[Super Neighborhood Alliance Meeting on February 9, 2026.]
[00:00:21]
SUPER NEIGHBORHOOD 66, SUPER NEIGHBORHOOD 67.KEN ROGERS PRESIDENT, GREATER THIRD WARD, SUPER NEIGHBORHOOD.
BEVERLY AZURE IS THE PRESIDENT, BUT I'M HERE REPRESENTING IF SHE'S NOT.
UH, PRISCILLA, OR SORRY? UH, 82.
UH, AND THEN LAWNDALE WAYSIDE, LINDSAY.
UH, ANYONE ELSE, UH, THAT WE DIDN'T CALL OR THAT I MISSED EARLIER IN THE ROLL CALL? UM,
UM, SUNNYSIDE, MELANIE, YOUNG PRESIDENT.
UH, MITCHELL WALKER DOWNTOWN SUPER NEIGHBORHOOD 61.
UH, MICHAEL GRAVES, SUPER NEIGHBORHOOD, 15 WOODLAND HEIGHTS.
HI, THIS IS COUNCIL MEMBER TWILA CARTER'S OFFICE.
UH, WE'LL HAVE A OPPORTUNITY FOR ELECTED OFFICIALS TO SPEAK AT THE END OF THE MEETING.
I'LL TURN IT BACK OVER TO THE CHAIR.
DO WE HAVE A QUORUM, MADAM SECRETARY? OH, OH, YES, WE DO.
'CAUSE THERE WAS QUITE A BIT OF NUMBERS IN A, IN THOSE IN ATTENDANCE, SO HAPPY TO HEAR THAT.
ALRIGHT, WE'LL MOVE RIGHT ALONG INTO OUR AGENDA.
EVERYONE HAS HAD AN OPPORTUNITY TO SEE IT, AND I WILL CALL FOR A MOTION TO ACCEPT TONIGHT'S AGENDA.
I MAKE A MOTION, WE ACCEPT TONIGHT'S AGENDA.
I SECOND, I SECOND I WAS MADE BY TAMARA BELL, SECOND BY CHERYL O'BRIEN.
OPPOSED BY JEFF BAKER? NO, NO, NO SAYING WAS SAYING AYE.
SO GUYS, WE ARE, WE HAVE THE PRIVILEGE TODAY OF WELCOMING TWO INDIVIDUALS, UM, TO GIVE A PRESENTATION TO US AND WE WILL GO AHEAD AND GET STARTED WITH THE METRO.
ALL RIGHT, WIL, WE WILL TURN IT ON OVER TO, DO YOU HAVE A, DO YOU HAVE A SLIDE PRESENTATION? I DO.
AM I ABLE TO SHARE? LEMME TRY IT.
RHONDA, IS HE HE'S ABLE TO SHARE, CORRECT.
CAN YOU ALL SEE MY SCREEN? THERE WE GO.
MY NAME, UH, IS ALFREDO, SAN MARIA, THE MANAGER OF PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT AT METRO.
UH, AND I'D LIKE TO, FIRST OF ALL, THANK, UH, LATIA AND THE SUPER NEIGHBORHOOD ALLIANCE TONIGHT, UH, FOR ALLOWING ME SOME TIME TO SPEAK.
I SEE WE HAVE A FULL AGENDA, SO I'LL KEEP IT BRIEF, BUT I, I DID WANT TO, UH, MAKE SURE THAT THIS INFORMATION GOT OUT, UH, TO THE SUPER NEIGHBORHOOD ALLIANCE AND ALL THE SUPER NEIGHBORHOOD COUNCILS.
I THINK IT'S REALLY CRUCIAL INFORMATION AND WE HAVE, UH, SOME OF THE MOST INCREDIBLE COMMUNITY LEADERS IN THE CITY RIGHT ON, ON THIS CALL.
UM, SO I'LL BE GIVING A BRIEF OVERVIEW OF METRO'S NEW FAIR SYSTEM.
UH, METRO'S LAUNCHED THE NEW RIDE METRO FAIR SYSTEM.
UH, RECENTLY WE'VE UPGRADED OUR ENTIRE FAIR COLLECTION SYSTEM TO MAKE IT, UH, EASIER TO PAY AND A LOT MORE FLEXIBLE.
AND I, AND I'LL GET INTO HOW THAT ACTUALLY GONNA LOOK LIKE.
WE ACTUALLY DID WHAT WE CALLED A, A QUOTE UNQUOTE SOFT LAUNCH BACK IN NOVEMBER.
WE, WE KNEW IT WAS GONNA TAKE IT, GONNA TAKE A LARGE UNDERTAKING TO TRANSITION FOLKS FROM THE OLD METRO CARD TO THE NEW METRO CARD.
UH, THE BIG DEADLINE THAT I THINK EVERYBODY NEEDS TO KEEP IN MIND IS APRIL 4TH.
[00:05:01]
APRIL 4TH, YOU WON'T BE ABLE TO USE, UH, THE, THE OLD METRO Q CARD.SO STARTING APRIL 5TH, UH, YOU WILL HAVE TO USE EITHER THE NEW METRO CARD OR ACTUALLY ONE OF THE OTHER MULTIPLE WAYS OF PAYING, UM, ON MARCH 1ST, UH, YOU WON'T BE ABLE TO LOAD ADDITIONAL FUNDS ONTO THE CURRENT Q CARD, SO YOU'LL STILL BE ABLE TO USE IT, UH, IF YOU HAVE ANY BALANCE ON IT, BUT YOU WON'T BE ABLE TO LOAD ADDITIONAL, UH, FUNDS ON IT.
SO WE'VE ACTUALLY, UH, BEEN SENDING NOTICES TO ALL OUR REGISTERED RIDERS, ANYBODY WHO HAVE ANY CONTACT INFORMATION FOR, WE'VE BEEN EMAILING THEM, TEXTING THEM, WE'RE GETTING READY TO DO, UH, LIKE A PHYSICAL MAIL OUT TO THOSE FOLKS AS WELL.
JUST NOTIFYING EVERYBODY AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE WITH AS MUCH HEADS UP ON THIS TRANSITION.
UH, WE'VE ALSO HAVE BEEN SETTING UP EIGHT EXTRA MINI RIDE STORES.
SO THEY'RE LIKE LITTLE BOOTHS AT EIGHT OF OUR HIGHEST RIDERSHIP TRANSIT CENTERS THROUGHOUT THE ENTIRE SYSTEM, UH, WHERE PEOPLE CAN JUST WALK UP TO AN ATTENDANT AND, AND GET THEIR NEW METRO CARD OR EVEN ASK FOR DIRECTIONS OR, OR GET ALL TYPES OF JUST METRO, UH, INFORMATION.
SO THE RIDE METRO FARE CARD IS OUR NEW ELECTRONIC RE REUSABLE FARE CARD.
SO YOU'LL BE ABLE TO USE IT TO PAY FOR RIDING THE LOCAL BUS, THE PARK, AND RIDE THE METRO RAIL AND THE METRO CURB TO CURB SERVICES.
UM, AND LIKE I SAID, THE, THE BIG DATE IS APRIL 4TH.
UH, YOU WILL BE ABLE TO PUT FUNDS NOW THROUGH MARCH 1ST.
WE ALSO HAVE A RIDE METRO APP.
WE ACTUALLY LAUNCHED A NEW METRO APP.
WE USED TO HAVE TWO SEPARATE APPS, ONE FOR PAINTING, ONE FOR TRIP PLANNING, TRIP PLANNING, AND PAYMENTS WILL NOW BE IN ONE METRO APP.
SO YOU CAN ALL DOWNLOAD THE RED METRO APP RIGHT NOW AND SET UP A VIRTUAL CARD IN YOUR APP.
SO YOU DON'T ACTUALLY HAVE TO ORDER ANYTHING, UH, ADDITIONAL UNLESS YOU WANNA GET A DISCOUNT, WHICH I, I'LL GET, I'LL TALK ABOUT IN A MINUTE.
ONE OF THE MAJOR BENEFITS OF GETTING A METRO CARD IS ACTUALLY FOR EVERY 10 PAY TRIPS YOU DO, YOU GET ONE FREE RIDE.
UH, SO IT'S A MAJOR INCENTIVE FOR THE FOLKS THAT ACTUALLY DO RIDE METRO, UH, REGULARLY, UH, AND, UH, GET THEM TO USE THE, THE METRO CARD.
SO BY PAYING, I MENTIONED WE'RE GONNA HAVE MULTIPLE WAYS TO PAY.
SO OBVIOUSLY WE'RE, WE'RE GONNA BE ABLE TO PAY WITH, UM, THE METRO CARD, BUT WE'LL ACTUALLY BE ABLE TO PAY TAP TO GO.
JUST LIKE WHENEVER YOU GO TO A REGULAR STORE AND TAP YOUR, YOUR CREDIT OR DEBIT CARD, YOU'LL BE ABLE TO TAP YOUR CREDIT OR DEBIT CARD ON OUR TAP MACHINES AND JUST HOP ON THE BUS OR HOP ON THE RAIL.
YOU WON'T, YOU WON'T ACTUALLY NEED TO GET A METRO CARD IF YOU, IF, IF YOU DON'T WANT ONE, UH, OR IF YOU DON'T HAVE A DISCOUNT CARD, YOU WON'T HAVE TO, UH, GET A NEW ONE.
THIS WOULD BE, I, I THINK, REALLY USEFUL FOLKS.
UH, WITH THE RODEO, UH, UH, YOU WON'T HAVE TO GET A, A SPECIAL METRIC CARD OR, OR THINK ABOUT TRYING TO FIGURE OUT HOW TO PAY FOR IT.
YOU CAN JUST TAP YOUR METRO CARD AND POP ON THE RAIL.
YOU'LL ALSO BE ABLE TO PAY WITH APPLE PAY OR GOOGLE PAY, UH, OR WITH, UH, OUR RED METRO APP, THERE'S A QR CODE YOU'LL BE ABLE TO SCAN.
SO IT, IT IS A MAJOR UPGRADE FROM OUR CURRENT SYSTEM.
YOU RIGHT, OUR CURRENT SYSTEM, YOU CAN ONLY PAY, UH, WITH A METRO CARD OR WITH CASH, UH, OR THE Q TICKET APP.
BUT NOW MOVING FORWARD, YOU CAN EVEN PAY, LIKE, UH, I'VE SEEN PEOPLE PAY WITH THEIR APPLE WATCHES 'CAUSE THEY HAVE APPLE PAY ON IT.
UH, IT'LL BE THAT MUCH MORE CONVENIENT FOR FOLKS, OR, OR, OR IF YOU HAVE ANY FRIENDS COME FROM OUT OF TOWN OR, OR PEOPLE COMING FROM OUT TOWN, THEY WON'T NEED TO GET A WHOLE METRO CARD JUST TO PAY FOR, FOR THE METRO.
THEY ABILITY TO JUST TAP, UH, THEIR DEBIT OR CREDIT CARD, UH, AND GO 'EM.
UM, TRANSFERS ARE CURRENTLY FREE FOR THREE HOURS AND THEY WILL STAY THAT WAY.
SO, UH, TRANSFERS ARE FREE IN ANY DIRECTION FOR THREE HOURS WITH OUR METRO CARD.
SO YOU'LL BE ABLE TO DO THAT WITH THE METRO CARD, WITH THE APP, OR WITH OUR, WITH YOUR DEBIT OR CREDIT CARD.
AND THEN YOU CAN BUY THE METRO CARD, EITHER ONLINE@METRORIDESTORE.COM, AT ANY OF OUR METRO RIDE STORES, OUR PHYSICAL LOCATIONS THROUGHOUT THE CITY OR AT OUR PARTICIPATING RETAILERS.
WE ARE ACTIVELY EXPANDING, WHICH RETAILERS ARE GONNA HAVE THE METRO CARDS AVAILABLE.
UM, IT'LL BE, YOU ARE GONNA BE ABLE TO BUY THE METRO CARDS AT, UM, YOU KNOW, THOSE WALK KIOS WHERE YOU CAN GET LIKE, GIFT CARDS AT WALGREENS OR CVS, LIKE THAT LOCATION THAT'LL HAVE, UH, ARMATURE CARDS AVAILABLE.
SO IT'D BE A LOT EASIER, UH, THROUGH THE SYSTEM NOW TO GET THOSE DISTRIBUTED AS WELL.
UM, I MENTIONED DISCOUNTED CARDS.
SO JUST AS A REMINDER, THERE ARE 50% DISCOUNTS FOR STUDENTS, THAT'S K THROUGH 12.
UM, AND UNIVERSITY AND TRADE SCHOOLS AS WELL.
AND THEN FOLKS WITH DISABILITIES GET A 50% DISCOUNT.
SENIORS OVER 70 RIDE FOR FREE.
SO IF YOU KNOW SOMEBODY THAT'S OVER 70 DOESN'T HAVE THE METRO CARD, UH, IT DOESN'T HAVE TO TO GET THE FREE METRO CARD, THEY'RE GONNA BE ABLE TO RIDE FOR FREE.
DECORATED VETERANS ALSO RIDE FOR FREE.
AND THEN QUALIFIED VETERANS WITH A DISABILITY ALSO RIDE FOR FREE.
TO GET THE METRO DISCOUNTED CARD, YOU DO HAVE TO APPLY ONLINE AT, UH, AT METRO RIDE STORE.COM.
UM, AND THEN THAT WAS A, A BRIEF OVERVIEW.
IF YOU'D LIKE TO GET MORE INFORMATION, I'LL PUT MY CONTACT, UH, IN THE CHAT.
UM, BUT YOU CAN GO ONLINE TO OUR WEBSITE, RIDE METRO.ORG/FAIR SYSTEM AND THAT I CONCLUDE YOU, YOU'RE ON MUTE, LA YOU'RE ON MUTE.
[00:10:03]
THANK YOU.I JUST HAD A WHOLE CONVERSATION WITH MYSELF.
THANK YOU SO VERY MUCH WIL FOR SHARING THAT INFORMATION.
AND I WAS ASKING IF WE HAD ANY QUESTIONS AND WE DO.
FIRST PERSON UP IS NONE OTHER THAN DOUG SMITH.
O UH, DO SENIORS HAVE TO GET A NEW CARD OR IS THE OLD ONE SINCE IT'S FREE? VALID? NO, YOU DO HAVE TO GET THE NEW, UM, METRO CARD.
THE NEXT PERSON I'M GONNA CALL ON IS MR. GREG.
THANK YOU FOR PRESENTING TONIGHT AND BEING HERE.
WHAT CONSTITUTES A DECORATED VETERAN? SO THAT ACTUALLY WILL HAVE TO, UH, THAT APPLICATION'S ON OUR WEBSITE.
IT'LL HAVE TO GO THROUGH THE VA, SO THEY'LL BE ABLE TO KIND OF, UH, UH, DESIGNATE THAT THERE'S A COUPLE QUALIFI YOU, SO YOU DON'T KNOW WHAT THE QUALIFIERS ARE FOR WHICH LEVEL?
NO, YEAH, THE VA IS THE ONE THAT, UH, UH, THAT APPROVES THAT.
UM, MY QUESTION IS, WILL YOU HAVE KIOSKS OVER AT THE TRANSIT HUBS? YES.
SO WE HAVE SOME MANY RIGHT SOURCES THAT WE'RE CALLING THEM AT EIGHT, UM, OF, UH, OF OUR TRANSIT CENTERS IN THE AREA.
DOUG, YOUR HAND IS STILL UP AND THEN WE HAVE IF, DID YOU HAVE ANOTHER? OKAY.
UH, I GOTTA PIGGYBACK ON, UH, UH, GREG'S, UH, UH, QUESTION.
WHAT IS A DECORATED VETERAN? WE REALLY NEED TO GET THAT SORTED OUT.
I'M RETIRED MILITARY AND I REALLY WOULD LIKE TO GET THAT ONLINE OR SOMETHING SO THAT WE DON'T HAVE ALL THESE OTHER VETERANS GOING THROUGH CHAOS TRYING TO FIGURE THIS OUT.
I'LL HAVE TO FOLLOW UP WITH YOU ON THAT ONE.
UM, IT'S JUST, UH, WHEN YOU FILL IT OUT, WE HAND IT OVER TO THE VA FOR THEM TO KIND OF, UH, FOR THEM TO, UM, APPROVE OF IT.
BUT, BUT MANY OF US ARE RETIRED.
WE ALREADY HAVE OUR PERMANENT IDS.
WHY CAN'T THIS BE STREAMLINED? I'M SORRY.
UH, WHY CAN'T THIS BE STREAMLINED? A LOT OF US ARE RETIRED.
WE HAVE OUR PERMANENT IDENTIFICATION CARDS.
AND SO BECAUSE OF VETERANS AFFAIRS DEPARTMENT KIND OF MANAGES THAT PROGRAM, YOU, UH, I, I DO ENCOURAGE YOU TO FILL IT OUT ON OUR WEBSITE AND THEN, UM, IT, IT'LL BE SUBMITTED TO THE VA AND THEN THEY'LL BE ABLE TO, UH, APPROVE, UM, UH, THAT APPLICATION.
ANYONE ELSE? NOW PEOPLE CAN ORDER THESE CARDS ONLINE, RIGHT? THEY DON'T HAVE TO GO TO ONE OF THE KIOSK EVEN? THAT'S CORRECT.
EVEN THE DISCOUNTED CARDS CAN BE ORDERED ONLINE? YES, THAT'S CORRECT.
WELL THAT, THANK YOU SO VERY MUCH, UM, ALFREDO, WE APPRECIATE YOU FOR BEING HERE AND GIVING US WITH THAT INFORMATION.
AND AS SOON AS YOU HAVE AN ANSWER ABOUT THE DECORATED VETERAN, PLEASE LET US KNOW.
UM, AND WE WILL SHARE THAT WITH THE TEAM.
UH, SOMEBODY JUST TEXTED ME, ACTUALLY, WHO'S WATCHING AND SAID, ASK ME TO ASK HOW MUCH THE DISCOUNT IS FOR STUDENTS AND SENIORS OVER 65, BUT UNDER 70, THAT IS 50% OFF.
SO FOR A LOCAL BUS THAT'S 60 CENTS.
UH, WHAT ABOUT VETERAN SPOUSES OF DECEASED VETERANS? NO.
SO, SO IT'S NOT, UM, IT'S NOT FOR SPOUSES, IT'S JUST FOR, FOR VETERANS.
THANK YOU AGAIN FOR PRESENTING AND, AND AS STATED, ONCE HE HAS THAT INFORMATION, HE'LL SHARE IT AND THEN WE'LL MAKE SURE THAT IT IS PUBLIC AND, UM, PRESENT THAT TO YOU ALL.
CAN HE MAKE SURE HE PUT HIS CONTACT IN THE, LIKE YOU SAID IN THE, UH, CHAT? SURE,
[00:15:01]
WILL DO.ALRIGHT, SO WHILE WE WAIT ON THAT, WE WILL GO AHEAD AND MOVE RIGHT ALONG.
I'M SURE MANY OF YOU HAVE BEEN, UM, AWAITING THIS UPDATE.
SO WE HAVE MR. JIM BLACKBURN, WHO IS THE PROFESSOR IN THE PRACTICE OF ENVIRONMENTAL LAW, AND HE'S GOING TO BE PRESENTING ON
I'VE, I'VE BEEN RECOGNIZING, UH, MANY OF YOU THE NAMES THAT HAVE COME UP HERE, UH, OLD FRIENDS, UH, A FEW CLIENTS, UH, PEOPLE I HAVE WORKED WITH.
I'M AN ENVIRONMENTAL LAWYER, AND I HAVE, UH, FOUND MYSELF IN THE MIDDLE OF THIS, UH, WHAT I WILL CALL A MESS INVOLVING THE EXPANSION OF BEN TOP, UH, KIND OF EMERGENCY, UM, CARE FACILITY, THE LEVEL ONE TRAUMA CENTER, UH, THAT EXISTS OVER IN THE MEDICAL CENTER.
I GOT INVOLVED, UH, WITH MY FRIEND ANN HAMILTON, UH, WHO, WHO BROUGHT TO MY ATTENTION THAT BEN TAUB WAS SEEKING TO CONDEMN, UH, LAND THAT WAS PART OF HERMAN PARK.
IT IS A PIECE OF HERMAN PARK THAT IS ON THE MEDICAL CENTER SIDE OF CAMBRIDGE, UM, BUT IS RIGHT ACROSS FROM THE ZOO.
AND, UM, AND SORT OF THAT, UH, SOUTH SIDE OF, OF HERMAN PARK.
AND PARKLAND IS NOT SUPPOSED TO BE TAKEN FOR NON PER PARK PURPOSES UNLESS THAT THERE HAS BEEN A, A FULL AND THOROUGH ANALYSIS OF ALTERNATIVES AND EVERYTHING HAD BEEN DONE TO REDUCE IMPACT.
AND I THINK IT CAUGHT US ALL BY SURPRISE THAT THERE WAS A CONDEMNATION OF PARKLAND THAT WAS PROPOSED HERE.
AND I WENT BACK TO THE BOND ELECTION, ELECTION LANGUAGE.
AND BACK IN 2023, THERE HAD BEEN A BOND ELECTION ABOUT THE EXPANSION OF, UH, WELL, FOR HARRIS HEALTH GENERALLY, WHICH IS THE GROUP THAT OVERSEES, UH, BEN TOP AND HARRIS HEALTH GOT A TWO, A $2.5 BILLION BOND ELECTION APPROVED BY VOTERS.
BUT THE LANGUAGE AROUND BEN TAUB SAID THAT THE EXPANSION WOULD BE WITHIN THE BEN TOP CAMPUS.
AND SO THAT, YOU KNOW, KIND OF RAISED A DOUBLE FLAG TO ME.
UH, YOU KNOW, ONE, UH, IT SEEMED CONTRARY TO THE BOND LANGUAGE AND CERTAINLY NO ONE HAD BEEN TOLD DURING THE BOND ELECTION THAT THERE WOULD BE PARKLAND TAKEN AND THAT THERE WOULD ACTUALLY BE AN EXPANSION BEYOND THE BEEN TOP CAMPUS.
NOW THERE IS NO ONE THAT I AM WORKING WITH THAT IS OPPOSED TO BEN TAUB AND ITS EXPANSION IN ANY WAY.
BUT WHEN IT COMES TO THE CONDEMNATION OF PARKLAND, THERE ARE CERTAIN LEGAL PROCEDURES THAT MUST BE FOLLOWED AND WE'RE VERY CONCERNED THAT THEY HAVEN'T BEEN FOLLOWED AND MAY NOT BE FOLLOWED.
THE BOTTOM LINE HERE IS THAT THERE HAVE BEEN, WE, I HAVE WRITTEN SEVEN DIFFERENT LETTERS TO THE COMMISSIONER'S COURT, TO THE COUNTY JUDGE, THE COMMISSIONER'S COUNTY ATTORNEY, UH, EACH ONE RAISING ISSUES.
MOST RECENTLY WE HAVE COMPLAINED BECAUSE ON THE ONE HAND THERE ARE SETTLEMENTS THAT ARE BEING PURSUED.
UM, I DO NOT REPRESENT THE HERMAN PARK CONSERVANCY, WHICH IS THE NONPROFIT THAT RUNS HERMAN PARK.
I'M WORKING KIND OF LOOSELY WITH A GROUP CALLED PROTECT HERMAN PARK.
UH, THERE'S KIND OF AN ALLIANCE OF THOSE OF US THAT ARE CONCERNED.
UM, AND WE MADE A FREEDOM OF INFORMA OR AN OPEN RECORDS ACT REQUEST TO ASK FOR SOME DOCUMENTS THAT, UH, HARRIS HEALTH, UH, UH, WE, WE DISCOVERED THEY HAD THESE DOCUMENTS BY GOING BACK THROUGH THE REPORTS OF THE VARIOUS MEETINGS.
AND WE ASKED THE COUNTY TO PROVIDE US WITH COPIES OF THESE.
AND WE WERE TOLD THAT THEY WOULD NOT, UH, GIVE THESE DOCUMENTS TO US.
THEY HAVE ASKED THE ATTORNEY GENERAL IF THEY CAN WITHHOLD THESE DOCUMENTS.
AND I THINK THAT ALMOST SUMMARIZES PROBABLY MORE THAN ANYTHING, KIND OF THE CURRENT SITUATION WHERE ON THE ONE HAND THERE IS A NEED FOR A HUNDRED BED EXPANSION.
I, WE DON'T DISPUTE THAT WE THINK IT CAN BE DONE WITHIN THE CAMPUS.
WE THINK IT CAN BE DONE, UH, WITHIN, WITHOUT HAVING TO CONDEMN PARKLAND.
AND IF THERE ARE CONDEMNING PARKLAND, THEY'RE TRYING TO CONDEMN NINE ACRES OF PARKLAND.
AND THEY CERTAINLY DON'T NEED NINE ACRES OF PARKLAND TO, UH, BUILD A HUNDRED BED EXPANSION.
UH, WE THINK ULTIMATELY THIS IS ABOUT THE LONG-TERM EXPANSION OF BEN TAUB AND THAT SITE THEY'RE CONDEMNING IS IN THE MIDDLE OF THE MAPPED 100 YEAR FLOODPLAIN FOR BRAISED BY.
WE THINK THAT IT JUST DOESN'T MAKE A LOT OF SENSE TO PURSUE THIS ALTERNATIVE.
WE'RE HOPEFUL THAT IT CAN BE DONE WITHIN THE CURRENT
[00:20:01]
FOOTPRINT.UH, WE HAVE NOT GIVEN UP ON THAT, ALTHOUGH CURRENTLY COMMISSIONER'S COURT IS HEADED TOWARD A MARCH 19TH HEARING ON CHAPTER 26 TAKING, THEY WILL VOTE WHETHER TO GO FORWARD WITH THE CONDEMNATION AT SOME POINT.
IT'S NOT CLEAR THAT THEY WILL VOTE ON MARCH 19TH.
UM, I THINK WHAT I'M PROBABLY MOST CONCERNED ABOUT IS THE ABSENCE OF TRANSPARENCY, UH, STARTING WITH THE BOND ELECTION AND CARRYING THROUGH TO FRANKLY US BEING REFUSED ACCESS TO DOCUMENTS THAT ARE CLEARLY PUBLIC DOCUMENTS.
UM, THERE ARE SETTLEMENT DISCUSSIONS GOING ON BETWEEN THE HERMAN PARK CONSERVANCY, UM, THE COUNTY.
I THINK THE CITY'S INVOLVED IN IT.
HARRIS HEALTH IS INVOLVED IN IT.
UM, WE ARE NOT, I MEAN, WE ARE NOT ANY RECOGNIZED GROUP.
UH, BUT I JUST WANTED YOU TO KNOW THAT THERE ARE DISCUSSIONS GOING ON THAT WE'RE NOT PART OF.
UM, WE ARE, I THINK, OUTSIDERS IN A VERY REAL SENSE THAT ARE SIMPLY ADVOCATES FOR PARKLAND.
WE REALLY ARE CONCERNED ABOUT THE PRESIDENT THAT THIS MAY SET.
AND, UH, I THINK, YOU KNOW, THE, YOU KNOW, THE WORRY IS PARKS ARE SUPPOSED TO BE PRETTY MUCH UNTOUCHABLE UNLESS THEY'RE JUST INCREDIBLY WEIRD CIRCUMSTANCES AND WE DON'T THINK THOSE EXIST HERE.
UM, KIND OF WHERE THIS WILL GO, I, I DON'T KNOW.
WE'RE TRYING TO UNDERSTAND, UH, KIND OF WHAT IMPACTS, UM, UH, HARRIS HEALTH HAS HAD IN OTHER PARTS OF THE COMMUNITY.
WE'RE TRYING TO UNDERSTAND WHETHER IT MAKES SENSE FOR THE LEVEL ONE TRAUMA CENTER EXPANSION TO BE IN ANOTHER PART OF TOWN RATHER THAN THE MEDICAL CENTER.
AND THAT'S ONE PLACE WHERE INPUT FROM YOU GUYS COULD BE QUITE USEFUL IS TO, UM, UH, HELP US, UH, UNDERSTAND BETTER LONG TERM.
I DID NOT INTEND TO STUDY THE PROVISION OF MEDICAL SERVICES ACROSS HARRIS COUNTY.
UH, THAT'S KIND OF WHERE THIS IS BEGINNING TO TAKE US.
UM, AND I THINK WITH THAT, I WILL STOP.
AND, YOU KNOW, I WAS JUST TRYING TO GIVE YOU AN OVERVIEW OF KIND OF SOME OF THE CONFUSION AND CHAOS THAT SURROUNDS THIS ISSUE.
IF THAT'S YOUR PERCEPTION, I WOULD TELL YOU IT'S NOT WRONG.
UM, I DON'T THINK THIS HAS BEEN HANDLED WELL FROM THE BEGINNING AND IT REALLY HASN'T GOTTEN A LOT BETTER.
AS WE'VE GOTTEN DEEPER AND DEEPER, IT SEEMS LIKE EVERY ROCK WE TURN OVER, SOMETHING CRAWLS OUT FROM UNDER IT.
SO, UH, AND WITH THAT, TOMORROW HAS BEEN ONE OF OUR STRONG SUPPORTERS AND, UH, IT LOOKS LIKE SHE'S GOT HER HAND UP.
SO TOMORROW YOU WANNA JUMP IN? YES.
UH, FIRST OFF, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR, UH, COMING TO TALK TO US THIS EVENING.
UH, AS MANY OF YOU ALL KNOW, I LIVE IN MCGREGOR.
I LIVE BY THE BAYOU ON THIS END WHERE CHERYL THEM LIVES ON THE BAYOU AT THE OTHER END AND ALL THE WAY DOWN, UM, UH, GOING PAST BELLWAY EIGHT.
AND, UH, WHEN THIS CAME TO MY ATTENTION, I WAS REALLY, REALLY BLINDSIDED BY IT BECAUSE AS AN ADVOCATE FOR THE 2023 BOND WHERE THEY SAID THEY WERE GOING TO TAKE MONEY AND BUILD A NEW LBJ AND THEN TAKE MONEY, A HUNDRED MILLION, UH, FOR A HUNDRED BEDS, 400 MILLION, BUILDING IT IN THE BOND LANGUAGE ON THE BEN TOP CAMPUS, I WAS TAKEN ABACK WHEN AROUND JUNE THEY SWITCHED THAT AND SAID, NO, WE ARE GONNA TAKE HERMIT PARK.
UM, THIS, THIS BAYOU CAN ONLY HOLD SO MUCH, UH, AS IT IS.
AND BECAUSE TDOT HAS PUT IN A DRAINAGE PIPE FROM SAINT EMANUEL THAT WILL PUMP WATER FROM SAINT EMANUEL NOW INTO THIS BAYOU.
UH, AND IF YOU TAKE NINE ACRES THAT IS IN THE FLOODPLAIN, WHAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN NEXT? THE FLOOD GATES THAT THEY PUT UP TO PROTECT THE MEDICAL CENTER ENDED UP BEING A HORROR STORY FOR STELLA LINK AND MEYERLAND BECAUSE THE WATER HAD TO GO SOMEWHERE.
SO I'M NOT JUST CONCERNED ABOUT WHERE THEY'RE GONNA DO THE EXPANSION, THE POTENTIAL OF FLOODING.
IN ADDITION TO THAT, ONCE PARK LAND IS GONE, IT DOESN'T COME BACK.
AND THEN SOME OF THE SIDE CONVERSATIONS THAT I HEARD ABOUT THE JUSTIFICATION OF TAKING HERMAN PARK, THE PARKS ARE REALLY SUPPOSED TO BE FOR THE WEALTHY.
SO TAKING NINE ACRES FROM HER HERMAN PARK, DON'T MATTER.
HERMAN PARK IS THE PEOPLE'S PARK.
HERMAN PARK IS OUR CENTRAL PARK.
I MEAN, THERE IS NO ONE IN HOUSTON, I THINK, WHO HADN'T HAD A HAPPY MOMENT IN HERMAN PARK.
AND SO, I, I MEAN, WHEN I WENT TO AS MANY OF THE TOWN HALLS, I DID NOT GO TO ALL OF THEM.
BUT I WENT TO LESLIE BRIANA SINCE SHE HAD THE LAST ONE.
IT WAS AT TRACY G COMMUNITY CENTER.
AND I ASKED HIM, I SAID, AT EACH TOWN HALL THAT I'VE ATTENDED, YOU SAY YOU CANNOT GO UP AT BEN TOP.
YOU CANNOT TEAR DOWN THE GARAGE.
I SAID, WHAT ABOUT OLD BEN TOP, WHICH IS STILL STANDING? HE SAID, I'M NOT FAMILIAR WITH THAT BUILDING.
[00:25:01]
I SAID, I KNOW WE NOT GONNA DO THAT TODAY.HE SAID, I'M NOT FAMILIAR WITH THAT BUILDING.
AND SO I SAID, OKAY, THAT'S FINE.
WHEN I WENT TO COMMISSIONER'S COURT TO SPEAK ON THURSDAY, I BROUGHT THAT UP.
AND LESLIE, THAT IS EXACTLY WHAT HE SAID, BECAUSE YOU ALL SEE OLD BEN TOP WAS SO STRONG WHEN THEY BUILT THE CURRENT BIN TOP, THEY COULDN'T EVEN DEMOLISH IT.
SO THEY USED THE FIRST FLOOR FOR THE PHARMACY.
THEY USED THE FIFTH FLOOR FOR UNHOUSED PATIENTS.
THEY USED THE TOWER FOR, UH, EXPANDED MENTAL CARE SO IT EASILY CAN HOUSE A HUNDRED MORE BEDS.
THE CAPACITY THAT BEN TOP WAS BUILT AT THE CURRENT ONE WAS AROUND FIVE 50.
THEY HAVE REDUCED THE BEDS TO 400 BY A CHOICE.
SO I DON'T THINK THAT, NUMBER ONE, YOU SHOULD GET OUR BOND MONEY AND THEN DO WHAT YOU WANNA DO WITH IT INSTEAD OF WHAT YOU SAY YOU GOTTA DO WITH IT.
AND I DON'T THINK THAT YOU SHOULD TAKE PARK LAND THAT WE, WE ARE NOT GROWING ANYMORE LAND.
I, SO I DON'T THINK, AND IF THEY HAVE NOT BEEN TRANSPARENT AND THEY'VE NOT BEEN FORTHCOMING, AND IN MANY OF THE TOWN HALL MEETINGS, THE MEETING MIGHT HAVE BEEN TWO HOURS, BUT THEY TALKED FOR HOUR AND MAYBE 30 MINUTES.
AND THERE WAS A LOT OF PEOPLE THAT SHOWED UP FOR THE MEETINGS.
AND THAT IS WHY I HAVE GOTTEN INVOLVED IN THIS.
AND THIS IS SOMETHING THAT SHOULD CONCERN ALL OF HOUSTON.
'CAUSE I'M TELLING YOU, HERMAN PARK IS ALL OUR PARK AND TO PUT ADDITIONAL HOSPITAL CARE IN A FLOODPLAIN 'CAUSE I'M NOT HAPPY WITH WHAT THEY DID AT LBJ.
BECAUSE EVEN IF YOU ELEVATED, HOW IN THE WORLD ARE THE PEOPLE AROUND IT SUPPOSED TO GET THERE? IF EVERYTHING IS FLOODED AROUND IT ON THE ROADS AND THERE'S NO ACCESS, I DO BELIEVE HEALTHCARE NEEDS TO BE SPREAD OUT.
THAT'S WHY YOU SEE MEMORIAL HERMANN WITH DIFFERENT HOSPITALS AROUND TOWN METHODIST WITH HOSPITALS AROUND TOWN.
I DON'T THINK IT ALL NEEDS TO GO IN ONE AREA.
I THINK ALL OF HOUSTON SHOULD HAVE ACCESS TO HEALTHCARE AND HOSPITALS.
UM, AND LET'S MOVE INTO OUR QUESTIONS.
CHERYL, YOUR HANDS UP AND THEN KEITH, I BELIEVE YOU GUYS HAVE A QUESTION.
SO I AM, UM, WANTED TO POINT OUT MR. BLACKBURN THAT THERE'S SOME QUESTIONS IN THE CHAT AND I DIDN'T KNOW IF YOU SAW, SO I WANTED TO MAKE SURE THAT, THAT EVERY, THAT THEY WERE BROUGHT UP.
MICHAEL GRAVES HAS THE QUESTION.
DO WE KNOW IF THERE'S A REVERTER CLAUSE IN THE AGREEMENT THAT SAW THE LAND CONTRIBUTED TO THE CITY, THE CITY IS IN THE PAST LOST LAND FOR TRYING TO USE IT FOR NON-PAR PURPOSES.
THERE'S BETTER A RESPONSE FROM ANN KENNEDY THAT SAYS THERE IS A REVERTER CLAUSE.
AND I WAS WONDERING IF YOU COULD ADDRESS THAT FOR THEM.
AND THEN EL CURTY ALSO WANTS TO KNOW WHAT'S THE BEST WAY FOR NEIGHBORS WHO USED THE PARK OR NEAR IT TO VOICE CONCERNS ABOUT THE LACK OF TRANSPARENCY, THE APPARENT BAIT AND SWITCH OF THE, OF THE POST 2023 BOND ELECTION.
UM, AND A COUPLE OF PEOPLE HAVE ASKED ABOUT THAT.
SO IF YOU COULD ADDRESS THIS, LEMME ADDRESS THOSE.
THE PROPOSAL IS FOR, I MEAN, ONE, THERE IS A REVERTER CLAUSE, UH, AS I UNDERSTAND IT.
AND THAT IS WHY CONDEMNATION OF THIS LAND HAS BEEN PROPOSED BY HARRIS HEALTH, UH, WHICH IS THE PARENT ORGANIZATION OF BENAL.
UH, HARRIS HEALTH, IN TURN HAS TO ASK PERMISSION FROM THE COMMISSIONER'S COURT TO USE THE POWER OF CONDEMNATION.
SO IT BECOMES A COUNTY ISSUE AS WELL AS A HARRIS HEALTH ISSUE.
SO BY, BY GOING THROUGH CONDEMNATION, THE REVERTER CLAUSE CAN BE SEVERED OR CAN BE CONDEMNED.
AND SO THAT'S WHY IT'S NOT GONNA BE JUST A WILLING, BUYER WILLING SELLER TRANSACTION.
'CAUSE THEN THE REVERTER CLAUSE, I THINK WOULD COME INTO EFFECT.
SO THAT'S MY UNDERSTANDING WHY CONDEMNATION IS BEING UNDERTAKEN.
UM, IN TERMS OF THE BEST WAY FOR NEIGHBORS WHO USE HERMAN PARK, UH, ONE THING IS TO CHECK OUT PROTECT HERMAN PARK WEBSITE AND THERE'S CONTACT INFORMATION THERE.
I HAVE ALSO PUT MY EMAIL ADDRESS IN, UH, THE CHAT IF THERE'S SOMEBODY THAT WOULD LIKE TO EITHER GET COPIES.
WE HAVE SENT SEVEN, UH, I WOULD SAY PRETTY SERIOUS LETTERS TO HARRIS HEALTH AND TO THE COMMISSIONERS.
I'M HAPPY TO SEND COPIES OF THOSE TO ANYBODY WHO'D LIKE TO SEE 'EM.
IF YOU'RE LOOKING TO FOR HOW TO GET INVOLVED, I CAN HELP YOU, UH, GET IN CONTACT WITH SOME OF THE PEOPLE THAT ARE HELPING PUT TOGETHER THE WEBSITE AND THAT ARE GENERALLY CONCERNED.
NOW, THE HERMAN PARK CONSERVANCY IS A GROUP THAT I WOULD URGE EVERYONE THAT'S CONCERNED TO REACH OUT TO.
THEY ARE THE NONPROFIT THAT'S RESPONSIBLE FOR ESSENTIALLY TAKING CARE.
THEY'RE THE STEWARDS OF HERMAN PARK.
[00:30:01]
BEEN IN THE MIDDLE.BOTH OF THE DISCUSSIONS AND FRANKLY, OF A LOT OF PRESSURE, UH, THIS HAS TURNED OUT TO BE KIND OF A, A HIGH POWERED, HIGH STAKES BEHIND THE SCENES SET OF ENCOUNTERS.
AND, UM, I UNDERSTAND THERE'S SOME VERY GOOD PEOPLE THAT WANT VERY MUCH FOR BEING TOLD TO BE EXPANDED AT THIS SITE.
ON THE OTHER HAND, I DISAGREE WITH IT.
UM, AND I ENCOURAGE, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THAT.
YEAH, IF YOU LOOK AT THE CHAT, MR. BLACKBURN, 'CAUSE THERE'S A COUPLE OF OTHER QUESTIONS THAT ARE KIND OF LONG AND YOU COULD ADDRESS THEM AT SOME POINT TOO.
SO WE'RE GONNA, AND WE'RE GONNA GO AHEAD AND GO TO KEITH WHOSE HAND IS, UH, KEITH.
UH, HEY JIM, HOW YOU DOING? I, UH, I'M GOOD KEITH.
GOOD TO SEE YOU WANNA POINT OUT.
UH, WANNA POINT OUT FROM ARCHITECTURAL STANDPOINT, I'D JUST LIKE TOMORROW SAID, WHEN YOU CAN'T GO OUT, YOU GO UP AND, UM, YOU KNOW, THIS HAS BEEN DONE, UH, IN A LOT OF PLACES AROUND THE COUNTRY NOW WHERE YOU DON'T HAVE THE, THE EXPANSION SPACE.
UM, SO NOW YOU GO UP AND LONG AS YOU GOT AIR RIGHTS AND THERE'S NO PROBLEM WITH THAT GOING HIGH, GOING HIGHER.
UH, I DON'T SEE WHY THEY CAN'T ON THE EX ON THE OLD BEN TUB.
UH, I JUST DON'T UNDERSTAND WHY THEY CAN'T DO THAT, UH, AND LEAVE THE PARK SPACE ALONE.
KEITH, WE AGREE WITH YOU TOTALLY.
WE GOT, UH, UH, LANDSCAPE ARCHITECT AND PLANNER KG ASURA TO LOOK THROUGH THE SITE.
THERE'S ACTUALLY EVEN PLACES WHERE YOU CAN GET A FOUNDATION INTO UNDEVELOPED LAND ON THE SITE.
POA DISMISSED THAT SAYING IT'S A LITTLE PRETTY COLORED RECTANGLES YOU GUYS HAVE PUT ON THE, UH, ON A MAP, UH, AND YOU DON'T KNOW.
AND, AND TOLD US WE DIDN'T KNOW ANYTHING ABOUT THE MEDICAL BUSINESS.
UM, I HAVE NOW HAD AN OFFER FROM ONE OF THE BEST STRUCTURAL ENGINEERS IN THE UNITED STATES TO COME IN FREE OF CHARGE TO LOOK AT THE BEN TOP CAMPUS.
AND I HAVE MADE THAT AS A WRITTEN OFFER TO BOTH HARRIS COUNTY AND TO DR.
PORTA TO BRING THIS MAN IN TO TRY TO HELP, UM, SEE IF WE CAN GO UP.
UM, I MEAN, OUR GOAL IS TO HELP BIN TA ACHIEVE ITS GOAL WITHOUT USING PARKLAND.
AND WE DON'T THINK THAT'S AN INCREDIBLY TOUGH ASK.
WE'RE TRYING TO HELP THEM SOLVE THE PROBLEM.
UM, AND UH, SOMEBODY IN THE CHAT I THINK TALKED ABOUT THAT.
UH, WE'RE TALKING A HIGH COST FOR A HUNDRED BEDS AND I WOULD TELL YOU THIS IS GETTING TO BE AN EXTREMELY EXPENSIVE A HUNDRED BEDS AND HOUSTON AT SOME POINT.
HOUSTON, I COULD ANSWER YOU, I'M SORRY, BUT I JUST WANT TO, I JUST WANT TO ADD ON HOUSTON NEEDS MORE GREEN SPACE, NOT LESS.
WELL, WE CERTAINLY AGREE WITH THAT.
WELL, IN THE CHAT, IN THE CHAT THERE WERE QUITE A FEW MORE QUESTIONS.
UM, I'M GONNA GO THROUGH THEM REALLY QUICK.
UM, WHAT IS THE BEST PLACE FOR NEIGHBORS, UM, WHO USE HARMON PARK OR NEAR IT? UM, MY, HOLD ON ONE SECOND.
OR NEAR IT TO VOICE THEIR CONCERNS.
THE COUNTY COMMISSIONER'S COURT JUDGE ALGO ULTIMATELY ARE THE FINAL DECISION MAKERS HERE.
I THINK HERMAN, I THINK HARRIS HEALTH AND, UH, THE BEN TAUB, UH, MANAGEMENT HAVE MADE THEIR DECISION.
I THINK THE COUNTY COMMISSIONERS AND THE COUNTY JUDGE ARE STILL ABLE TO BE PERSUADED.
THEY HAVEN'T HEARD A LOT BECAUSE HONESTLY, WE HAVEN'T TRIED TO REALLY GO PUBLIC WITH THIS SO MUCH AS TRY TO JUST RAISE THESE QUESTIONS AND TRY TO GET ANSWERS TO OUR QUESTIONS.
AND, UH, WE'VE JUST BEEN VERY DISSATISFIED WITH THE ANSWERS WE'VE GOTTEN.
ARE THERE OTHER, LET'S SEE, WHAT ELSE HAVE WE'VE GOT THERE? THERE ARE, UH, WE, WE ADDRESSED THAT ONE AND THEN WE HAD THEY TOTALLY AGREE.
UM, WHAT DO WE HAVE TO DO, AND I THINK YOU JUST STATED THAT, UM, DO WE NEED TO WRITE LETTERS OF OPPOSITION? MM-HMM
OR, OR STEVEN, YOU KNOW, JUST TRANSMITTING YOUR CONCERN TO THE COUNTY, I THINK IS, IS REALLY, REALLY PROBABLY THE MOST IMPORTANT THING.
UH, IF YOU KNOW A STAFFER RIGHT, TO A STAFFER, IF YOU KNOW, YOU KNOW, SOME OF THE ELECTED, UH, COUNTY COMMISSIONERS OR THE COUNTY JUDGE EXPRESS YOUR CONCERN DIRECTLY TO THEM.
UM, THIS IS A SITUATION THAT I FOUND VERY SURPRISING.
UM, I HONESTLY DIDN'T THINK SOMETHING LIKE THIS WOULD'VE WOULD'VE HAPPENED WITHOUT A FULL EXPLANATION.
NONE OF THE UNDER CHAPTER 26 OF THE PARKS AND WILDLIFE CODE, THERE'S SUPPOSED TO HAVE A, A FULL ANALYSIS OF ALTERNATIVES AS TO WHY THEY HAVE TO TAKE PARKLAND.
NONE OF US HAVE SEEN THAT YET.
[00:35:01]
AND, UM, I'M NOT, I MEAN, I DON'T KNOW FOR SURE THAT IT EXISTS YET.UM, AND MY KIND OF PERCEPTION OF WHAT DR.
ZA HAS HAS SAID IS, I'VE DONE MY ANALYSIS, I'M AN EXPERT, TRUST ME.
AND, UH, I DON'T THINK WE'RE AT AN AGE WHERE TRUSTING GOVERNMENT HAS SERVED US PARTICULARLY WELL.
SO I THINK IT'S REASONABLE TO ASK FOR INFORMATION.
THE NEXT QUESTION, IT SAYS WHY ADD ON INSTEAD OF MAKING IT BETTER, BEN TOP NEEDS SOME LOAD.
WHY ADD ON WHY ADD ONTO THE HOSPITAL INSTEAD OF MAKING THE HOSPITAL BETTER? I THINK THAT IT'S ALL ABOUT MAKING THE HOSPITAL BETTER.
I THINK THE INTENTION OF THE PEOPLE AT HARRIS HEALTH IS TO MAKE THE HOSPITAL BETTER.
I THINK OUR INTENTION IS TO MAKE THE HOSPITAL BE BETTER.
I THINK THE VISION OF HOW THAT HAPPENS IS DIFFERENT.
I THINK WE CAN SEE A AN EXCELLENT BEN TOP WITHIN THE CURRENT FOOTPRINT WITH NO NEED TO GO OUT.
AND, YOU KNOW, I I MEAN I'VE DONE A LOT OF WORK WITH FLOODING WITH MANY OF YOU ON THIS CALL.
AND, YOU KNOW, THE LAST THING I THINK WE NEED TO BE HAVING IS THE COUNTY CONDEMNING LAND THAT IS ALREADY MAPPED IN THE FLOODPLAIN.
UH, YEAH, WE, WE ALL KNOW THAT THEY'RE REDOING FLOODPLAIN MAPS AND EVERYTHING I'M HEARING IS THAT THE FLOODPLAINS WILL BE LARGER AND, UH, WE DON'T NEED TO BE BUILDING AND THE COUNTY, UH, NOT TO BE SETTING THE EXAMPLE OF BUILDING IN THESE IN, IN FLOODPLAINS.
UM, YEAH, IT JUST MAKES NO SENSE TO HAVE A LEVEL ONE TRAUMA CENTER THAT YOU CAN'T GET TO WHEN THERE'S A FLOOD, WHICH IS THE MOST LIKELY BIG EMERGENCY WE'RE GONNA HAVE IN THIS REGION.
SO, I DON'T KNOW, IT DOESN'T MAKE A LOT OF A LOT OF SENSE TO ME.
AND THAT TAKES US RIGHT INTO OUR QUESTION FROM GREG.
WHAT ARE THE PLANS FOR DETENTION ON THE PROPERTY? I HAVE SEEN NO PLANS FOR DETENTION ON THE PROPERTY.
I DON'T THINK, I DON'T THINK THERE ARE PLANS YET.
I THINK THEY HAVE SAID THEY WILL DO DETENTION ON THE PROPERTY, BUT I DON'T THINK THERE, THERE, THERE ARE ANY PLANS THAT HAVE BEEN ANNOUNCED.
AND, YOU KNOW, FLOOD PLAIN LANDS, NOT GREAT DETENTION LAND 'CAUSE IT'S GONNA BE FLOODED WHEN THE RAIN COMES.
UM, SO IN, IN SOME RESPECTS, UH, IT, IT, EVEN DETENTION THERE DOESN'T MAKE A LOT OF SENSE.
I MEAN, YOU CAN MAKE STORAGE FOR SMALLER STORMS, BUT IT'S THE BIG STORMS WE'RE ALL WORRIED ABOUT.
I, I HOPE, HOPE, I HOPE THAT HAS HELPED TO, I DON'T KNOW IF THAT CLARIFIED ANYTHING, BUT I, YOU KNOW, YOU'VE HEARD MY BEST KIND OF ANALYSIS OF IT.
LIKE I SAID, SEND ME AN EMAIL IF YOU'D LIKE ANY MORE OF THIS INFORMATION.
AND BY ALL MEANS, CHECK INTO THIS.
IF YOU, YOU KNOW, IF THIS CONCERNS YOU, LET THE COMMISSIONERS KNOW.
LET THE JUDGE KNOW, UM, AND, UM, LET US KNOW.
YOU HAVE ANOTHER QUESTION OR A QUESTION? NO, I WANTED TO ADD TO PLEASE TALK TO THE COUNCIL MEMBERS BECAUSE THE, IF THEY HA IF IT DOES HAPPEN, THE MONEY WILL BE PAID ACCORDING TO WHAT THEY SAID.
THE CITY WILL GET, UH, A BULK OF THE MONEY AND OF COURSE THE FAMILY WILL GET SOME OF THE MONEY.
BUT TALK TO THE COUNCIL MEMBERS.
UH, I MEAN, AND I NEED Y'ALL TO REACH OUT BECAUSE THEY'VE BEEN KIND OF SILENT ON THIS AND THAT'S REALLY DISTURBING TO ME OF SOMETHING THAT'S, SO PLEASE, AS HE SAID, REACH OUT TO YOUR COMMISSIONERS OR REACH OUT TO YOUR COUNCIL MEMBERS AND SEE WHAT IT, YES.
I THINK THAT'S SOMETHING THAT ALSO CAN BE DONE.
ALRIGHT, LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, IF THERE ARE NO MORE QUESTIONS FOR JIM.
JIM, THANK YOU SO VERY MUCH FOR BEING HERE AND PROVIDING US WITH YOUR EXPERT OPINION OR EXPERT INFORMATION BECAUSE THAT IS SO NEAT.
IT'S SO THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME.
IT HAS BEEN A TOPIC OF CONVERSATION FOR OUR SUPER NEIGHBORHOOD.
SO WE'RE, IT WAS DEFINITELY A PLEASURE AND AN HONOR TO HAVE YOU HERE.
WE ARE GONNA MOVE RIGHT ALONG OUR, OUR AGENDA.
AND DO WE HAVE MELANIE? MELANIE, ARE YOU HERE? YES, I'M HERE.
MELANIE'S GONNA GIVE US AN UPDATE, OUR VOTERS UPDATE FOR THIS MEETING.
I'M GONNA TRY TO SHARE MY SCREEN, BUT YOU CAN LET ME KNOW IF IT'S, IF IT DOESN'T COME UP, WE ARE HERE.
UM, SO JUST SOME, UM, IMPORTANT DATES, UM, TO THINK ABOUT AND ALSO SHARE WITH YOUR SUPER NEIGHBORHOOD AS IT RELATES TO THE UPCOMING PRIMARY ELECTIONS THAT'S HAPPENING MARCH 3RD.
UM, EARLY VOTING IS KICKING OFF, UM, ON TUESDAY, FEBRUARY THE 17TH.
UM, AND THAT GOES THROUGH FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 21ST FROM 7:00 AM TO 7:00 PM UM, THEN THERE'S, UM, SUNDAY, UM, IT'S FEBRUARY 22ND.
THAT'S FROM 12:00 PM TO 7:00 PM
[00:40:01]
UM, MONDAY THE 23RD THROUGH THE FRIDAY THE 27TH, AND THAT'S 7:00 AM TO 7:00 PM.UM, THE 20TH IS, UM, THE BALLOT BY MAIL APPLICATION DEADLINE.
UM, AND THIS, UM, THIS DOCUMENT ALSO JUST SHARES, UM, ACCEPTABLE FORMS OF, UM, IDENTIFICATION.
UM, AND SOME ADDITIONAL THINGS THAT I WANTED TO SHARE.
TWO RESOURCES THAT I'VE RECENTLY SHARED OUT WITH MY SUPER NEIGHBORHOOD IS THE WEBSITE.
UM, THAT'S CALLED, UH, WELL REALLY HARRIS VOTES.
UM, SINCE, UM, SOME SUPER NEIGHBORHOODS ARE NOW GONNA BE INCLUDED WITH, UM, CD 18, UM, AND NO LONGER IN NINE, I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT TO SHARE, UM, THE NEW BALLOTS, UM, AS WELL AS, UM, WHO REPRESENTS ME SO THAT WAY PEOPLE CAN KNOW WHO THEY'RE VOTE VOTING FOR, UM, AND CAN TRY TO DO SOME, SOME PRE-RESEARCH PRIOR TO THAT.
AND I'LL PLACE THOSE LINKS, UM, IN THE CHAT.
THANK YOU SO VERY MUCH, MELANIE.
THANK YOU FOR GIVING US THAT INFORMATION TODAY.
FOR THOSE OF YOU THAT DO NOT RECALL LAST YEAR, WE DECIDED TO JUST HAVE A SECTION, UM, JUST BECAUSE OF THE CLIMATE THAT WE'RE IN AND HOW THINGS ARE CHANGING SO RAPIDLY.
UH, WE JUST DECIDED TO HAVE A SECTION ON OUR AGENDA WHERE WE JUST TALKED ABOUT VOTING.
UM, DID IT, DID I MISS IT OR DID THEY PUT THEIR HAND DOWN? OKAY, GREG? YES.
I JUST WANT TO KNOW THAT IT'S NOT ONLY CD 18, BUT THERE'S A LOT OF US THAT HAVE BEEN CHANGED INTO DIFFERENT CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICTS, INCLUDING US.
IN FACT, OUR SUPER NEIGHBORHOOD HAS BEEN SPLIT INTO TWO NOW.
SO IS, SO EVERYBODY CHECK TO SEE WHAT THEY'RE, SO WE ARE CURRENTLY, UM, WE ACTUALLY WERE ABLE TO VOTE FOR 18 AND WE'LL BE ABLE TO VOTE FOR 18 IN MARCH.
SO YEAH, THERE'S, THERE'S, THERE'S QUITE A FEW.
SO ANYONE HAVE ANY QUESTIONS? ISHA? YEAH, I'M SORRY, WHAT? WHAT DID YOU SAY AGAIN? WE ARE VOTING FOR 18.
WE VOTED FOR 18 IN WHAT? JANUARY? WE'LL VOTE FOR 18 IN MARCH, AND THEN IN 27.
YEAH, YOU'RE CAUGHT IN THAT AREA.
THAT, THAT'S NOT, THAT'S NOT THE TRUTH.
Y'ALL DON'T THINK THAT'S IT? LETITIA, SWEETIE, I THINK THAT YOU ALL, YOU THIS ON THE 17TH? YEAH.
DO YOU HAVE YOUR REGISTRATION CARD? HAVE YOU, HAVE YOU RECEIVED YOUR VOTER REGISTRATION CARD? WE VOTE, WE'RE VOTING IN MARCH, YES.
THAT'S WHO WE'RE VOTING FOR IN MARCH.
OKAY, BABY, MAKE SURE YOU CHECK IT.
YEAH, YOU BETTER CHECK IT BECAUSE THE, THE BOUNDARIES ARE CHANGING AS OF THIS MARCH AND IT'LL NOT CHANGE AGAIN.
AND THAT, AND IT WILL NOT CHANGE AGAIN UNTIL 2028 AT THE EARLIEST.
BECAUSE THE PEOPLE WHO WE ELECT BABY IN MARCH, UH, THEY ARE ON THE NOVEMBER ELECTION AND THEY ARE ON TWO YEAR TERMS FOR CONGRESS.
SO CONGRESS WON'T CHANGE IN 27.
IT DOESN'T CHANGE AGAIN UNTIL 28.
ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? OKAY, MOVING RIGHT ALONG.
SO I AM GOING TO SHARE MY SCREEN BECAUSE WE DO HAVE A COMMITTEE REPORT.
IF YOU ALL RECALL, WE HAD, UH, WE BROKE UP INTO COMMITTEES.
CAN EVERYONE SEE MY SCREEN? IS JACK HERE? YEP.
SO JACK IS AT A TOWN HALL MEETING, UM, AND HE HAS PRESENTED HIS REPORT.
SO JACK IS THE CHAIR, OR HE IS, UM, SITTING IN ON THE BUDGET AND THE FISCAL AFFAIRS FOR THE CITY OF HOUSTON.
UM, SO THIS IS JUST HIS RECAP.
UM, THE ANNOUNCEMENT WAS HOUSTON'S ON THE PATH TO OVERSPEND 55 MILLION ON OVERTIME FOR PUBLIC SAFETY AND SOLID WASTE.
UM, HE SAID THE CITY CONTINUES TO SPEND MORE MONEY THAN IT HAS.
UM, AND THIS IS THE REPORT THAT HE SUBMITTED ON IN, IN EARLY FEBRUARY.
[00:45:01]
TUESDAY.THE NEXT COMMITTEE ME MEETING IS MARCH 3RD, 2026.
UM, SO JUST WANTED TO MAKE SURE THAT I SHARED THAT WITH EVERYONE.
THAT IS THE ONE REPORT THAT I DID GET FOR FEBRUARY.
I DID GET SOME REPORTS FOR DECEMBER, BUT THIS IS THE REPORT THAT WE DID RECEIVE FOR FEBRUARY, BUT WANTED TO BE SURE THAT EVERYONE WAS ABLE TO TAKE A LOOK AT HIS REPORT.
UM, DID ANYBODY HAVE ANY QUESTIONS ABOUT THAT? HE'S NOT HERE, SO, UM, AND I WASN'T IN ATTENDANCE, BUT IF SOMEONE ELSE WAS, UM, AND THEY'D LIKE TO KIND OF EXPOUND UPON THAT OR IF THEY HAD ANY QUESTIONS, THIS IS THAT TIME TO DO SO.
THIS WAS A NICE CONCISE SUMMARY.
I ATTENDED THE MEETING AND IT'S A, THAT HE HAS A GOOD SUMMARY.
SO I WILL STOP SHARING AND WE'LL MOVE RIGHT ALONG ON OUR AGENDA.
AND WE ARE MOVING INTO APPROVAL OF MINUTES.
SO WE HAVE, UH, TWO SETS OF MINUTES FOR APPROVAL, UH, THE DECEMBER MINUTES AND THE JANUARY MINUTES.
AND I SEE ONE HAND RAISED AND THAT'S GREG.
I HAVE A POINT OF INFORMATION WHEN WERE THE NOVEMBER MINUTES DISTRIBUTED TO ALL THE REPRESENTATIVES AT THE DECEMBER IN PERSON MEETING.
SO NO, THAT WASN'T TO ALL THE REPRESENTATIVES.
THAT WOULD'VE JUST BEEN TO THOSE AND THEY JUST GOT A, UH, IN THAT, THAT WOULD'VE BEEN TO THOSE THAT ARE IN ATTENDANCE.
YEAH, ONLY TO THOSE IN ATTENDANCE.
SO NONE OF US WERE ABLE TO SEE IT UNTIL LAST WEDNESDAY, WHICH IS WHEN WE SAW THE DECEMBER AND JANUARY, CORRECT.
AMY? NO, I BELIEVE THE NOVEMBER MINUTES WERE MAILED OUT.
WE'VE APPROVED THEM AT DECEMBER.
THEY, I THINK THEY WERE SENT OUT AHEAD OF TIME.
I THINK THAT'S TYPICALLY WHAT WE DO.
WOULD YOU VERIFY THAT? SO NOW WE ARE, BECAUSE THAT IS NOT TRUE.
WOULD YOU VERIFY AND GIVE THAT TO US? I DON'T RE I DON'T KNOW GREG.
WE'RE TRYING OUR BEST TO MOVE FORWARD AND LIKE I SAID, THOSE MINUTES WERE APPROVED AT THE DECEMBER MEETING.
THAT, THAT, THAT'S WAS DOCUMENTED IN THE MINUTES.
CAN'T SPEAK TO IT BEYOND THAT RIGHT NOW.
YEAH, WELL I HAVE THAT, THAT'S WHY WOULD YOU LET ME FINISH.
I HAVE POSTED ALL OF THE MINUTES FROM 2025 IN A FOLDER THAT'S, UH, THAT LETICIA HAS CREATED.
AND SO IF YOU NEED TO REVIEW THE MINUTES FROM PAST MEETINGS, THEY ARE THERE AND YOU CAN REVIEW THEM.
AND THEY WEREN'T UP THERE UNTIL LAST WEDNESDAY EVENING.
WELL WE JUST POSTED ALL OF THE MINUTES FROM 2025 IN THE NEW FOLDER THAT WAS CREATED SO THAT THE MINUTES COULD BE AVAILABLE FOR ANYONE TO LOOK AT.
IT'S 2026, IT'S A NEW YEAR AND WE'RE DOING OUR BEST TO KEEP PEOPLE INFORMED.
BUT THE THING IS, OKAY, ACTUALLY THERE ARE TWO SETS OF MINUTES AND THE MY POINT IS STILL THAT THE NOVEMBER MINUTES WERE NEVER SENT OUT TO THE GROUP.
AND YOU WANT TOMORROW YOU HAVE A QUESTION? YES.
WE IS IT TIME TO MAKE A MOTION TO ACCEPT THE MINUTES OF WHAT? DECEMBER.
THERE'S A, THERE'S A MOTION ON THE FLOOR.
WHO MADE THE MOTION? I MADE THE MOTION.
I SAW YOUR HAND THOUGH, CATHERINE, I THOUGHT YOU HAD A QUESTION.
YES, BECAUSE YOU DIDN'T EVEN LOOK, CHERYL, DID YOU EVEN LOOK AT THE, THE MINUTES FOR JANUARY? BECAUSE THAT'S NOT THE WAY IT WAS DONE.
SHARE CAN WAS THAT, WELL YOU CANNOT SAY, CAN WE MOVE ON? AND THERE'S A QUESTION OPEN.
FIRST OF ALL, DID YOU LOOK AT THE MOVE ON? LET'S HOLD ON ONE SECOND.
WAS THERE, WAS THERE ACTUALLY A QUESTION? I THINK THAT GREG, YOUR QUESTION WAS DIRECTLY TO CHERYL AND YOUR QUESTION WAS DID SHE LOOK AT THAT? AND YOU GUYS CAN TALK ABOUT THAT OFFLINE.
UM, IS THERE ANOTHER QUESTION? NO, THAT WAS, WELL, NO QUESTION.
ALRIGHT, WELL, WITH NO QUESTIONS WE WILL MOVE RIGHT ALONG ALL OF THE, UM, I ALREADY ASKED ANY OPPOSED? AND THERE WAS ONE PERSON THAT OPPOSED AND THAT WAS GREG.
OKAY, LET'S MOVE RIGHT ALONG INTO OLD BUSINESS.
[00:50:01]
I HAVE PLACED IN THE CHAT.I JUST PLACED IN THE CHAT AND THIS MAY NOT TECHNICALLY BE OLD BUSINESS, BUT, UM, COMMUNITY EMERGENCY RESPONSE TEAM TRAINING, IT'S ROLLING BACK OUT.
UM, ALL OF YOU MAY HAVE SEEN THAT, BUT THAT'S COMING UP IN APRIL.
UM, AND IT SAYS, UM, COMING BACK.
SO I JUST STUCK IT IN OLD BUSINESS.
UM, ANYONE HAVE ANY OLDER BUSINESS? THIS IS YOUR OLD BUSINESS SECTION? NOPE.
I UNDERSTAND THAT WE HAVE SOMEONE HERE FROM TWILA CARTER'S OFFICE.
RIGHT? OH, TAMARI, DID YOU HAVE A YES MA'AM.
BUSINESS, NEW BUSINESS AT THE OLD BUSINESS.
WELL, SO WE'RE GONNA TAKE SOME ANNOUNCEMENTS 'CAUSE THAT FLOWS RIGHT INTO NEW BUSINESS.
OH, YOU HAVE A, A BIG NEW ANNOUNCEMENT.
UM, OKAY, Y'ALL BE ON THE LOOKOUT.
LOOK, LOOKOUT, LOCKOUT, WE DEALING WITH A, A, A DEVELOPER WHO WAS BUILDING ILLEGAL HOUSES.
ONE OF THEM HAS 22 BEDROOMS, 22 BEDROOMS. IT WAS A SINGLE FAMILY HOUSE.
UH, MY SUPER NEIGHBORHOOD MEETING IS THURSDAY THE 19TH.
UH, PEOPLE WHO HAVE NOT BEEN OUR SUPER NEIGHBORHOOD MEETINGS EVER ARE COMING TO OUR MEETINGS BECAUSE THEY HAVE DEED RESTRICTIONS JUST LIKE WE DO.
AND THE CITY HAS GIVEN THIS GUY 1.2 MILLION IN FINES AND HE'S STILL BUILDING, UH, IT'S LIKE SEVEN OVER HERE, BUT HE'S BUYING UP HOUSES IN ALL DIFFERENT AREAS AND I DON'T KNOW WHAT YOU CALL THEM.
UH, THERE WAS AN ARTICLE IN THE CHRONICLE TALKING ABOUT THESE SEVEN BEDROOM LIVING, 10 LIVING, WHAT YOU CALL BABY CO LIVING, CO LIVING, CO LIVING.
THAT AIN'T, THAT AIN'T WHAT WE CALL IT UP.
NO, WE CALL THEM ROOMING HOUSES.
BUT ANYWAY, THIS IS A TRUE CONCERN, UH, FOR OUR COMMUNITY.
SO I NEED Y'ALL TO BE ON THE LOOKOUT BECAUSE THEY NAMED THIRD WARD, THEY NAMED INDEPENDENT HEIGHTS.
I THINK THEY NAMED TRINITY GARDEN.
BUT Y'ALL NEED TO BE ON THE LOOKOUT FOR THIS.
BUT NEXT WEEK AT OUR SUPER NEIGHBORHOOD MEETING AT GOOD HOPE AT SIX 30, UH, ON NORTH MCGREGOR, THE CITY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE IS COMING.
UM, THE SHORT TERM RENTAL PEOPLE ARE COMING.
UM, UH, IT'S ANOTHER DEPARTMENT COMING.
I THINK THERE'S PLANNING COMING, BUT I NEED YOU ALL, UH, I NEED YOU ALL TO REALLY PAY ATTENTION TO THIS BECAUSE THESE PEOPLE ARE TRYING TO MAKE AS MUCH MONEY AS THEY CAN WHEN THE WORLD CUP COME.
THAT'S, THAT'S WHAT THIS IS ABOUT AND MM-HMM
SO I NEED Y'ALL TO BE ON THE LOOKOUT.
IF YOU CAN MAKE IT TO OUR MEETING, PLEASE COME, BECAUSE THIS IS, I I DID NOT BELIEVE THEM WHEN THEY TOLD ME 22 BEDROOMS AND ONE WHAT USED TO BE A SINGLE THREE BEDROOM, I THINK A FOUR BEDROOM HOUSE.
UH, AND NOW IT'S GOT 22 BEDROOMS IN IT, ONE DOOR IN AND ONE DOOR OUT.
MY MEETING AGAIN IS FEBRUARY 19TH AT 30 15 NORTH MCGREGOR.
UH, AT 6:30 PM Y'ALL ALL INVITED.
SO YOU ALL ARE ALL INVITED BECAUSE THIS IS VERY, VERY, VERY CONCERNING.
UM, HOLD ON, LEMME SEE HOW I GET.
AND THEN KEVIN, IMMEDIATELY FOLLOWING MARK, MARK, WE COULD HEAR YOU.
OH, YOU CAN HEAR ME? YES, WE CAN HEAR YOU.
UM, YES, UH, JUST TO PIGGYBACK ON HER, I HAVE THAT CONCERN ON MY STREET.
AND UM, RIGHT NOW OUR APPROACH IS WE ACTUALLY WANNA SUE THIS DEVELOPER.
I'M SURE YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT THE SAME DEVELOPER, KGM PROPERTIES.
UM, THEY'RE ALL OVER THIRD WARD.
HE'S BEEN BALANCED SINCE 2020.
AND, UM, WE'VE BEEN DEALING WITH IT SINCE JULY OF THIS SUMMER.
AND THE CITY, WHAT, THERE WAS A RECENT MEETING THAT MR. RUCKER, MR. LES RUCKER, UM, CONDUCTED AND A LOT OF THESE DEPARTMENTS WERE THERE AND THEY SAID THAT, UM, THE STREET ON THE, THE, THE HOUSE ON OUR STREET WAS THE MOST LEGITIMATELY PERMITTED.
SO THEY BASICALLY SKIRTED THIS GUY THROUGH FOR THE, BECAUSE I WAS RAISING SO MUCH SAND, ME AND MY NEIGHBORS ON THE NEWS.
[00:55:01]
KIND OF TRY TO, I THINK HOW IT LOOKS IS VERY, IT IS LIKE A, LIKE DEEP LEVEL CORRUPTION IN THE GOV IN THE, UH, CITY HALL.THEY'RE ALLOWING THIS GUY TO CONTINUE TO PROGRESS.
SO WE ARE CONDUCTING A, UM, A GOFUNDME, UH, CAMPAIGN TO RAISE MONEY TO ACTUALLY SUE THIS GUY.
'CAUSE I DON'T THINK ANY OF THE OTHER PROPERTIES HAVE BEEN SUED YET.
OR LIKE HE'S, SO THAT'S KIND OF OUR APPROACH.
AND I DON'T KNOW IF IT'S OKAY TO DROP THE LINK, UM, BECAUSE WE'RE ON THE SAME SITUATION AND OUR STREET HAS THE ONLY HOUSE THAT HADN'T BEEN COMPLETELY FINISHED YET THAT I'M AWARE OF BECAUSE WE UM, WE, WE UH, WE GOT LIKE REALLY AGGRESSIVE ON UH, I GUESS THE NEWS WITH BLOCKING IT.
AND THEN WE ALSO HAVE DEED RESTRICTIONS THAT, UM, UH, PROHIBIT UM, SHORT TERM RENTALS, BUT I DON'T KNOW HOW LONG IT'S GONNA LAST 'CAUSE THEY KEEP LIKE GIVING THESE GUY GRACE AND I DON'T KNOW WHAT THAT'S ABOUT.
AND IT'S KIND OF DISTURBING 'CAUSE IT'S HAPPENING ALL OVER THE THIRD WARD.
AND WITH THAT BEING SAID, MAY I DROP THE LINK? JUST SO YOU GUYS KNOW, AS FAR AS LIKE OUR FUNDRAISING LINK, UM, WE FOUND A LAWYER THAT'S MAYA SHAY'S LAWYER THAT IS INTERESTED IN PURSUING THE CASE.
UM, HE'S CAPPING THE AMOUNT, CAPPING IT TO A CERTAIN AMOUNT EVEN THOUGH IT COSTS A LOT OF MONEY TO SUE SOMEBODY BECAUSE HE REALLY WANTS TO GO AFTER THIS GUY.
SO I JUST NEED TO KNOW IF HIS PERMISSION I CAN DROP THE LINK IF ANYBODY WANTS TO SUPPORT.
AND I'M ALSO COMING TO UH, UH, THE SUPER NEIGHBORHOOD 83, UH, MEETING THAT, UH, TAMARA BELL JUST MENTIONED.
ALRIGHT, KEVIN, ARE THERE, SINCE WE'RE TALKING ABOUT THE LACK OF ENFORCEMENT FROM THE CITY, WHICH WE'VE TALKED ABOUT HERE MANY TIMES BEFORE, BECAUSE IT'S ABYSMAL.
I'M WONDERING IF THERE'S ANYBODY FROM DEPARTMENT OF NEIGHBORHOODS OR A RA HERE.
UM, I'VE GOT AN ISSUE I'VE BEEN CHASING FOR SOME TIME AND, UH, THE CITY CLOSED MY 3 1 1 WITH NO ACTION.
SO IF I WAS FRUSTRATED BEFORE, NOW I'M FRUSTRATED ENOUGH TO MAKE Y'ALL LISTEN TO IT.
THERE'S A LOT AT THE CORNER OF I 10 THEATER IN HEIGHTS BOULEVARD, WHICH HASN'T BEEN MOWED FOR YEARS.
UM, THERE ARE HOMELESS PEOPLE WHO HANG OUT IN THIS AREA UNDER THE BRIDGES THERE.
SO IT GIVES THEM A PLACE TO HANG OUT.
IT'S ALSO WHERE THE CITY REMOVED THE ARMADILLOS FOR THE BIKE PATH THERE, WHICH FORCES PEOPLE ONTO THE SIDEWALK AND THE SIDEWALKS COMPLETELY OVERGROWN.
I ASKED, UM, DISTRICT CS HELP, UM, BUT I'M ASKING IF THERE'S ANYBODY FROM A RA OR DEPARTMENT OF NEIGHBORHOODS OR I DON'T KNOW, PUBLIC WORKS.
I'LL TAKE ANYBODY AT THIS POINT WHO CAN HELP ME GET THIS LOT MODE.
SO I DON'T UNDERSTAND HOW THE OWNER CAN GET AWAY WITH SELLING IT WITHOUT ACTUALLY MOWING IT.
AND WHY AN INSPECTOR CAN'T GO OUT THERE AND AT LEAST CITE THEM.
IT'S CLEAR THAT THEY HAVEN'T BEEN.
I DON'T SEE ANYONE RAISING THEIR HANDS.
UM, WE HAVE PEOPLE FROM DON, DEPARTMENT OF NEIGHBORHOODS
THEY MIGHT HAVE LEFT WHEN THEY HEARD YOU.
YEAH, I'M, I'M LOOKING TO SEE IF THEY'RE STILL SIGNED IN.
CAN YOU HEAR ME? OKAY, WELL YOU LOOK, SHE WE'LL GO AHEAD AND MOVE RIGHT ALONG.
WHO'S THAT? THAT'S DIRECTOR SIMS. I'M, I'M HERE.
I WAS ASKING COULD HE REPEAT THE QUESTION? KEVIN, CAN YOU REPEAT THE QUESTION? THERE'S A VACANT LOT AT THE CORNER OF THE I 10 FEEDER AND HEIGHTS BOULEVARD.
IT LITERALLY HAS NOT BEEN MOWED IN YEARS.
UH, IT'S STARTING TO GROW SMALL TREES, HOMELESS PEOPLE HANG OUT AND THE BRIDGES UNDERNEATH.
SO IT GIVES THEM A PLACE TO HANG OUT AND IT'S ACCUMULATING A HUGE AMOUNT OF TRASH.
PLUS THE SIDEWALKS ARE ALMOST IMPASSABLE AND A FAIR NUMBER OF PEOPLE ACTUALLY WALK AND BIKE THERE.
UM, SO I'M MORE THAN A LITTLE FRUSTRATED AT THE LACK OF PROGRESS, WHICH GETTING IN VACANT LOT MODE SHOULD BE A RELATIVELY SIMPLE EXERCISE FOR THE CITY TO ENFORCE.
SO IT, THE RHONDA SENT YOU AN EMAIL, SO I WANT THE DETAILS ON YOUR, YOUR 3 1 1 TICKET SO I CAN FOLLOW UP WITH HPW.
AS YOU GUYS KNOW, WE DON'T OWN THAT PROCESS ANYMORE.
THAT'S IN, IN PUBLIC WORKS NOW, COMMUNITY CODE ENFORCEMENT.
SO, BUT I DO FOLLOW UP WITH HIM ALL THE TIME BECAUSE I DO KNOW THE PROCESS.
[01:00:01]
IT'S NOT AS SIMPLE AS THAT.IT, YOU WOULD THINK CUTTING A A EMPTY LOT WOULD BE SIMPLE, BUT IT'S STILL PRIVATE PROPERTY IN THE STATE OF TEXAS.
IT IS A PRIVATE PROPERTY RIGHT.
SO THERE ARE GUIDELINES WE HAVE TO FOLLOW PER THE TEXAS, UM, MUNICIPAL CODE.
AND SO WE, WE MAKE SURE WE FOLLOW THOSE BECAUSE LEGAL HAS ADVISED AS WELL THAT WE DO NOT WANT ANY CLAIMS BASED ON, UM, GOING ON PRIVATE PROPERTY AND EVADING ANYTHING.
SO I AGREE IT COULD BE SOMETHING THAT WE, WE OVERLOOKED.
I'M NOT SAYING THAT THAT'S THE ISSUE, BUT WE CAN FOLLOW UP WITH, WITH, WITH PUBLIC WORKS AND GET YOU AN ANSWER.
I'VE GOTTEN SEVERAL VACANT LOTS MODE, SO THAT'S WHY I'M FRUSTRATED THAT THIS ONE IS BEING, UH, VERY DIFFICULT.
AND HOW DO I FIND YOU? I'LL PUT, I'LL PUT MY INFORMATION IN THE CHAT FOR YOU, KEVIN.
UM, NOW MARK, YOUR HAND IS STILL UP.
AND THEN AFTER GREG, IT'S WILLIE.
SIMS, I APPRECIATE YOUR BEING ON 'CAUSE BOTH THESE QUESTIONS ARE, SHOULD BE PROBABLY DIRECTED TO YOU.
WE HAVE BEEN GETTING THE, UH, THE, THE PLAT REPORTS, UH, AS WHEN THEY GOT IT STARTED UP AGAIN, BUT WE HAVEN'T SEEN THE WEEKLY PERMIT REPORTS FOR, FOR SOME TIME.
SO I APPRECIATE IT IF YOU COULD LOOK IN TO SEE WHY IT'S NOT OCCURRING.
THE THE SECOND QUESTION IS, I THINK IT'S BEEN A QUARTER OF A CENTURY SINCE SUPER NEIGHBORHOODS, UH, STARTED AND WE HAVE 88 AND I JUST SAW SOMETHING IN THE CHRONICLES A BREAKDOWN OF EACH OF THEM IN TERMS OF POPULATION.
AND I DON'T THINK THE BOUNDARIES HAVE BEEN CHANGED IN QUITE SOME TIME.
SO WE HAVE SOME THAT ARE AS LITTLE AS, YOU KNOW, LESS THAN 5,000 UP TO OVER 55,000.
SO THERE'S A ORDER OF MAGNITUDE DIFFERENCE IN THERE.
IS IT ABOUT TIME THAT WE SHOULD LOOK AT THE BOUNDARIES AND MAKE SURE THAT EVERYBODY'S REPRESENTED PROPERLY? THAT'S SOMETHING WE CAN REVIEW WITH PLANNING ON, ON THE BOUNDARIES, UM, AS WE LOOK AT THE ORDER AND OTHER THINGS TO UPDATE.
HEY, UM, MY CONCERN HERE IS, UH, A LITTLE BIT DIFFERENT THAN WHAT Y'ALL HAVE JUST BEEN TALKING ABOUT.
UM, I HOPE EVERYONE'S AWARE THAT, UH, OUR HEAVY TRASH IS ABOUT TO CHANGE.
AND I MEAN, CHANGE DRASTICALLY.
UH, THEY'RE GOING TO GO TO A, UH, PER HOUSE.
YOU HAVE TO CALL PICKUP TYPE OF SYSTEM WHERE YOU WILL HAVE TO CALL.
AND I THINK THAT'S GOING TO BE A REAL BIG PROBLEM IN CERTAIN NEIGHBORHOODS INSIDE THIS CITY BECAUSE YOU GOING FROM LIKE 13 PICKUPS OR 12 PICKUPS A YEAR DOWN TO FOUR AND YOU ARE ONLY GONNA GET THOSE FOUR.
AND, UH, I THINK THAT, I DON'T THINK THAT THAT WILL WORK.
AND I'M BASING THAT ON THE FACT THAT SUGAR LAND HAD A SYSTEM LIKE THIS CALL IN SYSTEM AND THEY WERE WELL FINANCED, HAD ALL THE EQUIPMENT NECESSARY, ALL OF THAT, AND THEY STILL HAD TO PULL IT BECAUSE IT WOULDN'T WORK.
AND I DO NOT UNDERSTAND NOR SEE HOW A CITY AS LARGE AS HOUSTON WITH THE SQUARE FOOTAGE THAT WE HAVE, THE MILES THAT WE HAVE, UH, HOW THAT WILL WORK WHEN WE CAN'T EVEN GET IT DONE RIGHT NOW.
SO, YOU KNOW, I THINK THAT THAT'S SOMETHING THAT, UH, THEY PROBABLY NEED TO RETHINK BECAUSE I DO NOT THINK THAT THAT'S GONNA WORK OUT.
AND I THINK IN THE END IT'S GONNA MAKE SOME COMMUNITIES, UH, MUCH WORSE THAN WHAT THEY ARE EVEN RIGHT NOW.
SO, JUST WANTED TO KNOW IF WE THINKING ABOUT THAT.
UM, DIRECTOR SAMS, ARE YOU STILL THERE? OF COURSE.
YEAH, THAT'S WHAT I WAS GONNA SAY.
THAT'S NOT, THAT'S NOT, I CAN'T SPEAK FOR ANOTHER DIRECTOR ON, ON THAT ISSUE.
UM, BUT I CAN DEFINITELY, UM, BRING THAT UP TO THEM IF YOU WANT TO DISCUSS THAT FURTHER.
DON'T THINK IT'S MEANT TO WORK.
ALRIGHT, NOW WE HAVE A UNKNOWN USER.
UH, CAN YOU STATE YOUR NAME PLEASE? OKAY.
SO MAYBE THAT HAND RAISED WAS A MISTAKE.
[01:05:01]
HOLD ON.LETISHA LETISHA, THIS VICKY, DO YOU SEE MY MAN? IT'S BEEN UP FOR A WHILE.
WELL, I'VE BEEN CALLING YOU FOR A WHILE.
I HAD ONE FOR THE D RESTRICTION.
I WAS GOING TO COMMENT THAT WE HAVE D RESTRICTION AND WE HAVE A STREET THAT FOR SOME REASON, THE PERSONS THAT ARE ON THOSE FOUR SQUARE CORNER, THEY CONTINUE TO WANNA LIVE IN RV AND TRAILERS.
AND THAT VIOLATES OUR D RESTRICTION, UH, FOR LAND USE, WHICH IS ONE OF THE ENFORCEABLE, UH, FIVE, UH, FACTORS.
AND THEY KEEP COMING OUT AND PEOPLE KEEP DOING IT.
THE CITY FILED A LAWSUIT, THEY DIDN'T SHOW UP, THE JUDGE ISSUED A JUDGMENT, THEN THEY SET IT ON FIRE.
THEY HAVE PEOPLE LIVING ON, IN HOME DEPOT AND LOWE'S, UH, GARDEN SHEDS, WHERE THEY PUT A AC UNIT IN THE WALL.
AND I'M JUST TRYING TO UNDERSTAND WHY THIS CITY IS ALLOWING THIS TO GO ON FOR NOT ONE YEAR, NOT TWO YEAR, BUT GOING ON A THIRD YEAR.
IT'S ALMOST LIKE YOU TAKE THE NECESSARY STEPS TO PUT THE PARAMETERS IN PLACE AND THEY'RE ENFORCEABLE.
BUT WE NEED TO DO A BETTER JOB ON THE DE RESTRICTION ENFORCEMENT.
BUT TO DIRECT THE SIMS, UH, WELCOME.
UH, I HAVE A QUESTION ABOUT THE DEPARTMENT OF NEIGHBORHOOD GRANT.
UH, I UNDERSTAND THE $2,000 ADMINISTRATIVE REIMBURSABLE GRANT HAS WENT TO A APPLICATION TYPE SYSTEM, BUT IT'S MOVING AT A SLOWER PACE THAN THE WAY WE MOVE AS A SUPER NEIGHBORHOOD.
WHEN WE GET READY TO HAVE AN EVENT AND ORDER FOOD AND PURCHASE SHIRTS AND THINGS THAT ARE REIMBURSABLE, SOMETIMES THAT THREE DAY SEND YOUR, YOU KNOW, SEND IT IN, GET, GET APPROVAL, WAIT THREE DAYS, THAT'S SLOWING THINGS DOWN.
I MEAN, THESE ARE EXPENSES THAT ARE DEEMED TO BE REIMBURSABLE UNDER THAT GRANT.
SO WHY, WHY DOES SLOPE BOOGIE? WHY CAN'T WE JUST KNOW THAT THESE ARE REIMBURSABLE ITEMS AND WE MOVE JUST LIKE THAT, ALL THAT, SEND IT IN, DO THE APPLICATION AND LET THEM LOOK AT IT AND THEN THEY PAY THE, THE VENDOR.
WE HAVE RELATIONSHIPS WITH SOME OF THESE, UH, BUSINESSES AND THIS IS NOT OUR FIRST GO ROUND WITH THEM.
AND WE DID TO MOVE QUICKER THAN THAT.
HELLO MS. VICKY, CAN YOU HEAR ME? YES, YES I CAN.
SO ON THE, THE GRANT PROCESS, WE ARE REVIEWING IT, BUT ONE THING THAT HAS TO BE UNDERSTOOD IS THAT THE DEPARTMENT OF NEIGHBORHOOD IS GENERAL FUND DOLLARS AND THAT'S TAX FUND.
SO ALL SPEND ALL, UM, MONEY CHARGED TO THAT ACCOUNT IS AUDITED AND WE HAVE TO AUDIT THAT BEFORE WE AUDIT IT.
SO THAT'S YOUR SLOW TURNAROUND.
WE WILL LOOK AT IT AND SEE WHAT WE CAN DO.
THIS IS YOUR THREE TO SPEED UP THE PROCESS PROCESS.
BUT I, I THINK I, I TRIED TO MAKE THAT CLEAR AND I, AND MY APOLOGIES WHEN WE STARTED IT, IT IS GENERAL FUND TAXPAYER DOLLARS.
AND WHAT I WANNA MAKE SURE IS THAT THAT MONEY IS SPENT PER, UM, THE CHARTER FOR GENERAL FUND.
SO I KNOW THAT YOU GUYS HAVE RELATIONS, I KNOW YOU'RE MOVING, WE WANT TO FUND YOU AS BEST AS POSSIBLE, BUT THAT'S THE REASON FOR THE DELAY.
BUT WE, UM, ARE LOOKING AT THE PROCESS AND TRYING TO IMPROVE IT.
HOWEVER, I KNOW YOU SAY WE GIVE YOU A LIST OF, OF ITEMS THAT ARE ELIGIBLE, WHICH WE DID BEFORE.
THERE WAS NO PROCESS BEFORE AND WE GOT MANY ITEMS THAT, THAT WE COULDN'T REIMBURSE.
AND SO THEN YOU HAVE A SUPER NEIGHBORHOOD UPSET AT US 'CAUSE WE CAN'T REIMBURSE THAT ITEM.
WE DON'T WANT YOU STUCK OUT EITHER.
SO THAT, THAT'S WHAT THE CHANGES ARE YOU SAYING? ARE YOU SAYING THAT GO AHEAD.
THINGS ON THE LIST CAN STILL NOT BE APPROVED.
LIKE T-SHIRTS, BUSINESS CARDS, UH, FOOD OR EVENTS.
IF, IF YOU BUY T-SHIRTS AND THE T-SHIRTS ARE NOT FOR THE SUPER NEIGHBORHOOD AND THE T-SHIRTS ARE FOR SOMETHING ELSE, THEN NO, THAT WON'T BE AN APPROVED ITEM, AN ISSUE, UH, A REAL LIFE ISSUE.
THE THE, WHAT WE ARE TRYING TO DO IS WE'RE GONNA MAKE IT AS SPECIFIC AS POSSIBLE, BUT WE HAVE HAD ITEMS THAT ARE ON THAT LIST PURCHASED THAT ARE NOT APPROVED BECAUSE THEY HAVE TO ALSO BE IN CLEAR RELATION TO YOUR SUPER NEIGHBORHOOD.
THEY SAID AS LONG AS WE HAVE OUR SUPER NEIGHBORHOOD NAME ON THERE OR SOMETHING, EVEN IF WE DOING IT FOR, YOU KNOW, ONE OF OUR ORGANIZATIONS, WE, THEY NEED TO BE A MEMBER OR SOMETHING.
WE JUST NEED TO GET A QUICKER BECAUSE WE CAN GET KNOW YOU'RE TRYING TO PLACE A HUH? HUH? I SAID ONCE YOU GET IT.
[01:10:01]
BUT I GET IT CALL, I DON'T WANNA TAKE UP THE EVERYONE'S TIME.AND WE CAN TALK IF YOU WANT TO.
I'LL GIVE YOU A CALL TOMORROW.
I WANTED TO TAG ON TO, I'M WAS, I'M IN SUPER NEIGHBORHOOD 45 ON THE NORTH SIDE AND I WANTED TO TAG ON MR. RAINWATER'S COMMENTS.
I I SAW THE SLIDE DECK FOR THE PRESENTATION OF THE CITY COUNCIL ON THIS, UM, GOING TO FOUR TIMES A YEAR AND MAKING THE CALLS ON HEAVY TRASH, BUT IT DID NOT ADDRESS HOW THEY WERE GONNA HA HANDLE HEAVY TRASH GOING FORWARD ONCE THIS STARTS, NOT TO MENTION HOW SHORT THE ROLLOUT IS ON THIS, I'VE TALKED TO PEOPLE THAT KNOW NOTHING, HAVE HEARD NOTHING ABOUT THIS.
SO HOW IS THIS GONNA WORK? THEY'RE ROLLING THIS OUT ON MARCH 2ND.
WE STILL HAVEN'T HAD HEAVY TRASH PICKUP.
SO HOW ARE WE GONNA ADDRESS THE HEAVY TRASH ISSUES IN NEIGHBORHOODS THAT ARE HAVING A HORRIBLE PROBLEM WITH THEM WHEN THEY'RE NOT EVEN ADDRESSING WHAT'S GOING ON NOW? HOW ARE THEY GONNA ADDRESS IT GOING FORWARD WITH THE ILLEGAL DUMPING THAT'S GONNA OCCUR? AND UH, ANOTHER THING IS THEY, YOU KNOW, WHEN THEY DUMP ON YOUR PROPERTY, GUESS WHO HAS TO CLEAN IT UP.
SO ON TOP OF IT ALL, THEY ALSO, I THINK THEY NEED TO LOOK AT EXPANDING WHO CAN TAKE THINGS TO THE CENTERS? LIKE THE ONE HERE ON NORTH MAIN, THERE'S A LOT OF PEOPLE IN APARTMENTS THAT DON'T HAVE ELECTRIC BILLS AND MAYBE NOT EVEN A LEASE.
MAYBE ANOTHER UTILITY SUCH AS INTERNET OR COMCAST OR WHATEVER, YOU KNOW, CABLE.
SO THAT WE AVOID THESE THINGS WHERE PEOPLE DON'T HAVE ANY, HAVE ANY WAY TO DUMP ANYTHING, SO THEY JUST DUMP 'EM IN OUR NEIGHBORHOODS ANYWAY.
SO I JUST THINK THAT MAYBE SOME MORE QUESTIONS NEED TO BE ASKED OF, UH, SOLID WASTE ABOUT WHAT'S THE PLAN OTHER THAN JUST SHUTTING IT OFF COMPLETELY AND GOING TO FOUR TIMES A YEAR AND HAVING TO MAKE A PHONE CALL FOR IT.
WHICH IS SOMEWHAT 1980S TO ME, BUT THANK YOU.
WE HAVE OKAY GUYS, I, BECAUSE WE, WE, AND, AND IN ALL FAIRNESS, WE DID HAVE, AND I UNDERSTAND THAT 'CAUSE THE CHAT IS BLOWING UP ABOUT SOLID WASTE AND I THINK IT MAY BE A GOOD IDEA WE, MAYBE WE SHOULD HAVE EVEN RESERVED, YOU KNOW, SOME MORE TIME TO KIND OF DISCUSS IT DURING THIS MEETING.
SO WE'RE GONNA GET THROUGH THESE LAST TWO QUESTIONS.
UM, 'CAUSE I DON'T WANNA LEAVE ANYONE OUT, BUT EVERYBODY HAS A GREAT QUESTION.
UM, TAMARA, YOUR QUESTION PLEASE.
ALL I WANNA SAY IS THIS, I NEED Y'ALL TO PAY ATTENTION TO THIS.
I WANT TO THANK YOU MR. RAIN WATER AND THE LADY WHO JUST SPOKE, BECAUSE I'VE BEEN HAVING CONVERSATIONS WITH PEOPLE.
I'M TELLING Y'ALL THE REASON THEY'RE DOING THIS IS BECAUSE THEY WANNA GET US TO PAY FOR TRASH PICKUP.
THIS RIGHT HERE IS GONNA INUNDATE, I DON'T CARE WHAT NEIGHBORHOOD YOU LIVE IN, I DON'T CARE.
THIS IS GONNA AFFECT YOU BECAUSE YOU HAVE PEOPLE MOVE, YOU TALK ABOUT A CITY THIS MASSIVE FOR PICKUPS, THIS IS GOING TO BE A DISASTER WHEN THEY HAVEN'T EVEN PICKED HEAVY TRASH THAT WAS LINGERING BEFORE.
THE NEW CHANGE THAT THEY MAKING INTO EFFECT.
SO I'M TELLING Y'ALL, KEEP Y'ALL EYE ON THIS.
THIS DIDN'T WORK FOR SUGAR LAND.
HOW IS THIS GONNA WORK FOR HOUSTON? RIGHT.
PLEASE, Y'ALL PAY ATTENTION TO THIS.
SOMEBODY JUST SAID THEY AIN'T HAD A PICKUP SINCE OCTOBER.
CALL Y'ALL COUNCIL MEMBERS BLOW THEIR PHONES UP BECAUSE THIS, WE ARE NOT EVEN GIVEN AN OPTION.
IT'S LIKE, THIS IS WHAT IT IS.
YEAH, LINDSEY, I'M, I'VE BEEN TRYING TO GET THE WORD OUT AND TRYING TO SPREAD THIS AMONG, AMONG AS WIDE ABOUT AN AUDIENCE AS I CAN.
AND I'M GETTING A LOT OF QUESTIONS.
I DON'T REALLY KNOW WHERE EXACTLY TO DIRECT THEM, AND I HAVE VERY SIMILAR CONCERNS THAT THE OTHER, OTHER LEADERS HAVE MENTIONED.
UM, MOST NOTABLY, WE, WE STILL HAVE RESIDENTS IN OUR AREA WHERE WE HAVE NOT SEEN PICKUP SINCE OCTOBER, NOVEMBER.
UM, WE CALL OUR COUNCIL MEMBER, WE PUT THEM IN 3 1 1, THEY JUST SIT.
THEY JUST SIT, UM MM-HMM
WE HAVE ILLEGAL DUMPING ON EVERYBODY'S PROPERTY, IT FEELS LIKE SOMETIMES.
UM, AND IT'S JUST NOT REALLY CLEAR HOW SOME OF THESE THINGS ARE GONNA BE TACKLED.
AND SO I DON'T KNOW IF WE NEED TO HAVE ANOTHER TIME, LIKE ANOTHER VISIT OR IF WE NEED TO HAVE YEAH.
SOMETHING ELSE WHERE WE CAN FIELD QUESTIONS.
I'M SURE THAT THAT WOULD BE SUPER HELPFUL.
[01:15:01]
YES.I I I TOTALLY AGREE AND BASED ON WHAT I'M SEEING IN THE CHAT, IT'S NOT ONE, IT SEEMS THAT IT'S ALL, THERE'S ONLY ONE PERSON THAT OPPOSED TO THIS CONVERSATION AT THIS TIME, BECAUSE THERE ARE SEVERAL QUESTIONS AND LOTS OF UNANSWERED QUESTIONS.
UM, LET'S GET, UM, TAMARA ALEXANDER.
SO I THOUGHT LAST MONTH WHEN, UM, THE SOLID WASTE DIRECTOR WAS ON THIS CALL THAT HE CLAIMED THAT ONE THEY, BEFORE THIS IS ROLLED OUT, THERE WILL BE EDUCATION.
HE ALSO STATED THAT IT WOULD HAVE, THEY WOULD HAVE A SEPARATE NUMBER FOR RESIDENTS TO CALL TO MAKE THEIR REQUEST.
AND SOME THOUGHT HE STATED THAT HEAVY TRASH WOULD STILL TAKE PLACE.
NO, AND THAT'S NOT WHAT'S BEING ROLLED OUT NOW.
SO YEAH, I THINK HE NEEDS TO COME BACK.
YEAH, I DON'T, I, BASED, BASED ON THE CONCERN, I DON'T, I DON'T DISAGREE.
ANYONE ELSE WITH ANY OF THE QUESTIONS OR STATEMENTS? WELL, I, I GUESS WE JUST REALLY, AT THIS POINT, WE PROBABLY NEED TO, UM, SOMEONE WAS, WELL THERE'S A PHONE NUMBER, SO I CAN'T TELL WHO THAT IS.
UH, LA LETICIA, I MA'AM I HAVE ONE, ONE QUICK.
UM, WE ARE GONNA TALK ABOUT IT AT ALL.
WE, WE'VE SIGNED UP FOR THE REPRESENTATIVE FOR SOLID WASTE TO COME TO OUR SUPER NEIGHBORHOOD MEETING ON FEBRUARY 17TH.
BUT BECAUSE IT'S EARLY VOTING, WE'LL BE VIRTUAL, BUT WE'VE BEEN ROLLING THIS OUT WITH OUR ORGANIZATIONS AND THEY HAVE GOOD QUESTIONS.
WE HAVE A LOT OF LAND RICH, SO WE HAVE A LOT OF VACANT LOTS.
AND WE HAVE SOME HOME ON PROPERTY OWNERS THAT ARE NOT, UH, THEY'RE NOT GREAT PROPERTY OWNERS.
SO IF YOU ARE NEGLIGENT IN THE UPKEEP OF YOUR PROPERTY AND SOMEONE HAPPENS TO ILLEGALLY DUMP ON YOUR PROPERTY, WHO'S CALLING THAT IN? SO IF ONE OF OUR BLOCK CAPTAINS CALLED THAT IN, IS THAT COUNTING AS ONE OF THEIR ONE OUT OF THE FOUR? YOU KNOW, BECAUSE THEY'RE GONNA ASK WHO'S MAKING THE CALL? WHAT, WHAT'S YOUR ADDRESS? SO THAT'S ONE THING.
AND ABOUT THE CLEANLINESS OF THE NEIGHBORHOOD, THE WAY I WOULD PICK UP WAS TODAY, WE HAVEN'T BEEN PICKED UP SINCE OCTOBER, SO THEY SKIPPED TREE WASTE IN NOVEMBER AND THEY DIDN'T COME TODAY.
SO AT LEAST WITH THE OLD SYSTEM, AT LEAST WHEN THEY DID COME, IT WAS PICKED UP AND YOU HAD A LITTLE REPRIEVE OF CLEAN DAYS BEFORE PEOPLE ACT UP AGAIN.
BUT WITH THIS SYSTEM, ARE YOU CALLING ALL THROUGHOUT THE MONTH OR ARE YOU CALLING THE FRIDAY AFTER 6:00 PM LEADING UP TO YOUR PICKUP DAY? AND IF YOU MISS IT, THE ON DEMAND, THEY SAY THEY'LL RESPOND IN FIVE DAYS IF YOU MISS IT, DO YOU PUT IT OUT IN THE SAME MONTH THAT YOU MISSED OR ARE YOU OPEN FOR THE FOLLOWING MONTH? IT'S SO MANY QUESTIONS, BUT THANK YOU.
UH, THEY'LL BE SPEAKING AT OUR MEETING AND WE INTEND TO, TO ASK THE QUESTIONS THAT PEOPLE HAVE BEEN ASKING US.
WELL, GUYS, THAT ONE WAS HEAVY.
SO, UM, TO LIGHTEN IT A LITTLE BIT, UM, WE WOULD LIKE TO CONGRATULATE A FEW NEW SUPER NEIGHBORHOODS AND THAT WAS A PART OF OUR, UM, NEW BUSINESS.
SO PASTOR DEB, UM, CONGRATULATIONS ON BECOMING A, OFFICIALLY A NEW SUPER NEIGHBORHOOD PRESIDENT, SO WE'RE EXCITED TO, TO USHER YOU IN TO THE CLUB.
I WAS LOOKING FOR HER EARLIER AND I COULDN'T FIND HER.
SHE'S ALMOST ALWAYS HERE, BUT SHE MAY HAVE DROPPED OFF.
SHE, SHE IS ON, SHE'S SHE'S BEEN ON WELL, PASTOR DAY.
I DID TOO, BUT I SHE WAS HER, SHE WAS ON EARLIER.
SHE WAS ON EARLIER, BUT I DON'T SEE HER NOW.
SHE, THAT'S WHAT I WAS SAYING.
I WAS LOOKING FOR HER AND I DIDN'T SEE HER.
I DID SEE HER COME ON, BUT I HAVEN'T SEEN HER GONE.
AND THEN WE ALSO HAVE A NEW BOARD MEMBER, UM, SCOTT SINGLETON, 63.
SCOTT, ARE YOU HERE? WELL, CONGRATULATIONS TO THOSE THAT ARE SERVING.
UM, I JUST HAPPENED TO SEE YOUR EMAIL TODAY, SO CONGRATULATIONS ON YOUR RECENT ELECTION AND THAT, CONGRATULATIONS AND WELCOME TO THE BOARD AND WELCOME TO THE SUPER NEIGHBORHOOD ALLIANCE.
IN ADDITION TO THAT LAST PIECE OF NEW BUSINESS, AND THEN WE CAN GO INTO ELECTED OFFICIALS.
LAST PIECE OF BUSINESS IS GOING TO BE OUR MEETING AND IN-PERSON MEETINGS, IF YOU LOOK ON YOUR AGENDA, AND IF YOU DON'T HAVE THEM, THEN I CAN SCREEN SHARE SO THAT EVERYONE CAN SEE THAT REAL QUICK.
WE ARE GONNA GO AS SOON AS I DIDN'T FIND THE SHARE
[01:20:01]
SHARE BUTTON.SO BASED ON OUR PLANNING COMMITTEE, MARCH WILL BE OUR VERY FIRST IN-PERSON MEETING, AND IT'S GONNA BE AT, UM, AND IT'S GOING TO BE AT FIRST HOUSTON, UNITED ME METHODIST CHURCH.
OUR NEXT IN-PERSON MEETING WILL BE MAY NORTHEAST SEPTEMBER ACRES HOMES, DECEMBER, SOUTHEAST.
UM, BUT FOR SURE OUR MARCH MEETING, UM, THE LOCATION AND THE INFORMATION IS THERE IN THE NOTES.
ONE IS MS. TAMARA ALEXANDER HA.
HAND TWO IS GREG, AND PLEASE MOVE RIGHT INTO THE NEXT QUESTION.
ALRIGHT, GREG, I I WOULD LIKE TO, FOR YOU TO CONSIDER THAT I SEE ONE'S DOWNTOWN, ONE'S NORTH, ONE'S NORTHEAST, AND ONE'S SOUTHEAST TO PLEASE CONSIDER DOING SOMETHING OUT WEST IF YOU CAN.
I REALIZE THAT WE DON'T HAVE A COMMUNITY CENTER IN DISTRICT G, BUT WE CAN MAKE OTHER ARRANGEMENTS IF POSSIBLE.
THANK, WE'RE WE'RE LOOKING GREG, I'LL TELL YOU, WE ARE LOOKING AT EVERY END OF TOWN.
AND SO YOU, YOUR, YOUR END OF TOWN IS IN THE MIX.
WE'RE JUST, WE'RE ONLY DOING ONE A QUARTER, SO, YOU KNOW.
BUT, BUT, BUT IF HAVE, IF, IF YOU HAVE SUGGESTIONS, IF YOU HAVE SUGGESTIONS AS TO WHERE WE CAN HOLD IT, PLEASE LET US KNOW.
BECAUSE THEY'RE ALL PROPOSED, SO WE DON'T KNOW IF EVERYONE'S GOING TO AGREE.
SO YES, GREG, THAT'S EXACTLY WHAT I WAS GONNA SAY.
SHERRY, I DON'T KNOW IF IT'S OKAY IF WE MAKE PUBLIC ANNOUNCEMENTS, IS ARE WE ALLOWED TO DO THAT NOW OR IS THERE ANOTHER TIME? ACTUALLY, THE UN THE UNFORTUNATE THING IS OUR PUBLIC ANNOUNCEMENTS TURNED INTO TRASH
UH, SHERRY CORTEZ WITH THE HARRIS COUNTY DISTRICT ATTORNEY'S OFFICE AT DOMESTIC VIOLENCE BUREAU.
I HAVE SOME GREAT NEWS AND IT RE IT'S IN REGARD TO PUBLIC SAFETY.
AND I WANTED YOU ALL TO KNOW THAT THE HARRIS COUNTY DISTRICT ATTORNEY'S OFFICE UNDER SEAN TIER, HAS COMPLETED OVER 560 TRIALS IN 2025.
THIS MEANS THAT PEOPLE ARE NOT BONDING OUT AND COMING BACK INTO THE COMMUNITY TO RE-OFFEND.
THAT IS AN INCREASE OF 13%, FIVE TIMES THE TRIAL VOLUME, WHICH IS HUGE, GUYS.
THIS MEANS THAT THEY'RE NOT JUST STAYING IN THE HARRIS COUNTY HOTEL
THEY'RE ACTUALLY HAVING THEIR DAY IN COURT.
UM, SO THIS IS REALLY, REALLY IMPORTANT.
AND IF YOU'RE WONDERING ABOUT THE PUBLIC SAFETY DOLLARS THAT IS BEING USED, PLEASE SUPPORT IT.
UM, HPD IS, UM, WORKING ALONGSIDE OF US AND WE CAN'T DO THESE CASES, WORK 'EM WITHOUT THE INVESTIGATION.
AND THE INVESTIGATION IS DONE BY LAW ENFORCEMENT.
AND ONE PARTICULAR CASE, I'M JUST GONNA TELL YOU ABOUT THIS ONE IN REGARDS TO DOMESTIC VIOLENCE.
UM, A PERSON THAT WAS, UM, IMP THAT WAS FOLLOWING AND STALKING HIS GIRLFRIEND FOR YEARS, UM, HAD FINALLY UNFORTUNATELY, UM, HAD ASSAULTED HER.
AND THROUGH THE GREAT WORK OF THE SOUTH GESNER CRIME SUPPRESSION TEAM, THEY WERE ABLE TO ARREST THIS INDIVIDUAL.
AND HE GOT 40 YEARS, 40 YEARS FOR ASSAULTING, UM, HIS GIRLFRIEND.
UM, SO I'M TELLING YOU THAT IF YOU FEEL THAT YOU, ANYBODY OUT THERE, ANYONE FEELS LIKE THEY ARE BEING STALKED OR THEY NEED A PROTECTIVE ORDER, REMEMBER YOU CAN GET A PROTECTIVE ORDER WITHOUT A POLICE REPORT.
YOU DO NOT HAVE TO CALL THE POLICE.
IF YOU FEEL YOU'RE AFRAID, YOU CAN CONTACT THE HARRIS COUNTY DISTRICT ATTORNEY'S OFFICE, DOMESTIC VIOLENCE BUREAU.
THERE'S A PHONE NUMBER THERE, THERE'S AN EMAIL THERE, AND THERE'S RESOURCES AVAILABLE.
UM, NEVER FEEL LIKE YOU'RE ALONE.
AND WE ARE NOW DOING OUR PUBLIC SERVICE ANNOUNCEMENTS.
UM, AND THIS MONTH IS TEEN DATING VIOLENCE AWARENESS.
WE'RE TRYING TO GET THESE KIDS WHILE THEY'RE YOUNG AND TALK TO THEM AND GIVE THEM THIS PERTINENT INFORMATION.
UM, IT ON OUR WEBSITE, THERE ARE RESOURCES AVAILABLE.
SO PLEASE REACH OUT TO US IF YOU EVER NEED A GUEST SPEAKER, WE CAN SEND ADVOCATES OR, UH, UM, ASSISTANT DAS TO COME TO YOUR COMMUNITY MEETINGS TO TALK ABOUT DOME DOMESTIC VIOLENCE RESOURCES.
WE WANT YOU TO KNOW THAT WE ARE HERE FOR YOU, UM, AND THAT, UM, WE, WE WANT, UM, THE PUBLIC TO BE SAFE.
UM, THAT'S THE MOST IMPORTANT THING OF ALL.
SO IF YOU EVER HAVE ANY QUESTIONS, PLEASE EMAIL ME.
BUT I'M SUPER EXCITED ABOUT THESE CASES.
UM, THIS MEANS PUBLIC SAFETY IS NUMBER ONE AND CRIME IS ACTUALLY REALLY DOWN BECAUSE WE'RE GETTING THESE VIOLENT CRIMINALS OFF THE STREET.
I MEAN, THIS IS, THIS IS INCREDIBLE.
LAST YEAR ALONE, THE HARRIS COUNTY DA'S OFFICE HANDED OUT 38 LIFE SENTENCES.
UM, AND CONSIDERED THAT THAT HASN'T HAPPENED IN THE LAST FEW YEARS.
OKAY? SO VIOLENT CRIME CONTINUES TO GO, GO DOWN, AND WE'RE VERY EXCITED ABOUT IT.
[01:25:01]
BUT PLEASE EMAIL ME, CONTACT ME IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS.I'M ALWAYS HERE AND AVAILABLE.
SO DO WE HAVE, I KNOW, UM, WE HAD A REP FROM TWILA'S OFFICE, UM, STILL HERE.
WHERE, WHERE ARE YOU? YES, I THIS DD CHAVIS WITH MAYOR PER CASTEX TATUM'S OFFICE.
I PUT SOME INFORMATION IN THE CHAT.
BUT I PUT, UM, I PUT SOME INFORMATION IN THE CHAT ABOUT OUR UPCOMING FREE COMMUNITY SHRED DAY AND ALSO PUT THE FLYER, YOU DON'T HAVE TO LIVE IN DISTRICT K TO ATTEND THAT.
PLEASE, UH, SHARE THAT INFORMATION, IF YOU WILL.
UM, EVERYONE'S INVITED TO COME OUT ON FEBRUARY 21ST FROM 9:00 AM TO 12 NOON AT NEW FIRST FAITH CHURCH ON WEST QUA STREET.
AS, AS I SAID, THE FLYER IS IN THE, UM, IN THE CHAT.
AND ALSO, UM, MAYOR PRO TIM CHAIRS THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE.
OUR NEXT MEETING WILL BE WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 18TH AT 2:00 PM AND YOU CAN FIND THE PRESENTATIONS AND THE AGENDA WHEN THEY'RE AVAILABLE.
THEY'LL BE POSTED ON THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE WEBSITE.
THAT LINK IS ALSO IN THE CHAT.
AND THEN, UH, SAVE THE DATE PRESIDENTS OF NEIGHBORHOOD ORGANIZATIONS IN DISTRICT K, UH, THURSDAY, APRIL 9TH FROM 6:00 AM UM, 6:00 PM TO 8:00 PM UH, SAVE THAT DATE.
UH, THERE WILL BE OUR FIRST IMPACT MEETING.
THAT'S MARTHA'S PRESIDENT ADVISORY COUNCIL.
AND LOOK FOR MORE DETAILS, UH, FORTHCOMING, BUT PLEASE SAVE THE DATE.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME AND ATTENTION.
I KNOW WE'RE OVER TIME, SO I'LL GONNA BE VERY QUICK.
UM, JAMES BURNETT, I'M A COMEDIAN ENGAGEMENT COORDINATOR IN THE OFFICE OF YOUR HARRIS COUNTY COMMISSIONER, LESLIE BRIS.
I AT TWO, ACTUALLY, THREE QUICK UPDATES.
UH, THE FIRST IS OUR BLACK HISTORY LUNCHEON.
THAT'S GONNA BE NEXT TUESDAY, UH, FEBRUARY 17TH, FROM 11 TO ONE AT THE CHURCH WITHOUT WALLS.
UH, GREAT OPPORTUNITY TO CELEBRATE THE LEGACY OF AFRICAN AMERICAN LEADERS HERE IN HARRIS COUNTY.
YOU PERFORMED THIS, UH, AWESOME EVENT FOR YOU TO COME OUT TO.
WE LOOK FORWARD TO SEEING YOU THERE.
UH, SECOND UPDATE IS, UH, THE HOCKLEY 40TH ANNIVERSARY ROUNDUP.
UH, CELEBRATING 40 YEARS OF THE HOCKLEY COMMUNITY CENTER.
UH, THIS IS GONNA BE 28 5 15 OLD WASHINGTON ROAD.
THERE'S GONNA BE LIVE ROPING DEMONSTRATIONS, ART SHOWS, AND A BUNCH OF OTHER FAMILY, FAMILY ACTIVITIES.
SO IT'S WORTH THE DRIVE, I WILL SAY THAT.
AND WE'D LOVE TO SEE YOU, UH, SATURDAY, UH, FEBRUARY 28TH FROM ONE TO THREE.
UH, THE THIRD THING I SAW IN THE CHAT, SOMEONE SUGGESTED TRACY G AS A POSSIBILITY, WE WOULD LOVE TO HOST YOU.
UM, I'M GONNA LEAVE MY CONTACT INFORMATION IN THE CHAT.
PLEASE FEEL FREE TO REACH OUT AS WELL.
AND WITH THAT, I'LL YIELD BACK.
DO WE HAVE ANYONE ELSE? OKAY, LET'S SEE.
WELL, THAT, THAT DOES IT GUYS, WE ARE A FEW MINUTES OVER, SO I WILL TAKE A MOTION TO ADJOURN.
SORRY ABOUT THAT, BUT SEEMS LIKE HEAVY TRANS IS, IS DEFINITELY GONNA BE A BIG ISSUE.
SO WE'LL FIGURE OUT HOW WE CAN GET THAT BACK ON THE AGENDA.
I THINK THE MOTION WAS MADE BY CHERYL, SECOND BY TAMARA BELL.
ANYONE A ANYONE OPPOSED