[00:00:12]
PLEASE WELCOME NATIVE HOUSTONIAN AND K-T-R-K-A-B-C 13 AWARD-WINNING JOURNALIST IKA KNIGHT.
I AM GOING TO ASK IF WE COULD ALL TAKE OUR SEATS.
WILL YOU LEAD YOUR LEAD THE WAY AND TAKE YOUR SEAT DEAR.
YEAH, GOOD AFTERNOON AGAIN, EVERYBODY, MIKE ON.
IT IS MY PLEASURE TO SERVE AS THE MC FOR THIS YEAR'S STATE OF THE CITY.
I WANNA START BY RECOGNIZING THE INCREDIBLE BAND DIAZ'S MUSIC INSTITUTE, WHICH WELCOMED EVERYONE INTO THE ROOM TODAY.
GIVE THEM A ROUND OF APPLAUSE.
THESE ARE YOUNG PEOPLE, EVERYBODY AND THEY ARE FANTASTIC.
I WANNA TELL YOU JUST A LITTLE BIT MORE ABOUT THEM.
THEY WERE ESTABLISHED IN 2000 BY JOSE ANTONIO DIAZ.
THE DIAZ MUSIC INSTITUTE BOASTS A RIGOROUS AND REWARDING LEARNING OPPORTUNITY OF THE HIGHEST QUALITY AND WE HEARD IT TODAY CONSIDERED TO BE THE TOP HISPANIC MUSIC ORGANIZATION OF ITS KIND.
THE DIAZ MUSIC INSTITUTE'S INNOVATIVE PROGRAMMING HAS GAINED INTEREST AND RAVE REVIEWS ALL ACROSS THE WORLD WHILE CREATING OPPORTUNITIES THROUGH THE MUSIC EDUCATION FOR SO MANY YOUNG PEOPLE, PARTICULARLY IN THE LATINX AND COMMUNITIES OF COLOR.
ALSO ANY INCOME LEVEL WITH THE POTENTIAL OF DEVELOPING A PROFESSIONAL CAREER IN THE MUSIC INDUSTRY.
YOU GUYS ARE JUST FANTASTIC IF YOU WILL GIVE THEM ANOTHER ROUND OF APPLAUSE.
WE ALSO HEARD FROM THE WONDERFULLY TALENTED MARIACHI IN AL.
AND NOW YOU MAY HAVE NOTICED MARIACHI IN AL IS STILL ON THE STAGE.
WELL THAT'S BECAUSE THEY ARE NOT QUITE DONE YET.
MEANTIME, PLEASE ENJOY ANOTHER SPECIAL PERFORMANCE BY MARIACHI AND WE WANNA TAKE THIS TIME MARIACHI TO REALLY THANK MAYOR.
THANK YOU SO MUCH CIO, FOR HAVING US HERE TODAY.
THIS IS ONE OF OUR FAVORITE SONGS.
IS THAT YOU? OH MY GOD, WHAT ARE YOU DOING HERE? HEY, CAN YOU GUYS GIVE HIM A ROUND OF APPLAUSE SO HE CAN WE HAVE OFFICER ALVA VERA.
WHAT? DUDE? I THOUGHT YOU WERE IN HAWAII OR SOMETHING, WAS MARIA?
[00:06:34]
YES, YES, YES, YES.WHERE ARE YOU GOING? NO, NO, NO.
I MEAN IN UNIFORM AND EVERYTHING GUYS.
DID YOU GUYS SEE THAT? DO YOU MIND IF I ASK YOU A FEW QUESTIONS? GO AHEAD.
IT'S GONNA BE KIND OF LIKE A PRESS CONFERENCE.
IS THAT OKAY? IT'S OKAY, DON'T WORRY.
HE SAID CAN HE TALK TO CHIEF? YEAH, NO.
OKAY, I'M GONNA TELL YOU GUYS JUST A LITTLE BIT MORE ABOUT HIM QUICKLY, IF YOU WILL.
BY THE WAY, MARIACHI AND FATAL, JUST AMAZING, RIGHT? ABSOLUTELY.
THIS IS HOUSTON POLICE DEPARTMENT, SENIOR OFFICER AL ORA.
AND ALSO AN 18 YEAR OFFICER WITH HPDA 20 YEAR COMBAT VETERAN AND A PROUD MEMBER OF THE HOUSTON MARIACHI COMMUNITY.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE AS WELL.
DON'T WORRY, I'M GONNA PAT THE SWEAT ON YOUR FACE.
DID YOU KNOW THAT? NO, THANK YOU.
I APPRECIATE IS YOUR THANK YOU.
DO YOU WANNA, OKAY, LET'S SHARE A MIC.
SO FIRST AND FOREMOST, HOW IN THE WORLD DID YOU GET STARTED PERFORMING? YOU'RE REALLY, REALLY GOOD.
UH, ACTUALLY IT'S A GENERATION, THIS IS THIRD GENERATION NOW.
SO I GREW UP IN THIS ENVIRONMENT.
UH, YEAH, I USED TO PLAY WITH MARIACHI MAYBE, UH, 20 YEARS AGO.
UH, YEAH, I WAS, I WAS A YOUNG.
SO I'VE GOTTA ASK YOU THIS TOO.
SO YOU HAVE VERY STRONG, YOU JUST TALKED ABOUT IT, YOU HAVE VERY STRONG ROOTS IN THE COMMUNITY.
JUST WONDERING IF, YOU KNOW, SHARING YOUR TALENT WITH THE COMMUNITY, DOES THAT HELP WITH COMMUNITY POLICING? OH, ABSOLUTELY.
UH, COMMUNITY POLICING IS A VITAL ROLE IN OUR DAY-TO-DAY ACTIVITIES.
I'M VERY HONORED TO BE HERE AND, AND SHARE OUR HERITAGE WITH, UH, EVERYONE HERE AND OUR COMMUNITY.
I HAVE ONE MORE QUESTION AND YOU GOTTA BE HONEST.
I THINK THE MAYOR'S IN HERE TOO, SO, UH, JUST, YEAH, YOU'RE, JUST BE HONEST ABOUT IT.
HOW OFTEN DO YOU BELT OUT A SONG IN YOUR POLICE UNIT? OH, UM, I USED TO DRIVE MY PARTNER CRAZY, SO, BUT HE SPEAKS SPANISH NOW.
JUST BEFORE YOU GO, THIS MIC IS ON OF COURSE.
COULD YOU GIVE US JUST ONE MORE GOOD NOTE? ONE MORE GOOD NOTE ACTUALLY YOU GOT THAT.
CAN WILL YOU SING A NOTE FOR ME AS WELL? JUST ONE.
HE LEFT ME HANGING GOD, BUT HE DID A GREAT JOB, RIGHT? THANK YOU SO MUCH.
SO NOW I'D LIKE TO ASK EVERYONE TO PLEASE STAND FOR THE PRESENTATION OF COLORS BY THE HOUSTON POLICE AND FIRE DEPARTMENT'S
[00:10:01]
JOINT HONOR GUARD, FOLLOWED BY THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE, RECITED BY STUDENTS FROM THE DIMS MUSIC INSTITUTE.AND THAT WILL BE FOLLOWED BY THE NATIONAL ANTHEM PERFORMED BY JADE SWAN.
SHE'S A UNIVERSITY OF HOUSTON GRADUATE AND PROUD NATIVE HOUSTONIAN.
AND THEN AFTER THAT, IF YOU WOULD PLEASE REMAIN STANDING FOR THE INVOCATION BY REVEREND MICHAEL GOD, SENIOR MINISTER AT UNITY OF HOUSTON.
PLEASE JOIN US IN THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE.
I PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE TO THE FLAG OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA AND TO THE REPUBLIC FOR WHICH IT STANDS, ONE NATION UNDER GOD, INDIVISIBLE, WITH LIBERTY AND JUSTICE FOR ALL.
OH, SAY, CAN YOU SEE BY THE DAWNS WHAT SO PROUDLY WE HAIL AT THE TWILIGHTS LAST LEANING WHOSE BROAD STRIPES AND BRIGHT STARS THROUGH THE FIGHT OR THE RAMP PARTS WE WATCHED WERE SO GLY STREAMING AND THE ROCKETS RED THE PUMPS BURST THROUGH THE NIGHT THAT OUR FLAG WAS STILL THERE.
OH, SAY, DOES THAT STAR SPANGLED BANNER OR THE LAND OF THE AND THE HOME OF THE BRAVE, JOIN ME IN PRAYER.
LET'S CLOSE OUR EYES OR LOWER YOUR GAZE.
BEGIN WITH JUST A MOMENT OF MINDFUL BREATHING AND ALL THAT MEANS IS JUST PAYING ATTENTION TO THE BREATH AND MAYBE TAKING IT A LITTLE BIT MORE SLOWLY, A LITTLE MORE FULLY.
STUDIES HAVE SHOWN THAT THIS SIMPLE ACT CAN CREATE GREATER PEACE OF MIND, A GREATER SENSE OF WELLBEING AND EQUANIMITY FROM THIS SPACE.
GOD, THANK YOU FOR THIS OPPORTUNITY TO GATHER HERE.
THANK YOU FOR THIS BREATH, A GIFT OF GRACE WHICH WE TAKE FOR GRANTED EVERY DAY, THAT IT IS LIFE.
AS YOU IN THE HEBREW SCRIPTURES BREATHE LIFE INTO THE FIRST HUMAN BEING AND BECAUSE WE HAVE THAT BREATH, WE ARE ABLE TO BECOME A, A GIFT OF GRACE TO OTHERS.
WE OFFER FOR FORGIVENESS, COMPASSION, EMPATHY FOR OUR FAMILY, OUR FRIENDS, OUR FELLOW HOUSTONIANS.
WE GET TO BE A WAY THAT LOVE SHOWS UP IN THIS CITY.
WE SPEAK A WORD OF BLESSING UPON OUR LEADERS, UPON MAYOR WHITMEYER AND THE COUNCIL AND ALL THOSE WHO ARE CALLED TO SERVE.
MAY THEY HAVE STRENGTH AND WISDOM IN THAT SERVICE AND MAY WE ALL BE REMINDED THAT WE ARE A PART OF THIS.
EACH OF US CARRIES APART THAT WILL CREATE A BETTER AND BRIGHTER TOMORROW FOR US ALL.
I THINK
HE'S ALSO THE MUSIC AND FINE ARTS DIRECTOR AT UV OF HOUSTON.
I GET TO WORK WITH HIM EVERY WEEK, MR. KENNETH GALE.
[00:15:10]
AND DON'T BE AFRAID OF THE AND THE SWEET SILVER WALK ON THROUGH THE WIND, WALK ON THROUGH THE RAIN AND YOU AND AFRAID OF THE DARK, THE END OF THE IS A AND THE SILVER OF THE DREAMS. AND BEAUTIFULLY DONE GENTLEMEN.WELL, WHAT AN INCREDIBLE CROWD.
THANK YOU GUYS AGAIN FOR BEING HERE TODAY.
THE ROOM IS ABSOLUTELY PACKED AND THERE'S SO MUCH ENERGY IN THE ROOM.
THANK YOU AGAIN FOR BEING HERE.
I GET THE PRIVILEGE OF BRINGING THE NEWS TO HOUSTONIANS ON A BC 13 STARTING AT 4:00 AM SO I AM HONORED TO PLAY A ROLE IN TODAY'S EVENT HIGHLIGHTING WHERE HOUSTON IS TODAY AND WHERE IT IS HEADING.
THE STATE OF THE CITY IS CO-HOSTED THIS YEAR BY HOUSTON FIRST CORPORATION AND THE GREATER HOUSTON PARTNERSHIP.
THE TWO ORGANIZATIONS CHARGED WITH SHARING
[00:20:01]
THE HOUSTON MESSAGE ALL ACROSS THE COUNTRY AND OF COURSE ACROSS THE WORLD.THESE TWO GROUPS FEEL IT IS IMPORTANT FOR HOUSTON TO BE A PLACE THAT PEOPLE RECOGNIZE ALSO A PLACE THAT PEOPLE WILL WANNA VISIT AND YES, PERHAPS EVEN A PLACE WHERE THEY WOULD LIKE TO LIVE AND ALSO TO WORK WELL.
LAYING THE GROUNDWORK FOR SUCH A CITY IS THE JOB OF OUR ELECTED OFFICIALS LED BY HOUSTON MAYOR JOHN WHITMEYER, WHO BY THE WAY WILL DELIVER HIS STATE OF THE CITY LATER IN THE PROGRAM.
IF I COULD GET EVERYBODY'S ATTENTION NOW, THAT'LL BE AMAZING.
NOW I WOULD LIKE TO WELCOME JAY ZEIDMAN, BOARD CHAIR OF HOUSTON.
NOW GOOD AFTERNOON EVERYBODY, AND WELCOME, UH, AS CHAIR OF HOUSTON.
FIRST I'M HONORED TO STAND BEFORE THIS PACT.
AUDIENCE 1600 OF YOU OF CIVIC AND BUSINESS LEADERS, COMMUNITY ADVOCATES, AND MOST IMPORTANTLY, THE PEOPLE WHO HELP MAKE HOUSTON THE VIBRANT CAN-DO CITY THAT IT IS TODAY WE'VE COME TOGETHER TO CELEBRATE HOUSTON'S REMARKABLE PROGRESS AND TO REFLECT ON THE INCREDIBLE OPPORTUNITIES THAT LIE AHEAD AS WE CONSIDER WHAT'S MADE OUR CITY TRULY A GLOBAL DESTINATION.
I'M ESPECIALLY PROUD OF THE IMPORTANT ROLE THAT HOUSTON FIRST CONTINUES TO PLAY IN OUR CITY'S STORY.
AS YOU WILL HEAR LATER TODAY IN THE PROGRAM, WE ARE MAKING INCREDIBLE PROGRESS ON OUR CONVENTION CENTER TRANSFORMATION PROJECT, WHICH YOU CAN SEE JUST OUTSIDE OF THIS BUILDING.
OUR ORGANIZATION HELPS SHAPE HOUSTON'S IDENTITY.
IT DRIVES ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITY THROUGH TOURISM AND HOSPITALITY AND POSITIONS OUR CITY ON THE GLOBAL STAGE.
BUT BEYOND THAT, HOUSTON FIRST CONNECTS THE WORLD TO HOUSTON.
WE WORK TIRELESSLY AROUND THE WORLD TO SHOWCASE THE EXTRAORDINARY POTENTIAL AND ACCESSIBILITY OF THIS WONDERFUL CITY THAT WE ALL CALL HOME.
ALONGSIDE COLLABORATORS LIKE THE GREATER HOUSTON PARTNERSHIP, WE TAKE GREAT PRIDE IN PROMOTING HOUSTON, A CITY DEFINED BY GROWTH, DIVERSITY, AND ENDLESS OPPORTUNITY.
TODAY WE'RE GONNA HEAR ABOUT SOME OF THE PROGRESS MADE UNDER THE FIRST TWO YEARS OF MAYOR WHITT MEYER'S ADMINISTRATION.
WE'LL ALSO HEAR ABOUT THE CHALLENGES THAT REMAIN AND THE PLANS TO ADDRESS THOSE.
CERTAINLY A CITY OF OUR SIZE AND SCOPE.
HOUSTON WILL ALWAYS FACE CHALLENGES, BUT IT'S UP TO ALL OF US, EACH OF YOU IN THIS ROOM TODAY WHO WERE TRULY CHANGE MAKERS TO RISE TO THE OCCASION AND MEET THOSE CHALLENGES.
MAYOR WHITMEYER HAS BEEN AT THE FOREFRONT OF ADDRESSING MANY OF THESE ISSUES AND WE LOOK FORWARD TO HEARING MORE ABOUT HIS VISION LATER IN TODAY'S PROGRAM.
ALREADY WE'VE SEEN A LIT LEADER WHO IS COMMITTED TO DOING THE HARD WORK AND DELIVERING RESULTS FOR ALL OF HOUSTONIANS.
WE SHOULD BE VERY GRATEFUL TO HAVE A LEADER LIKE MAYOR WHITMEYER AND, AND AS WE LOOK TO THE FUTURE OF HOUSTON.
HOUSTON FIRST CONTINUES TO PLAY A UNIQUE ROLE IN FOSTERING COLLABORATION BETWEEN PUBLIC AND PRIVATE PARTNERS, HELPING ENSURE THAT HOUSTON REMAINS A CITY WHERE INNOVATION THRIVES, COMMUNITIES FLOURISH AND OPPORTUNITY CONTINUES TO EXPAND.
IN SHORT, HOUSTON FIRST CORPORATION IS NOT ONLY PART OF HOUSTON'S GROWTH, WE WILL REMAIN A CATALYST FOR WHAT COMES NEXT.
BEFORE I CLOSE, I WANT TO THANK EACH OF YOU FOR YOUR DEDICATION TO THIS CITY.
I'D LIKE TO THANK MY FELLOW BOARD MEMBERS AT HOUSTON FIRST FOR YOUR TIME AND COMMITMENT.
AND I'D LIKE TO THANK THE MAYOR FOR GIVING ME THE OPPORTUNITY TO SERVE IN THIS ROLE AS CHAIR.
IT'S BEEN TRULY THE HONOR OF MY LIFE.
YOUR EFFORTS AND PUBLIC SERVICE, ALL OF YOU IN THIS ROOM, BUSINESS, PUBLIC SERVICE, EDUCATION, COMMUNITY LEADERSHIP, OR WHAT DRIVES OUR CITY FORWARD.
AND WE HOPE HOUSTON FIRST AND MANY OF OUR PARTNERS ACROSS THE COMMUNITY WILL CONTINUE TO SERVE AS RESOURCES AS WE WORK TOGETHER TO ELEVATE THE CITY THAT WE ALL LOVE, THE CITY THAT WE CALL HOME.
NEXT I'D LIKE TO ASK GREATER HOUSTON PARTNERSHIP PRESIDENT AND CEO STEVE KANE TO OFFER SOME REMARKS.
UH, REALLY APPRECIATE THE WORKING RELATIONSHIP THAT WE HAVE BETWEEN THE GREATER HOUSTON PARTNERSHIP AND AND HOUSTON.
FIRST, WE'RE WORKING SEAMLESSLY TOGETHER, ME AND MICHAEL HECKMAN, MY GOOD FRIEND, AS WELL AS THE REST OF THE TEAM TO PROMOTE HOUSTON AND EXPAND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT FOR OUR REGION.
[00:25:01]
WE'RE HONORED TO BE HERE WITH MAYOR WHITMEYER AND HIS TEAM TO HEAR HIS THOUGHTS ON THE STATE OF OUR CITY AND ON THE OPPORTUNITIES THAT ARE AHEAD.MAYOR, THANK YOU FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP AND PARTNERSHIP WITH HOUSTON'S BUSINESS COMMUNITY.
ONE OF HOUSTON'S GREATEST STRENGTHS IS THAT WE BENEFIT FROM A BIPARTISAN CONSENSUS IN FAVOR OF PRIVATE SECTOR INVESTMENT GROWTH AND JOB CREATION.
IT'S NOT LIKE THAT EVERYWHERE.
WHEN I WAS A CORPORATE CEO, I BELONGED TO A GROUP THAT WOULD CONVENE US PERIODICALLY AND I HEARD OTHER CEOS TALKING ABOUT THEIR CITIES AND THEY WOULD SAY, I'M NOT SURE MY MAYOR WANTS ME IN THIS CITY OR MY COMPANY OR MY GROWTH OR MY EMPLOYEES UNDER YOUR LEADERSHIP, MR. MAYOR, THIS IS NOT THAT KIND OF CITY.
HOUSTON IS CLEAR ABOUT WHO WE ARE.
WE ARE WELCOMING, WE ARE OPEN FOR BUSINESS.
AND IN TODAY'S ECONOMY THAT CLARITY MATTERS.
COMPANIES HAVE CHOICES, COMPANIES HAVE CHOICES, AND THEY ARE CHOOSING HOUSTON.
CHEVRON MOVED ITS GLOBAL HEADQUARTERS TO DOWNTOWN HOUSTON IN 2024.
WE'LL NEVER GET TIRED OF TALKING ABOUT THIS.
OKAY, SO JUST FIVE YEARS FROM NOW, MAYBE AT THE TIME ONE OF THEIR SENIOR EXECUTIVES SAID IN TEXAS, WE'RE WELCOME.
FORMERLY CHESAPEAKE, THE LARGEST INDEPENDENT NATURAL GAS PRODUCER IN THE COUNTRY ANNOUNCED THAT THEIR HEADQUARTERS WOULD BE IN HOUSTON, TEXAS.
JUST LAST WEEK, JUST LAST WEEK, DEVIN ENERGY ANNOUNCED THE SAME, BECOMING HOUSTON'S 27TH FORTUNE 500 COMPANY AND STRENGTHENING OUR POSITION AS THE NUMBER THREE CITY FOR FORTUNE 500 HEADQUARTERS IN THE COUNTRY BEHIND ONLY NEW YORK AND CHICAGO AND AHEAD OF DALLAS.
SO THERE'S BEEN A LOT OF GOOD NEWS, MAYOR, YOUR TIMING IS REALLY, REALLY ROCK SOLID.
AND LAST, UH, LAST YEAR THE CEO OF A MAJOR WIND COMPANY MOVED HER OFFICE DOWNTOWN HOUSTON FROM ANOTHER CITY, UH, VO, A BILLION DOLLAR PLUS.
UH, GEOTHERMAL STARTUP IS ALSO HERE AND ALSO DOWNTOWN.
THEY'RE APPLYING WHAT WE'VE LEARNED IN THE ENERGY BUSINESS ABOUT OIL AND GAS EXTRACTION TO RENEWABLE GEOTHERMAL ENERGY.
LIFE SCIENCES ARE GROWING HERE AS WELL.
WE NOW HAVE OVER 1100 FOR-PROFIT LIFE SCIENCES COMPANIES THAT HAVE A PRESENCE IN THE HOUSTON METRO AREA.
AND THAT INCLUDES AN ANNOUNCEMENT FROM ELI LILLY THAT THEY'RE GONNA INVEST SIX AND A HALF BILLION DOLLARS HERE.
ADVANCED MANUFACTURING IS LANDING HERE TOO.
TESLA IS BUILDING A GRID SCALE, GRID SCALE BATTERY MANUFACTURING FACILITY ON THE WESTERN END OF THE METRO.
FOXCONN IS EXPANDING DATA CENTER, EQUIPMENT MANUFACTURING, AND NOW THE FOXCONN SUPPLIERS ARE LOOKING AT HOUSTON.
HOUSTON IS HELPING TO BUILD THE INFRASTRUCTURE BEHIND AI DATA CENTERS, POWER EQUIPMENT, AND THE TECHNOLOGIES THAT ARE SHAPING THE FUTURE, CREATING CONSTRUCTION JOBS, MANUFACTURING JOBS, AND LONG-TERM OPPORTUNITY.
HOUSTON IS WINNING COMPANIES LOOK FOR THE ASSETS WE HAVE IN OUR PORT, OUR MEDICAL CENTER, AND ESPECIALLY IN OUR YOUNG DIVERSE AND AMBITIOUS WORKFORCE.
THE VALUE OF OUR STRONG FUNDAMENTALS, OUR CONFIDENCE, OPTIMISM, STABILITY, AND IMPORTANTLY A CIVIC AND POLITICAL CLIMATE THAT SUPPORTS GROWTH AND JOB CREATION.
THAT'S WHAT MOMENTUM LOOKS LIKE.
IN 2024, THE HOUSTON METRO ADDED 200,000 NEW RESIDENTS.
WE ADDED 1.25 MILLION OVER THE LAST 10 YEARS WHERE THE YOUNGEST MAJOR METRO IN THE UNITED STATES REFLECTING A DIVERSE WORKFORCE THAT'S BUILT FOR THE LONG TERM.
OUR ECONOMY ALSO REFLECTS THIS MOMENTUM FROM 2021 TO 2023, OUR GDP GREW BY 25% TO $700 BILLION.
NUMBER ONE PERCENTAGE GROWTH IN THE ENTIRE OF ALL THE US METROS.
WE CAME ROARING OUTTA THE PANDEMIC.
BUT WHAT TRULY DISTINGUISHES HOUSTON AND WHAT IS INCREASINGLY RARE IN THIS COUNTRY IS OUR ACIDIC AND POLITICAL LEADERSHIP.
WE WORK ACROSS SECTORS, ACROSS INSTITUTIONS, AND ACROSS POLITICAL DIFFERENCES TO MOVE THIS REGION FORWARD.
SO TODAY IS BOTH A REFLECTION ON WHERE WE ARE AND A REMINDER OF WHAT WE ARE AND CONTINUE TO BE A CITY WHERE BUSINESS IS WELCOME.
[00:30:01]
COME TOGETHER TO SOLVE PROBLEMS. A CITY WHERE OPPORTUNITY CONTINUES TO EXPAND FOR MILLIONS OF PEOPLE.THANK YOU AGAIN, MAYOR WHITMEYER FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP.
THANK YOU AGAIN TO HOUSTON FIRST FOR YOUR PARTNERSHIP AND LEADERSHIP.
AND WITH THAT SIKA, I'LL TURN IT BACK TO YOU.
NOW ONE OF THE BEST PARTS OF AN EVENT LIKE THIS IS THE FOOD.
I'M KIDDING THAT'S NOT IN THE SCRIPT ACTUALLY.
IT'S THE OPPORTUNITY TO NETWORK A BIT.
SO WE'RE GONNA TAKE A QUICK BREAK FOR LUNCH EVERYBODY, AND WE'RE GONNA COME BACK IN JUST A FEW MINUTES.
BUT MEANTIME, PLEASE ENJOY THE ENTERTAINMENT PROVIDED BY THE INCREDIBLE DIAZ MUSIC INSTITUTE.
WE COULD START BY TELLING YOU HOW SLEEK IT IS, HOW IT'S AT THE EDGE OF INNOVATION IN ITS INDUSTRY, THAT IT MAKES CONNECTIONS FASTER AND MORE CONVENIENT.
WE COULD PROMOTE THE FACT THAT EVEN TRAFFIC SIGNALS GIVE IT THE GREEN LIGHT AND THAT IT MOVES SO QUICKLY.
WE HAD TO GIVE IT ITS OWN LANE.
OR YOU COULD JUST RIDE DISCOVER WHERE THIS RAIL LIKE RIDE IS GOING NEXT.
NEXT, THE HOUSTON HISTORY RESEARCH CENTER IS LOCATED IN THE HISTORIC JULIA IEN BUILDING.
OUR MISSION IS TO COLLECT, PRESERVE AND PROVIDE ACCESS TO HOUSTON AND TEXAS HISTORY IN THE FORM OF PHOTOGRAPHS, MAPS, BOOKS, BUSINESS AND PERSONAL PAPERS AND ARCHITECTURAL DRAWINGS.
TAKE A TOUR OF OUR BEAUTIFUL BUILDING AND DON'T MISS OUR DOROTHY KNOX.
HOW H AND READING ROOM OR OUR GALLERIES SUCH AS THE NEW DR. JAMES AND BETTY KEAP ROOM COME CURIOUS, LEAVE INSPIRED.
THE URBAN FABRIC OF HOUSTON IS WOVEN FROM THE AMBITIONS AND TRADITIONS OF PEOPLE AND IDEAS.
WE ARE A CITY OF COLLABORATORS WHO BUILD ON ONE ANOTHER'S INSPIRATION, STRENGTHS AND CULTURES TO SHAPE A FUTURE WE ALL CAN SHARE.
WE ARE MORE THAN 7 MILLION INGREDIENTS THAT MAKE SOMETHING THAT CANNOT BE DISCOVERED, TASTED, OR INVENTED ANYWHERE ELSE.
COME ON A MOVEMENT, A MOMENT, A FUTURE.
WE ARE RESHAPING THE CULINARY LANDSCAPE.
CULTURES COMBINE TO CREATE A POWERFUL, FLAVORFUL TASTE OF THINGS TO COME LOUISIANA.
CRAWFISH BECOMES THE OCCASION.
CRAWFISH AND NOODLES, ASIAN FLAVORS MEET TEXAS STYLE BARBECUE, JAPANESE TAPAS, KOREA MIX AND NIGERIAN JAMBALAYA SET THE TABLE FOR A CREATIVE, INVENTIVE, COOPERATIVE SCENE.
THE POWER OF TOGETHER IS CREATING PUBLIC-PRIVATE PARTNERSHIPS THAT ARE SHAPING AN ECOSYSTEM OF BUSINESSES IN ORBIT AROUND THE EARTH.
TAKING US TO THE MOON AND BEYOND.
COME ON, OUR TOGETHER IS ROCKET FUELED.
THE POWER OF TOGETHER IS THE POWER TO HEAL.
WE ARE DEVELOPING THE WORLD'S MOST ADVANCED RESEARCH CAMPUS AT THE WORLD'S LARGEST MEDICAL CITY.
THE GREATEST MINDS IN MEDICINE, SCIENCE, ACADEMIA AND COMMERCE COLLIDE HERE.
RESEARCH AND BREAKTHROUGHS COME ON.
TOGETHER WE ARE POWERING THE FUTURE, EVOLVING THE ENERGY, SUPPLY AND SCIENCE LEADING THE GLOBAL TRANSITION TO A MORE EFFICIENT, SUSTAINABLE, LOW CARBON FUTURE.
COME ON, HOUSTON WELCOMES YOU TO SAY HELLO TO THE INCREDIBLE POWER AND INFINITE POSSIBILITY OF TOGETHER.
WE CANNOT WAIT TO MAKE TOMORROW TOGETHER.
PLEASE WELCOME BACK TO THE STAGE IKA KNIGHT.
PLEASE CONTINUE TO ENJOY YOUR LUNCH, IF YOU WILL AS WE RESUME THE PROGRAM.
[00:35:01]
YOU DON'T MIND, I'D LIKE TO GET YOUR ATTENTION.I IF YOU DON'T MIND TAKING YOUR SEAT FOR JUST A FEW MINUTES, I'M GONNA TRY SOMETHING.
IF YOU CAN HEAR MY VOICE CLAP ONCE.
WELL AT THIS TIME WE WANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE THE ELECTED OFFICIALS HERE WITH US TODAY.
SO I'M GOING TO ASK ALL ELECTED OFFICIALS AT THE LOCAL, THE STATE, THE FEDERAL LEVEL TO PLEASE STAND AND BE RECOGNIZED.
SO IF YOU DON'T MIND TAKING YOUR SEATS AND ALL OF OUR ELECTED OFFICIALS, WILL YOU PLEASE STAND? HOUSTON FIRST AND THE GREATER HOUSTON PARTNERSHIP WOULD LIKE TO THANK YOU FOR ALL YOU DO ON BEHALF OF HOUSTON AND OUR REGION.
AND AS I MENTIONED, OUR JOINT HOSTS THIS AFTERNOON ARE HOUSTON FIRST AND ALSO THE GREATER HOUSTON PARTNERSHIP.
I'D LIKE TO ACKNOWLEDGE THE BOARDS OF THESE TWO IMPORTANT ORGANIZATIONS AS WELL.
SO IF YOU ARE A MEMBER OF THE BOARD OF HOUSTON FIRST OR THE GREATER HOUSTON PARTNERSHIP, PLEASE STAND TO BE RECOGNIZED BOARD MEMBERS, THANK YOU SO MUCH.
ALSO A REALLY BIG THANK YOU TO THE MANY SPONSORS WHO HAVE HELPED MAKE TODAY POSSIBLE.
FIRST, OUR HOUSTON VISIONARIES, CHEVRON KINDER FOUNDATION.
THOSE ARE OUR HOUSTON VISIONARIES.
ALSO OUR DESSERT SPONSOR TODAY, UNITED AIRLINES.
THANK YOU AND OUR COMMUNITY CHAMPIONS.
AMERICAN FIRST NATIONAL BANK, AQUA MDS BOYER, CAMDEN COROLLA, ENGINEERS, CIGNA HEALTHCARE, COMCAST, DIGNITY MEMORIAL, DOWNTOWN HOUSTON PLUS HINES, HOUSTON ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS, KELSEY CARE HEALTH PLANS, LINEBARGER ATTORNEYS AT LAW, NRG ENERGY, PAIGE SANTIC, QUANTA RICE UNIVERSITY, SHELL, SOUTHWEST AIRLINES AND VERIZON.
THOSE ARE OUR COMMUNITY CHAMPIONS.
ALSO, WE WOULD LIKE TO ACKNOWLEDGE THE CORPORATE ALLIES TODAY.
WELL, NEXT I'D LIKE TO WELCOME HOUSTON FIRST PRESIDENT AND CEO MICHAEL HECKMAN TO THE STATE IKA.
THANK YOU AND GOOD AFTERNOON EVERYONE.
IT REALLY IS GREAT TO BE HERE WITH ALL OF YOU FOR THE STATE OF THE CITY AND TO HEAR FROM MAYOR JOHN WHITMEYER ABOUT THE PROGRESS THAT'S BEING MADE IN OUR GREAT CITY.
MY TEAM AND I AT HOUSTON FIRST ARE ONCE AGAIN HONORED TO CO-HOST THIS EVENT ALONGSIDE OUR FRIENDS AT THE GREATER HOUSTON PARTNERSHIP.
I WANNA TAKE A MOMENT TO RECOGNIZE THE EXCELLENT LEADERSHIP OF STEVE KANE AND THANK HE AND HIS TEAM AT THE PARTNERSHIP WHO WE WORK WITH ON NUMEROUS PROJECTS AND INITIATIVES, ALL FOR THE BENEFIT OF HOUSTON.
2026 IS GONNA BE A REALLY BIG YEAR.
EVERY YEAR, MILLIONS OF PEOPLE FROM ALL OVER THE GLOBE VISIT THIS CITY, BUT THIS YEAR WILL BE A SPECIAL OPPORTUNITY AS HOUSTON NEXT MONTH HOSTS THE WORLD BASEBALL CLASSIC.
AND OF COURSE THIS SUMMER SERVES AS ONE OF 16 NORTH AMERICAN CITIES TO HOST MATCHES FOR THE FIFA WORLD CUP.
WITH THE WORLD COMING TO OUR CITY, WHAT WILL THESE VISITORS FIND WHEN THEY GET HERE? THEY WILL FIND A CITY MADE UP OF WONDERFUL AND WELCOMING PEOPLE.
[00:40:01]
FOOD SCENE IN THE COUNTRY.ONE THAT ATTRACTS ENTREPRENEURIAL CHEFS FROM AROUND THE WORLD WHO COME HERE TO START A BUSINESS.
THEY'LL EXPERIENCE 45,000 ACRES OF PARKS AND GREEN SPACE.
THEY WILL FIND AN UNMATCHED ARTS COMMUNITY, WHICH IS RECEIVING INCREDIBLE ATTENTION.
LIKE THE RECENT GRAMMY AWARD THAT THE HOUSTON GRAND OPERA RECEIVED, THEY WILL FIND A CITY ON THE RISE HOME TO MAJOR FORTUNE 500 COMPANIES AND WITH AN ECONOMY POISED FOR EVEN MORE GROWTH IN THE KEY INDUSTRIES, THEY WILL FIND THE MOST DIVERSE AND INCLUSIVE CITY ANYWHERE IN THE UNITED STATES.
A BIG CITY THAT IS NOT ONLY FUNCTIONING BUT IS THRIVING.
IT'S OUR TIME TO SHINE ON THE GLOBAL STAGE TO SHOW OUR PRIDE AND EXCITEMENT FOR WHO WE ARE AND YES, WHAT WE CAN BE.
LAST YEAR AN ESTIMATED 52 MILLION VISITORS CHOSE OUR CITY GENERATING BILLIONS OF DOLLARS IN ECONOMIC IMPACT.
THEY CAME FROM ACROSS TEXAS AND THE BROADER SOUTHERN REGION FROM EVERY STATE IN THE NATION AND FROM KEY INTERNATIONAL MARKETS INCLUDING MEXICO, INDIA, AND PLACES BEYOND.
THIS REFLECTS THE SCALE OF OUR REACH, THE STRENGTH OF OUR APPEAL, AND THE ROLE OUR CITY PLAYS ON BOTH A NATIONAL AND A GLOBAL STAGE.
ONE OF OUR STRATEGIC PRIORITIES AT HOUSTON FIRST IS TO GROW OUR LONG HAUL VISITATION FROM ACROSS THE US AND INTERNATIONALLY.
TRAVELERS WHO COME FROM FARTHER AWAY TEND TO STAY LONGER, ENGAGE MORE DEEPLY AND GENERATE GREATER ECONOMIC IMPACT DURING THEIR TIME HERE.
SUCCESSFUL DESTINATIONS DON'T JUST WELCOME VISITORS.
THEY INVITE PARTICIPATION, THEY CREATE EMOTION AND THEY GIVE PEOPLE A REASON TO STAY LONGER AND TO COME BACK TO VISIT, TO WORK, TO LEARN AND MAYBE TO LIVE.
CURRENTLY WE ARE WORKING ON A DESTINATION DEVELOPMENT PLAN AND BY YEARS END, WE'LL UNVEIL A ROADMAP FOR HOW TO FURTHER GROW OUR REPUTATION AS A DESTINATION OVER THE NEXT DECADE.
WE'RE LOOKING AT CITIES AROUND THE GLOBE AND THE TYPES OF ATTRACTIONS AND EXPERIENCES THAT WILL MAKE HOUSTON A BETTER PLACE TO VISIT AND TO LIVE.
MAKE NO MISTAKE, WE ARE ALREADY A GREAT DESTINATION, BUT WE CAN AND WE WILL BE BETTER.
IT'S ALSO PART OF OUR JOB TO ATTRACT CONVENTIONS AND EVENTS THAT HAVE A DIRECT AND IMMEDIATE IMPACT FOR OUR HOSPITALITY COMMUNITY.
ON THIS FRONT WE'VE RECENTLY ANNOUNCED SEVERAL IMPORTANT WINS.
FIRST, THE NATIONAL CHEERLEADING ASSOCIATION'S ALL STAR CHAMPIONSHIP GOT SOME FRIENDS AND FAMILY IN THE AUDIENCE.
IT'S AN EVENT THAT WILL HAVE 75,000 PARTICIPANTS AND THEIR FAMILIES THAT WILL COME TO HOUSTON LATER THIS MONTH AND FOR THE NEXT TWO YEARS WITH AN OVERALL ECONOMIC IMPACT OF MORE THAN $150 MILLION GAS TECH.
A GLOBAL ENERGY EVENT, WHICH BRINGS NEARLY 20,000 ATTENDEES INCLUDING ENERGY MINISTERS, HEADS OF STATE FROM ALL OVER THE WORLD HAS COMMITTED TO RETURN TO HOUSTON ONCE AGAIN IN 2027.
THIS IS ONE OF THE LEADING CONFERENCES OF ITS KIND AND DRAWS FROM MORE THAN 150 COUNTRIES.
AND A COUPLE OF WEEKS AGO WE ANNOUNCED THAT THE FIRST ROBOTICS, FIRST ROBOTICS, THE WORLD'S LARGEST YOUTH ORGANIZATION OF ITS KIND WILL CONTINUE TO HOST ITS CHAMPIONSHIP HERE THROUGH 2034.
THAT NEW SEVEN YEAR DEAL WILL MEAN ANOTHER $500 MILLION FOR OUR COMMUNITY.
NOW OF COURSE THIS IS AN ENORMOUS ECONOMIC IMPACT, BUT WHY ELSE IS IT IMPORTANT FOR THAT EVENT TO BE HERE? WELL, IT BRINGS SOME OF THE BRIGHTEST YOUNG MINDS FROM AROUND THE WORLD IN STEM FIELDS TO HOUSTON WHERE WE CAN MAKE A POSITIVE IMPRESSION ON THEM.
THIS IS THE TALENT THAT WILL POWER HOUSTON'S DOMINANT INDUSTRIES NOW AND INTO THE FUTURE.
WE OFTEN SAY THAT TOURISM IS THE FRONT DOOR FOR ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT.
A BUSINESS OWNER OR A CEO WILL NOT MOVE TO OR START A BUSINESS IN A CITY THAT THEY'VE NEVER BEEN TO.
THIS IS MUCH THE SAME FOR TALENT ACQUISITION.
OUR COMPANIES ARE MORE LIKELY TO BE ABLE TO COMPETE FOR THE TALENT THAT
[00:45:01]
THEY NEED IF THOSE FOLKS HAVE BEEN HERE AND HAVE HAD A GREAT EXPERIENCE.NOW WE BELIEVE THAT HOUSTON IS A GREAT DESTINATION FOR EVENTS LIKE THIS, BUT WHAT OTHERS THINK IS WHAT'S MOST IMPORTANT AT THE ANNOUNCEMENT EVENT, THE CEO OF THE ORGANIZATION FIRST, CHRIS MOORE SAID THEY FELT HOUSTON WAS QUOTE, NOT JUST CAPABLE BUT EXCEPTIONAL AS A HOST CITY.
HE DESCRIBED MAYOR WHITMEYER AND CITY LEADERSHIP AS THINKING LONG TERM AND SAID THEIR RELATIONSHIP WITH HOUSTON IS BASED ON COLLABORATION AND TRUST.
FIRST WANTS TO GROW ITS 55,000 PERSON EVENT HERE IN HOUSTON, POTENTIALLY TO 75,000 PEOPLE PER YEAR, BUT THAT WOULDN'T HAVE BEEN POSSIBLE IN THE EXISTING GRB, WHICH THE EVENT WILL SOON OUTGROW.
NOW THANKS TO THE LEADERSHIP OF MAYOR WHITMEYER, WE HAVE BEEN ABLE TO MOVE FORWARD WITH THE MOST AMBITIOUS MASTER PLAN THAT OUR ORGANIZATION HAS EVER UNDERTAKEN THE CONVENTION DISTRICT TRANSFORMATION PROJECT.
I WOULD ALSO LIKE TO TAKE A MOMENT AND RECOGNIZE AND THANKS CITY COUNCIL WHO HAS BEEN SUPPORTIVE OF THIS PROJECT FROM THE BEGINNING AND WHO JUST YESTERDAY UNANIMOUSLY APPROVED THE PROJECT FINANCING PACKAGE.
I SHOULD ALSO REITERATE THAT THIS PROJECT WILL NOT BE PAID WITH GENERAL FUND DOLLARS, BUT INSTEAD THROUGH STATE LEGISLATION THAT WAS AUTHORED BY THEN SENATOR WHITMEYER, WHICH PROVIDES STATE HOTEL AND MIXED BEVERAGE TAX REVENUES.
HE TOLD ME, MICHAEL, GET THIS DONE ON TIME AND ON BUDGET AND IF YOU NEED ANYTHING FROM ME, YOU JUST LET ME KNOW.
THIS WAS A SIMILAR DIRECTIVE THAT HE GAVE TO HIS ADMINISTRATION TO DO JUST THAT.
THIS CAN DO APPROACH HAS PRODUCED TREMENDOUS RESULTS AND HAS MADE US THE ENVY OF OUR COUNTERPARTS ACROSS THE US WHO ARE ALSO TRYING TO TAKE ON MAJOR PUBLIC PROJECTS AS EVIDENCE OF THAT.
IN SEPTEMBER, 2024 AT THIS EVENT, I TOLD THE AUDIENCE THAT WE WOULD BREAK GROUND SOMETIME IN 2025 WHEN IN FACT IN MAY OF LAST YEAR WE DID JUST THAT.
AND NOW JUST A BLOCK TO THE SOUTHEAST OF WHERE WE ARE TODAY IS A BUSY CONSTRUCTION SITE WHERE THE NEW BUILDING WILL SIT AND WHERE A NEW PARKING GARAGE IS CURRENTLY RISING OUT OF THE GROUND.
I AM PROUD TO SAY THAT WE ARE CURRENTLY ON TIME FOR ALL OF OUR SCHEDULE MILESTONES FOR THIS BILLION DOLLAR PROJECT.
THE NEW 700,000 SQUARE FOOT GRB SOUTH WILL CONNECT DIRECTLY TO OUR EXISTING BUILDING AND EXPAND OUR ABILITY TO HOST BIG HIGH CALIBER EVENTS THAT DRIVE SPENDING AN ECONOMIC IMPACT FOR OUR COMMUNITY.
AND ONE THAT STUDIES HAVE SHOWN WILL HAVE A $20 BILLION INCREMENTAL ECONOMIC IMPACT OVER THE NEXT 30 YEARS.
WE WILL OPEN THE GRB SOUTH IN THE SUMMER OF 2028, BUT THAT IS JUST THE BEGINNING.
THIS EFFORT IS PART OF A COMPREHENSIVE TRANSFORMATIONAL MASTER PLAN THAT WILL REIMAGINE THE EASTERN EDGE OF DOWNTOWN AS A VIBRANT, WELCOMING DESTINATION FOR BOTH RESIDENTS AND FOR VISITORS, ANCHORED BY AN ADJACENT ENTERTAINMENT DISTRICT WITH MIXED USE RETAIL, HOTELS, RESTAURANTS, AND ENTERTAINMENT VENUES, AND ONE THAT SEAMLESSLY CONNECTS DOWNTOWN AND EDO.
THIS IS ALL PART OF A BROADER FOCUS ON IMPROVEMENTS DOWNTOWN.
THANKS TO THE EFFORTS OF DOWNTOWN'S HOUSTON PLUS, WE WILL SOON HAVE A NEW MAIN STREET PROMENADE AND MORE INVITING CORRIDORS TO MOVE BETWEEN SECTIONS OF OUR URBAN CORE.
WHY ARE THESE DOWNTOWN PROJECTS SO IMPORTANT? WE HAVE WONDERFUL ASPECTS OF ALL PARTS OF OUR COMMUNITY, BUT WHY DOWNTOWN? 'CAUSE WE CANNOT COMPETE AS A WORLD-CLASS CITY WITHOUT A STRONG AND DYNAMIC CENTRAL CORE.
AND THAT IS WHAT WE ARE COLLECTIVELY BUILDING AND STRENGTHENING.
AS I CLOSE, I WILL TELL YOU THAT MAYOR WHITMEYER SPEAKS OFTEN ABOUT THE IMPORTANCE OF COLLABORATION AND AND ALL OF US WORKING TOGETHER.
THAT CLARITY OF VISION AND CONSISTENCY OF MESSAGE ALIGNS DIRECTLY WITH THE ESSENCE OF HOUSTON'S BRAND, THE POWER OF TOGETHER, AND IT REFLECTS HOW PROGRESS TRULY HAPPENS IN THIS CITY.
YOU OFTEN HEAR PEOPLE PROMOTE HOUSTON
[00:50:01]
AS THE CITY OF THE FUTURE, BUT A LOT OF CITIES SAY THAT AND WHAT THAT MEANS ISN'T ALWAYS CLEAR TO PEOPLE WHO HEAR IT.WE INSTEAD PREFER TO SAY THIS, HOUSTON INVITES YOU TO COME BUILD YOUR FUTURE WITH US.
IT'S A WELCOMING MESSAGE THAT SAYS THAT YOU CAN DO ANYTHING HERE AND THAT WE WILL BUILD THE FUTURE TOGETHER.
EVERY MORNING IN HOUSTON BEGINS WITH PEOPLE ON THE MOVE, FAMILIES, WORKERS.
THAT IS WHAT MAKES OUR CITY WORK.
BY BRINGING PEOPLE TOGETHER AND BEING HONEST ABOUT OUR PROBLEMS, OUR ADMINISTRATION IS MAKING OUR CITY BETTER.
WE ARE FOCUSED ON THE ISSUES THAT AFFECT ALL HOUSTONIANS.
FROM INFRASTRUCTURE TO PUBLIC SAFETY, GARBAGE PICKUP, AND OUR PARKS.
WE ARE MAKING NEIGHBORHOODS SAFER AND PASSING A BALANCED BUDGET WITHOUT A TAX INCREASE.
WE ARE PARTNERING WITH METRO AND OTHERS TO FIX OUR STREETS AND SIDEWALKS.
TOGETHER WE'RE MOVING HOUSTON FORWARD WITH BUSES ON TIME, CLEAN AND SAFE.
WE'VE ADDED MICROT TRANSIT TO SERVE HOUSTONIANS COLLABORATING WITH ALL LEVELS OF GOVERNMENT.
WE ARE ACCOMPLISHING MORE, EXPANDING THE GEORGE R. BROWN, IMPROVING PARKS AND CORE SERVICES.
WE RESOLVED THE LONGSTANDING LAWSUIT CLEARING THE WAY TO REBUILD BROKEN STREETS AND UPGRADE OUR DRAINAGE SYSTEMS. WE WILL REBUILD OUR WATER SYSTEM BECAUSE WE ARE INVESTING IN HOUSTON.
THIS IS A GREAT CITY WITH GREAT PEOPLE, BUT WE HAVE CHALLENGES.
WE'RE MEETING THOSE CHALLENGES EACH AND EVERY DAY.
I SEE THE IMPROVEMENT BECAUSE I HAVE PUT TOGETHER A GREAT TEAM.
I HAVE BEEN IN PUBLIC SERVICE MY ENTIRE ADULT LIFE.
I BRING RELATIONSHIPS, I BRING EXPERIENCE AND DEVOTION TO THE MAYOR'S OFFICE EACH AND EVERY DAY.
I WAS ASKED BY HOUSTONIANS TO COME FIX HOUSTON'S CHALLENGES AND EACH AND EVERY DAY MY TEAM GOES TO WORK TO IMPROVE THE CITY OF HOUSTON.
I WALK THE PERMITTING CENTER, I GO TO THE SOLID WASTE DEPARTMENT.
BUT MOST IMPORTANTLY, I'M IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD.
PEOPLE ASK ME ROUTINELY, ARE YOU HAVING FUN? NO, I'M NOT HAVING FUN.
I ENJOY THE COLLABORATION TO WORKING WITH OTHER LEVELS OF GOVERNMENT, TO WORK WITH HOUSTONIANS AND IMPROVE OUR QUALITY OF LIFE.
I WANT PEOPLE TO COME AND WORK AND LIVE IN HOUSTON.
I WANT 'EM TO HAVE A GOOD INFRASTRUCTURE.
I WANT THE SOLID WASTE TO BE ON TIME.
JOIN WITH ME TO COLLABORATE AND SEE HOW WE CAN IMPROVE THIS GREAT CITY, THE WORLD CUP.
WE'RE GONNA HAVE HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE VISITING HOUSTON.
WE WANT TO HAVE A FIRST CLASS CITY.
I DON'T WANT IT TO BE JUST FOR WORLD TRAVELERS THAT COME TO HOUSTON.
I WANT HOUSTONIANS TO BE TREATED LIKE WORLD CUP VISITORS.
I'M GOING TO ASK ALL OF US, LET'S FOCUS ON IMPROVING HOUSTON AND LET'S WORK TOGETHER.
PLEASE WELCOME JUDGE VICTOR TREVINO III AND TEXAS STATE REPRESENTATIVE ANA HERNANDEZ.
MY NAME IS VICTOR TREVINO III AND I'M THE JUSTICE OF THE PEACE FOR PRECINCT SIX PLACE ONE.
I ALSO HAVE THE PLEASURE AND DISTINCTION TO SERVE AS THE PRESIDING JUDGE FOR THE JP COURTS IN HARRIS COUNTY.
TWO YEARS AGO, IT WAS MY GREATEST HONOR AND PRIVILEGE TO SWEAR IN JOHN WHITMEYER AS THE 63RD MAYOR OF THE CITY OF HOUSTON.
HE COULD HAVE CHOSEN ANY JUDGE IN THE STATE OF TEXAS TO ADMINISTER HIS OATH OF OFFICE, BUT HE CHOSE A JUSTICE OF THE PEACE.
THIS SAYS A LOT ABOUT WHO JOHN WHITMEYER IS AND WHY HE RAN FOR MAYOR.
HE DIDN'T RUN FOR MAYOR FOR FAME AND LIMELIGHT.
HE RAN TO GET TO WORK FOR THE PEOPLE OF HOUSTON.
THE JP COURTS ARE KNOWN AS THE PEOPLE'S COURT.
THEREFORE, IT WAS ESPECIALLY FITTING FOR HIM TO BE SWORN IN BY A JUDGE OF THE PEOPLE'S COURT AS HE WAS ABOUT TO BECOME THE PEOPLE'S MAYOR.
WHILE I AM GRATEFUL AND PROUD OF THE WORK HE HAS DONE AND CONTINUES TO DO FOR OUR GREAT CITY, I AM EQUALLY PROUD AND LOOKING FORWARD TO SWEARING HIM IN AGAIN IN TWO MORE YEARS.
AND NOW TO INTRODUCE OUR GREAT MAYOR, MY BETTER HALF STATE REPRESENTATIVE ANNA HERNANDEZ.
[00:55:04]
THANK YOU AND GOOD AFTERNOON EVERYONE.WHAT A WONDERFUL LUNCHEON THAT STARTS WITH MARIACHI OFFICER RA.
GIVEN A C SERENADE AND THE DS MUSIC INSTITUTE LI JAMMING TO SOME BAD BUNNY LIKE I WAS READY TO START, GET UP AND START DANCING.
BUT TODAY I HAVE THE PRIVILEGE OF INTRODUCING A PUBLIC SERVANT WHOSE DEDICATION TO THIS CITY SPANS DECADES.
FOR THE PAST 20 YEARS THAT I'VE BEEN IN THE LEGISLATURE, MAYOR WHITMEYER HAS BEEN A FRIEND AND A MENTOR AND SOMEONE WE HAVE ALL LEARNED FROM LONG BEFORE HE EVER TOOK THE OATH OF OFFICE AS MAYOR, HE HAS BEEN A STEADY PRESENCE IN THE TEXAS LEADERSHIP.
SOMEONE WHO UNDERSTANDS THAT GOVERNING IS NOT ABOUT HEADLINES, IT'S ABOUT HARD WORK, RELATIONSHIPS, AND RESULTS.
AS A MENTOR, MAYOR WHITMEYER HAS ALWAYS LED WITH ACCESSIBILITY AND HONESTY.
AS A LEGISLATOR, HE BROUGHT INSTITUTIONAL KNOWLEDGE IN AN UNWAVERING RESPECT FOR THE COMMUNITY THAT WE SERVE.
AND AS MAYOR, HE HAS BROUGHT THESE SAME VALUES TO CITY HALL.
OVER THE PAST TWO YEARS, MAYOR WHITMEYER HAS FOCUSED ON PUBLIC SAFETY, STRENGTHENING RELATIONSHIPS WITH STATE AND REGIONAL PARTNERS, AND GROUNDING HIS ADMINISTRATION IN ACCOUNTABILITY AND SERVICE.
HIS VISION FOR HOUSTON IS CLEAR, A CITY THAT IS SAFE, FISCALLY RESPONSIBLE AND PREPARED FOR THE FUTURE.
JUST AS IMPORTANTLY, HE IS LED WITH A STEADY HAND DURING CHALLENGING MOMENTS, REMINDING US THAT LEADERSHIP IS NOT ABOUT VOLUME, BUT ABOUT DIRECTION.
MAYOR WHIT MEYER'S LEGACY HAS ALREADY TAKEN SHAPE, NOT JUST IN POLICIES OR PROGRAMS, BUT IN TONE, A TONE OF INCLUSION AND EXPERIENCE A TONE THAT SAYS HOUSTON'S BEST DAYS ARE AHEAD BECAUSE WE ARE WILLING TO DO THE WORK TOGETHER.
AND AS AN IMMIGRANT, IT MEANS SO MUCH TO ME TO SEE THE DIVERSITY IN HIS ADMINISTRATION, REFLECTIVE OF OUR CITY'S STRENGTH, WHICH IS OUR DIVERSITY.
TODAY'S STATE OF THE CITY IS NOT JUST A REPORT, IT'S A REFLECTION OF A LEADER WHO DEEPLY BELIEVES IN THIS CITY AND THE PEOPLE WHO CALL IT HOME.
LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, PLEASE JOIN ME IN WELCOMING A MAN WHO HAS DEDICATED HIS LIFE TO PUBLIC SERVICE, WHO CONTINUES TO LEAD WITH PURPOSE AND PERSPECTIVE, AND WHO REMAINS COMMITTED TO MOVING HOUSTON FORWARD.
PLEASE WELCOME MAYOR JOHN WHITMEYER.
THANK YOU TO SO MANY, CERTAINLY EVERYONE THAT WAS ON THE PROGRAM.
UH, I ALWAYS LIKE TO GIVE INSIDE STORIES.
YOU KNOW HOW OFFICER AVERA BECAME A PART OF OUR PROGRAM? I WAS GOING TO THE WORLD CUP LAST JULY GOING IN THE WEST SIDE OF NRG STADIUM AND THE U OF H AND MARIACHI BAND WAS THERE ENTERTAINING OUR GUESTS EYE WITNESS THIS OFFICER ON DUTY WALK UP AND ASK FOR THE MICROPHONE.
WE WERE SPELL BOUND BY THE INCLUSION IN CHIEF BY COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT THAT WE ALL DESIRE.
BY THE TIME I GOT INTO THE VIP ROOM, MY DETAILS SAID THAT HE'D GOT IN TROUBLE WITH HIS SERGEANT THAT TOLD HIM THAT'S NOT HIS DUTY.
WELL, YOU'VE HEARD A LOT ABOUT ME TODAY.
WHAT DO YOU THINK I DID? I SAID, GET HIM IN THE VIP ROOM.
HE WILL BE ON MY STATE OF THE CITY PROGRAM.
AND HE JUST ONE OF THE THOUSANDS OF POLICE OFFICERS THAT ARE ENGAGING IN OUR COMMUNITY.
AND YOU KNOW WHAT? YOU'RE GONNA SEE ME SMILE A LOT TODAY BECAUSE I HAVE A LOT TO SMILE ABOUT.
FIRST OF ALL, I WANNA SMILE BECAUSE I'M NOT GIVING THE STATE OF THE CITY OF NEW YORK, LA OR CHICAGO
[01:00:05]
MAKES ME WANT TO GO TO WORK EVERY DAY.BUT ALSO I'M SMILING BECAUSE I HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO RECOGNIZE A VERY SPECIAL GROUP.
AND THERE ARE MANY SPECIAL GROUPS HERE TODAY, CERTAINLY TO THE PARTNERSHIP IN HOUSTON FIRST.
AND THIS ROOM IS FULL OF STAKEHOLDERS THAT HELP MAKE HOUSTON THE GREAT CITY.
BUT FRIENDS, WE COULDN'T BE HAVING THIS EVENT OR BE GETTING READY FOR THE VISITORS OF THE RODEO, THE BASEBALL CLASSIC FLEET WEEK, OR CERTAINLY THE WORLD CUP WITHOUT THE HOTEL WORKERS.
YOU AND I KNOW THIS WAS SCHEDULED ON SEPTEMBER 25TH, SCHEDULED ON SEPTEMBER 25TH.
I WAS SO READY AND I'VE BEEN READY EACH DAY LEADING UP TO THIS.
BUT WHEN I WAS RUNNING FOR OFFICE, I MET THE MEMBERS OF UNITED HERE.
THEY TOLD ME THEY MADE $14 AN HOUR IN A CITY OWNED FACILITY.
I SAID, NO, THAT THAT WILL NOT BE ALLOWED UNDER MY ADMINISTRATION.
THEY WERE FORCED TO GO ON STRIKE FOR 40 DAYS.
I'VE ASKED THEM TO BE MY GUEST TODAY.
WILLIE GONZALEZ, IN SOME OF YOUR LEADERSHIP, PLEASE STAND.
THANK YOU FOR WHAT YOU DO TO HELP MAKE THIS A GREAT CITY AND YOUR COWORKERS THAT ARE PROVIDING THE SERVICE TODAY.
AS I MENTIONED, I LIKE TO GIVE INSIDE REAL PEOPLE STORIES.
I ACTUALLY PICKED THE SONG TODAY, YOU'LL NEVER WALK ALONG IN HOUSTON, TEXAS.
AND THESE WORKERS KNEW THEY WOULD NEVER WALK ALONG BECAUSE I WAS DOWN AT CITY HALL WORKING AND EVERY POLITICIAN IN TOWN WAS OVER HERE TAKING PHOTO OPS WITH THEM.
BUT I HAD THEIR BACK COVERED AND THEY KNEW IT.
I EXPLAINED TO HILTON, WHICH IS A GREAT AMERICAN CORPORATION, THAT WE WERE GONNA BUILD ANOTHER CONVENTION HOTEL WITH THE DEVELOPMENT AND EXPANSION OF GEORGE BROWN.
AND I SURE HOPED THEY WERE GOING TO BE ON THE LIST THAT WE CONSIDERED.
BUT ONE OF THE TESTS FOR WHO WE WOULD ULTIMATELY CHOOSE IS HOW DO YOU TREAT YOUR EMPLOYEES? THAT'S HOW EXPERIENCE MATTERS AND THAT'S WHAT BRINGS US HERE TODAY.
YOU KNOW, HOUSTON IS A GREAT CITY WITH GREAT PEOPLE.
WE HAVE CHALLENGES LIKE OTHER MAJOR CITIES, BUT WE MEET OUR CHALLENGES.
AND SO LET ME GO AHEAD AND DECLARE TODAY BECAUSE I KNOW IT'LL BE REPORTED.
WHAT WAS THE STATE OF THE CITY MESSAGE? IT SAID HOUSTON IS A STRONG CITY AND IT IS GETTING STRONGER EVERY DAY AND IS GETTING STRONGER EVERY DAY BECAUSE WE'RE WORKING TOGETHER.
AND LET ME STOP AND THANK HOUSTONIANS FOR GIVING ME THIS OPPORTUNITY.
IT WAS A TOUGH DECISION FOR ME.
IT WAS A TOUGH DECISION FOR ME.
I WAS THE MOST SENIOR STATE SENATOR, CHAIRMAN OF CRIMINAL JUSTICE, MAKING THE ENTIRE STATE SAFER ON FINANCE, BRINGING RESOURCES BACK TO U OF HTSU IN OUR COMMUNITY AS A MEMBER OF FINANCE.
BUT I GOT THAT CALL FROM HOUSTONIANS, WE WANT YOU TO RUN FOR MAYOR.
AND I SAID, NO, I LIKE WHAT I'M DOING.
THEN THEY CALLED BACK THE NEXT WEEK AND SAID, WHAT WOULD IT TAKE TO GET YOU TO CONSIDER RUNNING? I SAID, WELL FIRST, THAT'S A, THAT'S A TRICKY UNFAIR QUESTION FOR SOMEBODY THAT LOVES PUBLIC SERVICE AND LOVES PEOPLE.
BUT I SAID, I'LL TELL YOU WHAT, LET'S GET IN A CAR AND DRIVE ACROSS HOUSTON SAME WAY YOU DO.
[01:05:01]
BEEN NEGLECTED FOR YEARS.ILLEGAL DUMPING, HOMELESSNESS, PUBLIC SAFETY WAS OUR NUMBER ONE CONCERN.
SO AFTER CONSIDERING WHAT NEEDED TO GET DONE, I MADE A TOUGH DECISION, BUT I DON'T REGRET IT.
ONE DAY I MADE THE RIGHT DECISION, I PRAYED ON IT.
I TALKED TO MANY OF YOU IN THIS ROOM.
HOUSTON NEEDED MY EXPERIENCE IN RELATIONSHIPS AND LET ME THANK HOUSTONIANS FOR THEIR SUPPORT, NOT JUST TO GET ME HERE, BUT EVERYWHERE I GO ACROSS HOUSTON, PEOPLE ARE SUPPORTIVE IN THANKING ME FOR MOVING THIS CITY IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION.
IT INSPIRES ME TO EVEN DO MORE.
AND LEMME TELL YOU BEFORE I GO ANY FURTHER, I DIDN'T DO IT ALONE.
MY CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS ARE HERE.
THANK YOU FOR THE COLLABORATION.
I WISH TIME ALLOWED ME TO INTRODUCE EVERY ONE OF MY DEPARTMENT DIRECTORS.
THEY'RE HARDWORKING, THEY'RE PROFESSIONAL, THEY'RE COMPETENT, AND THEY'RE HONEST.
SOME PEOPLE CAME OUTTA RETIREMENT TO WORK FOR ME.
LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, WE ARE MOVING IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION AND WHY WE ARE.
THE REASON IS, AND HOUSTONIANS RECOGNIZE IT, IS I'M KEEPING MY CAMPAIGN COMMITMENTS.
I SAID THROUGHOUT THE CAMPAIGN, IF WE'RE NOT SAFE, NOTHING ELSE MATTERS.
IT IS TRUE TODAY AND IT'LL BE TRUE TOMORROW.
I'M SO PROUD OF OUR FIRST RESPONDERS.
FIREMEN HADN'T HAD A CONTRACT IN EIGHT YEARS.
WE WERE LOW ON AMBULANCE DRIVERS EIGHT YEARS WITHOUT A CONTRACT.
THE FIRST CLASS I SPOKE TO HAD 30 CADETS IN IT AND THEY WOULD TELL YOU, WE'RE JUST GETTING OUR CERTIFICATION HERE.
WE'RE GOING SOMEWHERE ELSE TO WORK.
I SPOKE TO A HUNDRED CADETS RECENTLY.
HPD, WE WERE LOSING MORE PEOPLE TO OTHER AGENCIES OF RETIREMENT THAN WE WERE RECRUITING.
THERE'S 274 CADETS IN CLASS TODAY.
YOU SAW SOME OF THE OUTSTANDING PEOPLE.
WE'VE HAD 746 NEW GRADUATION SINCE I BECAME MAYOR.
AND IT'S JUST ONLY FAIR THAT I INTERJECT RIGHT NOW.
I'VE ONLY BEEN IN OFFICE TWO YEARS.
SOME OF MY CRITICS BEEN IN OFFICE SIX YEARS.
BUT THE PRAISE COMING FROM ACROSS HOUSTON KEEPS ME FIRED UP.
I GO ALONE IN MY PICKUP TO HAVE DINNER ACROSS HOUSTON.
ALL COMMUNITIES, I'M HEARING THE SAME THING.
PEOPLE ARE FEELING THAT MORALE.
THEY'RE SEEING THE STREETS BEING REPAIRED.
WHEN WE WERE SWORN IN 1900 BROKEN WATER MAINS, YOU KNOW, I GREW UP IN HOUSTON, WENT TO NORTH, WENT TO WALTER HIGH SCHOOL, U OF H, MANY, MANY OF US CAN REMEMBER WHERE THE STREETS WERE NOT IN THAT CONDITION.
BROKEN WATER MAINS WERE NOT THE ISSUE.
SO OUR CITY IS STRONG IN GETTING STRONGER AND WHEN THEY GO TO PRINT, MAYBE THEY WILL BE ACCURATE AND SAVE MY VISION.
WHITMORE'S VISION SHARED BY EVERYONE HERE AND ACROSS THIS GREAT CITY IS A CITY THAT WORKS.
A CITY THAT THE PUBLIC CAN DEPEND ON TO BE RESPONSIVE, NOT WASTE THEIR TAX DOLLARS.
AND BE HONEST, NO CONFLICTS OF INTEREST, CORRUPTION, THE MAYOR'S COMMITMENT DID NOT RAISE TAXES UNTIL WE ELIMINATE WASTE.
DUPLICATION, CONFLICTS OF INTEREST AND CORRUPTION.
AND LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, I STILL RUN ACROSS IT AND I TURN IN THAT CORRUPTION AND CONFLICTS OF INTEREST INTO THE AUTHORITIES.
WE'RE MOVING IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION NOW THAT INFRASTRUCTURE THAT WE CARE
[01:10:01]
SO MUCH ABOUT, GOT AN OUTSTANDING PUBLIC WORKS DIRECTOR.LET ME GIVE YOU ANOTHER LITTLE INSIDER.
THE CITY ORDINANCE SAYS YOU HAVE TO BE AN ENGINEER.
THE HEAD PUBLIC WORKS, BUT HE WAS A CAN-DO PERSON.
I KNEW HE COULD GET THE JOB DONE.
HELL, HE HAS 300 ENGINEERS THAT WORK FOR HIM.
WE GOTTA USE SOME COMMON SENSE.
WE'RE GONNA PAVE A THOUSAND ROAD MILES THIS YEAR.
SPEND $500 MILLION ON DRAINAGE AND ROAD IMPROVEMENT, IMPROVE AND REPLACE 200 MILES OF PIPES, WATER PIPES ACROSS THIS GREAT CITY.
NOW LET ME ALSO LET YOU IN ON AN INSIDER, THE EAST SIDE WATER PLANT.
HAVE YOU EVER HAD SOMEONE STAND UP BEFORE YOU THAT'S RESPONSIBLE FOR YOUR SAFETY AND WELFARE IN THE ECONOMY OF THIS GREAT CITY? OUR WATER TREATMENT PLANT THAT FURNISHES 60% OF HOUSTON'S WATER WAS BUILT IN 1954.
IT'S JUST THIS SIDE OF GLENDA PARK.
IF YOU VISIT IT, IT LOOKS LIKE IT WAS BUILT IN 1954.
IT FURNISHES THE WATER TO ALL THE PETROLEUM CHEMICAL PLANTS.
WE HAVE TO DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT.
AND IT'S A GOOD TIME FOR ME TO GO AHEAD AND TALK ABOUT WORKING ACROSS THE AISLE.
I HAD A REPUTATION IN AUSTIN OF GETTING THINGS DONE BY NOT MAKING IT PERSONAL.
WE CAN DISAGREE WITH SOME OF OUR FELLOW OFFICIALS AND I STRONGLY DISAGREE WITH SOME OF THE LEADERSHIP, BUT YOU DON'T HAVE TO BE DISAGREEABLE BECAUSE IF SOMEBODY WANTS TO WORK WITH ME TO FIX AND IMPROVE HOUSTON, I WILL GO ANYWHERE, ANYTIME.
WE DON'T HAVE TIME FOR POLITICS.
I DON'T HAVE TIME FOR PARTISANSHIP.
AUSTIN GAVE US A HUNDRED MILLION DOLLARS LAST SESSION TO BUILD A NEW LIFT STATION FOR THAT WATER PLANT.
THAT'S UNHEARD OF FOR AUSTIN TO GIVE LOCAL GOVERNMENT THAT KIND OF RESOURCE.
MY SERVING IN THE LEGISLATURE AND WORKING ACROSS THE AISLE BENEFITS HOUSTON EACH AND EVERY DAY, LIKE $18 MILLION IN THE BUDGET FOR HOUSTON CITY PARKS.
THANK YOU ARMANDO WALLY, WHO'S ON THE CONFERENCE COMMITTEE.
THANK YOU TO OUR COUNTY COMMISSIONERS, THE COLLABORATION OF WORKING IN PARKS THAT THEY SERVE AND AS IT HAPPENS TO BE IN THE CITY OF HOUSTON.
WE'RE PUTTING LOTS OF RESOURCES INTO OUR PARTS.
NOW LET ME ALSO BE REAL CANDID WITH YOU.
I REPLACED A DIRECTOR SIX MONTHS AGO.
THE PREVIOUS DIRECTOR HAD ME FOOLED AND I LEFT HIM THERE TOO LONG.
MOST OF THE GARBAGE TRUCKS WERE STAYING IN THE SHOP.
WE GOT 50 NEW GARBAGE TRUCKS, A NEW DIRECTOR, EMPLOYEES AND A NEW MODEL, A NEW ROUTE DECISION.
WE'RE NOT GONNA PUT MONEY IN A BROKEN SYSTEM, SO WE'RE MOVING FORWARD.
GRANDKIDS DAUGHTERS LIVE IN HOUSTON.
WE'RE GONNA IMPROVE THAT SYSTEM.
YOU'VE SEEN SUCH A DISPLAY TODAY ALREADY.
WE'VE BEEN DISCOVERED AND IT'S OUR DUTY EACH AND EVERY ONE OF US.
RESPONSIBILITY IS TO BE PREPARED.
SHARE THE HOUSTON EXPERIENCE WITH EVERYONE THAT COMES HERE.
AND LET'S NOT FORGET THEY MENTIONED IT IN THE PRESENTATION, THE VIDEO.
DO YOU KNOW HOW MANY MEETINGS I'M IN TO GET READY FOR THE WORLD CUP? AND FIFA SAYS, WE ARE BETTER PREPARED THAN ANY OTHER MAJOR CITY.
THANK YOU TO THE SPORTS AUTHORITY, THE HOST COMMITTEE, THEY CALL US.
THE GROWNUP CITY THAT MAKES A DIFFERENCE IS MICHAEL MENTIONED, WE'RE THE GROWNUP CITY, WE'RE THE CAN-DO CITY AND IT'S ONLY GONNA GET BETTER.
BUT IN THOSE MEETINGS, I USUALLY
[01:15:01]
INTERRUPT THEM AND SAY, NOW WAIT A MINUTE, WE'RE INCREASING PUBLIC SAFETY, TRANSPORTATION IRRITATION, SHUTTLES BETWEEN DOWNTOWN AND THE AIRPORT.WE'RE DOING SO MANY THINGS RIGHT IN PREPARATION FOR THE WORLD CUP.
BUT LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, WE GOTTA TREAT HOUSTONIANS LIKE THEY'RE OUR WORLD CUP VISITORS AS WELL.
AND THAT'S WHY WHEN I TALKED ABOUT THAT PARK MONEY, YES, WE'VE GOT OUR ICONIC MEMORIAL PARK IN HERMAN, BUT WE NEED NEIGHBORHOOD PARKS, POCKET PARKS.
WE REFER 'EM TO ONE IN TWO ACRES THAT WE SAY, LET'S HAVE FUN.
WE WOKE UP THIS MORNING WITH 2.3 MILLION HOUSTONIANS AND IT'S GROWING.
BUT TODAY WE HAD 700,000 PEOPLE.
THINK ABOUT IT, 700,000 PEOPLE TRAVELED TO HOUSTON TODAY TO WORK OR 10 EVENTS.
AND THAT EXPLAINS A LOT OF OUR TRAFFIC, WHICH IF I HAD A MAGIC WAND, I WOULD IMPROVE TRAFFIC.
BUT WE ARE EXPECTING METRO TO BE MORE EFFICIENT, CLEAN, SAFE, DO A BETTER JOB, GET VALUE FOR EACH DOLLAR THAT THEY RECEIVE.
WE'RE MAKING PROGRESS IS WHAT I WANT EVERYONE TO LEAVE HERE WITH.
AND I'M PREPARED TO GIVE SIX YEARS TO THE REMAINING BEST YEARS OF MY LIFE FOR HOUSTON, WORKING 18 HOUR DAYS WITH A TEAM THAT IS THE BEST IN AMERICA.
NOW LET ME CLOSE ON SOMETHING THAT IS CRITICAL TO EVERYTHING.
WE'VE TALKED ABOUT THE CITY'S FINANCES.
HELL, I REMEMBER LOUIS WELCH, I BET THERE'S NOT 10 PEOPLE IN HERE THAT CAN RAISE THEIR HAND.
WORKED WITH KATHY WHITMEYER FOR 10 YEARS.
BOB LANIER, OUTSTANDING PUBLIC SERVANT.
HE GOT $500 MILLION FROM METRO.
HE WAS SUCH A SMART INDIVIDUAL COMING RIGHT UP TO CURRENT TIMES.
OTHER MAYORS SOLD OFF PROPERTY.
OTHER MAYORS FIRED INDIVIDUALS.
SOME HAD THE BENEFIT OF COVID FUNDING BEFORE I GOT THERE.
THE LAST TWO BUDGETS HAD FEDERAL FUNDING, BALANCING CITY RESPONSIBILITIES.
BUT LET ME JUST TELL YOU ONE OF THE SMARTEST THINGS I'VE DONE, AND I'LL GET NEAR THE END.
WE KNEW THAT THERE WAS WASTE AND DUPLICATION AND CONFLICTS IN CITY GOVERNMENT FROM MY EXPERIENCE OF WORKING AND BEING THE CITY'S VOICE IN AUSTIN.
BUT WE SOON REALIZED WE COULD NOT TRANSFORM THE CITY OPERATION AND LOOK FOR THE EFFICIENCY THAT YOU DESERVE UNTIL WE HIRED ERNST AND YOUNG TO DO A FORENSIC AUDIT.
ARE YOU READY? THEY FOUND OUT WE HAD MORE CITY EMPLOYEES THAN ANY OTHER MAJOR CITY PER CAPITA THAT 40% OF OUR SUPERVISORS SUPERVISE THREE OR FEWER PEOPLE, LIKE OTHER MAJOR CITIES.
YOU DON'T EVER LOOK AT HOW YOU GOT TO THIS WAY.
BUT WE CAME UP WITH A VERY SENSIBLE, COMPASSIONATE INCENTIVE PROGRAM.
WE'LL GIVE YOU THREE MONTHS ADVANCE SALARY, KEEP YOUR HEALTH COSTS CONSTANT.
WE HAD 1,056 PEOPLE TOOK ADVANTAGE OF THAT.
WE SAVED A HUNDRED MILLION DOLLARS.
WE BALANCED THE BUDGET THIS YEAR WITH EFFICIENCY, COLLABORATION WITH OTHER LEVELS OF GOVERNMENT.
AND OF COURSE SOME OF MY CRITICS COULD ONLY MAKE ME BETTER SAID, OH, YOU'RE GONNA HAVE TO RAISE PROPERTY TAXES THIS PAST FALL.
WELL, I HATE, I WANNA REMIND THOSE INDIVIDUALS WE DONE FLOWN BY NOVEMBER AND WE DIDN'T RAISE TAXES.
AND LET ME ALSO COMMIT, WE'RE NOT GOING TO RAISE TAXES IN THIS NEXT BUDGET CYCLE.
WE'RE GONNA LOOK FOR EFFICIENCIES, COLLABORATION, ELIMINATE CORRUPTION CONFLICTS.
IT CAN BE DONE AND IT WILL BE DONE.
I'M CONCERNED ABOUT AFFORDABILITY LIKE ALL OF US ARE.
[01:20:01]
IMPACT, AFFORDABILITY.AND IT'S NOT JUST THE ONE FEE THAT YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT, BUT WHAT DOES THAT GO ON TOP OF? ARE YOU READY? I GET CALLS FROM AROUND THE COUNTRY, MAJOR CITIES ASKING ME, HOW DID YOU DO IT? YOU KNOW, I SERVED IN THE SENATE WITH KIRK WATSON, THE MAYOR OF AUSTIN AND ERIC JOHNSON IN DALLAS.
I CAN'T BELIEVE IN VISITING WITH THEM AND READING SOME OF THEIR DECISIONS.
THERE'S NO WAY KIRK WATSON AND AUSTIN SHOULD HAVE ASKED FOR A 20% INCREASE IN PROPERTY TAXES WITHOUT DOING AN URCHIN.
DEMONSTRATE TO THE PEOPLE THAT YOU'VE SAVED MONEY EVERY POSSIBLE WAY BEFORE YOU ASK FOR A 20% PROPERTY TAX INCREASE.
KIRK, ERIC AND DALLAS JUST LOST THEIR LARGEST DOWNTOWN TENANT AT AND T BECAUSE OF THE HOMELESS CONDITIONS.
AND PUBLIC SAFETY HAPPENS TO BE TWO OF OUR HIGHEST PRIORITIES AND WE'RE MAKING A DIFFERENCE DOWNTOWN.
CENTRAL HOUSTON IS OUR PARTNERS.
YOU'LL LOOK AT THE PROMENADE ON SOUTH, ON ON MAIN STREET.
DISCOVERY GREEN IS A JEWEL MARKETPLACE, AND I WANT YOU TO HEAR THIS TODAY.
WE ARE RAPIDLY WORKING ON TRANQUILITY PARK.
TRANQUILITY PARK IS ACROSS THE STREET FROM THE HOBBY CENTER.
IT'S ACROSS THE STREET FROM THE CITY.
CENTRAL HOUSTON PUBLIC WORKS AND MY PARKS DEPARTMENT.
IT WILL SOON BE A DESTINATION LOCATION.
IT WILL COMPLIMENT THE HOBBY CENTER SINNER.
I DON'T HAVE THE TIME TO COVER EVERYTHING, BUT WE'RE MAKING A DIFFERENCE.
WHO THOUGHT WE COULD EVER COMBINE THE TWO MARTIN LUTHER KING PARADES? I WAS TOLD WHEN I GOT THERE TWO YEARS AGO, DON'T GO THERE, MAYOR.
OTHER WHITE MAYORS HAVE TRIED.
BLACK MAYORS COULDN'T GET IT DONE.
THE CITY OF HOUSTON ALLOWS THE TWO PARADES BY PERMITTING.
EACH PARADE COSTS HPD ABOUT $300,000 TO PROVIDE SAFETY.
THE NEAT THING IS I JUST WANT TO GET THINGS DONE.
I'M, I'M NOT EVEN WORRIED ABOUT THE NEXT ELECTION.
SO I CALLED IN THE STAKEHOLDERS AND THE SPONSORS PROUD ORGANIZATIONS, THE BLACK HERITAGE SOCIETY, THE MARTIN LUTHER KING GRANDE PARADE.
AND I SAID, OKAY, MY FRIENDS WHO I'VE KNOWN AS A SENATOR FOR YEARS, WE'RE GONNA HAVE ONE PARADE THIS YEAR.
YOU CAN'T HAVE A PARADE FOR THE SAME PURPOSE IN DOWNTOWN AND ONE IN MIDTOWN AT THE SAME TIME.
REMEMBER I TOLD YOU WHEN I STARTED THE SUPPORT I'VE GOT ACROSS HOUSTON AND THE THANK YOUS, THE AFRICAN AMERICAN COMMUNITY IS SO EXCITED BECAUSE I MERGED THOSE INSTITUTIONS AND THE THEME WAS DR. KING WAS ALL ABOUT UNITY.
WHAT A BETTER WAY TO HONOR DR. KING THAN TO BRING PEOPLE TOGETHER.
SO LET ME JUST TELL YOU, I'M FIRED UP.
I COULD GIVE YOU SOME EVEN LARGER VISION THAN WHERE WE ARE NOW, BUT SOME OF MY CRITICS WILL SAY, WHITMEYER IS JUST TEASING US.
WELL, I GOT SOME WITNESSES IN THIS ROOM.
I'LL TELL YOU, I'M NOT A TEASE.
BUT WHAT IF SOMEDAY TO ADDRESS OUR FLOODING, WE RAN HUGE PIPES ALONG I 10 FROM THE BARKER RESERVOIR TO THE HOUSTON SHIP CHANNEL.
WE'VE ACTUALLY HAD DISCUSSIONS WITH ENGINEERS.
IT WOULD ELIMINATE THE FLOODING
[01:25:01]
ON THE WEST SIDE IN MEYERLAND AND JUST KIND OF ELIMINATE THAT FEAR FACTOR EVERY TIME WE SEE A MAJOR STORM.LET ME ALSO TELL YOU THAT IT IS A VISION OF MINE.
IT MAY NOT HAPPEN IN MY TWO TERMS, BUT WHY CAN'T METRO'S TRAINS GET TO THE AIRPORT? WHY? WHY DOES A RAIL, WHY DOES A RAIL STOP AT NORTHLINE IN PALM CENTER IN SIX 10 ON THE SOUTH? IF WE WILL PARTNER WITH THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT, AND WE DO HAVE RELATIONSHIPS, WE DISAGREE STRONGLY WITH SOME OF THE ADMINISTRATION'S POSITIONS, BUT THEY DO HAVE THE RESOURCES.
IF WE BUILD THAT RELATIONSHIP, LET US GET OUR TRAINS TO OUR MAJOR AIRPORTS, OUR TWO AIRPORTS LIKE OTHER GREAT CITIES DO.
SO LET'S HAVE THAT AS A VISION.
AND HERE'S ONE THAT I KNOW SO MANY WILL GET EXCITED ABOUT.
WHAT IF WE HAD WATER TAXIS DOWNTOWN NANCY? WHAT IF, WHAT IF WE WENT FROM THE BIO PARTNERSHIP OF SABINE TO THE EAST SIDE, TURN IN SOME OF OUR UNTAPPED RESOURCES AND ASSETS AND YOU COULD GET ON A WATER TAXI DOWNTOWN TO GO TO THE ASTRO GAME OR THE EAST SIDE.
THOSE ARE JUST THINGS THAT THAT WE ARE, IT AIN'T A TEASE.
IT MAY NOT GET DONE IN THE NEXT SIX YEARS, BUT WE ARE ACTUALLY MEETING ON THESE PROJECTS AS I STAND BEFORE YOU, AND I WOULD LOVE TO KEEP TALKING TO YOU.
PEOPLE SAY, WHY DID YOU LEAVE THE SENATE? BECAUSE I LOVE HOUSTON MOORE AND IT WOULD BE A SIN TO WASTE MY EXPERIENCE, RELATIONSHIPS, AND THE CAN-DO ATTITUDE.
THANK YOU LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, I GOTTA GO TO WORK.
THANK YOU SO MUCH, MAYOR WHITMEYER AND THANK YOU EVERYBODY FOR ATTENDING.