[00:00:04]
COUNCIL, PLEASE COME TO ORDER FIRST, SO I'M NOT HAVING TO HAVE PEOPLE DRIVE.
YOU KNOW, 20 MINUTES AND THEN THREE MINUTES.
[INVOCATION AND PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE]
WAS GONNA RECOGNIZE COUNCIL MEMBER POLLARD FOR THE INVOCATION.UNDER THE WEATHER, AND I WILL ASSUME THAT RESPONSIBILITY BY ASKING EVERYONE.
WHAT? I WOULD ASK EVERYONE FOR A COUPLE OF MINUTES, MINUTES OF, UH, SILENCE TO ALLOW EVERYONE TO GO TO THEIR SPIRITUAL FAITH AS THEY SO CHOOSE OUTTA RESPECT FOR OUR VERY DIVERSE FAITH COMMUNITY IN THE CITY OF HOUSTON.
[9:00 AM - ROLL CALL]
SECRETARY MAYOR WHITMEYER, PRESIDENT COUNCIL MEMBER PECK HERE.COUNCIL MEMBER EVAN SHABBAT WILL BE ABSENT.
COUNCIL MEMBER FLICKINGER HERE.
COUNCIL MEMBER THOMAS STEPPED OUT.
COUNCIL MEMBER HUFFMAN PRESENT.
COUNCIL MEMBER POLLER WILL BE ABSENT.
COUNCIL MEMBER CAP CASTEX TATUM.
COUNCIL MEMBER PLUMER WILL BE ABSENT.
AND COUNCIL MEMBER ALCORN HERE NEED A MOTION TO ADOPT
[ADOPT MINUTES OF PREVIOUS MEETING]
THE MINUTES OF NOVEMBER 5TH.[1
9:00 A.M. PUBLIC HEARING regarding the designation of the OWENS CORNING ROOFING & ASPHALT, LLC REINVESTMENT ZONE for tax abatement purposes - DISTRICT B - JACKSON
]SECRETARY, PUBLIC HEARING ITEM ONE.ITEM ONE IS A PUBLIC HEARING REGARDING THE DESIGNATION OF THE OWENS CORNING ROOF IN AN ASPHALT LLC REINVESTMENT ZONE FOR TAX ABATEMENT PURPOSES.
I'M ANDREW BUSKER IN THE MAYOR'S OFFICE OF ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AS REQUIRED BY ARTICLE FOUR, SECTION 44 DASH 1 26 OF THE CITY OF HOUSTON.
A PUBLIC HEARING IS REQUIRED BEFORE A TAX ABATEMENT AGREEMENT CAN BE CONSIDERED BY CITY COUNCIL.
NOTICE OF TODAY'S HEARING WAS PUBLISHED IN THE HOUSTON CHRONICLE AND ON THE CITY'S WEBSITE ON FRIDAY, OCTOBER 24TH, 2025, WHICH WAS AT LEAST SEVEN DAYS PRIOR TO THIS PUBLIC HEARING DATE.
ADDITIONALLY, THIS TAX ABATEMENT PROPOSAL WAS PRESENTED TO THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE ON OCTOBER 30TH, 2025.
IN AUGUST, 2024, CITY COUNCIL APPROVED CHAPTER 44 OF THE CITY'S CODE OF ORDINANCES THAT CONTINUED THE CITY'S TAX ABATEMENT PROGRAM, WHICH INCLUDES THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT TAX ABATEMENT.
THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT TAX ABATEMENT INCENTIVE IS INTENDED TO ENCOURAGE JOB CREATION AND INVESTMENT, ESPECIALLY IN UNDER INVESTED AREAS.
ADDITIONALLY, THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT TAX ABATEMENT INCENTIVE IS A VITAL TOOL USED TO ATTRACT INVESTMENT TO HOUSTON.
WHEN THE COMPANY IS EXPLORING MULTIPLE LOCATIONS OR, UH, FOR ITS INVESTMENT OR EXPANSION.
OWENS CORNING ROOFING AND ASPHALT LLC PLANS TO OUTFIT THEIR EXISTING FACILITY TO ADD A NEW MANUFACTURING LINE THAT'LL PRODUCE A NEW PRODUCT THAT IS NOT CURRENTLY BEING PRODUCED WITHIN THE UNITED STATES.
THE RESHORING OF THE COMPANY'S UNIQUE TECHNOLOGY AND MANUFACTURING TECHNIQUES WILL BENEFIT THE ROOFING AND RESIDENTIAL CONSTRUCTION INDUSTRIES LOCALLY, REGIONALLY, AND NATIONALLY.
THE COMPANY SUBMITTED AN APPLICATION FOR TAX ABATEMENT TO THE MAYOR'S OFFICE OF ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT ON NOVEMBER 25TH, 2024.
WHILE OWENS CORNING HAS WAS INTERESTED IN RESHORING THIS PRODUCT TO HOUSTON, THE COMPANY HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO EXPAND AND MAKE THIS INVESTMENT AT ONE OF TWO OTHER SISTER MANUFACTURING FACILITIES IN KIN SOUTH CAROLINA IN FORT SMITH, ARKANSAS.
THE HOUSTON REGION'S HIGHER COST OF LIVING IN OUR ESTABLISHED MANUFACTURING INDUSTRY CREATES HIGHER COMPETITION TO RECRUIT WORKERS.
THE COST OF LABOR AT THE TWO SISTER FACILITIES CREATED AN ADVANTAGE FOR THE COMPANY TO INVEST IN EITHER AIKEN OR FORT SMITH OVER HOUSTON.
HOWEVER, AFTER SUBMITTING THE TAX ABATEMENT APPLICATION, THE COMPANY APPLIED FOR THE STATE'S TEXAS ENTERPRISE FUND INCENTIVE PROGRAM.
THE GOVERNOR'S OFFICE GRANTED A TEXAS ENTERPRISE FUND AWARD TO THE COMPANY IN JULY, 2025.
[00:05:03]
A TEXAS ENTERPRISE FUND AWARD HAS NOT BEEN AWARDED TO A COMPANY IN THE HOUSTON REGION SINCE 2014.AS A CONDITION OF THE TEXAS ENTERPRISE FUND AWARD, A LOCAL INCENTIVE MUST BE INCLUDED IN THE OVERALL INCENTIVE PACKAGE.
THIS PROPOSED TAX ABATEMENT INCENTIVE FROM THE CITY OF HOUSTON WOULD MEET THE TEXAS ENTERPRISE FUND REQUIREMENTS.
THE COMPANY SELECTED THE HOUSTON SITE FOR THE EXPANSION AS THE PROPOSED INCENTIVES WILL OFFSET THEIR INITIAL LABOR COSTS AS THEY RAMP UP PRODUCTION AT THE PROJECT SITE.
OWENS CORNING ROOFING AND ASPHALT LC WILL INVEST APPROXIMATELY $39 MILLION IN THE PROJECT, INCLUDING BUILDING IMPROVEMENTS, UTILITY UPGRADES, AND THE INSTALLATION OF MANUFACTURING MACHINE UNIT EQUIPMENT.
OWENS CORNING WILL CREATE 75 FULL-TIME EQUIVALENT DIRECT JOBS BY 2028 AND RETAIN 105 EXISTING JOBS AT THE HOUSTON FACILITY.
AS REQUIRED BY OUR TAX ABATEMENT ORDINANCE, THE COMPANY MUST ADHERE TO COMMUNITY BENEFIT REQUIREMENTS INCLUDING HIRING LOCALLY, RECRUITING FROM REENTRY PROGRAMS, HIRING FROM HIGH POVERTY CENSUS TRACKS, AND PROVIDING JOB TRAINING FOR ENTRY AND OR MID-LEVEL EMPLOYEES.
IN ADDITION TO THESE REQUIREMENTS OWNS CORNING HAS AGREED TO A MINIMUM STARTING SALARY OF $25 AN HOUR FOR THEIR FULL-TIME EQUIVALENT DIRECT JOBS.
IF THE COMPANY DOES NOT FULFILL ITS JOB CREATION OR RETENTION COMMITMENTS, OR DOES NOT FULFILL ITS ANNUAL WAGE COMMITMENTS, THE AGREEMENT WILL HAVE PROVISIONS TO REDUCE THE TOTAL ABATEMENT AMOUNT AND THE COMPANY WILL NOT HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO RECOVER THE REDUCTION AS DESCRIBED IN CHAPTER 44 OF THE CODE OF ORDINANCES.
THIS TAX ABANDONMENT PROPOSAL CONTAINS A 90% ABATEMENT ON CITY PROPERTY TAXES OVER A 10 YEAR PERIOD OR UNTIL THE APPROXIMATELY $1.36 MILLION INCENTIVE IS REACHED, WHICHEVER OCCURS FIRST.
THE FIRST YEAR ABATEMENT IS PROJECTED TO BE APPROXIMATELY $158,000, AND THE AVERAGE ANNUAL ABATEMENT IS PROJECTED TO BE APPROXIMATELY $122,000.
IN CLOSING, SUPPORTING THIS PROJECT AND APPROVING THE TAX ABATEMENT AGREEMENT WILL DEMONSTRATE THE CITY'S COMMITMENTS TO ALIGN WITH THE TEXAS ENTERPRISE FUND LOCAL INCENTIVE REQUIREMENTS TO SUPPORT INNOVATIVE AND ADVANCED MANUFACTURING, AND TO INCREASE THE NUMBER OF MID-SKILL JOB OPPORTUNITIES IN COMMUNITIES THAT HAVE THE HIGHEST JOB CREATION NEEDS.
NO ACTION IS REQUIRED TODAY, BOTH THE ORDINANCE TO CREATE THE RELATED TAX ABATEMENT REINVESTMENT ZONE AND THE ORDINANCE RELATED TO THIS PROPOSED AGREEMENT ARE CURRENTLY SCHEDULED FOR THE CITY COUNCIL MEETING ON DECEMBER 3RD, 2025.
I JUST WANTED, UM, TO TALK ABOUT A COUPLE OF THINGS.
SO IN ORDER FOR THEM TO GET THE TEZ, WE HAVE TO APPROVE THE TAX ABATEMENT AT THE CITY OF HOUSTON.
FOR THE TEXAS ENTERPRISE FUND.
AND THEN, UM, IF THEY DON'T MEET THEIR REQUIREMENTS THAT THEY HAVE SET FORTH TO QUALIFY, THEN THEY WON'T RECEIVE THE REIMBURSEMENT FROM THE CITY OF HOUSTON.
SO IN THE, UM, TAX ABATEMENT AGREEMENTS THAT WE, UM, THAT WE ENTER INTO WITH THE COMPANIES, THEY'RE COMMITTING TO JOB RETENTION AND JOB CREATION.
UM, EVERY YEAR THEY SUBMIT THAT INFORMATION TO US THROUGH, UM, TAX REPORTING, EITHER THROUGH HCD, AND THEN WE ALSO RECEIVE LIKE STATE REPORTS.
UM, FROM THOSE NUMBERS, WE DETERMINE WHETHER OR NOT THEY'RE IN COMPLIANCE WITH THEIR TAX ABATEMENT AGREEMENT.
IF THEY'RE NOT IN COMPLIANCE, WE WILL EITHER REDUCE THE ABATEMENT AMOUNT OR, UM, SEE IF THERE'S ANY OTHER, UM, CIRCUMSTANCES.
SO IN, IN THE CASE, LIKE WE HAD COMPANIES THAT DURING COVID HAD STRONG TO MEET THEIR HIRING NUMBERS, UNDERSTANDABLY SO, THAT MIGHT REQUIRE SOME AMENDING TO THE AGREEMENT OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT.
BUT TYPICALLY IF THEY'RE NOT COMMITTING TO THEIR, UM, PROVISIONS IN THE TAX PAYMENT AGREEMENT, WE ABLE TO REDUCE THE ABATEMENT OR, UM, CANCEL THE ABATEMENT.
I, AND I THINK THESE ARE GREAT TOOLS FOR THE CITY, UM, TO UTILIZE SO THAT WE CAN CONTINUE TO ATTRACT THESE TYPES OF COMPANIES THAT PROVIDE GOOD LIVING WAGE PAYING JOBS.
UM, ONE OF THE THINGS I KNOW WE'VE TALKED ABOUT SEVERAL TIMES IN OUR ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE MEETING IS MAKING SURE THAT WE GET THAT FOLLOW UP INFORMATION TO ENSURE THAT THEY HAVE MET THEIR COMMITMENT THAT ALLOWED THEM TO GET THESE BENEFITS.
SO I WANNA JUST PUT THAT ON THE RECORD THAT WE, WE LIKE TO RECEIVE THOSE, UH, UPDATES ONCE Y'ALL GET THAT INFORMATION FROM THE STATE, UM, TO SHARE THAT WITH THE COUNCIL MEMBERS SO WE CAN KNOW THAT THE FULL CIRCLE EVENT ACTUALLY HAPPENED.
AND I APPRECIATE ALL THE WORK YOU DO WITH OUR ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE.
THANK YOU MAYOR, AND THANK YOU, UM, FOR THE PRESENTATION.
UM, SO DID THE IKE COMMUNITIES FOUNDATION, DID THEY HAVE OPPORTUNITY TO MEET WITH THE COMMUNITY ABOUT THE PROJECT? UM,
[00:10:04]
WE ON ROOFING LAST TWO OF THEM.BUT DID THEY GIVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO MEET WITH THE COMMUNITY ALL ABOUT THE PROJECT? UH, I KNOW THAT THE COMPANY HAS MET WITH, WITH YOUR OFFICE MM-HMM
UM, OUTSIDE OF OTHER COMMUNITY GROUPS, I'M NOT SURE.
AND I CAN FOLLOW UP WITH THE COMPANY.
SO WE'LL JUST NEED A MOTION TO CLOSE.
MOTION TO CLOSE CASTEX AND MOVE TO CLOSE THE HEARING NEXT SECOND MAY.
ANNOUNCE A LITTLE EARLY, BUT WE CAN MOVE.
YES, WE MOVE TO, UH, PUBLIC SESSION.
I'D LIKE TO MOVE TO SUSPEND RULES.
UM, I MOVE TO SUSPEND THE RULES TO MOVE JACOB CLEMENT TO THE TOP OF THE THREE MINUTE NON AGENDA HUFFMAN SECONDS.
[9:30 AM - PUBLIC SPEAKERS]
SECRETARY NISHA HARRIS.LOIS ZAMORA, INE HOLMES THEODORE CARRERO TO BE FOLLOWED BY JACOB CLEMENTI.
THEODORE CARRERO HERE WITH SUPPLY, HUMAN DEMAND.
UH, TODAY'S TOPIC IS, UH, NON AGENDA, BICYCLE SAFETY, INFRASTRUCTURE OF THE ROADS, STRUCTURAL INTEGRITY OF THE ROADS.
UH, HOW DO WE STRENGTHEN THE BLACKTOP, THE, UH, THE CEMENT, THE THE SAND AND THE AGGREGATE ON THE STREETS.
HOW DO WE IMPROVE THE ORDINANCES BY THE, UH, MOTORISTS AND CYCLERS CYCLISTS IN EACH OF YOUR DISTRICTS? HOW DO WE IMPROVE DRIVER AND ATTENTION AND THE FAILURE TO YIELD? UH, IN 2021, HARRIS COUNTY ALONE HAD 23 CYCLISTS FATALITIES THAT WERE REPORTED.
UH, ACCIDENT NUMBERS FROM 2013 TO 18 WERE ABOUT 300 BICYCLE ACCIDENTS THAT OCCURRED IN HOUSTON.
ACCORDING TO TOP VISION ZERO HOUSTON IN 2022, THERE WERE 32 SERIOUS INJURIES REPORTED.
SO THERE'S DRIVER ERROR, THERE'S DRIVER AND ATTENTION, THERE'S SPEEDING.
A LACK OF INFRASTRUCTURE ON THREE ARE THREE CONTRIBUTING FACTORS, UH, WHERE THE CITY HAS UPDATED THE BIKE PLAN TO IMPROVE SAFETY AND CONNECTIVITY.
WHERE ARE WE IN TERMS OF THE GOLD LEVEL BIKE FRIENDLY CITY BY 2027? SO IT'S KIND OF LIKE YOU GUYS STARTED WITH YOUR PUBLIC SESSION.
HERE WE ARE TALKING ABOUT BICYCLE SAFETY.
MAYBE WE COULD, UH, GET INTO ORDINANCES ABOUT TEXTING AND DRIVING OR DRIVER IN ATTENTION.
MAYBE A DISTRICT COUNCIL MEMBER AT LARGE OR SOMEBODY CAN, UH, GET US EXCITED ABOUT, ABOUT BICYCLE SAFETY AND THE INFRASTRUCTURE AND INTEGRITY OF THE ROADS.
WHERE ARE WE AS A CITY IMPLEMENTING POLICIES SUCH AS COMPLETE THE STREETS AND TRANSPORTATION PLAN TO MAKE THE ROADWAYS SAFER, MORE ACCESSIBLE FOR ALL USERS, INCLUDING PEDESTRIANS AND CYCLISTS? I'VE HANDED OUT A COPY TO ALL OF OUR COUNCIL MEMBERS.
WISHING EVERYONE A HAPPY HOLIDAYS.
UH, LOOKING FORWARD TO, UH, THANKSGIVING, SEEING Y'ALL AT THE CITYWIDE CLUB AMERICA.
OTHER THAN THAT, THANK YOU FOR HAVING ALL OF US.
MAY GOD CONTINUE TO BLESS AMERICA AND OUR VETERANS, AND IF ANYONE HAS ANY QUESTIONS LIKE ANY OF OUR COUNCIL MEMBERS OR IF ANYONE'S INTERESTED IN TALKING ABOUT BICYCLE SAFETY OR THE INFRASTRUCTURE OF THE STRUCTURAL INTEGRITY OF ROADS, FEEL FREE.
IF NOT, I'LL SEE YOU GUYS, UH, NEXT MONTH.
CLEMENT TO BE FOLLOWED BY FREDERICK LANE.
AND
DEAR MR. CLEMENT, THANK YOU FOR THE HOUSTON COUGAR PLACEMENT.
I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO EATING ALL DINNER OVER AT, ON LATE NIGHTS AT THE CAPITOL.
MY BEST HUBERT ROW NOW FROM, UH, UH,
[00:15:01]
I HAVE THIS LETTER, FIND YOU WELL.I WANT TO SEND YOU MY MORON SCREENS AND LET YOU KNOW HOW MUCH I APPRECIATE THE JOY AND ENERGY YOU BRING TO OUR COMMUNITY.
YOUR KIND, SPIRIT AND ENTHUSIASM INSPIRES INSPIRE THOSE AROUND YOU.
AND IT IS ALWAYS UPLIFTING TO SEE YOUR PRIDE IN HOUSTON, ESPECIALLY WHEN YOU CHEER FOR YOUR FAVORITE TEAM.
I ALSO WANT YOU TO KNOW THAT OUR STAFF NOTICES YOUR, YOUR DEDICATION BY ATTENDING HARRIS COUNTY COMMISSION COURT AND HOUSTON CITY COUNCIL MEETINGS.
IF I RECALL CORRECTLY, EVEN YOU EVEN ATTENDED ONE OF MY YOUNG TOWN HALLS OF CONGRESSMAN AND CONGRESSWOMAN FLETCHER, IT IS CLEAR HOW MUCH YOU CARE ABOUT OUR STUDY AND YOUR PRESENCE BRINGS A SPECIAL KIND OF ENCOURAGEMENT TO THOSE GATHERINGS.
THANK YOU FOR SHARING YOUR LIGHT AND REMINDING US ALL OF THE IMPORTANCE OF COMMUNITY TO EAT JOY AND TEAM SPIRIT.
IF YOU EVER REQUIRE ASSISTANCE OR WISH YOU CONNECT WITH MY OFFICE IN THE FUTURE, PLEASE LET, PLEASE KNOW.
YOU ARE ALWAYS WELCOME TO REACH OUT WITH RESPECT AND WARM REGARDS TO YOU MOVE.
DID YOU HEAR BY THE AGGIE, UH, ECONOMIC, UH, MAJOR? WELL, HE WOULD NEVER GAVE HIS 2 CENTS WORTH IN AN OPINION POLL.
HE ONLY ONLY GAVE HIS $2 WORTH.
HIS RATIONALE BEHIND THAT WAS BECAUSE INFLATION
MY SITUATION, UH, IT'S VERY S SERIOUS FOR 15 YEARS, UH, WE'VE BEEN BASICALLY HOMELESS.
UH, MY DAUGHTER GOT SHOT APRIL 20TH, 2021.
AND I'M CONCERNED THERE'S NO PLACE.
UH, AND I FEEL REAL BAD AND I'M STRESSED.
UH, I ALMOST DIED BECAUSE OF MY STRESS, UH, OF BEING HOMELESS FOR 15 YEARS.
AND I KNOW I CAN'T GO BACK AND I DON'T WANNA LOSE MY THREE CHILDREN.
UH, I'VE BEEN, YOU KNOW, WE'RE INNOCENT.
WE DON'T WANT TO LOSE A PLACE.
WE'RE VERY CONCERNED AND WE'RE FRUSTRATED.
AND I JUST KEEP LOOKING FORWARD.
UH, YOU KNOW, TWO MAYORS HAVE DIED AND, UH, MY DAUGHTER IS IN A WHEELCHAIR.
AND SHE HAS NEVER GOTTEN ANYTHING IN 10 YEARS.
I'M STRESSED, DEPRESSED, AND JUST A LOT OF STRESS TRYING TO HELP, UH, YOU TO HAVE YOU ALL UNDERSTAND THE SITUATION I'M GOING ON.
I DON'T KNOW WHY THE MILITARY OR A BLIND SOMEONE, UH, THEY GET A NEW BUILDING.
THEY GET A NEW VAN RAMP IN A VAN, AND THEY JUST TELL YOU TO HOLD ON.
UH, HER LAWYER, MY DAUGHTER'S LAWYER IS OPPRESSING US.
AND I'M FEELING VERY, VERY DEPRESSED BETWEEN MY WIFE AND ME.
UH, DISTRESS AND THE DEPRESSION, I CAN'T HELP IT.
OUR CHILDREN HAVE GIVEN UP, YOU KNOW, GOD IS GOOD.
HE'S MY FRIEND, AND I'M KEEP TRYING TO ENCOURAGE MY FAMILY AND WE SUFFER.
YOU KNOW, WE DON'T HAVE ANY CLOTHES.
I MEAN, ALL WE HAVE IS WHAT OLD CLOTHES.
FOR 10 YEARS I'VE GOTTEN SHOT.
AND, UH, I CAN GIVE YOU EVERYTHING.
MY DAUGHTER'S GOTTEN SHOT IN THE HEAD AND, UH, COULD I, UH, SIR, SIR, SOUNDS LIKE HE HAS MULTIPLE NEEDS.
I WOULD LIKE TO OFFER A CASEWORKER.
[00:20:01]
I DID HAVE ONE BEFORE.I KNOW, BUT THIS IS A DIFFERENT APPROACH.
I WOULD ASK HIM TO SIT DOWN WITH REBECCA WILLIAMS AND SEE WHAT IS THE HIGHEST PRIORITY IN WHAT WE CAN DO TO INVOLVE OTHER AGENCIES.
WENT TO AUSTIN, TEXAS, UH, FOR A CLASS, YOU KNOW, A SOCIAL WORKER WAS THERE.
BUT IN THE PAST TWO YEARS, I MOVED BACK TO HOUSTON.
WE CAN'T HELP HIM IN COUNSEL THIS MORNING.
WE CAN LISTEN TO HIM, BUT WE NEED DIRECTION.
WOULD HE BE WILLING TO SIT DOWN WITH MS. WILLIAMS? YEAH, THAT WOULD BE FINE.
AND DOCUMENT REBECCA AND REFERRAL, UH, WHAT POSSIBILITIES ARE, IF HE'S HOMELESS, OBVIOUSLY WE'LL GET AHOLD OF TER WHITE FOOD BANK HOUSING AND SEE WHAT THE CIRCUMSTANCES ARE OF HIS DAUGHTER.
DOES SIR ASK HIM, DOES HE HAVE, DOES HE HAVE ANY FAMILY IN HOUSTON? WE'VE HAD THE, THEY'VE, THEY'VE ONLY PAID FOR A HOTEL, YOU KNOW, ALL THIS TIME FOR SIX YEARS.
I KNOW, BUT TELL 'EM IT'S A FRESH START THIS MORNING.
REBECCA, I WILL GET INVOLVED WITH YOU.
DOES HE HAVE ANY FAMILY IN HOUSTON? I, MY FAMILY HAS REJECTED THE DEAF, THE FAMILY.
MY FAMILY HAS REJECTED MY DEAFNESS.
AND THAT'S A, THAT'S A, THAT'S A DIFFICULTY BECAUSE I, MY MOTHER HAD, MY MOTHER HAD 15 CHILDREN.
AND, AND AS I'VE SAID, WE CAN'T RESOLVE IT THIS MORNING.
I WOULD GET ANGEL INVOLVED AND OUR WHOLE TEAM.
YOU'VE GOT A COUPLE COUNCIL MEMBERS IN THE QUEUE FOR HIM.
WHAT IS HIS WIFE NAME? REBECCA.
WELL, COUNCILMAN DAVIS, YOU WANT TO, THE WIFE WILL BE HERE IN A MOMENT.
MAYBE SHE CAN SHEDD SOME LIGHT.
I AM FROM AFRICA, AND I HAVE, UH, PROBLEMS HERE IN AMERICA.
YOU KNOW, THINGS HAVE HAPPENED SINCE OUR LAWYER HAS IGNORED US.
WE NEED SOME HELP BECAUSE I JUST NEED YOUR HELP TO HELP US.
PLEASE, PLEASE, I'M BEGGING YOU.
[00:25:01]
INNOCENT.OUR LAWYERS ARE JUST IGNORING US.
I HAVE A COUPLE OF COUNCIL MEMBERS.
UM, THANK YOU MS. LANE FOR COMING AND ADDRESSING THE COUNCIL.
UM, THE MAYOR'S ALREADY COVERED MUCH OF WHAT I WAS GOING TO ASK, AND HE'S ALREADY ASSIGNED SOMEONE TO HELP THEM.
UH, HOW LONG, HOW MANY YEARS HAVE THEY BEEN? I THINK I HEARD HIM SAY 10 YEARS.
HE'S BEEN TRYING TO ASK HOUSTON BEEN SO LONG AND NOTHING HAS HAPPENED SO FAR.
I DID THAT AND THEY BEEN IN HOUSTON, ALL OF THOSE, WE'VE BEEN HERE FOR MANY YEARS AND WE WENT TO AUSTIN AND TRYING TO GET HELP AND HE SENT, YOU KNOW, TO OTHER, EVERYTHING'S BEEN TURNED DOWN.
WE DID THAT AND WE HAVEN'T, IF WE FEEL LIKE WE'RE STARTING OVER AGAIN.
WELL, I, I, I THINK, I THINK THE MAYOR'S ALREADY EXPRESSED WHAT WE ARE GONNA DO.
I WANTED TO THANK YOU AND YOUR HUSBAND FOR COMING BECAUSE IT TAKES A LOT OF COURAGE TO PUBLICLY SPEAK ABOUT SOMETHING SO VULNERABLE AND WHAT YOU AND YOUR FAMILY HAVE BEEN DEALING WITH.
UH, AND MAYOR, I WANNA THANK YOU FOR STEPPING IN AND YOU KNOW, THERE'S GOOD PEOPLE THAT ARE GONNA STEP IN TO HELP.
UH, I SAW YOUR CHILDREN, THEY'RE ABSOLUTELY BEAUTIFUL.
AND THANK YOU FOR FIGHTING FOR YOUR FAMILY.
UH, THIS HIGHLIGHTS, I THINK, MAYOR, ONE OF THE CHALLENGES WITH HOMELESSNESS, ONE, FAMILIES SHOULD NEVER HAVE TO BE SEPARATED.
SO I GO BACK TO THE CRITICAL NEEDS OF HOUSING, BUT ALSO UNDER FEDERAL, THE WAYS IN WHICH, UH, THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT DEFINES HOMELESSNESS.
WHEN A FAMILY LIKE THIS, WHO'S FIGHTING TOOTH AND NAIL TO KEEP THEIR FAMILY TOGETHER AND SURVIVE, GOES INTO A HOTEL, THEN THAT PRECLUDES THEM FROM ACCESSING OTHER TYPES OF SERVICES.
BECAUSE UNDER THE DEFINITION, THEY'RE NOT, QUOTE UNQUOTE, HOMELESS OR UNHOUSED, EVEN THOUGH THEY ARE.
UM, SO AGAIN, I WANNA THANK YOU MA'AM FOR COMING BECAUSE YOU'RE, YOU'RE FIGHTING FOR YOUR FAMILY, BUT YOU'RE ALSO FIGHTING FOR SO MANY OTHERS THAT DON'T HAVE THE COURAGE YOU HAVE TO COME FORWARD AND TO SHINE A LIGHT ON THE ISSUES THAT WE ARE ALL TRYING TO HELP WITH RIGHT NOW.
UM, IF THERE'S ANYTHING WE CAN GET FOR YOUR KIDS WHILE THEY'RE HERE, UM, WHETHER IT'S WATER AND SNACKS AND IS, OUR STAFF IS SITTING WITH THEM RIGHT NOW, AND WE'RE HAPPY TO GET Y'ALL WHATEVER WE CAN WHILE THE MAYOR'S TEAM IS TAKING CARE OF Y'ALL.
ASK HER TO MEET WITH MS. WILLIAMS AND REBECCA, UH, GET THE TEAM INVOLVED.
UH, I DON'T THINK WE'LL BE IN SESSION THAT LONG, AND THEN I'LL VISIT WITH YOU.
SAY, REBECCA, START WITH SADDER WHITE AND SEE ABOUT HOUSING FOR THE FAMILY.
[00:30:01]
YOU, UH, MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL FOR ALLOWING US TO COME BEFORE YOU THIS MORNING.UH, WE ARE A NONPROFIT 5 0 1 C3, AND WE'RE SEEKING, UH, SUPPORT, UH, FROM THE CITY IN REFERENCE TO, FIRST OF ALL, WE NEED, UH, A BUILDING, UH, TO, UH, EDUCATE YOUNG MEN AND WOMEN ON HOW, UH, TO DO, UH, WELL TRAIN THEM, UH, GIVE THEM THEIR OWN JOB TRAINING OF HOW TO DO CONSTRUCTION TYPE WORK.
UH, OUR OWN, UH, KINGDOM BUILDING CONSTRUCTION.
UH, OUR NONPROFIT IS VETS A MAN SEA.
I'M A DISABLED VETERAN, AND, UH, I'M REALLY TRYING TO HELP OTHER VETERANS WHO ARE BEING, UH, RELEASED FROM MAYBE INCARCERATION AS WELL AS THOSE WHO ARE COMING OUT OF THE MILITARY.
WE WOULD, UH, NEED A BUILDING THAT WE ARE LOOKING AT IS THE OLD SUNNYSIDE MULTIPURPOSE CENTER, UH, WHICH IS, UH, NOT BEING UTILIZED.
IT APPEARS AND IT WOULD, UH, DEFINITELY, UH, MEET THE NEED FOR, UH, MULTIPLE, UH, TRAINING OF INDIVIDUALS.
SO WE, UH, ASKING YOU TO HELP US, UH, IF YOU CAN AFFORD TO, UH, UH, DONATE THAT BUILDING TO THE NONPROFIT OR TO ALLOW US TO USE IT, UH, FOR A NUMBER OF YEARS THAT WOULD, UH, BE VERY MUCH APPRECIATED.
WE WOULD TRAIN THESE INDIVIDUALS IN HEAVY EQUIPMENT OPERATION.
SO WE ALSO NEED, UH, LAND, MAYBE 10, 15 ACRES WHERE WE COULD TRAIN THEM ON HEAVY EQUIPMENT.
UH, ALSO COMMERCIAL TRUCK DRIVING.
WE WOULD HAVE, UH, FOR THEM DRYWALL AND INTERIOR, UH, CONSTRUCTION, UH, ROOFING, PAINTING, UH, DIRECTIONAL, UH, DRILLING FOR FIBER OPTIC.
UH, WE ALREADY HAVE THE MACHINE, BUT WE JUST NEED, UH, YOUR SUPPORT IN BEING ABLE TO TRAIN, UH, THESE YOUNG PEOPLE TO FILL THE JOBS THAT, UH, HAD BEEN DONE IN THE PAST BY MANY, UH, UH, ILLEGAL, UH, ALIENS AS, UH, SOME HAVE CALLED THEM.
UM, ALSO WE ARE LOOKING AT, UH, ASKING YOU FOR DONATIONS, UH, OF EXISTING FACILITY.
THAT IS VERY IMPORTANT THAT WE, UH, MAKE THAT CLEAR.
THAT'S WHAT WE REALLY NEED IN ORDER TO GET OUR, UH, GET OFF THE GROUND AND RUNNING.
AND WE WOULD HAVE A, A EIGHT WEEK TRAINING FOR THESE INDIVIDUALS.
UH, I KNOW THAT THE MAJORITY OF YOU PROBABLY HAVE HEARD OF A JOB CORPS.
THIS WOULD BE COMMUNITY CORPS.
AND COMMUNITY CORPS WOULD, UH, HELP, UH, THESE INDIVIDUALS THAT CAN STAY RIGHT AT HOME AND GET THE TRAINING THAT THEY NEED IN ORDER TO GET, UH, GET PAYING JOBS.
EVEN, UH, HIGH PAYING JOBS UP TO 60, UH, DOLLARS AN HOUR.
UH, THE PROGRAM DIRECTLY SUPPORT THE HOUSTON GOAL OF, UH, ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT.
COUNCIL, COUNCIL, UH, COUNCILOR DAVIS.
HOW YOU DOING? DOING FINE, SIR.
THANK YOU FOR COMING DOWN AND, AND, UH, CERTAINLY FOR YOUR SUPPORT EFFORTS AND WHAT YOU'RE TRYING TO DO.
UH, I'D LIKE TO SPEAK TO YOU SHORTLY, IF YOU WOULD, ON SEVERAL ISSUES IN REGARDING, UH, WHAT YOU WANT TO DO.
UH, I'M A VETERAN AS WELL, AND SO I'D LIKE TO TALK TO YOU ABOUT THAT.
UH, UNDER, WITH THIS COUNCIL AND THIS ADMINISTRATION, IS WE HELPING VETERANS, UH, THE FACILITY THAT YOU'RE SPEAKING OF? UH, I KNOW IT LOOKS DORMANT, BUT I THINK IT'S ALREADY BEEN, UM, YOU KNOW, BEING PURCHASED BY SOMEONE ELSE.
BUT I'D LIKE TO SPEAK TO YOU MORE ABOUT IT AND ALSO TO INVITE YOU TO OUR MAYOR MINISTRY ADVISORY BOARD THAT WE ARE HOLDING TOMORROW MORNING.
AND I'LL GIVE YOU THAT INFORMATION HERE SHORTLY.
AND I THINK IF YOU WOULD ABLE TO, UH, COME, YOU'LL GET SOME INFORMATION CONCERNING WHAT YOU'RE TRYING TO DO WITH YOUR, WITH YOUR ORGANIZATION.
ALRIGHT, MR. DAVIS, THANK YOU FOR THAT, SIR.
TERRY WSU OCHA TO BE FOLLOWED BY MARGARET HUMPHREYS, PLEASE.
UH, GOOD MORNING, MR. UH, MEYER, UH, MEMBERS OF THE CITY COUNCIL, UH, AND CITY STAFF.
MY NAME IS TERRY WAS SOCHA, AND I APPRECIATE THE, UH, PRONUNCIATION OF MY LAST NAME.
UM, SO I, I LIVE AT THE INTERSECTION OF ELLA ELLA BOULEVARD AND GROVE WOOD LANE, UM,
[00:35:01]
DIRECTLY ADJACENT TO SINCLAIR ELEMENTARY SCHOOL.UM, I HAVE TWO KIDS THAT GO TO THE SCHOOL IN THIRD GRADE AND FIRST GRADE.
UM, I ALSO USE THE INTERSECTION DAILY AND I TAKE IT ON MY BIKE WHEN I GO TO THE WHITE OAK BAYOU TRAIL.
AND SO, VERY FAMILIAR WITH THE INTERSECTION.
I'VE LIVED THERE FOR 11 YEARS.
UM, AND, YOU KNOW, THROUGH THAT TIME, YOU KNOW, YOU, YOU SEE EVERY DAY WHAT'S HAPPENING WHEN YOU TRY AND CROSS THE INTERSECTION AND, AND THAT, THAT BRINGS ME HERE TODAY ALONG WITH MY NEIGHBORS.
UM, SO I, I APPRECIATE THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK TO YOU TODAY.
UM, SO OVER THE LAST FIVE TO SIX YEARS, THE NEIGHBORS, UH, IN TIMBER GROVE, UM, WE'VE WORKED HARD TO FOLLOW THE CITY'S SYSTEMS AND PROCESSES TO MAKE THE INTERSECTION SAFER FOR EVERYONE.
WE SUBMITTED 311 REQUESTS, ASKED FOR SIGNAGE, WRITTEN LETTERS, SPOKEN TO CITY OFFICIALS, AND EVEN ADVOCATED FOR REGULAR VEGETATION TRIMMING TO IMPROVE THE CITY, THE DRIVER'S LINES OF SITES WITHIN THAT AREA.
I'M HERE TO ADVOCATE FOR MUCH NEEDED PEDESTRIAN SAFETY IMPROVEMENTS AT THE INTERSECTION OF ELLEN GROVE WOOD.
THIS CROSSING BECOMES INCREASINGLY DANGEROUS FOR RESIDENTS, ESPECIALLY THE CHILDREN AND FAMILY, UH, THAT ARE WALKING OR BIKING TO SINCLAIR EVERY DAY.
I WANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE THAT THE CHANGES WE'RE ADVOCATING FOR AREN'T REFLECTED IN THE TYPICAL METRICS USED BY THE CITY.
BY BOTH, UH, THE TOURISM ENGINEERS AND THE PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT ENGINEERS.
UM, THEY'VE STUDIED THE INTERSECTIONS AND INDICATED THE CHANGES SHOULD BE MADE.
TWO WEEKS AGO, OUR COMMUNITY SENT A FORMAL LETTER TO MR. UH, TO THE MAYOR, UH, THE CITY COUNCIL AND THE COUNTY COMMISSIONER, UH, AS WELL AS LOCAL TURS OUTLINING THESE SAFETY CONCERNS AND REQUESTING EXPEDIENT PROGRESS.
WE WANT TO THANK THOSE OFFICES FOR THE ATTENTION TO THE ISSUE.
UH, AND TO FOLLOW UP WITH THE PUBLIC INTEREST, WE'RE ASKING THE CITY TO CONSIDER ANY AND ALL FE FEASIBLE SAFETY SOLUTIONS FOR THIS INTERSECTION, INCLUDING INSTALLATION OF A HAWK, PEDESTRIAN SIGNAL FLASHING, PEDESTRIAN BEACONS, AND ENHANCED CROSSWALK LIGHTING.
UH, IMPROVED SIGNAGE OR SPEED CALMING MEASURES TO SLOW VEHICLES APPROACHING.
GROVE WOOD, A HAWK SIGNAL REMAINS ONE OF THE MOST EFFECTIVE OPTIONS REDUCING PEDESTRIAN CRASHES BY UP TO 69% ACCORDING TO THE FEDERAL HIGHWAY ADMINISTRATION.
BUT WE ARE OPEN TO ANY CON COMBINATION OF IMPROVEMENTS THAT MAKE CROSSING S SAFER FOR EVERYONE.
THIS LOCATION SERVES HUNDREDS OF RESIDENTS, STUDENTS, AND FAMILIES ON A DAILY BASIS.
IT CONNECTS NEIGHBORHOODS, BUS STOPS, SCHOOL ROUTES, AND RIGHT NOW IT'S A SAFETY HAZARD.
ADDRESSING THIS ISSUE WOULD BE, WOULD DIRECTLY SUPPORT WALKABILITY AND SAFE ROUTES, UH, TO THE SCHOOL AND ON BEHALF OF THE RESIDENTS AROUND ELLEN GROVE WOOD.
FIRST OF ALL, IT'S INTERESTING TO ME WHEN YOU STATE YOU'VE BEEN WORKING ON THIS FIVE OR SIX YEARS, AND IT'S ABOUT HALF OF US ONLY BEEN HERE TWO YEARS.
SO IT'S THE FIRST TIME IT'S BEEN BROUGHT TO OUR ATTENTION.
IT'S THE FIRST TIME IT'S BEEN BROUGHT TO OUR ATTENTION BY YOUR PUBLIC SPEAKING.
I KNOW YOU HAVE OTHER RESIDENTS AND UH, WE LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING WITH YOU.
HAVING LIVED IN TIMBER GROVEL IN INDIANA FOR MANY YEARS.
SO WATCH THE AREA DEVELOP IS BECOMING MORE COMMERCIAL, UH, MULTI-FAMILY, UH, RESIDENCES.
AND WE'LL, WE'LL TAKE IT UP WITH PUBLIC WORKS.
WE, WE JUST WANNA MAKE SURE WE WERE ON THE NEWS RECENTLY.
WE WANNA MAKE SURE THAT THAT STORY DOESN'T BECOME THE STORY OF SOMEONE BEING INJURED.
I WAS GONNA WITHHOLD MY COMMENTS UNTIL ALL OF OUR PARENTS GOT DONE SPEAKING.
'CAUSE I KNOW WE HAVE A LITTLE GIRL HERE AS WELL.
UM, THAT'S BEEN VERY, VERY PATIENT.
BUT THIS IS NOT THE FIRST TIME THAT THIS HAS BEEN BROUGHT UP.
UH, MY OFFICE HAS HAD FUNDING ALLOCATED FOR MULTIPLE YEARS, AND WE HAD A DESIGN THAT WAS APPROVED BY PUBLIC WORKS AND THEN DENIED BY PUBLIC WORKS BASED ON THE NEW POLICIES OF WHAT IS AND IS NOT PERMISSIBLE IN TERMS OF ROAD DESIGN CHANGES.
WE HAVE BEEN ADVOCATING, PARENTS HAVE BEEN COMING FOR YEARS.
THE CIVIC CLUB HAS BEEN COMING FOR YEARS, INCLUDING THIS YEAR AND LAST YEAR FOR THIS FUNDING.
MY OFFICE CONTINUES TO HAVE THAT FUNDING SET ASIDE.
PRECINCT FOUR EVEN OFFERED JUST A FEW, I THINK LAST MONTH TO INCLUDE HIGH VISIBILITY AND SET ASIDE FUNDING FOR THAT THAT HAD BEEN GREENLIT AND THEN IMMEDIATELY PAUSED.
SO IT IS NOT ACCURATE, MAYOR, THAT THIS IS NOT THAT, THAT THIS IS JUST COMING UP NOW.
UNFORTUNATELY, THESE PARENTS ARE HERE AND THEY SHOULDN'T HAVE TO BE BECAUSE A HORRIFIC VIDEO WENT VIRAL AND ONE OF THE MOTHERS IS HERE WHOSE CHILDREN WERE IN THE CROSSWALK WHEN THE INCIDENT OCCURRED.
BUT THE FACT THAT WE HAVE BEEN TRYING FOR YEARS TO WORK THROUGH THE PROCESS, INCLUDING THIS YEAR, HAS BEEN KNOWN TO EVERYONE.
AND ALL WE ARE ASKING FOR, ALL THESE FAMILIES ARE ASKING FOR
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THE SCHOOL IS ASKING FOR, AND NOT JUST AT SINCLAIR, IS THAT SAFE CROSSINGS IN FRONT OF SCHOOLS, WHETHER THEY'RE RAISED CROSSWALKS, HIGH VISIBILITY, CROSSWALKS, FLASHING BEACONS, YOU NAME IT.WHATEVER THE HELL IS GOING TO PROTECT OUR CHILDREN WALKING TO SCHOOL AND THEIR FAMILIES NEEDS TO MOVE FORWARD.
I'M JUST LETTING YOU KNOW, I'M SORRY IT'S TAKEN THAT LONG AND WE'LL, WE'LL ADDRESS IT.
AND THANK YOU COUNCIL MEMBER CAYMAN.
I THOUGHT WHAT YOU LAID OUT WAS VERY WELL SAID.
THE NEIGHBORHOOD'S DONE THE WORK.
WE NEED TO DO, NEED TO IMPLEMENT, UH, IMPLEMENT INFRASTRUCTURE THAT LETS OUR KIDS GET TO SAFELY SCHOOL AND LETS HAS DRIVERS SLOW DOWN IN ORDER FOR THAT TO HAPPEN.
SO I APPRECIATE THE WORK YOU AND YOUR NEIGHBORS HAVE PUT IN AND LOOK FORWARD TO SUPPORTING THE DISTRICT COUNCIL MEMBER IN GETTING THESE CHANGES MADE.
MARGARET HUMPHREYS TO BE FOLLOWED BY NICOLE LAG.
GOOD MORNING, MR. MAYOR, COUNCIL MEMBERS AND COUNCIL MEMBER CAYMAN.
MY NAME IS MARGARET HUMPHREYS.
I'M THE MOTHER OF THREE AND I'VE LIVED IN HOUSTON FOR 12 YEARS.
I'M HERE ON BEHALF OF MY NEIGHBORS OF THE TIMBER ROW COMMUNITY AND FAMILIES AT ST.
CLAIR, INCLUDING THE NEIGHBOR WHO IS WATCHING MY 2-YEAR-OLD, SO I CAN BE HERE RIGHT NOW.
FOUR WEEKS AGO TODAY, AN AGGRESSIVE DRIVER TRIED TO PLOW THROUGH THE CROSSWALK AT ELLA AND GROVE WOOD.
AS CHILDREN WERE LEAVING SCHOOL, OUR BELOVED CROSSING GUARD, MR. MICHAEL STEPPED IN FRONT OF THE CAR TO PROTECT THE STUDENTS PUTTING HIMSELF IN DANGER.
WHILE THE DRIVER SCREAMED PROFANITIES, MY OWN CHILDREN AND TERRY'S CHILDREN WERE CROSSING DURING THIS TERRIFYING EVENT.
MANY OF YOU HAVE SEEN THE FOOTAGE THAT WENT VIRAL OR AIRED ON A B, C 13 OR KHOU.
IT WAS SHOCKING AND A FRIGHTENING EXPERIENCE FOR OUR KIDS JUST TRYING TO COME BACK FROM SCHOOL.
WE ARE DRE DEEPLY GRATEFUL FOR THE HOUSTON PD, DETECTIVE BLUM AND THE DISTRICT ATTORNEY'S OFFICE FOR HOLDING THAT DRIVER ACCOUNTABLE.
THEIR WORK ALLOWS ME TO TELL MY CHILDREN THAT JUSTICE MATTERS AND THAT OUR CITY TAKES THEIR SAFETY SERIOUSLY.
SADLY, THIS WAS NOT AN ISOLATED EVENT.
IN THE SIX YEARS I'VE LIVED IN TIMBER GROVE, THERE HAVE BEEN COUNTLESS NEAR MISSES AT THIS INTERSECTION, MANY INVOLVING CHILDREN WALKING TO AND FROM SCHOOL.
WHEN I TOLD MY 8-YEAR-OLD I'D BE SPEAKING HERE TODAY, SHE SUGGESTED WE NEED TO HIRE THREE OR FOUR MR. MICHAELS TO GUARD THE CROSSWALK AT ALL TIMES.
ON ONE HAND THAT MADE ME SMILE, UM, BUT IT ALSO BROKE MY HEART.
IT SHOWS HOW UNSAFE SHE FEELS CROSSING THE STREET.
OUR COMMUNITY HAS FACED MANY CHALLENGES IN THE PAST YEAR AND A HALF.
THE DERECHO STORM THAT DAMAGED COUNTLESS HOMES CLOSED HALF OF SINCLAIR ELEMENTARY FOR MONTHS.
THE IMPACT OF BARREL, THE LOSS OF A STUDENT, AND NOW THIS CROSSWALK DANGER.
MANY OF THESE WE COULDN'T PREVENT.
BUT KEEPING OUR CHILDREN SAFE AS THEY CROSS THE STREET IS SOMETHING WE CAN FIX.
SO TODAY I ASK FOR YOUR CONTINUAL LEADERSHIP AND SUPPORT TO EXPEDITE PLANS TO MAKE ELLA AND GROVE WOOD PHYSICALLY SAFER FOR OUR CHILDREN AND COMMUNITY.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME AND YOUR CONTINUED COMMITMENT TO PROTECTING HOUSTON FAMILIES.
MARGARET, I WANNA THANK YOU FOR COMING.
UM, AGAIN, AS I SAID TO TERRY, NONE OF Y'ALL SHOULD HAVE TO BE HERE TODAY.
UM, YOU HAVE BEEN ADVOCATING FOR THIS.
YOU HAVE BEEN MEETING WITH THE CITY.
WE HAVE HAD COMMUNITY MEETINGS.
WE HAVE HAD DESIGN MEETINGS, WE HAVE HAD MEETINGS, WE HAVE HAD FUNDING ALLOCATIONS.
WE HAVE WORKED, AS YOU SAID, EVERY STEP OF THE WAY THROUGH THE PROCESS.
AND IT SHOULD NOT TAKE YOU ALL.
AND I EVEN BROUGHT UP THIS ISSUE, UH, RIGHT AFTER IT HAPPENED BECAUSE WE ALSO HAD, AS COUNCIL MEMBER HUFFMAN BROUGHT UP IN OUR SHARED AREA STUDENTS AT LAMAR MM-HMM
AND AGAIN, FAMILIES SHOULD NOT HAVE TO COME HERE TO ELEVATE THE ISSUE OF SAFETY FOR THEIR CHILDREN, ESPECIALLY WHEN THEY'VE BEEN FOLLOWING THE PROCESS AND THEY'RE BEING TOLD NO.
UM, SO THANK YOU TO YOUR CHILDREN.
I THANK YOU FOR ALSO RECOGNIZING HPD FOR STEPPING IN MM-HMM
UM, WITH THE INVESTIGATION PROCESS, UH, WE THANKED AND I SAID, I THINK WE'RE WORKING ON SOME SPECIAL RECOGNITIONS ALSO FOR MR. MICHAEL.
UM, BECAUSE HE'S ABSOLUTELY EXCEPTIONAL.
OUR CROSSING BAR GUARDS ARE LITERALLY PUTTING THEIR BODIES IN FRONT OF VEHICLES TO PROTECT OUR CHILDREN.
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BUT I WANNA THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME, FOR YOUR VOICE, FOR YOUR ADVOCACY, FOR SINCLAIR, FOR ALL OF OUR SCHOOLS, FOR OUR FAMILIES.SINCLAIR HAS BEEN THROUGH A LOT.
COUNCILMAN PIT PASS, MAYOR PRO.
AND THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR SPEAKING TODAY.
UM, ALTHOUGH THE SCHOOL IS IN COUNCIL MEMBER CAYMAN'S DISTRICT, WE DO HAVE A FEW, UM, NEIGHBORHOODS FROM DISTRICT A ZONE TWO, SINCLAIR ELEMENTARY.
SO WHATEVER WE CAN DO TO HELP AS WELL.
WE'RE HAPPY TO HELP MAYOR, UM, WORKING WITH YOUR OFFICE AND COUNCIL MEMBER CAYMAN.
NEXT NICOLE LAG TO BE FOLLOWED BY JOSEPH BALLARD.
UM, MAYOR WHITMEYER, MEMBERS OF CITY COUNCIL AND CITY STAFF.
I'M MOTHER OF A KINDERGARTNER AT ST.
CLAIRE, AND I'M VERY FAMILIAR WITH THE DANGERS OF THE ELLEN GROVE WOOD CROSSWALK.
AND THAT'S WHAT I'M HERE TO SPEAK ABOUT TODAY.
MY SWEET DAUGHTER IS HERE WITH ME TODAY.
SHE REMINDS ME OF WHY I'M SPEAKING AND TO MAKE SURE EVERY CHILD IN OUR NEIGHBORHOOD CAN CROSS THE STREET SAFELY.
JUST LAST WEEK, THE ASSOCIATED PRESS PUBLISHED A NATIONAL STORY ABOUT THE DANGERS OF CROSSWALKS IN SCHOOL ZONES, ESPECIALLY THE RISKS TO CHILDREN AND CROSSING GUARDS, WHICH HAVE LED TO SERIOUS INJURIES AND DEATHS.
TRAGICALLY, IN MANY OF THOSE CASES, DRIVERS ARE NOT HELD TRULY ACCOUNTABLE.
I'M GRATEFUL TO LIVE IN HOUSTON WHERE THAT'S NOT THE NORM.
IN THE RECENT ELLEN GROVE WOOD CROSSWALK INCIDENT, THE DANGEROUS DRIVER IS BEING PROSECUTED.
AND THAT ACCOUNTABILITY MEANS A GREAT DEAL TO OUR COMMUNITY.
IT'S IMPORTANT TO NOTE THIS ISN'T JUST A SCHOOL CROSSWALK, CROSSWALK, IT'S A NEIGHBORHOOD GATEWAY.
WE CHERISH OUR COMMUNITY, OUR NEIGHBORS, OUR PARKS, SINCLAIR ELEMENTARY, OUR BAYOU, AND OUR TRAILS.
BUT TO REACH MANY OF THESE PLACES, WE HAVE TO CROSS ELLA AND GROVE WOOD.
AND THAT INTERSECTION POSES A SERIOUS SAFETY RISK TO PEDESTRIANS.
WHILE YOU'VE ALREADY HEARD THE EXAMPLE OF MR. MICHAEL LAST MONTH AND THE AGGRESSIVE, AGGRESSIVE DRIVER, THIS HAS BEEN GOING ON FOR MUCH LONGER.
'CAUSE OF THE ONGOING DANGER, OUR NEIGHBORS BEGAN DOCUMENTING INCIDENTS AND NEAR MISSES AT THE CROSSWALK.
SO FAR, WE'VE COLLECTED OVER 30 FIRSTHAND ACCOUNTS FROM TIMBER GROVE RESIDENCE, INCLUDING PARENTS AND CHILDREN WHO HAVE HAD FRIGHTENING EXPERIENCES THERE.
BEFORE I CLOSE, I'D LIKE TO SHARE JUST A FEW OF THESE STORIES SO YOU CAN HEAR DIRECTLY FROM THE PEOPLE WHO EXPERIENCE THIS DANGER.
EVERY DAY, ONE PERSON SAYS ONE WEEKDAY.
AROUND FOUR 30, MY HUSBAND AND I WERE CROSSING WITH OUR 3-YEAR-OLD ON HER SCOOTER AND OUR 10 MONTH OLD IN A STROLLER.
WE WAITED SEVERAL MINUTES FOR A GAP IN TRAFFIC.
WHEN WE FINALLY STARTED CROSSING, A WHITE TRUCK TURNED ONTO ELLA AND BEGAN ACCELERATING QUICKLY TOWARD US.
BY THE TIME WE REACHED THE MIDDLE OF THE CROSSWALK, IT WAS CLEAR THE DRIVER WAS SPEEDING AT LEAST 55 TO 60 MILES PER HOUR.
WE HAD TO RUN TO MAKE IT ACROSS, AND THE TRUCK MISSED US BY ONLY A FEW FEET.
ANOTHER NEIGHBOR SAYS, IN MY MID SEVENTIES, I'M IN MY MID SEVENTIES WALKING MY DOG ACROSS THE CROSSWALK FOR OUR DAILY WALK.
LAST SPRING, WHEN A CAR TURNS ONTO ELLA, HEADING RIGHT TOWARD US, I I END UP DRAGGING MY DOG ACROSS THE CROSSWALK TO PREVENT US BEING HIT.
ANOTHER NEIGHBOR SAYS, A MOTHER WAS PICKING UP HER DAUGHTER FROM SCHOOL FROM AN AFTERSCHOOL ACTIVITY.
WHEN SHE SAW A CAR HEADED HER WAY IN THE CROSSWALK, SHE WAVED HER HANDS TO HELP THEM SEE HER.
BUT THE CAR SWERVED AROUND HER AND KEPT GOING.
THESE STORIES REPRESENT ONLY A SMALL FRACTION OF WHAT'S HAPPENING AT THE CROSSWALK.
OUR COMMUNITY IS ASKING, NOT FOR PERFECTION, BUT PROTECTION.
WE SIMPLY WANNA SAFER, MORE WALKABLE NEIGHBORHOOD FOR OUR FAMILY'S NEIGHBORS AND CHILDREN LIKE MY DAUGHTER KAY, WHO'S WITH WITH ME HERE TODAY.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME AND YOUR CONTINUED LEADERSHIP IN KEEPING HOUSTON FAMILIES SAFE.
UM, NICOLE, THANK YOU FOR COMING AND THANK YOU FOR BRINGING YOUR DAUGHTER DOWN.
UM, I DO WANT TO MAYOR OFFER ONE EXPEDITED SOLUTION.
SINCE RESIDENTS HAVE BEEN WAITING FOR SO LONG, UM, THE TURS IN THE AREA, I BELIEVE AS OF EITHER LAST WEEK OR THE WEEK BEFORE.
'CAUSE AGAIN, WE ARE CONTINUING TO DO EVERYTHING WE CAN TO WORK ON THIS DID VOTE TO ANNEX THAT SPECIFIC RIGHT OF WAY, AND IT'S AWAITING COUNCIL APPROVAL.
ONCE THAT IS APPROVED, I AM PLEADING WITH THE CITY TO ALLOW THE DESIGN THAT HAS BEEN DESIGNED AND BEEN SITTING THERE FOR OVER A YEAR TO MOVE FORWARD.
UH, THIS IS, AGAIN, SOMETHING WE HAVE SET ASIDE FUNDING FOR IN DISTRICT C.
THAT FUNDING IS SITTING THERE EARMARKED.
I'M NOT REMOVING IT ANYWHERE BECAUSE I BELIEVE THAT THIS NEEDS TO HAPPEN.
SO WE ARE TRYING TO FIND SOLUTIONS AGAIN NOW THAT THE TS ITSELF HAS ANNEXED THAT AND THAT WILL BE COMING TO COUNCIL.
UM, IF WE CAN JUST APPROVE THE DESIGN AND MOVE FORWARD, I THINK EVERYONE WILL BE ABLE TO BREATHE A SIGH OF RELIEF.
[00:50:02]
GOOD.AND I'LL BE TALKING TO COMMISSIONER BRIANIS, WHO'S OUR NEIGHBOR IN TIMBER GROVE.
I'M CERTAINLY, SHE'LL HELP US FIND A QUICK RESOLUTION.
TO BE FOLLOWED BY COFFEE L BAY.
SO, UH, TODAY I WANT TO TALK TO MAYOR WHITMEYER.
UM, TODAY THE CITY'S HURTING BECAUSE OUR SILENCE HAS GONE ON FOR WAY TOO LONG, ESPECIALLY WITHIN THE MEXICAN COMMUNITY AND MEXICAN UNDOCUMENTED COMMUNITY, LATINO UNDOCUMENTED COMMUNITY.
YOU HAVE TOLD THE PUBLIC THAT ICE OPERATIONS IN HOUSTON ONLY TARGET PEOPLE WITH CRIMINAL RECORDS, AND THAT IS NOT TRUE.
WE HAVE SEEN MOTHERS AND FATHERS WITH NO WARRANTS, WITH NO CRIMINAL RECORDS DRAGGED OUT OF THEIR CARS IN FRONT OF THEIR CHILDREN.
WE HAVE WITNESSED BOUNTY HUNTERS POSING AS POLICE OR POSING AS FEDERAL AGENTS STORMING OUR NEIGHBORHOODS AND ARRESTING CITIZENS AND UNDOCUMENTED RESIDENTS ALIKE.
I'VE NEVER DONE ANYTHING LIKE THIS BEFORE.
UM, THESE, THESE ARE PEOPLE WHO HAVE LIVED HERE, WORKED HERE, PAY, RENT, AND KEEP THE CITY ALIVE.
YOU ARE TELLING LIES TO THE PEOPLE OF HOUSTON.
A PERSON WHO HAS IMPROPERLY ENTERED THE UNITED STATES, UH, OR HAS OVERSAY THEIR VISA, UH, TRYING TO PROVIDE FOR THEIR FAMILY IS NOT A CRIME.
THE SUPREME COURT, UH, OF THE UNITED STATES HAS MADE THAT VERY CLEAR.
AND BEING UNDOCUMENTED IS A CIVIL DEFENSE, NOT A CRIME.
UH, SO I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW WHY OUR NEIGHBORS ARE BEING TARGETED LIKE VIOLENT OFFENDERS.
IT IS HUMILIATING TO SAY THE LEAST.
THE UNDOCUMENTED COMMUNITY IS THE BACKBONE OF HOUSTON'S ECONOMY.
THEY BUILD OUR HOMES, THEY COOK OUR FOOD, THEY CARE FOR OUR CHILDREN, AND THEY WORK IN THE JOBS THAT ARE MOST LABOR INTENSIVE AND HIGHLY SKILLED.
IF WE STRIP THE CITY OF ITS UNDOCUMENTED WORKERS, THE ECONOMY IN THE CITY WOULD COLLAPSE.
THE HOUSTON METRO AREA IS HOME TO A LARGE IMMIGRANT WORKFORCE.
ACCORDING TO THE AMERICAN IMMIGRATION COUNCIL, THEY MAKE UP ABOUT 30% OF THE LABOR FORCE IN THE REGION.
UM, IMMIGRANTS HOUSEHOLDS IN HOUSTON HAVE A SPENDING POWER AT ABOUT 50 BILLION IN 2021, REPRESENTING NEARLY 27% OF THE TOTAL SPENDING POWER AND PAID OVER 16 BILLION IN TAXES.
JUST THE CITY ALONE, EVEN THOUGH IMMIGRANTS MAKE UP ROUGHLY ABOUT 24% OF THE POPULATION.
NOW IMAGINE IF ONE QUARTER OF THE UNDOCUMENTED IMMIGRANT WORKFORCE WERE TO SUDDENLY BE DISPLACED OR REMOVED FROM HOUSTON, WHAT THAT WOULD DO IF 20, WHAT WOULD IT DO IF 29% OF THE LABOR WERE REDUCED BY 25%? THAT'S ROUGHLY 7% OF THE LABOR FORCE THAT IS GONE.
SO I IMPLORE YOU THAT YOU STOP WORKING WITH THESE PEOPLE.
AND TINA, THANK YOU MAYOR ADRIANNA, HERE'S A, AS A SPEECH, IF YOU CAN GIVE IT TO MAYOR, MAYOR ADRIANNA.
I JUST, I'LL TAKE THE, OH, I'M SORRY IF NEVER.
UH, FIRST, THIS IS MY FIRST TIME, BUT YOU'RE GONNA SEE ME VERY FREQUENTLY NOW, ADRIANA, I JUST, UH, FIRST WANNA, UH, THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE.
UM, AND AS YOU STATED, IT'S YOUR FIRST TIME BEING HERE, BUT, UM, YOU SHOWING UP, YES.
IT MEANS A LOT, UH, FOR A LOT, A LOT OF, UM, IT MEANS A LOT FOR FOLKS THAT DON'T HAVE A VOICE.
IT MEANS A LOT TO FOLKS THAT THERE'S A LOT OF PEOPLE, UNION DID NOT ENTER THE BUILDING.
THERE'S A LOT OF PEOPLE WHO CAN'T EVEN ENTER THE BUILDING.
UNFORTUNATELY, IT'S TWO FOLKS THAT, UM, YOU KNOW, CAN'T COME, HAVE THE PRIVILEGE TO BE ABLE TO SPEAK UP, HAVE THE PRIVILEGE TO FIGHT BACK,
[00:55:01]
BECAUSE UNFORTUNATELY, IF THEY DO, THEN THEY'RE TARGETED AND DEPORTED.UM, IF ANYTHING, I JUST, I WANT US TO SAY THANK YOU FIRST AND FOREMOST, AND I WELCOME YOU BACK.
TO CONTINUE TO MAKE SURE THAT, UH, THIS HORSESHOE, BUT QUITE FRANKLY, FOLKS AROUND IN THE CITY OF HOUSTON UNDERSTAND THAT WE SHOULD BE HAVING THIS, THIS DIFFICULT CONVERSATION BECAUSE IT IS COMPLEX, IT'S SENSITIVE, AND WE'RE RIGHT NOW, AND THE MARRIAGE SAID THIS, THIS CITY IS NOT LOOKING LIKE OTHER CITIES RIGHT NOW.
AND MY FEAR IS, MY FEAR IS THAT WE HAVEN'T, WE HAVE, THEY HAVEN'T FOUGHT BACK.
WE, MY FEAR IS THAT WE WILL HAVE A HEAVIER HAND OF ICE HERE.
WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT WE CONTINUE TO INFORM OUR COMMUNITY TO MAKE SURE THAT WE LEND A HAND TO THEM AS WELL, UM, TO SUPPORT THEM IN, IN THIS SPACE WHERE FIRST, QUITE FRANKLY, THEY'RE SCARED.
SO MY, MY ASK TO YOU IS, AS YOU BRING THESE CONVERSATIONS UP, IS TO FIND WAYS WHERE, WHERE, WHERE WE'RE NOT, WE'RE NOT ALLOWING A HEAVIER HAND COME TO THE CITY OF HOUSTON TO MAKE SURE THAT, THAT WE DO OUR BEST TO PROVIDE THE SUPPORT THAT OUR UNDOCUMENTED COMMUNITY RIGHT NOW.
AND I AGREE, I THINK I THINK WE, WE SHOULD BE FINDING WAYS TO PROTECT THEM, BUT IN THAT AS WELL, AND I SAY THIS AS A, AS A FATHER TO CHILDREN AND PROTECTING THEM.
SOME, SOME OF THAT PROTECTION IS, IS, IS SOMETIMES NOT PUTTING THEM IN CERTAIN DANGERS AS WELL.
UM, BUT AGAIN, I JUST SAID AT, AT ANY RATE, I JUST WANNA SAY THANK YOU FOR, FOR BEING HERE.
UH, CONTINUE TO COME AND FIND WAYS WHERE WE CAN WORK WITH OTHER ORGANIZATIONS OUTSIDE OF THIS BUILDING.
BECAUSE QUITE FRANKLY, WE'RE GONNA HAVE TO LEAN INTO COMMUNITY TO HELP LEAD THIS CONVERSATION.
I MEAN, THANK YOU COUNCILMAN KAMAN.
UM, I WANTED TO THANK YOU, MA'AM FOR YOUR COURAGE IN SPEAKING UP.
UM, LIKE YOU, I BELIEVE THAT THERE ARE MANY THAT CANNOT SPEAK UP RIGHT NOW, BUT THAT DOES NOT MEAN THAT WE SHOULDN'T BE FIGHTING BACK BECAUSE THERE ARE FAMILIES THAT ARE BEING HURT RIGHT NOW.
THERE ARE FAMILIES THAT ARE BEING RIPPED APART.
THERE ARE BEING FAMILIES THAT ARE BEING DENIED DUE PROCESS.
THERE ARE LEGAL RESIDENTS HERE THAT ARE BEING DENIED, THAT ARE BEING DENIED DUE PROCESS, THEIR RIGHTS AS WELL.
UM, WHEN ONE, WE, WE TALK ABOUT A HEAVY HAND, BUT WE'RE SEEING THAT HAND PLAY OUT.
AND I RECOGNIZE THAT THERE ARE VERY VULNERABLE INDIVIDUALS THAT WE HAVE TO, UM, PROTECT THAT DO NOT HAVE A VOICE.
BUT THAT DOES NOT MEAN THAT WE DO NOT STAND UP.
THAT DOES NOT MEAN THAT WE DON'T SPEAK OUT.
THAT DOES NOT MEAN THAT CITIZENS DO NOT SPEAK OUT TO PROTECT OTHERS IN OUR COMMUNITY THAT ARE VULNERABLE.
SO I WANNA THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE.
COFFEE L BAY, WHO I DON'T SEE ART SMITH TRENT BUSTOS TO BE FOLLOWED BY EDUARDO DURAN.
THANK YOU FOR LETTING ME SPEAK HERE TODAY.
UM, I ACTUALLY CAME TO SPEAK ABOUT POLICE AND JUSTICE AT THE HPD, THE CONSTABLE'S OFFICE AND CITY HALL.
SO IT'S, IT'S FUNNY, I I DIDN'T EXPECT TO HAVE ONE OF THE PEOPLE THAT TRIED TO ABUSE MY RIGHTS ACTUALLY SITTING HERE TODAY IN THIS OFFICER.
SO UNDER CITY COUNCIL PREMISES, THAT'S WHAT THE SECURITY BUILDING RULES ARE.
AND IT, IT'S, IT ACTUALLY BREAKS MY HEART TO THINK ABOUT WHAT THE LADY THAT JUST CAME BEFORE ME SAID THAT PEOPLE AREN'T ALLOWED TO SPEAK IN THIS BUILDING.
THERE'S AN OPEN MEETING, UH, REQUIREMENT HERE.
AND I WAS HARASSED EVEN GETTING INTO THE BUILDING TODAY.
SO BUR 8.15, IF YOU WANT TO SPEAK HERE TODAY, NORMALLY YOU HAVE TO SHOW A DRIVER'S LICENSE AND THEY HAVE TO GO THROUGH CERTAIN SCREENING PROCEDURES.
BUT BECAUSE THE OPEN MEETINGS REQUEST, YOU'RE NOT ACTUALLY REQUIRED TO SHOW A DRIVER'S LICENSE AND YOU, UNLESS YOU HAVE LIKE A PACKAGE, A BEEF CASE, SOMETHING LIKE THAT, TO GO THROUGH SCREENING.
AND THIS ALL STARTED FOR ME AT, AT THE CIVIL COURTHOUSE DOWNTOWN WITH THE CONSTABLE'S OFFICE.
I WAS ARRESTED BECAUSE I DIDN'T WANT TO GIVE UP MY FOURTH AMENDMENT TON REASONABLE SEARCH AND SEIZURE.
[01:00:01]
AND I GOT PROVEN NO, NO, UH, NO PROBABLE CAUSE.I TRIED TO GO DOWN TO 1302 PRESTON AT ALLEN ROSEN'S OFFICE AND JUST GET THE RECORDS FOR WHAT HAD HAPPENED TO ME.
'CAUSE I HAD NERVE DAMAGE NOW IN BOTH OF MY WRISTS DUE TO THE FACT OF BEING SITTING IN THE BACK OF A POLICE CAR FOR AN HOUR TELLING THEM MY HANDS WERE NUMB AND THEY REFUSED TO RELEASE THE HANDCUFFS.
I, I'VE BEEN TRYING FOR A WEEK TO GET A MEETING WITH ALAN ROSEN.
HE GAVE, PUT ME OVER TO, UH, DEPUTY CHIEF CARL SHAW.
WHEN I ASKED FOR JUST THE BUILDING PROCEDURES AND THE RULES, BECAUSE I HATE TO SAY THIS, I'M A TRUST BUT VERIFY TYPE OF PERSON.
YOU TELL ME WHAT, YOU KNOW, WHAT YOU HAVE TO SAY AND I'LL VERIFY IT.
THEY ARE AT THE POINT NOW WHERE I HAVE TO FOIA THEIR BUILDING RULES AND THEIR POLICIES JUST TO EVEN UNDERSTAND HOW TO ENTER THEIR BUILDING.
I FIND THAT TO BE ABSOLUTELY DISGUSTING THAT YOU CAN'T ENTER A PUBLIC PLACE NOW UNLESS YOU'RE TOLD EXACTLY HOW TO ENTER IT.
UM, I, I HAD MARILYN BURGESS'S WEBSITE.
SHE GIVES OVER THE SCREENING PROCESS.
THEY SAID, ALL ITEMS MUST BE SCREENED.
AND, AND I ASKED THEM, SO WHERE, WHERE DOES THE LINE GO? BECAUSE I MEAN, WE'RE TALKING SHIRTS, PANTS, UNDERWEAR.
AND, AND DEPUTY CHIEF CAME TO BASICALLY SAYING THAT THEY HAVE THE RIGHT TO STRIP YOU DOWN AT A COURTHOUSE.
I, I DON'T UNDERSTAND WHERE WE GO WITH THIS IF OUR BASIC FOURTH AMENDMENT RIGHTS CAN'T BE HONORED JUST GETTING INTO, UH, EVEN THE CITY BUILDING HERE.
I HAD TO TALK TO, UH, HIS NAME WAS MONROE.
HE'S THE BIG CHIEF GUY AT THE ANNEX BUILDING ACROSS THE STREET.
THEY WOULDN'T LET ME GET A PUBLIC MEETING.
I COULDN'T FILL OUT THE FORMS IN PERSON ACROSS THE STREET.
SO WHAT IS YOUR ASK OF US TODAY? DID YOU WANT TO JUST SHARE THAT? I MEAN, I, NO, I WHAT IS, WHAT IS YOUR ASK? MY ASK IS IF, IF ANYBODY ON THIS, ON THE CITY COUNCIL COULD REACH OUT TO ALAN ROSEN AND BE LIKE, HEY, WHY CAN'T WE BE TRANSPARENT HERE? AND WHEN YOUR OFFICERS ARE FOUND IN NO PROBABLE CAUSE, WHY CAN'T WE GIVE A MEMO OUT OR PUT SIGNAGE IN FRONT OF BUILDINGS THAT SIMPLY SAY, HEY, THESE ARE THE RULES.
AND, AND YOU KNOW, I THAT'S, THAT'S ALL I'M ASKING HERE TODAY.
AND IF WE COULD, IF YOU COULD TALK TO, I HAVE HIS ACTUAL NAME.
MARONE MCLEAN, HE'S THE ALLIED SECURITY PERSONNEL THAT I HAD TO SPEAK WITH ON MONDAY.
I ASKED HIM IF HE COULD JUST GIVE A MEMO OUT TO THE BUILDING SECURITY, HPD AND THEN THE ANNEX BUILDING OF, HEY, YOU KNOW, ON THESE DAYS WHEN YOU COME TO SPEAK AT A MEETING, THESE ARE THE REQUIREMENTS.
THE SECURITY PERSONNEL SIMPLY JUST DON'T KNOW WHAT, WHAT ARE REQUIRED OF THEM.
AND, AND I FIND THAT TO BE ASTOUNDING.
UM, I SAID HE WAS THERE FOR, FOR, FOR, THIS IS FOR OUR CITY ATTORNEY.
UM, DO WE HAVE SOME STANDARD RULES FOR ENTERING THE BUILDING? AND ARE THOSE ON OUR WEBSITE? DO WE KNOW IF THAT THAT'S, UH, WE DO HAVE RULES.
I'M NOT SURE THEY'RE ON THEIR WEBSITE.
UM, I, I CAN GIVE YOU THE WEBSITE.
YEAH, WE CAN, WE CAN DEFINITELY GET YOU THE, THE STANDARD RULES FOR WHAT'S, WHAT'S HAPPENING AT THE CITY.
NO, THAT'S, THAT'S, THAT'S MY PROBLEM AT THE ANNEX YEAH.
RIGHT? I, I ANNEX TOOK IT TWO HOURS.
YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT OUR ANNEX? YES, MA'AM.
I, I, THAT'S THE PROBLEM IS I TOOK ME, I HAD TO FIND IT MYSELF AND THEN PRESENT IT TO THEM FOR THIS WHOLE PROCESS TO BEGIN THE FACT THAT THEY DIDN'T KNOW WHAT THE RULES WERE AND THEN TRIED TO FULLY INTIMIDATE ME INTO, COERCING ME INTO GIVING UP MY FOURTH AMENDMENT, WAS THAT WAS WHAT THE PROBLEM WAS.
WELL, I THINK THAT WE CAN DEFINITELY MAKE SURE THAT THEY UNDERSTAND WHAT THE REQUIREMENTS ARE FOR, UM, FOLKS ENTERING, ENTERING THE FACILITY.
AND JUST TO ANSWER YOUR SECOND QUESTION HERE, AGAIN, JUST IF ANYBODY HERE COULD JUST TALK TO ALAN ROSEN, MY NAME IS TRENT BUSTOS.
HE, HE KNOWS WHAT, HE KNOWS WHO I AM.
I'VE BEEN TRYING TO GET A MEETING WITH HIM TO, TO JUST, TO UNDERSTAND WHAT THE RULES ARE AND, AND HE, HE REFUSES TO MEET WITH ME.
SO THAT'S WHERE I, YOU KNOW, I'M GOT IT KIND OF AT IMPASSE HERE.
UH, WE'LL DEFINITELY MAKE SURE THAT THE, THE, UM, ALLIED SECURITY FOLKS, UM, KNOW WHAT THE RULES ARE FOR GETTING IN THE BUILDING AND I WISH YOU THE BEST AND GETTING YOUR, UM, CONTACT WITH, WITH MR. ROSEN OR SOMEBODY FROM HIS OFFICE.
I DON'T SEE STEVE WILLIAMS. I DON'T SEE MARCO ROBERTS TO BE FOLLOWED BY TJ BAKER.
UH, GOOD MORNING COUNCIL MEMBERS.
UM, SOME OF YOU MAY SEEN ME BEFORE.
[01:05:01]
THIS ONE.UM, I WAS HERE ABOUT THREE WEEKS AGO.
SOME OF YOU MAY REMEMBER TALKING ABOUT THE ILLEGAL DUMPING ISSUE, HOW WIDESPREAD IT IS.
UM, WE'VE BEEN VISITING WITH YOUR OFFICE A LITTLE BIT ABOUT BACK IN JANUARY.
I JUST WANNA LET YOU KNOW THAT, FIRST OF ALL, I DUNNO WHO MADE THE CALL, THAT THE VERY NEXT DAY THE NEIGHBORHOOD WAS CLEARED.
BUT AS I POINTED OUT AT THAT MEETING, THIS WAS NOT GONNA BE THE END OF THE ISSUE.
SO WHAT I'M HERE TO ASK, I KNOW SOMEONE'S ASKING WHAT'S THE ASK? THE ASK IS FOR AN ACTIONABLE CONCRETE PLAN OF ACTION TO DEAL WITH THE MASSIVE ILLEGAL DUMPING PROBLEM ALREADY IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD THAT AFTERNOON.
ALREADY THERE WAS MORE DUMPING THAT IMMEDIATELY IT APPEARED IN MANY OF THE REPEAT LOCATIONS.
SO IT'S LIKE THESE CERTAIN LOCATIONS THAT ARE CONSTANTLY BEING ADDRESSED.
SO, UM, I WANNA POINT THANK ALSO BY THE A CHANNEL 11.
THEY'VE BEEN RUNNING STORIES ON THIS.
UH, I JUST WANT TO ASK FOR MORE ASSISTANCE.
UH, WE'VE ASKED, UH, SIR, YOUR OFFICE FOR FLYERS ON THAT.
WE'RE STILL WAITING ON THOSE FLYERS BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, PEOPLE TALKING ABOUT, WELL, WHY DON'T YOU DO SOMETHING? WELL, WE WANNA DO SOMETHING, BUT WE NEED THE CITY TO BACK US UP.
ONE OF THE THINGS WE'D LIKE TO DO IS TO DISTRIBUTE FLYERS TO LET PEOPLE KNOW THESE ARE THE RULES FOR THOSE THAT MAY NOT KNOW WHAT THE RULES.
THE OTHER THING IS, WE NEED SOME CONSISTENCY IN THE GARBAGE.
UH, ARE YOU DONE? NO, BUT WE, I HAVE OTHER THINGS I LIKE TO SAY, BUT IF YOU WANNA FINISH UP.
SO, UM, WHAT I'D LIKE TO DO IS TO MAKE SURE THAT ONE OF THE PROBLEMS THAT'S MAKING IT VERY DIFFICULT FOR THE 3 1 1 CASES, WE'VE BEEN ASKED TO SUBMIT 3 1 1 CASES, AND WE'VE BEEN DOING THAT.
SOME OF THE PROBLEMS WE'VE ENCOUNTERED IS THAT SOME OF THE ADDRESSES THAT OUR REPEAT OFFENDERS ALL OF A SUDDEN HAVE DISAPPEARED FROM GOOGLE MAPS.
SO WHEN WE LOOK AT THEM, THE ADDRESSES ARE BLURRED.
SO NOW WE'RE FORCED TO PHYSICALLY HAVE TO WALK THERE TO CONFIRM THE ADDRESS IS CORRECT.
THE OTHER PROBLEM WE HAVE IS THAT WHEN WE SUBMIT THE 3 1 1 CASES, GUESS WHAT? TWO OR THREE MONTHS LATER, WE'RE TOLD IT'S RESOLVED.
BUT WE ALREADY HAD GARY'S PICKUP BY THAT TIME, SO WE NEVER KNOW IF THERE WAS A CITATION.
WE HAVE NO IDEA THAT ANYTHING AT ALL IS BEING DONE.
SO WHAT WE'RE ASKING FOR, JUST TO REPEAT THE ASK IS FOR A CONCRETE PLAN OF ACTION IN THE CITY.
IT'S NOT JUST OUR NEIGHBORHOOD, WESTBURY, SOUTH UNION, SOUTH HOUSTON, THEY'RE ALL HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM TO HELP US OUT WITH THE CONCRETE PLAN OF ACTION TO DEAL WITH THIS ISSUE.
SO, SO IF I CAN JUST FIRST AND FOREMOST, THANK YOU FOR ENGAGING WITH MY OFFICE AND MY TEAM.
UM, SO I WANT TO DEFINITELY GIVE A SHOUT OUT TO JUAN PABLO, WHO YOU'VE BEEN WORKING WITH.
SO THAT CALL, IT WAS, IT WASN'T A MIRACLE.
IT WAS WORK THAT WAS BEING DONE THROUGH OUR TEAM, UH, TO ENSURE THAT WE'RE OUT THERE.
UM, AND JUST TO KIND OF GET, IT FELT LIKE A MIRACLE.
NO, I'M SURE IT FELT LIKE ESPECIALLY, UH, WHENEVER WE'RE HAVING A, A LOT OF, YOU KNOW, AND I THINK IT'S ALSO CLEAR, UH, IT'S IMPORTANT TO CLEAR UP AS WELL, ILLEGAL DUMPING AND HEAVY TRASH THAT ISN'T PICKED UP, THAT TURNS INTO MORE ILLEGAL DUMPING.
I THINK, UH, THERE'S A RESPONSIBILITY BY PROPERTY OWNERS TO MAKE SURE THAT ANYTHING THAT'S IN FRONT OF THEIR HOME, UM, TO MAKE SURE THAT, YOU KNOW, ANY ADDITIONAL HEAVY TRASH OR OR DUMPING THAT HAPPENS THERE TO REPORT IT AS QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE.
UM, SO YOUR ACTIONABLE ITEMS, THERE'S A COUPLE THINGS THAT WE'RE, WE ARE WORKING ON WITH THE MAYOR, HIS, HIS TEAM, AND OF COURSE, SOLID WASTE DEPARTMENT.
UM, RIGHT NOW OUR OPERATIONS FOR HEAVY TRASH, UH, IS, IS BROKEN.
UH, WE'VE HAD EQUIPMENT THAT HAS BEEN FAILING.
UH, WE'VE HAD DEFERRED MAINTENANCE ON, ON THAT FRONT, BUT ALSO AT SOME OF OUR, UH, TRANSFER STATIONS.
UM, AND RIGHT NOW THE DIRECTOR IS WORKING.
UH, WE, WE WANT TO PROVIDE A, A MORE EFFICIENT WAY OF HEAVY TRASH ON DEMAND WHERE FOLKS CAN PUT OUT, WE KNOW THAT ABOUT A QUARTER OF FOLKS, A QUARTER OF THE FOLKS UTILIZING HEAVY TRASH PICKUP.
UM, THAT'S, THAT'S ALL THAT'S BEING.
UM, THOSE ARE THE ONLY FOLKS THAT ARE UTILIZING IT OUTTA THE 400,000.
AND SO, UM, I'D LOVE TO SIT DOWN WITH YOU.
YOU CAME INTO MY OFFICE LAST YEAR.
LOVE TO SIT DOWN WITH YOU AGAIN, UH, TO HELP, UM, SHARE MORE OF THIS INFORMATION SO THAT WAY, UH, WE COULD LEAN INTO YOU TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE COMMUNICATING THIS AS WELL, UH, TO NOT JUST SPEAK ON PARK BUT QUITE FRANKLY, UH, OTHER PARTS OF THE DISTRICT, BECAUSE THIS IS NOT THE ONLY LOCATION RIGHT NOW IN MY NEIGHBORHOOD.
HEAVY TRASH WAS LAST MONTH IN OCTOBER.
UM, BUT THEN WE RUN THE, THE RISK OF IT BECOMING ILLEGAL DUMPING AS WELL.
SO, UM, IF YOU DON'T MIND, UM, I'LL HAVE, UH, JUAN PABLO REACH OUT TO YOU.
YOU COME INTO THE, COME INTO THE OFFICE, WE CAN TALK A LITTLE BIT MORE ABOUT CONCRETE THINGS THAT WE'RE WORKING ON, AND THEN HOW YOU COULD BE HELPFUL AS WELL IN THE COMMUNITY.
I PLEASE BE COUNCIL BOARD WITH, I AM NOT SURE IT'S NECESSARY.
UM, OH, YES, LORD, WITH MY, YOU WANT ME TO CITE ANOTHER ORIGINAL POEM ON MIND, OR DO YOU WANT ME TO SING FOR THE FUN MEDAL? FOR THE CRESTMONT FUN MEDAL.
[01:10:01]
YES SIR, YOU'RE FINE.AS MARVIN GABE WOULD SAY, WHAT'S GOING ON? I'M CHECKING ON THE PROJECTS OF THE FOND MEADOW STREET FOR THE SIDEWALK, FOR THE ONE CHURCH OF BETHELS FAMILY.
ANY UPDATES, PLEASE? UH, MS. THANK YOU SO MUCH.
UH, MS. REBECCA WILLIAMS SAID WITHIN 30 DAYS, SO AS PAST 30 DAYS.
SO WE'RE JUST HERE, JUST CHECKING UP ON IT.
CAN WE HAVE SOME BOULDERS OR SOMETHING TO BLOCK THOSE TWO BLOCKS TO KNOW THAT SOMETHING IS GOING TO START HAPPENING? SOMETHING IS GONNA START REPAIRING.
AND PLUS OUR LIGHTS FOR OUR BABIES, OUR DIS UH, DIS UH, DISABLED, UM, ELDERLYS, THE LIGHTS ARE STILL OUT ON SANDPIPER.
THOSE LIGHTS ARE STILL OUT AS WELL.
SO I'M JUST, I'M JUST HERE JUST CHECKING UP ON IT.
AND I, AND I THANK YOU SO MUCH AND I APPRECIATE YOU WANTING, UH, TO HAVE MS. REBECCA WILLIAMS TO, YOU KNOW, EMAIL.
AND SHE'S BEEN WONDERFULLY CORRESPONDING.
YES, WE'VE REPORTED THOSE LIGHTS AND THEY ARE IN THE QUEUE TO BE, UM, REPAIRED.
UH, WE SENT ALL OF THE, UM, REQUESTS THAT YOU AND THE CHURCH, UH, SENT TO US FOR THE SIDEWALK.
I THINK THERE'S A SIDEWALK ON ONE SIDE OF THE STREET.
UM, AND THEY SENT THE COST OF THAT SIDEWALK.
AND SO THERE WOULD HAVE TO BE AN IDENTIFICATION OF FUNDING FOR THE SIDEWALK ON THE OTHER SIDE.
AND BECAUSE THERE'S AN OPEN DITCH, I'M NOT QUITE SURE HOW THAT'S, THAT'S GOING TO ACTUALLY HAPPEN.
UM, BUT WE DID SEND IT TO PUBLIC WORKS.
THEY SENT BACK, UM, THE COST OF ACTUALLY REGRADING, UH, THE STREET.
UH, IT'S MORE THAN OUR COUNCIL DISTRICT SERVICE FUNDS HAVE AVAILABLE.
UM, SO NOW IT WOULD JUST BE A MATTER OF, UM, IDENTIFYING THE FUNDING FOR, FOR THAT STREET AND THAT, AND THAT SIDEWALK.
WELL, PUBLIC WORKS SAID THAT THE BUDGET IS THERE AND THEN THEY CAN WIDEN THE STREETS.
WELL, HONEY, I'M GONNA REFER YOU TO, UH, RANDY MACKEY
IT WAS, YOU KNOW, THEY SENT THE COST OF IT AND THAT WE NEEDED TO IDENTIFY THE FUNDING FOR IT.
SO, UM, THE TIMELINE, WILL IT BE DONE? SO, AND THOSE THINGS DON'T HAPPEN QUICKLY.
SO I MEAN, YOU CAN COME AND REQUEST AN AN UPDATE.
YOU CAN, YOU CAN SEND US AN EMAIL AND WHEN WE GET AN UPDATE, WE CAN SEND IT TO YOU, UNLESS YOU JUST WANT TO COME AND ASK FOR AN UPDATE.
AS SOON AS WE GET INFORMATION, WE'LL SEND IT TO YOU.
COULD WE GET LIKE BOULDERS OR SOMETHING TO BLOCK THOSE TWO BLOCKS TO KNOW THAT SOMETHING IS, IS HAPPENING AT THE SIDEWALKS FOR THE, THE CHILDREN, FOR THE ELDERLY.
SO, SO WE'VE GONE OUT THERE AND A BOULDER.
I DON'T UNDERSTAND WHAT A, A BOULDER WOULD DO.
UM, THAT SOME TYPE OF PETITION TO, TO BLOCK IT TO JUST TO LET US KNOW.
SO YOU WANT THE BOULDER TO BE IN THE DITCH? NO, NO.
AND NOT IN THE DITCH, UH, TO BLOCK ON ONE SIDE.
SO JUST LET US KNOW THAT SOMETHING IS, IS ABOUT TO HAPPEN.
THE STREETS IS ABOUT TO BE FIXED, THE SIDEWALK, BECAUSE YOU DO, WE DO HAVE THOSE SEWAGE THAT NEEDS TO BE REPAIRED.
THEY'RE NOT DITCHES THAT THEY'RE SEWAGE.
LET ME, LET ME ASK PUBLIC WORKS TO GO AND MAYBE MAKE A SUGGESTION.
I DON'T KNOW IF IF A BOULDER IN THE DITCH WOULD BE NO, NO, NOT IN THE DITCH, BUT JUST BLOCK ONE SECTION OFF ON THE OPPOSITE SIDE.
AND THAT WAY WE JUST KNOW THAT SOMETHING IS GOING ON.
UH, AND THOSE ARE NOT DITCHES, THOSE ARE SEWAGE THAT NEEDS TO BE, THEY HAVE GRASS AND GRAVEL AND IT'S AN OPEN DITCH.
UH, LET ME, LET ME ASK PUBLIC WORKS FORCE SUGGESTION.
JOSEPH AMARI TO BE FOLLOWED BY JAMES ARTHUR.
UH, TALK RAI TALK TO YOU SQUAD VISIT WITH YOU, UH, GOING DOWN THE LINE TO SEE WHO'S MESSING UP IN LINE WHEN IT COMES TO LAWSUIT.
IF YOU'RE THE PLAINTIFF OF THE PLAINTIFF LAWYER, UH, YOU WANT YOUR CASE SETTLED AS SOON AS IT'S POPULAR, AND YOU WANT THE JUDGE SIGNATURE ON YOUR JUDGMENT ORDER.
HOPEFULLY WITHIN 365 DAYS, ONE PIECE OF PAPER SIGNED BY A FEDERAL JUDGE, I'M INSTANTLY A MULTI MILLIONAIRE.
UH, MA'AM, WIL, I'M GONNA VOTE FOR YOU AGAIN, BUT YOU CAN RETIRE WITH THAT $1.2 MILLION.
WE SPEND MORE TIME WITH YOUR FAMILY.
LET ME EXPLAIN THE GREAT DEBATE BEFORE, BEFORE BETWEEN MAYOR BOB AND COUNCILMAN ROCHE BETWEEN MARK VALU AND FAIR MARKET.
WHEN BILL CLINTON WAS THE PRESIDENT, WE HAD A A BOOM PERIOD AND MARKET VALUE RENT DROVE UP BECAUSE OF RENT.
THE RENT SUPPOSED TO WENT DOWN WHEN THE
[01:15:01]
ECONOMY GOT WORSE, BUT IT KEPT ESCALATING, GOING UP AND UP AND UP.IT CAUSED A LOT OF HOMELESSNESS DISPLACEMENT LIKE BILL BOB HAD PREDICTED.
I WOULDN'T BE HOMELESS RIGHT NOW IF MY CASEWORKER WOULD'VE JUST REPLACED A STOLEN VOUCHER THAT STOLE FROM ME BEFORE A LEGAL EVICTION.
WHAT IS A LEGAL EVICTION? YOUR HONOR, CAN I EXPLAIN LEGAL EVICTION? YOUR TIME HAS EXPIRED.
UH, A ILLEGAL EVICTION IS WHEN THE RENT IS YOUR MORTGAGE OCCURRING.
YOU ARE, UH, THE OWNER, OR YOU ARE THE DEED POSSESSION OF OTHER PROPERTY.
USE THE POLICE, THE COURT AND GOVERNMENT TO LEGALLY BREAK YOU.
YOUR HONOR, THEY OWED ME 38,000 S-S-A-D-S-S-I-S-A-D BACK PAPER BEFORE OBAMA, BIDEN TRUMP, AND BELL EDWARDS AND MILITARY MARTIAL LAW.
MY FAMILY HAD NONE OF THESE PROBLEMS. THE SOCIAL SECURITY CHECK WAS ALWAYS IN THE MAILBOX ON THE FIRST OF THE MONTH.
EVERY MONTH WHEN THEY AIN'T BROKE, DON'T FIX IT.
MY OBAMACARE HAS MESSED UP MY MEDICARE AND MY SSID BACK PAY BY FACT HAD BACKPACK PROBABLY CAME WITH ONE OF THE, UH, BODY PUMP IS THE PRESIDENT AGAIN.
THE FIGHT THE BUCK SPOT WITH HIM.
AND, UH, AND THEY'RE LOOKING FOR A REASON TO IMPEACH IT.
HOW OBAMA, TRUMP, AND BIDEN IS GONNA PROTECT SENIOR CITIZENS TO BE FROM KIDNAPPERS AND STILL THE SSI AND SIDI BENEFITS THROUGH.
NEXT JAMES, AUTHOR, GOOD MORNING.
THE TRIAG AGENCY REQUEST FOR EXPRESSION OF INTEREST LISTED 12 PROGRAMS. MAJORITY OF THEM HAVE TO DO WITH SUPPORT AND SUPPORTIVE SERVICES LIKE CASE MANAGEMENT, INCOME AND EMPLOYMENT PREVENTION, DIVERSION.
A LOT OF SERVICE PROVIDERS HAVE SUBMITTED PROPOSALS IN RESPONSE TO THE REI.
SOME WENT IN AS LATE AS SEPTEMBER AS WE SPEAK NOW, A LOT OF THEM HAVE NOT RECEIVED ANY RESPONSES.
THE WAY THEY SET IT UP, LIKE THE ONES THAT WERE RECEIVED IN SEPTEMBER WILL BE REVIEWED ON THE, UH, THIRD FRIDAY OF OCTOBER.
PEOPLE HAVE NOT RECEIVED ANY RESPONSES AS WHETHER THEY HAVE NOT ACCEPTED OR NOT.
THE SELECTION PROCESS TAKES SOME TIME, EVEN AFTER THE REVIEW, PEOPLE HAVE BEEN ACCEPTED.
IT'LL TAKE PROBABLY ABOUT, UH, 30, 60 DAYS FOR THE CONTRACT TO TAKE IT SO THAT THESE, UH, PROVIDERS CAN PROVIDE THE VERY CRITICAL SUPPORT SERVICE LIKE CASE MANAGEMENT, LIKE NAVIGATION, LIKE ALL THAT.
IT SEEMS A LITTLE, UH, WORRY AND WORRISOME THAT EVEN AS THE CITY HAS MADE THIS COMMITMENT, EVEN WE STILL DO NOT HAVE IN PLACE A STRUCTURE THAT WILL ENABLE THE PROGRAMS TO BE, UH, PROVIDED THE SERVICE WE PROVIDED.
I'M STRONGLY RECOMMENDING THAT IN LIEU OF THE FACT THAT THE, UM, THERE'S SOME URGENCY ABOUT THE PROVISION OF THESE SERVICES.
WE SET UP A HOMELESS TASK FORCE THAT WILL BRING ALL STAKEHOLDERS TO THE TABLE SO THAT THEY CAN TALK AMONG AND WITHIN EACH OTHER, AND SO THAT YOU'LL FACILITATE THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THIS VERY IMPORTANT PROGRAM.
THIS IS CRITICAL, ESPECIALLY SINCE THE CITY IS HOLDING A HOSTING THE SOCCER WORLD CUP IN PROBABLY ABOUT EIGHT MONTHS TIME.
AND WE HAVE NOT, WE'RE CLOSE TO BEGIN THE SERVICE OF DELIVERY.
THIS IS FOR, ESPECIALLY SINCE IN JUNE, COUNCIL VOTED AT 1 MILLION SINCE THEY HAVE BOUGHT THE PROPERTY.
WHERE ARE WE NOT ANY CLOSER BEGINNING TO PROVIDE SERVICES, PLEASE.
WE NEED A HOMELESS TASK FORCE THAT WILL WORK WITH THE COALITION, THAT WILL WORK WITH HARRIS COUNTY, THAT WILL WORK THE CITY SO THAT WE CAN JUST GET TOGETHER A CO COORDINATED PLAN TO BEGIN SERVICE DELIVERY.
THIS COMPLETES THE LIST OF SPEAKERS.
[MAYOR'S REPORT]
MOVING TO OUR AGENDA MEMBERS, UH, I'D LIKE TO USE MY TIME AS THE MA WITH THE MAYOR'S REPORT TO MENTION THAT WE HAVE NO GREATER RESPONSIBILITY AS ELECTED OFFICIALS THAN TO COMFORT OUR COMMUNITY.[01:20:01]
OUR RESIDENTS ASSUME WE HAVE MORE INFORMATION THAN THEY DO OFTEN.I RAN TO UNITE HOUSTONIANS AND WE'VE BEEN SUCCESSFUL.
I'M ALARMED THIS MORNING OVER THE RHETORIC IN THE LAST 48 HOURS, BY QUITE FRANKLY, SOME INDIVIDUALS THAT I THOUGHT I KNEW BETTER.
I WOULD URGE US THIS MORNING TO GET BACK TO THE FACTS QUIT ALARMING.
PEOPLE UNNECESSARILY QUIT POLITICIZING A VERY EMOTIONAL ISSUE.
WE ALL KNOW MS. ES WAS A PERFECT WITNESS THIS MORNING ABOUT THE ANXIETY IN OUR COMMUNITY.
THEY'RE INVOLVED WITH MY FAMILY.
I COULD GO ACROSS THE SPECTRUM AS TO WHO IT INVOLVES.
I WOULD LIKE TO THINK IT INVOLVES EVERY HOUSTONIAN, WHETHER HE OR SHE OR AN IMMIGRANT OR NOT.
WE DIDN'T ASK FOR THIS CHALLENGE.
WE CAN STRONGLY DISAGREE WITH THE ACTIONS OF THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT, BUT WE'RE HERE TO FOLLOW THE LAW.
WE'VE BEEN VERY CONSISTENT FROM DAY ONE WHEN I WAS SWORN IN.
WE'RE GONNA FILE A STATE AND CITY LAWS LIKE EVERY JURISDICTION IN THIS STATE LIKE ED GONZALEZ IS DOING, LIKE SEAN TERRY'S DOING.
WHEN THERE'S A WARRANT FOR SOMEONE'S ARREST, WE HAVE NO CHOICE BUT TO SUBMIT THEM TO THE AGENCY THAT HAS THE WARRANT.
HPD UNDER LEADERSHIP OF CHIEF DIAZ HAS DONE A PROFESSIONAL JOB.
I'VE BEEN ON SURGES AT THE AFTER HOUR CLUBS.
50, A HUNDRED IMMIGRANTS WILL POUR OUT OF A CLUB AT FOUR IN THE MORNING.
NO ONE WITH HPD INQUIRES AS TO THEIR IMMIGRATION STATUS.
INDIVIDUALS ARE CHECKED FOR DRUGS AND FIREARMS AND THEN SENT HOME.
WHEN PEOPLE HAVE PULLED OVER, THEY'RE NEVER ASKED ABOUT THEIR IMMIGRATION STATUS.
THAT HAS BEEN THE POLICY SINCE DAY ONE.
IT WAS UNDER THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION.
IT'S UNDER PREVIOUS CHIEFS, PREVIOUS MAYORS.
AND SO NOW THE OPPORTUNITY FOR PEOPLE TO RESPOND RESPONSIBLY OVER THE WEEKEND, LOWER THE RHETORIC, BE ACCURATE.
WHAT'S THE INCENTIVE TO TO, TO BADMOUTH HPD WITH SUCH A SENSITIVE ISSUE? OR EVEN ME, IT'S NOT HARMING HPD.
THEY'RE DOING GREAT MORALES AT AN ALL TIME HIGH RECRUITMENTS AT AN ALL TIME HIGH.
THE PUBLIC OPINION OF HPD IS HIGH.
YOU'RE HARMING THE COMMUNITY THAT WE'RE ALL COMMITTED TO SERVE IN COMFORT.
WHEN PEOPLE SEE SOCIAL MEDIA OR CLICK BAIT, IT SAYS HPD IS DOING THIS WRONG AND DOING THIS INVOLVED IN ENFORCEMENT OF IMMIGRATION AND ICE LOSS.
THERE'S NOT ONE SILLA OF EVIDENCE TO DEMONSTRATE THAT THE YOUNG MAN THAT BECAME PART OF OUR EXPERIENCE, I STILL CAN'T BELIEVE THE ACTIVIST FIFA EXPOSED HIS MOTHER TO HER VULNERABILITY AND CIRCUMSTANCES OF HER IMMIGRATION STATUS.
AND Y'ALL GOT TO SEE THE VIDEOS OF FOUR HOURS OF COMPASSIONATE HPD WORK REFERRING HIM TO CPS, THEN THE IMMIGRANT RELOCATION AGENCY ULTIMATELY IN TEXAS CHILDREN'S HOSPITAL.
IT'S THE WAY YOU WOULD WANT YOUR SON TREATED.
THE WIFE THAT WAS TAKEN TO INTAKE AFTER AN ASSAULT ON HER HUSBAND.
[01:25:02]
THAT ACTED UPON THE WARRANT, THAT WAS THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE.WE'RE DOING EXACTLY THE SAME POLICY OF THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE.
BUT, BUT NO ONE QUESTIONS THAT PEOPLE TURN ON HPD.
IT'S JUST, IT'S JUST WRONG AND HARMFUL TO THE COMMUNITY THAT WE'RE COMMITTED TO REPRESENT.
I FEEL TERRIBLE THAT PEOPLE LISTEN TO SOME OF THE COMMUNITY LEADERS AND ELECTED OFFICIALS AND CANDIDATES, AND OF COURSE, THEY'RE, THEY GET FRIGHTENED.
BUT I ALSO WANNA DO A SHOUT OUT.
WE MET WITH COUNCIL MEMBER MARTINEZ SHOWING LEADERSHIP, AGAIN, BEING VERY FIRM AND COMPASSIONATE ABOUT WHAT HIS POSITION IS.
SENATOR ALVARADO MEETING WITH US OVER THE WEEKEND REASSURING THE HISPANIC COMMUNITY THAT HPD YOU CAN CALL FOR DOMESTIC ABUSE.
YOU CAN CALL FOR ASSAULTIVE BEHAVIOR AGAINST YOU OR YOUR FAMILY.
AND CONGRESSMAN LADY GARCIA MET WITH HER FRIDAY.
SHE UNDERSTANDS WE'RE WORKING WITH THE CONGRESSIONAL DELEGATION TO TRY TO GET A VOICE, A CONSENSUS TO EXPRESS OUR CONCERNS IN WASHINGTON.
SO I CAN'T THINK OF A MORE IMPORTANT ISSUE TO COME BEFORE US TODAY IS HOW TO PROVIDE COMFORT AND ASSISTANCE ACROSS HOUSTON.
I UNDERSTAND THE CHALLENGES AND THE ANXIETY IN THE GOFTON AREA, BUT ACROSS, NOT, NOT JUST GULFTON, THE EAST SIDE.
AND IT'S NOT JUST THE, THE LATINO COMMUNITY, IT'S THE AFRICAN COMMUNITY.
WE KNOW THAT IT'S OUR STRENGTH AND ALL.
I WOULD URGE EVERYONE TO DO ANYONE THAT CAN HEAR MY VOICE, DON'T POLITICIZE THIS.
DO NOT MAKE IT PART OF THE SOCIAL MEDIA MISREPRESENTATION OR THE FACT THAT SOMEBODY NEEDS TO MAKE CLICKBAIT OUT OF SOMETHING.
WE HAVE CONSISTENTLY HAD THE SAME POLICY SINCE DAY ONE, AND I'M TOLD IT'S THE SAME POLICY OF PREVIOUS ADMINISTRATIONS AND PREVIOUS POLICE CHIEFS.
WE ARE THE HOUSTON POLICE DEPARTMENT.
WE ENFORCE STATE AND CITY LAWS, NOT IMMIGRATION, NOT ICE.
AND ALL I CAN SAY IS AS WE GO FORWARD, WE'RE GONNA HAVE SOME CHALLENGING DAYS, BUT WE'RE BEING RECOGNIZED ACROSS THE NATION.
PEOPLE CALL, HOW HAVE YOU MANAGED TO NOT ESCALATE MATTERS? AND IT'S BECAUSE WE HAVE RESPONSIBLE CIVIC LEADERS, FAITH, COMMUNITY, ELECTED OFFICIALS, AND WE RECOGNIZE WE'RE ALL IN THIS TOGETHER.
SO THANK YOU FOR ALLOWING ME TO SPEAK.
I HAVE BEEN ALARMED BY THE UNNECESSARY TONE OF THE DISCUSSION.
I HOPE WE'LL CONTINUE AND DO BETTER.
UM, AND I, I ALSO APPRECIATE OUR SPEAKER THIS MORNING AS WELL.
UM, THIS IS A VERY COMPLEX AND SENSITIVE ISSUE.
IT'S, UM, THERE'S UNCERTAINTY FOR SURE.
THERE'S FOLKS THAT ARE SCARED.
UM, WHEN I, WHEN I SPEAK ABOUT THIS ISSUE, THIS IS NOT JUST COMING FROM ME.
THIS IS COMING FROM INTERACTIONS THAT I HAVE WITH INDIVIDUALS THROUGHOUT, THROUGHOUT MY DISTRICT.
UM, FOLKS, QUITE FRANKLY, HPD OFFICERS THAT HAVE IMMIGRANT PARENTS THAT HAVE BEEN DEPORTED BEFORE.
THIS IS, THIS IS NOT, UH, AN EASY CONVERSATION TO HAVE AND I GET IT.
UM, I APPRECIATE, I, I APPRECIATE BEING ABLE TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE, WE'RE BEING VERY INTENTIONAL ABOUT OUR, OUR WORDS BECAUSE I HEAR FIGHT, BUT WHAT DOES THAT FIGHT LOOK LIKE WHEN FOLKS ARE GETTING DEPORTED RIGHT NOW? WHAT ARE YOU FIGHTING FOR? I SAID, I SHARED THIS WITH Y'ALL MAYBE A FEW WEEKS AGO.
MY NEXT DOOR NEIGHBOR, HER HUSBAND WAS DEPORTED.
SO I HAVE TO, A COUPLE TIMES A WEEK GO AND COMFORT HER AND TALK TO HER.
[01:30:01]
HUSBAND'S IN EL SALVADOR, NO CRIMINAL HISTORY, BUT NOW HE'S WRAPPED UP IN THIS FIGHT.WHAT DOES THAT MEAN TO FOLKS THAT DON'T HAVE A VOICE, THAT DON'T HAVE THE PRIVILEGE TO FIGHT? WHAT DOES THAT MEAN TO FOLKS THAT LEAN INTO US TO MAKE SURE THAT THERE'S CALM, PEACE, TRUST WHEN WERE CREATING DISTRUST? IT'S, IT'S, THIS IS PROBABLY ONE OF THE HEAVIEST THINGS THAT I'VE HAD TO DEAL WITH AROUND THIS HORSESHOE.
UM, I EXPECTED A LOT OF THINGS TO HAPPEN AND KNOW THERE'S A LOT OF CHALLENGES IN THE CITY, BUT THIS ONE IN PARTICULAR, AND I CAN ONLY SPEAK THROUGH, SPEAK THROUGH MY LENSES.
MY MOTHER, WHO'S A RESIDENT FOR OVER 40 YEARS, NOT A US CITIZEN.
AND I SAY THAT KNOWING THESE RISKS, RIGHT? THIS IS PERSONAL TO ME AS WELL.
AND SO I CHALLENGE FOLKS THAT HAVE PRIVILEGE, HAVE A VOICE TO BE THOUGHTFUL, TO BE ABLE TO STEP A FEW, JUST A FEW STEPS BACK AND THINK ABOUT THE FOLKS THAT ARE GETTING DEPORTED THAT ARE NOT CRIMINALS.
WHAT ICE IS DOING IS DISGUSTING.
AND I THINK EVERYBODY CAN AGREE TO THAT.
WHAT'S HAPPENING IN CHICAGO WITH BORDER PATROL IS DISGUSTING, BUT AT WHAT POINT DO WE, ESPECIALLY IN THESE POSITIONS WHO HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK UP A LITTLE BIT LOUDER, PROVIDE SOME PEACE AND CALM IN THIS CHAOS, OR DO WE CONTINUE TO INFLAME THESE CONVERSATIONS? EVERY CONVERSATION THAT I'VE HAD WITH YOU, MAYOR, HAS BEEN, WE'RE FOLLOWING STATE AND LOCAL LAWS.
AND I'VE HAD THAT CONVERSATION WITH OTHER FOLKS ON THE GROUND WITH HPD.
AND I BELIEVE THAT, AND I TRUST THAT THE UNCERTAINTY THAT FOLKS FEEL THESE QUESTIONS, I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT FOR US TO BE ABLE TO HAVE THIS CONVERSATION WITH THEM AS WELL.
THEY NEED TO FEEL THAT REASSURANCE.
AND I THINK IT'S INCUMBENT UPON ME, IT'S INCUMBENT ABOUT OUR, ALL OF US AROUND HERE TO MAKE SURE THAT WE CAN BRING THAT CONVERSATION TO THE COMMUNITY.
I WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT I CAN SPEAK TO THIS WITH FULL CONVICTION WITH YOUR SUPPORT.
MAYOR, I WANNA KNOW, AND I KNOW WE HAVE DOUG HERE, WHAT IS THAT POLICY? WHAT IS THAT PROCESS SO THAT FOLKS KNOW CONCRETE INFORMATION ABOUT WHAT WE ARE DOING HERE? UM, I WANNA MAKE SURE THAT WE SHARE EMPATHY TO FOLKS THAT AGAIN, DON'T HAVE A VOICE.
WE AT ONE POINT HAD, UM, A SPANISH SPEAKING, UH, OUTLET FOR FOLKS THAT WAS CREATED, QUITE FRANKLY, OUT OF DISTRICT EYE OFFICE AS WELL.
UM, STARTED WITH, UM, ALONZA
ENGAGED COMMUNITIES TO BE ABLE TO HEAR FROM HPD OFFICERS ON WHAT IS HAPPENING ON THE GROUND, HOW THEY CAN CONTINUE TO REPORT, HOW THEY CAN CONTINUE TO FEEL SAFE.
I REALLY, I REALLY NEED THAT BACK IN THE COMMUNITY SO THAT FOLKS HAVE AN OUTLET TO BE ABLE TO HEAR REAL INFORMATION FROM HPD OFFICERS TO CONTINUE TO BUILD THAT TRUST AND NOT JUST SEE ONE-SIDED SOCIAL MEDIA POSTINGS.
MY HOPE IS, AND I, AND I SAY THIS WITH ALL SINCERITY TO MY COLLEAGUES, WHEN YOU SPEAK A FIGHT, LET'S REMEMBER THAT THERE ARE FOLKS THAT YOU MIGHT BELIEVE YOU'RE FIGHTING FOR, BUT ARE QUITE FRANKLY, SCARED RIGHT NOW THAT YOU WILL NEVER MEET AND COULD POSSIBLY BE DEPORTED.
SO I APPRECIATE YOU BRINGING THIS TO OUR ATTENTION FOR BRINGING THIS UP TODAY.
MAYOR, MY ROLE HERE IS TO HELP AND ENSURE THAT OUR COMMUNITIES ARE ALL SAFE NO MATTER WHAT YOUR IMMIGRANT STATUS IS, NO MATTER WHAT COUNTRY YOU COME FROM.
BUT I DO BEAR SOME OF THAT RESPONSIBILITY IN THIS POSITION.
AND SO, UM, I WOULD LIKE, I WOULD LIKE TO HEAR WHAT THIS POLICY IS.
UH, OBVIOUSLY THE CHIEF'S NOT HERE, BUT DOUG REPRESENTS THE RANK AND FILE AND THE CHALLENGE, DOUG, COME FORWARD.
AND I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR YOUR RESPONSIBLE LEADERSHIP.
[01:35:03]
I DO UNDERSTAND AND AS YOU WELL DO WHEN SOMEWHERE ATTEMPT TO RECRUIT PEOPLE TO QUOTE FIGHT, IT CERTAINLY CAN EXPOSE THEM TO RAMIFICATIONS.SO WE HAVE TO BE SMART AND NOT LET OTHERS USE PEOPLE.
I KNOW FOR A FACT SOME PEOPLE ARE USING SOME IMMIGRANTS IN QUOTING, FIGHTING AND WANTING TO BE PAID.
SO THERE ARE SCAM ARTISTS OUT THERE AND THAT'S A TRAGEDY.
UH, YOU'RE FAMILIAR WITH THE POLICY? YES, SIR.
AND I WANNA THANK YOU OFF FIRST AND WOULD YOU DESCRIBE IT AND MAYBE EVEN THE HISTORY OF IT? SURE.
THANKS FOR ALLOWING ME TO COME AND SPEAK THIS MORNING.
UH, PART OF THE ISSUE THAT WE SEE HERE IS EVERYBODY BELIEVES THAT WE ARE WORKING IN CONJUNCTION WITH ICE.
IT'S JUST NOT ACCURATE WHATSOEVER.
UH, THE WAY IT WORKS IS THAT WE'RE OUT AS LOCAL, UH, LAW ENFORCEMENT.
WE'RE OUT CONDUCTING OUR TRAFFIC STOPS, OUR CALLS FOR SERVICE, OUR WHATEVER IT IS WE GO TO ON A DAILY BASIS.
WHEN WE ENGAGE SOMEONE AND WE TALK TO THEM IF WE ARE GOING TO ARREST THEM OR IF THERE'S OUT LIKE OUR COMPLAINANTS OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT BY POLICY, WE HAVE TO CHECK 'EM ON THE COMPUTER.
OKAY, THAT'S A JUST A REGULAR BACKGROUND CHECK.
WE CHECK 'EM IF THEY HAVE, I'M SORRY SIR, BY LAW, CORRECT BY LAW.
AND WE CHECK 'EM ON THE COMPUTER.
IF THEY ARE WANTED BY ANY AGENCY, NO MATTER WHO IT IS, I DON'T CARE IF IT'S GALVESTON COUNTY, FORT BENTON COUNTY, MONTGOMERY COUNTY, HOUSTON, HARRIS COUNTY, WHATEVER IT IS, THEN WE HAVE TO CONTACT THAT AGENCY AND SEE IF THEY WANT 'EM.
AND THIS ALSO GOES FOR ICE OR THE FBI OR ANYONE ELSE.
NOW, DO WE DRIVE AROUND LOOKING FOR PEOPLE GOING, HEY, LET'S CHECK THESE GUYS AND SEE IF THERE'S HAVE AN ICE DETAINER? NO, WE DON'T HAVE THE MANPOWER FOR THAT.
WE ARE STILL 1500 OFFICERS DOWN.
I DON'T HAVE A SINGLE OFFICER.
I CAN TELL YOU WITHOUT A SINGLE DOUBT, WE DON'T HAVE AN OFFICER, NOT ONE GOING OUT THERE DOING THIS BECAUSE THEY DON'T HAVE THE TIME.
IT'S EVEN STRONGER THAT WE HAVE STRONG INSTRUCTIONS.
IF YOU GO TO ROLL CALL THE CHIEF REINFORCES THAT.
CORRECT? WELL OUR POLICY IS THAT IF WE HAVE AN OUTSTANDING WARRANT, WE CALL OUTSIDE OF THAT, WE'RE NOT WORKING WITH ICE, WE DON'T CARE ABOUT ICE.
THEY HAVE THEIR OWN JOB FUNCTION.
WHETHER YOU AGREE OR DISAGREE, THAT'S THEIR JOB FUNCTION.
AND I WANNA BE VERY, VERY CAREFUL ABOUT THE RHETORIC WE PUT OUT THERE BECAUSE A LOT OF TIMES COUNCIL MEMBERS, PLEASE, IF YOU HAVE A QUESTION ABOUT HPD POLICY, YOU ARE WELCOME TO CALL ME ANY OF YOU BECAUSE I WANT IT RIGHT.
YOU MAY NOT LIKE THE WORDS I SAY, YOU MIGHT NOT LIKE HOW I SET THINGS OFF, BUT I CAN PROMISE YOU IT WILL BE 100% UNFILTERED TRUTH.
BECAUSE THE REALITY IS THE REALITY WE HAVE A JOB TO DO.
IT IS A DIFFICULT JOB, BUT WE'RE NOT GONNA MAKE IT HARDER ON OURSELVES BY GOING OUT AND DOING STUPID THINGS LIKE TRYING TO WORK WITH AGENCIES.
I'LL BE HONEST WITH YOU, I DON'T LIKE WORKING WITH THE FBII DON'T.
BUT WE HAVE TO FROM TIME TO TIME.
AND I, THAT'S ONLY BECAUSE I'VE HAD TO WORK WITH 'EM IN THE PAST AND IT WAS A HORRIBLE EXPERIENCE.
BUT WE ARE NOT ENGAGING WITH ICE UNLESS WE HAVE SOMEONE WITH AN OUTSTANDING WARRANT.
AND THAT'S ONLY BECAUSE WE RAN THEM ON A COMPUTER AS PER THE LAW AND PER HPD POLICY.
SO IF THERE'S ANY QUESTIONS YOU HAVE, A LOT OF THESE COULD BE HANDLED WITH A PHONE CALL UPFRONT.
PRIOR TO PUTTING OUT ANY EMAILS OR ANY STATEMENTS OR ANYTHING ELSE.
WE ARE HERE TWENTY FOUR SEVEN.
AND HALF THE TIME I DON'T GET A CALL BEFORE A CRAZY EMAIL GOES OUT.
SO PLEASE REACH OUT TO US, GET THE FACTS BEFORE YOU PUT SOMETHING OUT.
HEY DOUG, YOU WANT TO REEMPHASIZE ITS EXACT POLICY OF THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE AND OUR CONSTABLES, CONSTABLE TREVINO? YES, THE DA'S OFFICE.
TO THE BEST OF MY KNOWLEDGE, IT IS THE EXACT SAME.
IN FACT, THERE'S 1100 PEOPLE IN HARRIS COUNTY JAIL WITH ICE DETAINERS.
ONCE THEY GET OUT, HARRIS COUNTY IS BOUND TO CONTACT ICE AND LET THEM KNOW THERE'S ABSOLUTELY NO DIFFERENCE BETWEEN WHAT THEY DO AND WHAT WE'RE DOING.
AND THAT SHOULD GO FOR ALL THE CONSTABLES AS WELL.
AND UNFORTUNATELY, THE INFLAMED RHETORIC NEVER REFERENCES THE OTHER AGENCIES.
FOR WHATEVER REASON IT'S TURNED ON HPD AND THAT DOES NOT HELP OUR COMMUNITY.
WELL, UNFORTUNATELY, A LOT OF THINGS CONSTABLES DO WILL GET BLAME FOR.
[01:40:01]
CONTINUE THE DISCUSSION, SO I'D LIKE TO REMAIN IN QUEUE FOR THE MAIN CONVERSATION.BUT DOUG, I APPRECIATE YOU COMING TODAY.
UM, AND I'M SORRY THAT I KNOW YOU SPEAK ON BEHALF OF HPD, BUT I ALSO WISH WE HAD HPD HERE AS WELL.
ONE OF THE THINGS THAT HAS CHANGED FROM MY UNDERSTANDING, BUT IF YOU COULD PLEASE ELABORATE, IS THAT ICE UNDER THE CURRENT ADMINISTRATION HAS UPLOADED INTO NCIC, NEW TYPES OF WARRANTS THAT EXISTED PREVIOUSLY, BUT WERE NOT IN OUR SYSTEMS. IS THAT CORRECT? THAT IS CORRECT.
SO ANY ANYTHING WHERE THEY HAVE BEEN ARRESTED IN THE PAST AND IT FORCES THEM TO GET A DEPORTATION ORDER, THOSE WERE NEVER ONLINE BEFORE.
NOW THEY'RE ON OUR N-C-I-C-T-C-I-C SYSTEM, SO THEY POP UP.
AND SO IT, WHEN THERE'S A STOP HPD BY INTERNAL ORDINANCE, EXCUSE ME, UM, HAS TO RUN THAT, THAT SEARCH WITHIN OUR SYSTEM.
WHAT GIVES ME HEARTBURN A A LOT OF MORE THAN HEARTBURN IS MY UNDERSTANDING IS THERE'S DIFFERENT TYPES OF WARRANTS INCLUDING, FOR EXAMPLE, ADMINISTRATIVE WARRANTS THAT HAVE BEEN UPLOADED INTO THE SYSTEM.
SO IMMIGRATION RELATED, UH, ADMINISTRATIVE WARRANTS.
SO LET'S SAY MISSED A COURT APPEARANCE, NON-VIOLENT ASSOCIATED WARRANTS THAT ARE IN OUR SYSTEM NOW.
IS THAT CORRECT? THAT IS, I I HAVE NOT BEEN TOLD THAT.
I WAS TOLD ORIGINALLY THAT WAS ONLY THE WARRANTS THAT WERE FOR CRIMINAL ACTIVITY.
AND THAT THE ADMINISTRATIVE WAS NOT GOING TO BE UPLOADED.
IF THEY WERE, IT STILL DOESN'T MATTER FOR, FOR LEGAL PURPOSES, WE HAVE TO CONTACT ICE.
NOW ICE HAS REFUSED TO COME OUT ON ANYTHING ADMINISTRATIVE TO THIS POINT THAT I'M AWARE OF.
I, WHAT I HAVE BEEN TOLD, AND IT WOULD BE HELPFUL TO HAVE CLARIFICATION, IS THAT ALSO INCLUDED IN THE SYSTEM ARE ADMINISTRATIVE BASED WARRANTS.
AND WHAT I DO NOT LIKE IS THE IDEA AND WHETHER THAT'S, AND I'D LIKE CLARIFICATION IF IT'S STATE LAW OR CITY, CITY-BASED POLICY AS IT PERTAINS TO ADMINISTRATIVE BASED WARRANTS.
AGAIN, I THE RULE OF IT WON'T MATTER EITHER WAY BY THE LAW.
SO WE HAVE TO, WE HAVE TO CONTACT THE AGENCY TO SEE IF THEY WANT THEM, PERIOD.
IT DOESN'T MATTER WHAT THE WARRANT'S FOR, BECAUSE HALF THE TIME WE'RE NOT GONNA REALLY KNOW.
IT'S NOT GONNA TELL US WHAT THE WARRANT'S FOR.
IT'S JUST GONNA SAY THEY HAVE AN OUTSTANDING WARRANT.
MY MY UNDERSTANDING IS IT DOES TELL US WHAT THE WARRANT IS FOR SPECIFICALLY NOT.
SO IT DID CLEAR THOUGH, BUT IT STILL WOULDN'T, IT WOULDN'T CHANGE OUR, UH, WHAT WE HAVE TO DO BY LAW.
BUT I I WANT THE FACTS OUT THERE.
AND IT'S NOT, LOOK, I HAVE SAID REPEATEDLY, I TRUST HPD REGARDLESS OF IMMIGRATION STATUS.
IF SOMEBODY POSES A PUBLIC SAFETY RISK TO OUR COMMUNITY, THAT IS LOCAL LAW ENFORCEMENT'S JOB.
AND I HAVE FAITH IN THEM TO DO THAT REGARDLESS OF IMMIGRATION STATUS.
SO MY QUESTIONS ARE NOT BASED ON HPD OR NOT, BUT WE ARE GRAPPLING NOW AS A CITY WITH THIS PROFOUND ISSUE WHERE WE ARE SEEING SOMETHING HORRIFIC TAKING PLACE.
AND WELL, I I DO WANNA SAY THIS.
PEOPLE NEED TO UNDERSTAND ICE AGENTS ARE FEDERAL AGENTS, PERIOD.
THEY HAVE A DIFFERENT JOB FUNCTION.
SO BE VERY CAUTIOUS IN THE RHETORIC YOU PUT OUT THERE ABOUT FIGHTING AGAINST AN A FEDERAL AGENT BECAUSE THERE'S STILL POLICE OFFICERS BY LAW.
AND I DON'T WANNA SEE PEOPLE GET HEMMED UP, INTERJECTING THEMSELVES IN SOMETHING AND GETTING ARRESTED WHEN THEY COULD JUST LEAVE IT ALONE.
AND EVERYTHING WILL WORK ITSELF OUT THE END IT FOR MANY, IT'S NOT WORKING THE ITSELF OUT RESPECTFULLY FOR MANY.
THERE ARE WARRANTLESS SEARCHES THAT ARE OCCURRING.
THERE ARE STOPS THAT ARE OCCURRING THAT INCLUDE RACIAL PROFILING.
WELL, AGAIN, THAT'S, THERE ARE BRAND THAT'S BETWEEN YOU AND THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT, NOT HPDI.
BUT YOU, WE JUST WENT INTO THE CONVERSATION ABOUT FEDERAL LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENTS.
BUT THESE ARE IN MANY CASES, OKAY.
AND WHAT I'M SAYING IS BE VERY CAUTIOUS.
DO NOT ASSAULT A FEDERAL AGENT.
IT WOULD BE, I DON'T THINK ANYONE IS ADVOCATING FOR ASSAULTING A FEDERAL AGENT.
WELL, WHEN PEOPLE SAY FIGHT, FIGHT, FIGHT OR WHATEVER THEY WANNA SAY, SAY NO.
WHEN PEOPLE SAY FIGHT, WHAT I, WHAT THEY'RE TALKING ABOUT IS PROTECTING THE COMMUNITY THAT IS UNDER ASSAULT RIGHT NOW.
AND WHEN PEOPLE SAY FIGHT, WHAT THEY MEAN IS TAKING IT TO COURT.
THEY MEAN FUNDING NONPROFITS THAT ARE PROVIDING LEGAL RESOURCES FOR ADVOCACY IN THE COURTS TO PROTECT AND ALLOW INDIVIDUALS DUE PROCESS, INCLUDING LITTLE CHILDREN.
RIGHT NOW, THIS IS WHAT I DON'T WANT.
I DON'T WANNA SEE US GET INTO VIRAL VIDEOS WHERE IT IS LIKE IT'S UP NORTH.
'CAUSE WE DO NOT HAVE THAT SAME ISSUE HERE.
I WILL HOLD THE REMAINDER OF MY COMMENTS, BUT WOULD LIKE TO REMAIN IN QUEUE.
DOUG, THANKS FOR, FOR LAYING THAT OUT.
AND I'VE HAD A SIMILAR CONVERSATION WITH CHIEF HARDEN, BUT
[01:45:01]
JUST TAKE IT ONE STEP FURTHER.LIKE AFTER YOU CALL, I UNDERSTAND THAT WHEN YOU SEE A WARRANT, YOU HAVE TO CALL.
IS THERE ANY KIND OF POLICY, LIKE HOW LONG DO I WAIT? YOU KNOW, WHEN DOES ICE COME? DOES I, YOU KNOW, I MEAN, OR IS IT JUST KIND OF UP TO THE DISCRETION OF THE OFFICER ON, 'CAUSE YOU KNOW, WE DON'T HAVE ENOUGH OFFICERS AND RIGHT.
I WANT OFFICERS TO BE GOING TO THE NEXT CALL FOR SERVICE RATHER THAN WAITING AROUND FOR ICE TO GET THERE.
SO, BUT SO IS THERE ANY KIND OF SET POLICY, RIGHT? THERE'S A CERTAIN AMOUNT OF TIME YOU HAVE TO WAIT FOR THE WARRANT TO SEE IF THEY'RE GONNA COME AND PICK THE INDIVIDUAL UP.
IF SO, THEN YOU HAVE TO MAKE ARRANGEMENTS WITH THAT INDIVIDUAL, UH, AGENCY.
I CAN EITHER TAKE 'EM TO HARRIS COUNTY AND DROP 'EM OFF OR THEY CAN COME PICK 'EM UP IN THE FIELD.
IT'S UP TO THEM, UH, HOW THEY WANT TO HANDLE IT AT THAT POINT.
WE DON'T, WE DO NOT WAIT VERY LONG BECAUSE WE JUST DON'T HAVE THE MANPOWER TO DO SO.
AND IF THEY SAY, HEY, WE CAN'T BE THERE FOR AN HOUR, OKAY, THEN WE'RE GONNA HAVE TO CUT 'EM LOOSE AND YOU'RE GONNA HAVE TO PICK 'EM UP LATER SO YOU DON'T LIKE, TAKE 'EM SOMEWHERE ELSE AND MAKE 'EM WAIT THERE.
THERE WERE NINE THAT HAD CALLS MADE.
LIKE I SAID, WHAT WE HAVE BEEN TOLD IS IF IT'S AN ADMINISTRATIVE WARRANT, THEY'RE NOT COMING TO GET 'EM.
AND THANK YOU DOUG FOR YOUR COMMENTS.
SO, UH, THANK YOU COUNCIL MEMBER CAYMAN FOR BRINGING UP THIS, UH, POINT ABOUT ADMINISTRATIVE WARRANTS.
THERE, THERE IS AN IMPORTANT DISTINCTION.
UH, ADMINISTRATIVE WARRANTS ARE NOT ISSUED BY NEUTRAL AND DETACHED MAGISTRATES, OR THEY'RE NOT RIGHT WARRANTS THAT WE TYPICALLY THINK OF UNDER THE FOURTH AMENDMENT.
HOWEVER, UNDER, UH, COURT DECISIONS, IT SEEMS LIKE TO ME, UH, FROM MY DISCUSSIONS WITH LEGAL, THAT THE CITY IS BOUND TO TREAT THEM AS REGULAR WARRANTS.
I INQUIRED OF OUR LEGAL DEPARTMENT SEVERAL MONTHS AGO WHY WE WERE, UM, DETAINING PEOPLE ON ADMINISTRATIVE WARRANTS, WHICH ARE NOT ISSUED BY NEUTRAL AND DETACHED MAGISTRATES.
THEY'RE ISSUED BY IMMIGRATION PERSONNEL, NOT JUDGES.
AND SO WE HAD A DISCUSSION, UH, LEGAL AND I ABOUT THIS ISSUE.
AND I DON'T WANNA MISSTATE ANYTHING.
ARTURO, PLEASE CORRECT ME IF I'M WRONG, BUT SEVERAL YEARS AGO, THE CITY WAS A PARTY TO LITIGATION CHALLENGING SB FOUR.
SB FOUR IS A STATE LAW THAT THAT LIMITS WHAT THE CITY CAN DO IN RELATION TO, UH, SETTING, SETTING POLICIES.
AND, UH, MY UNDERSTANDING IS THAT SB FOUR PREVENTS THE CITY FROM ENACTING POLICIES THAT PROTECT IMMIGRANTS FROM ICE.
AND THE FIFTH CIRCUIT COURT OF APPEALS FEDERAL COURT SAID SB KEPT SB FOUR IN PLACE.
AND, UH, AS A CITY WE'RE CONSTRAINED TO FOLLOW SB FOUR.
IS THAT ACCURATE? ARTURO? HAVE I MISSTATED ANYTHING? UM, THAT'S ACCURATE.
UH, THERE HAVE BEEN A COUPLE SB FOURS RELATING TO IMMIGRATION, BUT YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT THE 2017 LEGISLATIVE SESSION WHERE THE, UH, LEAD PLAINTIFF WAS THE CITY OF ELSO.
THAT, THAT, AND THAT'S EXACTLY CORRECT.
THE FIFTH CIRCUIT UPHELD ON A FACIAL CHALLENGE THAT, UH, THE PROVISION THAT, UH, PROHIBITS ANY MUNICIPALITY FROM, UH, LIMITING, UH, WORKING WITH EYES OR COOPERATING WITH EYES OR RESPONDING TO THEIR WARRANTS, THEY UPHELD THAT PROVISION THAT, THAT PROHIBITS ANY MUNICIPALITY FROM TAKING SUCH ACTION.
SO, SO IF THE CITY WERE TO ENACT A POLICY THAT SAID, WE'RE NOT GONNA RECOGNIZE THESE ADMINISTRATIVE ICE WARRANTS, UM, COULD, COULD WE BE IN VIOLATION OF SB FOUR, BOTH CIVILLY AND CRIMINALLY AND THERE WOULD BE PENALTIES FOR THAT? YES.
AND, AND ALSO UNDERSTAND THE POLICIES CHANGED OVER THE YEARS ONLY IN ONE ASPECT UNDER THE CLINTON ADMINISTRATION AND THE, UH, FIRST BUSH ADMINISTRATION OR SECOND BUSH ADMINISTRATION, THEY HAD, WE'D HAVE TO DO WHAT WE CALL HOLD CARDS.
AND ON THAT HOLD CARD, WE'D HAVE TO ASK THEIR LEGAL STATUS.
SO EVEN WHEN THEY GOING INTO JAIL, WE HAVE NO CLUE AS WHAT THEIR LEGAL STATUS IS, NOR DO WE CARE.
AND I DO APPRECIATE THIS DISCUSSION THIS MORNING.
AND I WANT TO SPEAK TO, TO MY CONCERNS AND, AND MY WORDS, WHICH WERE TO CALL FOR MORE INFORMATION AND, AND FOR MORE TRANSPARENCY.
UM, THERE IS A LOT OF ANXIETY ACROSS THE CITY RIGHT NOW.
I HEAR IT THROUGHOUT MY DISTRICT.
AND WHEN WE HAVE REASSURED FOLKS, THIS ISN'T HAPPENING.
AND THEN THE COMMENT OVER THE WEEKEND, UH, THAT WE'RE NOT, NOT WORKING WITH ICE,
[01:50:01]
IT RAISED A LOT OF QUESTIONS.IT BROUGHT THE ANXIETY UP AND THAT TO ME WAS, UH, SOMETHING THAT JEOPARDIZED THE PUBLIC'S TRUST WITH LAW ENFORCEMENT.
AND THAT'S CONCERNING BECAUSE WE KNOW HOW VITAL IT IS TO HAVE PUBLIC TRUST WITH OUR LOCAL LAW ENFORCEMENT.
UH, WHICH, WHICH IS WHY I ASKED FOR MORE TRANSPARENCY AND CLARITY AROUND WHAT THAT MEANT.
AND IT COULD MEAN THAT NOTHING HAS CHANGED, RIGHT? THERE'S NO JOINT OPERATION.
NOW WE, WE'VE GOT THAT CLARITY THIS MORNING, WHICH IS GREAT, UH, BECAUSE AGAIN, THERE HAS BEEN A LOT OF INCREASED ANXIETY AND FEAR FROM THAT, THAT WE HAVE, UM, SEEN AND FELT.
I KNOW I'VE HAD FOLKS REACH OUT TO ME DIRECTLY ABOUT IT, UH, FROM MY DISTRICT AND, YOU KNOW, ASKING FOR MORE INFORMATION, ASKING FOR MORE CLARITY ON THIS WOULD WOULD, WHEN IT IS SUCH A SENSITIVE SUBJECT.
UM, I DON'T BELIEVE THAT IS POLITICIZING IT.
I THINK THAT IS JUST HELPING US TO REASSURE FOLKS THAT HAVE VERY VALID FEARS WHEN THEY'RE SEEING THINGS, UH, HAPPEN THROUGHOUT THE CITY THAT IS THIS GOING TO HAPPEN IF, IF I REACH OUT WHEN I AM IN NEED? AND SO, UH, I THINK THIS IS VERY NECESSARY, UH, WHAT HAS OCCURRED THIS MORNING, UM, KNOWING THAT OUR POLICY HAS BEEN THE SAME AND THAT THE, THE TWEAK THAT HAS BEEN MADE TO IT, WHICH WAS TO, TO DROP THE IMMIGRATION QUESTION ASK.
UM, AND YES, YOU KNOW, OTHER JURISDICTIONS DO DIFFERENT THINGS OR DO THE SAME THING, BUT WE'RE ELECTED HERE AT THE CITY OF HOUSTON.
AND SO THAT'S, THAT'S MY FOCUS IS HERE.
HPD, THE LAW ENFORCEMENT THAT WE WORK WITH DAY IN AND DAY OUT, BECAUSE WE DO NEED THAT TRUST.
AND SO, UM, THAT'S WHY I ASKED FOR, FOR MORE INFORMATION, FOR MORE CLARITY, MORE TRANSPARENCY, UM, AND HAVING THE DISCUSSION HERE TODAY IN THIS PUBLIC SETTING, UM, PROVIDES A LOT OF, OF THAT REASSURANCE THAT WHAT IS AND WHAT ISN'T HAPPENING.
THANK YOU COUNCIL MAYOR FLICKING.
UM, THERE WAS A STORY IN THE CHRONICLE THING CAME OUT ABOUT TWO WEEKS AGO WITH A BIG HEADLINE.
I MEAN, THAT'S A PRETTY GLARING HEADLINE, BUT YOU GO AND YOU READ THE STORY AND YOU DO THE MATH ACCORDING TO THE NUMBERS THE CHRONICLE PROVIDED, AND IT AMOUNTED TO ONE HPD CALL EVERY THIRD DAY.
SO WHEN YOU TALK ABOUT THE RHETORIC, INFLAMING PEOPLE AND GETTING STUFF UPSET, THAT'S A PERFECT EXAMPLE OF IT.
AND I WISH THEY WOULD DO SOMETHING A LITTLE DIFFERENT TO WHERE THE HEADLINES ACTUALLY MATCH WHAT'S IN THE STORY NEXT.
BUT YOU KNOW, THEY KNOW WHAT THEY'RE DOING.
UM, I WANT TO ADDRESS THIS AND I WANT TO PUT MY WORDS IN AN APPROPRIATE MANNER.
UM, I DON'T APOLOGIZE FOR THE FACT THAT I'M A MINISTER AND A PASTOR, AND SO I AM, BUT I DO WANT TO SAY SOME THINGS AND RES EXPRESSING THIS TO MY COLLEAGUE JOAQUIN MARTINEZ, WHO I CERTAINLY RESPECT AND WILL FRIENDS AS WELL AS COLLEAGUES ON A LOT OF MATTERS.
BUT I ALSO WANT TO ADDRESS THE FACT THAT, AND I UNDERSTAND THIS IMMIGRATION ISSUE, IT DIDN'T START IN HOUSTON.
IT'S NOT GOING TO END IN HOUSTON.
I'VE LIVED, HAD THE, THE, THE PRIVILEGE OF LIVING IN TWO MAJOR CITIES, LIVED IN THE ONE I'M BORN IN, WHICH IS HOUSTON.
AND I'VE LIVED AND LED AS A PASTOR IN CHICAGO.
AND ONE OF THE THINGS THAT I LOVE ABOUT HOUSTON IS THAT WE HAVE NEVER BEEN A, WE DON'T, WE DON'T DEAL IN THE AREA OF SEGREGATION.
WE ARE PROBABLY THE MOST INTEGRATED CITY, WHICH ALSO GIVES US A LOT OF ATTENTION.
AND I WOULD HATE TO SEE ANYBODY TURN OUT CITY INTO AN INTEGRATED SCENARIO LIKE IN CHICAGO.
CHICAGO IS PROBABLY THE MOST SEGREGATED CITY IN AMERICA.
I KNOW FIRSTHAND I LIVED THERE.
[01:55:01]
I WOULD HATE TO SEE OUR CITY LOSE THE REPUTATION THAT IT HAS.AND CERTAINLY BY US TRYING TO POLICE THE POLICE.
WE HAVE A, WE HAVE A GREAT CITY.
AND I, AND I, I, I HEAR WHEN I HEARD THE HEART OF JOAQUIN, AND THAT TOUCHED ME BECAUSE I UNDERSTAND IT.
AND WE HAVE A LOT OF IMMIGRANTS IN THE CITY, HOUSTON, THAT ARE NOT ONLY FROM THE LATINO COMMUNITY, HISPANIC COMMUNITY, FROM ASIAN COMMUNITY, ASIAN COMMUNITY, SEVERAL COMMUNITIES.
BUT I CERTAINLY DON'T WANNA SEE OUR CITY COME TO THE POINT TO WHERE WE ARE VILLAINIZING OUR POLICE DEPARTMENT.
NOW WE CALLED ON IT FOR ALL OF THE THINGS THAT WE WANT THEM TO DO.
WE WANT 'EM TO DO A, A MULTITUDE OF STUFF.
BUT I DON'T THINK IT WOULD BE ADVANTAGEOUS FOR US, BECAUSE THERE'S TWO SIDES TO THIS ISSUE.
THERE ARE THE PEOPLE WHO ARE THE INSTIGATORS AS WELL AS THE PEOPLE WHO ARE BEING VICTIMS. AND SO IT, IT TAKES SOME PROFESSIONALISM TO BE A POLICE OFFICER.
AND IT TAKES, UH, ON THE SIDE OF NOT ONLY LAW ENFORCEMENT, BUT, BUT YOU KNOW, TO BE COMPASSIONATE, TO BE UNDERSTANDING.
AND THEN THERE'S A LOT OF PRESSURE.
AND I, I I, I HEARD THE MAYOR AS HE WAS EXPRESSING ABOUT SOME OF THE MISINFORMATION, AND THAT BOTHERS ME.
AND I, I JUST WANT MY FRIEND TO KNOW THAT FOR ME, WHO PERSON WHO LIVED THAT EVERY DAY AND MY FAMILY, YOU KNOW, WE TALK ABOUT IT ALL THE TIME.
SO WHAT I DO, I PRAY, AND I SINCERELY MEAN THAT I AIN'T, AND I'M NOT A, I'M NOT, I'M UNAPOLOGETIC ABOUT THAT.
I PRAY, I PRAY FOR THE ADMINISTRATION, I PRAY FOR THE COUNCIL, I PRAY FOR OUR CITY, H-P-D-H-F-D.
THERE'S A, THERE'S A TIME WHEN WE HAVE TO PUT THE FOOLISHNESS ASIDE.
WHATEVER OUR VENDETTAS ARE, WHATEVER OUR LITTLE NICKS AND THINGS ARE, THAT'S THE THING THAT OUR CITY NEED MORE IS UNITY, NOT DIVISION.
SO FOR ME, COURSE, YOU KNOW, I'M NOT ONE WHO WORRY ABOUT WHAT PEOPLE SAY OR THINK ABOUT ME.
I KNOW WHO I AM AND I KNOW WHAT I AM, BUT I JUST WON'T LET YOU KNOW TO YOU AND ALL OF THE OTHER OF MY COLLEAGUES AROUND HERE OF THIS HAUNT YOU WHO ARE OF THE LATINO HISPANIC COMMUNITY, I, I GET IT.
AND LAST STATEMENT, MY MINISTER ADVISORY GROUP, WE ARE IN THE PROCESS RIGHT NOW OF PUTTING TOGETHER AN EFFORT TO NOT ONLY ADDRESS THIS LOCALLY, BUT WE WANT TO TAKE IT NATIONALLY.
WE WANT TO EXPRESS OUR FEELINGS TOWARD WHAT'S GOING ON AND HOW IT AFFECTS FAMILIES.
AND THAT'S WHAT I'M IN THE PROCESS OF DOING RIGHT NOW.
SO I WANNA LET YOU KNOW, MY FRIEND, I HEAR YOU.
AND, UM, MY PRAYER IS THAT WE'LL GET PAST THIS AND, UH, WE'LL MAKE IT BETTER THAT PEOPLE CAN FEEL THAT THEY ARE, HAVE THE DIGNITY TO SURVIVE WITHOUT THREATS.
AND AGAIN, I WANNA BE CLEAR THAT REGARDLESS OF IMMIGRATION STATUS, IF SOMEONE POSES A PUBLIC SAFETY RISK, LOCAL LAW ENFORCEMENT WILL ENFORCE OUR LAWS.
UM, I DON'T THINK THAT'S WHAT THIS CONVERSATION IS ABOUT.
I RECOGNIZE THAT WE DID HAVE ONE COMPONENT WHERE WE ARE DISCUSSING HPD, BUT I WANNA BE CLEAR THAT'S NOT WHAT I'M TALKING ABOUT TODAY BECAUSE THAT'S NOT FOR ME WHAT'S UNFOLDING RIGHT NOW.
THIS IS ABOUT FEDERAL AND STATE AND AGENTS THAT HAVE DESCENDED UPON OUR CITY THAT ARE BLANKETLY, DISCRIMINATING, RACIALLY PROFILING, AND LITERALLY RIPPING FAMILIES APART.
AND I AM UTTERLY DISGUSTED BY WHAT I'M SEEING AND WHAT SEEMS TO ME TO BE A POLICY OF CHAMBERLAIN STYLE APPEASEMENT, GIVE THEM WHAT THEY WANT SO WE CAN AVOID A HEAVIER HAND.
AND WE MUST NOT CHOOSE APPEASEMENT US CITIZENS.
AND THAT IS WHO I'M SPEAKING TO RIGHT NOW.
THOSE THAT ARE ABLE TO SPEAK OUT THAT DO HAVE THE PRIVILEGE OF USING A VOICE SHOULD NOT BE KEEPING THEIR HEADS DOWN.
WE SHOULD BE CALLING ON CITIZENS TO SAFELY BE BEARING WITNESS, TO STAND UP, TO PROTECT OUR NEIGHBORS WHO MAY NOT BE ABLE TO SAFELY SPEAK OUT FOR THEMSELVES.
AND WE CANNOT THROW HOUSTON FAMILIES UNDER THE BUS ON A HOPE OR A PRAYER THAT IT WILL PREVENT A HEAVIER HAND FOR MANY FAMILIES.
[02:00:01]
THEY NEED HELP NOW.AND THE STORIES AND THE IMAGES THAT WE ARE SEEING ARE INHUMANE.
THEY ARE HEART WRENCH WRENCHING.
THEY ARE IMPACTING COUNTLESS FAMILIES.
THEY ARE TRAUMATIZING CHILDREN.
THEY, THEY'RE RIPPING PARENTS FROM CHILDREN.
THE CONDITIONS IN WHICH THEY'RE BEING KEPT ARE ALSO INHUMANE.
THEY'RE SENDING INDIVIDUALS THAT WORKED ALONGSIDE TROOPS IN AFGHANISTAN BACK TO DIE AT THE HANDS OF OUR ENEMIES.
THEY'RE SENDING SICK CHILDREN TO COUNTRIES WHERE THEY CANNOT ACCESS MEDICAL CARE.
THERE IS VIDEO IN MAY, I KNOW IT'S NOT CONFIRMED YET, BUT THERE IS VIDEO OF ICE RAMMING A VEHICLE OF IN ADULTS WITH DISABILITIES IN HOUSTON THAT ARE US CITIZENS OR HAD LEGAL STATUS.
THEY MISTAKENLY THOUGHT THAT THE VAN LOOKED SUSPICIOUS AND THEY RAMMED THE VEHICLE WHILE THEY WERE ON THEIR WAY TO AN ADULT DAYCARE TERRORIZING HOUSTONIANS AND STRIPPING INDIVIDUALS OF DUE PROCESS AND THEIR RIGHTS DOES NOT MAKE US SAFER.
AND HOUSTON FAMILIES ARE ALREADY BEING FORCED INTO THE SHADOWS.
SO WE CANNOT ALLOW THE INTEGRITY OF OUR OWN JUSTICE SYSTEM TO BE COMPROMISED BY WHAT ARE ILL TRAINED AGENTS WHO ARE NOT BEING HELD ACCOUNTABLE FOR THEIR OWN MISCONDUCT.
AND THERE IS A NEED AND IT IS INCREASING.
AND TO MEET THAT NEED, FOR EXAMPLE, 'CAUSE THE QUESTION HAS BEEN POSED, WELL, WHAT CAN WE DO? THE COUNTY STEPPED UP AND WE SHOULD DO THE SAME.
MAYOR, YOU SAID THAT IT SHOULDN'T BE POLITICAL.
AND POLITICAL IS THE CHEAP SHOTS.
WHEN I TALK ABOUT THE COUNTY, LIKE ATTORNEY GENERAL PAXTON JUST MADE, FILING A LAWSUIT AGAINST THE COUNTY ON DRUMMED UP CHARGES AND GROUNDS THAT ARE ABSOLUTELY ABSURD.
WHEN THE COUNTY STEPS UP TO PROVIDE FUNDING FOR THE LEGAL DEFENSE OF CHILDREN, THEY, FOR EXAMPLE, THE STATE IS NOW ATTACKING KIND KINS IN NEED OF DEFENSE.
AND BAKER RIPLEY, AN INSTITUTION THAT IS BELOVED AND DOES INCREDIBLE WORK IN OUR CITY.
SO SAYING FOR EXAMPLE, AND THIS IS LITERALLY VERBATIM, THAT THESE ORGANIZATIONS HAVE NO LEGITIMATE PUBLIC PURPOSE OR PUBLIC BENEFIT AND ATTACKING AND FILING LAWSUITS AGAINST THE COUNTY TO CHALLENGE THEIR FUNDING OF THAT.
WE CAN BE STEPPING UP WITH MORE FUNDING AND RESOURCES IN OUR VOICE, BUT IN, I WANT TO BE VERY CLEAR, BUT THERE HAVE BEEN RAIDS IN DISTRICT C THAT WE SHOULD NOT BE FOLLOWING ANY POLICY OF APPEASEMENT.
WE SHOULD BE STANDING WITH OUR COMMUNITY AND PROTECTING THOSE THAT RIGHT NOW CANNOT PROTECT THEMSELVES.
UM, AND IN, IN MY STATEMENT, I DID SHARE HOW YOU SHOULD BE HELPFUL.
UM, NO ONE IS SAYING TO NOT USE YOUR VOICE.
WHAT I'M ASKING FOLKS IS TO USE IT RESPONSIBLY.
YOU CAN DEFINITELY DONATE TO FOLKS, IMMIGRATION LAWYERS.
YOU SHOULD DEFINITELY LOOK OUT FOR YOUR NEIGHBORS THAT ARE UNDOCUMENTED.
YOU SHOULD, YOU SHOULD DEFINITELY RECORD OR DOCUMENT ANY ACTIVITIES THAT SHOULD BE GOING ON.
NO ONE IS SAYING TO SIT IDLE AND LET AND BE AND APPEASE TO WHAT'S GOING ON.
MY ASK IS THAT FOLKS ARE RESPONSIBLE WITH THEIR FIGHT AND BE VERY DIRECT ABOUT WHAT THAT FIGHT LOOKS LIKE.
NOT BE JUST VERY GENERAL AND BROAD.
THERE ARE SOME CONCRETE THINGS THAT YOU CAN DO SPEAKING WITH A PASTOR YESTERDAY FROM THE SECOND WARD AREA, HOW YOU CAN CONTINUE TO INFORM FOLKS, KNOW YOUR RIGHTS.
THIS CONVERSATION STARTED BECAUSE OF LOCAL GOVERNMENT, QUOTE UNQUOTE COORDINATING WITH ICE.
WE WANNA MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE TRUTHFUL ABOUT WHAT IS HAPPENING TO, TO, SO THAT WAY WE DON'T INCITE MORE FEAR, MORE LIVING IN THE SHADOWS.
THIS IS NOT GONNA STOP TODAY, NEXT MONTH OR A YEAR, MAYBE EVEN TWO YEARS.
THERE'S A LOT OF WORK ON THE GROUND AND MIGHT PLEAD TO HOUSTONIANS AS WELL.
IS TO PLEASE, PLEASE HELP CREATE TRUST, HELP CREATE SAFETY FOR OUR NEIGHBORS.
AND WHEN WE START TALKING ABOUT ACTUAL THINGS THAT WE CAN DO, WORK ON THOSE THINGS.
DOCUMENT, LOOK, TALK TO YOUR NEIGHBOR IF THEY'RE UNDOCUMENTED, IF YOU NEED TO RUN AN ERRAND FOR THEM.
THIS IS ARE VERY INTENTIONAL ACTIONS THAT WE CAN DO RIGHT NOW.
AND THAT'S MY ASK TO FOLKS, NOT JUST AROUND THIS HORSESHOE, BUT FOLKS IN HOUSTON AS WELL.
[02:05:01]
THANK YOU.THANK YOU MEMBERS FOR VERY SERIOUS CONVERSATION.
I WILL CLOSE BY RECOGNIZING YOU AGAIN FOR YOUR PASSIONATE LEADERSHIP AND JUDGMENT AND HOW TO MARSHAL, UH, THE COMMUNITY AND ITS SUPPORTERS.
OBVIOUSLY WE HAVE TO BE CAREFUL WHEN WE SAY FIGHT, FIGHT, FIGHT THAT SOME FOLKS UNFORTUNATELY TAKE THAT LITERALLY.
AND WE DO HAVE TO EMPHASIZE TO EVERYONE, EACH COMMUNITY, AS WE ATTEMPT TO PROTECT OUR IMMIGRANT AND THE GENERAL PUBLIC THAT WE HAVE TO FOLLOW THE LAW.
AND THAT HPD IS FOLLOWING THE LAW IN THEIR TRAINING, THEIR CARRYING OUT STATE AND CITY LAWS.
WE DO NOT HAVE ANY CONTROL OVER ICE.
AND I'M GLAD WE WERE ABLE TO DISCUSS THIS THIS MORNING.
THE SPIN AND MIS REP MISREPRESENTATION HAS NOT BEEN HELPFUL FOR THAT.
[CONSENT AGENDA]
SECRETARY, LET'S MOVE ON TO OUR FIRST AGENDA ITEM UNDER THE MISCELLANEOUS CATEGORY.IS THERE A MOTION FOR ITEMS ONE AND TWO CASTEX T TO MOVE I SECOND.
MOTION PASSES UNDER THE PURCHASING TABULATION OF BIDS CATEGORY ITEM SIX HAS BEEN REMOVED FOR SEPARATE CONSIDERATION.
IS THERE A MOTION FOR ITEMS FIVE, SEVEN, AND EIGHT? CAST
MOTION PASSES UNDER THE RESOLUTIONS CATEGORY ITEMS. 9, 10, 11, 12, AND 13.
ALL IN FAVOR SAY YES AS OPPOSED NAY.
MOTION PASSES UNDER THE ORDINANCES CATEGORY SINCE YOUR LIST WAS DISTRIBUTED.
ITEMS 18, 21 AND 24 HAVE BEEN RECEIVED.
ITEMS 20 22, 29 HAVE NOT BEEN RECEIVED, BUT WILL BE CONSIDERED IF THEY'RE RECEIVED BEFORE THE END OF THE MEETING.
ITEMS 14, 16, 18, 19, 23 AND 27 HAVE BEEN REMOVED FOR SEPARATE CONSIDERATION.
AGAIN, THOSE NUMBERS ARE 14, 16, 18, 19, 23 AND 27.
NEED A VOTE ON THE BALANCE? ALL IN FAVOR SAY YES AS OPPOSED NAY.
[CONSIDERATION OF MATTERS REMOVED FROM CONSENT AGENDA]
FOR SEPARATE CONSIDERATION.IS THERE A MOTION FOR ITEM SIX? COUNCILMAN THOMAS? UH, CASTEX TAYLOR.
UM, I I WANTED TO SPOTLIGHT THIS.
UH, AGAIN, WE TALK A LOT ABOUT MASS NOTIFICATIONS FOR EMERGENCIES.
THIS IS THE FUNDING FOR EVERBRIDGE AND I APPRECIATE 'CAUSE THERE'S BEEN A LOT OF CONVERSATION ABOUT THE NEED FOR ADDITIONAL LANGUAGES.
ONE OF THE CONCERNS I CONTINUE TO HAVE IS THAT THIS IS, IF CELL SERVICE IS UP, WIFI IS UP AND WE CAN ACTUALLY REACH PEOPLE AS WE SAW DURING THE DERECHO AND BARREL WITH POWER OUTAGES AND CELL DAMAGE.
SOMETIMES WE CANNOT REACH PEOPLE TO GET THOSE EMERGENCY NOTIFICATIONS OUT.
UH, Y'ALL HAVE HEARD ME KIND OF HOUNDING ON THIS THE PAST YEAR.
I DO WANNA GIVE A SHOUT OUT THOUGH, UM, TO THE FIRE DEPARTMENT WHO IS PARTNERING WITH OUR OFFICE.
WE'RE ALLOCATING DISTRICT SERVICE DOLLARS TO PILOT NEW DRONES WITH SPEAKERS ON THEM SO THAT WHEN CELL SERVICE MAY BE DOWN IN CERTAIN NEIGHBORHOODS, WE CAN ACTUALLY START GETTING THE WORD OUT OTHER WAYS AS WELL.
SO THIS IS A VERY SIGNIFICANT INVESTMENT, BUT I DO WANNA BRING ATTENTION TO THE FACT THAT WHEN THE TECHNOLOGY FAILS, WE DO NEED A SOLUTION TO GET MESSAGES AND INFORMATION OUT, INCLUDING WHERE A SHELTER MAY BE OR WHERE RESOURCES ARE, OR TO STAY IN YOUR HOME, WHATEVER THAT COMMUNICATION IS, WE NEED WAYS TO DO THAT.
SO I WOULD ASK FOR PARTNERSHIP IN THAT.
[02:10:01]
WE'RE GONNA BE FUNDING THE FIRST ONES, BUT I, I CERTAINLY THINK THAT IF THIS WORKS WE'LL NEED A LOT MORE FUNDING.ALL IN FAVOR? SAY YES AS OPPOSED NAY.
THANK YOU MAYOR AND COLLEAGUES.
I WANNA BRING YOUR ATTENTION TO THIS ITEM.
I, I SURE I'M SURE WE'LL HEAR FROM OTHER COLLEAGUES, BUT THIS WAS BRIEFED IN THE COMMITTEE, I WANNA SAY MAYBE A MONTH OR SO AGO.
AND I REALLY WANNA HIGHLIGHT THE SIGNIFICANCE OF THIS ITEM.
IT EXTENDS THE AFFORDABILITY TO 40 YEARS.
UH, WE HAD A PREVIOUS ITEM FROM ANOTHER PROJECT DO SOMETHING SIMILAR.
WE BRIEFED, UM, I BELIEVE IN DISTRICT H.
AND SO, UH, THIS IS THE TYPE OF, UH, PROJECTS THAT WE WANT TO COME TO COUNCIL WHERE IT'S EXTENDING THAT AFFORDABILITY.
AS WE ALL ARE FAMILIAR, SOME OF THE LITECH TAX CREDITS, UM, ARE EXPIRING SOON.
SO WE NEED ALL TOOLS AT THE TABLE.
I'M HAPPY TO SUPPORT THIS ITEM.
UM, AND I APPRECIATE, UH, THE HOUSING DEPARTMENT GETTING THIS ON THE AGENDA.
I'M HAPPY TO SUPPORT THIS AS WELL BECAUSE IT ADDS 103 NEW MULTIFAMILY UNITS THAT ARE MUCH NEEDED.
UM, THESE UNITS WILL BE RESERVED FOR HOUSEHOLDS EARNING AT OR BELOW 30%, 50% AND 60% OF THE AREA MEDIAN INCOME.
THESE ARE THE PARTS OF, UH, THE MARKET THAT ARE NOT BEING SERVED.
AND, UM, THE PLACES WHERE WE MOST NEED AFFORDABLE HOUSING.
THIS IS, THIS IS A GOOD DEVELOPMENT.
HAPPY TO SEE IT AND, UH, SUPPORT IT.
UM, I, I MEAN THIS IS A GREAT, UM, PROJECT SUPPORT THESE TYPE OF PROJECTS.
WE NEED MORE HOUSING, ESPECIALLY FOR OUR SENIORS, UM, IN OUR COMMUNITIES.
UM, ONE ISSUE THAT I HAVE IS THAT THE DEVELOPER STILL HAS NOT MET WITH MY OFFICE OR THE COMMUNITY.
UM, THERE'S A LOT OF DEVELOPMENT HAPPENING IN THE ACRES HOMES AREA.
AND JUST MAKING SURE THAT THE COMMUNITY IS AWARE THAT THIS IS A PROJECT FOR SENIORS AND NOT JUST ANOTHER TOWN HOME THAT'S GOING UP.
UM, WHICH WE HAVE A LOT OF HOT, YOU KNOW, TOWNHOMES, UM, JUST FLOODING, UM, THE COMMUNITY.
AND SO JUST MAKING SURE THAT DEVELOPERS, WHEN THEY ARE GETTING TAX, SOME TAX CREDITS AND HAVE GOOD PROJECTS, JUST TAKE THE TIME TO MEET WITH THE COMMUNITY.
UM, BUT WHAT I WILL SUPPORT THIS, BUT WE'LL LOVE, LOVE TO SIT DOWN AND TALK WITH THE DEVELOPER AND MAKE SURE THAT HE GETS WITH THE SUPER NEIGHBORHOOD AND THEY'RE AWARE OF WHAT'S HAPPENING.
COUNCIL, ARE YOU IN THE QUEUE LATER? I THINK.
COUNCILOR FLICKINGER COUNCILOR FLICKINGER MAYOR.
I SUPPORT DENYING THIS, BUT I JUST KIND OF WANTED TO GIVE A LITTLE BACKGROUND FOR EVERYBODY.
UM, AND I DON'T KNOW ABOUT COUNCILWOMAN PECK'S, UH, SITUATION, BUT WE MET WITH THE RESIDENTS OF, OF THE AREA THAT ARE SERVICED BY THIS OUT IN THE KINGWOOD AREA.
I MET WITH THEM, MET WITH, UH, STATE REPRESENTATIVE CHARLES CUNNINGHAM, ALSO WITH THE COMPANY WHEN WE WERE ALL THERE.
AND THEIR SERVICE HAS BEEN TERRIBLE FOR YEARS, WHICH IS WHY WE MET IN THE FIRST PLACE.
UM, AND IT'S FUNNY, SITTING IN THAT MEETING, I LOOKED AT THE NUMBER OF HOUSES THAT ARE IN THIS AREA, WHICH IS VERY SMALL, DID THE MATH ON WHAT THEIR WATER BILLS ARE.
AND, AND I ASKED, HOW DO YOU MAKE MONEY? I DON'T, I CAN'T DO THE MATH AND GET TO WHERE YOU'RE ACTUALLY MAKING A PROFIT.
AND THEY SAID, OH, IT'S NOT A PROBLEM.
WE DON'T LOOK AT IT LIKE THAT.
WE HAVE ALL THESE DIFFERENT BUSINESS UNITS THROUGHOUT THE STATE AND WE LOOK AT 'EM ALL TOGETHER.
AND HERE THEY ARE COMING BACK AND ASKING FOR THIS HUGE INCREASE, WHICH I THINK IS A BIT OF A TRAVESTY FOR THE RESIDENTS, GIVEN JUST HOW TERRIBLE THE WATER SERVICE HAS BEEN.
AND UNFORTUNATELY, THE CITY ISN'T ABLE TO PROVIDE IT BECAUSE WE DON'T HAVE THE CAPACITY IN THAT SPECIFIC AREA.
SO VICE MAYOR PROIN, THANK YOU MAYOR AND THANK YOU COUNCIL MEMBER FLICKINGER FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP ON THIS.
WE CONTINUE TO HEAR, YOU KNOW, SIMILAR THINGS FOR MANY, MANY YEARS.
SO I COMPLETELY AGREE WITH SUPPORTING THE APPLICATION TO DENY THE RATE INCREASE.
ALL IN FAVOR SAY, COUNCILOR FLICKINGER.
YES, MAYOR, I, I WILL BE SUPPORTING THIS.
BUT I WANTED TO POINT OUT WE CONTINUE TO HAVE PROBLEMS WITH PROPERTIES WHERE THE OWNERS OF THE PROPERTIES HAVE ALL PASSED AWAY AND NOTHING HAPPENS AT
[02:15:01]
ANY KIND OF A PACE TO ACTUALLY GET ANYTHING DONE WITH IT.IT WAS JUST AT A, A HOUSE, UH, LAST WEEK, AND IT IS AN ABSOLUTE DISASTER.
I CALLED INTO MY OFFICE, SAY, HEY, HERE'S THE ADDRESS, SEE WHAT'S GOING ON HERE.
SURE ENOUGH, TAXES HAVE NOT BEEN PAID FOR FIVE YEARS.
ALL THE PARTIES THAT DECEASED, UM, APPARENTLY THERE IS AN ERROR, BUT THEY'RE FIGHTING WITH SOMEBODY ELSE OVER IT.
AND IT'S LIKE, OKAY, THAT'S A PERSONAL PROBLEM.
I, I HOPE YOU GET IT RESOLVED.
BUT IN THE MEANTIME, THE TAXES NEED TO BE PAID AND WE JUST NEED A LITTLE SWIFTER ACTION, UH, SO THAT WE DON'T END UP WITH SQUATTERS AND THESE HOMES BEING DEGRADED AND MAKING THE QUALITY OF LIFE FOR ALL THEIR NEIGHBORS CONSIDERABLY WORSE.
SO, THANK YOU COUNCIL MEMBER THOMAS.
I JUST WANNA, UM, ADD MY COMMENTS TO COUNCIL MEMBER FLICKINGER POINT.
I DO THINK WHEN WE HAVE THESE CONTRACTS COME, THEY HAVE TO HAVE SOME TEETH IN TERMS OF ALLOWING US TO MOVE SWIFTLY ON ENFORCEMENT.
UH, WHEN I WAS CAMPAIGNING FOR MY FIRST TERM, I WAS MADE AWARE OF CHRIS STREET AND BRIAR MEADOW.
IT HAS TAKEN US FIVE YEARS TO GET THIS TO A DANGEROUS, UH, BUILDINGS HEARING.
AND THEN NOW WE'RE STILL IN DELAY.
IN DISTRICT F WE HAVE SIX IDENTIFIED BUILDINGS WITH SIMILAR SITUATIONS EITHER, UH, THE, UH, THE HOMEOWNERS HAVE, UH, PASSED AWAY.
UM, THERE'S NO AIR AND WE ARE OVEREXTENDING, UM, LIMITED CITY RESOURCES ON ENFORCEMENT AND MAKING SURE THAT THESE HOMES ARE SECURED AND USING COUNCIL FUNDS.
SO I, I, I KNOW THAT'S NOT DIRECTLY RELATED TO THIS ITEM.
HOWEVER, WHEN WE HAVE FIRMS THAT ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR COLLECTING TAXES ON PROPERTIES, THERE ISN'T, UM, THESE ITEMS ARE INTERCONNECTED IN TERMS OF OUR ENFORCEMENT, THE QUALITY OF LIFE, AND THE STABILITY OF THESE NEIGHBORHOODS.
UM, 'CAUSE I WILL TELL YOU, OUR INBOX IS CONSTANTLY ON FIRE ABOUT SECURING DILAPIDATED HOMES THAT ULTIMATELY, UM, HAVE, UH, LAPSED TAXES AND NO HEIRS.
THANK YOU, MAYOR FOR CLARIFICATION.
THIS ITEM PERTAINS TO COLLECTION, UM, AND THE MUNICIPAL COURTS DEPARTMENT, AS I UNDERSTAND IT, NOT PROPERTY TAX YEAH.
BUT DELINQUENT THE PROPERTY TAX DELINQUENT, UH, ACCOUNTS.
UM, I'M UNDERSTANDING THAT, UH, IN THE FUTURE WE'LL BE GETTING, UH, AN UPDATED AGENDA ITEM ON PROPERTY TAX COLLECTION, IS MY UNDERSTANDING.
THOSE OPPOSED A MOTION PASSES ITEM ON LINEBARGER TO COMMENT ON THE PRIOR ITEM.
I JUST WANTED TO, UM, GO BACK TO THE ITEM NUMBER 14 ABOUT THE AFFORDABLE HOUSING OF SENIOR, UM, PROJECT.
I WANTED TO RETRACT MY COMMENT.
UM, WE DID MEET WITH THEM IN JANUARY, AND WE DID GIVE A LETTER OF SUPPORT, AND SO JUST WANTED TO GO ON RECORD THAT, UM, THEY DID TALK WITH US.
IT'S JUST WAS IN JANUARY, SO I FORGOT.
I'M AN HONEST PERSON, SO FORGIVE ME.
TAG, WE'RE SUPPOSED TO HAVE A MEETING.
[30.
MOTION TO RESCIND MOTION 2025-0739 AND SET A PUBLIC HEARING DATE regarding the designation of a Landmark, Protected Landmark or Change of Designation upon application by the property owners:
Landmark: Greater Pleasant Hill Missionary Baptist Church at 828 W. 20th Street
Landmark: The Pizzitola Building at 1138 W. Gray Street
Protected Landmark: The Valenti-Dissen House at 1505 Alamo Street
Protected Landmark: The Valenti-Dissen House at 1507 Alamo Street
Protected Landmark: West Edgemont’s “Dream House” at 1707 Milford Street
Landmark: The Alan and Hattie Green House at 5319 Institute Lane
Protected Landmark: Greater Rose Hill Missionary Baptist Church at 3029 Holman Street
Change of Designation: 3109 #4 Morrison Street from Contributing to Non-contributing in the Woodland Heights Historic District
Change of Designation: 320 E. 20th Street from Contributing to Non-contributing in the Houston Heights East Historic District
HEARING DATE - 9:00 A.M. - WEDNESDAY - DECEMBER 3, 2025
]IS A MOTION TO RESEND MOTION NUMBER 2025 DASH 7 39 AND SET A PUBLIC HEARING DATE REGARDING THE DESIGNATION OF A LANDMARK PROTECTED LANDMARK OR CHANGE OF DESIGNATION UPON APPLICATION BY THE PROPERTY OWNERS.CASTEX TATUM MOVED TO RESCIND THE MOTION AND TO SET THE NEW PROPERTY.
UH, THE NEW, UH, HEARING, PUBLIC HEARING DATE, EIGHT FOUR 9:00 AM WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER THE THIRD.
[31.
ORDINANCE AMENDING ARTICLE XVI, CHAPTER 40, CODE OF ORDINANCES, HOUSTON, TEXAS, relating to sitting and lying upon public sidewalks, by adding an area within and surrounding the East End area between Chartres, Buffalo Bayou, 75th Street and Capitol as a designated area covered by such Article; containing findings and other provisions relating to the foregoing subject; providing for severability
TAGGED BY COUNCIL MEMBERS THOMAS, CASTILLO and MARTINEZ
This was Item 17 on Agenda of November 5, 2025
]IS AN ORDINANCE.COUNCILMAN CASTILLO IN THE QUEUE.
AND, UH, COLLEAGUES ON THIS ITEM.
LAST WEEK, A VIRTUAL, UH, COMMUNITY MEETING WAS HELD WITH CHIEF SATTERWHITE IN PARTNERSHIP WITH COUNCIL MEMBER MARTINEZ, UH, TO MAKE SURE THAT THE COMMUNITY HAD TIME TO, UH, FULLY UNDERSTAND THE IMPLICATIONS OF, UH, EXPANDED 24 HOUR CIVILITY ZONE.
THIS WAS THE MOST, UH, REQUESTED ITEM FROM THE COMMUNITY, UH, AROUND FOUR 19 EMANCIPATION.
AND SO, UH, BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, THINGS HAVE MOVED, UH, QUICKLY, WE WANTED TO MAKE SURE THEY HAD TIME
[02:20:01]
TO FULLY, UH, UNDERSTAND THAT AND GET THEIR QUESTIONS ANSWERED, WHICH THEY DID.AND I APPRECIATE CHIEF SADDER WHITE, UM, FOR BEING AVAILABLE.
NOW, THIS IS JUST ONE OF MANY THINGS THAT HAVE BEEN REQUESTED, BUT IT, IT WAS THE MOST, UH, REQUESTED ITEM.
AND SO I APPRECIATE, UH, HOW FAST THE ADMINISTRATION HAS MOVED TO MAKE THIS, UH, A REALITY FOR THE NEIGHBORHOOD.
ONE, IT SHOWS THE COMMITMENT TO THE NEIGHBORHOOD'S REQUESTS AND, AND THEIR CONCERNS AND THEIR SAFETY.
UM, YOU KNOW, SOME OF THE OTHER THINGS THAT THEY'VE ASKED FOR REALLY, REALLY COME INTO PLAY WHEN AN OPERATOR IS SELECTED.
YOU KNOW, HAVING THAT OPEN HOUSE LOOKING AT, UH, AND GETTING TO KNOW THE SERVICE PROVIDERS THAT ARE ON SITE, UM, REALLY WORKING WITH THEM TOWARDS A, A PHASED IN OCCUPANCY APPROACH THAT IS SOMETHING THAT CONTINUES TO COME UP AS A HIGH PRIORITY FOR, UH, THE SURROUNDING NEIGHBORHOODS AND THAT COMMUNITY TASK FORCE, UH, THAT A LOT OF FOLKS HAVE, HAVE EXPRESSED INTEREST IN.
SO, UM, I WILL CONTINUE TO PRIORITIZE THOSE AS WELL, UH, BECAUSE I KNOW THAT THIS PLUS THOSE OTHER THINGS REALLY WILL, UM, BE GREAT TOOLS TO HELP ENSURE THAT THE ADJOINING PROPERTIES, THE COMMUNITIES, THE PARKS, THE SCHOOLS, UM, CAN BE NEARBY WITH THIS FACILITY DOING GOOD WORK BUT NOT ADVERSELY IMPACTED.
AND, AND IF THINGS DO START TO POP UP, THERE'S A QUICK WAY TO RESOLVE IT, UH, AND A DIRECT LINE OF COMMUNICATION.
SO, UM, I AM SUPPORTING THIS ITEM AND, UM, REALLY, AGAIN, WANT TO REITERATE THAT THIS WAS THE MOST REQUESTED, UH, ITEM FROM THE COMMUNITY REGARDING THEIR CONCERNS AND, AND POTENTIAL, UH, SAFETY ISSUES AROUND FOUR 19 EMANCIPATION.
UM, AND I WANT TO JUST, FIRST AND FOREMOST JUST THANK, UH, COUNCILOR CASTILLO FOR HIS LEADERSHIP THROUGHOUT THIS CONVERSATION OVER THE PAST FEW WEEKS.
UM, YES, IT IS IN DISTRICT I, BUT IT DOES VERY MUCH SO BORDER THE CITY GAS PARK NEIGHBORHOOD, WHICH IS WHERE, UM, EVEN MY OFFICE WAS RECEIVING PHONE CALLS AND TO THE COUNCIL MEMBER CASTILLO'S POINT, UM, THIS SPECIFIC, UM, ITEM WAS SOMETHING THAT THE COMMUNITY WANTED TO SEE HAPPEN.
SO I APPRECIATE YOU MAYOR AND YOUR TEAM FOR BEING ABLE TO, UH, WORK QUICKLY TO SEE THIS COME TO FRUITION.
I, I DO WANT TO THANK, UH, COUNCILLOR RAMIREZ, UH, WHO WAS ALSO, UH, IN THE MEETING, AND THEN ALSO STAFF FROM COUNCIL MEMBER ALCORN'S OFFICE.
UM, I KNOW LAST WEEK THERE WAS SOME, YOU KNOW, QUESTIONS ABOUT, WELL, IS THE COMMUNITY AWARE OF THIS IS THE COMMUNITY.
UM, THE PAUSE WAS, I GUESS, NEEDED, BUT WANNA MAKE SURE THAT AS WE QUESTION THE ENTIRE COMMUNITY OR COMMUNITY OR THE WORK THAT COLLEAGUES ARE DOING, THAT WE ALSO MAKE SURE THAT, UM, WE LEAN INTO COLLEAGUES THAT ARE ON THE GROUND, HAVING THESE PUBLIC FACING MEETINGS, HAVING VIRTUAL MEETINGS IN THE FUTURE AS WELL.
UM, AND I'M FULLY SUPPORTIVE OF THIS, UH, STAND, UH, STAND NEXT TO COUNCIL MEMBER CASTILLO TO MAKE SURE THAT PUBLIC SAFETY IS A PRIORITY AS WE CONTINUE TO WORK WITH HOW WE ADDRESS OUR UNHOUSED COMMUNITY AS WELL IN A WAY WHERE WE'RE COMPASSIONATE.
UM, ULTIMATELY, YOU KNOW, THIS, THE CONVERSATION THAT WE HAD ON THE VIRTUAL, UM, MEETING WAS VERY INFORMATIVE FOR FOLKS.
THERE WAS QUESTIONS ABOUT HOW THINGS WOULD BE ADDRESSED AND THE OPPORTUNITY TO HAVE, UH, CHIEF SATTERWHITE THERE TO HELP EXPLAIN.
AND OF COURSE, UH, ACTUALLY ALL THREE OF US, COUNCILOR RAMIREZ AND CASTILLO, WE ALL WERE ABLE TO, UH, ALSO PROVIDE SOME INSIGHT AS TO HOW WE, WE WANT TO SEE, UM, THE CITY CONTINUE TO MOVE FORWARD ADDRESSING OR OUR CHALLENGES WITH OUR UNHOUSED COMMUNITY.
AND I WANNA COMMEND, AND I APPRECIATE ALL THE WORK THAT MY COLLEAGUES HAVE DONE IN THEIR DISTRICTS AND IN THEIR COMMUNITIES TO MEET WITH RESIDENTS TO ESCALATE WHAT THEY'RE ADVOCATING FOR.
UM, I'M NOT GONNA BE SUPPORTING THIS ITEM, BUT IT IS NOT IN ANY WAY A REFLECTION OF NOT UNDERSTANDING OR RESPECTING WHAT THE COMMUNITY IN THAT AREA IS ASKING FOR.
UM, LAST WEEK I HAD POSED SEVERAL QUESTIONS THAT I DON'T BELIEVE WE'VE GOTTEN RESPONSES BACK ON AS IT PERTAINS TO THE NUMBER OF CITATIONS.
BUT THEN HOW MANY PEOPLE ARE AVAILING THEMSELVES TO THE DIVERSION PROGRAM THEMSELVES VERSUS HAVING, UH, AN OUTSTANDING WARRANT THAT THEN IS ON THEIR RECORD, UH, THAT THEN CAN PRECLUDE THEM FROM HOUSING IN THE FUTURE.
I'VE RAISED CONCERNS ABOUT WHEN WE DO ONE AREA, WE'RE THEN PUSHING OTHER PEOPLE, UH, INTO OTHER NEIGHBORHOODS AS WELL.
SO, I, I WANNA BE CLEAR THAT MY VOTE TODAY IS NOT, UM, IN ANY WAY TO DISREGARD, UH, THE WORK THAT'S BEING DONE.
I'VE BEEN VERY SUPPORTIVE, MAYOR OF THE HOUSING ITSELF.
UM, BUT I DON'T HAVE A CLEAR PICTURE AS IT RELATES TO, UH, ONE, THE IMPLICATIONS FROM A LEGAL PERSPECTIVE OF PUTTING MORE PEOPLE INTO THAT SYSTEM RIGHT NOW.
UH, SO I, I JUST WANTED TO BE CLEAR ON THE RECORD AND AGAIN, COMMEND THE WORK THAT IS BEING DONE, THE ENGAGEMENT IN THE COMMUNITY, AND WHAT
[02:25:01]
IN YOUR DISTRICT'S RESIDENTS ARE ASKING FOR RAMIREZ.UH, I WANT TO COMMEND MY COLLEAGUES FOR, UH, QUICKLY SCHEDULING THE VIRTUAL TOWN HALL THAT A LOT OF PEOPLE PARTICIPATED IN AND GOT TO SHARE THEIR CONCERNS AND ASK QUESTIONS.
UM, I'M SUPPORTIVE OF THIS ITEM, BUT WOULD ASK FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION IN THE NEAR FUTURE ABOUT DISPOSITIONS OF CIVILITY, ORDINANCE CASES, AND ALSO RELATED, UH, SIDEWALK OBSTRUCTION CASES.
SOME REPORTING IN THE HOUSTON PUBLIC MEDIA POINTED OUT THAT THE NUMBER OF CITATIONS ISSUED FOR RELATED TYPE OFFENSES HAS INCREASED DRAMATICALLY.
AND SO I'M, I'M CURIOUS TO KNOW WHAT THE CASE DISPOSITIONS ARE ON THOSE.
ARE, ARE THEY OFFERED SERVICES? DO THEY END UP IN SERVICES? ARE THEY FINED? ARE THOSE FINES WAIVED? HOW MANY ARE ACTUALLY PAID, ET CETERA.
AND, AND I THINK THIS KIND OF DATA WOULD HELP INFORM OUR POLICIES GOING FORWARD.
UM, LISTENING TO THE DISCUSSION ON THE CIVILITY ORDINANCE, I'M REMINDED THAT, UM, ABOUT SIX MONTHS AGO YOU SAID, WE NEED A CITYWIDE CIVILITY ORDINANCE, AND I COULDN'T AGREE MORE.
YOU KNOW, I WAS, UH, EXITING THE AIRPORT EASTBOUND AT ON WILL CLAYTON AND 59 AND, AND NOTICED A SIGNIFICANT ENCAMPMENT THAT HAS POPPED UP THERE.
YOU KNOW, WHEN, WHEN YOU'RE GOING TO THE AIRPORT OR COMING FROM THE AIRPORT UPON ARRIVAL, IT'S THE FIRST THING YOU SEE IN OUR CITY.
AND THERE ARE WOMEN, YOU KNOW, IN THE ENCAMPMENT.
IT, I MEAN, IT'S ON THE ENTRANCE OFF 59 TO THE AIRPORT.
AND SO OF COURSE, CERTAINLY I REACHED OUT TO CHIEF SATTERWHITE, UM, THIS MORNING AND HE SAID, YOU KNOW, THE PROBLEM WE HAVE IS WE DON'T HAVE THE BEDS.
AND, YOU KNOW, WE, WE, WE LOOK AT THE FOUR 19, AND AGAIN, I REITERATE, FOUR 19 IS ONE OF MANY STEPS, BUT THE CIVILITY ORDINANCE IS THE KEY.
YOU KNOW, THESE INDIVIDUALS, UM, AT THE AIRPORT, THEY'RE NOT ON THE SIDEWALK, BUT WE HAVE NO PLACE FOR THEM.
AND IT'S A SIGNIFICANT ENCAMPMENT THAT IS RIGHT THERE ON PROBABLY ONE OF THE MOST TRAVELED, YOU KNOW, ROADWAYS IN OUR CITY, AND IT'S WHAT, WHAT PEOPLE COMING INTO OUR CITY SEE.
BUT MOST IMPORTANT, WHEN YOU'VE GOT THESE, THESE WOMEN, AND SOMETIMES THERE ARE CHILDREN WITH THEM, AND, YOU KNOW, IT'S, IT'S A SAD SITUATION AND WE HAVE TO DO BETTER AND, AND PROVIDE OPPORTUNITY TO GET THESE INDIVIDUALS INTO HOUSING.
AND I KNOW SOME PEOPLE SAY, WELL, YOU'VE GOT BEDS AT THE NAVIGATION CENTER.
BUT AGAIN, IT'S ABOUT THE BARRIERS, THE FAMILY THAT WE SAW THIS MORNING, YOU KNOW, WE HAVE TO HAVE THE MEANS TO AN END FOR THESE PEOPLE.
AND I JUST, EVERY DAY IN MY TRAVELS AS WELL AS I'M SURE EVERYONE AROUND THE HORSESHOE, WE SHOULD ALL BE REMINDED THAT IT'S NOT JUST IN ONE COMMUNITY.
AND I WILL BE SUPPORTING THIS ITEM ALSO.
AND I JUST WANTED TO MENTION JUST LIKE COUNCIL MEMBER CARTER DID THAT, YOU KNOW, I KNOW THIS IS SOMETHING THAT THE RESIDENTS OF DISTRICT G WOULD ALSO LIKE TO SEE AT SOME POINT, UM, IN OUR AREA.
[32.
ORDINANCE appropriating $660,000.00 out of Fire Consolidated Construction Fund; approving and authorizing Purchase and Sale Agreement between MIDTOWN REDEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY, as Seller, and City of Houston, Texas, as Buyer, for property located at the south side of Old Spanish Trail between Blythewood Street and Calhoun Road, Houston, Texas, for use as site for Fire Station No. 40 - DISTRICT D - EVANS-SHABAZZ
TAGGED BY COUNCIL MEMBER RAMIREZ
This was Item 29 on Agenda of November 5, 2025
]IS AN ORDINANCE.I TAGGED THIS ITEM LAST WEEK TO GET MORE INFORMATION ABOUT IT.
UM, THIS PERTAINS TO ATTRACTIVE LAND OWNED BY THE MID MIDTOWN REDEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY, MIDTOWN TURS BEING SOLD TO THE CITY FOR PURPOSES OF BUILDING A FIRE STATION.
UH, OVER THE LAST WEEK, I'VE LEARNED SOME, SOME HELPFUL INFORMATION.
UM, HAD CONVERSATIONS WITH DIRECTOR TILLSON OF ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT DIRECTOR NICHOLS OF HOUSING COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT, AND ALAN DOUGLAS, THE NEW BOARD CHAIR OF THE MIDTOWN REDEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY, AND, AND HAVE LEARNED THAT, UH, THAT ENTITY IS HEADED IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION.
UH, MAYOR, THANKS TO YOUR APPOINTMENTS.
UH, WE, WE LEARNED, UH, OVER THE LAST FEW YEARS THAT MIDTOWN HAS CONTROLLED ABOUT 400 PARCELS OF LAND THAT WERE SUPPOSED TO BE FOR AFFORDABLE HOUSING THAT ESSENTIALLY WERE BANKED.
AND, UH, MANY, MANY OF THEM, TOO MANY OF THEM WERE NOT DEVELOPED AND ARE STILL IN THE INVENTORY.
AND GOING FORWARD, MY UNDERSTANDING IS, UM, THEY WILL START TO GO THROUGH THOSE PROPERTIES AND MAKE DECISIONS ABOUT WHICH ONES TO DEVELOP AND WHICH ONES TO GET RID OF.
[02:30:01]
AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT WILL BE, UH, VERY INVOLVED IN THOSE DISCUSSIONS AND, AND EXERT INFLUENCE ON THOSE TO MAKE SURE THAT WISE DECISIONS ARE MADE, THAT REDEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY IS TAKING STEPS TO GET A HANDLE ON THEIR, UH, OVER LEVERAGED FINANCIAL SITUATION.THEY HAVE A TON OF DEBT, UH, THAT THEY ARE HAVING TROUBLE MEETING.
AND SO, UM, BOARD CHAIR, UH, DOUGLAS IS, IS WELL AWARE OF THOSE ISSUES AND I THINK HAS, HAS MATTERS WELL IN, WELL IN HAND.
AND SO I'LL SUPPORT THIS ISSUE AND LOOK FORWARD TO SEEING MORE PROGRESS BEING MADE, BEING MADE AT THE MIDTOWN TOURS.
THIS COMPLETES THE ITEMS ON THE AGENDA.
[NON CONSENT - MATTERS TO BE PRESENTED BY COUNCIL MEMBERS]
THANK YOU, MAYOR.JUST A COUPLE OF ANNOUNCEMENTS.
WANTED TO, UM, GIVE A SHOUT OUT TO, UH, OUR DIRECTOR OF CONSTITUENT SERVICES, ERIC GOODWIN, AND ALSO TO CHRISTOPHER SHANAHAN OF HOUSTON PERMITTING AND THE SOLID WASTE SUPERVISOR, JOHN RICHARDSON AND COREY NICHOLS.
IF YOU'VE DRIVEN THROUGH DISTRICT K ALONG HOLMES ROAD, YOU'VE SEEN THE LARGE AMOUNT OF ILLEGAL DUMPING THERE.
BOATS, JET SKIS, CONTRACTOR MATERIALS, JUST SO MANY THINGS.
UM, THEY PULLED TOGETHER A MASSIVE EFFORT TO CLEAN THAT ROAD UP.
UH, THEY SPENT THE WHOLE DAY THERE, UM, PICKING UP THE DISCARDED DEBRIS, AND I JUST WANTED TO LET THEM KNOW THAT RESIDENTS ARE VERY GRATEFUL AND THANKFUL.
UM, MAYOR, WE ALSO MET WITH A, UH, BUSINESS OWNER ON HOLMES ROAD, WHO WANTS TO, UH, PARTNER WITH US BY PUTTING UP A UP A CAMERA.
UM, SO WE'RE GONNA MEET WITH HIM, UH, TO TALK ABOUT THAT CAMERA FOOTAGE AND HOW WE CAN GET SOME ADDITIONAL ENFORCEMENT AND TRY TO CATCH SOME OF THESE FOLKS THAT ARE ACTUALLY DUMPING THIS DEBRIS ALONG THAT ROAD BECAUSE IT, IT BENEFITS THOSE BUSINESS OWNERS TO STOP THAT ILLEGAL DUMPING AS WELL AS THE ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES THAT WE FACE AS A, AS A CITY, UM, WHEN FOLKS ARE JUST DUMPING ILLEGALLY ON THESE ROADS THAT, UM, THEY KNOW THEY CAN GET AWAY WITH IT.
SO, UH, I'LL KEEP YOU POSTED ON HOW THAT GOES.
UH, WE ALSO WANT TO, UH, LET THE RESIDENTS KNOW WE'VE GOT SOME IMPROVEMENTS COMING WITH OUR SIDEWALKS ON, UM, SONATA COURT LAST WEEK.
THOSE CREWS BEGAN REPLACING THOSE CRACKED AND UNEVEN SIDEWALKS.
WE TALK A LOT ABOUT SIDEWALKS AROUND THE HORSESHOE.
SO ANYTIME WE, UM, CAN USE OUR COUNCIL DISTRICT SERVICE FUNDS TO GET THOSE IMPROVED FOR MOBILITY AND MAKE IT SAFER FOR NEIGHBORS TO WALK, EXERCISE, AND STAY CONNECTED, WE DEFINITELY WANT TO DO THAT.
UM, KEEP UP WITH WHAT'S HAPPENING WITH DISTRICT EIGHT AND WITH OUR NEWSLETTER.
IF YOU DIDN'T, UH, DAY BEFORE YESTERDAY, IF YOU DIDN'T GET IT, THAT MEANS YOU'RE NOT ON OUR DISTRIBUTION LIST.
UM, BE KIND TO EACH OTHER AND MAKE IT A GREAT DAY.
UM, LAST WEEK WE HAD A GREAT, UM, ANNUAL TOWN HALL MEETING.
I WANTED TO THANK COUNCIL MEMBERS, RAMIREZ AND DAVIS FOR ATTENDING AND COUNCIL MEMBER ALCORN AND CARTER FOR SENDING STAFF TO IT.
UM, WANTED TO ALSO THANK ALL OF THE DEPARTMENT DIRECTORS WHO ATTENDED AND TO ALL OF OUR CONSTITUENTS AS WELL.
ALSO, I WANTED TO THANK HOPE CITY FOR DOING AN AMAZING JOB AT THE FOOD DISTRIBUTION LAST FRIDAY.
THEY SERVED 400 HOT MEALS TO THE COMMUNITY AND JUST, THEY'RE ALWAYS SO WONDERFUL TO WORK WITH AND SO THANKFUL FOR EVERYTHING THEY DO IN OUR COMMUNITY.
FINALLY, I WANTED TO WISH, UM, ALAN ROMAN A HAPPY BIRTHDAY.
UM, HE DOES AMAZING WORK IN OUR, UM, OFFICE.
HE DOES SCHEDULING, VERY GREAT JOB AT SCHEDULING, BUT ALSO HIS JOB DOES, YOU KNOW, SO MUCH MORE THAN THAT, THE COMMUNITY OUTREACH, AND I KNOW OUR CONSTITUENTS LOVE WORKING WITH HIM, SO HAPPY BIRTHDAY, ALAN.
UM, JUST WANTED TO LET FOLKS IN DISTRICT.
I KNOW THAT WE PARTNERED WITH THE EMPTY SHELTER PROJECT AND BODY OF DOGS TO HOST A SPAIN NEUTER EVENT.
UM, IT'S GONNA BE AT AMMA CHARTER, UH, SANCHEZ CHARTER SCHOOL, WHICH IS 6,001 GULF FREEWAY, 7 7 0 2 3.
IF YOU HAVE A CAT OR A DOG INTERESTED IN PARTICIPATING, PLEASE VISIT MY FACEBOOK PAGE TO THE REGISTRATION LINK IS ON THERE.
AND I WANT TO GIVE A HUGE SHOUT OUT AND THANK YOU TO SALLY FOR MY TEAM FOR TAKING THE LEAD ON THIS PARTNERSHIP, UH, WITH THE M EMPTY SHELTER PROJECT.
I JUST WANNA SHOUT OUT KIM MICKELSON.
I KNOW ALL OF US HAVE WORKED WITH HER.
IF YOU'RE OUT THERE, HOOK 'EM HORNS.
AND I'VE WORKED WITH HER FOR YEARS.
SHE'S BEEN INCREDIBLE ON REAL ESTATE ISSUES.
UM, I'M GONNA BE LOST WITHOUT KIM MICKELSON.
SO, UM, SHOUT OUT FOR YOUR GOOD CAREER.
ALSO WANTED, I WON'T STEAL THE THUNDER OF COUNCIL MEMBER RAMIREZ, BUT HE AND HIS CHIEF OF STAFF, LEAH
[02:35:01]
WOLF FALL, PUT TOGETHER THE SECOND EVENT, UM, BILL BRI BRIDGING HOUSTON TOGETHER, BRINGING HOUSTON TOGETHER, WHICH I PARTICIPATED IN ON MONDAY NIGHT, WHERE WE KIND OF TAKE AN ISSUES.WE TOOK FREEDOM OF SPEECH AND IMMIGRATION, AND YOU GET PEOPLE KIND OF FROM BOTH SIDES OF THE AISLE TO TALK ABOUT IT RESPECTFULLY.
AND ALL PART OF COMPASSION WEEK, WHICH IS GOING ON NOW.
UM, STARTED MONDAY THROUGH FRIDAY.
THERE'S ALL KINDS OF EVENTS Y'ALL CAN LOOK AT, AND ESPECIALLY IN LIGHT OF THE DISCUSSION WE HAD EARLIER, EVERYBODY CAN USE A LOT OF KINDNESS THESE DAYS.
SO CHECK IT OUT AND, UM, ATTENDED AN EVENT.
I WANNA HIGHLIGHT THIS SATURDAY.
DISTRICT H WILL BE ORGANIZING, UH, OUR FIRST NEIGHBORHOOD RESILIENCY EVENT.
AND WE'LL, WE WILL, AS A COMPONENT OF THAT, BE PLANNING A LOT OF TREES IN THE NEAR NORTH SIDE, AND WE ARE STILL IN NEED OF SOME VOLUNTEERS.
IF PEOPLE ARE LOOKING FOR SOMETHING TO DO SATURDAY AND WANT TO HELP OUT PLANT SOME TREES, WE'LL BE STARTING AT 9:00 AM AT MOODY PARK.
UM, AND WE WILL BE DISTRIBUTING THESE TREES THROUGHOUT THE NEIGHBORHOOD AND HELPING THOSE WHO WANT ONE BUT CAN'T PLANT 'EM THEMSELVES.
THESE ARE 15 GALLON TREES, SO THE MORE HELP WE CAN GET, THE BETTER.
UM, ALSO THE UNDER PASSAGE ART INSTALLATION, UM, IS NOW LIVE.
UH, THIS IS RIGHT BY DAIKIN PARK.
IT WAS DONE BY A DISTRICT, HR MOON PAPAS, AND THIS IS PART OF THE DOWNTOWN HOUSTON PLUS PUBLIC REALM ACTION PLAN.
UM, SO THIS IS A GROUP THAT'S KNOWN FOR LARGE SCALE IMMERSIVE ART.
AND, UM, IF YOU WALK THROUGH UNDER THE HIGHWAY THERE, YOU'LL SEE, UH, THEY'VE GOT SOME THINGS GOING ON WITH LIGHTS AND SOME, UM, TOUCH SENSITIVE AUDIO, UH, THAT YOU CAN ALSO ACTIVATE THERE.
IT'S REALLY, REALLY NEAT IF YOU HAVEN'T CHECKED IT OUT.
UH, THE INTERSECTION OF TEXAS AND RUSK.
AND THEN FINALLY, APPLICATIONS ARE OPEN FOR THE DISTRICT H HORIZONS INTERNSHIP PROGRAM.
UH, IF YOU ARE INTERESTED IN APPLYING, YOU CAN EMAIL DISTRICT H@HOUSTONTX.GOV.
IT IS A SIX MONTH PAID OPPORTUNITY, 20 HOURS A WEEK, UH, FOR ANYONE 18 OR OLDER WHO LIVES, WORKS, OR STUDIES IN THE DISTRICT.
AND, UH, APPLICATIONS WILL RUN THROUGH DECEMBER 1ST.
INTERNSHIP STARTS JANUARY, 2026.
JUST WANTED TO HIGHLIGHT TO EVERYONE ABOUT, UH, THE, THE GOING FORWARD, UH, WITH THE FOOD PANTRIES.
UH, THE HOPE FOR FAMILIES HFF FOOD PANTRY, UH, WILL BE DISTRIBUTING A SPECIAL DISTRIBUTION TO, UH, FOR SNAP RECIPIENTS AND FEDERAL EMPLOYEES.
UM, THIS COMING WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER THE 12TH, UM, TODAY FOUR TO SEVEN AND SUNDAY, ALSO NOVEMBER THE 23RD FROM 10:00 AM TO 1:00 PM UH, AT THE GOOD HOPE MISSIONARY BAPTIST CHURCH ON, UH, 30 15 NORTH MCGREGOR WAY.
UH, WE WANT TO CONTINUE TO REACH OUT TO ALL OF THOSE IN NEED OF THOSE DISTRIBUTION.
I ALSO WANT TO, UM, HIGHLIGHT THE MAYOR'S OFFICE THROUGH, UM, REBECCA WILLIAMS OF ALL OF THE FAITH-BASED ORGANIZATIONS.
IT'S BEEN DISTRIBUTED, IT'S BEEN EMAILED, BLASTED TO EVERYONE, AND WANT TO THANK THE MAYOR'S OFFICE THROUGH REBECCA.
THERE'S SEVERAL NAMES OF MINISTRIES LISTED FOR THIS DISTRIBUTION, UH, SEVERAL FAITH-BASED ORGANIZATIONS, UH, FOOD ASSISTANCE, UH, RESOURCES FROM THE HOUSTON FOOD BANK, AND, UH, ALSO THE YMCA FOOD ASSISTANCE.
SO I JUST WANT TO HIGHLIGHT THAT AND MAKE NOTE OF IT, AND CERTAINLY TO ALL OF US TO DO ALL THAT WE CAN.
THIS SATURDAY, WE'LL BE HOSTING ANOTHER ROUND OF THE MEDIAN MADNESS WHERE WE CLEAN UP THE MEDIUMS IN, UH, KINGWOOD.
UH, THIS ONE IS GOING TO BE ON NORTH PARK DRIVE.
WE'RE MEETING AT THE KROGER AT 34 10 NORTH PARK.
SO ANYBODY THAT WOULD LIKE TO JOIN US AT EIGHT 30 SATURDAY MORNING IS, UH, MORE THAN WELCOME TO ATTEND OUR NEXT, UH, BOPA IN KINGWOOD IS GONNA BE SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 22ND AT THE, UH, KINGWOOD PARKING RIDE.
AND, UH, THAT STARTS AT NINE O'CLOCK, GOES UNTIL NOON, OR UNTIL THE TRUCKS ARE FULL.
UH, AND LASTLY, I WANTED TO TALK ABOUT THE TAX ABATEMENT THAT WE DID FOR CORNING AND, AND KIND OF CONTRASTING THAT WITH ANOTHER BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT IN THE CITY.
UM, I THOUGHT THE CORNING TAX ABATEMENT WAS PROBABLY THE BEST USE OF OUR TAX DOLLARS THAT I'VE SEEN SINCE WE'VE BEEN HERE.
UM, IT, IT'S, UH, CERTAINLY MANUFACTURING, MANUFACTURING JOBS, WHICH ARE GOOD PAYING JOBS.
UM, YOU KNOW, THERE'S GONNA BE A LOT OF ADDITIONAL, UH, PROPERTY TAX VALUE ADDED.
UH, SO EVEN THOUGH THE ABATEMENT THAT WE GIVE, THEY WON'T BE PAYING THE FULL BOAT,
[02:40:01]
BUT WE'LL CERTAINLY BE GAINING MONEY FROM THAT.BUT, YOU KNOW, WE ALSO HAD AN ANNOUNCEMENT HERE A WEEK AGO ABOUT A NEW IKEA STORE THAT'S OPENING UP IN BAYBROOK, WHICH IS ABOUT A MILE FROM THE CITY OF HOUSTON.
UH, IKEA WAS MY A CLIENT FOR A DECADE.
THAT STORE WILL BRING IN MILLIONS OF DOLLARS EVERY SINGLE YEAR IN SALES TAX REVENUE.
SO NOT ONLY ARE THEY PAYING THE PROPERTY TAXES, THEY'LL BE PAYING SALES TAX REVENUE AS WELL, WHEREAS OPPOSED TO THE CORNING, WHICH IS MUCH MORE OF A BUSINESS TO BUSINESS MODEL, UM, THAT SALES TAX REVENUE IS ABSOLUTELY AS IMPORTANT TO US AS, AS THE, THE PROPERTY TAXES ARE.
UM, ALTHOUGH THE RETAIL JOBS DO NOT PAY AS WELL AS THE MANUFACTURING JOBS, I THINK WE REALLY NEED TO MAYBE FOCUS MORE ATTENTION ON WHAT THE CITY NEEDS FOR REVENUE.
UH, AND I KNOW THE, UH, UH, INCENTIVES THAT'S COMING UP FOR REVIEW, I GUESS NEXT YEAR.
UH, LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING THROUGH THAT WITH ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE, AND MAYBE WE CAN PUT A LITTLE MORE FOCUS ON SALES TAX REVENUE, ESPECIALLY THE, THE PLACES THAT WE'LL BRING IN MILLIONS OF DOLLARS EVERY SINGLE YEAR.
UM, THE HOUSTON JEWISH COMMUNITY, I WOULD SAY THE COMMUNITY AS A WHOLE LOST, UH, FORCE, UM, IN RECENT DAYS WITH THE PASSING OF CONGREGATION EMANUEL'S, UH, SENIOR EMERITUS RABBI, RABBI ROY WALTER, UM, WHO SERVED THE COMMUNITY FOR OVER, UM, FIVE DECADES.
AND SO I WANTED TO, UH, RECOGNIZE, UM, THE LOSS TO THE HOUSTON COMMUNITY.
I WOULD ASK THAT THE CITY, UH, TODAY COUNCIL ADJOURN IN HIS MEMORY, UM, BUT ALSO JUST RECOGNIZE THE RE LEGACY THAT RABBI WALTER LEFT.
UH, AGAIN, NOT JUST IN THE HOUSTON JEWISH COMMUNITY.
HE DID SO MUCH FOR SO MANY, AND OFTENTIMES SPOKE OUT WHEN, UM, IT WASN'T POPULAR TO DO SO ON ISSUES AT THE TIME, INCLUDING IN OUR, UM, LGBTQI PLUS COMMUNITY DURING THE AIDS EPIDEMIC, UM, IN THE AIDS CRISIS.
SO I, I DO WANNA RECOGNIZE HIM.
UH, ALSO WANT TO, UH, JOIN AGAIN WITH DAMASCUS, UH, BAPTIST CHURCH, UH, RIGHT OFF OF WASHINGTON.
THIS PAST SUNDAY, WE HAD THE UNVEILING OF THEIR HONORARY STREET MARKER, UH, THAT WE WORKED WITH THEM ON COMMEMORATING THE LEGACY OF THE LATE PASTOR, UH, DR.
WE WERE JOINED BY HIS FAMILY, THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES.
UH, THERE WERE A LOT OF PEOPLE THAT WORKED REALLY HARD ON THIS, UH, AND I WANNA THANK THE PLANNING DEPARTMENT PUBLIC WORKS, UH, SPECIAL EVENTS THAT HELPED US WITH THE UNVEILING.
UH, BUT THIS REALLY WAS COMMUNITY DRIVEN.
AND I WANNA RE REEMPHASIZE OR EMPHASIZE OUR COMMITMENT IN DISTRICT C, UH, TO WORKING WITH OUR COMMUNITY TO PRESERVE THE HISTORY AND TEACH OUR CITY'S HISTORY FOR FUTURE GENERATIONS.
UH, IN THAT SAME VEIN, ALL OF WHAT CEMETERY IS CELEBRATING THEIR 150TH ANNIVERSARY, UH, THIS WEEKEND, UH, OUR OFFICE HAS BEEN WORKING FOR YEARS WITH OLIVE WOOD AND THE DESCENDANTS OF OLIVE WOOD TO PRESERVE AND PROTECT, UH, THE CEMETERY, TO SHINE A LIGHT ON NOT ONLY ITS HISTORY, BUT THE GREAT NEEDS THAT ARE THERE FROM BIO EROSION TO, UH, THE ACTUAL DAMAGE THAT HAS OCCURRED TO THE HEADSTONES.
UH, AND THIS IS A VERY, VERY SPECIAL PLACE.
IT'S A DESIGNATED HISTORIC LANDMARK.
UM, IT WAS THE CITY'S FIRST INCORPORATED AFRICAN AMERICAN CEMETERY IN A LOT OF OUR, UM, RESIDENTS, FORMERLY ENSLAVED INDIVIDUALS HAVE BEEN LAID TO REST THERE.
SO I WANNA RECOGNIZE THE DESCENDANTS OF OLIVE WOOD WHO HAVE SPENT YEARS WORKING TO RESTORE THIS THAT WE'VE REACHED 150 YEARS, UM, IS VERY, VERY SPECIAL.
WE'LL BE CELEBRATING WITH THEM, BUT I WANNA THANK THE BOARD, THE PRESIDENT, UH, MARGARET WILLIAMS, WHO'S ALSO A DESCENDANT, AND ALL THOSE WHO HAVE CONTRIBUTED THEIR TIME, FUNDS, AND RESOURCES TO BRINGING ALL OF WOOD CEMETERY, THE DIGNITY THAT IT DESERVES.
UM, SO TODAY, UM, MY DISTRICT B OFFICE AS WELL AS THE HOT TEAM, WE ARE PARTNERING WITH, UM, CLEAN UP HOUSTON JOE, UM, B ALLEN, AND SO WE'RE IN FIFTH WARD RIGHT NOW.
UM, THEY GOT OUT THERE AT SEVEN O'CLOCK THIS MORNING AND WE'VE IDENTIFIED 35 LOCATIONS THAT WE'LL BE CLEANING UP, UM, LIKE HUGE PILES, UM, OF ILLEGAL DUMPING.
AND SO REALLY EXCITED ABOUT, UM, THE PARTNERSHIP.
UM, WITHIN AN HOUR, THEY BASICALLY LIKE CLEARED, UM, FOUR DUMP SITES.
AND SO, UM, WHEN I GET OUT THERE, I'M SURE THAT THEY HAVE DONE A WHOLE LOT MORE.
SO THANK YOU MAYOR FOR, FOR THE CONNECTION.
UM, BUT RIGHT NOW WE'RE STILL IN NEED OF, UM, VOLUNTEERS, UM, TO COME OUT AND CLEAN UP THE LITTER AFTER THEY REMOVE THE LARGE PILES OF, LIKE I SAID, THAT HOT TEAM IS OUT THERE, BUT WE STILL NEED, UM, RESIDENTS TO PARTICIPATE.
SO REACH OUT TO OUR OFFICE, 8 3 2 3 9 3 3 0 0 9.
WE'LL BE OUT THERE UNTIL FIVE O'CLOCK.
[02:45:01]
SHARED THE MAP WITH YOUR OFFICE, MAYOR.UM, IT HAS THE BEFORE PICTURES AND SO I'M REALLY EXCITED ABOUT THE AFTER PICTURES.
AND SO AGAIN, UM, WE NEED TO, THIS IS A HUGE ISSUE ACROSS THE DISTRICT, UM, BUT EXCITED THAT WE ARE TACKLING IT IN FIFTH WARD TODAY.
UM, LAST BUT NOT LEAST, UM, DISTRICT B FAITH-BASED ALLIANCE WILL BE, WE ARE HOSTING OUR ANNUAL THANKSGIVING, UM, UM, FEEDING THE DISTRICT B RESIDENTS.
LAST YEAR WE FED OVER 3000 RESIDENTS.
THIS YEAR WE HAVE 12,000 THAT HAVE SIGNED UP, UM, FOR MEALS ON THANKSGIVING.
AND SO WE ARE IN NEED OF VOLUNTEERS.
UM, THIS, UM, WHOLE EFFORT HAS BEEN, UM, LED BY DESTIN FOR EMPOWERMENT, BUT OF COURSE, OTHER, UM, CHURCHES THAT'S PART OF OUR FAITH-BASED ALLIANCE AND CIVIC CLUBS, ET CETERA.
SO IF YOU WANT TO PARTICIPATE AND WANT TO NEED A PLACE TO VOLUNTEER ON THANKSGIVING, UM, REACH OUT TO OUR OFFICE AT 8 3 2 3 9 3 3 0 0 9.
AGAIN, 8 3 2 3 9 3 8 3 2 3 9 3 3 0 0 9.
LAST, MAYOR, I HAVE A QUESTION AND MAYBE WE NEED TO TALK TO HPD ABOUT IT.
UM, ONE OF THE THINGS THAT THE COMMUNITY, UM, PROPOSED, UH, AS WE DO THIS CLEANUP, THEY, THEY FEEL THAT IF THEY HAD PATROL PATROLLING NEIGHBORHOOD OR EVEN A POLICE CAR THAT THEY CAN PURCHASE, THE, THE SUPER NEIGHBORHOOD COULD PURCHASE OR THE CIVIC CLUB CAN PURCHASE, YOU KNOW, THEY HAD THESE OLD POLICE CARS THAT JUST SIT THERE AND, UM, AND OF COURSE HBDI KNOW THEY SELL SOME OF THEM, AND SO IT WOULD ACTUALLY MAKE PEOPLE THINK THAT IT'S ACT POLICE ARE ACTUALLY PATROLLING THE NEIGHBORHOOD, BUT IT WOULD BE THE RESIDENTS, UM, THAT TAKE ON THESE, I KNOW I JUST TOLD THEM, BUT STILL
AND SO IT'S JUST SOMETHING TO THINK ABOUT.
I THOUGHT IT WAS A PRETTY GOOD IDEA, UM, SINCE THE RESIDENTS WANNA, UM, PATROL THE NEIGHBORHOOD AND KIND OF PUT FEAR AND JUST WATCH THE FOLKS, YOU KNOW, WATCH OUT FOR ILLEGAL DUMPING AND OTHER, UM, ACTIVITIES THAT'S HAPPENING WITHIN OUR DISTRICT.
I JUST WANT TO HIGHLIGHT AN EVENT THAT WE SPONSORED MONDAY NIGHT.
UM, MY CHIEF OF STAFF, LEAH AL AND I STARTED AN INITIATIVE CALLED BRINGING HOUSTON TOGETHER, AND WE HELD OUR SECOND EVENT, HAPPY TO HAVE, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER ALCORN AS A PARTNER ON THIS ONE.
WE HELD IT AT INTERFAITH MINISTRIES HOUSTON.
WE GOT ABOUT 70 OR 80 PEOPLE TOGETHER, A SMALL GROUP DISCUSSIONS OVER COFFEE AND PASTRIES TO TALK ABOUT IMMIGRATION.
AND SOME, UH, TALKED ABOUT THE TOPIC OF FREEDOM OF SPEECH.
IT'S OUR WAY OF ENCOURAGING CIVIL DISCOURSE.
WE, UH, STARTED THIS BECAUSE WE WERE CONCERNED ABOUT, UH, THE TONE OF OUR POLITICAL DISCOURSE AND EVEN THE ACTS OF VIOLENCE THAT HAD BEEN PERPETRATED BY POLITICALLY MOTIVATED INDIVIDUALS.
AND, UH, IT WAS A GREAT SUCCESS.
SO THANKFUL FOR THE PARTNERSHIP WITH, UH, LEAH, AND ALSO THE HELP OF MY STAFF, UH, INCLUDING RODRIGO MARINS, WHO PUT A LOT OF WORK INTO IT.
SO A LOT OF PEOPLE PARTICIPATED, VERY HAPPY ABOUT THAT.
IT WAS LISTED AS ONE OF THE EVENTS, UH, IN COMPASSION WEEK FOR THIS YEAR.
COMPASSIONATE HOUSTON, UM, INVITED US TO BE A PART OF THEIR, UH, WEEK OF EVENTS THIS, UH, THIS, THIS WEEK, AND WE WERE HAPPY TO DO THAT.
UH, MAYOR, THANK YOU FOR ISSUING A PROCLAMATION DECLARING THIS WEEK, COMPASSION WEEK.
IT WAS COMPASSIONATE HOUSTON'S 10TH ANNIVERSARY TO HOLD THESE TYPES OF EVENTS.
AND IF YOU GO TO COMPASSION, UH, HOUSTON, THEIR WEBSITE, YOU WILL SEE A WHOLE LIST OF ACTIVITIES THAT YOU CAN ATTEND FREE OF CHARGE.
THAT ORGANIZATION PROMOTES, UH, THE CULTURE OF COMPASSION THAT WE HAVE HERE IN HOUSTON.
WE'VE ALWAYS BEEN KNOWN AS A WELCOMING CITY, A FRIENDLY CITY, AND WE WANNA CONTINUE THAT RELATING TO THE EVENT THAT WE HELD.
UH, I WANNA THANK NOT ONLY INTERFAITH MINISTRIES HOUSTON, BUT ALSO BRAVER ANGELS, AN ORGAN ORGANIZATION THAT ALSO SEEKS TO BRING TOGETHER PEOPLE FROM ACROSS THE POLITICAL SPECTRUM TO, UH, DISCUSS ISSUES WITH CIVILITY AND IN A CONSTRUCTIVE WAY.
UM, AND IRONICALLY, THIS IS COMPASSION WEEK.
UH, THE DISCUSSION WE HAD EARLIER TODAY, UH, AS COUNCIL MEMBER ALCORN KORN, UH, POINTED OUT, UM, RAISES QUESTIONS ABOUT HOW COMPASSIONATE OUR IMMIGRATION ENFORCEMENT HAS BEEN.
UM, IT'S NOT EASY FOR ANY OF US, I THINK, TO SEE FAMILIES BEING DIVIDED, UM, OTHERWISE LAW ABIDING HOUSTONIANS WHO HAVE PUT DOWN ROOTS, UH, AND HAVE BEEN HERE FOR YEARS BEING DEPORTED, TO SEE CRIMES GOING UNREPORTED, TO SEE BUSINESSES BEING DISRUPTED, DISRUPTED.
AND IT IS APPROPRIATE FOR CITIZENS TO QUESTION THE WAY POLICIES ARE BEING CONDUCTED, SADLY, FOR SEVERAL
[02:50:01]
DECADES NOW.I FEEL LIKE, AND I KNOW OTHERS DO AS WELL, THAT OUR FEDERAL GOVERNMENT HAS FAILED US IN COMING UP WITH A SENSIBLE IMMIGRATION POLICY THAT NOT ONLY PROTECTS OUR BORDERS, BUT ALSO MAKES IT POSSIBLE FOR IMMIGRANTS TO COME HERE AND WORK AND CONTRIBUTE AND, UH, NOT BE TAKEN ADVANTAGE OF.
I SIT HERE BECAUSE AN IMMIGRANT CAME TO THIS COUNTRY TO WORK, AND, UH, BUT FOR THAT DECISION MY GREAT-GRANDFATHER MADE MORE THAN A HUNDRED YEARS AGO, I WOULDN'T EVEN BE HERE.
UM, BUT HE CAME FOR THE SAME REASON THAT THOUSANDS, MILLIONS HAVE COME.
AND THAT'S TO WORK TO SUPPORT THEMSELVES AND THEIR FAMILIES TO BE PRODUCTIVE MEMBERS OF THIS SOCIETY.
AND, UH, I KNOW PEOPLE ADVOCATE FOR SENSIBLE POLICIES IN THEIR OWN WAY.
UH, SOME PEOPLE DO IT HERE AT THE LECTERN BEHIND A MICROPHONE.
OTHERS HAVE BEEN WORKING BEHIND THE SCENES TO BRING SOME, UH, SENSIBLE IMMIGRATION POLICIES, UH, INTO PLACE.
A LOT OF BUSINESS LEADERS HERE IN HOUSTON HAVE BEEN LOBBYING BEHIND THE SCENES TO CHANGE OUR COUNTRY'S IMMIGRATION POLICIES.
I PERSONALLY THINK THAT, UH, WHAT WILL CHANGE OUR IMMIGRATION POLICIES WILL BE THE POTENTIAL FINANCIAL CONSEQUENCES, NOT JUST TO THE CITY OF HOUSTON, BUT TO OUR NATION.
UH, IF MASS DEPORTATION GOES FORWARD, WE HAVE A NUMBER OF INDUSTRIES HERE IN HOUSTON, NUMBER OF INDUSTRIES ACROSS THE COUNTRY THAT ARE DEPENDENT UPON THE LABOR THAT IMMIGRANTS PROVIDE.
AND WE NEED TO TAKE A HARD LOOK AT WHAT WILL HAPPEN TO THOSE IN INDUSTRIES AND OUR QUALITY OF LIFE AND OUR WAY OF LIFE IF ALL THE IMMIGRANTS WHO ARE HERE GET DEPORTED.
WE STAND ADJOURN IN HONOR AND RECOGNITION MEMORIAL RABBI ROY WALTER.