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I AM TRAVIS LEMONS AND YOU'RE WATCHING CITY PULSE, HTV HIGHLIGHTS FOR THE MAYOR'S OFFICE, CITY DEPARTMENTS AND COUNCIL MEMBERS AT WORK IN THEIR COMMUNITIES.
COMING UP ON THE PROGRAM, COUNCILMAN MARIO CASTILLO OUTLINES A NEW RESILIENCY INITIATIVE FOR DISTRICT H AND WE HIGHLIGHT AN EVENT THAT OFFERS MILITARY VETERANS COMMUNITY RESOURCES AND ASSISTANCE.
BUT FIRST, SOME QUICK HEADLINES.
COUNCIL VOTED TO PURCHASE FOUR 19 EMANCIPATION AS A LIVING CENTER FOR THE HOMELESS AS PART OF THE MAYOR'S PLAN TO END HOMELESSNESS.
THE 300 PLUS BED FACILITY WILL HAVE AROUND THE CLOCK SECURITY RESOURCES FOR THE UNHOUSED AND IS SCHEDULED TO OPEN IN 2026.
THE ASALI CENTER ON ALLEN PARKWAY FINALLY OPENED ITS DOORS ON ALLEN PARKWAY NEAR MONTROSE IN ANTICIPATION OF ITS LONG AWAITED OPENING AND PARTNERSHIP WITH THE CITY.
MAYOR WHITMEYER ATTENDED THE GRAND OPENING AND CALLED IT A PLACE FOR HOUSTONIANS OF DIVERSE BACKGROUNDS CAN GATHER IMMUNITY.
AND OUR LAST HEADLINE IS A SPECIAL THANK YOU TO EMPLOYEES OF HOUSTON AIRPORTS HEALTH AND OTHER DEPARTMENTS FOR WORKING AROUND THE CLOCK.
DURING THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT SHUTDOWN, OUR EMPLOYEES ASSISTED WITH FOOD BANK DISTRIBUTION TO FURLOUGH EMPLOYEES AND HELP TRAVELERS STRANDED AFTER LONG DELAYS DUE TO PROBLEMS WITH TSA AND THE FAA.
IF SEEING IS BELIEVING, THEN OUR NEXT STORY OFFERS THE KEY TO SUCCESS.
HERE'S MAYOR WHITMEYER AND SEE TO SUCCEED, LOOK WHAT WE'RE DOING IN HOUSTON, TEXAS TODAY.
WE'RE HELPING CHILDREN SEE BETTER SO THEY'LL BE SUCCESSFUL.
SO IT'S A GREAT HONOR TO BE HERE ON BEHALF OF 2.3 MILLION HOUSTONIANS.
I'VE SEEN IT, I SEE IT IN THE ERS WHEN I DIAGNOSE STUDENTS WHO COME IN WITH CHRONIC HEADACHES AND REALLY IT'S JUST 'CAUSE THEY NEEDED A PAIR OF GLASSES AND YOU UNDERSTAND HOW IT CHANGES A CHILD'S DAY, CHANGES THEIR OUTLOOK, THEIR CONFIDENCE IN LIFE, THEIR PERFORMANCE IN CLASS, AND ULTIMATELY MAYBE ONE DAY THEY BECOME THE DIRECTOR OF THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT.
IT'S POWERFUL, IT'S TANGIBLE WORK AND IT REMINDS US OF WHY WE DO WHAT WE DO TODAY.
WE ARE CELEBRATING AND ENJOYING AND GIVING OPPORTUNITIES IN THE CITY OF HOUSTON TO THE FUTURE OF HOUSTON.
THEY'VE BEEN HOUSTON'S PARTNERS.
I HAVE OBSERVED ARAMCO DURING RECOVERY FROM STORMS HELPING US RUN THIS GREAT CITY AND I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO EVEN A BETTER PARTNERSHIP GOING FORWARD.
IT MAKES ME GO, I WILL BE A BETTER MAYOR WHEN I LEAVE HERE THAN THE ONE THAT GOT HERE.
NOW IT IS TIME TO MEET DIANE ANSLEY, A PROUD ESTONIAN AND 50 YEAR RESIDENT WHO FACED A LONGSTANDING ISSUE WITH HER OVERSIZED EASEMENT.
THROUGH COLLABORATION BETWEEN MAYOR WHITMEYER, HER COUNCIL MEMBER, AND HOUSTON PUBLIC WORKS.
ANOTHER EXAMPLE OF HOW TEAMWORK AND ACTION ARE MAKING A REAL DIFFERENCE IN NEIGHBORHOODS ACROSS HOUSTON.
HELLO AND WELCOME TO THE FIX IT FILES.
I'M REBECCA WILLIAMS AND I AM HERE WITH MISS ANSLEY AND WE'RE GONNA TALK TODAY.
YOU HAD AN ISSUE WITH YOUR EASEMENT, RIGHT? YES I DID.
YOU CAME TO THE CITY OF HOUSTON, YOU CAME TO PUBLIC SESSION AND YOU TALKED TO THE MAYOR ABOUT YOUR SITUATION.
MY HUSBAND AND I CAME DOWN MARCH THE 25TH COMPLAINING ABOUT THE EASEMENT THAT YOU MAY SEE IN THE BACK OF US.
THE MAYOR SAID, I'M SORRY, HE SAID IT WOULD NOT BE TODAY, BUT IT WILL BE DONE EXPEDITIOUSLY.
WELL, THREE HOURS LATER THERE WERE 15 CITY WORKERS.
OUR TEAM CAME OUT AND CUT IT DOWN AND THEN IT GREW IN THREE MONTHS.
SO TALK ABOUT THAT EXPERIENCE.
THREE MONTHS LATER IT WAS TALL AGAIN AND OH, TWO WEEKS LATER SOMEONE WAS OUT SPRAYING THE ENTIRE EASEMENT.
SO NOW HOPEFULLY IT DON'T GROW BACK.
I WANT YOU TO ENCOURAGE SOMEBODY WHO MAYBE AT HOME AND MAYBE HAVING AN ISSUE, BUT THEY ARE NERVOUS ABOUT COMING TO PUBLIC SESSION.
THEY'RE NERVOUS ABOUT SPEAKING OUT AND SAYING WHAT THEY NEED OR WHAT THEY FEEL LIKE SHOULD BE DONE IN THEIR COMMUNITY.
WHAT WOULD BE YOUR WORDS OF ENCOURAGEMENT TO THEM? I WOULD
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SAY MAKE AN APPOINTMENT WITH THE CITY.HAVE YOUR PAPERS, HAVE YOUR FACTS.
THE MAYOR DID RESPOND THE SAME DAY.
HE DIDN'T PROMISE ME IT WOULD BE THE SAME DAY.
MM-HMM
I WOULD LIKE TO SEND OUT A SPECIAL THANKS TO DR.
CAROLYN SHABAZZ AND CORY GLENN FOR HELPING ME GET MY EASEMENT IN THE BACK OF MY HOME.
CLEARED AND GIVEN ME THE DIRECTIONS.
IF YOU COULD SAY ANYTHING TO MAYOR WHITMEYER, HIS ADMINISTRATION, JUST ENCOURAGING HIM TO KEEP DOING THE GOOD WORK, WHAT WOULD THAT BE? KEEP DOING WHAT YOU'RE DOING TO HELP THE PEOPLE OUT.
BECAUSE WE ALL HAVE COMPLAINTS.
WE KNOW EVERYBODY'S SHORT OF EMPLOYEES, BUT DO WHAT YOU CAN TO HELP US OUT AT THE END OF THE DAY, YOU ARE A GET IT DONE, A FIX IT WOMAN.
SO YOU CAME TO A FIX IT ADMINISTRATION.
I APPRECIATE IT AND WE GOT IT DONE FOR YOU.
ONE NEIGHBORHOOD AT A TIME, ONE ISSUE AT A TIME.
THE WHITMEYER ADMINISTRATION DOES IT AGAIN.
AND I'M REBECCA WILLIAMS. UNTIL NEXT TIME.
RECENTLY, DISTRICT EIGHT COUNCIL MEMBER MARIO CASTILLO CAME TO OUR STUDIOS TO TALK ABOUT A NEW INITIATIVE THAT WILL HELP NEIGHBORHOODS IN HIS REGION BOUNCE BACK AFTER EXTREME WEATHER EVENTS.
HE'S REALLY EXCITED ABOUT RESILIENT H.
RESILIENT H IS AN INITIATIVE THAT I'VE PUT TOGETHER THAT IS MEANT TO IMPROVE THE RESILIENCY OF NEIGHBORHOODS THROUGHOUT DISTRICT H AND IMPROVE THE DISTRICT'S ABILITY TO WITHSTAND THE WEATHER.
EVENTS THAT WE ARE SEEING HAPPEN YEAR AFTER YEAR AFTER YEAR.
THE FIRST NEIGHBORHOOD RESILIENCY EVENT WILL TAKE PLACE THE WEEKEND OF NOVEMBER 15TH, AND OUR FIRST NEIGHBORHOOD IS THE NEAR NORTH SIDE.
SO WHAT THIS WILL BE IS A EVENT WHERE WE ARE ASKING FOLKS TO SAY, I WOULD LIKE A TREE IN MY YARD.
I WOULD LIKE A RAIN BARREL TO HELP WATER THAT TREE AND GARDEN AND LAWN AND IMPROVE THE RESILIENCY OF THE DISTRICT.
UH, I'M INTERESTED IN WEATHERIZATION OPTIONS FOR MY HOME AND THAT COULD BE WRAPPING EXPOSED PIPES THAT COULD BE INSULATING AN ATTIC, MAINTAINING AND TUNING AN AIR CONDITIONER.
SO WE'RE GETTING FOLKS TO SIGN UP FOR THESE THINGS.
IF YOU'RE INTERESTED IN RECEIVING A TREE, A RAIN BARREL PIPE WRAPPING AND WEATHERIZATION, REACH OUT TO THE DISTRICT H OFFICE TO SIGN UP.
VOLUNTEERS ARE GONNA PLAY A KEY ROLE AND IF YOU'RE INTERESTED IN VOLUNTEERING, YOU CAN EMAIL MY OFFICE AT DISTRICT H@HOUSTONTX.GOV.
LET US KNOW YOU'RE INTERESTED IN VOLUNTEERING.
WE'LL GET YOU ALL THE INFORMATION AND GET YOU SIGNED UP.
RESILIENT H WOULDN'T BE POSSIBLE WITHOUT THE SUPPORT OF CITY DEPARTMENTS AND OTHER STAKEHOLDERS.
YOU KNOW, THIS IS A PUBLIC PRIVATE PARTNERSHIP MODEL REALLY MEANT TO ADDRESS NEIGHBORHOOD LEVEL AND INFRASTRUCTURE LEVEL RESILIENCY.
SO OUR PARKS DEPARTMENT AND OUR PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT, THEY'RE PLAYING KEY ROLES IN MAKING SURE THIS CAN ACTUALLY HAPPEN.
AND WHEN YOU THINK ABOUT WHERE THE MONEY COMES FROM ON OUR CITY FINANCIAL CHALLENGES, UM, THIS IS CORPORATIONS STEPPING UP TO SUPPORT THIS EFFORT.
THIS IS PEOPLE STEPPING UP TO VOLUNTEER, ALL SAYING, WHAT CAN I DO TO BE A PART OF THIS? WHAT CAN I DO TO PLAY A ROLE TO HELP MAKE THIS HAPPEN? AND IT REALLY IS ALL OF THOSE THINGS COMING TOGETHER TO MAKE THIS A REALITY.
AT CITY PULSE, WE LOVE SEEING RESIDENTS STEP UP IN AN EFFORT TO KEEP THEIR COMMUNITIES THRIVING.
SO IT'LL BE REALLY INTERESTING TO SEE RESILIENT H IN ACTION AFTER A QUICK BREAK, SEE WHY THE CITY OF HOUSTON STANDS UP FOR VETERANS? THE HOUSTON HISTORY RESEARCH CENTER IS LOCATED IN THE HISTORIC JULIA IEN BUILDING.
OUR MISSION IS TO COLLECT, PRESERVE AND PROVIDE ACCESS TO HOUSTON AND TEXAS HISTORY IN THE FORM OF PHOTOGRAPHS, MAPS, BOOKS, BUSINESS AND PERSONAL PAPERS AND ARCHITECTURAL DRAWINGS.
TAKE A TOUR OF OUR BEAUTIFUL BUILDING AND DON'T MISS OUR DOROTHY KNOX.
HOW HOUT IN READING ROOM OR OUR GALLERIES SUCH AS THE NEW DR. JAMES AND BETTY KEY MAP ROOM COME CURIOUS, LEAVE INSPIRED HISTORY IS WAITING FOR YOU.
EACH NOVEMBER THE NATION RESERVES A DAY TO HONOR ITS VETERANS, BUT A SINGLE DAY IS
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NOT ENOUGH.THANKFULLY, THE MAYOR'S OFFICE OF VETERANS AND MILITARY AFFAIRS AND LOCAL NONPROFITS OFFER SERVICES AT EVENTS LIKE HOUSTON STAND DOWN TO HELP VETERANS THAT ARE UNHOUSED OR AT RISK.
WELCOME TO OUR 32ND ANNUAL STAND DOWN.
SO TODAY IS THE 32ND ANNUAL HOUSTON VETERAN STANDOUT.
FOR 32 YEARS, THE CITY OF HOUSTON HAS WRAPPED ITS ARMS AROUND VETERANS, UH, ANNUAL DATE EACH YEAR TO MAKE SURE THAT VETERANS KNOW ABOUT THE RESOURCES THAT ARE OUT HERE FOR VETERANS, THEIR FAMILY MEMBERS, AND ANYBODY WHO'S ACTUALLY CURRENTLY SERVING.
SO AS YOU CAN SEE, WE HAVE A LOT OF RESOURCES THAT ARE HERE TO SERVE AND SHOW SUPPORT FOR THOSE WHO HAVE, WHO HAVE EARNED THE TITLE, THOSE WHO HAVE SERVED IN THE NATION ARMED FORCES.
AS A SPOUSE OF A VETERAN, I THINK IT'S VERY IMPORTANT TO GET OUR VETS WHATEVER THEY NEED SINCE THEY FOUGHT SO HARD FOR THIS COUNTRY AND SERVE THEIR COUNTRY WELL, THE LEAST WE CAN DO IS PROVIDE THEM THE SERVICES AND THE BASIC NEEDS THAT THEY HAVE TO SUCCEED.
AND WE OFFER RENT ASSISTANCE AND HOUSING.
I THINK IT'S VERY IMPORTANT TO KNOW YOUR RESOURCES, ESPECIALLY IF YOU KNOW A VETERAN WHO'S LITERALLY HOMELESS OR WHO NEEDS RENT ASSISTANCE.
MY BUSINESS IS IN HONOR OF MY LATE GRANDFATHER, A KOREAN WAR VETERAN AND MY DAD AN ARMY VETERAN.
WE PROVIDE WIGS FOR VETERANS AT NO COST TO THE VETERAN.
THEY DO NOT HAVE TO HAVE CANCER TO RECEIVE A WIG.
THE VETERANS DID SO MUCH FOR US AND I THINK SOMETIMES WE FORGET EVERYTHING THEY DID FOR US AND WE OWE THEM A DEBT THAT I DON'T BELIEVE THAT IT'LL EVER BE PAID.
THE STAND DOWN HAS BEEN A JUST A TREMENDOUS BLESSING TO ME OVER THE YEARS, SIMPLY BECAUSE WHEN I RETURNED FROM VIETNAM, UH, I BROUGHT A LOT OF VIETNAM ISSUES.
BUT I FOUND RESOURCES AT THE VETERAN ADMINISTRATION, UH, THE DRUG PROGRAM, AND I BEGAN A RECOVERY.
IF YOU LIVE IN AMERICA AND YOU HAVE A LOT TO BE THANKFUL FOR YOU, A VETERAN, FINALLY LET US LIGHT UP THE NIGHT AND CELEBRATE HOUSTON'S DIVERSITY.
HERE IS HTV INTERN VANESSA WILCOX WITH THIS YEAR'S DIWALI FESTIVAL.
TODAY THE CITY OF HOUSTON WELCOMES THE INDIAN COMMUNITY FOR A VERY SPECIAL EVENT.
IT IS A CELEBRATION THAT HAPPENS ALL OVER THE WORLD.
IT'S FESTIVAL OF LIGHTS, AND IT'S ESTABLISHING GOOD OVER EVIL FOR HUMANITY AND FOR THE WORLD.
I KNEW I COULD DEPEND ON THE INDIAN COMMUNITY TO BRING LIGHT INTO OUR LIVES AND OUR COMMUNITY, AND WE PROBABLY NEED THE LIGHT GOOD OVER EVIL.
MORE TODAY THAN IN ANYONE'S MEMORY.
IT'S SUCH AN HONOR FOR ME TO BE IN THIS ROOM AND SHARE AN ART FORM THAT'S EXTREMELY DEEP TO MY HEART AND FUNDAMENTAL TO THE CULTURE OF INDIA.
KA DANCE IS ONE OF THE EIGHT INDIAN CLASSICAL ART FORMS OF INDIA.
YOU KNOW, I COME IN THE CAPACITY OF TWO ROLES.
I'M NOT ONLY HER MOTHER, BUT ALSO HER GURU.
SO TO SEE A CHILD, UH, BLOSSOM INTO A GOOD PERSON AND A GOOD DANCER IS DOUBLE THE REWARDS FOR ME.
OH, THE FAVORITE PERSON LIGHTING THE LAMB AND BURSTING CRACKERS AND THINGS LIKE THAT.
THIS IS VANESSA WILCOX WITH NOW.
THAT WAS SOME IMPRESSIVE DANCING.
I CAN'T BUST A MOVE, BUT I CAN TELL YOU THERE WILL BE MUCH REJOICING WHEN RELIANT PRESENTS DECK, THE HALL, THE MAYOR'S HOLIDAY TREE LIGHTING CONCERT ON DECEMBER 6TH IN FRONT OF CITY HALL GRAMMY NOMINATED ARTIST BRIAN MCKNIGHT.
HEADLINES THE CONCERT IS FREE TO ATTEND AND YOU CAN FIND ALL THE DETAILS@HOUSTONSPECIALEVENTS.ORG.
OKAY, THAT WILL DO IT FOR CITY PULSES THIS WEEK.
THANKS FOR WATCHING FOR HT HOUSTON TELEVISION AND THE CITY OF HOUSTON.
THIS IS TRAVIS LEMONS REMINDING YOU THAT WE CAN ALWAYS DO BETTER AND KINDNESS IS FREE.