK YOU. YES, SIR. WOULD YOU, WOULD YOU, YOU WANNA PAUSE? LET 'EM LET 'EM FINISH THEIR BUSINESS? 'CAUSE IT'S HARD TO CONS. HARD TO HEAR YOU PROPERLY. WHAT IS THE QUESTION? OH, OKAY. THANK YOU. HELLO. MY, MY WIFE CONSUELO. UH, CONNIE, SHE'S RELENTLESS IN HER PURSUIT IN HELPING PEOPLE PREVENT SUICIDE. AND SHE'S HAD A FOUNDATION, UH, SHE'S HAD A, UH, WEBSITE FOR 12 YEARS CALLED SUICIDE PREVENTION HOUSTON.ORG. AND SO WE'D LIKE TO INVENT, UH, INVITE THE COUNCIL BECAUSE THIS LED TO HER GETTING A FOUNDATION, UH, IN THE LAST TWO YEARS, LESS THAN TWO YEARS AGO, CALLED THE SUICIDE PREVENTION FOUNDATION. SO THE EVENT'S GONNA BE HELD AT, UH, ME, PROSO AND NEIMAN MARCUS ON NOVEMBER THE EIGHTH FROM FIVE 30 TO 7:30 PM AND THERE'LL BE SOME HOR D'OEUVRES THERE. SO WE KIND OF NEED THE COUNT OF WHO'S, WHO'S COMING. AND SHE'S IN, UH, SHE'S ALREADY INVITED THE, UM, THE COLOMBIAN AND, UH, ECUADORIAN CONSOLES. UH, SHE'S INVITED, UH, UH, JOEL AND PASTOR JOEL AND, UH, VICTORIA OSTEEN, WHO WERE INSTRUMENTAL IN, IN THWARTING HER SUICIDE ATTEMPT, UH, LAKEWOOD CHURCH. AND, UH, YOU, YOUR TIME HAS EXPIRED. EIGHT AT MARIPOSA AT 7 1 3 8 4 0 2 6 3 2. THANK YOU. AND WE'VE, WE PUT IT ON YOUR CALENDAR. THANK YOU. NEXT. MICHELLE ARMSTRONG. THEODORE CARRERO. SOPHIA CHANDLER, ANTONIO GONZALEZ. . ARE YOU ANTONIO? YES, I AM ANTONIO GONZALEZ. UM, MAY I CAME TODAY IN COUNCIL MEMBERS TO ASK AND HOPE THAT YOU WERE, FIND A WAY TO RELEASE OR HELP LET THE AUTISTIC BOY, EMANUEL GONZALEZ, HELP HIM OUT, GET TO HIS FAMILY. BUT MOST OF ALL, I WANTED TO TALK TO YOU ABOUT YOUR COMMENTS ABOUT TRUMP AND TONING DOWN. YOU TELL, YOU'RE TELLING YOUR FELLOW COUNCIL MEMBERS, YOUR YOUR PARTY. I'M NOT PART OF POLITICAL PARTY. IT'S ALL HEAD HEADS ON THE SAME MONSTER TO ME. BUT YOU ARE PUTTING AN OFFENSE TO SPEAK AND LEAD THE PEOPLE. THIS DOES NOT SOUND LIKE A LEADER. THEY KNOW WHAT THE NAZIS. AND THEN LOOK WHAT HAPPENED. YOU WANNA WAIT UNTIL THERE'S LITTLE KIDS TALKING ABOUT SNIPERS ON THE ROOF OUTSIDE. AND ALL OUR BROWN AND BLACK KIDS ARE SCARED TO GO TO SCHOOL AND PEOPLE GETTING ABDUCTED LIKE THEY ARE OVER THERE IN PAST STINK CADENA RIGHT NOW. THAT'S WHAT YOU WANT HERE. YOU WANT US TO SIT DOWN, RIGHT? I'M COMING FROM THE HEART OF HOUSTON, MAN. I'VE BEEN HERE FOR, I'M NOT GOING NOWHERE. MY ANCESTORS WERE HERE. I'M SPEAKING FOR THEIR CHILDREN THAT COME AFTER ME, BUT MY ANCESTORS THAT COME, CAME BEFORE ME. AND WE'RE NOT GONNA STAY SILENT. I'M JUST LETTING YOU KNOW. I GUESS YOU WANTED TO MARINATE AND FESTER, HUH? UNTIL IT'S LIKE MARTIAL LAW AROUND HERE OR SOMETHING. AND WE'RE JUST GONNA STAY QUIET. THAT'S WHAT Y'ALL WANT TO SECOND WARD. YOUR, YOUR TIME HAS EXPIRED EVERYTHING. AND YOU WORRIED [03:20:01] ABOUT HOMELESS AND SUICIDES. WHAT DO YOU THINK THESE LITTLE KIDS ARE GONNA DO? Y'ALL WANNA TRAUMATIZE KIDS? WE AIN'T GONNA HAVE TO LET YOU KNOW. THANK YOU. NEXT LOU SANCHEZ. STEPHANIE RAPHAEL, IKA FORD, SYLVESTER JONES, JAVON SMITH, MIANA PRINCE TO BE FOLLOWED BY ZED MANAL. MY NAME'S MIANA. I'M AN INTERN WITH PEER JUSTICE AND I MOVED TO HOUSTON FOR ITS DIVERSITY AND VIBRANCY. UM, I WAS EXTREMELY DISAPPOINTED IN THE REALITY THAT THIS DIVERSITY IS BEING PUNISHED ON THE STREETS. BLACK DRIVERS FACE 50% CHANCE OF BEING ATTACKED OR ARRESTED DURING TRAFFIC STOPS. BLACK AND BROWN DRIVERS ARE STOPPED, SEARCHED, CITED, AND ARRESTED AT SIGNIFICANTLY HIGHER RATES THAN WHITE DRIVERS. TO COMBAT THIS, WE ASK YOU TO LIMIT THE UNNECESSARY STOPS THAT CAN LEAD TO DEPORTATION INJURIES AND FATALITIES. FROM 2020 TO 2024 HPD CALLED ICE 19 TIMES. AND THIS YEAR, THAT NUMBER INCREASED BY A THOUSAND PERCENT. SINCE 2002, OVER 2,600 IMMIGRANT DR. IMMIGRANT DRIVERS HAVE BEEN DEPORTED MANY FOR SMALL VIOLATIONS. NON-SAFETY TRAFFIC STOPS ARE ABOUT CONTROL AND FEAR, NOT SAFETY. WE ARE CALLING ON THE CITY COUNCIL TO PASS AN ORDINANCE THAT ENDS NON-SAFETY, TRAFFIC STOPS TO REDUCE RACIAL PROFILING, UNNECESSARY ESCALATIONS, AND CUTS OFF HPDS COLLABORATION WITH ICE. THANK YOU. NEXT Z MANAL. GOOD EVENING. THANK YOU. UH, GOOD EVENING EVERYBODY. MY NAME IS ZED MINALI AND I AM A FORMER REFUGEE FROM ETHIOPIA. I'M SO GRATEFUL TO BE HERE TODAY, AND I AM HERE TO ASK ENDING THE NON-SAFETY TRAFFIC STOPS AND ICE COLLABORATION. THE REASON BEING THAT, UM, A LOT OF THE TIME OUR REFUGEES AND IMMIGRANTS ARE TRAUMATIZED BEFORE THEY GOT HERE FROM THEIR OWN COUNTRIES, BY THEIR OWN SOLDIERS. AND THEN THEY COME HERE AND FOR DRIVING WITH BROKEN LIGHT, AND THEN THEY'RE STOPPED, AND THEN ICE IS COLD. AND, UM, THAT TR THEY'RE TRAUMATIZED BECAUSE OF THE QUESTIONS THAT THEY HAVE BEEN ASKED. AND, UH, YOUR TIME HAS EXPIRED, UM, WHERE THEY ARE TREATED. SO I ASKED FOR THREE MINUTES AND I'M SO SORRY. BUT, UH, THE THING IS THAT WE ARE HERE AND THIS IS GOING TO BE OUR HOME. AND WE SHOULD NOT BE PROFILED. WE SHOULD NOT BE HARASSED. WE SHOULD NOT BE DEPORTED. THANK YOU. NEXT. COUNCILMAN POLLARD. OH, I'M SORRY, MA'AM. COUNCILMAN POLLARD. MA'AM, I JUST WANTED TO THANK YOU FOR COMING. UH, YOUR VOICE IS APPRECIATED. YOU DO A LOT IN OUR COMMUNITY. YOU SHOW UP TO MANY DIFFERENT MEETINGS, DIFFERENT EVENTS, AND YOUR, YOUR INSIGHT IS, IS VALUABLE. SO I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR, UH, TAKING OUT YOUR TIME TODAY TO BE WITH US. THANK YOU SO MUCH, COUNSEL. GOD BLESS YOU. THANK YOU. YOU TOO. I APPRECIATE IT. NEXT SHEDRICK PATTERSON, ANNETTE FRANK, JOKEY BED. HENLEY. NO, DEBBIE, KYLE . OKAY. TO BE FOLLOWED BY DEBBIE. HOW GOOD EVENING. THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME. UH, MAYOR WHITMEYER, UH, CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS, UH, I'M HERE TO INFORM THIS COUNCIL THAT [03:25:01] THERE IS AN OIL WELL LOCATED AT THE, UH, UH, THE 3,300 BLOCK OF MONTROSE, UH, CURRENT, UH, THE FORMER LOCATION OF THE, UH, KROGER GROCERY STORE, UH, WHICH WAS CLOSED IN 2021. I HAVE BEEN HERE TWICE TO INFORM, UH, MEMBERS OF THIS FINDING. UH, I TRAVELED ALL THE WAY FROM THE VIRGIN ISLANDS. I WAS TOLD TO COME HERE TO INFORM THIS HOUSE. UH, UH, THE OIL IS IN ABUNDANCE, COMMERCIAL QUANTITY. AND YOUR, YOUR TIME HAS EXPIRED. THANK YOU, MA'AM. THANK YOU. NEXT. DEBBIE, KYLE, KATHY RAY TO BE FOLLOWED BY MARIAN SCOTT. I, HELLO. MY NAME IS KATHY RAY. I'M HERE AS A MOTHER AND AN ADVOCATE FOR HOUSTON AUTISTIC COMMUNITY FOR FAMILIES LIKE MINE AND FOR CHILDREN LIKE EMANUEL. I APPRECIATE THE MAYOR AND THE COUNCIL, UM, THAT Y'ALL HAVE SHOWN CONCERNS AND ARE WORKING TO UNDERSTAND WHAT HAPPENED. BUT MY HOPE TODAY IS THAT EMMANUEL IS TO HIGHLIGHT THE FACT THAT EMMANUEL'S CASE HAS REVEALED PAINFUL GAPS IN HOW SYSTEMS RESPOND WHEN VULNERABLE PEOPLE ARE FOUND OR DETAINED. HIS AUTISM AND DEVELOPMENTAL LEVEL WEREN'T RECOGNIZED OR ACCOMMODATED. AND HE WAS PLACED IN AN ENVIRONMENT UNFIT FOR HIS NEEDS. HI. HE ISN'T A CRIMINAL. HE IS A CHILD FUNCTIONING CLOSER TO A 4-YEAR-OLD ENDURING ISOLATION, CONFUSION, AND TRAUMA THAT NEVER SHOULD HAVE HAPPENED. AND THIS ISN'T JUST ABOUT ONE BOY. HOUSTON STILL LACKS CLEAR PROTOCOLS FOR HOW TO IDENTIFY, SUPPORT AND PROTECT CHILDREN AND ADULTS WITH INTELLECTUAL OR DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES IN MOMENTS OF CRISIS. A SINGLE TRAINING OR VOLUNTARY REGISTRY IS NOT ENOUGH. WE NEED CONTINUOUS TRAINING TRAUMA. I ASK FOR THREE MINUTES YOUR TIME. TRAUMA INFORMED PLACE, YOUR TIME HAS EXPIRED. TRAUMA INFORMED PLACEMENT, MEASURABLE PROTOCOLS, AND IMMEDIATE FAMILY CONTACT. I UNDERSTAND THAT JURISDICTIONAL LINES CAN'T, CAN COMP COMPLICATE THINGS, BUT I ALSO BELIEVE HOUSTON CAN SET THE STANDARD SHOWING THAT COMPASSION AND ACCOUNTABILITY CAN COEXIST IN PUBLIC SAFETY. THANK YOU FOR LISTENING TO ME. NEXT. MARY AND SCOTT, I GOT YOU TO BE FOLLOWED BY SARAH BELL. EDWARDS. GOOD EVENING. I AM MR. MARION SCOTT. MAYOR, I HAVE BEEN REALLY INTERESTED IN MEETING YOU. I FIRST WANNA SAY ON THE RECORD, AND I'M SORRY SIR, I'M SO MEAN. I REALLY AM. I'M BE MEAN BECAUSE THE CITY TO ME, YOU SHOULD HAVE BEEN IN ORDER BEFORE YOU GOT HERE. I'M GRATEFUL FOR YOU. AND I'M ALWAYS MAKING PLANS ABOUT YOU. WE MEET, WE MEET ABOUT YOU ALL THE TIME. AND I DON'T WANT TO HAVE A CONFLICT OF INTEREST, BUT I OWN GREENS POINT NORTH LINE AND THE ONE DOWNTOWN, AND I KNOW WHERE MY MONEY AT AND ALL OF THAT, BUT I DON'T REALLY KNOW HOW TO PROTECT MYSELF. EVERY TIME I LOOK AROUND, SOMEBODY'S ROBBING ME. SO I DECIDED THAT I WAS JUST GONNA COME ASK YOU. CAN YOU HELP ME GET LIKE A BODYGUARD OR SOMETHING? 'CAUSE THIS IS SO MUCH STUFF THAT I OWN. THEY TOLD ME TO TELL YOU TONIGHT THAT IT IS 500 PRIMARY REAL ESTATE OWNERS AND I'M ONE OF 'EM. THAT'S A LOT OF STUFF. AND IT'S LEGIT. SO I WAS IN STATE'S CUSTODY, SO I PHASED OUT CHILDREN PROTECTIVE SERVICES. HOW DID I, I ASKED FOR THREE MINUTES TOO. YOUR, YOUR TIME HAS EXPIRED. WE WRAP. WRAP IT UP. NO, I JUST NEED YOUR HELP. LIKE, HOW CAN, WE'RE GONNA WORK ON IT. WE'RE GONNA WORK ON IT. YOU GONNA CALL ME? YES SIR. THANK YOU. WE'LL WORK ON IT. BE SAFE. NEXT. SARAH BELL EDWARDS LY MONTOYA. REVIS. I DON'T SEE MARIA KAVANAUGH. GIVE HIM, GIVE HIM A DRIVE TO JAY CITY. GOOD EVENING, EVERYONE. OKAY. I'VE BEEN GOING THROUGH THIS FOR SEVEN YEARS NOW WITH THE COUNCIL. HOW YOU DOING MAYOR? I AM SARAH CHANTEL BELL EDWARDS. AND I HAVE TO SAY ROMANS 13. LOVE. WANT ANOTHER? [03:30:01] OH NO, MAN. MY THINGS BUT THE LOVE WANT ANOTHER. OKAY. SAYING COMMUNITY. DO Y'ALL UNDERSTAND THE WORD COMMUNITY? COMMUNITY MEANS YOU HAVE TO, UH, UH, LOOK OUT FOR YOUR NEIGHBOR. OKAY. MY HOUSE STILL BEING INVADED BY MY NEIGHBORS. UH, UH, THE, THE, THE LAST FILE THAT I GAVE YOU, MAYOR FOR THE INVESTIGATION FOR A CITIZEN'S CASE. I HAVEN'T HEARD NOTHING FROM NOBODY TO HAVE NOBODY. I HAVEN'T GOT NO HELP FROM NO ADVOCACY OR NOTHING. I STILL HAVEN'T GOT NO HELP AT ALL. AND THE SAME STUFF IS STILL GOING ON WITH MY IDENTITY. FUNDS ARE BEING STOLEN WITH THE CHURCH. THE COUNCIL, SOME COUNCIL MEMBERS ARE BEING PAID OUT. CASH PAY TO COVER UP POLICE REPORTS. IT'S CORRUPT. IT'S TRUE. THE LADY NOT PLAYING IT. THE STREETS DO TALK. PROPHECY DO TALK TOO. SO I'M GIVING Y'ALL A HEADS UP. DO YOUR JOB 'CAUSE IT'S NOT BEING DONE. WHEN I GET A , IT SHOULD BE TAKEN AND REARRANGED. YOUR TIME HAS EXPIRED. THANK YOU MA'AM. ILI ILI MONTOYA. REVIS. I DON'T SEE MARIA KAVANAUGH SCOTT SINGLETON TO BE FOLLOWED BY RICHARD GILMORE. GOOD EVENING. IT'S BEEN A BUSY MONTH. AND TOMORROW THE VOTE ON 4 1 9 IS SCHEDULED. UH, WANT TO ADDRESS A LITTLE BIT OF INFORMATION TO SAY THAT FOUR ONE NINE'S ALWAYS BEEN A SHELTER. SO IT'S OKAY FOR IT TO BE A SHELTER, AGAIN, IS VERY MISLEADING. THE WOMEN AND CHILDREN'S SHELTER HAD A NEGLIGIBLE IMPACT ON THE NEIGHBORHOOD. THE SUPER HUB WILL HAVE AN ENORMOUS IMPACT ON THE NEIGHBORHOOD THEN TO SAY THAT THE CITY HAS THE FUNDS TO PAY FOR IT IS OPTIMISTIC. TURS 15, ANDT 23 SHOULD NOT SHOULDER THE BURDEN AND DEBT. THE WEALTHIER TUR SHOULD PAY MOST OF THE PRICE. AND I'M CONCERNED THAT THE CITY LAVISHLY CASHES OUT 4 1 9 HOPE PARTNERS, LLC AND THEN HAS TO CLOSE THE SUPER HUB IN THE SHORT TERM FOR LACK OF OPERATIONAL FUNDS. 4 1 9 HOPE PARTNERS WILL BE CASHED OUT AND DOWN THE ROAD. DETER WILL BE IN DEBT AND THE EAST END WILL HAVE MORE HOMELESS THAN IT DOES NOW. PLEASE VOTE TO POSTPONE THE VOTE TILL IT CAN BE ADEQUATELY CONSIDERED. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. NEXT, RICHARD GILMORE. GOOD EVENING COUNSEL. THANK YOU ONCE AGAIN FOR HOSTING AN EVENING SESSION. THESE ARE MUCH EASIER TO GET TO THAN THE NORMAL HOURS. I'M HERE ONCE AGAIN TO SPEAK FOR MY COMMUNITY AND MY FAMILY ON THE MATTER OF POLK STREET CLOSURE. YOU'LL NOTICE THAT THE SPEAKERS LISTED IN THE CROWD IS NOTABLY SMALLER FROM OUR GROUP. THIS IS BECAUSE THEY ATTENDED A SESSION WITH TEXDOT, HOSTED BY STATE REP JOLANDA JONES THIS EVENING. THANK YOU TO THE COUNCIL MEMBERS WHO SENT STAFF. AS WE UNDERSTAND YOU ALL HAD TO BE HERE. TONIGHT'S MEETING HAS BEEN, UH, TONIGHT'S MEETING HAS LONG BEEN ASKED FOR A SESSION WITH THE COMMUNITY. HOUSTON FIRST AND TDOT WE'RE ALL IN THE SAME ROOM TO ANSWER FOR DISCREPANCIES AND PLANNING. UNFORTUNATELY, RECEIVED A FEW HOUR. WE RECEIVED A WORD A FEW HOURS AGO THAT HOUSTON FIRST WILL NOT MAKE IT TO BE REPRESENTED. THIS IS DISHEARTENING, ALTHOUGH NOT SURPRISING AS WE MOVE FORWARD THROUGH THE SECOND VOTE, UH, TOWARDS THE SECOND VOTE. AND THE FATE OF POLK STREET IS UNCERTAIN. I WANNA MAKE CLEAR WHAT IS CERTAIN. HOUSTON FIRST IS THE ONE WHO PUBLISHED A $2 BILLION EXPANSION, ASSUMING THAT THEY WOULD BUILD ON PROPERTY THAT THEY DID NOT YET OWN PEOPLE FOR. POLK IS A RESPONSE TO ADVOCATE FOR KEEPING POLK OPEN BECAUSE THERE WAS GROSS MISSTEPS IN THE ORDER OF OPERATIONS. SKIPPING OVER COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT. THE SKIPPING OVER COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT ISN'T IS THE EAST END. IN THE EAST END IS A PATTERN. DO WHAT IS RIGHT. KEEP POKE OPEN. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME. THANK YOU. NEXT, SAY SIR. ESPOSA. SA MAR UP. I DON'T SEE HIM EITHER. JOSEPH AMARI IS WRONG. OH, UH, HOW YOU DOING TODAY? UH, SOMETIME IT DON'T LOOK LIKE RACISM. IT DON'T TALK LIKE RACISM, BUT IT SHOW TO ACT LIKE RACISM SOMETIME. RACISM LOOK LIKE US. ME AND YOU SINCE COME TO SPEAK AT THE HOUSTON CITY COUNCIL, MEANING RECENT, SEVERAL MONTHS. ONE MINUTE TIME I STOPPED BEING SUSPENDED FOR THE LIBRARY FOR STARING. MY FACEBOOK PAGE HAS BEEN DISABLED FOR ALLEGED AN NUDITY WHEN IT WAS DONE. MY FOURTH BEING PRIVACY RIGHTS CONTINUE TO BE DISHONORED, VIOLATED AND INVADED. I'M FIGHTING SUSPENSION FROM TAXPAYER ON PUBLIC BUILDING, ALL HOUSTON, TEXAS. I THOUGHT Y'ALL WERE LIKE MY POLITICS TODAY. BUT I, MY PROGRESSED POLITIC TODAY. BUT I WAS WRONG. AS THE ARTIST WOULD'VE COME TO LETTERS OF REJECTION. I CAN HANDLE THAT, BUT THAT'S NOT NECESSARILY [03:35:01] RACISM. RACISM. WHEN BILLION DOLLAR CORPORATIONS, WHEN THEY SUPPORTED, USED MY COMPANY DESIGN CONCEPT WITHOUT PAYING MY COMPANY. BUT THE DESIGN, YOUR TIME HASN'T EXPIRED. BLACK MIRACLE. THAT'S THE RACISM. THREE MINUTES. ONE MORE. COME. JUST LEMME WRAP IT UP, GIRLFRIEND. LEMME WRAP IT UP. GIRLFRIEND. UH, UH, 32ND GIRLFRIEND, GO AHEAD. OKAY. UH, BLACK ON BLACK RACISM, INTEGRATED RACISM, GAY RACISM. I WOULDN'T MIND YOUR GAY EXPRESS. WHAT? BY WELL, IF THEY HAD PAID FOR DESIGN CONCEPT, BUT IT DIDN'T DO THAT. AND THAT'S RACISM. THIS FOR 1954 INDICATES RACISM. EXCEPT TODAY, NEW MILITARY UNITED MAYBE WON'T ALLOW YOUR COMPANY ALL RIGHT. TO BUY BLACK'S CONCEPT TO THE FRONT DOOR WITHOUT LAWSUIT. THAT'S RACISM. THE PLAYERS DON'T WANT THE NIKE SWITCH OR THE SPORTS ANYMORE. THEY WANT MY COMPANY NUMBER ON THE DESIGN CONCEPT ON THE UNIFORM. RACISM WILL ALLOW YOU TO BUY BY COMING DESIGN CONCEPT, BUT NOMINEE IN HOODIE FROM DESIGN CONCEPT RACISM WON'T ALLOWED YOU DO IT. BECAUSE I'VE BEEN A HISTORICAL BLACK AMERICAN CITIZEN FROM THE JUMP STREET. THE OLD NBA BASKETBALL COMMISSION GAVE BLACK AMERICAN, TWO BLACK AMERICAN BROTHERS, $10 MILLION DEAL FOR THE LONG BASKETBALL. SHORT, BUT WORTH MORE MONEY THAN THAT. OKAY. THEY SUED ABOUT 30 MILLION EACH TO GET THE DEAL, BUT ACCOUNTABLE BUSINESSMEN HANDLING THEIR BUSINESS. [RECESS] THANK Y'ALL. YOU STAYING RECESS NINE IN COUNSEL. PLEASE [RECONVENE] COME TO ORDER. IT SEEMS LIKE WE WERE JUST HERE A FEW HOURS AGO, BUT WE WERE, WE WERE. IT WAS A GOOD SESSION. APPOINTMENTS TO THE HOUSTON SPACEPORT MEMBERS. WE HAVE DAVID ALEXANDER HERE. DAVID, THANK YOU FOR YOUR PUBLIC SERVICE. AND, UH, TO HEAR A MOTION, CITY SECRETARY WILL CALL ITEM NUMBER ONE. GO AHEAD, MR. SECRETARY. IS THERE A MOTION FOR ITEM ONE? CASTEX STATE A. MOVE. SECOND. MOTION MADE. AND SECOND. ALL IN FAVOR? SAY YES. THOSE OPPOSED NAY. MOTION PASSES. THANK YOU, DAVID. COUNCIL MEMBER MARTINEZ. COUNCIL MEMBER MARTINEZ. THANK YOU MAYOR. UH, AND JUST WANNA HIGHLIGHT EVERYONE THAT'S BEING APPOINTED, BUT ALSO DAVID, UH, DR. ALEXANDER ON BEHALF OF, UH, COUNCILOR FRED INGER, WHO'S NOT HERE. WANTED TO MAKE SURE THAT YOU WERE RECOGNIZED AND, AND KNOW THAT WE APPRECIATE YOUR WORTH TO THIS, UH, TO THIS BOARD. AND, UH, LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING WITH YOU AS WELL. MIRA MIRA. MM-HMM . OKAY. NEXT WE HAVE THE PLANNING COMMISSION. UM, SEVERAL MEMBERS PRESENT, UH, JU JULIET SERUM. MIRA VICTOR, CINDY FAM. STEVEN PIERCE, LYDIA MEEZ. LISA CLARK. THANK YOU FOR CHAIRING BARBARA CARROLL. BROOKS BALLARD. ASK Y'ALL TO STAND. LET US THANK YOU FOR YOUR PUBLIC SERVICE. WE NEED TO VOTE. AND I CAN'T GO ANY FURTHER WITHOUT THINKING. DIRECTOR RON TRAN FOR HER OUTSTANDING, UH, DIRECTION OF THAT IMPORTANT DEPARTMENT. THANK YOU, DIRECTOR TRAN. WE DO NEED TO VOTE ON THAT. SO IF WE CAN CALL COUNCIL MEMBER HUFFMAN. OH, WE NEED TO CALL THAT ITEM NUMBER TWO. YEAH. WE STILL NEED TO VOTE ON THIS REAL QUICK. YEAH, I GOT IT. YOU WANNA HEAR THE SPEECH? IS, IS THERE A MOTION FOR ITEM TWO? CASTEX TATUM. MOVE I SECOND. MOTION MADE. AND SECOND. ALL IN FAVOR? SAY YES. THOSE OPPOSED NAY. MOTION PASSES. COUNCIL MEMBER HUFFMAN, THANK YOU. AND THANK YOU ALL FOR YOUR SERVICE, AND ESPECIALLY YOU, RANDY AND MIRA DISTRICT G RESIDENTS. WE REALLY APPRECIATE EVERYTHING THAT YOU DO AND THAT YOU'RE ALWAYS WILLING TO SERVE. THANK YOU COUNCILOR KAMAN. GOOD MORNING. UH, I TOO WANNA THANK ALL OF OUR APPOINTEES AND REAPP APPOINTEES, ESPECIALLY WHEN IT COMES TO PLANNING COMMISSION. UH, YOU ALL WORK, UH, IT IS A LOT OF TIME THAT YOU PUT IN, UH, ON A VOLUNTEER BASIS AND YOU WORK HAND IN HAND WITH THE NEIGHBORHOODS ON MANY, MANY ISSUES, ESPECIALLY IN DISTRICT C. UH, I DID ALSO WANNA TAKE A MOMENT, UH, TO PUBLICLY RECOGNIZE 'CAUSE WE HAVEN'T HAD THAT OPPORTUNITY TO DO SO. UM, TO THANK OUR FORMER CHAIR, MARTY STEIN, FOR HER DECADES AND DECADES OF SERVICE TO THIS CITY. IT WAS A LABOR OF LOVE. SHE DID AN INCREDIBLE JOB. AND, UH, AGAIN, IT'S UNRELATED TO THESE APPOINTMENTS, MAYOR. UH, BUT I, I, I DID WANNA RECOGNIZE BECAUSE SHE HAS BEEN SUCH AN EXCEPTIONAL PUBLIC SERVANT FOR ALL OF THESE YEARS. AND AGAIN, CONGRATULATIONS TO ALL OF YOU. THANK YOU. WELL SAID. COUNCILMAN MARTINEZ. THANK YOU. MARY. JUST ALSO WANNA, UH, JOIN IN ON, ON. THANK YOU. YOU ALL CONGRATULATING, YOU ALL. UH, THANK YOU [03:40:01] DIRECTOR FOR CONTINUING TO LEAD THIS TEAM. UM, WANNA GIVE A SHOUT OUT OF COURSE TO ELISA CLARK. SHE'S BEEN A, A WEALTH OF KNOWLEDGE FOR ME AS A FRESHMAN COUNCIL MEMBER, BUT ALSO, UM, I WOULD BE REMISS TO NOT RECOGNIZE SUNNY, UH, SUNNY A DISTRICT GUY RESIDENT, BUT ALSO OUR CHAIRMAN FOR THE GULF GATE TOURS. UH, THANK YOU FOR ALL YOUR WORK YOU DO, UH, THAT YOU VOLUNTEER FOR, UH, THE CITY OF HOUSTON. ON BEHALF OF ALL OF OUR RESIDENTS MEMBERS [MAYOR'S REPORT] MAYOR'S REPORT IS THAT THERE ARE A LOT OF CHALLENGES, CERTAINLY COMING OUTTA WASHINGTON WITH THE SHUTDOWN. WE'RE MONITORING THE AIRPORT OPERATIONS. IT'S BECOMING A CHALLENGE IN TERMS OF THE TEA OFFICERS OTHER SERVICES, UH, IF IT CONTINUES, THE CONCERN IS THEY DON'T HAVE DAYCARE MONEY. THEY, THEY'VE MISSED THEIR FIRST CHECK. SO WE HAVE TO MONITOR THAT VERY CAREFULLY. BUT IT'S REALLY CONTROLLED BY THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT TRYING TO DO OUR PART. WORKING WITH THE HOUSTON FOOD BANK, THERE'S A NEIGHBORHOOD SUPER SITE FOR FEDERAL WORKERS TODAY. IT'S, UH, GONNA BE HELD AT HISD BARNETT STADIUM, 6,800 FAIRWAY DRIVE. IT'LL BE TODAY, OCTOBER 29TH FROM THREE TO SEVEN. SO, UH, SHARE WITH YOUR DISTRICT, FEDERAL EMPLOYEES. THE CITY WILL BE PUTTING OUT NOTICES. AND ALSO, WE'RE IN THE PROCESS OF WORKING WITH HOPE CITY CHURCH, UH, MAKING PLANS FOR ASSISTING, UH, RESIDENTS WITH FOOD NEEDS, PARTICULARLY OUR FEDERAL WORKERS WHO ARE NOT GETTING A PAYCHECK. SO, I'D ALSO SAY KEEP EVERYONE IN YOUR PRAYERS. COUNCIL MEMBER CAYMAN MAYOR, I WAS GONNA WAIT UNTIL YOU'RE DONE WITH YOUR REPORT, IF YOU'VE, I'M SORRY, WHAT? I WAS GONNA WAIT UNTIL, ARE YOU, UNTIL YOU'RE DONE WITH YOUR REPORT? YEAH, I'M FINE. UH, UM, I, I REALLY APPRECIATE YOU BRINGING UP IN THE CITY, STEPPING UP TO SUPPORT OUR FEDERAL WORKERS. UH, DURING THIS TIME. THEY'VE NOW GONE AT LEAST A FULL PAYCHECK WITHOUT PAY. UH, WE DO ALSO KNOW THAT, UH, SO FAR WE HAVE SEEN NO MOVEMENT WHEN IT COMES TO, UH, SNAP AND THE CUTS THAT ARE IMPENDING THIS WEEKEND. UH, I'VE BEEN SPEAKING WITH ELECTEDS AT EVERY LEVEL, AS I'M SURE YOU HAVE, BUT MY UNDERSTANDING IS CLOSE TO A MILLION PEOPLE IN OUR REGION, UM, COULD BE IMPACTED. UH, AND I, I KEEP THINKING ABOUT THOSE CHILDREN. UH, IS THERE, DO WE HAVE ANY PLANS IN PLACE, UH, AS IT RELATES TO SNAP BENEFICIARIES THEMSELVES? I SHOULD'VE SAID THE HOPE CITY CHURCH IS, UH, DIRECTING THEIR ATTENTION AND THEIR CLIENTS TO SNAP CLIENTS. OKAY. WE'RE ALSO REACHING OUT TO OTHER FAITH-BASED PARTNERS. SO I THINK AS MATTERS BECOME EVEN MORE CRITICAL, THEY'LL BE BETTER IN OUTREACH. AND THAT'S WHAT'S IN THE PLANNING STAGES AS WE TALK. BUT SOME MAJOR UNDER NATIONALLY AND CERTAINLY LOCALLY, SO UNDERSTOOD. AND IF THERE'S ANY INFORMATION WE CAN GET TO HELP SHARE OUT, AS YOU MENTIONED TODAY, UM, BUT ALSO AS THIS PROGRESSES. 'CAUSE WHEN WE HAD THE FOOD BANK COME PREVIOUSLY, THEY WERE ALREADY BEING IMPACTED BY FEDERAL CUTS. SURE. AND NOW THIS, ON TOP OF IT, IT'S THE SNOWBALL EFFECT. UM, AND WE'RE ALL GOING TO NEED TO STEP UP TO HELP AND IDEALLY, UH, ADVOCATE VERY LOUDLY TO MAKE SURE THAT SURE. THIS FUNDING GETS REINSTATED VERY SWIFTLY. SURE. WELL, I WELCOME ANY SUGGESTIONS YOU HAVE. ABSOLUTELY. I'LL GET WITH YOU ON IT. WE'LL COLLABORATE ON THAT EVERY DAY. UH, MAYOR, MAYOR PROTE, CASTING STATE. THANK YOU, MAYOR. I WANTED TO, UM, JUST, UH, GIVE SOME SPECIAL RECOGNITION TO REBECCA WILLIAMS IN YOUR OFFICE FOR MAKING SURE WE HAD THIS INFORMATION TO SHARE WITH OUR CONSTITUENTS. UH, WE'VE SENT IT OUT IN OUR NEWSLETTER, AND WE HAVE ALSO SHARED IT WITH OUR COMMUNITY LEADERS TO MAKE SURE THEY ARE GETTING THE MESSAGE OUT TO CONSTITUENTS THAT MAY BE IN NEED OF THESE ADDITIONAL SERVICES. AND THEN, OF COURSE, WE WANT TO CONTINUE TO SUPPORT OUR HOUSTON FOOD BANK, WHO HAS BEEN SUCH A BIG DISTRIBUTOR OF THE NECESSITIES TO OUR RESIDENTS. BUT SPECIAL THANK YOU TO REBECCA WILLIAMS FOR MAKING SURE WE HAVE THIS INFORMATION FOR OUR CONSTITUENTS. THANK YOU FOR THAT RECOGNITION. UM, REBECCA IS THE BEST. SHE WORKS AROUND THE CLOCK HELPING RESIDENTS WITH THEIR NEEDS. AND OF COURSE, YOU CAN NEVER SAY ENOUGH ABOUT THE HOUSTON FOOD BANK. THEY, WE WOULD BE IN A HECK OF A MESS WITHOUT THEM. SO, LET'S, UH, CONTINUE THAT COLLABORATION AND THANK YOU FOR THOSE RECOGNITIONS. [CONSENT AGENDA] UM, MS. SECRETARY, THE CONSENT AGENDA. OKAY, COUNSEL, SINCE [03:45:01] YOUR LIST WAS DISTRIBUTED, UH, WE HAVE A NUMBER OF ITEMS THAT HAVE NOW BEEN RECEIVED. THOSE ITEMS ARE 3, 13, 14, AND 16. AGAIN, ITEMS 3, 13, 14, AND 16 ARE NOW IN UNDER THE MISCELLANEOUS CATEGORY. ITEM THREE HAS BEEN REMOVED FOR SEPARATE CONSIDERATION UNDER THE ACCEPT WORK CATEGORY. ITEMS FOUR, SIX, AND SEVEN HAVE BEEN REMOVED FOR SEPARATE CONSIDERATION. IS THERE A MOTION FOR ITEMS FIVE AND EIGHT? MOVE SECOND. MOTIONS MADE. AND SECOND. ALL IN FAVOR? SAY YES. THOSE OPPOSED NAY. MOTION PASSES UNDER THE PURCHASING AND TABULATION OF BIDS CATEGORY. IS THERE A MOTION FOR ITEMS NINE AND 10? CASTEX TATUM, MOVE. SECOND. MOTION MADE. AND SECOND. ALL IN FAVOR? SAY YES. THOSE OPPOSED NAY. MOTION PASSES UNDER THE ORDINANCES CATEGORY. ITEM 18 HAS BEEN PULLED BY THE ADMINISTRATION AND WILL NOT BE CONSIDERED. ITEMS 15, 16. I'M SORRY, LET ME, LEMME START OVER. ITEM 18 HAS BEEN PULLED AND WILL NOT BE CONSIDERED. ITEMS 2021 AND 22 HAVE NOT BEEN RECEIVED, BUT WILL BE CONSIDERED IF THEY'RE RECEIVED BEFORE THE END OF THE MEETING. ITEMS 15, 16, 25 AND 26 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. IS THERE A MOTION FOR, IS THERE A MOTION FOR ITEM THREE? CASTEX? SAY TO MOVE I SECOND. MOTIONS MADE. AND SECOND. ALL IN FAVOR? SAY YES. HUFFMAN? NO. BEG PARDON. HUFFMAN? NO. COUNCILOR HUFFMAN VOTING NO. YES. COUNCILOR HUFFMAN VOTING? NO. ANYONE ELSE NOT? MOTION PASSES. IS THERE A MOTION FOR ITEM FOUR CAST? TA TO MOVE A SECOND. MOTION MADE AND SECONDED. ALL IN FAVOR? SAY YES. THOSE OPPOSED NAY. MOTION PASSES. IS THERE A MOTION FOR ITEM SIX? CAST TO MOVE. SECOND. MOTION MADE. AND SECOND. ALL IN FAVOR? SAY YES. THOSE OPPOSED NAY. MOTION PASSES. ITEM SEVEN. IS THERE A MOTION? CASTEX TATUM. MOVE. SECOND. MOTION MADE. AND SECOND. ALL IN FAVOR? SAY YES. THOSE OPPOSED. NAME MOTION PASSES. ITEM 15 IS AN ORDINANCE. IT'S JUST NEED A VOTE. RAMIREZ TAG 15. YES, SIR. 15 IS SQUARE TIGER RAMIREZ. 15 IS TAGGED BY COUNCILOR RAMIREZ. ITEM 16 IS AN ORDINANCE. JUST NEED A VOTE. CASTEX TATUM. TAG 16. ITEM 16 TAGGED BY MAYOR PROAM CASTEX TATUM. ITEM 25 IS AN ORDINANCE. JUST NEED A VOTE. ALL IN FAVOR SAY YES. THOSE POST NAY MOTION PASSES, I'M SORRY, TAGGED BY COUNCIL RAMIREZ. EXCUSE ME. THAT ITEM IS TAGGED BY 20. COUNCIL FIVE. 5 25 BY COUNCILMAN RAMIREZ. ITEM 26 IS AN ORDINANCE. JUST NEED A VOTE. COUNCILMAN MARTINEZ. COUNCILMAN MARTINEZ. THANK YOU, MAYOR. UM, I SPOKE A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THIS YESTERDAY, WHEN CLAIRE BAY, THE NEW PRESIDENT, CEO FOR HOUSTON GOLF ASSOCIATION, UH, CAME BY. UM, THIS IS A, THIS IS A GREAT PROJECT. THIS IS A, A BUDDING DISTRICT EYE. IT'S IN DISTRICT D. UH, DEFINITELY WANNA GIVE KUDOS TO, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER SHAVA TO SUPPORT THIS, UH, THIS PROGRAM. UM, THIS IS A HOUSTON GOLF ASSOCIATION THAT WILL BE INVESTING IN, UH, A REFURBISHED NINE HOLE, UH, THAT ARE FOR KIDS FOR THE FIRST TEE PROGRAM. UH, ASIDE FROM, UM, THIS ITEM, WITHIN THIS ITEM, WHAT WE'LL SEE IS THAT IT, THERE'S A CONTRIBUTION FROM, UH, FROM FOLKS THAT WILL HELP US ULTIMATELY GET TO THE FINAL GOAL OF $6 MILLION. AND SO, UH, SUPER SUPPORTIVE OF THIS, UH, OF THIS, UH, PROJECT, THIS ITEM. AND THEN ALSO, OF COURSE, UH, THE HOUSTON GOLF ASSOCIATION FIRST TEE PROGRAM. SO, UH, CONGRATULATIONS. COUNCILOR SHABA, COUNCIL MEMBER EVAN SHABA. THANK YOU MAYOR. AND THANK YOU COUNCIL MEMBER. UH, FIRST TEE HAS BEEN A WONDERFUL OPPORTUNITY FOR YOUNG PEOPLE TO LEARN THE GAME OF GOLF. AND THEY HAVE COME [03:50:01] OUT AND THEY HAVE ENJOYED IT. AND IT'S BOTH GIRLS AND BOYS. AND THAT, THAT'S REALLY A GOOD THING BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, GIRLS RULE, I MEAN, I'M SORRY, , UH, BUT AT ANY RATE, UH, I REALLY APPRECIATE THIS AND IT'S GONNA BE ANOTHER PHENOMENAL YEAR. WE'VE DONE IT A FEW YEARS IN THE DISTRICT. AND SO, UM, I JUST WANT TO THANK THEM AS WELL. AND I CERTAINLY SUPPORT THIS ITEM. ALL IN FAVOR, SAY YES. THOSE OPPOSED. NAME, MOTION PASSES. ITEM 34 IS AN ORDINANCE. JUST NEED A VOTE BEFORE WE VOTE MEMBERS, I WANT TO PUBLICLY THANK, UM, COUNCIL MEMBER CASTILLO AND MANY OF YOU. BUT COUNCIL MEMBER CASTILLO HAS DONE SUCH AN OUTREACH TO THE RESIDENTS, PARTNERING WITH COUNCIL MEMBER MARTINEZ TO MAKE CERTAIN THAT THE CITY'S POSITION IS WELL UNDERSTOOD. UH, MATTERS HAVE BEEN RAISED ABOUT SECURITY. WE RESPONDED. CHIEF DIAZ IS GONNA ASSIGN THE HOT, THE HOMELESS OUTREACH, UH, GROUP OF HPD. THERE'LL BE EIGHT OFFICERS AND A SERGEANT THERE. SO THERE'LL BE A SIGNIFICANT PRESIDENTS, ALMOST A SUBSTATION, MANY SUBSTATION FOR SURE. UH, EXTENDING THE CIVILITY ORDINANCE, COUNCILMAN RAMIREZ PARTICIPATED. UH, THERE WOULD BE AN ONGOING DIALOGUE. UM, I THINK THERE'S BEEN A TREMENDOUS AMOUNT OF MISINFORMATION, CERTAINLY WHEN YOU HIRE PEOPLE TO SPREAD THAT MISINFORMATION. UH, TWI CARTER, UH, COUNCILMAN CARTER FOUND THE LOCATION, DID HER DUE DILIGENCE. UH, THE CONDITIONS WERE DEPLORABLE IN THAT NEIGHBORHOOD WHEN WE STARTED SIX MONTHS AGO. IT'S BEEN CLEANED UP CERTAINLY UNDER 59. UH, LOAVES AND FISHES HAS MERGED AT A DIFFERENT LOCATION. SO MANY OF THE CONCERNS THAT ARE LEGITIMATE HAVE BEEN ADDRESSED. CERTAINLY THE IMPROVEMENT ALREADY TO THAT AREA, BUT CERTAINLY MY RECORD OF 50 PLUS YEARS IN THE LEGISLATURE WAS ACCOMPLISHED BY LISTENING TO CONSTITUENTS. YOU DON'T STAY IN OFFICE AND RUN FREE ELECTION EACH YEAR. THE ELECTION CYCLE WITHOUT TOWN HALL MEETINGS. ENGAGEMENT, COLLABORATION. AND THAT'S THE RECORD THAT I'M ASSURING THE RESIDENTS THAT'S GONNA CONTINUE. UH, I THINK SOMEDAY THEY'RE GONNA THANK US FOR KEEPING OTHER ELEMENTS OUT. OTHER ELEMENTS, MEANING THIS FACILITY WAS DESIGNED FOR HUMAN RESIDENCES. I THINK SOME OF THE DISRUPTORS, I'LL CALL 'EM, HAVE BEEN INVESTORS THAT WOULD LIKE TO ACQUIRE THIS PIECE OF PROPERTY AND LEASE IT TO THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT FOR IMMIGRATION PURPOSES. IT'S BEEN USED THAT WAY IN THE PAST. AND, UH, UM, WE KNOW OF CONTACTS THAT WOULD LIKE TO USE IT, LEASE IT BACK TO FEDERAL GOVERNMENT. SO THERE WOULD BE ELEMENTS THERE THAT MIGHT NOT BE EXACTLY AS WE PROPOSE, BECAUSE THAT'S A WHOLE DIFFERENT PURPOSE AND OPERATION, BUT IT'S GONNA BE USED AS HUMAN RESIDENCES TO HAVE THIS OPPORTUNITY, WHICH IS JUST THE FIRST STEP. WE'RE LOOKING AT OTHER LOCATIONS, SUPERB OPPORTUNITIES TO REALLY REMOVE THE HOMELESS FROM THE STREETS OF HOUSTON. UH, IT'S A COMPLEX ISSUE. WE'VE MADE A HUGE IMPACT. WE DON'T REMOVE SOMEONE IF WE DON'T KNOW WHERE WE'RE GONNA PLACE THEM, BUT AS WE GO FORWARD, UM, IT'S BEING VERY, GONNA BE VERY NOTICEABLE. IF YOU JUST WALK AROUND CITY HALL, YOU CAN SEE THE IMPROVEMENTS. TRENT QUILTY PARK IS A MAJOR CONCERN, BUT WE'RE NOT GONNA URGE PEOPLE TO GO LEAVE THEIR SITE IF WE DON'T HAVE A RESPONSIBLE PLACE TO PLACE THEM. I THINK THIS FITS THAT BILL AND, UH, I CAN GUARANTEE IT THAT WE'RE NOT GONNA FAIL WITH SAFETY OUTREACH. CONTINUATION OF YOUR LEADERSHIP WITH A DIALOGUE. COUNCILMAN MARTINEZ. YOU'VE BEEN, UH, A LEADER IN THE COMMUNITY. COUNCILOR RAMIREZ HAS PARTICIPATED IN COURSE. I THINK DWI CARTER IS JUST DETERMINED TO ADDRESS HOMELESS CONDITIONS IN THE CITY OF HOUSTON. WITH THAT SAID, I'LL [03:55:01] BE GLAD TO YIELD TO COUNCIL MEMBER RAMIREZ. THANK YOU MAYOR, AND, UM, APPRECIATE ALL THE COMMENTS THAT WE'VE GOTTEN FROM, UM, RESIDENTS IN THE AREA AND, AND OTHER HOUSTONIANS. I PUT A LOT OF THOUGHT INTO THIS VOTE. I KNOW CONCERNS HAVE BEEN RAISED ABOUT SAFETY AND, UM, COUNCIL MEMBER CASTILLO HAS MADE SEVERAL GOOD SUGGESTIONS. MAYOR, I KNOW YOU'VE TAKEN HIM TO HEART AND, UM, SAFETY'S GONNA BE PARAMOUNT GOING FORWARD. UH, I'D LIKE SOME OF THE THINGS THAT, UH, YOU'VE GOT PLANNED IN ORDER TO, UH, UH, TRY TO ENSURE SAFETY, UH, NEAR THE SITE. UM, CONCERNS HAVE BEEN RAISED ABOUT THE PRICE TAG. IT'S NOT CHEAP. UM, AT FIRST GLANCE, IT DOES APPEAR TO BE A HIGH PRICE FOR THAT PROPERTY. BUT IF YOU DIG IN A LITTLE DEEPER, UM, WE'LL SEE THAT, UM, THE PROPERTY IS, IS, UH, UNIQUE IN THAT IT HAS FACILITIES WITHIN IT EXISTING RIGHT NOW TO, UM, ACCOMMODATE THE TYPE OF POPULATION THAT WILL BE IN THERE. UH, SHORT TERM. IT HAS A LARGE KITCHEN, IT HAS INDIVIDUAL ROOMS WITH SHOWERS, IT HAS MEETING SPACES, IT HAS OFFICES, UM, IT HAS SECURITY. IT IS IDEAL FOR THIS TYPE OF PURPOSE. AND THAT IS THE DECIDING FACTOR FOR ME. IT HAPPENS TO BE LOCATED IN DISTRICT I, BUT I THINK IF IT HAD BEEN LOCATED IN ANY OTHER DISTRICT, THIS PARTICULAR PROPERTY, UH, IT WOULD GET THE SUPPORT OF COUNSEL. MAYOR, I KNOW THIS IS AN IMPORTANT PART OF YOUR HOMELESS PLAN. UM, YOU HAVE A PLAN. UH, I APPRECIATE THAT AND I THINK YOU DESERVE TO HAVE, UH, THAT PLAN, UH, WORK. AND THIS FACILITY CAN PLAY AN IMPORTANT ROLE IN THAT. AND SO I'LL BE SUPPORTING IT. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. AND THANK YOU FOR MENTIONING MENTAL HEALTH. THE ONLY WAY WE'RE GOING TO ADDRESS THE MENTAL HEALTH OF THESE CLIENTS IS TO HAVE A RESIDENCE FORUM. AND THIS IS DESIGNED WITH CLINICS, CASEWORKERS, PUBLIC SAFETY, EVEN EVEN AN EDUCATION COMPONENT. BUT THIS IS JUST THE FIRST STEP. UH, THERE'S GONNA BE OTHER, UH, OPPORTUNITIES TO GET PEOPLE STABILIZED HERE AND THEN GO TO, UH, OTHER RESIDENCES. AND COUNCIL MEMBER POLLARD. THANK YOU MAYOR. AND GOOD MORNING TO EVERYONE. UM, YESTERDAY I HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO TOUR THE FACILITY AND I WANT TO THANK, UH, CHIEF SATTERWHITE AND STEVEN WOODS FOR, UH, THE OPPORTUNITY, UM, TO UNDERSTAND THE DYNAMICS THERE AND THE STRATEGY BEHIND, UH, TRYING TO ADDRESS THE HOMELESS ISSUE. UM, AS I WAS APPROACHING THE FACILITY, I WAS SEEING A LOT OF INDIVIDUALS THAT WERE KIND OF STRUNG OUT, THAT WERE JUST KIND OF SCATTERED AROUND THE AREA, UH, THAT NEEDED HELP FOR SURE. UM, AS I SPOKE TO CHIEF SATTERWHITE, WHAT I, WHAT I DISCOVERED WAS JUST BECAUSE WE HAVE, UM, HOMELESS INDIVIDUALS WHO ARE IN NEED DOESN'T NECESSARILY MEAN THEY AUTOMATICALLY ARE GONNA BE REQUIRED TO GO TO THIS FACILITY, AS I THOUGHT WAS GOING TO TRY TO BE THE CASE. UM, INDIVIDUALS WHO ARE GOING TO THIS FACILITY, FROM WHAT I WAS TOLD YESTERDAY, ARE GONNA BE A LOT OF PEOPLE WHO ARE JUST VOLUNTEERING TO GO TO THIS FACILITY. THEY'RE WALKUPS, SOME OF THEM MAY BE ABLE TO BE TRANSPORTED BASED ON WANT, BUT IT'S NOT AS IF, JUST BECAUSE WE SEE A HIGH VISIBILITY OF HOMELESS FOLKS WHO NEED HELP, THAT THEY AUTOMATICALLY WILL BE GOING TO THIS FACILITY. AND I THINK THAT IS ONE OF THE MAIN ISSUES THAT WE NEED TO ADDRESS IS FOR THE, FOR THE COMMUNITY AND THEN THE CITY AT LARGE TO BE ABLE TO SEE A VISIBLE IMPACT OF THE DECREASE IN HOMELESSNESS AROUND OUR COMMUNITIES. AND SO IT WON'T JUST BE FOR THE MOST VULNERABLE POPULATION, UH, REALLY WILL BE FOR ANYONE WHO, UH, IS UNHOUSED THAT IS SEEKING HELP. UM, ANOTHER THING THAT I THINK WE REALLY NEED TO CONSIDER AS WE VOTE ON THIS IS JUST THE LONG-TERM FINANCIAL IMPACT TO THE CITY. WE HAVE A, A, A CERTAIN AMOUNT OF DOLLARS FROM THE DR 24 FUND THAT WE CAN PUT TOWARDS, UH, THIS INITIATIVE. BUT OUTSIDE OF THAT, UH, THAT IS THE MOST SIGNIFICANT POT OF MONEY THAT WE HAVE, UH, THAT WE CAN GRAB TODAY TO SAY THAT WE CAN OPERATE THIS FACILITY. AND SO WHEN SPEAKING WITH CHIEF SATTERWHITE, HE SAID, AT BEST RIGHT NOW, YOU [04:00:01] KNOW, WE CAN PROBABLY RUN THIS FOR ABOUT THREE YEARS. RIGHT? UM, AND SO THE QUESTION BECOMES, IS THIS MORE LIKE A PILOT OR IS THIS LIKE AN EXPERIMENTAL, UM, PROJECT TO BE ABLE TO SEE WHAT WE CAN DO TO ADDRESS HOMELESSNESS? AND I AGREE, WE DO NEED TO DO SOMETHING, BUT, UH, JUST BECAUSE WE NEED TO DO SOMETHING DOESN'T MEAN THAT WE NEED TO JUST DO ANYTHING. UM, THE PURCHASE PRICE IS MUCH HIGHER THAN THE APPRAISAL. UM, THE INDEPENDENT APPRAISAL, UH, THE PURCHASE PRICE IS EVEN HIGHER WHEN YOU THINK ABOUT WHAT'S ON HCA. AND WE KNOW THAT THE HCA NUMBERS ARE LOW, UH, BUT THE INDEPENDENT APPRAISAL EVEN CAME IN MUCH LOWER THAN THE PURCHASE PRICE. UM, SO THERE'S A LOT THAT I THINK WE DO NEED TO CONSIDER WHEN, UH, PUTTING FORTH NOT ONLY DOLLARS, BUT A PLAN TO ADDRESS THE HOMELESSNESS. UM, I DO AGREE THAT WE NEED A PLAN, AND THIS IS, UH, A CONSIDERATION. AND, UH, ANYTIME THAT WE ARE CONSIDERING SOMETHING FOR THE UNHOUSED, I THINK WE NEED TO TAKE IT SERIOUS AND ENSURE THAT WE ARE, UM, MINDFUL AND MEANINGFUL ABOUT THE ACTIONS THAT WE TAKE. AND SO I'M NOT GOING TO, UM, CAST ANY NEGATIVITY REGARDING THIS ITEM. UM, I'M NOT GOING TO SUPPORT IT AS PROPOSED. UM, BUT I AM HOPEFUL THAT IN TIME WE WILL BE ABLE TO SEE THAT IT DID MAKE AN IMPACT. EVEN IF I DON'T SEE THAT VISION TODAY, UM, I WOULD LIKE TO SEE A DIFFERENT, UM, PROPOSAL OR VISION BEING LAID OUT ON HOW WE ADDRESS THE HOMELESS ISSUE. I DON'T THINK THIS ADDRESSES MANY OF THE ISSUES AND CONCERNS OF THAT IMMEDIATE COMMUNITY THAT HAS REACHED OUT TO US. AND SO, UM, ALTHOUGH THIS IS SOMETHING, I DON'T THINK IT IS GOING TO BE, UH, LONG-TERM IMPACTFUL IN THE WAY THAT THE CITY OF HOUSTON EXPECTS IT TO BE. AND SO, UM, I WILL NOT BE SUPPORTIVE. THANK YOU. TWA CARTER, UH, COUNCILOR CARTER YOU WANNA SPEAK TO? I'LL WAIT TILL AFTER MISINFORMATION. AND I DON'T WANNA SPEAK FOR SADDER WHITE. HE'S CAPABLE OF SPEAKING FOR HIMSELF, BUT, SO YEAH, I THINK, I THINK HIS VIEWS WERE MISREPRESENTED, BUT GO AHEAD. SO I, I THINK IT'S, UH, AND, AND OH, HOLD ON. I'M SORRY. I'M NOT GONNA ENGAGE YOU C IN WHAT WAY? SO I CAN I, SO I CAN BE CLEAR. I'M NOT GONNA ENGAGE YOU, UH, COUNCILLOR CARTER. WELL THEN WHY MAKE, WHY MAKE THE COMMENT THERE? 'CAUSE IT WAS ACCURATE. GO AHEAD, COUNCIL MEMBER. SO, UH, YOU KNOW, COUNCIL MEMBER POLLARD, THANK YOU FOR YOUR COMMENTS. UM, YOU KNOW, I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT THAT WE LOOK AT, AT THE FOUR 19 EMANCIPATION AS A STEP. IT'S NOT THE FINISH LINE. AND IN ORDER TO GET TO THE FINISH LINE, WE'VE GOT TO HAVE, WE'VE GOTTA MAKE ONE STEP AT A TIME. AND THIS FACILITY WILL ALLOW US TO ADDRESS INDIVIDUAL ROOT CAUSES OF AN INDIVIDUAL'S SITUATION, NOT A, A BLANKET. MOST OF THESE INDIVIDUALS, THE WAY HOME CANNOT ASSIST. AND, YOU KNOW, YOU, YOU TALK ABOUT GOING INTO THE COMMUNITY AROUND FOUR 19, AND WE'RE NOT TAKING, LOOKING TO, TO TAKE A PROBLEM INTO THE COMMUNITY. WE'RE LOOKING TO ADDRESS THE PROBLEM THAT'S IN THAT COMMUNITY. AND I THINK THAT CERTAINLY, UM, YOU KNOW, AS FAR AS THE, THE BIG PICTURE PLAN, THIS IS, BUT ONE STEP OF MANY, AND YOU KNOW, WE HAVE PEOPLE ON THE STREETS FOR VARIOUS REASONS. LAST NIGHT WHEN YOU LEFT THE PARKING GARAGE, I HOPE THAT WHEN YOU TOOK THAT HARD LEFT, YOU SAW THE TWO PEOPLE LAYING UP UNDER THAT OVERPASS THAT WE SEE EVERY DAY RIGHT HERE OUTSIDE OUR BUILDING THERE. AND, YOU KNOW, I THINK THAT CERTAINLY WHEN YOU LOOK AT INDIVIDUALS SUCH AS CHIEF SATTERWHITE IN HIS LIFETIME IN LAW, LAW ENFORCEMENT, THE LAST THING HE WOULD PUT HIS NAME ON IS SOMETHING MM-HMM . THAT PUBLIC SAFETY IS NOT JOB ONE. AND THAT'S THE HIGHEST PRIORITY. AND CERTAINLY, YOU KNOW, DIRECTOR NICHOLS, YOU KNOW, COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT. THANK YOU. COUNCIL MEMBER CASTILLO. I'VE CERTAINLY MET ONE-ON-ONE WITH MANY COMMUNITY MEMBERS. AND YOU KNOW, IN LARGELY, IN LARGE PART, THEY ARE SUPPORTIVE OF THE NEED OF THE FACILITY. YOU KNOW, THEIR CONCERN IS PUBLIC SAFETY, BUT, YOU KNOW, PUBLIC SAFETY IS, IS THE HIGHEST PRIORITY FOR THIS FACILITY. THE MAYOR JUST OUTLINED THE HOT TEAM BEING LOCATED THERE. AND, YOU KNOW, AS LONG AS WE HAVE ALL THE ELEMENTS IN THAT COMMUNITY, THE COUNTY JAIL, THE BEACON, YOU KNOW, I CAN LIST THEM ALL. WE'RE GOING TO NEED TO ADDRESS THE HOMELESS POPULATION IN THAT COMMUNITY. AND, YOU KNOW, THERE ARE MANY OTHER POTENTIAL SITES ON THE HORIZON, BUT I THINK WE HAVE TO, YOU KNOW, WE CAN ALL AGREE AROUND THIS HORSESHOE THAT THERE'S A PROBLEM AND WE HAVE GOT TO TAKE THE STEPS TO ADDRESS IT. AND, YOU KNOW, THE, [04:05:01] THE PRIVATE SECTOR HAS STEPPED UP AND THEY'RE WILLING TO SUPPORT. YOU KNOW, I, IF WE DON'T GET OUR FOOT OUT THE DOOR, WE'RE NEVER GOING, WE'RE NEVER GOING TO GET TO THE FINISH LINE. SO, YOU KNOW, I APPRECIATE EVERYONE TAKING THE TIME TO GO TO THE FACILITY. YES, ON PAPER YOU CAN LOOK AND YOU CAN SEE THE SQUARE FOOTAGE AND HOW MANY ROOMS, BUT WHEN YOU ACTUALLY GO THERE, YOU SEE THAT IT IS WELL EQUIPPED AND IT WAS BUILT FOR DRESSING THIS POPULATION. THAT'S WHAT IT'S ALWAYS BEEN USED FOR. I MEAN, IT'S THE, IT'S A PRIME LOCATION. AND, UM, YOU KNOW, I I HOPE THAT EVERYONE AROUND THE HORSESHOE WILL SUPPORT IT, BUT I, I THINK THAT LONG TERM, IT, IT WILL BE THE SOLUTION. YOU KNOW, THE, THE FIRST STEP IN THIS SOLUTION. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. AND I CAN'T SAY ENOUGH ABOUT YOUR LEADERSHIP AND THE PRICE WAS SET BY THE SELLERS BECAUSE OF THEIR OTHER OFFERS AND OPPORTUNITIES. AS I MENTIONED, THEY WERE GONNA SELL TO INVESTORS AND THEN USE IT FOR OTHER PROGRAMMINGS ALSO. UH, WHEN YOU TAKE PEOPLE'S COMMENTS OUTTA CONTEXT, SOMETIME IT SOUNDS DIFFERENT. CHIEF SATTERWHITE KNOWS WE HAVE THE FUNDING NOW FOR THREE YEARS. WE HAVE OTHER MONIES IN THE PIPELINE. THE SECRETARY, HUD TURNER WILL BE HERE VERY SHORTLY WITH A COMMITMENT TO KEEP IT GOING FORWARD. THE TURS ARE INVOLVED, CENTRAL HOUSTON'S INVOLVED THE FAITH COMMUNITY, THE FOUNDATION. SO SURELY NO ONE THINKS MEMBERS THAT WE WOULD START A PROGRAM IS SIGNIFICANT AS THIS, AS COMMITTED WE ARE TO IT AND NOT KNOW WHERE IT'S GOING TO TAKE US. SO TO POLITICIZE IT IS BAD. AND I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR BEING SUCH A PUBLIC SERVANT. THIS WILL BE YOUR LEGACY. I MEAN, YOU HAVE TAKEN ME TO THIS SITE, OTHER SITES THAT ARE BEING DISCUSSED, AND AS YOU SAID, SO PROPERLY, WE'RE NOT BRINGING A PROBLEM TO THE COMMUNITY. WE'RE REMOVING A PROBLEM FROM THE COMMUNITY. THANK YOU, MAYOR. ALSO TOO, I THINK IT'S FAIR TO POINT OUT THAT, YOU KNOW, I THINK EVERYONE AROUND THE HORSESHOE HAS, HAS BEEN INVOLVED IN A REAL ESTATE TRANSACTION IN YOUR LIFETIME. 16 MILLION WAS NOT THE ASKING PRICE. YOU KNOW, THE, THE PRICE FOR THE BUILDING, I BELIEVE WAS AT 20. AND THIS WAS THE NEGOTIATED PRICE. I MEAN, IT'S NOT LIKE WE WENT IN AND SAID, HEY, BY THE WAY, YOU KNOW, WE THINK WE WANT THIS. SURE. LET US NAME OUR PRICE. I MEAN, IT'S A NEGOTIATED PRICE. WE WERE COMPETING WITH SPECIAL INTERESTS THAT KNEW WHAT THEY WANTED TO MAKE OUT OF IT. IT WILL BE A RESIDENCE FOR HUMAN BEINGS. WE CAN HAVE ONE THAT SERVES OUR NEEDS THAT IS SO PROTECTED BY PUBLIC SAFETY. AND, UH, THOSE INDIVIDUALS THAT ARE ON THE STREET OVER THERE, THEY WILL HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO GO IN THERE. THERE WILL BE AN URGING FOR 'EM TO GO IN THERE AND GET THE HOLISTIC APPROACH THAT WE PROVIDE THEM. EDUCATION, MENTAL HEALTH, FOOD, CLEANLINESS. IT WILL BE HUMANITY. IT WILL BE DECENCY. A BIG FIRST STEP. THANK YOU, COUNCIL MEMBER MARTINEZ. THANK YOU, MAYOR. UM, AND THANK YOU FOR LEADING THE THESE EFFORTS. MAYOR. UM, THIS ISN'T DISTRICT I, AS COUNCILOR RAMIREZ MENTIONED, UM, IT'S IN EAST DOWNTOWN. UM, I'VE HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK TO FOLKS NOT JUST IN EAST DOWNTOWN, BUT IN DOWNTOWN. I WAS AT A HOA MEETING IN DOWNTOWN LAST WEEK, UH, WHERE THIS, THIS WAS, UH, ALSO SPOKEN ABOUT. I'VE SPOKEN TO RESIDENTS IN THE EAST END AS WELL. AND IT IS A COMPLEX, UH, TOUGH, UH, CONVERSATION. UH, BUT IT IS SOMETHING THAT I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT THAT WE, UM, CONTINUE TO KIND OF PAINT WITHIN THE LINES AS, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER THOMAS HAS MENTIONED, WHICH THANK YOU FOR THE ACKNOWLEDGEMENT, MAYOR. I KNOW THERE ARE SEVERAL FOLKS THAT, THAT YOU'VE ACKNOWLEDGED. BUT I ALSO WANT TO TAKE THIS OPPORTUNITY TO RECOGNIZE COUNCIL MEMBER, UH, THOMAS, WHO'S OUR CHAIR FOR HOUSING, UH, FOR THE WORK THAT SHE'S BEEN DOING. UM, AND WE ALL KNOW THAT OVER THE PAST 10 YEARS AT, AT MINIMUM, WE'VE BEEN, I WE'VE BEEN IDENTIFYING WAYS WHERE WE CAN, UH, CONTINUE TO FOCUS ON HOUSING FIRST, UNDERSTANDING THAT, UH, THIS IS ANOTHER ITERATION OR A STEPPING STONE IN A DIFFERENT DIRECTION, AS SHE MENTIONED, ANOTHER RIGHT TURN TO FIND WAYS WHERE WE CAN FIND SOLUTIONS FOR THOSE THAT ARE HARDEST TO HOUSE. UM, I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT THAT, THAT WE RECOGNIZE THAT THIS FACILITY IN DISTRICT I IS NOT THE ONLY ONE. UH, THERE'S ALSO THE NAVIGATION CENTER WHERE WE HAVE CONTINUING SERVICE, THE SOBERING CENTER. UH, WE HAVE THE RESPITE AND REHAB, UH, REENTRY CENTER IN, IN DISTRICT I OFF OF SIX 10 AND LONG THAT WE JUST, UH, HAD A RIBBON CUTTING FOR 26 BEDS. UM, AS, AS WE TALK ABOUT OUR UNHOUSED COMMUNITY, I THINK IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT THAT WE LOOK AT IT AT A HIGHER LEVEL AND NOT JUST WHAT'S HAPPENING IN EAST DOWNTOWN. UH, BUT I, AT THIS POINT, I ALSO WANT TO DEFINITELY TAKE THE OPPORTUNITY TO THANK, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER CASTILLO. UM, A LOT OF HIS MORE RESIDENTIAL, UH, SINGLE FAMILY HOMES ARE CLOSE TO THIS FACILITY. AND SO I LEANED INTO HIM AND HIS LEADERSHIP TO, TO HAVE THESE DISCUSSIONS ABOUT THE CIVILITY ORDINANCE AND EXPANDING THE CIVILITY ORDINANCE. SOMETHING THAT, UH, WE RECENTLY DID, UH, [04:10:01] 24 7 IN EAST DOWNTOWN AND DOWNTOWN, WHERE IT'S A DIFFICULT CONVERSATION. BUT AT THE END OF THE DAY, UM, IT'S NOT CRIMINALIZING HOMELESSNESS. IT'S ANOTHER TOOL TO BE ABLE TO FIND WAYS TO ADDRESS, UH, OR HAVE CONVERSATIONS WITH THOSE THAT ARE UNHOUSED. UM, WE ALSO RECENTLY EX EXTENDED OR CREATED THE CIVILITY ORDINANCE IN, UH, ALONG HARRISBURG AND MAGNOLIA PARK FOR THE SAME REASON. AND SO THIS WAS IMPORTANT. THIS IS SOMETHING THAT I HEARD NOT JUST FROM DISTRICT EYE RESIDENTS, BUT FROM, UH, THOSE IN THE CITY GAS PARK NEIGHBORHOOD THAT THEY WANTED TO SEE. THE, UH, THE CIVILIAN ORDINANCE EXP UH, EXPANDED. UM, ALSO AS, AS YOU RECOGNIZE THE HOT TEAM THAT WILL BE THERE, 24 7 WAS ANOTHER ASK FROM THE COMMUNITY. UM, AND OF COURSE, THE, THE 24 7, UH, DIRECT COMMUNICATION WITH COMMUNITIES TO BE ABLE TO HAVE ACCESS TO THOSE, UH, SERVICES. IF FOR WHATEVER REASON THERE WAS SOMEONE THAT WAS LITERALLY IN THEIR FRONT DOOR OR, OR IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD OR IN THE, AT THE PARK. UM, AND, AND AGAIN, UH, BECAUSE OF THE CONVERSATIONS THAT I'VE HAD WITH COUNCIL MEMBER CASTILLO, UM, HE'S, HE'S, HE'S LED THE EFFORT WITH TOWN HOMES, UH, UH, TOWN, TOWN, UH, UH, HALLS. UM, AND, AND HONESTLY, THOSE CONVERSATIONS AS TOUGH AS THEY ARE, I KNOW I'VE HAD SEVERAL TOWNHOUSE, UH, HOUSES, UH, WHETHER IT'S POLK, WHETHER IT'S, UH, INFRASTRUCTURE PROJECTS, THEY COULD AL ALWAYS BE, UM, HEAVY, EXHAUSTING. BUT, YOU KNOW, UH, HE WAS THERE TO LISTEN. MY TEAM HAD HAD, HAS BEEN THERE AS WELL. AND I THINK THIS IS THE RIGHT DIRECTION AT THE END OF THE DAY. UM, WITH ALL THE CHALLENGES THAT WE HAVE, I THINK, UH, AT THE FOREFRONT, WE NEED TO BE SOLUTION ORIENTED. UH, WE CAN ALWAYS SAY THAT THERE'S PROBLEMS. UM, BUT, UH, THESE PROBLEMS, UH, DO TAKE TIME. UH, AND AT THE END OF THE DAY, UH, IF YOU'RE, IF YOU'RE SPEAKING TO REPRESENTING, UH, COMMUNITIES AND, AND HAVING THAT ENGAGEMENT, UH, WANNA MAKE SURE THAT, UH, YOU'RE THERE, YOU'RE IN FRONT OF FOLKS, YOU'RE HAVING THESE CONVERSATIONS AND NOT JUST, UH, HAVING CONVERSATIONS ON THE SIDELINES. SO I, I'M SUPPORTIVE OF THIS, UH, THIS, THIS ITEM AS WELL. AND MY HOPE IS THAT, UH, MY COLLEAGUES WOULD ALSO BE SUPPORTIVE. THANK YOU. AND IT'S SO IMPORTANT TO HAVE THE DISTRICT, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER SUPPORT AND CERTAINLY, UM, YOU'RE TO BE RECOGNIZED FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP ON NUMEROUS ISSUES. AND, UM, TALKING ABOUT THE FINANCES, WE'RE IN CONVERSATION ABOUT THE PROPER USE OF AFFORDABLE HOUSING FUNDS. PROBABLY NOTHING IS MORE IMPORTANT THAN THE HOMELESS. HAVING AWAY HOME IS THE ULTIMATE GOAL. AND, UH, HUD IS VERY OPEN TO US, UH, SHARING SOME OF OUR AFFORDABLE HOUSING FUNDS AS WE CONTINUE TO, TO BUILD MORE AFFORDABLE HOUSINGS. A TRANSITION FOR FOLKS THAT WOULD USE, THAT WOULD BE GOING THROUGH THIS RESIDENCE. SO THERE'S A LOT OF MOVING PARTS. UH, OUR COMMITMENT IS TO MAKE IT WORK SAFELY. UH, I WAS TRAINED BY LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR BULLOCK, LOVE TEXAS, TOUGH LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR, HELP PEOPLE ACCOUNTABLE. AND HE SAID, IF YOU'RE NOT FOR THIS PLAN, WHAT IS YOUR PLAN? AND HE MEANT IT. WHAT IS YOUR PLAN IF YOU'RE NOT FOR THE ONE THAT SO MANY COLLEAGUES HAVE WORKED ON? COUNCIL MEMBER CASTILLO, THANK YOU. YOU'VE BEEN A LEADER FROM DAY ONE. THANK YOU MAYOR. AND THANK YOU FOR YOUR, UM, ACKNOWLEDGEMENT OF THE, THE MEMO THAT WAS SENT OVER, YOU KNOW, THAT CAME OVER OR THAT CAME FROM, UH, THE COMMUNITY MEETING THAT WAS HELD LAST WEEK, WHICH WAS WHY I TAGGED THE ITEM. UM, WE HAD A THREE PLUS HOUR COMMUNITY MEETING LAST THURSDAY. I DO WANNA RECOGNIZE COUNCIL MEMBER DAVIS WAS THERE FOR EVERY MINUTE OF IT. AND, AND I APPRECIATE THAT 'CAUSE HE GOT TO HEAR EXACTLY WHAT I HEARD. UM, THERE WERE A NUMBER OF VERY REASONABLE SUGGESTIONS THAT CAME FROM THAT MEETING. UH, SOME OF THE, THE MORE FREQUENT MENTIONED ITEMS OR THE EXPANDED CIVILITY ORDINANCE ZONE, UH, THE ONSITE HOT TEAM, SOME OTHERS THAT I WOULD ALSO LIKE TO SEE US, UM, MOVE TOWARDS AND GET SOME SUPPORT FOR AND COMMITMENT FOR THE COMMUNITY WANTS TO SEE THE FACILITY. A LOT OF US HAVE TALKED ABOUT HOW WE'VE GONE OUT AND SEEN IT. THEY WANNA SEE WHAT IT'S LIKE AS WELL. UH, PERFECT. UH, SO A COMMUNITY TOUR DAY, THERE'S TRAFFIC ISSUES ALONG EMANCIPATION ALREADY. UH, WHAT IS THE MITIGATION PLAN FOR THE TRAFFIC ISSUES? UM, NOW THAT WE'RE GONNA HAVE, YOU KNOW, FOLKS COMING AND GOING, UH, IN THE MORNING AROUND SCHOOL TIME, DROP OFF, ET CETERA. IS METRO A PART OF THAT WITH THE RAIL SERVICE THAT IS NEARBY? UH, THERE'S BEEN A, A REQUEST, AND I KNOW THAT I THINK SOME FOLKS HAVE LOOKED INTO MOVING THE FRONT ENTRANCE TO THE REAR SO THAT, UH, YOU DON'T HAVE A LONG QUEUE ALONG EMANCIPATION. AND IT ALSO IS, [04:15:01] UH, A LITTLE MORE RESPECTFUL OF FOLKS' PRIVACY COMING AND GOING FROM THE FACILITY ITSELF. UH, ONCE A OPERATOR IS CHOSEN, SOME SUGGESTIONS THAT I THINK MAKE A LOT OF SENSE. UM, HAVING ALL THE, THE DIFFERENT SERVICE PROVIDERS THAT ARE THERE, UH, DO PRESENTATIONS ON WHAT THEY OFFER SO FOLKS KNOW WHAT SERVICES ARE ACTUALLY AT THIS FACILITY. IS IT MENTAL HEALTH? IS IT COUNSELING, SUBSTANCE USE, ET CETERA. UM, A PHASED IN OCCUPANCY APPROACH, UH, WHICH I THINK DOES MAKE A LOT OF SENSE. STARTING AT 25% CAPACITY, TRYING THAT FOR A MONTH, THEN GOING TO 50, THEN 75 OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT. UM, AND THEN A COMMUNITY TASK FORCE THAT WORKS HAND IN HAND WITH THE CITY, SIMILAR TO WHAT WE HAVE AT THE NAVIGATION CENTER ON JENSEN, UM, THAT I HAVE HEARD HAS WORKED REALLY WELL. AND THE COMMUNITY LEADERS, BUSINESSES, STAKEHOLDERS, THEY STAY UPDATED, THEY STAY ENGAGED. UM, THEY'RE IN CONSTANT COMMUNICATION WITH THE NAVIGATION CENTER. AND SO THOSE THINGS HELP MITIGATE ANY POTENTIAL IMPACTS. AND YOU KNOW, AT THAT MEETING WE HEARD, WE HEARD FROM A LOT OF FOLKS, PEOPLE WHO HAD NEVER TALKED TO THEIR CITY COUNCIL MEMBER BEFORE, BUT THEY WERE DEFINITELY GONNA TALK ABOUT THIS PROPOSAL. LONGTIME RESIDENTS THAT HAVE BEEN ENGAGED CIVICALLY AND, AND LIFELONG MEMBERS OF THE COMMUNITY. THE CONCERNS ARE LEGITIMATE AND, UH, THE, THERE IS A LOT OF FEAR, BUT I THINK THESE THINGS GO A LONG WAY IN ADDRESSING THAT AND REASSURING THE NEIGHBORHOOD THAT THE CITY IS COMMITTED TO A PROJECT THAT WILL WORK. AND THESE THINGS HELP MAKE SURE THAT ANY OF THE UNINTENDED CONSEQUENCES, UM, AREN'T PLACED ON THE BURDEN OF, OF ONE NEIGHBORHOOD, ONE AREA. THANK YOU SO MUCH. YOU'VE ARTICULATED A VERY REASONABLE PLAN TO GO FORWARD, AND NO ONE AROUND THIS HORSESHOE EVER GONNA LEAVE YOU WITH THE PROPOSALS THAT YOU'VE MADE. THEY'RE VERY REASONABLE. I CAN'T WAIT FOR AN OPEN HOUSE. OBVIOUSLY SOME OF THE ITEMS YOU'VE MENTIONED HAVE BEEN DELAYED BECAUSE OF PEOPLE THAT DON'T WANT US TO BE SUCCESSFUL, BUT YOU'VE MADE CERTAIN THAT THERE'S TRANSPARENCY, COLLABORATION. I WAS WAITING TO TALK ABOUT CHIEF SATTERWHITE AND MIKE NICHOLS TO THE VERY END BECAUSE THEY ARE THE PREMIER HOMELESS ADVOCATES AND OPERATORS. UH, CHIEF SATTERWHITE IS A MAN OF FAITH THAT YOU REFERENCED, BUT CERTAINLY HIS LAW ENFORCEMENT RECORD, HE IS NOT GONNA HAVE AN UNSAFE OPERATION. AND MIKE NICHOLS WE'RE SO FORTUNATE TO BRING HIM OUTTA RETIREMENT FROM THE HOMELESS COAST COALITION. HE'S UH, REVIEWING OPERATORS, AND IT'S GONNA BE PEOPLE THAT WE'RE VERY FAMILIAR WITH, SUCH AS HARRIS CENTER, THE BEACON SALVATION ARMY. WE'RE GONNA HAVE THE BEST OF THE BEST. WE'RE NOT GONNA NOT DOT EVERY I AND CROSS EVERY T AND YOU'LL BE IN YOUR RESIDENCE AT THE TABLE, I ASSURE YOU. WELL, THANK YOU. AND I, AND I ALSO WANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE, UH, CHIEF SATTERWHITE AND DIRECTOR NICHOLS FOR BEING PRESENT, UH, ENGAGING WITH THE NEIGHBORHOOD AT, AT THE COMMUNITY MEETING. AND, YOU KNOW, ONE OF THE THINGS CHIEF SATTER SATTERWHITE REITERATED IS THAT HE IS A RESIDENT OF THE SECOND WARD. SURE. HE LIVES IN THE, HE LIVES DOWN THE STREET IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD, SO, UH, HE'S GOT SKIN IN THE GAME AS WELL, AND, UH, WILL ENSURE THAT THE NEIGHBORHOOD REMAINS SAFE. WELL, WELL SAID. AND IT'S A PROPER TIME FOR ME TO GIVE A SHOUT OUT FOR COUNCIL MEMBER THOMAS. SHE WAS AT THE, UH, OPEN HOUSE PRESS CONFERENCE. IT MEANS SO MUCH TO HAVE THE CHAIRMAN OF HOUSING, CHAIRWOMAN OF HOUSING THERE. UH, AND SHE COULDN'T BE HERE TODAY, BUT SHE REGRETTED THAT SHE WOULDN'T BE HERE TO SUPPORT IT VERBALLY AND WITH HER VOTE. SO, YOU KNOW, THE DIVERSITY OF SUPPORT AROUND THE SHOE AND IN THE COMMUNITY IS, UH, VERY IMPRESSIVE AND, AND MEANS THAT WE'RE GOING FORWARD. THANK YOU FOR YOUR HARD WORK. THANK YOU. COUNCIL MEMBER DAVIS. THANK YOU, MAYOR. UM, COUPLE OF, COUPLE OF THINGS I WANT TO SAY IN SUPPORT OF THIS ITEM, BUT I WANNA FIRST BEGIN BY GIVING MY, UM, CREDITS TO COUNCIL MEMBER CASTILLO FOR TAKING THE, UM, LEADERSHIP ROLE OF ADDRESSING THIS VERY IMPORTANT ITEM. UM, MAKING DECISIONS, VOTING FOR THINGS LIKE THIS IS NEVER EASY. [04:20:01] AND I WANNA COMMEND YOU, MAYOR, FOR IDENTIFYING THIS ISSUE. THIS ISSUE WAS HERE BEFORE YOU GOT HERE. IT WAS HERE BEFORE I GOT HERE. IT WAS HERE BEFORE. PROBABLY MOST PEOPLE HERE. HOMELESSNESS IS A NATIONWIDE. UM, BUT I JUST WON'T LET FOLK KNOW TO DO THIS IS NOT A GLORY ISSUE. THIS IS NOT A STICK YOUR CHEST OUT HOMELESS DIDN'T JUST HAPPEN LAST WEEK. LAST YEAR, IT'S BEEN HERE, IT WAS HERE BEFORE MANY OF US GOT HERE. ONE OF THE THINGS ABOUT HOMELESSNESS, I KNOW IT VERY WELL BECAUSE MANY AROUND THIS HORSESHOE HAVE DIFFERENT PROFESSIONS. LAWYERS, REALTORS, DOCTORS AND EVERYTHING. BUT I'VE BEEN DEALING WITH POOR PEOPLE, HOMELESS PEOPLE IN MINISTRY FOR OVER 40 YEARS WHERE PEOPLE WALK OFF THE STREET, NEED A PLACE TO LIVE, NEED FOOD, WHATEVER. THEN YOU WANT TO HAVE SOMEPLACE WHERE YOU CAN DIRECT THEM TO GO. I ALSO WANT TO SAY THAT WE RESPOND TO THINGS AS A HORSESHOE OR A COLLEAGUES AROUND HERE, BUT THE OTHER NIGHT WHEN THAT MEETING WAS SOME OF THESE COMMENTS THAT PEOPLE MAKE, YOU COULD HAVE FACED THE PEOPLE, THE PEOPLE THAT MAKE THE COMPLAINTS. YOU KNOW, WE CAN EASILY SIT HERE AROUND A HORSESHOE. MANY OF US, AND I KNOW WE CAN'T BE EVERYWHERE ALL THE TIME, BUT, BUT FOR THE ISSUE, FOR IT BEING AS SERIOUS AS IT IS, YOU WOULD WANT TO FACE THE MUSIC AND COUNCIL MEMBER COULD STILL DON'T FACE THE MUSIC. AND THOSE WHO ADVOCATING FOR THIS, I THINK MORE THAN ANYTHING SHOULD HAVE BEEN THERE. THE OTHER SIDE OF THIS ISSUE IS BECAUSE NOT ONLY AM I LOOKING AT IT FROM A MINISTRY PERSPECTIVE, BUT, BUT ALSO I'M A VETERAN, AND I'VE SAID THIS PUBLICLY, I SEE THE ISSUE BEING SOLVED FROM A MINISTRY AND THE HUMANITARIAN. AND ALSO AS A VETERAN, WE HAVE A LOT OF VETERANS OUT ON THE STREETS THAT ARE HOMELESS DUE TO CERTAIN ISSUES, MENTAL ILLNESSES, AS WELL AS OTHER ISSUES. BUT I THINK THE OTHER THING ABOUT THIS, THE PHILANTHROPIC, WE WANNA BRING BUILDINGS AND OTHER THINGS. BRING THE MONEY, BRING THE MONEY. IF WE HAVE THE RELATIONSHIP WITH THESE PEOPLE THAT WE SAY WE KNOW BRING THE MONEY, WE GOING TO NEED THE MONEY TO HELP THE MAYOR IN THIS INITIATIVE. SO WE KNOW IT'S A PROBLEM AND I THINK WE ALL OUGHTA TREAT IT AS SUCH, BUT HERE'S WHAT IT DO. IT IS A COST THAT FOLLOWS THIS. AND THAT IS SOMETHING THAT I AM, AND I WANNA SAY, NOW THAT I AM IN ACTION RIGHT NOW, GOING TO THOSE PEOPLE THAT CAN BRING THE DOLLARS TO THE TABLE, THAT'S ONE OF THE VERY REASON WHY I DID THE SYMPOSIUM, TO PUT PEOPLE ON ALERT. THEY ALL LIVE IN THIS CITY. THEY BENEFIT BY THIS CITY. ALL OF US KNOW SOMEBODY WHO WE INFLUENCE OR THEY INFLUENCE US. IT'S NOW IT'S TIME TO STEP UP AND PUT THE MONEY WHERE IT'S SUPPOSED TO BE. THIS IS NOT JUST THE MAYOR'S PROBLEM OR THE, THE CITY OF HOUSTON, UH, COUNCIL PROBLEM IS A CITY PROBLEM. AND SO I JUST WANT TO COMMEND YOU, MAYOR, FOR STEPPING UP AND ADDRESSING THIS ISSUE. AND IT'S CERTAINLY THE NEED AND I GIVE IT MY FULL SUPPORT. THANK YOU COUNCIL MEMBER. AND AS YOU DESCRIBE THE CIRCUMSTANCES OF THE HOMELESS, I WANT TO EMPHASIZE SOMETHING. OBVIOUSLY IT'S A LARGE MENTAL HEALTH POPULATION. THEY NEED THE SERVICES, SUFFERING FROM DRUGS, ALCOHOL. BUT LET ME ALSO TALK ABOUT A POPULATION. AS WE TALKED ABOUT THE CHALLENGES FOR OUR TEA AND FEDERAL EMPLOYEES NOT BEING ABLE TO GO TO WORK BECAUSE THEY CAN'T PAY THE DAYCARE. WE NEED TO PAUSE FOR A MOMENT, REALIZE THE CIRCUMSTANCES THAT MANY OF OUR RESIDENTS ARE IN THERE. THEY'RE ONE PAYCHECK MISSING PAYCHECK OF BEING HOMELESS. THAT'S RIGHT. SO THERE ARE HOMELESS THERE BECAUSE OF THEIR ECONOMIC CIRCUMSTANCES BROUGHT ON BY THE CLOSURE OF THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT. THAT'S RIGHT. SHUT DOWN. SO HAVING MENTIONED THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE COMPONENT MM-HMM . A LOT OF FOLKS THAT HAVE TURNED THEIR LIVES AROUND NEED A SECOND CHANCE. THEY'RE RELEASED OUTTA HUNTSVILLE WITH NOTHING IN THEIR POCKET IN TERMS OF SUPPORTING THEM FOR HOUSING, JOB OPPORTUNITIES. THERE ARE PEOPLE, COLLEAGUES THAT JUST NEED AN ID. MM-HMM . [04:25:01] YOU TALK TO PAROLEES, THEY CAN'T GET A WORK, THEY CAN'T GET HOUSING. THIS FACILITY WITH ITS HOLISTIC APPROACH YEAH. WILL GET PEOPLE SO QUICKLY BACK ON THEIR FEET. YEAH. WHETHER THEY'RE COMING OUTTA THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM, WHETHER THEY'RE MEETING EE CHALLENGES FROM THE, THE SHUTDOWN. AND CERTAINLY TO TREAT A MENTAL HEALTH CLIENT, YOU NEED TO BE ABLE TO WORK WITH THEM WITH A CASE WORKER, CLINICAL EXPERTS. SO, YEAH. I JUST THINK WE HAVE TO KEEP IN MIND AS YOU PUT A, A FAITH-BASED REVIEW OF IT AND WE'RE IN CONTACT AND EXCELLENT ENCOURAGEMENT FROM THE FAITH-BASED COMMUNITY. ABSOLUTELY. CERTAINLY FOR THE SECOND AND THIRD STEP THAT WE'LL BE MAKING. ABSOLUTELY. AND I JUST WANTED TO THE LASTLY SAY THE, AS YOU KNOW, WE CREATED THE MINISTRY ADVISORY BOARD TO THE MAYOR. WE ARE WE 50, 60 PASTORS. WE ALREADY PUT THAT ON THE TABLE. THAT WAS ONE OF OUR FIRST OBJECTIVES OF THREE. THE HOMELESSNESS, DISASTER RELIEF, AND CRIME. THOSE ARE THE THINGS. SO WE ARE IN MOVE OF THAT. I'M JUST NOT TALKING. I MEAN, WE NEED TO BE PEOPLE THAT'S GONNA STEP UP. AND, AND LET ME JUST ALSO ADD, I KNOW BROTHER BRANDON BARBER WITH HOPE. WE WORK WITH THEM A LOT. HE'S GOING TO BE A PART OF THAT. I, I'VE IDENTIFIED CHURCHES THAT'S GOING TO STEP UP. AND THAT'S WHY I SAY THIS IS NOT A MOMENT OF GLORY. THIS IS NOT TRYING TO GET ANY STARS OR IN YOUR CROWN. THIS IS ABOUT DEALING WITH AN ISSUE BECAUSE THIS SITUATION, YOU ARE RIGHT, MAYOR. IT'S MORE THAN JUST ABOUT THE ONLY THAT PEOPLE LOOK LOSING THEIR JOBS, REGARDLESS WHAT AISLE YOU OWN. I KNOW A LOT OF PEOPLE LIKE TO EMPHASIZE WHO'S RESPONSIBLE FOR IT. FAR AS I'M CONCERNED, THEY CALLED IT LAST TIME I LOOKED, IT'S CALLED OUR CONGRESS. IT'S TWO SIDES. BUT THEY NEED TO GET IT FIXED. 'CAUSE WE GOT A SERIOUS PROBLEM IN OUR NATION. AND IT'S TIME FOR PEOPLE TO GO TO WORK AND TO THANK YOU. FINISH THE TALK. THANK YOU. AS WE HAD THIS DISCUSSION, I'M SAD THIS MORNING THAT PASTOR NASH PASSED. YES. EARLIER THIS WEEK. AND I'LL BE ANNOUNCING THE ARRANGEMENT, BUT PASTOR NASH HAS BEEN A PARTNER, A MENTOR THAT'S RIGHT. ON ADDRESSING THE HOMELESS ISSUE. THAT'S RIGHT. CERTAINLY REHABILITATION. REHABILITATION OF, UH, CRIMINAL JUSTICE CLIENTS. YES. I GOT THAT CALL WHEN HE PASSED. UM, 'CAUSE HE AND I HAVE BEEN CLOSE FOR SO MANY YEARS AND WITHIN 20 MINUTES, GREAT, MAN. I RECEIVED THE CALL THAT WE HAD LOST PASTOR NASH. THANK YOU. COUNCILMAN CAYMAN. THANK YOU. UM, WHILE I DO BELIEVE THERE'S ONE PARTY IN CONTROL OF ALL CHAMBERS OF CONGRESS AT THE MOMENT, UM, I DO WANNA POINT OUT MAYOR, THAT WE'RE LEADING THE WAY IN THE IMPORTANCE OF HOUSING FIRST MODELS. AND IT WAS ACTUALLY UNDER GW THAT HOUSING FIRST CAME TO THE FOREFRONT AS A SUCCESSFUL MODEL FOR WHAT WORKS. AND COUNCIL MEMBER DAVIS, WHEN YOU TALK ABOUT THE NEEDS OF OUR VETERAN COMMUNITY, UH, IT WAS UNDER GWS HOUSING CZAR. UH, I THINK HE JUST PUT A PIECE OUT. HE NOTED THAT WHEN WE DO HOUSING FIRST AND THEN BRING IN WRAPAROUND SERVICES, THEY SAW AN OVER 50% REDUCTION IN HOMELESSNESS IN THE VETERANS COMMUNITY, WHICH IS A BIG NUMBER NOW. WE'RE NOT THERE YET BECAUSE WE NEED MORE HOUSING. AND EVEN MAYOR, YOU KNOW, I WAS VOCALLY OPPOSED TO EXPANDING THE CIVILITY ORDINANCE BECAUSE I SAID WE NEED HOUSING FIRST. WE NEED THE BEDS FIRST. AND THERE'S A BIG DISTINCTION THAT I WANNA MAKE SURE IS CLEAR BETWEEN SHELTER MODELS AND WHAT WE'RE VOTING ON TODAY, WHICH IS LOW AND NO BARRIER HOUSING. WHEN SOMEBODY TRIES TO GET INTO A SHELTER, THEY MAY NOT BE ABLE TO BRING THEIR PET, THEY MAY NOT BE ABLE TO BRING THEIR BELONGINGS. THEY'RE NOT PERMITTED TO, LET'S SAY, UM, USE, USE DRUGS. AND WE KNOW THAT SUBSTANCE ABUSE IS A MEDICAL CONDITION. UH, THEY MAY BE REQUIRED TO TAKE FAITH-BASED CLASSES. WE KNOW THAT WHEN YOU LOWER THOSE BARRIERS AND CAN GET THEM INTO STABILIZED HOUSING FIRST AND THEN BRING IN THE TREATMENT, WHICH THIS PROPERTY DOES, AND THIS FACILITY DOES, IT WORKS. AND IT IS VERY MUCH IN LINE WITH THE HOUSTON WAY OF DOING THINGS AS WE HAVE DONE. UM, I DO HAVE A CONCERN, AND THIS IS NOT ON THE CITY SIDE, THAT THE STATE JUST CUT, FOR EXAMPLE, SUBSTANCE ABUSE BY 50 MILLION. THIS SESSION. WE'RE SEEING FEDERAL CUTS [04:30:01] TO HOUSING SUPPORT SERVICES AT A TIME WHEN WE NEED MORE OF THAT. AND WE KNOW THAT THAT FUNDING HELPS REDUCE CRIME. UH, SO I, I AM GOING TO BE SUPPORTING THIS ITEM. I'VE SPOKEN WITH MANY IN THE BUSINESS COMMUNITY AND IN THE COMMUNITY AND I, THERE ARE MANY DIFFERENT, UH, SIDES TO THIS. AND THERE'S MANY DIFFERENT CONCERNS, WHICH I THINK THE CITY IS DOING EVERYTHING THEY CAN TO ADDRESS. BUT I WANNA BE VERY CLEAR ABOUT THE IMPORTANCE OF HOUSING MODELS LIKE THIS, BECAUSE WE KNOW THAT THEY WORK AND THEY ARE PROVEN TO WORK, AND WE NEED MORE OF IT. I ALSO WANNA, PUBLICLY, AS YOU HAVE DONE, RECOGNIZE CHIEF SATTERWHITE AND MIKE NICHOLS, I DON'T KNOW OF A BIGGER HEART THAN MIKE NICHOLS AND MORE PASSION THAN CHIEF SATTERWHITE. AND TO HAVE BOTH OF THEM RUNNING, THIS BRINGS ME A LOT OF COMFORT AND TRUST AND FAITH IN WHAT WE ARE VOTING ON TO SUPPORT TODAY. NOW WE HAVE TO EARN THAT TRUST IN THE COMMUNITY AS WELL. AND THAT IS IMPORTANT, AND I WANNA RECOGNIZE THAT. BUT WE CAN TALK ABOUT COSTS. BUT WE KNOW THAT IF WE DON'T DO THIS, THE COST IS EVEN GREATER. AND BOTH ON A HUMANITARIAN SCALE, BUT ALSO ON A FINANCIAL SCALE. AND SO I AGAIN, WANT TO JUST EMPHASIZE HOW IMPORTANT HOUSING LIKE THIS IS. 'CAUSE IT'S EXACTLY WHAT I'VE BEEN TALKING ABOUT AND WHAT OTHERS HAVE BEEN TALKING ABOUT, AND COUNCIL MEMBER CARTER HAS BEEN ADVOCATING FOR. SO, UH, I WILL BE SUPPORTING THIS, RECOGNIZING THAT WE NEED TO EARN AND BUILD THAT TRUST IN THE COMMUNITY AS WELL. BUT THIS WILL BE NOT ONLY SAVING US DOLLARS IN THE LONG RUN, BUT SAVING LIVES. WELL SAID. AND THANK YOU FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP. AND, UH, I RESPECT YOUR COMMENTS. WE'RE NOT ABANDONING HOUSTON FIRST. IT THIS IS, IT'S A COMPLEX ISSUE AS YOU'VE RECOGNIZE. UNFORTUNATELY, HOUSTON FIRST, AS I UNDERSTOOD IT, HAD CERTAIN INDIVIDUALS BACKED UP WAITING FOR CAPACITY. AND QUITE FRANKLY, SOME OF THESE FOLKS THAT NEED HELP WE'RE PROBABLY NOT CAPABLE OF INDEPENDENT LIVING. I MEAN, SOME PARTICULARLY AS WE ENCOUNTER, ARE SO STRESSED OUT THAT THAT HOUSING, THEY, THEY NEED MEDICAL CARE FIRST AND THEN THEY'LL BE MOVED INTO INDEPENDENT. YEAH. NO, SORRY. BUT THE RESULTS ARE IRREFUTABLE. I MEAN, WE'RE RECOGNIZED AND, AND WE WANT TO CONTINUE TO BE, THIS IS JUST ANOTHER COMPONENT THAT'S GONNA MAKE IT, IN MY JUDGMENT, THE MODEL. I REALLY DO BELIEVE WITH SADDLE WHITE, AS YOU MENTIONED, AND MIKE NICHOLS LEADING IT, UH, WITH THE HUD SECRETARY COMING DOWN AND LOOKING AT THIS, THEY'RE GONNA SPREAD THE WORD THAT WE'VE GOT A VERY CONTINUUM CARE FOR OUR HOMELESS AND, AND, AND, UH, WHAT SOME OTHER CITIES HAVE DONE JUST HADN'T WORKED IN ALL DUE RESPECT. BUT WE'RE NOT GONNA LET THIS FAIL. I THINK THE EYES OF THE COMMUNITY AND CERTAINLY THE NATION, I DON'T THINK THAT'S AN OVERSTATEMENT. WE'LL, WE'LL BE SEEING WHAT WE'RE PROPOSING. ABSOLUTELY. AND TO BE CLEAR, I BELIEVE THIS FALLS WITHIN THE HOUSING FIRST MODEL. IT'S BRINGING IN, THAT'S WHAT I'M SAYING. CORRECT. OKAY. I JUST, I DIDN'T WANT IT'S A PATHWAY TO INDEPENDENT LIVING THE HOUSING MODEL. THANK YOU. UH, MAYOR PROTE. 16. THANK YOU, MAYOR. UH, SOMETHING THAT, UH, CHIEF SATTERWHITE SAID WHEN HE GAVE US THE BRIEFING ON THIS WAS WE CAN ONLY MOVE AT THE SPEED OF THE NUMBER OF BEDS THAT WE HAVE AVAILABLE. AND THAT REALLY RESONATED WITH ME BECAUSE AS WE ARE DECOMMISSIONING, UM, ENCAMPMENTS, AND WE ARE SEEING THAT MORE, UM, OF OUR UNHOUSED, UM, HOUSTONIANS ARE MOVING INTO DEEPER INTO OUR DISTRICTS AND UNDER THE BRIDGES IN OUR DISTRICTS, AND WE DISCUSSED THE CIVILITY ORDINANCE. UM, HE REALLY HAMMERED IN THAT WE CAN ONLY MOVE AS FAST AS THE NUMBER OF BEDS THAT WE HAVE AVAILABLE WHEN WE TOURED THE FACILITY AND SAW THE ACTUAL BEDS THAT PEOPLE CAN SLEEP IN EACH NIGHT IN A ROOM WITH A SHOWER. UM, WITH THESE FACILITIES, UH, REALLY STATE-OF-THE-ART FACILITIES WITH A COMMERCIAL KITCHEN WHERE WE ARE TALKING ABOUT PREPARING 300 TO 500 MEALS THREE TIMES A DAY FOR PEOPLE, UM, TO RECEIVE THAT TYPE OF NOURISHMENT ALONG WITH THE WRAPAROUND SERVICES. I FELT WHEN I WALKED THROUGH THE FACILITY, THAT THIS WAS A GIFT TO HOUSTON. UM, BECAUSE SO MANY PEOPLE HAVE COMPLAINED ABOUT OUR HOMELESS ISSUE IN THE CITY OF HOUSTON. ALTHOUGH THE CITY OF HOUSTON HAS, UH, MADE LEAPS AND BOUNDS WITH OUR HOMELESS POPULATION, WE [04:35:01] CAN ALWAYS IMPROVE ON OUR BEST. AND I THINK THAT THIS IS A STEP FOR US TO IMPROVE ON WHAT WE ARE DOING AS A CITY FOR OUR HOMELESS POPULATION. THE, WE CAN'T SAY ENOUGH ABOUT THOSE WRAPAROUND SERVICES. I MEAN, YOU CAN'T GET THOSE TYPE OF SERVICES IN TRADITIONAL SHELTERS. I MEAN, FOR PEOPLE TO BE ABLE TO COME IN WITH THEIR PETS, UM, FOR PEOPLE TO COME IN IF THEY HAVE A, UM, HUSBAND, WIFE, OR PARTNER, UM, AND BE ABLE TO BE, UH, SEEN AND GIVEN SERVICES AT THIS FACILITY, UM, IS, IS UNHEARD OF. UM, THE ONE THING THAT I REALLY WANNA HAMMER HOME, I, I SAW LOTS OF, UM, CRITIQUES AND I, I, YOU KNOW, I, I READ THE COMMENTS ON SOCIAL MEDIA AND I, YOU KNOW, PEOPLE WERE SAYING, YOU KNOW, WE COULD TAKE THE $16 MILLION AND JUST PUT PEOPLE IN APARTMENTS. UM, HOMELESSNESS IS A CONTINUUM. MM-HMM . I DON'T THINK, THINK THIS ISSUE WILL EVER GO AWAY. I WE WILL NEVER PUT AN END TO HOMELESSNESS. I DON'T CARE HOW MUCH MONEY WE HAVE, HOW MANY FACILITIES WE HAVE, WE WILL NEVER END HOMELESSNESS. BUT THIS OPPORTUNITY ALLOWS US TO MANAGE IT EFFECTIVELY AND COMPASSIONATELY. AND I CANNOT SAY ENOUGH ABOUT WHAT CHIEF SATTERWHITE SAID. WE CAN ONLY MOVE AT THE SPEED OF THE NUMBER OF BEDS WE HAVE. AND AS WE ACQUIRE MORE OPPORTUNITIES TO HOUSE MORE PEOPLE AND HAVE BEDS AVAILABLE AND SHOWERS AND FOOD AVAILABLE FOR OUR CONSTITUENTS, THEN WE CONTINUE TO MANAGE, UM, OUR UNHOUSED POPULATION. UM, BUT MAYOR, I'M IN SUPPORT OF THIS. UH, WHEN I WALK THROUGH THE FACILITY, THERE'S OPPORTUNITIES FOR PEOPLE TO GET THEIR HAIR CUT, TO HAVE THEIR HYGIENE TAKEN CARE OF. EVERYTHING THAT YOU WOULD NEED TO GET YOU ON THE PATH TO INDEPENDENT LIVING WILL BE AVAILABLE AT THIS FACILITY. AND SO I CONSIDERED THIS A WIN. AND WE'LL HAVE TO WORK HARD TO MAKE SURE THAT WE EARN THE TRUST OF THE COMMUNITY. I THINK COUNCIL MEMBER CASTILLO DID A YEOMAN'S JOB OF HAVING THE COMMUNITY MEETING. UM, AND, AND THAT'S WHAT PEOPLE WANT. THE UNKNOWN IS ALWAYS PROBLEMATIC FOR PEOPLE. THE MORE INFORMATION WE CAN GIVE THEM, THE MORE, UM, TOWN HALLS WE CAN HAVE, THE MORE COMMUNICATION WE CAN HAVE WITH THE COMMUNITY AND THE ASSURANCES WE CAN GIVE THEM WITH THE PUBLIC SAFETY, I THINK THIS WILL BE A WIN FOR HOUSTON AND ALSO A MODEL AROUND THE COUNTRY. SO I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO SUPPORTING THIS ITEM. THANK YOU SO MUCH. AND YOU EMPHASIZE THAT THE HOMELESS ARE NOT JUST NUMBERS AND DATA, THEY'RE HUMAN BEINGS AND THE WAY YOU DESCRIBED FACILITY, THEY'RE GONNA BE TREATED LIKE HUMANS, AND WE'RE GONNA RESPECT THE CONDITION OF THE NEIGHBORHOOD. WE DON'T WANT TO FIX A PROBLEM AND CREATE ANOTHER PROBLEM. AND THAT'S THE COMMITMENT TO THE COMMUNITY. IT WILL BE SOMETHING THAT I THINK MOST HOUSTONIANS WILL UNDERSTAND AND BE PROUD OF. AND I DO THINK THE COUNTRY IS WATCHING US. EVAN, COUNCIL MEMBER EVANS SHABA. THANK YOU, MAYOR. I HAVE SAID OFTEN, THEREBY THE GRACE OF GOD GO, I, AND YOU KNOW, LIFE IS FILLED WITH SWIFT TRANSITION. AND WHAT YOU HAVE TODAY, YOU MAY NOT HAVE TOMORROW. YOU KNOW, YOUR FINANCIAL AND YOUR MENTAL STABILITY CAN BE IMPACTED AT ANY MOMENT. BUT I WANNA, UH, FIRST THANK YOU MAYOR AND MY COLLEAGUES WHO WORK VERY HARD, UH, CHIEF SAT WHITE AND DIRECTOR NICHOLS. BUT IF I AM TO AIR, I WANT A ERR ON THE SIDE OF HUMANITY. AND I WOULD ALSO LIKE TO SUGGEST ANOTHER SITE AS THIS NEED MAY INCREASE, ESPECIALLY WITH THIS POLITICAL CLIMATE. AND I WANNA SAY THAT I WILL SLEEP WELL TONIGHT KNOWING THAT I, WE TRIED. AND SO I CERTAINLY WILL SUPPORT THIS ITEM. THANK YOU. THANK YOU COUNCILOR PLUM. THANK YOU, MAYOR. AND I'M JUST, YOU KNOW, SITTING HERE LISTENING TO, UM, ALL OF THE COMMENTS THAT EVERYONE HAS MADE, AND WE'RE TALKING ABOUT EARNING TRUST, UNDERSTANDING THE PROCESS. THIS IS NOT PERFECT, BUT WE'LL WORK THROUGH IT. WE DON'T HAVE THE MONEY RIGHT NOW, BUT WE'LL FIGURE OUT. A, UM, COMMUNITY MEMBERS MAY NOT SUPPORT IT, BUT OUR STAKEHOLDERS DO. UM, THIS IS A PATHWAY TO HOUSING, UM, TO IMPROVE HUMANITY. UM, IN THE FUTURE, WE'LL FIGURE IT OUT. UM, THESE ARE HUMAN BEINGS. I MEAN, ALL OF THESE COMMENTS THAT EVERYONE'S MAKING AROUND THE HORSESHOE, UM, I RESPECT. I THINK OUR JOB IS TO PUT SOMETHING FORWARD THAT ALLOWS US TO WORK THROUGH THE PROCESS. [04:40:01] I JUST WANT EVERYONE TO KIND OF THINK ABOUT THE COMMENTS THAT YOU'VE MADE ON THIS HORSESHOE. UM, BECAUSE WHAT YOU'RE SAYING IS WE'RE VOTING ON SOMETHING THAT IS IMPERFECT, BUT WE HAVE TO DO SOMETHING TO TAKE CARE OF OUR HOMELESS POPULATION. UM, OFTENTIMES WE VOTE BASED ON WHAT STAKEHOLDERS ARE SUPPORTIVE OF. AND, UM, AND WE OBVIOUSLY TRY TO FIND THE BALANCE OF COMMUNITY. AND THAT'S OUR JOB. OUR JOB IS TO PUT SOMETHING FORWARD THAT CREATES AN OPPORTUNITY FOR US TO WORK THROUGH THE PROCESS AND THE COMMUNITY TRUSTS US TO MAKE THOSE DECISIONS. SO I'M OBVIOUSLY SUPPORTING THIS ITEM. I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT, BUT I WANT US TO THINK ABOUT WHAT ALL OF US HAVE SAID AROUND THIS HORSESHOE WHEN IT COMES TO, UM, THE HUMANITY OF HUMAN BEINGS AND, AND, AND MAKING SURE THAT WE PROTECT THEM. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. VICE MAYOR, PROTO, VICE MAYOR, PROTO PECK. THANK YOU, MAYOR. UM, THANK YOU FOR YOUR WORK ON THIS. AND TO ALL THE COUNCIL MEMBERS WHO WORKED SO HARD ON THIS, I SUPPORT THIS ITEM. UM, I THINK IT'S A HUGE STEP IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION TO TACKLE A PROBLEM THAT ISN'T GOING TO GO AWAY ON ITS OWN. COUNCIL MEMBER CARTER, YOU TALKED ABOUT BRINGING SERVICES TO PEOPLE WHERE THEY ARE, AND I COULDN'T AGREE MORE. IN DISTRICT A, WE HAD THE FIRST NAVIGATION CENTER. IT WAS A TEMPORARY CENTER WHILE THE ONE IN DISTRICT B WAS BEING BUILT. AND, UM, WE STARTED WITH THE UNHOUSED POPULATION IN DISTRICT A AND GETTING TO OFFER SERVICES TO PEOPLE IN THEIR SAME CHOSEN AREA OF TOWN WAS SUCH A GAME CHANGER. AND FOR ABOUT A YEAR OR SO, WE REALLY DIDN'T SEE THE HOMELESS CAMPS. UM, AND PEOPLE WERE PRETTY MUCH OFF OF THE STREETS IN DISTRICT A, UM, SO WE'LL ALWAYS HAVE THE PEOPLE WHO WON'T ACCEPT THE HELP, BUT I'VE SEEN FIRSTHAND THAT MANY PEOPLE WILL WHEN THEY'RE OFFERED THE HELP, AND WE HAVE AN OBLIGATION TO MEET THE NEEDS OF THOSE WHO ARE WILLING TO ACCEPT THE HELP AND CONTINUE WORKING WITH PEOPLE WHO WON'T. UM, I'VE HEARD THE ARGUMENT THAT THE CITY SHOULDN'T BE RESPONSIBLE FOR THIS. AND NORMALLY I'M THE FIRST ONE TO AGREE TO AGREE THAT THE CITY SHOULDN'T STEP IN AND, YOU KNOW, TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR, YOU KNOW, ISSUES THAT THE PRIVATE SECTOR CAN ASSIST WITH. BUT THERE'S AN EXPECTATION, I THINK, FROM MY CONSTITUENTS AND FROM ALL OF OUR CONSTITUENTS, THAT WE DO SOMETHING TO ADDRESS THE PROBLEM. AND, UM, WE'VE SEEN WHAT HAPPENS IN MAJOR CITIES WHEN THEY DO NOTHING. SO IT WILL MAKE PEOPLE NOT WANNA COME HERE. UM, AND WHAT WOULD THAT MEAN FOR OUR CITY AT THAT POINT? SO IT BECOMES A REAL PUBLIC SAFETY ISSUE WHEN WE DON'T STEP UP AND WE DO NOTHING. SO I LIKE WHAT MAYOR PRO TEM SAID ABOUT THAT. THIS IS A GREAT WAY TO MANAGE THIS EFFECTIVELY AND COMPASSIONATELY. AND SO I SUPPORT THIS ITEM. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. COUNCILOR RAMER. THANK YOU, MAYOR. JUST WANNA MAKE SURE THE RECORD IS CORRECT. UH, HOUSING ACTUALLY GOT, UH, TWO INDEPENDENT APPRAISALS. ONE CAME IN AT 10 MILLION, ONE CAME IN AT 20 MILLION. SO THIS PRICE IS ALMOST IN THE MIDDLE AT 16 MILLION. AND AS FAR AS THE HCA VALUE, YOU KNOW, BUYERS AND SELLERS DO NOT REALLY RELY ON THAT IN DETERMINING WHAT, UH, THE PRICE OF A TRANSACTION SHOULD BE. UM, THE HCA VALUE, OF COURSE, IS, IS IMPORTANT WHEN IT COMES TO OUR TAXES, BUT NOT SO MUCH IN HOUSING TRANSACTIONS. UM, AND I, I DO WANT TO PUSH BACK A LITTLE BIT ON THE COMMENTS REGARDING THE HOUSING FIRST MODEL. AND IT'S IMPORTANT TO UNDERSTAND THE HOUSING FIRST MODEL IS OUT OF FAVOR WITH THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT. RIGHT NOW. THIS SUPER HUB CONCEPT IS NOT STRICTLY SPEAKING, UH, HOUSING FIRST. HOUSING FIRST WOULD GIVE A PERSON A VOUCHER FOR A DEPARTMENT FOR A YEAR, AND THEN ASK, DO YOU WANT, UH, SUBSTANCE ABUSE SERVICES, OR DO YOU NEED MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES? THIS IS A FRONT DOOR WHERE PEOPLE WILL STAY TEMPORARILY AND GET MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES, SUBSTANCE ABUSE SERVICES IF NEEDED IN THIS FACILITY, STAY FOR A WHILE, AND THEN TRANSITION TO POSSIBLY ANOTHER SHELTER, A PROGRAM SUCH AS OPEN DOOR. AND I'VE SPOKEN TO THEM, UH, THEY CAN'T WAIT TO START, UH, HELPING THE CITY WITH THIS ISSUE OR OTHER TYPES OF SHELTERS. IT COULD LEAD TO PERMANENT HOUSING, BUT IT WON'T NECESSARILY LEAD TO PERMANENT HOUSING. SO HOUSING FIRST HAS HAD, UH, GREAT RESULTS HERE IN HOUSTON, BUT STRICTLY SPEAKING, THIS IS NOT HOUSING FIRST. IT'S BROADER THAN THAT. THANK YOU. OKAY, COUNCILOR P*****K. THANK YOU, MAYOR. UH, I WANTED TO ENSURE THAT I HAD, UM, THE EXACT SENTIMENT OF CHIEF SATTERWHITE, UH, AS I WAS MAKING MY COMMENTS, BECAUSE I DON'T WANT YOU OR ANYONE ELSE TO THINK THAT I'M POLITICIZING, UH, THIS ISSUE. AND SO I WENT TO THE BACK JUST TO CLARIFY, UM, WITH HIM. UM, AND WHAT HE EXPLAINED TO ME WAS, AS I MADE THE COMMENT THAT THE FOLKS THAT I SAW WHEN I WAS DRIVING UP THAT WERE KIND OF STRUNG OUT, THEY HAD ISSUES. SOME [04:45:01] OF THOSE PEOPLE WILL NOT BE AT THIS FACILITY, AND THAT IS CORRECT, THAT IS ACCURATE. THERE IS A PLAN, THOUGH, TO HOPEFULLY BE ABLE TO GET SOME OF THOSE FOLKS INTO HOSPITALS. NOTWITHSTANDING, UH, THIS ENTITY THAT WE'RE PROPOSED ON VOTING TODAY, SOME OF THOSE FOLKS WON'T BE A GOOD FIT FOR THIS PLACE. SOME OF THOSE FOLKS NEED MORE INTENSIVE CARE THAN WHAT THIS PLACE, UH, HAS TO OFFER. AND SO I, I DID WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT I CLARIFY THAT, BUT TO SAY THAT JUST BECAUSE YOU SEE FOLKS IN THAT AREA THAT ARE UNHOUSED, THAT ARE STRUNG OUT, THAT ARE LINGERING AROUND, DOESN'T NECESSARILY MEAN THEY WILL BE GETTING CARE AT THIS FACILITY. SECOND THING IS, WHICH YOU CLAIM THAT I WAS POLITICIZING, WAS THE FACT THAT I ACCURATELY STATED THAT AT THE MOMENT, WE HAVE SOLIDIFIED AROUND THREE YEARS WORTH OF FUNDING TO, UH, RUN AND OPERATE THIS FACILITY. THAT IS ACCURATE. THERE ARE NO OTHER MAJOR POTS OF MONEY THAT YOU HAVE IDENTIFIED TODAY THAT WILL GO TOWARDS THE LONG-TERM SUSTAINABILITY OF THIS FACILITY. NOW, I KNOW YOU'RE IN TALKS WITH THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION AND FOLKS THAT ARE ABLE TO POSSIBLY GIVE SOME FUNDING FROM THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT, WHICH WE ALL KNOW IS UNCERTAIN. THAT IS NOT HOW YOU PLAN ON SOMETHING THAT WILL BE SUSTAINABLE LONG TERM. YOU DON'T, YOU DON'T, YOU DON'T BUDGET AND PLAN FOR MAJOR, UH, VISIONS AND STRATEGIES BASED ON ASPIRATIONS. SECOND THING IS, ALTHOUGH WE KNOW THAT WE HAVE TO ADDRESS THE HOMELESS ISSUE, AND WE'RE SAYING THAT THIS IS JUST THE FIRST STEP, WELL, IF THIS IS THE FIRST STEP AND WE'RE TRYING TO PATCH TOGETHER MONEY FOR THE FIRST STEP, WE HAVE NO WAY OF KNOWING WHAT WE'RE GONNA DO FOR THIS, FOR THE SECOND STEP. WE HAVE NO WAY OF IDENTIFYING THOSE DOLLARS TODAY OR WHAT THAT NEXT STEP WILL EVEN BE. SO YES, THIS COULD BE MAKING SOME TYPE OF IMPACT. UH, BUT THE QUESTION IS, IS IT GONNA MAKE THE TRUE IMPACT THAT I THINK THE CITY IS WANTING FOR US TO SEE WHEN IT COMES TO ENSURING THAT THE HOMELESS ISSUE IS ADDRESSED IN A MAJOR WAY? WILL WE BE GETTING A MAJOR DECREASE IN HOMELESSNESS IN OUR DISTRICTS THAT ARE NOT NEAR THIS FACILITY BASED ON THIS PROPOSED, UM, HUB? I HAVE SOME DOUBTS, AND I THINK THAT WE DO NEED TO BE VERY CLEAR WITH THE PUBLIC ON THAT AS WELL, BECAUSE THIS FACILITY IS ONLY HOUSING AROUND 250 PEOPLE. NOW, CHIEF SATTERWHITE ALSO SAID THAT HE WAS OPTIMISTIC THAT WE CAN RUN, YOU KNOW, PEOPLE OUTTA HERE IN 30 TO 60 DAYS. MAYBE WE CAN GET 600 PEOPLE IN AND OUT OF THIS FACILITY. I THINK THAT'S PRETTY OPTIMISTIC, I THINK FOR PEOPLE TO REALLY GET, UH, TRUE CARE, WHICH I MENTIONED TO HIM THAT PEOPLE ARE GONNA HAVE TO STAY IN HERE MUCH LONGER THAN, YOU KNOW, 30 TO 60 DAYS. MANY OF THE PEOPLE WHO WILL BE IN THIS FACILITY, OF COURSE, WILL BE DEALING WITH A LOT OF ISSUES, WHETHER IT'S SUBSTANCE ABUSE, MENTAL ILLNESS, AND THEY'RE GONNA NEED THESE WRAPAROUND SERVICES ON A LONG-TERM BASIS TO ACTUALLY BE ABLE TO TRANSITION FROM THIS FACILITY TO HOPEFULLY PUT THEM IN AN ENVIRONMENT WHERE THEY CAN HAVE SOME MORE INDEPENDENT LIVING. SO, YES, I HEAR WHAT YOU ALL ARE SAYING, AND I'M NOT DISAGREEING WITH MANY OF YOUR, YOUR STATEMENTS, BUT I DO THINK THAT THERE IS GONNA BE MANY MORE CHALLENGES ASSOCIATED WITH THIS PLAN THAN WE ARE REALLY DISCUSSING TODAY. AND, UM, THOSE ARE THE THINGS THAT I THINK THE PUBLIC NEEDS TO BE AWARE OF AND WE HAVE TO BE TRANSPARENT ABOUT. AND I WANT TO ENSURE THAT WHAT I STATE IS, BECAUSE THESE ARE MY ACTUAL SENTIMENTS, I'M NOT TRYING TO POLITICIZE I ANYTHING. SO YOU ALWAYS BRING THAT WORD UP BECAUSE THAT'S YOUR DEFAULT WHEN YOU HAVE NOTHING ELSE TO SAY. BUT AS IT PERTAINS TO THIS ONE PROPOSAL, THE THINGS THAT I'M BRINGING UP ARE THE, ALSO THE THINGS THAT WE'RE GETTING EMAILS AND CALLS ABOUT AS WELL. AND THE PUBLIC HAS THESE CONCERNS AS WELL. SO TO NOT ADDRESS IT OR TO BRUSH IT TO THE SIDE IS NEGLECT. COUNCILMAN FLICKINGER. THANK YOU, MAYOR. I'VE NOT SPENT NEARLY AS MUCH TIME DEALING WITH A HOMELESS ISSUE AS SOME OF THE OTHER PEOPLE HERE HAVE. UH, IT DOESN'T IMPACT MY DISTRICT AS MUCH AS SOME OF IT DOES, THE OTHERS, ALTHOUGH OBVIOUSLY WE'RE NOT EXEMPT FROM IT EITHER. BUT I DID GO OUT AND TOUR [04:50:01] THE FACILITY AFTERWARDS. AND, AND TO BE HONEST, I'VE STILL GOT SOME QUESTIONS ABOUT IT, BUT THE THING IS, I DON'T HAVE ANY ANSWERS. AND APPARENTLY NOBODY ELSE IN THE COUNTRY HAS HAD THE ANSWERS BECAUSE THEY HAVEN'T BEEN ABLE TO SOLVE IT. AND ONE OF THE THINGS THAT DOES GIVE ME SOME CONFIDENCE WITH THIS, IN FACT I TOLD SATTERWHITE THE SAME THING WHEN HE ATTENDED OUR TOWN HALL A COUPLE WEEKS AGO, IS THAT THE PEOPLE WHO HAVE SPENT THE MOST TIME WITH THIS SEEMS TO BE THE MOST PASSIONATE, THAT THIS IS AN ANSWER AND THIS WILL BE THE SOLUTION. AND MAYBE WE END UP BEING THE SOLUTION FOR THE ENTIRE COUNTRY, YOU KNOW, THAT'S YET TO BE SEEN. I THINK, UH, CERTAINLY THIS IS GOOD ENOUGH THAT WE OUGHT TO RUN WITH IT AND SEE HOW IT GOES. THANK YOU, MAYOR. I MOVE TO CALL OF QUESTION SECOND, MR. ONE MORE. DAVIS, DID YOU HAVE COMMENT? NO, HE'S OUT. YES, VERY QUICKLY, MAYOR, I, I JUST WANT TO ADDRESS WHAT THE COUNCILMAN FLICKER WAS JUST SAYING. TO DO NOTHING IS TO DO, IS DOING SOMETHING WHICH IS TO DO NOTHING. THANK YOU, MR. SECRETARY, YOU CALL THE ROLL PLEASE. MAYOR WHITMEYER PRESENT. OH, . YES. COUNCIL MEMBER PEG. YES. COUNCIL MEMBER JACKSON? YES. COUNCIL MEMBER CAYMAN. AYE. 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. COUNCIL MEMBER PLUMMER? YES. 14 TO ONE. 14 TO ONE. THERE MEAN 14 YESES. ONE. NO, THE MOTION PASSES. THANK YOU MEMBERS. I WANT EVERYBODY TO REMEMBER THIS DAYS THE DISCUSSION, AND LET'S GO FORWARD. BRING THEM OUT. YEAH. WHY DON'T YOU ASK, UH, CHIEF SATTERWHITE AND MIKE TO COME OUT AND TELL 'EM WE'RE READY FOR 'EM TO GO TO WORK. THANK YOU. THEY JUST COME RIGHT HERE. JUST COME RIGHT HERE. RIGHT HERE. OKAY. HEY, MIKE. GARY, COME BACK RIGHT HERE. THANK YOU'ALL, MIKE. LARRY, WE'VE, UH, WE'VE GOT A LOT OF TRUST IN Y'ALL. WE'VE GIVEN YOU HUGE RESPONSIBILITY, BUT WE'RE GONNA BE HERE TO BACK YOU UP EACH AND EVERY DAY SO YOU CAN GO TO WORK. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. NEXT ITEM 35 ISN'T ORDINANCE, JUST NEED A VOTE. COUNCILMAN P*****K? WELL, FIRST LET ME, UH, LET ME COMMENT ON THIS SUBJECT FROM LAST WEEK. UH, AGAIN, MORE MISINFORMATION ABOUT WHAT WE'RE REALLY TRYING TO ACCOMPLISH HERE WITH OUR COVERAGE FOR OUR RETIREES OR MEDICAID INSURANCE. 81,000 OF THESE INDIVIDUALS ARE OVER 65. WE'RE PROPOSING A FIVE YEAR CONTRACT WITH A 10% ADMIN. YEAH, LET ME BREAK IT DOWN. SO, $150 CONTRACT, 135 MILLION IS FOR THE COVERAGE. THE, UH, 10% OF THE MINORITY PARTICIPATION WILL BE FOR THE ADMINISTRATION. IT'S $1.5 MILLION. SO THAT'S GONNA BE ABOUT $300,000 A YEAR. COUNCIL MEMBER FLICKINGER FOR ADMINISTRATING THE, THE, THE ENTIRE PROGRAM. SO IT'S NOT 10% OF THE 150, IT'S 10% THE MWB FOR ADMINISTERING IT. UH, THE CONTRACT IS WITH KELSEY CARE IN HUMANA. AND, UH, WE'RE ON A VERY TIGHT TIMELINE, BUT 180, 81,000 PEOPLE ARE DEPENDING ON THIS. AND, UM, THERE WERE SOME VERY GOOD QUESTIONS RAISED LAST WEEK. THE CAPTION OF IT ABOUT WHAT SOME OF THAT MONEY WILL BE SPENT FOR WAS MISCHARACTERIZED. WE'VE, WE'VE GONE BACK AND CHALLENGED THE PLAN. AND SO NOW IT'S ONE THAT I THINK I CAN STRONGLY RECOMMEND THAT, UH, 135 MILLION [04:55:01] OF THE 150 IS FOR ACTUAL COVERAGE. SO YOU'LL BE SPENDING 15 MILLION TO ADMINISTER IT OVER FIVE YEARS, AND THE MWB PARTICIPATION WILL BE 1.5 MILLION, WHICH IS 300,000 A YEAR, WHICH I THINK, UH, THE GOOD NEWS IS THAT WE HAD MANY, MANY ADDITIONAL MWB VENDORS PARTICIPATING, WHICH RAISED THE PERCENTAGE FROM PREVIOUS YEARS. IT'S A GOAL, AND I WOULD SUGGEST THAT YOU EITHER FAR THE MWB PROGRAM OR YOU'RE NOT, BUT IF YOU SUPPORT IT, THIS IS AN EXCELLENT PROPOSAL. AND I'D LIKE TO THANK MS. CHEEKS, UH, HUMAN RESOURCE DIRECTOR AND LENCIA AND ALL THE INDIVIDUALS THAT PUT IN A LOT OF WORK, JAB IN PROCUREMENT HELPED, UH, CLARIFY SOME OF THE MISINFORMATION FROM LAST WEEK. SO, UH, I APPRECIATE YOUR QUESTIONS, UH, AND I THINK IT'S GONNA BE A, A PROPOSAL THAT WE CAN SUPPORT COUNCILMAN POLLARD. THANK YOU, MAYOR. AND I THINK YOU MAY HAVE CLEARED IT UP FOR ME AS WELL AS IT'S WRITTEN ON THE INFORMATION THAT WE RECEIVED ON THE COVER. UH, YEAH, IT SAYS THAT 10% MWBE GOAL ON A $151 MILLION CONTRACT, BUT YOU'RE SAYING THAT, UM, THAT TOTAL 151 MILLION IS NOT WHAT'S GONNA BE CORRELATED WITH THE 10%. THE 10% IS ONLY GONNA BE CORRELATED TOWARDS THE ADMIN PORTION OF THIS, UM, WHICH I THINK DOES, UH, SATISFY THE, THE ISSUES THAT I HAD WITH IT AS WELL. SO THANK YOU FOR THE CLARIFICATION. WELL, THANK YOU. YOU DID AN EXCELLENT JOB LAST WEEK OF HIGHLIGHTING THIS AND, AND REALLY I JOINED YOU AND WE WENT BACK AND CHALLENGED OUR DIRECTORS AND THE STAKEHOLDERS TO DO A BETTER JOB OF HELPING US. WELL, I THANK YOU TOO, MAYOR. THANK YOU FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP ON THIS. WELL, THANK YOU. GOOD JOB. OH LORD. COUNCILOR CLINGER . YEAH, I AGREE WITH YOU, . NO, THANK YOU. THANK YOU FOR THE CLARIFICATION ON THE DOLLAR FIGURES, MAYOR. THAT'S MUCH MORE PALATABLE. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. I THANK YOU. LIKE I SAID, COUNCILOR POLL, YOU OTHERS BROUGHT THIS TO OUR ATTENTION AND, UH, I WASN'T, I, JOHN WHITMEYER WAS NOT PREPARED TO VOTE FOR IT IN ORIGINAL PRESENTATION AND UNDERSTANDING. IT'S VERY REASONABLE. I THINK WE CAN CELEBRATE THE MWB PARTICIPATION ON A VERY REASONABLE BASIS. IT'S VERY DEFENSIBLE. AND THE GOOD NEWS IS IT'S GOING TO, IN A TIMELY FASHION, PROVIDE MEDICAID IN MEDICARE INSURANCE FOR OVER 881,000 INDIVIDUALS. SO THANK YOU EVERYONE FOR DOING THEIR JOB. COUNCILMAN PLUMMER. COUNCILMAN PLUMMER. THANK YOU, MAYOR. I JUST HAVE A, A QUICK QUESTION. UM, WE WERE GETTING A LOT OF PHONE CALLS FROM RETIREES SAYING THAT THIS INSURANCE WASN'T BEING COVERED. THIS, THEY, HE, THEIR HEALTHCARE PROVIDERS WERE NOT TAKING THIS INSURANCE. HAS ANYONE ELSE HEARD THAT OR, OKAY. OKAY. OKAY. I JUST WANTED TO JUST ASK PLEASE. THAT'D BE GREAT. SURE. OKAY. THANK YOU. YOU YIELD A MOMENT. COUNCIL MEMBER DAVIS. YEAH, I JUST WANT TO THANK EVERYBODY FOR THANKING EACH OTHER. . IT, IT'S A GREAT DAY. CHE, COUNCILOR PLUMER HAS QUESTIONS, QUESTIONS ABOUT THE, UH, COVERAGE PROVISIONS. YES, I, I HEARD YOUR QUESTION. AND, UM, THIS HAPPENS EVERY TIME WE CHANGE PROVIDERS. SO WHAT WE DO IS IF THERE IS A PARTICULAR, UH, PERSON THAT HAS AN ISSUE WITH THEIR PHYSICIAN NOT BEING A PART OF THE NEW NETWORK, ALL THEY HAVE TO DO IS CALL OUR OFFICE [05:00:01] AND WE WILL WORK THROUGH THOSE NUANCES. IT HAPPENED WHEN WE CHANGED TO AETNA FIVE YEARS AGO. THIS IS JUST A NORMAL COURSE OF OUR BUSINESS, BUT WE WILL TAKE CARE OF IT. OKAY. NO, THANK YOU. AND I KNOW, I KNOW THAT'S TYPICALLY WHAT HAPPENS. I JUST WANTED SOME CLARIFICATION. OKAY. THANK YOU SO MUCH DR. CHEEKS. IT'S NO PROBLEM. OKAY. NO PROBLEM. THANK YOU, MAYOR. THANK YOU FOR AN OUTSTANDING JOB AND, AND, UH, THE TRANSPARENCY, AND THIS WILL REALLY HELP US EXPLAIN TO THE RETIREES WHY WE'RE GONNA USE SOME OF THAT COMMUNICATION MONEY. YES, SIR. THANK YOU. AND THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT AND ALL OF YOU COUNCIL MEMBERS FOR YOUR SUPPORT. THANK YOU, MA'AM. ALL IN FAVOR SAY YES. THOSE OPPOSED NAY. MOTION PASSES. I ITEM 36 IS AN ORDINANCE. JUST NEED A VOTE. . ALL IN FAVOR SAY YES AS OPPOSED TO NAY. MOTION PASSES. OH, COUNCIL MEMBER RAMIREZ. COUNCIL RAMIREZ. COUNCIL MEMBER RAMIREZ. YES. YOUR POINT OF POINT OF PRIVILEGE. I WANNA RECOGNIZE A GROUP THAT'S HERE THIS MORNING. WE HAVE STUDENTS FROM THE YES. PREP NORTHLINE SECONDARY ACADEMY HERE. WOULD YOU GUYS LIKE TO STAND AND BE RECOGNIZED? THANK Y'ALL. HOPE YOU'VE ENJOYED THIS, UH, MEANINGFUL SESSION. NOT ALL OF 'EM ARE THIS SIGNIFICANT, BUT TODAY WAS SERIOUS BUSINESS. THANK Y'ALL FOR BEING HERE. GO STUDY HARD AND COME BACK AND SEE US. AND DON'T FORGET WHEN YOU TURN 18, YOU NEED TO PARTICIPATE BY VOTING. SO THANK Y'ALL. GOOD LUCK. AND I'M GLAD YOU MENTIONED THAT, MAYOR. SOME OF THESE STUDENTS ARE ABLE TO VOTE. SO I THOUGHT ABOUT THAT. THERE'S AN ELECTION GOING ON. THANK Y'ALL FOR BEING HERE. 37. NEXT ITEM 37 IS AN ORDINANCE. JUST BE A VOTE TAG. BEG PARDON? TAG PLUMBER. TAG BY COUNCIL MEMBER PLUMBER. GO BACK TO THOSE. OKAY. MEMBERS 20, 21 AND 22. YES SIR. AND 22 MR. SECRETARY. ITEM 20 IS AN ORDINANCE. JUST NEED A VOTE. ALL IN FAVOR SAY YES. THOSE OPPOSED NAY. MOTION PASSES. NEXT. ITEM 21 IS AN ORDINANCE. JUST NEED A VOTE. ALL IN FAVOR SAY YES. THOSE OPPOSED NAY. MOTION PASSES. ITEM 22 IS AN ORDINANCE, JUST ME TO VOTE. ALL IN FAVOR SAY YES. THOSE OPPOSED NAY. MOTION PASSES. THIS COMPLETES THE ITEMS ON THE AGENDA. MR. HUFFMAN FOR 22. I JUST WANTED TO, UH, SPEAK BRIEFLY ON 22. UM, THIS IS THE, UM, AUTHORIZING A, THE DESIGN CONTRACT FOR THE COMMUNITY CENTER AND DISTRICT G. DISTRICT G IS THE ONLY DISTRICT THAT DOESN'T HAVE A COMMUNITY CENTER. UM, OBVIOUSLY WE KNOW WE'RE NOT GETTING A LEAF, UM, BUT I'D LIKE TO REALLY WORK CLOSELY, CLOSELY WITH THE DESIGN TEAM TO MAKE SURE IT REALLY FITS THE NEEDS OF EVERYTHING THAT, UM, THE RESIDENTS ARE LOOKING FOR IN DISTRICT G. SO THANK YOU MAYOR. SURE WILL DO. UH, [NON CONSENT - MATTERS TO BE PRESENTED BY COUNCIL MEMBERS] POPOFF STARTS WITH COUNCIL MEMBER RAMIREZ. THANK YOU MAYOR. I WANT TO USE MY TIME THIS MORNING TO URGE THE COUNCIL AND COLLEAGUES TO RESTART A DISCUSSION ABOUT, UH, CHANGING THE HERMAN PARK GOLF COURSE. UM, A FEW MONTHS AGO, IT CAME TO OUR ATTENTION THAT THE ASTROS GOLF FOUNDATION, WHICH RENOVATED THE MEMORIAL PARK GOLF COURSE TO ITS WONDERFUL CONDITION TODAY, UM, AT THE REQUEST OF HARD HAD COME UP WITH A PLAN TO DO THE, TO DO A SIMILAR WORK AT REMAN PARKS GOLF COURSE. THE PROGRAM THEY OUTLINED AFTER DISCUSSION WOULD HAVE THE GOLF FOUNDATION DOING $30 MILLION WORTH OF WORK AT AND AROUND THE GOLF COURSE. THIS WOULD BE DONATED TO THE CITY. UM, THE RESULT WOULD BE NEW, EXPANDED DRIVING RANGE FACILITY, EXPANDED NEW MAINTENANCE FACILITY, NEW CLUBHOUSE, A NEW IRRIGATION AND DRAINAGE SYSTEM. CURRENTLY WE WATER THAT GOLF COURSE AND, AND USE TENS OF THOUSANDS OF, UH, GALLONS OF WATER, UH, DRINKING WATER, UH, TO KEEP THAT GOING. A NEW STORM WATER RECAPTURE AND REUSE SYSTEM, AND OF COURSE, A RUN A RENOVATED GOLF COURSE. ADDITIONALLY, THEY PROPOSED TO DO WORK TO THE TWO MILE LOOP TRAIL AROUND THE COURSE AND PUT IN A SUBSTANTIAL SUM OF MONEY TO RENOVATE THE JUDSON ROBIN COMMUNITY CENTER. [05:05:02] UM, I, I THINK THIS IS POTENTIALLY A GREAT DEAL FOR THE CITY. THE EXPANSION OF THE DRIVING RANGE COULD GENERATE, UH, $2 MILLION OR MORE PER YEAR THAT THE CITY COULD THEN USE TO MAINTAIN THE GOLF COURSE AND HERMAN PARK. AND IN OUR CURRENT SITUATION, UH, WHERE WE STRUGGLE, UH, WITH OUR REVENUE TO MAKE ENDS MEET AN ADDITIONAL $2 MILLION A YEAR COULD BE, UH, SIGNIFICANT. THIS REVENUE WOULD NOT BE TAX DOLLARS THAT OUR RESIDENTS WOULD HAVE TO PAY. THEY, THEY WOULD BE, IT WOULD BE MORE IN THE NATURE OF USER FEES THAT THE USERS OF THE GOLF COURSE WOULD PAY. I THINK THIS POTENTIALLY OFFERS A GREAT FINANCIAL DEAL FOR THE CITY. WE WERE GOING TO HAVE A PUBLIC DISCUSSION ON THIS. UH, UNFORTUNATELY, THE, THE COMMUNITY MEETING, THE OPEN HOUSE GOT CANCELED AND, UM, THE, UH, COMMITTEE MEETING WHERE IT WAS GONNA DIS BE DISCUSSED, GOT CANCELED AS WELL. BUT I THINK THIS IS SOMETHING THAT, THAT BEARS DISCUSSION. THERE'S BEEN SOME MISINFORMATION ABOUT THE PLAN. UM, SOME PEOPLE CONFUSED IT WITH WHAT, UH, THE HOSPITAL DISTRICT IS DOING WITH BEN TAUB AND, AND TAKING PROPOSING TO TAKE SOME OF THE PARKLAND. THIS IS TOTALLY UNRELATED TO THAT. TOTALLY UNRELATED. THIS IS, IS A DISCUSSION I THINK THE CITY NEEDS TO HAVE. AND I WOULD, I WOULD URGE MY COLLEAGUES AND URGE YOU MAYOR, TO GET THIS CONVERSATION STARTED AGAIN. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. ANCE IS NOT HERE. MAYOR PRO TEM CASICK STATE. THANK YOU MAYOR. COUPLE OF ANNOUNCEMENTS. HA UH, SOME ITEMS HAPPENING IN DISTRICT A WANNA GIVE A BIG SHOUT OUT TO BARK. UM, WE'VE HAD SOME RESIDENTS, UH, COMPLAINING ABOUT SOME BARKING DOGS. AND FOR A LONG TIME, UM, FOLKS JUST FELT LIKE THERE WAS NOTHING THAT COULD BE DONE ABOUT IT. AND, UM, BARK WENT AND TALKED TO SOME, UM, RESIDENTS IN THE COMMUNITY AND, AND REALLY HELPED TO SOLVE A BIG ISSUE THAT RESIDENTS WERE COMPLAINING ABOUT. SO, UM, WANTED TO GIVE THEM A SHOUT OUT TO THE ENTIRE BARK STAFF, UH, FOR THEIR DILIGENT WORK AND HELPING US TO, UM, IMPROVE THE QUALITY OF LIFE FOR SOME RESIDENTS THAT WERE REALLY STRUGGLING. UH, AND THEN I WANT TO REMIND THE RESIDENTS OF WEST RIDGE AND BRACE TERRACE THAT WE WILL BE HAVING OUR HOUSTON PUBLIC WORKS MEETING TODAY AT 5:30 PM IT'S THE VIRTUAL INFORMATION SESSION ON THEIR DRAINAGE AND PAVING IMPROVEMENTS. UH, THESE RESIDENTS HAVE BEEN WAITING SINCE 2017 FOR THIS CIP PROJECT. AND SO WE'RE EXCITED THAT, UH, WE WILL BE BEGIN, UH, THIS MONTH ON THEIR DRAINAGE PROJECT. SO, UH, RESIDENTS CAN ATTEND TONIGHT'S MEETING VIA ENGAGE HOUSTON.ORG. AND THEN AGAIN, WE'RE EXCITED TO, UM, ANNOUNCE SOME MORE SIDEWALK REPLACEMENTS HAPPENING IN QUAIL BRIDGE COMMUNITY STARTING NEXT MONDAY, NOVEMBER THE THIRD. UM, THAT PROJECT WILL BE UNDERWAY, AND THAT IS THE REMOVAL OF THE EXISTING BROKEN INFRASTRUCTURE. AND WE WILL BE INSTALLING NEW CONCRETE SIDEWALKS THAT WILL BE A DA COMPLIANT, AND THAT CONSTRUCTION IS EXPECTED TO BE COMPLETED BY DECEMBER OF 2025. AND THEN, DRUM ROLL PLEASE. TONIGHT, WE ARE REACTIVATING SUPER NEIGHBORHOOD 40. I'M SUPER EXCITED ABOUT THIS. UM, WE'LL BE AT THE HAROLD L. PRESTON POLICE STATION TONIGHT FROM SIX TO 8:00 PM UH, WE ARE LOOKING TO, UM, GET MORE PEOPLE ENGAGED ON PROTECTING THEIR NEIGHBORHOODS, AND WE HAVE TO ELECT A BOARD. UH, WE'LL HAVE SOME REFRESHMENTS AND LOTS OF OPPORTUNITIES TO DISCUSS WITH THE DEPARTMENT OF NEIGHBORHOODS, UM, AND ANSWERING ANY QUESTIONS THAT OUR RESIDENTS IN SUPER NEIGHBORHOOD 40 HAVE IN ORDER TO BE PART OF, UH, THAT LEADERSHIP TEAM. AND TOMORROW IS OUR ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE MEETING. UH, WE WILL CONVENE AT 11:00 AM WE'LL HAVE PRESENTATIONS BY THE MAYOR'S OFFICE OF ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT ON OUR FINANCIAL POLICIES. UM, THERE'S A TS PROPOSAL AND AN INCENTIVE PROPOSAL FOR OWENS CORNING ROOFING AND ASPHALT LLC. UM, SO IF YOU ARE, UM, HERE TOMORROW, THAT MEETING WILL BE AT 11:00 AM BE KIND TO EACH OTHER AND MAKE IT A GREAT DAY. WE ALREADY DOING THAT. GO AHEAD. COUNCILOR PECK, VICE MAYOR PRO PECK. THANK YOU, MAYOR. UM, FIRST I WANNA THANK BRIAN MCKENZIE, THE DIVISION MANAGER IN THE HOUSING DEPARTMENT. UM, WE HAD SOME ISSUES WITH OUR NEW PROPERTY AT GESNER IN WESTVIEW THAT, UM, TOUR 17 PURCHASED, AND HE HAS JUST BEEN SO AMAZING HELPING TOUR 17 WALK THROUGH THAT PROCESS. SO I JUST WANTED TO SAY THANK YOU SO MUCH TO HIM. UM, NEXT I WANTED TO REMIND EVERYONE THAT OUR NEXT PUBLIC SAFETY COMMITTEE MEETING WILL BE ON MONDAY, UM, NOVEMBER 3RD AT 10:00 AM THAT IS A DEPARTURE FROM OUR NORMAL, UM, DAY MEETING DAY. [05:10:01] UM, NORMALLY WE'RE ON TUESDAYS, WE HAD TO SWITCH WITH BFA NEXT MONTH, SO IT'LL BE ON MONDAY, NOVEMBER 3RD AT 10:00 AM WE WILL HEAR FROM HPDS MENTAL HEALTH DIVISION. IT WILL PROVIDE A, AN UPDATE ON, UM, THE RMS AND CAD SYSTEMS AND THE GREATER HOUSTON EMERGENCY 9 1 1 WILL DO THEIR ANNUAL BUDGET PRESENTATION AS WELL. AND FINALLY, I, UM, WANTED TO JUST PLUG OUR DISTRICT A TOWN HALL MEETING. AGAIN, IT'LL BE NEXT THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 6TH AT 6:30 PM AT ST. JEROME CHURCH. UM, 2 7 4 9 HOLLISTER. IT WILL BE AN OPPORTUNITY FOR EVERYONE TO CONNECT WITH THEIR CITY DEPARTMENT LEADERS, AND IT'LL BE VERY HEAVY ON ALLOWING PEOPLE TO ASK QUESTIONS TO US. SO HOPE EVERYONE CAN ATTEND. THANK YOU. THANK YOU, COUNCILMAN MARTINEZ. THANK YOU, MAYOR. UM, AS I MENTIONED EARLIER, I ATTENDED A DOWNTOWN HOA, UH, MEETING LAST WEEK, COMMERCE TOWER, AND OUR OFFICE CONTINUES TO HEAR FROM RESIDENTS AND STAKEHOLDERS, UH, REGARDING, UH, SOME OF THE RECKLESS JOY RIDERS ON SCOOTERS, UM, IN DOWNTOWN SIDEWALKS AND STREETS. I, I DO WANNA SAY, UH, THANK YOU TO YOU AND, AND, UH, CHIEF DIAZ. THERE WAS AN INCREASE IN PATROL AROUND AUGUST, UM, WHERE WE HAVE BEEN ABLE TO SEE SOME POSITIVE, UH, CHANGES IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION. UH, BUT I, I STILL LOOK FORWARD TO, UH, YOU KNOW, WORKING WITH YOU MAYOR AND YOUR, AND YOUR TEAM ON SOME, UH, POLICY THAT'LL ADDRESS, UM, PUBLIC SAFETY FIRST AND FOREMOST. UH, THAT WE'LL ALSO LOOK INTO HOW WE, UM, CONTINUE TO ADVOCATE FOR MICRO MOBILITY, SPECIFICALLY AROUND DOWNTOWN AND EAST DOWNTOWN, UH, WHERE IT'S NEEDED, UH, LEADING INTO FIFA. UM, IN THE SAME CONTEXT WITH, UH, PUBLIC SAFETY. JUST WANT TO SAY THANK YOU TO EAST SIDE, UH, SUBSTATION. AND, UH, ASSISTANT CHIEF, UH, RODRIGUEZ, UH, THIS PAST WEEK, WE, UH, WERE ABLE TO, UM, DO A, A RIDE ALONG ON THE, UH, UH, UH, ATVS ALONG MASON PARK, SPECIFICALLY THE BAYOU, BUT ALSO IN PARTS OF THE NEIGHBORHOOD WHERE WE WERE ABLE TO, UM, ASSESS SOME OF THE, THE AREAS, UM, ALONG THE, THE, THE PARK, BUT ALSO ENCAMPMENTS THAT ARE WITHIN, UH, THAT, THAT, UH, THAT STRETCH OF THE BAYOU. UH, I WANTED TO TELL THE RESIDENTS THAT WE CONTINUE TO FOCUS ON, UH, PUBLIC SAFETY. IT, IT IS A PRIORITY FOR US SPECIFICALLY THERE ALONG, ALONG THE BAYOU WHEN IT COMES TO THE ENCAMPMENTS, BUT ALSO, UH, JUST, JUST IN GENERAL. WE WANNA MAKE SURE THAT OUR GREEN SPACES IS A PLACE WHERE, UH, FOLKS, RESIDENTS, FAMILIES CAN, UH, CAN, UH, COME AND, AND ENJOY. UM, I ALSO WANT TO JUST, YOU KNOW, I KNOW WE VOTED ON IT ALREADY, MAYOR, BUT JUST WANNA SAY, UH, THANK YOU FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP WITH 14 4 19 EMANCIPATION. UM, WHETHER IT'S THIS CURRENT, UH, FEDERAL ADMINISTRATION OR OUR CURRENT, UH, COUNTY, UH, PARTNERS, I THINK IT'S, THIS IS NOT A PARTISAN ISSUE. I THINK WE'RE, AT THE END OF THE DAY, WE ARE REALLY FOCUSING ON HOW WE ADDRESS OUR UNHOUSED COMMUNITY. AND, UM, AT THE END OF THE DAY, UM, KEEPING THAT ON THE FOREFRONT, I THINK THAT'S WHAT ULTIMATELY ALLOWS US TO REALLY SERVE OUR COMMUNITY. UM, LASTLY, I JUST WANNA SAY, UH, YOU KNOW, HAPPY HALLOWEEN, UH, COMING UP SOON. UM, IN, UH, DISTRICT GUY IN EAST LAWNDALE, WE'RE SUPPORTING A, A, UM, HALLOWEEN EVENT WHERE WE'RE CLOSING DOWN THE STREET, MAKING SURE THAT IT'S A SAFE, UH, SPACE FOR, UM, OUR RESIDENTS. UM, AND I WANT TO ENCOURAGE MORE OF OUR, OUR NEIGHBORHOODS TO THINK ABOUT WAYS WHERE WE CAN ENSURE PUBLIC SAFETY WHEN IT COMES TO PEDESTRIANS, SPECIFICALLY KIDS, UH, WHEN THEY'RE TRICK-OR-TREATING. UH, I KNOW WE'RE WORKING WITH IDLE WOOD AS WELL TO ENSURE THAT, YOU KNOW, UH, SIDEWALKS ARE ACCESSIBLE. UH, BUT JUST, JUST GENERALLY, UH, WANNA MAKE SURE THAT THOSE THAT ARE DRIVING, UH, THAT, THAT YOU ARE MINDFUL. UM, IT IS GETTING DARK A LOT EARLIER, AND SO JUST, UH, BE SAFE. UH, THOSE, THOSE KIDS THAT ARE GONNA BE, UH, TRICK OR TRICK-OR-TREATING THIS FRIDAY, YOU'RE LUCKY YOU DON'T HAVE TO GO TO SCHOOL THE NEXT DAY, SO STAY OUT AS LATE AS YOU WANT. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. COUNCILMAN POLLARD. THANK YOU, MAYOR. I WAS RECENTLY INFORMED THAT, UH, THE GULFTON CIRCULATOR, WHICH IS A, UH, MINI MOBILE THAT GOES AROUND GULFTON AND HELPS WITH FIRST MILE LAST MILE, UH, WAS ENDING. AND I AM PUBLICLY OPPOSED TO, UH, THAT DECISION. UH, THE GULFTON CIRCULATORS WERE LAUNCHED IN 2021 AFTER YEARS OF COMMUNITY ADVOCACY, UH, TO PROVIDE CRUCIAL EAST, WEST, AND NORTH SOUTH CONNECTIONS WITHIN NEIGHBORHOODS, LINKING RESIDENTS TO THE SOUTHWEST MULTIPURPOSE CENTER, THE BEL AIR TRANSIT CENTER, AND THE WEST PARK TRANSIT CENTER. UH, AS WE ALL KNOW, GULFTON IS HOUSTON'S MOST DIVERSE AND DENSELY POPULATED NE NEIGHBORHOOD HOME TO APPROXIMATELY 50,000 RESIDENTS. AND IS, UM, NEARLY 16% OF THOSE HOUSEHOLDS DO NOT OWN A VEHICLE, AND 30% OF WORKERS RELY ON WALKING, BIKING, OR PUBLIC TRANSIT TO REACH THEIR DESTINATIONS. OVER 40% OF THE RESIDENTS LIVE BELOW THE POVERTY LINE, MAKING THESE ROUTES A MATTER OF ECONOMIC MOBILITY. AND I WANT TO NOTE THAT RIDERSHIP ON THE GULFTON CIRCULATOR HAS RISEN AND, UH, BY 60%, UH, SINCE IT WAS FIRST INTRODUCED. UM, ANOTHER ISSUE THAT [05:15:01] I THINK IS VERY IMPORTANT, UM, TO ADDRESS IS RECENTLY I ALSO SAW A VIDEO THAT WAS PUT OUT BY THE HOUSTON CHRONICLE THAT DEPICTED ICE AGENTS, UM, TAKING DOWN A FAMILY, UH, A FATHER AND A SON AS THE FATHER WAS, UM, TAKING HIS SON TO SCHOOL ONE DAY. AND THOSE RESIDENTS LIVE WITHIN JAY CITY. AND I PUT OUT A STATEMENT THAT I WON'T READ THE WHOLE THING, BUT I DO WANNA READ SOME OF IT. UM, THAT STATES THAT THE ACTIONS IN THIS VIDEO, UH, CANNOT BE NORMALIZED. UM, THESE ARE MY CONSTITUENTS. THE FATHER WHO IS UNDOCUMENTED HAS LIVED IN HOUSTON FOR NEARLY 30 YEARS. AND TO MY KNOWLEDGE OTHER THAN A-D-W-I-A DECADE AGO HAS NO CRIMINAL HISTORY. HIS ADULT CHILDREN WERE BORN IN HOUSTON AND ARE PROSPERING PROFESSIONALLY WITH HIS SON, SHOWN IN THE VIDEO, WHO IS A HIGH SCHOOL STUDENT AT HASTINGS. IMMIGRATION ENFORCEMENT SHOULD PRIORITIZE THOSE WHO ARE DANGEROUS AND BRING HARM TO OUR COMMUNITY, NOT FAMILIES, REGARDLESS OF STATUS THAT CONTRIBUTE TO OUR CITY AND HAVE ADDED TO THE VIBRANT DIVERSITY THAT WE ARE PROUD TO CLAIM. THE OVERLY AGGRESSIVE INTIMIDATING MASK, WEARING UNACCOUNTABLE TACTICS THAT WE ARE BEGINNING TO ROUTINELY SEE AS UNACCEPTABLE FOR ANYONE, ESPECIALLY SOMEONE NOT COMMITTING A CRIME AS HOUSTONIANS. UH, WE ARE BETTER THAN JUST STAYING SILENT WHEN WE SEE OUR FELLOW HOUSTONIANS FAMILIES BEING TORN APART. I HAVE SPOKEN TO THIS FAMILY AND THEY ARE DEVASTATED. THE YOUNG STUDENT IS DISTRAUGHT. UH, THE TIME IS NOW TO PUT AWAY THE PARTISAN DIVIDES AND UNIFY AROUND THIS ISSUE. UH, I WILL CONTINUE TO LOOK INTO THIS SITUATION AND PROVIDE UPDATES AND SUPPORT. AND MY PRAYERS ARE WITH THIS FAMILY AND ALL FAMILIES AFFECTED. AND I THINK, UH, MAYOR, WE'RE, WE'RE STARTING TO SEE AN, UM, A PREVALENCE OF FEDERAL AGENTS IN THE CITY. AND I CAN TELL YOU WITHIN MY DISTRICT, WHICH IS HEAVILY IMMIGRANT, HEAVILY UH, DIVERSE, UM, THAT PEOPLE ARE AFRAID, UM, SMALL BUSINESSES ARE BEING AFFECTED. UH, WE CONTINUE TO GET ISSUES AND CONCERNS FROM THOSE WHO ARE DOCUMENTED AND THOSE WHO ARE CITIZENS HERE WITHIN OUR CITY, UH, ON JUST THE FEAR THAT PEOPLE ARE FEELING, UH, ON A DAILY BASIS. AND I DO THINK THIS IS AN ISSUE THAT WE AS A COUNCIL, UM, AND AS A LOCAL BODY HAVE TO ADDRESS. I DON'T THINK IT'S A ISSUE TO, UH, IGNORE. AND WE HAVE TO UNDERSTAND THAT THE BEAUTY OF OUR CITY AND THE CONTRIBUTIONS OF OUR CITY HAVE BEEN MADE BY MANY. UH, AND SOME OF THOSE ARE THOSE WHO ARE UNDOCUMENTED. AND IF PEOPLE ARE NOT, UM, BEING A HARM TO OUR CITY, IF THEY'RE NOT DOING ANYTHING TO PROVIDE ANY TYPE OF DANGEROUS SITUATION TO OUR CITY, THEN YOU KNOW, WE SHOULD FIND A WAY TO HELP THEM FIND A LEGAL PATHWAY TO BECOME A CITIZEN, UH, AND NOT GO OUT OF OUR WAY TO TEAR FAMILIES APART. UH, BECAUSE THIS FAMILY AMONGST MANY OTHER FAMILIES ARE IN A DAILY STATE OF FEAR, APPREHENSION, AND UNCERTAINTY, UH, WHEN THEY HAVE BEEN LIVING IN THIS CITY, UH, FOR QUITE SOME TIME. AND SO I, I DO WANT TO ADDRESS THAT, AND I DO WANT PEOPLE TO KNOW THAT WE DO SEE WHAT'S HAPPENING. UH, WE ARE NOT BLIND TO IT, AND WE ARE HOPING THAT, UM, AS A BODY WE CAN FIND WAYS TO ADDRESS IT IN A MEANINGFUL WAY. THANK YOU. COUNCIL RECORDER. THANK YOU, MAYOR. I JUST WANTED TO SAY THANK YOU TO EVERYONE AROUND THE HORSESHOE FOR THE SUPPORT ON FOUR 19 TO, FOR OUR CITY. I THINK IT'S A GREAT DAY FOR THE HOMELESS COMMUNITY IN OUR CITY AND ALSO FOR OUR COMMUNITY IN ORDER TO REALLY ADDRESS IT. I THINK WE'VE TAKEN THE FIRST GREAT STEP. SO THANKS TO EVERYONE FOR THEIR SUPPORT. THANK YOU, MAYOR. UH, THIS PAST WEEK IN DISTRICT D, WE CONTINUED OUR COMMITMENT TO COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT, COLLABORATION, AND IMPROVING QUALITY OF LIFE FOR OUR RESIDENTS. ON THURSDAY, I JOINED THE CHOICE NEIGHBORHOOD OPEN HOUSE AT ONE EMANCIPATION CENTER, HOSTED BY THE HOUSTON HOUSING AUTHORITY AND OUR THIRD WARD CHOICE NEIGHBORHOOD PARTNERS. THIS SESSION PROVIDED IMPORTANT UPDATES ON THE HOUSING GOAL OF THE CHOICE NEIGHBORHOOD TRANSFORMATION PLAN, INCLUDING CONSTRUCTION TIMELINES, PHASE REDEVELOPMENT, AND PLANS TO SUPPORT CUNY HOMES RESIDENTS. I WANT TO THANK THE HOUSING TEAM, OUR COMMUNITY PARTNERS, AND ALL THE RESIDENTS WHO ATTENDED TO SHARE FEEDBACK AND STAY ENGAGED IN SHAPING THE FUTURE OF OUR COMMUNITY. ON SUNDAY, I ATTENDED THE THIRD ANNUAL COMMUNITY FALL FESTIVAL AND WELLNESS EXPO AT MCGREGOR PARK, HOSTED BY THE ALPHA [05:20:01] MERIT GROUP EDUCATIONAL FOUNDATION IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE ALPHA KAPPA ALPHA SORORITY AND THE OMICRON TA OMEGA CHAPTER. THIS FAMILY FRIENDLY FESTIVAL BROUGHT TOGETHER STUDENTS, PARENTS, AND COMMUNITY MEMBERS FOR WELLNESS RESOURCES, STEM ACTIVITIES, MUSIC AND FELLOWSHIP. I WANT TO THANK ALPHA MERIT AND THE MEMBERS OF THE OMICRON TA CHAP OMEGA FOR THEIR CONTINUED DEDICATION TO UPLIFTING YOUTH AND STRENGTHENING FAMILIES IN DISTRICT D. IT WAS VERY BUSY IN DISTRICT D, UM, PARTICULARLY IN THE THIRD WORLD COMMUNITY. THEY HAD THE ST. MARY'S BAZAAR, WHICH WAS, UH, ALWAYS A FANTASTIC EVENT. ON MONDAY, I JOINED HOUSTON FIRST, THE GREATER HOUSTON PARTNERSHIP IN BLAVITY FOR THE HOUSTON WELCOME EVENT FOR AFRO TECH HELD AT THE ION. THIS EVENT MARKED THE SIGNING OF AN MOU TO CONTINUE HOSTING AFRO TECH IN HOUSTON AND DEEPEN ITS CONNECTION TO THE INNOVATION AND TECH ECOSYSTEM. AFRO TECH BRINGS NATIONAL ATTENTION, TALENT AND ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITY TO OUR CITY, AND I'M PROUD THAT DISTRICT D'S INNOVATION CORRIDOR CONTINUES TO PLAY A KEY ROLE ON, UH, TODAY. THE SUPER NEIGHBORHOOD 40 REVITALIZATION MEETING CERTAINLY WAS HIGHLIGHTED BY, UM, OUR MAYOR PRO TEM MARTHA KAZ TATU ON THURSDAY, UH, AT ATS MIDDLE SCHOOL, THE GIRLS EMPOWERMENT PROGRAM, UH, WHICH WILL BE FROM TWO TO 4:00 PM AT ATS MIDDLE SCHOOL, WHERE I USED TO WORK 43 30 BELFORT AVENUE, UH, HOSTED BY CHARLES CHARLES NOBLE AND THE ATS STEAM PROGRAM. UH, THIS IS AN ENCOURAGEMENT FOR OUR YOUNG WOMEN AND HOPEFULLY IT WILL BE AS SUCCESSFUL AS WE DEEM THAT IT WILL BE. AND THEN I I JUST WANNA BRIEFLY SAY SOMETHING IN RESPONSE TO, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER, UM, RAMIREZ. UH, CERTAINLY, YOU KNOW, YOU HAVE ASKED ME ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS REGARDING, UM, THIS PARTICULAR GOLF COURSE, AND I WANNA SAY THE MEMORIAL PARK AND HERMAN PARK ARE TWO DIFFERENT ANIMALS. UH, ONE HAS ADEQUATE SPACE TO ACCOMMODATE THESE CHANGES, YET MAINTAINS ITS ABILITY TO REMAIN A COMPETITIVE GOLF COURSE. BUT HERMAN PARK WOULD CHANGE THEIR WHOLE PERSPECTIVE IN TERMS OF THE USABILITY OF THE GOLF COURSE AND THE USE FOR COMPETITIVE GOLF TOURNAMENTS. I AM IN FAVOR OF UPGRADING THE PARK AND CERTAINLY THE JUST JUSTIN ROBINSON, UH, CENTER, BUT NOT CHANGING THE COURSE, BUT CERTAINLY I AM GETTING MORE COMMENTS FROM THOSE THAT DON'T WANT IT CHANGED. AND SO CERTAINLY, UH, WE WILL CONTINUE TO ENGAGE, CERTAINLY ALONG WITH THE MAYOR. AND, UH, AT SOME POINT WE WILL, UH, COME TO A CON A DECISION, CERTAINLY ONE THAT, UH, IS, IS PALATABLE TO THE COMMUNITY AND THE GOLF WORLD. AND SO I THANK YOU FOR YOUR INTEREST IN THIS AND WE WILL CONTINUE TO COLLABORATE AND I DO APPRECIATE YOU, UH, GIVING ME YOUR PERSPECTIVE. THANK YOU. OH, AND THIS CONCLUDES WHAT'S GOING ON AND THE DISTRICT OF DESTINATION WANT TO, UH, THANK YOU FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP AS WE GO FORWARD ON ANY PROPOSAL. UH, IT'S YOUR DISTRICT AND CERTAINLY I'M GOING TO LISTEN TO YOU. AND ONE MISSING, UH, ELEMENT THAT I DIDN'T HEAR, MAYBE I, MAYBE I'M, THAT I DIDN'T HEAR ABOUT COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT WITH ALL THESE, UH, PROPOSALS. SO I THINK WE HAVE A LOT OF WORK TO DO AND A LOT OF LISTENING TO DO. SO THANK YOU. COUNCIL MEMBER CASTILLO, DO YOU THANK YOU, MAYOR. THIS SATURDAY MOODY PARK CELEBRATES ITS 100TH YEAR ANNIVERSARY. UM, SO THEY WILL BE HAVING ALL DAY FESTIVITIES AND CELEBRATIONS FROM NINE 30 TILL FIVE. UM, A NUMBER OF VENDORS, A NUMBER OF DIFFERENT ACTIVITIES PLANNED. UH, I LOOK FORWARD TO BEING OUT THERE. THIS EVENT IS HOSTED BY FRIENDS OF MOODY PARK. UM, THEY'RE GONNA HAVE SOME OF THE FAMILY MEMBERS OUT THERE FROM THE MOODY FAMILY AS WELL. AND THE PARK IS, UM, YOU KNOW, IT'S IN THE HEART OF DISTRICT H, IT IS, UM, A VAST GREEN SPACE, AND IT'S ALONG A BAYOU. IT, IT HAS MEANT A LOT TO A LOT OF FOLKS AND HAS A LOT OF HISTORY. SO, UM, A HUNDRED YEARS IS A BIG MILESTONE AND, UH, I WANNA INVITE EVERYONE TO COME OUT AND BE A PART OF THE FESTIVITIES ALSO ON SATURDAY, THE DENVER HARBOR LOVE THAT NEIGHBOR FALL FESTIVAL WILL BE TAKING PLACE AT FAITH MEMORIAL BAPTIST CHURCH. THAT WILL BE FROM THREE TO FIVE. AND, UH, WE WILL ALSO, DISTRICT H WILL ALSO BE OUT THERE AS WELL, UH, FOR THE LOVE THAT NEIGHBOR FALL FESTIVAL. I WANNA MAKE SURE FOLKS KNOW, UM, NOVEMBER 15TH AND 16TH, DISTRICT H WILL HOST ITS FIRST NEIGHBORHOOD RESILIENCY [05:25:01] EVENT. UM, THIS WILL BE A EVENT WHERE WE ARE GOING OUT TO PLANT TREES THROUGHOUT THE NEAR NORTH SIDE, DISTRIBUTE RAIN BARRELS, UH, AND PARTNERSHIP WITH OUR FRIENDS AT THE PLUMBER'S UNION. WE'LL BE DOING PIPE WRAPPING FOR EXPOSED PIPES AS WE GET CLOSER TO THE WINTER. AND THEN ALSO, UM, WORKING WITH CENTERPOINT TO DO HOME WEATHERIZATION OUT, UH, FOR FOLKS IN THE NEAR NORTH SIDE. SO WE NEED YOU TO SIGN UP, UH, FOR TREES, FOR RAIN BARRELS, FOR PIPE WRAPPING. UM, YOU CAN REACH OUT TO MY OFFICE, DISTRICT H@HOUSTONTX.GOV. YOU CAN VISIT THE WEBSITE, HOUSTON TX.GOV/COUNSEL/H/RESILIENT H UM, OR CHECK OUT THE QR CODE THAT IS GONNA BE ON SOCIAL MEDIA. UM, BUT THIS IS, UH, AN EXCITING, UH, INITIATIVE, REALLY MEANT TO RAISE THE BAR ON RESILIENCY IN OUR NEIGHBORHOODS THROUGHOUT THE DISTRICT. UH, I DO HAVE A LOT OF OLDER NEIGHBORHOODS. I HAVE A LOT OF, UM, FOLKS THAT SKEW OLDER ON THE, ON THE AGE SCALE, AND WE KNOW THAT THE WEATHER AND EXTREME EVENTS, UH, IMPACT THEM THE MOST. SO, UM, NEXT YEAR IN FEBRUARY, WE WILL BE COMING TO A DIFFERENT NEIGHBORHOOD, BUT, UH, WE ARE STARTING NOVEMBER 15TH AND 16TH AT THE NEAR NORTH SIDE. SO BE SURE TO, UH, REACH OUT AND SIGN UP FOR ONE OF THOSE, UM, ONE OF THOSE THINGS OR SIGN UP TO HELP, UH, BECAUSE IT'S GONNA BE A, A VERY VOLUNTEER, UH, DRIVEN AND SUPPORTED EVENT. UM, AND THEN FINALLY YESTERDAY WE ANNOUNCED, UH, THE NEW L-G-B-T-Q ECONOMIC EMPOWERMENT COORDINATOR, UH, THAT HAS BEEN ON BOARD FOR NOW ALMOST A MONTH, UH, WORKING WITH OUR OFFICE OF BUSINESS OPPORTUNITY TO HELP CONNECT YOUTH AND SENIORS IN THE L-G-B-T-Q COMMUNITY WITH ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITY, WITH JOBS RE-SKILLING, UM, AND HELPING TO GET OUR BUSINESSES CERTIFIED. UM, THIS HAS BEEN A GREAT PARTNERSHIP, UM, WITH OBO, WITH THE CHAMBER, UH, AND, AND TAMMY WALLACE AND WITH THE MONTROSE CENTER AND THEIR CEO AVERY BEU. SO, UM, VERY EXCITED TO TO KICK THAT OFF. UH, THIS IS A COUNCIL SERVICE FUND DRIVEN INITIATIVE WITH, UH, SUPPORT FROM COUNCIL MEMBER RAMIREZ, WHO HELPED, UH, MAKE IT HAPPEN AS WELL. SO REALLY LOOKING FORWARD TO THIS, UH, PERSON WORKING THROUGHOUT THE CITY, UH, ALONGSIDE FOLKS THAT THAT COULD USE HELP. UH, A LOT OF OUR L-G-B-T-Q YOUTH, UH, THEY'RE MORE SUSCEPTIBLE TO HOMELESSNESS. ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITY CAN HELP PREVENT THAT. UH, A LOT OF OUR SENIORS, UM, ARE LIVING LONGER NEED HOUSING, MEDICAL CARE, FOOD EXPENSES. AND SO THESE ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITIES REALLY DO HELP A VULNERABLE POPULATION, UH, THAT IS IN NEED THROUGHOUT OUR CITY. AND, UH, AT A TIME WHEN, UH, FOLKS ARE REALLY LOOKING FOR US TO DO THINGS TO BETTER SUPPORT OUR LGBTQ PLUS COMMUNITY. SO, UM, LOOKING FORWARD TO, TO THE IMPACT, UM, AND TO, TO SHARING OUT WHAT THOSE THINGS ARE AS WE GET FURTHER AND FURTHER ALONG, UH, WITH THIS ROLE ON BOARD. THANK YOU. THANK YOU, SIR. UH, COUNCIL MEMBER DAVIS. THANK YOU, MAYOR. FIRST, I WANT TO, I WOULD LIKE TO THANK THE, UM, THE GOOD PEOPLE AT SOLID WASTE. UM, MY OFFICE HAS BEEN RECEIVING A LOT OF, UM, UPDATES AND CERTAINLY CALLS THROUGHOUT THE YEAR FROM RESIDENTS ALL OVER THE CITY ABOUT THE HEAVY TRASH, UH, HAS BEEN PICKED UP OVER THE LAST FEW DAYS. I WANT TO THANK SOLID WEIGHTS FOR THAT. I KNOW THAT A LOT OF PEOPLE BEEN COMPLAINING ABOUT SOLID WEIGHTS AND HEAVY TRASH NOT BEING PICKED UP. AND, UH, AND CERTAINLY THAT'S AN INTEREST AND A CONCERN. UH, MY OFFICE WORKS WITH THE DISTRICT COUNCIL MEMBERS TO ASSIST ANY WAY WE CAN TO HELP SPEED THE PROCESS UP OF GETTING SOLID WEIGHTS OUT THERE TO GET THOSE THINGS DONE. BUT THEY ARE DOING A GOOD JOB, AND I CERTAINLY WANT TO COMMEND SOLID WASTE FOR THAT. AND WE'LL CONTINUE TO WORK WITH SOLID WASTE AS WELL AS WITH THE DISTRICT COUNCIL, UH, MEMBERS AS, AS WELL. ALSO, I WANT TO THANK, UH, SOPHIA SMITH, B SMITH FROM CYPHER, UH, CYPHER AND THE MOON FESTIVAL, UH, IS THE SPACE CITY PROFESSIONAL ORGANIZATION. UH, AND THE MOON FESTIVALS HELD ON THE EVE OF THE MID AUTUMN TO INCREASE OPPORTUNITIES FOR RESIDENTS TO CELEBRATE THE FARMERS HARVEST, SOCIALIZE WITH EACH OTHER, AND TAKE AN ADVANTAGE OF THE FULL MOON TO THE UNITED PEOPLE JOINT HANDS TO CREATE A AMMONIOUS FAMILY ATMOSPHERE. UH, THE MONTH GOES BY AND WE GET HAPPIER. IT WAS A WONDERFUL [05:30:01] EVENT OVER THE WEEKEND THAT I WAS HAPPY TO ATTEND AND PRESENT THE, UH, MAYOR'S PROCLAMATION TO, UH, THE PROCLAMATION TO CYP, UH, WITH A PROCLAMATION IN HONOR OF THE MOON FESTIVAL. AND LASTLY, I WANT TO REMIND EVERYBODY THAT THE HOSTING, THIS YEAR'S FUNDRAISER FROM THE COUNCIL, THE MUSICAL CHAIRS, WILL BE PLAYED IN THE ANNEX AFTER THIS MEETING ENDS. TO BENEFIT THE, UH, WE ARE BENEFITING CMC, AND OF COURSE, THESE FUNDS ARE GOING TO, UH, NO AUTISM. AND, UH, AND WE CERTAINLY HOPE EVERYBODY WILL JOIN IN WITH US. UH, WE GONNA MAKE SURE THAT COUNCILMAN, UM, UH, JOAQUIN MARTINEZ WILL NOT WIN THIS YEAR. HE DID LAST YEAR. I THINK HE REALLY KIND OF CHEATED. HE JUMPED AND PUSHED PEOPLE DOWN ON THE FLOOR, AND I THINK COUNCIL MEMBER SHABAZZ WAS KNOCKED DOWN ON THE FLOOR. I THINK HE DID IT, DIDN'T HE? WHOA, WHOA, WHOA. LET'S STOP, LET'S STOP, LET'S STOP WITH THIS . LETS KIND OF, HOPEFULLY WE, WE'LL PROTECT CAROLYN. I KNOW, BUT WHY CAN, I'M GONNA GIVE UP, I'M GONNA GIVE UP THE, THE CROWN 'CAUSE I WON'T BE HERE. I HAVE TO HEAD OUT TIME. OH, GOOD. GOOD. SO SOMEBODY WILL WIN . THANK YOU, MAYOR. COUNCIL MEMBER FLICKING. THANK YOU, MAYOR. MY APOLOGIES FOR BEING LATE THIS MORNING. I WAS ATTENDING A MEETING IN COMMISSIONER RAMSEY'S OFFICE WHERE WE WERE GOING OVER, UH, THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE OLD RECO PROPERTY, UH, THAT IS AT THE CONFLUENCE OF THE SAN JACINTO RIVER AND SPRING CREEK. UH, THIS IS OF GREAT CONCERN TO MY CONSTITUENTS, THINKING THAT, UH, IT IS GONNA NEGATIVELY IMPACT OUR FLOODING. AND I WAS QUITE SHOCKED TO LEARN THAT THE GLO IS ACTUALLY PARTNERING, PARTNERING FINANCIALLY WITH THIS. UM, I MEAN, IT SEEMS LIKE, UH, THEY USE THEIR MONEY TO HELP US WITH FLOOD MITIGATION, AND THEN NOW WE'RE KIND OF CONCERNED THEY'RE GONNA USE THEIR MONEY TO HELP US FLOOD. SO I'M NOT SURE WHAT'S GOING ON WITH THAT. UM, I FOUND IT INTERESTING YOU BROUGHT UP THE DOCUMENTS FOR THE INMATES THAT HAD BEEN RELEASED. UM, I HAD JUST READ A STORY HERE A COUPLE DAYS AGO THAT WAS IN HOUSTON PUBLIC MEDIA, UH, REGARDING, UH, JOHN PEDROZA, WHO HAD BEEN AN INMATE FOR 24 YEARS, UH, ESSENTIALLY ALL OF HIS ADULT LIFE. AND, UH, OFFICER THURGOOD WAS WORKING WITH HIM. HE'S PART OF THE, UH, TEAM DEALING WITH THE HOMELESS. AND THEY APPARENTLY HAD HIM IN FOR A SPOT FOR SOME HOUSING, BUT HE DIDN'T HAVE ANY IDENTIFICATION. SO THEY WERE HAVING TO WAIT ON GETTING THAT. AND IT JUST, UH, NEVER CEASES TO AMAZE ME THAT, UH, WE CAN TURN THESE INMATES LOOSE WITHOUT HAVING A SOCIAL SECURITY CARD AND OTHER IDENTIFICATION THAT WILL ACTUALLY LET THEM GET A JOB. UH, LET THEM GET INTO, YES, I MEAN, WITH THE RECIDIVISM RATE BEING WHAT IT IS, WE'RE JUST SETTING THESE GUYS UP TO FAIL. UM, IT'S, YEAH, IT, IT'S REALLY SOMETHING THAT NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED. I MEAN, I CERTAINLY DON'T THINK IT'S A CITY ISSUE, BUT WE NEED TO DO WHATEVER WE CAN TO TRY AND MAKE SURE THAT THE, YOU KNOW, THE INMATES THAT ARE RELEASED WHO WANT TO CHANGE THEIR LIVES AND WANNA DO BETTER, WE CAN PUT THEM ON A PATH TO, TO DOING. SO. UH, ON A HAPPIER NOTE, UH, I'VE GOT, UH, OUR NEXT MEDIAN MADNESS SCHEDULE FOR NOVEMBER 15TH FROM EIGHT 30 TO NOON. AND ANYBODY THAT WANTS TO COME OUT AND HELP CLEAN UP THE MEDIANS AND KIND OF RESTORE THE LIVABLE FORCE BACK TO WHAT IT WAS, WOULD BE GREATLY APPRECIATED. THANK YOU. COUNCILMAN CAYMAN. UH, TONIGHT AT WESTON MULTI-SERVICE CENTER, UH, DISTRICT C IS HAVING, UH, TOWN HALL PUT ON BY THE DEPARTMENT OF NEIGHBORHOODS. SO I WANNA ENCOURAGE RESIDENTS TO COME OUT. WE'RE GONNA SPONSOR THE REFRESHMENTS FOR THAT, BUT I WANNA THANK DON, UM, AS WELL AS ALL OF THE OTHER DEPARTMENTS THAT WILL BE THERE. WE HAVE PUBLIC WORKS PARK, HOUSTON SOLID WASTE, HPD, THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT AND MORE. UH, AGAIN, ALL THE DEPARTMENTS WILL BE SPEAKING ON WHAT THEY DO AND HOW TO ADDRESS, HOW TO REPORT ISSUES AND WORK WITH CITY DEPARTMENTS, UH, IN YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD. SO THAT IS TONIGHT, WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 9TH FROM SIX TO SEVEN 30 AT WESSON MULTI-SERVICE CENTER. AND I WANNA THANK AGAIN, THE DEPARTMENT OF NEIGHBORHOODS, UH, FOR PUTTING THIS ON. UH, MAYOR, WE'VE ALREADY DISCUSSED THE CONCERNS AROUND SNAP, UH, GOING INTO NOVEMBER. AND I WILL, OF COURSE WORK WITH YOUR OFFICE AS WELL AS WE'RE TALKING WITH OTHER ELECTEDS THROUGHOUT THE REGION, UM, ON WHAT WE CAN DO TO STEP INTO HELP. UH, BUT WE WILL CONTINUE TO SOUND THE ALARM, UH, AND APPRECIATE ALL OF THOSE THAT ARE STEPPING UP, INCLUDING, I THINK HEB JUST ANNOUNCED A VERY BIG, UH, CONTRIBUTION. UH, THAT WILL MAKE A BIG DIFFERENCE, BUT IT CAN'T BE THE ENTIRE ANSWER. UH, IN THE NEXT, IN THE COMING WEEKS, I'M GONNA [05:35:01] CONTINUE TO BE TALKING ABOUT, UM, GUN VIOLENCE IN OUR COMMUNITIES. IN THE PAST FOUR DAYS, THERE WAS IN DISTRICT I, A DRIVER WAS SHOT AND KILLED OUT IN CONROE, THERE WAS A, A WOMAN AND A CHILD AND THE HUSBAND, UH, SHOT TO DEATH. IT WAS A MURDER SUICIDE. AGAIN, IT'S DOMESTIC VIOLENCE AWARENESS MONTH. AND I WANNA ENCOURAGE THE MEDIA. WE SEE HEADLINES THAT SAY MURDER SUICIDE, RATHER THAN SAYING LIKELY DOMESTIC VIOLENCE IS BEING INVESTIGATED AND WE HAVE TO CONTINUE TO BRING AWARENESS THERE. IN DISTRICT J, UH, TWO PEOPLE WERE SHOT SATURDAY AFTERNOON IN DISTRICT B, A MAN WAS SHOT AND KILLED DURING AN ARGUMENT WITH A FAMILY MEMBER. UM, AGAIN, IN ONE OF THOSE DISTRICTS, THREE PEOPLE SHOT, ONE KILLED AT AN AFTER HOURS UNMARKED CLUB. UM, AND THEN IN MISSOURI CITY, ONE MAN SHOT AND KILLED IN A WALMART PARKING LOT. THAT'S NOT TO CALL OUT DIFFERENT DISTRICTS 'CAUSE THIS IS AN AIR, THIS IS AN ISSUE THAT COVERS THE ENTIRE CITY AND THE REGION, BUT THAT'S JUST IN THE PAST FOUR DAYS ALONE. UH, AND I'M GONNA CONTINUE TO PUSH AND ADVOCATE, UH, ON FIREARM SAFETY AND REDUCING GUN VIOLENCE. UH, BUT WE NEED EVERYBODY'S HELP WITH THIS, INCLUDING ENSURING THAT YOUR FIREARMS ARE SAFELY LOCKED AND STORED, WHETHER THAT IS, UH, KEEPING THEM OUT OF YOUR CAR SO THAT THEY DON'T END UP ON THE STREETS WHEN SOMEBODY IS TRYING TO BREAK IN TO STEAL IT. OR UNFORTUNATELY, WE SEE FAR TOO OFTEN CHILDREN, UH, ARE GETTING A HOLD OF FIREARMS THAT ARE NOT SECURELY LOCKED IN A PARENT OR LOVED ONE'S HOME. UH, THAT'S ALL WE HAVE FOR DISTRICT C TODAY. OH, VOTE. WE EARLY VOTING ENDS, UH, 7:00 PM ON HALLOWEEN. YOU CAN SHOW UP IN YOUR COSTUMES. IT'S ALWAYS FUN. BUT SEVEN TO SEVEN EACH DAY THIS WEEK THROUGH FRIDAY. COUNCILMAN HELP. THANK YOU. UM, I JUST WANTED TO HIGHLIGHT THAT THIS MORNING FIRE FIREFIGHTERS RESPONDED TO A TWO ALARM FIRE OUT IN WEST HOUSTON, NEAR, UH, WESTHEIMER AND BELTWAY EIGHT. UM, AT THIS TIME THEY'RE NOT REPORTING ANY FATALITIES, BUT I KNOW THAT NUMEROUS SAVES WERE MADE. UM, OVER 60 FIREFIGHTERS CAME TO THE SCENE AND WERE JUST REALLY APPRECIATIVE OF EVERYTHING THEY, THEY DO. SO THANK YOU. KEEP THOSE FAMILIES AND YOUR PRAYERS. COUNCILMAN MR. B. THANK YOU, MAYOR. CERTAINLY. UM, I DIDN'T PERSONALLY GIVE MY CONDOLENCES TO THE FAMILY OF DR. JAMES NASH, REVEREND NASH, REVEREND NASH AND I HAD A VERY STRONG RELATIONSHIP. IN FACT, HE CALLED ME THE FRIDAY PRIOR TO HIS DEATH, UH, AND WOULD PERIODICALLY SEND ME MESSAGES OR WHATEVER. BUT HE WAS SO HELPFUL AND SUCH A SUPPORT TO ME PERSONALLY. SO THIS IS A PERSONAL LOSS. AND SO I WANT TO JUST ADVISE THAT HIS LYING IN STATE WILL BE ON NOVEMBER THE SEVENTH AT HIS CHURCH, UM, WHICH IS ON BRANDON STREET FROM, UH, 11:00 AM TO 2:30 PM THEN ON SATURDAY THERE WILL BE A VIEWING FROM NINE TO 10 30 AT THE MOUNT HE MISSIONARY BAPTIST CHURCH, UM, 78 17 CALHOUN. AND HIS BURIAL, BECAUSE HE WAS A VETERAN, WILL BE ON THAT MONDAY. BUT I CERTAINLY WANT TO GIVE THE NS MY SINCERE CONDOLENCES. GOOD JOB. AND ALSO, JUST AS A REMINDER, THE TIME IS GONNA CHANGE SUNDAY. AND SO I'LL BE THANKFUL TO GET THAT EXTRA HOUR AND, UH, ANYWAY. UM, BUT THANK YOU SO VERY MUCH FOR ALLOWING ME TO, UH, ADD TO MY PAPA. THANK YOU FOR REMEMBERING REVEREND NASH, OUTSTANDING PERSON CHANGED SO MANY PEOPLE'S LIVES. MM-HMM . THANK YOU MEMBERS. WE STAND 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.