[5:00 P.M. - INVOCATION AND PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE]
[00:00:25]
AND WE THANK THE FIRST RESPONDERS, CITY EMPLOYEES, AND UTILITY WORKERS WHO WORK THROUGH DIFFICULT CONDITIONS TO KEEP OUR COMMUNITY SAFE.MAY OUR ACTIONS TODAY BE GUIDED BY INTEGRITY, FAIRNESS, AND COMPASSION.
AND MAY WE LEAVE THIS CHAMBER HAVING MADE OUR CITY STRONGER, SAFER, AND MORE UNITED.
THE PLEDGE, PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE.
[ROLL CALL AND ADOPT MINUTES OF PREVIOUS MEETING]
SECRETARY, YOU ON CALL THE ROLL.COUNCIL MEMBER JACKSON WILL BE ABSENT.
COUNCIL MEMBER CAYMAN WILL BE ABSENT.
COUNCIL MEMBER FLICKINGER HERE.
COUNCIL MEMBER THOMAS WILL BE ABSENT.
COUNCIL MEMBER HUFFMAN PRESENT.
COUNCIL MEMBER CASTEX TABLE WILL BE ABSENT.
COUNCIL MEMBER COUNCIL MEMBER SALINAS AND COUNCIL MEMBER ALCORN HEARING.
NEED A MOTION TO ADOPT A MINUTES OF JANUARY 21ST? HECK MOVE.
[PUBLIC SPEAKERS]
WE HAVE A LONG LIST OF SPEAKERS SIGNED UP TODAY BECAUSE WE HAVE OVER 150 MINUTES WORTH OF SPEAKERS.THE RULES REQUIRE US TO ONLY GIVE EACH SPEAKER ONE MINUTE, EVEN IF YOU SIGNED UP FOR MORE ANY PROCEDURAL MOTIONS.
CALL OUR FIRST SPEAKER PLEASE.
CLEMENTE MATHIS, KIMBERLY RIVERA.
MAYA FLETCHER BY BRENT SULLIVAN TO BE FOLLOWED BY JOSEPH PANZA.
PANZA ICE IS NOT AN IMMIGRATION AND CUSTOMS ENFORCEMENT GROUP.
ICE ARE AGENTS OF CHAOS WHO DESTROY COMMUNITIES AND VIOLATE THE CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHTS OF CITIZENS AND, AND, UH, PEOPLE WHO ARE HERE EVERYWHERE THEY GO, THEY VIOLATE OUR FIRST, OUR SECOND, OUR FOURTH AMENDMENT RIGHTS.
ICE KILLS OUR BROTHERS AND SISTERS ICE DISAPPEARS.
OUR BROTHERS AND SISTERS ICE HARASSES OUR BROTHERS AND SISTERS.
YOU ARE OUR COMMUNITY LEADERS AND YET YOU WEAKEN OUR COMMUNITY BY ALLOWING ICE TO OPERATE IN IT.
HOW ARE WE TO TRUST YOU? SHOW US YOU STAND FOR HOUSTON.
SHOW US WHAT HOUSTON STRONG LOOKS LIKE.
BE SOMEONE KICK ICE OUT OF HOUSTON.
MICHAEL COLE, CLARK FOSTER, ANDRE RASCO.
JESS S SPILLER AMERICA PAQUETTE.
[00:05:09]
MONICA HATCHER.OH, WHO ARE YOU? YOU, YOU ARE? I'M ERIC.
AS A FIRST GENERATION IMMIGRANT, SHOULD I BE AFRAID THAT I'LL BE DENATURALIZE TO THE RAPIST THAT YOU BEND ME TO? HAS JOKED ABOUT DOING SO AS A CCW PERMIT HOLDER? SHOULD I BE AFRAID THAT I'LL BE LOOTED AND EXECUTED? SHOULD I BE AFRAID OF THE PEOPLE WHO LOOK DIFFERENT THAN I DO AND SPEAK DIFFERENT THAN I DO? BE ABDUCTED AND PUT INTO CONCENTRATION CAMPS? SHOULD I BE AFRAID? AND I AM AFRAID YOU MAY NOT CALL YOURSELF OR A SELF-IDENTIFY AS A FASCIST, BUT YOUR LACK OF ACTION MAKES YOU, ONE, MAKES YOU WORSEN.
IF I TOLD YOU I WANTED YOU TO BE TREATED EXACTLY HOW I STREET'S AN INDIVIDUAL AND YOU VIEW THAT AS A THREAT, THAT IS PART OF THE PROBLEM.
COLLABORATION WITH ICE AND FUND THE HOUSTON IMMIGRANT LEGAL SERVICES COLLABORATION.
UH, THIS IS LIKE TO SUSPEND THE RULES TO ADD, UH, LINDSEY WILLIAMS TO THE TOP OF THE THREE MINUTE, UH, NON AGENDA.
THOSE OPPOSED NAME MOTION PASSES.
I'M A 28-YEAR-OLD HISTORIAN, HOUSTONIAN, BORN AND RAISED HERE.
MY FATHER'S BEEN A SALESMAN ACROSS THE HOUSTON AREA MY WHOLE LIFE.
WHILE HIS INDUSTRIES HAS SINCE CHANGED, HE WAS AT CISCO FOODS FOR THE MAJORITY OF MY CHILDHOOD WHEN HE WASN'T TAKING ME TO WORK WITH THINGS LIKE OPENING MINUTE MAID PARK OR TAKING THE CHEF'S ORDERS AT MAGIC ISLAND.
I GREW UP IN THE KITCHENS OF HOUSTON'S MOST ICONIC RESTAURANTS.
EVEN STILL, IT DOESN'T TAKE A CHILDHOOD OF EXPLORING EVERY INCH OF HOUSTON FROM GALVESTON TO KATY TO THE WOODLANDS TO TELL YOU THAT THE IMMIGRANT COMMUNITY IS THE BACKBONE OF HOUSTON.
ALL IT TAKES IS LOOKING AT WHO'S MAKING THE FOOD.
YOU'RE GOING TO POST ON SOCIAL MEDIA LATER.
WE HAVE THE LARGEST MEDICAL CENTER IN THE WORLD WITH SOME OF THE BEST DOCTORS, NURSES, RESEARCHERS AND SUPPORT STAFF DOING LIFESAVING WORK.
JUST THE OTHER DAY, ONE OF THOSE DOCTORS SAVED MY MOM'S LIFE AND HE SPENT HIS HOLIDAYS VISITING FAMILY OVERSEAS.
THE STUFF THE FAMILY HE LEAVES BEHIND TO HELP FAMILIES LIKE MINE.
THESE ARE THE PEOPLE THAT ICE IS TARGETING.
I MEANT HPD BECAUSE THEY'RE SYNONYMOUS HERE.
WE'VE HEARD FROM CHRISTIE NOME AND NOW THE FORMER HEAD OF BORDER SECURITY THAT THE REASON WE DON'T HEAR STORIES LIKE ALEX PREDDY IS BECAUSE HPD IN TEXAS.
NEXT, OH, COUNCIL CASTILLO PROCEDURAL MOTION COUNCIL CASTILLO.
I MOVE TO SUSPEND THE RULES TO MOVE JASON EVANS, CARRIE JOHNSON, RUSSELL HARRISON, ANA URBAN, AND CRAIG SIMMONS TO FOLLOW MARIA GONZALEZ IN THAT ORDER.
IN THAT ORDER, IS THERE A SECOND? SECOND.
[00:10:04]
NO KNOCK WIN.TO BE FOLLOWED BY CHRISTINE VO MAYOR WHITMEYER, YOU ARE COMPLICIT IN THE MURDERS OF AMERICAN CITIZENS IN BROAD DAYLIGHT.
YOU ARE COMPLICIT IN UNLEASHING AN ARMY OF UNTRAINED, UNRESTRAINED, WANNABE COPS.
HUMAN BEINGS ARE ROTTING IN DETENTION CENTERS HERE BEING TREATED LIKE ANIMALS, INCLUDING LITTLE CHILDREN.
I DON'T WANT MY MAYOR SUPPORTING THE ABDUCTION OF PEOPLE IN MY CITY, WHETHER THEY ARE CITIZENS OR NOT.
HAVING MASKED, UNIDENTIFIED AGENTS, SNATCHING PEOPLE, INCLUDING ON THEIR PRIVATE PROPERTY IS INSANE.
TELL DEMENTIA DAWN STEPHEN MILLER AND THAT DOG KILLER LADY TO GET OUT OF OUR CITY AND TELL GOVERNOR ABBOTT, THANKS SO MUCH FOR GIVING OUR VOTER DATA TO THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION.
YOU NEED TO STAND WITH THE PEOPLE, THE PEOPLE OF THIS CITY.
LINDSEY WILLIAMS TO BE FOLLOWED BY JAY BUS.
MY NAME IS LINDSEY WILLIAMS. I'M PRESIDENT OF SUPER NEIGHBORHOOD 64 AND 88, AND I'M HERE TO TALK ABOUT THE UNION PACIFIC NORFOLK SOUTHERN MERGER.
THANK YOU TO MAYOR WHITMEYER AND COUNCIL MEMBERS CASTILLO AND RAMIREZ FOR THEIR STRONG LETTERS TO THE SURFACE TRANSPORTATION BOARD PROTECTING HOUSTON.
UNION PACIFIC INITIALLY CLAIMED ONLY OPERATIONAL CHANGES AND NO ADDITIONAL TRAINS WHILE SOLICITING LETTERS OF SUPPORT THROUGH TEMPLATE CAMPAIGNS BEFORE THEIR APPLICATION WAS EVEN FILED ON DECEMBER 19TH.
ON JANUARY 16TH, THE SURFACE TRANSPORTATION BOARD REJECTED THEIR APPLICATION CITING MAJOR DEFICIENCIES AND OUR SUPER NEIGHBORHOOD'S LETTER REQUESTING A FULL SYSTEM EVALUATION HELPED GUIDE THAT DECISION.
HERE'S WHAT UNION PACIFIC IS NOT TELLING YOU.
THIS MERGER ADDS OVER 10 TRAINS PER DAY THROUGH HOUSTON, CREATING A 200% INCREASE IN FREIGHT TRUCKS FROM SET OF GAS YARD AFFECTING MULTIPLE DISTRICTS AND SIGNIFICANTLY INCREASING BLOCK CROSSINGS IMPACTING EMERGENCY RESPONSE AND QUALITY OF LIFE.
THEIR PROMISE, $700 MILLION IN COMMUNITY BENEFITS PAGE HAS DISAPPEARED.
EVALUATE THIS MERGER CAREFULLY, TELL UNION PACIFIC U.
DON'T SUPPORT IT WITHOUT SIGNIFICANT MITIGATION FOR BLOCK CROSSINGS AND COMMUNITY IMPACTS.
THIS AFFECTS EVERY DISTRICT WITH A UP LINE.
AND LET'S MAKE SURE HOUSTON VOICE IS HEARD WITH A FULL WEIGHT OF COUNSEL.
NEXT, JAY BUSTOS TO BE FOLLOWED BY ALANDRA ANDRADE.
I'M UPSET WITH WHITMEYER AND HIS COUNSEL.
WHERE IS Y'ALL'S VOICES? WHERE IS Y'ALL'S OUTRAGE TO THIS? ARE Y'ALL NOT RESIDENTS TO HOUSTON, TO THIS CITY, TO THIS STATE, OR EVEN TO THIS NATION? Y'ALL ARE SUPPOSED TO BE LEADERS, PEOPLE THAT ARE SUPPOSED TO BE THE, UH, BEST REFLECTION OF OUR CITIES, OF THE RESIDENTS HERE.
WE'VE JUST RECENTLY SEEN HORRIFIC ACTS DONE BY ICE.
I MEAN, NOT JUST LAST YEAR, BUT EVEN JUST FOR THIS YEAR.
I'VE JUST RECENTLY ANNOUNCED THAT YOU'RE TRYING TO RUN FOR A SECOND TERM YOU JUST SAID, AND I QUOTE, I THINK IT TAKES THAT LONG AT LEAST TO CORRECT SOME OF THE MISTAKES THAT GETS US BACK ON, ON, ON THE RIGHT PATH.
DO YOU HONESTLY THINK THAT'S SUPPOSED TO TAKE THAT LONG FOR YOU TO TAKE ACTIONS? WHAT YOU COULD DO RIGHT NOW, HELP PROTECT THE CITIZENS HERE, HELP PROTECT THE RESIDENTS.
UNDOCUMENTED YOUR TIME HAS EXPIRED.
[00:15:01]
NICK.TO BE FOLLOWED BY MAYA FLETCHER BY GOOD EVENING.
SOME OF YOU MAY BE AWARE THAT THIS FRIDAY SEVEN STATES WILL RECOGNIZE FRED KOREMATSU DAY.
IF YOU'RE UNFAMILIAR WITH FRED KOREMATSU.
KOREMATSU VERSUS THE UNITED STATES IS A SUPREME COURT DECISION THAT MANY PEOPLE WHO ARE CONCERNED WITH JURISPRUDENCE AND FAIRNESS AND CIVIL RIGHTS OFTEN POINT TO AS A STAIN ON THE AMERICAN REPUBLIC.
FRED KOREMATSU DEFIED BEING HERDED UP BECAUSE HE WAS JAPANESE AMERICAN BECAUSE HE WAS NO LONGER PART OF THE PROTECTED CLASS OF AMERICANS AFTER NOME VERSUS VERDUGO.
I'M A MEMBER OF A SUSPECT CLASS SIMPLY BECAUSE OF THE WAY I LOOK.
ICE DOES NOT OPERATE UNDER THE SAME PROCEDURES THAT EVEN HPD OPERATES UNDER WHEN WE COOPERATE WITH THEM.
WE ARE COOPERATING WITH AN INSTITUTION THAT DOES NOT FOLLOW THE SAME RULE OF ORDER THAT WE HAVE COME TO EXPECT.
PEOPLE WHO LOOK LIKE ME SHOULD NOT BE PEOPLE OF SUSPICION.
I HAVE WORKED IN HIGHER EDUCATION FOR 25 YEARS.
I HAD ONE STUDENT SELF DEPORT AFTER HIS FATHER WAS ABDUCTED BY ICE.
I HAVE ANOTHER STUDENT WHO CAME TO MY OFFICE IN TEARS BECAUSE SHE CRIES EVERY NIGHT FEARING SHE'LL BE ABDUCTED.
THANK MAYA FLETCHER, BY TO BE FOLLOWED BY JOCELYN SOTO.
UH, I LIVE IN DISTRICT C AND I LOVE THIS CITY.
I BELIEVE IN THE IMPORTANCE OF COMMUNITY, AND I'VE BEEN A PART OF THIS ONE MY WHOLE LIFE RECENTLY.
MANY OF MY FRIENDS, MOST OF THEM CITIZENS, ALL OF THEM LEGAL RESIDENTS HAVE TOLD ME THAT THEY'RE WORRIED FOR THEIR SAFETY, THAT THEY'RE AT RISK IN PUBLIC BECAUSE OF THE ACTIONS OF ICE.
I'M ASKING YOU TO PROTECT THE PEOPLE I CARE ABOUT.
PLEASE PROTECT THE RESIDENTS OF THIS CITY BY ASKING HPD NOT TO COLLABORATE WITH ICE.
NO ONE IN THIS CITY SHOULD HAVE TO FEAR BEING IN PUBLIC.
THEY ARE MEMBERS OF OUR COMMUNITY AND IF THEY CANNOT PARTICIPATE FULLY IN OUR COMMUNITY, THAT IMPOVERISHES ALL OF US.
MAKE THIS CITY SAFE BY PROTECTING ITS PEOPLE FROM THE ACTIONS OF ICE, NOT BY COLLABORATING WITH THEM.
NO, YOU ARE ALL COMPLICIT IN THIS BY THE WAY.
I DON'T CARE IF YOU'RE SPEAKING UP, YOU'RE NOT DOING ENOUGH.
OKAY, WHAT DO YOU THAT FEELING? YOU LOOK IN THE MIRROR, YOU GAG.
AND I TEACH OTHER PEOPLE THAT TOO.
AND THIS IS THE AGE OF THE INTERNET.
I DON'T CARE WHERE YOU THINK I'M FROM.
I DON'T CARE WHERE YOU SEND ME.
THIS IS THE AGE OF THE INTERNET.
I'M STILL GONNA KEEP ON POSTING EVERY SINGLE FACE HERE.
YOU'RE ALL COMPLICIT AND SICK.
THESE ARE THE PEOPLE THAT SERVE YOU YOUR F*****G MCDONALD'S WITH A SMILE ON THEIR FACE WHEN YOU UNDERPAY THEM AND THEY'RE STILL F*****G NICE TO YOU.
THIS WILL SAY, PLEASE, THESE ARE YOUR NEIGHBORS.
STOP F*****G SITTING THERE WITH A SMILE ON YOUR FACE.
YOU'RE YOUR, YOU ARE OUR LEADERS.
BUT WHAT'S WRONG WITH YOU? I HOPE YOU CAN SLEEP.
[00:20:04]
RUTH HOFFMAN, LOCKE, NO S SON.KENNETH, NO BLAZER ARE YOU MAYOR WOOD MEYER.
YOU'VE CONFIRMED THAT HPD OFFICERS ARE INSTRUCTED TO TURN OVER INDIVIDUALS WITH ICE WARRANTS THAT THE AGENCY JURISDICTIONS TO TO THAT AGENCY'S JURISDICTION IN ACCORDANCE TO STATE LAW.
BUT I'D LIKE TO REMIND YOU THAT SOME OF THESE WARRANTS ARE ADMINISTRATIVE WARRANTS GENERATED BY ICE ITSELF.
AN AGENCY THAT'S BEEN INSTRUCTED TO GET CREATIVE TO INCREASE ITS ARREST AND HAVE SHOWN ITS WILLINGNESS TO VIOLATE THE LAW.
YOU'VE ALSO SAID THAT SPEAKING OUT AGAINST IMMIGRATION POLICIES ELICIT SOME RESPONSE FROM THE, THE SAME RESPONSE FROM THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT THAT MINNEAPOLIS HAS RECEIVED.
THOUGH I RESPECT YOUR CONCERNS, GIVING INTO TRUMP'S INTIMIDATION TACTICS IS JUST AS HARMFUL.
AND ALEX PETTY STOOD UP AGAINST US AND IN SOLIDARITY.
SO SHOULD WE, I ASK YOU AND THE COUNCIL TO FIND A WAY TO SEVER HPDS COOPERATION WITH ICE AND SEND A MESSAGE TO THE IMMIGRANT COMMUNITY THAT HOUSTON DOES ACTUALLY CARE.
GREGORY MELLON TO BE FOLLOWED BY DALE'S STORY.
IF YOU SAY YOU LOVE FREEDOM, BUT DON'T CARE IF IT APPLIES TO EVERYONE, THEN WHAT YOU ACTUALLY LOVE IS PRIVILEGE.
WHEN IT'S ELECTION TIME, POLITICIANS LIKE YOURSELVES, LOVE TO T HOUSTON'S DIVERSITY HAS THE SOURCE OF ITS STRENGTH.
BUT NOW THAT YOU'RE IN OFFICE, YOUR ARE REFUSING TO PROTECT THE VERY IMMIGRANT COMMUNITIES.
YOU ARE SO EAGER TO COURT DURING ELECTIONS.
THAT'S NOT LEADERSHIP, THAT'S COWARDICE AND YOUR SILENCE RIGHT NOW, IT'S NOT NEUTRAL.
YOUR SILENCE IS AN ENDORSEMENT OF WHAT ICE IS DOING TO THE PEOPLE YOU'RE SUPPOSED TO BE SERVING.
YOUR INACTION IS AN ENDORSEMENT.
YOUR COOPERATION IS AN ENDORSEMENT.
THE CITY CONTINUES TO SHARE INFORMATION AND COLLABORATE TO PUT FAMILIES DIRECTLY IN ICE'S CROSSHAIRS, STOP HIDING BEHIND CLAIMS OF WE'RE JUST FOLLOWING THE LAW.
I WAS CONFIRMED FOR THREE MINUTES.
UH, DALE STORY, RETIRED PROFESSOR EMERITUS DISTRICT C WINSTON CHURCHILL ONCE SAID, THE TRUTH IS HEAVY.
THEREFORE A FEW CARE TO CARRY IT.
YEARS AGO, MY FATHER HIRED AN UNDOCUMENTED YOUNG MAN, JOSE, TO HELP HIM WITH PRESERVING OUR FAMILY FARM.
DAD AND JOSE DEVELOPED A LIFELONG RELATIONSHIP.
TODAY, JOSE WOULD BE DEPORTED AS ONE OF THE WORST.
AND MY FATHER WOULD FACE SUBSTANTIAL FINES AND EVEN A PRISON TERM.
THE TRUTH IS THAT ICE IS A FASCIST ORGANIZATION, ONLY ANSWERABLE TO A COMMANDER IN CHIEF WHO QUOTES HITLER IN DESCRIBING MIGRANTS AS VERMIN POISONING THE BLOOD OF OUR COUNTRY.
ICE IS BRINGING THE WAR HOME AN ICE.
APPLICANT WAS QUOTED AS SAYING, I LEARNED ALL THESE SKILLS IN THE ARMY, SMASHING, GRABS, SLIGHT EXPLOITATION AND NEVER GOT TO USE THEM.
SO I'M HERE TO DO WHAT I LEARNED.
THE GOSPEL OF MATTHEW PROVIDES GUIDANCE.
THERE IS NO SUCH GUIDANCE TODAY.
SO THIS MILD MANNERED 75-YEAR-OLD RETIRED PROFESSOR IS MAD AS HELL AND NOT GOING TO TAKE IT ANYMORE.
MY MESSAGE TO ICE IS GET THE HELL OUT OF OUR CITY, OUR STATE, AND OUR COUNTRY.
THANK YOU MARK WADEL, FREEDOM.
[00:25:01]
ADAME.TO BE FOLLOWED UP, FOLLOWED BY VIENNA STRONG.
I'M UNDOCUMENTED AND I REFUSE TO BE DEHUMANIZED IN THE CITY THAT I CALL HOME.
RIGHT NOW ACROSS THE UNITED STATES, IMMIGRANTS COMMUNITIES ARE BEING TERRORIZED.
FAMILIES ARE BEING HUNT AND TREATED LIKE CRIMINALS.
PEOPLE ARE GETTING KILLED BY ICE.
FIVE YEAR OLDS ARE BEING DETAINED.
ICE IS TEARING GAS IN SIX MONTH OLD BABIES.
THIS IS INHUMANE AND ELECTED OFFICIALS KEEP DOING NOTHING, ABSOLUTELY NOTHING.
HOUSTON NEEDS TO DO BETTER BECAUSE LET ME REMIND YOU, HOUSTON IS NOT INNOCENT TO THIS.
HPD IS COLLABORATING WITH ICE AND THAT COLLABORATION IS TERRORIZING OUR COMMUNITIES.
WORKERS ARE AFRAID TO DRIVE TO WORK.
FAMILIES ARE AFRAID TO CALL 9 1 1.
HOW DO YOU SLEEP AT NIGHT KNOWING WHAT IS HAPPENING ACROSS THIS COUNTRY AND STILL CHOOSING IN ACTION? MUST WE WAIT UNTIL THOSE THINGS HAPPEN HERE IN HOUSTON INTO ONE? IT'S OF YOUR INTO, IT'S ONE OF YOUR OWN.
YOUR NEIGHBOR, YOUR FRIEND, YOUR FAMILY MEMBER.
AS FAR AS I'M CONCERNED, IF YOU DON'T CONDEMN IT, YOU CONDONE IT.
YOU HAVE POWER, YOU HAVE A PLATFORM, YOU SIT, DO SOMETHING, YOUR TIME HAS EXPIRED.
AND UM, FIRST I WANNA THANK YOU ALL FOR COMING HERE.
IT TAKES A LOT TO, UH, MAKE YOUR WAY DOWNTOWN AND TO VOICE YOUR OPINION.
UM, AND WE ARE GRATEFUL FOR YOU TO BE HERE.
THE REASON THAT YOU ONLY GOT ONE MINUTE IS BECAUSE WHEN THE, AND YOU MAY NOT HAVE BEEN IN HERE WHEN WE SAID THIS AT THE VERY BEGINNING, BUT FOR EVERYONE TO KNOW IF WE HAVE MORE THAN 150 MINUTES OF SPEAKERS, THE CITY CHARTER, UH, MANDATES THAT EACH SPEAKER WILL ONLY GET ONE MINUTE, UH, REGARDLESS OF HOW MANY MINUTES YOU WOULD ORIGINALLY SIGNED UP FOR.
SO THIS IS NOTHING PERSONAL AGAINST YOU OR ANYONE ELSE THAT IS HERE.
UM, BUT THE CITY CHARTER MANDATES THAT WE DO ONE MINUTE.
AND SO I WANTED YOU TO KNOW THAT AND IT WASN'T PERSONAL AND FOR EVERYONE ELSE TO HAVE THAT INFORMATION.
NEXT GROUP I QUALITY THANK YOU VIENNA TRON TO BE FOLLOWED BY ADAM ANO BOWIE.
HELLO, MY NAME IS VIENNA TRON.
I'M A US I MEAN, I'M A VIETNAMESE AMERICAN US CITIZEN, BORN FROM TWO REFUGEES FROM THE VIETNAM WAR.
BUT TODAY I'M HERE TO SPEAK ABOUT MY FATHER THAT GOT DEPORTED TWO WEEKS AGO.
HIS NEXT CHECKIN DATE WAS SUPPOSED TO BE FEBRUARY 5TH, 2026.
BUT ON JANUARY 11TH, HE GOT CALLED INTO THE IMMIGRATION OFFICE AND GOT WRONGFULLY DETAINED EARLY.
I THOUGHT I HAD ONE MORE MONTH FROM HIM, BUT NOW HE IS RIPPED AWAY FROM HIS 3-YEAR-OLD DAUGHTER.
BUT TODAY I'M HERE TO ASK THE CITY TO TAKE A STAND TO OPPOSE DECEPTIVE IMMIGRATION ENFORCEMENT PRACTICES FOR HPD TO LIMIT COOPERATION WITH I SWEAR POSSIBLE AND TO PROTECT IMMIGRANT FAMILIES WHO CALL THE CITY HOME.
AND THIS IS NOT A POLITICAL DEBATE, THIS IS A CIVIL RIGHTS ISSUE THAT IS STILL HAPPENING TODAY.
I THOUGHT I HAD ONE MORE MONTH WITH HIM.
THANK YOU ADAM ANO BOWIE TO BE FOLLOWED BY TAYLOR BROWN.
IT SEEMS I DON'T HAVE VERY LONG TO SPEAK, SO I'LL BE FORTHRIGHT WITH YOU.
ARE YOU WAITING FOR THE BODY OF HOUSTON CITY COUNCIL? BECAUSE IT SEEMS, DESPITE THE SHOOTING OF RENEE GOODE AND THE KILLING OF ALEX PETTY, I SEE THE CITY COUNCIL MOVING INCHES TO D DEFEND ITS CITIZENS WHEN IT SHOULD BE MOVING AT LIGHT SPEED.
[00:30:02]
IT WOULD BE EASY TO MOCK YOUR IN AUCTION.IT WOULD BE VERY EASY TO SEE EACH OF YOUR STARING FACES AT ME AND AT THIS CITY.
AND TO SEE YOU DESPITE THE IN ENACT, DESPITE THE VIOLENCE THAT IS GOING ON IN THIS COUNTRY.
BUT I CAME HERE TO BE SERIOUS WHITMEYER.
I CAME HERE TO BE SERIOUS WITH YOU, HOUSTON CITY COUNCIL.
I CAME HERE BECAUSE I WANT TO SEE THIS CITY FREE FROM ICE.
I WANT TO SEE THE CITY LIBERATED.
I WANT TO SEE THE SMILING FACES OF EACH AND EVERY ONE OF THESE PEOPLE IN THIS G*****N ROOM.
TO BE FREE FROM ICE, YOUR TIME HAS EXPIRED.
BUT, AND WITH THIS SERIOUSNESS WITH MEYER, WE AS THE CITY OF HOUSTON, DEMAND SOMETHING SIMPLE.
GET ICE THE F**K OUTTA HOUSTON.
ICE TAYLOR BROWN, CHARLA MEESE PERRY MCCAREY ELISSA CUELLAR TO BE FOLLOWED BY ISHMAEL MELENDEZ.
HI, UH, MY NAME IS ELISSA CUELLAR.
I'M A RESIDENT OF DISTRICT D AND I'M HERE BECAUSE I THINK LIKE A LOT OF PEOPLE, I LOVE MY COMMUNITY AND I AM DEEPLY, DEEPLY CONCERNED ABOUT ICE.
UM, SO I PERSONALLY EXPERIENCED A LOT OF CONFUSION OVER WHAT THE LAW REQUIRES AS FAR AS THE POLICE AND ICE.
SO I WOULD LOVE TO JUST OUTLINE MY UNDERSTANDING OF THAT SITUATION.
AND THEN IF YOU FEEL I HAVE SOMETHING WRONG, MAYBE WE CAN TALK ABOUT IT AND MAYBE THAT HELPS EVERYONE.
SO PER SB FOUR, THIS LAW THAT PASSED IN 2017, IF THE CITY OR HPD UH, PASSES ANY POLICY THAT PROHIBITS OR MATERIALLY LIMITS THE ENFORCEMENT OF IMMIGRATION LAWS, THEN UH, WELL, THEY, THEY MIGHT GET THE DOOKIE SUIT OUT OF THEM.
UM, AND YOU GUYS DON'T HAVE DOOKIE DES SPARE.
SO THIS LAW AS P FOUR DOES NOT COMPEL HPD TO SEEK OUT UNDOCUMENTED PEOPLE.
IT DOESN'T COMPEL HPD TO CARRY OUT ICE OPERATIONS ON THEIR BEHALF.
AND IT DOES NOT, YOUR YOUR TIME IS EXPIRED.
IT DOES NOT COMPEL, UH, POLICE OFFICERS TO EVEN ASK THE IMMIGRATION STATUS OF PEOPLE THAT THEY HAVE IN THEIR CUSTODY.
UH, AND IN FACT, IF YOU'RE A WITNESS TO A CRIME, YOU ARE REPORTING A CRIME OR YOU'RE A VICTIM OF A CRIME, LEGALLY THEY CANNOT ASK YOU YOUR STATUS.
NOW, THIS LAW DOES REQUIRE HOWEVER, THAT LAW ENFORCEMENT, UH, COMPLY WITH WHAT'S CALLED AN IMMIGRATION DETAINER REQUEST.
AND THEY'RE ALSO KNOWN AS IMMIGRATION WARRANTS.
THEY'RE USED SORT OF IN CONJUNCTION WITH ONE ANOTHER.
AND I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT TO NOTE THAT THESE IMMIGRATION WARRANTS ARE NOT THE SAME AS A JUDICIAL WARRANT.
THEY DO NOT ON THEIR OWN MAKE A REASON TO ARREST SOMEONE.
OKAY? THEY DO NOT PROVIDE PROBABLE CAUSE.
WE'RE FAMILIAR WITH THE LAW, RIGHT? THANK YOU.
NOT JUST FOR YOU, BUT FOR THE PEOPLE BEHIND ME.
CAN I READ THE PART OF THE LAW THAT SAYS, A LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCY THAT HAS CUSTODY OF A PERSON SUBJECT TO AN IMMIGRATION DETAINER REQUEST ISSUED BY US ICE SHALL COMPLY WITH HONOR AND FULFILL ANY REQUEST MADE IN THE DETAINER.
UM, AND I'M GONNA READ IT ONE MORE TIME.
A LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCY THAT HAS CUSTODY OF A PERSON SUBJECT TO AN IMMIGRATION DETAINER REQUEST SHALL COMPLY WITH THAT REQUEST.
THANK, I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT FOR MA'AM, FOR THE PUBLIC TO UNDERSTAND AS WELL AS FOR OUR LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS TO UNDERSTAND THAT THE COMPLIANCE WITH DETAINERS IN THIS LAW IS CONTINGENT ON ALREADY HAVING CUSTODY OF A PERSON LAWFUL DETENTION AS DEFINED IN THIS LAW.
LAWFUL DETENTION MEANS THE DETENTION OF AN INDIVIDUAL FOR THE INVESTIGATION OF A CRIMINAL OFFENSE.
HERE'S SOME THINGS THAT ARE NOT CRIMINAL OFFENSES.
RUNNING A RED LIGHT, NOT HAVING A LICENSE PLATE WAVING OFFICERS DOWN TO REPORT A CRASH, NOT MOVING VIOLATIONS, NOT WEARING A SEATBELT, TRESPASSING IN A PARK PAST OPERATION HOURS.
THESE NON-SAFE TRAFFIC STOPS HAVE COME UP BEFORE.
AND, AND I UNDERSTAND THAT IT IS POLICE PRACTICE TO USE THESE STOPS AS A PRETEXT FOR
[00:35:01]
DISCOVERING MORE SERIOUSOKAY? PLEASE COOPERATE WITH US.
PLEASE CALL THE NEXT SPEAKER IS MAY MELENDEZ WHAT THEY HAVE TO DO IN ORDER TO BE COMPLIANT WITH THE LAW.
AND I THINK SOME TRANSPARENCY MEASURES WILL COME AS WELL.
STEPHANIE PADILLA, ANGEL ROJAS VI TURBO EZ TO BE FOLLOWED BY DAVIS DEMAN.
HOUSTON IS MY HOME AND I WORRY FOR THE FUTURE OF THIS CITY INSTEAD OF INVESTING IN OUR FUTURE.
YOU'RE INVESTING IN MILITARIZING.
OUR CITIES WE'RE FLOODED WITH STORIES OF HOW VIOLENT IMMIGRANTS ARE, BUT THEY COULDN'T BE MORE OPPOSITE.
THEY COME HERE TO MAKE A BETTER LIFE FOR THEMSELVES TO DREAM.
THERE ARE COWORKERS, OUR NEIGHBORS, OUR NURSES, OUR TEACHERS, OUR STREET FOOD VENDORS, AND YET YOU TREAT THEM LIKE GARBAGE.
THEY'VE COME TO DREAM AND ENJOY THE RICH CULTURE THAT WE HAVE.
LACKING DOCUMENTATION IS NOT A VIOLENT CRIME AND IT HASN'T BEEN TREATED SUCH THROUGHOUT HISTORY.
IT IS A CIVIL OFFENSE AND SHOULD BE TREATED AS SUCH.
OUR STREETS THAT WERE ONCE BUSTLING WITH LIFE ARE IN FULL OF LOVE, ARE DULL AND MILITARISTIC.
I DON'T VALUE THINGS BY WHAT THEY ARE, BUT WHAT THEY CAN BE.
AND I KNOW THAT HOUSTON COULD BE BETTER THAN THAT, THAT YOU JOHN WHITMEYER COULD BE BETTER THAN THAT.
I LOVE THIS CITY AND IT HAS ALLOWED ME TO LIVE THE LIFE THAT I HAVE AS ONE MAN.
ALL I CAN DO IS ASK YOU TO LISTEN AS A HOUSTONIAN, AS AN AMERICAN CITIZEN, AND AS A PART OF THE NEXT GENERATION.
YOUR TIME, YOUR COOPERATION WITH ICE.
HOUSTON IS OUR HOME AND WE DESERVE TO FEEL SAFE LIKE WE BELONG BECAUSE WE HELPED BUILD THIS CITY.
THE PEOPLE ARE WHAT MAKE THIS CITY.
UH, MY NAME IS DAVIS MENDOZA UZMAN AND I'M HERE TODAY TO TALK ABOUT NON-SAFETY TRAFFIC STOPS.
AND AS A CANDIDATE FOR JUSTICE OF THE PEACE IN WEST HARRIS COUNTY.
FROM THE GALLER TO KATY, I KNOW A LOT ABOUT TRAFFIC OFFENSES.
I'D LIKE TO ASK THE AUDIENCE AND EVEN THOSE AROUND THE HORSE SHOE TO RAISE YOUR HAND IF YOU'VE EVER BEEN PULLED OVER FOR A TRAFFIC STOP.
NOW, KEEP YOUR HAND RAISED IF IT WASN'T FOR SPEEDING OR RUNNING A RED LIGHT OR STOP SIGN.
BUT FOR A NON-SAFETY ISSUE, LIKE EXPIRED REGISTRATION OR A BROKEN TAILLIGHT.
YEAH, WHAT YOU'RE SEEING MATCHES THE DATA OVER THE OF THE TOP FIVE TRAFFIC OFFENSES.
IN OUR COUNTY COURT LAST YEAR, ONLY ABOUT ONE IN THREE CASES INVOLVE DANGEROUS DRIVING.
NEARLY TWO THIRDS OF ALL CASES WERE PAPERWORK VIOLATIONS LIKE REGISTRATION, LICENSING, OR INSURANCE.
AND I KNOW WHAT Y'ALL MIGHT BE THINKING, BUT DAVIS HPD ALREADY ENDED.
ITS ONE STOP A DAY QUOTA LAST YEAR.
BUT HPDS TRANSPARENCY HUB DATA SHOWS THAT AFTER THAT POLICY CHANGE, TRAFFIC STOPS DIDN'T GO DOWN, THEY ACTUALLY WENT UP.
THE SHARE OF NON-SAFETY STOPS STAYED THE SAME.
AND BLACK AND BROWN HOUSTONIANS CONTINUED TO BE DISPROPORTIONATELY PULLED OVER.
SO I'D LIKE TO CLOSE BY ASKING EVEN THOSE AROUND THE TRUE IF YOU'RE ONE OF THE 78% OF AMERICANS WHO BELIEVE LAW ENFORCEMENT SHOULD PRIORITIZE MURDER AND VIOLENT OFFENSES, AND RAISE YOUR HAND IF YOU ATTENDING NON SAFETY TRAFFIC STOPS WILL HELP THEM BETTER ACHIEVE THAT GOAL.
NEXT PLEASE, GEORGE GARCIA TO BE FOLLOWED BY JAMES ARTHUR HAVING ME.
SO IT'S MY UNDERSTANDING YOU GUYS ARE ELECTED OFFICIALS, IS THAT CORRECT? SO AS SUCH, UH, I JUST WANNA REMIND YOU GUYS THAT WE HOUSTONIANS ELECTED YOU GUYS AND THE MESSAGE IS PRETTY SIMPLE RIGHT
[00:40:01]
NOW.I'M ASKING FOR THE CITY TO PROVIDE FUNDING FOR HOMELESS PEOPLE WHO SEEK SHELTER.
AT MY RESIDENTIAL CARE FACILITY, WHICH IS ACROSS FROM MEMORIAL SOUTHWEST HOSPITAL, WHEN HOMELESS PEOPLE ARE RELEASED FROM THE EMERGENCY CENTER, THEY CA THEY COME TO OUR FACILITY AND ASK TO SEE.
THEY TELL US THAT THE HOMELESS SHELTERS ARE FULL.
THEY TELL US THAT THE HOMELESS SHELTER MANAGERS SAID THE CITY HAS FUNDS, SO THEY SHOULD FIND A PLACE AND THE CITY WILL PAY.
FORTUNATELY, I SUBMITTED PROPOSALS AND RESPONSE TO THE CITIES REI TO PROVIDE RESIDENTIAL CARE SERVICES.
IT APPEARS SOME OF THE HOMELESS PEOPLE PURPOSEFULLY UTILIZE THE HOT FOR EMERGENCY ROOM TO AVOID THE YOUR TIME HAS EXPIRED OUTSIDE SHELLING TEMPERATURES.
NEXT, MARIA DEL MARIA DEL CARMEN MEDINA DE DE GONZALEZ.
NO, JASON EVANS TO BE FOLLOWED BY CARRIE JOHNSON.
UH, TO THE MAYOR CITY COUNCIL, UH, PREFACE MY COMMENTS BY SAYING THAT WE ARE HOPE LOCAL 1, 2, 3.
AND IF THERE'S ANYONE THAT WANTS TO SIT WITH US WITH THE SOLID WASTE WORKERS, WE'RE MORE THAN PREPARED TO SIT WITH YOU ON A ONE-ON-ONE BASIS.
BUT WE'RE NOT HERE TO BE ADVERSARY POINTING YOUR FINGERS.
SOLID WAKE WORKERS WANT TO SPEAK AND HEAR THEIR VOICES TO BE HEARD.
PUBLIC PERCEPTION IS THAT SOLID WASTE AND THEIR RESIDENTS IS NOT PICKING UP ON THEIR ROUTES.
WE MEET WITH THE DIRECTOR EVERY MONTH, BUT EVEN HIM HAVING HIS RESOURCES ARE LIMITED TO HIM.
THERE'S ONLY SO MUCH THAT HE CAN DO.
SO THAT'S WHY WE ARE HERE TODAY TO MAKE SURE THAT THE SOLID WASTE WORKERS' VOICES ARE HEARD.
AND AGAIN, WE'D LIKE TO SPEAK WITH EACH ONE OF THEM.
WANNA SPEAK WITH YOU? THANK YOU.
J JUST WANNA MAKE SURE YOU, YOU KNEW THAT NEXT TUESDAY WE'VE GOT A COMMITTEE HEARING THAT'LL BE FOCUSING ON SOLID WASTE.
SO HOPEFULLY WE CAN COME UP WITH SOME IDEAS AND ABSOLUTELY DO A LITTLE BETTER WITH IT.
UH, AND COUNCIL MEMBER RAMIREZ.
I HAVE A PROCEDURAL MOTION MOVE TO SUSPEND THE RULES TO ADD RAIN EATON BEHIND OR AFTER MICHELLE EBO.
AND IS THERE A SECOND? SECONDED.
UH, GOOD AFTERNOON, MR. MAYOR.
I'VE BEEN WITH THE CITY ROUGHLY ABOUT TWO AND A HALF YEARS.
PLEASE DON'T HOLD THAT AGAINST ME.
UM, JUST REAL QUICK, I WANNA GET TO THE METRICS OF THE SITUATION.
WHEN I STARTED THIS JOB, WE WERE WORKING FOUR TENS.
NEW ADMINISTRATION, NEW LEADERSHIP MOVED TO FIVE EIGHTS, FIVE TENS.
AND SHORTLY AFTER THAT, NOW WE'RE WORKING SIX TENS.
UM, AND AT THIS PARTICULAR JUNCTURE, WE'RE STILL STRUGGLING TO GET THE TRASH UP.
RECENTLY WE WERE GIVING MORE TRUCKS TO THIS DATE, 22 OF THOSE 50 TRUCKS ARE ON OUTSIDE SERVICES.
BASICALLY, IT REQUIRES MORE IN ORDER FOR US TO DO OUR JOB MORE.
AND WE'RE GETTING PAID LESS AND WE HAVE LESS MANPOWER.
WE'RE DRIVING MORE, WE'RE PUTTING MORE ON THE TRUCKS, WE'RE PUTTING MORE STRAIN ON THE TRUCKS, MORE STRESS ON THE TRUCKS.
AND THIS ADMINISTRATION, OUR LEADERSHIP, DON'T HAVE A PROBLEM WITH ASKING US TO DO MORE.
I HAVE A 6-YEAR-OLD SON THAT I ONLY SEE ON THE WEEKENDS, WORKING SIX DAYS A WEEK MAKES THAT HARD.
I SEE HIM MAYBE SUNDAY EVERY NOW AND AGAIN.
SO WITH THAT BEING SAID, THERE IS NO BALANCE.
SOMETIMES WORK 13 HOURS, SOMETIMES WORK 12 HOURS.
JUST RECENTLY WE WERE WORKING SEVEN DAYS A WEEK.
NOW WE'RE MAKING THE MONEY DURING OVERTIME, BUT THAT MONEY DOESN'T GO TOWARDS OUR PENSION.
IT DOESN'T GO TOWARD VACATION TIME.
IT DOESN'T GO TOWARDS SICK TIME.
[00:45:01]
SO THE MONEY THAT WE'RE MAKING BASICALLY GOES BACK TOWARDS TAXES.I WORK 80 HOURS INSIDE OF 80 HOURS.
THAT MEAN I WORKED THE WHOLE MONTH.
I'M AVERAGING 90 HOURS, A HUNDRED HOURS, 120 HOURS.
JUST A STRUGGLE TO GET THIS TRASH UP.
HELLO, MY NAME IS RUSSELL HARRISON.
RESIDENTS NEED COMMUNICATION, NEED TO COMMUNICATE.
DR DRIVERS ARE OFTEN APPROACHED WITH NEGATIVE COMMENTS, UH, BY CITIZENS.
THE RULES ARE TO MAKE SURE THAT SOLID WASTE AND EVERYONE WORKS AT THEIR BEST.
AND BASICALLY WE JUST WANT OUR DEPARTMENT TO GET, FOLLOW THE RULES AND REGULATIONS AS WELL AS THE CITIZENS DUE TO.
AND WE HAD RAN A PETITION FOR SOLID WASTE DRIVERS TO SIGN.
WE ALL SIGNED THEM IN A COUPLE OF DAYS AND WE ARE STANDING ALL TOGETHER AND NEED MORE RESOURCES.
GOOD EVENING, MAYOR CITY COUNCIL.
UM, I WANNA THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR WHAT YOU'VE DONE THIS PAST YEAR.
UM, WE ARE STILL HAVING MULTIPLE PROBLEMS. UH, NORTHEAST CENTER IN 2025 HAD MULTIPLE BREAK-INS.
UM, THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS WORTH OF EQUIPMENT AND, UH, TOOLS WERE STOLEN, UM, FROM OUR MECHANICS WHO HAVE TO PAY FOR THEIR TOOLS OUTTA POCKET.
THEY HAVE NOT YET RECOVERED FROM THAT.
I'M TRYING TO GET ALL THIS IN ONE FELL SWOOP.
OUR, WE'RE STILL HAVING PROBLEMS WITH PPE.
WE'RE NOT GETTING THE EQUIPMENT THAT WE NEED FOR OUR PERSONAL SAFETY, UM, IN A TIMELY MANNER, UH, TO EVERYTHING FROM BOOTS, UM, GLOVES.
UM, OUR BOOTS ARE GETTING NAILS IN THEM AND THEY'RE GETTING THE CHEMICALS FROM THE TRANSFER CENTER INTO THE BOOTS, DEEMING THEM WORTHLESS.
UM, WE, UM, WE'RE TOLD BY, UM, RETIRED, UM, UM, RETIRED, UH, SOLID WASTE, UM, BY, UM, MR. HICK, MR. D***S LONG TIME AGO.
HAVE, HAVE Y'ALL, UH, TALKED TO YOUR PRESIDENT OF HOPE? YES, WE HAVE.
I AM SPEAKING TO YOUR BOARD NEXT WEEK.
UH, SO WE NEED TO CONTINUE THE LINE OF COMMUNICATION, OKAY.
BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, WE HAVE A LOT OF PEOPLE THAT HAVE BEEN WORKING FOR THE CITY.
IN COOPERATION WITH US THAT ARE NOT PERMANENT EMPLOYEES.
AND THAT'S GOING ON UP TO SIX YEARS, INCLUDING MR. EDWARD JOHNSON, UM, UH, ON THE HOT TEAM.
HE'S WORKING WITH US AND WE DO NEED THESE PEOPLE TO MAKE PERMANENT THANK YOU.
WE ALWAYS HEAR FROM THE LEADERSHIP THAT THE WORKERS ARE THE EXPERTS, WHICH I FEEL THAT'S RIGHT.
SO WITH THAT BEING SAID, APPRECIATE YOU COMING OUT AND GETTING IN ONE OF THE TRUCKS.
SO YOU ALL UNDERSTAND WHAT WE DEAL WITH ON A DAILY BASIS.
AND WE ALSO NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT WE EDUCATING THE CITIZENS MORE ON, ON, UH, TRASH BEING PICKED UP THE PROPER WAY.
KNOW THAT WE SUPPOSED TO BE PICKING UP EIGHT QIC YARDS OR LESS.
WE NEED THAT TO BE ENFORCED MORE INTO THE PUBLIC.
ALSO, I CAME AND SPOKE WITH YOU ALL LIKE SEVEN MONTHS AGO, PERTAINING TO A CITY ORDINANCE TO GET THE CARS OFF THE STREET.
SO IT'D BE SAFER FOR US TO MANEUVER THROUGH THE NEIGHBORHOODS TO GIVE THE CITIZENS THE PROPER SERVICES THAT THEY DESERVE.
SO WE NEED COOPERATION NOT JUST WITH YOU ALL, BUT WE NEED IT FROM THE PUBLIC AS WELL HAVE, IF Y'ALL MADE A DECISION ON WHAT WE'RE GONNA DO PERTAINING TO THAT CITY ORDINANCE.
UH, YOU MAKE ONE REALLY GOOD OBSERVATION THAT I THINK WE REALLY NEED TO HIGHLIGHT AND PUT SOME EMPHASIS BEHIND, AND THAT IS, UH, WHEN PROPERTY OWNERS ARE PUTTING MORE THAN THE EIGHT CUBIC YARDS OF HEAVY TRASH AND TREE WASTE OUT ON THE CURB, UH, MANY TIMES THAT'S DONE BY CONTRACTORS.
AND THESE CONTRACTORS ARE COMING OUT, THEY'RE GUTTING THE HOME, THEY'RE TEARING DOWN THE FENCE OR WHATEVER THEY'RE DOING, AND THEY'RE PUTTING ALL THIS YARD WASTE ON THE FRONT CURB,
[00:50:01]
AND THEN THEY EXPECT THE SOLID WASTE DEPARTMENT TO PICK IT UP.UH, I THINK WE SOMETIMES PUT NOTICES OR, OR SOMETIMES WE JUST PICK IT UP BECAUSE IT JUST, IT'S EASIER JUST TO, TO MOVE TO GET IT AND MOVE ON.
BUT IT'S NOT HOLDING THOSE PROPERTY OWNERS ACCOUNTABLE, UM, AND IS SLOWING UP THEIR, THEIR ROUTES, WHICH PUSHES EVERYTHING BEHIND.
SO, UH, IN JC WE HAVE THIS PRIVATE CREW THAT GOES OUT AND TRIES TO HELP WITH THE HEAVY TRASH AND TREE WASTES.
BUT AS THAT CREW IS EVEN GOING OUT AND SEEING THESE PILES, THEY'RE WAY OVER THE AMOUNT THAT THEY NEED TO BE.
SO AS YOU SAID, I THINK ONE OF THE THINGS WE NEED TO DO IS HAVE BETTER COMMUNICATION WITH THE PROPERTY OWNERS ON WHAT IS ALLOWABLE AND HAVE HEFTIER CONSEQUENCES FOR THOSE WHO DO NOT ABIDE BY THAT ORDINANCE.
UH, I WOULDN'T PICK UP ANYTHING THAT IS, UH, AS LARGE AS SOME OF THESE PILES ARE BECAUSE WE DO NEED FOR THEM TO TAKE CARE OF THEIR OWN HEAVY TRASH AND, AND TREE WASTE WHEN IT IS THAT LARGE.
AND I THINK WE HAVE TO DO A BETTER JOB IN COMMUNICATING, ESPECIALLY WHEN IT COMES TO THIS ISSUE.
SO I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR COMING FORWARD, RIGHT.
WE'RE NOT HERE TO BASH ANYBODY.
THIS CITY RESPONSIBILITY IS ON ALL OF US, YOU ALL, US AS THE WORKERS, AS WELL AS THE CITIZENS.
I WROTE OUT ON ONE OF THE TRUCKS SEVERAL MONTHS AGO, AND I SAW THE ISSUE WITH, UH, CARS PARKED ON THE STREET.
UH, ONE OF THE THINGS WE PUT OUT, AND I THINK A COUPLE OTHER COUNCIL MEMBERS PUT IT OUT TOO, IS ASKING THE RESIDENTS NOT TO PARK ON THE STREETS ON THE DAY THAT THEY HAVE THE, THE GARBAGE PICKUP.
AND I THINK THAT'S CERTAINLY SOMETHING WE CAN TRY AND COMMUNICATE WITH THE CITIZENS AGAIN, BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, I, IT WAS EASY FOR ME TO TELL THAT IT WOULD BE A MUCH MORE, UH, SMOOTHER PROCESS IF THERE WEREN'T AS MANY CARS OUT ON THE STREETS TO BE ABLE TO PICK 'EM UP AND YOU'D AVOID DAMAGES AND EVERYTHING ELSE.
AND I THINK THERE'S A LOT OF THINGS WE CAN COMMUNICATE WITH THE PUBLIC TO TRY AND MAKE Y'ALL'S JOB EASIER AND MORE EFFICIENT.
WHERE, AND, AND I, I'LL CERTAINLY COMMIT TO DOING THAT AND I THINK MOST EVERYBODY ELSE WILL AS WELL.
AND IF I CAN SPEAK ON A SITUATION WITH MYSELF, I'M A, I'M A SELF LOADER OPERATOR SITUATION I'VE HAD IN A NEIGHBORHOOD, WHICH MAKES THIS A BIG DEAL, IS I HAD A CITIZEN MAD BECAUSE THEIR TRASH WASN'T PICKED UP, TRIED TO GET ON THE TRUCK WITH ME.
SO HOW ARE WE SUPPOSED TO DEFEND OURSELVES? WE DON'T HAVE NOTHING TO DEFEND OURSELVES OTHER THAN A TWO-WAY RADIO.
THESE PEOPLE ARE MAD BECAUSE OF THEIR TRASH NOT BEING PICKED UP WHEN THEY WANT IT PICKED UP, BUT THEY'RE TAKING THEIR ANGER OUT ON US OUT THERE.
SO WHAT ARE WE SUPPOSED TO DO THAT HELPS US? BECAUSE IF THEIR CARS ARE OUT THE WAY, WE'RE NO LONGER PULLING UP, BLOWING A HORN FOR THEM TO COME OUTSIDE.
EVERYBODY IN THIS BUILDING KNOWS PEOPLE WORK ON THE WEEKENDS OR WHATEVER.
THEY DON'T WANT TO COME OUTSIDE AND MOVE A VEHICLE.
SO NOW THAT'S A SITUATION WHERE NOW THEY CALLING YOUR OFFICE OR THEY CALLING 3 1 1.
NOW WE GOT TO GO BACK TO THAT SAME ADDRESS.
YOU SEE WHAT I MEAN? SO IT, IT'S, IT'S A CONSTANT PROBLEM THROUGHOUT THIS WHOLE CITY.
EVERYWHERE WE GO AND WE, WITH THIS BEING PUT IN PLACE, WE WOULD NOT BE THE ONLY ONES THAT WOULD BENEFIT WITH THIS.
YOU GOT THE POLICE AND FIRE WHEN THEY GOING THROUGH THE NEIGHBORHOOD, THEY TRYING TO GET TO WHATEVER THEY NEED TO GET TO.
IF CARS ARE DOUBLE HALT, HOW CAN THEY SAVE SOMEBODY? YOU KNOW, WHEN, WHEN A STROKE VICTIM HAS A STROKE SECONDS COUNT, WHEN, WHEN THEY CAN'T GET TO THAT PERSON THAT NEEDS THAT MEDICAL ATTENTION.
I MEAN, WHAT ARE THEY SUPPOSED TO DO? IT'S A MAJOR ISSUE IN THIS CITY.
CHEATING CHUPA TO BE FOLLOWED BY SARTA HARDY.
YEAH, GOOD, HONORABLE, UH, UM, MAYOR, A NEW, UH, UH, UM, DISTINGUISHED, UM, MEMBERS OF CITY COUNCIL.
I'M A AN OPERATOR OF A REGULAR CAB IN, IN, IN CITY IN THIS CITY.
AND I, I WORK MAINLY AT THE AIRPORT AND WE ARE FEW NUMBER COMPARED COMPARED TO UBER.
NOW THERE'S SOMETHING THAT, UH, THE AIRPORT AUTHORITIES ARE TRYING TO DO.
IF THEY DO IT, IT'LL BE VERY FAIR ON US.
[00:55:01]
INTO OUR, UH, UH, UH, LOT.AND WHEN I I SAY OUR LOT, THE, THE LOT OF REGULAR TAXI CAR, UH, TAXI CARS, THE AIRPORT ATTORNEY WANT TO BRING UBER INTO US.
YOU KNOW, THAT IS VERY, VERY DANGEROUS.
EH? THEY WANT TO BRING THE NUMERIC STRENGTH OF UBER TO COME IN AND PUSH US OUT SO THAT WE GO OUT OF BUSINESS.
WHY SHOULD WE BE SACRIFICED FOR IN FAVOR OF UBER? NOW REMEMBER, YOUR, YOUR TIME HAS EXPIRED.
I'M, I'M ASKING FOR YOU TO HELP US.
DON'T LET THEM PUSH US AWAY FROM OUR LOT.
IF THEY PUSH US AWAY, WE'LL GO JOBLESS.
UM, SLEEP UNDER THE BRIDGE AND EAT FROM TRASHCAN.
SHE'S HERE, MICHELLE IOR TO BE FOLLOWED BY RAIN.
NOAH'S HERE BECAUSE WE MOVED THE TIME UP FOR 30 MINUTES.
WE CAN'T GET PEOPLE TO THE LINE.
YOU CALL HOW SPEAKER CAN'T SPEAK, LET GO OUT.
FIND THEM AN IMPORTANT PIECE TOO.
BUT HALF THE WORKERS FIND THIS, THAT PAY YOUR SALARY.
YOU PICK AND CHOOSE WHAT YOUR RULES ARE FOR LET THEM THEM, LET, LET THEM SPEAK.
LET THEM SPEAK, LET THEM SPEAK SILENCE.
LAST TIME I CAME, I STATED THE LAW HOW INTELLIGENCE AGENCIES CANNOT CREATE AND ENFORCE THEIR OWN PRIVATE CATEGORIES.
TODAY I'M HERE TO EXPLAIN HOW THIS CATEGORY WAS CREATED BY THE BUREAU AND HOW IT'S CONTINUED OUTSIDE THE LEGAL AUTHORITY AND STATUTORY LIMITS DEFINED BY CONGRESS AND THE EXECUTIVE BRANCH.
IN 2001, FBI DIRECTOR ROBERT MUELLER ISSUED AN INTERNAL DIRECTIVE INSTRUCTING FIELD OFFICES TO EMBED A PRE CRIMINAL INTELLIGENCE SCREENING CATEGORY INSIDE THE NATIONAL CRIME INFORMATION CENTER AND SPECIFICALLY INSIDE THE VIOLENT GANG TERRORIST ORGANIZATION FILE, WHICH IF YOU GUYS DIDN'T KNOW, IS A VIOLENT PERSON'S FILE INSIDE THE NATIONAL CRIME SYSTEM, YOUR TIME HAS EXPIRED.
CAN I CONTINUE? THANK YOU MA'AM.
THAT'S, WE'RE ON A VERY TIGHT OKAY.
WHEN WHAT THE FBI SPEAKING, I'M RAIN.
WHEN WHAT THE FBI IS DOING IN THIS CAP GETS EXPOSED IS GONNA BRING A GREAT DISGRACE INFORMATION.
BE FOLLOWED BY MONICA HATCHER.
FIRST I WANNA THANK MAYOR WHITMEYER FOR OPENING UP THE NORTHEAST MULTI-SERVICE CENTER DURING THE WARMING CENTER ISSUE OVER THIS PAST WEEKEND.
UM, IT'S VERY HARD FOR THAT CENTER TO BE OPEN IN THE FIRST PLACE, BUT I'M VERY DISAPPOINTED IN THE FACT THAT YOU OVERLOOKED AN ISSUE THAT WAS BROUGHT UP IN A PRESS CONFERENCE REGARDING THE CONCERNS AROUND ICE.
THEY WEREN'T CONCERNED ABOUT WHETHER OR NOT THEY WOULD GET TURNED AWAY.
THEY WERE CONCERNED THAT THEY WERE GOING TO BE USED AS TARGETS FOR GOING TO PUBLIC UNOPENED SPACES AND NOT BE PROTECTED BY THEIR MAYOR.
I UNDERSTAND THAT THIS IS A VERY HARD JOB AND I UNDERSTAND THAT YOU HAVE A LOT TO BALANCE.
BUT IF YOU'RE LOOKING FOR SUGGESTIONS ON HOW TO ACTUALLY HANDLE THIS ISSUE WITH ICE, MAY I SUGGEST YOU LOOK AT EXAMPLES LIKE MAYOR FRAY OF MINNEAPOLIS, MAYOR BRANDON OF CHICAGO, MAYOR ANI OF NEW YORK.
THEY'VE ALL DONE THE WORK TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY UPLIFT THEIR COMMUNITIES FIRST.
SO IF YOU ARE ACTUALLY ACTIVE IN THE CONFERENCE, THE US CONFERENCE OF MAYORS, MAY I SUGGEST YOU SPEAK TO YOUR COLLEAGUES AND YOUR FELLOW MAYORS AND FIGURE OUT HOW TO ACTUALLY STAND UP TO A BULLY BECAUSE
[01:00:01]
THAT'S THE ONLY ISSUE THAT WE'RE DEALING WITH WITH GOVERNOR GREG ABBOTT.THEN I CAN GUARANTEE YOU THAT YOU HAVE A COHORT OF MAYORS WHO WILL BE WILLING TO GIVE YOU THEIR PLAYBOOK OF HOW TO ACTUALLY STAND YOUR TIME IS EXPIRED.
I LIVE IN SPRING BRANCH ON SUNDAY.
I WAS WATCHING MEET THE PRESS.
THAT SHOW AND DEPUTY ATTORNEY GENERAL TODD BLANCHE WAS THERE DEFENDING THE SHOOTING DEATH OF AMERICAN CITIZEN IN MINNESOTA.
AND HE WAS BLAMING THEIR LEADERS FOR CREATING WHAT HE CALLED A CLIMATE OF VIOLENCE AROUND ICE OPERATIONS.
HE CONTRASTED THAT WITH TEXAS PRAISING OUR STATE AND LOCAL LAW ENFORCEMENT FOR COOPERATING WITH ICE.
I DON'T KNOW IF HE WAS RIGHT ABOUT ALL OF TEXAS, BUT IT HE WAS RIGHT ABOUT HOUSTON BECAUSE OUR POLICE DEPARTMENT GOES ABOVE AND BEYOND THE LAW.
WHAT IS REQUIRED BY THE LAW TO HOLD UNDOCUMENTED PERSONS FOR ICE REGARDLESS OF ANY CRIMINAL CHARGES.
GIVEN ALL THE ABUSES OF HUMAN AND CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHTS THAT WE SEE ICE COMMITTING AGAINST BOTH UNDOCUMENTED AND CITIZENS, THIS SHOULD REALLY CONCERN ALL OF US.
I'M A HOUSTON RESIDENT AND I'M ASKING YOU TO END THIS PRACTICE.
OUR CITY SHOULD NOT GO BEYOND WHAT THE LAW REQUIRES IN WAYS THAT PUT FAMILIES AT RISK AND ERODE TRUST IN OUR PUBLIC SAFETY SYSTEM.
THANK YOU STEPHANIE PADILLA TO BE FOLLOWED BY RANDALL CALLANAN.
NO FLAG THAT YOU SHOOT A MAN WITH FOUR BULLETS.
I'M STEFFI WITH IYT IMMIGRATING YOUTH TEXAS.
I'M NOT HERE TO ASK FOR REASSURANCE.
I'M HERE TO NAME WHAT'S HAPPENING.
OUR IMMIGRANT COMMUNITIES ARE LIVING IN FEAR NOT IMAGINED.
FEAR NOT POLITICAL, FEAR LIVED.
I DON'T EXPECT YOU TO UNDERSTAND IN YOUR POSH HOME IN RIVER OAKS, BUT THIS IS REALITY.
IN IMMIGRANT, UNDOCUMENTED COMMUNITIES, PARENTS ARE AFRAID TO SEND THEIR CHILDREN TO SCHOOL.
STUDENTS ARE ORGANIZING WALKOUTS, DISRUPTING EDUCATION.
FAMILIES ARE AVOIDING SHELTERS DURING FREEZES.
CHILDREN ARE WATCHING THEIR COMMUNITIES BE PROFILED, STOPPED, DETAINED AND ASKED AND ASKING US, ME, A MOTHER OF THREE.
WHY NO ONE IN THE CITY OF HOUSTON IS PROTECTING THEM.
AT THE SAME TIME, THE CITY TELLS HIS UNDOCUMENTED FAMILIES TO COME FORWARD FOR HELP WHILE ACCEPTING FUNDING, ALLOWING ENFORCEMENT ACTIVITIES IN OUR REGION, OUR REGION, AND ISSUING STATEMENTS THAT CONTRADICT ONE ANOTHER.
THE CONTRADICTION IS DANGEROUS.
SAFETY, IT CREATES CONFUSION, SILENCE, AND TERROR.
WE ARE WATCHING OTHER CITIES BECOME HEADLINES AFTER LEADERSHIP IS IGNORED.
I PLEASE FINISH YOUR FIRE, RANDALL, I URGE YOU TO REACH OUT TO ME.
PUT YOUR PHONE DOWN AND LISTEN.
BRIAN HALLIGAN, HALEY ROGERS TO BE FOLLOWED BY ANTHONY HUBBARD.
KEITH PORTER SAY THEIR NAMES, THEY'RE MURDERS ARE HORRIFIC AND DISGUSTING, BUT THEY'RE NOT SURPRISING.
I, THIS ADMINISTRATION IS QUITE LITERALLY MURDERING AMERICAN CITIZENS IN BROAD DAYLIGHT ON AMERICAN SOIL.
ICE ISN'T ABOUT PROTECTING COMMUNITIES.
IT'S NOT ABOUT PROTECTING THIS COUNTRY.
IT'S A VEHICLE FOR STATE VIOLENCE AND OPPRESSION.
IF THE ADMIN IS NOW THE NEW GERMANY, TEXAS IS, ITS POLAND ICE IS KIDNAPPING CHILDREN AND SENDING THEM HERE.
LIAM RAMOS IS IN TEXAS AT AN ICE DETENTION FACILITY.
EVERY SINGLE ONE OF YOU ON THIS BODY, WE TO HAVE POLITICAL COURAGE TO PUT YOUR POSITIONS, YOUR REPUTATION, AND QUITE
[01:05:01]
FRANKLY, YOUR LIVES ON THE LINE LIKE COMMUNITIES.IT IS THIS ADMINISTRATION WILL NOT STOP.
THEY'LL CONTINUE TO COME HERE.
GUESS WHAT? BENDING THE OF GREG WILL NOT SAVE THIS CITY.
HE'LL COME HERE AFTER EVERY SINGLE DEMOCRATIC STATE, DEMOCRATIC CITY AND BE F*****G NOT AWAY AWAY.
ANTHONY HUBBARD OVER TO BE FOLLOWED BY KELLY SADLER.
SO WHITMEYER, YOU SAID YOU WERE STRONGLY OPPOSED TO ICE IN THE OPERATIONS.
WHERE IS THIS OPPOSITION? HOUSTON IS THE NUMBER ONE CITY IN THIS NATION FOR ICE DETENTIONS AND DEPORTATIONS.
WE ALL HERE BECAUSE WE ARE NOT SEEING OPPOSITION.
YOUR SOLUTION REGARDS SELLING OUT OUR COMMUNITY MEMBERS, OUR FRIENDS AND OUR FAMILIES.
WE'RE NOT SEEING ANY PEACE HERE.
WE'RE SEEING A LACK OF MAYBE TENSION IN THE STREETS, BUT WE'RE SEEING OUR FAMILIES AND FRIENDS VICTIMIZED.
THAT'S NOT PEACE, THAT'S NOT JUSTICE.
I'M ASKING YOU AND EVERYONE HERE TO DO SOMETHING.
THE FEAR SHOWS OUT IN ANGER AND LOUDNESS, BUT PEOPLE ALL ARE AFRAID OF WHAT ICE IS DOING TO OUR, OUR COMMUNITY.
WHAT WILL IT TAKE? HOW MANY VOICES DO YOU NEED HERE BEFORE YOU DO SOMETHING? KELLY SADLER.
I'VE BEEN HERE A LOT AND I'VE BEEN TALKING ABOUT THE SAME ISSUE.
UM, I THINK THE ONE THING THAT A LOT OF PEOPLE DON'T TALK ABOUT IS CORE, CIVIC AND GEO GROUP.
AND THAT'S WHERE ALL THE MONEY IS COMING FROM WITH THE PRIVATE PRISONS.
UH, GREG ABBOTT AND OUR MAYOR, UH, MAYOR WHITMEYER GETS A LOT OF MONEY WHEN HOUSTONIANS ARE TAKEN.
UM, AND THAT IS AGAIN, THE TWO, UH, INTEREST GROUPS, CORE, CIVIC, AND GEO GROUP.
UM, HOUSTON PD, UH, HELPS MAKE THESE ARRESTS POSSIBLE.
WE CAN
WE CAN BAN ICE FROM OUR JAILS, OUR SCHOOLS AND OUR STREETS.
WE, THE PEOPLE OF HOUSTON ARE NOT A CLIENT LIST FOR THE PRIVATE PRISON INDUSTRIAL COMPLEX.
WE ARE YOUR CONSTITUENTS AND WE VOTE.
AND WHAT CORE, CIVIC AND GEO GROUP WANT SHOULD NOT COME FIRST.
WHAT THE PEOPLE OF HOUSTON WANT SHOULD COME FIRST.
APPEARS TO BE FOLLOWED BY IRANI TREVINO.
I'M A MEMBER OF THE IMMIGRANT JUSTICE CAMPAIGN FOR THE UNIVERSITY OF HOUSTON YOUNG DEMOCRATIC SOCIALISTS OF AMERICA.
UM, YOU MAYOR WHITMEYER CLAIM THAT WE AS A CITY AREN'T IN TURMOIL, BUT I THINK IT'S MORE ACCURATE TO SAY THAT YOU ARE NOT IN TURMOIL.
AFTER THE MULTIPLE TELEVISED MURDERS PERPETRATED IN MINNEAPOLIS BY DHS AGENTS, THESE LAST FEW WEEKS, MANY OF US IN THE IMMIGRANT JUSTICE SPACE WERE STUNNED.
SOMETHING THAT STUCK, THAT STRUCK ME WAS THAT THE MAYOR OF MINNEAPOLIS, AFTER THE MURDER OF RENEE NICOLE GOODE, SAID THIS TO ICE, GET THE F**K OUTTA MINNEAPOLIS.
IT FEELS SO SIMPLE, ESPECIALLY AF AFTER HAVING SEEN THE DHS AGENT KILLER FROM MULTIPLE ANGLES IN BROAD DAYLIGHT.
YET I CANNOT IMAGINE A SCENARIO IN WHICH MY MAYOR WOULD EVER MAKE A STATEMENT SO STRONGLY ADVOCATING FOR MY HUMANITY.
YOU IN AN INTERVIEW ON JANUARY 7TH SAID, YOU ARE SORRY ABOUT DIVIDING FAMILIES, IS BLAMING THOSE FAMILIES WHO ARE TERRIFIED OF LOSING LOVED ONES OF THEIR CHILDREN, HAVING NO ONE TO PICK THEM UP AFTER SCHOOL.
WE DESERVE LOCAL GOVERNMENT THAT CLEARLY AND ENTHUSIASTICALLY IS TRYING TO FIGHT BACK AGAINST THE
[01:10:01]
TRUMP ADMINISTRATION.YOUR TIME HAS EXPIRED 'CAUSE WE DESERVE A CITY THAT WE ARE ALL INCLUDED IN AND NOT AT RISK OF BEING RIPPED AWAY FROM ALL WE KNOW TO HIT A POLITICAL CHECKBOX FOR THE REPUBLICAN PARTY.
IF YOU REFUSE TO PLAY POLITICS, GET THE F**K OUTTA THE GAME.
WE DEMAND HOUSTON AND ALL HB AND ICE COLLABORATION NOT FALL IN LINE WITH FASCIST FEDERAL ORDERS.
UM, LAST WEEK, THE MAYOR'S WORDS STRUCK WITH, STUCK WITH ME.
UM, AND I DO CHOOSE TO BELIEVE THAT YOU HAVE THE BEST INTENTIONS FOR THE CITY AND THAT YOU WANNA MAKE SURE THAT WE DON'T LOSE FEDERAL OR STATE FUNDING BY BEING DISOBEDIENT OF THEIR ORDERS, NOT THE LAW, THEIR ORDERS.
I HEARD YOU SAY THAT HOUSTON IS FOLLOWING THE LAW, BUT AS SOMEONE WHO GRADUATED FROM LAW SCHOOL, I HAVE TO CLARIFY THAT THE US CONSTITUTION SUPREMACY CLAUSE STATES THAT THE CONSTITUTION AND FEDERAL STATUTES AND TREATIES ARE THE SUPREME COURT OF THE LA SUPREME LAW OF THE LAND.
THE CONSTITUTION CREATES THE THREE BRANCHES OF GOVERNMENT TO ENSURE BALANCE.
THAT MEANS THAT THE EXECUTIVE BRANCH DOES NOT CREATE THE LAWS THAT IS NOT UNDER THEIR PURVIEW.
NOW MAYOR, YOU STATED LAST WEEK THAT NO ONE COULD HAVE SEEN WHAT HAS HAPPENING WITH ICE COMING.
BUT I HAVE TO SAY MANY OF US DID SEE IT COMING AND THAT'S THE REASON WHY WE'RE SPEAKING UP AND WHY SO MANY PEOPLE ARE ARE FRUSTRATED FRANKLY.
SO I'M ASKING YOU TODAY TO PLEASE CONSIDER WHAT MAY BE TO COME.
I ASK YOU TO AT LEAST LISTEN TO THE WORDS OF THE PRESIDENT WHEN HE CALLS CITIZENS TERRORIST WHEN HE SAYS THAT HE WANTS TO TAKE AWAY BIRTHRIGHT CITIZENSHIP.
WHEN HE SAYS THAT HE WANTS TO TAKE AWAY, UM, NATURALIZED CITIZENSHIP AND THAT YOUR TIME HAS EXPIRED, WANTS TO CREATE A NEW WORLD ORDER.
THANK YOU SIR THOMAS SUTHERLAND TO BE FOLLOWED BY WAN WYNN.
THE KILLINGS OF RENEE GOODE AND ALEX PREDDY BY FEDERAL AGENTS ARE PARTICULARLY HEINOUS EXAMPLES OF THE BREADTH AND SCOPE OF THE VIOLATIONS OF LAW PERPETRATED BY ICE AND BORDER PATROL.
UNDER THIS ADMINISTRATION, RENEE AND ALEX WERE LAW ABIDING CITIZENS.
THEY'RE ONLY CRIME WITH PUBLICLY OPPOSING AND DOCUMENTING THE PRESENCE AND ACTIONS OF FEDERAL AGENTS IN THEIR NEIGHBORHOODS.
HOWEVER, WE MUST ALSO REMEMBER THAT THESE ARE JUST TWO EXAMPLES OF THE KIND OF OUTRAGEOUS AND VIOLENT BEHAVIOR THAT WE HAVE SEEN FROM ICE AND BORDER PATROL OFFICIALS.
WE HAVE SEEN CAR WINDOWS SMASHED.
WE HAVE SEEN PEOPLE DRAGGED FROM THEIR VEHICLES AND BRUTALIZED AND WE HAVE SEEN A CAR WITH AN INFANT TEAR.
GASSED ICE'S VERY PRESENCE IN OUR COMMUNITIES IS A DANGER TO OUR COMMUNITIES AND TO THE WELLBEING OF OUR NEIGHBORS.
I'M CALLING ON THIS BODY TO END ALL NON-SAFETY TRAFFIC STOPS, KICK ICE OUT OF HOUSTON AND KEEP OUR COMMUNITIES SAFE.
YEAH, GET OFF YOUR PHONE AND PEOPLE ARE TALKING TO YOU.
YOU ANSWER TO US NOT THE OTHER WAY AROUND.
UM, I I WOULD LIKE TO SAY THAT THE MAYOR IS RIGHT THAT HOUSTON IS A MODEL FOR THE REST OF THE COUNTRY.
AND THAT'S BECAUSE ONCE WE'VE DEFEATED THESE AGGRESSIVE ATTACKS ON BLUE STATES, BLUE CITIES EVERYWHERE IS GONNA LOOK EXACTLY LIKE HOUSTON WITH THE COMPLACENT MAYOR AND BASICALLY A SHADOW WAR AGAINST OUR PEOPLE EVERY SINGLE DAY.
THIS IS THE REAL MODEL THEY'RE LOOKING FOR.
THEY DON'T WANT THE REAL CONFRONTATIONS.
THAT'S WHY THEY SENT GREG VINNO AWAY.
THIS IS WHAT'S COMING TO EVERY SINGLE CITY.
AND WE HAVE MAYOR WHITMEYER TO THANK FOR IT.
THE FUTURE OF AMERICA, LOW INTENSITY WARFARE AGAINST EVERY IMMIGRANT IN THIS CITY.
I'D LIKE TO SPEAK TO SOME OF THE COUNCIL MEMBERS THAT HAVE TIME AND TIME AGAIN SAID THAT THERE'S NOTHING TO BE DONE.
$500,000 FOR YOUR CAMPAIGN JUST TO COME TO CITY COUNCIL AND SAY, WE'RE TALKING TO HPD.
AND GREG ABBOTT IS GONNA COME AFTER ME.
WHO CARES ABOUT GREG ABBOTT? COULD YOU IMAGINE BEING SCARED WHEN A FATHER WAS TAKEN AWAY FROM HIS FAMILY ON NEW YEAR'S EVE? COULD YOU IMAGINE BEING SCARED WHEN A MOTHER GOT BULLETS PUT INTO HER FACE? COULD YOU IMAGINE BEING SCARED WHEN A NURSE HAD FOUR BULLETS PUT INTO THEM? COULD YOU IMAGINE SEEING ALL OF THIS AND SITTING IN FRONT OF A CONSTITUENT WHO'S CRYING TO YOUR FACE AND BEING WORRIED ABOUT GREG ABBOTT COMING TO PROSECUTE YOU.
THE BEST WE CAN ALL HOPE FOR IS AN ASTERISK IN THIS CITY.
[01:15:01]
THIS MAYOR IS ELECTED FOR FOUR MORE YEARS, ALL WILL EVER BE IS A SPACE IN THE HISTORY.BOOKS BUCKS JESSICA DUGAN TO BE FOLLOWED BY LY MONTOYA.
I GOT SOME PAPERS TO HAND OUT.
EVERYBODY'S GOT THE SAME ONE EXCEPT FOR GO AROUND.
EVERYBODY ELSE'S IS TWO PAGES.
I'M JESSE DUGAN, DISTRICT C RESIDENT MEMBER OF HOUSTON, CVPE AND MEMBER OF HOUSTON DSA.
TONIGHT I'M ASKING HOUSTON CITY COUNCIL TO TAKE IMMEDIATE CONCRETE STEPS TO SUPPORT AN ORDERLY END TO THE HISD TAKEOVER.
THAT'S WHAT THIS, UH,
UH, IN THERE YOU WILL SEE THAT.
UH, AND IF EVERYONE WANTS TO GET THEIR PHONES OUT, THERE WILL BE A SICKOUT, UH, AN HISD SICKOUT FOR ALL THE KIDS, UH, TO WALK OFF CAMPUS.
AND THERE'S A BOARD OF MANAGERS MEETING THAT NIGHT AT 5:00 PM SO IF YOU GUYS WOULD LIKE, YOU CAN SPEAK OUT, UH, AT THAT BOARD OF MANAGERS MEETING, WE'D REALLY LOVE TO SEE YOU THERE.
UH, WE'RE TRYING TO GET AS MANY ELECTED OFFICIALS TO COME AS POSSIBLE.
UH, ANOTHER THING THAT'S ON THAT LIST IS, UH, I HAVE FOUR ACTION ITEMS. COME SPEAK OUT.
CALL THE BOARD OF MANAGERS BEFORE THE COUNCIL, UH, BECAUSE THERE'S A LOT THAT WE NEED ANSWERS TO.
UM, AND THE OTHER THING IS, UM, HAVE COMMUNITY LEADERS COME, UH, TO THE TABLE WITH BUSINESS LEADERS TO TALK ABOUT, UH, MIKE MILES'S EXIT PLAN SO WE CAN ACTUALLY PASS A BOND.
WITHOUT TRUST, WE WILL NOT BE ABLE TO PASS A BOND.
I WAS SUPPOSED TO GET THREE MINUTES.
I'M YOUR TIME HAS EXPIRED SPEED.
LIKE I SAID, EVERYONE HAS A TWO PAGER.
I'LL BE BACK TO TALK MORE ABOUT THIS.
I KNOW THERE'S A LOT OF INFORMATION.
UH, I JUST WANTED TO SAY I ILI MONTOYA RIVAS ONE BECAUSE YOU WERE RUDE.
OH, SHE'S TALKING THE MOTHER OF EMMANUEL ELLA GARCIA, AUTISTIC TEEN WHO WAS FOUND BY HPD AFTER HE ONLY FOR THEM TO CALL ICE ON HIM INSTEAD OF REUNITING HIM WITH HIS MOTHER.
SO EVERY WEEK I WILL BRING YOU AN ARTICLE ABOUT AUTISTIC CHILDREN.
NO, JOSEPH AMARI TO BE FOLLOWED BY AUBREY CONTRERAS.
I AM NOT TRYING TO AUC THE SYSTEM OR, UH, BEAT THE SYSTEM OR, UH, BREAK THE SYSTEM, BUT, OR BANKRUPTCY SYSTEM.
BUT SOMEBODY'S CORRUPTED THE SYSTEM ALL THE WAY AROUND ME.
I NEVER EXPERIENCED SO MUCH GOVERNMENT CORRUPTION.
I'M ADVISED AND REPORTING TO THIS MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL MEMBER.
MY COMPANY, MO SCRIPT, SIERRA PORT PLANTATION, WAS STOLEN OUT BOTH OF MY EMAIL ADDRESS.
ALSO ADVISED THERE BY MOVE SCRIPT, SIERRA PORT PATIENT TO HARRISBURG CITY OFFICE AND TEXAS ATTORNEY GENERAL OFFICE.
I ADVISED CITY COUNCIL HARRIS COUNTY DISTRICT ATTORNEY ALONG WITH TEXAS GENERAL OFFICE.
I'M A VICTIM OF JUDGE HARASSMENT.
THE STOLEN, THE STOLEN HOUSING VOUCHER OUT OF MY OUT WAS HOLLAND HOUSE CASE ALSO WAS STOLEN OUT OF MY EMAIL ACCOUNT.
TOLD MY SOCIAL SECURITY BILL FOR ACCOUNT HAD BEEN REFERRED TO THE DA OFFICE, THE TEXAS GENERAL OFFICE, BECAUSE THOSE ARE CRIMINAL CASES HAD TO BE RESOLVED AND REPORTED AND RESOLVED AND REPORTED TO DA OFFICE.
YOUR TIME HAS EXPIRED CIVIL LAWSUITS.
UH, ALSO THEY JUST GOTTA PROTECT MY, MY, MY, MY MOVIE SCRIPT BECAUSE SOME PEOPLE TRY TO WRITE AROUND IT TO MAKE A MOVIE LIKE MINE AND THEY HAVE THE SAME THING.
ADVISING
[01:20:05]
HELLO, MY NAME IS AUBREY CONTRERAS.I'M A MEMBER OF THE RAICES COLLABORATIVE.
I'M CONCERNED ABOUT THE CURRENT CITY ACTION, PARTICULARLY THE COOPERATION OF CITY POLICE WITH ICE.
THESE ARE TAXPAYER DOLLARS THAT ARE BEING USED FEDERAL AND LOCAL.
IT'S SAD HOW WE CURRENTLY DON'T HAVE A SAY IN WHAT THOSE FUNDS ARE USED FOR.
CURRENTLY, IMMIGRANTS ARE BEING DETAINED IN JAIL WHILE ACTUAL VIOLENT CRIMINAL CRIMINALS REMAIN UNACCOUNTABLE.
THE PRESIDENT IS CONVICTED, A FELON AND SUSPECTED A PEDOPHILE.
WE WANNA SEE A COMMITMENT FROM THE CITY TO STAND UP AGAINST VIOLENT ACTIONS IN OUR CITY AND AUNT.
HONESTLY, I SHOULDN'T EVEN BE HERE RIGHT NOW.
NOT BECAUSE I'M JUST A KID, BUT BECAUSE I, BECAUSE I'M SCARED FOR OUR COMMUNITY AND OUR CITY.
MAYOR JOHN WHITMEYER, I WANT, I UNDERSTAND THAT YOU WANT TO HELP, BUT YOU CAN'T HAVE ALL THE ANSWERS.
PLEASE LISTEN TO KIDS IF YOU WON.
AND MAYBE PLEASE HAVE A MOMENT OF SILENCE.
ALL THE PEOPLE THAT HAVE DIED IN ICE CUSTODY TODAY.
[RECESS]
THAT COMPLETES OUR LIST.WE STAY IN RECESS TILL NINE O'CLOCK IN THE MORNING.
ITEM ONE, REQUEST FOR MAYOR FOR CONFIRMATION OF THE APPOINTMENT OF FATIMA FOR JAHA TO POSITION EIGHT OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF REINVESTMENT ZONE ONE.
ITEM TWO, REQUEST FOR MAYOR FOR CONFIRMATION OF THE APPOINTMENT OF FAT TEAM OF WAJAHAT TO POSITION EIGHT OF THE ST.
GEORGE PLACE, REDEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY BOARD OF DIRECTORS.
ITEM THREE, REQUEST FOR MAYOR FOR CONFIRMATION OF THE REAPPOINTMENT OF TWO, MY WIN THE POSITION, ONE OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF REINVESTMENT, ZONE 20.
ITEM FOUR, REQUEST FOR MAYOR FOR CONFIRMATION OF THE REAPPOINTMENT OF TWO, MY WIN TO POSITION, ONE OF THE SOUTHWEST HOUSTON REDEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY BOARD OF DIRECTORS.
ITEM FIVE, REQUEST FOR MAYOR FOR CONFIRMATION OF THE REAPPOINTMENT OF ASHTON TAYLOR TO POSITION SIX OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF HARRIS COUNTY IMPROVEMENT DISTRICT NUMBER 12.
ITEM SIX, RECOMMENDATION FROM THE DIRECTOR OF HOUSTON PUBLIC WORKS FOR APPROVAL OF THE 2026 OPERATIONS AND MAINTENANCE BUDGET FOR THE LAKE HOUSTON FACILITIES PROJECT ITEM SEVEN, RECOMMENDATION FROM THE DIRECTOR OF HOUSTON PUBLIC WORKS FOR APPROVAL OF THE 2026 OPERATIONS AND MAINTENANCE BUDGET FOR THE LAKE LIVINGSTON PROJECT.
ITEM EIGHT, RECOMMENDATION FROM THE DIRECTOR OF HOUSTON PUBLIC WORKS FOR APPROVAL OF THE 2026 OPERATIONS AND MAINTENANCE BUDGET FOR THE LOOSE BIOS SYSTEM.
PROJECT ITEM NINE, RECOMMENDATION FROM THE DIRECTOR OF HOUSTON PUBLIC WORKS FOR APPROVAL OF THE 2026 OPERATIONS AND MAINTENANCE BUDGET FOR THE TRINITY RIVER CONVEYANCE PROJECT.
ITEM 10 HAS BEEN PULLED AND WILL NOT BE CONSIDERED.
ITEM 11, RECOMMENDATION FROM THE POLI POLICE CHIEF FOR EXTENSION OF INJURY ON DUTY LEAVE FOR SENIOR POLICE OFFICER NICK D BAINS JR.
ITEM 12, RECOMMENDATION FROM THE DIRECTOR OF HOUSTON PUBLIC WORKS THAT HOUSTON CITY COUNCIL ACCEPT THE WORK AND AUTHORIZE FINAL PAYMENT IF ANY OF THE CONTRACT WITH ACH CONSTRUCTION RESOURCES INC.
ITEM 13 ORDINANCE APPROPRIATING $1,732,121 OUT OF AIRPORTS IMPROVEMENT FUND APPROVING AND AUTHORIZING PURCHASE AND SALE AGREEMENT BETWEEN SVEA INDUSTRIAL HOLDINGS LLC ITEM 14, ORDINANCE APPRO AND AUTHORIZING SUBMISSION OF APPLICATION FOR GRANT ASSISTANCE TO FEDERAL EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT AGENCY FOR FY 2024.
ASSISTANCE TO FIREFIGHTERS GRANT.
ITEM 15, ORDINANCE APPROPRIATE AND $740,000 FOR PLANNED DATA CENTER REFRESH PROJECT ITEM 16, ORDINANCE APPROVING AND AUTHORIZING FIRST AMENDMENTS TO CONTRACT WITH ALL TERRA ENGINEERING INC.
DOING BUSINESS AS UES PROFESSIONAL SOLUTIONS 44 LLC.
ASSOCIATED TESTING LABORATORIES, INC.
BRAUN INTERTECH CORPORATION, ECS SOUTHWEST, L-L-P-D-A-E AND ASSOCIATES LIMITED DOING BUSINESS AS GEOTECH ENGINEERING AND TESTING HVJ ASSOCIATES, INC.
NINO AND MOORE GEOTECHNICAL AND ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE SCIENCES CONSULTANTS, PARADIGM CONSULTANTS, INC.
DOING BUSINESS AS CMT TECHNICAL SERVICES, QC LABORATORIES INC.
AND TU LINEE WONG ENGINEERS INC.
FOR PROFESSIONAL MATERIALS AND ENGINEERING SERVICES.
ITEM 17, ORDINANCE APPROPRIATING $378,060
[01:25:02]
APPROVING AND AUTHORIZING A CONTRACT WITH SMITH AND COMPANY ARCHITECTS, INC.ITEM 18 ORDINANCE APPROPRIATING $186,559 APPROVED AND AUTHORIZING CONTRACT WITH POWERS, BROWN POWERS BROWN ARCHITECTURAL NA LLC ITEM 19.
ORDINANCE APPROPRIATE MIL $1,540,000 TO PROFESSIONAL ARCHITECTURAL SERVICES.
CONTRACT WITH PAGE SUTHERLAND PAGE LLP ITEM 20, ORDINANCE AMENDING ORDINANCE NUMBER 2018 DASH 9 77 APPROVING AND AUTHORIZING SECOND AMENDMENT TO CONTRACT WITH BROWN AND ROOT INDUSTRIAL SERVICES.
LLC ITEM 21, ORDINANCE AMENDING ORDINANCE NUMBER 2025 DASH SEVEN RELATED TO CONTRACT WITH VNS CONSTRUCTION COMPANY LLC ITEM 22.
ORDINANCE AMENDING ORDINANCE NUMBER 2025 DASH 6 93 RELATED TO CONTRACT WITH VNS CONSTRUCTION COMPANY LLC ITEM 23, ORDINANCE AMENDING ORDINANCE NUMBER 2025 DASH THREE 17 RELATED TO CONTRACT WITH TEX COTA ENTERPRISES, LLC ITEM 24, ORDINANCE AMENDING ORDINANCE NUMBER 2025 DASH 4 73 RELATED TO CONTRACT WITH TEX COTA ENTERPRISES, LLC ITEM 25.
ORDINANCE AMENDING ORDINANCE NUMBER 2014 DASH 5 34 RELATED TO CONTRACT WITH AIR PRODUCTS AND CHEMICALS INC.
ITEM 26, ORDINANCE AUTHORIZING GRANT APPLICATION TO THE STATE OF TEXAS, OFFICE OF GOVERNOR, PUBLIC SAFETY OFFICE, OFFICE CRIMINAL JUSTICE DIVISION, JUVENILE JUSTICE AND TRUANCY PREVENTION GRANT PROGRAM FOR THE JUVENILE CASE MANAGER PROGRAM, TRUANCY PREVENTION INITIATIVE.
ITEM 27, ORDINANCE AMENDING ORDINANCE NUMBER 2022 DASH 8 67 RELATED TO THE CONTRACT WITH HARRIS COUNTY DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION FOR CASE FOR KIDS PROGRAM ITEM 28, ORDINANCE APPROV AND AUTHORIZING IN A LOCAL AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE CITY OF HOUSTON AND HOUSTON PARKS BOARD LGC INC.
ITEM 29 ORDINANCE APPROVED AND AUTHORIZING CONTRACT WITH HOUSTON GALVESTON AREA COUNCIL TO FUND CONTINUATION OF TOWING GOLD PROGRAM.
ITEM 20, ITEM 30, ORDINANCE RENEWING THE ESTABLISHING THE NORTH SIDE OF THE TWENTY SIX HUNDRED AND TWENTY SEVEN HUNDRED BLOCKS OF WILLOW STREET BETWEEN LIVE OAK STREET AND DELANO STREET WITHIN THE CITY OF HOUSTON, TEXAS AS A SPECIAL MINIMUM LOT SIZE BLOCK.
ITEM 31 ORDINANCE RENEWING THE ESTABLISHMENT OF THE NORTH SIDE OF THE 1900 BLOCK OF LAUDERDALE STREET BETWEEN STAFFORDSHIRE BOULEVARD AND CAMBRIDGE STREET WITHIN THE CITY OF HOUSTON, TEXAS AS A SPECIAL, SPECIAL MINIMUM BUILDING LINE BLOCK ITEM 32, ORDINANCE APPROPRIATING AND $2,648,267 APPROVING AND AUTHORIZING A FIRST AMENDMENT TO THE PROFESSIONAL ENGINEERING SERVICES CONTRACT BETWEEN THE CITY OF HOUSTON AND RS AND H INC.
ITEM 33, ORDINANCE APPROPRIATE $9,281,764 83 CENTS.
AWARDING A CONTRACT TO GRAVA LLC ITEM 34 ORDINANCE RELATING TO THE FISCAL AFFAIRS OF ST.
REDEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY ON BEHALF OF REINVESTMENT ZONE NUMBER ONE, CITY OF HOUSTON, TEXAS APPROVING FISCAL YEAR 2026, OPERATING BUDGET FOR THE AUTHORITY AND FISCAL YEARS 2026 THROUGH 2030.
CAPITAL IMPROVEMENTS BUDGET FOR THE ZONE.
THIS ITEM WAS TAGGED BY COUNCIL MEMBER POLLARD AND WITH ITEM 14 ON THE AGENDA OF JANUARY 21ST.
ITEM 35 ORDINANCE RELATING TO THE FISCAL AFFAIRS OF SOUTHWEST HOUSTON.
REDEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY ON BEHALF OF REINVESTMENT.
ZONE NUMBER 20, APPROVING FISCAL YEAR 2026, OPERATING BUDGET FOR THE AUTHORITY AND THE FISCAL YEAR'S 2026 THROUGH 2030.
THIS ITEM WAS TAGGED BY COUNCIL MEMBER POLLARD AND WAS ITEM 16 ON THE AGENDA OF JANUARY 21ST.
THIS COMPLETES THE READING OF THE CAPTIONS FOR THE AGENDA OF WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 28TH, 2026.
STAY TUNED FOR THE NEXT CITY COUNCIL.
SESSION TWO BEGIN AT 9:00 AM AND WITH THAT, I WISH EVERYONE A BLESSED AND HAPPY HUMP DAY.
MY NUMBER ONE COUNCIL MEMBER
[RECONVENE]
[MAYOR'S REPORT]
LIKE TO TAKE THE MOMENT OF THE MAYOR'S REPORT TO THANK CITY STAFF, THE DIRECTORS THAT RANK AND FILE WORKING AROUND THE CLOCK THIS WEEKEND.WE, UH, HAD OVER A THOUSAND INDIVIDUALS IN THE WARMING CENTERS.
OUR HATE TO START CALLING NAMES BECAUSE THERE'S SO MANY PEOPLE THAT WERE INVOLVED.
RON MASON AT THE EMERGENCY CENTER CERTAINLY DID A FANTASTIC JOB, BUT SO DID PUBLIC WORKS HEALTH, OUR FIRST RESPONDERS.
IT IS SO IMPRESSIVE TO SEE PEOPLE COMING
[01:30:01]
TO THE EMERGENCY CENTER AND OTHER LOCATIONS WITH THEIR SLEEPING BAGS.WE OPENED ALL OF THE WARMING CENTERS, PEOPLE WERE FED, PROTECTED, AND I REALLY WANT TO THANK HOUSTONIANS FOR FOLLOWING OUR ADVICE AND COUNSEL THAT THEY TAKE PRECAUTIONS AND PREPARE AND, UH, WE REALLY DEMONSTRATED THAT CITY GOVERNMENT CAN WORK.
AND ALSO IT LOOKS LIKE FRIENDS, WE'RE GONNA HAVE ANOTHER ARCTIC BLAST ABOUT FRIDAY THAT WE WILL ALSO HAVE TO PREPARE FOR.
IT WILL NOT HAVE THE MOISTURE, SO IT'LL JUST BE BITTER COAST.
WE'LL GET THE MOST VULNERABLE OFF THE STREETS.
ANOTHER THING, REALLY EXCITING NEWS.
I'LL BE PARTICIPATING IN A PRESS CONFERENCE AT TWO THIS AFTERNOON WITH HOUSTON.
FIRST TO ANNOUNCE THAT FIRST ROBOTICS IS AGREEING TO BRING THEIR CONVENTION BACK TO HOUSTON FOR THE NEXT SEVEN YEARS DUE TO THE EXPANSION OF THE GEORGE BROWN, WHICH OBVIOUSLY MAKES ME VERY PROUD SINCE THAT WAS TOUGH PIECE OF LEGISLATION THAT ALLOWS US TO USE THE HOTEL, THE STATE SHARE NO COST TO HOUSTON TAXPAYERS USE STATE FUNDING TO DOUBLE THE SIZE OF THE GEORGE BROWN.
IT WILL HAVE A $500 MILLION ECONOMIC IMPACT OVER THE NEXT SEVEN YEARS TO BRING THESE YOUNG PEOPLE INTO HOUSTON.
IT STANDS FOR THE INSPIRATION AND RECOGNITION OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY.
THESE ARE THE BRIGHTEST YOUNG PEOPLE FROM AROUND THE WORLD, FUTURE ENGINEERS THAT WILL HELP PREPARE HOUSTON INDUSTRIES FOR A BRIGHT FUTURE, BUT ECONOMIC IMPACT.
FIRST, THANK YOU CHRIS MOORE, THE CEO OF FIRST ROBOTICS, AND, UH, IT'S A GREAT STATEMENT.
I COULD MENTION OTHER LARGE CITIES THAT PEOPLE OR NOT HAVING CONVENTIONS IN DUE TO THEIR BOGGED DOWN IN THE CONSTRUCTION AND INCREASING THE SIZE OF THEIR CONVENTION CENTERS.
DALLAS, AUSTIN WERE REALLY BENEFITING.
AND BECAUSE OF THE EXPANSION OF THE GEORGE BROWN, IT'S REALLY REVITALIZING DOWNTOWN HOUSTON.
WITH THAT SAID, UH, LET'S GO TO WORK.
[CONSENT AGENDA]
MR. SECRETARY, WILL YOU DO CALL THE CONSENT REPORT? YES, SIR.UNDER THE MISCELLANEOUS CATEGORY, ITEM 10 HAS BEEN PULLED AND WOULD NOT BE CONSIDERED.
IS THERE A MOTION FOR ITEMS ONE THROUGH NINE AND 11? CASTEX TAYLOR, MOVE SECOND.
MOTION PASSES UNDER THE ACCEPT WORK CATEGORY.
ITEM 12 HAS BEEN REMOVED FOR SEPARATE CONSIDERATION UNDER THE ORDINANCES CATEGORY.
THE FOLLOWING ITEMS HAVE NOT BEEN RECEIVED, BUT WILL BE CONSIDERED IF THEY'RE RECEIVED BEFORE THE END OF THE MEETING.
ITEMS 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, AND 32.
AGAIN, ITEMS 18 THROUGH 25 AND 32 ITEMS REMOVED FOR SEPARATE CONSIDERATION.
AGAIN, ITEMS REMOVED FOR SEPARATE CONSIDERATION.
IS THERE VOTE ON THE BALANCE? ALL IN FAVOR SAY YES.
[CONSIDERATION OF MATTERS REMOVED FROM CONSENT AGENDA (Part 1 of 2)]
FOR SEPARATE CONSIDERATION.IS THERE A MOTION FOR ITEM 12? CAST TM? MOVE SECOND.
COUNCILOR THOMAS, UM, AFTER THE VOTE IS FILED, YES, MA'AM.
UH, THANK YOU COLLEAGUES FOR YOUR SUPPORT ON THIS ITEM.
UH, THIS WAS A TRANSFORMATIONAL PROJECT, UH, IN THE WEST CHASE AREA OF OUR DISTRICT, UH, WHICH TRANSFORMED AND, AND EXPANDED, UH, STREETS IN THAT AREA.
WE INVESTED WITH TREES, SIDEWALK, STREET, PAVEMENT.
UM, REALLY GRATEFUL, UH, TO THE WORK THAT WAS DONE.
SO SHOUT OUT TO RAY TECH, UM, AND SHOUT OUT TO SHADOW LAKE AND ROYAL OAKS AND THE,
[01:35:01]
UH, THE COMMUNITIES AROUND THAT THAT PARTICIPATED ON THE CALLS WITH HOUSTON PUBLIC WORKS TO GET THIS ACROSS THE FINISH LINE.AND YOU LEFT OFF A SHOUT OUT FOR COUNCIL MEMBER THOMAS.
THOSE CASTILLO AFTER, AFTER THE VOTE.
THANK YOU MAYOR AND COLLEAGUES.
THIS IS ANOTHER DATA CENTER REFRESH PROJECT, UH, WITH OUR IT DEPARTMENT THAT ALIGNS WITH OUR CLOUD FIRST GOAL AND ALSO KEEPS, UH, EQUIPMENT UPGRADED AND UPDATED THAT'S GETTING NEAR END OF LIFE.
IF YOU HAVEN'T BEEN OUT TO ONE OF OUR DATA CENTERS, UH, I WOULD ENCOURAGE YOU TO CHECK, CHECK THEM OUT.
IT'S A VERY INFORMATIVE EXPERIENCE, AND THESE PROJECTS NOT ONLY SUPPORT THEM, BUT ALSO GET US MORE TO OUR, OUR CLOUD FIRST GOAL.
AND, UH, LOOK FORWARD TO SEEING MORE OF THESE COME THROUGH THE AGENDA.
THIS ITEM, UH, WITH THE HOUSTON PARKS BOARD WILL HELP FACILITATE THE BUFFALO BAYOU GREENWAY, UH, TRAIL, AUSTIN STREET TO RONALDS THE CONNECTOR.
I KNOW THAT'S SOMETHING A LOT OF FOLKS ARE LOOKING FORWARD TO, TO HELP, UH, CONNECT OUR BAYOU GREENWAYS AND LOOK FORWARD TO THE SUPPORT ON THIS ITEM.
[MATTER'S HELD]
34 IS AN ORDINANCE.OKAY, COUNCIL, UH, MOTION PASSES.
UH, THANK YOU, UH, THANK YOU COLLEAGUES FOR THE SUPPORT OF THIS.
I JUST WANNA HIGHLIGHT TURS 20 AND THE EXCEPTIONAL WORK THAT THEY'RE DOING.
WE ACTUALLY HAVE ALMOST A MILLION DOLLAR SIDEWALK PROJECT HAPPENING ON DAIRY ASHFORD FROM BEL AIR TO BENU.
UM, IT'S NEAR MY HOME, SO I SEE IT EVERY DAY.
UM, AND THIS IS THE TYPE OF INFRASTRUCTURE AND THE WORK THAT WE GET TO DO TOGETHER WITH TAX INCREMENT REINVESTMENT ZONES.
AND SO JUST SHOUT OUT TO NINA AND DON AND EVERYONE WHO MAKES SURE THAT WE HAVE, UM, THAT PUBLIC INFRASTRUCTURE INVESTMENT ON THE WEST SIDE.
[MATTERS TO BE PRESENTED BY COUNCIL MEMBERS – COUNCIL MEMBER CASTILLO FIRST]
POPOFF COUNCILOR CASTILLO.I WANT TO START AND THANK THE RESIDENTS OF DISTRICT H, UH, FOR HEATING ALL THE WARNINGS, UH, WITH THE, THE WEATHER THAT WE HAD THIS PAST WEEKEND.
UH, STAYING OFF THE ROADS WHEN, WHEN POSSIBLE, STAYING HOME, TAKING CARE OF THEIR NEIGHBORS AND THEIR PETS.
UH, AND ALSO ALL THE, THE CITY DEPARTMENTS THAT CAME TOGETHER AND REALLY DID ALL THE WORK TO MAKE SURE PEOPLE WERE INFORMED AND PEOPLE STAYED SAFE.
I KNOW, UH, YOUR TEAM KEPT US INFORMED WITH, UH, DAILY CALLS AND UPDATES, AND THAT WAS REALLY APPRECIATIVE.
WE WERE ABLE TO GET THAT INFORMATION OUT TO THE PUBLIC.
UM, AND, AND WE, WE SAW FOLKS UTILIZE THE WARMING CENTERS, UH, THROUGHOUT THE DISTRICT AND, AND REALLY DO WHAT THEY NEEDED TO DO TO PROTECT THEMSELVES IN THE, THE COLD WEATHER.
UH, THIS SATURDAY WILL BE THE MELROSE PARK TOWN HALL.
UH, IT'S GONNA BE AT 10:00 AM AT 1000 CANINO ROAD AT MELROSE PARK.
UH, IT'S GONNA BE A GREAT OPPORTUNITY TO COME OUT AND HERE ALL THE UPDATES COME INTO THAT AREA, THE WORK THAT WAS DONE LAST YEAR, AND CONNECT WITH CITY DEPARTMENTS THROUGHOUT, UM, THE CITY AND, AND RESOURCES AND, AND NONPROFITS THAT WILL ALSO BE THERE TO VISIT WITH NEIGHBORS AT THE MELROSE PARK COMMUNITY CENTER.
UM, IN FEBRUARY, DISTRICT H WILL BE KICKING OFF ANOTHER LOVE YOUR PET MONTH.
UH, WE WILL BE HOSTING, UH, SPONSORED ADOPTIONS ALONG WITH SPONSORED PET WELLNESS VISITS AT BARK.
WE'LL BE WORKING WITH HOUSTON PET SET TO DO MOBILE SPAY NEUTER, U SPAY NEUTER, UH, IN THE DISTRICT WITH THEIR MOBILE UNIT.
WE'RE GONNA BE, UH, UP IN THE NORTH SHEPHERD BUSINESS DISTRICT.
WE'LL BE AT, UH, SECOND WARD, AS WELL AS A COUPLE OTHER AREAS WITH HOUSTON PET SET.
UM, BE ON THE LOOKOUT FOR INFORMATION ON HOW TO SIGN UP FOR THOSE APPOINTMENTS FOR THE SPAY NEUTER.
AND, UH, WE'LL BE SHARING INFORMATION
[01:40:01]
OUT IN THE NEWSLETTER AND ALSO ON SOCIAL MEDIA.AND FINALLY, UM, I DO WANNA NOTE, YOU KNOW, AS WE'VE HAD A, UH, ROBUST TURNOUT AT OUR PUBLIC SESSIONS, UM, I THINK IT'S A GOOD OPPORTUNITY TO LOOK AT SOME OF THE WAYS THAT WE'RE DOING OUR SECURITY SCREENING, MAKING SURE FOLKS ARE GETTING THROUGH THE LINE, UH, SO THAT THEY CAN GET INTO THE CHAMBERS.
UM, ALSO ONLINE, OUR WEBSITE, IT STILL SAYS 5:30 PM IS THE START TIME.
UH, WE DO NEED TO UPDATE THAT TO 5:00 PM AS THAT IS NOW THE, THE SCHEDULE THAT WE HAVE WORKED WITH, UM, WITH THE ADOPTION OF A PERMANENT EVENING PUBLIC SESSION.
BUT, UM, WE HAD A LOT OF FOLKS WAITING IN LINE AS NAMES WERE GETTING CALLED.
UM, THIS IS A GOOD OPPORTUNITY TO, TO LOOK AT HOW WE'RE SCREENING.
MAYBE, UH, EXPEDITE A SEPARATE LINE FOR SPEAKERS THAT GO THROUGH SECURITY.
JUST THROWING SOME IDEAS OUT THERE.
BUT, UM, AS WE GET MORE AND MORE FOLKS THAT WANT TO COME AND PARTICIPATE, UM, THIS IS A GOOD, A GOOD TIME TO, TO TAKE A LOOK AT THOSE THINGS, OUR POLICIES AND OUR PROCEDURES FOR THE EVENING SESSIONS.
BECAUSE WE ALL SHARE YOUR CONCERN ABOUT OUR PETS.
UH, I WANT TO EMPHASIZE THAT BARK WAS ON THE STREETS AND RESCUED NINE ONE LAST COUNT, UH, DOGS PLACING THEM IN SHELTERS.
SO, UH, SHOUT OUT TO BARK AND ITS DEDICATED EMPLOYEES NEXT, COUNCILOR DAVIS.
COLLEAGUES, I DO WANT DON'T HAVE A LOT TO, UH, BRING FORTH.
WE ARE GOING TO BE HAVING OUR TOWN HALL MEETING COMING UP IN FEBRUARY, FEBRUARY THE NINTH.
AND WE WILL BE AT THE METROPOLITAN, UH, MULTIPURPOSE CENTER.
AND WE ARE LOOKING FORWARD TO HAVING A REALLY GOOD TURNOUT IN REGARDS TO MANY OF THE, UH, DEPARTMENT HEADS AND EXPRESSING TO THE ENTIRE COMMUNITY, UH, SOME OF OUR IMPORTANT AREAS.
I DO WANT TO SAY ALSO IN LIGHT OF LAST NIGHT, UH, I DO THINK, MAYOR, THAT, UM, THE OPPORTUNITY FOR CITIZENS TO COME OUT AND SPEAK IS THEIR CITIZEN, RIGHT? BUT I'D LIKE TO GO ON RECORD TO INDICATE THAT, UM, YOU KNOW, THE KIND OF MANNER BY WHICH THIS WAS CONDUCTED WAS TOTALLY TO THE EXTREME, UM, FOR PEOPLE TO DISRESPECT NOT ONLY THE MAYOR, BUT EVEN THE COUNCIL.
UH, I COMMEND THOSE COUNCIL MEMBERS, MY FELLOW COLLEAGUES WHO WENT TO SPEAK TO, UM, OTHERS, I THINK WAS ADMIRABLE.
IT REALLY WAS IN ORDER TO DO THAT.
BUT I JUST THINK IT SHOWS THAT, YOU KNOW, I WAS NOT ON RECORD.
I WAS NOT ONE THAT SUPPORTED EVENING SESSIONS, BUT I SUPPORT THE PROCESS.
I SUPPORT, UM, WHAT WE DO AS A COUNCIL.
BUT LAST NIGHT WAS UTTERLY, UTTERLY RIDICULOUS.
AND I THINK THAT'S THE DANGER, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER FLICKINGER, UH, BROUGHT ABOUT AMENDMENT ABOUT DOING IT QUARTERLY, UH, INTO THOSE WHO, UM, THE PROCESS.
YOU DON'T DISRESPECT IN MY PERSONAL OPINION, YOU KNOW, TO GIVE YOUR OPINION.
WE, WE, WE MAY NEVER ALL AGREE, AND MOST TIME WE, MAYBE NOT, WE WON'T.
BUT AT LEAST YOU CAN DO IT CIVIL, YOU CAN DO IT RESPECTFULLY.
AND I THINK LAST NIGHT WAS NOT APPROPRIATE CONDUCT.
AND, UH, AND I THINK THAT'S ONE OF THE DANGERS, AND I HOPE IT PRAY.
AND I DON'T USE PRAYER LIGHTLY.
AND I HOPE AND PRAY THAT IN THE FUTURE, THAT WE DON'T HAVE TO WITNESS THAT KIND OF, OF, UM, DISPLAY IN OUR COUNCIL.
SO I THINK THAT SHOULD BE A CONCERN FOR ALL OF US, NOT JUST MYSELF, BUT I THOUGHT I COULD NOT PASS UP THE OPPORTUNITY TO EXPRESS IT.
'CAUSE I THINK IT'S SOMETHING THAT NEEDS TO BE, UH, IN GREAT CONSIDERATION.
AND IT, IT DIDN'T SHOW A, A GOOD LIGHT, UH, IN MY PERSONAL OPINION, UPON AN ISSUE THAT IS VERY VITAL.
UM, I, FOR ONE, UM, PEOPLE TALK ABOUT IMMIGRATION.
YOU KNOW, MY WIFE IS FROM COLUMBIA, SO I, I I UNDERSTAND IMMIGRATION.
OKAY? SO, BUT I JUST THINK THAT THAT WAS TOTALLY UNACCEPTABLE, AND I HOPE AND PRAY THAT WE COULD DO SOMETHING, MAYOR IN THE FUTURE.
UH, TODAY MARKS THE 40TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE SPACE SHUTTLE CHALLENGER TRAGEDY.
UH, OBVIOUSLY, YOU KNOW, NOT ONLY IS THIS, UH, AN IMPACT NATIONALLY, BUT IT'S A HUGE IMPACT ON THE CLEAR LAKE AREA, UH, YOU KNOW, HOME TO THE NA UH, NASA JOHNSON SPACE CENTER.
UM, YOU KNOW, THESE ASTRONAUTS WERE, WERE NOT JUST ASTRONAUTS, BUT THEY WERE NEIGHBORS, COLLEAGUES, UH, TO A LOT OF THE PEOPLE DOWN IN, UH, THE CLEAR LAKE AREA.
[01:45:01]
AND, UH, YOU KNOW, THEIR LEGACY CONTINUES TODAY.THE, THE SACRIFICE THAT, UH, THEY MADE ON, ON A HAPPIER NOTE, UH, WE WERE, UH, THRILLED TO ATTEND THE QUASAR AWARDS LAST FRIDAY.
UH, MAYOR, APPRECIATE YOU COMING OUT THERE AS THE RECIPIENT OF THE AWARD.
UH, THOUGHT IT WAS A GREAT EVENT.
BEHA, UH, DID A FANTASTIC JOB PUTTING ON THE EVENT AND, AND THEY CONTINUE TO DO REALLY GOOD WORK AND BRING IN NEW ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, UH, DOWN INTO THE, THE ENTIRE HOUSTON AND GALVESTON BAY AREA.
AND, UH, JUST WANTED TO THANK THEM.
AND ALSO, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER DAVIS AND COUNCIL MEMBER RAMIREZ, WHO ATTENDED AS WELL AS LONG WITH, UH, DIRECTOR MACKEY.
SO THANK YOU FOR EVERYBODY COMING OUT.
COUNCIL MEMBER HUFFMAN, I'LL PASS.
UM, I WANTED TO MAKE THE PUBLIC AWARE THAT THE HOUSTON HOUSING AUTHORITY HAS UNDERGONE A REBRANDING.
YESTERDAY, THEY VOTED TO CHANGE THEIR NAME TO, UH, HOUSING ALLIANCE, HTX, IN AN EFFORT TO MOVE PAST, UH, SOME OF THE, UM, THINGS THAT HAVE HAPPENED THERE OVER THE YEARS.
UM, THAT AGENCY CONTINUES TO GO UP AND UP, UH, LARGELY BECAUSE OF THE CHANGES THAT HAVE BEEN MADE.
UH, MAYOR, YOUR, YOUR, UH, INSTALLATION OF NEW BOARD MEMBERS HAS HELPED TREMENDOUSLY.
THEY'VE SELECTED, UH, PRESIDENT AND CEO, WHO'S, WHO'S DOING A GOOD JOB AS WELL.
SO I WANT TO SHOUT OUT, UH, THE NEW HOUSING ALLIANCE, HTX, AND WISH THEM GOOD LUCK AND SUPPORT FROM THIS COUNCIL.
I WANNA SECOND WHAT, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER FLICKINGER SAID ABOUT THE BEHE, UM, UH, QUASAR AWARDS DINNER THAT WAS HELD FRIDAY NIGHT.
UH, THOSE OF YOU WHO MIGHT NOT BE AWARE, BEHE STANDS FOR BAY AREA HOUSTON ECONOMIC PARTNERSHIP.
IT'S ONE OF OUR MAJOR CHAMBERS OF COMMERCE IN HOUSTON.
AND, UH, THEY'RE DOING GREAT WORK.
A LOT OF GREAT ECONOMIC THINGS GOING, GOING ON DOWN IN THE CLEAR LAKE AND BAY AREA.
AND SO WE'RE REAL PROUD OF, OF WHAT THEY'RE DOING, AND THANKFUL TO BE INCLUDED IN THAT.
AND, UH, THAT'S, THAT'S ALL I'VE GOT.
THANK YOU, COUNCILOR AND THOMAS.
UM, I WANNA RECAP SOME OF OUR EFFORTS ON THE WEST SIDE OVER THIS PAST WEEKEND.
IN RESPONSE TO THE FREEZE, DISTRICT F DID NOT HAVE A WARMING CENTER, SO WE ACTIVATED THE DISTRICT F DISASTER PLAN THAT WAS FUNDED AND CREATED IN 2021 AFTER THE WINTER FREEZE.
AND, UH, WE ESSENTIALLY WENT OUT INTO THE, UH, THE HOMELESS ENCAMPMENTS THAT WERE IDENTIFIED, CANVASSING INDIVIDUALS, UM, TO ASSESS WHAT OUR RESPONSE SHOULD BE.
UM, OVER THREE DAYS, WE WERE ABLE TO PROVIDE 462 HOT MEALS, BREAKFAST, LUNCH, AND DINNER.
WE HAD DELIVERIES TO 17 LOCATIONS, WALK-INS OF 67.
UH, WE PROVIDED PET FOOD FOR FIVE PETS, BLANKETS, CLOTHING, HYGIENE KITS, TO NAME A FEW.
AND WE ARE PREPARED TO RESPOND TO THE FREEZE, UM, THIS COMING WEEKEND AND THEN THE, UH, FOLLOWING WEEKEND.
AND WHAT I KNOW FOR SURE AFTER THIS EXPERIENCE IS THAT WE DO NOT HAVE A COMPLETE GRASP OF HOMELESSNESS IN OUR COMMUNITY.
UM, WE DO NOT HAVE A COMPLETE GRASP OF THE SOCIAL SAFETY NET THAT WE NEED TO CREATE FOR THOSE THAT ARE NOT PRESENTING HOMELESS.
UH, WE LITERALLY HAD TO GO INTO THE WOODS, GO INTO THE HIDDEN PARTS OF HOUSTON, UM, AND COMPEL PEOPLE.
AND I WILL TELL YOU THAT THEY WERE WILLING TO RECEIVE THE SUPPORT.
UM, AND, UH, THERE'S DEFINITELY SOMETHING, THERE'S MORE THAT WE GET TO DO.
SO IT WAS, UH, UH, TRANSFORMATIONAL FOR ME.
UM, AND IT REMINDED ME OF THE WORK AND THE RECOMMITMENT, UM, FOR ME PERSONALLY, TO MAKE SURE THAT OUR UNHOUSED ARE STABILIZED AND PROVIDED RESOURCES.
AND I WILL TELL YOU, ON DAY ON MONDAY, WHEN WE SHUT DOWN AGAPE CHRISTIAN FELLOWSHIP AT SEVEN O'CLOCK, MANY OF THEM CONTRIBUTED TO THE WORK.
THEY WANTED TO MOP THE FLOORS, HELP US WASH THE DISHES.
THEY WERE, UM, WORKING WITH OTHER INDIVIDUALS, LETTING THEM KNOW TO COME TO THE CHURCH TO RECEIVE, UH, RESOURCES.
AND SO WE ARE, UH, MORE BLESSED THAN WE KNOW.
UM, I WANNA SHOUT OUT OUR PARTNERS, AGAPE CHRISTIAN FELLOWSHIP CHURCH WITH TH WALLS ELDRIDGE.
UM, SHOUT OUT TO WALMART FOR PROVIDING WHAM WITH THE $1,500 GRANT.
WE'RE WORKING TOGETHER ON HOW WE DISTRIBUTE THE MATERIALS AND THE FUNDS, UH,
MY EXCEPTIONAL STAFF, MY EXCEPTIONAL HOTSPOT TEAM, UH, AND HEADS UP HOUSTON.
I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR YOUR WORK, AND I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR EVERY PERSON THAT REACHED OUT ASKING WHAT COULD THEY DO, UH, TO SUPPORT THE EFFORT.
AND, UM, DETAILS ARE TO COME REGARDING THAT.
UM, ITEM 32 DID NOT MAKE THE AGENDA.
THIS IS THE GESNER CIP PROJECT.
I'LL BE AT TANGO WILD TANGO WILD CIVIC CLUB MEETING ON THURSDAY.
UM, I WANNA INVITE RESIDENTS OF TANGO WILD IN WESTMONT TO LOS TES, WHERE WE'RE GONNA TALK ABOUT THE CIP PROJECT.
WE'RE GONNA TALK ABOUT THE IMPACTS TO GESNER, UM, THE TRANSPORTATION STUDY,
[01:50:01]
PROHIBITED YARD PARKING SOLID WASTE DELAYS IN MORE.SO, ALTHOUGH THE ITEM DID NOT MAKE IT FOR US TO VOTE ON, WE'RE STILL GONNA TALK ABOUT IT.
WE HAVE THE MAPS BLOWN UP, THE IMAGES, SO WE CAN WALK YOU THROUGH THOSE DETAILS.
EXCITED TO BE WITH YOU ON THURSDAY.
I WANNA REMIND MY COLLEAGUES AND THOSE THAT ARE WATCHING ONLINE THAT ON FEBRUARY 5TH IS THE SUPER BOWL OF HOUSING.
WE ARE HAVING OUR SPECIAL CALL, 9% TAX CREDIT, UH, UH, UH, A MEETING WITH THE HOUSING AND AFFORDABILITY COMMITTEE.
UM, THIS IS OUR SINGULAR OPPORTUNITY TO INVEST IN, UH, MULTI-FAMILY HOUSING, UM, IN THE CITY OF HOUSTON.
AND SO MANY OF YOU HAVE BEEN ENGAGING WITH DEVELOPERS ABOUT THESE PROJECTS.
I WANNA INVITE YOU TO JOIN US ON FEBRUARY 5TH AT TWO O'CLOCK IN CHAMBERS, AND THEN YOU CAN, UM, FOLLOW THE MEETING LIVE.
IF YOU'RE UNABLE TO JOIN US IN PERSON AT HTV OR MY YOUTUBE PAGE, TIFFANY D. THOMAS, IF YOU'RE INTERESTED IN SPEAKING, YOU CAN SIGN UP TO SPEAK VIA THE HOUSING AND AFFORDABILITY COMMITTEE.
LASTLY, I WANNA HIGHLIGHT A FEW ACHIEVEMENTS OF MY TEAM.
I KNOW LAST WEEK, IN THE LAST COUPLE OF WEEKS, THERE WAS A LOT OF ATTENTION GIVEN TO THE MATERNAL RATES OF BLACK WOMEN IN HARRIS COUNTY PARTICULARLY, AND IT WAS FEATURED IN CAPITAL B NEWS.
MONIQUE RUTHERFORD WELCH IS THE AUTHOR OF THAT.
SHE'S ON MY TEAM, AND SHE COMPLETED THIS WORK, UM, THROUGH A FELLOWSHIP.
AND I KNOW A LOT OF OTHER PUBLICATIONS WERE, UH, DUPLICATING HER WORK AND NOT GIVING HER CREDIT.
BUT I, I WANNA MAKE SURE THAT THIS BLACK WOMAN IS ON RECORD.
UM, AND I WANNA THANK YOU FOR YOUR WORK AND YOUR EFFORT FOR MAKING SURE THAT, UM, UH, THE ISSUE AROUND BLACK MATERNITY MATERNAL DEATH RATES IN HARRIS COUNTY, UM, ARE PUNCTUATED.
UM, AND THAT, UH, WE CAN MAKE SURE THAT WE KEEP OUR EYES ON THIS ISSUES BECAUSE IT'S IMPACTING MORE OF US THAN WE REALIZE.
SO I WANNA THANK YOU FOR THAT.
UM, IF MY OFFICE CAN BE OF ANY ASSISTANCE, UM, ESPECIALLY OVER THE NEXT WEEK AS WE CONTINUE TO RESPOND TO THE, UH, HOMELESS AND THE UNHOUSED DURING THE FREEZE, PLEASE, PLEASE REACH OUT TO DISTRICT F@HOUSTONTX.GOV, OR 8 3 2 3 9 3 3 0 0 2.
THANK YOU, MAYOR PROTE, CASTEX STATE.
A COUPLE OF ANNOUNCEMENTS IN, UH, DISTRICT A.
I DO WANT TO, UM, THANK THE DISTRICT, A TEAM FOR THEIR COMMUNICATION AND THEIR EFFORTS OVER THE, UM, LAST WEEKEND AS WE EXPERIENCED THE FREEZE.
UM, WE ARE PREPARING, UM, TO MAKE SURE THAT OUR SENIOR RESIDENTS AND RESIDENTS THAT NEED ASSISTANCE CAN, UH, GET THE HELP THAT THEY NEED.
UM, IF YOU ARE IN DISTRICT K AND YOU NEED SOME ADDITIONAL ASSISTANCE, PLEASE REACH OUT TO OUR OFFICE THIS WEEK, UH, SO WE CAN MAKE THOSE EFFORTS PRIOR TO THE FREEZE, UM, SO THAT WE CAN ALL BE SETTLED, UM, WHEN THE COLD WEATHER COMES IN AGAIN.
UH, ALSO WANT TO LET FOLKS KNOW THAT WE HAVE RESCHEDULED, UM, OUR, OUR DISTRICT CASE SHRED DAY.
HOWEVER, UM, IT WILL BE COLD THIS WEEKEND, BUT WE'VE, WE'VE, UM, GONE AHEAD AND RESCHEDULED FROM 11 TO TWO ON JANUARY 31ST.
UM, THE SUN IS SCHEDULED TO BE OUT.
UH, IT'S A DRIVE THROUGH, SO YOU CAN STILL JUST COME THROUGH, DROP YOUR STUFF OFF, AND IT WILL BE IMMEDIATELY SHREDDED.
AND THAT WILL BE, AGAIN, SATURDAY, JANUARY THE 31ST FROM 11 TO TWO AT THE FOUNTAIN LIFE CENTER AT 1 4 0 8 3 SOUTH MAIN STREET, UH, IN HOUSTON, TEXAS.
IT'S A COMMUNITY FRIENDLY PAPER SHREDDING EVENT.
UM, A PARTNERSHIP WITH TEXAS SECURITY SHREDDING AND CONVENIENT WAY FOR US TO DISPOSE OF OUR BILLS, BANK STATEMENTS AND SENSITIVE, UH, PAPERWORK.
UH, LOOK FORWARD TO HAVING, UH, RESIDENTS TO PARTICIPATE.
UH, Y'ALL BE KIND TO EACH OTHER AND MAKE IT A GREAT DAY.
UM, I JUST WANNA THANK YOU FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP DURING THE FREEZE.
EVERYONE WAS SO GREAT ANSWERING ALL OF OUR QUESTIONS.
UM, THE WAY IT WAS HANDLED WAS JUST REALLY, REALLY GREAT.
UM, THANK YOU TO OUR FIRST RESPONDERS ALSO.
I KNOW THEY WERE OUT IN THE COLD THE WHOLE WEEKEND, SO THANK YOU SO MUCH.
UM, AND THANK YOU TO ALL OF THE ORGANIZATIONS IN DISTRICT DAY THAT OFFERED TO HELP.
WE DIDN'T HAVE TO END UP MOBILIZING ONLY ONE NEIGHBORHOOD LOST POWER FOR A LITTLE BIT OF TIME.
SO THANK YOU TO CENTER POINT FOR GETTING THEM BACK UP VERY QUICKLY.
UM, BUT THANK YOU TO ALL OF THE ORGANIZATIONS ALSO IN DISTRICT A THANK YOU.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR KIND COMMENTS.
LET ME ADD ISLAMIC CENTER, UH, CONTRIBUTIONS.
THEY WERE WORKING WITH US, UH, AROUND THE CLOCK, THE RED CROSS IN THE SALVATION ARMY.
IT TAKES A LOT OF STAKEHOLDERS AND VOLUNTEERS TO, UH, MAKE THIS AS SUCCESSFUL AS IT WAS, PARTICULARLY HOUSTONIANS LISTENED AND STAYED OFF THE ROADS AND LOOKED OUT FOR THEIR PETS AND THEIR PIPES AND PLANTS AND SENIORS.
AND IT WAS A REAL EXAMPLE OF THE UNITY THAT HOUSTON PRIDES ITSELF WITH.
UM, AND I, I ALSO WANNA, UH, JUST HIGHLIGHT, UH, DEFINITELY A LOT OF, UH, THE VOLUNTEERS THAT CAME OUT DURING THE WEEKEND OVER THE FREEZE, THAT THAT HELPED OUT.
UH, A COUPLE QUICK SHOUT OUTS TO CAREER AND RECOVERY AND RESOURCES.
[01:55:01]
MY TEAM AND I WERE OUT, UH, FRIDAY DROPPING OFF GENERATORS AT DIFFERENT CHURCHES, UH, SENIOR APARTMENTS JUST TO MAKE SURE THAT IF WE NEEDED TO MOBILIZE THAT THEY WOULD HAVE SOME SUPPORT.UH, ALSO, UH, HOUSTON EMPLOYEE RESPONSE TEAM, UH, FOR SUPPORTING THE, THE WARMING CENTERS AND ALL THE OTHER VOLUNTEERS, CHURCH OF GOD, HOPE CITY, NAN AND COMPANY, UPRIGHT CR OMEGA SCI-FI, NEW CHAPTER.
UH, A LOT OF THESE FOLKS, UM, I THINK, I THINK ONCE WE ALL SEE AROUND THE, THE HORSESHOE THAT WE CAN'T DO THIS ALONE.
AND SO IT REALLY, UH, DOES TAKE A COMMUNITY TO COME OUT AND SUPPORT, UH, THE, THE SEVERAL EFFORTS THAT ARE HAPPENING, UH, DURING THESE TIMES.
AND, AND THEN, UH, ALSO MAYOR FOR YOU AND YOUR TEAM, UH, FOR KEEPING US UPDATED, UH, THROUGHOUT THE WEEKEND.
UH, YOU KNOW, THANKFUL THAT NOTHING HAPPENED, UH, YOU KNOW, WHAT WE WERE EXPECTING.
AND SO, UH, ALL THAT IS ONLY POSSIBLE BECAUSE OF, OF EVERYBODY BEING PREPARED AND, AND, UH, TAKING, UH, HEATING THE, THE WARNINGS AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE.
UM, ALSO, UM, I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT TO CONTINUE SOME OF THESE CONVERSATIONS ABOUT, UH, YOU KNOW, WHAT WE EXPERIENCED YESTERDAY AS WELL, UM, UNDERSTANDING THAT THERE'S ANXIETY AND THERE'S FEAR, UH, WITH ICE OPERATIONS ACROSS THE, THE COUNTRY.
UM, IT'S IMPORTANT AS ELECTED OFFICIALS TO DEFINITELY CONTINUE TO HEAR OUT COMMUNITY.
UM, BUT AT THE SAME, ON THAT SAME NOTE, I THINK IT'S ALSO IMPORTANT THAT, UM, COMMUNITY UNDERSTAND THAT WE CAN'T DO THIS ALONE.
AND SO THEIR SUPPORT, UM, AND ACTUAL SHARING, UH, FACTUAL INFORMATION AS WELL IS ALSO IMPORTANT.
UM, MORE RECENTLY, OVER THE LAST COUPLE WEEKS, I'VE GIVEN OUT MY CELL PHONE TO SEVERAL FOLKS THAT, UH, FEEL THAT ICE IS EVERYWHERE.
AND TO BE ABLE TO WORK WITH THEM TO ENSURE THAT THEY GET FACTUAL INFORMATION ON THOSE, UM, KIND OF HIGH, YOU KNOW, HIGH INTENSE AREAS WHERE THEY PROBABLY MIGHT SEE LAW ENFORCEMENT AND CONFIRM TO THEM THAT ICE IS NOT ACTUALLY THERE, UH, HELPS TONE DOWN SOME OF THE CONVERSATION OF, OF MISINFORMATION, UM, THAT, THAT WE SEE.
I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT THAT FOLKS CONTINUE TO HOLD, UH, ELECTED OFFICIALS ACCOUNTABLE TO, TO WHAT'S GOING ON.
UM, BUT ALSO, UH, REMAIN COMMITTED TO BUILDING THAT TRUST WITH OUR LAW ENFORCEMENT.
UH, WE CAN'T, I SAID IT EARLIER, EVEN WITH THE, YOU KNOW, WITH THE WARMING CENTERS IN THE FREEZE.
AND IN THIS MOMENT, AT THIS MOMENT NOW, UH, WE CAN'T DO THIS ALONE.
AND IT, IT IS A COLLECTIVE EFFORT WITH COMMUNITY TO WORK ALONGSIDE, UM, FOLKS AROUND THIS HORSESHOE, OUR LAW ENFORCEMENT, HPD SPECIFICALLY, WHO ULTIMATELY IS HERE TO MAKE SURE THAT ON A LOCAL LEVEL, THAT WE ARE ENSURING THAT FOLKS ARE SAFE.
UM, WITH THAT, I WANNA MAKE SURE THAT FOLKS KNOW THAT I AM COMMITTED IN STANDING WITH OUR IMMIGRANT COMMUNITY SPECIFICALLY.
UM, THAT IS WHO I THINK OF FIRST AND FOREMOST IN DECISIONS THAT I MAKE, UM, AND HOW I GO ABOUT SPEAKING ABOUT THIS, THIS TOPIC, UH, FOR THOSE THAT ARE NOT SHOWING UP TO COUNSEL, THE FOLKS THAT I SEE IN MY COMMUNITIES.
UM, AND I WANNA MAKE SURE THAT WE CONTINUE TO BE INTENTIONAL AND RESPONSIBLE ABOUT WHAT WE'RE DOING, UH, NOT JUST AROUND THIS HORSESHOE, BUT ALSO COMMUNITY.
AND SO, UM, THIS COLLECTIVE EFFORT'S ONLY GONNA HAPPEN IF WE CAN SEE EACH OTHER AS FOLKS THAT CAN WORK TOGETHER AND NOT BE DIVISIVE, UM, EVEN IN THIS CHAMBER.
AND SO CONTINUE TO COME AND SPEAK, BUT AS SOME OF MY COLLEAGUES HAVE MENTIONED, WORK WITH US, FIND WAYS THAT WE CAN ENSURE THAT EVEN AT, AT A STATE LEVEL OR FEDERAL LEVEL WHERE A LOT OF THESE DECISIONS ARE REALLY MADE, UH, FOLKS ARE HELD ACCOUNTABLE AS WELL.
UM, MARY, I JUST WANNA SAY THAT I APPRECIATE YOUR CONTINUED SUPPORT AND ADVICE DURING THIS, THIS TIME AS WELL.
UM, I KNOW THAT THIS IS TOUGH, NOT JUST FOR YOU, BUT FOR FOLKS AROUND THIS HORSESHOE AND, UM, ULTIMATELY LOOKING AT, AT HOW WE FOCUS ON ALL COMMUNITIES IS IMPORTANT.
AND WITH THAT, UM, I'M, I'M LEANING INTO YOU MORE TO ENSURE THAT, THAT WE CAN MAKE SURE THAT FOLKS FEEL SAFE IN HOUSTON.
AND SO, UM, TO THE COLLEAGUES AROUND THE HORSESHOE, UM, I NEED YOUR HELP AS WELL.
WE NEED YOUR HELP IN THE COMMUNITY, AND MY HOPE IS THAT YOUR VOICE IS HEARD AS WELL THROUGHOUT THIS, THIS TIME.
FIRST WANT TO SAY HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO MY GODSON JAX, WHO'S ALSO THE SON OF MY CHIEF OF STAFF, UH, PAUL YOUNG.
HE'S TURNING THREE YEARS OLD TODAY.
UM, AS IT PERTAINS TO, UH, THIS PAST WEEKEND, I TOO WANT TO THANK, UM, ALL OF THE CITY STAFF, UH, WHO WENT ABOVE AND BEYOND TO ENSURE THAT WE WERE WELL PREPARED AND INDIVIDUALS WERE SAFE, UH, THROUGHOUT THE FREEZE.
UH, EVERYONE AT THE WARMING CENTERS, UH, ESPECIALLY THOSE WHO HAD TO STAY OVERNIGHT.
[02:00:01]
THANK YOU TO EVERY, TO ALL OF YOU ALL.UH, WE, WE CALLED IN SEVERAL DIFFERENT, UM, ISSUES WITH WATER MAIN LEAKS, SOME SEVERE, UH, UM, LEAKS THAT CAUSED FLOODING ON STREETS, UH, AND THE PUBLIC WORKS CREWS WORKED REALLY QUICKLY TO GET OUT THERE AND ADDRESS THOSE ISSUES.
UH, ONE OF THE THINGS THAT I SAW THAT WAS CONCERNING THAT I THINK WE ALL COLLECTIVELY NEED TO FIGURE OUT WHAT WE CAN DO, UH, TO IMPROVE UPON IS WHEN YOU'RE AT THE WARMING CENTERS, UM, THE VAST MAJORITY OF PEOPLE THAT ARE AT THE WARMING CENTERS ARE UNHOUSED INDIVIDUALS.
AND ONCE THE, UH, FREEZE, UH, IS OVER, WE JUST SEND THEM BACK TO THE STREET.
AND I THINK WE HAVE TO FIND A WAY, UM, TO HAVE THE RESOURCES THERE, UM, TO EITHER GET 'EM TO A NAVIGATION CENTER OR SOMEWHERE IF, IF POSSIBLE, WITH BEDS.
I KNOW WE WERE WORKING WITH THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT, UM, THAT WAS ON SITE, AND WE TRIED TO GET INFORMATION FOR INDIVIDUALS THAT WE, THAT THEY LOGGED TO SEE WHAT, WHAT WAS AVAILABLE.
UM, BUT THAT, THAT IS SOMETHING THAT WE CAN COLLECTIVELY FIGURE OUT A WAY TO IMPROVE UPON BECAUSE WE HAVE 'EM ALL IN ONE CONCENTRATED AREA.
WE'RE ABLE TO ASSESS THEM, UH, PROVIDE ADDITIONAL RESOURCES.
AND IF, IF HOUSING IS AVAILABLE, EVEN IN THE SHORT TERM, WHAT CAN WE DO, UM, TO HELP THEM BECAUSE IT'S STILL COLD OUTSIDE.
UM, AS IT PERTAINS TO LAST NIGHT, I THINK SOMETHING THAT, UH, HAS TO BE DONE, UH, FIRST AND FOREMOST IS WE MUST CHANGE THE TIME ON THE CITY WEBSITE TO REFLECT THAT THE MEETING START AT FIVE O'CLOCK.
EVEN RIGHT NOW, IF YOU GO ON THE CITY'S WEBSITE, THE EVENING MEETING IS STATED FOR FIVE 30.
AND SO PEOPLE WERE COMING ANTICIPATING THAT THE MEETING WAS START AT FIVE 30 AND THEIR NAMES HAD ALREADY BEEN CALLED BY THE TIME WHEN THEY GOT IN THE CHAMBER.
AND THAT'S WHAT CAUSES A LOT OF THE UPROAR AT THE END.
WHEN THEY FELT AS IF THEY TOOK THE TIME TO COME UP HERE, THEY SIGNED UP PROPERLY, BUT THE MEETING STARTED EARLIER THAN WHAT WAS POSTED ONLINE.
AND SO I, I THINK JUST BY CHANGING THAT AND MAKING SURE THAT THE PUBLIC NOTICE IS FOR FIVE O'CLOCK, UH, WOULD'VE HELPED TREMENDOUSLY LAST NIGHT.
UM, LASTLY, WE, WE TALK ABOUT DIVERSITY AS OUR STRENGTH AS A CITY.
UM, THE REASON WE ARE THE MOST DIVERSE CITY IN AMERICA IS BECAUSE OF THE, UH, IMMIGRANT COMMUNITY THAT MAKE UP HOUSTON LEGAL AND ILLEGAL.
AND I THINK FOR MOST OF US, WHEN WE THINK ABOUT LAW ENFORCEMENT ON A LOCAL LEVEL AND A FEDERAL LEVEL, IT'S ABOUT GOING AFTER CRIMINALS.
THOSE WHO BRING DANGER, UH, TO OUR COMMUNITIES.
UM, AND THOSE WHO ARE NOT COMMITTING, UH, DANGEROUS CRIME, UH, SHOULD NOT BE THE FOCAL POINT OF LAW ENFORCEMENT.
AND I THINK AT A LOCAL LEVEL AND A FEDERAL LEVEL, UH, IF THE MISSION IS TO FOCUS ON ADDRESSING DANGEROUS CRIMINALS THAT BRING HARM TO OUR COMMUNITIES, MOST PEOPLE WOULD BE FOR THAT.
AND MOST PEOPLE WOULD APPLAUD THAT, AND MOST PEOPLE WOULD FIND A WAY TO ENSURE THAT WE DO ALL WE CAN TO ACHIEVE THAT.
AND SO THAT SHOULD BE THE FOCUS.
AND I BELIEVE THAT IF THAT IS THE TONE THAT IS SET, UH, A LOT OF THE ISSUES THAT WE ARE EXPERIENCING HERE, UH, LOCALLY AND AROUND THE COUNTRY, UH, WOULD BE ADDRESSED.
AND SO, UH, FOR EVERYONE, UH, CONTINUE TO, UH, PRAY FOR ONE ANOTHER AND HAVE A GREAT REST OF YOUR WEEK.
TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 3RD AT 10, WE'RE HAVING A JOINT MEETING, GOVERNMENT OPERATIONS, AND BUDGET AND FISCAL AFFAIRS.
IT'D BE GREAT TO HAVE REALLY GOOD ATTENDANCE.
WE HAVE OUR QUARTERLY FINANCIAL REPORT, WHICH IS ALSO WHEN MELISSA DEBOWSKI WILL GO OVER THE, UH, PROGRESS BEING MADE ON ALL THE ERNST AND YOUNG FRONTS.
AND, UH, ALSO WE, AT EVERY QUARTER, WE LOOK AT OVERTIME AT SOLID WASTE AND FIRE AND POLICE.
WE'RE ALSO, UH, LOOKING AT THE OPEN SPACE ORDINANCE.
THIS IS THE FEE IN LIEU OF THAT THE DEVELOPERS PAY IN.
WE HAVE NOT REALLY OPENED THAT ORDINANCE UP OR LOOKED AT IT SINCE 2007 WHEN IT STARTED.
SO THAT'S TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 3RD OPEN SPACE.
UM, IT'S A CONTRIBUTOR TO HOW WE FUND PARK IMPROVEMENTS.
SO WE'RE OPENING UP THAT ORDINANCE.
WE'RE GONNA MAKE SOME, OR WE HOPE TO MAKE SOME CHANGES THROUGH COMMITTEE.
WE'LL BE WORKING THIS ORDINANCE THROUGH COMMITTEE.
SO PLEASE COME, UH, TAKE A LOOK AT THAT ORDINANCE BEFORE THE MEETING AND, AND, AND BE FAMILIAR WITH IT SO YOU HAVE A GOOD IDEA ABOUT WHAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT AND HOW WE MIGHT IMPROVE IT.
AND THEN FINALLY, AND THE MAIN REASON
[02:05:01]
THAT IT'S A JOINT MEETING, UM, COUNCIL MEMBER FLICKINGER WILL BE RUNNING THIS PORTION OF THE MEETING, WHICH WILL BE THE UPDATE ON SOLID WASTE OPERATIONS.AND WE WILL HAVE THE DIRECTOR.
SO IT'LL BE A LENGTHY MEETING.
UM, THE MORE PREPARED YOU ARE WITH QUESTIONS, THE FASTER IT'LL GO.
SO LOOK FORWARD TO SEEING EVERYBODY TUESDAY AT 10.
COUNCIL MEMBER SALINAS MAYOR, I WANNA THANK YOU FOR YOUR INCREDIBLE LEADERSHIP OVER THIS WEEKEND WITH THE FREEZE AND ALL THE FIRST RESPONDERS THAT CAME OUT AND HELPED, UH, HOUSTON CITIZENS THAT NEEDED IT MOST.
AND I WANNA THANK ALL THE HOUSTONIANS WHO CAME OUT, UH, TO SPEAK LAST NIGHT.
UM, IT WAS HARD TO HEAR SOME OF THOSE MESSAGES, BUT SOMETIMES DEMOCRACY IS HARD, AND THAT'S PART OF OUR JOB HERE.
AND SO I'M GRATEFUL TO ALL THE CITIZENS THAT CAME OUT, CONTINUE TO DO SO.
ALEX PETRI WAS MURDERED, AND THOSE MURDERS ARE WRONG.
AND KNOW THAT A LOT OF US AROUND THIS HORSESHOE ARE GONNA DO EVERYTHING IN OUR POWER TO ENSURE THAT NEVER HAPPENS IN THE CITY OF HOUSTON.
THANK YOU, UH, COUNCILMAN CARTER.
AND, AND CERTAINLY, UH, THIS WEEKEND, THE LEADERSHIP, UH, OF YOUR ADMINISTRATION, CERTAINLY, UH, PREPARED HOUSTON AND HOUSTONIANS LISTENED AND, UM, ALL'S WELL THAT ENDS WELL.
UM, WITH RESPECT TO LAST NIGHT AND, AND, AND MY COLLEAGUES AROUND THE HORSESHOE, WHICH I HAVE A GREAT DEAL OF RESPECT FOR YOU, JOAQUIN.
UM, YOU KNOW, WHEN WE TALK ABOUT PARTNERS, I LOOK AROUND THE ROOM AND I SEE CAMERAS AND THE MEDIA SHOULD BE OUR PARTNERS IN THIS.
WHEN LAST NIGHT AND THEN IN THIS MORNING WATCHING THE COVERAGE, I COULDN'T HELP BUT THINK ABOUT MY LATE FRIEND, DAVE WARD AND HIS TALK FOR YEARS OF CREDIBILITY, CREDIBILITY AND INTEGRITY IN REPORTING.
AND YOU KNOW, IT, ACCURATE AND RESPONSIBLE JOURNALISM IS ESSENTIAL, PARTICULARLY ON MATTERS THAT SIGNIFICANTLY IMPACT OUR WELLBEING IN THE COMMUNITY.
AND THE MEDIA CAN BE PARTNERS AND HELP TO CALM FEARS VERSUS SHOWING PICTURES OF MINNEAPOLIS AND REPORTING OVERALL NUMBERS ACROSS THE STATE OF TEXAS.
REPORTING ON OUR 6:00 AM NEWS, UM, REPORTING THAT LACKS CONTEXT OR RELIES ON INCOMPLETE INFORMATION CAN CREATE UNNECESSARY FEAR AND MISUNDERSTANDING.
I'VE MET WITH A NUMBER OF INDIVIDUALS WHO REACH OUT TO THE OFFICE TO TALK ABOUT ICE AND HPD, AND I SAY, I'M HAPPY TO TALK TO YOU ABOUT THE FACTS.
I'M HAPPY TO MEET WITH YOU AND DISCUSS THE FACTS.
YESTERDAY, I HAD A GENTLEMAN COME IN AND HE SAID, WELL, ALL WE KNOW IS WHAT THE MEDIA TELLS US.
AND WHEN THEY START REPEATING WHAT THE MEDIA HAS REPORTED AS RELATES TO THE CITY OF HOUSTON, IT DOESN'T QUITE ADD UP.
AND SO I URGE THE MEDIA TO GET ON BOARD AND BE A PARTNER WITH THE CITY OF HOUSTON, WITH HPD AND GET THE MESSAGE TO OUR COMMUNITIES THAT YOU, JOAQUIN, THAT OTHERS AROUND THE HORSESHOE ARE TRYING TO, INSTEAD OF BEING ON THE OPPOSITE SIDE IN CREATING THE FEAR IN OUR COMMUNITY.
LET ME PUBLICLY THANK YOU FOR TAKING THE LEAD ON THE HOMELESS POPULATION.
IN YOUR SHORT TWO YEARS ON COUNCIL, YOU HAVE MADE SUCH A DIFFERENCE.
AND NO ONE WAS TURNED OUT OF THE WARMING CENTERS WITHOUT A PLACE TO GO TO GET OUT OF THE ELEMENTS.
LAST NIGHT, THE NAVIGATION CENTER WAS FULL, THE SOBRIETY CENTER WAS FULL.
HARRIS, UH, CENTER WAS FULL, AND WE HAD FONDE READY AS A BACKUP.
SO, YOU KNOW, TALK IS ONE THING.
YOUR ACTIONS ARE MAKING A DIFFERENCE.
AND I KNOW YOU HAVE YOUR SITES ON OTHER LOCATIONS THAT WILL BE MAJOR IMPACT ON THE HOMELESS POPULATION AS WE GO FORWARD, ULTIMATELY WITH ONE WAY HOME, WITH PERMANENT HOUSING, AFFORDABLE HOUSING.
BUT, UH, ANYONE THAT NEEDED SHELTER LAST NIGHT RECEIVED IT.
WE HAD HOT TEAMS GOING UNDER BRIDGES IN EVERY CORNER OF THE CITY TO ENCOURAGE PEOPLE TO GO TO THESE SHELTERS.
AND ALSO, SPEAKING OF HPD, SATURDAY NIGHT, ABOUT 11 O'CLOCK, TEMPERATURE IN THE TWENTIES AT THE FONDE, I WATCHED A YOUNG POLICE OFFICER ESCORT SOMEONE FROM THE BACK OF HIS CAR, WHICH IS USUALLY RESERVED FOR BAD FOLKS TO TAKE SOMEONE IN THE FONDE CENTER.
THE OFFICER WAS CARRYING THE BELONGINGS OF THIS HOMELESS PERSON.
SO, YOU KNOW, THERE'S AN AWFUL LOT OF GOOD TAKES PLACE IN THIS CITY, AND WE DO HAVE CHALLENGES, AND WE DO HAVE HEARTACHE OVER WHAT'S GOING ON IN MINNESOTA, BUT WE'VE GOT TO CONTINUE TO EMPHASIZE WE
[02:10:01]
CARE AND WE'RE HERE.AND FEAR FACTOR SERVES NO ONE'S INTEREST BECAUSE IT'S NOT RELEVANT TO WHAT'S BEING PRACTICED IN THE CITY OF HOUSTON.
I, UH, I KNEW YOU WANT EVERYONE TO KNOW WE DON'T TURN PEOPLE OUT OF A COLD SHELTER UNDER THE STREETS OF HOUSTON WITHOUT HAVING A PLANT CHIEF SATTERWHITE, HOMELAND SECURITY, HPD, HOUSTON FIRE.
AND YOU CAN'T IMAGINE DR. TRAN, OUR NEW HEALTH DIRECTOR, SHE'S TURNING OUR WARMING CENTERS INTO CLINICS.
YES, THE, THE, THE, THE REPORT SUNDAY MORNING OR OF A, UH, 40 INCH WATER MAIN AT CHIMNEY, KNOCK, CHIMNEY, ROCK, AND WESTHEIMER WAS QUICKLY ADDRESSED SAFELY.
SO, UH, WE HAVE A LOT TO CELEBRATE.
WE HAVE A LOT OF WORK LEFT, UH, BUT WE HAVE A GREAT CITY WITH GREAT PEOPLE, BUT WE'RE ADDRESSING OUR CHALLENGES.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP.
THANK, THANK YOU, AND THANK YOU COUNCILOR EVANS SHABBAT FOR BEING IN YOUR DISTRICT AND CALLING THINGS TO OUR ATTENTION.
UM, I WANT TO AGAIN, UH, I WANT TO BEGIN BY THANKING YOU, MAYOR, AND YOUR ENTIRE TEAM FOR YOUR COORDINATION, COMMUNICATION, AND STEADY LEADERSHIP DURING LAST WEEK'S WINTER WEATHER.
CLEAR COMMUNICATION MATTERS, ESPECIALLY DURING MOMENTS THAT AFFECT PUBLIC SAFETY, MOBILITY, AND BASIC SERVICES.
AND I APPRECIATE THE COLLABORATIVE APPROACH TAKEN TO KEEP RESIDENTS INFORMED AND PREPARED.
I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR ADDING THE THIRD WARD MULTI-SERVICE CENTER.
UM, CERTAINLY, UH, YOU KNOW, THERE'S A PRETTY BIG GAP, UH, IN DISTRICT D.
IT'S A LARGE DISTRICT, AND SO I APPRECIATE YOU ALL ADDING THAT.
AND JUST AS A MATTER OF NUMBERS, THAT, UM, CENTER WAS ALMOST AT CAPACITY WITH THE CAPACITY IS 50 AND THERE WERE 48.
AND SUNNYSIDE HEALTH AND MULTI-SERVICE CENTER WAS OVER CAPACITY.
AND SO I WANNA THANK THE VOLUNTEERS OF THE HOUSTON EMPLOYEE RESPONSE TEAM, OR HURT, AND THE VOLUNTEERS WHO HELPED THROUGHOUT THE DAY FOR PEOPLE WHO WERE SEEKING THE SAFETY AND THE COMFORT OF THE WARMING CENTERS.
UM, THIS EVENING, I HAVE THE HONOR OF SERVING AS THE KEYNOTE SPEAKER AT THE JOHNSON NEIGHBORHOOD LIBRARY FOR THE MARTIN LUTHER KING JR.
DAY AND BLACK HISTORY MONTH LECTURE SERIES HOSTED BY THE HOUSTON PUBLIC LIBRARY.
THIS PROGRAM BRINGS TOGETHER SERVICE, CREATIVITY AND YOUTH ENGAGEMENT THROUGH A COMMUNITY SERVICE PROJECT, A STUDENT BOOKMARK CONTEST AND ESSAY COMPETITIONS FOR MIDDLE AND HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS.
THE CONVERSATION TONIGHT CENTERS ON A CENTURY OF BLACK LEADERSHIP, CIVIC ENGAGEMENT, AND COMMUNITY POWER, AND THE RESPONSIBILITY WE HAVE AS ELECTED LEADERS.
AND AGAIN, HEAVY IS THE CROWN.
WHAT IS IT? UH, HEAVY IS THE HEAD.
WHERE'S THE CROWN? IT'S, IT'S, THIS MAY LOOK LIKE WE ARE TAKING PICTURES AND KISSING BABIES.
THIS IS A VERY HARD JOB MAKING DECISIONS THAT BALANCE OUT THE NEEDS AND THE SAFETY OF THE ENTIRE COMMUNITY.
SO WE ARE TRYING TO GET THERE.
I MEAN, OF COURSE, ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT THINGS ABOUT THE ENGAGEMENT TONIGHT, HOPEFULLY, IS PEOPLE WILL REALIZE THAT VOTING IS IMPORTANT.
RIGHT NOW, THE VOTING NUMBERS FOR THE 18TH CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT ARE VERY DISMAL.
BUT IF YOU WANT TO SEE CHANGE, YOU HAVE TO BE THAT CHANGE AND BE A PART OF THE PROCESS.
THAT CERTAINLY BRINGS IN LEADERSHIP, LEADERSHIP THAT IS THERE TO LISTEN AND MEET THE NEEDS OF THE PEOPLE.
AND SO, UM, CERTAINLY, HOPEFULLY THAT WILL BE A UPLIFTING DIALOGUE OF THE VOICES.
UH, AND WE KNOW BLACK HISTORY MONTH IS NEXT MONTH, BUT WE TRY TO COMBINE THE TWO WITH THE MARTIN LUTHER KING DAY OF SERVICE AS WELL.
AND THAT IS AT 35 17 REED ROAD, AND IT'S AT 6:00 PM TONIGHT.
AND I ALSO WANT TO FLAG AN IMPORTANT COMMUNITY MEETING TOMORROW EVENING, UH, THURSDAY AT THE JUDSON ROBINSON CIVIC CENTER FOCUSED ON NON PERMITTED STRUCTURES AND SHORT TERM RENTAL ACTIVITY.
THIS MEETING IS ABOUT CLARITY, ACCOUNTABILITY, AND NEIGHBORHOOD QUALITY OF LIFE.
AND I ENCOURAGE RESIDENTS TO ATTEND, ASK QUESTIONS, AND ENGAGE DIRECTLY WITH THE CITY TEAM WHO SHOULD BE THERE.
WE HAVE RENEGADE AND ROGUE BUILDERS IN DISTRICT D, AND I'M SURE THEY HAVE THEM IN OTHER PARTS OF THE CITY, BUT I'M FINDING THAT THERE'S A GAP.
AND I HAVE TALKED ABOUT THIS FROM THE VERY BEGINNING.
I BELIEVE THE APPLICATION PROCESS ONLY SAYS THAT YOU CHECKED THAT YOU CHECKED FOR DEED RESTRICTIONS.
AND CERTAINLY IF YOU'RE TRYING TO GET IN THERE, YOUR ANSWER IS YES.
THERE NEEDS TO BE SOME ACCOUNTABILITY ON THAT FORM IN THE, IN THE FACE OF AN
[02:15:01]
ACTUAL SIGNATURE OF A CIVIC CLUB LEADER, A SUPER NEIGHBORHOOD LEADER, OR I'M, I'M URGING CIVIC CLUBS, TO GET A ARCHITECTURAL REVIEW COMMITTEE.AND THAT PERSON OR AGENT CAN SERVE IN THAT CAPACITY.
IF THAT IS NOT A, IF THERE'S NOT A SIGNATURE THERE, THEN PLEASE STOP ISSUING THESE PERMITS.
IT'S, IT'S, IT'S JUST OUTTA HAND.
I KNOW IN DISTRICT D, AND I BELIEVE THAT WHEN PEOPLE GO IN AND THEY DO THIS, AND THEY BILL JUST BECAUSE THEY THINK THEY CAN, FIRST OF ALL, THE STOP WORK ORDER, AND IT MAY EVEN HAVE TO GET SOME ACT RIGHT WHERE YOU TEARING THAT STRUCTURE DOWN, AND THEY MAY SEEM A LITTLE DRASTIC, BUT THIS IS WHAT YOU'RE DOING IN OUR COMMUNITIES AND CERTAINLY DO NOT ISSUE OCCUPANCY PERMITS TO PEOPLE WHO HAVE NOT FOLLOWED THE RULES.
THEY ARE TOTALLY DISRESPECTING US AND FEELING LIKE THEY CAN WORK AROUND IT.
AND IT'S BEEN, IT'S BEEN WORKING FOR THEM.
I'LL HAVE TO ACTUALLY SAY THAT, BUT THAT MUST STOP.
AND FINALLY, I'M GONNA SAY, I HAVE MADE THE RECOMMENDATION THAT WE LOOK AT THE STOPPING THE MINOR TRAFFIC STOPS.
A LOT OF THE SPEAKERS SPOKE TO THAT LAST NIGHT.
WE ARE TAKING OUR POLICE OFFICERS OFF OF THE STREET FOR A TIME PERIOD JUST TO STOP PEOPLE BECAUSE THEY DON'T HAVE INSPECTION STICKERS OR THOSE THINGS THAT ARE MINOR.
IF THEY'RE RUNNING STOP SIGNS AND THEY'RE DRIVING LIKE THEY DON'T HAVE, WELL, LIKE, OKAY.
AND THEY'RE DRIVING IN A, UH,
CERTAINLY THEY SHOULD BE STOPPED.
BUT A LOT OF THESE INTERACTIONS WITH ICE BEGAN WITH STOPPING PEOPLE AT MINOR TRAFFIC STOPS.
WE CAN'T STOP ICE FROM BEING HERE, SO TO SPEAK, BUT WE CAN CERTAINLY STOP THAT INTERACTION.
IF POLICE OFFICERS DON'T STOP PEOPLE, THEN THEY'RE NOT CHARGED WITH SAYING, LET ME GET YOUR ID, LET ME CHECK THIS.
WE ARE NOT TRYING TO PROTECT CRIMINALS, CERTAINLY, BUT WHAT'S HAPPENING HERE IS JUST A TRAVESTY.
I MEAN, I, IT JUST BRINGS TEARS, I'M SURE, TO EVERYBODY'S EYES, TO WITNESS WHAT WE HAVE WITNESSED BECAUSE OF ROGUE THUGS THAT HAVE BEEN PUT IN PLACE OVER CITIES THAT ARE MOSTLY DEMOCRATIC CITIES.
WE CANNOT USE THAT ORGANIZATION TO PUNISH PEOPLE BECAUSE THEY ARE DEMOCRATS.
AND, BUT AS A BODY, WE CAN MAKE A DECISION.
AND I UNDERSTAND WE ARE, WE ARE TRYING TO KEEP IT DOWN BECAUSE WE DON'T WANNA IMPACT THE LIVES OF OVER 2 MILLION PEOPLE BY HAVING, UH, ICE CONVERGE ON THE CITY OF HOUSTON.
AND, AND MAYOR, MAYOR HEAVY IS THE HEAD.
SO I THANK YOU SO VERY MUCH MY COLLEAGUES FOR LISTENING.
BUT I THINK THAT WE CAN DO SOMETHING.
IT MAY NOT BE MUCH, BUT WE CAN DO SOMETHING TO LET THE PEOPLE KNOW WHO ARE SHOUTING AND ASKING US TO HELP, THAT WE ARE TRYING TO DO EVERYTHING THAT WE CAN.
AND THAT CONCLUDES WHAT'S GOING ON IN THE DISTRICT OF DESTINATION.
[CONSIDERATION OF MATTERS REMOVED FROM CONSENT AGENDA (Part 2 of 2)]
WE HAVE SOME ITEMS THAT HAVE ARRIVED.YEAH, WE HAVE EVERYTHING IN, SIR.
OKAY, MR. SECRETARY, YOU CALL THE ITEMS THAT, UH, NEED ADDRESSING.
IS EVERYBODY, ITEM 18 IS AN ORDINANCE.
THIS IS, UH, A MUCH NEEDED, UH, PROJECT FOR OUR MUNICIPAL COURTS.
I WANT TO TAKE THE OPPORTUNITY TO HIGHLIGHT THE GREAT JOB JUDGE SANTOS HAS BEEN DOING OVER THERE.
UM, THE BUILDING OBVIOUSLY IS, IS EXPERIENCING CHALLENGES WITH FLOODING.
THIS HELPS GET IT ACROSS THE FINISH LINE IN TERMS OF CONSTRUCTION, BUT, UM, IT'S GOING TO ALLOW, UM, JUDGE SANTOS AND OUR, OUR JUDGES TO CONTINUE TO SERVE THE PUBLIC, UM, IN A, IN A BIG WAY.
ITEM 20, ITEM 20 IS AN ORDINANCE.
[02:20:01]
OPPOSED NAY.MOTION PASSES AND ITEM 32 IS IN ORDINANCE.
FAVOR SAY YES, AS OPPOSED TO NAY.
NOW THIS COMPLETES THE ITEMS ON THE AGENDA.
EVERYONE BE SAFE AND TRY TO STAY WARM AND REACH OUT AND HELP SOMEONE.